March is Women's History Month, and as such I've decided to revisit one of the best Netflix shows to binge watch: Orange is the New Black. Jenji Kohan's prison dramedy (which is available with a Netflix subscription) was one of the first hit shows on the streamer, putting it on the map alongside House of Cards. While it was a game changer for the TV industry as a whole, it's upsetting to hear how poorly the cast was compensated.

The Orange is the New Black cast became household names thanks to the show's wild popularity, but unfortunately, that did't necessarily translate into a big paycheck. This is seemingly because streaming was an experiment in its early days, but I think that with the popularity of the show and the level of fame that the cast was dealing with during its run, they deserved to be paid better. Let's break it all down.

The Cast Of OITNB Has Spoken Out About Their Poor Pay

OITNB had a number of viral moments throughout its run, including the death of characters like Poussey. Given how much the show was part of the pop culture zeitgeist, one might assume the cast made a ton of money. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

A story by THR examined this pay issue on the beloved Netflix series only a few years ago. The cast didn't really know what they were getting into with the groundbreaking streaming series, and reportedly made the "absolute bare minimum" SAG rate at the start, under $1,000 per episode. This sum might be baffling to fans, who saw just how popular Orange is the New Black was immediately. A cast member who wished to remain anonymous spoke about the juxtaposition between the show's popularity and their pay, telling the publication:

This disconnect is startling, and is something I've thought about a ton while recently re-watching the hit series. The ensemble of actors helped to make streaming shows a mainstay of pop culture, and they brought nuanced and thoroughly enjoyable takes to each of the Litchfield inmates. And their work is arguably even more impressive on the re-watch.

The cast started talking about their pay issues when Brook Soso actress Kimiko Glenn posted a viral video about the $27.30 royalties check she received during the pandemic. Emma Myles, who played Leanne, spoke to The New Yorker about the lack of money made throughout her tenure on OITNB, saying:

In some ways these accounts have soured my experiencing watching Orange is the New Black again from the beginning. While watching Season 1 and 2 I couldn't help but think about how little the cast was paid, and how hopeful they might have been about the future during those early days. The show has aged rather well, but the behind the scenes drama is a shadow looming over my experience on the re-watch. In some ways, this feels like a symptom of a larger problem about women not being paid the same rate as their male counterparts.

Orange is the New Black is streaming in its entirety over on Netflix. The service has a number of new projects arriving on the 2026 TV schedule, with the industry now seemingly having a better system for compensating actors.

You know when some good relationships on television make you want to squeal the moment you see them? Yeah, these are the relationships down below. Sure, we can spend some time watching the best rom-com movies, but what about several seasons of build-up to a relationship that makes it all worthwhile? Here are some couples that define “goals.”

Chandler And Monica (Friends)

Chandler and Monica are the couple from the Friends cast, and I will not be asking any other questions about it at this time. Ross and Rachel were what people talked about, but these two? I love them. They are defined as “goals” based on how much they love each other, even if they didn’t have the typical start. Friends-to-lovers is one of the best.

Ian And Mickey (Shameless)

There was a time when Ian and Mickey were literally all I saw on my Tumblr feed back in the early 2010s. The Shameless cast featured plenty of great relationships, some healthy and others…not so healthy, but Ian and Mickey were a relationship that made it until the end. There’s nothing quite like them.

Rebecca And Jack (This Is Us)

The This Is Us cast defined my time in college when the show was airing, and Jack and Rebecca were the blueprint for how I wanted my future marriage to go. I have never seen two people just so in love with each other on TV, but also portray such a realistic marriage.

Corey And Topanga (Boy Meets World)

I think Corey and Topanga were the couple for the '90s kids. I didn’t grow up watching Boy Meets World, but I know from many that watching these two grow into teenagers and then young adults was one of the best aspects of this series. And honestly, I love that for you.

Jim And Pam (The Office)

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Sure, there were moments between Jim and Pam in later seasons that felt a little out of character, but these two were the defining relationship from The Office cast. We were all on the edge of our seats at the beginning of the series when these two were just friends, and we wanted them all to get together.

Leslie And Ben (Parks And Recreation)

Leslie and Ben from the Parks and Recreation cast are the perfect example of a relationship that took its time but blossomed beautifully. Ben was the type of person who always let Leslie shine and never tried to dim her light, which is something that I love about them. They always supported each other no matter what.

Marshall And Lily (How I Met Your Mother)

There have been so many relationships that have come and gone in How I Met Your Mother, but you want to know what one of the best was? Obviously, Marshall and Lily. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as many warm fuzzies as I did watching these two.

Stefan And Caroline (The Vampire Diaries)

Team Stefan and Team Damon? Nah, Elena was always going to pick Damon and me, but Stefan and Caroline? Perfect, excellent. There are absolutely no notes on that couple because, honestly, they were better suited for each other. Sorry.

David And Patrick (Schitt’s Creek)

I’m pretty sure watching David and Patrick in Schitt’s Creek altered my brain chemistry because I don’t think another TV couple has stood out the same as them. The Schitt’s Creek cast is filled with memorable characters, but watching the progression of their relationship throughout its five seasons was something that I will always adore. These two loved each other so much.

Luke And Lorelai (Gilmore Girls)

Look, I know that we’re all here for Team Jess or Team Dean or whoever we’re rooting for with Rory, but to me, as an adult woman now, I like Luke and Lorelai’s relationship a heck of a lot more. It feels more mature, more natural, and less dramatic. Please, give me this rather than the craziness of teenage romance.

Nathan And Haley (One Tree Hill)

The definition of high school sweethearts that somehow worked out. They definitely had their moments of doubt throughout the nine seasons of the show, but these two loved each other so much and ended with a happily married life with two children, which is all you can really ask for in most teen drama romances out there.

Phil And Vivian (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

I’m sure you weren’t expecting to see Phil and Vivian on this list because The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air isn’t really known for its romances. But honestly, Phil and Vivian are the perfect couple. They complement each other perfectly, know when to be each other’s rock or to stop the other from making a poor decision, and took care of Will as well as their biological family in the perfect way. I have no complaints.

Santana And Brittany (Glee)

The Glee cast is filled to the brim with couples, so much so that it’s hard to keep up with them. But my personal favorite was always Santana and Brittany. Not only was their relationship a great stepping stone for many lesbian/bisexual relationships on TV back in 2010, but it’s really one of the few that made it to the very end of the series. They were best friends turned lovers turned to something really real, and it ended with them getting married!

Randall And Beth (This Is Us)

“Perfectly imperfect” is a phrase that I still use to this day, ever since Randall uttered it to Beth in This Is Us. These two exemplify what it means to not only marry your best friend, but also marry a partner. They will stand by each other, support each other, and when someone is messing up, they will make them own up to it. There’s no sliding, and that’s what a genuine relationship should be like.

Jess And Nick (New Girl)

New Girl is one of those shows where relationships come and go, but there are always a few that stick the landing for the long haul. Jess and Nick were one of those, and we rooted for them, watching them fall in love, fall apart, and then fall back in love all over again.

Uncle Jesse And Aunt Becky (Full House)

I mean, of course, I have to put Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky. I feel like Full House literally never would have been the same without them. Their relationship started very early on, and it’s always fun to rewatch episodes of the show and watch them fall in love with each other time and time again.

Anthony And Kate (Bridgerton)

While I do love the specialness of Penelope and Colin and the steaminess of Daphne and Simon, there’s just something about Anthony and Kate that gets me going every time. These two, a classic enemies-to-lovers romance, clearly love each other so much by the time the season ends and Season 3 rolls around.

Claire And Jamie (Outlander)

Outlander, in general, is one of the best Starz shows, but a big reason is Claire and Jamie. Their love has transcended literal timelines. I don’t know how you can get more perfect than that.

Mitch And Cam (Modern Family)

I think when it comes to couples in Modern Family, Mitch and Cam are the perfect example of how two people work so well together, and to the outside, people wonder how the heck they function with how crazy they are. But throughout the several seasons of the show, there’s no denying that these two love each other dearly.

Lucy And Ricky (I Love Lucy)

I can’t have a relationships list without putting the OG’s here. Lucy and Ricky are the definition of “goals.” They were the first people on television to show you how in love with each other they are, no matter the amount of shenanigans that they may put the other through. You can’t get better than these two.

Phil And Claire (Modern Family)

I always see Phil and Claire as the much calmer couple of Modern Family, which is saying something because they still have their fair share of hilarious moments in their household of three kids. But what I love about Phil and Claire is that there is evident respect there, and Phil will support Claire no matter what and stand up for her, while Claire will do the same, regardless of what others think. They’re a team, through and through.

Killian And Emma (Once Upon A Time)

God, there are so many couples in Once Upon a Time, but I think the one we always return to is Killian and Emma. Whether it’s their steamy chemistry or their genuinely emotional story, they are an amazing romance with plenty of fantasy aspects that I just love.

Willow And Tara (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

As someone who loves looking back on legendary relationships that paved the way for others, I know there’s no one better to bring up than Willow and Tara. The couple was a significant landmark for LGBTQ+ representation in television and showed two people who clearly loved each other.

Kev And Veronica (Shameless)

These two were freaky, don’t get me wrong – but they were also freakishly in love with each other. Kev and Veronica stood by each other, and when someone dared to threaten the other, it was on sight. They would fight anyone to protect their love and their relationship, and no matter what, always strived to make time for the other.

Fran And Mr. Sheffield (The Nanny)

I’m pretty sure that if you’ve ever read any rom-com novel, then these two are who you picture when you think of the nanny and the billionaire falling in love. But what I love about Fran and Mr. Sheffield is that it’s not an instant lust between them. It’s more of a relationship built on respect and friendship before love was even considered.

Jake And Amy (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast features some hilarious characters, but personally, I always came back for Jake and Amy. I always saw them as rivals-to-lovers, but it feels so real watching them turn from competing with each other to becoming friends to going on dates and so much more.

Jane And Rafael (Jane The Virgin)

These two are in a strange situation, considering they didn’t even know each other when Jane fell pregnant accidentally. But watching their relationship grow organically throughout the show’s seasons is always something that I love to view.

Rick And Michonne (The Walking Dead)

When you think of couples who would literally kill for each other, I can think of no better than Rick and Michonne. Not only are they one of the best Walking Dead relationships, but there was a whole spinoff series dedicated to them finding their way back to each other after years apart. Now that is true love right there.

Poussey And Soso (Orange Is the New Black)

It hurts to even write about Poussey and Soso because it feels like they weren’t given enough time together in Orange is the New Black, but from what we were able to see, they really did work well together. Poussey was the kind of friend that Soso needed, and that blossomed into something brighter between the two of them before it was snuffed out. I needed so much more.

Morticia And Gomez (The Addams Family)

I mean, talk about a man who is obsessed with his woman. In any iteration of The Addams Family, Gomez always loves Morticia, but of course, we have to put the OG here from the 1960s TV series because these two were so in love that they ruined our expectations for all real-life romances.

Glenn And Maggie (The Walking Dead)

Yeah, I’m sad even writing about these two because the way it ends is something I don’t like to think about. But for the five seasons that we got with these two together, they were a light in the darkness that was the world of The Walking Dead. They loved each other, protected each other, and stood by the other until the very end.

Hopper And Joyce (Stranger Things)

God, I visibly remember screaming when these two finally got together in Stranger Things because it was just so apparent that they were into each other. Hopper literally risked his life for Joyce, and she risked hers to save him, and I love them together.

This just makes me want to revisit all of these television shows and watch these couples all over again. I’m in need of some cute TV romances. It's time for a binge-watch.

Every streaming service has its own mega hits, and those with a Hulu subscription have been treated to The Handmaid's Tale. We're currently in the middle of its sixth and final season on the air, and Handmaid's Tale fans have had strong emotional reactions to the dystopian drama. And Moira actress Samira Wiley recently spoke to CinemaBlend about how her work on the show and Netflix's Orange is the New Black has affected LGBTQ+ fans.

While fans figure out how to watch The Handmaid's Tale Season 6, I'm already dreading the show coming to an end. As you can see in the above video, I had the privilege of speaking with Wiley, where I asked about the way fans have responded to her work on Handmaid's and OITNB. She got honest about her feelings, saying:

This is a refreshingly candid take. While no one could blame Wiley for wanting to simply do her job and clock out, she also understands the way her work has affected audiences for both The Handmaid's Tale and Orange is the New Black. One can only imagine the conversations she has on the street with fans as a result.

Wiley became a household name for portraying Poussey Washington in Orange is the New Black (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription). She was a strong lesbian woman, and Poussey's death is arguably the most devastating moment of the entire series. Since then, she's spent almost a decade portraying Moira in The Handmaid's Tale, who is a queer woman, survivor of sexual assault, and someone who was forced into sex work by Gilead. In our same conversation she shared how her characters' trauma has influenced fans, saying:

Talk about powerful. It sounds like Wiley has had some intense conversations with fans of her TV shows, which I can imagine is emotionally grueling in its own way. But she's obviously seen first-hand the power of representation in the media, particularly when it comes to queer fans and their families.

We're currently halfway through the final season of Hulu's Emmy-winning drama, as Episode 5 "Janine" just premiered. The pressure is on for The Handmaid's Tale series finale to deliver for the fans, who have spent years following Gilead and hoping for a happy ending. And I'm definitely hoping to see June and Moira both survive the final season.

The Handmaid's Tale airs new episodes Tuesdays on Hulu as part of the 2025 TV premiere list. All eyes are on what how spinoff The Testaments is set up in the final episodes.

The so-called "Golden Age" or "Peak TV era" of television is broadly (and roughly) defined as the running from the debut of The Sopranos to the finale of Better Call Saul. This isn't a perfect description, as there are still some really amazing shows that continue part, like, say, Severance, just to name one. But, for this article, we're going to stick to those parameters. Without further ado, here is our list of some of the truly great shows from the Peak Era of television.

Game Of Thrones

We certainly couldn't make this list without the grand dragon on them all, HBO's Game of Thrones. Though the ending made a lot of people mad and you can argue that the show declined greatly in its last couple of seasons, it doesn't diminish the greatest of the show's early years. With some of the most shocking moments in TV history, the show was must-watch TV for all eight seasons.

Atlanta

Creator and star of Atlanta Donald Glover proved yet again that he is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Over six years and four seasons the show and its star were showered with acclaim and industry awards, including multiple Golden Globes and Emmys. Not only did Glover win an Emmy for acting on the FX series, but he became the first African-American to win Best Director at the Emmys in the show's first season.

The West Wing

There aren't a lot of network TV shows on this list, but one that simply has to be is The West Wing. For seven seasons in the early 2000s, the NBC hit was one of the best shows in network history. Featuring a long list of stars that included Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, and many other cast members, The West Wing gave us all a look into all that government can be if we want it to be.

Lost

Pardon the pun, but it's fair to say that ABC's Lost lost its way towards the end. A confluence of events, including a writer's strike, left fans more than a little annoyed with the show's final couple of seasons, but those first few years were simply incredible. The show, which debuted in 2004, was one of the first shows that was ever described as "bingable" and with good reasons, the cliffhangers were amazing.

Mad Men

In a lot of ways, AMC's Mad Men kind of came out of nowhere. Set in the 1960s, it was unlike anything on TV at the time and the longer it went on, the better it got, which is rare for any show. It made a star out of Jon Hamm and fascinated viewers each week both with its wonderful storytelling and its look back at one of the most turbulent and interesting decades in American history.

The Office

In an era when sitcoms were evolving and struggling to keep up with their dramatic counterparts, The Office was one of the biggest shows of all time (that's what she said). Steve Carell's performance as the worst boss in the world became one of the most quotable and memed shows ever. It's true the NBC show did suffer some when Carell left after Season 7, the legacy of the show was well-established by then.

Downton Abbey

If you had bet on a period piece set on an opulent estate during Edwardian England would be a massive hit, most of the time, you'd lose. If you placed that bet on Downton Abbey, however, you'd have won big. There are no action sequences, stunts, or special effects. It's simply a wonderfully told story with fantastic characters played by excellent actors.

Better Call Saul

As a spinoff to another Peak TV era show, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul found its own place in television history. It's a very different show from the show that birthed it, as it's a little more surreal and, frankly, funny. In some people's eyes, the AMC's show's finale in 2022 marks the end of an era.

The Wire

Famously, The Wire was never a monster hit for HBO. Certainly not on the level of The Sopranos, which ran during roughly the same few years. Still, it has maintained a spot at the top or near the top of almost any list of "Best TV Shows in History." The Wire plays out like a 60-hour movie or a great book. The character development is unrivaled and the storytelling is heartbreaking, uplifting, and frustrating (in a good way). There is no doubt that the show will be remembered as one of the best for a long, long time.

Breaking Bad

What can we write about Breaking Bad that hasn't already been written. Widely considered the best (or close to the best) TV show of all time, the Bryan Cranston-led show was wildly popular with both fans and critics alike. It is one of the darkest shows in history, but that never diminished the love for it.

Narcos

Netflix landed itself a massive hit with Narcos in 2015. Wagner Moura, who played the kingpin Pablo Escobar stole the show with his uncanny and incredible performance as the notorious drug lord and Pedro Pascal found a new level of fame as one of the DEA agents trying to bring Escobar down. The show's third season, which shifted away from the Escobar story after the character's death wasn't quite on the level of the first two, but the show was popular enough to launch a spinoff, Narcos: Mexico, which ran for three seasons as well.

The Sopranos

The Sopranos' debut on HBO in January of 1999 marks the unofficial beginning of the Golden Age of Television - or at least the modern Golden Age. The production value, storytelling, and acting on the show were unlike anything anyone had ever seen. the characters were fully formed almost from the moment they first hit the screen and the story that unfolded, about a mafia boss played by the late, great James Gandolfini trying to keep both his crime family and his actual family together was simply unparalleled. Right down to the end and the show's much-talked-about finale.

Grey's Anatomy

As one of the longest-running prime-time shows in history, Grey's Anatomy has run for almost the entire era of "peak TV." Since its debut in 2005 and over more than 20 seasons and 400 episodes, the show has just kept chugging along with a devoted fanbase who stayed with it over the decades and though the endless cast changes can be frustrating, the show is remarkable.

24

One of the very first "bingable" shows would have to be 24. The Kiefer Sutherland-led action show from Fox kept viewers on the edge of their seats for nine seasons, one TV movie (24: Redemption), and a couple of spin-offs. It all made 24 one of the most bankable franchises of the era.

Six Feet Under

The early 2000s were an incredible era for HBO. Along with The Sopranos and The Wire, the network had another one of the best shows of the era with Six Feet Under. The show told the story of the Fisher family and their trials and turbulations running the family business, a funeral home. Mix in some supernatural elements and HBO had a unique hit on their hands.

Modern Family

Network sitcoms that enter the general cultural zeitgeist are few and far between these days. Certainly not like they were in their heyday of the 1970s and '80s. There are still a few that break through though, like Modern Family. For a time, it seemed as those everyone in the country was watching the ups and downs of the most dysfunctional and wonder families in TV history. For 11 seasons, the ABC hit dominated the ratings and is still a hit on streaming years after airing its finale in 2020.

Orange Is the New Black

Orange Is the New Black wasn't the first "prestige TV" show from Netflix, but it's safe to say it solidified Netflix's spot among the biggest players in the industry. For seven seasons over six years, the prison comedy-drama told the semi-autobiographical story of Piper Kerman, whose book of the same name was the basis for the show. Kerman spent a year in prison and many of the stories in the show reflected or told the experiences she had while in jail.

Deadwood

Many of the best Westerns on film came out many decades ago. On TV, there were big hits in the '50s and '60s like Gunsmoke and Bonanza, but the best Western television show of the 21st Century, Deadwood has almost nothing in common with any of those. The show was dark, crass, and unlike anything else on TV. The verbose language and insane moments made must-see TV at the time. Sadly it was never quite as popular as it should have been and that made for some herky-jerky starts-and-stops between seasons, but the show never dipped in quality.

Friday Night Lights

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose," from a speech by Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) in Friday Night Lights has become part of the television canon, just as the show has. Based on the movie starring Billy Bob Thornton about the spectacle that is high school football in Texas, the show has outshined its source material in almost every way.

Veep

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is unique. She not only starred in the biggest sitcom of the 1990s, Seinfeld, but she's followed it up with two more hot shows. First in the '00s she won awards for The New Adventures of Old Christine and then in the 2010s had maybe her best performance as the hapless, power-hungry Vice President on HBO's Veep for which she won an incredible seven Emmys in a row.

House Of Cards

In 2013 Netflix loudly announced it was ready to be a player in the Peak Age of TV with House Of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. Based on a British show of the same name, the show highlighted the darkest corners of politics and despite the show losing some steam when Kevin Spacey got caught in the middle of a serious legal battle forcing him off the show and effectively ending his career, it still deserves recognition for all six seasons it ran for.

The Walking Dead

Over 11 seasons and 177 episodes, it's fair to say that not every moment on The Walking Dead was peak TV. That doesn't tell the whole story though, because when The Walking Dead was great, it was really great. The AMC zombie show was a ratings monster and cultivated one of the most dedicated fanbases ever, which led to multiple spinoffs that will seemingly run forever.

Boardwalk Empire

When Boardwalk Empire premiered on HBO in 2009, it came with a lot of hype as the mind behind it, Terrence Winter, had been of the key creative minds behind The Sopranos. While Boardwalk Empire never quite reached the lofty heights of The Sopranos, it was still one of the best shows on TV in its time.

Sons Of Anarchy

Like a few other shows on this list, FX's Sons Of Anarchy isn't a perfect show. There were some ill-advised plot decisions, like moving the gang to Ireland for a while, but like those other shows, when SOA was good, it was really, really good. The characters became our own dysfunctional family who we laughed, cried, and died with over the show's seven seasons. A spinoff, Mayans M.C., wasn't as good, but it also found a fanbase and lasted for five seasons.

The Americans

Of all the shows on this list, the one that maybe flew under the radar more than most has to be The Americans. The FX show was just... cool. It was a spy thriller that brought the Cold War back to U.S. television. Set in the '80s and starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, the show ran for six great seasons and never really fell off as so many other shows do.

30 Rock

How do you follow up an incredible run as a star and head writer on SNL? Well, if you're as talented and funny as Tina Fey, you create one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 21st Century with 30 Rock. If nothing else, the show left us with the important bit of advice that you should never go with a hippie to a second location.

Justified

FX's Justified updated the Western for the 21st Century. Based on a book for Elmore Leonard and starring Timothy Olyphant as a 21st-century lawman with with his heart in the 19th Century, Justified was as noir as you'd expect from a story by Leonard and the acting is, across the board, fantastic.

True Detective

One of the darkest shows during the Peak Era of TV had to be True Detective, especially the first season. The unconventional storytelling was brought to life brilliantly by stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson and while the show was still great for a couple of more seasons, it really was that first season that stood out and above the others.

Succession

On HBO's Succession, the entire Roy family are all awful people. It's a show entirely made of characters we love to hate. We hated them so much, we couldn't wait to tune in each week to see what awful things they would do and it made the show unique and magical in that way.

Homeland

Showtime's Homeland started with a bang in its first season, or rather, almost ended its first season with a bang that never happened. The spy thriller starring Claire Danes and Damian Lewis was the ultimate nail-biter as no one really knew how the season would end. While the end of that first season was probably the pinnacle of the show, it ended up airing for seven more excellent seasons.

Battlestar Galactica

Interestingly, though there are some exceptions, Sci-Fi wasn't a huge part of the era. One of those exceptions was Battlestar Galactica, a reboot of the old series from the 1970s. The new version was a mystery wrapped in a space adventure and featured some of the craziest twists of any show from the time.

Barry

It's always cool to see an actor known primarily for their comedic talents take on a more serious role and Bill Hader in Barry is a perfect example. Sure, there is some dark comedy in the show of course, but, especially as the show went on, the character played by Hader was as complex as any character we've seen on TV and Hader is amazing.

Sometimes, there are moments on television that truly break the internet – whether in a good way or a bad way. Sometimes, there are moments from the past (before the time of social media) when a moment so big in a television show spreads by word of mouth. But no matter how you hear about it, it rocks your world — here are the TV moments from huge television shows that fit the bill of that.

Oh, and also, spoiler alert for SO many TV shows down below.

The Red Wedding (Game Of Thrones)

If you want to talk about the most shocking Game of Thrones moments, I'm pretty sure The Red Wedding is high on that list. It was everywhere when it happened, and I'm sure that by the end of the series, people still agreed that the Season 3 moment is genuinely what tops the list of most in the show.

Max Somehow Surviving Vecna Through Music And Friends (Stranger Things)

You could not escape "Running Up That Hill" in the summer of 2022. What a time to be alive. No matter where you went on social media, it was always about Max running out Vecna in his strange alternate dark world, trying to look towards the light of her friends. Ugh, I get chills every time I think about it.

Cassie And Maddy's Fight (Really That Whole Play) (Euphoria)

Okay, so in comparison to many other spots on this list, this moment is hilarious in the way it rocked the world. Euphoria Season 2 had a lot of moments that worked well and others that didn't, but there was no other big one than Cassie and Maddy fighting each other on stage during that play – heck, Lexi's play in itself inspired so many memes and parodies online. It was indeed a time.

Wednesday's Dance (Wednesday)

Wednesday is one of the best shows on Netflix to binge-watch. Still, I can almost guarantee that most of you remember her dance in one of the episodes – one that wasn't even themed to "Bloody Mary" by Lady Gaga but exploded everywhere on the internet. And now, we can't get enough of it.

Hershel's Death (The Walking Dead)

There are so many heartbreaking deaths in The Walking Dead, but I'm pretty sure Hershel's death is high up there. I mean, I think we had a feeling it was all coming — The Walking Dead was known at the time to take characters out as if they were nothing every few episodes. But man, it still hurt, and we talked about it for ages to come.

When Joe Kills His Love (You)

There are so many crazy moments in You that I could talk about, but one that genuinely had the internet in a chokehold for a while was when Joe killed Love. Everyone loved Love (his wife) in the series because it felt like she was such a perfect counterpart to him. But I suppose he couldn't handle it – granted, she also tried to kill him, but crazy=crazy, right?

Poussey's Sudden Death (Orange Is The New Black)

The Orange is the New Black cast is filled to the brim with incredibly talented actors, but one that I wasn't expecting to leave the show was Samira Wiley, whose character, Poussey, was killed off in a prison riot in the show's Season 4 finale. It was a heartbreaking moment that was so sudden—and it came at a time when the world was really at a political divide, so it was double the heartbreak.

Villanelle Breaks Into Eve's House For The First Time (Killing Eve)

This show is really filled to the brim with intense moments, but the first time that Villanelle breaks into Eve’s house in Killing Eve is a major one that was huge. Nothing major happens during this scene, but the tension is enough to cut with a knife, and it makes for excellent television for this cat-mouse game.

The Opening Scene Of The Boys (The Boys)

I mean, duh. I love The Boys just as much as the next person – it's one of the best Amazon Prime shows for a reason. But there is literally no bigger moment in this series that makes the internet talk than the very first scene when we literally see someone explode from the inside out because of a literal fast-human running through them. Disgusting.

When We Find Out Who Nell Has Always Been (The Haunting Of Hill House)

I could talk about Mike Flanagan's horror shows for hours on end, but my favorite will always be The Haunting of Hill House, just because it's a beautiful story. However, the moment that everyone was in a chokehold was no doubt when Nell, the youngest daughter, found out that the person who had been haunting her for her entire life was actually just herself in the future – the bent-neck lady. What chills.

Walt Watches Hank Die In The Desert (Breaking Bad)

Breaking Bad is one of the best TV shows of the 21st century thus far, and there are plenty of moments I could point to. Walt, watching Hank die in the desert in one of the last episodes of the series, will always sit up there, and the internet would not stop talking about this. The episode itself, "Ozymandias," is considered one of the best TV episodes of all time.

When Fonzie Jumped The Shark (Happy Days)

I had to put this here somehow. The moment is so big that an entire catchphrase was made around it. When the Fonz jumped the shark in Happy Days, it coined the response, "Oh, that show jumped the shark," meaning the show ran out of so many ideas that it came up with a ridiculous one to keep it going. Hilarious.

Glenn's Death (The Walking Dead)

Yeah, I have to put Glenn on here. We can't not talk about Glenn. The moment he was killed in The Walking Dead, many fans stopped watching the show. It was a momentous death that really shook the world and all who enjoyed the classic zombie series, and dare I say, TWD was never quite the same again.

Lexi Getting Shot (The 100)

While I do believe that The 100 is one of the best CW shows out there, I will never forgive it for killing Lexi, this kick-butt warrior commander of the Grounders and how, when she and Clarke finally got together, she was shot by a gun no less. Despicable – and the internet agreed.

Wanda Becoming The Scarlet Witch (WandaVision)

You know, sometimes I think about WandaVision, and it feels like a fever dream because everyone was so into this show. And, of course, when Wanda finally became the Scarlet Witch at the very end of the miniseries, and we see her fully embrace her power – oh yeah, we were into this and could not stop talking about it.

Discovering Who Hodor Really Is (Game Of Thrones)

For most of Game of Thrones, we always thought of Hodor as just this bumbling giant full of love who would always be there to protect Bran, but it turns out his backstory is much darker than we thought. And when we all found out the reason why he says "Hodor" – precisely because of Bran and everything else – it's just heartbreaking and something we always talk about.

Bill And Frank's Backstory (The Last Of Us)

As a huge fan of The Last of Us video games, I could not approve of them changing up Bill and Frank's love story more than what they did in the show. While we barely got a scratch of them in the game, we were given a romance that truly shook the internet and had people crying for hours afterward—myself included. I can still remember all the reaction videos.

When Ned Stark Loses His Head (Game Of Thrones)

Of course, I have to put Ned losing his head here. It wouldn't be a list of big TV moments without it. Let me tell you that it's very hard to surprise my father, who is a TV junkie, and when Ned's head was cut off, he legit did not believe it for a good few days until everyone began talking about it. It's just one of those moments that alters your brain chemistry.

Walt Watching Jane Die (Breaking Bad)

Oh, Breaking Bad. The show broke my heart over and over again, no matter what the time of my life was like. While Jane wasn't necessarily good for Jesse (and neither was he to her, really), watching Jane overdose and then seeing Walt do absolutely nothing as he stands there and watches still hits me even now, knowing what happens. And most people out there feel the same way.

Kang Sae-byeok Dies (Squid Game)

It felt like everyone and their mother was watching Squid Game when it was released, and let me tell you, there were edits everywhere on Sae-byeok. I could not escape this woman. But, the moment everyone talked about was when she actually ended up dying towards the end, despite being one of the final three – by a stab wound, nonetheless. It still makes me sad thinking about it, as it did the rest of the world.

Klaus Kills Jenna (The Vampire Diaries)

For a time, it felt like The Vampire Diaries was legit everywhere, no matter where I turned. But one of the moments that everyone talked about was when Klaus killed Jenna in order to break a hybrid curse that made his werewolf side dormant. Everything about it was well done and definitely made the internet talk.

Buffy's Mother Suddenly Dying (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

Before the internet was as huge as it is now, people still found a way to talk about plenty of crazy moments, and one was in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, Buffy's mother dies. It's so sudden and makes you blink in shock before you realize what the heck is going on – and it was all anyone could talk about with this series.

Finding Out Walt Poisoned Brock (Breaking Bad)

There are plenty of instances in Breaking Bad where you find out that Walt is actually a terrible human being. One is when we see that he did indeed poison Brock to get Jesse in line—mainly because of the Lily-of-the-Valley plant that he has in his backyard. This is truly despicable and something we all talked about.

Jon Snow's Death (Game Of Thrones)

This moment had people theorizing for months about whether Jon was truly alive or dead. How could he just be dead? Like legit, everyone and their mother could not stop talking about him and whether he was gone or not. Thankfully, it was resolved not that long after, but man, it was a time to be alive on the internet.

Sybil Passing After Her Daughter's Birth (Downton Abbey)

I mean, it's sad whenever anyone passes away from childbirth, as it's a real-life thing that can happen to anyone. But I think what made this moment such a big one online is that it was just so heartbreaking. Watching someone as life leaves their eyes and knowing there is nothing you can do about it – it breaks your heart.

Ted's First Major Panic Attack (Ted Lasso)

As one of the best TV shows on Apple TV+, there is a lot to love about Ted Lasso and its titular character, Ted. But I think we all started to love him even more when we found out that Ted actually suffers from panic attacks – and we see that first real one at a club. And, out of nowhere, Rebecca comes to comfort him. Fans everywhere could not get enough – and it made this show that much better.

Walt's Death (Breaking Bad)

I mean, we all had a feeling that Walt was going to die at the end of Breaking Bad – he had a death sentence with his cancer regardless at that point – but actually seeing him die and fall to the ground in the Breaking Bad finale was all over the internet, and everyone talked about it for hours and theorized if he actually did die – which, newsflash, he did.

Jinx And Ekko's Fight (Arcane)

There are some tremendous adult-animated shows on Netflix, and one I love to point to is Arcane. There are plenty of rocking TV moments on there I could point to, but man, Jinx and Ekko's fight takes the cake. The amount of edits, moments, and videos I've seen of this fight, in particular from Season 1 on that bridge, has seriously messed me up—but in a good way. Don't ever stop talking about it.

Rhaegal's Death (Game Of Thrones)

Look, I knew that when Daenerys lost Viserion, it was only going to be the beginning of death for these dragons, but it still shocked the heck out of me – and millions of other people – when we saw Rhaegal suddenly get speared out of the sky and fall to his death. Like, my GOD – give a girl a warning next time!

The Rumbling (Attack On Titan)

I quite literally can't think of another modern-day anime that has made as much of an impact as Attack on Titan. While I could point out so many moments from that series, the moment Eren begins the Rumbling sits with me, as well as many others. It was the moment everyone knew what was going to happen and the pain we were going to experience. It still gets to me even now.

Rue Fighting Her Mother And Sister (Euphoria)

Zendaya is a great actress, and honestly, watching her in this scene in Season 2 of Euphoria is just proof of that. She had everyone talking about the moment she had a breakdown against her mother and sister and fought against them to find her drugs. It was powerful and emotional and had you on the edge of your seat.

Rick Is Taken (The Walking Dead)

While The Walking Dead wasn't at the heights it once was at this point, everyone was talking about when Rick left the show in Season 9 of The Walking Dead – or, instead, Andrew Lincoln left the series in a blaze of glory before we see that Rick was taken up in one of those mysterious helicopters. I mean, it still led to his TV series in The Walking Dead universe years later, but still, a moment we all talked about nonetheless.

What moments are you always going to remember as instances that rocked your world? All I know is that I'm just waiting for the next significant moment – and for the emotional trauma that is bound to follow.

Throughout the history of television, there are examples of characters from shows just disappearing. In one episode they are there, and in the next, they are gone without so much as an acknowledgment from the remaining characters. Or sometimes a half-baked reason that doesn't come until years later. It's like they never existed at all. This is our list meant to remember those characters we have lost to the curse of being written out with no explanation.

Chuck Cunningham - Happy Days

Maybe the most famous example of this is Chuck Cunningham (Gavan O'Herlihy), Richie and Joanie's older brother on Happy Days. His disappearance has become so famous it's become known as the "Chuck Cunningham Syndrome." Though he was never a main star, he was still around in the first season until one day he wasn't and he was never even mentioned again. Harsh.

