When I interviewed Eric Andre a few weeks ago, I wrote that his new Netflix special, Legalize Everything, was “surprising, hilarious, timely, and wild.” I still feel that way, but I want to break it down further as I am, at this point, pretty sure it’s going to wind up being one of 2020s best and most relevant comedy specials.
When Legalize Everything dropped it managed to do a thing that few comedy specials do now: breakthrough, trending on Twitter and driving conversation, specifically the Cops bit which was released ahead of the special. Besides Chappelle’s powerful special following the murder of George Floyd, what other comedy special has managed to do that since the last Chappelle special and Hannah Gadsby’s Nannette? The thing is, while these other specials slow down and more easily gain critical traction, with comics adding weight to their words, Legalize Everything never lets off the gas and rarely lowers from a comical scream while delivering its intended message.
If you haven’t seen the Cops bit, it’s a sharp comment on the systemic flaws or our system and the way we both police and glorify messed up law enforcement actions. Through Andre, that message comes through with incredible, throat-shredding/arm swinging verve while identifying Cops for what it is: a show that amounts to a highlight reel of people at their absolute worst moment fronted by a reggae classic for its soundtrack. Andre feasts on the absurdity of all of it. As I’m sure you are aware, Cops got canceled in response to this moment of unified pushback on police brutality, that occurring well after Andre had recorded his special. The show had been on for 33 seasons.
Beyond the Cops bit, there are plenty of moments that lean into the special’s title/mantra. Andre rejects religious indoctrination and bonkers, obsolete, and cruel prohibitions on consenting adults who want to make decisions about sex and drugs. He goes to great lengths to deliver a laugh out loud history lesson about the hypocrisy of John Calvin and the tie back to the Pilgrim’s influence on our repressive yet mainstream American culture of puritanism. Hyper-relevant considering how authority and old rules and icons are being questioned and rejected.
There are lighter topics covered in the special, as well, though they still shatter any rules of decorum that others might play by. From the opening where he freaks out passersby in New Orleans by smoking up and fucking a wall while dressed like a cop, to jokes about eating ass, and storytime about Amsterdan sexploits and missing the Tupac hologram due to a Xanax blackout, Andre does a little bit of everything. And he does it big. Something helped by the setting and an adoring, raucous audience.
Staged in a reclaimed warehouse (Republic Nola), the audience seems as though they’re on top of Andre and he’s tethered to them, feeding off of their energy as a result. Remember being a part of that kind of thing? God damn, right? At one point, Andre crawls into the crowd, at other points he’s high-fiving someone or urging someone else to parkour down from the balcony. I don’t want to give away two of the special’s best bits, but creative audience participation heavily factors in, providing both faux unscripted and legitimately unscripted moments that speak to the charm of Andre’s particular brand, which he has, in the past, defined as “controlled chaos.”
There’s no virtual substitute for this specific kind of comedy in the time of COVID and needed social distancing. Zoom shows are a chance to get some cash for comics, but they don’t compare. And while it’s low on the priority list, that loss still blows. Seeing comedy done in people’s faces and watching them, raw and reactive, challenged and invited to park inhibitions and fear while participating in a daring and fascinating experiment is a reliable source of surprising sights and big, irreplaceable laughs. No matter how smart and sophisticated our tastes, something is unlocked by dumb pranks and unchecked silliness.
It’s a reminder that our looming glut of that kind comedy mixed with Andre’s ultra-timely material doesn’t make me feel better about the world even while laughing my ass off, but it does allow this special to declare its relevance more clearly than most others that launch, delight, and float for an eternity in the quiet shadows of Netflix. This feels like something unique, smart, weird, funny, and above all else, durable. An unintentional comedy time capsule for this moment in comedy culture and the world that did not seek to be anything of the sort.
Yes, Legalize Everything is important, even if it does end with a shot of Andre’s bare ass. If it helps, we can just say that it was a clever metaphor.
A nice, frosty beer is good any time of year. Especially when the heat hits. Especially on Fourth of July. Even if this Fourth looks to be a mellow one because of COVID, you’re still going to want some beers on hand. Besides, nothing pairs better with grilled hot dogs and burgers, if that’s in your game plan.
“Nothing is more refreshing in the summer heat or under the pandemic pressure than an ice-cold beer,” says Melissa Reigle, beverage manager/ head bartender at Byblos in Miami. “After a crazy ride for most businesses so far in 2020, I’d say the best beer to drink, regardless of style or preference, is the beer at your local brewery.”
Definitely try to grab a six-pack or two from your local spot. But if you also want to support your favorite bottle shop, try one of these bartender-approved brews.
