TV/Film

05 Dec 2024

‘Wicked’ & More All-Time Top-Grossing Film Adaptations of Broadway Musicals

Well, that was fast. Wicked has been making box-office history since it opened on Nov. 22. The long-awaited film adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical has already grossed $372.9 million worldwide, a total topped by only three other films that were based on Broadway musicals.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo star in the film, which was directed by Jon M. Chu, whose hit-studded résumé includes a previous film adaptation of a Broadway musical, the 2021 movie version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s breakout hit In the Heights.

Seven film adaptations of Broadway musicals appear on Box Office Mojo’s list of the top 1,000 films in terms of lifetime worldwide grosses. That counts Mamma Mia!, a film adaptation of the 2001 stage musical built around ABBA music, but not its Cher-featuring sequel Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, on the grounds that the latter was really just a sequel to a hit movie, not a Broadway musical. (The sequel did astonishingly well, with a worldwide gross of $395.6 million.) Of course, not all sequels are guaranteed to become box-office successes. Grease is here, but its 1982 sequel, Grease 2, which grossed just $15 million worldwide, didn’t come close. (Michelle Pfeiffer, the star of Grease 2, is represented on this list with Hairspray.)

Wicked Part Two is due for release on Nov. 21, 2025. Will it follow its predecessor to box-office glory? If it does, Chu will join Rob Marshall as the only director with two films on this list; Marshall directed both Chicago and Into the Woods.

One disclaimer about this list right at the top: You can’t really compare box-office grosses of films from different eras. The biggest blockbusters of earlier eras simply can’t match the grosses of today’s hits. (It’s not just your imagination that ticket prices are much higher than they used to be.) The Sound of Music has grossed $159.5 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo – not enough to make their list of 1,000 top-grossing films. But that 1965 adaptation of the 1959 Broadway musical is one of the biggest hits in film history.

Other film adaptations of Broadway musicals that have grossed more than $50 million worldwide, but not enough to make the list, include Dreamgirls ($155.5 million), the 2021 version of West Side Story ($76 million), My Fair Lady ($72.7 million) and Funny Girl ($52.2 million).

Here are the seven top-grossing film adaptations of Broadway musicals. All appear Box Office Mojo’s list of the top 1,000 films in terms of lifetime worldwide grosses.

05 Dec 2024

Shaboozey Is Ready to Get ‘Tipsy’ With Paul Mescal in ‘Saturday Night Live’ Promo: Watch

Shaboozey is ready to get tipsy at 30 Rock, with the 29-year-old breakout country star set to make his Saturday Night Live musical guest debut alongside host Paul Mescal this weekend.

And in a new promo video for the episode, ‘Boozey and SNL cast member Chloe Fineman flank the Gladiator II star, who at first has to fend off flirtatious advances from the comedian. “I think she’s just hearing what she wants to hear,” the Virginia native eventually tells Mescal, who shrugs.

In another cut, Fineman makes a joke combining the title of Shaboozey’s 19-week Billboard Hot 100-topper “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” with a play on Mescal’s name — but it doesn’t exactly land. “We’re getting tipsy on mezcal this week!” she says as the musician cheers, “Let’s do it!”

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Mescal, however, makes it very clear that his last name is not pronounced the same as the similarly spelled alcohol. “It’s Mescal,” he says sternly as ‘Boozey adds: “Damn.”

Reposting the video on his X account, the “SPAGHETTII” singer wrote excitedly, “Tune in this Saturday!”

The promo comes two days ahead of Shaboozey’s first rodeo on SNL Dec. 7. Next week, Gracie Abrams will make her own musical guest debut on the Chris Rock-hosted episode, after which Hozier will return to the program with Martin Short as host.

The SNL invitation is just the latest accolade for Shaboozey in a whirlwind year. On Thanksgiving, he served as the halftime performer for the Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears football game, singing “Last of My Kind,” “Highway” and “A Bar Song” at Ford Field. A few weeks before that, he became a Grammy-nominated artist, scoring five nods total in categories including best country song and song of the year.

Watch Shaboozey’s SNL promo video above.

05 Dec 2024

SEC Championship 2024: How To Watch Georgia Bulldogs vs. Texas Longhorns Online Without Cable

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After a long and hard-hitting season of , the SEC Championship (NCAA Southeastern Conference Football) game matchup is locked up with the best of the best from the conference going head-to-head to win the championship trophy.

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For the SEC Championship 2024: The Georgia Bulldogs (10-2) take on the Texas Longhorns (11-1) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, Dec. 7.

