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Hey there, fellow cat people and people who know cat people!

If you’re here, there’s a good chance you know a quirky cat lover or are one yourself, and what a delight. Cats are simply the best creatures, a perfect blend of grace, strength, agility and delightful derpiness. They’re beautiful, soft little weirdos, affectionate when they want to be, aloof when they don’t and notoriously independent.

Cats are superior and they know it, which is hilarious. We may talk about guard dogs, but only a fool would mess with a cat.

Cat people are cat people because they revel in cats’ unique personalities and appreciate their idiosyncrasies. But that doesn’t mean they love all cat-related things.

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Let’s say you want to buy a cat person a gift but don’t want it to be a kiddie stuffed animal or kitschy ceramic cat figurine that will just collect dust. Let’s also say your cat person also has a fabulous sense of humor. What do you get them?

How about an unexpectedly hilarious cat-themed book? Like, how could you go wrong with this:

“Crafting With Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make With Your Cat”

by Kaori Tsutaya

Amazon description: “Got fur balls? Are your favorite sweaters covered with cat hair? Do you love to make quirky and one-of-a-kind crafting projects? If so, then it’s time to throw away your lint roller and curl up with your kitty! Crafting With Cat Hair shows readers how to transform stray clumps of fur into soft and adorable handicrafts. From kitty tote bags and finger puppets to fluffy cat toys, picture frames, and more, these projects are cat-friendly, eco-friendly, and require no special equipment or training. You can make most of these projects in under an hour—with a little help, of course, from your feline friends!”

That description is so adorably earnest. Do people really do cat hair crafts? I would buy this book for someone just to see the look on their face.

If that’s a little too gaggy for you, how about this one?

“How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety: And Abstinence, Drugs, Satanism, and Other Dangers That Threaten Their Nine Lives”

by Zachary Auburn

Amazon description: “For over four decades, the American Association of Patriots have stood at the vanguard of our country’s defense by helping to prepare our nation’s cat owners for the difficult conversations they dread having with their pets. Written in a simple Q&A format, How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety answers crucial questions such as, “What is the right age to talk to my cat about the proper use of firearms?” and “What are the benefits of my cat living a lifestyle of abstinence?” and especially “Why does my cat need to use the internet? Can’t he just play with yarn like cats used to do?”

Our country—and our cats—stand at a precipice. It will take courage, and it will take hard work, but armed with the knowledge within these pages, we can make our cats—and America—great again!”

(Yes, it’s satire. Nobody actually give your cat a gun, please.)

Are you familiar with The Oatmeal? This book from the famous website was a #1 NYT Bestseller.

“How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You”

by The Oatmeal/Matthew Inman

Amazon description: “If your cat is kneading you, that’s not a sign of affection. Your cat is actually checking your internal organs for weakness. If your cat brings you a dead animal, this isn’t a gift. It’s a warning. How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You is a hilarious, brilliant offering of comics, facts, and instructional guides about crazy cat behaviors from the creative wonderland at The Oatmeal.”

Seriously, The Oatmeal is so funny. If that title alone didn’t make you chortle, surely this one will:

“I Could Pee on This and Other Poems by Cats”

by Francesco Marciuliano

Amazon description: “Animal lovers will laugh out loud at the quirkiness of their feline friends with these insightful and curious poems from the singular minds of funny cats. In this hilarious, bestselling book of tongue-in-cheek poetry.”

And finally, the cat butts. I came *this* close to dropping “Cat Butthole Coloring Book: Cat Butts for Cat Lovers” in here, but I couldn’t quite stomach the imagery. This one is still hilarious, but a bit more palatable:

“Butts, Bleps and Beans Cat Coloring Book”

by Lizzie Preston

Amazon description: “The fact that cats used to be worshipped as gods in ancient Egypt might have you think they always act regal and sophisticated. Well, you’d be wrong. Sometimes they just can’t help baring their bums, sticking out their tongues, or acting ridiculous. And we love them for it! Have fun coloring in all the amusingly quirky cats inside this artfully designed cat coloring book for adults.”

(We have a cat who insists on sticking her butt in my face every time she climbs onto my lap. I try not to take it personally.)

Cat gifts for cat lovers should be as quirky and funny and unpredictable as cats themselves, and every one of these books fits that bill.

Upworthy may earn a proceed from sales of the items included in this article

The Fellowship of the Ring has banded together once again in the name of solidarity and standing up for what’s right.

In response to racially centered backlash for the diverse casting choices in the new Amazon series “Rings of Power” (a situation disappointingly common for many modern fantasy franchises) the trilogy’s original Hobbits Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan took to social media—about as treacherous as Mordor, some might say—to show their support.

