Days away from the release of his fourth studio album, Twelve Carat Toothache, Post Malone is getting candid. In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Malone spoke on fatherhood, how he feels about the sound of his own voice, and his thoughts on social media.
When asked about TikTok, Malone admitted that he enjoys scrolling through clips. However, he doesn’t feel that making his own videos comes naturally.
“There’s so many different ways to get people to listen to your music,” Malone said. “And TikTok is so f*cking huge… And you have people check on my new song and it goes f*cking viral and that changes people’s lives. And you discover talented people on there and everything. But it’s just so hard for me to make something natural. And it’s just so interesting. It’s interesting to hear [Halsey’s] opinion on that.”
Malone is referring to a series of TikTok videos Halsey recently posted, claiming their record label wouldn’t allow them to release their single, “So Good,” without the song first getting a viral TikTok moment.
Continuing his spiel on TikTok, and social media in general, Malone said. “I just think it’s my personal opinion and the changes that I’ve made mentally to distance myself from that and that’s really impacted my life in a positive way. It’s just whatever makes your comfortable because at the end of the day, you just got to be comfortable with what you’re doing. And social media is something that I’m not super comfortable with.”
Check out the full interview above.
Twelve Carat Toothache is out 6/3 via Republic Records. Pre-order it here.
As a committed online troll himself, Lil Nas X can certainly appreciate a good zinger — even if he’s the butt of the joke. Although he was shut out at the Grammys this year, he was able to turn that misfortune on its head, and while he certainly doesn’t seem to like also not receiving any BET Award nominations, he was able to take the disappointment in stride. More recently, Nas’ Facebook page was hacked, just in time for the start of Pride Month. And though the culprit left an anti-Pride message, Nas seemed more tickled by the intrusion than upset.
“F*CK PRIDE MONTH,” wrote the hacker. “I faked being gay bitch. Ty for the $.” When a fan account screenshot the message and shared it on Twitter, Nas himself replied, writing, “i’m screaming because this is something i would actually say.”
He isn’t exaggerating at all. In 2020, shortly after coming out in the wake of his supernova rise to fame, Nas joked that he was never gay in the first place. “i said it to build up fuel for aprils fools day,” he winked. “ha got u guys.” Of course, the joke was short-lived; just thirteen minutes later, he tweeted, “ok i’m gay again.” Meanwhile, in 2021, he addressed the criticism he’s received from trolls saying he only came out for attention, tweeting, “y’all love saying i’m being gay for success but can’t name 5 successful gay male artists in the last 10 years to save your life.”
Nas isn’t letting the haters get him down, but maybe his collaborator Jack Harlow had a point. By now, it’s a bit much, and if Nas’ orientation bothers folks so much, maybe they could just, like… stop paying so much attention to him and find something else to do.
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.
Director Judd Apatow weaves archival footage, diary entries, and invaluable insights from George Carlin’s daughter Kelly to create an extensive portrait of a legendary comedian and thinker whose thoughts on life and culture still resonate and routinely trend on Twitter 16 years after his death. What’s most remarkable about Carlin may not be that unheard of staying power, but how he continued to innovate and reinvent himself over a 50+ year career to get to the point where his words and memory would carry so much weight with so many people; something Apatow explores thoroughly here while exploring the drive, complexity, and artistry of the man.
It’s been 27 years since the last Kids In The Hall episode and 26 since the release of Brain Candy, the movie that almost broke the group apart forever. Since then, there has been inter-group litigation, a period of resolution, numerous tours, health scares, and onscreen reunions official (Death Comes To Town) and not (numerous cameos in each other’s projects), but the Kids are back. Not quite “kids” anymore, but with the same charm and bend toward dark comedic absurdity. No, I mean really the same, but in a way that should connect in equal measure with old fans and potential new viewers whose dads won’t shut up about them when they walk into the room and see you watching I Think You Should Leave and they want to contribute so they tell you about a guy with lettuce for hair and “Love And Sausages” and how communists and killer bees are LIKE THIS! OK. The point is, the new Kids In The Hall is a brilliant mix of old and new that further solidifies the group’s legend status. Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Vanessa Bayer was one of the best things about Saturday Night Live during her seven-year run and while nothing beats her awards-worthy work in the sketch comedy’s Totino’s trilogy, this definitely comes close. Based on Bayer’s own experience with childhood cancer (and her ongoing love affair with the home shopping channel) the show follows a yet-to-fully-mature woman who lies about her cancer diagnosis to keep her dream job. Everyone from Molly Shannon to Jenifer Lewis helps out here but it’s some of the lesser known members of the cast that really shine. Watch it on Showtime.
