Craig Ferguson was the host of “The Late Late Show” on CBS from 2005 to 2014. He’s probably best remembered for his stream-of-conscious, mostly improvised monologues that often veered from funny observations to more serious territory.
In 2009, he opened his show explaining how marketers have spent six decades persuading the public into believing that youth should be deified. To Ferguson, it’s the big reason “Why everything sucks.”
“In the 1950s, late ’50s, early ’60s, a bunch of advertising guys got together on Madison Avenue and decided to try to sell products to younger people. ‘We should try to sell to younger people because then they will buy things their whole lives,'” Ferguson explained.
The problem is, according to Ferguson, that young people are “kind of stupid.”
“So the deification of youth evolved and turned into the deification of imbecility. It became fashionable to be young and to be stupid,” he continued.
‘Why everything sucks’
On a deeper level, Ferguson makes the point that exalting youth and inexperience over wisdom and experience runs contrary to the way of nature.
“Then what happened is that people were frightened to not be young,” he said. “They started dyeing their hair, they started mutilating their faces and their bodies in order to look young. But you can’t be young forever, that’s against the laws of the universe.”
Calling marketers’ war on the over-49 set the reason why “everything sucks” may be a bit of an exaggeration. But the takeaway from Ferguson’s monologue is spot-on. There’s no reason to feel bad about aging. You’ve got experience, wisdom, probably better credit, and have learned that Saturdays are a lot more fun after you’ve been to bed by 10:00 pm on Friday.
Toronto-based animator and video wizard Kevin Parry has gone mega-viral for his mind-boggling collection of videos where he turns himself into random objects.
In a series of quick clips he changes into everything from a pumpkin to a bright yellow banana and in most of the videos, he appears to suffer a ridiculous death. The videos combine studio trickery with a magician’s flair.
Parry is a self-taught stop-motion animation expert who cut his teeth working at Laika, the animation studio best known for films such as “Coraline,” “ParaNorman,” and “The Boxtrolls.” But he’s had so much success on social media he moved back to his hometown of Toronto to “do the YouTube/Instagram thing.”
Parry told Newsweek that the secret to his videos is speed.
“The inspiration for these transformations was to create the shortest possible videos with the most impact,” he said. “I specifically made the balloon one to be 4-5 seconds long but to be as shocking and surprising as possible. That’s why it starts with me falling—I thought what could be more scroll-stopping than someone falling face-first into the floor.”
A drama teacher had the most polite “screw you” response to the mom who stopped her kids from taking classes with him upon discovering that he was gay. Michael Neri is a drama teacher from Kidderminster, England. He runs Talking Props Theatre School, a performing arts school for children ages 8 to 13.
A mother signed her kids up to take theater classes at Talking Props, but upon discovering that Neri was gay, texted him to let her know that she was withdrawing them, citing her “Christian” beliefs. He responded by gracefully shutting her down.
Danny Masterson, best known for playing Steven Hyde on “That ‘70s Show” from 1998 to 2006, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Thursday, September 7, for raping two women during the height of his fame. Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that the Church of Scientology helped cover up the assaults—an allegation the organization denied.
After Masterson’s sentencing, footage of an uncomfortable 2004 exchange with former late-night host Conan O’Brien went viral on X, formerly Twitter. During the exchange, O’Brien tells Masterson that he will pay for his behavior one day.
The eerie prediction came after Masterson used a strange example to show that his Long Island accent hadn’t disappeared. He noted that his friend, Bodhi Elfman, “always teases me, and he says, ‘Hi, my name is Danny Masterson, would you like to touch my balls?’” saying the last word with a New York accent.
— (@)
Masterson’s reply didn’t help his case.
“I mean, you got ’em, you know what I mean? Everybody should grab,” he says.
O’Brien looks slightly perturbed by Masterson’s example, pauses, and in a serious tone, says, “I’ve heard about you. And you’ll be caught soon. I know you will.”
“I will,” Masterson replies.
It’s unclear watching the exchange whether O’Brien knew of Masterson’s behavior, but interestingly, he pauses to show that he’s not joking before he tells Masterson that he will get caught. Watching the clip in 2023, it’s either an example of an incredible coincidence or the fact that even though television is a big industry, when someone is a predator, word gets around.
A few weeks ago, Chvrches announced that they would be honoring the tenth anniversary of their 2013 debut album, The Bones Of What You Believe, with a special anniversary version. After sharing the previously-unreleased “Manhattan,” the band has returned to give fans another preview with “Talking In My Sleep.”
