Even though America has come a long way in gender relations over the past few decades men are still far behind women when accepting domestic responsibilities.
A recent study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use Survey found that women aged 15 and over spend 5.7 hours daily on domestic tasks, whereas men spend 3.6 hours, a 37 percent difference. Women with a 35-hour week devote 4.9 hours daily to home chores and child care, compared to men’s 3.8 hours.
In a world where men still trail behind women when it comes to work on the homefront, a Texas UPS driver is going viral for a TikTok video where he urges men to reconsider how they think about domestic responsibilities.
In a video with over 6 million views, J.R. Minton proudly says he doesn’t “help” his wife with jobs around the house. “I don’t help my wife cook. I don’t help her clean, do laundry, take care of the kids — none of that,” Minton, 32, began his clip.
“Because I do what I am supposed to do as a father and a husband. I cook. I clean. I do the laundry. I take care of the kids. I can’t help my wife do those things because they are my job, too,” he reveals.
He then urged men to change their perspectives on how they view their relationship to domestic responsibilities and their wives. “Change the way you speak, change the way you think, and grow the f*** up and be a man,” he added.
The video received raves from women in the comments. Sadly, many used the video to share that their husbands have fallen short of Minton’s level of understanding. “My husband sometimes doesn’t even flush the toilet,” Human Robot wrote. “I am sending this straight to my man he needs to see this,” JJsMom added.
“Yep! My husband and I recognize it’s BOTH our kids and BOTH our house, therefore BOTH our responsibility,” Sweetheart wrote.
Minton is an equal partner to his wife because he was raised much differently and wants to right the wrongs of his past. “Pretty much everything about my parenting style is in spite of what I saw when I was growing up,” he told Today.com
Minton knew that his philosophy on marriage was necessary when a woman at Target praised him for doing the “bare minimum.” “I was wearing the baby, and I had two kids in the cart, and this lady comes up to Brittany, and she’s like, ‘Oh my God. Is this your husband!? Look at him. You should take a picture of him,’” Minton said. “I get so much credit for doing nothing. How low is the bar?”
Minton responded to his viral video with a heartfelt follow-up to everyone who loved how he cared for his wife and family. “I’m truly humbled at how far my message has gone,” he said. “However, I’d like to take a second to say: I am not special. I am no ‘unicorn.’ I am normal.”
“Nothing about my parenting style or my commitment to my wife is unique. Although it may seem out of the ordinary, it is far from extraordinary,” he continued. “Every father and husband we know (that seems to come up short) is fully-capable — yet unwilling.” He added that there was one thing that separates dads who do their part and dads who don’t: “Effort.”
Cheap scotch doesn’t always mean “bad” scotch. There are some bangers on the shelf that won’t cost you a fortune when it comes to dabbling in the tipple from Scotland. Sure, you’re not going to be wowed by good cheap Scotch whisky (let’s be realistic), but you might be… pleasantly surprised. Sometimes that’s enough!
Below, I’m calling out 10 bottles of Scotch whisky that won’t break the bank. Each bottle offers something truly tasty, is generally available nationwide, and costs less than $40. To be clear, these prices are based on Total Wine and ReserveBar set to deliver in Kentucky. So local prices may vary slightly.
The best part is that there’s something for everyone below — even though these are ranked. Some of these whiskies are blends, some are young single malts (relatively), and some are peated, some not. The point is to go through and find the tasting notes that speak to you and then hit those price links to snag your own bottle. Let’s dive in!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months
Scotch isn’t only single malts. David Beckham’s signature whisky with Diageo is a single grain whisky made with a mix of mainly wheat with a touch of malted barley (“single grain” can feel like a bit of a misnomer, but it means that it’s a “grain” whisky made with various grains from a “single” source/distiller). This grain whisky hails from Cameronbridge Distillery. The whisky aged over seven years before vatting, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This has a very fruity nose with stewed apples mingling with banana bread, orange, and lemon with a touch of oak spice.
Palate: The palate adds an eggnog spice vibe to the mix with a nice vanilla depth and a touch of cedar before the citrus and stewed fruits take back over.
Finish: The spiciness peaks with a bit more banana bread and walnut at the end.
