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The cream is starting to rise to the top in the NFL as we get to Week 7. In the AFC, the Bills, Chiefs, and Texans are already two games up in their division, while the Ravens and Steelers are tied atop the North with a two-game gap to third. In the NFC, there’s a bit more in flux, headlined by the NFC North where all four teams are 4-2 or better — while the NFC West doesn’t have a team over .500. Week 7 features a handful of big games that could help further separate the top of the league, headlined by a Super Bowl rematch and a battle for first in the NFC North between the Lions and Vikings — neither of which are in primetime spots.

Primetime Game of the Week: Ravens at Bucs (Monday 10/21, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

We don’t exactly have the best primetime slate in the history of the National Football League this week, even if there are two Monday Night Football games. Having said that, as a person who likes when NFL games go completely off the rails and both offenses light it up, I am excited to watch the team tied for the highest-scoring offense in the league (the Bucs) take on the team with the second highest-scoring offense in the league (the Ravens). There is something fun about a defensive slugfest, but I do not think a Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore offense that can run on anybody or a Baker Mayfield-led Tampa Bay offense carved teams up through the air will be kept out of the end zone.

Sunday Funday Game of the Week: Chiefs at Niners (Sunday 10/20, 4:25p.m. ET, FOX)

I mean, yeah, this is the answer this week, even with a very fun Lions-Vikings showdown for the top spot in the NFC North that will headline the 1 p.m. slate. In Santa Clara, we will get a rematch of an ultra-tight Super Bowl between two team that have real aspirations of getting back there, the high-flying Niners offense against a Chiefs defense that has been outrageous this season, and Patrick Mahomes going up against a star-studded San Francisco defense that has been battle tested this year. Outside of some pretty prominent injuries for both teams that could fundamentally change this matchup if they see each other again in February, everything is in place for this game to be a blast.

Under the Radar Banger: Seahawks at Falcons (Sunday 10/20, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

Another game where we are probably going to get a ton of points. Geno Smith and Kirk Cousins are first and fourth, respectively, in passing yards coming into this week, while both passing defenses are in the top-10 of yards allowed per game — things haven’t gone as well for either rushing defense, though, so perhaps Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Kenneth Walker, and Zach Charbonnet can all cook a little bit. Regardless, as a RedZone viewer, I expect Scott Hanson to cut into this game a ton, because I think this has the potential to be a basketball game.

Who Won The MVP Last Week: Derrick Henry

It took Henry a few weeks to get used to life on his new team, but lately, he’s been out of his mind en route to being the league’s rushing leader. None of this should be a surprise, as he is awesome, Lamar Jackson is lethal on the ground, and few coaches love establishing it more than John Harbaugh, but it’s been a blast to watch this play out. And unfortunately for the Washington Commanders, they learned the hard way that Henry is comfortable in his new digs, as he went for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries in a 30-23 win last week.

Best Bet (2-4): Dolphins at Colts UNDER 43.5

In four games since Tua Tagovailoa’s injury, the Dolphins have scored 10, 3, 12, and 15 points. I don’t see that getting a whole lot better this week against the Colts and they’ve pretty clearly steered into the skid by slowing the tempo and trying to keep games low-scoring to give themselves a chance. Indianapolis is likely to go back to Anthony Richardson in this one, which means more explosive plays but also a little less consistency out of the Colts offense compared to when Joe Flacco is at the helm. Give me the Under in a game I hope I see very little of as I watch RedZone on Sunday.

Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman recently said the famed pop-punk festival is coming back in 2025. The context of that confirmation, though, was sort of off-the-cuff, but now there’s more official news: It was formally announced today (October 17) that Warped Tour is celebrating its 30th anniversary next year with a three-city tour.

The three lucky cities are Washington DC, Long Beach, and Orlando, each of which will host their own two-day festivals. The DC event is going down at the Festival Grounds at RFK Campus on June 14 and 15, Long Beach will host at Downtown Long Beach Shoreline Waterfront on July 26 and 27, and the tour will wrap at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium Campus on November 15 and 60.

At each event, between 70 and 100 bands will perform. Lineups haven’t been announced yet, but a press release notes, “The 2025 edition will honor the tour’s iconic history while shining a spotlight on the next generation of artists, with full lineup details to be announced at a later date.”

