Megan Thee Stallion has been having a tumultuous year; she unveiled her new album Traumazine, she’s in a legal battle with her label 1501 Certified Entertainment, and now she’s on trial against Tory Lanez, who allegedly shot her feet. The latter has definitely taken its toll on Megan, especially when many are accusing her of lying, including Drake and 21 Savage on their new LP Her Loss. It’s a lot for one person to deal with, and it dates all the way back to 2020.
It was reported on July 13, 2020 that Tory Lanez was arrested for possession of a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle following a party in the Hollywood Hills. Megan told cops that she’d cut her foot on glass. She claimed that the two of them were at Kylie Jenner’s party. In the car home, they had an argument that ended with her trying to get out of the car, and Lanez allegedly yelled, “Dance, b*tch,” and shot at her foot multiple times. On July 15, she made a since-deleted Instagram post confirming that her injuries were gunshot wounds.
On July 27, 2020, Megan went on Instagram Live and said she had surgery to remove bullet fragments from her feet. On August 20, she went on Instagram Live again and explained that she said she’d been cut with glass because she “didn’t want to die” at the hands of police. Lanez released a new album on September 25 called Daystar, which included a song with the lyric: “How the f*ck you get shot in your foot, don’t hit no bones or tendons.”
On October 8 of that same year, it was reported that Lanez was charged with shooting her. Then, on November 18, he pled not guilty. The following day, a protective order was issued for Megan against Lanez. He had to give up all firearms, remain at least 100 yards from her, and not engage in any written, personal or electronic contact with her.
On December 13, Megan gave an emotional testimony in court. “This situation has only been worse for me and it has only made him more famous,” she said. “Because I was shot, I’ve been turned into some kind of villain, and he’s the victim. This has messed up my whole life… This whole situation in the industry is like a big boy’s club… I’m telling on one of y’all friends, now you’re all about to hate me.”
The trial is ongoing in Los Angeles.
Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Warning: This post contains major spoilers for Season 2 (and a touch of Season 1) of The White Lotus.
Like its first season, the second season of The White Lotus ended with a death. Actually, this round it was multiple deaths, as foretold in the flashback that kicked off the maiden episode. It even went out with a bang — several of them, in fact. So what happened? Who died? Please say it wasn’t Albie (Adam DiMarco), the innocent sweet goof in love with Lucia (Simona Tabasco), the hustling sex worker. (Spoiler: It wasn’t.) Let’s break down the fates by people or groups:
Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge)
The wealthy hot mess that is Tanya caught on a bit too late that the villa- and yacht-owning “gays,” as she called them, were indeed trying to murder them. Did it involve Greg (Jon Gries), her shady-seeming husband? Ambiguous but probable. Either way, he’s now wealthy, because he inherited her fortune, because she died by falling off a yacht wrong — but only after gunning down three of the four men planning to tie her up and shoot her, or whatever their plan was. Poor Tanya, but it had to be done, we guess. This was all spoilered a while back and no one noticed.
Portia (Haley Lu Richardson)
In some ways, Portia’s fate was intertwined with Tanya, her employer. While Tanya was hanging out with the jet setting “gays,” she was gallivanting with the alleged nephew of one of Tom Hollander’s Quentin: Leo Woodall’s Jack. Quentin, however, was not Jack’s uncle. Jack was in their employ, for some vaguely troubling reasons. Part of his job, he revealed, was looking after Portia, even at one point stealing her phone. He may have had to do more unpleasant stuff to her. Instead, he drove her near an airport — not to it, but near — and advised her to not return to the hotel, if she was “smart.” She escaped just fine, even reuniting with Albie, the boy she could have almost had.
The Harper-Ethan-Cameron-Daphne contingent
Two couples. One (Aubrey Plaza’s Harper and Will Sharpe’s Ethan) is noveau riche and therefore not yet fully spoiled. The other (Thoe James’ Cameron and Meghann Fahy’s Daphne) have been at the rich thing for a while and are even basically cool with their open relationship. Harper hated the other couple. Ethan basically seemed to, too. But even though things came to blows, with Ethan fighting, even coldcocking Cameron for briefly snogging his wife, it ended happily. Cameron didn’t even mention the fight over an awkward dinner. And after resisting his wife’s lusty overtures for the entire season, Ethan finally got hot and heavy with her. They even snuggled while waiting at the airport. Of course, Ethan may have hooked up with Daphne…
The DiGrasso boys
Grandfather Bert (F. Murray Abraham) got a mild concussion early on in the season, but he was fine and nothing bad happened to him. Head wound aside, he probably had the best time of anyone. Father Dominic (Michael Imperioli) reluctantly forked over a fortune so his young son Albie could get grifted by Lucia, but in exchange for a) feeling like a good Samaritan and b) Albie promising to help him patch things up with his estranged wife (the angry phone voice of Laura Dern). Oh, and yes, Albie realized too late he got had by Lucia, but seems to be okay with it, and not only because he reconnected with Portia, who both got had by hustlers. They also spent a ton of money.