David Letterman is back once again to talk to a slew of very famous people about their lives and careers. It remains a cool show and a cool idea and it’s cool that Letterman has fully embraced his role as a Beard Guy. No complaints to be found anywhere. This season’s guests include Billie Eilish, Ryan Reynolds, Cardi B, Kevin Durant, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and a pre-Slap Will Smith. Watch it on Netflix.
The original true-crime docuseries (originally on Sundance TV) captivated enough people on Netflix that HBO Max decided to dramatize the story, and lo and behold, it works. Colin Firth plays Michael Peterson, who served prison time after the death of his wife, Kathleen (portrayed by Toni Collette) under mysterious circumstances. Sophie Turner and Parker Posey are on hand, and there’s a (SPOILER ALERT) certain theory that won’t be overlooked. This shall be an eight-part adaptation that explores the nature of fact and fiction and goes to some unexpected places. Watch it on HBO Max.
Two important things are worth noting here. The first is that this show, a fun dramedy starring Rose Byrne that takes a spandex-tight look at the 1980s aerobics era and the types of people who made it a whole thing, is returning for a second season. The second thing is that this new season adds Murray Bartlett to the cast, which, as anyone who watched him devolve into an amphetamine-snorting lunatic on The White Lotus can attest, is a wonderful development. Good news all around. Watch it on Apple TV Plus.
6. Angelyne (Peacock)
PEACOCK
It’s Emmy Rossum, all bewigged and looking nothing like Fiona Gallagher, which is probably exactly the type of thing that Rossum wanted to do after a decade in the same role. Here, she portrays the iconic billboard queen and mysterious buxom blonde who parlayed herself into a sensation. Expect a whole lot of pink with hair, makeup, and wardrobe on (tacky) point. Rossum looks like she’s having a blast as a precursor to the Paris Hiltons of today, and there are spaces where the show is great fun, but be warned that it takes its time while moving toward an emotional payoff.
It should not be possible to enjoy watching a sweet man like Bill Hader destroy his life and the lives of those around him, and yet, here we all are, ready for season three of Barry, one of the best shows on television. It’s a dilemma, honestly. Not as much of a dilemma as, say, being a hitman who stumbles into an acting career and has to occasionally kill more people to prevent other people from learning that he has a history of killing people, but still. There’s an embarrassment of riches at play here. Find another show that features Henry Winkler and Stephen Root and D’Arcy Carden where none of them are the funniest character, somehow, against incredible odds. This is the power of NoHo Hank. You either know what that sentence means or you desperately need to binge Barry as soon as possible. Watch it on HBO Max.
Jean Smart’s dueling curmudgeons won’t both return because we can’t always have nice things. Yet we still have her cranky comedian, Deborah, who’s back in the comedy game (this time on tour) with Hannah Einbinder’s Ava in tow. The second season’s a lean, mean comedy machine but unfortunately for Ava, her big betrayal is still out there, looming over both of them. Also, Jean gets to wield a chainsaw, and that’s worth the price of admission on its own, but getting to see the dynamic duo in action is something that we’re frankly not worthy of — we will take it. Watch it on HBO Max.
3. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney Plus)
DISNEY
If Obi-Wan is a name you’ve not heard in a long time (long time), you’re in luck. Ewan McGregor reprises his role as Not-So-Old Ben in Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi, a six-episode limited series set a decade after the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Also back: Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader. Should you watch Obi-Wan Kenobi? Yesssssssssssss. Watch it on Disney Plus.
Finally, The Boys. Are. Back. And so is Homelander, although he is most decidedly not okay after the events of the Season 2 finale, so plenty more increasingly sadistic behavior will soon arrive on that end. He’s got competition in the “hero of heroes” department, though, because Jensen Ackles climbs aboard as Soldier Boy (a profane Captain America knockoff), who’s definitely all up in the “Herogasm” episode, which you should sit down before watching. And expect the show to actually transcend those exploding heads, the whale collision, and Homelander’s self-pleasuring scene atop a skyscraper. In other words, clear you calendar for these weekly decadent delights. Watch it on Amazon Prime.
