Category: News

The relationship between athletes and referees/officials/umpires has never been more strained than it is right now and all parties involved are at fault. Athletes have become far too combative with officials, who have a near-impossible job given the jump in speed and physicality just about every sport is played with now. On the other side, officials now see just about everything as a slight against them, and some have far too quick of a trigger to hand out an ejection or technical or personal foul.

We saw a rather hysterical example of the latter on Monday afternoon in a Grapefruit League game between the Phillies and Blue Jays, as JT Realmuto asked for a new ball from umpire Randy Rosenberg. After it took a second for Rosenberg to get the ball out of his pocket, Realmuto flipped his glove over and pulled it down, leading to Rosenberg tossing the ball into the dirt. Rosenberg somehow took such great offense at this, thinking it was some diabolical prank by Realmuto, that he gave him an immediate (and forceful) ejection, that left Realmuto absolutely stunned.

As they explained on the broadcast, this came after a pitch clock violation against Craig Kimbrel, which likely had Rosenberg a little defensive and ready for pushback, but even so this is a hysterically soft ejection. Realmuto’s response tells the story as he just turns around asking “what?” after hearing that he’s outta there, and can’t help but chuckle at being tossed from a spring training game for what seemed like a simple misunderstanding — as the broadcast notes, the last time he asked for a new ball Rosenberg just threw it straight to the pitcher — and at absolute worst was a goofy little prank.

Lara Logan is getting roasted on Twitter for her latest tweet about Walmart. The conservative journalist, whose recent penchant for spouting QAnon-esque conspiracy theories has already led to bans at Fox News and Newsmax, tweeted a photo of vibrators sitting on a shelf at the big box retailer.

“Why is Walmart selling sex toys?” Logan asked in the caption.

If this controversy seems familiar, it’s because Marjorie Taylor Greene launched a similar crusade back in December. Although, in the case of Greene, the vibrators were placed next to children’s toothbrushes, which prompted the Georgia congresswoman to accuse the retail giant of grooming.

“Selling sex toys openly where children are exposed to them is wrong, inappropriate, immoral, indecent, perverted, shameful, and incredibly harmful to children,” Greene tweeted. “Why is Walmart participating in the grooming and sexualization of children?”

In a statement to Newsweek, Walmart said, “The placement of the product was a mistake and was promptly corrected at the store.” And that appears to be the case.

In the photo tweeted by Logan, the vibrators are located next to women’s razors and contraceptives, a pretty appropriate place if there ever was one. However, for conservatives like Logan, the proper place for sex toys is nowhere, and she was roundly schooled on Twitter for her puritanical stance.

“Because people buy them and Walmart, being a business that sells products to people who want them, realizes they can make money by selling these,” David S. Cohen tweeted. “What part of capitalism do you not understand?”

“Your bio says ‘not a fan of tyranny.’ Except when it comes to adult purchases I guess,” Cathy Reisenwitz wrote.

“Just wait until you find out about how they sell the tool used in the leading cause of death for kids. (Guns)” David Hogg tweeted.

“Because conservative men can’t pleasure their women?” Andrew Kimmel helpfully added.

You can see more reactions to Logan below:

(Via Lara Logan on Twitter)

An Australian band called Private Function is selling vinyl records made of… well, their private functions. In a post shared to their Instagram page, Private Function revealed that a special edition of their upcoming album, 370HSSV 0773H, is made of urine-filled vinyl.

“Congratulations to the 50 people who ordered the ‘Gold’ version of our new record,” said the band. “You just bought a liquid disc full of our piss. We worked with local legends @saltydog.records to build the worlds first piss filled record, it turns out it’s really hard.”

Also in the post, the band shared a video of each of its members walking into a bathroom, and then walking out with bottles full of pee.

Believe it or not, this isn’t the band’s first outrageous vinyl stunt. Early pressings of the band’s 2020 album Whose Line Is It Anyway? contained small bags of speed.

