Category: News

Last Updated: October 27th

Sure, Disney+ has an exciting slate of Marvel spin-off series coming to the streaming platform in the next few years, but you shouldn’t sleep on the shows available right now. From Jon Favreau’s widely-acclaimed Star Wars spin-off to the entirety of The Simpsons catalog and a few vintage after-school entries, there’s plenty of shows worth binging while we wait for that Loki solo series.

Here are the best TV shows you can stream on Disney+ right now.

The Mandalorian

1 season, 8 episodes | IMDb: 8.7/10

Jon Favreau is helming this Star Wars spin-off described as a Space Western that takes place five years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The Empire has fallen, the First Order has yet to be created, so the galaxy is a lawless place perfect for a bounty hunter to wreak havoc and make his own rules, which is exactly what Pedro Pascal’s Mandalorian seems to be doing. This series had been kept tightly under wraps during production, so while most people enjoyed the show immensely, everyone’s favorite takeaway seems to be one thing: Baby Yoda.

Agent Carter

2 seasons, 18 episodes | IMDb: 7.6/10

We’re still upset that ABC canceled this Marvel spin-off series after just two seasons, but the consolation prize is now, we get to rewatch Hayley Atwell as the kick-ass spy (who Steve Rogers couldn’t help but love) navigating her early years of espionage and political warfare. The show takes us back to 1946 where Peggy has been demoted — because… sexism — and must fight to clear the name of Howard Stark when he’s accused of treason. She teams up with his butler Jarvis (James D’Arcy), and they solve crimes while bickering like an old married couple for 18 episodes. It’s perfect.

Lizzie McGuire

2 seasons, 65 episodes | IMDb: 6.6/10

Disney Channel’s Hilary Duff starring sitcom hit with many a prepubescent girl back in the day, but the series holds onto a lot of its charm (and original fanbase) if you give it a rewatch. Duff plays the titular pre-teen, a young girl with an interesting method of coping with raging hormones, helicopter parents, annoying little brothers, and mean girls at school, and she gives us internal monologues in the form of a sarcastic animated alter ego. Honestly, we’d like one of those.

The Simpsons

30 seasons, 662 episodes | IMDb: 8.7/10

One show you won’t have to wait for weekly episodes to air is The Simpsons, which is making its way to Disney’s streaming platform when the service launches on November 12th. Disney bought Fox earlier this year which means they’re the new overlords of Springfield. It also means fans have a new venue to relive all the exploits of Homer, Bart, Lisa, and the rest of the family. For now, the show’s 30 seasons will be available to stream, with newer seasons and episodes still airing on Hulu.

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted

2 seasons, 13 episodes | IMDb: 7.8/10

Gordon Ramsay has built a brand around being a snarky, cantankerous British chef, who enjoys making the kitchen hell for unfortunate wannabe cooks. That’s why his relatability and charm as host of this food/travel hybrid series is so shocking. But once you get over it, you’ll enjoy Ramsay’s no-nonsense approach to covering Indigenous culture and food in an interesting new way.

The Imagineering Story

1 season, 6 episodes | IMDb: 9/10

This docuseries pulls back the curtain on how some of Disney’s most beloved classics were made and how the company as a whole became the entertainment juggernaut it is today. Narrated by Angela Bassett, the limited series follows the early days of Disney’s animation engineers, how they established the company’s principles, and gave life to some of the most spectacular films, as well as how Disney itself built a franchise of theme parks, blockbusters, TV programming, and more.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

1 season, 13 episodes | IMDb: 7.3/10

This new series answers the question literally no one has asked: “What would happen if you mixed High School Musical with The Office?” Well, it looks like you’d get a watchable teen drama with a fresh take on a beloved millennial musical series. The show is set in the fictional East High where the original movie was filmed and follows the students putting on the first rendition of a musical based on High School Musical, in mockumentary form. It’s all very meta and surprisingly catchy.

Star Wars The Clone Wars

7 seasons, 122 episodes | IMDb: 8.1/10

The animated world of Star Wars might not be for everyone, but it’s one of the best ways Disney has been able to extend the lifespan of George Lucas’ franchise and watching it might give you some clues as to the direction this universe will take in the future. Of course, even without the Easter egg hunting, you’ll have a good time. Not only is this series gorgeously animated with some of the most realistic 3-D effects we’ve ever seen, but it also fills in the gaps between the prequel films, meaning we get a closer look at Anakin’s journey to the Dark Side and how the war between the Republic and the Separatists had far-reaching effects.