Santiago Herrera - Friday Night Lights

Linebacker Santiago Herrera on Friday Night Lights was a pretty major character in the second season of the show. Despite seemingly being a leader on the team with Coach Taylor working with him a lot, Santiago vanished from the team after Season 2 and was never even mentioned again.

Monica Dawson - Heroes

On Heroes, Monica Dawson had a unique power that allowed her to imitate anyone around her's power. That would be one of the most useful powers anyone on the show had (save for Sylar). Dawson, played by Dana Davis, is a main character in Season 2 and then is dropped from the show and is never ever mentioned again, without a real explanation.

Mutt Schitt - Schitt's Creek

Mutt Schitt, played by Tim Rozon is the very good-looking son of Mayor Roland Schitt (Chris Elliot). He plays a big supporting role in the first two seasons of Schitt's Creek, especially as one of Alexis' potential love interests. He was seen less and less as the show went on until only being spotted once in Season 3 and one final time in Season 4 before never being sighted or mentioned again

Celia Hodes - Weeds

For a while, Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins) was a semi-regular reoccurring character on Weeds. She seemed to idolize Nancy and hate her at the same time. Despite being an antagonist for the first four seasons, by Season 5 she's only mentioned occasionally in passing until after Season 6 when the character completely falls off the radar and is never heard from again.

Leah Murphy - Grey's Anatomy

Dr. Leah Murphy, played by Tessa Ferrer, had a fairly brief, but action-packed couple of seasons on Grey's Anatomy during Seasons 9 and 10. She was fired at one point, but earned her job back the character seemed like she might make it for the long, but it wasn't to be and after one brief appearance in Season 13, she completely disappeared from the show.

Tiger - The Brady Bunch

When The Brady Bunch first hit the airwaves, it was just the six kids that made up the blended family, there was also the boys' pet dog Tiger. Tiger often made a mess of things, including Mike and Carol's wedding, but he was beloved. Until he wasn't. Tragically, the dog who played Tiger was hit by a car and killed, and rather than replace him, the producers just wrote the poor mutt right out of the show, though his doghouse remained in the backyard for years later.

Mr. Turner - Boy Meets World

For a while there, it seemed like Mr. Turner (Anthony Tyler Quinn) might be a very important teacher on Boy Meets World as he mentored Shawn and even took him in for a time. He was a regular character for three seasons before he dropped off the face of the earth after Season 4. He was mentioned briefly in the series finale, but fans never really got any closure from his sudden departure from the cast.

Judy - Family Matters

One of the most notorious examples of a character simply vanishing was the youngest Winslow child on Family Matters, Judy, played by Jaimee Foxworth. After Season 4, she was completely gone from the show as though she'd never existed. For shame Carl! Ignoring one of your daughters!

John Bennett - Orange Is The New Black

John Bennett was a key character during the first three seasons of Orange Is The New Black, and even had an affair with one of the inmates (Daya) and got her pregnant. Despite this, by the end of Season 3, he had quit his job and was never really even mentioned again. Fan theories abound, but ultimately it was the real world interfering as actor Matt McGorry simply quit the show.

Mandy Hampton - The West Wing

Right up there with Chuck Cunningham in notoriety is Mandy Hampton (Moira Kelly) in The West Wing. A full cast member and one of the stars in the show's first season, she completely disappeared and was never even mentioned again from the beginning of Season 2 on. Like the "Chuck Cunningham Syndrome," her disappearance has become shorthand for this kind of thing happening with fans calling it "Going to Mandyville."

Ser Ilyn Payne - Game Of Thrones

Ser Ilyn Payne, played by the late Wilko Johnson, was one of the scariest characters in Game of Thrones. He was King Joffery's executioner and despite playing a larger role in the books, he disappeared from the show after Season 2. Johnson had a major cancer scare and though he didn't end up dying from it, he was given only a few months to live at the time. He wasn't recast out of respect for Johnson. He is mentioned later once by Tywin Lannister in Season 6, but he's never seen again on screen, nor is his absence ever explained.

Tina Pinciotti - That '70s Show

Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon) was referred to as an only child for most of The '70s Show. This, however, is an example of confusing retconning for many hardcore fans. In Season 1 of the show, Donna had a sister, Tina Pinciotti (Amanda Fuller) and she is even seen on screen, not just mentioned. After one more throwaway joke in Season 2, Tina is never even mentioned again and Donna refers to herself as an only child. Did something sinister happen? We'll never know.

Mike - My Three Sons

As the name of the show would imply, on My Three Sons, there were, at least in the beginning, three sons. Mike, Robbie, and Chip were Steve Douglas' sons on the show for the first years. Mike, the oldest, played by Tim Considine, who left the show after Season 5, went to college and is barely ever mentioned again and he's never seen again. He doesn't even show up for weddings. He's just...gone.

Seven - Married... With Children

In Season 7 of Married... With Children, Peg's 12-year-old nephew Seven is introduced. It's a clear attempt at the "Cousin Oliver" effect when a young, precocious kid is randomly introduced to make the show "cuter." For Seven, however, it doesn't last long, as after 12 appearances, the show simply forgets about him, despite a few inside jokes (like appearing on the side of a milk carton).

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

In the pilot episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Detective Daniels is introduced as part of the team in the squad house. He seems like he'll be at least a semi-occurring character, but instead, he's never seen or heard from again.

Ben Geller - Friends

Even fans of Friends can admit that Ross (David Schwimmer) is pretty awful most of the time. Nothing is worse, however, than how he seemingly abandoned his first son, Ben. Ben wasn't a regular on the show, but he did appear multiple times. At least until his daughter, Emma, is born with Rachel. Ben, who was played by Cole Sprouse for a couple of seasons, is never even mentioned again and never meets his half-sister. Harsh, Ross.

Gwen Grandy - The Mindy Project

Gwen Grandy (Anna Camp) is one of Mindy's best friends on The Mindy Project. They talk all the time and Gwen even named Mindy as her newborn's godmother. Then Season 2 happened and Gwen was just gone from Mindy's life without even an explanation. Poof, the best friend is gone forever.

Robin Sylvester - Glee

Did you know Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) on Glee had a child? You might vaguely remember that she was pregnant at one point and in Season 3 fans even meet the child. Then the baby is hardly ever mentioned again and never seen on screen. We know that Sue was selfish and mean, but wow.

Tori Scott - Saved By The Bell

Tori Scott, played by actress Leanna Creel in the final season of Saved By The Bell was a very brief, but very serious girlfriend of Zach Morris. Sadly for Tori, after Jessie and Kelly returned to school after leaving for a time, the character was unceremoniously dropped and never mentioned again. It's not even clear if Zach broke up with her or if she fell off a cliff. She was just gone.

Amy Jessup - Fringe

Before she was cast in Suits, Meghan Markle had an all-too-brief role in Fringe. Markle's character Amy Jessup was introduced in Season 2 of the show and seemed to be a new, full member of the team. However, after two episodes, she was gone and no one ever found out why. She's never mentioned again,

Jenny Kelly - Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Sometimes there is off-screen drama that causes a sudden disappearance and that may be the case here with the character Jenny Kelly (Michelle Beaudoin) in Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Jenny was Sabrina's best friend and a major character in Season 2, but she didn't even get the dignity of a proper send-off when she suddenly disappeared from the show, never to even be mentioned again.

Mark Brendanawicz - Parks And Recreation

Mark Brendanawicz, played by Paul Schneider, was a key character in the early days of Parks And Recreation until he was written out completely when the actor left the show and the producers re-tooled and brought in new characters. Brendanawicz was never mentioned again.

Mo-Mo - Nurse Jackie

Mo-Mo (Haaz Sleiman) in the first season of Nurse Jackie provides a lot of much-needed fun and comic relief with his snarky asides to Jackie (Edie Falco). Sadly, it seems the show's producers didn't think the character was really necessary so he was written out after Season 1 without much explanation, despite being such buddies with Jackie. He deserved much better.

Molly Parker - The Facts Of Life

The character of Molly Parker, played by the great Molly Ringwald in the first seasons of The Facts Of Life and a couple of episodes of Diff'rent Strokes, met an unfortunate end when Ringwald was fired from the show in favor of other, older actors. Her leaving wasn't given any kind of explanation until years later when it's briefly mentioned that she left to become an actress. It seems like everything worked out just fine for Molly Ringwald.

Dr. Grace Miller - Scrubs

Dr. Grace Miller on Scrubs, played by Bellamy Young, was introduced with a lot of hype and promotion. She was essentially playing the female version of Dr. Cox and fans immediately hated the character. The backlash was so bad that she was dumped after just a handful of appearances as though she never existed. It's too bad because Young was great in the role.

President John Keeler - 24

24 went through presidents like people with a cold go through Kleenex. One president who lasted a couple of seasons was President John Keeler (Geoff Pierson), but after he was shot down in Air Force One and left incapacitated, his VP, Charles Logan, took over. It's completely unclear if Keeler died or was simply too injured to return as the character is basically never mentioned again.

Nebula Lawrence - Boy Meets World

Boy Meets World had a little bit of a habit of introducing seemingly important characters only to have them fall by the wayside without explaining why. Nebula "Nebby" Lawrence (Krystee Clark) is the perfect example. She was introduced in an episode of Season 1 and as her name implies, she is the sister of Topanga. That was her first and only appearance on the show and for the rest of the show's run Topanga is an only child. Nebby is never heard from again.

Caitlin - Heroes

Caitlin (Katie Carr) on Heroes gets at least a little explanation as to why she disappeared. She is introduced as a love interest for Peter in Season 2 and together they travel to the future, where she gets stuck and seemingly remains there forever, as she's never mentioned again, nor is her ultimate fate.

Frank Cubitoso - The Sopranos

Frank Cubitoso (Frank Pellegrino) was introduced as the head of the New Jersey office of the FBI in the first season of The Sopranos. He plays a recurring and pivotal role in trying to take down Tony and his crew for a while until he pretty much disappears after the murder of Adriana.

Nina Cassady - Law & Order

Characters coming and going from Law & Order was pretty standard fare for the long-running procedural. Most of the time though, they at least get some kind of send-off or at least an explanation. That was not the case for Detective Nina Cassady, played by Milena Govich, who lasted just one season before she was gone without so much as a hint as to what happened to her.

Behrooz Araz - 24

The Araz family were the main villains in Season 4 of 24 and while the fate of Navi and Dina Araz is clear (both are killed), the fate of their son Behrooz is left hanging. He is traded in a prisoner swap for Jack Bauer and the men who take him find the hidden trackers CTU hid on him. But after that, he just disappears and is never heard from again.

There are some crazy popular TV shows out there. There are also some big characters from those TV shows that have gone on to become fan favorites. But there are also plenty of other characters as well that have fallen into a long hole of forgotten characters that we still can barely remember. So today, we'll get into some of the most obvious.

Heath (The Walking Dead)

It would be a crime if I didn't include Heath on this list. In all eleven seasons of The Walking Dead, I have never seen a character more forgotten than Heath. He seemed important, but then, after one bad zombie run, we literally never see him again and don't even know if he's alive or dead. There was some solution later, one where we found out Jadis traded him over to the Commonwealth, but that came years later.

Mark Brendanawicz (Parks And Recreation)

The Parks and Recreation cast is filled to the brim with talented stars and great characters, but one who was part of the main cast in Season 1 was Mark Brendanawicz. He was actually a love interest for Leslie and Ann, but he instantly left in Season 2 because he had an epiphany. And we never saw him again.

Sunshine Corazon (Glee)

There have been many characters on Glee who have come and gone from the limelight, but one I have to point out is Sunshine Corazon. She is a transfer student who dared threaten Rachel's spotlight in Season 2 of the show, so much so that Rachel tricked Corazon into going to a crack house. We saw Corazon one more time in the show before, but we never heard from her again despite her killer vocals.

John Bennett (Orange Is The New Black)

It felt like during the first few seasons of Orange Is The New Black, we would find a way for John Bennett to stick around. Eventually, he ends up leaving Daya and their baby alone when he has cold feet. And then we literally never hear about him again. I mean, the Orange Is The New Black cast was still stellar without him, but he just up and left.

Lincoln (The 100)

I really do love The 100 and think it's one of the best shows to binge if you want a series that you have no idea where it's going to go next. But sometimes, I forget the times when the series was grounded, and Octavia fell for a man named Lincoln, who taught her everything about being a Grounder – only for him to be executed a few seasons later and spurring her into the fighter she becomes. But I feel that we all forgot about him, right?

Nicole (Zoey 101)

It's really a sad story about what happened to the actress behind Nicole in Zoey 101, and I stand by her in what she has done standing up to the wrong situations behind the scenes at Nickelodeon. But that doesn't change the fact that her character, Nicole, was also completely forgotten in the show. Out of all the characters in the series, she didn't have much of a story and ended up getting written out entirely as the show went on.

Cathay Simms (The Office)

While Jim and Pam are certainly the most significant relationships in The Office, there have been plenty of other women in Jim's life. One of those was Cathay Simms, a young woman who tried to sleep with him on a business trip, but the trip itself fell apart. However, even when they get back to Scranton, she is literally never seen again.

Simon (The Walking Dead)

I might get some flack for this, but I swear, on my rewatch of The Walking Dead, I forgot Simon even existed until I saw him again. I think the main reason is that Negan became such a tremendous character that most of his followers felt like complete background people, even when some of them – like Simon – played essential roles in the plot. He was killed anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

Jacqueline "Jackie" Ames (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

While Tyra Banks has gone on to appear in plenty of movies and TV shows, she made her acting debut in Season 4 of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, where she played Jackie, a friend of Will's from childhood. Their romantic chemistry is off the charts. Still, after a bad night of partying and her fed up with Will's behavior, she leaves. From then on, Jackie is not a part of the show anymore.

Scott Rosson (Gossip Girl)

Yeah, what happened with this? It felt like the fact that Dan and Serena had a half-brother was such a massive part of Gossip Girl for a bit, and then he just vanished without a trace. They even had a family reunion, but it's pretty much never brought up again. Like, how do you forget about a half-brother?

Abby Day (New Girl)

Believe it or not, Jessica Day has a sister—Abby Day, who the lovely Linda Cardellini played. We saw her once, and then we legitimately never saw her again during the series, which is pretty surprising because New Girl has some good consistency with a lot of its characters.

Santiago Herrera (Friday Night Lights)

This is another case of someone just vanishing from a TV show. He was a major recurring character in Season 2 of Friday Night Lights and had a pretty good story, but then he just vanished the next season. Legit, no one knows what happened to his character.

Frank Jr. (Friends)

Remember when Phoebe from the Friends cast got pregnant for her half-brother, Frank Jr.? Yeah, I barely did, too, but that did happen. Frank Jr. seemed like he was going to be a bigger part of the overall story, but then, after she gave birth to the triplets in the one-hundredth episode, we really don't see him or his family that often again.

Olivia Burke (Gossip Girl)

There are a lot of random people I forgot guest-starred in Gossip Girl, and one of those was Hilary Duff, who played Olivia Burke. The character was only there for six episodes, which explains why we forgot about her so quickly, but when looking back, it really feels like she should have been part of a bigger Gossip Girl cast. She was a good addition.

Robin Sylvester (Glee)

Sue had a daughter.

Yeah, that's right, I'll tell you again – Sue Sylvestor had a daughter, whom she named after her deceased sister, and then we rarely ever see her again—a baby. Don't even try to pretend you remembered because I sure as heck didn't.

Detective Daniels (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Alright, while what happened to Detective Daniels isn't that surprising, it's still a good thing to point out. This character was introduced in the pilot of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but we never see her again after. This isn't the first time a show has cut people out from the pilot, but still, a character that we totally forgot about.

Tara (The Walking Dead)

Out of any forgettable character on The Walking Dead, Tara is one that stuck around for several seasons, and I still needed to remember her. Maybe it was because her stories felt like they were pushed far in the background in comparison to what else we were all going through, but man, every time I've rewatched this show, I always forget that she becomes a decently big character.

Tori Scott (Saved By The Bell)

Tori was a new character introduced to Saved By The Bell in her later years. While she made friends with the group and even dated two boys, she was gone ten episodes later and is barely mentioned again.

Matt Rutherford (Glee)

The Glee cast is endless, and it feels like there are always new characters coming and going, but man, everyone forgets about Matt Rutherford. He was a background character in Glee in the first season, and there were so many other crazy characters there that it's honestly not that surprising he was just gone in Season 2. We will always remember to forget you, Matt.

Charles Miner (The Office)

I swear to God, every time I watch The Office, I always, always forget that Idris Elba guest-starred. He's a new VP for Dunder Mifflin, and he doesn't get along with Michael at all. While he was hilarious on the show, it wasn't enough for his character to last super long and be memorable.

Ben Geller (Friends)

I remember back in Friends Season 1, it was a big deal that Ross was going to have a baby with his ex-wife, but then we barely got to see him throughout the show. Thankfully, we did see him grow up a little when young Cole Sprouse played him, but before then, it was like Ben Geller never even happened.

Dani (Glee)

As a young bisexual woman, seeing Dani on Glee basically altered my state of mind. I wished she had stayed on the show forever because she and Santana seemed like a power couple with their voices. However, Dani (and Demi Lovato) ended up not staying on the show for long—and inevitably, Santana went back to Brittany anyway.

Isaac Lahey (Teen Wolf)

These teen supernatural dramas are filled to the brim with characters that just come and go all the time, and one to point out is Isaac Lahey, a student at the primary school of the franchise who was there and then just not the following season.

Ruby Lucas (Once Upon A Time)

Ruby is a character that seemed like she was going to have a big part in Once Upon a Time, but as any fan of this show knows, more and more storylines began to converge and push out other ones that could have been great, and Ruby's was sadly one of them. Eventually, she does get her happy ending, but no one ever really remembers her that much now.

Tina Pinacotti (That ‘70s Show)

Remember that Donna had a little sister? Yeah, I didn't either. We see Donna's supposed little sister, Tina, in an episode about a party, but then we never hear from her again after that episode. And then, we see Donna say several episodes later that she's an only child, so that got retconned.

Chuck Cunningham (Happy Days)

For those who have watched Happy Days, you might remember Chuck Cunningham, the brother of Richie and Joanie. However, he ended up becoming a background character and then vanishing altogether.

Morales (The Walking Dead)

We see Morales one other time in The Walking Dead besides Season 1 of the show, where we watch him leave the leading group with his family. And then, when he suddenly shows up as part of Negan's crew, he's killed by Daryl. Why bring him back to die? Ridiculous.

Mutt Schitt (Schitt's Creek)

Alexis from the Schitt's Creek cast has certainly had her fair share of love interests, and one of those was Mutt Schitt. That fling ended up fading away just as quickly as it began, and then soon, he was gone—which is honestly a shame because he was pretty funny.

Isla (Succession)

The Succession cast is so talented, and the characters have so much depth. One of those that continued to grow over the course of its four seasons is Roman Roy. But do you remember that in Season 1, he had both a wife and a daughter? Her name was Isla (the daughter), and yeah, we legit never heard about this little girl, like, ever.

Cooper Anderson (Glee)

Blaine had a brother who Matt Bomer played, and they actually had some sick duets on the show. But yet again, we legitimately never see him again. He was actually a great addition and really gave Blaine a kick in the butt to become better at singing (even though he already was), but we don't even see him in the finale or anything.

Otis (The Walking Dead)

There are plenty of The Walking Dead deaths that are pretty much forgotten about, and one of them, hands down, has to be Otis. One of the farmhands on Hershel's farm, Otis, is devoured by zombies thanks to Shane leaving him behind. We only saw him for a few episodes, and he was never mentioned again.

Ken Tanaka (Glee)

Ken Tanaka was the former coach of the football team at McKinley and was engaged to Emma. However, after suffering a nervous breakdown, he's gone from the show, and Coach Beiste takes his place. We never see him again after Season 1, despite him playing a big role in the first season.

Did any of these picks stir your memory? They certainly stirred mine—and now I have to rewatch all these shows to see them all again.

Moms are strong by nature but TV's toughest moms rule their roost with high standards, great expectations and strong discipline. From sitcom staples like Roseanne Conner and Clair Huxtable to dramatic dames like Cersei Lannister and Cookie Lyon, these iron-fisted mamas don't get the credit they deserve when it comes to their strict and stern parenting styles. Here are 32 of our favorites. 

Roseanne Conner (Roseanne)

The fierce working-class "domestic goddess" at the center of the ABC sitcom Roseanne was always crazy-quick with a wisecrack and was never one to hold back an opinion. But though known for her loud, sarcastic and domineering nature, Roseanne Conner (Roseanne Barr) was always loving and protective towards her four kids, daughters Becky (Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke) and Darlene (Sara Gilbert), and sons D.J. (Michael Fishman) and Jerry (Cole and Morgan Roberts).

Clair Huxtable (The Cosby Show)

Despite having to juggle raising five children, maintaining a household and continuing a successful law career, The Cosby Show's Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) was always a vision of class and composure. While her husband Cliff was the more fun-loving and boisterous parent, Clair was the disciplinarian of the Huxtable residence and was assertive in teaching her kids about responsibility and respect. 

Peggy Bundy (Married... With Children)

With her refusal to cook, clean or cater to her boorish husband Al (Ed O'Neil), Peggy Bundy (Katey Sagal) from the beloved blue-collar comedy Married... with Children was TV's ultimate anti-housewife. Where other small-screen moms used their iron fist to ensure order and discipline, Peg unapologetically prioritized her own couch-sitting, Oprah-watching "Me Time" over traditional parenting and domestic work. But that doesn't mean she didn't regularly make time to voice her opinions about her lackluster hubby and kids Kelly (Christina Applegate) and Bud (David Faustino).

Wilma Flintstone (The Flintstones) 

When you're married to a literal caveman, it's no surprise that Wilma Flintstone had to be level-headed and strong-willed for the sake of her family. Throughout the classic cartoon series The Flintstones, the Stone Age mama was tender and caring to her hubby Fred and daughter Pebbles but was known to utilize a firm hand — and a frying pan — when things got a little too rambunctious in her household. 

Claire Dunphy (Modern Family)

Often regulated to being the strict mom opposite goofy dad Phil (Ty Burrell), Claire (Julie Bowen) is the hardworking and often anxiety-ridden head of the Dunphy household. In trying to wrangle her husband and three children — Haley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter) and Luke (Nolan Gould) — The Modern Family matriarch can regularly be neurotic and controlling but every ounce of that effort clearly comes from a place of love. 

Jessica Huang (Fresh Off The Boat)

Just as her husband Louis (Randall Park) described her, Jessica Huang (Constance Wu) from the ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat is "aggressive yet elegant." No-nonsense, traditional and very competitive, she pushes both her spouse and their sons Eddie (Hudson Yang), Emery (Forrest Wheeler) and Evan (Ian Chen) to succeed in their careers and academics, respectively. For example, she's plenty pleased with Evan's future plans of becoming "doctor/president," but less so when Eddie reveals that he wants to go to culinary school instead of college.

Cersei Lannister (Game Of Thrones)

Like many things in her life, Cersei Lannister's (Lena Headey) relationship with her children throughout Game of Thrones was often fueled by her own pride and need for power. However, that doesn't mean that Cersei wouldn't kill for her kids — and she did. When it came to the safety of Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), Myrcella (Nell Tiger Free) and Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman), she parented with a leonine fierceness, to the danger of her enemies. 

Florida Evans (Good Times)

First introduced as a feisty maid in Maude, strong-willed Chicago mother Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) is the heart and soul of the original Good Times. Despite considerable financial issues and a never-ending list of chores and responsibilities, Florida always kept her household in line, offering up stern but loving discipline and instilling valuable morals in her three children J.J. (Jimmy Walker) Thelma (Bern Nadette Stanis), and Michael Evans (Ralph Carter). 

Lois Wilkerson (Malcolm In The Middle)

As the mother of five highly mischievous and unruly young boys, we really can't blame Malcolm in the Middle's Lois Wilkerson (Jane Kaczmarek) for being a touch stubborn, overbearing and hotheaded. Lois genuinely cares about her children, but her idea of discipline is jokingly dubbed "sadistic" by the boys: "Your punishment isn't over until that bathroom floor is so clean you'll be eating off it. Which is what you'll be doing for the next three weeks," she memorably punished son Reese in Season 6. 

Norma Bates (Bates Motel)

Now, we're certainly not suggesting that Norma Bates (Vera Farmiga) had a healthy parenting style throughout the A&E horror drama Bates Motel, but she certainly was a devoted, if domineering, mother to Norman (Freddie Highmore). Norma can be clingy and critical of her son — and has especially harsh opinions about the girls Norman hangs out with — but she always does everything in her power to protect him. 

Emily Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

It seems like the only people Emily Gilmore (Kelly Bishop) is more judgmental of than her own daughter Lorelai (Lauren Graham) — no picnic in the mom department, herself — are her maids, who she seemingly hired and fired every other episode of Gilmore Girls. The wealthy matriarch of the eponymous family is known for her high standards, snooty attitude and controlling nature: a textbook example is forcing Lorelai and granddaughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) to attend Friday night dinner at her home every week, no exceptions. 

Debra Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)

A classic example of a TV mom having to play the "bad cop" to a "fun dad" type is Debra Barone (Patricia Heaton) from Everybody Loves Raymond. While husband Ray (Ray Romano) often gets up to nearly as many hijinks as their kids Ally (Madylin Sweeten), Geoffrey and Michael (Sullivan and Sawyer Sweeten), Debra is all business. She's responsible, hardworking and not afraid to speak her mind — except, it seems, when it comes to her meddling mother-in-law Marie (Doris Roberts). 

Harriette Winslow (Family Matters)

The matriarch of the Winslow family (largely played by Jo Marie Payton but replaced with Judyann Elder in Family Matters' final season) knows order and discipline: she left the police force when she became pregnant with her eldest, Eddie (Darius McCrary). Raising three kids, Harriette is regularly the voice of reason in the Winslow household but is a sharp-tongued disciplinarian when she needs to be. 

Colleen Donaghy (30 Rock)

Portrayed by the legendarily brash Elaine Stritch, the mother of Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) always dishes out tough love when it comes to her son. With just one of her many characteristically biting quips (“Don’t talk to me like that Jack. I breastfed you for nine years!”) Colleen is able to instantly turn her slick, successful businessman of a son into a fearful little boy. 

Beverly Goldberg (The Goldbergs)

The Goldbergs' Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) puts the "mother" in "smother" — hugs are mandatory and she can often be found meddling in various areas of her kids' worlds, from school to sports to social life. But the snuggies-loving matriarch can be strict, tough and opinionated, not only when it comes to her children Erica (Hayley Orrantia), Barry (Troy Gentile) and Adam (Sean Giambrone) but also herself: "I have failed as a mother!" is the character's main catchphrase. 

Galina ‘Red’ Reznikov (Orange Is The New Black)

Yes, even prisoners need a mother figure and Litchfield Penitentiary has Red (Kate Mulgrew). Compassionate but very cunning — this is a woman who was in cahoots with the Russian Mafia, after all — she rules her block of the prison with a watchful eye, explicitly prohibiting her girls from partaking in drugs whilst running a well-oiled smuggling ring to get them the contraband goods they need. 

Vivian Banks (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

Firstly, we're specifically talking about Aunt Viv as portrayed by Janet Hubert for the first half of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. (Daphne Maxwell Reid took over the role in season four after Hubert was dismissed from the show.) As no-nonsense as she was nurturing, Hubert's take on the character was more fiery than her successor, a strong, confident university professor who wasn't afraid to lay down a hard lesson to her three children, her students or her troublemaking nephew (Will Smith). 

Marge Simpson (The Simpsons)

Marge is the blue-haired, bee-hived moralistic center of the Simpsons family. With a fam that includes an oafish husband like Homer, a notorious prankster like Bart and an eternal infant like Maggie, The Simpsons matriarch has to run a tight ship to maintain order in her antics-filled household. She doesn't approve of the kids' violent video games or cartoons, has followed Bart's whereabouts through his cell phone and is always pushing her family to go to mass. As Homer says of his wife: "If it were up to [Marge], all we would ever do is work and go to church."

Violet Crawley (Downton Abbey)

Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham (played by Dame Maggie Smith), is not exactly known for being a cuddly grandmother sort. Instead, the stately Downton Abbey matriarch is defined by her dry wit, direct nature and deep investment in maintaining the family's traditions, honor and legacy. 

Barbara Howard (Abbott Elementary)

Barbara Howard (Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph) didn't just raise kids of her own at home — she's raised whole classrooms full of impressionable youngins as a kindergarten teacher at Willard R. Abbott Elementary School for the past two decades. Super old-school (no, she will not be learning that new teaching technology, thank you very much) and strictly religion, she's the kind of teacher who quiets rowdy classrooms the second she steps foot into them. 

Tami Taylor (Friday Night Lights)

As both a mother to teen daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden) and little Gracie Belle (Madilyn Landry) and a counselor at Dillon High School to countless students, Connie Britton's tough yet compassionate Tami Taylor regularly guided the youth with equal parts firmness and fairness. Through five seasons of Friday Night Lights, she was a sounding board and a calm authority, but always with a little bit of Southern sweetness sprinkled on top. 

Jill Taylor (Home Improvement)

The lion-hearted leading lady of the Taylor family, Jill (Patricia Richardson) raises her three sons Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan), Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) and Mark (Taran Noah Smith) with a stern hand and Type-A attitude while also remaining lovingly perceptive and good-naturedly allowing for silly moments. However, you know that when she addresses her husband Tim (Tim Allen) or her sons by their full name, somebody is definitely in trouble. 

Cookie Lyon (Empire)

Talk about one tough cookie: Empire's queen bee Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) tells it like it is, demands respect and doesn't tolerate nonsense in any aspect of her life, including when it comes to her children Andre (Trai Byers), Jamal (Jussie Smollett) and Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray). She can be extremely headstrong and brash, but she definitely has a caring and compassionate side and she always puts her family first. 

Sophia Petrillo (The Golden Girls)

Sarcasm and sass certainly seem to be genetic in the Petrillo household: both mom Sophia (Estelle Getty) and daughter Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) possess each personality trait in spades. As Dorothy's actual parent and the surrogate mother of her roommates Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) and Rose Nyland (Betty White), Sophia doles out wisecracks and criticisms often — about Dorothy’s lack of love life, Blanche’s promiscuity and Rose’s stupidity — but beneath all of her hilarious put-downs beats a lot of love. 

Nalini Vishwakumar (Never Have I Ever)

Never Have I Ever's Nalini (Poorna Jagannathan) can be hard on her teen daughter Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) but her overly strict and at times overbearing nature stems from not only her traditional Indian upbringing but also her sheer love and concern for her child. (As fans no doubt remember, Nalini lost her husband to a heart attack before the start of the series, a trauma which sparked temporary paralysis in her daughter.) Sometimes it's hard for her to show tenderness, but her heart is always in the right place. 

Olivia Walton (The Waltons)

Yes, Olivia Walton (Michael Learned) is an exceedingly sweet and compassionate lady, but there's one area of her life in which she does not play around: her parenting. She prompts all seven of her children (John-Boy, Jason, Mary-Ellen, Ben, Erin Walton, Jim-Bob and Elizabeth) to have good manners and posture, requires them to read the Bible and never miss Sunday service, and will resort to scolding her children if they misbehave. 

Carmela Soprano (The Sopranos) 

Steely and steadfast, Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco) is like any good Italian-American mom: she's armed with a deep sense of obligation to her family, works hard to create a (somewhat) stable environment for daughter Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and son A.J. (Robert Iler), and can make a mean lasagna. With her husband Tony (James Gandolfini) busy with Mafia business, Carmela does the lion's share of the parenting and when it comes to chastising her children, she's proven to be just as formidable as her spouse.

Thelma Harper (Mama’s Family)

Known simply as Mama, Thelma Harper (Vicki Lawrence) from the NBC sitcom Mama's Family headed her household with a sharp wit, an acid tongue and a quick temper. Bluntly outspoken and hilariously grumpy, the series version of the character was actually reportedly softer-edged than the original iteration conceived for The Carol Burnett Show. And despite Mama's frequent bickering and bad attitude, all of her cooking, cleaning and curmudgeonly care is clearly out of love.  

Gemma Teller Morrow (Sons Of Anarchy) 

A more hard-edged mama than her other famous TV mom character Peg Bundy, Katey Sagal's Gemma Teller Morrow is unapologetic about how protective she is of not only her son Jax (Charlie Hunnam) and grandchildren but also her surrogate family, the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club. Equipped with equal parts savagery and vulnerability, she's adapted to her gritty environment and can be tough, competitive and manipulative in the lengths she'll go to to defend those she loves.

Penelope Alvarez (One Day At A Time)

Don't let her quirky, fun-loving demeanor fool you — as One Day at a Time's main madre Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado) is quick to remind you, she's a "total badass." As a single Cuban-American mother, a nurse practitioner and a former Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, "Lupe" has a strong work ethic and sense of discipline, which she makes sure to instill in her children Elena (Isabella Gomez) and Alex (Marcel Ruiz).

Evelyn Harper (Two And A Half Men)

Son Alan Harper (Jon Cryer) doesn't jokingly call her "the queen of darkness" for nothing. Yes, the wealthy and five-time-widowed Evelyn (played by Holland Taylor) can be quite cold, callous and critical when it comes to her sons Alan and Charlie (Charlie Sheen) and grandson Jake (Angus T. Jones). She majorly disapproves of Alan's failed marriages as well as Charlie's personal hobbies — granted, the latter is drinking, gambling and womanizing, so she might be onto something. 

Lynette Scavo (Desperate Housewives)

Having to deal with four demanding children (Porter, Preston, Parker and Penny) as a stay-at-home mom while her husband Tom (Doug Savant) is at the office every day, Lynette (Felicity Huffman) is understandably stressed much of the time, which tends to manifest itself as a neurotic and controlling nature. She also often tends to go over the top when it comes to disciplining her children — for example, she once ditched her kiddos on the side of the road to teach them about following orders. 

We've been experiencing a TV renaissance for years now, to the delight of superfans like myself who love watching my weekly stories. But even before the small screen became a place for A-listers, there were a number of iconic moments that stuck with fans. And this will be all about the single most memorable moment of 32 iconic TV shows.

Obviously not every beloved TV title can be on this list, so apologies in advance if your favorite isn't included. The small screen is simply an embarrassment of riches in this regard, especially once you factor in streaming shows that have arrived in recent years. In no particular order, here are the biggest moments from 32 beloved shows. But be warned: a major SPOILER ALERT is needed, as some of these episodes feature big plot twists and/or character deaths. You've been warned!

The Red Wedding, Game of Thrones

During its run on HBO, Game of Thrones was jam-packed with wild, violent, and truly memorable sequences. And while fans are still debating the final season, perhaps the most iconic scene occurred during the Season 3 episode "The Rains of Castamere". This is the infamous Red Wedding, where Walder Frey betrays the Starks, resulting in the brutal deaths of Robb, Catelyn, and Talisa (as well as her unborn baby).

Nomi's Wedding, Sense8

When Netflix was rolling out expensive and ambitious new content early into its run, The Wachowskis helmed the sci-fi series Sense8. The show followed eight strangers who were connected psychically and was canceled after two seasons, but fan campaigns resulted in a Sense8 finale movie being produced. After beating the bad guys, the show ends with Nomi and Amanita's wedding on the Eiffel Tower, followed by one last, wild, party.

