Category: Viral

October is delivering a slew of specials, documentaries, and limited series to HBO and HBO Max.

Meek Mill’s biker drama, Charm City Kings, rolls up, and so does a revealing doc about Luis A. Miranda Jr. — yes, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s dad. Then there’s David Byrne’s buzzed about special that’s bringing his critically-acclaimed Broadway show to the masses and a Nicole Kidman-starring thriller that’s bringing major Big Little Lies vibes.

Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) HBO and HBO Max this month.

Charm City Kings (HBO Max original film streaming 10/8)
Meek Mill stars in this gripping coming-of-age drama that took home the Jury Prize for Ensemble Acting at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Mill plays Blax, the leader of an infamous group of dirt bike riders in Baltimore called The Midnight Clique. When a young boy named Mouse (Di’Allo Winston) tries to join the crew, Blax takes him under his wing and teaches him the code of the streets.

Siempre, Luis (HBO doc streaming 10/16)
Sure, Lin-Manuel Miranda is talented, but his dad is a damn rockstar, as this doc from first-time filmmaker John James sets out to prove. The film takes a look at Luis A. Miranda Jr., a Puerto Rican migrant who’s been fighting for change and shaping New York’s political scene for the past 30 years.

David Byrne’s American Utopia (HBO special streaming 10/17)
Academy Award winning director Spike Lee helms this unique look that gives Broadway fans a chance to see David Byrne’s critically acclaimed show that broke records and sold out crowds earlier this year. The show is based off Byrne’s album of the same name, so if you liked watching Hamilton from home, you’ll probably enjoy this.

The Undoing (HBO limited series streaming 10/25)
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant star in this limited series that picks up in the aftermath of a tragic death and the terrible revelations it spawns. Kidman plays a wealthy woman reeling from grief who discovers her picture-perfect life isn’t what she thought it was, leading her down a rabbit hole that makes her question her own intentions and if she can break free from the mess her past has caused.

Coming To HBO And HBO Max In October:

Avail. 10/1
A World of Calm, Documentary Series Premiere
Akeelah And The Bee, 2006 (HBO)
All-Star Superman, 2011
American Dynasties: The Kennedys, 2018
American Reunion, 2012 (HBO)
Analyze That, 2002
Analyze This, 1999
The Angriest Man In Brooklyn, 2014 (HBO)
Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery, 1997
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, 1999
Ball of Fire, 1941
Beavis And Butt-Head Do America, 1996 (HBO)
Beef (HBO)
Beginners, 2011 (HBO)
Best in Show, 2000
BLOW, 2001
Bombshell, 1933
Boogie Nights, 1997
Boomerang, 1992
The Bush Years: Family. Duty. Power., 2019
The Butterfly Effect, 2004
Cats & Dogs, 2001
Catwoman, 2004
Cellular, 2004
Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke, 1978
The Chronicles Of Riddick, 2004 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
City Slickers 2: The Legend of Curly’s Gold, 1994
Clean and Sober, 1988
The Client, 1994
Collateral Beauty, 2016 (HBO)
The Color Purple, 1985
Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, 2003 (HBO)
Constantine, 2005
Cradle 2 the Grave, 2003
Critters 2, 1988
Critters 4, 1992
The Curse of Frankenstein, 1957
Day Of The Dead, 1985 (HBO)
Death Sentence, 2007 (Extended Version) (HBO)
Deerskin, 2020 (HBO)
Dirty Dancing, 1987 (HBO)
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, 2004 (HBO)
Deliverance, 1972
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, 1969
Dreamcatcher, 2003
Edge of Darkness, 2010
Empire of the Sun, 1987
The End: Inside The Last Days of the Obama White House, 2017
Endings, Beginnings, 2020 (HBO)
Enter The Dragon, 1973
Eraser, 1996
Firewall, 2006
Frantic, 1988
Frequency, 2000 (HBO)
Friday, 1995
The Friday After Next, 2002
Galaxy Quest, 1999
The Golden Compass, 2007
Gothika, 2003
Grudge Match, 2013 (HBO)
Hairspray, 1988
Hairspray (Musical Remake), 2007
Harina (Aka Flour) (HBO)
The Haunting, 1999
The Hills Have Eyes, 2006 (Extended Version) (HBO)
The Hills Have Eyes II, 2007 (Extended Version) (HBO)
Horror of Dracula, 1958
The Hunting Ground, 2015
I Am Sam, 2002
Infamous, 2006
The Informer, 1935
The Invisible War, 2012
Jonah Hex, 2010
The Last Kiss, 2006 (HBO)
The Last Mimzy, 2007
Laws of Attraction, 2004
Lethal Weapon, 1987
Lethal Weapon 2, 1989
Lethal Weapon 3, 1992
Lethal Weapon 4, 1998
Libeled Lady, 1936
Life as We Know It, 2010
Little Baby Bum, 2011
Little Big League, 1994
Madea’s Big Happy Family, 2011
Malcolm X, 1992
Man of Steel, 2013
Marie: A True Story, 1985
The Matrix Reloaded, 2003
The Matrix Revolutions, 2003
The Matrix, 1999
Million Dollar Baby, 2004
Miracle of Morgan’s Creek, 1944
Mister Roberts, 1955
Monsters Vs. Aliens, 2009
The Mummy, 1959
Mutiny on the Bounty, 1935
Next Friday, 2000
Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always, 2020 (HBO)
Nothing Sacred, 1937
Open Water, 2004 (HBO)
Open Water 2: Adrift, 2007 (HBO)
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures, 2013
The Pelican Brief, 1993
A Perfect Murder, 1998
The Perfect Storm, 2000
The Phantom of the Opera, 2004
Presumed Innocent, 1990
Race for the White House, Season 1
Raised By Wolves, Season 1 Finale
Revolutionary Road, 2008 (HBO)
Roger & Me, 1989
Sands of Iwo Jima, 1950
Scanners, 1981 (HBO)
Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays, 2012
Se7en, 1995
Semi-Pro, 2008
Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird, 1985
Shame, 2011 (HBO)
Sherlock Holmes, 2009
Sleight, 2017 (HBO)
Son of Batman, 2014
South Park: The Pandemic Special
Steel, 1997
Superman vs. the Elite, 2012
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, 2010
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, 2009
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 1990
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, 1991
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3, 1993
They Were Expendable, 1945
A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, 1996
The Thin Man, 1934
The Thing, 2011 (HBO)
A Time to Kill, 1996
Tin Cup, 1996
TMNT, 2007
Training Day, 2001
Tricky Dick, 2019
Turistas, 2006 (Extended Version) (HBO)
U.S. Marshals, 1998
Us, 2019 (HBO)
Vampire in Brooklyn, 1995
A Very Brady Sequel, 1996
We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World, 2016
What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire?, 2018
When Harry Met Sally, 1989
Where the Wild Things Are, 2009
The Whole Ten Yards, 2004 (HBO)
The Wings of Eagles, 1957
You’ve Got Mail, 1998

