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Since receiving her release from Interscope Records last year, Oakland rapper Kamaiyah‘s been on a tear. I need to specify that she’s from Oakland, not the Bay Area; it’s a distinction she makes clear to me as we discuss her new project, the collaborative album Oakland Nights with fellow Town native Capolow. The Bay Area and Oakland are separate entities in her mind and she doesn’t want people to get confused. She’s not from The Bay, she’s from Oakland.

“I tell people all the time,” she says. “That’s the way for people from those subsidiary towns to just be cool.” However, “Oakland is the Mecca, it’s like that’s the center, Oakland is the Mecca, it’s like that’s the center and everything around it rotates, like the planets and the sun.”

Certainly, the sound of the Bay Area is born of Oakland’s specific bounce and attitude. Fittingly, that sound permeates the new project, which Kamaiyah conceived as a way to put on for the city and share her platform with Capolow, a rising star she says sounds unlike anyone else from The Town. “I don’t know anybody else who has that sound,” she says of her collaborator. “I’m a firm believer in, if you got a platform and you can assist somebody, it don’t cost no money if you do that.”

The two rappers have easy working chemistry that shines through all over Oakland Nights. Over upbeat, house party-ready production, the duo glides on tracks like “Players Club,” “Digits,” and “So Much Money,” keeping the energy lighthearted at all times. The summery production makes it perfect for the warmer months, but as with so many other projects this year, Oakland Nights was delayed by the COVID-19 outbreak (which she jokingly refers to as “Covisha”), forcing it from an April release date to one in September.

However, in Kamaiyah’s eyes, that doesn’t undermine the project’s impact at all. “There’s no greater time than God’s time,” she explains. “So it happened when it was supposed to happen and we just going to rock with it how we rocking.”

What brought you and Capolow together and why was now the right time to make it happen?

It was just a natural thing that happened just because of our work ethic together and how it sounded. It just kept going and kept going until it became a project.

Was the intention to put this out in the summertime and catch the day party season?

It was supposed to come out in April, honestly. And then a record would peak by the summer. But you know, due to Covisha we had to pull back, so it is what it is. There’s no greater time than God’s time. So it happened when it was supposed to happen and we just going to rock with it how we rocking.

Do you have a favorite song of the project?

“Finer Things.” Which one you like?

You know me, I’m from Compton, so it’s gotta be “Gang, Gang” with RJ!

That’s accidentally slipped through the cracks too. That’s the crazy part. Technically, I was supposed to have another record on that project. We both submitted solo records. I was on there originally with one verse and at the last minute, RJ was like, “I want to get on this.” That verse came through.

I also really appreciate that you went out and got Keak Da Sneak.

My ex-boyfriend’s brother actually used to manage Keak, that’s how I originally met him. So we was long overdue for record and I just felt like he fit the sound of that. So I was like, “It’s only right.” It’s an Oakland record, so I can’t put E-40. I can’t put nobody but him and Too Short. So him, it was.

That brings me to a funny question because a lot of people equate the Bay and Oakland. Can you please set the record straight? What’s the difference?

Nah, I don’t do that, I don’t. I tell people all the time, that’s the way for people who from those subsidiary towns to just be cool. Oakland is the Mecca, it’s like the center and everything rotates around it like the planets and the sun. We are in the center. Everybody gets their game, their lingo, everything, from us. I might let people who not from there be like, “Oh, you’re from the Bay.” But a person from Oakland will never say they from the Bay, they’ll be like, “I’m from Oakland.” That’s how you know, for real. That’s how we talk. We ain’t going to never be like, “I’m from the Bay.” It’s going to always be “I’m from Oakland.”

Yes. there’s a strong connection between Oakland, The Bay, and the independent music scene. How the process of recording and releasing music changed for you since becoming independent?

