Conner O’Malley on Going Full ‘Dumbo’ for 'Rap World’

The latest in pop-culture news, recaps, and reviews, plus close reads, profiles, interviews, and more from Vulture.com. [Brand Logo]( into cerebro [Conner O’Malley and Danny Scharar on Going Full Dumbo for Rap World]( “It felt like we were just guys dressed as idiots in a house talking, then two years later, it’s at a film festival.” Photo: Conner O’Malley via YouTube “Try to remember these times, man,” one of the heroes of [Rap World]( says late in the film. “Some of the best nights of my life were being had in parking lots.” The year is 2009, and four white dudes in the rural town of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, have assigned themselves a mission: to write and record a rap album in one night while they have access to an empty house. (One of their moms is off in Costa Rica getting surgery to make her ears more separated from her head.) A lot is riding on the album. They want it to change their lives forever but also serve as a snapshot of a moment in time and an ode to their hometown, the name of which conveniently rhymes with “Benihana.” What follows is a mockumentary about their efforts to make the album and the distinctly American pastimes that sidetrack them along the way, from McDonald’s runs to hanging out in grocery-store parking lots. [read more]( Devour pop culture with us. [Subscribe now]( to save over 40% on unlimited access to Vulture and everything New York. The Latest TV Recaps • Disclaimer: [Forever Young]( • The Great British Baking Show: [How Do You Phyllo?]( • Grey’s Anatomy: [Sex Schedules and the City]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Stories We Think You’ll Like [Gary Indiana’s Exuberant Venom The late critic and novelist documented the seedy vanities and sorrows of American life with bitchiness and, sometimes, sympathy.]( By Brandon Sanchez [Hasan Minhaj Breaks Bad In his new special, the comedian smartly drops his holier-than-thou progressive image.]( By Hershal Pandya [Is This Line From The Comeback or The Comeback? Let’s see if you’ve got it.]( [The Ending of Late Night With the Devil Flubs the Punch Line After all that ominous build, there’s something underwhelming about this ’70s throwback’s final moments.]( By A.A. Dowd [Anora’s Ending Is No Fairy Tale Are we seeing a rapturous consummation of two people’s growing feelings for each other, or a bittersweet commiseration?]( By A.A. Dowd [Unmasking the World of Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia Is it a state of being? A place? A medical condition?]( By Justin Curto [The 28 Best Horror Movies to Watch on Every Streaming Service From Scream on Max to The Babadook on Netflix, there are plenty of great options on the services you’re probably already paying for.]( By Brian Tallerico [Melissa Peterman Isn’t Ruling Out a Reba Reboot Just Yet In the meantime, she and McEntire are keeping busy with their sitcom reunion Happy’s Place: “The fans want that chemistry, and we do maintain that.”]( By Josef Adalian [Queening Out With the Divas of Late Night This Week Featuring some inspired matchups.]( By Bethy Squires [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Vulture Games [Today’s Crossword]( 22-Down, Five Letters: LMFAO’s Redfoo, to LMFAO’s Sky Blu Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Warner Brothers/Everett Collection, Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images, Macall B. Polay/HBO [Today’s Cinematrix]( Can you name a baseball movie starring Kevin Costner or James Earl Jones? Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty Images (Derek White, Michael Buckner/Penske Media), Jim Spellman/WireImage A newsletter about the perpetual Hollywood awards race, for subscribers only. [Sign up]( to get it every week. [Get the Newsletter]( [logo]( [facebook logo]( [instagram logo]( [twitter logo]( [unsubscribe]( | [privacy notice]( | [update preferences]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Was this email forwarded to you? [Sign up now]( to get this newsletter in your inbox. [View this email in your browser.]( You received this email because you have a subscription to New York. Reach the right online audience with us For advertising information on email newsletters, please contact AdOps@nymag.com Vox Media, LLC 1701 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 Copyright © 2024, All rights reserved