Loki‘s first season is finished, and fans are buzzing about the possibilities for a second season. The course of Marvel’s movies shifted considerably in the course of the show’s run, even if it did well to stand on its own as far as watchability outside of the MCU.

Now that the season is finished, though, many fans are looking ahead to what’s next. And many of those fans hope that the show brings back some new Loki variants in Season 2 as their expansion of Lokis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe had some charming consequences.

More than just Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and Sylvie, the show introduced a few other Norse gods to the mix including some Lokis of a different species. And now one Loki that captured the imagination of many fans has its own theme song. Jonathan Mann, who creates a song once a day and posts it on Twitter, decided that Friday was the day to give the world an unofficial song for Alligator Loki, who first appeared in the show’s fifth episode. And, well, it’s pretty damn good.

Perhaps the clips of Alligator Loki looking menacing and slightly mischievous help to sell the effect, but fans of the Marvel show will certainly appreciate a character that immediately trended online in the wake of the episode’s release on Disney+. Considering all the gator-themed Marvel merch that’s almost certain to follow, it certainly makes sense that the hand-chomping Loki now gets its own tune.

Having a famous line thrown back in your face in public is basically every actor’s worst fear. Despite the aura of celebrity that may look superhuman from afar, actors are just people like everyone else and mostly want to go about their business undisturbed. Which is why Regina King needs you, the common person without an Oscar to your name, to stop shouting lines from Jerry Maguire at her while in public.

King is known by many for a variety of roles, including that aforementioned Oscar win in 2018’s If Beale Street Could Talk. But a line from the Tom Cruise vehicle still haunts her 25 years later, to the point where she’s talking about it in interviews in 2021.

King appeared on Variety’s Women in Motion and was asked if she knew “show me the money” would become an iconic catch phrase when the movie was filmed. The line, which Cuba Gooding Jr. yells repeatedly at Cruise’s Maguire in the film, became one of the most popular — and most-screamed — moments from the movie. And years later it’s apparently still something King has to hear when people recognize her.

“Oh dear, I did not,” King said. “Nor did I know 25 years later people would still think that that’s an original thing to say to me.”

King admitted that “it’s actually kind of cute” and there’s certainly some appreciation from the actress that people do recognize her and know her work, but it’s also pretty clear that she would be OK if she never heard it again from random passersby. Which certainly makes sense: 199 was a long time ago and King’s been in plenty of great things since then.

The whole thing is a nice reminder that if you’re going to interact with a celebrity, know that they’ve probably heard just about everything you might think to say to them from their most popular films. So maybe a nice “hello” or a polite nod will suffice instead.

The son of a franchise legend will take over the reins in the nation’s capital. According to a pair of reports by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Washington Wizards will end their widely-rumored courting of Wesley Unseld Jr. by making him the franchise’s next head coach.

Wojnarowski reports that the two sides will sit down to discuss a contract on Saturday.

While he does not have any head coaching experience, Unseld has been an assistant in the league since 2005. He began his coaching career in 2005 with the Wizards, and after leaving the team in 2011, he’s had stops in Golden State, Orlando, and Denver. Since 2015, he’s been a member of the Nuggets’ coaching staff.

Unseld, of course, is the son of the late Wesley Unseld Sr., one of the greatest players in franchise history who was named the league’s MVP in 1969 and led the team to a championship in 1978. He spent his entire professional career, from 1968-81, with the team before retiring, becoming an assistant coach in 1987, and serving as head coach from 1988-94.

Washington’s head coaching job opened up after the team failed to come to an agreement on a contract extension with Scott Brooks, who accrued a 183-207 record in five years in D.C.

All bourbon is corn-fueled. By nature, bourbon must have at least 51 percent corn in its base (or mash bill) with a supporting cast of malted barley, rye, and/or wheat, generally. The vast, vast majority of bourbon on the shelf will have a mash bill with around 70 to 79 percent corn in its mash. High-rye bourbons will drill that corn number down to 51 to 69 percent (as will high-wheat bourbons), whereas with low-rye or low-wheat bourbons the corn component will reach 80 percent and above.