In a statement, Lyman says, “People are craving connection, live music, and the raw, unfiltered experience that Warped has always offered. We’ve seen how music continues to unite and inspire, and this return isn’t just about nostalgia — it’s about giving a new generation the chance to feel that same sense of belonging and freedom that Warped has always championed. Insomniac is a company I’ve always admired, so when the opportunity to collaborate arose, I couldn’t say no. I thought, why the hell not? Let’s dive in and make this happen!”

Tickets will be available starting with a pre-sale on October 24 at 9 a.m. PT/noon ET, via the Warped Tour website. Tickets will be sold at the all-inclusive price of $149.98.

Each week our staff of film and television experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish shows available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.

15. English Teacher (Hulu)

You might know Brian Jordan Alvarez from his videos on TikTok and Instagram as TJ Mack, the singer of earworm “Sitting.” He’s also the star and creator of English Teacher, about a teacher who “often finds himself at the intersection of the personal, professional, and political aspects of working at a high school. Evan wants to be a principled person but often runs into trouble because of it.” His first lesson to his students: sitting is the opposite of standing.

Watch it on Hulu

14. The Penguin (Max)

Colin Farrell’s scene-stealing performance in The Batman resulted in him being turned into a meme and, probably more impressively, getting a spin-off on Max. The Penguin explores Oswald Cobblepot’s (or as he’s called in the show, Oz Cobb’s) rise in the seedy Gotham underworld. The series, which also stars Cristin Milioti, Clancy Brown, and Theo Rossi, is getting comparisons to another crime drama in the HBO / Max family: The Sopranos. Not too shabby.

Watch it on Max

13. Will & Harper (Netflix)

After former SNL head writer Harper Steele came out as a trans woman, she and Will Ferrell went on a two-week road trip across America. Will & Harper tracks their journey. “What if we went on a road trip together, giving her a chance to go into a cowboy bar or whatever places she misses, and I can be by her side and lend support as a friend?” Ferrell said about the origin of the documentary. “At the same time, it would give us a chance to reconnect and figure out what this transition means to our relationship.” If only all SNL cast members from the ‘90s were so open minded…

Watch it on Netflix

12. Dan Da Dan (Netflix)

The acclaimed anime Dan Da Dan is about Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate / occult fanatic Okarun, who begin talking after she saves him from getting bullied. However, an argument ensues between them: Momo believes in ghosts but denies aliens, and Okarun believes in aliens but denies ghosts. It’s a real Mulder and Scully dynamic, if they were both Mulder (and there was a Turbo Granny). Dan Da Dan, which is getting a weekly release, comes from animation studio Science Saru, who also made last year’s shockingly good Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.

Watch it on Netflix

11. Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

One of the most talked-about shows at the moment is Nobody Wants This. It turns out, everybody wants to see Kristen Bell and Adam Brody in a romantic comedy, which is something I could have told Netflix without having to be paid an executive’s exorbitant salary. Nobody Wants This follows the unlikely relationship between a sex podcaster (Bell) and a hot rabbit (Brody). It’s very cute, and hopefully a sign that we’ll get more good rom-coms soon.

Watch it on Netflix

10. The Platform 2 (Netflix)

Quarantine hit The Platform is an allegorical horror film about class struggle, where inmates in a “Vertical Self-Management Center” are fed using a platform that’s initially filled with food but as it descends, there’s fewer and fewer options for the lower levels. Those at the bottom are lucky to get anything at all. Following a prisoner rebellion (and some delicious panna cotta) in the original, The Platform 2 has a new leader imposing their rule in the Platform, while “a new resident becomes embroiled in the battle against this controversial method to fight the brutal feeding system,” according to the logline from Netflix. “But when eating from the wrong plate becomes a death sentence, how far would you be willing to go to save your life?”

Watch it on Netflix

9. Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (Netflix)

The first Tomb Raider game came out on the Sega Saturn nearly 30 years, but the love for Lara Croft remains strong. There’s been three movies, so many games (including a remaster of the first three mainline titles released earlier this year), and now, an anime. Hayley Atwell voices the titular explorer in Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft from animation studio Powerhouse Animation Studios, which also made the impressive Castlevania: Nocturne series. They have a stranglehold on Netflix anime.