Lucia and Mia
They both got what they wanted. Good for them.
Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore)
Valentina got off a lot easier than Murray Bartlett’s Armond, the manager of the first season. She, too, wound up sleeping with one of her staff — or at least Mia (Beatrice Grannò), an asiring singer who joined her friend Lucia in sex work. But this didn’t lead to her death nor to any particular comeuppance. At least not yet.
Quentin and the other “gays”
They all either died after plotting to kill Tanya or, in one case, jumped into the cold night ocean, his fate untold.
Matteo (Federico Scribiani), the lounge singer
He lost his job to Mia, who accidentally gave him the wrong drug, sending him to the hospital for a few days, after which Mia schemed to replace him. He did not get his job back.
Rocco (Federico Ferrante), the concierge who’s engaged to Isabella (Eleonora Romandini)
Rocco was sent to work the beaches, against his wishes, because Valentina was infatuated with his co-worker Isabella, who she didn’t know was his fiancée. But after Valentina hooked up with Mia and learned about Isabella’s relationship, she relented. Hooray. Beach duty sounds awful. A lot of happy endings on The White Lotus, even if things could always go south later.
The Chicago Bulls have been unable to get anything going to start this season, entering Wednesday’s matchup with the Knicks at 11-15, good for just 11th in the East. A team that looked so promising for the first half of last season has now become a team with little promise of upside, with the NBA world seemingly just waiting for them to make significant changes to the roster.
One of the reasons for the Bulls’ struggles has been the absence of Lonzo Ball, who is approaching a year off the court due to a meniscus injury that was supposed to be a 4-6 week recovery process. Ball’s knee has continued to give him problems, requiring a second surgery in September, with an evaluation supposed to take place 4-6 weeks after that. Ball has continued to rehab, but there have not been many positive updates on his status since having that surgery. Unfortunately, on Wednesday night, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that there are “no guarantees” the Ball will play this year, while Chicago is still holding out hope that by the All-Star break he might be able to start working his way back.
Woj: “There are no guarantees, I’m told, that [Lonzo Ball] plays at all this season. He’s rehabbing that knee now, he still has some pain in it.”#BullsNationpic.twitter.com/2pIuweg89i
That Ball is still dealing with pain is awful to hear, as he lamented this offseason that he’s had to deal with discomfort simply going up and down stairs and, beyond a return to the NBA, the baseline hope was that another surgery could ease that pain in day-to-day life.
As Woj notes, whether it’s worth trying to bring Ball back for the post All-Star may come down to whether the Bulls are still in reasonable striking distance of a play-in spot in the East. By that point they will have had to make decisions on the direction of the team as the trade deadline arrives a week before All-Star, and what they do there may be an indicator of whether their level of optimism has changed about Ball’s knee.
When it hit shelves in 2018, Miriam Toews’ Women Talking scored intense, lofty praise. Based on real events from a Mennonite community in Bolivia, it featured the high stakes meeting between the women of that community tasked with deciding how to respond to years of abuse. By all accounts, Sarah Polley has done justice to the book alongside a powerhouse cast that includes Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Frances McDormand, and more. The film has earned a spot in the early Oscar conversation, and it’s very, very easy to see why.
Here’s Polley’s statement on Women Talking:
“In Women Talking, a group of women, many of whom disagree on essential things, have a conversation to figure out how they might move forward together to build a better world for themselves and their children. Though the backstory behind the events in Women Talking is violent, the film is not. We never see the violence that the women have experienced. We see only short glimpses of the aftermath. Instead, we watch a community of women come together as they must decide, in a very short space of time, what their collective response will be. When I read Miriam Toews’ book, it sunk deep into me, raising questions and thoughts about the world I live in that I had never articulated. Questions about forgiveness, faith, systems of power, trauma, healing, culpability, community, and self-determination. It also left me bewilderingly hopeful. I imagined this film in the realm of a fable. While the story in the film is specific to a small religious community, I felt that it needed a large canvas, an epic scope through which to reflect the enormity and universality of the questions raised in the film. To this end, it felt imperative that the visual language of the film breathe and expand. I wanted to feel in every frame the endless potential and possibility contained in a conversation about how to remake a broken world.”
