Entertainment
Raunchy, R-Rated Comedy With Stacked Cast Is A Side-Splitting PR Disaster
By Robert Scucci
| Published
When a band gets too famous for its own good, it’s only a matter of time before tensions rise and the entire operation falls apart, which is broken down beautifully in 2016’s Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. If you’re familiar with The Lonely Island, you already know what kind of humor you’re signing up for, since the film is written by and starring Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer. Functioning as a Behind the Music–style mockumentary, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping brutally lampoons the music industry by showing just how quickly the pop culture media machine chews up and spits out its artists the second their popularity starts to wane, all while delivering consistently side-splitting results.
Like most musical mockumentaries, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping follows a fairly predictable “this happened, then this happened, then this happened” story structure, but that hardly matters here. You want to see everything that happens because whenever something happens, a PR disaster is usually right behind it. This slice-of-life delivery never wears out its welcome because The Lonely Island, or “The Style Boyz” in this case, know exactly how to command the crowd, the press, and the viewing audience watching the whole thing unravel in real time.
Boy Band Breakup And Its Messy Aftermath
Centering on Connor Friel’s (Andy Samberg) solo project, Connor4Real, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping gives us a crash course on the past collaboration responsible for his meteoric rise to fame. Back in the day, Connor was an integral part of the pop trio The Style Boyz alongside his childhood friends Lawrence “Kid Brain” Dunn (Akiva Schaffer) and Owen “Kid Contact” Bouchard (Jorma Taccone), performing under the name “Kid Connor” when things were far simpler.
When Connor’s infamous “Catchphrase Verse,” co-written by Lawrence, launches him into superstardom, Lawrence leaves the group after receiving no credit for his contributions. This effectively leaves Owen behind as well, relegating him to a de facto DJ role for Connor’s new solo venture.
Owen’s creative input is brushed aside in favor of Connor writing by committee, reducing him to pressing “play” on an iPod and serving as a hype man while Connor remains the face of the entire operation. After a series of increasingly poor business decisions courtesy of their manager Harry Duggins (Tim Meadows), Connor slowly becomes a public punchline when his sophomore album, Connquest, gets torn apart by critics.
The real nail in the coffin for Connor’s career comes in the form of an endorsement deal with home appliance company Aquaspin. Much like the U2 incident where iPhone users had an album forced onto their devices against their will, Connor4Real’s release is installed into dishwashers and smart fridges everywhere, producing exactly the kind of backlash you’d expect from a marketing stunt that wildly overestimates its audience’s patience while simultaneously blacking out the power grid.
As Connor’s career steadily flushes itself down the toilet, he’s no longer able to headline his own tour, forcing Harry to bring on an opening act in the form of up-and-coming rapper Hunter the Hungry (Chris Redd), whose popularity quickly eclipses Connor’s. Despite leaning into increasingly unhinged gimmicks in a desperate attempt to stay relevant, disaster after disaster follows, culminating in a wolf attack at his televised wedding to Ashley (Imogen Poots), who he’s only been dating for six months.
Caught between his past life with his original band and a new life that’s doing him no favors, Connor is forced to confront his own ego with help from his publicist Paula (Sarah Silverman) before his career lands in the gutter with no chance of recovery.
Standard Mockumentary Fare Done Exceedingly Well
If Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping sounds like another riff on Walk Hard or This Is Spinal Tap, that’s because it absolutely is. But it earns its keep by being completely shameless in its execution. The concert footage and musical setpieces boast surprisingly high production values, which help sell just how far Connor4Real falls from grace while refusing to listen to the people closest to him.
The celebrity cameos, including but not limited to 50 Cent, Miley Cyrus, Adam Levine, Questlove, Pharrell Williams, T.I., A$AP Rocky, and Michael Bolton, do a lot of heavy lifting. The B-roll interview segments in particular sell the Behind the Music angle far better than they have any right to, grounding the chaos in something that feels just real enough to be a VH1 special.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping also leans hard into its behind-the-scenes absurdity, especially once you learn that the pop tabloids are run by Will Arnett, Eric André, Mike Birbiglia, and Chelsea Perretti. Their entire job consists of laughing, offering half-hearted commentary, and drinking from multiple metal water bottles at the same time, because that’s all corporate culture requires these days.
In short, everything you see here has been done before, but the satire remains sharp because the film fully commits to its own ridiculous spectacle. It knows exactly when to linger on the absurdity and when to cut away before the joke wears thin.
A box office bomb turned cult classic, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is one of those movies you owe it to yourself to watch if you’re willing to embrace just how ridiculous it gets. You shouldn’t expect anything less from The Lonely Island. If you’re in the mood for sensation, spectacle, and a media-friendly fall from grace, you can stream it right now on Prime Video.
Entertainment
How to contact Amazon customer service during your Big Spring Sale shopping spree
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Another Amazon sale is upon us. The Big Spring Sale returns for its third year in a row in 2026 and runs from March 25-31.
