At the Ted Lasso season two premiere on Thursday, the show’s Emmy-nominated star Jason Sudeikis wore a shirt that read “Jadon & Marcus & Bukayo.” This was a reference to soccer players Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Bukayo Saka, who faced racist abuse after missing penalty kicks during England’s lost to Italy in the UEFA Euro 2020 final. At least four people have been arrested as part of a hate crime investigation.
“To the social media platforms Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, I don’t want any child or adult to have to receive the hateful and hurtful messages that me, Marcus, and Jadon have received this week,” Saka wrote in an open letter posted to social media. “I knew instantly the kind of hate that I was about to receive and that is a sad reality that your powerful platforms are not doing enough to stop these messages.” He added, “There is no place for racism or hate of any kind in football or in any area of society.”
Prince William, who is president of the Football Association that governs the game in England, condemned the attacks in a statement Monday, saying, “I am sickened by the racist abuse aimed at England players after last night’s match. It is totally unacceptable that players have to endure this abhorrent behaviour,” the royal said. “It must stop now and all those involved should be held accountable.”
This isn’t the first time that Sudeikis has used his clothing to make a powerful message during a high-profile event. At the SAG Awards earlier this year, he wore a sweater that read “My Body My Choice” in support of reproductive rights.
The first posthumous album from Pop Smoke, last year’s Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon, had a who’s-who of talent in its tracklist. The rapper’s latest posthumous effort, the newly released Faith, brings even more people into the fold. Among those is Dua Lipa, who lends her vocal talents to “Demeanor.”
The track has a funky groove (which would feel at home on Lipa’s recent disco-inspired output) that is accompanied by some woozy vibes and rhythmic verses from Pop Smoke. Instead of providing a hook, as might be expected on this sort of collaboration, Lipa gets her own verse, on which she confidently sings, “You can’t say pop without smoke / So fill up with your lungs, my diamonds will make you choke / You like the way I move / My demeanor is meaner than yours / So clap for the encore.”
Aside from Lipa, the album also features Kanye West, Pusha T, Rick Ross, The-Dream, 42 Dugg, 21 Savage, Rah Swish, Travi, Beam, Bizzy Banks, Takeoff, Lil Tjay, Swae Lee, Future, Pharrell, Kid Cudi, Quavo, and Kodak Black.
Listen to “Demeanor” above.
Faith is out now via Victor Victor Worldwide/Republic. Get it here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Although we’re not even halfway through summer, Netflix realizes that the novelty of stepping outside might already be wearing thinner than expected. To that end, the streaming service is serving up several new series and films to keep you occupied in all four quadrants. First up, a set of female assassins takes down the powers that be with leading ladies from Game of Thrones and Guardians of the Galaxy. Next, the Fear Street franchise wraps up a trilogy of films, and then we’ve got plenty of heist-based drama, religion-focused cultural implications, and a sports icon to get the ball (literally) rolling. Also, check out the latest batch of episodes from Mindy Kaling’s semi-autobiographical show. We’ve rounded up the most bingeworthy queue additions this week, since it’s (realistically) too hot for most of us to make decisions in the heat of July.
Here’s everything else coming to (and leaving) the streaming platform this week.
Gunpowder Milkshake (Netflix film streaming 7/14)
Look, Netflix original action films might seem like they’re in plentiful supply these days, but this one’s worth particular notice. Karen Gillan portrays the assassin-daughter of an elite assassin, portrayed by Lena Headey, and the pair come back together again to help protect a young girl from an organization known as The Firm. Nope, Tom Cruise does not make a cameo in this picture, but there’s a group called The Librarians, who are played by Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett, and Carla Gugino. Essentially, we’ve got three generations of badass ladies here, doing their best to wipe out pesky henchmen and raise a lot of hell.
Three of America’s greatest heists shall be examined in the finest of detail here by the people who did the heisting. These adventures include a Vegas casino heist, a Miami airport heist, and a a Kentucky bourbon heist. The shooting style here aims for Ocean’s Eleven and Catch Me If You Can, and the planning of these heists is flat-out meticulous, so it’s no wonder that the initial heisting went well. However, one must realize that these heisters were eventually busted, so there’s that part of the story, too. Crime doesn’t pay in the long-term, kids.
