Lance Bass at Rocco's in WeHo | California Live | NBCLA

What does every boy band member need after stepping off the stage in front of thousands of hysteric fans?

Food! Through their years touring the world, these musicians have dined at restaurants all over the globe and sampled every cuisine under the sun, and now they're applying their passion for food to business. From New Kids on the Block singer Donnie Wahlberg's Wahlburgers burger chain to BTS' Kim Seokjin's seiromushi spot in South Korea, we took a look at the increasing number of restaurants owned by boy band members around the world.

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TV

"SNL" Tried to Make a Point About White Nationalism—and Failed

Will Ferrell dressed as a Native American for SNL's Thanksgiving episode, and it gets worse.

Will Ferrell on SNL

SNL

With Thanksgiving around the corner, 'tis the season for Saturday Night Live to feature skits depicting the potential awkwardness surrounding our family dinners.

During his fifth turn as an SNL host, Will Ferrell was the centerpiece of a skit entitled "First Thanksgiving." He portrayed a grumpy, skeptical man meeting his granddaughter's boyfriend for the first time at their family's Thanksgiving dinner. The only issues with the skit are that his family is supposedly Native American, his granddaughter is Pocahontas, and the visiting boyfriend is John Smith. Melissa Villaseñor, Beck Bennett, Maya Rudolph, and Fred Armisen also star, none of whom are indigenous. Non-Native actors in these roles causes enough concern (and, honestly, is never OK), but even more eyebrow-raising are the additional problems woven in the script.

The skit attempts to flip white supremacy on its head, as Ferrell's character—decked out in a long wig and full traditional Native attire—represents a fervent Republican, full of allusions to President Trump's white nationalist ideals and his policies. When Ferrell suggests everyone around the table share what they're thankful for, he begins: "I'm thankful for our land, and our great and mighty chief. And let's hope he finally builds that wall." When the rest of the family asks where he's been getting information on the "palefaces" invading their land, his response is plain and simple: "Fox" (but a literal fox, get it?) Then he teases Pocahontas for getting her news from "a peacock" (NBC, we presume). Pocahontas defends the European colonizers—or "illegals," as Ferrell's character so distastefully nicknames them—saying, "They're just regular, hard-working people seeking refuge."

The skit doesn't outwardly mock Native people, but in its ill-conceived analogy, it suggests that we're supposed to be on the "Republican" side of this story; white people are positioned as the "immigrants" who are bringing over "diseases and guns." Ferrell's character is supposed to be mocking Trump supporters, but he still makes valid arguments against colonization. As one Twitter user explained, it "accidentally suggested the white nationalist crowd has a point." It's a bad look to say the least.

While this skit was surely well-intended, the execution was very poorly realized. To use the exploitation of Native Americans as a vessel for jokes about right-wing ideals is extremely dangerous and offensive, however accidental. The skit made light of the genocide that decimated Native peoples, not to mention it only brushed over the massive age gap between Pocahontas and John Smith: Rudolph's character points out that Smith is nearly 30 while Pocahontas is 12—close to their real ages at the time—and everyone is just OK with it.

Ferrell attempted to redeem the skit's controversy in the end by breaking the fourth wall to give a disclaimer. "If you're anything like me, you know there's a lot of problems in this crazy, crazy sketch," he said, facing the camera under a spotlight. "I mean, white actors playing Natives? What is this, 2014?" So...you're telling me the writers knew this sketch was problematic and racist, but they just ran with it anyway? Ferrell's brief monologue didn't address the colonialism the jokes referenced, instead offering a cliche about contrasting political opinions between family members and delivering an anticlimactic punchline about bowel movements.

Making a joke of indigenous people on television only encourages other white folks to do the same, and it's deeply disappointing to see these well-regarded comedians participate in it. If SNL is supposed to exemplify peak comedy, then they should've been able to convey their intended messages without cultural appropriation; if anything, this only reaffirms why we desperately need more diversity in media. So, this Thanksgiving, please enjoy spending time with your families—but don't forget that you're stuffing your face and watching football on stolen land.

TV

Shaggy's Voice Sounds Wrong in the New "Scoob" Trailer

Not involving Matthew Lillard was a mistake.

Warner Bros. Pictures

Having grown up on Cartoon Network Scooby-Doo reruns, I have some pretty strong opinions about the classic Hanna-Barbera franchise–mainly in regards to Shaggy's voice.

