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Greeting a ruthless dictator is a tricky proposition, as Joe Biden discovered late last week. On Friday, during his first visit to the Middle East as president, Biden met with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Alsalam Royal Palace. Biden’s reported goal? To not appear too friendly with MBS, especially given the president’s very vocal campaign promises to turn the kingdom into a “global pariah.” Biden’s success in achieving that by offering a fist bump instead of a handshake? Total failure, according to Trevor Noah.

The Daily Show host had a hell of a time mocking the president, whose approval rating has dropped to what Noah described as “somewhere between long COVID and [the] Uvalde Police Department’s.” Inflation and skyrocketing gas prices (though they are now dropping) aren’t doing Biden any favors in that department, which is why, according to Noah, the president spent the weekend in Saudi Arabia “making nice with a frenemy who just happens to own a lot of oil.” But the biggest news to come out of the visit was Biden’s bruh-like greeting of the human rights nightmare, who is believed to be behind the murder of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Noah was amused by how the entire situation played out:

“It’s funny how Biden thought it would be better to fist bump Mohammed bin Salman, because that seems less friendly than a handshake? That’s the whitest decision of all time… Because it’s the opposite. Handshakes are the most formal way to meet someone, even your enemy… But fist bumps? It’s almost like, ‘Ayyyy… What’s up? What’s up, killer? I see you. I see you, man. I see you, player!’”

If Noah had been at the wheel, he would have suggested that Biden go “in for the handshake, and then given him the ‘Psych!’ Just do that move. There’s no comeback for that. Devastating!”

You can watch the full segment above, beginning around the 3:30 mark.

Former Trump Chief Strategist Steve Bannon is spending his week tying up legal system resources in a case that his own podcast guests see no hope of him winning. That would be the contempt charges for his refusal to testify for the Jan. 6 committee, and given that he did, in fact, refuse to testify upon subpoena, it sure seems like a cut-and-dried case. Leaked audio of Bannon’s maneuvering doesn’t help matters for Congress’ actual proceedings either for the alleged “coup plotter,” but at the moment, people are very outraged about a comparison that’s surfaced in what appears to be a courtroom sketch.

There’s no verification on precisely what evil has transpired, but what’s outraging people is an addition (to the sketch) that compares Bannon’s physical appearance to that of a beloved Peanuts comic strip character. All of this is happening after Bannon actually attempted to clean up a bit ^^ for court after previously growing upset at how people believe that he resembles a “deranged incel.” With that said, here’s that “courtroom sketch” as tweeted by meme-mischief king Paul Leigh. It’s Pigpen!

The image (which appears to be gleaned from the work of artist Bill Hennessey, whose sketches so far can be viewed at CNN) purports to be Bannon’s appearance in open court, although jury selection’s currently ongoing.

The reactions came fast and fierce, led by Mark Hamill, who declared “This is SO unfair to Pigpen.”

From there, the outraged responses continued, including people who lamented the injustice of Pigpen being compared to a megalomaniacal podcaster who pushed to overthrow the U.S. government. Pigpen would never.

And to end things, here’s a Beetlejuice comparison. “It’s showtime,” for sure.

During “Point and Shoot,” the eighth episode of Better Call Saul’s sixth and final season, my heart rate went up so high that my FitBit recorded a workout. The intense, gripping nightmare of an episode that put Kim Wexler very close to death was a masterpiece in television storytelling. It felt like it lasted for five minutes but also five years. It never gave itself, its characters, or its audience any time to breathe without feeling overstuffed. Stressful events followed stressful events until the episode ended with a gut punch so emotionally devastating (Mike Ehrmantraut buries Howard Hamlin with his murderer Lalo Salamanca underneath the meth lab Walter White and Jesse Pinkman would later work in) that it felt like I actually got punched in the gut and lost air for several minutes. Medically, I am fine now.