In an interview with Louder Than War, the band’s guitarist Joe Hansen revealed how the idea for the speed baggies came together.

“We were trying to think of novelty cash-grab vinyl variants that people love,” Hansen said, “and [vocalist] Chris [Penney] came up with the idea of pressing bags inside the record. We weren’t sure if it was possible, but we asked around and found someone here that was able to do it. Let’s just say it’s probably not a record you’d want to risk sending overseas.”

Check out the clip of the making of the pee-pee LPs (if you must) above.

The NBA MVP conversation has morphed into an extremely heated debate this year in some circles, with Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo each vying for their third (and for Jokic, his third in a row), while Joel Embiid has plenty of support to earn his first.

As such, every matchup between two of the three bigs leading the MVP conversation becomes magnified, with Monday night’s showdown between Embiid and Jokic in Denver as highly anticipated a cross-conference matchup as we’ve had this season. Unfortunately, the shine has been removed from the potential Embiid-Jokic showdown due to a lingering calf injury Embiid is dealing with that, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, will keep him out.

Embiid’s calf issue first popped up last week in a blowout win over the Bulls, as he sat the entire second half after feeling some discomfort. He then played in the Sixers’ back-to-back against the Warriors and Suns on Friday and Saturday, a pair of losses where he combined for 74 points across the two games. Two days later, the Sixers are shutting him down for a night, but just so happen to be picking the game everyone wants to see.

It’s understandable from a team standpoint given their upcoming schedule features some big matchups in the East, as they have the Raptors, Bucks, Celtics, Heat, Hawks, and Nets all coming up to closeout the season. While they’ve clinched a playoff berth, there’s still a little work to do to lock down the 3-seed over the Cavaliers and those East showdowns may be bigger from a team standpoint in terms of building confidence going into the playoffs.

Even understanding that, it’s a major disappointment for overall fans of the game who want to see two titans of the league go head-to-head. Embiid and Jokic almost always deliver great performances when they go up against each other and it’d be refreshing for at least one night to have the MVP conversation shift fully to the outcome of a game and what happened on the floor. Instead, this potential MVP showdown is another casualty of a contender trying to navigate an 82-game season in order to be at its best come playoff time.

Tracking down the best Scotch whisky at over $250 per bottle is no average task. Whether we’re talking about peated whisky or unpeated malt, wine cask finishes, cask strength offerings, or limited edition releases — this is very expensive and unique whisky. Does a special bourbon barrel finish or 25 years of aging really merit a price tag of nearly $300?

The short answer is, “yes.” Sometimes.

Finding, buying, and actually enjoying a good bottle of Scotch whisky at this price point is where I come in. I’m lucky enough to get to taste this stuff year in and year out and have done all the pre-sifting for you. So below, I’m calling out 12 bottles of expensive Scotch whisky that I think you should give a shot (well, pour into a nice whisky glass and slowly sip, really).

And while this is all pretty stellar scotch, I’ve still ranked these bottles. Some of them simply have more depth and nuance plus go that extra distance to make them truly transcendent pours of whisky. My advice, find the tasting notes that speak to you and then click those price links to see if you can get it in your region. Let’s dive in!

• The 50 Best Scotch Whiskies Of 2022, Ranked
• The Best Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whiskies Under $100, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Scotch Whisky Between $60-$70, Ranked
• Single Malt Whiskeys From Around The World, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• We Blind Tasted Single Malt Whiskies From All Over The World To Find A Champion

12. The Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Estate

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $289

The Whisky:

This The Macallan expression ups the ante by using barley from the Easter Elchies Estate around The Macallan distillery, making it a single-estate whisky. The spirit from that hyper-local mash is aged for an undisclosed amount of time in undisclosed barrels but you can bet there’s some sherry and bourbon involved.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Woody cinnamon sticks rubbed with orange zest pop on the nose as a thick banana bread batter with walnuts, nutmeg, and plenty of butter leads to a smidge of lemon oil and maybe some river rock.