Avail. 10/2
Lina From Lima (HBO)

Avail. 10/3
The ABCs of Back to School: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Families, 2020
Downhill, 2020 (HBO)

Avail. 10/6
Siempre, Luis, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 10/7
Wild Card: The Downfall Of A Radio Loudmouth (HBO)

Avail. 10/8
Charm City Kings, HBO Max Original Film Premiere
The Fungies, Season 1B
The God of High School (Dubbed)

Avail. 10/9
Entre Nos Presents: Shayla Rivera: It’s Not Rocket Science (HBO)
Room 104, Series Finale (HBO)

Avail. 10/10
Cats, 2019 (HBO)

Avail. 10/12
Ghosts, Season 2

Avail. 10/15
Detention Adventure, Season 2
A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote, HBO Max Original Premiere

Avail. 10/16
La Odisea De Los Giles (Aka Heroic Losers) (HBO)
The Perfect Weapon, Documentary Special Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 10/17
David Byrne’s American Utopia, Special Event Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 10/18
Lovecraft Country, Season Finale (HBO)
The Vow, Docuseries Finale (HBO)

Avail. 10/20
Smurfs, Season 3

Avail. 10/21
537 Votes, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 10/22
Equal, HBO Max Original Docu Series Premiere

Avail. 10/23
How To With John Wilson, Season 1 Premiere (HBO Original)

Avail. 10/24
Emma., 2020 (HBO)

Avail. 10/25
The Undoing, Limited Series Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 10/27
Ghosts, Season 2
It: Chapter Two, 2017 (HBO)
John Lewis: Good Trouble, 2020
The Soul Of America, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 10/28
Burning Ojai: Our Fire Story (HBO)

Avail. 10/29
Vida Perfecta, Season 1

Avail. 10/30
Mano De Obra (Aka Workforce) (HBO)

Avail. 10/31
Black Christmas, 2019 (HBO)

Dates TBA:
Chelsea Handler: Evolution, HBO Max Original Special Premiere
Gomorrah, Seasons 1 & 2
the Monster at the end of this Story, HBO Max Original Premiere

Leaving HBO And HBO Max In October

Leaving 10/8
The Nice Guys, 2016 (HBO)

Leaving 10/11
Fantastic Beasts: The Crime of Grindelwald, 2018 (HBO)

Leaving 10/20
The Conjuring 2, 2016 (HBO)

