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Yes, ‘And Just Like That…’ Star Sara Ramirez Is ‘Very Aware’ That You Hate Che Diaz, Okay?

And Just Like That…, the almost-Sex and the City reunion that brings back 3/4ths of the main cast, hasn’t aired its finale yet (that drops Thursday). But it’s already clear who everyone’s least favorite character is: Che Diaz, the bisexual, non-binary podcaster who coaxes Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) into exploring her sexuality. The hate — which is so intense the show’s director, Michael Patrick King, had to weigh in — is no offense to Sara Ramirez, the Grey’s Anatomy alum and Tony winner (for Spamalot) who plays them on the show. If you’re wondering if Ramirez knows the world finds the character annoying, then the answer is: Yes. Ramirez is indeed aware.

In a new interview with The New York Times, Ramirez — who is bisexual and non-binary like the character, but isn’t like Che Diaz in any other major way — chatted about, among other things, being a scourge of social media.

“I’m very aware of the hate that exists online, but I have to protect my own mental health and my own artistry,” they said.

And that’s way more important to me because I’m a real human being. I’m really proud of the representation that we’ve created. We have built a character who is a human being, who is imperfect, who’s complex, who is not here to be liked, who’s not here for anybody’s approval. They’re here to be themselves.

I’m also not in control of the writing. I welcome the passion that folks are bringing to the table around this representation. But in real life, there are a lot of different human beings who show up to the table, speaking truth to power in myriad ways. And they all land differently with different people. And Che Diaz has their own audience that they speak to who really get a kick out of what they’re doing.

Still, it’s not as though Ramirez hates Diaz like everyone else. When asked what they would think about the online furor, they responded, “I imagine Che would have something very witty and silly and funny as a rebuttal; something that ultimately reminds everyone that they are human; something with a sprinkling of self-deprecation, because I think they know they’re a narcissist. And maybe just a little reminder that no one’s perfect.”

(Via NYT)

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The Best Weed Edibles On The Market, No Gummies Allowed

Edibles seem to be the current cannabis product du jour. They are discreet, don’t require the element of fire, and produce an all-encompassing, blanket-like high that is pleasurable on its own but also provides a nice alternative to drinking or other drugs. Worth noting — edibles are also the favored ingestion method for those who use cannabis medically, particularly for pain management.

No surprise then that the edibles category is growing in popularity. Rapidly. According to cannabis data company Headset, edibles are the fourth most-popular cannabis category in the US, showing positive year-over-year growth, and are expected to reach nearly $3 billion in sales in the US by 2022.

But the wide, varied world of edibles is too frequently relegated to a discussion of gummies, of which there are many. I’ve even contributed to the issue, writing my own ode to the gummies I like the best. And gummies are great — they are small, portable, usually odorless, and, with increasing frequency, delicious — a far cry from the vitamin and supplement gummies of years past. Still, there’s no reason that weed edibles have to be stuck in the medicinal category or relegated to simply existing as momentary pleasure or means to get high as quickly and with as little fuss as possible. Edibles are food and food should be delicious, so it follows that edibles, too, should be tasty enough to be savored.

I did the hard work of testing some of the best non-gummy edibles legally available. Here are the best cannabis-infused chocolates, cakes, Turkish Delights, and more — no gummies allowed.

Cloud11

Price: $90 for a tin of 11 chocolates; $170 for a double tin

Cloud11’s artisan chocolates are only available through delivery from the retailer but they’re worth the extra effort to make delivery happen. The chocolates are deliberately low-dose to allow people to have a few without worrying they’re going to overdo it — options include 4mg THC/4mg CBD or 2mg THC/2mg CBD. Cloud11 was co-founded by an ex-Eleven Madison Park chef, as well as another chef and sommelier.

Bottom line:

Cloud11’s inaugural flavors include salted peanut (my favorite), strawberry pink peppercorn, and black sesame yuzu. If it seems impossible to pick just one, there’s also a mix-and-match option.

Mammamia Capri

Mammamia Capri
Courtesy

Price: $14

Created by an Italian chef who lives in Los Angeles, Mammamia’s Capri cakes are weed-infused versions of the iconic Italian torta bianca and torta caprese desserts. The American version is vegan and comes in two flavors, cacao and lemon, which each boast 10mg THC and 5mg CBD derived from ice water hash for a balanced, relaxed high.

Bottom line:

These cakes are genuinely delicious, weed-infused or not, and perfectly sized for a light dessert with an extra kick.

