Spoilers below for the final episode of DTF St. Louis for anyone who hasn’t yet watched it on HBO or streamed it via HBO Max subscription, so be warned!

After seven weeks of Richard Jenkins’ Det. Homer getting bamboozled by one sexual fetish after another, HBO’s genre-mashing mystery DTF St. Louis came to a close with quite the revealing finale. (And I’m not just talking about the two lead actors in their skivvies.) Answers were delivered, and a non-murder was solved, but not before audiences spent a little more time with suspect Kevin, a.k.a. Faux Tiger Tiger, as portrayed by Abbott Elementary great Chris Perfetti.

DTF St. Louis will likely remain one of the most off-kilter and well-structured shows to hit the 2026 TV schedule, and Perfetti’s character entered late in the game as an additional bizarro layer to the fabric of Floyd Smernitch’s death. It’s like the best example of a hat on a hat, and I was happy to talk to the actor about playing a red-haired red herring. A big reason he joined the show was due to creator Steven Conrad, whose past idiosyncratic creations include Patriot and Perpetual Grace, LTD, not that acting opposite Jason Bateman, Richard Jenkins and Joy Sunday was a chore.

When I asked the Twinless star for his reaction to the emotional turmoil laid out in DTF St. Louis’ finale, and to the reveal, Chris Perfetti put the focus back on the creator and spoke to how much he loved the thematic throughline combining with the purposefully fractured timelines, saying:

An easy 10 points to Chris Perfetti for perhaps untentionally mentioning CinemaBlend's namesake appliance in the above answer. Now back to our regularly scheduled interview.

He continued, speaking to the idea that the reveal itself wasn't as jarring as how it felt to experience the endgame culmination of everything that led to Floyd's suicide-by-meds. As he put it:

I honestly hadn't considered that element while watching, despite obviously clocking the familiar footage. Having that entire gameplan in mind from the jump was no doubt extremely pivotal to being able to pull this off in an effective way without having to return to previously filmed-at locations.

Chris Perfetti enjoyed the mystery element as much as anyone, even if he didn't share any off-track theories like the ones I formed, but said that learning the answers wasn't as important as getting to knowing the core characters in the first place.

Honestly, I think the least satisfying move would have been if Perfetti's Tiger Tiger was the guilty party who'd drugged Floyd. (Or if Modern Love was responsible.) By keeping it within the characters we followed for all seven eps, there was no risk of it feeling like a stranger invaded these people's lives.

Chris Perfetti On Why Kevin/Tiger Tiger Possibly Wasn't Entirely Honest WIth The Detectives

Tiger Tiger is the kind of dude that I don't mind watching on TV, but if he sat next to me on a bus and started a conversation, I might feel the need to slink down all the way to the floor and shimmy away through people's feet. He's skeezy, but in a way that's hard to pin down.

To that end, I asked Chris Perfetti if he felt that everything Tiger Tiger told the detectives was the 100% truth. Because to me, there were moments when it felt like he was holding back in a way that he most certainly did not when he spoke about his distaste for Floyd's age and belly protrusion. (He was maybe too honest with those comments.) Here's what he told me:

I couldn't have agreed more. This atypical character's spontaneous arrival in the show's suburbia would almost feel cartoonish if the circumstances weren't so dour. Because seriously, how terrible were all the other options for what to do with his day that taking Clark's Tiger Tiger offer was the winner?

In addressing my question, Perfetti leaned into my suspicions about Tiger Tiger's honesty level, but without going all the way in. It's not so much that the character was lying about anything vital to the case, but probably that he wouldn't want to air out his personal details within the confines of an interrogation room. As the actor shared:

Perfetti mentioned creator Steven Conrad again in his concluding thoughts about Tiger Tiger and his wavering moral compass. In his words:

Would Tiger Tiger keep the two detectives talking long enough to ensure that he gets a couple of cups of coffee and a sandwich for lunch? I don't think he'd turn it down. But, for all his quirks, at least he's not a murderer. That we know of....

All seven episodes of DTF St. Louis are available to stream on HBO Max, while Chris Perfetti's terrific performances as Jacob Hill on Abbott Elementary can be streamed via Hulu subscription or Disney+ subscription, with new Season 5 episodes airing Wednesdays on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched DTF St. Louis’ season finale on HBO or via HBO Max subscription, so be warned!

When a TV episode features Peter Sarsgaard blissfully skating through blinking roller rink lights to the good-time rhythms of The Archie’s “Comes the Sun,” you just don’t naturally expect that episode to end on one of the most gutting “murder” mystery reveals in recent memory. DTF St. Louis is all about such juxtapositioning, though. Thankfully, the finale was also all about delivering answers, and with minimal threads left dangling in the end.

Creator Steven Conrad did manage to buck some of my expectations throughout DTF St. Louis’ concluding chapter, titled “No One’s Normal. It Just Looks That Way From Across the Street.” Not all of my expectations, however, even though the episode’s reveal did indeed eclipse what my darker theories were about. Let’s take one more trip ye olde communitye poole house to go through some of the questions answered.

How Did Floyd Actually Die?

Back in Episode 3, I first questioned whether a twist was even imminent to answer for Floyd’s death, so fully thinking at the time that Carol would be revealed as an insurance-scamming murderer, or something along those lines. At the time, I speculated about the off chance that Floyd was intentionally responsible for his own death by poison, though I didn’t yet have all of the details necessary to support that thought process.

The successive episodes and finale filled in those blanks, however, as Floyd essentially had all of his love-based hopes and desires blown up in his face at every turn. Despite attempts to make the opposite happen, Carol seemed to have lost all sexual desire for her husband. Clark’s attempt to set him up via the titular app went belly-up, literally, when Chris Perfetti’s character rejected Floyd based on sight. Then, when it looked like his BFF Clark might be willing to engage in more than just friendship and dancing around in tighty-whities, even that fell apart.

The heartbreaking last straw for Floyd — something I definitely didn’t see coming — was seeing his stepson Richard outside the pool house, with the boy clearly disturbed by everything he’d just witnessed with Clark. At that point, Floyd realized all avenues to happiness had been tarred over, and he signed an “I Love You” to Richard before downing the rest of his over-medicated drink. Which, in the scheme of things, is perhaps the most f--ked up thing Floyd could have done in that moment, considering the potential trauma involved.

Who knows what might have happened if Richard never showed up that night? If he’d just confessed to his mom early on about hearing Floyd plans, could she have stepped in for a last-ditch effort to revive his will to live? It’s impossible to know.

What Was Carol's Sealed Record About?

Throughout watching Carol's struggles with love, work and money, I've held strong to my belief that some event from her past would play heavily into her role in Floyd's death. I was convinced that it had something to do with Richard's father, and had all the confidence in the world that Episode 5 revealing Carol's sealed record would be the set-up to a gamechanging reveal. Not so gamechanging as opinion-changing, though.

As it turns out, Carol's record revealed her to be the Jean Valjean of DTF St. Louis, as she was caught shoplifting food as a youth, though for nourishment and desperation purposes, as opposed to her being any kind of a troublemaker. The finale doubled-down on Carol's financial perspective when some of her happiest moments were spent buying things to redecorate RIchard's room, something that she'd previously been unable to afford. (I can imagine she'd be just as happy to hear her umpiring evaluation from her teen supervisor Stephen Queece.)

So it would seem that many of Carol's actions throughout the season were committed with mostly a financial upswing (and her son's comfort) as her motivation. I'm sure the sex with Chuck wasn't the worst bonus, but she definitely made money a focus of that relationship by bringing up her debt and Floyd's life insurance on multiple occasions.

Honestly, I'm not 100% sure what Carol's life insurance angle was if she wasn't trying to get that payout sooner rather than later. Was it that she genuinely expected Floyd's health to plummet without the added boner meds?

I also still think Carol hit "What a bitch" territory every time she ran with her "Can you speak up?" ploy that came from her self-help tapes. So that didn't change here, especially when she gave up on it immediately after Det. Jodie called her out on it.

What Was Clark's Motivation In All Of This?

Perhaps it wasn't so surprising to learn that Jason Bateman's Clark, whose only desires on display throughout the season have been tied to banging Carol and hanging out with Floyd (as opposed to his own family), was just...lonely. Like, the loneliest kind of lonely.

Instead of harboring even an iota of ill will towards Floyd, Clark seemingly only wanted the best for his friend, to the point where serving that goal helped to fill the void in his own life. Unfortunately, while Clark's brain was behind the idea that fooling around with Floyd might be helpful, his physical reactions were not nearly as strong.

I think the rest of the Forrest family collectively counts as the most tragic character in this show, since they were all victims of Clark's infidelity. But something about the weatherman's journey feels similar, in that it was after he finally voiced his feelings about loneliness that literally everything in his life was stripped away. He might be a "free man" in the end, but at what cost?

What Actually Happened To Floyd's Bent Penis?

At face value, DTF St. Louis doesn't seem like the kind of show that would lean into the recurring gag of Floyd telling a long and winding Aristocrats-esque story about his bent-penis injury. And yet...

Thankfully, after multiple false starts, David Harbour's character finally landed the anecdote plane, sharing that his early-day job search, which transitioned into an embrace of sign language instruction, led to an evening argument with Carol that left her in tears. Carol herself described that day as one of the worst, but with Floyd's genitals having nothing to do with it; he might have other thoughts.

As it turns out, Richard took major offense to seeing his mother crying, and took a baseball bat to Floyd's groin later that night. Which presents a strange cycle where Richard was tangentially involved in two of Floyd's lowest moments. Hopefully nobody lets him be a pall bearer, or that casket is getting dropped and flipped open.

Now that DTF St. Louis' biggest questions have been answered, we can look forward to other mysteries hitting the 2026 TV schedule and beyond. Such as...why hasn't HBO branded a line of Modern Love Roller Rinks yet?

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

When DTF St. Louis first arrived on the 2026 TV schedule, I wasn’t expecting its episode-ending corpse reveal to be one of the small-screen mysteries I’d think about the most over the next month and change. Yet here we are, a week away from the dramedy’s finale, and I pretty much NEED to know all the answers behind what happened to David Harbour’s lovable oaf Floyd Smernitch, and I’ll crash a recumbent bicycle into the shins of anyone who tries to get in my way.

Though creator Steven Conrad refrained from giving viewers any direct answers in "The Denny's Plan," the episode seemed to more or less close the door on all of the once-promising leads that made this case seem like an easy win early on for Detective Donoghue Homer. Which, as I theorize below, likely leaves us with a solution where murder wasn’t involved at all. Not that this idea will be a lot less dark than that outcome.

What I Now Theorize Happened With Floyd

From the jump, I assumed Linda Cardellini’s Carol was the culprit, and that assumption has yet to completely vacate my system, especially after Episode 5 revealed Carol’s secret conviction from her past. (Though without sharing what it was, annoyingly enough.) I started to hypothesize about Clark possibly killing his best buddy when Episode 4 made it seem like he’d be upset about Floyd and Carol rekindling their sex life. After everything that played out in Episode 6, though, here’s what I think happened.

Every episode of this show has showcased Floyd’s need for connections and affection, whether it be from Carol, Clark or stepson Richard. (Or crowds of concert-goers, or his dance instructor, etc.) By this point, though, Carol destroyed his ego, Clark usurped the sexual pleasures Floyd sought, and also falsely bolstered Floyd’s confidence and self-worth by creating the Tiger Tiger social profile and setting up a fake date. His kinship with Richard is seemingly better than ever, but that may not be enough.

Tying back to one of my earlier left-field ideas, I think that Floyd reached a point where his body and mind had been put through the wringer enough by his loved ones that he couldn’t take it anymore, and he maybe- purposefully took too many of the meds that Clark gave him, knowing that it could have a detrimental effect on his heart. So I don’t believe anyone killed Floyd in the sense that they were physically responsible for his death, and I think he took his own life.

Does that make Clark and Carol 100% innocent? Not one iota, since Floyd would no doubt still be alive if he and the weatherman’s paths never crossed, miserable as that life may have stayed. Let's talk about the other side of that below.

Why I Still Think Carol Is Partially Guilty

One of the biggest hang-ups that the detectives have dealt with remains the driver of the recumbent bike that was known to be around the scene of the crime. It seems clear that Carol was the one who took it there, though the details get fuzzy around there, since nothing around Floyd's body indicates she was involved.

While I don't have any beyond-the-norm guesses for why Carol showed up, I'm guessing she went there knowing that Floyd was an emotional wreck, and that he was already dead when she went inside. Rather than reporting it as a suicide, however, I think that Carol's first instinct was to redress the scene to make it look more like someone killed Floyd.

Why go through such a horrible ordeal before being able to properly mourn her husband? Because life insurance policies often won't pay out to beneficiaries when deaths are self-inflicted. Carol had already put the time and effort into convincing an already eager Clark to take out an insurance policy on Floyd, and there has to be something behind that impetus, other than just her thinking ill about his weight gain.

If Floyd's suicide led not to a million-dollar payout, but rather another pile of finance-wrecking funeral bills, Carol's life would be in even worse shambles. So I don't see any issues with believing her capable of cleaning up a crime scene to set it up more in her favor.

Do I think that Carol knew about Floyd's boner pills and purposefully insulted his weight in front of Clark just so her hubby might be browbeaten enough to off himself? That's some widlly f--ked up psychological warfare...but I'm not saying she's incapable of it. We'll have to wait and see.

DTF St. Louis' Season 1 finale is set to air on HBO on Sunday, April 12, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched the fifth episode of DTF St. Louis on HBO or via HBO Max subscription, so be warned!

I’m quite pleased that with each week that passes, DTF St. Louis has managed to address and downplay several of the criticisms I aimed at the first pair of episodes, and I’m now at the point where I can stop judging every single awkward conversation these characters have. I’m still paying attention to those convos, of course, but more so now to help figure out the core mystery at the endangered heart of this series and its central love triangle: who’s responsible for Floyd’s death?

I’m amending my previous mental phrasing of “Who Killed Floyd?” to allow for situations where the character’s death wasn’t the result of a premeditated and/or malicious act. In part because the title of the latest episode references a prescription drug that Floyd himself said could have adverse affects on his body; but also because I’m still not 100% convinced that only a single party was behind it all. But my money is still on Linda Cardellini’s Carol being the driving force, with "Amphezyne” seemingly addressing one of the biggest unexplored details regarding the character: her past.

Carol Has A Prior Conviction On Her Record

Had Carol's prior arrest come up when the first or second episode hit the 2026 TV schedule, it might have already been glossed over as a somewhat insignificant detail by now, but completely different implications are in play with it surfacing in the back half of the season. I think it's even more interesting that it pops up in an episode that seems to erase all forms of jealousy-related guilt by revealing Floyd was aware of Carol and Clark's infidelity from the jump, and that him watching their sex acts from the hotel closet (the shocking ending from Episode 4) was consented to by all. He also knew Carol was bilking Clark for money.

For all that this new information could water down the suspicions I have about Carol, the arrest detail knocks all that water out of the equation. (Carol's "Can you talk louder?" behavior with the detectives is another bizarre red flag that cannot be explained away with the reveal of a hearing problem.) Unfortunately, any details related to Carol's legal troubles have been sealed away and are unavailable, which likely alludes to the severity of the crimes, or to someone of import also being involved that wouldn't want the news going public.

Obviously more info is needed, and I have all the faith that Joy Sunday's Jodie Plumb will get those redacted details out in the open posthaste, and that they'll have a major impact on how other characters (and viewers like me) see her. Sucks if she goes through all of this and the conviction is completely irrelevant.

My Ongoing Theory Is That Carol's Previous Relationship(s) Is Key To Understanding Her

The fact that audiences have learned next to nothing about Carol's prior relationship with Richard's father isn't the strangest thing, I suppose, if Richard's entire purpose in the story is just to earn Floyd more empathy points as a caring and non-judgmental stepfather. After all, we've probably seen more screentime between those two than between Richard and Carol. So is he really her biological son from a previous marriage, or are there even more complicated circumstances?

The episode did feature Floyd telling Clark via sign language that her "first" husband was a real asshole, but she chided them for not speaking aloud before any further details could be unveiled. We don't even know for sure if she's only had one ex-hubby. I trust nothing and no one.

The storytelling side of me kinda enjoys viewing Carol as a Black Widow killer, silencing a string of husbands for their insurance money to bolster a life of luxury. But Carol's life isn't so luxurious, which is a big part of why she's a prominent suspect in the first place, since Floyd's life insurance payout will seemingly change her life for the better, assuming she gets it. As well, I can't see someone who's killed her exes being a ongoing listener of self-help audiobooks. She'd have already conquered a lot of that.

Plus, that scenario probably wouldn't end in her walking free post-murder conviction.

So unless that prior relationship involved her failed attempt at a Black Widow-esque murder, something else must have gone down, and I am purposefully connecting the dots between Carol's previous coupling and her arrest, even though the show hasn't made that entirely clear. (Yet.) It's gotta be all connected, right?

I don't have a slew of predictions about how the details Carol's sealed conviction could help to make her any less suspicious. As such, I can only believe that her past directly informs her current life, and that Floyd's tragic fate is connected to her life before he came around.

Here's what I don't necessarily want, however: Carol's ex being some kind of a jealous maniac who's been following Floyd with the intention of killing him. Although I guess if there's really smart stunt-casting, I'll buy anything.

With a unique talent of being able to infuriate certain St. Louis residents, DTF St. Louis airs new episodes Sunday. nights on HBO at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched the fourth episode of DTF St. Louis on HBO or via HBO Max subscription, so be warned!

After three episodes of making me think some particularly harsh things about Jason Bateman’s hornball weatherman Clark and Linda Cardellini’s scheming umpire Carol, DTF St. Louis has delivered the expository life moments I needed for both of those characters to feel like real people, and not just plot advancers. In doing so, this fourth installment, titled "Missouri Mutual Life & Health Insurance Company," also potentially threw a wrench into the works of my going theory behind Floyd’s death.

In this case, however, I’m more than happy for my expectations to be upended, since it previously seemed like DTF St. Louis was heading for an overtly predictable outcome. Now, I’m no longer quite so sure how the narrative will end, though my predictions are slightly darker now than they were before this ep hit the 2026 TV schedule.

Clark's Genuine Love For Both Carol And Floyd May Be A Motivating Factor

If it wasn't already made clear before now, Clark is endeared by Floyd, and appears to fully embrace the way his inner child comes out when they're together. He really did hit the social jackpot here, finding both a BFF and someone to fulfill his kink-filled bucket list. And it looks like Clark is also taking full advantage of both Floyd and Carol's need for financial assistance, helped along by the fact that the husband and wife wish to keep it all hush-hush.

But while I'd previously assumed that Carol was duplicitously setting Clark up by having him take responsibility for Floyd's life insurance, I'm no longer so convinced. Indeed, this fourth episode made me start to think Clark suspects something potentially nefarious in Carol's request to keep her out of the insurance conversations. And that, combined with Carol's insistence that she wants to reignite her romance with Floyd, makes me wonder whether or not Clark set something up that will eventually point the arrow of guilt back at Carol.

If Clark was pushing Floyd to the DTF app to get him to stray from his marriage, that plan came to a halt already, so where will Tiger Tiger reenter the story?

Carol's Struggles Are Real And Plentiful

It's not like I thought Carol and Floyd had a brilliant home life, but Episode 4 flipped up just about everything I'd assumed about their relationship. (Mostly due to this show's intentional pacing and editing causing viewers to believe certain things.) I thought Carol was an active cause for sexual frustration, which is more on Floyd. I thought she entered the relationship with Clark as a means to a financial end, but she may have also been authentically lonely. I thought she was 100% conniving and...well, that observation has yet to be flipped around.

Buried by financial grief, her son's inexplicably destructive actions, and a husband who stopped caring about his physical appearance, Carol took on an umpire gig she could have cared less about simply to bring in more money. And for all that she's entirely consensual with her and Clark's sexual encounters, she made it clear multiple times in this episode that her endgame goal is to get Floyd's mojo rising again (figuratively and literally) and to get him back to a place where his health isn't such a concern. Which isn't the kind of goal one has when they're aiming to kill the other person, right?

It's Looking More Likely That Floyd Ended His Own Life

"Missouri Mutual Life & Health Insurance Company" confirmed the idea that Floyd kept his issue of Playgirl around to reinforce his poor self-esteem. (And not because he gets turned on by Indiana Jones, Detective Donoghue Homer, you dumb bastard.) The ep also had Floyd saying he didn't want any more DTF app encounters after his awkward parking lot kiss, implying he wasn't that interested in stepping out on his marriage.

But it was that final reveal, that Floyd was hiding in the motel room closet during at least one of Carol and Clark's trysts, that provided the first truly convincing evidence that he could have taken his own life without a murder being involved at all. To be betrayed by the two adults he loves the most would be earth-shattering to a soul as sensitive as Floyd's, so it's possibly he went to that poolhouse that fateful night with his own demise in mind. (Possibly with the sub-scheme to make both Clark and Carol look guilty for it.)

We still have another three episodes to go, though, so we may very well discover ten more details that make all of the above observations completely moot and irrelevant. Unless they don't.

DTF St. Louis airs Sunday nights on HBO and streams on HBO Max at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Zootopia 2 was a massive hit, and combined with a teasing post-credits scene, that all but guarantees more in this franchise down the road. While we expect the sequel to include birds, it will certainly also include a new chapter in the relationship between lead characters Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps, and it’s a relationship that a lot of fans are concerned about.

Needless to say that, even after the first Zootopia, the “shippers” were out in full force. The expansion of the Nick and Judy relationship in Zootopia 2 was like catnip for the group that wants to see the pair get together romantically despite the difference in species. Co-director of both Zootopia movies, Byron Howard, recently admitted to ScreenRant that the team who made the sequel discussed the status of the pairing at great length while producing the film, and confirmed there are certainly elements of a strong bond between Nick and Judy, saying:

It’s hard to argue that Zootopia 2 doesn’t tease the audience with a “will they/won’t they” sort of dynamic. Near the end of the film, the two characters have a heartfelt moment where Nick starts to talk about how important Judy is to him, and in any other movie, that sort of scene spills over into a declaration of love. However, in Zootopia 2, it stops short of going that far.

Howard is clear that, at least right now, there is no romance between Nick and Judy. However, he stops short of indicating that might never be the case, and he refuses to say how he personally feels about such an idea. He continued:

Byron Howard’s response here is brilliant. The idea of a Nick and Judy romance is a somewhat controversial one. The characters are different species, which means that, if nothing else, putting them together romantically runs the risk of looking quite strange on screen. It would weird out a lot of fans. At the same time, a lot of fans are absolutely here for it.

If Howard gave any sort of definitive answer to this question, if he guaranteed it would never happen, or even fully endorsed it, it would turn off a certain segment of the audience. There’s basically no right answer here. So, he gives an answer that avoids answering the question, leaving the door open.

If I were to guess, I’d expect any future Zootopia movies to continue what we saw in Zootopia 2, a deep and meaningful platonic relationship between the two that never crosses the line into romance on screen, but still leaves a door open for fans who want to imagine something more. You weirdos.

Spoiler warning for anyone who hasn't yet watched the latest episode of DTF St. Louis on HBO or via HBO Max subscription.

Three episodes into DTF St. Louis, and I'm having more and more trouble with this show landing on the 2026 TV schedule sold as a "dark comedy." For all that I adore the entire cast, scenes come across more as laughably written than legitimately funny, and there's way too much emotional complexity and a big honking mysterious death to deal with for that much comedy to shine through. The biggest question at the heart of it all is "Who killed Floyd?" and that answer seems pretty cut and dry by the end of "The Go-Getter."

Unless that's just what the creative team wants us to think. Which, yes, is probably the case. (Just like they want us to think this show is located in St. Louis, which enrages CinemaBlend's Hugh Scott to no end.) So let's zip through things.

The Cops Think Clark Did It, So He Definitely Didn't

Richard Jenkins' Detective Donoghue is a malleable caricature of a cop, bringing an Occam's Razor approach to every detail of the case, while Joy Sunday's Jodie Plumb is far more invested in evidence over gut instincts. Everything Donoghue has assumed has been mostly wrong, and seemingly nothing that Jodie's discovered actually points to Clark being responsible. That secret key will likely have some effed-up story behind it, but it doesn't seem like Clark is hiding that info from a guilty perspective.

Plus, Clark's initially suspicious silence has been broken up by what appears to be a genuine love for Floyd that may have more in common with the motel trysts than we think. Bateman's character seemed to be at his most vulnerable when trying to put any articulation behind his specific feelings for Harbour's kindhearted goober, which doesn't support him being responsible. So at this point, I have lost all motivation to believe that Clark is guilty of murder in any sense.

Carol Is Prime Suspect #1

With one apparent red herring out of the way, DTF St. Louis is planting all kinds of guilt-bearing seeds that I can only presume will sprout arrows pointing directly at Linda Cardellini’s Carol. Let’s talk about some of the details we now know about the character, shall we?

1. Carol instigated the affair with Clark.
2. Carol’s motivations for having the affair now appear to be more about money than kink-laden sex.
3. Carol also lied to the cops about her regular Jamba Juice order, and not just Floyd, which suggests a deeper sense of guilt.
4. Carol’s son Richard reacts to Floyd’s death not with grief, but with concern about the family’s financial situation.
5. Carol is very clearly manipulating Clark to supply financial support.
6. Despite the infidelity, Carol does seem to genuinely care for Floyd.

Speaking to the money situation, arguably the most damning circumstantial evidence against Carol is that she is obviously coercing Clark into taking out a life insurance policy on Floyd, while also convincing him not to tell her about it. The goal there, one would assume, is to make it look like Clark set the policy up specifically to kill Floyd for the payout. (A weird move for someone who doesn’t need the money, sure.)

Without any involvement or having actual proof of the policy’s existence, Carol can claim ignorance and plausible deniability without leaving much room to argue against it. I can’t figure out a way for the insurance situation to be explained away as anything other than a sign of Carol’s guilt, so why did the show already reveal this key piece of information to viewers in Episode 3?

This is where the casting choices really shine, since Linda Cardellini has been portraying strong, sweet and lovable characters for her entire career, going back to the Freaks and Geeks and Scooby-Doo days of yore, right up through her more recent work in Dead To Me and Nonnas, among others. (Sure, she played a self-proclaimed “badass b--ch” in No Good Deed.) It’s a smart move to play with the actress’ largely protagonistic career choices, especially ahead of her debut as the iconic horror villain Pamela Voorhees in Peacock’s Crystal Lake series.

I would love to see Cardellini get a big Bond villain breakdown scene where she lays out everything that went into her actions. Only if she's actually responsible, of course.

Will There Be A "Carol Isn't Guilty" Twist?

Maybe DTF St. Louis is setting up a different kind of reveal, where viewers are led to believe that Cardellini’s character is fully guilty of murder, only to discover she’s even more conniving than that. It’s possible that Carol is preying on Floyd’s very clear insecurities about himself, his physical appearance and his injury-bent genitalia, in a way that could drive him to potentially take his own life.

I don’t necessarily think that Floyd went to that community pool house with fully formed suicidal intentions, and I get that it’d be weird for him to poison his own drink. But I do think that whatever transpired that night between Floyd, Clark and anyone else was particularly devastating, and that life would have been all the more complicated for everyone had he survived. I’m obviously not sure why his nudie mag was there, but his feelings about it were made clear with the scratch marks.

Maybe Floyd’s kiss with Peter Sarsgaard’s “Modern Love” set off a full self-evaluation of his sexuality and emotional core that tipped more towards bisexuality or homosexuality. Maybe he found out about Carol and Clark’s affair, and that Clark wasn’t interested in also exploring Floyd’s newly untapped feelings. Would that be enough to do it? Not that it would explain where the poisoning comes into it, but still.

If DTF St. Louis somehow flips the story to make Carol 100% innocent through and through, the life insurance policy on my disbelief will kick in. Find out along with me and other viewers as new episodes hit HBO every Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. ET. If only we could get Jason Bateman’s Batman on the scene for his stellar detective skills.

Ok, I have a bone to pick with DTF St. Louis, the latest Jason Bateman-led show available with an HBO Max subscription (at least that's what it's called for now). I’ll admit, this bone is irrational, and I shouldn’t be as upset over it as much as I am, but I am. This is a show that is very obviously supposed to be set in St. Louis, my hometown. They even stuck the name of the historic city in the title, to make it very clear.

