Seth MacFarlane and Martin Scorsese probably isn’t a combination anyone saw coming, but the two apparently share a common interest: Preserving old cartoons.
The Family Guy creator and the legendary director have reportedly spearheaded a joint collaboration with their respective foundations to fund the “first-ever, curated restoration of historically significant animated shorts.” The collection will include works from classic cartoonists Max and Dave Fleischer as well as George Pal and Paul Terry.
“I’m so grateful to Seth MacFarlane for his enthusiasm and his support on these restorations,” said Martin Scorsese in a statement. “What an astonishing experience, to see these remarkable pictures that I experienced for the first time as a child brought back to their full glory. Imagine the reactions of children today! Because the films now seem as fresh as they did when they were newly made.”
“The work Martin Scorsese and his Film Foundation have been doing is essential cinematic preservation,” MacFarlane added. “I’m honored to partner with them in restoring their first-ever collection of storied animation.”
Nine restorations of animated shorts from the 1920s to the 1940s will be shown at the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival this Saturday, April 20. MacFarlane will personally be on hand to present the titles, which include Koko’s Tattoo (1928), Little Nobody (1935), The Little Stranger (1936), Greedy Humpty Dumpty (1936), Peeping Penguins (1937), The Fresh Vegetable Mystery (1939), So Does An Automobile (1939), The Three Bears (1939), and Two-Gun Rusty (1944).
If you’ve made a habit of eating fast food you’re probably aware that it’s incredibly easy to go overboard. It’s not so much that all the food is fried, these days there are plenty of healthier non-fried options out there in the fast food landscape, but it’s the carbs that are hard to avoid. Carbs in fast food are everywhere! And if you don’t live a particularly active lifestyle those carbs can add up fast.
So we’re here to help by pointing you in the direction of our favorite low-carb dish at all the big fast food chains. This is going to be a slightly shorter list than we usually put together because while a lot of fast food menus have keto sections or dishes low on carbs, some… just don’t. Sure, you could hack any meal to fit your needs, but we want to avoid options that require throwing away ingredients or transforming the food to a point where it’s not enjoyable to eat anymore.
For example, Arby’s. Arby’s doesn’t have any truly low-carb options on its menu worth eating, and if you want to eat Arby’s without the carbs you’re going to have to order the sandwiches without buns. Does a bun-less roast beef sandwich sound good to you? We hope not. So we’ve simply eliminated the fast food brands that don’t fit the bill, building out a list of dishes that mostly sit comfortably under 20 grams of carbohydrates.
Here are all the best low-carb dishes across the fast food landscape.
Chick-fil-A — 12 Count Grilled Chicken Nuggets
Chick-fil-A
Carbs: 2g Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
Let me start by saying Chick-fil-A has several really great salad options that tick the low-carb box (assuming you don’t use too much dressing or get fried chicken), but for the best flavor option, you’ve got to go with the grilled nuggets.
For being grilled, these nuggies are surprisingly juicy and tender with a lemon-meets-char flavor with a hint of floral black pepper. The 12 count feels pretty substantial as a meal, no sides necessary.
The Bottom Line:
Grilled nuggets don’t have the allure of their fried counterparts, but sometimes these hit better than the OG. Pair it with the right sauce (if you can spare the carbs) and you’ve got a flavorful, protein-rich low-carb meal on your hands.
Chipotle — The UPROXX Keto Bowl
Dane Rivera
Carbs: 16g Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
A while back and after extensive testing we put together the three best-tasting bowls from Chipotle, and while we weren’t always going for “healthy,” per se, our custom Keto Bowl offers great flavors and a minimal amount of carbs.
Here is the build: Double chicken, fajitas, guacamole (where most of the carbs come from), tomatillo-red chili salsa, and cheese.
Flavor-wise, what you get here is a savory adobo zest with a bit of vegetal smokiness with nutty, sweet, and salty characteristics. Aside from the carbs, you’re looking at 73 grams of protein — so while this bowl isn’t much to look at, it’ll fill you up while also tasting amazing.
The Bottom Line:
Our custom Keto Bowl build packs big sumptuous flavors and clocks in under 20g of carbohydrates.