Leaving 10/30
A Cinderella Story, 2004
A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song, 2011
A Very Brady Sequel, 1996
Amelie, 2001 (HBO)
American History X, 1998
Barefoot in the Park, 1967
Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker, 2000
Batman vs. Robin, 2015
Batman: Gotham Knight, 2008
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1, 2012
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2, 2013
Beautiful Creatures, 2013
Blade Runner: The Final Cut, 2007
Blood Diamond, 2006
Cop Out, 2010
Crazy, Stupid, Love, 2011 (HBO)
Dangerous Liaisons, 1988
DEVIL, 2010 (HBO)
Driving Miss Daisy, 1989
El Norte, 1984 (HBO)
Green Lantern (2011)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch, 1990
Home Alone, 1990 (HBO)
House Party, 1990
Kung Fu Panda 2, 2011
Kung Fu Panda, 2008
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2003
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 2002
Ocean’s Eleven, 2001
Paul (Extended Version), 2011 (HBO)
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, 1987
Raising Arizona, 1987 (HBO)
Serendipity, 2001
Soldier, 1998
Spies Like Us, 1985
Star Trek, 2009
Swing Time, 1936
The Adventures of Pinocchio, 1996
The First Wives Club, 1996
The Others, 2001 (HBO)
The Outsiders, 1983
The Replacements, 2000
This Means War (Extended Version), 2012 (HBO)
Three Kings, 1999
Top Hat, 1935
V for Vendetta, 2006
Woodstock (Director’s Cut), 1994
Yesterday, 2019 (HBO)

Travis Scott’s cross-promotion with Chris Nolan’s Tenet won’t stop at his soundtrack contribution. While his song “The Plan” appears on the soundtrack and in the film’s trailer, viewers of the film who brave movie theaters in-person may get a chance to see Travis’ short film Franchise as well. While there isn’t much detail on the film other than it’s directed by Travis himself, the Houston rapper has been teasing the release of a song by the same name arriving tonight at 9pm PT/midnight ET for the past couple of days.

Meanwhile, his other major collaboration this month has seemingly reached its conclusion as the third and final drop of his McDonald’s merch has sold out, leaving his online store with a short, simple message for fans: “Soon.” The Travis Scott Meal at McDonald’s was also quite successful — so much so that the company had to revise its ordering procedure for the burger, even despite dire warnings from NLE Choppa and some employees not even knowing who Travis Scott is.

Franchise, the song and its accompanying short film (likely a music video), is set to debut at select screenings of Tenet tonight. Find more information here and stay tuned to the streaming platform of your choice.

Among Us is the surprise hit of 2020, mostly because it’s a game that originally came out in 2018. The murder mystery game is perfect for remote online play and full of drama, and its ascendence on Twitch has caused a belated explosion in popularity in recent days. That popularity was years in the making, though, and it’s created an interesting problem for developer Innersloth: what work goes into improving a viral hit and what goes into making a sequel, Among Us 2?

Developer Innersloth wrote an update for its many new fans on Wednesday that detailed some upcoming adds and fixes to the game, as well as what the future holds for what the company would work on moving forward. And despite some issues with what the original Among Us was built on, the team revealed that the game’s massive rise in popularity has made them decide to officially cancel Among Us 2 and focus on adding more content to the game currently taking over Twitch.

The post noted “several long discussions” about what Among Us 2 could be, and the difficulties of working on additional content for the original game. But popularity seems to have won out, and for good reason.

The main reason we are shooting for a sequel is because the codebase of Among Us 1 is so outdated and not built to support adding so much new content. However, seeing how many people are enjoying Among Us 1 really makes us want to be able to support the game and take it to the next level. We have decided to cancel Among Us 2 and instead put all our focus into improving Among Us 1. All of the content we had planned for Among Us 2 will instead go into Among Us 1. This is probably the more difficult choice because it means going deep into the core code of the game and reworking several parts of it. We have lots of things planned and we’re excited to bring new content to everyone as you continue to enjoy playing!

The Itch.io post noted more servers, a new stage and other improvements are on the horizon, including a friend system that they noted may take some time. They also hope to make the game playable for those who are colorblind and might struggle to identify killers by, well, color. It’s all good news for players who have fallen in love with the game, as more developer support is always a good sign for a title’s lifespan. It’s tough to stay alive in Among Us, but it looks like the game’s makers plan to keep it alive well into the future.

If nothing below suits your sensibilities, check out our guide to What You Should Watch On Streaming Right Now.

The Murders at the White House Farm (HBO Max series) — Get your next true crime fix in a dramatized, six-episode series about three generations of one family, all murdered 30 years ago at an isolated farm. One detective stood firm on pinning the whole crime spree on an initial suspect, and his dogged determination led to another, more likely suspect. The series is based upon many years of research, interviews, and published reports, all to uncover the truth.

Haute Dog (HBO Max series) — On a lighter note, this series about a dog-grooming, creative-competition series is sure to turn up some cuties who undergo transformations to become “haute” dogs on the runway. There’s money on the table for winners, so expect the competition to be fierce.

