Year: 2024

Considering it made people (mostly conservative commentators) lose their marbles, you would think that the most-watched sketch from season 49 of Saturday Night Live would be from the episode hosted by Sydney Sweeney. Specifically, the Hooters sketch. But nope! “Hooters Waitress” — which is exactly what it sounds like — has 5.4 million views on YouTube, placing it #8 for the season, according to Decider. Here’s the top 5:

#5. “State of the Union Cold Open” (5.96 million)

#4. “Protective Mom 2” (6 million)

#3. “Washington’s Dream” (8.9 million)

#2. “I’m Just Pete” (13.7 million)

#1. “Beavis and Butt-Head” (15.3 million)

Yup, it’s the sketch that made the usually-composed Heidi Gardner channel her inner Jimmy Fallon and start uncontrollably laughing.

“It feels like it was just this huge release in a lot of ways for people,” she told IndieWire about the sketch, which stars Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day as guys who look a lot like Beavis and Butt-Head. “You’re not watching SNL in 2024 expecting to see Beavis and Butt-Head. So I think that was a fun generational thing for people to feel nostalgia… And then the fact that we all got the giggles, people have told me, ‘Oh, seeing you laugh that hard gave me permission to laugh that hard and just really be like, This is so stupid.’”

Stupid, and very popular.

(Via Decider)

Actor Billy Crystal once referred to Robin Williams as “my closest friend,” and the pair worked together as well. They hosted 8 “Comic Relief” charity events in the ‘80s and ’90s with Whoopi Goldberg and starred together in Kenneth Branagh’s “Hamlet” (1996), “Father’s Day” (1997), and Deconstructing Harry” (1997).

In 2014, 2 weeks after William’s death, Crystal was given the difficult job of eulogizing his dear friend at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Crystal only had a few minutes to express his love for Williams and describe his incredible contribution to comedy, but he did a commendable job speaking for the countless people left heartbroken by his death.

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“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, [being] the spokesman for everybody in front of 17 million people,” Crystal later admitted.

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Over the course of 3 minutes, Crustal shared Williams’ comic brilliance by recounting a time when he improvised as a Russian baseball player on live TV. He also shared his humanity by sharing how he spent time with his older relatives at family gatherings.

Finally, he summed up Williams by putting his indescribable brilliance into words.

“For almost 40 years he was the brightest star in a comedy galaxy,” Crystal said. “But while some of the brightest of our celestial bodies are actually extinct now, their energy long since cooled. But miraculously, since because they float in the heavens so far away from us now, their beautiful light will continue to shine on us forever. And the glow will be so bright, it’ll warm your heart, it’ll make your eyes glisten and you’ll think to yourselves, ‘Robin Williams—what a concept.’”

Season two of Bel-Air wrapped up by bringing viewers up to speed on Will’s basketball career, his love life, Carlton’s personal struggles, Phil and Vivian’s career moves, and more. It’s been a little over a year since the show’s second season came to an end, and while a third season was confirmed, its release date was not shared until earlier this week. At long last, Peacock announced that season three of Bel-Air will debut on August 15. A press release for the new season confirmed that the upcoming episodes would be focused on Will’s first summer in Bel-Air.

“No school. No uniforms. Just summer sizzle. Pools, beach parties, bonfires, fireworks, Juneteenth celebrations and lots of summer lovin’,” the press release noted. “Season 3 explores questions like, how do you prove yourself in a world that views you in limited ways? How do you reach beyond your comfort zone to create new opportunities for yourself? How does a family rebuild broken trust?”

Morgan Cooper, executive producer and director of Bel-Air, also shared a statement on the upcoming season. “Everything has a little more kick to it this season; the colors are more vibrant, the sound is elevated, the cinematography is more immersive,” he said. “The vibe really sets the tone for Will’s first Bel-Air summer: Three months to shine, explore and make moves under the LA sun.”

He continued, “In season 3, Will’s ready to level up his way, even if it means going against the grain of what’s expected. His potential is limitless, but he still has a lot to learn. As Will expands his horizons, we see the Banks family navigating new, complex relationship dynamics. It’s definitely a season of change for everyone, and we can’t wait to share this next chapter of Bel-Air.”

