Spoiler alert! This story discusses the fourth night of Blind Auditions on The Voice Season 30, which aired September 28. Episodes are available to stream the next day with a Peacock subscription.

Ever since Queen Latifah was announced as one of the new coaches of The Voice ahead of Season 30’s premiere on the 2026 TV schedule, I’ve been excited to see how she’d use her years of experience to guide up-and-coming musicians. She definitely hasn’t disappointed, and her success continued on Night 4 of the Blind Auditions. To my surprise (and amusement), however, it wasn’t her talent and background alone that caught singers’ attention — it was that gorgeous silk press.

I’m not sure what’s happening on The Voice this season, but the premiere saw Kelly Clarkson taking out a hair extension and literally offering it to one of the artists. Now it’s Queen Latifah whose hair is making magic happen. When 31-year-old Chari took the stage for the final audition of the night, her cover of Oleta Adams’ “Get Here” turned all four coaches’ chairs pretty quickly. After they pleaded their cases, it was Team Queen who claimed the artist. When asked why, Chari said:

It really did feel like Adam Levine might be able to pull Chari, especially after he brought up the fact that he won Season 29 with Alexia Jayy, whose style seems similar to the Season 30 artist. Queen Latifah offered a strong argument for herself, though, weaving medical terms into her pitch that spoke to the artist’s day job as a surgical technologist. Check it out below:

It was a solid pitch, and honestly, with the way Queen Latifah smiles so warmly at the artists, I’m not actually sure how she ever gets beat. But it was that hair that apparently did the trick. And here’s the thing — Chari wasn’t the first Season 30 hopeful to mention that flawless silk press.

Earlier in the episode, Serrin Joy took on a beast of a song, covering Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You.” Unfortunately no one turned for the 24-year-old, but she still shared a meaningful moment with The Voice royalty, as she and Queen Latifah had this exchange:

• Queen: Serrin, girl, you are beautiful. Did you steal my hairstylist, because…
• Serrin: You know, I need to know who your hairstylist is, because the silk press is always…
• Queen: Umm, ‘cause your silk press is silk pressin’ too. I just want to say I see you, babe.

Between Kelly Clarkson’s hair extensions, Queen Latifah’s silk press and Riley Green’s mustache (which has also come up multiple times this season so far), Season 30 is involving a lot of hair play. I’m not sure that bodes very well for Adam Levine.

We’ll have to see if this theme continues when Blind Auditions pick back up at 8 p.m. ET next Monday, October 5, on NBC.

I’m not sure anyone could have predicted just how much comedic value would come from Colin Jost and Pete Davidson buying a Staten Island Ferry back in 2022. The original goal to spin it into a transportable vessel for live entertainment, but it’s mostly been a money-sucking eyesore for locals in the years since. Things have gone more positively in recent months, but everything truly came up Milhouse…er…Jost during The Simpsons’ Season 38 premiere, “"The Children's Book Job."

Having previously appeared solely as an on-screen reference in Season 31’s “The Winter of Our Monetized Content,” Colin Jost made an official guest appearance voicing himself, and I’m extremely amused that his Simpsons debut was literally just a self-deprecating joke about the ferry. Most of his ferry-related gags take zero time to address, whether via Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” segments or his interviews on New Heights and more, but this one was 6+ months in the making, given the lead time of animated series.

Check out a shot of him below, and be sure to click the pic to get a closer look at the two Simpson-ified goobers on the front cover.

For those who may not be able to see, the book's title is a hilarious overstatement, and also references Pete Davidson in an amusing way.

• "Cap'n Colin And His Fabulous Ferry" with Bosun Pete

"Fabulous" is a word that one could use to describe many things, and it starts with the same letter as "ferry." But maybe that's as far as it goes.

All that said, the real gag here isn't just that Colin Jost wrote a children's book based on his ill-conceived purchse. Rather, after he reads off the playful line seen below, every single one of the kids listening to him starts groaning and griping, indicating nobody in that gymnasium thinks that the ferry is all that fabulous.

Of course, based solely on this sentence, I actually would buy a parody-esque children's book about the ferry if Jost wrote it. As he so maturely orated:

I can't say I've heard the term "sploodled" before, but I'm putting it into casual rotation now.

The Simpsons can get more timely with its jokes now, as opposed to what was generally possible in the earliest days of the show's run. But I think we can all agree that making fun of Colin Jost and Pete Davidson's ferry purchase will be funny until probably the end of time if not longer.

That said, the ferry has been front and center for quite the positive update more recently, in that it was turned into a floating comedy club for a Snapple partnership in mid-September, and it seemed to be a successful venture for the duo. And thankfully for the SNL star, Scarlett Johansson’s feelings about it are slightly more positive than those of Springfield youths.

Will those two pop culture paths cross again in the future? Both shows are now airing new seasons, so be sure to tune in to find out.

Spooky season is here, and Jessica Chastain is ready to bring some close-to-home scares to audiences with Other Mommy. The upcoming horror movie has already been going viral for its marketing, and the actress has shared the story behind how she found that horrifying smile that has been the creepy hook of the trailers.

CinemaBlend was recently in attendance for an Other Mommy Q&A at the Universal Lot, and Jessica Chastain shared a funny anecdote about how she found her inner Other Mommy, so to speak. In her words:

Hey, that’s one way to figure it out! It's the scientific method, horror edition. This happenstance moment for Jessica Chastain is sort of perfect, given the movie is from from the perspective of a young girl who’s being haunted by an entity that takes the form of her mother. Kids aren't naturally afraid of their parents, even in a cinematic sense, so it helps that Chastain's look sparked such a palpable reaction.

Chastain spoke further about creating the character, pointing out how her glued-on smile ended up being both a time-saving and cost-saving addition, saying:

During the Q&A event, we also got to see the first 15 minutes of the movie, and it’s not long before it’s set up that "Other Mommy" can actually take on many shapes - while looking like the mother of Arabella Olivia Clark’s Bela is merely one form she frequents. Bela’s real mom is often busy and working outside of the house, with "Other Mommy" often showing up during those times in hopes of going into “her heart” in reference to the young girl. As Chastain also said about finding her very creepy role:

The first Other Mommy trailer famously dropped unexpectedly during release weekend of The Odyssey, and audiences got jump scared over Other Mommy, who is seen with twisted limbs hiding under a table in the first look. I know I’m already very stressed over what other shapes Other Mommy can take, and where exactly she comes from. And, why is she preying on that little girl and her heart? I can tell this is already going to be one of those Jessica Chastain movies we are not going to forget anytime soon.

Other Mommy is one of this year’s freakier book-to-screen adaptations, as it’s based on Incidents Around the House by author Josh Malerman. The movie comes from director Rob Savage, who previously helmed Host and the Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman.

The 2026 movie schedule has been packed with great films, including that one weekend YouTubers took over the box office with Obsession and Backrooms. This feels like the perfect release to get us spooked out during Halloween season. Other Mommy hits theaters on October 9.

Charles Barkley’s TV career has been heavily discussed as of late, and that’s all due to comments shared by the former athlete himself. Weeks ago, Barkley made headlines when he declared that he would retire from Inside the NBA at the end of the show’s upcoming season. Not only that, but he also claimed long-time co-host Ernie Johnson would be exiting the show with him. Of course, this isn’t the first time Barkley has talked about putting down the mic but, after his latest comments on retirement, I’m starting to believe him this time.

There are still a few months before Inside makes its return to ESPN and, in the meantime, Barkley’s been keeping busy. Yet that apparently hasn’t stopped him from discussing his work and plans for the future. Before Auburn basketball's annual Bruce, Barkley and Basketball Golf Tournament, the former NBA MVP spoke with the Montgomery Advertiser. When Barkley was asked if he still intended to retire in 2027, he doubled down on his intention to do so. As for his feelings about that, he said:

Fans may remember that back in 2024, Barkley announced his intention to retire from broadcasting after the 2024-2025 NBA season. However, he eventually walked back that retirement talk and opted to renew his contract with TNT Sports. While I was in my feelings when that announcement was made a few years back, a part of me wasn’t completely convinced that “Sir Charles” would call it a career. Now, I’m starting to feel like the beloved media personality is serious, though.

What’s starting to convince me of the legitimacy of this retirement talk is the sense of finality with which Barkley speaks. Not only that but, unlike the last time, the former Philadelphia 76er is also talking about stepping away from public life in general. When people start speaking like that, it tends to indicate that a person is truly ready to step away from the spotlight. As for why Barkley chose to stay longer, he’s since explained that he did so to save jobs and that Johnson convinced him to do so. He doubled down on that, saying:

Excuse me for a second, I’m just going to grab a few tissues. But, in all seriousness, having watched Barkley’s antics on Inside for years now, the notion of him stepping away after 27 years is very bittersweet. That’ll also be tougher if Ernie Johnson does indeed retire with Barkley though, per a report, Johnson has yet to make a decision. In the event that the two of them do ride off into the sunset together, I’d be curious as to who might be brought in to join Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal in to take their places.

Although I’m uneasy about the notion of Charles Barkley retiring, I’m hoping he will indeed get a fitting send-off if he goes through with it this time around. Keep an eye out for updates on when Inside the NBA will make its return to the 2026 TV schedule.

I’m sure this is pretty common, but I’ve definitely found myself in the situation where I’m trying to steal a quiet moment for myself to do absolutely nothing of importance, only to be caught red-handed watching videos on my phone. However, exactly zero times has this moment involved Tom Cruise or any other brand of A-list celebrity. The star of the upcoming dark comedy Digger has gone viral after a video showed him checking on a woman who was actually just doomscrolling.

Tom Cruise seems to be everywhere these days, from sitting with Taylor Swift at a Kansas City Chiefs game to promoting his new film Digger, which hits the 2026 movie calendar this week. He also turned up on a security video, where the actor is seen walking past a woman who was crouched down in what looked like a storage room and then turning back to see if she is OK. The clip is making its rounds on the Internet:

Many fans loved that someone as famous as Tom Cruise would take the time to check on a complete stranger — even though it turned out the staffer wasn’t actually in any distress. The two seem to clear up the confusion, and then Cruise offers a fist-bump before flashing that million-dollar smile and rejoining his team. Comments on the X (Twitter) video included

• I love this because not one person can call it performative. Just a kind man checking on another human. ❤️ – weetrina
• TOM Cruise saw a potential hostage situation and immediately initiated the rescue protocol. – Wesley14F
• And what did it cost him? 10 seconds of his life, yet he gave her something that could just lift her up in a moment she needed it most. – DestinLabs

Some people questioned the timing of such a good PR video coming out days before a big movie release (you can’t fault a healthy dose of skepticism in today’s digital world), but a lot of people were quick to share their own stories of positive interactions with Tom Cruise. MaratheParth wrote:

A couple of other alleged crew members from the Top Gun star’s movies also spoke out, cosigning what others were saying. Some Instagram comments included:

• He did the same thing to me on set! Hahaha I was working in front of the camera and just thought it was some grip trying to get my attention and then finally after several attempts I turned around and realized oh snap tom was trying to get my attention 😂😂 – Camayla2018
• I worked with him on Minority Report and can confirm he’s a very attentive guy and was great to the entire crew. – herrhonaker

I love hearing when celebrities are decent to the crew and other noncelebrities around them. We’ve definitely heard great things from within Hollywood, like that famous coconut cake list he has and the birthday tradition he has with Dakota Fanning (his on-screen daughter in War of the Worlds). Rosie O’Donnell has said Tom Cruise always remembers her birthday, and he apparently allowed Millie Bobby Brown to fly his helicopter.

Now it’s great to see that signature kindness caught on camera and confirmed through fans like X user missiontoaccept, who said of the viral video:

Fans will be able to see Tom Cruise being probably not-so-nice as Digger Rockwell in Digger when his new film hits the big screen on Friday, October 2.

There’s no end in sight for Lindsay Lohan’s streaming era, as she continues to bring rom-coms back in style and I’m so here for it. Many of her streamable movies have given early ‘00s vibes in the best possible way. However, her upcoming project isn’t just giving the vibes, Lohan’s next Netflix movie is set in the noughties and fans are all saying similar things about Return to You.

This means we’ll be going back in time to before the streaming era. In the film, Lohan plays a powerful “but lonely” attorney who accidently “receives a very emotional DVD from a dying woman addressed to her husband.” Obviously, her only choice is to use the clues to embark on a scavenger hunt to find the grieving husband. It’s a very ‘00s movie plot, for sure.

On Instagram, Lohan and the official Netflix account shared a picture of her holding up the script for Return to You, and fans are already signed up. Check out the post below:

After famously leaving Hollywood, Lohan has certainly returned with a vengeance and even found time to return to her roots with a Freaky Friday sequel in between Netflix movies. Her newest one finds her teaming up with Henry Golding in the Mark Waters movie. Golding is no stranger to heading up feel-good rom-coms like Crazy Rich Asians and Last Christmas. He’s also a big part of why fans are excited, with one @nolatheejournalist having this to say about the pairing: “We are so blessed 🥹.”

Personally, I don’t think anyone needs to see the year it’s set to believe this is an early ‘00s movie. It definitely has the same logic we’ve seen before, such as in Just My Luck (2006), which had Lohan switching her good luck with Chris Pine’s bad luck after the two kiss at a party. Though I’m not the only one living for the nostalgia. Fans don’t need anymore convincing. Check out what they’re saying:

• 2008? I hope the wardrobe will be as exciting as that sounds. Lindsay in 2000s clothing? Sign me up 😍- @riccardosimonetti
• 'set in 2008' say less - @abydallas2016
• "Set in 2008" OHHHH THE SOUNDTRACK WILL BE HIT AFTER HIT! 🔥- @jsjstyles
• The 2000s are the most underrated era ever. THE MOST UNDERRATED ERA EVER!!! ❤️🙌🔥👏 - @whoispatrickspencer
• Omg! Set in 2008, oh this is going to be good 🔥❤️❤️✨️- @xomorgan1356

This isn’t the first or even the second Netflix rom-com Lohan has in her filmography. She’s already played a spoiled heiress with amnesia in a very Overboard-inspired movie, Falling for Christmas (2022), which was also her return to acting. Then she was the bright spot in Irish Wish (2024) as a book editor who makes a wish on an ancient stone that magically makes her a bride-to-be.

Following this she also starred in the pleasantly surprising Our Little Secret in 2024 which paired Lohan with Pretty Little Liar’s Ian Harding as two exes forced to spend Christmas together after they discover they’re dating siblings. (Obviously, I enjoyed every second of the cheesy premises.) So I’m not surprised that Lohan’s newest movie is taking it a step further by literally being set in the early ‘00s. If you haven’t already checked these out, you can do so with a Netflix subscription.

Hopefully, we’ll get more Return to You teases while we wait for a release date. Though I'm sure when it does hit Netflix, fans will have a lot more to say about the '00s nostalgia.

At this point, it's safe to say Robert Pattinson is a bonafide star. The British actor rose to prominence due to his role as Edward Cullen and, even today, he's still feeling the effects of Twilight’s enduring popularity (which he can't fully wrap his head around). Believe it or not, becoming the subject of a meme is also an indication that an actor his entered the cultural zeitgeist. On that note, Pattinson is now addressing his viral tracksuit meme, and he has an A+ take.

Pattinson joined his Primetime co-star (and fellow DC actor) Skyler Gisondo to speak with Entertainment Weekly about their new movie. However, I didn’t expect the conversation to pivot to the aforementioned meme, which has ties to Josh and Benny Safdie's 2017 thriller film, Good Time. When addressing that shot of himself standing in the tracksuit and looking surprised, Pattinson confessed something:

As mentioned, the meme he's referencing was birthed from a wardrobe fitting on the Good Time set. The Safdies' acclaimed movie follows a small-time criminal (Pattinson) as he attempts to get his developmentally disabled brother (Benny Safdie) out of police custody. It's not exactly the kind of flick you’d expect to inspire a quirky meme. Of course, Pattinson is far from the only actor to have an unexpected meme go viral in his honor.

