This story contains spoilers for the book The Score, which is the primary source material for Season 2 of Off Campus.

If you’ve read the Off Campus novels, you know it’s not devoid of tragedy, and there is one particularly painful loss. However, I just learned that Elle Kennedy, the author of the novels that have inspired the wildly popular book-to-screen adaptation on Amazon Prime, wanted to kill off a different character…one of her best characters, in fact!

Tucker Was Almost Killed In The Off Campus Books

You read the header right: John Tucker (who is played by Jalen Thomas Brooks in the series) was almost killed off! Crazy, right? Seriously, it’s hard to believe Kennedy considered this, especially since Tucker is the focus of The Goal, which is the fourth book in her series. However, when she was originally planning these novels, she was planning to write a trilogy, as the author explained on Off the Shelf with Morgann Book:

Well, you better believe I would have grieved for him. However, I do get her reasoning. In Dean’s book, The Score, he has to deal with a major tragedy. Kennedy had that happen because she needed the ever-shirtless, hotshot hockey player, who is now played by Stephen Kalyn, to deal with a major life challenge, as she explained:

I mean, someone does destroy his life (and we’ll talk more about that in a second), but it’s almost impossible for me to fathom that originally it was going to be Tucker. Further explaining why she had The Pitt actor’s character in mind, Elle Kennedy said:

Kennedy went on to say the fans should thank her editor for all this, because she’s the one who said Tucker might not be a good character to kill off. However, the author was steadfast when it came to having a character die. So, yes, Tucker lives to see his own book (and hopefully season). However, another beloved character passes away, and I feel pretty certain they’re not going to make it to the end of Dean and Allie’s season.

Who Actually Dies In The Off Campus Books, And What Might Happen In Season 2

OK, so we’re in major spoiler territory now. In Dean’s story, The Score (which is the third book in the series but will be the main focus of the second season of the sexually explicit Amazon Prime project), Beau Maxwell dies in a car accident. It crushes Dean, and it deeply impacts his life and relationship with Allie.

In the show, Beau is played by Khobe Clarke, and while he doesn’t live with Dean, Tucker, Garrett and Logan, he’s close with them. And he’s especially tight with Dean; in fact, they’re best friends.

Now, will he die on screen? It seems likely, because they’ve already foreshadowed it by having Beau be the Goose to Dean’s Maverick at a costume party…and if you’ve seen Top Gun, you know what that implies.

Lots has changed in the Off Campus show, though. They moved Dean and Allie’s story up, they introduced Hunter Davenport in a totally different way and more. So, things can change. However, I do feel fairly confident in guessing that Beau will die in Season 2 of Off Campus, and Tucker will live to see out his own romance (which would likely be the focus of Season 4).

Now, while we wait to see how all this plays out on screen, you can read Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus books, and you can stream Season 1 of the show with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Anthony Bourdain gave us a lot of unforgettable quotes, many of which also double as great life advice. However, in Tony, the upcoming A24 movie about the chef, there’s one very well-known quote that was cut from the project. Now, why did that happen? Well, the film’s director told CinemaBlend his reasoning behind taking the famous Bourdain philosophy out.

Ahead of Tony’s release on the 2026 movie schedule, CinemaBlend’s Hannah Saulic got the director and cast’s takes on some of Anthony Bourdain’s popular philosophies and quotes. This included his famous line:

That quote comes from Bourdain’s book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. And Matt Johnson, the director of Tony, told us that the line was originally in his movie. He specified that it was said to Dominic Sessa’s Tony by Leo Woodall’s chaotic and free-spirited cook, Sal. However, Johnson ended up taking the line out. Here’s why:

Matt Johnson: And I took it out. I have a mixed feeling about that. And I think that, yes, absolutely, this life is here for you to live. But Anthony Bourdain would also say you have a responsibility to do your best. And I find those two philosophies to be sometimes in conflict with one another. So yes, I mean, like we’re an embodied species. Like, you want to feel everything, but don't sacrifice your life to your pleasure, I think is taking that too far.

That conflict Johnson brought up is explored in Tony. The movie – which follows Anthony Bourdain’s first summer in Provincetown, where he works as a dishwasher and learns about working in a restaurant – sees him go from a pretentious wannabe writer to a person who falls in love with cooking and the skills and discipline that come with it. On the one hand, he has Woodall’s Sal teaching him how to live his life on the edge and to the fullest; on the other, he has Antonio Banderas’ restaurant owner teaching him how to live a fulfilling and disciplined life as a chef.

The philosophy about our bodies being an amusement park certainly fits in better with Sal’s actions in the movie. It also feels like something Tony lives by too, but again, not to its fullest extent. As Johnson noted, Bourdain has philosophies and quotes about responsibility, showing up on time and working hard. Those kinds of beliefs can compete with the thrill-seeking nature of his other quote.

However, multiple and conflicting things can be true at the same time. For the sake of the film, though, I get why he took the quote out. Although Stavros Halkias, who plays Dimitri, disagreed with the director’s take, saying:

Johnson reacted to that by asking, “And then die!?” to which Halkias said, “Yes, who cares?”

Well, no matter how you feel about the matter, the quote was cut from Tony.

Now, how would the late Anthony Bourdain feel about all this and the movie in general? We will never know. However, his assistant did say that it’s not worth trying to predict what Bourdain would think of something.

So, who knows what exactly he’d think about this quote getting cut and the movie in general. That aside, Tony has gotten solid reviews, and you can catch it (but not the philosophy about our bodies being amusement parks) in theaters now.

We're getting closer and closer to seeing lifeguards slow-motion run on the beach like their lives depend on it again. While the upcoming Baywatch reboot won’t be premiering on the 2026 TV schedule, it is in production, and it will debut sometime in 2027. Plus, we've already been getting a ton of BTS Baywatch content that I can’t get enough of. Now, Stephen Amell has hyped me up even more for this show, as he just gave us an even closer look at this show set on the beach and his incredible back muscles.

Amell is set to lead the new series as Captain Hobie Buchannon, son of David Hasselhoff’s Mitch Buchannon. The Arrow alum has been sharing quite a lot of content on his social media since filming kicked off in March. And he's not stopping that trend. Case in point, the actor recently took to his Instagram to share a carousel of photos from set that prove he's not just in incredible shape; he's Baywatch fit:

I am so curious to see how the Baywatch reboot will turn out, but just from the looks of all these photos, it seems like it’s going to be a pretty great series. Plus, if Amell’s back muscles are any indication, the workouts seem to be pretty intense, which makes sense because you have to be in pretty good shape to be a lifeguard.

The first official footage for Baywatch was released in May at Fox’s Upfronts, giving fans a taste of what’s in store. There will be some Baywatch OGs also making appearances, which should be fun. Of course, you never know how a reboot will go until it premieres, but this already looks like it’s going to be a show you won’t want to miss. Especially if we get more of Amell’s back muscles in the mix.

While the show hasn’t premiered yet, Fox has already made a mistake with Baywatch. Holding the show for midseason could do more harm than good, especially since they could’ve definitely given it a lot of promo during the summer months. However, the first season only has 12 episodes, so perhaps the network thought it would be better to put it during midseason because of the episode order. All this is to say, I'm bummed we have to wait a while longer to see Amell in action. However, his BTS content is certainly helping hold me over.

That being said, the hype for Baywatch is definitely there. The series ended years ago, so waiting a few more months for the reboot won’t be too bad. Baywatch’s cast is pretty stacked on top of the OGs, too, so fans are seemingly in for something special. However, people will just have to wait until at least January 2027 to see what the Baywatch reboot is all about.

It’s no secret that the Moana films are close to the heart of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The movies from Disney have allowed the multi-hyphenate to be loud and proud about his Polynesian culture in a big way. But I just learned more about how the live-action Moana allowed The Rock to connect to the “complicated relationship” he had with his late father, Rocky Johnson, as well.

For the live-action Moana movie, Johnson had the opportunity to co-write and sing a sweet song called “Your Dad” for the Moana: Voices of the Ocean album. It’s a sweet track that shows the warmth of being a father. Here’s what The Rock said about the song to SiriusXM:

The Rock’s dad was a pioneering Canadian professional wrestler who won multiple championships in his heyday. The movie star looked up to his dad growing up, and clearly was inspired by him when it came to his own career. But at the same time, as Dwayne Johnson has detailed in the past, he was also very tough on him.

“Your Dad” offers a supportive message to Johnson’s three daughters that perhaps he never heard from his own father, who died in 2020 at the age of 75. As he added:

It sounds like writing and performing the song was cathartic for Dwayne Johnson, who’s trying to learn from his late father now that he’s a dad himself. Johnson has a 25-year-old named Simone, a 10-year-old named Jasmine and an 8-year-old named Tiana. You can check out the song “Your Dad” below:

The Moana-inspired album isn’t the first time The Rock has confronted his relationship with his dad. Joseph Lee Anderson also played Rocky Johnson in his autobiographical sitcom on NBC, Young Rock, which was on for three seasons. Johnson’s relationship with his father has clearly been an important aspect of his life that he’s felt compelled to explore through his work, and knowing how it’s connected to Moana is something I didn’t realize.

The live-action Moana hit theaters last month to tons of reactions calling it “unnecessary”, and the movie made just $293.7 million worldwide against a reported $250 million budget. Despite the flop, The Rock has stood by the live-action movie because it allowed a Polynesian cast to be front-and-center on the big screen. And, without it, “Your Dad” may have never had a reason to come to fruition.

What sweet, vulnerable words from Johnson! Next, he has the new Jumanji movie coming out on Christmas Day among other upcoming The Rock movies.

The past year and change of Jimmy Kimmel’s late night life has been as chaotic as it gets, so it’s presumed that he’s currently doing his best to rid himself of all that stress while on his yearly summer hiatus. But the show must go on, and Rosie O’Donnell took over for this mid-August week, after already shooting down rumors about wanting her own late night show. Though audiences may think that the two are friendly, given both have been frequent targets of Donald Trump, she said that’s not the case.

In fact, the former daytime mainstay shared that she’s long known that Kimmel wasn’t particularly into her comedy and career, but that it didn’t get in the way of the longtime late night host putting in the request to bring her onboard to follow up Anthony Anderson's week as frontman. Speaking with Variety, O'Donnell opened up about being not-that-friendly with Kimmel over the years, saying:

Jimmy Kimmel has in some ways (not all) traveled a long distance from his years co-hosting The Man Show with Adam Corolla. But it's not like there's a golden rule that says all comedians must get along behind the scenes.

Still, despite any mild amounts of animosity, Rosie O'Donnell said she reached out after Kimmel's uncle Frank Potenza, who appeared regularly on Live!, passed away in 2011. It sounds like that eased things between them, even if it never reached a the point where she was a regular guest on his show. Or a guest at all. She continued:

Rosie O'Donnell certainly has experience heading up a daily talk show, as she hosted her Emmy-winning self-titled series for six seasons, and also sat atThe View's table for two non-consecutive seasons, exiting each after on-air disputes with co-hosts such as Elisabeth Hasselbeck. She recently talked about returning to The View for its 30th anniversary season, but the daytime series' executive producer shot down those claims as not being real. Which technically doesn't negate them from potentially being real down the line. Just not yet.

Check out who Rosie O'Donnell will be talking to for the rest of her week in Jimmy Kimmel's shoes.

Upcoming Jimmy Kimmel Live! Guests

Wednesday, August 19: Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Janelle James (Abbott Elementary)

Thursday, August 20: Megan Mulally and Nick Offerman, Shawn Hatosy (The Pitt), Sydney James Harcourt (Cats: The Jellicle Ball)

Friday, August 21: TBC

Will this stint as guest host land Rosie O'Donnell an invite to appear as a guest when Kimmel is back behind the desk? It could happen.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs weeknights on ABC at 11:35 p.m. ET, and episodes can be streamed the next day via Hulu subscription.

SPOILERS are ahead for Ted Lasso Season 4’s latest episode, “Richmond’s Got Talent,” which is now streaming with an Apple TV subscription.

Season 4 of Ted Lasso is trying something new by focusing on AFC Richmond’s women’s soccer team. But that doesn’t mean some fun nods to the men’s team aren’t coming up. I had a blast with the reference to Cristo Fernández’s Dani Rojas in Episode 4, but there’s actually more to the connection than I had realized.

The Ted Lasso Nod To Dani Rojas

In Episode 4 of Ted Lasso's fourth season, Coach Lasso and company decide to do open tryouts for the women’s team in hopes of finding a replacement striker. And one of the hopefuls is Dani Rojas’s sister.

When she tells Coach Beard that the character who famously yelled “Football is life!” taught her everything she knows, he got excited about finding the team’s new striker in her. However, I was giggling when it was revealed that she can barely kick the ball. Instead, two other brand-new characters are added to the team, along with a former player Coach Chilton clearly has a rocky past with.

The BTS Fact That Makes It Even Better

As it turns out, the actress who plays Maria Rojas is the actual sister of Cristo Fernández! Her stage name is Paloma Cinco, so I wouldn’t have realized it off the bat, but it turns out her birth name is actually Paloma Fernández. In an interview with Deadline, Ted Lasso himself, Jason Sudeikis, spoke about casting her, saying:

No wonder Ted Lasso always has a grounded feeling to it that makes it seem like all the characters are real people. As he added:

While we might have expected Cristo Fernández to appear himself, especially since Roy Kent is still in the show as the men’s coach, I love that Ted Lasso is spending more time with women than it ever has.

It’s a fun bit of fan service to make the connection, but for Ted Lasso Season 4 to not lean on its men’s team when that’s no longer the focus. I know I’ve been enjoying the mix of seeing old characters I’ve missed (like Juno Temple’s Keeley) and getting to know new ones – with my new favorite dynamic being between Ted Lasso and Alice Chilton.

You can continue to catch Ted Lasso Season 4 on the 2026 TV schedule with new episodes every Tuesday on Apple TV. I’m so curious what other surprises they have up their sleeves.

Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton have been one of the hottest celebrity couples of the moment since their hard launch in June. And, as if wearing a sparkly dress on a yacht wasn’t enough, the vacation pics just keep coming this summer for the viral star. Kim K’s latest photo dump shows that the socialite is all in on belly chains this season.

Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton have been enjoying a tropical vacation with Kim’s kids, and the photos are so gorgeous. You can click through the new post:

Kim K. captioned her Instagram post simply with “Aloha” as she shared a host of gorgeous outfits and moments both with her guy and kids. The first two photos have Kardashian wearing an all-pink fit that’s fit for Barbie or Elle Woods in Legally Blonde while on the beach.

The media personality is also seen catching waves on a paddleboard with the kiddos, riding shotgun with her boyfriend, who’s a Formula One driver. But her bikini looks are really the star here.

It’s hard to reinvent wearing a bikini, but leave it to Kim K. In multiple photos of her in her two-piece swimwear, one can’t help but notice the belly chains she’s accessorizing with. It’s like adding a necklace to a simple dress. It really adds something to it, and it’s not hard to imagine pictures like these inspiring more women to get into this trend on their own summer vacations because of her.

Kim’s sister Kylie Jenner also donned the same sort of style back in March on her own Instagram post about her picturesque vacation. Other celebs who have rocked it are Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid and Beyoncé. But when they say no fashion trends are new, this sort of applies to the belly chain. It’s also been worn by women for thousands of years, primarily in India, Egypt and Africa.

Kim Kardashian’s recent vacation comes after she was “lakemaxxing” in black bikinis a couple of weeks ago with other members of the Kardashian-Jenner family. This trip she’s posting about now definitely seems like a significant one since she’s vacationing with her man and her kids. It's a big step. Word on the street is that Hamilton having a positive relationship with her children is very important to Kim, and allegedly her four kids already think her new guy is “really cool.”

Once Kim K. is home, she’s got a lot on her plate. From running businesses like SKIMS to filming her various projects in the works, like All’s Fair Season 2 or her upcoming comedy called Group Chat Pilot. But for now, she and Hamilton seem to be really soaking up the sun, and you gotta love how her wearing the belly chain trend elevates her bikini looks.

