T(abel) Reads 6

Friday November 29th, 2024 - Edition 006

EVERYONE'S FAVORITE BI-WEEKLY NEWS SOURCE... UNLESS YOU'RE NOT EVERYONE

THIS SH*T IS B-A-N-A-N-A-S

7 Bidders Took a Bite but Only One Came Out With The Actual Banana

ART AND FASHION

After years of sparking debate in the art world, both praise and ridicule, The Comedian—a piece consisting of a banana duct-taped to a wall (yes, really) has just sold for an astonishing $6 million at Sotheby’s contemporary art auction. Naturally, the use of organic materials has raised questions: what happens when the banana inevitably rots? Fear not—this high-priced artwork comes with instructions for replacing the banana when the time comes (yes, that’s part of the deal). Meanwhile, in the fashion world, excitement is building as Fall/Winter collections begin to roll out. Industry heavyweights like Palace, Supreme, and Maison Margiela are already unveiling pieces online, creating buzz ahead of their official releases. It is the perfect time to start curating your holiday wish list with some of this season’s most anticipated drops!

TV AND FILM

Disney’s animated sequel, Moana 2, made a remarkable impact, setting a new Thanksgiving Day box office record with $28 million, surpassing the previous record held by Frozen 2. The film is projected to earn at least $175 million over the five-day holiday period. Released alongside Moana 2 and Wicked, Gladiator II contributed to a robust box office weekend, reminiscent of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, with combined earnings expected to rival previous records. For the crime drama lovers, Say Nothing, A gripping true-crime drama on FX, premiered. The show is based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s book, delving into the dark history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Lastly, Netflix released a limited series called The Madness. Starring Colman Domingo, The Madness is a timely, action-packed conspiracy thriller reflecting the polarized political landscape. The end-of-year entertainment landscape offers audiences a diverse array of cinematic and television experiences.

MUSIC

Festival season is upon us, and you can almost smell the sunscreen, warm beer, and unmistakable haze of excitement in the air. Leading the charge is Coachella, set for April 11-13 and April 18-20, with a star-studded lineup featuring Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Post Malone as headliners. Adding an intriguing twist this year, Travis Scott will be designing the venue—a move that’s sparked plenty of questions but has fans buzzing with anticipation. As a follow-up to our previous T(Abel) Reads feature, Abel Studio’s 4th most notable album of 2025 is Charm by Clairo. Nearly a decade after her debut, the 26-year-old artist hit new milestones with this critically acclaimed release. Dropping on July 12, Charm debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200, marking Clairo’s first top-10 album. Praised for its lush production and thoughtful songwriting, the album earned her a Grammy nomination for Alternative Music Album of the Year—a well-deserved nod to her artistry.

Listen: Charm by Clairo

Author: Bray Olmstead

SPORTS

For a clear example of how the new ‘Name, Image, and Likeness’ (NIL) rules are transforming college football recruiting, look no further than Bryce Underwood’s story. Tied to his Detroit roots and swayed by a staggering $10.5 million NIL deal from Michigan’s Champions Circle collective, the nation’s top recruit in the upcoming class, flipped his commitment from LSU to the University of Michigan last week. Michigan super-fan and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy played a key role, rallying support alongside Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and former UM quarterback Tom Brady. Just a few years ago, such collaborations would have seemed unimaginable, but they now illustrate how NIL is reshaping the recruiting landscape. With only 6 regular season games remaining, the NFL playoff picture is heating up, with several teams in must-win situations to keep their postseason hopes alive. In the AFC, the Jets and Bengals are fighting to stay in the hunt, while in the NFC, the Commanders and Seahawks face critical matchups to secure a wildcard spot.

MARKET

This week, U.S. stock indices reached record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 44,220 on November 22, nearing its all-time high of 44,293.13. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also saw gains, with the S&P 500 rising 0.6% and the Nasdaq up 0.8% on November 29. Bitcoin experienced significant volatility, surpassing $97,000 on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, before retreating to around $95,402. By November 29, it approached $98,325, nearing the $100,000 milestone. Other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Dogecoin also saw increases, with Ethereum rising 1.3% to $3,620 and Dogecoin up 4.7%. Treasury yields declined, with the 10-year yield falling to 4.2% by November 29, reflecting investor confidence in equities and a shift away from bonds. This decline in yields benefited construction and leverage transaction volume, which are sensitive to interest rates.