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To call a Jeopardy! contestant “lucky” is not an insult. It doesn’t take away anything from their undeniable intelligence, because to make it onto the game show, you obviously have to be smart. But luck is an undeniable factor in advancing to a second episode, let alone a 23rd episode — in that sense, Megan Wachspress is a little luckier than most.

During last Friday’s episode of Jeopardy!, contestant Sadie Goldberger went into Final Jeopardy with a $600 lead over then three-day champ Wachspress. The category was “19th Century Contemporaries,” and the clue read, “Congratulating her on the 1869 release of her biography, Frederick Douglass wrote, ‘I have wrought in the day- you in the night.’” Wachspress correctly guessed “who is Harriet Tubman?” as did Goldberger…

…kind of. As host Mayim Bialik explained, “It looks like you were going for Harriet Tubman, but you did not finish. So, unfortunately, that is not going to be acceptable.” This is what was considered unacceptable:

Tough break for Goldberger, but Wachspress advanced to her fifth episode on Monday — and proved that she might be the luckiest contestant in Jeopardy! history.

Wachspress entered Final Jeopardy with $10,000, ahead of fellow contestants Ketty Pan ($200) and Tory Leviton ($10,200). The category: “British History.” The clue: “From the Greek for ‘alone,’ it was nixed by Parliamant in 1649 after being deemed ‘unnecessary, burdensome, & dangerous.’” Pan wasn’t able to come up with a guess, but she didn’t wager anything, so her final total stayed at $200. Wachspress answered wrong and with a hefty $9,599 wager, she sunk to $401. Leviton had an easy lane to win, but he, too, couldn’t come up with the correct answer — “What is the monarchy?” is what Bialik was looking for — and the poor guy plummeted to $200.

Wachspress won with $401, giving her a five-day total of $52,002, which is “less than half as much as any other five-day champion this year,” according to Yahoo! Entertainment. She looked embarrassed by her achievement.

And even tweeted about how “unbelievably lucky” she is:

One of Wachspress’ friends should go 50/50 on a lottery ticket with her. You might only win $20, but luck is clearly on her side.

(Via Yahoo! Entertainment)

We are truly in the midst of surprise release season. First Drake came through with Honestly, Nevermind and now Beyoncé arrives with “Break My Soul,” which, like the Drake album, is also a fresh dose of dance music. Beyoncé got some help on this one, as the track samples Big Freedia’s “Explode,” about which Freedia is pleased.

Freedia wrote on Instagram last night, “It feels surreal to be on the track with the Queen Beyonce once again I’m so honored to be apart of this special moment I’m forever grateful lord. someone please catch me. [Blaqnmild] my brother and I been working along time congratulations fam. [Beyonce] love you so much.” Freedia also added in an Instagram Story, “Overwhelmed with tears of joy. my God is so real the things he can do in your life. only if y’all know where I come from and how hard this journey has been I’m forever grateful thanks so much for loving me for who l am. this for all of y’all.”

The release of “Break My Soul” has parallels to that of Beyoncé’s “Formation,” which was also a surprise release back in 2016 and also features Freedia, who provides ad libs on the track.

Multiple times per week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts and ratings) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.

TIE: 10. The Old Man (FX series on Hulu)

This show’s off to a fine beginning with Jeff Bridges heading into one-last-job mode as Dan Chase, an ex-CIA operative, who gets roped back into action. This is partially the fault of John Lithgow’s government agent character, and surprise, surprise, Dan’s skills don’t need too terribly much rust knocked off when he springs back into action. The show adapts Thomas Perry’s bestselling thriller novel, and people are already loving the dynamics at hand

TIE: 10.Hacks (HBO Max series)

This marvelous comedy got renewed for a third season, which means that more curmudgeonly Jean Smart is on the way, hopefully with that chainsaw in tow. Presumably, Hannah Einbinder’s Ava will be back, too, although that season ending left the idea of a continued partnership dangling. These two are incredible together, proving that generation-spanning comedy can find a happy medium while still being funny and occasionally outrageous.

9. Top Gun (Paramount movie streaming on Paramount+)

Head into the danger zone while feeling the need for speed. And simply accept that Tom Cruise’s movies with crazy stunts are the best escapism and fast jets are cool. And naturally, you won’t be able to resist watching the movie that started it all. It’ll take your breath away to see Maverick and Iceman’s rivalry in action again before beholding shirtless volleyball and a certain Tarantino monologue that sheds some light on it all.

