Tired: the Limitless pill. Wired: the Project Power pill.
Instead of letting you access 100 percent of your brain, the pill in Project Power, a new Netflix movie starring Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Dominique Fishback, gives you “five minutes of pure power.” The upside is that you basically turn into a superhero, but the side effects include not knowing what power you’re going to get and, as explained in the trailer above, “they don’t talk about how one hit could kill you.” I, personally, would take the pill, but I don’t want any of the basic-ass superpowers, like invisibility or being able to fly or whatever. No, I want to know how I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry randomly became the fifth most-watched movie on Netflix this past weekend. Some would say that isn’t a power; but I’d call it the ultimate power.
Here’s the official plot synopsis:
On the streets of New Orleans, word begins to spread about a mysterious new pill that unlocks superpowers unique to each user. The catch: You don’t know what will happen until you take it. While some develop bulletproof skin, invisibility, and super strength, others exhibit a deadlier reaction. But when the pill escalates crime within the city to dangerous levels, a local cop (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) teams with a teenage dealer (Dominique Fishback) and a former soldier fueled by a secret vendetta (Jamie Foxx) to fight power with power and risk taking the pill in order to track down and stop the group responsible for creating it.
Directed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost, Project Power, which also stars Rodrigo Santoro, Amy Landecker and Allen Maldonado, premieres on Netflix on August 14.
Yesterday, ViacomCBS revealed that it is ending its relationship with Nick Cannon following a controversial episode of the Cannon’s Class podcast. On the June 30 episode, Cannon said Black people are the “true Hebrews” and discussed anti-Semitic conspiracy theories involving the Rothschild family. Cannon said, “It’s never hate speech, you can’t be anti-Semitic when we are the Semitic people. When we are the same people who they want to be. That’s our birthright. We are the true Hebrews.”
A ViacomCBS spokesperson provided a statement to Variety yesterday, which reads:
“ViacomCBS condemns bigotry of any kind and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism. We have spoken with Nick Cannon about an episode of his podcast Cannon’s Class on YouTube, which promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. While we support ongoing education and dialogue in the fight against bigotry, we are deeply troubled that Nick has failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism, and we are terminating our relationship with him. We are committed to doing better in our response to incidents of anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry. ViacomCBS will have further announcements on our efforts to combat hate of all kinds.”
Now, Cannon has responded with a 1,400-word statement posted on his Facebook page. He opens the post titled “Truth and Reconciliation,” “I am deeply saddened in a moment so close to reconciliation that the powers that be, misused an important moment for us to all grow closer together and learn more about one another. Instead the moment was stolen and highjacked to make an example of an outspoken black man. I will not be bullied, silenced, or continuously oppressed by any organization, group, or corporation. I am disappointed that Viacom does not understand or respect the power of the black community.”
He goes on to reflect on his time with Viacom, criticize the company’s response to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and apologize to his “Jewish Brothers and Sisters for putting them in such a painful position.” He also demanded “full ownership of my billion dollar ‘Wild ‘N Out’ brand that I created” and an apology from Viacom.
Ahead of Cannon being dropped, he provided a statement about the episode on Monday, writing on Twitter, “Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice intentions. I do not condone hate speech nor the spread of hateful rhetoric. We are living in a time when it is more important than ever to promote unity and understanding. Until then, I hold myself accountable for this moment and take full responsibility because My intentions are only to show that as a beautiful human species we have way more commonalities than differences, So let’s embrace those as well as each other. We All Family!”
Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice intentions. I do not condone hate speech nor the spread of hateful rhetoric. We are living in a time when it is more important than ever to promote unity and understanding.
Until then, I hold myself accountable for this moment and take full responsibility because My intentions are only to show that as a beautiful human species we have way more commonalities than differences, So let’s embrace those as well as each other. We All Family!
I am deeply saddened in a moment so close to reconciliation that the powers that be, misused an important moment for us to all grow closer together and learn more about one another. Instead the moment was stolen and highjacked to make an example of an outspoken black man. I will not be bullied, silenced, or continuously oppressed by any organization, group, or corporation. I am disappointed that Viacom does not understand or respect the power of the black community.
I was a member of the Viacom ‘Family’ for over Twenty years. Since I was a minor, we worked together to make great positive entertainment and I was handed many opportunities that I am grateful for. At17 years old, I was deemed the youngest staff writer in TV history on their various Nickelodeon series. In 2009 the wonderful and amazing Cyma Zarghami blessed me with the opportunity to become the youngest television Chairman in history, placing the teen division of Viacom solely in my hands as an executive. She along with the strong and brilliant Marva Smalls guided me through the corporate infrastructure that at times felt overwhelming due to many doubting my abilities as a black man. I am forever grateful to them for their love and kindness as leaders and their matriarch like care for me over the years. With their support, I rose to the occasion at Viacom creating philanthropic opportunities and award programing such as the HALO Awards which awarded youth grants for their nonprofit organizations to change the world and end everything from bigotry, homophobia, racism, and even attempting to find a cure for AIDS and Cancer. These young people had big ideas, big hearts and more importantly big optimism, just like myself. We successfully brought the world closer together for over 9 years with every big-name celebrity and major corporation you could think of, truly one of my proudest accomplishments in entertainment. Not because of ratings or numbers, but because I was able to empower the next generation. My time at Viacom also birthed one of my other greatest creative accomplishments; their longest running comedy series and the most successful Hip Hop programming in Television History ‘Wild ‘N Out’. An idea in which I self-financed out my own pocket and presented to MTV. I created a billion-dollar brand that expanded across a multitiered empire that is still Viacom’s biggest digital brand, touring business, talent discovery and incubation system and successful restaurant franchise. Based on trust and empty promises, my ownership was swindled away from me. For Viacom to be so deceptive is no surprise; they have been mistreating and robbing our community for years, underpaying talent on their biggest brands like Love & Hip Hop, all of BET programming and of course, Wild ‘N Out.
