Amy Sherman-Palladino is one of TV’s most successful auteurs. She’s like Vince Gilligan, Shonda Rhimes, or Taylor Sheridan, if they wore a big hat.
Gilmore Girls is a canonized, endlessly rewatchable classic; Bunheads was canceled too soon; and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel won a boatload of awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2018 Emmys.
Now, Sherman-Palladino and her husband Daniel are back with a new show for Prime Video: ballet drama Étoile. Here’s everything to know.
Plot
Set in New York City and Paris, Étoile follows the dancers and staff of two fictionial ballet companies, Le Ballet National in France and Metropolitan Ballet Theater in the United States, as they embark on an ambitious plan to save their storied institutions by swapping their most talented stars.
The world of dance is one that Amy Sherman-Palladino knows well: her mother was a dancer, and she nearly was, too. In the late 1980s, she was waiting on a callback to join a “bus-and-truck tour” of Cats when she got an offer to join the writing staff of Roseanne. She went with the TV gig.
“Look, my parents taught me very early to never let things go, and I am my parents’ child,” Sherman-Palladino told Vanity Fair. “Bunheads gave us a little taste of the fun of being in that world on a smaller scale. I trained as a dancer, so I have been mystified that nothing has really come close to capturing the weirdness of the dance world. They’re an odd, amazing bunch of people.”
They’ve also burned by “some of these movies and TV shows that lean into the darkness” of dancing, according to Daniel Palladino. But eventually, the couple won the dancers over they realized the show is “really about the dancers,” Sherman-Palladino told The Los Angeles Times. “They aren’t window dressing. It’s about them and their stories, and that was important to us.
As for the title, “étoile” is basically French for “star” or best dancer. Surprisingly, Prime Video didn’t have a problem with it.
“I thought they were going to have a very strong reaction against it. Weirdly, it was very positive. They tried to get me to change The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. And I believe the words ‘go f*ck yourself’ maybe [came out of my mouth]. But we never had any trouble [with Étoile].
Hey, it beats Bunheads (great show, title could have used some work).
Cast
The fast-talking cast includes Luke Kirby (returning from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lou de Laâge, Gideon Glick, David Alvarez, Ivan du Pontavice, Taïs Vinolo, David Haig, LaMay Zhang, Simon Callow, and Yanic Truesdale, as well as Emily Gilmore himself, Kelly Bishop, in a small role.
“People here see me only as a dramatic actress, but I was always looking for comedies as much as I could,” Melancholia and Nymphomaniac star Gainsbourg told Vogue. “I enjoyed doing comedy in France. I’m not always serious. I like to have fun and laugh!” She added, “I love the way I was able to hide the depressed side of my character with her high heels and then [become] a little more authentic when my character is by herself. This duality was fun to play because it’s going to those extremes.”
prime video
Release Date
All eight episodes of Étoile premiere on Prime Video on April 24.
This year’s 4/20 celebration lands on Easter Sunday, so if you’ve ever had dreams of getting high with the Easter Bunny (or at the very least, receiving some really great treats in your Easter basket) this is your only chance to do so until 2031.
Imagine what sort of world we’ll be in six years from now — will people even be smoking weed or we’ll we get our highs downloaded directly to our brains? We don’t have answers to that question, but it’ll give you something to think about this Sunday when you’re fully baked and looking to get into a very long conversation filled with impossible-to-answer hypotheticals.
What we do have for you is a highly (pun-intended) curated list of great cannabis products. From flower to vapes to edibles, these are the products we stand behind for an awesomely lit 4/20.
After a long day of smoking sativas and smashing edibles, you’re going to need a good wind-down strain at the end of the night that’ll whisk you into a euphoric sleep state. We can’t think of a better pick than A Golden State’s Moonbeam. A cross-breed between legendary strains Purple Pineapple and Rainbow Belts 2.0,
Moonbeam has a sweet and fruity smell and flavor with hints of pine, and a touch of citrus tart that translates to a mind-melting, body buzzing high that feels designed for ultimate relaxation.
If you’re looking for a relaxing a chill experience that’ll still give you a pretty strong head high, Moonbeam is your strain.
If we had to pick just one cannabis strain, a desert island pick that we’re stuck with for life, undoubtedly it would be Cannabiotix’s Cereal Milk. A strain I always have on hand personally, this hybrid THC-packed (29%-33%) premium bud features a mix of earthy spicy notes, citrus, and cinnamon, making it an ideal option for vapes and bongs where you can enjoy a full flavor experience.
