Michael's Jam

Three major female divas released new albums this past Friday. One would assume that it’s three pop artists battling up against the music for the top spot, huh? If it were 2021, then yes, but the ever-evolving superstar Doja Cat, released an outstanding rap album this go around. Scarlet showcases her rap chops and every song is literally talking shit to all the piranha’s sucking the life out of Doja. Except for Can’t Wait, a love song and an ode to a lover; what a super sweet song and a softer side of her we don’t normally hear. She’ll be in Denver on November 10th performing at Ball Arena.

Doja Cat, Kylie Minogue and Kim Petras are all divas in their own right, but who takes the top spot and whose album is the most fire? Lets briefly explore how three different, talented women battle for the coveted number one album announcement this Friday and who deserves it.

You probably say so that I’ve already given my opinion as Miss Doja taking the crown, but not quite. I said it was an outstanding rap album, not the best, yet. Kylie Minogue, an icon in her own right and a dancing queen diva, released Tension, a non-stop disco-pop party album. It’s not any different than what she’s put out in most of her albums previously and it’s just sadly boring. Lead single, Padam, alluded to the fact that Minogue might actually branch out and give us a tense album full of new creativity and new sounds, but it doesn’t. It’s extremely repetitive as most of the tracks sound the same. It’s ridiculously forgettable and nothing inventive, unfortunately.

Kim Petras, who many now know her from Sam Smith’s number one hit Unholy, released another album called Problematique. This is just months after another full album of hers named Feed the Beast, was released in June of 2023; kudos to her for ambition. If y’all didn’t know, Petra’s is transexual and transitioned at an early age. As a role model to the LGBTQ+ community, Kim realized he was born in a woman’s body and actually had the balls (pun intended) to do something about it. Then she embarked on a singing career and now is a Grammy award winning artist. Just like Kylie’s new album Tension, Petra’s Problematique, is annoyingly repetitive and almost every song feeds off the other. Petras is unbelievably remarkable and is uber talented, though.

As I am rereading this article, I was like do I need to do three separate paragraphs elaborately critiquing each album? And are the albums bad? Nah. While Kylie, Kim and Doja do all have similar sounding songs on each of their new releases, they can be catchy, even smart at times. Since Doja Cat acknowledges her rap roots and absolutely kills it, Scarlet is the best in my opinion. Plus the writing, which is all hers, is quite something. Keep evolving and producing, Miss Cat.

I first saw the trailer for the new Barbie movie scrolling through my Instagram in May. I couldn’t tell if it would be worth seeing or not and I wasn’t necessarily freaking out that a Barbie movie was being released this summer. My friends were totally stoked and began their countdown to opening night.

I honestly thought it would be just some cash cow, run of the mill snooze fest with a corny script and a dull storyline. When movie critics got a sneak peek of Barbie before it opened worldwide, the consensus was that the writing was witty, the acting was top-notch and that Barbie was a surprisingly brilliant film. It’s being called one of the best movies of the year as various artists in the entertainment industry are vocalizing that Director Greta Gerwig should be practicing her Oscar speech already.

I started to hear that Barbie was an extremely feminist movie that forces the audience to re-examine their beliefs on social issues, like patriarchy and equality. Okay fine, I was now intrigued. I mean, Margot Robbie? Sold. I think Margot is on her way to becoming one of the best actresses of our generation.

I love Ryan Gosling & America Ferrara as well, so I decided to see what all the hype was about. I went with my mom last Sunday to see Barbie and I immediately observed that most of the people in the theatre were women. I also witnessed mothers bringing in their 5-10 year olds to the movie and literally none of their children were laughing. The vibe and humor of Barbie is absolutely aimed towards adults and is wildly over the heads of anyone less than 13 years old.

While I thought the first 30 minutes of Barbie was ridiculously cheesy, the overall quality of this movie was really quite astounding. The acting, cinematography and the comedic style throughout the film, all blend together to produce a movie that everyone should see.

Barbie sheds light on the men versus women issues in the world and clearly sends a direct message to moviegoers that patriarchy still exists. Men are still favored over women in politics and men typically are chosen over women in sports, business ventures and in job interviews. Barbie suggests that no matter what kind of person one chooses to be or qualities we inherit from birth, that all of us are just Barbie’s trying to make it in an often cruel, yet beautiful world.

