Remember when the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers premiered in the ’90s, and you were like, “What the heck is this show that looks like Godzilla and Voltron had a baby, but somehow, it’s about Americans doing karate?” Well, the feds just charged one of those kids with allegedly defrauding the government through the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program.
Austin St. John, who played Jason in the original Power Rangers series, is among 17 individuals who were scooped up by the Department of Justice for allegedly applying for over $3.5 million worth of fraudulent PPP loans. St. John is facing up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Via The Hollywood Reporter:
Instead of putting money towards employee salaries, utility payments or healthcare benefits, St. John and 17 others are accused of in some instances paying [Michael] Hill and [Andrew] Moran, who transferred the money to personal accounts before spending it on personal purchases. Others allegedly sent their fraudulently obtained funds to a third individual, Jonathon Spencer, so that it could be invested in foreign exchange markets.
According to the feds, St. John and the other conspirators lied about the true nature of their small businesses to secure the emergency funds, which they then allegedly pocketed. Of course, they’re not the only people to think they could get away with it as others across the country are facing charges over fraudulent loans, which were intended to keep businesses afloat and protect the economy during the pandemic.
Being a Power Ranger, you’d think St. John would know that evil never wins, but it looks like the only place he’ll get to “go go” to is jail. (That theme song surprisingly rips, right? Tell us this doesn’t rip.)
Pete Davidson has been on Saturday Night Live longer than you might realize. He was all of 20 years old (!) when he joined the cast in 2014 (!). He’s still only 28 years old, but now that he’s a movie star with multiple projects in development — not to mention the fact that he’s dating one of the most famous people in the world; also, Martha Stewart thinks he’s adorable — Davidson has decided the time is right to leave SNL.
Varietyreports that this week’s season 47 finale will also be Davidson’s SNL finale.
Pete Davidson, who joined Saturday Night Live as a relative unknown and has become a superstar whose presence graces gossip pages daily, is expected to leave Saturday Night Live after the broadcast of this weekend’s season finale, according to a person familiar with the matter. He is one of a handful of long-serving cast members including Kenan Thompson, Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant, and Kate McKinnon whose tenure on the show has come up for scrutiny at the conclusion of recent seasons.
Davidson has been discussing his SNL exit since 2020, when he told Charlamagne Tha God that he believes he’s outgrown the show and that he’s tired of feeling like his personal life is “just fodder now.” He added, “Everybody’s always been like, ‘You’ll know when you know, and it’ll be alright.’ I personally think I should be done with that show because they make fun of me on it.” Davidson is now officially done with that show.
Natasha Lyonne hosts the season finale with musical guest Japanese Breakfast.
(SPOILERS for this week’s Atlanta will be found below.)
Following ten weeks of chaos, dark humor, a European music tour that seemingly improved everyone’s life, and much more, the third season of Atlanta has come to a close. This season featured an alternating plot pattern with every other episode focusing on the same world — that being the dealings between Earn, Paper Boi, Darius, Vanessa, and more or something going on somewhere in White America. Following last week’s “Rich Wigga, Poor Wigga” episode that featured an unexpected appearance from the late Kevin Samuels, the main crew of Atlanta is back at center stage.
In this week’s episode, titled Tarrare (named after a French showman and soldier who was known for his odd eating habits), Vanessa leads the way as she’s gotten quite comfortable in her new life in Europe. She eventually runs into an old friend, and from that moment on, they along with two other women find themselves on a wild journey in the Paris city streets. Finally, after a day’s worth of chaos, things come to an end but not in the way that any of the aforementioned names thought it would.
What Is Vanessa Running Away From Or Trying To Find?
In the second episode of season three, we see Vanessa join Earn and Darius on Paper Boi’s European music tour. Shortly after she arrives, she stumbles into quite the unique memorial service, but it’s here that she says that she hopes to find herself during her time in Europe. Vanessa was fresh off a breakup with Earn, and she’d also lost out on a job that she really wanted. During a conversation with a “death doula,” Vanessa admits to being “aimless,” however, she’s told that she’s exactly where she’s meant to be. As we now know thanks to the season finale, Vanessa’s aimless approach put her in a dangerous predicament, one that found her completely detached from the person she once was. Through it all, was Vanessa seeking a thrill? Running away from the pressures of her Atlanta life? Start fresh? Or something in between all of that? Regardless of the answer, Vanessa will now have to start fresh on her journey toward rediscovering herself.
