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Tom McCarthy’s Stillwater may be garnering positive reviews, but there’s one person who won’t be cheering it on come awards season: Amanda Knox, the American student who spent nearly four years in an Italian prison after wrongfully being found guilty of the 2007 murder of her roommate, fellow exchange student Meredith Kercher. In Stillwater, Matt Damon plays Bill Baker, a redneck who travels to Marseille, France to visit his estranged daughter (Abigail Breslin), who is in prison for a murder she swears she doesn’t commit. Bill, hellbent on seeing his daughter exonerated, sets off on a journey to prove her innocence in a country whose language, and legal system, he doesn’t understand. Knox, who was officially acquitted in 2015 and is now a bestselling author, activist, and TV and podcast host, couldn’t help but notice the similarities between Breslin’s character and her own story — and she’s pissed.

As The Wrap notes, Knox fired off a series of tweets expressing her extreme displeasure with McCarthy’s decision to tell part of her own life story without her consent.

She began the epic thread with a series of questions: “Does my name belong to me? My face? What about my life? My story? Why does my name refer to events I had no hand in? I return to these questions because others continue to profit off my name, face, & story without my consent. Most recently, the film #STILLWATER.”

She went on to call out Vanity Fair for its description of the film as “‘loosely based’ or ‘directly inspired by’ the ‘Amanda Knox saga,’” And took specific issue with the use of the phrase “the Amanda Knox saga.”

“I want to pause right here on that phrase: ‘the Amanda Knox saga,’” Knox wrote. “What does that refer to? Does it refer to anything I did? No. It refers to the events that resulted from the murder of Meredith Kercher by a burglar named Rudy Guede.” Knox went on to lament “that 15 years later, my name is the name associated with this tragic series of events, of which I had zero impact on. Meredith’s name is often left out, as is Rudy Guede’s. When he was released from prison recently, this was the NY Post headline.”

Knox has a very valid point when she noted that she “would love nothing more than for people to refer to the events in Perugia as ‘The murder of Meredith Kercher by Rudy Guede,’ which would place me as the peripheral figure I should have been, the innocent roommate.”

Knox was clear that this Stillwater isn’t the first occasion where someone has chosen to “rip off my story without my consent at the expense of my reputation.” In an attempt to clear the air — or at least directly air her grievances — Knox invited McCarthy and Damon to join her on her podcast, Labyrinths, so that they could hear her side of the story. And better understand how “By fictionalizing away my innocence, my total lack of involvement, by erasing the role of the authorities in my wrongful conviction, McCarthy reinforces an image of me as a guilty and untrustworthy person.”

You can read the full thread below, or via her Medium post:

(Via The Wrap)

Simone Biles withdrew from all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this week to protect her mental health. “We have to focus on ourselves because at the end of the day, we’re human too,” the gymnast said. “We have to protect our mind and our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.” Instead of applauding her difficult decision, SNL cast member Michael Che shared a tasteless joke about Biles being sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

“man, i wanna make fun of Simone Biles,” the “Weekend Update” co-anchor wrote in an Instagram Story posted on Thursday night. “I got like 3 mins of simone biles jokes in my head. im going to the cellar tonight to say them into a microphone. as the dorky kids say, im choosing violence.” Che didn’t share any of his material — instead, he shared jokes he received from his followers via direct message, and commented on them.

One person wrote, “Larry Nasser [sic] understands Simone Biles better than anyone. He too had to quit doing what he loved at the pinnacle of his career because of mounting pressure,” which Che called “rough” and “absolutely tasteless” and gave it a 9 out of 10. Another follower said, “Okay so I am shivering while typing this.. but you are encouraging me. Who said black don’t crack?” Che captioned it, “now thats a good joke. economical. referential. balanced. good job. 8/10.” He later claimed he was hacked.

Che also posted an Instagram story claiming his account had been hacked.

“maaannnnn, i got hacked today. cant believe they got me,” read the story, which was also shared on Twitter. “yall know i only do jokes about whites and cops. s’all good now i changed my password and everything.. anyway, yall hear about dababy tho..? thats crazy. iight. see yall at church. imma get there early.

No one believed him.

People are also over his tired attempt at being “edgy.”

(Via Newsweek)

Billie Eilish made news in March 2020 when she debuted a head-turning video during a concert, in which she spoke about body shaming and expectations, all while taking off her shirt. A couple months later, she released that video as a short film titled “Not My Responsibility.” When Eilish later shared the tracklist for Happier Than Ever (which is out today), it was revealed that a song called “Not My Responsibility,” presumably derived from the short film of the same name, was included.

