Latest news with #JimGaffigan
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The backflipping, monster-voicing, V-neck-wearing male pop star that America loves (and loves to hate)
A mustachioed man sitting at a table meekly pulls a microphone out of his suit pocket and begins to sing, looking around as if he's surprised it's all happening. He stands, meandering among celebrities seated around him, like Jennifer Lopez and Jim Gaffigan, before pausing in front of Heidi Klum and Nikki Glaser. They grab him, ripping the top of his suit off to reveal a glittering blue jumpsuit with the deepest V-neck imaginable. He rips his own pants off, gaining energy as he struts toward the stage. As his song approaches its climax, he jumps onto a piano, doing a flip off of it before launching into the song's chorus. This is Benson Boone. The 23-year-old is performing at the 2025 Grammys, where he's nominated for Best New Artist. At a star-studded ceremony, his 'Beautiful Things' rendition emerged as the talk of the town. Who was this guy, singing a vaguely familiar song and dressed like Freddie Mercury as he repeatedly did flips? 'Beautiful Things' was Boone's breakout song, first hitting the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2024. Now, 75 weeks later, it's still near the top of the chart. It's a ubiquitous radio song, inoffensive and catchy with an explosive chorus, also used frequently in TikTok posts and Instagram Reels. He's not a one-hit wonder either — his songs 'Mystical Magical' and 'Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else' are also lingering on the charts now. His latest album, American Heart, came out on June 20 and remains on the Billboard 200. Despite his fame, each time Boone performs on a big stage, be it the Grammys, the VMAs, Coachella or Saturday Night Live, swaths of social media commenters respond with outrage as if it's the first time they've seen him. Maybe it is, somehow, but why is that so worth remarking about? 'Benson Boone threatens to release more music,' one TikTok user wrote in the comments of one of Boone's videos. 'No real presence just flipping,' an X user wrote. Others have said his songs are 'giving nothing,' sound like 'grocery store' music and 'lack authenticity.' They poke fun at his name and his Mormon upbringing. Making fun of him is a trend unto itself, though none of these perceived offenses are cancelable. Why does he inspire such rage? '[Boone] kind of walks a knife-edge a little bit in his relationship to authenticity, which is a crucial way that people relate to popular music,' Mark Laver, an associate professor of music at Grinnell College, tells Yahoo. 'On the one hand, his lyrics are pretty intimate, about his dad, best friend or an unnamed woman ... he invites people into his personal orbit — Taylor Swift does [this too] and the Beatles did the same thing,' Laver explains. 'On the other hand, he's wearing these really glam suits ... and he switches into this 'monster voice' on 'Beautiful Things' ... at the emotional climax of the song. There's a gulf between the emotional sincerity of the lyrics and the fact that he's backflipping at the peak of emotional sincerity.' The drama of Boone's performance could also be what is aiding his breakout success in the social media age. After all, it's been a while since a new male pop star emerged — singing, dancing and developing an identifiable style as their female counterparts do — and he has successfully done so. There aren't even that many male pop stars in general. Charlie Lewis, the founder of Lewis Line Public Relations, specializes in helping emerging artists break out. He tells Yahoo that there's 'a pattern in pop culture where male artists are expected to earn public approval slowly, often through years of visible effort, reinvention or struggle.' 'When someone like Boone breaks through quickly and confidently, especially without a rebellious or ironic edge, it can spark resistance. The reaction isn't really about the music or the backflips, it's about how fast he's become impossible to ignore,' Lewis says. 'We haven't seen a new male pop star achieve this level of visibility in a while, and the culture isn't quite sure what to do with him. That ambiguity becomes the controversy. Boone's not polarizing because he's trying too hard. He's polarizing because his rise disrupts expectations.' The performances and hooky choruses that lead to his bursts of virality also make him the butt of constant jokes on social media. People mock his backflips and his expressive singing voice. On TikTok, people are making fun of the funny way he sings 'moonbeam ice cream' — a made-up term — in his song 'Mystical Magical.' In response, he named the cookie he launched with the brand Crumbl, which frequently collaborates with celebrities on themed limited-edition treats, 'moonbeam ice cream.' When people jokingly posted videos of themselves flipping after tasting the cookie, he responded with his own version. He sees your jokes. He's making them too. 