Get ready for another exciting episode of Ferris Out Loud! This week, our hosts dive into the hottest topics, from Super Bowl highlights and Kendrick Lamar’s powerful halftime performance to the biggest moments from the Grammys. Plus, they take on a hilarious drawing challenge and share fascinating facts in the Did You Know? segment. Read on for all the details, or watch the full episode!
Written by Kayla Muter and Rockne Smith | Producer/Featured Image by Andrew Tingley/Connor P.
Welcome back to this week’s episode of Ferris Out Loud! Today, our hosts—Kayla, Harmony, Rockne, and Aimee—dive into the latest trending topics.
The discussion kicks off with the most recent major event: the Super Bowl.
Rockne shares his insights into the more technical aspects of the game and how much he enjoyed it, including the Eagles’ major win.
This leads to a conversation about Kendrick Lamar’s historic halftime performance, which featured his award-winning song, They Not Like Us—widely regarded as a diss track aimed at fellow rapper Drake. However, as Kayla points out, the performance was much more than just a critique of the Canadian artist. Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam—an iconic American figure—was heard saying that Kendrick’s performance was “too loud” and “too ghetto.” Along with the dancers forming an American flag around Kendrick, the performance clearly served as a broader critique of America, particularly its treatment of Black Americans. The discussion touches on the country’s history of cultural appropriation—how Black culture is often stolen without credit, only for its creators to face disrespect.
Harmony also highlights Taylor Swift being booed at the Super Bowl, calling it an unnecessary and unprovoked attack on the award-winning artist.
Keeping female celebrities in mind, the group shifts to discussing the Grammys.
It was a big year for female artists, with standout albums like Brat (Charli XCX), Short n’ Sweet (Sabrina Carpenter), Cowboy Carter (Beyoncé), Hit Me Hard and Soft (Billie Eilish), Alligator Bites Never Heal (Doechii), Charm (Clairo), and The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (Chappell Roan) dominating the music scene in 2024.
Of course, no awards show discussion is complete without mentioning the red carpet fashion—particularly Bianca Censori’s controversial outfit choice.
Finally, the group talks about the Big Rapids Festival of the Arts, a month-long event featuring classes, concerts, and galleries—an ideal way to escape the winter blues.
Many of the events are free, though some classes require a fee to cover materials. A full schedule, along with a booklet detailing locations and event descriptions, is available for free on the festival’s website.
For This or That, the hosts debate their preferences on everyday topics, such as choosing between drawing and gaming or visiting a museum versus the beach. Surprisingly, there isn’t much disagreement in this episode!
This week on Ferris Out Loud, the hosts take part in a fun and unexpectedly competitive drawing challenge. Each host receives two identical images—a vibrant ladybug perched on a leaf and a steaming cup of coffee—selected by the producers. Armed with pencils and paper, they attempt to recreate the images to the best of their artistic abilities.
The finished drawings (or masterpieces, depending on your perspective) are then emailed to the producers, who compile them into a digital collage. During the live taping, the hosts try to guess which drawing belongs to whom, leading to a mix of confidence, comical self-deprecation, and hilarious guesses. Tune in to find out who emerges victorious in this unpredictable game!
Did You Know?
This week’s Did You Know? segment on Ferris Out Loud was packed with intriguing trivia:
- Harmony Goodman-Ai sheds light on the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, highlighting its significant energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Aimee Reynoso Cupido shares a fascinating piece of Olympic history, revealing that the games once included competitions for architects, writers, painters, and musicians—though this unique feature was later removed due to lack of attention.
- Rockne Smith astounds the group with the fact that Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen holds the title of the most-streamed song of the 20th century.
- Kayla Muter brings a touch of historical intrigue, explaining how the elegant waltz was once considered scandalous and controversial upon its creation in the 1800s.
This diverse mix of facts keeps the conversation lively and engaging.
Be sure to tune in next week for another enlightening Did You Know? segment on Ferris Out Loud!