For all of us Sons of Anarchy fans holding out hope for another chapter from the Teller family’s history, that wait is still ongoing with no clear end in sight. But for everyone who would be perfectly happy with a completely different take on the FX action-drama, Charlie Hunnam, Jonathan Groff and It’s Always Sunny creator Rob Mac joined forces to unleash a new era of motorcycle mayhem in Legends, which will bring together the bulk of S.O.A.’s star-studded cast.

Before we even get into the bizarro synopsis for this intriguing new project, let’s rundown the already locked-in cast members making returns:

• Charlie Hunnam
• Ron Perlman
• Katey Sagal
• Maggie Siff
• Mark Boone Junior
• Tommy Flanagan
• Kim Coates
• Theo Rossi

Just as it was in Sons of Anarchy, that's a (fictional) murderers row of actors, and it's also key to point out this note: "Additional Cast To Be Announced." So there's a chance we could see even more alums like Jimmy Smits, Walton Goggins, Drea de Matteo, David Labrava and more. Probably not Taylor Sheridan, but no reason to say never just yet. (But go ahead and say it.)

What Legends Will Be About

The story, developed by Hunnam and Groff, is set during a fan convention reunion panel for Sons of Anarchy marking a decade since it wrapped its seven-season run. But instead of being the usual autographs and Q&A experience, the boundaries between reality and fiction start to collide as the acting ensemble have to band together to face a threat "more dangerous than anything they ever faced in their show."

WTF, are you kidding me? This sounds amazing! Put this show in theaters! Take! My! Money! And! House! As! Collateral!

Okay enough with the exclamation points. (Harumph!) The concept is right up my alley, as I love anytime life and art can be enmeshed in weird ways like this.

Interestingly, even though the cast includes Katey Sagal (who is set to co-star with Ted Danson in a new Apple TV show that will play up her sexual prowess) is part of the cast, missing from this initial lineup is her hubby and Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter. I can't imagine Hunnam would have started developing this idea without Sutter giving a thumbs up, so hopefully he'll pop up at a later point.

Actually, wait, what if Kurt Sutter is Legends' villain, in some twisted "creator vs. creation" story arc? Now I may be disappointed if that doesn't happen. And still wonder what this show means for Sutter's First Nine plans. Though I guess he might be busy with his Jason Momoa-starring project, or that noir-leaning series he has in the works.

Here's what FX Entertainment President Nike Grad said about the S.O.A. cast's return for Legends, with a lot of the championing going to Charlie Hunnam.

Welcome to the top of my most anticipated shows that aren't in the horror genre, Legends. I cannot wait to meet you. I also am not-so-secretly hoping to learn that Rob Mac will supplement his executive producer role with an on-screen character that tries to out-muscle Hunnma. TV is always missing a good muscle-off, don't you agree?

At this early point of the show's lifespan, there's no telling when it'll eventually show up on FX. In the meantime, the flagship series can be streamed in full via Hulu subscription or Disney+ subscription.

One of those actors who seems impervious to bad performances, David Krumholtz has amassed well over 100 TV and movie credits, from Freaks and Geeks and The Santa Clause to Oppenheimer and Supergirl. lAny time he pops on the screen, audiences can nod assuredly that it'll be a scene worth watching. Which is why a lot of his fans, followers and fellow actors reacted with dismay after he shared a downbeat social post about making the decision to take a break from the business after a series of frustrating situations, with many thinking he was quitting acting for good.

Krumholtz, who noted in 2024 that his phone wasn't ringing very much after Oppenheimer despite its billion-dollar box office, later deleted the post and shared a follow-up clarification on Instagram to assure everyone that, despite any ominousness being picked up on, he isn't in retirement mode. in his words:

He went on to address that as much as he understands a career in acting comes with disappointments, he is in the process of regaining his mental health in now that his 'mountain of disappointments' aren't as easy to bounce back from.

As well, he addressed the "crossroads" he's at by way of what he wants the next chapter of his life to be, and that's what he'll be taking this time to dig into. He ended his message with, "Just,… gimme a sec. ❤️"

Soon after he shared his re-expressed thoughts, another flood of supportive comments popped up and have continued to do so. One of the lengthiest responses came from none other than Jamie Lee Curtis, who shared the following, which got its own response from Krumholtz.

• JAMIE LEE CURTIS: A very close friend wrote a beautiful thought piece about what we all do and try to do in this industry entitled
  THIS IS A DANGEROUS BUSINESS
  It's also a business in flux and shapeshifting in front of our eyes. Technology combined with the continued fallout from the pandemic and the artistic corporatization industrial complex of the art form we all love, has resulted in many many many many many many many artists losing opportunities and hope. Protect your mental health and find your bliss and know that you are respected as an artist and as a human.
  • DAVID KRUMHOLTZ: Jamie. You know this means so much to me. Truly. I’m taking my personal power back like Mo’Nique! You and I come from good stock! 🤓❤️😉

Wise words all around, and thoughtful ones for her to share in such an instance. Not that she was alone. Plenty of celebs who have worked with Krumholtz in the past (and otherwise) shared the love for him during his current stresses.

• JUDD APATOW: ❤️❤️
• JAIME ALEXANDER: In full support🙌
• MARGARITA LEVIEVA: I relate wholeheartedly. Love you, man. This feels right. For now. ❤️‍🔥
• JILLIAN BELL: Beautifully said. You have to protect your mental health first and foremost. You are one of my favorite actors and I can’t wait for the day you say put me back in coach. But until then, you live your life and take a much deserved exhale. Love you buddy.
• JEWEL STAITE: 👏❤️
• REGGIE LEE: Wishing you fulfillment. Thank you for eloquently stating what most actors are feeling today. There is LIFE to live and you are helping us all by seeing that. 🙏🏽🫶🏽💪🏽
• KERRY KINNEY SILVER: I love you, friend☺️❤️
• JOHN CARROLL LYNCH: Take your time. Find joy. You’re a good man. Those of us who are “mid-career professionals” completely get it. ❤️
• CHRISTOPHER MINTZ-PLASSE: ❤️❤️
• JENNIFER ESPOSITO: Yup. As we spoke about. Sending ❤️
• JANUARY JONES: Of course we understand. I break up with acting all the time. I will be like “ew as if” and then love bomb it 2yrs later. It’s Such a toxic boyfriend haha. No need to label it.

If this were a game of "Who said it best?" however, Joey mic-dropping Pants would take the grand prize. His lengthy comment:

• JOE PANTOLIANO: Greed, runs down like shit through goose‘s ass. The billionaires are turning our profession into a hobby. It’s like doing equity waiver, loving this Craft no longer puts food on the table. when Ben Johnson went from being a horse wrangler stunt man to an actor, John Ford paid him $5000 a week X 10 weeks work. Adjusted for inflation in 1938 when they shot that movie $5000 then is worth. $118.642.14 in today’s yeah please don’t get me wrong. I’m incredibly grateful I’ve been way too lucky and have enjoyed every second that I get to play and yes, I know that great actors are a dime a dozen and the market is flooded supply and demand we have to build and create we want to stay in the game as I like to say I’ve been semi retired since I’m 18 years old and doing this for 53 years and a member of the screen actors guild since 1972. Like my agent & endeavor said when they fired me 15 years ago, You had a good run.

I kinda wish Joey Pants would tell me that exact same quote if I was ever in a position where I had to ask him what time it is.

Although I have to wonder if stories about his plights helped out, since he was in a whopping ten projects released in 2025. (Two were animated, so they probably happened long before that.)

Wanna see the actor bring his elf Bernard back for The Santa Clauses TV show? Stream it now via Disney+ subscription, or you can find him portraying Kryptonian patriarch Zor-el in Supergirl, which is available to purchase or rent on digital.

There are a bunch of paparazzi photos circulating the internet of the four actors playing The Beatles in Sam Mendes’ The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, which is still quite a way away from hitting movie screens in 2028. The movies have been filming for a few months now (and are expected to be filming for quite a few more), and recently the faux Fab Four–Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr were snapped by photogs while filming the iconic Abbey Road cover photoshoot. The internet’s response to how they look has been harsh.

‘They Look Absolutely Ridiculous’

The cover of Abbey Road is one of the most iconic album covers of all time, so of course it had to be a part of the movie. In the photo, the four Beatles are crossing the street at a zebra crossing. Lennon is leading the way with a bushy beard and wearing a white suit; Starr follows him in a black suit. Then comes McCartney in a grey suit and no shoes, and trailing behind is Harrison in all denim. I’m not going to get into the fan lore that played into the “Paul is dead” theory, but everyone knows the photo.

In the paparazzi photo, the actors are dressed as The Beatles were that day, and, to be honest, they do look pretty ridiculous. Fans were quick to take to Reddit and talk smack:

• “Every in-costume/makeup photo I see from these films just looks worse and worse.” - u/Long_Emergency6122
• “They look ridiculous.” - u/ShameSuperb7099
• “Looks like an SNL skit” - u/AZmoneyfolder
• “John and George look so bad.” - u/shlict
• “What a fucking disgrace to the Beatles, who all were working-class blokes from Liverpool. None of that DNA shows through these photos.” - u/SouthIsland48
• I hope Lennon’s beard is touched up in post-production. Bc this is looking very….something… - u/MachoLibre_
• “Those wigs are terrible! I'm sure you can make a better fake hair than that... they don't care?” - u/Solarhistorico

I completely understand where these fans are coming from. Looking at these photos, I have many of the same thoughts. However, I’m not worried about it, for two reasons. One, these are taken by a photographer who is likely more than a hundred yards away or more, outside of the production area. That means a long lens and iffy photograph quality. Sure, we’ve come a long way in technology, but it’s still photos from some distance away.

The other reason I’m not concerned is that it's highly unlikely the hair and makeup will look this fake in the final product. Obviously, film hair and makeup relies on some movie magic and trickery, and until we see what these beards and wigs look like in the final, edited product, it's unfair to make assumptions. Greig Fraser is the cinematographer on the films, and he’s an Oscar winner and has shot movies like Dune and Project Hail Mary. Naomi Donne is in charge of hair and makeup, and she’s been nominated for three Oscars (1917, Cruella, and The Batman). Not to mention Sam Mendes running the show.

I think it’s fair to let these folks do what they do and judge them by what’s on the screen, not by a paparazzi photo of the production. I personally can't wait.

Change continues to take hold at CBS News, and much of that is due to the decisions made by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. Since she assumed the major position in late 2025, Weiss has received backlash for some of the moves she’s made. Several former employees have even blasted her, while insiders have dropped claims about some staffers’ misgivings. Now, there’s a new report involving anchor Gayle King and, if this information is to be believed, the veteran journalist isn’t thrilled about one swap Weiss is reportedly considering.

A new rumor suggests that Bari Weiss is leaning towards shifting former CBS Mornings anchor Norah O’Donnell back to the show. This report coincides with claims that Weiss ultimately wants to revamp the entire program, making it similar to MS NOW’s Morning Joe in some respects. All of that should be taken with a grain of salt for right now, though a source still shared allegations with The New York Post about King’s supposedly strong feelings on the matter:

O’Donnell, who's currently a 60 Minutes correspondent, previously anchored the show from 2012 to 2019, during which it was still known as CBS This Morning. Meanwhile, King has been headlining the show since 2011 following the cancellation of her eponymous talk show. As for why King purportedly takes issue with O’Donnell rejoining the series, another insider claims the two are “frenemies” after having a supposedly tense time working together years ago. That unnamed individual also shares the following claims:

CBS Mornings has reportedly been having a difficult time attracting viewers in recent months. The program hit a major low earlier this summer, as it only notched an average of 1.59 million viewers during the week of July 13 (during which Gayle King and Nate Burleson were hosting). Said figure not only marked a 13% decrease in viewership from the previous week, but it was also the first time the show had ever come under a 1.6 million viewer average. A lot of blame has been put on CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, who some claim is “dead meat.” However, Weiss hasn’t emerged unscathed either.

Overall, Weiss has been criticized on several occasions during her time as the head of CBS News. In December, she drew backlash after pulling a 60 Minutes story about a prison in El Salvador at the last minute. The Free Press founder has also been accused of exhibiting political partiality when it comes to editorial matters. Many of the changes she’s made at 60 have also been derided, and since-fired correspondent Scott Pelley claimed she was “murdering” the show. Meanwhile, others have made claims of “journalist interference.”

A prospect that some industry bigwigs now allegedly fear is the prospect of Weiss running CNN should the Paramount Skydance/Warner Bros. Discovery merger go through. Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta expressed his hope that Weiss wouldn’t “murder” that network. Another ex-host, W. Kamau Bell, also expressed his misgivings over Weiss potentially running the company, given her work at CBS. For clarity, though, Paramount CEO David Ellison has not confirmed whether Weiss would actually run that brand.

Regardless, many eyes remain on Weiss as she continues to navigate her role at the Eye Network. As for the Norah O’Donnell situation, time will tell if she actually ends up getting reinstated and shares the air with Gayle King once more.

Katie Holmes has been a style icon for almost as long as I can remember. The actress’ taste level is usually impeccable – though don’t get me started on dresses with jeans – and she maintains this quiet glamor while still managing to frequently be at the cutting edge of new trends. So, I’m not shocked she’s already seemingly looking ahead to fall, and one of the looks she’s repping is a brand new color trend that I can only describe as an "in between." Here's what we know.

Apparently, Holmes, and some other famous names including Oprah Winfrey have been rocking a shade somewhere between cream and the butter yellow that’s dominated runways and trickled into the mainstream over the last couple of years. At one point, KitchenAid even called butter yellow their Color of the Year. While I’m not suggesting we should always try to match our outfits to our kitchen appliances, there’s no doubt retailers have been carrying a lot of the color.

It’s gotten to the point where Hailey Bieber even called butter yellow “played out,” and brands seem to be looking for a new shade to champion. (Though that hasn’t stopped Sophie Turner and others from still rocking the shade.)

Regardless, if butter yellow is a bit too sticky for your taste these days, this fall it looks like this in-between shade should dominate. Holmes has been spotted in the newer color palette quite a bit of late, and since she tends to be a harbinger of celebrity fashion trends, I suggest you take notes. Here’s the actress rocking the look at a Hamptons party this summer.

Along with the Guild Hall Summer 2026 Gala, here’s the actress at the Zimmermann show in a Dawning jacket and matching yellow-cream colored cargo pants.

To be honest, until I really started looking into this trend this week, this is a color I didn’t realize existed, and I still don't have quite the name for it. It’s kind of an off-white cream, but the yellowish hue makes it extra special and makes it pop a bit more than a regular off-white would. There’s a brown hue around right now, too, that I think would complement this greatly, and the in-between color can be found at tons of retailers this fall, in basics like tees...

…to skirts and more.

I quite like that Madewell even calls it the color of “pineapple” (not to be confused with the Sam Heughan variety) since it’s not quite as bright as the butter yellow we’ve seen around a bit more often. To me it should maybe be more of a “buttercream,” but I appreciate all the different tacts brands are taking to give this shade its moment in the sun.

Again, Holmes is not the only celebrity to popularize the trend. Olivia Wilde wore a similar-but- sheer version to last year’s Oscars. But, I guess what I’m saying is, even if you aren’t on the same Zimmerman budget as Ms. Holmes, you can give this one a whirl. The creamy yellow look will doubtless be around this fall, and insofar as new, fun, colors, I really do love it.

Pattiya Phillips and Dylan Yeandle tried to make their long-term relationship work in Tasmania on 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way. Ultimately, though, as viewers saw, that romance flopped. The end of Season 7 left the status of their relationship up in the air but, now, Pattiya is saying she's ended it. And, based on the comments she shared, the split may not have mutual.

It looks like Dylan and Pattiya's appearance on TLC amid the 2026 TV schedule earlier this year will serve as their sole entry on the show. (And it's still available for 90 Day Fiancé fans who have an HBO Max subscription.) Pattiya dropped an Instagram reel, with which she announced that she and her estranged beau were no longer together and made it clear their split wasn't something that Dylan wanted:

No further details were provided about what went down, but Dylan's own Instagram page notably doesn't include details about the relationship. Based on their time on 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way, however, it wouldn't be surprising if they never were able to nail down where to start the next chapter of their lives.