Bottom Line:
This is a nice and very easy pour of whisky. It’s fruity and a tad buttery with a touch of bourbon edge. Overall, you can pour this into a glass with some good mineral water, ice, and a citrus garnish and it’ll shine.
9. Buchanan’s DeLuxe Blended Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
Buchanan’s is making a big comeback. Part of that is due to this expression snagging a Double Gold from the San Francisco World Spirit Competition in 2020. Another part is the quality of Diageo whiskies in the blend.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The whiskey opens with a real sense of dark chocolate married to bright orange zest on the nose.
Palate: The palate builds on that adding hints of vanilla pudding and dark spices next to a cedar woodiness and a little bit of spicy/ chewy tobacco.
Finish: A whisper of peat arrives late and far in the background as the chocolate orange throughline lasts the longest on the fade.
Bottom Line:
This is a nice and very easy introduction to peat in whisky. It’s so subtle but still there. The whisky feels fruity and spicy with a soft minerality. Overall, mix this into cocktails or highballs.
This old-school blend is built around Cragganmore and Glendullan single malts. The whiskies mellow for 12 years before they’re vatted and proofed for this bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There are cinnamon apple cookies on the nose with a touch of honey, nuts, and dry malt.
Palate: The taste is very malty with a touch of cedar, tobacco spice, and more honey/apple/cinnamon.
Finish: The end is warm, malty, and slightly sweet thanks to the honey.
Bottom Line:
This is a classic highball whisky through and through. Pour this over some rice with good mineral water and then add a dried apple or pear slice as garnish (with maybe a whisper of mint). It’ll sing.
7. Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
The classic Black Label is a blend of over 40 grain and single malt whiskies from three dozen distilleries in the Diageo stable, including powerhouses like Talisker and Lagavulin. The throughline is that all of the whiskies are at least 12 years old when married into this blend.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Citrus meets spicy Christmas cake and a bit of powdery white pepper that’s just kissed with soft orchard wood smoke on the nose.
Palate: Those wintery spices carry on through the taste as creamy maltiness, caramel sweetness, and dry herbs bounce on your tongue.
Finish: The oak comes in late with a dose of peaty smoke that’s cut by an orange zest flourish on the quick end.
Bottom Line:
This is a gateway Scotch whisky. The peat is there but very dialed back. Overall, this is meant for making a killer but simple highball with good mineral water and a floral or botanical garnish.
Dewar’s White Label and 12 get a lot of attention, and rightfully so. They’re fine bottles. But for the price, their 15-year-old expression is a winner. The extra three years this blend gets in the barrel adds a nice depth that speaks to how good blended scotch can be while still being affordable.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Apples covered in caramel and walnuts mix with a bit of sherry jamminess on the nose.
Palate: That nuttiness leads the way on the taste as a malty cracker mixes with toffee, vanilla, and dried fruits.
Finish: The end holds onto the sweetness of those fruits then fades quickly towards an earthy yet honeyed final note.
Bottom Line:
This is a good bridge between the highball whiskies above and the cocktail mixers below. This is just complex enough to hold up in a nice citrus-forward cocktail. That all said, you can also drink this over ice for an easy everyday sipper.
5. Aberfeldy Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old
This Highland malt is the cornerstone of the much-beloved Dewar’s Blended Scotch. This whisky is a very accessible single malt that spends 12 years resting in various casks before it’s married, proofed down, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The heart of the nose is in the mingling of pear and honey with a hint of Christmas spice, especially nutmeg.
Palate: The palate expands on that with a lush maltiness, creamy vanilla, mild spice, and more of that honey and orchard fruit.
Finish: The end gets slightly nutty and bitter with a little water as the honey, fruit, and spice linger on the senses.
Bottom Line:
This is where we get into the good cocktail whiskies. This adds a nice depth to your favorite whiskey-forward cocktails, works wonders in a simple highball any time of year, and works as a table whisky for on-the-rocks sipping. That’s versatility.
The lion’s share of this blend — 45% — comes from a single-grain whisky aged in ex-bourbon from Cameronbridge Distillery. 22% is a single malt aged in ex-bourbon that comes from Linkwood Distillery. The rest is a mix of French oak and ex-bourbon single malts and blended malts from the Highlands, Clyneilish, Linkwood, and Balmenach. Those whiskies are vatted and then proofed down before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This opens with a very clear and concise note of apple candy with a hint of salted caramel ice cream cut with a touch of eggnog spices.
