Westeros is getting ready for an invasion of The Crabfeeder, and fans are still flocking to House of the Dragon. After setting a record with the opening episode of the series, episode 2 surpassed that with 10.2 million viewers.
According to Variety, episode 2 of House of the Dragon had a 2% jump in viewership. The show received an early renewal from HBO this past Friday, guaranteeing season two after 20 million people watched the premiere. Now, that number is headed to 25 million.
House of the Dragon has yet to reach the heights of Game of Thrones Season 8, which pulled in 17.9 million in the premiere episode of the last season and 10.3 million in the second episode but has easily surpassed other shows on the network.
Based on George R.R. Martin’s 2018 book “Fire & Blood,” House of the Dragon is a fantasy series that chronicles the history of House Targaryen and is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. The series stars Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans.
(SPOILERS for this week’s Rap Sh!t episode will be found below.)
Shawna and Mia are taking Miami by storm. They figured out their aesthetic, their raps are crisp, and their production is top notch thanks to help from Lamont, Mia’s baby father. In episode seven of the inaugural season of Rap Sh!t, Shawna and Mia gear up for their biggest opportunity yet: a performance at a party at James Harden’s mansion. As they prepare for that performance, we get updates on Shawna and Maurice’s budding romance as well as Mia and Lamont rekindling their relationship.
Weekly episodes of Issa Rae’sRap Sh!t are filled with funny sh!t, wholesome sh!t, good sh!t, and odd sh!t — all in just 30-minutes. After each episode, we’ll recap each of the moments for you which you can check out below.
Wholesome Sh!t
Mia and Lamont: We’ve yet to hear what went wrong with Mia and Lamont initially, as they started the season at odds. However, with just one episode left in the season, the two are not only on better terms, but their romantic spark has returned. Episode seven concludes with a sex scene with Mia and Lamont, and at the end of it, Mia questions Lamont’s intentions. She asks if it has to do with her growing rap career, and while Lamont admits to it playing a role in things, he adds that he genuinely wants to make things work out for Mia and their daughter. This answer is met with a smile from Mia as they doze off for the night
Funny Sh!t
Mia and Lamont: Staying on the two who’ve rekindled their romance, one of the funny moments in the recent Rap Sh!t episode comes as Mia and Lamont get their daughter ready for school. As Mia sends her off, she warns Lamont not to feed her too much candy and junk food. “Don’t be having my baby eating all that candy and junk and sh*t,” she says. Lamont’s response is a quick and funny one, as he says, “Aye, it’s my baby too. I can give it to her if I want to.”
Good Sh!t
Shawna and Mia: The ladies have been working hard to move upward in their rap careers, and with two solid records under their belts, “Seduce & Scheme” and “Nann Badder,” their success is only growing by the minute. Shawna and Mia’s next task was killing a performance at James Harden’s party. They rehearsed “Seduce & Scheme” and “Nann Badder” to perform at the party, and when they took to the stage to perform the former track, Shawna and Mia absolutely bodied it. Onlookers in the crowd included Tobe Nwigwe and notable Miami agents, who were all impressed by the song and the performance. It was going well until…
Odd Sh!t
Shawna: During the second set of Shawna and Mia’s performance, Shawna decides that a freestyle would be better than a rendition of “Nann Badder.” Unbeknownst to her, there is a time limit on their set and by the time she finishes the freestyle, there’s not enough time to for her and Mia to perform “Nann Badder.” The freestyle was honestly an odd move from Shawna, especially when she and Mia rehearsed their set over and over again. Add in the fact that Shawna’s freestyle went against the duo’s style and aesthetic making for what resulted in an incohesive performance. It was also one that left Mia upset that she was pushed aside for Shawna to have her selfish moment in the spotlight.
HBO Max’s ‘Rap Sh!t’ airs on Thursdays at 9:00pm EST.
Netflix’s The Sandman finally becoming a reality was a decade-long endeavor full of stops and starts. And apparently one of those almosts involved Michael Jackson starring in the Neil Gaiman adaptation in the late 1990s.
