The Drama Behind The Brooklyn Nets Super team
Kyrie Irving (Far Left), Kevin Durant (Left), Lemarcus Aldridge (Center), James Harden (Right), Blake Griffin (Far Right).
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By Spencer Croston
Entertainment Editor Just two years ago, the Brooklyn Nets were in a big rough patch. They had no star players and were considerably one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference and the NBA as a whole. However, the end of the 2019 season would change everything as one time MVP and two time NBA champion Kevin Durant announced that he would be signing with Brooklyn alongside star point guard, Kyrie Irving. This immediately made the Nets a high contender for the Eastern Conference. While Durant had to miss out on the 2020 season due to an Achilles injury he faced in the 2019 finals, he opened the 2021 season as an absolute force. Tom Dowd of NBA.com stated, ¨But after two preseason games, the rest of the world has had a look, and the reviews are, well, he looks like Kevin Durant.¨ Durant and Irving played extremely well together, but had a hard time facing the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers, making them the third seed in the Eastern Conference. All of that would change when the Nets made an enormous trade that would land them James Harden, the super star shooting guard from Houston. This move would prove to be very controversial as the Nets had now acquired the best shooting guard and paired him with two of the best players in the league. Many took to social media to complain, stating the Brooklyn had now become a ¨super team.¨ The Nets would go on to dominate the Eastern Conference, forming what is now considered to be the greatest offensive team in NBA history. In late March, the Nets organization fueled the fire they had started even further by acquiring a multitude of free agents. At the end of the trade deadline, the Nets acquired star power forward Blake Griffin and star center Lamarcus Aldridge of the San Antonio Spurs. Many have called these acquisitions unfair as these players have set an unfavorable precedent for the rest of the league. Many are arguing that seemingly anyone can leave their team to join a better one. Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated claimed, ¨This is creating a competitive advantage for the large, destination markets, and it’s another inequity for the small markets.¨ The future effects of what has occurred in Brooklyn is unknown, but for now it is clear that this has helped boost the Nets into being one of the largest forces in the NBA. Published: 03/29/21 |
Brooklyn This Season
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving early on in the season
Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant in their first game together
Blake Griffin dunking for the first time in 2 years in his first game with Brooklyn
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The 2021 Academy Awards
Above are some of the nominated actors and actresses for this years Academy Awards
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By Spencer Croston
Entertainment Editor The 2021 Academy Awards have officially been announced to be occurring on April 25, 2021. The annual event had many doubting that it would actually occur until the Golden Globes and the Grammys proved that they could run a successful awards ceremony. It is still unclear whether or not the broadcast will have a host. Controversy over previous hosts have led the event to be hostless for the past two years, meaning that it will likely be the same this year. The nominees for each category have been announced and have led to both upset and happy reactions from fans. Many are very happy with the diversity in this year's nominees as more actors of color have been nominated than in previous years. Also, more women have been nominated in non-actress categories this year than any year in the history of awards. Still, some people are upset, such as Zack Sharf from IndieWire. Many of his favorite films were “snubbed” this year, leading him to say, “That “First Cow,” “The Invisible Man,” “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” and “”His House” have zero Oscar nominations among them is a bitter pill that will remain hard to swallow for some time. However, many actors were rightfully nominated for their performances this year as Francis Mcdormand, Daniel Kaluuya, and the late Chadwick Boseman have all been nominated for their amazing roles. Make sure to watch the event on April 25 at 6:00 PM MT. Posted: 03/15/21 |
Steven Yeun and Riz Ahmed make Oscar History!
Riz Ahmed(left) was nominated for his performance in ¨The Sound of Metal¨ while Steven Yeun(right) was nominated for his performance in ¨Minari.¨
Actor’s Steven Yeun and Riz Ahmed have made Oscar history as this is the first time two men of Asian heritage have been nominated in the leading actor category for their roles in the films ¨Minari¨ and ¨The Sound of Metal¨ respectively. Yeun is also the first Asian American to be nominated for best actor and Ahmed is the first Pakistani to be nominated for best actor. If Ahmed wins the award then he will be only the second muslim actor in history to win an oscar, the other being Mahershala Ali who won in 2016 and 2018. Aaron Couch of The Hollywood Reporter also pointed out,”Both The Sound of Metal and Minari are nominated for best picture, which will be revealed during the ceremony April 25.¨
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The 2021 Grammy Awards
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By Jada Clayton
Home Page Editor This year, March 14, expect a fantastic group of singers to perform during the 2021 Grammys! Originally the show was postponed, like the Golden Globes, and Oscars. But we are still very excited to see that there will be a total of 22 artists and/or bands that will fill the time with great music. Although the Corona Virus is still fizzling out and there are more and more vaccines being given, the Grammys will be “coming together, while still safely apart”, as The Recording Academy says. The long list of amazing performers includes; Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, BTS, Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, Black Pumas, Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, DaBaby, Doja Cat, Mickey Guyto, Haim, Brittany Howard, Miranda Lambert, Lil Baby, Dua Lipa, Chris Martin, John Mayer, Megan Thee Stallion, Maren Morris, Post Malone, Roddy Ricch. Plan on the show airing from 8 to 11:30 eastern time, and 5 to 8:30 pacific time on CBS, from the Los Angeles Staples Center. And plan on the Premire Ceremony starting at 3 eastern time and 12 pacific time, streaming on Grammy.com. Hosting the show will be “The Daily Show” comedian Trevor Noah. The presenter is yet to be announced. Nominees include Beyonce (again), and the 10 WBNS says that other nominees include; “Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Roddy Ricch, Jhené Aiko, Post Malone, Renée Zellweger, Billie Eilish and her producer-brother Finneas also scored nominations. First-time nominees include The Strokes, Megan Thee Stallion and Harry Styles.” Posted: 03/10/21 |
Image of the coveted Grammy Award
Zayn Malik, former member of the band "One Direction"
Zayn Malik, ex-member of the band One Direction says “F*** the grammys and everyone associated” on his twitter. This strongly worded opinion was not formed because he is jealous or upset he was not nominated. Rather, he is upset that the grammys are unfair and tend to be biased. He later tweeted that it was not intended to be about eligibility, but about the “favoritism, racism and networking politics to influence the voting process”. Zayn was not dragging any of the artists through the mud, just the grammy organisers, because he is aware of the issue.