Del Taco — Chicken Taco Del Carbon Guac’d Up
Del Taco
Carbs: 14g Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
Straight up, Del Taco doesn’t have great low-carb options. This small, palm-sized taco, features marinated chicken, onion, cilantro, a mild green sauce, and guacamole, served in a corn tortilla. One taco isn’t enough to leave you satisfied, especially when compared to our Chipotle Keto Bowl Build, which only has two additional grams of carbohydrates but is significantly more food overall.
Still.. it does meet our “under 20g” threshold, so we’re including it.
The taco packs a good amount of flavor, the chicken is tender, cilantro and onion always work, and the mild green sauce provides a lot of tangy flavor with a mild finish.
The Bottom Line:
You can probably find a better option at another restaurant that’ll make for a more substantial and satisfying meal, but if you must, this is the best low-carb non-fried option at Del Taco. If you don’t mind fried food, the crunchy snack taco has about half the carbs, so you could always order that.
As you can tell from this list, I don’t love salads. If there is a great dish that isn’t a salad, I’m going to order that instead. Having said that El Pollo Loco’s Double Chicken Avocado Salad is pretty damn delicious.
On a bed of romaine, you get a double serving of freshly flame-grilled chicken, buttery slices of ripe avocado, pumpkin seeds, and a mild Pico de Gallo. The chicken has this nice zesty-citrus flavor while the avocado adds some savoriness to the dish. The Pico de Gallo adds a nice aromatic touch, but the real flavor comes from the cilantro dressing, which adds a fresh and peppery aftertaste to everything.
The Bottom Line:
Legitimately one of the best salads in all of fast food.
Flame Broiler’s mini bowls are perfect for dodging carbs, all you have to do is give up the rice base for a base of veggies. The veggie base consists of carrots, cabbage, and broccoli. For the least amount of calories, opt for the chicken over the beef. I like the option that is cooked with Magic Sauce and Korean Spicy Sauce, which adds a sweet, slightly tangy heat to the dish that quickly becomes addictive.
I know it sounds crazy to give up the rice in a rice bowl, but the veggie and meat mix manages to accentuate the flavors of the sauces much better, as rice sort of serves as a sponge/palate cleanser. This puts the focus on Flame Broiler’s chicken (which is freshly grilled to order) and its steamed veggies.
The Bottom Line:
Ditching the rice will take some getting used to initially, but by the end of the bowl you’ll realize how inessential an ingredient it is in this dish.
In-N-Out — Tomato Wrap
Dane Rivera
Carbs: 11g Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
Thought we were going to suggest the protein-style burger? Nah, the Tomato Wrap is really where it’s at. Instead of watery lettuce that dilutes the flavor of In-N-Out’s deliciously salty beef patties, the Tomato Wrap adds an umami richness to the burger and is so juicy that you don’t need any burger sauce here, allowing you to cut even more calories out of the dish.
All you need are tomatoes, grilled onions, cheese, and beef for a savory umami-packed mouthwatering burger. It’s easily my favorite dish on this whole list.
The Bottom Line:
If this was ranked, it would be number 1. Once you have the Tomato Wrap you’ll never go back to the inferior and messy Protein Style burger.
McDonald’s — Bunless Double Sausage McMuffin Hack
Dane Rivera
Carbs: 4g Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
I know I said we were going to avoid dishes that require throwing away ingredients, but we’re giving McDonald’s a pass because you can ask for this thing bunless, and they’ll wrap it up for you in paper no problem.
This is a pretty popular McDonald’s hack (it was even included in Netflix’s The Killer) and consists of two sausage patties (you’ll have to ask for the additional one), two slices of cheese, and a thick fried egg in between. It’s black pepper forward, meaty, slightly sweet, and salty.
The Bottom Line:
Yes, you’ll have to give up the best part of the whole sandwich but the Bunless Double Sausage McMuffin hits the spot if you’re looking for a meaty, salty, indulgent breakfast that is still low on carbs.
Panera — Green Goddess Chicken Cobb Salad (Half Size)
Panera
Carbs: 12g Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
The most difficult thing about this dish is that if you want to keep it under 20g of carbs, you’re going to have to give up that side of bread for apples. If you can get past that, this is a great-tasting salad.
It features a mix of chicken, purple cabbage, kale, romaine, cherry tomatoes, avocado, a hard-boiled egg, bacon, pickled red onions, and green goddess dressing. The combination is vegetal and a bit bitter, with a nice tang from the pickled red onions and a buttery sumptuousness courtesy of the fresh avocado. The signature Green Goddess Dressing is creamy without being too heavy, with a basil top note.
