strip

“Strip Law,” a new cartoon premiering Friday, finds Netflix in an Adult Swim state of mind, which is to say there was no thought of it being made for everybody. (Possibly including some of the people it was made for.) It’s rude, lewd, surreal in a banal sort of way, at times ridiculously violent — that is, the violence is ridiculous.

It was the cast that attracted me: Adam Scott, once more the schlemiel as leading man; Janelle James, sure of her own magnificence, not far from her character on “Abbott Elementary”; and Keith David, whose deep, sonorous voice is almost necessarily one of authority, turned to good or evil or in between as the script demands. James and David, especially, I could listen to for days.

Created by Cullen Crawford, (“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” “Star Trek: Lower Decks”), the series is centered on a failing Las Vegas law firm, headed by Scott’s Lincoln Gumb, with James as Sheila Flambé, “a magician and three-year all-county sex champion” he hires as his “co-counsel in charge of spectacle.” Niece Irene (Shannon Gisela), an iron-pumping 16-year-old, works as his investigator; she wears a blindfold labeled “Underage” whenever she’s required to be in a bar. Stephen Root plays his disbarred (later undisbarred — rebarred?) lawyer uncle, Glem Blorchman, the strangest of them all — “It’s 115 degrees out so I put marshmallows in gin,” is something he says as they gather to watch Christmas movies. And David plays Lincoln’s nemesis, Stevie Nichols, the very successful former partner of Lincoln’s late mother, upon whom the son remains perversely fixated.

Much of it is the sort of thing that will work or not work depending on your mood, but generally I prefer the small throwaway jokes to the big gross ones. There are self-reflexive meta gags about “hard-working cartoon writers” and “reappropriating out-of-date catchphrases.” There are many nods to “The Simpsons,” including “frosty chocolate milkshakes” and James L. Brooks’ Gracie Films logo. The final episode, of 10, takes place within the finale of a “Suits”-like legal dramedy. (“It’s against their nature to let something be sweet and fun and airy,” that firm’s bromantic lawyers say of Lincoln’s team. “They have to make it dark and strange and crass.”) And there are left-field references to Cocteau Twins and Bikini Kill, whose “original bass player” Glem claims to be. (“I don’t know what Bikini Kill is,” says Irene. “Neither did I, according to Kathleen Hanna,” says Glem.)

There are various oddball judges (nothing remotely legal happens in a courtroom); “local character” Lunch Meat, who turns up in many roles; a barman, Mr. O’Raviolo, who switches between exaggerated Irish and Italian accents in mid-sentence. Comedian George Wallace plays himself as the mayor of Las Vegas. A Halloween Christmas episode parodies “Miracle on 34th Street”; another takes off on Colton Burpo, the “boy who saw Heaven,” which includes a live-action trailer for a faith-based film featuring Tim Heidecker as a coke-snorting atheistic Lincoln. A virtual reality HR seminar is hosted by “a computerized amalgamation of all five personalities of the Rat Pack,” an immersive Autoverse, in which actors create situations that somehow amount to a driving test. There are the “Nevada-grown” Hot Dates, a sexualized version of the California Raisins; riots occur when the characters are redesigned to be more respectable (“They’re walking away from years of established canon,” laments Lincoln.)

The series felt a little off-putting at first, as if it were straining for effect, but gathered steam as it went on, either because the later episodes are weirder or better written, or because one just gets used to being in that world with those people. There is just enough character in the comedy to create stakes in the narrative; its misfit energy has fueled the screen’s bands of outsiders throughout the years. (“Even when you’re a disaster, you’re a disaster for the right people,” Irene tells Lincoln.) As to the famous fine line between stupid and clever, the stupidity and the cleverness are all but inextricable, and to the point.

The credits declare that the series is “proudly made by real, non-computer human beings,” which is pleasant to know, and in 100 years will still have been the best way to make cartoons, even if by then they are only made by and, for all we know, for machines. The thin-lined drawing style is standard for more or less realistic 21st-century adult TV animation, with perhaps a hint of comics artist Daniel Clowes laid on. But the characters are expressive, and the medium is used to unreal ends, which is, after all, what cartoons are good for.

