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Super Bowl LV (Sunday, CBS 6:30 p.m.) — This has been a season like no other, and tonight, the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be going at it (with a smaller live audience than usual) from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, and you’ll be seeing The Weeknd at halftime.

Puppy Bowl XVII (Sunday, Animal Planet 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.) — Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart are hosting all of this intentional cuteness, and I don’t know about you, but I might have to watch this twice in one evening. Will they get baked? Please let them get baked and have lots of yummy snacks

Wandavision: Episode 4 (Disney+ series) — Marvel fans were thrilled to tip their hats to Kevin Feige for what’s easily the best episode of the series so far. Watch out for that brutal Easter egg and a sort-of Full House vibe, but only because “Olsen” and “twins.”

Malcolm & Marie (Netflix film) — Zendaya and John David Washington are getting “achingly romantic,” not to mention dramatic, in this black-and-white film shot during lockdown. Sam Levinson directs and Marcell Rev is on cinematography, so the film looks achingly beautiful as well. Washington’s character is celebrating his movie premiere, and Zendaya portrays his girlfriend, and something goes wrong once they return home with revelations flying and their love put to the test. Levinson meant to send an ode to the Hollywood romances of yesteryear with this one, so Happy (early) Valentine’s Day.

Earwig and the Witch (Studio Ghibli film on HBO Max) — Not a moment too soon, Studio Ghibli follows up the internationally acclaimed Howl’s Moving Castle with a new classic adaptation, and this one focuses upon Diana Wynne Jones’ novel about an orphan, Earwig, who never wants to be adopted because she can apparently control everyone at the orphanage. However, a witch wants to adopt Earwig, who decides maybe that’s not so bad after all because… magic?

Firefly Lane (Netflix series) — Now for a different type of love. Katherine Heigl returns to TV with Sarah Chalke as co-star, as the duo portrays two women over three-to-four decades of best friendship. Expect laughs and sentimentality, all based upon the New York Times bestselling book of the same name, and a brunette Heigl. The show’s an exploration of the most important relationship in one’s life and those friendships that can pick up without missing a beat, even after time apart.

More Than Miyagi (Streaming on VOD platforms) — The The Karate Kid films would never have translated with a lesser Miyagi actor than Noriyuki “Pat” Morita. He was Oscar-nominated for the first film, and as Ralph Macchio reveals in More Than Miyagi (a new Love Project Films documentary), his one Morita-centered regret is not being able to walk the awards red carpet with his friend. Cobra Kai fans will also love this film full of revelations from an impressive assembling of Morita’s well-known co-stars, all of whom express nothing but love and respect for an icon

Bliss (Amazon Prime film) — Mike Cahill directs this sci-fi thriller about a man (Owen Wilson) who realizes that he’s residing within a computer simulation, and the film aims to make you wonder whether you’re in the “real” world or said simulation. It’s a mind-bending adventure with Salma Hayek portraying a mysterious romantic interest, and her telekinesis might be the least weird thing about this movie. Oh, and they definitely go roller skating, too. Fun!

Strip Down, Rise Up (Netflix film) — Pole dancing ain’t easy, and Academy Award-nominated director Michèle Ohayon sends up an intimate look at a group of women who come together to heal trauma and put body image issues to rest with this particular type of dancing. Yes, it’s sensual stuff but so much more, and it looks like a take-the-power-back kind of ride.

The New York Times Presents: “Framing Britney Spears”: New Episode (FX on Hulu) — The seemingly unending saga of mega pop star Britney Spears’ controversial conservatorship is only one focus of this docuseries that aims to do a deep-dive, retrospective view on how Spears’ life and career has also been shaped by public perception and the press. It’s been a long twelve years for Britney under her father’s financial thumb, and that followed a few years of public chaos, which I’m sure you will never forget. Her fans rally in this series for her “freedom,” given that Britney has vowed not to work again until she can make her own decisions again.

Here’s the rest of this weekend’s notable programming:

Saturday Night Live (Saturday, NBC 11:29 p.m.) — Dan Levy hosts with musical guest Phoebe Bridgers.

Supermarket Sweep (Sunday, ABC 8:00 p.m.) — Leslie Jones and every bit of her enthusiasm will host contestants in this revival of the grocery-shopping game show.

The Equalizer (Sunday, CBS 10:00 p.m.) — Queen Latifah’s toting the gun in this reboot as enigmatic former CIA operative Robyn McCall. All she wants to do is settle into civilian life, but you know how that’s gonna go. She’ll step up to help a teen who’s been accused of murder and is also running from the bad guys.

The Lady and the Dale: Episodes 1 & 2 (Sunday, HBO 8:00 p.m.) — The Duplass Brothers are at it again, and this week, they’re bringing us Elizabeth finding off both conspiracy charges and inquiries about her gender identity.

Your Honor (Sunday, Showtime 10:00 p.m.) — It’s limited series finale time for the Panic-Cranston series, and the main man is still breaking bad as a corrupt judge. Will Michael find a way to dig himself out of the massive hole he’s dug for his family and associations. Well probably not… he’s totally screwed.