When I was on a label, I couldn’t even produce music anymore because I was so stressed out because they were trying to make me into something that I wasn’t. We’ve got somebody that’s trying to make you overcompensate for what you’re already doing, it takes away from the fun of it. When I made “Out The Bottle” and “How Does It Feel” and “F*ck It Up,” it wasn’t me going into it to make a hit record. They were just good records and people liked them. Now I’m in the studio and you’re like, “Oh, this isn’t good enough. This isn’t good enough.” Now you’re making me question my art, first, and secondly, you making me feel like I got to do something that I’m not going in here to do. My intention is always just to make music that feels good to me.

So if you’re telling me that, “Oh, this is not a hit,” well, that’s your perspective, because that’s your perception on it. To me, it may be a hit. That’s why I don’t suggest anyone sign to an artist’s label because their vision of you was always what they determined their career based upon.

I remember you tried to put out “Successful” and they made you take it down.

It was an uphill battle for sure, just being over there because I felt like it was no longer about me and my artistry, it was more so about people’s egos and what they wanted. I don’t think that’s good business because when you sign an artist, it’s never about you. It’s about, what’s the best thing for that artist?

So when it comes to Oakland Nights, obviously, COVID has delayed plans. But what is a successful version of this album for you? What would be the ideal outcome a year later?

Ideally, the whole project was just to do something for the city. For so long, I haven’t been able to do that. They’d be expecting certain things from me and I’m just like, “Alright, let me this off to let the audience that I’ve obtained see a new artist from my city.”

Yeah, I was excited to see you put Capolow on. I’ve been aware of him for a bit but hadn’t been able to cover him as much as I wanted because of timing so you gave me a redo. What is it about him as an artist that draws you to him and what makes him the ideal “Oakland” artist?

He’s easy to work with, one. Two, he’s talented. Three, I’m a firm believer in, if you got a platform and you can assist somebody, it don’t cost no money if you do that. I’ve always wanted to do a collab project with somebody from my city. We both been knowing each other before he became successful. I knew who he was when he was in his group because I had respect for the group and I always showed them love back before I was who I am now. It came natural. It was just like, “Alright, we know the same people, we f*ck with each other, let’s do a record.” We did it and then that turned into an “Alright, I f*ck with you. Let’s do a project.”

I respect his hustle because he was in the group and left. I always respect anybody who is hungry enough to step away from that and not let that deter them from their dreams. Because typically when you leave a group, they always tell you, “Ah, the reality of you actually haveing success after a move is not high.” Anybody who does that and they actually have some type of retention from that, I think that’s dope. You took that hustle and you didn’t stop your career.

Do you see any other artists who are really just representing the city to the fullest who could potentially be like a Detroit Nights 2?

I like this cat named AFlacko. He’s really, really good. He’s actually from my neighborhood. I think he’s dope. It’s not a lot of people that I listen to because after a while it all sounds the same, so anybody who has individuality that still stands out to me, that’s the person that grabs my attention. How many people in Oakland sound like f*cking Capolow? It’s only one Capolow. I don’t know anybody else who has that sound. Just like ALLBLACK. Not going to hear a lot of people who sound like ALLBLACK, so it makes you pay attention a little.

So what’s next after Oakland Nights?

Sh*t, I got a project dropping next month.

You got another one? Okay, you know what? Look, please give me a break. You know how much of a struggle it is for me to keep up?

Nah, see, I’m indie now so it ain’t no holds barred. Then, the top of the quarter next year, I’m already working on that project. It’s going to be done and coming out next year. We not stopping. There’s not a lot of female rappers that do that around. I don’t know too many female rappers making quality music at a rapid rate. They put out music, but is it at a rapid rate and is it quality?

There are a lot of female rappers coming out now and getting a lot of attention and what I like is that there’s so much support among you. You were one of like five people that Cardi B shouted out last year in defense of female rappers after JD made his comments and you’re the last one I’m getting a chance to ask about it.

I feel like that speaks volumes of her security in her own lane, the art. That’s what it starts with, your security within yourself, so that just speaks volumes to her integrity as an artist.

