The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon returns this week with a slate of guests including Michael Shannon, Alex Cooper, Cailee Spaeny, Sylvester Stallone, and Bobby Flay. The musical guests include Depeche Mode, Bleachers, and Sheryl Crow. You can check out more on the musical guests for the week of October 30 – November 3 below.

Depheche Mode — Tuesday, October 31

After playing last Friday’s episode, the New Wave rockers will return this week for an encore performance. They’ve got three more singles from their new album Memento Mori to choose from, including “Ghosts Again,” “Speak To Me,” and “My Favourite Stranger.”

Bleachers — Wednesday, November 1

Bleachers’ “Modern Girl” has been out for a little over a month and their fans have been salivating for a new album. Jack Antonoff is also listed as an interview this week, so perhaps he’ll give those fans what they want and announce the band’s fourth studio album on the show. Antonoff recently celebrated a big win as the producer of Taylor Swift’s hit “Cruel Summer” as the song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week.

Sheryl Crow — Thursday, November 2

Sheryl Crow has an upcoming show at Barclays in Brooklyn, so it only makes sense she’d stop by The Tonight Show to spread the word.

The good news: Fans of George R.R. Martin-fueled HBO shows did not have their supply slowed down by the Hollywood strikes. By the time that those first work stoppages were called by writers, Season 2 of House of the Dragon had already locked its scripts, and filming occurred mainly with European actors, which also insulated them from the ongoing actor’s strike.

As such, we should expect to see Season 2 arrive in mid 2024, but still, anxious viewers might want to know whether filming has finished yet.

The answer to that question, fortunately, is yes. In late September, actor Steve Toussaint (who portrays Corlys “The Sea Snake” Velaryon), Instagrammed a few photos to mark the occasion. This includes a standard trailer shot and very short blond locks, which makes me wonder if Daemon Targaryen has given Corlys’ hair the same treatment that Vaemond received for shouting that Rhaenyra’s first three sons were “bastards.”

“‘And that’s a wrap on Steve!,’” Toussaint wrote in a caption. “What a blast to work with such great people! Now it’s in the hands of editors, SFX folk, and whoever else. Hope you like it when you eventually get to see it! #hotd #hotd2”

When Season 2 does arrive, the premiere episode shall be called “A Son For A Son,” which means that it might be time to get scared for Aemond after his oopsie that led to Vhagar killing Luke and Arrax. Readers of the book will have a solid hunch about what happens there, but everyone can probably agree that Aemond is entertaining as hell, so keeping him on the show for the long haul would be in everyone’s interests. So hopefully, that episode title will not be as literal as it sounds at face value.

As the holiday movie season kicks into gear, The Marvels is on deck to drop the next MCU installment into theaters. Reprising her role as Captain Marvel, Brie Larson suits up for another intergalactic mission where she’s forced to operate outside of her comfort zone by teaming up with Photon, an old face from her past and Ms. Marvel, a new face that represents the future of The Avengers.

What else do we know so far about The Marvels?

Plot

Here’s the official synopsis for The Marvels:

Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan, Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team-up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as “The Marvels.”

Cast

Considering The Marvels is a sequel to Captain Marvel, obviously, Brie Larson returns as Carol Danvers who is even more busy restoring the cosmos after the events of Avengers: Endgame. However, Carol won’t be flying solo this time around. Also, along for the ride is Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) the daughter of Carol’s best friend Maria. Monica first appeared as a child in Captain Marvel before being reintroduced as an adult in WandaVision where her light-based powers were activated. Monica also has some beef with Carol not being around for the death of her mom, so it’ll be interesting to see that dynamic play out.

Rounding out the trio is Kamala Khan a.k.a. Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), who only recently entered the superhero scene in her titular Disney+ series. Her powers seem intricately linked to Carol and Monica, and that connection going haywire appears to drive the plot of The Marvels.

Oh, and Samuel L. Jackson will be on hand as Nick Fury, who will still be reeling from the events of Secret Invasion.

Release Date

The Marvels flies into theaters on November 10.

Trailer

You can watch the official trailer for The Marvels below, which makes incredible use of the Beastie Boys “Intergalactic.” Easily one of the best needle drops in a Marvel trailer:

The Marvels blasts into theaters on November 10.

The good news: Fans of George R.R. Martin-fueled HBO shows did not have their supply slowed down by the Hollywood strikes. By the time that those first work stoppages were called by writers, Season 2 of House of the Dragon had already locked its scripts, and filming occurred mainly with European actors, which also insulated them from the ongoing actor’s strike.

As such, we should expect to see Season 2 arrive in mid 2024, but still, anxious viewers might want to know whether filming has finished yet.

The answer to that question, fortunately, is yes. In late September, actor Steve Toussaint (who portrays Corlys “The Sea Snake” Velaryon), Instagrammed a few photos to mark the occasion. This includes a standard trailer shot and very short blond locks, which makes me wonder if Daemon Targaryen has given Corlys’ hair the same treatment that Vaemond received for shouting that Rhaenyra’s first three sons were “bastards.”