Cereal Milk is rich in the terpenes limonene, caryophyllene, and pinene, resulting in a high that is relaxing, euphoric, and stress-busting, without weighing you down like heavier indica strains.
We’re of the mind that the best joints are the ones you roll yourself, but if you don’t have those skills (or the necessary tools), picking up a pre-roll is the next best thing and if we had to single out just one brand who is doing it right, it would be 710 Labs.
The Persy Doink features 710’s flower embedded with a layer of hash rosin, perfectly wrapped and tipped off with a rotini noodle. That last part my give you pause and seem like a gimmick, but trust us, once you smoke out of a noodle-tipped joint, you’ll never go back — it offers the perfect structural integrity, and smokes passes through its corkscrew shape perfectly.
710 Labs makes products with stoners in mind and we love them for that.
Edibles & Drinkables
Flower Union Artisan Gummies — Boost (Lindsay Lohan)
Flower Union’s Artisan Gummies are separated into five sub-categories: Boost, Create, Balance, Unwind, and Recover, each utilizing strains that have been selected to satisfy the desired effect. For this 4/20, we’re going to strongly suggest you go with Boost.
Our thinking is that you’re going to want a powerful fast-acting edible to kick off a full day of partaking in our favorite habit, and Boost will get you there. Each tin comes with 10 gummies which feature 10MG of THC per gummy, allowing you to easily control how high you want to get.
We’ve sampled the Lindsay Lohan strain, which gave us a clear-headed energetic high that provided feelings of euphoria without pushing us into couch-lock.
Nowadays is a THC-infused beverage company launched in spring 2023 with the stated aim to “put a new spin on drinking.” We’ve been digging their standard lineup for a while now, and their last limited edition — a Cranberry flavored alternative — was one of our favorites from late last year. However, this new, limited-time cherry-flavored expression (5mg per 1.5oz serving) might be their tastiest release yet.
Off Duty is billed as a universal cannabis shot. That means the unflavored liquid comes in pocket-friendly packets intended to provide a micro-dose on the go, capable of being taken on its own or dropped into any beverage you choose. With effects taking hold in 20 minutes or less, it’s a great option (5mg THC: 5mg CBD per serving) to have on hand when out and about.
WYNK is one of our favorite canned THC options on the market today. They offer seven different flavors and a range of doses, starting with their 2.5mg THC: 2.5mg CBD seltzers, moving up to their 5mg THC: 5mg CBD options, and topping out with their latest lineup of lemonade flavors, offered exclusively with a 10mg THC infusion.
We personally love the 5mg THC & 5mg CBD Black Cherry Fizz flavor, but for more of a kick, the brand-new 10mg THC-only Lemonade flavor is the way to go.
Wims! Pocket Tonic is another on-the-go cannabis drink mixer that encourages you to “snap, squeeze, stir!” The 4mg THC: 4mg CBD micro-dose packets are easy to travel with (they come in a convenient case that holds up to 10 sachets), and the Ginger Lime flavor is ideal for elevating just about any drink.
Accessories
Raw Garden — Refined Live Resin Cartridge + Battery
Simply put, Raw Garden makes some of the best concentrates in the market, so if you’re looking for an affordable introcution into the world of cartridges and batteries, look no further than what this brand offers.
A battery will run you under $20, plus an additional $30-$45 for your strain of choice offering you a premium smoking experience for well under $100. I’ve vaped countless Raw Garden carts, and each time the experience is smooth and full-flavored with a dynamic high that is long-lasting and fast acting.
Raw Garden is also unique in that it is one of the only brands out there that offers a battery that can be used with other 510 carts, making this one a bit more sustainable than the competition.
If your only experience dabbing is with the old heated nail method, you need to remedy that ASAP. With the Puffco Peak, the dabbing experience becomes akin to wine-sipping — elevated, flavor-focused, and luxurious. There isn’t a dab device out there on the market right now better than the Puffco Peak.
Every drag I’ve taken with this device is thick and milky, and gives me a high a clear and clean high that captures the magic of my first few smoke sessions. The device features an eye-catching design, an easy-to-use single-button interface, a variety of heat settings, and a water filtration system that allows you to get the most out of your terpene-rich concentrates.