This song finds Iain Cook taking on vocals instead of the band’s regular lead singer Lauren Mayberry, according to Under The Radar. Overall, the track relies on robotic synths that it feel dark and moody — which is fitting, as they pulled inspiration from ’80s groups like Depeche Mode and other pop music of that era.
“There’s a reason why / You couldn’t share this hour of make believe / But I could come around / Stay a million days and never leave,” he sings.
“It feels quite strange that Bones is almost a decade old,” Mayberry previously shared in a statement. “In some ways, it’s like it just happened, but also like that era was a lifetime ago. We are very grateful to all the fans who gave that album a special place in their heart, and still show us so much kindness today.”
Listen to the new Chvrches song “Talking In My Sleep” above. View the rest of the complete anniversary tracklist here.
The Bones Of What You Believe (10th Anniversary Edition) is out 10/13 via Glassnote. Find more information here.
A fire pair of sneakers is an essential component of a great fit. But with so many different sneaker silhouettes and brands out there, and fashion always in flux, it can be tough to figure out which shoes are going to give you an edge and make an impression.
Don’t worry, we got you! As part of the Uproxx Style Hot List, we’re going to be naming the 10 sneaker designs you need on your radar right now. These sneaker silhouettes are modern streetwear’s finest — the shoes that are fetching high prices on the aftermarket, selling out fast on drop dates, and just generally looking great with today’s style trends.
For this list, we’ll be paying special focus to silhouettes and designs, rather than specific colorways or collaborations. We’re also going to be focusing on shoes that aren’t the more obvious timeless silhouettes — meaning no Jordan 1, 4, Adidas Stan Smith, Adidas All Stars, Converse All Stars, Reebok Club C, Nike Air Maxes, Nike SB Dunks, or Nike Air Force 1s.
Those sneakers are all classics, they’re still popular and look great with today’s trends, but we’re going to assume you already know that and you’re looking for something that’ll set you apart from the normies. Sound fly? Let’s dive in!
Nike — Zoom Vomero 5
Nike
Thoughts And How To Style
Make no mistake, Nike may not have a large presence on this list, but that’s due to the fact that most of the brand’s sneaker silhouettes enjoy evergreen status — so if you’re looking for something that will set you apart from the crowd you’re going to want to pick up a pair of Zoom Vomero 5s.
The sneaker made its debut in 2011 and was designed as a functional long-distance running sneaker. The build generally features lightweight mesh with leather overlays and reflective details for enhanced visibility.
The sneakers will look great paired with baggy pants or any other wide-legged jeans.
Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66
Onitsuka
Thoughts And How To Style
Yes, these are the same sneakers that Kill Bill’s The Bride rocked with a matching jumpsuit. And in 2023, they’re back! This classic unisex ‘60s era trainer features a lightweight leather build and works with so many different types of outfits it’s ridiculous.
Straight leg pants, check, long dresses, check, smart slacks, check, cargo pants, check, shorts — you get the point right? The Mexico 66 looks great with everything, which is why it’s beloved by everyone from celebrities to that cool kid in your neighborhood who always seems to be a step ahead of everyone else style-wise.
If you’re feeling a bit tired of other classic trainers like Adidas Sambas, the Onitsuka Tiger should be at the top of your list.
New Balance 1906R
New Balance
Thoughts And How To Style
This year New Balance has been paying special attention to the 1906R, giving us a lot of new colorways and linking up with some cool brands for collaborations on this throwback 2000s runner.
Generally, the sneaker sports a synthetic or breathable mesh upper with NB’s ABZROB midsole for a comfortable ride and enhanced stability.
The 1906R is going to look great with whatever you pair it with, but we’re going to go ahead and suggest going full Gorpcore on this one and dress them with cargo pants or anything Gore-Tex equipped.
Adidas Samba
Adidas
Thoughts And How To Style
A bit more premium and luxurious than the very similar Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66, the Adidas Samba has exploded in popularity over the last couple of years. Things have been tough for Adidas ever since the brand dropped Yeezy, none of its modern silhouettes seem to hit which is why people are reaching deep into the brand’s archives and showing love to its more timeless sporty silhouettes.
The Samba features a lovely suede build (or leather if you go classic white) with a classic gum rubber outsole and generally drops in a vibrant palette of colorways. At just $100 a pair, this is one of the most stylish sneakers you can pick up right now without breaking the bank.
Like the Mexico 66, this sneaker is incredibly easy to style looking great with most fits, whether you’re rocking something incredibly casual or dressing up for a night out.
Track pants, baggy jeans, shorts, or chinos are a natural pair for this narrow soccer sneaker.
