Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Kenny Smith And Charles Barkley Had A Fascinating Argument Over How To Defend Stephen Curry

The Golden State Warriors have gotten little in the way of resistance from the Denver Nuggets through two games of their first round series, as Denver simply does not have an answer defensively for the Warriors’ shooting — and they also don’t have the offensive firepower to try and keep pace in a shootout.

Monday night’s Game 2 win by the Warriors saw them once again take control on the backs of their small-ball lineup that forces the other team to try and matchup with Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, and Klay Thompson on the floor all at once, with Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green out there with the three elite shooters. The pressure that group is able to put on the defense on and off the ball has proven too much for the Nuggets through two games, and the frustration boiled over on Monday night in the form of bench arguments and Nikola Jokic getting himself ejected in the fourth quarter.

Part of what makes the Warriors small lineup so difficult to defend is they put people into actions they aren’t used to defending by having their guards screening for each other off the ball, while Draymond operates as the trigger man at the elbow or the top of the key, pulling the opposing center away from the rim. The good news for Denver, I guess, is that they aren’t alone in not being able to get on the same page on how you are supposed to defend those actions, because the Inside the NBA crew likewise got in a shouting match with each other when trying to break down how to cover Stephen Curry coming off of screens.

Kenny Smith is insistent that you chase over the top and have to step up with a quick hedge, which Charles Barkley disagreed with vehemently (with backup from Shaq). For a show that is often criticized by basketball diehards for not diving into actual basketball talk enough and being too much about jokes, this segment is a terrific look at how different personal approaches can be — and a pretty good look at what’s most important to guards and bigs.

It’s not surprising Smith thinks the focal point should be keeping Curry from getting a clean look, as if you’re the guard defending you want all the help you can get. It’s also not a shock that Chuck and Shaq don’t want to show high and risk leaving the backdoor cut open for a layup, because as a big that’ll end up being on you for not protecting the rim. On this particular play, I think I’d go with Chuck since Curry is off the ball and the big stepping up without switching allows the quick cut that results in the layup. Kenny’s argument is probably better for Curry being on the ball and coming around the screen as a live dribbler capable of pulling up, because if the big steps high quick enough, it’ll make for a difficult enough pass that he (or someone else) should be able to recover and at least force another pass or two.

In any case, the fact that the TNT crew couldn’t agree on a coverage shows the predicament this lineup puts opponents in, particularly since this lineup played one (1) game together all year so there wasn’t a chance to scout it prior to this series. You can bet Denver will be drilling coverages for that group before Game 3 and for any future Warriors opponents this postseason, they better know what the plan is because the Warriors are begging you to end up in conflict and leave someone open.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Splurge Wisely: The Best Expensive Scotch Whiskies Priced $250-$500

Spending up to $500 for a single bottle of Scotch whisky deserves a spit take. On paper, it sounds absurd, crazy, maybe even a little dumb. You can buy all 10 of the bottles on this list for the same price. But we’re not here to compare price tags. We’re here to talk about Scotch whisky that actually deserves your attention at this (very high) price point.

Before I dive in, let’s explain a little about what these whiskies are. These aren’t really the collectible bottles (or unicorns) yet. We’re talking about the rare-to-very-rare bottles that are still worth drinking (as opposed to holding onto, like appreciative assets). Every bottle on this list has its own panache that makes it special. They’re also all pretty well-aged whiskies, with only three out 10 clocking in south of 20 years old. The point being, these are special bottles for special occasions. Sure, you might make some cash holding onto one or two of these for a decade, but that’s not at all the point of this list. These are meant to be drunk and enjoyed with the people you care about.

Having said all of that, I get it, $500 for a single bottle of booze is still a little absurd. If you are going to spend it, at the very least, know that you’ll be getting some of the best of the best out there at this price point. Which does make trying to rank these damn near impossible. I like to think about it this way: the top four on this list are open on my shelf right now, and I actually drink these when I need to break out a great bottle. The rest of the list are all bangers that I don’t get to quite as often and end up collecting a lot of dust on my shelf. Cool? Let’s get into it!

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months

10. The Glenlivet XXV

Pernod Ricard

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $456

The Whisky:

This masterpiece from Glenlivet is their iconic whisky that’s left to mature for 25 years. That whisky is then finished in an Olorosso sherry cask for that final chef’s kiss before going in the bottle at an incredibly accessible 86 proof.

