Around this time last year, a photo started surfacing on social media of Alice Cooper serving food to underprivileged kids. There’s just something about seeing the tough-on-the-surface Godfather of Shock Rock in the most kind-spirited light that inspires people to hopefully pay it forward and do the same. It’s for this reason that the image is going viral once again.
— Humphrey Bogarts hungover pissed off ghost (@Robertsixto2) December 19, 2021
On this first tweet from user @robertsix02 alone, over 8,000 Retweets and upwards of 56,000 likes at press time on this tweet shows how powerful the image is. And in fact, it’s not from this year. For the past 19 years, Cooper has held the annual “Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding Fundraiser” where through his Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers, they help provide “FREE music, dance, arts and vocational training programs for teens 12-20 local kids.” But the photo has been widespread online in recent days, even comparing him to public figures who are uhhh…far less giving.
In addition to throwing a Christmas Party for teens in the program, Cooper plays a benefit concert with members of his touring band and other notable performers. The 2021 event included Kiss’s Ace Frehley, Ed Roland of Collective Soul, Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray, and more. Cooper is actually a devoted Christian and giving back to the community is part of a yearly tradition for the star. We are truly not worthy of this kind and gentle heavy metal soul.
This January, so many new shows are landing on HBO and HBO Max that we don’t have to hype them up too much for you. Why? If you love good TV, the returning series and new projects that the streamer is welcoming this month should do that by themselves.
Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) HBO and HBO Max this January.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (HBO Max special streaming 1/1)
Cue all the nostalgia-induced feels because our favorite Hogwarts alumni are returning to their magical roots in this special that reunites the cast of Harry Potter to reminisce on the good ol’ days. Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint will gather in the Gryffindor common room to relive their earliest memories onset before chatting with other cast members like Ralph Fiennes and Gary Oldman about the influence the series has had.
Search Party: Season 5 (HBO Max series streaming 1/7)
The final season of Search Party arrives this month and it asks a question all of us should’ve seen coming: Would Dory (Alia Shawkat) make a good cult leader? The answer depends on if she can monetize her near-death experience with the help of guest star Jeff Goldblum’s tech god, and if she can convince her friends, Portia (Meredith Hagner), Elliot (John Early), and Drew (John Paul Reynolds) to be her disciples.
Euphoria: Season 2 (HBO series streaming 1/9)
We’ve waited literal years but the second season of Sam Levinson’s Euphoria is finally upon us. Zendaya returns as the enigmatic-yet-flawed Rue who relapsed at the end of season one. She’s back attending meetings, carrying a suspicious-looking suitcase, and possibly turning her addiction into a for-profit enterprise. Jules (Hunter Schaffer) is back too, trying to rekindle their strained relationship as the rest of the group navigates the perils of another year in high school purgatory.
The Righteous Gemstones: Season 2 (HBO series streaming 1/9)
Sure, Succession is over but if you’re craving a show about a dysfunctional family using their enormous wealth as an excuse to be terrible human beings, may we suggest season two of Righteous Gemstones? There’s just as much drama and comedy this time around, plus more musical numbers.
Peacemaker (HBO Max series streaming 1/13)
John Cena returns to fill the too-tight spandex of his breakout role in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. This series will explore the origins of the man who’s so committed to peace, he doesn’t care how many men, women, and children he has to kill to achieve it. It’ll also explain what happened to Peacemaker after the events of Gunn’s film as Cena’s vain, slightly idiotic hitman-for-hire teams up with a new group of capable and clueless baddies.
The Gilded Age (HBO series streaming 1/24)
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes delivers his next period epic, this time set in booming 1880s New York City. Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Carrie Coon, they’re all in this drama which follows a young woman determined to upend the classist status quo of New York’s most elite, exclusive social circles.