The Bottom Line:
Altogether it’s good. Not quite as satisfying as a tomato-wrapped burger, but way healthier!
A word of caution before you run out to Popeyes to pick these Blackened chicken tenders up — right now they’re off menu. That means some Popeyes restaurants will be able to oblige your request (the Blackened Chicken Sandwich is a permanent menu option, so they have the ingredients on hand) but others will tell you this dish is “discontinued.” It’s not, Popeyes just doesn’t feel like promoting it right now. But be patient, because they always bring it back.
These tenders are great, they have a peppery-smokey flavor with a heavy dose of cajun seasoning which adds a mild spice to the dish. The chicken is still fried, but it isn’t breaded in flour, it’s instead breaded in seasoning, which results in a chicken tender that is more flavorful than its fried counterpart. I love these things and if I’m not trying to watch carbs, I often opt for the Blackened Chicken Sandwich over the original. The seasoning is that good.
The Bottom Line:
Your local Popeyes might have it, or might not — it’s a toss-up.
Taco Bell — Crunchy Taco
Taco Bell
Carbs: 13g
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
Okay, straight up, this isn’t your best option. It’s fried and can’t exactly be called healthy, but hey, it’s well under 20 grams of carbohydrates, which means it qualifies for this list. Inside a fried corn tortilla you get a hefty portion of zesty meat, flavorless lettuce, and a sprinkling of cheese.
I love Taco Bell tacos so I have nothing really negative to say here. It’s small but oh so tasty.
The Bottom Line:
It’s not healthy by any means, but hey it’s low in carbs relative to the rest of the Taco Bell menu, so that’s something!
Well, as of this writing, we just don’t know. Gunna’s announcement did not include a release date, only a possible cover image and a promise that it’s “OTW” (on the way, for those not fluent in internet shorthand). However, with his Bittersweet Tour beginning on May 4, it seems likely that the album will be out by then — although technically, he could just be touring for A Gift & A Curse, since he only had two shows for that album last year. In any case, you can see the list of tour dates below.
Gunna’s 2024 Tour Dates: The Bittersweet Tour
05/04 — Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
05/06 — Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
05/08 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
05/10 — Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory
05/12 — Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
05/16 — Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater
05/18 — San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
05/21 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
05/24 — Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
05/25 — Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
05/28 — Nashville, TN @ Nashville Municipal Auditorium
05/29 — Charlotte, NC @ Bojangles’ Coliseum
06/01 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
06/02 – Philadelphia, PA @ Roots Picnic Festival
06/06 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
06/09 — Orlando, FL @ Kia Center
06/11 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The 2024 NBA Playoffs will get underway on Saturday afternoon with a quadruple-header of Game 1s (followed by another on Sunday). After a regular season that saw very little separation in the standings (with the notable exception of the Boston Celtics in the East), this looks to be, on paper, one of the most entertaining opening rounds we’ve seen in some time.
We’ll see if that holds true once the ball is tipped, but there are some truly fascinating series in each conference and an awful lot at stake considering many of these teams will view the season as a failure if they don’t get out of the opening round. That’s not to say they’ll all be great (or competitive), but I do think we get five or six genuinely entertaining series, even if a couple of them only last four or five games.
Here, we rank all eight from least to most interesting, starting with a series that should’ve had more promise than it does.
8. Celtics vs. Bulls/Heat
If Jimmy Butler were not hurt, this would be a few spots higher. Instead, it’s just really hard to see how this goes more than five games with either the Heat or Bulls coming out of Friday night’s Play-In finale. The Celtics were a buzzsaw this year, posting the league’s best record and running away with the East’s top seed. That said, facing a full-strength Miami team in the opening round would’ve immediately asked some questions of this team to see if they really have made significant improvements from last year’s squad that fell behind 0-3 in the Conference Finals to the Heat before losing in seven. With Butler sidelined with a knee injury, there’s just not enough firepower from the Heat to put the same scare into Boston.
