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Sexy, Side-Splitting New Comedy Special On Netflix Jokes About Love, Religion, And AI

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Sexy, Side-Splitting New Comedy Special On Netflix Jokes About Love, Religion, And AI

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Netflix has many faults as a streamer, including those constantly increasing subscription prices and the growing library of slop they call original movies. However, one of the streaming platform’s greatest strengths is the sheer amount of stand-up comedy available on the platform. There are comedians for every kind of humor, and Netflix deserves credit for giving many of these artists a bigger stage than they might have otherwise achieved on their own.

One such comedian is Taylor Tomlinson, who already had three absolutely hilarious specials on Netflix. Recently, she debuted her latest special, Taylor Tomlinson: Prodigal Daughter. Directed by the titular funnywoman, this special is a deeply personal exploration of sex, religion, and even AI. The result is the rarest kind of stand-up comedy, one with both laugh-until-you-cry vulgar jokes and poignant reflections that might just change your life.

Sunday Sermon Is Now In Session

In case you skipped Sunday school, Prodigal Daughter is a play on the biblical tale of the prodigal son who runs away, squanders his inheritance, and then gets welcomed back with open arms by his father. In the context of the Bible, this is a parable about how forgiveness is the highest form of love. Of course, Taylor Tomlinson turns this into a gag about being the eldest kid and getting outraged at how much your parents let your younger siblings get away with while expecting you to be absolutely perfect.

That’s a sample of how Tomlinson deftly walks a very tight rope with Prodigal Daughter. Given the name and the fact that she filmed this special in a church, you might think that the show was going to be constantly dunking on Christians for their beliefs. Instead, religion serves as a playful springboard to examine the various quirks and neuroses that make us all human, which unite us just as much as any set of shared beliefs.

From Faith To Fetishes

One of my favorite examples of this is when she discusses how she’s never had the certainty that Christians possess when they say they “just know” that God is real. According to Tomlinson, the only time she had “just known something” was when she had diarrhea. But, as she jokes (in a moment that is all too familiar to all of us), that is an incident that always causes her to pray.

Fittingly enough for a comedy special named after a biblical parable, Prodigal Daughter has a kind of confessional quality to it: Taylor Tomlinson gets quite personal about the ways she sabotages relationships (like asking her boyfriend if he’d want to break up if they found out they were cousins) and her real fear of AI (namely, that she’d be one of the weird odd who falls in love with it. These are the hilarious sins which she confesses to an audience who can only absolve her through their laughter. 

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Father, Forgive Me, For I Have Joked

However, the confessional nature of her comedy is secretly an invitation for the audience to extend the same grace and forgiveness to themselves for their own neurotic foibles. That radical forgiveness of ourselves by ourselves is that much easier because Tomlinson’s hilarious gags remind us that we are not alone (and never have been), even in our deepest, most isolating weirdness.

As with her previous specials, Taylor Tomlinson is arguably at her unhinged and hilarious best when joking about sex. There’s a delightfully deranged bit about getting jealous of her robot boyfriend and the dishwasher (“is her rack bigger than mine?”) that I think about at least once a day (especially the raunchy bubbles bit). She also has a gag about what women look at during certain sexual positions that, I dare say, might change how you make love (or at least which videos you leave running on YouTube!).

Can I Get An Amen?

Honestly, it’s tough for me to avoid fanboying too hard over Taylor Tomlinson. I have been a huge fan since her first Netflix special, loved her as the host of After Midnight, and even took the missus to see her last comedy tour. Her Save Me tour directly inspired Prodigal Daughter, so my only real worries going into this special were that the jokes would be familiar or that it would not match the hilarious intensity of the previous special.

Fortunately, my fears were all for naught: from beginning to end, Prodigal Daughter is filled with the same self-effacing, trauma-powered, sexually transgressive humor that made me fall in love with her comedy in the first place. Obviously, if you don’t like jokes about sex, death, and religion (arguably the three pillars of modern society), you should sit this one out. Otherwise, you should definitely watch Prodigal Daughter on Netflix. While you’re there, check out her other specials if you want to entertain a few friends or just treat yourself to a comedy that does what Dave Chappelle stopped making us do long ago: actually laugh!


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Here’s The First Look At The ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 Cast

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Rihanna Seemingly Addresses Baby Rumors, Talks "Little Pouch"

We got a texttt, Roomies! The weather is heating up, the baddies are outside, and new cast bombshells will soon be entering the villa.

From dramatic recouplings to sweet love stories, many ‘Love Island USA’ fans can’t wait to see who will be gracing our screens this year. Well, the wait won’t be long, because we’ve got the FIRST LOOK at the official cast.

And from the looks of it, that ‘Baddies’ x ‘Love Island’ crossover might be coming sooner than we expected.

RELATED: Huda Mustafa And Louis Russell Speak Out After His Ex-GF Is Granted Restraining Order Against Reality Star (PHOTOS)


Love Island USA’ Officially Renewed For Season 8

Earlier this month, Variety revealed that Peacock renewed ‘Love Island USA’ for Season 8. The show is set to premiere June 2nd with Ariana Madix returning as host.

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The renewal comes after ‘Love Island USA’ continues to dominate the charts.The show skyrocketed during Season 6, with many viral moments taking over our timelines. It went on to become the most-watched reality series of summer 2024.