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Recapping The Golden Globes
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting the Golden Globes
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By Spencer Croston
Entertainment Editor The 2021 Golden Globes aired on February 28. The beloved annual television event was a little different this year due to continuing complications with the Corona Virus. Co-hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey had to speak and make jokes to a nonexistent audience. Poehler spoke from Los Angeles and Fey spoke from New York City. Beyond the lack of an audience, the show went smoothly with the exception of some technical difficulties. Nominees and winners video called in to talk with the hosts and to receive their awards. Due to the technical difficulties, best supporting actor nominee and winner Daniel Kaluuya appeared with no voice. When the sound was finally working he jokingly stated, “You’re doing me dirty! Is this on?” Nominees such as Jason Sudeikis, Sacha Baron Cohen, Daniel Kaluuya, and Sarah Paulson showed off a wide range of fashionable outfits. Savannah Salazar of Vulture Magazine commented on Sudeikis’ outfit stating, “Gotta admire Jason Sudeikis for giving us nothing while also giving us everything with this tie dye hoodie/mustache combo.” Some history was made at this year's award show as Netflix won a majority of the TV awards. Nate Day of Fox Business said, “The streaming giant, which still leads its competition in subscriber counts, won six of 11 Golden Globes for television shows, dominating the drama categories.” Of course, the most exciting part of the night was to see who would end up winning Globe Awards for their performances in the limited selection of acclaimed movies and television series. Sacha Baron Cohen surprisingly won best actor in a musical or comedy for his portrayal of “Borat” in the R rated comedy, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” which respectively won the award for best picture in the musical/comedy category. The late Chadwick Boseman also received the award for best actor in a drama for his amazing portrayal of Levee Green in the film, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Lastly, Jane Fonda was awarded the coveted, “Cecil B. Demille Award” which is awarded to one particular entertainment personality who has in some way transformed and positively impacted the entertainment industry over a long period of time. Previous winners include, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, and Jeff Bridges. All in all, despite the limitations brought on by Covid-19, NBC was able to put on a successful ceremony that led to an entertaining night. Posted: 03/01/21 |
Images From the 2021 Golden Globe Awards
Jason Sudeikis wore a tie dye hoodie while receiving his award for his portrayal of the title character of the television series, "Ted Lasso."
Jane Fonda receiving her Cecil B Demille award
The late Chadwick Boseman received a golden globe for his portrayal of Levee Green in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
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One Night In Miami Review
Poster for "One Night in Miami."
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By Mason Hughes
Nation and World News Editor Regina King’s “One Night in Miami'' was released on Amazon Prime Video last month. The movie presents a timely discussion on racial justice and fictionalized a historic meeting between Jim Brown, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Muhammed Ali (AKA Cassius Clay) after Ali won the title of World Heavyweight Champion in 1964. The film has been highly praised among critics, earning a 98% rating on rotten tomatoes. Although the film’s pacing is slow at the beginning, the witty dialog and timely analysis of racism and colorism make watching the film well worth it. All 4 of the main actors bring an element of humanity to their roles. Leslie Odom Jr. displayed his acting skill, bringing a level of depth to Sam Cooke that no textbook could emulate. Not only was his acting incredible, but his vocal performances were also stellar. Odom accurately mimicked Cooke’s on-stage personality and off-stage flamboyance. Eli Goree played an almost perfect Muhammed Ali, mimicking his physical mannerisms and poetry at a high level. Kingsley Ben-Adir plays Malcolm X in an accessible way, displaying Malcolm’s struggles with his religious identity towards the end of his life. Although Ben-Adir’s performance didn’t surpass Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Malcolm X, he accurately displayed Malcolm’s quiet confidence. The movie was dominated by a debate between Malcolm X and Sam Cooke over the nature of the Civil Rights struggle. The dialog in these scenes was especially strong and contributed to one of the most powerful endings ever seen in a film, showing how that “one night” affected the paths each of these legends took at the twilight of their lives. Ultimately, “One Night in Miami” is a masterpiece. From incredible acting to witty dialog, each role is truly unique and three-dimensional. It also brings light to some of the lesser-known contributors to the Civil Rights movement and highlights the contributions of performers like Cooke and athletes like Brown and Ali. King displays all of the joy, sorrow, and struggle that these titans faced with an empathetic understanding that will touch viewers and encourage them to honor the lives and sacrifices of these four great men. Posted: 02/25/21 |
Related Images
The real life Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown
Regina King and the "One Night in Miami" cast
Scene from "One Night in Miami."
Scene from "One Night in Miami."