The film hits limited theaters on Christmas for its Oscar-qualifying run before going wide in January.
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
Stephen “tWitch” Boss died by suicide December 13. His wife, Allison Holker Boss released a statement to People saying, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us. Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him.”
Anyone that has spent time watching “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” knows who tWitch is. He danced his way into people’s hearts on “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2008 before eventually keeping the audience dancing as Ellen’s DJ from 2014 until the show ended earlier this year. It was obvious that Boss and Ellen were friends on and off the set.
The laughter always seemed abundant between the two of them and the show wouldn’t have been the same without him. Boss became an executive producer on the show during the last few seasons.
Boss also dipped his toe into acting, appearing in the “Step Up” movies, “Magic Mike XXL” and “Hairspray.” He also had roles on the small screen, but Ellen is where we got to know his sense of humor and were introduced to his family. There was even an episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” where he danced with his son for Father’s Day. Over a span of nearly 10 years on the talk show, there were bound to be moments that stuck out. Below are five of Boss’ most memorable moments from “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
1. Snake massage
There was the time that there were talks of a “snake massage” and things got awkward pretty quickly. But you know, Ellen didn’t let it end at a little embarrassment for Boss, she upped the ante by giving him a special gift card. You have to watch the video to get the full effect of the moment.
2. Dancing to royalty-free music
Boss was a talented dancer and I don’t think anyone would dispute that, but once Ellen put his skills to the test by having him dance to royalty-free music. It’s the kind of music that often has no words and can feel a bit like clunky elevator music. Yeah, he danced to that and somehow made it look good.
3. Turning into a robot
With the skill that Boss possessed on the dance floor, others dreamt of dancing with him, so when Dytto, a dancer known for her robotic moves, came on the show, she of course had to dance with the famous tWitch. It was a sweet moment that somehow looked choreographed though it was completely freestyle. I will forever be in awe of people that can move their bodies like that.
4. TikTok dance-off
When Derek Hough stopped by the studio, Boss and the “Dancing With the Stars” alum tried their hand at copying dances from TikTok that popped up behind them. The moment it starts, eyebrows raise and hilarity ensues.
5. Ellen’s tWitch tribute
There couldn’t be a greatest list without including Ellen. This tribute to tWitch hits a little differently now that he’s gone, but it goes to show how true their friendship was.
Since the news of his passing, celebrities and fans have been leaving tributes for the late star. Ellen DeGeneres wrote on Instagram, “I’m heartbroken. tWitch was pure love and light. He was my family, and I loved him with all my heart. I will miss him. Please send your love and support to Allison and his beautiful children – Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia.”
One fan, Valerie Nathanson wrote, “Oh no! This is simply shocking news. How tragic. I’m so sorry. The world is left not as good as it was yesterday without him in it.”
Another fan, Shannon Diepenbrock wrote, “I can’t. This breaks me down big time. I literally watched Ellen just for him. RIP, Boss, Twitch, you are always going to be missed by so many.“
It’s clear that Boss left an impression on this world and will truly be missed by all who knew him and those who watched him on television. Most of all, he will be missed by his family.
Seeing two drum corps duke it out, taking turns wowing audiences with their rhythmic prowess, is always enjoyable. But when a drumline battle occurs between two branches of the U.S. military, it’s an even more epic duel.
The sibling-like rivalries among the military branches are well-known, and when they are channeled into a friendly competition, it’s nothing but joyful camaraderie. Last year, the Army and Navy drumlines met on the musical battlefield outside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, before the 122nd Army-Navy football game, and the video of their matchup has been viewed more than 3 million times on YouTube.
With the Army drumline decked out in what looks like a mix of fatigues and baseball uniforms and the Navy dressed in crisp black dress uniforms, the visual contrast between the two was already quite stark. Casual versus formal. Laid back versus buttoned up.
The contrast between the drumming talent was not quite as definitive, however. Both drumlines brought their own energy to the competition, and both are fun to watch. At different points, each group seemed to take the upper hand, only to be met with something new. The end, though, is the best, as the two groups came together in a joint jam session followed by fist bumps all around.