Photo | Mattel Creations

When my best friend Brooke turned me on to the show “The other two.” I immediately became obsessed and binged almost three seasons in one weekend. I say almost only because season three is currently airing, with one new episode on every Thursday. I’m not capitalizing or removing the period from “The other two.” because that’s exactly how it’s displayed on the poster and opening credits. I’m crazy (smart) like that.

“The other two.” is written by former head writers, Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider of “Saturday Night Live.” The show stars Case Walker, Helene Yorke, Drew Tarver, Ken Marino, Wanda Sykes and Molly Shannon. When young teen ChaseDreams (Case Walker) is discovered overnight from singing on “TikTok,” he becomes a global phenomenon basically just like Justin Bieber did. When his siblings Cary & Brooke (Yorke & Tarver) realize that they can use his wild fame for their own personal gain, they’ll do anything to stay relevant and to work in the “industry.”

Smart, witty and overall fucking hilarious, “The other two.” pokes fun at the entertainment industry in a brilliant way that really makes us feel that’s one hundred percent how the “industry” is. Drew Tarver (Cary) delivers an epic performance and is also the funniest man on television, in my opinion (fact). He plays such a hardworking actor (in the show) who seems to get screwed over every time he gets close to his big break, all while his thirteen-year-old brother (ChaseDreams) farts and is instantly famous (that’s not really how).

Cary Dubek (Tarver) reminds me of Will from “Will & Grace,” with his handsome looks and boyish charm. His comedic timing is flawless and flows naturally at the same time. He’s someone you’d want to be around for sure. The chemistry between Brooke & Cary is absolute fire. Their acting chops are out of this world and I promise you’ll be laughing out loud crying, dying of excessive laughter. Brooke’s (Helene) sarcasm and on point digs at people are dynamite. She’s one to look out for.

Case Walker is killer playing “ChaseDreams,” mirroring what young Bieber experienced when “Americas Asshole,” Scooter Braun, discovered him singing on YouTube back in 2009. Chase’s manager, played by the ridiculously funny Ken Marino, is actually named “Streeter” in the show and is perfect for playing the pompous, often sweet natured dude. Marino is pretty much making fun of Scooter Braun, while still crushing a believable “industry” talent manager role.

Our very own “Superstar,” Molly Shannon, plays Pat Dubek, the momma of Chase, Brooke and Drew. She nails the overbearing mother persona and is truly the heart of the show. When she gets her own talk show, “Pat!” from Chase’s fandom, it’s so fun to witness her slowly change into a diva, then back to normalcy after riding that kind of successful high. Everyone loves Molly Shannon, I mean who wouldn’t, but I believe this is her best role to date. She should definitely be nominated for an Emmy, Critics Choice and Golden Globe award for her relatable and brutally honest performance.

So, I demand ya’ll to check out this critically acclaimed series as soon as possible and be prepared to become addicted. “The other two.”is on the new MAX and Amazon Prime.

When I first stumbled upon Chubbies in 2012, I was so ecstatic that someone finally made shorts that were the proper length and delivered that Friday at 5pm feeling. In 2011, four Stanford graduates, Kyle Hency, Rainer Castillo, Preston Rutherford and Tom Montgomery created Chubbies, so it was goodbye to those hideous long, cargo shorts and hello to the most beautiful pair of shorts I have ever seen.

The boys officially launched Chubbies in September of 2011 and their casual OG shorts were sold out for 2+ years. Chubbies started as an e-commerce store first, where all the awesomeness was purchased online only. It was later in the decade that pop-up retail stores began to open up around the country.

I’ve been consistently wearing Chubbies since I bought my first pair of shorts in 2012. Throughout my late twenties and all of my thirties, I started wearing them almost every day and hyped them up to my friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances I met during my party boy days.

Since I was always wearing their shorts, many of my friends started wearing them, too. When Chubbies started creating outerwear, fleece zip-ups, hoodies, t-shirts and all kinds of apparel, my mind was blown, and I became a die-hard chubster immediately. It felt like I was already a Chubbies Brand Ambassador, so when I saw that they were looking for the next Chubbies Brand Icon this month, I was beyond stoked and applied instantaneously.