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The NBA ALL STAR Game
Lebron James and Kevin Durant will be the team captains of the two All-Star teams
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By Spencer Croston
Entertainment Editor After much uncertainty on whether or not it would happen, the fan favorite NBA All-Star game will be happening on March 7, 2021. In this event, the best players in the NBA create teams and play against each other for the hope to become an NBA All-Star. One player from the winning team that performed the best will also be crowned as the All-Star MVP. The selection of the players is up to the fans as they can go online and vote for which players they´d want to see play in the beloved event. Many fans were concerned about the All-Star game´s occurrence due to the Corona Virus. The All-Star game is typically completely sold out with fans packing the stadium. The NBA realized that to make the game actually happen, they would have to have the two teams play with no fans in the audience. While this may make the game less eventful, its the only way that safety protocols can be put in place. Many NBA superstars are set to appear in the event including: four time NBA champion Lebron James, two time NBA champion Kevin Durant, and two time NBA champion Kawhi Leonard. Despite the NBA´s best efforts to make the All-Star game as safe as possible, many of the selected stars have expressed their concerns about playing in the All-Star game. Lebron James, the small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, stated that the All-Star game happening was ¨a slap in the face¨ since he was under the impression that it wouldn't be happening. Kawhi Leonard, the small forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, said, ¨We all know why we're playing it. It's money on the line; its an opportunity to make more money.¨ On the other end of the issue, Kevin Durant, the small forward for the Brooklyn Nets, claimed ¨I don't care either way¨ when asked if he wanted to play in the All-Star game. No matter their positions on the game, all voted players will be playing at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The All Star game can be viewed live on TNT at 6:00 Mountain Time. Posted: February 19, 2021 |
Past All-Star EventsLast Years All-Star GameVince Carter at the 2000 Slam Dunk ContestThe 2016 All-Star Game |
WandaVision: Building a New Future for the MCU
Scene from the first episode of "WandaVision."
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By Spencer Croston
Entertainment Editor The first two episode of the Disney Plus original series “WandaVision” released on January 15, 2021.The show revolves around Wanda Maximoff, also known as Scarlet Witch, as she creates an alternate sitcom reality to cope with the death of her significant other, the super android Vision. The show has currently released four episodes which have all been met by rave reviews. The majority of fans are in love with the plot of the show as each episode references a sitcom from a specific era. For example, the second episode takes place in the 60s and largely references the acclaimed sitcom “Sabrina.” Fans seem to be confused by the show's intricate and mind boggling plot, but the reaction has been positive for the most part. On Twitter, Marvel fan Ryan Lavender was so intrigued by “WandaVision” that he stated, “The bar has been set pretty high for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.” Another fan, Stevie Danger, stated, “This week's episode was way too good for no reason.” Its pretty safe to say the “WandaVision'' has been a great first step for the MCU transitioning to TV. With WandaVision being so well received, fans are strongly anticipating the MCU’s other announced series such as “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier,” “Loki,” and “Hawkeye.” These new series are giving fans of the Marvel movies a greater incentive to buy a Disney Plus subscription since the shows are in the same universe as the movies and the shows will tell plot lines that will lead into future MCU films. This has already been seen in the show as Randall Park, who plays agent Jimmy Woo in the “Ant Man” films, and Kat Dennings, who previously played Darcy Lewis in the “Thor” franchise have made appearances. Kevin Feige, the Creative Chief Officer of Marvel Studios, has also commented that the events of “WandaVision” will directly lead into the future MCU film “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” I think its safe to say that MCU fans will have plenty of content to enjoy in the future as Marvel releases more shows on Disney plus. Posted: 02/01/21 |
Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau and Randall Park as Jimmy Woo
Kathryn Hahn as Wanda's friendly neighbor Agnes
Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda and Paul Bettany as Vision
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The Warner Bros. / HBO MAX Controversy
Scene From The New Warner Bros. Movie "Godzilla Vs. Kong."
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By Spencer Croston
Entertainment Editor Due to the Coronavirus, the movie industry has taken great financial loss. The virus has been affecting theatres due to public fear about contracting the virus in enclosed areas. While many theatres have reopened, they can only allow a certain number of people into each theatre to satisfy social distancing guidelines. Because of this, many companies have been delaying the releases of their films to future release dates to maximize the profits on their films. Warner Bros. has taken a unique approach to solve this issue. They have partnered with the HBO Max streaming service to release their films at the same time as their theatrical release dates. So far they have released the film “Wonder Woman 1984,” which was a success. They have announced that they will do this for all of their future including their new “Dune” remake. While this move has worked out for Warner Bros., many have been against this decision. Countless cinema goers, directors, and actors have proclaimed their anger towards this HBO Max deal because they believe it will cause the death of movie theatres affecting a lot of theatre owners as well as completely getting rid of the movie going experience. Acclaimed Director Christopher Nolan exclaimed that the move to HBO Max was “very, very, very, very messy” and a “real bait-and-switch.” James Gunn, director of Guardians of the Galaxy, proclaimed that Warner Bros. had created “a lack luster formula." Directors, like Gunn and Nolan, and other actors make a percentage of their paycheck from the box office, so when that doesn’t exist, they end up losing out on a lot of income that they could’ve received. Movie theatre company AMC was especially angry about the decision. Travis Clark of Business Insider stated that, “AMC's stock was down 16% following the announcement.” For a company that is trying to recover from a lot of financial troubles, Warner Bros. isn’t making their situation any easier. Many have been quick to point out that these movies will only be on HBO Max for one month before only being viewable in theatres. Still, many believe that the month where it is available for streaming will do more harm than good. Warner Bros. has shown no signs of backing off from this deal as their next film, Godzilla vs. Kong, is set to release on March 21, in theatres and on HBO Max. Posted: 01/25/2021 |
Films released and set to be released on HBO Max
"Wonder Woman 1984" Released In Theatres And On HBO Max In December
"In The Heights" Will Be Released on HBO Max And In Theatres on June 18, 2021
"Dune" Will Be Released On HBO Max And In Theatres On October 1, 2021
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STARSHIP Captain Rankings
The Captain's Chair On The Original U.S.S Enterprise
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By Mason Hughes