Cosmos

1 season, 13 episodes | IMDb: 9.3/10

Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts this illuminating docuseries that breaks down some of the biggest scientific discoveries of our time and asks the life-encompassing philosophical questions none of us have answers to. You’ll learn about everything from the future of A.I. to the history of Sir Isaac Newton here, and Tyson’s ability to filter seemingly incomprehensible data into layman’s terms makes all of it fun and exciting.

The World According to Jeff Goldblum

1 season, 12 episodes | IMDb: 7.8/10

Over the past few years, Jeff Goldblum has curated a new persona. He’s become the internet’s zany uncle, a celebrity who can cash in on the nostalgia of past work and turn that currency into more modern roles. Disney knows Goldblum’s appeal, which is why it’s trying to bottle up a bit of the actor’s charisma and likability with this docuseries whose premise is basically, “Let Jeff Goldblum be fascinated by normal sh*t.” It’s an easy, enjoyable watch that feels just quirky enough to become a hit. Or, at the least, an endless well for memes.

Inhumans

1 season, 8 episodes | IMDb: 5/10

This show was canceled by ABC before its first season ended, mainly because it was all kinds of bad. Bad wigs, bad special effects, bad everything. Except, it has a pretty impressive cast and a nasty villain in Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon. We wouldn’t subscribe for this show alone, but if you’ve already binged all of the Marvel movies on Disney+, why not have fun critiquing this spin-off?

Encore!

1 season, 12 episodes | IMDb: 7.5/10

Four words: Reunions. Musicals. Kristen. Bell. That’s all you really need to know about this new reality series hosted by The Good Place star who organizes a reunion of theater geeks and tasks them with recreating their high school musical years after they first performed together. It’s heartwarming, full of great song-and-dance numbers, and sure, there’s some drama.

DuckTales

4 seasons, 101 episodes | IMDb: 8.1/10

Look, if the thought of binging all 101 episodes of this classic afternoon cartoon about a globe-trotting treasure-hunting billionaire Scrooge McDuck and his nephews doesn’t fill you with warm, fuzzy nostalgia, then you probably didn’t grow up in the ’90s, and we feel sorry for you. For everyone else, see ya in Duckburg.

Boy Meets World

7 seasons, 158 episodes | IMDb: 8.1/10

Yes, the sequel to this beloved coming-of-age series is also available on Disney +, but nothing beats the original. Boy Meets World followed the exploits of Cory Matthews, his siblings, and his best friends as they navigated school, relationships, and growing up while indulging Cory’s elaborate theories about life. It’s good, wholesome fun that makes us wish we had teachers as cool as George Feeny.

Recess

6 seasons, 129 episodes | IMDb: 7.9/10

Another terrific animated children’s show is this late ’90s series about a group of primary school friends who are bucking authority and causing general mayhem on the playground. While adults set the rules during teaching hours, the brief respite from lessons brings its own hierarchy. Basically, there are laws to be respected when it comes to recess, and this show proves it.

The 2020 BET Hip-Hop Awards returned Tuesday night with a jam-packed show laced with performances from Lil Baby, Big Sean, City Girls, 2 Chainz, Burna Boy, Gucci Mane, Jhene Aiko, Mulatto, and more. A favorite section of the ceremony, the BET cyphers — a freestyle performed one at a time by a single group — also made its return. The first cypher of the night featured Polo G, Jack Harlow, Rapsody, Chika, and Netlfix’s Rhythym + Flow finalist Flawless RI. For what was billed as the night’s Political Cypher, each contestant rocked all black while laying strong bars that focused on police brutality, social injustice, and more — all important topics as the presidential election is just a week away.

The cypher appeared to be a 2020 XXL Freshman class reunion at first, as Polo G, Chika, and Jack Harlow led the way with their own freestyles. However, that proved to be false as hip-hop vet Rapsody stepped forward with bars before Flawless RI closed the cypher out. Prior to the cypher, Rapsody also landed the first win of the night — and the first of her career — with an award for Lyricist Of The Year.

You can watch the group’s cypher in the video above.

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

Cordae made his presence felt at the 2020 BET Hip-Hop Awards by kicking off the show with a powerful acapella freestyle. The DMV native stepped close to the camera to deliver a strong and focused message to viewers about the daily struggles of Black people in America. He briefly discussed police brutality while highlighting the strength of the Black community to continue fighting day in and day out for the respect and equality they deserve.

