Category: News

Cobra Kai‘s fourth season finale did not go too well for the good guys or, for that matter, the villains who aren’t quite as bad as the show’s ubervillain, Terry Silver. He had positioned himself as the most dastardly karate guy in existence, even putting John Kreese behind bars, so that Silver can launch a zillion Cobra Kai franchises after paying off a judge (to make a bad call) during the All Valley Tournament. As such, “No Mercy” is going to spread everywhere, and we’ve already heard that Silver will bring Mike Barnes back from The Karate Kid III obscurity. As this Season 5 trailer shows, Silver’s also recruited a female sensei, and one can only guess what havoc they will all wreak.

In the meantime, the Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang guys, Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, are picking up the pieces of their combined dojo, and as this trailer shows, it’s full-on war for the soul of the Valley. Sure, Silver has a ton of fresh recruits, but if we’re talking about the adult characters that we know/love, they’re all banding together against Silver. Hell, even Chozen is back and fighting alongside Johnny (!). It’s a sight that no Karate Kid franchise fan ever would have dreamed about after the O.G. movies, but subverting expectations is part of what this Netflix show does so beautifully. That’s in addition to harnessing a degree of almost unparalleled cross-generational appeal.

It’s almost time for Season 5. From the synopsis:

Following the shocking results of the All Valley Tournament, Season 5 finds Terry Silver expanding the Cobra Kai empire and trying to make his “No Mercy” style of karate the only game in town. With Kreese behind bars and Johnny Lawrence setting karate aside to focus on repairing the damage he’s caused, Daniel LaRusso must call on an old friend for help.

Netflix’s Cobra Kai returns on September 9.

Blackpink continues their rollout for “Pink Venom,” the group’s comeback single, with a thrilling teaser for the song’s upcoming music video. In typical Blackpink fashion, it appears to be colorful and high-concept, borrowing looks from postapocalyptic cyberpunk movies like Blade Runner 2049 and pairing punchy modern production with a traditional Korean zither. “Pink Venom” is set to drop this Friday, August 19. The single will precede the arrival of Blackpink’s sophomore album, Born Pink, due September 16. You can check out the teaser above.

In addition to releasing their sophomore album, the band is planning a 27-city Born Pink World Tour, kicking off with two nights in Seoul in October and running through spring of 2023. But first, they’ll be performing at the 2022 MTV VMAs, along with fellow performers Jack Harlow and Lizzo. The band appears to be going strong, even as individual members start to receive solo recognition. Last year, group member Lisa made her solo debut with Lalisa, which included a video for the title track, while Rosé garnered attention for a string of cover performances that earned her a spot on Variety‘s “Power Of Young Hollywood” list earlier this month.

But with all of that, fans still can’t get enough of Blackpink as a band, and can’t wait to see what they do on their next album.

Born Pink is out on 9/16 via YG Entertainment.

Singer and former One Direction member Zayn rarely mentions his days in the boy band, however, he took to Instagram yesterday to sing a fan favorite from the One Direction catalog. In a black-and-white clip, Zayn sings the chorus of “Night Changes” from the band’s 2014 album, Four, which was also Zayn’s last album with the group.

“Everything that you’ve ever dreamed of / Disappearing when you wake up / But there’s nothing to be afraid of / Even when the night changes / It will never change me and you,” he sings in the clip.

Zayn also revisited his 1D days back in June, when he sang a portion of “You & I” from the band’s sophomore album, Midnight Memories.

Could this mean a One Direction reunion is imminent? Given Zayn’s ex-bandmate Liam Payne’s recent comments about the singer during Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, it’s probably best we don’t hold our breath.

“Before we go too deep into this, there are many reasons why I dislike Zayn, and there are many reasons why I’ll always always be on his side,” Payne said. “….You can always look at the man for where he is and say ‘Oh yeah, whatever, that guy’s a d*ck. But at the end of the day … you understand what he’s been through.”

Sometimes dreams come true when we’re just doing the things we love. That’s exactly what happened to a little girl named Joanna who found herself on stage at a live concert for the band New Found Glory. Joanna is 8 years old and plays the bass guitar. One day after recording her playing Vicious Love by New Found Glory, Joanna’s dad decided to send it to the band’s bass player, Ian Grushka.