It’s 7:38 PM on Monday night here in Denver as I’m writing this, looking at the sun slowly dipping behind the mountains sipping my Kombucha, and I can’t help but wonder…Could I possibly be representing my favorite clothing brand ever? The answer is hell yes! It would be a dream come true to become a part of the Chubbies family, where the culture is fun, relaxed and totally rad.

I love that the Chubbies brand is irreverent; they are the complete opposite of an “exclusive,” brand. The guys have created Chubbies as a “reaction to the old-guard fashion brands,” and their voice has reigned supreme for the past twelve years. Therefore, Chubbies apparel is for the Everyman which literally means every single man in the world. No exclusivity here, bro.

Public voting is happening now and you can vote for me daily through April 30th. The link to give me some love is in my bio, on my Instagram page. It would mean so much to me if all of you guys voted during this window of the public voting. Then, it’s in the hands of the Chubbies team.

For me to become a Chubbies Brand Icon would be life changing and something I would not take for granted. I live, eat, breathe and sleep Chubbies, so your votes increase my chances of moving into the top twelve. This would legitimately be the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.

Instagram: michael_jenney

Just like Scream 5 was a requel to the OG Scream, Scream 6 is a requel to Scream 2, but also a direct sequel of Scream 5. It might seem confusing to the new generation of screamers, but the die-hard fans who grew up with the original three movies, will know exactly what I’m talking about after watching this wild and insane blood bath.

This is a spoil free review of Scream 6, so it’s most likely going to be short and sweet, which is nothing like the new movie, out today. Scream 6 is a two-hour, nonstop, thrill ride with some of the best scares and nastiest kills out of all of the movies combined. It’s an impossible movie to not give away hints about the plot and twists, so that’s why I’ll keep things surface level and cut right to the chase. Go into this movie with no expectations and definitely stay away from social media.

The opening scene is nothing that you would expect from a Scream movie and legit had Brooke and I extremely tense | full of anxiety. We were legit having heart palpitations from how realistic and dark it was. It’s beyond scary and something no one would ever want to experience in real life, let alone watch on the big screen.

Sisters Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) obviously survived in Scream (2022), so we find them in New York City months after the attacks and also attending college. They are accompanied by Chad and Mindy, the twins played by Mason Gooding | Jasmine Savoy Brown. These four friends are all survivors from last years Woodsboro mayhem and use their anger fueled revenge, to try and stop the killer for good.

Always in routine fashion, we have our legacy characters; Sam, Tara, Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and none other than Kirby Reed, played by the fabulous Hayden Panettiere. Kirby, who was left for dead in Scream 4, didn’t actually die from her stabbing and returns to the sequel kicking ass | taking names. Twelve years after her supposed death, we find Kirby in NYC with the gang, this time as the FBI, aiding the four core in catching the fucking psycho. Joined by a fresh slew of newbies, the movie begins to feel like you’re watching the 2023 version of 1997’s Scream 2. The suspense and mind-blowing kills are something completely different and make Terrifier look like a Disney movie.

Just like the college setting of Scream 2, Scream 6 mirrors that same energy, creepy vibes and unbelievable, shocking revelations throughout the film. Set at Blackmore College in New York City, nothing is off limits this time. Anyone can die and anyone could be the killer. Scream 6 takes the whodunit, meta-slasher horror experience to the next level. Shocking, disturbing and very clever, there is no time to catch your breath. In a city filled with millions of people, no one can hear them scream and what you’re about to see is the reason why we all go to the movies. Fun, terrifying and wonderfully entertaining, Scream 6 will 100% be the topic of conversation this weekend and at the office Monday morning.

As some of ya’ll know, I’ve been anticipating my 38th birthday for months now, which happens to be today! Last summer, I began seeing the number 23 everyday on my iPhone. When I would look at the time randomly, I would legit always see times like 6:23, 4:23 and even 12:23 on occasion. Every single day, multiple times a day even, the time just happens to be something :23. I’ve never really been a superstitious guy, but since I was born on the 23rd day of the month and this year is 2023, I knew something magical was | is happening.

My buddies would tease me, joking that 2/23/23 and seeing the number 23 for like 9 months everyday, was nothing special. They knew how cool it was for me though, especially after the nightmare I experienced in 2022. They’ve had my back since the day I stepped into the rooms last month and started my new journey in recovery.