Why, then, are they getting basically everything wrong about the city? Have the writers and producers ever even set foot in St. Louis, or did they simply Google “things about St. Louis” and then completely ignore whatever they learned? They get a lot wrong, but one thing is driving me the most nuts: the geography.

The Geography Is Just All Wrong

The fictional suburb where Clark (Bateman) and his friends and family live is called “Twyla.” There is no suburb of St. Louis with that name, but that isn’t the problem. The problem is where Twyla is supposed to be, and what that means for Clark’s choice for his commute to work. Towards the end of the first episode, a weather map highlights where Twyla is, and it looks to be roughly in the area of western St. Charles County, on the outer edge of St. Louis’ exurbs, around the towns of Wentzville and Lake St. Louis.

That in and of itself is actually reasonable. Plenty of people live out there and commute to downtown St. Louis for work, as Clark does to get to his job at the TV station where he is the weatherman. What isn’t reasonable is that Clark seemingly rides his recumbent bike to work most mornings. Wentzville is roughly 50 miles from the heart of downtown St. Louis. According to a quick check on Google Maps, it’s about a 4-hour and 45-minute bike ride. Call me crazy, but even putting aside how tiring 100 miles of back-and-forth would be every day, nine-ish hours of commuting every day is just silly.

I Don’t Expect It To Be A ‘Love Letter’ To My Town

Let me be clear: I don’t need the show to throw in a bunch of easter eggs. I don’t care if they never eat toasted ravioli or get a roast beef sandwich from Lion’s Choice. I don’t care if none of the characters ask, “What high school did you go to?” at a barbecue (a local trope that St. Louisans love to poke fun at themselves over). No, what is making me, albeit irrationally, mad, is that they get so much wrong about the city.

I can forgive a lot of stuff if they were one-offs, even if it completely distracts me from the show. The show was filmed in Georgia, so the topography looks nothing like St. Louis, but that doesn’t bother me. No one calls a tornado a “cyclone,” as Clark repeatedly does in the show. Like, no one ever says that, ever, but fine, it’s not technically incorrect. They managed to shoot B-roll in Chicago, but couldn’t even get B-roll of Busch Stadium for the second episode? It's annoying, but hardly a deal breaker.

None Of This Is Critical To The Plot, So Why Not Get It Correct?

However, things start to add up. For instance, I think there is one Jamba Juice in St. Louis, and it’s way out in a mall in the ‘burbs. Carol (Linda Cardellini) works at Purina. Okay, that makes sense, but she says her office is on Central St. There is no Central St. in downtown St. Louis. Carol later explains that her husband, Floyd (David Harbour), is going “down state” for the weekend. That’s not a term that is ever used in St. Louis or Missouri.

None of these factors into the plot of the murder mystery. If Clark and Floyd lived a little closer to downtown, it wouldn't affect anything. If they get a street name correct (Purina is Chouteau Ave), it doesn't change where it is. The Jamba Juice thing is whatever, but maybe that's when you could slip in a local easter egg, like getting a coffee at a local spot like Kaldi's instead of a smoothie at a national chain. Why not just take the extra 30 seconds to get the little facts right?

All Of This Is Fixable

There are other things that I’ve noticed, but in the interest of not making this list 100 items long, I’ll just finish by saying, all of this is easy to double-check with a one-minute Google search. I get that the writers want to set this show in “Anytown, USA,” but if you’re going to put the name of a city in the name of the show, you should at least try to be true to that city. Otherwise, just call it DTF Twyla or something.

DTF St. Louis is a good show. It’s uncomfortable (in a good way), and the mystery it has set up is interesting. It’s hard to gauge the motivations of the characters, and it keeps the viewer guessing. The acting performances are fantastic, especially from Harbour and Cardellini. The show has some really dark humor that I really dig. There’s a lot to praise about the show. That’s exactly why I have to nitpick all these mistakes about St. Louis.

Why Put The Name Of The City In The Title Of The Show?

For me, if you’re going to put the name of the city in the name of the show, the city has to be a character in the show. Imagine Fargo without the accents. Or WKRP in Cincinnati with call letters that set it west of the Mississippi. Sometimes the little things make a difference. In DTF St. Louis, those things add up.

I get that the show wasn’t filmed in the Gateway City, and I get that compromises and changes are necessary, but come on, no one could take a quick second to double-check how far Clark would need to ride his bike to get to work every morning? I’m not expecting something on the level of the way The Wire injects Baltimore into the DNA of the show, but at least get what you do try to make local correct.

DTF St. Louis is a great addition to the 2026 TV schedule, and I’ll be tuning in every week. However, I’ll probably still wince at the things, little and big, that the show gets wrong about the city it’s set in.

In late 2024, Conan O'Brien experienced a tremendous loss. Within the span of just three days, the beloved comedian lost both of his parents. Most can only imagine the pain and heartache that one must go through when experiencing something like that – but fortunately for O'Brien, he has some really wonderful friends in his life who knew how to help him deal with his grief: by keeping a bit going suggesting that Jason Bateman was a serial killer hunting down members of his family.

This dark but absolutely hilarious story has been shared by Will Arnett, who was a guest this week on the podcast Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend. Arnett, who now co-hosts the SmartLess podcast with Bateman, began by explaining that he texted O'Brien a day or so after learning that his father had passed, and he expressed his condolences. Never able to totally turn off his comedic instincts, the legendary former late night host had a special response, which Arnett read verbatim:

Recognizing the start of a bit when he saw one, Arnett offered a "yes, and..." by replying, "It's not a terrible theory." And then Conan O'Brien got a little bit more blunt with his accusation. The Arrested Development star recalls his next response: "He killed my dad."

It was at this point that Jason Bateman actually got looped into the conversation. After learning about what Arnett said, he texted O'Brien the next day, writing, "Arnett tells me that you're on to me"... and it didn't slow O'Brien down in the slightest. He responded (per Arnett),

At this point, Conan O'Brien had only lost his father, and it's rather amazing how his sense of humor helped him get through what was surely a dark time. And as you've surely guessed, that didn't stop when things got even darker with the death of his mother – and Will Arnett gave him some great help in that department.

When he learned that his friend's mother had died, Arnett sent O'Brien another message, and along with the response, it's certainly among the best text message exchanges in history:

What can be said? Leave it to some of the funniest people on the planet to generate guffaw-worthy jokes at a time of incredible sadness. We should all be so lucky as to have friendships like these in our lives at our darkest moments.

For some time, Zootopia 2 was on the schedule of upcoming Disney movies but, now, it's finally arrived! The sequel has seemingly been making an impression on moviegoers, and it's a foregone conclusion that many families are enjoying the new animated movie this weekend. However, what does co-lead Jason Bateman’s family think about it? Well, the voice actor behind Nick Wilde shared his kids’ genuine reactions to seeing it, and they're quite sweet.

Jason Bateman has two daughters with his wife Amanda Anka -- 19-year-old Francesca and 13-year-old Maple. Apparently, they're not always the easiest to impress by the sound of it. Bateman spoke to Heart Radio (as shared on TikTok) and revealed what his kids had to say about the Zootopia sequel:

When the first movie was coming out, Francesca would have been 10, while Maple would've been four. So the now-teen-aged kids were kind of the perfect age for their dad to be the star of a Walt Disney Animation movie. Almost a decade later, Bateman said they are much more “critical” of his work, but they were pleasantly surprised by Zootopia 2.

Their thoughts aren’t far off from the general reactions to Disney's latest sequel so far. CinemaBlend’s Zootopia 2 review awarded the movie a 4 out of 5 stars, and other critics have mostly been positive as well. As of this writing, on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has a 91 percent from over one-hundred reviews and a 95 percent from audiences. The film also has an “A” grade on CinemaScore.

It's so sweet that Jason Bateman's kids genuinely enjoyed the movie, considering their feelings can very. As for how his kids feel about watching his work, Bateman also said:

I can imagine how odd it would be for one or both of a person's parents to be famous actors all over big screens and TVs. Also, in the case of Jason Bateman, most of his work isn’t really kid-friendly. So I'd imagine he's pleased that the Disney-produced sequel really impressed his kids with all its “different layers." Actors have said that their kids can be amongst their toughest critics, so kudos to Bateman for clearing that bar.

Zootopia 2 sees Jason Bateman’s Nick Wilde is getting used to his new buddy cop dynamic with Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) after officially being joining the ZPD. Their bond is tested, however, when they get drawn into a major mystery with ties to the history of the titular city. Most notably, Ke Huy Quan plays a pit viper named Gary D’Snake who becomes the gateway to Nick and Judy learning why reptiles don’t live in Zootopia.

In short, this Disney film can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages, and that's typically an attribute of the best films to come out of the House of Mouse. What I'm wondering now is if Jason Bateman's kids will feel the same several years from now should a third movie actually happen as suggested by that post-credits scene.

We'lll have to wait and see on that front. But, until then, check out Zootopia 2 in theaters now, and stream the original 2016 movie using a Disney+ subscription.

Back in 2016, Disney introduced us to rabbit police officer Judy Hopps and the sly con artist fox Nick Wilde in Zootopia. The animated buddy cop movie was a hit — it even won an Oscar — and nearly a decade later, the unlikely partners are back, with the sequel Zootopia 2 hitting the 2025 movie calendar just in time for Thanksgiving. Critics were able to screen the new kids movie ahead of its release to help you decide if it’s worth carving time out of your holiday weekend for.

Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman have returned as the leading duo, along with several others who previously voiced the titular city’s residents. Some big names have also joined the world, including Ke Huy Quan as Gary De'Snake, a viper who Nick and Judy are investigating. In the CinemaBlend review of Zootopia 2, Dirk Libbey says the sequel is bigger and better in every way, providing a simple but fun story. He gives it 4 out of 5 stars, writing:

Nell Minow of RogerEbert.com rates Zootopia 2 a perfect 4 out of 4 stars, saying that Disney magic radiates from every texture and movement, and the brilliant details and visual easter eggs will warrant repeat viewings. The critic continues:

Frank Scheck of THR agrees with other critics in saying you’ll have to watch this sequel more than once to appreciate all of the details woven into this world. The movie is one hysterical gag after another featuring its delightful animal characters. Scheck says:

Clint Gage of IGN rates Zootopia 2 a “Great” 8 out of 10 for its gorgeous animation, great pacing and animal puns. It also brought out a range of emotions in his children. The critic concludes:

Jake Coyle of the AP gives the movie 2.5 out of 4 stars, bluntly saying that the sequel does not reach the heights of the original and calling it “more timid and tame.” It leans possibly too much on the chemistry between Judy and Nick, but that will definitely be enough to entertain families this holiday weekend and beyond. In the critic’s words:

The consensus amongst critics is mostly positive, as they declare Zootopia 2 worth the nearly decade-long wait — while expressing hope that the next offering in the franchise doesn’t take as long. The movie currently holds a 92% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and is in theaters now.

Bloopers are inevitable when it comes to live television, and Saturday Night Live's gaffes can almost be funnier than the actual sketches when the seasoned cast members can't help but crack up. That's as true as ever in the 2025 TV schedule, but Amy Poehler reflected on an episode with Jason Bateman that had her screaming in fear rather than breaking into laughter on camera. Her story just backs up Bateman's story about his chimpanzee struggles on the series, and both accounts suggest that the situation could have gone much, much, much worse.

Amy Poehler welcomed Ariana Grande to the Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast, and the Wicked: For Good star asked about a memorable blooper from Poehler's SNL days. The Parks and Rec vet went all the way back to a sketch called "Monkeys Throwing Poop At Celebrities" in Season 30 in 2005 for her choice, and it really seems more traumatic than silly even 20 years later. She shared:

If "Monkeys Throwing Poop At Celebrities" featured smaller monkeys, the story might have seemed like a laugh rather than a terrifying memory. If you know anything about chimpanzees (or watched Chimp Crazy on HBO), you've likely heard the stories of chimps viciously attacking humans who believed that they were domesticated and safe to be around.

Luckily, that wasn't the case with the primate that came to SNL, and the sketch wasn't such an on-screen disaster that viewers could tell that Amy Poehler got a scare. Take a look below, or stream the full episode with a Peacock subscription:

The camera cut away before any screaming could be heard, and perhaps the fast pace of filming SNL means that there wasn't time for Poehler to fully react to what happened. She was actually only briefly in the sketch, impersonating Sharon Stone while Seth Meyers was playing Carrot Top and Kenan Thompson was playing Bill Cosby. (Let me reiterate here that it was 2005.) Jason Bateman played the host, Darrell Hammond reprised his role as SNL's Celebrity Jeopardy version of Sean Connery, and Will Forte was the chimpanzee handler.

But according to Bateman in his 2020 monologue when he returned to SNL for the first time since that fateful episode, his incident with the chimp didn't happen until the credits were already rolling. Reflecting on when he got much more than he bargained for when he hosted during his Arrested Development days, Bateman shared:

Bateman went on to recount that he'd gotten an apology from the chimp, then joked that "the monkey was destroyed later than night" and it was his "choice." While it's a safe bet that the monkey actor was not in fact destroyed after his time on the 30 Rock stage, it is probably the last time any writers got a pitch approved that would require a live chimpanzee.

If you take a look at the monologue, from a distance it initially doesn't look like the animal did all that much, and the goodbyes carried on. But Rachel Dratch's reaction at around the 2:30 mark in the below clip is a giveaway of how scary it really was, no matter how composed Bateman was able to stay. Check it out:

If you want to revisit Jason Bateman's appearances on Saturday Night Live, you can find the Season 30 and Season 46 episodes streaming on Peacock. The chimpanzee story proves that Amy Poehler and Bateman have much more in common than just sharing the SNL stage for his monologue and Poehler guest-starring on Arrested Development, and it's just a good thing that their stories didn't have much more gruesome endings.

These days, Jason Bateman isn’t only the funny guy. In fact, he’s become quite well known for his more serious roles and work behind the scenes on projects like Ozark. Now, he’s adding to that library of dramatic and behind-the-scenes work with the new show on Netflix’s 2025 TV schedule, Black Rabbit. So, I asked one of the show’s other directors, Ben Semanoff, what it’s like working with the actor in front of and behind the camera, and he told me why it’s kind of like marriage counseling in the best way.

Ozark ended back in 2022. Bateman directed nine episodes of the beloved series, and now, he’s making his return to both directing and acting on television with Black Rabbit – which you can stream with a Netflix subscription. He directed the first two episodes and starred in all eight, meaning he collaborated with three other directors on the project. This included Ben Semanoff, who spoke to CinemaBlend about the show and his relationship with the actor, director and executive producer.

Since the Arrested Development star wears so many hats, he’s never just in actor or director mode. Semanoff told me that that’s a good thing too. So, when they collaborate together, they’re able to have deep, constructive and impactful conversations…like marriage counseling, as he explained:

Much like Ozark, Bateman is doing a lot of heavy lifting on this new streaming show, Black Rabbit, both on screen and off. Also, to add another connective thread, Semanoff directed some of Ozark, so he already had a working relationship with the actor/director going into this new thrilling series.

To that point, he illustrated how their conversations went on set, and it really kind of does feel like therapy. It seems like these two were able to have an open, honest and constructive dialogue that led to the best choices for the show, as Semanoff explained:

Truly, Black Rabbit is an incredible series. It’s a dark and gritty tale about two brothers, named Jake and Vince, who are played by Jude Law and Jason Bateman, respectively, and what happens when Vince returns home and brings some major trouble with him.

The episodes Semanoff directed, 5 and 6, are arguably the most intense and climactic installments in the show. They feature major falling outs, a huge shootout, and an episode that’s formatted in chapters, which is unlike any other episode in the show.

When I asked the director about a memorable marriage-counseling-like moment between him and Bateman during his episodes, he chose a scene in Episode 6 that involved Don Harvey’s character, Matt, as Vince barged into his apartment wearing only underwear. It involves a lot of movement through rooms, and Semanoff told me that this created a challenge as they were filming that required them to change things a bit. He explained:

Comparing this collaboration to marriage counseling is such a thoughtful way to put it. In this job, these creatives have to have tough conversations and fearlessly speak their minds. By doing that, and taking constructive feedback in, it helps create a better product.

I mean, there’s a reason Ozark was so hyped up, and I wouldn’t be shocked if that’s in part thanks to this collaboration between Bateman and the other directors, like Semanoff, on the show. Now, it seems that it has transferred over to Black Rabbit, too, which you can stream in full on Netflix.

There’s already plenty of great stuff to watch on streaming every week. Whether you’re into Only Murders in the Building or The Great British Baking Show, each week offers something new that must not be missed. But the streaming platforms seem to think we can’t have too much of a good thing, as there’s plenty more debuting this week.

Futurama, Season 13 - September 15 (Hulu)

Futurama is simply the show that will not die. Having been cancelled and resurrected multiple times, on multiple networks. This time, you need a Hulu subscription to watch the further adventures of Fry, Leela, and the rest. At least one more season will also happen, set to arrive next year.

Elio - September 17 (Disney+)

Pixar was once unstoppable when it came to its films. It introduced countless new characters over dozens of films, with many of them becoming successful franchises. Of late, Pixar’s original stories have struggled at the box office, and Elio, the story of a boy looking for a home in another world, is just the latest to not draw an audience. That said, the movie is quite good, and if you have a Disney+ subscription, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Gen V, Season 2 - September 17 (Prime Video)

The Boys and its various spinoffs have become one of the best reasons to get and keep a Prime Video subscription. While the main show is heading toward its final season, the college spinoff Gen V enters its second season this week. It will be our first look at how the fallout from The Boys impacted these characters, and we can expect all the mature superhero action the franchise has continued to provide.

The Morning Show, Season 4 - September 17 (Apple TV+)

One of Apple TV+’s early original series, The Morning Show, returns for Season 4 this week. Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston are back alongside a host of returning and new characters. Fans who have been waiting to see what happens next with the network TV drama will want to have their Apple TV+ subscription ready to go.

Black Rabbit September 18 (Netflix)

Jude Law and Jason Bateman were a pairing I wasn’t necessarily expecting, but at first glance, Black Rabbit looks like it might have a lot to offer and be the best reason to have a Netflix subscription this week. Bateman plays a down-on-his-luck guy who is in deep with organized crime. He turns to his brother, a successful restaurateur, played by Law, for help, and ends up drawing him into the criminal underworld too.

Tulsa King, Season 3 - September 21 (Paramount+)

Tulsa King, with Sylvester Stallone, was one of the earliest hits among those with a Paramount+ subscription, and now the series is getting ready to enter its third season. While we certainly don’t know everything that’s set to happen in the new season, one thing we do know is that it will introduce us to a new character, played by Samuel L. Jackson, setting up his own spinoff series, NOLA King.

If you’re waiting for Slow Horses or Marvel Zombies, you won’t have to wait too much longer./ September is almost over, and both shows will arrive before the month is out.

When The Morning Show Season 4 hits the 2025 TV schedule on September 17, we’re likely to see Jennifer Aniston’s Alex in a world of soapy drama, chaos and all the stress that comes with running a news organization. The actress’ real life, however, couldn’t appear more different. Aniston shared photos from her summer adventures, which featured a lot of friends, dogs and the soft launch of her new boyfriend.

Jennifer Aniston’s photo dumps are always full of love, laughter and recognizable faces. Her latest post is no different, as she thanks summer for serving as the backdrop for fun times with buddies like Courteney Cox, Jason Bateman, Adam Sandler, Sandra Bullock and more, including her partner Jim Curtis. Check it out below:

The Friends star’s latest post hit all the notes we’ve come to expect — vacations with Jason Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka, proof that she and Courteney Cox are bestie goals, a glimpse at her workouts (or, in this case, the aftermath of what looks like a particularly grueling one), and plenty of snuggly dogs — but fans were quick to notice a little something extra on the end.

The 17th slide shows the back of a man’s head watching the sunset on a beach. Fans were quick to call out the soft launch of her alleged relationship with Jim Curtis, who she’s reportedly been connected to since May. Comments included:

• You think we wouldn't notice photo number 17??? ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ – andrea_portugaldeveza
• Oh hello 17 pic ❤️❤️❤️ – jenanistonworld
• The soft launch 👀 – _nicoledavidson_
• We all have been waiting for this post 🙌🥰 – jenanistonbulgaria
• Who's in the 17th pic 🤔 – raman.neel
• 17! Rachel is it your Ross 🤍😍🙌🔥 – mariposa_delicada28

The new couple was reportedly introduced by mutual friends earlier this summer and have been quietly hanging out for the past few months. They’ve seemingly gotten closer to going public, though, as Jennifer Aniston and Jim Curtis have been on two double dates in the past few weeks, per People — one with Courteney Cox and her longtime partner Johnny McDaid and another with Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka.

It’s always fun to see which celebrities pop up in Jennifer Aniston’s Instagram photo dumps, and would the summer really be complete without a reunion between her and The Sandman? Or dinners with Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes? We’ll also never get tired of seeing her reunite with her Friends co-star Courteney Cox, even 20 years after one of the best sitcoms of all time ended (but can still be streamed with an HBO Max subscription).

Jennifer Aniston has made it clear that no one has the right to know about her personal life, but that won't stop us from hoping that maybe she'll choose to let us in a little and show us more of Jim Curtis (next time, maybe we can see his face).

While we wait to see if a hard-launch is in the cards, we’ll definitely be catching up with Alex Levy and her decidedly less care-free life on The Morning Show, whose fourth season premieres Wednesday, September 17, available to stream with an Apple TV+ subscription.

As one of the biggest superstars on the planet, Jennifer Aniston was long ago able to avoid taking jobs just for the money, which has allowed for more authority over which projects she chooses. She’ll next be seen in the Apple TV+’s The Morning Show Season 4, which will hit the 2025 premiere schedule in September, and when it comes to her big-screen future, the Emmy-winning actress apparently wouldn’t balk at returning to one of her lewdest and crudest movie characters. Cue the cash register noises.

While many Friends fans will forever hold out hope for the surviving actors to reprise their breakout roles, Aniston wasn’t in a Rachel Green kind of headspace when asked by People which past projects she would potentially return to if the opportunity came up. Rather, she perhaps surprisingly brought up the Horrible Bosses films as an answer, saying:

I'm not sure what project I'd have thought she would have said instead of Horrible Bosses, but I am fully down to see Aniston return to the screen as the unabashedly perverted dentist Dr. Julia Harris, albeit with the caveat that she's less of a serial sexual harrasser and more into fully consensual kinks. A floss-themed BDSM dungeon? That's what I'm talking about. And it would appear I'm the only one, so let's move on.

Jennifer Aniston explained why she thinks a new Horrible Bosses movie would be a good idea 11 years after the less-than-beloved sequel was released, saying:

I think if another Horrible Bosses movie happens, the studio needs to either get co-writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein back to help with scripting, or the studio needs to find two writers who are as close to Daley and Goldstein as possible. Their absence in the second film wasn't the only issue, but it didn't help, even if having Julia attend meetings for sexual addiction seemed like a progressive step.

I'm with the actress in thinking that comedy is always needed, especially when it comes to theatrical releases. With Charlie Day nearing a small-screen return in It's Always Sunny's seventeenth season, it's as good a time as any for the actor to mix it up with a different gang of doofuses.

I’d love to see a reunion-based sequel to the star-studded 1990 TV movie Camp Cucamonga, in which Aniston co-starred with Candace Cameron Bure, Danica McKellar, John Ratzenberger and many more. But I guess Hollywood execs would probably want to veer towards the movies that were actually geared to make money at the box office.

Everyone with an Apple TV+ subscription should make a note to catch The Morning Show Season 4’s premiere on Wednesday, September 17, with new episodes streaming weekly thereafter.

While the podcasting market continues to expand, with everyone and their mom seeming to have one, there truly are some gems on the airwaves. Regardless of your familiarity and regularity in dabbling, where does one start? As someone who dabbles in a few series and loves a good pop culture injection of any form, a celebrity-hosted show can offer a lot! These stars’ pods cover plenty of ground from BTS on favorite sets to politics to emotionally forward conversations. If you’re lost, in a rut or just looking for another stellar title to add to your audio arsenal, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in!

Oprah’s Super Soul - Oprah Winfrey

We know her, we love her, and the dynamic Oprah Winfrey continues to evolve and push interviewing bounds. Super Soul is more or less an adaptation of her inspiration and often a spiritual talk show that ran through the early 2020s. Be prepared to hear some deep conversations if you aren’t already, though we all know it tends to come with the unmistakable Hollywood giant.

Literally! With Rob Lowe - Rob Lowe

The 61-year-old Hollywood vet has wide-ranging conversations with plenty of well-known professionals. Whether it's well-established or rising stars in movies and TV, music or sports, Lowe jumps right in with them. And as a member of The Brat Pack, the pull he has with landing guests is pretty impressive and diverse.

Renegades: Born In The USA - Barak Obama, Bruce Springsteen

Though it only ran for one season and has 8 episodes to its name, the former president and The Boss’ collab rocked. Their conversations consisted of the changing dynamics of the USA through the lens of music, personal happenings, fatherhood and future revitalization. They also share their backstory on how the friendship and pod came to be.

Goop - Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow and Goop’s virality continues to regularly break the internet (especially those body-forward scented candles). But the Hollywood A-lister and her empire went to new heights with the addition of their own podcast, which she hosts. Naturally, it dives in holistically to grander topics with today’s ‘brightest thinkers and culture changers’ to dissect the conversation at hand.

Wiser Than Me - Julia Louis-Dreyfus

As always, when Louis-Dreyfus commits to a project, she knocks a role out of the park. One of her most recent titles as host of Wiser Than Me is no different; her interviewing women who are expert veterans in their given career is a true delight. She’s had everyone from Jane Goodall to Jane Fonda, and she’s just getting going.

Good Hang - Amy Poehler

Don’t overlook the Parks & Rec star’s Good Hang, even though it may be one of the newest entries on the list. Poehler’s sunshine bright vibes radiate through the show while she chats with A-list Hollywood names. But the most signature part shines through when she has a mini cameo from a friend of the guest who praises them ahead of the main convo. (If you haven’t seen or know where the viral clip of Rachel Dratch fumbling with headphones on a Zoom, now you do.)

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend - Conan O’Brien

In the comedian’s corner of the interview world, you can certainly expect his signature smart silliness he has brought to the masses over the decades. But why did he jump into the world? As the title implies, and per his summary, O’Brien realized after years of interviewing celebs, ‘the only people at his holiday party are the men and women who work for him,’ and wanted to change that.

Fly On The Wall - David Spade, Dana Carvey

While not an outright Saturday Night Live podcast, two huge alums, Spade and Carvey, lead this industry-leaning show. The pair has their fair share of guests and covers plenty of Studio 8H lore depending on who’s with them that week. Beyond the sketch show conversations, they often jump into current pop culture, current events and even fan-submitted fare.

Bill Gates And Rashida Jones Ask Big Questions - Bill Gates, Rashida Jones

Gates and Jones came together at the beginning of the pandemic in search of musing about some big questions. Though there are only five episodes, nothing seems off the table, from climate change to the psychology behind lying. But the unexpected co-hosts tackle these larger sociological and worldly topics with intentionality and ease.

The Big Podcast With Shaq - Shaquille O'Neal

The dynamic retired basketball player continues to surprise us with his plays (he just confirmed he was a Swiftie on the Kelces’ pod), and did just that when he kicked off his new podcast network by way of his own. Aptly named, Shaq and co-host Adam Lefkoe, of course, talk sports among themselves and alongside guests, but also hit a range of topics.

Minnie Questions - Minnie Driver

The Good Will Hunting actress’ offering sets up each interview through seven thoughtful questions. Though each question is relatively simple, it’s proven time and again that it unearths quite a conversation. Her therapy session meets fireside chat structure stands apart from other celebrity podcasts since its intention dives into a soulful exploration of life’s questions.

All There Is With Anderson Cooper - Anderson Cooper

While plenty of entries on the list cover an array of subjects from casual conversations, behind-the-scenes Hollywood magic and love and relationships, Cooper dives into loss (which he’s experienced multiple times over since childhood). What started as the beloved CNN news anchor processing the passing of his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, and the ins and outs that go along with it, has blossomed into something much more. He’s built a safe ground for guests and listeners alike to reflect and process the big topic.