Nation and World News Editor Since the advent of Star Trek in 1966, few Science Fiction stories exclude the trope of the “Starship Captain.” From Galactica’s Adama to Star Wars’ Solo, Captains bear the immense responsibility of running their crews, defending their ships, and preserving their ideals. In this list, we’ve ranked 5 of the most popular Starship Captains, based on their feats, competence, and leadership skills. To be clear, we aren’t ranking Captains based on how well-developed their character is, but rather on their command capabilities. We’ve limited our list to Captains seen in TV or movies and to those who spent a considerable amount of on-screen time as Captains of a single ship. (sorry Thrawn!) 5. Jim Holden, Captain, Rocinante (The Expanse) The hero of the solar system, Captain of Earthers, Martians, and Belters, James Holden did what he could to protect everyone’s rights, including the oppressed Belters living on the Outer Planets. Not only that, but he also communicated with an unknown life form called the “protomolecule” and used it to open up thousands of new planets to human exploration. 4. James T. Kirk, Captain/Admiral, USS Enterprise, USS Enterprise-A (Star Trek) The First Star Trek Captain, James Kirk is responsible for leading the USS Enterprise through some of the diciest political and scientific quandaries of the 23rd century. The best Kirk moments come from the 80s movies, where he out-thinks Khan (one of the smartest and strongest men in human history), saves Spock, and prevents another drawn-out war between the Federation and Klingon empire by destroying a Klingon cruiser that could cloak while fired. Even when facing a midlife crisis, Kirk could still save the Federation. 3. Benjamin Sisko, Commander/Captain, Deep Space 9, USS Defiant (Star Trek) Benjamin Sisko balanced three roles: Captain, Emissary, and Father. He was able to do all three in a stunning fashion. Not only can he be credited with leading the Federation in several key battles with the Dominion, but his political maneuvering also ensured the formation of a Klingon-Federation-Romulan alliance. He led the Defiant through the invasion of Cardassia, retook Deep Space 9, and battled the ethereal pah-wraiths with the help of the god-like Prophets of Bajor. Sisko’s only major failure? He was unable to bring Bajor into the Federation, which was kinda his main job in the first place. 2. William Adama, Commander/Admiral, Battlestar Galactica, and Battlestar Pegasus (Battlestar Galactica) William Adama earns our number 2 spot (although I admit I seriously considered bumping him up to number one) for being the savior of the human race after a Cylon attack obliterated civilization. Adama’s military tactics were brilliant (like jumping into an atmosphere, launching your ships, and then jumping out at New Caprica) as was his ability to integrate Cylons into his fleet. His inspiring speeches never distracted his men from the brutal realities of survival. He was also willing to make the hard call to keep his men alive, as seen when he obliterated the Astral Queen and vented several compartments of his ship to space to keep a fire from spreading. He also stood up for what’s right, like when he committed treason to keep his men from being executed by Admiral Cain. I highly recommend watching the 2004 Battlestar Galactica just to see this guy in action. 1. Jean-Luc Picard, Captain/Admiral, USS Enterprise-D, USS Enterprise-E (Star Trek) If there’s one person’s leadership style I wish every boss would follow, it's Jean-Luc Picard’s. He knows when to console his men, when to shake them to action, and when to command. Picard was not above anger, as we saw when he confronted Wesley Crusher over a cover-up at Starfleet academy, or when he refused Data’s request to shut down in Star Trek: Generations. But he also offered real concern for his crew, like when he defended Data in court, or when he eloquently denounced the prosecution of a crewman over his romulan blood. Picard talked down Gods like Q and faced his hatred for the Borg in Star Trek: First Contact. Picard led covert missions in Cardassian Space, battled Romulans, Ferengi, and resisted days of intense torture and psychological manipulation. Captain Picard is clearly the best choice for the number one slot. Posted: 01/13/21 |
Starship Captains
James Holden, Captain of the Rocinante
James Tiberius Kirk, Captain of the USS Enterprise
Benjamin Sisko, Captain of the USS Defiant and Deep Space 9
William Adama, Admiral of the Colonial Fleet
Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the USS Enterprise-D and E
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CORRUPTION IN THE GRAMMY'S
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Taylor Swift poses with her 3 Grammys after the 2016 ceremony.
Deborah Dugan, former CEO of the Recording Academy
The late Mac Miller with his ex girlfriend Ariana Grande
The Weeknd poses with his two Grammy awards after the 2016 ceremony
Billie Eilish and brother Finneas pose with their Grammy awards after the 2020 ceremony
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BY EVE CANDELL
FASHION/FOODIES EDITOR It is a wide known fact that American award shows have become more and more politicized and have had more and more bias over the years. One of these forerunners for bias has been The Grammys. The Grammy award is awarded by the Recording Academy and the ceremony is held in the late winter between February and March each year. The Grammy’s star studded attendance and high caliber performances make them a fan favorite in the entertainment business, however the Recording Academy has lately been facing credibility threats from nominees and from the former CEO. Deborah Dugan, the former CEO, accused the academy of sexual harassment, rape, financial mismanagement, and conflict of interest. She claims that she was ousted from the academy for attempting to bring these issues to light. Although all of this went down before the 2020 Grammy’s Ceremony, there have been several instances of alleged corruption and cruelty over past years. After musician Mac Miller passed away in September of 2018, the Recording Academy extended an invitation to his mother, Karen Meyers, to support his posthumous nomination for his album “Swimming” for best rap album. Although his mother was invited, Miller did not win for best rap album, and the trophy went to Cardi B for her album “Invasion of Privacy”. This win did not sit well with Miller’s family or with ex girlfriend Ariana Grande. Grande tweeted several direct tweets to the bosses of the Grammys, expressing her opinion on the unfairness, but quickly deleted them afterwards. Her tweets were quite profane, calling the loss “bullsh*t”, “f*ck”, and “trash”. She clarified that she had no beef with winner Cardi B, and thought that she was deserving of the award, but disagreed with the treatment and “manipulation” of Miller’s mother. Another example of this injustice comes with Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, where he called out the academy for his lack of nominations for his album After Hours, despite dominating musical charts throughout the year and into 2021. In a social media post, The Weeknd said “The Grammy’s remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans, and the industry transparency…” Here, he is expressing his fury towards the process in which nominations are collected, where the choosers for nominations are not public knowledge, and are always concealed behind the scenes. The Weeknd was approached to perform at the Grammys this year before the nominations were revealed, but his team declined when he was shut out. It is clear to see that we as viewers cannot fully understand the process by which nominations and winners are chosen, however it is obvious that there are some injustices within the academy. It will be interesting to see how this year’s awards play out for those nominated artists including Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and Post Malone. PUBLISHED 1/11/21 |
Tiktok users created a ratatouille musical
Marketing Material For "Ratatouille The Musical."