Rose Los Angeles’ Rose Delights

Rose Delights
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Price: $46

Anyone who has read the Chronicles of Narnia certainly remembers references to “Turkish Delight” — a gelatin-like dessert that sounds and tastes decadent. Rose makes flower rosin-infused Turkish delights that pack a punch. Rose also releases new drops consistently, which feature collaborations with top cannabis producers, as well as others in the culinary space, like grape growers and chefs.

Bottom Line:

My two favorite drops include Magical Grapes, which are made with rosin made from LitHouse’s Modified Grapes strain and Shimano Smile and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. I also liked the collaboration with famed Mexican fine dining chef Enrique Olvera, which includes roasted tomato and a fermented chili and lime dusting and is infused with Doc’s Family Farms PB Souffle flower live rosin.

Garden Society’s chocolates

Price: $23

California Wine Country-themed (and based!) cannabis brand Garden Society makes infused chocolates that are legitimately some of the most delicious on the market. They come in three “flavors,” which are basically Indica-infused milk chocolate with sea salt, Sativa-infused cinnamon-spiced chocolate, and CBD-infused chai-flavored milk chocolate.

Bottom line:

My favorite is the Indica sea salt chocolates, in part because I am an Indica girl, but mostly because it’s my favorite flavor combination. Pssst: I’m not supposed to say this, since this article is not about gummies! But Garden Society just released gummies and they are also delicious.

Big Pete’s Treats

Price: Varies

One of the OG’s in today’s edibles market is Big Pete’s Treats, which has been around for longer than this industry has existed. Besides Big Pete’s being one of the best, I like them because they still use cannabutter, which is more difficult and expensive to use and scale but results in higher quality, more potent, and weedier treats. I love them.

Bottom Line:

You can’t go wrong with anything, but I’m partial to double chocolate and peanut butter.

Saucy infused condiments

Price: $6

Los Angeles-based, Black-owned Saucy makes healthy infused condiments that are always vegan, sugar-free, and gluten-free. Bonus? They are also infused using nanotechnology, which results in a faster-acting high. One bag of condiments, enough for one meal, has 5mg THC.

Bottom Line:

My advice is to start with the barbecue sauce. It works wonderfully on a fried chicken sandwich, in particular. The vinaigrette goes well on just about everything, too.

Kaneh Co.’s baked goods

Kaneh Co.
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Price: Varies

San Diego-based Kaneh Co. has a whole line of new baked goods in their edibles line-up, finally utilizing solventless concentrate rather than distillate. New Kaneh Co. products will include seasonal solventless Cookies with Meyer Lemon & Raspberry Chip, Spiked Lime, Maple Nut, and Oatmeal Toffee, seasonal solventless Brownies including Black & White and Butterscotch, and they will also be releasing The One, a solventless cookie with 100mg of THC per package. It’s a buttery vanilla cookie filled with chocolate chip toffee and peanut butter chips.

Bottom Line:

Kaneh has been one of my favorites from the pre-legal days. The founder of the company, Rachel King, comes from a storied career as a restaurant pastry chef, so it’s safe to say she knows her shit when it comes to bakery treats.

Tsumo

Price: Varies

Tsumo’s snacks are great primarily because they solve a very real issue: when edibles are delicious, we tend to want to keep eating, but we can’t — lest we become too stoned. These are regular snacks, like cheese-doodles or chips, that are dosed per bag, so going overboard simply isn’t an option unless you tear through a whole box.

Bottom line:

In a world full of sweet edibles, these are for the salty folks.

Beboe Pastilles

Beboe pastilles
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Price: $25-40, depending on the market

Designed to be “socially-dosed,” Beboe Pastilles are a sweet-tart treat available in Inspired (5mg THC per piece), Downtime (5mg THC/1mg CBD per piece), and Sweet Dreams (5mg THC and 1mg CBN per piece) varieties. Products are 100% natural, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-sugar.

Bottom line:

These are best for those who still want a sweet treat but desire a different texture than gummies. It’s weed candy.

Cheeba Chews

Cheeba chews rosin
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Price: $12-14

Ask anyone who has been around long enough, and likely they hold a special place in their hearts for Cheeba Chews. I consider myself among them. As the name implies, they’re infused taffy candies — kind of like a cross between Tootsie Rolls and Starburst, with a variety of flavors.

Cheeba Chews stand out because they have always been consistently and predictably dosed, even during the years when edibles weren’t always super reliable on that front. New on the docket are live rosin-infused chews.

