Danielle Fishel has been blunt about her time as quirky sweetheart Topanga Lawrence on beloved sitcom, Boy Meets World. She has shared the ups and downs of her time on set, including feeling like her “body was a problem” during the sitcom's run. But speaking up has given her a certain reputation, and Fishel shared with fellow '90s TV queen Jennie Garth why she thinks she got labelled ‘difficult’ years after BMW was over, as well as and during its sequel series Girl Meets World.

She does make some valid points, too, when joining Garth’s I Choose Me podcast to discuss everything from boundaries to growing up in the industry to standing up for herself. Addressing how these elements played a role in why she had to fight to not be treated like the ‘old Topanga’ when she joined GMW, Fishel said:

She’s not the only former BMW cast member that isn't 'shy' about sharing, either, given her former costars, particularly Rider Strong and Will Friedle, have been blunt about not liking certain storylines for their characters while co-hosting the podcast Pod Meets World over the years. Additionally, this isn’t the first time any of them have spoken about struggles on the two sets. Fishel and Strong previously reflected on having to “pick a lot of battles” with GMW’s young cast. However, Fishel states that she never brought up any issues in front of a large group, rather she:

However, the difficulties extend beyond creative struggles, as the show is also known for having a lot of BTS drama between costars. There has been an alleged estrangement between Fishel (and the cast) with Savage for the last few years. The cast have said they thought they were on “friendly terms” with the actor and even invited him onto the podcast. But claim he refused and then unfollowed them on social media. They state they haven’t heard from him since.

But most of the drama seems to be between Fishel and Maitland Ward, who has previously claimed to have issues with the Topanga actor. Ward has even opened up about a fight between the two that occurred on the PMW podcast. The current adult star stated she felt like Fishel was “luring” her onto the show to pick a fight. This has gone into her being branded as 'difficult.' When Garth asked her about this, Fishel had a direct answer:

The actor has gone into feeling uncomfortable on set before, such as not mincing words about the BMW weight-loss storyline she disliked. And I’ve always admired her being straightforward. While she didn’t say anything when producers didn’t want her to wear a sleeveless dress during the prom episode, Fishel has learned from that experience to speak her mind. Although this behavior has made part of her wonder if what others say about her is true:

Garth wonders if this was the producers attempt to "keep [Fishel] in a box" and shares that it strikes a “weird cord” with her to hear Fishel wonder if she was actually difficult. The actor clarifies that during this time of her life she was going through a divorce. This made her life at home and GMW work both feel “broken and isolating.”

However, Fishel sees a silver lining in this as the experiences made her choose to focus on herself. And it makes me happy to know that she's able to find positivity in her BMW and GMW experiences.

Back in May 2026, each of NBC’s One Chicago dramas locked their respective leads down for contract extensions, keeping Stellaride actors Taylor Kinney and Miranda Rae Mayo going strong into Chicago Fire Season 15. Unfortunately, Severide will no longer be able to rely on firefighter Joe Cruz to help squash any infernos down the line, as OG co-star Joe Minoso is confirmed to be the last cast member exiting the long-running drama after it returns to the 2026 TV schedule.

But don’t panic just yet! (At least, I don’t believe that’s warranted just yet.) Though Cruz was one of several characters trapped in the Season 14 finale cliffhanger, and his fate technically remains a mystery along with others’, it does sound like the character will survive that harrowing experience. Finger crossed he’ll even live long enough to father the twins that Chloe is now pregnant with, despite that life update making it seem like the character could be doomed.

According to Deadline, Joe Minoso isn’t leaving without a proper goodbye, and he’ll appear in several episodes early on in Season 15 to give Cruz a worthwhile exit. Which, technically, could mean that he only survives the explosion’s aftermath long enough to die in a hospital (I think we know which one) after other characters share final moments with him. But let’s choose to stay optimistic that the writers will give the 14-season veteran a more celebratory farewell.

Joe Minoso shared the news with fans himself on Instagram, and the reactions were as dramatic as one might think, considering Cruz has been a core part of Firehouse 51 since Season 1. Here are a few choice comments that make it clear Cruz's death will be detrimental to their lives.

• If he dies im gonna be pissed, I havent even got over otis even though its been years - @faelixyy
• If Joe dies I’m not watching it again. Still not over Brian… - @_becca.barnes
• NOOOOO i swear to god if they kill his character off 😭😭😭 - @corinna_p
• It better be a peaceful departure we don’t need Joe Cruz going out traumatically 😂🙌 - @yayamartinez
• Ahhh heck nah!!! First Atwater is leaving PD now THE Joe Cruz is leaving Fire 😩😩😩 they better not kill you off, at least move to Honduras so Javi can experience where he comes from. I can’t take you dying man 🥺🥺🥺 I’m still not over Otis - @sincerely_ebbi
• Absolutely devastated to hear. And I agree with every single comment here please for the love of God do not kill Joe and let him and Chloe and the kids have a peaceful departure - @keedow28

Now here are the fans reacting with big emotions, but aren't automatically expecting Cruz to bite the bullet.

• EXCUSE TF OUT OF MEEE?? -@iam_abzy
• This can't be real. You're one of my favorite characters. - @kellyskhronicles
• Say it ain’t so Joe!!!! 😢 - @jeannie2321
• We're gonna miss you i know im gonna sob with you leaving after watching for a decade now 😭 - @missviolet_17
• how will I live without seeing Cruz every night???! 😭😭😭 - @maryrowellofficial

Chicago P.D. star Marina Squerciati also entered the chat to send some positive vibes Minoso's way, along with Chicago Fire's recast caption fromt the pilot, the great Merle Dandridge, and former recurring co-star Mo Gallini.

• Marina Squerciati: I can not wait to see what you build next; you're killing it as a filmmaker. The world is ready!!!
• Merle Dandridge: Standing O, Joe!❤️👏🏽
• Mo Gallini: Nice run my brother! Best to you on your next chapter!

Beyond Joe Minoso's untimely exit, Chicago Fire Season 15 will also feature a new showrunner at the helm, with Victor Teran replacing outgoing boss Andrea Newman. The drama will also be welcoming in a new firefighter portrayed by BMF star Da'Vinchi.

Seems like a good time to start reflecting on Joe Cruz's best moments from the show. All 14 seasons of Chicago Fire can be streamed in their entirety via Peacock subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always growing, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order got some thrilling news out of San Diego Comic-Con, including David Jonsson's casting as T'Challa's son in Black Panther 3. And Shuri actress Letitia Wright recently reacted to that thrilling update about Ryan Coogler's franchise.

Black Panther 3 is currently in development, and information has slowly begun trickling out. Winston Duke teased that Coogler is hoping to to inspire conversations for the audience, but what does Wright think about the viral casting news? While speaking with EW at SDCC she gushed about Jonsson's role in the upcoming Marvel movie, saying:

How sweet is that? Wright and Jonsson already have a relationship ahead of filming Black Panther 3, and she seems thrilled with the idea of working with him in Wakanda. I have to assume that'll make their performances as family jump off the screen in the highly anticipated threequel. Unfortunately, we're going to have to wait years before we get to see it for ourselves.

Shuri met T'Challa's son during the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's credits scene, which was a major surprise to both the character and the audience. Later in the same conversation, Letitia Wright spoke about Shuri's ongoing evolution as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast, saying:

Shuri was struggling with her grief and anger throughout Wakanda Forever, but is sounds like she'll be in a different headspace in the next Avengers movie. And the more mature leader version of the character will also be able to serve as a mentor to her young nephew in Black Panther 3. The 32 year-old actress went on to say:

I'm definitely eager to see these new sides of Shuri, and see her step into full Aunty mode during the third Black Panther movie. While we'll have to wait until 2028 to see that happen, at least Letitia Wright is set to reprise her role in the next Avengers movie later this year.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Black Panther 3, that project is currently expected to hit theaters on December 15, 2028. Hopefully all things move forward well and it actually hits that date.

Dancing With the Stars has seen its fair share of rumors over the years, even as the show prepares to enter its 35^th season on the 2026 TV schedule. The cast (both past and present) has dealt with the rumor mill quite a lot. Sometimes it turns out to be real, such as a showmance turning real or a potential pro or celebrity contestant joining after much speculation. Other times rumors turn out false, such as a pro leaving the show. Former pro Sharna Burgess is now squashing one rumor about herself, specifically her relationship.

Burgess is no stranger to dealing with rumors, particularly revolving around why she didn’t return to Dancing With the Stars following Season 30 and her relationship with Brian Austin Green. This latest rumor has to do with the latter. Burgess got engaged to the Beverly Hills, 90210 star in 2023, and the two have been taking their time tying the knot. Many believed the pair was one step closer following a picture Burgess herself posted on Instagram in June. And given her caption, I can understand why. Check it out below:

Posting a photo of you and your beau kissing at a beautiful location is one thing, but saying that the wedding venue has been found is another. Not surprisingly, people were wondering what was going on with Burgess and Green, and the dancer has set the record straight.

While appearing on Jana Kramer’s Wine Down podcast, Burgess explained that they were on vacation in Ireland and went to Adair Manor, and it’s “just dreamy.” Burgess told Green that it was the best wedding location ever, even though “it’s probably half a million dollars just for the day.”

Of course, it wasn’t set in stone right then and there, with Burgess noting that if they could swing it, then they’d do it. But she just loved taking a bunch of photos at the location, and wanted to post them on Instagram. One picture was going to have the caption, “Wedding location vibes.” Ultimately, the site crashed, and she couldn’t upload it. When she was eventually able to post it, she captioned the photo, “Wedding location found.” It turned into a whole thing, as she put it:

Honestly, I can see where the mistake is made. Even though Burgess’ own family thought she had truly chosen the wedding venue without letting anyone know and the logistics, at least she was able to clear it up. For now, it seems like Adair Manor is not in the cards for the Burgess and Green wedding, but she’s not counting it out just yet. The wedding isn’t exactly a top priority for them since they are pretty busy, but who knows? If anything, at least this rumor has been debunked. The DWTS cast have taken on some challenges, and rumors are just part of it, unfortunately.

Zendaya was in swift competition with Anne Hathaway for most movies of the year. While Hathaway had five, and Zendaya is behind by only one, with four hitting the 2026 movie release schedule: The Drama, The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Dune: Part Three. Not to mention she had the (divisive) final season of Euphoria also hit HBO this year. Up to this point, I was under the impression that Zendaya might take some time to rest for a while but, apparently, she's already been busy with something else.

It’s not another film or TV role that Zendaya's been working on as of late. The megastar has been announced as “the new Prada Beauty Global Ambassador, fronting Paradoxe.” News of her high-profile position was shared on the Prada Beauty Instagram page with a tease that featured fashion, beauty and even a nod to her film career. But no one seems more excited than Zendaya about her new role:

In 2025, the former Disney Channel star was announced as an ambassador for Prada Beauty’s male fragrance line, Paradigme. That's a major distinction on its own, but this latest accomplishment is also sweet. Check out the promotional video below:

As great as that looks, I can't help but think Zendaya needs a break after promoting Odyssey and Spider-Man back-to-back. Before that, she also had an insane Odyssey filming schedule, which coincided with her shoot for Euphoria. Still, she doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. More recently, we’ve seen the star alongside husband Tom Holland dishing about the aforementioned Christopher Nolan epic and the new and highly praised Spider-Man movie. In fact, fans in the comments of the post above were quick to point out another exciting prospect of her newest venture: more time with Holland.

More specifically, fans want to see commercials featuring Zendaya and Holland as part of the former's new position. 5ive5ifty5ive says, “Omg not the husband and wife ambassador duo.” Another, rosangelaraposo, asks, “Is there anything that her or her husband can't do?? Couple goals.”

Fans can’t wait to see the Challengers star in her new role, and I can’t blame them. daya.by.zendaya19 says, “Zendaya the global Prada Beauty ambassador has a nice ring.” But it’s fangirl18611 who says what we’re all thinking, “Zendaya is really winning this year.” Truer words have never been spoken.

It's honestly been quite amazing to see how Zendaya's year has played out, and it's wild to think that she still has one more massive movie in Dune that's still going to hit cinemas this year. On top of that, she even has a fifth film in production in the form of Shrek 5, though that isn’t hitting theaters until 2027. Despite the A-lister's busy schedule, it didn’t take much to convince her to join the next Shrek movie. As a fan of the franchise, the star had a “very quick yes” when asked to play the role of the titular character's daughter.

Hopefully, in between releases and the new ambassador position, Zendaya finds time to rest and recharge, though. Everyone needs a break, including one of the brightest stars in Hollywood.

When it comes to Spider-Man: Brand New Day and other premieres, Zendaya has obviously been slaying red carpet after red carpet. But, hold up. We have to give some points to Florence Pugh!. She turned up to the UK premiere in a dress that shouldn't work, but totally does.

The MCU actress is set to return in the role of Yelena Belova in the first upcoming Marvel movie after Spider-Man, Avengers: Doomsday. However, she made an early cameo at the London premiere of Brand New Day by coming out in a sparkly silver dress that's a sight to behold. Check it out:

She wore a Tamara Ralph Spring 2026 Couture gown with a bunch of silver jewelry as accessories, and a super cool slicked-back hairdo. Oh, and Zendaya also wore the same designer for the very same UK premiere. Check it out:

As for Pugh, her appearance at this premiere is sure to fuel the rumors that she has a cameo in Brand New Day. Marvel boss Kevin Feige even said this earlier this month:

The Marvel of it all aside, Pugh is known for taking fashion risks in the name of fashion, but she wears this one so well that it doesn't even feel like one. Who knew floating shoulders and twinkly fringe down her chest and her legs could work at the same time? Leave it to this fashion icon to make it chic.

It's been awhile since Florence Pugh walked a red carpet for a big movie premiere. By our estimation, it was last May for the release of Thunderbolts*. And, we've really missed her. Back in May, she did wear another fantastic sheer look for an event, but otherwise she's mostly been keeping to herself.

Pugh has understandably been a bit off the grid ahead of starring in both movies of "Dunesday": Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday – both due in theaters on December 18. A couple months ago, she said she was excited to promote both films after having "some time to sleep" in the time she's had off across the past year.

While the Avengers: Doomsday cast showed up in a big way over the weekend when a bunch of the cast surprises fans at San Diego Comic-Con's Hall H presentation, Pugh wasn't there. (But she wasn't the only one – Chris Hemsworth, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen were also notably missing among others). It's great to see Pugh back with her MCU family to support Brand New Day, and it makes me excited about the prospect of getting more Yelena. We'll be watching for her character in the Spider-Man film, which opens in theaters on July 31.

While a lot has been said about CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss’ reported decisions, a portion of attention has turned to what could be her next gig. The much-discussed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery would put CNN under the former’s ownership. With that, it’s been alleged that Paramount CEO David Ellison could put Weiss in charge of the network. That remains to be seen but, right now, sources claim one veteran analyst will be “out” if Weiss does take control.

Thus far, it’s been alleged that Weiss would bring sweeping change to CNN if she were tasked with leading the network. Current and former staffers reportedly have thoughts on the notion of Weiss being put in the big seat. One person who’s been vocal about Weiss in general is analyst Brian Stelter and, per a new report from RadarOnline, Weiss would likely part ways with Stelter. The insider puts it as follows:

Stelter hasn’t minced words about Weiss’ handling of CBS News and 60 Minutes, which has seen the dismissals of several correspondents and producers in recent months. The veteran journalist finds himself in an interesting position, considering he’s been covering news about the corporation that’s trying to acquire his current place of employment. Stelter addressed this during an interview with Business Insider, saying he was “very happy to say I have full autonomy” to cover the story and not have anyone “influencing his reporting.”