Everything Coming To HBO Max In January
Avail. 1/1 2 Guns, 2013 (HBO) 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968 17 Again, 2009 300: Rise of an Empire, 2006 Acuitzeramo, 2019 (HBO) All Star Superman, 2011 The Animatrix, 2003 Annabelle Comes Home, 2009 Amityville 3-D, 1983 (HBO) Amityville II: The Possession, 1982 (HBO) Aquaman, 2018 Barry Munday, 2010 (HBO) Batkid Begins, 2015 Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, 1998 Batman and Harley Quinn, 2017 Batman Begins, 2005 Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker, 2000 Batman Ninja, 2018 Batman Unlimited: Animal Instinct, 2015 Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants, 2016 Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem, 2015 Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, 2016 The Batman vs. Dracula, 2005 Batman vs. Robin, 2015 Batman vs. Two-Face, 2017 Batman: Assault on Arkham, 2014 Batman: Bad Blood, 2016 Batman: Death in the Family, 2020 Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, 2018 Batman: Gotham Knight, 2008 Batman: Hush, 2019 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, 1993 Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, 2003 Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (Part 1), 2016 Batman: Soul of the Dragon, 2021 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1, 2012 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2, 2013 Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One, 2021 Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two, 2021 Batman: Under The Red Hood, 2010 Batman: Year One, 2011 Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), 2020 Brother Nature, 2016 (HBO) Blade Runner: The Final Cut, 1982 The Bodyguard, 1992 Bullitt, 1968 Caddyshack, 1980 Caddyshack II, 1988 Capote, 2005 (HBO) Casablanca, 1942 Catwoman, 2004 Chaplin, 1992 (HBO) A Cinderella Story, 2004 A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song, 2011 Citizen Kane, 1941 A Clockwork Orange, 1971 Collide, 2016 (HBO) Constantine: City of Demons, 2018 Cop Land, 1997 (HBO) Cop Out, 2010 Crazy Rich Asians, 2018 The Curse of La Llorona, 2019 Daddy Day Camp, 2007 Daddy Day Care, 2003 The Dark Crystal, 1982 The Dark Knight, 2008 DC Showcase: Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam, 2010 DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year, 2016 DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games, 2017 DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis, 2018 The Death of Superman, 2018 Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons, 2020 The Departed, 2006 The Diary of a Teenage Girl, 2015 Dirty Harry, 1971 Dog Day Afternoon, 1975 Dumb And Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, 2003 Easy A, 2010 Empire of the Sun, 1987 The Enforcer, 1976 Eraser, 1996 The Exorcist, 1973 The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Premiere (HBO) The Faculty, 1998 (HBO) Fast & Furious 6, 2013 (HBO) Fatal Attraction, 1987 (HBO) Fled, 1996 (HBO) Four Christmases, 2008 Freedom Fighters: The Ray, 2017 Friday, 1995 The Friday After Next, 2002 Frozen River, 2008 The Fugitive, 1993 Godzilla: King of the Monsters, 2019 Gone Baby Gone, 2007 (HBO) Gone with the Wind, 1939 Good Neighbours, 2010 (HBO) The Goonies, 1985 The Gospel According To Andre, 2017 (HBO) Gravity, 2013 The Green Hornet, 2011 Green Lantern, 2011 Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, 2011 Green Lantern: First Flight, 2009 Gremlins 2: The New Batch, 1990 Harlem Nights, 1989 (HBO) Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, Max Original Premiere
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses Season 1 Here Comes The Devil, 2012 (HBO) The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies, 2014 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, 2013 Hobo With A Shotgun, 2011 (HBO) House Party 2, 1991 House Party 3, 1994 House Party 4: Down To The Last Minute, 2000 House Party: Tonight’s The Night, 2013 Inception, 2010 It Chapter Two, 2019 JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time, 2014 John Dies At The End, 2012 (HBO) Joker, 2019 Justice League, 2017 Justice League Dark, 2017 Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, 2020 Justice League