Dylan hoped Pattiya would move to Tasmania, but it became clear to her very early on that her world would shrink too much from what she was used to in Texas. Plus, she didn't appreciate how often Dylan's mother butted into their lives, and it didn't seem like that was going to stop anytime soon.

Pattiya isn't the first American to move overseas and be disillusioned with the experience. Cultural shock is a real phenomenon, and too often I've seen relationships fall apart on this show due to expectations in one country that don't align with commonalities in the United States. It's said that love can conquer all, but this franchise has shown me that some struggles can trump romance.

Now that I think about it, a lot of relationships featured in 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way Season 7 didn't work out. Greta Lin and Matthew's split from that season feels similar to this latest one, in that the distance between them just seemed too much to struggle with. I think there's also the experience of the illusion of the ideal relationship being shattered once they've spent a good deal of time together.

If there's an upside to this, at least Pattiya and Dylan split before becoming one of the many married 90 Day couples who split. That list grows longer with each spinoff that comes out and, at some point, I'm going to need to crunch the numbers on how many of these relationships fail compared to to those that succeed. Off the top of my head, I can only think of a handful of success stories!

90 Day Fiancé continues on TLC on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Last Resort is on Mondays at the same time, and based on how that's going, we may have news to report about more couples splitting before too long.

Tracker will premiere its fourth season soon on the 2026 TV schedule, and I'm obviously thrilled that we'll have Justin Hartley back on our screens. However, to make matters more exciting, Jensen Ackles will return as Colter’s brother Russell too. Now, as we wait to see them reunite on screen, I'm cracking up over their off-screen brotherly dynamic, as the This Is Us actor was recently roasting the Supernatural star.

Hartley appeared at Televerse 26 (via TikTok), where he spoke all about Tracker and the upcoming season. Ackles’ role in the new season was eventually brought up, and Hartley didn’t waste any time both praising and roasting him. Honestly, I wouldn’t expect anything less from him when talking about his longtime friend and on-screen brother:

Considering Hartley and Ackles make a pretty great team, I’m not surprised that they’re acting like brothers both on-screen and off. The Colter actor gave his on-screen brother a warm welcome when he joined Tracker, but it probably didn’t take long for the roasting to start. However, they also very clearly admire and respect each other as well.

So, Hartley began by roasting Ackles; he also reflected on working with his friend and admiring his work ethic. I’m pretty sure all of this will definitely make up for him saying that The Boys actor is ugly, and I just love how much he cares for his co-star:

Hartley went on to explain that he works in a similar way. He also praised his co-star's ability to fully lock into his work while balancing his personal life:

Hearing Hartley talk about Ackles just makes me even more excited for what’s to come in Season 4 of Tracker. It’s been a treat seeing Colter and Russell working together, especially since they were estranged for a while. As of now, it’s unknown what exactly will bring Russell back, or if he will ever be joined by their sister, Dory (Melissa Roxburgh). But Heartley did tease that Russell's return centers around a favor he needs from Colter.

Since Ackles will be joining the fun on Tracker Season 4 soon, hopefully there will be some BTS content to keep fans occupied until his episode premieres. The wait will definitely be worth it, though. Plus, you never know what to expect when Russell appears, so seeing what the Shaw brothers get into should be entertaining.

More information about Tracker should be announced in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the first three seasons are streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. Tracker Season 4 premieres on Sunday, October 4 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS, streaming the next day on Paramount+.

Spoilers for Reacher Season 4, Episode 4 are ahead! You can stream the show with an Amazon Prime subscription and catch new episodes every Wednesday.

For the first three episodes of Reacher’s critically acclaimed fourth season, Jack Reacher had no real clue who he was up against. However, that was revealed by the end of the fourth episode. Now, we know that Lila and Amisha Hoth are the villains of the season currently airing on the 2026 TV schedule. While I totally saw this coming, I’m thrilled other fans didn’t, because their reactions are fantastic.

Whether you are aware of this book-to-screen adaptation’s source material (Lee Child’s novel Gone Tomorrow) or you heard Alan Ritchson talk about Reacher “sleeping with the enemy” this season, it was out there that the Hoths were Season 4’s antagonists. However, now it’s officially been revealed on screen, as we saw Lila and Amisha pick up their knives and put up a fight in Episode 4.

Admittedly, even though I knew this plot twist was coming, the way it was done did surprise me. I loved that we found out when the two women pulled out their knives and took down a group of guys who had come to kill them. It was intense and an epic way to reveal that they weren't the innocent people they had been playing for the first few episodes.

Plus, it put Reacher in a tough spot because he was the one caught in the room with the victims of the Hoths. So, it seems he’s facing the consequences of their actions, which puts him in a sticky situation going into Episode 5.

Fans had big reactions to all this, understandably. For example, this fan posted on X:

They really do seem innocent at first. However, they are actually very much the bad girls of this season. And that’s left fans all fed up (in a good way), as they wrote on X:

• Holy shittt Is Lila the real villain this season???? -Myke
• I had my doubts about Lila, but damn, I didn’t see that coming 😲 Reacher really met his match this time. She’s a real baddie and a straight up menace. 💀 And poor Merrick. -Krish
• Holy shit. That twist! Lila and that old woman are the main villains?! 😱 😱 😱 #REACHER -JS

Overall, this whole situation was epic, and viewers loved it, as some commented on Reacher's Instagram post about the reveal:

• Hoth is definitely too hot to handle! 🔥 The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. what a performance -lathonugraha
• REACHER S4 really got a whole baddie in Lila Hoth. We WON 🔥 -agnezmovortex
• NO ONE DOES INDO BADDIE ENERGY LIKE AGNEZ MO & ANGGUN. 🔥🔥 -wid_issi

Now, the question becomes: How will Jack Reacher defeat Lila and Amisha Hoth? They seem like formidable opponents, and they’re very different from the antagonists of seasons past.

So, to see how they try to take down Reacher and to see how he works to outsmart and fight them, you can catch new episodes of Reacher every Wednesday.

Over the three decades the Law & Order franchise has been around, it's built up quite the roster of guest stars. While lots of said guest stars appeared on the show before they were famous, plenty of others were very established performers when they popped up in this world. It’s honestly amazing to think about how many people have appeared on these shows, as Keke Palmer helped point out at the 2025 SAG Awards. Now, Law & Order alum S. Epatha Merkerson has shared her favorite guest star, and I absolutely love her pick.

Before she was Sharon Goodwin on Chicago Med, Merkerson starred in a different Dick Wolf drama on NBC. She was a series regular on Seasons 4-20 of Law & Order as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. Starring in that many seasons, she definitely saw her fair share of guest stars, both big and small. While one would think that choosing a favorite from over 15 seasons would be hard, for Merkerson, her top guest star was a no-brainer. She told People:

Jerry Stiller appeared in not one but two episodes of Law & Order in the ‘90s. The late King of Queens star was a guest during Season 2 in 1993 and Season 7 in 1996. Even though his last appearance was 30 years ago, it seems to still have an impact on Merkerson. Not just because he’s Jerry Stiller, but it sounds like he was as sweet as can be, and I can only imagine the kinds of stories he told.

Even though Merkerson called out Stiller pretty quickly as her favorite, she had trouble picking other memorable guest stars. Not because there weren’t any, but because there were too many. For a show like Law & Order, there have been hundreds of guest stars, and again, it’s pretty incredible to think about just how many actors have been on it, as the actress pointed out:

Between Law & Order and its many spinoffs, it almost feels like an acting rite of passage to be a guest star. And as long as the Law & Order franchise continues, there will be plenty more guest stars, including many young actors hoping to make it big. As of now, Law & Order doesn’t have any end in sight, nor does Law & Order: SVU, so it’s possible there will still be many, many more seasons and guest stars.

Meanwhile, fans can watch Stiller’s episodes with a Hulu subscription. Select seasons of Law & Order are available on Hulu and with a Peacock subscription. There will also be plenty more guest stars to look forward to with the premiere of Season 26 on Thursday, October 8 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, following the Season 28 premiere of Law & Order: SVU.

Of the remaining book-to-screen adaptations to arrive on the big screen in 2026, Whalefall is among my most anticipated. I can't wait to see how Brian Duffield brings Daniel Kraus' intense story of grief and survival in the face of an unimaginable situation to life. From what we saw in the last trailer, as well as the one that just dropped today, it looks like we're in for a wild ride. In fact, I had a full-on Jaws flashback, watching as Austin Abrams' character, Jay Gardiner, finds himself being devoured by a whale while scuba diving in search of his father's remains.

Here's the thing though, as scary as that scene is, the trailer also shows us the bigger picture, which is the fight for survival. Also a fight against a big squid, but that's a more literal struggle. Honestly, I think what gets me the most about this trailer, especially as I'm thinking about Jaws, is the sound Abrams' character is making -- muffled cries of terror through his scuba mask -- I can still hear it in my head, and it makes me think of poor Chrissie at the start of Jaws, when the shark is trying to pull her under. I can still hear that too.

But like I was getting at, Whalefall isn't Jaws. In the Steven Spielberg movie, a characters' story is pretty much over once they've been swallowed. As we can see in the trailer Brian Duffield's Whalefall, Gardiner's story is only just beginning.

The story is less a horror as it is a survival thriller. Jay Gardiner's father (played by Josh Brolin) died scuba diving, and now Jay is searching for his remains. This is what puts him in the path of the squid and the sperm whale. After he's swallowed by the whale, he's equipped with whatever oxygen is left in his tank and the lessons his father bestowed on him to try to come out of the situation alive.

In addition to really diving into the terror of the situation -- being swallowed by a giant sperm whale, facing off with a squid, and likely the intense pressure of the ocean's depth -- the trailer also gives us samples of Jay's father's wisdom, as Brolin's voice can be heard throughout parts of it. "Remember, survivor's survive," he says.

Those who've read the book know how things turn out for the character. In fact, the book gets an extra nod with this trailer's release, as it came with a new poster release, which clearly pays tribute to the source material:

The image of a scuba diver hovering over a whale's open mouth is what's depicted on the cover of Daniel Kraus' book. As Kraus is also credited for co-writing the screenplay alongside Brian Duffield, I'm optimistic that the spirit of the book will really come through in this adaptation. Even if I hadn't read the book though, I think the trailers for this movie would've sold me.

Whalefall arrives in theaters on the 2026 movie schedule on October 16.

Earlier this year, Sydney Sweeney launched her lingerie brand, Syrn. In a matter of hours, Syrn’s first drop sold out, with the actress taking to Instagram to say she was “grateful” and that a restock would be happening “soon.” Now, the company has been around for months, and it’s reportedly not doing too hot, as one insider claimed it's been a “disaster.”

Apparently, there have been meetings happening to talk about how Syrn can increase its sales. Allegedly, it hasn’t been selling the way they believed it would, as one insider claimed to InTouch:

When Syrn was launched, Sweeney’s viral stunts made a splash, causing lots of conversation about the company. That talk was both positive and negative, because while it sold out, there were also people roasting the brand.

Since then, the Anyone But You actress has been consistently posting about Syrn on her own Instagram, where she has 26 million followers. She also created a saloon for the lingerie brand at Stagecoach and has been rocking the garments during her off-time from filming. Between August 10 and 14, amid the Spokane wildfires, Sweeney also donated 100% of the profits from her “Do What Makes You Naked” to organizations helping those impacted by the fires.

So, we’ve consistently been seeing promotion from her for her brand. And it’s clear it was successful at first. However, according to this source, it’s allegedly not doing as well as they’d hoped. Therefore, it’s reportedly back to the drawing board as they work on ways to heighten sales for this size-inclusive lingerie brand.

Obviously, take this with a grain of salt; we don’t have the numbers to prove that this is true.

Notably, Syrn did get some mixed reviews. Actress and model Hailee Lautenbach said she was “pleasantly surprised” by the pieces while reviewing them on her Instagram. However, Slate’s Scaachi Koul said the pieces are “fine,” while also expressing that it felt like these products were “something women buy in order to appeal to men.”

On the brand’s site, some of the products listed as bestsellers have fairly positive reviews; however, there is negative feedback too. The Fantasy Lace Halter Bodysuit has 84 five-star reviews and four one-star reviews, and a handful of reviews falling between two and four stars. Meanwhile, the Soft Launch Scoop Bralette has five one-star reviews and 40 five-star reviews, with a few more responses from shoppers falling between three and four stars.

The report from InTouch also notes that Sweeney’s other major fashion endeavour, her jeans campaign with American Eagle, struggled. In one sense, it did, because it was met with a ton of backlash and controversy. However, it also made a lot of money.

Therefore, it will be interesting to see how Syrn grows and sells as it continues through its first year.

Despite ABC’s side-eye-inducing move to keep Shifting Gears out of the back half of the 2026 TV schedule in order to give it and other big shows a 2027 midseason debut, the future looks brighter than ever for the Parker family. Or at least for Riley…well, the actress who plays Riley. Because it’s finally happening: a 2 Broke Girls reunion is coming to Shifting Gears Season 3 thanks to impending guest star Beth Behrs! Cue the confetti cannons!

What To Expect From Beth Behrs' Debut In Shifting Gears Season 3

ABC, Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs all shared the following video on their respective socials, and it's an amusingly simple and to-the-point way to get fans excited and giggling. I love it when someone acts extremely proud of a dumb joke.

As amusing as the BTS moment is, it doesn't really tell us much about who Behrs will be playing. But we do know a couple of details via Deadline, namely that Behrs will be joining the sitcom as the character Dr. Johnson, who's described as a "beautiful emergency room doctor" whom Riley meets when she goes to the hospital to seek treatment for a back injury.

Let's assume that her injury is lighter than, say, a broken back. Because then there would only be 1 Broke(n) Girl. And that just won't do.

Without any additional details hinting at Riley and the doctor forming a quick platonic connection, it seems like Beth Behrs' role will be limited to a single appearance. But that could always change, obviously, especially if fans are especially enthused about the on-screen reunion. As well as the BTS reconnect between Behrs and Shifting Gears showrunner Michelle Nader, who was a writer and executive producer for 2 Broke Girls. (Which is probably why the ABC show already featured a callback reference.)

Tim Allen wants Season 3 and beyond to open up the world of the show in a way that slightly resembles the excellent Canadian comedy Kim's Convenience, so maybe there's room for Riley to make a new close friend. What is life if not a series of exchanges with recurring friends and family members?

What Fans Are Saying About Kat Dennings And Beth Behrs Reuniting

Understandably, the excitement is palpable, and there are plenty of people who can't wait to see the two actresses sharing scenes anew in front of live audiences. Comments shared to the above post, as well as this Instagram pic with Michelle Nader, include the following bits of jubilance and hope (starting with comments from ABC, Hulu and Nader herself):

• this reunion >>> - @Hulu
• TWO!!!!! 😍😍😍 - @ABC
• True love - @Michelle Nader
• DO NOT PLAY WITH MY EMOTIONS .... ARE WE GETTING NEW 2 BROKE GIRLS 👀👀🤞🙏 - @cherrybombvesselapproved
• MY MAX AND CAROLINE - @claraxsalazar
• Whaaaaaat!!!!!! 😮😮😮😮 I literally got chills, love them both soooooo much 😍😍😍 - @mashakhalil22
• MY MOMS🥹 - @kimino_4
• A 2 BROKE GIRLS REBOOT WOULD FIX THE WORLD - @luca.neri.xo
• TV REUNION WE ALL NEEDED!!! - @malaney.iw
• serving since ‘11 👏 - @tischofficial
• I’m broke too 😂 - @christ03pher
• THIS MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME - @wrstboyonweb
• PLEASE COME BACK MAX AND CAROLINE, I BEG YOU GUYS 😭😭😭 - @bleach.ily

Amusingly or tragically, quite a few commenters appear to be blissfully unaware that Shifting Gears exists, and seemed to be genuinely optimistic that these cheeky visuals were intended to spark interest in a TV return for 2 Broke Girls' Max and Caroline themselves, as opposed to co-starring on a completely different comedy.