However, another source alleges that this reporting could ultimately contribute to Weiss’ purported (and theoretical) decision to let him go. As that person claimed in Radar Online's reporting:

Brian Stelter originally joined CNN in 2013, at which point he became the host of Reliable Sources, and he also served as a chief correspondent until 2022. Following his departure from the network, Stelter returned in 2024, and he’s now serving as an analyst and writes for the RS newsletter in addition to making on-air appearances. Considering all of this, it goes without saying that the former New York Times reporter has quite a bit of history with WBD’s flagship politics brand.

These comments about Stelter should be taken with a grain of salt as should reports about other CNN personalities whose professional standings may change if Bari Weiss comes into the picture. Longtime host Anderson Cooper recently stepped down from 60 Minutes, where he’d worked with Weiss for several months. In recent weeks, it’s been alleged that Cooper plans to leave CNN as well if Weiss becomes his boss. It’s also been alleged that correspondent Clarissa Ward will follow suit in the event that Weiss enters the fold.

Former employees of CNN have also spoken out against Bari Weiss, including Jim Acosta, who said he didn’t want Weiss to “murder” the network. Likewise, former host W. Kamau Bell voiced his concerns about Weiss running the company. While it’s far from certain that Weiss will take charge, it’s not far-fetched to think that she would make adjustments as she’s done at CBS News. Whether or not one of those alterations would involve letting go of Brian Stelter remains to be seen.

Those of us who've invested countless hours of our summers watching Big Brother over the years can surely remember the moments from the live episodes that had us on the absolute edges of our seats. Despite everything we know from watching the live feeds, we don't always know how things are going to go during Thursday's live eviction episode. It's one of the reasons the show has many of us in such a chokehold summer after summer. For as much as we're spoiled by the live feeds, the Thursday episode can result in some exciting, unexpected moments and nail-biting suspense.

To use a recent example, remember last season, when Mickey, Morgan and Rylie were on the block? Of course you do. Mickey won the Blockbuster, leaving Rylie eligible to be evicted. The people scheming to get him out just needed Vince and Ava's votes to ensure he went, and in the case of Ava, it looked like her decision was made as she was literally saying the words "I vote to evict..."

Whether or not we get another nail-biter of a vote on Thursday night remains to be seen, but I can already tell I'm going to be on the edge of my seat during the Blockbuster competition, and I can't wait for it.

🛑Big Brother live feed spoilers ahead! I can't talk about Thursday's episode without getting into who won the Veto, whether or not it was used, and what happened during the week (including a wild "tea party" that will go down in BB history, for better or worse).

Ok, so here's what we're looking at going into Thursday's episode:

• Head of Household: Kamu
• Veto Winner: Lyric (she took herself off the block)
• Nominees: Mallory, Lala (Latrice) and Jason (the replacement nominee. 

While Jason is a frontrunner to get evicted this week if he doesn't win the Blockbuster, it's Wednesday, and conversations about the voting scenarios among the houseguests are still ongoing. At present, I don't know that I'd say he has a good chance of staying if he's among the two standing nominees once the Blockbuster is won, but anything can happen. Expect the unexpected, etc. Obviously, his best bet to ensure his safety is by winning the Blockbuster competition again, and I really need him to do that.

Why I Want Jason To Win Blockbuster

Honestly, right now, I don't think Jason is long for this game, even if he does manage to survive the week. I just want to clarify upfront that wanting him to win the Blockbuster is less about hoping he wins the whole season than it is wanting to see the RuPaul's Drag Race contestant come out on top of an otherwise crappy week. Sure, if he does manage to stay, I want to see if he can turn his game around, in which case, I can easily see rooting for him to win, but in the meantime, I just want him to survive this week.

Jason Already Had An Uphill Battle Going Into This Week

Jason was the backdoor target pretty much from the start, and considering how things have gone for him in the house (including getting called out by Angela during Devens's nomination ceremony), it's not surprising. Though he escaped eviction last week, having won the Blockbuster, and Rome being the primary target, Jason continues to struggle to gain any traction for himself within the game. From what I've been seeing on the live feeds since Thursday, a lot of what he's said to other houseguests about who he wants to target was getting passed around the house and to the HoH. With no credibility to build upon, I think the info he was offering up had more value being shared forward than it did establishing trust.

Jason isn't the first houseguest to get called out for playing a messy game, or to get sent out as a result. That part is just how the game goes. It's this week's "Tea Party" that left me fully rooting for Jason to survive Thursday's eviction, if only to spite Kamu.

The Tea Party Confrontation Was So Unnecessary

I love a good confrontation in the Big Brother house as much as anyone, but there was nothing entertaining about Kamu's planned and executed monologue calling Jason out during what was otherwise a pretty cheerful party. Under the guise of "clearing the air," in front of the whole house, Kamu repeated things he and Jason had discussed, as well as things he'd heard Jason had said about who he wanted to target.

Beyond that, I'm not going to get into the specifics of what happened. You've likely read the updates or watched the clips (including the clip above for Wednesday's episode) if you weren't watching live when it all happened. I'll just say that I thought Jason came out of the ambush better than anyone could've expected, given the situation.

While I wish more houseguests had checked in with him afterward, I also understand that it's a game, and at the time, the replacement nominee hadn't officially been locked in. I can see some houseguests maybe not wanting to speak up or approach Jason before the Veto was out of play, for fear of appearing to be taking a side. Hopefully we'll get more honest insights about how the other houseguests felt about the whole thing in the Diary Room segments on Wednesday or Thursday's episodes.

He Needs To Win The Blockbuster Competition

Back to the point, Jason got put on the spot, pretty unnecessarily in my opinion. Call someone out when you want to turn the tables, or throw a Hail Mary to save your game, sure, but there's no reason to pile on or create a spectacle with a houseguest who's already being targeted -- certainly not when you're planning to nominate them for eviction anyway.

I hope Jason wins the Blockbuster. I know my heart's going to be racing as that competition plays out. If he doesn't win, I hope he somehow manages to secure enough votes to stay. I'm not sure I'd predict him going far in the game, but people have come back from some pretty rough starts on this show. Regardless, I'd love for him to survive the week after what he went through on Sunday night. The episode is going to be a suspenseful ride no matter what, but if he stays, it'll be a great way to cap off the week, and it'll be interesting to see how he proceeds in the game once things reset with a new Head of Household.

One of TV’s wackiest and most innovative spinoffs recently debuted, and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe didn’t fail to win over most critics with its apocalypse-dodging multiversal adventures. Centering on former comic book shop staffer Kevin Sussman’s comic shop-owning Stuart — a comparison point that still blows Sussman’s mind — the new show shed the live audience for its zany (and more R-rated) storytelling, and the differences certainly don’t stop there.

As explained by Sussman and co-stars John Ross Bowie and Brian Posehn, the streaming series (available via HBO Max subscription) was a bit more of a physical endeavor for the actors, who were not at all accustomed to such kinetic acting during the Big Bang Theory’s run. Speaking with Etalk in an interview clip shared to Instagram, Bowie addressed how Stuart quickly set itself apart from the flagship sitcom, saying:

It's a funny thing to hear a TV comedy actor talk about running on the set, since that's a specific kind of normal behavior that isn't often shown in traditional sitcoms, given the size and nature of sets within soundstages. Especially for a show like The Big Bang Theory, where the majority of the locations were apartments, Stuart's comic shop, the Caltech cafeteria, and other fairly limited-in-scope settings. Not the kind of place where characters are able to run around for longer than a second or two.

But Stuart Fails to Save the Universe opens up this franchise to a variety of new and different spots (and timelines) that do allow the characters to put feet to pavement with more regularity. Not to mention the fact that there are also threats in the show's alt-universes that require the main characters to dash off.

According to Brian Posehn, however, that uptick in exertion was not part of the sales pitch from co-creator Chuck Lorre. As he put it:

I guess "running" wouldn't count towards any kind of stuntwork or any other distinction that would require Chuck Lorre or the other co-creators to say, "Hey, guys. You'll probably want to stretch as soon as you get to the set tomorrow morning."

Even if there were moments during The Big Bang Theory where the leads were invested in some kind of emergency and had to run from one spot to the next, those scenes were not made to incorporate the side characters. To that end, Posehn amusingly shared:

Not a lot of out-of-breath conversations between Bert and his buddies, that's for sure.

Speaking of things that Stuart does that weren't possible on Big Bang — SPOILERS FOR ANYONE WHO DIDN'T WATCH THE PREMIERE YET — killing off OG characters like Kunal Nayyar's Raj, or at least alternate versions of OG characters. The bearded and half-insane Raj that showed up in the premiere isn't the same charmer that fans got to know in the mothership sitcom, a fact that certainly helped make his death easier to accept.

Considering how those crossovers are being handled, we're also intrigued to see if Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will cross over with fellow spinoff Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage, or if it could even technically jump back in time to touch base with some Young Sheldon characters. Hell, if the premiere could feature prior cameo-makers Penn & Teller, with the latter previously portraying Amy's father Larry Fowler opposite Kathy Bates as Mrs. Fowler. Does that mean there two Teller-looking dudes in every universe?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a behemoth franchise, one that consistently treats the fandom to new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. While there are plenty of upcoming Marvel movies to look forward to, the hype surrounding Avengers: Doomsday is on another level entirely. And Falcon actor Danny Ramirez spoke to CinemaBlend about what it was like working with legends like Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart on the forthcoming blockbuster.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are hyped about the various MCU heroes crossing over with the OG stars of the X-Men movies. Ramirez spoke to CinemaBlend at San Diego Comic-Con about that title, and spoke about filming with legends like Stewart and McKellen. He told us:

Honestly, this makes a ton of sense. Both Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are legendary actors, who have had long, celebrated careers on both screen and stage. Working with those icons is a dream for many actors, and Danny Ramirez clearly was thrilled to be sharing the screen with them in Avengers: Doomsday. And it sounds like he was all ears in case the X-Men stars (and besties) were ready to drop any advice or tidbits on set.

Later in his same conversation with CinemaBlend, Ramirez went on to share what he learned from working with the great Patrick Stewart. In the Top Gun: Maverick actor's words:

Both Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart definitely have gravitas, and I love hearing how Danny Ramirez even learned from them outside of the Doomsday set. Namely by watching videos from the '80s where they broke down how to properly perform Shakespeare. They've both got lots of experience with The Bard's catalogue of plays, and clearly the videos are still helpful to this day.

During our same conversation with the Last Of Us actor, CinemaBlend's Jeff McCob asked why he thinks A-listers from the Doomsday cast continue to sign up for these types of blockbusters. He responded with:

Fandoms annually travel to San Diego Comic-Con, to cosplay, see panels, and be in the same room as their favorite stars. And it sounds like for Danny Ramirez and other Marvel actors, the love from fans is a big reason why they continue to come back to the superhero genre.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see how Falcon interacts with the likes of Magneto and Professor X.

Rick and Morty just wrapped up one of its best seasons ever, so it's wild to hear Dan Harmon say he almost ended the show for good. The creator opened up about co-creator Justin Roiland's firing years ago and how he initially thought the best decision was to end the series.

Harmon was a guest on The Daily Beast's Obsessed and spoke about the massive change that occurred when Roiland was fired from Rick & Morty. Beyond voicing the title characters and other memorable minor ones, Harmon called his former colleague the "heart" of the show:

While there were reports at the time of his dismissal that Justin Roiland had become more of a hindrance than a help to the creative process on Rick and Morty, Dan Harmon spoke on the positives that he brought to the show. Sure, the plan to replace him with voice actors who sound like near-duplicates was sound, but he had legitimate concern the show would lose its heart without Roiland.

I think it's clear, based on the 2026 TV schedule featuring one of the show's best seasons and a new spinoff, President Curtis, would prove that Harmon was wrong. He didn't feel that way at the time, though, and it took a number of people on the Rick and Morty staff to convince him otherwise. Here's what he said:

Eventually, Dan Harmon came around to the idea that Rick and Morty can continue, and he and the team got to work making that happen. This meant hiring Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden as the new voices of the show, and getting the show back off the ground after its biggest controversy to date.

Variety later reported that the domestic violence charges lodged against Justin Roiland were dropped. The co-creator did not return to Rick and Morty afterward, but is still listed in the credits. Meanwhile, the series is rolling up on a monumental tenth season, and shows no signs of stopping over at Adult Swim.

There's even a movie in development, so it really feels as though the oft-quoted joke made by Rick of "100 years of Rick and Morty" could actually come to pass. Adult animation shows can have a long shelf life once they get established, as The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, and many others have shown. I suppose in hindsight we should be thanking all those who stepped in and snapped Dan Harmon out of his funk, or the franchise may not be in the position that it is now.

Rick and Morty Season 9 just finished, but episodes from it are available to stream over on HBO Max right now. For those who haven't had a chance to watch, it's definitely one worth making time for.

Eddie Murphy became one of Hollywood’s biggest stars at such a young age, and there was no obvious handbook waiting for him. He had other successful Black entertainers to look toward, but the advice he received was not always practical. James Brown, for instance, apparently believed the then up-and-coming young comedian’s best path to a long career involved cleaner language and a shovel. Thankfully, the legendary Saturday Night Live veteran did not take his advice.

Murphy recalled the wonderfully strange conversation in Apple TV’s Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood. The two-part documentary gathers prominent Black actors to discuss their breakthroughs, struggles and the people who helped them navigate the industry. His story begins with Brown warning that his famously profane stand-up act could shorten his time in show business. Per the Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood sketch performer:

That was not completely unreasonable advice. Murphy’s early comedy was loud, confrontational and very adult, with Delirious and Raw becoming defining pieces of his professional ascension. Still, abandoning that voice would have meant sanding away one of the qualities that made him impossible to ignore. The Bowfinger actor kept cursing, and his career eventually stretched across stand-up, the best action comedies, animation, family movies and dramatic performances.

Brown’s financial guidance was considerably harder to defend. The singer asked whether Murphy believed he had $1 million, rejected the answer and then proposed a banking strategy better suited to a pirate than a movie star. The Nutty Professor star continued:

The best part may be Murphy immediately spotting the flaw in Brown’s wilderness savings plan. Even as a young performer talking to one of his musical heroes, he understood that owning the land did not make a buried fortune magically untouchable. It mostly made the money damp and likely very difficult to insure.

The Coming to America star tells the story with affection rather than ridicule. Brown was trying to protect a younger Black entertainer from two dangers he understood: audiences turning on an act and powerful institutions taking the money that act earned. His solutions were eccentric, but the anxiety beneath them comes from a very real place. Plus, anyone with a grandparent who lived through the great depression probably got very similar advice. I know I did.

Nevertheless, advice also says something about the limited mentorship available to Murphy’s generation. Number One on the Call Sheet is built around Black performers sharing the knowledge they had to gather in an industry that rarely offered them an easy path. Brown could pass along what experience had taught him, even when those lessons included avoiding profanity and treating the forest like a safety-deposit box.

Luckily for us all, the still widely loved Murphy ignored most of the "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" singer's guidance. He did not clean up his act before becoming a comedy phenomenon, and one can only hope his early movie earnings were never left beneath an unidentified tree.

You can check out both parts of Number One on the Call Sheet with an Apple TV subscription.

At one point, Jay Baruchel was set to join Season 4 of Reacher, which ironically premieres on the 2026 TV schedule very soon. However, he had to drop out. Now, as Season 5 of the action series kicks into high gear, he’s joined the cast (again), and I’m thrilled about it.

Jay Baruchel Is Joining Reacher Season 5

As we get ready to watch Season 4 of Reacher with an Amazon Prime subscription, Alan Ritchson and co. are hard at work on Season 5. Production on the book-to-screen adaptation began about a week ago, and now more casting news has been released.

Specifically, Jay Baruchel is set to join the ensemble, and he will play Chief Buck Bauer in the next installment of the show. Alongside him, Kevin Durand, Amanda Ip and Ciara Bravo have also joined the cast, creating a very fun crew for Reacher’s next adventure.