'It's my birthday!' Boone playfully says in a June 25 TikTok. 'Stop the hate for a day and let me relax. We can continue tomorrow.' One of the reasons people have said they don't like Boone is because his sudden rise makes him seem like an industry plant, or an artist who is presented as an independent newcomer when they secretly have backing from a record label. Boone's record deal isn't in any way secret, and his story is far more complicated than that. He shared music on TikTok before auditioning for American Idol in 2021. As his online popularity grew, he dropped out of the show to focus on breaking into the industry that way instead. Nikki Camilleri, a music industry executive, tells Yahoo that the way Boone promotes his content on social media and punctuates all his performances with showy backflips is what gets people talking about him, though not all the talk is positive. 'For some, this feels inauthentic, and you'll see many comments questioning his perceived lack of identity,' she says. 'Some artists really lean into narrative, world-building and direct fan engagement ... [but Boone] seems to have focused more on pushing his hooky tracks as much as possible.' Though Boone's voice is everywhere, he still feels unknowable. We know certain things about him for sure — he's going to belt a chorus, he's going to do a flip and he's going to pose topless with a mop of curly hair on his album covers — but he's still somewhat mysterious. We know the tone of his posts and the style of his performances, but little about him, or even his persona. He's constantly courting virality, but he hasn't found the same committed fan base as other stars. That makes him feel more like a corporate experiment than an organic pop sensation. Lyric Mandell, the cofounder of the artist media management company Tutti Agency, tells Yahoo that Boone does so much self-promotion, it sometimes makes 'people feel like they are being sold a product rather than hearing the product of someone's creativity.' But here's the thing — he is selling us a product. As long as we're streaming his music, we're buying that product. 'That old saying, 'All press is good press,' feels relevant here, meaning a little backlash might not just be collateral damage, but part of the branding strategy,' Mandell explains. 'If that's the case, it would explain why he hasn't shifted course. The hate, ironically, might be what keeps us hitting play.'
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The backflipping, monster-voicing, V-neck-wearing male pop star that America loves (and loves to hate)
A mustachioed man sitting at a table meekly pulls a microphone out of his suit pocket and begins to sing, looking around as if he's surprised it's all happening. He stands, meandering among celebrities seated around him, like Jennifer Lopez and Jim Gaffigan, before pausing in front of Heidi Klum and Nikki Glaser. They grab him, ripping the top of his suit off to reveal a glittering blue jumpsuit with the deepest V-neck imaginable. He rips his own pants off, gaining energy as he struts toward the stage. As his song approaches its climax, he jumps onto a piano, doing a flip off of it before launching into the song's chorus. This is Benson Boone. The 23-year-old is performing at the 2025 Grammys, where he's nominated for Best New Artist. At a star-studded ceremony, his 'Beautiful Things' rendition emerged as the talk of the town. Who was this guy, singing a vaguely familiar song and dressed like Freddie Mercury as he repeatedly did flips? 'Beautiful Things' was Boone's breakout song, first hitting the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2024. Now, 75 weeks later, it's still near the top of the chart. It's a ubiquitous radio song, inoffensive and catchy with an explosive chorus, also used frequently in TikTok posts and Instagram Reels. He's not a one-hit wonder either — his songs 'Mystical Magical' and 'Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else' are also lingering on the charts now. His latest album, American Heart, came out on June 20 and remains on the Billboard 200. Despite his fame, each time Boone performs on a big stage, be it the Grammys, the VMAs, Coachella or Saturday Night Live, swaths of social media commenters respond with outrage as if it's the first time they've seen him. Maybe it is, somehow, but why is that so worth remarking about? 'Benson Boone threatens to release more music,' one TikTok user wrote in the comments of one of Boone's videos. 'No real presence just flipping,' an X user wrote. Others have said his songs are 'giving nothing,' sound like 'grocery store' music and 'lack authenticity.' They poke fun at his name and his Mormon upbringing. Making fun of him is a trend unto itself, though none of these perceived offenses are cancelable. Why does he inspire such rage? '[Boone] kind of walks a knife-edge a little bit in his relationship to authenticity, which is a crucial way that people relate to popular music,' Mark Laver, an associate professor of music at Grinnell College, tells Yahoo. 