And then there were those who wanted the Shifting Gears reunion to incorporate more than just Beth Behrs, with calls for Jennifer Coolidge's character to also join the fun.

• Where the hell is Chestnut 🐴🐴 - @al4l.me
• Where is Sophie? 😂 - @lizi_michi
• Its incomplete without Sophie in between😭🔥 - @meemusaa
• I wish if sophie will be there😭 - @mubashir_123xino

With Tim Allen's Matt set to continue exploring his relationship with Eve in Season 3, new episodes are set to kick off in 2027. Here's hoping we get a few more teases about upcoming guest actors that bring in more of Tim Allen's former co-stars.

The Office is still considered to be one of the best sitcoms of all time, even years after it ended. That status wasn't always so clear, however. Like many shows that are just starting out, it took a while for the beloved workplace comedy to find its footing, and its fame. When NBC picked up the series for Season 2 back in 2005, Jenna Fischer and co. thought they had finally made it. Until they were humbled by none other than a Seinfeld star.

Fischer appeared on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Dinner’s On Me podcast, where she reflected on her career so far. She and the Modern Family favorite got to talking about paparazzi encounters at one point, and Fischer recalled a funny story from The Office’s early days.

After the NBC sitcom was picked up for Season 2, the actress said she, Angela Kinsey, Kate Flannery, and Phyllis Smith decided to have a “ladies’ lunch” to celebrate. They opted for The Ivy, a famous LA hotspot known for paparazzi encounters, hoping to get some press. However, they encountered a couple of problems when they got there.

I love that they wanted to go to a hotspot just to try to get noticed by paparazzi, and I can’t say I blame them. The Office was still new. What better way to try out their new star power than by seeing if they could get some paparazzi shots? The fact is, they not only didn’t get the table they requested, but the paparazzi ignored them completely for another star.

As it turns out, it was a Seinfeld star who humbled the ladies of The Office.

It’s understandable the paparazzi would be more excited to take photos of someone like Jason Alexander at the time. George Costanza's funny moments on Seinfeld are some of the best moments of the series, and Seinfeld was less than 10 years out when The Office got off the ground. So, it's not surprising that he would get a whole group of paps following him. Since The Office was still so new, it also makes sense that they wouldn't be following the ladies, though this entire sequence of events sounds pretty hilarious.

The humbling did not end there. They were put in their place further by a lone member of the paparazzi.

She didn't fully clarify, but it sounds like he merely thought Kinsey was admitting they worked in the offices of NBC, not on NBC’s newly minted sitcom The Office. If only he realized what was truly happening. I also wonder if this guy remembers this moment years later?

While one would think the paparazzi encounters would only get better as the show took off, most celebs know that isn't really what tends to happen. Fischer admitted that at the show’s peak, one person rear-ended her while trying to get someone’s picture.

So, I guess I take two lessons from this story: Being on a sitcom on NBC like Jason Alexander doesn't mean you'll get the same attention as Jason Alexander, and also, be careful what you wish for. There's never a dull day in the public eye.

Tom Holland has been playing Spider-Man for a decade now, and considering how much money his version of Peter Parker has made for Sony and Marvel, I figured his latest contract would come with one heck of a raise. Still, I was not prepared for this. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has already become a $2 billion monster at the worldwide box office and, apparently, Holland's paycheck is impressively growing right alongside it.

30-year-old Holland received at least $20 million upfront to return for his fourth solo Spider-Man movie, according to TheWrap. That alone doubled the reported $10 million salary he earned for No Way Home. The really wild part is Holland’s backend deal, which sources told the outlet could push his total compensation past $100 million. Even better for him, the bonus is reportedly uncapped.

Per reports, the former West End star turned A-lister earned just $250,000 when he first swung into the MCU for Captain America: Civil War in 2016. His salary increased to $500,000 for Spider-Man: Homecoming, then $4 million for Far From Home and $10 million for No Way Home. His original six-picture agreement expired after that third solo outing, which meant returning for Brand New Day required an entirely new deal.

The Uncharted actor’s giant bonus is tied to Brand New Day’s ridiculous theatrical performance. The movie passed $2 billion worldwide during its third weekend, becoming only the eighth movie ever to cross that mark and the second-fastest to do it behind Avengers: Endgame. Kudos to Holland for not just helping to make an incredible Spidey movie but for also securing the bag in the process.

Since Holland’s backend reportedly has no ceiling, the $100 million figure could keep climbing as Peter Parker continues to sell more and more tickets. This deal is crossing into Robert Downey Jr. territory. It's fair to say the Marvel comparison is Downey, who basically wrote the blueprint for turning a new superhero flick's success into enormous backend paydays.

Downey famously started with $500,000 for 2008’s Iron Man before negotiating increasingly lucrative deals as Tony Stark became the face of the MCU. Reportedly, RDJ's compensation for Iron Man 3 reached roughly $50 million after backend participation, while his later Avengers deals pushed his earnings above $100 million across Infinity War and Endgame. It was previously reported that Downey earned at least $75 million for Infinity War alone, largely thanks to his back-end arrangement.

That is pretty rare company for a young and in-demand actor like Holland to be entering, especially when we are talking about compensation for a single Spider-Man movie. The timing also could not be better for him. Brand New Day is now Sony’s highest-grossing movie ever, while Holland also starred in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which has crossed $1.3 billion globally. The British star is having the kind of year that gives an actor considerably more leverage the next time a studio calls.

As for Marvel and Sony, they certainly seem interested in calling again. According to the outlet's reporting, Holland, Kevin Feige and Sony chairman Tom Rothman have all expressed interest in continuing his Spider-Man's story, though it remains unclear whether his current contract already covers another movie. If another negotiation is required after Brand New Day finishes its run, I suspect those conversations will be very expensive.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently playing in theaters as part of the 2026 movie calendar. Be sure to check your local listings for showtimes.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Big Brother live feeds as of Wednesday, August 19th. Stream the feeds with a Paramount+ subscription and on Pluto TV, and read at your own risk!

Yash's HOH week was flipped on its head when Rick Devens used his Diamond Power of Veto, and it seems the vets are once again taking hold of Season 28. With Kamu Kirk on the block and the Vets forming a new majority alliance with F.A.P., it looked like they had a path to the endgame. Unfortunately, for them, it looks like it may not work out the way they hope.

Melody And Mallory Realized They're At The Bottom Of The Totem Pole With The Mosh Pit

For those not watching Big Brother online, there's a new majority alliance called Mosh Pit, which consists of Dee Valladares, Rick Devens, Angela Murray, Barrett Pfeiffer, Drew Campbell, Melody Morris and Mallory Aurichio. It's a solid group though, thanks to Barrett and Drew's messiness, it may be over after just one eviction, or maybe even sooner.

Mallory and Melody were having some spirited conversations in private yesterday, and it was all about feeling betrayed by Drew and Barrett. They believed they'd had a solid group since the start, but we've seen in recent weeks that they trust the two boys less and less. The tipping point, however, seems to be when they clocked Barrett directly fed Dee information from an HOH room convo she wasn't a part of.

After that, Angela accidentally let slip that the Icons have been working with Barrett and Drew for a while, which was also something Melody and Mallory didn't know. Essentially, it's led to the realization that the Mosh Pit was not F.A.P joining with the Icons, but rather The Crossovers pulling in two extra Houseguests for numbers.

Being at the bottom of the alliance means you're expendable, and it isn't where you want to be if you want to win Big Brother. As such, it looks like the two women are plotting their next move, and it involves turning the tables on the vets and possibly starting another alliance.

Will Melody And Mallory Flip On The Alliance Now, Or Will They Wait?

There's an opportunity for Melody and Mallory to flip on the Mosh Pit this week, with Angela up on the block. They discussed this already, and it seems the general consensus is they intend to take out Kamu if he's able to be evicted.

Assuming Kamu wins the BB Blockbuster, this leaves an interesting scenario open if Haley Thogmartin and Angela are up for eviction. Melody and Mallory could be swing votes to save Haley, and then send Angela out the door. This would weaken the Icons and potentially gain them favor with those outside the alliance.

Realistically, however, I don't think Melody and Mallory will save Haley unless something major changes in their relationships. I haven't seen any of them speak since Haley's wild HOH, in which she went off on Melody and others. Plus, leaving Kamu and Haley together would allow an opportunity for them to take the two women's place in the Mosh Pit and put a target on their backs.

The best play, in my opinion, would be to work with the Mosh Pit for this week, and then push the following HOH to either get Devens or Dee out of the game. Basically, Melody and Mallory need to ensure Drew and Barrett are more reliant on them, and that won't happen with the Icons still in the house. This week wouldn't be the worst time to make a move and blow things up, but I think waiting until next week is far better.

We'll see if Mallory and Melody make any more moves for themselves as Big Brother continues on CBS on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 28 is really flying by at this point, so make sure to stay on top of what's happening as we get closer to the finale with each passing day!

When I first heard about Tony, the latest movie from A24 about the early life of the late Anthony Bourdain, I was intrigued, but I was also a little skeptical. As a huge fan of Bourdain’s, I openly wondered if a movie like this would work, and whether it would be a fitting legacy for the writer and travel show pioneer. It turns out, I wasn’t alone. Some fans of Bourdain have been outspoken in their belief that Bourdain would’ve hated the even the idea of a movie like this. Recently, his former assistant, Laurie Woolever, wrote an article addressing what she thinks Bourdain would have thought, and even she isn't sure.

Predicting Anything With Bourdain Was Impossible

I understand why fans assume they know what Bourdain would have thought about Tony, which stars Dominic Sessa as the chef. With his many books and TV shows, the raconteur let us, as fans, in on many details of his life, both good and bad. A big part of what made him so popular is that he was so honest and often vulnerable about his life. We really felt like we knew him, even though we never met him. That led to online discourse among some fans deriding the movie, flatly claiming that Bourdain would have hated it. According to Woolever, that’s not necessarily the case.

Writing for Bon Appétit, Woolever states:

Even those closest to him, like Woolever, who worked for Bourdain for years, were kept off balance by his opinions and his choices. There is, in her mind, absolutely no way to know if Bourdain would have loved the idea of a movie, or hated the final product. She goes on:

There was definitely a part of the Parts Unknown star who loved stuff like this. Remember, back in 2005 Fox greenlit the sitcom Kitchen Confidential, a loose book-to-screen adaptation of Bourdain’s life and his groundbreaking 2000 book of the same name. The show starred Bradley Cooper as “Jack Bourdain,” but only lasted half a season before being canceled.

So who’s to say exactly how Anthony Bourdain would’ve felt about this movie, which hits screens on the 2026 movie schedule this weekend? I can speak for myself, however, and despite my…reservations…about the movie, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Woolever did too, though she isn't sure the ending was what her former boss would've wanted. Bourdain has been gone eight years now, and I miss him as all his fans do, and in my opinion at least, I think the filmmakers did right by him and his legacy. Whether he would’ve agreed, we’ll never know.

Ryan Gosling and extremely iconic movie jackets have a history. Drive gave him the satin scorpion jacket that launched a thousand Halloween costumes, and Blade Runner 2049 put him in a shearling coat that somehow made wandering around a miserable dystopian wasteland look fashionable. Now, for the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, he has apparently decided the man needs another piece of outerwear I desperately want, and this one comes with a fantastic Rebel Alliance twist.

Gosling showed off the jacket during Disney's D23 showcase in Anaheim, where director Shawn Levy officially introduced his Starfighter character, Kade Auberon. The presentation began with an adorable nod to his Disney past and his days on The Mickey Mouse Club, complete with a throwback-style MMC jacket. Then Levy helped him swap it for a jacket inspired by the one Kade wears in the upcoming Star Wars movie. The handoff was captured on TikTok by The Moment Lab and can be seen below.

Can we please talk about that new jacket? Look at the back of that thing.

As you can see in the image below, the black, star-speckled jacket has what initially looks like a distressed skull-and-crossbones insignia painted across it. Look closer, though, and the skull is created from an upside-down version of the Rebel Alliance's famous Starbird logo, with crossed blasters completing the pirate-style design.

Genuinely, that may be one of the coolest uses of existing Star Wars iconography I've seen in years.

The Starbird has been part of the franchise since the original trilogy, appearing on Rebel pilots' helmets and uniforms. Lucasfilm has also linked its origins to Sabine Wren's personal Starbird symbol in Star Wars Rebels, with the character's creative choice essentially inspiring the Rebel Alliance's insignia.

Turning that familiar symbol upside down and reshaping it into something closer to a pirate flag tells me a lot about the attitude Starfighter may be going for. We still know relatively little about the movie, and I have no idea what the emblem actually means to Kade. Still, this one design choice has me very excited to find out.

That tracks with what Gosling revealed about his character at D23. He described Kade as “a guy from the wrong side of the galaxy,” whose fate becomes tied to the fastest starfighter ever built. Lucasfilm says the movie follows the cynical rogue as his mysterious past catches up with him, sending him across the galaxy. So giving that guy what amounts to Rebel Alliance pirate gear feels pretty appropriate.

The first footage shown exclusively at D23 also revealed that Kade owns a decommissioned Imperial Reaper-class fighter that he claims is the fastest starfighter ever built. Flynn Gray's younger character becomes wrapped up in that adventure, with the footage showing the pair traveling across several planets while Kade works on the mysterious ship.

Levy has said the 2027 movie release tells an original story set during a period of the Star Wars timeline we have not previously explored on screen. Gosling and Gray are joined by Amy Adams, Matt Smith, Mia Goth and Aaron Pierre, among others.

Star Wars: Starfighter arrives May 28, 2027, exactly 50 years and a few days after the original Star Wars changed movies forever in May 1977. And as for Gosling's new duds? No notes.

Fans can revisit all the Star Wars movies in order by streaming them with a Disney+ subscription.

Fans and celebrities alike continue to mourn Hayden Panettiere, who died at 36 this past weekend. Many of the tributes in Panettiere’s honor have come from a wide array of her former co-stars from both movies and TV shows. One of the late actress’ earliest films is the beloved 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans, in which she plays the young, football-loving Sheryl Yates. Another star from that film, Ethan Suplee, recently paid tribute to Panettiere and, in the process, he revealed an instance in which he did heroin.

In Titans (one of several Black-led films that needs to be seen), Suplee plays lovable offensive lineman Louie Lastik. The Boaz Yakin-directed biopic arguably now serves as a particularly memorable title within Suplee’s filmography. Upon learning of Panettiere’s death, Suplee took to his substack to honor his former colleague. The Boy Meets World alum specifically recalled a warm moment he shared with Panettiere when they were together at the film’s premiere over 25 years ago:

Suplee paints a sweet picture, which suggests that his then-young co-star’s upbeat aura briefly rubbed off on him. What followed, unfortunately, was a much darker situation for the eventual Wolf of Wall Street co-star. Suplee went on to admit that during the event, he eventually “smoked heroin” in the bathroom. He also described another low point of the night, which involved him meeting the real Lastik:

For years now, Ethan Suplee has been candid about his struggles with drug abuse and weight issues, and this anecdote appears to be an extension of that. Suplee has become healthier in recent years, though, as he’s lost hundreds of pounds and avoided food-related temptations. However, around the time Titans was released, the star was still struggling and, as he further explained, another encounter with Panettiere at the premiere helped lift his spirits for a moment:

The death of Panettiere – who was found unresponsive in a South Carolina residence days ago – has evidently been difficult for many to process, based on many of the messages that have been shared on social media. Nevertheless, many are dwelling on the positive memories they have of her. Actors like Jenna Ortega, Viola Davis and Masi Oka have reached out as has Ice Princess director Tim Fywell and many more.

It’s been bittersweet to see Hayden Panettiere posthumously receive her flowers, but it’s lovely to see the respect being shown to her nonetheless. What’s more is that Panettiere’s memory won’t just live on through stories shared by Ethan Suplee and others. Her vast body of work, including Remember the Titans, can also be enjoyed for years to come.

There was once a time when it felt like all Marvel movies were meant to be huge hits, but that’s not the case anymore. Spider-Man: Brand New Day may have officially become a $2 billion dollar winner, but it follows a string of MCU flicks that have performed below expectations. Someone just asked Marvel boss Kevin Feige if it has to do with the movies being “the same," and he had a point to make.