---

When Grushka watched the video of Joanna jamming out to one of their songs he showed it to the rest of the band and told them she lived in Las Vegas, one of the cities on their tour. The band agreed that the little musician should join them on stage as their guest, getting around the venue’s 18 and up requirement. Before you know it, Joanna and her dad are sitting in the best seats in the house awaiting the announcement for the pint-sized rock star to join the band on stage. One would think the surreal experience of sitting in a crowed waiting to go on stage with a famous rock band would cause some nerves. But not for Joanna.

When one of the band members asked if she was nervous, she explained that she’s played three shows before, including a School of Rock concert. This was second nature to the young bass player and when she got up on stage she seemed right in her element. Joanna didn’t miss a beat and the crowd roared with her success.

While it’s highly unlikely New Found Glory will replace their current bass player with the 8-year-old, it seems likely they’ll stay in touch with the family. Joanna’s already got her big fish story to tell her hypothetical grandchildren. She’s even got the pictures to prove it.

When you think of diamonds, what comes to mind? For many, the jewels are a sign of opulence and wealth. For others, diamonds are a symbol of love and commitment. But for those who are worried about the planet, diamonds can represent something far more sinister: exploitation and environmental degradation.

Diamond mining, especially in Africa, causes soil erosion, deforestation, and overall ecosystem destruction. And that doesn’t even factor in the human toll. Although the industry has taken steps to improve the situation, African diamond mines are notorious for their low wages and poor working conditions. But despite the negative publicity, global diamond jewelry sales are now worth more than $72 billion annually.

---

Clearly, the public has a strong cultural attachment to these beautiful jewels. But what if there was a way to satisfy this massive demand without exploiting the poorest of the poor. What if there was a way to create diamonds from scratch without the need for destructive mining practices. Well, as it turns out, there is.

The Benefits Of Lab-Grown Diamonds

Image via Unsplash

In recent years, scientists have created diamonds in the lab that are the same quality as those you would find in a mine. Since these lab-grown diamonds are composed of crystallized carbon, they are virtually identical to traditional diamonds. Only advanced testing equipment can tell the difference. At the end of the day, lab-grown diamonds look like real diamonds because they are real diamonds.

Because these diamonds are created in a lab, the issues of low wages and worker exploitation are virtually nonexistent. And in terms of environmental damage, there’s no comparison between diamond mines and diamond labs. However, lab-grown diamonds still require a large amount of energy to create, so it’s not as if they are carbon neutral. But according to Saleem Ali, a minerals expert at the University of Delaware who was interviewed by The Guardian, “the environmental impact is far greater for mined diamonds” when the entire life cycle of a diamond mine is considered.

Better For The Planet, And Better For Your Wallet

Image via Unsplash

Aside from the fact that lab-grown diamonds are less exploitive and better for the planet, it turns out that they’re also better for your bottom line. That’s because it’s cheaper and less time-consuming to create diamonds in a lab than it is to locate and excavate them. And a company called SuperJeweler is passing these savings on to consumers.

Since 1999, SuperJeweler has offered diamonds from ethical, conflict-free suppliers directly to the public. And now, the company is selling lab-grown diamonds, including 1 and 2-carat diamond earrings in solid 14k gold. So if you’re on the market for beautiful diamond jewelry, why wouldn’t you pay less for the same product and help protect the environment in the process? Click here to learn more about these beautiful lab-grown diamonds today.

Once upon a time, the image of a hamster enjoying a delicious bowl of fresh spaghetti was only the stuff of fairy tales, and maybe one-third of all the Disney classics.

But not anymore. Behold … “The Hamster Station” on TikTok and Instagram, where you can bear witness to all the teeny-tiny feasts and itty-bitty activities of two adorable hamsters.

Their names? Mr. Marshmallow and Mr. Crumpet, naturally.

Mr. Marshmallow and Mr. Crumpet’s owner spoils them rotten with elaborate meals worthy of a Paul Hollywood handshake, made perfectly hamster-sized. And the internet is enthralled.

---

When I say elaborate, I’m not exaggerating. Below you find a “hamster picnic” complete with table and red checkered cloth on a patch of artificial grass. Topped with a pasta bowl. And a fruit slushie to wash it all down. This video alone got 7.5 million views.

You might be thinking, sure, this is cute and all, but do the hamsters even appreciate all this?

Just take one look at how they slurp those noodles, and you’ll have your answer.

@thehamsterstation He absolutely loves to have a picnic ❤️ #fyp #hamster #hamsters #hamstersoftiktok #thehamsterstation #pet ♬ Angeleyes (Sped Up Version) – tuna (SVT)

Understandably, hearts were won after watching.