Yellowjackets is developing a knack for ending seasons with shocking deaths, and for the third finale, Lottie’s demise (after the devastating death of Van) checked off that box. The most recent season also delivered Joel McHale as an outdoorsman, Kodiak, who didn’t make it out of the wilderness alive, so maybe Joel can finally do that Community movie now? That might be wishful thinking, but Yellowjackets‘ identification of Pit Girl (a long time after she was introduced in the pilot episode) and a newly revealed Antler Queen (Shauna, oh boy) reaffirm that any future continuation of this showtime series will not suddenly turn into a lighthearted affair.
That is to say, there are sill more blanks to be filled in the two warring timelines of past and present survivors, and somehow, the present situation feels far more deadly than attempting to survive among a crew of teens driven to cannibalism and various mysticism-inspired cult rituals. And it’s only natural to wonder what, if anything, will be next for these ladies.
Will There Be A Yellowjackets Season 4?
Showtime hasn’t clarified yet whether this show will be renewed.
Still, the wilderness-night is young, and showrunners Ashley Lyle and Drew Comins spoke with Collider about how a prospective fourth season would add (get ready for this) a third timeline:
“What has always excited us … is there’s also a third timeline, which is the in-between. There’s something very exciting about seeing, like, how did these relationships evolve in the time between their rescue and where we pick up with them in the present day? How does one really readjust to polite society when you’ve gone to, as Bart once said, the factory default settings of what human beings are capable of?”
In other words, the many answers that this series recently supplied would probably be supplanted by other questions. That includes gaps in time surrounding Hilary Swank’s survivor, Melissa, and how Shauna’s horrific wilderness behavior is seemingly water under the bridge in the contemporary timeline. And speaking of questions that still need answering, some viewers would probably like to know when more than one season will land on Netflix. Fingers crossed on all fronts.
Guy Ritchie’s latest gathering of gangsters is officially a hit on Paramount Plus. MobLand is right up there with Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 on that streaming service’s most-streamed shows this month, and although that Yellowstone prequel won’t continue (1944 will further complete the Dutton family lineage), MobLand likely has much more juice.
Tom Hardy, who stars as undeniably fanciable fixer Harry Da Souza, recently let slip that “the plan” for this show involves multiple additional seasons, and that “international elements to organized crime” could take this show’s empire (presided over in a Shakespearean way by Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren) elsewhere. “There are families that are involved in each European country that are vying for power to have that status to be able to move these kind of commodities through and who polices that and how that fits into a world stage,” he hinted. And as long as Hardy is still somehow involved, the audience will be fully into more acts, but the current focus is on what’s next.
When Will Tom Hardy’s MobLand Season 1 Episode 4 Come Out?
April 20. The third episode, entitled “Rat Trap,” is preceded by this description: “Harry pays a visit to Antoine at the urging of Bella. Fisk and Mukasa trade theories. Suspecting a rat, Conrad comes to Jan for a favor. Kevin makes a startling confession.”
From there, the series will soon hit the midpoint with Hardy throwing elbows and wielding various weapons, no doubt.
America’s premiere country music festival, Stagecoach, is about to touch down on the Empire Polo Club fields! Stagecoach isn’t just the best place to catch the hottest country artists right now (a field that keeps expanding, like the genre itself with Lana Del Rey and Nelly set as main acts), it’s also the best place to experience the magical desert basin of the Coachella Valley and the towering heights of the surrounding mountains, which glitter in earthy red and orange tones. There is something about walking amongst the most stylish people on earth, listening to some good ‘ol country, surrounded by the picturesque views out of an Old West classic that feels unique. It’s like being simultaneously in the past and the future, and what better way to enjoy all the views, vibes and music than with some tasty eats?
This year, the festival will put special focus on BBQ and comfort food with concepts from beloved celebrity chefs (shout out to Guy Fieri, who has curated a group of award-winning pit bosses), Michelin-starred chefs, and some So-Cal staples, offering one of the best food lineups you’ll see at a festival all year.
There is plenty to eat at this year’s Stagecoach, so follow your nose! But to make things a bit easier on you, we curated a short list of five eateries you absolutely must try. This list is a mix of our personal favorites and places we’re most hyped to try. Let’s dive in!
Big Lee’s BBQ By Rashad Jones
Big Lee’s
Why We’re Excited:
With BBQ being such a big presence at Stagecoach this year, we couldn’t drop a list of the eats we’re most excited about without including easily the most hyped BBQ spot to hit the Empire Polo Club grounds this year. Big Lee’s comes from self-proclaimed BBQ nerd Rashad Jones, the winner of Guy Fieri’s Food Network challenge show Guy’s Big Project. Jones has since gone on to be crowned Food Network’s Master of ‘Que after winning the network’s BBQ Brawl. He has also been featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, and Big Lee’s was named one of the best BBQ Spots in the US by Food and Wine Magazine.
