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As a forward-thinking indie-pop star with her fingers firmly on the pulse of cutting-edge tech like AI, virtual reality, and NFTs, it only makes sense that Canadian singer Grimes’ first foray into the “singing competition show” phase of her career will involve a virtual component. Alter Ego a new “secret identity” singing show in the vein of Masked Singer is coming to Fox this fall, and Grimes is set to be one of the judges alongside a panel that includes fellow Canadian Alanis Morissette, reality fixture Nick Lachey, and tech aficionado Will.i.am. BET’s Rocsi Diaz is set to host.

The concept will build on Masked Singer‘s anonymous talent gimmick but add in elements of the Second Life game and Space Jam, with contestants creating digital avatars for their performances — which they’ll control using motion-capture technology. Fox’s president of alternative entertainment and specials said of the show, “Alter Ego merges talent and technology to revolutionize the singing competition show in only a way Fox can do. We are so excited to bring the fantastic Will.i.am, Alanis, Grimes, Nick, and Rocsi together as they search for the next big singing star, allowing incredible vocalists a chance to realize their dreams and perform like never before.”

Alter Ego will air Wednesdays this fall on Fox.

Republican clout chaser and Grandpa Munster cosplayer Senator Ted Cruz is now entering the #FreeBritney chat.

Cruz, who probably should be more concerned with the rising Covid rates in Texas and the state’s failing power grid, recently gave an interview on Fox News in which he proudly threw his support behind Britney Spears. The pop star’s legal battle over her decade-long conservatorship has dominated headlines in recent weeks as fans learn even more disturbing details about the singer’s current living situation. Some of those updates just haven’t sat right with Cruz, who told Fox News he was “unequivocally” in the “Free Britney camp.”

“What’s happened to her is ridiculous and it’s unjustifiable,” Cruz told host Stuart Varney on his show. “She’s a grown woman and yet she can’t make any decisions about her own life.” Cruz then went on to plug his podcast — he dedicated an entire episode to explaining conservatorships to listeners who, like us, might have been wondering why a Texas senator who’s so publicly failing his constituents seems so invested in the legal saga of a former Mouseketeer.

Then again, Cruz probably just saw Spears was trending on Twitter and saw a chance to score more clicks. The GOP’s most-loathed mascot definitely socialed his #FreeBritney campaign on his timeline:

And he’s not the only politician taking notice of the singer’s plight. Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bob Casey recently sent out letters to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, asking for the data on conservatorships and guardianship arrangements in an effort to bolster Spears’ case. The support from both sides of the political aisle when it comes to Spears’ fight did not go unnoticed by Twitter, either.

It looks like Britney Spears may have been the key to bipartisanship all along.

Success means different things to different people. For rapper and producer Thurz, seeing his name on a marquee didn’t quite resonate. He longed for something more meaningful and rooted in the community that helped him develop a fan base and find his voice.

“Moving in the music space you always get pulled to perform in Hollywood,” Thurz says. “But none of those venues are owned by people of color.”

Recognizing that fact prompted the rhymer to create Party In My Living Room, a grassroots effort to bring production value to the classic neighborhood function and foster a space where he could perform for people in the community he grew up in. Hailing from Inglewood, California, Thurz credits the house party culture of the Los Angeles suburb with changing his ideas on what a live space could (or should) be,

“Being a local here, house parties are really part of the culture,” he says. “Every weekend there was a party at one of my auntie’s and uncle’s houses, letting me know that people can have a good time in spaces that they live in. With Party In My Living Room, I wanted to bring production value into nontraditional spaces, the intention behind that was to give a place for people to come that we can really be ourselves, and celebrate the music that we love.”

In the five-plus years that Party In My Living Room has been around, Thurz has taken it from a self-produced, self-funded experiment to a full-blown events business. He’s hosted parties in different cities across the country, from Inglewood to Atlanta to Miami.

“I think that Party In My Living Room represents that if you have an idea and you take action and you’re willing to take risks to do it yourself, then there will be a community around to come help you,” Thurz says.

Watch the video above to learn more about Thurz’s journey, how he continues to blur the lines between the neighborhood function and music venue, and how Party In My Living Room has gone from just a dream to an important space for like-minded creators. Be sure to keep an eye out for additional episodes from our Salud to Summer series, created in partnership with Modelo.

The Good Place star Jameela Jamil has officially confirmed her role in the upcoming She-Hulk series for Disney+. In a video posted to her Twitter account on Friday, Jamil showed off her intense fight training along with an inspirational message that ends with an adorable baby photo of Jamil striking a fierce fighting pose.