“‘And that’s a wrap on Steve!,’” Toussaint wrote in a caption. “What a blast to work with such great people! Now it’s in the hands of editors, SFX folk, and whoever else. Hope you like it when you eventually get to see it! #hotd #hotd2”

When Season 2 does arrive, the premiere episode shall be called “A Son For A Son,” which means that it might be time to get scared for Aemond after his oopsie that led to Vhagar killing Luke and Arrax. Readers of the book will have a solid hunch about what happens there, but everyone can probably agree that Aemond is entertaining as hell, so keeping him on the show for the long haul would be in everyone’s interests. So hopefully, that episode title will not be as literal as it sounds at face value.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert is airing again this week — and is continuing its usual trend of booking talented musical artists as guests on the show. Compared to previous ones, the lineup is a bit more selective, as there isn’t a performer every day.

Here’s what to know about the musical guests on The Late Show this week (October 30 to November 2).

Melissa Etheridge — Monday, October 30

Tonight, Melissa Etheridge will appear on Colbert’s show. While she won’t be performing, music fans might still love tuning in to catch her interview. She has kept busy, with a new memoir titled Talking To My Angels and a one-woman Broadway show that is currently running.

Alex Newell — Tuesday, October 31

Speaking of Broadway shows, those who are familiar might recognize the name Alex Newell. For those who aren’t, Newell is a performer in the hit musical, Shucked. The show is centered around Maizy who lives in Cob County and is seeking help when the corn that keeps the town running begins to die. While the corn might be growing thin, there isn’t any shortage of jokes centered around the vegetable.

Newell, as the character of Lulu, won a Tony for Best Featured Actor for their role in the show. Over the summer, they also performed on The View and previously acted in Glee.

Willie Nelson — Wednesday, November 1

This week, Willie Nelson will also be performing on The Late Show. The country legend shouldn’t need any introduction. Next year, he will be joining Chris Stapleton out on the road as part of new dates for the All-American Road Show Tour. Nelson is also scheduled on the lineup for Thursday, although it currently only appears that he’ll perform on one day.

Taylor Swift has been known to go hard when it comes to physical releases of her albums. She’s actually kept things relatively tame for the new 1989 (Taylor’s Version), offering the album on vinyl, CD, and cassette via her online store. You might remember, though, that she has five different CD editions of Midnights available. Many of Swift’s younger fans didn’t actually grow up listening to music on these mediums: Spotify launched in the US in 2011 and has grown to become the primary music consumption medium for a lot of people.

Still, Swifties want their merch, and since CDs are now “retro,” it’s an easy add to the cart. The problems start, though, once the CD arrives. In a video shared by Taylor Swift X (formerly Twitter) fan account @swifferupdates, a group of three young Swift fans try to figure out how to take a 1989 (Taylor’s Version) CD out of its case. They struggle to use the little circular mechanism that holds the CD in place, claiming that the CD is stuck before eventually freeing the disc.

The video has over 600,000 views on X and per the Swift fan account, Swift herself liked the original upload on TikTok (which does not appear to be publicly viewable anymore).

To be clear, by the way: The girls didn’t do anything wrong. Why should they know their way around a CD case? Music streaming revenues overtook physical music sales for the first time in 2018. Mediums come and go, and we don’t have to have familiarity with everything that came before our time.

Check out the video above.

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Baby Tate, Bas, Wale, and more.

After a few busy weeks, hip-hop is slowing down ahead of the holidays. And while that means slightly fewer big-name releases, it also means more opportunities for indies and underground artists to shine.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending October 27, 2023.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Baby Tate — Sexploration: The Musical

Baby Tate is back after last year’s Mani/Pedi with a five-song EP about, well, sex and relationships. Featuring her previously released single “Jersey,” Sexploration shares Tate’s proclivities and experiments with plenty of musical styles and throwback references.

BabyTron — Megatron 2

The Michigan-bred, self-declared scam rapper releases his fourth(!) project of the year. In addition, the Megatron sequel arrives just a year after the original. I don’t know if he can keep up this machine-like pace forever but for now, he’s living up to his home state, turning out projects like an auto factory.

Money Man — Croptober

Atlanta’s Money Man is three mixtapes deep this year, going for the most part solo for 18 bouncy tracks about the triumphs and travails of the trap life. Of the collection of midtempo street bangers, only one breaks the three-minute mark, making the project a breezy listen from end to end.

Murda Beatz & Shordie Shordie — Memory Lane 2

Murda and Shordie’s first Memory Lane project was a bit of an overlooked gem in 2021, but hopefully, this return to that creative well can garner a bit more of the notice the first deserved. Murda’s beats are proficient backdrops for Shordie’s introspective, melodic raps.

Wifisfuneral — Black Heart Revenge 2x`

Wifisfuneral was perhaps unfairly painted with a broad brush due to the SoundCloud rapper explosion in the late 2010s. Despite his associations and aesthetics, he is undoubtedly one of the best pure rappers of that generation, and his latest tape is an effective example of his straight-up rap talent.

