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Did you watch Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin? If you did, you probably didn’t finish it. It was awfully long — longer than most movies. Those who made it to the finish line almost uniformly deemed it a “boring history lesson.” Despite getting one of the planet’s most notorious despots, Carlson, a favorite of Russia State TV, did not pry him with challenging questions, spending most of the chat staring at him with his patented dopey open-mouthed expression. As for Putin, he looked bored out of his mind, which, according to him, he was.

Per Max Seddon, The Financial Times’ Moscow Bureau Chief, Putin addressed his Tucker sit-down in a new interview, and, well, the former Fox News star left him profoundly unimpressed.

“I honestly thought he would be aggressive and ask tough questions,” Putin said. “I wanted that, because I would have given tough answers back.” He added that “to be frank, I didn’t get much pleasure from this interview.”

Strange that Putin didn’t have much fun sitting down for over two hours with a guy who didn’t even have any interesting questions. Carlson has sung the praises of Moscow, calling it “so much nicer any city in my country.” Perhaps he’d live to move there, even though there’s a chance they may have spent his trip messing with him for fun.

This time last year, Carlson was enjoying epic ratings each weeknight, feeding millions of Fox News viewers a bunch of nonsense. Since being fired last April, he’s struggled to find anything approaching that cultural footprint. Instead he’s been reduced to big gambits like boring the hell out of a guy who, given his druthers, could leave Europe once again destroyed.

Anyway, enjoy this: It’s the only time you’ll feel sorry for Vladimir Putin, a man whose punishment for invading Ukraine is having to to spend two hours talking to Tucker Carlson.

(Via The Financial Times‘ Max Seddon)

Last week, STARZ wrapped up the third season of Power Book III: Raising Kanan with an epic season finale that saw the death of two characters and the return of another. It was the chaotic and dramatic end that we’ve come to expect with shows from the Power Universe. The same can be expected with the upcoming third season of BMF. The series is next up on STARZ slate and its first episode will premiere in a couple of weeks. With that being said, let’s get you up to speed with everything you can expect to see happen in the third season of BMF.

Release Date

BMF season three will premiere on STARZ on March 1. It will mark almost a year since season two came to a close with a cliffhanger finale that premiered on March 17, 2023.

Cast

We don’t expect too many changes in the BMF main cast for season three. The names you can expect for the new season are:

• Demetrius Flenory Jr. as Demetrius “Meech” Flenory
• Da’Vinchi as Terry “Southwest T” Flenory
• Russell Hornsby as Charles Flenory (Meech and Terry’s father)
• Michole Briana White as Lucille Flenory (Meech and Terry’s mother)
• Eric Kofi-Abrefa as Lamar Silas
• Myles Truitt as B-Mickie
• Steve Harris as Detective Von Bryant
• La La Anthony as Markaisha Taylor
• Kelly Hu as Detective Veronica Jin
• Laila Pruitt as Nicole Flenory

However, there are some changes to the recurring cast as new names have been added to the show. They are:

• Snoop Dogg as Pastor Swift
• Serayah as Lori Walker
• Jerel Alston as Kevin Bryant
• Mo’Nique as Goldie
• 2 Chainz as Stacks (new)
• Ne-Yo as Rodney “Greeny” Green (new)
• Michael King as RIP (new)
• Lil Baby as Payne (one of Stacks’ foot soldiers) (new)
• Saweetie as Keeya (new)
• Cynthia Bailey as Gloria (new)

Plot

STARZ shared the official synopsis for season three — which will feature Meech and Terry in different cities — prior to the start of the season. You can read it below:

Season three of BMF resumes the storyline inspired by brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory (Demetrius Flenory, Jr.) and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory (Da’Vinchi), who established one of the most infamous crime families in the country known as, Black Mafia Family. We kick off Season Three in the early ’90s when the Flenory Family has reinvented themselves. Meech has moved to Atlanta on a mission to build up the BMF empire in the south that he and Terry created in Detroit. The series continues to humanize the choices of the brothers’ business and their pursuits of the American Dream.

Trailer

Last month, STARZ released a trailer for BMF season three. You can watch it in the video below.