Fonzie Jumps The Shark, Happy Days

The beloved sitcom series Happy Days is known for bringing the phrase "jumping the shark" into the pop culture lexicon. This originates from a Season 5 episode of the classic series, where Henry Winler's Fonzie jumps over a live shark while on waterskis. Say what you want about this plot point, but it's remained the most lasting and iconic plot line from the show's tenure on the air.

"Pick Me, Choose Me, Love Me", Grey's Anatomy

During its long tenure on the air, Grey's Anatomy had a number of iconic love stories. But the biggest has always been Meredith and Derek. Fans waited a long time for them to be together, and one of the show's most iconic moments is when she pleads for McDreamy to "pick me" instead of his wife Addison.

Rory's Graduation Speech, Gilmore Girls

When Gilmore Girls began its run on TV, it followed as Alexis Bledel's Rory struggled to adjust to life at her new fancy school, Chilton. Eventually, she becomes a leader in the school and delivers a graduation speech in Season 3. Not only did it make characters like Lorelai and Sookie cry, but it's one of the most iconic scenes of the entire show, where she pays tribute to all that her mother has given her.

Negan Kills Glenn And Abraham, The Walking Dead

For fans who watched The Walking Dead at the height of its popularity, there's life before Negan and after Negan. Jeffrey Dean Morgan's villain made a horrifying splash when he entered the scene, brutally killing fan favorites Abraham and Glenn with his bat Lucille. Some folks thought that killing was too much for the brutal apocalyptic drama.

The Plane Crash, Lost

Lost's pilot episode started a new must-see television show, with the sci-fi series instantly becoming water cooler talk. While some folks stopped watching as it ran, the first (wildly expensive) episode remains the most iconic, thanks to the thrilling plane crash sequences.

Tyra Banks Screams At Tiffany, America's Next Top Model

There are a handful of reality TV show moments on this list because of their impact on pop culture. America's Next Top Model might not be considered one of the best reality shows of all time, but it left its mark. Particularly the episode where host Tyra Banks screamed at one of the contestants after her elimination.

The Gift, Buffy The Vampire Slayer 

The first five seasons of Buffy The Vampire Slayer aired on the WB, before it eventually changed networks to UPN for the final two entries. Season 5 went out with a serious bang, with Buffy dying after sacrificing herself to save Dawn and the world. After wondering for half the season, we finally understood that death was her gift.

The Movements, The OA

The OA was an ambitious series that ran on Netflix for two seasons and was canceled far too soon. In the Season 1 finale, the group of teenagers (plus Phyllis Smith's BBA) decide to use the reality-traveling movements to distract a school shooter, saving the day in the process. It's a moment we waited all season for, and is an emotional and epic sequence.

The Lake House Fight, Girls

HBO's Award-winning comedy series Girls was a huge hit when it was on the air, and has been getting a lot of positive attention in the years since it wrapped. One of the best episodes of all time is Season 3's "The Lake House", where the four titular girls drink, dance and have an epic argument that shows just how messed up their friendships truly are.

Dexter Finds Rita's Dead Body, Dexter

Dexter was hugely popular during its original run on Showtime, and many consider Season 4 to be its strongest chapter. While Michael C. Hall's character eventually manages to murder the Trinity killer, he doesn't realize that the villain has already murdered his wife Rita. This represented a huge switch for the series and showed the consequences of Dexter's dark passenger.

The Final Scene, The Sopranos

The Sopranos' ending is one that has lived in infamy since it aired back in 2007. With an all-out mob war looming, fans expected Tony and the rest of the crew to go out with a bang. Instead, the finale famously cut to black during the final sequence, with audiences thinking their cable broke when it originally aired.

I Am The One Who Knocks, Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad was a delightful slow burn, with audiences following as Bryan Cranston's Walter White goes from chemistry teacher to bonafide drug lord. Things got more and more dangerous for Walt and his family throughout the show's run, to the dismay of his wife Skyler. When she finally confronts him in Season 4, he gives a truly iconic speech where he claims that he isn't waiting for someone dangerous to knock on the door because "I am the one who knocks."

The Final Sequence, Six Feet Under

Six Feet Under goes in the long list of quality shows to come from HBO. But it stands out as having arguably the best series finale of all time, where the audience is shown how the characters live and (more importantly) die. Set to the tune of Sia's "Breathe Me", try to get through that final sequence without crying.

The Departure, The Leftovers

The Leftovers was a thrilling drama with a super fascinating concept: on October 14th, 2% of the world's population suddenly vanished. While the show follows the fallout of that event, the pilot episode opened on The Departure, with a mother desperately searching for her baby after he disappeared.

Jessie's Song, Saved By The Bell

During its run in the late '80s and early '90s, Saved By The Bell was a favorite show among young people. While it was largely a comedy, certain episodes got more serious. Case in point: the episode "Jessie's Song", where Elizabeth Berkley's character becomes addicted to caffeine pills.

Fiona confronts Monica, Shameless

The US version of Shameless had a super long run on Showtime, ending after a whopping 11 seasons on the air. But it was best during its early years, and perhaps the most iconic moment came back in Season 1. When Monica returns to the Gallagher family and tries to take Liam away with her, Emmy Rossum's Fiona reaches her breaking point and confronts her over years of neglect.

Ross Says The Wrong Name, Friends

Throughout all of Friends' decade-long run on the air, the biggest question was whether or not Rachel and Ross would end up together. They had plenty of starts and stops (they were on a break!) but perhaps the most dramatic part of this saga came during Ross' wedding to Emily. In the middle of his vows, he accidentally refers to Emily as Rachel, ending his marriage before it even began.

The Hallway Fight, Daredevil 

While Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock is taking center stage in the MCU with Daredevil: Born Again, his tenure as the hero began with the Netflix Daredevil show. The series was gritty and featured dizzying fight choreography, with the most iconic being the long hallway fight, which was a thrilling one.

The Family Portrait, Modern Family

The Emmy-winning comedy Modern Family had a long life on the air, with the audience watching as the child actors grew up before their eyes. Season 1 was especially great, and the first finale "Family Portrait" is the show at its best. After stressing to try and pose for the perfect picture, the mixed family ends up throwing mud on each other and letting it all go in a heartwarming story.

Don Draper's Happy Ending, Mad Men

While it had a wildly successful run on AMC, arguably the most iconic moment from Mad Men came from its series finale. Fans have long debated the meaning behind the final shot, where Don Draper is seen happy and meditating, seemingly leaving the advertising world behind him. Although Jon Hamm's interpretation of the ending offers another, less hopeful perspective.

Pam And Jim's First Kiss, The Office

The Office had plenty of long love stories, with fans rooting for the staff of Dunder Mifflin. Jim and Pam's is the biggest example of this, and fans had to wait years for them to finally get together. In Season 2 the pair finally share their first kiss, although they didn't end up together just yet.

Teresa's Table Flip, The Real Housewives of New Jersey

The Real Housewives franchise is a huge behemoth at this point, but in the beginning, there were just a handful of cities. Chief among them was The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which entered the pop culture zeitgeist forever when OG Teresa Giudice flipped a table during a heated argument with Danielle Staub in the Season 1 finale.

Sue Hawk's Speech, Survivor

The first season of Survivor changed the TV world forever, and the show is still running to this day. Perhaps the most memorable moment from that prolific first chapter was Sue Hawk's scathing speech about snakes and rats, where he let out her rage about runner-up Kelly Wiglesworth.

Poussey's Death, Orange Is The New Black

Orange is the New Black was one of the first original Netflix shows, and it remained wildly popular until it ended. Fans know that the show was forever changed when Poussey was tragically killed in Season 4, inspiring a prison-wide riot that would take up all of Season 5.

Nina Kills Teri, 24

24 became a wild sensation when it started airing on Fox, with an entire season of action taking place in just one day. The Season 1 finale offered one more gut punch for audiences, when Jack finds the body of his wife Teri, realizing that she was killed by his former friend and colleague Nina.

Diane And Sam Breakup For Good, Cheers

Diane and Sam were the will they/won't they couple in the comedy Cheers, and fans all had their own opinions about them. In the series finale, we finally get some closure, and the pair realizes they shouldn't be together after all.

Nancy Burn Her House Down, Weeds

When Weeds started airing on Showtime, it was about a single mother who resorts to selling drugs to her suburban neighborhood. In Season 3 she burns down her house to avoid being caught, and the show was never the same after.

Kurt Dances To 'Single Ladies', Glee

Season 1 of Glee hit the world by storm, thanks to its colorful cast of characters and non-stop stream of hit songs. The first season was a huge deal, and there are perhaps no more iconic episodes when Kurt dances to Beyonce's "Single Ladies", and has to try and keep his identity from his father.

'Let's Go To The Mall', How I Met Your Mother

During the How I Met Your Mother episode "Slap Bet" the group of friends (and the audience) are introduced to Robin's teen pop culture persona Robin Sparkles. The song "Let's Go To The Mall" is a hilarious spoof on '80s stars like Tiffany, and is arguably the most iconic moment of the comedy series' run on TV.

Eleanor Realizes The Truth, The Good Place

The Good Place ran for four seasons on NBC, offering a hilarious and complex story. Season 1 was arguably its best, and the most memorable moment came when Kristen Bell's Eleanor realizes that they've been in the Bad Place all along.

When it comes to TV shows, character deaths are relatively common, as plenty of shows have axed main or supporting players throughout their runs. Feelings over such casualties can vary, with some eliciting waves of tears and others causing people to celebrate. What we’re going to discuss here are the fictional fatalities that fall into that first category. So break out the tissues as we discuss the notable demises that still break our hearts.

Joyce Summers (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

To say that Buffy the Vampire Slayer features its fair share of brutal and otherworldly deaths would be an understatement. Yet it’s the natural passing of Buffy’s mom, Joyce Summers, that arguably still hurts fans the most today. The matriarch dies in Season 5 due to a brain aneurysm, and her body is ultimately found by her daughter. Joyce’s death shakes Buffy and her friends to their cores, but it also prompts them to grow up and take a greater step towards adulthood.

Nate Fisher (Six Feet Under)

Mortality is a major theme of Six Feet Under and, while every main character’s demise is chronicled by the end of the show, one that really sticks out is the passing of lead character Nate Fisher. Diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, Nate dies of a brain hemorrhage in a hospital with his brother, David, by his side. While Nate’s death prompts his family to cope with their grief and ultimately move forward with their lives amid the series’ final episodes, it’s a gut-wrenching development nonetheless.

Glenn Rhee (The Walking Dead)

The Walking Dead’s heartbreaking deaths are all painful in some way or another, but few can hold a candle to the moment Glenn Rhee is killed off. In Season 7, the thoughtful young man dies at the hands of the Saviors’ leader, Negan, who beats him to death with his barbed wire baseball bat, Lucille. Glenn’s death itself is sad, but it’s even more unfortunate considering that he leaves behind his wife, Maggie, and their unborn child.

Prue Halliwell (Charmed)

Drama between Charmed cast members Alyssa Milano and Shannen Doherty is said to be a contributing factor to the death of the latter actress’ character, Prue Halliwell. At the end of Season 3, Prue is murdered by a demon named Shax. In addition to marking the end of the character, this event also serves as a turning point for the remaining Halliwell sisters.

Hank Schrader (Breaking Bad)

Special Agent Hank Schrader is one of the best Breaking Bad characters and arguably has one of the most distressing deaths in the franchise’s history. Following a shootout, Hank is killed by neo-Nazi leader Jack Welker in the acclaimed episode “Ozymandias.” Schraeder’s drug-dealing brother-in-law, Walter White, witnesses the event and is left distraught. The loss of Hank is tremendous, and the only point of comfort is that Walt later avenges him by killing Jack.

Bill McNeal (NewsRadio)

The passing of comedian Phil Hartman in 1998 is what prompted the producers of the hit NBC sitcom NewsRadio to kill off his character, Bill McNeal, ahead of the fifth and final season. It’s explained in the premiere that Bill died (off-screen) from a heart attack, and his co-workers mourn him heavily. The episode is an emotional tribute to the character and the work of the great Hartman.

Dr. Mark Greene (ER)

One of the key storylines from ER Season 8 involves Dr. Mark Greene dealing with a serious brain cancer diagnosis. His health sadly declines as the season goes on and, in the penultimate episode, Greene dies. The situation is truly bittersweet as, before he passes on Greene, he’s able to spend time with his wife, Elizabeth, and daughters, Rachel and Ella.

Ned Stark (Game Of Thrones)

Game of Thrones killed off Eddard “Ned” Stark in truly Shakespearean fashion. Joffrey Baratheon goads Stark into admitting to “treason” in order to save his children’s lives and his own. Stark eventually makes that declaration during a public hearing, though Joffrey orders him to be killed anyway, in what’s truly a devastating turn of events.

Caitlin Todd (NCIS)

Caitlin Todd’s death at the tail end of NCIS Season 2 might be one of the most tragic moments in the history of TV. The character is murdered via a sniper attack by Mossad double-agent Ari Haswari, who later reveals that he only did it to hurt Todd’s colleague, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Caitlin’s demise is only made worse by the fact that her final words are “Wow, I thought I'd die before I ever heard a complim…”

Mark Sloan (Grey's Anatomy)

Mark Sloan’s death can be attributed to injuries sustained during a plane crash in Grey’s Anatomy’s eighth season finale. Mark is taken off life support in the Season 9 premiere after being in a coma. And that tragic event only adds to the sadness that his co-workers feel after Sloan’s lover, Lexie Grey, succumbed to injuries from the crash in the Season 8 finale.

Adriana La Cerva (The Sopranos)

It’s honestly hard to feel sympathy for a lot of the characters on The Sopranos, but Adriana La Cerva deserves some. La Cerva, who’s aware of fiancée Christopher Moltisanti’s mob dealings, eventually becomes a mole for the feds after being busted for drug possession. After she tells Chris about this and tries to convince him to disappear with her, he tells his uncle, Tony Soprano, who has Adriana killed.

Jonathan Kent (Smallville)

DC Comics fans surely know that there are many continuities in which Clark Kent’s adopted father, Jonathan Kent, dies. However, that doesn’t make seeing him die from a heart attack – while surrounded by Clark and Martha Kent – in the 100th episode of Smallville any easier.

Mrs. Dolores Landingham (The West Wing)

A character as endearing as The West Wing’s Mrs. Dolores Landingham doesn’t deserve to die at all. With that, many would surely agree that she didn’t deserve to be killed by a drunk driver near the end of Season 2. Landingham’s death still marks one of the most shocking moments in TV history.

Charlie Pace (Lost)

Of the various deaths that occurred on Lost, Charlie Pace’s passing still arguably hurts more than others. The fan-favorite character was killed off during the events of the third season’s finale. It’s in that installment that Charlie is doomed to drown after Mikhail Bakunin blows a hole in the underwater Looking Glass Station, though he dies a hero due to the fact that he saves some of his comrades.

Chet Hunter (Boy Meets World)

The father of Shawn and Jack Hunter, Chet died suddenly during Boy Meets World’s sixth season after suffering from two heart attacks. While the patriarch passes on before being able to formally reconcile with Shawn, the two do so when the younger Hunter later encounters his father’s ghost.

Mr. Hooper (Sesame Street)

Many members of Generation X surely remember one of the most emotional moments in Sesame Street’s illustrious history – the death of Will Lee’s Mr. Hooper, which occurred after Lee himself passed on in 1982. The episode that tackles Hooper’s passing is a truly emotional episode that sees the members of the community paying tribute to the late store proprietor. The installment also remains a groundbreaking piece of work for its exploration of death and grief in a children’s show.

Wallace (The Wire)

16-year-old Wallace possesses one of the most heartbreaking storylines ever presented by The Wire. During the first season, the young drug dealer finds himself in a tough spot after he chooses to cooperate with authorities and provide information on the local drug trade. Ahead of a trial, Wallace is found and killed by former associates, and the sight of the teen begging for his life before the trigger is pulled is still affecting.

Mike Ehrmantraut (Breaking Bad)

The wise and stoic Mike Ehrmantraut is murdered by Walter White, following an argument, amid the final season of Breaking Bad. After being shot by Walt, Mike sits by a riverbank, where he finally passes on. Ehrmantraut’s demise is made sadder due to the fact that Walt and his associate, Todd, later dissolve his body using acid.

Tara Maclay (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

It’s during the sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that Tara Maclay is sadly killed by a stray bullet to the heart. Tara’s passing ultimately plunges her girlfriend, Willow Rosenberg, into grief and pushes her towards her darker magical impulses. Willow’s rage is intense – but arguably not as explosive as the fan responses to Tara’s passing were at the time.

Henry Blake (MASH)

As humorous as MASH is, it also features some legitimately heartbreaking moments, and the death of Henry Blake at the end of Season 3 is certainly one of them. Blake is set to be discharged from military service and sent home. But, shockingly, it’s revealed at the end of “Abyssinia, Henry” that Blake’s plane has been shot down over the Sea of Japan and there are no survivors. At the time, this was a shock to viewers and to the actors involved in the scene, as it was a last-minute addition.

James Evans (Good Times)

Those who avidly watched sitcoms during the ‘70s can probably remember the night Good Times killed off family patriarch James Evans Sr. James dies off-screen at the start of Season 4, with his family receiving word of his death from a car accident in Mississippi via a telegram. In the years since that development occurred, fans have argued that James’ death marked a serious shift in quality for the Norman Lear-produced show.

Lawrence Kutner (House)

A TV character death that still hits incredibly hard is that of Lawrence Kutner, who is killed off after two seasons of House. Kutner dies by suicide, in what is an absolutely earth-shattering turn of events. What really makes this development so heartbreaking is that the exact reasons for Kutner’s decision to shoot himself are never made clear.

Edith Bunker (Archie Bunker’s Place)

Edith Bunker, one of the most iconic characters in TV history, dies in her sleep from a stroke in between the first and second seasons of All in the Family spinoff Archie Bunker’s Place. The mere notion of such a lovable character like Edith dying is sad enough, but watching her usually. boisterous husband, Archie, come to terms with her passing really tugs at the heartstrings.

Margaery Tyrell (Game Of Thrones)

Like so many Game of Thrones characters before her, Margaery Tyrell meets a brutal end. Tyrell’s death is due to the machinations of Cersei Lannister, who arranges for the Sept by Qyburn to be burned – with Margaery and many more inside of it.

Ben Sullivan (Scrubs)

Ben Sullivan doesn’t appear in many episodes of Scrubs, but he manages to leave a serious impression through his kindness and very mellow demeanor. So it’s understandable why his eventual death from leukemia is so affecting.

Poussey Washington (Orange Is The New Black)

Orange is the New Black sadly kills off Poussey Washington by having her unintentionally die by suffocation at the hands of Baxter Bayley. Her passing has a profound impact on the other residents at Litchfield Penitentiary. And, while her absence is felt as the show progresses, she at least returns via occasional flashbacks.

Anastasia "Dee" Dualla (Battlestar Galactica)

On the list of Battlestar Galactica’s most shocking deaths is that of Anastasia “Dee” Dualla, Dee dies by suicide by shooting herself in the head – a move that’s slightly prompted by her depression over seeing how ravaged Earth (now a nuclear wasteland) is. And, if that’s not sad enough, the final motivating factor in Dee’s suicide is her reconciliation with estranged husband Lee Adoma, which happens moments before she shoots herself. Dee ultimately wants to hold on to one final moment of happiness, so she ends her life.

Fred Andrews (Riverdale)

Beloved Riverdale character Fred Andrews dies as the result of a hit-and-run incident, leaving his son, Archie, and just about everyone in their eponymous town saddened. His sendoff episode is truly beautiful, as it not only honors Fred but also his portrayer, Luke Perry, whose death necessitated Andrews’ passing.

Lincoln Campbell (Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

At the end of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Season 3, the titular team is forced to say goodbye to another one of its own – Lincoln Campbell. The young Inhuman sacrifices himself by flying the villainous Hive and a nuclear warhead into space, where they can detonate. While Lincoln’s death hits hard, he goes out like a true hero. 

Teri Bauer (24)

A number of people meet their maker over the course of 24’s nine-season run, and one of the major characters to die early on is Teri Bauer. She loses her life to corrupt CTU operative Nina Meyers, as Nina shoots (the pregnant) Teri to cover her own tracks. Even now, it’s tough to shake the image of Jack Bauer cradling his wife’s body.

J.T. Yorke (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

Degrassi: The Next Generation fans are probably still shaken by the moment that beloved character J.T. Yorke was stabbed to death by Drake Lempkey. J.T.’s passing serves as a “loss-of-innocence” moment for his friends, who continue to cherish his memory. 

Howard Hamlin (Better Call Saul)

If any TV character has ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time, it’s Better Call Saul’s Howard Hamlin. The occasionally smug – but mostly well-meaning – lawyer is savagely killed by drug dealer Lalo Salamanca at Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler’s apartment. What’s sadly ironic is that Howard goes there to tell off Jimmy and Kim for secretly sabotaging him and is merely killed by Lalo to keep his issues with Wexler and McGill quiet.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that some of the best TV theme songs are courtesy of some of the greatest musicians in pop culture. Iconic TV theme songs can be as fondly remembered as the characters on the show, sometimes even more so. These are themes that still slap because they were created by the best of the best. Here is our list of some of the great songs that became iconic TV theme songs.

Friends - The Rembrandts

The legend goes that REM was first approached to have their song "Shiny Happy People" used as the theme song to Friends, but they turned the producers down. According to Michael Stipe, the producers then turned to the LA-based dup The Rembrandts to write an REM-like song. Frankly, "I'll Be There For You," the song that became a hit as the theme doesn't sound much like REM, but it's a great song, even if the band found the fame very stressful and almost quit over it. 

Orange Is The New Black - Regina Spektor

The creative team behind Orange Is The New Black found the perfect voice in Regina Spektor to compose and perform the theme song for the show. "You've Got Time" was written for the show and lyrically and musically it fits the show perfectly. 

The Wire - Tom Waits

The Wire did something unique with its theme song. Each season, the same song, a dark, brooding song called "Way Down In The Hole" written by Tom Waits and included on his 1987 classic album  Franks Wild Years. In the first season, it was performed by The Blind Boys of Alabama. Waits' original version was used for Season 2. Seasons three and four saw the theme performed by  The Neville Brothers and a group of local Baltimore kids dubbed  DoMaJe, respectively. For the fifth and final season, singer-songwriter Steve Earle, who also played Waylon on the show, did the song. 

The Golden Girls - Andrew Gold

"Thank You For Being A Friend" is certainly most well known for being the theme to the classic sitcom The Golden Girls, but it was written and recorded by singer Andrew Gold almost a decade earlier and became a top 25 hit in 1978. Singer Cindy Fee sang the TV version. 

Get A Life - REM

In the early days of the Fox network, they were throwing anything and everything at the wall to see what stuck. One brilliant show that never found its audience was Get A Life starring Chris Elliott, now most famous as being from the cast of Schitt's Creek. The show even featured "Stand" by REM as its theme. 

Boardwalk Empire - The Brian Jonestown Massacre

HBO's Boardwalk Empire may have been set in the 1920s, but the theme is from the 1990s. The song, "Straight Up and Down" comes from the excellent 1996 album Take It From The Man by the notorious Brian Jonestown Massacre. Side note - that's the best band name ever. 

A Different World - Aretha Franklin

When A Different World was spun off from the most popular sitcom of its era, The Cosby Show, you know they had to go big with the theme song. It doesn't get any bigger than the Queen of Soul herself, the legendary Aretha Franklin, who sang the theme song for Seasons 2 through 5 after Phoebe Snow sang it in the first season. Later Boyz II Men took over. 

Freaks And Geeks - Joan Jett

Joan Jett didn't give a darn about her bad reputation, nor did the characters in Freaks and Geeks, making the rocker's song, "Bad Reputation" the perfect theme song for the beloved cult show. 

The Big Bang Theory - The Barenaked Ladies

A show about nerds deserves a theme song by a band made of, let's be honest, other nerds. The Barenaked Ladies had a slew of hits in the '90s with their unique brand of dorky, catchy tunes like "Brian Wilson" and "If I Had A Million Dollars," and that aesthetic was perfect for The Big Bang Theory's theme about the origins of the universe. 

China Beach - The Supremes

In the late 1980s, Baby Boomer nostalgia was at its peak, with shows from the '60s being rebooting left and right, and shows like China Beach, about the Vietnam War, finding success on the airwaves. The theme song had to fit the era, and so the producers chose "Reflections" from 1967 by Diana Ross and The Supremes. 

South Park - Primus

An offbeat cartoon like South Park needs an offbeat theme song, so there was no better choice than to enlist Les Claypool and Primus to write and perform it. The theme has become iconic and Primus has even occasionally played it in concert. You just can't imagine the show beginning with anything but that twangy intro. 

The Proud Family - Solange And Destiny's Child

Let's be honest, it's kind of shocking that The Proud Family only aired for two seasons on the Disney Channel in the early '00s. It was a ground-breaking cartoon featuring an African-American family and as such, it deserved a theme song by legends like Solange and Destiny's Child. 

Entourage - Jane's Addiction

HBO's Entourage has one of the coolest intros of any TV show of its era as the characters cruise through Hollywood in a vintage convertible. The Jane's Addiction song "Superhero" plays over the scenes, adding to that coolness. It's a song that comes from JA's 2003 release Strays, but feels very much like it could have been written for the show. 

Dog The Bounty Hunter - Ozzy Osbourne

Dog The Bounty Hunter was a wild show, and having one of rock's wildest characters, Ozzy Osbourne perform the theme song was a match made in heaven. It doesn't sound much like a song you'd expect from the heavy metal legend, but you can't mistake his trademark vocals. Really, it's the best part about the show, if we're honest. 

Miami Vice - Jan Hammer

Jan Hammer might not be a household name, but he's played with some of the biggest jazz and rock legends of all time. His career stretches back to the late 1960s and throughout the '70s he played with legends like Billy Cobham, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, and John McLaughlin. He also composed virtually all of the music for Miami Vice throughout the show's entire run, including the iconic theme song. 

House - Massive Attack

If you watch House on a streaming service, you likely won't hear the song it originally used as its theme, "Teardrop" by Massive Attack. Instead, there is a generic song that vaguely sounds close to that song but is not nearly as good. 

That '70s Show - Cheap Trick

The theme to That '70s Show has a disjointed history. The song, "In the Street," was originally written and performed by Big Star, and released in 1972. A slightly reworked version, renamed "That '70s Song" was performed by Todd Griffin for the show's first season. Starting in Season 2, Cheap Trick recorded a version of "That '70s Song" which remained the theme for the rest of the show's eight-season run. 

The Drew Carey Show - The Presidents Of The United States of America

The best-known theme song from The Drew Carey Show is "Cleveland Rocks" by the Seattle band The Presidents of the United States of America. However, it actually had a completely different theme in its first season, a song by Carey himself called "Moon Over Parma." 

All That - TLC

Nickelodeon's All That was groundbreaking in a lot of ways. An SNL for kids that helped launch the careers of actors like Nick Cannon, Kennan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, Gabriel Iglesias, and Jamie Lynn Spears. It has to be said that the TLC, who performed the theme song also got a boost from the show, though they were already pretty huge when they recorded it. 

Malcolm in the Middle - They Might Be Giants

In a lot of ways, Malcolm in the Middle defines what being a kid in the early 2000s was all about. Though it was about Milennial childhood, the band who recorded the theme song, They Might Be Giants, are Gen X stalwarts. "Boss of Me" even won the group a Grammy. 

Dawson's Creek - Paula Cole

Paula Cole's song "I Don't Want To Wait" was first released on her 1996 album This Fire and hit #11 on the Billboard charts in 1997. In 1998, it became the theme song for Dawson's Creek and has become simply iconic in the years since. 

The Wonder Years - Joe Cocker

Of course, a show set in the '60s had to have an epic '60s song for its theme song. For The Wonder Years that meant going with Joe Cocker's version of The Beatles' "A Little Help From My Friends." Due to its appearance at the beginning of every episode, Cocker's version is at least as well known by Gen X as the original by the Fab Four, if not more. 

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - The Who

The original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, set in Las Vegas, spawned spin-offs set in Miami and New York, and all the shows used songs by The Who as their theme songs. For the original, it was "Who Are You," for CSI: Miami it was "Won't Get Fooled Again," and for CSI: NY it was "Baba O'Riley." The short-lived CSI: Cyber, which only had 31 episodes also used a song by The Who, "I Can See For Miles."

One Day At A Time - Gloria Estefan

When One Day At A Time was rebooted by Netflix in 2017, this time about a Latino family, the famous theme song was recorded by one of the greatest Latin artists of all time, Gloria Estefan. You couldn't have asked for a better match. 

Weeds - Malvina Reynolds

Malvina Reynolds has one of the most fascinating stories in 20th-century music. She didn't even start her career in earnest until she was in her forties and her biggest hit, "Little Boxes," was written and recorded until she was in her 60s. The song, first released in 1962, became a hit again as the theme song to Weeds in the '00s. 

The O.C. - Phantom Planet

The most famous member of Phantom Planet is an actor and drummer, Jason Schwartzman, so it tracks that they would find their biggest success when their song "California" was picked to be the theme song of The O.C. Without a doubt, it's a banger and fits the show perfectly. 

Gilmore Girls - Carole King

Carole King's massive hit album Tapestry sold millions of copies on the strength of two hit songs, "I Feel The Earth Move" and "It's Too Late." A third song from that album, "Where You Lead" was re-recorded by King and served as the theme song to Gilmore Girls decades after it was first written. 

Married... With Children - Frank Sinatra

When it comes to 20th Century recording artists, it doesn't get any bigger than Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. You wouldn't expect one of his biggest hits, "Love and Marriage" to serve as the theme to a raunchy sitcom like Married... With Children, and yet it works perfectly. 

Veronica Mars - The Dandy Warhols

The show Veronica Mars and the band that performed the theme song, "We Used to Be Friends," by The Dandy Warhols, have something in common. Both the show and the band were critically lauded and gained a loyal and rabid fanbase, but neither really broke through to a broader mainstream audience. Fitting partners, for sure. 

Party Of Five -  BoDeans

For more than a decade, starting in the early '80s, Wisconsin band BoDeans worked hard to develop their career in music. It all came together for them in the early '90s with their album Go Slow Down, which featured their hit "Closer To Free." The song ended up as the theme song to Party Of Five and has since become iconic. 

Sanford & Son - Quincy Jones

When it comes to TV theme songs, there is not bigger banger than the theme to Sanford & Son. The infectious, impossibly funky tune was written by one of the all greats, composer and producer Quincy Jones. So if you ever wondered what made it so great, there's your answer. 

Ed - Foo Fighters

For decades, The Foo Fighters have been on top of the rock n' roll world. There isn't much that the Dave Grohl-led band hasn't done and that includes having a song serve as a theme song to a TV show. Ed was an underrated hit show on NBC in the early '00s and the Foos' "Next Year" was a great choice for a theme.

So, sometimes, certain characters become fan favorites when it comes to TV. They capture the interest of television viewers, and almost instantly, we are pulled into their stories. 

But sometimes, these characters that we love are repulsive human beings. They all have significant issues, whether evident at first or slightly subdued. Today, we'll be going over 32 TV characters that, at first, you might like but you would not want to be friends with in real life. 

Joe Goldberg (You)

This is an obvious one, but I have to put Joe Goldberg from You because there was a time when it seemed everyone was falling for this guy. He's the main character of the series and is played by the talented Penn Badgley. 

Look, I think the actor is handsome too, and Badgley can bring a sort of charisma to Joe that makes him hard to deny – hence why, every season, it seems like he can score some new woman. 

But don't get it twisted – Goldberg is a serial killer. He may think that he's killing people for the sake of his love to make sure all their problems are taken care of, but he's still killing people. And even in the fourth season, when he tries to be "better," he ends up just giving in to his dark side and deciding that killing is acceptable. He is as repulsive as a human as you can get. 

Andrea Harrison (The Walking Dead)

I watched all eleven seasons of The Walking Dead, and few characters annoyed me as much as Andrea – which makes sense since she was killed off quite early compared to the comics. She was whiney, trigger-happy, and always turned everyone down when it came to help – and she nearly killed Daryl, so instantly, that makes her the worst. 

Pete Campbell (Mad Men)

Mad Men was a huge show, and Pete Campbell was a prominent character. But man, this dude was the absolute worst. At first, he seems like a cocky businessman, a smug person who thinks he deserves everything. But as the seasons go on, he gets worse in every way possible. He would be in jail now if this were the real world for all he had done. 

Ross Geller (Friends)

I love the Friends cast just as much as the next person, but let's be honest – Ross Geller is awful. He may be hilarious in specific ways and sometimes sweet, but he's self-centered, has pretty bad anger issues, and cheated on Rachel. And no, they were not on a break. 

Merle Dixon (The Walking Dead)

Ironically, I didn't necessarily hate Merle Dixon in The Walking Dead – maybe because I was such a big fangirl of Daryl as a teenager – but he certainly wasn't my cup of tea. And now, years later, he was just a repulsive human being in many ways. While he did have a love for his little brother, Merle left people to die, killed innocents, and only had one redeemable moment – when the Governor killed him after releasing Michonne from her captivity. 

Dawson Leery (Dawson's Creek)

Yes, we all know that famous meme crying face, but have we ever talked about how the titular character or Dawson's Creek is the worst? Dawson Leery is a miserable crybaby who thinks just because he's a more likable guy than most, he deserves more when, in reality, he's just a whiner.

Lori Grimes (The Walking Dead)

While there have been plenty of female characters from shows that people have hated for no good reason, Lori Grimes from The Walking Dead was pretty bad – in many ways. Not only was she a major complainer about everything, but her significant repulsive action was that she slept with her husband's best friend not that long after he was supposedly left to die in a hospital – and then got pregnant with his baby. Judith is sweet and all, but come on. 

Piper Chapman (Orange Is The New Black)

The Orange is the New Black cast has plenty of great characters, but Piper Chapman, the main character the show follows, is probably one of the worst. She's selfish, doesn't know what she wants, and leads many people on. She also had a crazy power trip a few seasons in that turned her into a malicious person.

Will Schuester (Glee)

I'm sorry, Will Schuester from the Glee cast must be imprisoned. Let's push to the side that he sort of lays all his problems out for his students to see half the time – what kind of chorus teacher has his children sing adult songs like "Toxic" in front of the entirety of the school – and join in? Jailtime, right now. 

Rory Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

Everyone at this point knows how terrible Rory is, in so many ways. She may have been kind in earlier seasons, but she treats her mom horribly, doesn't take her advice well, drops out of school to run on with boys, and treats her significant others pretty terribly. She's awful. 

Madison Sinclair (Veronica Mars)

I usually give high school mean girls a pass because nine times out of ten, they're just going through something at home that makes them that way. But Madison Sinclair in Veronica Mars was as vicious of a mean girl as possible. And what makes it even worse is that she's still just as petty and malicious in the Veronica Mars film, so it's just her personality. 

Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl)

There are several people from the Gossip Girl cast I can point out on this list, and one is Blair Waldorf. No, she does not get an excuse for being a teenage girl and making stupid decisions because she keeps making them as time goes on to get what she wants. She's the stereotypical rich girl. 

Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)

Let's be honest – if Sheldon Cooper were our friend, we wouldn't like him. Sure, the Big Bang Theory cast is extremely talented, including Jim Parsons, but the character of Sheldon Cooper is the worst. He's a know-it-all who has the emotional range of a teaspoon (in Hermione Granger's words) and would probably be the worst friend to have. 