Stay tuned for more on Bel-Air season three and scroll down to view some first-look images from the upcoming season.

‘Bel-Air’ season 3 debuts on Peacock on August 15. Seasons 1 and 2 of ‘Bel-Air’ are available now to stream on Peacock.

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

Since the last update of this weekly R&B column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists.

Kehlani announced her fourth album Crash and revealed its cover art and release date while also helping to narrate the announcement video for the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s newest team. 6lack joined Russ for their new song “Working On Me” and NxWorries took a step closer to their upcoming album Why Lawd? with their new single “FromHere” featuring Snoop Dogg and October London. Elsewhere, Ravyn Lenae will headline Aminé’s The Best Day Ever Festival.

Here are some new releases from the past week that you’ll enjoy:

NxWorries — “FromHere” Feat. Snoop Dogg & October London

Eight years removed from their stunning debut Yes Lawd!, NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge) are weeks away from unveiling their second album Why Lawd?. Following “Where I Go,” “Daydreaming,” and “86Sentra,” NxWorries offers a fourth single thanks to “FromHere” with Snoop Dogg and October London. The slow-burning effort laments the loss of a lover with echoes from London and a mountain of questions from .Paak, all before Snoop Dogg arrives to close out the song.

Trevor Jackson — He Don’t Know

Trevor Jackson keeps the new music coming with his new EP He Don’t Know. It follows Heads Up from earlier this year, and arrives with five songs and a feature from Haben. He Don’t Know lives as a part two for Heads Up as Jackson assumes the role of the secret man in a woman’s love life while also delving into the highs and lows that exist in and outside the bedroom.

T-Pain — “On This Hill”

T-Pain promising run of recent releases continues with his latest single, “On This Hill.” The powerful single finds T-Pain standing firm in his beliefs and seizing control of the moment and freedom he gifted himself through ending a relationship with a woman who brought him more pain than joy.

Lila Iké — “He Loves Us Both” Feat. HER

Jamaican reggae singer Lila Iké and HER join forces for a record they say was inspired by Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine.” The reggae tune brings two women to the center as they learn that their romantic interests are shared with the same man. Despite this discovery, both Lila and HER are set on continue their foray into love regardless of their partner’s infidelity.

Elijah Blake — “Sugarwater & Lime”

With Elijah. still on the way, ELijah Blake offers a hopeful record with “Sugarwater & Lime.” On it, he reflects on attempts to heal and repair a relationship from heartbreak, noting “We can’t make lemonade / From sugarwater and lime,” but “maybe we can heal from heartbreak / In due time.” “Sugarwater & Lime” follows “Ghostbusters” as singles from Elijah..

Elmiene — “Sweetness” Feat. Leon Thomas

Following the completion of his North American tour, rising UK singer Elmiene invites Leon Thomas onto his lovelorn single “Sweetness.” Following Elmiene’s opening verse, Thomas checks in to mourn his own loss of love and even name drop a popular record of his.

Lekan — “Brand New”

The future is looking very bright for LA singer Lekan. He signed on as an opener for Tems’ upcoming Born In The Wild World Tour, and to celebrate, he dropped his second single of the year with “Brand New.” The forthright single presents Lekan with his cards on the table as he ponders a fresh start with a lover, seeing that their growing relationship deserves as clean state, so long as his companion feels the same.

Vedo — Next Chapter

The streak of activity continues for Vedo. Following two albums released in 2023, he returns with his eighth album Next Chapter. Fourteen songs and a feature from Rotimi make up this project which Vedo says “symbolizes victory, prosperity and overcoming obstacles in my life and in my career.”

Kallitechnis — “Wound Up”

With her Mood Ring EP nearing and arrival, Montreal singer Kallitechnis offers another single with “Wound Up.” The motivated and upbeat single makes use of summery production as Kallitechnis breaks free from the expectations and limitations placed upon her by society. Instead, she flies away and soars above them all.