Wild Heaven Emergency Drinking Beer will be the go-to for the Fourth of July this year. I have to stick with a beer brewed here in Georgia, and what better choice than this super crushable pilsner/gose hybrid? The packaging is incredible and with it being 4.5 percent ABV, it’s suitable for the marathon of a day that we think of with the Fourth of July.
Toast Pale Ale
Sondre Kasin, principal bartender at Cote in New York City
One of my favorite beers at the market now is Toast Ale. This Brooklyn based brewery is using surplus bread instead of barley — which is really unique and innovative. I have not tried their full range, but their American pale is delicious and not too heavy on the hops. It’s a crisp, hoppy, and citrus-driven American pale ale. Great for the summer heat and for a barbecue.
Deep Ellum Dallas Blonde. It’s easy drinking and has a quirky appeal. “The love runs deep ” with this beer, not to mention I’m considered a bad wife if we ever run out at the house!
Landshark was born in Margaritaville, and who wouldn’t enjoy a beer from Margaritaville? It has the island vibes without actually being at the islands and the perfect malt taste for summer.
Leinenkugel Summer Shandy is great to drink at your Fourth of July barbecue. A traditional shandy of a weiss beer mixed with lemonade offers sharp citrusy flavors to match any Fourth of July celebration.
Wynwood La Rubia
Melissa Reigle, beverage manager and head bartender at Byblos in Miami
In Miami, definitely try Wynwood Brewery’s La Rubia, a blonde ale that is light in body but not in flavor. You may also want to try De Las Americas Fruited Sour, a local collaboration between the Dogfish Head, Okcidenta, and Concrete Beach breweries. If you want light beer to cool you off all summer long, Concrete Beach Brewery’s La Clara is a great one to try.
Many breweries across the country offer pick up and/or delivery services. So channel your inner Lewis and Clark. Explore. Be bold. Support your local brewery.
Bad Dad The Sodfather
Payden Jones, bartender at Grains & Grill in Fairmount, Indiana
A great option is Bad Dad Brewing Co.’s summer Shandy, The Sodfather. This seasonal offering is perfect for hot summer days, offering a light and refreshing option. Let’s just say it’s a lemony, gingery offer you can’t refuse.
Montucky Cold Snacks
Dean Powers, restaurant and bar manager at Shore Lodge in McCall, Idaho
My go-to beer is Montucky Cold Snacks. A new kid on the block compared to the old guys like Rainier, Olympia, and Hamms. Cold Snacks are privately owned and give a percentage of profits back to the community and pay their staff for volunteer hours.
Over a decade ago, HBO introduced the masses to the fantasy-filled world of Bon Temps, Louisiana. True Blood was a deliciously-addictive watch, a satisfying gumbo filled with sex, gore, and drama, mixed with interesting, eccentric characters, and served up as a seven-season course that redefined the boundaries of storytelling on TV. It glamoured fans with its love for camp and cliffhangers and, like the vampires who got a taste of Sookie Stackhouse’s blood, it left us all craving for more.
That’s why, during these challenging quarantimes, we think it only right to rank some of the best episodes of the show for those in desperate need of a re-watch.
10. “Escape From Dragon House” (Season 1, Episode 4)
HBO
The Story: After Sookie discovers Dawn’s been murdered, she launches an investigation of her own to clear her brother’s name, which leads her and Bill to Fangtasia, and a 1,000-year-old Viking vampire named Eric Northman.
Why It’s On This List:True Blood took its time in building out the world of vampires and werewolves and shapeshifters that drew so many fans to its particular brand of camp, and it paid off with episodes like this one. Sookie gets to marvel at Fangtasia, or as she views it, the Disney World of immortal bloodsuckers, and we get to marvel at Alexander Skarsgard for the first (but not the final) time.
9. “Death Is Not The End” (Season 7, Episode 4)
HBO
The Story: Sookie recruits Eric and Bill for a rescue mission at Fangtasia, and we learn how Eric and Pam came to Bon Temps.
Why It’s On This List: Did you know you needed an ’80s-era, hairspray-soaked origin story for Eric’s vampire-only dive bar? Yeah, us either. But that’s what we got this episode, and it tasted as good as a tall glass of O-Negative. Not only did we get some of the best Eric and Pam moments of the entire series, complete with costume changes and funny gags involving Ginger, we also got some soul-lifting Eric/Bill banter as the two put aside their differences to help Sookie save her friends. See guys, we really can all get along.
8. “Let’s Boot and Rally” (Season 5, Episode 5)
HBO
The Story: Sookie and Alcide help Bill and Eric hunt down Russell Edgington as Tara and Jessica bond over their shared vampire genes at Fangtasia.