Indeed, the album version of the song seems to be mostly the same as the audio from the short film, except for the transition into “OverHeated” that’s tacked onto the end of the album version. The track gets its title from the closing lines: “If I wear more, if I wear less / Who decides what that makes me, what that means? / Is my value based only on your perception? / Or is your opinion of me not my responsibility?”

Listen to “Not My Responsibility” above and find the song’s lyrics below.

“Do you know me?
Really know me?
You have opinions about my opinions
About my music
About my clothes
About my body
Some people hate what I wear
Some people praise it
Some people use it to shame others
Some people use it to shame me
But I feel you watching
Always
And nothing I do goes unseen
So while I feel your stares, your disapproval or your sigh of relief
If I lived by them, I’d never be able to move
Would you like me to be smaller, weaker, softer, taller?
Would you like me to be quiet?
Do my shoulders provoke you? Does my chest?
Am I my stomach? My hips?
The body I was born with
Is it not what you wanted?
If I wear what is comfortable, I am not a woman
If I shed the layers, I’m a slut
Though you’ve never seen my body, you still judge it
And judge me for it
Why?
We make assumptions about people based on their size
We decide who they are
We decide what they’re worth
If I wear more, if I wear less
Who decides what that makes me, what that means?
Is my value based only on your perception?
Or is your opinion of me not my responsibility?”

Happier Than Ever is out now via Darkroom/Interscope. Get it here.

It’s official: Cade Cunningham is headed to Detroit. After being viewed as the clear-cut No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft for more than a year, no matter which team ended up getting that selection, Cunningham’s journey in the league officially began on Thursday night, when Adam Silver read his name from a podium at the Barclays Center that sealed his future in the Motor City.

The fit’s a fun one — Cunningham joins a Pistons team with plenty of young talent that showed flashes last year, and in theory, he and Killian Hayes have the potential to be one of the league’s most promising backcourts. The pick-and-rolls he’ll be able to run with big man Isaiah Stewart will be a blast, as will the two-man game he develops with Jerami Grant. And when he needs someone to knock down the open looks he’ll generate, Saddiq Bey will surely be more than happy to oblige.

Prior to his selection by the Pistons, Dime caught up with Cunningham to discuss his partnership with Uptime as an Official Brand Ambassador, being vegan, getting ready for the pros, how his high school ball prepared him for this moment, and more.

What do you have going on with Uptime?

With Uptime, so, I just signed a deal them, multi-year deal with them. My first drink company deal, so I’m super excited about that. I love the product, it goes along with me. So yes, it’s a good deal for sure.

I know it’s an energy drink. I am a coffee person, what’s your pitch to me for why I should I should switch Uptime?

There we go, I like that. I like that. So, Uptime is all natural caffeine, non GMO, natural sugars. It was all natural and I feel like every time I’ve drank it, it’s been a good, easy energy for me, but there’s no crash to it. It’s just a good healthy energy and it tastes great. And it’s on the come up, there’s not a lot of people drinking Uptime right now, but I feel like their product is great. I mean, I chug them down, constantly.

I want use that as a lead into asking about taking care of your body. One thing that I’ve read is that you are or were vegan. Are you still doing? I’ve heard it’s something that’s really beneficial for recovery, because like your body isn’t breaking down animal proteins and stuff like that.

I started going into my last year of AAU, and I did it for like two weeks, and then I had to leave to go to Greece, and in Greece we’re eating nothing but McDonald’s, so I’m eating chicken nuggets, I’m eating all these burgers. And I started feeling bad, and during the trip, I was like, “When I get back to the States, I’m straight back vegan.”

Once I started back again, I felt great, and from then on, I think you know all the things that they say about veganism, the benefits and stuff. I’ve experienced pretty much all of those in my own different way, but I feel like just trying something new and being conscious about you eat, that was the main thing that I wanted to do it.

One thing that I always read when someone’s talking to someone coming into the NBA is how getting a guy into a college strength and conditioning program is something that’s invaluable to them. So physically, what’s the biggest difference between pre-college Cade and the guy that I’m talking to today?

Pre-college Cade, I definitely worked on my game. I was serious about the basketball side of things, but I feel like that was the that was mainly it. Like, I was super serious on the court. But I would eat whatever — which is fine, I’m sure there’s a lot of guys that work their butts off on the court and get by. But I felt like once I got to college, that was when I started to really take my body seriously, just take all the other things that go into basketball — your mental health, just trying to expand my game and my body. And really, just better my life, for real. I feel like these are habits that I’ll be able to carry on whenever I’m 60 years old and still have a healthy body.