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Each actor wore a clothing item displaying a row of elf ears in different skin tones along with a message in Elvish that translates to “You Are All Welcome Here.” The coolest, most LOTR way to rebel possibly ever.

The design was created by LOTR aficionado Don Marshall, otherwise known as “Obscure LotR Facts Guy” on TikTok. On the merchandise website, Marshall noted the exact Elvish language used (Sí de maedyl), which paints a pretty clear picture of this guy’s impressive knowledge base. Fifty percent of the proceeds for every “You Are All Welcome Here” T-shirt and hat go to helping charities that benefit the POC community.

His reaction to seeing the hobbit gang wear his merch is a heartfelt delight for nerds everywhere.

@donmarshall72 Replying to @tara_cards_ I am speechless. Thank you all. The translation was done by @WizardWayKris. The merch is available at the link in my bio! #lotr #hobbits #lordoftherings #tolkien ♬ original sound – DonMarshall72

Wood, Astin, Boyd and Monaghan have certainly reunited before to give us a nostalgic laugh, like their incredibly silly rap video on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” but this homecoming took on a different tone.

“Rings of Power” features people of color in central roles, including Silvan elf Arondir, played by Afro-Latino actor Ismael Cruz Córdova, and his human lover Bronwyn, played by British-Iranian actress Nazanin Boniadi, as well as Princess Disa the dwarf, played by Sophia Nomvete, a Black British actress of African-Iranian heritage.

Since their casting announcement, the actors and the show have received an influx of hateful comments and harassment online. And despite Amazon’s claims of streaming records on its debut day of Sept. 2, the Prime Series was the target of “review bombing,” when disgruntled fans inundate the internet with negative reviews based on a social or political reaction rather than to the show’s quality, which distorts and misrepresents how a show is actually being received by audiences.

Members of the current cast have defended each other, calling the claims that a diverse ensemble strays away from Tolkien’s original ideas “nonsense,” but getting support from Frodo, Samwise, Merry and Pippin was next level in terms of denouncing vitriol. For as we know … it takes an army to defeat a horde of trolls.

You are all welcome here.#RingsOfPower @LOTRonPrime #MiddleEarth #Samwise @ElijahWood @BillyBoydActor @DomsWildThings @DonMarshall72 https://t.co/w2tdZ4nFwN pic.twitter.com/f4RsBKE9an

— Sean Astin (@SeanAstin) September 7, 2022

Tolkien himself, though accused of having racist rhetoric in his novels, was certainly no stranger to defending against bigotry. Back in 1938, Nazis demanded to know if the fantasy author was Jewish (in an attempt to purge anything non-Aryan from German culture). Tolkien clapped back in the classiest way possible, regarding Jewish people as “gifted” and correcting the assumption that Aryans are even of German descent. Tolkien was, after all, a gentleman and a scholar.

With a story that depicts orcs, goblins and other gruesome creatures, it’s tragic to think that something much more monstrous lurks in our everyday life. Though racism is an ugly reality, having a united voice helps overcome that insidious foe. The beauty of fantasy is that it is limitless, going as far as imagination beckons. That is a magic meant for everyone.

The Emmys really snuck up on us, too. It’s almost that time when Primetime TV shows will throw down with victors emerging right and left, and hopefully, there will be a lot of Succession representation coming our way. The nomination list reflects as much with plenty of love for The White Lotus and Ozark, too. From there, we can also celebrate how Rhea Seehorn finally received her first nomination for Better Call Saul. Justice for Kim Wexler!

How the actual broadcast plays out is anyone’s guess. Controversy generally makes any awards show a more highly viewed affair, and that’s exactly what happened when Chris Rock and Will Smith’s smack heard ’round the world had everyone buzzing about the Oscars for weeks. In all likelihood, the Emmys want to avoid any such mess, but will that quest succeed? We shall have to wait and see.

Here’s the information that you’re looking for, though. The 74th Primetime Emmys will air on Monday, September 12 at 8:00pm EST. The broadcast will air on NBC, which means that watching this on a regular TV is easy peasy, but you can stream the awards show in plenty of places, including Peacock, Hulu Live, and YouTube TV. We look forward to seeing you for all of our Emmys coverage.

It’s absolutely wild how Jacob Anderson has jumped from playing the world’s most famous fightin’ eunuch to starring as an absurdly sexual vampire in Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. His pendulum has definitely swung.