The following episode, titled “Fun and Games,” is anything but that. Although slower-paced than “Point and Shoot,” it’s an essential episode that accelerates the story. By the end of the episode, Gustavo Fring has flirted over wine, Kim has left Jimmy and, finally, we see what so many expected of this show since the beginning: Saul Goodman in a lavish but tacky house, a saturated button-down and wide tie, just as we knew him on Breaking Bad.

For its first five and a half seasons, Better Call Saul moved slower than, say, a Buick in South Florida or me after a couple of glasses of wine. The show’s deliberate slow burn provided a significant contrast to its predecessor. The show focused on gradual character development rather than a fast-paced narrative. The first several seasons unpacked the complex dynamic between characters Jimmy McGill and his older, more successful brother Chuck McGill. Once Chuck died, the show began to focus most of its energy on the on-and-off-again romance between Jimmy and Kim Wexler. Along the way, the show gave us glimpses of Jimmy’s life both before Saul Goodman and after Saul Goodman, with subplots we’re familiar with from Breaking Bad developing in the background. At times, the show moved so leisurely that it felt like it would never get to the point where we even met Saul Goodman. Slowly, but surely, it’s gotten there with four episodes left.

All along, no matter how snail-paced it was, Better Call Saul felt like it was teasing an explosive endgame with an increase in pace along with inevitable death and destruction. The first half of the final season, which aired this spring, teased that speed and darkness with the final days and moments of Nacho Vargas and Howard Hamlin. Generally, though, the show kept its foot on the brakes. Now in its final episode push, the foot isn’t just off the brakes: it’s flooring the gas pedal with the brakes cut off.

Better Call Saul is now the opposite of what it’s always been. It is straight-up stressful, perhaps even more stressful than Breaking Bad, which spent its entire run at an incredibly rapid pace with frequent violence and wreckage, both physical and emotional. While nothing could have prepared anyone for the devastating episode that was “Ozymandias” (don’t make me say it but that’s the one where Hank dies), that outcome was inevitable and unsurprising given what came before it. On Better Call Saul, which has spent its entire run in a patient, quiet place, we’re completely unprepared for what’s to come. With Breaking Bad we could ask “is Hank going to die?” but we always knew the answer. With Better Call Saul we ask “will Kim die?” and we genuinely have no idea (though I, personally hope for her survival).

After years of coddling us with a reliable if slow pace, the final episodes of Better Call Saul feel like getting slapped in the face constantly for their 50ish minutes. Ultimately, this pace reversal is a dark, clever metaphor for how quickly Jimmy permanently abandons Jimmy McGill for Saul Goodman.

Later this week, Issa Rae will begin the next chapter of her career as her new show Rap Sh!t will premiere on HBO Max. The show follows two Miami-based rappers who are seeking success in the music industry. The first season of Rap Sh!t, which stars Aida Osman and KaMillion, will put forth eight episodes in total, with the first two arriving on July 21. In addition to work from Rae behind the scenes, Rap Sh!t also features contributions from a number of people in the music industry. During a recent interview on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Rae spoke about some of them.

During their conversation, Meyers asked Rae how she was able to have authentic rap lyrics and songs on the show. She revealed that there were artists in the music world present in the show’s writers’ room to help craft the songs. Rae said that she was able to “employ some of my favorite rap artists” like PineappleCITI, Ncognita, and Dreezy to construct songs for the show. Rae also noted that she is “really proud of the music on the show.”

In addition to the aforementioned artists, City Girls’ JT and Yung Miami will serve as executive producers on the show while Devonte Hynes, also known as Blood Orange, is the show’s music composer.

Find Rae’s full sit-down on Late Night With Seth Meyers in the video above.

Back in December, Finneas revealed he and Billie Eilish had started working on a new album. Indeed, new music has been happening, as Eilish debuted a song called “TV” live in Manchester last month. Now, Eilish has seemingly offered a behind-the-scenes look at their recording process: In an Instagram photo gallery she shared over the weekend, one of the photos (the second one) is of herself and Finneas in what appears to be Finneas’ home studio (which they’ve mentioned before).

The post doesn’t indicate when exactly the photo was taken, but it does seem it’s from after at least early December 2021: On the left side of the frame, sitting on a piano is a cue card from her week being the host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live, and that episode aired on December 11.

