Month: February 2024

Donald Trump has a lot be angry about. On Friday the former was handed a crushing defeat in his civil fraud case, with him ordered to pay nearly $355 million plus interest — a number that could wipe out whatever cash he has left. On top of that, he’s banned from doing business in his home state of New York for three years. And yet he still found time to rail against far smaller issues than his many legal woes.

Per Mediaite, mere minutes after the ruling came down, Trump took to his rinky-dink Twitter clone to torch what he claimed were AI-generated images of him golfing, one of which shows a gigantic gut.

“The Fake News used Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) to create the picture on the top left,” Trump wrote. “These are despicable people, but everyone knows that. The other pictures are me hitting Golf balls today to show the difference. Sadly, in our Country, Fake News is all you get!”

During much of his life in the public eye, Trump has had two sartorial styles: suits with really long ties (though sometimes he’ll go tie-less and maybe add a MAGA hat) and way too loose golf clothes. When decked out in the latter, he sometimes doesn’t look so hot, and there’s been much concern over his health given his ceaseless yen for McDonald’s.

It’s worth noting that we’re in the midst of an election year where AI imagery is getting scarily close to looking legit. Get ready for Trump to claim everything, including his massive brain farts during rallies, are simply fakes even when they’re terrifyingly real.

(Via Mediaite)

Ryan Murphy had a superior 2022 on Netflix. He had simultaneous top-streaming shows in Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and The Watcher, both of which were somehow renewed, despite the second story certainly being envisioned as a limited series.

Regarding the first show, an anthologized format will next transform the season into Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story. As for The Watcher, the subject matter of the continuation isn’t as obvious from the title. Will there be a New Watcher, or will the Old Watcher still be The Watcher, or will there be Copycat Watchers (like Scream 2)? Heck, maybe everyone will be The Watcher, similar to the ending of John Wick 2, in which Mr. Excommunicado needed to run, fast. Let’s parcel out any clues about the second season so far:

Plot

The first season of The Watcher, although being ultimately very watchable, infuriated some viewers, given that the show — as with the reality-based case — did not explicitly identify who was terrorizing the Brannocks (based upon the Broaddus family) with sinister letters. The show did, however, show Bobby Cannavale’s character start to lose his mind, and then Naomi Watts’ character grew faux-menacing by fake-claiming to be “Watching” the incoming occupant of the home. That was part of the fictionalized ending, which differed from IRL, wherein the Broadduses departed their “dream home,” never to be Watcher-ed again.

Murphy’s twist on the story saw Jennifer Coolidge’s realtor swoop in and purchase the palatial estate for herself. She swiftly finds herself terrorized with her poor dog paying the ultimate price. This, presumably, rules out the possibility that she engineered the entire mess as The Watcher. Additionally, it also paves the way for her life inside the home to be the focus of a second season. Will that happen, or could the show further fictionalize the plight of the Brannocks by having them stalked in their future home, too?

On the possibility of the second scenario, Naomi Watts stayed mum while speaking to Entertainment Weekly:

“I know they said yes to the next series, but I haven’t heard anything more,” Watts says in an interview for her latest project, a leading role in the new season of FX’s Feud anthology series … To be honest, we left the house, so I don’t know if we’ll be coming back,” she says. “I don’t know what the plan is there, so I can’t give you a straight answer, I’m afraid.”

Cast

Since Naomi Watts hasn’t revealed whether she will be back, there’s no way to predict whether the Brannock family will be at the center of another terror, so we cannot predict who will star in the second season. It does, however, seem likely that Jennifer Coolidge’s realtor could crossover into another season and be the connecting thread, like she was in The White Lotus. However, her character might not make it out of that second season alive here, either. (Are the Evil Gays the collective Watcher?)

Release Date

Ryan Murphy has his hands in several other different projects, but that’s also business as usual for him. If his usual workaholic ways have their way, The Watcher could return in late 2024 or early 2025.

Trailer

No trailer yet, fellow Watchers. Still, here’s a reminder that a dumbwaiter in a house can harbor surprises.

Snoop Dogg recently lost his younger brother, Bing Worthington, who sadly died at the age of 44. The rapper broke the news with a sweet series of Instagram posts in his brother’s honor. Each one focused on a different memory, whether they were together or it was a video showing Bing’s personality. Snoop Dogg tagged his Instagram, captioning it with “always made us laugh… u bac with moms” and a prayer emoji.

