After the huge successes of Travis Scott’s collaboration with McDonald’s, future co-branding opportunities seemed like a no-brainer. As reported by Business Insider, though, just because something is simple doesn’t make it easy. While every piece of Travis Scott merchandise sold out, no matter how bizarre, the corresponding line of products from the Golden Arches’ partnership with reggaeton star J Balvin has been canceled due to what a spokesperson called “production challenges.”
The line included such fun, cheeky products as a pair of Big Mac slippers, a pair of Golden Arches glasses, a McFlurry bucket hat, a smiley-faced logo watch, and even a temporary tattoo of a receipt for a J Balvin meal (a Big Mac, fries with ketchup, and an Oreo McFlurry). However, an email was sent to customers by the merch producers Vibras Lab told them they’d be receiving a refund instead of the expected merch, citing an “issue with our supplies” that “did not meet our expectations with the products.”
Meanwhile, a rep for J Balvin told BI that “production challenges” were responsible for the cancelation, although fans won’t walk away completely empty-handed. The refund will come with a note from J Balvin as well as a co-branded beanie.
On the bright side for the reggaeton superstar, his co-branded Jordan 1 shoe with Nike was a smashing success.
Jay and Mark Duplass have brought a number of docuseries to streaming services in recent years, but Sasquatch certainly seems poised to be the weirdest one yet. Hulu announced on Thursday it’s picked up a three-part documentary series about the mysterious cryptid and an investigation into a triple homicide that some feel Bigfoot committed.
The latest Duplass Bros true crime series follows a familiar pattern with those they’ve produced in the past. Docuseries like Wild Wild Country and Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist are streaming on Netflix, but it’s now Hulu that will get an extended look at an investigative journalist’s research into Bigfoot, and whether the mythical creature is a brutal murderer. Of humans.
Here’s the synopsis that Hulu shared on Thursday:
While visiting a pot farm in Northern California in 1993, investigative journalist David Holthouse heard a story that still haunts him: On a nearby farm three men were torn limb from limb in a savage Bigfoot attack. Sasquatch follows David as he revisits the Redwoods twenty-five years later, in search of any evidence that might lead to the truth of what happened that night. As he pulls at the threads of this story, he’ll be taken down a path that’s far more terrifying than anyone would have imagined.
It certainly sounds wild, and that’s what we’ve come to expect from Duplass Brothers documentaries. Hulu announced Thursday that Joshua Rofé will direct the project, which will premiere later this spring. Meanwhile, their next project will hit HBO at the end of January, Lady and the Dale, a four-part series about Elizabeth Carmichael and Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation.
Despite having a pivotal role at the Distinguished Competition (that’s nerd talk for DC Comics), Ben Affleck has nothing but praise for Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige. While sitting down for an hour long episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Affleck walked host Scott Feinberg through his Hollywood career starting with his bit roles in the ’90s and going all the way up to his “comeback” role in 2020’s The Way Back. When Affleck’s role in Daredevil came up, the actor had lauded Feige who worked on the superhero adaptation for Fox before becoming the master of all things Marvel a few years later. After calling Feige the “greatest” and “most successful producer who ever lived” (at around the 49-minute mark), Affleck explained why the whole industry should be “turning to Kevin.” Via Comic Book:
“He’s the only guy in the world who, if he told me, ‘I know what the audience wants! This is what we’re doing!’ I would believe him 100%.” That f***er knows his audience like no producer (ever), he’s a genius. Kevin is like a ringmaster at the circus, he knows exactly how much to wink at the audience, exactly when to pull at the heartstrings, exactly when to do the effects, how many jokes, what the sensibility, what the tone is. Because people didn’t know to run away from the pajamas or embrace it, or make it serious.”
If it sounds like Affleck is having regrets about his time as Batman in the ill-fated Batman V Superman and Justice League and thinking he should’ve gone with Marvel, not so much. Affleck confessed that he took the role for his kids, but all the trouble was worth it for one special reason. “I wore the suit to my son’s birthday party, which was worth every moment of suffering on Justice League.”
Consider the Cleveland Cavaliers. Maybe you haven’t all season, or for several seasons now since LeBron James wanted to try a title in the West on for size and the team, less his gravity, slowly spiraled thinner and thinner. But it’s time to turn your gaze toward them again because on one weird winter night the Cavs snuck themselves into the biggest deal of the 2020-2021 season so far and with it, longterm franchise sustainability.