Palate: The palate has plenty of woodiness from that cinnamon and adds in a touch of clove and allspice before savory figs and meaty prunes lead to a mix of raisins, nuts, and candied orange peels.

Finish: The finish is pure silk with layers of orange cake, cinnamon frosting, and fig jam culminating in a rush of soft woody spices on the back end.

Bottom Line:

This is a great “next step” The Macallan. It’s nuanced and soft while being one of the most inviting whiskies on the list. But by that same token, this might not play as “exciting” to more advanced whisky drinkers out there. Either way, add this to your collection if you’re looking for a masterclass in easy-going Highland Malt that’ll be a major crowd-pleaser.

11. Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 21 Years

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $289

The Whisky:

Rum casks and sweet single malts are a great match. This whisky starts off by mellowing for 21 years in ex-bourbon casks before that juice is transferred to Caribbean rum barrels for a final rest. That whisky is then blended and proofed down for bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is very “perfume” driven on the nose with plenty of sticky toffee pudding — the dates, nutmeg, toffee, vanilla, everything — leading to a hint of cherry bark and old leather.

Palate: The palate has a thin line of cream soda with more of that floral perfume, woody cinnamon apple, and a bit of sultana and prunes.

Finish: The finish leans into the florals and honey as a waft of freshly baked banana bread floats past and the creaminess amps up towards a kind of a Key lime pie vibe.

Bottom Line:

“Easy-going” is going to be an early theme on this list. This is an excellently tuned unpeated single malt. It’s kind of like a long hug from an old friend. It has zero kick and registers as lush and velvety on your senses. If you’re looking for a whisky that feels like a long and soft slumber in sweet malt, this is the one.

10. The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 21 Years

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $250

The Whisky:

This redesigned The Glenlivet is still a classic whisky. The hot juice is aged in a triple combination of first-fill Oloroso sherry, Troncais oak Cognac casks, and vintage Colheita Port casks. After 21 long years (at least), the barrels are vatted and proofed down before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Leather and winter spices lead the way on the nose with a hint of saffron-stewed pears, ripe peaches, and lush eggnog next to boiled beans with a bay leaf.

Palate: The palate leans into the peaches and pears but puts them in a pie with plenty of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg next to apricot jam and rum-raisin.

Finish: The mid-palate hits a pine resin note before descending toward brandied cherries and dark chocolate with fresh ginger sharpens and a dash of cinnamon candy.

Bottom Line:

This is very similar to the above whisky with a hint more dankness. Overall, this is the bottle you get when you’re ready for a slightly more advanced unpeated single malt experience but still want to feel safe while enjoying a delicious pour of whisky.

9. Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Signet

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $267

The Whisky:

This Glenmorangie expression is a prime example of something truly special. The whisky is a mix of single malts with estate-grown malts and “chocolate malts” (meaning they were roasted until dark and chocolatey). The hot juice then went into new American oak for varying amounts of time for blending, proofing, and bottling. While there’s no age statement, there are barrels up to 40 years old in the mix.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: You’re greeted with a note of dried apricots with a hint of clove, leading towards a very light dark orange chocolate.

Palate: The chocolate amps up the bitterness, reaching espresso bean levels as some eggnog spice kicks in with a silky mouthfeel and a touch of wet tobacco.

Finish: The end brings about a flourish of bright citrus zest that dries everything out, leaving you with a lingering final note of earthy dried mushrooms, burnt orange cut with clove, moist marzipan, and this faint whisper of sagebrush blooms.

Bottom Line:

This is getting into the “risk-taker” section of the list. This is unpeated malt with a deep maltiness that feels nostalgic but kind of fresh and fun. The earthiness and deeply roasted malts really meld well with the woody spices to create a deep and dark whisky that remains light and playful too.