The long-awaited fourth season of Stranger Things is, in a word, epic. And that’s not because of its cinematic run times. We’ll, not entirely. It’s true you’ll essentially be watching seven movies, not episodes, but those are packed with all of the 80s nostalgia, Dungeons and Dragons references, demonic possessions, prison breaks, rink parties, and secret government experiments you could ask for. Hawkins is in more danger than ever and with Eleven powerless, there’s no superhero in sight — unless you count Erica Sinclair, which obviously you should. But the joy of this season is watching the rest of these weirdos and misfits band together to save each other … and themselves. Watch it on Netflix.
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.
Steven Spielberg brings the classic musical to the big and/or small screen, to the delight of both older fans and newer ones who get to experience it all for the first time. Get in there. Really let the experience wash over you. Sing along. Dance around your living room. Get in a knife fight with your sworn enemy. Okay, maybe not that last one. But the other ones, definitely. Watch it on Disney Plus.
10. Tony Hawk: Until The Wheels Fall Off (HBO Max)
HBO
It is wild to think about how long Tony Hawk has been a figure in American pop culture. It is also wild to watch a full-length documentary about it, which is good and notable here because HBO made one. The whole thing is fascinating, the way the guy whose name is synonymous with skateboarding at this point is still doing it and does not plan to stop, and the way he’s built a career and lifestyle out of the thing he loved doing as a kid. It’s cool. And a good watch. Crank up “Superman” by Goldfinger and give it a run. Watch it on HBO Max.
No matter what one thinks about the monarchy, it’s still remarkable that Queen Elizabeth II is about to celebrate 70 years on the throne. Yes, it’s Platinum Jubilee time in the U.K., and after Elizabeth rather quietly endured several seasons of Netflix’s The Crown (which could bring further whispers of embarrassment), this Showtime documentary promises to take an overall more flattering approach to the Royal Family while digging into Elizabeth’s “mischievous personal life.” Give us the corgis. Watch it on Showtime.
What we have on our hands with this is a collection of new stunts and some behind-the-scenes of old stunts all featuring the sweet and chaotic boys from Jackass. You love that stuff. Don’t you dare overthink it. Turn your brain off and let the madness wash over you. Watch it on Netflix.
7. Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (Disney Plus)
DISNEY
There are two things happening here. The first is that, yes, we have another streaming-based reboot/reimagining nostalgia-bait film on our hands, this time for the Rescue Rangers. Which is… fine. But it brings us to the second thing: the talent involved in this sucker is wild. Voice work by Andy Samberg and John Mulaney and Seth Rogen, who really need to work together on a live-action project at some point. Direction by Akiva Shaffer, who also did MacGruber. it’s kind of nuts, really, which we promise is not a chipmunk pun. The point is that if you’re going to do one of these things you can at least try to do it right. The effort here is appreciated. Watch it on Disney Plus.
6. On the Count of Three (VOD)
ANNAPURNA
Jerrod Carmichael is having a moment, garnering all the praise for his revealing and powerful HBO special (Rothaniel, watch it again!), a great turn as SNL host, and now, for the release of his festival fave narrative directorial debut, On The Count Of Three. But, of course, you knew Carmichael was a force from his previous specials and The Carmichael Show. You’re just happy to see everyone else catch up and, with this film, get the chance to see Carmichael flex his dramatic muscles opposite Christopher Abbott as two friends trying to get the most out of the last moments before they execute each other as a part of a suicide pact. Track it down on your VOD service of choice.
What if Seven but with way more leather and punching? In a lot of ways, that could serve as a very simple synopsis of what Matt Reeves has done with the crown jewel of DC Comics lore, placing his take beside The Joker on the highest shelf (both in terms of artistry, societal commentary, and other adult themes) in the DCEU film library. Does it work? In some ways, absolutely, providing a grim but intriguing vision of the Batman as a detective with the mother of all chips on his shoulder as he wrestles with his thirst for vengeance and a vicious villain in Paul Dano’s Riddler, who is always seemingly one step ahead of him and Jeffrey Wright’s Jim Gordon (a buddy cop pairing that is as awkward as it is rewarding). Throw in Zoe Kravitz’s tremendous turn as Selina Kyle/Catwoman (who also connects so well with Robert Pattinson’s Batman that you wish Reeves would have allowed for even more of their on-screen back and forth) and Gotham City’s usual mix of criminal underworld string-pulling and civic corruption and you’ve got a very full meal. Overfull? Too mature? Let’s just say The Batman can seem so grown up and dense at times that you may forget that it’s a superhero movie, for better or worse. Watch it on HBO Max.