Let’s talk about your game and let’s start with kind of the generic question: What’s been the biggest focus for you heading into the Draft and why?

The biggest focus has been still adding onto my jump shot from NBA range and deeper, but also, just tighten up my handle and tightening up aspects my game, ISO scoring and things like that. I mean, there’s a lot of things that I could add on, but, I’ve been trying to do a lot of fine tuning, for sure.

Yeah, it’s almost like if you take too broad of a look you’re not really going to get better.

Right, instead of being a lot better at a skill that you need, a specific skill. And that’s what my approach has been for a long time, trying to add my pick-and-roll game down, really knowing the pick-and-roll game. I spent a whole summer doing that. Next summer was shooting the ball, making sure anytime I was open, I shot the ball. I’ve had big jumps in skills pretty much each year and I’ve had an offseason just because I’ll take it with that type of speed, taking it one step at a time, one skill at a time.

You’re an interesting guy because you’ve been surrounded by high level teammates going back to high school, AAU ball, but you always seem to elevate them. What is it about your game that you think makes everyone who plays with you better?

A lot of times, I feel like people think it’s more about the game, but I feel like it’s been because of who I am off the court, like the teammate that I am, the friend that I am off the court. I feel like guys have been able to relate to me, I’ve had great teammates that I’ll turn to brothers. I just saw Scottie Barnes downstairs, we probably hugged five times, just because I feel like I’ve been able to build really good connections with guys and I want the best out of my teammates. I want Scottie Barnes to be the best Scottie Barnes that he can be, because I wanted Scottie Barnes to have a great college career and a great NBA career as well. So in high school, we had to push each other to be the best that we could be. I think that’s what it is, I want the best out of my teammates, and I feel like that’s kind of a contagious attitude to where eventually everybody, the whole team is starting to think like that, and then we can get the best out of each other.

Someone comes up to you on the sidewalk and says, “Cade, what’s the game I need to watch to get a sense of what makes you such a special player?” What’s the game that you’re telling them to go back and find?

I’d say the Baylor game, conference championship. I mean, it wasn’t my highest scoring game or whatever, but Baylor was incredible this last year, from top to bottom. They had guys that could go, and I feel like that was one of the biggest wins of my life, as far as Baylor’s one of the best teams I’ve played in my young career, probably the best team that I’ve played in my young career. And so, to be able to come in as real underdogs and beat them in the conference tournament was huge, and I feel like just how the game went, I had some struggles through the game. I had some great moments through the game. I made some plays. There was just a lot of different things going on, but I think my approach to that game and just the fact that there was no way I was gonna let us lose, that kind of screamed off the screen, and if I’m telling somebody to watch a game on me, that’s what I want them to see.

And I remember that game vividly. At a certain point, did you just feel like you were in control of things? Because Baylor was very good at getting opposing point guards really knocked off their game.

Yeah, I mean, that’s pretty much every game. I feel like any game I step into, I have a real influence on how the game is gonna go and the speed of the game. And so I feel like no matter how much you game plan, it’s gonna be hard to take my influence on the game away. No matter how I play — good, bad, whatever — people are gonna really recognize how Cade played in the game. And that’s something I take pride on, and I know that it’s a long game, but I know that I’m gonna get going eventually. So I never let myself get too down or anything through the struggles or a couple missed shots or whatever, I just stay poised, and I feel like that game, my teammates really kept us in it and then made sure that I was confident whenever it was that time.

I always like asking dudes about teammates, and you just mentioned the guy I was going to ask about in Scottie. I have to imagine those practices of Montverde where it’s you, it’s Scottie, it’s Day’Ron, it’s all the kids in future Drafts. That’s iron sharpens iron from the time you’re, what, 15, 16 years old?

Listen, I think some of those Montverde practices had to have been the best basketball that I’ve played in my life. Just, the consistency of it, but how bad everybody wants to win. And like, we were such a tight-knit group, but you would think that the two teams hated each other when we practice. And every day, the teams were different, and it’s a new hatred going on. And I think that was just the competitive mindset, but it wasn’t just the players. It started with coach Boyle, he wanted everybody to be like this all the time, to compete and make each other better and push each other, to talk trash to each other, cuss at each other, all the other stuff, because it only makes you better physically, but mentally, like, I think any game that we went into, we knew it was gonna be a lot easier than practice. We knew we were prepared. And having the guy like Scottie with all that energy and passion and things like that, I mean, it’s just contagious. So everybody got to bring their best qualities to the table, and everybody else got soak all those up.