Watch it on Netflix

8. Teacup (Peacock)

The official synopsis for Teacup reads, “Teacup follows a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive.” But that leaves out the intriguing involvement of producer James Wan, or that the subject matter is so “horrifying,” it made star Yvonne Strahovski “feel sick.” Just in time for Halloween!

Watch it on Peacock

7. La Máquina (Hulu)

La Máquina reunites Y tu mamá también stars Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal in a boxing drama-thriller. After a brutal loss, boxer Esteban “La Máquina” Osuna (played by Garcia Bernal) faces a low point in his career. But his manager and best friend, Andy Lujan (Luna), believes he still has promise to mount a comeback for one last fight… possibly for selfish reasons. Esteban is also facing issues in his personal life, including his journalist ex-wife Irasema (Eiza González), who is investigating corruption in the boxing world.

Watch it on Hulu

6. Disclaimer (Apple TV Plus)

Alfonso Cuarón, the Oscar-winning director of Children Men, Y tu mamá también (big week for the YTMT freaks out there!), and the best Harry Potter movie, is back with his first new project in six years. Disclaimer stars Cate Blanchett as a journalist who receives a mysterious book in the mail that threatens to reveal her darkest secrets. The ensemble cast of the psychological thriller, which is told over seven chapters, also includes Kevin Kline, Kodi Smit-McPhee, HoYeon Jung, Louis Partridge, Lesley Manville, and Leila George. It’s just nice to have a new anything from Cuarón.

Watch it on Apple TV Plus

5. Hysteria! (Peacock)

I’m sorry, but the only thing we should be talking about is how there’s a new show starring Bruce Campbell (yes) set during the Satanic Panic 1980s (yes yes) about a struggling metal band that pretends to be devil worshippers to become more popular (yes yes YES). Also, the group’s name is Dethkrunch (g*d yes). Hysteria was created by Matthew Scott Kane and is executive produced by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the duo behind last year’s excellent Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

Watch it on Peacock

4. It’s Florida, Man (Max)

What if Drunk History was exclusively about Florida? That’s essentially It’s Florida, Man, which takes funny folks like Anna Faris, Jake Johnson, Randall Park, Juliette Lewis, Sam Richardson, and Ego Nwodim, and has them recreate actual incidents from the Sunshine State. Don’t worry, it’s not exploitative: their real-life counterparts appear in the show, too. It’s all right there in the opening voiceover, courtesy of Stephen Root: “What you’re about to see may be dangerous, petty, misguided, but most definitely stupid. But it’s also all true. Sort of.”

Watch it on Max

3. Brothers (Prime Video)

In Brothers, Josh Brolin (seen above in a “I Just Dropped My Load” shirt) and Peter Dinklage play, well, brothers. One’s a reformed criminal (Brolin), the other’s still in the game (Dinklage), and together, they go on a road trip “for the score of a lifetime,” according to the official plot synopsis. “Dodging bullets, the law, and an overbearing mother along the way, they must heal their severed family bond before they end up killing each other.” This is the kind of movie that would have $150 million at the box office in the 1980s.

Watch it on Prime Video

2. Shrinking (Apple TV Plus)

Bill Lawrence might be rebooting Scrubs, and working on more Ted Lasso, and he has big plans for Bad Monkey season 2, but for now, he — and fellow creators Jason Segel and Brett Goldstein — is focused on Shrinking. The mental health comedy returns for another season with Segel as grieving therapist Jimmy and Harrison Ford as his cranky co-worker Paul. But the show’s real MVP is Jessica Williams.

Watch it on Apple TV Plus

1. Woman of the Hour (Netflix)

What’s Anna Kendrick been up to lately? Besides raking in “Cups” residuals, I assume, she also directed her first movie. Woman of the Hour looks back on the time that a real-life serial killer, Rodney Alcaca, appeared as a contestant on 1970s-era The Dating Game. Kendrick also stars as aspiring actress Cheryl Bradshaw, who was unlucky enough to pick Alcaca as her date. Woman of the Hour “explores the way women navigate a world of violent men,” and it’s terrifying because it’s so real.