Tasting Notes:

Imagine the best, most bespoke dark chocolate-covered raisins from an expensive chocolate shop and you’ll be on the right track. Those sweets are the foundation for burnt orange peels, Almond Roca candies, and sweet caramel malts with zero edges. The finish is so long that you might still be thinking about it on your death bed, thanks to an orange/spice/nutty matrix of silky whisky smoothness.

Bottom Line:

The Glenlivet XXV is a wonderful whisky. The only reason it ranks so low on this list is those low ABVs. This is nuanced but lacks the depth of some of the other whiskies on this list.

9. BenRiach The Twenty One Four Cask Matured

Brown-Forman

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $300

The Whisky:

This newly-released whisky from BenRiach is a combination of peated and unpeated malts. The whiskies are then aged for 21 years in ex-bourbon barrels, ex-sherry casks, virgin oak casks, and former Bordeaux red wine casks. Those are then blended after their two-decade rest and proofed with that soft Speyside water.

Tasting Notes:

Smoked apricot opens this one up on the nose with a sweetness that leads toward salted plums with a hint of spice and malt on the nose. The taste delves into a honeyed sweetness spiked with spicy stewed apples, old and wet oak, roasted almonds, and a big tobacco chew while a touch of burnt moss and dark soil adds a peaty yet earthy depth. That all tapers off, leaving you with a rich apple candy finish that tempers a singed cedar and dry pear tobacco finish with a hint more that burnt dirt.

Bottom Line:

This isn’t my favorite peated whisky but it is certainly interesting and tasty. If you’re looking for a more earthy peated malt with a nice balance of sweet fruit, then this is the play. If you’re looking for a briny peated malt or a big medicinal peated malt, you’ll be disappointed.

8. Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23

Glenfiddich 23
William Grant & Sons

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $360

The Whisky:

It’s all in the name of this yearly special release from Glenfiddich. The whisky matures for over 23 years in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before it’s vatted and then filled into French Cuvée casks that held Champagne. That whisky is then cut down to proof and bottled just in time for the holiday season.

Tasting Notes:

This burst forth with an apple orchard in full bloom, day-old brioche, and a sweet yet tart lemon curd on the nose. The palate is all vanilla cookies with pear candy, white grapes, and singed potpourri leading toward a mid-palate of honey. That honey circles back towards the pear with a slight core and stem feel as the finish slowly fades back through all that honey and orchard fruit for the softest landing possible.

Bottom Line:

Again, this is pretty stellar. Again, this falters ever-so-slightly thanks to those very low ABVs. This is a great sipper if you’re looking for something super easy and refined. If you’re looking for a genre-defining single malt, you might be a little let down.

7. The GlenAllachie 21 Cask Strength

GlenAllachie 21
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company Limited

ABV: 51.4%

Average Price: $265

The Whisky:

Glenallachie’s Master Distiller Billy Walker hand-selected just five casks for this release. The barrels were ex-Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry puncheons (a large barrel that’s around 100 gallons, give or take). Those whiskies were vatted and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a note of grapefruit pith when you nose this dram that leads towards honeyed chocolate truffles with a touch of cinnamon and orange. The palate goes full Christmas cake with plenty of dried nuts, candied and dried fruits, rich wintry spice, and a touch of chocolate maltiness next to candied ginger, more orange, and a note of golden corn syrup. That sweetness attaches to the fruit and spice to create a stewed plum vibe on the finish that luxuriates in mild spice, sweet and meaty stone fruit, and a touch more of that chocolate.

The Bottom Line:

This is so damn good. The higher ABVs help this one really stand out. Still, this feels very “classic” and Christmas-y, which keeps it more of a holiday sipper than a year-round one. That said, just save it for the holidays and you’ll be set.

6. Benrinnes 21

Diageo

ABV: 56.9%

Average Price: $480

The Whisky:

Benrinnes is that other distillery in Aberlour up in Speyside. The distillery is also one of the only malts that are triple distilled (like Irish whiskey). The juice in this bottle goes back to that era of distillation with a focus on sherry cask maturation over two decades before bottling as-is.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is full of peanut brittle touched with finishing salts, match flints, brewer’s yeast, Milk Duds, and sticky toffee pudding. The palate leans into the date cake and adds bold eggnog spices next to a bowl full of dried fruits soaking in brandy next to a savory fruit that’s halfway between a cucumber and winter squash. The finish lingers for a while and leaves you with an almost burnt chocolate maltiness, salt flakes, and more of those dates.

