2020 has not been a great year for encouraging news headlines, but every now and then one of them is actually and refreshingly funny. Last week we got one of those: The Doobie Brothers, the beloved rock band, are suing Bill Murray. Why on earth are they doing that? Because he’s been using one of their greatest hits, “Listen to the Music,” in ads for his line of golf shirts without paying them. Thus began the funniest rock band-on-movie star fight since Steely Dan sued Owen Wilson.
Now Murray, via his lawyer, has responded. And just as the Doobies’ cease and desist letter wasn’t exactly serious, neither was Murray’s attorney. “Your negative comments about their fashionableness are especially disconcerting to all of us–especially considering 75% of my wardrobe consists of William Murray polos, shorts and pants,” the letter, from attorney Alexander Yoffe, read. “Color me biased, but the consensus on this side of the table is that Bill and the brothers have some of the most clever and creative lifestyle wear available.”
It continued:
“Please provide us with the shirt size for yourself, Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, Michael McDonald, and John McFee, along with which of our client’s shirts you find the least offensive, and we will happily upgrade your wardrobes and hopefully win each of you over as new fans of the brand.”
The Doobie Brothers’ original letter can be read below:
Bill Murray receives a legal demand from the Doobie Brothers. And it’s everything you’d want it to be… pic.twitter.com/R1L99yZSBj
Drew Barrymore has been reuniting with onscreen partners lately, but this is next level: On her new daytime talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show, the actress brought on a very special guest: her ex-husband Tom Green. The actress and comic — who had his own incredibly bizarre show from the mid-’90s to the early aughts, which eventually ran on MTV — were briefly married in 2001, formally divorcing the next year. The two decided to reconnect live on air, and it proved to be a warm and bittersweet reunion.
“I have always been attracted to visionaries, comedians and people who make me laugh,” Barrymore said when introduced her ex. “I was so attracted to our next guest I even married him!”
The two didn’t reunite over webcam, as is the style of the time. It was an in-person reunion, the two sitting several feet apart, Green armed with his new dog. The two admitted they hadn’t spoken or even seen each other in 15 years. But there was no animosity between them, just kind words.
“I’ve had two nights of great sleep in my life before my daughters were born. I don’t know why but sleep has been a weird thing for me,” Barrymore recalled. “I remember this night just being so content. I was at your parents’ lake house, and I remember hearing all their voices upstairs. I was by myself and going to sleep and I was like, ‘Yeah, this is what safety and contentedness feels like before you’re going to sleep.’ I love your parents, and I really love you and I celebrate you.”
Barrymore reflected on how much time had passed. “When you say it’s 20 years, sometimes it’s the blink of an eye and sometimes you’re like, Oh my God, we’ve lived so much in these last 20 years,” she told Green. “You’ve had a whole life and I’ve had a whole life and it’s just really nice to come together and check-in and talk about it,” Barrymore said. “I think the world of you. I celebrate you and I always have and I always will.”
Green became a major celebrity in the early aughts, not only from his galvanizing TV show but from appearances in films like Road Trip, Stealing Harvard, and Freddy Got Fingered, which he wrote and directed. Barrymore and Green appeared onscreen together in 2001’s Charlie’s Angels, with him playing her character’s goofy boyfriend.
You can watch Green’s appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show above.
On last week’s episode of Expression Session, we were lucky enough to taste some serious Irish whiskey from Tullamore D.E.W. This marked the first time we wandered into the world of Irish whiskey on the show and it was a delight for the senses.
Speaking personally, I’m a pretty big Tullamore D.E.W. stan. It’s my go-to duty-free bottle of whiskey whenever I fly to England to visit in-laws. The one-liter bottle is always a bargain, and it’s never a bad idea to show up somewhere with a bottle of good Irish whiskey on hand. But while I’m very familiar with the “original” expression, I really hadn’t had much exposure to the other expressions in the mix besides random tasting events over the past five years or so.