Watch it on Netflix

The Los Angeles Clippers saw Paul George walk in free agency this summer, but they haven’t seemed all that concerned about the former All-Star leaving town. The hope was they could move forward with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, along with some new faces on the supporting cast, and stay in the mix in the West, pending health.

That last bit has always been the issue for the Clippers, particularly when it comes to Leonard. His inability to be on the floor in the postseason has kept the Clippers from ever reaching their full potential as a contender, and this summer he was already a late scratch from USA Basketball and was rehabbing continued inflammation in his right knee during camp. On Thursday, Shams Charania and Ohm Youngmisuk brought word that Leonard will continue to be out indefinitely with that right knee inflammation and will miss the start of the 2024-25 season.

That’s not exactly a surprise, unfortunately, given Leonard’s injury history, but it does put a real damper on any excitement around the Clippers coming into the season. They will have to hope James Harden can really turn back the clock to be a dominant force on the offensive end, as they are lacking in the on-ball creator department if Leonard is out. While it’s possible Harden can carry them early, the concern there is that they’ll have to put too much wear-and-tear on Harden early in the season to stay afloat, and that by the time they reach the postseason push, even if Leonard is able to be on the floor, it will be Harden tapering off — and he’s had his own battles with hamstring issues in recent years.

The Garden State soundtrack is one of the most iconic of the millennium. As the Zach Braff film and OST turn 20 years old this year, something big is happening: It was announced today (October 17) that a 20th anniversary concert is happening.

The show is going down at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on March 29, 2025. The event will benefit The Midnight Mission, a homeless shelter and services provider that has offered resources to men, women, and children in LA since 1914.

A press release notes that “nearly all” of the artists featured on the soundtrack will participate in the show, including The Shins, Iron & Wine, Frou Frou, Colin Hay, Thievery Corporation, Remy Zero, Cary Brothers, Bonnie Somerville, Sophie Barker from Zero 7, and “very special guests to be announced later.”

Tickets will be available starting October 18 at 9 a.m. PT via the Greek Theatre website.

Braff spoke about the event with Variety, saying, “When I was first approached about doing a concert for the 20th anniversary, I was like, ‘I don’t know how we’re ever going to get all these bands together at the same time.’ But when the notion of doing it as a benefit for The Midnight Mission, I was all in. I was like if we can marshal all of these beautiful artists together for a cause that is helping such a prevalent dire situation in Los Angeles and give back to the community, that’s when I got off my couch. I was like, ‘How do we figure this out?’”

He also teased some big moments, noting, “We’re going to have a lot of special guests, too, because there’s two songs in particular we want to include. But Paul Simon’s not performing currently and Nick Drake is no longer with us. So, between my connections and [musician and soundtrack artist] Cary Brothers’ connections, we’re going to have some really, holy-sh*t surprise guests that are going to be covering their songs.”

The New York Knicks shocked the basketball world last month when they acquired Karl-Anthony Towns in a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves. While there had been rumors for years that the Knicks might make a move for the New Jersey native and that the Wolves would need to make some tough decisions because of how expensive their roster was getting, it really did come out of nowhere when New York sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota in exchange for the All-Star big man.

Towns spent his entire NBA career to this point with the Wolves, which drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2015. He made clear in the aftermath of the move that Minnesota will always hold a special place in his heart, which became incredibly clear on Monday when he attended a Billie Eilish concert. Instead of being 100 percent locked into the show, Towns pulled up his phone and watched a bit of the Wolves’ preseason game with the Chicago Bulls.

The Wolves came up just a bit short in their effort to beat the Bulls on Monday night, as Chicago picked up a 125-123 victory. There is no word from Towns on what he thought of his old team’s performance, or if he enjoyed going to a concert at Madison Square Garden.

I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. Every year we review and rank chicken tenders, we run blind taste tests, and we taste test the latest new recipes. We’re always searching for the very best of the best. And throughout this journey, I keep asking one brand, KFC, for one thing: “Please, please, f*cking please give us chicken tenders breaded in the Original Recipe seasoning.” There are a lot of issues with KFC’s menu, too many to get into right now, but the biggest problem in my opinion is that the brand keeps overlooking its greatest product: Original Recipe.

