Would You Try Some Kraft Macaroni and Cheese . . . Ice Cream?
Today is National Macaroni and Cheese Day, and Kraft is celebrating by introducing a macaroni-and-cheese-flavored ICE CREAM. It's a collaboration with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream out of Brooklyn. It's a limited edition thing. If you're interested, it'll be available online on Van Leeuwen's website and at their shops across the country while supplies last . . . starting this morning at 11:00 A.M. Eastern. A pint will set you back $12. So . . . would YOU try some? Today.com has been running a poll, and last we checked, 48% said NO . . . 43% said YES . . . and 9% haven't decided, For the record, Eater.com was sent an early taste, and they claim it's "very good," and "nothing short of magical." They also say the inspiration is evident, and the flavor is similar, but the texture is different, and there's no cheesy smell, thankfully. (Here's an image from Van Leeuwen's social media. The reaction there is mixed, with plenty of people asking if it's a joke. But this is the best comment: "Please tell me there are hidden pockets of powder that didn't get completely stirred in. Only then would it be authentic.")
New World Record: $200 French Fries
A large fry at McDonald's costs two dollars. So you could get 100 orders of those or ONE order of these: A restaurant in Manhattan called Serendipity 3 just set a new record by adding a $200 side of fries to their menu. Guinness announced the record yesterday for National French Fry Day. And no, the fries themselves aren't that expensive . . . it's everything that comes on them. Ingredients include Chipperbec potatoes . . . goose fat from France . . . shaved truffles . . . two types of truffle cheese . . . truffle salt, oil, and butter . . . two types of champagne . . . and a sprinkling of 23-karat edible gold dust. They also come with a Mornay cheese sauce for dipping
Back to School Trend: Raiding Your Parents' Closets?
Kids go through periods where they want to skip the expensive clothing stores for the HAUTE COUTURE of the local thrift store. And now they're SKIPPING THE MIDDLE MAN. According to a new survey, kids are raiding their parents' closets for clothes. Three in four kids between the ages of 5 and 18 say they think their parent's sense of style as a teenager was actually "cool." And nearly 60% of kids admit to stealing one of their parents' old outfits to wear to school. This might not come as a surprise to you. Four in five parents say they often see their kids wearing an outfit to school that's similar to one they would have worn when THEY were in school.
U.S. News & World Report's Best Places to Live in America in 2021
U.S. News & World Report does an annual ranking of the best cities to live in. And for the second year in a row, Boulder, Colorado is #1. It ranks high in quality of life AND cost of living. Here are the top ten . . . 1. Boulder, Colorado. 2. The Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina. 3. Huntsville, Alabama. It ranked higher in value than any other city in the top ten. 4. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 5. Austin, Texas. 6. Colorado Springs. So two cities in Colorado made the top ten . . . but Denver didn't even though it was #2 last year. Now it's 14th. 7. Naples, Florida. 8. Portland, Maine. 9. Sarasota, Florida. 10. Portland, Oregon. So six out of ten are in Colorado, Florida, or named Portland. They looked at 150 cities, and America's five biggest didn't fare as well: New York is 118th . . . Los Angeles is 126th . . . Chicago is 102nd . . . Houston is 39th . . . and Phoenix is 40th.
The Top Words We Love to See on Food Labels, and the Top Words We Hate
If you see the word "organic" on something at the grocery store, does it make you more or LESS likely to buy it? A new study found it's one of the top words people DON'T like to see. 1 in 6 people are less likely to buy something if "organic" is on the label. The top five words we love to see are all associated with health . . . and the word "Healthy" is even one of them. The top five words we like to see on food labels are: "Fresh" . . . "Natural" . . . "Healthy" . . . "Real" . . . and "Local." Most of the top words we hate to see are ALSO healthy words . . . just not the ones people who eat MEAT are attracted to. "Processed" is #1, so that one's not healthy. But the rest of our five most-hated words on food are: "Vegan" . . . "Plant-Based" . . . "Gluten-free" . . . and "Organic." The poll also found 46% of Americans claim they've thought about going vegan before . . . but only 3% of us are currently vegan.
"The Crown", "The Mandalorian", and "WandaVision" Lead the Emmy Nominees
Nominees for the 73rd "Emmy Awards" were announced yesterday, and "The Crown" and "The Mandalorian" tied for the lead with 24 nods each.
"WandaVision" is third with 23, and "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Saturday Night Live" tied for fourth with 21 each.