The Lost Boy rapper’s freestyle comes after he ramped up his 2020 presence within the last two months, having stayed quiet for most of 2020. Cordae dropped his first single of the year with the soulful track “Gifted,” featuring Roddy Ricch. His next two releases were singles. First, he joined Dinner Party — a group comprised of Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder, and Kamasi Washington — for their song “Freeze Tag,” featuring Phoelix, off the quartet’s project Dinner Party: Dessert. Soon after, fans found him on Stevie Wonder’s single “Can’t Put It In The Hands Of Fate,” which also featured Rapsody, Chika, and Busta Rhymes.

You can watch Cordae’s freestyle in the video above.

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

Reports began circulating at the end of last week that the NBA had pushed up its potential start date for the 2020-21 season from sometime in January or February to, potentially, Dec. 22. It was a pretty surprising bit of news, and in the aftermath, Danny Green of the Los Angeles Lakers predicted that some of the league’s biggest names, like LeBron James, would perhaps make their offseasons a little longer following the mid-October end to last year.

All of this begs the question: Why, exactly, is the league doing this? There are surely multiple reasons, with Marc Stein of the New York Times walking through a handful in his latest newsletter. Among those reasons was an interesting tidbit about Disney, one of the NBA’s television partners, being awfully eager for the league to keep its annual Christmas Day showcase on the schedule.

Disney, which owns ESPN and has been described by Silver as the league’s biggest partner, badly wants to continue that Christmas tradition and have five games to televise on either ABC or ESPN. Turner, the N.B.A.’s other primary broadcast partner, would get its traditional opening night doubleheader on a Tuesday if the union agrees to the Dec. 22 proposal. The league, for its part, has informed the union that it projects a difference of $500 million in revenue if it can start the season in December rather than mid-January.

That number at the end has been mentioned a few times, but given the revenue crunch that hit the league in the last year, it’s hard to justify losing out on half a billion dollars, especially if it means it can still have its showcase day on Dec. 25. To return to Green’s point, it would be fascinating to see how Christmas Day would go down if James and other big-name players sat out to charge their batteries a little more, but regardless, basketball on Dec. 25 is an institution, and Disney appears to have no interest in going forward without it.

Last Updated: October 27th

The best British series spark innumerable remakes here in America, while the UK seems to only want our reality television. They work well as binge-able Netflix series as long as you’re willing to focus a little bit more than usual, but with the fewer number of episodes, just look at how many series you can get through in one sitting! Thankfully, the streaming service has a wide variety to choose from, from crime thrillers to absurd comedy. So sit back with a pint and enjoy the 15 best British shows on Netflix right now.

Related: The Best British Movies On Netflix Right Now

Bodyguard

1 season, 6 episodes | IMDb: 8.3/10

The UK’s most popular new drama has made its way across the pond. The procedural thriller stars Game of Thrones’ Richard Madden as David Budd, a military vet turned police officer tasked with protecting a high-profile politician during a, particularly dicey time. There’s plenty of suspense and action to string you along, coupled with a vulnerable performance by Madden, who ditches his King of the North swagger to play a man conflicted by his past and his present duty to his country.

Sherlock

4 seasons, 15 episodes | IMDb: 9.2/10

In a world chockfull of Sherlock Holmes iterations, Sherlock manages to stand out, with no little thanks to Benedict Cumberbatch’s striking charm, Andrew Scott’s crazed, over-the-top Moriarty, and the tight writing that fills its ten 90-minute mini-movies. Despite the familiar structure — Holmes and Watson crack an uncrackable case with plenty of quips and eye rolls — each episode keeps viewers guessing, laughing, and maybe feeling a little slow for not deducing as fast as the master sleuth. Packed with winks to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original works and the intense fanbase behind it, Sherlock still manages to tell complex crime stories and breathe new life into the 130-year-old character.

The Crown

3 seasons, 30 episodes | IMDb: 8.7/10

At once intimate and sweeping, The Crown presents an inside view of the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II, played by Claire Foy, and the first few years of her reign. John Lithgow is featured as the indomitable Winston Churchill, struggling with the ignominy of age at the end of his career. Churchill’s support and mentorship of Elizabeth, despite his limitations, creates an important emotional center around which various historical events turn. Elizabeth’s relationship with her husband, Prince Phillip (Matt Smith) is also wonderfully explored; his role as consort is one that he by turns delights in and rebels against. The production spared no expense in painstakingly recreating the physical environments and rigid protocols that constrained and defined the royal family. The challenges posed by modernity and the post-colonial period are filtered through the Palace’s political structure, in which despite her role, Elizabeth’s personal needs and wishes are continually subsumed to protocol and appearance. This series will appeal to anyone who enjoys costume drama, but it is also a fascinating exploration of the post-WWII period and the development of a monarch who managed to maintain and even expand the popularity and stability of the British Monarchy against significant odds.