Red Table Talk - Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Norris

The multi-generational, familial women-hosted show has gone viral a few times over since its inception on Facebook. Nothing, as we’ve seen, is off limits in this conversational style show and doesn’t shy away when things get nitty gritty. Though the OG got the axe in 2023, it got going again with no ties to Facebook, and its episode catalog continues to rank with some of the best Hollywood fodder out there today.

The Weekly Show With Jon Stewart - Jon Stewart

The beloved TV host has a podcast that pairs with his regularly scheduled show. The Weekly Show offers a more expansive look into our ever-developing world with notable minds in essential roles across the professional field. If you’re looking for even more Stewart material, he had a short-lived but excellent 2 season show called The Problem with Jon Stewart that dove into topics that were ‘too big for TV.’ With either, you can count on a laugh paired with some big, thought-provoking discussions.

SmartLess - Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Sean Hayes

SmartLess is like an improv dinner party you weren’t invited to, but somehow snuck into. Each episode brings a surprise guest to the table, and with it comes comedy, curiosity, and the kind of bromantic chaos that three A-listers with zero filters can deliver. It’s part talk show, part therapy session, and all charm—who would’ve guessed the vibe would be achieved by the Michael and Gob Bluth actors with a dash of the Jack McFarland actor.

Armchair Expert - Dax Shepard

Maybe one of the most recognizable and longstanding on the list, Shepard started his series in 2018. Though the premise is relatively simple in terms of chatting with well-known faces, things can go deep quickly. The CHiPs alum has had ex-costars like Lauren Graham, incidentally spill about Parenthood peer, Mae Whitman’s baby daddy, and Oscar-nominated stars like Michelle Williams reflect about her late ex-partner, Heath Ledger. Needless to say, there’s a lot to work with here (and a 300+ episode backlog to sift through).

Office Ladies - Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer

Of course, there was bound to be at least one rewatch pod in the bunch, and with The Office ranking as one of the best sitcoms ever, it’s a natural pick to include. Kinsey (who played Angela Martin/Lipton/Schrute) and Fischer (who played Pam Beesly Halpert) recount excellent tidbits and memories as they rewatch the NBC classic while hosting Dunder Mifflin cast and crew members.

Life Is Short - Justin Long

First and foremost, I’ve got to give the Jeepers Creepers actor’s name for his show is A+ play on words (specifically short and long). But, behind the small chuckle the title of the pod offers is a surprisingly poignant base for Long and his brother, who co-hosts the show. The siblings jump in the deep end with their guests and discuss all there is about life, which includes everything from emojis to their perspective on life.

LeVar Burton Reads - LeVar Burton

Fiction lovers and previous PBS Kids unite! The beloved Reading Rainbow star’s pod is a modern-day take on the classic 26-year run show, but now catered toward adults. Short form stories are the main genre he dives into each week, and the whole thing feels just like a little bit of a time machine, for those who tuned in regularly to RR.

New Heights - Jason, Travis Kelce

No, I’m not talking about their mom, Donna Kelce, landing a spot on S4 of The Traitors US, but it’s worth mentioning. The NFL family show is full of BTS looks into being brothers while also playing football professionally. They also often go out of bounds of the shared ground and discuss everything from pop culture to UFOs.

The High Life - Ricki Lake

The former television host is getting back to her roots with The High Life. And while she still has plenty of Tinseltown names as guests, the focus with her offering is health and wellness. Nothing is off the table within the larger landscape; she hits everything from menopause to energy healing.

Las Culturistas - Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers

In case you’d like to know, this is my ride or die pick of the list. The college besties-turned-Hollywood-darling co-hosts have amassed a cult turned mainstream following thanks to culture catch-ups, regular bits they have A-list guests participate in (what sparked their interest in culture and their wry ‘I Don’t Think So Honey!’ critique of something) and their own award show. Clearly, I could go on about it, but if you need more proof, Tina Fey’s iconic advice to Yang speaks to why we, ‘readers, kayteighs, publicists, finalists and kyles,’ love it all.

WTF With Marc Maron - Marc Maron

The rough around the edges comedian and actor’s podcast is one of the most well-known celebrity series. As a blueprint of public figures' iterations to come, Maron got started in 2009 after his radio show got canned. In the decade-plus he’s been at it, he hosted writers, directors, comedians, actors and many more in the typical style that is commonplace today. But, heads up, he just announced his show will end this fall, so don’t miss out!

Podcrushed - Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, Sophie Ansari

The Gossip Girl alum’s shared show isn’t a far cry from the hit teen series fodder. They’ve just spun the clock a little further back to schoolyard drama and middle school crushes. Badgley, alongside Kavelin and Ansari, takes on listeners' stories, reads them and explores all the ins and outs of starting to grow up (and all the turmoil that tags along).

Broad Ideas - Rachel Bilson, Olivia Allen

While you may know of Bilson’s other pod, Beyond The O.C., involving ex-castmate Melinda Clarke, Broad Ideas includes her longtime bestie, Olivia Allen. The new duo essentially cover any ground two girlfriends would in any given conversation (mental health to ghosts are promised). But hosting a new guest to join in on the fun each week brings it to the next level.

The Mess Around With Hannah And Lamorne - Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone

If you know anything about where these two co-hosts met, you can probably guess this is a New Girl rewatch series. And if you know that, you probably know they played CeCe and Winston (Bishop), respectively, and the title comes from a bit that the characters shared. Also, plenty of past cast and crew come through to reminisce about all the shenanigans that went down in 4D.

Films To Be Buried With With Brett Goldstein - Brett Goldstein

Though he’s still relatively new to the scene, the Ted Lasso star is hitting it big (and is now on Shrinking). With that success, his unique corner of the recording studio has only found more success. And while the title of Goldstein’s show is pretty straightforward and self-explanatory, it has me hooked. I think it’s safe to say he’s just getting started.

At Your Service - Dua Lipa

While I haven’t actually listened to the singer and actress’ show, it may be the hidden gem on the list. Heading into her third season, she continues to host a slew of knockout guests, and her collection of candid conversations runs the gamut of interesting fare. Everything from psychedelics to running Apple.

Getting Better With Jonathan Van Ness - Jonathan Van Ness

Ever since being introduced as the current generation’s hair & grooming lead on Queer Eye, JVN has been stealing the show as they help build up others. By natural curiosity and the drive to learn, the Getting Better podcast helps them grow and build spaces to learn even more. The weekly episodic content comes in all shapes and sizes–from finance lessons to discourse on culture, they’ve got it covered.

Why Won’t You Date Me? - Nicole Byer

The Nailed It! host is also a pro-podcaster. If you go looking for Byer’s love and relationship pod, you may find quite a slew aside from the aforementioned one (Best Friends!, 90 Day Bae and Newcomers). But this humorously titled one is the most well-known and long-standing one, where she has everyone from friends and experts to an occasional ex or two dish all about dating and love.

Lovett Or Leave It - Jon Lovett

While Jon Lovett’s beginnings aren’t traditional Hollywood standards material, the comedian was a former speech writer for Barack Obama. From there, he and fellow Obama peers (Dan Pfeiffer, Tommy Vietor and Jon Favreau–not to be confused with the A-lister) then co-hosted Pod Save America. His newest show is a hybrid of political news mixed with fun, well-known guests, and a bit of shenanigans all tied into one, always providing a laugh.

The Bald And The Beautiful - Trixie Mattel And Katya Zamolodchikova

One of RuPaul’s Drag Race’s biggest winners, Trixie and ride or die fellow queen, Katya, have taken the world by storm together. After meeting on season 7, they quickly went on their way to make creative projects together, starting with their viral cult followed series, UNHhhh, to their aptly titled pod. It’s a lot of the same banter, just funneled into discussing pop culture and Tinseltown-leaning topics.

DC Comics fans are never at a loss for content concerning a curtained caped vigilante from Gotham City, and that includes two upcoming Batman movies: The Batman: Part II and The Brave and the Bold. But I don’t want to talk about those right now. Instead, I want to discuss how not only is Jason Bateman starring in a Batman-themed TV ad for State Farm Insurance, but Joker and other members of the superhero’s rogues gallery actually look really good.

I did not have a nearly two-minute-long State Farm ad delivering some solid Batman villain designs alongside the Ozark alum in a superhero costume on my bingo card going into today. And yet, here we are. But first, watch the commercial for yourself below, which sees Bateman playing Bate-Man, i.e. the superhero you don’t want around when these baddies are wreaking havoc in Gotham City.

I know this is all just meant for Jake from State Farm to plug the company that allows him to pay his bills every month, but once again, these are impressive versions of Joker, Two-Face, Riddler, Catwoman (played by SZA) and Poison Ivy that Bate-Man runs into. I especially want to highlight Joker and Two-Face. With a little polishing, I think these could work pretty well for the way these characters appear in the DC Universe franchise.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention that the guy voicing Batman sounds an awful lot like Will Arnett, who previously voiced the character in The LEGO Movie, The LEGO Batman Movie and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. But there’s an extra layer of hilarity if this is the case, as Bateman and Arnett host the Smartness podcast with Sean Hayes, and Batman tells Bate-Man in the add to go host a podcast instead of fight crime. However, the actor in the Batsuit doesn’t look like Arnett, so if that is the same voice as the man behind Netflix’s Bojack Horseman, this is just some dubbing on his part.

So what did we learn here today? Well, don’t call Bate-Man for anything remotely concerning stopping bad guys. And two, well, Batman evidently is cool with Jake from State Farm riding in the Batmobile with him. It makes me wonder if Bruce Wayne discreetly using State Farm to insure his spruced-up ride. Sure, the man’s a billionaire, but with all the damage that Batmobile endures, even he’d be foolish to pay for all those fixes straight out of pocket.

So that does it for the adventure of Bate-Man, but for those of you craving Batman’s return to the silver screen, you’ll have to wait until The Batman: Part II’s release on October 1, 2027. The Brave and the Bold’s release date is a long ways off from being set, though the Batman villain Clayface getting his own upcoming DC movie on September 11, 2026. Past Batman movies and TV shows can also be streamed with a Max subscription.

Many of us are patiently awaiting Jennifer Aniston’s return on The Morning Show Season 4, which is expected to hit the 2025 TV schedule later this year. In the meantime, though, the actress is satiating us with peeks into what her glamorous life has been like lately. While fans are gushing over how happy she looks amongst her puppies and celebrity friends, it’s the sweet photo of her and Courteney Cox that’s giving me life.

Production wrapped on the fourth season of The Morning Show — one of Apple TV+’s best series — in December, and Jennifer Aniston teased that filming was “so hard.” While that makes us excited to find out exactly what that means, it looks like life has been anything but hard with all these friends — furry and otherwise — around her. Check out Aniston’s post:

Quite a few celebs can be seen basking in the sun that is Jennifer Aniston. Sandra Bullock’s there, Jason Bateman and his wife, Bateman’s Smartless co-host Sean Hayes and his husband, Aniston’s longtime BFF Andrea Bendewald and a couple of cute, cute dogs are among those posing for selfies with the Friends star.

Jennifer Aniston looks extremely grateful in the final slide, where she bows her head to make a wish over her birthday cake on what I’m guessing was her 56th birthday celebration on February 11. Fans love how happy the actress appears to be in all of her pics, as they commented:

• Gorgeous girl!! ❤️ you’re glowing ☀️❤️🥰 – numberonefaniston
• I love you and I love this!!!! Seeing you happy makes me happy ❤️ –robertarhavena
• I’m so so so happy to see that you’re happy and healthy!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 – jennythecatt
• Happiness looks so good on you JA 🤍 – gabymarieee
• The way you are loved 💌 everyone wants to have jen ani close :’))) just a lot of love love! – annaisabellag

Even more celebrity friends dropped some love in the comments, including Josh Gad, Whitney Cummings and Jessica Capshaw, as Emmanuel Acho wondered:

That’s a fair question, because at 56 years old Jennifer Aniston is still STUNNING, basically 100% of the time. Of all the selfie love and friendly smiles, though, one photo stood out the most to me, and as a Friends fan, that is of course the pic of her and Courteney Cox.

These two actresses have been connected to each other since 1994 as Rachel Green and Monica Gellar, and to see them blowing kisses to each other over a Facetime call just warms my Millennial heart. The stars of one of the best sitcoms of all time regularly share love for one another and their other Friends co-stars on birthdays — particularly for Lisa Kudrow, as the trio refer to each other by the silliest nicknames.

To those of us who rewatch Friends on a more-than-regular basis, it means a lot anytime the castmates are seen together after all these years.

If you want to start your own Friends binge, all 10 seasons are available to stream with a Max subscription, and while we wait on The Morning Show to return, you can catch up on the first three seasons with your Apple TV+ subscription.

Considering how many child stars have walked away from Hollywood, it is always so inspiring to see an actor who started early and continues to act to this day. Of course, some of them would walk away from the spotlight or experience a bit of a career hiccup before making an impressive return, either with more acting roles or in a new medium altogether. See for yourself by taking a look at these former child actors who went on to impress us as adults.

Mayim Bialik

After hitting it big as the title character of the hit '90s sitcom Blossom, Mayim Bialik lived a normal life that included earning a neuroscience degree and starting a family. She made her major industry return by joining the Big Bang Theory cast as neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler, which led her to lead another sitcom called Call Me Kat and host Jeopardy! for a short time.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

After getting his start in movies like Angels in the Outfield and A River Runs Through It and playing an alien posing as a human teen on the great ‘90s TV show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joseph Gordon-Levitt never really went away from Hollywood. However, he did experience a moment of relative obscurity before roles in the likes of (500) Days of Summer, a few great Christopher Nolan movies, and his many collaborations with Rian Johnson put him on the A-List.

Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett made a grand impression in her youth with a recurring stint on Full House and as the title role of the acclaimed Black horror movie, 1997's Eve’s Bayou. Her career would take an astonishing turn toward A-list success in 2020 after her Emmy-nominated turn in HBO’s Lovecraft Country, which was followed by her role as Black Canary in DC’s Birds of Prey, her great performance in Amazon Prime’s The Burial, and more.

Jason Bateman

Following his debut appearance on Little House on the Prairie, his roles on sitcoms like Valerie (later called The Hogan Family after some major casting shake-ups), and his lead part in Teen Wolf Too made Jason Bateman an '80s heartthrob. Years later, playing Michael Bluth in the Arrested Development cast made him a comedy icon before his Emmy-nominated turn as Marty Byrde in Netflix's Ozark cast further proved his remarkable versatility.

Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer – who proved she was an acting powerhouse at 9 years old with her debut role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business before scoring her first lead role in 2006's Akeelah and the Bee – never needed a comeback moment because her notoriety never really stopped. However, it is clear that the multi-talented Emmy winner was never more popular before her scene-stealing performance in Jordan Peele’s 2022 alien invasion movie, Nope.

Josh Brolin

After making his acting debut at 17 in 1985's The Goonies cast, Josh Brolin rarely had another role quite as successful until, at 39, he was cast in 2007's instant classic Western movie, No Country for Old Men, as Llewellyn Moss. The son of James Brolin went on to receive an Oscar nomination for 2008's Milk, was cast as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first big bad, Thanos, and has given commanding performances in various other acclaimed films.

Drew Barrymore

Many forget that, years after 1982's E.T. the Extra-terrestrial made her a sensation at just 7 years old, Drew Barrymore had a few career shake-ups due to personal drama including addiction. Yet, her astonishing performance in the opening scene of 1996’s Scream brought her back to the A-List and earned her roles in blockbusters like Charlie's Angels and TV shows like Santa Clarita Diet before she found later success as a daytime talk show host.

Neil Patrick Harris

Playing the prodigious title role of Doogie Howser M.D. made Neil Patrick Harris a household name, at least for a while. His popularity would skyrocket, however, when he played Barney Stinson in the How I Met Your Mother cast, which opened up many avenues for the now multi-Emmy-winning performer, from working with David Fincher on Gone Girl to hosting award shows and taking the stage on Broadway.

Gaby Hoffman

Gaby Hoffman had an amazing run as a child actor in the late 1980s and early 1990s with roles in movies like Uncle Buck, Field of Dreams, Now and Then, and Sleepless in Seattle. After stepping away to focus on her education, she resurfaced as a sought-after talent with her Emmy-nominated starring role in the Amazon Prime original TV show, Transparent.

Ke Huy Quan

Following his iconic roles in classic '80s movies Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, as Short Round, and The Goonies, as Data, Ke Huy Quan’s role offers began to disappear. That would change decades later when he won an Academy Award for his uplifting performance in A24's acclaimed multiverse movie, 2022’s Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Anna Chlumsky

For years, Anna Chlumsky was best known for her heartbreaking performance as 11-year-old Vada in 1991's My Girl. Years later, she significantly increased her star power with her multi-Emmy-nominated role in the hit HBO series, Veep, as Amy Brookheimer.

Macaulay Culkin

One of the most essential examples of a “former child star” is Macaulay Culkin, who had Hollywood in the palm of his young hands after leading the original Home Alone cast as Kevin McCallister. He still acts from time to time, having shown up in the American Horror Story Season 10 cast or on HBO's The Righteous Gemstones, is in a power couple with Brenda Song, and finally received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.

Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci would continue to find notable acting roles beyond her star-making turn as Wednesday Addams in 1991's The Addams Family and 1993's Addams Family Values. However, starring in Showtime’s Yellowjackets cast did wonders for her modern notoriety before she revisited her breakout role with a fun part in Netflix’s Wednesday cast, opposite Jenna Ortega.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale owes his fame to starring in Steven Spielberg's 1987 period drama Empire of the Sun and the cult-favorite 1992 musical Newsies but his menacing turn in 2000's American Psycho earned him wide respect as an adult. However, leading Christopher Nolan's live-action Batman movies as Bruce Wayne made him one of the top actors of his generation, leading to his Oscar win for 2011’s The Fighter.

Danica McKellar

Danica McKellar embodied the ultimate girl next door when she was cast in the original Wonder Years as Winnie Cooper from 1988 to 1993. Much later in her career, she would acquire a much different fanbase when she became one of the most prolific stars on the Hallmark Channel with roles in movies like Christmas She Wrote and Swing into Romance.

Cole Sprouse

Cole Sprouse had already acted alongside his sibling, his identical twin brother Dylan, numerous times (such as in Big Daddy) before Disney Channel’s The Suite Life franchise made them teen idols. However, you could argue that Cole was never more popular after he joined the Riverdale cast as Jughead Jones.

Hilary Duff

There were few teen Disney Channel stars who became quite as iconic and as quickly as Hilary Duff after she starred in the title role of Lizzie McGuire. She would find later success in the scene-stealing supporting role of Kelsey Peters on TV Land’s Younger and as the lead protagonist of Hulu's short-lived but well-liked How I Met Your Mother spin-off, How I Met Your Father.

Josh Peck

Josh Peck first rose to fame on Nickelodeon by scoring major roles in kid-friendly comedies like The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh. He would later prove his worth as a versatile actor with more mature roles, such as on Fox's Grandfathered or in Christopher Nolan’s Best Picture Oscar winner, Oppenheimer.

Vincent Kartheiser

Vincent Kartheiser first made a name for himself by appearing in ‘90s teen movies like Alaska and Masterminds. However, he would find later and greater success after starring in AMC's Mad Men cast as Pete Campbell.

Kurt Russell

Following his feature debut in 1963’s It Happened at the World’s Fair alongside Elvis Presley, Kurt Russell continued to have success as the star of light and funny Disney movies like The Strongest Man in the World. In 1981, he reinvented himself as an action movie icon after playing Snake Plissken in John Carpenter’s Escape from New York, which led to plenty more awesome movie roles, such as R.J. MacReady in The Thing and Coach Herb Brooks in Miracle.

Kieran Culkin

Kieran Culkin was previously best known as Macaulay Culkin’s younger brother, who also showed up in the Home Alone movies and played Matty Banks in the Father of the Bride movies. However, he would become one of the more prolific Culkin siblings following his Emmy-winning turn in the Succession cast as Roman Roy and other widely acclaimed performances.

Johnny Galecki

For years, Johnny Galecki was best known for playing the third Rusty Griswold in 1989's National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and David Healy on Roseanne. He would later reprise the latter role on The Conners years after experiencing a career resurgence by playing Leonard Hofstadter on CBS' The Big Bang Theory.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Thomas Brodie-Sangster made an impressive feature film debut as Liam Neeson’s onscreen stepson in the 2003 rom-com, Love Actually. The British actor would later surprise audiences with his role as Jojen Reed in the Game of Thrones cast, leading to parts in the Maze Runner movies and Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams became a bonafide sitcom star by playing a young Chris Rock on Everybody Hates Chris, which led to more interesting roles, such as Lionel in the acclaimed 2014 indie comedy, Dear White People. However, his recurring role on the Walking Dead cast and multi-Emmy-nominated turn as Gregory Eddie on the Abbott Elementary cast earned him wide respect as an adult actor.

Alisan Porter

Alisan Porter only appeared in a handful of movies, including Ron Howard's Parenthood and John Hughes' Curly Sue in the title role, before she walked away from acting when she was still very young. She would later reinvent herself as a talented musician when she competed in and won the tenth season of NBC's hit singing competition show, The Voice.

Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson broke into the business when she joined the Growing Pains cast as the Severs' youngest child, Chrissy. She is best known these days as a prolific voice actor who has breathed life into iconic roles such as Gretchen on Recess and Ellie in the hit post-apocalyptic video game The Last of Us, which was adapted into an HBO series that she cameoed on.

Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy became one of the most promising young talents to break through on Nickelodeon, having been cast on iCarly as the charmingly bullish Sam Puckett. However, she became better known and even better respected years later for her acclaimed, revealing 2022 memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, which focuses on her life as a reluctant child actor.

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne began her career early in life – notably appearing on Pee-wee's Playhouse – and seemingly hit her peak in her late teens and early 20s with the American Pie movies and But I'm a Cheerleader before substance abuse caused her career to slow down. Years later, Emmy-nominated turns on TV shows like Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll (which she co-created), and Poker Face and a few acclaimed movie roles reignited her wonderfully versatile career.

Mara Wilson

Following her star-making roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and Matilda, Mara Wilson walked away from the spotlight soon after starring in Thomas and the Magic Railroad. She would later take up minor, infrequent parts after becoming better known for writing about her experiences as a top child actor.

Haley Joel Osment

Haley Joel Osment would never go on to play a role quite as iconic as young medium Cole Sear in, arguably, the best M. Night Shyamalan movie, The Sixth Sense (which earned him an Oscar nomination) at 11 years old. However, his work as an adult – such as recurring roles on hit series like Silicon Valley and The Boys and memorable parts in movies like Kevin Smith’s Tusk – has been nothing short of exciting.

Taylor Momsen

Taylor Momsen made a charming debut as Cindy Lou Who in 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas and, in her teens, made an impression on the Gossip Girl cast as Jenny Humphrey. She would later reinvent herself as the frontwoman of a successful rock group called The Pretty Reckless.

Lukas Haas

Following an acclaimed run as one of the most revered child actors of the 1980s for his roles in Witness and Lady in White, Lukas Haas went on to take progressively smaller roles as he grew up. However, much of the projects he has taken in his adulthood – including movies like Inception and Babylon and TV shows like The Righteous Gemstones and War of the Worlds – have been met with great receptions.

Carry-On is not only one of the best movies on Netflix right now, it’s been the No. 1 title on the streaming service for two weeks in a row. I caught the movie over the holidays with my family, and was pleasantly surprised with how fun and thrilling it was. Taron Egerton held up the edge-of-your-seat Christmas movie, Jason Bateman was believably creepy, and it was fun to yell at the TV on the couch with loved ones. Now, one TikTok has me seeing the movie in a whole new light.

As someone who has been to LAX to travel on many occasions, it had me fooled that they shot on location (even though they apparently shot at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport). Of course I noticed a number of dumb problems with the plot that just didn’t seem realistic, but hey, I don’t need all my movies to be grounded… especially when they concern planes. I was curious how people who actually work at the airport and on planes thought of the film, and I was not disappointed thanks to one flight attendant’s reaction.

One Flight Attendant's Reaction To Carry-On Is Actually Hilarious

One of my colleagues at CinemaBlend shared the funny way Carry-On reminded her of Toy Story 2, and another gave some much-deserved praise to one of the action scenes, but I found my favorite reaction to the Netflix hit. Check it:

When a flight attendant and her colleague decided to watch Carry-On with their Netflix subscription and some cocktails, their viewing didn’t disappoint. Her fellow FA literally had to pause the movie at one point to share how inaccurate one scene at the end of the movie is. During Carry-On’s finale, Jason Bateman’s “Traveler” struts to the back of the plane without getting stopped by anyone before lifting a carpet and going into the cargo hold below the plane.

Per the actual FA, he spends most of his flights in the exact spot the Traveler secretly sneaks off to, and there’s no way he’d be able to get past him so easily. They also confirm there’s no cargo hatch in the back galley of a 737, as the movie presents. The comments section only makes this TikTok better. Check out some other reactions from people who seem to work as FAs and at airports:

• “The cargo hold is NOT that big 😭” - @alex.mccabee
• “All FAs felt the same in this moment ahahaha” - @kimmysaucy
• “HAHAHA I’m dead. Waiting for the day someone comes to the galley trying to find the ‘compartment’ 😂” - @tharpytharp
• “I work on the ramp and said what the hell kind of basement they got in these planes.” - @tmulher6768

Don’t believe everything you see in the movies! The FAs in the comment section were prepping to get these questions on their next shifts, but I love that they are setting things straight immediately.

The TSA Has Also Shared Their Thoughts On The Accuracy Of Carry-On

Additionally, since much of Carry-On takes place at an airport security station, Jessica Mayle, a spokesperson for the TSA, told Newsweek that there are all sorts of inaccuracies with the Netflix movie, including TSA officers playing “Contraband Bingo,” or there being an option to opt out of scanner screenings. She said “all passengers must be screened” before going on a flight. She also said this about the movie’s situation:

I’d certainly hope so, and that’s definitely a relief! While Carry-On may be wildly inaccurate, I had a lot of fun watching its twisty plot unfold. Once you’ve seen it, check out what Taron Egerton had to say about a potential sequel.

Spoilers for Carry-On and Toy Story 2 are ahead!

I’m of the opinion that Toy Story 2 is the best Toy Story film and one of the best Pixar sequels, and I watched it so much as a kid on VHS that I know the movie beat-for-beat – and that includes the epic airport rescue. So, when I watched the new airport thriller on Netflix’s 2024 schedule, Carry-On, you bet your bottom dollar I was drawing parallels to the Disney flick as Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman fought over a bomb in luggage.

Now, I can’t stop thinking about these parallels, and let me tell you, once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it.

On the surface, other than some airport action, you likely wouldn’t think “Yes, Carry-On and Toy Story 2, those movies will be similar.” The Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman movie on the 2024 movie schedule is about a terrorist threat and a TSA agent trying to stop a bomb, while the Toy Story sequel is about a collector who is trying to sell Woody and the other toys from his collection (among other things).

However, when it comes down to the airport action, low-key, these two movies are almost identical in my mind.

First of all, both flicks feature cars frantically being driven onto a sidewalk so the person behind the wheel can bolt into the airport – albeit one is driven by toys and the other by a woman who works for the LAPD. Both films also have moments where one sketchy man is yelling at an airport employee to take care of their suitcase. Oh, also, there’s even a suitcase mixup in each movie, as Toy Story involves two green suitcases while Carry-On has one black suitcase being mistaken for another. And I haven’t even gotten to the biggest parallels yet!

In Toy Story 2 and Carry-On, the third acts rely on three action-packed luggage-centric moments that take place in the part of the airport where the suitcases get moved, on the tarmac and then in the cargo part of an airplane. So, let’s break these down…

Toy Story 2 is why I think so hard about how luggage gets to the plane, and Carry-On amplified that. While Buzz and co. chased suitcases around the conveyor belts in the animated movie, Egerton's Ethan similarly fled a bad guy working for Bateman's traveler, using conveyors and slides to escape him.

Then – at a later time – Egerton’s character realizes he can stop the bomb if he gets on the plane that’s about to take off and deactivates it, because he knows it’s not in an overhead bin, it’s in the cargo part. So, he (obviously if you’ve seen Toy Story 2) steals the vehicle they use on the tarmac to chase the plane down and jump on it. Do you know who else does that in a way? Woody.

