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Back in 2020, ABC shook up the drama on Dancing With The Stars (which is already full of shakes during Jive Week) by firing longtime host Tom Bergeron. At the time, Bergeron said he wasn’t really bummed about the news, which he had seen coming, but now, the host is looking back on it and, as it turns out, he’s pretty pissed off at what went down!

Bergeron told The Hollywood Reporter that in the weeks leading up to the show’s 28th season in 2019, he had meetings with several unnamed producers to ensure that they wouldn’t cast any political figures on the show. A few weeks later, two producers told him that they had cast former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on the show. This didn’t sit well with Bergeron.

The host tried to talk them out of it. He explained, “And I said, ‘Guys, this is exactly what we said we wouldn’t do!’ And I would have responded the same way if they had booked Hillary Clinton, whom I voted for,” Bergeron explained. He told the producers, “‘Don’t go there. This is not the right time. Play to our strengths. Be the show that gives people a break from all this bullshit.’ So, I was furious.” Furious enough to ask for a season off, but the producers offered to let him out of his contract altogether. Then, in August 2019, he blasted them on Twitter, which was still Twitter back then.

When asked about the initial tweets, Bergeron said that he only wanted to get back at the company for going against his word. “They screwed me, I’m gonna screw them,” adding that he wanted the producers to know that he wasn’t happy. “I wanted the viewers to know this was a step too far. This was a step too far on the cusp of an election year.” He added,

I wrote the statement that I wrote, that did not name anybody, that did not name a political party. It merely said, ‘I was told certain things when I was asked my opinion, they agreed, and now they’ve thrown a curveball.’ They’re the producers of the show. If that’s what they want to do, they are entitled to do that. We will have to agree to disagree.

Still, the host stayed with the show for another season before throwing in the dance towel.“It wasn’t about my political beliefs. It was about my feeling about the show,” Bergeron said. “What is this show at this best? And what was happening was we were suddenly becoming this show at its worst,” Bergeron left the series after 15 years. Dancing With The Stars then became hosted by Tyra Banks, who left the show earlier this year, and now Julianne Hough is stepping in.

As for Spicer, he was eliminated after eight weeks but the memory of his neon green ruffled shirt will be ingrained in the brains of innocent victims for eternity.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Joy Behar just set a new record for The View. The co-host managed to have producers scrambling for the censor button three times while talking to Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who was on hand to promote his new book on witnessing the January 6 insurrection.

Like all political conversations, things went quickly downhill when Behar brought up Donald Trump, the man responsible for the “Stop The Steal” rally that infamously ended with the Capitol being breached. Unfortunately, The View watchers at home didn’t get to hear what Behar had to say because it was apparently too strong for daytime TV.

Via Entertainment Weekly:

“What if Donald Trump wins again, would you…” the 81-year-old asked, though the show’s audio cut out before she finished. When it returned, Behar’s cohosts laughed around the table as Alyssa Farah Griffin — a former Trump associate — said, “Give me a stiffer drink.”

“You got anything stronger?” Dunn asked before he was censored for saying something as well.

“We need heroes like you all the time,” Behar continued, to which Dunn replied, “I’ve always said I’ll address that issue when we cross that bridge, but…” before the show seemingly suspended the audio feed for a third and final time.

But that wasn’t Behar’s only wild moment. The View co-host was on one during Tuesday’s episode as she also voiced some strong opinions about Taylor Swift.

“This addiction to Taylor Swift has to stop!” Behar exclaimed (via Decider) during a panel discussion on ticket prices for Swift’s Eras Tour.

Talking politics is one thing, but criticizing Taylor Swift? Joy was playing with the hottest fire of them all, folks.

(Via Entertainment Weekly, Decider)

This week saw the release of a ton of great new pop music. Sabrina Carpenter and Slayyyter both put new spins on songs from their biggest inspirations for Spotify Singles. There were also a few collaborations, including one that united three different countries.

Check out the rest of Uproxx’s Best New Pop Music roundup below.

The Kid Laroi, Jung Kook, Central Cee — “Too Much”

As BTS is still on hiatus, the members are keeping busy with solo songs. Jung Kook teamed up with The Kid Laroi and Central Cee for “Too Much,” which finds them reflecting on past choices. Given each of the three performers is from a different country, it has serious potential to be a global hit.

