Category: News

In September, Gorillaz debuted their new song “Skinny Ape” onstage in San Francisco. About the track’s inspiration, Damon Albarn explained, “A product of Silicon Valley… you know, those Amazon robots who deliver packages to you.” It’s the fourth single from their forthcoming album Cracker Island.

While that performance was massive, they’re about to take it up a notch. Gorillaz will be taking over Times Square on December 17 at 2:30 pm ET, as well as in Piccadilly Circus on December 18th at 14:00 GMT to play the song. The press releases says these will be “immersive experiences” that are “larger than life.” Knowing Gorillaz, that’s probably accurate. It’ll be directed by artist and Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett and Emmy-nominated director Fx Goby.

“To all our followers, get ready for the biggest Times Square takeover since that other gorilla smashed the place up,” the group’s virtual bass player Murdoc Niccals said in a statement. “Bigger in fact cos there’s four of us. Thanks to the techies at Google, we’ve created the music video event of the century, so don your pink robes and come see Gorillaz like you’ve never seen us before. The future is nigh!”

Listen to “Skinny Ape” above.

Gorillaz is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Cracker Island is out on 2/24/2023 via Parlophone. Pre-save it here.

If you look forward to Burning Man all year, curb your lust for dust with a stay at San Jose del Cabo’s Hotel El Ganzo. Set beside an old fishing village overlooking a marina, El Ganzo is an artist haven where music, visual art, and one hell of an infinity pool come together to create an ambiance of bohemian fashion and a shit ton of hugging.

The murals change as often as the margaritas, and the views of passing yachts over twinkling ocean waves will leave you wondering “wait, what was I ever upset about?” Here’s our full review of the property.

WHY IT’S AWESOME:

Besides its beachfront access and incredible natural beauty, El Ganzo hosts tons of unique events that incorporate art installations, crafts, and musical acts both widely known and underground. I happened to be at El Ganzo for their 10th-anniversary weekend bash which included musical performances by Congolese vibe-smiths Jupiter & Okwess, psychedelic rock band Khruangbin, Quantic, and a ton of DJs.

Don’t worry if you missed out, they have music performances every weekend, and larger events scattered throughout the year. I hear their New Year’s Eve bash from December 19th through January 1st is going to be epic, so get your tickets ASAP.

El Ganzo is also the only hotel in Mexico that’s a certified B-Corp, which is basically a fancy term for companies that are willing to put their ethics, morals, and company mission in legal writing. Any decisions the hotel wants to make has to legally be in line with those ethics. That means not only boxed water made of recyclable paper instead of plastic but a commitment to funding and uplifting impoverished communities nearby.

In 2022, consumers are looking for more and more businesses to stand for something greater than a bottom line and Ganzo delivers on that count.

El Ganzo also hosts an underground recording studio called El Ganzo Records which you enter from a latch door in the lobby floor. Literally, people come out of there like gophers. This recording studio is part of their Artist in Residency program, where the hotel offers artists from all over the world complete access to their recording studio and hotel amenities for a week or so, in exchange for putting on one or two intimate oncerts for their guests and the local community. They’ve worked with a wide range of artists like Polo & Pan, Jupiter & Okwess, LP, and Kings of Convenience, among others.

IN-HOUSE FOOD + DRINK

Where there’s a place to sit, there’s a place to eat at El Ganzo. For a traditional sit-down meal, head to “El Restaurante.” Breakfasts have tons of healthy options to go with their wellness (read: hippie-chic) vibes — like this gorgeous spirulina parfait that I slurped down in three bites.

Of course, you can go with pancakes and muffins, but you can also dig into some local delights like chilaquiles, fresh ceviche, or eggs with machaca. Always order local fish when you can, and you can’t go wrong with duck tacos and truffle fries.

There’s in-room dining 24 hours a day, poolside (and swim up!) dining, and a beach club menu “Ganzo de Playa.” Go for the steak quesadillas, playa ceviche, or any of their tacos. And, of course, polish it off with a margarita. This is Mexico, after all.

Don’t sleep on Taco Tuesdays featuring the local favorite Taco Taco Ganzo food truck.

AMENITIES:

• Spa
• Infinity Pool
• Private beach/beach club
• WiFi
• 24 hour room service
• Access to special events

Room Types:

Rooms at El Ganzo include one or two bedroom Luxury Rooms, one or two bedroom Luxury Suites, a Honeymoon & Penthouse Suite, and Beachfront & Oceanview Hotel Rooms.

