Daily Dose: 5/19/16

9:46 AMWednesday night’s season finale of Empire wasn’t exactly awful, but for the second season in a row, they ended with a dud. It feels like the writers can’t decide who they actually want the real star of the show to be.

The American incarceration system can really break your spirit. The war on drugs filled U.S. prisons with reckless abandon and, in some facilities, made life for not just the inmates but the guards extremely trying. There is violence, health risks and potential psychological trauma that comes with being the one responsible for making sure that people locked in cages don’t harm themselves or others. One place that’s particularly known for its brutality is Rikers Island in New York City. ABC News in a special report takes a look at what a day in the life of an officer there is like.

Dudes are often the worst. And when it comes to nearly anything in entertainment — gaming, movies, TV shows, sports — aimed at women, there’s always some guy around to explain why such a thing is problematic or boring, lest it affect their fragile male psyche. But because mainly television programs are judged based on the success of not just ratings, but online reviews too, the noxious words of the men watching them have very real effects on what gets done. FiveThirtyEight’s Walt Hickey analyzes how men are sabotaging shows that are not aimed at them.

“Not perfect grammar, always perfect timing” was a lyric boasted by the Beastie Boys’ Mike D on the 1989 song “3-Minute Rule.” It’s a pretty decent life strategy, if you ask me. But when it comes to the world of media, for some, it’s not good enough. Not all players use the best language syntax when talking to reporters. Some don’t speak English as their first language. As a result, there’s sort of an unwritten rule about quoting players in which it’s understood that you don’t embarrass an athlete for how he talks. Recently, in Houston, the opposite happened. ESPN’s J.A. Adande delves into why this practice exists.

If nothing else, Cam Newton’s stunt game is next level. The best player in the NFL isn’t just a force on the field, but he’s a stylish guy whose career after he leaves the league will probably be stellar. Remember those $900 Versace pants he wore to travel to the Super Bowl last season? Those were mega fresh. Now, he’s got a new shiny toy, in the form of a 1970 Oldsmobile 442 Cutlass, a classic American muscle car. Only Cam’s is souped up to the max, including all sorts of actual bling in the paint and fabric of the interior. ESPN’s David Newton has the details of his ride.

Free Food

Coffee Break: What if I told you that Cypress Hill, Public Enemy and Rage Against the Machine were joining forces to bring back political rap? Well, it might be happening. Reports say that B-Real, Chuck D and Rage sans Zach De La Rocha could be making this supergroup happen. The name? Prophets of Rage.

Snack Time: What do you get when a black family adopts a white baby? Well, for one, a hilarious premise for a movie and, secondly, one involving Lucien Jean-Baptiste, which is awesome. This should be funny.

Dessert: I love a good office prank and this battle taking over Canal Street is truly next level. More, please.