Charli XCX, Sam Smith — “In The City”

In their new collaboration, Charli XCX and Sam Smith find themselves aiming to tackle the nightlife “In The City.” The dazzling duo find themselves shimmering under the club lights, proving it was worth the wait — as Charli teased it months ago.

Beabadoobee, Laufey — “A Night To Remember”

Another brilliant duo on this week’s list, Beabadoobee and Laufey decided to work together on “A Night To Remember” after becoming friends and bonding in London. The result is a classical-inspired song that brings serious jazzy vibes — so much so that you’ll be transported back in time.

Sabrina Carpenter — “I Knew You Were Trouble”

Sabrina Carpenter covered Taylor Swift’s hit, “I Knew You Were Trouble,” adding another layer to their close relationship. Compared to the original, Carpenter slowed down the song’s pacing to place an emphasis on the lyricism.

Anitta — “Mil Veces”

Anitta truly set the tone for “Mil Veces” by tapping Maneskin’s Damiano David to play her love interest as the two turn up the heat. The song serves as a follow-up to her recent album, Funk Generation, and finds her discussing a tumultuous relationship that has gone through tough times.

Slayyyter — “Monster”

Slayyyter’s “Monster” arrived just in time for Halloween, as she put a new spin on Lady Gaga’s song for Spotify Singles. “It’s one of my favorite pop songs of all time,” she shared in a statement. Given that Gaga has been a huge inspiration to her, it feels like a sweet full-circle moment.

Kali Uchis — “Te Mata”

Kali Uchis kicked off her new Orquíedas album announcement with the single, “Te Mata.” As promised, Uchis would be dropping both an English record and a Spanish one — and now the latter is on the way. Lyrically, she is reclaiming her power after a breakup, and getting stronger by doing so.

Holly Macve, Lana Del Rey — “Suburban House”

“Ever since I heard Holly’s music I knew she had one of the most beautiful singing voices in the world,” Lana Del Rey shared about her “Suburban House” collaboration with Macve. “Her flawless, emotional vocals have inspired me over the last six years and I love her songs, and I’m especially proud of featuring on this one.”

Dove Cameron — “Lethal Woman”

Dove Cameron’s “Lethal Woman” was written about a girl that the pop star met at a party. As it opens the first half of her debut album, Alchemical: Vol. 1, Cameron observes from afar — complete with some spicy lyrics.

Griff — “Into The Walls”

Griff recently dropped her new three-song EP, Vert1go Vol. 1. One of the highlights is “Into The Walls,” an emotional take on the singer’s growing pains. While she changes day by day, she also details how her present state isn’t doing very well.

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

Spooky season marks the start of the holiday season, but for music streaming giant Spotify, it signifies the end of the streaming year. Just as Uproxx rounds up the top music critics for our year-end best-of lists (see our 2022 albums selections here), Spotify rolls out their Wrapped series for users. The data collection effort shows listeners their favorite bodies of work, singles, and genres, amongst other things.

Last year’s most streamed album on the server came from Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Olivia Rodrigo, Ed Sheeran, and Doja Cat. The most streamed artists were Bunny, Taylor Swift, Drake, The Weeknd, and BTS. But Spotify Wrapped is personalized for each user, so when does the software stop tracking your listening history?

Today (October 24), news aggregator Pop Base tweeted a reminder to its followers. “One week from today, Spotify will stop counting users’ streams for Spotify Wrapped 2023,” read the post.

According to Newsweek, this timeline is accurate. Spotify reportedly collects users’ data for the personalized experience between only data from January 1 to October 31 each year. Brendan Codey, associate director for Creator Growth and Programs at Spotify, explained the rationale behind the discussion in 2021.

“We have this hard cut-off just for the sake of campaign logistics. We need to QA the site and finalize assets for Wrapped, all of which takes a while. You throw Thanksgiving into the mix, and we have even less time,” said Codey.

A father with a challenging problem took to social media to anonymously hear other opinions on a bold position he had to take in his family.