I went back and I watched the interview you gave with Dwyane Wade on the pressure that you faced coming in Oklahoma State, and you said, “I think it’s more like an opportunity to prove that even though projected me as that, I didn’t feel I was known enough.” Now that the Draft is here and you’re going right at the top, do you still feel that way?

I don’t think it’s as much as people know me, but I still sometimes don’t feel like I get the respect that my game deserves. Which, granted, I’ll probably feel like that maybe my whole career. Like, who knows? That’s just kind of a chip that I was born with, like, I don’t feel like I’m getting enough, I don’t feel I’m getting enough out of myself, I don’t feel like I was good enough. I’ve always had this competitive mindset, wanting to be better than what it was, to improve and things like that. And I feel like that’s been the main thing that’s helped me get to this point. And like you said, I kind of felt like, people were still sleeping going into Oklahoma State, just because people were projecting Oklahoma State eighth in the conference. So, just having those little things, I try to take all of those and use them as motivation because motivation is everything.

And then my last question: You’ve been a guy who’s been mentioned that you’re going to make the NBA, you’re going to go at the top the Draft, all this stuff for years, and that’s finally here. Have you taken a second to take it all in and reflect on your journey so far?

Man, it’s crazy. It’s crazy. It feels like it took forever, but now that I’m actually here, it happened so fast. I want to be able to run back some of those AAU games and just relive those memories, but, I mean, where I’m at right now in my life, I’m excited for what’s coming up next. I know it’s a big turning point in my life coming up, so now, I’m just trying to sit here and soak it all in and really enjoy the moment. I don’t want to look back 10 years from now and feel like, “Nah, I was just too ahead of myself, I was onto the next thing, I wish I would have been in the moment.” So yeah, like I said this is a surreal moment, I’m gonna try to make the most out of it.

The sweltering days of summer definitely arrived, and to complicate matters, it’s once again unwise to gather in crowds, so some programming relief is in order. Well, Netflix knows how to make your at-home time as enjoyable as possible. The streaming service offers up a few teen shows, one of which doubles as a guilt-free indulgence for soap-loving adults. There’s also an action-guy movie (by one of the ultimate action guys of all time), along with some robot drama and a dating show followup that might be messier than the original. Also, if you’ve ever wanted to watch people regret their bad tattoos, you’re in luck. Here are the most bingeworthy selections of the week, so that you can relax and never step out your front door in order to be entertained.

Here’s everything else coming to (and leaving) the streaming platform this week.

Outer Banks: Season 2 (Netflix series streaming 7/30)

This is not your typical teen drama. Last season delivered loads of intrigue and flat-out woo-woo revelations following a hurricane and buried treasure and class warfare between different factions in an overall well-to-do community. There are Kooks and Pogues, and the power’s gone for the entirety of the summer, which sounds miserable, but the mysteries won’t stop, including the whereabouts of John B.’s dad. And oh yes, there’s so much soapiness to the characters’ dynamics that you might lose your footing while slipping towards that sunken treasure. This show is crackers!

The Last Mercenary (Netflix film streaming 7/30)

Jean-Claude Van Damme gets flexible again while starring as an ex-secret service agent (in France) who turns into, well, a mercenary. There are mob hijinks and a reckless youngster and bureaucrats and an errant son, and yeah, this sounds like 1980s movie that landed three decades too late, but hey, we could all use some silly action on our screens to make us forget about the effects of gravity.

How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast): Season 3 (Netflix series streaming 7/28)

The controversially named hit series launches a new season with Moritz feeling alienated yet trying to keep it together as the MyDrugs CEO. Meanwhile, Lenny’s condition deteriorates, so Moritz must step in to assist. This season’s pulling the “one last job” trope with these best friends, and expect some explosive consequences.

Love Is Blind: After The Altar: Season 1 (Netflix series streaming 7/28)

After couples marry without ever seeing each other, the one-year mark is bound to be filled with a certain number of messes. Join this dubious anniversary party and see how well (or not) the dating-show experiment went.

Tattoo Redo: Season 1 (Netflix series streaming 7/28)

Bad tattoos (and poor judgment) happen, and the most talented of artists know how to transform them into something much better. The twist here, though, is that these clients can’t choose their own coverup designs; that’s up to their loves ones, so we’ll see how these turn out.