Why It’s On This List: There are definitely other episodes with more vital storytelling that could reserve a place in this ranking, but we choose to supplant them with this comedy caper instead because it’s nice to be reminded every now and then that True Blood was, at times, f*cking hilarious. Not only do we get to gleefully watch as a drunken Sookie deflates Alcide’s too-eager boner by vomiting all over his shoes right before they’re set to do the horizontal mambo, that awkward makeout session is then crashed by her two former vampire lovers, who recruit them both in the search of a genocidal ancient immortal who’s completely lost the plot and want to destroy all of humanity. And you thought your love life was laughable.
7. “Me And The Devil” (Season 4, Episode 5)
HBO
The Story: Eric, still suffering from a bout of witch-caused amnesia, flees Sookie’s place after overhearing Tara rant about all of the terrible things the vampire once did to her. Bill tries to find a solution to his Marnie problem as Lafayette and Jesus travel to Mexico for help in defeating the vampires.
Why It’s On This List: Most people might point to the next episode in season four — the one where Eric and Sookie go at it like rabbits in the woods — as the most important moment in terms of their ever-evolving romantic relationship, but there’s something to be said for the buildup to that first bang session. With Eric’s memory gone, Sookie’s able to see him clearly and to be open about her feelings for him, while he returns that gift of vulnerability by regretting his past actions and resisting the temptation to drink her blood. Their kiss is sweet and filled with promise, and it feels like more of a declaration than the moonlit romp they engage in later in the season.
6. “Life Matters” (Season 6, Episode 9)
HBO
The Story: The town gathers to say goodbye to one of its own as Bill and Eric rescue the vampires trapped by Sarah Newlin and her Vamp Camp disciples.
Why It’s On This List: Another emotional goodbye, Terry’s death marked a turning point for the entire town of Bon Temps. Not only did the show dedicate a respectful amount of time to exploring the character’s PTSD and how it affected his relationships with those he cared for most before putting him in the ground, but it also used his passing as an excuse for Sookie to come clean to her friends about her abilities. For a woman who had been hiding a vital part of herself from those closest to her for decades, this revelation felt revolutionary, in a subtly powerful way proving that True Blood had the ability to craft meaningful, heavy character development when it needed to. Of course, for those wanting bloodshed and chaos, we’ve always got Vamp Camp.
5. “Turn! Turn! Turn!” (Season 5, Episode 1)
HBO
The Story: Lafayette and Sookie plead with Pam to turn a dead Tara in exchange for their help with Eric while he and Bill find themselves in trouble with The Authority after Nan Flanagan’s murder.
Why It’s On This List: The show’s season four finale was further proof that True Blood could pull off a heart-stopping cliffhanger. The show never got squeamish when it came to doling out a death sentence to its most beloved characters, so until this episode dropped, we all believed Tara Thornton might actually, truly be dead. Of course, instead of torturing us, the show decided to torture Tara by saddling her with an undead status, and this episode marks the beginning of that juicy, dramatic arc. Not only did turning Tara introduce us to a friendship we never knew we needed — her bond with Pam, which carried through until the end of the series — but it also created conflict between her and Sookie, which forced both women to evolve in interesting ways. Plus, Tara made one badass fanger. Good on the show for realizing that early on.
4. “Everything Is Broken” (Season 3, Episode 9)
HBO
The Story: Sookie confronts Bill over his deception as he learns the truth about her origins. Tara seeks therapy for her recent trauma, and Russell starts a war between vampires and humans in a very public fashion.
Why It’s On This List: Everything is a bloody mess this episode which, as any True Blood fan knows, is when sh*t starts getting good. Sookie finally begins to assert control over her life by calling Bill out on his devious, controlling behavior while Tara begins to find closure after being abused by Franklin. And while we’re all for feisty women, the most iconic moment comes thanks to another diva: Russell Edgington. A power-hungry megalomaniac with a superiority complex, Russell was a fantastic villain throughout the show’s third season, but he reached stan-level status with his on-air meltdown that began with him ripping out a news anchor’s spine and ended when he threw it over to Tiffany for the weather.
3.“Cold Ground” (Season 1, Episode 6)
HBO
The Story: Sookie is left reeling after Gran’s gruesome murder. Her funeral and the gathering afterward descends into chaos when Jason, jacked up on V-juice, publicly blames his sister for their grandmother’s death.
Why It’s On This List: Again, there’s sex and murder and some deliciously good drama hidden in this episode, but what the show does best — focusing on the very real, very human emotions that become heightened when dealing with immortal problems — takes shape in how Sookie struggles to grieve the passing of the most important person in her life. She journeys through the steps of numbness, anger, deep despair, and denial, all while politely hosting the judgemental townsfolk of Bon Temps, managing a hapless brother with a drug addiction, and realizing her true feelings for Bill, which she acts on later in the episode. The most important scene here isn’t when Sookie finally offers Bill her neck and her virginity, it’s when she confronts Gran’s passing by tearfully eating her homemade pie.