In case you missed these recent picks:

The Little Things (HBO Max film) — Three Oscar winners headline a film that’s mostly landing on streaming (there are few limited theaters in the mix), so thank goodness for the Internet during pandemic times. The movie stars Denzel Washington and Rami Malek as police officers hunting a 1990s-era serial killer in Los Angeles. (Yep, Denzel is playing a cop again! You can’t hate on that.) Their prime suspect is portrayed by Jared Leto, and this is a tale of overarching obsession and secrets that are best left uncovered.

We Are: The Brooklyn Saints (Netflix series) — Rudy Valdez, the Emmy-award winning filmmaker who poured his soul into HBO’s The Sentence, is here with more intimate verité footage of his newest subject. Here, Valdez turns his camera upon a youth football program in the heart of inner city Brooklyn. The program, of course, is much more encompassing than a pastime but also a vehicle for opportunity for these boys. They also become family with an incredible support system of coaches and parents, all while they strive for victory and overcome losses on and off the field. All of this, hopefully, will point toward a brighter future for all involved.

50M2 (Netflix series) — This Turkish hitman series (and how can you not be intrigued?) revolves around Gölge doing the second-chance thing while doing dirty work for Servit Nadir while taking refuge in a tailor shop. Gölge is masqurading as the late tailor’s son, and he’s transforming the neighborhood and vice versa. Meanwhile, Gölge doesn’t recall his own childhood, so get ready for the photograph-related fallout there.

Super Bowl Sunday is for everyone. Whether you find yourself rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, got money in the game, love commercials, or simply want a lot of pizza and wings for cheap — this Sunday has got something for you. Last year we were lucky enough to have a pretty average Super Bowl Sunday party weekend, but this year things are going to be a bit different. While 10-20 people Super Bowl parties were once the norm, this year we’ll be kicking it with a much smaller circle at home, which might sound like a drag but trust us: this is a blessing in disguise.

No more arguing about pizza toppings, sides, dipping sauces, no more running out of brews and being too focused on the game (or buzzed) to go on a beer run. This year, we get to have all of our favorite snacks and drinks, perfectly curated to our individual tastes. So load up on all your favorite Super Bowl snacks with these big bundle food deals from some of our favorite national pizza and wing joints, plus a few delicious surprises.

Let’s dive in!

DEAL OF THE WEEK: 7-Eleven — Order an entire pizza for just $1 on game day when you order delivery through the 7Now app. This is the type of Super Bowl deal we need more of!

RUNNER-UP: Applebee’s — Use the promo code “BIGGAME” and you can receive 40 free boneless wings with any Applebee’s To Go or Delivery order of $40. That’s like a free wing for every dollar you spend!

BJ’s — BJ’s has put together a special Super Bowl “Homegating Pack” which consists of a large deep dish, one family-sized chip and dip order, two shareable appetizers, and a 64-ounce BJ’s beverage (which yes, includes beer) for $64.95. It’s not the cheapest deal, but it’s a lot of food.

The BJ’s Homegating Packs are available for takeout and delivery via the BJ’s website or app.

Blaze Pizza — Score one large pepperoni pizza for just $9.95 or pick up a Party of One Bundle, which features an 11-inch one-topping pizza and a drink for $7.95 when you order carryout or curbside pickup.

For those looking for delivery, Blaze is offering a Cheesy Bread Bundle, which consists of one large two-topping pizza, two bottled beverages, and cheesy bread for $20.95.

Buffalo Wild Wings — This isn’t a deal to get you fed on the Super Bowl, but it is one worth remembering. If Sunday’s game goes into overtime, B-dubs will give everyone an order of six free boneless or bone-in wings on February 22nd between the hours of 4-7 p.m.

Digiorno — This Sunday, make sure you’re following Digiorno’s Twitter account as anytime the score hits 3-14 or 14-3, Digiorno’s official account will be tweeting out a link for a chance to win free pizza. Which is frozen, so you can totally save it for the next Super Bowl, or you know, eat it next time you get stoned.

Domino’s — Not exactly a Super Bowl deal but Domino’s mix and match deal is a great option for anyone looking to get a lot of food for cheap. For just $5.99, chose two of the following menu items: medium two-topping pizzas, Bread Twists, Cookie Brownies, Oven-baked sandwiches, Chicken Kickers, Stuffed Cheesy Bread, an eight-piece order of boneless chicken wings, a pasta dish, or bread twists.

Hooters — For a big appetite, grab Hooters MVP Bundle which consists of 42 wings and two sides for $39.99. For pre-orders totaling more than $60 placed before February 6th, use the promo code BIGGAME at checkout to receive $10 off your total order.

IHOP — In celebration of the big game, IHOP is introducing the Game Day Family Feast which includes crispy chicken strips, dipping sauce, and French fries for $27.99.