7. Thunder vs. Kings/Pelicans
Injuries to the lower seed again play a role in taking some intrigue out of this series. The Kings are without two of their top shooters in Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter, and while they impressed against the Warriors, sustaining that against a deep, talented Thunder team for a series seems like a tall order. The Pelicans, meanwhile, closed the season very strong and nearly took down the Lakers in the Play-In opener, but a Zion Williamson hamstring injury will likely keep him out of a series. He’s been playing as New Orleans’ best player of late and figured to be the biggest matchup problem for the Thunder (because he’s a matchup problem for everyone). Both of these teams stand a shooter’s chance because they do have the ability to get hot from three, but that will be a necessity to stick with this OKC team in a seven-game series.
6. Cavs vs. Magic
As soon as this series got set in stone, everyone knew it’d be this year’s NBA TV series. That’s just life in the middle of the pack without bonafide superstars (and in relatively smaller markets). I do think folks are a little bit too low on this series, because it has a chance to go long and feature some fun, tense endings, and has some intriguing players, headlined by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland for the Cavs and Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner for the Magic.
This will also be a treat for those that miss the early 2000s when playoff games in the East finished in the double digits, because defense will shine in this one. The Cavs better get the cold tubs ready to deal with the physicality of the Magic, and this series will really come down to whether Cleveland’s guards can shake free of Orlando’s hellacious point of attack pressure (and deal with Jonathan Isaac and company’s rim protection on the back end). If they let this be a rock fight, that’s right up the Magic’s alley. The Cavs have more playoff experience, but it’s not exactly positive experience, so it’ll be interesting to see if Orlando’s youth works in their favor here as they don’t have the same mental hurdles as the Cavs after last year’s first round flameout.
5. Bucks vs. Pacers
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s health status looms over everything here, but in a way that makes this series even more intriguing. There is a ton on the line for Milwaukee, which responded to last year’s first round exit by firing their coach (and hiring someone who got fired midseason) and making the biggest trade of the summer to bring in Damian Lillard. Now they might have to navigate the start of the series without Giannis and face a team that went 4-1 against them this year, although all of those games came before mid-January when Adrian Griffin was still in charge. The Pacers look different than they did in those five contests, as Pascal Siakam is now on board alongside Tyrese Haliburton, and the Bucks look different by virtue of being coached by Doc Rivers. We’ll see how those changes impact this matchup, but if Indiana can get one of the first two games in Milwaukee, this will get interesting quickly.
4. Nuggets vs. Lakers
This could go the same way the Western Conference Finals did a year ago, with Denver getting a four-game sweep in four tightly contested games. The Lakers also might be able to swipe on or two of those and make this real interesting, but that will require them to do something few teams have been capable of: out-executing the Nuggets in the closing minutes of a game. Denver has the NBA’s best starting lineup and they consistently create good shots in late game situations, which is something few teams (even top contenders) seem capable of doing. That is their superpower and the thing that’s been a separator for them against just about every team over the last two years, and the only way for the Lakers to match that is for their “others” to be more reliable than they were a year ago. That will be fascinating to watch and while I expect Denver to win this series (perhaps in short order) I think the games will, again, be close.
3. Timberwolves vs. Suns
I am really excited about the last three series on this list and all have an argument for the top spot. The Suns have had the Wolves’ number all year and it is a matchup that really forces Minnesota to adapt their style to Phoenix. Bradley Beal has finally started to look like the guy Phoenix thought they were trading for, and Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are both having incredible individual seasons. The X-Factor here is Karl-Anthony Towns, because he creates the biggest matchup problem for the Suns. If they’re going to send a lot of attention at Anthony Edwards as expected to try and keep him from dictating the game, Towns has to be great to force an adjustment from Phoenix. Both of these teams fall into the category of “a first round loss is a failure,” and that only ratchets up the tension and the pressure both sides will feel. That’s when playoff basketball is at its best and I’m excited to see who steps up to that pressure and which team’s stars can assert their will.
2. Knicks vs. Sixers
It’s not often you get a 2-7 matchup where the 7-seed is the betting favorite, but that’s where we are at with Knicks-Sixers thanks to the return of Joel Embiid. He also is the biggest question mark, as he’s been good but not quite at his previous MVP level since returning from his knee injury. His ability to have an impact on the game and dictate the tempo consistently figures to be decisive in this series. The Knicks have two very good defensive centers in Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson, and their ability to make Embiid work hard and defend him without falling for his tricks and getting into foul trouble is vital.