I don’t have to defend myself here, the proof is in the history. I believed that the corporation was becoming more progressive and willing to create helpful spaces and dialogue in these difficult and uncertain times of 2020. Instead they chose to recently ban all advertisement that supported George Floyd and Breonna Taylor who we are all still seeking justice for. I also went as far to reach out to Ms. Shari Redstone, the owner of Viacom, to have a conversation of reconciliation and actually apologize if I said anything that pained or hurt her or her community. Dead Silence! So that’s when I realized they don’t want a conversation or growth, they wanted to put the young negro in his place. They wanted to show me who is boss, hang me out to dry and make an example of anyone who says something they don’t agree with. But like the great Shirley Chisholm, ‘I am unbossed and unbought and unbothered’. I respectfully stepped away from oppressive corporations in the past. NBC threatened and mistreated me for years, but I was the bigger person and abandoned an 8-figure salary on their number one hit show ‘Americas Got Talent’ and currently stand by my friend and Queen Gabrielle Union in her fight against oppression.
I took my talents and executive creativity to my open minded and willing partners at the Fox Television network to create the current #1 hit show on television ‘The Masked Singer’ in which I host and executive produce. We are also gearing up to launch a daily talk show based in the historic community of Harlem, where the ultimate goal is to bring people closer together during these difficult times. Right now is the time for strong voices and compassionate thinkers to step up and create a dialogue of healing. Dr. King said, ‘We must learn to grow together as brothers, or we will parish together as fools’. Ironically at that time our government called him ‘the most dangerous Negro in the country’ and labeled him a Terrorist. As we all know Hollywood and the media is a dirty business. Still, I honestly can’t believe that Viacom has such poor council that would allow them to make such a divisive decision in the midst of protests and civil uprising within our current pandemic. Truly an unwise decision. For them to take it one step further and flat out lie in their official press release, saying that I didn’t attempt to reconcile the situation when on two separate occasions I specifically acknowledged and openly requested a forum to be corrected. Malcolm X said it best, ‘The media is the most powerful entity on earth, it will have you hating the people being oppressed and loving the people doing the oppressing; making the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent.’
My hope and original goal was to use this moment to show healing and acceptance and prayed that Viacom would use their powers for good. Instead I am now receiving death threats, hate messages calling me an ungrateful N***** and beyond. Viacom’s goal to keep me from providing for my family and lineage will be foiled. They can try to kick me while I’m down or force me to kiss the master’s feet in public for shame and ridicule, but instead I stand firm on my square with my fist in the air repeating my mantra, ‘You can’t fire a Boss!’.
In a pleasant turn of events and the best blessing in all of this hurtful attack is the outpouring of love and support from the Jewish community. It has been amazing. I have spoken with many Rabbis, clergy, Professors and coworkers who offer their sincere help. I must apologize to my Jewish Brothers and Sisters for putting them in such a painful position, which was never my intention, but I know this whole situation has hurt many people and together we will make it right. I have dedicated my daily efforts to continuing conversations to bring the Jewish Community and the African American community closer together, embracing our differences and sharing our commonalities. Through the guidance of my multicultural team which embodies several people from the Jewish Community, specifically Michael Goldman my business partner for 3 decades who discovered me at the Hollywood Improv when I was doing Stand Up as a kid. Through thick and thin he has been by my side. Yelling at me when I talk too much and laughing with me as we’ve always overcome adversity together. I love you my brother, thank you for helping me become the man that I am today. And as we embark on this next ‘Ncredible’ journey together we will bring our two persecuted communities together like we always planned. He and so many gracious people from the Jewish Community are showering me with love and helping to guide me to the Promise land, literally l am excited to announce that I have been invited to Israel which is a lifelong dream where I will receive teachings, lessons and truth about the Jewish history. As someone who is in pursuit for my PHD in Theology and Divinity and just received a degree in Criminal Justice from the Great Howard University, this will be an enriching, enlightening and overall exciting trip!
As for Viacom, who is now on the wrong side of history, I will continue to pray for you. I don’t blame any individual, I blame the oppressive and racist infrastructure. Systemic racism is what this world was built on and was the subject in which I was attempting to highlight in the recent clips that have been circulating from my podcast. If I have furthered the hate speech, I wholeheartedly apologize.
But now I am the one making demands. I demand full ownership of my billion dollar ‘Wild ‘N Out’ brand that I created, and they will continue to misuse and destroy without my leadership! I demand that the hate and back door bullying cease and while we are at it, now that the truth is out, I demand the Apology!”