8. Ardbeg Fermutation Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 49.4%

Average Price: $299

The Whisky:

The “happy accident” that led to this whisky was Ardbeg’s boilers breaking down. Instead of throwing out the mash until those were fixed, Dr. Bill Lumsden (the mad-scientist distiller behind Ardbeg) decided to see what would happen if they let it be. The washback lids were opened and the mash was allowed to ferment with the sea-kissed Islay air for three more weeks. To put that in perspective, Ardbeg (and most whiskies) usually ferment for 72 hours before distillation. Once the boilers were back up and running, the whisky was distilled and then barreled in first-fill and re-fill bourbon casks. 13 years later, Dr. Bill decided it was ready and here we are.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose starts off with this burst of fresh green grass just after the rain that melts into a summer herb garden (mint heavy), grapefruit seeds, and smoked butter with sweet lemon candy and orange trees that are underpinned with a dark and rich soil that’s been turned with manure.

Palate: Going deeper on the nose, you get fresh tires, mossy fir bark, and maybe a hint of fennel-heavy focaccia. The palate starts off incredibly soft with a toffee note before veering into burnt scones, hints of absinthe, what feels like powdered turmeric, and finally cigarette ash.

Finish: The finish lets that sweetness stay while the cigarette ash builds towards a crescendo and leaves your senses feeling like you’ve licked an ashtray.

Bottom Line:

This is the whisky you buy and pour when you want to take your love of peat whisky to insane heights. This whisky almost dares you to not like it while still somehow pulling off this magic trick of pure delectability. It’s insanely deep and riveting while still feeling like a wild ride through peated Islay malt, making this a must-have for true peat-heads.

7. The GlenGrant Rothes Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 21 Years

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $255

The Whisky:

This brand-new release from The Glen Grant Distillery is a part of their Principal Collection. The whisky was crafted by Master Blender Dennis Malcolm, OBE, using at least 21-year-old ex-bourbon and ex-Olorosso sherry casks. That final batching was just proofed down for this special bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a rush of spicy and sugary tropical fruits that range from grilled pineapple dusted in nutmeg and clove to stewed peaches in cinnamon and allspice next to a hint of caramelized malts and old cellar oak.

Palate: Those singed tropical fruits and stewed stone fruits drive the palate toward a hint of caramel-chocolate malt biscuits next to a faint hint of old golden honey and burnt sugars over lush vanilla buttercream.

Finish: That lush vanilla creaminess drives the finish toward a sweet and caramelized end with a hint of pear and apricot over lush marzipan.

Bottom Line:

This is one of those bottles that just really f*cking nice. Sometimes that’s all you need.

6. Clynelish Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years 2022 Special Release

ABV: 58.5%

Average Price: $251

The Whisky:

This unpeated Highland malt from last year’s exclusive Special Release lineup was mellowed in refill American oak barrels that held bourbon and then finished in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry-seasoned casks. This final result was bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a subtle mix of mincemeat pies, syrupy pears from the can, floral honey, and a herbal note of maybe bay leaf or sage with a whisper of mint on the nose.

Palate: The palate has a waxy saltwater taffy vibe tied to vanilla with a soft pepperiness and woody winter spice warmth next to soft toffees.

Finish: The end is lightly spiced with dried chili pepper and peppercorns next to that soft and waxy vanilla saltwater taffy on the spicy finish.

Bottom Line:

This is an excellent limited-edition whisky. It feels like the candy bowl from your childhood rendered in whisky form. If you’re looking for a truly soft and candied whisky experience, look no further.

5. Glenglassaugh Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 30 Years

ABV: 42%

Average Price: $270

The Whisky:

This distillery was reopened in 2008 after a long slumber. Back in the day, the malt coming out of Glenglassaugh was primarily used for Cutty Sark and The Famous Grouse so this 30-year-old malt release harkens back to those heady days. This particular release was pulled from barrels that rested for three decades in Glenglassaugh’s beachside warehouse, which are exposed to the frigid North Sea atmosphere.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Mango skins and peach compote drive the nose toward mincemeat pies with plenty of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg next to a rich woody tobacco layered with nutty banana bread.