Big stars always pull outliers along in their wake, and the James Harden deal’s no different. It took four teams to generate the momentum Brooklyn needed to net Harden, and just like that two parts of Brooklyn’s future internal development went careening away — Jarrett Allen to Cleveland and Caris LaVert to the Pacers.
For the Cavs, Allen is the equivalent of a train heist. A versatile, stretch-potential big who plays concise and cool defense, rarely tangling himself up with fouls or frustration, and overall a franchise changing acquisition Cleveland would never have been able to secure in the clamor of free agency. Allen’s last three seasons with the Nets were a well-kept secret in that his development was measured, almost demure, but in that time he easily became the team’s more functional center, second to DeAndre Jordan only in rotation. His numbers have all ticked up incrementally and at 11 points, 9.6 rebounds per game he’s averaging the best of his career and will probably get much better within what is essentially the NBA’s, work ethic wise, most blue-collar team.
It’s been necessarily slow, what Koby Altman is building. Cleveland’s current GM was there for the team’s Cinderella title as assistant GM, and had one year in the driver’s seat before James left for L.A. After that, he was effectively handed a re-do but was realistic with the franchise’s draw and trajectory, holding off on dynamite in favor of pulling reliable talent from nearby, like the acquisition of Andre Drummond, and fostering growth in the promise of younger players like Colin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Darius Garland and now, Isaac Okoro. Altman has also leaned on his mainstay vets to foster the head down work ethic and DNA of the team, recognizing the inherent value in Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. as floor leaders as much as locker room contributors, stabilizers for a franchise in development.
In sizing up with Allen, and adding some relief with Taurean Prince who is averaging 11 points per game, Drummond is no longer such an outlier player. Allen will be Drummond’s relief off the bench and, depending on whether the Cavs hang onto Drummond or let him walk in free agency this summer, eventually eclipse him as he’d started to do with Jordan.
Cleveland will look to retain Allen because now, as frontrunners, they can match any prospective RFA deal, and because Allen raises the ceiling on what meaningful competition can look like for the Cavs. While the East now has one very clear frontrunner, the rest is still shaking itself out. With Miami and Toronto’s rough starts and the middling middle of the pack, Cleveland only sits two wins behind the 4th ranked team, the Pacers, and Indiana took a gamble in the same 4-way deal with swapping mainstay Victor Oladipo to Houston for the promise of LeVert.
It’s a developmental deal as much as it seals some necessary longevity, and the fact that the team now holds a boon of young, energetic, hardworking players makes Cleveland’s place in the Harden blockbuster a compelling one. But a heist is a heist, even if it’s a smiling one, and as it stands the Cavs are laughing all the way to the bank.
Search Party: Season 4 (HBO Max series) — Alia Shawkat’s Dory is missing in the continuation of this highly bingeable series that jumped from TBS to HBO Max without a hitch. This time around, the group of friends must confront their traumatic pasts and become a search party again, this time while attempting to track down Dory. Guest stars will include Susan Sarandon, Busy Philipps, and R.L. Stine.
Outside The Wire (Netflix film) — Sorry to disappoint, this show has nothing to do with The Wire. It does, however, star Anthony Mackie as an android military officer, who must locate a doomsday device before the bad guys can get their hands on it, and all hell breaks loose. Damson Idris co-stars as a drone pilot who assists Mackie’s cyborg, and they’re both in full-on action mode.
Star Trek: Discovery (CBS, 10:00pm EST) — Stamets gains some unexpected clarity, Saru seeks help from L’Rell, and Burnham presents a special gift for the Emperor after heading toward the ISS Charon.
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (ABC, 8:00pm EST) — This evening’s contestants include Drew Carey, Teri Hatcher, and Chrissy Metz.
