Culture
Halo Infinite is the Long-Awaited Halo Continuation The Series Deserves
Halo is back. For fans of Xbox’s signature series, it’s been nearly a half-decade since the release of underwhelming spinoff, Halo Wars 2, and over 6 years since the last title in the main series (the divisive Halo 5). But with Halo Infinite, Master Chief is finally back to blast and smash his way back into everyone’s consoles, PCs and hearts. While the monetization system for the multiplayer has been predictably criticized, Halo Infinite is generally a return to form for the series, with the gameplay, narrative, and environment that fans have come to expect from one of the most recognizable video game franchises in history. Halo Infinite also marks a pair of significant anniversaries for the franchise, with the original launch of the first game coming 20 years ago last month and the remas...
Travis Scott, Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Drivers License’ & More Crown Google’s Top Searches of 2021
Google unveiled its 2021 Year in Search list on Wednesday (Dec. 8), where Travis Scott lands on top of its top trending searches for musicians in the U.S. Meanwhile, Olivia Rodrigo‘s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “drivers license” is the No. 1 top trending search for songs. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Google’s top trends reflect the searches that experienced a high spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2021 compared to 2020. The Houston rapper is also listed as No. 4 on the top trending searches for people, behind Kyle Rittenhouse, Tiger Woods and Alec Baldwin. Scott’s name has been seen in recent headlines over the past two months since his disastrous hometown Astroworld Festival in November left hundreds injured and 10 people dead. An...
Jada Pinkett-Smith Returns as Niobe In ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ Trailer: Watch
Get ready to step into the Matrix one last time — on Monday (Dec. 7), HBO Max released the second official trailer for The Matrix Resurrections, the fourth and final chapter of the wildly popular science-fiction movie series, which sees Neo (Keanu Reeves) coming to terms with choices he made in The Matrix Reloaded. “We can’t see it, but we’re all tapped inside these strange repeating loops. Billions of people just living out their lives, oblivious. But this is the moment for you to show us what is real,” characters can be heard saying as current memories and flashbacks of his love interest, Trinity, from the past three Matrix movies play. As Neo grows increasingly doubtful of his surroundings, Morpheus — now played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II instead of Laurence Fishburne — says, “They taught...
Will Barack Obama Tie This Presidential Grammy Record?
Barack Obama may be headed for his third Grammy win at the 64th annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 31. Obama’s A Promised Land is nominated for best spoken word album (includes poetry, audio books and storytelling). He previously won in the category twice as a U.S. Senator – with Dreams From My Father (2005) and The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (2007). If he wins again, he’ll tie Jimmy Carter as the U.S. president with the most Grammy Awards. Carter won three Grammys in the spoken word category long after leaving the White House in 1981. He won for Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis (2006), A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety (2015) and Faith – A Journey For All (2018). Explore See latest videos, charts and news The only other president to win a Grammy is...
Cardi B Debuts Boozy Whipped Cream Partnership During Miami Art Week
Jumping on the celeb-back booze train, Cardi B is now peddling liquor, but her “authentic” spirit isn’t tequila or rum — it’s vodka-infused whipped cream. Whipshots by Cardi and Starco brands are available on Whipshots.com in 500-can-per-day Whip Drops, and the three launch flavors — vanilla, caramel and mocha — have been selling out in under four minutes daily since Dec. 1. Explore Explore Cardi B See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I’m not really a hardcore liquor-drinking person. And I like things that are sexy and tasty. It’s going to be a party in every can,” Cardi tells Billboard. “At one time I was planning to do margaritas, but this is more fun.” On Dec. 4, Cardi debuted Whipshots with a sweets-themed party at Pharrell and David Grutman’s The Good...
Box Office: ‘Encanto’ Leads Quiet Post-Holiday Weekend
Walt Disney Animation’s original musical animated adventure Encanto led a quiet post-Thanksgiving session at the box office, which is always quiet the weekend following the holiday. This year was further complicated by the ongoing pandemic and concerns about the new omicron variant. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Encanto, featuring original songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, grossed $12.7 million from 3,980 theaters in its second weekend for a domestic total of $58 million and $58.1 million overseas — where omicron is more of a concern — for a global cume of $116.1 million. The pic is setting records in parts of Latin America, where it has earned $5.9 million in Colombia, the film’s No. 1 foreign market behind France ($6.5 million). Sony’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife followed closely i...