The Chef Show: Season 2 (Netflix series) — Jon Favreau’s back with award-winning Chef Roy Choi to continue their collaborative exploration of different flavors, cultures, and people. Keep your eyes open for more celebrity guests, all in the hopes of bringing people together to enjoy delicious food.

Star Trek: Discovery (CBS, 10:00pm EST) — Ahead of the show’s Season 3 arrival (at some undetermined point) the CBS All Access show makes its network debut with “The Vulcan Hello” episode.

Mysteries Decoded (CW, 8:00pm EST) — This week, it’s time to explore the so-called Montauk Experiments in the wake of new evidence surrounding stories that the U.S. government was conducting mind control tests on young children in the 1980s.

Jimmy Kimmel Live — Norman Reedus, Aminé

The Late Late Show With James Corden — Jason Schwartzman, Alicia Keys

Late Night With Seth Meyers — Alicia Vikander; Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle

In case you missed these offerings last week:

The Devil All The Time (Netflix film) — Robert Pattinson portrays an unholy preacher while Sebastian Stan steps into a crooked sheriff’s shoes, and Tom Holland’s simply trying to stay out of the line of fire while evil forces surround him. It’s a battle between the corrupt and the so-called just that should provide a nice midweek viewing break. This Antonio Campos-directed story spans the period between WWII and Vietnam and co-stars Jason Clarke, Riley Keough, Bill Skarsgård, Eliza Scanlen, and Mia Wasikowska.

Antebellum (VOD film from Lionsgate) — Amid the pandemic shuffle, this film’s hoping to clean up on VOD with Janelle Monáe in a mindbending horror-thriller. Our own Mike Ryan thinks it’s a terrific movie with a twist that you may not see coming.

Ratched (Netflix series) — This isn’t the Nurse Mildred Ratched origin story that One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest viewers might be expecting, but it’s an entertaining-if-messy watch. Sarah Paulson gives it her all, and Cynthia Nixon makes an extraordinary turn as a public servant (and lover of Ratched). Overall, it’s a stylish and twisted devotional, one that has been rolled around in true Ryan Murphy fashion.

PEN15: Season 2 (Hulu series) — Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle are doing it again — playing 13-year-old versions of themselves — in this exaggeratedly surreal show that’s found a cult audience. This season may not be as funny as last year, but it’s still as good as fans expect.

Becoming (Disney+ series) — LeBron James produced this docuseries that focuses upon celebrity upbringings and what it means to go home. Expect to see a variety of entertainers, musicians, and athletes in this first season, including Anthony Davis, Caleb McLaughlin, Candace Parker, and Nick Cannon.

Before De’Aaron Fox was drafted by the Kings in 2018, he was a top recruit out of the basketball haven of Chicago and a star at the University of Kentucky. In a new appearance on JJ Redick’s The Old Man And The Three podcast, Fox explained how it was “very different” to play for the Kings after having so much success throughout his amateur career.

Asked if he ever played with a chip on his shoulder after going fifth in the draft and starring for a franchise in the Kings that hasn’t made the playoffs in nearly two decades, Fox explained that it required a different mindset.

Despite admitting that it was a bit of a challenge, Fox later said he quickly changed his tune and looked at going fifth in 2018 to the Kings as a huge opportunity. After all, taking Sacramento to the promised land is a feat not many can claim.

“For me it’s like, imagine being one of those players on one of those teams that hasn’t made the playoffs in over a decade … and then being the first team that actually gets to the playoffs,” Fox said. “It’s obviously hard as hell, especially being in the West, but being able to be part of that would be something special.”

Fox discussed leading the Kings, his Chicago roots, and more with Redick on the podcast, which you can watch below.

Jimmy Fallon faced backlash over the summer after a resurfaced clip of him wearing blackface on SNL went viral. The sketch, from 2000, depicted the Tonight Show host as Chris Rock, who he also impersonated during his audition for the sketch show. Fallon apologized for his “unquestionably offensive decision” and Rock called him a “great guy” and said that he doesn’t think Fallon “intended to hurt me, and he didn’t,” but we hadn’t heard from SNL‘s head honcho, Lorne Michaels, until today, in an interview with the New York Times.

“I wish I remembered better. I’ve seen the photo, but it was 20 years ago, so Jimmy was in his 20s. He’d done Chris Rock in his audition, as he had done Adam Sandler, both of which were stunning. I think someone gave him bad advice,” Michaels said, adding that Fallon’s impression “was of the time. I know we’re in a granular period now where every decision you’ve made in your life is up for reassessment. But there was no malice in it, I can tell you that.” Michaels also listed old SNL sketches, some of which are among the show’s most popular, that would be considered problematic in 2020.