The two drumlines met up again on December 10 at this year’s Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia, and again both corps were a delight to watch.
But who was the winner of each matchup?
This year’s battle is too new to get a good sampling of comments. Judging from the comments of the 2021 video, the verdict was fairly evenly split. Most people simply appreciated what each drumline brought to the competition.
“Army was bouncy and fun, Navy was technical and sharp!” wrote one commenter.
“I like Navy’s ‘Top Secret’ moves,” wrote another. “Their technical skills are really good. Army’s energy was good as well. Great job all around to both teams. Well done everyone.”
“Both Army & Navy represent with excellent performances,” wrote another. “Army’s was filled with more popular rhythms. Navy’s was faster and more complex.”
No matter who won, each battle was enjoyable to witness. Much gratitude and respect for all of those who serve.
In Glenview, Illinois, you’ll find Taco-Bout-Joy’s, a restaurant owned by sisters Joy Milan and Kack Keomanivong, which boasts a menu full of delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine.
Only a short while ago, business was anything but booming for the family-owned shop. Joy’s daughter Isabel posted a heartbreaking video to TikTok showing her mother watching the door in hopes of customers. Meanwhile, the restaurant remained painfully empty.
Feeling for her mom, Joy wrote that her “Christmas wish” was to give Milan customers. Her sincerity clearly struck a chord with people, because the post garnered more than 39 million views and received a flood of compassionate comments from folks near and far.
“Op not me crying over this lady’s taco place thousands of miles away from me,” wrote one person.
Only a day later, Isabel posted an update. Taco-Bout-Joy’s underwent a complete turnaround—so many customers arrived that Joy had to enlist a new crew immediately. The video shows nine people working together in the bustling kitchen to fulfill a surge of orders.
“If you found tears in your tacos, I’m sorry,” wrote Isabel.
The good luck hasn’t slowed down. The restaurant shared on its Facebook page that Taco-Bout-Joy’s had been voted by netizens as one of “Chicago’s Best Mexican Restaurants.” And things are so busy now that the shop is currently hiring additional staff. Can you say Christmas miracle?
Viewers continue to share their love online as well. The business now has 244,000 followers.
“I’m so happy to be here to watch y’all grow,” one person commented.
People have driven from hours away to try Chef Joy’s food, and the reviews are glowing.
“Drove 3 1/2 hours and definitely worth it love supporting small businesses” one person commented.
Another wrote, “seriously thinking about driving the 7.5 hours from Nashville just to support and eat!”
On Dec. 10, Isabel sent a heartfelt thank-you in another TikTok update, saying that the experience has been “incredible.”
Joy, who’s Laotian, bonded with her mother-in-law, who hailed from Michoacán, Mexico, by learning traditional Mexican recipes. Their shared love of cooking broke any language barriers. Now, Joy blends both culinary traditions to create something new and honor both sides of the family.
“We all embrace our two cultures and food together as a family, and are so excited to be able to share that with you guys! Proud of my Lao-Mexican family,” Isabel wrote.
Thanks to the kindness of people—and the power of TikTok—a Christmas wish was granted. And now we all know a place we can go to get a delightful flavor fusion.
Anyway, we’ve given you the support you need to not come off like a total jerk this holiday. Plenty of it. At this point, all you have to do is write something heartfelt on the card.
But we’re not quite done yet! Now it’s onto the home — the items that, if you cohabitate with your giftee — have the potential to improve your quality of living too. Now that’s a true gift that keeps giving! See all 11 items across all price ranges below. Everything on the list has been tested and vetted by our team.
Platin Audio Monaco 5.1.2 Speaker System
Platin Audio
Price: $1,299
This stereo is double-fire. The performance is extraordinary and the look is incredibly sleek. Wireless! Clean looking! And that sound quality is so freaking crispy. I don’t quite remember the movie experience (I haven’t been since the pandemic, is the popcorn tasty? I forget) but I remember the impact of movie sound. This is that.
The White Lotus finale chaos just hit harder without the sound scraping its way out of the tiny speakers on my TV. Huge impact for the viewing experience, for sure.
Here’s something better — quite important in my book: As an electronics idiot, it took roughly two minutes for me to want to call the Platin helpline for help with setup. And four minutes for me to actually do it. They got me set up quickly and didn’t rest until the whole system was dialed. Exactly what I needed on a product that was a splurge (especially with that aforementioned show waiting in my queue).
