Month: April 2024

Each week our staff of film and television experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish shows available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.

15. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Disney Plus)

Taylor Swift’s record-breaking concert film is now available to watch whenever you want. But if you only have time for one song from every era, for some reason, make them: “Cruel Summer” (Lover), “Love Story” (Fearless), “Champagne Problems” (Evermore), “Look What You Made Me Do” (Reputation), “Enchanted” (Speak Now), “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” (Red), “Illicit Affairs” (Folklore), “Style” (1989), and “Anti-Hero” (Midnights). Don’t blame me for the lack of songs from debut. That’s on Taylor.

Watch it on Disney Plus

14. X-Men ’97 (Disney Plus)

If you’re going to do unadulterated nostalgia, at least make it as fun (and occasionally devastating) as X-Men ‘97. The Disney Plus animated series is a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series, which aired from 1992 to 1997, and follows the team of mutants as they do mutant-like things. Do we really need to explain what the X-Men show is about? It’s about the X-Men.

Watch it on Disney Plus

13. Girls5eva (Netflix)

Anyone who skips the opening credits for Girls5eva should be thrown in prison. Actually, anyone who doesn’t watch Girls5eva, a hilarious joke-a-second comedy about a reunited girl group played by Sara Bareilles, Busy Philipps, Paula Pell, and Renée Elise Goldsberry (don’t forget guest star Richard Kind!), deserves a five-year sentence behind bars. It’s harsh but fair.

Watch it on Netflix

12. Shogun (Hulu)

Shogun really is that good (and stayed that good).

A historical epic set in feudal Japan that follows an English pilot (Cosmo Jarvis) who washes ashore during a time of political strife, it takes the kind of storytelling swings you just wouldn’t expect. Its most fascinating characters speak almost exclusively in subtitles (hello Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawaii, and Moeka Hoshi), its action sneaks up on you, and its political intrigue is cutthroat. It’s Game of Thrones with samurais and it should be on everyone’s must-see list.

Watch it on Hulu

11. Ripley (Netflix)

Everybody remembers Matt Damon in The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Andrew Scott is fully shaking off his “Hot Priest” days to don Tom Ripley’s grifter duds, this time in a more visually-striking medium, from the looks of this trailer. This series is, of course, based upon Patricia Highsmith’s series of novels, and the title character takes a job in the 1960s that sets him on the deceit-filled path to murder. Whether this debut will lead to adapting more books in further seasons, we shall have to wait and see.

Watch it on Netflix

10. Drive-Away Dolls (Peacock)

Remember the time one of the Coen brothers and his wife made a super fun lesbian road trip comedy starring Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Camp, and Matt Damon? You probably don’t: Drive-Away Dolls made under $10 million at the box office. But now it’s on Peacock for your viewing pleasure.

Watch it on Peacock

9. The Sympathizer (Max)

The last time Park Chan-wook directed a limited series, it was The Little Drummer Girl. That turned out pretty good. Now, the Korean filmmaker is back with another excellent addition to his filmography.

Based on author Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel of the same, The Sympathizer is described as “an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over.” The cast is led by Hoa Xuande and Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr., who plays multiple characters.

Watch it on Max

8. Under the Bridge (Hulu)

The Hulu true crime series Under the Bridge is about a 14-year-old girl who goes missing after being invited to a party. Her body is later discovered after she was brutally beaten by her peers. The story is told from the perspective of a journalist writing about the incident and a local police officer, played by Riley Keough and Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone, as they explore the “hidden world of the young girls accused of the murder — revealing startling truths about the unlikely killer.”

Watch it on Hulu

7. Fallout (Prime Video)

Fallout is an adaptation of Bethesda’s behemoth franchise, a story set within the retro-futuristic world that’s captivated console users for years and years. Yes, there are delightful little nods to in-game storylines – Pip-Boys and Nuka-Cola and Radaway, but they either serve a larger purpose or don’t linger for too long, ensuring that the show stands on its own two feet. Long-time gamers should have little to gripe about while those craving better genre fare amidst the streaming glut should come away satisfied. Whether you know its history or not, Fallout is a f*cking blast of a sci-fi show that defies expectations in the most unconventional of ways.