“I just watched an adorable hamster eat a spaghetti noodle……..my day has been made lol,” wrote one person.

“This hamster living better life than me,” joked another.

What’s for dessert, you may wonder. Why, carrot cake, of course. Which the hungry, hungry hamster inhales. Truly the only proper way to eat carrot cake.

@thehamsterstation Reply to @thehappyhamsters3 The way he snatched it out of my hand 😂 #fyp #hamster #hamsters #hamstersoftiktok #thehamsterstation #pet ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show

Of course, the owner has reassured viewers that all meals are “hamster safe.” For the most part, these little guys have pretty lenient diets and can indulge in quite a bit of human foods, according to The Spruce.

However, some foods can be problematic. Peanut butter, for example, can get stuck in a hamster cheek pouch. Yes, even their dietary restrictions are adorable.

@thehamsterstation Reply to @ashleymaynard02 He absolutely loved them ❤️ recipe from vanillahamham on yt ❤️ #fyp #hamster #hamsters #hamstersoftiktok #thehamsterstation ♬ You Got A Friend In Me (From “Toy Story”) – Just Kids

For these “hamster-safe pancakes” seen above, the batter was made with plain flour, milk and water, then topped with a tiny piece of banana to look like butter. Genius.

But why stop at meals? Mr. Marshmallow had his very own mini movie night.

You know, chilling on a dollhouse couch, munching on some popcorn, and watching “The Bee Movie” on the big screen. Well, big for a hamster anyway.

@thehamsterstation What should Mr Marshmallow watch next? ❤️ #fyp #hamster #hamsters #hamstersoftiktok #thehamsterstation #pet ♬ Carrying Your Love – David Morris

Mr. Marshmallow dressed for the occasion in his dashing top hat.

By the way, Mr. Marshmallow and Mr. Crumpet might have a talented owner, but they are also artists in their own right.

Just look at their marvelous paintings below.

@thehamsterstation Replying to @thehamsterstation What do you think of Mr Crumpets painting? ❤️ #fyp #hamster #hamsters #Hamstersoftiktok #thehamsterstation #pet ♬ Funny Song – Cavendish Music

A dollop of different colors were dropped onto a tiny canvas, which was then placed in a plastic bag so that Mr. Crumpet could begin his work. By “work” I mean going after treats. Don’t judge his process!

Hamsters are already notoriously low-maintenance pets and this raises their cuteness factor times a bajillion. Cats and dogs might take the lead when it comes to popular household pets, but now there’s even more reason to consider owning a critter like Mr. Marshmallow and Mr. Crumpet. Or at least watch more videos of them.

One of the most hot-button topics on the internet as of late is “what exactly is going on over there on the set of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie?” There are so many perplexing set photos with actors draped in neon pink ensembles, you would think that Gerwig is making a Victoria’s Secret PINK docuseries. Despite having an all-star cast and a ton of set info, fans aren’t really sure what this project is going to be. But actress Rhea Perlman insists that no matter what happens, it will be good.

Perlman recently spoke to The Daily Beast to promote her new Netflix film 13, and while the Cheers actress could not give details about the plot, she did say that it will be different than what people are expecting.

“We’re not allowed to talk about anything specific in it, but it was fantastic,” Perlman explained. “I can tell you it’s going to be a really great film. It’s not just some ditzy movie about a doll. It is really going to be a great film. Greta Gerwig is great at directing it, and Margot Robbie is the main Barbie. It’s very different and quite beautiful and really fun. I couldn’t have had a better time.”

Filming of the movie wrapped up earlier this summer, and the jam-packed cast includes Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Will Ferrell, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, and about a dozen other A-listers. Perlman went on to gush about Gerwig, who penned the screenplay with Noah Baumbach. “She’s a great director. I’ve been an admirer of both of those people for such a long time. I love her movies. And I like her acting too, she’s a great actress. It’s all very great, pedigreed people involved.”

While we don’t really know what it’s about, it’s safe to say that Barbie could hit some Marvel-level anticipation before it hits theaters next summer. This is the multiverse of madness for every kid who used to act out soap opera scenes with their hand-me-down Barbie dolls!

(Via The Daily Beast)

Was it all good, man for Saul Goodman in the Better Call Saul series finale?

On one hand, he confesses to his many sins and is a minor celebrity in prison thanks to his ubiquitous TV ads. On the other hand, he’s serving an 86-year sentence (although “with good behavior, who knows?”). And with both hands, he fired finger guns at his ex-wife, Kim Wexler, who acknowledged their trademark move with a look.