Then you have a tantalizing backcourt matchup between Jalen Brunson, who has been one of the best players in the league this year, and Tyrese Maxey, who’s shown flashes of brilliance and is at his best when paired with Embiid. Maxey doesn’t have to match Brunson (whose role is serving as the Knicks engine) but will need to keep pace to an extent, especially because the Knicks should have the advantage in terms of “the others.” OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo have all become incredibly trusted cogs in the wheel for the Knicks. Meanwhile, the Sixers have not gotten the contributions they’ve hoped from Tobias Harris, who is stuck in the mud right now, and just generally have fewer guys you feel comfortable relying on for a nightly impact. That’s not to say they can’t survive on one-offs (see: Nic Batum’s Play-In performance), but the pressure will certainly be on their two stars to lead the way.
1. Clippers vs. Mavericks
For the third time in five years, we’re getting a Mavs-Clippers first round series. The first two were classics, with the Clippers winning in six and seven games respectively, but the two teams look a bit different this time around. The main characters remain in the form of Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George, but now Luka has Kyrie Irving as a running mate as opposed to Kristaps Porzingis. James Harden and Russell Westbrook are in the fold for the Clippers. If Leonard is a full-go (which, the Clippers have kept quiet on his status), this series should be spectacular.
The storylines are endless and both teams will be desperate for a series win. L.A. has Kawhi locked up long-term, but the rest of their core could test the free agency waters this summer. The Mavs, meanwhile, cannot afford another first round loss to the Clippers. Luka has been sensational in the first two, but this team has been built to be a more complete group that Doncic can trust in more. He lacked that in Porzingis and the supporting cast in the past, but Irving is supposed to be that release valve for some of that pressure and the rest of the roster is built to be better defensively.
That may end up being the real deciding factor in this series, because in the past the Clippers have gotten whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted it on offense. This year’s Mavs team has a season-long profile of a middling defense, but seemed to find something in the final month-plus when they had the league’s best defensive rating. How real that improvement is may determine this series, and at the very least, it will determine whether Luka has to be near-perfect for the Mavs to have a chance or if he will have a bit more margin for error this time around.
The San Antonio Spurs finished the season with the NBA’s fifth-worst record at 22-60, but while the teams around them at the bottom of the league are searching for their identity for the future, the Spurs have little doubt about how to proceed.
That’s because the Spurs have Victor Wembanyama and other teams do not. The presumptive Rookie of the Year had a spectacular first season in the league, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game on 46.5/32.5/79.6 shooting splits. What’s terrifying is Wembanyama is just scratching the surface (he said he’s at 15 percent of his potential after the season) and is still one of the NBA’s most impactful players already. This season confirmed the Spurs have their superstar of the future, and now the challenge begins to build a real contender around him.
Both the Spurs and Wembanyama have pledged patience, but his rapid growth means there’s some incentive to begin looking for core pieces this summer. In an interview with the Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor this week, the young star did confirm that he’s had players (both veterans and in this draft class) reach out to him with an interest in joining the Spurs — while also insisting he’s not planning on stepping on the toes of the Spurs front office.
“Yeah, I’ve received some messages,” Wembanyama responded. “Even from prospects. But I try to sustain my role. It’s a whole new world that I’m eager to discover. For sure, one day or the other, I’ll have to be involved in this, I guess, even though I’m staying in my role as a player.”
Wemby declined to discuss specific front office moves. “I trust the front office and coaches,” he said.
The most notable thing here is that players don’t tend to want to join forces with young guys, even potential stars, this early in their career. Veterans want to compete for titles, and typically they don’t see a path to doing that in the window they have with guys on rookie deals. However, Wembanyama certainly seems to be an exception, as his ability to impact the game on both ends is already pretty incredible and he certainly seems to have the work ethic and ability to add things to his game quickly. That means the Spurs might be in play for bigger names than a team typically would in a similar situation, and we’ll see how quickly they are willing to act on that. Knowing what we do about how San Antonio operates, I would guess they won’t be super aggressive hunting big names, but will be patient until someone they think is an ideal fit alongside Wemby comes available.
As Rihanna as grown older and moved further into motherhood, she, by her own admission, has changed how far she’s willing to push the fashion envelope in terms of revealing looks.