Singles/Videos

Bas — “Khartoum” Feat. Adekunle Gold

Named for the capital city of his father’s home country, Sudan, Bas’ latest single is a peaceful slice of reflective Afropop. Its cheerful vibe is belied by its content, which finds Bas both observing the effects of the war-torn region’s violence on its residents and noting the relative silence from American mainstream media in contrast to other conflicts getting round-the-clock coverage. Hmmmm.

Jordan Ward — “NPR Tiny Desk Concert”

I’ve had an eye on this singer/rapper for a bit and his Tink Desk debut is just another bit of evidence to add to a growing pile of evidence that he’s 1. extremely talented, hardworking, and due for a breakout soon, and 2. that others ar also starting to take note.

Mick Jenkins — “Mop”

Young Chicago Authors alum Jenkins has been one of the most consistently productive of that program’s high-profile participants. Just this past August, he released his fourth studio album The Patience, which he continues to support with this freewheeling, thoughtful video.

Masego — “You Never Visit Me” Feat. Enny & Wale

Jazz-rap fusion artist Masego updates this standout from his self-titled March album with verses from a pair of fascinating collaborators: fellow DMV native Wale and London rapper Enny. They make for an alchemical connection, elevating the smooth groove with intricate, poetic bars about one-sided love.

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

Ahead of Halloween, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) released rules for striking members on what not to wear during spooky season. Costumes based on characters from struck movies and shows, like Cowboy Barbie and Ken from Barbie or Sad Kendall Roy on a Bench from Succession, were advised against; instead, actors were asked to “choose costumes inspired by generalized characters and figures (ghost, zombie, spider, etc.).” SNL poked fun at the guidelines, while Megan Fox straight-up defied them by tagging the guild on Instagram.

The Jennifer’s Body actress attended the Casamigos Halloween Party while dressed up as schoolgirl assassin Gogo Yubari from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Volume 1, while her boyfriend, Machine Gun Kelly, went as Uma Thurman’s The Bride. Fox shared photos of the costume (the fake blood is a nice touch) on Instagram with a caption that simply reads, “@sagaftra.”

Lisa Ann Walter, who plays Melissa Schemmenti on Abbott Elementary and is also a member of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee, criticized Fox for the caption on X. “What a rebel. Keep posturing for stupid shit, pretty lady,” she wrote. “Meanwhile we’ll be working 10 hours a day – unpaid – to get basic contract earners a fair deal (PS-the post responded members questions. No one cares about kids’ costumes. Just high pros at fancy parties. Like Megan).”

It’s been a few weeks since Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour concert film started playing in theaters, but dedicated fans are still going. Now, through Swift’s exclusive deal with AMC, the movie theater chain is offering Swifties a special deal for Halloween tomorrow.

Compared to the usual ticket prices for the movie being $19.89, on Halloween only (so far) the cost will be lowered to $13.13 — which is Swift’s lucky number and the day she was born. (It’s also, fittingly, 31 in reverse.)

While the deal still doesn’t include reservations for AMC A-List members, it is still a sweet discount for a nearly three-hour performance of Swift’s concert.

Plus, it would be a perfect move for any fans who didn’t have Halloween plans, given they could also use her various tour outfits as costume inspiration. Instead of swapping candy, fans can also pass out friendship bracelets as special treats.

And, if any were looking to attend in large groups, AMC Theaters is offering a full private theater rental for $499. This includes up to 40 guests. If divided between that many, it would only average to about $12.50 a person — making it even better of a deal than an individual ticket.

For more information on The Eras Tour film’s deal for Halloween, visit their official website.

John Oliver revealed his Kryptonite during Sunday’s episode of Last Week Tonight, and surprisingly, it’s the visage of another late night host. In this case, Conan O’Brien.

During a segment on controversial Argentinian politician Javier Milei, Oliver was absolutely tickled by a recent viral clip where the Member of the Chamber of Deputies just lost his train of thought after seeing a photo of his own dog, who’s also named Conan. Milei’s mind just completely stopped worked at the sight of his pup.

Via Deadline:

“There’s Conan,” Milei said, ignoring the interviewer for a moment.

“Yes, it’s Conan,” the interviewer said.

“It’s Conan,” Milei continued with a smile on his face completely derailing the interview.

Oliver said that Milei made himself “likable” in that moment adding, “He just got distracted by his own dog the way dogs get distracted by any squirrel.”

Oliver then revealed that he as a similar Conan problem.

“It’s honestly hard for me to criticize that because that’s also how I respond if I ever see a picture of — oh it’s Conan,” Oliver said as his face lit up at the sight of the iconic late night host. Like Milei, he couldn’t stop being distracted by photos of Conan that continue to pop up on the screen until, finally, one of the photos came to life and told Oliver to knock it off.

“Quit staring at me John,” Conan said. “I’m not a piece of meat.”

Oliver apologized and then returned to his usual cadence of delivering dry British wit while eviscerating the night’s topic.

(Via Deadline)