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A photo of Joe Biden hugging and kissing his only living son, Hunter, is circulating after Newsmax TV host John Cardillo shared it on Twitter with the caption, “Does this look like an appropriate father/son interaction to you?”

The question is clearly meant to be a dig at Biden, whose well-documented life in politics includes many examples of both his deep love for his family and his physical expressions of affection. While his opponents have cherry-picked photos to try to paint him as “creepy,” those who know him well—and who are in some of those viral images—defend Biden’s expressions of affection as those of a close friend and grandfatherly figure. (And in fact, at least one photo of Biden holding and kissing a child’s face was of him and his grandson at his son Beau’s funeral, taken as a still shot from this video.)

Everyone has their own level of comfort with physical space and everyone’s line of what’s appropriate when it comes to physical affection are different, but some accusations of inappropriateness are just…sad. And this photo with this caption is one of those cases.

What people see when they look at this photo says a lot more about them than it does about the father and son in it. And the reactions on Twitter made that point crystal clear.

A therapist weighed in, saying “if anyone looks at this photo and sees anything other than father + son love, I’d recommend therapy until the person knows [the difference between] healthy + unhealthy touching.”

Some people pointed out that this kind of affection from a father to a son is something the world needs more of, not less.

Others just matter-of-factly said, “Umm, yes.” Like, what is he seeing that he things isn’t appropriate?

Not that it wouldn’t be appropriate if this weren’t the case, but knowing the tragedy this father and son have been through adds greater context to this photo. Biden lost his wife and Hunter lost his mother in a car accident when Hunter was little. And Biden lost a son and Hunter lost his only brother in 2015 when Beau Biden died of brain cancer.

This is a father-son affection that includes a bond that only those who have shared severe loss can know.

Many people shared how the photo made them miss their own fathers and wish they could have one more hug or kiss from their dad.

In addition to pointing out the hypocrisy of Trump supporters trying to paint Biden as inappropriate when there is no shortage of photos of Trump in eyebrow-raising photos with his kids—including one with Ivanka and Eric as kids standing next to Jeffrey Epstein—some people shared how a lack of fatherly affection might explain how people see Trump.

Several people suggested that Cardillo sees the photo the way he does because he himself has daddy issues.

And in one response, Cardillo almost appeared to confirm it, only denying a small, unrelated part of a tweet suggesting he’d been mistreated by his own father.

The fact that anyone would look a photo of a loving father embracing his son and kissing him on his cheek and think “Ew,” is truly sad.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where men showing affection is viewed negatively by some people, whether due to toxic ideas of masculinity or homophobia or both. We also live in an era of poisonous partisanship that pushes people to view those on the other side of the political spectrum as evil. Combine that with the QAnon conspiracy theorists obsession with pedophilia, and we’ve ended up with one of the nicest and most decent men in politics being smeared with posts like this.

Clearly, some people need more parental love in their lives.

Clemson demolished Georgia Tech last week in a 73-7 rout as they continue to exist on a plane so far above anyone else in the ACC that it’s become difficult to even watch Clemson games on a regular basis because they get out of hand so incredibly quickly.

This week, they are breaking new ground in terms of dominance as they face off with a dismal Syracuse team that just lost at home to Liberty. As of this moment, the Tigers are a 46-point favorite over the Orange, which is the biggest point spread for a Clemson in-conference game ever — I’m fairly confident saying this since it’s definitely the biggest in a decade and before this decade they were never head and shoulders above the rest of the ACC.

Per Odds Shark, Clemson has been a 46+ point favorite five times previously, but all have been against FCS opponents — Citadel, Wofford, Furman, and SCSU (twice). This will be the first time they reach that number against an ACC opponent, and, adding to the hilarity, they are -100000 favorites on the money line to win the game outright, which is to say, a $1,000 bet on Clemson simply to win on Saturday would net you a robust $1 return. On the other side, Syracuse is +4000 on the money line, meaning a $100 bet would win you $4,000 if they somehow win outright on the field.

I wanted to know exactly how rare it is for a Power 5 team to be a 46-point favorite in conference play and, to the best of my ability, could only find four previous instances of this in the past decade and six overall.

The most recent was Rutgers a year ago, who covered as a 52-point underdog against Ohio State. Kansas has twice faced a 46-point spread in the Big 12, both in 2015, going 1-1 ATS, nearly beating TCU and getting thumped by Baylor. Back in 2012, Colorado failed to cover a 47-point spread against Oregon in its second season in the Pac-12. In the ACC, Florida State was twice a 47-point favorite in 2000, going 1-1 ATS with a cover against Duke and failing to cover at Wake Forest. Also in the Big 12, Oklahoma was a 54.5-point favorite in 2003 over Baylor and failed to cover in a 41-3 win.

Syracuse will look to make the dogs 5-3 ATS and simply hold on to lose by fewer than seven touchdowns against Trevor Lawrence and Clemson on Saturday.

HBO and HBO Max are delivering some impressive titles this month, so divide your time amongst the streamers accordingly.

You’re definitely going to want to schedule a binge-watch of His Dark Materials season two, especially since the Hot Priest himself, Andrew Scott, is joining the cast. And Kaley Cuoco’s Flight Attendant feels like the elevated high-concept drama that everyone will be talking about this month. For comedy fans, Melissa McCarthy’s Superintelligence is here to lighten things up, and there are plenty of season finales and docu-series premieres to fill up your streaming calendar — if for some reason, that’s a problem you’re having.

Here’s everything coming to and leaving HBO and HBO Max this November.