BMF Season 3 Schedule

BMF season three is expected to have ten episodes and this is the tentative release schedule for the episodes:

• March 1: Episode 1
• March 8: Episode 2
• March 15: Episode 3
• March 22: Episode 4
• March 29: Episode 5
• April 5: Episode 6
• April 12: Episode 7
• April 19: Episode 8
• April 26: Episode 9
• May 3: Episode 10

How To Watch BMF Season 3

New episodes in BMF season three are available to stream on the STARZ app every Friday at 12 am ET/PT. The new episodes will also air on the STARZ TV channel at 8 pm ET/PT.

‘BMF’ season three debuts on STARZ on March 1, 2024. Seasons one and two are available now to stream on the STARZ app.

2024 Summer Olympics special correspondent Snoop Dogg is willing to go to any lengths to raise the bar of his coverage in Paris. According to Entertainment Weekly, that even included a promise to reporters at the winter Television Critics Association press tour to “get underwater” to make sure he’s fully prepared and doesn’t miss a story.

“It’s gonna be me in the field, at events, hosting, getting with the athletes, moving through the city,” he said. “Just doing the things Snoop Dogg does.”

As he put it, “We’re planning on shaking it up and doing something different, and just having fun. It’s the Olympics. We only get it once every four years, so we’re going to make the most of it.” However, he made sure to offer some reassurance to sports fans worried he might not do his due dilligence: “I don’t ever come in cold,” he declared. “I always come in hot. So with that being said, don’t worry about the research. I know everything about everyone. We’re gonna be fine.”

Snoop’s laid-back sports commentary has become something of a running gag over the years, as fans look forward to his unique takes on everything from hockey to boxing and everything in between, as illustrated by Peacock’s 2021 broadcast featuring Snoop and Kevin Hart being wowed by a variety of sports they didn’t quite get. You can check that out above.

When a microphone gets in front of Killer Mike, the result is either going to be really great (his Grammy Award-winning album >Michael) or make anyone listening want to groan aloud in horror. His latest stint on The Daily Show falls into the latter category — at least, it does for me — and I think we should maybe consider restricting his engagement with live mics to him rapping on them and nothing else.

While Mike reflected on his Grammy wins, host Jordan Klepper asked him a jokey question about another award show fixture, Taylor Swift, wondering if Swift “snubbed Celine [Dion].” The minor controversy found fans nitpicking Swift for not properly acknowledging the Canadian diva, who presented her the award for Album Of The Year (despite her Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis). Unfortunately, Mike took it left almost immediately, praising her for winning the award, then jokingly propositioning the “Anti-Hero” singer.

“She won at the Grammys,” he noted. “Her boyfriend won the Chiefs. If she’s into poly, me and my wife need a third. We’re trying to win again.”

Yikes, Mike.

Klepper did his best to mitigate the off-color joke, asking, “You feel like you could pull off polygamy right now?” prompting Mike to reel it in a bit. “I feel I could pull it off,” he said. “Only problem is my wife’s good with a gun. She doesn’t agree. But I’ll keep trying for all the men out there.”

Hey, man. That sounds like a YOU problem. Don’t do anything for all the men. My name’s Bennett and I ain’t in it. I’m sure the Swifties will be nice about this when they find out. It’s not like there isn’t already a wildly problematic history of rappers saying gross things about their leader.

Some icons have truly left this world too early. It’s a tragedy when anyone doesn’t make it to see old age, but when it happens to a well-known public figure, it’s like a bit of their art and legacy dies with them. What might Freddie Mercury have created if he were granted the gift of long life? Bruce Lee? Princess Diana?

Their futures might be mere musings of our imagination, but thanks to a lot of creativity (and a little tech) we can now get a glimpse into what these celebrities might have looked like when they were older.

Alper Yesiltas, an Istanbul-based lawyer and photographer, created a photography series titled “As If Nothing Happened,” which features eerily realistic portraits of long gone celebrities in their golden years. To make the images as real looking as possible, Yesiltas incorporated various photo editing programs such as Adobe Lightroom and VSCO, as well as the AI photo-enhancing software Remini.

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“The hardest part of the creative process for me is making the image feel ‘real’ to me,” Yesiltas wrote about his passion project. “The moment I like the most is when I think the image in front of me looks as if it was taken by a photographer.”

Yesiltas’ meticulousness paid off, because the results are uncanny.

Along with each photo, Yesiltas writes a bittersweet message “wishing” how things might have gone differently … as if nothing happened.

Freddie Mercury

See on Instagram

“I wish he hadn’t got that disease.”