While doing some research on February born babies, I found that we like to be the center of attraction wherever we go and want people to talk about us. I know my close friends reading this and everyone I’ve met throughout my adult life, are laughing and agreeing. I also read that Februarians are extremely lucky and are born with “The Golden Spoon.” I should be dead today and know that my Grandfather Wells | God have been watching over me, protecting me and allowing me to learn from my mistakes, rather than becoming another statistic.

I also found that people born in February are Artists, Photographers, Creative Designers, Entrepreneurs, etc. In fact, many great scientists, Businessmen and musicians are born in the month of February. Seems pretty accurate as I thrive on writing and creating.

I decided to finally put down the booze for good on 1/1/2023, after an unfortunate relapse during the 2022 holiday season. Something inside me felt that this time, it was do or die for me. I knew for the first time during my drinking career, that I would never achieve the happiness and success I’ve craved since I was in college, if I continued to put poison into by body. I would probably end up in jail, back in rehab or dead if I tried to “moderate” my drinking again.

I want to apologize to everyone I met last year during my Denver bar-hopping tour. The things I said to ya’ll, how I treated ya’ll and my overall demeanor at my favorite bars was awful and way out of character for me. I still have so much guilt and remorse for the damage I caused with my words, something I hope will continue to fade away as I work through the twelve steps with my sponsor.

Tyler, I know you may never speak to me again, which I completely understand, but I have to at least tell you know how much I’m truly sorry for last year. You we’re just trying to be a good friend to me, but I couldn’t accept that it wasn’t in a romantic way. If I could go back and change 2021-2022 with you, I would. I still think about you often and you’re still in some of the dreams I have. It doesn’t help that we’re neighbors to each other, ha, but I’m doing just dandy and wish you could see the man I am today.

Now, I don’t want to be all sappy and bore ya’ll with apologies and stories on this article (that’s for my book), but Brooke, Stacy, Erika, Julie, Kim, DeAnn, Sarah, Trevor and Ustyna; you all mean so much to me and I shouldn’t have taken our friendships for granted. Some of you I’ve known for 30 years and it kills me inside that I would treat my best girls like that. I never meant to hurt you and also hope you could see the man I am today, one day. I’ll always love each and every one of you and wish nothing but the best.

As I get to spend my birthday with my family this year, I’m ecstatic and extremely grateful I’m showing up sober for John Ryder and Addison. Those knuckleheads are my entire world. As I feel that the “having children ship” has sailed for me, I’m going to spoil the hell out of them and love JR | Addy wildly until the day I die. Having my sister here, who has always been my best friend throughout the good times and bad, makes me feel like everything is just as it should be on this birthday of mine. My wonderful new job helping the Denver community, an apartment with mountain views in my living room and feeling happier | healthier than ever, is truly a gift. It’s legit the best birthday gift I could ever receive. I feel peace and serenity, I’m where I belong.

February 23rd, 2023 | #thenewmj

Tove Lo was in Denver at The Mission Ballroom last night and performed to a vibrant, loud and jam-packed crowd. Lo is a Swedish singer|songwriter most recognized for her two Billboard hits “Habits (Stay High)” and “Talking Body.” I honestly had not thoroughly listened to Tove Lo’s work after her commercial success in the mid 2010’s, but after hearing her most recent album, “Dirt Femme,” I was extremely interested in going to her show. Man, I’m glad I did as it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to.

Rolling Stone has called Lo “Sweden’s darkest pop export.” Her raw, grunge-influenced take on dance and pop music has made her known for being an honest, complex performer captivating fans all across the world.

When my best friend Brooke scored tickets for us a few weeks ago, I started listening to her albums I had not heard before. I immediately fell in love with her brutal honesty and ability to demonstrate her naked truth. The synth-dance and electro-pop influence she’s had internationally, is perfectly produced with edgy beats and seriously sexy sounds. The energy was electrifying and legit had me and the girls shaking our asses off the entire night.

The concert was definitely one hell of a time and everyone was having the night of their lives. The gays were out in full swing with their boyfriends, buddies and purses (girlfriends). Different walks of life came together for a night celebrating positivity, keeping our dreams alive, promoting equality and uniting as one community, doing it all for love.