Glee creator Ryan Murphy sat down to talk with two former cast members, Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams) and Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina Cohen-Chang), on their podcast And That’s What You REALLY Missed. During the chat, the television writer reveals the original script was much darker than the cheeky, lighthearted version we know today.
Murphy said after reading his co-creator Ian Brennan’s original script, he felt the show was the perfect musical idea for a show, but it was just “too dark” for network television, Variety reports.
Murphy also revealed that the show’s popular character Mr. Shue was initially written for Justin Timberlake and intended that the character was a “crystal meth addict.”
“Mr. Schue, I believe, was a crystal meth addict in Ian’s script,” Murphy said. “The NC-17 version of show choir with a weird protagonist who was unraveling… I just need something optimistic.” The series premiered in 2009 and had a six-season run before ending in 2015.
Recently, Murphy and Brennan came together with another collaboration, with Netflix’s Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer Story. The show, which premiered back in September, treks through the life of one of America’s prolific serial killers, Jeffery Dahmer. Throughout the ten-episode series, we see Dahmer struggle with his obsession with blood and mayhem before ultimately getting caught in 1991.
Weed delivery has gotten a major glow-up. Prior to legalization, a weed serve consisted of a burner phone and a rotating cast of dudes that arrived at your door two hours late with a backpack full of 1/8ths weighing closer to two grams. These days, even Uber delivers weed.
Just last week, UberEats in Canada announced a partnership with Leafly, a popular cannabis site, to deliver cannabis directly to consumers in Toronto. While this only affects a minuscule portion of cannabis users overall, this kind of international news underscores weed’s social acceptability, as well as the legitimacy of cannabis delivery as an emerging market around the globe.
UberEats
Today’s consumers are blessed with access to a digital world of high-end delivery platforms that cater to everyone from clueless noobs to brand-literate super stoners. Some even come with Spotify-like algorithms that recommend products based on your personal tastes and purchase history.
While there are, of course, big names in the space like Weedmaps and Eaze, boutique delivery services are beginning to crop up as well, geared for the new wave of trendy consumers who have evolved with the market, and at this point, know their shit.
To help you navigate this flashy new world of weed apps, delivery sites, and extremely stoned UberEats drivers, here are the coolest delivery platforms on the market, and who they’re for.
For The Chic Environmentalist… FLOWERHEAD
Flowerhead
Flowerhead is for the earth fairies, the sun-grown goddesses, and the environmentally conscious stoners among us. This brand new delivery platform, currently in website form with an app to launch next year, is the first to focus entirely on sun-grown flower, regenerative farms, and brands with environmental certifications that ensure their products are grown without harmful pesticides, etc.
In addition to a beautifully curated selection of earth-conscious cannabis products that bear striking resemblance to my personal stash shelf, Flowerhead also had a fantastic selection of artful smoking accessories from brands like Summerland Ceramics and Sackville and Co, to complete your plant power vibe.
Bottom Line:
If you shop at Erewhon or believe in plant spirits (I do), Flowerhead is for you.
Jane is a new delivery app that shines in patented technology focused on personalized recommendations, called Jane’s Collections. Broken into categories that are part effect-based, part experiential recommendations, users can browse through playlist-like product lists tailored to every vibe. Whether you’re looking to “Hang with Friends,” “Get Intimate,” or “Stimulate My Mind,” Jane’s got you covered.
This app is ideal for a curious consumer who is looking to try new things but needs some help understanding how different strains and types of products will affect them.
Bottom Line:
Great for the mid-level user looking to expand their product literacy.
Proper is a unique website that’s half cannabis product review publication and half delivery-platform aggregator. Basically, their goal is to educate consumers on how products will make them feel, what they’re for, and why they would want or not want them, then connect them with local deliveries and dispensaries that carry the product in question.
Proper
Their platform relies heavily on product rating scores, which are formulated by the “Proper Rating Committee,” a group of cannabis experts who rate products and write reviews. Full disclosure, I used to be part of this committee when Proper first hit the market, and have rated and reviewed hundreds if not thousands of products for this platform over the years.
The process is extensive, offering consumers an in-depth look at what’s available. It’s a great concept, especially for nervous new users who want to know EXACTLY what they’re getting into before ordering something they’ve never tried before.
Bottom line:
Do you know nothing about weed and want to try something but are secretly super scared? Check out Proper!
Grassdoor is a new-ish platform that caters to the kind of stoner who knows what they like, what they don’t, and needs their weed within 45 minutes. This website/app also seems to have a TON of deals, which is always welcomed when you’re having to pay extra for weed delivery.