Here’s the breakdown of what you’ll get with each:

One Bedroom Standard Room:

• 790 Sq Ft / 72 Sq M with separate living room and bedroom with incredible views of the Sea of Cortez
• King Bed with Rivolta Carmignani Italian sheets
• Large separate living area and bedroom
• Glass-enclosed shower
• 2 flat screen TVs with satellite service
• Sliding glass doors with outdoor terrace
• Minibar
• Air conditioning & Ceiling fan
• Complimentary Wi-Fi & in-room safe
• El Ganzo organic bath amenities
• Soaking tub

Two Bedroom Standard Room:

• 1600 Sq Ft / 149 Sq M with separate large living area and two bedrooms with views of Sea of Cortez
• Sliding glass doors with outdoor to a large terrace with views of the ocean and La Marina
• Two Bedrooms each fitted with one King Bed with Rivolta Carmignani Italian sheets
• Glass-enclosed shower
• Indoor Jacuzzi
• Minibar
• Air conditioning & Ceiling fan
• Flat screen smart TV with satellite service
• Complimentary Wi-Fi & in-room safe
• El Ganzo organic bath amenities
• Soaking tub

One Bedroom Suite:

• 1,800 Sq Ft / 165 Sq M with large terrace with outdoor lounge, jacuzzi; sunrise and sunset ocean views
• One Bedroom fitted with one King Bed with Rivolta Carmignani Italian sheets and private balcony
• Extra large glass-enclosed shower
• Sliding glass doors with outdoor terrace from the Grand Salon
• Indoor/outdoor Jacuzzi
• Minibar
• Air conditioning & Ceiling fan
• Flat-screen smart TV with satellite service
• Complimentary Wi-Fi & in-room safe
• El Ganzo organic bath amenities
• Soaking tub

Two Bedroom Suite (Most Spacious Accommodation):

• 3,900 Sq Ft / 364 Sq M
• Two bedrooms each fitted with one King Bed with Rivolta Carmignani Italian sheets
• Glass-enclosed shower
• Separate living area
• Grand salon
• Small private gym and ping pong table
• Sliding glass doors with outdoor terrace with pergola and jacuzzi
• Minibar
• Air conditioning & Ceiling fan
• Flat-screen smart TV with satellite service
• Complimentary Wi-Fi & in-room safe
• El Ganzo organic bath amenities
• Soaking tub

Honeymoon & Penthouse Suite:

• 760 Sq Ft / 72 Sq M with separate living room and bedroom with gorgeous views of the Sea of Cortez
• King Bed with Rivolta Carmignani Italian sheets
• Ocean views & sliding glass doors with outdoor terrace
• Glass-enclosed shower
• Minibar
• Air conditioning & Ceiling fan
• Flat-screen smart TV with satellite service
• Complimentary Wi-Fi & in-room safe
• Ganzo organic bath amenities
• Soaking tub

Beachfront & Ocean View Rooms (Size: 387 Sq / 36 Sq M)

There are a few options to choose from here:

• Ocean views with sliding glass doors or balcony, or
• Ocean views with sliding glass doors with outdoor terrace, or
• Ocean views with sliding glass doors with outdoor terrace and jacuzzi

These include:

• King Bed or Two Queen Beds with Rivolta Carmignani Italian sheets
• Minibar
• Air conditioning & Ceiling fan
• Flat-screen smart TV with satellite service
• Complimentary Wi-Fi and in-room safe
• El Ganzo organic bath amenities
• Terrycloth robes
• Soaking tub

Prices vary greatly depending on the season, day of the week, events, etc. However, you can expect to spend at least $300/night for a standard room.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 10-MINUTE WALK:

El Ganzo is situated in La Marina of San Jose del Cabo, so it’s a little outside of the Cabo chaos. This is a perk, in my opinion, because it offers peace and tranquility without sacrificing entertainment. It’s also a different side of Los Cabos than the “Carlos & Charlie’s,” chicken finger and yards of beer atmosphere you might think of. Let me put it this way: the Bachelorette parties at El Ganzo are gonna be more “bird calls during cacao ceremonies” and less “dick-shaped margarita straws.”

Ya feel me?

One super cool walking distance feature is this bar/club/restaurant/venue called Crania. It’s literally an entire venue built around leftover cranes from when they built the marina. The story goes it was more expensive to take the cranes out than to just leave them there, so the owners got creative and just said, “Fuck it. Add some LED light strips to those shits and make it crane-chic.”