Lovesick

3 seasons, 22 episodes | IMDb: 8.1/ 10

There’s a reason why not many people have seen or even heard of this show, and it’s not just because of its original name. Lovesick isn’t groundbreaking as a dramedy, but it works because of its nonlinear storytelling and its realistic portrayal of that awkward grey area that can form between love and friendship. After Dylan learns that he has an STD, he’s forced to pass along the diagnosis to his past sexual relationships. Each episode is then a snippet of Dylan’s life along with those of his two best friends, Luke and Evie (played by Antonia Thomas, a recognizable face to Misfits fans). While chronicling Dylan’s sexual past, Lovesick really depicts the ever-changing feelings between Dylan and Evie. It’s a simple rom-com depicted in a refreshing way with an even blend of comedy, heart, and chlamydia.

Black Mirror

5 seasons, 22 episodes + 1 special | IMDb: 8.8/10

To call Black Mirror bleak is a bit of an understatement, but that’s what makes the sci-fi anthology so intriguing. In each episode, we’re given glimpses into the future or near-future where our attention- and soul-sucking technology has run amuck. Some plots may be more feasible than others, but each story is chilling in its own way and makes you want to shut your computer screen. (It may seem counter-productive for Netflix to produce episodes for a show that offers grim looks at tech, but maybe that’s why the Netflix-produced seasons have a few more happy endings.) It’s an Outer Limits for the digital generation, driven by series creator Charlie Brooker’s strong ideas — ones that could dissolve any hope you have left for the future or humanity, in the most entertaining way possible.

Top Boy

3 seasons, 18 episodes | IMDb: 8.3/10

This popular British crime series first debuted across the pond in 2013. The show, about the crime-ridden neighborhood of the Summerhouse estate, quickly put out to short series before it was dropped by Channel 4. It wasn’t until earlier this year, when Drake (yes, that Drake) expressed interest in rebooting the series with the main cast returning that Netflix decided to give it a third season, one that picks up with Dushane and Sully (two former bros and drug dealers) as they return to Summerhouse to take on a new kingpin.

The End of the F***ing World

2 seasons, 16 episodes | IMDb: 8.2/10

The End of the F***ing World is a dark-black comedy based on the comic series by Charles S. Forsman about James (Alex Lawther), a withdrawn and disturbed 17-year-old who believes he is a psychopath, and his burgeoning Bonnie & Clyde-like relationship with Alyssa (Jessica Barden), a classmate damaged by a dysfunctional family. Written by Charlie Covell and directed by Jonathan Entwistle and Lucy Tcherniak, the series’ is akin to a high school version of True Romance, about two deeply troubled, misanthropic teenagers who find comfort in one another and who are willing, if necessary, to perpetrate crimes to maintain their relationship. Boasting a stellar soundtrack, magnificent performances, and a binge-worthy runtime, The End of the F***ing World is a bleakly funny series, but it’s also deeply, soul-achingly romantic.

The Last Kingdom

3 season, 26 episodes | IMDb: 8.3/10

If Vikings and epic battle and political intrigue are your thing then you’ll like this medieval series about a Saxon lord striving to reclaim his birthright as England unites against a Danish invasion. Alexander Dreymon plays Uhtred, a Saxon-born, Viking raised warrior who finds himself torn between two worlds as he fights to help an English king rule over the continent and wrestles with his true nature. There’s a colorful cast of supporting characters (some historical figures you might recognize), but what this show does well is its action, giving fans gritty, realistic warfare that feels just as exciting as any CGI showdown.

Add To Netflix Queue

Sex Education

2 seasons, 16 episodes | IMDb: 8.5/10

Following in the footsteps of Nick Kroll’s Big Mouth, this British teem comedy is committed to exploring all of the cringe-worthy, taboo topic associated with sex, just not in animated form. The series follows a mother-son duo navigating their way through those uncomfortable “talks.” Of course, the mother here happens to be a sex therapist named Dr. Jean Milburn (a terrific Gillian Anderson) and her son Otis (Asa Butterfield) is the kid enduring her overbearing tendencies at home while doling out sex advice of his own in an underground sex therapy ring amongst his friends. Sex is a comedy goldmine, and although the show loves to play up ’80s high-school tropes, there’s real nuance and thought that goes into how these teens are portrayed and their interactions with sex. Plus, Anderson’s comedic timing is spot-on.

The Inbetweeners

3 seasons, 18 episodes | IMDb: 8.3/10

If you thought your own high school experience was awkward, be grateful you weren’t an “inbetweener.” Living in the murky area between cool and uncool, four teens try their luck at just getting by and getting laid. Each scenario the boys go through magnifies a variety of painful youthful memories (only Inbetweeners gets to end after 25 minutes.) Making it all bearable: the likable leads and the sharp dialogue that’s true to the adolescent experience.