That next adventure will be based on Lee Child’s book Make Me. This novel follows Reacher as he stops in a mysterious town and works with a private investigator to find someone. As they uncover information, they realize there’s quite the criminal conspiracy to deal with.

Outside of names, no further details were provided about the characters the new cast will be playing in the show. Based on the information about the book, though, I cannot wait to learn more about them and the roles they play in Reacher’s story.

However, this news also has me thinking about what could have been…

Reacher Season 4 Was Actually Supposed To Feature Jay Baruchel

Originally, Baruchel was supposed play small-town policeman Jacob Merrick in Season 4 of Reacher. Considering Alan Ritchson’s character tends to work closely with someone like this, I imagine he would have played a large part in the upcoming episodes.

However, the How to Train Your Dragon star was “forced” to exit the series, according to Deadline, over a personal matter. He was then replaced by Christopher Rodriguez-Marquette, and on August 12, we’ll get to see him sharing the screen with Ritchson in the fourth season of Reacher.

At the time, I was admittedly disappointed to hear Baruchel had to leave. While I get why and I’m looking forward to seeing Rodriguez-Marquette, I was stoked to potentially see the This Is the End actor in this show. I feel like he and Ritchson would have a very entertaining chemistry and would juxtapose each other nicely.

So, I’m over the moon that Jay Baruchel was able to return to Reacher, and hopefully he'll stick around this time.

Considering how Amazon is cranking out shows, and the fact that Season 5 of Reacher is already in production, hopefully we’ll get to see Jay Baruchel and Alan Ritchson sharing the screen sooner rather than later. However, thankfully, we have a set of episodes that Ritchson has called “the best season [they’ve] ever made by a long shot” to hold us over, as Season 4 of Reacher begins airing on August 12.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly expanding, thanks to thrilling new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans are constantly looking forward to upcoming Marvel movies, and wondering what actors might play beloved characters from the comics. Some fans want to see The Long Walk actor Cooper Hoffman play Cyclops in the MCU's developing X-Men movie, and now he's responded to the online chatter.

While the stars of the original X-Men movies will appear as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast, a new group of actors will make up the team of mutants in Jake Schreier's developing X-Men flick. Hoffman has seen the rumors about him playing Cyclops, and spoke to EW about the chatter, responding with:

Womp womp. Despite fans wanting to see the Licorice Pizza actor rock Scott Summers' visor, it appears that Cooper Hoffman isn't actually in talks to take on the role that was famously played by both James Marsden and Tye Sheridan in Fox's X-Men films. We'll just have to wait and see who ends up actually making up the beloved team of heroes.

While Hoffman's Long Walk co-star David Jonsson is playing T'Challa's son Black Panther 3, it sounds like he hasn't been in contact with the studio himself. But would he join X-Men if Marvel came calling? In the same interview he addressed this by saying:

The X-Men make up some of the most popular Marvel characters of all time, and there are plenty of actors who would love to portray one of the mutants on the big screen. Only time will tell what mutants Jake Schreier wants for his adaptation, and which actors will play those roles.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have been not-so-patiently waiting for the X-Men to finally join the fun. Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox finally opened the door for this to happen, and mutants have been slowly added to various projects like Doctor Strange 2 , Deadpool & Wolverine, and (of course) Avengers: Doomsday. The latter will seemingly be a final sendoff for the OG stars of the Fox franchise, before new actors are brought in as the primary X-Men of the shared universe.

Avengers: Doomsday will arrive in theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we'll get some casting news about Schreier's X-Men movie sooner rather than later. Fingers (and claws) crossed.

There's been a big rumor circulating online claiming that Season 42 of The Challenge, also known as The Challenge: Cutthroat, was canceled. Even some of the cast members were rattled, but fortunately, Cory Wharton has good news about the show's potential future as part of the 2026 TV schedule.

It turns out theThe Challenge: Cutthroat's cancellation rumors were wildly exaggerated, and it's entirely possible that they were entirely made up. Wharton, who will be part of this upcoming season when it starts streaming on August 5 via Paramount+ subscription, put the whole thing to rest in a post on X:

It's the seeming end of a strange mini-saga that had part of the internet thinking just a day prior that the whole season was in jeopardy. Wharton, Nurys Mateo, and even Johnny Bananas (via TVInsider) were posting about it, and it all stemmed from the series' unexplained moves on social media.

People Thought The Challenge: Cutthroat Was Canceled After The Trailer Was Pulled

Fans and cast members alike were worried about The Challenge: Cutthroat when the trailer was pulled from social media. As of writing, that promo remains private on YouTube, which was really odd considering there are only days to go until the premiere.

As far as why the video was pulled, that remains a mystery. Perhaps someone over at Paramount+ noticed a big spoiler therein? Reality television insider @Gamervev posted that The Challenge trailer contained music from Imagine Dragons, and the tune was reportedly not cleared for use by the show. That's an unconfirmed tidbit at the moment, but it would be a valid enough reason for stripping the vid from all social media platforms.

For the record, I was immediately skeptical that one of the best reality television shows would be pulled from its programming without explanation. Sure, we've seen some strange stuff happen with Paramount's programming as of late, especially when it comes to shows being canceled. Still, there were still static images promoting the season online, and the press page was still active, so I did assume this was more of a trailer issue than something directly related to the season.

What Is The Challenge: Cutthroat About?

Once again, The Challenge: Cutthroat is bringing together all the best reality stars from popular reality shows like Big Brother, Survivor, Cheer, Love Island, and Are You The One to throw down and see if they can make it to the end of the game. Much like the previous "Cutthroat" the contestants will be divided into three teams, and ready to battle it out in fierce competitions to avoid elimination.

Among those competing is one of my favorite Big Brother competitors, Keanu Soto. Keanu was a competitive beast on Season 27, to the point that some fans complained the BB Blockbuster was broken because of how difficult it made him to evict. I have a feeling he'll make a big splash on The Challenge, so it would've been a shame to see it canceled.

Of course, this may be a message to those all over the internet not to overreact when things seem amiss. The age of the internet has certainly led to knee-jerk reactions, and maybe even a slight inclination to panic rather than speculate on what's happening. Maybe even Cory Wharton can speak to that, since he sort of escalated the rumor before debunking it.

The Challenge: Cutthroat will premiere on Paramount+ on August 5th. Get ready to see a bunch of old favorites and fresh faces come together for a new season packed with wild moments, especially if you're a fan of reality competition shows.

While watching Diarra from Detroit with my Paramount+ subscription, it made me realize that there aren’t many mystery series with a Black lead, especially a female Black lead. That automatically makes this show a lot more interesting than many mystery TV shows - at least for me. I love mystery TV shows, books, and movies, but never even considered that I could find a relatable one.

I am not from Detroit, but I grew up in urban areas, so I can relate to Diarra’s (Diarra Kilpatrick) love and frustration with her imperfect city. The show embraces its imperfections even more in Season 2, with her band of “Ghetto Goonies” trying to find a treasure.

It leads to one of the most entertaining mysteries I have seen in a while.

The Show Blends Dark Topics And Lightheartedness In An Effortless Way

Diarra from Detroit Season 1 involves a missing child. Season 2 involves rival gangs, drug smuggling, kingpins, and buried treasure. It goes to dark places, but often in a very comedic way. That’s not easy. Lots of exceptional mystery series are great at drama, and some even rarer ones are great at comedy. It’s hard to find a show that balances both. Diarra and her friends would find themselves in some crazy predicaments in Season 2 but still manage to make it funny.

I laughed out loud more than a few times at the wit of the writing. I also found myself uncomfortable at how dark the show took things, but not in a too-far way, but in a this could happen to someone way. Mysteries often have dark themes such as murder, so it’s not easy to make those topics funny. Diarra from Detroit does it without hesitation. It’s why I was so charmed by it during its initial season.

It’s A Top-Notch Comedy Along With A Great Mystery Show

I, like many people, adore Poker Face Season 1 and think it’s one of the best Peacock TV series, especially comedies. It shows how funny solving mysteries can be with the right detective as the lead. I may enjoy Diarra from Detroit even more, because it’s funny in a dark and serious way. The things happening to these characters shouldn’t be funny. However, you find yourself cracking up at a gang shootout at a wedding. A true test of a show’s comedic strength is if it can make serious things funny.

Diarra from Detroit also isn’t just a hilarious show but has a great mystery in Season 2. I found myself becoming more and more invested with each new twist. I wanted to know how everything would be resolved.

Diarra From Detroit Gives A Complicated And Captivating Mystery Each Season With Lots Of Twists And Turns

Diarra from Detroit Season 2, which is streaming now as part of the 2026 TV schedule, isn’t an easy mystery. If you don’t completely pay attention, you’ll miss out on so many important story details. It also incorporates historical references and tributes to different genres. It’s a show that demands your attention.

It doesn’t just demand it, but earns it. I loved how Diarra from Detroit manages to do so many things well while keeping it simple enough that fans can easily get swept up in this crazy adventure. It’s more than worth checking out. It’s one of the best BET shows ever.

This week marked the release of Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Darkest Secret, a documentary produced by the BBC that focuses on the titular actor and musician. As part of that doc, 10 women apparently come forward and level claims against Leto (56). The Oscar winner has specifically been accused of sexual assault with some of the women also alleging that Leto had sex with them when they were underage. Now, Leto himself is speaking out in the aftermath of the allegations.

With the release of the doc, the BBC released additional details, saying that it corroborated “a number of the women’s accounts with friends and family who were told about the encounters with Leto at the time.” The media organization also said it had obtained items such as photos and messages that “support the women’s accounts.” Leto’s representatives shared a statement with U.S. outlets, through which the actor denied the claims against him:

The women featured in the doc claim to have had encounters with Leto – who most recently appeared in Masters of the Universe – between 2002 and 2016. Around that time, the actor was in his 30s and 40s. One of the women claimed Leto threatened her with sexual assault when she was 19, while also alleged that he assaulted her in a motel bathroom when she was 17. Another female interview subject also claimed to have had sex with Leto in California when she was 17, which would violate the state’s age of consent, constituting statutory rape.

Per the documentary, Leto also sent explicit phone calls to at least one of the women when she was 16. She claimed that Leto’s calls were sexual in nature and, in at least once instance, he purportedly suggested they have intercourse.

Two male members of Jared Leto’s band also notably appear in the documentary and share their perspectives on his purported encounters with women. Per the BBC, while being interviewed, the two talked about being uncomfortable with the way in which Leto allegedly interacted with teenage girls. The bandmates also claimed that Leto would invite those women to his dressing room or his house during recording sessions.

As noted by the aforementioned outlet, this isn’t the first time Leto has been accused of sexual assault, as he was previously at the center of allegations in June 2025. During that time, DJ Allie Teilz accused Leto of assault as part of a piece published by Daily Mail, and others also came forward with similar claims. The former Joker actor ultimately denied the allegations.

What should be made clear is that the Requiem for a Dream alum has not been formally charged with any offenses at this time. As of this writing, the BBC has also not provided any comment on Leto’s statement. Meanwhile, Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret is not available to stream in the U.S., though a supplementary video on one of the BBC’s YouTube channels.

I have accepted that Henry Cavill will (more than likely) never suit up for a new DC movie to play Superman again. There are not many new Cavill projects that could distract me from wanting one more flight in the cape, but his long-gestating video game adaptation of Warhammer 40,000 has always been high on the list. Now, one possible collaborator has pushed it even closer to the top. This is a team-up I’d be even more excited for than a Supes return.

Mike Flanagan is in talks to write, direct and serve as showrunner on Amazon MGM Studios’ Warhammer 40,000 series, which the British leading man is expected to star in and executive produce. According to TheWrap, Amazon declined to comment, so this is not official yet. Still, the possibility of Cavill and Flanagan building this universe together sounds almost suspiciously well-matched.

The former Man of Steel portrayer has never hidden how much Warhammer means to him. He has collected and painted the miniatures for years, understands the lore and appears capable of discussing the Imperium of Man at a depth that would make most studio executives quietly leave the room. When Amazon announced his involvement in 2022, he described the opportunity as a lifelong dream.

That enthusiasm is probably the biggest reason I have remained interested despite the slow progress. Cavill is not showing up simply because Amazon wants a recognizable face holding an enormous weapon. He knows this material, cares about getting it right and has enough nerd credibility that fans may actually trust him when he starts making difficult adaptation choices.

Flanagan could be the person who turns all that knowledge into a TV show people who have never touched a miniature, like myself, can follow. Let's be real, Warhammer 40,000 is dense. There are genetically modified Space Marines, hostile alien races, ancient machines, psychic powers and a human empire held together by war and religious fanaticism. The setting is proudly excessive, and I mean that as a compliment. However, several hours of characters explaining factions and military history would send casual viewers running for the nearest escape pod.

Flanagan is especially good at taking huge supernatural ideas and finding the sad, damaged people trapped inside them. Midnight Mass could have simply been a vampire story, but he made it about faith and addiction. The Haunting of Hill House had ghosts everywhere, yet the family remained the grounding point, and that's why it's still one of the best horror series ever made. And it's that sort of care that Warhammer needs. To get a feel for the vibes the series could bring, check out the Warhammer 40,000 cinematic trailer below.

This potential team-up also arrives at a useful time. Updates on Cavill’s adaptation have been slow, although Games Workshop previously confirmed that it and Amazon had agreed on the project’s creative guidelines. Bringing in a filmmaker such as Flanagan would be the clearest sign yet that the series is moving beyond ambitious planning and toward actual production. Amazon already has a working relationship with him, and his upcoming Carrie book-to-screen adaptation is set to hit the 2026 TV schedule later this year.

Of course, Flanagan already has plenty on his plate, not just Carrie but his long-discussed Dark Tower adaptation. His involvement with Warhammer is still only a possibility, not a done deal. Even so, Henry Cavill guarding the lore while Flanagan explores the horror, faith and damaged humanity beneath it feels like an ideal partnership. I would gladly cheer them on as they head into the grim darkness of the far future.

As for what's next for the former Witcher star, he's set to appear in the Highlander remake sometime on the late 2027 movie calendar.

One of the foundational truths of Comedy TV is that Danny DeVito is not afraid of getting weird and gross for the sake of Frank Reynolds earning laughs on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. And we absolutely love him for it. His character's latest evidence of stomach-churning debauchery occurs during the FXX comedy's first big Season 18 trailer, as seen above, and if the implications are correct (not those, Dennis), Frank is totally making out with a dead body.

Before we even talk generally about Season 18 hitting the 2026 TV schedule or get into any of the trailer's other hilarious moments, we must first dissect what could be It's Always Sunny's most twisted episode yet, at least in some respects. It appears as if the amazing Carol Kane, who guest-starred in Season 17's Bachelor-infused finale, is still in Frank's life, to the point where they're getting married. Depressingly, Kane's lack of friends and family means that her trio of bridesmaids are Mary Lynn Rajskub's Gail the Snail, Mary Elizabeth Ellis' Waitress, and Artemis Pebdani's Artemis Dubois. I dunno about her, but I'd rather die than have those three at my side.

Okay, so she may have had the same idea, because after a couple of shots of Sam clearly in the land of the living, the tone changes and the wedding festivities become more funeral-coded. Just when you think the Gang might honor Sam's memory with any amount of respect, we see Dee. walking her down the aisle Weekend at Bernie's-style, leading up to Frank leaning in to stick his tongue in seemingly dead Sam's mouth as the crowd gasps in disgust. This is art, people!

Perhaps my favorite thing about this gross exchange of body fluids is Dee's gagging face in the top left. Always so good. Plus, if she's gagging, that definitely means Sam is dead, right? I don't think a whole crowd of people would react that strongly to Frank making out with an unconscious person (for better or worse). So unless she's just in a coma of some kind, I gotta think Frank is marrying a corpse in Season 18. I guess it makes for a cheap honeymoon.