With new deals dropping all week long, shopping can get pretty overwhelming. We know all too well that it’s easy to get caught up in the sales, indulge in some impulse purchasing, and experience a little buyer’s remorse. No judgment.
As with every major Amazon sale, deals started popping off ahead of the official event kickoff, and there are lots more to come. If you run into some questions or concerns during your shopping journey — from classic cases of buyer’s remorse to damaged packages to Prime membership questions — it’s good to know that you can actually speak to customer service.
Since contacting Amazon can be tricky at times, here are all the ways you can get in touch with customer service for a smoother online shopping experience before, during, and after the Big Spring Sale:
Amazon customer service help page
This is probably the most common and easiest way to look for answers to common queries, such as those about Amazon’s return policies or information about international shipping. The page contains a whole library of questions that users can get answers to, including how to track packages, cancel orders, or start a return. Your most recent purchases will pop up at the top of the page for easy navigation.
To access Amazon’s Customer Service Help Page, go to the website landing page and click on “Customer Service” in the top left of the screen.
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Amazon customer service email
Sometimes customer queries need to be worked through on a case-by-case basis, and the answers on the official website need to be more specific to offer any help to shoppers. In these cases, users can email [email protected] and explain their issues. Remember that contacting Amazon’s customer service via email might not be the best solution if you have an urgent question regarding your purchases, since customers are unlikely to get a prompt response.
Amazon customer service phone number
Need a quicker reply? Call Amazon at 1-888-280-4331. When customers call this number, a bot picks up the phone and eventually connects them to Amazon staff, depending on the type of query that needs to be answered. It’s important to note that customers should have a cell phone number connected to their Amazon account. Customers must enter verification codes that will be messaged to their linked contact information before using this service. In other words, things can get a bit tricky if you’re sharing an account with someone else.
Amazon online chat service
Real-time chatting with Amazon representatives is the most convenient way to get all your questions answered. To use the live chat feature, return to the Customer Service help page and click on “Help with something else.” When the list pops up underneath, choose “something else” once again. Another page opens with a list of more help options. Select “I need help with something else.”
Now you’ve officially entered the chat. Type “Talk to associate” in the chat box. Amazon’s messaging assistant might prompt you to give more info on your issue, which you can, but if you’d rather get to a real person ASAP, you can select “I need more help” from the pre-written responses.
From there, you can choose if you’d prefer to talk via chat or call. If you’re looking for immediate help with a Prime Day purchase — be it due to buyer’s remorse, a damaged package, an address change, etc. — this is your best bet to get your needs met.
For simple questions, Amazon’s AI chat feature (launched in 2024) called “Rufus” can help customers solve some problems and make more informed purchase decisions.
If your questions aren’t that urgent, you can contact Amazon Customer Service at @amazonhelp on X, @amazon on Instagram, and www.facebook.com/Amazon on Facebook.
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Amazon
Apps & Software
Entertainment
IKEA released a smart version of its viral Varmblixt donut lamp — I tried it
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In 2023, the internet was ablaze with IKEA’s Varmblixt lamp, aka the viral donut lamp. If you were among the crowd trekking to IKEA, attempting to find the donut lamp in stock, we’ve got some news for you — there’s a new version of the lamp to covet. At CES 2026, IKEA unveiled a smart version of its viral donut lamp. Now you can enjoy the same shape lamp in a whole new array of colors.
As the owner of an OG Varmblixt lamp, I’ve been waiting for the smart version to drop, and it’s finally here. And I got to go hands-on with the new donut lamp to see what it’s all about.
About the IKEA Varmblixt lamp
The OG Varmblixt lamp has the donut design, encased in a warm orange glass shade.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
The IKEA Varmblixt lamp first debuted in 2023, designed by Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis. Operating as either a table or wall lamp, the Varmblixt is crafted from orange glass, bringing gorgeous ambient glow to any room.
Differences between the OG and smart Varmblixt lamp
The new Varmblixt lamp has a glowing white light, compared to the warm orange of the original lamp.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
With the Varmblixt lamp getting the smart upgrade, it’s a slight departure from the original. The Varmblixt still has the same donut shape and can still be installed as a table or wall lamp. However, unlike the OG, it’s no longer orange. Instead, the updated smart Varmblixt has a matte white glass finish. The color instead comes from the inside with a color-changing bulb. The old Varmblixt has a simple on/off switch, while the new version has a remote to adjust the lamp’s color and brightness. Plus, the smart Varmblixt is a Matter device, meaning it will connect to any smart home hub.
How does the new Varmblixt lamp work?
The new Varmblixt doesn’t look as exciting from the outside with its white base. But once you turn on the lamp, you can adjust the color and brightness with the included remote.
Using the Varmblixt required a bit more trial and error than I anticipated because, as I should have expected, IKEA’s instructions were sparse. You don’t need a smart home hub to operate the Varmblixt, although it will connect to yours if you have one.
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In classic IKEA fashion, the remote didn’t come with explanation of its controls.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
If you don’t have a smart hub (or even if you do), use the included remote to turn the lamp on or off, adjust the color, and adjust the brightness. IKEA doesn’t provide instructions on which remote buttons do what. Luckily for you, I struggled through some trial-and-error, so you don’t need to.