2. “Strange Love” (Season 1, Episode 1)
HBO
The Story: We meet Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress living in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Two years after the invention of TruBlood (a synthetic form of sustenance for vampires) was created, immortal beings roam relatively free, and Sookie finally meets one when a 173-year-old fanger walks into her bar.
Why It’s On This List: Adapting any fantasy series is tough — like killing an immortal vamp tough — but what HBO was trying to do by bringing Charlene Harris’ 13-book set to the small screen was nearly impossible. It’s important to acknowledge that because the show’s premiere episode still stands as one of the best pilots we’ve seen on TV. Not only are we introduced to the rich, complicated, Southern cess-pool that is Bon Temps, we also see the first meeting of the show’s beloved, doomed couple. There’s blood, there’s gore, there’s fantasy, there’s sexual tension. Really, it’s all you could hope for as a fan of the series.
1. “I Will Rise Up” (Season 2, Episode 9)
HBO
The Story: After Eric is injured in an explosion as he and Sookie escaped the clutches of the Fellowship of the Sun, Sookie offers to help heal him and accidentally initiates a bond that threatens her relationship with Bill.
Why It’s On This List: Sure, seeing Bill sweat it out over Sookie’s steamy, Eric-starring sex dreams was fun — as was the confrontation between the two men over their shared human obsession — but the real reason that this episode rises to the top of this particular blood, camp-filled heap has nothing to do with sex, or bloodlust, or bloodlust-induced sex. Godric, Eric’s Maker, was one of the few vampires on this show that seemed to have some memory of his humanity, and it guided him in his final days in a few ways: first, as he tried to parlay with the Fellowship radicals, and second, when he decided the best form of penance for the mess he caused would be to greet the sun. Seeing Eric beg his oldest and dearest friend, a father-like figure, in both English and Swedish to reconsider his planned suicide was heartbreaking, but when Sookie offered to stay with Godric until the very end, it cemented the pair’s relationship in a way that even blood-sucking couldn’t.
Cole Bennett and Lyrical Lemonade serve up another high-speed video for some of the hottest names in the rap game as Lil Durk, Lil Baby, and Polo G come together to form a “3 Headed Goat.” The lead single from Lil Durk’s Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 receives some signature, trippy Bennett visuals complete with, yes, a three-headed goat. The three rappers pass a duffle bag full of lyrics as each takes their turn blazing through their rapid-fire verses while mouthing each other’s bars as they stand back-to-back.
All three rappers have had a terrific 2020. Lil Baby’s album My Turn debuted at No. 1, then returned to the top of the albums chart a few weeks later after a jump in streams following the release of Baby’s protest song, “The Bigger Picture.” Polo G followed up his stellar debut album Die A Legend with The GOAT, which peaked at No. 2 on the albums chart and spawned a trio of hits, “Heartless,” “Go Stupid,” and “DND.”
Meanwhile, their host on “3 Headed Goat,” Lil Durk, debuted at No. 5 with Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 despite releasing on the independent label Alamo. He hopes to return to the upper reaches of the chart with the deluxe version of the album out now via Alamo.
Watch Lil Durk’s ‘3 Headed Goat’ video with Lil Baby and Polo G above.
I’ll Be Gone In The Dark (Sunday, HBO 10:00 p.m.) — This true-crime docuseries is revolutionary, much like the Michelle McNamara book that fueled it. This is a duel-edged story of obsession and a “portrait of an artist” — one who pursued justice for dozens of survivors and victims’ families, decades after law enforcement let the Golden State Killer case go cold. It’s about those survivors, and it’s about the citizen investigators, including Michelle. She was a wife (to Patton Oswalt), a mother, a friend, and, yes, an obsessive, who was instrumental in solving this case, but not before it consumed her as well.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix film) — Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams are Lars and Sigrit, respectively, and only looking to make Iceland proud at the world’s biggest song competition. Well, that, and they want to fight for any dream worth dreaming for and achieve pop-rock-god glory with one snappy song and Dan Stevens along for the ride. According to our own Vince Mancini, this is a “goofy, glorious romp” that you won’t want to miss.
Dark: Season 3 (Netflix series) — The final season arrives with a mind-bending conclusion that sweeps past the space and time concepts while much of the group attempts to break the loop. The light and dark worlds collide with a love story bonus.
Here’s the rest of this weekend’s notable programming:
Friday Night In with The Morgans (Friday, AMC 10:00 p.m.) — Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton will welcome guests Garret Dillahunt and his wife, Michelle Hurd.