North Carolina rapper YBN Cordae was reportedly arrested at a protest for Breonna Taylor outside the home of the Kentucky Attorney General, Daniel Cameron. Several protestors arranged a sit-in on Cameron’s yard to condemn his lack of action in addressing Taylor’s case. Fans posted video of the young rapper being detained by officers and social media reports that he is one of several. Tennis star Naomi Osaka, who is Cordae’s girlfriend, commented on the situation, tweeting, “They’re really arresting people for protesting, that’s crazy.”
They’re really arresting people for protesting, that’s crazy.
Cordae has had a relatively quiet 2020, aside from his appearance on Young Money Radio last month. When the coronavirus epidemic first broke out, the already elusive 21-year-old Grammy nominee was already in stay-at-home mode after a breakout 2019 that included a world tour, a highly successful debut album, The Lost Boy, and a track record that included hits like “RNP” with Anderson .Paak. But as protests against police violence continue to take place in the name of Louisville EMT Breonna Taylor, Cordae got outside to add his voice to the chorus calling for justice.
If it seems like the people refusing to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are the ones wearing the most American flag gear, well, they say a picture’s worth a thousand words (most of those words are expletives written with random %&$#?@! symbols). But Tom Hanks questions the patriotism of these science-ignoring activists.
While appearing on Tuesday’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Hanks, who was diagnosed with the coronavirus back in March, was asked by host Stephen Colbert what it’s like to see people not wearing masks out in public. “Are they Americans? I don’t get it,” he responded, incredulously. “It’s literally the least you can do… [Wear] a mask and wash your hands and try to stay six feet away from a person. Is this impossible now? I think of George Washington’s troops at Valley Forge, you know, if you ask them to wear a mask, they’d love it, because it would keep them a little bit warm.” Take it from America’s Dad: wear a damn mask (and wash your damn hands).
This isn’t the first time the Greyhound star has come after non-mask wearers. “Those things are so simple, so easy, if anybody cannot find it in themselves to practice those three very basic things — I just think shame on you,” he previously said, calling anyone who doesn’t wear a mask a “p*ssy.” Normally, hearing Tom Hanks use a bad word would make my monocle pop out, but I’ll make an exception here.
The Verzuz livestream battles have become a hit during the pandemic. The events have drawn some important names to the virtual stage, and now two of the biggest rap stars of the ’90s and beyond are set to take part in the next one: Snoop Dogg and DMX will face off in a “battle of the dogs” on July 22.
Both rappers have had storied careers. DMX’s first five studio albums topped the Billboard 200 chart, while Snoop’s first three did the same. Snoop also has a handful of No. 1 singles. His only one as a lead artist was 2004’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” As a featured artist, his chart-toppers include Akon’s “I Wanna Love You” and Katy Perry’s “California Gurls.” Overall, he has had eight top-five singles. DMX’s biggest chart success was “Party Up (Up in Here),” which peaked at No. 27. He also featured on The Lox’s “Money, Power & Respect,” which topped out at No. 17.
Like the Verzuz showdowns that have come before, it’s all friendly in nature. DMX posted about it on Instagram, and Snoop took to the comments to write, “Doggs4life.” Before posting the promotional image himself as well, Snoop shared a photo of himself with DMX and also wrote, “Doggs4life.”
On a recent episode of his popular The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, host Joe Rogan addressed his long-standing feud with stand-up comedian Carlos Mencia.
In 2005, Rogan called Mencia a “weak minded joke theft” and the “most disgusting joke thief [of] all” on his website, and two years later, he infamously confronted the Mind of Mencia star on stage at the Comedy Store “and accused him in front of the audience and fellow comics of plagiarism,” according to the Hollywood Reporter. “Rogan then posted the video online, spliced with a number of comics doing their versions of a joke compared to a later version by Mencia. One of the comedians in the video was George Lopez, who has also accused Mencia of stealing jokes,” a heinous crime among comedians. He’s changed his tune in the 13 years since that interaction, however.
“I don’t have any hate for that dude. And I hope he’s doing great, I really do,” Rogan told guest Bob Saget, who interjected, “I think he has learned his lesson.” Rogan replied, “I hope he has, and I hope people forgive him, too.” The NewsRadio actor said he was “angry” when he confronted Mencia at the Hollywood-based club (he was banned for years after the incident), adding, “I put all that time into that place, and that Mencia thing — I thought we were doing the right thing. I thought that was a real problem.”
Kanye West’s presidential campaign has been met with a lot of backlash and apparently not much voter interest. However, it appears now that Kanye is no longer running for the highest office in the land this year.
In a new piece from New York Magazine‘s Intelligencer, the publication spoke with Steve Kramer, who they describe as “a get-out-the-vote specialist who runs a firm that also helps candidates get on the ballot.” Kramer said he had been hired to help West get on the Florida and South Carolina ballots. In a July 9 conversation, Kramer told the publication of Kanye’s presidential bid, “He’s out.” When asked what happened, Kramer responded, “I’ll let you know what I know once I get all our stuff canceled. We had over 180 people out there today.”