“I don’t think Gilda Radner could do Roseanne Roseannadanna and John [Belushi] could definitely not do the Samurai. Garrett Morris could not do News for the Hard of Hearing. I could go on and on. Steve [Martin] and Danny [Aykroyd] could not be Czech brothers because they’re not Czech. That criteria is not the greatest soil for comedy to thrive on. I’m not saying comedy should be the dominant thing in our lives. I’m just saying it’s important it exists because, in addition to everything, it’s a safety valve.”

My biggest takeaway here: Lorne calls Dan Aykroyd “Danny.” Going to think about that until October 3, when SNL returns with host Chris Rock and musical guest Megan Thee Stallion.

(Via the New York Times)

Stanford fifth-year senior defensive back Treyjohn Butler, like every athlete in the Pac-12, isn’t playing football right now. Still, he still found himself earning quite the honor when he was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, along with the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Chuba Hubbard, and Sam Ehlinger.

Butler is active in the community, working with kids through various organizations. This year, has partnered with his church to help provide food for low-income households, as well as pushing his church to allow local kids to use the wifi for remote learning. He’s also been among the leading voices in the Pac-12’s We Are United players coalition, which has brought athletes from all sports together in the conference to call for better health measures amid the pandemic, a seat at the table to negotiate for a revenue split, and much more.

On Wednesday, Butler spoke with Uproxx Sports over the phone about that work he does off the field, why he feels so strongly about working with kids and giving back to his community, the continued efforts of the We Are United coalition, and how conversations have changed within the Stanford locker room about real-world issues as players become more educated on problems facing the Black community.

First, how are you doing right now?

I’m doing good. Blessed, humbled by the opportunity. Like, a little bit frustrated by the recent announcement of the indictments in the [Breonna] Taylor case, but still grateful for everything going on.

What does it mean for you to be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team?

To me personally, it’s truly humbling because a lot of work has been put in behind the scenes. A lot of my peers can attest to the fact that, I personally am not for show, I’m all about the greater good and impacting lives as much as we can. I never put myself first and that’s something I keep trying to embody each and every day, using the virtues that my mom instilled in me as well as my grandma. Trying my best to resemble my mom each day and try to be there for everybody. And to be a part of this prestigious group, it takes the words out of my mouth.

At times I’m still trying to process this because not a lot of people have been part of this group, and it represents so much more than the work we’re doing and shows how much more work we need to do together. I think it’s also beautiful because other people select the people that make it, and it’s again a humbling process to be a part of.

You do a lot of work with kids, whether through San Bernadino County children’s services, Read Across America, your church, or Stanford’s work with kids with chronic illnesses. What made you want to give back in those ways to kids in your area and use the platform of being a player at Stanford to do that?

The biggest influence for myself – Pasadena, California we were blessed with the belated, one of our coaches, Coach Victor, an LAPD officer, had an organization in Pasadena called Brotherly Crusades. That organization was year-round. It had every sport. It kept every kid on the field and on the court, the same faces. We ran track together, played football together, basketball, everything together. And the impact he had on the community was so great, because a lot of kids could’ve went the other way, dealing with drugs or gang violence, but he kept so many kids safe. And recognizing how much impact he had on my life and the lives of other guys that were in that same group, cause when I was in high school, I got to witness the fact that a lot of the guys and girls that he coached became D-1 athletes, and that’s how much of a great impact he had and at that moment I knew I needed to give back. As well as the amount of mentors I’ve had in my life, growing up in the household I did, having a single mom, you appreciate the people who take the time out to invest in you. That’s something I knew I had to pay forward, whether that’s helping low-income households with food discrepancies or allowing their kids to have access to training, or anything.

You know, helping with school cause sometimes that’s a hard area for kids to deal with, and personally I knew I had to take a passion for. Because if you can reach one, at the end of the day, it’s going to have a greater impact than not doing anything, and that’s a motto of life I’ve been trying to live by. Along the way, meeting other people who have been pushing me to keep doing more work.

We’re in this moment where we’re in this fight for systemic change and recognizing how much the system is against so many people and I think it amplifies the importance of coming together as a community and working together as a community to help each other while fighting for something much broader. Is that something you’ve really felt in recent years, especially this year with everything going on?

Definitely, COVID alone showed me how different household situations are. I had a chance to talk with Stanford alumni Chris Draft and I asked him, “What more can we do? Because I feel like we’re not doing enough.” And he wasn’t sure where I was coming from, but I told him I felt off about just providing meals like that wasn’t enough. And he highlighted to me how important the meals that we were doing and we can get more food from the church to provide to the low income communities because how much of the low income areas are food deserts, aren’t able to get fresh produce, and everyone’s dealing with possible unemployment due to the pandemic and not being able to afford getting the proper stuff for their household. That having an effect on kids, not being fully nourished and not being focused in school.

That stuff became more evident, along with challenging our church to have wifi for kids to come, whether they’re just outside at the tables to be engaged with school is a big thing that was evident here in California alone during this pandemic for kids who weren’t able to stay focused in school.