Bottom Line:

This feels both unique and nostalgic, thanks to all that boxed chocolate candy flavor. I like this, but it is a little outside the box and might be off putting to some (matchsticks and cucumber are a lot even for advanced palates). If you’re looking for something truly one-of-a-kind, this is the bottle to buy.

5. Royal Lochnagar 16 The Spring Stallion

Royal Lochlar
Diageo

ABV: 57.5%

Average Price: $287

The Whisky:

This eastern Highland whisky is another cask strength drop from Diageo’s Special Release lineup. The juice was aged in refill bourbon barrels and left alone for 16 long years. There was no finishing cask. The whisky was simply vatted and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Soft, soft, and soft. Those could be the full notes on the nose, palate, and finish and we could move on. More deeply, the nose is full of mild notes of dates next to tart apples and orange peels that turn into an apple cobbler of sorts as this very mellow, almost damp, mossy earthiness peek in. That tart apple and orange zest drive the palate towards a soft malted cookie frosted with light powdered sugar and vanilla frosting. The end warms up with a slight pepper tobacco vibe next to a distant idea of a dry woodpile next to that tart fruit.

Bottom Line:

This is where this list gets interesting (for my palate). This feels like stopping by your grandma’s house right after she baked an apple pie, and she’s waiting for you on the front porch smoking a Pall-Mall and sipping whisky. It transports you while being so distinct, deeply hewn, and easy to drink.

4. Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year

Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy

ABV: 46.2%

Average Price: $320

The Whisky:

This is Ardbeg’s yearly release of special batches of 19-year-old peaty malt. The whisky is Ardbeg’s signature, heavily peated whisky that’s bottled during a “haar.” That’s a thick and briny foggy morning on Islay, which imparts that x-factor into the whisky before it goes into the bottle.

Tasting Notes:

You’re drawn in with a super subtle waft of soft smoke with hints of sour cream, fennel, and cold-smoked salmon on a pine cutting board that’s been washed in the sea. The palate holds onto that briny seaside vibe as it veers towards sea salt-laden dark bricks of fudge bespeckled with dried orange zest and lavender. The end circles back around to a sooty smoke that feels like a warm granite rock that’s been dipped in the sea and then rolled around in the dying embers of a fire.

Bottom Line:

This stuff is bold but it really all makes sense if you give it a shot with an open mind and palate. A single rock can really open this up and help it be a little more accessible. Still, we’re talking about a special peated malt that’s worth at least giving a shot at a high-end whisky bar before committing to a whole bottle.

3. The Dalmore King Alexander III

Whyte & Mackay

ABV: 44%

Average Price: $300

The Whisky:

The Dalmore sort of did the impossible with this expression. The blend is a marrying of six barrels: French wine, Madeira, sherry, Marsala, port, and Kentucky bourbon casks are all in play. This is one of the more creative and extreme examples of barreling in the single malt game, and results in an award-winning whisky.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a deep sense of fruit on the nose which really leans into raspberry, red currant, and a touch of blueberry with chocolate maltiness and creamy bourbon vanilla. The palate embraces the vanilla to the point of creating a pudding texture while dark chocolate-covered almonds lead towards cherry brandy, hints of boozy oranges, and salted caramel ice cream. The end is long and full of Christmas spices that bring everything together like a brandy-fueled, marzipan-heavy, and fruity dessert-laden holiday meal in a Glencairn glass.

Bottom Line:

This pulls off a great magic trick of being lower ABV and unpeated while still having a huge flavor profile that grabs your attention and holds it for a while. Even with the “holiday” vibes of this sip, it still feels like a great sipper year-round. This pour just rules.

2. Talisker 25

Diageo

ABV: 45.8%

Average Price: $398

The Whisky:

This whisky is a marriage of American bourbon barrels, Spanish sherry casks, and Talisker’s seaside location. The whiskies in this single malt spend a minimum of 25 years resting in old bourbon and sherry barrels a few short steps from the sea in the Isle of Skye. Talisker’s tiny warehouse feels a bit like an old pirate ship that’s seen too many sea battles and that aura is imbued into every barrel as it matures.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with fresh beeswax candles next to unfiltered apple cider, dried roses, and a wisp of campfire smoke from a mile or so down a rocky and rainy beach. Sea salt combines with old cellars full of cobwebs as wet moss, wisteria in full bloom, and orange tobacco mingles on the palate. The mid-palate dries out with some cedar bark as singed rose pedals lead towards singed orange peels with this tiny echo of dark red cherry on the very back end of the finish.