His Dark Materials, Season Two Premiere (HBO)

This universe-spanning fantasy series returns for another season, this time transporting James McAvoy’s Lord Asriel and Dafne Keen’s Lyra to our world. While they uncover dark secrets about the Magisterium, Lee Scoresby (Lin-Manuel Miranda) meets a stranger played by Andrew Scott on his quest to find Lyra and help the witches as Mrs. Coulter embeds herself deeper in enemy territory.

The Flight Attendant, HBO Max Original Series Premiere

Kaley Cuoco returns to TV with this murder mystery thriller about a troubled flight attendant trying to solve a murder investigation that’s named her as the prime suspect. Cuoco plays Cassie, a young woman who drinks a little too much but seems otherwise normal until she wakes up next to a dead passenger and struggles to piece their night together to clear her name.

Superintelligence, HBO Max Original Film Premiere

Melissa McCarthy stars in this HBO Max comedy that tasks her with saving the world by convincing an all-powerful Superintelligence that humanity deserves a second shot. The only problem? Her character, Carol Peters, is the most boring, average person on Earth, and impressing the A.I.’s gonna be a lot of work.

Coming To HBO And HBO Max In November:

Avail. 11/1
10,000 BC, 2008
13 Going On 30, 2004
2 Fast 2 Furious, 2003 (HBO)
Above The Rim, 1994
All Is Bright, 2013
America, America, 1964
Anchors Aweigh, 1945
Another Cinderella Story, 2008
The Arrangement, 1969
Austin Powers In Goldmember, 2002
Autumn In New York, 2000 (HBO)
Baby Doll, 1956
Battleship, 2012 (HBO)
Beasts Of The Southern Wild, 2012 (HBO)
Billy Madison, 1995 (HBO)
Blast From The Past, 1999
Blood Work, 2002
The Bridge Of San Luis Rey, 2005 (HBO)
Broadway Danny Rose, 1984 (HBO)
The Bucket List, 2007
The Children, 2009
A Christmas Carol, 1938
Chronicle, 2012 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
City Island, 2010 (HBO)
City Slickers, 1991 (HBO)
Clash Of The Titans, 2010
Critical Care, 1997
Cruel Intentions, 1999 (HBO)
The Dancer Upstairs, 2003 (HBO)
The Dark Knight, 2008
David Copperfield, 1935
Dead Man Walking, 1995 (HBO)
Desperately Seeking Susan, 1985 (HBO)
The Devil’s Advocate, 1997
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, 2003 (HBO)
Dolphin Tale, 2011
Dumb And Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, 2003
The Eagle, 2011 (HBO)
East Of Eden, 1955
Eight Legged Freaks, 2002
Elf Pets: Santa’s Saint Bernard’s Save Christmas, 2018
The Enforcer, 1976
A Face In The Crowd, 1957
The Fast And The Furious, 2001 (HBO)
Femme Fatale, 2002
The Five-Year Engagement, 2012 (Extended Version) (HBO)
A Flintstone Christmas, 1977
A Flintstone Family Christmas, 1993
Free Willy, 1993
Friday The 13th, 2009
G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra, 2009
The Gauntlet, 1977
Genius, 2016 (HBO)
Get Santa, 2014
Girl In Progress, 2012
Grumpier Old Men, 1995
Grumpy Old Men, 1993
Guys And Dolls, 1955
Hacksaw Ridge, 2016 (HBO)
Happy Gilmore, 1996 (HBO)
Heidi, 2006
High Fidelity, 2000 (HBO)
High Society, 1956
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, 2012
The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies, 2014
The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug, 2013
Hollidaysburg, 2014
House On Haunted Hill, 1999
Ice Age: Continental Drift, 2012 (HBO)
Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes
The Iron Giant, 1999
J. Edgar, 2011
Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday, 1993
Jason X, 2002
King Kong, 1976 (HBO)
The Last King Of Scotland, 2006 (HBO)
The Lego Batman Movie, 2017
The Lego Movie, 2014
The Lego Ninjago Movie, 2014
License To Wed, 2007
Life Stinks, 1991
Linda And The Mockingbirds, 2020 (HBO)
Little Man Tate, 1991 (HBO)
Looney Tunes: Back In Action, 2003
The Losers, 2010
Lowriders, 2017 (HBO)
Made, 2001 (HBO)
The Madness Of King George, 1994 (HBO)
Magic Mike, 2012
The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special, 2017
Magnum Force, 1973
Malibu’s Most Wanted, 2003
The Man With The Golden Arm, 1955
The Mask, 1994
Menace II Society, 1993
Miss Julie, 2014 (HBO)
Money Talks, 1997
Mr. Nanny, 1993
Music And Lyrics, 2007
Must Love Dogs, 2005
Mystic River, 2003
National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon 1, 1993
Needful Things, 1993
The Neverending Story, 1984
The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter, 1991
New York Minute, 2004
Nights In Rodanthe, 2008
Nothing Like The Holidays, 2008
Now And Then, 1995
Ocean’s 11, 1960
Old School, 2003
On The Town, 1949
Once Upon A Sesame Street Christmas, Special Premiere
A Perfect World, 1993
Pleasantville, 1998
The Pledge, 2001
Popstar, 2005
Practical Magic, 1998
The Prophecy, 1995 (HBO)
The Prophecy 2, 1998 (HBO)
The Prophecy 3: The Ascent, 2000 (HBO)
Prophecy 4: The Uprising, 2005 (HBO)
Prophecy 5: The Forsaken, 2005 (HBO)
Radio Days, 1987
Red Tails, 2012 (HBO)
Rick And Morty, Season Four Premiere
The Right Stuff, 1983
Rock Star, 2001
Rosewood, 1997
Rumor Has It, 2005
Salvador, 1986 (HBO)
Scoop, 2006 (HBO)
The Sea Of Grass, 1947
The Secret Garden, 1993
Sesame Street, 1969
Sesame Street: Elmo’s Playdate, Special Premiere
Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, Special Premiere
Sinbad Of The Seven Seas, 1989 (HBO)
The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, 2005
The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2, 2008
Smurfs Christmas Special, 1982
Some Came Running, 1958
Space Cowboys, 2000
Splendor In The Grass, 1961
Sudden Impact, 1983
Summer Catch, 2001
Swingers, 1996 (HBO)
Swordfish, 2001
A Tale Of Two Cities, 1935
Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines, 2003
Terminator Salvation, 2009
Terms Of Endearment, 1983
Thief, 1981 (HBO)
Thirteen Ghosts, 2001
Tightrope, 1984
The Time Traveler’s Wife, 2009
Tis The Season To Be Smurfy, 1987
Titans, Seasons 1 & 2
Torque, 2004
Tower Heist, 2011 (HBO)
The Town That Santa Forgot, 1993
Troll, 1986 (HBO)
Troll 2, 1990 (HBO)
True Crime, 1999
Tweety’s High-Flying Adventures, 2000
Twilight Zone: The Movie, 1983 (HBO)
Una Semana (HBO)
Unaccompanied Minors, 2006
Untamed Heart, 1993 (HBO)
Veronica Mars, 2014
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, 2011 (Extended Version) (HBO)
We Bought A Zoo, 2011 (HBO)
When You Wish Upon A Pickle: A Sesame Street Special, 2018
Wild Wild West, 1999
Win A Date With Tad Hamilton!, 2004 (HBO)
Witches Of Eastwick, 1987
The Wood, 1999
Wyatt Earp, 1994
Yogi Bear’s All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper, 1982
Yogi’s First Christmas, 1980
Young Justice, Seasons 1-3
Zoo Animals (HBO)