Finally, the final action moments take place in planes that are in the process of taking off. While Toy Story 2’s is about Woody saving Jessie, who got stuck on the plane, Carry-On’s full final battle happens there, and it ends with Ethan putting Bateman's traveler in an air-locked container where he’s killed by his own nerve gas.

Also, did I mention that Jason Bateman’s character just kind of oozes the same energy as the Prospector? Because that’s definitely a parallel too.

Now, I’m sure this wasn’t really intentional. However, they are parallels nonetheless, and honestly, I love both movies more because of them! So, if you are looking to go see all this for yourself, you can stream Carry-On with a Netflix subscription and Toy Story 2 with a Disney+ subscription.

I cannot count how many times Scrubs has come up when discussing the best TV sitcoms of all time. Over the course of nine seasons (and two networks), the Zach Braff-led medical comedy introduced audiences to some of the most iconic and endearing small-screen characters of the past 25 years, as well as some legendary celebrity guests. With Academy Award winners, Star Wars alumni, and on-the-rise comedians, Sacred Heart Hospital was a hopping place when these 32 actors popped up on Scrubs.

Brendan Fraser

Though Brendan Fraser is best known for roles in movies like The Mummy, The Whale, and Encino Man, the Oscar winner played a small yet pivotal role as Ben Sullivan on Scrubs. Dr. Cox’s (John C. McGinley) brother-in-law, Ben was at the center of several of the best episodes of Scrubs as well as one of the most emotional TV moments of all time. Seriously, Ben is one of the best characters to ever appear on the show, which is saying a lot.

Michael J. Fox

One of several Spin City cast members to show up on Scrubs, Michael J. Fox appeared in a pair of episodes during the show’s third season. Taking on the role of Dr. Kevin Casey, a confident and talented doctor and surgeon dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Ryan Reynolds

Before he was leading some of the best Marvel movies and showing up in great romantic comedies, Ryan Reynolds had a one-off appearance on Scrubs. Showing up in the show’s second season, Reynolds played Spence, J.D. (Zach Braff) and Turk’s (Donald Faison) college friend who comes to visit while in town for a wedding.

Courteney Cox

A few years after Friends came to an end and a few months before Cougar Town premiered, Courteney Cox had a brief fun on Scrubs. During her handful of appearances in the show’s eighth season, Cox played Dr. Taylor Maddox, the new Sacred Heart chief of medicine following Dr. Kelso’s (Ken Jenkins) sudden departure.

Dick Van Dyke

Probably the Scrubs celebrity guest with the most prolific career, Dick Van Dyke showed up for a single episode partway through the show’s second season. The legendary actor/singer/dancer took on the role of Dr. Doug Townshend, a Sacred Heart doctor who no longer wanted to stick around and keep up with technology and decided to retire.

Elizabeth Banks

In terms of guest spots, few actors appeared in as many episodes as Elizabeth Banks. Between Seasons 5 and 8, Banks popped up in a total of 15 episodes as Dr. Kim Briggs, a urologist at another hospital who eventually became the mother of J.D.’s son before it was all said and done.

Colin Farrell

Colin Farrell was just about everywhere in the 2000s, including Scrubs. The In Bruges actor played Billy Callahan, an Irishman who was sticking around to watch over a man he knocked out in a bar fight, partway through Season 4. Though his arrival caused a stir at Sacred Heart, it all eventually worked out in the end.

Aziz Ansari

Before he became one of the biggest comedians on the planet thanks to Parks and Recreation and Master of None, Aziz Ansari had a supporting role on Scrubs. Ansari appeared throughout the show’s eighth season where he played Dr. Ed Dhandapani, one of J.D.’s young interns, and possibly the laziest person at Sacred Heart.

Heather Graham

A major player throughout Scrubs Season 4, Heather Graham took on the role of Dr. Molly Clock, a psychiatrist at Sacre Heart who kept referring to J.D. as “Johnny.” She appeared in nine episodes during her single-season run on the show.

Billy Dee Williams

Billy Dee Williams, of Star Wars and Brian’s Song fame, showed up in a single episode of Scrubs Season 5. But like other guest stars, Williams played himself, or at least a version that was Julie Quinn’s (Mandy Moore) godfather.

Matthew Perry

The late Matthew Perry (appearing alongside his real-life father, John Bennett Perry) showed up for an episode of Scrubs back in the show’s fourth season. In his one-off appearance, Perry played Murray Marks, a man who comes to Sacred Heart Hospital to donate a kidney to his ailing father.

Mandy Moore

Several years before she led another all-time great NBC series, This Is Us, Mandy Moore showed up on Scrubs as Julie Quinn. Though she only appeared on a pair of episodes during the show’s fifth season, Moore’s character made quite an impact on the staff at Sacred Heart, especially J.D. Their romance was short-lived, but one the hopeless romantic doctor wouldn’t forget.

Richard Kind

Harvey Corman is definitely one of the most iconic (and annoying) guest characters on Scrubs, and that’s all thanks to the brilliant work by Richard Kind. A hypochondriac like no other, Corman was in and out of Sacred Heart Hospital with all kinds of issues and medical emergencies throughout Seasons 2 through 4.

Masi Oka

Before having a massive breakout role on Heroes, Masi Oka appeared on Scrubs off and on between Seasons 1 and 4, in which he took on the role of a lab tech named Franklyn. Though he only appeared in a handful of episodes before leaving the show, Oka’s character showed up in some of the most memorable moments in Scrubs history.

Tom Cavanagh

In addition to leading the comedy series Ed, Tom Cavanagh also had a sizable guest spot on Scrubs. Every once in a while, Cavanagh would show up as J.D.’s older brother, Dan Dorian. There for a life, a shoulder to cry on, or an important life lesson, Dan was there for some of his brother’s most trying moments.

Tara Reid

Tara Reid was part of the Scrubs cast for 11 episodes, with all but one coming from the show’s third season. During her run, Reid took on the role of Danni Sullivan, Ben Sullivan’s younger sister, who became one of J.D.’s many girlfriends at one point.

Phill Lewis

Phill Lewis has appeared just about everywhere throughout his prolific TV career, including Sacred Heart Hospital for a stretch. During his run on Scrubs, Lewis portrayed Hooch, an orthopedic surgeon with a wild and dangerous side, to say the very least.

Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman popped up for a single episode of Scrubs during the show’s fifth season. During his one-off appearance, Bateman plays Mr. Sutton, a garbageman who refuses to thank J.D. after being treated.

John Ritter

The late John Ritter showed up in two episodes of Scrubs as Sam Dorian, J.D.’s dad. The cash-strapped and constantly unemployed character had his issues, but still cared deeply for his song.

Taran Killam

Before landing a steady gig on Saturday Night Live, Taran Killam had a recurring role on Scrubs during the show’s penultimate season. Killam took on the role of Jimmy, one of J.D.’s interns at Sacred Heart.

Jimmie Walker

Jimmie Walker, best known for his portrayal of J.J. Evans and his “Dynomite” catchphrase from Good Times, appeared in two episodes of Scrubs. During the show’s first season, Walker played himself as he appeared in two of the J.D.’s signature daydreams.

Sean Hayes

Best known for his roles as Jack McFarland on Will & Grace, Sean Hayes has made a ton of other appearances over the years. This includes Scrubs, where he played Nick Murdoch, an intern whose time at Sacred Heart was shortlived because he couldn’t handle the stress and emotional toll of watching a young patient’s slow demise under his care.

Ricky Schroder

Ricky Schroder’s career got off to a hot start as a child actor, including multiple appearances and a leading role on Silver Spoons, one of the most beloved sitcoms of the ‘80s. That career would continue well into adulthood for the former teenage star, including a four-episode turn on Scrubs. During the show’s second season, Schroder played Paul Flower, a male nurse Elliott Reid (Sarah Chalke) was embarrassed to admit she was dating.

Kelli Williams

If you look at the list of the best TV shows of all time, you’ll find multiple featuring the work of Kelli Williams. In addition to Law & Order, Quantum Leap, The Practice, and Ally McBeal, there’s also Scrubs. During her two episodes back in 2001, Williams played Kristen Murphy, a surgical student at Sacred Heart Hospital.

Cheryl Hines

In the middle of her run as Larry David’s wife on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Cheryl Hines made a brief appearance on Scrubs. During a single episode in the show’s fifth season, Hines played Paige Cox, Dr. Perry Cox’s very religious sister who shows up at Sacred Heart Hospital and forces the temperamental doctor to think about memories he long locked away in the deepest and most secure vaults of his mind.

Dave Foley

Dave Foley, best known for his time on The Kids in the Hall and movies like A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2, had a pair of appearances on Scrubs during the middle of the show’s nine-season run. Foley took on the role of Dr. Lester Hedrick, a Sacred Heart grief counselor who was like a softer, kinder, and more easy-going mentor for J.D. when compared to the easily angered and annoyed Dr. Cox.

Julianna Margulies

E.R. wasn’t the only NBC-based show set in a hospital to feature the work of Julianna Margulies, as she also popped up on Scrubs for a couple of episodes during the show’s fourth season. But instead of playing a doctor this time, Margulies took on the role of Jenna Broderick, a candidate for the scariest lawyer award. The malpractice attorney had a habit of showing up and causing trouble, especially with J.D. Not much is known about the character’s whereabouts about J.D. put an end to things.

Keri Russell

Keri Russell, best known for her work on shows like Felicity and The Americans, had a short run on Scrubs, appearing in two episodes. In the show’s sixth season, Russell took on the role of Melody O’Harra, Elliott’s sorority sister who shows up and brings her easy-go-lucky personality and philosophy on life to the core group of the cast, but mostly J.D.

Heather Locklear

Heather Locklear added Scrubs to her long list of TV credits when she appeared for a pair of episodes during the show’s second season. During her time on the show, Locklear played Julie Keaton, a pharmaceutical rep who showed up at Sacred Heart Hospital to sell her company’s latest and greatest product. But she got more than she could chew when she started a relationship with Dr. Perry Cox, which provided a short-lived reprieve for everyone who had grown tired of his anger and outbursts while making rounds.

Christopher Meloni

Christopher Meloni played one of the most sadistic prisoners in the Oz cast as well as a dedicated and complicated detective on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but did you know he played a pediatrician on Scrubs? Well, that was the case for an episode during the show’s third season in which he played Dr. David Norris, Dr. Cox and Jordan Sullivan’s (Christa Miller) son’s pediatrician. Though a far stretch from his turn as Chris Keller on the landmark HBO series, Dr. Norris was still a wild card, to say the very least.

Amy Smart

Amy Smart showed up in movies like Varsity Blues, Road Trip, and The Butterfly Effect throughout the late ‘90s and early 2000s, but she also had quite a few TV appearances during that stretch of time. This included a spot on Scrubs as Jamie Moyer, aka “Tasty Coma Wife,” the wife of a car crash victim. This led to one of J.D.’s most ridiculous relationships on the series, which is saying something.

Nicole Sullivan

Mad TV star Nicole Sullivan appeared in a handful of episodes of Scrubs. Sullivan played Jill Tracy, a recurring troubled patient at Sacred Heart who made an impact on everyone she encountered, for better or worse. Her death, which ultimately led to one of the show’s most heartbreaking sequences (it features The Fray’s “How To Save a Life”), is one that had a massive impact on the medical staff for years to come.

Sometimes, all it takes is one joint appearance in a movie or television show for two popular actors to become known as an acting duo, and sometimes they prove to work so well together that they go on to star in even more projects together. We’ve come up with a list of 32 acting duos who have worked together multiple times, so you can see if you’ve watched all of the times these talented stars have been on screen with each other.

Tina Fey And Amy Poehler

Obviously, this funny duo began their most famed time together while starring on Saturday Night Live, but Tina Fey and Amy Poehler didn’t let the good times end there. The women were both in Mean Girls, starred in the movies Baby Mama and Sisters, and used their talents to great effect when co-hosting the Golden Globe Awards for several years.

Robert De Niro And Al Pacino

Two legendary actors make for a legendary acting duo, and while Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are frequently mentioned in the same breath, they’ve only been featured in four films together. Two of those movies, however, are absolutely the reason people often talk about them together as they count The Godfather Part II, Heat, Righteous Kill and The Irishman as their joint efforts.

Julia Roberts And George Clooney

Now, these two actually have made quite a few movies with one another, and largely with both in on-screen roles. Of course, it’s hard to forget that George Clooney and Julia Roberts are in all three of the Ocean’s Eleven films, but they’ve also starred in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney also directed), Money Monster and the 2022 rom-com Ticket to Paradise. The erstwhile Danny Ocean also produced August: Osage County, while Roberts starred.

Jane Fonda And Lily Tomlin

Frequently we see an acting duo together multiple times because they really are buddies in real life, and that’s true for Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. After first starring together in the 1980 hit 9 to 5 (with Dolly Parton, of course) they eventually re-teamed for the Netflix series Grace and Frankie (which ran for seven seasons), as well as the dark comedy Moving On and 80 for Brady.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

This duo has produced some well-known and beloved comedies and dramas over the years, as Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling first starred together in Crazy, Stupid, Love in 2011, moving on to Gangster Squad in 2013 and the Oscar-winning musical La La Land in 2016. Stone even once said she couldn’t “imagine” her life without Gosling, so these two will probably be friends forever.

Salma Hayek And Antonio Banderas

Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas sharing the screen in Desperado caused considerable heat, along with igniting a very real friendship, so it’s no surprise that they’ve now worked together a number of times. They’ve also been in the casts of Four Rooms, Frida, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids 3: Game Over, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and both Puss in Boots animated movies. That’s a lot!

Dwayne Johnson And Kevin Hart

We’ve already born witness to a rather lengthy history of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart ripping on each other during their (apparently) laugh and roast-filled friendship, and the two megastars have, indeed, brought that chemistry to the big screen multiple times. The duo counts Central Intelligence, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel, Hobbs & Shaw and DC League of Super-Pets as the titles they’ve appeared in together.

Matt Damon And Ben Affleck

If this isn’t a classic acting duo by now, there are none. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been “bizarrely close” friends since childhood, and they first joined forces to great effect by penning and starring in Good Will Hunting (after having both appeared in School Ties), which won them the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. They also worked on Dogma in the 1990s, then, after nearly 25 years, they joined forces again to write and star in The Last Duel, and since then have also worked together on Air and the upcoming RIP for Netflix.

Denzel Washington And Don Cheadle

If only these two powerhouse stars had already been in more movies together…Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle’s first pairing was as P.I. Easy Rawlins and his loyal but unpredictable friend, Mouse, in 1995’s Devil in a Blue Dress. While their work in the film garnered critical acclaim, it would be over 15 years before they teamed again for Flight.

Sanaa Lathan And Taye Diggs

We should never underestimate the power of a franchise when it comes to popular on-screen pairings. Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs appeared in The Wood together in 1999 and then went on to star in The Best Man, its sequel and the Peacock mini-series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. The duo also played the lead couple in the rom-com, Brown Sugar in 2002.

Scarlett Johansson And Chris Evans

Co-starring in a franchise with the same people will take an acting duo far, but Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans have surpassed even the typical standard where that’s concerned. Thanks to their joint time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they’ve appeared in a whopping seven movies together (including their mid-end credits cameo in Captain Marvel), and prior to their time as blockbuster movie-making superheroes they starred in The Perfect Score and The Nanny Diaries, bringing their current total to nine.

Anthony Mackie And Chris Evans

If you did enjoy many of those MCU movies, then you know that Chris Evans rubbed elbows with Anthony Mackie quite a bit there. But, did you also know that the two have been in XX non-Marvel movies together? Playing It Cool, What’s Your Number, and Ghosted also star/feature both actors and if you add in all their shared time in tights on screen, their total is also at nine.

Emily Blunt And Dwayne Johnson

The first time was a hit, so why not join forces again, right? Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson famously delivered winning chemistry in Jungle Cruise, and are coming back together for the upcoming drama The Smashing Machine. The two are also said to be willing to return for Jungle Cruise 2, whenever that can finally get off the ground.

Chris Pine And Ben Foster

The third time has been the charm so far for Chris Pine and Ben Foster. The duo famously portrayed bank-robbing brothers in Hell or High Water, joined up for The Finest Hours, and made it a three-peat in 2022 for The Contractor.

Margot Robbie And Will Smith

If it seemed that there could have been a little something extra going on between Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Will Smith’s Deadshot when you watched 2016’s Suicide Squad, then it might have been because you picked up on the chemistry the duo first built in Focus from the year before.

Margot Robbie And Brad Pitt

This big screen coupling made quite a showing for themselves across less than a decade, as Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt have starred in The Big Short, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and Babylon. 

Margot Robbie And Leonardo DiCaprio

Just imagine, had it not been for this pairing, we might not have the megastar who is Barbie actor/producer Margot Robbie right now. Her role in Wolf of Wall Street as the second wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s corrupt fraudster propelled her career, and by the time they starred in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood together Robbie was a major star.

Halle Berry And Hugh Jackman

We, again, have a superhero franchise to thank for bringing two great talents together, as Oscar winner Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman both have four of the X-Men movies among their credits. The duo also starred in Swordfish and Movie 43.

Awkwafina And Michelle Yeoh

This duo counts two megahits in their joint credits, with Awkwafina and Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh both having starred in Crazy Rich Asians (and we’re still waiting for that rom-com sequel) and the MCU entry Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Michelle Yeoh And Jackie Chan

Michelle Yeoh has been a star for several decades, and part of that reason is because of her breakout role in the 1992’s Supercop, which also starred Jackie Chan. But, they’ve made a number of other films with each other, including Supercop 2, and Hong Kong action films Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars, Project S, and both voiced characters in Kung Fu Panda 2, along with having starred in a 1984 watch commercial together.

Angela Bassett And Laurence Fishburne

While Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne were famously nominated for Oscars for their lead roles as Tina Turner and Ike Turner in 1993’s What’s Love Got to Do with It?, the duo was actually first together on screen for Boyz n the Hood in ‘91. They then later teamed up for Akeela and the Bee in 2006.

Julia Roberts And Richard Gere

If this isn’t a famous acting duo, then none are, despite their only making two movies with each other. Of course, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere starred in the mega-hit classic rom-com Pretty Woman and teamed up again for Runaway Bride in 1999.

Jennifer Aniston And Jason Bateman

For a while there, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, who are friends in real life, were kinda on a roll. Their first joint film was The Break-Up in 2006, and since then they’ve filmed four additional movies with one another: The Switch, Horrible Bosses and its sequel, and 2016’s Office Christmas Party.

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

Who can forget the glorious chemistry created by Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days? No one, that’s who! This is why they made a second rom-com, Fool’s Gold, just five years later.

Kirsten Dunst And Jesse Plemons

It’s not unusual for an acting duo to become friends in real life, but Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons took that a few steps further after working on the TV series Fargo together. Not only have they since starred in the film The Power of the Dog (which netted each their first Oscar nomination) and the A24 drama Civil War, but they married in 2022 and have two sons.

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

We could hardly leave Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks off of this list, as the famed actors have co-starred in two of the biggest romantic comedies of all time. Everyone knows them for making Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail hits, but before all of that, they led one of the weirder rom-coms made with Joe Versus the Volcano, and reunited for the 2016 drama Ithaca, which Ryan directed.

Drew Barrymore And Adam Sandler

People often mention Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler as an acting duo they want to see more of and with good reason. The two have made magic in the classics The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates and Blended.

Adam Sandler And Chris Rock

This pairing goes back decades, to the time when Adam Sandler and Chris Rock starred on Saturday Night Live together in the ‘90s. Since then, the real-life buddies have appeared in seven movies together, with The Longest Yard, Grown Ups and its sequel, The Week Of and Top Five counted among that number.

George Clooney And Brad Pitt

Of course, George Clooney and Brad Pitt helped to make the Ocean’s Eleven franchise a hit, but the friends additionally teamed up for the live TV movie 8, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney directed), Burn After Reading and the 2024 films If and Wolfs.

Keegan-Michael Key And Jordan Peele

The duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, who first became recognizable during their time on MadTV, eventually went on to their own acclaimed sketch comedy series, Key and Peele. But, while making names for themselves on other series and in a number of movies, they continue to work with one another on projects like Keanu, Toy Story 4 and Wendell & Wild.

Awkwafina And Simu Liu

It was the MCU that first brought Awkwafina and Simu Liu together in the hit film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and while we’re still waiting to see when that franchise will bring them back together, 2024 saw them team up again for the action comedy, Jackpot!.

Jane Fonda And Robert Redford

Dedicated film fans probably know that legends Jane Fonda and Robert Redford starred together in Barefoot in the Park and The Electric Horseman, but their joint movie appearances do go beyond that. They also starred in The Chase in ‘66 and reunited for Our Souls at Night in 2017, and both had their film debuts in 1960’s Tall Story.

As you can see, film history is packed with acting duos who’ve worked together more than once, and that will probably always be the case.

Fame is a tricky thing, and sometimes the biggest stars in the world can lose it all. Personal problems, changing times, and other factors can lead to a once-promising career disappearing almost over night. These stars, however, reversed their trajectories and came out on top after enduring rough times, in this list of actors who made remarkable career comebacks. 

Robert Downey, Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr was one of the most promising young actors in Hollywood in the 1980s, starring in films like Less Than Zero, Chaplin, and Natural Born Killers. In the mid-90s his life went infamously went off the rails with substance abuse problems. When it looked like he'd thrown it all away, he cleaned up and his fame exploded as he became one of the highest-paid actors in the MCU.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda has had a few ups and downs in her career. After breaking out as a star in the '60s, she was later shunned by many for her notorious trip to North Vietnam during the war. She rebounded and starred in hits like 9 to 5 and On Golden Pond. In 1991, Fonda married Ted Turner and completely stepped back from acting. She didn't appear in anything at all until after their divorce in 2001, but roared back to prominence in the 21st Century. 

Rob Lowe

As a member of the "Brat Pack" in the 1980s, Rob Lowe was on top of the world. That all came crashing down when a videotape of Lowe in a compromising situation was leaked. His hard partying had caught up to him, and though he got sober in 1992, he would spend much of the decade playing smaller roles or in direct-to-video movies. In 1999 he landed the role of Sam Seaborn in The West Wing and was once again on top, where he's stayed ever since. 

John Travolta

In the late '70s, there was no bigger star than John Travolta. From Welcome Back, Kotter to Grease and Saturday Night Fever, Travolta was in some of the biggest pop culture touchstones of all time. Then the '80s came and his career hit a serious lull. While he was in the hit Look Who's Talking and its sequels, it was 1994's Pulp Fiction that vaulted Travolta back to the top. 

Natasha Lyonne

In the late '90s, Natasha Lyonne was one of a group of budding stars in American Pie and other movies like Slums Of Beverly Hills before health and addiction problems derailed her career. Thankfully for all of us she came out of those those stronger and has since starred in fantastic shows like Orange is the New Black and Russian Doll. 

Brendan Fraser

Brendan Fraser winning the Oscar for 2022 The Whale capped off one of the greatest comeback stories in Hollywood history. His work had all but completely dried up in the late '00s and 2010s, but his career has had the most incredible resurgence in the 2020s. 

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder defined "movie star" for late Gen Xers in the '90s, but after her infamous arrest for shoplifting in 2001, her career nosedived and she didn't appear in a movie for about three years after. For the next decade or so, she worked steadily but didn't regain her star power from early in her career. That changed when she starred in Stranger Things, starting in 2016, and she once again became a huge star. 

Dave Chappelle

In 2003 Dave Chappelle debuted Chappelle's Show on Comedy Central and it became a massive hit. Despite the network throwing tens of millions of dollars at the comedian to keep the show going, he turned it down and walked away. Chappelle stayed away for most of the next decade before reviving his standup career, and while Chappelle continues to garner controversy, it's safe to say he's as big as ever. 

Betty White

When Betty White died in 2021 she was mourned by millions. The beloved actress had been a television star since the 1940s, but not all of those years were in the spotlight. After early success in the '50s in Life with Elizabeth and other sitcoms, White's career hit a lull for more than a decade. She returned to the big time with her role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the '70s, The Golden Girls in the '80s, and then later with Hot in Cleveland in the 2010s.

Ke Huy Quan

There is no more heartwarming story than that of Ke Huy Quan's resurgence. the actor, who first found fame as a child in The Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, completely disappeared from Hollywood. For twenty years, he appeared in not one TV show or movie, before returning in 2021 with a role in Finding ʻOhana, and then winning an Oscar for his performance in 2022's Everything Everywhere All At Once. 

Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton was a controversial choice when he was cast as Batman in Tim Burton's Batman in 1989, but it shows just how famous he was at that time. After Batman Returns, Keaton's star faded and he starred in a run of films to mixed reviews. In 2014 Keaton starred in the very meta Birdman, as a former superhero star looking to regain his fame. It worked, at least for Keaton. 

Katharine Hepburn

Anyone with a career as long as Katharine Hepburn's is bound to have some slow periods. The most amazing fact of the legendary actress' career was the 34-year span between Best Actress Oscars. She won in 1934 for Morning Glory and then again in 1968 and 1969 for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and The Lion in Winter, respectively. She would win her fourth 13 years later in 1982 for On Golden Pond. 

Mickey Rourke

In the 1980s Mickey Rourke starred in a string of hits. Eventually, though, his reputation as being difficult to work with overshadowed his performances and he was left in the Hollywood wilderness until triumphantly returning to his past glory in 2008 with The Wrestler.

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier was one of the biggest stars of the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Then came the '80s, when he stepped away from acting and concentrated on directing, to mixed reviews. In 1988 he turned back to acting and had a wonderful late career resurgence with films like Shoot To Kill and Sneakers. 

Jason Bateman

In the 1980s it looked like Jason Bateman was a surefire bet to be a huge star. Then the '90s came and his career pretty much dried up. He had some guest spots on TV shows, but little else. He was all but forgotten. In 2003, Fox debut a show you may have heard of, Arrested Development, with Bateman as the star, and he's been huge ever since. 

Keanu Reeves

It's hard to remember a time when Keanu Reeves wasn't one of the biggest stars in the world, but after his success in the '90s and early '00s with The Matrix and Speed and more, he starred in a slew of commercial and critical failures. Thankfully for Reeves fans everywhere, John Wick came along and Reeves was back on top of the mountain, where he still is. 

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore almost became a Hollywood child star casualty after her string of hits as a kid in the 1980s. She had a rough childhood that led to substance abuse problems as a teenager. Against the odds, she got through it all and became an even bigger star on the other end. 

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris first got famous as a child prodigy playing a prodigy on Doogie Howser, MD. After the sitcom ended in 1993, he struggled to regain that popularity. That is, until he played a fictionalized version of himself in Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle in 2004. Soon after he landed the role he's best known for, Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother. 

Matthew McConaughey

Most of Matthew McConaughey's early career was made up of starring roles in rom-coms. In 2009 the Lincoln Lawyer star took a two-year acting hiatus to re-evaluate his career. He emerged in 2011 by taking on more serious roles and leaving his rom-com leading man reputation behind. Since the so-called "McConaissance," McConaughey's become on of the most acclaimed actors of the 21st century. 

Nicolas Cage

By 2009 Cage was one of the biggest action stars in Hollywood, and one of the highest-paid actors in the business, but it seems he couldn't curb his spending and ended up in debt to the IRS and other creditors. As a result, Cage seemingly took every job offered to him, and he put out an immense catalog of straight-to-video movies that few people have ever watched. Finally, in 2022, Cage revealed he was finally debt-free and started being more selective with his roles. this led to acclaimed roles in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and 2023's Dream Scenario.

Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore's career started like a comet as a singer in the late '90s which she parlayed into an acting career. That career slowed way down in the early 2010s, only to be revived in a massive way with her starring role on the NBC hit This Is Us. 

Christian Slater

With starring roles in Heathers, Pump Up The Volume, and Gleaming The Cube, Christian Slater became a Gen X icon. He scored a number of high-profile roles in big-budget movies in the '90s, before work started drying up in the early 2000s. He returned to Hollywood prominence with his award-winning role in Mr. Robot and has maintained it ever since. 

Luke Perry

Luke Perry was one of the biggest television stars of the 1990s as part of the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210. After the show ended though, his star faded some. That is, until he was cast in the CW's Riverdale and he was discovered by a whole new generation of fans. Tragically, Perry died in 2019 at age 52. 