Now let's jump to the second most disturbing thing in the trailer, which somehow isn't the McPoyle family. We're talking about Andrew Friedman's Jack Kelly, Charlie's uncle with major hand-related vulnerabilities. It looks like he's found a way to put his hands to work in a slightly less aggressive way, although I cannot imagine that Uncle Jack's ventriloquist act will be comforting in the slightest.

That said, I definitely still want to see what kind of act he's working with. And what the dummy's name is.

Elsewhere, the Season 18 trailer is filled with goodies, including the Gang getting all decked out to go to a Renaissance Faire, the Gang threatening a beer vendor's life for trying to sell them non-alcoholic suds, and the Gang playing some baseball.

There's also a big parade involved, with a float emblazoned with big images of Carol Kane's Sam and the late Lynne Marie Stewart, who passed away in February 2025, and who's portrayed Charlie's mom Bonnie Kelly for the bulk of the comedy's seasons. It's not quite clear what the reasoning for the event is, but even if it's just to get Charlie in this extravagent costume, it was well worth it.

Thankfully, we won't be waiting too long to see how grody all these episodes get, as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 will kick off on FXX on Monday, August 17, 2026, with episode streaming next day via Hulu subscription.

Anchorman is quite possibly the most outrageous mainstream comedy (and romantic comedy) of the early 2000s, but it’s nothing compared to the original version Will Ferrell and Adam McKay wanted. The first version of the script involved a plane crash and killer baboons, but a chance encounter with an A-list director helped convince the pair to reconsider and create something “more conventional” at least in comparison to the insane idea they started with.

Ferrell has been promoting his new Netflix show The Hawk, and as part of that, he stopped by the Happy Sad Confused podcast. During the convo, the OG Anchorman script came up, and the comedian revealed that Oscar-winning director Paul Thomas Anderson actually played a role in the changes. He was apparently guest writing for SNL at the time, and he told Ferrell and McKay that if they were working on anything, he’d love to be involved as a producer. Really excited, they gave him the script for Anchorman, and his enthusiasm quickly died. Here’s a portion of the story…

Anderson, of course, has been romantically involved with Ferrell’s SNL co-star Maya Rudolph since the early 2000s. He’s also directed some of the most acclaimed movies in recent memory. His latest, One Battle After Another, won Best Picture and was a major force at the Oscars, and many of his other classics like Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood are widely considered to be among the best movies of the past several decades. He isn’t exactly a director who always gravitates to the conventional either; so, when he so clearly wanted no part of the movie, it’s not a surprise they reconsidered and changed course.

The original Anchorman involved Ron Burgundy and the gang attending a nationwide news convention. On the way back, he volunteered to fly the plane and got into an accident with another plane filled with baboons and throwing stars. The rest of the movie was apparently a lot of Veronica offering good advice about climbing down the mountain and Ron and the other anchors telling her they needed to seek higher ground, while trying not to get killed by the baboons.

To be clear, this all sounds absolutely hilarious and also, like a disorganized mess. It sounds really complicated to shoot too, as it would involve exotic locations and lots of animals, which can be dangerous and/ or very expensive. I’m not surprised Anderson didn’t want any part of it. Ferrell and McKay clearly made the right move by simplifying the plot into something more shootable, but I’m glad they still kept the utter absurdity and some element of the chaos. Anchorman works so well precisely because it’s so outrageous and unlike anything else.

You can check out The Hawk on Netflix right now, or you stream Anchorman which is on Paramount+ and wonder about what could have been.

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Ozzy Osbourne died at 76. In the time after his passing following complications from a heart attack and his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s Disease, his family has been open about their grief and living through it. It’s been a hard 12 months, but this fall they’ve decided to pay tribute in an unexpected, but ultimately very fitting way: Ozzy’s coming to Halloween Horror Nights.

The Universal event is hitting its 35th anniversary this year, and has been pulling out the stops when it comes to both Haunted Houses and Scare Zones. It’s been a fun mix. Sinners is getting a house. The popular franchise Fortnite is getting a Scare Zone. We have some unique originals coming like Madlands: Caged Cannibals.

And now: Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness is on its way.

Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood announced the final house of the season on Wednesday, July 29th. Fans will board the “Crazy Train” to go through a rundown of Ozzy’s decades-long history in the metal world and the world of pop culture, where some of his best gigs were TV and movie appearances. This isn’t the first time the metal man will have been involved with HHN, but it’s definitely a fitting way to pay tribute after his passing. Here’s how the experiences will be different across parks, and what Ozzy’s family had to say.

“Crazy Train” Will Be Different At Orlando And Hollywood

The experiences at both the California and Florida parks are being described as “unique,” and based on what we know so far, they will for sure be very different. John Murdy, the Head Honcho who’s responsible for executive producing HHN at Universal Studios Hollywood, said parkgoers in CA will get to look at Ozzy’s early life and then dive into his solo career, including all 13 of his albums, ranging from Blizzard of Oz to Patient Number 9. This experience is being described as a “time travel” haunted house.

Meanwhile in Orlando, ticketed parkgoers will get a rundown of some of Ozzy’s most famous solo ventures: Diary of a Madman, Bark at the Moon, The Ultimate Sin and Black Rain. This venture will include a dungeon component, as well as “ancient ruins,” and will mostly focus on the latter portion of the singer’s career. For that one Orlando’s head honcho Mike Aiello (whose title is Senior Director of Creative Development) is promising Easter eggs. We love Easter eggs!

Both sound cool, but it wouldn’t be nearly as cool without a thumbs up from the Osbournes themselves.

The Osbourne Family Was On Board For "Prince Of Darkness"

There’s something fitting about a Halloween Horror Nights experience getting announced just shortly over a year after the Prince of Darkness passed. The man loved bringing in a bit of chaos, and the HHN houses are a good way to help fans celebrate his legacy. Sharon Osbourne and Jack Osbourne told Universal they agreed in the name of helping bring the Ozzy experiences to a larger number of people:

Previously, Ozzy had been involved with HHN via Black Sabbath and Bill and Ted houses, but this is the first time his solo career will get a big rundown.

Osbourne had battled rumors about his health before his passing, so the news of his death wasn’t totally unexpected, but the family has been open it did take a major toll. It’s always really tough losing a loved one, but to lose a behemoth like Osbourne is significant to a large number of people outside his immediate family. Hopefully, the HHN tribute will be a cool way to look back at the giant who helped forge heavy metal music. Also, on a selfish note, I just hope Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness is really fun.

It’s already been almost a month since Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s MSG wedding, but more information is gradually being shared about it. The couple has yet to release any formal pictures or talk about their nuptials, but their guests have been spilling the tea. From how exhausting the invitations were to who actually attended the ceremony, so much has been divulged. Now, Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernández is opening up about running into Tom Cruise at the wedding.

Swift and Kelce’s guest list seems to be a mile long, consisting of athletes, musicians, actors, studio executives and yes, even SNL stars. Hernández seems ecstatic to have been among the lucky guests to see the Grammy winner and Super Bowl champion say “I do,” but the wedding itself wasn’t all that blew his mind. While appearing on Watch What Happens Live (as shared to Instagram), Hernández was asked by a fan what the most surprising thing he saw at the wedding was, and one particular actor got his attention:

Even though Hernández was hyped to be around so many great athletes, I can see why Cruise would stick out in his mind. Not only is he one of the biggest actors in the world, but for Hernández to be able to relate to Cruise when it comes to how they grew up must have been pretty surreal. I’m sure Hernández is not the only one who was a bit starstruck at the event, considering Swift and Kelce's invitees, and I can only imagine what his camera roll would have looked like had phones been allowed.

As of now, there aren’t any photos of Cruise attending or leaving the wedding, but Joe Buck recently recalled chatting with the Mission: Impossible star “for 20 minutes” on the Rates & Barrels podcast. Greg Olsen also admitted on his Youth Inc. podcast that Cruise complimented his hat, and the two chatted for a few minutes. It sounds like Cruise was really making the rounds, as if I couldn’t get more FOMO.

Meanwhile, even though a thousand guests turned up for the Kelce/Swift wedding, not everyone got the memo. Or at the very least, believed the memo. Some potential guests who received invitations believed them to be spam due to the fact that the initial invite was a text message. In reality, it was only the beginning of the most secure wedding invitation I had ever heard of. To that point, guests reportedly didn’t know the exact location until the day of. Celebrities may have even had to hold the 4^th of July weekend open before knowing when it would be, but it sounds like it was worth it.

Whether or not official photos will be released from the wedding of not just Swift and Kelce but their many guests remains unclear. But the concept of Marcello Hernández talking with Tom Cruise and it not being caught on camera does somewhat disappoint me. On the flip side, maybe Cruise can host Saturday Night Live later this year to promote his new movie, Digger, and perform a sketch with Hernández. One can hope.

There’s been a lot of talk about the upcoming sequel Practical Magic 2 over the last year or so. A lot of the original cast is coming back, including Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest. However, the younger women in the Owens clan are all grown up now and Alexandra Artrip and Evan Rachel Wood were replaced by Joey King and Maisie Williams. They stepped out together for an event this week, and King particularly looked magical in a sheer lace dress.

Both King and Williams have been coordinating a fair amount ahead of Practical Magic 2. We’ve seen King in several sheer varieties, and she didn’t disappoint earlier this week when she wore a black lace halter dress with a sweet bow near the neckline. Williams also chose a creamy lace skirt and polka dot top for the panel Teen Vogue Fest put on in Brooklyn. Take a look.

The recastings of Sally’s two daughters have been a notable topic of conversation since they were announced, particularly given Evan Rachel Wood is still a well-known and solid actress in her own right. However, she’s 38 at this point, and it seems the movie wanted to go younger for the romantic storylines. (Although I do think it’s probably worth pointing out Bullock was in her mid-thirties when the last movie filmed.) No one’s upset with King or Williams for landing the gigs, either way, and I’m excited to see what both actresses bring to the table.

For her part, King's been wearing a lot of black and lace in the celebrity fashion realm lately. She did so for a Marilyn Monroe event back in May. She did it again while out with Maisie Williams on July 24th. I’m assuming this may continue to be her color palate as the actual movie press ramps up and I don’t hate it. It has that witchy, gothic ‘90s vibe the original movie also inhabits.

We’ve already gotten excited about this movie thanks to the trailer and the equally magical set moments the main cast shared. For a long time, a sequel to Griffin Dunne’s original movie was something fans often talked about, but it didn’t become a reality until 2024, when Kidman herself confirmed the movie was in development. She may have felt the whole thing was a little “insane,” but it’s coming and it will be one of those cozy Halloween premises hitting theaters just before spooky season on September 11th.

Between Spider-Man: Brand New Day coming this weekend and Practical Magic 2 coming in just a few weeks, there’s a lot to look forward to in the way of upcoming 2026 movie release sequels. Plus, there's plenty of enchanting stuff still on the way later this year.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Big Brother live feeds as of Wednesday, July 29th. Stream the feeds with a Paramount+ subscription or on Pluto TV, and read at your own risk!

Kamu's Week 3 HOH reign in Big Brother Season 28 is almost at an end. With the results of the veto competition and a dramatic tea party leading to Jason De Puy up on the block, it seemed as though the vets had secured another ideal outcome for their alliance. That said, Rick Devens, Angela Murray, and Dee Valladares may be blindsided on eviction night, when their plans fall apart, thanks to the newcomers.

As it stands right now, Jason is up on the block with Mallory Aurichio and Lala Verrett. One of them will come down, thanks to the Blockbuster and, while it seemed impossible that both Mallory and Jason would survive this week once Devens and Dee got to work scheming, those watching Big Brother online know there's a very real possibility they're both left with their jaws on the floor come Thursday night.

The Newbies Are Planning For A Scenario In Which Both Jason And Mallory Stay In The House

While it originally seemed that Jason was the primary target this week, followed by Mallory, it's looking increasingly likely that Lala may head out the door on Thursday in at least one specific scenario. If Jason wins the BB Blockbuster, and it's down to Mallory and Lala on the block, here's where it sounds like the votes would fall:

• Votes To Evict Mallory: Dee, Devens, Angela, Haley, Chuck
• Votes To Evict Lala: Drew, Barrett, Melody, Yash, Taylor, Lyric, Jason

Dee and Devens seem somewhat hip to the fact there are discussions about keeping Mallory, but it would seem they feel they have the votes locked down. Devens checked in on Taylor Brown to confirm she's a solid vote to keep Lala, after which she dropped several expletives suggesting to the live feed audience that she's paranoid he's going to know she flipped should this vote happen.

In the worst case scenario, I believe the vets think the votes could come to a tie, in which Kamu would break the tie and send Mallory packing over Lala. That definitely could still happen, but anyone rooting for a fun season should definitely hope that both Jason and Mallory are safe this week.

What Could Derail This Plan?

Unfortunately, the plan to keep Jason and Mallory only works at this moment if Jason wins the BB Blockbuster. That's thanks in large part to Melody Morris, who informed both Barrett Pfeiffer and Drew Campbell overnight that she thought it was best for them to "pretend" they were a vote for Jason if he was up against Lala, but then vote him out anyway.

Unfortunately, so much of this plan hinges on Melody, Barrett and Drew, and it's unfair to put it falling through solely on her. In fact, there's a possibility that the previous scenario to save Mallory could fall through, should Barrett and Drew back out and maintain their loyalty to The Crossovers despite Angela Murray and Dee's growing mistrust of both of them.

Suffice to say, it's going to be a big Wednesday and Thursday morning, as a few Houseguests need to decide whether they're ready to play Big Brother for themselves, or for the vets. To call out people specifically, are Drew and Barrett going to admit they'd rather have Mallory in the game and go for it, or cater again to the vets?

Big Brother airs on CBS on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we see Mallory and Jason survive the week, and then the other side of the house finally gets some power come Thursday.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly expanding, thanks to new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. There's always new information coming out about upcoming Marvel movies, and the internet exploded when it was revealed that Ryan Gosling will be playing Ghost Rider in the MCU. And both Simu Liu and fans as a whole are having a field day online.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that Liu is the MCU's Shang-Chi, but he also starred opposite Gosling in Barbie as his rival Ken. And now that Gosling is joining the shared universe, Liu tweeted out an A+ response which reads:

10/10, no notes. Marvel fans are gearing up for the upcoming release of Avengers: Doomsday, and are eager to see entire teams of heroes unite against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. It's too bad that Ghost Rider won't be in that blockbuster, because Simu Liu seems to think that he'd be able to best the villain in a beach off. Once a Ken, always a Ken.

The Kim's Convenience actor's tweet is a reference to one of Barbie's funniest scenes, where the rival Kens are arguing and try to have a "beach off" to see who is the best at the job "beach". Fans are also putting out solid memes combining Ghost Rider with Barbie, as you can see below:

I mean, how delightful is this? The above post edits footage from the "I'm Just Ken" musical number, adding elements of Simu Liu and Ryan Gosling's Marvel characters. We see Shang-Chi dancing with his magical rings, as well as Ghost Rider/Ken rocking a leather jacket and using his signature Hellfire Chain. Now I want to see these two heroes unite on the big screen with a musical number. Just me?

There's all sorts of hilarious Barbie/Marvel content online following Gosling's casting (which got the thumbs up from Eva Mendes). Another great crossover meme can be seen below:

Honestly, who wouldn't be distracted by the Barbie musical number? "I'm Just Ken" made it all the way to the Academy Awards, so why not bring it to the MCU in the battle against Doom? Alas, Ryan Gosling likely won't enter the chat as Ghost Rider until after the threat of Doctor Doom is ended. Still, these memes are thoroughly delightful.

While Ghost Rider isn't expected to arrive in the MCU until 2028, the same can't be said for Shang-Chi. After years of waiting Liu will reprise his role in the next Avengers movie, being featured in the Doomsday trailer fighting Gambit.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. And folks who want to re-watch Barbie can stream it over on HBO Max.

Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart have spent so many years roasting each other that a new Jumanji trailer without some collateral jabbing would feel incomplete. Sure enough, Johnson used the rollout for the 2026 movie release of Jumanji: Open World, their final entry in the franchise, to introduce yet another nickname for his co-star: “Lil Toot Toot.”

The blockbuster movie star shared a promotional video on Instagram ahead of the trailer premiere, captioning it “Shut up lil’ Toot Toot” before directing fans to the evening’s Jumanji livestream with Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan. The clip, as you can see below, shows the comedian's likeness seated behind a desk, wearing sunglasses and reading from a spiral-bound script, while a voice keeps steering the bit toward clowning on his co-star and friend. It is juvenile, unnecessary and completely on brand for these two.

This is hardly the first time they have turned a promotional moment into an excuse to needle each other, and it probably will not be the last. Their celebrity faux feud has become part of the friendship, whether Hart is joking about Johnson getting pulled over, trying to force his way into the billionaire club or mocking the size and spectacle of his action movies. Even when they are busy making films together, they always seem to find room for another jab. For these two, affection and trash talk are practically the same language.

The video itself is stranger than the insult. A large number of commenters accused the clip of being AI-generated, pointing to the Moana actor’s unusual-sounding voice and the comedian-turned-superstar's pretty uncanny appearance and movements. Others argued that only one performer had been altered, while some thought the whole thing was created by a computer. Which is pretty hard to argue with because the former WWE star's voice sounds off, stilted, and has a slight Dr. Phil twang to it that just does not sound right.

The post does not identify the clip as AI-generated, but that has not stopped online ‘sleuths’ from doing a bit of detective work. Though, admittedly, it doesn't take a software developer to recognize there is something... Uh, off… about the video. So, of course, the online detective work has produced more theories than answers.

What is clear is that the Dr. Smolder Bravestone performer personally posted it and remains committed to calling the Night School star “Lil Toot Toot,” regardless of what's going on with this video.

Fortunately, the actual Jumanji trailer gives fans something more concrete to examine. Open World brings Dr. Smolder Bravestone, Franklin “Mouse” Finbar, Ruby Roundhouse and Professor Oberon out of the video game and into reality, where the avatars are stuck in “demo mode.” The new footage reunites Johnson, Hart, Gillan and Black, while Alex Wolff’s Spencer and the other players scramble to restore the boundary between the game and the real world.

The movie is being promoted as the final Jumanji adventure and also brings back Danny DeVito, Awkwafina, Nick Jonas, Bebe Neuwirth, Rhys Darby and the original dice from Robin Williams' movie. Jumanji: Open World arrives in theaters on Christmas Day 2026. That leaves Johnson and Hart several more months to keep the faux feud alive.

Within the past few days, it’s been reported that Ben Affleck and his family have experienced a major loss. His and Casey Affleck’s mother, Chris Affleck, unfortunately passed away at the age of 83. The matriarch – whose support of her family has been well documented – reportedly died a month prior to the news breaking on July 24 and, since then, information has been released per medical reports. Among the pieces of information that have now become public is the fact that Chris was visiting Ben at the time that she died.

This detail comes from Chris Affleck’s official death certificate, which was obtained by Us Weekly. According to the outlet, the certificate specifically states that Chris was “visiting son’s residence” at 10:52 a.m. when she died on June 2. Chris reportedly died from cardiopulmonary arrest, and she’d also been battling pancreatic adenocarcinoma (or pancreatic cancer) for the last several months of her life. As of this writing, neither representatives for Ben nor Casey have spoken out about the matter.

By the time the death certificate was filed, Affleck’s remains were reportedly being transported to Earth Funeral, which is based in Las Vegas. It was also stated that an autopsy reportedly was not performed.

Considering what’s been said over the years, Ben Affleck and his mother were quite close. That relationship most prominently came into focus back in 1998, when he and Matt Damon escorted their mothers to the Academy Awards. It was there that the pair won Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting and, in a very memorable Oscars speech, they thanked their mothers.

From a familial standpoint, Chris Affleck was also a grandmother to Ben three children, whom he shares (and co-parents) with ex-wife Jennfier Garner. Chris was also grandmother to Casey’s two sons with fellow actor and ex-spouse Summer Phoenix. That aside, though, Chris was also a long-time educator with a degree from Harvard University. Affleck’s obituary, as shared by The Boston Globe, said the following about her dedication to working within the school system:

When it comes to Ben Affleck, the multihyphenate has been busy throughout the year thus far. He previously marked the release of his well-received movie, The Rip, which became available to Netflix subscription holders. He’s also looking towards the release of another production from that streamer amid the 2026 movie schedule. That production is an action thriller called Animals.

It goes without saying, of course, that Affleck will now have more personal priorities to handle in the wake of his mother’s passing. Hopefully, he and his loved ones receive the privacy they need as they mourn their loss. On that note, we at CinemaBlend also extend our condolences to the Affleck family at this time.

Cozy Earth’s Bed Rot Challenge is a very playful YouTube reality TV show. It puts ten contestants in a room together where they must stay in bed for about seven days. They’re given challenges to make them want to quit, be eliminated, or just have an uncomfortable sleep. It’s all for a $100,000 grand prize. The fourth season released six episodes on YouTube weekly.

The fourth season featured some well-known reality TV names, including Survivor’s Carolyn Wiger, Natalie Anderson, and Ben Katzman. The familiar names is what initially sparked my attention. I also wanted to know if the show was really just people trying to stay in bed. It turned out to be a lot more interesting than expected.

Warning: Bed Rot Challenge spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.

The Bed Rot Challenge Is Actually A Compelling Reality TV Show

The Bed Rot Challenge is a lot like other competition reality TV shows, except in a bed. Heroes, villains, alliances, strategic gameplay, challenges, betrayal, and triumph all play out in these six episodes. It’s paired with some silliness like the host being an antagonist to the contestants. These people are also put into uncomfortable beds and made to eat bugs. The show may not have the same budget as some of the greatest reality TV shows of all-time, but that’s partly why it works.

The Bed Rot Challenge is a back-to-basics type of series. It’s all about the personalities and the challenges these contestants go through to win the game. These elements are simple but make for compelling storytelling. It doesn’t need the big production team, but you can still tell a lot went into the making of this show. It’s not some poorly put-together series. The hard work is why this silly series is so captivating.

I Became Very Invested In Who Won

Bed Rot Challenge produced six episodes that allowed multiple story arcs. We watched the rise and fall of many of these contestants. The final challenges came down to Natalie Anderson and Luke Yates. Luke had been portrayed as the villain all season.

He was this unstoppable force that the Bed Rot contestants couldn’t take down. It seemed like Luke’s game to lose. However, Natalie had also been a strong competitor all season, and had a pretty great track record with reality TV competition shows. I cared which one of them took home the win. I won’t spoil who won for those interested in the series, but it was a captivating season finale. Also pretty insane and frustrating. We now know one of their weaknesses.

Seeing Familiar Reality TV Faces Helped It Gain Some Legitimacy

Natalie and Carolyn are the names that got me interested in the Bed Rot Challenge. They both have extensive reality TV careers at this point and have even been part of some of the most iconic moments in reality TV history. I wanted to see what they do on this show, especially after sparking conversations on The Traitors. The series was full of reality TV faces and other well-known figures. This made the concept more fun.

Watching Survivor legends just lay around in bed trying to win silly challenges gives the show some credibility. How can a show like that not be appealing? Bed Rot Challenge was fun enough that I will watch more seasons.

Stream Cozy Earth’s Bed Rot Challenge on YouTube.

I've been excited for Michael B. Jordan's remake of the classic '90s film The Thomas Crown Affair since the project was first announced. With the new version set to hit theaters early on the 2027 movie schedule, we finally have a first look with the release of a teaser trailer today. I have to say, it looks exactly like I was hoping it would! It even appears to address the single flaw in the Pierce Brosnan version, and I hope I'm correct.

The Brosnan Version Is Awesome, But I Don't Like The Psychologist Scenes

The '90s Thomas Crown Affair starred Brosnan and Rene Russo in the lead roles, playing a cat-and-mouse game as Russo's character, Catherine, tries to catch Thomas in his art thefts. They were joined by a slew of great actors, like Ben Gazzara, Denis Leary, and the iconic Faye Dunaway. Dunaway, who played the Russo role in the original Thomas Crown Affair alongside Steve McQueen in 1968, plays Thomas' analyst. It's a role that doesn't appear in the original, and I think it was added to pay tribute to the original with one of the original stars.

Unfortunately, I think it's the only thing that doesn't work in the 1999 movie. Like, at all. And The Thomas Crown Affair one of my all-time favorites, and I consider it one of the best movies of the '90s. It all feels forced and unnecessary. However, I'm hoping (or simply guessing?) that the subplot is included in this latest version, as Jordan has cited the '99 version as the one he really loved, so he seems to be looking to it for his inspiration.

The trailer includes Jordan's Thomas speaking to someone off-camera about what gives him a thrill in his life, and I have a sneaky suspicion it is his psychologist, as it's similar to what Brosnan's version did with his analyst. So I'm thinking (and, again, hoping) that it incorporates Thomas Crown's sessions in a more meaningful way in the movie, because I think there is a lot to explore there.

There is obviously a lot to psychoanalyze in a billionaire who steals art to get his jollies, which is exactly what Thomas is talking about in the trailer. Let's get into what makes Thomas tick, something the '90s really only touches upon. I think it's a fantastic way to update the heist movie and really add something to the story.

We still have about seven months to wait until The Thomas Crown Affair hits theaters on March 5th, but I'll be first in line, especially after this trailer.

The release of Spaceballs: The New One will be a big deal on the 2027 movie schedule for a few reasons. First, obviously, it will happen 40 years after the release of Spaceballs. Secondly, it will mark the first movie Rick Moranis has starred in since the early 2000s. Now, the actor is opening up about returning to performing and putting the Dark Helmet back on for the first time in nearly four decades.

Spaceballs' legacy sequel will hit theaters on April 23, 2027; however, we’ve been getting hyped for it for quite some time. I got even more excited when the cast went to San Diego Comic-Con and spoke about making this sequel to one of the best parody comedies. Rick Moranis specifically talked about returning to this silly sci-fi world 39 years later, saying (via People):

Overall, I've also been having a "pinch me" experience as I learn more about this film. I adore the original cast of Spaceballs, and knowing a sequel is coming is exhilarating on its own. Knowing that Daphne Zuniga, Bill Pullman, George Wyner and Rick Moranis were coming back made it even better. Adding in the new cast created a new sense of anticipation too, because I can’t wait to see Keke Palmer and Lewis Pullman interact with the OG cast (I’m especially enthusiastic about Lewis and Bill Pullman sharing the screen).

However, while there are new and younger people joining this adventure, Moranis explained that getting back on set was like being in a “time warp.” This goes along with other things he’s said about the film, noting that other than the fact that Bill Pullman brought his son with him this time, it otherwise feels “exactly like the first movie.” So, you can see why he also described making this sequel as a “time warp”:

While he said playing Dark Helmet again was “strange” at first, Lewis Pullman said watching Moranis perform was “mind-boggling,” and he “seamlessly” got right back into his character. And, as the Dark Helmet actor said, once he got back into it all, he "really started to love it."

Now, Moranis’ last film was the TV movie Bob & Doug McKenzie’s Two-Four Anniversary 19 years ago. And his last major motion picture was Brother Bear in 2003. While he’s done a few projects here and there, he has not done anything super big in over two decades. So, all around, I get why the actor felt a bit odd returning to Spaceballs.

According to Mel Brooks, he got Moranis to say yes by asking him if he wanted to go to his “grave without ever coming back to show business again.” His answer clearly was no at the time, and it would seem that overall the Little Shop of Horrors actor is incredibly happy he’s back not only acting, but playing Dark Helmet.

Now, to see Dark Helmet back in action, you can catch Spaceballs: The New One in theaters on April 23, 2027. If you want to travel back in time and see Rick Moranis’ character 39 years ago, you can stream Spaceballs on MGM+.

Spoiler ahead for House of the Dragon Season 3 episode 6 "Faceless Men"

Game of Thrones' finale is still controversial, but that hasn't stopped folks from tuning into its spinoffs on HBO (and streaming with a HBO Max subscription). Chief among them is House of the Dragon, which is currently in the midst of its third season on the air. And while fans reacted to Criston Cole's unceremonious death, they're not buying the cliffhanger ending which saw Corlys seemingly perish as well.

House of the Dragon Season 3 has been a wild ride, and major characters have been killed off in quick succession. Jace died in the premiere, and the Dance of Dragons just keeps claiming more lives. And while Steve Toussaint's Corlys Velaryon was ambushed in the episode's final moments, fans on Twitter aren't convinced that he's been killed by Ormund Hightower's forces. Some responses online read:

• No, he does not die during the war. Corlys is one of the few main leaders who survives the entire civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
• Source tells me Corlys is stable. Please The Seven-who-are-One
• I really hope they just captured Lord Corlys and didn't kill him, and how did they find him so easily too?
• Maybe he was arrested in Episode 6, I believe we shall see more of him in episode 7.
• The way ormund likes corlys i don't think he is dead, his death ain't shown like others, may be he is captured on point of sword.

While at first glance it looked like Corlys was killed by Ormond's lieutenant Jon Roxton, fans who are familiar with the book to screen adaptation's source material aren't buying it. Namely because he ends up surviving the entire Dance of Dragons in George R.R. Martin's novel. On the other hand, we've also seen the Game of Thrones franchise make bold changes from the books, so fans will have to wait and watch the final two episodes of Season 3 to see if Toussaint's character actually bit the bullet.

Personally, I'm hoping that Lord Velaryon is alive and has more story to tell in House of the Dragon. Because only a few episode ago Corlys clapped back at Rhaenerya and called her late sons bastards. The fallout of that confrontation has yet to be seen, especially since his brother Ser Vaemond Velaryon was beheaded in Season 1 for calling Rhaenerya a whore and her sons bastards. So I need more to come from this full-circle moment.

New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays as part of the 2026 TV schedule. And with just two more left in Season 3, the stakes are feeling especially high for the Game of Thrones spinoff series. Fingers crossed we get more of Corlys.

Alan Ritchson has been in seemingly just as many conversations about Batman as some of the actors that have played the DC vigilante, with fans rallying for James Gunn to cast him as the DCU’s Dark Knight. There’s a time when that maybe could have happened, but Ritchson’s latest comments poured water on the Bat-rumors, in light of a potentially different path forward with DC Studios.

While promoting the fourth season of Reacher at San Diego Comic-Con, Ritchson formally addressed his current DC situation before thousands of people, as seen in our post below.

For those unable to watch the video, here's how he clarified things (while still technically keeping the Batcave door open):

In the days ahead of SDCC, Ritchson confirmed that he and James Gunn have been talking, which is likely part of the reason why he took the time to address it on stage, but didn’t tip his cowl towards any of the other characters who might be up for contention, or even if he’d be more interesting in joining an upcoming DCU movie or something on the studio’s TV side. But that’s okay, because fans have puh-lenty of ideas for characters that the Motor City star should embody in live-action.

DC Characters That Fans Want To See Alan Ritchson Play

• Hawkman, Captain Atom, or Wildcat would all be great roles for Alan. - @brettofbakerstreet
• I’m hoping for the New God Orion😍 - @wondervaughn_1
• He’d be the best Shazam. Man on the outside, big kid on the inside! - @zxanajae
• Bane for sure - @klarcjwilson
• Booster Gold! Bet me! 🙌 - @firechkn00
• Aquaman please - @sincerelyyoursvic
• Green Arrow. - @levelupboxing
• The other character is…Bruce Wayne. - @lorcanaman
• Buff joker incoming??? - @ryzmechaa
• He would be a great “Azrael” - @kingfaouaz

I mean, hand to Detective Comics #27, I'd welcome Ritchson in literally any one of the roles mentioned above. Though Green Arrow would probably be my bottom choice, if only because Oliver Queen isn't always meant to be a brickhouse of a human being.