Palate: There’s a nice maltiness that leans into a creamy vanilla, soft holiday spice mix, butter toffee, and a hint of milk chocolate near the end.
Finish: The finish is warming with a whisper of tobacco next to a woody apple, spice candies (maybe ginger), and a final hint of cocoa and caramel.
Bottom Line:
This is a great choice if you’re looking to whip up some killer cocktails. It’s dynamic and has a twinge of bourbon that’ll feel familiar.
3. Chivas Regal Blended Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
The Strathisla Distillery in the Scottish Highlands is where Chivas comes together. The whisky is well-rounded and designed to be a workhorse that’s an easy sipper but also works wonders in a cocktail.
The Taste:
Nose: The nose opens with a deep sense of dried apples and pears dipped in fresh honey and then rolled in roasted almonds and walnuts with a whisper of barrel spice sneaking in late.
Palate: The palate hints at dried florals before touching a buttery toffee, soft spiced tobacco leaf, and almost musty oak.
Finish: The end is a little chewy thanks to that spiced tobacco leaf with a nice hint of apple/pear cider cut with winter spices and honeycomb.
Bottom Line:
This is the quintessential on the rocks whisky. Add a dash of Angostura Bitters to the glass and you’ll have a great sipper in your hand.
2. Loch Lomond The Original Single Malt Scotch Whisky
This lightly peated single malt from the Highlands is a classic. The juice is a no-age-statement whisky that’s meant as an entry point to the wider brand. The malt is just kissed with peat while malting. The single malt blend is a mix of those barrels with an eye on highlighting the subtler aspects of the whisky. Once vatted, the whisky is proofed and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a nice dose of honey wafer biscuits wrapped in an old leather sheet with a hint of dried grass, soft raisins, and mildly spicy malts.
Palate: The palate leans into those malts with a hint of malted vanilla next to oatmeal cookies with cinnamon, raisins, and walnuts next to a glass of heavy cream for dipping.
Finish: The end kicks in with a sharp orange/cinnamon before descending toward soft oak and more of that leather and honey wafer.
Bottom Line:
This is just a nice pour of whisky. You can use it however you like to drink everyday whisky and you won’t be disappointed.
1. Glenmorangie The Original Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years
The Glenmorangie is a classic Highlands single malt. The juice is created on the tallest stills in Scotland, which allows more spirit creation along the way as it’s boiled. The whisky then spends ten years mellowing in ex-bourbon barrels. Finally, the whiskey is vatted, proofed, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with soft grains next to a rush of dried fruits and supple leather with a floral hint that leans toward dry hibiscus and fresh woodruff.
Palate: The palate is gentle with hints of wet malts next to powdered dark spices, fresh honeycombs, and a thin line of vanilla oils just touched with orange zest and maybe a twinge of grapefruit.
Finish: The end arrives with a soft honeyed sweetness that feels like it’s drizzled over an orange cake with a hint of malted cracker graininess next to an echo of old apple chips.
Bottom Line:
This is the most nuanced and deeply hewn single malt on the list. It works really well as an on-the-rocks sipper and it’ll make a cocktail shine. It’s just good stuff and amazingly approachable.
The beauty of American whiskey is that it doesn’t have to cost too much to be genuinely enjoyable. That’s especially true of bourbon. The corn-based spirit is made in massive quantities by huge distilleries that can make it cheap and well. That translates to very good bourbon hitting the shelf at very low prices — yes, even under $30.
Below, I’m calling out 12 bourbons that you can find, that taste great, and are all under $30. It’s a true sweet spot and a great place to start a bourbon journey and/or simply stock your home bar with quality cheap juice that’ll please pretty much everyone who loves whiskey. Those are all wins, folks.
I did rank these whiskeys. Look, they’re all good but some do offer that little bit more somethin’ somethin’ that help them stand out a tad more. So read through my tasting notes and find that bourbon that grabs you. Then hit those price links and then enjoy!
A quick note on price. These prices are set according to Total Wine in Louisville, Kentucky. Local prices may vary. Let’s dive in.