When Does SEC Championship 2024 Start?

The Georgia vs. Texas game broadcasts live, with kickoff at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. The college football championship game airs on ABC.

Where to Watch SEC Championship 2024 for Free

For cord-cutters, there are a few ways to watch Georgia Bulldogs vs. Texas Longhorns, if you don’t have cable — especially if you want to watch for free. DirecTV Stream has a five-day free trial, while other streaming services — such as Hulu + Live TV and Fubo — also offer free trials, so you can watch ABC for free.

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Keep reading for more details on how to watch the Georgia-Texas game with DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.

How to Watch SEC Championship 2024 with DirecTV Stream

A subscription to DirecTV Stream — which comes with ABC for Bulldogs vs. Longhorns — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $74.99 per month. The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free, if you sign up now.

You can watch local networks such as NBC, CBS, Fox, and PBS, while you can also watch many cable networks, including ESPN, FS1, Lifetime, FX, AMC, A&E, Bravo, BET, MTV, Paramount Network, Cartoon Network, VH1, Fuse, CNN, Food Network, CNBC and many others.

How to Watch SEC Championship 2024 with Hulu + Live TV

The Georgia Bulldogs vs. Texas Longhorns game on ABC is available to watch with Hulu + Live TV too. Prices for the cable alternative start at $82.99 per month, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.

Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one bundle. It also features many other networks, including ESPN, CBS, Hallmark Channel, BET, CMT, Disney Channel, NBC, Fox Sports and more.

How to Watch SEC Championship 2024 with Fubo

To watch Georgia vs. Texas on ABC, Fubo starts at $49.99 per month (the streamer’s current deal) with nearly 200 channels — including local and cable — that are streamable on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and on web browsers. And with a seven-day free trial, you can watch for free, if you act fast and sign up now.

The service even gets you live access to local broadcast networks including NBC, Fox and CBS, while it also has dozens of cable networks, such as ESPN, Bravo, CMT, ID, TV Land, VH1, TLC, E!, FS1, MTV, FX, Ion, OWN, Paramount Network and much more.

Who Is Performing During SEC Championship 2024 Halftime Show

Since it’s a college football game, the Georgia Redcoat Marching Band and Texas Longhorn Band are set to perform at halftime of the SEC Championship.

How to Buy SEC Championship 2024 Tickets Online

Want to attend the Georgia-Texas game in person? There are still last-minute tickets to the SEC Championship game available via Vivid Seats (get $20 off purchases of $200 and over with code BB2024), SeatGeek (your first purchases can get $10 off ticket order $250 and with code BILLBOARD10), StubHub and GameTime (score $20 off ticket orders of $150 and over with code SAVE20). Prices vary depending on the city and seats available.

Moreover, you can save $150 off when you spend $500 with promo code BILLBOARD150, or $300 off when you spend $1,000 with promo code BILLBOARD300 at TicketNetwork.com.

Starting at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, SEC Championship 2024: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Texas Longhorns broadcast on ABC, while it’s also available to livestream with DirecTV Stream on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.

04 Dec 2024

Bob Dylan Praises ‘A Complete Unknown’ Biopic & ‘Brilliant Actor’ Timothée Chalamet

The upcoming biopic about Bob Dylan, A Complete Unknown, is just weeks away from release, and the “Subterranean Homesick Blues” legend took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday (Dec. 4) to give the film, as well as starring actor Timothée Chalamet, his stamp of approval.

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“There’s a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!). Timothee Chalamet is starring in the lead role,” he wrote. “Timmy’s a brilliant actor so I’m sure he’s going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me. The film’s taken from Elijah Wald’s Dylan Goes Electric – a book that came out in 2015. It’s a fantastic retelling of events from the early ‘60s that led up to the fiasco at Newport. After you’ve seen the movie read the book.”

Also starring Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz and Scoot McNairy, the biographical drama was inspired by Elijah Wald’s 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric. Director James Mangold revealed that the “Blowin’ in the Wind” artist personally gave feedback on the script.

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Earlier this year, fans first spotted Chalamet filming as Dylan in New York. Mangold previously confirmed that the actor would do his own singing for the flick, which hits theaters on Christmas Day (Dec. 25). “It’s such an amazing time in American culture,” the director noted at the time. “The story of a young, 19-year-old Bob Dylan coming to New York with, like, $2 in his pocket and becoming a worldwide sensation within three years — first being embraced into the family of folk music in New York and then, of course, kind of outrunning them at a certain point as his star rises so beyond belief.”  To prepare, the Wonka star says he sifted through 12 hours’ worth of unreleased Dylan songs, sent to him by the musician’s longtime manager and A Complete Unknown producer Jeff Rosen.