Looking elsewhere in the photo, the focal point is Finneas’ production setup. Finneas sits (in a Steelcase Leap chair, it appears) in front of a wide desk that features a pull-out drawer for a keyboard (the musical kind, not a QWERTY). There’s also a monitor (displaying various bits of music software), a couple speakers, and what appear to be other music production devices. Meanwhile, on a table near Eilish are some fruit, pistachios, some water, a frozen drink, and artist Friedrich Kunath’s book You Owe Me A Feeling.

Elsewhere in recent Eilish social media activity, over on TikTok earlier this month, Eilish sang along to a video of a man playing her “Listen Before I Go” on piano, so in case you missed it, check that out below.

After overcoming a brief bump in the road at the beginning of his Justice World Tour due to a COVID-19 outbreak within his team, the hope was that Justin Bieber would be smooth sailing for the remainder of the tour dates. Unfortunately, that did not prove to be the case as the singer was forced to postpone several performances in North America after he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which paralyzed the entire right side of his face. A month and a half after he received that diagnosis, Bieber and his team have confirmed that the Justice World Tour will resume at the end of July.

According to NME, Bieber’s first performance to continue the tour will be on July 31 at Italy’s Lucca Summer Festival. After that, Bieber will bring his talents to Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia. Rescheduled dates for the canceled North American dates have not been shared yet, but a press release reveals that they will be announced, “very soon.”

Last month, Bieber took to his Instagram Story to speak about the Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis while providing some optimism about recovering to his fans. “Obviously, my body’s telling me I gotta slow down,” he said. “It will go back to normal. Just time and we don’t know how much time that’s gonna be, but it’s gonna be okay. And I have hope, and I trust God, and I trust that this is all for a reason. I’m not sure what that is right now. But in the meantime, I’m gonna rest.”

[This post contains spoilers for Better Call Saul]

Is it too soon to call “Fun and Games” one of the best episodes of Better Call Saul? Probably! But that doesn’t mean it’s true. The last 10 minutes or so of the episode, in particular, should be taught in film school. “How to Do a Time Jump 101.”

Brian Grubb will have his Lie Detector Test recap later today, but for now, let’s turn our attention to something Emmy nominee Rhea Seehorn (that’s fun to type) said in her post-“Fun and Games” interview with the Hollywood Reporter.

When asked whether she was on-hand to watch Bob Odenkirk’s full-blown transformation into Saul Goodman, she replied, “No, but I forget why it didn’t. There was a logistical reason. I think I had to do some inserts from earlier scenes or something. So there was some reason why I couldn’t go, but I didn’t avoid it on purpose.”

But when Seehorn watched the episode, “I realized while watching him in full-fledged Saul mode that I’ll never see that character the same way again because of what they’ve done and what [Jimmy has] done. If I were to re-watch Breaking Bad now, that character is just tragic now. Yes, he was doing sinister things, but in general, he came off as a bit of a dangerous clown. And now, he just seems so sad.”

There is nothing sadder than a bowl of Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars on the breakfast table.

Stay tuned for more Better Call Saul coverage throughout the day.

(Via the Hollywood Reporter)

Last month, comic Robert Smigel and members of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert team were arrested at the Capitol. It was likely a misunderstanding: The crew were filming a segment for Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Smigel’s long-running stogie-chewing puppet, and reportedly stayed a bit longer than they were allowed. The incident prompted predictably hysterical coverage from Fox News, who now look even sillier than they did already.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Capitol police declined to prosecute the case. At the time of the staffers’ arrest, it was reported that they could face misdemeanor charges for unlawful entry. But after a review of the evidence, they decided that such punishment did not fit the crime.

Smigel and team spent two days on Capitol Hill, filming interviews that had been pre-arranged. On the second day, they stayed to film some additional bits and other comedy elements in the halls, and at some point their escort on the premises left them to their own devices. They stayed anyway, and Capitol Police, they said, asked them to leave multiple times. Eventually they detained them.