Christina Ricci

Childhood success for Christina Ricci didn't immediately translate to success as an adult. She's always worked steadily, but her fame never quite reached the heights of her early career in The Addams Family. That changed in 2021 with Showtime's Yellowjackets. 

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh first found international fame with her roles in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies and Crouch Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She maintained a level of success, but she exploded to new heights with her Oscar-winning turn in 2022's Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. 

Neve Campbell

Neve Campbell was huge in the '90s with her starring role in the show Party Of Five and movies like The Craft and Wild Things. In the early 2000s, she starred in the Scream franchise, but hit a lull after that. Recently, she's been back on top with roles in The Lincoln Lawyer and Twisted Metal. 

Channing Tatum

Fans might not think that Channing Tatum has never had a career lull, but he has actually had a couple. He's always had to fight the idea that he's all looks and little substance (which is far from accurate), and that has affected his career at different points. He's always rebounded with strong performances like the one in Foxcatcher, however. 

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence's career hasn't really had a financial downturn, her lull was completely her choice. After a couple of poorly reviewed films and becoming the most famous victim of the iPhone hacking scandal, Lawrence stepped away from acting for two years in 2019. She triumphantly returned in the great movie Don't Look Up in 2021. 

Patrick Dempsey

Patrick Dempsey was first famous for starring in teen comedies like Loverboy and Can't Buy Me Love. He bounced around for a few years after that, working steadily but hardly a star. That changed in a big way when he landed the role of Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in 2005 on Grey's Anatomy. 

Marlon Brando

The 1960s weren't kind to Marlon Brando. After establishing himself as a bonafide star and one of the finest actors of the 20th century in the '50s, his mercurial nature earned him a reputation as difficult to work with. A string of box office failures didn't help. Famously, he pushed hard to get the role of Vito Corleone in The Godfather, and wow, was that the right move! He won an Academy Award and reminded everyone how great an actor he was. 

David Carradine

Leave it to Quentin Tarantino to help revive a star's career like he did with John Travolta. David Carradine was huge in the 1970s as the star of Kung Fu, and while he always found work, it took until Kill Bill in 2003 that he found that same level of fame again. 

Kiefer Sutherland

After becoming one of the biggest teen idols of the '80s, Kiefer Sutherland spent most of the '90s in smaller, supporting roles. In 2001, however, he landed the role of Jack Bauer in 24 and it became the part he's most known for, becoming a television icon over the run of the show. 

Fame, as they say, is fleeting, and these actors prove there can always be a second act in Hollywood. 

Have you ever caught a rerun of an older TV show and during the opening credits sequence, you spotted someone who made you say, “Hey, I know that person!”? This is actually a more common occurrence than you may realize, as there many A-list celebrities whose first IMDb credit (or one of the first) was a supporting role on a series long before they earned the honor of being a leading presence on the big (or small) screen. The following are some of our favorite examples of famous actors who appeared a bit further down the the line on the call sheet on a TV show when they were starting out.

Chris Pratt (Everwood)

Before Guardians of the Galaxy made him a leading man, Chris Pratt really began to gain traction from starring in the Parks and Recreation cast as Andy Dwyer. However, even earlier than that, he starred on a WB family drama called Everwood as high school joke Bright Abbott alongside fellow future MCU star Emily VanCamp, who played his sister, Amy.

Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show)

Before her Academy Award-nominated performance in 2010’s Winter’s Bone, her star-making role as Katniss in The Hunger Games and Oscar-winning turn in Silver Lining’s Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence was a sitcom star — specifically a cable network sitcom star. On The Bill Engvall Show, which lasted three seasons on TBS, she starred opposite the eponymous stand-up comedian as his on-screen alter ego’s teenage daughter, Lauren Pearson,

Austin Butler (Zoey 101)

The musical talents that earned Austin Butler the title role of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis can be traced back to his part on Ruby & the Rockits, which lasted 10 episodes on ABC Family (now Freeform) in 2009. However, the Oscar nominee’s first major TV role was on the final season of Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101 as James Garrett — a character missing from Paramount+’s feature-length follow-up, Zoey 102.

Margot Robbie (Pan Am)

While her earliest role was actually the long-running soap opera, Neighbours — much like many other Aussie A-listers — we thought we would highlight American audiences’ first true introduction to Margot Robbie on Pan Am. An interesting fact about Robbie is that the future Oscar nominee and DC movies star was actually roommates with co-star Christina Ricci while playing 1960s-era flight attendant Laura Cameron on the short-lived ABC drama from 2011 to 2012.

Seth Rogen (Freaks And Geeks)

While still part of the main ensemble, Seth Rogen’s role as the initially arrogant Ken Miller pretty much got the short end of the stick amongst the Freaks and Geeks cast, for the most part. Ironically, Rogen, arguably, went on to become the painfully short-lived coming-of-age dramedy’s biggest star, which is really saying something, given his co-stars include Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, and John Francis Daley.

Brie Larson (Raising Dad)

A notable moment in Academy Award winner Brie Larson’s evolution from child star to modern A-list actor was her role as the late Bob Saget’s youngest on-screen daughter on Raising Dad — a sitcom that ran for one season on The WB (now The CW) in the early 2000s. Following her success as the MCU’s Captain Marvel, Larson returned to TV in 2023 — reprising her Scott Pilgrim vs. the World role for Netflix’s animated series reboot, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and leading the Lessons in Chemistry cast for Apple TV+.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Growing Pains)

While doing press for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt recalled how they both appeared on the hit ABC sitcom Growing Pains much earlier in their career. Of course, Pitt had a one-episode guest appearance while the Oscar-winning The Revenant star and Titanic cast member had a prominent role as Luke Brewer — a homeless teen taken in by the Seavers in Season 7. 

Ana De Armas (The Boarding School)

One of the films that earned Academy Award nominee Ana de Armas a spot on the A-list was Rian Johnson’s hit whodunit, Knives Out, from 2019. More than a decade earlier, the Cuban-born actor landed a role on a coming-of-age mystery TV show called El Internado (or The Boarding School), which originally aired in Spain from 2007 to 2010.

Michael B. Jordan (The Wire)

After getting his start as a Toys ‘R Us kid, the fascinating Michael B. Jordan made his official acting debut on an episode of The Sopranos, but later landed a more prominent role on another acclaimed, gritty HBO series in 2002. He appeared amongst The Wire cast as Wallace — an orphan whose tragic story had a profound impact on the Emmy-nominated series beyond his 13-episode stint.

Anne Hathaway (Get Real)

Anne Hathaway fans should know that before she broke into the mainstream by leading Disney’s The Princess Diaries cast, the Academy Award winner made her acting debut on a 1999 Fox TV show called Get Real as a high school senior who shocks her family with the decision to refuse college. Coincidentally, the short-lived dramedy was also the debut of Hathaway’s Rio co-star, Jesse Eisenberg, and was an early gig for NCIS' Eric Christian Olsen as well.

Denzel Washington (St. Elsewhere)

With two Oscars to his name, it’s hard to imagine a TV screen big enough to contain the talent of one Denzel Washington, yet it was a TV show that helped launched the young actor’s career in the early 1980s. Following his official debut in the 1977 TV movie Wilma, the future Training Day lead played Dr. Philip Chandler on NBC’s hit medical drama, St. Elsewhere.

Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek)

For years, Michelle Williams was known best from the Dawson’s Creek cast as Jen Lindley. Now — after receiving multiple Academy Award nominations for acclaimed dramas like Manchester by the Sea and Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans — that role on the hit teen drama is, typically, among the last things mentioned in regards to her career.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From The Sun)

As a child actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt starred in some good movies and made a few notable TV guest appearances before landing his first successful series regular gig with 3rd Rock from the Sun. He played the eldest member of a group of extra-terrestrial visitors, and the character resembles a teenager in human form on the Emmy-winning sci-fi sitcom.

George Clooney (The Facts Of Life)

As a TV star, George Clooney is best known from his main role on the popular ‘90s show, ER, on which he played Doug Ross. Much earlier, however, the future two-time Oscar winner had a memorable recurring role on Diff’rent Strokes' (very different) spin-off, The Facts of Life, as George Burnett — a carpenter who would become close to the girls living under Mrs. Garrett’s roof.

Woody Harrelson (Cheers)

With multiple Academy Award nominations to his name, Woody Harrelson is known today as one of Hollywood’s most versatile movie stars, but his first big break came when he joined the Cheers cast in the mid-1980s. In fact, he won his first Emmy Award for playing the naive, but lovable, Woody Byrd, whom Sam (Ted Danson) hires on as a new barkeep following he death of Coach (Nicholas Colasanto).

Jason Bateman (Little House On The Prairie)

At least before he led Netflix’s Ozark cast, Jason Bateman has always best known on the small screen as a sitcom star, with his roles as David Hogan on Valerie (later changed to The Hogan Family) and Michael Bluth on Arrested Development being the famous examples. However, his very first gig was playing James Cooper Ingalls for 21 episodes of Little House on the Prairie during the early 1980s.

Don Cheadle (The Golden Palace)

An early Don Cheadle role you may have forgotten about was featured on a TV show spin-off you may not have heard of, either. The future Academy Award nominee and MCU actor starred alongside most of the Golden Girls cast on The Golden Palace as Roland Wilson — the young manager of the titular hotel where the short-lived sitcom took place. 

Jason Momoa (Baywatch)

Even long before he landed the role of Aquaman in the DC movies, Jason Momoa was no stranger to saving lives in the water. The Hawaiian-born actor made his debut in his home state when he joined the Baywatch cast as a character also named Jason from 1999 to 2001.

Marisa Tomei (A Different World)

We know her from her Academy Award-winning role in My Cousin Vinny as Mona Lisa Vito (who she'd love to revisit) or as Peter Parker’s (reinvented) Aunt May in the MCU, to name a few examples. Yet before many people knew who Marisa Tomei was, she was on the first season of The Cosby Show spin-off, A Different World, as Hillman student Maggie Lauten.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (The Get Down)

One interesting fact about Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: before he was an Emmy-winning DC TV show star (for playing Cal Abar on HBO’s Watchmen) and a scene-stealing DC movie villain (Black Manta in Aquaman), he worked as a San Francisco city planner until he was laid off in 2010. The role that first helped him make a name for himself as an actor was night club owner Clarene “Cadillac” Caldwell in Netflix’s musical period drama series, The Get Down, from co-creator Baz Luhrmann.

Alexandra Daddario (All My Children)

Speaking to Women’s Health in 2022, Alexandra Daddario recalls that she was fired from the long-running daytime soap opera, All My Children, which she actually found to be a liberating, educational experience. It led to seek improvement in her acting skills and pave the way for her to breakthrough in the Percy Jackson movies, give an Emmy-nominated performance as part of the HBO’s The White Lotus cast, and star in many other notable works.

Adam Driver (Girls)

Without Lena Dunham, there might not be a Kylo Ren — or at least, the memorable version of the Sith Lord we got in the hands Adam Driver. The former Marine’s scene-stealing role on HBO’s Girls as Adam Sackler is what got Hollywood to take notice of his talent, leading to his casting in the Star Wars movies and his Oscar-nominated performances in BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story.

Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls)

Gilmore Girls proved to be a launch pad for many A-listers — few of which would blow up quite like Melissa McCarthy, who played Sookie St. James on the hit dramedy.  She later won an Emmy for her leading role on the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly and received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role as a member of the Bridesmaids cast. And that film skyrocketed her to the A-list as a trusted name in comedy and more.

Drake (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

One of the most memorable and important characters from Degrassi: The Next Generation is Jimmy Brooks, who served as an inspirational representation for wheelchair users on the long-running Canadian coming-of-age drama. The role was played by an actor named Aubrey Graham, who still acts on occasion — an Anchorman 2 cameo, for instance — but primarily performs as a rapper under the moniker Drake.

Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men)

At just eight years old, Kiernan Shipka proved to be a stand-out alongside AMC’s Mad Men cast with her performance as Sally Draper. She later went on to lead her own TV show (Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and headline movies like Amazon Prime’s horror-comedy, Totally Killer and The Silence.

Ryan Reynolds (Fifteen)

Despite his many earnest roles over the years, it may be hard to picture Ryan Reynolds as anything other than the smarmy goof he plays in the likes of the Deadpool movies and National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, for instance. Perhaps watching him make his debut in the Canadian coming-of-age drama Fifteen will help audiences see another side of him.

Tommy Lee Jones (One Life To Live)

It is amazing to think about how many acclaimed and even legendary actors started out on soap operas, such as Tommy Lee Jones. One of the earliest roles for the Academy Award-winning star of The Fugitive and the Men in Black movies was the ill-fated Mark Toland on One Life to Live from 1971 to 1975.

John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter)

Before his Academy Award-nominated role in 1977’s Saturday Night Fever — and its fantastic movie soundtrack — made him one of the biggest stars of all time, John Travolta was better known by another name: Vinnie Barbarino. That was the future Pulp Fiction cast member’s character on Welcome Back, Kotter — a hit sitcom that never made it to 100 episodes. He practically stole the show from star and co-creator Gabe Kaplan with his famous catchphrase, “Up your nose with a rubber hose!”

Jennifer Love Hewitt (Kids Incorporated)

Her role as Sarah Reeves on the original Party of Five may have made Jennifer Love Hewitt a teen idol, but it was not her first major TV gig. The Ghost Whisperer star was 10 when she demonstrated her multiple talents on Disney Channel’s Kids Incorporated, which focuses on the lives of a group of young artists who perform live music at a club for children.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Fortysomething)

It was his eponymous role on the modern crime drama Sherlock that made Benedict Cumberbatch a nigh-unpronounceable household name, but his first starring role on a TV series was Fortysomething. The MCU’s Doctor Strange actor played the on-screen son of none other than House’s Hugh Laurie on the English dramedy that lasted six episodes.

Jared Leto (My So-Called Life)

In one of the best ‘90s shows that ended too soon, My So-Called Life, Jared Leto portrayed what would become his first iconic role: high school heartthrob Jordan Catalano. The much celebrated coming-of-age drama also marked one for the first times the future Academy Award winner acted alongside his sibling and Thirty Seconds to Mars bandmate, Shannon.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Passions)

Movie star Mary Elizabeth Winstead has more than a few very notable small-screen roles — such as a leading stint in Fargo Season 3 and Hera Syndulla alongside the Ahsoka cast for Disney+. The Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast member’s earliest major TV gig, however, was on the supernatural soap opera Passions.

For any TV actors out there hoping one day to make it onto the big screen, let these stories serve as proof that your dreams may not be far away from becoming a reality.

The phrase “former child star” is most often associated with someone who was famous when they were much younger, but is not quite as well-known — or, perhaps, does not even act anymore — as a grown-up. Yet, for every starlet who has risen and fallen, there are just as many who have beaten the odds and have gone onto bigger and better things as adults, like these beloved celebrities.

Macaulay Culkin

The first person you might think of when you think of “former child stars” could be Macaulay Culkin, who was on top of the world when he led the original Home Alone cast as Kevin McCallister. While his notoriety would slow in subsequent years, it is always a treat to see him show up in ensembles like the American Horror Story Season 10 cast or Kid Cudi’s Entergalactic cast.

Lukas Haas

Lukas Haas was one of the most acclaimed young actors of his time with leading roles in 1985’s Witness, opposite Harrison Ford, and the underrated ghost story, Lady in White, from 1988. He has since made a living taking smaller roles in otherwise big movies like Inception and Babylon, plus he's shown up on TV shows like The Righteous Gemstones and War of the Worlds.

Jurnee Smollett

With an Emmy nomination for HBO’s Lovecraft Country, a scene-stealing role in DC’s Birds of Prey, and a stellar turn in Amazon Prime’s The Burial, Jurnee Smollett has established herself as one of the strongest talents of her time. However, that was already clear with her recurring role in Full House and her astonishing performance in 1997’s acclaimed Black horror movie, Eve’s Bayou, when she was still a child.

Jason Bateman

From his debut role on Little House on the Prairie to his years on the sitcom Valerie (which would become The Hogan Family), Jason Bateman showed great versatility as a performer in his younger years. He has upheld that reputation ever since, as seen by his Emmy-nominated work leading the Arrested Development cast and, later, the Ozark cast. His ability to shift from starring in funny movies like Horrible Bosses to dramas like Air is remarkable.

Dakota Fanning

Racking up more than 20 credits before she turned 10, Dakota Fanning was everywhere in the early 2000s — catching the attention of filmmakers like Steven Spielberg for War of the Worlds and holding her own against actors like Robert DeNiro in Hide and Seek. Save her age, nothing much has changed for the actor, who appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood cast and reunited with her Man on Fire co-star, Denzel Washington, in 2023’s The Equalizer 3.

Ryan Gosling

A 13-year-old Ryan Gosling entered show business as a Mouseketeer, paving the way for him to star in back-to-back scary anthology TV shows for kids (Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps), lead Young Hercules, and more. Leading 2004’s The Notebook cast paved the way for him to be an action hero in Drive and Blade Runner 2049. On top of all that, he also earned Oscar nominations for Half Nelson and La La Land, and made us laugh as part of the The Nice Guys ensemble and the Barbie cast as Ken.

Brie Larson

After some faux ads on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show marked her debut at 9, Brie Larson went on to star in a family sitcom with the late Bob Saget (Raising Dad), was in a YA novel adaptation (Hoot), and she even had a singing career in her teens. Now, she is a comic book movie star (for appearing in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and playing the MCU’s Captain Marvel), and she has an Oscar for Room from 2015.

Kenan Thompson

On All That — Nickelodeon’s answer to Saturday Night Live — one of the young cast’s most prominent breakouts was Kenan Thompson, who went on to co-lead his own kid-friendly sitcom with Kel Mitchell, aptly named Kenan & Kel. The Emmy winner went on to break the record for longest-running SNL actor and lead his own adult sitcom, Kenan.

David Krumholtz

After making his debut playing a child actor in 1993’s Life with Mikey, David Krumholtz became a prominent child actor with roles in Addams Family Values as Wednesday’s love interest and Tim Allen’s head elf, Bernard, in The Santa Clause. The crime procedural, Numb3rs, earned him greater recognition, leading to a career that includes lending his voice to Sausage Party, appearing in the Oppenheimer cast, and reprising Bernard on Disney+’s series, The Santa Clauses.

Neil Patrick Harris

Playing a kid genius on Doogie Howser M.D. made Neil Patrick Harris a household name, which he acknowledged when he later played himself in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Of course, the five-time Emmy winner is better known today as Barney Stinson from the How I Met Your Mother cast, Count Olaf on Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and so much more.

Josh Brolin

At 17, first-time actor Josh Brolin immediately made his mark on pop culture as part of the Goonies cast in the role of Brand Walsh. However, he really got heads turning at 39 when he starred in one of the best movies of the 2000s, No Country for Old Men. The son of Hollywood veteran James Brolin has an Oscar nomination for Milk and multiple comic book movie roles under his belt (Jonah Hex, MCU’s Thanos, and Cable in Deadpool 2), among other great achievements. 

Haley Joel Osment

After debuting in Forrest Gump and starring on The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Haley Joel Osment’s Oscar-nominated performance in, arguably, the best M. Night Shyamalan movie, 1999’s The Sixth Sense, made him a sensation. He went on to earn leading parts in Pay It Forward and Steven Spielberg’s A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. More recently, Osment has been known to pop up in the most unexpected places — Kevin Smith’s Tusk, a guest role on The Boys, Netflix's animated fantasy series Dogs in Space, to name a few — but always with grand results.

Ethan Hawke

After debuting in Joe Dante’s Explorers at 15, Ethan Hawke only grew in prominence in his later teens and throughout his 20s by starring in Dead Poets Society, Reality Bites, etc. He went on to earn Academy Award nominations for Training Day and Boyhood. He completed Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy with 2013’s Before Midnight, became a Scream King with great horror movies like Sinister, and he's done a fair amount of work behind the scenes, too.

Abigail Breslin

Just four years after M. Night Shyamalan gave 6-year-old Abigail Breslin her big break with Signs, her role in the Little Miss Sunshine cast made her one of the youngest Oscar nominees of all time. As she matured, so would her roles — such as a teenage murder suspect in Stillwater or a vigilante in the Accused cast for Fox.

Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik stole the show from the Big Bang Theory cast as Amy Farrah Fowler and later led Fox’s Call Me Kat in the title role. However, the Jeopardy! host’s status as sitcom royalty dates back to the ‘90s as the star of Blossom.

Brenda Song

Perhaps Brenda Song’s most iconic character is London Tipton from the Suite Life franchise — which is just one of the roles that made her a prominent Disney Channel star. Beyond the children’s cable giant, she was in one of the best David Fincher movies, The Social Network, led Netflix’s Secret Obsession, and had a main role in Hulu’s Dollface.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Despite being removed for disruptive behavior when making his show business debut on Romper Room at 3 years old (as he revealed to David Letterman), Leonardo DiCaprio went on to lead a winning child actor’s career that included a season on Growing Pains and an Academy Award nomination for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? Things would only get better as he grew up, earning even more Oscar nominations — and one win for The Revenant — and becoming as important to Martin Scorsese’s filmography as his This Boy’s Life co-star, Robert DeNiro, whom he reunited with in 2023’s Killers of the Flower Moon.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams started out appearing on Sesame Street before landing the title role of Chris Rock’s autobiographical sitcom, Everybody Hates Chris. Following an acclaimed indie comedy (Dear White People) and a recurring role on the Walking Dead cast, the actor became sitcom royalty again when he joined the Abbott Elementary cast, which earned him multiple Emmy nods.

Kurt Russell

Former Disney star Kurt Russell made his feature debut in 1963’s It Happened at the World’s Fair alongside Elvis Presley, and he went on to play him in a made-for-TV biopic and Forrest Gump. Several great movie roles later, Russell is one of the top action heroes of all time, and now he's working with his family by joining the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters cast alongside his son, Wyatt, who is playing his younger self.

Jodie Foster

After getting her start on TV at a very young age (the first gig being The Doris Day Show), Jodie Foster got a head start on the more mature roles she would become known for when she appeared in Taxi Driver at 14. The two-time Academy Award winner (for The Accused and Best Picture Oscar winner The Silence of the Lambs) would continue to work from both in front of and behind the camera.

Johnny Galecki

In 1989, 14-year-old Johnny Galecki appeared as Rusty in the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation cast, and he also starred in another holiday classic, Prancer. I would not be surprised if many did not realize that Leonard from The Big Bang Theory was the same actor, but they were likely more hip to that fact by the time he reprised his role from Roseanne, David Healy, on The Conners.

Miranda Cosgrove

Even with Jack Black in the lead, Miranda Cosgrove stole the show in 2003’s School of Rock, and she went on to do the same thing as the evil Megan in the Nickelodeon sitcom, Drake & Josh. One of her most notable credits as an adult was a Paramount+ exclusive revival of iCarly — another Nickelodeon show she led as a teen.

Keke Palmer

Her bombastic debut role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business made it clear that then-9-year-old Keke Palmer was a powerhouse talent. The Emmy winner would continue to demonstrate her skill as the lead of Akeelah and the Bee and much later in life as part of Jordan Peele’s Nope cast.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

While Zach Morris from the Saved by the Bell cast is still the role he is best known for — he even reprised it in a Peacock exclusive revival — Mark-Paul Gosselaar managed to prove his versatility in later years. He had a successful stint as a detective on NYPD Blue, played a rebellious lawyer on Franklin & Bash, and an abusive captor in NBC’s Found.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Before starring on the great ‘90s TV show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joseph Gordon-Levitt made multiple TV appearances and starred in classic movies like Angels in the Outfield and A River Runs Through It. These days, he is best known for his many collaborations with Rian Johnson, his Golden Globe-nominated turns in (500) Days of Summer and 50/50, and running the creative collaboration platform HitRecord.

Sean Astin

Before playing the title role of Rudy and starring in the Lord of the Rings movies as Sam, Sean Astin was best known as Mikey in The Goonies. In addition to his accomplished voice acting career, one of his most celebrated roles as of late is Bob Newby from the Season 2 cast of Stranger Things — a show very much inspired by The Goonies.

Kirsten Dunst

After making her film debut in star-studded The Bonfire of the Vanities, Kirsten Dunst really made an impression at 12 playing a 70-year-old bloodsucker in Interview with the Vampire. Starring in the Spider-Man movies as Mary Jane Watson swung her right into the A-list and, in 2022, she received an Academy Award nomination for The Power of the Dog.

Kieran Culkin

With his roles in the Home Alone movies and in Steve Martin movies (both parts of Father of the Bride), it seemed like Kieran Culkin was on his way to the same level of stardom as his brother, Macaulay. However, it was not until later in life when he was thrice Emmy-nominated for starring in HBO’s Succession cast that he became the star he was destined to be.

Selena Gomez

Before leading Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place made Selena Gomez a star, she got her start on Barney in the early 2000s. She now has two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her performance on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building cast and a Daytime Emmy nod for her Max original cooking show, Selena + Chef.

Elle Fanning

Before breaking out in the Super 8 cast, Elle Fanning’s claim to fame for a while was starring as a younger version of sister, Dakota, in I Am Sam and Taken. Now, she has an Emmy nomination for leading Hulu’s The Great, which is just one of the many Victorian-era roles she has played in more recent years.

Christina Ricci

For years, Christina Ricci’s performance in Barry Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family movies was the definitive iteration of young Wednesday Addams. The Yellowjackets cast member got to revisit those days with her supporting role on Netflix’s Wednesday cast, opposite Jenna Ortega in the lead this time.

Danica McKellar

Some of the most memorably endearing moments from the original Wonder Years involved Danica McKellar’s Winnie Cooper and her puppy love relationship with Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold. Romance is a big part of the actor’s career these days, primarily appearing in popular Hallmark movies like Christmas She Wrote and Swing into Romance.

Knowing the kind of career they would one day lead, I am sure these celebrities wear their “former child star” identities as a badge of honor.

For many people around the U.S., Summer 2023 has been about as miserable as a season can get, at least when it comes to ghastly high temperatures. But it doesn’t appear as if mega-star Jennifer Aniston was feeling too put off by any of it, at least not in the latest batch of photos she shared on social media, which feature some good times in the sun with some famous BFFs, her bikini, some cute doggies, and at least one plastic cup that may or may not have had booze sloshing around inside of it.

As seen in the Instagram post below, Aniston has had some summer fun amidst the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA strike with such comedic pros as late night host Jimmy Kimmel, his wife and TV writer Molly McNearny, Aniston’s occasional co-star Jason Bateman, his actress wife Amanda Anka, and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile co-directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck. (The latter pair directed Batman and Aniston in the comedy Office Christmas Party.) Check out the pics and vid below, hopefully from your own sandy slice of heaven.

The first pic of the three women was taken in a positively gorgeous outdoorsy setting, though their dresses don't exactly match the road-and-greenery surroundings. Though one can easily imagine that to the left or right, there could be a massive resort complex where slightly more formal dresses wouldn't be in any danger of getting dusty or grassy. Though if everyone wanted to roll around in the hay, that's their perogative.

The squad does look like they've been having some fun in the group shots. Everybody's smile is just wonky enough to suggest that alcohol and/or other party-friendly substances were part of the celebration, though it could just be the camera. Or maybe Jason Bateman told a joke that was just funny enough to get everyone to the 70% smile mark. Nailing it, JB. 

Other highlights include the lone video, the cute animals, fire [said with best Beavis impression], and...well...those giant strap-on pants with all the wires coming out of the bottom. That's the laymen's term for it, of course, as that's some form of compression/massage pants. Whatever the medical advantages they give, the visual is what sparked a lot of humorous comments. The fans love weird pants, and were jealous.

As far as other comments go, here are a few familiar faces who chimed in with supportive replies.

• Fox Sports 1's Emmanuel Acho - You’ve worked hard, enjoy the fruits of your labor my friend! ❤️
• The Parent Test host Ali Wentworth - Perfect summer! ❤️❤️
• Big Time Adulting host Caitlin Murray - You can almost feel the good vibes.
• Comedian Manon Matthews - Awww❤️
• Brazilian actor Julio Rocha - Nothing warms the soul like true friendship and a roaring fire, and happiness is the giant pants you put on when you realize how grateful you are for those moments.❤️❤️

I'm always here to enjoy Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman cutting up in any capacity, even if it doesn't involve fire. (Her birthday pics of his snazzy hairdos earlier this year is a fine example.) Here's hoping they get back together onscreen for more chaos in the near future. 