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By Spencer Croston
Entertainment Editor If you are an avid TikTok user, you have most likely heard about the now famous “Ratatouille the Musical.” Based on the acclaimed animated film “Ratatouille,” the musical quickly garnered attention through TikTok. The musical’s origins began with a woman named Emily Jacobsen. In August of 2020, Jacobsen released a video of her singing a silly song about the main character “Remy the rat” who Jacobsen referred to as “Remy the ratatouille.” In a Buzzfeed interview Jacobsen stated, “ I posted it to TikTok, sent it to my family and friends, and pretty much forgot about it.” Later in October, Jacobsen was surprised to see that videos using the song she sang began popping up everywhere on the app. It was around this time that music composer Daniel Mertzlufft discovered Jacobsens song. He created a new version of the song using Jacobsen’s vocals, but added harmonies and a musical score in the background. Mertzlufft’s version of the song exploded on the app. Jacobsen, who had seen Mertzluffts video using her song stated, “It was from this moment that “Ratatouille the Musical” was born. People began posting videos using the song while adding their own choreography. The video also inspired many to begin writing their own songs to add to the score of “Ratatouille the Musical.” Pretty soon, people were able to put together and create the basis for an actual musical. Patton Oswald, the voice of Remy in the original 2007 film, caught wind of the musical and told the film’s director, Brad Bird, about it. It was clear to them that the internet wanted to see a real musical based on their 13 year old film. With all the attention “Ratatouille the Musical” was receiving, Disney eventually took notice of the internet sensation. Disney loved the idea of the musical and collaborated with actual Broadway stars to put together a fundraiser for the performing arts. Music stars such as Titus Burgess, Wayne Brady, Adam Lambert, and Andre Deshields all performed a live streamed concert version of the show. It was a massive success and raised over one million dollars for charity. The cast were all ecstatic to be a part of the show since it was the first time in history that an internet community was able to start the basis of an actual musical. With the massive success of the live streamed show, many are hoping that “Ratatouille the Musical” will one day make it to Broadway as a full length musical. Posted: 01/02/2021 |
Emily Jacobsen, The Creator Of "Ratatouille The Musical," Visiting The New Ratatouille Ride At Disney World
Musical Star Titus Burgess Performing as "Remy The Rat"
Actor Wayne Brady Performing as "Django" in Ratatouille The Musical
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The Mandalorian Season Two: Going above and beyond season one
Pedro Pascal as "Din Djarin" in "The Madalorian."
Katee Sackhoff as "Bo Katan" in "The Mandalorian" Season Two
Timothy Olyphant as "Cobb Vanth" in "The Mandalorian" Season Two
"The Child" aka "Baby Yoda" in "The Mandalorian" Season Two
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By Spencer Croston
Entertainment Editor To say that the first season of Disney Plus’ “The Mandalorian” was a monster hit would be a complete understatement. The Emmy nominated series took the world by storm when it appeared on Disney’s brand new streaming service. The show immediately became the most streamed series in history as fans watched each weekly episode in mass. James Comtois of SYFY.com stated, “Never underestimate the power of Baby Yoda! Less than two weeks after its debut on Disney Plus, The Mandalorian has officially become the most-watched television series in the U.S. across all streaming platforms.” With the outstanding reception of the first season, Disney immediately greenlit season two. Over the summer of 2020, fans were ecstatic as the show's creative team began leaking what was to come. Many fan favorite characters from other Star Wars shows and movies would be making appearances in season two. Characters like “Bo Katan,” “Ahsoka Tano,” and “Boba Fett” were all confirmed to appear. Star Wars fan and CCHS student Mason Hughes stated, “I love seeing characters from the [Star Wars] the Clone Wars included in live action. Katee Sackhoff is an amazing actress known for her science fiction work and its awesome to see her continue that work with Star Wars. I hope that Mando will create continuity between Clone Wars, Rebels, and the Original Trilogy.” The first episode of season two was released on October 30, 2020 and fans couldn’t have been more happy. Fan Jim Moss proclaimed on Twitter, “Just when everything seems to be going wrong… Baby Yoda comes back. #Mandalorian Season 2.” The first episode started off the season on a strong note with excellent dialogue, intense action, and an amazing performance from Timothy Olyphant who played the new character “Cobb Vanth,” who was featured in the Star Wars Aftermath novels. The most recent episode, episode three, somehow topped the first as fans got a heartwarming reunion with the fan favorite Mandalorian, “Bo Katan,” played by Katee Sackhoff. With the exciting start to the second season, fans are ecstatic to see the rest of the season as it continues through the holiday season. Posted: 11/16/20 |
NETFLIX HOLIDAY SPECIALS
Promotional image for "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey."
New netflix Holiday Films!
