Category: News

The fifth season of The Crown, Netflix’s show that is inspired by true events but should definitely be taken with a grain of salt, just landed on Netflix this week, and a lot of people have a lot to say, and as many as five eggs to throw at King Charles.

Imelda Staunton portrays the Queen in season five of the hit series, which chronicles the Royals from 1991 to 1997, a time when the family was under intense scrutiny. (Not that it’s gotten much easier since then, as Netflix’s portrayal of the family has also been bashed over the years.) But Staunton says that hesitation is expected. “I feel it’s understandable that people are feeling sensitive because of recent events. There’s no doubt about it,” Staunton told EW. Even though season five wrapped in the spring, the cast has been working on the upcoming sixth season, which has been heavily criticized since the Queen’s death.

Staunton continued, “We finished filming this season six months ago. If this was coming out two years ago, there wouldn’t be all of this going on. So I think there’s a sensitivity and there’s not a lot we can do about that. I think one would like to feel that people would recognize over all the seasons that Peter Morgan has written, the amount of respect he has for this family, and the amount of integrity he uses in order to write these, yes, imagined scenes that are hung around real events. I don’t think there’s a lot we can do or say.”

Staunton isn’t the first actress to portray the queen and certainly won’t be the last. Peter Morgan, the show’s creator, confirmed that Helen Mirren was the top pick for Elizabeth after her award-winning portrayal in The Queen. After Mirren turned it down, Staunton stepped in to play the historical figure, who passed away in September.

The criticism from both viewers and the Royals had been bubbling for months, and the backlash got so bad that Netflix added a warning before the season five trailer. Other cast members, like Jonathan Pryce, who portrays Prince Philip in the series, don’t seem to care what people think.

“I just find it very disappointing that a handful of people, and it is a handful of people, are being critical of this,” Pryce told EW. “I mean, they say it’s hurtful, unjust dangerous, none of those things I see in this production. It’s certainly been one of the best working experiences of a 50-year career, and I’m so proud of it, and the episodes I’ve seen are joyful, and I’m looking forward to filming the rest of season 6.”

On the other hand, Prince Harry seems to enjoy the show a lot, so there’s that!

Season five of The Crown is now streaming on Netflix.

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

House of the Dragon takes place approximately 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, making it tough for Ned Stark and Daenerys Targaryen to appear on the prequel series considering they, uh, aren’t alive yet. But one Thrones character could drop by — at a youthful 200 years old.

Carice van Houten, who played the magical Melisandre, told Digital Spy that she “wouldn’t say no” to a comeback for her character. “Would I [return]? If the storyline was good – yes, why not? I think it would be more fun to show a young Melisandre, or a child Melisandre – to really go deep into her slave routes,” she said, adding, “But there is an interesting sort of storyline there, and I think it’s a bit boring to then drag me out again. I think it’s nicer to have another actor do it. But, you know, I wouldn’t say no.”

The Red Woman’s age is never given on Thrones, but co-creator David Benioff said that the character is “several centuries” old. Vanity Fair also notes that “the actor who played Maester Cressen, Oliver Ford Davies, told journalists in 2013 that, according to van Houten, Melisandre is ‘400 years old.’ She offered that fact up by way of explaining why her character survived poison in season two, episode one, and his character croaked.”

If Melisandre looked this good at 400…

… imagine what she looks like at 230. Yowza.

(Via Digital Spy)

Jeopardy! has officially entered the post-Alex Trebek era with two permanent hosts splitting duties behind the podium for the biggest trivia game show on the planet. But Trebek’s impact on the show remains, and two years after his death the syndicated show paid tribute to the longtime host on Tuesday.

The moment came not during actual play, but as a warmup game of sorts between Matt Amodio, Mattea Roach, and Amy Schneider. As a bit of an interlude to the Tournament of Champions, three of Season 38’s biggest winners played each other to keep their skills sharp despite all getting automatic byes into the tournament’s semifinals.

It also, smartly, meant that any election coverage cutting into syndicated airings would not have viewers missing action crucial to the tournament’s results. That lack of stakes meant the game had a bit looser of a feel, and the trivia for some categories was more, well, trivial, than is often the case. Which is why the show had an entire category about Trebek’s life.

Some of the questions were pretty standard: about his hometown (Sudbury, ON) and where he attended university. But one question actually stumped the trio, probably because it was about obscure tools called woodruff keys. That’s OK, though, as host Ken Jennings pointed out Trebek apparently didn’t know what they did, either.