Jenny Humphrey (Gossip Girl)

God, don't even get me started on Jenny Humphrey. She started the series as a pretty innocent girl on Gossip Girl, but it didn't take long for her to rebel and start doing pretty messed up stuff to fit in, and she just started getting worse and worse. I'm not surprised that her character was barely in the show by the time it ended. 

Santana Lopez (Glee)

Look, I love Glee just as much as the next person and Satana Lopez's vocals were some of the best on the show. She killed in every single solo she was in. And while a part of me is in love with her attitude and the fact that she's great representation for LGBTQ+ viewers, she's also kind of a jerk. Like actually. 

At least in the first few seasons, Santana is manipulative in the worst way possible, and if she was going down, she often dragged her friends down with her. It wasn't until later seasons we saw her break out of her shell more and learn to be kinder. 

Serena Joy (The Handmaid's Tale)

The Handmaid's Tale may be one of the best shows on Hulu, but Serena Joy is arguably one of the most despicable characters in the series. You can give me all the backstory into how she became the way that she is, but there is no denying that she is a massive reason why this oppressive society began, and there is nothing you can do or say that will make me forgive her, ever. 

Goku (Dragon Ball Franchise)

Nah, man. I may love anime and will introduce it to everyone, but if they say their favorite character is Goku from Dragon Ball, I'm unfriending them. Why? Because Goku is a deadbeat dad, and he leaves his family and children, especially Gohan, so much that it's a joke that Gohan isn't his kid. 

Erwin Smith (Attack On Titan)

I love Attack on Titan, and Erwin Smith was a part of some of the best arcs of the franchise. But my guy was almost too into the idea of what lay beyond the Walls of Paradis – so much that he's willing to sacrifice hundreds – if not thousands – of the lives of young soldiers just to win a battle. I don't care if you're an army commander – that's pretty messed up, no matter how dire the situation is. He's a kick-butt character, don't get me wrong, but also not that good of a person.

Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother)

We can all laugh at Barney Stinson from the How I Met Your Mother cast as much as we want, but if we met a real-life Stinson, we'd all hate him. He's the definition of a womanizer and has the attitude to match in many ways.

Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl)

Nope. No. I don't care if he's marketed as the "bad boy," he and Blaire are an entertaining but toxic Gossip Girl relationship and, more so, a horrible person. No random acts of kindness can make up for how bad he truly is. 

Dwight Schrute (The Office)

Dwight Schrute can take a vegetable beat and suck it – but on a real note, he isn't a great person. The Office cast is exceptionally talented, and yeah, Rainn Wilson certainly gives some humorous moments as Dwight. Still, at the same time, I'm pretty sure the office worker has some OCD with how he micromanages his job and others around him and will sacrifice anyone to get to the top.

George Costanza (Seinfeld)

The Seinfeld cast is full of characters that are all pretty bad in many ways, but let's be honest and say that George Costanza is one of the worst – if not the worst. He may be funny, but he's done some pretty bad things to get ahead in life or out of precarious situations. His frugality even led to the death of his fiance after buying toxic envelopes because they were cheap. 

Angelica Pickles (Rugrats)

No, she does not get a pass because she is a child – Angelica Pickles got her start as a mean girl early in her life with how she treated those babies, and what makes it worse is that she's still a brat in the spinoff, All Grown Up. I don't know who took her bottle away at a young age, but she's just awful. 

Brian (Family Guy)

While Brian is biologically a dog, he's practically a human in the way he speaks in Family Guy and man, has this "hilarious" dog done some messed up stuff. There is not another character that's as self-righteous as this dog, where he thinks he's just better than any other person and always uses that against them. It just makes him so unlikable. 

Dennis Reynolds (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia)

I mean, do we even really need to explain this that much? Dennis Reynolds, at first, seems like a typical narcissistic male – a womanizer who thinks he's better than most just because his daddy has money. But there are some severe cracks in his mental state and moments where you wonder if this dude would let you walk out of a hookup with him.

Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen)

I love Jujutsu Kaisen, but Gojo is also a repulsive human being. Yes, I know he's the anime boy that everyone – even some of my closest friends – seems to have a crush on, but he's as selfish as they come and always thinks he'll win everything just because he's powerful. I'm also pretty sure he would sacrifice innocent lives to live, and that's pretty repulsive. 

Ned Flanders (The Simpsons)

There are plenty of popular The Simpsons characters that I could talk about, but Ned Flanders is a pretty repulsive person. I know, at first, he seems like a friendly neighbor, but as the series progresses, he gets more wrapped up in this radical religious mindset. Don't get me wrong, it's alright for you to have your faith – but when you push it on others like Flanders begins to do, that's never the right choice. 

Charlie Harper (Two And A Half Men)

It's his character to be repulsive, but I feel like we've all let that slide because it's Charlie Sheen, and he's funny as Charlie Harper. But if we all met a real-life Charlie Harper, we wouldn't want to be close or even related to him, no matter how many times we watch Two And A Half-Men. 

Eric Forman (That '70s Show)

At first, Eric Forman seems agreeable, but when you rewatch That 70s Show, he is one of the worst characters here. He's just lazy and uses that as an excuse for so many things, and also, he does not deserve the angel that is Donna. 

Debbie Gallagher (Shameless)

Oh, Debbie. At first, Debbie Gallagher of the Shameless cast felt like a misguided teenager who needed someone to help her, but then she got an attitude. And then it got worse. And then she purposefully got pregnant at fifteen. What? It's no wonder Fiona practically lost her mind with this family. 

Rachel Berry (Glee)

Rachel Berry is the type of theater kid that you would never want to be friends with. In Glee, she makes everything about herself, always strives to steal opportunities from others, and even when she goes through something terrible, it doesn't feel like she grows up at all. I could never understand why Finn dated her. 

Ted Mosby (How I Met Your Mother)

There are so many things wrong with Ted Mosby in How I Met Your Mother, so much so that I could write an entire article about them. He would continuously pursue women no matter what despite trying to find the perfect match and still somehow ended up with Robin in the end, even after his wife passed away – which isn't right. 

There are plenty of other characters that I could add to this list, but let's cap it there – and now, I feel the need to check out different characters that make me happier than some of these horrible ones. 

Twists and turns and shocking moments are why we love great TV. There is nothing like a moment on your favorite show that sends a cold shiver up your spine and has you thinking about it for days, weeks, or even months after it happens. The moments that get everyone talking and sometimes change pop culture completely. This is our list of just some of our favorite times television shows left us speechless. 

Warning! Major Spoilers Below!

Omar's Last Moments - The Wire

Omar Little from The Wire is one of the greatest characters in TV history. For most of the show, Omar is the ultimate survivor in a dangerous game of life and death on the streets. Then suddenly, in the third-to-last episode of the series, he is gunned down in a convenience store by Kenard, a mere child. It's shocking and tragic for viewers who had come to love the troubled character. 

Matthew Crawley's Crash - Downton Abbey

The Season 3 finale of Downton Abbey pulls the rug out from under its fans in a hurry. It seems like the season will end on a happy note, with Lady Mary coming through a tough delivery of her first child and issues with the estate settled. That's when it happens, Matthew Crawley, out for a drive, comes head-on with a truck and is killed. It's sudden and shocking. 

Not Penny's Boat - Lost

Lost provided weekly twists and turns that the loyal fans of the show obsessed over for days. One moment that caused months of discussion came in the Season 3 finale when Charlie, on the verge of drowning, used his last moments to convey that the boat they thought belonged to Desmond's fiancee, was not, in fact, Penny's boat. 

Mrs. Landingham's Car Crash - The West Wing

The final episode of Season 3 of The West Wing, called "Two Cathedrals" is often cited as one of the show's best episodes. It's also one of its most tragic for something that actually happens off-screen, Mrs. Landingham's death in a car crash. Dolores Landingham was beloved by her fellow characters and fans of the show, and her death, as she drove her new car back to work, is probably the saddest moment in West Wing history. 

Ned Stark's Loses His Head - Game Of Thrones

We could populate this entire list with just shocking Game of Thrones moments and the first really "holy cow" moments came in the penultimate episode of Season 1 when the hero thus far of the story, Ned Stark, met his swift end on the order of King Joffrey. It was one of the most meaningful deaths of the series and showed viewers that no character was ever safe. 

Negan And His Baseball Bat - The Walking Dead

In the final episode of Season 6, The Walking Dead introduced its most terrifying villain of the whole series, Negan. To show just how terrible he was, the show provides possibly the most shocking moment of the series, when Negan takes his baseball bat to Abraham and Glenn's heads in one of the goriest moments in TV history. Audiences lost two of their favorite characters and gained a villain to despise. 

Helly's Outie - Severance

Throughout all of Season 1 of Severance, viewers are left pondering what exactly the purpose of the workers is. We also see the newest team member, Helly, fight and claw to get out, a rebel against the system. In the finale, we learn who Helly's "outie" is, and it's shocking, as she's the daughter of the company founder, but her "innie" is ready to take down the system. 

The Red Wedding - Game Of Thrones

The Red Wedding has been hailed as one of the most shocking moments in all of TV history. Coming in the penultimate episode of Season 3, Walder Frey's betrayal of the Starks led to the terrible deaths of Robb Stark, his wife Talisa, and his mother Catelyn. It truly shook the entertainment world.  

Dr. McDreamy's Car Crash - Grey's Anatomy

Dr. Derek Shepherd's death at the end of Season 11 of Grey's Anatomy was a brutal, stunning moment that broke millions of fans' hearts. While on the surface it seemed like a heartless way to end a show favorite's run on the show, for showrunner Shonda Rhimes, it made more sense than discarding all that was wonderful about Shepherd's relationship with Meredith. 

Walter Watching Jane - Breaking Bad

One of the most brutal scenes in the brutal show that was Breaking Bad was Walter coldly watching Jesse's girlfriend take her last breath without lifting a finger to help. He needed her out of the picture, but it was a glimpse into how far gone Walter was at that point. 

Who Shot Mr. Burns? - The Simpsons

Season Six of The Simpsons ended with one of the all-time great cliffhangers after most of Springfield was angry with Mr. Burns for one reason or another and he winds up shot. Was it Homer? Mr. Smithers? Tito Puente? No, it was none of those, when it was revealed in the Season 7 premiere that it was... Maggie? Eh, best not to think about it too much. 

"We Have To Go Back" - Lost

It was five words that sent shivers up the backs of fans in the Season 3 finale of Lost. For almost three seasons, fans were used to the flashback element of the show, and in that finale, it seemed like a regular Jack flashback. That is until Kate appears and Jack implores her to go "back" to the island with him, revealing that we'd all been watching a flashforward. 

Nina's The Mole - 24

Fox's 24 took the world by storm in its first season with its white-knuckle action and near-constant cliffhangers. One reliable part of the team was Nina Myers, Jack Bauer's righthand woman at CTU. That is until it's revealed that she'd been a mole all along and was working with the enemy, which Jack learned when he found that Nina had killed his wife. 

Tony And Ralph - The Sopranos

For much of its run, The Sopranos relied on twists and shock-endings less than other shows of the time. That doesn't mean the show didn't have them. One prominent example was when Tony Soprano suddenly attacked Ralph Cifaretto, offing him a brutal fit of rage over a number of Ralph's past deeds. 

Rosiland Shays' Elevator Fall - LA Law

Going way back to the 1980s, when shocking twists were few and far between, one of the most surprising moments on TV was the death of Rosiland Shays' on LA Law. Shays was a polarizing character, but she walked into an empty elevator shaft in Season 5 and fell to her death, it shocked everyone. 

Zoe In The Subway - House Of Cards

Zoe Barnes was a key character in the first two seasons of House Of Cards. The reporter was both an antagonist and a friend of Frank Underwood. In what seemed like a relatively benign moment as Zoe waited for a subway, she was suddenly pushed by Frank in front of an oncoming train.

Poussey Gets Suffocated - Orange Is The New Black

On Orange Is The New Black, Poussey was a fan favorite. She was thoughtful and caring, so when she was killed by a guard during a protest, it shocked and saddened everyone watching. One of the hardest moments in the show. 

The Purple Wedding - Game Of Thrones

King Joffrey Baratheon was one of the greatest villains on Game of Thrones and in TV history. By the time Season 4 rolled around, fans had had enough of the evil brat. That's why his death in Episode 2 of Season 4 was both shocking and satisfying. 

Dylan's Father's Car - Beverly Hills, 90210

Most of the twists and turns on Beverly Hills, 90210 were about teenage love triangles or midterms. Very rarely did the show ever tackle more serious issues, but when it did it usually involved Dylan. Like when Dylan's father was blown up in his car as Dylan watched. Intense. 

Bernard The Host - Westworld

Westworld was never shy about shocking fans, and although the signs were there, and fan theories abounded over Bernard's real place in the robot theme park when it was revealed he himself was a host, it still came as a huge surprise to many. Not as shocking as some on this list, but one heck of a twist. 

The Sopranos Blink To Black - The Sopranos

It's one of the most hotly debated moments in television history. The final scene of The Sopranos. While Journey plays on the jukebox, the tension builds if for no other reason than audiences knew something had to happen as the show wrapped up. Then it happens – or doesn't happen – when the scene suddenly goes black, the music stops, and the credits roll. Did Tony die? It doesn't matter, the discussion is what matters. 

The Plane Crash - MASH

In a lot of ways, MASH changed television, and one thing they were pioneers of was having a beloved character suddenly die. Such was the case in the finale episode of Season 3 when Colonel Blake gets discharged from the army and is headed home, only to suddenly die in a plane crash off camera. Famously, the cast was not told of this detail until the scene was shot and in many ways, their reactions were the same as the audience's, shock and sadness. 

John Locke's Wheelchair - Lost

Lost really set up early that it would be full of big reveals and one of the biggest in the first season was discovering John Locke was in a wheelchair in his flashbacks. It comes in the fourth episode of the series after Locke has been well-established as one of the most capable survivors on The Island and it was mind-blowing. Just what was going on, on this island?

Laura Palmer's Father - Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks wrote the book on spooky murder mysteries and set a new standard for appointment TV back in the 1990s. For most of the short series, the one question everyone needed to know, of course, was who killed Laura Palmer? We finally got our answer in Season 2 when we found out it was Leland Palmer, Laura's father. Had there been an internet in 1991, the revelation would've broken it.

Stringer Bell's Last Stand - The Wire

Stringer Bell is one of the most consequential characters in the early seasons of The Wire and while his growing tension with his partner Avon Barksdale showed no signs of abating, you got the feeling that Stringer was going to win the battle for control of the organization. That all suddenly and violently came to an end when Omar and Brother Mouzone team up to take Stringer out. 

Not The Good Place - The Good Place

Sitcoms aren't often noted for their dramatic plot twists, which is what makes the one at the end of Season 1 of The Good Place so great. Eleanor and her friends never felt like they belonged in the Good Place and in the finale, they learn it's because they are actually in the Bad Place.  

Bobby Ewing Reappearing - Dallas

Of course, Dallas is most famous for its "Who shot JR?" cliffhanger, the resolution of which led to one of the highest-rated TV episodes of all time. That wasn't the only big surprise to come from the show though. JR's brother, Bobby, died at the end of Season 8 and much of Season 9 is about his widow Pam dealing with it. Then, in the final scene of the season, Bobby suddenly reappears in the shower as if nothing had happened. It turns out, the whole season was a dream by Pam. Yeah, no one was really happy with that revelation. 

Brody Comes Back From The Edge - Homeland

For the entire phenomenal first season of Homeland, viewers are torn on whether to trust Brody is a good guy or believe Carrie that he's a bad guy. When it's revealed which side he stands on, one of the tensest scenes ever occurs when Brody almost goes through with his plot, but at the last second, decides not to. 

Janice And Richie - The Sopranos

Janice Soprano and Richie Aprile are an odd couple from the beginning and while it's not surprising that Janice would finally snap, it was still shocking when she did and shot Richie after a serious fight. 

Trinity Gets The Last Word - Dexter

Dexter on Dexter spends more time chasing the Trinity Killer than any other of his victims. When he finally catches the serial killer, it's supposed to be a win. Sadly for Dexter and Rita, Trinity has already killed Rita and it's a shocking reversal of emotions. 

For The Watch - Game Of Thrones

Even by Game of Thrones standards, the Night's Watch turning on Jon Snow and ambushing him was incredibly shocking. In the finale of Season 5, viewers were left to ponder if Jon Snow was actually dead. It was a long year of waiting for that answer for fans. 

Lawrence Shocks Everyone - House

It's rare for procedurals like House to have any really shocking moments, but towards the end of Season 5, provides one. Due to actor Kal Penn leaving the show to go work for the Obama administration of all things, his character Lawrence Kutner dies by his own hand off screen and leaves his co-workers, and fans of the show, devastated. 

There are, of course, many other examples, especially now, in the Golden Age of Television, but few can match the completely shocking moments on this list. 

Over the last several decades, the critical view of television has changed from being a lesser, more mass produced art form, not on the level of movies, to being the place for some of the most creative and progressive content being produced. Much of that collective reappraisal is due to HBO. In the late '90s and early 2000s, the premium cable company poured money into original productions like The Sopranos, Sex And The City, The Wire, Six Feet Under and more. 

As the awards, critical praise, positive fan feedback and subscriptions poured in, more TV networks started taking chances on difficult and complicated subject matter and shelling out to attract major stars. HBO still remains arguably the most famous and successful prestige TV network, but over the last few decades, tons of other networks have taken their chances with riskier and complicated shows. Many of those chances have paid off too.

Here’s a look at some really famous and really successful prestige TV shows that didn’t air on HBO but likely took some level of inspiration from the path the network blazed.

House Of Cards (Netflix)

Few shows in the history of television have upended the entire industry more than House Of Cards. The political drama was the first major original production from Netflix, and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Emmy nominations in all the major categories helped create a ton of word of mouth, and within a few years, Netflix’s long-term strategy shifted from a focus on acquiring content to a focus on producing content. 

Downton Abbey (ITV/ PBS)

Every awards voter knows period piece family dramas set among the aristocracy can be major contenders for awards, but Downton Abbey proved just how popular they can be with a broad audience too. The sprawling historical drama found huge popularity in both Britain and The United States, ultimately producing six seasons and multiple movies, and yes, of course, it won plenty of awards too.

The Americans (FX)

One of my personal favorite shows on this entire list, The Americans was a bit of a slow build. Its first season got very solid ratings and a few nominations, but within a few seasons, the spy drama about a Russian family pretending to be Americans was attracting huge Metacritic scores and picking up Emmy nominations in all the major categories for both the show itself and its brilliant lead actors Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys. 

Breaking Bad (AMC)

Widely considered to be one of the greatest shows of all-time, Breaking Bad may not have been on premium cable, but its subject matter was every bit as uncomfortable and morally complicated as anything found elsewhere. By the end of its incredible five-season run, the show had won two Emmys for Outstanding Drama, as well as acting Emmys for three of its primary actors and nominations for two more. 

The Good Wife (CBS)

Prestige TV shows typically have shorter seasons. Maintaining the highest quality over ten episodes is a lot easier than doing it over the twenty-plus network TV typically requires, but The Good Wife was able to maintain high quality thanks to really tight scripts that perfectly blended courtroom case-of-the-week style procedural elements with real character development. Great acting performances also helped, as its actors were collectively nominated an astounding thirty times at The Emmys over just six seasons.

Justified (FX)

Prestige TV shows are most often classified by the number of awards they won, but sometimes it’s about elevating a genre and having an original vision. That’s the case with Justified. It had eight Emmy nominations (and two wins for Margo Martindale and Jeremy Davies), but it’s here mostly because of how much life and originality it brought to the crime genre. It slowly evolved past being a procedural and into a carefully plotted linear story featuring a holler of fascinating backwoods personalities.

Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)

Whether awards voters were asked to call it a comedy or a drama, Orange Is The New Black found a very large and very passionate fanbase with its unique blend of prison shenanigans and societal commentary. It also helped prove Netflix was going to be a long-term threat for prestige television awards long after House Of Cards was gone.

The Great (Hulu)

The Great is maybe the most outlandish show I have ever watched and this comes from someone that’s watched Twin Peaks multiple times. There was no line this show wouldn’t cross, but with a filthy wit, it was able to ride the line between stupid and clever and rewrite the history of Catherine The Great And Peter III’s relationship in a really fascinating way. Reviews were great, and by the end, the lead actors were getting recognized for huge awards.

Lost (ABC)

I’m not sure there will be a single entry on this list that’s more divisive than Lost. The show, which Wikipedia calls a science fiction adventure drama, lost the patience of a percentage of its audience by the end, but it’s impossible to deny just how hooked millions were there for awhile. And with good reason. It got fifty-four Emmy nominations during its run and many are still discovering its joys on streaming.

30 Rock (NBC)

The bar is a lot higher for a comedy to be considered Prestige television, but there are few comedies in the history of television more praised and widely respected than 30 Rock. The hysterical take on the backstage politics behind making a TV show won Outstanding Comedy at the Emmys three times and in later seasons, attracted some of the biggest stars in the world for multi-episode guest spots.

Mad Men (AMC)

Apart from the fact that it’s utterly fantastic, Mad Men is one of the most important TV shows of the last few decades because it conclusively proved literally any network had the ability to create one of the buzziest, most acclaimed series on television, including AMC which launched Mad Men as its first original program. It also turned Jon Hamm into a huge star, and shined a light on many members of its talented supporting cast.

Dexter (Showtime)

Yeah, I know Dexter was inconsistent during its run, but man, was that Dark Passenger fun to ride around with when it was good. Showtime’s drama about a serial killer who tried to live by a moral code netted its primary actor, Michael C Hall, five well-earned Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead and netted terrific vet John Lithgow a guest star Emmy win for his terrifying work in Season 4. 

Homeland (Showtime)

Homeland didn’t have quite the universal acclaim in its later seasons, but there aren’t many shows in TV history that could match the universal acclaim of its early seasons. Its terrific first season won Outstanding Drama at The Emmys, as well as statues for its two lead actors Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. Altogether, it’s probably the most talked about and acclaimed series in Showtime history, and that’s huge praise given what else has been on that network.

The West Wing (NBC)

The West Wing is perhaps a little more inside the box and network TV-ish than a lot of other entries on this list, but to me, that’s part of its appeal. It’s well put together enough to consistently provide payoff moments, but it’s good enough at what it’s doing that the formula rarely gets in the way. Voters agreed, as it nominated the show for an astounding ninety-eight Emmys.

Ted Lasso (Apple+)

At its absolute best, Ted Lasso, the show but also, the person, has a way of making you feel so unreservedly happy. Before you realize it, you’re rooting for these characters more passionately and with more love in your heart than you ever knew was possible for a TV show. Critics, fans and awards voters all agreed too, as for awhile there, Ted Lasso became the most talked about thing on streaming.

Weeds (Showtime)

Given it ran for eight seasons, Weeds is far from the most nominated show on this list. Some of its actors did well at The Emmys, but what’s really important long-term about the drug dealing dramedy is how it turned what could have been a goofy, throwaway premise of suburban mom turned drug dealer into sharply written material that explored many different emotions and tones. It was never content to remain the same, which is the opposite of what many comedies want.

Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

This choice for sure is picking up some eyerolls, but people forget how freakin’ good Grey’s Anatomy was during its first handful of seasons. It earned multiple Outstanding Drama nominations, and many of its actors, most prominently Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson, were nominated for their performances. Its third season premiere was also watched live by more than twenty-five million people, which was a huge number at the time, especially for a critical darling.

24 (FOX)

24’s unconventional format of having episodes correspond to specific hours was a masterstroke, given the high pressure intensity of its subject matter. It was also able to really push the line with network television but more in the way of aggression and physical violence. It felt dangerous at the time, and decades later, that ever-present ferocity still comes through. It was consistently rewarded by critics and awards voters too in a way you almost never see for something this action-packed.

Modern Family (ABC)

Modern Family works so well because it’s really good at many different types of comedy. It has an overarching tone, sure, but because it brings together multiple generations, as well as many varied characters, it mines a lot of different subject matter for humor. That allows the show to feel fresh and keep from getting repetitive for longer than most comedies. Its wild range is probably best exemplified by the show somehow getting a combined six nominations in the Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress Emmy categories in the same year.

Better Call Saul (AMC)

There aren’t many spinoff shows in the history of television that pick right up where the original left off in terms of quality. Better Call Saul is a rare exception, which is positively insane given the original quality it needed to aspire to was maybe the greatest show ever in Breaking Bad. Fortunately, Bob Odenkirk is an absolute delight to watch, and Better Call Saul was able to give many of Breaking Bad’s greatest side characters more chances to shine.

Schitt's Creek (CBC)

If you want to know how beloved Schitt’s Creek was when it went off the air, especially among awards voters, look no further than the acting nominations it got during its last run at The Emmys. It somehow netted nine nominations just in the on-screen performance categories. It was a great final moment for a show that was often able to feel like both the best parts of a sitcom and the best parts of a linear dramedy at the same time.

Mr. Robot (USA)

Over the course of four critically acclaimed seasons, Mr. Robot built up a passionate fanbase who loved the dynamic between Rami Malek and Christian Slater, as well as the score and pace of the series. Starting mostly with its second season, it was also honored quite a bit by various award shows, including The Emmys, which gave Malek the Best Lead Actor award, along with nominating the show itself, guest actor BD Wong and more. 

Rescue Me (FX)

A show on FX about firefighters starring stand-up comedian Dennis Leary probably wouldn’t strike most people as a future Emmy winner and critical darling, but Rescue Me was never afraid of tackling more complicated material. That willingness to explore tougher subject matter attracted audiences, as well as high profile guest stars including Michael J Fox who picked up an Emmy for his contributions. 

This Is Us (NBC)

This is Us was so popular during its first few seasons that NBC gave it the post Super Bowl slot. The show took full advantage and aired a Super Bowl-themed episode that many consider to be one of the best of This Is Us’ entire run. It’s a perfect example of how the show, at its best, weaves together the type of complicated subject matter Emmy voters go for, while remaining broad enough to satisfy a massive audience. The actors in particularly were consistently hit with nominations, especially Sterling K Brown who was recognized by The Emmys five times.

The Crown (Netflix)

Typically when a show connects with a large audience, critics and awards voters, those behind the scenes do everything they can to keep the magic going with the original cast. Not The Crown. Rather than focus on a narrow window, the show hurtled forward, picking up new leads and new characters every few seasons, while somehow still maintaining enough quality to connect with Emmy voters and please its legion of fans.

The L Word (Showtime)

The L Word was never as enticing to awards voters as it should have been, though Ossie Davis did notably win an Emmy for Guest Actor, but its popularity and effect on prestige TV’s willingness to tackle LGBT+ subject matter cannot be overstated. Over the course of six seasons, the show tackled a wide variety of subjects and built a rich, complicated world of interconnected characters for its fanbase to root for and sometimes get mad at. 

Fargo (FX)

Taking spiritual inspiration from The Coen Brothers’ movie of the same name, no one was quite sure what to expect when Fargo premiered back in 2014, but the result was a fantastic crime narrative that was entirely different, yet oddly similar to the pace of the original film. Critics were overwhelmingly hot and loads of major nominations followed, especially for the actors. Subsequent seasons went in very different directions, but the basic spirit and popularity with awards voters remained. 

The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)

House Of Cards may have been the first streaming show to get significant critical acclaim and awards nominations, but The Handmaid’s Tale is actually the first one to win Best Drama at The Emmys. The unnerving and often disturbing adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel is a tough watch but can be so rewarding, as millions of viewers found out. Its first few seasons in particular were showered with praise and numerous nominations for both the show itself and its brilliant cast.

Arrested Development (FOX/ Netflix)

Has a comedy ever used a narrator better than Arrested Development? The well-written and often deeply weird comedy never attracted the biggest audience, but it was a huge hit with its fanbase and critics, who adored the complicated relationships between its characters and their ridiculous recurring jokes and plots. By the end of its short run, it won Best Comedy and Best Writing at The Emmys and saw four of its cast members nominated in acting categories.

Ozark (Netflix)

It took a little time for enough awards voters to give Ozark a chance, as the first season mainly only saw wide praise for Jason Bateman’s work, but once voters gave it a chance, the nominations started flying in. The show’s last three seasons were all nominated for Best Drama at The Emmys and Julia Garner won multiple times in the supporting category for her incredible work. New fans also keep discovering the show and taking to social media, where the hype train continues, despite not being on the air anymore.

Killing Eve (BBC Three/ BBC America)

There’s no shortage of fans and critics with opinions about Killing Eve's divisive final season, but the first two, in particular, remain beloved by pretty much everyone. Not surprisingly, perennial awards contender Sandra Oh got four Emmy noms for her work on the show, but voters also flipped for Jodie Comer, who got nominated three times and took home a win. Not bad for a spy thriller that wasn’t initially seen by some as a prestige project.

Pose (FX)

The loudest support for Pose came from those who couldn’t get enough of Billy Porter’s fantastic lead performance. He was repeatedly nominated and picked up an Emmy win during the show’s run, but there was also a lot of acclaim for individual seasons themselves too, as Ryan Murphy’s exploration of New York City’s LGBT+ subculture gave an opportunity for so many talented supporting actors to have their moment. 

In August, actress Taryn Manning made headline waves upon sharing (and then deleting) a video discussing her ongoing affair with a married man, complete with details about having “licked his butthole” on a near-nightly basis. She’s now back at the forefront of the social media spotlight for a variety of posts that respectively called out her former bosses at Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black and a Breaking Bad vet that she filmed a TV movie with, as well as married celebs Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.

Orange Is The New Black Accusations

For all seven seasons of Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black, Taryn Manning portrayed the role of the redneck meth head Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett, who was arguably most memorable for her grody teeth. She was also at the heart of a very grody storyline involving James McMenamin’s CO Charlie Coates. The Season 3 episode “A Tittin’ and a Hairin’” featured two scenes of sexual assault, one flashback sequence in which a teenage Pennsatucky is raped, and a present-day scene in which an angered Coates rapes Manning’s character in one of the prison transport vans.

Taking to Instagram with a post that has since been deleted (via EW), Manning firmly blamed Netflix and the OITNB for allegedly not offering her any kind of guidance when it came to going on the press cycle and having to talk about Pennsatucky being victimized over and over again. Here’s how she put it:

It’s a struggle that more actresses than one might expect have had to deal with, especially in more recent years, with sexual assault being depicted on TV and in films with more candidness and realism, and also far more often than ever before. And Manning clearly feels as if she was underserved when it came to preparing her to deal with talking about such dark and traumatic subject matter in interviews. 

What’s more, Pennsatucky’s arc involving Coates became even more disturbing and seemingly exploitative in the next two seasons, as capped off by a sequence in which the CO watches the prisoner in the throes of masturbatory ecstasy, which she doesn’t seem to mind in the moment. One can imagine that having to answer questions about her character’s mindset during that stretch would also be a difficult situation.

Taryn Manning Claims She Was Abused By A Breaking Bad Vet

Though she deleted the comments involving Netflix, Orange is the New Black, and showrunner Jenji Kohan, Taryn Manning currently still has a video post up in which she first calls out Ashton Kutcher for a Punk’d red carpet segment that addressed her sexuality, and then namechecked her Hustle & Flow co-star Terrence Howard and Breaking Bad vet Raymond Cruz, with whom she co-starred in the 2015 Lifetime TV movie Cleveland Abduction, with Cruz portraying the notorious kidnapper Ariel Castro. In Manning’s words:

Beyond the vaguely positive push for her new song "How I'm Gonna Drive a Car," the rest of that message was quite dour.  Terrence Howard has a history with allegations of physical and emotional abuse. He was accused by his first two ex-wives, Lori McCommas and Michelle Ghent, of physical abuse, and he was reportedly arrested in 2001 for assault, harassment, and more. It’s unclear what incidents Manning may have been referring to in calling him out. 

Manning and Raymond Cruz co-starred in the Cleveland Abduction project back in 2015, with the latter portraying the notorious kidnapper Ariel Castro, and the actress playing victim Michelle Knight. Press interviews at the time did not indicate any abusive issues behind the scenes, but one has to wonder if anyone else will speak up to back up her claims. 

Taryn Manning Put Ashton Kutcher On Blast Over Punk'd Segment

In Manning's initial post slamming Orange Is the New Black, the actress also addressed her friendship with convicted rapist Danny Masterson, and defended the idea of still being able to look back at memories of their friendship in a happy way without the thought of the crimes he's currently serving jailtime for. At the same time, she also slammed Masterson's former That '70s Show co-stars Ahston Kutcher and Mila Kunis, who publicly apologized after they were outed as having shared positive character judgment letters for Masterson as related to the trial process. 

Taryn Manning posted a message on Instagram Stories that took further aim at the aforementioned couple, saying:

The Sons of Anarchy vet's "M.C." comment referred to Mila Kunis' ex Macaulay Culkin, whom she dated from around 2002 to 2011. It's unclear what went on during this alleged plane ride, however.

Whether or not anything further will come from all these claims remains to be seen. Manning previously apologized after publicising her relationship with a married man, but these comments are obviously on a completely different wavelength, and could potentially lead to some form of repurcussion if those accused speak out.

Orange is the New Black can be streamed with a Netflix subscription, and the same goes for Breaking Bad.

2022 has seen the deaths of far too many people associated with the entertainment industry, and now another star has passed away. Brad William Henke, known for roles in shows like Orange Is the New Black and The Stand as well as a stint in the NFL, has died. The actor was 56-years-old at the time of his death.

Brad William Henke (born in 1966) died in his sleep on Tuesday, although TMZ reports that the cause of death at the time of writing has not been revealed. The late actor's manager, Matt DelPiano, hasn't shared any further detail, but shared a touching message with the outlet, saying:

Although Henke was likely most widely recognized in recent years for his roles in television and film, he shot to prominence when he was drafted in the NFL by the New York Giants in 1989, after playing college football at the University of Arizona as a defensive lineman. Variety reports that he played in Super Bowl XXIV for the Denver Broncos against the San Francisco 49ers and remained with the NFL until 1994, when injuries meant he had to retire. He then shifted into acting, with his earliest credit (via IMDb) as the 1996 film Mr. Wrong, headlined by Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Pullman. 

While he would continue to appear in films over the course of his career after shifting to acting, he was most prolific in television, most recently appearing in an episode of Law & Order: SVU that aired earlier in 2022. His TV credits go back to 1996, with eventual multi-episode appearances in shows like Nash Bridges, Nikki, Going to California, Judging Amy, Dexter, October Road, Lost, Justified, The Bridge, Sneaky Pete, Manhunt, and of course Orange Is the New Black and The Stand. After Dexter, he went on to collaborate with Michael C. Hall again for the film The Trouble with Bliss.

He also appeared in single episodes of shows like ER, MacGyver, and (very memorably) Criminal Minds, to name just a few of many. Of his many roles, Brad William Henke is undoubtedly best known for playing corrections officer Desi Piscatella at the Litchfield Penitentiary in Netflix's Orange Is the New Black. Henke played the role for more than 20 episodes over Seasons 4 and 5. Piscatella was part of one of the show's most controversial twists in Season 4 before being brought back for Season 5. Orange Is the New Black is widely considered one of the best original Netflix TV shows. 

Brad William Henke was sporadically active on social media, with his most recent tweet in November suggesting that he was trying to make a TV series of his own happen. Our thoughts here at CinemaBlend go out to Henke's family, friends, and loved ones in this difficult time. 

