This months marks two years since the arrival of Lorde’s third album, Solar Power. Over the last year, she has been vaguely teasing her next chapter, even speaking directly to the process of writing her next album.

The anticipation hit fever pitch this week when Lorde posted an Instagram carousel featuring moody photos of her swimming in a private pool with the caption, “After the show we went swimming.. these times are beautiful and they freak me out and there’s so much to tell you. No this is not the start of anything out there, just want u to know there’s a light on inside me .. show it to you soon.”

Lorde seemed to show a glimpse of that light during her headlining set at Boardmasters Festival on Friday, August 11. According to several fan-captured videos circulated by Lorde fan accounts, the two-time Grammy winner debuted two unreleased songs and performed an altered version of “Secrets From A Girl (Who’s Seen It All)” from Solar Power. At first, a photo showing Lorde’s setlist revealed the new songs to be “Untitled #1” and “Untitled #2,” but shortly thereafter, Pop Crave provided proof that the titles are “Silver Moon” and “Invisible Ink.”

In one video, Lorde sings, “Behind his back I use invisible ink / Color outside the lines with you.” The other finds her performing a similarly ethereal and immersive song with lyrics like, “Every night, the silver moon / It changes / Can you say the same? / Do you stay the same? / Can you change with me? / Can I be honest?”

See the footage below, and find Lorde’s Boardmasters setlist here.

Last fall, Candace Cameron Bure sparked backlash when she became the chief creative officer for Great American Family (GAF) the latest Hallmark competitor which intends to keep “traditional marriage at the core.”

Bure’s Full House/Fuller House co-star and on-screen sibling Jodie Sweetin seemingly shaded Bure by “liking” posts that slammed GAF’s values. The actress has been vocally supportive of LGBTQ+ rights over the years, so when her recent movie, Craft Me A Romance, was sold to GAF, she was understandably not thrilled.

In a statement provided to People Magazine, Sweetin stated she didn’t have control over the sale, and is “disappointed” that it will land over at GAF. She also pledged to send any proceeds or money from the sale to LGBTQ+ orgs. Read the rest of the statement below:

Sometimes, we, as actors, don’t have control over which network buys the projects we are in, nor are we a part of the process in which they get sold. So I was very surprised to learn by reading about it in the press yesterday that the independent film I worked on over a year ago was sold to Great American Family. I am disappointed, but in keeping with my mission of supporting the LGBTQ+ family, any potential or future money made from this sale will be donated to LGBTQ+ organizations.

Sweetin and Bure starred alongside each other throughout the ’90s and again for the Full House revival which aired from 2016-2020. Since then, the cast has reunited for various events, though it seems like there might be a little too much tension these days.

(Via People)

Everyone knows about the FBoy Island phenomenon: you take a group of 24 men and three women, stick them on and island, and see what happens. Though, as with every reality show, nothing is quite as it seems, since half of those men consider themselves “Nice Guys” while the other half are “FBoys.”Where do normal men fit in here? They don’t! If one of the women ends up with a “Nice Guy,” at the end, the couple splits a $100,000 cash prize, but if she picks an “FBoy,” he gets the entire $100,000. Just like America’s wage gap.

Still, the show became a hit, so it was quite a shock when HBO Max canceled the series last December. But, as we all know, FBoys never truly die, so The CW was quick to pick it up for a third season of chaos and madness. Here’s what to know about the upcoming season of the reality show.

Release Date

The third season will premiere on October 12th at 8 pm ET on The CW. Episodes will then air every Thursday.

Cast and Host

Comedian Nikki Glaser will return to host, in addition to hosting the upcoming spinoff titled (if you can believe it) FGirl Island. While the full cast has not been revealed, former Bachelorette Katie Thurston is set to appear as one of the women.

Trailer

The trailer for the upcoming season has not yet dropped, so here is the season one trailer so catch you up to speed.

As the DC Universe tries to overcome some underperforming titles, fans have learned to celebrate the small wins. These days, just hearing that an actor is interested in a movie is a good sign and gives fans something to look forward to.

So earlier this month, when Gal Gadot gave a promising update for another Wonder Woman sequel, it seemed like the ball was going to start rolling soon. The actress told ComicBook.com, “I love portraying Wonder Woman. It’s so close to and dear to my heart. From what I heard from James [Gunn] and from Peter [Safran] is that we’re gonna develop a Wonder Woman 3’ together.” And fans rejoiced! And now, just over a week later, that joy has (again) been squashed.