Watch it on Prime Video

6. Knuckles (Paramount Plus)

There’s no Keanu Reeves (yet), but Knuckles should delight the lil’ Sonic fans in your home. The Paramount Plus series has Idris Elba reprising his role as the red echidna from the movies, along with Adam Pally, Cary Elwes, Edi Patterson, and Stockard Channing. Over the course of six episodes, Knuckles goes on a “journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train [Pally’s character] Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior.” Is it too much to hope for a Big the Cat cameo?

Watch it on Paramount

5. Conan O’Brien Must Go (Max)

Now that everyone remembers how Conan O’Brien is a comedic genius, we owe it to him to watch his new show. Conan O’Brien Must Go is a travel series on Max where he “experiences local cultures and connects with fans he previously met on his podcast.” It’s very silly and very fun — in other words, it’s very Conan. Hopefully he stays away from con men selling monorails, though.

Watch it on Max

4. Baby Reindeer (Netflix)

The less you learn about Baby Reindeer, the better. Just know that it’s one of the most talked-about shows of the year so far, and it’s getting favorably compared to I May Destroy You and Fleabag. Don’t waste your time speculating, as requested by creator and star Richard Gadd. Just watch it.

Watch it on Netflix

3. Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix)

The latest Neil Gaiman project to be turned into a show is Dead Boy Detectives. It’s a lot of fun. Creepy, but fun. The series follows two sleuths, Edwin Payne (played by George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), who track down the world’s most elusive ghosts and demons. Did I mention that Edwin and Charles are also ghosts? That’s important to know, as is this: co-creator Steve Yockey compared Dead Boy Detectives to “The Hardy Boys on acid.” OK!

Watch it on Netflix

2. The Big Door Prize (Apple TV Plus)

Apple TV’s breakout hit The Big Door Prize returns for a second season, which follows “the residents of Deerfield as the Morpho machine readies them for the mysterious ‘next stage.’ As everyone’s potentials are exchanged for visions, new relationships form and new questions are asked,” according to the official plot synopsis. Chris O’Dowd is back, as is Josh Segarra, in case you’re missing Lance from The Other Two. I know I am.

Watch it on Apple TV+

1. Anyone But You (Netflix)

You’ve probably heard about this one. Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell’s romantic comedy, which has Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell pretending to be the world’s most attractive couple (both on- and off-screen), was a big hit in theaters. It grossed $219 million at the box office, a massive amount of money for a romantic-comedy. Now it’s on Netflix, in case you want to watch Sweeney sing “Unwritten” to Powell’s naked butt on a loop.

Watch it on Netflix

Hip-hop’s unofficial War of the Roses saw a new combatant enter the fray this week. However, rather than jumping into the dust-up between Drake and Kendrick Lamar or inserting himself into any of the other (many) existing fracases, Gucci Mane instead decided to pile onto the absolute sh*tstorm of trouble currently plaguing Sean “Diddy” Combs. In his new song “TakeDat,” Gucci Mane turns the beleaguered mogul into a frequent punchline, reproducing iconic Bad Boy music videos in his own video for “TakeDat.” So, what does Gucci Mane have to say about Diddy in “TakeDat?”

Well throughout the chorus, Gucci chants the newly-coined colloquialism “no Diddy” as he lists his various accomplishments and claims to fame. Among them: “We gettin’ higher than a kite,” “See my artists double plat,” and “Couple n****s got whacked.” Each is accompanied by another evocation of the refrain.

But in the first verse is where things get really spicy, as Gucci boasts, “I got a young Miami bitch from the city / I’m spendin’ money like a trick, no Diddy / I rock pissy yellow diamonds, no Diddy / But she can’t be underage, no Diddy.” This quatrain references Diddy’s potentially transactional relationship with City Girls rapper Yung Miami, Combs’ alleged affinity for watersports, and at least one of the many sexual misconduct suits against him, in which he’s accused of having sex with an underage girl.

Later in the verse, Gucci also calls back to Cassie’s assertion that Diddy had Kid Cudi’s car bombed in a fit of jealousy, Suge Knight’s 1995 Source Awards “come to Death Row” taunt about “the executive producer trying to be all in the videos, all on the record, dancing,” and the longstanding rumor that Diddy had his artist The Notorious B.I.G. set up and murdered to capitalize on his posthumous record sales.