4. The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks (Amazon Prime)
CBC
The weird and wonderful new season of Kids In The Hall can be appreciated on its own merit, but to learn the story of how the legendary Canadian sketch group came to be in the mid ‘80s, came to push every boundary in the early ‘90s, came undone, and then came back together adds a layer to the whole thing. Those in search of a full accounting of their improbable run can check out Paul Myers’ “One Dumb Guy” book, but Amazon’s all-new doc, Comedy Punks, covers the highlights quite well, adding in a host of new interviews from the guys.
Look elsewhere for a meditative self-exploration of a comic inching toward the end of his life. Norm Macdonald just wants to tell jokes, delivering a very Norm set in a very non-Norm setting (recorded at home with no audience due to COVID) with urgency. David Letterman puts it perfectly in the loose conversation that follows with him, Conan O’Brien, Dave Chappelle, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon, and David Spade, saying it’s not stand up, but something different. But it’s still something worth seeing for Norm’s swan song and also the aforementioned conversation, which brings a level of closure to fans who get to hear a few great Norm stories and some thoughts on what made him so unique. Watch it on Netflix.
Ambulance has everything you could want in an action movie: frenetic pacing, adrenaline-soaked chase scenes, Michael Bay doing everything at once, hot explosive nonsense, Jake Gyllenhaal as a villainous psychopath with crazy eyes, an ambulance, etc. It’s basically perfect, if this is the type of thing you’re looking for, which you probably are on a Friday or Saturday night. Make some popcorn or order a pizza and get in there. Watch it on Peacock.
Bowen Yang may be the best talent to emerge from Saturday Night Live in years – a fact underscored by the recent departure of comedy greats like Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant – but he’s not the only reason this sweet and silly gay romcom works. A BIG reason, sure, but not the only one. There’s also Margaret Cho playing a loopy lesbian house mom, a setting that allows a group of Queer misfits to find a sense of belonging amidst MDMA hazes and pulse-pounding raves, and a central love story that borrows from the period romance wellspring of one Jane Austen. It’s a booze-infused Pride & Prejudice in short swim trunks for the gays and the theys, but the fact that it works so damn well is also proof that the romcom genre should be welcoming more Queer and minority romantic leads into its ranks. Watch it on Hulu.
The Alchemist/Dogfish Head/Lawson’s Finest/Firestone Walker/istock/Uproxx
While we enjoy a classic West Coast IPA, love New England-style IPAs this time of year, and even find room for the occasional milkshake IPA, sometimes we just want something a little bigger and bolder. That’s where the double IPA (also known as the imperial IPA) comes in. Everything is amplified and cranked up to eleven. There’s more malt presence, more hop flavor, and a (sometimes much) higher alcohol content.
In our opinion, the late spring and early summer is the best time of year to get reacquainted with these hoppy bangers. It’s not a session beer so you won’t be drinking it throughout a lazy summer day. But it does pair well with grilled foods and dangling your feet off a dock into a crystal-clear mountain lake.
Since there are a ton of double IPAs on the market, we thought that it made sense to go to the source for some help in finding them. We asked some well-known craft beer experts, brewers, and beer professionals to tell us the best double IPAs to drink any time of the year.
It’s really hard to beat– Bell’s Double Two Hearted Ale when you’re talking about double IPAs. Hearty, bold, with plenty of classic American aromatic hop bite. This bold hoppy, piney, floral, dank, malty IPA is loaded with a healthy dose of Centennial hops.
The Amen Break from New Anthem Beer Project in Wilmington, North Carolina. What flavors make it great? It’s an all-around beautiful DIPA. A complex blend of hop layers in tons of flavors ranging from tangerine and peach to berries and fruit candy. So flavorful with barely a hint of the 8% ABV potency. The guys at New Anthem are making some great beer in North Carolina.