vs. Teen Titans, 2016 Justice League vs. The Fatal Five, 2019 Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, 2010 Justice League: Doom, 2012 Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, 2013 Justice League: Gods & Monsters, 2015 Justice League: The New Frontier, 2008 Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, 2015 Justice League: War, 2014 Justice Society: World War II, 2021 Killing Gunther, 2017 (HBO) Kiltro, 2006 (HBO) King Kong, 1933 Kong: Skull Island, 2017 Horrible Bosses, 2011 Horrible Bosses 2, 2014 The Iron Lady, 2011 The Last Five Years, 2014 (HBO) Last Night, 2010 (HBO) Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’Hoole, 2010 The LEGO Batman Movie, 2017 LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes Unite, 2013 LEGO DC Batman: Family Matters, 2019 LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman: Rage of Atlantis, 2018 LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League, 2015 LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League: Attack of the Legion of Doom!, 2015 LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash, 2018 LEGO DC Shazam: Magic and Monsters!, 2020 LEGO DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain, 2017 LEGO DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High, 2018 LEGO Justice League: Cosmic Clash, 2015 LEGO Justice League: Gotham City Breakout, 2016 Lethal Weapon, 1989 Little Nicky, 2000 The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, 2001 The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King, 2003 The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, 2002 The Losers, 2010 Love and Basketball, 2000 The Lucky One, 2012 Lucky Numbers, 2000 (HBO) Mad Max: Fury Road, 2015 Magic Mike, 2012 Magnum Force, 1973 Malcolm X, 1992 The Maltese Falcon, 1941 The Mask, 1994 Mean Streets, 1973 Memento, 2000 (HBO) The Mentalist Michael Clayton, 2007 Mildred Pierce, 1945 Mimic, 1997 (HBO) Mimic 2, 2001 (HBO) Mimic 3: Sentinel, 2003 (HBO) Mortal Kombat, 2021 Mortal Kombat Annihilation, 1997 Mortal Kombat Conquest Mortal Kombat Legacy
Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, 2021 Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge, 2020 Mutiny on the Bounty, 1935 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, 1989 National Lampoon’s European Vacation, 1985 National Lampoon’s Vacation, 1983 Necessary Evil: The Super-Villains of DC Comics, 2013 Next, 2007 (HBO) Next Friday, 2000 North By Northwest, 1959 The Nun, 2018 Ocean’s 8, 2018 The Outlaw Josey Wales, 1976 Paddington 2, 2017 The Pelican Brief, 1993 The Philadelphia Story, 1940 Pineapple Express, 2008 The Pirates! Band of Misfits, 2012 Practical Magic, 1998 Quigley Down Under, 1990 (HBO) Racer And The Jailbird, 2017 (HBO) Ready Player One, 2018 Reign of the Supermen, 2019 The Road Warrior, 1981 Romeo Must Die, 2000 Roots: The Gift, 1988 Roots (Mini Series), 2016 Roots: The Next Generation, 1979 Rumor Has It, 2005 Scooby-Doo, 2002 Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, 2004 Ser Bi (Les Tissus Blancs), 2020 The Shawshank Redemption, 1994 Shazam!, 2019 The Shining, 1980 Singin’ in the Rain, 1952 Son of Batman, 2014 The Son of Kong, 1933 Spare Parts, 2015 (HBO) Stealing Harvard, 2002 (HBO) A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951 Sudden Impact, 1983 Suicide Squad, 2016 Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, 2018 Sunset Song, 2015 (HBO) Super Fly, 1972 Supergirl, 2015 Superman II, 1980 Superman III, 1983 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, 1987 Superman vs. The Elite, 2012 Superman: Brainiac Attacks, 2006 Superman: Doomsday, 2007 Superman: Man of Tomorrow, 2020 Superman: Red Son, 2020 Superman: The Movie, 1978 Superman: Unbound, 2013 Superman/Batman Public Enemies, 2009 Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, 2010 Swordfish, 2001 Teen Titans Go! To The Movies, 2018 Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans, 2019 Teen Titans Judas Contract, 2017 Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo, 2007 Thor: Tales of Asgard, 2011 (HBO) Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, 2005 A Time to Kill, 1996 The Time Traveler’s Wife, 2009 The Two Jakes, 1990 (HBO) Training Day, 2001 Ultraviolet, 2006 Vegas Vacation, 1997 Venus And Serena, 2012 (HBO) V for Vendetta, 2005 Vixen, 2017 Watchmen, 2009 Watchmen Motion Comics Wedding Crashers, 2005 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, 1962 When Harry Met Sally, 1989 Where The Wild Things Are, 2009 The Wizard of Oz, 1939 Wonder Woman, 2017 Wonder Woman (Animated), 2009 Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, 2019 Wrong Turn At Tahoe, 2009 (HBO) The Yellow Birds, 2017 (HBO) Yes Man, 2008 Yogi Bear, 2010 Zookeeper, 2011 Zoom, 2006 (HBO)