Norville "Shaggy" Rogers is one of the most influential characters in all of Western animation. Why? Not only is Shaggy all-powerful, he's also perpetually high. This goes to show children that not every great mystery solver needs to be an ascot-wearing jock like Fred. You can also aim to be a scruffy dude who gorges on sandwiches and thinks he can talk to dogs, and that's cool, too.

ShaggyWarner Bros.

But in order to properly convey the chillness of Shaggy, an actor needs to perfect the fluctuation between slacker drawl and voice-cracking falsetto. There's a distinct art form to a perfect "Like, SCOOB!" and as far as I'm concerned, only two people have been up to the task: Casey Kasem and Matthew Lillard.

Kasem originated the character, voicing Shaggy from 1969 to 1997 and again from 2002 until his retirement in 2009. But while Kasem may have created the voice, Lillard took the character to the next level, fully embodying Shaggy's very essence in the first two live action Scooby-Doo movies. Lillard was so great in the role that he moved onto voicing Shaggy in the majority of subsequent Scooby-Doo spin-offs.

Watch this clip and try to tell me that Matthew Lillard isn't actually Shaggy. Go ahead. I'll wait.

So when the new animated Scoob movie was announced back in the 2014 in an attempt to reboot the franchise for the big screen, everyone naturally assumed that Lillard would continue as the quintessential voice of Shaggy. But then this happened:

In what appears to be an effort to only cast big name stars, the role of Shaggy went to SNL alum Will Forte. And while Forte seems like a perfectly nice guy, the fact that Lillard wasn't even asked to audition for the role is an outright travesty. There's no way that Forte could possibly step into Lillard's sandwich-stained shoes...right?

Well, the first Scoob official trailer just dropped and...yeah, we were right to be upset. Forte's clearly doing his best here, but he sound like a Shaggy impersonator. He's missing the true Shaggy essence that Lillard was born with.

SCOOB! - Official Teaser Trailerwww.youtube.com

The story looks cute, and as a Scooby-Doo fan I might catch it when it's streaming. But no Matthew Lillard means I, for one, will not be buying a ticket.

CULTURE

5 Celebrities You Didn't Know Were Cancelled

It's Almost Like They're Still Getting Away With Stuff...

Cancel culture has gone absolutely crazy.

You can't say anything these days without "triggering" a bunch of SJWs to get together and collectively cancel you. I mean, that's the contention of half the comedy specials on Netflix, so it must be true. They will dig through past comments and behavior to find any excuse. Even after you're dead, you can still get canceled! The whole situation is getting so out of control that it's getting hard to keep track of who is and isn't canceled, so here's a helpful guide to remind you of some of the celebrities whose cancellations may have escaped your notice.

Mark Wahlberg

Everyone knows Mark Wahlberg as the star of the Ted films, and Mel Gibson's son in Daddy's Home 2, but did you know that in his teen years, he was also the perpetrator of a string of brutal, racially motivated assaults, and that he has never acknowledged the racial component of his violent past? But who hasn't permanently disfigured and partially blinded a man while shouting racial slurs? Still, as a result of this normal, not-at-all upsetting history, Mark Wahlberg was officially cancelled in February. Since then, Wahlberg's once flourishing film career has collapsed to the point that he is only starring in five major motion pictures currently in production.

Jerry Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld with Shoshanna Lonstein

What a normal-looking couple

People

Jerry Seinfeld made himself a target of cancel culture when he called out college kids for not laughing enough at his brilliant "gay French king" joke, but what really sealed the deal was the fact that, at the age of 39, when Seinfeld was the star of America's favorite sitcom, he was also dating a seventeen-year-old high school student named Shoshanna Lonstein. And yes, he absolutely looked like her awkward father in every picture they took together, but what man in his late thirties hasn't spent some time outside a high school looking to pick up chicks? Unfortunately for Jerry, the cancel cops got a hold of this info, and officially blacklisted him in August, resulting in Netflix only paying an estimated $500 million for the streaming rights to Seinfeld.

Whoopi Goldberg

Speaking of men and teenage girls, did you know you can be cancelled just for defending someone? That's what happened to Whoopi Goldberg in response to her 2009 comments on Roman Polanski, in which she said of Polanski's 1977 crimes "I don't think it was rape-rape," despite the victim's testimony that she continuously resisted his advances as Polanski gave the thirteen year old alcohol and drugs, and proceeded to rape her.