As many different services vie for your attention, Hulu has really upped the ante in terms of its streaming catalog. While Netflix may have the upper-hand when it comes to original series, Hulu still boasts an impressive lineup of TV shows that you can’t find anywhere else, including some of their more recent in-house productions. So here are the 35 best shows on Hulu right now, ranked.
The announcement that the relatively unknown producer Noah Hawley would be turning the classic film Fargo into an anthology series, it was met with a healthy dose of skepticism. However, by the end of the first episode, fans were hooked. Instead of a rote retelling of the classic crime tale, viewers were treated to a top-notch cast, shocking violence, incredible character names, and stunning visuals. While honoring the legacy of the original film in the details, Fargo managed to become a unique and essential addition to the current television landscape.
It’s not enough to praise Atlanta for being the most inventive show on TV — though plenty of critics have. To understand the genius of Donald Glover’s sometimes-comedy series, you simply have to watch it. The show follows Glover’s Earn, a young black man living in the titular city who’s down on his luck. He’s basically homeless when we meet him in the first episode, selling credit cards, making no money and trying to manage the rap career of his cousin, Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry). Over the course of the first and second season, Earn wrestles with issues of race, classism, and his own sense of self-worth. It’s a show that will probably feel familiar to some and strangely alien to others, but it should be required viewing for everyone.
There simply isn’t a better show to binge watch when you need a pick me up than Parks and Recreation. Hilarious, smart, and relentlessly sunny, Parks and Recreation is a balm to weary viewers. Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope has joined the ranks of television icons, but the supporting cast is no less wonderful. If you’re looking for a show about good people trying to do good things while making good jokes, Parks and Recreation will be your new favorite show. While the first season feels a bit too much like a riff on The Office, it finds its feet in season two and never lets up. While so much of today’s comedy is mired in cynicism, Parks and Recreation will make you want to do better. It also gets better with each rewatch, so pour yourself some Snake Juice and enjoy.
Few shows have as many jokes per minute as 30 Rock. The brainchild of Tina Fey, 30 Rock shows the daily madness of an SNL-like variety show, which Fey’s Liz Lemon at the helm. As she tries (sometimes failing) to wrangle her writers and her actors (Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski), Lemon also attempts the ever elusive dream of “having it all.” Her quest will feel very, very familiar to viewers, particularly women, as they try and balance, work, life, love, and even a small bit of success. With Alec Baldwin turning in his best performance to date (come at me, Glengarry Glen Ross fans) as Jack Donaghy, Lemon’s boss, mentor, and eventual friend, 30 Rock has the perfect blend of weirdness, sharp writing, and genuine laughs that will make it a favorite for years to come.
Although Margaret Atwood’s novel was published back in 1985, the series premiere in 2017 still felt relevant as hell (and earned it a spot among our best TV shows of 2017 list). America as we know it is no more, taken over by a Christian fundamentalist organization and newly christened Gilead. However, things are not as idyllic as the name would suggest, as women are no longer allowed to have jobs, rights, hold property, or have any sort of agency. Instead they are either handmaids, a select few still-fertile women who are essentially used as broodmares for powerful men, and Marthas, who work in the rich households. Elisabeth Moss turns in a strong performance as Ofglen, the titular handmaid who is trying to survive and escape to her fugitive family, but Alexis Bledel steals the show in a devastating supporting turn. The Handmaid’s Tale grabs viewers by the face and demands that they keep watching from the get-go, but prepare to get a little angry as the series progresses.
For a show about nothing, Seinfeld has left a cultural imprint that few shows can boast of achieving. Back before shows about neurotic people were the latest trend, Jerry Seinfeld blended his own neuroses with his stand up act, creating a New York landscape that many could relate to. With stories based on the minutiae of relationships and every day living, Seinfeld embedded itself in the cultural zeitgeist like few shows have done. Even if you’ve never seen an episode, you still know about the Soup Nazi and Newman. Plus, Veep fans will enjoy seeing a pre-presidential Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the hilariously frazzled Elaine Benes. If you’ve been meaning to watch the show that has made people laugh for decades, Hulu has you covered.
Joss Whedon has gone on to giant blockbusters since his days on The WB, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer will forever be his magnum opus. Buffy offered the perfect blend of horror, comedy, and feels, with episodes and characters that have stuck with viewers for years. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s titular slayer perfectly balanced the ordinary pains of growing up against the extraordinary and supernatural circumstances that come with living on a Hellmouth. The clothing and catchphrases might be deeply rooted in the ’90s, but the themes are timeless. Even if you don’t know your standard demon curse from an ancient rune, Buffy is essential. It’ll rip your heart out, but you’ll like it anyway.
Has there ever been a sitcom as downright clever as Community? Aside from the gas leak year, Community was quicker than nearly every other comedy out there, with jokes flying fast but also taking seasons to reach a punchline. After getting caught with a phony degree, former lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) heads to Greendale Community College to get a legitimate degree. There he gets into increasingly hilarious hijinks with his Spanish study group. Between paintball wars, zombie outbreaks, and the increasingly ridiculous presence of Senor Chang (Ken Jeong), Community is never, ever boring. Quit living in the darkest timeline and get to watching.