We were lucky to have Tullamore D.E.W.’s brand ambassador for the eastern U.S., Gillian Murphy, join us. Murphy led us through a tasting of the Original, Caribbean Rum Cask Finish, 12-Year-Old, and Single Malt 18-Year-Old bottles of Tullamore. It was an educational half-hour — great whiskey and even better company. You can watch the whole tasting on Instagram.
If you don’t have time for that, here are my thoughts on the four bottles we tried.
This is a straight-up classic Irish whiskey. The juice is triple distilled — like almost all Irish whiskeys — and then it rests in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. The whiskeys are then blended into a final product that’s as easy to drink as it is to mix.
Tasting Notes:
Clear fruity notes of apple mingle with a hint of bourbon-y vanilla. That fruit carries on through the very light (in a good way) sip as a hint of wood and citrus arrive. The vanilla peeks back in near the end as the sip quickly fades while warming you up.
Bottom Line:
This mixes very well with sharp ginger ale. I tend to drink it with mineral water these days, plus a squeeze of lime. It also works as a cocktail base.
This is the same juice as above with one exception. The whiskey is transferred into Demerara rum casks from Guyana for a few short months to finish things off. That finishing barrel imparts a wholly different feel to this sip that’s both surprising and enticing.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a clear rum mustiness to the nose next to tropical fruits with a focus on bananas. A hint of spice meets that banana with a note of creaminess, caramel, and dried fruit. The sip lingers a bit longer with an almost banana’s foster buttery rum edge.
Bottom Line:
At $30 per bottle, this makes a fine sipper with a rock or just on the rocks. It’s also a solid base if you’re whipping up an old fashioned.
This whiskey is a blend of three triple distilled whiskeys: pot still, malt, and grain whiskeys. The juices are then aged for 12 to 15 years in either ex-bourbon or ex-sherry casks before blending and cutting down to proof.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a definite spice next to oak on the nose with a pinch of nuttiness. The sip meanders through notes of praline, nuts, dried fruits, and spice, adding a Christmas cake feel to the sip. With a little water, I got a note of dark chocolate powder and amped up creamy texture. The sip fades slowly as the spice, chocolate, nuts, and oak dance on your senses.
Bottom Line:
This is an easy sipper with a little water or a rock to open it up. It’s also affordable enough to use in a Manhattan or maybe even a boulevardier.
This Irish single malt spends 18 years aging in ex-bourbon barrels before it’s finished in former sherry, Port, and Madiera casks and pipes. After six months in the finishing barrels, the final product is expertly married and cut down to proof.
Tasting Notes:
Caramel apples, plenty of oak, and a malty base greet your nose. The sip is shockingly mellow-yet-complex with a spiced baked apple feel, creamy toffee, and a sweet biscuit roundness. The malts, spice, fruit, and oak all linger as the sip slowly fades and warms on the long finish.
Bottom Line:
This is too easy to sip. Make sure to add a little water or a rock to open it up.
Going into Game 5 on Friday night, the Miami Heat had an opportunity to complete their unexpected postseason run and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals. They’d stunned the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals over the course of four games, proving once and for all that they were no anomaly.
And for the first two quarters of the game, it certainly looked like that might be the case. But after a furious second-half rally from a spirited Celtics team that finally found their rhythm, Boston was able to extend their season with a 121-108 in and force a Game 6 on Sunday, where they will try to even their series and replicate what the Nuggets were able to accomplish (twice) out West.
Here’s what we learned from Boston’s win in Game 5 with their season on the line.
A Tale of Two Halves
The Celtics were nowhere to be found in the first half. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kemba Walker were a combined 4-of-17 to start the game, and Boston looked listless and disinterested, i.e. not at all like a team whose season was on the ropes. Credit the Heat for their stifling defense, as they pestered the Celtics into 3-of-14 from behind the arc through the first two quarters and sent Boston scrambling for answers, but the biggest issue by far was Boston’s lack of energy.