If you’re giving of gift of this scale and price, it has to feel easy for the giftee — this sound system nails that while fitting with a wide range of design aesthetics.
I did an insane amount of research for my most recent couch (honestly, the first couch I’ve ever bought). I actually spent $2K on a couch on Amazon and returned it, which is sort of a nightmare (okay, so this Inside Weather couch is technically my second couch). The Amazon couch just… wasn’t right. A week later, getting desperate, I was reading online reviews and found Inside Weather. I loved their Bondi sofa. It looked like a blend of midcentury and sort of “beach cottage folksy” which is my intended vibe.
But without a showroom, I couldn’t be sure. Still, I took a flyer on it — those reviews were persuasive and there’s a great return policy that extends for a full year (with a 25% restocking fee).
Well, friends, I have had this couch for a week and it has absolutely been life-changing. It’s the material and cushions are quality. It looks cool (the images don’t lie — folksy meets modern). Best of all, it’s oversized. To have a couch where people can stretch out and guests are comfortable feels kind of like a big life move.
No lie, this definitely stretched my budget (I got the three-seater — not the colossal couch in the image). But having a couch that feels like something I will have in my life for a substantial amount of time feels like some real adult shit. And I absolutely love the look of this. If you’re looking for a gift for yourself or your partner that will really get you daily appreciation, this is a great pick.
We actually reviewed the Lettuce Grow two years ago. I still have mine and have purchased a second one (this one with glow lights so that it can grow inside too! It is just so easy and the produce that comes off of it is absolutely incredible. Plus people are wowed by it and it fits with mid-century design. Also… not to go too deep, but there is something that I find metaphorically important about growing some of your own food.
In a perfect world, I would have 10 of these lined up (like J.B. Smoove). That would not be a massive time requirement either — because, as I said before: they are incredibly low maintenance. Speaking personally, I don’t know if I have a unifying theory of what makes a house a home but I know that when people come over and I can cut herbs and pluck lettuce and grab tomatoes off of a hydroponic tower, it makes them feel more connected to the meal that I am serving and in some strange way it makes me feel more connected to the space that I inhabit.
That’s a pretty huge win for any giftee in your life. I know because I got one of these for Uproxx publisher Jarret Myer last year and he still raves.
I guess the true trick with the lamp is if you like it. So this is me recommending a lamp that I like because it fits with my personal aesthetic. I have terracotta tile in my house and I like things in brass — so I bought these lights in terracotta and brass. It really doesn’t mean anything to anyone else. Nor should it.
Does your giftee have the same aesthetic as me? If so, this lamp in terracotta or even one of its more basic colors is fantastic quality and definitely feels like a lasting, well-built, suitably minimalist product when it’s hanging inside your home. If your giftee has a different aesthetic, it won’t be for them. I guess what I’m trying to say is that lamps are personal and ultimately, by the very fact that they illuminate a room, they naturally draw the eye — so having something that looks cheap is going to be corny and having something that looks nice and lasting is going to feel cool.
On second thought, a lamp might be a difficult gift, unless you cohabitate with someone.
Now here is a surefire gift! This brand was started by Eva Longoria and that’s great and all, but this is bigger: As the lead editor of our cooking section I test a LOT of pots. There are so many brands! We could legitimately rank 50 brands and not have covered 1/1000th of the market. And I’m telling you right now: This is my favorite pot I’ve ever tested.
It’s non-toxic. Non-stick. Extremely functional. Perfectly sized (so that you don’t need to have fifty pots, I only own two entries from this line and already I do 80% of my stove cooking in them). Whew, I could go on — aesthetically pleasing! Cool handle for balancing a spoon!
But I already said it all: This pot and its accompanying pan are the best I’ve ever tested. If you’re giving them as a gift, you can quote me on the card!
I’m a sheet aficionado. I like silk in summer. I splurge on thread counts when it comes to cotton. I even created a category of our “Hotels We Love” series titled “Bed Game.” This sheet might be my favorite all arounder. It’s almost as sexy as silk or satin (nothing can match those GOATs) but it feels cleaner longer and is somehow both lighter and more substantial. It’s soft and looks cool on the bed.
Earth tones — which match my home — was the obvious choice for me, but there are plenty of options.