Season 7 also pulled major numbers, with a few controversial moments from the cast and even more viral clips, racking up over 18.4 billion minutes streamed on Peacock and holding the No. 1 streaming original spot in the U.S. for six consecutive week

Many Of Your Faves Enter New Eras As ‘Baddies USA’ Officially Wraps Up        

‘Baddies USA’ Chapter One recently wrapped on Sunday, many of the outros had us shedding a few tears as the baddies reflected on everything they went through this season. From music to motherhood, it’s clear a new era is underway.

Ahna Mac, who got a bit emotional, revealed this will be her final season of ‘Baddies.’ As y’all know, Ahna recently celebrated her engagement with baseball player Jazz Chisholm Jr.  Ahna has been very open about growth and ready for wifey life. 

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She penned a  writing, “Don’t be sad guys, just come watch me on YouTube. I don’t know why everyone is so sad, y’all getting a better version of me! Now I have more time to build my farm and make my day-in-life videos, and I have so much more coming. The journey does not stop here. It only gets better, I PROMISE.”

Scotlyn “Scotty” Ryan is also enjoying her new era as she counts down the weeks until she welcomes her baby with Zeus CEO Lemuel Plummer. The couple recently cleared up misconceptions, revealing that they are not in an open relationship. They shared that they are very much in love and are even talking about having another baby in the future, teasing the idea of a “Lil Baby Lemmy.”

 

Baddies X Love Island? Here’s What’s In Store For The Season 8 Cast

 

As new chapters begin and relationships continue to grow, one thing is clear love is in the air, and it looks like we might be seeing another baddie step into a new journey real soon.

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A source tells us that if you loved Season 6 and Season 7, this season is set to be even more intense, with a mix of drama and kick-your-feet moments as a new group of strangers searches for love. That means hotter bombshells, more romantic dates, crazier challenges, and even more unexpected twists.

Before we reveal the full cast, we’ll give y’all a few hints about the “baddie” who will be entering the villa. Hint: She’s talented and can spit a few bars, always serves in every confessional look, and never backs down from getting her get-back.

Scroll down to see who…

The baddie who will be entering the villa is the baddest of them all, Ms. April Fools. It’s safe to say June definitely has some expected surprises in store.

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If you made it this far, thank you for always being a tuned-in Roomie and staying caught up. Happy April 1st!

 

RELATED: Crossover OTW? Natalie Nunn & Biggie React After ‘Love Island’ Star Nic Shows Love To His Favorite ‘Baddies’ Cast Member

 

What Do You Think Roomies?

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Netflix Officially Launches First ‘Stranger Things’ Spin-Off This Month

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The-Walking-Dead-Glenn

Netflix has grown quite a sci-fi division over the last 10 years, but no shows have exploded to the same level as Stranger Things. The series arrived 10 years ago, starting as nothing more than a simple supernatural kidnapping thriller, but by the time its final season arrived last year, the show had evolved into something much more complex. Like any show with a big audience, the ending of Stranger Things was quite controversial among fans, but most would agree it avoided the same disaster-level conclusion as Game of Thrones. Many fans were surprised to see such little death from the finale, though. Season 5 may have come and gone, but there are still plenty of stories from Hawkins left to tell.

The Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross, have already confirmed that another Stranger Things series is in the works, but it will focus on the mysterious rock that a young Henry Creel found inside the suitcase while he was exploring the cave. It’s unconnected to the original show. It’s still up in the air as to when this new offshoot will arrive, but fans don’t have to wait that long to return to Hawkins. Netflix has already announced a new animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, which will officially be released later this month, on April 23. The animated series is set between the events of Seasons 2 and 3, and Netflix has also released an official synopsis, which reads as follows:

“Return to Hawkins with Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, an exciting new animated series from showrunner Eric Robles and executive producers the Duffer Brothers. In the winter of 1985, snow blankets the town and the horrors of the Upside Down are finally fading. Our heroes Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max have settled back into a normal life of D&D, snowball fights, and quiet days. But beneath the ice, something terrifying has awakened. Could it be from the Upside Down? From the depths of Hawkins Lab? Or from somewhere else entirely? Our heroes must race to solve this mystery and save Hawkins in this new story set in the Stranger Things universe.”

The-Walking-Dead-Glenn


Reach into the Television Grab Bag and Pull Out a Prize — The Collider TV Quiz!

Let’s test your breadth of knowledge, not depth, with this sampling of your favorite shows. True fans will take no issue with these questions.

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Are Any ‘Stranger Things’ Cast Members Coming Back for ‘Tales From ’85′?

Unfortunately, none of the core Stranger Things cast from live-action will be reprising their roles in the animated series. The ensemble cast for Tales From ‘85 consists of Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Ben Plessala as Will, Brett Gipson as Hopper, Odessa A’zion as Nikki Baxer, Jeremy Jordan as Steve, Janeane Garofalo as Anna Baxter and Lou Diamond Phillips as Daniel Fischer. Additional voice cast includes Robert Englund as Cosmo, Alysia Reiner as Karen Wheeler, Alessandra Antonelli as Nancy Wheeler, Valeria Rodriguez as Rosario, and Jack Griffo as Jeff.

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Check out all five seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the first spin-off, Tales From ‘85.


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Release Date
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April 23, 2026

Network

Netflix

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Showrunner

Eric Robles

Directors
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Phil Allora

Writers

Jennifer Muro

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  • Headshot Of Odessa A'zion

    Odessa A’zion

    Nikki Baxter

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    Brooklyn Davey Norstedt

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    Eleven

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    Jolie Hoang-Rappaport

    Max

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Ari Fletcher Shows Off NEW LOOK After Big Chop! (Pics + Vids)

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Come Thru, Then! Ari Fletcher Shows Off Her NEW LOOK After Doing The Big Chop! (PHOTOS + VIDEOS)

Ari Fletcher is showing off her new look after doing the big chop on her hair!