As Variety noted, Gaiman told a story on a podcast appearance in the aftermath of the show’s success on Netflix. Airing decades after the book’s release, the show has received high praise to say the least. But it could have been a completely different work if one early plan for the project ever came to fruition.
Gaiman appeared in the Happy Sad Confused podcast earlier this month and revealed that the biggest pop star in the world wanted to be in an early version of the now Netflix hit.
“By 1996, I was being taken to Warners, where the then-president of Warner Bros. sat me down and told me that Michael Jackson had phoned him the day before and asked him if he could star as Morpheus in ‘The Sandman,’” Gaiman said on Josh Horowitz’s “Happy Sad Confused” podcast. “So, there was a lot of interest in this, and they knew that it was one of the Crown Jewels, and what did I think? And I was like, ‘Ooh.’”
Jackson did once turn to sand on television, so that all does kind of check out I suppose. But it obviously never came to be. For one, Jackson was touring around the world and at the apex of his music career. But the main reason is that an on-screen adaptation of The Sandman took decades to make after a series of stops and starts. Gaiman, for one, even tanked a bad script in development by leaking the details to an industry blog.
It’s unclear why exactly Jackson’s whims were not met here, but given everything that came after that phone call it’s probably for the best Gaiman bided his time and the show was made as it was.
(SPOILERS for this week’s Rap Sh!t episode will be found below.)
Shawna and Mia (played by Aida Osman and KaMillion) are getting more successful by the second on the Miami music scene. After gaining respect and popularity for their debut single “Seduce & Scheme,” the Rap Sh!t duo make it clear that they’re far from a one-hit wonder with their second record, “Nann Badder.” In the seventh episode of the inaugural season of Issa Rae’sRap Sh!t, Shawna and Mia prepare for a big and star-studded performance at James Harden’s mansion.
The aforementioned events in the seventh episode of season one are soundtracked by records for the ladies. They’re songs that will boost your confidence and even make you want to shake something if that’s your vibe. Nonetheless, these records perfectly encapsulate the world that Shawna and Mia live in and hope to thrive in as well.
What Songs Were In Rap Sh!t S1E7?
Aside from performances of “Seduce & Scheme” and “Nann Badder,” there are two records that soundtracked big moments in this episode of Rap Sh!t. This first is Bee-B’s “1,2,3,4” which is heard as Shawna meets with Francois, her old schoolmate and producer played by Jaboukie Young-White, who she despises after a disagreement that happened in the early days of her rap career. The second is Enchanting and Coi Leray’s “Freaky Deaky” which plays during a sex scene between Mia and Lamont who is the father of Mia’s daughter and the producer behind Shawna and Mia’s songs.
The soundtrack for this week’s episode also includes the following songs:
Beam – “P*$$y Dream”
A1 LaFlare – “Wootie Woot”
Big Boss Vette – “Make Em Mad”
A.Chic — “Bandits”
Tierra Traniece — “Gno (Girls Night Out)”
Kali Cass & City Girls — “Handle It”
City Girls – “Rap Sh*t”
Baby Keem & Travis Scott — “Durag Activity”
La Chat – “Slob On My Cat”
HBO Max’s ‘Rap Sh!t’ airs on Thursdays at 9:00pm EST
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Rappers get compared to superheroes all the time. But one rapper, in particular, might just be getting the opportunity to become a superhero for real — or at least, to play one on TV. Recently, it was confirmed that Megan Thee Stallion had been cast in Marvel’s new superhero comedy show She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. When stunt performer Marche Day updated her listing on stuntpoc.com to include being a stunt double for Megan Thee Stallion in She-Hulk, she joined a long list of Marvel cast members who inadvertently leaked casting news which includes Spider-Man himself, Tom Holland. So…
Who Will Megan Thee Stallion Play In She-Hulk?