The Game Day Family Feast is only available for take out orders, but IHOP is also offering free delivery on all orders placed through Uber Eats.

Little Caesars — Get an order of free Crazy Bread on any order placed online when using the promo code FREECB. Not the best deal in the world but hey, it’s free!

Pieology — On game day receive $5 off any purchase above $25 when using the code BIGGAME 21.

Pizza Hut — Pizza Hut is offering a $10 Tastemaker pizza which features 3 topping selections totaling 680 total pieces of food on top of your pizza. Is that too many toppings? We think so, but Pizza Hut feels the need to advertise that fact so we figured we’d mention it!

Red Lobster — Red Lobster is offering two different Super Bowl-themed bundles. Choose between the Big Game Bundle, which consists of three seafood entrees and two family-style sides or the Ultimate Feast Big Game Bundle, which consists of lobster tails, crab legs, a garlic shrimp scampi, and Walt’s Favorite Shrimp, as well as two family-style sides.

Both bundles feed a family of four and come with a side of biscuits and Pepsi.

Sonny’s BBQ — Grab a Game Day bundles which features 25 wings with dipping sauce for $24.99, or two meat orders with two three-pint side orders and bread for $39.99.

TGI Fridays — Receive a 25% discount on all Family Meal Bundles and platters ordered online when using the code HOMETEAM. Orders must be placed between February 5th and February 7th.

Yard House — Grab Yardhouse’s Tailgate Takeout Pack, which consists of chicken nachos, wings, and two pizzas for just $50. This deal is valid on Super Bowl Sunday only.

Yoshinoya — Yoshinoya Beef Bowl is offering a $14.99 Combo Feast Deal for game day which includes two bowl combos, and an order of spring rolls and boneless wings. Pick up the promotion via the Yoshinoya app when you use the coupon BIGGAME.

Ariana Grande wasn’t finished releasing music when she dropped her highly anticipated album Positions back in October. The singer followed up the release earlier this year by tapping Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion to hop on a remix of her sultry track “34+35.” After the three musicians had fun recording the song together, it looks like they’re now working on an upcoming video.

Grande first teased the possibility of a video last week alongside the announcement of her Positions deluxe album. The singer posted a photo set which featured an updated tracklist with five new songs, including “34+35 (Remix).” Another photo showed Grande, Doja, and Megan’s name all drawn on a mirror in lipstick, hinting that the three had something special up their sleeves.

Then on Friday, Doja teased a “34+35 (Remix)” video with a series of photos posted to social media. The singer snapped a behind-the-scenes selfie of the three dressed in lace and glamorous jewelry, as well as a close-up of her own look.

Grande shortly followed suit, posting the same selfie as well as a photo of what appears to be the three musicians watching VHS tape footage of themselves on a vintage television.

Check out the teaser photos for the “34+35” video above.

Positions is out now via Republic. Get it here.

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

Hip-hop has a lot to say about a lot of topics, in some truly creative and interesting ways. We all know about “Fight The Power” and “F*ck The Police.” It’s not just about police brutality. Those are fantastic, vital songs, by the way, but focusing on those same songs over and over again overlooks plenty of other gems in which hip-hop talks about social and political problems, sometimes in unexpected, understated, and ingenious ways.

This Black History Month, Uproxx is highlighting some of those underrated gems, the songs that speak to important moments and cultural lightning rods, that give a perspective different from cable news talking heads’ takes. Maybe they’re too subtle, or maybe they’re too inflammatory. Maybe their artists are too obscure, or perhaps their subjects are. Maybe they just got overlooked in the frenzy for other, more obviously “political” songs or bigger hits from artists whose names we all know and love.

But after a year in which hip-hop’s political power was highlighted for a whole new generation to see, these songs deserve some time in the spotlight. Here are the most underrated hip-hop songs for change.

14. Jidenna — “White N****s”

Jidenna’s debut album The Chief was criminally overlooked. Maybe “Classic Man” wore out Jidenna’s welcome or perhaps he simply lost momentum by waiting so long to put out this album, but he speaks to an extraordinary personal experience throughout it, reserving this one cut to make some astute observations on race relations. The idea has been done before, but rarely with such a dreamy yet clear-eyed quality.

13. Nas — “Sly Fox”

On this fiery diatribe from Nas’ 2008 album Untitled, the Queens veteran unloads on Rupert Murdoch’s long-term experiment in mind control, rightfully calling Fox News “propaganda” and pointing out the detrimental effects of its biased “news” coverage. It’s an extremely necessary meditation on one of America’s most toxic institutions that was buried by yet another scattered and shambolic Nas Album Rollout.

12. Kanye West — “All Falls Down” Feat. Syleena Johnson

“Drug dealers buy Jordans, crackheads buy crack / And a white man get paid off of all of that,” might still be the most salient political point Kanye has made in his entire career.