Avail. 1/7 Algo Azul, 2021 (HBO) Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, 2021 (HBO) Search Party, Max Original Season 5 Premiere Teenage Euthanasia Season 1
Avail. 1/9 Euphoria, Original Season 2 Premiere (HBO) The Righteous Gemstones, Original Season 2 Premiere (HBO)
Avail. 1/12 Joe Pera Talks With You Season 3 Squidbillies Season 13
Avail. 1/13 Diego, The Last Goodbye (Diego, el último adiós), Max Original Documentary My Mom, Your Dad, Max Original Season 1 Premiere Peacemaker, Max Original Season 1 Premiere Station Eleven, Max Original Season Finale
Avail. 1/14 ER
Avail. 1/15 Fringe
Avail. 1/16 Somebody Somewhere Season Premiere (HBO)
Avail. 1/17 Injustice, 2021 The Murder of Fred Hampton, Documentary
Avail. 1/19 Last Open Mic at the End of the World, 2021
Avail. 1/20 Astral Journey (aka Jornada Astral), Max Original Season 1 Premiere Looney Tunes Cartoons, Max Original Season 4 Premiere Moses Storm: Trash White, Max Original Premiere On The Job, Max Original (Mini Series) Season 1 Premiere
Avail. 1/21 Back On The Record with Bob Costas, Season 2 Premiere (HBO) Chillin Island Season Finale (HBO) Invisibles, 2020 (HBO) The Last O.G Season 4 Real Time with Bill Maher, Season 20 Premiere (HBO)
Avail. 1/24 The Gilded Age, Season 1 Premiere (HBO) Pennyworth, Seasons 1 and 2
Avail. 1/25 Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, 2022 (HBO)
Avail. 1/27 Bunker, Max Original Season 1 Premiere The Cut (aka O Grande Look), Max Original Season 1 Premiere Gomorrah, Max Original Season 5 Premiere Malignant, 2021 (HBO) Take Out with Lisa Ling, Max Original Season 1 Premiere
Avail. 1/28 The Hangover Part III, 2013 (HBO)
Avail. 1/29 Reminiscence, 2021 (HBO)
Everything Leaving HBO Max in January
Leaving 1/20 HBO First Look: Nightmare Alley (HBO)
Leaving 1/31 2 Days In The Valley, 1996 (HBO) A Walk Among The Tombstones, 2014 (HBO) Director’s Cut: Argo, 2012 (HBO) Backtrack, 2021 (HBO) Extended Versions: Battle For The Planet Of The Apes, 1973 (HBO) Behind Enemy Lines, 1997 (HBO) Beneath The Planet Of The Apes,1970 (HBO) Bio-Dome, 1996 (HBO) Black Death, 2011 (HBO) Blue Crush, 2002 (HBO) Blue Ruin, 2014 (HBO) Brubaker, 1980 (HBO) Carmen y Lola, 2018 (HBO) Chasing Mavericks, 2012 (HBO) Extended Versions: Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes, 1972 (HBO) Deep Cover, 1992 (HBO) Desecho, 2017 (HBO) Desperately Seeking Susan, 1985 (HBO) Dirty Work, 1998 (HBO) Unrated Version: Disaster Movie, 2008 (HBO) Eight Men Out, 1988 (HBO) Envy, 2004 (HBO) Escape From The Planet Of The Apes, 1971 (HBO) Ghost In The Machine, 1993 (HBO) Gun Shy, 2021 (HBO) Hacksaw Ridge, 2016 (HBO) Hangman, 2021 (HBO) Harley Davidson And The Marlboro Man, 1991 (HBO) Heaven Can Wait, 1978 (HBO) Hercules, 1983 (HBO) Hitchcock, 2012 (HBO) Humpday, 2009 (HBO) Igby Goes Down, 2002 (HBO) Johnny English Reborn, 2011 (HBO) Julia, 2009 (HBO) Kansas, 1988 (HBO) Laws Of Attraction, 2004 (HBO) Lincoln, 2012 (HBO) Love And Death, 1975 (HBO) Man Down, 2021 (HBO) Married To The Mob, 1988 (HBO) Mississippi Burning, 1988 (HBO) Mystery Date, 1991 (HBO) Nobody Walks, 2021 (HBO) No Quiero Ser Tu Hermano, 2019 (HBO) Planet Of The Apes, 1968 (HBO) Popeye, 1980 (HBO) Project X, 1987 (HBO) Punisher: War Zone, 2008 (HBO) Rabid, 1977 (HBO) Director’s Cut: Rambo, 2008 (HBO) Red, 2008 (HBO) Romance & Cigarettes, 2007 (HBO) Semi-Tough, 1977 (HBO) Separate Tables, 1958 (HBO) Serving Sara, 2002 (HBO) Stand And Deliver, 1988 (HBO) Stardust Memories, 1980 (HBO) The Banger Sisters, 2002 (HBO) The Double, 2014 (HBO) The Hunt, 2020 (HBO) The Last Of The Finest, 1990 (HBO) The Man In The Iron Mask, 1998 (HBO) The Out-Of-Towners, 1999 (HBO) The Prince, 2014 (HBO) The Punisher, 2004 (HBO) The Purple Rose Of Cairo, 1985 (HBO) The Score, 2001 (HBO) The Square, 2017 (HBO) Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, 2011 (HBO) Underwater, 2020 (HBO) Up In The Air, 2009 (HBO) Dolittle, 2020 (HBO) Flipper, 1996 (HBO) He Got Game, 1998 (HBO) Snow Dogs, 2002 (HBO) The Call Of The Wild, 2019 (HBO) Cap, 2020 (HBO) Evelyn X Evelyn, 2020 (HBO) Flight, 2020 (HBO) The Fisher King, 1991 The Fisherman, 2020 (HBO) Wednesday, 2020 (HBO)