You can check out the full lyrics for “TakeDat” here.

On April 1, PartyNextDoor shocked the world when he revealed the cover art for his upcoming album, P4 (short for PartyNextDoor 4). The cover, which featured a photo of a nude woman kneeling from behind in a pose suggesting an intimate moment between lovers, made some fans wonder online if it was an April Fool’s joke. But in the weeks since, Party has stuck to his guns as he released a trickle of new music, including the single “Real Woman.” So…

When Can You Play PartyNextDoor’s New Album P4 On Apple Music?

P4 is out 4/26 via OVO Sound / Warner Records. That means it’ll most likely hit streaming platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal at midnight, eastern time (which is 9 PM pacific).

The album will be the Canadian R&B singer’s fourth studio album and his first in four years following the release of PartyMobile in 2020. He previously explained the delay as the result of a relationship. Naturally, that means fan anticipation is high; in Wongo Okon’s latest feature for Uproxx, he lists four wishes for the new album, including “a new album cover.” Fans are also looking forward to a new Drake collaboration; Party’s prior connections with his OVO boss have become fan favorites, so there’s a tradition to live up to.

We’ll see if the album does so in a few hours.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Snoop Dogg’s ice cream.

The cannabis king hosted the first Dr. Bombay day event — “Ice Cream Dreams” — last Friday and let’s just say that more famous names are showing off their sweet tooth. Named after his Bored Ape NFT sidekick and inspired by the West Coast vibe that has been a continual part of Snoop Dogg’s life and brand (ugh, that term), Dr. Bombay ice cream got its first official party celebration at Snoop’s compound in Inglewood, CA last weekend with a bevy of guests.

The party was hit up by Snoop’s son Cordell Broadus, Lil Baby, musicians Gavin Rossdale, Hemlock Springs, and Tommy Richman, model Slick Woods, actor Jaleel White, and a Death Row Records entourage, all of whom enjoyed boozy floats, cannabis pairings by Death Row Cannabis, collab sneakers, and more. Additionally, Snoop greeted guests and friends while enjoying his newest ice cream flavor “Strawberry Cream Dream,” which will hit grocery store shelves next month.

“I love my munchies, especially my Dr. Bombay ice cream. I am declaring April 19th Dr. Bombay Day – be sure to hit the store and tell them Dogg sent you,” Snoop Dogg said.

Scroll down to see an inside look at Snoop Dogg’s “Ice Cream Dreams” party with these exclusive photos by The CobraSnake.

PartyNextDoor is back. The Toronto singer had taken a bit of a hiatus for the past few years, sharing new music only sparingly (“Her Old Friends,” “Resentment“) until announcing his new album, PartyNextDoor 4 (or P4) last month. Now, it’s just hours from appearing on DSPs, and fans are already plenty excited to find out what the toxic troubadour has in store.

When Can You Play PartyNextDoor’s New Album P4 On Spotify?

PartyNextDoor 4 is out 4/26 via OVO Sound / Warner Records. That means it’ll most likely hit streaming platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal at midnight, eastern time (which is 9 PM pacific).

Just make sure nobody can see your device screen when you pull it up to listen to it; the album’s raunchy cover photo caused a fair amount of consternation online when he revealed it back on April 1st, prompting some fans to wonder if the cover was an April Fool’s joke. However, it looks like Party is dead serious, forging ahead with the cover photo, which fans later learned was modeled by Lanazia Greene, who told Complex, “The reaction was insane. I didn’t think that it would at all go crazy the way that it did.”

You can listen to P4 on all DSPs at midnight on 4/26.

Taylor Swift only just released her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, this past Friday, but the early returns indicate that people really like it. Here’s an example: Spotify just announced that on April 22, The Tortured Poets Department has racked up over 1 billion streams on the platform, the most in Spotify history for a single week.

That’s even more impressive considering the album was released on April 19, and the 22nd was just three days, less than half a week, later. As Variety notes, the album topped 300 million streams on its first day, so if it maintained that pace, hitting a billion about three days later checks out.