“I’m the dad of a 25-year-old young woman who I love very much,” the father wrote on the Reddit AITA forum. “I’ve been able to have a good relationship with my daughter, and I enjoy my time with her, but there’s one thing about her that would give many people pause—she is a diagnosed sociopath.”

People who are sociopaths have been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). According to WebMD, “Those with ASPD have no regard for others’ rights or feelings, lack empathy and remorse for wrongdoings, and have the need to exploit and manipulate others for personal gain.”

It is challenging for people with ASPD to get help because they often don’t believe their behavior is a problem. However, those who do can learn that their behaviors are harmful and receive tools to improve their relationships.

However, being in a close relationship with someone diagnosed with ASPD can be a very challenging situation.

The father realized his daughter had sociopathic tendencies at a young age and was given therapy and support. “With an enormous amount of therapy & support, her bad behavior was minimized as she grew older. She received an ASPD diagnosis at 18, and I had suspected it for long prior,” he wrote.

Even though the daughter struggles with her social life, she has had no problem with men.

“She is very, very charming and adept at attracting guys and maintaining their interest,” he continued. “She uses that old dating guide ‘The Rules’ like a Bible. She currently has a boyfriend of about a year and a half who’s crazy about her, and who I have a very strong relationship with (we live in the same area and spend time together regularly). He is a great guy, very kind, funny and intelligent.”

The boyfriend intends to propose soon, and the father fears the worst could happen to him. “While she enjoys being around her boyfriend and is sexually attracted to him, I highly doubt she feels much of anything towards him love-wise,” the father wrote.

Further, the daughter has no intention of telling the boyfriend about her diagnosis for fear that it would scare him away. But the dad doesn’t believe that it’s right for the relationship to continue without telling him the truth.

“I’ve made it clear to her that she needs to tell him the truth before they marry, that he has the right to know and consider it, or I will, to which she always responds, ‘I know you wouldn’t dare,’” the father admits. “I actually would—I really like and respect this young man and would feel awful keeping this ‘secret’ from him and letting him walk into a marriage without this piece of knowledge.”

So, the father asked the Reddit forum if he was right to tell the boyfriend about his daughter’s diagnosis. “I’m not trying to sabotage my daughter’s future. Maybe her boyfriend’s love of her personality and other aspects is enough that it won’t end the relationship. It’s his decision to make, but he deserves all the facts,” he wrote.

Almost all of the commenters sympathized with the father and agreed that it was best to tell the boyfriend before they were engaged.

“If this guy wants kids, it’s really going to suck to find out he is co-parenting with a sociopath. Also, is ASPD genetic? If so, he definitely deserves to know,” Decemberandjuly wrote. “I’d really want to know that info before marrying,” PodcornJelly added. “That, of course, doesn’t mean you’re not at fault for ‘outing’ your daughter, but IMO, it’s for the greater good.”

However, one commenter noted that the father should stay out of it because the relationship is probably very helpful for the daughter. “I say this as someone who is qualified to make these types of diagnoses and provide appropriate treatment. She has a history of problematic behavior, but it sounds like she is well-functioning enough as an adult,” iglooboo wrote. “Maybe she loves in different ways to others, but that doesn’t exclude her from having positive relationships. In fact, it is this sense of safety in a relationship that will help her keep learning these skills.”

Upworthy contacted the father to learn the rest of the story but is still awaiting his response.

There are some things that you simply consider experiences that happen outside of the house.

Going to Olive Garden and having the server grate cheese over your soup, salad or food until you say, “when” is one of them. Most of us Olive Garden patrons watch the cheese grater intently while we internally debate if we should tell the server to stop or stay silent revealing how much cheese we actually prefer on our food.

Do they sell cheese graters at any chain retail store in America? Yes, yes they do. But it’s not the Olive Garden cheese grater that transports you into the restaurant staring at cheese fall like snow onto your endless soup and salad. So imagine people’s surprise when they found out that they too could purchase the infamous cheese grater straight from the restaurant.

TikTok creator, Jordan stitched a girl who revealed that while eating at the chain Italian restaurant, she asked if she could buy the cheese grater. To her surprise and Jordan’s surprise, they said yes, so Jordan wanted to try his luck.