Netflix definitely has some amazing series for people to watch, from serious dramas to hilarious comedies - but what if you’re craving something that’s in-between? Something that is both a comedy and a drama? Good for you, because there is a word for that: dramedy.

There are plenty of awesome choices for series like that, including Orange is the New Black, Atypical, and many more. These are just some of the awesome choices that you can pick from, both Netflix originals and shows from current TV networks. If you’re looking for your next TV show to binge, check out some of these TV dramedies on Netflix.

Sex Education

The teen comedy, Sex Education, follows the lives of students, staff, and parents at a fictitious secondary school, telling the tales of personal dramas, issues, and stories usually related to sexual intimacy.

Sex Education is one of those Netflix originals that stand out amongst the rest. The Sex Education cast is full of talent, with stars that have really broken out into the acting world from their brilliant roles on the dramedy. Not only that, but the stories are full of heart, and a lot of teachable moments that will not only make you laugh, but also make you smile. It’s accepting and wholesome in all the right ways. And with Season 4 on the way, now is the time to check out the first three seasons. Genuinely one of the best shows on Netflix to binge.

Stream Sex Education on Netflix.

Derry Girls

Derry Girls may be set across the ocean, but it’s just as amazing to watch in the United States. This hilarious dramedy follows a group of girls who live in Derry, Ireland during a time called the Troubles in the 1990s, who all attend Our Lady Immaculate College, a secondary school (high school) where they are learning to grow up in a politically divided time. 

While Derry Girls is obviously a fictionalized show, it often references real-life events that did take place in Ireland and uses them skillfully to create a masterpiece of a television show, blending comedy and drama all in one. It’s such a great series and one that is totally underrated and everyone should check out if they’ve never seen it before. 

Stream Derry Girls on Netflix. 

Orange Is The New Black

Do you got time? Cause they do.

Orange is the New Black is based on Piper Kerman’s novel of the same name, telling the story of Piper Chapman, a young woman whose life is changed drastically when she is sent to a minimum security prison for carrying a bag of drug money for her former girlfriend. While there, she meets interesting characters, both nice and not so nice.

Let me say, for a long time, this was my favorite Netflix original series. The Orange is the New Black cast is so freaking talented it hurts – my personal favorites out of all of them was either Samira Wiley or Kate Mulgrew. The story has freaking hilarious moments – like that whole prison chicken bit -- but there are some dark tales that are told, speaking bold political and personal messages that will get to anyone. It’s the perfect combination of drama and comedy.

Stream Orange is the New Black on Netflix.

On My Block

Next up on the list, we have On My Block, a teenage dramedy that follows a group of four friends that have known each other for years while growing up in South Central LA. But as they start their journey into high school and the world begins to open up a little more to them than their home street, friendships are tested and new relationships are formed. 

Something about On My Block that I need to say is that it’s seriously one of the best dramedy’s that Netflix has offered. Not only is there some fun, edgy comedy that will make anyone chuckle but it’s not afraid to tackle darker themes such as inequalities or racism, which is something I can always respect the heck out of a show for doing since those are hard topics to handle. It’s so good, and Season 4 wrapped everything up well. Be sure to check it out. 

Stream On My Block on Netflix.

Shameless

Shameless tells the story of the Gallagher family, a poor, ridiculous crew who live on the South Side of Chicago, showing their constant tribulations while trying to get by, and also attempting to deal with their alcoholic father, Frank.

After eleven seasons on Showtime, Shameless proved to be a big hit for the network, and for good reason. The entire Shameless cast is hysterical, especially William H. Macy as Frank - because he’s so unhinged, he’s certainly the funniest. Dramatic moments of the show will tug at your heartstrings, however, and probably make you cry. God knows I did several times.

Stream Shameless on Netflix.

Russian Doll

Think Groundhog Day but a heck of a lot messier. In Russian Doll, starring Natasha Lyonne plays a young woman who is stuck in a time loop that always ends in her death. With the help of some surprising allies, she must figure out what is causing her to die over and over and come to terms with her life before it’s too late. 

Russian Doll is a wacky series but in the best way, and features some hilarious acting from Natasha Lyonne. It’ll make you grin, cry, laugh and more as you watch her character, Nadia, try to get herself out of the craziest situations. With two seasons to watch, this is a show that will make your weekend that much better. 

Stream Russian Doll on Netflix. 

Good Girls

Good Girls tells the story of three Michigan moms who are struggling in life, having a hard time making ends meet. So, they decide to pull off a heist in a supermarket, but it turns out they are way over their heads and get in more trouble than they wanted.

Good Girls sounds like it would be a big drama, especially from the premise, but it’s honestly so funny. The three main stars have great chemistry, and the hijinks they get up to make you snicker often. Even if they’re committing crimes, you root for them, because at the end of the day, they’re just regular women who were down on their luck. With only four seasons, it’s certainly a good, quick binge compared to many other shows.

Stream Good Girls on Netflix.

Dead To Me

Have you ever wondered how sometimes, friendships can bloom in the darkest of places? That’s the story between Jen and Judy, two women who are currently mourning losses in their lives that meet at a support group. But as these two begin to grow closer dark secrets about their past are exposed – and how one of them might be connected to someone’s death. 

Dead to Me is one of those shows that I feel you need to go into blind because there are so many twists and turns your neck is going to end up hurting by the end of it – but in the best way. Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are literally amazing in their roles and truly are a power pair that have some of the best chemistry I’ve seen in a dramedy. You don’t want to miss out on this one. 

Stream Dead to Me on Netflix. 

The Kominsky Method

Starring Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method tells the story of an actor who made it big a long time ago, and is now an acting coach who named his technique after himself: The Kominsky Method.

Michael Douglas is amazing in this show. I feel that he really deserves all the awards. He portrays Kominsky with such grace and a certain charm that only he could bring, and really draws you in to watch. There are plenty of laughs, plenty of moments to reflect, and a lot in-between, so it’s the perfect dramedy.

Stream The Kominsky Method on Netflix.

GLOW

In this Netflix original, GLOW follows a fictionalized version of the characters and gimmicks of the 1980s syndicated women’s professional wrestling circuit, called Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, and the struggles they faced to be taken seriously.

GLOW is one of those shows on Netflix that is so underrated and I think was cancelled too soon. The cast is full of brilliant, talented stars, led by Alison Brie, and creates a story that’s not only funny, colorful, and entertaining, but heartfelt and heavy at times as well. While we won’t get another season of GLOW, we can at least enjoy the dramedy now.

Stream GLOW on Netflix.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

In this dramedy, we follow Rebecca Bunch, a normal woman who seems to have it all, but is doing something that most of us would probably find a little crazy – traveling literally across the country from New York City to California in order to pursue her ex-boyfriend from high school. And not even just from her classes – no, he’s from summer camp. 

The show received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards during its run, as well as many other awards, including a Critics Choice Award for Rachel Bloom in her starring role. It’s certainly worth a shot if you haven’t seen it. 

Stream Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Netflix. 

Master Of None

Master of None, during the first two seasons, tells the story of Dev, an actor living in New York, and his evolution of becoming a more engaged person with his parents, relationships, friends, and others. Season 3 stars Lena Waithe and Naomi Ackie, following their relationship through a series of five episodes.

While I’m not the hugest fan of the change for the show in Season 3, I can still appreciate Master of None for taking a risk and telling a new story that fans weren’t used to. I feel like Master of None is more of a slice of life dramedy, focusing on real-life issues that regular people can face every day, rather than the craziness some of these other dramedies go through. It’s definitely a gem, especially the first two seasons.

Stream Master of None on Netflix.

Dear White People

In this TV series based on the movie of the same name, Dear White People follows several Black college students at a fictitious Ivy League university, touching on issues surrounding modern American race relations.

While shows like Sex Education and some of the others on this list lean a little heavier towards comedy, I feel like Dear White People leans a bit more towards drama, but it still has its light moments that will make you laugh, as well. I think what I love about Dear White People the most is that it’s not afraid to talk about serious situations that will make you think and reflect, and then make you laugh in the next scene.

Stream Dear White People on Netflix.

Atypical

Last, but not least, Atypical follows the story of 18-year-old Sam Gardner, who is on the autism spectrum, and what happens in his daily life, from his time at school, to his family, and the relationships he builds.

I think what I love about Atypical is that it really listens to its fans about stories they want to hear. I personally think that each season just gets better. There are plenty of moments that will make you smile and laugh, and other moments that will make your lip tremble, and everything is done through the wonderful Atypical cast. With four seasons, it’s a great show to binge. 

Stream Atypical on Netflix.

With all these awesome Netflix TV shows, it might be hard to pick just one. But, I can assure you that whatever you go with, you’ll have a great time watching, whether you’re laughing or crying. Now, if you don’t mind me, I’m going to watch Russian Doll again. 

Leading the Halo cast as Master Chief (and fitting into the iconic role pretty well) is Pablo Schreiber. The Paramount+ original TV show based on the popular sci-fi video game series actually marks the first time the actor has gotten top billing for something this big, but it’s a long time coming, if you ask me. See for yourself by checking out the following Pablo Schreiber movies and TV shows available to stream (or digitally rent) online right now, starting with the hit series most audiences probably know him best from.

Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)

An upper-middle-class woman (Taylor Schilling) sees her comfortable lifestyle put on hold when she is convicted of a crime she committed years earlier and sent to prison where she struggles to fit in.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: After a successful stint as the hilariously despicable prison guard, George “Pornstache” Mendez, on the Orange is the New Black cast for the Netflix original’s first season, Pablo Schreiber would earn an Emmy nomination for reprising the role as a guest the following season.

Stream Orange Is The New Black on Netflix.

The Wire (HBO Max)

A dramatization of Baltimore’s illegal drug trade, as seen through the eyes of both sides of the law.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: Pablo Schreiber landed his first major TV role when he joined HBO’s The Wire cast as dock worker/drug dealer/smuggler Nick Sobotka in Season 2 of David Simon’s seminal crime drama.

Stream The Wire on HBO Max.
Buy The Wire on Amazon.

The Manchurian Candidate (Amazon Rental)

As a former member of his unit (Liev Schreiber) becomes a vice presidential nominee, an Army major (Denzel Washington) begins to suffer from nightmares that lead him to question if a pivotal moment from his time in the Gulf War really happened or is part of conspiratorial plot.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: In one of his earliest roles in a major motion picture, Pablo Schreiber starred alongside his older half-brother, Liev, as an Army private subjected to horrendous psychological experiments in 2004’s The Manchurian Candidate - the late Jonathan Demme’s intense adaptation of author Richard Condon’s politically charged sci-fi thriller.

Rent/Buy The Manchurian Candidate on Amazon.

The Brink (HBO Max)

A Foreign Service Officer (Jack Black), the United States Secretary of State (Academy Award winner Tim Robbins), and various parties struggle to contain a brewing geopolitical crisis that could lead to World War III.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: Ten years after The Manchurian Candidate, Pablo Schreiber starred in a far lighter example of political commentary (particularly in tone) called The Brink - a short-lived, HBO original comedy in which he plays an ace US Navy pilot and the resident Xanax dealer of his unit.

Stream The Brink on HBO Max.
Buy The Brink on Amazon.

13 Hours (Paramount+)

A small team of ex-military officers turned security contractors for a CIA base in Benghazi come to the defense of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya when his compound is suddenly attacked.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: A year after The Brink, Pablo Schreiber played real-life former U.S. Army Ranger Kris Paronto in a far more serious and fact-based drama about war called 13 Hours, which is easily one of the best Michael Bay movies of the filmmaker’s career.

Stream 13 Hours on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy 13 Hours on Amazon.

Lords Of Dogtown (HBO Max)’

A group of young skateboarding aficionados become legends for helping pioneer new trends for urban extreme sports in Santa Monica, Calfornia, in the 1970s.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: The first time Pablo Schreiber played a real person was when he was cast in director Catherine Hardwicke’s Lords of Dogtown as photographer and filmmaker Craig Stecyk, who co-wrote Dogtown and Z-Boys - the award-winning documentary that the 2005 biographical drama, also starring Heath Ledger, is based upon.

Stream Lords Of Dogtown on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Lords Of Dogtown on Amazon.

First Man (Amazon Rental)

Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) struggles to overcome personal tragedy and steer clear of technical mishaps while preparing for NASA’s maiden voyage to the Moon.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: In 2018, Pablo Schreiber had the honor of playing legendary astronaut James Lovell (whom Tom Hanks once played in 1995’s Apollo 13) in one of the best space movies in recent memory, First Man - director Damien Chazelle’s mesmerizing and deeply revealing biopic about the first man to walk the lunar surface.

Rent/Buy First Man on Amazon.

Skyscraper (Amazon Rental)

An FBI rescue team leader turned security expert must brave death-defying heights, an army of ruthless criminals, and the spread of a more ruthless fire in order to save his wife (Neve Campbell) and children when they become trapped in a Hong Kong sky rise.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: Also in 2018, Pablo Schreiber had the honor of sharing the screen with action superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Skyscraper - a fun, proudly ridiculous hybrid of Die Hard and The Towering Inferno from the director of Netflix’s Red Notice, Rawson Marshall Thurber.

Rent/Buy Skyscraper on Amazon.

Den Of Thieves (Amazon Rental)

A detective (Gerard Butler) from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department ruthlessly seeks to capture the most successful and elusive band of bank robbers in the nation as they plan a seemingly impossible score at the Bank of the Federal Reserve.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: Also in 2018, Pablo Schreiber had the honor of sharing the screen with an ensemble of superstars (also including Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and O’Shea Jackson Jr.) as the leader of the titular crew of outlaws in Den of Thieves - the thrilling directorial debut of London Has Fallen writer Christian Gudegast that makes a pretty good case for being the Heat of a new generation.

Rent/Buy Den Of Thieves on Amazon.

Happythankyoumoreplease (Tubi)

A struggling writer (Josh Radnor) suddenly becomes the guardian of a young boy who was separated from his family on the subway - a decision that ends up having a profound effect on some of his friends in New York City.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: In 2011, when he was still relatively unknown, Pablo Schreiber starred alongside a stellar ensemble cast (including Zoe Kazan as his girlfriend) in the Sundance Film Festival’s Audience Award-winning dramedy Happythankyoumoreplease - the directorial debut of How I Met Your Mother cast lead Josh Radnor.

Stream Happythankyoumoreplease on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Happythankyoumoreplease on Amazon.

Preservation (Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex)

While on a hunting trip, a woman (Wrenn Schmidt), her husband (Aaron Staton), and her brother-in-law (Pablo Schreiber) soon find themselves becoming the hunted after they wake up with all of their equipment stolen and no escape out of woods in sight.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: In 2014, Pablo Schreiber was, just about, the most recognizable face in the main cast of Preservation - a bleak, engrossing, briskly-paced survival thriller from writer and director Christopher Denham.

Stream Preservation on Tubi.
Stream Preservation on Pluto TV.
Stream Preservation on Plex.
Rent/Buy Preservation on Amazon.

Defending Jacob (Apple TV+)

A successful assistant district attorney (Chris Evans) finds his life, his relationship with his wife (Michelle Dockery), and his career in upheaval when he is forced to come to the defense of his own 14-year-old son (Evans’ fellow Knives Out cast member, Jaeden Martell) after he is accused of murdering his classmate.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: In 2020, Pablo Schreiber took on the intimidating task of being the one who tries to intimidate Marvel movie star Chris Evans as a headstrong prosecuting attorney in the Apple TV+ original limited series, Defending Jacob - developer Mark Bomback’s gripping, Emmy-nominated eight-part courtroom drama based on the novel by William Landay.

Stream Defending Jacob on Apple TV+.

American Gods (Starz)

Soon after he is released from prison, a former convict (Ricky Whittle) is hired as a bodyguard for a mysterious, wealthy man (two-time Emmy nominee Ian McShane) who is far more powerful than he initially lets on.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: Pablo Schreiber puts on an Irish accent to play a former celestial turned luckless leprechaun named Mad Sweeney on the Starz original drama, American Gods - an Emmy-nominated series adaptation of the inventive fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman, from developers Bryan Fuller and Michael Green.

Stream American Gods on Starz.
Buy American Gods on Amazon.

Lorelei (Hulu)

Soon after he is released from prison, a former biker gang member (Pablo Schreiber) reunites with his high school sweetheart (Jena Malone) - now a part-time motel maid - and struggles to assume and accept the role of a surrogate father to her three children.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Pablo Schreiber: Pablo Schreiber gives an unusually vulnerable and, arguably, the most powerful performance of his career so far as the male lead of 2021’s Lorelei - a grounded, heartfelt, unconventional family drama from Sabrina Doyle, making her feature-length debut as writer and director.

Stream Lorelei on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Lorelei on Amazon.

In addition to Halo on Paramount+, Pablo Schreiber can also be seen in the recent fantasy adventure The King’s Daughter, which is now available on digital, and will star alongside Jessica Biel in the true crime miniseries Candy, which premieres on Hulu in May. 

The show may be named after John Cena’s The Suicide Squad character, but Peacemaker cast member Danielle Brooks has been stealing scenes left and right as Leota Adebayo since it premiered. In fact, I would say that her character is the heart and soul of creator James Gunn’s uproarious series, and I would not be surprised if she alone inspired some to get an HBO Max subscription in order to watch it.

If that happens to describe how you became acquainted with Peacemaker, then perhaps you have already seen the following Danielle Brooks movies and TV shows that are available to stream. If the DC TV show is actually how you first became acquainted with the Augusta, Georgia native and Julliard graduate and you would like to explore more of her filmography, please read on. We shall start with the groundbreaking series that first made Brooks a household name.

Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)

A mild-mannered, upper-middle-class woman (Taylor Schilling) is forced to abandon her fiancé (Jason Biggs) and her comfortable lifestyle when she is convicted of a crime she committed years earlier and is sent to a prison where she struggles to relate to her colorful fellow inmates.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Danielle Brooks: Danielle Brooks shared several Screen Actors Guild award wins for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series with the Orange is the New Black cast for her breakthrough performance as the silver-tongued Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson on showrunner Jenji Kohan’s acclaimed Netflix original dramedy, which was inspired by Piper Kerman’s revealing memoir of the same name.

Stream Orange Is The New Black on Netflix.

Master Of None (Netflix)

A professional actor of Indian descent (series co-creator and former Parks and Recreation cast member Aziz Ansari) and his friends (Emmy winner Lena Waithe and Eric Wareheim) struggle to navigate life through multiple avenues - from race to romance to religion and more - while living in New York City.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Danielle Brooks: Speaking of acclaimed Netflix original dramedies, Danielle Brooks also appeared on three episodes of the clever and unique Emmy winner, Master of None, in the recurring role of Shannon, who could actually be described as who Taystee might have become if she steered clear of incarceration and took up a career as a casting agent.

Stream Master Of None on Netflix.

Social Distance (Netflix)

A recently single man trying to stay sober, a dysfunctional family who come together over webcam to honor their recently passed patriarch, a couple who try inviting over a third person to help get through their rough patch, and others struggle through various stressful circumstances that come with living in quarantine in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Danielle Brooks: Danielle Brooks’ next Netflix original project was the third episode of the extremely timely anthology series, Social Distance as a nurse and single mother who is forced to leave her young daughter home alone and communicate with her via webcams while caring for her elderly patient.

Stream Social Distance on Netflix.

Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine (Netflix)

A TV host (comedian Sarah Cooper) struggles to hold her morning talk show (and her own sanity) together despite various stressful circumstances in the midst of...well, 2020, to put it simply.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Danielle Brooks: In Danielle Brooks’ next Netflix original project with some timely social commentary, she plays a fellow TV host who refuses to do her show because of all the shit going on circa 2020, in Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine - a unique comedy special with a dizzying assortment of celebrity guest appearances, which was directed by Brooks’ Orange is the New Black co-star, Natasha Lyonne.

Stream Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine on Netflix.

The Angry Birds Movie (Amazon Rental)

A temperamental red bird (Jason Sudeikis) and his fellow, flightless friends (including Josh Gad as the speedy Chuck, and the explosive Bomb, played by Danny McBride) must band together and use their unique skills to defend themselves when their secluded island paradise becomes invaded by strange, green pigs.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Danielle Brooks: For the first of her many voice acting roles, Danielle Brooks played two characters (the blue jay Olive Blue, and crossing guard Monica) in 2016’s The Angry Birds Movie - the fun, feature-length adaptation of the blockbuster mobile gaming app.

Rent/Buy The Angry Birds Movie on Amazon.

Close Enough (HBO Max)

A stoner couple in their early thirties struggle to cope with issues like raising their young daughter, fighting giant mutant spiders, and other common problems that arise with adulthood while living in Los Angeles.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Danielle Brooks: One of Danielle Brooks’ more recent and notable voice acting roles is the elderly, retired LAPD officer Pearle Watson on Close Enough - a hilarious HBO Max exclusive animated series that fans of Adult Swim’s programming will love, which also has a number of awesome Regular Show callbacks.

Stream Close Enough on HBO Max.

Clemency (Hulu)

A prison warden (Alfre Woodard, in one of her many roles that should have gotten an Oscar) begins to question her own feelings about capital punishment and the emotional and psychological toll that the job has taken on her as she begins to develop a connection to a young inmate on death row (Aldis Hodge).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Danielle Brooks: In the same year that Orange is the New Black had its final curtain call, Danielle Brooks gave a stunning performance in another drama about incarceration (not as an inmate, but as the former girlfriend of Aldis Hodge’s death row inmate character) in Clemency - a stark and distressing story masterfully told by writer and director Chinonye Chukwu.

Stream Clemency on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Clemency on Amazon.

Sadie (Amazon Rental)

Disappointed to learn that her father is still not yet coming home from active duty, a 13-year-old girl (Sophia Mitri Schloss), whose personality is largely modeled after her dad’s militaristic perspective, is convinced that she should take action to maintain his position in the family when her lonely mother (Melanie Lynskey) begins dating a new man (John Gallagher, Jr.).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Danielle Brooks: In 2018, a year before she starred in Clemency, Danielle Brooks appeared in another tense, socially conscious drama - writer and director Megan Griffiths’ dark coming-of-age story, Sadie - as a bartender named Carla who is also friends with the title character’s mother.

Rent/Buy Sadie on Amazon.

Eat Wheaties! (Amazon Rental)

After he is named co-chair of his college class reunion, a geeky man (former Veep cast member Tony Hale) gets on social media for the first time and then uses it to get in touch with actress and filmmaker Elizabeth Banks, whom he claims he was friends with, and becomes the subject of viral mockery as a result.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Danielle Brooks: Sadie also stars Emmy-winning actor Tony Hale, with whom Danielle Brooks also appears alongside in 2020’s Eat Wheaties! - an inventive, quirky, and endearing dramedy about learning to be comfortable in your skin without needing to prove anything to anyone else, from director Scott Abramovitch.

Rent/Buy Eat Wheaties! on Amazon.

The Day Shall Come (Hulu)

A preacher named Moses (Marchánt Davis), who has developed his own obscure belief system partially inspired by African nationalism, is given a chance to save his impoverished family from eviction by a woman (Anna Kendrick) who, unwitting to him, is an FBI agent conspiring to expose his otherwise well-natured intentions as evidence for incrimination.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Danielle Brooks: Of all the thought-provoking, socially relevant titles in Danielle Brooks’ filmography, perhaps the absolute funniest (if not the most boldly ridiculous) is The Day Shall Come - a deliciously dark absurdist satire directed by British comedian Christopher Morris of The IT Crowd fame - in which the actress stars as Moses’ wife, Venus Al Shabaz.

Stream The Day Shall Come on Hulu.
Rent/Buy The Day Shall Come on Amazon.

Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (Amazon Rental)

A woman originally born in New Orleans (Danielle Brooks) who develops a strong singing talent at a young age grows up to become one of the most renowned gospel performers of her generation, especially after she begins to use her music as a tool in the fight for equality at the height of the Civil Rights Movement.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Danielle Brooks: Danielle Brooks received an Emmy nomination for her role as an executive producer on Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia - a powerful biographical drama that originally aired on the Lifetime Network in 2021, and in which she gives an inspired performance as the legendary, titular crooner, Mahalia Jackson, that would also earn her several additional acting nominations.

Rent/Buy Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia on Amazon.

From Orange is the New Black to Peacemaker and all the stunning titles in between, it is no wonder how Danielle Brooks has made herself into one of the industry’s most acclaimed and versatile talents working today.

When it comes to iconic comedic actresses, one that always comes to mind is Natasha Lyonne. With a career that has spanned both movies and television for several decades now, Lyonne has been on a roll with awesome teen comedies, fantastic Netflix shows, and more. 

From her time on the Emmy-winning Orange is the New Black, to her latest Netflix series, Russian Doll, Lyonne is a master at her craft and deserves all the praise in the world. Which is why here, we will be talking about the best Natasha Lyonne movies and TV shows, and how you can watch them streaming or available to rent, right now. Let’s start off with, what I think, is one of her best. 

Orange Is The New Black (2013 - 2019) 

You can’t have a list like this and not mention this show. Orange is the New Black was one of the first Netflix original series, telling the story of Piper Chapman. She is a seemingly normal woman whose past catches up to her when she is charged and imprisoned for past affiliation with drug trafficking. There, she meets some interesting people, and a person she never thought she would see again. 

I always loved this show, but Natasha Lyonne’s character, Nicky, is one of the best. The whole Orange is the New Black cast is so talented, but Nicky is, hands down, one of the best characters. Her witty jokes and sarcastic nature make for some of the best moments of the show, and I’ve always loved the friendships her character formed during the series. Definitely one of Natasha’s best roles so far. 

Stream Orange is the New Black on Netflix.

American Pie Series (1999 - 2012) 

You gotta love American Pie. This popular teen movie franchise started off in 1999 and followed a group of friends who make a pact before the end of their senior year. What exactly is that pact? Easy - to lose their virginity before they graduate. Seems simple enough, until everything starts to turn upside down. 

I feel like when anyone hears the name ‘Natasha Lyonne,’ this is one of the first movies you think about. Her performance as Jessica is legendary, showing off her comedic skill, even at such a young age, and her chemistry with her castmates in American Pie is brilliant. She appeared in several of the movies afterwards, so if you love her in the first, you’ll love her in the next ones as well.

Stream American Pie on Showtime.
Rent the American Pie series on Amazon.

But I’m A Cheerleader (1999) 

This is one of my favorite films, hands down, for how funny it is. But I’m A Cheerleader, starring Natasha Lyonne, is such a great romantic teen comedy. In this film, the parents of the main character, Megan, don’t approve of her being lesbian. So, they decide to send her to a conversion camp to see if they can “pray the gay away.” 

This film so funny, with a great heartwarming ending despite all the satirical comedy it provides, and Lyonne kills it. I’ve seen her in roles like this before (like Nicky in Orange is the New Black) where she plays an LGBTQ+ character, but there’s something about But I’m A Cheerleader that stands. She just has this star quality that really carries the movie and creates such a fun experience. I mean, the legend himself, RuPaul, is in this film too. How can you not instantly love it? 

Stream But I’m A Cheerleader on Pluto TV.
Rent But I’m A Cheerleader on Amazon.

Slums Of Beverly Hills (1998) 

The cult classic, Slums of Beverly Hills, follows Lyonne’s character, Vivian, and her family. They keep moving to different apartments in Beverly Hills, over and over, to try and make sure their children can attend some of the best schools in the area in the 1970s, making her life hectic and full of the most hilarious people ever.

Slums of Beverly Hills is such a great film. Not only does Natasha Lyonne really sell her lead role as a daughter who is so tired of her father’s antics, the rest of the cast is stunning as well. Marisa Tomei, Carl Reiner...heck, even legendary actress Rita Moreno shows up in this film. That, combined with a really funny, story creates such a wonderful viewing experience. 

Rent Slums of Beverly Hills on Amazon.

Robots (2005) 

Robots follows Rodney Copporbottom, a young robot who wishes to try and find his idol in Robot City so that he can show off his inventions. However, as he does so, he starts to discover dark secrets behind his idol’s famous company, and takes it upon himself to try and stop what's happening, alongside some friends. 

Robots is such an underrated classic. There's a fun ensemble cast with Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Mel Brooks, and more, and Natasha Lyonne blends right in and create some hysterical moments. The robot she voices, Loretta, is hilarious, and while she isn’t in the film for long compared to the rest of the cast, I will always adore her scenes with Fender (who was voiced by the incredible Robin Williams). If you haven’t seen this movie, be sure to check it out now. 

Rent Robots on Amazon.

Sleeping With Other People (2015) 

Next up, we have the romantic comedy, Sleeping with Other People. This film tells the story of college students Lainey and Jake, who had a one-night stand years ago while they were still in school. Now, they come across each other again as adults and end up discovering that both of them sorta suck at relationships - and ironically, this only leads to them growing closer. 

The two leads here are amazing, with great roles for Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie, but Natasha Lyonne is awesome in her part as Kara, also. As one of Lainey’s friends, she attempts to talk with her about what’s going on with Jake and is often there to make funny jokes. Lyonne fits right into this underrated romantic comedy that you should really see now. 

Stream Sleeping with Other People on Amazon through AMC+.
Rent Sleeping with Other People on Amazon.

Antibirth (2016)

I’m telling you, Natasha Lyonne can do it all and she proves that with this awesome horror movie. Antibirth follows a woman who is addicted to drugs, living day to day on pills, or drunk out of her mind. However, when one night turns crazy and she takes a drug that she doesn't know, she finds out that she is inexplicably pregnant, creating horrors for her life. 

Yeeeah, this is one of those movies that you probably don’t want to watch with an empty stomach. Antibirth is a brilliant look into what happens when body horror is done well in a scary movie, and there are certain parts in here that definitely made me look away from the screen. However, what always brought me back was Lyonne’s captivating performance. I never saw her as a scream queen, but after this crazy intense movie, I could see her doing so many horror movies. It’s an interesting yet terrifying film. 

Stream Antibirth on Amazon through AMC+.
Rent Antibirth on Amazon.

Hello, My Name Is Doris (2015) 

This is the most adorable coming of age movie I think I have seen in a long time. Hello, My Name is Doris, starring the lovely Sally Field, follows an older woman who is shy and not really sure of herself. But, after she attends a self-help seminar, she gets the confidence she desperately needs to ask out her coworker - who is significantly younger than her, creating problems she never thought she'd experience.

Natasha Lyonne is Sally, one of the many people Doris interacts with on a daily basis, and blends right into this hilarious ensemble by cracking jokes, making me snicker pretty consistently. However, what really makes Hello, My Name is Doris such a sweet film is the leading actress herself, Field. She is awesome in this role and shows that you’re never too old for love. Plus, Max Greenfield (known for his character, Schmidt, in New Girl) has surprisingly great chemistry with her as the younger man. 

Stream Hello, My Name Is Doris on Hulu.
Rent Hello, My Name Is Doris on Amazon.

The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021) 

The United States vs. Billie Holiday tells the story of how the singer got started in her career, and follows her as she deals with bigger issues, such as being the target of the FDN (Federal Department of Narcotics) after some folks don't agree with how she sings and what she does.

Natasha Lyonne plays Tallulah Bankhead, a real-life stage actress, and her scenes with Bille (Andra Day) are some of the best in the movie, perfectly acted and really wonderfully done. The whole movie itself is super interesting, from the start of Billie’s career to everything she went through as an artist. With a talented ensemble cast, The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a worthy movie to watch any day. 

Stream The United States vs Billie Holiday on Hulu.

Russian Doll (2019 - Present) 

Last but not least, we have Russian Doll, Natasha Lyonne’s latest Netflix series. This dramedy follows Nadia, a woman who attends a party in New York City. However, she finds herself caught up in a time loop, as she dies over and over, only to wake up at the party once more. Every time Nadia dies, she tries to come to a solution, which brings perfect comedic timing from Lyonne.

Russian Doll is a fantasy series with some classic mystery show tropes that has amazing performances from both Natasha Lyonne and the whole cast. The story itself is so interesting, as well, with something new being revealed every episode to really keep you watching. With Season 2 on the way, now is the perfect time to try it. You’ll never want to stop clicking “next episode.” 

Stream Russian Doll on Netflix.

It should only be a matter of time before more movies and TV shows are added to this list. Natasha Lyonne has truly done it all, and I can’t wait to see what the actress does next. Now, if Russian Doll Season 2 could arrive, I would be a happy camper. 

When it comes to some of the best shows to watch, there are always so many options for fans of TV to enjoy, in any type of genre, from the best fantasy shows to sci-fi ones to any kind of style one could imagine. But one genre that deserves more attention are the greatest LGBTQ+ shows out there that you could watch right now. 

From recent additions such as Heartstopper on Netflix, to some of the older shows like The L Word, there are so many options to choose from that you can view if you’re craving something new. Here are some of the best out there. 

Sex Education (2019 – 2023)

If you’re interested in a hilarious comedy, then Sex Education is the way to go. This series tells the story of Otis, a high schooler who lives his daily life at school with his friends trying to grow up and understand love, sex, and so much more, with the help of his sex therapist mother. 

Sex Education is honestly a great show overall. I do think some of the earlier seasons are better than the later ones, but each installment shows really convincing love stories that feel realistic. There are plenty of great LGBTQ+ romances here that speak to the heart and soul, and offer plenty of valuable advice to the viewer. 

Stream Sex Education on Netflix. 

Yellowjackets (2021 – Present)

Yellowjackets is one of Showtime’s best shows. The series goes back and forth between two timelines. The first takes place in the 1990s, where a soccer team suffers in a plane crash and somehow has to live in the Canadian wilderness over the winter. The second is the future, where the survivors of this ordeal must handle the consequences decades later. 

Is Yellowjackets purely an LGBTQ+ show? No, it is not, but I have to give credit where credit is due for the amazing LGBTQ+ storyline that is portrayed with Tawny Cypress and her character, Taissa. It’s a great addition to her character and adds another complex layer to the story at hand. Not only that, but this is a series that you will not want to stop watching, for hours on end. While we all wait for Yellowjackets Season 3, now is the time to check this one out.

Stream Yellowjackets on Paramount+.

Heartstopper (2022 – Present)

If you’re looking for another cute teen romance, then you have to check out Heartstopper. The show follows the tale of Charlie, who is struggling to deal with his feelings for one of his classmates, Nick. Through the course of several episodes, Charlie learns to not only embrace his feelings, but overcomes his own personal obstacles to find happiness in this modern world. 

Heartstopper was honestly one of the best teen shows I watched in 2022 – really, it was one of the most heartwarming ones too. The Heartstopper cast is full of love and light and is always a delight in every shape and form, and now with two seasons out and a third season on the way, there will be even more lovely LGBTQ+ love. It’s seriously told so well, and almost feels as if you step into the graphic novel it is based on. 

Stream Heartstopper on Netflix. 

The Bold Type (2017 – 2021)

Running for five seasons and starring Katie Stevens, Aishia Dee, and Meghann Fahy, The Bold Type will make you want to move to New York City in the 21st century and chase your dreams. The story mainly follows three girls who work in the magazine industry, and their personal and professional lives living in one of the biggest cities in the world. 

While The Bold Type isn’t necessarily an LGBTQ+ show entirely, one of the main characters Kat, has a heavy storyline all about exploring her sexuality and who she is as a person. It’s a great representation of sexuality in today’s world, and you’ll end up loving her even more as the seasons go on. Plus, the friend group trio is truly some of the best ever. 