“I can’t believe I get to say this but… Fighting my way through the MCU, coming to you in 2022! #SheHulk #AnythingIsPossibleKids” the video captions read.

Jamil’s She-Hulk casting was reported by Variety last month, but like all things Marvel, there was no official confirmation until now. The actor is reportedly set to play the villainous Titania, and judging from her training video, she’ll be throwing down with Tatiana Maslany‘s She-Hulk. Despite Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige revealing that the show will be a half-hour legal comedy, it’s clearly not going to skimp on the action if Jamil is hitting the gym to prepare for a superhero brawl.

In an interesting wrinkle, the latest Shang-Chi trailer revealed that the upcoming martial arts movie will lay the groundwork for the return of Tim Roth’s Abomination. The Incredible Hulk villain is slated to appear in She-Hulk, but before that happens, Marvel has officially confirmed that, yes, that was Roth’s character fighting Wong from Doctor Strange in the Shang-Chi trailer.

Could Jamil be prepping for a battle with Abomination as well as She-Hulk? Why not both? These Disney+ shows are wild. They have alligators and everything.

(Via Jameela Jamil on Twitter)

100 Foot Wave (Sunday, HBO 10:00pm) — This six-part sports-documentary series follows the decade-long journey of Garrett McNamara, the pioneering and iconic surfer who dreamed of conquering (as the title indicates) a 100-foot wave, which did more than push his sport to literally higher heights while also elevating a small fishing village. Emmy and Globe winner Joe Lewis executive produces alongside award winner Chris Smith, who also directs.

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. 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.

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 coven, and the apocalypse. It’s not as scary as the real America, but close.

These streaming picks make great appetizers:

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.

Back to some more regularly scheduled programming:

The White Lotus: (Sunday, HBO 9:00pm) — Mike White’s new series skewers the ultra-wealthy in what turns out to be a brilliant satire on how obscene wealth rots everything that it touches. It’s like The Love Boat or Fantasy Island had a lovechild with Agatha Christie, and this week, Armond’s attempting to deal with horrible Shane while Rachel disastrously asks Nicole for advice.

Wellington Paranormal: (Sunday, CW 9:00pm) — What We Do In The Shadows fans rejoice because you’re receiving a spinoff mockumentary series with the same comedy-horror tone from creators and executive producers Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. This week, Officers O’Leary and Minogue end up at a mysterious party while answering a noise-complaint call.

Betty: (Friday, HBO 11:00pm) — The main players are all back: Rachelle Vinberg as Camille, Ajani Russell as Indigo, Dede Lovelace as Janay, Moonbear as Honeybear, and Nina Moran as Kirt. This week, the party is over, while confessions and new beginnings shine through the conflict.

Kevin Can F**k Himself (Sunday, AMC 9:00 p.m.) — Kevin’s somehow having two birthday dinners because of course, all while Patty has a date with Tammy.

Rick and Morty (Sunday, Adult Swim, 11:00pm) — Rick and Jerry have a completely terrible guys’ night while Summer and Morty, uh, steal Rick’s car.

The Chi (Sunday, Showtime, 9:00pm) — Emmett and Tiff go out on the town while Kevin and Papa are focused on getting back in their ladies’ good graces.

Black Monday (Sunday, Showtime, 10:00pm) — Dawn’s preparing for her next (literal) move, but Mo’s attempt to help her didn’t go as planned, and Blair realizes that the call’s coming from inside the house.

Flatbush Misdemeanors (Sunday, Showtime, 10:30pm) — Zayna’s responsible for Drew’s dad’s predicament, which leads to her attempting to save her own butt. Meanwhile, Kevin and Drew are on another mission.

Desus & Mero (Sunday, Showtime, 11:00pm) — Cynthia Erivo is the illustrious guest.

Here are more streaming picks for the weekend:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Maria Taylor became one of the most talked-about broadcasters in sports in recent weeks, as her contract negotiations with ESPN have become engulfed in controversy, speculation, and dogged reporting. But despite concerns that Taylor would leave ESPN in the lurch as her contract expired, apparently that is no longer the case.

On the heels of an explosive report about Rachel Nichols and her grievances with Taylor taking the NBA Finals pregame hosting duties for ESPN last year, Taylor’s negotiations with the network about a new deal were given new light. Subsequent reporting indicated the host and sideline reporter would leave ESPN for NBC sometime during the month to jump on that network’s Olympic coverage.