I’m sure this beer will be mentioned here by someone else but the most monumental double IPA for me personally was Heady Topper by The Alchemist. John Kimmich has always been an inspiration of mine and the beer is masterfully made to just burst with hop flavor and aroma right out of the can! He really balances the resinous and dank flavors with the bold citrus and pine of the hops and marries it perfectly with the peach and stone fruit esters of the yeast for an awesome beer.
I’ll always have a soft spot for Dogfish Head’s 90 Minute IPA. To me, a great double IPA should perfect the balance between malt sweetness, flavor, and body and hop bitterness and character, and I can’t think of a beer that does it better than 90 Minute.
Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery
Austin Beerworks
Hector Cavazos, owner and head brewer at Rebel Toad Brewery in Corpus Christi, Texas
Heavy Machinery from Austin Beerworks is my pick. The hops are freshly picked from Oregon straight to their brewery. It’s an absolute citrus bomb, brewed with Amarillo, Simcoe, and Citra hops. If you can find it, definitely grab a four-pack of this underrated double IPA.
Double Daisy Cutter from Half Acre. They do a series of these DDC beers that are ‘fully saturated’ with hop flavor and often feature a single hop on top of it. They really showcase all elements of quality hop character with flavors of pine, fruit, and floral characters, then build on top of that with whatever single-hop they are showcasing.
When I first tried Lawson’s Finest Sip of Sunshine, I was completely floored. It had a massive tropical citrus nose, a well-balanced malt body that gave a backbone for the hops to fill out, and an easy finish with minimal bitterness. It was an evolutionary step forward in IPAs for me and I was certainly inspired by it as I’m sure many brewers were. It’s still great and worth a revisit soon.
Bell’s Hopslam
Bell
Kevin Smolar, production and quality lab manager at Sun King Brewery in Indianapolis
Bell’s Hopslam. This was the beer that turned me onto hops. I was a senior in college and went to a local sports bar that had a great craft beer selection. I asked the bartender for a recommendation (letting him know I was a fan of beers like Blue Moon) and he said, “Try this. It tastes like oranges.” I don’t know why he recommended a double IPA to someone that likes Belgian witbiers, but I’m sure glad he did. The orange and tangerine flavors pair so well with the sweet honey and malt profile, and it just blew me away.
Even after nearly fifteen years, this is still one of my favorite beers on the planet. Sadly, it’s only available in the middle of winter so you’ll have to wait until then to drink it.
Firestone Walker Double Jack without a doubt. It’s a big and bold beer but always left me wanting another one. I think it’s the quintessential West Coast DIPA with huge pine characteristics and tangerine flavors. It was a dark day when they retired it, but I’m glad to see it back.
Trillium Max Headroom
Trillium
Chris Elliott, chief brewing officer at Wild Leap Brew Co. in LaGrange, Georgia
ABV: 9.1%
Average Price: Limited Availability
Why This Beer?
My favorite double IPA was hands down, Max Headroom by Trillium. The Headroom series they brew is phenomenal, and this is the best of the series that I have tried. Unfortunately, Trillium isn’t regularly available in our area, so I only get to have their beers occasionally.
Pliny the Elder, Russian River Brewing Co — The reason this classic DIPA is still making ‘best of” lists after so many years is not because it is the hyped-up original, it’s because of Russian River’s unwavering commitment to quality, the best hop lots and brewing practices, and a loyalty to a recipe that has stood the test of time. A big malt backbone is balanced by big bitterness with aromas of grapefruit zest, orange sherbet, and resinous pine.
Pour it into a big snifter and admire the golden hue and rocky head before diving deep into brewing history.
Navaja DIPA from Half Acre. Brewed with golden promise malt and hopped with Citra, CTZ, Simcoe, and Mosaic hops, it has a great blend of both piney and grapefruit flavors. Definitely a bigger beer but not boozy. It has the right amount of malt balance.
A couple of months ago, Jack Harlow announced his partnership with KFC. And so the “Jack’s Favorite’s” menu was born, which was a curation of “the menu items I’ve been enjoying since I was a child,” as he stated. “Partnering up with KFC feels like poetic justice,” he said. “I’ve begun traveling the world and no matter how far I go, KFC is one of the first things people want to bring up when they find out where I’m from.”
