Pop Culture
Norm Macdonald Tributes: Adam Sandler, Conan O’Brien, & More Honor Comedian
As news of the death of actor and comedian Norm Macdonald at 61 years old reverberates throughout Hollywood, countless tributes have poured in from fellow comedians and actors. “Every one of us loved Norm,” remembered Macdonald’s Saturday Night Live castmate Adam Sandler. “Some of the hardest laughs of my life with this man. Most fearless funny original guy we knew. An incredible dad. A great friend. A legend. Love u pal.” “I am absolutely devastated about Norm Macdonald,” said Conan O’Brien. “Norm had the most unique comedic voice I have ever encountered and he was so relentlessly and uncompromisingly funny. I will never laugh that hard again. I’m so sad for all of us today.” Advertisement Related Video “In every important way, in the world of stand-up, Norm was the best,” former Lat...
R.I.P. Norm Macdonald, Beloved Comedian Dead at 61
Norm Macdonald, the beloved comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member, has died at the age of 61 following a nine-year private battle with cancer. “He never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him. Norm was a pure comic,” Macdonald’s friend and producing partner, Lori Jo Hoekstra said in a September 14th statement announcing his death (via Deadline). “He once wrote that ‘a joke should catch someone by surprise, it should never pander.’ He certainly never pandered. Norm will be missed terribly.” With a quick wit but painfully slow delivery, Macdonald was known for long walks to bamboozling simple, left-field punchlines. His “Moth” joke, delivered during a 2009 appearance on Conan, is a particularly beloved example of his tension-snappin...
Machine Gun Kelly and UFC Champ Conor McGregor Fight on 2021 MTV VMAs Red Carpet: Report
Machine Gun Kelly doesn’t shy away from other people’s blood, so maybe this was bound to happen. In the midst of all the glitz and glamour that was going down at the 2021 MTV VMAs, the rapper-turned-pop-punk torchbearer reportedly got into an altercation with UFC champ Conor McGregor. According to Page Six, MGK and McGregor had to be separated on the red carpet at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center Sunday night. People reports that the tiff all started when McGregor asked for a photo with MGK, but was denied by his team. He then apparently started swinging his cane in the artist’s direction, and Page Six says sources saw the UFC fighter throw a drink at MGK. “[McGregor] was ready to throw fists,” one source said. “Security was having trouble holding him back.” Apparently, red carpet phot...
Bill Cosby Scraps Comedy Tour Due to Pending Sexual Assault Trial
Looks like Bill Cosby won’t be heading out on a comedy tour any time soon. The disgraced comedian first let the ill-advised plan of some sort of post-prison stand-up comedy tour slip back in July, but according to a new report by TMZ, he’s been talked out of the idea because of yet another sexual assault lawsuit. The case in question was filed by Judy Huth, who alleges Cosby sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion back in the 1970s when was just 15 years old. Huth’s case isn’t exactly new either — it dates back to 2014, with Huth one of more than 60 women who have come forward over the years with allegations of rape, drug-induced sexual assault, sexual battery, and child sexual abuse towards the one-time icon. Advertisement Related Video However, the lawsuit was put on the back burne...
Support Hurricane Ida Relief Efforts with Our “Radiate Positivity” T-Shirt
Hurricane Ida and the resulting Tropical Depression forced the cancellation of Bonnaroo, a crushing blow to music fans across the country who were hungry to return to be The Farm. But let’s be honest, that’s far from the worst of the devastation this storm caused. That’s why we’ve decided to keep the Roo spirit alive while supporting relief efforts with our “Radiate Positivity” benefit T-shirt. Our original design aims to celebrate the energy of one of America’s greatest music festivals, demonstrating that even the nastiest of weather can’t keep us down for long. And to help others get back on their feet, we’re donating 50% of net proceeds to the American Red Cross’ Hurricane Ida relief efforts. Thanks to our direct-to-garment printing process, we’re able to offer this shirt in a vari...
Bette Midler Calls for Sex Strike in Protest of Texas Abortion Ban
That’s certainly one way of sticking it to the man. Bette Midler took to social media this week to suggest women go on a sexual strike to fight back against their reproductive rights being taken away in Texas’ new anti-abortion bill. “I suggest that all women refuse to have sex with men until they are guaranteed the right to choose by Congress,” the icon tweeted on Thursday, just on day after Texas’ restrictive anti-abortion law — which prohibits women from obtaining an abortion for almost any reason after six weeks of pregnancy — went into effect. Naturally, Midler’s stance set off a firestorm of debate and conversation in the replies, with a number of famous faces also chiming in. “My dad actually suggested that decades ago,” wrote Nancy Sinatra of her father Frank Sinatra, while Rosanna...