Beyond that, The Post Malone-featuring “Fortnight” became the most-streamed song in a single day ever on Spotify during its first day. That same day, Tortured Poets and Swift herself set the records for most-streamed album and artist on Spotify in a day, respectively.

Back to the first-week record: That was previously held by… Swift’s own Midnights. Those full numbers don’t appears to have been revealed, but it has been estimated that it was somewhere in the 700,000 range.

Worth noting is that The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, an expanded version of the album released immediately after the base edition, is especially long with its 31 tracks, which has certainly helped the album rack up its lofty streaming figures.

Jayden Daniels won’t have to wait long to hear his name called on Thursday night when the 2024 NFL Draft gets underway. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU is widely expected to be selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders, but even if they go in another direction, it’s hard to imagine him falling outside the top 6 picks.

Like every prospect, this year’s Draft is the culmination of years of hard work and seeking out that right opportunity to shine and showcase his full talents. After starting his career at Arizona State, Daniels transferred to LSU where he spent two seasons under Brian Kelly. His first year was solid, but his second was spectacular, as he threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and just four interceptions, while rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. In Daniels’ eyes, growing in one particular area helped.

“I would say my decisiveness,” Daniels told Uproxx Sports when asked what he improved most in his time at LSU. “That came with the trust and the relationship that I built with the whole offense — the O-line, the running backs, and the receivers especially. Trust them to go out there and make a play, put the ball in their area, and nine times out of 10 they made the play.”

Daniels certainly had good reason to trust those receivers, as Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. are projected first round picks in their own right. Still, there’s a process of building that trust that has to happen, and Daniels has some firsthand experience from transferring into a new environment at LSU that can help him as he makes the move to the NFL.

“Coming in at ASU, you come in with your recruiting class so you kind of already know half the people and you really just got to bond with the other people. But coming to LSU, I was really the only one in my class at that point. I didn’t know anybody, so it just came with time,” Daniels explained. “You know, building relationships, showing people how hard I work, how I lead. And on the field, once you make plays you start getting the respect and the trust of others, and then being able to relate to them, having fun and talking to different people within the locker room. Stuff like that, it means a lot. I mean, you can’t really get those moments back.”

Daniels cherishes those moments and opportunities to build those bonds that go outside the lines. He’s naturally laid back and easy going off the field, noting his favorite thing to do is just “hanging out with my boys,” whether that’s going bowling, playing video games, or whatever else. However, he’s able to flip that switch once it’s time to go to work.

In his time at LSU, Daniels was given a lot of the responsibilities he’ll now be asked to take on at the NFL level. The Tigers aren’t a “check with me” offense, and it was his job to get LSU into the right protection and right checks when needed, which he believes gives him a leg up as he comes into the league.

“It helped me out a lot,” Daniels said of the responsibility LSU gave him. “The pressure that they put on me as far as getting everybody lined up, protections, run checks, run looks, stuff like that based off of different fronts or coverages and things like that. So, it helped me out a lot. That’s stuff that I’m gonna be asked to do at the next level. So it prepared me for that, and now it’s time to take it up another notch.”

As for being able to shoulder that responsibility, he says it’s all about the work you do before the game.

“Really just the film work and the preparation throughout the week. How dedicated are you to the game? You know, the week of practice should be harder than the game,” Daniels said. “You’re kind of just getting all the answers to the test and when the test comes, you go out there and perform, you’re not really thinking about it. So making sure I stress myself out within the week with the preparation, try to get this look and try and get that look. And really once Saturday came, be able to go out there and not really think about playing football or think about anything, just go out and have fun.”

As he gets ready for Draft night, that commitment to preparation means something a little bit different. Daniels is among the many prospects joining forces with Head & Shoulders to make sure he’s looking right for his big moment on the stage in Detroit.

“Head & Shoulders, they take care of my hair and keep my hair looking great,” Daniels said. “So when I walk across the stage, you know I’m able to look my best. I’m really excited about the look that I put together [for Draft night].”

Whatever team that selects him, he’s tried to make sure they know his commitment to and passion for the game of football.

“I think when I got into the meetings, they’ve kind of seen everything on tape of how I am as a player. They asked me, they kind of know that I’m competitive, they do their homework and stuff like that,” Daniels said. “I’m joyful, obviously. Having fun with my guys when they score a touchdown, really just smiling, and things like that. But as a person, really just letting them know how dedicated I am to my craft and the passion I have for football. Obviously, I love football. It helped me out a lot growing up and getting to this point now, so that stuff I wanted them to know.”

When I think of “destructive” sex scenes, the first thing that comes to mind is Edward Cullen apparently busting up the headboard during the honeymoon sequence of Breaking Dawn — Part 1. And when I think of Bridgerton sex scenes, the term “female gaze” surfaces as well as John Oliver’s “jizzing in blankets.” However, the third Bridgerton season does something different, which is to edge into Cullen territory?

That’s not entirely accurate without context, but there was broken furniture, according to star Nicola Coughlan (Penelope Featherington/Lady Whistledown). As PEOPLE relays, The Derry Girls actress told 7 News Australia that reports were true: she and co-star Luke Newton (Colin Bridgerton) did bust up something. A bed? A sofa? A chaise lounge? Coughlan did not clarify but simply declared, “Yeah, hell yeah we did.”

It’s something to look forward to. As well, Coughlan recently told Decider that “the sex scenes in Bridgerton, they take days to film.” Well, no wonder the furniture couldn’t hold up. Even without the resident “Regency F*ckboy” on the scene, this show cannot stop with the randy displays.

Need more? Coughlan also detailed how she and Newton “lounged naked” in between takes, rather than get dressed. They did so under the covers, but still! This show sure knows its audience.

Bridgerton‘s third season (the first half) arrives on May 16.

(Via PEOPLE, 7 News Australia & Decider)

This month marks the 40th anniversary of Talking Heads‘ concert film, Stop Making Sense. Often considered one of the greatest concert films of all time, Stop Making Sense has since been restored in 4K by A24. Building upon that momentum of last year’s theatrical reissue, A24 Music will release an album mirroring the tracklist of the Stop Making Sense recording, featuring covers by Girl In Red, Miley Cyrus, and Teezo Touchdown. Additionally, A24 will hold two special screenings for a series called A Night Of Stop Making Sense in New York and Los Angeles — featuring members of Talking Heads, as well as some of the artists featured on the new recording.

A Night Of Stop Making Sense will kick off at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Pantages on June 4. Fans can look forward to a Q&A with all four Talking Heads members, as well as a performance by Blondshell and a conversation moderated by Fred Armisen.

On June 13 in New York City, Talking Heads will appear for the screening at Kings Theatre. They will also participate in a Q&A moderated by Questlove, and guests can also look forward to performances by The Linda Lindas.

Fans can purchase tickets to the LA screening here and the NYC screening here.

Tickets go on sale this Friday (April 26).

Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute To Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense is out 5/17 via A24 Music. Find more information here.

A lot of last names can be traced to occupations. If your surname is Miller, for instance, one of your ancestors probably worked (toiled) at a mill back in the day. Same with Butler, Smith, Taylor, etc. This tradition continues today with Hugh Jackman, whose profession is Jacked Man.

Following the release of the latest Deadpool & Wolverine trailer, there was speculation online about how the 55-year-old Jackman, back again as Wolverine, got so ripped. Some even wondered if there was digital trickery involved. That’s not the case, according to Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld.

“Hey, I was right there in person and those massive Hugh Jackman biceps are the REAL DEAL. Dude was jacked!!” he wrote on X. “I’ve been seeing folks talk of him wearing fake muscles… WHAT??? No. I touched em!”

This reminds me of something It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star (and friend of Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds) Rob McElhenney once said about how he got jacked. “Look, it’s not that hard. All you need to do is lift weights six days a week, stop drinking alcohol, don’t eat anything after 7pm, don’t eat any carbs or sugar at all, in fact just don’t eat anything you like, get the personal trainer from Magic Mike, sleep nine hours a night, run three miles a day, and have a studio pay for the whole thing over a six to seven month span,” he wrote on Instagram. “I don’t know why everyone’s not doing this. It’s a super realistic lifestyle and an appropriate body image to compare oneself to.”

You, too, can look Jackman and McElhenney if you follow those simple steps!

Deadpool & Wolverine comes out on July 26.