The most likely, perhaps, would be Wildcat, in that Ritchson would be able to spotlight his muscles and fisticuffs without an abundance of CGI and green-screenery. (I assume, anyway.) And the actor hasn't dismissed potentially playing Wildcat the way he has with other roles.

Personally, I'd love to see him in the role of Azrael, but that would require the DCU getting to a point where adding the religion-fueled behemoth to the narrative makes sense, and we're certainly not there yet without a Batman.

Booster Gold would be the best character for Ritchson to get to play up his comedic charms as one of the more ego-driven and oblivious DC superheroes. It'd also be great to see this completely modern looking dude zipping through time streams and showing up at different points in history.

To be sure, almost every one of the heroes and villains mentioned above was suggested by a variety of commenters. (Okay, maybe Buff Joker was just a one-off.) So there are more than enough people hoping for each potential outcome. But then of course there are those who still want the Reacher actor to play the Caped Crusader, even if it isn't the one we've all grown up with.

• I think he’s the only man that can play Absolute Batman rn - @xiamcellx
• Ok not Batman… buuuut…. Maybe the voice of Absolute Batman👀 I can see it, he has the voice - @aye_itzjordan_
• He can definitely be Absolute Batman 🙏 - @raafiqirtaza
• Absolute Batman is the only thing that fits!!! - @datoneguyplayscards

At this point, the wildly popular Absolute Batman comic series is being adapted into an animated series, so the actor would only be able to lend his voice to the role in that capacity, rather than in live-action where his build could be utilized. But then, Bruce Wayne is still in his 20s in that timeline, which essentially rules Ritchson out, especially if there aren't even plans to make a live-action version anytime soon.

Though it's still too early to know if we'll see Alan Ritchson showing up in the DCU in any upcoming 2027 movies, I'm fairly confident James Gunn will figure out a way to get him on the big screen with the quickness. (And no, that's not a winking nod suggesting he should be The Flash, although it would be scary as all hell to see that dude running at you at full speed.)

The auditions have wrapped on America’s Got Talent, but with Simon Cowell and the gang saying “yes” to more acts than there are spots in the live shows, some tough decisions had to be made. Tuesday night’s episode on the 2026 TV schedule promised “Live Acts Revealed,” except that’s not exactly how things played out. Cowell decided to add a twist to Season 21 (he can do that, you know), and I love how very The Voice-esque it is.

Now, Terry Crews did get around to revealing some of the acts to make the live shows in America's Got Talent's July 28 episode, including Chicago’s Jesse White Tumbling Team, who tragically lost a member following their audition. In other cases, though — like with the magician who nearly had his act ruined by Simon Cowell — no consensus could be reached. So Cowell initiated the first ever AGT Callbacks.

Mel B, Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell himself all chose a handful of acts they want to see again. They’ll invite those people into their homes, offer advice and watch them perform again before choosing who will, in fact, move on to the live portion of Season 21.

The AGT Judges Are Forming Teams

OK, I am getting really strong vibes of The Voice here, and I can’t help but wonder if Simon Cowell is intentionally taking inspiration from its fellow NBC reality competition show. First of all, each America’s Got Talent judge picked a number of auditions that they personally liked — that sounds like choosing teams to me!

Simon, Mel B, Sofía And Howie Are Becoming Coaches

Also, never before have the judges worked with new acts such on a personal level. Sure, they’ll offer feedback and constructive criticism. Advise them on whether their next performance should be bigger or different in a specific way. Now, however, they’re going to work one-on-one with the contestants to hone the potential each judge saw during auditions.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call “coaching,” and The Voice is famous for casting superstar coaches, not judges.

AGT Is Adding Celebrity Mentors

Not only will the Callbacks allow the talented hopefuls to learn from the judges, they’re going to also get advice from celebrity mentors — a device used by both The Voice and Simon Cowell’s old stomping grounds, American Idol. Those famous faces include Normani, Poo Bear, Lele Pons, Sebastián Yatra, Emma Bunton and Nikki Glaser.

As a fan of The Voice, I think this is pretty exciting, and there’s extra intrigue with the Callbacks happening at each judge’s house. (I don’t see Kelly Clarkson opening her home up to artists on the singing competition, but I’d love to!) It looks like things get pretty dramatic, too, in a way that I’m not sure America’s Got Talent has ever seen.

There are plenty of details yet to be divulged, including how many contestants each judge gets to send to lives, or if the others will weigh in on their choices. But overall, I really like this twist and can’t wait to see how it plays out. America’s Got Talent continues with Callbacks at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, August 4, on NBC.

The Voice Season 30, meanwhile, premieres at 8 p.m. ET Monday, September 21, on NBC. Both series’ episodes can be streamed the next day with a Peacock subscription.

It’s hard to believe it’s been six years since Regé-Jean Page wooed us as the Duke of Hastings in Season 1 of Bridgerton. However, it has, and now, three other couples have gotten their own seasons, with Season 5 set to focus on Francesca and Michaela. So, considering how much romance and gossip has happened over the last four seasons, has Page kept up with it since leaving?

The short answer to that question is kind of. Regé-Jean Page seemingly hasn’t watched every episode of Bridgerton with a Netflix subscription. However, he does keep up, and he proved that too while making a cheeky comment about Benedict’s offer in Season 4 during an interview with DuJour:

Well, clearly he’s seen the first part of Season 4 (or at least heard about it), and his response to Benedict’s offer in the last episode of Part 1 left me laughing. This episode in question aired early on the 2026 TV schedule, and it ended with Luke Thompson’s Benedict asking Yerin Ha’s Sophie to be his mistress. In the second half of the season, they dealt with that problematic question, lots of other drama went down, tragedy struck, and eventually, the lead couple got their happily ever after.

Now, I’d love to know if Page ever finished Season 4, and I’d like to know if he watched the other two seasons that aired between The Duke and Daphne’s story and Benedict and Sophie’s. But I am glad to know he at least kind of keeps up with the series, especially since he’s still friends with some of the folks on the cast and crew.

We know the You, Me & Tuscany actor has interacted with his former co-stars over the years. In fact, he and Nicola Coughlan appeared on SNL UK together. So, I’m thrilled that he kind of keeps up with the show and the friends he made while there.

Even though the actor sorta stays up to date with the series and has a lot of love for the folks who work on it, I highly doubt he’ll be returning anytime soon. While showrunner Jess Brownell said they’d “love to find a time to bring everyone back at some point,” that has not happened yet. Ever since The Duke got his happily ever after and Page left the show, he has not returned, and Phoebe Dynevor’s Daphne has not been back since Season 2.

Maybe someday they will. However, for now, Page and Dynevor are viewers like us, and I find it quite charming that the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves actor has stayed fairly up to date and can make fun quips about what just happened on the show.

With Season 5 and 6 of Bridgerton confirmed, I’d love to hear his thoughts on those when they come out. In the meantime, you can watch Regé-Jean Page’s latest foray into romance by buying or renting You, Me & Tuscany online, and you can keep up with Bridgerton’s latest gossip and romance over on Netflix.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the latest batch of episodes for King of the Hill. Stream them with a Hulu subscription, and read at your own risk!

King of the Hill's ongoing affair between Nancy Gribble and John Redcorn was put on pause in the latest episodes, and there's a legitimate question of whether it may be over for good. The voice actor for Redcorn, Jonathan Joss, tragically passed away shortly after recording, so CinemaBlend wanted to know whether this marked the end of his character's run on the series.

Showrunner Saladin Patterson spoke to CinemaBlend about the big reveal and how Nancy decided to prioritize her marriage with Dale and their relationship after her decades-long affair was exposed to her minister. While it may seem like the series wrote off John Redcorn because of his death, Patterson confirmed that it was already a part of the script and had nothing to do with the voice actor's passing:

King of the Hill has, unfortunately, had to deal with death a lot amongst its voice cast. Johnny Hardwick, the original voice of Dale Gribble, died in the midst of recording for the revival and was replaced by Toby Huss.

Then there's Lucky and Luanne, who were both voiced by actress Brittany Murphy and singer Tom Petty. Both had died before the idea for a revival came around, and thus far, were written out of the series. Fans would love to see them return, but thus far, that doesn't seem to be on the table. I would say the same is true for John Redcorn, but Patterson admitted he and the writers don't know if he'll return yet:

As a fan of King of the Hill, I can see the problem. The idea of Nancy and Dale having a faithful marriage is intriguing, and I do wonder what could've led to her long affair in the first place. Outside of the cheating, she's always been a good wife to him, and loves him in her own way, but would removing that element change things?

On the other side of the coin, I think King of the Hill fans have long wanted to see the payoff of the fact that Joseph is clearly not Dale's biological son. The revival has already played on this joke a bit, with Joseph lamenting the struggles of being a white man, and Bobby needing to subtly tell others not to address the fact that he's not caucasian.

King of the Hill is a mix of comedy and drama, so I guess it would come down to whether Joseph learning John Redcorn is his real father would open the door to some interesting and funny storylines. Unfortunately, the new series has way fewer episodes to fill a season than it did back in the day. Characters like Joseph aren't ignored, but they're also not given the spotlight they once had. We can only wait and see what happens, and see if the story finds a way to bring back John Redcorn with a new voice actor.

King of the Hill's latest revival seasons are available to stream over on Hulu. The series is already renewed for the next couple of seasons, so those holding back on watching needn't fear it going away anytime soon.

Stranger Things ended this past December after five seasons, and it’s still being talked about. The final season of the Netflix hit was divisive amongst fans, so much so that many were convinced there was a secret episode following the release of the finale. This led to the #ConformityGate theory, which suggested that the "true" ST capper had yet to be released. While there's been no official indication that such a development might happen, Vecna/Henry Creel actor Jamie Campbell Bower is still getting asked about a bonus installment.

Fans' displeasure with Season 5 seemed to stem from apparent plot holes as well as the ambiguity of Eleven’s fate. It's somewhat wild to think that even though that dropped over six months ago, some people would still want more. Well, that would seem to be the case, as Bower recently confirmed to Entertainment Weekly while recalling what he believed to be the wildest theory to ever swirl around the Duffer Brothers' massive show:

#ConformityGate picked up shortly after the series finale aired, and a portion of viewers seemed very convinced that a secret ninth episode was filmed and the eighth episode was actually an illusion, thanks to Bower’s Vecna. Fans kept pointing out clues either in the episodes or via something that the Stranger Things or Netflix social media accounts posted. Bower recalled that as part of all that, even slight moves that the cast made were scrutinized:

Ultimately, #ConformityGate has remained nothing more than a theory. There certainly don't seem to be any plans for a secret episode to be released, at least not yet. As someone who also has mixed feelings about the finale and Stranger Things 5 in general, I honestly wouldn’t mind if there was something else up the Duffers’ sleeves in regard to the ending. Still, even I can admit that the fact that this still being brought up months later is wild, or as Bower called it, “pretty crazy.”

There have certainly been some disappointing TV series finales over the years and, unfortunately, Stranger Things’ wasn’t great in many people's eyes. Even with the supersized episode, it just wasn’t enough. Of course, it wasn't all bad, as most of the characters did get happy endings. If you're like me, though, you may have simply been pining for a little more closure in some respects.

For now, people may want to give up on #ConformityGate, especially since it's pretty evident at this point that nothing is going to come of it. Much of the cast is busy, whether it be professionally or personally. And, on a more practical and obvious note, Stranger Things wrapped filming over a year ago, so the cast and crew have said all of their goodbyes already. So it may just be best to accept what is and move forward.

With that, fans can decide for themselves if another episode is truly necessary by watching all of Stranger Things with a Netflix subscription.

One of our favorite TV stars (and people in general), Kaitlin Olson went from the career high of wrapping the latest season of It’s Always Sunny in April to suffering the tragic loss of her father Don Olson in May to celebrating her latest well-deserved awards nod in early July when the 2026 Emmy nominations were announced. Amidst such extreme ups and downs, the actress put her mom Melinda in the spotlight with a endlessly touching birthday post.

Alongside a photograph on Instagram of her twentysomething parents on their wedding day, Olson shared not just birthday wishes, but also heaps of praise, appreciation and adoration for her “ultimate mom.” Read what she had to say below, and know that I already grabbed tissues if anyone needs them.

Olson also opened the floor for her many fans to share their own loving messages for Melinda Olson, and you can bet that plenty of comments have amassed in the meantime that are overflowing with loving thoughts and hope.

The Hacks actress honored her father in May with equally heartfelt and touching praise on IG, calling him "My first love, my first protector and my forever favorite person."

It's sadly a subject that I'm all-too familiar with myself, generally speaking. My dad passed away suddenly when I was 18 years old, which was a family hardship in all the ways, and it took years for birthdays and holidays to feel anything resembling normal again. Flash-forward a bunch of years, and my mom (for whom remarrying wasn't ever a notion) experienced a rapid health decline that went from ICU to home hospice to death in less than two months. It's been 8 years since those horrors, and still feels like last week.

As such, Olson's post to her mom totally knocked down all of my load-bearing emotional walls, and it's all I can do not to just sit here and sob for the rest of the day. [Checks the time.] Yeah, it's still too early for that to be the case.

Thankfully, we're talking about Kaitlin Olson, who is incapable of delivering unfunny and inauthentic performances in literally anything she's ever done. So the quickest fix at this point would be to throw on The Mick or It's Always Sunny, particularly any episode where Olson's physical comedy shines, or when Dee comes close to throwing up. Instant laughs, regardless of mood.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 will be hitting the 2026 TV schedule on FXX on August 17, 2026, but we'll be waiting a while longer forHigh Potential, which won’t return to ABC with Season 3 until 2027 to follow up on those finale cliffhangers. In between those, fans can watch to see if she wins the Emmy for her work on Hacks on September 14.

Here's hoping Kaitlin Olson can make herself laugh and feel as good in the same way she can make others laugh and feel good. And a very happy birthday to Momma Melinda Olson as well!

Minor spoilers for The Odyssey lie ahead.

As general audiences and critics heap praise on The Odyssey, something that’s been noted quite often is just how practically made the film is. Writer/director Christopher Nolan is known for shying away from soundstages and visual effects whenever possible, and he certainly commits that principle to heart with his 2026 movie release. The cast (and crew) really went all in as a result of that and even performed some serious stunts. And, as CinemaBlend learned, that included drowning scenes.

Much of The Odyssey takes place in and around large bodies of water, especially since the film heavily centers around Odysseus and his men’s attempt to return to the island of Ithaca. Cast member Himesh Patel (who plays Eurylochus) recently spoke with us about having to act like he was drowning for one particularly intense scene of the film. When asked if acting out drowning is essentially just drowning, Patel agreed with that summation and added the following thoughts:

Having to perform such a wild moment seems daunting enough, but that’s only the half of it. When our own Hannah Saulic asked if Patel trained before performing that particular stunt, he shared an honest answer that also delighted co-star John Leguizamo (who plays Eumaeus):

• Patel: [George’s] like, ‘You'll be fine. We're not going to let you drown.’ But there is no alternative. You just got to sort of look like you're drowning and flail around.
• Leguizamo: While you're drowning.
• Patel: Yeah, while you're drowning.

Even with safety measures in place, I still would’ve been anxious about performing that drowning scene. To the stunt team’s credit, though, the scene is incredibly convincing, and I was stressed out while watching it. Check out Himesh Patel discussing the topic in the Instagram video below:

Many of Odyssey’s stars were put in the position to step out of their comfort zones while shooting Nolan’s ambitious film. Leading man Matt Damon talked about being “wet” and “cold” during portions of the shoot, and he and Nolan also recalled shooting the Cyclops scene in a truly “dank” cave. At one point, Charlize Theron also acted through massive winds that got up to 30 to 40 miles per hour. Even while facing the elements, though, many of the stars have talked about feeling excited and grateful to be part of the movie.