Fear Street Part 3: 1666 (Netflix film streaming 7/16)
The trilogy’s final installment brings the franchise to a head when Sarah Fier’s curse finally gets its origin story. In the end, you’ll see how Shadyside’s residents all feel their lives changed on one fateful night, which will reverberate from many generations to come. R.L. Stein’s stories light up here with a a climactic hurrah.
Never Have I Ever: Season 2 (Netflix series streaming 7/15)
Mindy Kaling’s brainchild (one of them, at least… there are so many) returns with more coming-of-age comedy. Devi’s making more questionable decisions along the way (that’s obligatory) while fumbling around through the finer points within new relationships. She does, however, face an out-of-her-control dilemma at school when “another Indian girl who is prettier, cooler” arrives on the scene. Expect more drama at home, too, as this beloved series continues to celebrate the awkwardness of adolescence.
Naomi Osaka (Netflix limited series streaming 7/16)
One of the world’s greatest tennis players skipped Wimbledon this year, but she’s still seizing the spotlight in this three-part series. In the end, she’ll emerge (in all viewers’ eyes) as one of her generation’s most influential and gifted athletes, and she’s doing it all inside a pressure-cooker or a sport while honoring her Haitian roots.
My Unorthodox Life: Season 1 (Netflix series streaming 7/15)
A fashion mogul belongs to an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, which doesn’t exactly jive with her CEO job. No matter, she manages to revolutionize her world and still pull off motherhood, which makes me freaking exhausted to think about. Still, the promise of an untamed and unpredictable heroine, who’s struggling to balance her upbringing and her actual life, is an intriguing premise to pursue.
Here’s a full list of what’s been added in the last week:
Avail. 7/11 American Ultra
Avail. 7/13 Ridley Jones
Avail. 7/14 A Classic Horror Story
The Guide to the Perfect Family
Gunpowder Milkshake
Heist
My Unorthodox Life
Private Network: Who Killed Manuel Buendía?
Avail. 7/15 A Perfect Fit
BEASTARS: Season 2 Emicida: AmarElo – Live in São Paulo
My Amanda
Never Have I Ever: Season 2
Avail. 7/16 The Beguiled
Deep
Explained: Season 3 Fear Street Part 3: 1666
Johnny Test
Twilight
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 1 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2
Avail. 7/17 Cosmic Sin
And here’s what’s leaving next week, so it’s your last chance:
Leaving 7/21 Oh My Ghost
Oh My Ghost 2
Oh My Ghost 3
Oh My Ghost 4
Leaving 7/28 The Croods
Leaving 7/30 Spotlight
Leaving 7/31 A Clockwork Orange
Bride of Chucky
Child’s Play 2
Child’s Play 3
Eat Pray Love
Four Christmases
Freak Show
Fred Claus
Friends with Benefits
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Grand Designs: Season 10 Grand Designs: Season 15 Hardcore Henry
Hinterland: Seasons 1-3 Hook
Horns
Jupiter Ascending
King Arthur
Little Baby Bum: Nursery Rhyme Friends: S1 The Little Rascals
Mad Max
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Nacho Libre
Nights in Rodanthe
The Patriot
Remember Me
Seed of Chucky
Step Up: Revolution
Your Highness
Zombieland
While her most recent work with The Internet, the band for which she serves as a lead vocalist, came in 2018 with Hive Mind, Syd’s lone solo album arrived in 2017 with Fin. Now, it appears that the singer may have another solo effort on the way as she returns with her second song of the year. Syd drops “Fast Car” with a breezy video that finds the singer and her partner enjoying intimate moments together from the comfort of a Jeep. After finding a comfortable spot, the pair seems to find a quiet spot to enjoy each other’s company, that is, until Syd’s friend arrives to interrupt their peace.
Speaking about the song in a press release, Syd shared her intention behind the song. “I wanted to make something for the gay Black girls,” she said. “I want them to see themselves in this and in me.” Her new single comes five months after she dropped “Missing Out,” an effort she released back in February and labeled as an “anti-Valentine’s Day ode.” On it, she spoke and her struggles with a lover and their inability to “spend the proper time trying to work it out.”