Salomon XT-6
Salomon
Thoughts And How To Style
The two trends that seem to be dominating streetwear right now are utilitarian-focused hiking sneakers and functional running sneakers. Salomon’s unisex XT-6 is the latter, so if the sneaker lacks flash in your eyes it’s very much designed that way on purpose.
This sneaker doesn’t feature a lot of visual details to charm you. Instead, it relies on functional EVA cushioning for a comfortable step, a lightweight TPU film and mesh build for durability, and a chassis designed for rough downhill travel. The people who love these sneakers swear by the fit and comfortability, so if you’re after a lightweight sneaker that is going to provide support while looking trendy in the process, the XT-6 is for you.
The XT-6 looks great with straight-legged pants, midi skirts, chino pants, and, true to the sneaker’s roots, shorts.
New Balance 9060
New Balance
Thoughts And How To Style
The New Balance 9060 takes all the best design elements from the 99X series and infuses it with a Y2K aesthetic. This silhouette features a mesh upper with pigskin suede overlays over a dual-density midsole with ABZORB or SBS cushioning.
The most iconic detail of the 9060 is the sculpted pod midsole. To me the sneaker has always resembled a hoof, take that as you will!
When it comes to styling the 9060 be sure to wear something that helps accentuate the shape. So put the baggy pants down and go for some tailored trousers or anything relatively tapered to help let this chunky design shine.
Asics Gel Kayano 14
Asics
Thoughts And How To Style
If you’re not feeling the whole Y2K resurgence and prefer a throwback to a more recent era, the Asics Gel Kayano 14 is your sneaker. First released in the late 2000s, the Gel Kayano features an upper composed of layers of synthetic material and mesh with Asics GEL technology for a comfortable ride.
Asics keeps this sneaker well stocked in both men’s and women’s sizes and a variety of colorways, making it a versatile choice that will fit in everybody’s wardrobe.
This is another sneaker that features a chunky shape that is best juxtaposed by some cuffed-up trousers or chinos, or shorts or anything that is going to show off the shape.
Hoka Clifton 9
Hoka
Thoughts And How To Style
While running shoes are dominating the streetwear scene right now, most of those sneakers are throwback designs to another era. Throwback designs look great, but they’re not often the most comfortable and cutting-edge, the Hoka Clifton 9 is the opposite.
Released in 2023, the Clifton 9 is the ninth iteration of Hoka’s Clifton line (hence the name) and features a compression-molded EVA foam midsole for ultimate comfort with a streamlined upper design composed of breathable knit with minimal overlays. It’s light, cushiony, and ultra-modern.
Cliftons will look great with everything from shorts to pants to dresses, but for best results reserve these sneakers for your more athletic-focused fits.
Saucony Pro Grid Triumph 4
Saucony
Thoughts And How To Style
Incredibly tech-focused and futuristic — despite dropping 16 years ago — the Saucony Pro Grid Triumph 4 is Saucony’s most popular silhouette. The sneaker features an open mesh base adorned with leather overlays, an Arch-lock, and a ProGrid-equipped midsole with a narrow heel and a bouncy comfortable fit.
While most runners focus on mesh and synthetic uppers, the Saucony still sports leather, giving it a sort of luxury look that sets it apart from other running shoes.
The Saucony is another GorpCore staple, so pair this sneaker with ultra-baggy cargo pants or midi dresses.
New Balance 990v3
New Balance
Thoughts And How To Style
In truth, you could pick any of the New Balance 990s and spark envy amongst fashion-forward onlookers. It is, without a doubt, New Balance’s best silhouette, but if we had to pick the best version, we’re going with the v3.
The v3 sports a premium pigskin upper with nylon and sits atop NB’s ENCAP midsole for a light step. The best version of this sneaker almost always comes out of NB’s Made in USA label which generally has the best colorways and collaborations.
If you come across a 990v3 Made in USA, pick it up and don’t give it too much thought, if you do it’ll likely sell out.
Styling this sneaker is incredibly easy, it looks great with anything. Skirts, washed-out jeans, trousers, shorts, hell, I’ve people around LA rocking a suit with a fresh pair of 990v3s and it still looked good.
Taylor Swift has been in many movies, though most of them are pretty bad: Cats, Amsterdam, Cats, The Giver, Cats, etc. She also really wanted an Oscar nom, but that didn’t happen. So instead of getting some acting lessons or giving up entirely, she has decided to single-handedly destroy the movie industry by messing up everyone’s fall release schedules. And honestly, you can’t really blame her for that.