In an interview with Variety, Feige was asked if he thinks “audiences are getting tired of more of the same story.” I was surprised he answered the question, but he made a thoughtful point:

The Fantastic Four: First Steps came out last summer to underwhelming commercial results. While the movie had an awesome first weekend at the box office, it saw a significant drop in its second weekend. Ultimately, it’s the 11th-lowest grossing film among MCU films even though as Kevin Feige suggested, it was a new look and feel for the universe.

To Feige’s point, First Steps certainly stands out among MCU movies. It’s set in an alternate universe in the 1960s of a retro-futuristic world. It also didn’t include any cameos from other Avengers or MCU characters and had the old-timey feel of its original comic books.

Surely, there are other reasons why audiences weren’t clobbering to the movie theaters for Fantastic Four. For one, there’s been three previous movies about the team across the past 20 years. Then, there’s the “superhero fatigue” of it all.

A couple of years ago, Kevin Feige got honest with CinemaBlend about there being an “overabundance” of MCU movies and TV shows. Lately, Marvel has been slowing down the roll out of upcoming MCU projects. For example, this year there are just two new 2026 movie releases and three live-action seasons of MCU-related TV shows. (Well, for those with a Disney+ subscription). It’s a change of pace from, say 2021, when there were four big-screen releases and three seasons of live-action TV all in the same twelve months.

The massive success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day shows that people are very excited to show up for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Superhero movies are not as much of a slam dunk as they used to be, but they can still be big. Next up is Avengers: Doomsday, which is already reportedly projecting ahead of Brand New Day in presales. We’ll see how the latest MCU movie does when it comes out this December 18.

When the Vince McMahon docuseries came out in 2024, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription, it's safe to say I had mixed feelings. Granted, I definitely think Vince McMahon deserved a docuseries (though it came out amidst a pretty heinous lawsuit), but I also thought it could have been a lot more interesting.

After watching it again recently, I realized something. Sure, Vince has led a pretty interesting life, but his son, Shane McMahon, who speaks during the docuseries, seems WAY more fascinating. That's why I think we need a docuseries about Shane McMahon as well. So, here are just a few things that I would like to see in a hypothetical Shane-O-Mac docuseries.

I Would Love To Know Why Shane Wanted To Be A Hardcore Wrestler In Particular

What's interesting about the McMahon family is that all of them - Vince, Stephanie, Shane, and yes, even Linda - had roles both in and outside of the ring. Who could forget when Vince McMahon clashed with Stone Cold? Or what about Stephanie McMahon’s lengthy title run (though she rarely defended her title)? Hell, even Linda McMahon engaged in one of the most bizarre storylines ever when she was confined to a wheelchair while her husband had affairs right in front of her.

However, the only member of the family who felt like a legitimate wrestler was Shane McMahon, who had honest-to-God classic matches with the likes of Kurt Angle (the best to ever do it), The Big Show, Kane, and even his own father at WrestleMania 17. That said, Shane wasn’t just your typical wrestler. No, he was usually hardcore and even won the Hardcore title back in 2000.

My question is, why? Yes, it’s KIND of touched upon in the Vince docuseries, as it goes into how Shane was always trying to prove himself, but I want more depth into this. Like, why did Shane put himself through such pain when he could have just taken safer bumps and still gotten over with the fans? Why did he decide to be one of the toughest wrestlers that the WWE has ever produced? That’s what I want to know.

I'd Also Love To See His Role In Trying to Inherit The Family Business

Triple H is in charge of creative right now at WWE, and Nick Khan is the President. However, why isn’t the heir apparent, Shane McMahon, running things now at WWE? Yes, it always seemed like his sister, Stephanie, had more business acumen, but why didn’t Shane push to take over the family business? That’s something that I’ve always wondered as well.

Shane has discussed in the past, saying that he wanted to spend more time with his family, and he also hasn’t always had the best relationship with his father (He was even fired back in 2022 following an incident at the Royal Rumble), but I want to know more about this. You know, for a time, it looked like Shane was going to make the leap to AEW, and even though it never happened, it didn’t seem outside the realm of possibility, which you would NEVER suspect of Stephanie.

I want to know more about Shane’s feelings about not being next in line. Does it really not bother him that he never took over the business? I think a docuseries could get to the heart of the matter.

In The End, Shane Seems A Lot More Interesting Than His Father

I think what makes Shane more interesting than Vince is that he’s more of an enigma. Like, I get Stephanie’s ambition and drive, and I understand Vince’s rigid feelings on the business, but I don’t understand Shane’s feelings.

We got to see how Vince treated Shane in the docuseries, but I don’t really know how Shane truly felt himself. It’s like, we see Shane from other people’s perspectives, but not from his own, and that’s why I feel like Shane deserves his own docuseries.

I think that would be much more interesting. Don’t you?

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU has been taking shape over the past year, with Gunn’s Superman film as well as the shows Peacemaker and Creature Commandos have struck chords with audiences. However, Supergirl – the most recent big-screen entry in the burgeoning interconnected universe – was met with middling reviews and low box office receipts. HBO's Lanterns comes on the heels of that movie’s performance, and I love how one of the EP’s responded when asked if the creative team now feels “pressure.”

To put it simply, this is an important time for the DCU continuity, as the brain trust at DC Studios seeks to draw in fans with varied stories of do-gooders, bad guys and everyone in between. Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl (which I mostly enjoyed) now represents a misstep in that plan. This came up when Lanterns showrunner Chris Mundy was asked about this while speaking to SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend. Mundy suggested that any question about pressure should be forwarded to his bosses before adding more thoughts:

So, in other words, the Ozark alum is cognizant of the 2026 movie schedule entry’s performance, but he’s not dwelling on it. Mundy’s perspective on the situation is more than reasonable, considering that he can only control the corner of the DCU that he’s responsible for. As he says, that also means encouraging people to watch the show he and his team made, despite how some may feel in the aftermath of Supergirl. I appreciate Mundy’s candor on his show as well as the fact that he still understands the corporate side of this:

It goes without saying that execs at WB and DC Studios probably wish Supergirl had performed better. As it stands, the film has only made a little over $126 million worldwide against a reported production budget somewhere between $170 million and $186 million. Despite the movie not moving the needle, execs are still excited about Man of Tomorrow, Clayface and other upcoming entries in the franchise.

As for Lanterns, it has received positive reviews thus far (though some viewers weren’t happy with that Hal Jordan twist in the premiere). Still, like an extraterrestrial lantern, the future still seems bright for the DCU. Not only that but both Green Lantern John Stewart and Kara will both be featured in Man of Tomorrow. All in all, I’d say fans shouldn’t start worrying just yet and keep a level-headed mindset like Chris Mundy.

Lanterns airs on HBO on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET amid the 2026 TV schedule, and episodes are also available to stream with an HBO Max subscription.

The Big Bang Theory is one of the best sitcoms of all time and, even though it ended seven years ago, it remains firmly in the public's consciousness. Personally, I wouldn't change much about the 12-season show, but there were plenty of creative alterations made before and while the series was airing. Certain scenes had to be cut for time, while other storylines simply didn’t get to see the light of day because of other reasons. Apparently, there was even a Sheldon scene that was discarded, and I think this would've been great.

Brian Thomas Smith, who played Penny’s on-again-off-again boyfriend Zack in the beloved CBS sitcom, appeared on The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast, where he shared some more BTS stories about Big Bang. The actor made his debut as Zack at the end of Season 3 and returned for a few episodes in Season 4. Interestingly, Smith revealed there was a Season 4 episode he was supposed to appear in with a storyline involving Sheldon, but it didn't come to fruition for an unfortunate reason:

I can only imagine how chaotic Zack giving Sheldon advice about women would be. There's so much comedic potential in an exchange like that, and I'm sad it didn't happen. Still, I understand the reason for that, given Kaley Cuoco's injury. There was no point in having Smith in the episode if his on-screen love interest wasn’t going to be in the episode.

Luckily, Smith was told he would eventually return to the show, and but writers had to find the right story for Zack. As the Bad Monkey alum explained, the right installment came along, and it's now a classic episode:

Season 4's "The Justice League Recombination" is a fun episode, and Zack is used in it perfectly. Yet the notion of Zack mentoring Sheldon on how to meet women is just too funny. However, the storyline not happening may have been for the better. As Smith went on to explain during his interview, he wasn't too keen on the scrapped scene for one reason:

Ultimately, Smith appeared in a total of 11 episodes throughout The Big Bang Theory’s run, and Zack became something of a fan-favorite character. He definitely caused some trouble for Penny and Leonard later in the series, but it was still fun to see what would happen.

Just recently, Smith reprised Zack for a surprise cameo on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the newly minted spinoff series. That guest spot also reunited him with Cuoco. I sometimes wish Zack had been in more episodes of Big Bang, yet I'm still happy with the size of his role as it stands. And, who knows, maybe Zack will reappear on Stuart for more multiversal madness.

Since The Big Bang Theory ran for 12 seasons, it’s likely that there are countless BTS stories that can be shared. Here's hoping we learn more like Smith's as time goes on, and fans can watch them all with an HBO Max subscription.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses America’s Got Talent’s live performance show from August 18, which can be streamed with a Peacock subscription if you haven’t seen it.

AGT Season 21 has officially gone live. The auditions are over, the unprecedented callback round has come and gone, and now we get to see new acts from the 43 performers our esteemed judges have deemed the best this season has to offer. The first 11 of those performed Tuesday, and while there were definitely some surprising acts, I was more shocked to see Howie Mandel sacrifice his body to hit the Golden Buzzer for one performance.

While each judge and host Terry Crews were given two Golden Buzzers in the auditions, only Howie Mandel had the power as the first night of America’s Got Talent’s live quarterfinals hit the 2026 TV schedule. He was grateful he did, as the Hundred Fingers magicians from South Korea took the stage to give a performance that was even bigger and more impressive than the one that earned them a Golden Buzzer in the first place.

You can see their new act below:

Howie Mandel couldn’t even maintain his composure — heck, even Simon got out of his chair for a rare standing ovation — and the comedian flung himself onto the table at the Golden Buzzer, accidentally activating his own red X in the process.

Terry Crews called it “the craziest Golden Buzzer we’ve ever had,” asking Howie Mandel what he was thinking as he sacrificed his body to send Hundred Fingers straight to the finals. Mandel stammered:

Those are some strong words, and don’t think for a second that Howie Mandel or any of the other America’s Got Talent judges were taking it easy on the performers just because they’d made it to the live shows. Earlier in the episode Mandel had even asked Simon Cowell if they were still allowed to hit their red buzzers during the quarterfinals when he became bored with one act.

Howie Mandel was the one who gave Hundred Fingers their Golden Buzzer in the auditions, too, but the judges were putting a huge emphasis on which performers had taken their notes and improved their acts for the quarterfinals.

Hundred Fingers did just that, putting in a lot of work to go bigger, incorporating fans, fire, more choreography and drama into their sleight of hand act. Yu Hojin said they had rehearsed 15 hours a day, six days a week in hopes of earning redemption. The magician previously competed solo on Season 17, and when Simon Cowell told him to go bigger, he listened, forming what he called a “magic supergroup.”

We’ll definitely be seeing these magicians again in the AGT finals. Hopefully Howie Mandel’s body will be fully recovered by then in case he has another unexpected reaction. In the meantime, tune in at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, August 19, on NBC to see which three incredible Season 21 acts are moving on to the semifinals.

Once upon a time, there existed a mighty young western called Yellowstone, and from its building successes cane news that the Dutton family and more would be explored in spinoffs and prequels. And lo, Taylor Sheridan’s spinoffs and sequels have come, and have delivered much pain, suffering, and ratings bonanzas. (Dutton Ranch and Marshals are both in the Top 10 shows of 2025-2026.) But one long-ago announced follow-up has never surfaced amidst the coyotes and sagebrush: 6666.

Remember that one? Jefferson White’s Jimmy Hurdstrom was set as a lead, with the storyline being introduced in Yellowstone’s fourth season, where Jimmy was sent down to work with Sheridan’s Travis to make him a better cowboy. Yeah, you remember. Well, apparently Sheridan himself never intended to make such a spinoff, and would never fictionalize the trials and tribulations of the historic ranch’s butt-busting staff. Except…it definitely was going to happen, at least in studio execs’ minds.

Sheridan appeared on the Rodeo Time Podcast (via YouTube), where he was asked by host Dale Brisby about the Four Sixes show, to which the Lioness creator said:

At which point the host suggested that perhaps the reports were just people trying to score clicks online after Jimmy traveled down the ranch on the flagship drama. To which Sheridan replied:

By all means, I have no issue with Taylor Sheridan not wanting to trivialize the lives of people that he cares about as an invested owner of that ranch. But I'm not sure why he has to talk about it as if it wasn't formally announced by the very studio he first signed an overall deal with. It took me not much time to find this 2021 press release from Paramount+ stating:

Obviously this franchise is not one that sticks with names very well, with that pesky Y getting added to spinoff titles before being erased, as it went with 1883. But even if 6666 wasn't the final title, that was a project formally announced by Paramount as part of a creative deal. And it was referred to in subsequent press releases as well, so it wasn't a one-time fluke. In fact, it was officially shifted from Paramount+ to Paramount Network in May 2022, which is probably easier to do with a show that doesn't actually exist.

I also think if Sheridan wasn't ever interested in crafting a show set at the 6666 ranch, he probably would have shut those rumors down long before now. Granted, people like me were still out here talking about it like fools, thinking it might still come to light one day. After all, Matthew McConaughey only recently addressed his conversations with Sheridan about a new show, so nothing is totally impossible, right?

In the meantime, fans can watch all of the Yellowstone spinoffs, as well as Lioness, Tulsa King, Landman, and more of Taylor Sheridan's creations via Paramount+ subscription

The number of times John B. has almost died in Outer Banks should be an indicator of how hard this show is to make. Filmed primarily in Charleston, South Carolina, the cast has had to shoot intense action sequences in the heat, humidity and rain for years. So, knowing they are about to say goodbye to OBX and understanding that working on this series isn’t for the faint of heart, I asked Jonathan Daviss, Drew Starkey and Chase Stokes what they will and won’t miss about filming this series.

Again, while the Netflix show set to premiere its final season on the 2026 TV schedule takes place in North Carolina, a lot of it is filmed in South Carolina. So, when I asked Stokes, Daviss and Starkey what they won’t miss about filming Outer Banks, they were quick to call out the bugs and elemental challenges they faced. For starters, Daviss, who plays Pope, said:

I can’t say I blame them! Mosquitoes are the worst, and dealing with them while also working cannot be easy. However, their list of things they won’t miss (which also serves as a list of challenges they consistently had to deal with during production) does not end there, as the guys explained:

• Drew Starkey: Those very humid Charleston summers.
• Chase Stokes: Yeah, rain delays.
• Drew Starkey: Rain delays.
• Jonathan Daviss: Rain delays.
• Chase Stokes: Lightning delays.

Man, they really hate rain delays! And lightning delays too. As they were filming the final season of Outer Banks, which will premiere on Netflix’s 2026 schedule on August 20, I hope they didn’t have to deal with too much of this. However, it would seem they’re quite accustomed to it.

Anyway, while there’s plenty that won’t be missed about filming Outer Banks, Daviss did note that eventually he will miss these things. All three guys also agreed that they will miss each other as well, explaining:

• Jonathan Daviss: But then, eventually I’ll miss that too.
• Drew Starkey: But I am gonna miss the friendship.
• Jonathan Daviss: Yeah, the friends along the way.
• All three: The friends we made along the way.

Well, that’s incredibly sweet. It’s clear this cast has become close over the last five seasons, and those friendships are what they’ll miss most. I think Drew Starkey, who plays Rafe, put it best, as he told me:

It sounds like the friendships make the mosquitoes and rain delays worth it. However, I’m also happy these guys don’t have to deal with that anymore. Of course, it’s a bummer that they won’t all reunite in this way again. But hopefully, they can all find a way to work together on other projects and continue their friendships outside of South Carolina.