Prior to “Fast Car” and “Missing Out,” Syd linked with Kehlani and Disclosure for “Birthday” and contributed to Lil Uzi Vert’s “Urgency” and Free Nationals’ “Shibuya.”
Press play on the video above to listen to “Fast Car.”
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Look, there are a ton of streaming platforms competing for your attention right now so we totally get it if Peacock slipped under your radar.
But we’re going to rectify that right now because there are some truly terrific TV shows that call the streaming service home, and you deserve to be watching them. Sure, there are workplace comedies galore — we list a bunch of them in our roundup of funniest shows on the streamer here — but there are also crime dramas and Viking-era epics and musical fantasies and more.
Here are the best shows worth watching on Peacock right now.
We’re not going to wade into the war over which version of this seminal workplace comedy series is better. There’s just no right answer, and the two shows are different enough to stand on their own merit. That starts from the top-down, with Steve Carrell putting a twist on the clueless managerial character first embodied by Ricky Gervais. David Brent was a bit of an a**hole, whereas Michael Scott is an equally awkward, incredibly more sympathetic simpleton. And the rest of the cast that makes up the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin carries just as much star power as the show’s lead with talents like John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling, and Jenna Fischer cutting their teeth on the show. Iconic characters, quotable dialogue, a theme song that just doesn’t quit. What more can you ask for in a show?
Friday Night Lives caught the attention of critics and fans alike when it premiered on NBC in 2006. Its gritty, unapologetic look at football culture in the deep red of Texas felt authentic in a way most dramas just didn’t at the time. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton became household names thanks to their on-screen romance as Coach Taylor and his feisty wife Tami Taylor, but it was the Dillion Panthers, a football team that shouldered the burden of greatness while its members dealt with more immediate issues (like high school relationships, graduation worries, and career-ending injuries) that really fueled the story.
Sure, this is a show that jumped the shark in its final season, but damn if the original premise of Heroes wasn’t a masterclass in sci-fi world-building on TV. The show follows a group of people with special abilities who fight to understand the reason for their powers as government agencies and superpowered villains make their own grabs for power. Milo Ventimiglia, Hayden Panettiere, Zachary Quinto, and a host of other A-list talent play in this comic-book-inspired sandbox, and even though the final destination is a bit “meh,” it’s one hell of a ride to get there.
Yes, Amy Poehler was exceptionally funny during her early years on Saturday Night Live, but it’s her run on this comedy series that really showcased her talents. As idealist public servant Leslie Knope, Poehler proved being funny and being relentlessly optimistic weren’t mutually exclusive. She surrounded herself with a cast of actors destined for their own greatness, from stone-cold weirdos like Aubrey Plaza and future superheroes like Chris Pratt, to names like Aziz Ansari and Rhetta, who would go on to have their own TV shows, and the series crafted a small-town setting that was both ridiculous and hilariously relatable. And if nothing else, Parks gave us Ron Swanson, a pyramid of greatness unto himself. You had us at “meat tornado.”
The first (but certainly not the last) spin-off series of Dick Wolff’s police procedural remains the best, mostly because of the chemistry between the show’s leads, Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni. As SVU detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler, the duo investigates all kinds of terrible crimes, normally tragedies involving rape, child molestation, and murder. The formula gets tired after a while, but Hargitay and Meloni keep things interesting.
It should be fairly obvious as to why this sketch comedy series makes our list of best Peacock offerings but we’ll break it down anyway. First, a majority of the comedic talent found on other hit NBC series — 30 Rock, Parks and Rec — got their start here. Second, few shows have the kind of lasting pop culture values that SNL does. Whether you enjoy the classic seasons lead by the likes of Chris Farley, Eddie Murphy, and Gilda Radner or you’re into the more contemporary work from Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Kate McKinnon, and Kenan Thompson, there’s something for every kind of comedy fan here.
8 seasons, 177 episodes | IMDb: 8.8/10
Binge watchers love their medical dramas, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a show about the ill that’s as fun as House. Hugh Laurie plays the episodic’s anti-hero, an opioid-addicted, dry-humored, uncaring genius, and doctor with a knack for solving unsolvable cases. He’s joined by a rotating team of famous faces (Olivia Wilde, Jesse Spencer, and Jennifer Morrison all starred on the show at some point), but they usually just end up getting in the way of his natural prowess with mysterious illnesses.
