Sydney Sweeney and Glenn Powell ... we shipping this?
Here's the best things I found on the internet this week!
Hey newsletter friends,
“Succession,” “Barry,” the NFL Draft, NBA and NHL Playoffs, the Met Gala, two top cable news hosts getting ousted … it feels like someone could everyone could spend every waking minute glued to a TV this week. Except that it’s 2023, and more often than not a smart phone is in the foreground of our TV time, consuming internet content related (or not) to what we’re watching. It’s a landscape that truly offers infinite content.
Before you go wasting hours and hours, I’ve collected the best of the best for you to check out. Smart analysis, great storytelling, and some crazy happenings. This oughta give you enough ammo to spice up any conversation you have going this week! Enjoy.
What’s the coolest story or thing you found on the internet this week? Reply to this email and shoot me a link. Would love to hear from you!
It’s so basic of me to to include a Met Gala fashion review here, but one friend called Pedro Pascal’s red suit with shorts look “the fashion version of a mullet” a.k.a. business in the front party in the back (bottom) and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Also, Doja Cat’s outfit will give me nightmares.
A mom in Ohio who plays “Candy Crush” on her phone didn’t realize she accidentally entered a $250,000 tournament. Now she’s the top ranked player in the semifinal round.
Here’s one Hollywood golden rule that hasn’t changed in 100 years: the best way to market a movie is the possibility of on-set romance. It was just as true for Bogart and Bacall in the 40s as it is today with Sydney Sweeney and Glenn Powell, who have marketed their new rom-com a little too convincingly. There’s plenty of evidence to support the idea they’re a couple, but regardless, the rumors have done wonders for their careers and the upcoming Anyone But You. Have we had any celebrity gossip story in the past few years this harmless and fun?
Apparently, middle and high schoolers are playing chess these days in record numbers, including between and even during classes. It’s hard to imagine, but Chess.com is now getting 12 million players per day. My entry point is Magnus Carlsen, quite possibly the greatest chess player of all time and to me one of the most fascinating people on the planet. This feature profile of him dives into his legacy and why he refuses to defend his world championship.
Donald Trump was famous for spending hours of each day in the White House watching cable news. It was smart of Politico to do a deep dive on Joe Biden’s media diet, which includes a “secret” TV in the Oval Office and just about every habit you’d expect from an 80-year-old politician.
After the Bucks lost out of the NBA Playoffs, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s explanation of why this season wasn’t a failure was pretty inspirational to us all. The whole controversy over it being a bad question can kick rocks.
Dave Chappelle is famous for living in the tiny town of Yellow Springs, Ohio. But as he slowly buys up more and more property there, locals are beginning to grumble (behind closed doors). Bloomberg has our Long Read Of The Week on what it’s like for a controversial celebrity to “buy” your hometown.
Vulture’s Joe Adalian is, for my money, the smartest thinker on the Streaming Wars in the world. His new feature is about the rise of Tubi, and why free, ad-supported streaming might be the future of entertainment.
Thanks for reading and sharing! I’ll be back to talk movies on Friday, see ya then!