Now the partnership is taking a step further with the introduction of the new Jack Harlow meal. “From releasing Come Home the Kids Miss You and now launching my own meal at KFC, I’m having a super blessed summer,” said Harlow. “When KFC asked me to create my own meal, I knew it couldn’t be just any meal. My meal brings together my childhood favorites from growing up in Louisville, the KFC Mac & Cheese, with my new go-to Spicy Chicken Sandwich (with plenty of ranch), Secret Recipe Fries, and lemonade – it doesn’t get much better.”
CMO of KFC U.S. Nick Chavez added: “Jack has long been vocal about his passion for his home state of Kentucky, which is why this partnership is so finger lickin’ good. Jack Harlow fans, don’t miss out on this meal handpicked by Jack himself.”
It will be available across the states starting June 6.
Jack Harlow is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
For some, a long holiday weekend entails backyard barbecues, time spent by the pool, and using the extra day off work to partake in some much-needed rest and relaxation. For others, a long weekend presents the perfect opportunity to go all out and freaking party. At least, that was the case for the enthusiastic festival-goers and music-lovers found at the Lightning in a Bottle music festival.
Held annually over Memorial Day Weekend (and returning after two years of cancellation!), the electronic music-focused event drew in thousands to Buena Vista Lake in Southern California.
Lightning in a Bottle ’22 featured renowned music artists including Glass Animals, Kaytranada, GRiZ, Chet Faker, Black Coffee, Four Tet, SG Lewis, Big Wild, Purity Ring, Little Simz, Seth Troxler, Maya Jane Coles, CloZee, and more across three different stages. Aside from the epic performances, the venue also offered swim-friendly waters, art installations, and a vibrant community of festival lovers built upon true human connection. Guests were also able to participate in educational workshops, yoga, art, marketplaces, and food vendors.
Overall, LiB is known as “a festival for everyone.” And based on the photos below, those who attended certainly made it look like a welcoming, friendly, community-based good time. Scroll through our gallery of the sights and scenes of Lighting in a Bottle to get you inspired for your next big fest.
Trevor Noah took a moment on Wednesday night’s episode of The Daily Show to call out Star Wars fans who have been flooding Obi-Wan Kenobi star Moses Ingram with racist messages. The online attacks prompted both the official Star Wars Twitter account and Ewan McGregor to issue firm statements telling fans that the franchise will not tolerate racism, and now, Noah wants to get a few hits in on the toxic fans.
“Nobody should have to just shut up and take racism. Especially in Star Wars,” the late night host said before pointing out the ridiculousness of applying racial prejudices to a science fiction series that’s, frankly, full of all kinds of weird stuff. Via The Daily Beast:
“Like, guys, what is this?” he asked. “From the beginning, this has been a series where no one thinks twice if Harrison Ford is best friends with a giant dog-bear or if a brother and sister want to smash. No one complains about that! They’re not getting death threats.”
While Noah praised McGregor for defending his co-star and coming out strong by saying anyone sending racist DMs to Ingram is “no Star Wars fan in my mind,” The Daily Show host wants the franchise to go even harder in pushing troublesome behavior away. He knows just how to do it, too.
“They should give Princess Leia a new Black boyfriend,” Noah said before playing out how he thinks that scene should go. “Hey, yo, Leia, I got the plans for the Death Star, we gonna f*ck tonight.”
You can see the full segment at the 4:27 mark above.
Ewan McGregor has always been the best part of the Star Wars prequels. The actor’s committed, emotional but stoic, funny but serious depiction of the heroic Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi brought the often wooden and always green-screened films up multiple levels. Most importantly, McGregor continued the character Alec Guinness created in 1977’s Star Wars., rather than mimicking him. Guinness portrayed the character as the archetypal mentor, someone who cares deeply but is ultimately unemotional. Guinness’s Obi-Wan cared about Luke Skywalker, he cared about defeating the Empire and restoring balance in the Force. He was also conflicted about his past, but only vaguely.