Now, to see the Pogues' final ride, you can stream Season 5 of Outer Banks with a Netflix subscription on August 20.

It’s somehow been more than seven years since Game of Thrones aired its polarizing series finale. Most fans have long since moved on to other obsessions, such as not sincerely waiting for George R.R. Martin’s The Winds of Winter to come out, or griping about the latest spinoff finale. But for Bella Ramsey, who portrayed the ever-confident Lyanna Mormont, 2026 was apparently the right time to actually start watching the HBO fantasy epic. Better late than never, I suppose.

Plenty of actors have spoken out about not feeling comfortable watching projects they’ve starred in, but Game of Thrones focused on so many different characters that it seems like a good choice for such actors. Whether or not that’s the case for Ramsey is unclear, but the actress certainly did not enjoy watching her Last of Us co-star Pedro Pascal’s final scene as the Red Viper, Oberyn Martell. Not so much out of awkwardness, but out of terror at watching the character’s skull get thumbed and squished like a grape in Season 4’s eighth episode.

Speaking with Hits Radio UK in a video shared to TikTok, the actress makes it sound like they’ve been on a pretty steady binge that took a whiplash-inducing turn for Pascal’s vengeful protagonist. As they put it:

I wonder how Bella Ramsey would feel if they knew that battle's eye-gouging, face-collapsing climax was supposed to be even more brutal. In rewatching the scene myself, the visuals are obviously nasty, but it's absolutely Pascal's tortured screams and wails that still make me fidget in my seat. No matter how much gnarlier and bloodier it'd get, that still wouldn't top the desperate fear in the audio.

The performance was such that Ramsey had to reaffirm that fiction and reality are separate things, and that what happened to the Viper did not carry over into the actor's real life. They continued:

Was it more or less horrendous than what happened to Pedro Pascal's character on The Last of Us? That is a debate for another time. And maybe not even a debate. And now I'm thinking about what it would look like if Westeros was overrun by the Cordyceps outbreak, and it looks kinda fun. Is there a comic book crossover to get out of this?

As gruesome as it was, Oberyn’s death was necessary for Pedro Pascal’s career to thrive, otherwise we might not have properly gotten him in Narcos, The Fantastic Four, or even The Last of Us. So I guess we should all send thank you notes to The Mountain's head-smooshing hands, no?

The entirety of Game of Thrones can be streamed via HBO Max subscription.

Many of Andrew Garfield's best movies have been acclaimed Award Season choices, in addition to his tenure starring in the Spider-Man movies (which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription). He recently pivoted over to more family-friendly content with Ben Gregor's The Magic Faraway Tree, and the actor spoke to CinemaBlend about why he wanted to get involved in the book-to-screen adaptation.

The Magic Faraway Tree was a hit movie in the U.K., and now it's finally traveling across the pond and hitting theaters in the States. Garfield plays father Tim Thompson, who moves his family to the country, where his kids meet magical creatures in the forest near their home. I had the chance to speak with the cast a few weeks ago, when the Oscar-nominated actor revealed how his own childhood inspired his involvement in the family comedy. In Garfield's words:

The importance of play and separation from screens is a big idea in The Magic Faraway Tree, so it makes sense that it would inspire Garfield to join the project. Early in the movie, Tim and his wife Polly (Claire Foy) realize that their kids are addicted to screens, and decide to make a change. What results is their three children playing together and having magical adventures in the woods near their home.

The Social Network star went on to share how his own childhood mirrored this, thanks to being in a rural area with access to a forest. Garfield shared with me:

It certainly sounds like the Tony-winning actor can relate to how the Thompson kids are able to connect with nature and their imagination in The Magic Faraway Tree. So while Andrew Garfield has started to play parents on the big screen, it's clear his inner child is very much still in his work.

The 42-year-old actor went on to share another beloved part of his childhood: putting on made-up plays as a young person. In his words:

You can see my conversation with Andrew Garfield below, where he spoke about why he got involved in The Magic Faraway Tree. Check it out:

This family fantasy film has already been a wild success in the U.K., so it should be interesting to see how audiences respond to The Magic Faraway Tree in America. Garfield and Foy are big names, and family movies tend to do well in the summer. What's more, producers have already announced plans for two movie sequels.

The Magic Faraway Tree will hit theaters in the States on August 21st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Of course, there are plenty of fans who are hoping Garfield once again reprises his role as Spider-Man in one of the next two Avengers movies. Hey, at least he's still trying new genres.

Spoilers below for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s first two Season 18 episodes, so be warned if you haven’t yet watched them on FX or streamed them via Hulu subscription or Disney+ subscription.

The happiest time of any given year is finally here, when It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia rises from the muck like a drunken and methed-out phoenix. The Season 18 premiere delivered on its gag-worthy promise of having Frank marry and make out with a corpse, which somehow delivered even more disturbing layers than expected, and then followed that up with a touching, clown-filled sendoff for the late Lynne Marie Stewart, which also spun out in some severely disturbing directions. And amidst the chaos, a GOATed new character was introduced.

Let’s point a sporadically flickering spotlight on this fantastic new addition while also championing a couple of other mega-highlights that called back to past episodes and general character history.

Sherman The Legal Mediation Dummy Should Be The Newest Member Of The Gang

As Arrested Development and selected other shows have proven in the past: adding a ventriloquist dummy into the mix without a professional ventriloquist is comedy gold. Also in the comedy gold department: Andrew Friedman's Jack Kelly, arguably the least effective uncle lawyer of any medium, but inarguably the funniest. Combining this recurring delight with a frighteningly constructed wooden puppet is truly alchemy of the gods. And thy name be Sherman.

Sherman is quite the judgmental sidekick, as implied through both Jack and Mac's instant transitions once they're holding the dummy. Mack's impassioned leap across the table to snatch him from Jack while calling him a "wooden f#$!" floored me with laughted. And I still didn't see it coming when Mac wholeheartedly dove into the idea of using Sherman as a mechanism to come out to his mom, in the face of his attempts to deny his sexuality in front of her.

Not an iota of rhyme, reason, sense, logic, or otherwise was put to use when Mac brought Sherman out in the middle of Frank's already janked-up non-wedding. But my god, it was bliss. And I'm hoping since that wooden goblin was part of Mac's coming-out, as well as being present for the horrors of Sam's head falling off, that Rob Mac & Co. will find ways to bring Sherman back into the fold later in Season 18 and forevermore. Jack's return in Episode 2 seems like a good sign, since it presumably means the dummy will be at arm's length.

Charlie Sings About His Dead Mom

Anytime Charlie Day gets behind the ivories (or whatever keyboard keys are made out of), you might as well turn off the rest of the world, because the song deserves all the attention. And oh, buddy, that was the case here as well. Charlie singing about his dead mother, represented by the urn ashes in front of him, made for surprisingly melodic cringe. The song alone would have been reason enough for me to sing its praises...

But then Charlie brings that jaunty ditty back out for a horrific reprise as Dee is Weekend at Bernie's-ing Sam's corpse down the aisle. Charlie on-the-nose pointing out that a dead woman is in the room during Dee's struggles is an all-time great highlight reel moment that exemplifies this show's comedy. Let's bring out "The Nightman Cometh" for second part.

Dennis And Dee Bring Back Their Better-Than-The-Poors Outrage

I love that It's Always Sunny has developed recurring character patterns alongside its go-to episode types. And one of my most beloved examples of this is when Dennis and Dee get a sliver of a whiff of a whisper of potential wealth, and they instantly become screaming, standoffish monsters who cannot imagine being on the same level as others.

As funny as it is when they do it with those they're closest to, it's even funnier when Glenn Howerton and Kaitlin Olson go berserker ham on total strangers, in this case Nate Corddry's belabored mortician. Every one of their line readings is magnificent, and I'll just put this one out there as a favorite.

Dennis' "move ON" is filled with the kind of distaste that is so over-the-stop, and yet still so completely believable coming out of the Golden God's mouth. Is it too late to make this a "Roseanne's lottery season" situation where they do get rich, but then it isn't real?

I can't wait to see It’s Always Sunny pulling a Die Hard like we’ve been hoping for when the rest of Season 18 plays out Monday nights on FX, FXX and Hulu at 9:00 p.m. ET.

One of the funniest and all-around best movies of the 2000s (for certain crowds), Judd Apatow’s Superbad is so memorable that co-writer and co-star Seth Rogen has had rappers quote it at him verbatim, totally unprovoked. But with props to Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, and Emma Stone, I think we’d all agree its lasting legacy lies in the character McLovin, portrayed with runtish glee by Christopher Mintz-Plasse. The comedy celebrated 19 years since its theatrical release on August 17, but that’s not why McLovin started trending on August 18.

No, the awkward teen’s Fake ID moniker made waves anew on social media after a high-profile drug bust led to the arrests of 14 Penn State fraternity members from two different fraternities involved in a complex cocaine trafficking ring. The Long Island native who is alleged to have been at the “very top of the chain” is Agostino Abbatiello, who apparently picked up the moniker “Pablo Pledgescobar,” a punny riff on the notorious Pablo Escobar, during his time at the university.

But it’s not so much the details of the crimes that caught people’s attention on social media, even though the nickname has garnered some positive reactions. Rather, it’s his bespectacled look + his status that have others referencing the 2007 comedy.

It's obviously not an exact 1:1 match, but then it really doesn't need to be to spark ridiculous reactions. Let's look at a few of them below.

• I won’t comment on the Penn State cocaine debacle. No doubt, a made for TV movie or Netflix special will come from it. Quite a unique story. My only observation: the ringleader looks exactly like McLovin from the iconic movie “Superbad”. I had to do a triple take when I saw him. - @PittGuru
• Say my name… McLovin. - @@proverbs_18_2
• Go ahead and give McLovin the RICO - @jackfreeman
• Mad props to McLovin Jr here, Pablo Pledgescobar might be the greatest nickname ever. - @HollywoodLowman
• McLovin took a real dark path after high school. - @TheyCallMeSmeef
• If McLovin had a baby with that dude on Big Bang Theory. - @ScottKacsmar
• Buddy look like Temu mclovin - @Hadometa

Superbad's beloved nerdling was no doubt guilty of a few criminal acts during the events of Superbad, but I cannot imagine the dude that chose "McLovin" as his 21+ alias would become a kingpin of anything in his educational future, much less cocaine. Plus, McLovin is funny, which can't be said about drug trafficking on college campuses.

Despite its arguable "funniest movie ever" status, Superbad is everyone's go-to example of a teen-geared movie that wouldn’t get made today, given how relentlessly raunchy and sex pest-y it can get. (We never even got a sequel.) But Christopher Mintz-Plasse reunited with Seth Rogen for The Boys Season 5 relatively recently, and that show did things that absolutely could not have been done on a “television series” in 2007, so I guess it’s a give and take.

Stepping back to the criminal activity that sparked the comparisons, the New York Post reports the frats Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon were engaged in a ring of distributution that involved attaining cocaine from suppliers in New York and Philadelphia, with pledges being forced to cut and bag the drugs that were then dealt out to the student body.

Four of those charged are currently enrolled at Penn State students, nine are former students, and one is a student's father. Some of the charges include, but are not limited to: felony conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility, felony tampering, corrupt organizations and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.

Warning! The following will get into the big spoiler from The Drama. If you don't want to know, stream the movie with an HBO Max subscription and then return here after watching!

The Drama is out on HBO Max, meaning subscribers can now watch the Robert Pattinson and Zendaya film that has everyone talking. I actually knew the twist going into my watch, and while that didn't impact my enjoyment, I do have a question about Charlie's motivation during the movie.

For those who watched and need a reminder, or those who don't care about spoilers, The Drama follows Charlie as he's torn on how to proceed weeks before his wedding when he learns his fiancée Emma planned a school shooting in high school. It's a dark movie that, surprisingly, has a few laughs as well. That being said, I kept thinking about what Charlie was wrestling with during the movie, and if it was more that he was appalled by what he learned, or if he was more appalled at the idea of others finding out.

Did Charlie Fixate On Emma's Confession More Because Of How Rachel Reacted?

Charlie hyperfixates on Emma's confession, and it's completely valid given the context, but I also wondered if the way it all initially went down played into that. Everyone was shocked by Emma's confession, to the point they believed at first that it wasn't true. Once she confirmed it was, however, Rachel got aggressive, and it seemed things changed in Charlie's brain after.

Emma pointed out that Charlie was apt to fixate on things, but what was it he struggled with? I think there's certainly a part of him that had serious questions around her past, but I think Rachel's reaction made him think about the public perception if others found out. How would the world react if they knew Emma's secret, and what would they think of him?

Then, when Rachel pulled out of the wedding as Emma's maid of honor, Charlie was in a rush to get her back in the fold. Why? Well, people might ask questions why she pulled out. I think it's also evident Charlie cared when he asked his coworker Misha about it, trying to get a read on how another person might respond.

Charlie Questioned His Love For Emma, But His Actions In The Drama Show He Always Loved Her The Entire Time

Charlie seems to struggle with whether he should proceed with the marriage in The Drama, but his actions, to me at least, suggest he made up his mind very early on in the movie. I've struggled to talk about this, mainly because, as our review points out, it's weird to talk about this movie with others.

I think Charlie's actions from the start show that he's always loved Emma, even if he isn't aware of it. Everything we see is him coming to grips with accepting the fact that someone he loves was tied to something as controversial as a school shooting.

Getting Rachel to try and forgive Emma, asking a co-worker what they'd do if they found out a loved one was involved in planning something like this- these are the actions of someone who is concerned with the societal reaction tied to someone she loves. Some people will say his brief moment of trying to cheat with his coworker disputes this, but remember, he had the opportunity and didn't go through with it.

Ultimately, The Drama ending was not a shock to me. Emma was always going to love Charlie, and he was going to accept her. I think this is less clouded once the viewer gets out of their head about thinking how they'd wrestle with the situation, which I might've been doing since the trailer first dropped.

I am just one man with an opinion, however, so I would encourage all people to talk about The Drama and maybe rewatch it. With the twist out of the way, maybe I'll get a few people who see that it was never Emma who was the issue when it came to Charlie's love.

The news of Hayden Panettiere’s death at the age of 36 is still a shocking and developing story in Hollywood. The actress -- known for the Scream films, Heroes and Nashville -- was reportedly found in cardiac arrest in her home in Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday afternoon. She was pronounced dead at the scene. As of late, the actress had returned to acting after a four-year break and, this year, she revealed why she took that hiatus.

Back in April, Panettiere actually spoke to Us Weekly about her break, which started after she spent six seasons as the lead of the drama series, Nashville. That break ended when she returned to the Scream franchise to reprise the role of Kirby Reed. In her words:

I can understand why that time off would be so invaluable for Panettiere. She was essentially an actor her whole life, given she started working at the age of four. She famously voiced the character of Dot in Pixar’s second film, A Bug’s Life, as a young child star. Panettiere also memorably starred in Remember The Titans at the age of 10, playing the role of vivacious football fan Sheryl. Following Panettiere's death, fans have also been talking about her role in Ice Princess. She famously starred in that movie alongside Michelle Trachtenberg, who also unexpectedly died last year.

From 2018 to 2022, the Malcolm in the Middle alum didn't appear in any movies or TV show, so her reprisal of her Scream role was a welcome surprise at the time. From there, she headlined the video game Until Dawn and starred in a few more movies from 2023 up until her death. During the interview from just four months ago, she also said this:

In 2018, Panettiere decided to relinquish full custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her ex, Wladimir Klitschko, after suffering postpartum depression and struggling with addiction. That year, Panettiere also reportedly started dating Brian Hickerson, whom she had allegedly had an on-and-off relationship with until 2020.

Hickerson was arrested twice on domestic violence allegations in incidents involving Hayden Panettiere in 2019 and 2020. She also requested a restraining order against Hickerson in July of 2020. The actress opened up about her alleged violent incidents with Hickerson in her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

Page Six reported that Panettiere and Hickerson reconciled earlier this year, but kept their friends “in the dark”. According to NBC News, Hickerson was at the scene on the day of her death and spoke to police about a “bag of medication” she was taking. Panettiere’s official cause of death is awaiting pending toxicology results.