RELATED: Awww! Yosohn Has Internet Users Tearing Up After Explaining Why He Doesn’t Want Ari Fletcher To Have Another Baby (WATCH)

Ari Fletcher Shows Off New Look After Doing The Big Chop

On Tuesday, March 31, Ari Fletcher took to her Instagram Story to share a photo of some of her hair bundled in her fist. Furthermore, Fletcher captioned the photo with, “I never understood why people cut it all off, but now I see. Free [red heart emoji]” Apparently, moments earlier, on Snapchat, Fletcher had shared her plans and the look she was ultimately going for.

A few hours later, Fletcher returned to Instagram with photos of her new look!

“Ain’t no feeling like being free ♥️,” she captioned her carousel post.

Afterward, Fletcher even shared the footage of her big chop.

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Social Media Reacts To Her New Look

Social media users stepped into TSR’s comment section with reactions to Ari Fletcher’s new look and big chop.

Instagram user @kayla_micah wrote, I feel like there is an age you reach where it really does just become hair. Definitely a sign of growth!”

While Instagram user @_beautifullybloomed_ added, It’s so pretty , my man gone leave me if i do this though !”

Instagram user @ketraye_ajure wrote,Hair was thin so I’m happy she made this choice”

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While Instagram user @tooskie_b added, Am I the only one that doesn’t like it? 🥴 I’m glad she’s starting new though! We all need that sometimes! Love that for her 🫶🏽”

Instagram user @champaignetaylor___ wrote, Grown woman fine 😍😍😍 it’s just hair it’ll grow back”

While Instagram user @prettipantease added, It looks good. She needed that big chop !”

Instagram user @_aikan__ wrote, It’s cute but she will have a weave next week 😂😂😂”

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While Instagram user @k.ashuri added, No hate but it was definitely time..she was having way too many different hands in her hair 😍”

Instagram user @prettyshadesofmelanin wrote, Love this go ahead in free yourself fantasia voice 😍🙌🏾”

While Instagram user @kyeaxo added, It’s so powering to cut all your hair off. You’ll never understand until you do it.”

Instagram user @sheeza_goddess wrote,The short hair’d girlies are popping OUT😍🔥”

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While Instagram user @iamkaylatene added, it needed to go boo, that shit was fried and thin. and idk how that happened bc i remember her hair used to be so long and thick”

Before Ari Fletcher Showed Off New Look After Doing The Big Chop, She Spoke On Her “Internal Bra”

Before Ari Fletcher showed off her new look after doing the big chop, she stunned social media users by speaking on her “internal bra.” As The Shade Room previously reported, last month, Ari Fletcher was doing a livestream with Jordyn Lucas when she opened up about her procedures and the “surgery that hurt the most.” Ultimately, Fletcher explained that she had a “bra procedure,” which was “excruciating,” adding that a “metal bra” was “drilled” into her chest.

RELATED: Ari Fletcher Shocks Livestream Viewers After Saying Her “Internal Bra” Surgery Was Her “Most Painful” Procedure (VIDEO)

What Do You Think Roomies?

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Roseanne Barr Says Doctor Told Her She Has a Damaged Heart

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Roseanne Barr is opening up about some alarming news she recently received from her doctor.

“This doctor says I have to go get my heart checked out because it’s damaged,” the former sitcom star said on the Thursday, March 26, episode of her “Roseanne Barr Podcast.”

She continued, “So, now I’m so pissed because I’m like, ‘I need a new doctor.’ He’s always sending me to other doctors to check me out, and I’m like, ‘Why do I have to go find something wrong when nothing’s wrong?’ And then get in shape so I can have surgery and die on the surgery table. I mean, well, it doesn’t make any sense.”

Barr, 73, said that she doesn’t want to undergo surgery and would rather live out her final days in hospice care.

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Related: Roseanne Barr’s Most Controversial Moments

Roseanne Barr is no stranger to controversy. Long before ABC chose to cancel the reboot of Roseanne in 2018, the actress made headlines for a variety of reasons including a controversial National Anthem performance and a run for president. Years after Barr’s Roseanne character was killed off The Conners, Us Weekly learned exclusive details about […]

“I would rather not get ready for any sort of surgery ever again in my life and just get a heart attack or a stroke and just be put into a home,” she said. “That is the life. Living in the hospice. … That’s all I want. They know you’re dying and they give you morphine.”

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In June 2025, Barr opened up about moving to Texas, where she experienced a tractor injury while mowing her property.

“I’m doing a lot of mowing. I’ve got a really fantastic tractor out here and I’m mowing. The only problem is I don’t clear the trees quite as good as I should and I’m always hitting a tree and knocking it over, and it always hits me in the head,” she told Fox News Digital.

“So, I’ve had several injuries recently. I had this one tree … I knocked it and a great big old branch fell right on my head and trapped me in my tractor,” she continued. “So, I knew I had to get out of there, and it weighed about a hundred pounds.”