Then you have 100 percent corn bourbons. This isn’t a new style of bourbon in so much as it’s a newly popular style, driven mostly by young craft distillers with something to prove. Because of its static mash, it’s not going to be as nuanced as other expressions. That said, testing bourbon with an all-corn mash bill certainly teaches you something about the spirit — if for no other reason than you learn the power and limitations of barrelling and aging in developing flavors (because those elements are easier to identify with an uncomplicated recipe).

Before we dive in, there’s a difference between “corn whiskey” and “100 percent corn bourbon.” Corn whiskey only has to be 80 percent corn-based, but certainly can have a 100 percent corn-fueled mash bill. 100 percent Corn bourbon is different in that it also has to follow bourbon’s other rules. It has to be aged according to bourbon’s aging laws — new oak only and specific ABVs for entry and bottling. In short, corn whiskey and corn bourbon can come off the stills looking identical, it’s how they’re aged that makes them fall into their respective categories.

The five bottles of 100 percent corn bourbon below are all from craft distilleries. You simply don’t see this bespoke style too much in the mainstream bourbon world yet. Still, these are fascinating expressions that we think are worth your time to expand your bourbon palate. If that sounds interesting to you, click on the prices to try these expressions yourself!

Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $54

The Whiskey:

Hailing from the Tuthilltown Distillery in New York, this 100 percent New York corn bourbon is already a bit of a throwback. The distillery just revamped their line and this is a relic now, thanks to a new mash bill recipe that adds in five percent malted barley to the corn. Still, this bottle is pretty manageable to find on shelves and carries with it deeply crafted whiskey-making with small format barrels, soothing bass music resonating through the warehouse, and four years of mellowing.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear sense of popcorn that’s been liberally coated in powdered sugar, vanilla, and a hint of an almond shell. The palate holds onto that final note and dips into rich marzipan with a cut of orange oils next to buttered popcorn and a little warm spice. The end lets that buttered popcorn sweeten back towards caramel corn with a drizzle of honey and a final note of dark chocolate-covered peanuts in the back of your mouth.

Bottom Line:

This is a great entry point to any 100 percent corn bourbon. It’s very familiar while really leaning into the corn. While we like to use it more for cocktails, it still works as an easy sipper on the rocks, especially paired with a bowl of hot buttered popcorn on movie night.

Yellow Rose Outlaw Bourbon

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $56

The Whiskey:

Texas is a major whiskey destination these days, especially if you want 100 percent corn bourbons. This expression is made in Harris County and was Houston’s first legal distillery. The mash is 100 percent yellow corn from the Panhandle. The juice is then loaded into small format barrels where it spends an undisclosed amount of years mellowing through southern Texas’ extreme weather ups and downs.

Tasting Notes:

This opens with a rush of caramel-covered pecans with a dash of salt next to a freshly opened can of creamed corn and a hint of floral honey lurking in the background. The taste holds onto that rich and creamy corn vibe, adding a bit of the husk, while it sweetens towards more salted caramel and a big wooden spoon of that floral honey. The finish is long and smooths out with vanilla, creating a corn pudding feel and taste with a hint of dark spice and a touch more honey-dipped woodiness.

Bottom Line:

This really amps up the corn from the nose to the finish, which is kind of refreshing for a bourbon. We’ve heard some critics say that makes this a little too one-note for them. We think that’s fair but also misses the point a little — this is built as a yellow corn bourbon from stalk to a creamy, vanilla-laden dessert.

New Southern Revival 100% Jimmy Red Corn

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $108

The Whiskey:

This South Carolina distiller utilizes a heritage red corn that nearly went extinct. The distillers worked with Clemson University to help bring back Jimmy Red Corn as a varietal, specifically because that was the corn used by local moonshiners way back in the day.