Yeah, and I know on your profile you also work with the Ujamaa House at Stanford. How did you get involved with that and what has it been like being a part of working with other students to really explore Black history and culture, particularly given this moment in America?

The beginning part of that was a blessing, because a lot of times for student athletes you don’t get to stay fully engaged with your campus and school like other students. As a freshman student, I was blessed with the opportunity to reside there and I forced myself to stay engaged with my community at my school by attending programs. You know, OBMI, you got a chance to recognize it’s a lot greater than being “of color,” you know? There’s Black women, being in the Black LGBTQ community, there’s all these different spectrums of stuff you need to recognize and intersectionalities that all intertwine. And in my junior year I had the opportunity to come on staff and truly challenge those who were willing to stand up and present these different cases, and it’s beautiful.

You learn something new every day. You’ll be lying to yourself in thinking you know it all. But to be able to foster community where everybody’s welcome – there’s no one person allowed – to be able to come in that room to learn, to discuss, to share, and to grow. And that’s the biggest thing that I take from that is each and every time we stepped in that room, there was a growth among almost each and every member in there.

You mention fostering a community and I think it’s something we saw this summer in the college athletics community, with the Pac-12 United and then the We Want To Play coalition, calling for major changes in the collegiate athletics system. I know you’ve said that the work has to continue, even as the Pac-12’s not playing football now but there’s some discussion, like the Big Ten about possibly reinstating the season. What have the continued conversations been like among the players at Stanford and across the Pac-12 and across the country?

The conversations have ultimately still been pushing forward about social justice and racial issues. The big push for speaking up for Black women and the stuff that they deal with. Allowing them to have the space to speak up, we’ve been trying to have Zoom calls where they can share with us things we don’t see as men, as other athletes, so they can have a great platform.

In addition to that, the foundation is having a players’ coalition. Continue having that current connect to our athletics department at our schools and also in the Pac-12 office. Keep talking about stuff, because there’s no reason we can’t still communicate. Personally at Stanford, each athletics department here has made sure everyone is registered to vote. Speaking up and fostering the community to have conversations with the police department about different things. As well as, I have the opportunity to be part of this smaller group where we work with the Stanford athletics staff and how they can become better when dealing with social issues and different things that are going on in our country.

Getting back to the We Are United, it’s staying focused, not wavering, and keeping the stuff at hand. We will acknowledge the fact that a lot of things have happened, from guaranteeing eligibility to ensuring better health measures, a lot of stuff we’re really proud of happening, but stuff continues to happen that we’re still upset about. The fact that today is going to be a tough day for a lot of people because of what happened in Breonna Taylor’s case. Acknowledging what happened, only charging one officer with a charge that’s not even about the murder. So, stuff like that is still evident and more of a priority for us and where our hearts and minds are at.

Absolutely, it has been another example of this system working in a way that doesn’t work for the people as a whole. How have you seen in your time at Stanford conversations among players change about what’s going on in the country, and do you feel like there’s more conversation in the locker room about things that are going on that effect you guys as men and not just as athletes?

The conversation has definitely changed over the last four, five years. Like, I was on this campus when the two incidents happened in the summer of 2016 in Ohio and down in Louisiana, and it was weird because there was so much anger. There was no education on the matter. There was no proper knowledge on how to speak on things. I can admit when speeches were made it was made out of ignorance, not a lot of facts to follow it up. But over the course of these four years, the amount of education, the amount of time invested individually and collectively for the things that happened this year in 2020, the power in the voices was so much greater because there was knowledge behind what was being said. There was no room for someone to be upset with ignorance because there was none. There was passion and power in the words stated, and collectively as a group people can agree and challenge themselves to read more and learn more. And that’s what’s been the biggest difference over the past few years is watching how much power has been able to grow behind the words that have been stated from each individual player. Recognizing the power they have as a student athlete and they’re not just somebody that provides people with entertainment.

Last weekend would have been the opening of Munich’s Oktoberfest. The world’s biggest beer festival usually attracts upwards of six million revelers to the famed Theresienwiese in the middle of the city. Alas, this year the festival was not to be. So instead we’re going to have to celebrate Oktoberfest in our own backyards.

To help you parse the beers of Oktoberfest, we thought we’d taste test them for you. Here’s the thing, there are only six breweries that can legally sell their beer in the tents on the ‘Wiesn. The law/tradition is that the beer has to be made within the city limits of Munich for it to be poured at Oktoberfest. That’s about as local as it gets. So you’ll only find beers from Spaten, Paulaner, Löwenbräu, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, and Augustiner.

That’s what we’re testing today. Luckily, living in Berlin makes it fairly easy to find these beers. However, it’s a bit more of a pain-in-the-ass to find the Oktoberfest iterations of the bottle — even in Munich. So we’re tasting the local Munich versions or original versions of each of the beers that would have been poured at Oktoberfest right now.