As for which networks did the best . . . well, the "Emmys" aren't doing their tallies like that anymore. In a depressing sign of the times, they're counting up nominees by COROPORATE OVERLORDS.
For instance, Disney is at the top of the heap with 146 nominees. Their empire includes Disney+, ABC, Hulu, FX, Freeform, and National Geographic.
Warner Media . . . which includes HBO, HBO Max, CNN, TBS, and Adult Swim . . . came in second with 138 nominations. 130 of them are from HBO and HBO Max.
Netflix finished third with 129 . . . followed by NBC Universal with 56, and Viacom CBS with 54.
As far as history-makers go, MJ RODRIGUEZ from "Pose" is the first trans woman to be nominated for lead actress. And BOWEN YANG from "Saturday Night Live" is the first Chinese-American man to be nominated in a supporting actor category.
COURTENEY COX could win an Emmy as a PRODUCER of the "Friends" reunion special. During the entire run of the series, she's the only one of the six main cast members who was never nominated for one.
This could get interesting: PHYLICIA RASHAD is nominated for playing Carol "Mama C" Clarke on "This Is Us". After her enthusiastic support for BILL COSBY, how will the crowd react if she wins?
Outstanding Drama Series:
"The Boys", Amazon Prime
"Bridgerton", Netflix
"The Crown", Netflix
"The Handmaid's Tale", Hulu
"Lovecraft Country", HBO
"The Mandalorian", Disney+
"Pose", FX
"This Is Us", NBC
Outstanding Comedy Series:
"Black-ish", ABC
"Cobra Kai", Netflix
"Emily in Paris", Netflix
"Hacks", HBO Max
"The Flight Attendant", HBO Max
"The Kominsky Method", Netflix
"Pen15", Hulu
"Ted Lasso", Apple TV+
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama:
Sterling K. Brown, "This Is Us" (NBC)
Jonathan Majors, "Lovecraft Country" (HBO)
Josh O'Connor, "The Crown" (Netflix)
Regé-Jean Page, "Bridgerton" (Netflix)
Billy Porter, "Pose" (FX)
Matthew Rhys, "Perry Mason" (HBO)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Uzo Aduba, "In Treatment" (HBO)
Olivia Colman, "The Crown" (Netflix)
Emma Corrin, "The Crown" (Netflix)
Elizabeth Moss, "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu)
Mj Rodriguez, "Pose" (FX)
Jurnee Smollett, "Lovecraft Country" (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
Giancarlo Esposito, "The Mandalorian" (Disney+)
O-T Fagbenle, "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu)
John Lithgow, "Perry Mason" (HBO)
Tobias Menzies, "The Crown" (Netflix)
Max Minghella, "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu)
Chris Sullivan, "This Is Us" (NBC)
Bradley Whitford, "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu)
Michael K. Williams, "Lovecraft Country" (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
Gillian Anderson, "The Crown" (Netflix)
Helena Bonham Carter, "The Crown" (Netflix)
Madeline Brewer, "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu)
Ann Dowd, "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu)
Aunjanue Ellis, "Lovecraft Country" (HBO)
Emerald Fennell, "The Crown" (Netflix)
Yvonne Strahovski, "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu)
Samira Wiley, "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Anthony Anderson, "Black-ish" (ABC)
Michael Douglas, "The Kominsky Method" (Netflix)
William H. Macy, "Shameless" (Showtime)
Jason Sudeikis, "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)
Kenan Thompson, "Kenan" (NBC)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Aidy Bryant, "Shrill" (Hulu)
Kaley Cuoco, "The Flight Attendant" (HBO Max)
Allison Janney, "Mom" (CBS)
Tracee Ellis Ross, "Black-ish" (ABC)
Jean Smart, "Hacks" (HBO Max)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Carl Clemons-Hopkins, "Hacks" (HBO Max)
Brett Goldstein, "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)
Brendan Hunt, "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)
Nick Mohammed, "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)
Paul Reiser, "The Kominsky Method" (Netflix)
Jeremy Swift, "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)
Kenan Thompson, "Saturday Night Live" (NBC)
Bowen Yang, "Saturday Night Live" (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Aidy Bryant, "Saturday Night Live" (NBC)
Hannah Einbinder, "Hacks" (HBO Max)
Cecily Strong, "Saturday Night Live" (NBC)
Kate McKinnon, "Saturday Night Live" (NBC)
Rosie Perez, "The Flight Attendant" (HBO Max)
Juno Temple, "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)
Hannah Waddingham, "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Limited Series:
"Mare of Easttown", HBO
"I May Destroy You", HBO
"WandaVision", Disney+
"The Queen's Gambit", Netflix
"The Underground Railroad", Amazon Prime
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Paul Bettany, "WandaVision" (Disney+)
Hugh Grant, "The Undoing" (HBO)
Ewan McGregor, "Halston" (Netflix)
Lin-Manuel Miranda, "Hamilton" (Disney+)
Leslie Odom Jr., "Hamilton" (Disney+)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Kate Winslet, "Mare of Easttown" (HBO)
Michaela Coel, "I May Destroy You" (HBO)
Anya Taylor-Joy, "The Queen's Gambit" (Netflix)
Elizabeth Olsen, "WandaVision" (Disney+)
Cynthia Erivo, "Genius: Aretha" (National Geographic)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Jean Smart, "Mare of Easttown" (HBO)
Julianne Nicholson, "Mare of Easttown" (HBO)
Kathryn Hahn, "WandaVision" (Disney+)
Phillipa Soo, "Hamilton" (Disney+)
Renee Elise Goldsberry, "Hamilton" (Disney+)
Moses Ingram, "The Queen's Gambit" (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Daveed Diggs, "Hamilton" (Disney+)
Jonathan Groff, "Hamilton" (Disney+)
Anthony Ramos, "Hamilton" (Disney+)
Thomas Brodie-Sangster, "The Queen's Gambit" (Netflix)
Evan Peters, "Mare of Easttown" (HBO)
Paapa Essiedu, "I May Destroy You" (HBO)
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
"A Black Lady Sketch Show", HBO
"Saturday Night Live", NBC
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
"Conan", TBS
"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert", CBS
"The Daily Show with Trevor Noah", Comedy Central
"Jimmy Kimmel Live", ABC
"Last Week Tonight with John Oliver", HBO
Outstanding Competition Program
"The Amazing Race", CBS
"Nailed It!", Netflix
"RuPaul's Drag Race", VH1
"Top Chef", Bravo
"The Voice", NBC
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
RuPaul, "RuPaul's Drag Race", VH1
Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness, "Queer Eye", Netflix
Nicole Byer, "Nailed It!", Netflix
Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons, "Top Chef", Bravo
Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, and Kevin O'Leary, "Shark Tank", ABC
Today's Showbiz Highlights
1. The Emmy nominees were announced yesterday. "The Crown" and "The Mandalorian" tied for the lead with 24 nods each . . . and the Disney empire had the most nominees overall, with 146. That includes Disney+, ABC, Hulu, FX, Freeform, and National Geographic. 2. JUSTIN BIEBER spent a thousand dollars on weed products in L.A. including peach edibles and one of every weed strain available. Also, there was a video going around where it looked like he was YELLING at his wife in Vegas . . . but witnesses say that he was just amped up on adrenaline from performing. 3. JASON SUDEIKIS said he will have a better understanding of his break-up with OLIVIA WILDE as time goes on. Oh and about that hoodie at the virtual "Golden Globes"? He was NOT high or heartbroken. He just didn't feel like wearing the top half of a suit. 4. A production assistant on "Charlie's Angels" let out what really happened between BILL MURRAY and LUCY LIU. Bill rewrote a bunch of scenes and said he didn't know why Lucy would complain because he gave her more lines, and that she, quote, "is TV and this is the big league." So she basically cussed him out. 5. A game called "Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl" is coming out this fall. It's a fighting game like Nintendo's "Super Smash Brothers", but with Nickelodeon characters. And for some reason, people seem stoked that they can play as Nigel Thornberry. 6. TOM HIDDLESTON just scored his first hit song on the Billboard charts. On an episode of "Loki", Tom sings a song called "Very Full". And that song just debuted at #10 on the World Digital Song Sales chart. Oh, and it's in Norwegian. 7. PELOTON pays artists more per stream than Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. They pay around three cents per stream, whereas the others pay less than one cent. 8. VANILLA ICE said the thing he'd most like to bring back from the '90s is Blockbuster Video. He added that the '90s were "the greatest decade ever," and said pop culture has been dead since computers and the iPhone came out. 9. ASHLEY MONROE announced yesterday that she has a rare, but very treatable form of blood cancer. She starts chemotherapy today . . . and is asking for your prayers. 10. CHARLES KELLEY posted a "health update" yesterday saying that he's fully recovered from last weekend's appendicitis attack . . . and that LADY A will do their shows this weekend at Billy Bob's Texas.