2020 BET Awards (Friday, CBS & BET 8:00 p.m.) — The 20th anniversary of this awards show (and the 40th anniversary of Black Entertainment Television) will be marked virtually due to the pandemic and hosted by Amanda Seales. Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, and Roddy Ricch lead the nominations.
Black Monday (Friday, Showtime 8:00 p.m.) — Blair attends a Halloween party looking for a trade of a lifetime while Mo and Dawn are arguing, yet again.
Perry Mason (Sunday, HBO 9:00 p.m.) — The gritty reimagining of the 1950s Raymond Burr lawyer series with Matthew Rhys in the title role continues, through good and bad news while beat cop Paul Drake encounters a gruesome crime scene.
The Chi (Sunday, Showtime 9:00 p.m.) — Jada’s on the dating scene, Trig’s working on a custody plan, and Kelly’s looking for help from Papa and Jake.
Snowpiercer (Sunday, TNT 9:00 p.m.) — The train’s growing ever-more-divided while Layton continues to evade Melanie. That can’t last long, since there’s a reckoning in Third Class.
NOS4A2 (Sunday, AMC & BBC America 10:00 p.m.) — Zachary Quinto’s back as psychic vampire Charlie Manx and working (really) hard this week to never let the lights go out in Christmasland again.
Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (Sunday, Showtime 10:00 p.m.) — Amid a riot, Peter, Elsa, and the boys are trapped in their car, while Townsend’s fortunes are suddenly on the rise.
Football is still officially between seasons, but as the summer days grow longer you can already feel the allure of the gridiron and two-a-day practices that create the next season on the gridiron. Which is why it’s the perfect time to beat the heat, stay indoors and watch football movies. At this point the sport has been optimized for TV, and networks know just how to keep viewers engaged in a game. But football movies are great because they take away the commercial breaks and fill that time between snaps with touching stories, inspiring speeches, emotional journeys as a team, and maybe some laughs.
From comedy classics to the stirring underdog stories people love about sports, these movies are the best of the best. As we get ready for another fall (hopefully) full of football, let’s take a look at our favorites.
If there’s a tonal comp for the iconic Major League on this list, it’s the little seen Necessary Roughness. Focused primarily on a washed-up quarterback and a team of nobodies that fill roster spots left vacant by sanctions, the film relies heavily on cliches but is worth a watch if you’re looking for a lighthearted football film about misbehaving man-children. As Paul Blake (the aforementioned quarterback), Quantum Leap-era Scott Bakula leans heavily on aw shucks charm, playing straight man to a collection of one note characters that are portrayed by familiar faces like Sinbad, Jason Bateman, Rob Schneider, and Kathy Ireland. As the coaches, Hector Elizondo and Robert Loggia pair nicely, adding some guidance and growl to the proceedings.
The kid-sports movie boom of the early to mid-’90s mostly focused on baseball with a side of Mighty Ducks, but football got in on the fun with this trash-talking tykes film about two pee-wee football teams — one polished and the other scrappy — fronted by a pair of mismatched brothers. There’s a lot of Ducks and Bad News Bears spirit in the preciousness of the kids, but the duel between Ed O’Neill (as the smug coach of the Cowboys) and Rick Moranis (the leader of the Giants) is the real show as these two talented comic leads give life to the rivalry. Having John Madden, Emmit Smith, Bruce Smith, and other NFL heroes of the era show up adds to the fun and the nostalgia.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong watching either the harder-hitting 1974 original or the looser 2005 remake, but with Waterboy already on this list and Team Sandler represented, it just felt right to give a little more love to the version that’s powered by prime-era Burt Reynolds swagger (as opposed to an assist from still formidable late-era Reynolds, who co-stars with Sandler and Chris Rock in the more recent version). An ex-college football player (and eventual USFL team co-owner), Reynolds walks the walk as the imprisoned ex-NFL player trying to win a vicious football game against a team of guards that are out to do the bidding of their slimy warden (Eddie Arnold, shedding all semblance of Green Acres nice).
I wouldn’t say this movie has aged great in a modern world where every hard impact in sports makes you wonder how dangerous it was for the players involved. Still, of all the Adam Sandler and Happy Madison sports movies, this is probably the best one not named Happy Gilmore. All of these titles follow the same basic pattern: Scrappy underdogs get to kiss girls and win despite being extremely unconventional and actually kind of bad.
The fun here is in the direct homages to real life. The movie has lots of cameos from NFL legends like former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor and former coaches Bill Cowher and Jimmie Johnson. Though he’s not a real coach, Henry Winkler does his best to nail his role as a slightly-damaged small-time coach who sees something in Bobby, Sandler’s character.