Justin Spitzer churns out sitcom gold on the regular, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that his latest workplace comedy — a look at the hilarious happenings of a big box department store in the Midwest — is a hit. The show stars America Ferrera, Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, and Mark McKinney among others, and mostly centers on workers at a Cloud 9 store whose lives intersect in ridiculously funny ways. It’s got a lot of heart, plenty of humor, and surprisingly, a knack for tackling some serious issues.
Loosely based on the exploits of the 9th century Viking ruler and king, Ragnar Lodbrok, Vikings doesn’t match the level of complexity in Game of Thrones — the universe is smaller, there are fewer characters, and the plotting isn’t as dense — but it’s a solid, if not sometimes spectacular drama that gets progressively better over the course of the series. There’s crunching violence, lots of ax play, and frequent battles as Ragnar extends his rule over parts of Europe. Compared to Game of Thrones, it’s less about mind games and schemes, and more about brute force, and Ragnor’s victories are seldom in doubt. Nevertheless, it’s entertaining to watch the unrelenting violence unfold and revel in the demise of Ragnor’s rivals. While Travis Fimmel is excellent in the lead role and Gustaf Skarsgård’s Floki provides the often necessary comic relief, it’s Katheryn Winnick (as Lagertha) who is the show’s biggest draw.
We refuse to believe that two seasons is all the TV Gods will give us when it comes to this recently canceled musical comedy series. But, if that’s what fate — and the out-of-touch executives over at NBC — has in store, then at least we can relive all of the brilliant, harmonious humor of this hidden gem starring Jane Levy as a woman who can hear people’s inner-most thoughts in song form.
The antics of this New York police precinct are endlessly hilarious, with every character getting their moment to shine. Brooklyn Nine-Nine has one of the most wonderful casts currently on television, and it hasn’t slowed down a bit from its banner freshman season. While it is technically Jake Peralta’s (Andy Samberg) show, it’s one of the few true ensemble shows on television right now. It’s not that Samberg isn’t good, he is, but the same could also be said of Stephanie Beatriz’s Rosa or Terry Crews’ Terry or almost every other character. A workplace comedy at its core, Brooklyn Nine-Nine proves that showrunner Mike Schur is on a hot streak that shows no sign of slowing down.
Before This Is Us captivated fans with tragic stories of crockpot sabotage there was this family drama that managed to toe the line between sentimental melodrama and damn good storytelling. The show follows the Braverman clan — consisting of an older couple, their four children, and their families — as they battle heartbreak, loss, finding new love, and all of the other joys and hardships of life. This series has a good amount more humor to it than its predecessor, and a giant, uber-talented ensemble cast.
For the eight seasons that Psych was on the air, it entertained a kind of cult following. Fans tuned in religiously to watch this buddy-cop drama about an eccentric police detective who claimed “psychic” abilities and his reluctant, by-the-book partner. Stars James Roday and Dule Hill have incredible chemistry on the show, which pushes the worn-out, fun-cop-boring-cop trope past its usual limits.
Few shows have as many jokes per minute as 30 Rock. The brainchild of Tina Fey, 30 Rock shows the daily madness of an SNL-like variety show, which Fey’s Liz Lemon at the helm. As she tries (sometimes failing) to wrangle her writers and her actors (Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski), Lemon also attempts the ever-elusive dream of “having it all.” Her quest will feel very, very familiar to viewers, particularly women, as they try and balance, work, life, love, and even a small bit of success. With Alec Baldwin turning in his best performance to date as Jack Donaghy, Lemon’s boss, mentor, and eventual friend, 30 Rock has the perfect blend of weirdness, sharp writing, and genuine laughs that will make it a favorite for years to come.
In the early 2010s, you couldn’t have a conversation about favorite TV shows without someone in your friend group mentioning Downton Abbey. The British series about the inner workings of an aristocratic English family and their manner full of servants became the biggest thing to invade America from across the pond since The Beatles. Watching the crusty Crawley family navigate historic events like the sinking of the Titanic and the First World War while their servants dealt in gossip, intrigue, and scandal below stairs was as entertaining and juicy as any good British drama should be.