Brad Stevens got so desperate that he even inserted Enes Kanter into the lineup in the second quarter to try to breathe some life into his team, and Kanter did just that, going 4-of-4 in the period to keep Boston within striking distance.
After halftime, it was a completely different story, with the Celtics racing out to a 20-3 run to take their first lead of the game as Miami went cold. The Celtics finally found their rhythm in the third quarter, attacking the defense and not settling for tough three-pointers, where they had been ice-cold in the first half.
As in the previous contest, Tatum came alive in the second half. He was much more aggressive at attacking the paint and drawing fouls, getting to the line eight times in the period. He had 17 points in the third quarter, and the Celtics took a 92-83 lead into the final frame and never let up.
They kept pouring it on from there, with six players in double figures for the night, led by Tatum with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, while Brown finished with 28 points and eight rebounds and Walker chipped in 15 points and seven assists.
Celtics Bigs Came Up…Big
Kanter was the story of the first half for the Celtics’ front line, giving the Cs a much-needed jolt off the bench when he subbed in for Daniel Theis. After playing sparingly this postseason, Kanter made four straight baskets for Boston in the second quarter and helped keep the deficit under double digits.
That would be the extent of his contributions for the night, but apparently it was enough motivation for Theis, who had a huge second half. Theis did a little bit of everything on Friday night on both ends of the court, as he put up 15 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks.
For the Celtics, it took an all-around effort from up and down the roster, which is what they’ll need from here on out if they want any chance of taking the series.
We Got Robbed Of The Duncan Robinson Game
On Wednesday, Tyler Herro gave us one of the all-time great playoff performances by a rookie with his 37-point explosion in Game 4, cementing his status one of the most exciting up-and-coming players in the NBA. And for a while there in the first half, it looked like we might get treated to another one, this time courtesy of Duncan Robinson.
Robinson was absolutely on fire to start the game, scoring 17 points in the first half on 3-of-6 from downtown and slashing his way into the lane for easy layups.
Unfortunately, he would cool off from there as Boston seized control of the game. Robinson would finish 3-of-11 from three with 20 points, spoiling what initially looked like it might be a scoring explosion from the young sharp-shooter, who has already established himself as one of the NBA’s best marksmen.
It was a rough night overall for the Heat in this one. Goran Dragic led the way with 23 points but fouled out with just under five minutes left in the fourth. Jimmy Butler was plagued by foul trouble as well. He finished with 17 points. Miami was frigid from long-range, shooting just 7-of-36 for the night and 45 percent as a team overall.
The Heat will now look ahead to Game 6 on Sunday, where they will try to avoid letting the Celtics even the series. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
XXL Freshman Class member Rod Wave dropped his Pray 4 Love (Deluxe) album back in August. The deluxe effort gave fans a handful of bonus tracks, including the Lil Baby collaboration “Rags2Riches 2,” a follow-up to the album’s “Rags2Riches” with ATR Son Son. Now, the two team up once again to share a reflective video to their joint track.
The visual places Lil Baby and Rod Wave inside an opulent mansion. Trading verses in front of thick stacks of cash, the two rappers chart their success without forgetting to first pay homage to where they came from. “No silver spoons, we had plastic utensils / He just came home, he still packin’ his pistol / Die in these streets or get saved by the system / Or get you some millions, my lifestyle is vicious,” Lil Baby raps.
While the “Rags2Riches 2” visual debuts several weeks after the original collaboration dropped, the song recently saw an uptick in popularity thanks to TikTok. The app released the song on its platform, which catapulted the collaboration higher in the charts, leading to the lavish video’s production.
Rod Wave was able to secure a feature from Lil Baby but it definitely came with a price tag. Earlier this summer, Lil Baby revealed how much it costs for him to feature on a track — and it’s not cheap. The rapper said he asks for at least $100,000 before even considering hopping on a project.
Watch Rod Wave and Lil Baby’s “Rags2Riches 2” video above.
Pray 4 Love (Deluxe) is out now via Alamo. Get it here.