Another thing I like about this platform is the way they separate their products. Flower is grouped by sun-grown, greenhouse, and indoor, which I find to be a very effective way to shop for flower (and I think other in-the-know consumers do too). For the sake of clarity to less experienced cannabis users (Welcome! We love you!), sun-grown flower tends to be more environmentally conscious with a fuller spectrum of healing cannabinoids and flavorful terpenes producing a more holistic high, and indoor flower tends to have higher THC, more intense effects and has more negative implications for the environment.
Grassdoor
They also offer two menus, one for delivery under 45 minutes with fewer products, and a one way more extensive one for scheduled delivery. Whether you’re preparing for a stoney weekend or need a quick hit before the gym, Grassdoor’s coming through.
Bottom line:
You smoke enough weed to know what you want and know that you want it NOW!
While Amuse has an extensive product selection from a number of good brands, it presents them in a way that prioritizes marketing trends in the industry not supported by plant science. The main categories of the page revolve around High THC flower and the cheapest possible products available, neither of which are going to give you a positive experience because products that are too cheap are shitty, and flower with too much THC can activate anxiety and paranoia, especially in novice users.
This platform caters to inaccuracies perpetuated by cannabis marketing that ultimately prioritizes profit to rob consumers of a fun, healing experience with the plant, which is one of my pet peeves. But, they do have a massive presence in the delivery industry, and a ton of great products to choose from.
Bottom Line:
Use this app if you’re looking for a specific product or brand you can’t find elsewhere, or if you like cheap, potent (AKA low-quality) products.
Joe Rogan continued to prove that there isn’t a widely debunked hoax he won’t fall for every time. On this particular occassion, he joined forces with Dr. Phil to spread hysteria over reports of rainbow colored fentanyl being confused for Halloween candy. For the record, these reports were debunked back in September, but that didn’t stop Rogan and Dr. Phil from repeating the concerns. The two went on a rant about how they only trust candy they personally bought their kids from the store before one of Rogan’s producers flagged him down with a fact check. Whoops.
“‘Drug policy experts contacted by NPR agree there’s no new fentanyl threat this Halloween. Many are also skeptical of the DEA’s original warning. They don’t believe Mexican drug cartels and street dealers have launched any new campaign targeting children,’” Rogan read.
Did that stop the two of them? Hahaha no. Dr. Phil continued to argue that the issue isn’t so much targeting kids as them maybe accidentally picking up super expensive fentanyl pills that just happen to be lying around, which again is not a thing that’s happening.
“I’m not saying they’re targeting, I don’t care if you use the word targeting or not, it’s dangerous. And I’m just saying — you know, my grandkids, they won’t be getting any candy out of that and it’s not that anywhere they’re going is gonna be dangerous, giving out fentanyl to kids. It’s just they don’t know where they’re it’s coming from,” Dr. Phil said.
“You’re not getting it from a store,” Rogan chimed in completely ignoring the fact check he just read moments ago.
Last night (October 30), Tokischa wrapped her first US tour with a concert in Miami. After the show, the rising Dominican artist was surprised to be greeted by Canadian superstar Drake.
Following collaborations with J Balvin and Rosalía last year, Tokischa has kept the momentum in her career going strong. She teamed up with Rosalía once again for “La Combi Versace” on the Motomami album and then worked with Marshmello on their song “Estilazo.” The Dominican dembow genre that Tokischa is helping globalize later caught the attention of Madonna, who enlisted her for a remix of “Hung Up.”
In August, Tokischa kicked off her Popola Tour in the US. The title of the tour is Dominican slang for the word “p*ssy,” which reflects the sex positivity behind Tokischa’s bangers. She sold-out concerts in cities across the country like Las Vegas, LA, Boston, Houston, and Atlanta. Toksicha wrapped-up the tour last night at E11EVEN in Miami.
Now you can add Drake to the list of Tokischa’s famous admirers. After Tokischa finished the concert in Miami, she was approached by Drake. He congratulated her on her success and gave her a hug. The two artists then took a photo together. Drake also started following Tokischa on Instagram.
Drake dabbled Dominican bachata before alongside Romeo Santos. Maybe his next musical frontier will be in the dembow genre with Tokischa? Earlier this month, Bad Bunny flew Tokischa to the Dominican Republic so that she could be a surprise guest at his concert there.