FX/Roger Do Minh
Things Can Always Get Worse, Can’t They?
Just when you think things can’t possibly get any worse, life will pop up and show you that they in fact can. Vanessa’s season was filled with a bit of turmoil following struggles with her now ex-boyfriend Earn, raising her daughter and figuring out a co-parenting plan with Earn, difficulties with landing a new job, as well as self-doubt. It’s certainly a lot to deal with, which makes sense why she took a trip to Europe to find herself, but it’s there that things go downhill. While she strives to rediscover herself, she only loses herself more after stumbling into an odd cult that serves fried hands for blindfolded attendees. Vanessa seems brainwashed in the whole ordeal, and it’s not until her longtime friend Candice mentions Vanessa’s daughter Lottie that she snaps out of it, but not without erupting into a fit of rage and stress after she comes to her senses. It’s also not until she sits with Candice later that Vanessa realizes that things can actually get worse than what she thought was the worse. We’ll have to wait until season four this fall to see how it all pans out.
Would You Rather Eat A Fried Hand Or A Moldy Six-Month Old Baguette?
Stick with me now. In this season finale we that she, Vanessa, Candice, and her two friends end up at some dinner where the two friends and others are blindfolded and served a dish that featured a large person’s hand. Moments before that, Vanessa assaults a man with a moldy baguette that she says she’s kept out for six months. So with that being said, if you were forced to eat either of the items (pre-blood splatter of course) would you eat if your life was on the line? Yes, this is a very extreme situation that will result in you either being labeled a cannibal for the rest of your life or having to suffer from irreversible stomach damage. I, for one, will not supply an answer because as the person who asked the question, I don’t have to!
How Does So Much Happen In Two Weeks?
During Vanessa’s conversation with Candice towards the end of the episode, she reveals that it was just two weeks ago that she landed in Amsterdam to join Earn, Paper Boi, and Darius for the tour. Vanessa’s arrival in season three of Atlanta occurs in episode two which means that all of season three’s events occurred in just two weeks. Phones were stolen, extremely trippy drug trips were conducted, reparations were (somewhat) paid, trees were nearly cut down, Nigerian cuisines were explored, and a whole lot more went in season three. It’s chaotic, but it’s in line with what we expect from Atlanta. We can only imagine what’s in store for season four.
How Does That Guy Know Earn?
At the end of the season three finale, Donald Glover aka Earn appears as he’s called down to collect his lost luggage from his trip to Europe. If you recall from earlier this season, Earn reveals that they were lost in transit in episode six, “White Fashion.” When the bags are handed to him, Earn notes that he already retrieved his luggage, making for an award situation between him and the delivery man. Nonetheless, Earn accepts the bag and goes back to his room to see what’s inside it. It’s here that we see that the items belong to a familiar white man. That individual originally appeared in “The Big Payback,” and at the end of that episode, he commits suicide and falls into a pool. Earn has never interacted with that man throughout Atlanta, so it makes us curious as to why his bags were sent to him after his death. That seems to be of little concern to Earn as he takes out a Deftones t-shirt from the bag to seemingly put with the rest of his belongings.
What Will Season Four Bring Us?
With season three in the books, it leaves us to wonder what will go down in season four. We can only speculate, but season four can go in a lot of directions. The group could continue their journey in Europe to close out the series, as Glover previously said season four would be the show’s last. However, it’s unlikely that things end outside of Atlanta for the show, but you never know what it comes to Atlanta. Earn and Vanessa may reconcile and resume their relationship. Paper Boi may move on to be a worldwide superstar. Darius will most likely continue to be his wacky and eccentric self. There will even be some notable celebrities to join the cast and crew for quick appearances. Whatever it is, we just hope that the show’s farewell season is one that caps off a series that delivered excellent and unique entertainment for its fans over the last almost six years.