'On the one hand, his lyrics are pretty intimate, about his dad, best friend or an unnamed woman ... he invites people into his personal orbit — Taylor Swift does [this too] and the Beatles did the same thing,' Laver explains. 'On the other hand, he's wearing these really glam suits ... and he switches into this 'monster voice' on 'Beautiful Things' ... at the emotional climax of the song. There's a gulf between the emotional sincerity of the lyrics and the fact that he's backflipping at the peak of emotional sincerity.' The drama of Boone's performance could also be what is aiding his breakout success in the social media age. After all, it's been a while since a new male pop star emerged — singing, dancing and developing an identifiable style as their female counterparts do — and he has successfully done so. There aren't even that many male pop stars in general. Charlie Lewis, the founder of Lewis Line Public Relations, specializes in helping emerging artists break out. He tells Yahoo that there's 'a pattern in pop culture where male artists are expected to earn public approval slowly, often through years of visible effort, reinvention or struggle.' 'When someone like Boone breaks through quickly and confidently, especially without a rebellious or ironic edge, it can spark resistance. The reaction isn't really about the music or the backflips, it's about how fast he's become impossible to ignore,' Lewis says. 'We haven't seen a new male pop star achieve this level of visibility in a while, and the culture isn't quite sure what to do with him. That ambiguity becomes the controversy. Boone's not polarizing because he's trying too hard. He's polarizing because his rise disrupts expectations.' The performances and hooky choruses that lead to his bursts of virality also make him the butt of constant jokes on social media. People mock his backflips and his expressive singing voice. On TikTok, people are making fun of the funny way he sings 'moonbeam ice cream' — a made-up term — in his song 'Mystical Magical.' In response, he named the cookie he launched with the brand Crumbl, which frequently collaborates with celebrities on themed limited-edition treats, 'moonbeam ice cream.' When people jokingly posted videos of themselves flipping after tasting the cookie, he responded with his own version. He sees your jokes. He's making them too. 'It's my birthday!' Boone playfully says in a June 25 TikTok. 'Stop the hate for a day and let me relax. We can continue tomorrow.' One of the reasons people have said they don't like Boone is because his sudden rise makes him seem like an industry plant, or an artist who is presented as an independent newcomer when they secretly have backing from a record label. Boone's record deal isn't in any way secret, and his story is far more complicated than that. He shared music on TikTok before auditioning for American Idol in 2021. As his online popularity grew, he dropped out of the show to focus on breaking into the industry that way instead. Nikki Camilleri, a music industry executive, tells Yahoo that the way Boone promotes his content on social media and punctuates all his performances with showy backflips is what gets people talking about him, though not all the talk is positive. 'For some, this feels inauthentic, and you'll see many comments questioning his perceived lack of identity,' she says. 'Some artists really lean into narrative, world-building and direct fan engagement ... [but Boone] seems to have focused more on pushing his hooky tracks as much as possible.' Though Boone's voice is everywhere, he still feels unknowable. We know certain things about him for sure — he's going to belt a chorus, he's going to do a flip and he's going to pose topless with a mop of curly hair on his album covers — but he's still somewhat mysterious. We know the tone of his posts and the style of his performances, but little about him, or even his persona. He's constantly courting virality, but he hasn't found the same committed fan base as other stars. That makes him feel more like a corporate experiment than an organic pop sensation. Lyric Mandell, the cofounder of the artist media management company Tutti Agency, tells Yahoo that Boone does so much self-promotion, it sometimes makes 'people feel like they are being sold a product rather than hearing the product of someone's creativity.' But here's the thing — he is selling us a product. As long as we're streaming his music, we're buying that product. 'That old saying, 'All press is good press,' feels relevant here, meaning a little backlash might not just be collateral damage, but part of the branding strategy,' Mandell explains. 'If that's the case, it would explain why he hasn't shifted course. The hate, ironically, might be what keeps us hitting play.'