Avail. 11/2
Quadrophenia, 1979
We Are Who We Are, Season Finale (HBO)
A Woman Under The Influence, 1974

Avail. 11/4
Looney Tunes, 1930 – 1969

Avail. 11/6
Pecado Original (Aka Original Sin) (HBO)

Avail. 11/7
The Dead Don’t Die, 2019 (HBO)
The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2020 Inductions (HBO)

Avail. 11/9
Food Wars! Shokugeki No Soma, Season 5 (Subtitled) (Crunchyroll Collection)
Industry, Series Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 11/11
Patria, Season Finale (HBO)

Avail. 11/12
My Sesame Street Friends, 2020

Avail. 11/13
De Lo Mio (HBO)
Entre Nos: LA Meets NY (HBO)

Avail. 11/14
Dolittle, 2020 (HBO)

Avail. 11/15
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, Season Finale (HBO)
Murder On Middle Beach, Docuseries Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 11/16
His Dark Materials, Season Two Premiere (HBO)
Linda and the Mockingbirds, 2020 (HBO)

Avail. 11/17
Porno Para Principiantes (Aka Porno For Newbies) (HBO)

Avail. 11/21
Between The World And Me, Special Event Premiere (HBO)
Real Time with Bill Maher, Season Finale (HBO)
Underwater, 2020 (HBO)

Avail. 11/24
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO)
Smurfs, Season 4, 1981

Avail. 11/26
Craftopia: Craft the Halls, HBO Max Special Premiere
Craftopia: Merry Craftmas!, HBO Max Special Premiere
The Flight Attendant, HBO Max Original Series Premiere
Superintelligence, HBO Max Original Film Premiere

Avail. 11/27
Chateau Vato (HBO)
How To With John Wilson, Season Finale (HBO)

Avail. 11/28
The Call Of The Wild, 2019 (HBO)

Avail. 11/29
The Undoing, Season Finale (HBO)

Leaving HBO And HBO Max In November:

Leaving 11/4
Aquaman, 2018 (HBO)

Leaving 11/5
Rolling Stone: Stories From The Edge, 2017 (HBO)
Signs, 2002 (HBO)

Leaving 11/25
Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill, 2016 (HBO)

Leaving 11/26
All Def Comedy, 2017 (HBO)

Leaving 11/30
24/7: Kelly Slater, 2019 (HBO)
All The President’s Men, 1976
Anastasia, 1997 (HBO)
Badlands, 1973
Batman Begins, 2005
Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead, 2007 (HBO)
Blinded By The Light, 2019 (HBO)
The Bodyguard, 1992
Bridesmaids, 2011 (Unrated Version) (HBO)
Bridget Jones’s Baby, 2016
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, 1958
Charlotte’s Web, 1973
Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke, 1978
Chicago, 2002
Child’s Play 2, 1990 (HBO)
Child’s Play 3, 1991 (HBO)
Commando, 1985 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
The Conversation, 1974
The Dark Knight, 2008
Dave, 1993
Deliverance, 1972
Dog Day Afternoon, 1975
Election, 1999
Ella Enchanted, 2004
Father Of The Bride, 1950
Going The Distance, 2010
Good Boys, 2019 (HBO)
The Haunting, 1999
JFK, 1991
The Kitchen, 2019 (HBO)
Little Shop Of Horrors, 1986 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
Malcolm X, 1992
The Mask, 1994
Marathon Man, 1976
Pearl Harbor, 2001 (Director’s Cut) (HBO)
The Pelican Brief, 1993
Roger & Me, 1989
Sky High, 2005 (HBO)
Son Of The Mask, 2005
Stuber, 2019 (HBO)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 1990
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, 1991
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3, 1993
TMNT, 2007
Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, 1966

In the middle of a heated election, liberal and conservative Americans are at odds over a lot of issues, but there’s one thing they can agree on, they’re sick of all the political acrimony.