It’s the thing that made KFC famous in the first place. We don’t doubt that there have been a lot of changes to KFC’s “11 herbs and spices” throughout the brand’s 72 years of operation, but it’s what sets the brand apart from all the other chicken chains out there, and in 2024, that’s a lot of competition. KFC has a tendency to copy what other brands are doing; their chicken sandwich is a sad clone of Popeyes, and their new chicken nuggets are very indebted to Chick-fil-A (even the packaging is similar), it always feels like the brand is playing catch-up.

Enter the 3pc. Original Recipe Chicken Tenders Box, a new menu item that brings KFC’s 11 herbs and spices to its chicken tenders, complete with a side order of fries, and a side of comeback sauce — what a minute… ah f*ck, they’re doing it again!

If you’re a chicken tender fan, it’s impossible to miss the similarities between KFC’s OG Tender Box and Raising Cane’s Box Combo. They even used the word “box.” That means it’s going to be impossible for me to order the Tender Box without thinking of Raising Cane’s, so I’m just going to go ahead and compare the two.

We put KFC’s Original Recipe 3pc Tender Box against Raising Cane’s 3 Finger Combo to see which meal gives you the best bang for your buck, and most importantly, which has the better chicken. We’ll be awarding a score of one-five for each element of the meal and listing the price, which might be the ultimate decider for where you want to spend your lunch.

Let’s start with the new bird on the block. I’m rooting for you KFC, don’t let me down!

KFC’s Original Recipe Tender Box

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

All that hoping and begging for KFC to finally give us Original Recipe tenders has paid off — straight up, these tenders are delicious. This is a wonderful complexity to this chicken tender, it’s herbaceous, I’m tasting thyme, a hint of oregano, and a hint of celery salt, as well as a heavy use of black pepper. The breading for the most part is soft, but there are these little tendrils that crisp up nicely and add a nice crunchy element to the chicken.

If the Original Recipe breading is KFC’s greatest weapon, its second is the “Secret Recipe,” fries. They’re lightly breaded, crunchy, and well seasoned. With the chicken, I’m getting a lot of flavor in this meal. There are a few areas where this meal falls short though.

First, the Comeback sauce. It’s zesty with a light hint of spice and a creamy base. But it’s also very oily, tastes a little flat on the aftertaste, and masks the spices of the chicken. A good sauce should elevate the chicken, and I feel like this doesn’t really do that. Second, the biscuit. It’s just fine, but it feels a bit unnecessary. If KFC gave you the option to swap that biscuit for another side, it would do a lot to enhance this meal.

And finally, the texture of the chicken isn’t quite the same quality as Cane’s. It has a denseness to it. It’s not quite as melt-in-your-mouth tender. If we weren’t comparing the two, we wouldn’t even mention it, it’s a non-issue, but it is a notable difference.

Score:

Chicken: It’s incredibly well-seasoned, and easily the best chicken item on the entire KFC menu. They knocked it out of the park with this one. 5/5

Fries: A perfect, flavorful pairing with the chicken. These fries aren’t just the best KFC side, they are some of the best fries in all of fast food, and that’s saying a lot. 5/5

Biscuit: KFC makes a good biscuit. It’s bready, a bit salty, and buttery. But it’s bland in comparison to what Raising Cane’s has. 3/5

Sauce: It gets the job done, but tastes a bit flat in comparison to Raising Cane’s house made sauce and masks everything that’s great about the actual chicken. On the bright side, you get two per meal, and if you’ve ever eaten Raising Cane’s, you know one sauce is never enough. 3/5

Price: $13.22

Final Score: 16/20

Raising Cane’s Box Combo

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

Raising Cane’s is our reigning chicken tender champion for a reason. This chicken is fantastic. It’s so tender that it melts in your mouth, but in terms of seasoning, there isn’t much going on here. The chicken tastes like, well chicken — a bird that is famously flavorless. What makes Raising Cane’s so good is the sauce. It’s zesty, mildly spicy, a bit buttery, and super savory. It’s a near-perfect sauce and does a lot to make turn eating this chicken into a mind-blowing experience. But you only get one sauce per order, any additional sauces are .50¢, and you’re going to want additional sauces.