Buzz Feed
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
The Ultimate Guide To Hulu's 21 Most Hilarious Stand-Up Specials
In case you missed it, at the end of 2024, Hulu announced its newest stand-up comedy brand: Hularious. Starting in November 2024, Hulu began releasing a new comedy special every month, and so far everything really has been hularious. Here's a look at Hulu's newest collection of original stand-up specials you can watch right now: Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny (2024) What It's About: "Considered one of the most prolific comedians working today, 7-time Grammy nominee Jim Gaffigan provides the skinny on everything from appetite suppressants to raising teenagers in Hulu's very first comedy special."Where You Know Them From: You might have seen him most recently as Tim Walz on SNL and heard him most recently as a voice on Bob's can watch their stand-up special here. Matteo Lane: The Al Dente Special (2025) What It's About: "Stand-up comedian, podcast host, cookbook author, trained opera singer — Matteo Lane is a true multihyphenate. Known for his quick wit and vibrant storytelling, he blends sharp observational humor with reflections on LGBTQ+ life, modern culture, and his Italian-Mexican upbringing."Where You Know Them From: You might have seen him most recently on Abbott Elementary and can watch their stand-up special here. Atsuko Okatsuka: Father (2025) What It's About: "Fans call her 'Mother,' but Atsuko is 'Father'—thriving professionally yet clueless about basics. A 7-year laundry hiatus and learning that marriage licenses precede weddings are just some hilariously relatable discoveries she shares in her special."Where You Know Them From: You might recognize her from her TV series Let's Go, Atsuko, as well as from voicing Yuri in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. You can watch the stand-up special here. Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years (2025) What It's About: "Drop Dead Years is the latest one-hour special from one of the greatest standup comedians working today. In what might be his most personal and introspective hour yet, Bill offers hilarious takes on everything from male sadness to dating advice."Where You Know Them From: You might have seen him most recently in Old Dads and Unfrosted, but who could forget his five-episode run on Breaking Bad?You can watch their stand-up special here. Roy Wood Jr.: Lonely Flowers (2025) What It's About: "In this stand-up special, Roy Wood Jr. explores how lack of connection has sent society spiraling into a culture full of guns, rude employees, self-checkout lanes, and why some of us would rather be alone rather than be connected." Where You Know Them From: You probably know him best from his seven years on The Daily Show!You can watch their stand-up special here. Ilana Glazer: Human Magic (2024) What It's About: "Ilana Glazer's unfiltered stand-up special dives into life's down and dirty truths, from painfully awkward high school years to navigating parenthood as a stoner mom."Where You Know Them From: You know her from Broad City, and most recently, she was in the film can watch their stand-up special here. Chris Distefano: It's Just Unfortunate (2025) What It's About: "Chris Distefano is trying to be the best father he can be, but nowadays, words speak louder than actions—so Chris is acting with the right intentions, but not always the right moves."Where You Know Them From: You might know him from Life & Beth and can watch their stand-up special here. Jessica Kirson: I'm the Man (2025) What It's About: "I'm the Man is a fast-paced and sharp-tongued special that showcases Kirson's searing perspective on everything from TikTok girls to her bizarre time at a trauma center."Where You Know Them From: You might have seen her most recently on Ramy and can watch their stand-up special here. In addition to their original specials, Hularious has also launched a curated collection of licensed stand-up specials ranging from iconic comedy specials to recent releases. Here's a look at some of the other specials you can watch on Hulu right now: Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied (2003) What It's About: "Wanda Sykes pulls no punches as she shares her thoughts on George W. Bush's presidency, the insanity of airport security, and the real reason women fake orgasms."Where You Know Them From: You might have seen her most recently on The Upshaws and The Other can watch the stand-up special here. Kumail Nanjiani: Beta Male (2013) What It's About: "Many things completely terrify Kumail Nanjiani -- join him as he relives a Pakistani cobra-mongoose fight, a jammed adult videotape incident, and the scary noises in his attic."Where You Know Them From: You know him from The Big Sick, Only Murders in the Building, and can watch their stand-up special here. Jay