There’s no denying that the protagonists of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are amoral psychopaths. (Looking at you especially, Dennis.) But there are few shows out there that will elicit the same belly laughs. As these raging narcissists hang around Paddy’s Irish Pub, you will be struck by the lack of self-awareness while at the same time hoping things never change. Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day shine especially bright, sucking into a vortex of kitten mittens and Nightman. Whether or not you believe in a higher power, you will thank your gods that you are better adjusted than these assholes. Still, even after 10 seasons, we wouldn’t have them any other way.
There’s so much to love about Joss Whedon’s space cowboy series, it still boggles our minds that the show was cancelled before it could get a second season. Still, the 14 episodes available on Hulu are worth a binge. Nathan Fillion plays Mal Reynolds, captain of a clunk of metal scavenging the galaxy 500 years into the future. He’s got a motley crew on board — Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, and Morena Baccarin also star — and he regularly gets into trouble with his less-than-legal side jobs. The writing is top-notch, the world building is fascinating, and the chemistry is off the charts.
Despite being off the air for decades, the mysteries of Twin Peaks still tormented viewers, and even after the 2017 revival, they’re left more confused than ever. After the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) peers beneath the veneer of the small town of Twin Peaks, Wash., and finds a strange darkness under the surface. If you’re a fan of bizarre mysteries and a damn fine cup of coffee, Twin Peaks is the head trip for you.
The fifth season might have been the one minor letdown in its run, but Justified came back strong in its sixth and final season, making it one of television’s best all-time complete series. Justified boasts not only the two most charismatic characters around in trigger-happy Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) and its sly villain, Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), but also the quickest 42 minutes on television. No hour-long drama flies by faster than Justified, which also makes it a great series to binge watch. Moreover, Justified not only boasts smart, economic Elmore Leonard-inspired writing and crackling dialogue (under the direction of showrunner Graham Yost), but the stories are as engrossing as Leonard’s were page-turning. It’s not a perfect series, but even its flaws are endearing. (Bonus: Justified also features nearly every major actor from Deadwood at some point in the series.)
Many sci-fi shows have come into the geeky pantheon of television, but The X-Files remains a benchmark. While the revival series wasn’t quite what fans were hoping for, seeing the unbeatable team of Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) back in action was a treat. Still, going back to the beginning is the only way to go with the show. Whether you get caught up in the monster of the week storylines or like digging into the overarching mythology, The X-Files will stick with you for years to come.
Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer go head-to-head in a gripping, globe-trotting game of cat-and-mouse in this spy-thriller from BBC. Oh (who earned a history-making Emmy for this role) plays the titular Eve (Polastri), a British Intelligence operative obsessed with catching an elusive assassin named Villanelle (Comer). Villanelle is a psychopath, one with a dark past and a love for the work she does — she’s damn good at it too — and the two capable women soon find their lives entwined in ways neither of them expected.
While it started as a hilarious James Bond spoof, Archer has really evolved into a show that can stand on its own. As super spies Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) and Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler) are out doing the cool derring-do for ISIS (not that ISIS), the rest of the desk jockeys are left to deal with their mess and a lack of unionization. Archer quickly banishes the idea that cartoons are just for children (seriously, this show is not for children) with enough sex, drugs, and terrible behavior that Bond himself would blush.
Many wondered how Dan Harmon would follow up the perfection that was Community at its peak, and he certainly delivered with Rick and Morty. Like a demented version of Back to the Future, Rick and Morty follows a super scientist and his less-than-genius grandson on a variety of adventures. It’s part cartoon, part “cosmic horror.” Who knew that following a vomiting scientist and his dimwitted grandson could be so brilliant? Rick and Morty is a demented work of escapism for adults that’s not to be missed. It’s also a still relatively underground show that’s waiting to burst forth into a broader audience. Get in on the goodness now.
Damon Lindelof’s hit TV series about the survivors of a horrific plane crash, who try to find a way off the island they’ve been stranded on, is much more than the sum of its parts. Sure, a polar bear makes a strange cameo, smoke monsters haunt the group, and the finale left much to be desired, but at its core, Lost was always a show that tackled the big themes: Life, death, science vs. faith. It treated us to brilliant performances by an ensemble cast and broadened the imagined horizons of the TV landscape. Without Lost, some of the most epic series we enjoy today wouldn’t be possible. Show some respect and give it another watch on Hulu.
This cult teen drama has enjoyed a handful of revivals over the years — most notably a Kickstarter movie and a Hulu-produced fourth season — but to truly enjoy this noir, Nancy Drew-like adventure, you’ve got to go back to the beginning. We meet Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) as a fresh-faced teenager who’s become a social pariah following the murder of her best friend. As she investigates a death that rocked the sea-side town, graduates to college sleuthing, and juggles romantic interests, Veronica takes down bad guys and stays a step ahead of the adults around her. And she keeps kicking a** into adulthood. Come for the witty banter and thrilling games of cat-and-mouse, stay for Bell, who’s never been better.
Michael Chiklis stars in this Golden Globe-winning police drama about a corrupt PD unit and the officers who operate within it. Chiklis plays Detective Vic Mackey, a thuggish anti-hero with a brutal methodology when it comes to police work. He leads a team of cops who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty to take down criminals in L.A.’s notoriously crime-ridden district known as The Farm. It’s a gritty, violent look at police work that feels a bit more honest than others of its ilk and loves to paint its leads in shades of grey.