At a launch event for Fenty X Puma yesterday (April 17), Rihanna explained how there are some styles of hers she looks back on in disbelief (as Vogue notes):
“I’ve done so much sh*t in my life. I’ve had my nipples out, my panties out. But now, those are the things which, I guess as a mom and an evolved young lady — emphasis on ‘young’ — there are things I feel like I would never do. Like, ‘Oh my God, I really did that? Nips out?’”
RiRi also spoke about how she looks back especially fondly on the Guo Pei gown she wore to the 2015 Met Gala, saying, “Nobody will ever forget that and I will never forget the feeling of discovering that designer based off of the design challenge that Anna gave me. And damn! You know what, no one would ever expect this, but there’s also the Stella McCartney crop top and skirt, and the party dress that she made me for that same [Met Gala] with my little ass crack out.”
RIP to Free the Nipple era…..Rihanna had Instagram shut her down because of her having her nipple out but she in her mother era now pic.twitter.com/IOhbaMuLFA
With just a few more hours to go until Taylor Swift officially releases The Tortured Poets Department out into the world, fans got to find out exactly what the first main surprise was she had in store this afternoon. After teasing that something would happen at 2 p.m. ET, Swift finally unveiled what the first single from the album will be — and it’s one of her collaborations.
The album’s opening track, “Fortnight,” features Post Malone and is currently available as a physical CD copy on Swift’s website until 8 p.m. tonight. Tomorrow evening, at the same time, fans will get to see the music video for the lead single.
“I’ve been such a huge fan of Post because of the writer he is, his musical experimentation and those melodies he creates that just stick in your head forever,” Swift shared on both Instagram and Twitter, complete with a photo of the single’s artwork. “I got to witness that magic come to life firsthand when we worked together on ‘Fortnight.’”
Along with the statement, Swift posted a short video to YouTube of her using a typewriter to reveal the news. Later in the clip, she teases something called the “Fortnight challenge” coming soon.
For now, check out Swift’s social media announcement of the “Fortnight” single with Post Malone below.
The first single from The Tortured Poets Department is…………. Fortnight featuring @postmalone I’ve been such a huge fan of Post because of the writer he is, his musical experimentation and those melodies he creates that just stick in your head forever. I got to witness that… pic.twitter.com/b6cqrHkbE1
If you don’t know anything about Abigail, the latest horror film from Ready or Not and Scream VI directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (a.k.a. Radio Silence) then you might want to turn back if you don’t want to have the film’s central “twist” spoiled. Although, if you’ve seen the trailer, then you know what’s up.
With that warning out of the way, Abigail centers on a team of kidnappers that includes Dan Stevens, Melissa Barrera, and Euphoria‘s Angus Cloud in his final role. However, the little girl they’ve captured proves to be more than just a 10-year-old ballerina. She’s the daughter of a wicked powerful vampire, and just like dear ol’ dad, she’s quite skilled at dropping bodies.
Based on early reviews, Abigail is on par with directors’ breakout hit, Ready or Not, which also focused on a victim turning on her captors in a creepy mansion. For the most part, the critics were on board with seeing Radio Silence do what they do best:
Breathlessly paced and filled with the sort of black humor that makes it as much a comedy as a horror film, Abigail is wildly entertaining for most of its running time, although it becomes overly burdened with baroque narrative flourishes. The joy exhibited by the Radio Silence directors in delivering as much excessive gore as possible is matched by the terrific ensemble, who must have spent much of the shoot getting hosed down after takes. Take Stevens, for example. With his looks, he could easily be a leading man in Nicholas Sparks adaptations. Instead, he’s opting for entertaining character turns such as this one, in which he seems to have stepped out of an old gangster movie.
Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett have a gleefully maximalist horror style. The blood is dark and sticky; it doesn’t just spurt, it geysers, projects and splatters. Bodies burst like water balloons under pressure, goopy viscera raining from wall to wall. It’s uniquely them, but they pay homage to the greats: Kathryn Bigelow’s “Near Dark,” the leaping vampires of “Blade” and an oblique script reference to the 1936 film “Dracula’s Daughter,” which offers a layered double meaning to the film.
The whole ensemble cast understands the assignment, and almost everybody works wonders with their characters, even if they die early and don’t get much screen time. Melissa Barrera carries the film’s whole emotional crux like it weighs nothing, Dan Stevens is (as always) a perfect weirdo, Kathryn Newton is (as always) funny as hell, and Kevin Durant is (as always) perfectly adorable. But in the end the movie falls on the shoulders of Alisha Weir, who gives an incredibly complex and difficult performance. This young actor convincingly plays a centuries-old mass murderer who loves ballet so much she can’t help herself. There should be Oscars for this kind of thing.