The Hustler (ABC, 10:00pm EST) — There might be some melon-stabbing going on while the group takes on trivia questions for money while “The Hustler” among them keeps doing his or her secretive and enigmatic thing.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — Senator Bernie Sanders, FINNEAS
Jimmy Kimmel LIve — Javicia Leslie, Foo Fighters
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — Anthony Mackie, Cristin Milioti, Rico Nasty
The Late Late Show With James Corden — Andie MacDowell, Why Don’t We
Late Night With Seth Meyers — Anne Hathaway, Jane Levy
In case you missed these recent picks:
Pieces of a Woman (Netflix film) — Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf star as Martha and Sean, respectively, who experience an unimaginable tragedy when a home birth goes wrong. Martha then undertakes a yearlong odyssey while coping with grief and her relationship with Sean, which (unsurprisingly) strains under the pressure of their mutual loss. Meanwhile, Ellen Burstyn plays her overbearing mom, and Molly Parker plays the publicly shamed midwife. Look for this movie to be a big awards contender.
Everyone Is Doing Great (Hulu/Endeavor Series) — A little lightness will come in handy right about now, so this series from One Tree Hill alums James Lafferty and Stephen Colletti could hit the spot. Lafferty and Colletti star as former TV A-listers, who happened to play vampires on an enormously popular series called Eternals. Five years later, things are pretty damn awkward in their careers and lives, so it’s time for a late coming-of-age spin. The show found popularity with two episodes on the 2018 festival circuit, so the duo crowdfunded the rest of the season.
By now surely you’ve heard of OnlyFans. But if you’re not using the platform — as either a fan, a creator, or both — you may not realize that it has become, quite obviously, the future of pornography. But not just porn, either. Among the over one-million creators currently on the platform, you’ll find Hollywood celebrities, musicians, fitness experts, chefs, and any other stripe of content maker you can imagine with the talents and skills to attract a paying audience.
Of course, many of those creators are selling sexy content directly to the people who want to see it, and it’s those creators the platform has to thank for its meteoric rise. The pandemic definitely deserves a shout out, too. According to The Guardian, the OnlyFans user base jumped up from just 7.5 million users in November of 2019 to 85 million by December of 2020.
85 million users! Why would anyone pay for porn when the internet has so much of it for free?
Plenty of reasons. Traditional studio porn is starting to feel more and more antiquated and downright alienating and tube sites are full of questionable content. A platform where a sex worker can directly interface and explore kinks in a consensual and openly transactional way with their audience is the kind of creator-controlled system people struggling to reconcile mainstream porn’s exploitive nature with a values-driven sense of sex-positivity have longed for.
It puts the power directly in the hands of both the performer and the consumer, allowing for a customizable and curated stream of content. That’s rad.
To help fill us in on the ins and outs of this new frontier, we linked up with five creators making a living on OnlyFans — Suki (AKA Mvngokitty), Chloe (AKA Softbby123), Haley Spades, Zelda O (AKA Aquaxell), and Devin Ladner (Neon Harlot) to ask them about the best and worst aspects of the platform. Their answers proved deeply insightful and offer incredible context for anyone trying to understand this new frontier in sex work.
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Whether people admit it or not, most of us watch porn. In your opinion, how can we better destigmatize sex work and open up conversations about sexuality in America?
Suki: A lot of people watch porn, it’s everywhere nowadays. To destigmatize sex work, I think we should stop letting the wrong people speak for it. SW has been booming recently due to OF and it’s recent popularity with celebrities hopping on the bandwagon, and many people think it’s that easy to just create an account and hoping money would appear all because a popular celebrity spoke about it.
It’s not. In fact, that celebrity is probably causing more harm than good…
Making an OF account does not make you a sex worker. You’re an Onlyfans creator, don’t let it confuse anybody. Being a sex worker is pouring hours into content and creativity while managing this all from a business standpoint…It’s easy to call yourself a sex worker nowadays because of OF, but I feel like people are doing it for the wrong reasons: they scam, lie, etc. Sex workers don’t do that… Do sex work because you want to, speak up for what’s right/wrong regardless of who it is, and never feel ashamed for what you do.
Chloe: I think the first step to destigmatizing sex work and sexuality is to normalize letting women be sexual and talk about sex. I know that not all sex workers are women but the profession is very heavily dominated by them, so a lot of whorephobia is based on patriarchy. To destigmatize sex as a profession, we need to start seeing women’s sexuality as natural.