04 Dec 2024

Watch Babyface Hype Up Buffalos in Preview of ‘Masked Singer’ Quarter Finals

The Masked Singer crew will get a very special visit from a musical superstar on Wednesday night’s (Dec. 4) “Quarter Finals: Merging of the Masks” episode. None other than 13-time Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/producer Babyface dials into the show to deliver words of encouragement to the three-headed singing sensation Buffalos.

Calling in on the show’s fuzzy, rainbow-hued handset, the R&B legend first lets the horned crooners know that they are “just killing it. I’ve never seen you look better… or more ridiculous,” he says in a preview of tonight’s episode shared with Billboard. “So keep it up, bring home the trophy.”

The high praise for the triple threat team comes after they impressed on the season opener with a cover of Cutting Crew’s “(I Just) Died in Your Arms,” followed by an equally spot-on take on Foreigner’s 1981 power ballad “Waiting For a Girl Like You” and a soulful ramble through The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony.” The singers then won the Battle Royale over Ship (Paula Cole) with their version of Fleetwood Mac’s iconic “Go Your Own Way.”

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After the visit from Babyface, one of the Buffalos notes that their dream had always been to work with the R&B icon, and after they did it “changed our lives,” which was a pretty big clue. Robin Thicke then rounds up some of the other clues to date, including Mo-Town, a Super Bowl halftime-like performance and the trio setting it up for the next generation, which leads him to guess that it might be one of the most legendary Motown vocal groups of all time.

Fellow judge Ken Jeong goes a bit more contemporary with is pick, suggesting an Oakland-bred 1980s-1990s vocal trio who’ve also worked with Babyface, though host Nick Cannon was quick to shut that one down. Rita Ora goes with another 1990s R&B vocal group with a distinctive new jack swing.

Who are they? You’ll have to tun in to tonight’s show — which will feature the masked celebs singing songs including “Standing Next To You,” “Iris,” “Closer” and “You’re Still the One” — to find out who will advance to the semi-finals. The Masked Singer quarterfinals episode airs at 8 p.m. ET on Fox tonight.

Check out the preview below.

04 Dec 2024

‘Wicked’ Reportedly Banned in Kuwait Over LGBTQ+ Casting

Despite the fact that Wicked is undeniably “Popular,” the film won’t be making an appearance in Kuwait theaters any time soon.

According to a report from Variety on Wednesday (Dec. 4), the Jon M. Chu-directed musical adaptation has been removed from theater listings across Kuwait just days before its slated release in the country on Thursday (Dec. 5). This is not the first time the country has banned a popular film with short notice. Back in 2023, Kuwait’s government banned Barbie from being shown to protect “public ethics” in the country, and for portraying “ideas and beliefs that are alien to Kuwaiti society and public order.”

While public officials in Kuwait have yet to reveal a reason why the film was removed from cinemas, local media in the country have speculated that the ban is in regard to an unspecified LGBTQ+ character in the film and the film’s cast of LGBTQ+ actors. Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba, openly identifies as queer, as do co-stars Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode and Bronwyn James.

Billboard has reached out to representatives for Universal Pictures, Republic Records and individual cast members for comment.

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The news comes after a record-breaking debut for the film — thus far, Wicked has grossed $263.1 million in ticket sales in the U.S., and $359.2 million globally, making it the highest grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical in history. The soundtrack, meanwhile, also made history with its No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200 — the highest first-week ranking for an adaptation of a stage musical in the chart’s history. The soundtrack also topped multiple Billboard charts, including Top Album Sales, Soundtracks and Vinyl Albums.

04 Dec 2024

Hot 100 First-Timers: Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum & More ‘Wicked’ Cast Score Their First Chart Entries

The cast of the new Wicked film has an explosive week on Billboard’s charts, thanks to the release of the film’s soundtrack on Nov. 22.

The set soars in at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales, Soundtracks and Vinyl Albums charts (all dated Dec. 7, 2024), while also opening at No. 2 on the overall Billboard 200. It scores the highest Billboard 200 debut for a big-screen adaptation of a stage musical ever, dating to the list’s 1956 launch as a regularly published weekly chart.

Seven songs from the Wicked soundtrack concurrently debut on the Billboard Hot 100, led by “Defying Gravity,” by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play the film’s leads, Elphaba Thropp and Galinda Upland, respectively. Meanwhile, multiple members of the cast, including Erivo, earn their first career Hot 100 entries.