8. Dark Winds (AMC+ series)

(Mostly) Native American writers are doing the thing here as based upon Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee book series and the two 1970s Navajo cops (at a remote area near Monument Valley) who embark upon apparently unrelated crimes including a double murder case. In the process, they see things that make them think twice about their spiritual beliefs. The forces of evil swirl while the cops’ personal demons could actually be the key to emerging back into salvation territory. George R.R. Martin also produces. Are you intrigued? Good.

7. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney+ series)

This show kicked off with an adorable surprise before getting into the nitty gritty of what went down about a ten years after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith saw Anakin Skywalker cut and run to the dark side. Speaking of which, yes, Hayden Christiansen returns to this world with Ewan McGregor unable to resist the lure of “a galaxy far, far away.” Disney+ is really fleshing out more of the Star Wars universe and the MCU on a weekly basis, so catch up why don’t you?

6. Stranger Things (Netflix series)

The first half of this season was another raging hit for Netflix, and while everyone waits for the next part of the Upside Down story to arrive, settle in and begin appreciating Kate Bush again. If you forgot what happened years ago on this show, we’ve got you covered there, and Millie Bobby Brown is hoping for some Game of Thrones-style character deaths to really go down. Can’t say we blame her.

5. Ms. Marvel (HBO Max series)

The Marvels are coming, and this show’s laying the foundation/origin story for Iman Vallani’s Kamala Khan. She takes a Peter Parker-like route to superherodom, as a high schooler who acquires powers, but Iman’s path is decidedly more cosmic. This show is so much fun and revamps the character’s comic book history in both a modern and contextually wonderful way. Get ready for Kamala to team up with Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Paris) for that 2023 movie, but for now, take the cosmic plunge.

4. Mayans M.C. (FX series on Hulu)

The season finale pushed the club further into war with the Sons of Anarchy and cranked into high emotional mode with Angel taking an audience POV stance into what EZ is steadily becoming. Yet even with those intensifying callbacks (including a Tig entrance) to the O.G. series of this franchise, Mayans M.C. is becoming its own entity, and this show’s pulsing heart will keep you coming back to these constantly evolving (and devolving characters). Yes, a fan favorite character lost his life this year (it’ll make you say RIP Opie all over again), but Danny Pino hit the director’s chair in the best episode of the season.

3. The Boys (Amazon Prime series)

A lot can be observed by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reaction to seeing photos from son, Patrick, as he shot the spinoff, but for now, the principal series is cranking through the midseason mark in a season that’s expertly making the case for weekly streaming releases. Homelander’s steadily losing his Supe mind and terrorizing everyone, especially The Deep. Meanwhile, Jensen Ackles is crushing it as Soldier Boy, who could very well be the key to putting Homelander in his place. It’s gonna get brutal, man.

2. Hustle (Netflix Movie)

Adam Sandler’s taking another break from those Hubie Halloween-type characters, and our own Vince Mancini wrote that this movie will do for the NBA what Tom Gun did for the Navy. Sandler portrays a down-on-his luck scout who discovers what he believes to be the next great basketball star. He takes a long shot to get this player into shape for an NBA run while also fighting against a less than savory set of his own bad behaviors. It’s a little bit like The Blind Side and carries a hefty dose of humor to go with the earnestness of this film’s journey. The Sandman is back, y’all.

1. Peaky Blinders (BBC One/Netflix series)

Cillian Murphy’s frontman tour through kicking ass while tossing Cockney rhyming slang comes to an end with this season, but no worries, there will be some followup stories coming in the form of a spinoff or film. His Tommy Shelby’s gearing up to head toward America in these final half-dozen episodes. Naturally, the passing of Helen McRory is front and center in everyone’s mind, and the show appropriately grieves, but she’d want everyone to enjoy the inherent coolness of this show as it stylishly swaggers to the finish line while pushing Tommy toward a new life.

Last month, it was reported that the Grammy-winner HER, real name Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, was being sued by acapella gospel group Take 6 who claimed that she used an “obvious” sample of the sextet’s song, “Come Unto Me” in her collaboration with Bryson Tiller “Could’ve Been.” Now, she’s doing the suing—against her label.

The Blast have reported that the singer is suing MBK Entertainment for the rights to her music catalog. The lawsuit was filed on June 16, and it says she is suing for declaratory relief and violation of the business and professions code. She signed a recording agreement with MBK Entertainment in 2011, when she was only 14 years old.