FX’s ‘Atlanta’ will return sometime this fall for season four.
Doja Cat has kept exceptionally busy lately, but now it appears she will soon be forced to slow down. Over the past couple days, she has detailed some issues she has been facing with her tonsils, noting yesterday, “dr. just had to cut into my left tonsil. i had an abscess in it. my whole throat is f*cked so i might have some bad news for yall coming soon.”
Well, that bad news has come: This afternoon, Doja wrote on Twitter, “Hi guys. I wanted you to hear it from me first. Unfortunately I have to have surgery on my tonsils asap. The surgery is routine but the recovery is going to take awhile due to swelling. That means I have to cancel my festival run this summer as well as The Weeknd tour. I feel horrible about this but can’t wait for this to heal and get back to making music and create an experience for y’all.”
A positive takeaway to be had from this is it appears it may prompt Doja to reconsider some of her less healthy habits: Yesterday, she noted of vaping, “nah im too scared to hit it cuz my throat hurts so bad. i cried for hours. its not worth it. then its like imagine all that wierd poisonous sh*t in the vape seeping into the completely open wound in my throat like f*ck that. im hella young.”
As the war rages on between the struggling streaming sites, Hulu is offering a unique deal for new and returning users: the basic ad-supported tier is just $1 a month for the first three months. In other words, they really want you to come crawling back with a couple single dollar bills to see the new season of Only Murders In The Building.
According to Deadline, the deal is tied to National Streaming Day which is apparently a thing that is today, May 20th. Disney celebrated late last night by showing off their army of drones as they danced through the sky in the creepiest way possible.
The offer will run through Friday, May 27th. After the three-month deal, the service is $6.99 with ads and $12.99 for the ad-free version, which is still, on average, less than Netflix’s subscription. Netflix has notoriously been hemorrhaging money and subscribers as of late, so maybe this is Hulu’s way of getting back at them. That’s Hollywood for you!
Hulu has been churning out a lot of original content lately, and since they are owned by Disney, they already have a leg up on Netflix, their main competitor. At the end of Q1, Hulu had made up 45.5 million of Disney+’s 138 million subscribers. That number only continues growing as Disney+ began offering ad-supported models. So basically, we have reverted back to cable TV. Welcome to the 60s!
In the fourth episode of HBO Max’s The Staircase, which brilliantly condenses the Michael Petersen trial into one episode, defense attorney David Rudolf (played by a steamy salt and pepper bearded Michael Stuhlbarg) is trying to prepare the Petersen family for seeing disturbing images of Kathleen Petersen’s autopsy. Michael Petersen’s daughter Martha (Odessa Young) is uneasy. She doesn’t want to go. But her absence is a bad look for her adopted father, who is on trial for murdering his wife Kathleen, who was found dead at the bottom of the titular staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home. Michael, played by Colin Firth, is sitting next to Martha on a couch in their home, the same home where Kathleen tragically died of either a fatal accident or murder. Michael is as laid back as I am after a couple of glasses of wine watching a Robert Redford movie. He’s sunk into the couch, viewing the conversation more than he’s participating in it. He almost looks bored. “Maybe Martha could take one of Kathleen’s valium,” he says, still one with the couch, his hand on his head. Michael is hard to read. This scene is demonstrative of Firth’s performance, which is unlike any other from the bubbly Brit, who is typically a romantic lead or King George VI.
When news of a scripted version of this story first came out, I scoffed and decided I would not be watching. Over the years, true crime has spiked in popularity and as a result, has become exploitative and tired. Also, what more could I possibly learn about a true crime case after watching a many-hour documentary that spanned decades? I did, however, reluctantly start HBO Max’s The Staircase and was immediately proven wrong. From his very first moments on screen as Michael Petersen, Firth weaves between menacing and guilty, charming and innocent. His American accent is rhythmic. He speaks with purpose when he’s feeling confident and comfortable. But in the moments when Michael is more vulnerable – like after he is found guilty by the jury and hugs documentarian Jean-Xavier (Vincent Vermignon)and says he’s scared – his voice softens and slows down. While Michael Petersen (and Firth’s performance) is the centerpiece of The Staircase, it is the sprawling, unexpected perspectives that make the series so powerful and necessary.