Bottom Line:

I like the “Trifecta” caramel chews both for the flavor and the dosing of 100mg CBG, 100mg CBD, and 100mg THC, but to me, higher quality concentrates will always take center stage — so I also strongly advocate for the new live rosin line.

Incredibles Mile High Mint

Incredibles
Courtesy photo

Price: $20-25, depending on market

Incredibles Mile High Mint bar offers 100mg THC total, with 10mg THC per square. They’re made with pure THC distillate in a homogeneous mixture to ensure accurate dosing and consistency.

Bottom Line:

Who doesn’t like mint and chocolate together? Exactly.

EDITOR’S PICK: Hervé French Macarons

Herve
Courtesy

Price: $20 for a pack

Hervé makes infused luxury hard candies and macarons. The macarons, some of which are dusted with 23k gold, contain 10mg THC per piece and are available in 3-packs in four flavors: salted Caramel, chocolate Grenache, raspberry buttercream, and birthday cake.

The hard candies, which come in a cute little dispenser, are discrete and worth a try, too.

Bottom line:

Look, if you’re doing macarons, you have to get the cookie right — that’s harder (and more important) than the weed, IMO. These are pillowy soft with a dense filling and they truly embody their named flavors. The birthday cake is a combo of American pastry trends — birthday cake flavor and macarons — that truly works. This is the perfect form factor for the flavor and the high is smooth and deeply soothing.

Best afterparty treats I can think of.

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Desmond Bane Infuriated LeBron By Talking Trash And Telling Him ‘Them Footsteps Ain’t Scaring Nobody’

On January 9, the Memphis Grizzlies blasted the Lakers in Los Angeles, winning 127-119 after leading by 24 going into the fourth quarter. It was a statement win for the young Grizzlies, who have continued their rise up the Western Conference standings since then to take the third spot 53 games into the season at 35-18 (a full 10 games up on the ninth-place Lakers).

During that blowout, LeBron James grew furious with the brash young Grizzlies who would not stop running their mouth at the Hall of Famer, which they were certainly earning the right to with the way they were playing. At one point, James was caught on the on-court mics losing his cool at Desmond Bane, who gave him a bump after earning a trip to the free throw line, leading LeBron to tell him “that’s your last time disrespecting me.”

Ja Morant stepped in with a grin and Kyle Anderson told James to calm down, but it was a defining moment for the Grizzlies, showing they were going to be themselves no matter the opponent. On Wednesday, Tim MacMahon of ESPN dropped a feature on the Grizzlies and used that game as the centerpiece, offering some tremendous details about what led to James snapping on Bane. One line in particular illustrated the sensational trash talking abilities of the 23-year-old wing, and also offered a glimpse at what eventually led James to pop off at him.

A minute later, a Lakers turnover leads to another fast break for the Grizzlies. Bane swishes a trailer 3 — wide open because James is slow getting back in transition — and lets the all-time great know about it:

“Them footsteps ain’t scaring nobody.”

It really is a great line and is emblematic of the way this Grizzlies team approaches every game with an edge and belief that they are better than their opponent, even if that is a player they grew up idolizing. The Memphis players push back on it being disrespectful in the story, noting that they’re well aware of James’ greatness, but also saying it’s just part of how they play and it keeps them on that edge and at their top level, so if people get mad so be it and if they bark back even better.

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What’s Popular On Streaming Right Now

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. Let’s do this.

10. Don’t Look Up (Netflix film)

An A-list cast (Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchett, Tyler Perry, Ron Perlman, Timothée Chalamet, and more) team up with director Adam McKay to tear apart the 24-hour news cycle (humanity vs. an asteroid), and boy, do they ever. Given what we now know (in real life) about how humanity can’t seem to agree that survival is the best option, yeah, this checks out.

9. Peacemaker (HBO Max series)

John Cena’s horribly patriotic The Suicide Squad bro is hellaciously funny in his own show, all because James Gunn got bored during quarantine. That’s why the Cena dance moves (in tighty whities and otherwise) exist, but don’t worry, he’s worthy of contempt as always. There’s no telling whether we’ll see another Squad movie, so soak up as much of this end of the DCEU while it’s hot.

8. The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window (Netflix series)

You’ve probably seen the similarly titled Girl On The Train, which has nothing to do with this film, although the spookiness arrives in a darkly comedic manner here. Kristen Bell plays a heartbroken woman, Anna, who sits with her wine in that window of the title. One day, she notices a handsome neighbor, who moves nearby with his daughter, and a glimmer of light comes into her life. Then comes murder-time.