Regardless, it was a nice tribute to the man who largely made Jeopardy! what it is today, and it was nice to see that — woodruff keys aside — some of the biggest stars of the show today certainly know its roots.

The Boys continues to be ridiculously popular and endlessly raunchy, so of course Amazon has been cranking out spinoffs. That includes the animated Diabolical, which mostly fills in some gaps in the canon and provides standalone stories. The real treat should be Gen V, the college-set spinoff full of young Supes who will undoubtedly be unable to contain their own sh*t. The series stars Patrick Schwarzenegger (The Staircase), who previously revealed that his dad (Arnold!) couldn’t believe what he saw in set photos.

“What the f*ck are you filming?” is precisely what the Commando star, who acted out slaughtering an entire army without reloading, said to Patrick. This also appears to be the same reaction that Seth Rogen, one of the Gen V executive producers, also had to offer in a conversation with Collider:

“I’ve been starting to see episodes of, and it’s completely insane. Just like the combination of superheroes in a college setting, in an incredibly subversive R-rated world is, yeah. There are parts of that show where me and Evan [Goldberg] are watching the cuts of the sequences that were just like, “Dear God, what are they doing over there?’”

Gen V has hit the post-production phase, so hopefully, we’ll see a teaser or hear about a release date soon. Can we hold out hope for a Homelander cameo? This seems slightly safer than inviting The Deep to a frat party. Hell, bring Soldier Boy back as a Supe adjunct professor. And for no reason at all (other than I want to watch this again), please enjoy Soldier Boy doing Blondie on Solid Gold.

(Via Collider)

Tierra Whack has been quiet on the music front lately, but that hasn’t stopped her from receiving attention thanks to a shout out from Beyoncé. However, her latest headline is for a different reason entirely. According to ABC Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love rapper was arrested Tuesday (November 8) for bringing a loaded gun to the Philadelphia International Airport checkpoint. Whack (her real name) was charged with disorderly conduct, according to District Attorney Larry Krasner. Fortunately, she is licensed to own and carry the weapon, which should reduce penalties for what is likely an oversight.

Whack’s most recent music release came in December of 2021 with the video for “Heaven” from her R&B? EP. R&B? was one of three EPs she released in 2021, each named for a different genre. Rap? featured the songs “Meagan Good,” “Millions,” and “Stand Up,” while Pop? contained “Body Of Water,” “Dolly,” and “Lazy.” The three EPs constituted Whack’s first multi-song releases since her breakout 2018 album Whack World, which is described as her debut studio album despite only being 15 minutes long.

“Dolly” got renewed attention earlier this year when indie artist Kevin Morby covered it for SiriusXM radio. Whack herself took her first tentative steps into acting this year, appearing in the Adam Sandler NBA drama Hustle. She should

As Republicans lick their wounds over a “red wave” failing to materialize in the midterm election results, Donald Trump has been receiving a significant amount of blame for the party’s lackluster performance. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the few GOP victors, is not having it. While appearing on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, Greene lashed out at Republicans who are blaming Trump for the Democrats winning in several key states.

“I want to tell you how shortsighted and ridiculous that is,” Greene ranted. “It is pathetic the people that are running out saying it’s his fault. No, that is a lazy, pathetic, wimpy, easy mindset.”

The Georgia Republican continued to launch an impassioned defense of the former president. Via Mediaite:

“President Trump, isn’t the problem? President Trump is doing everything he can to help Republicans across the country and help Republicans win while he is being already politically persecuted worse than any human being in our country’s history,” Greene argued, parroting a common talking point from Trump. “That’s the real truth. People that want to blame Trump, they are lazy. And that’s the problem.”

Greene’s remark comes on the heels of reports that Trump is reportedly furious over the midterm results. The former president has been screaming at everyone over the “humiliating” loss and has reportedly gone so far as to blame his own wife for telling him to back Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania. Trump is also reportedly fighting off pleas from his advisor to hold off on announcing his 2024 presidential run as the Republican Party is probably not in the mood for it right now.

(Via Mediaite)

Sheryl Lee Ralph has found herself in the TV spotlight over these past couple of years thanks to playing Barbara Howard in Abbott Elementary. Then, last week, it was revealed that fans would soon get to see her in a much different role than that of buttoned-up kindergarten teacher: modeling in Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Vol. 4 show.

The show premiered today (November 9) on Prime Video and sure enough, Ralph was a highlight. The 65-year-old popped up in a sparkly silver/olive bodysuit with a bustier-like top, paired with a matching jacket that she wore open.

