Culture

The best albums of the week, from Megan Thee Stallion, Kali Uchis, and more
While I’ve always found the news roundup trope of “here are some good stories to happen this year” to be grating, Megan Thee Stallion’s earned the right to give it a spin. Every week seems to bring some lingering reminder of the violent assault she…
By Shawn Cooke

Movies & TV

You'll never guess Merriam-Webster's word of the year
By Shawn Cooke
It’s been incredibly tempting to think about what this year might have looked like without the big, generational disease unfolding in the foreground. How would the election have gone down? How many concerts would I have seen this summer? What would…
Dentists would like TikTok influencers to stop filing their teeth down, thanks
By Tracey Anne Duncan
TikTok has made some really important contributions to society. The Savage dance challenge helped a lot of people get through early pandemic days. Unfortunately, not all influences are created equal, and some of them are telling people to file their…
'The Undoing' didn't have to be that disappointing
By Kara Weisenstein
Spoiler alert: We’re going to talk about the ending of HBO's The Undoing in this post, because it wasn’t great and we should talk about that. Honestly, I’m shocked so many people thought the “whodunit” aspect of The Undoing was a mystery right up…
Even these pro-Trump children's singers are jumping ship for Biden
By Shawn Cooke
You can already see the beginnings of Trumpworld post-election maneuvering, with a few Reasonable Republicans distancing themselves off-the-record and other officials leaning harder into baseless election fraud conspiracies. Nearly anyone with close…
Obama wants Drake to play him in a biopic
By Kara Weisenstein
In a clear bid for dad of the year, Barack Obama said he wants Drake to play him in a biopic, all because his daughters love the rapper. “I mean, that is a talented, talented brother,” the 44th president said during a recent episode of Complex’s 360…
This online book shop is trying to dethrone Amazon by siphoning its revenue to indie bookstores
By Kara Weisenstein
I’ve been diligent about buying books locally this year, particularly during the pandemic, which has been grueling on brick-and-mortar stores. But it’s a commitment that’s required patience, if I’m being real. When I recently ordered a few books…
John Wilson shows us how to make the best TV show of the year
By Shawn Cooke
Although it’s far from the first HBO show to begin as a long-running web series, How To with John Wilson is exceptional in its economy. Wilson is probably the least recognizable star to ever headline a series on the network, spending nearly the…
No one is surprised to find out Jake Paul thinks coronavirus is a hoax
By Erica Euse
Jake Paul is no stranger to controversy. The YouTube star recently came under fire for hosting a maskless bash in the midst of the pandemic. He was also the target of an FBI raid that ended up in officers confiscating multiple weapons from his…
"An almost unbearable grief": Meghan Markle reveals she had a miscarriage this summer
By Erica Euse
Even though pregnancy loss is very common, those who suffer a miscarriage are often expected to deal with it in private. In recent weeks, we’ve seen celebrities like Chrissy Teigen, publicly share the heartbreaking experience of losing a child, in…
The 'Boss Baby' sequel is a ray of hope in our desolate world
By Erica Euse
Three years after the suit-wearing toddler first graced the silver screen, The Boss Baby is back with a sequel. Universal Studios has released the first official trailer for The Boss Baby: Family Business, which will continue where the original…
6 surprises and snubs from the Grammy nominations
By Shawn Cooke
The Grammys typically have the courtesy to wait until the broadcast for their most stunning choices, but this year continues to be an exception. On Tuesday, the Recording Academy revealed its nominees for the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for…
Dave Chappelle asks fans to boycott 'Chappelle's Show' until he gets paid
By Kara Weisenstein
Dave Chappelle is advocating for ownership of the show he created, executive produced, and headlined — Chappelle’s Show, which ran on Comedy Central for three seasons from 2003 to 2006. It’d make sense for the comic to get a cut of the revenue when…
'The Crown' reminded everyone how much they hate Prince Charles
By Kara Weisenstein
The latest season of The Crown spans the 1980s, when the future king of England met and wed Princess Diana. And since the show dramatizes their courtship (and the love triangle that ended their union) there’s been a whole lot of renewed interest in…
'Jeopardy!' reveals its graceful transition process to the next host
By Shawn Cooke
Soon after his death earlier this month, the betting markets surged with speculation on who might succeed Alex Trebek as the next host of Jeopardy! At the time, I figured the show would hold off on filming new episodes until Trebek’s run finished…
'The Queen's Gambit,' a show about chess, is breaking records for Netflix
By Kara Weisenstein
“Do you see it now? Or should we finish this on the board?” Netflix asks rival HBO Max, normally the home for brooding, gorgeous limited series centered on niche nerddoms. On Monday, the world’s most popular streaming platform announced a record 62…
Fox News is making Hallmark Christmas movie knock-offs
By Shawn Cooke
Whether or not they appear on the network, every Christmas movie is a Hallmark Christmas movie now. Netflix has leveraged success and countless sequels from giving its original seasonal films that glossy, but still remarkably chintzy aesthetic. With…
With more than 700 theaters forced to close again, the future of in-person cinema is bleak
By Kara Weisenstein
Thanksgiving is normally a time of year when movie theaters make bank, capitalizing on holiday crowds flocking to see Hollywood blockbusters with their families. But due to the surge of coronavirus infections spreading at an unprecedented rate, lots…
Joe Biden's pick for secretary of state moonlights as a blues rocker
By Shawn Cooke
Although he’s been reduced to crowdfunding his own presidential transition efforts, President-elect Joe Biden has moved right along with filling out his cabinet. On Sunday night, the New York Times reported that Joe Biden is expected to name Obama’s…
'The Queen’s Gambit' depicts a masculinity-driven chess girl fantasy
By Lisa Wehrstedt
By now, Netflix has proven that it is more than happy to produce female and queer-lead shows to raise its profile. How much it follows through with its excitement is another story. Think Glow, The Society, or I’m Not Ok With This, all cancelled…
Sia responded to backlash about her movie's portrayal of autism by cursing out her critics
By Kara Weisenstein
You might recognize Maddy Zeigler, the star of Sia’s forthcoming (and now controversial) new film Music, from the enigmatic Swedish pop singer’s music videos. She’s the young dancer clad in a nude bodysuit and platinum wig in “Chandelier” and “Cheap…