A source told Variety that there is no Wonder Woman film in development at the moment, as Gunn has some bigger fish to fry. The only Wonder Woman project currently in the works is Paradise Lost, Max’s Game of Thrones-style prequel drama taking place in Wonder Woman’s birthplace of Themyscira. This was announced earlier this year, though no more updates have been made.

All of this might be news to Gadot. In a profile published by Flaunt Magazine earlier this week, Gadot explicitly told the mag that she had met with the DC bosses. “I was invited to a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran,” Gadot said, “and what they told me, and I’m quoting: ‘You’re in the best hands. We’re going to develop Wonder Woman 3 with you. [We] love you as Wonder Woman — you’ve got nothing to worry about.’ So time will tell.”

(Via Variety)

Beloved coffee and donut chain (nobody eats the donuts) Dunkin’ is gearing up to drop spiked versions of its best coffee and tea flavors. Yes, you read that right, “spiked.” We’re talking about Dunkin’ with an alcoholic twist. Dubbed simply, “Dunkin’ Spiked” the full line-up includes canned malt liquor-infused versions of the brand’s Slighty Sweet Iced Tea, Half & Half Iced Tea (tea and lemon), Strawberry Dragonfruit Iced Tea Refresher, Mango Pineapple Iced Tea Refresher, Original Iced Coffee, Caramel Iced Coffee, Mocha Iced Coffee, and Vanilla Iced Coffee.

The malt-based beverages are being produced by Boston’s Harpoon Brewery, and according to VinePair will be available as 12-pack variety packs, 6-packs, 4-packs, and single serving 19.2-ounce cans. The standard can will hit 6% ABV for the coffee and 5% for the tea-based drinks, which puts the drink in line with your typical White Claw or spiked seltzer beverage — only better tasting because we imagine Dunkin’ is going to go heavy on the sugar to match the brand’s non-spiked counterparts.

Why drink a malt beverage that tastes like some old fruit rinds when you can satisfy that sweet tooth while getting cross-faded on caffeine and malt liquor?

As of now there is no release date for the drinks, but VinePair reports that Dunkin’ Spiked has received label approval from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau for five of the eight flavors in May, so we assume once approval is bet for all eight we’ll hear of a firm release date (Dunkin Spiked already has a website).

Twitter users took to the news with a mix of excitement and general concern with what is about to happen in cities across the country (particularly Boston) once people start slamming cans of Dunkin’ spiked. Check out some of our favorite reactions below.

Riskiness be damned, you’d better believe as soon as these cans drop we’ll be tasting, reviewing, and ranking all of ‘em!

Over the past decade or so, there has been a trend of parents choosing to give their children unique names. “We are deep in an era of naming individuality, where parents assume that having a [name] sound distinctive and unique is a virtue,” Laura Wattenberg, the founder of the naming-trends site Namerology, told The Atlantic.

There are multiple reasons for this change in American culture. One is that people have fewer children, so their uniqueness has become more important for parents. Another is that baby name data has pushed parents to go to further lengths to come up with names that won’t make them the third John or second Maria in a classroom.

The internet has also played a role in the change. People with unique names stand out online. Good luck if you’re looking on Facebook for a former classmate named Matt Smith.

Joe Pinsker at The Atlantic also points out that picking a unique name has become a trend, so it has become a type of conformity. “Trying not to be like everyone else makes you just like everyone else,” Pinsker wrote.

The unique name trend has also caused friction among parents. A father-to-be who goes by the name Aaronsaway on Reddit asked the AITA forum whether he was in the wrong for being “rude” to his wife for shooting down her unique baby names.

The boy’s name that caused the most drama was Zoomer.

“My wife and I are expecting our first child in the coming months and we have chosen not to find out the sex until the baby is born. Things are starting to feel very real now so we’ve started to properly discuss names, but we’ve realized we both have vastly different tastes in name style and we are having a hard time finding the right one,” Aaronsaway wrote.

He says that his wife likes unique names that he finds “tacky and silly,” while he prefers “traditional names.”

“Last night she showed me a short list she had put together and thought I might like. The names on the list were:

Girl: Fern, Fennix, Rhodes, Faun, Brixtyn, and Kinley

Boy: Spark, Diesel, Quincy, Phoenix, Buck, and Fox”

Aaronsaway countered by suggesting some traditional versions of the names she chose.

But Aaronsaway finally snapped when his wife suggested Zoomer for a boy.