Anybody looking to hear more from Jimmy Kimmel during the extended talk show hiatus can check out his new charitable podcast project alongside fellow late night hosts Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver. Or just go listen to Aniston's episode of Bateman's podcast Smartless. 

Do you play Wordle? Since the word guessing game gained popularity in late 2021, it has become part of tons of people’s daily routines, including many of the actors in one of April’s 2023 new movie releases, the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck-led Air. Damon previously revealed that he has a Wordle group called the “Nerdle League” alongside the likes of Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett and Jason Bateman, and the latter just revealed which member of the group is their Wordle champion. 

The “Nerdle League” sounds like they take Wordle pretty seriously. According to Damon, they play the eight-word version, Octordle; the four word version, Quordle; and then the OG game. Then they add up their scores and compare them against each other. Jason Bateman shared the best and worst of the bunch, with these words: 

Not unlike Wordle, I would have never guessed that answer because it’s such a wildcard. Just how big is this group? We have no idea. However, apparently one filmmaker named Sam Jones is beating out actors like Damon and Arnett, and when it comes to talking about his own skills in the word game, he said he comes “dead last” every time. When asked if he’s ever gotten the right word on the second try, here’s what he said: 

There you have it. You can check out Jason Bateman talking about the Wordle group while on Good Morning America: 

Bateman might be bad at Wordle, but he can’t be worse than Ben Affleck, who is still “trying to get in” to the Nerdle League. When Affleck talked about being left out of the Wordle group by his longtime bestie (and former roommate) Matt Damon, he admitted he saw how their scores stacked up to his and thought he “might need to train.” 

Though I am curious what the stakes are wuth this Wordle group. Do they put bets down? Plus, considering these are all actors, writers and filmmakers, have they tried adding the Wordle for movie lovers, Framed, into the mix? Perhaps Bateman and Affleck could wrack up some extra points on that front? Also, have they invited fellow Wordle addict Helen Mirren? I’d be curious to see how they stack up to her skills. 

Honestly, it’s nice to hear that these prominent actors, who could probably easily go to some prestigious golf clubs or whatnot during their off time, are getting super into Wordle. Now that we know the best from the worst, you can check out Jason Bateman’s latest movie alongside Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in Air, now in theaters. 

Five words almost guaranteed to perk up the ears of moviegoers have to be the phrase “Based on a true story.” Depending on the subject, the story of any historical moment’s genesis has the potential to draw a crowd hungry to partake in a mix of true happenings and cinematic panache ultimately resembling a milestone in history. As of late, the biopic genre has been exploring the stories behind brands that made an impact on business and pop culture alike. Director Ben Affleck’s Air is the latest film to do so, taking us behind the scenes of the negotiations that made Michael Jordan’s iconic Nike brand happen.

What results is a solid movie that tells the story of Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), the man who supposedly saw a vision of Nike boosting its basketball profile by devoting a product line to then-NBA rookie Michael Jordan. In 1984, Vaccaro utilizes an unconventional strategy and way of dealing that violates everything the business is doing. With his vision and faith in the Jordan name, Sonny and his team at Nike push forward in forging the Air Jordan name. 

Writer Alex Convery’s screenplay for Air is the backbone of a respectable entry into the "based on a true story" genre, with Ben Affleck’s directing skills once again on display at full power. Yet, with all of the ingredients present and accounted for, the resulting movie still comes off as a super safe affair that plays things down the middle. 

Shoe geeks unite: Air is a movie that primarily has your interests in mind.

Air is, above all else, the story of the Air Jordan shoe brand’s formation. Throughout the almost two-hour film, we’re treated to consistent reminders of the culture and the atmosphere of the NIke campus. So if you’re a fanatic of all things footwear, Air has you covered.

The dogged efforts of Matt Damon’s Sonny Vaccaro are chronicled through various phases of dealing that cross through several of the by-laws that made Nike what it is today. Air is clearly pitching to the crowd that wants an in-depth look at the decision making process that landed Air Jordan as one of the most profitable and identifiable shoes of the modern world. 

However, this film short changes sports fans in a rather interesting way, as this Michael Jordan-adjacent history does everything it can to avoid flat out showing his airness. If the movie focused totally on the negotiations of Jordan's parents, Deloris (Viola Davis) and James R. Jordan Sr. (Julius Tennon), then things may have played more evenly. But Air has an awkward habit of addressing Michael Jordan indirectly, even in scenes where he’s physically present and can be heard delivering a line or two through actor Damian Young. 

This doesn't happen just once, but in a handful of scenes that show the process of the Jordan family's meetings with various other shoe brands. While the main focus is Nike’s part in making the brand what it is today, even just one scene of Jordan being included as an actual character would have improved how it all plays out. This turns out to be even more frustrating in a movie like Air where the players involved feel more interesting than the achievement they’re working towards.

Characters trump events in Air’s story, but the total package is still a bit light.

Early in Air, a history of gambling is established in the character of Sonny Vaccaro. That right there feels like a standard parallel to draw between the personal and professional life of Matt Damon’s Nike company man. And yet, the movie doesn’t feel like it truly shows a risk being taken, which is partially because of a famous set of guidelines for business within the titanic shoe company basically saying that this is standard operating procedure. If the whole company is run on a maverick’s code of ethics, then taking the chances the normal would see as thrilling come off as just another day at the office. 

The advantage that Air has with its cast of historical figures is that their personalities liven up the proceedings. Comedically profane phone calls between Damon’s Vaccaro and Chris Messina’s David Falk (Michael Jordan’s then-agent) are some of the highlights that brighten up the very familiar story. Even something as simple as inside baseball conversations with NIke stalwarts Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and Peter Moore (Matthew Maher) comes to life, as everything from NBA regulations to shoe design pros and cons are discussed. 

Air has also been gaining notice for powerhouse performances from Matt Damon and Viola Davis, both of whom land some of the most dramatic moments in the entire story. With an actor/director like Ben Affleck at the helm, one would expect the acting talent on display to be on point, and that’s indeed the strongest component the film has going for it. 

Even Affleck’s portrayal of Nike CEO Phil Knight is a winner, with this movie’s own helmer unafraid to play one of the doubtful figures who also happens to be a bit of a goofball. It doesn’t wholly cover the narrative’s lack of pull, but the personalities of Air keep things moving, even in some of the slower spots.

While there’s some heartfelt and humorous moments, Air plays it too safe with the subject depicted.

With a talented roster of performers, Air still doesn’t manage to land a totally captivating portrait that’ll win over the outsider. There are certainly moments that stick the landing – such as a Matt Damon monologue and one politely tense phone conversation between him and Viola Davis hammering home the message of the movie. The sentiment that total commitment to Michael Jordan’s talent is the driver for this unproven brand is never a problem. If anything, it’s the way that everything is structured that really robs Air of a more convincing narrative to draw anyone outside of the sports or sportswear world into its tale.

The mark of a good historical biopic is the ability to invite those who might not be into the subject at hand to want to dig in. It’s how movies like Moneyball turn subjects as supposedly boring as sabermetrics in baseball into a widely regarded home run. Air will play well with the faithful, but outside of the die-hards whose minds are already made up, this game will be seen as respectably played, but not that intensely interesting.

When it comes to some of the latest and greatest movies, you can’t get much better than Air. The new film, starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis and so many more, tells the story of how Nike created the famous sneaker brand, Air Jordans, because of the legendary basketball player, Michael Jordan, before he was even the big star he'd eventually become. 

The film is loaded with stars, and I’m sure you’ve seen at least one or two of them in something other than this film. Let’s get into the Air cast, and where you might have seen them before. 

Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro)

First up on the list is the main man himself, Matt Damon, who plays Sonny Vaccaro in Air. Damon has been in Hollywood for some time, and has appeared in many films that have truly made him become a huge star. One of his breakout roles was in Good Will Hunting, alongside Robin Williams and Ben Affleck, where he also co-wrote the script with Affleck and won an Academy Award for it, but he’s been in many other roles besides that as well. 

These include the Julia Roberts-led rom-com, Mystic Pizza, the Jason Bourne franchise, the Ocean’s trilogy, The Departed, Syriana, The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Last Duel, Saving Private Ryan, True Grit, Ford v. Ferrari, and many more. He was also the lead of The Martian cast, where he truly shined and even earned an Academy Award nomination for the role. 

Damon has also had some time in television as well, guest-starring on the popular show, 30 Rock, as well as a critically acclaimed role in Behind the Candelabra.

Ben Affleck (Phil Knight)

Next up is Ben Affleck, who plays Rich Knight. Affleck is actually also the director of Air, but it’s always awesome to see him take on a role in a movie that he is directing, like what he did with Argo. 

Affleck has been in many movies, including Good Will Hunting, but some of his other big roles are in films that include Dazed and Confused, Armageddon, The Sum of All Fears, Hollywoodland, Gone Baby Gone, The Way Back, The Tender Bar, and more. He also portrayed Batman in the DCEU for several movies, and was also recently in Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. 

Jason Bateman (Rob Strasser)

Jason Bateman has been in the business for some time, and he’s playing Rob Strasser in Air. Bateman has had a big career on television, with his career being revitalized by Arrested Development, and he gained even more acclaim for his main role in the Netflix series, Ozark. Besides this, he’s also appeared in many films. 

Some of his best include Teen Wolf Two, Necessary Roughness, Hancock, the coming of age comedy Juno, Game Night, the great Zootopia (which is getting a sequel from Disney), This Is Where I Leave You, Office Christmas Party, and more. Truly, so awesome to see him in a role such as this. 

Chris Messina (David Falk)

Chris Messina plays David Falk in the film, and the actor has been around in movies and on TV for some time. Primarily, many know him from the sitcom, The Mindy Project, but he’s also been in many other famous television shows such as the HBO series, Six Feet Under, Damages, The Newsroom, The Sinner, and Gaslit. He was also part of the main cast of Sharp Objects. 

Besides this, Messina was also in movies such as Julie & Julia, Ruby Sparks, Devil, I Care A Lot, Celeste and Jesse Forever, and Birds of Prey, among many others. 

Matthew Maher (Peter Moore)

Playing Peter Moore is Matthew Maher, who is primarily known for his smaller roles in movies and television shows, but he’s had a few bigger ones that you might recognize him from. In terms of movies, he’s appeared in Four Letter Word, The Killer Inside Me, Live by Night, The Outside Story, Captain Marvel, Funny Pages and others. 

On television, he has a main role on the hilarious HBO comedy, Our Flag Means Death, had a recurring role in Outer Range, and also appeared in a recurring role in Mozart in the Jungle. 

Marlon Wayans (George Raveling)

Moving on, we have Marlon Wayans, a famous comedic actor who is taking on the role of George Raveling in Air. Wayans has had experience in a dramatic role before, where he had a main part in Requiem for a Dream back in the early 2000s, but he’s mainly known for his hilarious comedies. 

These include many of the Scary Movie movies, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, The Heat, Norbit, A Haunted House and its sequel, and On the Rocks on Apple TV, as well as others. 

He was the star of the popular television show The Wayans Bros. alongside Shawn Wayans, and was also the star of his own short-lived sitcom on NBC, Marlon. He recently had his own comedy special, Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me, on HBO Max.  

Julius Tennon (James Jordan)

Next up on the list is Julius Tennon, who portrays James Jordan, Michael Jordan’s father. Tennon is actually married to Viola Davis (another one of the stars) in real-life, so it’s cool to see them play a husband and wife together in this film. 

Tennon has appeared in a variety of films prior to this, including The Woman King, Lila & Eve, Get On Up, the 2009 version of Fame, and more. For television, he appeared in many small guest roles, including How To Get Away With Murder, ER, The Jersey, The Closer, Criminal Minds, 7th Heaven, Walker, Texas Ranger and more. 

Chris Tucker (Howard White)

Chris Tucker, a famous actor and comedian, plays Howard White in Air, and the actor has been around for some time in the movie industry. He acted in all the Friday films, as well as had parts in movies such as The Fifth Element, Silver Linings Playbook, Jackie Brown and Money Talks. He became even more well-known when he starred in the Rush Hour films alongside Jackie Chan. 

Tucker has also had success in television with his stand-up comedy specials. 

Viola Davis (Deloris Jordan)

Last but not least, we have Viola Davis, who plays Deloris Jordan in Air, Michael Jordan’s mother. Davis is a prominent figure in the acting world and has been in many movies for a long time. In 2022, she was the lead in The Woman King cast – with many people feeling she deserved an Academy Award nomination for it.

Some of her other major roles that she has been in include The Help, Fences, both Suicide Squad movies, Get On Up, State of Play, The Unforgiveable, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Life is Not A Fairytale, and more. 

She was also the lead of the popular TV drama, How to Get Away with Murder, and portrayed Michelle Obama in The First Lady. 

With such a star-studded cast, it’s no wonder we have seen all of these stars somewhere before their time in Air, and I for one can’t wait to see what they do next.  

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon had the best time working on Air together, and they became known for writing Good Will Hunting together as best friends trying to make it in Hollywood. Talk about friendship goals. However, when it comes to Wordle there’s a bit of hilarious tension between the longtime BFFs. It turns out there is a celebrity Wordle league that includes the Will Hunting actor as well as Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett and Jason Bateman, and it's quite exclusive, which was proven as Affleck revealed that he hasn’t been invited to play yet. And while talking about the exclusive league this time around he made sure to clarify that he’s not in the group chat because of his closest friend in the industry.

While on the press tour for Affleck’s movie Air, the actor/director has been campaigning to get into the Wordle group. So, when Damon, Affleck and Chris Tucker all appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and the singer asked the Air director about this Wordle group, and he was quick to point out that he has not been included in the “Nerdle League,” saying:

I guess if he needs a “cooler plus one” he could just ask his wife, you know global superstar Jennifer Lopez, to join the chat. I feel like that would maybe elevate his chances if an extra guest is what he needs to get in, but I digress.

After Affleck lamented over not being invited to play the game with his pals, Damon explained just how intense this “Nerdle League” is, saying:

In true best friend fashion, Affleck fired back at Damon, making fun of him before the Jason Bourne star got down to business talking about just how competitive the Wordle league is:

• Ben Affleck: Alright, Good Will Hunting. 
• Matt Damon: No, I mean it’s very, very competitive. Will Arnett is in it, Bradley Cooper, Jason Bateman. 

Affleck tried to explain that he wasn't mad about not being invited to join the friend's chat about words, however, I think I could hear a twinge of teasing jealousy in his voice. However, Damon wanted to clarify that he does think his pal could handle the game, he just advised Affleck against joining until he could practice a bit more. The silly back-and-forth continued as the two said:

• Ben Affleck: And I’m not, which is… fine. I don’t resent.  
• Matt Damon: I advised you--you’re welcome to join, we call it the ‘Nerdle League.’ I was like, ‘You can join the Nerdle League, but you might want to get your scores down.’ 
• Ben Affleck: The truth is they told me what their scores were, I was like, ‘I can get it.’  Then I did it a couple of times and was like, ‘I might need to train.’ 

Queue the training montage! If Affleck just practices a bit more I think he could easily compete with the crew. However, Damon and Affleck did discuss the words they absolutely hate getting, like “rarer” and “sooth,” with Clarkson, and overall it was a very nerdy conversation that proved, at least to me, that the boys should let the Argo director join the Nerdle League. 

Hopefully, Ben Affleck is able to get into the Nerdle League, and Matt Damon will stop light-heartedly gatekeeping the group chat. While we wait to see if the actor/director gets in on the word games, you can check out the incredibly well-reviewed Air – which will make its debut on the 2023 movie schedule on April 5 and will be available to those with an Amazon Prime subscription in a few months – to witness the movie that brought the two best pals back together as their relationship gets hilariously tested over Wordle. 

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are set to appear on the big screen together again, and this time they’re taking on the GOAT. Or, the GOAT’s shoes, as it were, as the biographical sports drama Air will tell Nike shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro’s story of trying to lock down Michael Jordan for a partnership with the fashion brand. Air premiered at South by Southwest this past weekend, and critics are here with their opinions of the Air Jordan origin story ahead of its April 5 theatrical release.

Matt Damon stars as the Nike employee who has the bright idea to cut a deal with NBA rookie Michael Jordan. Ben Affleck pulls double duty, starring as Nike boss Phil Knight as well as serving as Air’s director. The dynamic duo is joined by an A+ cast that includes Viola Davis as MJ’s mother, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker, and more. Let’s take a look at what the critics are saying after the SXSW premiere. 

Valerie Complex of Deadline says every cast member’s performance is award-worthy, and while it’s hard to choose a standout, Ben Affleck shines in his fifth directorial project. The critic writes: 

Matthew Monagle of The Playlist agrees that Ben Affleck’s return to directing is something to be celebrated and says Matt Damon projects a kind of everyman confidence that makes the audience believe his character has the smartest voice in the room. The critic gives the movie a B, saying: 

Ryan Scott of SlashFilm rates Air 8 out of 10, noting that in the same way that Moneyball was a baseball story that wasn’t really about baseball, Air is a basketball movie that’s not about basketball. It’s a Michael Jordan story that’s not about Michael Jordan. You don’t have to like or be familiar with either subject to appreciate what Affleck and the stacked cast are doing. The review continues: 

James Preston Poole of Discussing Film calls the film a “crowd-pleaser,” and agrees with the above critic that it lives and dies by the performances. The talent delivers both in front of and behind the camera, the critic says, rating this one 4 out of 5 stars. More from the review: 

Richard Whittaker of the Austin Chronicle calls Air a “charming origin story” and says Ben Affleck disguises a powerful parable as crowd-pleasing entertainment. The critic echoes previous sentiments that moviegoers don’t need to be a fan of the Chicago Bulls great or basketball in general to like this movie:

Critics who caught the SXSW premiere of Air are giving high praise to Ben Affleck in his return to directing, as well as to the performances. Audiences don’t have to wait too long to catch this one on the big screen, as it’s set for theatrical release on Wednesday, April 5. 

While you apparently don’t have to be a sports fan to appreciate Air, if you are one, check out some of the best sports movies and how to watch them. You can also revisit some of Ben Affleck’s best work, and be sure to check out our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to stay up to date on what’s coming to theaters soon. 

Becoming a celebrity is a dream for many people out there, especially those living in the LA area. While A-listers seem like they’re in a different world entirely, they’re ultimately just people like us. And just like so many others, they sometimes get wrapped up in internet trends. Case in point: Ben Affleck reveals that he, Matt Damon, and more stars have a celebrity Wordle group. But while there are award winners involved, Affleck claims “It’s not a high bar.”

Actor/writer/producer/director Ben Affleck has been a celebrity for decades now, so he knows plenty of other A-listers. Of course, he famously has a great friendship and collaborative relationship with fellow Bostonian Matt Damon. And in a recent interview with THR, Affleck revealed he and some other famous faces all play Worlde together. Although they play an even harder version of the viral trend, as he put it:

Honestly, sign me up. While many of us have fallen off of the Wordle craze in the months since its debut online, getting involved with a celebrity league is another type of activity altogether. And now I’m wondering how I would fare against the likes of Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Matt Damon, and the like. What’s more, their smack talk is no doubt hilarious given the low stakes of the game itself.

Ben Affleck’s comments to THR come as he’s promoting his new drama Air, which is about the development of Air Jordans for Nike. He also got honest about not wanting to direct a DC movie under James Gunn, and even spoke to those rumors about his alcoholism and ex-wife Jennifer Garner. This Wordle tidbit is delightful, and helps to peel back the curtain on what it’s like being an A-lister celeb like the Justice League star.

While Ben Affleck mentioned a bunch of names like Ozark’s Jason Bateman, I have to wonder if he left anyone out when sharing about the Wordle league. The group specifically gets together to play Octordle, which seems even more difficult. Affleck seems to be indicating that he’s the worst of the group, which is surprising given his extensive career as a screenwriter.

The Air movie is expected to arrive in theaters on April 5th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. Ben Affleck will also reprise his role as Batman in The Flash on June 16th.

Of all of Jennifer Aniston’s acting projects, she’s possibly best known for starring as Rachel Green on Friends. And while she has remained close to Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and other co-stars, the actress has taken the show’s title to heart, far beyond the purple walls of Monica’s apartment. Aniston is pretty well-known in Hollywood for her big star-studded parties and hosting dinners for her pals, and Jason Bateman is among the A-listers lucky enough to find himself in her social circle. The Friends actress recently showed just how much the Ozark star means to her, in her own way — by roasting him mercilessly on his birthday.

Jason Bateman proves weekly on his podcast Smartless that he can dish out some playful shade, and apparently he’s OK to take it, too. Jennifer Aniston celebrated her friend surviving another trip around the sun with several images on her Instagram Stories. It all started out innocently enough, with a truly sweet photo of the two: 

The two appear in that pic to be traveling somewhere on a plane, and yes, the buds are close enough to take vacations together. In fact, they’ve been friends for decades and have appeared in a number of movies together, including The Break-Up, Horrible Bosses, The Switch and Office Christmas Party. 

Last August, Jennifer Aniston shared some beachy snaps from a trip she took with Jason Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka, and what does a girl have to do to get an invite to that vaca getaway? The Murder Mystery 2 star didn’t stop with just the one photo in celebration of Bateman’s b-day, as she followed it up with a solo pic of the actor with the “best hair in Hollywood”: 

From there it just got ridiculous, and I don’t know who was playing hairdresser when the Arrested Development star decided to try out these new looks, but I’m so, so happy that his frequent co-star got the photographic evidence: 

OK, I can’t be the only one who thinks that last one resembles Jason Bateman’s Arrested Deveopment brother and Smartless co-host Will Arnett, right? He may be flashing a peace sign in the photo, but Jennifer Aniston chose violence with these posts, and many of her followers joked that the actor needed to purchase some more products from his buddy’s hair care line, LolaVie: 

That mane is so wild, even Jennifer Aniston’s cute pups are passing judgment. I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get to see Jason Bateman rocking the actress’ famous “Rachel” hairstyle, especially after her The Morning Show co-star Reese Witherspoon showed photographic evidence of her own phase with the trend. Maybe next year?

Jennifer Aniston has a lot coming up this year, with Season 3 of The Morning Show expected to be released, as well as Murder Mystery 2 with another frequent co-star, Adam Sandler. Jason Bateman’s upcoming projects include the action thriller Carry On, which is set for release in 2023 to those with a Netflix subscription. 

Jennifer Aniston loves the holiday season and loves her friends (pun intended). She regularly hosts dinners and parties with some of her A-list pals, and even starred in Office Christmas Party to celebrate Christmastime in 2016. This year, she celebrated the holidays by sharing some of her festive Christmas decorations, including a massive tree. Additionally, Aniston hosted a big holiday bash with some of her very best friends, including stars like Sandra Bullock and Courteney Cox. 

This past week, Aniston posted some adorable photos of her festive decor for the holidays. She picked out her tree and an adorable reindeer made out of tree bark. She also shared some cute photos of the reindeer with her dogs, who also seem to be celebrating. You can see her sweet Instagram post below:

In addition, the Morning Show star hosted a star-studded Christmas blast to honor the season. It took place at her Bel-Air home and welcomed several of her best Hollywood friends. Along with Cox and Bullock, Jason Bateman, Tobey Maguire, David Spade, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Bradley Cooper were also in attendance. There was also allegedly a no-cell-phone policy, so you are unlikely to see many social media posts honoring the event (via Page Six). I think this is a great idea at any party, and allows friends to catch up and live in the moment.

While there may be no pics from the party, the holiday decor gives fans insight into what the gathering may have looked like. The Christmas tree is essential for setting the holiday vibe at such a soiree, and I hope the dogs were able to participate in all of the merry entertainment as well, as they look perfectly party ready. 

I’m sure Jennifer Aniston received some help planning such an event, as the actress has been plenty busy with a slew of many upcoming projects down the pike. While we are still patiently waiting for Season 3 of the hit Apple TV+ series The Morning Show, Aniston has been working on two movies. The Friends alum recently wrapped filming Murder Mystery 2 for Netflix alongside longtime collaborator Adam Sandler. She is also attached to star in Hail Mary, which is about a former beauty queen who becomes a sports manager. Aniston clearly has a lot going on, but I’m glad she took the time to celebrate the year with her friends. 

You can catch Jennifer Aniston in the latest season of The Morning Show streaming now with an Apple TV+ subscription. For those looking for some raunchy holiday cheer, you can also see Aniston in Office Christmas Party, which is available to rent on Amazon Instant Video. For more information on where to watch Christmas favorites, make sure to check out our 2022 Christmas movie schedule.

After a successful run on Ozark, Jason Bateman is returning to Netflix with a new limited series. Along with Bateman, Jude Law is also set to star and produce the show. 

Deadline reported that the series is called Black Rabbit, and that both actors are set to star in and executive produce the limited series. Bateman was also hired to direct, which makes sense considering his successful track record of directing Ozark. This marks the first time the two actors are working together, and it will also be Bateman’s first show following his hit Netflix drama. 

Zach Baylin and Kate Susman have been hired to pen the series, notably, Baylin wrote the script for the Oscar-nominated King Richard. Nothing is currently known about the premise for the show, other than it’s an original idea. 

The series is coming from multiple production companies including Bateman’s Aggregate Films and Law’s Riff Raff Entertainment. Everyone involved in this project is extremely successful and has worked on some exciting projects recently, plus they all have others lined up, along with this limited series. 

Even though Bateman made a name for himself in comedies like Arrested Development, he’s had massive success in the world of drama and thrillers in recent years. His Netflix series made the list of 2022 Emmy winners, and in 2019 he won an Emmy for directing Ozark. The drama’s final season, which Bateman noted he wanted a happy-ish ending, was part of the 2022 TV schedule airing its final episodes earlier in the year. Following Ozark, Bateman is not only in pre-production on this show with Law, but he’s also keeping his Netflix run going by starring in a thriller called Carry On and directing another thriller called Dark Wire.

As for Law, he most recently appeared in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, as the younger version of the beloved character Albus Dumbledore. This will be Law’s third limited series in recent years as he starred in the critically acclaimed The New Pope and the 2020 series The Third Day. Along with the project with Bateman, the actor also has multiple exciting films and shows in the works, including Peter Pan & Wendy, where he’s playing Captain Hook, as well as Sherlock Holmes 3. He is also joining the Star Wars universe by way of the series Skeleton Crew. 

The writers attached to the series have worked on some notable projects as well. Baylin wrote the Williams sisters’ biopic King Richard, and he penned the script for Creed III. While Susman has exciting projects in the works with Baylin, including a show called The Order. 

It’s super exciting to see these two actors working together on a project. While it’s an unexpected pairing, Law’s work in both film and TV, along with Bateman’s success in both comedy and drama makes me confident this will be a series to keep an eye out for. Eventually, Black Rabbit will make its way to Netflix, but in the meantime, you can watch Bateman’s last successful thriller series Ozark with a Netflix subscription. 

It looks like there won’t be any rest for Jason Bateman anytime soon. After wrapping production on Ozark, Bateman is moving on to star in another project for Netflix alongside Kingsman's Taron Egerton. The actor has been tapped to star in the action thriller titled Carry On. This film will be a part of Amblin Entertainment’s production deal with Netflix that emerged in June of 2021. 

According to the log line provided by Deadline, Carry On is about a young TSA agent named Ethan Kopek who is blackmailed by a mysterious traveler into letting a dangerous package slip through security onto a flight on Christmas Day. Bateman is rumored to be playing the mysterious traveler, but nothing concrete has been announced. 

The film will be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, with TJ Fixman penning the first draft of the script and Michael Green polishing for a final draft. Jaume Collet-Serra is the director behind The Shallows, and more recently the upcoming DC movie Black Adam. Fixman is the writer behind the animated feature Ratchet and Clank starring Sylvester Stallone, and Michael Green has been incredibly successful composing screenplays for Logan and Blade Runner 2049, among other projects. War for the Planet of the Apes producer Dylan Clark is also attached to produce on the project, along with Brian Williams, Scott Greenberg, and Seth William Meier attached as executive producers.