A 2018 PBS poll found that nearly three-quarters of Americans — 74 percent — think the overall tone and level of civility in the nation’s capital have gotten worse since Trump was elected.

Seventy-nine percent are “are concerned or very concerned that the negative tone of national politics will prompt violence.”

Many believe that a big reason why Joe Biden has such a commanding lead in the polls is the nation is suffering from “Trump fatigue.”

“I have said this since he was elected,” a former GOP member of Congress told The Hill. “This exhaustion, this never-ending drama and chaos … I think a lot of people are yearning for some kind of normalcy.”

In a rare showing of civility just 14 days before the November 3 election, Republican Spencer Cox and Democrat Chris Peterson, rival candidates for Utah governor, created a joint campaign ads promising to respect the outcome of the presidential race.

The display was a rare instance of candidates coming together in the middle of an election.

“We can debate issues without degrading each other’s character,” Peterson says in one ad. “We can disagree without hating each other,” says Cox. “And win or lose, in Utah we work together,” says Peterson. “So let’s show the country there’s a better way,” says Cox.

In another ad, the duo pledge to accept the results of the election and to “commit to a peaceful transition of power.” Although they didn’t mention the president by name, it’s a clear repudiation of Trump’s campaign to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

“We’ve come together with a message more important than our differences,” Cox says in the ad. “That we will fully support the results of the presidential election,” adds Peterson. “So Utah can be an example to the nation,” added Cox.

Cox, Peterson call for Utah to support peaceful transition of power

www.youtube.com

“The time-honored values of a peaceful transition of power and working with those with whom we differ are an integral part of what it means to be an American,” said Peterson in a joint statement with Cox. “It’s time to reforge a national commitment to decency and our democratic republic.”

The ad is clearly an attempt by both politicians to win points by presenting a positive face at a time when partisan rancor is particularly heated. But there is reason to be a little skeptical of both politicians motives.

Cox has a huge lead over Peterson in the highly Republican state and loses very little by showing his opponent in a positive light.

The ad was applauded by Utah Republican senator Mitt Romney, who recently admitted that he didn’t vote for President Trump. Romney has been a consistent anti-Trump voice in the senate after winning the seat in 2018.

While it’s right to be skeptical of this overt attempt by two politicians to show themselves as beacons of civility in a world gone mad, the important part is that the message has clearly been supported by the American people.

The ads have received tens of thousands of likes on Twitter and have attracted national attention.

If the polls are correct, we appear to be limping towards the final days of the most divisive presidency in recent American history. Cox and Peterson’s ad shows that Americans on both sides of the aisle have a real hunger for a greater sense of civility in our public discourse.

Let’s hope the message is heard loud and clear by leaders throughout the country and wen begin to heal after a viscous four years of partisan bickering.

Finneas got his big break thanks to his work with sister Billie Eilish, but he’s established a worthwhile solo career for himself as well. The latest fruit of that effort is “Can’t Wait To Be Dead,” a single that he released yesterday and shared a new video for today. The clip shows Finneas scrolling through a social media feed, with the shot sometimes focusing on his reflection, that shows the dominant topics of the year: protests, the election, and the coronavirus pandemic.

Finneas also hosted a livestream leading up to the video’s premiere, during which he played some songs and answered some questions. Towards the end, he also explained the idea behind the “Can’t Wait To Be Dead” video, saying, “When I write songs, I don’t like to write a song that feels like it’s only about one thing, even if it is, because I want every person that listens to it to be able to internalize it and have it translate it to whatever experience they’re going through is. That being said, I think music videos are a fun way to articulate exactly what the song means to you. To me, this song is just about my relationship with the internet, so that’s the premise of this video.”

He also noted that this will not be the last song he releases this year, so keep an eye out for more from Finneas over the next few months.

Watch the “Can’t Wait To Be Dead” video above.

Jack Harlow is continuing to celebrate his breakout year by turning his focus to another breakout star. Following a slew of collaborative singles, Harlow linked up with Miami Heat rookie Tyler Herro to address their outsider status in a new song.

For the video accompanying the single “Tyler Herro,” Harlow called on the basketball player to make a cameo. The visual follows Harlow on a day of press photos before he hits the court to shoot some hoops with Herro himself. “My dogs like to play Madden and 2K / But one they don’t do is play about me / My homeboy Tyler, he play in South Beach,” Harlow raps.

Harlow’s “Tyler Herro” video arrives following a big year for the rapper. Not only did Harlow’s song “What’s Poppin’” earn him a top ten slot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but the rapper was also named a part of this year’s XXL Freshman Class. “What’s Poppin’” also caught the attention of several other big-name musicians. Justin Bieber lent his own verse on an unofficial remix of Harlow’s breakout song and Joyner Lucas co-opted the beat to serve up his interpretation of the track in another remix.

Watch the “Tyler Herro” video above.

Jack Harlow is an Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Rico Nasty’s road to Nightmare Vacation continues with “Don’t Like Me,” her latest single featuring Don Toliver and Gucci Mane. Over a radio-ready beat from BuddahBless, Rico and company explain all the reasons their haters can’t seem to find it in their hearts to let go. “They tryna find out what the vibe is like,” Rico gloats on her verse. “So when they mimic, I don’t wonder why.” Meanwhile, Toliver holds down the hook and Gucci provides his own verse running down all the reasons they have to flex.

When the pandemic pushed back the release of Nightmare Vacation, Rico used the additional time to work on new visuals and songs for the album, telling Uproxx that the coronavirus “might have inspired me to actually do what I always wanted to do with the album, which was make it very virtual.” So far, she’s released videos for “Popstar,” “iPhone,” and “Own It,” although she hasn’t shared any additional details about the album or its release yet. Rico also recently collaborated with a surprise entertainer: children’s TV mascot Hip Hop Harry, who joined Rico for a PSA encouraging fans to vote.