Last week, Swift announced that her concert tour film will head to theaters on Friday, October 13th. Shortly after the announcement, Jason Blum announced that the upcoming Exorcist installment, The Exorcist: Believerwould give up that coveted October 13th release date in order to give the Swifties more breathing/screaming room in the cinema. It was probably a good idea, as The Eras Tour racked up over $10 million in presale tickets.
But that’s not the only movie that has shifted release dates. Dumb Money, the movie about the infamous GameStop debacle, has been moved around multiple times over the past few months due to the ongoing strike, but will now open on September 29th instead of its previous release date of October 6th. Pete Davidson and Paul Dano surely don’t want to compete with The Exorcist.
Ordinary Angels, a film from the Christian film company Kingdom Story, has also disappeared from its October 6th release date, which could mean that they were actually too nervous that The Excorist releasing on the same day could scare off some of their moviegoers. A new date has not yet been released. A24’s release of Pricilla has also been delayed until November 3rd.
Finally, RomCom princess Meg Ryan is returning to the screen for What Happens Later, though it seems to be happening much later than its original release date, which was October 13th. It will now be released on November 3rd.
Do we think Taylor is happy that people are actually going to see her in theaters for once? Probably! Listen……at least it’s not Cats 2.
The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Busta Rhymes, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion and more.
Ladies and gentlemen, Cardi B is back. She kicked off her album rollout thisweek, once again teaming up with Megan Thee Stallion for “Bongos,” another left turn that expands her reach and is sure to get played OUT at just about every function for the next month or so. Meanwhile, Flyana Boss, the adorable duo of best friends that has been running through our offices and everybody’s timeline, dropped a remix to their breakout hit featuring none other than freaking Missy Elliott, without whom there might not have even been a lane for their quirky approach to “weird Black girl” rap.
Elsewhere, Young Nudy remixed his “Peaches & Eggplants” with the help of Sexyy Red and Latto, while Flo Milli continued the rollout for Fine Ho, Stay with “Chocolate Rain.” Women are clearly still running rap lately, a movement which Busta Rhymes acknowledges and advances with the video for “Luxury Life” featuring Coi Leray. Finally, Killer Mike paid homage to an Atlanta icon along with a few of his fellow ATLiens with “Maynard Vignette.”
Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending September 8, 2023.
Albums/EPs/Mixtapes
38 Spesh & Conway The Machine — Speshal Machinery
38 Spesh
The Upstate New York invasion of hip-hop continues with yet another project from the exceedingly prolific offshoots of the Griselda crew. This time, it’s Rochester rapper/producer 38 Spesh once again teaming up with Buffalo native Conway The Machine to bring more gritty throwback street rap to the masses, with some assistance from Benny The Butcher, Che Noir, Elcamino, Lloyd Banks, and Pharoahe Monch(!).
Apollo Brown & Planet Asia — Sardines
Apollo Brown
The Detroit producer’s funk-girded sound has backed projects from some of the hardest wordsmiths in hip-hop, from Ghostface Killah and Guilty Simpson to Ras Kass and Skyzoo. This time, he re-teams with Bay Area backpack stalwart Planet Asia for a dank, murky excursion to evoking a cipher session in the basement of a record store that exclusively sells ’70s soul.
Haiti Babii — Nuthin 2 Krazy
Haiti Babii
Stockton, California rapper Haiti Babii drops off eight new tracks of shoulder leaning tough talk. There aren’t a lot of bells or whistles here, just thumping, thunderous beats and sneering boasts and jabs from a rapper who spits with the force of a blunt instrument to the sternum.
Mike & Keys — The Paris Tapes
Mike & Keys
Here’s a list of the names featured on The Futuristiks’ new compilation (recorded, as the title states, in Paris last month): Buddy, Dizzy Wright, Guapdad 4000, Huey Briss, Smoke DZA, Thurz, and more. A rap fan’s dream of a project, The Paris Tapes are the result of genuine chemistry between a group of folks who are actually friends in real life — some, for more than a decade — and share their talents as readily as they pass blunts in the smoke sessions that undoubtedly went down during the recording of this project.
Teezo Touchdown — How Do You Sleep At Night?
Teezo Touchdown
One of the most anticipated projects of the weekend, Teezo Touchdown’s debut album displays all the eclectic tendencies that have made him so beloved with his contemporaries, taking detours into pop punk, ska, new wave, R&B, dance funk, and mid-2000s radio alt-rock. If Lil Yachty’s Let’s Start Here or Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape perked up your ears, Teezo’s big bow is for you.