“I heard this information. I woke up at six in the morning, I haven’t even seen my family, yet. I need to see if this is true. I’m so excited, I’m the first one here,” Jordan says.

Well, since the restaurant specializes in lunch and dinner, it’s not surprising that he’s the first one in line for a cheese grater that people likely didn’t know was sold. What do you know, the guy walks out with a brand new Olive Garden cheese grater and a whole tub of cheese.

The manager gave him a tub of that fancy Romano cheese that they shred on anything and everything you could ever want cheese on. Commenters were mostly entertained about this new information, while others, who worked at the restaurant were not so thrilled.

“Olive Garden won’t be prepared for the influx of people asking to buy cheese graters now,” one person jokes.

“I now want to find the most ridiculous thing at Olive Garden and ask if they’ll sell it to me,” another says.

“GIRL MATH – $30 cheese grater minus $100 free cheese means I have $70 to spend on something else,” one woman reasons.

“As an Olive Garden current server, the amount of times I’ve ben asked TODAY if we sell cheese graters is insane,” someone says.

“Former Olive Garden employee – everything there [h]as a price. One of my managers sold a painting off the wall once,” one commenter reveals.

Turns out if you want something from Olive Garden that’s not on the menu, like a cheese grater, painting…an entire booth, all you have to do is ask. Some one with a manager name tag will make sure you’re a fully satisfied customer with your brand new-only been used 75,000 times wooden chair. Now, that’s what you call exceptional customer service.

You can watch the entire video below:

@jordan_the_stallion8

Stich with @Bo #fypシ

It’s said that everyone dies twice. The first is your physical death, the second is the last time anyone utters your name.

Sybil Marie Hicks, from Baysville, Ontario, died on February 2, at the age of 81, but it’ll be a long time before her name is forgotten. Her children have turned her into a posthumous celebrity after writing a hilarious first-person obituary for her that was published in The Hamilton Spectator on February 5, 2019.

According to her daughter, it was fitting tribute.

“Mom was never boring,” Hicks’ daughter, Barb Drummond, told Yahoo Lifestyle. “Mom lived large. She would do anything for anyone. It was rare for Mom not to have a smile on her face. Mom was always ready for a laugh.”

The last word. Obit in todayu2019s @TheSpec u201cI finally have the smoking hot body I have always wanted…having been cremated.u201dpic.twitter.com/YQFOjRJjL8

— Jim Poling (@Jim Poling)
1549409088

The obituary begins with a shot at her husband, Ron. “It hurts me to admit it, but I, Mrs. Ron Hicks from Baysville, have passed away,” they wrote. “I leave behind my loving husband, Ron Hicks, whom I often affectionately referred to as a ‘Horse’s Ass.'”

She then goes on to roast her own children.

“I also left behind my children whom I tolerated over the years; Bob (with Carol) my oldest son and also my favourite. Brian (with Ginette) who was the Oreo cookie favourite, Brenda AKA ‘Hazel’ who would run to clean the bathrooms when she heard company was coming,” they continued. “Barbara (with Gordon) the ever Miss Perfect and finally Baby Bruce who wouldn’t eat homemade turkey soup because he didn’t want to be alert looking for bones while he ate.”

The piece ends with a great zinger and a bit of a mystery: “I finally have the smoking hot body I have always wanted… having been cremated. Please come say goodbye and celebrate my wonderful life with my husband and his special friend Dorothy who is now lovingly taking care of my horse’s ass.”

Did her husband have a side piece or are they talking about the dog?

The viral obituary has done more than just spread a few much needed laughs across the world, it’s helped the family heal after Hicks’ long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The disorder may have stolen Hicks’ quick wit sharp tongue; but, in a way, the obituary, has given voice to a woman who was long silenced.

“We just thought that when she passed, we really didn’t want to have this sort of boilerplate template obituary,” Brian Hicks, the second eldest of Hick’s five children, told the CBC.

“We wanted to do something that kind of celebrated who she was and to give us an opportunity to basically have one last conversation with her, and have some laughs at the same time,” he said.

The Hicks family hopes that those who are moved by their mother’s story will consider donating to their local Alzheimer’s charity.