The fries are just fine. Like the chicken, they’re pretty flavorless on their own, and desperately need the sauce to enhance. They taste like every other crinkle-cut fry you’ve ever had, but with a slightly buttery aftertaste that I find pleasant, especially when paired with the sauce.

The Texas Toast is another thing this meal has going for it. The toast is grilled on one side and slathered with garlic butter, giving it this wonderful, savory, and addicting flavor. It’s way better than any biscuit you’ve ever had.

But back to the texture. While the chicken breading leaves a lot to be desired, I’ve yet to taste a chicken tender that has a better texture than Raising Cane’s. Compare the below photo to the KFC chicken and you’ll see an obvious different in texture. This is for sure a better bird.

Score:

Chicken: By far, it is the tenderest chicken in all of fast food. But when it comes to the breading, it lacks flavor in comparison. 4/5

Fries: Standard crinkle cut fries. Not bad, but not great. 3/5

Texas Toast: Buttery, garlicky, a real treat before, during, or after your meal. 4/5

Sauce: Wonderfully zesty, spicy, savory, and complex. It enhances the chicken significantly, which a good sauce should. 5/5

Price: $12.01

Final Score: 16/20

The Big Takeaway:

I can’t believe I’m saying this but I think we have a new king in town. This isn’t just recency bias talking, KFC’s Original Recipe Tenders are the best chicken tenders in all of fast food. But does that mean we won’t be hitting the Raising Cane’s drive-thru anymore? I wouldn’t go that far.

There is a lot to love about both chicken tender meals (also Raising Cane’s is a dollar cheaper, that’s certainly something). KFC will give you better-tasting chicken with a cheaper-tasting sauce. Raising Cane’s will give you a much better sauce and chicken with a significantly more tender texture. Overall, this battle ended in a tie, which I’ll admit feels like a cop-out but for chicken lovers everywhere, it’s a win-win.

If you take anything from this article, let it be this: you need to try KFC’s Original Recipe Chicken Tenders, they just might be your new favorite.

One Direction mattered. They mattered to millions of fans who bought their albums, memorized their lyrics, and attended their concerts. And because One Direction mattered, Liam Payne mattered.

Liam — and separately but ideally collectively, Harry, Zayn, Niall, and Louis — seemed (to quote another boy band) larger than life. They were The Beatles for a generation. That, and the circumstances behind it, is what made Payne’s tragic death at 31 years old so shocking. But through the songs he left behind, Liam Payne — and One Direction as a whole — will continue to matter.

Below, you’ll find five songs from the One Direction discography that showed off Payne’s talents as a vocalist and a songwriter. It’s the story of his life, one that ended far too soon.

“What Makes You Beautiful” (Up All Night)

The first verse on One Direction’s first album is sung by Liam Payne: “You’re insecure, don’t know what for / You’re turnin’ heads when you walk through the door.” It’s all there, the hooks, the harmonies, the way Liam sings “door,” right from the start (he also has the first verse in 1D’s first-ever live performance). In behind-the-scenes footage of the band being together on The X-Factor, host Simon Cowell said Payne had the “standout audition.” Fellow judge (who knows a thing or two about group dynamics) Nicole Scherzinger added that “he could actually be the leader. He’s the standout.” Their instincts to put these five particular boys together proved correct.

“Little Things” (Take Me Home)

According to Setlist.fm, Liam covered this One Direction song more than any other at his solo concerts, so it clearly meant a lot to him. It was written by Fiona Bevan and Ed Sheeran, and has a lot of trademarks of an Ed Sheeran song, namely the folk-pop sincerity. The lyrics don’t amount to much more than “hey girl, you’re perfect because of your imperfections” (“What Makes You Beautiful” did it better), but Liam sells it with his natural charm.