11. Ice Cube — “Why We Thugs”

Look, all praise due to “F*ck The Police” and much of Ice Cube’s early Bomb Squad-produced catalog, but this is the song that best condenses his musical philosophy into a singular idea. By the time Laugh Now, Cry Later dropped in 2006, he’d perfected his pen. “Why We Thugs” is a master class in songwriting economy, succinctly summing up how America’s failings create its scariest boogiemen.

10. Lupe Fiasco — “Little Weapon”

“Won’t someone please think of the children?” It’s been a near-constant refrain about the threat of hip-hop’s deleterious effects on the youth since the genre’s inception and you know what? It’s a stale, pointless theme that’s especially undercut by the content of this gem from Lupe’s 2007 album The Cool. Taking on the prevalence of guns in the hands of children, whether through violent media or literally, in the case of child soldiers, Lupe takes to task our universal fascination with the tools of war.

9. Rapsody — “Hatshepsut” Feat. Queen Latifah

Protect Black women. Honor Black women. Support Black women. Listen to Black women. Believe Black women. And oh, yeah, let Rapsody and Queen Latifah show you what a rap song should sound like.

8. YG — “FDT” Feat. Nipsey Hussle

Wait, hasn’t “FDT” been, like, the anthem of the past four years? Yes, it has. And it’s still underrated. Not only is its refrain one of those things that can never be said enough, but had we heeded this extremely vital and necessary track upon its release, we never would have found out just how thoroughly it applied. Controversial? Sure. But unless you were hanging out on Capitol Hill on January 6, you have four years’ worth of reasons to agree with this song’s core sentiment.

7. Black Star — “What’s Beef?”

When Mos Def and Talib Kweli reunited on Chappelle’s Show in 2003, they shared a new song that somehow was never released. I don’t know why but I know this was a travesty. The highlight here is Mos’ verse, which runs down foreign policy, gang culture, the US’s global pandemic response, the failure of the economic system, for-profit prisons, and ties it all up with a neat bow. Yasiin Bey deserves recognition as one of the greatest writers of our time.

6. Noname — “Song 33”

It’s 90 seconds long. It’s clear, concise, and consistent in drawing attention to the plight of Black women in America, who are so thoroughly overlooked even as they stand on the front lines in the protests against police violence and unprotected by American society that future generations will look back in shame. And yet, it’s been reduced by fans to a diss track.

5. Run The Jewels — “A Few Words For The Firing Squad”

You’ve got to stand for something. Preemptively sharing their final words with their own imagined executioners, El-P and Killer Mike detail exactly what they stand for. They use their last words to point out the hypocrisy and toxicity of capitalism, to highlight the danger of elevating activists to celebrity status, and to flip a defiant bird to the powers-that-be.

4. Chika — “Richey Vs. Alabama”

When Chika, then a mostly unknown MC who’d gained prominence through a Twitter freestyle condemning Kanye West’s 2018 MAGA hat antics, made her television debut, it wasn’t with a well-known hit — she didn’t have any at the time. Instead, in what could have been her star-making moment, she chose to use her platform to call out her home state for voting a proposed abortion ban into law. She’s been tagged a “political rapper” ever since but her insistence on rejecting the title only underscores how deeply we are all affected by political power plays like this one.

3. Lil Wayne — “Tie My Hands” Feat. Robin Thicke

Lil Wayne has never been known for making too much music that feels overtly political, but he can create some truly urgent moments within his work all the same. “Georgia… Bush” usually pops up in lists like this, but “Tie My Hands” is the more poignant version of his observations on the failures of the federal government during and after Hurricane Katrina’s devastation. When he says “My whole city underwater, some people still floatin’,” you should feel a lump in your throat.

2. Common — “A Song For Assata” Feat. Ceelo Green

At the end of Common’s ridiculously acclaimed 2000 album Like Water For Chocolate, the Chicago MC does something rare and beautiful. “A Song For Assata” is a glittering ode to an important figure in Black Americans’ struggle against white supremacist oppression, as well as an informative biography, detailing her story for a generation that may not have ever heard it told so sympathetically.

1. Hip Hop For Respect — “Tree Never Grown”

In the wake of the 1999 NYPD shooting of Amadou Diallo, a collection of New York’s finest underground rappers collaborated to create a spiritual successor to hip-hop’s earlier Stop the Violence movement, resulting in the defiant Hip Hop for Respect EP. While plenty of shine is rightly given to the fiery “One Four Love,” I always liked this more understated, soulful cut that focuses more on the life of Diallo, which makes his death feel all the more tragic.

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

For those who missed out on their chance to ride GameStop and AMC stock to the moon for a nice payday, the next best thing seems to be cashing in by making a movie about the Reddit-fueled stock market hijinks.

We’ve already seen a few reports about GameStop movies on the way: Netflix has movie in mind and there’s even some talk that the Reddit moderators that helped usher in this chaotic crowdsourced short squeeze are fighting over their own chances to cash in with movie deals. But Friday brought news of another GameStop adaptation, this time from the co-creator of Billions.

According to Entertainment Weekly, HBO is the latest outlet in the GameStop-Reddit business, and Jason Blum is on board to turn the still-ongoing stock saga into a movie.