There are plenty of amazing Freddie Mercury tributes and impersonators out there, but there will only ever be ONE Freddie Mercury.

Heath Ledger

See on Instagram

“I wish he hadn’t been affected by the exhaustion of his role.”

One of Ledger’s most notable roles is queer cowboy Ennis Del Mar in Ang Lee’s iconic 2005 romantic western drama “Brokeback Mountain.” In a time when queer storytelling was still taboo, Ledger’s honest and compassionate portrayal broke down a lot of barriers for future stories.

Though Ledger officially died due to an overdose, many believe it was his role of The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” that pushed him over the edge.

Janis Joplin

“I wish she hadn’t sought the inspiration she needed elsewhere.”

The powerful singer with electric stage presence is still one of the greatest female rock stars of all time. Scratch that—one of the greatest rock stars of all time, period.

Jimi Hendrix

“I wish he hadn’t sought the inspiration he needed elsewhere.”

Like Joplin and Ledger, Hendrix died due to an overdose—though many have speculated that it was instead the result of foul play.

Michael Jackson

See on Instagram

“I wish he hadn’t faced vitiligo.”

However questionable his personal life was, the King of Pop made some of the biggest contributions to music of all time. People continue to sing his songs, and likely will for a very, very long time.

Kurt Cobain

“I wish he had decided to stay.”

The insightful, poetic and troubled Cobain took his life at 27. His story is a cautionary tale that success does not necessarily help thwart struggles with mental health.

Bruce Lee

“I wish he hadn’t taken that painkiller that day.”

The actor and martial-arts expert died at 32, officially due to a harmful reaction to a painkiller. His philosophies around kung fu, however, are eternal.

John Lennon

See on Instagram

“I wish he hadn’t been in New York that day.”

Legendary artist and activist John Lennon was fatally wounded by a gunshot in December 1980. The last thing he talked about, revealed ex-wife Yoko Ono in an interview, was the desire to see his son before he went to sleep.

Elvis Presley

“I wish he decided to live a life where he paid more attention to the health of his heart.”

Had Presley not died of cardiac arrest, he would be 87 this year.

Tupac Shakur

See on Instagram

“I wish he hadn’t been involved in that event that would cause him to face the mafia.”

The cause of Tupac’s untimely death is also one of debate and speculation. According to some, he never died at all. What we can all agree on—he was one of hip-hop’s most iconic figures.

Princess Diana

See on Instagram

This one seems to be a new addition to the collection, so no wistful message. Although I’m sure the general sentiment is “I wish she were still here.”

AI-generated art is a controversial topic, to be sure. Some consider it a new, innovative medium. Others see it as devoid of any real creativity at all, as it’s produced by a machine, rather than a human. Many are concerned that, as is the case with many jobs that get machine automated, it will threaten the livelihood of actual illustrators.

Those concerns are certainly valid, but perhaps there’s a balance to be found here, as Yesiltas seems to have accomplished. Previously, another artist similarly created stunningly lifelike portraits of cartoon characters from “Encanto” and ”The Simpsons.” These works still required the human touch, and were carefully crafted over time rather than cracked out in mere seconds, as is the case with a lot of AI art.

At its best, AI art helps remind us, as Yesiltas puts it, that “anything imaginable can be shown in reality.” Which, at the end of the day, could be said for any art.

This article originally appeared on 9.23.22

For English speakers, it can feel impossible to conceive of what the language sounds like to those who don’t speak it. So, to give people an idea of how it’s heard by foreign ears, LanguageSimp, a hyperpolyglot, created a video on TikTok to simulate the experience of what English sounds like to non-speakers.

(A hyperpolyglot is someone who speaks multiple languages.)

The fake Ensligh spoken by LangugeSimp comprises a few English words in non-sensical patterns mixed with familiar sounds that are commonly heard in the language. The strange version of English being spoken sounds a lot like Simlish, the language used by characters in The Sims franchise.

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“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… He out here speaking in Simlish,” Michael Romanazzi wrote in the comments. People with keen ears may notice LanguageSimp uttering a strange phrase: “You’re literally dog water.”

Ever wondered what it’s like to not understand English? 

@languagesimp

Ever wondered what it’s like to not understand English? #english #languages #language #linguistics #USA #polyglot

The video is fun because it gives English-speaking people a unique perspective on their mother tongue. Hopefully, it also makes people a bit more empathetic towards those trying to learn the language.