Pharoah: Can I Be Me? (2015) What It's About: "Jay Pharoah, Saturday Night Live cast member for six years, brings you his latest and greatest special, Can I Be Me? This special includes some of Pharoah's greatest celebrity impressions, including Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Bernie Mac, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Katt Williams, Barack Obama, and many more!"Where You Know Them From: You probably have recently heard the SNL star's voice on Family Guy, Invincible, and The can watch their stand-up special here. Joel McHale: Live From Pyongyang (2019) What It's About: "The host of The Soup & star of the show Community brings you his first stand-up special. He discusses everything from feeding alligators in the south to wanting to change the San Francisco 49ers' name to something a little more relevant."Where You Know Them From: You might have recently seen him on The Bear, Animal Control, and as the host of one million reality TV can watch the stand-up special here. Leanne Morgan: So Yummy (2018) What It's About: "Leanne Morgan is a naturally funny storyteller who gives an honest look at suburban life and the challenges of keeping her husband happy while juggling kids, dogs, and cheerleading camp at the same time she's racing to get her hair highlighted."Where You Know Them From: You might recognize her from the new Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell movie, You're Cordially can watch the stand-up special here. Lewis Black: Thanks for Risking Your Life (2020) What It's About: "On his Grammy-nominated 14th comedy hour, Lewis Black targets consumerism, big pharma, and his favorite, politics. This bitingly sharp special was recorded in March 2020, right as COVID-19 shut the world down."Where You Know Them From: You've probably heard him most recently as the voice of Anger in Inside Out and Inside Out can watch the stand-up special here. Kate Berlant: Cinnamon in the Wind (2022) What It's About: "A one-of-a-kind standup comedy experience from Kate Berlant, who the New York Times called a 'magnetic improvisational comic' at the forefront of experimental comedy."Where You Know Them From: You might recognize her from A League of Their Own, The Other Two, and Don't Worry can watch the stand-up special here. Fern Brady: Power & Chaos (2022) What It's About: "Filmed live in Glasgow, Scottish comedian Fern Brady talks about the time a politician tried to cancel her, dealing with being bisexual, internet creeps, drunk teachers, and her unique method for practicing gratitude."Where You Know Them From: You can catch her as a voice in the upcoming animated film Stitch can watch the stand-up special here. Hari Kondabolu: Vacation Baby (2023) What It's About: "Comedian Hari Kondabolu discusses the strange and unique experience of having a kid during COVID. This special is both personal and political, with topics that range from dark chocolate to white replacement theory to Curious George."Where You Know Them From: You might recognize him from South Side or All About can watch the stand-up special here. Sasheer Zamata: The First Woman (2023) What It's About: "Viral sensation and SNL alum Sasheer Zamata supplies an hour of laughs grounded in her experiences. She mocks ads that try to use feminism, recounts her experience with public indecency, and analyzes history's limited portrayal of women."Where You Know Them From: After SNL, you might have seen her on Woke, Home Economics, and Agatha All can watch the stand-up special here. LOL Live with Daphnique Springs (2025) What It's About: "Comedian and actress Daphnique Springs takes the stage in Las Vegas to talk dating, adulting in your 30s, and the rising trend of millennials choosing to have dogs rather than children."Where You Know Them From: You might have seen her in episodes of The Morning Show and can watch their stand-up special here. Kelsey Cook: Mark Your Territory (2025) What It's About: "Kelsey Cook recently moved to Minnesota in the dead of winter to live with her boyfriend. In this special, she's letting on about the perks of dating an older man, the insanity of IUDs, navigating a parent with dementia, and much more."Where You Know Them From: Cook is known for writing on shows like Uproarious and Wrists of can watch their stand-up special here. LOL Live with Ken Flores (2025) What It's About: "In his first stand-up special, Chicago native Ken Flores jokes about everything from his weight and growing up in a Mexican family to his complicated feelings about Latino street-vendors and how he'd handle waking up in one of the Saw movies."Where You Know Them From: You can catch Flores on various podcasts, from Netflix is a Daily Joke to What's Up Fool?You can watch their stand-up special here. You can check out the rest of Hulu's collection of stand-up comedy specials on their Hularious hub, here!