Another photo in Snoop’s tribute was a photo of Bing and their late mother, as he was holding a birthday cake for her and smiling big. In Snoop’s continued words, his two family members are reunited now.

Throughout Snoop Dogg’s career, Bing had continued to help out and play a role in his brother’s life. He previously served as Snoop’s tour manager.

“I started from the bottom, I ain’t just become the tour manager, I was just the road guy,” Bing shared with Vice during an interview years ago. “I worked my way to the top. Even though I’m [Snoop’s] brother he didn’t give me a top-ranked position. You can’t just become a president without knowing anything about being the president. You have to learn.”

Check out some more of Snoop Dogg’s vulnerable tribute posts to his late brother below.

It’s been quite the two weeks since The Rock returned to WWE and went face to face with Roman Reigns. Rock leaned into the heel gimmick, called out the ‘Cody Crybabies‘ and eventually took a back seat to Cody Rhodes, who challenged Reigns to a match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania XL.

On WWE SmackDown!, Reigns told the fans in attendance it was the beginning of history as a night when his cousin joined Solo Sikoa, Jimmy Uso, and The Tribal Chief in the Bloodline. Rock hit the ring in an immaculate gold vest to announce and talked down the Utah crowd in a classic heel Hollywood Rock promo.

Rock told the audience they had him against Roman Reigns in the biggest WrestleMania main event ever and they flushed it down the drain. Rock then asked what Rhodes’ story is, called it stupid logic for him to lose at WrestleMania and come back again to fight Reigns. He said Rhodes should have accepted his loss and moved on.

Rock then said he’s going to do everything in his power to make sure Rhodes walks out of WrestleMania a loser. He then said Rhodes’ story is ending and the Bloodline’s story is just beginning.

With Donald Trump threatening to reverse Roe v. Wade upon taking office, the need to defend women’s reproductive rights has never been more urgent. As other writers have pointed out, pro-life fanatics have the power of positive connotation on their side and use this advantage to demean the valid arguments of pro-choice advocates.

I mean, who would ever claim to be in opposition to life? Only, equating zygotes with adult human beings fails to recognize the science behind conception, as Bill Nye points out in an older video that has recently gained new relevancy.

---

In the video, you can see how frustrated Nye is explaining why abortion rights aren’t something we should be debating in the first place. After a brief explanation of how conception occurs, the science educator proves how little our laws have to do with reason or logic.

“You cannot help but notice — and I’m not the first guy to notice — you have a lot of men of European descent passing these extraordinary laws based on ignorance,” he says, adding, “It’s just a reflection of a deep scientific lack of understanding and you literally apparently don’t know what you’re talking about.” We can only imagine how frustrated he — along with every other advocate of logic — must be feeling now.

While anti-abortion zealots aren’t typically eager to consider science or reason, this video could potentially sway those who are on the fence about impeding on women’s rights. And while it shouldn’t take a white guy to explain why women’s rights are human rights, sadly, few people seem to listen when the plea for respect comes from women — despite the fact that these draconian laws only affect them.

Still, Nye and other logic-lovers are willing to hear you out, pro-lifers. If the argument truly comes down to protecting children and not depriving women of basic rights, there are several discussions worth having. For instance, instead of focusing on the rights of unborn babies, perhaps we could put our resources into protecting the children that already exist. We take it for granted that real, live children don’t enjoy the same human rights that adults do — an archaic way of thinking that time and time again puts kids in harm’s way. By actively fueling global warming, we deprive today’s children from having any semblance of a dependable future.

Now, more than ever, it’s imperative that we focus on the facts. By relying on scientific evidence to guide a course of action, we can respect one another’s beliefs without infringing on one another’s rights. It’s really not that hard. Take it from The Science Guy himself: “Be objective about this. We have other problems to solve, everybody.”

This article originally appeared on 11.23.16

Ariana Grande is a few weeks out from dropping her Eternal Sunshine album. She has been staying swamped, including dropping a new “Yes, And?” remix with Mariah Carey today. And it seems she has other surprises in store for this era.