It’s been almost eight years since Bill Cosby was hit with dozens of sexual misconduct allegations, and three since he went to jail. (He’s since been released.) But though his actions have been relentlessly reported on, we as a society have never had a serious conversation about how to deal with his unique legacy. It seems that is exactly what we’re getting with W. Kamau Bell’s forthcoming docuseries We Need to Talk About Cosby.
The trailer dropped on Monday, along with the news that it will arrive on Showtime on Jan. 30, on week after it debuts at the Sundance Film Festival. Over four segments, Bell will examine someone who was more than a popular comic. Cosby changed the culture, turning a show about a comfortable, upper middle class African-American family into one of TV’s biggest smashes.
“I am a child of Bill Cosby,” Bell says in the trailer. “I’m a Black man, a stand-up comic, born in the ‘70s. Bill Cosby had been one of my heroes. But this…”, he says over images of him having his mug shot taken, “…this was f*cked up.” He adds, “What do we do about everything we knew about Bill Cosby and what we know now?”
In a statement, Bell acknowledges the difficulty of wrestling with someone who did so much to advance Black voices in mainstream with someone who was accused of various forms of misconduct by over 60 women, some incidents dating back some six decades.
You can watch the trailer for We Need to Talk About Cosby above. It will debut at Sundance on Jan. 22 and premiere on Showtime on Jan. 30.
Reopening Night (HBO, 9:00pm) — Let’s pretend that Omicron doesn’t exist while heading into how the New York City cultural scene came roaring back following a total pandemic shutdown. Here, Rudy Valdez directs this spotlighting of Free Shakespeare in the Park (with an all-Black production of Merry Wives) to show how artists will always find a way to thrive, not only on the New York stage but the global one.
Landscapers (HBO, 9:00pm) — Olivia Colman and David Thewlis lead this inspired-by-real-life story about a couple who apparently murders one of their sets of parents. Director Will Sharpe (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain) isn’t doing a straight-up retelling here, and this week, reality merges with fantasy as Christopher revisits he and Susan’s relationship with her parents.
The Secrets Of Christmas: Revealed (FOX, 8:00pm) — This exposé claims that it will unleash a sleigh full of secret documents about the true methods of how Santa Claus pulls off his one-day magic show.
Dynasty (CW, 8:00pm) — Season Five begins amid continuing fallout from Blake’s gala while Liam’s in an hour of need, and Alexis is still in jail. Then Carrington Manor stands decorated for Christmas, but everyone is pretty damn miserable, considering what recently happened.
In case you missed this recent pick:
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (HBO Max) — Take a deep dive into the beloved children’s program that’s been going strong for over 50 years. This documentary focuses upon the first two decades of moving and shaking of this visionary “gang,” who’s not afraid to engage children in the most entertaining of ways while also tackling ongoing radical changes in society.
South London’s self-proclaimed “dirtbag boyband” Bears In Trees are one of those musical sensations where they are absolutely massive in a certain scene, but once you take a step outside that scene, you’d be hard pressed to hear of them at all. That’s about to change with the release of their new album And Everybody Else Smiles Back, which was released earlier this year. The album comes fresh on the heels of recent support slots with YouTube sensation Noah Finnce, and the band’s own sold out UK tour this past summer.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Hopeful, heartfelt, silly, goofy.