“It sounds like I should be able to understand, but when I try it makes no sense,” DoggoDraagon commented.

The video brought back memories for many who have had to learn English as a second language.

“That’s how it sounded when I first moved to America; no wonder I can’t remember what they were saying to me,” Julio added. “As someone who grew up speaking only Spanish in Spain, learning English and understanding it was hard as hell,” Mimi commented.

Netflix has done it again. That is, they have resurrected another series to breathe new life into a show that wasn’t appreciated enough elsewhere. In this case, that would be Girls5Eva, formerly of Peacock and hailing from the mind of Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. These two seldom swing and miss, and now, we’ll be able to see TV’s funniest Spice Girls-esque 1990s girl group return to relive their glory days.

That’s more difficult dreamed than done, as audiences witnessed previously when the former pop sensations — portrayed by Busy Phillips, Sarah Bareilles, Paula Pell, and Renée Elise Goldsberry — attempted to relive their early-20s life while juggling family, real professions, and getting achier in the bod. (Hydration, people.) Now, however, they have managed to record their new album, so it’s time to go on tour. A predictable development? Well, it’s better than dealing with the Property Brothers again.

Plot

Yes, I meant to mention the Property Brothers above. They actually popped into the second season finale and did martial arts (no, really) after informing the group that they would not be touring on their record label’s dime.

The ladies were not to be detoured, or deterred, and they’re gonna do this thing on their own. The new album is called Returnity, and they have no crew or even bookings, but yes, it’s time for the on-the-road comeback. Man, I hope this tour rider surfaces. From the synopsis:

With no plan, tour manager, or venues secured, the ladies pile into a van and hit the great unknown, doing their damnedest to promote their album and get back on top. In the process, Girls5eva will grapple with life on the road, see their relationships tested, play a billionaire’s birthday party, sow their oats, confront parents they believe held them back, cross paths with the biggest pop star on the planet, and question if they really want “the big time” again. Will Girls5eva fast-track their comeback and sell their tour documentary in the process? Or will the road destroy them?

Cast

Are the Property Brothers going to be the surprise tour managers? If only. The better news: Busy Phillips, Sarah Bareilles, Paula Pell, and Renée Elise Goldsberry are all back on the roster.

Release Date

Girls5Eva officially returns (yes, on Netflix) on March 14.

Trailer

They might be a one-hit wonder, but these ladies are cooking up the next hit in the form of a trailer. We should see it arrive any week now.

Afrobeats is one of the fastest-growing genres in the country. There are big names who have seen global success, but there are even more talented up-and-coming artists looking to achieve the same type of success. Finding those artists can be tough, but we’ve got you covered. Every week, we’ll share an update on the best new afrobeats songs you need to hear and hopefully, you can find someone new to add to your rotation.

Since the last update of this weekly afrobeats column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists.

Here are some more releases on the new music front that you should check out:

Victony — “Everything”

With his debut album just around the corner, rising afrobeats singer Victony shares his first single of 2024 with “Everything.” The new record, which samples Post Malone and Swae Lee’s double-Diamond “Sunflower,” is a warm and vibrant record that captures the impact a woman has on the Nigerian singer. Victony delivers an original verse to open the song while pulling a part of Swae Lee’s “Sunflower” verse for the song’s second verse.

Black Sherif & Mabel — “Zero”

Later this year will mark two years since Black Sherif’s epic debut album The Villain I Never Was, a body of work that was regarded as one of the best afrobeats projects in 2022. His second album is hopefully en route, but until then, you can indulge in “Zero,” his new single with singer Mabei. Together, the singers showcase their desires to have drama-free lives while telling others to take care of their personal issues before approaching them.

Ayra Starr — “Commas”

Ayra Starr’s latest era is in full motion. It kicked off with the release of her “Commas,” her first release of the year, and a record that joins “Sability” and “Rhythm & Blues” as records presumably from her upcoming debut album. “Commas” is a vibrant and well-spirited anthem that Starr uses to preach about a lifestyle that only focuses on things that benefit her. If it doesn’t she’ll make sure it’s quickly removed from her life.

Khaid & Gyakie — “Run Away”

After releasing his If EP last fall, Nigerian singer Khaid returns alongside Gyakie for their new single “Run Away.” The new single speaks of a new love so strong that Khaid is ready for a longtime commitment toward it, and at the same time, he begs his partner to stick around and enjoy what he brings to the table rather than running away to something or someone else.