In a new Instagram post, Grande has fueled the fan theories with a photo of flowers against a wall. Yet, the tag for director Christian Breslauer has her fanbase believing another music video is on the way. It’s unclear still what song it will be for. Breslauer did Grande’s “Yes, And?” video as well.

The second slide photo is of Grande in some futuristic makeup under blue lighting, which is seemingly from the set of whatever video is on the way. She pretty much confirmed it by also adding the photo to her Instagram story with a video camera emoji.

Now, fans on social media are extremely excited about Grande’s upcoming plans.

“i don’t think this is for the remix cause she would’ve released it last night like she did with the og,” one user wrote. “anyway, i think this is for the second single that’s coming out after the album drops or a performance video coming out tonight 17th.”

“my expectations are high please high budget mv,” another wrote.

Check out Ariana Grande‘s potential music video teaser post above. Below, find some additional fan reactions to her reveal.

Eternal Sunshine is out 3/8 via Republic. Find more information here.

Years after the release of the 2022 Whitney Houston biopic, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Sony Music Entertainment has sued the film’s producers for allegedly failing to pay still for using Houston’s music, according to Rolling Stone.

Specifically, Sony has filed a lawsuit against Anthem Films, Nybo Productions, and Black Label Media, claiming that payments for including Houston’s catalog in the movie should have been paid by July 2023. The publication noted that the exact amount owed is unknown.

“As a result of Anthem’s failures, Defendants’ use of the SME Recordings in the Film has been unauthorized, and Defendants have had no legal right to use the SME Recordings,” Sony’s claim said. “Despite being given notice of their infringing conduct, Defendants have continued to distribute and otherwise exploit the SME Recordings in connection with the Film without authorization.”

“Defendants’ conduct has caused and continues to cause substantial and irreparable harm to Plaintiffs and the estate of Whitney Houston while enriching Defendants at the expense of Plaintiffs and the estate of Whitney Houston,” it added.

The producers are now being accused of “direct copyright infringement” and “vicarious copyright infringement,” but both parties did not return Rolling Stone‘s request for comment on the lawsuit matter.

Ariana Grande is releasing her new album, Eternal Sunshine, in just a few weeks — and the fan anticipation has been seriously building.

It is also helpful that Grande gave it a boost by remixing her “Yes, And?” single, with none other than Mariah Carey appearing on the track. A truly iconic collaboration.

While no other singles have been released yet, Grande has provided some more info about what fans can expect on the record.

Here’s what to know.

Is Ariana Grande Releasing A New Album In 2024?

Yes, she is finally making a return to music after being away for a few years.

Will Ariana Grande Release A Single For Her New Album?

Yes! Grande previously dropped her lead “Yes, And?” single, and has since released a remix of it that features Mariah Carey.

When Will Ariana Grande’s New Album Come Out?

Eternal Sunshine is out 3/8 via Republic. Find more information here.

Does Ariana Grande’s New Album Have A Tracklist?

Grande’s album tracklist hasn’t officially been revealed, but she has teased a few other song titles. Here’s the partial tracklist, as of February 7.

1. “Intro (End Of The World)”
2. “Bye”
3.
4.
5. “Eternal Sunshine”
6. “Supernatural”
7.
8.
9. “Yes, And?”
10. “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)”
11.
12.
13.

Will Ariana Grande’s New Album Have Features?

It’s still unclear if Eternal Sunshine will have any features. However, if she includes the remix of “Yes, And?” on the official tracklist, Mariah Carey will then be one of them.

What Is The Album Cover For Ariana Grande’s New Album?

Check out the Eternal Sunshine album cover below.

Will Ariana Grande Go On Tour For Her New Album?

Ariana Grande has not announced a tour for her new album.

Longing to visit one of America’s many national parks, and not sure where to start? One traveling couple just made deciding a whole heck of a lot easier.

Matt and Karen Smith have been to all of them. That’s right. All 63 of them. They even survived a plane crash to hit the milestone (more on that later).

In a short and sweet 30-second video posted to their Instagram account, Matt and Karen place certain parks into special categories, like “best wildlife sightings,” “most underrated,” and “most awe inspiring,” all before revealing which park, in their opinion, is “the best of everything.”

---

Of course, it might be hard to really take in the information the duo give during the first watch, because they captured some truly breathtaking views—from lush forest to galloping buffalo to backdrops that look like they belong to an alien planet.