Listen to “Don’t Like Me” above.

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

We’re gathered here today to mourn the loss of Quibi, the $2 billion entertainment app that promised us quick-bite video content that could be streamed anywhere — except on your TV. Quibi, like all beautiful things, was doomed from the beginning. It banked on the promise of a world that existed pre-pandemic when we would take subways and buses and long car rides to work. A world where we’d eat lunch in what the Pilgrims called “cubicles,” and mindlessly stare at our smartphones, hoping to avoid talking about the upcoming election with our co-workers.

Quibi, due to the absence of commutes and various other reasons, is no longer. But one of its strangest, border-line offensive creations will live on in the hearts and minds of those it touched. Of those who found joy in its quirky comedy, empowerment in its subversive messaging, shameful interest in its constant dialogue about Rick & Morty creator Dan Harmon’s many kinks… we’re talking about that sex doll show, guys.

And honestly, why shouldn’t we be talking about sex doll sitcoms right now? The world is being ravaged by disease, Netflix canceled GLOW, and Prince William is just a hair’s breadth away from becoming KFC’s new mascot, tentatively dubbed Sir Thick Thighs. A comedy in which Anna Kendrick befriends a nihilistic, animated f*ck toy that becomes her problematic relationship therapist and life coach over the course of a 10-episode season really doesn’t seem that strange these days. Maybe that’s why, despite our best efforts, I came to love this weird science experiment, birthed from the enviably perverse brain of writer Cody Heller (you know, Dan Harmon’s girlfriend) and incubated at an upstart streaming platform with too much money and not enough direction.

Dummy couldn’t and wouldn’t have been made anywhere else, which might be the best compliment we can bestow here at Quibi’s graveside service because the show — which sees Kendrick playing Cody and Search Party’s Meredith Hagner voicing Barbara, the sex doll haunting her waking nightmare – is oddly charming and incredibly sharp.

Cody, like many on-the-cusp millennial women, is navigating an overpowering relationship with the nagging feeling that she just isn’t accomplishing anything with her life. Her boyfriend is a prolific TV writer, a god among sound-booth technicians and cartoon-loving criminals. She’s dragging her way through a script about a tooth-fairy posing as a stripper (or a stripper posing as a tooth fairy, we’re still not sure) and consuming excessive amounts of expired melatonin gummies.

But her interactions with Barbara, the sex doll her boyfriend has stuffed in his closet, aren’t the consequences of out-of-date drug use. It’s her own psyche using this once-inanimate object to dole out some harsh truths about her aimlessness and unhealthy codependence. Cody doesn’t realize that at first. Neither do we. But that’s the quiet genius of this show — that in the midst of giving her boyfriend’s sex doll a bubble bath, so she can clean out years’ worth of splooge buildup from her prosthetic vagina, we’re treated to cuttingly honest quotes like this:

Is it dramatic, ridiculously surreal, over-blown feminist propaganda? Yes, but it’s also the kind of side-splitting truth-telling that so many stand-up comics claim that “cancel culture” has robbed us of.

And yes, this show’s bizarre plot and insistence on reiterating Harmon’s foot fetish is laughable — you could come to it just for the comedy and leave satisfied — but it’s got weighty, dramatic moments too. Moments of brilliance really, where it stops relying on its inherent zaniness and leans into more important things. Like when Barbara is strung up naked in the back of a sex shop, so a technician can point out her various flaws — the aging of her face, the onset baldness, the worn-out p*ssy — while Cody, once indifferent if not outright hostile to this competitor for her boyfriend’s attention, looks on horrified. She’s treated as an object — again, an on-the-nose metaphor — but it’s Cody’s reaction to the experience, her realization that she internalized and regurgitated the same misogyny that’s so clearly on display by a pervert who jacks off into strangers’ sex dolls at his place of employment.

It’s a kind of wake-up call, one that leads Cody to make Barbara her new roommate and writing partner after her boyfriend tosses her in a dumpster, and a homeless man nearly has her recycled to save the aquatic animals. Do you know how many dolphins die each year from ingesting the silicone sex dolls are made of? Us either.

They brainstorm new spec scripts, they go on girl’s trips, they survive gas station robberies, they try to seduce their 14-year-old neighbor, and, eventually, they have sex. It’s all strange, uncomfortable, cringe-inducing comedy, but it’s elevated by its truth. We’ve all watched plenty of grossly funny, boundary-pushing comedy shows in the past — shows usually helmed and starring men doing truly awful things, making offensive jokes, mining humor from disgusting material — and we’ve enjoyed some of them. But few disguise their bawdiness as anything more than toe-the-line jokes meant to spark attention-grabbing outrage (or at least, clickable viral headlines).

Dummy feels different. It’s still gross and crude and full of genitals — Barbara likes wearing her old pink taco around her neck, like a medallion — but it’s got heart. It’s a look at female friendships we haven’t seen before on TV, one that uses their microaggressions and blatant bullying to highlight how, when they’re great, they can be the most powerful motivator and reassuring force in a woman’s life. And when they’re not, they can feel like your boyfriend’s beloved sex doll tearing down your self-esteem and suggesting you get a forehead enlargement.

It’s a show I’m surprisingly devastated to see go — not just because Kendrick and Hagner deliver some truly mesmerizing comedic timing playing two women who both love and hate each other — but because it felt like it was just finding its feet… maybe not. Maybe Cody Heller only intended for the show to run for one season. After all, how much material is there to mine once you’ve banged your boyfriend’s sex doll and brought her to a TV pilot meeting? If that’s the case, we’re glad Quibi’s ending, and Dummy can serve as its contribution and atonement in equal measure.