But according to The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch, Taylor will stay with ESPN until at least the conclusion of the NBA Finals.

Deitsch amended his reporting to include the obvious — the Finals will go at least six games, as the series is tied at 2-2 as of Friday afternoon. But the result remains the same: Despite reports that Taylor could jump to NBC before the Finals concludes, the sides worked out an agreement to keep the broadcast consistent until the Larry O’Brien Trophy is awarded later this month.

There’s been nothing officially announced about Taylor’s future from anyone involved, but the path seems clear that once the Finals wraps up, Taylor will move on and her soon-to-be former employer will replace her with someone else in that role.

Remember how it felt like every character in 2016’s Suicide Squad got two introductions and it took up half the movie? The Suicide Squad shouldn’t have that issue. For one thing, James Gunn is an economic screenwriter who’s able to make exposition funny. That’s no easy task. Also, we already know Harley Quinn, Rick Flag, and Captain Boomerang, and many of the new character identities speak for themselves. King Shark is a… shark (and a Harley Quinn animated series legend), Weasel is a… weasel, Ratcatcher 2 controls… rats, and Polka-Dot Man is a… man who throws polka-dots.

‘The Suicide Squad’ Team

But just in case you’re having trouble remembering Bloodshot from The Thinker, Warner Bros. has released an “In on the Action” featurette that breaks down every character’s “thing.” Bloodsport is a “grumpy guy,” according to Idris Elba, while John Cena describes Peacemaker as a “douchey bro but a patriot at the same time.” As for the others:

-King Shark is “just really stupid, but he’s also really kind”
-Polka-Dot Man is a “product of an experiment gone wrong”
-Ratcatcher 2 “controls and can talk with rats”
-Mongal has “super strength, super speed,” and she’s a “super bitch”
-Savant is a “distinctive-looking chap” who’s “very quiet” and “very powerful”
-T.D.K. is “a guy who’s arms and legs come off, that’s his only power”
-Javelin is “sexy” with “blonde hair” and a “very large toothpick”

Pete Davidson doesn’t say much about his character, Blackguard, other than he has a long purple ponytail in the comics. He’s still more useful than the Joker.

The Suicide Squad hits theater and HBO Max on August 6.

19-year-old Jacksonville rapper Nehemiah Harden, better known as TikTok sensation SpotemGottem, was reportedly arrested by US Marshalls in his hotel room in Aventura, Florida, according to NBC Miami. Harden was scheduled to perform Rolling Loud’s return event next week in Miami, but now faces a litany of charges including aggravated assault. He was granted an $18,500 bond today.

Marshalls had a warrant Spotemgottem from a June case in which the rapper and several friends broke the gate at a parking garage in Miami and reportedly threatened someone who tried to stop them — the story doesn’t make clear whether this was a passerby or the garage attendant — with a semi-automatic weapon. Marshalls say that Spotem had an AK-47 pistol lying on the bed next to him, which added a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon to his existing charges of aggravated assault with a firearm and accessory after the fact to a felony.

The rapper is best known for his viral single “Beat Box,” which has since received remixes from numerous rappers including DaBaby, Deante’ Hitchcock, Latto, Polo G, Lil Yachty, and NLE Choppa. The song is, fittingly, about SpotemGottem’s gun, which can “make a beat box” when fired. It became a TikTok favorite when creator Junebug created the #JunebugChallenge dance, which was used in numerous videos on the popular app.

Bad news usually grabs the headlines so it can be hard to remember that we live in a world full of beauty. Here are 10 stories that made us happy this week because they feature amazing comebacks, powerful acts of giving, and one super-amazing cow.

1. Man brushing his cow to Bruno Mars is a moment of pure zen

This video is the perfect example of how man and nature can live in harmony. Thor the cow is in pure bliss as his human friend brushes him at a farm in Emmett, Idaho.

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2. Zalia Avant becomes the first Black American to win the Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee

Zalia’s achievement is even more spectacular being that she has only been competing in spelling tournaments for two years. The 14-year-old practices about 13,000 words a day for up to seven hours.

Three Guinness World Records and now the national spelling bee champ! Congrats, Zaila—your hard work is paying off.… https://t.co/kCUQNB2IhE

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama)
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3. Visual effects guy transforms himself into random objects and it’s pure magic

Toronto-based animator and video wizard Kevin Parry has gone mega-viral for his mind-boggling collection of videos where he turns himself into random objects. In this series of quick clips he changes into everything from a pumpkin to a bright yellow banana and in most of the videos, he appears to suffer a ridiculous death.