I’d say their efforts weren’t in vain either, considering how The Odyssey has rocked the box office and earned considerable buzz following history-based nitpicks and further Internet-based backlash. Given the drowning scenes, battle sequences and more, it’s probably safe to assume Himesh Patel and his co-stars won’t soon forget their time making this movie. On that note, see the historical epic for yourself, as it’s currently playing in theaters nationwide.

In recent years, The Rookie’s multi-demographic fanbase has grown exponentially, partially thanks to all the cast members' TikTok efforts. The series is not going anywhere any time soon, and though it won’t be back on the 2026 TV schedule, Season 9 will arrive in 2027 along with its new Jay Ellis-starring spinoff. Plenty of people watch the Nathan Fillion-led procedural, and yes, that includes mega- celebrities like Dwayne Johnson, who visited the set for what sounds like the sweetest reason.

CinemaBlend was in attendance for The Rookie panel at San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend, where the entire cast and Alexi Hawley, the show’s creator, talked all about the fan-favorite series. At one point, Hawley revealed that The Rock wound up expressing interest in stopping by the set one day because of his daughter. And it’s both very cool and very sweet:

I love that Johnson did that for his daughter. And it’s not so surprising. He’s definitely gone above and beyond for his three kids, even giving them cameos in Moana 2. While he had trouble convincing his daughter, Tia, that he was Maui from Moana, he probably scored some cool dad points from Jazz, who turned 10 last December, when she went to Paramount Pictures to visit the set of her favorite show.

Johnson is not the first celebrity to score some cool dad points when it comes to The Rookie. Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles made a surprise cameo on the ABC drama during Season 8, all because Ackles’ daughter, JJ, is a fan. Hawley previously explained to TV Insider that Ackles initially reached out to Fillion about having the cast record a birthday video for her, and Hawley was the one who suggested a cameo. Ackles and Padalecki managed to film something separately, as they were both filming separate projects, and it worked out pretty well.

For some reason, it never really occurs to me that celebrities or children of celebrities would be watching the same shows I watch, and that they are fans. It’s just sweet what they would do for their children. Now I need Johnson to appear on The Rookie, just like Ackles. He’s definitely a busy man, but it’s not like his appearance would have to be a big one. The Rookie takes place in Los Angeles, so it would be easy for there to be a call at a movie set or for some of the characters to spot Johnson in the street while doing patrol.

With filming commencing on Season 9 of The Rookie, perhaps something could happen. Johnson does always seem to be working, so that might be hard. At the very least, he was able to make a set visit happen, which I’m sure was more than enough for his daughter. The Rookie Season 9 premieres in 2027 on ABC. All eight seasons are streaming now with a Hulu subscription.

More than two years have passed since American Horror Story: Delicate largely failed to captivate the fandom, but the skies (and the hellish depths below) are the limit for Season 13, which has already revealed the majority of the all-star cast returning, with Jessica Lange’s Constance Langdon as the first in a line of squee-worthy reveals heavily tethered to Coven’s witches. (Extra huzzahs for more Evan Peters and Twisty the Clown’s return!) Now, Ryan Murphy has clarified the season will be even more all-encompassing than expected.

Murphy, who co-created the long-running anthology with Brad Falchuk, spoke with Entertainment Tonight and clarified that fans aren’t entirely on the mark if they expect the new season to only be a sequel to the bewitching third season. Here’s how he explained it (via X):

Yessss. Lest anyone continue to believe that the upcoming horror series will be fully focused on Cordelia Goode and her magic-wielding flock, the proof is now out there that this is a legitimate all-the-marbles season that'll presumably incorporate characters, locations and situations from all twelve previous seasons. (Some of which were their own all-star entries, such as Apocalypse.) That distinction sadly doesn't bode well for anyone thinking Lily Rabe's Misty Day must be in it, and I'm definitely in that group.

But I'll worry about sighing over that disappointment later, since this is still huge and exciting news. As far as how many characters we can expect to see the core returnees portraying, Murphy shared:

That is outstanding! It sounds like we'll be seeing Lange, Paulson and Peters bringing upwards of 15 or 16 characters back to life in Season 13. As far as I can tell, the trio's combined roles across American Horror Story's first twelve seasons add up to 24, not counting Paulson and Peters' show-within-a-show Roanoke characters. I did add them into the full list below, though.

• Sarah Paulson: Billie Dean Howard, Lana Winters, Cordelia Goode, Bette & Dot Tattler, Sally McKenna, Audrey Tindall (Shelby Miller), Ms. Wilhemina Venable, Tuberculosis Karen, Mamie Eisenhower
• Jessica Lange: Constance Langdon, Sister Jude Martin, Fiona Goode, Elsa Mars
• Evan Peters: Tate Langdon, Kit Walker, Kyle Spencer, Jimmy Darling, James March, Rory Monahan (Edward Phillipe Mott), Kai Anderson, Mr. Gallant, Jeff Pfister, Austin Sommers

It's also worth noting that Evan Peters has also portrayed AHS' send-ups of Andy Warhol, Marshall Applewhite, David Koresh, Jim Jones, Charles Manson, and Jesus Christ himself. Though I doubt we'll see any of his historical characters, and I similarly doubt we'll see Paulson's first lady returning from Double Feature. But I wouldn't be against seeing Kathy Bates reprising her monstrous Season 3 murderer Madame Delphine LaLaurie, in terms of real-world personalities.

Is it safe to assume we'll see all the major players from at least the first four seasons back in Season 13? Probably so, with likely fewer culled from seasons that totally lacked Paulson and Lange's presence. And what's more, it sounds like a lot of these disperate characters could share scenes together. Ryan Murphy also shared:

The episode count is a huge update in and of itself, since American Horror Story hasn't produced a 13-episode season since Freak Show, with everything since then playing out across 9-12 episodes. So Murphy & Co. clearly have a lot of story to tell with this one. And here's hoping that story includes at least ONE scene with Cordelia, Wilhemina, Bette, Dot and Bille Dean all having a conversation with each other.

With so much AHS history to get through, it's a wonder how Season 13 will have time to bring in new cast members like John Waters, Madelaine Petsch and Paul Anthony Kelly. Guess we'll just have to tune into FX on September 24, 2026 to see.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly treating fans to new projects, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that some franchises are fan favorites, chief among them being Ryan Coogler's Black Panther. And aside from the thrilling news of David Jonsson's casting as T'Challa's son, Winston Duke spoke to CinemaBlend about what to expect from Black Panther's threequel.

Last weekend was San Diego Comic-Con, and plenty of thrilling news was shared about upcoming Marvel movies. Fans were hyped about getting an update about Black Panther 3, and M'Baku actor Winston Duke shared a vague tease with CinemaBlend at Comic-Con about what Coogler is bringing to the table with the third movie. In his words:

Well, I'm interested. While the Us actor was careful not to actually reveal anything about the contents of Black Panther 3, it sounds like Ryan Coogler is hoping to create a very specific conversation with audiences about the movie's contents. And now I'm doubly excited about what the Oscar-winning Sinners filmmaker has up his sleeve for his next adventure in Wakanda.

Folks who have been watching the first two Black Panther movies may recognize that the filmmaker had very specific stories in mind with the superhero flicks. The first movie had themes of African diaspora generational trauma, specifically in the conflict between T'Challa and Killmonger. As for Wakanda Forever, that was a meditation on grief inspired by Chadwick Boseman's death IRL.

You can see some of CinemaBlend's conversation with Winston Duke below, where he spoke about what Coogler is aiming for this time around.

Given Marvel's tight security, it shouldn't be a surprise fans that Duke and the rest of the cast and crew are keeping tight-lipped about the mysterious contents of Black Panther's threequel. And since the highly anticipated blockbuster isn't expected to hit theaters until 2028, we should probably expect to be in the dark for the foreseeable future. Luckily fans have faith in Ryan Coogler, which should help buoy anticipation.

Black Panther 3 is currently expected to hit theaters on December 15th, 2028. Since it's not on the 2026 movie release list or even the next year's we're going to have to be patient. In the meantime, the first two movies are streaming over on Disney+.

We’ve still got a couple of months before The Voice Season 30 premieres on the 2026 TV schedule, but filming is well underway. Queen Latifah and Riley Green are joining veteran coaches Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson on this season’s panel, and rumors are dropping about how the newbies are fitting in. I was already looking forward to a new season of the singing competition, but I’ll be especially psyched if these Queen Latifah claims are true.

Queen Latifah is a legendary rapper who’s been an entertainment icon for decades, while Riley Green is a relatively new — albeit popular — country music artist, so it doesn’t surprise me to hear that they’re allegedly on different ends of the spectrum when it comes to coaching styles. Queen Latifah, though, is the one who has reportedly been commanding the set, as a production insider told The Sun:

This is a very exciting update, if true. Queen Latifah is a boss, so I fully expect her to hold her own on Season 30, even against The Voice coaches who have been there longer. (You certainly don’t hear reports of Kelly Clarkson talking smack to Queen Latifah, do you?) Also, the Set It Off star has been in the industry long enough to know that sugarcoating feedback isn’t going to get anybody anywhere.

Seeing Queen Latifah described as “Simon Cowell” — who was known for his rude feedback on American Idol’s early years — is exciting to me, because I hate when the coaches serve as a cheerleader for their team members instead of giving them constructive criticism that they can use going forward.

I don’t want them to be mean, by any means, but a nice dose of honesty would be refreshing. It sounds like Queen Latifah has that balance, as the insider continued:

Meanwhile, we might see Riley Green take a little longer to settle in, if the source’s reports are true. He’s reportedly taken a “quieter approach” with the contestants, which isn’t hard to believe when you consider the big personalities around him. The insider said:

In addition to being one of country music’s hottest rising stars, he had a role in the Yellowstone spinoff Marshals, so it’s not like he’s new to the spotlight. The Voice producers are apparently optimistic that he’ll kick any initial nerves and even allegedly plan on asking him back for Season 31.

I can’t wait to see the coaches’ new dynamic when The Voice Season 30 premieres at 8 p.m. Monday, September 21, on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription.

Suri Cruise has been going by Suri Noelle for a long time; however, now she’s changed her last name officially. This marks a big moment in her relationship with her father, Tom Cruise. Meanwhile, sources are also making claims about the 20-year-old’s relationship with her mother, Katie Holmes, and her mom’s new boyfriend, Jason Bard Yarmosky.

Suri Cruise Dropped Tom Cruise’s Last Name

Public records have revealed that Suri Cruise registered to vote in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, under the name Suri Noelle in October 2024 when she was a Freshman at Carnegie Mellon University, via Page Six. Pennsylvania courts also confirmed that residents have to use their legal name to vote. However, the outlet noted she likely changed her last name before going to school, because she did not file a name change request in Allegheny County.

It’s been reported in the past that Suri does go by Suri Noelle over Suri Cruise, as there have been numerous claims over the years that she and her father are estranged. This latest update makes that change legal.

How Does Suri Feel About Katie Holmes’ New Boyfriend?

As Suri is making headlines because of her dad, there are also updates about her mom. Katie Holmes is dating Jason Bard Yarmosky, and according to Rob Shuter, sources say her daughter approves of him. Here’s what one insider alleged to Naughty But Nice:

Katie Holmes has been open about wanting to keep Suri out of the spotlight. However, the two have actually worked together, as Suri sang the opening credits for a movie Holmes did called Alone Together. Overall, it would seem they have a protective and lovely relationship, and Suri’s new last name, Noelle, is actually Holmes’ middle name.

So, the 20-year-old’s opinion of her mom’s partner carries weight. To that point, the source claimed:

The report notes that a non-negotiable Holmes has is that she won’t move forward with a relationship if her daughter (who looks just like her, by the way) does not approve. So, she apparently took things slow with Yarmosky, and then introduced him to her daughter when she knew they would be together for a long time. On that note, an insider claimed:

For context, rumors started to spread about Katie Holmes and Jason Bard Yarmosky dating earlier this month, and they made their first public appearance together on July 24, per E! News. This is major because the last public relationship she had was in 2022.

According to this insider, Holmes being in a serious relationship does rely on her daughter’s approval of her partner.

Well, it would seem all is going well between Suri Noelle, her mom, and her mom’s boyfriend. Meanwhile, she has now legally separated herself from her father by changing her last name.

As for Tom Cruise, he’s getting ready to release Digger on the 2026 movie schedule. So, he’s staying busy professionally.

Now, as we learn more about the personal and professional lives of these folks, we’ll keep you posted. But right now, it seems like Suri Cruise is happy being Suri Noelle, and she’s allegedly very happy about her mom’s new relationship.

Dexter: Resurrection dropped some first-look images for Season 2, and it looks like love is in the air when the series returns to the 2026 TV schedule. As for whether that's actually the case, I'm a bit skeptical. In between hunting down the New York Ripper and other killers, could Dex possibly find a new romantic partner in Uma Thurman's Charley?

The picture above speaks for itself, or does it? Leon Prater's former cold-blooded enforcer is now at dinner with Dexter, and their hands are touching. It feels like quite a development, though if there's one thing you know about Dexter Morgan, all is never as it seems.

Dexter And Charley Look To Be Romantically Involved In First Look, But I'm Skeptical

We won't know until Season 2 premieres for those with a Paramount+ subscription whether Dexter has a new lover, but I am skeptical. Not that we haven't seen him hook up with killers in the past, lest we forget his arsonist girlfriend Lila or Hannah McKay. But with zero chemistry between Dex and Charley in the previous season, we must've missed a lot.

What seems more likely to me is that Dexter reached out to the contract killer for help with a job. Maybe he needed a cover to track a shady restaurant manager, or this has to do with the alleged and improbable return of Mia LaPierre. I guess it's possible that Dexter and Charley are a romantic item, but just going off my history of the series, it feels more likely they're collaborating on a kill.

What Else Is In Store For Dexter: Resurrection Season 2?

Paramount+ dropped a lot of images for Season 2, showcasing a variety of things in store for the season. We've collected them in this handy little gallery, which can be clicked through below:

Presumably, the shots of Detective Melvin and Claudette will relate to the New York Ripper, who is being played by the iconic Brian Cox. Dexter continues to hunt down and kill people, as he has since the original series. We already knew that Desmond Harrington is returning as Quinn for this upcoming season of Dexter: Resurrection, and I'm worried he may be the next OG cast member to die.

Then there's the photo of Harrison dressed up as a police officer. We know he was attending school with the intention of joining law enforcement, but are we to believe he graduated so quickly? Either that teased romance with the daughter of an NYPD Captain really paid off, or this is a costume. I tend to lean toward it being the latter, as it just looks a little too fake given the budget for Dexter: Resurrection.

We'll see what's really going on when the series returns to Paramount+ for Season 2 sometime before the end of the year. I have my fingers crossed that this coming season is just as good as the last, and I can't wait to watch!

Considering The Lord of the Rings trilogy is made up of some of the best movies of the 2000s, and they’re truly remarkable fantasy films based on legendary books, it’s hard to believe the cast wasn’t paid a lot to do them. It's normal for stars of franchise films to make millions of dollars. However, that wasn’t the case for this team, and Sean Astin is making that fact go viral again with his latest comments on the salary he was paid to play Samwise Gamgee.

Back in 2017, Astin said he made $75,000 per movie on the Jim & Sam Show, and he ultimately brought home about $250,000 for the whole trilogy. Then, the topic came up again this year when he spoke to The Guardian. Opening up about all this, and the financial strain he was under at the time, the Sam actor said:

There’s no doubting the impact The Lord of the Rings movies had and the global success they were (and honestly, still are, as people continue to stream them with an HBO Max subscription). So, the juxtaposition of that with Astin having to sell his house because of his salary for these movies is quite jarring.