Palate: That mango sweetens on the palate as marmalade and dry figs mingle with more mincemeat pie with a side of mulled wine, toffee candied, and ginger tea leaves.

Finish: A gentle warmth from the winter mulled wine spices and ginger builds with the soft toffee malt on the finish with a good pinch of sea salt and black-tea-soaked dates dipped in salted honey.

Bottom Line:

This is a complex and very sippable whisky. The salinity really adds a nice counterbalance to all the dark fruit and spice. Overall, this is a splashy pour of malt that’s sure to wow whoever has a glass of it in their hand.

4. Fettercairn Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 22 Years

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $254

The Whisky:

Fettercairn is somewhat of a whisky lover’s whisky brand. The tiny Highland distillery has been diligently pumping out delicious brown sauce since the 1820s. For this release, they aged their malt in ex-bourbon casks for 22 long years before vatting, proofing with local water, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Plum jam and mincemeat pies mingle with nutty spiced zucchini bread, vanilla pods, and a hint of ginger snaps on the nose.

Palate: Stewed pears in cinnamon and allspice lead toward caramelized orange syrup steeped with anise, nutmeg, and clove and poured over salted licorice with a hint of sour cherry and espresso cream.

Finish: That cherry and espresso creaminess drives the finish toward a soft end full of soft dried fruits, woody winter spices, and sweet vanilla buttercream.

Bottom Line:

This is funky and delicious with a clear nod to bourbon thanks to the vanilla whispers throughout. The spices are bold yet the feel is soft and approachable. If you’re looking for something to take unpeated malt to 11, this is the bottle for you.

3. The Dalmore King Alexander III Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 44%

Average Price: $289

The Whisky:

The Dalmore went above and beyond with this bespoke blend of malts. The mix marries six barrels: French wine, Madeira, sherry, Marsala, port, and Kentucky bourbon casks. This is one of the more creative and extreme examples of barreling in the single malt game and resulted in an award-winning and much-beloved whisky.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a deep sense of fruit on the nose which really leans into raspberry, red currant, and a touch of blueberry with chocolate maltiness and creamy bourbon vanilla.

Palate: The palate embraces the vanilla to the point of creating a pudding texture while dark chocolate-covered almonds lead towards cherry brandy, hints of boozy oranges, and salted caramel ice cream.

Finish: The end is long and full of Christmas spices that bring everything together like a brandy-fueled, marzipan-heavy, and fruity dessert-laden holiday meal in a Glencairn glass.

Bottom Line:

This is another whisky that’s just straight-up delicious from top to bottom. It’s damn near perfect unpeated malt that’s almost impossible not to enjoy.

2. Mortlach Single Malt Scotch Whisky Special Releases 2022

ABV: 57.8%

Average Price: $261

The Whisky:

Mortlach is the quintessential whisky nerd’s whisky. This variation diverges from the normal sherry cask aging that Mortlach undergoes. In this case, the whiskey was finished in red muscat, new oak, and tawny-port casks before vatting and then bottling 100% as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Sticky toffee pudding and sour cherries tossed in sea salt mingle with pears stewed in white wine and saffron, dark raspberry dipped in dark chocolate, candied ginger, cinnamon-laced salted butter, and a hint of dry oolong tea packed in an old oak box.

Palate: The palate is lush with layers of pear woodiness, more of that dark chocolate cut with toffee and dark dried fruit next to warm spiced marmalade, a hint of anise and licorice, and a soft buttercream.

Finish: That butteriness attaches to walnut bread with plenty of rich and sharp winter spices next to dark toffees covered in dark chocolate and flaked with salt next to dried figs and prunes over luscious marzipan-vanilla creaminess.

Bottom Line:

Goddamn, this is good whisky. It’s just so nostalgic and deeply satisfying as a sipper. It really is kind of perfect. This may as well be tied for first place.