The upcoming James Bond film No Time To Die is nearing its November premiere, continuing the longest-running film franchise. Apart from its recognizable main character, part of what makes the Bond franchise so memorable are its indelible theme songs from popular artists. The forthcoming film’s theme was penned by Billie Eilish, making her the youngest artist to write a theme for the film. To commemorate the upcoming 25th Bond movie, Universal Music Enterprises has unveiled a limited-edition complete vinyl collection of Bond theme songs.
Not only does The Best Of Bond… James Bond compilation close with Eilish’s “No Time To Die,” but it also includes Adele’s “Skyfall,” the highest-grossing Bond film to date, as well as Sam Smith’s Spectre theme “Writing’s On the Wall,” both of which were awarded Grammys. Of course, the collection isn’t only contemporary songs. Best Of Bond is complete with well-known numbers like “James Bond Theme” by The John Barry Orchestra, Nancy Sinatra’s “You Only Live Twice,” and “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey.
Check out the The Best Of Bond… James Bond cover art and tracklist below.
Universal
Disc 1:
1. “James Bond Theme” by The John Barry Orchestra
2. “From Russia With Love” by Matt Monro
3. “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey
4. “Thunderball” by Tom Jones
5. “You Only Live Twice” by Nancy Sinatra
6. “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” by The John Barry Orchestra
7. “We Have All The Time In The World” by Louis Armstrong
8. “Diamonds Are Forever” by Shirley Bassey
9. “Live And Let Die” by Paul McCartney & Wings
10. “The Man With The Golden Gun” by Lulu
11. “Nobody Does It Better” by Carly Simon
12. “Moonraker” by Shirley Bassey
13. “For Your Eyes Only” by Sheena Easton
14. “All Time High” by Rita Coolidge
Disc 2:
1. “A View To A Kill” by Duran Duran
2. “The Living Daylights” by A-Ha
3. “License To Kill” by Gladys Knight
4. “GoldenEye” by Tina Turner
5. “Tomorrow Never Die”s by Sheryl Crow
6. “The World Is Not Enough” by Garbage
7. “Die Another Day” by Madonna
8. “You Know My Name” by Chris Cornell
9. “Another Way To Die” by Jack White & Alicia Keys
10. “Skyfall” by Adele
11.” Writing’s On The Wall” by Sam Smith
12. “No Time To Die” by Billie Eilish
The Best Of Bond… James Bond is out 11/2 via Universal. Pre-order it here.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Aya Cash has been the breakout star of Season 2 of The Boys, as the actress has gone from a pivotal role in You’re The Worst to actively trying to be the worst member of The Seven. We won’t spoil what happened in the latest episode that came out Friday, as Amazon is committing to its weekly episode schedule and not many people have had time to see it yet, but if you’ve seen a few episodes of Season 2 you know a turn is coming.
Cash’s Stormfront has been a welcome wrinkle in the show’s second season, publicly sniping at Vought and using undermined tactics online to sway public opinion to her twisted desires. And if you get the sensation that it’s a very familiar pattern to some people in real life, as it turns out, that was certainly intentional. In an interview with Vulture about her role in Season 2, Cash admitted that showrunner Eric Kripke used some real-life right wing trolls as the basis for Stormfront’s public-facing persona.
The interview has some immediate spoilers for the show’s fifth episode, so tread lightly. But what is not spoiled here, unfortunately, is exactly who the character was based on. Cash said she was careful to make sure the show was being “thoughtful” about the role and not only how it would initially play with readers, but the sinister turn it would later take. And what convinced her to take the part was that Kripke was taking a “deep dive” on some conservative personalities to dig into their psyche.
“He talked a lot about real-world examples of the people he was basing Stormfront on. I’m not gonna name names, because I don’t want to promote those people, but they exist. He had been going on a deep dive on those people and how they handled media and messaging, and that felt very thoughtful. It’s not “look at this badass new superhero,” it’s “look what happens when you give power to these people.””
