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In 1978, Grease made a promise to all of us that we would be together forever. Chang chang. Changity chang shoo bop.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, AMC Theaters is making good on that promise by releasing the timeless musical about hair gel and sexual innuendos into 135 movie theaters this weekend. To honor Olivia Newton-John, who passed away earlier this month from breast cancer, the chain will donate $1 of the $5 ticket price for the special event to their charitable wing, AMC Cares. Those funds will be spent on breast cancer research.

Since her death, tributes have poured out for the singer/actor, including concert covers by The Chicks and Coldplay, and it will be nice to have the opportunity to see her croon and swoon on the big screen again. This also calls for a retrospective screening of Xanadu (are you listening, theater programmers?).

Fans who hit theaters to see Grease this weekend can marvel at Newton-John’s fantastic acting instincts and powerful pipes, even as they wonder what the film would have been like had Henry Winkler accepted the role of Danny Zuko. If you can’t make it to theaters, you can always donate to breast cancer research on your own at the national and local level. Wah-oooh, yeah!

(via The Hollywood Reporter)

Meechy Darko is gearing up for the release of his solo debut album Gothic Luxury, and what better way than a freestyle at one of the classic hip-hop stations in New York City? The Flatbush Zombies member stopped by Funk Flex’s Hot 97 show Tuesday (August 16) to lay some heavy bars over Pharoahe Monch’s “The Truth.”

Darko had no interest in long talking, and instead got right to the rapping with “Easy to turn from self-reflective to self-destructive/ But when you diss my sh** even the robbers love it/ B****es love my aura, then they hear my story/ If I f**k they mom’s right invite ’em to the orgy.” If the cover art and tracklist reveal a few weeks ago didn’t get the momentum going, this performance sure did.

Gothic Luxury will arrive August 26 via Durt Cobain and Loma Vista. The album, executive produced by Dot Da Genius, will feature Busta Rhymes, Black Thought, Freddie Gibbs, Denzel Curry, and more. So far, Darko has shared “On God” featuring Gibbs and A-Trak, “Get Lit Or Die Tryin’,” and “Kill Us All (K.U.A.).”

Check out Meechy Darko’s Funk Flex freestyle above.

Gothic Luxury is out 8/26 via Durt Cobain and Loma Vista. Pre-save it here.

It’s Awesome Animals Week at Upworthy! That’s what I’m declaring anyway, as nine out of 10 of this week’s things that made us smile include creatures being painfully cute or utterly hilarious.

It’s not surprising that our furry, feathery and leathery friends so often make these lists. Pets are constant and consistent sources of joy in our lives and wildlife can be wonderfully entertaining.

There are a few humans thrown in here for good measure, though. I considered totally leaning in and only including things that included animals this week, but there was one animal-free video I simply couldn’t not include. I saved it for last. You’ll see.

We’ve got wicked smart birds. We’ve got acrobatic elephants. We’ve got dogs and cats living together—”MASS HYSTERIA!” (A little OG “Ghostbusters” shoutout for my Gen Xers.) I just love this list and hope you enjoy it too.

1. A parrot named Kiwi gives his human the best kisses and “zerberts.”

@tamarasbluechicken

Blue Chicken’s 2nd Birthday is next week! Stay tuned for the surprise 🎂 🎉 #funnypets #parrot #irn #funnyanimals #talkingparrot #thebluechicken

Kiwi is an Indian ring-necked parrot whom Tamara (his owner) refers to as her “blue chicken.” He is so dang sweeeeet. “Thank you, baaaaby!” That third zerbert was an outright demand, but how could you say no to Kiwi?

2. When you’re terrified of the cat but you really really really want to sleep in your bed.

u201cso braveu201d

— what kind of dog is this (@what kind of dog is this)
1660741380

I love how you can hear everything the dog is thinking as he moves in while trying desperately not to make eye contact with the cat. “Don’t mind me…just pretend I’m not here…it’s okay, I won’t disturb…just let me squeeze…I won’t touch, I promise…please don’t kill me.”

3. Find someone who looks at you the way this dog looks at its human.

u201cDogs are the best.. ud83dude0au201d

— Buitengebieden (@Buitengebieden)
1660719968

The nuzzle at the end. That’s just pure adoration right there.

4. Cairo the grey parrot tries to make conversation with a Kewpie doll and holy moly.

@feathersandfriends

He had a lot of catching up to do with the doll! #parrots #cairothegrey #parrotsoftiktok #africangrey

Cairo made the 10 things list several weeks ago for saying hilarious things like, “Don’t be a gerbil” and “Smarten up, man!” to the cat who invaded his space. This bird is soooo smart. Look at how many different approaches he takes to try to get the doll to respond. “You talking or what? Yes or no?” Incredible.