“I asked if she was serious and said it was a stupid name. She asked what my problem was and why I was so dismissive of all her ideas and shooting down all the names she likes. I told her we were naming a child and not a dog, and that names can have a huge impact on the child,” Aaronsaway wrote. “I said I don’t want my child to be bullied or taken less seriously because they have a ridiculous name. She told me I was rude and that I was the bully for making her feel unsupported.”

The wife started crying and went to bed.

So, is the dad-to-be right in dismissing his wife’s unique suggestions or should he get with the times and give his child a one-of-a-kind name?

The commenters overwhelmingly supported Aaronsaway.

The most popular comment came from AsOne8433, who wrote: “So many people naming their kids like a 9-year-old naming a goldfish or a valley girl naming a pocket dog. Unfortunately, it indicates that the parent considering these names does not see the child as a person, but a thing, an amusing accessory to show all her fans how cool she is.”

Willing-Helicopter26 agreed.

“I definitely feel like you should discuss names you like and consider a more unique middle name, but ultimately this IS a person not a pet,” they wrote. “Lots of these names are more appropriate for pets. Your wife needs to be a bit more grounded in her selections. Fern isn’t bad. Quincy isn’t terrible, either. But please don’t name your kid Zoomer.”

The few dissenters didn’t like the way he talked to his wife.

“You’re allowed to not like her name choices, and she’s allowed to not like yours. You’re allowed to veto one another—but not to be mean to each other,” NightOwlEye wrote.

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Noname, Rob49, Trippie Redd, and more.

It’s officially hip-hop’s 50th birthday, and amid the ongoing celebrations, plenty of new music dropped from the likes of all of the above-mentioned names. New releases this week came from Lil Yachty, Gucci Mane, DJ Khaled (with Future, Lil Baby, and Lil Uzi Vert), That Chick Angel (with FendiDa Rappa, Flo Milli, and Sexyy Red), and more.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending August 11, 2023. Happy birthday, hip-hop!

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

G Perico — 7 Figures Later

The South Central mainstay drops 10 new tracks of his signature Los Angeles hood hop. There aren’t too many moving parts here, just funky, stripped-down beats, and Perico’s street-certified rhymes — but that’s what makes this project work. Sometimes, simpler is better, and G Perico knows this better than anyone, getting straight to the point.

Joey Purp — Heavy Heart, Vol. 1

Someday, we’re all going to have to have a talk about how seriously underrated Joey Purp is as a rapper. Perhaps it’s his consistency, which can lend itself to folks taking him for granted, or maybe it’s his staunch independent philosophy, which can sometimes mean he doesn’t get the sort of label resources lesser artists get. Whatever the reason, here’s your chance to stop overlooking one of Chicago’s finest.

Noname — Sundial

Speaking of Chicago’s finest, here we have one of the most long-awaited projects out of the Windy City since Chance The Rapper’s The Big Day. Fortunately for Noname, though, she remains focused on her comeback album, displayed a matured sound but losing none of the fiery spirit for which she’s become somewhat infamous.

Reason — Porches

Controversy leading up to its release aside, I feel pretty comfortable arguing on behalf of Reason’s latest. Yes, I am biased, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong. While some TDE fans will let their resentment at getting older color their perception of the next generation from the LA label, Porches proves that he’s equal to his predecessors lyrically while having his own point of view. It may not be for everybody but it’s undeniable once you give it a chance.

Rucci — Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop!

Inglewood hustler Rucci continues to put on for LA’s underground. A fitting counterpart to G Perico’s project this week, Rucci offers the “still-grinding” perspective to Perico’s success story. The rhymes are solid, the beats are diverse, and collaborators like Cypress Moreno and Bankroll Got It pair nicely with Rucci’s unfiltered Westside narratives.

Trippie Redd — A Love Letter To You 5

Coming off the single “Took My Breath Away,” I had the impression that Trippie’s latest addition to his long-running mixtape series might take him in a new direction from his usual angsty crooning. It doesn’t, but I’m not exactly mad about it. If you were already keyed in to the stuff Trip was doing before this, you’ll likely be satisfied too.

Singles/Videos

EST Gee — “A Moment With Gotti” Feat. Yo Gotti

EST Gee keeps him momentum ahead of the release of his mixtape, El Toro 2, with a collaboration that just makes sense. It’s a more mellow street anthem than perhaps we’re used to from the Louisville rapper but slowing things down allows his storytelling to shine.