Cue the resounding cries of “THE BOOK WAS BETTER,” but the movie version of The Blind Side won an Oscar in its own right. Sandra Bullock’s role as football standout Michael Oher’s surrogate guardian won her an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2009. It also got a Best Picture nod. The story of an essentially homeless teen taken in by a wealthy Memphis family and turned into a top NFL Draft prospect is far more interesting in written form than it is emotional in the visual medium, but it is a touching tale that’s lovingly done here. The book has more football, so to speak, but the movie certainly isn’t bad.
This is another story about a high school football team in an extremely competitive town. There are a few of those on the list, and it’s an underdog story, for sure, but Varsity Blues is also the showcase for the worst coach in the history of football movies. Jon Voight squaring off against James Van Der Beek as the fun backup quarterback who is ready to lead the team to glory has some truly strange moments, but it’s a fun football classic that deserves to be here. It’s about as 1999 as a film can get, if you catch my drift.
The show has perhaps superseded the 2004 film in pop culture relevance, but the movie more closely follows the book — a Buzz Bissinger classic — and is excellent in its own right. Billy Bob Thornton as a high school football coach works surprisingly well here, and it’s one of the more realistic reenactments of the intense and often overbearing world of Texas high school football.
Tim McGraw makes his second appearance on this list with a role here and, yes, Connie Britton is great as Sharon Gaines. Even if she does get a lot more to do on the TV show by the same name, which started two years after this movie came out.
Every Notre Dame fan seems to love Rudy, the underdog story of an undersized wannabe football player who through hard work and dedication finally gets his chance to shine. Rudy is a classic football movie that’s beloved in many circles, and Sean Aston does great work here as the titular character, who is told he is too small to play college football.
Unfortunately, Rudy could not be ranked higher here because he was offside.
Denzel Washington knows how to take a Disney movie about racial harmony and make it into a powerhouse. The real story of coach Herman Boone may not be as cinematic as the one Washington portrays on screen, but this is an instantly quotable movie about a town coming together to, eventually, unite through football.
The movie also features some strong performances from actors who were up and coming at the time. Kate Bosworth, Ryan Gosling and Hayden Panettiere all have roles as young performers here, and it’s one of the best-rated movies on IMDb of the bunch here.
Brian’s Song is based on the real life story of Gail Sayers and Brian Piccolo, who played for the Chicago Bears. Before there was Walter Payton, there was Gail Sayers at tailback for the Bears. Piccolo’s illness and eventual death are the backdrop for this story of friendship, and James Caan and Billy Dee Williams make the most of this made for TV movie. It may be a bit hard to track down, but it’s definitely worth watching. A nice companion piece to this movie, by the way, is Sayers’ biography I Am Third, which touches on Piccolo but also describes his journey to the NFL, which is also fascinating.
With all respect due to Major League, The Replacements is the best bad sports movie of all time. This is Keanu Reeves as washed-up quarterback Shane Falco, who scrapes barnacles off the side of boats near the stadium in Washington. Falco is suddenly thrust back into the football world by over-the-hill coach Gene Hackman because of a labor strike. Never before have you been so firmly on the side of workers than in this movie that’s basically about strike-breakers crossing picket lines to get a second chance at football careers.
If that concept sounds insane, well, it is. The movie is wildly unrealistic, full of unnecessary shenanigans, and probably doesn’t hold up all these years later. But it’s also so weird and odd that it has some immensely memorable lines. I’ll never forget Gene Hackman’s Jimmy McGinty asking Clifford Franklin (Orlando Jones) to apply Stick ‘Um. After watching this you’ll occasionally ask a friend “What are they going to do, throw me in Football Jail?” And you’ll definitely ask if they remember how bad Shane Falco was at the Sugar Bowl that one year. Promise.
A lot of the hype for this movie is tied to two big, memorable lines from the film. But “Show me the money” and “You had me at hello” are not all that’s there for this romantic dramedy. This is Tom Cruise at the height of his Hollywood powers, as it was released in the same year as Mission: Impossible. He has some pretty hilarious and dramatic moments in this one.
But the movie is more than just Cruise’s titular character navigating the world as a sports agent. Cuba Gooding Jr. won an Oscar for his Rod Tidwell, and he’s a surprisingly believable wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. Tidwell’s wife, played by Regina King, steals just about every scene that she’s in here. And Renée Zellweger is strong as well. The best line of the movie, however, comes from a young Jonathan Lipnicki. That’s the one I quote the most, at least.