Bottom Line:

This is one of my all-time favorite whiskies from any category. It’s the perfect balance of seaside, mild peat, woody spice, and sweet Scottish fruit and herbs that works wonders in a glass. If you pair this with some good caviar, rich smoked salmon chowder, or raw oysters, you’ll be in for one of the best whisky pairings that exists.

1. Springbank 21

Springbank 21
J&A Mitchell & Company

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $473

The Whisky:

This 21-year-old whisky, released in 2021, was crafted with help from old Port, sherry, and bourbon barrels. The peated whisky from the tiny Campbeltown region is built to highlight the unique and very fruity notes of the style while having its own vibe.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is all about the malt that’s a mix of oatmeal cookie and a Graham cracker with rich vanilla pudding notes, a touch of buttery toffee, and a final burst of deep red strawberries. The fruitiness takes on a savory note that’s kind of like smoked watermelon before heading back towards those cookies with plenty of cinnamon warmth and nutty depth on the palate. The finish arrives slowly with a nod towards peat as a passing fancy that’s buried beneath a vanilla cream laced with cinnamon, oats, raisins, and bitter over-roasted coffee beans.

The Bottom Line:

This beats out my beloved Talisker by having slightly more unique notes (smoked watermelon!) alongside a rich and creamy texture that sings on the palate. This is just phenomenal whisky from top to bottom and, believe it or not, worth every single penny of that price tag.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Pusha T Shares The ‘It’s Almost Dry’ Tracklist Featuring Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, And A Clipse Reunion

Earlier today, Kid Cudi hinted that he has a song on Pusha T’s upcoming album, It’s Almost Dry, with Kanye West before declaring that it’ll be his last working with his former mentor. As it turns out, it’s not the only momentous happening on that particular album, as Pusha has shared the tracklist and abstract cover art, revealing that It’s Almost Dry also features a Clipse reunion with his brother, who once again appears as Malice. In addition, the album will feature appearances from Don Toliver, Jay-Z (on the previously released “Neck And Wrist“), Euphoria composer Labrinth, Lil Uzi Vert, and of course, longtime collaborator Pharrell.

Throughout the album’s rollout, Pusha has made it a point to call the album “untouchable” and “a masterpiece.” In an interview with Charlamagne the God, he explained how having Kanye and Pharrell co-executive produce the album resulted in a well-rounded project. “I feel like this body of work is untouchable because it doesn’t lean too heavily on either side,” he said. “It’s like you get the whole spectrum — probably my most well-rounded body of work.”

Then, in a separate interview with Rolling Stone, he explained the double meaning behind the album’s title. “I’m always creating a masterpiece,” he said. “In terms of a painting, you end up telling people while they waiting on it, ‘It’s almost dry,’ because they’re always asking, ‘When will it be done?’ And you have to wait on masterpieces… Also in drug culture, a lot of times you’ll have people waiting on the product and it’s not dry yet. You can come get it when it’s dry.”

You can get It’s Almost Dry on 4/22 via G.O.O.D. Music. Here’s the pre-save link.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Richard Marx Roasting Tucker Carlson’s Homoerotic New Documentary And ‘Testicle Tanning’ Obsession Is Why The Internet Exists

Had someone predicted, in the late 1980s, that Donald Trump would at one point occupy the Oval Office, everyone would have laughed. What might have been equally implausible would be the idea that Richard Marx—the mulleted singer-songwriter behind such hits as “Don’t Mean Nothing,” “Right Here Waiting,” and “Hold On to the Nights”—would become the hero we never saw coming in the 2020s. But here we are.

For the past decade, Marx’s name has been popping up in the news for a variety of reasons, all of them notable. When he’s not saving an airplane full of people from a dangerous passenger, he can regularly be found shredding MAGA diehards like Scott Baio to bits. The singer’s latest target? Tucker Carlson.

In an effort to push his latest batshit documentary, The End of Men, Carlson is claiming that “one of the biggest stories of our lifetimes is the total collapse of testosterone levels in American men.” And the Fox News host has managed to outdo even himself with his newest obsession about how to combat this problem: testicle tanning.

In true social media superhero style, it did not take long for Marx to arrive on the “bromeopathic” scene and sum it up in two simple tweets.