I mean, who could forget the Sad Affleck meme? That was made after Ben Affleck promoted Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and looked so sad during an interview. Also, who could forget that Nicole Kidman clapping meme from the Oscars, which even she has a good attitude about. It's funny that Pattinson is confused about his own meme, but what I really love is that he seemingly doesn't mind the continued interest in it. Check out his assessment down below:

As far as I know, Pattinson's acclaimed performance in Primetime, which sees him play Chris Hansen, hasn’t yielded any memes. Of course, the heavy subject matter may have something to do with that. More recently, though, fans did have a lot to say about the “daddy” line he delivers to Tom Holland in The Odyssey trailer, and it resulted in many viral jokes. However, in this instance, Pattinson is just as guilty. The actor revealed that he would troll Holland on set, telling him, “I want to be your daddy.” So this viral moment can be greatly attributed to Pattinson's eagerness to chew scenery.

Whatever the case, there’s still a chance for fans to create another viral Robert Pattinson meme before the year’s over. You can see him on the big screen again when Dune: Part Three hits the 2026 movie schedule on December 18. And, for those who want to see the movie that spawned the track suit meme, check out Good Time, which is streaming for free on Tubi.

More than a year after S.W.A.T.’s third and final cancellation, the series made its comeback on the 2026 TV schedule. On Friday, the much-anticipated Shemar Moore-led spinoff S.W.A.T. Exiles debuted on Starz, starring a mostly new cast alongside Moore. While it’s definitely entertaining, I am bummed that he isn’t joined by other members of the now-defunct 20-David. Moore, though, explained the reasoning behind the major shakeups. .

When S.W.A.T. Exiles was announced last year, the S.W.A.T. cast was reportedly not pumped to hear that Moore would be leading a new series without them, and there was also evidently some behind-the-scenes drama stemming from it. Moore, who had been a big advocate for S.W.A.T.’s future since the first cancellation, defended the spinoff amid behind-the-scenes drama. We now know Exiles is bringing back at lesat a few S.W.A.T. OGs in guest-starring roles, but now Moore revealed to US Weekly why a completely new cast was the right choice:

As excited as I was for S.W.A.T. Exiles, I was definitely disappointed when I realized only Moore would be returning in a lead capacity. Of course, seeing Hondo again is a big win, but especially after the final season of S.W.A.T. was rooted in 20-David being a family, I was hoping we’d be getting more. It’s understandable why Exiles went in the direction it did, and it’s already interesting seeing Hondo leading a new team of young and rebellious S.W.A.T. recruits.

Some S.W.A.T. stars have spoken out about not being asked back, including David Lim, who admitted it stung hearing about the new show. That being said, Lim is set to return as Victor Tan in an upcoming episode. Fans have already seen Jay Harrington and Patrick St. Esprit as Deacon Kay and Commander Hicks, and there will be much more to look forward to.

While they are the only three so far returning for Exiles, it’s entirely possible fans will see more S.W.A.T. OGs in the future. S.W.A.T. Exiles only has 10 episodes for Season 1, so obviously, there’s only so much that can be done. Luckily, the spinoff has already been renewed for Season 2, so who knows what could be planned for 44-Squad.

Considering S.W.A.T. was canceled three times, I will take any kind of series on the same wavelength, no matter who is in it. The team may be different, but the heart and the action are still there. The hope is also still alive for future appearances from other S.W.A.T. OGs. For now. people can watch the series in full with a Netflix subscription. New episodes of S.W.A.T. Exiles air on Fridays on Starz. This is only the beginning of S.W.A.T.’s new chapter, and there’s no telling what will be in store.

Spoilers below for the latest episode of Lanterns for anyone who hasn’t yet watched it on HBO or via HBO Max subscription, so be warned!

So here we are, just a week away from Lanterns’ big Season 1 finale, where we’ll hopefully find out who killed Hal Jordan. So many theories are out there, and though I’d be lying if I said I’m not still holding onto the hope that Hal’s corpse wasn’t actually Hal’s corpse, especially since James Gunn’s defense was worded in a way that left that door open. Regardless, I’m now at least willing to humor the idea that it’s legitimate.

I like the Halogram’s suspicions about Kerry having done it, especially considering how much of her character’s story is built upon her keeping secrets and lying to others. But I don’t think she would have gotten romantically involved with him if her long-con goal was just to kill him. In the same vein, I don’t automatically buy into the idea that Noah killed him, even if I do think he’s still got something from Zoe’s Manhunter to shock audiences with.

I think there's a larger-looming suspect that hasn't really been put in the spotlight very much, however, even though the character has been invested in nearly everything that's played out thus far.

Was Bernadette Stewart Responsible For Hal's Murder?

Given how much this show has played up Jasmine Cephas Jones' Bernadette with desires for John to become Green Lantern, and without many other major character motivations to contend with, I think she may have reached the point where she'd try anything to make it happen. We know she's got the gumption and the confidence, and I think that desperation may have entered the picture by the 2026 timeline, perhaps due to struggles with John Sr.'s situation, or perhaps due to other concerns.

As not to get extremely bogged down with any one particular idea, I'd like to just run through a list of potential clues that point to Bernadette having something to do with Hal's death, whether or not she was the one with metaphorical blood on her hands. (I'm also pretty suspicious of John's older brother Aaron, who's my second-tier suspect here.)

1. She lied to get John in Rushville the night of Hal's murder, and Hal never outright confirmed that he and Bernadette were in communication while he was in jail and after he was released. Marcus is also in disbelief that he's there.
2. Hal was shot with a handgun, and to my recollection, John and his parents are the only characters who have used them on other human characters in the show thus far. Though Will Macon's militia used rifles, that was mostly only against Anaan's army in the super-deadly fifth episode, without any casualties. It's also bonkers that none of the townies who threatened John over the beacon pulled guns while getting whooped on
3. Given how much John has to communicate with others over the phone in Rushville, we technically have no idea where Bernadette is at any given moment.
4. Hannah Christine Shetler's diner waitress Maggie seemed like she was primed for John to show up, and has been overly confident about her blackmailing scheme, as if someone has clued her in that John would pay her off rather than handle matters another way.
5. Bernadette may have still blamed Hal in some way for her and John's relationship falling apart after the Rushville debacle in 2016, just biding her time until he was free and she could figure out how to get to him.

While it has nothing to do with the plot, I also have trouble believing Lanterns would cast the Grammy- and Emmy-winning Jasmine Cephas Jones for this particular kind of recurring role without any sort of big moment to build up to. She's been A+ for her on-screen scenes thus far, don't get me wrong, but I have to think there's something more at play.

Of course, the same kind of goes for Aaron, in that he hasn't had a presence in the 2026 timeline, but is supposed to in the finale, as portrayed by Romeo Brown. Is it possible Aaron could have killed Hal thinking that he'd be able to take Hal's ring, not realizing that it had already been decomissioned? At this point, I'm not against suspecting that everybody in John's family sabotaged him.

I'm also fine with suspecting that they may have been working with Kerry and Noah to either set John up with a murder charge or to take Hal out for a different reason. Just once I'd like for my hyperbolic "They're all in on it!" suspicions to come true.

All will hopefully be revealed in the finale when it hits HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, August 4, though I have my doubts.

At present, fans are waiting to see Channing Tatum return as Gambit when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters. In the meantime, though, Josh Holloway is reminding the world that he was once in the running to play the popular X-Men character. It's news to me that the Lost star was in the mix, but now that I'm caught up, I'm pretty bummed out we never got to see it happen.

Holloway mentioned that he was up to play Gambit in X-Men Origins, but "lost" out on the role because he was deemed too old. An Instagram video was recently shared by journalist Joseph Deckelmeier, and in it, Holloway shows the shuffling tricks he learned, though he admitted he was a bit rusty:

The Origins role ultimately went to Taylor Kitsch, who, in turn, later lost the gig to Channing Tatum when X-Men: Days of Future Past came around. After all that, though Tatum's role was ultimately cut from the movie, and the spinoff pitch for the character was shelved, leaving Tatum feeling "traumatized." Ten years later, however, Tatum finally got to play the role in Deadpool & Wolverine, and he performance was praised by leading man Ryan Reynolds.

Josh Holloway has kept busy in the meantime, with a handful of appearances across film and TV via a few notable productions. Sure, playing Gambit would've been great, but in the same amount of time Taylor Kitsch and Channing Tatum were not playing the mutant, the former Lost star was in Yellowstone and the Mission: Impossible franchise along with projects like J.J. Abrams' short-lived, but underrated, Dusker.

All this to say, the fact that Holloway's not an adept card shuffler in 2026 implies he hasn't spent a ton of time thinking about the role that could've been. Still, I do sympathize with him losing out on the role due to his age, especially since there was no long-term plan for the character. He could've easily played Gambit once and then passed the role along to Channing Tatum.

Now, is there a chance we could see Josh Holloway as Gambit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? I would say anything is possible, especially if there are a lot of people out there who want to see it. The good thing about a multiverse is that it can allow for any actor to play any hero, but we'll just have to wait and see.

We're still in the midst of seeing the OG X-Men in the MCU, and I'm excited to see several of them in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in theaters on December 18 amid the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, fans can revisit the classic X-Men films by streaming them with a Disney+ subscription.

I caught some flak for this online, but I was not happy that The Odyssey was rated R, and I voiced my opinion as such. The key reason I was upset was that I wanted to take my kids to see it, but I couldn’t rationalize taking my children, who are 11 and 9, to an R-rated movie.

After seeing The Odyssey, which was SUCH a Christopher Nolan movie, I still don’t understand why it had to be rated R (Perhaps because of the Circe scene?). So, I guess my kids will just see it once it comes home.

Do you know another movie that I have to wait to show my kids since I need to watch it first? Godzilla Minus Zero! Here’s why that annoys me to the nth degree.

Similar To The Odyssey, I Now Can't Take My Son To See This

Okay, I shouldn’t say I “can’t” take my son to see Godzilla Minus Zero, because I can. I certainly can. My dad, after all, took me to see Terminator 2: Judgment Day when I was only 8. In fact, lots of people my age have similar experiences, as R-rated films were pretty much marketed to children back in the ‘80s and ‘90s. However, I still can’t see myself ordering One Adult and One Child ticket to an R-Rated movie, and Godzilla is no exception.

This sucks, because my son was REALLY looking forward to this sequel. I took my then-six-year-old son to see Godzilla Minus One, and I felt bad doing even that since I didn’t know if he’d be scared, or if there would be anything inappropriate in it. He loved it and even completely understood the kamikaze story, as well as read all of the subtitles all by himself, so that fear was unwarranted.

That said, what the heck is in THIS movie that made it get an R-rating? Like, how violent could it possibly be? This brings up another issue that I have with this film…

Godzilla Has Been Around For Over 70 Years, And Not Once Have I Ever Thought He Needed To Be In An R-Rated Movie

I’ve watched every Godzilla movie from every era, and not once have I ever thought, You know, this movie would be so much better if, when Godzilla lifted his foot, there would be bloody dead bodies down there.

In fact, one of the reasons why I think Godzilla is the greatest character in cinema history is BECAUSE he’s for everyone. If we go back to how I took my son to see Godzilla Minus One. Sure, maybe he MIGHT have been scared if I didn’t introduce him to movies like Jaws beforehand, but if I didn’t want to introduce him to THAT version of Godzilla, I could have always just shown him one of the tamer movies from the Showa era where Godzilla was super goofy.

In every way, Godzilla has always been a multifaceted character, and there was always an opportunity to introduce him to my kids since none of the movies have gone TOO far into the extreme. That said…

In The End, I'm Super Intrigued, But Also Annoyed About This News

Honestly, as such a huge Godzilla fan, I’m actually super intrigued by what makes this particular movie so different from all the other Godzilla movies that it got slapped with a big R-rating. Toho must really trust Takashi Yamazaki with the keys to the kingdom if they really allowed him to direct an R-rated movie with their poster boy, so I am interested.

But at what cost? Will this Godzilla movie feel like it’s doing way too much? Will it be too extreme? I don’t know, but I’m definitely going to see it on day one when it comes out on the 2026 movie schedule on November 6th. I just won’t be taking my son with me. Oh, well. Maybe a second viewing is in order if it’s not too grisly.

It's funny how certain TV shows grow into cult classics, and are regularly re-watched long after they wrap up. Amy Sherman-Palladino's Gilmore Girls (which is streaming with a Hulu subscription) is definitely in that category, and continues to be popular despite the original show's series finale airing back in 2007. Lauren Graham famously played Lorelai Gilmore in both that series and the Netflix revival, and recently admitted there was one storyline that wasn't a fan of.

Gilmore Girls' pop culture impact cannot be understated, and is the reason why the follow-up series A Year In The Life aired years ago for those with a Netflix subscription. During a recent interview with People, Graham spoke about her role on the show, and not feeling like she could weigh in on scripts. In her words:

While the Parenthood actress had a great collaboration with the Palladinos during Gilmore Girls and A Year in the Life, she didn't necessary feel like she could take a stand against the show's writing. It turns out there was one story in particular she didn't love, and the hardcore fans can probably guess what it was.

Gilmore Girls fans are super passionate about all things Stars Hallow, and that was certainly true during the show's original run on The WB and The CW. In the same interview she admitted she shared their concerns during Season 6, when Lorelai and Rory spent nine episodes fighting and/or having no contact. She wasn't a fan of that period of the show, but also understood why it happened. As she put it:

Points were made. That set of episodes are not fan favorites, as Gilmore Girls isn't the same without Lorelai and Rory's relationship at its center. While we can binge watch these episodes now, when the show was airing weekly it took months before the two protagonists came back together. Aside from A Day in the Life's cliffhanger ending, that stretch in Season 6 remains one of the show's most controversial aspects.

I'm one of the many Gilmore Girls fans who continue to lean on the show through the years, and I'm still holding out hope that we get more episodes sometime in the future. After all, I need to know who the father of Rory's baby is!

Gilmore Girls is streaming in its entirety on Hulu, while A Year in the Life is on Netflix. As for Lauren Graham, she's stayed busy including a recent role in Reminders of Him as part of the 2026 movie release list.

William Shatner is speaking out about the rumors that he'll return as Captain Kirk, though I'm not entirely sure what he's referring to. The nonagenarian actor has restated his stance on returning as Kirk and why he still has not done so.

Perhaps word just reached him that Strange New Worlds' co-showrunners said they had a pitch for Shatner to play Kirk in an episode that never came to be. But as mentioned, I'm not sure where this started. It appears the actor heard some rumblings or whispers that he'll return, as he shared the following on his Instagram:

It sounds like William Shatner would only consider a return if he were playing post-Star Trek: Generations Kirk, who died in the movie. While it seemed as though Picard attempted to set the stage for something like that, I'm not sure there were ever explicit rumors claiming Shatner would be tapped for that role.

There was also a project in which Captain Kirk "returned" via the use of a stand-in and AI, and Shatner gave his blessing for Sam Witwer to serve as the body double. The actor wasn't officially part of that, but stated if there was something he approved of, he'd be up to return:

Quite a wild way to end the statement, saying you'd sooner die than commit to playing a Captain Kirk role you didn't sign on for, but hey, that's his right. When you hit ninety, you gain the ability to largely do what you please without scrutiny, so I can't say I fault him for wanting a return to Kirk to be on his terms.