Extras

2 seasons, 13 episodes | IMDb: 8.3/10

Ricky Gervais followed up his nearly unfollowable first show, The Office, with Extras, another tale loosely based on his own life, only this time his struggles with finding and being satisfied with success in television. On the exterior, Gervais’ character Andy Millman is much different from The Office‘s David Brent, but at their core they’re the same, chasing fame and thinking they’re better than they actually are. The show is stolen, though, by Millman’s refreshingly platonic friendship with Maggie (Ashley Jensen), his clueless agent (co-creator Stephen Merchant), and the celebrities willing to poke fun at themselves in every episode (including a bitingly memorable diddy from the late David Bowie). It’s another two-series-and-a-Christmas-special show, so a binge’ll take no time at all.

Broadchurch

3 seasons, 24 episodes | IMDb: 8.4/10

A young boy is found dead in a seemingly idyllic small town, and the detectives charged with solving the case turn up twist after twist in tracking down the murderer. Despite its familiar premise (see also: Twin Peaks, The Killing), Broadchurch relies on its ensemble cast — specifically the impeccable David Tennant and Olivia Colman — to keep viewers caring after each red herring is tossed back into the ocean. The first series centers on the hunt for the killer while the second is on both the suspect’s trial and a reopened case from the past, but they both don’t let up in intrigue. A word of warning, though: This isn’t one of those TV dramas you should binge even if you want to. It gets heavy and emotionally exhausting, and unrestrained streaming kinda negates the effect of the show’s mysteries.

Peaky Blinders

5 seasons, 30 episodes | IMDb: 8.8/10

Way more than the British Boardwalk Empire, this BBC series gives Cillian Murphy the principal TV role no one knew they needed as Tommy Shelby, head of the Peaky Blinders and his family clan. Taking place in a post-WWI England, Shelby leads his gang as they seize more power and evade the scrupulous C.I. Chester Campbell (Sam Neill). Murphy kills it as the boss willing to get his hands dirty on the front lines. While the first series is a great but slow foray into the world, Peaky Blinders really builds and finds its footing in series two, including the addition of the wild Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy).

The IT Crowd

5 seasons, 25 episodes | IMDb: 8.5/10

Another classic comedy from creator Graham Lineham, The IT Crowd shined a light on those oft-neglected saviors of any office, the I.T. department, and the hapless management working above them. The series comes to life from its ridiculous yet relatable humor and its endearing tech team. The three-person team, played by Chris O’Dowd, Richard Ayoade, and Katherine Parkinson, play off each other so well that more than makes up for the multi-cam laughter. It’s a fun show, so much so that it’s best to not think about the American version that almost happened.

The Great British Baking Show

7 seasons, 75 episodes | IMDb: 8.6/10

The Great British Bake Off (and this slightly retitled American version) is guilty pleasure binge material for so many that it’s no wonder it shows up here. If I watch other cooking shows to travel to exotic places and vicariously experience strange foods, GBBS is kind of the opposite of that. Its strength is that it’s goofily charming. And we’ve become so accustomed to camera-hogging reality villains and performative not-here-to-make-friendsing that a show featuring charming grandmas and shy Brits is really a breath of fresh air. It almost works more like a mockumentary than a cooking show.

Add To Netflix Queue

The New York Knicks are always a center of NBA speculation, particularly when the team enters an offseason with significant salary cap space. In 2020, that is the setting yet again for New York and, while the Knicks often land in the crosshairs of jokes about their inability to land top-tier free agents, that never stops the rumor mill with regard to highly paid players potentially making their way to the nation’s largest market. However, the Knicks could actually be gearing up for a full-fledged rebuild this time around and, if that is the case, a report from Ian Begley of SNY certainly makes sense.

Begley notes that the Knicks “are open to using their cap space to take on undesirable contracts via trade.” This, of course, is not a revolutionary idea for a franchise that missed out on the NBA’s Orlando Bubble after winning only 21 games. It would represent a shift for New York, though, as taking negative-value contracts in order to accumulate future-facing assets is a tried and true method for teams that are openly embracing a long-term approach.

At present, the Knicks have three quality picks (No. 8, No. 27, No. 38) in the 2020 NBA Draft, as well as future picks on the way from Dallas Mavericks and L.A. Clippers. With that in mind, New York is actually in a better position than they have been in recent years, at least with regard to the ability to take it slow and rebuild.