The untitled project is from Jason Blum (of Blumhouse horror movie empire fame), Andrew Ross Sorkin (who co-created Showtime’s Wall Street drama Billions) and Len Amato (Recount).

The pitch: “How a populist uprising of social media day traders beat Wall Street at their own game turning the stock market upside down and shaking the financial world to its core.”

As EW notes, that makes SEVEN different GameStop projects in the works, including a pair of documentaries and five scripted series that are either movies or TV shows. And much like the people who sunk a lot of time and money into propping up stocks to execute the short squeeze, not everyone is likely to be successful. But the list of projects, and the notable names attached either writing or acting in them, is pretty impressive already.

In addition to the HBO project, there’s a scripted MGM movie in development from author Ben Mezrich (Bitcoin Billionaires) based on a pitch titled The Antisocial Network; another in the works from Netflix written by Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty) with Noah Centineo (The Fosters) attached to star; yet another from a new company that’s described as a limited series titled To the Moon; and a fourth from Brett Ratner’s RatPac Entertainment, which acquired the story rights of Jaime and Joel Rogozinski — two men behind the WallStreetBets subreddit — as well as the rights to the book WallStreetBets: How Boomers Made the World’s Biggest Casino for Millennials.

That’s a lot of furious writing about and filming of diamond-handed Redditors, and a good amount of competition to actually get the projects out into the real world. But, hey, it’s a good story. Just one we might see a lot of in the coming years.

One of the most surreal days of the last year — which, to be clear, is an impossibly high bar — came when Rudy Giuliani held a press conference in Philadelphia to declare that Donald Trump, who lost the 2020 Presidential Election, actually won it. The catch: It was originally billed as taking place at the Four Seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, but instead, it occurred at Four Seasons Total Landscaping, a very nice seeming business that has nothing to do with the chain of hotels and is located a little less than 10 miles away from Center City.

A lot of time has passed since then. Trump’s Twitter account and presidency are both gone, Giuliani might end up owing a lot of money to a company that makes voting machines based off of lies he’s spread about their changing votes to hand the election to Joe Biden, and the NBA season began. Those first two things had absolutely nothing to do with the last thing until Friday afternoon, when Philadelphia 76ers executive Daryl Morey made his way to the landscaping company located between a porn shop and a crematorium to declare that, actually, the Sixers won on Thursday night.

To the rest of us, Philly got walloped by the Portland Trail Blazers, 121-105, despite the fact that Portland was without Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, and Jusuf Nurkic. The Sixers were without Ben Simmons, although they still were expected to win the game. The good news is that Four Seasons Total Landscaping has been used as the backdrop to make ludicrous claims that we must, as Orwell once wrote, reject the evidence of our eyes and ears, and in further good news, Morey had some time to kill on Friday.

Alabama trap rapper OMB Peezy stages a brazen restaurant heist in the brooding, violent video for his new single, “Dope Boys.” Fortunately, he’s got some backup in the form of Lil Baby’s 4PF protege Rylo Rodriguez, who helps him when the time comes to shoot it out with some unlucky law enforcement officers who happen upon the robbery in progress.

Peezy, who was born in Alabama and later relocated to Sacramento, has built a buzz over the past several years with a strong of warmly received albums and mixtapes as part of the roster of 300 Entertainment. Most recently, he dropped In The Meantime, a May 2020 mixtape that built on the buzz from his debut album, Preacher To The Streets, in 2019. Peezy’s interregional appeal is built upon his dual-city roots; while he sounds as comfortable as any Southern rapper banging on booming trap production, his later upbringing in Sacramento allowed him to build chemistry with fellow burgeoning Bay Area favorites like Nef The Pharaoh.

Meanwhile, Rylo was given a springboard to success by Lil Baby, who signed him to the 4 Pockets Full imprint launched by the Atlanta rapper and gave him prominent placement on My Turn standout “Forget That.” Despite taking some flak for the frankly awful cover for his debut album GOAT In Human Form, Rylo was able to bounce back, receiving respect from multiple quarters for his unique flow and blue-collar work ethic.

Watch OMB Peezy’s “Dope Boy” video featuring Rylo Rodriguez above.

OMB Peezy is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

These times like to offer us a frustrating lesson in limits. No one likes to feel powerless, yet time and time again, recent events have left us feeling that way. Try as we might to keep healthy, rally behind the movements we believe in, and maintain some sense of normalcy, we cannot, in totality, control the people around us nor the natural world–be it forest fires or viruses.

I believe it’s imperative, however, to always do what we can to make things better. I also believe, perhaps just as firmly, it’s important to remain gentle with ourselves, and take actions to cope and self-preserve during what every email I’ve gotten for the past nine months refers to as “unprecedented times.” One way I’ve done this is by playing simulation games– life simulation games in particular.