Stream The Bold Type on Hulu.

First Kill (2022)

Are you looking for a teen drama that also happens to be one of the best LGBTQ+ shows out there? Then First Kill is for you. In this supernatural teen drama, we follow two girls – one, a vampire, aiming for her first kill, and the other a monster hunter, looking for her own first kill to signify her place in the family. But sooner or later, girl meets girl – and love comes before death. 

First Kill is one of those shows that seriously should have gotten so many more seasons because it was so good, and the common outcry over its cancellation on Netflix is telling enough for how much fans loved this series. Not only was it spicy and full of supernatural treats, but the love story between the two main characters was somehow believable in a world full of monsters and vampires. This is a show you do not want to miss. 

Stream First Kill on Netflix.

Sense8 (2015 – 2018)

This sci-fi series was canceled far too soon on Netflix. Sense8 tells the story of eight human beings from around the world who suddenly discover that they are linked through each other, mentally and physically – otherwise known as being a “sensate.”

Sense8 was such an underappreciated show and deserved way more seasons. It was not only created by the Matrix creators, but it explores so many relevant themes in many of the best LGBTQ+ shows, like sexuality and gender and how we identify ourselves, in such a way that is beautiful. It’s nice that the series got a movie to sort of cap it off, but it still makes me sad considering it should have lasted longer. 

Stream Sense8 on Netflix. 

Love, Victor (2020 – 2022)

A spinoff of the film Love, Simon, this Hulu original series is probably one of the best LGBTQ+ centered shows that you could watch. Love, Victor follows the titular character (played by Michael Cimino) who struggles with his sexuality in the first season, but slowly learns to love himself and grow into who he truly is. 

Like The Bold Type, I think this series is a great example of how a modern day person who is going through a change in their life develops certain ways to deal with it and grow into a mature young adult. What really makes Love, Victor such a great show is that it isn’t afraid to dive deep into social issues that still affect us now.

Stream Love, Victor on Hulu. 

Pose (2018 - 2021)

In this Ryan Murphy-created show, Pose follows African-American and Latino LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming drag ball culture in the 1980s and 1990s, telling the stories that these people often faced, from discrimination to learning how to accept themselves. 

Pose is a lot of fun. While the LGBTQ+ themes are evident in this show, there are also plenty of other great moments to enjoy, from the entertaining dance scenes, the head-bopping music, brilliant acting performances, and so much more. With a cast that includes Emmy winners Evan Peters and Billy Porter, Pose is the perfect show to watch when you just need something peppy to make you happy again, and I find myself returning to it often. It’s a great time for anyone to enjoy. 

Stream Pose on Hulu.

Glee (2009 – 2015) 

Yes, you will get up and dance to these covers. Glee was a Fox comedy series that took the world by storm when it first came out, telling the story of a group of misfits who all join a glee club in order to gain some sort of popularity at school or to show off their talents in one way or another, led by teacher Will Schuester – and it just gets funnier from there. 

Glee is one of those shows where you forget how funny it is. For those who want a great LGBTQ+ storyline, you get several in this show, many of which are either hysterical or heartwarming. But, if you’re just here for comedy, there’s so much of it – some of which has aged well, and some that hasn’t, but it’s still enjoyable nonetheless.

Stream Glee on Hulu. 

Will & Grace (1998 - 2020) 

In this popular LGBTQ+ series, Will & Grace is set in NYC and follows the friendship between Will Truman, a gay lawyer, and his best friend, Grace Adler, a Jewish woman who owns an interior design firm. 

Will & Grace was known at the beginning of its time on the air for being a very progressive show to have a gay man as the lead. Obviously, with so many choices to pick from now, that’s not the case anymore, but you can’t deny its iconicness in the industry and how it changed the face of television. Will and Grace, played by Eric McCormack and Debra Messing, have amazing chemistry and are the best friends you always wanted, alongside the rest of the Will & Grace cast. The show was so beloved it was revived years later - that’s how you know it’s good. 

Stream Will & Grace on Hulu. 

It’s A Sin (2021)

Taking place during the AIDS epidemic in London, It’s A Sin is a drama miniseries that follows a group of gay men as they try to live their lives facing discrimination and more when fear for this illness was at an all-time high.

It’s A Sin, in comparison to many of the others on this list, is drama at its core. It’s raw, real, and will leave you aching with the need for justice for those that suffered during that time. It teaches valuable lessons on the treatment of LGBTQ+ people and offers a lot of history to those who didn’t know much about this time.

Stream It’s A Sin on Max. 

Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire (2022 - Present)

Based on the 1976 novel of the same name, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire debuted on AMC in October 2022 to fantastic reviews. It follows the story of Louis de Pointe du Lac and the story of how he tells his tale to a journalist, from the beginnings of his life as a vampire to everything else in-between. 

The series has seven episodes and is honestly one of the best adaptations of Anne Rice’s work. It really embraces the story of Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis as not only partners but lovers, and delivers a supernatural filled romance that is sure to please the eyes. Plus, Jacob Anderson gives a compelling leading performance. 

Stream Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire on AMC Plus.

The Haunting Of Bly Manor (2020)

Who knew that ghosts and LGBTQ+ romance could go so well together? The Haunting of Bly Manor is a series from Mike Flanagan, where we see a young woman look after two children in an old manner, but things start to turn upside down the moment she arrives. 

If you know Flanagan, you know it's rare the horror master ever misses. But, I think what makes The Haunting of Bly Manor so good is that its LGBTQ+ love story is so subtle in its delivery, and yet extremely pleasing and will also make you cry and sob your eyes out. Tragically magical. 

Stream The Haunting of Bly Manor on Netflix. 

Orange Is The New Black (2013 - 2019)

In this Netflix original series, Orange is the New Black is based on a true story, following Piper Chapman, as she is brought to prison on the charge of helping her former ex-girlfriend smuggle drugs. Now, she must serve a more than year-long sentence in this minimum security prison, dealing with the ongoings of prison life. 

While Orange is the New Black sounds like it would be more like a prison show, the crimes these people committed really take a backseat, because the relationships are in the forefront. Each season, you’ll come back to follow the relationships between characters that you want to succeed, from Piper and Alex, to Poussey and Brook, to so many others. The Orange is the New Black cast is so talented, and they make this show rewatchable, even now after it’s come to an end, with an entertaining story, complex character backstories, and so much more. It’s truly one of the best shows you can binge-watch on the platform.

Stream Orange is the New Black on Netflix. 

The Owl House (2020 – 2023)

There are just so many good animated shows out there right now, and The Owl House was one of those. This series follows a teenager named Luz, who finds herself suddenly taken into a world of magic when she stumbles into a portal. Now, she must learn to live in this strange world and survive, alongside her new magical friends. 

While this isn’t as intense as some of the other options on here, The Owl House is revolutionary in many ways. It’s one of the first Disney Channel shows that really embraced an LGBTQ+ storyline, despite some people calling the network out for it. While it only lasted for three seasons, it was a great stepping stone for the Disney Channel – and you should certainly check it out for its wonderful world of magic. 

Stream The Owl House on Disney+. 

Transparent (2014 - 2019)

Considered one of the first major Amazon Prime originals, Transparent stars Jeffrey Tambor as a parent who comes out to her kids that she is transgender, and it deals with not only her transition, but her family learning who she is and learning about sexuality as well. 

I feel like everyone has somehow heard of Transparent in some way because, at the time, the series was really groundbreaking. While I feel that we are moving in the direction of proper representation of trans people, Transparent was really one of the first shows that took a hard look at it, making it the center plot. It’s funny, heartfelt, and may even teach you something. 

Stream Transparent on Amazon Prime. 

Mary & George (2024)

Starring Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine, this is the steamy Starz series that will make you fan yourself after watching it. Mary & George is based on the non-fiction book, The King’s Assassin, and follows the story of the affair between James VI and I and George Villers, and how it was used as a ploy to rise to power. 

This show… is something else, man. It’s a miniseries, so it’s only a few episodes long, but good lord, it does not hold back. Not only is the story interesting – especially the LGBTQ+ aspect of it – but the chemistry is off the charts. Both Moore and Galitzine give it their all – and I am fully convinced that Galitzine is just taking over the world at this point. 

Stream Mary & George on Starz. 

Schitt’s Creek (2015 – 2020)

You just can’t help but love Schitt’s Creek. This iconic comedy, starring the lovely Schitt’s Creek cast, tells the story of the Rose family and how one day, they lose everything they own except a small town that was bought as a gag years ago, known as Schitt’s Creek. Now, they must learn to adapt their lives after losing everything they knew. 

While Schitt’s Creek isn’t what I would call an LGBTQ+ show, since that’s not the main focal point of the series, I’m putting it here for the beautiful relationship that is David and Patrick, which is arguably the best part. Their relationship is one of the best LGBTQ+ ones I have seen in modern-day television and has made me cry in so many ways. I miss them so much since the show came to an end in 2020, but I can always return and watch the love story from beginning to end – along with the rest of the Rose family. 

Stream Schitt’s Creek on Hulu.

The L Word (2004 - 2009)

In this popular Showtime series, The L Word follows the lives of a small, close-knit group of gay women, as well as the loves they meet along the way, and the family and friends that join them on their journey, or reject them entirely. 

To me, The L Word was one of my first introductions into this type of media, and it became such a big hit for a reason. The L Word cast is full of talent, led by the wonderful Jennifer Beals, and the stories that each of the characters have are done exceptionally well and bring on relationships that you want to root for. There have been several spinoffs, including a recent one in 2019 with Beals returning, so you know that the original had to have been entertaining. I think anyone who wants to watch a good show would enjoy this one. 

Stream The L Word on Hulu. 

Queer Eye (2018 – Present)

Are you looking for the ultimate makeover? Then Queer Eye is for you. This Netflix original, rebooted from the original series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the show follows five LGBTQ+ men who take it upon themselves to help those in need of life changes, from style to cooking to home improvements. 

While the original series that this show is based on was good, there’s just something I love about Queer Eye now. I think it’s that the men feel like they really want to help and they go to such drastic lengths in order to do so. They’re so kind, loving, and honestly have some great tips for you to even use at home. It’s an all-around feel good show, one I would certainly recommend watching if you’ve never gotten the chance. 

Stream Queer Eye on Netflix. 

Looking (2014 - 2016) 

Finally, we take a look at Looking. In this HBO original series, we follow the lives of three openly gay close friends who live in modern-day San Francisco, on their journeys together trying to find love, happiness, and everything in between. 

I feel like Looking is one of those HBO shows that deserves so much more praise than it got. Not only was the story interesting and its large cast ensemble super talented, it was genuinely a great show not just about finding love but the value of having friends in your life that supported you. Talented actor Jonathan Groff, known for his roles in Glee, Hamilton, and Kristoff in the Frozen cast, stars in this short-lived series, and honestly, it’s one of his best roles. He deserves so much more praise, as does the rest of the cast. 

Stream Looking on  Max. 

With so many awesome shows to pick from, it may be hard to pick just one, but just know that whichever one you do go with, you’ll enjoy it all the same. Maybe even after you’ll go and watch some of the best TV shows or movies with LGBTQ+ actors in the

Arguably best known for bringing half of one of TV's breeziest couples to life, That '70s Show vet Laura Prepon took some time away from acting in the past couple of years to conquer other career challenges, such as writing her third book while also starting up a kitchenware line. (Excellently titled PrepOn Kitchen.) Having released a book about motherhood in 2020, Prepon recently talked about the impact that being a mother has had, and reflected on where she's at now in life, years after leaving the Church of Scientology behind.

Laura Prepon became a Scientologist back in 1999, a year after taking on the role of Donna Pinciotti on That '70s Show, with co-star Danny Masterson also being a highly publicized Church member. Speaking with People, Prepon revealed it's been five years since she bowed out of Scientology, and talked about how she and her husband Ben Foster seek out serenity together, saying:

Nothing wrong with meditation and introspection, especially for someone like Laura Prepon whose career path is wholly invested in who she is as a person, as a mother, and as an artist. It's pretty hard to attain and maintain that specific kind of personal guidance from anywhere else, be it Scientology, Christianity, astrology, or any other outward following.

Considering Ben Foster has not been part of the Church of Scientology, the past five years have likely given the couple more time together, complete with whatever form of spiritual endeavors they enjoy, as they built up their family. Laura Prepon shares a daughter and a son with Foster, with her oldest having been born in 2017, after Prepon left Scientology behind. She spoke specifically on how being a mother for the past four years has changed her, while also being a constantly changing thing in and of itself. In her words:

While her thoughts may or may not have been about Scientology itself, the sentiment certainly still applies. I'm sure it's an adjustment to get used to life away from the Church as much as it's an adjustment to get used to working not on TV and film sets on a regular basis. Time is always one's friend in that respect, as is a trip to Eric Foreman's smoke-filled basement, amirite? I'll see myself out.

Check out the PrepOn Kitchen line of products and keep and eye (and your taste buds) out for news on her second in-the-works cookbook.

In the last couple of years, Netflix has created some of the best stars around, with some of them starring on their biggest shows, like Stranger Things or Bridgerton. However, when I was a little younger, I was very much into one of Netflix’s first original shows, and that was Orange Is the New Black. In that show, we are introduced to the brilliant and talented Uzo Aduba, known for portraying Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren.

Playing the role garnered critical acclaim for the actress, and ever since then, she has gone on to do some amazing parts in both film and television. From becoming the main star in Season 4 of In Treatment to expanding her talents across the Netflix universe, this is where you can catch the Orange is the New Black actress online and what you can watch streaming.

American Pastoral (Tubi)

Starting off strong, we take a look at a classic family drama. In American Pastoral, based on Philip Roth’s Pulitzer-winning novel, we follow the tale of an all-American family man who is witnessing the fall of his family in the 1960s when his daughter is accused of bombing the post office in their town in New Jersey.

Uzo Aduba has a smaller role in this film, working as an employee in the local glove factory that the town has, but in the couple of scenes she’s in, she rocks her role. Plus, American Pastoral in general has an amazing cast in addition to Uzo Aduba, with big-time stars such as Ewan McGregor and Dakota Fanning. If dramas are your thing, especially period dramas, you should definitely check out America Pastoral.

Stream American Pastoral on Tubi.

Rent American Pastoral on Amazon.

Miss Virginia (Netflix)

In one of her first lead roles, Uzo Aduba is fantastic in the movie, Miss Virginia. In this drama film, we follow the story of an inner-city mother, who is living the classic struggle of trying to keep a roof over her and her son’s head. She sacrifices everything to try and give her son a good education, despite many of those sacrifices having a negative effect on her.

While I feel like Uzo Aduba has had some amazing roles in the past, I’ve always felt that she’s stood out the most playing characters like this. It’s such a simple story, about how all a mother wants is for her child to succeed, but life is throwing her obstacles constantly. It’s a classic tale of perseverance, and what you can do if you just try hard enough to give the life you want to someone else, and Uzo Aduba does it fantastically. To be sure, it’s one of the best movies on Netflix, but you’re just going to have to watch to see.

Stream Miss Virginia on Netflix.

Rent Miss Virginia on Amazon.

Candy Jar (Netflix)

Moving on to a great Netflix original film, we take a look at Candy Jar. In this romantic comedy, the premise is simple - two high schoolers are trying to find a route into their dream schools, however, they are both dueling debate champions and now must find their own ways to shine.

I know, the premise doesn’t really sound like a typical romantic comedy, but let me tell you this film is actually super funny, despite it revolving around two students just trying to succeed and get into their dream colleges. The chemistry between the lead actors of Sam Gayle and Jacob Latimore is fantastic, and Uzo Aduba works well as Bennett’s mother, showing off her comedy chops in this funny film. Comedy is something Uzo Aduba has always done well, so it’s not a surprise she did great in this role. Netflix has been rocking it with romantic comedies lately.

Stream Candy Jar on Netflix.

Steven Universe: The Movie (HBO Max)

While being a fan of Steve Universe would definitely help understand this film better, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy a simple animated film as well. In Steven Universe: The Movie, based on the TV series, the story takes place two years after the series finale, following the Crystal Gems as they attempt to save the lives of everyone on earth from an insane Gem, who happens to have a history with Steve’s mother.

Uzo Aduba voices Bismuth, the same character that she voiced in the series in a number of episodes, alongside the fantastic cast of the Steven Universe show behind her. The show itself was popular for a reason, with colorful and beautiful animation mixed in with some fantastic themes of self-love, acceptance, and becoming who you were meant to be. It was only fitting for the universe to end with a great movie. Seriously, you’ll be wanting to watch the series for yourself after this film.

Stream Steven Universe: The Movie on HBO Max.

Rent Steven Universe: The Movie on Amazon.

Solos (Amazon Prime)

Okay, you want to talk about an all-star cast? Solos has that and so much more. In this original Amazon Prime series, Solos shows the meaning of life, and what it means to be human, showing that no matter what, we are all somehow connected to others, even strangers, in our shared experiences through life, even when we feel at our loneliest.

The series follows an anthology-style storyline, giving off a new character and story with each episode. The show truly tries to dive deep into what it means to be a human and to have all these shared experiences, and Uzo Aduba is truly amazing in it. In Solos, we really get to see her skills as a dramatic actor in her character, Sasha, who believes that her smart house is keeping her locked up inside.

Plus, Solos also has a phenomenal ensemble cast alongside Aduba. Academy-Award-winner Anne Hathaway has a role, as well as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Anthony Mackie, and even the iconic Morgan Freeman – it’s truly a small show you should really check out. While there are some amazing movies on Amazon right now, maybe check out a smaller show – especially one that features Uzo Aduba.

Stream Solos on Amazon Prime.

In Treatment Season 4 (HBO Max)

For those who don’t know, In Treatment has been around for a long time. This famous HBO original starting off in 2008 follows the story of a psychotherapist named Paul Weston, who has a private practice in Baltimore. However, when he begins to question his own expertise as a therapist, he seeks out help from his former mentor and therapist, whom he has not seen for a decade.

The original show ran for three seasons, before HBO decided to bring it back again with Uzo Aduba in the main role now, finally continuing on with a Season 4. Her character, Dr. Brooke Taylor, continues on with the themes of the original seasons and adds a whole new depth to what it means to be a therapist in today’s world.

In the new season as well, Uzo Aduba is joined by great castmates beside her, such as In The Height’s Anthony Ramos, The Normal Hearts Benjamin Hickey and more, creating a wonderful new cast for this show’s fourth season, despite taking a decade to release. It’s a refreshing spin on the series, one that honors its original seasons but starts something new as well.

Stream In Treatment Season 4 on HBO Max.

Mrs. America (Hulu)

Moving onto another series – well, a miniseries this time around – we now look to Mrs. America, a historical drama that aired through FX on Hulu. In this series, we get to learn the details of the political movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and the backlash that it received from conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly in the 1970s.

Let me just say that this is one of the best miniseries out there right now that you can watch if you haven’t. Mrs. America is a shining example of an amazing political series that not only entertains the viewer but educates them as well on certain points of history. Not only that, but the cast in this is freaking outstanding. Uzo Aduba portrays politician and educator Shirley Chisholm, who was the first black candidate ever for a major party’s nomination for President of the United States – a very important part of American history.

But Uzo Aduba isn’t the only shining star in Mrs. America. We have famous actors like Cate Blanchett taking on the role of Phyllis Schlafly, Rose Byrne portraying Gloria Steinem, Elizabeth Banks as Jill Ruckelshaus – the list just goes on and on. Watch this show!

Stream Mrs. America on Hulu.

Rent Mrs. America on Amazon.

Beats (Netflix)

With a title like Beats, you know this movie is about to have some awesome music, and it most certainly does. In Beats, we follow the story of a young teenage music prodigy, who ends up forming an unlikely friendship with a struggling producer, who decide to work together to somehow get away from the demons of their past, and break into the music scene so they can both receive what they have been looking for – musical success.

The story itself is great, and really stands out among the rest when it comes to portraying someone trying to break out into the music world. What really makes this movie stand out above the rest is not only the great acting talent from Uzo Aduba, portraying Carla Monroe, the mother of August Monroe but the amazing and fun music that comes along with it. It’s a powerful and moving story of what can happen when you lose sight of what’s in front of you, and how somehow, you’ll always find your way back.

Stream Beats on Netflix.

Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)

It’s why you’re here, isn’t it? Orange is the New Black is the story of Piper Kerman, and the series follows what her life was like in a minimum-security federal prison to serve her sentence.

This series was a huge hit for Netflix, and especially for Uzo Aduba. Her portrayal of Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren was critically acclaimed and earned her many awards and acclaim. But besides Crazy Eyes, the cast in Orange is the New Black is what drives the show, creating these wacky and wonderful storylines that will have you laughing and tilting your head in shock and awe.

From Red’s history and background to Nicky’s addiction to Daya’s love story – there are so many moments in this show that truly make it outstanding, which is why if you haven’t seen it yet on Netflix, go watch it. Trust me, you won’t regret it. With seven seasons, it’s one of Netflix’s best.

Stream Orange is the New Black on Netflix.

Rent Orange Is the New Black on Amazon.

Which one of these shows are you going to watch next? I think it’s time for an Orange is the New Black rewatch for me. I can’t get enough of Crazy Eyes. But maybe I’ll check out Mrs. America next, or Solos – but even if I can’t decide, at least I know there are some awesome options out there for fans of Uzo Aduba.

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It is important to celebrate and honor the contributions, accomplishments, and sacrifices made by the LGBTQ community throughout the year, but few months (at least in the United States) see as much support and recognition of the community than June, better known as Pride Month. Over the past few years, the goodwill and outreach that takes place throughout the month and all its activities has only grown, getting to the point where multiple platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon and Disney+ have dedicated entire sections of their streaming libraries to highlight the biggest and brightest LGBTQ voices.

So, for Pride Month 2021, we have put together a rundown of all the major streaming services and what each has to offer in terms of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and other specials that help spread the word about the dedicated, fearless, and welcoming community. Here are a few things to watch as we celebrate Pride Month.

HBO Max Shine On

One of the most impressive offerings from a streaming service in Pride Month 2021 is HBO Max’s “Shine On” section, an entire section dedicated to movies, shows, comedy specials, and other exclusive content highlighting the best the LGBTQ community has to offer. Below is a list of a few of the highlights of the “Shine On” section that best illustrate what HBO Max has to offer throughout the month of June.

The Times Of Harvey Milk (1984)

The 1984 documentary The Times of Harvey Milk tells the moving story of California's first openly gay elected official as he fought for the advancement of gay rights all the way up until his assassination at San Francisco City Hall in November 1978 as told through interviews with his closest friends, colleagues, and allies. Watch The Times of Harvey Milk on HBO Max.

It’s A Sin (2021)

Russell T. Davies' (Queer as Folk, Doctor Who) five-part limited series It's a Sin follows a group of close-knit friends in 1980s London as they find the meaning of love in the midst of the Aids crisis. Watch It’s a Sin on HBO Max.

Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted (2015)

Before she became the bonafide star of Army of the Dead, Tig Notaro was a successful stand-up comic with a unique voice and a treasure trove of amazing stories. Such is the case for the comedian’s Grammy and Emmy-nominated 2015 comedy special, Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted, which touches on everything from her breast-cancer diagnosis to the death of her mother. Watch Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted on HBO Max.

To watch hours upon hours of other movies, shows, documentaries, and specials that can be enjoyed all month long, check out HBO Max Shine On.

Hulu’s LGBTQ Hub

Hulu has long been a home for great LGBTQ stories like the 2020 holiday romantic comedy Happiest Season, and that’s never been more apparent than throughout Pride Month 2021. With a special LGBTQ hub and a “Pride Never Stops” campaign, the streaming platform is highlighting all of its great Pride content in one place with plenty of options to choose from. Here are some of the best…

Pride (2021)

The documentary series Pride, which originally aired on FX, chronicles the decades-long struggle for LGBTQ civil rights in the United States of America. Each of Pride’s six episodes focus on a different decade starting in the 1950s, working its way to modern times through interviews with activists, experts, and allies. Watch Pride on Hulu.

Love, Victor (2020 - Present)

Before Love, Victor Season 2 premieres June 11, check out the debut season of the Hulu original series that follows a teenage boy as he embarks upon a journey of self-discovery at his new high school, his new city, and his new life. Watch Love, Victor on Hulu.

Changing The Game (2021)

One of the biggest focuses of the LGBTQ community in recent years has been the fight for trans rights, and the new Hulu documentary Changing the Game does a great job of tackling the issue. Told through the eyes of three high school athletes, the moving documentary examines how each student (and their peers) adapt to their radical change. Watch Changing the Game on Hulu.

There are also tons of movies and other TV shows to choose from if you’re looking for great LGBTQ stories in Hulu’s LGBTQ Hub.

Amazon Live Out Loud

The Live Out Loud collection of Pride Month content on Amazon is truly something to behold. Not only does the streamer put all of its great LGBTQ stories in one place that’s easy to navigate, it also features some great offers including free access to some of the most groundbreaking programming like Queer as Folk and The L Word from Showtime. On top of that, there’s a curated list of great movies available for rental or purchase throughout the month. Here are some of the best offerings…

Uncle Frank (2020)

The 2020 family road trip drama Uncle Frank follows Beth Bledsoe (Sophia Lillis) as she rides with her uncle, Frank (Paul Bettany) from New York to their family’s home in South Carolina to attend a funeral. Along the way, Frank, who has never returned home or gotten over a traumatic event from his youth, is forced to come to terms with himself and his past. Watch Uncle Frank on Amazon.

Transparent (2014 - 2019)

The critically-acclaimed Amazon original series Transparent follows the Pfefferman family as their patriarch, Morton (Jeffrey Tambor) identifies as a woman named Maura. Blending elements of comedy and drama, the award-winning series stays with the family as they come to terms with the game-changing admission and how their lives will be forever changed, perhaps for the better. Watch Transparent on Amazon.

Queer As Folk Season 1 (2000)

The first season of the Showtime drama series Queer as Folk is included with your Amazon Prime membership throughout Pride Month 2021, giving you an opportunity to go back and revisit the revolutionary Showtime series that became the first of its kind to focus solely on the lives of gay men and women when it first aired in 2000. On top of that, the original British version of Queer of Folk is also streaming on the platform throughout the month of June. Watch Queer As Folk Season 1 on Amazon and watch Queer As Folk UK on Amazon.

Check out the rest of the great movies and TV shows on Amazon’s Live Out Loud section.

Netflix

Although Netflix doesn’t have a section solely dedicated to Pride Month 2021, the streaming giant offers a vast library of movies, shows, and documentaries touching on some of the biggest names in the LGBTQ community and strides they have made over the years.

Orange Is The New Black (2013 - 2019)

One of the first Netflix originals to take off, the prison comedy-drama Orange is the New Black centers on a female prison and its inmates as they bide their time behind bars. Notable for its LGBTQ representation upon its debut in 2013, the show served as a launching pad for Laverne Cox, who has gone on to become a massive star in her own right. Watch Orange is the New Black on Netflix.

I Am Divine (2013)

Harris Glenn Milstead, better known as his stage name Divine, was a trailblazer in his time, creating a unique blend of humor, showmanship, and utter filth on stage and in numerous films directed by John Waters. The 2013 documentary I Am Divine does a fabulous job of telling the life story of the iconic drag figure and the impact he had, not only on his friends, colleagues, and contemporaries, but society as a whole. Watch I Am Divine on Netflix.

The Death And Life Of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

The 2017 documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson follows a group of filmmakers as they attempt to put the pieces together surrounding the mysterious 1992 suicide of transgender legend Marsha P. Johnson, a death many believe to actually be a homicide decades after her body was found floating in the Hudson River. Watch The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson on Netflix.

Disney+

There is actually quite a few movies, shows, and short films on Disney+ that touch on LGBTQ issues and members of the community that you can enjoy throughout Pride Month 2021. Here’s a small sampling…

Out (2020)

The 2020 Spark Shorts film Out follows a young man named Greg as he contemplates introducing his boyfriend to his parents, effectively coming out to them in the process. And just when Greg thinks his day couldn’t get any more complicated, he magically switches places with his pet dog, which actually helps him get the nerve to tell his parents his big secret. Watch Out on Disney+.

Howard (2018)

The late songwriter Howard Ashman, who passed away from complications brought on by AIDS, was responsible for some of the biggest songs in everything from Disney hits like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin to Little Shop of Horrors. The 2018 emotional and nostalgic documentary Howard documents not only the Academy Award-winning lyricist’s successful career at Disney, but also his upbringing and his battle with AIDS in the final years of his short life. Watch Howard on Disney+.

The Owl House (2020 - Present)

The Disney Channel animated series The Owl House, which has found a second home on Disney+, follows Luz Noceda (Sarah-Nicole Robles), a teenage human girl who steps into a portal bringing her to an otherworldly summer camp. The show received early recognition for the way in which it incorporated LGBTQ characters and issues into its various storylines. Watch The Owl House on Disney+.

Starz

Whether it be documentaries or films that tackle complex issues like religion, morality, and sexuality, Starz offers a great number of moving stories focusing on the lives of members of the LGBTQ community.

Disobedience (2017)

The 2017 romantic drama Disobedience follows Ronit Krushka (Rachel Weisz), a woman who returns to her Orthodox Jewish community following the death of her estranged father, a respected rabbi. During her visit, Ronit crosses paths with her childhood friend Esit Kuperman (Rachel McAdams), with whom she has a bond that's so close and sensual, members of the community disallow it. Watch Disobedience on Starz.

Ahead Of The Curve (2021)

The 2020 documentary Ahead of the Curve tells the unforgettable story of Franco Stevens and her contribution to the LGBTQ community: the best-selling lesbian magazine known as Curve. From the unbelievable day at the race track that funded the startup all the way to present day, this engaging and enlightening documentary also dives deep into the legacy of the celebrated magazine. Watch Ahead of the Curve on Starz.

Philadelphia (1993)

The 1993 legal drama Philadelphia sees Tom Hanks portray Andrew Beckett, a man with HIV who's fired from his prestigious law firm not for his work but for his condition and lifestyle. Calling on the services of attorney Joe Miller (Denzel Washington), Andrew takes his old firm to court in a wrongful dismissal suit. Watch Philadelphia on Starz.

This is just a very small portion of all the great LGBTQ stories that are worth checking out even after Pride Month 2021 has come and gone.

In the last decade, we have seen the rise of stars that surely will stand the test of time for how talented they are. We never would have known about these people if not for the outstanding movies and TV series that they were in. One prime example of this phenomenon is Samira Wiley, an actress who, in the last decade, has exploded onto the mainstream scene, mainly from her Primetime Emmy-winning performance in the hit Hulu show, The Handmaid's Tale.

However, Samira Wiley has been around the block for a little bit, and you might have been able to see her in a couple of your favorite shows but couldn’t quite place who she was. From Orange is the New Black to some big movies that have come out in the last couple of years, here are some of the projects that you might have noticed Samira take part in.

Orange Is The New Black (2013-2017)

For me, this was my introduction to Samira. In Netflix's Orange Is the New Black, we mainly follow the story of Piper, a normal citizen turned criminal who ends up spending more than a year in prison. Along the journey, she meets many interesting characters, and one of those is Poussey Washington, Samira’s character.

Out of everyone on the show, she was one of my favorite characters, because Samira brought so much life to this one person that somehow, it made living in a prison sound not so bad. The show itself is full of intriguing stories and plotlines and twists and turns that I think anyone would enjoy a sit-down. It’s certainly worth the watch if you haven’t seen Orange is the New Black. Just beware of hallucinating chickens afterward.

You’re The Worst (2016-2019)

Moving onto another television show, Samira Wiley for a time had a guest-starring role on the FX comedy-drama, You’re the Worst. In this show, we follow the life of Jimmy, a writer who ends up in a relationship with Gretchen, who is a PR executive and a bit self-destructive, as well as their friends. Samira came in as Justina Jordan, the therapist of Gretchen.

What I really like about this show is that while it does have its super funny moments, it doesn’t hold back from focusing on some serious topics. The whole entire premise of Season 2 is how clinical depression can have a serious toll on relationships. That’s something you don’t normally hear about in a comedy. While Samira only appeared in a few episodes, they stand out amongst the rest in this already great series.

The Sitter (2011)

Now, we take a look at Samira’s first-ever movie role, The Sitter. This dark comedy movie starring the impeccable Jonah Hill follows a college student who, after being suspended from school, is forced by his mother to fill in for a babysitter. And of course, while he has these kids, they get into some escapades that could be considered criminal.

Samira, while her role is a bit smaller in this film, is great. She plays a girl that Noah, Jonah’s character, had wronged in the past, and ooh boy, you can almost feel the tension in their scenes together. The movie itself is funny and certainly worth the watch if you enjoy dark comedies, and Jonah Hill is always a win in my eyes.

Detroit (2017)

Detroit, while it was a bit of an under-the-radar film, is a fantastic excuse to watch a great movie while also learning a bit about history. This period-crime drama follows the store of the real-life Algiers Motel incident, during the 1967 12th Street Riot. When this film was released, it commemorated the 50-year anniversary of said event.

Samira has a smaller part in Detroit, but enough where when you see her, you might think, ‘Huh, I’ve seen her before. She’s really good.’ But she’s not the only star in this film. It's packed to the brim with celebrities like Star Wars’ John Boyega, A Quiet Place’s John Krasinski, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Anthony Mackie, and so many others. For fans of history as well as drama, this would be the perfect film for you to watch.

Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes On Television (2017-2019)

Moving into the online scene for a little bit, we take a look at a YouTube Premium show, actually, where Samira Wiley actually had a reoccurring role on Ryan Hansen Solves Crime on Television. This two-season show starred Ryan Hansen as himself, where he would do exactly what you would expect – solve crimes while on television. Well, more like on the YouTube scene.

Samira Wiley starred as Jessica Mathers, someone who was a pretty regular reoccurring character on the show. While it only lasted for two seasons, the show itself is full of fun mysteries and crimes for the true crime fan, and certainly will entertain you for the short amount of time that each episode is.

Vault (2019)

Going back to the movie scene, we take a look at Vault. This crime, drama, and thriller movie tells the story of the Bonded Vault heist that took place in Rhode Island and features plenty of moments that you would expect in a high-stakes crime film like this.

Samira Wiley takes on the role of Karyn, and it’s certainly fun to see her in a different role compared to some of her other takes in other movies and TV shows. While the movie itself is a bit of a smaller film compared to some of the others on this list, it’s full of great action scenes, cool heist sequences, and will entertain any watcher of heist movies.

Will & Grace (2019)

Back in TV, for a time, Samira Wiley had a guest role on the hit Will & Grace as Nikki. This popular show, which received a revival in 2017 on NBC after years of it being off the air, tells the story of Will Truman, a gay lawyer, and Grace Adler, a Jewish woman who owns an interior design firm, and their lives together as friends.

The show itself has been around for years. You’ll come to love the friendship of Will and Grace over the time span that they have together and find yourself holding your sides in pain – but the good kind of pain from laughter. They work so well together, and the guest stars that come onto the show, just as Samira has, only make it that much better. It’s truly iconic in every sense of the word and if you’re looking for a new comedy, Will & Grace just might be it for you.

Nerve (2016)

As our last entry on this list, we take a look at the 2016 techno-thriller adventure film, Nerve. This popular movie tells the story of an online “truth or dare” game that allows players to enlist in this nationwide game. As the game continues on, the dares start to become more dangerous, threatening their lives.