The most vital perspective is Kathleen Petersen’s (Toni Collette), which The Staircase presents in a way that does not feel exploitative despite being slightly speculative. Leading up to her death – the show offers a harrowing, believable death scene applying to every theory – Kathleen has problems at work, with the kids, with her husband, and she is accident-prone (she injured her neck after diving into her pool during a party). The series also focuses on all of the children in the family, which gives both Michael and Kathleen more dimension by seeing their parenting. We also get to see how Kathleen’s death, the trial, and Michael’s time in prison and fighting the verdict affected every child. As you can probably imagine, it f*cked them up.
The Staircase turns the cameras around and shows what was going on between the filmmakers behind the documentary. It follows the filmmakers as they decide to pursue the Petersen case, the tensions as the producer believes Michael is guilty and the director believes in his innocence, and it reveals that the documentary’s editor Sophie is Michael Petersen’s current girlfriend, who is the woman in white, played by Juliette Binoche who has been present but kept a mystery throughout the series. “The only way to objectivity is by recognizing how subjective we are,” Sophie says in episode four. As Sophie is editing the footage, her empathy for Michael becomes a problem and causes even more tension in an already hectic post-production process, exemplified in a thrilling scene in episode five during a session while composing the doc’s rousing, now signature classical music-inspired score.
The Staircase also depicts a culture disturbed by anything unconventional in its portrayal of the prosecution’s flawed case against Michael, which not only makes up a weapon based on nothing but weaponizes his bisexuality. Quite like the documentary series, the series points out glaring flaws in the United States justice system. But its varying perspectives, from Kathleen to the prosecution, the kids to the documentarians, provide a human element while playing with your mind that the groundbreaking but narrowly focused documentary could not achieve. Just when you think you know exactly what happened on the night of December 9, 2001 after Michael and Kathleen Petersen watched America’s Sweethearts, you’re presented with something – or someone – that convinces you otherwise, and yet the show never feels manipulative, but deeply human.
Netflix hopes that it knows where its bread is buttered, so to speak. They’re betting on extra-long Stranger Things episodes amid news that, for the first time, the streaming giant is experiencing a subscriber slump while HBO Max and Disney+ are hitting their stride. To that end, Netflix appears to be doubling down on mega popular shows, which is probably good timing now that Ozark and the like are heading toward the sunset, all while The Pentaverate didn’t make waves.
For sure, the timing of the slump hasn’t been great, given reports that a password crackdown is coming, and Netflix has canceled several projects (including animated shows from Ava DuVernay), but one series is riding extremely high and has scored a renewal for more seasons. That’d be Heartstopper, based upon the New York Times bestselling series. In a press release, Netflix cited how the show’s first season’s topped their Top 10 Lists in 54 countries, and so, they’re doubling (or rather, tripling) down on the beloved coming-of-age series. Expect two more seasons to follow. From the first season synopsis, in case you’ve missed it:
Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. When gentle Charlie and rugby-loving Nick meet at secondary school, they quickly discover that their unlikely friendship is blossoming into an unexpected romance. Charlie, Nick and their circle of friends must navigate the ever-relatable journey of self discovery and acceptance, supporting each other as they learn to find their most authentic selves.
Heartstopper‘s first season is currently streaming on Netflix.
Madonna is a hit on Instagram, as her 18 million followers prove. She recently tried to treat them by going live on the platform but the singer was surprised to learn Instagram had banned her from doing so. Instead of going live, Madonna shared a video of her finding out her live broadcast privileges had been revoked.
In the clip, Madonna and a couple of associates sit in front of a phone and ring light as they prepare to start the broadcast. When they hit the button to go live, they’re met with a pop-up message that reads, “Blocked from sharing live video.” The message further explains, “Posts from your account have recently been removed for going against our Community Guidelines, so live video sharing has been temporarily blocked.”
