Daisy Jones and the Six:

Before Amazon Prime Video releases Daisy Jones and the Six on Mar. 3, make sure you check out the series’s inspiration, the bestselling novel of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The story reflects a band’s rise to fame and the sacrifices and sadness that accompany their journey. Despite being fictional, the book offers the perfect look into the 1970’s music scene and the plight of performers; it depicts addiction, scandal, and tragedy through a series of raw interviews. With both endearing and unlikable characters, Reid utilizes the book’s unique format to reveal the intricacies of fame and the turmoil and tensions within the band, even years after its dissolution. A quick but beautiful read, Daisy Jones and the Six is the perfect story to grab for your bookshelf, especially in preparation for its adaptation.

— Kate Gruetter, National/World Editor

Puppy Bowl:

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles weren’t the only teams battling for a championship on Feb. 12. On Super Bowl Sunday, fans all around the nation tuned into Animal Planet’s annual awareness and adoption event, the Puppy Bowl, watching Team Ruff and Team Fluff battle through the 19th year of the event. Decked out in blue and orange (Fluff and Ruff’s 2023 colors, respectively) while representing countless animal shelters and adoption organizations, over 100 puppies from around the nation faced off, with Team Fluff coming out victorious. An undoubtedly charming event, Puppy Bowl XIX is certainly worth your time, so mark your calendars for next year.

(Sources: Discovery, USA Today)

— Maya Gomez, Editor-in-Chief

The Boys:

The Boys is not for the faint of heart. The three season (and ongoing) satirical gorefest explores a simple question: What if superheroes were evil? In the world of The Boys, an evil megacorporation called Vought turns superheroes into a business, loaning them to city governments and exploiting them in commercial films. The superheroes, or “Supes,” are given free reign as long as they obey their corporate overlords at Vought. The show is teeming with some of the least subtle, yet most hilarious satire you’ve seen. 

To put it simply, The Boys is a remarkable show. Go watch it.

— Ashir Rao, Public Relations Manager

Halftime Show:

On Feb. 12, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs served as a pre and post-game for the spectacle of the year: Rhianna’s performance at the LVII Super Bowl Halftime Show. The queen absolutely served, performing a collection of her most iconic songs such as Umbrella, Diamonds, Wild Thoughts, and more to fill up the most satisfying 13 minutes of my life. Also, performing this while pregnant? While literally in mid-air? Are you kidding me? How great of a pregnancy announcement is this? The background dancers, the red outfit, and the overall vibe of the entire performance were absolutely delectable. Go birds, btw.

— Georgia Kaufman, Opinion Editor

Khaled Hosseini:

During the first semester of AP Literature, LG seniors are required to write a research paper analyzing three works of literary merit by the same author. While Paris De Soto provides a pre-approved list of authors to choose from, if I had the choice to go back and do it again, I would without a doubt petition for Khaled Hosseini. After finishing And the Mountains Echoed, Hosseini’s third published novel, I can confirm that Hosseini’s prose is consistently impactful yet understated, creating intricate plotlines that delve into two to three characters and their lives. Whether you read Kite Runner, a powerful novel of guilt and forgiveness, A Thousand Splendid Suns, a story of unlikely heroism, or And the Mountains Echoed, a collection of familial stories, each of Hosseini’s books are worthy of your time.

— Sarah Gouldrup, Humor Editor

Babylon (Anti-EGR):

Don’t let the A-list cast deceive you: Paramount Pictures’ Babylon is truly atrocious. The trailer, strategically featuring a glimpse of big-name actors including Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, and Tobey Maguire, fails to depict just how off-putting the film is. In addition to hypersexualizing the female characters and displaying excessive nudity, the movie relies on unnecessary and incredibly gruesome scenes to maintain a constant “shock factor,” including an elephant defecating on the male lead, an underage actress urinating on a man before overdosing, and someone eating a live mouse. Despite spending three excruciatingly long hours grimacing in my seat, I still cannot tell you what the plot was.

— Maya Gomez, Editor-in-Chief

Mark Wiens:

Food vlogger, international traveler, and bright internet personality Mark Wiens is a YouTuber who has perfected his craft. His weekly videos rack up millions of views, with some reaching over 20 million. Traveling to places that people could only dream of visiting, as well as eating food that most would never dare to, Wiens creates content for everyone. His channel aims to showcase the lesser-known places in the world such as the favelas of Rocinha, Brazil, or the bustling streets of Peshawar, Pakistan — welcoming viewers to absorb a broader world full of rich culture, tradition, and food.

— Ella Marrufo, Sports Editor

Ice Spice:

You thought I was feelin’ you? As a certified munchkin, it’s my pleasure to talk more about Ice Spice’s debut EP, Like..?. Isis Gaston, more commonly known as Ice Spice, is an emerging Bronx Drill rapper, and her fan base is called the munchkins.. Her songs, Munch (Feelin’ U), Bikini Bottom, and In Ha Mood, went viral on social media, helping cement her status. Users on Tiktok blew up the EP, heralding Ice Spice as the new Princess Diana, referencing a popular meme joking about how Ice Spice is the reincarnation of the late princess. The EP has hits like Munch (Feelin’ U) and Bikini Bottom, which samples sound effects from SpongeBob Squarepants. Overall, this was a stellar debut EP, solidifying Ice Spice’s name in the history books.

— Aliya Koshalieva, Graphics Editor

Galentine’s Day:

Scared to spend February 14 alone for another year? Don’t be! Galentine’s is the way to go for this upcoming capitalist gem. Ditch your significant others and spend the day with the true loves of your life: the people who are and will always be there. Partners come and go, but those people who stick with you through those awkward years in middle school are here to stay forever (for better or worse). Make plans to watch your favorite rom-coms, devour some heart-shaped chocolate from See’s Candies, and drink an entire bottle of Martinelli’s sparkling apple cider. No ounce of negativity in the air — just pure appreciation for the cuties you spend every day with.

— Saya Alvares, Sports Editor

Flowers by Miley Cyrus:

On Jan. 13, Miley Cyrus gifted us a brand new, upbeat, and self-loving song — preceding her latest album “Endless Summer Vacation,” set to be released on Mar. 10. The song, “Flowers,” finds Cyrus sharing how she can make herself happy without anyone else, with lyrics such as, “I can buy myself flowers.” Cyrus also sings about not wanting to leave someone, and many fans speculate the track references her split with her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth. The song is rumored to be inspired by Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man,” which was allegedly an important song in Cyrus’ and Hemsworth’s relationship. Flowers is the perfect song to listen to as we begin going into the spring and is definitely worth a listen.

— Emily Duvall, Opinion Editor

A Man Called Ove:

If you’re looking for a melancholy masterpiece, look no further than Fredrick Backman’s novel A Man Called Ove. A heart-wrenching story about the last years of one’s life, the story’s protagonist, Ove, is sure to tug on your heartstrings with the turn of every page. The story follows Ove’s life after his wife’s death, along with the unexpected friendship he’s able to form even in the wake of tragedy. Through flashbacks and present-day accounts, Backman portrays an old man struggling to accommodate to a world no longer made for him and what it takes to relearn happiness later in life.

—  Kate Gruetter, National/World Editor