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I hope we at least have an American Football moment where people find our album ten years later and all of a sudden we’ve started the emo revival revival.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?
London, so far!
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
Joseph heller, because he wrote my favourite book.
Where did you eat the best meal of your life?
My family home, my grandmother’s prawn curry recipe.
What album do you know every word to?
Folie a Deux by Fall Out Boy.
What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?
First time I saw Modern Baseball at the Borderline in London.
What is the best outfit for performing and why?
Callum wears a spacesuit onesie, I think that’s next level.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?
My favourite Twitter account is horse ebooks — a legend that we’re forgetting too soon.
What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?
Cast members on SNL come and go, but one person has stuck it out since the start (minus a five-year stretch in the ‘80s, that is): Lorne Michaels, its creator, producer, and steward. He’s long been the boss of it all, shepherding its cast, staff, and guests along, occasionally banning someone for life (or, in Elvis Costello’s case, for about two decades). He’s also 77 years old, so it’s no surprise that he’s finally thinking about retiring…in a few years. Maybe.
“You know, I think I’m committed to doing this show until its 50th anniversary, which is in three years,” Michaels said on CBS Mornings (as caught by The Hollywood Reporter). “I’d like to see that through and I have a feeling that’d be a really good time to leave. But … I won’t want the show ever to be bad. I care too deeply about it. It’s been my life’s work. So I’m going to do everything I can to see it carry on.”
When asked if he could even imagine a Michaels-less SNL, he replied, “Of course,” then added, cryptically, “I have a sense of where we’re headed with that, you know.” When asked if he had an idea of who could ever replace him, he demurred. “I’m not going to go on about it — it’s three years away.”
It’s not the first time Michaels has publicly toyed with retiring. In fact, he discussed this very plan back in 2020 on NBC’s Today. “My plan — and I’m not sure that I’ll see it through — but my plan is to be here for the 50th … and then by that point, I really deserve to wander off,” he said.
The news comes mere days after the final SNL of 2021, which wound up having to be dramatically reworked at the last minute thanks to a spike in COVID cases, likely exacerbated by the Omicron variant. Most of the cast and crew were sent home and the majority of the episode was either pre-taped sketches or older replays. Host Paul Rudd still received his “Five Timers Club” robe, and for mostly just showing up and doing a few quick intros here and there.
Michaels left the show in 1980, handing it over to Jean Doumanian, who lasted only one season. She was replaced by Dick Ebersol, who handed the reins back to Michaels in 1985. He’s been there ever since. Over his combined 41-year tenure, Michaels has won 20 Emmys. He also produced Kids in the Hall, in his native Canada. In any case, you won’t have to say goodbye to him till at least 2025.
Dominic Fike is rolling. After the success of last year’s What Could Possibly Go Wrong, he’s spent 2021 appearing on high-profile collaborations like”Die For You” off of Justin Bieber’s smash Justice, Remi Wolf’s sizzling “Photo ID,” and even covered “The Kiss Of Venus” on Paul freakin McCartney’s III Imagined album alongside St. Vincent, Anderson .Paak, and others. He’s also rumored to have a Live From Electric Lady EP due out soon as well. These are high-profile looks and it’s all been building towards Fike’s acting debut on the second season of HBO Max’s Euphoria.
Today the trailer for the new season dropped and Fike is all over it. “I don’t have to do much acting. He’s exactly like me. It’s sh*t I would say and sh*t I would do,” he told Variety back in August. His musically-minded character is even playing guitar in one of the scenes. “I’m just in go-mode right now,” Fike said. “It’s kind of like I’m walking and people are putting tiles under my feet as I take each step.”
He joins the now-Emmy-winning Zendaya in the cast, which also includes Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith, and Sydney Sweeney.
Euphoria Season 2 comes to HBO Max on 1/9/2021. Watch the new trailer above.
If there’s one thing hip-hop fans like doing, it’s ranking which rappers are the best. Well, 50 Cent has gone ahead and offered a partial list of his own today by saying that when it comes to the best rappers ever, he’s somewhere in the top ten.
He shared a promotional video for his own Branson Cognac on Instagram today and wrote alongside it, “Smile my next album might be my last [laughing emoji]. I terrorized hip hop for 14 years,don’t believe me Nielsen, the numbers will never lie but i’m nobody’s favorite Smh [facepalm emoji] Nah [devil emoji] I’m Top 10 dead or alive and i’m not done.”