Did that create a noticeable difference in attention on your projects for you?

I don’t get too consumed in that type of stuff. I just take it like, “Alright, she a real ass bitch because she did that.” I felt like I’ve always been genuine with her, so that’s why I felt like it was natural for her to do that. I met Cardi on the set of the “No Limit” video. I introduced myself because G-Eazy was like, “Have you ever met her?” I was like, “No.” And she tried to shake my hand. I was like, “No, I give hugs.” I gave her a hug.

That’s why it was normal. The shoutout came right after I sat behind her at the BET Awards and I was like, “You my new best friend. I’m going to talk to you, bitch. What’s up?” So we got a conversation at the BET Awards. So, I think she gets that I’m a genuine bitch and I ain’t on no weirdo sh*t. So it was like, “Alright, I can f*ck with you.”

I feel like that’s the part where people don’t get. I’m really thorough. I’m really real. It’s no fraudness. This no fakeness. It’s none of that sh*t.

Oakland Nights is out now via Grnd.Wrk, Inc. Get it here.

Sunday night provided Anthony Davis with what he called the best moment of his career thus far, as he hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Lakers a Game 2 win over the Nuggets and take a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference Finals. It was, as he described it, the exact kind of opportunity he wanted when he requested out of New Orleans to join the Lakers: The chance to play for championships and to take and make the most important shots in the biggest moments along the way.

Davis came to the Los Angeles Lakers with a reputation as someone incapable of lifting a team over the top in the postseason as a leading man, and it’s clear that he’s keenly aware of that. He’d twice made the playoffs in New Orleans, winning one series, and as a supposed top-tier superstar, there was an expectation that he could single-handedly do more, because the discourse around stars in a team sport is never as nuanced as it should be.

The failures of the collective always fall hardest on the star, no matter whether expectations for contention were realistic or not, or if their production saw a significant uptick come playoff time. Nevermind that Davis averaged 30.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game in 13 playoff appearances — the expectation, fairly or not, for those deemed to have the potential to be the elite of the elite is to carry a team merely by your presence.

It is in large part the fault of Davis’ new teammate LeBron James that burden exists for No. 1 overall picks, as James, while facing plenty of criticism himself for not dragging the Cavs to a title in his first run in Cleveland, was able to take them to a Finals in just his fourth season. LeBron knows exactly what Davis has felt in hearing people question his abilities in the playoffs, even as he posts preposterous numbers, and has no doubt used that to fuel his big man’s drive to quiet those doubters now. James has walked in those shoes, going from a beloved top pick to a reviled villain to some for joining a fellow star (or stars) to make a run at a title, but also knows that excelling en route to a championship or two will, eventually, soften many of a player’s most fervent of critics.

After Davis’ shot and the exuberant celebration with his teammates, Davis and LeBron shared a smile and a handshake, with James glowing as he embraced his teammate; a knowing look that Davis had reached a pivotal moment in his evolution as a star. That was the moment Davis came to L.A. for and he nailed it, putting aside questions of his “killer instinct,” something that had been uttered by Charles Barkley an hour-plus before on the halftime show. It not only served as a rebuke of his doubters, but further lifted Davis’ belief that he belongs in those moments, proving that his productivity is far from empty, and wins can come from his efforts.

Game 2 was won by Davis, with LeBron taking a backseat to his star teammate down the stretch. Davis scored the final 10 points of the night for the Lakers, with them needing every single bucket to withstand a furious comeback from Denver and a similar stretch of play late from Nikola Jokic. Davis, who had just nine first half points while LeBron had 20, reversed the script in the second half with 22 of his 31, willing the Lakers to a win.

James has been spectacular for the Lakers and is irreplaceable to what they do, but Davis’ play this postseason has been unassailable and is a large part of why they’ve cruised through the first 12 games of their playoff run at a tidy 10-2 clip. In 421 minutes with Davis on the floor, the Lakers have a +15.1 net rating, which craters to a -8.5 in the 155 minutes he’s sat this postseason. While there’s always noise to on/off net rating, the Lakers play with and without him is noticeable on the eye test.