Simulation games stretch across a huge category of games, containing titles like Pokemon Snap and Reel Fishing to Trauma Center and NBA 2K21. Just about any game replicating real-world activities qualifies as a sim, but there are some more distinct categories like sports, vehicle and dating sims. Prior to 1999, the majority of games I played were action-adventure games and platformers. Partially because I was, you know, six years old, and also because so many were made at the time. But everything changed for me when I found Harvest Moon: Back to Nature.

To this day, I cannot tell you what made a farming simulator so appealing to a labor-adverse girl living in the English suburbs, though I speculate the allure of choice and romancing pretty women did some of the heavy lifting there. What I can tell you though, was despite its niche, I was utterly obsessed with Harvest Moon–obsessed to the point of having a designated spiral-bound notebook filled with pages upon pages of notes about the game that was only retired when my mom purchased the strategy guide for me. While I got my start in good ol’ Mineral Town, a big move to a small street in a small town was right around the corner–and it was a move that would dramatically change how I viewed games.

Prior to The Sims release back in 2000, I believed there were two fairly distinct categories of games: narrative-driven games and, for lack of a better term, “game-y games”–titles driven by mechanics and objectives rather than characters or plot. Now, if we were to place The Sims into one of child me’s highly academic classifications, its sandbox elements and lack of plot would land it straight in the “game-y games” pile. But what makes The Sims so compelling is just how easily the player can challenge that. While The Sims lacks an established story, compelling characters or, hell, an ending, the very nature of the game allows players to construct all these elements themselves. I had no idea how important, exciting, and therapeutic that was for me until I dug in.

In The Sims, you are given the opportunity to craft lives and stories as dramatic or dull as you desire. Whether you wish to create the perfect nuclear family, flit about town playing Don Juan, or take control of a young widow enjoying the estate her late husband left behind, you’re given the tools and creative control to do so. But the game quickly became more than merely a creative exercise for me. As I look back at the types of families I created, more often than not I opted out of the cheat codes and love triangles and dedicated my time to creating simple, loving families–families I felt were unlike my own.

The early 2000s were a particularly tumultuous time for me: my sister was born extraordinarily premature and disabled, and my parents got divorced after years of my witnessing fighting and infidelity. My fractured family moved repeatedly, and this was all punctuated with the beginning of America’s war on terror, which impacted my military father who would go on to serve in Iraq. In the midst of chaos, my mundane sim families became a small comfort. A reminder that despite everything, I could still keep something from falling apart. I used The Sims to tell the stories I wanted to hear.

To a lesser extent, I still use plenty of games to do this and I know I’m not alone. Life sims, as well as games that borrow these concepts, such as choice-driven RPGs or sandbox survival games, have only grown in popularity in recent years. We’re now ten expansions deep in The Sims 4 and Stardew Valley remains a runaway success that perfectly captures and expands upon the ideas that made the Harvest Moon series great, and that still sees loving tweaks from its developer years after its 2016 release. While the amount of power we have over these game’s narratives varies, we depend on simulation games to offer some semblance of control and the promise of choice, and these qualities are even more important during times when we feel we have none. During times like now.

Which is why Animal Crossing New: Horizons came at such a wildly opportune time for so many. I won’t venture into conspiracy theories here, nor do I think timing is solely responsible for the game’s success: I have little doubt Animal Crossing: New Horizons would have sold plenty of copies if released during a more ordinary year, but I have even less of a doubt that these strange times did help contribute to its frankly staggering sales. A mere five months after its release, New Horizons firmly established itself as the second best selling game on Nintendo Switch, surpassing both Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild–the latter of which was the console’s launch title. And I don’t believe the reason for Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ popularity was quite as simple as “it was something to do.” I think it runs a bit deeper.

For many, New Horizons provided levity, routine, and control in a time where it’s desperately craved. During a time when some of us are unsure of when we’ll be able to set foot on a school campus again, the smallest sliver of solace can be found in knowing the fruit you picked off those digital trees will grow back again in three days, ready for you to pick and sell once more. Whereas our world has abandoned routine, you can create your own when you’re living the island life. Just like all the games mentioned above in the genre’s long tradition, Animal Crossing: New Horizons gave us the ability to create and interact with a world in a way that is meaningful to us. It is free of disasters and disease and provides us a place to smile and dream. Sure, it’s not a cure or an escape, but it inspires a feeling worth holding close right now. Just as The Sims allows us to create the stories we wish to hear, Animal Crossing lets us create a world as sweet and simple as we wish ours could be.

In a time when so much is uncertain, life simulation games provide us with both entertainment and some semblance of control, but they’re much more than a small comfort or mindless distraction–they’re a method of carrying on living life in a world free of consequence and uncontrollable variables. Whether being cooped up has left us longing for the extraordinary, or perhaps the sorely missed mundane, these games allow us to live out these fantasies, be it as a smooth-talking sim, slime-slaying farmer, or cherubic do-gooder surrounded by snarky critters. They also serve as a vessel for self-exploration in a unique way, acting as a sort of interactive journal where self-discovery occurs through the stories and worlds we create, which is perhaps their most powerful quality right now. Where there is a lack of story, there exists a space to write your own. In our current standstill, there’s solace in finding a way to keep the ink flowing.

If you’re a fan of spicy whiskey — and we’re talking peppery spice here, not Christmas baking spices — you likely know your way around a nice bottle of rye. But whiskey with such a high rye grain content (+51%) isn’t the ideal sipping experience for many drinkers. Those cracked pepper notes can veer towards tasting herbal, not a flavor many whiskey aficinados expect.

If true rye is a little too much for you but you want a counterpoint to the vanilla and caramel flavors in bourbon, a spicy, high-rye bourbon might hit just the sweet spot. Especially this time of year.

The bottles below are perfectly suited for winter sipping and their spice adds a nice dimension to the most well-known bourbon flavors (vanilla, caramel, oak). Check them all out below.

Redemption High Rye Bourbon

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $28.99

The Story:

Redemption is known for its rye whiskey. Its flagship rye is a 95% spice bomb. Its high-rye bourbon is slightly more subdued, with 60% of its mash bill coming from corn and a potent 36% coming from rye. It’s aged for 2-3 years in charred, new oak barrels before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll be met with subtle rye, dried cherries, and a slight herbal quality. The first sip is filled with hints of spicy cinnamon, buttery caramel, milk chocolate — followed by a nice hit of spicy, peppery heat at the finish.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the most well-balanced bourbons on the market. It’s the perfect sipper for the bourbon fan who loves rye or the rye fan who loves bourbon.

Old Forester 100

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $19.99

The Story:

One of the best bargain bourbons on the market, Old Forester 100 is made up of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. While it’s not super high in the rye department, its high proof helps emphasize the robust, spicier side of the bourbon world.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll be greeted with notes of caramel corn, peppery rye, and sweet cinnamon candy. On the palate, you’ll find milk chocolate, baking spices, caramel apple, leather, and a nice kick of black pepper. The finish is long, warming, and ends with a final flourish of that rye spice.

Bottom Line:

This high ABV bourbon is spicy, full of warming heat, and well suited for mixing into your favorite whiskey-based cocktails.

Hirsch Small Batch High Rye

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $45.99

The Story:

If you’re a fan of spicier bourbons, you should know the name Hirsch. Made to pay tribute to the classic A.H. Hirsch Reserve 16-Year-Old, often consider the greatest bourbon of all time, Hirsch Small Batch High Rye Bourbon was launched in 2017. It’s made up of two different mash bills. One with 21% rye and the other with 36%.

Tasting Notes:

This eight-year-old bourbon is high in the pepper department. This is followed by mellow vanilla and toasted oak. On the palate, you’ll be treated to hints of brown sugar, creamy caramel, spicy cinnamon, and cracked black pepper. The finish is long, lingering, and is highlighted by a nice combination of caramel apples and white pepper.

Bottom Line:

This is a fairly new entry in the bourbon world and definitely deserving of your respect. It’s spicy, bold, and is a great warmer on a cold winter night.

Four Roses Single Barrel

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $39.99

The Story:

If you’re a fan of bourbon, chances are you’ve enjoyed your fair share of Four Roses. Its yellow label is one of the best bargains in the whiskey world and its single barrel is a great pick for fans of spicy bourbon — with a mash bill of 60% corn and 35% rye.

It’s high proof, spicy, and highly memorable.

Tasting Notes:

The complex, bold whiskey begins with a nose of dried fruits, spicy cinnamon, sweet caramel, and subtle cracked black pepper. The first sip yields buttery vanilla, sweet chocolate, and spicy pepper. The last sip is long, dry, and ends with a nice mix of vanilla sweetness and peppery rye.

Bottom Line:

This high proof bourbon deserves to be sipped straight or on the rocks. Enjoy the warmth of the whiskey in front of an equally warming fireplace.

Bulleit

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $31.99

The Story:

Bulleit is one of the most popular bourbons on the market for a reason. This award-winning whiskey is made up of a mash bill of 68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% malted barley. It’s a great combination of spice and heat, paired with a mellow, smooth finish.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find hints of charred oak, toasted vanilla beans, and subtle rye spice. The first sip brings flavors of Christmas spices, buttery caramel, maple syrup, and toasted marshmallows. The following few sips draw out more of that lingering heat, with a subtle combination of treacle sweetness and peppery spice.

Bottom Line:

This reasonably-priced bourbon might as well have been distilled, matured, and bottled to be used as a cocktail base. It shines in old fashioneds and whiskey sours.

New Riff Single Barrel

ABV: 55%

Average Price: $49.99

The Story:

New Riff’s flagship bourbon is its single barrel, a high-rye (30%), sour mash whiskey made with a mash bill of non-GMO grains before being aged for four years in toasted and charred new oak casks.

It’s non-chill filtered, brash, bold, and spicy.