Fans of Lorde have waited four long years for the singer to return with a brand new album and finally, they know when that would happen. Next month, she’ll release her third album, Solar Power. Lorde has already released the title track for the project and it’s one that’s built additional excitement for the upcoming album. With a little over a month until Solar Power arrives, Lorde stopped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to perform the title track. For her performance, she stood atop the Ed Sullivan Theatre for an elegant set backed by a cast of instrumentalists and backup singers.
Speaking about the upcoming album, Lorde said, “The album is a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalizing the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors.” She added, “In times of heartache, grief, deep love, or confusion, I look to the natural world for answers. I’ve learned to breathe out, and tune in. This is what came through.”
Solar Power is confirmed to arrive on August 20 and continue her streak of fairly short albums as it comes with just 12 songs. In addition to the upcoming project, Lorde announced a world tour in support of Solar Power that beings on February 22, 2022 in Chirstchurch, New Zealand, and continues for four months before coming to an end on June 23 in Berlin.
Press play on the video above to watch Lorde perform “Solar Power.”
Solar Power is out 8/20 via Republic. Pre-order it here.
Willow has well over a decade of music industry experience to her name, but through it all, she never quite put out the music she truly wanted to. All of that changed today with the release of her new album, Lately I Feel Everything. The project presents 11 songs and a few guest acts, including pop-punk star Avril Lavigne.
The two join forces for “Grow,” which arrives as an anthem towards self-care and doing all things necessary to advance on the journey towards self-improvement. It also features Travis Barker who delivers a strong boost to the song’s production. During a recent interview with Alt Press, Willow spoke about collaborating with Lavigne.
“My goodness. She’s just amazing,” the singer said. “She knows this genre like the back of her hand. It was just effortless watching her come up with her verse. Just the tone of her voice and how she knows exactly the right tone that’s going to work with the song.” Willow added, “When I heard her verse, I was like, ‘Oh no, should I even get on this?’ Because I’m not going to sound nearly as hardcore or amazing as she sounds. But then I was like, ‘You know what? Don’t go back into that mindset. Be confident, hold your head up high and sing this damn song with this amazing woman.’ I’m so excited for it.”
In addition to Lavigne, Lately I Feel Everything also includes guest appearances from Alya Tesler-Mabe, Tierra Whack, Cherry Glazer, and three additional features from Travis Barker, with one coming on “Transparent Soul,” the lead single from the album.
Lately I Feel Everything is out 7/16 via MSFTSMusic/Roc Nation. Get it here.
The streaming game is getting strange this week with the “game” component getting literal. Do you want to know where you’ll find the best bang for your buck among the streaming services? One would assume that Warner Bros’ Space Jam sequel starring LeBron James and Zendaya (as Lola Bunny) would be the frontrunner offering, but HBO Max ended up with an inexplicably controversial game on their hands. Yes, the film will probably draw a lot of eyeballs; however, the competition from the other streaming services is so fierce that HBO Max doesn’t land in the top spot.
Instead, those honors go to Disney+ this week, due to Marvel and more Marvel. The Loki season premiere felt so intricately layered and emotional that it begs for a second (or third) viewing, while Black Widow and Monsters Inc. will keep you coming back for more. Also, Discovery+ takes a huge chomp to volley into second place with a whole boatload of Shark Week options to stream. Meanwhile, Netflix churned out a variety of quality options (action? horror? heists? humor?) that will have you covered. Apple TV+ dropped a hell of a cast into a musical show; Hulu’s got the latest Ryan Murphy offering and some Paul McCartney; Peacock has an evil doctor; and AMC brings you The Walking Dead: Origins and even more.
Here’s everything that you should consider putting in your queues this weekend.
Disney+
Disney+
Loki: Episode 6 (Disney+ series) — Season finale time has arrived, and don’t worry, the show’s already renewed for Season 2. Well, it’s a damn good thing, too, because Tom Hiddleston has an absolute blast playing the mercurial trickster of the MCU, and the timeline troubles shall continue. This week, there’s a crushing moment, and there’s also a new big bad cruising into Phase 4. This is the best Disney+ show so far, and Loki’s so beloved that you might binge the whole thing all over again.