“What the f*ck,” a puzzled Madonna wondered out loud. She added, “I’ve never worn so many clothes in my life.” The clip ends with Madonna saying, “I’m speechless.” She captioned the post, “Not Us!!!! violation of community guidelines………. [eyes emoji] [siren emoji].”
This happened last night, when Madonna was supposed to go live with Sickick to promote “Frozen On Fire,” a new take on Madonna’s 1998 song “Frozen,” which has gained newfound attention on TikTok in recent months. In a video shared on her Instagram Story, Madonna explains the situation to Sickick and notes, “I haven’t done anything lately. I haven’t done anything crazy… not this week, anyway.”
She also speculated that her ban could be a “delayed reaction” to her recent NFT collection, which features renderings of her vagina giving birth to various things.
Madonna is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
When Tom Cruise set out to make Top Gun: Maverick, a daunting task considering the original Top Gun is a beloved ’80s classic, he “railed hard” for one very specific element to return: Val Kilmer. The prolific actor famously played Tom “Iceman” Kazanzky in the first film, and Cruise was adamant that his character Pete “Maverick” Mitchell reunite with his rival-turned-friend Iceman.
Cruise has already revealed that Iceman is the one who gets Maverick back in action in the heavily-anticipated sequel, and during the London premiere, he gushed about working with Kilmer again.
“It was lovely. The whole experience, you know, 36 years to make this film. There were so many moments in making it that were very special, incredibly unique,” Cruise told Metro. “He’s an actor that I greatly admire, so it was wonderful.”
Reuniting Cruise and Kilmer was also a moving experience for producer David Ellison, who couldn’t believe the cameo was actually happening:
‘The first movie made me want to become a pilot. This was the first movie when we originally started working with Paramount 12 years ago we said we wanted to make,’ he said. ‘So to see the two of them on set, the emotion that people hopefully get from that scene, was how it felt to be on set. It was a surreal experience.’
Due to lingering health problems from a grueling battle with throat cancer, Kilmer was not present for the film’s London premiere. However, Iceman was there in spirit as he praised Cruise and the film’s royal reception on Twitter:
“Congratulations old pal. Well deserved reception,” Kilmer tweeted. “Here’s looking forward to another 36 years of fun!”
@TomCruise congratulations old pal. Well deserved reception. Here’s looking forward to another 36 years of fun! https://t.co/EznX11QFU6
Sierra Nevada/North Coast/Anchor/Deschutes/istock/Uproxx
With new breweries sprouting up everywhere seemingly every week, it’s easy to forget that it wasn’t always like this. The US is tipping the scales at more than 9,000 breweries and counting in 2022, but as recently as 2010, there were less than 2,000. And all the way back in 2000, there were fewer than 400. Even with the beer boom of the last two decades, there are a few beers that have been around since the beginning that are still popular today. These are the old-school, OG beers. We’re talking about beers from the 80s, 90s, and well before.
Jeff Smith, co-founder at LUKI Brewery in Arvada, Colorado has fond memories of drinking beer in a time when craft beer was something special. He knows how important it is to hold onto classic beers because they aren’t guaranteed to be brewed forever. His go-to beer was Raspberry Wheat from the now-defunct Heavenly Daze Brewery in Colorado.
“For me in mid-90s Boulder, there were only a few places around town that had this on tap. It certainly wasn’t available in bottles, so if not on tap you were heading to the source in Steamboat Springs before they opened a brewery in Denver in the late 90s. It was the first time I had a fruited wheat craft beer – and it was a fabulous balance of wheat body and tart fruit without it being a mouthful of yeast. It had a very clean finish that allowed multiple pints. In an age of fruited sours and ready-to-explode cans of ‘slushy’ beers, I long for the delicacy of this beer.”
While beers like Smith’s favorite fruit beer are long gone, there are myriad beers that were launched way before the craft beer boom that are still available today. In a world of endless options, can any of the old boys still compete? To find out, we sought out experts who would know, asking handful of notable craft beer experts, brewers, and brewing professionals to tell us which “old school” beers are still worth drinking today.