Tasting Notes:

Spend a moment to give this bourbon a nosing. You’ll find aromas of charred oak, brown sugar, and just a kiss of cracked black pepper. On the palate, you’ll find hints of wood, sweet cream, toasted vanilla beans, butterscotch, and a final note of peppery spice at the very end.

Bottom Line:

This is a complicated whiskey. Although it carries no age statement, we know that it’s around four years old. It’s bold, vibrant, and spicy enough to stand up in your favorite cocktails.

George Remus

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $42.99

The Story:

George Remus was one of the most well-known bootleggers during prohibition. This bourbon from Indiana’s MGP pays tribute to the legendary man with its non-chill filtered, high-rye recipe. It’s balanced, rich, and a must-have for spicy whiskey fans.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find hints of maple candy, sugar cookies, and a nice background note of spicy rye. The palate is flowing with flavors of creamy vanilla, buttery caramel, subtle cinnamon, and a final kick of pepper. The finish is long, mellow, and ends with the slow-burn addition of delicate vanilla.

Bottom Line:

MGP is known for distilling rye whiskeys to use in blends so it should come as no surprise that its flagship bourbon is filled with peppery rye.

Basil Hayden’s 10

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $74.99

The Story:

Basil Hayden’s — along with Knob Creek, Baker’s, and Booker’s — make up Jim Beam’s small batch collection. Basil Hayden’s sometimes plays fourth fiddle (is that a phrase?) to the other three, but its 10-year-old bourbon is a bargain for fans of spicy bourbons with its complex, rich, high-rye recipe.

Tasting Notes:

Take a few sniffs of this bourbon before tasting and you’ll find aromas of toasted oak, creamy vanilla, and peppery rye. The first sip is filled with buttery caramel, sticky toffee, toasted marshmallows, and cracked black pepper. It all ends in a nice, warming finish with just a hint of smoke and spicy pepper.

Bottom Line:

For a ten-year-old bourbon, this spicy, peppery bourbon is a complete bargain. Use it for mixing or sipping. You can’t go wrong.

Old Grand-Dad Bonded

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $19.99

The Story:

If you know anything about Old Grand-Dad you may know that it’s a bold, spicy, robust whiskey that isn’t for novices. This is especially true with its 100-proof bonded version. It’s the kind of bottle everyone should have in their liquor cabinets.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll be greeted with hints of sweet corn, charred oak, creamy vanilla, and peppery spice. On the palate, you’ll find notes of treacle, toffee, cinnamon, and more spicy rye. The finish is very long, filled with heat, and ends with a nice caramel and cinnamon finish.

Bottom Line:

This is a true bargain bottle. For 100 proof, you can’t find a better, cheaper alternative. There’s a reason it’s a bartender’s favorite.

Very Old Barton 100

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $16.99

The Story:

Very Old Barton comes in a few different varieties. There are 80, 86, 90, and 100-proof versions. We like to bypass all the others and head directly for the high-ABV 100-proof version. This spicy, award-winning whiskey has a strong following due to its high quality and low price.

Tasting Notes:

Spend a moment nosing this whiskey and you’ll find hints of candied orange peels, charred oak, molasses, and a nice kick of pepper. The first sip will fill your mouth with notes of creamy vanilla, rich caramelized sugar, caramel corn, and a hint of sweet cinnamon. The finish is long, warming, and ends with a final flavorful note of cracked black pepper.

Bottom Line:

If you encounter this bottle, grab a few. One sip and you’ll want to find a permanent place for this bottle in your liquor cabinet.

Cristin Milioti’s next project doesn’t take her back to Palm Springs, exactly, but there is some equally weird stuff happening in the desert on HBO Max. Milioti is set to star in Made for Love, a series that looks just as dark and weirdly funny as the Hulu darling in which she shined in 2020.

Entertainment Weekly has some exclusive photos of the show, one of which features an extremely alarmed Milioti crawling out of what appears to be a spider hole of some sort. According to EW, Milioti described the series as a “sci-fi, dark comedy, family, emotional survivor story” where she plays Hazel Green, a woman who was controlled for a decade by a “sociopathic tech billionaire husband.”

That husband is Billy Magnussen, who apparently loses grasp on control of Milioti… and chaos ensues. There’s microchipping and a whole lot of weirdness, as described to EW by the showrunner.

“The story is about a woman who has left her tech mogul husband only to discover that he has put a surveillance chip in her brain,” explains showrunner Christina Lee of her adaptation of Alissa Nutting’s best-selling novel. “That, in and of itself, was a fantastic premise for a show. But what really drew me in was Alissa’s voice. Her writing has a way of making you feel queasy and delighted at the same time, making you burst into laughter. She set up such a fun and unique world to adapt and expand from. Plus, what other show can boast that they have a sex doll and a dolphin as main characters?”

That’s a question I quite literally cannot answer, but if you’re a fan of Miloti’s past work it’s likely to bring you a bit more joy. And since Milioti spends some time talking about the similarities between the show and Palm Springs, there’s a good chance an epic dance number that involves flipping the bird is involved somehow, too.