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By Jada Clayton
Home Page Editor Lights, snow, Maria Carrey singing in every elevator and peppermint everything. But one more thing that seems to be a common favorite is… CHRISTMAS MOVIES! 2020 has resulted in millions of people watching movies and shows. Shortly after the coronavirus pandemic surge, the number of Netflix subscribers doubled in the last three months. There are about 15.77 million new members that signed up. Because of this, Netflix is taking advantage and releasing 8 new holiday specials. (Explained in chronological order) Last week the movie Operation Christmas Drop was released, and is about a congressional aide sent to get evidence at an Air Force base but what she doesn't expect is to meet a very charming captain. Another film that was released last week was Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. This is an adorable, adventure packed film based around a toymaker. Coming out November 19 is the movie The Princess Switch: Switched Again. Returning from the first film of the sequel, The Princess Switch. An exciting film coming up on November 22 is Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square. The story follows a snobby rich woman who returns to her home and then slowly has a change of heart. Shortly after this, an iconic Netflix film, (sequel to the original; The Christmas Chronicles) is The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two. A new adventure comes when there is a threat to the North Pole. A documentary film, Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, airs on November 27. It is about a group of dancers and their preparations for their annual dance performance. Next, a cartoon film making an appearance is Angela´s Christmas Wish, where a young girl seeks a way to reunite her family before Christmas. The cartoon is scheduled to release December 1. And the final film to be released by Netflix is Just Another Christmas, releasing on December 3. This film kicks off with the grouchy character falling and blacking out. He has to make something right before he can stop reliving Christmas eve day in and day out. While these all are similar to the fantastic Christmas Hallmark movies we all know and love, make some hot cocoa, sit by the fire with loved ones and check out these new films! Posted: 11/16/20 |
Adele is making a huge 2020 comeback
Adele Hosted "Saturday Night Live" On October 24
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By Spencer Croston
Entertainment Editor British pop icon Adele is back in the media as she returns to her career in music. Adele left a huge mark on the music industry in the early 2000’s with songs like “Rolling In The Deep,” which became an enormous hit in both Europe and the United States. After going dark for a few years, Adele made a resurgence in 2015 when she released her album “25.” Her song, “Hello” was another immense hit that topped the charts for weeks. After her first comeback, Adele went dark again. As 2020 rolled around, it became apparent why she stepped away from music. Adele went through a nasty divorce with her ex-husband, Simon Konecki. She also spent time going through a dramatic weight loss journey, reporting that she has lost 100 pounds. Adele’s second comeback began when she started posting pictures of herself on Instagram. Some people hardly recognized her due to her weight loss. With Adele’s popularity re-surging, it was only a matter of time before she began making her way into the media again. She quickly began trending all over the internet with an appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” People responded very positively to her performance as the host for the night. Karen Valby from Vanity Fair stated, “As this weekend’s gracious emcee, she was relaxed, charismatic, and a joy.” Adele posted about her appearance, stating, “Had the best time on SNL! Thank you to the most wonderful case, crew, writers and producers.” Adele also recently announced that she will be releasing a new album. Her unnamed album has become the talk of the town as fans have been wondering when it will be released and what it will be called. Adele has assured fans that it will be released soon and that she is currently writing music for it. With excitement for her music building, Adele is proving herself to be the star that people just can’t get enough of. Her increased popularity due to her recent media attention will undoubtedly help her become an even more successful artist as she prepares to end of 2020 with a bang. Posted 11/04/2020 |
Adele hosting "SNL."
Adele wearing a mask on "SNL."
Adele and Kate McKinnon on "SNL."
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The Best scary movies to watch on Halloween!
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By Tyler Lybbert
Wellness Editor Halloween has great traditions incorporated into the holiday. From fun things like pumpkin carving and drinking cider to scaring yourself at haunted houses, there are many great things to do to keep yourself entertained. One of the best ways to celebrate Halloween in my opinion is by watching scary movies. The cheesy jump scares, adrenaline rush, and (sometimes) cuddling up to a special someone are very entertaining. Afton Walker says ¨I like scary movies because it adds excitement to my life. They may not provide happiness, but they do provide adrenaline.¨ On the other hand, Emma Carver says ¨They are horrible, terrifying, awful, the worst, thrilling, and traumatizing. Shall I go on?¨Here you can find some great Halloween Movies to watch. #1 Halloween Town The classic Disney Movie for kids, or people who may struggle with being scared, is a great movie. Two kids find out their grandma is a witch- and so are they! They learn of a town full of supernatural creatures. Not only does Marnie, the main character, find out these awesome secrets, but she also learns her family is involved with saving the world from evil. #2 The Witches This adaptation of Roald Dahl's book is terrific. A child growing up being warned witches kill kids comes across a witch convention, and must find a way to put an end to it. This movie puts you on the edge of your seat, and you won't want to stop watching. #3 The Nightmare Before Christmas Although it could also be a Christmas movie, this definitely puts Halloween into perspective of those who are being celebrated on Halloween. Jack Skellington discovers the "regular world" where his scary friends are praised, or at least that is what goes in on his mind. He finds out about Santa Clause, and decides he wants to take over this new discovered role and town. #4 Monster House Keeping you on the edge of your seat, this movie is a love story gone wrong. The neighborhood kids are suspicious of what exactly is going on in the house next door. Sneaking in, they discover something they never thought possible- the house was alive. #5 Hocus Pocus My personal favorite movie. Back in the 1600´s three witch sisters were hung for their misdoings, but 300 years later they are finally resurrected when an unsuspecting teenager named Max accidentally brings them back. In order to save his sister and the other kids in the town, he must do away with them once and for all. Posted 10/28/20 |
Scene From "Monster House."
Scene From "The Witches."
The Cast of "Halloween Town."
Scene From "The Nightmare Before Christmas."