Haley: Destigmatizing sex work begins with the acceptance of sex work being work. To this day people still do not see sex work as a “real job” when in reality, it very much so is. We have lives outside of the work that we do, including having our own partners, other careers, etc. It would also help to recognize and understand that sex workers are meeting a demand, a growing, never-ending demand.
Zelda O: Destigmatizing sex work and sexuality ultimately begins by dismantling belief systems that are taught to us by the institutions of society, be it government or religion. If the laws of a nation shift then the collective mind will follow suit. Decriminalization of the sex trade would have a positive effect leading to less stigmatization.
Devin: I think communication is important. In all ways. Moving away from abstinence education. Talking to our children about sex and not just the biology of it but consent and pleasure. People are taught so young to fear or shame their sexuality, though it’s a basic human function.
What is the biggest misconception people have about OnlyFans creators?
Suki: That everyone on there is a sex worker. Not everyone on OF does adult work, but a majority of the platform is used for that. I’ve seen many people use it for workouts, recipes, etc. It’s always really nice seeing how creative others are [operating] and what people choose to do with a platform they have.
Haley: One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that when creators have a low subscription price, we are “selling ourselves short.” A low subscription price ($3-10) in a saturated market really benefits us and allows us to grow faster and make more revenues. A higher subscription price ($15+) limits us from reaching our goals, substantially. We would rather have 500 fans than 50.
Zelda O: For buyers, it’s that we are available 24/7 as if we’re porn-bots. For those outside the industry, it’s that we “sell our bodies” for money. That perspective is silly and rooted in a religious and cultural bias of anything sexual being immoral. I may as well be a gardener or ballerina.
Isn’t that also selling my body?
Devin: That’s it’s easy work. It’s not. Onlyfans does no promotional work for you. At all. You can not search for people. All marketing and advertising you have to do yourself and that’s difficult when most other platforms censor sex workers.
What about the platform works for you?
Suki: It’s easily accessible through phone and Web. It’s simple and easy to configure for first time users.
Chloe: Because it’s so popular, there are a lot of buyers on the site. When people want my content, they assume I have an OnlyFans, and they find it in my Twitter bio and subscribe! Simple.
Haley: The automation the platform provides creators with. I can schedule posts out weeks in advance and I can also schedule out mass messages. This allows me to better plan my schedule and coordinate time for other responsibilities that I have, while not losing touch with my fans.
Zelda O: What works the most reliably for me is the queue feature on the platform. It helps me be efficient and consistent with my posting schedule for both of my pages. Yes, both. I have two OnlyFans accounts, as they allow two per creator. One is free and the other is the monthly subscription.
That’s another one of my favorite things about the platform.
Devin: I think I’ve always enjoyed the anonymity of the subscribers on OnlyFans. It allows them to indulge without fear or shame. I think that’s important.
softbby1234
Is audience interaction/connection a positive part of being an OnlyFans creator?
Suki: The majority of my interactions on OF are positive, but there are always a few hate comments. I don’t pay attention to those though ’cause it’s not important.
Chloe: Audience interaction/connection can be a positive part of being an OnlyFans creator, but it varies from person to person. I have some supporters who tip upon subscribing and leave likes/comments on my content, chat respectfully, but I have others who call me babe the first time we talk and start getting way too familiar and talking about their dick right away.
I think sometimes they forget we’re real people and not 24/7 sex robots.
Haley: The audience interaction is definitely a positive part of the platform! I love interacting with my fans, it makes it special and it brightens my day seeing how happy my content makes them.
Zelda O: I enjoy connecting with my fans and it’s energizing having that enthusiasm come my way. No pun intended. The majority of my fans are kind and courteous. But if you brave the open DMs on a free page like me then you know it can be quite the opposite. Learning to set boundaries by blocking or restricting has helped to keep my experience positive.
Devin: Yes and no. Since people are used to consuming porn for free, they can be rude or demand a lot for a little. Onlyfans, though, allowed me to stay in contact with people who were previous clients during a pandemic and those people are generous and respectful.
What is your least favorite thing about OnlyFans?
Suki: How disorganized it is. Sometimes a girl just wants to organize her content in folders so it’s easier for people to find rather than just scrolling through a huge feed til you find something good.
Chloe: Probably how little they keep us in the loop about new features. When they introduced the percentage system, which in my opinion elevated the competitive nature of online sex work tenfold, we didn’t even get so much as an email.