At the moment, no one is talking about Captain Kirk returning to Star Trek, because there's no show for him to return to. Starfleet Academy will air its final season in 2027, and Strange New Worlds has wrapped filming on its final season.

It doesn't appear as though there will be a new series announced anytime soon, as Paramount seems to be in a holding pattern while it prioritizes getting the franchise back in theaters first. As for that movie, it's going to be set far away in the future and allegedly won't feature any known characters.

I'm not sure there's a Star Trek project William Shatner could appear in even if he wanted to, and based on what he said above, it doesn't seem like he's itching to reprise his role. I can sympathize with that, as he's already likely doing more on a day-to-day basis than the average person his age is doing. I can't imagine what life would be like if he tried to put a television role on top of that.

Fortunately, there's no shortage of William Shatner popping up at conventions or other places for those looking to see him. He's a joy to see talk live for those who get the chance, just don't get him riled up about potential rumors about returning!

Much has been said about former Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s time with the House of Mouse. A 30-year veteran of the company, Chapek succeeded Bob Iger as CEO shortly before the onset of the COVID pandemic and ousted in 2022, with the reigns given back to Iger, who stayed in the position until he stepped down earlier this year. Chapek has since written a memoir, Behind the Castle Walls, in which he discusses his time with the company. With all this, many have wondered if Chapek has “beef” with Disney, and he's now opening up about that.

More specifically, there's been a question as to whether Chapek specifically holds unpleasant feelings towards Bob Iger years after rumors of tension between them. The former chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts was asked about that while speaking with Valuetainment for Gen-Z. Chapek replied by sharing the following take about Iger and his reasoning for writing the book:

Per Behind the Castle Walls' synopsis, it chronicles how Chapek climbed the ladder within the company and how he navigated the media landscape amid COVID. Also highlighted in the book is the alleged backlash Disney faced for certain moves that left Chapek “wondering whether he had become the corporate scapegoat of it all.” Based on that longline, it seems like the book will cover the details of Chapek's firing and his final weeks as CEO before Iger stepped back into the position. (Josh D’Amaro has since taken over the position of Disney CEO).

However, the memoir seems to be about far more than an alleged “beef” with the company. When asked if he believes that business is war, Chapek says:

There are some other interesting tidbits in the book as well, including Chapek's staunch defense of The Return of Jafar. (For those of us who remember, this was the straight-to-video sequel to Aladdin.) What exactly will be covered in Chapek's book remains to be seen but, given his extensive work with Disney, there's a lot of ground that he can cover. Work aside, readers also get a look into the exec's personal life.

Chapek grew up in a small town in Indiana and was raised “by a World War II–veteran father,” who gets a shout-out in the book’s description. Still, it’s unclear how much he’ll go into his childhood. As for his career, Chapek's recent comments suggest that those who are looking for him to discuss Bob Iger in an unfavorable light aren't in for such a read.

Behind the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth comes out September 29 where books are sold.

2 Broke Girls is one of the best sitcoms of all time, even nine years after CBS surprisingly canceled it after six seasons. There were some memorable storylines and scenes throughout the fan-favorite show’s run, but not surprisingly, there were a lot that didn’t make the final cut. Kat Dennings recalled being asked to just wear a bra for one scene. In true Dennings fashion, she had a snarky comeback.

The Shifting Gears star took to TikTok recently amid 2 Broke Girls’ streaming resurgence to share a story with fans. She revealed that during the show’s early days, there was a particular scene that called for her character Max, and Beth Behr’s Caroline to wear only their bras. Understandably, Dennings was uncomfortable with it, and while she didn’t have much of a pull, she did eventually manage to get the scene cut. And her response for it was completely on-brand:

I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t be uncomfortable with a scene like that, especially since 2 Broke Girls was filmed in front of a live studio audience. The fact that Dennings not only had the courage to go up to the showrunner, but also to be snarky after he initially didn’t want to do anything, is impressive. I love that it actually worked. I can’t imagine what would have happened had the scene stayed in, but it’s clear that Dennings would have gotten it cut one way or another.

In celebration of 2 Broke Girls’ 15^th anniversary, Dennings has been pretty reflective on the CBS hit. She’s also set to reunite with Behrs in the upcoming third season of Shifting Gears, so it makes sense that she is feeling all the nostalgia. But not all of it is great, if that bra story is any indication. Dennings has also admitted she has PTSD from working on 2 Broke Girls, as the critics were pretty harsh throughout the show’s run, with plenty of accusations of stereotyping and lowbrow humor.

Even despite some questionable scenes and harsh critics, Dennings still has some fond memories of working on 2 Broke Girls, as she’s shared a handful of posts to her Instagram from her time on the series. It sounds like that experience has also given her a lot in terms of learning to stand up for yourself, no matter what the consequences could be. And of course, to never underestimate yourself.

Hopefully most of the stories Dennings has about 2 Broke Girls are not like the bra story, and she has more great memories than terrible ones. At the very least, she was able to get it cut, and who knows what else she managed to do. Fans can watch 2 Broke Girls on The Roku Channel to celebrate the show’s 15^th anniversary for free.

Twenty-four beautiful years ago, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas (not to be confused with Matthew McConaughey) and director Andy Tennant would put out what would become one of the best rom-coms of that time. I saw the movie in theaters when it came out, and it’s definitely difficult to hear the movie is 24 at this point. Yet, Reese Witherspoon did share an anniversary post confirming this stat, and now all I can think about is the baby in the bar.

In one of the flick’s most well-timed lines, Witherspoon’s Melanie “Carmichael” Smooter returns to her hometown in Alabama and needs a drink. So, she pops over to her local watering hole where she runs into her high school pal Lurlynn, who is, in fact, holding a baby. In a bar. Melanie blurts out just that, and the moment has lived on in comedy history literally decades later at this point.

Which got me to thinking, the baby in the bar would be in their mid-twenties now. Or rather, I should say, the babies in the bar, because five babies were actually used during the making of Sweet Home Alabama. One of them was Colin Ford, a former child actor, who reconnected with Lynskey a few years ago on an Instagram post and wrote, “proud to be one of your kiddos in this film.”

Lynskey commented back, mentioning she knew and that other actress Kelsey Lowenthal was one of the babies, too.

Reese Witherspoon looked back at the movie’s release on social media this week, but it is nice to know she also is having trouble computing the movie is 24 years old. 24!

Her co-star Josh Lucas also confirmed that movie was always a piece of work he was “grateful” for, and he told Reese so in the comments. Though I will note, he’s been negative about the impact the movie had on his career before.

Reese also asked the fans about their “favorite” part of the movie, and I was personally gratified to know the baby in the bar thing comes up a lot, and was the most popular fan comment on the post.

• "You have a baby. in a bar” I Still quote that often … anytime I see a baby … in a bar 😂"
• "My cousin literally had a baby in a bar last weekend… thought the same thing 😂"
• "My sister and I quote this all the time 🤣"
• "I just quoted this over the summer when we brought our baby to the bar on vacation 🤣"

Listen, it may be close to the big 2-5, but you know a movie is one for the ages when fans find reasons to quote the same lines years and years later. I don't know if Witherspoon, Lucas and co. knew they'd (literally) caught lightning in a bottle when they were making the movie, but I'm glad it's one that's still a topic of conversation, because it's one I go back to over and over again.

Now Reese has been returning to her rom-com roots, where's that possible sequel?

The fourth season of Reacher delivered one of the most unabashedly brutal fight sequences of anything on the 2026 TV schedule. While it may not have leaned into abject realism throughout, what with Amisha Hoth walking away from that multi-story fall, the series does largely adhere to the "reality" set up by bestselling author Lee Child throughout his various novels. To the point where star Alan Ritchson will occasionally step in and respond when critical fans try to base their complaints on the books.

Case in point: Reacher's multiple knock-down, drag-out fights in the finale did not sit quite so swimmingly with one viewer who dropped his comments on Threads saying, "if you read the books, you know Reacher never loses a fight," and cites the Reacher Rules to say that the character doesn't even come close to losing any brawls. By that logic, the fan (who did compliment Ritchson in the same breath) said they thought it was a bad idea to make the outcome of any Reacher fight even potentially questionable.

That's when Alan Ritchson entered the chat to "politely" make some clarifications. In his words:

If only all disagreements in this world could be like this, where the "aggressor" is just floating thoughts out there, and the "defender" shares a correction and nobody gets immediately insulting or butthurt.

Sure, everyone gets to have an opinion, but it's wild that anyone would want to watch a show or read a novel series fronted by a completely unstoppable hero (or villain) who has zero chances of losing in a confrontation. I mean, I wish I WAS that kind of character who always comes out on top, but suffice to say, that ain't me. And it's not Reacher, either.

As it often goes when Alan Ritchson chimes in personally anywhere on social media, fans were quick to applaud his "Well, actually..." rebuttal while also sharing love for the show in general. Props to the fan who pointed out that Kryptonite exists specifically to give Superman a vulnerability, since having a hero who's entirely invincible is kinda boring. Here's a smattering of other responses:

• "There's wrong. There's very wrong, and then there's being corrected by Reacher about Reacher. I would fade away into dust if this happened."
• "He was summoned and he Reachered the reply."
• "The most articulate Hollywood mic drop in a minute"
• "Coincidentally I just finished reading Tripwire a few hours ago so I can confirm the nail paradigm and that Reacher is close to loosing battles eg The Enemy. Greetings from Greece."
• "I don’t have a photographic memory, but after reading every book, I’m left with a strong impression that there is usually one fight where Reacher sustains significant damage but ultimately prevails because he only moves forward. He’s not indestructible, he just always finds a way."
• "Swear to god, Reacher better say Cray Cray in the next season or I’m done with this show!"

[Record scratch.] Okay wait, I don't think anyone actually needs to hear Alan Ritchson say "cray cray" in Season 5. Even though some of the stuntwork he's posted about via "proof of life" videos does sound crazy in that sense, I will not be able to handle it if he utters such slang. I also may vomit in my mouth if Reacher ever uses any slang terminology coined post 2022. Unless it appears in a novel. (So let's hope 2027 doesn't bring Lee Child's The Vibe-Mogging Chud to shelves.)

We do already know that Reacher Season 5 will be based on the character's 12th novel, Make Me, and that it's currently filming. New co-star Jay Baruchel has had nothing but good things to say about it, and it seems like showrunner Nick Santora & Co. will successfully be able to stick to the yearly releases that so many other streaming series fail at these days.

As we wait for more updates, Reacher's first four seasons are available to stream in full via Amazon Prime subscription.

The wrestling world was rocked by the recent death of Benjamin Satterley, known in AEW as PAC and in WWE as Neville. The sudden death of the wrestling superstar brought forth reactions from both Tony Khan and Triple H, as well as a litany of other professional wrestlers.

Just weeks after the organization was struck by the death of Andy Williams, Khan paid tribute to PAC. Khan welcomed Satterley into his company after he left the WWE. Khan spoke to his strengths as a professional, but also as a human being:

Khan's response was chased by a personal message from WWE's Triple H, who worked quite closely with Ben Satterley when he was in the company. He stressed the important role Neville played in NXT, and like AEW's top brass, also praised him as a wonderful human being:

As Neville, he was a champion in NXT. When he moved up, he became the face of the short-lived Cruiserweight division. He also had a noteworthy role in the past storyline in which Cody Rhodes feuded with actor Stephen Amell and served as his tag-team partner in their showdown.

Many superstars across the WWE and AEW said similar things, adding that they were devastated to hear the news of the professional wrestler's passing. Benjamin Satterley was only 40 years old, and as of writing, there are no details about the circumstances behind his death. What is known is that he was loved, as evidenced by the outpouring of support from these superstars:

• The best lad…We love you. - Kevin Owens
• Fuck man.. this is terrible. For everyone that knew Ben (pac) would tell you what an incredible human he was. Truly one of the best. This is heartbreaking.. sending so much love to his family and everyone else who was lucky enough to know him personally and to all who got to watch him perform and witness the greatness that was that man. Rest in power Ben 🙏🏻❤️ - Paige
• I can't believe it. Ben was an incredible performer and an even better fella. Salt of the earth, humble, a pleasure to be around and loved by everyone in the locker room. I first saw him wrestle in 2005 and couldn't believe what I was watching. I'd never seen anything like him. He truly defied gravity. Rest in peace, Ben. There won't be another like you. The Bastard PAC 🙏 - Sheamus
• What a tragic day. What an extremely talented person. Speechless…RIP PAC. - Rhea Ripley
• Extremely talented. Nothing he couldn’t do. Loved and respected by all of us. God bless Pac’s family - Sting
• Omg!! So sorry to here the news about Pac. He was an incredible man and talent loved by us all. I am praying for his family and loved ones. RIP Pac🙏🏼 - Dustin Rhodes
• PAC - one of the kindest, most welcoming people in a locker room. Rest in peace. - Danhausen

Pac's death feels reminiscent of the reaction of the wrestling world upon learning of Bray Wyatt's death. Unlike that situation, PAC was active on the AEW roster and had just recently wrestled on Saturday at AEW's All Out pay-per-view event.

PAC went head-to-head with Andrade El Idolo for the AEW National Championship match, in what was a celebrated title defense for Andrade. There was nothing in the match that stood out as any cause for concern, which may add to the general shock from fans about the news.

It remains to be seen what further tributes will come out for Ben Satterley. Some fans have requested that Monday Night Raw open its show with a title card for those tuning in with a Netflix subscription to see. While Satterley has not worked in the WWE for close to a decade, it does seem as though he had a lot of friends there, and it would be a kind gesture.

CinemaBlend offers its condolences to the friends and family of Benjamin Satterley, and wishes them well during this difficult time. As someone who immensely enjoyed his in-ring work, I hope that we'll see some big tributes from superstars as they head into another week of in-ring action.

John Cho recently joked he's entered a "deep depression" about the fact that Quentin Tarantino's Star Trek movie never happened. As the 2026 TV schedule closed out the latest Trek series, the Sulu actor from the Kelvin-timeline movies talked about being upset that we never got to see Tarantino's R-rated pitch for Trek hit the big screen.

The actor sat down with Variety to discuss a litany of topics, including Tarantino's pitch that reportedly took place on a planet based on Prohibition-era mob activity. The actor confirmed he'd heard about it at the time it was being discussed, and that he was really hoping it'd get made:

John Cho seemed to think that there was a chance this movie would include the Kelvin cast, and he was ready and hoping he'd get a chance to appear in a Quentin Tarantino movie. I can't say that I blame him, as that's a rare accomplishment only so many actors can claim. He also has a pretty stellar track record of quality movies, so this project could've been a hit.

Of course, there were more than a few diehard Star Trek fans who questioned whether Quentin Tarantino was the right fit for the next installment in the beloved sci-fi franchise. Cho admitted he understood why anyone would hesitate to greenlight the pitch, but that didn't make him any less eager to hope that Paramount would sign off on it anyway:

I can't say I disagree, especially since it now seems there won't be a fourth movie in the Kelvin timeline. Paramount has shifted its efforts to get Star Trek back onscreen elsewhere and is opting for a story centered far in the future with a fresh cast. As of writing, the in-development film doesn't have a cast, nor a release date.

As for Quentin Tarantino, we still haven't heard what his alleged final film will end up being. The director previously claimed that his final feature would be The Movie Critic, but he has since backed out of that project. He wrote the screenplay for The Further Mid-Adventures Of Cliff Booth, but will not direct the upcoming Netflix movie. It's a bit surprising to hear he won't be directing a direct sequel to Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, but I guess the point of this story is that Tarantino is always good at keeping people on their toes.