Black Widow (Marvel Studios film on Disney+) — Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff finally gets a proper send-off in this actioner that aims to go back-to-basics but succeeds more on a personal level. The film follows the events of Captain America: Civil War, but more importantly, we receive butt-kicking ladies in well-choreographed fight scenes and an emotionally resonant story that introduces us to the inner Natasha, as witnessed by Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova. She’s perhaps the only person in the world who’s allowed to tease Natasha, and their dynamic (and the chemistry between Scarlett and Florence) rules. The film also allows David Harbour to perform grunt-filled face work with a wild accent while the ladies swirl around him in hand-to-hand combat.
Monsters at Work: Season 1 premiere (Disney+ series) — Twenty freaking years after Monsters Inc. arrived in theaters, this franchise has persisted with a prequel and a few shorts, and now, John Goodman and Billy Crystal return as James P. “Sulley” Sullivan and Mike Wazowski. They have both been promoted, and a new crop of monsters (voiced by Mindy Kaling, Henry Winkler, Ben Feldman, and Alana Ubach) are doing the harvesting. The twist here, of course, is that the franchise is trading scares for laughter.
Discovery+
Discovery+
Shark Week 2021 (Discovery+ event) — The annual shark-involved festivities bring several new offerings, including a Jackass special (which is predictably banal) and Eli Roth’s FIN. In his documentary, Roth and a group of scientists and activists travel the globe to shine a light on how mankind kills (many) millions of sharks every year, often through a vast criminal enterprise that could render these animals extinct within a decade. The movie’s co-produced by Leo DiCaprio, and here’s more select picks for the week: Great White Comeback, Stranger Sharks, Tiger Queen, Extinct or Alive: Jaws of Alaska, Rogue Tiger Shark: The Hunt for Lagertha, Envoy: Shark Cull, and The Great Hammerhead Stakeout.
Roswell: The Final Verdict (Discovery+ limited series) — The recently declassified UFO reports from the Pentagon didn’t exactly satisfy curious minds, so there’s no time like the present for revisiting the 1937 Roswell, New Mexico incident, in which a rancher claims to have witnessed strange debris gathering, which led to decades of denials by the U.S. government and endless conspiracy theories. This series will revisit eyewitness accounts in an attempt to uncover the whole truth.
HBO Max
Warner Bros. film on HBO Max
Space Jam: A New Legacy (Warner Bros. film on HBO Max) — Somehow, this film’s the most controversial entry of the year, and all that fuss isn’t paying off because oh boy, the reviews are not fantastic. Even without Pepe Le Pew, this film sounds like a stinker, but at least it’s weird enough that those who can’t resist won’t be bored. LeBron James rallies Lola Bunny (Zendaya) and the rest of his animated pals against the “Goons,” a new gathering of pro basketball stars in order to get home after being trapped in digital space. There’s a rogue A.I. who’s the villain here? It sounds, uh, wild.
Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes (HBO series on HBO Max) — Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow’s podcast undergoes this miniseries treatment here while expanding upon existing interviews with whistleblowers, private investigators, and more. Since Ronan’s the son of Mia Farrow, who was married to Woody Allen (with the whole paternity issue looking awfully odd), the subject of alleged predatory behavior hits particularly hard. The minseries will dig into the powers that be, beginning with the Harvey Weinstein case, for which Ronan’s groundbreaking New Yorkerinvestigative report got the #MeToo ball rolling.
Gossip Girl: Season 1 premiere (HBO Max series) — The original CW series helped to launch the careers of Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Sebastian Stan, and Penn Badgley (and the latter is now portraying an amped-up version of the same character on Netflix’s You). HBO Max is now ready to welcome another crop of mostly unknown faces playing wealthy, privileged teens who find themselves socially surveilled and at the mercy of the “Gossip Girl” narrator, who’s still voiced by Kristen Bell. Showrunner Josh Safran has promised that this reboot series will be much more socially conscious than the original, and that the teens will “take Ubers, not limos.”