Haley: How awful their chargeback system is. There is virtually no protection for us against chargebacks. I’m lucky to only have two chargebacks on my account, both being minuscule amounts of $7. However, there are other creators who are not as lucky and lose out on thousands of dollars.
Zelda O: Temporarily losing the functionality of certain features that are crucial to how I run my business. The platform runs unannounced server updates and the site usually has bugs afterward that take days, sometimes weeks, to fix.
Devin: Onlyfans refuses to acknowledge that majority of their money comes from sex workers. They do not acknowledge that and they allow celebrity actions to change the platform, which directly affects other sex workers.
What would make the platform better?
Suki: In the future, I hope Onlyfans has a better verification process to reduce catfishing and exploitation. For creators, I hope we get better tools to help organize content and maybe an option to customize our profiles to our own personal liking/flair, I think it’d be fun.
Chloe: I think OnlyFans could be better if they put more effort into making sure the site functions smoothly. It’s taken me over an hour to send a video to someone through direct messages and at that point, I just had to quit and start over. With all the money they make, I’d think tech problems would be rare, but I have issues frequently.
Haley: I wish OnlyFans would upgrade its servers, as they go down multiple times a day. This is a major issue that seems to have no end in sight.
Zelda O: It’s difficult to pick just one. What works and what doesn’t is always changing. I’d like to see more robust functions for direct messaging. As it’s where I make the majority of my income on the platform. Organizing with folders, notification categories, better push notifications, deletion option for unsent mass messages.
Devin: Honestly, there just needs to be a completely new platform that honors and respects sex workers.
What piece of advice do you have for someone interested in starting their own OnlyFans?
Suki: If you’re interested in joining the platform, don’t be afraid to be yourself! Be confident in yourself and believe in your work (whether it’s cooking, SW, working out, art, etc). Just because one person does something doesn’t mean you have to do the same thing! Find your style and what suits you, and apply it to your OF 🙂 It’s your own world!
If you’re interested in being a sex worker, please take into account your friends and family, your future, safety, etc. I’ve heard from friends that people will share you on forums and try to find where you are and stalk you, all this crazy stuff. I’ve experienced this personally four times during my three to four years as a sex worker. And that’s just me alone, I’ve heard worst from others. It’s up to you to look out for yourself — always be safe and careful with what you share online, regardless if it is accessible through payment. It’s still the internet and people will leak you. If people find out about you being a sex worker, you will get rejected and refused service for anything — housing, banking, etc..
People think it’s easy, but it’s not.
I was heartbroken when I got rejected to my first housing and humiliated when I found out my bank teller looked up my name and rejected working with me. You will lose friends, people will not be afraid to voice that it’s all you’re good for, and you will feel like shit. Sex work isn’t for people trying to make a quick buck, this is real life. Your work follows you.
Chloe: Assuming they’d do so for sex work… think about it long and hard first. Are you joining because it’s trendy and seems like an easy way to make money? Are you prepared to be outed to your family and friends? If you’re getting into it for the right reasons and are prepared to put in the work, that’s great. But being a sex worker can be very isolating and taxing, and you should know that before making an account as a joke.
Haley: Network with your co-workers, and really study your inspirations. I recommend subscribing to creators whose content genuinely piques your interest. Seeing how they operate their page and how they interact with their fans can really help you figure things out for yourself. The platform can be intimidating, and new creators easily get discouraged. Doing some research along with trial and error will help new creators get their footing. Networking with co-workers (i.e. other creators) is also pretty intimidating, however, most of us do not see each other as competition. Networking and sharing tips on how to maximize revenues, as well as doing SFS — shout-out for shout-out — is highly beneficial.
Zelda O: My best advice is to take it day by day. Steady progress over time is the most realistic outcome but only if you put in the work. Stay true to yourself and what you’re comfortable with. It’s okay to say no and have boundaries. It’s your page, your creations, your rules.
Devin: I always tell new girls to not do online work unless they are prepared to be an out sex worker. Whether or not you try to be anonymous, the internet is forever. People will doxx sex workers. It could affect your future career. Unless you are ready to accept all of that, do not do it. It’s not something “fun” and “easy” to do. It is a big decision and being prepared for that is important.