Further securing the novel’s immortality, the AMC series comes nearly thirty years since Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt made their bitemark on the story. For fans (of the book and the movie), the trailer will look largely familiar with a few faces swapped out and a renewed focus on flirtatious, lingering shots of two handsome dudes kissing. Anderson plays Louis de Pointe du Lac opposite Sam Reid as his “murderer and mentor” Lestat de Lioncourt. Bailey Bass plays Claudia, the curly-headed child-vamp, and Eric Bogosian (our generation’s Christian Slater) has taken the role of the journalist chronicling a very long life story.

Here’s the official synopsis:

“A sensuous, contemporary reinvention of Anne Rice’s revolutionary gothic novel, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire follows Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) and Claudia’s (Bailey Bass) epic story of love, blood, and the perils of immortality, as told to journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). Chafing at the limitations of life as a Black man in 1900s New Orleans, Louis finds it impossible to resist the rakish Lestat de Lioncourt’s offer of the ultimate escape: joining him as his vampire companion. But Louis’s intoxicating new powers come with a violent price, and the introduction of Lestat’s newest fledgling, the child vampire Claudia, soon sets them on a decades-long path of revenge and atonement.”

The series starts October 2nd and could potentially run forever.

While we don’t need an excuse to celebrate bourbon, it’s nice to have one handy, and September just so happens to be Bourbon Heritage Month. So instead of having one day to enjoy this nuanced, complex, rich, corn-based spirit, you now have a whole month. Hooray, September!

And don’t worry if you’re new to America’s “native spirit,” there’s no test you have to pass in order to enjoy it. In fact there are myriad beginner bourbons out there just waiting to be discovered by the novice connoisseur. Though this does raise the obvious question: what exactly is a beginner bourbon?

Heather Greene, CEO of Milam & Greene Whiskey in Blanco, Texas has thought a lot about this question.

“I get this question a lot, and I always say the same thing: There is no ‘beginner whiskey’ in my book.” She adds, “A good whiskey is a good whiskey and should be something you never grow out of. If you taste back someday and think ‘that’s for a newbie,’ then it wasn’t very good in the first place. It should stand the test of time.”

Which is to say, a true bourbon authority knows that there’s a difference between a crowd-pleasing gateway bourbon and some entry-level swill for the idiot layman who doesn’t know any better. Luckily, it just so happens we have a few of those in our Rolodex. True bourbon authorities that is, not idiot laymen (or women…).

Since we’re already a few days into Bourbon Heritage Month, we asked a few well-known distillers and whiskey experts to tell us their favorite beginner bourbons to help you find one for you while you still have three more weeks to enjoy in this most hallowed of beverage-themed appreciation months.

Jim Beam White Label

Eboni Major, master blender, bourbon women board member, and founder and CEO of Major Whiskey

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $19.50

Why This Bourbon?

Jim Beam White Label. I just think it is a well-balanced starter. It’s always inexpensive, but surprisingly flavorful with vanilla, caramel, and dried fruit flavors. It’s the kind of bourbon you’ll keep on your home bar for mixing and emergency sipping.

Maker’s Mark

Jeremy Kasler, CEO of CaskX in Los Angeles

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $28

Why This Bourbon?

I think Maker’s Mark is a great beginner bourbon, and it’s not just because that’s what I started with. Maker’s is a wheated bourbon, so it doesn’t pack as much spice and heat as a traditional recipe using rye. It’s approachable, goes down easy, and showcases those wonderful flavors bourbon is known for — caramel, vanilla, toasted marshmallow, citrus, and even a little oak.

Sonoma Straight Bourbon

Colin Keegan, founder of Santa Fe Spirits in Santa Fe, New Mexico

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $47.99

Why This Bourbon?

I’d say Sonoma Distilling’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey. At 92 proof, it’s a classic bourbon, with sweeter toffee and vanilla notes. There are also nutty flavors, almonds, macadamia nuts, and coffee notes. All in all, a great beginner bourbon you’ll go back to again and again even as your palate gets more refined.

Wild Turkey 101

Bobby Finan, co-founder of Tommyrotter Distillery in Buffalo, New York

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $26.99

Why This Bourbon?

Wild Turkey 101. It’s not a big investment and will give a curious bourbon newbie a look into the world of aged spirits. It can be consumed on the rocks and mixes great into a cocktail. Think of WT101 as your introductory seminar. Flavors that make it great: It has basic vanilla, caramel, and charred oak profile to show a new bourbon drinker the ropes.

Old Forester 1920

Murphy Quint, head distiller at Cider Ridge Distillery in Swisher, Iowa

ABV: 57.5%

Average Price: $59.99

Why This Bourbon?