Here’s a recap of every song from the Wicked film on this week’s Hot 100.

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Rank, Title, Artist Billing

  • No. 44, “Defying Gravity,” Cynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande
  • No. 53, “Popular,” Ariana Grande
  • No. 68, “What Is This Feeling?,” Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo
  • No. 86, “No One Mourns the Wicked,” Ariana Grande feat. Andy Nyman, Courtney-May Briggs, Jeff Goldblum, Sharon D. Clarke & Jenna Boyd
  • No. 90, “Dancing Through Life,” Jonathan Bailey feat. Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode & Cynthia Erivo
  • No. 93, “The Wizard and I,” Cynthia Erivo feat. Michelle Yeoh
  • No. 94, “I’m Not That Girl,” Cynthia Erivo

Erivo, Nyman, Briggs, Goldblum, Clarke, Boyd, Bailey, Slater, Bode and Yeoh all score their first Hot 100 entries. Grande, of course, is a veteran of Billboard’s charts, having now charted 90 total Hot 100 hits. She boasts eight No. 1s, including two this year: “Yes, And?” and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” from her latest solo album, Eternal Sunshine.

While Erivo and Goldblum appear on the Hot 100 for the first time, both have previously appeared on other Billboard charts. Erivo’s debut solo studio set, Ch. 1 Vs. 1, reached No. 44 on Billboard’s Top Current Album Sales chart and No. 77 on the overall Top Album Sales chart in October 2021. Plus, her song “Stand Up,” from the 2019 Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet, hit No. 31 on Digital Song Sales. Erivo played Tubman in the film, a portrayal that earned her a nomination for best actress at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2019. “Stand Up” also earned her a best original song nomination.

Erivo previously played the lead in the Broadway revival of the musical The Color Purple. She won several accolades for her performance as Celie, including the Tony for best leading actress in a musical at the 70th ceremony in 2016; a Grammy for best musical theater album (for The Color Purple soundtrack); and a Daytime Emmy for outstanding musical performance in a daytime program in 2017.

Goldblum, who plays the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in Wicked, reached Billboard’s charts for the first time in 2018 with his debut studio album, The Capitol Studios Sessions. The set, with the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Jazz Albums and Traditional Jazz Albums charts. It includes collaborations with comedian-actress Sarah Silverman, jazz trumpeter Till Brönner and singers Imelda May and Haley Reinhart. He returned to the charts in 2019 with his follow-up album, I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This, which reached No. 2 on both Jazz Albums and Traditional Jazz Albums.

Nyman, Briggs, Clarke, Boyd, Bailey, Slater, Bode and Yeoh are all brand new to Billboard’s charts. In Wicked, Nyman portrays Governor Thropp (Elphaba and Nessarose’s father), Biggs plays Mrs. Thropp (their mother), Clarke voices Dulcibear, Boyd voices Wolf Doctor, Bailey plays Fiyero Tigelaar, Slater plays Boq Woodsman, Bode plays Nessarose Thropp and Yeoh plays Madame Morrible.

Wicked has even generated a radio chart hit, as Grande’s “Popular” debuts at No. 40 on Pop Airplay, thanks to plays on stations including KMVQ San Francisco, WBLI Long Island, N.Y., and SiriusXM’s Hits 1.

04 Dec 2024

Jan Dan Delivers Last-Chance Performance of John Mayer’s ‘Gravity’ on ‘The Voice’

Jan Dan, the talented Newark-born contestant on The Voice, made his final stand during the Dec. 4 live shows with a powerful rendition of John Mayer’s “Gravity.”

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Competing for the coveted Instant Save, Dan’s soulful performance impressed the audience and judges, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough to secure him a spot in the top five.

Dan’s heartfelt take on the 2005 ballad was a showcase of vulnerability and raw talent. “Gravity,” a song that earned Mayer a Grammy for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance, provided the perfect canvas for Dan’s expressive voice and emotional connection. The song’s history on the Billboard charts—including a peak at No. 18 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart in 2007—underscored its significance as a timeless anthem of struggle and resilience.

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Though the audience ultimately voted Danny Joseph from Team Reba into the final five, Dan left the stage with a message of gratitude. “Gwen, I love you. You’ve helped me evolve as an artist and a person,” he said, reflecting on his journey from a budding talent to a standout performer.

Gwen returned the love, saying, “You keep surprising me. It’s true, you have broken out of your shell. It’s crazy, you’ve got the swag, you’re sexy. Everything about that performance you just did, you’re moving people because you’re an artist. You’re really a true artist that just has a vision for yourself and you keep going towards that vision no matter what happens next, because I do believe in you. You’re so talented.”