John Cho was hopeful the Tarantino movie would happen, while I remain hopeful that we'll see a new Star Trek movie in the next five years. In the meantime, I still have my Paramount+ account and access to a wide variety of past movies to keep me occupied for a while.

The last few years have seen Sean Combs deal with a myriad of legal issues and, at present, he’s serving a four-year prison sentence. As it stands, the 56-year-old – who’s also known as Diddy – is set to be released in early 2028. Even now, though, there have already been rumors regarding what the embattled businessman will do once he’s finished doing time. As of right now, Combs’ team has yet to provide a concrete answer on that front but, now, an author/journalist claims he has at least one major project on his mind.

Cheyenne Roundtree is an investigative reporter, who’s also the author of Bad Boy for Life: The Rise and Fall of Sean Combs. The tell-all book dives deep into Combs’ early life and ascent within the entertainment industry before becoming engulfed in legal hurdles. Roundtree recently spoke to NPR and discussed various facets of the “Come with Me” performer’s current circumstances. When it came to his future plans, Roundtree made the following allegation:

As of this writing, Combs’ representatives have neither confirmed nor denied that he’s working on a documentary. However, based on what’s known, the former Sean John figurehead was looking to produce a project of sorts with footage that he’d filmed ahead of his arrest in 2024. Combs and his lawyers later claimed that footage was stolen from him and used to produce the Netflix docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning. Producer 50 Cent and director Alexandria Stapleton have since denied stealing footage.

Multiple docs have been made about Combs over the past year or so. In addition to Netflix’s, Peacock also released Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, which Combs also blasted and took legal action against on the grounds of alleged defamation. Ultimately, Combs lost that case and was dealt a financial blow when NBCUniversal requested that he cover its legal fees. When it comes to these docs, what the Grammy winner has apparently taken issue with are the sets of claims made against him by the various interviewees.

Those claims were made in the aftermath of Sean Combs being sentenced to prison on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. During his trial in 2025, he was also charged with sex-trafficking and racketeering but was acquitted of both. Combs is currently serving his time at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey and, throughout that time, his lawyers and reps have been serving as points of contact between him and the outside world. Yet Roundtree claims Combs has still been working to “manage” his image from behind bars.

During the last few years, there have also been claims about Combs mounting a comeback, though it’s been alleged that reputable artists are hesitant to work with him. At one point, it was also alleged that Diddy was planning to work with Usher, but that claim was not substantiated. One media expert believes the “Shake Ya Tailfeather” artist won’t be a global brand again but could still thrive through a “niche market.”

Anything regarding Diddy’s next steps can only be taken with a grain of salt for now. The ex-rapper is currently set to be released from prison on February 5, 2028.

If you’re making a list of the biggest Oscar scandals people still talk about, Will Smith slapping Chris Rock is probably somewhere near the top. During the live broadcast of the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, Smith walked onstage and struck Rock after the comedian joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. The moment dominated the rest of the ceremony and has been dissected ever since. While most audiences were disturbed by the incident, actor Rob Lowe actually took personal joy in it.

Yeah, I didn't see that coming.

In Order To Get The Reaction, You Need To Know Rob Lowe's Oscar History

During a Sept. 24 appearance on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live, Lowe explained his stance. He said Smith going viral briefly gave him hope Hollywood might finally stop bringing up his own Academy Awards disaster. Lowe told Andy Cohen:

That is a pretty incredible silver lining to find in one of the strangest moments ever broadcast during the Oscars, or live on TV in general.

Unfortunately for the Parks and Recreation star, the slap apparently did not knock his own contribution to Academy Awards history out of circulation. Nearly four decades later, people still find reasons to bring up what he now calls “the worst opening ever.” He added:

There have been tons of cringeworthy Oscar moments. From Melissa McCarthy's strange rabbits to Anne Hathaway and James Franco's hosting stint. But at 37 years and counting, I think Lowe may have a case for his Academy Awards moment taking the cake. So, what exactly did Lowe do at the Oscars? Could it possibly be that bad?

Rob Lowe’s 61st Academy Award Faux Pas: What Happened

For anyone lucky enough to have avoided this piece of awards-show history, we need to go back to the 61st Academy Awards in 1989. That year’s hostless ceremony opened with an enormous musical production featuring actress Eileen Bowman dressed as Snow White.

Eventually, Lowe appeared and joined her for a reworked version of “Proud Mary.” The whole spectacle ran for roughly 11 minutes and included dancing tables, old-Hollywood references and plenty of confused celebrity reaction shots.

You can actually see it for yourself in the video below. Needless to say, the reaction afterward was pretty brutal.

I mean, no offense to Eileen Bowman, but that high, “sweet” Disney princess voice is a little like nails on a chalkboard, and that's before you even get to the “Proud Mary” of it all. Lowe’s performance is… shall we say, unique. Yeah, let's go with that.

Following the 61st Oscars’ opening act, seventeen prominent filmmakers and actors, including Julie Andrews, Paul Newman and Gregory Peck, signed a letter calling the telecast an embarrassment to the Academy and the film industry. Disney also sued the Academy over the unauthorized use of Snow White, though the organization later apologized. Lowe has carried that performance around ever since.

At least a couple of people were in his corner. He has recalled Lucille Ball complimenting his singing afterward, and he told Cohen that “Proud Mary” songwriter John Fogerty saw the performance and liked it.

Still, I understand why Lowe watched the 2022 Oscars and briefly thought his long national nightmare was over. Surely an unscripted slap during a live Academy Awards broadcast, which people are still asking those involved about, would finally bump Snow White and “Proud Mary” down the list. Sorry, Rob, apparently not.

60 Minutes’ 59th season is in full swing amid the 2026 TV schedule, and its premiere (which aired a few weeks ago) was preceded by copious amounts of discussion from pundits. This marks the first full season that the show is being overseen by CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. This past summer, Weiss initiated various behind-the-scenes changes and, as a result, several notable employees were let go from the series. Long-time managing editor Guy Campanile was one of them, and he’s now reacting to the new season.

Multiple analysts theorized that 60 would be a different kind of show when it returned to the airwaves this fall. Those assumptions were not only due to the presence of new correspondents and contributors but also Weiss’ sensibilities regarding news coverage. THR recently caught up with Campanile, who – as both he and the trade pointed out – was well known for not mincing words while working at the Eye Network. His thoughts on the new season of the news magazine show aren’t so critical, but something gives him pause:

Campanile – like a number of other journalists – is of the thinking that the show hasn’t changed much under Weiss’ leadership thus far. With that, though, the question he poses is why the various BTS changes were made to begin with. In terms of on-camera talent, Weiss hired Ross Douthat, Trevor Phillips, Gianna Toboni, Sebastian Junger and Ariel Levy and brought in Nick Bilton as the new executive producer. On the other side of this, series veterans Bill Whitaker, Lesley Stahl and Jon Wertheim.

The fired 60 Minutes alums were let go this past May, with Campanile being joined by former EP Tanya Simon as well as former producer Matthew Polevoy and executive editor Draggan Mihailovich. Correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi were also fired amid the staff changes and, shortly after, Scott Pelley was let go as well. Pelley’s exit notably came after he accused Weiss of “murdering” the show. On that note, other former employees have made allegations of “journalistic interference” against Weiss.

Shortly after he was let go, Campanile didn’t hold back his thoughts on being fired. He claimed that he and his colleagues were dismissed because they chose not to be “accomplices in the destruction of the most prestigious news program on American television.” Amid backlash from Campanile and others, though, some have defended Weiss, with CBS Evening News’ Tony Dokoupil saying he hadn’t witnessed any bias in news coverage. Additionally, Norah O’Donnell defended Weiss while announcing her return to CBS Mornings.

As for how 60 Minutes has been doing ratings-wise this season, the premiere marked a low, as it only pulled in 7.94 million viewers. That tally marked a decrease of 10 million viewers from the previous season’s debut episode. However, the show saw gains during its second episode, as it marked 6.77 million viewers, a 5% increase of Season 58’s second episode.

Many eyes remain on Bari Weiss, as she reportedly continues to mull changes at CBS News. When it comes to staffing, it’s alleged that she wants to land Chris Cuomo and that she’s supposedly considering reaching out to Maria Bartiromo for a 60 Minutes gig. Nothing has been confirmed on either of those fronts but, in the meantime, it’d be easy to imagine Guy Campanile and others continuing to keep an eye on 60’s new era.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going strong for nearly two decades, and continues to put out exciting new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Folks who have spent those years watching the Marvel movies in order know that certain franchises are fan favorites, chief among them being the Guardians of the Galaxy series. Chris Pratt has played Peter Quill/Star-Lord throughout six movies and a holiday special (so far), although there's one part about his signature hero that bugs him.

The end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 claimed that Star-Lord was going to return for upcoming Marvel movies, but its still unclear if/when that'll happen. While fans wait, they can check out a clip from The Backstage Experience's Instagram, where he got real about one part of Quill's costume that's less than ideal. In his words:

Talk about uncomfortable. While Star-Lord's helmet looks awesome and grants Peter the ability to breathe in space, the logistics of wearing the thing are a different story. Namely because it needs to be bolted to his head. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it makes taking direction difficult as well. Talk about a logistical headache.

Pratt's comments about Star-Lord's helmet gives an insider view on how MCU movies actually come together. They also echo what other superhero actors have said about their costumes. For instance, Christian Bale couldn't pee in his Batman suit, and warned Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson about this danger. The Jurassic World actor being locked into a bulky helmet seems like a bit of a nightmare, but his co-star Zoe Saldaña was shocked to hear about this complaint. In the same interview the two went back and forth, saying:

• Zoe Saldaña: I thought you loved it.
• Chris Pratt: I hate the helmet, but I love the jacket.
• Saldaña: I’ve never heard you complain about it.
• Pratt: That’s ‘cause it’s usually my stuntman in it [laughs]

Stunt performers can really be the backbone of movie sets. On top of doing the dangerous stunt work, their contributions can also help to keep the primary actors comfortable during long and grueling hours on set. Chris Pratt seems to owe his a debt for helping him spend less time in Star-Lord's cool (but uncomfortable) helmet.

As previously mentioned, fans are curious to see if/when Pratt returns as Peter Quill in the MCU. He wasn't included in the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement, but fans are hoping he appears in that title or Secret Wars.

Chris Pratt's tenure as Star-Lord is currently streaming in its entirety on Disney+. Meanwhile, the next MCU movie hitting theaters is Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

Jalen Brunson has hit plenty of big shots in his life. Most have been into a basketball hoop. Thanks to SNL, he can add one that went into a trash can. The NBA star swished a Pizza Hut wrapper from a good distance during an office sketch, and it’s a good thing he did because apparently the entire ending to the sketch was going to be changed if he missed.

Saturday Night Live’s Dan Bulla, who co-wrote the sketch, hit up social media after the episode and said he wrote two different versions of the ending. One had lines for everyone if he made the big shot, and another had separate lines for everyone if he missed the big shot. Apparently in dress rehearsal, he missed, and they all did the sad lines. To the surprise of absolutely no one, however, when the big moment hit during the live show, he swished it. Here’s what Bulla said on Instagram…

Saturday Night Live hosts (and even some cast members) often talk about the pressure they feel performing on the show. Many of them aren’t natural comedians, and they’re not used to having to memorize lines and get everything correct in one take. I’m sure Brunson was nervous about doing all of that (as well as his teammates who cameod), but I have to know what kind of nerves he felt before throwing that pizza hut wrapper. Yes, he’s used to making big shots, but there’s a special kind of pressure that comes with everyone expecting you to come through with something entirely in your skill set.

The sketch in question was about a group of office workers who finished their lunches and threw the wrappers into the trash. Brunson missed his first attempt but then kept derailing the meeting to shoot again because there was still time left on the clock. He eventually revealed himself to be the Jalen Brunson and was given one last chance to make the big shot, which he, of course, nailed. You can watch the sketch in all its glory below…

One of my favorite things about SNL is the diversity of its hosts. I like seeing a mix of actors, musicians, athletes and comedians. Thankfully, showrunner Lorne Michaels and company are giving us exactly that at the beginning of this this season. 52 started with Jalen Brunson and is going to move into Dakota Johnson, Shane Gillis and Inde Navarette. That should guarantee a wide variety of sketches with different subject matters and comedic sensibilities. I can’t wait.

The biggest names in music showed up Sunday night for the MTV Video Music Awards, which of course means it was an equally major night for celebrity fashion. Noughties trends have been all the rage, so I definitely should have seen one of the VMAs’ biggest looks coming. Taylor Swift, Charli XCX, Tyla and more were sporting super-low drop waists. I’m actually surprised nobody brought the belly chain action.

Now, when it comes to fashion from the ‘90s and 2000s, low-rise jeans are a trend I’m fine with leaving in the past. However, that’s probably because there’s no way I could pull off an outfit that shows so dang much midsection. Tyla, meanwhile, didn't have that issue Sunday, playing “Limbo” with her blue snakeskin skirt that had me asking, “How low can you go?”

Don’t miss that belly ring, either, as the singer clearly agrees with Amanda Seyfried that the trend never went out of style. Tyla really stuck to the snake theme, because in addition to the bra and pencil skirt two-piece, she added a thick blue snakeskin choker and white snakeskin heels.

Not to transition from snakes right into Taylor Swift, but the Artist Director Honors award winner also featured a drop waist — but in a way that didn’t require her to show as much skin as many of her counterparts. Her outfit from Tamara Ralph’s couture collection included a sheer black corset top with a high neck, paired with a shimmering silver skirt that hung on her waist at an angle.

Her last VMAs appearance in 2024 also featured black and silver looks from the artist, and while many thought she was dressed for revenge on that night, this year’s look was more celebratory, as she debuted the “Patient Zero” music video from her recently released The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore.

Charli XCX, who helped Madonna open the show, dressed in an all-black two-piece that featured a long-sleeved crop top and floor-length skirt that showed off her toned stomach:

Not to be left out, JoJo was another artist to sport the bra-and-low-rise-skirt combo to the MTV Video Music Awards. Her halter top featured black diamond-shaped sequins, and the waistline of her skirt also featured a bedazzled black and white pattern:

It wasn’t just the ladies getting in on the Noughties drop-waist trend, either. Sombr, who participated in the tribute to George Michael, wore black pants that fell well below his belly button and were secured with a black belt.

I gotta have faith that his belt was up to the task, too, given the size of his huge "SEX" belt buckle and his multiple wallet chains attached to his pants pockets. The standout piece for this outfit, however, was probably the black-and-white ERL faux fur coat that enveloped the artist’s thin frame.

You can always count on the VMAs to deliver big musical moments in pop culture, but the awards show is also always worth tuning into for the fashion. If you missed any of the Sunday action, you can stream the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with a Paramount+ subscription.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Big Brother live feeds as of Monday, September 26th. Stream the feeds with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

It's finale week on Big Brother, and the two winners of Part 1 and 2 of Final Head of Household have been decided. Taylor Brown clinched another win, and Rick Devens outlasted Drew Campbell for a chance to become the first Survivor player to win the CBS reality series. Who wins will largely depend on who wins Part 3, and Taylor already has a massive boost in the final competition, thanks to an unprecedented study guide. She certainly gets points for ingenuity, but I do have to wonder if what she's doing is cheating and if production will step in.

Taylor Is Using The House iPhone To Study Dates

Fans still watching Big Brother online noticed Taylor fiddling with the iPhone, which the Houseguests used to help create content for social media that would later be retrieved by production and posted. Even with the phone not connected to the internet, she manages to figure out a way to make it a helpful study guide for the final competition.