The Stranger Things wiki notes that “825+ characters are known to have died” through the show’s first four seasons. Who could forget when “Rats (393+) got killed”? Or remember when “Unnamed Hawkins National Laboratory Orderly” kicked the bucket? I’m still reeling. But one non-rat death affected Millie Bobby Brown more than others.
“Yeah, it sucks sometimes,” the actress told ET Online about the numbers of deaths on the show (although not enough for her taste). “I loved Billy. I loved Dacre Montgomery, who was killed off in season three. I had a really good relationship with him, so for me, it was really hard to let go of that. And the same thing with Papa in this season.”
R.I.P. Billy. R.I.P. Unnamed Hawkins National Laboratory Scientist, who was apparently the first person to die on Stranger Things. You were too unnamed for this world.
Bobby Brown went on to reveal that she doesn’t know as much about the fifth and final season as you might think she does. “People say, ‘Oh, you can’t say too much, like don’t spoil it.’ I’m like, ‘Oh no, I wish I could spoil it for you, I don’t know anything.’ [The Duffer brothers] don’t tell me anything,” she said. “You could go through my phone right now. They never text me. They never tell me anything, because they know that I talk to people like you, and they know that I’m gonna spill the deets.” Or demand they kill more folks.
Did you really think he was done talking about this? After Restauranter Keith McNally banned (then unbanned) James Corden from his various world-famous restaurants due to his alleged nasty behavior, it seems like he really wants that last word.
If you aren’t familiar with this month’s latest ‘celebrity being rude’ scandal, here is a brief timeline: McNally posted a photo of the late-night host earlier this month paired with a scathing caption accusing Corden of treating his waitstaff poorly and being the “most abusive” customer. Corden originally apologized, which McNally seemed to accept, but then kept spewing some not-so-nice stuff. Then Corden really apologized, which was accepted along with McNally’s own apology. Now, McNally is taking his apology back! This one is a rollercoaster.
McNally took to his Instagram today to post yet another blurry image of James Corden paired with an aggressive caption, this time calling him a “phony.”
LAST POST ON THIS NON-STORY:
I don’t want to over-egg the pudding, but in Friday’s London Times Corden flip-flopped and told a massive lie AGAIN:” I never screamed at anyone, I didn’t shout, didn’t call anyone a name or swear or use derogatory language… How is it remotely a thing? When that person who posted the story wasn’t even there. ”
On second viewing, I found his TV “confessional” contrived and phony. The actor will say anything to save his bacon. In the scheme of things my opinion means nothing, but after Friday’s interview and a second look at his fraudulent confessional, I’ve given up on James Corden. For Good.
END OF STORY
Have we been fooled by the “end of story” line before? Yes. But do we think Corden will keep coming back to double down on his meanness? Probably! After all, his job ends next year so he has a lot of free time coming up. Corden has yet to respond to the latest Instagram post, but let’s just hope, for all of our sakes, that maybe his Instagram account isn’t working right now.
All eyes (and ears) are on Selena Gomez this week with Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, her Apple TV+ documentary, and its titular single due Friday (November 4) and Thursday (November 3), respectively. Gomez is using the bump in attention to endorse Stacey Abrams.
“Hi, everyone in Georgia,” Gomez says in a video posted to her socials today (October 31). “My friend Stacey Abrams is in an extremely close race to become governor. I’ve worked with Stacey personally, and her commitment to improving mental health access in Georgia is extremely important to me, as the state currently ranks 48th in the nation. Please grab some friends and vote early. Go to staceyabrams.com to learn more, and again, please vote.”
Gomez has never shied from her fierce commitment to mental health. Last week, Vanity Fair shared a scene from My Mind & Me in which Gomez likens her coping strategies to overcoming a childhood fear of thunderstorms and tornadoes. The Only Murders In The Building actress sought treatment at Boston’s McLean Hospital in 2019 and publicly discussed her bipolar diagnosis with Miley Cyrus in April 2020.
Abrams (D) is challenging Governor Brian Kemp (R) in the 2022 midterm gubernatorial election on November 8. The two were engaged in a controversial race for Governor of Georgia in 2018. Earlier this month, Latto brought Abrams on stage during her opening set on Lizzo’s Special Tour in Atlanta to advocate for “a woman’s right to choose” in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade‘s overturning this summer.
Kids are truly the best philosophers, and anyone who’s taken the time to sit down and have a conversation with a child knows that they can surprise you sometimes with their insights.
The folks at Recess Therapy know this to be true, which is why people follow them to see interviews with kids on various topics. Sometimes they’re hilarious, sometimes they’re surprising, but they are pretty much always endearing and adorable.