Benidorm Enthusiast Lucy Young took a stroll along the famous strip in the popular Spanish resort to investigate prices of pints in February before finding the cheapest and dearest

A British expat who has called Benidorm home for over 20 years took a stroll along the strip to investigate the average cost of a pint of beer – with one particular beverage’s price stunning her

Lucy Young, also known as the Benidorm Enthusiast, went on the boozy adventure after earlier this year revealing the one area that sees “violence beyond comprehension”.

But on the lighter topic of beverages, specifically pints on draft, she said: “Hi guys, the Benidorm enthusiast here, and today we are on the strip, the centre for all the bars and for all the British tourism and partying and we’re going to be finding out what is the price of a print.

“Prices are always something which people like to know about before they come on holiday. So let’s have a walk. We are going to go to every single bar that we find open at the moment, beginning of February, so not everything is open, and we’re going to find out what the prices of the pints are on the Benidorm strip 2026.”

During her adventure, she visited 10 bars — The Last Stop, The Wild Duck, the Western Saloon, Hotel California, The Crown Pub, Brit Station, Funky Flamingo, Million Dollar, Jumping Jacks and Rockstar.

Cheapest

In most bars she went to, the cheapest pint was usually the Spanish lager options, like San Miguel and Estrella, which could usually be snapped up for between €2 (£1.74) and €3 (£2.61).

However, after visiting Hotel California, she said: “They’ve got the local larger which is Cruzcampo on at €1.90 (£1.65) a pint — the cheapest we’ve found yet.”

The most expensive draft beer at Hotel California was a Guinness, and even that was just €3.70 (£3.22).

Busiest bar

Lucy said Brit Station, a fairly new bar in the strip, had the biggest selection of pints of beer available, with an Amstel being the cheapest at €2 to the most expensive being Guinness at €4.90 (£4.26).

And standing by the packed boozer, she commented: “Absolutely spoiled for choice for daytime offers here as well at Brit Station. Bucket deals, two for ones, happy hours, it’s all going on here.

“And it really shows because there’s a lot of people inside here today. And we’re filming this at a quiet time of year. It’s probably the busiest bar we’ve come across. They’re also obviously enjoying these daytime offers.”

Most expensive pint

At Rock Star, Lucy noted that Heineken was the cheapest pint option at just €2.

She continued: “Then you’ve got Carlsberg and Moretti — €5 a pint, quite pricey, but they do have an offer on the two for one.”

But as for the pint that really stunned her, it was a UK favourite. With a shocked expression, she explained: “We’ve got Guinness at €6.50 (£5.66) a pint! Again, quite pricey…”

As for other bars on the strip, she said Jumping Jacks was particularly popular in the daytime, especially because they don’t raise their pint prices at night.

She also visited Funky Flamingo where a Guinness is €4.60 (£4) and she said it was her favourite bar on the strip, but stressed that it was not just because she loves doing karaoke there.

Lucy also singled out the Western Saloon for always having a “great atmosphere” and a pint of Estrella was set at €2.70 (£2.35) while Guinness was priced at €3.80 (£3.31).

Concluding

Finishing her investigation on the video, which you can watch in full here, she said: “So there you have it guys, a good look around the Benidorm strip at daytime pint prices for 2026. I think on average, if you stick to the local lager, you are going to be looking to pay between €2 and €2.50. Very very cheap I think, still, even though a lot of prices for other things have gone up in Benidorm in recent years.

“But do bear in mind these are the daytime prices and a lot of the bars, not all of them, but a lot of the pieces will go up when the nightlife starts and the entertainment starts in the evening.”

One person replied: “Looks very reasonable I’m coming over with a few mates in June.”

Another said: “I tend to stick to bottles to be honest Lucy, on average though loads cheaper than here in the UK for sure.”