But if not, if there’s more there, I’d like to make it known: I’ll follow this sex doll anywhere.

Since her breakout role in The Wolf of Wall Street, Margot Robbie has played a figure skater, Tarzan’s girlfriend, a comic book villain, the freaking queen of England, the voice of a bunny, herself in a bathtub, and a famous actress. First off: the range! But also, I appreciate how she appears to pick her roles based on a child’s answer to “what do you want to do when you grow up?” Because I’m pretty sure when I was asked that question as a youngster, I replied, “An outlaw.” (To be fair, this was right after I read Holes.)

In Dreamland, which was filmed in 2017 but is finally getting released next month, Robbie is a bank robber on the run who encounters a Texas good ol’ boy, played by Finn Cole, who’s torn between claiming a bounty for turning her in and his feelings for her.

Here’s the official plot synopsis.

Eugene Evans dreams of escaping his small Texas town when he discovers a wounded, fugitive bank robber Allison Wells hiding closer than he could ever imagine. Torn between claiming the bounty for her capture and his growing attraction to the seductive criminal, nothing is as it seems, and Eugene must make a decision that will forever affect the lives of everyone he’s ever loved.

Directed by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Dreamland, which also stars Garrett Hedlund, Travis Fimmel, Kerry Condon, and Lola Kirke, premieres on digital on November 17.

Whiskey had a representation problem long before acclaimed whisky writer and educator Becky Paskin called out Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible for its sexist lingo. The historically male-dominated space has largely treated whiskey as a boy’s club, regardless of that idea’s veracity. In the process, female and non-binary producers and consumers have been cast aside or ignored.

The controversy that swirled last month was a harbinger of change. The old way is shifting and the lens that we view whiskey through is (finally) widening. The dialogue about sexism and inclusivity in whiskey may be uncomfortable for some, but it’s a necessary first step — driving progress and adding awareness. To keep the conversation going, we opened the floor to key women in whiskey media, promotion, and production. Diageo Reserve U.K.’s Global Brand Ambassador Jenna Ba, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey’s Brand Ambassador Sailor Guevara, whisky journalist, educator, and co-founder of Our Whisky Becky Paskin, and Consulting Master Distiller Marianne Eaves all chimed in with their thoughts about the critical issues facing their industry.

Their answers are deeply insightful and offer plenty of hope for the future.

…

Before we get into ways the whiskey industry needs to change, what is the industry getting right in our current climate?

Jenna:

Liquid diversity in the global whisky industry is fantastic right now. Whisky is being made for every type of consumer, distilled all over the world, designed to be mixed in every way, and with flavor combinations that are better than ever. I’m a total advocate for the globalization of whisky. From Denmark to India, from Australia to Mexico, we’re seeing unique people produce it, present it, and enjoy it. This brings excitement, innovation, and includes everyone in the tapestry of the whisky world.

We are especially seeing this in scotch, which has been previously focused on tradition and heritage. It is beautiful to see how whisky fans are united by wonderful liquids produced there, no matter their cultural fabric. As I like to say, passion doesn’t need a passport.

Sailor:

I would say, for the most part, I have seen the whiskey industry begin to create spaces for women in leadership roles. In the past ten years, I have been so incredibly shocked by the number of women in leadership positions in distilleries and brands. I say “shocked” because this was not the case when I entered this industry — I think we are beginning to get that right. Brands are finally speaking out publicly against racism.

I think brands are going to be forced to look into themselves and realize that they are a part of the problem if they have minorities inside their brands and in leadership positions in their brands. It’s a start, so I am hopeful.

Becky:

For the most part the whisky industry is making great strides toward marketing whisky as inclusive and a drink that can be enjoyed by anyone. Representation in advertising campaigns is improving, with brands such as Johnnie Walker, Haig Club, The Glenlivet, and Jack Daniels leading the way.

Marianne:

I am seeing more awareness, at least at the surface level, sometimes a little deeper, in the current climate. I am seeing more women being highlighted and stories being told. People are committing to not just opening the door for more women to come in but also seeking out women and asking them to tell their stories. I think this isn’t commonplace in the industry.

I had the tremendous fortune of having people asking me to tell my story and it makes a huge difference. For a woman behind the stills who is doing everything herself, there’s very little time to self-promote.

Women are clearly the minority within the whiskey space. Why do you think this is the case?

Jenna:

Women have always been part of whisky, whether it is scotch, bourbon, or Irish whiskey. They have been a leading force in liquid development and beyond, and we need to tell their stories. We keep walking on paths created by legendary women, seeking inspiration from the likes of Elizabeth Cumming who distilled at Cardhu in the 1820s until well into her old age. In our time, there are three incredible women making waves at the Roe & Co. Distillery in Dublin, Ireland. Hayley Millner (Brand Manager), Lorna Hemy (Master Distiller), and Caroline Martin (Master Blender). Their skills have come together to craft a wonderful Irish expression in Roe & Co. and an inclusive, welcoming space in the distillery itself.

The Johnnie Walker blending team is full of inspiring women, most of whom are scientists who are working every day to create new blends in never-seen-before flavor profiles. If I look to the very top of Diageo, 55 percent of our board are women setting a great tone for the organization. The future of women in this industry is simple: Let’s together share stories, celebrate success, and encourage an open, vibrant whisky community around the world.

Sailor:

I believe this is a symptom of what the world looked like and still looks like in many cases. I also believe it was a space where men didn’t want women. Women weren’t invited to be whiskey drinkers, so why would women be invited to work in the industry or have any ownership in the industry? Whiskey has been seen as a man’s drink, it’s been marketed (and still is) to men and thought to be drunk only by men.