Noah Hawley might’ve proven he could shatter expectations with his Fargo reboot but what he’s done on FX’s comic series Legion is truly mind-blowing. The show, which exists in both the Marvel universe and the X-Men series, follows David Haller (Dan Stevens), a man with incredible powers, a murky past, and a demon parasite leeching his abilities while slowly making him go insane. The series begins in an insane asylum before traveling to secret government facilities, astral planes, and the future so good luck keeping track of the action. Better to just strap yourself in, enjoy the wild ride, and not worry whether what you’re seeing is real, or just all in David’s head.
What happens when a documentary crew trails a group of thousand-year-old vampires rooming together in a Staten Island mansion? This punchline of a comedy series created by geniuses Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. The show, which borrows inspiration from its film predecessor, introduces a trio of undead friends – Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), and Laszlo (Matt Berry) – stuck in a house with their familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) and an energy-sucking vamp named Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch). Weird sh*t goes down in every episode but the show really flourishes in season two. Vampire councils, semen-thieving witches, Haley Joel Osment as a zombie, and small-town American hero Jackie Daytona were just a few highlights.
There is a rough-around-the-edges quality that makes Misfits irresistible. A rotating team of adolescents gains supernatural powers while they’re fulfilling their criminal community service requirements, but the X-Men they are not. It’s not easy to categorize them as “the good guys” considering all of the people they accidentally kill, but they certainly mean well. Fans of Game of Thrones and Preacher will see some familiar faces, but the whole cast is aces. There are rumblings of an American remake, but hopefully, that will never come to fruition. There is something so decidedly British about Misfits, but not in the stuffy way that people assume. It’s gritty, it’s crass, and to water that down for stateside sensibilities would be a crime.
Fans of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz need to return to the show that birthed the miraculous creative team of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost. Spaced captures the Gen X experience in a totally unique way. Like a hopelessly nerdy Reality Bites, the trials of Tim (Pegg) and Daisy (Jessica Hynes) will feel painfully real for those of us who have had dead-end jobs, dead-end relationships, and a seemingly dead-end life. It’s not all so bad, though. Despite the sometimes dire circumstances, the show maintains a pleasant optimism. Even if The Phantom Menace let you down, at least you can rewatch the original Star Wars trilogy as many times as you want. While the show is decidedly more low key than Wright’s future film endeavors, you can see the trademark style coming through in every single frame.
While the show may have lost a little steam in the middle of its run, when Sons of Anarchy was good, it was electric. As Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) struggled to find his place as the leader of his father’s old motorcycle gang, he is often made to wonder if the violence and stress on his family is worth the adrenaline and power. Kurt Sutter is a divisive figure in Hollywood, but he caught lightning in a bottle with SoA. With an endless parade of shocking moments and killer characters, few shows will keep you on the edge of your seat in the same way. You’ll be awfully glad you aren’t a part of SAMCRO, but you won’t be able to look away all the same. Just don’t go out and buy a motorcycle on a whim. You probably can’t pull off the leather. A television binge is the safer way to go.
What can we say about this genre-defining workplace comedy that hasn’t been said before? Ricky Gervais’ mockumentary has influenced some of the greatest works on television, and despite its many predecessors, it remains the best example of what a good, mundane comedy series can do. Gervais as clueless boss David Brent, whose desperate attempts at connecting with his underlings are a painful exercise in futility. Martin Freeman is also a stand-out, playing a role that John Krasinski inhabited in the American remake, but it’s the British sarcasm that really elevates this series and makes it worthy of a watch.
The antics of this New York police precinct are endlessly hilarious, with every character getting their moment to shine. Brooklyn Nine-Nine has one of the most wonderful casts currently on television, and it hasn’t slowed down a bit from its banner freshman season. While it is technically Jake Peralta’s (Andy Samberg) show, it’s one of the few true ensemble shows on television right now. It’s not that Samberg isn’t good, he is, but the same could also be said of Stephanie Beatriz’s Rosa or Terry Crews’ Terry or almost every other character. A workplace comedy at its core, Brooklyn Nine-Nine proves that showrunner Mike Schur is on a hot streak that shows no sign of slowing down.
If you’re looking for a show that will kick you in the balls and then pass you a mimosa, You’re the Worst is that show. It might have you crying tears of laughter in one scene, then leave you wondering “this is a COMEDY, right?!” in the next. It’s that dichotomy that makes it so vital to the modern television landscape. You owe it to yourself to be introduced to the familiar toxicity of Gretchen (Aya Cash) and Jimmy (Chris Geere) before the FX comedy returns. There are few comedies that so aptly mock modern mores of adulthood while still treating its characters with compassion, even if they don’t deserve it. Plus, there are few shows that perfectly express how it feels to be clinically depressed. Come for the trash juice, stay for the insight.
Comedian Ramy Youssef stars in this semi-autobiographical dramedy, playing a version of himself, a character named Ramy Hassan. Ramy navigates life growing up in New Jersey while straddling the line between the millennial generation he’s a part of and the Muslim community he belongs to. He wrestles with the constraints of his religion and his upbringing, while searching for meaning in more modern pursuits — drinking, partying, and hooking up. It’s heartwarming, eye-opening, and never takes itself too seriously.