Victor Ray — “Falling Into Place” Feat. Debbie

Ahead of his I Tried out on June 14, Victor Ray and UK singer Debbie join forces for their powerful and heartfelt single “Falling Into Place.” The magical duet captures the romantic feelings in place after meeting that special someone. According to Clash, Ray explained that the song was “inspired by the rush of emotions that you get when you meet a stranger that you know could end up becoming a lot more than that to you.” He added, “I met someone who made me feel this way and I knew that it might not work out, but I chose to believe it will.”

Cherrie — “GoGetter”

Swedish singer Cherrie shares her third single of year with “GoGetter.” Though the record, which follows “Såg Som De E” and “44,” is mostly in Swedish, it’s still an extremely infectious listen that is worthy of a place on your summer playlists.

Check out this week’s R&B selections as well as favorites from past weeks through our Best New R&B Songs Of The Week playlist.

In the year 2024 (and the better part of 2023) the best way to start a conversation is to bring Taylor Swift into the mix and just see how people respond. It’s been working for everyone!

On Netflix’s Roast of Tom Brady, Brady’s former “rumored girlfriend” Kim Kardsahian took the stage and was initially met with a wave of boos (the streamer edited out the “boos” when it was uploaded the next day) and for some reason, that is being tied to Swift and their longstanding feud.

Thankfully, comedian Nikki Glaser is trying to cut the beef. On an episode of Not Skinny But Not Fat, Glaser revealed that she ran into the person who started the booing, despcribing him as a “wild guy who’s a comedian” with a “reputation for just, like, starting s–t.” And that’s what he did.

Glaser continued, “Apparently, he started the boo as just, like, a joke. He just had too many drinks or something, and he’s not affiliated with Swifties or anything [and] just felt like saying a boo into the air, and apparently everyone was so riled up,” she said, thankfully getting the Swifties off the hook.

She added, “It just kinda caught wind, but it wasn’t Swiftie-meditated. I do have that on good information that it was not based on that. Because I was like, this doesn’t feel like a huge Swiftie crowd, but it didn’t feel like that was the vibe in the room,” she said of the crowd, which consisted mostly of comedians.

On the other hand, why would the Swifties be in attendance at Tom Brady’s roast anyway? They are too busy keeping tabs on a different football player.

(Via Page Six)

Neo-soul revivalist Raveena has announced her third studio album, Where The Butterflies Go In The Rain, and teased its release date. “She’s a Gemini,” she hinted on X (RIP, Twitter.com). For those who aren’t up on their woo-woo spiritualism, that means the release date will fall sometime between today, May 21, and June 21. It’ll be Raveena’s first album distributed by EMPIRE, and her first since 2022’s Asha’s Awakening

The first preview of the album’s sound came earlier this month, when Raveena shared the dreamy video for the lead single, “Pluto.” “It’s a song about loss, but woven into the most joyful soundbed,” she said of the single. “When making it, I was remembering the feeling of having my little Walkman and listening to the most euphoric pop songs, dancing around the yard or looking out the window on a long drive at ten years old. I want to bring back the sweetness that feels like it’s suspended in that time of the early 2000s and 90s.”

Inspirations for the track included Corinne Bailey Rae and Nelly Furtado, with the unique blend of soul, pop, folk, and even hip-hop influences stitched into the mellow backing track. The next thirty days are certainly going to be fascinating for fans of the singer-songwriter ahead of the release of her new album.

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week, we got new music from Porches, Cassandra Jenkins, Shellac, and more.

While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.

This Is Lorelei – “Where’s Your Love Now”

As one-half of both Water From Your Eyes and My Idea, Nate Amos shrewdly leavens his experimental tendencies with pop-centric songwriting. This Is Lorelei, the New York artist’s solo project, finds Amos gravitating toward those poppier inclinations far more than in his other bands. “Where’s Your Love Now,” Amos’ latest single from the forthcoming Box For Buddy, Box For Star, is another masterclass in experimental pop. He has always shown that catchy songwriting and avant-garde artistry don’t have to be mutually exclusive, and “Where’s Your Love Now” is yet another compelling case for that statement.