He’s dominated every matchup he’s been tasked with, big or small, adapting his game as needed to the opponent. In the first round, it was the size, length, and strength of Jusuf Nurkic and Hassan Whiteside, with Davis using his athleticism to slice through the Blazers’ two big lineups. In the second round, after an early stumble against P.J. Tucker, he found his groove and asserted his presence through physical dominance on both ends of the floor. In the conference finals, it’s been Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap who have worked to slow him, but have yet to find a recipe for continued success.

Davis’ averages of 28.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game are slightly below those he had with the Pelicans in the postseason, but that was to be expected with LeBron sharing the usage burden. What’s been impressive are the various ways Davis has dominated and the efficiency with which he’s producing. His 65.4 true shooting percentage is by far the best mark of his career — regular season or playoffs — aided by the fact that he’s hitting threes at a 40 percent clip after shooting just 33 percent during the regular season. On top of that, his assist rate has skyrocketed to 19.2 this postseason, averaging 3.9 dimes per game, which is more than double his highest playoff assist rate in New Orleans. For a team with questions about playmaking, Davis has been able to facilitate and create some opportunities for shooters on top of his own scoring, as he has simply upped his game in just about every facet thus far in the playoffs.

It’s that ability that defines the very best players, and while his numbers indicated he was more than capable of that in New Orleans, people demand to see it on a title contender (or even better, a title winner). There’s no doubt that playing with James helps Davis, but the opposite is true as well. Davis bailed out James in Game 2, as the all-time great stumbled a bit down the stretch, stepping aside to let his star teammate carry the Lakers to the finish line. Finding that balance in having stars that can both co-exist but also are equally capable of taking over when needed is a tricky and at times perilous proposition — just ask the Clippers — but Davis has embraced that challenge and has more than held up his end of that bargain thus far in the playoffs with LeBron.

Colin Quinn is a comic probably best known for his stint as the host of SNL‘s “Weekend Update” from 1998-2000, and for hosting Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn 2002-2004. After building a career largely through his commentary on modern American culture and politics, Quinn has a new book, Overstated: A Coast-to-Coast Roast of the Fifty States, that’s available for purchase now. Previously, Quinn roasted each state with a special that aired on CNN (and now lives on Netflix), Red State Blue State.

Colin recently took a few minutes to participate in our twenty questions questionnaire series.

1. You walk into a bar. What do you order from the bartender?

I tell him I’m a scout for Jon Taffer and I order him to close the place.

2. Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?

Russian bots.

3. What’s currently waiting for you on your DVR or in your streaming queue?

Taxi Driver, Mean Streets and 27 dresses. The best of New York movies IMHO.

4. It’s your last meal — what are you going out with?

Pizza, maybe Spumoni Gardens or Totonnos.

5. What websites do you visit on a regular basis?

Vlad TV and Valuetainment.

6. What’s the most frequently played song on your mobile device?

Van Morrison’s “Virgo Clown.”

7. If you could go back and give your 18-year-old self one piece of advice what would it be?

Shut up more.

8. What’s the last thing you Googled?

“Best pizza Brooklyn” so I didn’t misspell Totonnos.

9. Dogs or cats?

Dogs.

10. Best concert of your life was…?

Neil Young. Garden ’78.

11. What book are you most likely to give as a gift?

A Confederacy of Dunces.

12. What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

A friend of mine pushed me and went with me to do stand up comedy.

13. South Park or Family Guy?

Close but South Park.

14. You have an entire day to do whatever you want. What would you do?

Harass my friends over the phone.

15. What movie can you not resist watching if it’s on?

The Wanderers.

16. The sports team or teams you’re most passionate about?

The New York Jets. 🙁

17. Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

Staten Island.