The film itself is so much fun, and Samira, in her role as “Hacker Kween” and one of the many hackers of the “truth or dare” game, stands out amongst the many stars of this film, such as Dave Franco and Emma Roberts. The premise is really gripping and sort of almost takes you back to your youth of playing truth or dare, but seeing it escalated to a point where it could almost endanger your life really draws you in. This will be the number one film for you if you’re craving action – Nerve has that plus so much more.

Hopefully, this list helped you out a little – and maybe gave you some new recommendations in the meantime! Now if you don’t mind me, I’m going to head on back over to Hulu and rewatch The Handmaids Tale before Season 4 comes out. Talk about one of my favorite 2021 TV shows that will be coming back.

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There is no way to get around it, there are an insane number of great Netflix TV shows, with something for literally everyone (at least everyone who loves critically acclaimed series from a myriad of genres). Keeping track of them all, however, is a task that is easier said than done.

From entertaining and enchanting sci-fi adventure stories like Stranger Things, to hilarious and disturbing dark comedies like Dead to Me, the library of originals keeps growing by the year, so much so that sometimes we find ourselves forgetting about all the awesome movies on Netflix, which, as we should remember, was what brought us all to the streamer way back when. But, before we get too sidetracked, let’s break down the best original Netflix shows. There’s a lot, so buckle up…

Stranger Things (2016 - Present)

Whether you’re obsessed with all things ‘80s (the culture, the style, Dungeons & Dragons), a longtime horror-hound, or simply someone who loves superbly written television, Stranger Things is right for you. As we look toward the show’s highly anticipated return with Stranger Things Season 4, now is the perfect time to go back and see how it all started for Eleven, Hopper (and how he ended up in Russia), and the rest of the residents of Hawkins, Indiana, and all their adventures.

Stream Stranger Things on Netflix.

The Queen’s Gambit (2020)

The 2020 limited series The Queen’s Gambit is hands down one of the best shows, not only on Netflix, but anywhere to come out in the past few years. From Beth Harmon’s (Anya Taylor-Joy) days learning to play chess in the basement of an orphanage to becoming the top player in the world by the show’s fulfilling ending, there isn’t a dull moment. Hell, you don’t even have to love the game of chess (or know anything about it) to get wrapped up in this binge-worthy drama.

Stream The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix.

The Crown (2016 - Present)

There is a reason (multiple reasons, actually) why The Crown is one of the best shows on television right now, but for the sake of brevity we’ll only dive into a couple of them here. First, the cast (which has taken home acting awards in each of its four seasons), no matter who’s playing whom, has been amazing from the beginning and only continues to get better with each iteration of the royal family. Then you have Peter Morgan’s attention to detail and dedication to treating his subjects with respect but also not holding back his portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II and the world around her. Add those together with the music and the show’s ability to make the audience care about every single character and you have a recipe for greatness.

Stream The Crown on Netflix.

Bridgerton (2020 - Present)

There are still plenty of questions after the whirlwind that was the first season of Bridgerton, but the scandalous Netflix period drama, with its fair share of sex, drama, and sexy drama did breathe new life into the genre upon its release in late 2020. With its outstanding ensemble cast that is as talented as it is diverse, the incorporation of modern songs into England’s Regency era, and all those fanciful costumes, there are plenty of reasons why Bridgerton grabbed a hold of its audience and never let go.

Stream Bridgerton on Netflix.

Mindhunter (2017 - 2019?)

Who knows if we’ll ever get to see Mindhunter Season 3, but let’s not dwell on things like that right now. Instead, let’s look back on the two amazing seasons David Fincher gave us in his drama about the formation of the FBI’s criminal psychology department led by Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff), Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), and Wendy Carr (Anna Torv). From engaging personal dramas involving the central cast to all those great interviews with the likes of Ed Kemper (Cameron Britton) to the dramatization of the Atlanta Child Murders, this show has (had?) it all.

Stream Mindhunter on Netflix.

Ozark (2017 - Present)

The Netflix family crime drama Ozark is one of the TV shows ending in 2021, with its fourth and final season being split up into two parts. This just means you have a little more time to rewatch the Primetime Emmy Award-winning series or start it for the first time before the final chapter. Anchored by a cast that includes Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and Julia Garner as people embroiled in criminal enterprises, Ozark is dark, twisted, and no surprise here, a rather enjoyable experience.

Stream Ozark on Netflix.

Dear White People (2017 - Present)

Anytime an Ivy League university claims to be “post-racial,” you know it is going to be anything but, and the characters in Dear White People, the long-running Netflix dramedy know that all too well. Based on the 2014 film of the same name, the show doesn’t hold back in its handling of issues such as race, class, and social justice in this gripping and biting critique of the modern educational system. With enough humor to balance out some of the more dramatic elements, Dear White People will have you on an emotional roller coaster throughout.

Stream Dear White People on Netflix.

Russian Doll (2019 - Present)

We’re currently living in the golden age of time loop stories, and the Netflix series Russian Doll is proof of that. The show follows Nadia (Natasha Lyonne, who also co-created the show with Leslye Headland and Amy Poehler), a woman who keeps dying and reliving her 36th birthday party as she attempts to make sense of the madness around her. With clever writing, direction, and performances from its central cast, Russian Doll sinks its teeth into its premise from the first scene and doesn’t let go until the season finale. Don’t worry, there’s more on the way.

Stream Russian Doll on Netflix.

The Umbrella Academy (2019 - Present)

Fans of quirky superhero adventure stories will surely love The Umbrella Academy, the Netflix original series about a group of estranged siblings with some truly amazing powers who are brought together by their father’s death and end up banding together to save the world. There is already a great deal of speculation surrounding Season 3, so why not go back and start it again so you’re more than ready when The Umbrella Academy makes its eventual return.

Stream The Umbrella Academy on Netflix.

GLOW (2017 - 2019)

One of the Netflix cancellations fans were most upset to see go, GLOW was truly something special. One part history lesson about one of the most notorious promotions in the ‘80s and one part drama about a struggling actress finding a place for herself in the world, the wrestling-based Netflix comedy was a slobberknocker of a good time. The wrestling, writing, acting, and general feel of the show were all top notch, and it’s a bummer that we’ll never get a proper conclusion for the glorious ladies of wrestling.

Stream GLOW on Netflix.

Dead To Me (2019 - Present)

Dead to Me Season 3 will the end of the road for this dark comedy about two California women with one hell of a way of bonding, but at least Liz Feldman’s series starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini will be going out on its own terms. Over the course of the show’s first two seasons, we watched as Jen Harding (Applegate) and Judy Hale (Cardellini) met in a grief support group and form a rather unique bond, considering their situations. Cleverly written and brilliantly acted, this refreshing take on the grieving process is shockingly fun to watch.

Stream Dead To Me on Netflix.

Daredevil (2015 - 2018)

Long before Disney+ came around and starting launching a slew of Marvel TV shows, Netflix produced several series centering on some of the comic book publisher’s more grounded characters. The first of the bunch, Daredevil, landed in 2015 and brought a level of grit and believability to the genre and introduced its fair share of memorable characters (and spinoffs) along the way. Even though the show was cancelled after only three seasons, it’s still one of the best superhero options on Netflix.

Stream Daredevil on Netflix.

Santa Clarita Diet (2017 - 2019)

Zombie shows typically focus more on the horror elements than any humor, but Santa Clarita Diet isn’t your traditional show about the undead; hell, it’s not even a traditional comedy. Despite that, the horror-comedy starring Drew Barrymore as a suburban real estate agent with an appetite for human flesh and Timothy Olyphant as her husband stuck in the middle of the whole mess, was one of the most clever spins on the genre during it’s three-season run on Netflix.

Stream Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix.

Lupin (2021 - Present)

There have been countless adaptations of the classic French thief Arsène Lupin over the years, but the most recent take, Lupin, is honestly one of the best and most inventive of the bunch. Set in modern-day France, the Netflix crime thriller follows Assane Diop (Omar Sy), a man on a mission to get back at a wealthy and well-established family for an injustice they inflicted against his father. With more adventures on the way, now’s the perfect time to check out the first five chapters of the remarkable title.

Stream Lupin on Netflix.

Unbelievable (2019)

Based on the real-life story of a sexual assault victim and the local authorities who didn’t buy her story, 2019’s Unbelievable is a riveting, if not maddening, drama following a young woman in her darkest moments. One of the best true crime series streaming on Netflix, Unbelievable is a truly remarkable piece of television and should be revisited for its lessons just as much, if not more than the drama that unfolds over the course of its narrative.

Stream Unbelievable on Netflix.

Master Of None (2015 - Present)

One of the best shows you can binge over a single weekend, Master of None is honestly one of the best titles on Netflix. Created by star Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, the show’s two seasons (with more on the way) make for some of the best television in recent memory, including the iconic episode “Thanksgiving” which earned Ansari and co-writer/co-star Lena Waithe a Primetime Emmy in 2017. Seriously, go back and watch that Season 2 barn burner of an episode.

Stream Master Of None on Netflix.

Black Mirror (2011 - 2019)

Being one of the few shows to be praised by Stephen King should be enough to sell anyone on Black Mirror, but some could use more convincing. The long-running anthology horror/sci-fi series literally has something for everyone. From episodes that play out like unused Twilight Zone episodes to those that seem like twisted versions of Star Trek, each installment is amazing in its own, unique way. The show also served as a launching pad for some of today’s biggest stars.

Stream Black Mirror on Netflix.

The Narcos Franchise (2015 - Present)

The gritty crime dramas Narcos and Narcos: Mexico are sprawling shows set in Colombia and Mexico, respectively, and follow some of television and history’s most notorious drug-lords. Fans of series like Breaking Bad and movies like Sicario will feel right at home with the franchise’s unapologetic approach to the subject matter.

Stream Narcos on Netflix.

Stream Narcos: Mexico on Netflix.

The Haunting Franchise (2018 - 2020)

Mike Flanagan has been making a strong case for being one of the greatest horror minds of all time with Doctor Sleep and his two Netflix supernatural stories The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor. Both of these two horror shows gave fans of the genre some of the best scares and family drama in recent memory, making everyone more than excited to see where Flanagan’s career goes from here.

Stream The Haunting Of Hill House on Netflix.

Stream The Haunting Of Bly Manor on Netflix

BoJack Horseman (2014 - 2020)

Netflix has had its fair share of hits in the world of adult animation, but few compare to the Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s BoJack Horseman and its story about a humanoid horse (Will Arnett) who, despite being one of the biggest sitcom stars of all time, struggles to find a steady gig and his way in life all these years later. Who would have ever thought a cartoon about a self-loathing horse would be this much fun (or so heavy)?

Stream BoJack Horseman on Netflix.

Easy (2016 - 2020)

Created by writer/director Joe Swanberg, Easy was an anthology series focusing on a diverse cast of characters in and around the greater Chicago area. Over the course of three seasons, the oftentimes hilarious, but always real, show touched on some of life’s most delicate topics and situations, as told by an all-star cast that included everyone from Dave Franco to Aubrey Plaza. Anyone familiar with Swanberg’s previous work (Drinking Buddies, Happy Christmas) knows what to expect here.

Stream Easy on Netflix.

Orange Is The New Black (2013 - 2019)

One of the first big Netflix originals, Orange is the New Black broke a lot of ground for the streaming service and its push for original content upon its release in 2013. Over the years, the dramedy about life in a women’s prison introduced the world to some of TV’s most iconic characters and voices, including Laverne Cox, who stole every scene with her portrayal of Sophia Burset.

Stream Orange Is The New Black on Netflix.

This was just around 20 of the best Netflix original shows you can stream right now and there are plenty more where that came from. With countless other series premiering in 2021, it is only a matter of time before we have make even more additions to this list.

Television can be redundant. Showrunners get into this cycle of what works and say there such as with the tried-and-true family comedy, cop drama or high school soap. But with the turn of the century, TV gave way to a new golden age to the medium. One mix-up that has contributed greatly to the progress of television is having more female showrunners and writers among the male-dominated industry. Even though female characters are much more common today, women’s words only account for about 30 percent of what you see on your small screens.

In celebration of these exciting strides for representation, let’s look at some all-time great television episodes penned by women:

Ellen DeGeneres - Ellen, “The Puppy Episode”

Ellen DeGeneres has undoubtedly become one of the most well-known names in television with her highly-popular talk show and philanthropy. Before she booked The Ellen Show, the comedian was given the opportunity to front her own sitcom simply called Ellen in the ‘90s. The only episode she wrote the story for herself is an immensely defining moment in television. 1997’s “The Puppy Episode” had Ellen’s television alter-ego come out as gay to Laura Dern’s Susan and a therapist played by Oprah Winfrey. The episode created a huge stir in the industry, causing threats from advertisers and religious groups, but has since become a cultural moment TV won’t forget.

Lena Dunham - Girls, “The Panic In Central Park”

A staple in female-run television in the modern age was HBO’s Girls, created by Lena Dunham. The show itself broke a lot of ground as to how women could be perceived and discussed about on television. Girls ran six seasons but Lena Dunham calls Season 5’s sixth episode the piece of writing she’s “most proud of.” After Allison Williams’ Marnie was MIA for much of that season, she returned for a beautiful self-contained episode of her own. Newly married to Desi but coming off a fight with him she runs into her ex Charlie (Christopher Abbott) and the pair have an eventful night out that leads her to make an important decision.

Amy Sherman-Palladino - Gilmore Girls, “They Shoot The Gilmores, Don’t They?”

What’s beautiful about Warner Bros television’s Gilmore Girls is there will never be anything quite like it again. Showrunner Amy Sherman-Palladino has rapid-fire quips and smart dialogue that has since found a new home on Emmy-winning Amazon series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. But Gilmore Girls – if you lead, we will follow. Looking back, sure there’s some flaws to take in about Rory Gilmore specifically, but this Season 3 episode that aired in 2002 is a reminder of the show’s high point. Between boy drama with Rory and Lorelai and Stars Hollow town fun in the form of a 24-hour dance marathon it's the perfect episode to look back on.

Jane Espenson - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “Conversations With Dead People”

Wow did it take a while for women to have a lead role in the action/fantasy genre, but we can thank Buffy the Vampire Slayer for proving there’s a massive audience for a genre title starring a badass woman. The iconic series was created by Joss Whedon, but one prominent writer on the show was Jane Espenson, who has gone on to write for ABC’s Once Upon a Time and Netflix’s Jessica Jones. This Season 7 episode (also from 2002) turned the series into a horror movie for a minute as each main character in the series encounters a member of the dead with great depth.

Shonda Rhimes - Grey’s Anatomy, “It’s The End of the World/As We Know It”

Shondaland! One cannot even begin to express the importance Shonda Rhimes has on television’s shift to the more diverse place it is today. There’s a reason Grey’s Anatomy has remained popular past 16 seasons, audiences are not ready to let go of these characters. The medical drama has changed immensely over the years as Rhimes pursued more shows including Scandal and Private Practice, but let’s look back on 2006’s two-part Season 2 finale. “It’s The End of the World/As We Know It” is one heck of a thriller centering on a patient who enters the OR with a bomb lodged in his chest.

Tara Herrmann and Jenji Kohan - Orange Is the New Black, “Toast Can’t Never Bread Again”

The landscape of television found itself a shake-up when Netflix began developing original programming starting with House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. The Jenji Kohan created series about a women’s prison presented storylines about a spectrum of identities in an entertaining and relentless way for its seven seasons on the streaming service. In this 2016 Season 4 finale, Jenji Kohan and co-writer Tara Herrmann delivered an unexpected delight. After the death of fan-favorite Poussey by prison guards in the episode before, “Toast Can’t Never Bread Again” combats the anger of the event by taking audiences on a series of flashbacks with Poussey.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge - Fleabag, “Season 2, Episode 1”

Phoebe Waller-Bridge has to be the highest-profile female writer working right now to create a more interesting place for television in Britain specifically. She recently worked on the script for No Time To Die to redefine the Bond Girl and developed Killing Eve for television, but it's Fleabag that shows off all her chops. The Amazon Original took home a stunning six Emmys last year, with eyes fixed on the Season 2 premiere. The episode about an uncomfortable dinner is cringey and hilarious while also somehow being a beautiful illustration of guilt and loneliness in the presence of others.

Shauna McGarry - Bojack Horseman, “The Face of Depression”

Another staple for Netflix’s success in television has been the adult-animation existential-crisis comedy Bojack Horseman. The show created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg often examines fame and ego in today’s world through has-been Bojack, played by Will Arnett. The series ended this year after six seasons. In 2019’s “Face of Depression,” Shauna McGarry wrote maybe the most peaceful episode of Bojack Horseman that brings about hope in the characters in a way that the show rarely leaves audiences with as the horse travels cross country to reconnect with loved ones. McGarry has only written two episodes of Bojack and the most important episode of Tuca & Bertie along with a handful for Anger Management and Take My Wife. She’s one to watch.

Kerry Ehrin - The Morning Show, “The Interview”

Another recent addition to television written by a female voice is AppleTV+’s debut drama The Morning Show which is sure to rack up awards this season. The show has a lot of female talent on board – its produced by its stars Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston and written by Kerry Ehrin and Jay Carson. Ehrin has quietly been a massive voice on television with credits on Friday Night Lights, Parenthood and Bates Motel before The Morning Show. The 2019 season one finale of the drama titled “The Interview” that wraps up its season long conversation about sexual harassment and the media in a shocking way.

Moira Walley-Beckett - Breaking Bad, “Ozymandias”

“Ozymandias” is thought of as the best Breaking Bad episode of all time, which is high praise considering the show itself is often thought of as the best show of all time. The Season 6 antepenultimate episode was written by Moira Walley-Beckett and directed by the great Rian Johnson of The Last Jedi and Knives Out. Walley-Beckett has written eight other episodes on the series and created Flesh and Bone and Anne with an E. The title is inspired by the 1818 Percy Bysshe Shelley poem and sets up the final moments on television for Walter White.

Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more coverage on the best of television.

That ‘70s Show was very popular when it aired nearly 20 years ago. It made household names out of actors like Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama and more, but it wasn’t always easy for everyone on the show to be famous. In fact, Prepon recently revealed that during her time on the long-running series, she often struggled with her weight and an eating disorder several times during the show's run.

It was bulimia that was Laura Prepon’s biggest challenge when she was still a young actress on That ‘70s Show. The actress recently opened up about her struggles with the eating disorder, also noting that it was so noticeable during the show’s run that she can still watch episodes and know what was happening with her weight at that time. She said:

Laura Prepon is speaking out about her bulimia in a new book called You & I, As Mothers which is set to hit hardcover on April 7. Ahead of the release of the new book, Prepon also told People that it was her mother who taught her how to be bulimic when she was young, before she got the role as Donna on That ‘70s Show.

She says she kept her bulimia private on set, but it continued to haunt her. Particularly when later in life her mother continued to be bulimic after developing Alzheimer’s Disease. It was something that was “scary,” according to the actress.

Around the same time, Prepon tried out for the gig on Orange is the New Black and was concerned about whether or not her weight would keep her from getting the Netflix gig. Orange is the New Black was a show that prided itself on hiring women from diverse ethnicities as well as with different body types, backgrounds and more, but it seems as if Laura Prepon was uncertain about her value at the time.

These days she recognizes how Orange is the New Black broke barriers on TV and became a space for her to get comfortable with her body. She also said:

Orange is the New Black wrapped up its final run on Netflix in July of 2019, several months after Netflix confirmed Season 7 would be the show’s final season. It’s still available for binge-watching while you are at home in quarantine along with That ‘70s Show, which has also been a Netflix staple for a while.

Meanwhile, You & I, As Mothers is out this coming month. Currently, Laura Prepon doesn’t have any listed upcoming TV credits; she is, however, a mother herself these days and recently had her second child with her husband Ben Foster in February of 2020.

Law and Order: SVU has become the longest running television series of all time. This is a huge accomplishment, especially for a drama series with so many intricate aspects. The series follows Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and her team as they deal with some of the most heinous crimes as the Special Victims Unit of the New York Police Department.

The addictive storylines, exceptional cast, and gripping storytelling has made Law and Order: SVU a beloved and respected drama with a distinct voice. The Golden Age of television has made great procedural police dramas and crime shows readily available. However, no series has reached the same level of success and entered the pop culture lexicon quite like SVU, but there are still plenty of worthy shows out there to watch when Law and Order: SVU is on a seasonal hiatus.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Netflix)

The Assassination of Gianni Versace is the title of Ryan Murphy’s second season of American Crime Story. The anthology series highlights various true American crime stories, everything from murder to crimes against humanity. The Assassination of Gianni Versace explores the murder of designer Gianni Versace by Andrew Cunanan, and the events that led to it. Darren Criss, Edgar Ramirez, Ricky Martin, and Penelope Cruz star in this season of American Crime Story.

Law and Order: SVU fans may enjoy The Assassination of Gianni Versace because it is rooted in real life events. SVU often uses true stories and current headlines as inspiration for their weekly episodes. The second season of American Crime Story also shows how victims can become criminals—a continuous theme of many of the Law and Order: SVU cases. The Assassination of Gianni Versace gives us supreme performances, especially from Emmy winner Darren Criss. The series is available to stream on Netflix. Watch The Assassination of Gianni Versace HERE.

Criminal Minds (CBS All Access)

Criminal Minds began in 2005, and concluded its 15-season run in 2020. The series follows a group of criminal profilers that use behavior analysis to investigate and track criminals. Criminal Minds is a typical police procedural in that it has weekly cases and deals with the main team’s personal struggles, those directly and indirectly related to their work.

Criminal Minds and Law and Order: SVU share in their format, but also in their ability to deep dive into factors that contribute to criminal behavior and crimes. Both series are also two of the longest running dramas of all time. Criminal Mind stands out among the world of police procedural dramas because it focuses more on the criminal than the crime. All 324 episodes of the series are available to stream through CBS: All Access. Stream Criminal Minds HERE.

Chicago P.D. (NBC)

Chicago P.D. follows the 21st District of the Chicago Police Department as they tackle crimes and their own personal demons. Dick Wolf, who also created the Law & Order franchise, created this series. Chicago P.D. was the second series in the Chicago franchise.

Law and Order: SVU and Chicago P.D. exist in the same universe. The two series have done crossover episodes. With Dick Wolf as the creator of both series, they have a similar tone. Chicago P.D. deals with a more diverse set of cases and criminals than SVU, as a more generalized overview of the police department. Both series will be around for a while, giving fans plenty of time to learn to love the One Chicago world and the people determined to protect it. All current and past seasons of Chicago P.D. are available to stream with a TV subscription that includes NBC. Stream Chicago P.D. HERE.

FBI (CBS All Access)

FBI is Dick Wolf’s latest popular series. He originally wanted the show to be part of the Law and Order franchise, with it starting as a backdoor pilot on Law and Order: SVU . NBC passed on FBI and CBS swooped in and bought it. This deal marked the first time in 15 years that Wolf launched a series not on NBC. FBI is trying to become its own franchise for CBS by only being on for two seasons but already having a spinoff called FBI: Most Wanted.

Though it’ll difficult to execute a crossover between competing networks, it’s safe to assume that all Dick Wolf’s series live in the same universe and will have a crossover at some point. FBI has a similar beat and tone as Law and Order: SVU, but with the added bonus of being on CBS, which has its own long history of crime-based series. FBI keeps the trusted and loved procedural style but ups the game with fascinating cases that offer social commentary. FBI is available on CBS: All Access. Stream it HERE.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS All Access)

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was the first in the CSI franchise. It was a police procedural that highlighted the forensics elements of crime solving. The show aired from 2000 to 2015, lasting 15 seasons and joining the longest running TV show club. CSI mixed weekly cases with the personal struggles of the team members.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, like SVU, deals with a specialized part of the criminal investigation process. The reason CSI managed to be so successful is that it explored a division that most people had no knowledge about, and they showcased the investigative process in such a fascinating way that it built a very loyal fanbase, one that would gladly watch a reboot. Stream CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on CBS: All Access. Stream it HERE.

The Act (Hulu)

The Act is Hulu’s original series about the real life story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother Dee Dee Blanchard. Patricia Arquette and Joey King star in this true crime story. The Act won Arquette an Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series.

The Act’s leads Joey King and Patricia Arquette are the series’ biggest strength, as they both give outstanding performances. The Act and Law and Order: SVU are similar in that Dick Wolf’s hit series often features cases similar to the one depicted in the Hulu drama show. SVU even has an episode based on the Gypsy Rose and Dee Dee ordeal called Pathological. It aired in 2018. The Act is available on Hulu. Stream it HERE.

Unbelievable (Netflix)

Unbelievable is a Netflix miniseries that dramatizes real rape cases that happened in Washington and Colorado from 2008 to 2011. It follows a young girl, Marie (Kaitlyn Dever) who makes a rape allegation that no one believes. It also follows the two detectives Karen (Merritt Wever) and Grace (Toni Collette) determined to get to the truth.

Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever, and Toni Collette all give stunning performances in their perspective roles. Unbelievable, like SVU, deals with the difficult topic of rape and sexual assault. It’s not an easy show to watch but a powerful one for its portrayal of how the justice system can both fail and vindicate a sexual assault survivor. Stream Unbelievable, the Netflix original series HERE.

Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)

Orange is the New Black is a Netflix original series that follows Piper (Taylor Schilling) as she heads to prison for a crime she committed ten years prior. The series follows the women and law enforcement of the Litchfield prison. Each episode of Orange is the New Black deals with the plot of the season, while highlighting a specific prisoner and showing how their past led them there.

Orange is the New Black takes a dark comedy approach to the criminal justice system—often being very critical of police officers, and often making them the villains. SVU shows how the justice system tries hard to help those in trouble, even if it fails. The shows share in their ability to address the circumstances that can lead to people becoming criminals, whether it is love, environment, or a crime being committed to them. Both series also address how the criminal justice system doesn’t always succeed. SVU has done episodes where Olivia and crew have regretted their approach to a crime or criminal. Stream all seven seasons of Orange is the New Black HERE.

Other Law And Order Series

Law and Order: SVU is part of a seven series franchise. Hate Crimes is the latest one in development. Unfortunately, some of the Law and Order franchise shows are airing in syndication, so they are not available (at the moment) to stream without a cable subscription. However, the Law and Order franchise will be available to stream when the Peacock streaming service launches nationwide on July 15. Until then, the series are available for purchase digitally or stream on NBC...

Law And Order

Law and Order began in 1990 and ended in 2010. It takes a more generalized account of the New York justice system. The cases vary from murder to neglect. Law and Order seasons are available to purchase on most major digital platforms, such as Amazon Prime and iTunes. Buy Law and Order HERE.

Criminal Intent

Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe star in Law and Order: Criminal Intent, a series more focused on the criminals behind the crimes than the victims. Uniquely, Criminal Intent sometimes started with viewers knowing who committed the crime, and then showing the events that followed. Law and Order: Criminal Intent is available to purchase on iTunes, Amazon Prime, Vudu, and other digital services. Buy Criminal Intent HERE.

Trial by Jury

NBC cancelled Law and Order: Trial By Jury after only 13 episodes. It put the trial part of the criminal justice system as the focus: viewers watched the lawyers prepare for the case and the trial. The entire series is available to stream on NBC.com. Stream Law and Order: Trial by Jury HERE.

Los Angeles

Law and Order: LA was Dick Wolf’s first attempt to expand his worlds beyond New York. Unfortunately, this wasn’t nearly as successful as his original Law and Order series and the One Chicago series. NBC cancelled Los Angeles after one season of 22 episodes. It had the same format as regular Law and Order but with the Los Angeles location. Terrence Howard and Alana de la Garza were two of the series’ leads. Stream Law and Order: Los Angeles on NBC.

True Crime

Law and Order: True Crime is the franchise first anthology series. The first season followed the true life events of the Menendez Murders. It starred Edie Falco. Law and Order: True Crime’s first season aired from 2016 to 2017, but hasn’t been officially cancelled or renewed. The first season of the series is available to stream on NBC’s website. Stream Law and Order: True Crime HERE.

If none of these series spark your interest, then you can always just rewatch all 21 seasons of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit on Hulu. Stream it HERE.

Television had an eventful year in 2019, with the end of some of the biggest shows on the small screen in the forms of Game of Thrones and The Big Bang Theory, reality TV getting wilder than ever, and new streaming services launching to add even more competition to the market. Oh, and a whole bunch of characters died, and they weren't even all from Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead!

Yes, while some shows were delivering laughs from start to finish in 2019, others were striking down beloved and/or impactful characters right, left, and center. Some were deaths that fans could see coming from a mile away, and others were shocking enough to change the way TV should be watched. So, as we look ahead to 2020 and all the wonderful possibilities in a new year of television, let's take a moment to reflect on the biggest TV deaths of 2019.

Warning: MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD for the 2019 TV season lie ahead. If you want to avoid finding out who bit the dust on TV shows large and small last year, feel free to check out some of our less deadly articles.

Christopher LaSalle, NCIS: New Orleans

Despite its status as a CBS procedural that generally saves any twists with lingering effects for premieres and finales, NCIS: New Orleans delivered one of the most shocking deaths of TV in 2019 by killing off Christopher LaSalle in a seemingly random Season 6 episode. LaSalle was no background player or newcomer to NCIS: NOLA, and there was no fanfare leading up to his demise. There wasn't even a cliffhanger. While trying to avenge his brother's death, he was shot, and eventually succumbed to his wounds in the hospital. LaSalle died, NCIS: NOLA honored him, and it wasn't even the fall finale yet! R.I.P. LaSalle.

Pennsatucky, Orange Is The New Black

Orange Is the New Black wrapped its run as one of Netflix's defining series with Season 7 in July 2019, but one character did not survive for a life of freedom, fulfillment, and happiness: Tiffany Doggett, a.k.a. Pennsatucky. Despite working in Season 7 to overcome her learning disability and get her GED, Pennsatucky turned to fentanyl after believing she failed. Tragically, she overdose on the drug and died, found too late by Taystee. Viewers did get a little bit of closure, as Pennsatucky was last seen when her spirit walked away from Litchfield. Still, the belated reveal that she had passed her GED exam after all was salt on an open wound.

Mayor Adam West, Family Guy

The death of Family Guy's Mayor Adam West did not come as a surprise, as the real Adam West (who voiced the animated version of himself for the Fox series) passed away in 2017, and there was no intention to recast the role. Family Guy didn't actually detail what happened to the mayor when the time came to address his death, but it did find a way to honor the late actor that was poignant in its own Family Guy sort of way. The high school was renamed in Mayor West's honor, and Peter created a video dedication to him.

Henry, The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead proved in Season 9 that it wasn't done killing off teenagers with the big fair episode that was a bloodbath courtesy of Alpha. In a twist that was somehow both shocking and a long time coming, the episode revealed that Alpha and her Whisperers had murdered a number of the good guys and mounted their head on pikes, with Henry among the dead and decapitated. This marks the second child of Carol's to die an awful death (and the second played by a Lintz sibling) and was a sign that something needed to change in the fight against the Whisperers.

Logan Echolls, Veronica Mars

The Veronica Mars Season 4 revival on Hulu could have given Marshmallows everything they wanted after years of hoping for more... but unless they were hoping for Jason Dohring's Logan Echolls to be killed off and the iconic Veronica/Logan pairing to ended for good, then they were probably disappointed by the ending. It actually seemed like Veronica Mars was finally giving Veronica a happy ending when she and Logan tied the knot, but before they could take off on their honeymoon, Logan was killed in a car bomb. Showrunner Rob Thomas' explanation for killing off Veronica's longtime flame wasn't enough for some, and the show will look very different if it gets a Season 5.

Candy, Pose

Pose never shied away from showing that the trans women of the FX series face a lot of danger. Never was that more clear than in Season 2, when Candy was murdered in a motel room. Her friends had no faith in the NYPD devoting resources to solving the crime, and if Pose had ended Candy's story there, fans might not have gotten any closure. Instead, her friends threw her a memorial which even saw some resolution for the feud between Candy and Pray Tell. Angelica Ross also got one more ballroom performance as Candy, reminding viewers of the vibrant woman Candy was before her life was cut short.

Daenerys Targaryen, Game Of Thrones

Game of Thrones ended its divisive final season with a controversial twist: Daenerys Targaryen was killed by lover/nephew Jon Snow shortly after winning the Iron Throne. Her end seemed unavoidable after she made the decision to roast King's Landing with Drogon when it really wasn't necessary, and her speech about conquering the rest of the world -- including Winterfell -- was the last straw for Jon. He wasn't thrilled about killing her, and he didn't use her death as a means to claim the Iron Throne for himself, but it was still a brutal betrayal for Dany. Fortunately, Drogon didn't actually eat her when he flew away with her, so there's that!

Jack, Supernatural

Supernatural announced that it would end after its fifteenth season shortly before the Season 14 finale, so the stakes were very high for fans waiting to see how the show would set up its final season. Tragically, Supernatural went the route of revealing God as the biggest of big bads, who was the "writer" of the Winchesters' story all along, and he went ahead and killed Jack after the Winchesters decided they weren't going to play along anymore. The death of Jack, who had become like a son to Castiel and the Winchesters despite killing Mary, set up an intense beginning to Season 15. But are characters ever really gone on Supernatural?

Dr. Manhattan, Watchmen

HBO's Watchmen was more of a sequel to the iconic Alan Moore comic series than a straight adaptation, so viewers had no idea if and how the show would incorporate characters from the comics. Dr. Manhattan eventually debuted in all his blue glory, and the reveal that he'd actually been in the mix for some time was a game-changer. Sadly, Dr. Manhattan was vaporized in the Season 1 finale due to the ongoing attempt by several people to gain his powers for themselves. While he's gone, Angela may have inherited his powers, so surely fans deserve another season to see the post-Dr. Manhattan world of Watchmen, right?

Otis, Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire has a habit of ending season finales (and even midseason finales) on intense cliffhangers, and Season 7 closed with the lives of most of Firehouse 51 in very real jeopardy. Instead of opening Season 8 with the miraculous escapes of everybody, one firefighter lost his life: Otis. Not only was his demise heartbreaking and surprisingly gruesome, but it also meant the loss of one of Fire's original characters. Otis' death was arguably the biggest since Shay's in Season 3, and his loss continues to be felt even at the halfway point of Season 8. Hopefully he's the only big death Fire fans face for a while!

Jim Hopper, Stranger Things

The long-awaited third season of Stranger Things on Netflix ended on a twist that was long-dreaded: the demise of Chief Jim Hopper. In the desperate fight to close the latest gate to the Upside Down, Hopper wound up exposed to the deadly device that would do the job. Joyce made the difficult decision to sacrifice Hopper to save everybody, and the season ended with Eleven living with the Byers after losing her adopted dad. Well, that's almost how it ended. There was actually a post-credits scene that suggested Hopper could have survived by diving through the portal before it closed, but his presumed death lands him a spot on this list.

Lakeisha, Power

Power killed off no shortage of characters in Season 6 on Starz, but the death of LaKeisha was still a blow. Perhaps most striking about the big death was that LaKeisha was gunned down by a friend: Tasha. When the two got into an altercation and fought over a firearm, Tasha shot LaKeisha in the torso. Although clearly upset herself, Tasha didn't listen to LaKeisha's pleas not to finish the job, and she went ahead and shot LaKeisha in the head. Tasha did say that she was sorry before pulling the trigger, but that presumably wasn't much comfort to LaKeisha in her final moments before she was killed.