So here’s the breakdown, for easy reading:

Washington’s Olympic National Park was named “most diverse” as Karen walked through what looked like a mix between rainforest and something out of Dr. Suess.

Death Valley in California won “most otherworldly” for its “Mad Max”-esque terrain

Both Montana’s Glacier and Mount Rainier in Washington tied for “most epic hiking trails,” while Utah’s Zion National park got “most unique hiking trails.”

Utah’s Bryce Canyon was dubbed “most enchanting” as the camera panned under a picturesque stone arch to reveal colorful stone cliffs.

Rounding out the list, South Dakota’s Badlands got “most underrated,” Yellowstone got the accolade of “best wildlife sightings” and “most awe-inspiring” went to the Grand canyon.

Lastly, “best of everything” went to…drumroll please…

…Grand Teton in Wyoming.

See on Instagram

While this list is based off of Karen and Matt’s experience, they wrote in the caption, “the great thing about our parks is that you get to experience them for yourself and make your own best of’ memories, which will of course be different from ours.”

The couple have a wanderlust so strong that not even a plane crash couldn’t thwart their plans. According to the Seattle Times, they were flying back from a visit to Lake Clark National Park in Alaska in 2011 when their plane flew into a float plane mid air. Luckily, both aircrafts were able to land safely and no injuries were had.

Next time you’re longing for the exotic sights of faraway places, remember that sometimes your own backyard has so much natural splendor to offer.

In the age of television, radio, and the internet, we hear voices all the time, pretty much everywhere we go. From advertisements to customer service prompts to video narrations, voiceovers have become so commonplace that we don’t give them much thought.

That is, until we see someone actually doing those voices we’re so accustomed to hearing.

Professional voice actor Tawny Platis shared a video to her Tiktok demonstrating 10 voices most of us will instantly recognize, and it’s as uncanny as it is impressive. She seamlessly transitions from a text-to-speech voice to a “detached casual conversation” voice to a bright “We’ve got denim for the whole family!” department store voice and more.

---

As she shares these voices, you’ll swear you’ve heard her doing them before, either on a call with your bank, in your workplace’s onboard training, or while reaching for a tissue during a holiday commercial. It’s downright freaky. Watch:

@tawnyplatis

10 common reads you’ll hear in voiceover! #voiceactor #funny

People in the comments had the most relatable responses to Platis’ voiceover demonstration.

“This is incredible. I’m ready to buy something. I’m not sure what.”

“I feel like you’ve been there for all the important moments of my life. Thank you.”

“Bright was so triggering as a retail worker.”

“Can’t tell if i’ve heard your voice before or if you’re just that good.”

Being in the virtual presence of such greatness made some folks rethink their own voice acting ambitions.

“Me at the beginning of the video: I could be a professional voice actor!…… me at the end of the video:… there’s a reason SHE is a professional voice actor. Well done. 👏”

“Me sometimes ‘I bet I could voice act’ me after this video ‘nope. I can’t do that.'”

“Welp I can cross this off my list of potential professions. That was amazing.”

Mostly, people were rightfully impressed with her range and talent. To have that much control over how your voice sounds with such consistency is remarkable.

But this video also offers interesting insights into the psychology of how this kind of acting impacts modern-day life. Each of these voices evokes a specific response in us, from comfort to excitement to trust to awe. It’s a bit unsettling to clearly see how easily we can be influenced by someone’s voice and how well-honed those cues and responses have become.

Voiceover professional Simon Lewington explained this phenomenon in an article on LinkedIn: “Just as colors evoke emotions in visual art, the tone of voice creates an emotional palette in auditory storytelling. The psychological impact of tone is profound. A warm and inviting tone can make viewers feel welcome, while a serious tone lends an air of authority. Choosing the right tone consciously allows voice-over artists to evoke intended emotions in the audience.”

Lewington writes that voiceover artists are “emotional architects” who “use the psychology of voice to subtly shape how viewers perceive and engage with content.” It’s an art that can be used to enhance our enjoyment of an experience, but also one that can be used to convince us to buy or believe something. Voiceover work is powerful, and when it’s done well, it’s almost spooky how much it can affect us.

If you want to see more from Tawny Platis, you can follow her on TikTok or find her courses and tutorials for voice acting here.