So we’ll be hitting Big Lee’s BBQ with expectations sky-high. Considering Jones accolades and a menu that includes brisket, ribs, and pulled pork sandwiches, we’re willing to bet Jones’ is going to come away from Stagecoach an even bigger star than he already is.
Afters Ice Cream
Afters
Why We’re Excited:
Expect to see us somewhere on the festival grounds crouched in a corner, absolutely devouring an Afters Milky Bun like some sort of feral animal. Not just because the desert heat has turned us insane — though, there is that too — but because Milky Buns are that delicious.
Imagine a giant scoop of the coldest ice cream sandwiched between a warm glazed donut bun, and then increase whatever enjoyment you get out of that by ten because at Stagecoach, you’ll be enjoying said cold treat in nearly 100-degree weather. Afters isn’t just a smart pick, it’s a must.
Le Burger by Camphor
Camphor
Why We’re Excited:
One of Los Angeles’ best bistros is coming to Indio! The Michelin-starred Camphor combines classic French culinary prestige with Southeast Asian flavors — which sounds fancy, but they also make a pretty damn good simple cheeseburger they’ve dubbed “Le Cheeseburger.”
Ever wonder what the cheeseburger from The Menu tastes like? It’s probably something like this (without you know, a side of murder). Camphor’s Le Burger is made from Wagyu beef smothered in a pan sauce made from beef fat and herbs, topped with perfectly caramelized onions and smoked Gouda, resulting in a burger so juicy and sumptuous that it’ll make you weak in the knees.
It blows any burger you’ve ever had out of the water.
Ronan
Ronan
Why We’re Excited:
People are incredibly loyal to their region’s spin on pizza, and the consensus is that the greatest pizza is found in New York City, but we’re going to push back on that. While we recognize the beauty of a big foldable New York corner shop slice, Los Angeles takes a different approach to pizza than the Big Apple, and once you try it, you’ll have some serious doubts about the consensus pick.
LA pizza differs from NYC in that it prioritizes high-quality ingredients and elevated preparation. Chef Daniel Cutler’s Ronan is one of the best showcases for what makes LA pizza so special.
Expect Neapolitan-style wood fire pizza topped with the freshest and most local ingredients. Our go-to is the Margherita, which features a sauce prepared from ripe San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil, pecorino calabrese, and mozzarella. We can promise this: it’ll be the best pizza you eat you’ve ever had at a music festival, and quite possible, your life.
The Boiling Crab
Boiling Crab
Why We’re Excited:
Looking to film a mukbang in the desert? Probably not, but if you’re looking for a messy, greasy, indulgent eating experience, few eateries will satisfy like The Boiling Crab. This So-Cal staple crab shack dishes out Louisiana-inspired seafood dusted in flavorful Cajun-style seasonings that make each bite deeply addicting.
On the menu this year will be the Crab’s classic Fried Shrimp, Shabang Bang Shrimp, or Yo Mama’s Lobster Roll served up with a side of hot and buttery French fries. Finger food is always a great option at music festivals because you can eat your dish on the go between sets.
The Boiling Crab is the ideal pick for those who have a jam-packed itinerary of artists they want to catch.
Despite his lengthy resume, even Berninger still battles with nerves. On his latest single, “Breaking Into Acting” featuring Hand Habits, Berninger sings all about it. The record serves as the second sonic dish from his forthcoming solo studio album, Get Sunk.
For the song’s supporting music video, directed by Hopper Mills, the pair shines a spotlight on those anxieties. “Breaking Into Acting’ is more than just a promotional single — it is a musical peek behind the curtain of Matt Berninger, the person.
In a statement, Berninger spoke about the inspiration behind the tune. “The song is about being on stage and feeling like you’re acting,” he said. “I write the script, but when I go to record or perform it, I turn into an actor. I love that, but it can get weird to turn on and off. It’s about forgetting you’re not that character.”
He continued, “Meg Duffy of Hand Habits joined and turned it into a little duet. They made the song much more than a metaphor about me.”
Watch the “Breaking Into Acting” video above.
Get Sunk is out 5/30 via Book/Concord Records. Find more information here.
Xavi is one of the youngest Musica Mexicana breakout artists. Thanks to Xavi’s youthful approach to his beloved tracks, the “Corazón De Piedra” musician has quickly gained a following online.