Oliver Queen, Arrow

Arrow leading man Oliver Queen's death has actually been foreshadowed since all the way back in December 2018, so the demise of the Arrow-verse's founding superhero in the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover wasn't shocking. That said, some were surprised that he died with little fanfare in the first of five crossover episodes. His friends dipped him in the Lazarus Pit to bring him back, but he was still kinda sorta dead by the end of the first few episodes of the crossover event. It's probably a safe bet that he'll be back among the living for the Arrow series finale later in January, but his "Crisis" death was a very big deal.

Smurf, Animal Kingdom

TNT's Animal Kingdom delivered a shocker of a death in Season 4 when none other than Smurf was killed off, in a move that actress Ellen Barkin was seemingly not happy about at all. Although the stage was set for Smurf's potential demise after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, she went out in a far more violent way. Wanting to go out on her own terms rather than waste away, Smurf staged a heist designed to end in her death. Although it didn't go entirely to plan, the Cody matriarch got her wish and was shot to death, with son J taking the shot to end his mother's life.

Georgia, New Amsterdam

New Amsterdam wrapped its first season on NBC on a huge cliffhanger that guaranteed the death of one of the most important women in Max's life: friend Helen, coworker Lauren, and wife Georgia. While the Season 2 premiere played around with the reveal of which woman died, the ultimate reveal was that Georgia died but Max was refusing to process the fact and was instead imagining that she was still alive with him and his daughter. Georgia's death impacted the entire show in some huge ways, and New Amsterdam lingered on the effects rather than fast-forwarding Max into recovery and perhaps even another relationship.

Missandei, Game Of Thrones

While so many characters died in the final season of Game of Thrones that it's hard to narrow down the most important other than Daenerys, Missandei's death was both heartbreaking and key to the plot. Although Dany was arguably already approaching Mad Queen territory by the time of Missandei's death, she didn't fully snap until Cersei's executed her loyal friend in front of her. Missandei's final word was "Dracarys," and Dany certainly embraced that sentiment when she and Drogon went ahead and roasted King's Landing. If not for Missandei's death, would Dany have gone off the deep end to the point that Jon felt the need to kill her?

Fred Andrews, Riverdale

The death of Fred Andrews on The CW's Riverdale was written into the show after actor Luke Perry passed away. Although Perry died during Season 3, the show held his farewell episode until the Season 4 premiere, which brought in his former Beverly Hills, 90210 costar Shannen Doherty. The reveal came that Fred died after being hit by a car when he stopped on the side of the road to help a stranded driver. The episode got a little weird in true RIverdale fashion when Archie and his pals decided to retrieve his father's body themselves, but the premiere was a touching tribute to Perry.

Honorable Mention: Pretty Much Everybody Except The Starks And Co., Game Of Thrones

If all the notable characters who died in Game of Thrones' final season received an entry on this list, you might still be reading it by the time of the list for 2020 TV deaths. Between the Battle of Winterfell, the fighting on land and sea, Dany just going ahead and burning King's Landing, and the deadly finale, a whole lot of people died.

Varys, Theon, Ser Jorah, the Hound, and of course Jaime and Cersei were among the most important deaths, but Season 8 was such a bloodbath that it seemed like pretty much everybody important died except for the Starks and the other "good" guys. So, all of those who couldn't be remembered with their own entry on this list get an honorable mention!

So, there we have the biggest (although certainly not only) TV deaths from 2019! 2020 will undoubtedly see a lot more characters bite the dust, although hopefully none of those best new TV characters from last year! We'll have to wait and see. Game of Thrones won't have any contenders, but there are plenty of other deadly shows that could axe its characters at any point. For your viewing options now and in the not-too-distant future, be sure to swing by our 2020 midseason premiere schedule and our 2020 Netflix premiere guide.

In the summer of 2019, Orange is the New Black locked the gates for good. The Netflix series was one of the first original dramas from the streaming service, and it lasted a full seven seasons.

A talent-oozing ensemble served as Orange Is the New Black's core cast, and everyone involved did some tremendous work throughout the much-discussed streaming series' run. But OINTB has been over for a few years now, and the cast has already done so much. Today, we’re going to take a look and see what the Orange is the New Black cast has been up to since the series ended.

Taylor Schilling (Piper Chapman)

As Piper Chapman, Taylor Schilling was Orange is the New Black's central protagonist, serving as a fictionalized version of the real-life Chapman, who wrote the book the show is based on. Towards the beginning of the series, Piper was shown as being something of an innocent in this prison-based series, but her darker and more sanctimonious side came out as seasons went by.

The Emmy-nominated Taylor Schilling showed up in a few new movies while the show was still on air – The Prodigy, Family, and Greg Kinnear's Phil. She’s also gotten back into television, with a leading role in Dear Edward on Apple TV+, as well as a main role on the Pam & Tommy cast on Hulu. Schilling appeared in a new film called Queen of Bones, and had a very small guest appearance on American Horror Story: Delicate. Coming up, she’ll be in a new TV show called Accused.

Laura Prepon (Alex Vause)

As the snarky and emotionally guarded Alex Vause, who eventually reconnects with her former lover Piper and becomes her "prison wife," Laura Prepon played a key role throughout Orange is the New Black. Originally best known for her long-running role in That '70s Show, Orange is the New Black allowed the actress to avoid being typecast with a role that played to her strengths while also showcasing more of her dramatic range.

Outside of her work on the Netflix dramedy, where she also served as a director for a few episodes, Prepon shares updates about her life on Instagram. However, she reprised her character, Donna, in the spinoff of That ‘70s Show, called That ‘90s Show, a role she has continued to guest-star on. And she’s directed some of the episodes as well!

Kate Mulgrew (Galina "Red" Reznikov)

As Galina Reznikov, better known as "Red," Kate Mulgrew played a prominent role throughout Orange is the New Black's run. Particularly in the first few seasons of the show, Red was an authoritative figure among the inmates, understandably as the leader of Red's Family, though she gained emotional layers in later years.

A veteran actress of the big and small screen, Kate Mulgrew has continued to take on new roles after the end of Orange is the New Black. With television shows, she’s appeared in many different genres, including The First Lady, Infinity Train, and The Man Who Fell To Earth, and she also held a voice role in the Star Trek series, Star Trek: Prodigy. Besides that, she was also a part of the stage production of The Half-Man of Marie Curie in November 2019. Coming up, she’s going to be in a new miniseries called Sinking Spring.

Uzo Aduba (Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren)

As Orange is the New Black's Suzanne Warren, better known as "Crazy Eyes," Uzo Aduba gave consistently phenomenal performances. Suzanne was known for being overly attached to inmates, to the point where other prisoners wouldn't want to interact with her. Piper learned this quite clearly in Season 1 when Suzanne wanted her to be her prison wife.

A veteran of the stage and screen, Uzo Abuba continues to act in a number of high-profile projects. She played the lead role in Miss Virginia in 2019, and she’s also appeared in films such as Really Love, National Champions, and the Pixar film, Lightyear. In terms of television, she’s had roles in Animal, Scientist, and was the lead actress in the fourth season of In Treatment. Aduba appeared in the films The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat and Greedy People in 2024, but she also held a voice role in the series Magicampers, and appeared in a TV show called Painkillers. Coming up, she’ll be in a new show called The Resident.

Danielle Brooks (Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson)

As Tasha Jefferson, more affectionately known as Taystee, Danielle Brooks worked her way up to being what is considered the secondary protagonists on the long-running Orange is the New Black. Her role evolves as much as any in the series, if not more so.

Since the show wrapped up in the summer of 2019, Danielle Brooks has appeared in a variety of movies and television shows. With movies, she had a role in Eat Wheaties!, but has appeared in many other television shows, such as Peacemaker on Max, original show, Karma’s World, and was also the host of Instant Dream Home. In 2023, she starred in The Color Purple, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

If you want to see what she has coming up, Brooks will appear in A Minecraft Movie, as well as a new Christmas film called Oh. What. Fun. She’ll also appear in Season 2 of Peacemaker.

Dascha Polanco (Dayanara Diaz)

As Dayanara Diaz, Dascha Polanco played a key role throughout Orange is the New Black. In particular, she became one of the more antagonistic characters for Season 7 once everything started going to hell.

Dascha Polanco continues to keep busy with a variety of films and shows since 2019. She appeared in both Netflix's acclaimed series Russian Doll (which we'll talk about again in just a moment) and When They See Us. Since then, she’s appeared in the musical movie adaptation In The Heights, and the films A Little Prayer and Samaritan. Polanco was also a part of the television show Poker Face on Peacock, and had a guest role in the Paramount+ original series, Evil.

Polanco is set to appear in Season 2 of The Walking Dead: Dead City.

Natasha Lyonne (Nicole "Nicky" Nichols)

As Nicole "Nicky" Nichols, Natasha Lyonne was known for her sarcastic humor, as well as her wise and grounded mentality. While she first became known for her roles in Slums of Beverly Hills and American Pie, Orange is the New Black was, for some, a much-welcomed return to the spotlight for Lyonne, though she did take a hiatus away from the Netflix drama.

Thankfully, Natasha Lyonne continues to make a name for herself. Just shortly before Orange is the New Black's final season premiered on the streaming service, she starred in and co-wrote the excellent do-over dramedy Russian Doll, which also streamed on Netflix, and then had a second season in 2022. And in 2023, she starred in her own series on Peacock, titled Poker Face, which garnered critical acclaim. With movies, she played a small part in Brad Pitt's Ad Astra, as well as parts in The United States vs. Billie Holiday, Irresistible, and DC League of Super-Pets.

Lyonne is going to have a packed couple of years. In 2024, she appeared in the Netflix original film, His Three Daughters, and coming up, she’s going to appear in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, The Bad Guys 2, Klara and the Sun, and the new The Smurfs Movie.

Selenis Leyva (Gloria Mendoza)

Orange is the New Black's Gloria Mendoza stayed a main character throughout the show's run, thanks in large part to solid performances from star Selenis Leyva. As an established actress who has proven herself on the big and small screen several times over, Selenis Leyva continues to find work in a number of exciting projects.

More specifically, since the end of Orange is the New Black, Leyva has mainly stuck to television, although she did have a role in Creed III in 2023. She appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2019, and also lent her voice to Disney's DuckTales. She also had a main role on the Disney+ original series, Diary of a Female President, as well as a guest role on the Max original show, Our Flag Means Death. Currently in 2024, she has a main role on Lopez vs. Lopez.

Laverne Cox (Sophia Burset)

As Sophia Burset, Laverne Cox made a name for herself through her work in Orange is the New Black. Ever since her early appearances in Season 1, Laverne Cox has continued to build her career through the exceptional acclaim of her work in the show. The Emmy-nominated actress has become a producer, celebrity spokesperson and more in the following years, both within the transgender community and beyond, and she continues to remain busy in her personal life.

Since Orange is the New Black has come to an end, Laverne Cox appeared in the films Promising Young Women, Bad Hair, and Jolt. With television, she had a main role in the Inventing Anna cast, as well as several guest roles in shows such as The Blacklist, Curb Your Enthusiasm and more. Cox also had a starring role in Uglies on Netflix. The actress will appear in a new film called Outcome and a new series titled Clean Slate.

There were a lot of talented people involved with the popular series. Orange is the New Black was a very well-acclaimed television show, and it is apparent that the people involved in the show's continued success are continuing to branch out and join other great roles in both movies and television. All seven seasons are currently available to stream on Netflix right now.

Stream Orange is the New Black on Netflix.

Move over, Orange is the New Black, there’s a new show taking over the title of longest-running Netflix original series. After being renewed for a seventh and final season, Grace and Frankie will surpass Orange is the New Black, long considered the cream of the Netflix crop, in episodes very soon. That’s no easy feat, considering Netflix’s penchant for canceling its comedies (RIP, Netflix version of One Day At a Time). Grace and Frankie’s history-making news is impressive and series stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin were thrilled at the prospect of another season and the show’s longevity.

Grace and Frankie’s seventh season will include 16 episodes, bringing the series to a whopping 94 episodes in total. In comparison, Orange is the New Black ended earlier this year with a 91-episode count. While becoming the longest-running show on Netflix is a fantastic accomplishment, the sad news is that Season 7 of Grace and Frankie will also be its last on the streaming service, the upside being that at least the series’ writers know it’ll be the final season, giving them plenty of time to wrap up storylines and character arcs.

Though there’s no word about when we can expect Season 7 to debut, the show wrapped filming Season 6 earlier this year and has set a premiere date for the sixth season for January of 2020. Between Season 6 and Season 7, there's plenty of time for other shows to beat out Grace and Frankie in episode numbers, but history has shown it will likely take a long time for any other Netflix series to catch up.

As for Grace and Frankie, the Emmy-nominated show premiered back in 2015 and has been a Netflix staple ever since. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are the comedic duo no one knew they needed until Grace and Frankie graced us with its presence. The pair made a joint statement expressing their excitement to continue telling Grace and Frankie’s stories, as well as their heartbreak over the final season.

As of right now, no other Netflix show comes close to getting to 94 episodes, with plenty ofNetflix series still only in their first or second seasons. The longevity of Grace and Frankie speaks volumes of the show. Audiences were drawn to the show’s portrayal of life, the ups and downs of being a woman, and of growing older that felt incredibly authentic. Additionally, series co-creators Marta Kauffman, who co-created and produced Friends, and Howard J. Harris expressed how the announcement was “fitting” for Grace and Frankie.

Though it’s not over quite yet, Grace and Frankie leaves behind a tremendous legacy and will no doubt be a tough act to follow. Can’t wait until Season 6’s premiere in January 2020 to get your comedy fix? Be sure to check out all of the comedies coming to TV this fall.

Spoilers ahead for the series finale of Orange is the New Black. If you haven’t finished Season 7, don’t read on!

After seven long seasons of streaming, Orange is the New Black has finally served its time on Netflix. Jenji Kohan’s prison drama broke new ground as one of the first original shows to come from the streaming service, and OITNB quickly became a phenomenon. The final season delivered conclusions and tons of plot twists, but fans have a few questions following the series finale “Here’s Where We Get Off.” The chief question among them being: did Piper and Alex end up together?

Season 7’s finale saw the two inmates seemingly break up, as Alex was transferred to a facility in Ohio. But the final shots of the series added to some confusion, as Piper was seen visiting her at the new prison. So did they end up together, or was it just a friendly visit? Laura Prepon recently spoke to the finale saying:

The final montage of Orange is the New Black may have left it vague as to whether or not Piper and Alex ended up together, but Laura Prepon seems to be sure of their fate. She says they ended up together in the end, meaning that Piper likely moved to Ohio to live somewhere near her partner. Sorry, Zelda, you're going to need to find a new gala date.

This news might be somewhat surprising to fans, considering how Season 7's finale went down for the longstanding couple. When Alex found out she was being transferred out of Litchfield, she broke up with Piper seemingly forever. The two characters wept and said goodbye, and it seemed like Pipes finally lost Alex for good.

The last sequence made it seem like Taylor Schilling's protagonist was going to head up to meet Zelda. At least, until Piper and Alex were shown laughing with each other as the screen faded to orange one last time.

Later in her conversation with THR, Laura Prepon was asked what she thinks the future holds for her character and Piper. The '70s Show alum said:

That's certainly hopeful. Not every character in Orange is the New Black got a happy ending, in fact many of Litchfield's most beloved prisoners didn't fare very well. It was a bitter sweet series finale, with Daya's life and Alex and Piper's relationship seemingly left ambiguous. But the actresses have cleared up the truth, with Laura Prepon confident that her signature character got a happy ending with her wife.

All seven seasons of Orange is the New Black are now streaming on Netflix. In the meantime, check out our fall premiere list to plan your next binge-watch.

Spoilers ahead for the series finale of Orange is the New Black. If you haven't finished Season 7, look away!

After seven years, Orange is the New Black has served its time on Netflix. The series officially ended with Season 7, and Litchfield's story has come to an end. The series finale "Here's Where We Get Off" gave the myriad inmates endings, with most of them providing a definitive conclusion to their story. But fans still have a few questions, chief among them being Daya's fate.

Daya became prison kingpin in Season 7, and was almost unrecognizable from the caring sweet girl we met back in Episode 1. The drug war between she and her mother Aleida continued to escalate, with Daya eventually getting her little sister involved. This eventually puts Aleida into a rage, and she's last scene punching and choking the younger Diaz. So did Daya's mother kill her? Actress Dascha Polanco recently revealed her character's fate, saying:

What a relief. Because while Daya had a dark arc in Season 7 and ultimately was corrupted by her time in federal prison, she wasn't killed when her mother attacked her during the series finale. Looks like the conflict between the Diaz women is far from over, with fans left to wonder how it all went down.

Dascha Polanco's comments are sure to elicit a mixed back of emotions, depending on how each Orange is the New Black fan felt about her signature character. She was one of the original stars of the long-running series, entering Litchfield at the same time as Piper in the series premiere. But while Chapman was released and able to reintegrate back into society, Daya wasn't so lucky.

Related: Orange Is The New Black’s Jenji Kohan Is Making Even More Shows For Netflix

After falling in love with a guard and having a baby, Daya got involved in the prison riots of Season 5. She shot the villainous CO Humphry, who eventually died during the days long riots. She eventually got a life sentence, losing all hope for a future. Season 7 saw her take over the prison drug trade, accidentally her girlfriend in the process, and eventually putting her family in jeopardy.

In her same conversation with THR, Dascha Polanco spoke to missing the character, and the plot lines she wishes were fleshed out before the series finale. She said:

All of Orange is the New Black's characters went through huge arcs throughout seven years on the series. Daya isn't the exception to this rule, although she's perhaps the most unrecognizable from her original appearance. By the time the series finale came around she had killed two people, developed a drug dependency, and gotten her family involved in prison drug trade. Remember when it was all drawings and meet cutes with Bennett?

Orange is the New Black's full series is streaming now on Netflix. In the meantime, check out our fall premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

Obviously, Stranger Things made a big splash on Netflix when it debuted Season 3 on July 4, but that doesn't mean the supernatural series is the public's favorite show from the streamer. Oh, no. A recent poll of Netflix subscribers shows that Orange Is the New Black is actually tops when it comes to what people prefer to watch when they settle in for a Netflix-based streaming session. The Demogorgon will not be happy about this.

We don't have to be too sad for Stranger Things, though. Aside from the fact that the series broke several records for Netflix when Season 3 came around a few days ago, it did come in at the number two spot on the survey of people's favorite Netflix shows, so we can, hopefully, at least keep the Mind Flayer at bay with that happy news. Here's how the top 20 favorites list turned out:

According to Variety, the poll, which was conducted by HarrisX and commissioned by MoffettNathanson, surveyed 11,135 of Netflix's U.S. subscribers in May and June of this year. As you can see, the poll also revealed that 15 of the top 20 shows mentioned as subscriber favorites were Netflix Originals, which has to be good for the streaming service to hear.

While Netflix still relies on licensed content to keep people binging, a lot of news has been made recently about the number of popular shows which will be leaving the service in the coming months and years for new, competing, streamers. Popular, long-running shows like The Office and Friends will be departing before too long (not to mention so many Disney-owned properties), and there have been worries that people would leave Netflix once that content was no longer available.

Fortunately for Netflix, this poll shows that plenty of Netflix shows are among subscribers' favorites, meaning that while they may be beginning to think that the service is too expensive, at least they won't leave them behind because everything they love to watch is gone. On top of that, many other licensed favorites, like Supernatural (which landed at number 12 on the top 20 list) and Grey's Anatomy, are still available and likely to be around for a while.

Well, the folks (and monsters) at Stranger Things might be a bit miffed right now to have lost the top spot to Orange Is the New Black, but they can at least take solace in the fact that the poll was completed before Season 3 premiered. Both shows can be streamed on Netflix right now, and OITNB will be back for Season 7 (its last) on July 26.

Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached what may be Netflix's biggest month of 2019: July. After a long wait, Stranger Things Season 3 is finally on the way, and the Fourth of July is about to be lit for reasons other than fireworks!

Of course, it's not like that's the only series Netflix has on deck for the month of July, and plenty of other shows are headed to the platform that certainly look like they'll be worth bingeing or at the very least checking out. From cooking competitions to family affairs, here's a look at 11 Netflix originals that will keep viewers hooked in July.

Stranger Things (Season 3) - 7/4

You know it, you love it, and you're really hoping this season no major characters get killed off. Netflix has been all-in on promoting Stranger Things in wild ways, such as with a collaboration with Coca-Cola. Those that aren't aware this one is on the way have been living under a rock with a bad internet connection.

The full details of Season 3 haven't really been released, but a new mall is involved, Steve might find a new love interest, and the trouble in Hawkins is far from over. With this show's popularity, that's likely all anyone needs to know to tune in between the fireworks shows.

Family Reunion (Season 1) - 7/10

Tia Mowery and Loretta Devine are teaming up for Family Reunion, a new sitcom for all ages that pits new school vs. old school. The story follows Cocoa (MOwry), who packs up her family and their Seattle lifestyle and moves them in with her mother (Devine) and father in Georgia. The result is a clash of ideals, and everyone must make some compromises in order to make it all work.

It may not have the big time drama of other entries on the way in July, but for those still upset that shows like One Day At A Time are gone and Fuller House is coming to an end, perhaps this can be the new obsession for the family households.

Blown Away (Season 1) - 7/12

Just when you think television ha gs run out of competition shows, Netflix is showing up in July with one of the most bizarre ones we've heard of to date. Blown Away pits 10 master glass blowers together in a competition that will ultimately decide who is the best of them all. The winner gets bragging rights and a cool $60,000 in prize money.

Blown Away has my attention based off the logistics alone. Are there going to be multiple high temperature furnaces running? What kind of things are going to be constructed for judges to critique? How on Earth did Netflix manage to find 10 glass blowers when I can count the number I've seen in my life on one hand? All these questions, and probably some none of us have thought of yet, may be revealed on launch day.

Extreme Engagement (Season 1) - 7/12

Two folks are about to get married, and to put their relationship to the test, they're traveling the world to learn about the traditions of the ceremony in eight different cultures. Exact locations haven't been revealed just yet, but one would expect some very new places for the lovebirds.

Obviously, I hope it turns out for the best, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope there isn't just a little tension created by this pre-marital journey. After all, how the hell are they possibly going to top that honeymoon after this big trip?

Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee (New Episodes) - 7/19

Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee has new episodes going up on the back half of the month, and as usual, he's got some heavy hitters in the world of comedy in on the fun. Seth Rogen, Ricky Gervais, Jamie Foxx, Martin Short, and the one everyone has to be excited for after seeing the above picture, Eddie Murphy.

With Eddie Murphy taking fewer recent roles in Hollywood and keeping largely out of the public eye, his appearance on Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee will be a real treat. Perhaps we'll get some new Shrek factoids, or maybe some previously unknown stories about his brother Charlie Murphy. Who knows?

Queer Eye (Season 4) - 7/19

Queer Eye is back again, and they're back in Kansas City, Missouri, to change some more lives for the better. Those who've been watching know the drill by now. Surprising transformations and tears from those watching will happen frequently. It's a repetitive formula for sure, but not one folks seem to be tired of just yet.

Which is a good thing because Netflix has the boys signed on for Season 5, which is set to take place in the Philadelphia. For now, though, let's just be pumped about Season 4 and whatever great hair trips Jonathan has.

Another Life (Season 1) - 7/25

Katee Sackhoff stars in another Netflix sci-fi original that begins with the discovery of an alien artifact. Sackhoff's character, Niko Breckinridge, then leads a crew on a mission to find the artifact's origin. Things get dangerous pretty quickly, and it becomes clear before too long none of them may survive this perilous journey.

Katee Sackhoff was brilliant on her short stint on The Flash and is of course a sci-fi icon thanks to Battlestar Galactica, so it will be cool to see her again in a sci-fi setting. This sounds to be more of a grounded take on sci-fi that could get progressively more out there as things continue, so hopefully Netflix gives this one a chance to develop so audiences can see where it goes.

Workin' Moms (Season 2) - 7/25

One of Netflix's most underrated comedies is back for another season, and if Season 1 is any indication, all the drama, hijinx, and work issues of raising children will still be in play for all the "workin' moms." It's one of those shows that new parents can watch to feel better about themselves if the stress of home life has them down, which can happen from time to time.

For those that are hooked, and excited for Season 2, here's some added good news. Season 3 has already aired in Canada, so the odds of Netflix announcing more episodes before too long seems pretty high.

Orange Is The New Black (Season 7) - 7/26

After seven seasons, Orange Is The New Black is coming to an end. The ride had to end eventually, and luckily Netflix is giving it plenty of time to breathe and stand on its own following the premiere of Stranger Things much earlier in the month. How will the series wrap things up for the ladies of Litchfield?

Well, for starters, we'll be traveling outside prison walls as Season 6 saw Piper get an early release. Meanwhile Taystee is on the line for a murder she didn't commit, and things aren't great for the rest of the characters either. Is this going to be a sad conclusion, or is there a happy ending in here yet that will somehow make things better for everyone?

Sugar Rush (Season 2) - 7/26

In my opinion, Sugar Rush is one of the most underrated food competitions on television period. The desserts are always delicious looking, and the clock management concept is an entertaining way of handling the typical time limits associated with these programs. Plus legendary dessert maker Adriano Zumbo is part of the judges panel, and can hold contestants to exceptionally high standards.

It's colorful, it's all delicious looking, and it's probably best enjoyed with a snack. Seriously, this isn't the series to watch without something on hand to munch on, although gluttons for punishment may enjoy living vicariously through panelists and judges enjoying these delectable goodies.

Honorable Mention: Frankenstein's Monsters's Monster, Frankenstein - 7/16

It's not technically a new television series, but we'd be remiss to not mention that David Harbour has another project headed to Netflix in July. Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein is a mockumentary in which David Harbour finds the lost footage of his father's televised stage play.

If the title doesn't make it apparent enough, this one is a comedy that will definitely tap into a side of Harbour Stranger Things won't show. Harbour did a pretty hilarious web video earlier this year with his "one man show," and it seems like this may be more of the same. If that's the case, we should all be very excited.

Stick with CinemaBlend for more on what's going on in the world of Netflix, other streaming services, television, and movies.

Competition continues to heat up in the streaming world, as Netflix is driving the conversation around its platform yet again with a new slew of material debuting on the streaming service in July. With the usual mix of older movies and new additions headed to the streaming catalog, there are some long-awaited TV programs that are returning. In one particular case, fans will be saying goodbye to a long running Netflix Original as it takes its final bow.

If you're curious about June's slate of releases, you can head over to that lineup to see what's been added throughout this past month. But if you're ready for the future of Netflix's continued campaign of entertainment, then follow us into July's brand new offerings...

Week of July 1

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore - 7/1/19

Astro Boy - 7/1/19

Caddyshack - 7/1/19

Caddyshack 2 - 7/1/19

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) - 7/1/19

Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke - 7/1/19

Cloverfield - 7/1/19

Designated Survivor: 60 days - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/1/19

Disney's Race to Witch Mountain - 7/1/19

Frozen River - 7/1/19

Inkheart - 7/1/19

Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/1/19

Kill the Irishman - 7/1/19

Lady in the Water - 7/1/19

Little Monsters - 7/1/19

Mean Dreams - 7/1/19

Mean Streets - 7/1/19

Megamind - 7/1/19

Nights in Rodanthe - 7/1/19

Paul Blart: Mall Cop - 7/1/19

Philadelphia - 7/1/19

Rain Man - 7/1/19

Road House - 7/1/19

Room on the Broom - 7/1/19

Scream 3 - 7/1/19

Starsky & Hutch - 7/1/19

Swiped - 7/1/19

Swordfish - 7/1/19

Taxi Driver - 7/1/19

The Accountant of Auschwitz - 7/1/19

The American - 7/1/19

The Book of Eli - 7/1/19

The Brothers Grimm - 7/1/19

The Hangover - 7/1/19

The Pink Panther - 7/1/19

The Pink Panther 2 - 7/1/19

War Against Women - 7/1/19

Who's That Knocking at My Door? - 7/1/19

Bangkok Love Stories: Objects of Affection - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/2/19

Bangkok Love Stories: Plead - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/2/19

Good Witch: Season 4 - 7/2/19

The Last Czars - NETFLIX ORIGINAL -7/3/19

Yummy Mummies: Season 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/3/19

Kakegurui: Season 2 - 7/4/19

Stranger Things 3 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/4/19

In The Dark: Season 1 - 7/5/19

Free Rein: Season 3 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 7/6/19

The Iron Lady - 7/6/19

Sicilian Ghost Story - 7/6/19

Week of July 7

Disney's Mary Poppins Returns - 7/9/19

Kinky - 7/9/19

Family Reunion - NETFLIX FAMILY - 7/10/19

Grand Designs: Season 10 - 7/10/19

Grand Designs: Season 15 - 7/10/19

Parchís: El documental - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/10/19

Cities of Last Things - NETFLIX FILM - 7/11/19

3Below: Tales of Arcadia: Part 2 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 7/12/19

4 latas - NETFLIX FILM - 7/12/19

Blown Away - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/12/19

Bonus Family: Season 3 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/12/19

Extreme Engagement - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/12/19

Kidnapping Stella - NETFLIX FILM - 7/12/19

Luis Miguel - The Series: Season 1 - 7/12/19

Point Blank - NETFLIX FILM - 7/12/19

Smart People - 7/12/19

Taco Chronicles - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/12/19

True Tunes: Songs - NETFLIX FAMILY - 7/12/19

Sorry Angel - 7/13/19

Week of July 14

The Break-Up - 7/16/19

Disney's The Princess and the Frog - 7/16/19

Frankenstein’s Monster’s Monster, Frankenstein - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/16/19

Wynonna Earp: Season 3 - 7/16/19

Pinky Malinky: Part 3 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 7/17/19

Secret Obsession - NETFLIX FILM - 7/18/19

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: New 2019: Freshly Brewed - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/19/19

The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants: Season 3 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 7/19/19

La casa de papel: Part 3 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/19/19

Last Chance U: INDY: Part 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/19/19

Queer Eye: Season 4 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/19/19

SAINT SEIYA: Knights of the Zodiac - NETFLIX ANIME - 7/19/19

Typewriter - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 7/19/19

Week of July 21

Inglourious Basterds - 7/22/19

The Great Hack - NETFLIX ORIGINAL – 7/24/19

Another Life - NETFLIX ORIGINAL – 7/25/19

Workin' Moms: Season 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL – 7/25/19

Boi - NETFLIX FILM – 7/26/19

The Exception – 7/26/19

Girls With Balls - NETFLIX FILM – 7/26/19

My First First Love: Season 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL – 7/26/19

Orange Is the New Black: Season 7 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL – 7/26/19

The Son - NETFLIX FILM – 7/26/19

Sugar Rush: Season 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL – 7/26/19

The Worst Witch: Season 3 - NETFLIX FAMILY – 7/26/19

Week of July 28

The Croods – 7/29/19

Whitney Cummings: Can I Touch It? - NETFLIX ORIGINAL – 7/30/19

Kengan Ashura: Part l - NETFLIX ANIME – 7/31/19

The Letdown: Season 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL – 7/31/19

The Red Sea Diving Resort - NETFLIX FILM – 7/31/19

Wentworth: Season 7 – 7/31/19

If you're looking for some good movie based entertainment on Netflix, you'll be pleased to know there's plenty to pull from in the coming month. The classic golf comedy Caddyshack is one such option, as Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and Rodney Dangerfield lead a rambunctious cast in this time-tested laugh riot depicting life on, and off of, a snooty golf course. Should monsters be more your speed, Cloverfield is headed back to Netflix, making a marathon of the entire series that much easier to accomplish.

However, action fans will have something to sink their teeth into on the Netflix Original side of things, as Netflix's American remake of Point Blank sees Marvel Cinematic Universe vets Anthony Mackie and Frank Grillo teaming up to fight their way through a twisted mystery that'll pit them against everything this particular case has to throw at them. Based on the French action thriller of the same name, it promises to be a bone-crunching, bullet-blazing good time; so perhaps you'll want to have some friends over to enjoy the fun in a group.

If you've been waiting for Stranger Things 3 to rear its head on your Netflix streaming queue, you won't have to wait much longer as July's TV offerings bring that to the forefront toward the beginning of the month. With the Starcourt Mall opening in Hawkins, Indiana, and the summer of 1985 heating up, there seems to be trouble on the horizon yet again. This time, not everyone in the core gang of Hawkins residents is guaranteed to make it out alive. On a similarly anticipated, though more somber note, Orange Is The New Black will be debuting its final season next month, with Season 7 marking the last chapter in the story Piper Chapman and her former fellow inmates of Litchfield Correctional.

Lightening the mood is the debut of two of Netflix's breezier programs, starting with Season 4 of Queer Eye, which will undoubtedly see the Fab Five turning new leaves and new looks for those in desperate need of some massive makeovers. If you're one of those folks who believes that Netflix is a joke, then you'll love the fact that Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee has a new season headed your way. During this round, Jerry Seinfeld talks with notables such as Sebastian Maniscalco, Seth Rogen, and Eddie Murphy.

Now keep in mind, all of these incoming Netflix titles are subject to change. So if you see something disappear from the lineup, or debut a little later than intended, there was probably a slight tweak. In any case, if there are updates to this lineup, you can usually find that information noted here after the fact. So stream wisely! Other than that, enjoy your July's worth of Netflix content, and we'll see you back here in a month to see what August brings our way.

Although the summer months are geared toward plenty of outdoor activities, kids are also home from school and have plenty of free time. Which means there’s plenty of time for kids to plant themselves in front of a screen. Sure, there’s always YouTube and Netflix, but for the latest releases, look no further than this June list of titles.

This summer, we’ll see some big hits like Captain Marvel and Us finally being available in homes (the former will also be housed on Disney+). But don’t take it from me, check out the full list of the titles coming to DVD, Digital and Blu-ray below.

Early Digital releases are mentioned in the early Digital column; same day Digital releases come out when the DVD and Blu-rays do. As for DVD release, if you’re looking for May titles head here. In addition,

New DVD Releases June 4, 2019

Available currently for pre-order, this week will feature some indie hits, as well as Tyler Perry finally saying goodbye to Madea, a character that helped him to become a household name.

A Madea Family Funeral

Lost in Space: Season 1

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Season One 

The Haunting of Sharon Tate

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

Gloria Bell

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

J.T. Leroy

The Kid

Woman at War

Delicious: Series 3

London Kills: Series 1

Batman (1989) - 4K Ultra HD

Batman Returns (1992) - 4K Ultra HD

Batman Forever (1995) - 4K Ultra HD

Batman & Robin (1997) - 4K Ultra HD

Early Digital Releases Week of June 4, 2019

Us

Wonder Park

New DVD Releases June 11, 2019

A big new Marvel release is usually something to celebrate, and this week will be no exception, as Marvel’s first titular female superheroine will be getting her own DVD release with Captain Marvel! In addition, there are quite a few fun TV releases out this week.

The Good Doctor: The Complete Second Season (June 10)

Captain Marvel (Digital out May 28)

Captive State

Orange Is The New Black: Season Six

Five Feet Apart

Ghostbusters I & II 35th Anniversary Limited Edition Steelbook

I Am The Night

The Blacklist: The Complete Sixth Season (June 13)

Norm of the North: King Sized Adventure

Magnum P.I.: Season One