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This is a standard bourbon from Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, otherwise known as Willett. This blended batch of bourbon is all about the small level of proofing to bring it down to bonded level (100 proof). That lack of water lets those barrels shine a touch more.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This opens with a nice mix of woody vanilla next to cherry hard candies that mellow towards cherry cotton candy lace with echoes of oak and toffee in the background.
Palate: The palate leans into the cherry but layers in wintry spices with vanilla sugar cookies and caramel apples straight from the fairgrounds.
Finish: The finish isn’t long but doesn’t disappear either, as that cherry and spice merge into cherry cough drops.
Bottom Line:
Willett has a rabid fan base. This is where it all starts. This is perfectly good mixing bourbon for cocktails. It has enough ABVs to stand out and will deliver a classic Kentucky bourbon vibe to any cocktail.
11. Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 100 Proof
Old Forester bourbons are stone-cold classics. Their 100-proof expression is made in the same way as their 86-proof (72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley and aged in Louisville, Kentucky). The key difference is that after these barrels are blended, they’re barely touched with water, keeping the proof very hearty.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Oak and caramel draw you in on the nose with a nice dose of cherry candy and a hint of coffee bitterness.
Palate: The palate wallows in vanilla as a spicy apple pie with a vanilla-flecked, buttery crust drives the taste before the cherry comes back in full force with a hint of brandy oak spice.
Finish: The oak, cherry, and spice powers the pour with a medium-length fade and plenty of bourbon warmth.
Bottom Line:
This is another great whiskey-forward cocktail candidate. It’ll imbue all those classic sweet and cherry bourbon notes that you want in a simple old fashioned or bourbon sour.
This whiskey embraces a high-rye mash bill that’s comprised of 68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% malted barley. The hot juice is then rested for six years before blending, cutting down to proof, and barreling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is classic Kentucky bourbon with clear dark cherry tobacco, apple cider doughnuts, plenty of cinnamon, eggnog creaminess, and a little rye grassiness (think dry sweetgrass).
Palate: The spice on the palate is squarely in the cinnamon category with creamy vanilla, more warm fruity tobacco, and a hint of orchard bark lurking in the background.
Finish: The end is warm but fades pretty quickly, leaving you with soft oak, dark spice, brown sugar, and a whisper of sweet and creamy grits.
Bottom Line:
This is almost a no-brainer buy. You should have this bottle on hand simply by virtue of it being so well-known. Anybody cruising by your place will know it likely like it. Moreover, this whiskey makes really good cocktails while working perfectly fine as an on-the-rates pour or shooter.
9. 1792 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Small Batch
This whiskey from Barton 1792 Distillery is a no-age-statement release made in “small batches.” The mash is unknown, but Sazerac mentions that it’s a “high rye” mash bill, which could mean anything. The whiskey is batched from select barrels and then proofed down and bottled as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a woody cherry bark next to sour apple pies, distiller’s beer, and caramel candies next to vanilla cream with a counterpoint of cumin and dry chili lurking in the deeper reaches of the nose.
Palate: The palate opens with a Cherry Coke feel next to rich and buttery toffee, vanilla malts, and sharp Hot Tamales cinnamon candy with a nod toward allspice and root beer.
Finish: The end is soft and lush with vanilla smoothness leading to black cherry tobacco braided with cedar bark and wicker.
Bottom Line:
This is another whiskey that makes a hell of a cocktail (and it’s built specifically to do so). I would lean more citrus-forward with this one — so think sours, smashes, and the like. The malty vanilla and cherry shine through nicely with lemon and sugar.
8. Weller Special Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This is a classic wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace, which doesn’t publish any of its mash bills. Educated guesses put the wheat percentage of these mash bills at around 16 to 18%, which is pretty average. The age of the barrels on this blend is also unknown.
Overall, we know this is a classic wheated bourbon, and … that’s about it.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a tannic sense of old oak next to sweet cherries, vanilla cookies, and that Buffalo Trace leathery vibe with a hint of spiced tobacco lurking underneath.
Palate: The palate has a creamy texture kind of like malted vanilla ice cream over a hot apple pie cut with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and walnuts next to Frosted Raisin Bran with a hint of candied cherry root beer.
Finish: The end takes that sweet cherry and apple and layers it into a light tobacco leaf with a mild sense of old musty barrel warehouses.