Jason Bateman has received many accolades for his performance on Netflix’s Ozark, including an Emmy win in 2019. Bateman has been nominated again for two Emmys this year for both acting and directing on the series. Previously, he starred in Arrested Development, which was picked up by Netflix from Fox in 2013 for two final seasons. Given Bateman’s clearly positive experience working with Netflix, it's no wonder he would want to work with the streaming service again. Signing Bateman on to another project is also a positive move for Netflix. The streaming service has been losing subscribers, and Ozark fans may stick with the service if Bateman is still involved in projects. Carry On could just be what Netflix needs. 

Bateman has been busy on many other projects outside of his relationship with Netflix. The Horrible Bosses star recently wrapped production on an untitled film about Nike, and the company's relationship with basketball legend Michael Jordan in the 1990s. Bateman will be starring alongside Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, and the film is being made for Amazon. The release date is still TBA, but we probably shouldn’t expect to see the film until late 2023. 

Bateman was also originally tapped to direct the Ryan Reynolds led Clue remake, but said he had to give up the job due to scheduling conflicting with Ozark. However, with Ozark wrapping last year, there could be room for Bateman to return to the film. 

Carry On will be available exclusively for Netflix subscribers in the near future. In the meantime, check out our feature on some of the other best Netflix shows to binge alongside Ozark.

The following contains major spoilers for the Netflix series Ozark, so do not read if you haven’t watched the show, and still plan to. 

Stepping back and looking at the totality of Ozark, one of the best Netflix shows the streaming service has offered, it’s easy to focus on the murder and betrayal that swam in the wake of the Byrde family as they fought to attain their goals. Because yes, a lot of people lost their lives over the course of the program’s four seasons, and the way the show ended promised more loss (though, for who was up to your interpretation).Yet there were moments of beauty and longing, of love and passion on Ozark that can go overlooked… even when they are between two “odd ducks” like the twenty-something Wyatt Langmore (Charlie Tahan) and his senior citizen wife, Darlene Snell (Lisa Emery).

Ozark director Amanda Marsalis labeled Wyatt and Darlene “odd ducks” during a recent conversation with CinemaBlend following the show’s finale, which she claims is the definitive end and is not meant to leave the door open for more Ozark. Thanks to the episodes that Marsalis directed in Season 2, 3 and 4, she got to film a number of memorable and tragic death scenes...and also that memorable sex scene.  

Marsalis opened up to us about how her approach to the scene helped turn what could have been a spoof into something she found to be emotional. She told CinemaBlend:

I’m not sure I ever fully understood the romance between Wyatt and Darlene that began in Season 3. Sure, you can argue that Ruth (Julia Garner) pushed Wyatt away from the Langmores and into the arms of Darlene when she confessed to murdering Wyatt’s father and uncle. Also, Darlene had experienced tremendous loss once she’d murdered her own husband, Jacob (Peter Mullen). As these two wounded souls sought solace, they found it in each other. Stranger things have happened, I suppose… even on Ozark. So ultimately, I’m glad that Amanda Marsalis recognized enough humanity in Darlene and Wyatt’s relationship to treat their sex scene seriously, and produce what we saw. 

There has been some controversy over how Ozark ended, with leading man Jason Bateman warning fans that the resolution for the Byrde family wasn’t going to please everyone. There are some lingering Ozark questions that we wish Season 4 had addressed, and the executives at Netflix as well as series showrunner Chris Mundy have teased the possibility of an Ozark spinoff that could bring us back to Missouri for more criminal behavior. I want to see Wendy Byrde (Laura Linney) in Washington D.C., holding a Senate seat for Missouri and making life living hell for the Beltway crowd. 

Bummed that Ozark is done? Have no fear. Your next binge-able Netflix show can be found on our 2022 Netflix TV schedule, so scan it now and start watching.  

The following story gets into MAJOR spoilers for the final season of Ozark, so if you haven’t yet caught up on the last batch of episodes, back away now. 

Certain programs get criticized for ambiguous endings. The Sopranos takes the most heat for the cut-to-black moment David Chase put in his series finale, but Lost also gets abused by critics and fans for its resolution (whether fairly or not). Time will tell where Jason Bateman’s Ozark finale will land in the grand scheme of series finales, but it does end with a cut to black and a gun shot that most viewers probably can apply meaning to, even though it leaves the key series characters – the Byrde family – alive and well and on the other side of all the vile crimes they committed. 

In the wake of the final seven episodes landing on Netflix, series director Amanda Marsalis spoke with CinemaBlend about the conclusion, her contributions to the fourth season (she helmed pivotal episodes such as “Mud” and “Pick a God and Pray”), and the open-ended nature of the show’s final shot. I asked Marsalis if the Byrde’s surviving the series meant that Ozark might return one day and she definitively stated:

At one point during our conversation, Amanda Marsalis and I discussed the power of Ozark being able to choose its ending, despite the fact that she wishes she was still working on it now and planning out a fifth season. But shows who can point to an end – be it Breaking Bad or its prequel Better Call Saul – tend to deliver satisfying conclusions because they have been mapped put, plotted towards, and realized. It might mean, as is the case with Lost, that co-stars are still explaining the meaning in interviews years after the fact. But conversation swirling around a show can never be bad, because it might inspire new people to start at the beginning and binge through to the end. 

Prior to the final batch of Ozark episodes arrived, leading man and frequent director Jason Bateman revealed his hopes for the resolution for the Byrdes. And then our own Mick Joest did a deep-dive analysis into what was shown, who we lost, and what the final shot of the program meant to him. 

Now, one way that Netflix could keep the cartel money flowing into its bank accounts is to explore a spinoff series, which has been suggested. But I’m taking Amanda Marsalis at her word, and saying goodbye to the Byrde family, and thanking them for this wild ride.  It really is one of the best Netflix shows available.

Ozark Season 4 Part 2 is almost here, and with its arrival comes the conclusion to the epic drama. Netflix subscribers will soon see the end of the Byrde family’s story, and given all the major deaths throughout the series, I’m assuming many are eager to see how things shake out for the main characters. For those unable to wait for the release, Jason Bateman recently unveiled how the finale will leave the family, and what kind of ending to expect for Marty and his kin. 

Jason Bateman recently appeared on The Tonight Show and explained the work that went into crafting the ending for Ozark. He also revealed what viewers can expect in terms of an ending for the family, and the conversation he had with showrunner Chris Mundy about the final episodes of the series. 

I definitely didn’t expect the Byrde family to get an ending that was happy by any stretch of the word, especially given all that’s happened to date. With that said, I honestly questioned whether or not the family may finally get out of this whole mess at all (especially after that trailer of the van flipping with them inside), so it’s good to hear that there is some silver lining in Jason Bateman’s quote. I’ll take a “limping” happy ending over a sad one, especially when I saw not even the seemingly immortal Darlene Snell was able to escape last season. 

The question I’m wondering now is whether or not things work out so well for Ruth Langmore. Jason Bateman only spoke to what was going on for the Byrde family. Ruth’s final scene in the latest Ozark episode was her swearing vengeance on Javi for killing her cousin Wyatt. 

Trying to take out Javi is dangerous enough on its own, but with the Byrdes reliant on Javi’s survival for their protection, they might have to make moves against Ruth as well. I’ve questioned if Marty and Wendy would actually kill Ruth if they needed to in the past. Ruth Langmore (played by the wonderful Julia Garner) is one of Ozark's best characters. If she's about to die in these final episodes, I personally would appreciate a heads up on that happening more than knowing things will be ok for the Byrde family.

Ozark Season 4 Part 2 releases on Netflix on Friday, April 29. After that, we can look ahead to May, and there’s plenty of upcoming thrilling originals to stream on the platform once Ozark is done, so be sure to read up on what’s around the corner. 

Every once in a while, celebrity siblings - such as Ben and Casey Affleck or Dakota and Elle Fanning - end up sharing the screen together. Well, apparently it happens a little more often than just every once in a while, given the amount of examples we compiled below.

Jake And Maggie Gyllenhaal (A Dangerous Woman, Homegrown, Donnie Darko)

Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and his twice-nominated older sister, Maggie, are in three movies together: 1993’s A Dangerous Woman, 1998’s Homegrown (both were directed by their father, Stephen), and the eventual sci-fi cult classic, Donnie Darko, in 2001.

Jeff And Beau Bridges (The Fabulous Baker Boys)

Oscar winner Jeff Bridges and his older brother, Beau, also played siblings in The Fabulous Baker Boys - a 1989 comedy in which the titular musicians become rivals after teaming up with a beautiful aspiring singer (Michelle Pfieffer).

Kate And Rooney Mara (Urban Legends: Bloody Mary)

Kate Mara of the House of Cards cast led the 2005 straight-to-video slasher, Urban Legends: Bloody Mary, in which her younger sister, Nightmare Alley’s Rooney Mara, made her acting debut.

Sean And Chris Penn (At Close Range)

Future two-time Oscar-winner Sean Penn and his late younger brother, Chris (best known from the Reservoir Dogs cast) played siblings in the 1986 crime thriller, At Close Range, starring Christopher Walken as their criminal father.

Andrew, Owen, And Luke Wilson (Bottle Rocket, The Royal Tenenbaums) 

Owen Wilson and his younger sibling, Luke have also acted alongside their eldest brother, Andrew, in 1996’s Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums from 2001 - both of which Owen also co-wrote with director Wes Anderson.

Chris And Luke Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok)

Chris Hemsworth has yet to star in anything with his little bro, Liam, but the Australian Marvel movie star’s older bother, Westworld star Luke, did show up in Thor: Ragnarok as a dramatized version of the God of Thunder, whom he is set to reprise (along with Matt Damon as “Actor Loki”) in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Dylan And Cole Sprouse (Various)

Twin brothers Dylan and Cole Sprouse (the latter of which went on to join the Riverdale cast) have shared the same role in several TV shows (most notably Grace Under Fire) and movies (such as Big Daddy with Adam Sandler) and have played siblings just as often, most famously as the title characters of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, its spin-off The Suite Life on Deck, and 2011’s The Suite Life Movie.

Tia, Tamera, And Tahj Mowry  (Sister, Sister, Smart Guy, Seventeen Again)

Twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry have shared the screen with their little brother, Tahj, several times - most notably as guest stars on each other’s respective sitcoms, Sister, Sister and Smart Guy, and in the 2000 Showtime original movie, Seventeen Again.

James And Dave Franco (The Disaster Artist)

After years finding success in the business in separate projects, James Franco and his younger brother, Dave, played Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero of the infamous cult favorite, The Room, in the 2017 biopic, The Disaster Artist.

Hilary And Haylie Duff (Various)

Haylie Duff would appear on three episodes of her younger sister, Hilary’s, Disney Channel show, Lizzie McGuire, and provided the singing voice of Isabella Parigi in the theatrical spin-off before they both played a singing group on an episode of American Dreams, sisters in the 2006 rags-to-riches story Material Girls, and both leant their voices to the infamous animated movie Foodfight!, which was released in 2012.

Aly And AJ Michalka (Various)

Singer-songwriter duo Aly and AJ Michalka first shared the screen in the 2006 Disney Channel original movie Cow Belles as sisters, again in the MTV original Super Sweet 16: The Movie the next year as rivals, followed by three episodes of Aly’s CW series Hellcats in 2011 as half-sisters. Most recently, they appeared in the 2015 drama, Weepah Way For Now, as what appear to be fictionalized versions of themselves.

Dakota And Elle Fanning (I Am Sam, Taken)

Elle Fanning has portrayed a younger version of her older sister, Dakota, on two separate occasions: first in the 2001 drama I Am Sam and secondly in the Steven Spielberg-produced, Syfy original miniseries, Taken, in 2002.

Spencer And Abigail Breslin (Various)

Academy Award nominee Abigail and her older brother, Spencer, played siblings in both Raising Helen and The Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement in 2004, played elves in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause in 2006, and later played cousins in the 2014 crime drama, Perfect Sisters.

Jason And Justine Bateman (Arrested Development)

Justine Bateman played her real-life brother, Jason's, sibling in the 1986 TV movie Can You Feel Me Dancing? and a sex worker whom Jason’s Michael Bluth mistakes for his long-lost sibling on Arrested Development.

John, Joan, Ann, And Bill Cusack (Grosse Pointe Blank)

While beloved star John Cusack and his Academy-nominated sister, Joan, have appeared in more films together than most celebrity siblings can claim (including Say Anything… and High Fidelity), the only screen credit that they also share with both their sister, Ann, and brother, Bill, is 1997’s Grosse Pointe Blank, which John also co-wrote and produced.

Bill And Brian Doyle Murray (Various) 

Bill Murray and his older brother, Brian, are both Saturday Night Live veterans (although at different times) and have several classic movies in common - including Caddyshack, Scrooged, Ghostbusters II, Groundhog Day, and The Razor's Edge.

Ben And Casey Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Chasing Amy)

Years before casting him in his amazing directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck shared the screen with his younger brother and fellow Oscar winner, Casey, in Good Will Hunting (which Ben co-wrote with Matt Damon) and Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy in 1997.

Macaulay And Kieran Culkin (Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York)

Kieran Culkin (now more famous than ever since starring on HBO’s Succession) made his acting debut alongside his older brother (child megastar Macaulay Culkin) in 1990’s Home Alone cast as his cousin, Fuller - a role he would also reprise in the 1992 sequel.

Rory And Kieran Culkin (Igby Goes Down)

In addition to playing Macaulay’s younger self in Richie Rich, the youngest Culkin brother, Rory, also played a younger version of Kieran as the title role in 2002's Igby Goes Down.

The Wayans Siblings (Various) 

Where do we start with the Wayans Siblings? Well, for instance, several of them (such as Damon and Kim Wayans) were a part of the In Living Color cast with star and creator Keenen Ivory Wayans, who later directed his younger brothers, Marlon and Shawn, in movies like White Chicks, the first two Scary Movie installments, and Little Man.

Zooey And Emily Deschanel (Bones)

In Season 5 of Bones, star Emily Deschanel’s sister (Zooey of the Elf cast fame and later the lead of the New Girl cast) guest starred as Temperance Brennan’s second cousin, Margaret Whitesell.

Fred And Ben Savage (Little Monsters, The Wonder Years, Boy Meets World)

After playing siblings in the family-friendly horror film, Little Monsters, in 1989, Ben Savage made a guest appearance on his older brother, Fred’s, hit dramedy, The Wonder Years, in 1990 and later returned the favor by inviting him to the Boy Meets World cast for an episode in 1998.

Charlie Sheen And Emilio Estevez (Various)

After making several movies together - including Young Guns, Men At Work, and Rated X (the latter two of which Emilio Estevez directed), Charlie Sheen (née Carlos Estevez) reunited with his brother on an episode of his hit sitcom, Two and a Half Men, in 2008.

Vanessa and Laura Marano (Saving Zoë)

Both of these talented ladies had guest appearances on Dexter at different times in the series’ run, but Vanessa Marano and her younger sister, Laura, did appear together in the 2019 mystery, Saving Zoë, as siblings torn apart by one’s unsolved murder.

Nat And Alex Wolff (The Naked Brothers Band, Mr. Troop Mom, Stella’s Last Weekend)

Hereditary’s Alex Wolff and his older brother, Peacock’s Joe vs. Carole cast member Nat Wolff, both debuted as fictionalized versions of themselves in Nickelodeon’s faux rockumentary, The Naked Brothers Band, its series continuation, and the 2009 TV movie Mr. Troop Mom before reuniting in 2018’s Stella’s Last Weekend, which was written and directed by their mother, Polly Draper.

Vera And Taissa Farmiga (Higher Ground, At Middleton, The Nun)

Scream Queens Vera and Taissa Farmiga, who are often mistaken for mother and daughter, played mother and daughter in 2013’s At Middleton after Taissa previously played her older sister’s younger self in Vera’s 2011 directorial debut, Higher Ground. However, interestingly, their characters in the 2018 Conjuring spin-off, The Nun, have no apparent familial ties.

Maude And Iris Apatow (Knocked Up, This Is 40, Funny People)

Euphoria’s Maude Apatow and her younger sister, Iris, have played siblings in 2007’s Knocked Up, its “sort-of sequel” This is 40 from 2012, and 2009’s Funny People - all three of which also starred their real mother, Leslie Mann, as their mother, and were written and directed by their father, Judd Apatow.

Dan And Sarah Levy (Schitt’s Creek)

While Annie Murphy plays co-creator Dan Levy’s on-screen sister in the Schitt’s Creek cast, Café Tropical owner, Twyla Sands, is played by his real-life sister, Sarah.

Mary-Kate, Ashley, And Elizabeth Olsen (How The West Was Fun)

After Full House made the Olsen Twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, household names and  before the Marvel movies made their younger sister, Elizabeth, an A-lister, all three of them appeared together in the ABC original TV movie How the West Was Fun in 1994.

Bill And Alexander Skarsgård (White Water Fury)

Years before his terrifying performance as Pennywise in It, Bill Skarsgård made his acting debut alongside his older brother, True Blood cast member Alexander, in the 2000 Swedish thriller, White Water Fury.

Blake And Robyn Lively (Simon Says)

Robyn Lively, star of 1989’s Teen Witch, shared the screen with her then up-and-coming half-sister, former Gossip Girl cast member Blake Lively, in a 2006 slasher flick called Simon Says, which also stars fellow ‘80s icon Crispin Glover.

Brian And Domhnall Gleeson (Mother!, Frank Of Ireland)

Despite plenty of years of experience between the them, it was not until 2017 when Star Wars star Domnhall Gleeson and his younger brother, Brian, shared the screen in Mother! before reuniting as co-creators and co-stars of the Amazon Prime original comedy Frank of Ireland - also starring their father, Brendan Gleeson.

Eddie And Charlie Murphy (Harlem Nights, Norbit)

Comedy icon Eddie Murphy worked behind the scenes a lot with his older brother, Charlie, who passed away in 2017, but the two would also share a few acting credits, - namely Eddie’s 1989 directorial debut Harlem Nights (also Charlie’s first movie), and in 2006’s Norbit, in which Charlie voiced a dog named Floyd.

Phylicia Rashad And Debbie Allen (The Cosby Show, Grey’s Anatomy, The Old Settler)

Phylicia Rashad and her younger sister, Emmy-winning dance legend Debbie Allen, have made guest appearances on each other’s shows - The Cosby Show, on which Rashad played Claire Huxtable, and Grey’s Anatomy, on which Allen plays Dr. Catherine Fox (née Avery) - and both starred in a 2001 TV movie called The Old Settler, which Allen also directed.

Ron And Clint Howard (Various) 

You can find Clint Howard in just about every movie directed by his brother, Ron Howard - including his feature-length directorial debut from 1977, Grand Theft Auto, which was also the brothers’ third time acting alongside each other after the 1963 film The Courtship of Eddie’s Father and a handful of episodes of The Andy Griffith Show.

Angelina Jolie And James Haven (Gia, Hell’s Kitchen, Original Sin)

Audiences probably remember Angelina Jolie’s brother, James Haven, better for other reasons than all the times he shared the screen with his younger sister - namely Gia and Hell’s Kitchen from 1998, and 2001’s Original Sin.

Jared And Shannon Leto (Various)

In addition to being bandmates with his young brother, Oscar winner Jared Leto, in 30 Seconds to Mars, Shannon Leto also shared the screen with him on a couple of episodes of My So-Called Life (on which Jared played the iconic Jordan Catalano) and through brief appearances in the movies Prefontaine from 1997, 1998’s Highway, and Sol Goode in 2003.

Chris And Scott Evans (Before We Go, Playing It Cool)

Former Captain America actor Chris Evans has a brother named Scott who has also appeared in two romantic-comedies from 2014 with his older sibling, called Before We Go (which Chris also directed) and Playing It Cool.

Sarah And Laura Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program, Bob’s Burgers, Masters Of Sex)

Comedian and actress Sarah Silverman and her sister, Laura, played heavily fictionalized versions of themselves as series regulars on The Sarah Silverman Program, made guest appearances on Showtime’s Masters of Sex together, and have recurred on Bob’s Burgers as Jimmy Pesto’s twin sons, Andy and Ollie.

Kevin, Nick, And Joe Jonas (Camp Rock Movies, Jonas)

Back when they were the biggest thing to come out of Disney Channel, Kevin, Nick, and Joe Jonas played three brothers in a band not named the Jonas Brothers in the Camp Rock movies, and later played themselves to more comedic effect in their own sitcom, aptly titled Jonas.

Looks like talent really does run in the family.

Since releasing a few weeks ago Melissa McCarthy’s Thunder Force has made headlines for the comedic chops of its all star cast, wild sex scenes and a particularly disgusting ending. After saving the residents of Chicago, McCarthy's character shares a plate of what appears to be raw chicken in an intimate celebration with Jason Bateman's The Crab. It’s particularly nasty due to just how realistic the raw chicken looks, and apparently the crew had one hell of a time finding the perfect supplement for actual raw chicken.

In a recent interview Melissa McCarthy revealed the painstaking process of simulating actual raw chicken for the camera. In her own words:

She dished the details in an interview with co-star Octavia Spencer on BuzzFeed. Fortunately, McCarthy didn’t end up eating actual raw chicken, as the crew found a surprisingly sweet substitute:

I mean, on one hand I’m happy they pulled off such a convincing substitute. On the other hand, I can’t imagine it was easy to scarf those things down. The raw chicken bit is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of gonzo comedy found in Thunder Force. At one point there’s a particularly intimate dance number between her character and Jason Bateman's The Crab (who is sporting straight up crab claws as arms), all to the sultry saxophone of Glenn Frey.

While the superhero comedy may not have been as warmly received by critics as it was by fans, there was still plenty to like. A number of viewers were quick to praise it’s diverse representation and Jason Bateman’s half-crab character.

If you haven’t seen it yet, Thunder Force is now streaming on Netflix. While it’s certainly not an MCU flick, the Netflix comedy offers a fun and fresh spin on the superhero genre, even if things get a little zany at times.

Being half of a celebrity couple can be hard, and few one know that better than Justin Theroux, who was previously married to Justin Theroux. From dating to marriage to divorce, Theroux sometimes had a tough time due to being with such a high-profile star like Aniston. While others might resent it, the actor had already been warned about such attention, thanks to Ozarks star Jason Bateman. Recently, Theroux revealed the great advice Bateman gave about the Hollywood spotlight.

Through his relationship with Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux went from being a relatively known actor to the better half of everyone’s favorite Friend. Dating and marrying a huge celebrity caused the actor to make some adjustments to his life. But it was Aniston’s The Switch co-star who gave him some perspective on fame. Theroux explained:

At that moment, Jason Bateman was the Obi-Wan to Justin Theroux’s Luke Skywalker. Bateman was the perfect vehicle for that advice, as he has been famous since childhood. His wisdom was coming from years of experience working and living in Hollywood. It also shows how generous the actor is when it comes to sharing wisdom with his colleagues. Fortunately, Theroux was able to maintain his composure while he and Jennifer Aniston were an item.

During his Today interview, Justin Theroux admitted to taking Jason Bateman’s advice to heart. In regards to Bateman's advice helping, the actor told the morning show:

It's nice to hear Justin Theroux heeded Jason Bateman’s wise advice. In the end, it worked for him as he continued to gain notice for his film and television work, despite the constant attention surrounding his relationship with Jennifer Aniston. And even though their relationship ended, Theroux and Aniston have remained friends, as they even continue to exchange phone calls and well wishes on their birthdays.

Justin Theroux’s answer proved that Hollywood isn't always the cutthroat town its made out to be, and it's great to see that the actor took Jason Bateman's wordds to heart. And all the while, Theroux still finds himself with a nice career that continues to grow. At present, you can catch Justin Theroux in the Apple TV+ series The Mosquito Coast.

Melissa McCarthy’s latest superhero comedy, Thunder Force, has made headlines recently for some of the bizarre scenes featuring Jason Bateman as Jerry, aka The Crab. After a particularly wacky sequence featuring some Crab-like sex, the duo once again shocked fans with a scene toward the end of the film, eating what appeared to be raw chicken. Delicious!

Recently, Thunder Force director Ben Falcone revealed exactly what she was eating alongside Ozark star Jason Bateman. Fortunately, they weren’t actually consuming raw chicken (much to The Crab’s chagrin). Instead, they had a much sweeter substitute on set. According to the director:

First reported by The Wrap, Ben Falcone, who is married to McCarthy, said the pears were so realistic looking that even the staff was grossed out. Melissa McCarthy herself had trouble actually getting through it, apparently because it was hard to envision the pears as anything but raw chicken.

To be honest, I can understand where she’s coming from. Not only is raw chicken just disgusting to think about eating, it’s also incredibly unsafe. Even if they were just pears at the end of the day, it can’t be easy to convince yourself to eat them, let alone act like you are enjoying it!

The raw chicken bit is the cherry on top of Thunder Force’s out-there brand of comedy. At one point in the film McCarthy’s character has an impromptu dance sequence with Bateman’s The Crab. Naturally, they dance to the sax-laden tune “You Belong To The City” by Eagles frontman Glenn Frey. But to be fair, it kind of rules.

That’s just a taste of the shenanigans that happen while Thunder Force’s Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer take on the villainous King, played by Bobby Cannavale. Despite the all-star comedic talent involved, the cast recently revealed that the funniest person on set was MCU veteran, Pom Klementieff.

While fans and critics may have been lukewarm on the Netflix comedy, Thunder Force is a fresh spin on the increasingly popular superhero genre. Even with the gonzo comedy and disgusting raw chicken consumption, McCarthy’s latest venture was able to satiate my superhero appetite until the long-awaited Black Widow releases later this year. Fans can check out Thunder Force on Netflix, where it’s streaming right now.

Thunder Force on Netflix, the superhero comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer as two estranged childhood friends who are transformed into superheroes, isn’t getting a lot of love from the film critics since its April 2021 debut. But while reviewers, including CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg bring up a lot of good points in his Thunder Force review of Ben Falcone’s latest effort, you may be wondering what everyday Netflix subscribers think about the star-studded affair and if maybe they enjoyed the movie.

Well, as it stands, Thunder Force currently has Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score of 25% which is only one point better than its critical response. But it’s not all bad news as a number of the movie’s fans have found several elements of Thunder Force that they actually like, so much so they took to Twitter to let the world know. Here are some of their thoughts.

Whether Or Not They Loved The Movie, Some Fans Loved Thunder Force’s Representation Of Female Superheroes

Just because you don’t like a movie doesn’t mean that you can’t find something within its narrative or presentation that's worthwhile and that seems to be the case for a number of Thunder Force fans, who despite not enjoying the movie all that much, took note of the triumphs it made in the representation department. Throughout the movie, Lydia Berman (Melissa McCarthy), Emily Stanton (Octavia Spencer), and Tracy Stanton (Taylor Mosby) are all treated with respect (well, when Lydia isn’t eating raw chicken) and prove that you don’t have to be prototypical superhero to save the city from a supercharged villain like William “The King” Stevens (Bobby Cannavale) and his band of miscreants.

One Twitter user seemed underwhelmed by the acting and story, but noted that there was a lot of LGBTQ representation, which honestly isn’t something that happens enough in the superhero genre:

Another person who watched Thunder Force shortly after its release and took to Twitter to share their thoughts called the movie “so-so” but enjoyed seeing smart Black women and girls having meaningful roles in the genre:

And then there was someone who, despite describing the movie as “meh,” does seem to appreciate the sight of Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer as the superhero leads of this story.

All of these Thunder Force fans bring up a great point about the way the film handled diversity, which is honestly great to see as it helps break up the movie filled with an obscene amount of absurd and asinine concepts and humor.

Fans Can’t Get Enough Of Jason Bateman

On a lighter note, a lot of people who watched Thunder Force on Netflix the first weekend of its release all seemed to agree on something: they couldn’t get enough of Jason Bateman and his performance as Jerry “The Crab” a half-miscreant whose arms were turned into crab claws following an unfortunate underwater experience prior to the events of the movie. And like a lot of the fan reactions you’re about to see, I too couldn’t get enough of Bateman whether he was scuttling from side-to-side or using his claws for non-criminal activities.

This Twitter user commented on Thunder Force saying that the movie was indeed fun but it was the inclusion of Jason Bateman that made the movie for the them:

Some actors get grief for never changing up their characters, but one Thunder Force fan doesn’t care and actually seems to admire the Arrested Development star for it:

There are some, on the other hand (or claw), who are oddly attracted to Jason Bateman’s crustacean mutation, so there’s that:

And then some people who just want to show stuff like this (I’m not blaming them):

Honestly, it’s hard to not like Jason Bateman whenever he’s on screen in Thunder Force, and if a sequel (or prequel) were to ever be made, I’d love to see the rest of his story.