It’s so weird. And so awesome.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 10-MINUTE DRIVE:

Does driving out to sea count? Take a fishing trip, go snorkeling or scuba diving, and take advantage of the natural beauty that surrounds El Ganzo.

BED GAME:

Each room is configured differently depending on the room type, placement, or even the art displayed.

While the bed itself is super comfortable, my only knock on El Ganzo’s bed game comes from its ability to “shake things up” in some rooms, if you catch my drift. One couple joked to me that they were trying to get busy and they kept knocking stuff off their desk, which was situated directly behind the bed. It’s kind of a weird configuration, but I think it was probably to keep a wall open for an art mural. Not every room will be set up that way, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re traveling with someone you wanna bang often.

However, the view from the bed just can’t be beat. I mean, look at this shit:

Rating: 8/10

SEXINESS RATING:

Oh, do hippies know how to keep things sexy. Between the art, the music, the tequila shots, and the international artist community pecking each other on the cheeks, El Ganzo delivers one luscious atmosphere.

Throw on your bohemian frock, order a spicy margarita, and lounge in the infinity pool while listening to bouncy beats. Look out over the glittery ocean waves and watch the sailboats passing through, and plot how you’re going to f*ck that French band manager at El Ganzo’s weekly concert tonight. Buena suerte!

Rating: 10/10

THE VIEWS AND PHOTO SPOTS:

Babes, it’s all about that infinity pool overlooking La Marina. I’ll let these photos speak for themselves.

IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING:

If you’re a light sleeper or traveling with babies, I don’t recommend staying at El Ganzo. The walls are pretty thin and with the amount of partying and after partying and after the after partying going on, you’ll probably be woken up pretty often. Pack your sleep-grade noise-canceling headphones!

BOOK HERE:

Wanna curb your longing for Burning Man next year? Get a similar crowd without having to pack toilet paper for a week at a beautiful, luxury artist haven. Book directly on their site.

INSTAGRAM IMAGES TAKEN AT HOTEL EL GANZO:

McDonald’s greatest combo meal isn’t an official combo meal at all, it’s a collection of various value menu items that’ll run you less than $5. That all-powerful combination consists of a double cheeseburger, a small order of fries, and a coke, a perfect trifecta of salty meaty flavors that will convince anyone of the addictive power of McDonald’s. And for the next two days, you can get that meal even cheaper.

As part of McDonald’s month-long SZN of Sharing promotion, Double Cheeseburgers will be sold for just 50¢ through December 8th and December 9th. How do you score this ultra-cheap burger? You’re, unfortunately, going to have to use the app, opt-in to the SZN of Sharing promotion and place an order for pick-up. We know that downloading an app you don’t want is about as fun as signing up for a rewards program when you’re shopping at the mall, but if you’re not doing it for the dirt cheap double cheeseburgers, at least do it for your chance to win the legendary McGold Card.

If you win, the McGold Card will get you free McDonald’s for life and as part of the SZN of Sharing promotion. You can enter to win the McGold Card once a day every time you make a mobile order. To incentivize you to order, McDonald’s will be offering new food and merch deals for the next three weeks over the app. Sure, you’re going to have to spend money, so it’s clearly a ploy to get you to use the McDonald’s app, but for the next two days that’s only going to cost you 50¢ and even if you don’t win the McGold Card you’re going to get one of McDonald’s best menu items for an amount of money you can probably find somewhere in your car.

Win-win! And who knows, you just might win that McGold Card and never have to pay for McDonald’s again for the rest of your life. There will only be three McGold card winners, so your chances are incredibly slim, but each winner will score a total of four cards, one to keep and three to give to friends and family. Nothing says “holiday season” like making your friends and family fight to the death to score one of those cards.

Or you know, however, you want to dole them out. It’s your life.

The Wizard of Oz cinematic universe is not something that many people think about (because it doesn’t exist) but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t going to eventually exist one day, so now is the time to get ahead on casting the next generation of franchise stars in the upcoming series! The James Franco Oz movie does not count, sorry.

John M Chu’s highly-anticipated adaptation of Wicked just added experienced multiverser Michelle Yeoh to the cast to round out her impeccable year of films. Yeoh will portray Madame Morrible, the headmistress at Shiz University, a place they could rename but have seemingly chosen not to. Morrible is a quirky character who is known to talk to inanimate objects, so that will be fun! Glinda and Elphaba both meet at Shiz for the first time before embarking on their tumultuous relationship. Then Dorthy shows up somewhere in there, presumably.