Tasting Notes:

This barrel-proof expression doesn’t feel overly alcohol-forward. Instead, you’re greeted with mild notes of honey, dried roses, eggnog spice, and caramel corn with a nice hint of salt. The palate is warm but sweet with a continued note of salted caramel corn and buttery toffee next to hints of cherry candy and maybe even salted peanut shells. The end is long and ends with a hint of banana next to that caramel corn and a final savory note.

Bottom Line:

This is a complete departure from the rest of the list. This feels more like it’s a crafty bourbon than a 100 percent corn one. We mean that as a compliment. The dark fruits, spices, florals, caramel, salt, nuts, and corn all add up to a unique corn-fueled bourbon vibe that feels like something you’ve had before and want to have again.

FEW Sarah Shook & The Disarmers Blue Corn Bourbon Whisky

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $62

The Whiskey:

FEW Spirits’ Blue Corn Bourbon is of their many music collabs (they’ve also partnered with The Flaming Lips and Alice in Chains), and thus a very limited release. This collab with North Carolina’s country-punk band, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, utilized FEW’s artisanal style — leaning all the way into a blue corn base.

Beyond that, FEW doesn’t tell us much more about what’s in the bottle.

Tasting Notes:

This is pure county fair caramel corn straight out of a brown paper bag. Dashes of woody spice, vanilla husks, and orchard fruits linger on the palate but it’s really that caramel corn that drives the flavor profile. The end is somewhat short and lets the spice amp up towards a warming end while a final note of burnt marshmallow arrives on the very tail of the taste.

Bottom Line:

This is worth grabbing if you’re already a collector of FEW’s other music collabs. It’s unique and likely not to be seen again any time soon. That being said, it feels a bit more like a mixer than a sipper.

Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon

ABV: 64.9%

Average Price: $65

The Whiskey:

This is the most unique bottle on the list and worth the search (and money). Locally grown Texas blue corn is used to create a truly Texan bourbon. The juice is aged in the Balcone’s Waco rickhouse under the hot Texas sun, allowing the sugars from the wood to really imbue themselves into the bourbon. The results are vatted and bottled at cask-proof, letting every detail of the barrel shine through.

Tasting Notes:

Salted butter melting on freshly baked cornbread mingles with fresh tobacco, dried mint sprigs, and powdery white pepper. The sip then takes a left turn into Red Hots, orange marmalade, and fire-roasted marshmallow territory with black tea bitterness cutting through. The pepper and corn return on the finish as this one takes its time to say goodbye.

Bottom Line:

This is bold and not really like any other bourbon (in general). And that’s why we love it. This is the perfect bottle to reset a palate while expanding it. It’s also a great cocktail base thanks to those hefty ABVs.

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As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

As life for many continues to reemerge in post-vaccination America, the rash of engagements and weddings seem likely to dominate the social calendar for the next few years as happy couples decide to share the rest of their lives together. That does not include this particular couple, who hit rough waters after a minor league baseball proposal went terribly wrong.

On Thursday night, word circled social media that a ballpark proposal didn’t go as planned, with a woman quite literally running away from their pre-fiancee after a proposal on top of a dugout.

It became clear the proposal happened at a Worcester Red Sox game, while many people yearned for video footage that this happened. The photographer whose tweet about the proposal fail went viral, however, said she would not be sharing images of the event.

But another photographer soon posted footage from a “source” online which you can view for yourself below.

Now in an age of vitality, it’s easy to let your mind wander into the territory of whether this is real or not. Public proposals are overplayed to the point of parody by now, and this could very well be a video meant to go viral and we’re only amplifying those goals by sharing.

Still! It’s objectively funny in this case since it involves what’s essentially a very happy smiley face hovering nearby, as the WooSox mascot watching what seems likely to be an incredibly embarrassing moment at close range is as close to an I Think You Should Leave sketch happening in real life as we’ll get.