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A Guide to Roseanne Barr Family


Related: Roseanne Barr’s Family Guide: 5 Kids, 3 Ex-Husbands and More

Roseanne Barr didn’t just play a mom on TV, the actress has expanded her own family off screen over the years. Barr started off doing stand-up comedy before becoming a household name for her lead role on Roseanne, which ran from 1988 to 1997. The series was briefly revived in 2018 but came to an […]

Barr became a household name following the success of ABC sitcom Roseanne, which originally aired from 1988 to 1997.

In 2018, ABC canceled a revival of Roseanne following the star’s racist tweet about former Obama White House advisor Valerie Jarrett. The show was retooled around her fellow cast members, including John Goodman and Laurie Metcalf, as The Conners, which aired seven seasons from 2018 to 2025.

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Barr told Fox News Digital in June 2025 that she is no longer in touch with her former costars.

“No, I’m not friends with none of them,” she said. “They’re all in the past. I have pleasant memories of what fun we had — wish them all the best. And no, we don’t talk. I’ve moved on from that horrendous ending and chapter of my life, but you know, I don’t hold any bitterness or nothing to them, but my God, what fun we had on that show.

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“And I was sorry they f***ed it all up with their greed and ridiculous stupidity to f*** all that up. F*** them, but I wish them well,” she said at the time.

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“Survivor 50” cast members play a diabolical game of 'Would You Rather'

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Money or glory?

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Conservative influencer alleges “The View” denied her request to appear on show, defend herself after cohosts slammed her

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Isabel Brown said the alleged interaction “tells you everything you need to know about their motives.”

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The Hugh Jackman Pulse-Pounding Thriller That Will Leave You Breathless

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The Hugh Jackman Pulse-Pounding Thriller That Will Leave You Breathless

By Charlene Badasie
| Published

The 2013 thriller film Prisoners is directed by Denis Villeneuve from a script written by Aaron Guzikowski. It features an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, Maria Bello, Paul Dano, and Melissa Leo. The story revolves around the Dover and Birch families, whose two young daughters go missing.

A Violent And Desperate Crime Thriller

Prisoners opens on Thanksgiving Day in a small suburban town, where the Dovers and Birches gather for a meal. Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) and Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard) are close friends, and their families spend the day together. During the festivities, the two youngest daughters, Anna Dover and Joy Birch, go missing while playing outside. Panic sets in, and the families contact the police.

Hugh Jackman and Paul Dano in Prisoners

Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) is assigned to the case and starts by investigating the girls’ last known activities, questioning neighbors and potential witnesses. A suspicious RV is identified, and its driver, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), is brought in for questioning. However, due to his limited mental capacities, Loki is unable to extract meaningful information from him.

As days become weeks and the investigation stalls, Keller Dover becomes increasingly desperate and frustrated by the lack of progress. He becomes convinced that Alex Jones knows more than he’s letting on. In a moment of desperation, Keller abducts Alex and holds him captive in an abandoned building. He believes that by using force, he can extract information about the girls’ whereabouts in Prisoners.

Detective Loki discovers a maze pendant worn by one of the missing girls, which leads him to a suspect with a history of child abductions. However, he cannot directly link this suspect to the current case. Meanwhile, Franklin Birch struggles with Keller’s extreme actions, torn between his friendship and his sense of morality.

Nancy Birch (Viola Davis) also grapples with losing her daughter and the increasing tension within their group of friends. As Keller continues to interrogate Alex, he becomes increasingly violent and desperate. At the same time, Loki starts to uncover a web of secrets, including a history of abuse in the Jones family and connections to other child disappearances, bringing Prisoners to a shocking conclusion.

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A Maze Worth Getting Lost In

Prisoners debuted at the Telluride Film Festival and was released in theaters in September 2013. The Hugh Jackman film received critical acclaim for its tense atmosphere, strong performances, and thought-provoking themes. It currently holds an 81 percent critics score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes alongside an 87 percent audience score.

Prisoners also performed well at the global box office, earning over $122 million against a comparatively modest budget of $46 million. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal engaged in extensive research for the movie. Gyllenhaal spent time with detectives to prepare for his role, while Jackman explored the psychology of a desperate father.

Hugh Jackman in Prisoners

The maze motif seen in promotional material and on the Prisoners movie poster is a visual metaphor for the characters’ journey through moral complexities. The project also marked the first time that Denis Villeneuve collaborated with cinematographer Roger Deakins, leading to a strong creative partnership that continued in subsequent films.

Notable Entries After Prisoners

Since Prisoners, Hugh Jackman has appeared in several movies across various genres. He reprised his role as Wolverine in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine. He also starred in the 2015 sci-fi drama Chappie as Vincent Moore, an ex-military officer. The film revolves around a police robot imbued with artificial intelligence, which leads to ethical and philosophical dilemmas.

In a shift from Prisoner‘s thriller genre, Hugh Jackman took on the role of Blackbeard in the 2015 fantasy adventure film Pan. The movie serves as a prequel to the Peter Pan story and explores the origins of Peter and his rivalry with Blackbeard. Jackman also starred in the 2016 sports drama Eddie the Eagle as Bronson Peary, who serves as a coach and mentor to the aspiring British ski jumper.

Some of his other notable film credits include The Greatest Showman in 2017, Bad Education in 2019, Reminiscence in 2021, and The Son in 2022. Hugh Jackman’s post-Prisoners filmography demonstrates his versatility as an actor, with roles spanning various genres, from science fiction and superhero films to dramas, comedies, and musicals.