Transformers: War for Cybertron: Kingdom: Season 1 (Netflix series streaming 7/29)

The Autobots and Decepticons must confront rival Cybertronians that have been spawned by their conflict. There are Predacons, too, and a Golden Disk, and Megatron might now hold a distinct advantage in his rivalry against Optimus Prime. Robot drama!

Here’s a full list of what’s been added in the last week:

Avail. 7/26
The Walking Dead: Season 10
Wynonna Earp: Season 4

Avail. 7/27
All American: Season 3
Mighty Express: Season 4
The Operative

Avail. 7/28
Bartkowiak
Fantastic Fungi
The Flash: Season 7
The Snitch Cartel: Origins
Tattoo Redo
Too Hot to Handle: Brazil

Avail. 7/29
Resort to Love
Transformers: War for Cybertron: Kingdom

Avail. 7/30
Glow Up: Season 3
The Last Mercenary
Outer Banks: Season 2

Avail. 7/31
The Vault

And here’s what’s leaving next week, so it’s your last chance:

Leaving 8/1
American Assassin

Leaving 8/4
#cats_the_mewvie

Leaving 8/7
The Promise

Leaving 8/9
El Cartel: Seasons 1 & 2
Nightcrawler

Over the past week, public opinion on DaBaby has, to borrow a phrase from one of his collaborators, done “a full 180“: He’s faced accusations of homophobia and the fallout from them following his controversial appearance at Rolling Loud last weekend. Questlove decided to speak out against DaBaby’s actions, which prompted DaBaby to fire back.

Questlove took to Instagram and shared a list of artists he would include in a modern Summer Of Soul festival lineup, and DaBaby’s name was on the list but crossed out. Questlove explained that he removed DaBaby from the roster in light of his recent goings-on and admitted that while he hesitated to speak out against him, the things DaBaby said were “not cool at all.” He wrote:

“I was hypothetically asked if I was curating an updated version of #SummerOfSoul who would be my acts?

I gave my dream list.

And now I’m updating my list —-because it’s 2021 & f*ck the bullshit. I’m especially not here for any savagery (if you’re lost: Google the idiocy of the crossed out). I’m not trine be all performative smurf & create a social flogging or start some click bait headlines. That’s missing the point. But right is right & his actions are wrong. Somebody Gotta say it: Homophobia/Transphobia/Xenophobia/Misogyny/Racism—-this should go w/o saying is morally wrong.

& not that fake hiding behind religion holier than thou morally wrong.

But ‘that was f*cked up’ & wrong. I had to say something. Again I’m not doing this for ‘what do you want a cookie bro w your ‘love ye one another’ posts?—–black people already have a code about publicly criticizing so I’ll admit i was slow to do this because I mean he don’t know me from Adam. So this will prolly get marked as ‘old hater’ territory. But man…..that sh*t was not cool at all.

I dunno man—maybe I’m turning into a grump: barely said anything about Rih in ’06 (lemme mind my business), looked the other way w ol bol & that MaGa Hat (he going thru thangs let him work it out)—-don’t even get me started on half of my rap heroes damn near becoming f*x news talking points w their russian bot reposts & misinformation on all things facts.

Huey Newton wisely stated in the early 70s that we as a people should NEVER go so low in life (with what we been through) that we start oppressing/terrorizing the next man in the way we been terrorized for centuries.

Y’all got my point. Sorry this came off awkward but y’all get the point. Y’all gonna learn that there are other human beings living in the space you are.”

DaBaby caught wind of the post and responded by insisting that he doesn’t know who Questlove is (despite performing with The Roots on The Tonight Show in 2019) and sharing messages for his detractors. He wrote on multiple Instagram Story posts:

“i ain’t even tryna be funny when i say …. i do NOT KNOW WHO DIS N**** IS DAWG [laughing emoji] [shrugging emoji] $ do not care bout loosing you as a fan my boy lol @questlove. You or any other n**** who wanna play follow the leader . This superstar you was a fan of is STAND UP n**** , Yeen never seen one of these huh? [laughing emoji]

These n****s really think they gone influence people to stop f*ckin w/ the INFLUENCE [laughing emoji]. They go crazy bout what I say not yall [laughing emoji]. I got da influence AND the nuts n****. Y’all n****s cheerleaders.

Y’all extra ass n****s tagging along playing on my top like I’m a n**** you can bully of sumn [laughing emojis] going out y’all way creating art work & sh*t tryna gain new fans off my situation cuz it’s QUIET for y’all n****s [crying emoji]. N****s better hit the studio of sumn.”

Check out Questlove and DaBaby’s posts below.

For the second straight game, the USA women’s basketball team found itself trailing early, this time to a Japan team that came out swinging offensively.