My favorite aspects of these sheets are 1) that you really get a sense of the weave and therefore the nature of the fabric (it feels very real), and 2) that they soften with washes and sort of… evolve as you own them. Like a pair of nice jeans. Perfect for a friendship or relationship that feels similarly built to last!
I’ll be real. Unlike the other items in this guide, I haven’t sampled Chris Rodriguez’s artwork personally — in that it’s not hanging in my home. But goddamn would I like it to be! I’ve seen it hanging in houses of friends and it stayed with me.
The way that Rodriguez plays with light and color (not in edits but beforehand, when taking the photos) makes my mind conjure stories. Just look at this gem:
Or this one:
The dude is telling wild, bright, borderline unhinged tales through photography, not just rending pictures. That takes talent. If you have the money to give away one of his pieces, you will win crazy points. Especially if the person you decide to give a piece to is me, the editor of your favorite LIFE section.
This speaker is like a one-person EDM show. Not only is the sound quality exceptional but the light dances to the beat of the music. As far as Bluetooth speakers go, that’s a pretty wonderful hook.
This speaker is perfect for someone you might listen to music and chill on a big-ass couch with. Because that soft flickering light is enticing as all hell and pretty romantic. I don’t think you want to bang the thing around to the beach and on hikes — once the glass is smudged or messy it might lose its luster. But if your giftee likes hosting meals in the backyard where the “big firefly energy” of this speaker will be most captivating, it’s a great gift. I had mine playing as a table centerpiece during a recent meal and it drew a lot of compliments.
Mushrooms are all the design rage in 2022. And supporting US National Parks is always cool. This poster does both. If you’re buying a gift for the sort of person who appreciates those things, it’s a winner. Especially at that price point and especially since it supports our National Parks.
Of course, only you and your giftee know their style. But this is hanging in my home and it looks pretty fly!
Houseplant Ashtray Set By Seth
Houseplant
Price: $98
You don’t have to smoke weed to appreciate Seth Rogen’s super fancy pottery. Really, I know this firsthand because I own this moss-colored ashtray set and there isn’t a guest, stoner or otherwise, who comes over that doesn’t remark on this ceramic beauty.
Designed by Seth himself, this ashtray set comes with a deep well ceramic ashtray with a notch to hold your joint, blunt, or whatever, and a saucer that serves as a base for the tray, or another ashtray itself. The set also comes with a matching vase meant for holding flowers or anything else you’d like. — Dane Rivera, Senior Writer, Uproxx LIFE
Modeled after the legendary Technics 1200 turntable, the same turntable that made DJing an art form in itself, the Audio-Technica AT-L 120xUSB has all the features you could ever want in a turntable at an affordable price with some modern updates that’ll fit right along your contemporary stereo set-up.
Featuring adjustable dynamic anti-skate control, adjustable tracking force, and a pitch change slider control, the AT-LP 120 will allow you to play any 33 1/3, 45, or 78 RPM record in your collection and is equipped with a USB output that will allow you to connect to your computer and convert your hard to find records into audio files so you can take even the rarest grooves on the go with you.
Thanks to a built-in selectable photo preamp, you can connect this turntable directly to your existing home stereo environment so you won’t need a fancy expensive preamp or any external equipment to listen to your records. No other turntable is this feature-packed while still being relatively affordable. — Dane Rivera, Senior Writer, Uproxx LIFE
It took over a decade and lots of dangled carrots in front of fans’ eyes, but the long-threatened revival of Party Down — one of the great cult shows that inconveniently became popular after it had been cancelled over low ratings — is for real. How for real? It has a teaser and a release date. As per Deadline, the show will return for six more “are we having fun yet?”-packed episode starting on Friday, February 24, and on the very channel that birthed and killed it: Starz (and on its app and streaming platforms).
Party Down ran for a mere two seasons, 20 episodes total, in 2009 and 2010, and it concerned the largely amusingly unamused staff of a catering company. Each episode found them at a different, non-fun (for them, at least) soirée: the after party of a porn awards show; a celebration for a Russian heavy (Steven Weber) who may have just been acquitted of murder; the birthday of Steve Guttenberg (as himself).
The stellar cast, meanwhile, included Adam Scott as a formerly struggling actor who had consigned himself to the oblivion of a crappy job after peaking with a catchphrase-heavy hit commercial that basically wound up destroying his career. Scott is back, as are Ken Marino, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen, Jane Lynch, and Megan Mullally, who took over in the second season. One catch is it’s missing Lizzy Caplan, who played Scott’s on-again-off-again love interest but who was unfortunately too busy with other very nice gigs. Ditto Jennifer Coolidge, who subbed in for two episodes and who’s also doing pretty, pretty well these days.