As of now, Megan’s role remains a closely-guarded secret, much like the surprise cameos from John Krasinski as Mr. Fantastic and Anson Mount reprising Black Bolt ahead of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness. She might not even be playing a superhero — or villain — as even innocent bystanders or stars playing themselves in movies and television shows can require stunt doubles when rubble is flying around or things are being set on fire. For what it’s worth, at 5’10”, Megan would have made a great Titania, but that role has already been filled by the equally statuesque Jameela Jamil, who recently proved why stars often need stunt doubles with an NSFW injury. Of course, in the comics, Titania is a member of a supervillain group called The Grapplers, which includes a number of imposing beauties whose roles Meg could fill such as Cowgirl, Gladiatrix, and Poundcakes.
On the bright side, we likely won’t have to wait very long to find out; new She-Hulk: Attorney At Law premiere every Thursday on Disney Plus, and the show will have nine episodes.
Comedian Chris Rock admits he turned down an invitation to host the 2023 Academy Awards. Rock, 57, revealed he would not be returning as the 2023 Oscars host to the audience at his comedy show in Phoenix on Sunday night.
The ‘Grown Ups’ actor dished on getting slapped by Best Actor winner Will Smith at this year’s Oscars. The infamous moment took place as Rock was about to present the award for best documentary feature, and less than an hour before Smith would accept the best actor honor for his performance in King Richard.
Will Smith, 53, walked up on stage and slapped Rock after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife. Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, a condition that caused her to lose her hair.
Rock told the Phoenix audience, “He’s bigger than me. The state of Nevada would not sanction a fight between me and Will Smith.”
The comedian’s sold-out crowd was eager to hear his take on the viral incident, with one fan yelling out, “Talk about it!” as reported by the Arizona Republic. Rock riffed returning to the Oscars would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant.”
Consumers of American pop culture are used to see Jimmy Fallon in a particular way: Behind the Tonight Show desk, wearing a suit, and overall well put together. He sports some facial hair here and there, but for the most part, he’s consistently clean-shaven. On Sunday (August 28), though, Fallon was at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards looking decidedly different than he usually does and onlookers felt some sort of way about it.
The Tonight Show host was on hand at the VMAs to present Harry Styles the Album Of The Year award for Harry’s House, looking not as buttoned-up as always. Rather, he sported a loose white shirt and a scruffy beard. That aroused some feelings and Fallon took notice. On Instagram yesterday (August 29), Fallon shared a photo of himself from the show and screenshot of a Cosmopolitan article titled “Jimmy Fallon’s Presence At The 2022 VMAs Is Causing Thirst And Confusion On Twitter,” with the subhed, “Maybe it’s the beard?.” Fallon captioned the post, “Out here causing ‘thirst’ and ‘confusion’. That was fun, @mtv!! #vmas #maybeitsthebeard.”
Cosmopolitan had it right with their framing, as a look at Twitter reveals VMAs viewers who were surprised at the effect Fallon’s look was having on them. Check out some reactions, including comparisons to Styles, below.
Latin superstar Bad Bunny will make his VMA’s return in epic fashion, with an exclusive “made for VMAs” performance with never-before-seen choreography, as MTV goes live from Yankee Stadium as part of “Bad Bunny: World’s Hottest Tour.”
This marks the first VMA’s appearance from Bad Bunny since 2019, where he made a memorable debut performance of “Que Pretendes” with J Balvin. He scored his first Moon Person in 2018 for “Song of the Summer.”
The 9x nominee is up for two major categories this year (“Artist of the Year” and “Best Latin”) and two social categories (“Album of the Year” and “Song of the Summer”); a win for “Artist of the Year” would be history-making and crown him the first-ever non-English language artist to take home a Moon Person in the category.
Currently, the “Un Verano Sin Ti” artist just kicked off his first stadium tour across the U.S. and Latin America, setting the record for the highest-grossing concert in each of the venues he has performed so far and the highest-grossing concert by a Latin act.
This also marks MTV’s first-ever live remote VMA’s performance to air from Yankee Stadium. The 2022 MTV VMA’s will air Sunday, August 28th at 8PM ET/PT.
