The Mandalorian in The Mandalorian and Grogu, a Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza, and Ashley Padilla and Will Ferrell on SNL. / Lucasfilm, Snackology, NBC
Includes access to Snackology, Popculturology and The Cold Open.
Ashley Padilla and Will Ferrell on SNL. / NBC
SNL cut the Ashley Padilla/Will Ferrell sketch we all wanted
When SNL announced that Will Ferrell would host the show’s Season 51 finale, it looked like we were on a collision course between Ferrell, one of SNL’s all-timers, and Ashley Padilla, the show’s current breakout star.
Over the course of this season, we’ve watched Padilla run away with entire episodes. And we’ve watched her make magic with Ryan Gosling, SNL’s current force of chaos. What would happen when Ferrell and Padilla had a shot to perform together? (Read more)
Will Ferrell and Chad Smith on SNL. / NBC
SNL asks the real Will Ferrell to please stand up
And with that, Season 51 of SNL has come to an end.
I had high hopes for this episode. When a returning cast member of Will Ferrell’s caliber returns to host the show, you can’t help but expect the best. But it was ... OK? (Read more)
Questlove picks the perfect SNL musical sketch
Yes, SNL Season 51 is over. But The Rundown, the show’s digital series featuring folks connected to the show crafting the perfect episode, continues!
This week, it was Questlove’s turn to pick the musical sketch that belonged in an all-star episode. (Read more)
The Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza at Taco Bell. / Snackology
I should’ve ordered a second Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza
There are few items on the Taco Bell menu more beloved than Mexican Pizza. The iconic offering disappeared from restaurants in the dark days of 2020 only to make a triumphant return in 2022.
Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza has never done it for me.
I’ve had it. And there are so many other items on the chain’s menu that I’d much rather order.
Taco Bell’s Shredded Beef Dipping Taco is back! Snackology is doing Taco Tuesday twice this week. Or, I guess Tuesday was actually Mexican pizza ... and Thursday is tacos ... But anyway, Taco Bell dropped three menu items today, bringing back the Shredded Beef Dipping Taco and introducing Shredded Beef Nacho Fries and Strawberry Cinnabon Delights. (Read more)
Graza Homestyle Potato Chips. / Snackology
The trendy olive oil company is now making trendy potato chips
Cute cartoon characters have led to me to pick up Gleezy Carolina Dog Sauce and fall in love with Local Style Potato Chips. They’re also what convinced me to replace the olive oil in our kitchen with Graza. The company’s delightful labels are why we now have Sizzle and Drizzle on our counter and a bottle of their Fancy Mayo in the fridge. (I’m honestly not sure why my wife lets me do the grocery shopping. I think it’s because I’m really good with coupons and sales.)
Graza Homestyle Potato Chips went live this month, with four flavors hitting Target shelves. The four flavors in the initial lineup range from traditional (Classic Sea Salt and Sea Salt & Vinegar) to a twist on a classic (Hot ’N Sweet) to wildly innovative (Zesty Caesar). (Read more)
Poppi Punch Pop x Love Island, Olipop Raspberry Sherbet and Olipop Blackberry Vanilla. / Snackology
One of these new Olipop and Poppi sodas might be my go-to summer flavor
When I reviewed Olipop Pineapple Paradise last fall, it was my first foray into prebiotic soda. I just hadn’t found flavors that clicked for me up until that point. But those stupid SpongeBob SquarePants cans did the trick, introducing me to a flavor I really enjoyed.
Since that fateful encounter, I’ve worked a steady mix of Olipop and Poppi into my soda consumption. Olipop’s grape flavor is one of my favorites, and I gotta agree with my wife and daughter that Poppi’s new Shirley Temple flavor is fantastic.
The entire family was excited when I brought home three new prebiotic soda flavors last week: Olipop Raspberry Sherbet, Olipop Blackberry Vanilla and Poppi Punch Pop x Love Island. (Read more)
I have a 48 oz. bucket of Dunkin’ iced coffee
Did I dash out of the house at 7 a.m. today in order to make sure I secured one of Dunkin’s Iced Beverage Buckets? You better believe it. If Snackology is based on anything, it’s dedication to a bit.
The 48 oz. buckets are available starting this morning. Each store will have only 25 of them, so if you want a very large (or, if your caffeine intake is like mine, a very reasonable) amount of either iced coffee or Refreshers, head over to Dunkin’ when you finish reading this edition of Snackology. (Read more)
Is PBR x Grillo’s Pickle Beer the beer of the summer?
I’ve written about a lot of different kinds of foods and beverages for Snackology. Fast food. Cookies. Soda. Candy. Even macaroni and cheese. But I’ve never reviewed a beer for this newsletter.
Until the moment came for me to crack open a cold PBR x Grillo’s Pickle Beer. (Read more)
Bush’s Baked Beans goes wild with Apple Pie, Dill Pickle and Rocket Pop flavors
It’s Wednesday morning, which means the em-bean-go has lifted on Bush’s Apple Pie Baked Beans, Bush’s Dill Pickle Baked Beans and Bush’s Rocket Pop Baked Beans.
Yes, these flavors are real. And yes, Snackology agreed to embargo in order to cover them the day the news went live. This is serious journalism, folks. (Read more)
Maggie’s Apple Pie cookies nail the nostalgic taste of the iconic dessert
Here’s a fun fact: Pepperidge Farm was not founded by some mythical Pepperidge family. It was founded by Margaret Rudkin. And now Pepperidge Farm is honoring her legacy with Maggie’s Apple Pie cookies. (Read more)
Food Finds: Bold flavors of Olipop and Poppi, Pokémon Pop-Tarts, and Trix sticks with the real Moana
While Cinnamon Toast Crunch Root Beer Float and Birthday Cheerios continue to elude me, I was finally able to track down three new cereal flavors that had been on my radar. I wasn’t going to say no to cotton candy-flavored Lucky Charms, and I think it’s hilarious that despite there being a live-action Moana remake hitting theaters in July, General Mills and Disney (wisely) stuck with the authentic, animated version of Moana and Pua for this flavor. (Read more)
Din Djarin and Grogu in The Mandalorian and Grogu. / Lucasfilm
A new nope: The Mandalorian and Grogu flops as a Star Wars movie
The Mandalorian and Grogu’s greatest sin is that it’s boring.
I’ve seen every single live-action Star Wars movie in theaters. (I’m a millennial, so I have the Special Editions to thank for an opportunity to see the original trilogy.) I may have spent most of The Rise of Skywalker asking if that movie was actually as bad as it seemed, but I was never bored during it.
But The Mandalorian and Grogu is a snooze.
Seriously. The guy next to me was asleep and softly snoring during the movie’s entire final act. (Read more)
Michael moonwalks back to the top of the box office
The Michael Jackson biopic got an unexpected curtain call this weekend, jumping back to the No. 1 spot after spending the past two weekends behind The Devil Wears Prada 2. Michael didn’t suddenly start making more money than it previously had, instead falling only 31 percent from last weekend compared to The Devil Wears Prada 2’s 57 percent drop. (Read more)
The Omnicosm is written and produced by Bill Kuchman. Copyediting by Tim Kuchman.
Love what The Omnicosm is doing? You can help keep the newsletter going by becoming a paid supporter.
The Omnicosm founder. Snackology, Popculturology and The Cold Open writer. A Rochester, N.Y., native now living in the Washington, D.C., area. Won’t pass up a Genny Cream Ale.
There’s no reason for this movie to exist. PLUS: Colbert and ’The Late Show’ sign off, The Daniels replace Gosling with Damon, and a new trailer for ‘Lanterns.’
Bluesky
Instagram