18. The last movie you saw in a theater?

Joker.

19. Who was your first celebrity crush?

Susan Dey.

20. What would you cook if Nic Cage were coming to your house for dinner?

Winchells Donuts and Dupars and Spaghetti Vendor and I’d play “I Melt With You” and he’d laugh and say “I get it. Don’t forget where I came from.”

PREVIOUSLY: Brian Posehn

The fourth season of Adult Swim’s The Eric Andre Show wrapped up back in 2016, but now he titular host is ready for more. The program is set to return for its fifth season on October 25. Ahead of then, some of the guests have been revealed, and it’s a musical roster.

Set to appear during the new season are Grimes, Anderson .Paak, Lil Yachty, Joey Badass, Toro y Moi, Big Freedia, Machine Gun Kelly, and Odd Future’s (and Dave‘s) Taco Bennett. Grimes is set to be in a skit called “Grimes And Punishment,” while Joey Badass will portray Joey Fatass, and Yachty will participate in the “Rapper Ninja Warrior” segment.

Andre noted in a recent interview that the show finished filming in February (pre-pandemic), so there shouldn’t be any social distancing or remote appearances in play. Meanwhile, in a June interview with Uproxx, Andre described the progress of the new season, saying, “I’m finishing editing The Eric Andre Show. We’ve got a few weeks left of editing. Everything is in the can. I just have to put the finishing touches on the last couple of episodes and deliver them to the network.”

Check out our full interview with Andre here.

Jeff Goldblum isn’t the actor who uttered the “clever girl” line in 1993’s Jurassic Park, but that doesn’t mean he can’t rock a mask with that phrase. In fact, he did just that while posing during Jurassic World: Dominion filming with O.G. cast members Laura Dern and Sam Neill (who is in love with his hat, apparently) while they regrouped and urged people to make it happen on National Voter Registration Day.

What I love most about this photo (other than “voting”) is that Dern and Goldblum are standing next to one another, looking totally normal, like co-stars tend to do. Yet Dern wasn’t aware until quite recently (April 2019, when she spoke with Uproxx) of the Goldblum shirtless memes that have sprawled all over the internet. She called this revelation “hysterical” before giving all due credit to Goldblum being “one of the greatest improvisational actors ever.” Do you think they’ve discussed the shirtless memes? I am pretending that they laughed merrily over the subject.

To recap briefly, Goldblum admitted that he’d improvised the scene basically because “Costa Rica is really hot and so was I.” Given that Dominion is currently finishing production at Pinewood Studios outside London, which has been hovering in around mid-60s temps this week, it’s not likely that Goldblum is taking the same shirtless stance. Yet you never know with this guy. One thing is certain, you should vote!

Jurassic World: Dominion arrives (hopefully) on June 11, 2021.

On Monday, Jackson State University announced Deion Sanders as their new head football coach with the exact amount of fanfare one would expect for “Coach Prime.”

Sanders held a press conference on Tuesday and alluded to having assembled a coaching staff that features 84 years of NFL playing and coaching experience, noting that the staff has been together for “months” and has already worked through some installs via Zoom for offense, defense and special teams.

As for who will be part of that star-studded coaching staff at JSU, a report from Joe Cook indicates Warren Sapp and Terrell Owens will headline the names joining the Hall of Famer in Jackson, with plenty of former NFL players and coaches filling out the staff that looks to make Jackson State a power in the SWAC once again.

However, Sanders quickly responded that list was wrong on Twitter — although, it should be noted, initial reports of Sanders being the coach at Jackson State were also denied vehemently.

As Sanders noted in his presser, there are still some things to workout with getting his staff all together, with some of them currently employed by other schools, but it’s clear that JSU and Coach Prime are trying to make a name for the program immediately. We’ll have to wait to see what the final list of names is, but one would assume they will draw plenty of attention from recruits whatever the group is given Sanders’ explanation of their credentials. That’s always the first step to building a powerhouse program, but from there it will be incumbent on Sanders and company to develop those players and have an identity as a team to make the most out of this initial rush of attention and spotlight on the Tigers.