Whether it’s real or not at this point seems beside the point given the reaction from the crowd and the extremely uncomfortable footage that followed, with the woman freezing and then running away in horror while the crowd in central Massachusetts looks on, aghast. It’s a convincing fake at best and a truly horrifying relationship implosion at worst, but the lesson here is that you should not get engaged in a wildly public place unless you are absolutely sure your significant other is going to say yes. And even then: Do it in private, where no cameras are waiting to see if your extremely special moment will blow up in your face and make for good viewing for the rest of the internet.

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Cardi B, Logic, Pop Smoke, and more.

The big hip-hop story of the week was, unsurprisingly, the XXL Freshman Cyphers, which were broken up into three parts. The first, featuring Coi Leray, DDG, Lakeyah, and Morray, became the standout thanks to Coi’s inexplicably brief verse, which she followed with a twerking session. In the second, Blxst and Toosii delivered a pair of competent verses, and finally, the closer featuring 42 Dugg, Flo Milli, Pooh Shiesty, and Rubi Rose impressed fans thanks to Rubi’s cool delivery and Flo Milli’s exuberance.

Friday saw the releases of new music and videos from 21 Savage and Metro Boomin (“Brand New Draco“), Cardi B (who guested on Normani’s suggestive “Wild Side” after re-writing her verse to make it “nastier”), Logic (“My Way“), Trippie Redd and Lil Uzi Vert (“Holy Smokes”), Blxst and Bino Rideaux (“One Of Them Ones“), Kevin Abstract (“Slugger” with Snot and Slowthai), and Pop Smoke, whose posthumous album Faith features “Tell The Vision” featuring Pusha T along with the releases listed below.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending March 19, 2021.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Blxst & Bino Rideaux — Sixtape 2

For the second installment of their star-making series, the two Los Angeles natives offer double the new songs, embracing smooth grooving rhythm&gangsta vibes to detail their lives since we last heard from them. There’s a relatively even distribution of cocky come-ons and subtle flag-waving moments to appease both the Gs and the ladies, and the consistent tempos make it a comforting late-night drive vibe setter.

Drakeo The Ruler — Ain’t That The Truth

At this point, you know what you’re getting from Drakeo, whose unapologetically goofy flexes provide levity to the gritty undercurrent of paranoia and loss. It’s his first release since the death of Stinc Team member Ketchy The Great, but his presence is still felt as Drakeo and Ralfy the Plug carry the torch.

OMB Bloodbath — Blood Sample [EP]

The Houston native has built a respectable back catalog of mixtapes, but for her first release for LVRN, she polishes things up considerably. While it’s a short effort at just five tracks, her pen proficiency shines through on a variety of song styles and themes. EST Gee shows up here too, which is a treat for fans of the burgeoning Midwest superstar.

Pop Smoke — Faith

A surprising posthumous release from the late Pop Smoke that folds back into the drill sounds that first made his name, bringing its proliferation of guests into his world instead of the other way around. It’s a little busy with guest stars, but considering how early in his career Pop died, it’s understandable that his team and estate might want to spread his vaulted verses around as much as possible.

Remble — It’s Remble

Listen, when it comes to West Coast rappers making murder sound funny, there are very few who are quite as good at it as Remble. The best part might be the hyper-enunciated, ultra-calm vocal tone with which he delivers his smirking threats. When he gets on “Book Bag” with BlueBucksClan… alchemy.

Singles/Videos

Dave East & Harry Fraud –“Diamonds”

As a longtime follower — but seldom enjoyer — of Dave East’s music, I find his collaborative project with Harry Fraud frustrating because it’s the sort of thing he should have put out years ago. It’d have at least bought him more goodwill for his salty commentary toward Gen Z, it’s that good.

J.I. — “Morning”

As the self-declared Prince of NY leans more and more into his melodic flow, he creeps closer to a breakthrough moment that will bring him to the vaunted heights of fellow Big Apple rappers like Tjay and A Boogie.