Ralph, of course, has experience when it comes to putting on glamorous performances, as she won a Tony Award for her role in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls.

Ahead of the show, Ralph explained how she got involved, saying, “I got a call from Rihanna. Yes, Riri. It’s through her, to the people, to you. It’s basically, ‘Ask her if she’d walk in the Savage show.’ […] But, to hear that you’ve been requested by her — and, trust me , this is no Victoria’s Secret fashion show, baby. This is something on a different level. When I saw the choreography and I saw her vision that she had, walking through the mountains and all, I was like, alrighty, then. This is special.”

Check out some reactions to Ralph’s Savage X Fenty appearance below.

After rapper and Migos member Takeoff tragically passed in Houston on November 1, there was an outpouring of love and support from his fans and fellow artists alike.

Now, his funeral services have been organized so fans will be able to pay tribute to an influential rapper. It will be held on November 11 at noon in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. Free tickets are only available for Georgia residents, as passes were made available on Ticketmaster yesterday. They have since sold out. According to Vulture, there is also a no-photo policy for Takeoff’s funeral service.

His family has also requested that instead of gifts or flowers, donations be made to The Rocket Foundation. It is a non-profit that seeks to prevent gun violence.

Pastor Jesse Curney III of Lilburn’s New Mercies Christian Church is slated to give the eulogy. Takeoff, whose real name was Kirshnik Ball, attended the church.

“I was really sad to hear the news,” Curney said in a statement. “Kirshnik has been a faithful member since he was ten years old. He and his family were active and avid supporters of the church and the community as a whole.”

There are also likely to be some of Takeoff’s friends from the rap world attending. Drake has since noticeably rescheduled his Apollo Theater show dates to no longer coincide with the funeral’s date.

Karol G will be releasing new music this weekend. Yesterday (November 8), the Colombian superstar released a teaser of the music video for her upcoming single “Cairo.”

This past year, Karol G has racked up multiple global hits. In April, Karol G kicked off her next album era with the release of “Provenza.” The Afrobeat-influenced song has since amassed over 544 million streams on Spotify. She also teamed up with Becky G for their breakup anthem “Mamiii,” which has over 514 million streams on Spotify. In September, Karol G joined forces with Maldy for their reggaeton banger “Gatúbela.”

To keep taking things in her career to next level, Karol G visited Egypt for her next single “Cairo.” On Instagram and YouTube, she uploaded a teaser of the video. Karol G can be seen cruising in a van that’s on the way to the ancient pyramids. There’s also a performance shot of her singing a piece of the song among a sea of Egyptian carpets.

The video for “Cairo” will be released on Sunday, November 13. Karol G is nominated for three Latin Grammy Awards this year. Her nominations include Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year for “Provenza.” “Mamiii” with Becky G is up for Best Urban Song.

This Friday, rapper GloRilla‘s major-label debut EP, Anyways, Life’s Great, will be released. As fans eagerly await its arrival, the Memphis native is giving them something to hold them over. Her new single, “Nut Quick,” produced by Arayonthetrack, is a step back from the spiritual undertones heard on “Tomorrow 2” featuring Cardi B.

Instead, “Nut Quick” serves as GloRilla’s unfiltered thoughts on quick a few trendy social media topics, including hookup culture, gender roles, and women’s sexual liberation. While GloRilla isn’t the first woman rapper to discuss these topics, her approach to shaping these conversations into songs makes her viewpoint much more potent.

The opening lyric, “if you don’t get the fuck out of here, what are you doing here,” shows GloRilla’s lack of investment in respectability politics. The rapper will not downplay her sexual appetite and encourages women to follow her lead. Another line in the song that addresses this is, “he thought I would be crazy after sex, but I ain’t nothin’ / he could’ve been my favorite sneaky link, but he just nut quick.” which inspired the song’s title. GloRilla is here for a good time, not a long time. Therefore, her casual sex partner or “sneaky link” needs to keep up, or she’s onto someone who can.

In the vein of honesty, GloRilla shows that her pursuits of sexual liberation have forced her to make complicated decisions. “Found out I was pregnant, got it gone, and I ain’t f*ck since,” she raps, facing the reality that unwanted pregnancies are sometimes a consequence.

Just as she holds herself accountable for her actions, GloRilla holds men that subscribe to “boss culture” to that same standard. It costs to be the boss, and GloRilla will not settle for anything other than the ‘princess treatment,’ as she raps, “First date, meet me at the mall since he say he boss enough / And I’ma put that n**** back if he say it cost too much (broke ass).”

Watch the lyric video above.