As Begley also notes, New York has considerable salary space this off-season, though the actual cap room could vary based on team option decisions surrounding players like Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, Wayne Ellington, Elfrid Payton, and Reggie Bullock. Those roster decisions, coupled with ongoing discussions on where the salary cap will actually land for 2020-21, will dictate how much space the Knicks actually have but, at the very least, the team’s new, Leon Rose-led front office could absolutely utilize that flexibility in order to add to the stockpile.

For many NBA observers, it would feel (very) strange to see the Knicks acting like a “normal” rebuilding team, and turning cap space into draft picks and/or young players would be off-brand. Still, New York is under new management and this might be the best approach, particularly when accounting for the team’s current roster.

Trump likes to make up a lot of stuff. For years he’s told crowds he won a “Michigan Man of the Year Award” — a trophy that does not exist. Same with a fictitious “Bay of Pigs Award.” He’s long embellished his wealth, which we now know to barely exist. According to The Washington Post’s tally, he’s made 20,000 false or misleading statements since assuming the presidency — and that’s from a piece in July. But this is definitely in his Top 10 of BS claims: As per Politico, a new press release put out by the White House science policy office lists among his accomplishments in his first term “ending the pandemic.”

We don’t need to tell you this is “pants on fire” level lying. Cases are spiking all across the nation, right in time for the holidays. Here are some stats from Politico:

Last week, the country set a new record of 83,000 cases in a single day, and the seven-day case average is now hovering around 70,000 — more than any other time during the pandemic. Over 42,000 people are hospitalized with Covid-19, up from about 30,000 one month ago, according to the Covid Tracking Project.

But this is how the press release spins it.

From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Administration has taken decisive actions to engage scientists and health professionals in academia, industry, and government to understand, treat, and defeat the disease.

Throughout Trump has both exaggerated his role in trying to stop the spread of COVID-19 and downplayed its severity. Even after contracting it himself — and possibly almost dying — he’s only tried to blow it off even more than he once did, telling packed crowds of mostly maskless supporters that it’s no big deal, and besides, “We’re rounding the turn. It’s ending anyway.” But it’s not, and we’re likely in for a very brutal winter, especially if he wins a second term.

A lot of people online are almost inoculated from the president’s lies, but this one gobsmacked them anyway.

Actually, in a way it isn’t even news. Besides, as CNN’s Daniel Dale points out, he’s been saying this for quite a long time.

(Via Politico)

Halloween is just four days away and in preparation, Chance The Rapper took to Twitter to share a thread of things that spooked him as a child. He began by naming Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video, went onto include Bette Middler from the 1993 film, Hocus Pocus, as well as the 1990 movie version of Roald Dahl’s The Witches.

While he didn’t provide explanations for most of his choices, there was one exception. He namedropped the TV miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, which aired in 1992. He then elaborated, citing the scene where young Michael Jackson “gets burned and falls.” He explained, “I know that doesn’t sound like fear but I would actually walk out the room every time that scene played and have nightmares about falling down stairs on fire.” Other things that spooked Chance include possums, drinking something with something broken in it, quicksand, and “Every single character good or bad besides James in the movie James and the Giant Peach.”

On the music side of things, Chance recently joined Justin Bieber to perform “Holy” on SNL. Prior to that, he and Smino connected with MadeInTYO for their track “BET Uncut.”

You can dive into the thread in the tweets above.

The big centerpiece in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm wasn’t just big — it made headline news. The scene comes towards the end, with our antihero’s 15-year-old daughter Tutar (played by Maria Bakalova) scoring an interview with the president’s personal attorney and former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani — one that soon goes south, to put it mildly. But they almost screwed it up, star Sacha Baron Cohen told Stephen Colbert on A Late Show Monday night.

So what happened? Well, they almost had nothing to shoot it with. The scene finds Giuliani having a bit too much fun in a one-on-one with Tutar, who has rebranded herself as a fawning member of rightwing media. The shocking part isn’t when Giuliani tells her that China created COVID-19; it’s when the two relocate to the hotel bedroom, where he gets a little grabby and even unbuckles his trousers, putting his hands down his pants. It’s genuinely shocking, but again, we almost didn’t have a chance to see it.

Baron Cohen was hiding in the closet, set to film the encounter surreptitiously. “The interview starts and I switch on the phone and there’s only 3% battery and I go, ‘Hold on we’ve got Rudy Giuliani, we’ve got the president’s lawyer, we’ve got this scene,” Baron Cohen told Colbert. “This is the climax of the movie and no one thought it might be worth charging the phone?”