French Montana — “Good Summer”

Borrowing a sample of Wayne Wonder’s “No Letting Go,” the Bronx hero throws his hat into the ring to secure a picnic hit. It’s a worthwhile effort, combining the tender Caribbean R&B leanings of its source material to an uptempo Miami bass beat.

Headie One — “More Money More Problems”

It’s kind of fitting that Headie drops a song with (almost) the same title as Biggie’s classic on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, but to belabor the metaphor a bit, the differences in the two songs could almost be a referendum on the ways hip-hop has changed in the past 50 years.

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

When we spoke with former O.C. actor and current journalist crypto skeptic Ben McKenzie, he told us, essentially, that crypto bros aren’t as funny as they think they are. And while that might be true, FTX founder and accused fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried getting un-freed until at least October ahead of his trial qualifies as pretty funny, even if his actual actions are no laughing matter… well, okay, reportedly enraging a judge for accessing a VPN under the pretense of trying to stream the Super Bowl is legit hilarious. Being accused of witness tampering by way of leaking documents about your former girlfriend (who also ran your hedge fund)? Extremely not hilarious.

As you may recall if you’re paying attention to the ins and outs of this case and not just waiting for the inevitable dueling docuseries and limited series to catch up, Bankman-Fried was out on a quarter-billion dollars bail and on house arrest after being arrested in December. That arrangement included giving up his passport and submitting to have big expenses (anything north of 1K) subject to court approval. His parents also had skin in the game, leveraging their home so that their very special boy could keep breathing free air and eating Lunchables.

One would think with those limitations and stakes that Sam would stay out of trouble. But the fantastical way some of this era’s WWE-style rich folk villains — pre-packaged for the pop culture spotlight with their weird hair (ALWAYS) and immense appetites for power, money, and screwing around when trouble circles them always seems to make this kind of moment possible. And just a little sweeter when the great bug zapper of justice actually catches one, turning a fake money fail boy into the dictionary definition of judicial f*cked around and found out. Anyway, buzz buzz, Sam, hope you weren’t planning on watching NFL Sunday Ticket for kickoff season. Or at any point in the future.

Source: The Daily Beast

Would you like to buy a vowel? Well, Vanna White has left the building (for now). The keeper of the letters has reportedly been negotiating a raise, also reportedly her first pay bump in over 18 years, and she’s now reportedly being temporarily replaced (according to Puck via TV Line) by “Teacher of the Year” recipient Bridgette Donald-Blue. Those episodes will likely air in October.

White recently took time off after reportedly contracting COVID at the end of July, which has coincided with contract issues. After Pat Sajak announced he would step down as host at the end of the upcoming season, word surfaced that she apparently earned $3 million a season while Sajak was earning upwards of $15 million. How many vowels could you buy with that?

There have only been three other instances of White being absent from the series since starting in 1982. Once was in 1986 after the death of partner John Gibson, then again for two weeks in 1991 while White went on her honeymoon, then again the same year after getting sick. Nobody touches those fancy letter screens the way she does.

Meanwhile, Ryan Seacrest is adding another job to his already long LinkedIn profile and will host the game show after Sajak steps down next summer. Maybe that American Idol desk just isn’t as comfortable as it used to be.

(Via TVLine)

Keanu Reeves, star of the screen, stage, and the hearts of the American people, is out here doing just about everything that is presumably on his bucket list. He’s riding motorcycles with Norman Reedus, mastering car stunts, and even beating Nic Cage at billiards. What’s next on the man’s agenda? Ripping a sick bass solo, that’s what. He’s Keanu Reeves… the man can do anything he puts his mind to.

Reeves’ rock band Dogstar (not to be confused with the dog star of John Wick, Daisy) is gearing up to release their first album in over two decades, and their latest drop is a video for their Muse-esque track, “Breach.” Reeves dons a sleek Wick-inspired look, only this time instead of guns, the bass is his weapon, complete with an all-black ensemble and some greasy hair. This is real rock and roll, people!!!!

Does this mean that Reeves is one step closer to a Grammy? Probably…. not. But maybe! The band’s latest album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, is due out on October 6th. At this point, he might get a Grammy before he gets his (much overdue) Oscar.

On the other side of things, Reeves’ is also set to star in a live-action film series based on his comic book series BRZRKR. Between music, comic books, and movies, Reeves must be on the lookout for some more creative outlooks. Maybe another movie-musical is on the horizon.