As for where 50 believes he is in the top ten, he didn’t say. If he feels the same way now that he did 18 months ago, though, it’s not in the No. 1 spot. In June 2020, he shared a photo of Eminem and himself and wrote on Instagram, “this combination will always work, I think it has something to do with EM being the best rapper in the world but i’m not so bad. LOL.”
While claims about who is the best at what in music are of course subjective, 50 has an impressive resume. His 2003 debut Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ is one of the best-selling rap albums ever and has been certified 9-times Platinum. Furthermore, it sold 872,000 copies in its first week of release, which was a record for a debut album at the time. That remains one of the biggest first weeks for an album in hip-hop history. The album also spawned two of 50’s three No. 1 hits, “In Da Club” and “21 Questions.” All in all, each of his five studio albums has peaked in the top five of the US charts.
There is no greater gift in the world than a key to the great outdoors. During these chaotic times, engaging with the outside world on a deeper level can offer the ones we love a healthier outlook and a healthier self. So instead of giving them another piece of useless tech that will clog up the electrical outlets and drain their data plans, set them up with a chance for some IRL fun.
Below, we have a last-minute list of gift picks for anyone looking for outdoor gifts — from inflatable paddle boards to mountain bikes. As always, everything you see featured has been road-tested by the crew here at Uproxx and given our stamp of approval. Enjoy!
On Cloudventure Waterproof Shoes
Courtesy
Price: $169
The Company Line:
This waterproof trail running shoe is made with extreme cushioning and grip. Run every trail in any condition. With the men’s On Cloudventure waterproof trail-running shoes, you can laugh in the face of drenching downpours and foot-dousing puddles out on the trail (or, at the very least, your feet can).
Why They’re A Great Gift:
Running, especially trail-running is one of the most enjoyable and easy ways to get the heart rate up. But not everybody owns a pair of shoes fit for more than just pavement, and not having the right gear can definitely detract from the experience. Nothing kills a good time like cold, wet feet. Give your favorite outdoors person a pair of these kicks and they will think about you fondly every time they’re sprinting through the woods like they’re on air.
The Explorer was designed for those adventurous paddlers. This board excels on flatwater; from still lake water to fast-paced rivers — it’s a great all-rounder. Its pointed nose is built to cut through tough waters and has a reinforced grab handle that’s great for portability.
Why It’s A Great Gift:
Getting out on the water can be one of the best ways to find peace of mind and to work out the body. These inflatable paddle boards don’t just perform great on rivers and oceans, but they are extremely portable. They also come with a cool four-point bungee system on the back to put your clothes or fishing gear. The company also has a great eye for design — all of their boards stay looking sharp.
The 600x is a hardtail 29er designed with cross-country geometry and trekking in mind. With fast-rolling knobby tires, an all-conditions Pinion gearbox with 600 percent gear range, and the grease, grit, and rust-free Gates Carbon Drive belt drive system, plus braze-ons for extra gear, this bike is ready to take you miles into the unknown.
Why It’s A Great Gift:
The whole world seems to be enjoying indoor cycling but the outdoors is where the real fun is at. Every day the world is getting safer for cyclists on the pavement, and there are more great trails for riding every day. The Gates Carbon Drive is a game-changer when it comes to the build, and its overall durability. It was designed in partnership Ryan Van Duzer, to get insight from a proper adventurer.
This beautiful model will be a welcome addition to any garage, perfect for the next big bikepacking trip.
Built for the hardcore angler, yet priced with frugality in mind, the Encounter rod series combines state-of-the-art rod design with a smooth, crisp performance-packaged with a large arbor Encounter reel, weight-forward floating line, backing, and leader. The Encounter rod outfit is easily the best value-priced outfit of its kind.
Why It’s A Great Gift:
This rod from Orvis is the perfect piece for the fly fisherman or woman — giving you everything that you need to snatch a huge trout out of the local river. Fly fishing is one of the most serene hobbies in the world, and in this fast-paced digital world it can become a sanctuary as well as a great place to bond with friends. The beauty of giving this gift, is you might also be providing yourself with some fresh caught fish for dinner (though avid fly fishing folk are most often committed to catch-and-release).