But the Grammy Award-nominee’s output, including collaborations, shows that Xavi has staying power. Today (April 18), Xavi reconnected with his fellow proud representative of Mexico, Netón Vega, for the vibrant new single “Hija De Papi.”
Although Vega is primarily known for his sonic blends of reggaeton, hip-hop, and pop, he had no issue merging that into Xavi’s carefully curated world. On “Hija De Papi,” the duo leaned into their careful party-filled life.
“She dresses really fancy, she’s daddy’s girl / With a Birkin bag, mommy looks really hot / Here my light queen, its no problem / To pamper her without limits, black card,” they sing.
Xavi continues the party in his solo verse. “That ass is hot, it’s hurting my mind / Sexy photo for the Story so I can reply / She’s got them all butted up, everyone’s replying / Barbie face, Bra-a-a-a-atz body,” sings Xavi.
“Hija De Papi” marks Xavi and Netón Vega’s follow-up to “Cuando Me Ocupes,” which dropped back in February.
Listen to Xavi’s new single “Hija De Papi” with Netón Vega above.
There’s no such thing as a bad Elliott Smith album. They’re all somewhere between “really good” and “era defining.” Figure 8 holds special significance, however, as it was the final album Smith released before his death in 2003. The mural on the cover remains a Los Angeles landmark to this day (just ask Phoebe Bridgers).
On the 25th anniversary of Figure 8‘s release, Interscope/UMe announced that a deluxe edition of the album is being released on vinyl for the first time.
Figure 8 (Deluxe Edition) features “the original 16 tracks spread across two LPs while a third LP boasts seven bonus tracks, six of which have never been on vinyl,” according to a press release. Those rarities are “Figure 8,” “A Living Will,” acoustic takes of “Son Of Sam” and “Happiness,” an alternate version of “Pretty Mary K,” and a cover of “Because” by The Beatles, which originally appeared on the soundtrack for Best Picture winner American Beauty.
You can pre-order Figure 8 (Deluxe Edition)here, and see the tracklist below.
Elliott Smith’s Figure 8 (Deluxe Edition) Album Cover Artwork
The Weeknd’s current project Hurry Up Tomorrow is a major production. There’s the album that dropped in January, of course, but there’s also the upcoming film of the same name that’s set to arrive in May. The Weeknd stars alongside Barry Keoghan and Jenna Ortega, and the latter appears alongside The Weeknd in his new video for “Drive.”
The clip, naturally, is cinematic, and full of highs and lows. The video sees The Weeknd and Ortega smiling as they enjoy a Ferris wheel together, but elsewhere, The Weeknd is full of emotion in a bathtub with a dangerously high water level. The visual is directed by Trey Edward Shults, who’s also the Hurry Up Tomorrow director.
A recent trailer for the film hinted at some inner turmoil for The Weeknd’s character, with Ortega telling him, “I know this is really intense, but I’m not trying to hurt you. You are hurting yourself and you are hurting everyone around you… something has to change.”
Notable, given recent news, the the Ferris wheel featured in the video. Yesterday (April 17), The Weeknd teased something going on at the upcoming second weekend of Coachella 2025: a “Ferris wheel takeover,” although it’s not currently clear exactly what that will entail. Whatever it is, it’ll be active on April 18, 19, and 20.
One of the highlights of Coachella weekend 1 was Yeat‘s set, dubbed “Yeatchella.” With Justin Bieber and Tate McRae in attendance, the prolific rapper covered Drake’s “Feel No Ways” and performed the live debut of “The Bell” complete with a towering on-stage bell. Yeat has now released a music video for the track, which shows how the performance came together.
Last October, Yeat’s Lyfestyle debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, his first album to do so. “Lyfestyle [is] basically just my normal rap sh*t. It’s not futuristic, it’s not like a whole different world,” he told The Fader. Yeat also discussed where his lyrics come from. “I don’t write anything, everything just comes off the top,” he explained. “It could feel very personal, but then four bars later I’m sh*t-talking. It’s like your life, everything’s back and forth.”
Yeat, who is headlining Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash music festival in June after becoming the first rapper to perform at Sphere in Las Vegas, will return to Coachella for weekend 2. He’s scheduled to play at 9:10 p.m. on Friday, April 18, on the Sahara Stage after Lisa and ahead of GloRilla.
You can watch the livestream here, and check out “The Bell” video above.
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