Last month, news broke the R. Kelly had been attacked in his Chicago jail cell by a fellow inmate. The rapper’s lawyer claimed demonstrators protesting Kelly’s court case outside of the prison had led to the entire building going on “lockdown,” meaning inmates were not allowed to go outside. One inmate in particular did not take kindly to the lockdown and went through with his plan to jump Kelly inside his cell. Kelly pushed to be released on bail out of concern for his safety, but instead, the attacker was simply moved to another facility.

According to TMZ, federal prosecutors have responded to Kelly’s safety concerns. Rather than going through with his wish to be released on bail, agents say the attack was a one-off event and opted to instead separate the two inmates. Because prosecutors see Kelly as a “threat to the public,” he is to remain in Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center while his attacker is being moved to Michigan.

Following the original incident, Kelly claimed prison guards were privy to the attack. Kelly’s lawyer reported that the singer had overheard the inmate discussing his plans and warned the guards of the impending attack, but they didn’t heed his claims.

While the prison guards weren’t on his side, apparently Kanye West is. Last week, West tweeted his opinion about Kelly and Bill Cosby being “taken down” by white media companies who produced damning documentaries. “There has never been a Black media company that would take down a white celebrity.”

The highly anticipated second season of The Mandalorian arrives in October, and this time around, the Disney+ hit is going all-in with the Baby Yoda merchandise, including an adorable, life-size LEGO set.

In an incredible move that no doubt left millions of toy sales on the table, Lucasfilm kept the social media-shaking reveal of Baby Yoda (officially known as “The Child”) under wraps by holding off on merchandise featuring the tiny Jedi until he made his streaming debut. But now that the cat’s out of the bag, Disney and Lucasfilm are free to go buck-wild slapping the little green guy on anything and everything.

Probably the most impressive piece of sweet Baby Yoda merch is a new life-size statue for LEGO, which will be released on October 30, the same day that The Mandalorian season two debuts. You can scope out The Child LEGO set below:

Here’s the official production description straight from LEGO:

Turn the cuteness factor up to the max with this LEGO® Star Wars The Child (75318) build-and-display model. Authentic details of this popular character, affectionately known as Baby Yoda, are recreated in LEGO style, with posable head, ears and mouth for different expressions, plus the Child’s favorite toy – a gearshift knob (element included) – for it to hold just like it does in Star Wars: The Mandalorian.

In other Mandalorian news, Giancarlo Esposito recently sat down with PEOPLE, where he may have revealed that the beloved bounty hunting show will wrap up its story after four seasons. Esposito also dropped a hint on when fans can expect some answers on all things Baby Yoda.

“We’re living in a universe that is huge and there’s so much to explore,” Esposito said. “So I think this show is going to lay the groundwork for the depth and breadth that’s gonna come in season 3 and season 4, where you’re really gonna start to get answers.”

While more seasons of The Mandalorian sounds awesome, we gotta admit, we’re a little more pumped to get our hands on a LEGO Baby Yoda. And if the brick company is listening, we also wouldn’t mind that Schitt’s Creek LEGO set that a fan cooked up over the summer. Just sayin’.

(Via LEGO)

At the end of last week, a new cooking show premiered on Netflix with little-to-no fanfare. The American BBQ Showdown slid into Netflix on the down-low — an eight-episode reality competition centered around home BBQ cooks and pitmasters, all vying to be named the best (home) pitmaster in America. With little promo thus far (sometimes Netflix slow plays shows and then gives them shine later in the cycle), I can’t imagine a ton of people watched this series already. But I watched it, and I found it to be a bit of a hidden gem — full of earnestness, BBQ porn, and bombastic characters.