7. The Lost Daughter (Netflix film)

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s vision as a first-time director is stunning to behold, and this movie stars Olivia Coleman as a vacationer who becomes obsessed with a young mother and daughter who also hang on the beach while their extended family isn’t so idyllic. There’s plenty of Dakota Johnson (always great), along with Jessie Buckley and Ed Harris.

6. In From The Cold (Netflix series)

Thank god Margarita Levieva (Scandal, The Deuce, Adventureland) finally reeled in the ass-kicking leading role that she was meant to play, and this show has more than a little bit in common with The Americans. Levieva portrays a “boring” single mother who’s informed that she’s a Russian spy, and maybe she is, and maybe she isn’t?

5. The Power of the Dog (Netflix film)

This isn’t exactly a new selection, but this one will be important when the Oscars arrive. Benedict Cumberbatch plays a rancher who’s fueled by toxic masculinity and a sinister streak. He terrorizes his brother and sister in law (Jesse Plemons and Kristen Dunst), and this ain’t the MCU, baby. The entire principal cast here is award-worthy, and this film resonates through cultural lenses of past and present.

4. And Just Like That… (HBO Max series)

Yes, it’s true. One cannot overlook the Che Diaz backlash, but hey, Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte are still around and as vacuous as always. This time around, though, spirits are already crushed, and Miranda’s sure to knock a few others down along the way to kicking poor Steve in the butt. It’s finale time this week, so you can’t ignore it. Sex and the City was once zeitgeistian, and while viewers are disappointed here, they love to loathe this revival, and you might, too.

3. Pam & Tommy (Hulu series)

Pam & Tommy is a gloriously decadent show that takes viewers back to the days of the fledgling Internet. The show even depicts then-spouses Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee using the Internet for the very first time while they attempt to ascertain how the heck people are watching their stolen sex tape. Jilted home-repair contractor Rand Gauthier did a truly despicable thing while attempting to settle the score with Tommy, and Pamela got caught in the crossfire. It’s emotional, but it’s still a blast to watch.

2. Ozark (Netflix series)

The bad news: Marty Byrde and fam will only be with us for one more season, but it’s a supersized, two-part season, which ain’t so bad. This season, we see what happened after the blood-spattered tarmac happenings. Marty and Wendy were received with opened arms by Navarro after Helen took a gunshot to the head, but don’t expect the stress level to go down for these money launderers. The good news: Julia Garner’s Ruth Langmore once again proves that this is her world, and Marty’s simply living in it.

1. Euphoria (HBO series on HBO Max)

Following a few gut-punch special episodes featuring sad pancakes, the Zendaya-starring, mascara-streaked phenomenon returned with a second full-on season. Naturally, Rue’s not on the straight-and-narrow, and in fact, she’s relapsed in a huge way, although she’s not the only one who’s a mess. The story’s stylized feel takes another turn into fantasy sequences, and there may not be a better show out there that translates emotions and character tension in such a visual way. It’s a difficult (and sometimes triggering) watch but full of rich performances.

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‘Pam & Tommy’ Considered Asking Leonardo DiCaprio To Voice A Talking Penis Before Landing On A Much Better Choice

The last two years, the Emmy for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance has gone to Maya Rudolph for her pronunciation of “bubble bath” on Big Mouth. Maya Rudolph is an icon, but for the 2022 Emmys, let’s shake things up a bit and give the award to another Big Mouth cast member — not for Big Mouth, though. Folks, it’s time for Jason Mantzoukas to win an Emmy for voicing a talking penis on Pam & Tommy.

Not just any talking penis, either, but Tommy Lee’s talking penis. I won’t spoil too much about the scene from the second episode of the gloriously trashy Hulu series (you can read more about it here), but Entertainment Weekly has an enlightening breakdown of the sequence, including someone saying, “I can’t think of a more fun and cuddly way to get away with extended full-frontal male nudity. It’s a puppet, it’s like Yoda.”

As for how Pam & Tommy landed on Mantzoukas to voice Tommy Lee’s Yoda-like talking penis, well, who else could it be? It’s perfect casting. But co-showrunner Rob Siegel admits a few other names were considered. “We batted around your DiCaprios. Everyone came to the table with their own completely left field choices that everyone else thought was ridiculous,” he said. “I remember he was just somebody that we all pretty quickly agreed on. There were a few others but he has a relationship with Seth [Rogen, who plays safe-stealing dirtbag Rand Gauthier in Pam & Tommy].”