Netflix
Netflix
Gunpowder Milkshake (Netflix film) — Look, Netflix original action films might seem like they’re in plentiful supply these days, but this one’s worth particular notice. Karen Gillan portrays the assassin-daughter of an elite assassin, portrayed by Lena Headey, and the pair come back together again to help protect a young girl from an organization known as The Firm. Nope, Tom Cruise does not make a cameo in this picture, but there’s a group called The Librarians, who are played by Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett, and Carla Gugino. Essentially, we’ve got three generations of badass ladies here, doing their best to wipe out pesky henchmen and raise a lot of hell.
Heist: Season 1 (Netflix series) — Three of America’s greatest heists shall be examined in the finest of detail here by the people who did the heisting. These adventures include a Vegas casino heist, a Miami airport heist, and a a Kentucky bourbon heist. The shooting style here aims for Ocean’s Eleven and Catch Me If You Can, and the planning of these heists is flat-out meticulous, so it’s no wonder that the initial heisting went well. However, one must realize that these heisters were eventually busted, so there’s that part of the story, too. Crime doesn’t pay in the long-term, kids.
Fear Street Part 3: 1666 (Netflix film) — The trilogy’s final installment brings the franchise to a head when Sarah Fier’s curse finally gets its origin story. In the end, you’ll see how Shadyside’s residents all feel their lives changed on one fateful night, which will reverberate from many generations to come. R.L. Stein’s stories light up here with a a climactic hurrah. Naturally, you’ll wanna check out the 1978 and 1994 editions before hitting this one.
Never Have I Ever: Season 2 (Netflix series) — Mindy Kaling’s brainchild (one of them, at least… there are so many) returns with more coming-of-age comedy. Devi’s making more questionable decisions along the way (that’s obligatory) while fumbling around through the finer points within new relationships. She does, however, face an out-of-her-control dilemma at school when “another Indian girl who is prettier, cooler” arrives on the scene. Expect more drama at home, too, as this beloved series continues to celebrate the awkwardness of adolescence.
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson: Season 2 (Netflix series) — Get ready for more insanely absurdist (and almost therapeutically refreshing) sketch comedy from creator and writer Tim Robinson. He’s back with partner Zach Kanin for more of turning the most mundane and bizarre life moments into shouty hilarity, and guest stars this season include Bob Odenkirk, Sam Richardson, Paul Walter Hauser, Tim Heidecker, and many more. If you haven’t had the pleasure of digging into Robinson’s work, and you love Adam Sandler and Chris Farley’s exaggerated humor, yet crowned with an especially self-aware twist, you must plop this show into your queue.
Apple TV+
Apple TV+
Schmigadoon!: Season 1 (Apple TV+ series) — If a musical comedy series starring Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, and Jane Krakowski sounds a little bit too frenetic to you, consider this: Apple TV+ has been crushing the comedy game these days with the likes of Mythic Quest and Ted Lasso under its still-young belt. So, one can bet that if a series called Schmigadoon! can succeed, the show found the correct streaming home. Strong and Key portray a backpacking couple who stumble into a 1940s musical, literally. The premise might sound a bit like a horror movie, but it’s intended to be (bizarrely) romantic with a bang-up cast that demands a streaming shot.
The Snoopy Show: Season 1 premiere (Apple TV+ series) — Don’t be a blockhead, Charlie Brown. Instead, tuck into this new animated series for all ages, as long as you’re into the almost universally beloved beagle, Snoopy (duh), and his best friend for life, Woodshock. Not only is Snoopy actually Joe Cool, but he’s also Masked Marvel and a World War I flying ace, and yes, do not try to resist this delight of a revisiting that’s based upon Charles M. Schultz’s “Peanuts” comic strip.
Hulu
FX on Hulu
American Horror Stories: Season 1 (FX on Hulu series) — This spinoff of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s long-lived, anthology-based franchise will present a new iteration of horror. Viewers will receive a fresh set of terrors within every episode, after the flagship series already dove through an unsettling asylum, a freak shows, a haunted hotels, a witch coven, and the apocalypse. It’s not as scary as the real America, but close.
McCartney 3,2,1: Season 1 (Hulu series) — The legend himself (yes, Paul McCartney) sits down with Rick Rubin to get real about his work and legacy from The Beatles, along with his five decades as a solo artist. This is a six-part series the aims to be much more revelatory than your usual pop-culture documentary, which is fitting, given that we’re talking about an iconic musician.