This diverse range of projects showcases his ability to tackle different types of characters and storytelling styles. But fans can still catch him in Prisoners, which is available on demand through YouTube, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

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Every Steely Dan Album Released in the 70s, Ranked

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Every Steely Dan Album Released in the 70s, Ranked

Steely Dan carved out a unique place in music history, fueled by studio perfectionism, potent and ironic lyrics and a jazz-rock sensibility that scored mainstream success while creating a cult following. The duo of Donald Fagen on keyboards and vocals and the late Walter Becker on guitar, bass and vocals teamed up with a bevy of renowned studio musicians to create a lasting musical legacy that continues to find an audience years later.

The band took its name from a novelty toy mentioned in William S. Burroughs‘ 1959 novel Naked Lunch, if you know, you know. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2001 and have sold over 40 million albums globally. It’s quite a daunting task to rank such a prolific set of albums that define a genre with classic songs: “Do It Again,” “Reelin’ in the Years,” “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” “Deacon Blues,” “Black Cow,” “My Old School.” “Peg,” and that’s just scratching the surface. Focusing on the 70s, here are Steely Dan’s studio albums ranked by songwriting, musicianship, and overall production.

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6

‘Pretzel Logic’ (1974)

Steely Dan’s third album, Pretzel Logic, begins a shift in how the band approached recording in the studio. It was also the last album the group went on tour to support until the 2000s. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker both decided to focus on creating music in the studio and quit performing live. Jeff Porcaro, who went on to form Toto, played drums on all songs except “Night by Night,” which features Jim Gordon, best known for his work with Derek and the Dominos. Studio legends Chuck Rainey and Wilton Felder were brought in to play bass and The Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit adds backing vocals to three songs, including “Barrytown” and the catchy blues shuffle “Pretzel Logic.”

“Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the group’s most successful single. “Any Major Dude Will Tell You” is another classic peeled off the album, inspired by spending so much time recording in California. A cover of Duke Ellington’s “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo,” which gave the band some jazz cred, and the potent country music-inspired “With a Gun” both showcase the diversity of Pretzel Logic. It’s also the last album to feature the original members Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, who would later join The Doobie Brothers, and drummer/vocalist Jim Hodder.

5

‘Katy Lied’ (1975)

A new era of creativity and studio musicianship is evident on 1975’s Katy Lied. The album is an amalgamation of featured artists including a slew of guitarists, including Rick Derringer, Dean Parks, Elliott Randall and the first of many historic collaborations with jazz legend Larry Carlton, who adds signature licks on “Daddy Don’t Live in that New York City No More.” Outside of playing some bass and rhythm guitar, Walter Becker also contributed the guitar solos on “Black Friday” and “Bad Sneakers.” Rick Derringer laid down the memorable and fiery solo on “Chain Lightning.”

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Jeff Porcaro handled all the drums minus “Any World (That I’m Welcome To),” played by studio guru Hal Blaine. Chuck Rainey and Wilton Felder were brought back into the fold to play bass on tracks along with Becker. Legendary vocalist Michael McDonald sings backing vocals on the album, clearly heard in “Bad Sneakers” and “Any World (That I’m Welcome To).” Donald Fagen and Walter Becker continued growth as lyricists shine in “Black Friday,” “Bad Sneakers,” and “Everyone’s Gone To The Movies,” an upbeat island-vibe song about pornography. The album has a clean sound that would only improve as the band continued to spend ample time in the recording studio. “Black Friday” still jumps out of the speakers.

4

‘Countdown to Ecstasy’ (1973)

Countdown to Ecstasy is Steely Dan’s second album, which spawned the quintessential tracks “Bodhisattva” and “My Old School,” for which guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter approached the solo like a saxophonist trying to make his guitar honk. The members of the band were the same from the debut, but Becker and Fagen began to bring in a few outside musicians to enhance the record, including guitarist Rick Derringer for the slide work in “Show Biz Kids.” Like the debut, Walter Becker played bass and added backing vocals and Jim Hodder played drums on every track.

At the time, Countdown to Ecstasy wasn’t as successful as their debut, but in time has earned appreciation with some fan-favorite deep cuts, including “The Boston Rag.” The tune shows off the group’s irreverent and playful lyric writing with the classic opening line: “Any news was good news / And the feeling was bad at home / I was out of my mind, and you were on the phone.” “My Old School” was inspired by a drug bust at Bard College, when Becker and Fagen were students: “It was still September when your daddy was quite surprised / To find you with the working girls in the county jail.” Countdown to Ecstasy feels and sounds like a band getting into a grove that would be short-lived by studio experimentation.

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3

‘Can’t Buy a Thrill’ (1972)

Steely Dan’s debut album is an eclectic mix of rock, pop and jazz. The effort features three different lead vocalists: Donald Fagen, David Palmer and Jim Hodder, who also played drums on every track. Palmer lends his vocals on “Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)” and the hit “Dirty Work.” Fagen leads the way on hits “Do It Again,” and “Reelin’ in the Years,” while Hodder sings lead on “Midnite Cruiser.” The album features the twin guitar attack of Denny Dias and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter. Denny Dias used a rented Danelectro electic sitar for the memorable guitar solo on the Latin-tinged track “Do It Again,” while Baxter plays the classic lead on “Reelin’ in the Years.” Guitarist Denny Dias on his approach to playing in Steely Dan:

“I play jazz guitar in a rock-and-roll band and that’s all I’ve ever done.”