Shellac – To All Trains

Steve Albini was one of indie rock’s greatest producers (though he would much prefer the term “engineers”). The Chicago linchpin engineered classic records by Nirvana, Cloud Nothings, Pixies, PJ Harvey, Joanna Newsom, and many, many more. One of his bands, the punk trio Shellac, has just released their first new album in a decade, and, while it wasn’t intended as a final statement, there is an undeniable ring of finality to it now. Over the course of 10 brief, hard-hitting songs, Albini, bassist Bob Weston, and drummer Todd Trainer rip through them with palpable urgency. Let those classic Albini drums ring out for decades to come.

One Step Closer – All You Embrace

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania outfit One Step Closer tactfully infuses hardcore with melodic, emo sensibilities. Whereas their debut, 2021’s This Place You Know, was pure hardcore from front to back, All You Embrace finds the four-piece retaining that aggressive edge while leaning into their pop-punk and even power-pop proclivities. It’s a soaring achievement from one of the scene’s best bands.

Sasha Alex Sloan – Me Again

Naming an album Me Again is a shameless declaration of selfhood. Fitting in perfectly with the confessional pop zeitgeist of the still-unfolding 2020s, Sasha Alex Sloan’s third record leans into its autobiographical nature. Couched in the plush sonics that Sloan’s new home of Nashville is known for, Me Again is an extension of the indie-pop-meets-country stylings recently exhibited by Kacey Musgraves and Kelsea Ballerini.

Liana Flores – “Nightvisions”

Liana Flores’ soothing voice is as diaphanous as her finger-picked jazz guitar. It’s a striking yet hypnotizing complement to the seasonal shifts she sings of on Flower Of The Soul, her debut album out on June 28. The British-Brazilian songwriter merges bossa nova, jazz, and Brazilian folk on songs that use nature as a larger canvas for reckoning with internal conflict. “When over a new planet, the yellow dawn did rise / I woke alone and took a form I did not recognize,” she sings gently on “Nightvisions.”

Cassandra Jenkins – “Delphinium Blue”

New York indie musician Cassandra Jenkins recalls briefly working at a flower shop as “survival instinct kicking in,” she says in a press statement. With beautiful flowers surrounding her for most of her waking hours, she “began to dream in technicolor,” and “flowers became the language” of her subconscious. Thus, “Delphinium Blue,” Jenkins’ latest single, was born. When you listen to a song this breathtaking, you’ll soon begin dreaming in technicolor, too.

Porches – “Joker”

When Porches opened for indie-pop stalwarts Phoenix on their Alpha Zulu tour, the NYC-based Aaron Maine reconfigured his band to embrace rowdy ’90s alt-rock. He imbued his sumptuous synth-pop with a grungier bite; there wasn’t even a synth on stage with him, just a three-piece of guitar, bass, and drums. Maybe that’s why it’s not surprising that Shirt, Porches’ new album out September 13, is Maine’s heaviest endeavor thus far. Still, this is Porches, and his new single “Joker” is as pop-forward as his most well-known material. This time, however, guitars are more in focus, complementing his Auto-Tuned, unmistakable vocals with aplomb.

Strand Of Oaks – “Future Temple”

Next month, Tim Showalter (AKA Strand Of Oaks) will release Miracle Focus, the follow-up to 2021’s In Heaven. Showalter’s new preview of it, “Future Temple,” is a notably synth-heavy tune, just as previous singles “More You” and “Party At Monster Lake” were. With influences as far-ranging as Beastie Boys and Alice Coltrane, Strand Of Oaks’ latest seems like it will be an assortment of everything we love about Showalter’s work.