Bottom Line:
This is another one that’s a no-brainer. Every whiskey lover will know “Weller” in one way or another. This is their mixer expression though, so treat it accordingly. I tend to use this more for sours and smashes too and save the Antique 107 Weller for whiskey-forward cocktails.
This whiskey — distilled at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown — is kind of like a Tennessee whiskey made in Kentucky. The whiskey has a standard mash bill of corn, rye, and barley. The juice is then aged but before it goes into the bottles it is charcoal filtered. That whiskey is then batched, proofed down with limestone water, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This leans very classic bourbon with hints of corn on the cob with melty salted butter next to hints of soft leather pouches filled with roasted peanut shells, a touch of caramel, and a vanilla/chocolate ice cream vibe.
Palate: The palate keeps things super easy as that rich vanilla ice cream leads towards holiday spices, tart green apples, and a freshly baked cornbread bespeckled with dried chili flakes and black pepper.
Finish: The finish is soft and fast with that spice leading back towards a leather tobacco chew.
Bottom Line:
This is soft and very nutty/creamy bourbon. It works really well in cocktails where a hint of nuttiness works — think of Manhattans, creamy nogs, or even boulevardiers. I would also argue that this is nice enough to pour over some rocks for everyday sipping.
6. Old Grand-Dad 114 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Hailing from the James B. Beam stills and warehouses, this “Old” whiskey is a fan favorite. The whiskey is from Beam’s high rye mash bill. The hot juice is then matured until it’s just right. The barrels are blended, the whiskey is just touched with water to bring the proof down, and it’s bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Vanilla tobacco meets hints of rye spiciness with a dose of caramel and old oak on the nose.
Palate: The palate holds onto that rye spice as notes of cherry and oak dominate the vanilla and toffee sweetness.
Finish: The end returns to the spice with a chewy tobacco edge that lingers for a short time but leaves you wanting more.
Bottom Line:
This is a great “table” whiskey. That means that it works for everyday sipping (over some rocks), good mixing, or just chilling with a beer. It’s not going to blow you away but it will get the job done when you’re looking for a classic Kentucky pour.
This is Maker’s signature expression made with Red winter wheat and aged seasoned Ozark oak for six to seven years. This expression’s whiskey is then sourced from only 150 barrels (making this a “small batch”). Those barrels are then blended and proofed with Kentucky limestone water before bottling and dipping in their iconic red wax.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is full of those heavily charred oak barrel notes next to classic hints of caramel and vanilla with a grassy underbelly.
Palate: That grassiness becomes vaguely floral as slightly spiced caramel apples arrive, along with a chewy mouthfeel that leads towards a soft mineral vibe — kind of like wet granite.
Finish: The end holds onto the fruit and sweetness as the oak and dried grass stay in your senses.
Bottom Line:
This is a great standard whisky to have on hand. It’s clean and soft with a nice nuance to it (thanks to the red winter wheat instead of rye in the mash bill). Overall, this is the whisky you want to use for Manhattans and Sazeracs thanks to that nice bite of dry grassiness that powers through the other cocktail ingredients while working well with them.
4. Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This is Elijah Craig’s entry-point bottle. The mash is corn-focused, with more malted barley than rye. The whiskey is then rendered from “small batches” of barrels to create this proofed-down version of the iconic brand.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a light sense of rickhouse wood beams next to that mild taco seasoning on the nose with caramel apples, vanilla ice cream scoops, and a hint of fresh mint with a sweet/spicy edge.
Palate: The palate opens with a seriously smooth vanilla base with some winter spice (especially cinnamon and allspice) next to a hint of grain and apple pie filling.
Finish: The end leans towards the woodiness with a hint of broom bristle and minty tobacco lead undercut by that smooth vanilla.
Bottom Line:
This is an essential Kentucky bourbon and house pour. It’s as versatile in a glass on the rocks as it is in a cocktail. Have fun with this one.
This is the whiskey that heralded a new era of bourbon in 1999. Famed Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee came out of retirement to create this bourbon to celebrate the renaming of the George T. Stagg distillery to Buffalo Trace when Sazerac bought the joint. The rest, as they say, is history, especially since this has become a touchstone bourbon for the brand.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Classic notes of vanilla come through next to a dark syrup sweetness, a flourish of fresh mint, and raw leather that veers towards raw steak.