At this point, it’s well known that the cast wasn’t paid well for these movies. Orlando Bloom made $175,000 to play Legolas in the trilogy, while Cate Blanchett joked that she “basically got free sandwiches, and [she] got to keep [her] ears.” During that appearance on Watch What Happens Live, she also said: “No one got paid anything.”

However, during this new interview, Astin also clarified that he’s “very comfortable financially now.” He’s also still very connected to the LOTR franchise, as he travels with his fellow Hobbits, Elijah Wood, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd, to do conventions frequently.

So, now the question becomes: Would Astin ever return to play Sam? Well, the short answer is yes. In fact, he’s spoken to Stephen Colbert about his LOTR movie, and we know both Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen are reprising their roles as Frodo and Gandalf in The Hunt for Gollum. Speaking to that point, The Goonies star said:

The story then noted that Astin was asked if he’d get “better paid this time” if he were to return to Middle-earth, and his response was:

Considering Marvel actors get paid millions per project, you’d think a franchise based on an already popular IP would warrant a big salary from the jump. However, that was not the reality for The Lord of the Rings cast.

Although they’re all doing just fine now, and as Astin said, he thinks most of them would be willing to return (and some of them are). I also assume, however, that if they ever agree to set foot in Middle-earth again, they’ll be getting paid significantly more than $250,000 to do so.

Summer's been a blast, but it won't be long until the 2026 TV schedule brings back fall shows and crime procedural action via NCIS. CBS is hyping up the return of Season 24 with some photos from the set, which are sweet. However, fans are pretty miffed about the type of donuts seen on a table.

Yes, it appears the fall TV season can't come soon enough, as NCIS fans are latching on to any and all details they can about the upcoming episodes. Before we get into the details of why people are up in arms, take a look at the photo below and see if you can figure out why there are comments about those pastries:

I'm an NCIS fan, but even I didn't clock the reason for the outrage immediately. However, bigger fans than myself seemed to notice the detail right way. Alden Parker is a morning pastries connoisseur, and many seem to think he wouldn't simply bring in something as basic as glazed donuts:

• Parker would never bring in plain donuts, this is an outrage. - clubgcole
• Yeah, but Parker wouldn’t do plain donuts - gianna_a76
• We all know who brought the donuts 😂- jessicascenes
• No, Parker. Morning pastries [are] his thing - jessicascenes
• Too boring, let Parker bring the pastries, he is the best. - lamarche_am_
• Parker's desk 😂😂😂 - drawings.ncisandmore

I guess that's true, but let's try to remember a few things. To start, we have no idea who brought these pastries. It's possible that these donuts were brought by returning agent Tony DiNozzo, who will reappear on NCIS in Season 24. Michael Weatherly's character wouldn't know that it's Parker who traditionally brings in sweets, so this could be his doing!

Another possibility is that Parker is distracted as NCIS heads into Season 24. Fans do know, after all, that he was responsible for the death of Director Vance's killer and set up the circumstances for Gibbs to take him out. Gary Cole hinted that Parker breaking bad could unlock a side of him that fans haven't seen, and maybe that slippery slope starts with uninspired pastry choices.

The final possibility is that it's just not that deep. Those donuts could be for the crew, who are all hard at work filming all the fallout from that Season 23 cliffhanger that we've already had slightly spoiled. Showrunner Steven D. Binder already confirmed that while the season ended with Torres in an armed showdown with McGee's son, no one is going to die in this exchange. That's important, because we heard a shot ring out into the night. However, viewers never saw who fired, or who was shot.

What I have glimpsed are scenes of Nick Torres running around and fighting crime on CBS adverts promoting the new season. So I'm inclined to say he'll be back on the job pretty quickly even if he is injured. Either that, or he shot McGee's kid, and I can only imagine how awkward things could be between them in Season 24. Maybe he's the one who bought the pastries as a way to apologize?

Jokes aside, I remain thrilled for NCIS' return, which is coming back to CBS in October. The return of fall TV is rapidly approaching and, as much as I love summer, I can't wait to get all cozy with the cooling weather and watch one of my favorite crime shows. For now, catch up on episodes by streaming them with a Paramount+ subscription.

With the upcoming releases of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, Disney has been promoting a new premium format for movie theaters: Infinity Vision. The tricky thing for the House of Mouse is that the new MCU movies are both getting released against some major competition on the 2026 movie schedule: The Odyssey for Spidey and Dune Part III for Doomsday. What’s even more challenging for Disney is that both of those movies have exclusive holds on IMAX theaters around the world. This seems to be what has motivated the company to come up with Infinity Vision.

Like many, I wondered exactly what the new format consists of, so I went down the rabbit hole to find out. (A different rabbit hole from Alice's, to be sure.)

So What Does Infinity Vision Mean?

For starters, I need to point out that Infinity Vision is not the same as other premium formats, like IMAX. Disney is not designing and building new theaters to create a new experience for filmgoers.

Back in April at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Disney unveiled Infinity Vision, and in a press release, the company describes the certification of movie theaters around the country as having:

• The largest screens for maximum scale
• Laser projection for superior brightness and clarity
• Premium audio formats for fully immersive sound

The Head of Theatrical Distribution for Disney, Andrew Cripps, wrote this in regards to the certification:

If it still seems a little bit nebulous, know that there are clear standards set forth, per the FAQ on the Infinity Vision ticketing website:

• Screen: Minimum of 45 feet wide
• Sound: Theaters with either Immersive sound (like Dolby Atmos) or 7.1 sound
• Projection: Theaters with brightness levels reaching either 14 footlamberts in 2D and/or 6 footlamberts in 3D

Okay, so what does all that mean? Well, it means that only the biggest (non-premium large format screens, or PLFs, like IMAX) and brightest screens in theaters with state-of-the-art sound systems will qualify for the designation. It’s important to note, per Disney’s FAQ that:

According to the Disney press release, there are at least 75 theaters in the United States and more than 300 worldwide that have received the certification, though that number may be low, as thousands have since applied to be included in the designation.

Why Is Disney Doing This?

There is a pretty simple answer to why Disney has made a push for this. Getting locked out of PLFs like IMAX will likely put a serious dent in the box office hauls for their two Marvel tent poles in 2026. The company is also releasing Avengers: Endgame in September, under the new name Avengers: Endgame Encore with bonus footage for screenings in theaters that meet the qualifications for Infinity Vision. Endgame Encore will be the first movie released in theaters with the certifications.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will not be part of the rollout, but almost certainly played a role in the development of Infinity Vision. The Tom Holland and Zendaya-led superhero movie is blocked from IMAX due to Christopher Nolan’s deal to hold exclusivity for The Odyssey for three weeks (partly because he shot the whole movie on IMAX technology). That includes the first week of Brand New Day's run in theaters. When you are counting the upcharge that PLFs enjoy on tickets, it plays an important role in the box office take of any big movie, especially movies like Brand New Day and Doomsday, for which people clamber for PLFs.

Is It Really Just Marketing?

Some of the more cynical critics in Hollywood have dismissed Infinity Vision as a simple marketing strategy for Disney given the situation, but I have a different opinion. I mean, I agree that it is marketing, for sure, but it’s actually helpful marketing. It makes it easy for me and others to identify the best theaters to see the upcoming Marvel movies. I have a pretty good idea which theaters around me would qualify, but seeing it as part of the movie listing on my phone when I go to buy tickets is useful. How much that is worth to people is another question, but for me, it’s worth a couple extra bucks.

I do not doubt that some of those same critics will decry the extra charge for a theater that isn’t really bringing anything new and special to a screening, and that is a fair argument. For me, though, I get it. I get that Disney has to make money here, as losing out on IMAX revenue is certainly going to hurt the overall box office numbers. As I said, I appreciate knowing which theaters will present the movie in the best environment possible. For people who don’t go to the movies as often as I do and who might not immediately know which theaters in their area are the best, this is even more helpful.

Will Infinity Vision Last?

Another question some critics have raised is just how long this format will really be a thing. Again, another fair question. It was invented for the upcoming release of Endgame Encore and, mostly, Doomsday. Will we see it in 2027 with the release of Secret Wars, even if it also gets a more traditional release through PLFs that Doomsday has been locked out of in 2026? I think so, yes. At least for Secret Wars, which will also have stiff competition from Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Beyond that, I’ll just say, I’m dubious as to how long the designation will last.

In the meantime, it seems both Disney and theater owners are all too happy to market the movies this way, and if it works, then I do think we’ll see it more often in the future. If the public decides the differences aren’t worth it, we’ll probably see it quietly go away.

It's no secret that Bravo is home of some of the best reality TV shows of all time, namely the Real Housewives franchise. Fans have spent 15 seasons watching Beverly Hills on the network (and streaming with a Peacock subscription). For the past two years we've watched the disillusion of Dorit Kemsley's marriage to her husband PK, and new court documents reveal the staggering amount of monthly support money she's requesting in court.

Fans have been watching Dorit on RHOBH for years now, including traumatic events like her home invasion. But most recently it's been about her divorce from PK, and the in-fighting between the former couple. TMZ's latest report about their legal battle, with the reality TV star's lawyer Samantha Spector denying reports of Dorit's spending, while also accusing PK of refusing to pay the mortgage for the house she lives in with their two children.

Dorit's lawyers claim that PK is refusing to pay for bills he previously agreed to handle. Specifically the mortgage, which he allegedly was going to handle instead of traditional child support. She also claims he's been spending irresponsibly, which is a claim that he's made about her.

What's most noteworthy is the sheer amount of money that the RHOBH mainstay is hoping to get out of her ex-husband monthly. Per this report, Dorit is asking for "$21K per month in child support, $22K per month in spousal support, and $347K in retroactive support payments." What's more, she's requesting $40k in sanctions for the way they've clashed in court. Overall that's a massive sum of money, and it should be fascinating to see how this request plays out in court. Clearly the stakes in this divorce are quite high.

This amount of money is eye-watering for us non-celebrities, but Dorit claims that her husband makes $2 million per year. Bravo fans are paying extra attention to her ongoing financial battle with PK, especially since she's become synonymous for wearing all name brands on RHOBH and spending tons on shopping. Her financials were a major storyline in Season 15 in particular, with some of the other women expressing concern for her.

One can only assume that Dorit and PK's divorce will continue being a storyline in Season 16, and she's not the only Beverly Hills star who has been going through a very public split. Kyle and Mauricio have been separated for years, although they appear to be on much better terms than their co-stars. We'll just have to see how Dorit's legal fight goes down, and if she's awarded the money requested.

While we wait for more information, new episodes of both The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Orange County are airing weekly as part of the 2026 TV schedule. It's currently unclear when Beverly Hills will return for a new season.

Due to the private nature of Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet’s relationship, there have been a lot of questions about what their families think of each other. While there are strong indications that the three-time Best Actor Oscar nominee has attended the Kardashian-Jenner family functions — Marty Supreme jackets were aplenty at Thanksgiving — how much Chalamet’s family has been welcomed into the circle has been a mystery… until now. A comment from the actor’s mother seems to prove they’re closer than we realized.

The revelation about Timothée Chalamet’s family comes amidst sad news, as Kris Jenner lost her mother MJ Shannon just a couple of weeks before she would have turned 92. The momager took to Instagram to wish her mom a happy heavenly birthday, and amongst the comments was one from Chalamet’s mother, Nicole Flender that read:

First of all, it’s extremely sweet that Nicole Flender would reach out to her son’s girlfriend’s mother over such a loss, but it also reveals something big about the families’ relationship: Timothée Chalamet’s mom had met Kylie Jenner’s grandmother!

The only way for Nicole Flender to have gotten to know MJ is for both families to have spent significant time together, possibly at one of Kris Jenner’s holiday parties.

Fans already wanted to believe that the potential future mothers-in-law were besties based on the fact that Kris Jenner commented on Nicole Flender’s Instagram post after the Critics Choice Awards. (That, incidentally, was the night Timothée Chalamet publicly recognized Kylie Jenner by thanking his “partner of three years” for their “foundation.”)

In reality, though, Kris Jenner expressing excitement about Timothée Chalamet’s win doesn’t indicate a relationship between the two women at all — lots of strangers left similar congratulatory messages, too.

This comment was different, though.

While all signs indicate that Timothée Chalamet has been accepted into the Kardashian-Jenner crowd, rumors have persisted that Chalamet’s family thinks the two are mismatched. The supposed words that Timothée had for his sister Pauline Chalamet at the Oscars didn’t help matters either, as many fans read Pauline and Kylie’s interaction as awkward.

Knowing that Nicole Flender has been around the Jenners enough to have met Kris’ mother may not be rock-solid proof that the families are intertwined, but it does show that — at the bare minimum — they have met in person and maintain a polite relationship.

This is definitely a positive sign for fans hoping to see Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet get engaged soon. If their families had gone well over three years without spending any real time together, that could be cause for concern.

In the end, it was really nice of Timothée Chalamet’s mom to reach out to Kris Jenner on her late mother’s birthday, and we’ll just have to wait to see if Nicole Flender and/or her son appear at one of Kris Jenner’s events on The Kardashians. Maybe Timmy could go incognito again.

Keep an eye on the 2026 TV schedule for a premiere date for The Kardashians Season 8, and in the meantime, stream all current episodes of that and Keeping Up with the Kardashians with a Hulu subscription.

Jimmy Kimmel is still on his summer break and, in the meantime, guest hosts have been filling in for him. So far, notable stars like Tiffany Haddish and Colman Domingo have held down Kimmel’s post and, later this summer, Rosie O’Donnell will step behind the desk for a week. Ahead of that, rumors are apparently swirling around the comedian, with a source claiming she could permanently take over for Kimmel sometime after her guest stint. Now, O’Donnell is addressing that allegation, and I wasn’t expecting her to mention one detail.

O’Donnell revealed she received an email from a news outlet that said it was “preparing a story reporting that Rosie O’Donnell is eyeing a full-time return to late night after Jimmy Kimmel tapped her to guest host” this August. The outlet’s sources also claimed the ex-talk show host was “willing to go behind his back with ABC executives to make it happen.” In her Instagram post, O’Donnell also included a screenshot of her response to the rumor about her supposed eagerness to return to the “talk show world”:

So it would appear that O’Donnell isn’t after Kimmel’s seat at ABC following her week-long stint on his show later this summer. However, what really stands out to me is the fact that she’s apparently intrigued by the notion of returning to daytime TV. Considering the comic’s life in Ireland, where she moved with her child in 2025, I wouldn’t have expected her to express interest in returning to the hustle and bustle of the TV industry. Still, the daytime space is something O’Donnell knows quite well.

From 1996 to 2002, the New York native headlined The Rosie O’Donnell Show, which proved to be a daytime hit for a while. The show also garnered several Emmy awards, including multiple wins for O’Donnell for Outstanding Talk Show Host. In 2006, O’Donnell joined ABC’s The View, where she clashed with co-panelist Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and eventually left the show in 2007. She’d return to the series, however, in 2014 but left in 2015 due to personal reasons.

The notion of O’Donnell initiating a “takeover” of Jimmy Kimmel Live! is admittedly far-fetched, especially given the support she’s shown for Kimmel in the past . Nevertheless, for some time now, Kimmel has been talking about retirement on and off and, in late 2025, he extended his contract to May 2027. As of this writing, the Man Show alum has yet to divulge exactly how much longer he’ll continue to do his show.

I’m curious as to how long Jimmy Kimmel will remain a part of the ever-changing late-night TV landscape, and I’m equally intrigued about the notion of Rosie O’Donnell returning to the daytime sphere. Personally, I’d like to think that if the formerly dubbed “Queen of Nice” seriously wants to get back in the saddle, network execs will show some interest.

For now, though, see O’Donnell host Jimmy Kimmel Live! during the week of August 17 amid the 2026 TV schedule.