Fox News made a mountain out of the to-do. Tucker Carlson compared them, absurdly, to the Jan. 6 rioters, arguing that they should face the same consequences. Capitol Police — many of whose members were violently assaulted by Trump supporters, whose actions both Carlson and Hannity have downplayed — clearly did not agree.

(Via THR)

Conan Gray, who just recently dropped his highly anticipated album Superache, was invited to sing the National Anthem on Monday night, at the Home Run Derby. His performance was not conventionally perfect, and he definitely added some of his own flair to it. Twitter, though, is exploding with takes, as always.

Sports fans, by and large, were the ones taking digs at the singer, with one writing, “Ooooof. I’m guessing whoever Conan Gray is, his ‘multi-platinum’ career has had a LOT of help from Autotune…” Others are claiming that it’s even worse than Fergie’s notorious 2018 rendition

Gray’s fans, though, came to his defense. One made a thread sharing videos from his shows and wrote, “to all of you annoying sports fans out there , conan gray in fact CAN sing . the national anthem just didn’t really suit his voice that’s all there is to this debate.”

The pop star doesn’t have much to worry about. Aside from having a loving, devoted fanbase and a successful LP out, he received the Taylor Swift approval stamp earlier this year when she posted his music on social media. “I also teared up,” Conan admitted about the moment. “It was a unanimous tear up.”

Watch Gray’s performance of the National Anthem above.

Heading into Monday evening’s 2022 MLB Home Run Derby, the top storyline was perhaps the pursuit of a third consecutive title from New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso. Ultimately, Alonso was not able to claim a three-peat at Dodger Stadium, but there were plenty of intriguing and memorable moments, both from young sluggers and from the oldest active player in Major League Baseball in future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. In the end, however, it was Washington Nationals star Juan Soto winning the derby crown at the age of 23, defeating 21-year-old rising star Julio Rodriguez in the youngest-ever final in derby history.

The night began with a bang from Rodriguez, who defeated Corey Seager in the first head-to-head matchup. Rodriguez drilled 25 home runs in regular time, eventually posting a 32-homer total after bonus time, and his 32 home runs were the second-most ever in an opening round.

Alonso advanced through the first round after a win over Ronald Acuña Jr., blasting 21 home runs and leaving about 30 seconds on the clock with a breezy victory. He averaged 429 feet with his home runs, reaching a longest of 480 feet in the opening round.

That set up a highly anticipated semifinal matchup, with Rodriguez again setting an obscene pace. This time, he produced 31 home runs, becoming the first player ever to hit 30 or more in two different rounds within the same derby.

Alonso put forward a valiant effort but was unable to defend his crown, allowing Rodriguez to advance to the final. On the other side of the bracket, there were also plenty of fireworks. Soto didn’t need extra time to advance beyond the first round, producing well and conserving energy in the process.

Soto wasn’t necessarily the most prominent story on that side of the bracket, though, as Albert Pujols was making his final appearance in the derby. It appeared as if it might be a short run for Pujols, who was congratulated by all of his fellow All-Stars in the midst of his opening round.

However, Pujols was able to defeat Kyle Schwarber, who struggled mightily, with a seven-blast performance in the bonus round following a tie.

Pujols provided a memorable showing in the semifinal, finding a groove on a few occasions. However, Soto did enough to advance and set up the showdown with Rodriguez in the final.

In the opening salvo of the final, Rodriguez generated 18 home runs, reaching 81 total blasts through three rounds. He averaged 412 feet and 108 miles per hour in the final, putting pressure on Soto to string together a total barrage to defeat him.

On cue, Soto did just that. He heated up down the stretch of his original time, eventually blowing past the 18 mark in bonus time with plenty of time to spare.

Soto becomes the second-youngest derby champion of all-time, and he timed his biggest surge beautifully in the final. While it is not out of the ordinary in the current format, Rodriguez finished with considerably more home runs (81) than Soto (53) across three rounds, but it was certainly a night of young stars with a sprinkling of Pujols to round it out in Los Angeles.