Yeoh had a monumental year after starring in the unexpected hit Everything Everywhere All At Once, which singlehandedly revitalized the craft googly-eye industry. In about 15 years when there are seven more Wicked installments and a theme park based on the franchise, this will go down as a key moment in history.

Filming begins next month, as Yeoh will join Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblookm, and Jonathan Bailey in the adaptations, which will be released in two parts in December 2023 and 2024, respectively. Casting news for Toto the dog has not yet been announced.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

After weeks of Henry Cavill touting his return as Superman, and The Rock touting his fight with Warner Bros. to bring Cavill back, a new bombshell report heavily suggests that, surprise, Henry Cavill might not be coming back.

In addition to the news that Wonder Woman 3 may be dead in the water and Jason Momoa‘s time as Aquaman is coming to an end, The Hollywood Reporter cited WB Discovery insiders who said that Cavill’s return as Superman may not be a done deal. In fact, Black Adam‘s brief adjustment to the “hierarchy of power” might be over as quickly as it started as DC Studios James Gunn reportedly eyeballs a franchise-wide reset that would erase the last vestiges of the “Snyderverse.”

As everyone knows, or is about to learn, Cavill returns as Superman in the end-credits scene of Black Adam, and that may be his last appearance as Gunn and DC Studios consider not pulling the trigger on an already-shot cameo for The Flash:

These characters are to cameo in Flash, the highly anticipated time travel adventure movie that is due to release June 16. Cavill shot his part of the cameo in September. But sources say there is a debate inside the studio as whether or not to keep the cameo and if its inclusion promises something that studio would have no plans on delivering.

A Warners insider cautions that no plans have been finalized and that Flash remains an unlocked picture.

As for all the Man of Steel 2 talk that fired up in earnest, THR notes that those discussions happened before Gunn and producing partner Peter Safran took the reins at DC Studios. At the time of this writing, Gunn has neither confirmed or denied the THR report, but in a tweet on Thursday afternoon, he did ask fans for patience as he searches for answers to DC’s future.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

If you enjoy snacking on M&Ms, you might want to think long and hard before reading any further. You will never look at them the same again after learning of Mike Hadreas’ aka (Perfume Genius) take on the redesign of M&M characters earlier this year, especially the traditionally “sexy” Green M&M.

Hadreas, who dropped his Ugly Season album in June, reviewed 2022 for Stereogum and was asked if he’d heard about the “inclusive” M&M redesign that aimed to leave the characters’ sexy traits in the past. “How’s that more inclusive? To have less sexy people?” Hadreas countered. After interviewer Ryan Leas explained that “it was supposed to be less gendered” and “they’ve changed the relationship between the women M&Ms to gesture towards women supporting each other instead of women competing with each other,” Hadreas really let us know how he feels.

“I like that, but I think they should have little titties,” he said. “Little pubic mounds. They can have multiple in all configurations, or, I don’t know. But definitely titties. Any kind of sensual mound.”

Hadreas additionally gave his takes on Adam Levine’s cheating scandal (“if the whole story is that he’s corny and midlife-y then to have that put on blast is embarrassing”), Taylor Swift (“just not for me”), and more. The 41-year-old indie rocker named Alex G’s God Save The Animals and Angel Olsen’s Big Time as favorite albums of the year, both of also made Uproxx’s Best Indie Albums Of 2022 list.

WNBA all-star Brittney Griner being released from a Russian prison was a cause for celebration for most people, but Donald Trump Jr. and Marjorie Taylor Greene aren’t most people. They’re way more annoying.

“No one cuts better deals than Biden. We get an awful America Hating WNBA player, while Russia gets AN INTERNATIONAL ARMS DEALER!!! The adults are back!” the former-president’s son wrote on — where else? — Truth Social after the news broke. The “international arms dealer” is Viktor Bout, who “was serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S. on charges of conspiring to kill Americans, acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles, and provide material support to a terrorist organization,” CNN reports.

In a separate post, Trump Jr. lashed out about the prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, Newsweek reported. “You guys know how to make sure [Russian President Vladimir] Putin keeps arresting Americans and severely punishing them?” Trump wrote. “Trade him an arms dealer aka ‘The Merchant of Death’ someone guilty of conspiring to kill Americans and aiding a terrorist organization for an America Hating WNBA activist.”