Okay, We Have To Talk About The Raw Chicken In Thunder Force

Spend enough time on the internet and you’ll find plenty, I mean plenty, of people who are obsessed with all that raw chicken in Thunder Force. Introduced earlier on with Lydia is told it’s the only thing her now-superhuman body can handle, the raw chicken gimmick comes up time and time again. Hell, it even ended up being featured at the end of the movie when Jerry “The Crab” feeds his newfound lover pieces of raw meat with his tiny little baby crab claws. Here are a few of the best reactions to all that disgusting chicken footage.

First, there’s the one Twitter user who went to bed shortly after watching Thunder Force only to wake up the next morning still consumed with questions about the chicken, namely, were they eating actual raw meat:

Another person came up with one remarkable way of promoting Thunder Force with an oft-overlooked segment of the population:

And then there was the Twitter user who came up with what is possibly the best way to describe the plot and character motivations in Thunder Force:

The raw chicken bit, while absolutely disgusting (I mean, dealing with raw poultry is the absolute worst), makes for some of the biggest laughs in Thunder Force, even though they do get a little fowl near the end there.

As you can see, the Thunder Force fan reaction is sort of all over the place. On one hand, you have people who love the way the Netflix movie treated female and LGBTQ characters. Then you have others who loved Jason Bateman’s performance. And then you have those folks who just can’t stop thinking about all that raw chicken, but I think we all are more than a little curious about that business.

If you weren’t the biggest fan of Thunder Force and didn’t think it was one of the best Netflix movies, fear not as there are plenty of 2021 new movie releases to keep you occupied while you get that raw chicken taste out of your mouth.

Sex scenes are controversial territory when it comes to filmmaking. While some are willing to bare all for the big screen, other major celebrities outright refuse to do them. Recently, Netflix’s Thunder Force featured a pretty weird sex scene between Melissa McCarthy and Ozark star Jason Bateman.

In an interview with CinemaBlend’s Jeff McCobb, Melissa McCarthy shed some light on what it was like to film such an intimate, yet hilarious moment with Jason Bateman, who plays a half-man half-crab. When asked about this scene in question, she had this to say:

Despite how weird the whole situation is, it sounds like McCarthy and Bateman had a good time filming the scene. While it wasn’t as if she had prior experience with a crab-man to work off of, the duo still pulled it off, along with some hilarious Old Bay related jokes.

In Thunder Force, Melissa McCarthy’s character, Lydia Berman, unwittingly becomes a superhero. During her crime fighting escapes alongside Emily Stanton, played by Octavia Spencer, a romantic relationship blossoms between Jason Batman’s crustacean-like character, The Crab. Many, and I mean many, butter-based jokes ensue.

The movie is stuffed with jokes related to all things crab from the moment Bateman’s character is introduced. Some may think that a few of the comedic bits venture into weird territory (the guy literally has crab arms, claws and all), but I thought the duo kept it relatively lighthearted and hilarious given the circumstances.

Thunder Force marks the first reunion between Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy since working together on 2013’s Identity Thief. The pair also worked on 2016’s Central Intelligence, but McCarthy’s cameo was uncredited.

The Netflix comedy is the latest addition to the growing number of superhero movies. While some fans have been eagerly waiting for a major release from the MCU’s Phase 4, Thunder Force is a welcome return to the genre. Although the project is more focused on comedy rather than the high-flying action that fans are used to, it’s a fun spin on an old recipe.

Fans can check out the wacky-yet-oddly-hilarious Thunder Force on Netflix, where it’s currently available for streaming. If Bateman’s claws didn’t completely scratch the superhero itch for you, be sure to check out our 2021 Movie Release Schedule for the latest on everything heading to the big (and small) this year.

Criminals, the Byrde family, and fans are super excited for Ozark Season 4. Ozark Season 3 ended with a bang, so we can only imagine what’s next for Marty (Jason Bateman), Wendy (Laura Linney), and the rest of the characters. Ozark is one of Netflix’s most popular and successful series, which likely means the streaming service and the team behind the show want to give fans plenty to talk about in Season 4.

Many Ozark fans may be still processing that whirlwind that was Season 3, and all the big dramatic moments, but Ozark Season 4 will be here quicker than Marty and Wendy can assassinate someone, so let’s explore some things that we know about the upcoming season.

This Is The Final Season Of Ozark

In June 2020, when Netflix made the official announcement of Ozark’s renewal, the streaming company also told viewers that this would be the final season. Ozark showrunner Chris Mundy released a statement that said the series and Netflix hoped to reach a conclusion that was satisfying.

Mundy spoke with Entertainment Weekly following the Ozark Season 3 finale and shared this tidbit about a possible Season 4,

I think it’s safe to assume that Ozark’s final season will deal with the Byrdes facing major consequences for their actions over the last three seasons, and whether that means death, jail time, or taking on new identities and moving to another country.

Ozark Season 4 Will Have 14 Episodes

The Ozark Season 4 renewal announcement also revealed that this final season would be supersized. Instead of the usual 10 episodes, this one would have 14 episodes to wrap up the Byrde’s saga.

In August 2020, Awards Focus interviewed Chris Mundy and he shared that the Ozark team and Netflix hadn’t made a decision yet on how to split up the 14 episodes. So there was no set time on whether fans would have to wait a few months or a whole year for the final seven episodes. Mundy also revealed that because the fans would experience the season in two halves, it was a bit tricky for the writers. Both halves need to please the viewers and leave them wanting more in the first half, but also fit with the overall final story arc.

Mundy also spoke with GoldDerby and revealed a little more about the breakdown of the two-part final season. He stated that in the writers’ room, they’re treating it like two seasons. He said it’s still a complete season but Mundy wanted to end Ozark Season 4, Episode 7 in a way and begin Season 4, Episode 8 in another way that respects that people will view them months apart.

The Main Cast Of Ozark Will Return

In Deadline’s Ozark Season 4 renewal article, it listed the cast members set to return. Basically, all the main characters who remained alive at the end of Season 3 will be back (and maybe one that didn’t). The Ozark Season 4 returning cast includes:

• Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde
• Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde
• Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore
• Sofia Hublitz as Charlotte Byrde
• Skylar Gaertner as Jonah Byrde
• Charlie Tahan as Wyatt Langmore
• Lisa Emery as Darlene Snell

I can’t wait to see how the Ozark team concludes each character’s story.

Ozark Season 4’s Production Was Set To Begin In November 2020

In August 2020, Jason Bateman revealed in an interview with Indiewire that Ozark Season 4 had a production start date of November 9, 2020. He stated that he was confident that the crew could follow all the protocols and guidelines to keep everyone safe and healthy and begin production.

Ozark is filmed outside Atlanta, so Bateman spoke about expecting to have positive test results weekly and said “it’s going to be challenging,” but he was still excited to get back to working on the Ozark, even if that meant repeat halts of production due to COVID-19 positive results.

The main cast haven’t posted on social media about whether production has officially begun but that could be because they’re trying to keep everything as secretive as possible about Ozark Season 4.

The Final Season Of Ozark Will Film In 40 Different Locations

Kemps Film TV Video (KFTV) revealed exclusively that Ozark Season 4 plans to film in 40 different locations. The site got an exclusive from Wesley Hagan, who is the location manager of Ozark. He disclosed that the first block of the filming takes place over 38 days, and 30 of those filming days will be shot in 40 different locations.

Hagan and KFTV noted the difficulty that the cast and crew may face filming in so many locations during this global pandemic, like having to have the crew isolated for 14 days before traveling to a new place and a limit on the number of people who can be in the production van.

The First Two Episodes Of Ozark Season 4 Will Not Be Directed by Jason Bateman

It’s Ozark tradition for Jason Bateman to direct the first two episodes of the season. He has done this every season so far, but Season 4 will be different. Bateman revealed to Indiewire (in the same article as mentioned above) that he won’t be directing the first two episodes of Ozark Season 4 and he might not direct any episodes this season. Because of all the COVID-19 protocols and his responsibility to the cast and crew, he thought that it didn’t seem responsible to act and direct this season.

Jason Bateman wears many hats on Ozark, director, executive producer, and actor, so stepping back from the directing seat likely won’t lessen his workload but it will help the series keep production running.

Jason Bateman Knows How Ozark Ends

In a different piece of Indiewire’s interview with Jason Bateman, the Ozark actor revealed that he actually knows how the story ends. He stated that he knows “where everything is going to end.” However, Bateman revealed that he doesn’t know the full picture yet.

Whatever is in store for the final season, we believe that Wendy and Marty will especially have to deal with the consequences of their actions.

Ozark’s Endgame Was Set Up As Early As Season 2

In the same GoldDerby interview, Mundy revealed that the writers started setting up the plans for the end game in early Season 2, and you can see hints of it in that season onward. Ozark’s showrunner also revealed that season three did “quite a bit” of setting up the plans for the final season.

Mundy didn’t expand any detail on how Ozark Season 2 hints toward the endgame, but sleuths can probably go back and look for clues of what is to come for the final season.

The First Ten Episodes Of Ozark Season 4 Were Written By August

Mundy mentioned to GoldDerby that the writer’s room, which had been meeting over Zoom, were working on the eleventh episode at the time of that interview. GoldDerby’s interview with Chris Mundy was conducted in August. So likely by November, the Ozark writing team had all fourteen episodes ready to shoot.

It’s unclear when Ozark Season 4 will be released on Netflix, but we’re hoping to see the first seven episodes sometime in 2021. The first three seasons of Ozark are currently available to stream on Netflix.

While gritty crime series seem like a dime a dozen these days, Netflix's Ozark is considered one of the finest shows on television day, receiving praise and Emmy recognition for its moody style, tonal assurance, sharp direction, and standout performances from its talented ensemble, including Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and an award-winning performance from Julia Garner. The show will soon come to an end with its forthcoming fourth and final season, so many viewers will be catching up with the series before its sure-to-be intense final moments. If you're in the midst of discovering what all the buzz is about and you find yourself wondering why these actors look familiar, we've here to help. Here's where you've seen the Ozark cast before.

Jason Bateman (Martin "Marty" Byrde)

Playing Martin "Marty" Byrde, a self-employed Chicago-based financial advisor who launders money for a Mexican drug cartel, Jason Bateman serves as a lead actor, director, and executive producer on this acclaimed drama show. 

A former child actor seen in Little House on the Prairie, Silver Spoons, The Hogan Family, and Teen Wolf Too, Jason Bateman is better known for leading Fox's beloved comedy series, Arrested Development, which was picked up for two more seasons on Netflix nearly a decade later. Through the success of his Golden Globe-winning performance, Bateman later starred in Juno, Horrible Bosses 1 and 2, Extract, Up in the Air, Hancock, The Gift, and Game Night. He also voiced the male lead in Disney's Oscar-winning Zootopia.

Additionally, Bateman directed and starred in 2014's Bad Words, followed by 2016's The Family Fang. Recently, he directed and played a recurring role in HBO's mini-series, The Outsider.

Laura Linney (Wendy Byrde)

In the role of Wendy Byrde, a public relations operative married to Marty, Laura Linney plays the female lead in this celebrated Netflix drama series. As a four-time Emmy-winning actress, Linney is certainly quite distinguished. Those aforementioned Emmys were won for her performances in the TV film, Wild Iris, the sitcom, Frasier, the HBO mini-series, John Adams, and the Showtime dramedy, The Big C. In addition to these credits, Linney is known for her work on the stage and screen, receiving five Tony nominations and three Oscar nominations throughout her constantly-impressive career.

Her Oscar nominations came from her commendable performances in You Can Count On Me, Kinsey, and The Savages, respectively. Laura Linney is also recognizable for The Truman Show, Mystic River, Love Actually, Primal Fear, Sully, The Squid and the Whale, Nocturnal Animals, Searching for Bobby Fischer, and Lorenzo's Oil — to name a few titles.

Sofia Hublitz (Charlotte Byrde)

As Charlotte Byrde, the teenage daughter of Wendy and Marty, Ozark became Sofia Hublitz's first major television role. Before her time in this streaming show, Hublitz appeared as a contestant on Fox's MasterChef Junior, and she had guest appearances in Louie and Horace and Pete. Earlier this year, Hublitz starred in What Breaks the Ice, which premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival in October. Next, the young actress will star in the action-crime flick, Ida Red, and the dramatic film, Master — both of which are expected to premiere sometime next year.

Skylar Gaertner (Jonah Byrde)

Playing the part of Jonah Byrde, the teenage son of Wendy and Marty, Skylar Gaertner plays a smart, yet introverted, character in this acclaimed streaming series. Prior to this performance, Gaertner was seen in several episodes of Netflix's Daredevil. He also had a brief part in The Americans, as well as guest star appearances in Nurse Jackie, Person of Interest, CSI, Law & Order: SVU, and Lipstick Jungle. Additionally, Gaertner appeared in They Came Together, Sleeping with Other People, I Smile Back, Alex of Venice, and The Ticket.

Julia Garner (Ruth Langmore)

As Ruth Langmore, a woman who is part of a local dangerous crime family, Julia Garner has certainly garnered a lot of praise for her performance — pun intended. Specifically, she has won two Emmys for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, among other accolades. 

Prior to this noteworthy performance, Julia Garner was best known for her work in The Americans. She also had prominent film roles in The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Martha Marcy May Marlene, We Are What We Are, and Grandma. Additionally, Garner starred in Netflix's mini-series, Maniac, in 2018, Paramount Network's mini-series, Waco, the same year, and she appears in Bravo's true-crime series, Dirty John. Earlier this year, the actress received some of her finest reviews for her lead performance in The Assistant.

Next, Julia Garner will frontline Shonda Rhimes' new Netflix drama, Inventing Anna.

Jordana Spiro (Rachel Garrison)

In the role of Rachel Garrison, Marty's hesitant business partner, Jordana Spiro starred in the first two seasons of Ozark. Prior to her time on this series, Jordana Spiro was best known for her leading role in the TBS sitcom, My Boys. She also had recurring roles in The Good Wife, Blindspot, Royal Pains, The Mob Doctor, Dexter, and JAG, as well as a leading role in the short-lived series, The Huntress. Her film credits include The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, Trespass, Alone with Her, Must Love Dogs, and this year's To the Stars.

In addition to her acting credits, Jordana Spiro is the co-writer, executive producer, and director of 2018's indie drama, Night Comes On (which is worth watching on Tubi if you find the chance). Next, Spiro is set to star in the dramedy film, Small Engine Repair.

Jason Butler Harner (Roy Petty)

Playing Roy Petty, an FBI agent on Marty's tail, Jason Butler Harner is seen throughout the first two seasons of Netflix's Ozark. Though he's primarily known for his stage work, Harner has a number of big screen roles on his resume, including The Good Shepherd, Next, Changeling, Non-Stop, Kill the Irishman, 2009's The Taking of Pelham 123, Blackhat, and Jason Bateman's The Family Fang. He also had recurring roles in Ray Donovan, Scandal, The Blacklist, and Homeland. Additionally, he made guest star appearances in Hope & Faith, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, John Adams, The Good Wife, CSI, The Newsroom, Elementary, This is Us, and High Maintenance.

Nowadays, Jason Butler Harner can be seen on Fox's Next. He's also starring in the new film, The Big Bend.

Esai Morales (Camino "Del" Del Rio)

During Ozark's first season, Esai Morales played Camino Del Rio, better known as "Del," who was a lieutenant for Mexico's Navarro drug cartel. Away from this series, Morales is known for playing Bob Morales in 1987's La Bamba, as well as Lt. Tony Rodriguez in NYPD Blue, Mayor Edward Beck in Jericho, and Joseph Adama in Caprica. His other notable television credits include American Family, Resurrection Blvd., How to Get Away with Murder, Titans, NCIS: Los Angeles, Chicago P.D., Blue Bloods, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Criminal Minds, and Los Americans, which he also produced. He also lent his voice to Dora the Explorer.

Outside of television, Esai Morales' other film credits include 2018's Superfly, Jarhead 2: Field of Fire, Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike, Fast Food Nation, In the Army Now, and 1983's Bad Boys.

Peter Mullan (Jacob Snell)

As Jacob Snell, a local heroin producer, Peter Mullan appeared prominently in the first two seasons of Ozark. The Scottish actor is widely acclaimed for his arthouse powerhouse performances in My Name is Joe, The Claim, and Tyrannosaur. He is also distinguished for his work in Trainspotting, Children of Men, Young Adam, Braveheart, Riff-Raff, War Horse, and the Harry Potter series, wherein he played Yaxley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 and 2. On television, Mullan starred in Top of the Lake, for which he was Emmy-nominated, Westworld Season 2, Mum, and, most recently, Netflix's Cursed.

Outside of acting, Peter Mullan directed acclaimed, award-winning indie dramas like 2002's The Magdalene Sisters and 2010's Neds. He starred in both of his films as well. Mullan wrote and directed 1998's debut film, Orphans. Most recently, the actor was seen in Marionette earlier this year.

Lisa Emery (Darlene Snell)

In the part of Darlene Snell, the wife of Jacob and his partner in his heroin business, Lisa Emery provides her most prominent on-screen role in this popular Netflix series. Primarily known for her stage work, Emery has starred in several movies and shows, including Unfaithful, Margot at the Wedding, The Night Listener, A Map of the World, Wolf, Admission, Roger Dodger, In & Out, and a recurring role on NBC's Ed. Emery also had guest appearances on Sex and the City, Law & Order: SVU, Fringe, Damages, The Sinner, Elementary, Louie, Netflix's Jessica Jones, and Law & Order.

Next, Lisa Emery stars in Catch the Fair One.

Charlie Tahan (Wyatt Langmore)

Playing the part of Wyatt Langmore, Ruth's cousin, Charlie Tahan has been a series regular on Ozark since Season 2, following a recurring presence in Season 1. Before he appeared in this series, Tahan was best known for Fox's Wayward Pines and Gotham. He also voiced the lead in Tim Burton's Frankenweenie, and provided child performances in I Am Legend, The Other Woman, Nights in Rodanthe, and Charlie St. Cloud. Additionally, Tahan played a recurring role in Law & Order: SVU. In recent years, the former child actor appeared in Wiener-Dog, Super Dark Times, Poms, Blue Jasmine, Love Is Strange, and Life of Crime.

Earlier this year, Charlie Tahan starred in Drunk Bus and episodes of Monsterland and FBI: Most Wanted. Next, he'll star in the mystery-drama, Montauk.

Janet McTeer (Helen Pierce)

Playing Helen Pierce, a Chicago-based attorney who represents the cartel, Janet McTeer was once a recurring character in Ozark Season 2 before she was promoted to series regular in Season 3. A Tony-winning actress for her 1996-1997 performance in A Doll's House, McTeer is also known for her Golden Globe-winning performance in Tumbleweeds, which was also Oscar-nominated, and for her Oscar-nominated performance in Albert Nobbs. Additionally, the award-recognized actress can be seen in The Woman in Black, the Divergent sequels, Maleficient, Songcatcher, Velvet Goldmine, Me Before You, Hawks, Half Moon Street, Songcatcher, and Damages' final season.

Her other television credits include The Governor, Sense and Sensibility, Into the Storm (for which she was Emmy-nominated), The White Queen, Battle Creek, Netflix's Jessica Jones, and, most recently, Facebook Watch's short-lived Sorry for Your Loss.

Tom Pelphrey (Ben Davis)

As Ben Davis, Wendy's brother who's on the run from the police when we first meet him on the show, Tom Pelphrey became a main character during Ozark's third season. Prior to his appearance in this Netflix drama, Pelphrey was best known for his soap opera roles, notably with his Emmy-winning performance in Guiding Light from 2004 through 2009, as well as his work in As the World Turns from 2009 to 2010. His other television credits include a notable part in Banshee and a series regular role in Iron Fist (which was also housed under Netflix). Additionally, Pelphrey can be seen in Law & Order: SVU, CSI: Miami, The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, Chicago P.D., and Blindspot.

On the big screen, Tom Pelphrey starred in Birds of America and The Girl Is In Trouble. Next up, he'll appear in Netflix's Mank and Amazon Prime's Outer Range.

Jessica Frances Dukes (Maya Miller)

In the role of Maya Miller, an FBI forensic accountant who's investigating the Byrdes' casino business, Jessica Frances Dukes was a new addition to Ozark Season 3. This series regular role is easily her most well-known, though Dukes also appeared in several episodes of Netflix's Jessica Jones. The actress has guest star appearances in New Amsterdam, The Good Wife, and NCIS: New Orleans as well. Most recently, she starred in the film, 16 Bars. Prior to that performance, Dukes starred in 2017's Bernard and Huey.

Who is your favorite Ozark actor/character? Be sure to let us know in the comment section!

One of scripted television's longest-running institutions, Saturday Night Live, is headed back into production and returning to the studio after its unexpected time airing with pre-taped skits from cast members' homes at the end of last season. While fans certainly admired the desire of the cast and crew to keep the good ship SNL afloat as much as possible under some trying circumstances, you can bet that viewers will be looking to see the legendary skitcom return to something much more like normal in Season 46. With new announcements on who will be hosting and performing as musical guests, it looks like all of our dreams will be coming true.

Every year brings an assorted number of wonders for those who love SNL. We tune in each week for the promise of laughs, fun surprises, wild satire, the occasional shocking (or shockingly funny) screw up and to see what kind of silliness the guest hosts (and possibly musical guests) will be roped into while trying to deliver the funniest possible show. This season will see Kenan Thompson head into his eighteenth season on the live show, further cementing his place as the longest-running cast member for SNL ever, but this promises to be a banner year for the series in other ways, as well.

This is, after all, an election year, and those behind Saturday Night Live are nothing if not truly gifted when it comes to both lampooning politicians and also casting said political figures for the show. We already know that (after sounding like he was totally done with putting in the effort) Alec Baldwin will return yet again to step into the presidential shoes of Donald Trump, a role that won him an Emmy in 2017, with former cast member Maya Rudolph reprising her Emmy-winning part as Kamala Harris.

Word also came down recently that they'll be joined by Jim Carrey, who will take over the part of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden from another former cast member, Jason Sudeikis. Who knows, with the way these special guest appearances are going, we might be treated to Brad Pitt's Dr. Anthony Fauci again. By the way, Pitt's performance also got an Emmy nod this year, so if we see a lot more special guests coming in to play real life people, I wouldn't be surprised.

Meanwhile, we do have our first announcement of who will host and act as musical guest on the Season 46 premiere of SNL, and you really can't be mad at who was chosen. So, let's get to the list of who will be handling hosting and musical duties this year! Be sure to bookmark this list, because it'll be updated when new info becomes available!

May 22 - Anya Taylor-Joy With Musical Guest Lil Nas X

Saturday Night Live will wrap Season 46 with another pair of newbies hitting the 30 Rock stage. The Queen's Gambit star and recent Golden Globe winner Anya Taylor-Joy will host, while rapper Lil Nas X will perform.

Past Episodes

October 3 - Chris Rock With Musical Guest Megan Thee Stallion

Hot! Hot! Hot! Chris Rock, of course, is another former cast member, having hit the SNL stage weekly from 1990 to 1993. The actor / comedian / talk show host has been back to lead the festivities at his old stomping grounds twice before, and is funny to his bones, so you know he'll bring his best on opening night. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion is coming off of several hits, including this summer's naughty scorcher "WAP," with Cardi B, and this will be her first time on SNL.

October 10 - Bill Burr With Musical Guest Jack White

Comedian and actor Bill Burr will make his SNL debut on October 10. The Monday Morning Podcast host was most recently seen in The King of Staten Island with Pete Davidson, and The Mandalorian, and his animated family sitcom, F is for Family, will be back for a fifth and final season on Netflix. After a bit of a shakeup, Jack White will step in to act as musical guest on the episode, marking his fourth time rocking the halls of 30 Rock.

October 17 - Issa Rae With Musical Guest Justin Bieber

The star, executive producer, and creator of the HBO hit comedy Insecure, Issa Rae, will mark her SNL hosting debut on October 17. Joining Rae on the show will be Justin Bieber, who will appear as musical guest for the fourth time.

October 24 - Adele With Musical Guest H.E.R.

Music superstar Adele makes her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live with the October 24, episode, after previously acting as musical guest way back in October 2008, and again in November 2015. Ten-time Grammy Award nominee H.E.R. (who won two of the awards in 2019) will make her debut as musical guest on the same night.

October 31 - John Mulaney With Musical Guest The Strokes

Comedian and former SNL writer John Mulaney will hit the stage to host for the fourth time on October 31. Rockers The Strokes will also perform for the fourth time.

November 7 - Dave Chappelle With Musical Guest Foo Fighters

Dave Chappelle returns for his second hosting gig, having previously hit the stage right after the 2016 presidential election. The Foo Fighters will perform as musical guests, for what will be the band's eighth time appearing.

November 14 through 28 - No New SNL Episodes

December 5 - Jason Bateman With Musical Guest Morgan Wallen

Ozark and The Outsider star Jason Bateman will return to host when the show comes back from a three-week break on December 5. This will be Bateman's second time in the job; he last hosted in February 2005. Country music star Morgan Wallen is scheduled as musical guest, after being booted off of the second episode this season when producers found out he hadn't been following their new production guidelines.

December 12 - Timothée Chalamet With Musical Guest Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Dune's Timothée Chalamet is coming to host SNL for his first time on December 12, while Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be along for their third performance.

December 19 - Kristen Wiig With Musical Guest Dua Lipa

Former cast member Kristen Wiig returns for her fourth hosting gig on December 19, with her starring role as Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984 heading to HBO Max (and theaters) on Christmas Day. Meanwhile, pop superstar Dua Lipa will hit SNL for the second time.

January 30 - John Krasinski With Musical Guest Machine Gun Kelly

Everyone's favorite prankster from The Office (and star of Jack Ryan and A Quiet Place), John Krasinski, will host when the series returns for the first episode of the new year. Singer/rapper/actor Machine Gun Kelly will appear as musical guest for the first time.

February 6 - Dan Levy With Musical Guest Phoebe Bridgers

Schitt's Creek co-creator/actor Dan Levy will host SNL for the first time on February 6. Rock/indie folk singer Phoebe Bridgers appears as musical guest.

February 13 - Regina King With Musical Guest Nathaniel Rateliff

Oscar, Golden Globe, and four-time Emmy Award winner Regina King will step on the 30 Rock stage for the first time on February 13. Folk and R&B artist Nathaniel Rateliff will perform.

February 20 - Regé-Jean Page With Musical Guest Bad Bunny

Breakout Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page hosts SNL for the first time, and will appear alongside musical guest, rapper, Bad Bunny.

February 27 - Nick Jonas With Musical Guest Nick Jonas

That's right, the actor/singer, known for films like Jumanji: The Next Level and Midway, hosts the last episode of February, and will also appear as musical guest.

March 27 - Maya Rudolph With Musical Guest Jack Harlow

Former SNL cast member Maya Rudolph returns to her old stomping grounds to host for the second time on March 27. Rapper Jack Harlow will hit the stage as musical guest.

April 3 - Daniel Kaluuya With Musical Guest St. Vincent

Two-time Oscar nominee (most recently for Judas and the Black Messiah) Daniel Kaluuya will host SNL for the first time on April 3. Rock/pop performer St. Vincent will act as musical guest.

April 10 - Carey Mulligan With Musical Guest Kid Cudi

Another two-time Oscar nominee (this time for Promising Young Woman), Carey Mulligan, will also step up to host for the first time in April. Rapper Kid Cudi will appear as musical guest.

May 8 - Elon Musk With Musical Guest Miley Cyrus

Tesla CEO Elon Musk will make his debut as SNL guest host for the first episode of May, as the series begins to wind down Season 46. Musk proved to be a rather controversial choice, so we'll see how his inaugural hosting gig goes. He'll be joined by musical guest Miley Cyrus, who's making her fifth appearance as either musical guest or host.

May 15 - Keegan-Michael Key With Musical Guest Olivia Rodrigo

Emmy winner and all around funny guy Keegan-Michael Key will mark his first time hosting SNL on May 15. Meanwhile, another newcomer, singer/actress Olivia Rodrigo will act as musical guest for the first time.

Again, be sure to bookmark this list so you can stay up to date on all of SNL's latest hosts and musical guests in Season 46!