Here, they revisit the chase-around-a-spooky-mansion scenario, with smart, desperate chatter (it’s a great ensemble of jittery character acting) and gruesome splatstick comedy. Once the vampire card is on the table, there are several more surprises to spring. Future horror scholars can ponder why audiences in our era were so terrified of monsters shaped like little girls, but Abigail is a welcome sister to the Orphan and M3GAN in a trinity of tween-impersonating killing machines.
However, not every critic was enthralled with Abigail. Others felt the characters and plot were too thin while the constant blood-spattering was way too thick:
You already know what you’re in for if you’ve come to “Abigail” to watch a body count caper featuring plummy character actor performances from That Guys like Kevin Durand and Dan Stevens. Most of their co-stars keep up in less attractive roles, including Melissa Barrera’s thinly drawn anti-heroine team leader. There’s also plenty of viscous-looking blood splatter and some modestly good-looking vampire makeup—the fangs, in particular. Some action scenes are well-choreographed, but generally over-edited and shot just ahead of whatever’s moving on-screen. The rest of this 90-minute genre exercise is unfailingly conventional, though that’s also a big part of its ostensible appeal.
“Abigail” was directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who made those last two “Scream” films, and though I was impressed, to a degree, by what they brought off there, this movie feels like a step backward into overwrought generic schlock. Why does a vampire movie need to be so relentlessly physical, with whacked limbs and decapitations and bodies slammed into walls? Dracula, among other things, is the most metaphorical character in horror-film history, and I guess his daughter could be too, but not in a film that turns bloodsucking into a form of professional wrestling.
Yes, “Abigail” was conceived as a new take on “Dracula’s Daughter.” But as the finished product stands, that infamous origin story is as invisible as a vampiric reflection. Not only is Abigail routinely sidelined by a plot that fails to trust her skills, but the ostensible underpinnings to her character are as half-assed as one-sided fang. If ballet means anything to anyone (and it doesn’t have to but specificity helps), it’s not on display here. And with neither a solid backstory nor a truly satisfying kill to stand on, “Abigail” is a far cry from the classic horror movies featuring her dad who actually matters.
Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. So far April has gone off with a bang, last week saw three Kobe Protro drops, and the week prior brought the ultra hyped NOCTA Hot Step 2 and for this week we’ve got, well… okay admittedly this week isn’t quite as exciting as the last two.
But that’s not to say the drops aren’t strong!
Especially if you’re a fan of more obscure silhouettes like the Nike Field General ’82 — a football-inspired low-top silhouette straight out of the Nike archives. But 40-year old silhouettes aren’t the only thing on offer, as this week brings the return of the Air Peg 2K5 Phantom as well, which matches up with modern streetwear’s obsession with early aughts era footwear.
Despite the lack of a big signature release, we’ve got a lot to talk about this week — let’s dive in!
The concept behind the Big Money Savings SB Dunk is simple — elevated construction and design, a typical price. This won’t run you more than a general Dunk drop but what you get here is a comfort-focused padded collar and tongue, lightweight cushioning for a smooth ride, and an upper of premium leather and textiles.
The colorway features a mix of aged tans, beige, and silver, with a teal outsole and tongue tag. The sneaker comes stocked with thick rope-style laces which give this Dunk a different vibe than the stock laces.
The Nike SB Dunk Low Pro Big Money Savings is out now for a retail price of $125. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Neutral, unisex, and functional, that’s the strength of the Nike Field General ’82. A sneaker that goes with any sort of outfit and aesthetic, whether you’re steeped fully in coquette or something more gritty and street-ready. The sneaker features a mixed leather and synthetic leather upper with a chunky wraparound swoosh and a waffle sole.
The design harkens back to early ‘80s football footwear with a sleek low profile design. It’s not a radical statement or anything, but it looks great and it’s neutral enough that it isn’t going to clash with anything you wear.
The Nike Field General ’92 Black and White is set to drop on April 18th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $100. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
The Samba is enjoying renewed popularity right now, it’s hands down Adidas’ most popular silhouette so it’s only natural that we’d be getting a plush and elevated version with premium construction. The Samba Made In Italy features an artisan overhaul of the usual sneaker’s build with a smooth Italian leather upper and a design inspired by Italian dress shoes.