A father to a newborn daughter, Nori Arabella, Dan often spoke of her as his inspiration throughout the competition. Balancing fatherhood with his pursuit of musical success, he delivered standout performances, including a duet of “Roxanne” with Adam Bohanan, featuring Sting himself on bass.

Mayer’s track “Gravity” has had a notable impact on the Billboard charts, peaking at No. 18 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart in 2007 and holding its place for 12 weeks. It also appeared on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 list, where it reached No. 20 in 2006.

Watch Jan Dan’s powerful final performance on The Voice here.

03 Dec 2024

Kelly Clarkson, Dan + Shay & More to Perform During ‘The Voice’ Season 26 Finale

The Voice is wrapping up season 26 with a star-studded finale this month, and NBC revealed on Tuesday (Dec. 3) the performers for the episode.

Myles Smith, Riley Green and Ella Langley, Tears for Fears, season 24 winner Huntley, season 25 winner Asher HaVon and former Voice coaches Dan + Shay and Kelly Clarkson will be taking the stage during the live show on Dec. 10. Sting and The Voice coach Snoop Dogg will also team up for the television premiere performance of their new collaboration, “Another Part of Me.”

Following the performances, one of the five finalists will be crowned winner of season 26. The competition is currently in the semi-finals, with remaining contestants including Team Snoop Dogg’s Christina Eagles and Jeremy Beloate; Team Reba McEntire’s Adam Bohanan and Danny Joseph; Team Gwen Stefani’s Jan Dan and Sydney Sterlace and Team Michael Bublé’s Shye and Sofronio Vasquez.

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Ahead of the finale, Bublé will take the stage with playoff advisor Carly Pearce to debut their holiday duet, “Maybe This Christmas,” during the Dec. 9 episode. The collaboration came to life after the duo connected while advising Team Bublé this season. “I wrote a Christmas song for people that might not love Christmas because they’re hurting, because they’re vulnerable, because it’s a tough time for a lot of people,” Bublé said in an Instagram video of the track. “I wanted to write something to give them hope.”

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Catch the season 26 finale of The Voice on Tuesday night (Dec. 10) at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

03 Dec 2024

A New Version of ‘Jeopardy!’ Has Arrived: How to Watch ‘Pop Culture Jeopardy!’ Online for Free

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Jeopardy! continues to set the standard for game shows as it tests contestants and viewers on your knowledge of mystery categories from U.S. history to geography. The trivia game show’s world is now expanding with Pop Culture Jeopardy!, which will hone in on a specific category testing your awareness on current trends, viral moments and celebrities.

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You can watch Pop Culture Jeopardy! online when it premieres on Wednesday (Dec. 4) and see Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost bring his comedy chops as host for the new game show.

Fans of the classic Jeopardy! don’t need to fret, as the original isn’t going anywhere. Instead, Pop Culture Jeopardy! will bring a fresh twist to the trivia show you know and love. Instead of solo contestants competing against one another, you’ll watch as teams of three work together to answer questions spanning categories like Broadway, MMA, The Avengers, alternative rock and more. The winners not only walk away with bragging rights, but a cash prize of $300,000.

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Keep reading to learn the streaming options available.

How to Watch Pop Culture Jeopardy! Online for Free

Prime Video is the exclusive streaming platform that’ll let you watch Pop Culture Jeopardy! online. You’ll need to be a Prime member in order to stream the game show, just log into your account and you’ll instantly be able to watch Pop Culture Jeopardy! for free.

New subscribers can take advantage of Amazon’s 30-day free trial that’ll get you access to everything in the Prime Video library (including Pop Culture Jeopardy!) for no extra cost. Once the free trial is over, you’ll be charged the regular membership fee of $14.99/month or $139/year.

Adults ages 18-24 and students at an accredited college can score a six month free trial and 50% off subscription when you sign up for Prime Student. If you’re a part of a qualifying government program you can even snag a 30-day free trial and half-off subscription through the EBT/Medicaid membership.

In addition to being able to watch Pop Culture Jeopardy online, you’ll have access to the entire Prime Video library featuring exclusive and original content like Cross, My Old Ass, Them: The Scare, Jackpot, Tyler Perry’s Divorce in the Black, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Fallout, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Wheel of Time, The Boys, Gen V, Harlem and Candy Cane Lane.

You can expand your streaming options through Prime Video’s add-ons featuring premium channels like Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, AMC+ and more.

Watch the trailer for Pop Culture Jeopardy! below: