Month: July 2024

The 76th Primetime Emmys series should be a banger. At least, that would be the hope after years of pandemic hiccups and the open-ended WGA strike last year. This year also will be missing a few shows that have historically dominated categories, so the odds feel more wide open without Succession or The White Lotus to dominate the drama and limited series categories.

With that said, there are some presumed frontrunner series. That would include FX’s Shōgun and The Bear along with Netflix’s Baby Reindeer and Prime Video/Amazon’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Get ready for the awards half-season drama to begin with the broadcast coming on Sunday, September 15.

Here’s the complete list of nominees (being updated).

Best Drama Series
The Crown
Fallout
The Gilded Age
The Morning Show
The Crown
Mr & Mrs Smith
Shōgun
Slow Horses
3 Body Problem

Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Only Murders in the Building
Palm Royale
Reservation Dogs
What We Do in the Shadows

Best Actor In A Drama Series
Idris Elba, Hijack
Donald Glover, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Walton Goggins, Fallout
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Hiroyuki Sanada, Shōgun
Dominic West, The Crown

Best Actress In A Drama Series
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
Maya Erskine, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Anna Sawai, Shōgun
Imelda Staunton, The Crown
Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show

Best Actor In A Limited Series, Movie Or Anthology
Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers
Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
Jon Hamm, Fargo
Tom Hollander, Feud: Capote vs. the Swans
Andrew Scott, Ripley

Best Drama Series

Best Comedy Series

Best Limited Or Anthology Series

Best Actor In A Drama Series

Best Actress In A Drama Series

Best Actor In A Comedy Series

Best Actress In A Comedy Series

Best Actor In A Limited Anthology Series Or Movie

Best Actress In A Limited Anthology Series Or Movie

Best Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Best Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Best Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Best Actor In A Limited Series, Movie Or Anthology

Best Reality Competition Program

Best Variety Talk Series

Best Scripted Variety Series

Best Animated Program

Before the release of his new album, The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), Eminem made it a point to advise fans to listen to it in order, as he wrote it as a concept album and really wanted them to understand the story. However, once you plant the seeds of deeper meaning, there will always be those who can’t resist drilling down even more, hoping to find the meaning behind the meaning (I blame Christopher Nolan for this).

And, of course, as with so many concept albums before it, fans are convinced you can glean this extra meaning by playing the album back-to-front. It’s no surprise; in 2017, Kendrick Lamar confirmed that the story on DAMN. works in reverse, and yes, many (many) rock albums were accused of having backmasked messages during the satanic panic of the ’80s. But is Eminem’s new album really meant to be played back-to-front? These fans seem to think so:

However, others are convinced that the album is meant to be played on repeat instead:

Meanwhile, still others think everyone is just doing too much and needs to calm down:

I suppose the answer, like art, is subjective — and depends on whether you have been one of those begging for Eminem to let go of the “Slim Shady” persona for the past 20 years or a Stan who wants “Slim Shady” to live forever so you never have to learn anyone’s preferred pronouns.

Netflix is as ubiquitous as Disney, Walmart, and Apple — or so I thought.

According to IndieWire, a recent study of 1,000 adults living in the United States found that four percent of them have “never heard of” Netflix. They’re missing out on so much: Stranger Things! Ripley! Various movies starring The Rock with the word “red” in the title!

57 percent said they currently subscribe to Netflix, down from the 60 percent who did in the prior quarter… Seven percent of the survey respondents said they’ve canceled Netflix within the past three months, which is reasonably steady compared to previous quarters. An eye-opening 14 percent of respondents said they had heard of Netflix but “never subscribed to” it.

Now, to be fair, 1,000 is (to sound like every baseball writer ever) a small sample size. But that makes it even more surprising that four percent of the 1,000 respondents — or 40 people — are totally unaware of Netflix. It’s like offering someone a Coca-Cola, and they respond, “What’s that?”

Then again, “only” 95 percent of Americans use the internet, so maybe this study just so happened to talk to the same five percent of folks who are offline. They’re probably living happy and fulfilling lives, not watching Hillbilly Elegy.

(Via IndieWire)

Clairo’s new album Charm is out now, and now the other shoe has dropped: Today (July 16), Clairo announced a tour in support of the album. The 25-date tour of the US and Canada runs from late September to early November.

There’s a ticket pre-sale that starts on July 23 at 10 a.m. local time, and registration for that is open now. A general on-sale will follow on July 26 at 10 a.m. local time. $1 from each ticket sale will be donated to support women’s reproductive rights. More information about the pre-sale and general on-sale can be found here.

The tour will follow the previously announced residencies in Los Angeles and New York in September.

Find the full list of tour dates, including the residencies, below.

Clairo 2024 Tour Dates: Charm

09/06 — Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theater
09/07 — Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theater
09/08 — Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theater
09/10 — Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theater
09/11 — Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theater
09/14 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall
09/15 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall
09/17 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall
09/18 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall
09/19 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall
09/27 — Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum
09/28 — Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
09/30 — Austin, TX @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater
10/01 — Austin, TX @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater
10/03 — Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Amphitheatre
10/04 — San Diego, CA @ The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
10/06 — Stanford, CA @ Frost Amphitheater
10/07 — Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
10/09 — Troutdale, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield
10/10 — Seattle, WA @ The Paramount Theatre
10/11 — Seattle, WA @ The Paramount Theatre
10/13 — Magna, UT @ The Great Saltair
10/14 — Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
10/16 — Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
10/20 — Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live!
10/21 — Washington, D.C. @ The Anthem
10/23 — Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
10/24 — Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
10/28 — Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
10/29 — Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
11/01 — Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
11/02 — Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
11/04 — Nashville, TN @ Opry House
11/05 — Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium
11/07 — Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre

Charm is out now via Clairo Records LLC. Find more information here.

Hip-hop’s summer of beef continues?

At least, some fans think it does after Big Sean freestyled for the On The Radar Radio show. See, over the course of his verse, Sean drops several bars that some have interpreted as shots at Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick, of course, just wrapped up his vitriolic beatdown of Drake; however, in doing so, he and the Canadian kinda stepped on Big Sean’s new album rollout.

Sean was already tangentially involved in the “Big Three” fiasco via his new song “Clarity,” and a leaked, scrapped version of Kendrick’s 2017 song “Element” seemed to give Sean reasons for wanting to strike back. “N****s looking for engagement like they got they knee bent / I gotta better things to do than find someone to beef with,” he says in the verse.

So, does this theory hold water?

Not according to DJ Hed, who has become something of an unofficial authority on most things K. Dot for rap fans on Twitter. After calling a tweet noting the supposed diss “cap,” Hed followed up with a cryptic explanation. “I talked to Sean. The bar was ‘I got better things to do then find someone to beef with.’ And it was not for Dot. Bar was directed at a different Gemini.”

Now, I’m not a big astrology guy, but sources (Google) tell me that Kanye West would also fall under that description. He’s also had plenty to say about his frayed relationship with Big Sean during his appearance on N.O.R.E.’s Drink Champs podcast in 2021, calling signing the Detroit rapper the “worst thing I’ve ever done” and accusing him of being a shill for the Democratic Party, which… oy vey.

Kanye’s comments certainly would fit the “reaching for engagement” bill, as well as trying to “find someone to beef with” for Kanye trying to enter the Drake/Kendrick feud unasked (and failing miserably, by the way). Meanwhile, some of the other lines fans have identified seem like Dhalsim from Street Fighter-level stretches.

So, for now, until Sean himself says otherwise, it’s unlikely he’s dissing Kendrick. And for what it’s worth, no one wants to see part two of this nonsense, because if all that West Coast solidarity might go out the window over Jhené Aiko, what was any of it even for?

The Boys took a turn during last week’s penultimate episode, which ended with Annie January being held prisoner by the Shifter, who now inhabits Annie’s life and relationship with Hughie. This can’t turn out well, but we will soon find out how much of a disaster that shall be.

Additionally, Homelander is hoping to be on the brink of success with his master plan. Actually, that would probably be Sister Sage’s master plan, and well, he fired her, so good luck with that, buddy. Yet Homelander always finds a way to skate, and he has also recently devalued Firecracker (and her milk supply), so he’s going to have to get creative unless he wants to experience a Caesar-like downfall. Although come to think of it, this Prime Video/Amazon series’ first fourth-season trailer did make that historical allusion, and now, I’m just speculating for fun, so here’s the more relevant question:

When Does The Boys Season 4, Episode 8 Come Out?

“Assassination Run” will stream on Prime Video/Amazon beginning at 3:00am EST and 12:00am PST on Thursday, July 18.

Nobody is prepared for this episode. Heck, I’ve watched it twice, and I’m still not feeling prepared.

From there, we will definitely talk about the conundrums that the finale poses. Gen V also remains on track to return next year with a second season, and future spin offs are still under deliberation by Eric Kripke and friends.

Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s feud has been one of the biggest pop culture events of 2024 so far: Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is a No. 1 hit (again), the song was mentioned at the ESPYs, and now, the beef has reached Jeopardy! status.

One of the categories in the Double Jeopardy! round from last night’s (July 16) episode was called “Diss-track-tions,” and the $800 question was, “In May 2024, these 2 competitors went back & forth with tracks like ‘Family Matters’ & ‘Meet The Grahams.’” A contestant correctly said, ‘Who are Kendrick Lamar and Drake?’

Per J! Archive, the category also referenced beefs between Eminem and The Game, Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G., 50 Cent and Cam’ron, and Nas and Jay-Z. Contestants managed to answer all of the clues correctly. J! Archive also notes last night’s episode was taped on May 23, at which point all of the songs currently associated with the Drake/Kendrick feud so far had been released (but before the “Not Like Us” video dropped).

Meanwhile, the feud has mostly died down and it seems Drake has more pressing issues to deal with at the moment. Toronto just got hit some some extreme weather, which has left Drake’s mansion in the city absolutely filled with water.

Seacrest in… as the host of Wheel of Fortune.

On Tuesday, Ryan Seacrest shared a behind-the-scenes look from his first day as Pat Sajack’s replacement on the game show, even if the episode itself won’t air until the fall. “A glimpse of my first day at @WheelofFortune, and I’m still spinning with excitement,” he wrote on Instagram. In one clip (which was filmed “a few months ago”), he spins the titular wheel; later, Seacrest admits that he couldn’t sleep the night before because he was “so excited.”

It was initially unclear if Vanna White shared his excitement, but the pair have seemed to patch things up.

“I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” Seacrest tweeted once he was announced as the new host back in June 2023. “I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them.” He added, “I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White.”

Seacrest will make his Wheel of Fortune debut sometime in September.

Dudes rock, and no dudes rock harder than Japandroids.

The duo of guitarist and vocalist Brian King and drummer David Prowse have announced a new album, Fate & Alcohol, their first since 2017’s Near To The Wild Heart Of Life. It’s due out October 18 on ANTI.

Japandoids also released the album’s first single, “Chicago” (not a Sufjan cover). The track, which absolutely needs to appear on the soundtrack for season 4 of The Bear, “was recorded in our jam space on February 4th, 2020,” King said, “and if you listen to that, it just sounds like a rough version of what you hear on the record. But it’s all there. That, in some ways, is the most ideal circumstance for a band like us: just having something that really rips in your jam space, something that feels good, something that you’re excited about.”

Prowse also discussed the legacy of Japandroids. “I don’t think we’re the most technically proficient band in the world. And we’re not the most original-sounding or challenging band in the world,” he wrote in a statement. “But we’ve always put a lot of passion into what we do, and I think that’s resonated with a lot of people. And I’m really grateful that we could be that band for people, in the same way that so many bands were for us.”

You can listen to “Chicago” above.

Japandroids’ Fate & Alcohol Tracklist

1. “Eye Contact High”
2. “D&T”
3. “Alice”
4. “Chicago”
5. “Upon Sober Reflection”
6. “Fugitive Summer”
7. “A Gaslight Anthem”
8. “Positively 34th Street”
9. “One Without the Other”
10. “All Bets Are Off”

Fate & Alcohol is out 10/18 via ANTI. Find more information here.

Yesterday (July 16), Travis Scott found himself at Barclays Arena in Hamburg, Germany for a concert on his Circus Maximus tour. Overall, Scott’s time in the city appears to have been an up-and-down experience.

Scott tweeted yesterday, “The show was the best show ever And the fans are amazing.” Immediately after, though, he indicated in a follow-up tweet that he had he had a bad experience in the city’s airport, writing, “BUT I WILL NEVER COME BACK TO HAMBURG. SIMPLY BECAUSE THE AIRPORT PEOPLE ARE JUST WEIRD.”

It’s not confirmed what happened to Scott at the airport, but according to an unverified telling of events, Scott’s concert was supposed to start at 8 p.m., but he only landed in Hamburg at 8:46. After the concert, Scott supposedly attempted to fly back to London, but the airport was closed. Scott and his team apparently pressed the issue about not being able to fly to London when they wanted to and caused a hectic scene.

Meanwhile, Scott has been busy lately. He cleared a lot of his Astroworld Festival legal troubles off his plate, and then he got arrested, which he didn’t seem to bothered about given that he made his own mugshot merch.