5. Hamster picnics are far more adorable than they have any right to be.

@thehamsterstation

He absolutely loves to have a picnic ❤️ #fyp #hamster #hamsters #hamstersoftiktok #thehamsterstation #pet

First of all, this person has two hamsters and their names are Mr. Marshmallow and Mr. Crumpet. STOP IT. Secondly, I didn’t know watching a hamster eat a piece of spaghetti at a picnic table was a bucket list experience, yet here I am adding it to my list after the fact. Read more about the delightful lives of Mr. Marshmallow and Mr. Crumpet here.

6. A stranger gave a service dog her pillow on a flight to make him more comfortable.

See on Instagram

Come on now. How are we even supposed to handle such human kindness mixed with such good doggo-ness. That last image is just too much.

7. The Kiffness’ duet with an alugalugging cat is absolutely epic.

See on Instagram

Some cats do this weird “alugalug” sound when they’re ticked, and South African musician The Kiffness dueted this one to perfection. So good. Find more from The Kiffness here.

8. Mama elephant out here trying to teach her kiddo, who is apparently totally untrainable.

u201cMother: This is the last time I show you how to go down..nnSon:u201d

— Buitengebieden (@Buitengebieden)
1660778602

“Put one arm down first, then bend your knees, then bring down the other arm, then one back leg at a time. Got it?”

He don’t got it. Recovered quickly, though!

9. An old man introduced his 4-month-old puppy to the neighborhood cat and it was so wholesome.

@cheyennetylerberry

caught this pure moment and I haven’t stopped smiling since 💖💗💕💝💓💘💞 #viral #dogsofttiktok #catsoftiktok

The video went crazy viral and the man saw it. He made sure to let people know in the comments that he had approached the cat previously to assess its temperament before introducing Ted (the puppy) to it and that Ted had interacted with cats before. Ted’s dad didn’t want people to think he was endangering either animal. So sweet. Read the full story here.

10. The way this baby looks at Daddy while he’s reading is the purest love there is.

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See why I had to include that one? Gracious.

I hope you found some things in this list that made you smile! Come back again next week for another roundup of serotonin-boosting content.

The school year has already started for some students but for others it’s just around the corner. What better way to start off a new school year than with a wholesome song welcoming the new kindergarten class. A Chicago teacher named Dwayne Reed posted a video on Instagram singing a song he wrote called “Welcome to Kindergarten” for the new class of kindergarteners and teachers entering school this year.

This isn’t Reed’s first rodeo at viral fame. In 2016 he had another viral hit called “Welcome to the Fourth Grade.” He told Upworthy that after the success of his first song he was able to see the impact it had on students, teachers and parents so he wanted to duplicate that for kindergarten students. Reed said, “I don’t teach kindergarten but I think kindergarten teachers are angels. I wanted them to have something in their back pocket.”

The impact Reed has is not lost on him. “Representation matters. How many people can say they’ve had a Black teacher? A Black male teacher,” he said.

See on Instagram

Reed explained that “having at least one Black male teacher in school can cut drop-out rates and increase college attendance in Black boys.”

In a 2017 IZA Institute of Labor Economics study, high school drop-out rate of very low income Black boys in North Carolina who had at least one Black teacher in grades three to five were found to be 39% less than those who weren’t taught by a Black teacher. And college aspirations raised by 19% among both sexes by having at least one Black teacher in grades three to five.

While representation is important, Reed also just loves teaching. He told Upworthy that he thinks kids are hilarious and loves being able to work with people that keep him laughing. Honestly, the comedy gold that comes from children is so underrated and having a teacher like Reed that appreciates the hilarity of children’s antics is a reminder of the kind of person that should be teaching.

Reed is aware of the teacher shortage. He says he understands why it’s happening and doesn’t fault the teachers. He’s focused on the impact he has and using music to bring comfort to students, teachers and parents. You have to admit, his songs are pretty catchy and if you’re a kid entering school for a new school year they could be comforting.

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In both of his songs he prepares students for what to expect at school that year. Whether it’s the morning drop-off or what subjects that will be covered, kids and parents will know what to expect from that year thanks to his music videos. Teachers can also use his music to reduce fears about the unknown for their own students. Reed isn’t done. He told Upworthy that he’s working on more music for future release.