1. The GlenDronach Parliament Aged 21 Years Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $279

The Whisky:

Don’t let the name fool you. The “parliament” in this case is the collective noun for rooks — a type of European crow that nests above the distillery. That dark essence is rendered in the whisky through 21 long years of maturation in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks exclusively.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a lot going on with this nose, starting with blackberry brambles hanging heavy with ripe fruit leading towards a well-spiced oatmeal cookie, soft marzipan cut with hints of orange zest, a light sense of dark chocolate with a creamy edge, and soft vanilla cookies sprinkled with mint and lavender.

Palate: A sticky toffee pudding sweetness arrives (heavy on the black tea-soaked dates and nutmeg with a well-salted toffee drizzle) with flourishes of bitter dark chocolate notes and a sharp holiday spice matrix that leans into bark and berry botanicals with a dash of sweet nutmeg.

Finish: The end is very long and very velvety with hints of dark fruits, winter spice barks, soft marzipan, and a fleeting sense of a wildflower orchard.

Bottom Line:

This is a perfect whisky. No faults. It’s just delicious.

Donald Trump‘s iPod (you know he still uses an iPod) has more than just showtunes on it. There’s also “YMCA” by the Village People, who want nothing to do with Trump, and “Justice for All.” No, it’s not the title track from Metallica’s 1988 album; it’s the song the former president recorded with the J6 Prison Choir, which is comprised of a group of men who were imprisoned for their involvement with the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“Justice for All” — a sub-Glee mashup of the men’s choir singing “The Star Spangled Banner” over a half-interested Trump reciting “The Pledge of Allegiance” — was played during this weekend’s Trump rally in Waco, Texas.

Here’s how the Washington Post described the scene:

Before Trump began to speak, however, there was one other bit of patriotic business at hand. “Ladies and gentlemen,” an announcer told the MAGA-bedecked assembly, “please rise and place your hand over your heart for” — and here’s where you expect the disembodied voice to say “the Pledge of Allegiance,” but that is not what he said — “the number one song on iTunes, Amazon, and the Billboard charts: ‘Justice for All,’ featuring President Donald J. Trump and the J6 choir!”

If a Democrat did a “ladies and gentlemen, please rise and place your hand over your heart for…” fake out, it would be the only thing Fox News would talk about for a week. Maybe even two weeks.

These people feel like a bald eagle kicked them in the face… with patriotism!

(Via the Washington Post)

While Aaron Dessner has long been known in the indie rock community thanks to his work in The National, he has found himself in the pop music spotlight since 2020, when he and Jack Antonoff co-wrote and co-produced Taylor Swift’s album Folklore. He’s increased his footing in the pop space since then, as he worked with Ed Sheeran on his recently announced album, – (aka Subtract), as well.

Well before both of those projects, though, another beloved artist recognized and trusted him first. In 2012, Sharon Van Etten released Tramp, a well-received album that was Dessner’s first as a producer (he performed various instruments on most of the tracks, too). The album celebrates its tenth anniversary this year and Dessner marked the occasion on social media.

He wrote on Instagram, “Tramp was the first record I produced — it remains so special to me and I’m deeply grateful to my dear friend @sharonvanhalen for trusting me on her journey and playing such an important part in mine. There is a deluxe anniversary edition of Tramp out that includes an unreleased song we made in my garage in Brooklyn back then, ‘This Is Too Right’. If you haven’t heard this record it’s essential listening.”

Van Etten also noted of Dessner in a statement, “Aaron Dessner took a chance on me after I messaged him with a fury of demos. He could see through the hiss and crappy vocals on my GarageBand demos, and that I had something to say. He gave me the confidence to be loud and to scream my rage and feel founded and justified in my own pain. He gave me more tools to find catharsis in my work. I have carried that with me ever since.”

Listen to “This Is Too Right” below.

Tramp (Anniversary Edition) is out now via Jagjaguwar. Find more information here.