There are few sitcoms as endlessly inventive and bitingly funny as Peep Show. Born from the hilariously warped minds of British comedians David Mitchell and Robert Webb, the series focuses on Mark and Jez, two combatant roommates who are both failing at being an adult in their own awful ways. Told from different character perspectives, viewers get an inside look into their inner monologues. You may cringe into your sofa at some of their foibles, but never stop laughing. As these two idiots try and fail to successfully navigate life, at least they have the best and sharpest jokes.
There is always a little twinge of sadness when you finish a Party Down binge. With only two short seasons, there is always a feeling of “what could have been.” A show about people who can really only be classified as “losers,” Party Down masks a sharp emotional pain beneath hilarious guest stars and “Are we having fun yet?!” If you have ever been disappointed by how your life has turned out, be it by circumstance or your own bad choices, you will painfully relate with someone on the titular catering crew. Adam Scott and Lizzy Caplan have killer chemistry as two self-destructive people who see themselves as better than their circumstances but refuse to make the kind of decisions that will help them get what they want. It’s easier to coast along and mock the absurd customers than to actually try.
When Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen announced plans to create a TV series based on the DC comic book series Preacher, the gut reaction was to ask, how? The series (anti)hero is a bad-boy preacher who is imbued with supernatural abilities after being possessed by a creature named Genesis. It’s a tall order for a TV show to tackle, even one on AMC, but somehow Rogen and Goldberg were able to translate the over-the-top weirdness of the comic book (think angels, demons, drunken vampires, and a character with an a**hole for a mouth) into a strangely poignant, at times frustrating, drama. Seeing is believing with this one.
Scrubs is more than “Guy Love.” Despite the show’s penchant for trafficking in absurd humor, Scrubs managed to pack in deeply emotional moments while also getting called “the most accurate television show about the medical profession.” While the final season may have been a departure from the original charm (it did give us Eliza Coupe, though, so it gets a pass), Zach Braff has never been more likable than he was as J.D., who was navigating his time at Sacred Heart from intern to physician. With hilarious moments of genuine friendship to the most cutting insults you wish you could use but fear HR repercussions, Scrubs proves that you don’t have to be an over the top soap opera or led by a genius misanthrope to keep people watching.Scrubs is showrunner Bill Lawrence at his best, and it definitely holds up to repeat viewings.
There are few shows out there that are as consistently manic and hilarious as Broad City. The dream team of Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson make living in New York seem like a screwed up fairy tale, and yet it is still more realistic than almost every other depiction of twentysomething life in the Big Apple. Their apartments are terrible, their sex toys are plentiful, and they are there to expose the cult-like nature of the co-op. While the jokes fly fast, they still manage to work in some pathos, especially in season three, which examines the changeable nature of friendship and how some relationships aren’t made to last.
If the animation of Futurama looks familiar, it’s because Simpson’s creator Matt Groening helped craft the show. His signature brand of humor’s part of its make-up too, but the plot strays from the relatively normal world of Springfield and takes into the future when a pizza guy is accidentally frozen in 1999 and thawed out in 2999.
Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult star in this period dramedy that riffs heavily off the vibe of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Oscar-nominated flick, The Favourite. Hoult has a hell of a lot of fun playing a sadistic sociopath who just so happens to be the Emperor of Russia. Fanning is his hopeful bride-to-be who comes to the palace looking for love and ends up launching a coup and a plot to murder her new husband. It’s a deliciously fun show filled with absurd characters and too many memeable quotes to count.
Aldous Huxley’s classic sci-fi 1932 book, Brave New World, stands as one of the earliest dystopian novels, and it’s remained surprisingly relevant. The good news for genre fans is that the book’s newest adaptation, as a Peacock TV series, results in an early vote of confidence for NBCUniversal’s streaming service (moreso than the David Schwimmer-starring spy comedy, Intelligence). The end result is alternatingly sleek and gritty, as well as charming and frightening. It’s representative and modern as well as cool and sexy and pulp-soaked. And perhaps most importantly, it’s a high-concept series that doesn’t get precious about the concept in question. Instead, this Brave New World operates with a roving eye upon captivating characters, and it refuses to take itself too seriously.
You don’t have to have read the Huxley novel to understand (and enjoy) this series, but let’s talk plot because this image ^^^ demands a slight explanation. Much of Brave New World takes place in a supposed utopia, New London, where everyone is “happy.” (Not everyone is happy.) All privacy has been outlawed, as has the concept of monogamy. That last construct is actually seen as the root of the downfall of civilization. This ^^ is what happens when people are allowed to get married, according to the New London powers that be. Monogamy = jealousy = violence = evil. The photo actually comes from the Savage Land theme park (it’s got a Westworld feel, yes, only more debauched and a lot less confusing), which is where the Savages (outcasts) reside and make a living by acting in vignettes when New Londoners swing in for educational purposes.
That’s only one way that this series revels in hyperkinetic experimentation. It also leans into pulpiness in places and often douses itself within an eerily antiseptic gloss in the New London settings. There, residents are designated by caste (Alpha, Beta, Epsilon, etc.). Everything looks perfect, and if that illusion starts to waver, a pharmaceutical aid (Soma) is there to help people calm the hell down and avoid negative emotions — all the better to preserve one’s energy for partying and dance-orgies.