Check our tasting notes below and hunt down the beers themselves at your favorite specialty beer shop!

Paulaner Münchner Urtyp

ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Paulaner Brauerei

The Beer:

Paulaner is marketed as the “youngest” brewery at Oktoberfest — founded by monks in 1634. The beer is made with both Herkules and Hallertauer hops ontop of Pilsner and Munich malts. Stone cold classic.

Tasting Notes:

The malts really shine up top with a mild sense of an apple orchard. The floral hops bring a mild bitterness into the mix but never overpower the malty body of the beer. There’s a touch of grass next to refreshingly light citrus on the end that keeps you going back for more.

Bottom Line:

This brew is the perfect beer garden sipper. It’s also surprisingly full-bodied without being oppressive and really has a nice taste that somehow surprises me every time I drink it.

Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Hell

ABV: 5%
Brewery: Hacker-Pschorr Bräu (Paulaner Group)

The Beer:

The names of this Munich brew come from the partnership between brewers Joseph Pschorr and Maria Theresia Hacker. It’s a very easy drinking beer — keeping it simple with local Hallertauer hops next to local malt.

Tasting Notes:

This one’s a little thinner. The hop bitterness is more in the back seat and the fruity yeast is more forward. The maltiness is there with a nice dry end. Hints of grass, lemon, and that touch of bitter hop round out the easy-drinking sip.

Bottom Line:

This beer always feels like it needs to be paired with a big meal: Roast chicken, pork shank, a schnitzel … something.

Löwenbräu Original

ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Löwenbräu (Anheuser–Busch InBev)

The Beer:

Löwenbräu is going to be one of the easiest Munich beers to find in the U.S. This quaffer is crafted to be an easy-drinking beer that still has enough body to make you feel like you’re drinking something without being so bold as to ruin your palate.

Tasting Notes:

This hits those classic “Munich Lager” notes of grassy hops, bready malts, and hints of sweet apple. Though… there’s a bit of a metallic note on the sip that’s not so much offputting as just… manufactured. The malt leans more into cracker territory as the hops fade all the way out of the taste.

Bottom Line:

It’s fine. Though I do have to say that every time I’ve had this in the U.S., it’s been a little skunked or flat. I get that that’s due to the stuff having to travel, but it’s still a bit of a disappointment compared to what it’s like in Germany.

Spaten Münchner Hell

ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu (Anheuser–Busch InBev)

The Beer:

This is the original Münchner Hell. The beer was made as a counterpoint to the heavier, darker, and sweeter brews that were popular back in the late 1800s. The light lager still holds up today.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a caramel maltiness at play which is a nice change of pace when tasting these beers but loses its luster quickly. The hops are there, but more of an afterthought with hints of recognizable grassiness, citrus, and fruitiness. The sip ends on a high note with a lightness that is enticing and refreshing but, again, in a manufactured way. You feel the factory in the glass.

Bottom Line:

Again, this is fine. The particular sweetness of the malts isn’t something I’m looking for but it wouldn’t stop me from ordering another.

Hofbräu Original

ABV: 5.1%
Brewery: Staatliches Hofbräuhaus

The Beer:

This brewery was started by royalty and is still a state-run affair. The beer has a bit more going on as well. The base is a mix of lightly malted barley and Munich malts that’s hopped with Herkules, Perle, Magnum, and Select hops. All of this adds a little more depth to the glass.

Tasting Notes:

The bready malts are there with a slight hint of sweetness. The hops balance well with a floral nature and a very light sense of spice next to fruity yeasts. A hint of wood comes in to counterpoint all of those tastes on the dry and very refreshing end.

Bottom Line:

I usually drink the Dunkles more than the Original when I’m at a Hofbräuhaus. But this really hit the spot. Maybe it’s the cooling weather or my mood, regardless — I really dug this one.

Augustinerbräu Oktoberfest Bier

ABV: 6.3%
Brewery: Augustiner-Bräu

The Beer:

Augustiner is the oldest brewery within Munich’s city limits. It started all the way back in 1328. Full disclosure, Augustiner is one of my all-time favorite German beers. So, I can’t be anything but biased here. I’m also spoiled since I have several Augstiner beer halls near me where I can drink the stuff from the wooden cask.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a subtle sense of the malts up top with a touch of grassiness and lager-y fizz on the head. The sip is super svelte with a fruitiness that leans towards apple cores and even seeds (an earthiness maybe). There isn’t really a sweetness to the malts and the hoppiness is dialed back into more fruit and florals than bitterness yet it’s still wonderfully balanced.

Bottom Line:

Yeah. This is the beer. What’s dangerous about this beer is how easy it is to down. It’s 6.3 percent. That’ll get you drunk quickly, especially if you’re drinking this out of a one-liter Maß.