A third said: “No wonder Rockstar is empty at those prices, never been in plenty of other bars to try.”

One commenter advised: “Stick to bottles, had so many bad pints in Benidorm i wouldn’t touch it now no matter how much it was. No weights and measures there so no guarantee what’s coming through them taps.”

A SAUCY Valentine’s Day strip model Abbey Clancy had planned for her hubby Peter Crouch was dashed when he invited a chef to their home to cook for them.

The 40-year-old dressed in skimpy underwear and covered up with a mac, intending to make a big reveal.

But she was forced to swelter under the coat when the former Liverpool, Spurs and England striker arrived with the chef.

Abbey said: “That was the worst surprise ever because I got a gorgeous outfit from Agent Provocateur and just put it on with a coat on top.

“And Pete was like ‘Surprise! We’ve got a chef’.

“So I had to just wear my coat for the whole dinner — at home.

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“I had to wear my coat for the whole meal in my own house.

“And I was literally sweating because I was so worried.”

Asked if she was in a Burberry Mac, Abbey said: “Yeah, I was.

“That was highly embarrassing.

“And he kept asking ‘Aren’t you hot in that coat?’”

Peter, 45, eventually cottoned on to why Abbey would not remove her coat but by then was helpless to ask the chef to leave because it would have appeared rude.

He said: “He wouldn’t go away as well.

“You know when they come over and they want to explain the meal.

“It’s like ‘p*** off mate, will you’.”

Mum-of-four Abbey said Valentine’s nights indoors can be romantic too and couples should not feel pressure to always have a great meal out on February 14.

She added on their Therapy Crouch podcast: “That is nice, to stay in.”

It was not the first time Abbey had tried to woo Peter using the same tactic — although last time she was a bit more successful.

In November 2003 she told The Sun how she lured Peter home from training by picking him up in a car while wearing only a Burberry mac.

He said her teasing tactic “worked very well” — but that he is also very easily pleased.

Peter said: “It’s easy to surprise me.

“If I came home and you had no clothes on, it’d be the best surprise ever.

“It’s so simple and I’ll be so happy.

“I’m just being honest.”

FROM playing a seductive robot in 2024 thriller Subservience to taking part in an on-screen lesbian romp in 2009 flick Jennifer’s Body, Megan Fox has acted her fair share of steamy scenes.

The actress, 39, was spotted on a rare outing last week with her children, after it was reported she and ex-fiancé Machine Gun Kelly are completely “done” with one another romantically.

Megan and the rapper, real name Colson Baker, began their relationship in 2020 and first split in 2024, before an on/off relationship up until last year.

The former couple are now focusing on co-parenting their daughter, Saga, who turns one in March.

While her real-life romance may be cooling off, Megan’s had plenty of steamy scenes on-screen.

First rising to fame in Transformers, the actress has appeared in several blockbusters in the near-two-decades since.

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Here, we take a look at her steamiest scenes…

Subservience – 2024

Appearing in 2024 thriller Subservience, Megan portrayed a robot who was bought to help a dad – who is solo parenting while his wife is sick in hospital – with house chores.

However, her AI-built character Alice ends up slightly too lifelike as she develops intense feelings for her owner Nick, portrayed by 365 Days hunk Michele Morrone.

Not stopping until she gets what she wants, Alice intensely pursues Nick and the pair end up in a very steamy bathroom sex scene.

Stripping down to her underwear, Megan is seen seducing her co-star before blindfolding him and mounting him in intense scenes.

Jennifer’s body – 2007

It’s not just later in her career that Megan has had some hot-and-heavy scenes, with her 2007 film Jennifer’s body featuring a very steamy scene with Amanda Seyfried.

The horror flick sees Megan’s teenage character Jennifer become possessed to be a succubus.

Jennifer seduces a number of her male classmates and has a lesbian romp with Amanda’s character Anita.

Previously, Megan said of the scenes: “I feel much safer with girls, so I felt more comfortable kissing [Seyfried] than kissing any of the other people that I had to kiss.”