Becky:

Although women have always been involved in the creation of whisky and have enjoyed drinking it for centuries, whisky has historically been heavily marketed exclusively toward men. During the 1950s-1980s a lot of whisky marketing heavily sexualized and objectified women, promoting whisky as a “boy’s club” drink enjoyed in dimly-lit libraries under clouds of smoke. Some brands’ misguided attempts to appeal to women have been to advertise whisky as “mellow” or “so soft even a woman would enjoy it.” That perception has taken root, and even today many women simply don’t consider whisky as a drink they would enjoy.

Marianne:

Some of it is conditioning. Some of it is access. I think some of it is just the nature of how our industry evolves. Whiskey matures slowly and apparently so do the heritage and traditions in our industry. When I made the move from Brown-Forman to Castle & Key there were so many people — mostly consumers (both women and men) — that were very publicly questioning my “right” and ability to hold the title. Also, within the industry there was resistance from one of the big distillery interest organizations, that suggested I wasn’t “allowed” to take the title because it wasn’t handed to me by one of the old white men that had been “knighted” as a master distiller decades before. However, there were other master distillers that really embraced me and encouraged me, and that was what I chose to focus on.

Even if you haven’t faced challenges personally, what are some hurdles you’ve heard about your peers having to overcome as women in whiskey?

Jenna:

I consider hurdles to be life experience. I enjoy climbing mountains, and if that was easy, I probably wouldn’t get so much satisfaction from it. I tend to think the same about all other obstacles. I have experienced being cut off on panels, been asked inappropriate or unnecessarily complex lines of questioning, and not been taken seriously. I choose to learn from frustration. I don’t have all the answers, but I do have the drive to find them out and share my knowledge even further.

I find change can be driven through interaction. Recently I met a man at a friend’s home who said he would offer me a drink, but it was whisky. I laughed, we chatted, and by the end of the conversation, he was keen to discover Lagavulin and impatient to find out more about Port Ellen. By opening our minds and having honest conversations, we drive diversity.

Sailor:

Oh, I have faced probably most of the challenges that can be faced by women in this industry. I have been told I was not considered for roles in the industry because I was a woman. I have been sexually harassed with lewd comments and butt-grabbing at events in the past. I have been belittled by men and mansplained countless times while leading tastings or events. I walked away from the industry twice after hitting my head on the glass ceiling one too many times. There was a time when you didn’t see female faces in any brands if you were young and wanting to enter the whiskey business.

I look back on some of the experiences I have had and think, “wow, I can only imagine what it was like for the trailblazing women before me!”

Becky:

Never have I heard a man being asked, “What’s it like to be a man in whisky?” but it’s something women are asked all the time. It leads to many women feeling as though they need to prove their credentials and knowledge. As editor of Scotchwhisky.com, I banned our contributors from asking that question or focusing on gender at all. People working in any industry should be credited for their talent, skill, and passion, not praised for being marginalized.

Marianne:

Something that all women in production leadership roles face is people’s assumptions of what their role probably is — secretary, sales, marketing, or gift shop — and therefore not being taken seriously as a distiller or given the respect they have earned. I learned pretty early in my career that I need to own my accomplishments, not just to benefit my own career trajectory, but to provide a new experience for people. This seems so strange to even say, but have you ever had someone pull back their hand and yelp when you give them a firm handshake? Well, this gentleman even went to the extent to elevate the energy in his voice and say, “YOU HURT ME, I THOUGHT YOU WERE A LADY!”

Well, I normally get compliments on having a nice handshake. It’s hard to describe how an interaction like that makes you feel. So, women have to walk this fine line. On one side you say, “Heck with it” and be you and take no prisoners. But we all know what the repercussions of that approach can be. Or you try and push through these uncomfortable, awkward moments when men and women try to put you back into a traditional box.

Part of my nature, as an introvert, is to watch people and listen closely which, in my early career, allowed me to navigate rooms filled with people who would look right past you. They never even made eye contact with women, because women never held important roles. I hope that things are changing. I believe that slowly they are.

There’s been a lot of talk about sexism and inclusivity within the whiskey world. What does inclusivity look like to you?

Jenna:

Inclusivity is about making your own kind of music, dancing in your own special way. It is about placing value on diversity, about being conscious of your own biases and the myriad of great ideas we might be missing because of them. Ultimately, inclusivity is not just handing a pen to put a signature somewhere, but giving people the power to write their own letters. I am super proud of my colleague Eboni Major, Master Blender at Bulleit, who recently launched Blender’s Select, an innovative product that is designed specifically by her palate and from her experiences.

As someone used to dealing with racism, xenophobia, and sexism, I can’t highlight enough how fundamental intersectionality is to inclusivity. Women are not a homogenous group. There are so many identity intersections in the struggles and opportunities they face, just as in taste. From single grain scotch, Haig Club, to the high peat Octomore, don’t expect us to like one and not the other one.

Sailor:

Yes, and this talk is long overdue. I am thrilled to see women like Becky Paskin bringing this discussion to the forefront because it’s been happening for years but not in such a spotlight. To me, I see many glimpses of inclusivity now, and I am thrilled. I work for a whiskey brand with an all-female executive team and my founder and CEO is a Black woman as well. I can name ten female distillers that are visible and leading the charge off the top of my head. I can name female master blenders and directors of whiskey production for major brands and craft alike. I can host whiskey tastings and the room can be 95-percent female. I have hosted events in the past year where the room was 90-percent Black attendees. It’s so exciting! I couldn’t have imagined this ten years ago.