As a result, Donald Trump Jr. headed the team that cancelled Whoopi last October, which is why she has since appeared on The View only 5 days a week. Goldberg joins the ranks of Quentin Tarantino and a host of other prominent Hollywood figures whose careers have been absolutely tanked by impassioned Polanski defenses that are not at all indicative of a horrible culture that values talented men too much to punish horrifying crimes. Besides, it was only 8 years after Sharon Tate's murder! You can't be held accountable for anything you do in the decade after a loved one dies, even raping children!

John Lennon

Remember when people used to really idolize John Lennon and The Beatles? Their music used to be really popular, and people would even say mean things about Yoko Ono, blaming her for breaking up the band, not anymore. That all went out the window in July of last year, when a Twitter user reminded the world that John Lennon was a serial abuser, and then cancelled The Beatles. Sure, Lennon abused multiple partners, and at least one of his sons, but ever since Lennon was struck with the same post-mortem cancellation that Michael Jackson received, his solo music and The Beatles' entire catalogue have dropped completely out of cultural relevance, and is now valued at only around a billion dollars. "Imagine" that.

Drake

Footage recently resurfaced of Drake from a 2010 concert in Denver, in which he brings a girl onstage to dance with her, then takes the opportunity to drape his arms across her chest and kiss her neck before asking her age. When she answers that she's 17, Drake reacts as any 23 year old would when coming to terms with the fact that his behavior with an underage girl was suggestive and inappropriate. He says, "Why do you look like that? You thick. Look at all this," and follows that up with, "I like the way your breasts feel against my chest." Cool.

At any rate, that was nearly a decade ago, and Drake was pretty young himself, there's probably no reason to look further into the now 33 year old's tendency to befriend teenage girls who he ends up dating once they're of age. That's what the people who cancelled him in January—resulting in him being only the fifth richest rapper on earth—want you to focus on. They want you to be concerned about his friendship with Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown but let's just talk about his grooming habits instead.

On second thought, maybe the hysteria over "cancel culture" attacking any and every tiny misstep is a little overblown. Sure, Kevin Hart didn't get to host the Oscars, but he definitely still has a career, and James Gunn's brief cancellation was revoked. Maybe it's justified to call people out when they screw up, to push for apologies for minor offenses, and to stop giving money and awards to people who've done truly monstrous things. Maybe cancel culture should actually be going a lot further...

Film Lists

Please Enjoy This List of Actors Insulting Their Own Movies

Every actor hates himself a little for their career missteps—except Bill Murray. Bill Murray is too perfect for mistakes.

Bill Murray sticker on NYC street

Photo by LilacHome (Shutterstock)

All actors have taken movie roles they wish to bury like embarrassing middle school yearbooks.

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FILM & TV

BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN | It is about to get filthy rich

AUGUST 17TH-19TH | What's Coming to Theaters This Weekend?

racked.com

I love you...and your insanely wealthy family.

In Popdust's column, Box Office Breakdown, we aim to inform you of the top flicks to check out every weekend depending on what you're in the mood to enjoy. Looking to laugh? What about having your pants scared off? Maybe you just need a little love? Whatever the case may be, we have you covered. Take a peek at our top picks for this week…

Mile 22

A new summertime thriller, we follow the story of an operative in one of the least understood units of the CIA (though it is highly regarded). With the help of his top-notch team, this agent must retrieve and transport an asset that holds life-threatening information to Mile 22 for extraction before the enemy closes in.

Purchase Tickets for Mile 22

NR | Running Time 1hr 30m | STX Entertainment | Director: Peter Berg

Starring:Mark Wahlberg, Lauren Cohan, Ronda Rousey, and more!

The Little Mermaid

This is not the Disney version of the film that most of you know. It is instead based on the Hans Christian Andersen original tale, which is just a tad darker. A reporter and his niece discover a magnificent creature in the water and come to believe it is a mermaid. Get ready to dive into something magical.

Purchase Tickets for The Little Mermaid

PG | Running Time 1hr 34m | Conglomerate Media | Directors: Blake Harris, Chris Bouchard

Starring:Gina Gershon, William Moseley, Jared Sandler, and more!

Billionaire Boys Club

Yes, on the surface this looks like a film about a bunch of jerky white men in nice suits. When you dig deeper you will find something based on the true story of a group of young men who are as charming and intelligent as they look, but after a get-rich-quick scheme goes horribly wrong, they have a bit of blood tarnishing their reputations.

Purchase Tickets for Billionaire Boys Club

R | Running Time 1hr 48m | Armory Films | Director: James Cox

Starring:Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Taron Egerton,and more!

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