Taylor uses the iPhone's calendar function to check the dates photos were posted, which helps her keep better track of which days specific events happened. Rather than relying on memory, she has hard evidence of what events occurred on what day, which is a wild advantage we've never seen before at this stage in the game.

Should Taylor's Method Be Considered Cheating?

Additionally, there's chatter online with people wondering if what Taylor is doing constitutes as cheating, as Houseguests aren't even allowed to take notes during a usual season of Big Brother. It's a valid question, though, it doesn't seem as though production is going to do anything about it so far. She's been seen clearly using it to study on the feeds, and no one has requested she return it to the diary room.

Now, I read a comment that suggested people would be upset if this were Devens utilizing this to study and not Taylor, and that's fair. That being said, if you're not mad about how Dee Valladares exploited the BB Bribe, I'm not sure how you can be upset about what Taylor is doing.

As mentioned, Taylor is not hiding that she's using the phone as a study guide. The production staff can ask for the phone back at any time they choose, and thus far, has not done so. If you want to win Big Brother, you have to take advantage of every opportunity you get, so I think she's in the clear with this one.

Big Brother's finale is on Thursday, October 1st on CBS. I'm excited to see who ends up winning this season, and if we get any word about whether Reindeer Games or a celebrity edition is coming this winter.

Florence Pugh is an A-list actress and Oscar nominee who is one of the hottest movie stars in the business. She's also a style icon in her own right, responsible for starting the sheer dress trend in Hollywood. She recently stunned in a black dress at a screening for her new show East of Eden (which will be available shortly with a Netflix subscription), although I almost missed her rare comments about her relationship. Let's break it all down.

The Avengers: Doomsday star is currently dating Peaky Blinders actor Finn Cole, but she has been keeping her relationship close to the chest. During her recent interview and cover story at Vanity Fair, the 30 year-old actor spoke about how she's been approaching the public's interest in her personal life, offering:

That certainly sounds like a healthy way of looking at things. While Pugh isn't burdened with trying to keep her relationship with Cole, she also is trying to walk the line of how much she shares with fans. Regardless, it does seem like the pair of actors are happy with how things are going.

Florence Pugh's comments make a ton of sense for those who are familiar with her romantic life. Folks took umbrage with her former relationship with Zach Braff prior to their split in 2022. There was a ton of discourse about their age gap, which got louder once they broke up. So who can blame her for wanting a bit more privacy this time around?

The Little Women actress seems to have a good attitude about her fame and personal life, and it sounds like she and Finn Cole understand that their relationship is a point of interest. In the same interview Pugh said:

It sounds like the pair has a good sense of humor about the speculation about their relationship. So while Pugh has said it's not easy to date her, things see to be going well between her and Finn Cole. The public will likely remain invested in any news about the pair, especially given her previous high profile relationship. She also keeps making headlines for her fashion, you can see the full look at her stunning black gown below:

Personal life aside, Florence Pugh's career continues to thrive. In addition to her new TV show, she's got a major role in both films that make up Dunesday. Namely Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three.

East of Eden will release in its entirety on October 1st as part of the 2026 TV schedule. Then Pugh will star in both Doomsday and Dune 3 on December 28th.

Michael Fishman has spent a lot of his life tied to the Conner family. He was 7 when he started playing D.J. on Roseanne, returned for the 2018 revival and later carried the character into The Conners. So when fans tell him that the latest very public fight between him and his former TV mom feels a little like watching their own family argue, he seems to understand why. After Roseanne publicly called him some very unflattering things, the actor vows to keep "pushing."

In a new Instagram video, Fishman responded to fans after Roseanne Barr unleashed a profanity-heavy response to comments he made about the 2018 cancellation of Roseanne. Barr called her former onscreen son a “fucking little worm” and a “brainwashed bigot” during an appearance on the Can’t Be Censored podcast. He has now returned to social media with a much calmer message for fans who want Mom and D.J. to stop fighting. He explained what he plans to do next:

The longtime sitcom actor also told fans he understands that Roseanne has been a comfort show for many of them, and promised to do what he can to protect that legacy. That distinction seems important to the Undrafted star. He has been very critical of Barr’s comments while remaining proud of the series they made together.

This whole thing resurfaced after Fishman spoke about the Barr controversy in August. He said he was still receiving “daily” messages about the fallout and defended ABC’s decision to cancel the 2018 revival after Barr’s racist tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. He said at the time that the show was “rightfully canceled,” while also saying he still had love and compassion for Barr. She did not return that sentiment gently.

During her podcast appearance, Barr dropped a whole lot of F-bombs while responding to Fishman. Along with calling him a “little fucking worm,” she told him to keep her name out of his mouth and claimed she had been responsible for getting him brought back for the revival, only for her character to be killed off in The Conners.

The A Lighthouse in the Dark actor initially said he didn't need to engage with “obvious lies or name calling.” He also said he had reached out to Barr immediately after the 2018 tweet and never abandoned her personally, even though he strongly disagreed with what she had said. Now he seems ready to stop feeding the fight altogether.

That is probably easier said than done when your former TV mom is discussing you on podcasts and strangers are still filling your social feeds eight years after the controversy began. Still, Fishman appears determined to separate his relationship with Barr from what Roseanne meant to viewers.

The original sitcom, considered one of the greatest of all time, ended decades ago, and The Conners wrapped its seven-season run in 2025. Yet apparently the Conner family can still generate some very real family drama. Fishman just seems determined to make sure the next thing he contributes to it is a little less angry.

Almost two decades in, The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point. Folks have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order, and certain franchises have become fan favorites in the process. Chief among them is Tom Holland's Spider-Man movies (streaming with a Disney+ subscription), but the actor revealed one comic moment that he's been actively trying to see get the live-action treatment. To be honest, I'd love to see it.

The most recent MCU title was Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which broke records at the box office and showed how passionate fans continue to be about Holland's Peter Parker. During an interview with Bleeding Cool, the 30 year-old actor revealed that he actively tried to get one comic book moment into his latest Marvel movie, saying:

Honestly, this would be pretty iconic. The Spider-Man movies have had plenty of thrilling action and plot twists, but he hasn't had the chance to unceremoniously stop a fight before it begins with one punch. After reading Holland's description, I have to admit that now I want to see this happen in an upcoming Marvel movie.

It does feel like this quick scene could have happened during Brand New Day. While Peter couldn't punch Sadie Sink's Jean Grey, this moment could have happened in the Act 1 montage of Spider-Man kicking butt in the years since No Way Home's twist ending. Later in the same interview, Tom Holland spoke more about how long he's campaigned for it on the big screen, offering:

There's always plenty of comedic beats in the MCU's Spider-Man movies, so this doesn't feel totally off brand to happen on the big screen. Alas, the Odyssey actor hasn't gotten the chance to end a fight with one quick punch to the face. Hopefully this moment gets to happen before Holland ends his tenure as everyone's favorite wall crawler.

The fandom is already curious about when Tom Holland will return to the big screen as Peter Parker, with Brand New Day's credits scene seemingly hinting at a role in Secret Wars. Although given Marvel's tight security, fans are largely in the dark.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters now and the next Marvel movie will be Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see if/when we get confirmation about Holland's return.

Everybody who's ever had a job has no doubt gone through one or more nightmare experiences that test one's mettle like nothing else. Actors in particular go through so many confidence-crushing situations that it's a wonder so many of them still persist. For Hustle & Flow and Z Nation vet DJ Qualls, it was the Big Bang Theory audition process, during which he spent six weeks vying for a role that he learned he was never actually going to be considered for.

Qualls was seemingly in the running to take on the lead role of Sheldon Cooper, and remained in contention for that long stretch before co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady made the call to cast Jim Parsons. Appearing on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, in a clip posted to Instagram, the actor explained why it was a doomed prospect from the start, saying:

DJ Qualls was presumably reading for the original and far-different Big Bang Theory pilot, in which the lead female wasn't the bubbly Penny, but a more unhappy woman named Katie. (Cuoco auditioned for that role and lost out.) So there's a Sliding Doors universe with Qualls' Sheldon and Cuoco's Katie as neighbors. (Unless Jim Parsons crushed out and won the role in every alternate universe, which seems likely enough.)

The Road Trip star continued working with Lorre and trying to earn the role for so many weeks, and all without any clue that he was just being used as a tool for Parsons' performance to be judged against. Which in some ways could be seen as a vague compliment, but not when so much time and effort went into it on his part.

The soul-obliterating blow came on a day when Qualls had to read for the network execs just after Parsons did. As he explained:

I cannot imagine having to stand up and still go through with an audition after hearing that I was never truly being considered. I mean, that would be the best time to pull out the weirdest and most unique performance possible, although bringing that kind of approach to Sheldon probably wouldn't have won anyone over.

To be fair, DJ Qualls did come away from that audition with a minor win, in that Lorre and Prady did cast him to play research assistant Toby Loobenfeld for a Season 1 episode. And speaking to the economics of that industry, that one episode still results in decent risidual checks for the actor.

But in terms of actually stealing the role of Sheldon from Jim Parsons, Qualls said:

Though he's not one of its main stars, one of my favorite comedies released in 2026 so far was the indie parody The Napa Boys (which is free to stream on Tubi). In it, Qualls plays a character named The Sommelier, and is front and center in one of the movie's most hilariously disgusting scenes.

The Big Bang Theory can be streamed in full, complete with DJ Qualls' episode, via HBO Max subscription.

Robert Pattinson’s big movie streak isn’t quite over yet. He made a splash already this year with The Drama, Primetime, and The Odyssey, and he still has the release of Dune: Part Three to look forward to. And, if that weren't enough, he still has so much down the pike, including the much anticipated sequel to The Batman. Ahead of that movie’s release, Pattinson got reflective about filming the superhero flick's iconic opening scene, and I was surprised to learn he made one important tweak that wasn’t in the script.

Just recently, Pattinson sat down with director Lance Oppenheim to talk about their movie, Primetime, as well as participate in a mini career retrospective together. They chatted about their respective hit films, Ren Faire and The Batman and delved into their creative processes. When talk turned to the Matt Reeves film's opening, where Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne beats up a bunch of criminals in Gotham, the actor got candid. Pattinson explained how he flipped the positioning of his "vengeance" line. He told GQ:

This was a perfect change! Fans may remember years ago when the first trailer for The Batman dropped and fans saw Pattinson's Dark Knight beat that thug to a pulp. It was only after that that the vigilante referred to himself as "vengeance." That line wouldn't have hit as hard (no pun intended) had it been delivered before the beating. I also like the Mickey 17 actor's take on that line going into the punk's dreams as he drifts off. Check it out at the end of the opening:

This behind-the-scenes reveal is a testament to the notion that Pattinson's instincts helped make The Batman a fan favorite Caped Crusader film. He brings a much more gothic glumness to the character than predecessors like Christian Bale and Ben Affleck. It’s a unique kind of darkness that sets the tone for the entire film.

Yet, even with such a morose undertone, there’s a campiness about the line “I'm vengeance.” It’s a classic comic book line that needs to be delivered compellingly and at the right time. I think Reeves is also deserving of kudos for listening to his star on this matter.

This discussion makes me even more excited about what’s to come in The Batman: Part II. The movie was delayed several times, and the script took longer to write than many expected. This, along with a number of other factors, pushed the film out further and further from its set release dates. So there was a lot of relief in June 2025 when Reeves confirmed the screenplay was done.

Now, Part II is in production over in the UK, with BTS pictures from the set circulating online. Robert Pattinson says this sequel will take some big swings story wise, and I personally can’t wait to see it. And, if Pattinson is bringing the razor sharp instincts he did for the first film to the sequel, I think another critically acclaimed hit is on the way.

Fans will have to wait a while, as The Batman: Part II doesn't hit the big screen until February 18, 2028. In the meantime, you can revisit Reeves and Pattinson's first Bat movie along with the spinoff series, The Penguin, now with a HBO Max subscription. Also, keep an eye on updates regarding other upcoming DC movies.

Plenty of changes took place throughout the eight season seasons of Full House, which remains one of the best long, binge-worthy shows. For example, recurring characters like Rebecca Donaldson (later Katsopolis) and Kimmy Gibbler became regulars on the show, and more mature storylines were utilized as the Tanner kids got older. However, I had no idea that the TGIF sitcom’s producers were apparently “pissed” when Candace Cameron Bure made one big change to her character, DJ's, appearance.

Throughout the earlier seasons of the show, DJ Tanner was known for having very long hair. But, as mentioned during an episode of the How Rude, Tanneritos! rewatch podcast, Andrea Barber mentioned to Jodi Sweetin that the had entered DJ’s “short hair era.” This mention came as the pair outlined the Season 7 episode “The Perfect Couple”. From there, Barber presented one surprising fact about that hairdo shift:

Whoa, baby! That was certainly a bold move on Bure's part, especially given her character's signature style. In “The Perfect Couple,” DJ begins sporting a shoulder-length ‘do. Sure, the longer locks were what were more familiar to viewers, but I can understand Bure wanting to make a change at that time, given she'd been sporting the same look on the show for so long.

While the close-knit Full House cast were fully aware of Bure's new hair, she realistically couldn't hide her new look from the producers forever. According to Sweetin, they didn’t exactly take it well:

This all may sound like no big deal, but when an actor playing an established role changes their hairstyle without notice, it can indeed cause a stir. For instance, Mariska Hargitay said she “almost got fired” when she rocked a pixie cut while filming Law & Order: SVU. Keri Russell’s super short haircut in Felicity was even famously theorized to be the reason why Season 2's ratings dropped.

Of course, the situation involving DJ's look happened decades ago, and it's something the cast can laugh about now. After all, Full House, which is over 30 years old, ended back in 1995. During the recent podcast episode, Barber went on to explain why Bure decided to chop off her locks without giving any on the creative team the heads up:

I can sympathize with Bure for not wanting to wait until her hair change was written into a story. Honestly, the notion of her hairstyle needing to be directly addressed on the show feels somewhat weird. However, I can also see where the producers are coming from, as the short hair could've not only clashed with their vision for the eldest Tanner child but also just been jarring for viewers.

After hearing how Full House's producers were upset over Candace Cameron Bure's change, I can't help but wonder if hair conversations came up at other points during the show's run. Regardless of that, I'm glad everything worked out for Bure in the end, and she ended keeping her hair short throughout the remainder of the show's run.

Check out Bure's performance as DJ by streaming Full House with either a Hulu subscription or a Disney+ subscription.

With news of Daredevil: Born Again's next season being its last, and the cancellation of Wonder Man, I think the solution to Marvel's live-action TV shows’ problem is clear: Stop making live-action TV shows! Most of them are not doing well. Not since Season 2 of Loki have I heard everybody talking about a Marvel TV show.

Which is a shame, because the MCU on television had lots of potential. Unlike the Star Wars shows, which MOSTLY didn't transition into the theaters (The Mandalorian and Grogu being the exception), the hope was that MOST of these Marvel shows would somehow connect to the movies, but that just wasn't meant to be. So, here's why Marvel should just quit with these live-action TV shows.

They’ve Seriously Run Out Of Gas

I’ll never forget when I first watched WandaVision. It was unlike anything else in the MCU. Then came The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which felt exciting at the time since we knew it would impact the movies going forward.

Follow that up with the first season of Loki, and Marvel was on a roll. Then, after What If?..., which was interesting (and animated), and Hawkeye, which was enjoyable, it pains me to say that Moon Knight might have been the first stumble. I’ve already talked about how the show was a bit of a missed opportunity, but I think the main issue was that it didn’t seem to hit with people in the same way that all of the other aforementioned shows did.