My final ranking:

6. Löwenbräu
5. Spaten Münchner Hell
4. Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Hell
3. Hofbräu Original
2. Paulaner Münchner Urtyp
1. Augustinerbräu Oktoberfest Bier

When Rihanna launched her size-inclusive lingerie brand Savage X Fenty in 2018, it took the fashion industry by storm. After a wildly successful two years, Rihanna’s company is now expanding their reach. Savage X Fenty has announced their first-ever menswear line, and it’s launching soon.

Ranging from $13 to $70, the 11-piece Savage X Fenty collection consists of men’s boxers, boxer briefs, as well as a smoking jacket paired with satin pajama-style pants. For the face of the brand, Rihanna tapped Diddy’s son Christian Combs, who she’s known since he was just 11 years old.

Of course, no clothing line launch is complete without a fashion show. Last year’s Savage X Fenty 2019 fashion show boasted appearances from Migos, DJ Khaled, Big Sean, Normani, A$AP Ferg, and Fat Joe. This year, artists like Roddy Ricch, Travis Scott, Bad Bunny, and more will be gracing the stage. About the upcoming fashion show, Combs told GQ this year’s event, streaming on Amazon Prime Video, will be just as showstopping: “Fasten your seat belts, get some popcorn, and get to the TV for some amazingness. It’s gonna be sexy,” he says. “A lot of special guests — and King Combs at the climax.”

Check out promotional photos of the new menswear line above.

Savage X Fenty’s menswear line launches 10/2. Get it here.

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

Each member of the Miami Heat has played a gigantic role in putting the squad into the position that they currently find themselves, one win from the NBA Finals. They are an incredibly deep and versatile team. But increasingly, they are winning games because of last year’s No. 13 overall pick, Tyler Herro, one of the youngest players in the NBA and someone who, unlike most rookies, has been even better and more vital in the postseason.

The Heat are a team of defined roles, incredible coaching, and disciplined execution. They win because each player knows exactly what is needed of them for each W, and are willing to sacrifice to be successful. But a huge reason they’ve gotten this far — one win from the NBA Finals — is because Herro burst from a supporting role to a major one this postseason and has given the Heat a much-needed scoring punch.

In Game 4 against Boston on Wednesday night, Herro scored 37 points on just 21 field goal attempts, including 17 in the fourth quarter. Despite the star talent of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, as well as playoff darlings Goran Dragic and Duncan Robinson, it was Herro who took the game home for Miami and put them within 48 minutes of their first Finals berth since 2014.

Like the rest of the Heat roster, Herro excels because he knows how to get open and get to his spots within the team’s spacious, smart system. But what’s taken him to the next level in these playoffs is his shot-making within the confines of head coach Erik Spoelstra’s rejuvenated move-and-share system.

In the regular season, Herro shot 41 percent on all pull-up attempts, but in the playoffs, he’s improved dramatically, nailing half of those looks on roughly the same volume. Though he’s still not a great finisher, his improved pull-up game has corresponded with an incredible uptick in mid-range efficiency. After making a subpar 39.4 percent from mid in the regular season, Herro has followed up by making, again, half of those tries through 13 postseason games.

At the same time as he’s become a better shot-maker, Herro has continued to play brilliantly. Even as a freshman at Kentucky, Herro had an inherent sense for how to play off of his teammates off the ball and spring open for easier shots. With the Heat’s talent, Herro’s feel for the game as a scorer has been even more impactful. Herro and Robinson don’t necessarily have the name recognition of the Splash Brothers, but like Warriors’ stars, they find each other, set screens, and move in the halfcourt in such a way that breaks down defenses like it’s 2015 in Oakland all over again.

That all means that as long as he keeps moving and doesn’t turn the ball over, Herro can trust himself to nail shots that most defenses are designed to give up.

Early in the final frame, Herro just shot right over the top of Kemba Walker, who even when he fought through screens just couldn’t contest Herro’s pull-up jumpers. Boston adjusted by taking Walker off the court, and Herro responded promptly by earning a “BANG!” from Mike Breen with a deep three in Marcus Smart’s face. The rookie can score from all three levels, and the Heat offense is so open and versatile that it is hard to key in on any one player too much. The result was a closing performance for the history books.

To do all this at just 19 is remarkable, but not unexpected. The baby-faced rookie came to the NBA Draft Combine last year with the savvy of a player many years older, name-dropping friends like All-Star Devin Booker and noting that he didn’t care where he was drafted or who his teammates were, that he trusted his own work ethic and IQ to take him where he wanted to go in the league. While he clearly took the time during the NBA hiatus to get much better as a scorer, Herro has also benefited from Miami’s infrastructure and offensive system.

After the game, Butler praised Herro for his confidence and poise. Surely any time a rookie closes a Conference Finals game, it’s a major accomplishment. But in the case of Herro, it was also the stacking of a bunch of different elements that all worked to give Herro the chance to do something special, and he answered the call.