Drake is not one to miss an opportunity to lay on the charm. This past weekend, a group of ladies noticed the “Rich Flex” rapper while dining in a restaurant. Drake caught wind of the fans, and made his way over to their table.

In a clip captured by one of the fans, and later shared to her Instagram Story, Drake is heard saying, “What’s up, girly?” to the fan’s mother. Shortly after, he faces the camera and sticks out his tongue, while motioning his hands.

The clip on the story is captioned with “Did Drake just say ‘wasss up girlie’ to my mom?”

With several hits under his belt, Drake is one of the most easily recognizable faces in the rap game. Though recently, he shocked several fans after a clip of a conversation with Lil Yachty suggested that he may make “a graceful exit” in the near future.

In the full interview, he noted that his retirement wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

“I’m not ready now, but to gracefully continue making projects that are extremely, like, interesting and hopefully cherished by people,” he said. “And then to find the right time to say like, ‘I can’t wait to see what the next generation does.”

Find the clip above.

Kate Winslet has already mastered the art of holding her breath underwater for much too long and excessively vaping, so it’s about time she settles for a more regal role that doesn’t require her to endanger herself.

Winslet will star in The Palace, an upcoming HBO Max series from Will Tracy. While you might not recognize the name, Tracy has written for Last Week Tonight With John Oliver before joining Succession in 2019, so you’ve probably heard at least some of his jokes before. The series will be directed by Stephen Fears and Jessica Hobbs.

Last month, HBO released a first look at the series, and though many details have been released, here is what we know so far:

Plot

HBO has not released a ton of information about The Palace, though we know that it takes place over one year through the eyes of an authoritarian regime. HBO CEO Casey Bloys recently revealed that he had seen an early cut of the series, and Winslet’s performance is a standout. “If the U.S. could make her a national treasure I would like to do that,” He said last week, per Deadline. “I hink she’s great and the dailies I’ve seen of the show are fantastic.” Are we surprised that she is so dedicated?!

Cast

Winslet will star alongside Hugh Grant, who recently had a quick cameo in Glass Onion. The two will reunite after working together back in 1995’s Sense and Sensibility, though it’s hard to say if anything Grant does will top his performance in Paddington 2. He can try, though. Also slated to star is Andrea Riseborough, who made headlines for her strangely controversial Academy Award nomination, along with Matthias Schoenaerts, Guillaume Gallienne, and Martha Plimpton.

Release Date

While we don’t have an official release date for the series, filming began early last month in Austria and will likely continue throughout the summer. The series probably won’t debut until late 2023, or early 2024, when everything else is also vying for your attention.

(Via Collider)

Despite being over 20 years old, the 1992 coming-of-age crime drama Juice continues to be an inspiration for hip-hop artists to this day. Considered to be one of the first hip-hop films alongside Boyz N The Hood and New Jack City, as well as the acting debut of one Tupac Shakur, Juice‘s imagery, narrative, and soundtrack, have influenced a number of rap acts as well as the culture overall.

Case in point: In order to promote his new album that drops this week, DJ Drama reproduced one of the film’s most recognizable scenes with one of its actual actors: Queen Latifah. Latifah reprises her role from the film as Drama himself steps into Omar Epps’ role of Q as the DJ stands in line to audition to play at a local club, the Ruff House. The Queen, meanwhile, hasn’t aged a day: Black well and truly does not crack.

The album is called I’m Really Like That — a feature that he and the Queen sneak into the remixed dialogue from the scene — but for now, that’s all the information we have so far. Over on Genius there are a few possibilities for tracks that could appear, including ones with appearances from 42 Dugg, Doe Boy, Freddie Gibbs, Gucci Mane, Lil Uzi Vert, Roddy Ricch, and Tyler The Creator, but for now, we’ll just have to wait to see if Drama continues the Juice theme or taps any other classic hip-hop films for future announcements.

I’m Really Like That is due 3/31 via Generation Now and Atlantic Records.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.