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Rap megastar Nicki Minaj will receive MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at this year’s VMAs. It also was announced that Minaj will be performing at the awards show for the first time since 2018. One executive noted that Nicki has broken barriers for women in Hip Hop through her versatility and creative artistry.
“Nicki has broken barriers for women in Hip Hop with her versatility and creative artistry,” said Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+. “She has shifted the music industry and cemented her status as a global superstar with her crossover appeal, genre-defying style and continuing to be unapologetically ‘Nicki’.”
Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, and Rihanna are the only black female artist to win a Video Vanguard Award.
The Video Vanguard Award hasn’t been given out since 2019. The 5x “VMAs” winner took home her first Moon Person for Best Hip Hop Video in 2011, and is nominated this year for “Best Hip Hop.” Nicki Minaj’s new single “Super Freaky Girl” is set to hit streaming platforms this Friday.
Catch the 2022 “VMAs,” airing live from Prudential Center on Sunday, August 28 at 8PM ET/PT.
I’m receiving the Video Vanguard Award at the 2022 #VMAs! You don’t want to miss my performance – Sunday August 28 at 8p on @MTV Aaaahhhhhhcsfxffvmmkbdsavgkmkkevhvjj pic.twitter.com/dPGgXe2gZA
Presenting your 2022 Video Vanguard Award recipient… @NICKIMINAJ!!! Come party with us as she takes the #VMAs stage for an epic performance, August 28th on MTV!!! pic.twitter.com/ks5puKYHxy
Bassett Vance Productions, owned by Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, and MTV Entertainment Studios announced a renewal of their overall deal. This collaboration is the outcome of Paramount’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative, a global initiative to enhance content development for a new generation of BIPOC and female leaders in front of and behind the camera.
“Angela and Courtney have masterfully brought to the forefront events from our history in order to tell exhilarating and dramatic stories that resonate with global audiences,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer, Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios. “It’s a privilege to continue our fruitful creative relationship and shared commitment to amplify diverse creators and new voices.”
Bassett Vance Productions is currently filming Heist 88, the first feature from the overall agreement. One Thousand Years of Slavery on the Smithsonian Channel and a limited series on the Tulsa Race Massacre, both expected for release in 2023, are previously announced projects from the collaboration between MTV Entertainment Studios and Bassett Vance Productions.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with MTV Entertainment Studios,” said Bassett Vance Productions Head of Development, Lynnette Ramirez. “We are looking forward to developing more films together beyond our current active slate, which includes the drama Heist 88 and the shared vision for our upcoming four-part event series based on The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.”
Heist 88, which is currently filming in Chicago, reunites two-time Emmy® Award-winning actor Vance with Bentley Green and Keesha Sharp, who most recently appeared with Vance in AMC’s 61st Street. Keesha Sharp played “Dale Cochran” in the acclaimed limited series The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Heist 88 is an amazing account of one of the biggest bank robberies to take place in the history of the United States, inspired by actual events.
In the film, criminal mastermind Jeremy Horne (Vance), who has a natural capacity to persuade people to do nearly anything, intends to complete one final operation before being sent to prison. In an audacious and daring attack on the US banking system, he enlists four young bank employees to steal about $80 million. The events of Heist 88 occurred before widespread computerization and the sophisticated cybersecurity of the present.
“I have always been drawn to characters that are multi-layered, regardless of whether they’re a savior or a villain. This character is inspired by a man who was able to convince a small group of young people who were at the lowest rungs of their bank to join him in committing one of the biggest crimes against the US banking system in this country’s history,” says Vance. “At its core, it’s an unapologetically compelling story, which will be told through the lens of a powerful cast, that when the American Dream is not accessible to everyone, decisions are often made based on those inequities. I anticipate that Heist 88 will be a must-watch, particularly in light of the fascination with and popularity of true crime stories on today’s streaming and network TV landscape.”
Heist 88 will also star Keith David, Xavier Clyde, Nican Robinson, and Precious Way.
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