That’s really all there is to it, it’s a premium Samba at a premium price. We’re not mad at it though because it looks great.
The Adidas Samba Made in Italy is set to drop on April 18th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $350. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app.
Nike has brought back the Air Peg 2K5! This women’s-size exclusive features a layered upper with a mesh base, an embroidered outline on the swoosh, a lightweight feel, and a waffle-inspired outsole. It’s an early ’00s runner perfect for matching with that Y2K aesthetic.
Although this white, red, and black colorway looks great, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t looking forward to future colorways of this model, as this one is a bit tame. Either way, we’re happy Nike has finally brought it out of the archives to enjoy a second life.
The Nike Women’s Air Peg 2K5 Phantom and Coconut Milk is set to drop on April 19th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
If you missed out on last week’s Joe Freshgoods and New Balance drop, you’ve got another chance this week. Unfortunately, both sneakers from the set won’t be dropping though, so you’re stuck with this Pirate Black with Nutmeg colorway, rather than the soft pink-toned iteration. Still, it’s a dope design that highlights the strength of the 1000 silhouette as well as Freshgoods’ immaculate taste.
The sneaker features a black open-knit mesh upper with bronze iridescent leather overlays and woven branding, riding atop an ABZORB midsole.
The Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1000 is set to drop on April 19th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $159.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
Adidas Skateboarding team rider DeAndre Thebpanya is getting his own signature take on the mid-80s era Centennial 85. The sneaker features a low-top profile with a suede and nubuck upper, textile lining, extra impact cushioning at the cupsole and a colorway that combines black with pink and metallic silver hints.
In place of the usual “Centennial” branding, this signature sneaker simply reads “Lil Dre.” For a debut signature, we’re digging it!
The Adidas Centennial 85 Low ADV x Dre is set to drop on April 19th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair via the Adidas webstore.
The Nike Air Jordan 1 High OG Green Glow is this week’s biggest drop. The design is simple, it’s your typical high-top OG AJ-1 silhouette with a premium leather upper with a white base, teal panels, and black accents. It always feels like a bit of a let down when the week’s biggest release is just a simple color swap but what else can we say?
That’s the power of the AJ-1. It needs very little to generate hype.
The Nike Air Jordan 1 High OG Green Glow is set to drop on April 20th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
This week brings yet another BAPE and Adidas collaboration (the second in a month) and as fans of the Tokyo brand, we say bring it on! Utilizing BAPE’s classic BapeSTA silhouette, this sneaker features an all leather upper with a rubber outsole, textile lining, classic trefoil Adidas branding at the tongue with an embroidered BAPE ape at the heel, and a chunky take on the three stripes.
The Adidas_N_Bape is set to drop on April 20th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app.
AdidasAdidas
Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.
Legendary actress Pam Grier appeared on Watch What Happens Live where a viewer asked what her reaction was when Snoop Dogg recently revealed that he fainted the first time he met her. Snoop told his side of the story on The Jennifer Hudson Show earlier this year: “I’m sitting down and Pam Grier walk up and she sit right next to me and start talking to me,” he recalled. “My heart beating fast. So I’m like, ‘OK. I hear what you saying, Pam. Give me a minute.’ I go to the bathroom and faint.” He also revealed that Grier was his biggest crush, so that makes a little bit more sense.
On Watch What Happens Live, Grier remembered the moment fondly, which happened on the set of their flick Bones in 2001. “I knew when it was happening. He was turning pale and he got up and he wobbled to the men’s room. I said, ‘Is he OK?’ He went in and fell down on the pissy floor and fainted,” she added.
She continued, “I was so upset that they cleaned him up and brought him back out and we sat together. I didn’t know I had that effect on him. He’s such a lovely person, I just couldn’t imagine him lying in urine.” There are many ways to imagine Snoop Dogg, but lying on the floor of a bathroom really isn’t one of them.
Let’s take this time to remember that the man smokes roughly 80 blunts a day. It’s surprising that he doesn’t pass out on the floor more often.
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(@lebanonrihanna) 
I’ve been such a huge fan of Post because of the writer he is, his musical experimentation and those melodies he creates that just stick in your head forever. I got to witness that… 