Pharrell Williams, Haim Visit Chanel Labyrinth at Art Basel Miami Beach
Artist Es Devlin wanted guests to engage in all their senses when she designed “Five Echoes,” the public installation commissioned by Chanel to honor the 100th anniversary of the house’s iconic No. 5 fragrance. More than 2,000 fragrant trees, grasses and other plants were sourced to create a forest-like environment at Jungle Plaza in Miami’s Design District, with a walkable labyrinth 100 feet in diameter — its shape inspired by a French abbey from Coco Chanel’s childhood — rising from its center. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news While Devlin sought myriad ways to honor the codes of Chanel in the experience, sustainability was also top of mind, said the British-born artist and stage designer. “We began with a conversation about how a temporary ar...
5 Best Moments From Jingle Ball Los Angeles 2021
The Christmas lights tend to shine a little brighter in Los Angeles, and such was certainly the case with the star-packed lineup behind iHeartRadio’s 102.7 KIIS FM Jingle Ball 2021 on Friday night (Dec. 3). Crowds of families and passionate fans decked out in light-up deer antler headbands and ugly Christmas sweaters filed into the sold-out Forum in Inglewood to see some of pop music’s biggest acts grace the stage after a pandemic-influenced hiatus canceled the Jingle Ball tour’s 2020 outing. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news BTS, Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, Lil Nas X and Black Eyed Peas were among the show’s headlining acts, all creatively incorporating the spirit and festivities of the holidays into their performances. A laryngitis diagnosis made Dua...
Watch Kacey Musgraves Struggle to Pick Her Favorite Color With Elmo & Big Bird on ‘Sesame Street’
Kacey Musgraves is the latest musician to make a visit to Sesame Street. During her recent appearance, the country singer struggles to pick her favorite color in the rainbow while singing the song “All the Colors of the World” but is able to come to a solution by the end of the segment with help from the show’s beloved characters. In the clip, Elmo asks Musgraves what her problem is, to which she replies that she can’t decide what her favorite color is. After Elmo reveals that his favorite color is red — like his furry body — she sings, “Red is Elmo’s favorite color/ You know I really like red too/ It sometimes means stop/ Or love you a lot/ And red reminds me of you/ And that’s why of all the colors in the world/ Red is the color I like the most.” Explore See latest videos, charts and new...
Mixed Martial Arts Legend and Two-Time UFC Champion José Aldo is Still the Hungry Kid From Brazil
There are few names in the mixed martial arts world quite as revered as José Aldo. The two-time UFC featherweight (145 lb.) champion and current bantamweight (135 lb.) contender is universally considered one of the top 10 MMA fighters of all time thanks to his six-and-a-half-year reign atop his division that saw him clear out an entire generation of challengers — often via decimating kicks and highlight-creating knees. Even after losing the championship belt, the Brazilian fighter remains one of the greats. Aldo is still near the top of the UFC rankings while many his peers and opponents from over the years have faded from title contention or hung up their gloves. But perhaps the most impressive thing about the 35-year-old is that he’s still very clearly evolving his skills each time he st...
Demi Lovato Is No Longer ‘California Sober’: ‘Sober Sober Is the Only Way to Be’
Demi Lovato announced on social media Thursday (Dec. 2) that the singer no longer abides by their former “California sober” lifestyle. “I no longer support my ‘California sober’ ways,” the singer wrote on Instagram Stories. “Sober sober is the only way to be.” Lovato explicitly opened up about being “California Sober” in a track by the same title earlier this year from their Dancing With the Devil … The Art of Starting Over album, which revolves around the lifestyle of allowing some alcohol and marijuana consumption while steering clear of hard drugs. “I’m California sober/ It doesn’t have to mean the growin’ part is over/ No, it ain’t black or white, it’s all of the colors.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news In Lovato’s YouTube Originals docuseries of the same name, the singer op...
How to Watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2021
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission. ‘Tis officially the season. And with the holiday season, comes the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. The 89th annual lighting ceremony is tonight (Dec. 1), open to the public a year after the 2020 ceremony was closed to the public for COVID-19 safety reasons. With 50,000 multi-colored lights on the 79-foot tree, a Swarovski star on top and a bunch of star-studded performances, the jolly tradition is a can’t miss event. The tree lighting ceremony will be hosted by Today‘s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Al Roker. If you want to join in on the festive fun (from the comfort of your own home, not the Big Apple), ...