What’s remarkable about Any Given Sunday is that, two decades later, much of the subject material explored here still holds up. Oliver Stone’s look at the brutal world of professional football isn’t perfect, but no sports movie is. What Any Given Sunday captures here so well are the emotions of the game and some of the problems that plague the sport. Injuries, drugs, interpersonal drama, team relocation, greedy owners — all of that gets explored in the nearly-three-hour movie. Any Given Sunday isn’t nearly as well-held as some other sports movies, but as a Football Movie it’s hard to think of a better film to give that title.
Besides, this is the greatest football speech ever given.
Melbourne artist Tash Sultana experienced a breakout year in 2019. The singer embarked on a massive world tour and her song “Jungle” was certified 2-times Platinum. While the pandemic has put a few plans on the backburner, the singer forges forward with her latest number, “Greed.”
A cool-toned rhythm guitar is at the forefront of Sultana’s groovy new single. A reflection on the corruptive nature of money, Sultana sings of how wealth can often lead to greed on the laid-back track. “Make a million dollars but it ain’t that much / When it passes through the hands and they take their cuts / Put your face on the poster / Got the people inside when the debt rolls around they go run and hide,” she sings.
In a statement, Sultana described the inspiration behind her new track:
“This song is about how people change around you when you achieve some sort of success. People you’ve never had anything to do with try and climb into your life somehow, people you’ve known for ages suddenly go silent. People who never paid you for a gig suddenly want to book you. That person from high school that gave you sh*t for playing the guitar suddenly wants on the guest list. It’s a funny little thing all of this and what it does to people.”
The cast of Amazon’s The Boys brought their wickedly fun, superhero-skewering vibe together today in a cast “reunion,” which is a strange term since they never split, but sure, it’s Friday, and we’ll take it. Patton Oswalt, who has filmed a secret role for Season 2 of the show, acted as host for this gathering, and a previous UK-released teaser has already set the mood for what’s to come. Obviously, what’s to come will be more vengeance and blood as Amazon Prime continues to adapt the Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson comic-book series.
What did we learn today? For starters, the show is moving to a weekly format for episode releases, and the Season 2 premiere date is September 4.
Prior to the reunion chat, Amazon previewed a Twitter clip to show off The Seven’s newest member, Stormfront, who isn’t thrilling Homelander and Queen Maeve. Another clip cheekily showed a compilation of Starlight and Queen Maeve kicking ass with this caption: “Wait, why is this show called The Boys again?” It’s a decent question.
And finally, there was the nearly hour-long gathering, in which a lot of chatter went down. That includes Patton referring to a “little ray of sunshine,” and I wasn’t quite clear on whether he was talking about Karl Urban or Billy Butcher. Maybe both. The final portion of the video shows off the 3-minute opening scene of Season 2. Giancarlo Esposito has arrived to portray Stan Edgar, the CEO of Vought. A board meeting’s enjoying a sandwich break while some throat-cutting and beheadings go down elsewhere. Enjoy:
Where have The Boys been? What are they reuniting to tell us? And why is @PattonOswalt here? You’re asking a lot of questions, just f**kin’ watch the livestream. https://t.co/x9M8S91eVT
The even more intense, more insane season two finds The Boys on the run from the law, hunted by the Supes, and desperately trying to regroup and fight back against Vought. In hiding, Hughie (Jack Quaid), Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso), Frenchie (Tomer Capon) and Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) try to adjust to a new normal, with Butcher (Karl Urban) nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Starlight (Erin Moriarty) must navigate her place in The Seven as Homelander (Antony Starr) sets his sights on taking complete control. His power is threatened with the addition of Stormfront (Aya Cash), a social media-savvy new Supe, who has an agenda of her own. On top of that, the Supervillain threat takes center stage and makes waves as Vought seeks to capitalize on the nation’s paranoia.
Previously, executive producer Seth Rogen promised that the Amazon Prime series’ second season would be “better” and more outrageous, and it certainly looks like the show has upped the bloody ante. In the process of filming, though, Toronto reportedly shut down one violent scene for crossing a line by filming near the site of a real-life terror attack that killed 10 people in 2018. Yep, that sounds like a questionable judgment call, but we’ll see if that scene makes it into Season 2 when it arrives on September 4.
Pirates of the Caribbean is the 14th highest-grossing film series ever, with the five entries in the franchise having made over $4.5 billion worldwide (even if only one, maybe two of them is any good). So, it’s no wonder that Disney wants to continue making Pirates movies. What is surprising, however, is that there’s two projects in the works: a reboot from Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin, and another starring Margot Robbie.