Peacock
Hulu
Dr. Death (Peacock limited series) — This true-crime series tells the story of Dr. Christopher Duntch, whose homicidal ways left dozens of victims in his career’s wake. Alec Baldwin and Christian Slater play the medical colleagues who attempt to stop the mayhem and help bring him to justice. The story’s based upon the Dr. Death podcast, and the prosecutor on the case (portrayed by AnnaSophia Robb) will stop at nothing to indict the healthcare system that helped Duntch bury his misdeeds for years. The doc is so chillingly portrayed by Joshua Jackson that this show might freak Dawson’s Creek fans the hell out.
AMC+
AMC
The Walking Dead: Origins (AMC+ limited series) — This batch of episodes will bridge the gap between zombie-apocalypse-laden seasons with the origin stories of Daryl, Carol, Maggie, and Negan. Expect a lot of interwoven clips (along with cast interviews and narration) to remind everyone of these characters’ most pivotal moments as their stories head into the final season.
The North Water (AMC+ limited series) — This adrenaline-filled series stars Jack O’Connell, Colin Farrell, and Stephen Graham with a story about a beleaguered and disgraced military surgeon who must contend with a terrifying Arctic mission. The elements are the worst enemy here, followed closely by the crew-mate violence at hand. Civilization is a long way away from this story.
The Beast Must Die: (AMC series on AMC+) — Jared Harris and Cush Jumbo star in this revenge-thriller series (which originally aired on BritBox UK and achieved a viewing record) that has already been renewed for a second season. The story’s based on Nicholas Blake’s 1938 novel and revolves around a mother who’s hell-bent upon avenging her son’s death, all while a detective’s working the case and hoping hoping to solve matters before mom takes justice into her own hands. It’s an enormously chaotic show, but it’s so crushingly executed that you’d be gripping your seat arms if you watched it in a theater.
Toosii has gained several moments to slow down and take a break this year, but the New York rapper continues to keep his pedal to the metal and finding new ways to show off his artistry to his growing audience. The rapper’s streak of high productivity in 2021 extends with his latest single, “Head Over Hills.” The track captures him reflecting on the past and current status of his life as he touches on stereotypes he broke down, the love he found, and many other things that are defined as success in his eyes. He also delivers a video for the song, which finds him turning up with fans at a concert and enjoying some fun moments with his team.
Two months ago, Toosii dropped off his latest project, Thank You For Believing. The thirteen-track project saw the New York rapper join forces with Latto, DaBaby, and Key Glock on an effort that proved to be an impressive step forward in his career. Shortly after its release, Toosii was inducted into this year’s class of XXL Freshman rappers, a group that included names like Pooh Shiesty, Blxst, Flo Milli, 42 Dugg, Coi Leray, Rubi Rose, Lakeyah, and more.
On a more recent note, he and Blxst showed off their bars as a part of the 2021 XXL Freshman freestyle series.
You can watch the video for “Head Over Hills” above.
Two years ago, Blxst and Bino Rideaux shared their debut joint project, Sixtape. The 2019 6-track EP helped bring the West Coast rappers to a new level in their careers and it’s one they would surpass the following year with their respective solo efforts. Blxst brought himself to XXL Freshman status thanks to his No Love Lost project while Bino Rideaux solidified his artistry with his own project, Outside. Now, the duo is back together and reunion brings the release Sixtape 2 and a new video for “One Of The Ones.”
The visual is introduced with a motivating narration from DJ Drama, who provides a boost in energy to the effort just like he did during his appearances on Tyler The Creator’s album, Call Me If You Get Lost. Blxst and Bino gamble the night away, enjoying their riches and celebrating the success they’ve attained in their respective careers.
Sixtape 2 is an entirely solo effort with the two rappers handling all of the vocal responsibilities. The project arrives with 12 tracks, double the amount that the duo delivered on Sixtape. The video also arrives after Blxst delivered his XXL Freshman Freestyle alongside Toosii.
You can watch the visual for “One Of The Ones” above.
Sixtape 2 is out now Red Bull Records. Get it here.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