There may not be a franchise in the NBA that has, in recent years, understood the urgency that is required to try and win a championship better than the Houston Rockets. No, they were never able to ascend to the sport’s mountaintop, but it was never due to a lack of trying.
With Daryl Morey at the helm, Mike D’Antoni on the bench, and James Harden routinely putting forth displays of hyper-efficient brilliance on the offensive end of the floor, Houston spent years all-in. The team constantly searched for a superstar to put alongside Harden — first it was Dwight Howard, then they acquired Chris Paul prior to the 2017-18 season, and after two years, decided to swap him for younger superstar in Russell Westbrook. Perhaps it would have worked out if Paul did not suffer a hamstring injury in the 2018 postseason, a moment that is going to go down as one of the great “What Ifs?” of this era, but with Morey, D’Antoni, and Harden in town, Houston did everything it could to achieve basketball immortality.
This is an admirable pursuit, to be clear. Not every team would be so ruthless in trying to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy, and for that, the Rockets deserve to be commended, regardless of whether the process paid off. The issue, however, is that the team’s obsession with the short-term meant that the long-term health of the franchise was flimsy at best.
Entering this season, the Rockets had the fourth-oldest roster in the NBA. Their salary cap situation was abysmal, and even after moving Harden, the team is hard-capped. Draft picks, the mechanism through which teams can acquire talent for a low price, were few and far between due to Morey’s wheeling and dealing for players who could help win right now. Houston did not make a draft pick in 2019 or 2020, and the only player it selected in 2018 (De’Anthony Melton) was traded to the Phoenix Suns following Summer League. The last player drafted by the Rockets to appear in a game for them was reserve big man Isaiah Hartenstein.
Their draft capital going forward was a bit of a jumbled mess, with picks and pick swaps popping up intermittently over the coming years as Morey tried to find creative ways to get talent around Harden. Ironically enough, while his most well-known disciple — former Sixers executive Sam Hinkie — prided himself on having the longest view in the room, the Rockets did not have that luxury, because they had an MVP candidate in his prime and an understanding that there are not a lot of people like this who can be a member of a championship contender.
Again, it cannot be stressed enough that these were not poor decisions, but like all choices, these had consequences, and the chickens came home to roost this year. Morey and D’Antoni both left the franchise, and while they were able to make some interesting moves this offseason and turn Westbrook into John Wall and a future first-round pick, none of this was enough to convince Harden it was worth sticking around. The entire franchise had been built around Harden, with him dictating, either directly or indirectly, everything that it has done in recent years. It should not come as a surprise, then, that his departure came because he wanted that to be so.
Building a franchise around the transcendent gifts possessed by one person did, obviously, mean that moving on from him would mean to something of an identity crisis. There is something scary about moving into such uncertainty — this was James Harden’s team, which played in a manner that looked to maximize what Harden can do — but there was an equally exciting opportunity available, too. Houston had options for how it wanted to move forward, with reporting indicating that the two options they were considering were a trade from Philadelphia that would center around Ben Simmons or the pick-heavy package from the Brooklyn Nets they ultimately chose.
There have been plenty of reports around what other teams may or may not have offered/been asked to include, but there is something fascinating about these being the final two offers that Houston considered. Think about every single report about what the Rockets wanted: proven star, young talent, draft capital. Simmons and any combination of picks and youngsters from Philly (Matisse Thybulle, Tyrese Maxey, whatever) hits every single note. Simmons, in particular, is the ace in the hole, a 24-year-old defensive maestro with the metronomic ability to keep an offense humming. Surrounding him with shooters — something that Houston does have plenty of right now — and putting him in an uptempo system like new coach Stephen Silas wants to implement would be legitimately exciting. Add in that he is under contract through 2024-25 and he gives the Rockets a tentpole to build around for the foreseeable future.
What’s fascinating is how Houston opted to go with a blank slate over having a known commodity in Simmons. Perhaps they had an issue with the very real limitations he has on offense. Or perhaps they did not want to bring on board a big-money player right now — Victor Oladipo, the centerpiece of their deal, could theoretically be that, but he also might be a rental, as he can be a free agent at the end of this season, so there are outcomes where he plays out his deal before moving on or gets moved before the deadline. Or perhaps they were hell-bent on getting someone from Philly that the Sixers refused to give up — Marc Stein of the New York Times made it sound like there were major conversations that occurred around Maxey. But ultimately, the Rockets decided to build up a war chest of draft picks that put them a step behind a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder, which have been building up their stash of selections over the last few years (and owns a number of Houston’s selections in the near future).