Leonardo DiCaprio has an Oscar, but does he have an Emmy for voicing a penis? Exactly. To be fair, neither does Mantzoukas… yet. Your move, Emmys.

(Via EW)

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Prosecutors Laid Out The ‘Wire’-Like Methods They Used To Arrest The Man Accused Of Selling Michael K. Williams The Drugs That Killed Him

Michael K. Williams’ shocking death in September 2021 left admirers of his work (particularly in The Wire and Lovecraft Country) feeling gutted. That’s particularly the case because his Lovecraft performance was so raw and emotional (and should have won him an Emmy). Not only that, but Williams opened up to Men’s Health about how the show’s “generational trauma” affected him heavily, to the point where it “kicked the door off the hinges” for him.

In the aftermath of filming Lovecraft, as Williams told Men’s Health, he relapsed back into drugs and began to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings and therapy. Sadly, the investigation into Williams’ death reveals that he wasn’t able to kick those demons, and as the Daily Beast reports, four men have now been arrested in connection with the drugs that killed the iconic actor who portrayed Omar Little in The Wire. As the Beast reveals, there’s a The Wire feel in this case. Here, officers were able match up key moments in surveillance footage to make an arrest. Now, this moment in the HBO show didn’t happen, but there was enough on camera to make an arrest.

The full report at The Daily Beast is well worth reading, but the detailed description of the surveillance footage points towards Williams buying “heroin laced with fentanyl and carfentanil” (the lethal mix pinpointed by the medical examiner for Williams’ cause of death) from Irvin Cartagena, an alleged dealer known as “Green Eyes.” The two men didn’t appear to know each other, but Green Eyes wasn’t very savvy, given that he’d previously been busted in the same location. Not only that, but investigators focused upon when Williams exchanged phone numbers with Green Eyes. Here’s more:

While an episode of The Wire shows a drug crew throwing rocks to break a surveillance camera, Green Eyes and those with him seemed not at all worried that the transaction was being recorded.

And even though Green Eyes had been busted at this very spot six months before, he did not hesitate to conduct this exchange with Williams in plain sight. The whole scene appeared as relaxed as if dealing dangerous narcotics were as completely legal as selling milk at the Alegria Grocery next door.

Williams and Green Eyes were so at ease that they paused to take out their phones to exchange numbers, Green Eyes dialing first. Williams showed him his screen and Green Eyes pointed to it, apparently confirming his number.

From there, detectives looked at Williams’ phone and matched up a call to that moment on the footage, and from there, the footage showed how Williams headed back to his apartment, where his lifeless body was found the next day. The Daily Beast notes that Green Eyes “vanished” from the location (where he didn’t seem to care about surveillance footage) after the news of Williams’ death broke. You can read the full report here.

(Via The Daily Beast)

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Quinta Brunson Was Emotional As Heck When Jimmy Kimmel Reunited Her With The Teacher Who Inspired ‘Abbott Elementary’

Abbott Elementary has been a breakout hit for creator and star Quinta Brunson, who named the show after her sixth-grade teacher in Philadelphia. While the show’s success has been an emotional rollercoaster for Brunson, she was not at all prepared for what Jimmy Kimmel had in store for her on Tuesday night: The late-night comedian arranged for the Ms. Abbott to Zoom into the show. Within moments of reconnecting with the inspiration for her series, Brunston was in tears. At one point, she jokingly called out Kimmel for ruining her makeup.

Ms. Abbott was, of course, a delight, and she recalled the first time she learned that Abbott Elementary was named after her. Via Entertainment Tonight:

“It was confirmed one night when I was watching 6abc news,” Ms. Abbott said. “They were talking about the Abbott Elementary show shortly after the pilot. The newscaster said, ‘Ms. Abbott, if you’re watching, Quinta would like to reconnect with you.’ I was like ‘Oh my god!’”

The teacher also shared stories of having Brunson as a pupil, saying she was “very driven at that time” and that the Black Lady Sketch Show alum grew out of her shell to become “our class spokesperson.”

Much like Abbott Elementary, the reunion was a delightful break from the ongoing craziness of the pandemic, schools banning books, and an unfortunate mangling of the true nature of the Holocaust. Seriously, thank you, Jimmy.

(Via Entertainment Tonight)

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Two New Juice WRLD Singles, ‘Cigarettes’ And ‘Go Hard 2.0.’ Get The Anime Video Treatment

It’s almost astonishing to think of how much material the late Juice WRLD recorded before his death in December of 2019. The prolific Chicago rapper left behind plenty of material to be turned into awesome visuals like the ones for his new singles “Cigarettes” and Go Hard 2.0,” which both tap into Juice’s love for Japanese animation, or anime.