Ms. Marvel was deemed fun, but there was a lot of vitriol (mostly misguided) when it came to the next show, She-Hulk, which I loved, but a vocal minority on the internet hated. That was Phase 4. Phase 5 was when Marvel TV really went downhill. Secret Invasion was generally deemed terrible, Loki Season 2 was a highlight, but Echo, Agatha All Along, Ironheart, and even Daredevil: Born Again felt kind of unnecessary. So, by the time Wonder Man came along, most people had already checked out of Marvel’s TV output. Gone was the excitement of 2021’s WandaVision, that’s for sure.

Disney+ Already Has Enough Movies And TV Shows As It Is

Another reason why Marvel should stop with the live-action TV shows is that they don’t need to make any more. I mean, have you SEEN how stacked the Marvel pillar of your Disney+ subscription is right now?

There are over 30 MCU movies to watch, several Marvel movies NOT in the MCU (The Spider-Verse movies, both the Chris Evans Fantastic Four movies AND the Michael B. Jordan one, the Fox X-Men movies, and even the Sony Spider-Man-less-Spider-Man movies like Madam Web and Kraven, just to name a few), and so much more already on Disney+.

This is on TOP of the Marvel shows they already have, which also include things like whole seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, and even Inhumans. So, in other words, Marvel has ENOUGH content already that they don’t need live-action TV shows anymore. That said…

Maybe They Could Just Stick To Animation Now, Like With X-Men '97

If Marvel wants to continue making TV shows, why not just stick with animation? While I’m sure animated shows are still a pretty penny to make, I doubt they cost as much as putting together another live-action show that will likely not bring in the subscribers that all streaming services crave.

X-Men ‘97 is a great example of a show that gets people talking, and I’m sure they could come up with more creative animated shows that don’t break the bank, but still provide new content. Marvel Zombies was pretty interesting, and while I didn’t check out Eyes of Wakanda or Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, I’ve heard good things.

So, while the upcoming VisionQuest might prove this entire article wrong and have people flock to the show, I won’t hold my breath. So, Marvel, stick with the cartoons, and maybe save yourselves some money!

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the 90 Day Fiancé episode "Tell-All Part 3." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription and read at your own risk!

90 Day Fiancé Season 12 has officially wrapped up, and while we received confirmation on what's going on with each couple, I can't help but feel a bit worried. Paula Barbosa and Thomas Dintino said they love each other and are still married, but their mounting issues have me wondering how much longer that will last.

Sure, their marriage seemed healthy compared to Catie Norboe and Joshua Atkins arguing about her randomly making out with people when she goes out, but that's a low bar. It may be because Shaun Robinson covered their relationship last, but I can't help but feel worse about them than any other couple I saw this season.

Paula Continually Investing In A Life Back In Brazil Feels Like A Red Flag

The news that Paula went back to Brazil as soon as her green card arrived wasn't wild, as I can understand being homesick. What was stranger was when the couple revealed she was back home for three months, of which Thomas was only present for three weeks.

Not only that, but Paula's using a considerable chunk of cash to open up another business in her home country, and I don't think it's wild she'd be making more trips to keep tabs on it as it gets underway. Thomas expressed concern that she was spending more time building a future in Brazil than in the United States, and I think he's right.

Thomas' Strict Rules Sound Miserable To Live With

I also can't fault Paula for spending more time in Brazil, especially after seeing a glimpse of what day-to-day life is like. Even aside from his extreme aversion to anything with a strong scent, the fact he has next to no furniture in his home because it makes it easier for yoga is wild.

When challenged on either of those things, Thomas maintains that these are "make-or-break" principles he will not flex on. Given that, I don't think it's hard to see why Paula is trying to find more time away from her husband, and maybe even making plans for a life without him.

Thomas feels that since Paula knew about his quirks from the start, she has no excuse at this point for having issues with the rules. While I give him kudos for not withholding that information from her, I'm not quite sure it works that way. If Paula not following his rules is a deal-breaker, I don't know why he's surprised that her having to live under his rules can't also be a deal-breaker.

Paula and Thomas still appear to be going strong, so maybe they've worked out some compromises after the tell-all. I hope that's the case, because I'd hate to see another couple in 2026 join the list of 90 Day couples who split after marriage.

Now that 90 Day Fiancé is over, it's time for a new season of The Other Way! This season has one returning couple I'm shocked to see again, so I can't wait for this spinoff to kick off on Sunday nights!

It’s hard to believe HBO’s Emmy-winning show Hacks ended its five-season run earlier this year amid the 2026 TV schedule. The final season of the comedy, starring Jean Smart as washed up comedian Deborah Vance, received a total of 24 Emmy nominations, setting a new record of noms by a comedy series for a single season. The show is filled with memorable moments, and I still remember Deborah's heartwarming speech at Ava’s dad’s funeral. But I had no idea at the time that Jean Smart had just lost her husband while filming the finale, and it adds a whole new perspective to that funeral scene.

A perennial Hollywood darling, Jean Smart has starred in iconic sitcoms such as Designing Women and Frasier, but who could have predicted that the crowning jewel of her career would come decades later at the age of 75. For the most part, the Hacks cast has described the five-year run as a dream to film. However, the Fargo actress opened up to CBS Sunday Morning about how one of her biggest challenges to date took place while filming Season 1's finale, just days after her husband’s sudden passing in 2021:

To jog your memory, Season 1, Episode 10 of Hacks, "I Think She Will," deals with Ava’s father’s funeral coinciding with Deborah Vance’s final show at the Palmetto in Vegas. Just before Ava (Hannah Einbinder) leaves to go home, she and Deborah get into a fight when she finds out Deborah plans to throw all the new material they’ve written out the window. So the young comedy writer is shocked when Deborah shows up at her father’s funeral, having flown right from her show to Massachusetts, instead of celebrating her final night.

Deborah ends up bringing joy and humor to the dark moment, something that may hae been incredibly difficult for the mourning Smart. Her husband, Designing Women co-star Richard Gilliland, died suddenly on March 18, 2021 from an undiagnosed heart condition, just days before Hacks Season 1 was set to wrap production. The finale was ultimately dedicated to the late actor.

Having witnessed the close familial bond that has grown among the Hacks cast during its run, I'm not surprised to hear Hacks creators Paul W Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky were incredibly sympathetic to the circumstances, even having only worked with Smart for a few months at the time. Though they offered the Babylon actress a number of options, Smart said she decided to push through the last few days of filming:

I feel so sad now knowing that Jean Smart had to go through all that. The veteran actress jokingly recalls taking an Ativan to help her through it, but I’m also glad she had such a supportive group of people around her.

You have to be incredibly strong to give that kind of performance during a time of such grief, and it just goes to show how incredibly tough and dedicated an actress Smart is. For every season of Hacks, she took home the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, with her latest coming from the 2026 Emmys. Each year, the competition was steep, with the likes of Quinta Brunson and Ayo Edebiri almost always being nominated alongside her for Abbott Elementary and The Bear, respectively, but it’s a moment like this funeral scene that helps prove why Smart was deservering of the honor.

While I’m excited to see what Jean Smart tackles next, which looks like the upcoming Family Stone sequel, Hacks will no doubt cast a long shadow over the rest of her career. However, she certainly has won over a whole new generational audience, and I hope to see her and Einbinder work together again in the future. For now, revisit their hit comedy series by streaming all five seasons with an HBO Max subscription.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode "Tomorrow's Enterprise." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds gave its fans a lot to chew on ahead of the final season, after a temporal distortion gave Nyota Uhura a look into her future. It soft-launched some big changes that are on the way as the series closes out, and I just learned a major fact about the episode. Apparently, it was initially written to be the last episode of the show.

I was so hung up on the hint that La'an might die that I tuned out everything else. Fortunately, I can always revisit the episode on Paramount+, and based on Akiva Goldsman confirming to TVLine that the Season 4 finale was written as a potential series finale, I think I need to go back and look for all these last-minute changes that took effect once they realized they'd get more episodes. Goldsman said:

The changes likely ensured the Season 4 finale did not prematurely reveal a look at the original TOS crew in Strange New Worlds, which the co-creators have long said was their plan for how the series ends. I'd love to go back and watch with that in mind, and see if maybe those changes are easier to spot now.

I'm now wondering if the actors who were cast as Sulu and Bones for the final season were originally in this episode and then written out for a reveal in the final season. The crew would only be short one Pavel Chekov of having the entire crew from the original series. Of course, given the age gap, Chekov would be too young to be on the Enterprise at this point.

Ultimately, I'm glad Strange New Worlds didn't have to end with its Season 4 finale, as that would've been a huge compromise compared to what was promised. Sure, it would've been better than Enterprise's infamous finale, but it still would've been a poor way to end what has been the franchise's best show of the modern era.

Fans are still waiting on details on when the final season of Strange New Worlds will air, but we do know it'll be an abbreviated six-episode season. The cast wrapped on filming late last year, so I think it's possible the final season will arrive in 2027, assuming there weren't any major hang-ups with post-production.

Here's hoping that extra time was enough to create a proper finale, and one that fans can continue to enjoy for years to come on streaming. In the meantime, revisit Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+, and continue to wonder alongside other fans why it seems unlikely it's going to get a spinoff.

It’s more than evident that George Lucas is a filmmaker who thinks quite deeply about his craft. That’s a major reason why his Star Wars movies are so meticulously thought out and made. Said care really went into developing the films that made up the Original Trilogy, and I’d argue that’s especially the case when it comes to 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back. That particular film, of course, features Darth Vader’s major reveal and, while it’s important, I still would’ve never guessed Lucas’ reason for consulting with psychologists about it.

Empire sees Vader reveal to an injured and distraught Luke Skywalker that he is indeed his father, Anakin Skywalker. That major moment is not only one of the biggest developments in the Star Wars universe, but it’s also one of the biggest twists in film history. On paper, it sounds like a poetic reveal and one that would thrill audiences, but George Lucas wasn’t so sure. The prolific producer/writer/director previously spoke with SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend and explained why he sought psychiatric-based assistance:

Honestly, I never would’ve considered the notion of some children taking issue with Vader being Luke’s dad and, even now, the thought of Lucas talking to psychiatrists about the powerful Sith Lord still seems wild. Still, I can admit that Lucas’ decision to take such a step during the creative process speaks volumes to just how seriously he takes the exploits of the galaxy far, far away. And, when I really think about it, Lucas’ rationale didn’t prove to be too far-fetched, given what happened when Empire hit theaters over 40 years ago.

The Empire Strikes Back may now be revered as arguably the best installment in the Skywalker Saga (which is now set to continue with a fourth trilogy). However, back in 1980, Star Wars fans weren’t too sure about the film for a myriad of reasons relating to its narrative. Even Last Jedi director Rian Johnson admitted to disliking the movie when he first saw it as a kid.

While I’ve long loved this Star Wars installment, I can understand why contemporary audiences would’ve been thrown off. Director Irvin Kershner moved away from the bright, zippy and buoyant tone of the original 1977 film and presented a darker story filled with loss and failure. Simply put, audiences definitely didn’t get a medal ceremony at the end of this sequel. But, while some may have been lukewarm about the notion of Luke’s parentage (and other details), writer Lawrence Kasdan (a firm collaborator of Lucas’) loved the idea:

I, too, find that interesting, and I’m glad everything panned out the way it did, even if that didn’t necessarily translate to praise from audiences right away. Those who’d like to check out Darth Vader’s familial revelation can stream The Empire Strikes Back alongside other Star Wars movies using a Disney+ subscription.

Marvel Cinematic Universe fans were met with some sad news last week, as it was reported that Daredevil: Born Again would end with its upcoming third season. The news came months after Season 3 wrapped and on the heels of Marvel parting ways with showrunner Dario Scardapane. With this next set of episodes serving as the fan-favorite show’s swan song, expectations are arguably even higher now, and there are certain developments I want to see, with one being the return of a franchise veteran (aside from Rosario Dawson).

Please don’t misunderstand me, as I would love to see Rosario Dawson’s Claire Temple return in some form or fashion. She is, after all, a key part of the show’s lore and also served as a major piece of connective tissue throughout the MCU’s street-level shows (which were originally streamable with a Netflix subscription). However, the character I’m talking about is someone who has even closer ties to the Man Without Fear. The person I’m talking about is none other than Maggie Grace, the mother of Matt Murdock.

Maggie (played by Joanne Whalley) was originally introduced into the MCU during the third season of Daredevil and, up to that point, she’d only been alluded to up to that point. A nun at Clinton Church, Maggie had a brief tryst with Matt’s father, Jack, during which they conceived him. Sadly, she abandoned her son and partner after experiencing postpartum depression. Grace ultimately re-entered her son’s life after he was recovered from Midland Circle and, after learning of his mother’s identity, Matt had to reckon with her past actions.

Ultimately, Matt and Maggie find common ground, and the latter offers to be a resource to her son if he ever needs guidance. I find it interesting that Maggie has yet to appear on Born Again, though the latest season of the show did reveal that she’d taken a sabbatical in Rome. At this point, it feels like Maggie should return, and that’s not just because the final season is looming. With Matt imprisoned after revealing himself as Daredevil, I think he could use his mother’s listening ear. Also, if word were to get back to Maggie about her son’s situation, I can’t imagine her not hopping on a plane and heading back to Hell’s Kitchen.

I’d love to see a scene in which Maggie visits Matt while he’s behind bars, and such a scene could be emotionally impactful. Honestly, I can imagine Matt having quite a few people in his ear while he’s locked up, and it just makes a lot of sense for Maggie to reach out and provide support. At the same time, I can imagine others may also try to reach out to Murdock and even seek ways to overturn his sentence.

That’s, of course, speculation, though it wouldn’t be shocking if Matt did have friends on the outside actively working to free him. After all, set photos have revealed that the other members of the Defenders will reunite this season following the return of Jessica Jones and re-emergence of Luke Cage amid Season 2.

Non-official photos have also provided a glimpse at the return of Finn Jones’ Danny Rand. How exactly those heroes play into the season is anyone’s guess right now, but it’s poetic that they’d all be together in what’s now going to be the final stretch of the show.

And, yes, Rosario Dawson should make an MCU comeback, too, as she hasn’t been seen since the second season of Luke Cage back in 2018. Interestingly enough, Dawson reprised Temple for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but her scene was cut. Still, the mere fact that Claire was involved in some way suggests to me that the folks at Marvel still have love for her.

So, in short, I’m hoping Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 welcomes back Maggie so that she can have at least one more meeting with her son. I’m also down for any other veteran stars to appear, whether it be Rosario Dawson’s Claire Temple or even Rob Morgan’s Turk Barrett. We’ll see what’s what when the upcoming Marvel show returns for one last bout in March 2027. In the meantime, stream the first two seasons of the series – as well as all three seasons of its parent series – with a Disney+ subscription.

I don’t know about you, but I thought Toy Story 5 was one of the big surprises among 2026 movie releases (so far). Obviously, Pixar always puts out incredible (pun intended) animated films, but it’s not easy to make a movie as good as the sequel was on its fifth rodeo. From Jessie’s emotional arc to the great commentary about tech, there’s just so much to love. But, right now, we need to talk about Blaze, and what CinemaBlend learned about her role from the actress who voices her.

Blaze is a new little girl that is living in the house of Jessie's former owner, Emily. And, isn’t she a sweetie? The endearing kid ended up being one the highlights of Toy Story 5 for me, especially towards the end when she becomes friends with Bonnie. CinemaBlend had the chance to talk to the voice actress behind the character, Mykal-Michelle Harris, and she shared a wild fact about her role. In her words:

By the sound of it, the 14-year-old actor was just honored to join the Toy Story 5 cast as the horse-loving character who loves playing with toys. And, because Harris was just focused on her own lines when recording for the film, she was in for a big surprise when the movie ultimately hit theaters.