Rexx Life Raj — “Kimbo Slice”

On Rexx’s newest single, the mellow beat belies the aggressive content, which broadens the Berkeley rapper’s overall range, showing he’s not all financial advance and introspection.

Russ — “Cheers”

Russ’s consistency is honestly impressive and refreshing at this point. There are few other rappers who have been able to maintain the balance of quality and quantity of releases as Russ has over the past few months.

Tink — “Selfish” Featuring Yung Bleu

Every time Tink drops something, I get mad all over again at how long it’s been since the Chicago native’s last release. The anger dissipates in the face of my astonishment at her consistent growth.

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

The basketball world is abuzz in the aftermath of a rumor that Damian Lillard is getting closer and closer to making a formal trade request to the Portland Trail Blazers’ front office. On Friday afternoon, Lillard had the opportunity to address this rumor at USA Basketball training camp in Las Vegas, and while he stressed that the report was not true, he’s also made clear that his mind is not made up on what his future holds.

“I woke to those reports, a lot of people reaching out to me,” Lillard said. “But it’s not true. I’ll start off the rip and say it’s not true. I said the last time I spoke to you guys that a lot of things are being said and it hasn’t come from me. So, number one, it’s not true. And secondly, I’ll also say that I haven’t made any firm decision on what my future will be, so there’s really no need for anybody else to speak for me or report this or report that.”

Continuing to stress something that he mentioned to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Lillard mentioned that he wants to see more urgency this year at all levels of the Blazers organization, saying that, “We’ve reached that point where it’s like, ‘It’s not enough, do we really want to win it all?’”

As for what the future holds, Lillard is going to meet with new Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and general manager Neil Olshey, and he said that his expectation is he will suit up for the team when the 2021-22 season tips off.

There’s a long way to go for Portland this offseason, but it seems clear that the team has an edict from its best player to make a serious push to become a legitimate title contender. Perhaps more will become clear after he meets with his GM and new coach, but for now, the Blazers are a team that seems ripe for a big move this summer.

The United States women’s basketball team fell in a pre-Olympic scrimmage in Las Vegas on Friday afternoon. The Americans took on Australia at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, and despite the fact that the Aussies saw star center Liz Cambage depart from the team less than 24 hours earlier, the Opals came out on top, 70-67, marking the first time since 2011 that the U.S. lost an exhibition and the first time since 2010 that Australia defeated the United States.

A pair of Seattle Storm players led both sides, as Ezi Magbegor and Breanna Stewart each scored 17 points. Despite that, Stewart’s efficiency from the floor was a reflection of the poor afternoon the Americans had all over the place: Stewart went 6-for-16 from the field and 2-for-8 from three, with the United States shooting 25-for-67 (37.3 percent) and 2-for-18 (11.1 percent), respectively.

Those shooting woes went on for the entirety of the second half, and as a result, the No. 2 team in the world rallied from 16 points down to come out on top. While Team USA took a comfortable 41-28 lead into halftime, the Aussies came out with a chip on their shoulders in the third, outscoring the Americans in the frame, 23-13. The fourth quarter saw a 19-11 edge for the Opals, too, while the United States threw up brick after brick. Even on the game’s final possession, Stewart was able to get a look that could have forced overtime, but her attempt from behind the arc went long.

Australia was able to capitalize on a rough night for their opponents in some of the ways you expect when an underdog pulls an upset. The Opals more or less played the U.S. to a draw in the turnover battle (the Americans had 18, the Australians had 17) and went 10-for-26 from behind the arc. Beyond the big scoring night by Magbegor, Rebecca Allen’s 11 points and Stephanie Talbot’s 10 led the way.

The loss comes days after the United States fell to a team of WNBA All-Stars, and it marks the first time since 2011 that the Americans lost an exhibition game. The team has one more exhibition — a Sunday evening tilt against Nigeria — before heading over to Tokyo for the Olympics. They’ll begin their quest for a seventh consecutive gold medal on July 27 against Nigeria, with Japan and France also in their group.