Meanwhile, Taylor Greene believes that Joe Biden should be impeached for the swap. “Another reason to impeach Biden,” she tweeted. “The President of the United States traded Russian terrorist arms dealer, Viktor Bout, left a U.S. Marine in Russian jail, and brought home a professional basketball player. How many people will Viktor Bout now kill bc Biden set him free?” Speaking of releasing prisoners…

(Via Raw Story and CNN)

For the past couple of years, one of the more controversial topics in hip-hop has been the so-called “BBL” — short for “Brazilian butt lift.” As any number of rappers have referenced the procedure in their lyrics (some examples include 21 Savage, Kanye West, Latto, Moneybagg Yo, and more), its popularity has grown — and become more divisive. One of its loudest proponents was Cardi B, who talked about feeling like she was “too skinny” in high school and how her own butt lift also raised her tips when she worked at the strip club.

However, it appears she’s changed her tune; in a recent Instagram Live, she told fans she recently had her own reversed and warned them against getting one in the first place. According to People, Cardi admitted, “In August I got surgery and I removed 95% of my biopolymers… if you don’t know what it is, it’s ass shots. It was a really crazy process. All I’m going to say is that if you’re young, if you’re 19, 20, 21, and sometimes you’re too skinny, and you be like ‘Oh my god, I don’t have enough fat to put in my ass,’ so you [think you should] resort to ass shots, don’t!”

Cardi previously recalled getting the procedure done illegally for $800 in a Queens basement. “It was the craziest pain ever,” she said. “I felt like I was gonna pass out. I felt a little dizzy. And it leaks for, like, five days.” During her Live, she gave a more ardent warning: “If y’all want advice from me, before you get your BBL done you have to make sure your blood levels are all right,” she said. “If a doctor says your blood levels are too low or you have diabetes or whatever, don’t do it.”

Taylor Swift somehow has the time to become an ascending director in the thick of her world-beating pop star career. The Midnights songstress made her directorial debut with November 2021’s All Too Well: The Short Film, starring Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink. The 15-minute video has racked up the awards this year and is up for Best Music Video at the 2023 Grammys. Swift shared a behind-the-scenes cut of All Too Well: The Short Film this morning (December 8), and she’s about to give fans another glimpse into her directorial mastermind.

Variety has announced that Swift and The Banshees Of Inisherin director Martin McDonagh will feature in the “Directors On Directors” interview series premiere next Monday, December 12, beginning at 11 a.m. PT across its channels.

At the Tribeca Festival in June, Swift screened All Too Well: The Short Film and discussed her filmmaking ambitions. “It would be so fantastic to write and direct a feature,” she said. “I don’t see it being bigger in terms of scale. I loved making a film that was so intimate with a crew that was relatively small. Just a really solid crew of people that I trusted.”

Swift also directed and wrote the videos for her Midnights standout tracks “Anti-Hero” and “Bejeweled.”

Yesterday, she was named to The Hollywood Reporter‘s “2022 Women In Entertainment Power 100” list and asked who in Hollywood she’d trade places with. She chose Guillermo del Toro, lauding his diverse storytelling range” and “distinctive artistic fingerprint on every film.” Given Swift’s track record, it wouldn’t be wise to doubt that she could one day join del Toro as an Oscar winner.

In just two short seasons, Abbott Elementary has become an outright sensation. The show, which is kind of like The Office or Parks And Recreation set in a Philadelphia public elementary school, has garnered rave reviews for its heart and laugh-out-loud comedic touch. However, another aspect of its popularity that can’t be overlooked is its cameos and commitment to its Philadelphia setting.

While comedian/rapper Zack Fox played an integral role in the first season, the second season has upped the ante, with a hilarious appearance from Philly Flyers mascot Gritty, and in the show’s latest episode which aired last night, Vince Staples and 76ers legend Andre Iguodala. They join a cast that is already full of delightful comedic personalities including Tyler James Williams (from Everybody Hates Chris), Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Quinta Brunson, the show’s creator and main character, rookie educator Janine Teagues.

And since Staples is cast as a romantic rival to Williams’ Gregory for Janine’s affections, fans are rightfully freaking out, since Greg and Janine are the show’s “will they, won’t they” couple. Williams and Brunson’s smoldering chemistry doesn’t hurt either.

Iggy’s appearance is played more for straight laughs, as he appears as the boyfriend of the school’s irresponsible principal, Ava (portrayed by James). Fans were naturally excited to get yet another Philly reference on the show, which has nodded to Sixers basketball a couple of times this season, including with Janine’s Halloween costume of James Harden.

The show is going into its winter hiatus. Still, it will return in early 2023 — undoubtedly with more fun surprises and complications in the ongoing story of the interoffice romance between Janine and Greg (and hopefully, more Ava/Iggy shenanigans).