Singles/Videos
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie — “Her Birthday”
Coming from A Boogie’s new project B4 BOA — a three-song warm-up for his next full-length album — “Her Birthday” is vintage Artist, focusing on yet another toxic situationship. A Boogie examines the shortcomings of both parties, coming to the conclusion “it’s my fault, I never should have fell in love.”
Curren$y, Fendi P, Black Cobain & Fiend — “Who Let You In Here”
The second release from the forthcoming Jet Life compilation Season Opener, this one is a relatively straightforward posse cut, accompanied by a video that reflects the freestyle nature of the track itself.
GloRilla, Gloss Up & Slimeroni — “Wrong One” Feat. Aleza, K Carbon & Tay Keith
Speaking of posse cuts, this one might have the best hook ever. Tay Keith provides his usual bass-heavy trunk funk while Glo and her ratchet-ass friends break it down, cussing out some no-good dudes and reminding them that these ladies aren’t for play-play.
Knucks — “I Suppose” Feat. Larry June
Here is an unexpected but surprisingly fruitful combination. Knucks, who hails from Kilburn, London crosses continents to connect with Kenny Beats and Bay Area native Larry June, which kind of feels like what’s been happening with drill, but in reverse. More American mainstays producing for British rappers in the future, please — this is a movement I can get behind.
That Mexican OT — “Skelz”
Another single from Lonestar Luchador, “Skelz” is a bouncy opportunity for OT to flex, flow, and brush off a few haters. It’s hard not to like this guy; he blends the best of the intersecting Houston cultures that inform his style, while demonstrating enough mastery of the form to overcome any initial skepticism from hardcore hip-hop heads who might side-eye his vaquero style.
Wynne — “High Standards”
Another day, another fire Wynne single. She’s really found her lane with her recent projects; after spending a couple of years proving that she can be a true microphone menace, she’s redirected her acidic wit toward making fun, upbeat, dismissive party anthems for the girlies. She’s just as adept, rattling off a few quotables that may even have the dusty dudes she targets reaching for the rewind button.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
It’s that time of year again, a time when your favorite streamers actually begin following through on all of those promises made earlier in the season. Yes, when Hulu and Disney+ announced that they would increase their prices (again) we all thought maybe if we ignored it, it would go away, and we would continue to pay our little $10.99 forever. That is not the case, and it has never been the case. One of these days……we will learn. Today is not that day!
After months of preparing, Hulu and Disney+ have officially sent notifications to users that the price increase will start on Thursday, October 12th. Why didn’t they wait one more day and make the increase a fun little jump scare for Friday the 13th? Who knows!
As previously mentioned, Disney+ Premium will increase from $10.99 to $13.99 a month. Hulu without ads will increase from $14.99 to $17.99 a month. For those of us who don’t mind all of those fun shampoo ads, the price for Disney+ and Hulu’s ad-supported tiers will still be bundled at $9.99 per month. Hulu Live also gets a steep jump from $69.99 to $76.99 a month, with ad-free clocking at $89.99 a month.
Last month, Disney CEO Bob Iger Iger explained, “Later this year, we will begin to update our subscriber agreements with additional terms and our sharing policies. And we will roll out tactics to drive monetization sometime in 2024.” Now is the time to give out your password and see who your real friends are.
Danny Masterson, best known for playing Steven Hyde on “That ‘70s Show” from 1998 to 2006, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Thursday, September 7, for raping two women during the height of his fame. Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that the Church of Scientology helped cover up the assaults—an allegation the organization denied.
After Masterson’s sentencing, footage of an uncomfortable 2004 exchange with former late-night host Conan O’Brien went viral on X, formerly Twitter. During the exchange, O’Brien tells Masterson that he will pay for his behavior one day.
The eerie prediction came after Masterson used a strange example to show that his Long Island accent hadn’t disappeared. He noted that his friend, Bodhi Elfman, “always teases me, and he says, ‘Hi, my name is Danny Masterson, would you like to touch my balls?’” saying the last word with a New York accent.
— (@)
Masterson’s reply didn’t help his case.
“I mean, you got ’em, you know what I mean? Everybody should grab,” he says.
O’Brien looks slightly perturbed by Masterson’s example, pauses, and in a serious tone, says, “I’ve heard about you. And you’ll be caught soon. I know you will.”
“I will,” Masterson replies.
It’s unclear watching the exchange whether O’Brien knew of Masterson’s behavior, but interestingly, he pauses to show that he’s not joking before he tells Masterson that he will get caught. Watching the clip in 2023, it’s either an example of an incredible coincidence or the fact that even though television is a big industry, when someone is a predator, word gets around.
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.