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The Boys: putting a fresh spin on the superhero genre
Promotional image for season 1 of "The Boys"
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By Spencer Croston
Entertainment Editor In an era where superhero media is copious, many have been experiencing what's been called “superhero fatigue.” With superhero content being released constantly by companies like Marvel and DC, many are over superheroes. Vaspaan Dastoor of IGN stated, “How many different superpowers can you think of before they blur together? How many backstories before nobody really cares?” A new series from Amazon titled The Boys has been considered to be a breath of fresh air in the superhero genre. The Boys, an adaptation of Garth Ennis’ comic book series of the same name, does something that no other piece of superhero media does. It satirizes the heroes and makes them the villains of the series. The series follows Billy Butcher and his team called “The Boys” as they find ways to expose and take down the world's superheroes. The heroes of this world are corporate products rather than protectors and saviors. They are made to look good in the media, but in reality they are mostly evil murderers who get away with mass destruction. The show strives to show a realistic view of superheroes in the modern world. The series’ “heroes'' are for the most part dark parodies of famous heroes. For example, instead of Superman, “The Boys” has Homelander, an egotistical, psychopathic twist on the famous Man of Steel. Journalist Sergio Periera claimed, “It’s a perfect satire to everything happening at the moment, as these superhero properties become multibillion-dollar franchises that are controlled by the biggest studios in Hollywood.” The show’s two seasons have shown to be extremely popular as the most recent season’s episodes averaged 900 million views per episode. Nellie Andreeva of Deadline stated, “In its first two weeks, Season 2 has nearly doubled the Season 1 worldwide audience (+89%), drawing millions of new viewers each week.” With this great success, The Boys was greenlit for a third season and a spinoff show set in the same universe. The immense positive response shows that the superhero genre isn’t dead. Viewers just want an original take on the superhero concept that isn’t a carbon copy of everything else out there. Posted:10/19/10 |
Jack Quaid as "Hughie" (Left) and Erin Moriarty as "Starlight" (Right)
Laz Alonso as "MM" (Left), Karl Urban as "Billy Butcher" (Center), and Tomer Kapon as "Frenchie" (Right)
Dominique McElligott as "Queen Maeve" (Left) and Antony Starr as "Homelander" (Right)
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The Theater Experience
BY JADA CLAYTON
EDITOR OF THE HOME PAGE Popcorn smelling, jam packed theaters. Grins from cheek to cheek, and people in their seats ready for the next big movie. Going to the movie theater isn’t just going to see a movie, it is enjoying loved ones’ company and spending the afternoon or evening with them. This is one thing that lots of people enjoyed, but due to Covid-19 movies are either delaying their release dates to next year or releasing when they feel ready. While other movie productions have decided to release the films to popular streaming services; Netflix, Disney+, HULU, Amazon Prime, and many other services. Although subscribers may be paying for the monthly subscription of the streaming service some productions might charge an additional fee to watch the film. For example, “Birds Of Prey” (Harley Quinn) that many were excited for theatrical release on February 7, was then released March 24 on video services on demand. Many also awaited the live action “Mulan” film, but it is now available to viewers on Disney+. Disney is charging thirty dollars to anyone who is interested in watching Mulan, this is to make up for the money they would have made if the movie was released to theaters.
These weird and troublesome Corona times seem to have opened up new possibilities for people stuck at home, they can view movies from the comfort of their homes. It has brought a whole new level of convenience. Now the question is, would you rather go out and have the movie theater experience or stay in and watch from your comfortable home? POSTED 10/14/20
grab the popcorn and hot cocoa...here's fall tv coming at ya!going to the movies in a pandemic
When Covid hit the United States almost everywhere shut down, including movie theaters. Covid also pushed back release dates for a lot of movies that had already been slated to come out. With movies being pushed back and theaters shutting down, a lot of people were wondering when anyone would be able to watch movies in the theaters again, if ever. Recently with states opening back up for schools and work, movie theaters also had to figure out how to open back up to the public again. Luckily multiple theaters around the United States have come up with ways to open back up again safely with all the dangers that covid presents.
Movie theaters have come up with multiple solutions to stopping the spread of covid while still allowing people to go and watch the movies they want to. Some movie theaters have had simple things such as making sure moviegoers were wearing masks, but others have come up with more serious measures. More movie theaters are implementing measures such as only letting a few people in theaters and making sure people are socially distancing themselves. Some are even letting people buy out an entire section just to let them watch a movie in theaters with no one else in the room with them. Ultimately movies in theaters are back to stay for now. Movie theaters seem to have figured out a way to open to the public even with all the setbacks that covid brought. With multiple places such as schools and stores coming back, movie theaters are joining them with reopening theaters. Even though covid is still spreading and dangerous, it's great that so many places have figured out ways to reopen safely to the public. POSTED 10/12/20 The New Wave
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CUTIES...JUST ANOTHER CONTROVERSY AS NETFLIX TRIES TO COMPETE WITH THE PLETHORA OF OTHER STREAMING SERVICES.Cuties: Sexual Predators’ Extremist Campaign of Normalization
Netflix has apologized for and withdrawn a poster (image shown above was the replacement) for its upcoming coming-of-age drama “Cuties.”
The artwork for the French-language film depicted four adolescent girls wearing revealing dance outfits and posting provocatively, drawing backlash on social media for “sexualizing” little girls.
The Parents Television Council implored Netflix to remove the film, rated M, from its site.
BY BEN WOODWARD
SCIENCE&TECH EDITOR Amidst recent pushes towards social reform and awareness, Maïmouna Doucouré, a French Film Director has taken advantage of the public’s increased receptiveness to debut her feature film Cuties. Despite Doucouré’s attempt of grouping this film into the likes of Pride and BLM movements, it has attracted unprecedented backlash as a result of its hypersexualization of minors. Established film sites such as IMBD and Parent Reviews have given the movie 2.6/10 and ⅕ respectively, with critics asserting that without the film’s controversy “it would have faded into indie film obscurity” due to its “exceptionally poor script” and “extremely unlikeable characters”. The now-deleted description from the January Sundance Film Festival clarifies such controversy, reading: “Amy [11], through an ignited awareness of her burgeoning femininity, propels her dance group to enthusiastically embrace an increasingly sensual dance routine, sparking the girls’ hope to twerk their way to stardom at a local dance contest”. In response to the alarming description, over 400 thousand people have signed a petition to remove cuties from Netflix & charge them with the exploitation of minors. Mitchell, a supporter of the petition argues that “There is no need for this kind of content in that age group, especially when sex trafficking and pedophilia is so rampant! There is no excuse, this is dangerous content!”. With an audience of potentially tens of millions, people fear that Doucouré’s film will proliferate the number of sexual predators online. Now more than ever, these predators have an unprecedented amount of accessibility to minors through social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.