The “female-fronted Pirates of the Caribbean,” as the Hollywood Reporter calls it, will find the I, Tonya actress re-teaming with Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson. “While plot details are being kept in Davey Jones’ locker, the project, in early development, is not intended to be a spinoff of the long-running franchise that had pirate Jack Sparrow at its center but rather a wholly original story with new characters under the Pirates moniker, itself inspired by the long-running attraction at Disneyland,” THR added. Basically, the Mazin movie will take place in the same cinematic universe as that drunken rascal Jack Sparrow, even if Johnny Depp isn’t expected to appear in the movie, while the Robbie one will be its own thing. And probably be better off for it.
Hopefully this ends with a Margot Robbie animatronic in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland / Disney World. As long as she doesn’t replace the Dirty Foot Pirate.
Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm and blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B jams that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.
This week, 6lack unleashed 6 Pc Hot for his birthday, August Alsina made his return with The Product III: State Of Emergency and JoJo dropped off the music video for her Good To Know track “Small Things,” among many other great releases. Check out the rest of the best new R&B songs below.
6lack — 6pc Hot EP
6lack celebrated his birthday this week with the release of his EP 6 Pc Hot, the follow-up to 2018’s East Atlanta Love Letter. The six-track project is an ode to his Atlanta roots with songs like “ATL Freestyle” and his own brand of hot sauce called 600 Degrees (which has been delivered to fans homes at their request via a robot.) 6 Pc Hot and 6lack’s 600 Degrees hot sauce should be enough to hold fans over until his next full-length album, whenever that will be.
August Alsina — The Product III: State Of Emergency
It’s been a minute since August Alsina released a full-length album following 2015’s This Thing Called Life, as he dealt with some personal health and label issues. Now, he’s back in a major way with his third studio album The Product III: State of Emergency. The project features 27 solid tracks, making this a return worth waiting for.
JoJo — “Small Things”
JoJo shared her music video for her song “Small Things” this week. The video features dancers in all-white as JoJo sits in a white chair, singing her heart out. The song lives on her recently released album Good To Know, which made No. 18 on Uproxx’s Best Pop Albums of 2020 So Far.
Jayla Darden — “Demonstration”
21-year-old Detroit native Jayla Darden is the music industry’s latest multi-threat and her latest release “Demonstration” is a continued example of what’s to come from the R&B darling. The talented musician not only sings but she writes, produces and engineers most of her music as well. She recently made an appearance on HER’s instagram live series, Girls with Guitars and did a live performance of her single “Onto Something” and a cover of Aaliyah’s “I Don’t Wanna” while playing the guitar.
Pink Sweats — “Not Alright”
On his latest single “Not Alright,” Pink Sweats delivers major alt-R&B and pop vibes in the name of social justice. “‘Not Alright’ is a song I wrote about the wide range of feelings you experience being Black in America,” Sweat$ captioned on an Instagram post. “I was planning on putting this record out with the rest of the album, but I need you all to hear this one now.” “Not Alright” serves as Pink $weat’s latest release from his forthcoming project Pink Planet, which is slated to drop on July 17.
Savannah Cristina — “F’d Up” Feat. Flo Milli
Savannah Cristina and buzzing rapper Flo Milli tapped in with each other for the R&B singer’s latest release, “F’d Up.” It’s an honest track about what not to put up with in a relationship. “I don’t catch feelings, I catch flights,” Savannah croons on the track. On Saturday (June 27th), the “Comfortable” singer is set to make an appearance at the 13th annual Roots Picnic Virtual Experience’s pre-event.
11:11 — “Call Me Daddy
As rising R&B singer 11:11 readies for the release of his debut album, the burgeoning artist dropped his steamy new single “Call Me Daddy” today. The Toronto singer’s previously released track “Me, Chanel & Jameson” was also featured on an episode of the Joe Budden Podcast. 11:11 is certainly one to watch.
Saint Bodhi — “Cabin Fever”
Los Angeles native Saint Bodhi explores her feelings about a “sh*tty,” toxic love on her new single “Cabin Fever.” It’s an alternative R&B dream with clean, rounded acoustics, moments of syrupy slowed-down production, and melodic distortion.
Ford. — “Hold On” Feat. Ayelle
Ayelle and 20-year-old buzzing producer Ford. came together for the enchanting track “Hold On,” this week. The song sits on the fringe of electronic sounds and R&B and combined with Ayelle’s ethereal vocals, this song is meant to take you to heaven.
Alewya – “Sweating”
Alewya takes it to another dimension on her sensual track “Sweating,” produced by Ghana-based producer The Busy Twist. “This video is for US. In love, power and rage,” the music video for “Sweating” opens up. The black-and-white visual for the melodic dance track was directed by Jack Bowden. Alewya previously collaborated with Little Simz on the song “where’s my lighter” and is London Records’ first signed artist.
Check out this week’s R&B picks, plus more on Uproxx’s Spotify playlist below.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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