In the meantime, many continue to mourn Hayden Panettiere and send well wishes to her family, friends and love ones. The impact that she made through her body of work is incredibly meaningful, and it feels like that the productions she starred in will be enjoyed for years to come. On that note, though, it's also comforting that she had the opportunity to step away from the industry at one point at her own leisure.

Zendaya has a secret weapon for all her jaw-dropping fashion moments, and it’s her stylist Law Roach. The pair have helped popularize method dressing on press tours with their collaboration over the years. But did you know they have done so without “The Big Five” fashion houses? There’s a reason for this, and now, one reason it could change.

Why Zendaya Historically Hasn’t Worn ‘The Big Five’

So, a couple of years ago, Law Roach revealed that Zendaya had never worn The Big Five for a press tour appearance ever. Here’s why, per The Cutting Room Floor podcast:

According to Zendaya’s stylist, it wasn’t too long ago that a number of big fashion brands were not willing to work with him and the actress. And mind you, he’s talking about someone who must have had Disney Channel and Dancing With The Stars on her resume. As he added:

Zendaya has since become the fashion icon of the moment. On her back-to-back press tours this year, where she’s been promoting her multiple 2026 movies, she wore a flowy The Odyssey dress from Trussardi, a Spider-Man-themed red-and-blue two-piece from Versace and a backless spiderweb gown from John Galliano, to name a few. Why do they need to work with The Big Five when just about everyone else will work with them?

Law Roach’s New Update That Could Change Things

Roach was just on Ziwe’s show, which should be noted as a late-night satire. When the host mentioned the “unofficial boycott” on The Big Five fashion houses due to them not working with him at the beginning, Roach was asked to school the people on the “importance of being petty”. Instead, he said this:

You gotta love growth. I should note that directly after this, Ziwe asked Law Roach if Zendaya would wear the brands on the carpet. He firmly said, “No,” with a smile. It served as a perfect comedic moment of juxtaposition for Roach’s comments.

But, with his comments in mind, there's something there around Roach’s statement about releasing his pettiness. It does feel like there’s room here for forgiveness from the stylist's end, and an openness to release the "pettiness" around these brands. Perhaps there is a future where Zendaya does wear them after all?

At the same time, Law Roach and Zendaya have proven that they don’t need to wear these brands in order to stun on red carpets, and that’s such a great flex for them whether they end up working with The Big Five someday or not.

Spoilers for The End of Oak Street are ahead! You can catch the movie in theaters right now.

When I went to see The End of Oak Street in theaters following its premiere on the 2026 movie schedule, I expected jump scares, dinosaurs, wild chase sequences and brutal action. What I didn’t expect to see was two dinosaurs having sex. Yes, you read that right: there is one kinky scene in David Robert Mitchell’s movie that features two of the prehistoric creatures, so CinemaBlend asked the director about it.

Now, the wildly reviewed The End of Oak Street makes an effort to show that the dinosaurs don’t just kill. They also search for food, they make people’s backyards their bathrooms, and they have intercourse. They’re living their day-to-day lives in a world where part of a city just happened to show up. So, speaking specifically about that, the moment involving dinosaurs having sex on someone’s roof and how he came up with it, director/writer David Robert Mitchell told CinemaBlend’s Jeff McCobb:

It was in thinking about how to make these creatures real that Mitchell came up with the idea of the dinosaurs doing it on top of someone’s house. The need for food, water and reproduction are basic elements of life, so it’d only be natural to see all that happening in the movie, as the director pointed out:

Mitchell went on to say that he wrote the scene “pretty quickly,” and he was “very happy” that it not only was able to be in the movie but was a moment that “people have responded” to.

I mean, it’s kind of hard not to respond to, because not only is it a memorable scene by itself, it’s also very relevant to the overarching story. Throughout most of The End of Oak Street, Anne Hathaway’s Denise and Ewan McGregor’s Greg are having issues with their marriage and constantly arguing. While out on a walk, they see two dinosaurs being intimate and, like me and I'd assume most viewers, were shocked by what they witnessed.

So, Denise took a photo of her husband in front of the dinos, and he posed like he was a tourist in this prehistoric land. It was a funny moment, and then it served as an instance of love and light for Hathaway’s character to look back on after Greg got eaten and she was trying to fight her way home with her kids.

Even at the end of The End of Oak Street, this photo is hanging on the family’s wall years after their interactions with the dinosaurs.

So, the kinky dinosaur scene was vital to this film, and it helped show how these creatures live when they aren’t chasing and eating humans and other animals (don’t worry, Starbuck, the family’s dog and one of my new favorite fictional pets, does not die in the movie). Ultimately, it was a wild moment to include; however, I do see why David Robert Mitchell did it, and it certainly is one of many reasons why The End of Oak Street is such a surprising and wild dinosaur movie.

Wonder Man fans were met with some unfortunate news weeks ago when it was confirmed that the Marvel Cinematic Universe-set show had been canceled. The development was particularly painful, considering Disney+ had already renewed the buddy comedy. Since the Emmy-nominated series joined the list of shows canceled in 2026, further behind-the-scenes details on its demise have been revealed. Now, a new report includes alleged details on why it was axed and, while I’m disappointed, I get why it happened.

All 8 episodes of Wonder Man became streamable with a Disney+ subscription in late January 2026, and it was in March that the renewal news came down. From the outside looking in, the House of Mouse seemed quite bullish about the Hollywood-centric show. Sources recently claimed to The Ankler that the cancellation decision wasn’t made lightly. Apparently, Disney didn’t think the show scored high enough viewership numbers to justify the production costs.

The exact viewership figures are unclear, as the aforementioned streamer doesn’t formally release such data. Regardless of that, the notion of the Marvel show being canceled due to not reaching audience expectations does sound reasonable. Admittedly, at first glance, I didn’t think WM would be that expensive to make, since it doesn’t include as many massive set pieces and CGI-centric scenes as many of its MCU predecessors. Even the scenes that are somewhat big don’t even come to the final few episodes.

Still, I can’t sit here and make assumptions about how expensive or inexpensive a certain aspect of the MCU series was. This all comes down to what works best from a business standpoint. However, I’d still be lying if I said this cancellation didn’t still feel like a gut punch in some ways. I’m not the only one who's still processing the decision either, and I’m not just talking about fellow fans.

Both of Wonder Man’s co-creators have since broken their silence on the cancellation, with Andrew Guest first sharing a video to social media in which he laid out what was happening behind the scenes. While Guest said he didn’t know exactly why the show was canned, he said the writers’ room was set to convene in August and that he’d already written the first episode. Co-creator Destin Daniel Cretton also expressed disappointment in the renewal reversal and defended Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige against backlash from those who enjoyed the quirky show.

A semi spinoff of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wonder Man focuses on struggling actor Simon Williams – played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – as he seeks to land a massive film role. At the same time, Simon seeks to hide his powerful superhuman abilities, as metahumans are frowned upon in Tinseltown. Joining Williams is wise-cracking thespian Trevor Slattery, who’s once again played by Sir Ben Kingsley. The show received critical acclaim, with Abdul-Mateen II even earning an Emmy nod for his work.

There’s yet to be any sort of indication as to if or when audiences might see Simon and Trevor again in the wake of their show’s prison break ending. I’m hopeful that this MCU bromance will continue in some form or fashion but, for now, I hope this new report on the reasons for the cancellation provides some sense of closure for fans on that front.

Check out Wonder Man in its entirety on Disney+ now, and keep your eyes fixed on other major titles that will soon hit the 2026 TV schedule.

A glimpse at a previously unseen Dragon Ball character has fans freaking out, and my takeaway is it's wild to think there was ever a worry this franchise would end after creator Akira Toriyama's passing. The Prince of Saiyans, Vegeta, is at the center of this latest viral moment, as an illustrator posted an image featuring a woman who appears to be his mother.

The new alternate cover, drawn by Dragon Ball Super manga artist Toyotarou, is making rounds on the internet as we wait for more updates on the anime's eventual return. It was created as a result of a fan poll for the favorite issue cover, in which fans voted for Volume 19. The cover showed Goku walking with his family as his Saiyan family is shown in the reflection.

To celebrate that, Toyotarou uploaded an alternate take on the cover, showing Vegeta with his family and a woman who appears to be his mother in the reflection. The only downside is that her face is covered by King Vegeta's cape. Take a look:

I expected some fans to be upset by the tease, but excitement is through the roof. Here are just a few reactions, as Dragon Ball lovers raved about the reveal on X, while also wondering what it could mean.

• It’s so nice to see how far Vegeta has come.Awesome stuff. Glad we’re getting more world building. - @ZakyrieHrpschrd
• i hope we can get a full image of his mom someday - @Brokenshatter7
• Making Vegeta and Broly have the same mom would add another layer to the backstory part of “DBS Broly" - @thug_nasty_thug
• HOLD UP THIS IS BIG THATS A WOMAN NEXT TO KING VEGETA VEGETAS MOM SHOW ME!!!!! SHOW US!!!!VEGETA MOVE YOUR STUPID BOISTEROUSLY LOUD AND PROUD UGLY CAPE!!!!!!!!!!! - @kadeem_kusaragi
• Maybe I’m crazy but the only reason to drop this art now with a tease of Vegeta’s mom is because we’re getting a Vegeta solo story in Universe 6 on Planet Sadala - @carthusdojo

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised to hear there's a lot of interest in Vegeta's mother. After all, Goku's father, Bardock, was ranked high in a poll for best Dragon Ball characters, despite only appearing in one movie. It does make me wonder if there's a story to tell about Vegeta's mother, and she was included for a reason.

While I, personally, would think there would be additional conversations if Vegeta's mother were not present in this family picture, it is fun to entertain the theory that she could be at the center of a greater story in the franchise's future. Who was the "Queen of the Saiyans," and why have we not seen her in the previous stories?

Vegeta is one of the coolest characters in the Dragon Ball franchise, and dare I say one of the most emotionally complex. It took him a long time to acclimate to life on Earth compared to Goku, who had the advantage of being raised there as a child. He's since been embraced by Earthlings and has even been included in Christmas displays!

Unfortunately, we won't get any new Dragon Ball on the 2026 TV schedule, but the continuation of Super is in the works. I'm excited to see what's next, and will keep an eye out to see if anything on the horizon will involve this mysterious mother!

It’s only been eight years since Universal Orlando Resort opened its Fast & Furious: Supercharged ride to major fanfare. Vin Diesel and members of the family were present. A Paul Walker Easter egg could be found on the ride. However, despite the flashy entrance, fans were never overly fond of the actual ride experience. So, when the new Fast & Furious coaster was announced, the other ride was fast tracked to the junkyard. I just didn’t realize how quickly Universal would erase its presence.

Fast & Furious: Supercharged closed at Universal Studios Florida at the end of the weekend on August 16th. A TikTok user popped over to Universal Orlando the next day and passed by the ride formerly known as Supercharged. If you take a look, you’ll notice the sign was already painted over and it simply looks like a random building on the backlot.

I suppose this shouldn’t have come as a huge surprise. Last month we learned Supercharged was closing even earlier than we initially expected. When a lot of attractions close at Universal, theme parkgoers commemorate them and jump onto them one last time for the nostalgia factor, and this "saying goodbye" phase tends to last for weeks and weeks.

This doesn’t really seem to have been the case with this Fast ride. Though if you were particularly fond of the ride, the final riders did seem to give it that rowdy factor which I would have expected (for most rides) to see more of in the weeks leading up to the end.

Yeah, that’s a "family chant." Still within hours (and likely overnight), the building got a fresh coat of paint and Universal Studios Florida has officially moved on. Universal’s official website has also already cut out all evidence of the ride. Even the official Universal account seems amused by the quick work on this, and used it as an opportunity to send out a funny PSA, which I honestly didn't see coming.

The timing's really weird, because the Fast family was together over the weekend celebrating the film franchise's 25th anniversary.

The good news?

Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift Is Coming Together

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift hasn’t had its Grand Opening yet at Universal Studios Hollywood as the coaster navigates some issues that aren't "a scream," but it has been taking riders on a high-octane journey for a while now. The coaster is also coming together very quickly at Universal Orlando, so the “family” will have another way to show their love for the franchise, and soon. A full rendering has been released by the theme park, if you haven't checked it out yet.

One thing I did always appreciate about Fast & Furious: Supercharged was the queue. Universal's queues are frequently a blast, and it was always especially fun to see the cars and the franchise Easter eggs as I walked through. The pre-show was also worth checking out. Hopefully, the new coaster will be a similarly positive experience. We shouldn’t have too much longer to wait, as the Florida attraction is expected to open up in 2027.

This year has been a great one for Gen Z horror filmmakers, with Obsession and Backrooms breaking box office records. It looks like we might have the opportunity to add another title to that list, as It Ends hits the 2026 movie calendar this weekend. The upcoming horror flick is the directorial debut for twentysomething Alexander Ullom — who also wrote and edited the film — and critics’ reviews (and that 94% Rotten Tomatoes score) have me excited.

The movie follows a group of friends who go on a late-night drive, accidentally turning onto a two-lane road that never ends. The recent graduates are thrown into a hellscape that Den of Crow’s David Crow says is a “fresh” concept and “clever” in execution, as the movie is basically just four characters in a car. Alex Ullom and the cast deserve credit for keeping it so captivating, the critic says, writing:

Brandon Zachary of ScreenRant agrees that It Ends is “fascinating in execution,” in a movie that might have felt dull and repetitive if not for its great cast and a script that’s full of dread but never overwhelmingly bleak. Zachary calls it one of the best horror movies of 2026, rating it 8 out of 10 in his review, which reads:

Nick Schager of The Daily Beast calls it an “absolute stunner” and further proof that the future of horror is in good hands with the next generation of filmmakers. This twisted take on the teen road trip is the perfect capper to summer’s horror hot streak. The critic writes:

Giovanni Lago of Next Best Picture rates it 8 out of 10, saying in his It Ends review that it’s not only one of the best films of the year, but unlike the YouTuber-created horror hits we’ve seen, this movie feels like the only one made by Gen Z for Gen Z. While the cast is relatively unknown, their phenomenal performances here as a true ensemble show their potential for much more down the road. Lago says:

IndieWire’s Esther Zuckerman gives the movie a B-, admitting that the premise is clever but saying the journey isn’t always worth the lack of a destination. Zuckerman writes:

Some may have their qualms, but overall It Ends is getting lots of positive attention, garnering the aforementioned 94% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. If you want to check out the debut of Alexander Ullom — who’s undoubtedly hoping to be the next Gen Z horror director making headlines for his 2026 debut — catch this one in theaters starting Friday, August 21.

After making waves in 2025, Heated Rivalry is turning up the heat. The upcoming second season of the book-to-screen adaptation is coming in hot, and production has officially started. While the series won’t return on the 2026 TV schedule, the excitement is definitely building. So, unsurprisingly, when the show announced that it had begun filming, the comments section was full of unhinged reactions.

Season 2 of Heated Rivalry was announced late last year as Season 1 was airing, and fans were getting antsy for updates about The Long Game. They can now breathe easy, though, because it's Instagram offical that filming has begun. Take a look:

Plenty of people shared their thoughts about this exciting announcement in the comments, and it’s not just the fans who are enthusiastic. Series creator Jacob Tierney and Edvin Ryding, one of the newest cast members of Heated Rivalry, took to the comments section to express their excitement for the new season:

• Jacob Tierney: Wheeeeeeeeeeee
• Edvin Ryding: LETSGOOOOO

A handful of companies were also getting in on the fun, and I am right there with them:

• Panera Bread: this is about to become my entire personality (again)
• Ottawa Tourism: Ok it’s happening it’s happening!!!
• Cameo: plz take good care of me
• Explore Canada: Our bodies are ready.

While I get why Ottawa Tourism and Explore Canada commented on this update (seeing as the show takes place there), and I've been told Cameo's comment will make more sense when Season 2 comes out, the Panera comment threw me in the best way. There is just something about a brand account in the comments of a post that has nothing to do with it that makes it even more hilarious, because it shows that whoever is running the social media of said company is just one of us.