Can’t Buy a Thrill showed that Becker and Fagen were a potent songwriting force on the verge of taking the decade by storm. It marked the beginning of a glorious relationship the band had with Gary Katz, who produced every Steely Dan album through the 1980 release Gaucho. The album made an immediate splash, selling over 500-thousand copies in its first year and achieving platinum status in 1993, selling over one million copies.

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2

‘The Royal Scam’ (1976)

The Royal Scam is a tour de force that captures Becker and Fagen hitting their stride as songwriters and entering a creative peak. The album’s lead track, “Kid Charlemagne,” was inspired by the rise and fall of notorious San Francisco LSD chemist Owsley Stanley: “Clean this mess up else we’ll all end up in jail / Those test tubes and the scale / Just get it all out of here / Is there gas in the car? / Yes, there’s gas in the car? / I think the people down the hall know who you are.” Larry Carlton plays the incredible guitar solo on the track widely considered to be among the best solos of all time. The jazz legend also plays on the energetic classic “Don’t Take Me Alive,” and “Everything You Did.”

Bernard Purdie played drums on all but two tracks on the album. The legendary soul and R&B drummer blessed the group with his signature style called the “Purdie Shuffle,” clearly heard on “The Fez,” Haitian Divorce,” and “Kid Charlemagne.” The title track is a six-minute opus that infectiously snakes along, highlighting Chuck Findley on trumpet. The Royal Scam is a brilliant album that showcases the maturing minds of Becker and Fagen and their obsession with studio perfection. It’s a flawless album that leads the duo to Aja.

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‘Aja’ (1977)

Aja is one of the best sounding albums of all time. In fact, it won Best Engineered Recording — Non-Classical at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978. To this day, audio engineers and sound guys love to play this album to test speakers or prepare for soundcheck. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker used about 40 different musicians (including five different drummers on just seven songs) and many hours logged in the studio to get the sound and performances they wanted for their sixth studio album. The combination of more sophisticated songs and arrangements along with virtuoso performances and a nerdy level of high production standards was a perfect storm.

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Fagen and Becker have many great quotable lyrics culled from every song on the album. The opening lines of “Black Cow:” “In the corner of my eye / I saw you at Rudy’s / You were very high / You were high.” The clever line in the chorus of “Josie,” “She’s a raw flame / A live wire / She prays like a Roman with her eyes on fire.” At just over eight minutes, the album’s title track, “Aja,” is the band’s longest song. The airy classic features the historic collaboration of Steve Gaad with his powerfully articulate drums along with jazz legend Wayne Shorter on saxophone. “Peg” and “Josie” are upbeat sonic treasures, “Deacon Blues” is a brilliant seventh-minute atmospheric track with a quotable and catchy chorus, and even the album’s deepest cuts, “I Got The News,” and “Home At Last” are well regarded. Aja is a masterpiece of studio perfection where each song and every moment is beautifully crafted and obsessed over. Studio perfection exemplified.

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Jack Black’s Raunchy, R-Rated Netflix Comedy Is A Midlife Crisis Waiting To Happen

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Jack Black’s Raunchy, R-Rated Netflix Comedy Is A Midlife Crisis Waiting To Happen

By Robert Scucci
| Published

I’ve never been to a high school reunion. The biggest reason is that I don’t live in the same state, and if I’m going to use my time off, I’m going to do something cool with my family or friends. More importantly, and I think we’re all on the same page here, I know what everybody’s been up to over the last 20 years thanks to social media. Class reunions are pointless in this day and age because I can get anybody’s life story, or at least the parts they share publicly, with a few keystrokes. It’s no longer hot goss if it’s not privileged information, so why bother?

Jack Black’s 2015 effort, The D Train, on the other hand, treats the 20-year high school reunion with the same amount of reverence as Romy and Michele did in the 90s. That movie made sense because the internet wasn’t in every household, and you could totally show up, lie about who you are and what you’ve accomplished, have everybody think you invented Post-Its until you get outed, and then the real humiliation ritual begins. I’d totally show up to that. 

The D Train tries to capture that same energy, but then it veers into increasingly dark territory as Jack Black’s Daniel Gregory spirals into the worst kind of midlife crisis. It’s a funny movie. Everybody does what they’re supposed to do. It’s just that everything would have landed a lot harder if this movie came out in 2005, because that’s where all the humor lives.

It’s Not 2015 Funny, But It Is 2005 Funny

In The D Train, Daniel Gregory is the unofficial chairman of his Pittsburgh high school’s alumni committee. He fancies himself a powerful man in this position, but everybody beneath him knows he’s a joke. He writes long newsletters, often signing off with nicknames he gives himself, like “The D Man,” “D Money,” and, as the title suggests, “The D Train.” Desperate to prove his worth, Daniel is hellbent on making sure his 20-year reunion has the best turnout possible.

While channel surfing one night, he spots former classmate Oliver Lawless (James Marsden) in a Banana Boat commercial, and in his infinite wisdom decides that having a commercial celebrity show up will draw a crowd. Daniel flies out to Los Angeles using company resources after lying to his boss, Bill Shurmur (Jeffrey Tambor), about closing a deal with Oliver. Bill is the kind of boomer boss who “doesn’t do emails,” so he’s incredibly gullible and puts all his trust in Daniel. Certainly this won’t blow back later. Also, it’s 2015, and this whole setup belongs in 2005. It gives off the same vibe as 2013’s The Internship. It’s kind of funny, but it would have been really funny about 10 years earlier.

During his trip to LA, Daniel has a sexual encounter with Oliver, who hooks up with anybody. It’s not that Oliver is actually gay. He’s just promiscuous and takes what he can get, which just so happens to be Daniel, who just so happens to catch feelings.