“They’re the best in town, even if it’s a small town.”

That’s an official logline for Taika Waititi’s upcoming FX (on Hulu) followup to What We Do in the Shadows, and he’s heading down another rather intriguing (yet undoubtedly funny) road. the eclectic auteur’s now bringing us a comedy series, Reservation Dogs, that’s co-written by Native American filmmaker Sterlin Harjo. Yes, the teens in this show rock suits that look strikingly similar to the characters of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, and the show (according to a press release) “follows four Native teenagers in rural Oklahoma who spend their days committing crime… and fighting it.”

The trailer sees the main characters, four indigenous teens, do some hustlin’ and thievin’ in an attempt to get the hell out of dodge. In their case, dodge is rural Oklahoma — the show was shot in and near Okmulgee (the home of the Muskogee Creek tribal headquarters) — where, presumably, excitement is lacking. Not for long, though, and these teens hope to make it all the way to California.

The four stars of this show are D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (as Bear), Devery Jacobs (as Elora Denan), Paulina Alexis (as Willie Jack), and Lane Factor (as Cheese). “Cheese” must be the coolest/uncoolest character name of all time. Previously, Harjo declared “[a]s longtime friends, it was only natural that Taika and I found a project together, and what better than a show that celebrates the complementary storytelling styles of our indigenous communities–mine in Oklahoma and Taika’s in Aotearoa.”

Reservation Dogs premieres on FX on Hulu on August 9.

The cast of Saturday Night Live doesn’t have to worry about coming up with funny things to say about anything this summer, but basically everyone has to deal with questions about potential departures from the show itself. Pete Davidson, Colin Jost, and basically every notable name in the show’s current crew has had rumblings a-rumble that Season 46 may have been their last.

Cecily Strong fits that bill as well, especially since her last appearance on the May 21 episode was a wine-soaked Judge Jeanie impression that included her singing “My Way” while quite literally inside a vat of booze. If that truly was to be her swan song, however, it seems Strong herself hasn’t made a decision she’s ready to reveal just yet.

In an interview with Instyle, Strong discussed her upcoming book and another musical project she’s involved in on Apple TV+ called Schmigadoon! And while the topic of her potential Weekend Update farewell came up, there was no indication one way or another if it really is the end of her time on SNL. Strong detailed that the piece came from working with a writer on the show to top her last appearance as Judge Jeanie, leading to some high stakes for the design department.

Bryan Tucker, who I wrote that scene with, texted me earlier that week that he wanted to do Jeanine Pirro. He said, “And I want her to sing ‘My Way.’” I always have to up the ante, and since the last time [I did her] I vomited wine, I said, “Well, then, I think I should get into a big tub of wine.” And the SNL team made it happen.

But as far as an official announcement that it’s the end of her time on the show? Well, that’s not coming because she’s not sure what’s next. but it won’t be a wink and a nod on stage and nothing else.

I’ve gone back and forth, like, “Should I write something on Instagram?” But I hadn’t decided, and I still haven’t. No matter what, it was our last show [of the year]. Hopefully, I’ll figure it out before the [next] season starts. But I don’t do many things like wink, wink. I’d come out and say it.

Strong noted that she’s quite literally releasing her diary soon, so she’s not one to hint and hesitate to make things clear. But she’s happy that, if it is the end, she went out covered in purple.

But now, if I do leave, it looks great — like I did it on purpose. And if I stay, maybe I’ve built up some performance karma or something. I never know when I’m going to love something and the audience will too, so it’s always a real treat when that happens.

The castmembers of the show have been quite transparent, both onstage and off, about how difficult it was to shoot the end of Season 45 and all of Season 46 during a pandemic. The show’s grind is well-documented, and despite its place in the comedy world there are definite sacrifices that need to be made for the show to stay afloat. Right now, it seems like everyone who made the last season happen is either happy to have a break or unsure if they will be invited back. Which means we may not get any answers about what’s next for the show for a bit longer at least.

[via InStyle]