The remote has two buttons, marked by a large dot and a small dot. To change the lamp’s color, double-click the large or small button. The large button moves you forward through the color wheel, but you can move back if you skip over a color you like, using the small button. To dim the light, hold the small button; to increase the brightness, hold the large button.
You can swap the Varmblixt bases
A cool feature of all Varmblixt lamps is that the base and glass shades are swappable. So, potentially, I could move the smart base to my existing orange shade, a huge boon for smart home aficionados who want to turn on the Varmblixt with their smart home hub.
How does the new Varmblixt look?
While the OG Varmblixt lamp embraced the warm, orange tones, the new smart version is notably cooler. The matte white shade is quite stark and bright, so to warm it up, adjust the color toward orange or red hues.
The full smart Varmblixt color range.
Credit: IKEA
The color palette of the Varmblixt is not as extensive as you’ll find in other smart light bulbs that let you choose from millions of hues. The IKEA colors are preprogrammed and tend to be cooler pastel shades. It’s a definite departure from the warmth of the original Varmblixt. Luckily, if you’re not into the cool pastels, the OG orange lamp is available.
Will I be swapping the new Varmblixt for the old?
While I don’t love the cool tone of the new Varmblixt lamp, I see its potential.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
The new smart Varmblixt lamp is a fun progression in the lamp’s lineup, but will I be swapping out my own? Probably not. We’re not big into smart home in my house, so I don’t get the benefit of its Matter connectivity. And while I like the new colors, I still prefer the OG’s warm orange shade that adds an ambient glow to my house. While I could see myself incorporating the new smart Varmblixt elsewhere in my home, it’s not going to take the OG’s spotlight.
Do I think the new light is worth it? Certainly. Especially for those excited about its smart home potential.
Entertainment
Kathy Hilton Shares the Style Rule She Passed Down to Paris and Nicky: 'You Don’t Need the Whole Kitchen Sink'
Less really is more, just ask Kathy Hilton.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star spilled the effortlessly chic beauty and style tips she passed down to daughters Paris, 45, and Nicky, 42, while hosting a fête for LoveShackFancy’s Sweetheart fragrance at her Bel Air, California home on March 20.
Though Hilton loves a glamorous moment (and throws a party like no other), she’s all about keeping things polished, and never overdone.
“A classic rule I’ve told Paris and Nicky is to be comfortable. I’d rather be a little underdressed than overdressed because you can always throw on fun earrings or change your shoes if you’re leaving work or getting off a plane,” she tells ET.
“You don’t want to come in with the whole kitchen sink and make a fool out of yourself. Dim it down a little bit. Just be fresh, pretty, and confident. That’s the best,” the entrepreneur continues.
Naturally, the mother-daughter trio shares more than just style advice, they share closets too.
“They can’t wear my shoes because I have a smaller foot, but they wear my jewelry, my accessories, and my handbags. … I recently borrowed a bag that was so cute from Paris. She was calling every day saying, ‘I’m going to come by and get my bag.’ … She knows her inventory and doesn’t forget, but I’m happy that she takes care of her things and that she’s appreciative,” the Bravo star says.
When it comes to what Hilton actually keeps in her purse, she leans into easy and practical items.
“I carry an eye mask that I found years ago at a drugstore in New York, pale pink silicone foot pads for comfort, my little fan, and my Lorna Murray hat because it gives an outfit a great look, makes me look a little bit taller, and keeps the sun off my face,” she explains.
“I’m also always trying the latest and newest product to moisturize my lips because they’re chronically dry, and I love the Revive neck cream and can’t put on makeup without it.”
Beyond her essentials, one thing Hilton never leaves the house without is a signature spritz.
“I spray my perfume at the end, but I make sure I don’t have pearls on. … I have a collection of fragrances. … There are ones I would wear to a ladies’ lunch, and others that are romantic and sexy that I would wear after 5 p.m. for dinner with my husband.”
Luckily, her current favorite works for just about any occasion.
“Sweetheart is so fruity and floral, and the bottle is the pinkest, most sparkly, and gorgeous. … It’s perfect for spring and summer because it’s happiness in a bottle. … I like to bring a little bit of summer everywhere I go. … Hot girl summer every day, even in the winter,” Rebecca Hessel Cohen, founder of LoveShackFancy, notes.
“It can take you anywhere. … It’s so beautiful that you want to just hold it or keep it on your dressing table,” Hilton continues.
Still, there is one area where Hilton doesn’t hold back: health and wellness.
“I do Tru Niagen IV treatments every week and take two of their supplements every day to give me energy. … I’m a mad professor with putting things together. I always have my lotions and potions, and everyone loves it. … My girls are very into it and it’s fun to compare notes.”
Through it all though, her philosophy stays grounded.
“I’ve always mixed high and low. I’m as happy at Target and Walmart as I am on the seventh floor of Bergdorf Goodman.”
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