The latest news from games, film, technology and digital culture. The stories that matter, without the noise.
Hideo Kojima has long demonstrated an affinity for master sharpshooters, particularly those of the female variety. His iconic Metal Gear Solid franchise boasts memorable figures like Sniper Wolf and Quiet—and even The End, if one wishes to bolster the roster. Consequently, when the legendary game designer recently praised a manga centered on a young girl...
Ariana Grande Reimagines a Holiday Classic During ‘SNL’ Monologue L-R: Kenan Thompson, Marcello Hernández, Ashley Padilla, Bowen Yang, Ariana Grande, James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, and Veronika Slowikowska on December 20, 2025. (Photo: Will Heath/NBC) Gracing the Studio 8H stage for the final Saturday Night Live installment of 2025, Ariana Grande delivered a spirited reimagining...
Image: Lucasfilm Ltd “The void between public rhetoric and objective truth has become a chasm. Perhaps the greatest casualty of our time is the surrender of a shared reality.” — Mon Mothma, Andor Season 2 From the critically acclaimed oratory against systemic deception in Andor to Elphaba’s desperate stand against a populist despot in Wicked:...
During the interwar period of the early 20th century, a collective of Surrealist artists devised a collaborative game to spark the subconscious. Known as Exquisite Corpse, the exercise required participants to contribute to a drawing or narrative while only seeing the final sliver of the previous person’s work. This blind hand-off ensured that the final...
Musical icon Cher takes the stage alongside guitarist “Captain” Kirk Douglas during the December 20, 2025, broadcast of “Saturday Night Live.” Will Heath/NBC Cher infused Studio 8H with a heavy dose of holiday splendor during the latest episode of Saturday Night Live. The 79-year-old legendary pop icon made a triumphant return as the musical guest...
Bedford Falls. Photo: Saba Gorgodze To witness a Bedford Falls performance is to observe a rare symbiosis between artist and audience. Their live sets are defined by a palpable, kinetic energy where the distinction between the stage and the floor dissolves. In these moments, the crowd transforms into a “fifth member,” a collective voice that...
Image: Universal/Everett Collection The criteria for what constitutes a “Christmas movie” have been tirelessly litigated for decades—a discourse fueled largely by the 1988 debut of Die Hard. Many argue that a Yuletide backdrop alone does not qualify a film for the holiday canon. However, Terry Gilliam’s 1985 opus, Brazil, is not only an authentic Christmas...
Image: Netflix By any metric, 2025 belonged to KPop Demon Hunters. Since Netflix’s animated musical made its debut last June, it has transformed from a mere streaming release into a cultural phenomenon. Half a year later, its breakout anthem “Golden” remains a fixture in the Billboard Hot 100 top ten, holding its ground as the...
Image: Toei Animation / Crunchyroll As per tradition, One Piece served as the grand finale for Jump Festa 2026. This massive Shueisha-sponsored gathering stands as the pinnacle of anime and manga celebrations in Japan, typically serving as the launchpad for the industry’s most significant announcements. While the 2026 showcase was somewhat more reserved than previous...
Rufus Wainwright speaks at the 2025 New Yorker Festival. (Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images) The upcoming Concert for Altadena has officially expanded its star-studded roster, bringing more musical heavyweights together to support Californians impacted by last year’s catastrophic wildfires. Joining the lineup for the January 7, 2026, event at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium are Rufus Wainwright,...