The only way he was able to get through it, he revealed, was by switching to Airplane Mode, using the remainder of the battery’s juice to film the encounter that has become infamous.

Baron Cohen also used the time to address Giuliani’s response to the scene, which he’s claimed was simply him removing a microphone unit, which was in his pants. “Well he said that he did nothing inappropriate and my feeling is that if he sees that as appropriate, heaven knows what he’s intended to do with other women in hotel rooms with a glass of whisky in his hand,” Baron Cohen charged.

What’s more, Baron Cohen also fired back at Trump, who over the weekend claimed he’d grown wise to an attempt to prank him fifteen years prior, then called him a “creep.” The president’s story was incredibly vague, but Baron Cohen filled in some details, saying he’d done it in the guise of Ali G, his breakthrough character. What’s more, he said Trump wasn’t as on top of it as he claimed.

“I remember Donald Trump look at me and I was wearing a sweatsuit or something…his face dropped, he was immediately furious that he was going to have speak to someone from a lower class,” Baron Cohen recalled. He was quick to end the interview, 60 Minutes-style. “He made his excuses and left,” he recalled. “He completely believed that Ali G. was real.”

You can watch the full interview above, and you can watch the film — full title: The Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan — on Amazon Prime now.

(Via Deadline)

Experimenting with cannabis in the bedroom can be tricky. Is it best to pop an edible? How does THC compare to CBD? Which strains are the best for passionate sex? There are so many questions to ask about the intersection of cannabis and coitus that it can almost feel like a turn-off. Almost.

In an effort to take some of the guesswork out of the whole situation, acclaimed sex and cannabis writer Sophie Saint Thomas teamed up with Kiana Reeves of sensual enhancement CBD brand Foria and cannabis journal-makers Goldleaf to create The Intimacy Journal –– a logbook designed to help you document and analyze your weed-influenced sex and kink experiences. Through guided entry pages, infographics, and an elegant Moleskin-esque presentation, The Intimacy Journal is aimed at helping people explore their sexualities, no matter how experimental or vanilla.

To find out more about pairing sex with cannabis, we chopped it up with Sophie — covering how weed can enhance your sex life, the best methods of ingestion, and where beginners should start when they’re ready to dive in.

How complicated is using weed to enhance sex? Do we really need a journal for that?

The Intimacy Journal is meant to help people find the right cannabis that acts as an aphrodisiac for them. When I say aphrodisiac, I’m speaking pretty broadly because cannabis can do a lot to help sex. Physically it’s a vasodilator, meaning it increases blood flow and that can result in increased blood flow to the genitals and heightened orgasms. It also heightens physical senses, even blurs the physical senses which can create a kind of psychedelic sexual experience.

Research shows that cannabis can help couples bond and create intimacy by lowering our negative bias. It can also increase creativity by increasing divergent thinking. In my experience having used sex and cannabis for about a decade, that means coming up with creative kinky scenarios or new dirty thoughts or just getting kind of goofy in bed.

The problem is that right now we’re seeing in the cannabis industry a hunt to find the cannabis aphrodisiac that everyone can take, but everyone is really, really different. Some people don’t like using weed, just like some people don’t like drinking alcohol. It needs to be catered to different people. Depending on your body weight or your composition, the way five milligrams of an edible is going to hit a petite woman who weighs about 100 pounds vs a 250-pound man is completely different.

So there are issues of strains, dosing, and the length you want to be affected?

Some people prefer a quick hit, or an OG joint, which will have the onset time kick in in a few minutes. Or some people prefer an edible route and they have to wait two hours but for six hours straight they’re going to have this intense experience. I truly believe that what the right cannabis is for you for sex depends on a ton of different factors. What do you need? Do you deal with body issues? Jealousy issues? Or do feel lethargic and lazy and need help enhancing your libido?

Are you trying to connect closer to your partner?

It’s not a one size fits all model.

This journal is meant to speed up that process, it’s meant for you to be able to write down exactly what you took, how much, and how it affected the sexual experience. The good thing about cannabis is it’s very very safe. Even if you get way too high the worst thing that is going to happen is you’re going to be uncomfortable.

This journal is meant to help you gradually learn how your body and relationship act differently from cannabis. Finding the right dosage, method of intake, etc.

Why a physical journal and not an app?

I just love it! An app would be cool but there is something about having a journal. It’s a little raunchy that you’re keeping a logbook of your sexual conquests. It’s not on an app, where that info can potentially be shared. You can hide it, you can use it with your partner.

I might just be old school but I really just like having something laid out in real life.

Can you go into the science of how cannabis helps to enhance sex?