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Oliver comes back to Pittsburgh with Daniel, and their bromance blossoms as they prepare for the reunion. Oliver doesn’t understand Daniel’s infatuation with him. Oliver is the kind of guy who peaked in high school, and I don’t mean that as a jab. Oliver knows he peaked in high school. He lives in a crappy apartment, occasionally lands commercial work, but mostly scrapes by while putting on a brave face.

Daniel is the kind of guy who didn’t peak in high school. In fact, he hasn’t peaked yet. This isn’t a jab either. Daniel has a well-paying job, a nice house, a wife (Kathryn Hahn) who loves him, and he does his best with his teenage son Zach (Russell Posner). He just can’t appreciate any of it because he never left his hometown, which to him feels like something he should be ashamed of. That makes Oliver the coolest guy in his eyes, because he got out and tried to do things his own way. Whether Oliver is successful or not is irrelevant. Daniel feels trapped, and now he’s romantically mixed up with the cool kid from school because he thinks it will give his life meaning.

Jack Black Is Reliably Jack Black In The D Train

The D Train is an effective comedy, but it feels like a “too little, too late” kind of movie. Jack Black is clearly having fun riffing on the material, but the material itself, even in 2015, feels like it’s from a different era. The out-of-touch boss stuff would work better in small doses, but the many misdirects about how CCing on emails works, and how the internet works in general are so heavy-handed that it doesn’t seem real. No guy running a successful company with dozens of employees under him is that clueless, even if he is technologically inept.

The whole high school reunion angle doesn’t work for me either. Grosse Pointe Blank and Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion made sense because people actually fell out of touch back then. The D Train feels like it’s trying to tap into that same idea without realizing it missed the bus.

What’s really unfortunate about The D Train is that Jack Black is hilarious. He’s reliably Jack Black, and that’s all he needs to be. He’s also more complex than his usual screwball roles because Daniel is working through some seriously heavy emotions. He feels trapped in his life, unfulfilled in his marriage, experiences a confusing sexual awakening in middle age, and just wants to be somebody people talk about. It’s a sad story that’s made funny through over-the-top, and often clueless, characterization.

What’s even sadder is that these very funny people are trying to do very funny things in a world that no longer exists. It didn’t exist when this movie came out, and anybody under 30 watching it today probably won’t understand why a high school reunion matters this much to some people.

The D Train is streaming on Netflix.

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General Hospital 2-Week Spoilers Mar 30-Apr 10: Carly Crushed as Sidwell Vows Revenge!

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General Hospital Spoilers : Carly Corinthos Spencer (Laura Wright) - Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota)

General Hospital 2-week spoilers for March 30 – April 10, 2026 have Carly Corinthos Spencer (Laura Wright) being devastated and Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) raging.

General Hospital Spoilers Monday, March 30th: Josslyn Tries to Kill Cullum

On Monday, March 30th, we’re going to see picking back up from Friday, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is still in Director Ross Cullum’s (Andrew Hawkes) room in the ICU at General Hospital. She’s looking at all the monitors and looking at his IV. And then like we saw on Friday, and we’ll see it again, Joss is surprised when Cullum’s eyes pop open, but then he’s going to close them again.

So, she’s feeling, “Okay, I can do this.” Joss starts to glove up. She’s ready to kill Cullum. But then Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) walks in and asks why she’s there. So, Josslyn has to create a cover story on the spot and Lucas winds up talking to her about losing Marco Rios (Adrian Anchondo) and he tells Josslyn he’s got to make sure that Marco didn’t die in vain.

GH Spoilers: Charlotte Supports Danny

Plus, Charlotte Cassadine (Bluesy Burke) and Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn) are talking about who shot Agent Cullum. And of course, Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) is obviously in the mix, but it sounds like they doubt he did it and they’re wondering who really did. Well, of course it’s Charlotte’s brother, but he’s not supposed to say anything.

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Carly gets some bad news and it may be more info about Jason’s rendition or, you know, she may be bummed out that Cullum survived. But Carly is looking crushed while she’s talking to Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). And then she snaps and Carly yells at Jack that she deserves a real answer. But of course, he’s not the one who took out the warrant on Jason. That was Cullum.

So, Jack’s going to tell Carly his hands are tied. There’s nothing he can do because Jason apparently shot the director of the WSB, at least as far as he knows. So, Jack really can’t do anything. Carly’s not going to like that. And we’ll see if Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) actually does as Jason says and confirms that she saw him shoot Cullum, which of course she didn’t. But she doesn’t know that it was Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr).

General Hospital Spoilers: Kristina Gets Pushy with Tracy

Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) is curious and she has an unexpected conversation on Monday with Kristina Corinthos Davis (Kate Mansi) who tells Tracy to get off the sidelines and bring her family together. And I wonder what’s got Kristina’s panties in a bunch that she’s pushing against Tracy so hard. It may be about DA Jacinda Bracken (Paige Herschell) and Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) since Kristina is all about her new friend Jacinda.

Plus, Cody Bell (Josh Kelly) has an offer for Molly Lansing Davis (Kristen Vaganos), and she’s into it. Cody is sweeping Molly off her feet next week – literally. That’s very romantic. Meanwhile, Michael is offering his help to Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) about the foster baby.