Although from a moral standpoint Cuties is certainly problematic, many suggest that it may not be entirely legal. Rated for mature audiences, the actors within the movie, many of which are between the ages of 10 and 14, would not be able to view it due to the sexual innuendos and connotations throughout the film. Questioning parents throughout the US have called Netflix out on this contradiction saying that “if a child cannot even view a film they took part in creating, they do not have any purpose or right being involved in its creation. . . The content is clearly intended for adult audiences and as such only adult actors should play the parts”. Despite the numerous complaints, Netflix has kept the film on its streaming platform, leading many to cancel their subscriptions and displeased investors to abandon their shares, leading to a 5 billion dollar loss in revenue and valuation. Although criticism has yet to relent, Netflix and its association with the film persists. With no official statement from the company, many remain in the dark on whether Netflix will continue to endorse these radical films and what agenda this association fills for them. POSTED 10/5/20 NETFLIX HORROR OPTIONSLook for classics like The Evil Dead or The Silence of the Lambs to more obscure (and disturbing) titles such as The Endless, The Invitation or newer films like The Platform. Don’t expect to find many franchise staples in the mold of Halloween or A Nightmare on Elm Street, but don’t sleep on The Haunting of Hill House, either. It’s not technically a movie, but it’s impossible to leave off this list. Watch out for the debut of The Haunting of Bly Manor on Oct. 9.
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Hoops to hip-hop: Three basketball legends who had rap careers
Shaquille O'Neal promoting his debut album "Shaq Diesel"
It Ain't Easy by lebron James ft. Kevin DurantK.o.b.e by kobe Bryant ft. tyra banksWhat's up doc? by Shaquille o'neal ft. fu-schnikens |
By Spencer Croston
Music and Books Editor When people think of legendary basketball players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal, the last thing they picture is a rapper. What many people don’t know is that these players are just 3 of many basketball stars who have had both successful and unsuccessful rap careers. James, Bryant, and O'Neal are good examples of players who have had good success in the rap industry. James, currently considered to be the best basketball player in the NBA has released a few songs, with his most popular being "It Ain’t Easy." While his appearances as a rapper are limited, James has been having success as a producer. He most recently produced the album Rap or Go to the League for the famous rapper 2 Chainz. 2 Chainz stated that James was the “perfect” person to produce his album. While his music career is fairly new, James is becoming successful in the rap industry. Late basketball legend Kobe Bryant had a short lived rap career in the late 90s and early 2000s. While Bryant was dominating the NBA on the court, off the court he landed an album deal with Sony Records. His debut album "K.O.B.E" was met with mixed reviews, without much success. New York Times Editor Dexter Thomas wrote about Bryant’s song "K.O.B.E", stating, “It’s embarrassing. That cheap-sounding beat, the uninspired hook, the awkward chorus — this is more off-target than those three airballs he threw in 1997 against the Utah Jazz.” While his career as a rapper was short lived, Bryant continued to stay involved in music behind the scenes. The basketball player with the most successful rap career is none other than Bryant’s 7’2” teammate, Shaquille O'Neal. In the 90s, O’Neal did it all. He starred in movies, had his own video game, and rapped. His first album, "Shaq Diesel," was a hit, making it to 25 on the Billboard’s Top 200 albums list. His later albums aren't as successful, but he still had some success. Zak Willis of Cheatsheet.com stated, “O’Neal sold records, featured with some legendary performers, and sprung a career that still lasts to this day.” In his free time, O’Neal still tours around the country, keeping his 30 year-old career alive. Posted 09/29/20 |
Kanye For president:
Does he stand a chance against Trump and Biden?
Kanye West breaking down at his presidential campaign rally in North Carolina.
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Spencer Croston
Music and Books Editor “I’m not here to win. I care that there are homeless people in front of the Gucci store.” -Kanye West, 2020 When world famous rap star Kanye West announced in 2015 that he’d be running for president in 2020, most people didn't think he was being serious. However, on July 4, 2020, West proclaimed over twitter that he would be following through with the promise he made 5 years prior stating, “We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States!” He announced later that he would be running with his own party entitled "The Birthday Party" and that his running mate would be Michelle Tidball, a Wyoming based pastor. Many were still uncertain if West was seriously planning on running for President, but he eliminated all doubts when he held a campaign rally in North Carolina on July 19, 2020. In this rally, West made many false and outrageous statements, claiming that Harriet Tubman “never actually freed” a slave and that he “don’t give a f--k” if he wins the presidency. Even though West has gained a lot of media coverage and support for his presidential run, many agree that he does not stand a chance of winning on election day. Neil Sroka, the Communications Director of the political action group "Democracy For America" stated, “The odds of being able to win as an Independent candidate for president are very long even under the best of circumstances, for a variety of reasons. The idea of trying to launch something in July of an election year is beyond absurd.” West’s chances of becoming president have also been significantly lowered by the lack of ballots his name will actually appear on. Since he started his campaign so late into the race, he has only qualified to be on the ballots of nine states: Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Vermont, Utah, Idaho, Minnesota, and Tennessee. Although West doesn’t have a good shot of winning the presidency, he is bound to make it a very interesting election season. Posted: 09/17/2020 |
Kanye West Meeting with Donald Trump
Kanye West hugging Donald Trump
Michelle Tidball, West's running mate
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