McGregor, on the other hand, eliminated the fog by opening up the character emotionally from his body language, a look in his (dreamy) eyes, to an emphatic “hello, there!” In 2005’s Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan has a lightsaber battle with Anakin Skywalker. Although the dialogue is cheesy and much of the sequence green-screened to oblivion, the emotional impact is undeniable because McGregor gives it his all and sells it, from expositional dialogue (“Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine is evil”) to computerized flips to the now incredibly memed “I have the high ground” as he lifts his outstretched arms ever so slightly. When Obi-Wan leaves his former padawan limbless to burn on a volcanic planet, he leaves lost, broken, and guilty, a mere shadow of the young padawan first introduced in The Phantom Menace, and far, far away from the old man who mentors Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.
Based on the critical and fan reception of the prequels, Ewan McGregor probably never thought he would be playing Obi-Wan Kenobi again. The prequels were so poorly received that when Disney first took over the franchise in the 2010s, it essentially put all of its energy into course-correcting with a brand new sequel trilogy that would actually be good, made by groundbreaking filmmakers like . . . J.J. Spielberg (or is it Abrams?). The best part of the sequel trilogy’s disastrous third and final film, Rise of Skywalker (a better title would have been Somehow Palpatine Has Returned) is a brief moment when you can hear McGregor’s voice as Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The prequels hardened McGregor to Star Wars. Recently, the actor has opened up about his complex relationship with the films, and the franchise as a whole. “It was tricky at the time,” McGregor said at an Obi-Wan Kenobi press event in May. “They weren’t overwhelmingly embraced by everybody when they came out, our prequels,” He said. “It was nice to watch them now knowing that people love them. That the kids who we made them for at the time — they loved those films a lot. It was nice to watch them with that sense.”
Like so many of us (including me), McGregor has warmed up to the Star Wars prequels by accepting them for what they are: bloated but sincere messes with innovative yet occasionally sloppy technology, but in the end, a lot of heart. McGregor’s Kenobi is that heart, which he brings effortlessly to the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. Three episodes in, the series is fine but a bit flat as a result of gluing itself to the Skywalker saga (when will it ever end/why are we still doing this, etc etc etc) and the concept of a middle-aged man flying around the Star Wars universe with a child. In just a simple glance as a piece of hair floats in front of his eyes, McGregor, who also manages to make his Jedi robes and his beard look sad, captures that raw emotion that always made his Kenobi so great, which makes Obi-Wan Kenobi more compelling than it is on paper.
In the third episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the titular former Jedi learns that the boy he left to die a decade ago is alive. They have another duel. Darth Vader is more powerful than Obi-Wan, who has grown weaker with the Force as Anakin has gotten stronger using the Dark Side. Darth Vader uses the Force to choke Obi-Wan and forces his body through raging fire: Vader’s revenge for being left for dead on Mustafar a decade ago. Although we know there are more episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi left and that the character does not die until another movie, McGregor’s depiction of pain and suffering leaves you wondering, how will poor helpless get out of this one? He, of course, manages to escape Vader’s wrath with the help of some allies. The fear instilled in that scene exemplifies McGregor’s why performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi is so good and significant within the Star Wars universe. He can make you feel anything at any moment: fear, sadness, joy (he could say “hello there!” at any moment and it would work). Ewan McGregor is the heart of Star Wars because it is impossible to imagine Obi-Wan Kenobi and Star Wars without him.
ESPN’s coverage of the start of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors will look a little different because of COVID-19. According to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, the Worldwide Leader will not have one of its in-game analysts, Jeff Van Gundy, or its top NBA insider, Adrian Wojnarowski, after both contracted the virus in recent days.
This will mark the second straight game in which COVID impacted the crew ESPN had to call and analyze a playoff game. In the lead-up to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and the Miami Heat, the network’s play-by-play analyst, Mike Breen, contracted COVID and had to be replaced by Mark Jones. ESPN confirmed to Marchand that Van Gundy — who, as many noted, sounded hoarse while he called Game 7 — and Wojnarowski will not be able to be part of its broadcast, while the network is waiting to see if Breen will be cleared by Disney and the NBA. If he is not, Jones will once again fill his shoes in the booth.
Marchand reports that whomever calls the game will be part of a two-man booth with Mark Jackson. As for when we can expect to see Van Gundy and Wojnarowski back, the hope is apparently that the former will be good to go by the time the series shifts to Boston for Game 3, while the latter “could join the crew in Boston or could potentially work remotely.”
Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals tips off on Thursday evening in San Francisco at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
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