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Because it looks like Wylie Corinthos’ (Viron Weaver) prostitute comment caused an issue. You know, that’s a kid in the house coming out with something like that. And I wonder if Brook Lynn will chew out Olivia Quartermaine (Lisa LoCicero) for saying that within earshot of Wylie even though she didn’t know he was there.

Plus, Michael tells Chase and Brook Lynn that they both know somebody who has a lot more influence than he does and he could be referring to Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) because he has a way of getting things done. Or he could be referring to Tracy because she knows judges and stuff. However, she doesn’t really think that Brook Lynn and Chase should be fostering the baby. So, would she be open to helping? We’ll see.

Tuesday, March 31st: Jordan Is Shaken on GH

Tuesday, March 31st, we got Brook Lynn ranting to Michael, and it may be about Wylie’s hooker comment in front of the social worker that could cost them the opportunity to foster little Phoebe. Somebody sends Nathan West (Ryan Paevey) a mysterious text.

And I wonder if it’s about the Marco stabby case or about Nathan’s past. Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper) is shaken, and she may worry Marco’s death means she needs to get off her butt about Sidwell. Remember, she took that job to take him down and hasn’t done anything really.

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Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) takes Portia Robinson (Brook Kerr) by surprise. So, Curtis is up at General Hospital talking to Portia and Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) both. Plus, Chase needs a favor from someone, and this is likely about fostering the baby.

General Hospital Spoilers Wednesday, April 1st: Something Dawns on Willow

Then, on Wednesday, April 1st, something dawns on Willow Corinthos (Katelyn MacMullen) that really shocks her. Maybe about Drew Quartermaine (Cameron Mathison), maybe about being under Sidwell’s thumb and how dangerous it is now that Marco was murdered. Willow may worry for her and the kids’ safety.

Somebody gets a warning from Nathan and it may be Rocco or maybe Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havins), something to do with Cullum. Lucas and Britt are figuring things out and I wonder if they’re trying to see how they can move forward and get a hold of her medications since Cullum crushed the vials that Marco got.

Irate Sidwell gives new instructions and it may be to Britt, maybe to Laura Spencer (Genie Francis) or Willow. And I’m wondering if we’re going to see Pascal tormented and upset about Marco’s death since he’s the one who notified Cullum and basically triggered the stabby event.

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Laura’s suspicions grow and I wonder if this is about Sidwell. Plus, Brennan is completely out of patience with Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros). He wants her to find where Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) is or else.

General Hospital Spoilers : Carly Corinthos Spencer (Laura Wright) - Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota)General Hospital Spoilers : Carly Corinthos Spencer (Laura Wright) - Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota)
General Hospital Spoilers: Carly Corinthos Spencer – Jenz Sidwell  

GH Spoilers Thursday, April 2nd: Sonny Gets a Bold Suggestion

Thursday, April 2nd, we’ve got Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) reassuring someone and it could be Sonny about the Marco murder because obviously there’s suspicions that he did it. And Sonny gets a bold suggestion. He brings it to Laura. They have a very tense talk and I’m sure it involves taking out Sidwell while he is upset and distracted.

Something stuns Lucas and I wonder if it’s about Sonny being framed for Marco’s murder when Lucas has to know that this is back to Sidwell and Cullum. Somebody gives Nathan new intel and I wonder if it’s on where to find the murder weapon that took Marco’s life. And Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) has news that surprises Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna), takes him off guard. And I wonder if this is Liz telling him that she is back with Ric. Dante may be a little let down because they were vibing.

General Hospital Spoilers Friday, April 3rd: Sidwell Is Raging

Friday, April 3rd, Sonny does some explaining to Carly and it may be to do with this Marco situation and how Ric is helping him. Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) comes clean on something and again I wonder if this is back to the whole Willow shooting Drew thing or if it is something tied to Marco. Nina wants to make amends and that may be with Charlotte.

She may approach her because she is increasingly desperate to protect Willow. Sidwell is raging. I don’t think he’s going to find out yet that Cullum is behind Marco’s murder, but there may be some evidence pointing to Sonny thanks to Cullum. And Molly goes under the knife. She has surgery on Friday. I’m sure it’s some kind of endometriosis abatement. And Cody is going to be there for her.

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Week Two on GH: April 6th-10th Spoilers

The following week, April 6th through 10th, we’re going to learn more about Cullum’s fate. I don’t think anybody’s going to kill him. Unfortunately, his awful self is likely going to survive. Molly is recovering from her surgery as well. Hopefully, everything went well.

Cody and Molly are going to get closer. I expect I love yous very soon. Sidwell is plotting revenge, no doubt, against Sonny. Cullum is not on Sidwell’s radar yet. And the problem is nobody can really tell him. It’s not like Lucas can go say, you know, Cullum probably did this because Marco stole medication because I asked him to. Can’t do that.

Sonny and Carly are struggling with Jason’s absence. And of course, Britt is absolutely distraught without Jason and without her meds and without any hope. Sonny, Ric, and Laura plot how to go after Sidwell while he’s distracted. Rocco is struggling with the Cullum shooting situation and Jason taking the fall for his crime.

Hopefully Rocco is not going to crack and tell somebody despite Nathan and Lulu warning him to keep his mouth shut. Speaking of them, Nathan and Lulu get closer. She’s really appreciating the sacrifices that Nathan made to protect her son.

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Carly struggles with residual Jack issues and is pulled closer to Valentin. Willow wants to find a way to get Jack off Nina’s back. Michael tries to improve the way he’s treating Jacinda after Tracy warned him. And we’re going to find out if Brook Lynn and Chase are going to get the foster baby.

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