Palate: The palate cuts through the sweeter notes with plenty of spices — like clove and star anise — next to a hint of tart berries underneath it all.
Finish: The end is long, velvety, and really delivers on the vanilla and spice.
Bottom Line:
This is a straight-up modern classic. It’s easygoing but delivers on the hype around Buffalo Trace in general. I’d use this for simple yet delicious whiskey-forward cocktails but would never turn down a pour over some ice either. It’s dealer’s choice, really.
2. Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon is a blend of four whiskeys. The blend is split evenly between the high and low-rye bourbons with a focus on “slight spice” and “rich fruit” yeasts — that means OBSK, OESK, OBSO, and OESO are in the mix (here’s what all of that means). After six to seven years of aging, the whiskey is blended, cut with soft Kentucky water, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Soft and sweet apple and cherry woods greet with a good dose of sour red berries dusted with brown winter spices, especially clove and nutmeg.
Palate: The palate leans into soft and salted caramel with a hint of those berries underneath while the spices get woodier and a thin line of green sweetgrass sneaks in.
Finish: The finish is silky and boils down to blackberry jam with a good dose of winter spice, old wood, and a hint of vanilla tobacco.
Bottom Line:
This is a strong whiskey that could easily be number one on this list. It’s very good, dynamic, and gettable everywhere. It also makes a killer fruity-forward cocktail. At the same time, you can easily sip this slowly over a big ol’ rock.
1. Jim Beam Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Each of these Jim Beam bottlings is pulled from single barrels that hit just the right spot of taste, texture, and drinkability, according to the master distillers at Beam. That means this juice is pulled from less than one percent of all barrels in Beam’s warehouses, making this a very special bottle at a bafflingly affordable price.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with classic notes of vanilla sheet cake, salted caramel, wintry mulled wine spices, and a sense of cherry pie in a lard crust next to a hint of dried corn husk, old broom bristle, and dark chocolate pipe tobacco.
Palate: The palate layers in floral honey and orange zest next to sticky toffee pudding, old leather, and cherry tobacco layered with the dark chocolate with this lingering sense of coconut cream pie lurking somewhere in the background.
Finish: The finish leans into more woody winter spices (especially cinnamon bark and nutmeg) with rich toffee and cherry-chocolate tobacco braided with dry sweetgrass and cedar bark.
Bottom Line:
This is the best choice in this price bracket. You simply cannot beat this whiskey at this price. It’s deep and nuanced with a great drinkability that works wonders in whiskey-forward cocktails or over a big piece of ice. Hell, you can shoot this one too if that’s your jam — but you’ll miss a lot of the details that make this one great.
Legendary Star Wars actor Mark Hamill was finally united with his “mom” at the Golden Globes on Sunday night. In a jokingly proud moment, Hamill shared a backstage photo with Natalie Portman as he couldn’t resist letting Star Wars fans know about this long overdue family reunion.
“Now I have finally met my “mother”, thanks to the @goldenglobes,” Hamill tweeted.
If you don’t get the reference, we’ll walk you through it. While Luke Skywalker’s birth mother was only briefly referenced in the original Star Wars trilogy that mainly focused on Luke’s father and son relationship with Darth Vader, that was not the case in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.
Portman portrayed Luke’s mother, Padme Amidala, in all three of the early 2000s films where her character was front and center thanks to her burgeoning relationship with Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker. While Anakin becoming Darth Vader was known to fans, the fate of his bride remained a mystery until the final installment, Revenge of the Sith.
In that film, Anakin finally succumbs to the Dark Side, leaving behind a pregnant Padme who gives birth to Jedi twins Luke and Leia in the final moments of the prequel trilogy. However, she dies shortly after naming the future heroes before they’re whisked away to separate locations by Senator Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor).
Considering Revenge of the Sith came out in 2005, it’s only taken Hamill 19 years to meet his “mom, but better late than never.
When Do The 2024 BottleRock Napa Valley Festival Tickets Go On Sale?
Three-day general admission tickets will be available for purchase starting tomorrow, January 9, at 10 a.m. PST. VIP tickets are currently marked as sold out on the BottleRock website, but perhaps that’s a temporary thing before the tickets actually go on sale. There are other ticket tiers as well, so find more information about that on BottleRock’s tickets page. Some ticket tiers will have one-day passes available, although it’s not currently clear when those will go on sale.