CBS News
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
How is Jim Gaffigan as a father? Hear it from one of his kids
How is Jim Gaffigan as a father? Hear it from one of his kids How is Jim Gaffigan as a father? Hear it from one of his kids How is Jim Gaffigan as a father? Hear it from one of his kids You know how Jim Gaffigan is forever complaining about his kids? On this Father's Day, it seems only right that we give one of his offspring equal time. Hi, I'm Patrick Gaffigan. We are giving my dad the day off this Sunday. Not that whatever he does on this show should be considered work. Patrick Gaffigan, the youngest of the Gaffigan clan. CBS News In full disclosure, I don't watch "CBS Sunday Morning," but then again, I'm not the demographic. I understand everyone loves this show and it's won a bunch of awards, but when I've watched, it just seems like a long commercial. Sorry. I am aware my Dad occasionally comes on this show and complains about how difficult it is to be the father of five children. Boo hoo! Waa-waa! I wonder whose fault that is? Here's a hint: It's his. Well, today I'm here to present a rebuttal. I'd like to talk to you about the struggles of being one of the offspring of this guy. Having Jim Gaffigan as a dad is not all rainbows and hot pockets, folks. He's too strict, talks too much about his garden, and often smells like cheese. I could go on, but my biggest issue is when people tell me I look like my dad. "Oh, you look just like your father." Are you trying to ruin my day? I know I look like my dad, and it's probably why I smoke cigars. [Don't tell my parents that.] For more info: Story produced by Lucie Kirk. Editor: Lauren Barnello. See also:
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jim Gaffigan Jokes Raising 5 Kids Involved 'Enormous Amounts of Humiliation': ‘Children Are Evil'
Jim Gaffigan candidly joked about what it's like raising five children The actor and comedian said that parenting is the "most important thing I'll fail at" The father of five shares his children with his wife Jeannie GaffiganJim Gaffigan is getting real about what it's like to raise five children. During a panel session at Tribeca on Thursday, June 5, the comedian, 58, spoke with Michael Ian Black about what it's like being a father to five children and how his perception of his kids changed over time. "I would say 20 years ago, I mean, I have a 21-year-old, but I was much more of the view of I'm kind of befuddled by parenting, or I'm not equipped for it. And my viewpoint now is that children are evil," he teased. "I joke around and say, parenting is the most important thing I'll fail at, and there is something to that. But, I think that if human beings remembered how difficult and complicated and impossible, teenagers are the species which cease to exist." "I think that we forget that parenting is similar to the entertainment industry, filled with enormous amounts of humiliation, and you're biting your tongue a lot," he added. "When kids are younger, there's a cuteness to it, but when your kids are teenagers, they're not conscious of it, but there's a cruelty that you're exposed to." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The dad of five went on to say that there is a cycle of embarrassment that exists between parents and their children. "The great irony is that they embarrass you when they're younger and then at some point for no reason at all, you are the largest source of embarrassment that's ever occurred to them," he said. "Everyone who's had a parent understands that feeling." The actor shares children Patrick, 12, Michael, 13, Katie, 16, Jack, 19, and Marre, 21, with his wife, Jeannie Gaffigan. He joked on X (formerly Twitter) in April 2013 that the 'hardest part of parenting is when I'm with my kids.' 'I have five because I'm secretly starting my own nationality,' he joked with PEOPLE in 2016. He added that each of his kids 'has made me a more decent person and a better person, and based on that, all I would need is 34 more to be a decent guy.' is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Gaffigan told Today that being a father to five kids can be "terrifying." "It's wonderful and really, really hard," he shared. "What no one tells you is that when they get older, it gets so much harder. It's just a different type of hard." The Linoleum star noted that one of the most "frustrating" things as a parent is "being able to communicate some of the things that I might have learned in a way where they might hear it." Read the original article on People