Kayode — Kay Kay

Last spring, Nigerian singer Kayode shared his second EP Still Figuring Life which delivered seven songs and features from PsychoP and Odumodoblvck. For 2024, he checks back in with his new EP Kay Kay. It’s a brief project, with just four songs to its name, but it’s an energetic one that serves as a great warm-up of what’s to come in the future for Kayode.

Magixx — “Okay”

We’re still waiting for the official debut from Mavins singer Magixx as his labelmates Ayra Starr, Crayon, and Rema have all delivered their own. Though we’ll have to wait a bit to receive word on that, the talented singer returns with “Okay.” Despite the stresses that can appear from all corners of life, Magixx assures listeners that he’s doing okay and pushing through as best as he can.

Logos Olori — Olori (The EP)

Last year, Nigerian singer Logos Olori appeared on “Picasso” from Davido’s Timeless album, which went on to receive a Grammy nomination for the 2024 awards. Now, Logos, who is signed to Davido’s label, is back with his debut EP. Olori (The EP) delivers seven songs and guest appearances from Davido himself and Musa Keys, who is also signed to Davido’s label and appeared on the Grammy-nominated “Unavailable” from Davido’s Timeless

Larrylanes — “Mamba” Feat. Seyi Vibez & Bella Shmurda

After connecting with Reekado Banks for “Emotional Robbery,” Nigerian producer Larrylanes is back in action with his new single “Mamba” alongside Seyi Vibez and Bella Shmurda. Larrylanes’ 2024 debut is an energetic and lively record that’s perfect for the dancefloor and your daytime party as well.

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

It’s Valentine’s Day, and you know what that means: PDAs from celebrities to their loved ones. Could any of them be as romantic as the one Donald Trump sent to his AWOL wife Melania, which thanked her for sticking with him through “every single INDICTMENT, ARREST, and WITCH HUNT”? It’s hard to say. But the jokey one from Chris Hemsworth may at least be a little stranger.

Per People, the Blackhat alum took to Instagram with a post addressed to his wife, Elsa Pataky. But it wasn’t onlyf or her. It was meant to educate non-Australians about something important.

“This year I thought I’d share with you how babies are made in Australia,” Hemsworth wrote in the caption. “It’s both a game of passion, love and intense sportsmanship where [everyone’s] a winner.”

So how does one make babies in Australia? The video shows Hemsworth swimming up to Pataky in slow-motion, then, well, mounting her, sort of, by climbing onto her back and clasping her in an embrace. All this happens, by the way, to the strains of Enya’s “Only Time.”

Hemsworth often posts pictures of him and his wife on social media. They’ve been married since 2010 and have three kids together, including twins, but that doesn’t mean everything’s always love-dovey between them. After he got extra-jacked for Thor: Love and Thunder — having been so bored during the pandemic that he over-trained — she admitted that she didn’t like his new, super-ripped bod. Perhaps she preferred Beer-Gut Thor from Avengers: Endgame.

Anyway, Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone — even if you’re an anti-Valentine’s Day grump like Bernie Sanders.

(Via People)

What was a day of celebration in Kansas City became another American tragedy. Shortly after the Chiefs partied on stage at their Super Bowl parade, the thousands that had gathered suddenly had to flee after shots were fired near the parking garage of Union Station.

Kansas City police confirmed the shooting on Twitter, asking fans to leave the area and avoid the garage to allow medical personnel to attend to multiple shooting victims. Two armed individuals were initially taken into custody.

It was a scary scene as fans ran away from Union Station, with some leaping the barricades set up for the parade trying to get away quickly, not long after the team had been on stage delivering their remarks to the tens of thousands in attendance in the aftermath of their Super Bowl victory in Las Vegas earlier this week.

The images are a grizzly reminder of the ever-present threat of gun violence, where even a celebration like a Super Bowl parade can suddenly turn into a tragic event. A reunification area was set up by police because many families were separated in the chaos of people fleeing for safety.

KSHB confirmed with Kansas City police that there were 10 victims, including multiple children who were being treated at Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Hospital in relation to the shooting.

Caitlin Knute of KSHB provided a later update that one person was killed and eight were in serious or critical condition.

A number of players tweeted out their prayers and concern for those at the parade.

Police will hold a press conference at 3:30 p.m. CT to provide further updates.