It’s been 12 years since last we saw the crew of Party Down; they’re not really still catering crap gigs, are they? Not really. Here’s the logline:
10 years later, most of the Party Down catering team have moved on, including actor/bartender Henry Pollard (Scott). After a surprise reunion, the gang find themselves once again stoically enduring the procession of random parties and oddball guests all over Los Angeles.
The guest cast list currently includes Jennifer Garner, Tyrel Jackson Williams, and Zoë Chao, with James Marsden as a recurring character.
You can watch the teaser in the video above. Party Down returns starting February 24 on Starz and its attendant platforms.
The Greeting Committee has come a long way since forming as high schoolers in Kansas City, Missouri. With several EPs and two albums to their name — including last year’s mighty Dandelion — The Greeting Committee have returned with one goal in mind: They’re on a mission to make you dance and cry.
Returning to their indie pop roots and honing in on their relatability with their latest singles “Anything But You” and “Hopscotch,” The Greeting Committee are here to bring unfettered joy back to indie music. The wistful and shimmering ballad “Anything But You” manages to pull on heartstrings while the upbeat “Hopscotch” is one of their catchiest and most endearing numbers to date.
Celebrating the release of their new singles, The Greeting Committee band members Addison Sartino and Pierce Turcotte sat down with Uproxx to talk Death Cab For Cutie, staying at gnarly motels, and how magical a gifted book can be in our latest Q&A.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Sartino: To dance and cry.
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
Sartino: Timeless and true.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?
Sartino: Depends on the tour. So far, San Francisco has won this round.
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
Sartino: My bandmate Pierce has most inspired my work because he approaches music so innocently. He wants it to be fun and interesting. He doesn’t look through a lens of pretension. He doesn’t ask me to bleed for it.
Where did you eat the best meal of your life?
Sartino: The Southern in Nashville has the best fried chicken dinner I’ve ever had.
What album do you know every word to?
Sartino:Plans by Death Cab for Cutie or The 1975’s self-titled record.
What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?
Sartino: The Killers at Madison Square Garden.
What is the best outfit for performing and why?
Sartino: Although I’m branching out now, suits were my go-to for a long time. They’re comfortable but elevated.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?
What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?
Sartino: I put The National on shuffle in the van multiple times a week.
What’s the last thing you Googled?
Sartino: “How old is Suki Waterhouse?” She’s 30, by the way.
What album makes for the perfect gift?
Sartino:Bambi by Hippo Campus.
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?
Sartino: A gnarly motel where our van broke down in Yonkers, New York.
What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?
Turcotte: I got my first tattoo with my older brother and sister. We ended up deciding on each getting one of the Powerpuff Girls. However, my brother and got the Rowdyruff Boy version so mine is Butch, the boy version of Buttercup. Still my only tattoo so far.
What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?
Turcotte: I definitely have my comfort artists that will keep me from changing the channel, but I always love listening to new music from stations/playlists that I generally trust. 90.9 The Bridge in Kansas City is one of those stations where I can leave it on and be happy.
What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?
Sartino: My stepdad gave me 18 of his favorite books with little notes in them for my 18th birthday. He would get me books for my birthdays growing up with a check as the bookmark. I could only cash the check once I had written a one page essay on what I learned from reading the book.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Turcotte: I remember feeling really stuck when I was 18 and trying to figure out what to do with my life. I would tell myself to not hold on so tightly to that version of myself.
What’s the last show you went to?
Turcotte: I went to see Phoenix and Paramore in the same week. Phoenix had an incredible light show, but it was such a blast seeing Paramore and singing songs I grew up with.
What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?
Turcotte: Back when I would watch a lot of cable TV: Star Wars, The Matrix, or Lord Of The Rings would be on all the time. It was always these fantasy movies that would replay throughout the day. I couldn’t help but watch at least some of it, even if the commercials made the movie twice as long.
What’s one of your hidden talents?
Turcotte: Creative writing is a big passion of mine. Any free time I get at home, I will chip away at a fantasy novel that I’m working on. Outside of that, I’ve always been interested in coffee culture. I’ve worked in coffee for several years and it’s often where I spend my time at home or on the road.
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