The show is a pretty straightforward food competition. Eight competitors assemble in summery Georgia at a barn to cook backyard barbecue for a panel of esteemed judges. They’re not reinventing any wheels here. The cast is a rag-tag group of home barbecue chefs and award-winning barbecue pitmasters from the barbecue circuit. Some of them are trained cooks, but none of them are full-time professional chefs. Actress Lyric Lewis and car restorer / TV host Rutledge Wood share hosting duties and serve as the audience conduit into the finer points of smoking meats. The judging responsibility falls on two living legends from the scene — Compton’s own BBQ champion Kevin Bludso joins Memphis BBQ champion Melissa Cookston.

The heart of the show really lies in the relationships between the contestants. There’s definite competitiveness afoot — it is a cooking competition after all. But there’s a fun bond that forms between these competitors early on. They seem pretty genuine in their mutual support (this quality contributes to Top Chef‘s appeal, too). In between the “I came here to win” mantra repetition, there still seems to be an approachable level of friendliness found in all of these people — hosts and judges included. At no point do you feel like one of them would shoo you away from their cool kid’s table at the BBQ cafeteria.

Naturally, this being a competition show, surprise challenges abound (as we said above, there’s no reinventing the wheel found here). A 4th of July episode reminds you that this show would have likely come out over the summer, had it not been for the pandemic. Another episode deftly touches on wild game, which nearly derails all of the contestants — who are exclusively used to working with pork, beef, and chicken. (The episode doesn’t really go into why BBQ pitmasters still have such a narrow knowledge of proteins, definitely a missed opportunity.)

Though the format and framing is prototypical, the show shines a light on unique takes on barbecue (much like Netflix’s much more heralded summer BBQ show). In a standout challenge, Indigenous methods and ingredients are juxtaposed with Antebellum African American methods and ingredients when contestants are tasked with creating dishes that marry the two foodways. While the episode isn’t meant to be a history lesson, it is fun to watch pitmasters who are used to Green Eggs and barrel smokers try and use real sandpits and wooden racks to cook their meals.

By the time you reach the final episode, you’ll know that a whole hog challenge is coming — simply by the fact that they haven’t done one yet. Even then, the show throws some nice curveballs in to test the mettle of the two pitmasters left standing. When the smoke finally clears, you’re left with a Top Chef hybrid made enjoyable through equal measures of food porn and bold characters. If you’re not ready for another cooking battle that leans into talking-head recaps, editing for drama while the time runs out, and judge’s table takedowns and surprises — we totally understand.

If you are, this is for you. For me, personally, it worked. I still have an occasional appetite for shows like The American BBQ Showdown — a very unchallenging way to say goodbye a very challenging summer.

You can watch all eight episodes of ‘The American BBQ Showdown‘ on Netflix right now.

It doesn’t matter if he’s performing with Talking Heads or solo — David Byrne knows how to make a damn good concert film. Jonathan Demme’s Stop Making Sense is the masterpiece of the genre, while HBO’s upcoming American Utopia, directed by Spike Lee, “should be required for everyone,” as our own Mike Ryan raved. Not just Talking Heads fans, but everyone, as there’s “something whimsical and magical about the whole thing. It is designed to make the viewer feel good.” We could all use joy right now.

Described by HBO as a “unifying musical celebration that inspires audiences to connect to each other and the global community,” American Utopia features new songs (largely from the 2018 album the film is named after), covers (“Hell You Talmbout” by Janelle Monae), and old Talking Heads’ favorites, including “Burning Down the House,” “Life During Wartime,” “This Must Be the Place,” and “Road to Nowhere.” There’s nothing from the Sack Lunch Bunch special, but maybe Byrne’s saving that for the sequel.

Here’s more on American Utopia:

Recorded during its run at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre in New York City, David Byrne is joined by an ensemble of 11 musicians, singers, and dancers from around the globe, inviting audiences into a joyous dreamworld where human connection, self-evolution, and social justice are paramount.

David Byrne’s American Utopia premieres on HBO and HBO Max on October 17.