Can you imagine the shock when she realized how important Blaze is to Toy Story 5? Harris also said this of the experience:

Throughout the movie, Bonnie is dealing with making friends. As a result, her parents buy her a tablet called Lilipad so that she can digitally connect with her neighbors. However, Bonnie soon finds out that they don’t really use tech to play with each other, and they subsequently tease her. Thankfully, Jessie and her other toys find Blaze and connect the pair, leading to a friendship that's as endearing as it is adorable.

Also, interestingly enough, Blaze marked a first for Pixar, because the character's design led the animation studio to come up with breakthrough technology. Said tech was developed in order to accurately depict Blaze's tight curls.

In the same interview, we spoke to the movie’s other child actor, Scarlett Spears, who took over the role of Bonnie this time around. She shared an interest in seeing Bonnie and Blaze grow up together and eventually pass on their toys in a sixth film like Andy did. And, yes, I’m already grabbing tissues.

Let's hope this new friendship continues and that Bonnie and Blaze remain besties if there is another installment in the franchise. You can check out Bonnie’s latest journey in Toy Story 5, which is not only streamable with a Disney+ subscription, but also available for purchase on digital platforms, physical 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD.

Kim Kardashian seems to always be looking for new opportunities, whether that’s the energy drink company that had her and Khloé shopping at Target, new items and locations for her SKIMS clothing line or producing TV shows like Team Moms, which hit the 2026 TV schedule last week. So is it really a surprise that her relationship with Lewis Hamilton is also allegedly inspiring big ideas? Honestly, I’d expect nothing less.

According to alleged insiders, Kim Kardashian has aspirations of owning a Formula One team, and of course, she’d want her boyfriend to be involved. A source told In Touch:

That’s certainly one way of looking at it! They definitely wouldn’t be the first power couple to help each other out with business ventures. For example, we’ve seen Scooter Braun reportedly influencing Sydney Sweeney’s career moves since they’ve been dating. And, while Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have seemingly kept their careers separate thus far, I can’t imagine she wouldn’t have a hand in helping him start a long career in Hollywood after football, if that’s what he wants.

Also, this is the Kardashian-Jenner family we’re talking about, and they're known for putting that “Kardashian-ized” touch on the projects of those close to them (even Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme). Besides, the source added:

We have to always take anonymous sources with a grain of salt, of course. However, it’s not all that unbelievable that Kim Kardashian would want to loop Lewis Hamilton into more career opportunities — especially in an area that he’s already so passionate about. The insider continued:

As for whether or not Kardashian and Hamilton ever do start their own team, we’ll have to wait and see. The insider alleges that the F1 driver hasn’t committed to the idea yet, saying:

Honestly, I’ll have to take the source’s word on that one. I mean, with Kim Kardashian’s billion-dollar fortune and Lewis Hamilton having hundreds of millions of dollars to his own name, I'm having trouble fathoming how much money constitutes "too much financial risk."

While we wait to see what this celebrity couple cooks up in the business world, I know we’ll all be tuning in to see Kim Kardashian spill the Lewis Hamilton tea when The Kardashians Season 8 premieres Thursday, October 8 with a Hulu subscription. Her legal drama All’s Fair is also set to return in November.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is currently in the midst of its fantastic 18th season, and while I can't imagine it'll top the premiere's creepster ventriloquist dummy or Frank marrying a corpse, the potential is always high for that to happen. Speaking of, star Kaitlin Olson has been pulling double duty promoting both the FX comedy and the impending third season of ABC's High Potential, which is set to debut in early 2027.

In August, the Emmy-nominated actress clued fans in on High Potential Season 3 going back into production, and more recently sparked excitement from "Morgadec" shippers with a shot alongside co-star Daniel Sunjata. Now, she's showing off her gorgeous hair transition from golden to strawberry blonde, and fans are absolutely loving it, with lots of genuine elation for the ABC dramedy's return.

Of course, Kaitlin Olson can't post anything online without the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia fanbase latching onto it in one way or another. And in this case, the actress' pursed "duck" lips inspired more than a few fowl and funny comments referencing The Gang's go-to insult for her character Sweet Dee. Join me as I re-giggle over the responses below.

• "Go ducks" - @evanbannick616
• "Looking so birdly" - @jeffwehrle
• "Birds dont need filters" - @erin___everywhere
• "BEAK!" @alwayssunnygifs
• "Good looking bird 🤔" - @bo.jangs
• "Would you look at the beak on that bird." - @c.harr15
• "Bird of Paradise" - @jdiamond73
• "From regular bird to swan" - @blondiebear622
• "Dee’s a bird" - @isaleight

To be sure, Kaitlin Olson has long ago learned to appreciate fans screaming "Bird!" at her in public, since it's almost always shared with good intentions, and is proof of just how popular her character is. That said, High Potential was a gamechanger for her, in that the sharp and sassy procedural has earned her a fandom completely separate from the Always Sunny crowd. But the middle of that Venn diagram is growing all the time. (And I remain convinced that the network series made a bird reference of its own in Season 2.)

Props to this Always Sunny fan for dropping in a reference that had nothing to do with birds:

• "Bravo, science b!tch 👏 😂🔥" - @realtruedrew

For context, that's in reference to the shorthand insult that stemmed from Mac's "Science is a liar sometimes" evolution arguments in Season 8's "Reynolds vs. Reynolds: The Cereal Defense."

While we're handing out props for things related to Sweet Dee that also involve court case names, I could not be more impressed by the detail laid out in this post below about the Looney Tunes movie Coyote vs. Acme, which apparently boasts a brilliant social media team.

That is just genius for such a bird-brained joke, and it's the kind of thing that fans could easily go the rest of forever without realizing is a thing. Thankfully, we don't have to worry about that anymore. Now we just have to fight for Olson to get cast in a future Looney Tunes project. Feathered fingers crossed!

In the meantime, expect more High Potential updates as more filming happens, and keep watching It's Always Sunny on FX and FXX every Monday night at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Zach Cregger is a funny guy. Literally. Long before Barbarian and Weapons made him one of horror’s most interesting filmmakers, he spent years doing sketch comedy with The Whitest Kids U’ Know. That sense of humor followed him into his horror work, and I’ve generally loved the strange laughs that sneak into his movies when you least expect them. Turns out, test audiences had one issue with his 2026 movie calendar release, and I’m so glad he listened to their feedback.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the writer-director revealed that test audiences generally liked his take on Resident Evil, but kept raising the same complaint: it was too funny. The director listened, went back into the edit and started killing jokes. He explained:

I am very glad he took that note. That may sound strange coming from somebody who thinks Barbarian is frequently hilarious. Justin Long measuring his creepy basement for additional square footage remains one of my favorite jokes in a modern horror movie. Weapons also knew when to let something absurd break through all the dread. I still remember snorting when Josh Brolin drops that perfectly placed F-bomb.

But Resident Evil has a different job. Cregger’s movie follows Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, a medical courier whose routine delivery turns into one extremely bad night in Raccoon City, with all the biohazardous nastiness that comes with it. To some fans' chagrin, the video game adaptation is a new story within the franchise rather than another adaptation centered on the game’s familiar heroes. For that kind of survival-horror setup, too many jokes could start poking holes in the tension. In other words, a little comedy goes a long way.

This is where Cregger’s comment about not missing a single deleted joke gets me. He was not reluctantly hacking out material he loved because a test score told him to. He watched the movie, realized those jokes were not helping and cut them himself.

Stephen King puts that part of the creative process pretty bluntly in On Writing: “If it works, fine. If it doesn’t, toss it. Toss it even if you love it.” That is basically what happened here. The screening pointed Cregger toward something he could not fully see while making the movie, and once he made the cuts, he preferred the leaner version, too. All in all, that is exactly what test screenings should accomplish when they work.

Resident Evil has always had room for ridiculousness, though. We are talking about a franchise featuring giant pharmaceutical-mutated monsters and characters delivering dialogue while dressed like they wandered in from the world’s most heavily armed drag show. A completely humorless adaptation would feel weird in its own way. But there is a difference between letting the absurdity breathe and deflating a scary scene because the script cannot resist another punchline.

Based on the early audience response and critical reception for Resident Evil, Cregger seems to have found that balance. RE opened to $60 million domestically, the biggest debut in franchise history, and earned $108.3 million worldwide during its first weekend. The movie has already racked up a ridiculous number of impressive stats, but its 96% Rotten Tomatoes score after two weeks in theaters may be the clearest sign that audiences and critics are on board.

Obviously, cutting a few jokes does not single-handedly produce those numbers. Still, I love hearing that Cregger was willing to kill perfectly good comedy when it got in the way of the monsters doing their job. Knowing when to hold back is one of the instincts that separates decent filmmakers from the directors behind the best horror movies.

Resident Evil is still playing in theaters, so check your local listings for showtimes. Also, keep your eyes peeled for updates on upcoming horror movies.

One reason so many people love The Big Lebowski (including me) is the music in the movie. There are countless great needle drops, from the likes of Bob Dylan, Kenny Rogers, Captain Beefheart, Nina Simone, and, of course, Creedence. Those songs all cost money to use, of course, and one of the best in the film, Townes Van Zandt’s haunting version of The Rolling Stones’ song “Dead Flowers,” almost cost too much to use. That is, until the man holding the rights to the song just gave it to the Coen Brothers after seeing a rough cut of the movie. It was one scene, and of course an F-bomb. that convinced him.

Allen Klein Hated The Eagles, Too, Man

Music fans, especially Stones fans, may know the name Allen Klein. Klein, who died in 2009, was the manager of the Stones in the ‘60s and eventually also managed The Beatles late in their career (he is being played by Adam Pally in the upcoming Sam Mendes Beatles movies). He was also an unscrupulous businessman who controlled the publishing rights to all the Stones' songs from the era that he managed them. That meant it was up to him to decide what songs could be used in movies, TV, and commercials, including the Van Zandt cover of “Dead Flowers.”

Klein initially demanded that the producers of The Big Lebowski pay him $150,000 for the rights to use the song. That’s a lot of money for one song, but the Coens clearly wanted to use it, so they offered to show Klein an early rough cut of the movie to see if he’d like it enough to lower the price. According to T-Bone Burnett, who was the music supervisor on the movie, all it took was one scene. Burnett told Rolling Stone:

It turns out that while The Dude (Jeff Bridges) loves a lot of music, like Creedence, of course, he and Klein shared the same opinion on The Eagles. Incidentally, I agree, too. Except Joe Walsh. He’s cool in my book.

Of the dozens of iconic lines in The Big Lebowski, The Dude’s feelings on The Eagles is one of the funniest moments in the movie. When he says it to the cab driver, after getting thrown out of Jackie Treehorn’s garden party and beaten up by the chief of police of Malibu (a real reactionary), he’s kicked out of the cab as the driver continues listening to “Peaceful Easy Feeling.”

Side note: I have to wonder how much using that song cost the producers.

I love the version of “Dead Flowers” in the movie, and though it only really plays over the credits at the end, it’s perfect for The Big Lebowski. It’s a peaceful, easy way to end the movie after Donny dies and we learn that there’s a little Lebowski on the way. The fact that Klein gave it to them after hating on The Eagles makes it that much sweeter.

Moviegoers were partying like it was 2019 this weekend, as enough MCU fans stormed theaters to make Avengers: Endgame Encore the No. 1 flick at the weekend Box Office. The promise of new footage related to Avengers: Doomsday — which hits the 2026 movie calendar in December — was more than enough excuse for a rewatch, bringing in $26 million domestically for the second-highest-grossing movie of all time.

This week’s new releases were in a tight race with last weekend’s winner, Resident Evil, and while Primetime may have settled for fourth place overall (just barely!), Robert Pattinson’s crime thriller may be the weekend’s biggest winner when all’s said and done.

Take a look at the Box Office Top 10 below, then we can break down what happened and what we have to look forward to. (NOTE: * next to a title indicates a new release.)

Weekend Box Office: September 25-27, 2026

Avengers: Endgame Success Proves Fans Are Pumped For Avengers: Doomsday

It’s pretty obvious that people are excited about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, but fans’ turnout at the theater this weekend for a refresher course (and new footage) on Avengers: Endgame proves just how big this is going to be. Not only did Endgame Encore earn $26 million in the U.S. and Canada over the past three days, it gained another $60 million overseas for a three-day worldwide total of $86 million.

Now, with all-time global earnings totaling $2.885 billion, the gap has closed a bit between it and Avatar, which stands as the highest-grossing movie of all time with $2.932 billion.

As is to be expected when it comes to such highly anticipated Marvel fare, the Avengers: Doomsday scenes started to leak from screenings. Hopefully, fans can remember the Russo Brothers’ request to let all fans discover the surprises for themselves. Seriously, don’t be that guy.

Resident Evil Crosses $100 Million Domestically On Second Weekend

Between Avengers: Endgame’s return to theaters and a trio of new releases, Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil took a pretty steep 61% dive in its second weekend. However, it’s officially crossed into 9-digit territory, with $103.5 million domestically, and adding in $93 million internationally, the video game adaptation is quickly approaching a $200 million global tally.

Heart Of The Beast Tops Other New Releases, Because Brad Pitt And Dogs

Brad Pitt and his canine companion won the battle of the new releases, with Heart of the Beast taking third place overall with a $20 million debut. There was a lot of hype going into the weekend about the survival story, with Pitt saying the pup might be a better co-star than George Clooney (I wasn’t expecting that Ocean’s Eleven shade) and critics asking if a dog could win an Oscar.

Apparently, overseas audiences connect strongly with amazing dog stories, too, because the film added another $30.1 million for a worldwide total of $50.1 million after three days.

Primetime Is Really The Weekend Box Office’s Biggest Winner

But let’s talk about Primetime. The movie earned $19.2 million to fall out of the Top 3 by less than a million dollars, but there are other factors to consider. For one thing, the A24 thriller was only projected to bring in between $9 million and $15 million, so the race wasn’t even supposed to be that close.

Also, Primetime was made for a reported $15 million, while Heart of the Beast clocked in with a reported budget of $82 million, so the Robert Pattinson flick did a lot more in opening weekend to recoup those bucks.

Not only is that a big win for A24, but for Robert Pattinson, who’s having quite the year. He’s already appeared in The Drama and The Odyssey, and he’s still got Dune: Part Three coming in December. We can’t ignore Primetime’s director Lance Oppenheim, either, who’s also gotten a viral bump from You Can See Everything, his and Nathan Fielder’s upcoming documentary about Elizabeth Holmes.

How Did Critics Rate This Weekend’s New Releases?

The reviews of Primetime were pretty good (well, Chris Hansen had some harsh words about his portrayal, which is no surprise given how mean the movie is to Hansen). Will Rotten Tomatoes’ scores and CinemaScore’s audience keep it in the battle for a Top 5 spot in weeks to come? Take a peek at the ratings:

It’s interesting that DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island got the highest ratings across the board of this week’s new titles, but it finished below the other two. In fact, its $12.8 million was below low-end projections of $14 million. The animated fantasy film starring H.E.R, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate and more is definitely hoping these high scores can lead to long legs at the Box Office.

There’s definitely precedence for such a move. DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish premiered to just $12.4 million in 2022 but ended up making $484.3 million worldwide by the end of its run.

What Can We Expect Next Weekend?

It won’t be an easy road for Forgotten Island or any of the September 25 releases, as next week sees the debut of a couple of highly anticipated movies. Tom Cruise’s Digger hits the big screen October 2, along with Verity starring Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnett and Dakota Johnson.