Wishy – “Love On The Outside”

Music history is famous for its creative duos: John and Paul; Mark and Tom; Morrissey and Johnny; Jack and Meg; and the list goes on. Wishy, an indie rock band from Indiana that’s part dream-pop, shoegaze, and power-pop, is also built on a core, but much less fraught, songwriting partnership. Kevin Krauter and Nina Pitchkites, the songwriters in question, complement each other’s styles in perfect harmony. Triple Seven, their debut album out August 16, is the follow-up to their excellent EP, Paradise, from December, and it expands on the reciprocal dynamic so expertly laid out there. “Love On The Outside,” the album’s lead single, is a stellar display of not only Krauter and Pitchkites’ artistic duality, but a wondrous hybridization of the reference points they draw from. On “Love On The Outside,” Wishy continues a fortunate streak.

Alex G – I Saw The TV Glow (Original Motion Picture Score)

Jane Schoenbrun and Alex G are a match made in indie heaven. The Philly indie rocker’s score for Schoenbrun’s debut film, 2021’s We’re All Going To The World’s Fair, enhanced the movie’s otherworldly logic and foreboding aura. He achieves a similar feat with his instrumental OST for Schoenbrun’s new film, I Saw The TV Glow. From the shimmering synths of “Opening Theme From The Pink Opaque” to the ethereal drones of “High School Hallway,” Alex G augments the suburban ennui and latent dysphoria the director so potently captures onscreen.

As summer movie season officially begins this weekend, it’s time to decide between two very important pieces of cinematic history: a Mad Max installment or a Garfield installment. The choice is yours.

But if you choose Furiosa: A Mad Max Story, you might be wondering if you need to watch the other four Mad Max films in the series.

Furiosa is a prequel that tells the heroine’s origin story, so you don’t need to watch the other Mad Max installments beforehand in order to understand it. However, you might appreciate the world-building a bit more (and understand some references) if you check out Mad Max: Fury Road beforehand. The movie is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Fury Road was released in 2015 as a long-awaited follow-up to 1985’s Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. The movie starred Tom Hardy as Max and Charlize Theron as the (grown) Imperator Furiosa.

The prequel will tell Furiosa’s harrowing origin story in which she is taken from her family and must learn how to survive on her own in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. Here is the official synopsis:

As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Story hits theaters on May 24th.

In recent days, Apple Music has been gradually revealing its list of the top 100 albums of all time. As of this post, the list has been unveiled up to No. 11 (Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, by the way). As for what else is in the rankings so far, here’s what to know about where you can learn more.

How To See Apple Music’s Top 100 Albums Of All Time List

Apple Music has been sharing newly revealed list entries on their social media pages, so to get updates in your feed, check out Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). There’s also a dedicated webpage that has the full list, so find that at 100best.music.apple.com.

As tends to happen in these situations (by design, presumably), the list has sparked some debates online. For example, some have noticed that the list does not currently include any works by artists like Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, and Michael Jackson, and they’re wondering which of those artists will end up having a presence in the upcoming top 10.

Meanwhile, Apple Music (and other streaming platforms) could end up paying higher rates to artists in the near future: In March, two congressmen introduced the Living Wage For Musicians Act.

We’re now just a few days from the release of Frog In Boiling Water, DIIV’s latest album. Before the project drops, the group has come through with one more advance single: “Raining On Your Pillow.”

The band says of the song:

“‘Raining On Your Pillow’ is a song which brings to mind the shameful past (and present) of American imperialism. Lost in a terrifying landscape, a lone soldier ruminates on the existence of a landscape of his own far removed from conflict. Does it matter if this place is real or not? Is a false sense of hope enough to give our lives meaning in the midst of despair? A looping guitar figure plays underneath a driving rhythm in a cloud of murky atmosphere of analog synths and tape loops. Menacing, doomed, and strangely hopeful.”

DIIV previously said of the album as a whole, “We understand the metaphor to be one about a slow, sick, and overwhelmingly banal collapse of society under end-stage capitalism, the brutal realities we’ve maybe come to accept as normal. That’s the boiling water and we are the frogs. The album is more or less a collection of snapshots from various angles of our modern condition which we think highlights what this collapse looks like and, more particularly, what it feels like.”

Watch the “Raining On Your Pillow” video above.

Frog In Boiling Water is out 5/24 via Fantasy Records. Find more information here.