Let me be clear though, it’s just a spark. Change throughout needs to happen. We need people of color in ownership and leadership roles. We need equity in our industry and that means actually looking at who the consumer is and marketing to everyone who enjoys whiskey, regardless of gender and skin color. Brands have to begin this work right now.

Becky:

Equal opportunities and pay for everyone within the workplace, regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation. Inclusivity also means never judging a person on their choice of drink. If a young woman (of legal drinking age) orders a neat scotch or a pint of stout, that should not be a surprise, and certainly doesn’t invite sexual comments of any kind.

Marianne:

Where I believe our industry is now in its maturation: Master Distiller Alex Castle, Master Distiller Molly Troupe, Master Distiller Christine Riggleman and her daughter Master Distiller Lauren Riggleman Weller, President Brit Kulsveen, Mollie Lewis, Master Distiller Nicole Austin, Head Distiller Lisa Wicker, and the list goes on, are making paths for more women to come in. We can’t rely on men to change what opportunities in this industry look like ahead, which is one reason I left Castle & Key.

I want to be a part of making real opportunities for growth and raising inclusivity in the industry.

How do we as an industry change the misconception or idea that whiskey is a “man’s drink?”

Jenna:

Firstly, whisky should be embraced without misconception. This means we must address our own uncertainties and fears. Secondly, most men in whisk(e)y are our allies. Let’s share the stories of how everyone around the world interacts with flavor in their own unique way. My favorite Johnnie Walker Highball is a twist on a West African drink called Bissap (made with sorrel/hibiscus), and one of my favorite ways to enjoy Lagavulin whisky is with ice cream. It’s unexpected but wonderful.

Sailor:

We continue hiring women. We continue educating women. We continue creating safety for women in our industry. We need brands to change their entire thought process and look at the world because, everywhere I look, I see whiskey women and people of color who are passionate and avid whiskey drinkers. People like you need to continue to write about it in our voice, the voice of a Black woman. People like me need to continue to be out there holding space for women and minorities. We need to be intentional about what brands stand for and hold brands accountable for outdated marketing.

I would like to see all ads for the next several years feature just women and minorities.

Becky:

Through equal representation in marketing. Women currently account for 35 percent of whisky drinkers in the US, yet are rarely seen in whisky marketing. Brands control whisky’s image. Their marketing influences how the media writes about it, how scriptwriters convey whisky drinkers in film and TV, how bars serve it, and ultimately how we as consumers perceive it. It all starts with the brands. They have the power to bring about change by accepting their target demographics are no longer just middle-aged white men.

Marianne:

I think brands that don’t have the opportunity to have a woman at the forefront of their brand, should be conscious of their marketing. When you start a bourbon brand all the smart advisors say the market is men. So, most new brands also fall into the trap of the current mindset that it’s a man’s drink. But do they know that women are the ones doing most of the buying? You are marketing to women, who are expected to do everything, keep the household up along with their own career, and supporting the family and their partners. We have to do better and depict women as more than just the sexy prize.

Ultimately, what would you like to see change when it comes to evolving for the better in the whiskey space?

Jenna:

I’d love to see more diverse conversations, and people from different cultures owning, distilling, blending, representing, and enjoying whisky. More access for people to have the chance to interact with the liquid in their own way, free of judgment.

In “Field of Dreams,” the cornfield voice said, “If you build it, they will come.” We should act similarly, “If we open it, they will come.” Uncork that special bottle and share it with your friends, the liquid doesn’t care about their backgrounds and preferences.

Sailor:

Ultimately, we have to remove the fear that we may lose our positions, our jobs, our places if we speak out against something that is wrong. I cannot live in that fear any longer. I don’t know if it’s my age, my tenure in the industry, or the current climate socially, but I am done being afraid. At this point, I can lose nothing. It’s more important that women who are entering the industry or who want to attend a whiskey event or grab a bottle off the shelf or work behind the bar have a better, safer, and more inclusive experience than I did.

That’s what I am passionate about now. I want to see a landslide of change in my lifetime in the industry I am so in love with and I’ll fight to be even the tiniest part of that change. I am grateful to the women before me, next to me, and I am excited to meet the women after me.

Becky:

Firstly, whisky producers need to listen. After years of staying silent, female consumers and women in the industry are now speaking out and companies have a responsibility to take this issue seriously. The global whisky industry needs to work collaboratively, admit there is a problem and find practical solutions together. Individual brands have done fantastic work in equally representing their audiences, but it will take a cooperative approach to make meaningful change. As consumers, we can call out sexism when we see it, using instances as an opportunity to educate. Changing the whole world’s perception of who whisky drinkers are won’t happen overnight, but we can step by step bring about change together.

Marianne:

Let’s get rid of the “well, it’s always been this way” attitude. Let’s also move past “everyone’s entitled to free speech.” Well, they are, however when you’re promoting the industry or a brand you have a responsibility. Perpetuating the notions that women are “toys” whether it’s directly targeting a real person or not, hurts us. I think the whole country slid back when the ballots were counted in 2016. People knowingly voted a man into the most powerful office in our country who treats women as things and is celebrated for it. I think this has supercharged the notion that men can do or say whatever they want to women if they don’t stay in line and act nice.

Well, I suppose I could go on that rant forever. I don’t want to bring politics into whiskey, but this is about character and suppression.

I have had so many men reach out to me and thank me for being a strong role model for their daughters. I want men to start seeing all women with the same respect, and perhaps that’s the core of it. When you walk into a room and see a woman and a man standing together, stop to check your gut assumption that the man is in charge and the young woman is his assistant or his daughter. Like the women I listed before, she is just as likely to be making the product and running everything.