Early reactions to Digger were pretty divisive, but everyone seems to agree the satirical dark comedy is a huge swing for Tom Cruise and director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The movie is projected to make between $16 million and $26 million, according to Box Office Theory.

That should put it in tight competition with Verity, which is expected to bring in between $15 million and $25 million. Considering how close this race could be, Josh Hartnett and Anne Hathaway might want to try to get their family members on board to buy more tickets!

Be sure to hit the theater this upcoming weekend and then find me next Sunday to see how the Top 10 plays out.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Big Brother live feeds as of Sunday, September 27th. Stream the feeds with a Paramount+ subscription or on Pluto TV, and read at your own risk!

Big Brother Season 28 is winding down on the 2026 TV schedule, but we still have to see who will win that $750,000 grand prize. After hearing that Taylor Brown won Part 1 of Final HOH, fans waited to see if Rick Devens or Drew Campbell would clinch the final spot.

CinemaBlend was watching Big Brother online over the weekend and can now confirm who won Final HOH Part 2. Here's who is competing in Part 3 of finale night and will have a chance to choose who they take to the end of the game.

Taylor And Devens Will Compete In Part 3 Of The Final HOH

Devens came out on top in a competition with Drew, so it'll be him and Taylor battling it out on finale night on October 1st. I can't lie, I'm a bit surprised to hear Drew lost twice, but I do know he's been dealing with a knee injury that seemingly occurred during one of the recent competitions.

Both Devens And Taylor Seem Committed To Taking Drew

Regardless of who wins this Final HOH competition, it looks like either competitor will take Drew to the end for different reasons. As for Devens, this comes down to a loyalty agreement between them and possibly a fear that he could lose to Taylor if Drew ended up voting for her after being cut by his "father."

For Taylor, cutting Rick Devens would be the biggest final move she could make a case to the jury that she's worthy of winning Big Brother. Her latest wins proved she's not quite the floater the house claimed, as winning both the Final Four and the final HOH would be a huge addition to her resume.

As for Drew, it's looking more likely that he's guaranteed second place either way, which may have some wondering if he made the wrong call in cutting Dee Valladares over Devens. Personally, I don't think so, especially if the knee trouble would be a factor in either case. Drew had to comp out to go for the win against Dee and Taylor, or he'd be leaving the game in third place.

As for who is winning, my general opinion is that if Devens is in the Final Two in any situation, he's getting the votes to win. Taylor will win if she takes Drew, and I don't think any amount of convincing from Devens is going to encourage her to pick him instead.

Tune in to CBS for the grand finale of Big Brother Season 28, and to see if another newbie wins it all, or a former Survivor legend becomes the face of a different reality competition show. I don't really have a preference. I'm just excited to see what happens!

In the days since I saw Primetime, which hit the 2026 movie schedule this weekend, I’ve thought a lot about it. I’ve even re-evaluated how much I liked the latest release from A24. Walking out of the theater, I didn’t like it. The more I think about the Lance Oppenheim film starring Robert Pattinson as To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen, the more I appreciate it. I’ve even come to like the movie in retrospect. I’m still not at all comfortable with it, though, which I guess is really the whole point.

Be advised, there are some spoilers beyond this point.

There Are Are No Heroes Here

When CinemaBlend asked co-star Merritt Wever who the villain of Primetime is, she opted to use the word “monsters” to describe the people involved in the short-lived reality/news show portrayed. I can get behind that idea. There are not really any heroes, though Skyler Gisondo’s character, Dan Plum, is not one of the monsters. Everyone else is. There aren’t any truly tragic figures, either, though Plum comes close.

Hansen, Wever’s character, producer Andie Bender, and Xavier Von Erck (Matthew Maher) all come across badly. Hansen takes the most heat, for sure, but the other two don’t fare much better. That’s before we even talk about the actual child predators portrayed, like Kaufman County, TX ADA Bill Conradt (Alex Winter). Though, does an argument have to be made that they are monsters? Conradt’s suicide ends the movie, but we don’t get closure on anything.

The Subject Of The Movie Isn’t Heroic, Either

I took some heat for an article I wrote a couple of months back, when the trailer for Primetime dropped, talking about how uncomfortable the whole subject makes me. I’ve also written in the past about how much the whole era of reality TV in the mid-’00s was exploitative and, honestly, gross. After seeing the movie, I still feel that way. It feels wrong to make money like the shows of that era, like Predator, on such disturbing and upsetting crimes.

Here we are a couple of decades later, and people are still turning out for projects like this. I don’t know what that says about all of us (and I’m just as guilty), but I can’t help but self-reflect on it. Even as I write this, coming to any conclusions is nearly impossible. I think the way the subject is presented by Oppenheim is fair, mostly, though Hansen disagrees. I still struggle with the whole idea of glamorizing it in any way. Glamorizing isn’t exactly the right word, I suppose, as clearly the movie is not making any of it look good. Maybe publicizing it? That doesn’t feel right, either.

Heck, I’m even struggling to decide whether I would recommend the movie or not. As I said, I really didn’t like it initially, but I really like movies that have you still thinking about them days later, and this one does that in a big way. In the end, I do recommend it, because there shouldn’t be any heroes in a story like this, and Pattinson is fantastic as Hansen. I’m still uncomfortable with the whole thing.

Late-night TV shows rarely ever present a dull moment on the small screen, and things can also be eventful behind the scenes. From monologue hosting wars to Marvel-related passing-of-the torch rituals, late night offerings continue to entertain viewers amid the 2026 TV schedule. However, in the digital age we live in, the late-night landscape is changing. As part of that, I never would have thought Twitter’s impact on nighttime TV was so bad until one Conan writer shared their grievances.

Historically, newspapers were apparently late-night show staffs' method of finding joke material, according to LateNighter. In terms of the Late Night with Conan O’Brien years, the comedy host would receive a printout of jokes where he’d check the ones he liked and scribble the ones he was unsure of. But, based on the claims of Conan’s writer, Brian Kiley, monologues faced a drastic change, thanks to social media. Kiley explained:

While I never considered this, I can understand how frustrating that can be. Social media has now provided a platform for countless people to air their views on the news of the day, and some do so in humorous fashion. Imagine being a late-night writer coming up with the most hilarious spin on a real-world event, only for a Twitter (now known as X) user to think up the same thing and post it long before showtime.

There are plenty of instances in which social media users have beat late-night hosts to the punch on certain topics. For instance, hosts shared jokes about the New York Knicks' championship run, plenty of folks did so earlier than they did via socials. And, while hosts like Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel may joke about President Trump and other political news, others across social media do the same thing. All in all, what this comes down to is the fact that social media is simply instantaneous, making it hard for certain entities -- even talk shows -- to keep up.

What's also worth mentioning here is that some users also use the news in an attempt to build content themselves. Another Conan writer, Berkley Johnson, spoke about that while recalling a recent bit of news he spotted online:

That’s definitely how it works a lot of the time now, isn’t it? As soon as there’s a shocking or hilarious moment that makes its way online, social media users are quick to jump on the bandwagon and give their take. This can occasionally make for good content but, in some ways, it's hard not to be nostalgic for the time in which such commentary was left to the professionals.

Despite Twitter edging in on the job of TV writers, that only encouraged late night shows to up their game to create original material. Jimmy Fallon had celebrity “Lip Sync Battle” on his show as well as comedy segments like “Wheel of Musical Impressions,” “Slow Jam the News,” and “#Hashtags.”

And for his since-ended Late Late Show, James Corden also had “Carpool Karaoke,” where celebrities sing their top hits with the TV host in his car. And each original comedy bit made for great viral content online. So, while the game of television might be changing due to social media, it also presents opportunities for hosts and their staffs to try new material that keeps audiences entertained via their TV screens and the digital sphere.

Of course, it's hard to say what will happen to such talk shows within the never several years. But, as Stephen Colbert says, there’s still a big need for late night shows, as they can build communities with their audiences, and much of that is born through how they cover daily news. The internet does provide some interesting content on that front, but I'm also hopeful that it doesn't spell the end of late night.

Taylor Swift is having quite the year. She got married to Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden, released another four songs as an extension of her Life of a Showgirl album titled “Encore” and wrote a track for Toy Story 5. The tune, “I Knew It, I Knew You” is beloved by fans, and it became an immediate hit. It’s already getting Oscar buzz, and Disney has decided to completely embrace the fanfare. Walt Disney World even recently made a change in honor of the song, and as someone who loves both theme parks and Taylor Swift, I’m totally on board!

Disney fans have been posting all over Instagram that the Imagineers have updated the Alien Swirling Saucers Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to feature Swift's TS5 song. The ride has a similar concept to the famous Teacup ride in Magic Kingdom where the riders are responsible for spinning themselves while the ride moves in circles. The attraction opened in 2018 when TS Land was fully expanded in the park, and even though it’s a fairly new ride, park officials seemingly had no issue adding this musical update. You can see the song playing for riders below:

It is a small tweak to slightly modernize the ride to feel more current while also not truly changing it. And the change makes sense, as the song is a crowd pleaser, and the rendition of the tune that's used for the ride perfectly has the cheery feel fit for an offering at Disney World.

Not only that, but this also gives Swifties a little something to be excited about if they decide to make a trip to Orlando, Florida. It seems like a lot of people are pumped about the ride, as the President of Walt Disney World Resort, Joe Schott, even posted about the change on Instagram to encourage park-goers to check it out:

Disney in general seems to be strengthening its relationship with Swift. Outside of Swift writing a song for Toy Story 5, she also has been releasing exclusive content on Disney+. It started in 2020 with Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, a documentary about the recording of her folklore album, which was only released on the streaming service. The Grammy winner subsequently released her record-breaking Eras Tour concert film only on Disney+ as well as her tour documentary, End of an Era.

From the outside looking in, this seems like a mutually beneficial partnership, so including Swift as much as possible in the parks makes sense. From the moment I heard “I Knew It, I Knew You,” I had a feeling it would have staying power, and that's now further cemented as it adds to the bouncy energy of Alien Swirling Saucers. As a Swiftie, I’m loving this and am curious to see if Disney Parks will find other ways to include the pop icon in their theme parks as this collaboration continues.

Taylor Swift fans can see how her hit single plays into Jesse’s story in Toy Story 5 by streaming it with a Disney+ subscription. Swifties who subscribe to the streamer can also check out other Swift content, like the Eras Tour documentaries, which are also still streaming on the platform.

For the past couple of years fans have had a lot of questions about the nature of Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly’s on-off relationship — particularly after the two announced late in 2024 that Fox was pregnant with their first child together, only to break up a month later. Now, there’s speculation that MGK has begun dating Dakota Johnson, so what does his relationship with Fox look like now?

Where Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox’s Relationship Stands Now

It seems that Machine Gun Kelly (whose real name is Colson Baker) and Megan Fox have officially closed the door on the possibility of a romantic relationship, as they allegedly realized how “toxic” they could be together. A source told US Weekly:

We’ve certainly come a long way from Megan Fox calling MGK her “twin flame,” saying she manifested him into existence. At one point, they considered themselves two halves of the same soul and engaged in blood-drinking rituals.

That chapter is reportedly behind them now, as they focus their energy on 18-month-old Saga Blade. An insider claimed:

Saga Blade Colson was born in March 2025 — three months after Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox broke up for the last time. There have definitely been questions about whether they could rekindle their romance over the past year. MGK apparently would stay at Fox’s house occasionally, but it was only to help with the baby.

Sources say he wanted to get back together, and in March the rapper raised eyebrows with his flirty comments on her Instagram page, but by April, things had apparently “blown up again” between the two. The parents allegedly had agreed to not share photos of Saga publicly. MGK posted several photos of the baby, however, and despite the fact that his hand was covering her face, that was reportedly the “last straw” for Megan Fox.

Machine Gun Kelly Is Reportedly Getting Close To Dakota Johnson

Lately, though, it appears Machine Gun Kelly has started to move on. The Mainstream Sellout artist apparently met Dakota Johnson at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding in July, and the two have been talking since.

They were seen earlier this month having what appeared to be a low-key date night at Swift’s Manhattan penthouse, and Dakota Johnson also reportedly traveled to Italy to support Machine Gun Kelly as he walked in the Vogue World: Milano show at Milan Fashion Week.

Dakota Johnson — who will appear in Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” music video as well as the highly anticipated erotic thriller Verity when it hits the 2026 movie calendar next week — knows people are going to speculate about her love life, and that doesn’t seem to bother her.

It will be interesting to see how this develops and if it changes the reported co-parenting dynamic that MGK has with Megan Fox.

I'll never forget. The year was 1991, and I was sitting in the principal's office because I wore my Freddy Krueger costume to school. I was no stranger to R-rated characters (I had just seen T2: Judgment Day with my dad that summer, after all), but the principal didn't think Freddy Krueger was appropriate for Catholic school education, so I had to be picked up. True story.

That said, Freddy (along with Jason, Michael Myers, and Chucky) was still current back in ‘91, so it made sense that I wanted to dress up as him. Fast-forward three decades, and my students (I teach when I'm not writing) all know who Freddy, Jason, Michael, and Chucky are, and I think that's pretty weird. Here's why.

Firstly, Jason, Michael, And Chucky Haven't Had New Movies In Quite Some Time

When was the last time there was a Friday the 13th, Child's Play, or Halloween movie in theaters? Well, I guess I’ll get the most recent one out of the way first, as Halloween Ends came out in 2022. That's four whole years ago! The last Child's Play, which was a reboot, came out in 2019! Yes, I’m aware that there was a TV show called Chucky, but that was cancelled in 2024 (and honestly, some people are sort of glad it’s gone). The last Friday the 13th movie came out in 2009 (!), and was a remake.

The Nightmare on Elm Street remake was also around that time in 2010. So, what’s my point? Well, my question is this: Why do my students know these characters when they all go back to the ‘80s? I mean, I get how they can all identify Freddy Fazbear, but Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers? These are all horror icons from MY childhood. So, why, pray tell, do my 7th grade students, who range in age from ages 11-13, know who these characters are?

It’s just really strange to me. It’s not like they know who John McClane or MacGyver is, but they know who Michael Myers is and that he comes from the Halloween series. How?!

I Mean, Seriously. Don't Today's Kids Have Their Own Boogie Men?

I mentioned earlier how my students can easily identify Freddy Fazbear, but I also think there’s a serious lack of boogeymen for Generation Alpha. When I asked some of the horror fans in my classroom what their favorite horror movies were, many of them picked recent ones, like Obsession (Which I love, too) and Backrooms, but I didn't hear many of them mention any specific horror characters, which is interesting.

Yes, some of my students are aware of Art the Clown, Ghostface, and Pennywise, but besides those three, my students all go back to Freddy, Jason, Michael, and Chucky, and I think that says a lot about the state of the horror villain today. While characters such as Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, and the Wolf Man have persisted for generations, Michael, Jason, and Chucky have felt like the second wave of horror characters for my generation.

So, will today's kids ever get their own Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, or Chucky? Here’s hoping!

In The End, I Think Spirit Halloween And The Internet Have Kept These Characters Alive And Well

I thought I'd ask my students how they knew some of these characters, and the number-one answer I got was Spirit Halloween. And that makes sense. Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees are prominently displayed at the store as life-sized animatronics, and most of my students make trips there every Fall to get their Halloween costumes.

The other most common answer is YouTube, as some of their favorite YouTubers have mentioned the characters in their videos, and this has gone a long way in keeping these characters alive.

So, will this generation get some future horror icons to call their own? It's hard to say, but at least we have a plethora of upcoming horror movies coming up soon.