Take, for instance, this kid who waxed rhapsodic about the importance of imagination in a way that would make Mister Rogers proud.
In a video shared on Instagram and TikTok, Recess Therapy interviewed a kiddo who says he wants to be an engineer, but who might just turn out to be a motivational speaker. Like, someone needs to get this sweetheart on a TED Talk, immediately.
First, he shares the mind-blowing truth that imagination is what started everything—buildings, cars, even the microphone they were speaking into. “Imagination is one of the best things that’s ever happened,” he said. Why yes, it is.
He offered some advice to adults for using their imagination when they’re sad or when their children are going to bed and want a story. He shared some of his own imaginative ideas, like tree robots.
Then he shared his dream to be an engineer. “If you’re an engineer, you need to use your imagination. Yeah, cuz if you use your imagination as an engineer, you can make it into something that’s not even made yet.”
Watch this “motivational speaker you never knew you needed”:
Spend just two minutes scrolling through whatever platform of social media is your poison, and you’ll notice a prevailing theme. Sure, it might be said in different words, “keep a positive mindset,” “good vibes only,” “attract the life you want,” but the message remains the same—those difficult, painful feelings you might be experiencing shouldn’t exist.
Where these uplifting quotes might be well-intentioned, they can be unhelpful for those who are struggling—particularly for those dealing with mental health issues. It can already feel hard to quantify and express what’s really going on, and many have the added obstacle of being without a safe space to talk to anyone, making a person feel further isolated.
A PSA video posted to YouTube perfectly captures the lonely reality that many face when dealing with a mental illness and a culture of what’s commonly known as “toxic positivity.“
The video focuses on teens, primarily teens of color, who became a higher risk for mental health issues in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. These young people are met with less-than-helpful messages from friends and family like “It’s all in your head,” “Think happier thoughts,” “I don’t know why you’re so sad, you’ve got a roof over your head” and the (sadly) ever-popular “Men don’t cry in this house.”
You can watch the full video below. It’s only one minute long, but that’s all it needs to make a powerful effect:
It’s not until they are shown true empathy that things turn around, when asked, “Do you want to talk about it?” and being told that someone is there for them. It really is such a simple thing that has profound effects.
The video ends with a slogan that pretty much says it all:
“The world doesn’t listen. Be the friend who does.”
The PSA is part of the Ad Council’s Seize the Awkward campaign, in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and The Jed Foundation, meant to help others learn how to create supportive conversations surrounding mental health. The campaign’s website has a page dedicated to providing helpful tips for those who might be concerned about a loved one.
If you or someone you know are having thoughts of suicide or require mental health support, call or text 988 to talk to a trained counselor at the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org to connect with a counselor and chat in real time. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress as well as prevention and crisis resources for healthcare professionals.
Earlier today, Taylor Swift did something that has never been done before: On the new Hot 100 chart dated November 5, every song in the top 10 is by Swift. Yes, Midnights tracks are in spots 1 through 10, with “Anti-Hero” taking the crown. Naturally, Swift is thrilled about this, and while 13 is the number she tends to associate with, this time, it’s 10 that takes the spotlight.
In a tweet reacting to the news, Swift wrote, “10 out of 10 of the Hot 100??? On my 10th album??? I AM IN SHAMBLES.”
10 out of 10 of the Hot 100??? On my 10th album??? I AM IN SHAMBLES. https://t.co/q1n5Zc6pYA
“Anti-Hero” is now Swift’s ninth No. 1 song of her career, as well as her fifth one to debut on top. Aside from “Anti-Hero,” also in this week’s top 10 are “Lavender Haze” (No. 2), “Maroon” (No. 3), “Snow On The Beach” Feat. Lana Del Rey (No. 4), “Midnight Rain” (No. 5), “Bejeweled” (No. 6), “Question…?” (No. 7), “You’re On Your Own, Kid” (No. 8), “Karma” (No. 9), and “Vigilante Sh*t” (No. 10). Furthermore, “Mastermind” is at No. 13, “Labyrinth” is No. 14, and “Sweet Nothing” is No. 15, meaning all songs from the base version of Midnights are in the top 15.
This means that Swift now has the second-most top-10 songs of all time: 40, which is second behind Drake’s 59. Midnights is also the first album with 10 top-10 songs; previously, Drake’s Certified Lover Boy had nine in 2021.
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|Wilkinmeta (@wilkinmeta) 