As for price, BottleRock is going with a “no surprises at checkout” policy for the first time this year, meaning no hidden fees. So, GA tickets are listed at $456 ($409 for the ticket and $47 for fees), and VIP tickets are set to cost $1,264 ($1,195 for the ticket, $69 for fees).
Learn more about 2024 BottleRock fest tickets here.
Claudia Johnson was “Lady Bird.” Helen Taft was “Nervous Nellie.” Pat Nixon was “Plastic Pat.” But among first ladies, Ronald Reagan’s wife, Nancy, had the best nickname of them all: “the Blowjob Queen of Hollywood.”
This is all-important context for “Throat Surgeon.”
Over the weekend, Republican presidential wannabe Vivek Ramaswamy saluted his surgeon and cancer researcher wife, Apoorva, on X. “Throat surgeon. Mother. Future First Lady. Star of the day on the Iowa campaign trail,” he wrote. Ramaswamy probably could have phrased that better.
Instead of “throat surgeon,” Ramaswamy, who opposes affirmative action, described the trans community as a “cult,” and has said that he would consider Ted Cruz as his running mate, could have gone with his wife’s actual title. It’s literally the first four words of her bio: “I am a laryngologist.”
In promotion of his new era, Lil Nas X has been leaning into Christian themes, especially today (January 8) with the announcement that his new single, “J Christ,” is coming out on January 12. The single’s cover art features a re-creation of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, with Nas playing the role of Jesus. This appears to have rubbed some people the wrong way, and now Lil Nas X has something to say about it.
MY NEW SINGLE IS DEDICATED TO THE MAN WHO HAD THE GREATEST COMEBACK OF ALL TIME!
In a tweet shared after the announcement, the rapper dismissed the idea that he’s mocking Jesus, writing, “the crazy thing is nowhere in the picture is a mockery of jesus. Jesus’s image is used throughout history in people’s art all over the world. I’m not making fun of sh*t. yall just gotta stop trying to gatekeep a religion that was here before any of us were even born. stfu.”
the crazy thing is nowhere in the picture is a mockery of jesus. Jesus’s image is used throughout history in people’s art all over the world. I’m not making fun of shit. yall just gotta stop trying to gatekeep a religion that was here before any of us were even born. stfu
One reads, “The reason a lot of yall are not understanding J Christ and Lil Nas X’s new era in general is because you also blatantly misunderstood Montero (Call Me By Your Name) and its message. There is no mocking happening anywhere. It’s just art like so many other artists have done.” Another one says, “If y’all truly cared about religion like yall say u do, You could easily see how heavy of a Christian he & his family is. Yall wanna gatekeep people from religion so bad. Its not him making religion look bad it’s yall making it look bad by saying who can&cant be a Christian.” Somebody else wrote, “Imagine telling Lil Nas X that he’s not allowed to use the iconography of the world’s largest religion, that shaped the western culture and informed ALL of the western art, to express himself, like ALL western artists have been doing for the past couple of millenia.”
The reason a lot of yall are not understanding J Christ and Lil Nas X’s new era in general is because you also blatantly misunderstood Montero (Call Me By Your Name) and its message.
There is no mocking happening anywhere. It’s just art like so many other artists have done. pic.twitter.com/7Ler1CzUqi
Imagine telling Lil Nas X that he’s not allowed to use the iconography of the world’s largest religion, that shaped the western culture and informed ALL of the western art, to express himself, like ALL western artists have been doing for the past couple of millenia
Meanwhile, on January 3, Nas tweeted, “my new song features a very beloved popstar who ive been a fan of for a long time,” but who that is has not yet been revealed.
my new song features a very beloved popstar who ive been a fan of for a long time.
Suits successfully ran for nine seasons on the USA Network and concluded in September 2019. Currently, every season is available to stream on Peacock, although the first eight seasons dominated Netflix bingewatching sessions for much of 2023. Is this still a mild surprise? Perhaps, but the show was enjoyable enough while airing and has presumably been bolstered about curiosity about Meghan Markle’s pre-royal career.