Cash said the character helped her evaluate her own “blind spots” when it comes to how good virtues can be weaponized for bad purposes. And though Cash was adamant about not revealing which alt-right icons the character was inspired by, she did offer some clues when she admitted what she first imagined the character would look like. The Stormfront from the comics, mind you, was a man who from the start appeared to be a white supremacist. This Stormfront’s reveal has happened more slowly, which made Cash wonder if the character would look like who it was inspired by.
At first I thought she was going to be bleach blonde, with pink lipstick, holding an AK-47. But then when they started putting me in things, it was much edgier, and actually a better critique than being as on-the-nose as that. There was a really short wig at one point, and I had extensions at another. Finally they just said “we’re going to shave part of your head” and I was like “OK, I think you’re paying me enough to do that.”
We’ll have to see if the show’s spinoff set at a supe university will feature a younger version of Stormfront. If we’re reading between the very specific lines here, at least one person this Stormfront was based on seems to spend a lot of time getting chased off those campuses in real life.
The Los Angeles Lakers got a crucial win in Game 4 on Thursday to take a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference Finals series, putting the Denver Nuggets on the brink of elimination heading into a potentially deciding Game 5 on Saturday. The Nuggets have somehow managed to overcome two consecutive 3-1 deficits this postseason, but the chances of accomplishing that feat a third team remain slim.
The Lakers have leaned heavily on Anthony Davis, who has been dominant this series, hitting the game-winning buzzer-beater in Game 2 and dropping 34 points in Game 4 to eke out a tough victory and put the Nuggets on the ropes. LeBron said after the game that he could tell by the position of his iconic brow that Davis was in for a big night.
But after tweaking his ankle in that contest, Davis’ status has now been listed as “questionable” for Game 5 on Saturday, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times:
The Lakers have officially listed Anthony Davis (sprained left ankle) as questionable for Saturday’s Game 5 against Denver
Denver has been by far the toughest team to eliminate this postseason, and without Anthony Davis the Lakers would certainly have their work cut out for them and would likely have to lean on some configuration including JaVale McGee and/or Dwight Howard to shore up the size they’d be missing without Davis in the lineup.
The Nuggets could potentially have an opportunity to capitalize on Davis’ absence if he’s unable to play, and we’ll know more once it gets closer to tip-off time Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.
Over a month after Megan Thee Stallion accused Tory Lanez of shooting her in the foot and lying to the press about it, Tory finally addressed his side of the story. The reason it took Tory so long to speak to the situation is because he did it in the form of an hour-long mixtape. Throughout his music, Tory denied Meg’s accusations and called out Kehlani and Kaash Paige while he was at it. Because of the nature of his response, fans are now drawing comparisons between Tory and the disgraced singer R. Kelly.
Following the release of Tory’s mixtape, Daystar, Megan supporters and Tory fans alike flocked to Twitter to join in on the discourse. To put the situation into perspective, many began comparing Tory’s fallout to that of R. Kelly’s following the incriminating documentary Surviving R. Kelly and his subsequent arrest. One user wrote that Tory’s album reminded them of the time when Kelly responded to allegations against him with the 19-minute track “I Admit It.”
remember when R. Kelly released that 19 minute song “addressing” his allegations? Tory releasing this album feels a lot like that.
Another Twitter user leaned on the comparison to predict that Tory won’t get canceled for shooting Megan because many refuse to separate an artist’s actions from their music.
Tory lanez won’t get cancelled. People will still listen. People will still defend him. R Kelly was literally sexing and marrying children and he was in the game forever. People still went hard for him.
Others were more directly hating on Lanez’ fans for continuing to support his music.