It puts forth some sort of vision in the post-Harden future, one in which Houston is in control of how things play out. Of course, the Nets crashing and burning — particularly as Harden/Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving get older — would help here considerably, but even if that does not happen, they’ve put themselves in position to hop into whatever conversation might pop up about a disgruntled star who wants to seek greener pastures. There’s also the possibility they just let things play out, and they use this treasure trove of picks to build a team for one of the league’s most highly-regarded young coaches in Silas.
More than anything, this trade marks a stark shift in priorities for the franchise. For years, the noble pursuit of trying to become the best team in the NBA meant having things revolve around the brilliance of one player, one coach, and one executive. Organizational decisions were made based on the belief that the absolute best thing for the Houston Rockets was to put James Harden in the center of everything and trust that Mike D’Antoni and Daryl Morey could do enough tinkering that it would all pay off. Now, the franchise has decided that the post-Harden future can be almost anything it wants to be, which has to be both exciting and terrifying all at once.
To ensure that you don’t waste your hard-earned money, we asked a few bartenders for the bottles they think are worth the cash. Specifically, we asked them to name their favorite bottles of single malt Scotch whisky over $70 that they’re happy to splurge on. Check their answers below!
Lagavulin 12
Chris Johnson, beverage director at Oaxaca Taqueria in New York City
Lagavulin 16 is one of my true loves, but if you can get your hands on the Lagavulin 12 it just may change your definition of aged Scotch. Classic Islay brine and peat, but in a cask strength offering. The increased proof lends a bit more of an evolving oily texture that lets the peat develop on the palate.
There are a few great ones out there, but I’ll have to say the Ardbeg Uigeadail. While it can be tricky to pronounce, it’s a real delight on the palate. It’s got a bit of fruitiness, with a strong kick of that smoke from the peat.
Since it’s finished in ex-sherry casks, it features a gorgeous sweetness to it that I enjoy.
Aberlour A’bunadh comes through with excellent sherry notes that help to round out the cask strength heat. Perfect for the fall and winter season sippers.
The Dalmore Cigar Malt is well worth the price tag. It’s unbelievably rich and packed with delightful sherry notes. You can’t help but feel good sipping it.
The Balvenie Port Wood has always been a go-to when someone else is buying. It’s hard to get a flavor that rich without going super oily and peaty. I like a little peat, not a kick in the face.
Alex Clark, bartender at Square 1682 in Philadelphia
Nectar d’Or from Glenmorangie. This single malt is first aged in American bourbon casks, then switched over to wine casks from a sweeter wine-growing region in France. The use of two different barrels in the aging process brings a whole new profile to this scotch. You will get citrus on the nose and get flavors such as spices, nuts, and lemons.
This is a Scotch I could drink any time of the year.
Pablo Guerrero, food and beverage manager at Azabu in Miami
The Macallan Rare Cask. After being aged for up to 21 years, this Highland malt has so much to offer. It has many layers of spices, citrus, flavors, fruit and nuts, chocolate, and vanilla. The complexity and delicacy make this single malt worth its price.
Roberto Berdecia, bartender at La Factoria in San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Glenrothes 18. They use a unique combination of American and European casks and finished in sherry butts. The complexity of the flavors is amazing — with hints of dried cherries, vanilla, and honey.
Talisker 18 is always underrated. It’s my favorite. It’s very complex and ultimately smoky. The flavors of oriental tea and tobacco are the most noticeable and attractive flavors in the mix.
Hailing from the northern island of Orkney, this well-balanced whisky has hints of vanilla, caramel, dried fruits, all tempered with a subtle smoky finish.
It’s crazy to say, with such an expensive expression, but I see this as a value buy.
To ensure that you don’t waste your hard-earned money, we asked a few bartenders for the bottles they think are worth the cash. Specifically, we asked them to name their favorite bottles of single malt Scotch whisky over $70 that they’re happy to splurge on. Check their answers below!