It certainly didn’t hurt Suits that the streaming services did slow their original series output during Hollywood’s recent shutdown, which gave people even more available time to crank through the fluffy legal drama and watch Harvey Specter close those deals. Now, the show’s world has expanded because no studio can resist reviving a hit show where there’s potential. Here’s what we know about the Suits-related series that has been greenlit:
Plot
NBCUniversal nursed that interest by having four Suits cast members (Patrick J. Adams, Gabriel Macht, Gina Torres, and Sarah Rafferty) materialize at the recent Globes ceremony to present an award, as seen below.
During the evening, Macht, who portrayed deal-maker extraordinaire Harvey Specter, remarked (to Variety) of the show’s zombie resurrection, “It’s just gotten incredible eyes. And we’re very grateful for it.” Whereas Adams, who embodied fake lawyer Mike Ross on the hit series, went further to declare, “If I got the phone call, I’d be ready to suit up again. I loved the show, I loved the character and I loved working with all these people.”
Could a real reunion actually happen? Suits creator Aaron Korsh has gone on record to declare that his new Suits-related show is not reboot, a revival, or a spinoff (the series previously spinoff with the short-lived Pearson series, starring Torres). The new show will likely not take place in New York but in Los Angeles, and the setup could be similar to how NCIS has expanded into different cities with different casts. Yet what’s most notable is that Deadline reports that this new show has been “fast tracked,” so ideally, we will know more soon.
Viewers will likely be disappointed if there isn’t some sort of crossover character or two, at least in the new show’s setup. If that happens, definitely do not expect to see Meghan Markle return as Rachel Zane, however, since she has spoken fondly of her previous experiences on the show but did not join her fellow cast members for this past weekend’s onscreen reunion.
Cast
Again, there has been absolutely no confirmation of any former cast members (or new ones) who are joining this continuation series. Still, there must be some logic behind trucking out four former cast members onstage at the Globes.
Release Date
Producers will surely want to get this series out as soon as possible, although no one knows if this show will be another USA Network staple or move solely to streaming, on Peacock or Netflix. Still, no firm date exists at this time.
Trailer
If only! Let’s imagine, instead, how Prince Harry felt while watching this scene between Rachel and Mike.
How To Buy Tickets For The 2024 BottleRock Napa Valley Festival
Three-day general admission tickets will be available to buy starting tomorrow, January 9, at 10 a.m. PST. Per the BottleRock website, for the first time in 2024, there will be “no surprises at checkout” with all fees included in the price seen up front. Currently, tickets are listed at $456 ($409 for the ticket and $47 for fees).
VIP tickets, meanwhile, are set to cost $1,264 ($1,195 for the ticket, $69 for fees). On the BottleRock tickets page, VIP tickets are currently marked as sold out, but perhaps that will change when the general admission tickets go on sale.
Other tiers of BottleRock tickets are also offered, so learn more about that here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Jo Koy’s Golden Globes jokes are getting roasted, particularly after taking aim at Taylor Swift. However, the comedian had one group of ladies rushing to his defense: The co-hosts on The View.
Surprisingly, the panel was not feeling Swift’s now-viral reaction where she was visibly not pleased after the comedian made a joke about her recent NFL appearances thanks to dating Travis Kelce. Swift was stone-faced during the bit, and apparently, The View thinks she should lighten up.
“I love Jo Koy and the whole time I was nervous for him because I think he’s so funny. He’s kind, he’s good, all the things. What bothers me more in watching this is, get a sense of humor, because we need to protect these national treasures called our comedians, because life needs them,” she said. “We need to stop binding them in, fencing them in. In that room, Jo Koy is punching up. No one feels sorry. Just smile.”
Whoopi Goldberg also came to Koy’s defense, but wisely steered clear of mentioning the Swift debacle.
“These gigs, these hosting gigs are brutal. They’re just brutal. If you don’t know the room, if you’ve not been in these rooms before and you’re thrust out there, it’s hit or miss,” Goldberg said via EW. “I don’t know whether it was the room or the jokes, I didn’t get to see it, but I do know that he’s as good as it gets when it comes to stand-ups. It’s not an easy gig. If you read any of the reviews of some of the gigs that I’ve had, where they just wished me into the cornfields, die on the vine, it’s not an easy gig.”
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