This #torylanez situation shows how y’all will sell out for some fucking music, that man shot a woman for no reason and y’all still gonna put coins in his pockets. This reminds me of the people who still supports r Kelly pic.twitter.com/h5cqzKUsPu
Good morning Tweeps!!! I’m side-eyeing these abuser lovers and caped crusaders of Tory Lanez and R Kelly. The FBI should be watching yall abuse loving asses. pic.twitter.com/Tc1qXb3ncw
While we enjoy whisk(e)y all year long, there’s really no better season for the spirit than fall. When the leaves begin to turn and the temperatures start to dip, the bottles of rye, Scotch, bourbon, and Japanese whisky in our liquor cabinets seem to call to us. Tempting us to sit with a dram by the fire.
With so many different varieties of whisk(e)y on the market and countless brands to choose from, it’s tough to pick just one or two bottles to invest in this fall. So we asked some of our favorite bartenders tell us their “must try” whiskey picks for autumn 2020.
Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash
Mitchell Cochran, bar manager at Shades Bar & Grill in South Walton, Florida
Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash. From the Michter’s Legacy Series, this whiskey has a very rye forward profile with a unique finish. The French oak barrels used to distill give it a very rich taste.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a must-try whiskey you won’t regret, as its dry smokiness artfully mixes with the sweetness of raisins on the nose. This whiskey serves a velvet combination of vanilla, honey, and rose petals with notes of hazelnut, sherry, and dark chocolate, and boasts a luxuriously long and smooth finish.
Legent Bourbon. The joining of Beam and Suntory is a true spectacle and does not leave you wishing for more. Japanese blending techniques and cask finishes create an excellent spirit.
If I had to pick one whiskey to enjoy this fall, I would pick Angel’s Envy Rye. It is finished in Caribbean Rum Barrels and has distinct aromas of butterscotch and maple.
While you sipping on it, don’t forget to snap a picture and tag #ToastTheTrees to help plant some White Oak Trees.
Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky. This sweet-smelling dram, with hints of toffee, is so smooth going down — I guess that’s why Masataka Taketsuru is the father of Japanese Whisky.
Sunday’s Whisky
Emmanuelle Massicot, assistant general manager of Kata Robata in Houston
Sunday’s Whisky. Made from the team behind Yardbird in Hong Kong, this Japanese whisky was specifically designed for highballs. It is citrus-forward, dilutes evenly over ice, and in cocktails, and is incredibly smooth and light.
Abasolo El Whisky de Mexico
Crystal Chasse, Beverage Director at Talk Story Rooftop in Brooklyn, New York
Abasolo El Whisky de Mexico needs to be in your mouth! It is new on the market and is distilled from 100% Mexican Cacahuazintle corn from local farmers. The corn shines and is supported with beautiful notes of black tea and vanilla.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Andy Printy, beverage director at Chao Baan in St. Louis
The must-try if you haven’t already is Four Roses Small Batch Select. It’s only been on the market for a year or so, and as Four Roses’ first new expression in several years, it’s a banger. With just a touch of raspberry and dark fruit on the front, the finish is dank lumber and leather with a toffee back.
At its very reasonable price point, this bottle is perfect for any application.
Aberfeldy 16
Brendan Bartley, head bartender and beverage director at Bathtub Gin in New York City
Must try whisky for me this fall is Aberfeldy 16 Year. I picture this when I think of fall. It’s weighed with honey, stewed fruits, and baking spice. It’s finished in oloroso sherry casks, so it has all those rich nutty flavors as well. The Scotch whisky category is filled with great products, so picking something is always hard. I just find the Aberfeldy is an easy-drinking 16 Year with all the indicators of fall with every sip.
High West Campfire
Max Stampa-Brown, beverage director at Borrachito in New York City
If you haven’t had anything from High West I’d start with their Campfire. Tastes like it sounds. This is just a terrific blend of scotch, bourbon, and rye. There’s a real nice peatiness to it that evokes a devilish smoked cinnamon aroma.
I’ve got to go with Parker’s Heritage. Every year they release a beautifully complex and deep whiskey bourbon with a fantastic spice profile. It’s got the right balance between that spice, the burnt sugar caramel, and tons of round richness. It’s great every year, and I’m sure it’ll be great again this year.
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17 point 1st half for your shooter