But what happens after the finale? Co-creator Vince Gilligan has already said that he has “no plans” to revisit the Breaking Bad universe, after Better Call Saul and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story. Just in case he changes his mind, though, star Bob Odenkirk has weighed in on Jimmy and Kim’s future.

“I think she comes to see him! I think she comes to see him once a year — every other year at the least. And I think he helps a bunch of guys in prison to get out who are innocent, or he helps shorten their sentences. He gets treated really well,” Odenkirk told Entertainment Weekly. As for whether Jimmy spends the rest of his life in prison:

“I don’t think he gets out. I don’t know what kind of dispensation they have for an 80-year-old, but I believe they have some, once you get to be that age where you can do something else. But I think he’s kind of the king of the prison because he’s a really, really good lawyer and a great lawyer for the kind of people in there. And he puts that to good use, probably even does some good work, like, genuinely good work. And then I think they see each other and I think he thinks she should stay married to that guy and have a life. I don’t know what she does, though. She doesn’t seem very happy at the water place.”

Kim marrying the “yup” sex guy is even more depressing than Jimmy getting caught by the cops while hiding in a dumpster. Even worse, she’s married to him… in Florida.

(Via EW)

When Steven Toussaint was cast in House of the Dragon, the first of several ambitious Game of Thrones spinoffs, he honestly didn’t think much of it. The British actor had Black friends who had “small parts or recurring parts” in the original series, which to be frank, had an overwhelmingly white cast. However, as Toussaint delved into the role of Corlys Velaryon, The Sea Snake, he realized the warrior turned wealthy lord is a veritable force unlike anything seen in Westeros before. Unfortunately, another signifier of the Sea Snake’s prominent role also emerged.

“I didn’t realize it was a bigger deal until I was racially abused on social media when it was announced,” Toussaint told The Hollywood Reporter. “Yeah, that sh*t happened.”

As Touissant further explained, social media did what social media does as bigoted social media users had no qualms with throwing out racial slurs following his casting:

It got announced and somebody put up like an artist impression of The Sea Snake, which must come from one of the books. So someone put that up opposite my picture and [expressed dismay]. Then someone else referred to me by the N-word – that was in reply to a director I had worked with who wrote, “Steve Toussaint is great” and they said, “No, Steve Toussaint is a … —” There was also a Black American chap who is a big fan of the show who contacted me saying that he gets abuse because he championed me for the part. And on platforms like Reddit, which I’m not on, there are such discussions going on about it.

Obviously, the situation is not great, and yet another example of how racism continues to infect fandoms as evidenced by the more recent attacks on Obi-Wan Kenobi star Moses Ingram. For Toussaint, he’s done his best to power through and ignore fan expectations, racially tinged or not. “I thought, ‘Okay, this means a lot to some people, but I can’t allow that to bother me,’” he told THR.

House of the Dragon premieres August 21, 2022 on HBO.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

In his 2018 collaboration with Meek Mill, “Going Bad,” Drake proclaims “I got more slaps than The Beatles.” While making this sort of comparison to one of the most beloved rock bands of all time is a bold statement, it wasn’t entirely inaccurate. Months before that song’s release, Drake had broken the record for the most singles in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, occupying 7 spaces during the week of the release of his sixth studio album, Scorpion, breaking The Beatles’ previously held record of five spaces.

Nearly four years after Drake’s statement, he continues to break records. But it still poses a question.

Does Drake actually have “more slaps than The Beatles?”

Well, it depends on how you define what a “slap” is, however, his ability to craft hits is undeniable. In his career, spanning more than a decade, Drake has broken several chart records, according to Billboard. With his latest collaboration, “Staying Alive” with DJ Khaled and Lil Baby, Drake has earned the most top-five hits on the Hot 100 chart, with 30, breaking the record previously held by The Beatles.

Additionally, Drake also holds the record for the most top 20 hits on the Hot 100 with 100, and Top 40 hits, with 158.

Drake, however, only has 11 No. 1 hits to his credit, which practically pales in comparison to The Beatles’ 20. Also, Drake has held the top of the Hot 100 and the Billboard 200 spots for eight cumulative weeks at various points in his career, which is four weeks short of The Beatles and Whitney Houston’s 12-week records.

But given how the chart rules and the way we consume music have evolved over time, we may see Drake catch up to all of The Beatles’ accomplishments. Or perhaps, we’ll see The Beatles make a comeback, considering how many songs have received a second life by way of TikTok and viral memes.