Yet there are cracks in the facade that begin to trouble an Alpha-Plus counselor, Bernard Marx (Harry Lloyd of Game of Thrones), and a Beta citizen, Lenina Crowne (Jessica Brown Findlay from Downton Abbey), who venture out to the Savage Land on a day trip.
Peacock
As you might guess, the pair’s voyage doesn’t end well. Somewhere in the mess that follows, they encounter Alden Ehrenreich’s John The Savage, and the most delightful dynamic — between Bernard and John — of the series is born. And nothing on this show (and perhaps in New London society) will ever be the same.
Peacock
Findlay makes a worthy turn with the material that she’s given, but this is largely Lloyd and Ehrenreich’s show, at least during initial episodes. For sure, Lloyd does a fine job of moving past his infamous notorious role (in which he both wore a Targaryen wig and a molten crown of gold). His salesman-approach as Bernard Marx is a pleasure to behold. As are his inevitable-yet-graceful descents into panic mode if things don’t go as planned, along with watching John’s distinct lack of buying what Bernard is selling. For his part, Ehrenreich successfully (perhaps even with more nuance than necessary) swaggers beyond being known by mainstream audiences for Solo.
Another weapon in this gun’s barrel: Demi Moore as a Savage woman, one who dared to procreate in a non-test-tube manner, and she’s fantastic. It’s a role where Moore disappears in such a way that one can blink and see Patricia Arquette. That’s not simply down to the stying, for this is a very Patty Arquette type of role. This is one hardened badass (with a soft interior) who isn’t afraid to get dirty. Or bloody.
Peacock
That’s not to say that the show entirely focuses upon the Savage Land setting, although that will be key into luring viewers into the slickly-crafted saga. On many occasions in New London as well, the show serves up a sensory buffet, including scenes crafted with mature audiences in mind. A society that revolves around sex, drugs, and no virtue to be found other than pleasure suggest interesting questions on personal autonomy and how much freedom people can be seduced (often literally) into relinquishing. One can either meditate over the sometimes heady questions the story offers (although the show doesn’t pretend to be profound), or simply settle in and enjoy the spectacle of it all.
On a serious note, the representative nature of the show (even with three white leading actors) is strong, with an LGBTQ+-positive stance made explicit. There’s also a substantial tweak from the source material with retiring the book’s Native American stereotypes as depicted with the Savage reservation. I’m not saying that this show recontextualizes that aspect of the story on any level close to HBO’s Watchmen, but it’s a conscious shift, along with the show’s exploration of the clash between rural life and a cosmopolitan one. One can also see parables lurking in the shadows, but the show takes great pains to not weigh down viewers in heavy exposition or get too preachy.
As far as summer shows go, Brave New World might be ideal, and it scores points because it can be appreciated on multiple levels. Controversies with clones await, along with a celebration of sexuality that takes a handful of unexpected turns, sometimes for the better, and sometimes not. How savage, not to mention kind-of brave, although the show (refreshingly) never claims to be heroic.
‘Brave New World’ premieres on Peacock’s July 15 launch day.
Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a filtration system that can instantly neutralize and kill 99.8% of the coronavirus after a single pass through.
“It’s basically a high-performance COVID-19 killer,” Dr. Garrett Peel of Medistar, who helped craft the design, said according to Fox News.
The filter looks to be an important tool in fighting a virus that can remain in the air for hours and, in turn, spread more readily than viruses like the common flu. Harvard Health says that aerosolized coronavirus can remain in the air for up to three hours.
People who are asymptomatic can easily spread it to multiple people when they talk, breathe, cough, or sneeze.
In a world that has yet to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, an air filtration system is one of the best ways to combat the airborne disease at a time when businesses and schools are set to re-open across the country.
The filter was primarily designed by Zhifeng Ren, director of the Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH, in collaboration with Monzer Hourani, CEO of Medistar, a Houston-based medical real estate development firm.
via PixaBay
“This filter could be useful in airports and in airplanes, in office buildings, schools, and cruise ships to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Ren, a co-author of the research paper said in a press release.
“Its ability to help control the spread of the virus could be very useful for society,” Ren added.
Researchers describe the device as a “catch and kill” filter, made of commercially-available nickel foam that is heated to 392° F. Viruses like COVID-19 are unable to survive in temperatures above 158° F.
“It is porous, allowing the flow of air, and electrically conductive, which allowed it to be heated,” Ren said in a statement. “It is also flexible.”
When heated, the filter is able to kill 99.8% of COVID-19 that passed through it during laboratory tests, along with 99.9% of anthrax spores.
The developers of the filter would like it to be rolled out to organizations in order of importance.
Peel says it should be deployed “beginning with high-priority venues, where essential workers are at elevated risk of exposure — particularly schools, hospitals and health care facilities, as well as public transit environs such as airplanes.”
“We want to roll this out of Texas first and start deploying them in schools, nursing homes,” Peel added. “This unit could be deployed in 60 days.”
Researchers also hope to develop a smaller, desktop version that people can put on their desks at work to protect them from airborne COVID-19.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Wednesday, July 22nd on 
via PixaBay
University of Houston