Lagavulin 12
Chris Johnson, beverage director at Oaxaca Taqueria in New York City
Lagavulin 16 is one of my true loves, but if you can get your hands on the Lagavulin 12 it just may change your definition of aged Scotch. Classic Islay brine and peat, but in a cask strength offering. The increased proof lends a bit more of an evolving oily texture that lets the peat develop on the palate.
There are a few great ones out there, but I’ll have to say the Ardbeg Uigeadail. While it can be tricky to pronounce, it’s a real delight on the palate. It’s got a bit of fruitiness, with a strong kick of that smoke from the peat.
Since it’s finished in ex-sherry casks, it features a gorgeous sweetness to it that I enjoy.
Aberlour A’bunadh comes through with excellent sherry notes that help to round out the cask strength heat. Perfect for the fall and winter season sippers.
The Dalmore Cigar Malt is well worth the price tag. It’s unbelievably rich and packed with delightful sherry notes. You can’t help but feel good sipping it.
The Balvenie Port Wood has always been a go-to when someone else is buying. It’s hard to get a flavor that rich without going super oily and peaty. I like a little peat, not a kick in the face.
Alex Clark, bartender at Square 1682 in Philadelphia
Nectar d’Or from Glenmorangie. This single malt is first aged in American bourbon casks, then switched over to wine casks from a sweeter wine-growing region in France. The use of two different barrels in the aging process brings a whole new profile to this scotch. You will get citrus on the nose and get flavors such as spices, nuts, and lemons.
This is a Scotch I could drink any time of the year.
Pablo Guerrero, food and beverage manager at Azabu in Miami
The Macallan Rare Cask. After being aged for up to 21 years, this Highland malt has so much to offer. It has many layers of spices, citrus, flavors, fruit and nuts, chocolate, and vanilla. The complexity and delicacy make this single malt worth its price.
Roberto Berdecia, bartender at La Factoria in San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Glenrothes 18. They use a unique combination of American and European casks and finished in sherry butts. The complexity of the flavors is amazing — with hints of dried cherries, vanilla, and honey.
Talisker 18 is always underrated. It’s my favorite. It’s very complex and ultimately smoky. The flavors of oriental tea and tobacco are the most noticeable and attractive flavors in the mix.
Hailing from the northern island of Orkney, this well-balanced whisky has hints of vanilla, caramel, dried fruits, all tempered with a subtle smoky finish.
It’s crazy to say, with such an expensive expression, but I see this as a value buy.
Donald Trump slammed Vice President Mike Pence in a tweet as the Capitol Building riots were unfolding last week. But after his Twitter account was permanently suspended, the president decided to air his grievances with his subordinate in person. One of the explicit words used in Trump’s diss has been making the rounds since Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” went viral, so Stephen Colbert and his The Tonight Show team decided to turn Trump’s comment into a politically-charged remix of the song.
As reported by the New York Times earlier this week, Trump allegedly pestered Pence before the vice president arrived at the senate to confirm Joe Biden as the new president. On their conversation, Trump reportedly told Pence: “You can either go down in history as a patriot or you can go down in history as a p*ssy.” Not missing the opportunity to mock the president’s word choice, Colbert’s team updated the “WAP” lyrics to fit the situation.
Over the recognizable “WAP” beat, one of Colbert’s team members delivered some hilarious lyrics in place of Cardi’s verse. “A sitting POTUS called his veep / A name that needs bleeped / Body part that scares Mike Pence so much / That night, he couldn’t sleep,” she rapped.
Colbert infusing “WAP” with politics mirrors how the song was surprisingly made political follow its release. After Cardi and Megan’s video debuted, many conservatives took offense to its raunchy nature. Everyone from US politicians to conservative talk show hosts Tucker Carlson and Ben Shapiro lost it when the song went No. 1.
Both the rappers weren’t expecting people to get angry about “WAP.” Responding to the backlash, Megan said the song’s critics should just cover their ears. “When I saw all of the politicians in an uproar about mine and Cardi’s ‘WAP,’ I was just really taken aback,” she said. “Like, why is this your focus right now? If you have an issue with what I’m saying, don’t listen to it.”
Listen to Colbert’s “WAP” remix above.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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