We need more science. A lot more. Until it is no longer a Schedule 1 drug and continues to be criminalized on a federal level, that won’t happen, unfortunately, because so many research grants depend on the federal government. Old school Reagan-era America is still afraid of pot and sex. Something I’ve been excited to do with Goldleaf and Foria is to do our own research on this. Getting surveys out and looking at that data and using that data to put together the book.

Let’s start with physically. What we do know about cannabis is that it’s an anti-inflammatory. It can be useful in suppositories and topicals, but then it has to connect directly with the mucus membrane so that just works on vaginas and anally, the penis isn’t made the same way. It can be a really great pain reliever. Cannabis suppositories and lubricants have been what has been missing in anal sex preparation in terms of making the area more comfortable and loosened up. If you go to a CVS you can get lubes with numbing agents but they tend to numb you out to the point where even if bodily harm is happening you can’t feel it. Cannabis’ pain reliving properties are a bit more subtle, so I feel a lot safer using it in that sense.

If we’re speaking about THC, just the euphoria from a classic high adds on an extra layer of sensitivity. There have been studies that show it reduces negative thinking and helps you see things in a more positive outlook. That can be really, really wonderful in sex. Instead of being down in this nagging place, you can be really appreciative. Having sex with someone when you feel like you appreciate them is a lot more fun.

We named this “Intimacy Journal” because that emotional and mental aspect is really important. The best way that cannabis enhances my sex life is it lowers my anxiety and helps me stay in the moment. But everyone is different. Some don’t want to stick with the psychoactive properties and those people should give CBD a try to reduce any anxieties.

In terms of increasing arousal is there a preferred delivery method? Or is that dependent on the person?

Totally dependent on the person and the setting, which is why they are included in the journal. My primary partner isn’t a huge cannabis user, he prefers a glass or two of wine. So with him, I’ll take my 10mg beforehand — because I know it’ll feel better and edibles for me are my favorite. I like the intensity it gives. I have a high tolerance so I can handle the high. I really like it for social situations. We have a fair amount of group sex or women we are dating together. If I know I’m going to be having sex for the next six hours and my partners aren’t into cannabis as much as I am, an edible is the easiest way to feel that arousal without imposing on them.

But having said that, you can’t share edibles the way you pass a joint, so if my boyfriend does want to smoke, and we want to sit on the couch and share a joint together and get goofy and get touchy, you can do that too. I can’t replicate that experience by taking capsules from the dispensary. The answer is that there are definitely many, many ways.

In terms of CBD vs THC which is more likely to increase arousal?

I think that would depend on the person. However, we have to remember that not all CBD is created equal. The Farm Bill passed — which means anyone in any state can grow hemp and as long as the CBD they harvest from that hemp contains less than 0.3% THC then it’s safe to sell as CBD. But with that, we’re getting a lack of regulation. We might get a product that just says hemp oil and that means they pressed oil from that hemp plant but it’s not CBD oil, there are trace amounts so you can still sell it as CBD because it’s a technicality. So there could be harmful stuff like pesticides.

The best way that CBD has been shown to act in research is when it’s taken in conjunction with THC. Those are only two cannabinoids, there are over 113! The Entourage Effect is important — the best CBD has a little bit of THC in it, but that doesn’t have to be enough to get you high at all.

Unfortunately, in non-legal states like New York, unless you have a medical card you can’t really get that, so people sell CBD Isolate. I don’t want to say that that’s bad, because some prefer it, but it’s certainly not the best. Make sure to do research, use Weedmaps or Leafly to vet CBD products because there is a lot of bad shit out there.

If there is a couple who wants to start experimenting with weed in the bedroom, where is a good place to start?

Start with a joint. It’s so classic. It’s straight-up marijuana. In the world of tinctures and capsules and vapes, it’s pretty rare to just walk around and smoke a joint, but it’s kind of the purest experience of smoking marijuana. With COVID, obviously, you should consider something else, but there is a quick onset time. You feel it instantly, and it goes away quickly. If you do get too high it’s not going to be hours of waiting it out like with an edible.

Sharing joint with your partner is an intimate and fun experience. If you’re brand new to it go with that. If you really want to use it for amazing sex though I would recommend edibles. Start small with five mg. If you don’t feel it in two hours, have another five. Edibles go throughout your whole body and give you such an intense body experience it’s hard to beat it.

But this is important: Stoned sex can be amazing with yourself. You don’t need a partner. If you feel comfortable, try a topical or an edible when you’re alone. You don’t have to worry about anyone else or feel self-conscious about being too high. Solo play is definitely the way to go, it’s safe, responsible, and a fun way to start experimenting on your own.