Not all heroes wear capes. Some (used to) wear mullets.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Brockhampton Continues To Tease Their Final Album With A New Trailer

New Brockhampton music is on the way, and you better cherish it, because as the band has teased several times, their upcoming seventh album will be their last. Following a performance at Coachella, Brockhampton shared a trailer on social media, further teasing the band’s swan song.

In the video, Brockhampton founder Kevin Abstract sits at a table across from the boys of Brockhampton, prepared to have what appears will be an intense conversation.

“I love you guys and I miss you guys,” Abstract tells his fellow bandmates. “Basically like, I went to New York, made something. It’s not a solo thing, it’s a group album. It’s about the group, it’s about… That’s all I’ma say. I’ma just play it, and then we can have a discussion after and really like talk. I wanna hear everyone’s opinions.”

Abstract then proceeds to press play on what is likely a series of instrumental and reference tracks for the album, before the screen fades to black. The screen then reads “THE FINAL ALBUM.”

This past weekend, Brockhampton played their penultimate show at Coachella. During their set, Brockhampton member Joba wore a jacket that read “All good things must come to an end!”

Brockhampton will play their final show during this weekend’s Coachella dates.

Check out the trailer above.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

The ‘Fox And Friends’ Gang Is Aghast At How Biden Allowed The Easter Bunny To ‘Control’ Him: ‘How Embarrassing’

The far-right seems particularly riled up about Easter’s aftermath this year. First up, Lauren Boebert went in hard without reading her scripture and earned a Bible-school lesson, and Rudy Giuliani had a total (and typical) melt down. Ex-President Trump fired off a degrading message to his perceived enemies, and Don Jr, uh, celebrated armed furries or something.

Over on Fox and Friends, they’re still cleaning up the mess. Rather, they’re spilling the mop water all over the place. That’s especially the case for Brian Kilmeade, who is just so very mad that a White House staff member (dressed as the Easter Bunny) interrupted Biden at an event about business that needed attention. Kilmeade cannot believe that Biden allowed the Easter Bunny to take control, for real:

“At least finish the sentence and say ‘Okay, this is a fun day, I’ll catch up to you guys later…. turns around like a robot and just pushes away. Who’s in control here? My goodness… How embarrassing is that?”

The Fox News chyron — “Easter Bunny stops Biden from answering questions” — also tells the tale. What a strange narrative to weave. Lis Power of Media Matters For America tweeted this clip.

According to Mediaite, Kilmeade wasn’t done yet. He cited this as an example of “why Saudi Arabia’s version of SNL is mocking him as a doddering old man being led by the vice president.” Yup, “Bunnygate” is truly upon us.

(Via Mediaite)

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

D Smoke Debuts His Boastful Single ‘Glide’ On ‘A Colors Show’

A Colors Show has been debuting new songs this month as part of a new partnership with 2K Games. Each week, the popular YouTube channel is bringing a new track to its curated collection in NBA 2K22‘s latest season update. After kicking off the collaboration with Guapdad 4000’s new song “Black Iverson,” the campaign continues today with another new track, this time from Inglewood’s D Smoke.

Titled “Glide,” the boastful new single finds D Smoke in his element, offering lyrics of both encouragement and inspiration on the rapid-fire verses. However, in the chorus, he adds his own swag, bragging, “I look sexy when I’m movin’ through your city.” With a cerulean background, his orange and white ensemble pops right off the screen as he shows off his vocals and proselytizes remaining true to himself.

It’s not the first time D Smoke has contributed a single to a basketball-related piece of media. In 2020, he released the single “Basketball” to coincide with the release of Netflix’s latest hoop-focused season of Last Chance U, while the video for Smoke’s own War & Wonders single “Crossover” has the Inglewood native showing off his streetball skills alongside Compton’s Westside Boogie.

Watch D Smoke’s A Colors Show performance of “Glide” above.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

A Resurfaced Clip Shows Ukrainian President Zelensky’s Telling Reaction When Trump Offers His Advice On Putin

A resurfaced clip of Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is going viral on social media thanks to a facial reaction from the foreign leader. The two were on stage together during the UN General Assembly in the Fall of 2019, and during the event, Trump offered some words of advice to Zelensky that is garnering a significant amount of attention following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In the clip pulled from C-SPAN by journalist Aaron Rupar, Trump tells Zelensky, “I really hope that you and President Putin can get together and solve your problem.” Despite being still for most of the clip, Zelensky’s face visibly clocks the words he just heard as he’s unable to mask the awkwardness of Trump’s advice.