The size differential between the two sides was a big storyline coming in, as Japan simply had no one who could match up with Britney Griner, A’ja Wilson, and the rest of Team USA’s bigs, but what they had was speed, execution, and shooting that allowed them to put Team USA under some early stress once again. Breanna Stewart was hot early for the USA, and she finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists in a tremendous all around performance.

On the other side, it was the balanced team shooting of the Japanese that kept them in the game, as they took a two-point lead into the second quarter, hitting 6-of-10 from three-point range and 6-of-9 from two, as they carved up the USA defense.

In the second quarter, the Americans made the needed adjustments to crowd Japan’s shooters, going to a three-guard lineup that let them stay more attached on the perimeter, holding Japan to just 10 second quarter points as they opened up a nine-point lead at the half thanks to that stifling defense.

In the second half, Team USA would start to pull away as Wilson and Griner just feasted inside. Wilson finished with a game-high 20 points along with 10 rebounds and three blocks, while Griner had 15 points and five boards herself. However, Japan heated up again offensively late in the third and early in the fourth, closing the gap back down to single digits. Ultimately, they just didn’t have enough to keep up with Team USA, who pulled away to a 17-point win that wasn’t quite indicative of how much Japan pushed them.

Some of the same issues persist for the Americans, namely their struggles with fullcourt pressure and turnovers (17 for the game). If they can settle down in those moments and avoid getting sped up, they will likely start to look like the fully dominant force everyone expects them to be, because their offensive balance inside and out, as well as how strong they are defensively when locked in and forcing teams to play in the halfcourt, is remarkable. Still, it’s early in the tournament and they have plenty of time to continue ironing out those details, and have managed a pair of comfortable wins to open up their Olympics, extending their winning streak to 51.

There’s no doubt that Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars’ upcoming joint album as Silk Sonic is one of the most anticipated projects of the year. The duo set the bar extremely high earlier this year with the release of their debut single, “Leave The Door Open.” The groovy track quickly became a favorite of music lovers from all over, and soon enough, the singers would be hit with repeated requests to drop a follow-up to the song. Tonight, the duo comes through with “Skate,” at long last

If you had any fears of a misstep from Silk Sonic, we can confirm that none have occurred as “Skate” does nothing but keeps the funk alive. The track is released with a colorful video that features Bruno and Anderson performing for a group of female rollerskaters. Bruno sits behind a set of congas while Anderson takes his talents to a classic drum set. All in all, the song is quite the inviting release as the duo begs a woman that’s caught their attention to make her way over to them.

It’s very possible that “Skate” could bring the same success to Silk Sonic as “Leave The Door Open” did. The latter spent two weeks at No. 1 on the singles chart and helped the duo win Best Group at the BET Awards this year.

You can press play on Silk Sonic’s funky new single in the video above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The streaming game couldn’t be more welcome this weekend, given that many of us are retreating back into our home theaters to wait out the current situation. Do you want to know where you’ll find the best bang for your buck among the streaming services? The two most serious contenders this week put up a good fight with Netflix narrowly beating out Disney+ for the top spot. The former’s variety of quality selections this weekend can’t be beat, and highlights include the return of a popular teen action-soap-opera that adults secretly love to binge, too. On Disney+, however, there’s a long-awaited blockbuster starring two of the biggest movie stars out there, and multiple other selections await.

However, it’s worth noting that there’s more than enough to enjoy on the other streaming services. HBO Max offers a terribly funny dating show, a different look at Sesame Workshop, and some Tig Notaro. Apple TV’s going strong with more Ted Lasso arriving this weekend, and more. And AMC+ is hanging tight with fresh episodes of already-debuted series (including origin stories from, you know, that zombie show). Elsewhere, Amazon Prime, Paramount+, Acorn, and Roku all offer new series for the taking.

Here’s everything that you should consider putting in your queues this weekend.

Netflix

Outer Banks: Season 2 (Netflix series) — This is not your typical teen drama. Last season delivered loads of intrigue and flat-out woo-woo revelations following a hurricane and buried treasure and class warfare between different factions in an overall well-to-do community. There are Kooks and Pogues, and the power’s gone for the entirety of the summer, which sounds miserable, but the mysteries won’t stop, including the whereabouts of John B.’s dad. And oh yes, there’s so much soapiness to the characters’ dynamics that you might lose your footing while slipping towards that sunken treasure. This show is crackers!