Read the entire obituary at Legacy.com.

This article originally appeared on 02.11.19.

In 2005, a Croatian architect designed a 230-foot-long organ that turns the rhythm of the waves into actual music.

Nope, not nonsensical bellows or chaotic tones. Real, actual, music.

Most of us have never seen, or heard, anything like it.

Imagine walking along the picturesque Adriatic Sea, treading lightly on a set of white stone steps as a cool breeze rolls past.

Carved into the steps are narrow channels that connect to 35 organ pipes, each tuned to different meticulously arranged musical chords.

As the waves lap against the steps, they push air through the pipes and out whistle-holes in the surface above, making a harmonious and completely random musical arrangement.

But you don’t see what’s happening below the surface. You close your eyes and all you hear is a song like you’ve never heard before, one completely unique to the movement of the sea at that exact moment.

Take a listen: Here’s what it sounded like at one particular moment, on one particular day. On any other day, it might sound completely different.

(Hit the orange button to hear it.)

Pretty amazing, right?

The Sea Organ, or the Morske Orgulje, is an incredible feat of architecture designed to bring life back to one of the world’s oldest cities.

Zadar, a 3,000-year-old city on the coast of Croatia, was almost completely destroyed in World War II –– so many of its ancient landmarks lost forever. Years after a rebuilding that featured lots of plain, concrete structures, award-winning architect Nikola Bašić was brought in to bring some delight back to the coastline.

That’s when he came up with the idea.

No doubt he was inspired by the hydraulis — a nifty little instrument built by the ancient Greeks that used water to push air through tuned pipes — or even the Wave Organ in San Francisco — a set of curved tubes built in the 1980s that amplify the gurgles and howls of the Pacific Ocean.

But the intricate design of the Sea Organ is what sets it apart and makes it truly something to marvel at.

This article originally appeared on 11.06.15

These mustached Canadians decided to treat older shelter cats like used cars.

Why?

Because in a world where around 8 million pets enter shelters and only around 4 million get out, that’s a lot of sad math.

In an attempt to stop that sad math, the kind folks from the Calgary Humane Society got creative.

The fastest domestic cat running speed appears to be 29.8 mph. This salesman knows his product!

They got weird.

They discovered some very adept cat performers.

Call Hollywood!

They pulled out all the stops to help future cat owners realize that pre-owned cats are the way to go!

And in addition to the commercial, the cats were priced to go on a very special Saturday.

Kittens are popular. There’s no way around it. They’re kittens! I used to be kitten-crazy (I was a child!), but I’ve adopted older cats and so have my friends. They’re special. They’re cute. They’re soulful. And instead of adorably biting your fingers until they grow up past kittenhood, older cats chill out on your couch and teach you about relaxing.

I’m sharing this because it might save a pre-owned cat.

We missed the Big Sale Saturday (but let’s be real, pre-owned cats are always priced to go), but the love for pre-owned cats continues. And this commercial, well … it’s timeless.

And worth a watch below:

This article originally appeared on 08.29.15

The Uproxx 2023 Fall Travel Hot List is live! Visit here for the full experience!

Summer has come to a close. There’s no denying that anymore. We tried to stall but Halloween is next-freaking-week. Even the beloved festival season — which tries to pull an Endless Summer and extend until the weather turns every year — is pretty much done.

Back in late September, CRSSD Festival hit San Diego — which was still downright tropical at the time — with its most wide-reaching lineup to date. Attendees were treated to electronic performances at the lush bayside Waterfront Park by day followed by a range of after-parties in clubs, venues, and converted spaces by night. Underworld, Flume, Fatboy Slim, Ben Böhmer, LP Giobbi, SG Lewis, Elderbrook, Barry Can’t Swim, Eliza Rose, FISHER, Chris Lake, Cloonee, TSHA, among others curated the CRSSD music experience — helping it stake its claim as one of the best electronic music events on the West Coast.

To keep the vibe going now that fall is fully fall and the end of summer is undeniable, peep this photo gallery that truly showcases CRSSD’s renowned status within the international festival circuit. Then start to make plans for hitting some festivals next spring, when the weather is warm again!