Built for unparalleled comfort during all-day cragging and gym sessions, the Momentum Lace is a shoe that combines innovative technology with a classic, flat-last design. The result is an entry-level shoe that excels in performance. With an upper fabric that consists entirely of our Engineered Knit Technology, the Momentum Lace provides stretch where you need it, support where it matters and all around exceptional breathability.
Why They’re A Great Gift:
Over the past few years climbing has been an increasingly popular pastime, and more climbing gyms are opening every day. Not only are they a great place for getting a workout in, but they are also amazing places to meet new people. There has never been a better time to get into climbing as a sport and you can help someone show up prepared like a pro with these amazing climbing shoes.
Black Diamond is a brand trusted by the likes of Alex Honnold, so they are more than fit for the job of getting you or someone you love on the rock.
A weather-resistant daypack with just the right amount of space to haul your daily essentials, the 25-liter Patagonia Black Hole travel pack protects your gear from scuffs, scrapes and rough handling. Padded shoulder straps help ensure all-day comfort; molded back panel sheds moisture and allows cooling airflow.
Why It’s A Great Gift:
Any good outdoorsman knows that being prepared for all scenarios is a necessity when it comes to planning a good hiking trip. But too often you will see the hobbyists walking down the trail without food or water because they are worried about messing up their work bag. This pack has it everything that you need, from the chest strap to help with the strain on your back to being hydration compatible.
The Company Line:The Inlet is the lightest, most portable, and easiest to assemble folding kayak yet, an origami kayak for everyone. Designed for flat water, it’s playful and light and ridiculously fast to assemble. With the smallest box of any of our models, you can store it just about anywhere.
Why It’s A Great Gift:
Kayaking is an extremely serene way to experience local lakes and waterways, not to mention a great workout. But unless you have a rental place it can be difficult getting your hands on a craft where you want to go. And it also can be a pain to transport a traditional kayak from spot to spot if you want to road trip. The beauty of these Oru kayaks is they fold up neatly, and are light for their size, so that getting on the water is a breeze. If you want to upgrade the gift there is also a tandem model, the Haven TT, so that your loved one can paddle out with their canine companion or perhaps even take you for a cruise.
It’s the strongest and most versatile version of the RadWagon yet, featuring smaller, innovative new tires developed by our in-house team of expert engineers to achieve a lower center of gravity. Its patent-pending new frame design ensures multiple points of adjustability, including a telescopic seat post and easily maneuverable handlebars.
Why It’s a Great Gift:
I actually profiled this bike over in our adventure gift guide too, but it’s a gift that keeps on giving, so it’s getting a last-minute shout out. The RadWagon is my go-to e-bike (I own two) because of its versatility. This is the bike I ride to the surf break on. It’s the one I take to cruise to the farmers’ market and then a hike. It’s an all-rounder that gets you where you want to go and can carry your outdoor gear easily.
As I mentioned before, the best part of the RadWagon is the “open source” approach to adding hardware. These things are endlessly modifiable. If you want to load it up with gear, that’s an option. If you want to carry two more people on a padded bench seat, you can do that.
RAD BIKES
Bottom Line:
If we were in the wild west this would be the surprisingly fast packhorse that can get you where you’re going and bring all your toys loaded on its back. — Steve Bramucci
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were shutout on Sunday Night Football, losing to the Saints in a 9-0 slog. That result didn’t do anything to dampen the Bucs’ playoff hopes, but did drop them into a tie for the 2-seed, one game back of the Packers who now are in pole position for the lone first round bye in the NFC.
However, much more damaging than dropping the game on Sunday was the loss of star receiver Chris Godwin, who took a nasty hit to his knee in the second half, but seemed initially to have avoided a catastrophic injury as he walked off the field under his own power.
Godwin is, by far, Tom Brady’s top target this season, hauling in 98 catches for 1,103 yards and five touchdowns. Losing Godwin takes away a massive chunk of their passing attack and will only shift more attention over to Mike Evans. The eventual return of Antonio Brown and what he looks like coming off of his own knee injury and suspension for a fake vaccine card now looms large for the Bucs, who have dreams of a repeat championship but will now have to do so without a key piece of their vaunted passing attack.
For Godwin, it’s particularly gutting given he’s having a career year while playing on the franchise tag and was looking to get paid like a top receiver this coming offseason, but now faces the uncertainty of a free agency while rehabbing his injury.
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ice (@JulianPowerVO) December 20, 2021