A collection of me turning into random objects. https://t.co/ValPdPNJIj

— Kevin Parry (@kevinbparry)
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4. High schooler mocked for wearing the same clothes every day surprised by football players

When Michael Todd started his freshman year at MLK prep school in Memphis, Tennessee, his classmates made fun of him because he only had one outfit to wear. “I really don’t have clothes at home,” he told KTVI. “My mom can’t buy clothes for me because I’m growing too fast.” But all of that changed when two football players surprised him with bags full of shirts, shorts, and shoes.

Football players give student clothes

www.youtube.com

5. Record number of Americans are ‘thriving’—even more than before the pandemic, Gallup finds

Americans were asked to rank their current and future life on a ladder scale of zero to ten and the number who ranked themselves as seven or above reached 59.2% in June, eclipsing the previous high of 57.3% set in September 2017.

via Pixabay

6. 1980s cultural icon Michael Winslow made an emotional comeback on ‘America’s Got Talent’

Actor, comedian, and self-proclaimed “voicetramentalist,” Michael Winslow was just about everywhere in the ’80s. However, he put his career on the backburner to raise his family after the death of his wife in 1993. This week, he made a stunning comeback on “American’s Got Talent” winning four big yesses from the show’s judges.

America’s Got Talent 2021 Michael Winslow Full Performance & Judges Comments Auditions Week 7 S16E07

www.youtube.com

7. Hundreds offer to donate cars to South Carolina mechanic who fixes them for those in need

Mechanic Eliot Middleton fixes old cars and donates them to rural families without a ride. After being profiled on CBS News, people have donated nearly 8000 cars to the cause. “Whatever glowing feeling is inside me, it just transferred from that TV screen and went inside them,” he said.

8. Kenyan scientists genetically alter their bananas to save them from devastating bacteria

A bacterial disease was ravaging banana plants in Kenya. So scientists at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) created a genetically modified banana that was bacterial resistant.

via Pixabay

9. Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee beats leukemia

The highly decorated swimmer was a shoo-in for the summer Olympics in Tokyo but had her hopes derailed when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Rikako fought hard, overcame the disease, and won the 100-meter butterfly race at the Olympic trials, earning her a spot in the 4X100 medley relay races at the games. “I was not expecting to win the 100 meters at all, and I was feeling far less confident than during the Olympic qualifiers five years ago,” she said. “It’s a miracle just to be sitting here – it’s a miracle I’m alive.”

Two years ago, swimmer Rikako Ikee was diagnosed with leukemia. Now, she’s qualified for the Tokyo Olympics japan… https://t.co/6onOqgcVnB

— Uplifting News by Qwyck (@upnewsbyqwyck)
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10. Track star Quanesha Burks goes from working at McDonald’s to the Tokyo games

After suffering a bone injury last year, Quanesha was unsure if she’d be able to compete in the Olympics. But by reflecting on her past, she was able to overcome the injury and made the Team USA roster.

“At one point, my coach told me, ‘I don’t know if you’re going to physically be able to go to the trials.’ The doctors didn’t know if I would be back in time… I was facing so much, but I kept going back to when I worked at McDonald’s. I had my goals set and I knew I could do it,” she said.

“I was facing so much but I kept going back to when I worked at McDonald’s. I had my goals set and I knew I could d… https://t.co/2Tp0xVNLtB

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow)
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A few months back, LA hip-hop boy band Brockhampton released their album Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine. They’ve also got a needle-drop on the recently released reboot Space Jam: A New Legacy. Now, Brockhampton leader Kevin Abstract has an upbeat new solo single out called “Slugger,” which features guest spots from Slowthai and SoundCloud rapper Snot.

As Stereogum notes, “Slugger” is co-produced by Abstract, Al Hug and Brockhampton’s Romil Hemnani. Plus, its release coincides with the first collection from Abstract’s own Video Store Apparel. “Slugger” also has an accompanying video where Abstract and friends lay out verses in what looks like the Video Store warehouse, while, of course, modeling the clothes.

Back in March, Abstract, who released solo album Arizona Baby in 2019, announced that Brockhampton’s next two albums would be their last as a group. Addressing impending split on Twitter, he wrote, “We all love each other and we wanna continue making the best music we can,” he wrote. “Everybody just getting a lil older and got a lot to say outside of group projects. We’ve dedicated the last ten years of our lives to making music together. This next project we’re just doing what’s rite.”

Listen to “Slugger” above. The first Video Store collection is available here.