The Last Mercenary (Netflix film) — Jean-Claude Van Damme gets flexible again while starring as an ex-secret service agent (in France) who turns into, well, a mercenary. There are mob hijinks and a reckless youngster and bureaucrats and an errant son and yeah, this sounds like 1980s movie that landed three decades too late, but hey, we could all use some silly action on our screens to make us forget about the effects of gravity.

How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast): Season 3 (Netflix series) — The controversially named hit series launches a new season with Moritz feeling alienated yet trying to keep it together as the MyDrugs CEO. Meanwhile, Lenny’s condition deteriorates, so Moritz must step in to assist. This season’s pulling the “one last job” trope with these best friends, and expect some explosive consequences.

Tattoo Redo: Season 1 (Netflix series) — Bad tattoos (and poor judgment) happen, and the most talented of artists know how to transform them into something much better. The twist here, though, is that these clients can’t choose their own coverup designs; that’s up to their loves ones, so we’ll see how these turn out.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation (Netflix series) — The very battle for Eternia’s soul continues with the ultimate fanboy, Kevin Smith, picking up the showrunner sword. Smith’s enthusiasm for all stuff geeky has led him down many roads, all of them filled with huge feelings, and honestly, the dude has the Power of Grayskull running through his veins. So, one can expect him to nail the tone here while advancing the story, justifying a revival, and continuing the story of the rivalry between Skeletor and everyone else. Cringer and Orko and Teela are on board, and the voice cast (including Lena Headey, Henry Rollins, and Jason Mewes) is phenomenal here, especially Mark Hamill as Skeletor. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of He-Man, guys.

Disney+

Jungle Cruise: (Disney film on Disney+) — Emily Blunt might be the star of the summer (after A Quiet Place 2‘s success) if this long-awaited potential blockbuster’s a hit, and the excellent news is that you can watch it in theaters or your living room. She punches The Rock in this movie, and he plays the shipper who’s attempting to guide her down the river through life-threatening obstacles. This movie’s based upon a Disney theme park ride, so expect plenty of ridiculousness including Jesse Plemons firing a torpedo at the duo after brandishing a German accent and Paul Giamatti with a pretty bird.

Turning The Tables With Robin Roberts: Season 1 (Disney+ series) — The host jokingly described this as a “tea party,” but really, it’s a gathering of groundbreaking women throughout the entertainment industry. Those ladies include Jamie Lee Curtis and Tig Notaro, along with several other guests who present their own incredible journeys and reveal how they found true purpose. The series aims for authenticity and vulnerability as these women reveal what led them to evolve and expand their careers.

The Wonderful World Of Mickey Mouse: Batch 2 (Disney+ series) — The Sensational Six (Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto) return for more adventures that traverse locations and time periods with special guests, so tuck in and relax with some retro entertainment.

Marvel Studios: Assembled:: Season 1 The Making of Loki (Disney+ series, releasing in the wee hours of Wednesday morning) — This immersive documentary-type series brings us a fresh installment to help us feel a little bit better about having to wait for Season 2 of all of the Lokis and their mercurial pursuit of the glorious purpose. Tom Hiddleston had an absolute blast playing the MCU’s trickster god, and hopefully, we’ll hear more about that crushing moment and the new big bad. This is the best Disney+ show so far, and Loki’s so beloved that you might binge the whole season all over again.

Apple TV+

Ted Lasso: Season 2 (Apple TV+ series) — First thing’s first: Everyone who’s caught a glimpse of this Bill Lawrence co-created and developed series loves it. That’s a notable feat, considering that star Jason Sudeikis first portrayed the title character way back in 2013 for NBC Sports’ promos for Premier League coverage. Fast forward to the fresh hell that was 2020, and the show surfaced as one of the year’s lone bright spots. Ted Lasso is somehow both relentlessly and charmingly cheery, although the last season finale showed the team losing against Manchester City, which spelled bad news, since the team can no longer hang in English Premier League games. We’ll see how they can turn themselves around, and while considering that possibility, it’s best to remember that Ted Lasso (and Walt Whitman) once said, “Be curious, not judgmental.”

Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson: Season 1 (Apple TV+ series) — The legendary producer and DJ pulls back the curtain on stories of music creation, which can be good, bad, and ugly regarding how far creators will go to nail the perfect sound. In addition, Ronson shines a light on artistry and technology’s intersection, and expect a lot of prominent artist guests.

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.

HBO Max

FBoy Island: Season 1 (HBO Max series) — Hoo boy this show looks like one hot mess, and that might be exactly what you need during this slightly disastrous summer. Escape to a land where a dozen self-proclaimed “FBoys” compete against a dozen self-proclaimed “Nice Guys” for the affections of three ladies. Nikki Glaser hosts, and the show aims to answer the ultimate social experiment’s question, according to the synopsis: “Can FBoys truly reform or do Nice Guys always finish last?” (Well, one of the FBoys crushes a mango with his bicep in the show’s trailer, so this is entertainment.)

Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage (HBO film on HBO Max) — All was not what it seems for this three-day music festival that was meant to revive the countercultural idealism of its 1969 predecessor. Well, things weren’t “peace and love” in 1999, but rather, a total disaster by most standards. Mosh pits, blazing heat, a distinct lack of sanitation, and an absence of free water led to riots and looting, all of which were not deterred by the scant security measures. Decades later, this documentary looks back upon a pivotal moment when rose-tinted nostalgia evaporated under the hard truths exposed by this mismanaged festival. All pre-Fyre Festival!

Tig Notaro: Drawn (HBO special on HBO Max) — On the heels of the “hot Tig” role in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, quadruple threat (comedian, writer, actor and director) Tig Notaro pulls off an innovative first. That feat would be the first-ever entirely animated stand-up comedy special, in which you’ll witness an hour of pure genius. Several artistic styles will mesh with Notaro’s voice and storytelling style, and expect anecdotes about Dolly Parton and Jenny Slate, along with other fearless touches.

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.

Through Our Eyes: Season 1 (HBO Max series) — Sesame Workshop gets dark with this quartet of 30-minute films that intend for adults to watch with their kids, who should be at least 9 years old, according to HBO Max’s press information. Each installment will follow children as they experience enormously challenging family issues, including parental incarceration, housing insecurity, weather-related disasters, and the hurdle of a military parent who’s been injured. These very real issues mean to teach lessons in empathy and will hopefully educate all ages.

Acorn TV

The Wine Show: Season 3 (Sundance/Acorn TV series) — Who doesn’t want to see a bunch of dashing and distinguished gentlemen — Matthew Goode, Matthew Rhys and James Purefoy — travel across Portugal to unearth the region’s best wine? There’s also an exploration of sparkling wine and other countries involved, including Thailand and Germany, and eventually there’s New York City, along with wine, wine, and more wine.

Paramount+

Behind The Music: Season 1 (Paramount+ series) — This revival brings back the Emmy-nominated docuseries that was once so popular on VH1 and will not be updated for a new generation. Of course, one should expect the older generations of music to be showcased here because, let’s face it, music can be considered ageless. The profiled artists this season include Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, LL Cool J, and Huey Lewis, and one can expect plenty of “vault” episodes that have bene remastered and updated with fresh interviews. MTV Entertainment co-produces this series, which will stream only here.

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.

Ultra City Smiths: Season 1 (AMC+ series) — Fans of Robot Chicken will undoubtedly want to check out this stop-motion animated selection from Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and showrunner Steve Conrad. Expect very adult-oriented humor and the voices of Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard, Alia Shawkat, Tim Meadows, John C. Reilly, Bebe Neuwirth, Jason Mantzoukas, and Damon Herriman.

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 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 PTSD-afflicted detective’s working the case. 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.

Roku

The Demi Lovato Show: (Roku series) — The former Disney (and Camp Rock star) nabbed one of a handful of initial Roku originals with what aims to be more than a mere talk show. Lovato will host celebrity guests and experts, of course, but she’ll do so with honest discussions about hot-button subjects. What’s particularly unusual is that these episodes shall only be 10-minutes apiece, and Roku’s excerpt promises to tackle activism, feminism, mental health, and so much more, along with, uh, “interplanetary visitors.”

Amazon Prime

The Pursuit of Love: (Amazon limited series) — Lily James and Emily Beecham star as cousins whose friendship is tested to the challenges of love and life. Dominic West co-stars, and there’s a little Andrew Scott (the Hot Priest from Fleabag) for some extra spicy flavor.

Despite rising to fame after growing up for most of his life in North Carolina, Toosii taps into his New York roots (he was born in Syracuse) to access the drill rap sound that exploded in the state thanks to names like Pop Smoke, Fivio Foreign, CJ, Rah Swish, and more on his newest single, “Spin Music” featuring Fivion Foreign.

The track arrives with a visual that opens with Toosii and Fivio surrounded by an array of dirt bikes, ATVs, and a few other flashy vehicles. Toosii heads indoors to fire off a confident verse while Fivio goes back and forth between the outdoor’s rowdiness and the company of a woman in the bedroom for his own contribution to the song.