The owner of MBK Jeff Robinson, subsequently became her manager, and then fired the law firm that first represented her. “Robinson caused his own lawyers to represent Wilson in the negotiation of subsequent contracts, including publishing and touring agreements,” as per the court documents. She claimed that “those lawyers took 5% of the deals they negotiated, but did not have a written fee agreement or a conflict waiver signed by Wilson, and said that they performed the services ‘as a favor’ to their client Robinson who was paid 20% commission for each of those deals.”

After rebooting her social media profiles and sending fans into a frenzy over something called “Renaissance,” Beyoncé’s has just released a new song “Break My Soul,” which is a single from the forthcoming album of that title. It’s a confident, clubby anthem with inspiring lyrics: “Now I just fell in love / And I just quit my job / I’m gonna find new drive / Damn they work me so damn hard.” It previews a relentlessly catchy LP.

The track is four and a half minutes, giving enough time for fans to fully relish it. Her last full-length record was 2016’s iconic Lemonade, so this is a real treat. She also mentioned that Renaissance will be heavy on both country and dance tunes, and this single definitely proves the latter.

In a 2021 interview, Beyonce hinted at Rennaissance when she said discussed working on new music: “With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again. I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible. I’ve been in the studio for a year and a half. Sometimes it takes a year for me to personally search through thousands of sounds to find just the right kick or snare. One chorus can have up to 200 stacked harmonies. Still, there’s nothing like the amount of love, passion, and healing that I feel in the recording studio. After 31 years, it feels just as exciting as it did when I was nine years old. Yes, the music is coming!”

Listen to “Break My Soul” above.

Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti is one of the biggest albums of the year, debuting at No. 1 and making him the most-streamed artist globally in one day. He’s not done though; today he unveiled the music video for the track “Me Porto Bonito.”

This video follows the release of the “Titi Me Pregunto” video, in which Bad Bunny gets kidnapped to his own wedding. The video for this track, which features Chencho Corleone, watches Corleone driving around and then having fun at a pool party with Bad Bunny. It’s as mischievous and fun as the “Titi Me Pregunto” video.

Earlier this year, the star turned a semi-truck into a stylish, one-of-a-kind Airbnb. “Being on tour has reconnected me with my fans and the energy they give me during each show in every city we visit is incredible,” said Bad Bunny. “I’m hoping that by hosting guests in my truck I can give them a chance to feel like they’re on tour with me. This truck has played such a big role in the concept of my tour and my last album that I want to share this unique experience with them.”

Watch the video for “Me Porto Bonito” above.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is one of the best skateboarding games ever made. The remake of the first two Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games managed to perfectly find that ground between how we all nostalgically felt the games should play, while also modernizing itself to feel really good on modern day consoles. The result was a game that both longtime fans and newcomers to the franchise could play and enjoy. Those of us at UPROXX loved it so much we made it our Game of The Year for 2020.

Afterwards, the immediate question on everyone’s mind was if the other two Pro Skater games, 3 and 4, would get the same treatment. Unfortunately, despite the success of Pro Skater 1+2, the developers of the franchise — Vicarious Visions — were later merged into the Blizzard umbrella of Activision Blizzard. We never heard about any more remakes or sequels after that, and it was assumed that the merger ended any chance of a sequel ever happening.

Unfortunately for us fans of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, it sounds like that’s exactly what happened. Recently, Tony Hawk appeared on a Twitch stream with streamer andyTHPS. Hawk was asked about the status of a Pro Skater 3+4 and he explained how the merger of Vicarious Visions into Blizzard eventually led to plans for a sequel getting shelved.

“I wish I could say we had something in the works, but Vicarious Visions got kinda disbanded. Activision is going through all their stuff so I don’t know what’s next.” Hawk said on stream. “I mean, that was the plan. Even up until the release date of this, we were going 3 and 4. Then Vicarious got kinda absorbed and they were looking for other developers and it was over…the truth of it is they were trying to find someone to do 3 and 4 but they didn’t really trust anyone the way they did Vicarious. So they took other pitches from other studios like ‘what would you with the THPS title?’ and they didn’t like anything they heard and that was it.”