“Diana” (Midnight Memories)

Liam co-wrote over 30 One Direction songs, including many of their biggest hits, like “Midnight Memories” and “Steal My Girl,” as well as fan favorites “No Control” and “Last First Kiss.” He and co-writer Louis Tomlinson really came into their own as songwriters on Midnight Memories. The title track has that titanic chorus, but it’s the deceptively upbeat “Diana” that I return to more often. It’s a fine showcase for the boys’ vocals with a sleek pop-rock sheen.

“Fireproof” (Four)

“Fireproof” shows how much One Direction evolved in three short years. 2011’s Up All Night, for all its youthful energy, has a lot of filler that’s propped up by a few undeniable singles. 2014’s Four is an actual album. The later tracks are as essential as the headliners; the gorgeous “Fireproof,” co-written by Liam and Louis, is instantly nostalgic.

“History” (Made In The A.M.)

This rootsy song was co-written by Liam, who described it to Entertainment Weekly as a “modern version” of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story. He added, “More than anything, the song is about the way the fans and everyone have created this massive thing — One Direction — over the past five years. Out of [‘History’] comes a little bit of closure for this chapter of One Direction.” The final words on the final song on One Direction’s final album are Liam saying “we are” before he’s joined by the rest of the group: “live forever.” Through their music, they will.

We haven’t heard from London favorites Sorry since their dropped their 2022 album Anywhere But Here.” But, they’re back now: Today (October 17), they shared the new single “Waxwing.” The track is built on an interpolation of the lyrics from Tony Basil’s classic “Hey Mickey.”

The group’s Asha Lorenz says of the song in a statement, “Mickey is desire ? Mickey is the bomb? Mickey makes me money? Mickey makes my songs? Mickey makes a poem? Mickey in the drugs ? Mickey is liar ? Mickey making love? Mickey is desire ?”

There’s no news of a new album yet, but perhaps this song means one is on the way soon.

In a 2022 interview with Uproxx, Lorenz said of her songwriting process, “If I can’t make sense of what’s really going on or people’s thoughts and stuff, then I flip it into a song and I can kind of put it away because I can see it for something else.”

Watch the “Waxwing” video above. Also find the band’s upcoming tour dates, in support of Fontaines DC, below.

Sorry 2024 Tour Dates

11/20 — Wolverhampton, UK @ Wolverhampton Civic Hall
11/22 — London, UK @ Alexandra Palace
11/23 — London, UK @ Alexandra Palace
11/24 — Cardiff, UK @ Utilita Arena Cardiff
11/26 — Plymouth, UK @ Plymouth Pavilions
11/27 — Nottingham, UK @ Motorpoint Arena
11/29 — Manchester, UK @ The Factory
11/30 — Manchester, UK @ The Factory
12/01 — Manchester, UK @ The Factory
12/03 — Leeds, UK @ First Direct Arena
12/04 — Glasgow, UK @ Hydro
12/06 — Dublin, IRE @ 3Arena
12/07 — Dublin, IRE @ 3Arena

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. We are already mid-way through October and we’re just barely getting the first sneaker drop we would call “Halloween-themed,” in the Kobe 5 Protro Deep Royal Blue. This is a unique time in the sneaker year where there will be a handful of dope shoes that could double as everyday wear and part of a Halloween costume. Going as a skeleton this year? Rock the Kobe 5 Protros, you’ll be the most stylish skeleton ever!

But this isn’t a week of gimmicky designs, quite the contrary, most of the shoes are year-rounders, and we’re better for it. Other highlights this week include three new colorways of the Air Max SNDR, a new iteration of the Air Pegasus, a Converse x Stüssy collab, and a new trail-inspired design from Bricks & Wood and New Balance. There are a lot of great drops ot get to, so let’s dive into the best sneakers dropping this week, and where to find them.

Air Max SNDR Black and Metallic Gold/ Blue Ice and Obsidian, Burgundy Crush and Baltic Blue

Price: $185 (B&M/B&O/B&B)

This year Nike brought back the late ‘90s early ‘00s Air Max SNDR (a shoe way ahead of its time), and this week the sneaker is getting three brand new colorways, which is great news for fans of futuristic Y2K-era designs. The sneaker features large reflective panels along the mudguard, sports Max Air cushioning, and a zip-up shroud.

The sneaker is dropping in three colorways, including Black and Metallic Gold, Blue Ice and Obsidian, and Burgundy Crush and Baltic Blue.

The Air Max SNDR is out now for a retail price of $185. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Nike Air Pegasus Wave Black and Metallic Silver

Price: $160

When the return of the Air Pegasus was first announced, we hoped Nike would start to play with the silhouette a bit and it looks like our hopes have been answered this week with the Air Pegasus Wave. The Air Pegasus Wave takes design cues from the early ‘00s rave scene and features a mixed upper in a stealthy Black and Metallic Silver colorway.

For added comfort, the sneaker rides on full-length Air Cushioning. More of this Nike!

The Air Pegasus Wave Black and Metallic Silver is out now for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Converse x Stüssy Chuck 70 Snakeskin

Price: $110

The Converse Stüssy Chuck 70 Snakeskin looks like a shoe Matthew McConaughey would wear, so if that’s the vibe you’re going for — or you’re just looking for a Magic Mike Halloween custom — then you’re not going to find a shoe that better fits the bill than this one.

The sneaker features an allover snakeskin print over a leather upper with the Stüssy logo in place of the usual star.

The Converse x Stüssy Chuck 70 Snakeskin is out now for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Kobe 5 Protro Deep Royal Blue (X-Ray)

Price: $180

For the Kobe fan who wants to attend Halloween parties as an x-ray, Nike is giving us the Kobe 5 Protro Deep Royal Blue. It’s not meant to be a Halloween-themed sneaker, the skeletal graphic was designed to allude to Kobe’s commitment to the game, no matter what injury he was facing, but I mean come on! A sneaker with a skeletal foot graphic dropping in October? There is a double meaning here!

The sneaker features an incredibly lightweight upper and rides on an Air Zoom unit. Any other month, I think this design would be a tough sell, but this near Halloween, it works!

The Kobe 5 Protro Deep Royal Blue is out now for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Nike Air Max 1 ’86 OG Summit White and Cosmic Clay

Price: $150
Is it wrong to say I prefer the ’86 Air Max 1 over standard AM-1? Call me a sucker, but that giant Air Window does it for me! It gives the sneaker a retro look that I think helps to accentuate the design of the shoe. It feels like something that would never be made today, and that’s part of its appeal.

This Summit White and Cosmic Clay colorway features a mixed leather and mesh upper with a simple three-color design and all the late ‘80s design details of the original Air Max.

The Nike Air Max 1 ’86 OG Summit White and Cosmic Clay is out now for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

New Balance 475 Quarry Blue

Price: $109.99

Straight out of the New Balance archives, the New Balance 475 has quickly become one of our favorite silhouettes by the brand. I guess we just have a preference for late ‘80s footwear!

This new update of the 475 features a mesh upper with suede overlays, a leather N logo, a woven tongue label, and reflective details throughout. The construction is on point, but what I love about the sneaker is the icy blue colorway. It doesn’t gel with the autumnal season we’re living in, but come spring 2025 we are going to be rocking these.

The New Balance 475 Quarry Blue is set to drop on October 16th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $109.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance.

New Balance Made In USA 990v4 Macadamia Nut

Price: $209.99

For those only interested in the premium New Balance releases, this week we’ve got yet another 990v4, this time in an off-white Macadamia Nut colorway. The Macadamia Nut features a mesh upper with plush tumbled leather overlays and rides on an ENCAP midsole.

Rounding out the design is a Flying NB logo at the hell and the coveted flag logo on the tongue tag.

The New Balance Made in USA 990v4 Macadamia Nut is out now for a retail price of $209.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance.

Bricks & Wood X New Balance 1906 Utility Phantom

Price: $169.99

South Central Los Angeles streetwear brand Bricks & Wood is linking up with New Balance this week for a colorful new take on the 1906 Utility. The Utility Phantom features a ripstop mesh base with ombre synthetic overlays, shock absorbing ABZORB SBS heel cushioning, co-branded insoles, a Bricks & Wood butterfly at the tongue tag, and ACTEVA LITE cushioning.

It’s maybe one of the most stylish trail ready sneakers we’ve ever seen.

The Bricks & Wood x New Balance 1906 Utility Phantom is set to drop on October 18th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $169.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.