As Mediaite notes, the now-viral moment also happened on a significant day for Trump that’s been coming back to haunt him in light of Putin’s invasion:

The entire joint press conference lasted 18 minutes which you can see on C-SPAN and is a fascinating trip down memory lane as it occurred on the same day the transcript of a phone call between the two was released to the public, a phone call that led to Trump’s first impeachment on allegations that he had asked a foreign entity to dig up dirt on a domestic political rival, and even withheld congressionally-approved military aid to Ukraine until and unless that happened.

Despite efforts by conservative media figures like Sean Hannity, Trump has put the Republican Party in an awkward position thanks to his early praise for Putin’s attack on Ukraine. The resurfaced clip of the former president telling Zelensky to meet with Putin will only further add to ongoing criticism that Trump does the bidding of the Russian leader.

(Via Aaron Rupar on Twitter)

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Orville Peck Plays ‘C’mon Baby, Cry’ On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Next To Neon Cacti

Orville Peck unveiled his long-awaited country epic Bronco a little over a week ago, which he rolled out in three chapters. First, he released “C’mon Baby, Cry,” “Daytona Sand,” “Outta Time” and “Any Turn,” and then “The Curse Of The Blackened Eye,” “Kalahari Down,” “Trample Out The Days,” and “Hexie Mountains.”

He’s known only not just for his twangy, eccentric songs, but also for his outfits — on stage, he wears a frayed mask that covers his whole face, as well as a sparkling beige suit and a cowboy hat. He took this look to Jimmy Kimmel Live last night. The bedazzled cowboy brought the jangly “C’mon Baby, Cry” to the show, playing under yellow and red lights, amongst lit-up cacti and a floor of fog, giving the performance a real western ambiance.

When releasing the second batch of songs from Bronco, Peck said: “The songs on Bronco’s second chapter explore some of the most vulnerable places I’ve ever gone to with my music. I sing about home, escape, longing, resentment… This chapter, lyrically, has some of my favorite songs on the album. Plus I’ve always been a sucker for a ballad.”

Watch the performance of “C’mon Baby, Cry” above.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Emmy Rossum Is A Mystery Wrapped In An Enigma On A Billboard In Peacock’s ‘Angelyne’ Trailer

Emmy Rossum really must have wanted to say goodbye to Fiona Gallagher because her new turn in Angelyne is a total 180. She’s bewigged as the iconic, buxom-blonde beauty shrouded in mystery as she graced 1980s billboards in Los Angeles. Of course, Rossum’s next project after Shameless landed at an awkward time, due to the global situation, so Peacock’s Angelyne took four years to bring to life.

The final product, well, it’s very pink, and my apologies to Winston Churchill for botching his iconic quote, and I’m completely out of context here. The series aims to take a pointed look at identity and celebrity and how we view ourselves vs. how other people view us, and it’s a ride, alright. Poor Hamish Linklater (Netflix’s Midnight Mass and many other selections where he’s unsettled the bejesus out of people) looks so surprisingly uncool. In other words, the hair, makeup, and wardrobe do their intended job.

Angelyne
Peacock

The show dives into the Marilyn Monroe-wannabe persona of Angelyne, who road numerous coattails in her quest to be famous for nothing. Take that, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. Angelyne is also a Barbie doll homage of sorts, and this series has got a whole gathering of familiar male faces (Lukas Gage, Martin Freeman, David Krumholtz, and more) who pop up to support the leading lady’s rise to the literal top of LA. We’ve already seen a brief teaser, but this trailer fills in more blanks about how (dare I say) unrecognizable that Emmy Rossum decided to be on her maiden voyage out of South Side Chicago.

Let’s just say that the wig budget must be outrageous. From the limited series’ synopsis:

ANGELYNE, Peacock’s limited series about fame, identity, survival, billboards, Corvettes, lingerie, men, women, women teasing men, men obsessed with women, West Hollywood, crystals, UFOs, and most importantly of all, the self-proclaimed Rorschach test in pink, glow-in-the-dark queen of the universe, Angelyne.

Angelyne premieres on May 19. Enjoy these images and wonder how much time was spent in the makeup trailer.

Angelyne
Peacock
Angelyne
Peacock
Angelyne Emmy Rossum
Peacock