Passion Play – 2010

While drama flick Passion Play may not have done wonders in the box office, it did see Megan star alongside Mickey Rourke in one of her most sultry movie roles.

She plays the character of Lily Luster, who has large wings throughout the film and is known as a “bird woman”.

Megan and Mickey’s character, Nate, have several intimate scenes throughout the film – with one showing the former completely naked other than a pair of underwear.

Expend4bles – 2023

Starring as CIA agent Gina in the fourth instalment of the Expendables, Megan acts across from action star Jason Statham, who portrays Lee Christmas.

In the flick, Lee and Gina have romantic history which is clear to see in several scenes throughout the movie – including in a steamy bedroom moment.

Big Gold Brick – 2022

2022’s dark comedy Big Gold Brick had some talented actors to it’s name, but wasn’t a hit amongst fans.

In the film, Megan plays Jacqueline Devereaux, the wife of Floyd Devereaux – who enlists a man to pen his biography.

Throughout the storyline, Megan is seen donning racy underwear and stripping down to lingerie.

However, some critics slammed these scenes as they claimed Megan and co-star Lucy Hale were solely seen as “sex objects” during the film.

How To Lose Friends & Alienate people – 2008

Megan got many viewers hot under the collar during her 2008 appearance in comedy How to Lose Friends & Alienate People.

Portraying starlet Sophie Maes, Megan is seen stripping down to lingerie in several scenes.

While one iconic moment sees the star in a plunging figure-hugging dress as she walks through a swimming pool, before dropping the dress at the end of the pool.

She stars across from Simon Pegg, who plays main character Sidney Young – a celebrity journalist taken by Sophie.

The Dictator – 2012

Portraying herself in a cameo during comedy/drama The Dictator, Megan is seen as a celebrity companion for lead character Aladeen, portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen.

During the scene, Aladeen is seen shouting the actress’s name while they are in bed together, before telling her: “Megan, you were worth every penny.”

He then presents her with a bag of gold, to which Megan – who is putting her clothes back on- replies: “Katy Perry said she got a diamond Rolex.”

Megan later said she “loved” the cameo appearance in the comedy, which was a change of pace from her previous roles.

This Is 40 – 2012

While Megan didn’t have a leading part in the ensemble cast of This Is 40, she did make her mark on the flick.

Portraying a young shop worker at main character Debbie’s (Leslie Mann) clothing boutique, Megan’s character has her middle-aged counterparts feeling jealous as she portrays the “hot new employee”.

Megan is even seen stripping to her underwear inside the shop, leaving Debbie seething.

MGK’S Good Mourning – 2022

When Machine Gun Kelly decided to make his own comedy film, he enlisted his then-partner Megan to star in the flick.

Good Mourning – which has since been branded “unwatchable” – follows the musician portraying actor character London Clash, who’s convinced he’s about to land a career-changing role.

Megan plays Kennedy in the short film, and while she and MGK are a couple in real life, there aren’t a wave of sultry scenes between the two.

Instead, Megan’s character brings her own sex appeal and has London Clash drooling.

Jonah Hex – 2010

Action film Jonah Hex sees Megan portray a prostitute who falls for leading man Josh Brolin.

In the film, his character is seen spending the night in a brothel with Megan, who steamily kisses him before rubbing against him in bed.

Megan’s burlesque-style outfits in the film also left fans in awe, as she donned a corset with matching stockings and fingerless gloves.

Transformers – 2007

Megan’s breakout role as Mikaela Banes in the Transformers franchise didn’t incorporate X-rated scenes, but did catapult her to fame as a global leading lady.

The movie franchise portrayed Megan as a sex symbol, something she later shared her frustrations over.

“Really my only job is to look attractive,” she told GQ back in 2009. “I was so angry about that,” added the star.

She later got axed from the third Transformers movie for making controversial comments about director Michael Bay – comparing him to Hitler and dubbing him a “d***”.