School is back in session for many students across America and Reed’s kindergarten anthem is just the song parents need. His next song is certainly going to be another viral hit. It’ll be amazing to see what Reed does in the future. One thing’s for sure—his school is lucky to have him.

This once-in-a-lifetime sighting might be less of a miracle and more a result of concerted efforts to clean New York’s waters. Back in 2019, the New York Post cited a study that showed New York’s harbors were the purest they’ve been in nearly 110 years, not since “Albert Einstein had just published his theory of relativity,” according to the Post article. This was largely due to the Clean Water Act of 1972, in addition to volunteer environmental groups, according to the article.

Cleaner water means more fish, and more fish means a whale buffet. Not to mention some amazing photos:

“Something else to make your heart happy!” someone commented alongside a blue whale emoji.

This is the stuff fairy tales are made of y’all.

Hands down, most successful whale watching cruise ever. No question.

These whales gave a water show and everything (see below):

There’s even a video of three breaching whales from the same day, shared by science and health reporter Aaron Tremper.

Caught a Triple Breach on video while out with @APCruises and @gothamwhale yesterday! Humpbacks off NYC? Always a breathtaking sight!#whales #NYC #animals pic.twitter.com/DycLRANOoW

— Aaron Tremper (@aarontremper) August 15, 2022

“I would’ve been screaming. This is so magical!” wrote one person.

Of course, the new-and-improved coastline is not only attracting whales. On August 8, 2022, two sharks were spotted off a beach in Queens, New York. And there were 15 shark sightings in one day the previous week, according to ABC7 New York. However, shark attacks are still quite rare.

I know what you’re thinking—where are the dolphins?! Don’t worry, Ackerman found some of those, too.

Like this Clymene dolphin below, whose most well-known party trick is spinning while jumping out of the water.

These images come as a respite after the news that Freya, a walrus in Norway who captured hearts by sunbathing in various boats, was euthanized by authorities after being declared a “threat to human safety.” Her death was considered by many to be an avoidable act of cruelty, brought on by human negligence. However, the walrus named after a Norse goddess of love aptly still commands reverence by her followers, who have started a fundraiser to erect a statue in her honor.

We don’t always do right by our animal friends. But when we do, it shows. New York’s impromptu whale party is literal living proof of that. Finally, some good news about growing traffic!

The Los Angeles Lakers were able to avoid having a considerable cloud hanging over their 2022-23 season on Wednesday when they secured LeBron James’ signature on a two-year extension worth $97.1 million.

That deal locks James in through the 2023-24 season at minimum, with both he and Anthony Davis now holding player options for that summer — which as many will note, also coincides with the summer Bronny James will first become draft eligible. With James now in L.A. for at least two more years, the Lakers know that they have at least a two-year title window. The problem is, they don’t currently have a roster that many outside the most optimistic Lakers fans would tell you is a championship roster.

As such, there are deals needed to be worked out, and according to Marc Stein, that was part of the conversation that preceded James’ extension signing. Per Stein, the Lakers have promised that they’ll be willing to deal both their 2027 and 2029 picks in a deal, something they have not been eager to do to this point, largely due to the possibility that James could have walked this coming summer if he wanted to.

L.A. has nonetheless pledged to James that it will indeed continue to aggressively pursue upgrades. League sources say James, in fact, has been assured that the Lakers are willing to trade both of their available future first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 if a trade that costs them both picks can realistically position the Lakers to return to contender status.

This report from Stein comes a day after Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that James has remained insistent the Lakers upgrade the roster, specifically by dealing for his former teammate with the Cavs, Kyrie Irving.

The primary complication in James’ decision was that he has been privately adamant that the Lakers still need to improve the current roster and trade for superstar point guard Kyrie Irving, league sources have told The Athletic.

An Irving trade still seems contingent on the Nets finding a suitor for Kevin Durant, with many expecting talks on the former MVP to drag into camp. On top of that, the Lakers haven’t seemed particularly interested in giving up a ton for Irving, not simply because they want to hold future flexibility but because they don’t seem to trusting of Irving as the sole answer to their problems. There have been reports that the Lakers have understandable questions about Irving’s commitment, and while James wants his former co-star back alongside him no matter the cost, the Lakers brass might not be quite as sold on Kyrie as the solution.

What will be fascinating to see in the coming months is whether the Lakers can find a different deal that might address more needs on this roster that would also satiate LeBron. One wonders if the Buddy Hield-Myles Turner package talks with the Pacers get kickstarted again, or if the Lakers, now willing to apparently part with a pair of picks, go out and seek an even bigger name in a potential deal, any of which will have to send Russell Westbrook somewhere else for financial reasons (among others).

Kali has another sexy, raunchy heater for the ladies. On her latest track, “Wet,” she challenges a man to — well, the title is pretty self-explanatory.

“This what make my p*ssy wet / seven figure checks / messy sloppy sex / big Benz on wax,” she raps in her signature, moody, whispery tone.

Since she began making music, Kali says she has gotten better at the art of freestyling. In an interview with HotNewHipHop, she revealed that her craft depends on the mood of the session and how she feels that day.

“It just be straight like my emotion,” Kali said, “no writing them down. I go in the studio and I be like, ‘What am I going through today?’ Like I know I been going through something, let me just get it out. I got my hookah with me. I got me some tequila, and I got my friends in there. We be turnt up. We be like, what’s the vibe today? I feel like I’m a pretty cool person, I know what folks like so I just go in there and be like, what would I want to hear?”

In the song’s accompanying video, Kali and her friends throw a pool party, complete with squirt guns, water balloons, and all.

Check out “Wet” above.

Kali is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group

The saga of HBO Max continues. The latest fallout from parent corporation Warner Bros. Discovery‘s decision to axe a bunch of shows on the streamer involves The Fungies! creator Stephen P. Neary speaking out against its cancellation. The bizarre animated program starring Jennifer Coolidge as a cartoon fungus creature was among a slew of titles that won’t be returning to the platform. As Deadline shared, Neary thanked his fellow creators via twitter and went on to blame corporate decision-making not just for the cancelation but for the mismanagement of the 80-episode show’s publicity and reach.

“We worked so hard through the pandemic, and I hoped that diligence would be rewarded with support from the network. [I] was promised the show would air on Cartoon Network, which would drive views to HBO Max, but soon after launch, the show was pulled from the air without notice,” Neary said.

Neary went on to blame The Fungies! cancelation and the cancelation of popular HBO Max programs on “uniformed, money-driven decisions.”

To be fair, The Fungies! is a niche show, and a corporation’s existence involves making money-driven decisions. It’s also undeniable that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and company are moving fast and breaking things without a convincing argument as to their vision of content is superior. That’s been reflected in the 25% drop in the company’s stock following a less-than-inspiring public presentation.

(via Deadline)

After narrating the PBS documentary Waterman about Duke Kahanamoku, Jason Momoa is producing a biopic about the 5-time Olympic medalist swimmer who is widely seen as the driving force behind popularizing surfing on the global stage. The project, which Momoa is producing alongside Peter Safran (Aquaman) from a script by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, is still untitled.

In addition to Olympic swimming dominance and surfing innovation, Kahanamoku was a pioneer who broke racial barriers in sports and a literal lifesaver who could do anything water-related in his native Hawaii. His life and achievements are beyond worthy of the biopic treatment, even beyond his peerless athletic achievements.

It also won’t be the first time Kahanamoku is honored on film. He had bit roles in adventure films in the 1920s, including appearances in The Isle of Sunken Gold and Victor Fleming’s Lord Jim, as well as a small part in John Ford’s Mister Roberts.

Producers told Variety that the film will “explore this iconic and gentle man as the legendary swimmer, trailblazer and the undisputed father of modern-day surfing. Duke lived a life of compassion and inclusion as he embraced the true meaning of ‘Aloha.’”

Momoa is also currently developing another Hawaii-centric project: Ko’olau the Defiant One, which tells the story of a 19th century cowboy hero.

(via Variety)

It goes without saying that new music from Lana Del Rey gets the people going, with a proven catalog thus far in her career. She hasn’t been too far away, dropping an EP back in June and her last album in October 2021. Still, the fans will always take more, and excitingly, her manager Ben Mawson has clued listeners in on the fact that time is on its way once again on Instagram earlier today (August 18).

Mawson to Instagram to congratulate the singer on three of her songs making soundtracks for three separate films this year: The Last Movie Stars, Vengeance, and Lucy & Desi. He said “Incredible to see Lana’s brilliant music touching so many people so many years on. 3 songs from her catalogue soundtrack 3 fantastic films released this year; all of which hold significance in & around modern media history.”

Lana’s manager then chose to fully lean into that momentum by letting listeners know an updating about her forthcoming LP, adding “New album nearing completion…” with a rocket ship and starstruck emojis in the comments. That comment quickly became the top comment on the post in case there was any doubt as to whether people wanted new music from Lana Del Rey.

Check out Ben Mawson’s Instagram post above.