The video for “Cigarettes,” which you can watch above, takes a CGI approach, creating a colorful digital avatar of Juice that dances and emotes over the new track, which features a somber guitar riff backing Juice’s compliments toward a paramour who uplifts him in the midst of his addictions. The track was originally leaked in 2018 before being re-released today. It’s expected to appear the deluxe version of Juice’s new album Fighting Demons.

Meanwhile, below, you can check out the traditionally animated video for “Go Hard 2.0.” This dynamic, sci-fi accented short sees representations of some of Juice’s closest friends in the rap game working in a lab as he floats in a tube (some of their faces are blurred, suggesting that Juice’s label couldn’t get likeness clearances for them, but Lil Uzi Vert and Polo G are visible). When news of a meteor approaching the planet sounds an alarm, Uzi releases Juice to destroy the cosmic threat with some very Dragon Ball-ish powers. However, he also unleashes a musclebound alien with whom he engages in a battle royale. This song appears on the original version of Fighting Demons, which is out now via Grade A Productions and Interscope.

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You Can Now Get College Credit For Learning About Taylor Swift In A New NYU Course

Some super fans spend so much time keeping up-to-date with their favorite musician that they’re a de facto expert. Now, there’s a way for select university students to get graded on their knowledge of one pop artist in particular. A new course at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute gives students the chance to earn university credit for learning about Taylor Swift. Last week, the school launched the course focused on Swift’s career — and as one can imagine, there’s a very long waitlist to join.

The course is taught by Rolling Stone staff writer Brittany Spanos and will teach students about Swift’s rise to success, the legacy of pop and country songwriters, and the politics of race in today’s music. According to Variety, the course’s description notes students will “deconstruct both the appeal and aversions” to Swift’s music by analyzing close readings as well as public discourse. The class will also delve “into analyses of the culture and politics of teen girlhood in pop music, fandom, media studies, whiteness and power as it relates to her image and the images of those who have both preceded and succeeded her.” Those who opt to take the course will also discuss topics like “copyright and ownership, American nationalism and the ongoing impact of social media on the pop music industry.”

If that didn’t entice students, a representative for NYU told Variety that they’ve even invited Swift to join the class as a guest speaker. Swift’s appearance hasn’t been confirmed, but would definitely make for an interesting lecture.

This isn’t the firs time NYU has hosted courses centered around music and pop culture. In the past, there have been courses taught by Questlove, Q-Tip, producer-engineer Bob Power, and many more.

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Neil Young’s Streaming Numbers Actually Went Up After He Left Spotify

As has been the talk of the music world over the past week, Neil Young has taken his music off of Spotify. It would be logical to conclude that this move would impact his overall streaming numbers, and it did, but actually in a positive way.

Citing figures from MRC Data, Billboard reports that on January 24, the day Young first expressed his dissatisfaction with Spotify (at least in terms of its relationship with Joe Rogan), his music (both solo and with bands like Crazy Horse, Promise Of The Real, and Stray Gators) was streamed 745,000 times in the US. As news of the Spotify beef made the rounds, those numbers rose to 1.1 million streams on January 25 and 1.2 million the next day. January 27 was the day Young’s music was largely off Spotify, and then, streams dipped to 792,000, which is still more than before this saga started.

The numbers quickly rose again, though, shooting up to 1.2 million streams on January 28 and slightly more on the 29th before falling down to 913,000 on the 30th.

All in all, this is how the day-by-day data played out:

  • January 24 — 745,000 US streams
  • January 25 — 1.1 million (up 41 percent from the previous day)
  • January 26 — 1.2 million (up 16 percent)
  • January 27 — 792,000 (down 35 percent)
  • January 28 — 1.2 million (up 52 percent)
  • January 29 — 1.2 million (up 3 percent)
  • January 30 — 913,000 (down 26 percent)

Meanwhile, Joni Mitchell, one of the first major artists to follow Young in taking her music off Spotify, had a similar streaming journey:

  • January 26 — 315,000
  • January 27 — 322,000 (up 2 percent)
  • January 28 — 347,000 (up 8 percent)
  • January 29 — 699,000 (up 102 percent)
  • January 30 — 508,000 (down 27 percent)

Billboard also notes, “Activity for Young and Mitchell are likely to be further reflected on Billboard‘s weekly charts dated Feb. 12, encompassing the Jan. 28-Feb. 3 tracking week.”

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