If anyone is going to have the inside scoop on what is going on with the franchise, it’s Tony Hawk. Not only because it has his name on the box, but because he’s always been very closely involved with the direction of the franchise. From the game’s earliest days to even now he’s always been allowed to have his voice heard on what direction developers were going to take the franchise. So we know that everything he is saying on stream is close to if not how the entire situation shook out.

For anyone that is looking for a glimmer of hope, Hawk didn’t say that there was no chance of ever making a game again. He mentioned that Activision tried pitching the franchise to other studios, but nobody came up with a good enough pitch to gain the opportunity to make another game. Maybe we will get Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 someday, but it’s still extremely disappointing to know that one is definitely not in the works for anytime soon.

The 2022 NBA Draft has a pretty clear top three, as Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, and Paolo Banchero have separated themselves on most big boards ahead of Thursday’s draft. What order one has those three big men is up for debate, but the expectation was Orlando would be choosing between Smith and Holmgren, with Smith as the frontrunner to go to Orlando at most sportsbooks, Holmgren the expected selection of the Thunder at No. 2, and Banchero mocked almost entirely to the Rockets at No. 3.

Monday brought some significant change to those expectations, however, as books saw serious steam on Banchero to go No. 1, pushing his odds up from the 16-1 (or even 18-1) range all the way to 4-1 (or 3-1) by Monday evening. That is a significant change as sharp money hammered the long Banchero odds and forced oddsmakers to adjust their thinking that this was a two-man race for the top spot. Now, what remains to be seen is whether this is real intel or just a sudden belief that Banchero’s odds shouldn’t be that long considering how close most evaluators see the top three.

Matt Moore of the Action Network laid out a variety of potential reasons for the move, from Holmgren reportedly withholding medicals and reportedly having a preference for OKC to the simple fact that many evaluators put Banchero as the top player on their big boards. We’ll find out if the sudden Banchero steam was for good reason on Thursday night, or whether the initial projections will prevail. In any case, oddsmakers that took big money on Banchero at long odds will be sweating it out until the Magic make their selection.

The Mars Volta, consisting of members Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala, are no stranger to teasing things. Since breaking up in 2013, the band posted a cryptic video last year teasing what would end up being La Realidad De Los Sueños, a massive, career-spanning box set. “It not only contains the band’s whole studio discography,” the description read, “but also some true treasures like ‘Landscape Tantrums,’ unreleased material from the De-Loused In The Comatorium Sessions and a photo-book with exclusive behind-the-scenes shots.”

Now they’re teasing something again in an even weirder way. There is a cube installation in Grand Park, Los Angeles, whose longitude and latitude coordinates were tweeted by the band’s account. Inside is a three-minute preview of a new single in a decade—their first new material in a decade. No cell phones are allowed inside.

After seeing the major success of their 18 LP box set La Realidad De Los Sueños, The Mars Volta announced last year that they were focusing on reissuing individual albums. They made newly-pressed vinyl of each of their six LPs, including their debut EP Tremulant and Landscape Tantrums, the recently discovered eight-song collection of recordings that eventually became their debut studio album De-Loused In The Comatorium.

The Mars Volta is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

With the Golden State Warriors winning their fourth championship with the Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson core on Thursday, there has been plenty of chatter about the key member of their last title team who isn’t on this one, Kevin Durant.

Durant has become a lightning rod of sorts for fans and pundits alike who look down on his two rings (and Finals MVP awards) from his time with the Warriors as the worst of the superteam era. Charles Barkley has been front and center in questioning Durant’s ability to be a “bus driver,” insisting that those Warriors teams were still Steph’s even when Durant was winning Finals MVP awards. Chuck began that commentary as the Nets were getting swept by the Celtics, but circled back and brought the “bus driver” comment back out after the Warriors title win during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up! on Friday.

CJ McCollum defended KD’s credentials on Monday in response to Chuck on the same program, which is when Durant caught wind of Barkley’s latest comments and offered a rebuttal of his own, calling Barkley a “hatin old head.”

It’s not the first time Durant and Barkley have gone at it, and surely won’t be the last. As for the legacy talk, Durant is so used to it from fans at this point that he pointed out that this latest Warriors title does nothing to him, explaining that for those who hated his time on the Warriors, his legacy died when he signed there in 2016.

What will be fascinating is whether Durant has a chance to make a run of his own next year to answer the struggles of the Nets this season, with rumors swirling about the future of Kyrie Irving. How that saga plays out is more impactful on KD than the Warriors latest title, but he’s at least happy that Steezy is happy.