Odell 90 Shilling (Brewed since 1989)
Odell
Derek Gold, director of brewing operations at WeldWerks Brewing Co. in Greeley, Colorado
My pick is 90 Shilling from Odell Brewing Company. Thirty-plus years later, this amber-hued Scottish ale has stood the test of time, thanks to its balance and approachability. Smooth, bright, and medium-bodied, its rich biscuit, toffee, and caramel malt sweetness combines perfectly with a light herbal and citrus bitterness on the back end, creating a beer that can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere. 90 Shilling was one of the first craft beers I ever tasted, and I’ll be drinking it for years to come.
Samuel Adams Boston Lager (Brewed since 1985)
Samuel Adams
Kevin Smolar, production and quality lab manager at Sun King Brewery in Indianapolis
Sam Adam’s Boston Lager. Boston Lager is one of those beers that’s never let me down. It’s full of sweet malt and toasted biscuit flavors that are complemented by a bright, spicy hop finish. It’s a great beer year-round, but there’s something special to me about a Boston Lager and a hot dog outside at a baseball game.
Allagash White (Brewed since 1995)
Allagash
Jeremy Anders, quality control and safety manager at New Holland Brewing in Holland, Michigan
Allagash White was first brewed in 1995 when most American beer drinkers had no interest in drinking a hazy, citrus-forward, spiced wheat beer. Since then, it has come to define the witbier style. Its approachability to the casual beer drinker has likely been a factor in its success. It has introduced many to the world of fruity, expressive Belgian beer styles, including myself. The citrus notes, from both the orange peel and the coriander, are complemented by just the right amount of spice. The effervescent body and creamy white head really make the aromas burst out of the glass. The incredible consistency from batch to batch is an indicator of a world-class quality assurance program as well. We can’t get it here in Michigan (yet), but it is definitely worth the three-hour drive to Chicago to bring back a keg.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is the king of old school. Pale Ales have fallen out of the spotlight and given way to trendier styles that are hazy. This one remains a forever classic. Plus, it’s the beer that paved the way for the hoppy, crisp pale ales and IPAs of today.
North Coast Old Rasputin (Brewed since 1995)
North Coast
Chris Elliott, chief brewing officer at Wild Leap Brew Co. in LaGrange, Georgia
My favorite old-school beer is Old Rasputin by North Coast Brewing Company. This was one of the only imperial stouts that was regularly available around Georgia in my early beer-drinking days, and I always loved that style. It’s fairly dry and bitter for a stout by today’s standards, but it’s nice to have a true Russian Imperial Stout every once in a while.
Steam Beer, Anchor Brewing Co. It’s not only a world-class beer, but Anchor Steam is the originator of a whole beer category known as California Common. What makes Anchor Steam unique are the ingredients and brewing techniques once used by necessity in the cool maritime climate of late 1800s San Francisco Bay. Light and refreshing like a traditional German lager but with the added character of a special yeast fermented at higher temperatures and distinctive aromas from Pacific Northwest grown Northern Brewer hops. A unique beer that helped kick off the craft beer revolution.
Miller High Life is my pick. While this has been around for a lot longer than the 80s or 90s, it’s another easy-drinking light lager that has stood the test of time. Smoother than Pabst but with a little more flavor. My dad worked in the beer industry for over 35 years, so you could say I “grew up” on High Life.
Sierra Nevada Celebration is a beer that I’ll always buy a case of when it comes out annually and it’s a rarity for me to buy a full case of anything these days. Somehow, every sip is always a revelation even though I’ve had it countless times. I feel the same way about that beer that people feel about their grandma’s Christmas cookies.
You might not realize it, but Deschutes Mirror Pond has been around since the 80s (1988 to be exact). This classic pale ale is known for its complex, well-balanced flavor with notes of grassy, resinous pine, floral hops, sweet grains, and a subtle biscuit-like malt backbone that holds everything together nicely. There’s a reason this classic, crisp beer has stood the test of time.
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