Of course, many fans were as pumped as ever, too, and there was quite a lot of Caps Lock being used to prove that:

• perksofabby: I AM ABOUT TO BECOME AN EVEN MORE ANNOYING VERSION OF MYSELF LOOKOUT WORLD
• andrewsgrotto: Am I supposed to care? 🙄… (PRETENDING I DONT CARE SO IT COMES FASTER 😍)
• julietfoxreads: IS THAT TROY IN HARRIS’ OFFICE?! SHOW US THE CAKE POP 😱😱😱😱
• nicholascaldone: suddenly, life has meaning again.
• bexlewis: HBO is scared and asking me to please watch something else because it's not yet 2027 but I'm simply too seated!

I, for one, am super stoked for Season 2 of the hit hockey romance. As someone who has never read the books, I have no idea what to expect, aside from challenges for Ilya and Shane's relationship, and that just makes me even more hyped. More info is slowly being released about the new season, including new cast members such as Ryding, who is portraying Ilya’s teammate, Luca Haas. Even though it won’t be premiering until sometime in 2027, the wait will certainly be worth it. And the fact that they're now filming has me more pumped than I already was.

The other great thing about Season 2 of Heated Rivalry starting production is that we could be getting some BTS content in the near future. It may not be a lot because obviously we don't want spoilers, but this post gives me hope that we could get to photos of Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie and co. working soon.

If anything, the post confirming production has started should be enough for the time being. And you best believe I'll be ready for more updates and unhinged reactions to them when the time comes. For now, the first season of Heated Rivalry is streaming for those with an HBO Max subscription. Season 2 will be coming in 2027.

Alan Ritchson wants to do Reacher for a long time, and Lee Child has written enough novels about Jack Reacher to keep the book-to-screen adaptation going for 30 seasons if they really wanted to. Meanwhile, Neagley, the new Reacher spinoff, is in a different situation. It’s a very new section of this world with very little source material to work with. Now Ritchson has opened up about the “luxury” and “burden” of introducing this spinoff.

At the moment, Season 4 of Reacher is airing on the 2026 TV schedule, Season 5 is in production, and Prime Video is getting ready to premiere its spinoff, Neagley, in September. So, while speaking with the AP about his own show continuing while a new series debuts, Alan Ritchson said:

I totally see what he’s saying here. Reacher has the luxury of being based on Lee Child’s bestselling books. However, it can also be a burden to be beholden to said source material. Meanwhile, Neagley’s story is not explored in nearly as much detail in the books, so the new show has the luxury of building something essentially from scratch. However, that’s also a big challenge, and, in its own way, a burden. So, both these shows are holding their own unique double-edged swords.

Then, when you put the shows together, you get a new wonderful challenge. That’s because Reacher and Neagley are connected. Maria Sten’s Frances Neagley was introduced on Alan Ritchson’s show, and we know the Jack Reacher actor will appear in the spinoff. So, the projects have to find a balance between standing on their own and acknowledging each other.

Personally, I’m interested to see how they do that in the long-run, because Neagley and Reacher are quite different. Of course, the source material is one reason why, seeing as Sten’s show can go in new directions, while Ritchson’s is based on books. However, they’re also different in the sense that Reacher tells a new story with new characters every single season, whereas Neagley will stay in the same world with the same people season after season (pending renewal).

So, overall, I get why Ritchson described Neagley as both a “luxury” and a “burden.” On the one hand, it’s amazing to expand the world in a new way. On the other, it’s a challenge to do just that in a way that is both fresh and loyal to the universe that’s already built.

Now, to see if they do this successfully, you can stream new episodes of Reacher every Wednesday with an Amazon Prime subscription. Then, on September 16, you’ll be able to enter the world of Neagley when Season 1 drops.

If you’re in Generation X, there’s a pretty good chance you grew up adoring John Hughes movies. You probably also noticed that at least some of the movies, most notably and directly The Breakfast Club and Weird Science, took place at a fictional school called Shermer High. Shermer, IL, is a fictional town that John Hughes invented for those movies, based very closely on his hometown of Northbrook, IL, a suburb of Chicago.

It turns out that there are way more movies set in the fictional burb than even I realized, and I say that as a connoisseur of Hughes movies.

There Are Two That You Can Definitely Say Are In Shermer

The two most recognizable movies set in the fictional town of Shermer are The Breakfast Club and Weird Science. The opening scene of The Breakfast Club features an exterior shot of the high school with the name “Shermer High School” clearly visible, and Brian (Anthony Michael Hall) has a voiceover introducing the school and the town:

The other movie where it’s clear as day is Weird Science, where in the opening scene, Gary, played by Hall, and Wyatt, played by Ilan Mitchell-Smith, are watching the girls’ gymnastic team practice. On the walls of the gym are signs rooting Shermer HS on. At the end of the movie, Lisa (Kelly LeBrock) is seen as a new gym teacher, wearing a shirt that reads “Shermer HS Phys. ED.” So those two movies are easy to confirm.

A Sign In Ferris Bueller

In Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the name of the school Ferris (occasionally) attends, other than the nine times he’s missed that semester, is not directly mentioned, but there is a scene in a hallway of the school where there is a poster on the wall that says “Go, Shermer.” I’m going to go ahead and jump to the conclusion that it is, indeed, the same high school. That means that all the kids in The Breakfast Club and Weird Science were in classes with Ferris, right? Does that mean Emilio Estevez’s character in The Breakfast Club and Charlie Sheen’s character in Ferris Bueller were brothers? Makes you wonder.

It’s worth noting that another John Hughes classic set in high school, Pretty in Pink, doesn’t seem to take place at Shermer, as there is a poster on the wall in the gym that says “Meadowbrook High School.” There is also no direct reference to the name of the school in other Hughes movies featuring high schoolers, like Uncle Buck or any of the Vacation movies. That doesn’t mean they weren’t set in Shermer, though.

John Hughes Made It Clear

In a 1999 interview with Premiere magazine (via Wayback Machine), Hughes stated:

So that means at least 11 movies (and maybe more) written, directed, or both by Hughes were set, or partially set, in the fictional suburb. That includes all three Vacation movies Hughes wrote (the original, European, and Christmas), Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Home Alone, She's Having a Baby, and the aforementioned Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Uncle Buck.

Then there is a movie like The Great Outdoors; it's reasonable to assume some or all of the characters are from Shermer, despite taking place in Wisconsin, and there are some exceptions. Some Kind of Wonderful, for example, is about high school, but it is set in Los Angeles. Career Opportunities, which I think is an underrated gem, was set in a small town somewhere in Illinois, but not specifically in or around Chicago.

Only the Lonely, with John Candy, takes place entirely in the city of Chicago, as do a couple other movies written by Hughes, not the suburbs, so they are borderline cases here. Planes, Trains and Automobiles is also set all over the Midwest, though Del (Steve Martin) is headed home to Shermer, so it counts. One of his earliest scripts, Mr. Mom, is set in Detroit, and obviously most of the action in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York takes place in Manhattan.

Hughes Loved His Hometown

It’s no surprise to anyone familiar with Hughes’ work that he adored his hometown of Chicago and the northern suburbs where he spent his teenage years. Not only did he often set his scripts in Shermer, but many of them were also shot on location in and around the towns Shermer was based on.

In fact, both Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (which you can watch with a Paramount+ subscription) and The Breakfast Club (available with a Netflix sub) shot scenes at Glenbrook North High School, where Hughes actually attended high school. Even when the movies weren’t about high school, like Home Alone and She’s Having A Baby, the movies were set in the Chicago ‘burbs and filmed on location in them.

I’m not the only person to note all these connections, of course. One of the most famous connections came via Kevin Smith in Dogma, when Jay and Silent Bob admit they went on the road in search of one of the most famous fictional locations in film history.

It's hard not to see this as an influence on Smith, even without the direct nod in Dogma, as all of his movies also take place in the same universe, albeit in New Jersey and not Illinois. Like me, Smith grew up loving Hughes films, and throwing in Easter Eggs like this would be one of the most fun things to do as a filmmaker, I would think.

I have never been particularly worried about “Dunesday.” Putting Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three in theaters on the same day certainly creates headaches for premium screens, but these are also two enormous franchises with pretty dedicated audiences. Throw in the Christmas corridor and the possibility that audiences might see both, and Dec. 18 has always looked capable of producing a monster weekend. But the numbers are even loftier than first expected.

According to TheWrap, early ticket sales for both projects on the 2026 movie schedule are already pointing toward a huge holiday box office. The numbers surrounding Doomsday are particularly wild, especially when you compare them to what Spider-Man: Brand New Day just pulled off.

The Avengers Are Already Making a Scene

Disney opened general advance sales for Avengers: Doomsday four months before its Dec. 18 release, an unusually long runway for a blockbuster. According to theatrical sources, its first two days of presales were running approximately 65% ahead of the first two days for Spider-Man: Brand New Day's first two days. That comparison gets my attention.

Brand New Day began selling tickets only 45 days before release and went on to open with a record-setting $360 million domestically and $927 million worldwide. It crossed $2 billion globally after just three weekends. Per the report, it is currently on track to reach roughly $2.5 billion by the end of its theatrical run.

Now, there is a giant asterisk attached to that 65% figure. We do not normally see wide ticket sales begin four months early, so nobody really knows what the sales curve will look like between now and December. The initial rush will almost certainly cool before picking up closer to release. Comparing the two movies this early is probably not fair. Still, being 65% ahead of a new Spider-Man movie that just bulldozed the box office is not bad news.

Robert Downey Jr.’s return to Marvel as Doctor Doom, Chris Evans coming back as Steve Rogers and the collision of the Avengers, Fantastic Four and veteran X-Men characters have clearly given audiences plenty of reasons to buy their tickets early. But where does this leave Dune: Part Three?

Meanwhile, Things Are Getting Spicy On Arrakis

General tickets for Dune: Part Three are not even on sale yet, but Warner Bros. and IMAX have already released tickets for select IMAX 70mm screenings. Reports cite that the 38 participating theaters are seeing dozens of opening-weekend sellouts, with enough interest to sustain round-the-clock screenings through Christmas weekend and beyond.

IMAX confirms that 70mm tickets are already available for Denis Villeneuve’s franchise finale. That premium-format battle may end up being the most fascinating part of this whole thing. Dune: Part Three has exclusive access to IMAX screens through the holidays, while Disney is pushing Doomsday across other premium formats. Dune: Part Three may not reach the astronomical numbers of The Odyssey, which is passing $1.3 billion worldwide, but it could still surpass Dune: Part Two’s $714 million global total if audiences respond similarly.

I already figured Dec. 18 would be a good day for movie theaters and cinema fans. I was picturing packed lobbies, double features and plenty of arguments over which movie to watch first. But these early numbers make me think we may need to aim considerably higher with our box-office expectations.

Dunesday is still four months away, and both movies have plenty of selling left to do. But if this is what the box office looks like before most people have even started Christmas shopping, theater employees may want to start preparing now, because it's going to be a very busy weekend.

60 Minutes has seen a series of changes over the past few months, with said alterations having been initiated by new series EP Nick Bilton and CBS News head Bari Weiss. Multiple correspondents and producers were let go, while others exited the program on their own. Considering the various behind-the-scenes shifts, there have been questions regarding what the storied news magazine show will be like when it returns to the air for Season 59 in September. In the meantime, Weiss reportedly has a plan to drum up buzz.

It would seem that Weiss may be looking to usher in the return of 60 Minutes in a major way. According to a new report from Puck, the aforementioned editor-in-chief is spearheading a major marketing blitz for the show in the lead-up to its season premiere. Insiders who spoke to the news outlet claimed a “multipronged, cross-platform campaign” had been initiated and would include significant TV promotion. The alleged goal of this approach is to highlight the show’s new additions but also emphasize that the core essence of the show remains intact.

As for how much all this is going to cost, exact figures weren’t provided to Puck. What was alleged, however, was that Weiss was handed “a blank check” for this particular marketing push. Per this report, 60’s new season marks a pivotal point for the show, and it’s argued that its performance will also help define Weiss’ tenure at CBS. With that assertion in mind, a network source also said, “This has to work.”

Bari Weiss was named CBS News’ editor-in-chief in October 2025 by Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, who also moved to acquire her Free Press media company. Since taking on the big job, Weiss has been criticized for some of the moves she’s made, including her decision to pull a 60 Minutes story on an El Salvador prison at the last minute back in December. Some, including former members of the show’s team, have also accused Weiss of exuding political partiality when it comes to news coverage.

This past May, Weiss and co. made headlines after correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega were fired alongside EP Tanya Simon and executive editor Draggan Mihailovich. Shortly after, longtime correspondent Scott Pelley was also fired after accusing Weiss of “murdering” the show. New talent has since been added to the series, as Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni, Gianna Toboni, Trevor Phillips and Ariel Levy have all joined as contributors and correspondents. They’ll join veteran anchors Bill Whitaker, Lesley Stahl and Jon Wertheim.

Insiders have been sharing claims about what the atmosphere at 60 Minutes has been like behind the scenes, and it’s been alleged that staffers have been “anxious” ahead of the new season. That sense of anxiety is allegedly due to uncertainty as to whether the upcoming episodes will go off without a hitch. Nick Bilton and Weiss are reportedly “acutely aware" of the negative headlines surrounding the show and are seeking to improve it for the better.

A common report that’s also been shared is that Bari Weiss has David Ellison’s support and, per Puck, this apparent marketing campaign is an extension of that trust. Should this information be legitimate, it may not be long before ads overrun the airwaves. Whether such a push will be successful is hard to say.

60 Minutes Season 59 premieres on CBS on September 13 amid the 2026 TV schedule.

I was starting to get genuinely nervous about the future of Fast Forever. The 11th and supposedly final Fast & Furious movie has spent years drifting between announcements, delays and Vin Diesel social media posts that made production sound much further along than it actually was. Just last week, director Louis Leterrier was talking about how he “hoped” they would get to finish the franchise. That is not exactly what you want to hear about a movie already sitting on Universal’s release calendar. Now, Diesel has finally given us something considerably more concrete.

Speaking to Variety at a 25th anniversary screening of The Fast and the Furious, the Dominic Toretto actor said Fast Forever is expected to begin filming very soon. He explained:

Principal photography beginning this December, even if there is still a qualifier attached, after four years of development, is very exciting. The movie finally sounds like it may be ready to leave the garage.

However, the actor's “if” is doing a little work there, and Diesel did not explain exactly what Universal has asked of him. Still, December is the clearest production window we have gotten in quite some time.

It also clears up some recent confusion. The Bloodshot star shared footage in July that appeared to come from the Fast Forever set and told fans he needed to “get back to this filming,” which certainly made it sound like cameras were already rolling. We later learned that was not the case.

Then Leterrier complicated matters further. While discussing the finale recently, the Fast X filmmaker said he had been keeping himself busy with other projects while waiting and added that he hoped everyone would get to finish the franchise properly. He also had not yet read the latest version of the screenplay that apparently reduced the xXx helmer to tears.

Needless to say, I had questions, but Diesel's explanation that the script went through four sets of writers over four years helps explain why this has taken so long. Michael Lesslie is behind the current screenplay, and Universal has also reportedly been looking for ways to bring the enormous budgets associated with the later Fast and Furious movies back under control.

Whenever filming actually begins, Fast Forever has plenty of unfinished business waiting for it. Fast X ended with Dom and his son apparently trapped by Dante Reyes while Roman, Tej, Ramsey and Han faced a separate disaster. The movie also brought Gal Gadot’s Gisele back from the dead and used its credits scene to usher Dwayne Johnson’s Luke Hobbs back into the franchise.

Diesel has repeatedly said he wants the finale to return to Los Angeles and to the street-racing culture that started it all back in 2001. The movie is currently scheduled to hit theaters March 17, 2028, a full five years after Fast X.

After all the stops, starts, and occasionally confusing updates, a December shoot finally gives this thing a much clearer road ahead. We will not be seeing the finale on the 2026 movie schedule, or even in 2027, so there is still a long wait. But in the meantime, fans can revisit Fast X with a Peacock subscription.