I’m kind of an Old Forester fan boy. Everyone knows their Birthday Bourbon and some of their other allocated offerings, but I’m a big fan of their more common bottles like 1920 and Statesman. They are well-balanced and have a lot of depth to them. If I had to pick one for a bourbon novice, I would go with Old Forester 1920. This 115-proof, prohibition-style bourbon is known for its notes of graham cracker, vanilla, caramel, and light spices.

Michter’s US-1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Heather Greene, CEO of Milam & Greene Whiskey in Blanco, Texas

ABV: 45.7%

Average Price: $47.99

Why This Bourbon?

I think Michter’s makes absolutely gorgeous whiskeys for everyone at every stage of their whiskey journey. When I’m not drinking Milam & Greene, it’s Michter’s – all of them. They also have a very wonderful whiskey team, and I love knowing the people behind my bourbons. If you had to start somewhere, make it Michter’s US-1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon with its notes of caramel, vanilla, oak, and stone fruits.

Four Roses Small Batch

Phil Morgan, distiller at Arcane American Whiskey in Brooklyn, New York

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $32.99

Why This Bourbon?

If I’m looking for a beginner bourbon, I’m looking for something easy to find and not too pricey, like Four Roses Small batch. What flavors make it great? A soft easy full spice with a nice corn sweetness that does not finish too fast, lovely soft fruit, and oak on the nose.

Evan Williams Green Label

Joe Michalek, founder and president of Piedmont Distillers in Madison, North Carolina

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $10.99

Why This Bourbon?

My favorite bargain bourbon is Evan Williams Green Label. At around $10 per bottle it is an incredible value and my go-to for parties or when tailgating and mixing with cola. I enjoy the classic bourbon caramel and vanilla flavor notes and how they marry with cola.

Basil Hayden

LC May, grandson of Clyde May and brand ambassador for Clyde May’s Whiskey in New York City

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $39.99

Why This Bourbon?

One of the best beginner bourbons, in my opinion, is Basil Hayden. This low-proof bourbon does not overwhelm with too much burn or spice. I always get some of the most common bourbon notes when sipping it: vanilla, caramel, and toffee.

Old Forester 100

Rebecca Running, CEO of Darco Spirits in Philadelphia

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $33.99

Why This Bourbon?

Old Forester 100. It has been around a long time but it’s authentic. I love that it’s 100 proof but still drinks smooth and has wonderful flavor. I love it with just one big cube of ice, savoring the way the flavors open up as the ice melts.

Throughout his career, Chance The Rapper has drawn both praise and criticism for his staunch stance on independence. He’s remained a stalwart proponent of doing it himself — even more so than Russ — and has been the number-one example of the heights of success this approach can bring. Not only did his mixtape Acid Rap make him a household name (at least, in hip-hop households), but its follow-up Coloring Book forced the Grammys to change its own rules to give it a Best Rap Album award in 2017.

But, of course, there have been drawbacks, as well. Chance has previously discussed the pressure that has been put on him to sign other artists in order to give them similar opportunities — something he says he can’t do even if he wanted to — and in a new feature in Complex, he now explains why he couldn’t even garner the benefits of signing to a major label, which could still help him with things like budget and logistics.

“If I were to sign to a label, the next thing you would see is people saying, ‘See, we told you this independent shit wouldn’t work,’” Chance says. “I don’t even have the option to do that.” He also points out, “I would be letting a lot of people down, because I’m what people point to when things succeed, and I’m what people point to when they want to say something failed.”

However, it’s mostly a positive proposition. As Chance admits, “I’ve helped a lot of people, and what I enjoy is when those people remain independent and remain in contact and community with me. I think what I want to do is continue to empower people. I don’t want to make anybody subject to my views of how their career should go. I don’t need to be in anybody else’s pockets.”

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

Since the last update of this weekly R&B and afrobeats column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists. Ari Lennox unveiled the cover art for her long-awaited sophomore album Age/Sex/Location while Bryson Tiller announced the release date for his next single. Chloe took on Adina Howard’s “Freak Like Me” in a new cover while Leon Thomas teamed up with Ty Dolla Sign for a visual to “Love Jones.”

Here are some more releases on the new music front that you should check out:

Ari Lennox — Away Message

Ari Lennox’s long-awaited sophomore album Age/Sex/Location is days away from a release, but before sharing that, the Dreamville artist gave a treat to her fans. She dropped off her Away Message EP which was crafted of five leftover songs set to hold fans over until the album arrived. It’s a mostly solo effort from Ari except for “Queen Space” which features Summer Walker.

Nonso Amadi — “Eye To Eye”

Earlier this year, afrobeats singer Nonso Amadi received well-deserved attention thanks to “Different” with Majid Jordan. Now he’s back to work with his solo effort, “Eye To Eye.” Speaking about the song, Amadi said, “It’s a song about being at odds with your significant other but you both recognize when it’s time to make up.”

Reggie Becton — “Sway”

You can always trust Reggie Becton to check in with a lush and smooth R&B record to fulfill your appetite. He does it again with his latest record, “Sway.” The track is driven by a haunting piano, heavy-hitting drums, and a sensual Reggie who takes center stage in the song. “Sway” is also the newest record to arrive from his upcoming EP, Sad Boy: Vol 1.

Loony — “First Thing Smokin’”

The last time we heard from Loony was last year when she dropped her elegant EP, Soft Thing. She now makes her debut in 2022 with “First Thing Smokin,’” a slow-burning record dedicated to being there for the people in your life. With an ear-grabbing electric guitar leading the way, Loony commits to being there for her friends in their time of need no matter the cost, time, or occasion.

Yuna — Y4

At the beginning of the year, Yuna announced that her fifth album Y5 would arrive in 2022, but first, it would be released in five separate installments. So far, we’ve received Y1, Y2, and Y3. Y4 is a three-track disco-centered EP that focuses on devotion, heartbreak, and rekindling feelings for a past loved one.

Bairi — “Paraiso”

A little over a year after she debuted the lush and enchanting record, Bairi returns with an official video for “Paraiso.” The visual captures her appreciation for video games and fantasy as it follows her through multiple dimensions as she eventually befriends the dark energies within her. “Paraiso” is also the lead single from her upcoming EP, Fire Siren.

Gabrielle B. — Unscripted

After three years, Los Angeles singer Gabrielle B. is back with a new project in the form of her new EP, Unscripted. Through its six songs, Gabrielle dazzles with her captivating vocals and songwriting that evoke the strongest emotions on all spectrums. “I was going through some deep internal transformations in my life, some out of my control,” Gabrielle says about the project. “And Unscripted felt like the perfect way to express some of those feelings

Jamison Ross — Jamo

Following 2018’s All For One, Florida’s Jamison Ross arrives with his new project Jamo. The ten-song project receives contributions from Tarriona “Tank” Ball, Keyboard Harrold, PJ Morton, and Avery Sunshine for a body of work that lives in elements of jazz and the deepest and truest form of soul.

MK xyz — “Baddie”

Last spring, Los Angeles singer MK xyz made her debut with her EP Sweet Spot. Highlighted by records like “One Time” and “Geaux,” the project was a good beginning for MK. A little over a year later, she arrives with her first 2022 release, “Baddie.” MK’s charm, charisma, and confidence are all present as the song flaunts an infectious beat as pleasing as her vocals.

Nesta — Hope It Gets Better

It’s been four years since New York singer Nesta released a project, 2018’s Shook My Dreads. That streak recently came to an end with his latest EP, Hope It Gets Better. Through 11 songs he blends R&B and reggae through both his vocal cadences and the song’s production. Hope It Gets Better also presents features from Michael Brun, Mereba, GuiltyBeatz, and Kyra.

Anjali Taneja — “Between The Notes” Feat. Jordan Hawkins

Indian-American songstress Anjali Taneja returns with “Between The Notes,” her second record of the year. It follows January’s “How It Feels” and it’s also a record that features singer Jordan Hawkins. Together, Taneja and Hawkins blend their silky and soulful vocals for a record that presents two lovers quite literally finding their rhythm in love.

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

Today marks the second annual Disney+ Day, and while the timing is unfortunate, Disney has announced a handful of new content and release dates.

If you’re thinking “hey, didn’t we just have one of these?” you would be correct. Last year’s announcements took place in November and outlined the planned content schedule for the last 10 months. Today, the streamer announced various updates and changes coming to the site over the next few months. Here is a breakdown of what to expect.

Thor: Love and Thunder debuted on the streamer today with new footage and (allegedly) improved CGI, though it doesn’t seem to be well-received by fans. There is also an additional scene with the Guardians of the Galaxy crew, and a short behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie.

As far as Star Wars content goes, Disney+ also debuted a new look at Andor, the upcoming series starring Diego Luna and Stellan Skarsgard. That series debuts on the streamer on September 21st, and the first look is now exclusively streaming on Disney+.

As for other Star Wars content, there is more Obi-Wan!! Kind of. Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi Returns is a behind-the-scenes documentary about the creation of the series, which debuted in May. There are interviews with the cast and allegedly some more incredible banter between Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christiansen.

For the Pixar fans: Wall-E is getting the Criterion Collection release that nobody asked for, but is still welcome either way! The new edition is a remastered version of the film which will also feature commentary from animators and some high-tech Dolby Atmos audio. So all of those beeps will sound amazing! Wall-E will gets its special release in November.

Perhaps the biggest announcement of all is not related to a superhero or space adventure, but instead features a group of singing boys. BTS: Permission To Dance On Stage is a concert film featuring the world-famous group BTS. The concert took place last year in LA and is streaming now on Disney+.

Finally, if you want to be annoyed, Disney also dropped two new sing-along versions of Frozen and Frozen II for all your karaoke needs!

You can check out Disney+’s thread of updates on Twitter.

Each week our staff of film and TV experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish movies 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.

10. (tie) Anything’s Possible (Amazon Prime)

Billy Porter directs a sweet coming-of-age story centered around a trans high school senior named Kelsa who is attempting to navigate… well, all of that. It’s all very sweet and very heartfelt and very Gen Z and it could make for some nice weekend movie if you’re feeling up for a little cry. Who isn’t, sometimes, you know? Watch it on Amazon Prime.

10. (tie) The Bob’s Burgers Movie (Hulu)

Bob’s Burgers creator Loren Bouchard insisted on The Bob’s Burgers Movie getting a theatrical release instead of being plopped directly on streaming. He was right to do so: The Bob’s Burgers Movie is, like the show itself, an absolute delight with lovely animation, fun fan service, and catchy songs (it’s also Disney’s first hand-drawn 2D animated movie in over a decade). If you didn’t catch it in theaters, however, you can now enjoy “Sunny Side Up Summer” at home. Might I suggest pairing it with an Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Zucchini Burger. Watch it on Hulu.

10. (tie) Luck (Apple TV Plus)

John Lasseter helped build Pixar into a dominant animation brand and now he’s trying to bring the same magic to Apple with Luck, a movie about an unlucky young girl who goes on a whimsical adventure to try to turn her fortunes around. It’s got the starpower (Simon Pegg, Jane Fonda, Pixar staple John Ratzenberger) and the financial backing from Apple, so the big question remaining is whether it has the same spark as those other films he created a few decades ago. Only one way to find out. Watch it on Apple TV Plus.

9. McEnroe (Showtime)

Let’s face it, champions are assholes, conditioning themselves to focus on a singular goal no matter how that pursuit grates on their families, their teammates, and anyone else that occasionally stands in their way. Is there regret at the end of their runs as they stand beside literal monuments to their greatness? Is it worth it? Those questions are why we have highly personal documentaries that are often filled with self-reflection from those athletes and grudging respect from everyone they encountered at the height of their powers. Such is the heart of Showtime’s documentary examining the life and times of notorious tennis hothead John McEnroe, a mouthy superstar with a perfectionist streak and serious problems with authority. Ever-engaging, McEnroe opens up about some of those regrets and many of his triumphs, allowing for a picture of yet another complicated champion that’ll likely cause you to laugh, nod, and wince. Watch it on Showtime.

8. Day Shift (Netflix)

Day Shift is like a strange foil for a lot of movies lately, in that all the ingredients are in place for a lackluster stinker, but thanks to some surprisingly solid joke writing (in contrast to a lot of “funny” action movie writing today which is merely non-funny things delivered in the rough shape of jokes) and inspired action choreography, it ends up being weirdly watchable. Jamie Foxx plays a San Fernando Valley vampire hunter named Bud Jablonski (Foxx is always getting typecast as a Polish man, isn’t he?) who gets involuntarily partnered with a persnickety union rep (oh yeah, the vampire hunters have a union) played by Dave Franco. This odd couple joins forces for a rush to kill enough vampires to afford Jablonski’s daughter’s school tuition before his ex-wife can move her out of state. Meanwhile there’s a vampire who has invented a new type of sunscreen that could change everything. Admittedly it all sounds pretty stupid, but introducing a supernatural angle ends up being exactly what the action choreographers needed to break their slavish bonds to realism. Turns out, gruesome vampire murder is a lot more entertaining than the usual choppy dance fighting. Watch it on Netflix.

7. Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul (Peacock)

Bless us all because we have Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall starring in a razor-sharp religious satire as leaders of a megachurch that faces a huge scandal and sends them on the comeback trail. That should be enough to sell you on this one. Well, that and the image above. Look at those two! Yes, this will do just fine. Watch it on Peacock.

6. Samaritan (Amazon Prime)

Samaritan isn’t necessarily a good movie, but it does benefit from two things: One, Sylvester Stallone seems to be having a nice time and is really going for it and, two, the studio that owns Samaritan didn’t delete the movie from its server and you can actually watch it on Amazon Prime if you so choose to do this. Stallone plays an old salt named Joe who works as a garbage man, but also may or may not be a former superhero vigilante named Samaritan who disappeared years and years ago and is presumed dead. After Joe saves a kid, Sam, from some bullies, Sam is convinced Joe is the long-lost Samaritan. This is a movie with some really mixed messaging about the good and evil in everyone, to the point this movie might not have realized it had a message to begin with. But in the end, Stallone is having a nice time, which makes it, at times, entertaining. Watch it on Amazon Prime.

5. Pinocchio (Disney Plus)

Disney continues its efforts to remake its iconic back catalog of animated treasures, bringing them to new audiences through live-action, big-budget adaptations. Thus far, the results have been mixed, but also highly profitable, so here we go again with Pinocchio. In their favor, a lead performance from Tom Hanks as Geppetto and the guiding hand of Robert Zemeckis as director and co-writer (with Chris Weitz). Zemeckis is, of course, a trailblazer when it comes to storytelling through a heavily CG-influenced lens, which is required here to bring the tale of a marionette turned real live boy to life. But the challenge is in doing that while maintaining the soul of a fable that is imprinted on so many of us from previous adaptations and, of course, Disney’s 1940-made gem which still looks fantastic despite being more than 80 years old. Basically, the degree of difficulty is high here and audiences are likely to be unforgiving if this impressive creative team either veers too far from the much-beloved classic or feels too much like a carbon copy. Watch it on Disney Plus.

4. Prey (Hulu)

The Predator franchise was desperate for a new vision following the lackluster response to, well, every Predator movie since 1990’s Predator 2. Enter: Prey. The Hulu film follows a Comanche warrior (played by Amber Midthunder) who has to protect her tribe from an alien predator. Prey gets back to what made the original Predator a classic — and thankfully ignores everything that made Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem unwatchable. Watch it on Hulu.

3. Elvis (HBO Max)

Baz Lurhman’s Elvis biopic is trash. Beautiful, glorious trash. The kind you leave out on your front porch for your neighbors to marvel at in grotesque disbelief. It’s hip-gyrating, finger-thrusting, sweat-pouring theatrics packaged in lush cinematography, contained in a classic underdog story that reaffirms everything you thought you knew about the King of Rock and Roll, and then adds some weird personal fodder that makes you question everything you thought you knew about the King of Rock and Roll. Austin Butler is mesmerizing, and so is whatever the hell Tom Hanks is doing in this thing. Enjoy it for what it is – a beautifully-shot fever dream filled with some great tunes. Watch it on HBO Max.

2. Thor: Love and Thunder (Disney Plus)

Thor is back once again and he brought some new friends with him. Natalie Portman, to be specific. Which is fun. This follow-up to the also-fun Ragnarok has made the move from theaters to streaming and into your living rooms. That’s another fun thing. It is almost unreasonable how good Chris Hemsworth is in these movies. You should not be allowed to look like that and be that funny. Someone should make a rule about it. Until then… watch it on Disney Plus.

1. Top Gun: Maverick (VOD)

We feel the need. The need to watch Top Gun: Maverick over and over and over again now that it’s streaming on demand. This sequel has everything a summer blockbuster should – trash staches, Tom Cruise doing his wild little stunts, bar sing-a-longs, Jon Hamm being an absolute twat, fighter jets, aviators, fake tans, and a shirtless beach football scene that will live in meme-famy (meme infamy). The movies are back, baby! Watch it on your VOD outlet of choice.

Each week our staff of film and TV 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.

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10. (tie) Reservation Dogs (FX/Hulu)

The first season of Reservation Dogs was a revelation. Just a group of foul-mouthed Native American teens living on a reservation in Oklahoma and getting into trouble and being little rascals. It was also, sometimes, sweet and, also sometimes, heavy, and sometimes there was a mystical figure who would show up and giggle a lot and kind of just screw with everyone for five minutes. It’s a hard show to describe. But it’s a heck of a ride. Watch it on Hulu.

10. (tie) Little Demon (FX/Hulu)

Aubrey Plaza is in everything these days, and no one is mad at that development. In this animated series (which is so FX that it hurts in a good way), she voices the mom of a teenager who discovers that she’s got demonic powers. Dad happens to be Satan, and not only that, but he’s voiced by Danny DeVito. And you thought your life was surreal, right? Watch it on FX/Hulu.

10. Industry (HBO Max)

Popularly and positively referred to as Euphoria and Succession‘s love child, Industry returns for season two, focussing again on the realm of global finance through the lens of the 20-somethings who are consumed by it and the realities of survival and success in a world post panny where satisfaction seems like a hindrance. Watch it on HBO Max.

9. Harley Quinn (HBO Max)

The good news here is that Harley Quinn is back, finally, after a multi-year break due to, well, everything. The delightfully profane animated series remains one of our finest television programs, between Harley and Ivy being a couple now and chaos descending upon Gotham and this show’s version of Bane continuing to be a hopeless goofball. It really is a blast, a beam of sunshine in a world filled with bleak dramas. You deserve to have fun. Watch it on HBO Max.

8. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Disney Plus)

Alison Brie didn’t get to portray this “Allison Brie type” role, but hey, we’re getting Orphan Black‘s Tatiana Maslany, who has so much fun relishing this role. She’s smart and silly and she Hulks out like a pro while also being the MCU’s very green attorney for superheroes. Expect a lot of cameos, and Mark Ruffalo is on hand as Bruce Banner. There’s no word on whether we’ll eventually see the Hulk Butt like we received in Thor: Ragnarok. Admit it, that’s on your wishlist, too. Watch it on Disney Plus.

7. The Sandman (Netflix)

Neil Gaiman’s seminal comic book series finally lands on the small screen (while the successful Audible epic keeps cranking with a different cast). The story picks up with Morpheus (the King of Dreams) angry as hell at those who imprisoned him. Tom Sturridge takes on the lead role and guides us through space and time on a cosmic trip. Let’s hope this show is worth the extensively long wait (the project has the unenviable task of piecing together a tapestry of sometimes free-standing stories), but no matter how it turns out, we’re getting Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer. That ain’t nothing. Watch it on Netflix.

6. See (Apple TV Plus)

Settle in for the final season of Warrior Jason Momoa In Fur Coats, and whose Warrior Good Looks are wasted in a world where no one can see him. Baba Voss is back for one final round of post-apocalyptic fighting while nature is starting to heal itself, and a new generation begins to see again. This ratchets up the intensity with the existing battle for superiority in the kingdom, and yup, the Masturbating Queen is still around. This show is nuts! Watch it on Apple TV Plus.

5. Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu)

Welcome to Wrexham is like Ted Lasso, if Ted Lasso was about Deadpool and Mac from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia buying a soccer team. Other than that, it’s identical. The documentary series follows Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as they purchase and help run the Wrexham A.F.C. football club. Welcome to Wrexham looks sweet and sincere, which is a nice change of pace from getting mad at [your favorite sports team here] blowing it AGAIN. Watch it on FX/Hulu.

4. The Patient (FX/Hulu)

Steve Carell is back on television once again, this time not so much to make you laugh as to… well, creep you out. He plays a therapist who is held captive by a serial killer who desperately wants help curing his murderous urges. It does not exactly sound like light/fun viewing but it does sound intriguing. And it’s from the creator of The Americans. And he has a pretty righteous beard going on. While we cannot in good faith support kidnapping Steve Carell and holding him hostage in real life, this all could be worth checking out. Watch it on Hulu.

3. Cobra Kai (Netflix)

The last time we visited with these warring dojos, evil had somehow triumphed over good. The franchise’s ultimate villain is now presiding over his own Cobra Kai schools, and everyone else is licking their wounds. This means that Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence must learn to get along for real, and Chozen is along for the ride to help the Miyagi Do and Eagle Fang tag-team approach. It sounds like a mess, yes, and it is, but this show’s still got the “Eye of the Tiger.” Once again, this franchise does the thing by appealing to several generations while lighting the soul of the valley on fire. Watch it on Netflix.

2. Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Amazon Prime)

Jeff Bezos is finally getting his version of Game of Thrones, and this even more enormously expensive franchise looks to be worth the price tag to bring J.R.R. Tolkien’s fabled Second Age to the screen. A young Galadriel will be one of the bigger highlights of this series’ exploration of relative peace that’s shattered when evil reemerges. Expect stunning visuals that leap from the Misty Mountains to an island setting to majestic forests. Between this and House of the Dragon, we’re sure getting our fill of epic fantasy shows these days. Watch it on Amazon Prime.

1. House of the Dragon (HBO Max)

On the surface, a prequel to a cultural phenomenon like Game Of Thrones seems like the easiest greenlight in the world. How could a sister project miss even with the mixed reception to the original’s finale? But House Of The Dragon is the second attempt (with one pilot failing to generate a series order) and it starts with one particular question hanging over its head: was it the world or the characters that inhabited it that made the original so widely adored? We’re about to find out as a new creative team tries to walk a line between old and new, creating fresh stories with a ring of familiarity. On their side: dragons, face-smashing combat, and Matt Smith’s good kinda bad energy. Watch it on HBO Max.