Poll: Only 1% of Californians Want Caitlyn Jenner to be Governor
In the midst of crisis, Californians recall a Democratic governor and elect a moderate Republican with little political experience but high name recognition. It worked for Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003, but Caitlyn Jenner doesn’t seem likely to repeat the trick. The reality TV star and Olympic gold medalist is only favored by between 1% and 2% of voters, according to multiple polls ahead of the September 14th election. Part of that is the simple fact that most Californians are Democrats, and they seem to be backing current governor Gavin Newsom. Via the FiveThirtyEight poll tracker, something like 52% of Californians have told pollsters they’ll vote to keep Newsom, compared to about 44% who would like him removed. A normal polling error would make the election extremely competitive, but ev...
McDonald’s McFlurry Ice Cream Machines Under FTC Investigation
If you’re like most Americans, then chances are you’ve stopped by McDonald’s hoping to beat the heat with a McFlurry only to be told that the machine is broken. It’s an infamous trait of McDonald’s franchises around the country, but hopefully that might change soon. After years of complaints from everyday consumers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has started an investigation into the fast-food chain’s perpetually broken ice cream machines. The Wall Street Journal reports that the FTC has been mailing letters to McDonald’s locations around the US inquiring why the ice cream machines that make milkshakes, soft-serve cones, and the coveted McFlurry are constantly out of order. While it’s tempting to imagine federal employees are doing this because they want a classic sweet treat like the ...
Joe Rogan Caught COVID-19 and Took Unproven Horse Dewormer Ivermectin
A few months after doing an about face on his vaccine stance, Joe Rogan has said he caught COVID-19 while on tour. And because he’s what we’ll call a “counter-mainstream” podcast host, of course Rogan took the unproven horse dewormer ivermectin as part of his treatment regimen. What, he couldn’t get his hands on some hydroxychloroquine? If you haven’t heard, ivermectin is an anti-parasitic medication mainly used to treat horses but also, in smaller doses, to fight river blindness and intestinal roundworms in people. Now, obviously, a virus is not a worm, so why anti-vax and right wing personalities have latched onto ivermectin as a possible cure for COVID-19 is down to more of the usual “don’t be a sheep” herd mentality. Of course, Rogan is a hugely successful and wealthy comedian, so woul...
China Limiting Children’s Online Gaming to Three Hours a Week
Let’s be real: there’s a lot of bad vices to have out there. Frequent gaming isn’t one of them, but that isn’t stopping China from putting a new rule in place that will heavily restrict it as if it were. On Monday afternoon, China’s National Press and Publication Administration announced that kids will only be allowed to play video games for three hours a week, reports Bloomberg. The statement released to the press indicates that children and teenagers under 18 years old alike will only be allowed to play one hour of gaming from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That’s a decrease from 2019, when a previous restriction limited online gaming to 1.5 hours per day. Apparently Chinese authorities are hell bent on taking on the role of super strict parents. “Teenagers are t...
James Corden Gets Roasted for Blocking LA Traffic with Flash Mob
Let’s get…loud? James Corden held up traffic in Los Angeles on Friday with the cast of the upcoming Cinderella remake to perform Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud” while dressed in as a giant mouse. One particular driver at the front of the pack happened to capture the performance, and got a front row seat to Corden thrusting in the air to the beat while Camila Cabello breathlessly mouthed the words to J.Lo’s hit 1999 single. “LMFAO CAMILLA IS SO PRETTY,” the fan posted on Twitter alongside the clip, leading it to go viral with jokes, criticism, and other hilarious commentary. “Imagine being late to work because james corden had to do hip thrusts at you in a rat costume,” one person quipped, while another wrote, “Seeing James Corden in a rat costume one more time will be the start of my vil...
New The Karate Kid Musical Slated for 2022 Pre-Broadway Run in St. Louis
Meet me in St. Louis, Daniel-san! The new musical adaptation of The Karate Kid is headed to the home of the Gateway Arch for its pre-Broadway tryout. According to a report from Deadline, The Karate Kid — The Musical will kick off a limited month-long engagement through Stages St. Louis beginning May 22nd, 2022. Helmed by Japanese director Amon Miyamoto, the show will then run through June 26th. While casting for the new musical has yet to be announced, Robert Mark Kamen — the screenwriter of the original 1984 classic — is handling the script, with music and lyrics by Smash composer Drew Gasparini. (Yes, we have him to thank for helping write Hit List, the fictitious show-within-a-show that eventually spawned a real-life 2013 concert event starring Jeremy Jordan, Andy Mientus...
