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By Chris Snellgrove
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Recently, Paramount made the surprisingly sudden decision to cancel Starfleet Academy shortly after the end of its first season. Starfleet Academy was designed to attract younger audiences, and it failed to do so. Its characters and storytelling drove away older fans while failing to capture that coveted youth demographic.
With any luck, Paramount will learn from this show’s failure and learn the truth behind the biggest lie in Star Trek. Namely, that the franchise must court younger viewers to survive. That’s never been true. In reality, simply following the blueprint for The Original Series is enough for new shows to attract both younger and older audiences, a formula that has worked for nearly four decades.

The most obvious example that the Original Series formula works is, of course, the success of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The show featured a new crew and new adventures, but at its heart, it was about the starship Enterprise and its mission to explore strange new worlds. We also got some entertaining new characters, but more of them are throwbacks to Kirk’s era than you might think.
The android Data was clearly meant as a stand-in for Spock, and like the legendary Vulcan before him, his attempts to understand what makes humans tick served as a reflection of our own humanity. Riker was (as confirmed by the Season 2 Writer’s Guide) modeled after Captain Kirk. Worf was an ongoing reminder of Kirk’s old nemesis, the Klingons. Dr. Pulaski channeled much of Dr. McCoy’s famous crankiness, and even wunderkind Wesley Crusher was an echo of Chekov, whom Gene Roddenberry created to appeal to younger audiences.
Simply put, Star Trek: The Next Generation very explicitly modeled itself after The Original Series. Its success was so (ahem) out of this world that it launched the franchise’s Golden Age. An era that ended only when Paramount finally began deviating from its winning formula.

It’s not hard to see how Star Trek: Voyager similarly built off the formula of The Original Series. As with TNG, producers once again focused on an intrepid crew constantly making contact with new and exciting alien life. The premise that our titular starship was stranded on the other side of the galaxy helped this show channel TOS even more explicitly by bringing back the vibe of going where (in a quite literal sense) no man had gone before.
There were, of course, parallels with TOS characters: Tuvok is Spock 3.0 (no, I’m not counting Xon, and you can’t make me!), and the grumpy Doctor is Dr. McCoy 3.0 (albeit a holographic one). Harry Kim was, like Wesley and Chekov before him, an attempt to appeal to younger audiences. Interestingly, Voyager shared significant DNA with the highly successful Next Generation: B’Elanna Torres was a new iteration of K’helyr, TNG’s popular half-human, half-Klingon. Seven of Nine was an ongoing reminder of Captain Picard’s assimilation. Finally, Tom Paris was very explicitly based on TNG’s Nick Locarno character, who was also played by Robert Duncan McNeil.

On paper, Deep Space Nine is the anomaly: as a show set on a space station, it is seemingly the antithesis of the Original Series formula. However, the early show still echoed the TOS focus of life on the frontier, and it echoed TNG more than you might think. The entire relationship between Cardassians and Bajorans was set up in TNG. It featured Miles O’Brien from the beginning, and it later added the fan-favorite TNG character, Worf.
Finally, by Season 3, Sisko had his very own starship with which to engage in adventures on either side of the wormhole. The addition of Worf and the Defiant made DS9 more like The Next Generation (itself an iteration of The Original Series) than ever before. Uncoincidentally, these changes also made the show popular enough to earn a dubious honor: it was the last Star Trek show to get seven seasons.

Star Trek: Enterprise was infamously canceled after four seasons. Its first two seasons tried to follow The Original Series formula, though audiences didn’t cotton to changes like Vulcans (save for the hottie in the catsuit) being complete jerks. Season 3 tried to modernize the series’ formula by focusing on an ongoing story clearly inspired by 9/11. Season 4 righted the ship with some stellar episodes, but the damage was done, and the show ended with one of the worst finales in TV history.
The same thing happened to Star Trek: Discovery. While that show’s early days had its detractors, most fans agree that the first two seasons were the best. The show channeled TOS in some provocative ways, including illustrating the brutality of Starfleet’s earlier war with the Klingons and the horrors of the Mirror Universe. Audiences also loved the introduction of a young Captain Pike and Spock so much that they headlined Strange New Worlds, the beloved spinoff that is popular explicitly because it’s modeled so heavily after The Original Series.
Conversely, Star Trek: Picard didn’t get good until its final season, and that’s because it finally became one big cast reunion for The Next Generation. This season reunited our favorite TNG characters and even focused on familiar bad guys like the Borg. Fans loved this season so much that they practically begged Paramount to give us a Star Trek: Legacy spinoff series. Meanwhile, Starfleet Academy deviated from the formula entirely, focusing on different characters (young, vulgar cadets) and a different setting (the titular academy). Nobody begged for more; in fact, the show was canceled after one season due to low viewership.

There you have it, folks. While each new Star Trek series gives the franchise a new coat of paint, it’s clear that the most successful shows are the ones that draw heavily from The Original Series or its successor show, The Next Generation. Some worry that sticking to a 60-year-old blueprint means that things will get repetitive and boring, but that’s the brilliance of Gene Roddenberry’s amazing creation: it allows for endless different stories, technologies, alien races, and so on. Fans just want the characters encountering all of this to be in the vein of Kirk and Picard’s iconic Trek through the stars.
Now, Paramount is on the cusp of reinventing this franchise yet again. Doubtlessly, there will be plenty of internal debates about the direction new shows and movies should take. Sadly, NuTrek, with its astonishing failure rate, is a startlingly expensive example of what not to do. From the most hardcore fans to the most casual viewers, nobody wants another slick sci-fi show that is Star Trek in name only.
By sticking to Roddenberry’s successful blueprint, Paramount can reinstate a new golden age for the franchise. Otherwise, they risk destroying their most vital IP and fully driving away the fans they will so desperately need when the dust finally settles on these endless mergers and acquisitions. If that happens, though, the Star Trek fandom has a handy catchphrase they should go ahead and start practicing: “Kurtzman, when the Trek fell!”
If you’re a Spice Girl, chances are you’ve got some OMG-worthy stories.
Mel B certainly didn’t disappoint when she completed her 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me interview in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.
She dished about the time Nelson Mandela tried to set her up; why she still has trouble singing “Let Love Lead the Way”; and her strangest fan request. (Hint: It involves a surprising tattoo!)
The entertainer is currently a judge on America’s Got Talent, which will return on NBC on June 2nd at 8 pm. ET. “If I had to go on America’s Got Talent, my most random talent would be being able to read your mind!” the singer exclusively told Us.
We believe her!
Below, more shocking and sweet stories from Mel B:
1. My favorite Spice Girl memory is meeting Nelson Mandela and him trying to get me a date with one of his cousins.
2. My strangest fan request has been to sign someone’s boob for them to get it tattooed. I didn’t want to do it, but I gave in!
3. The Spice Girls song that is the hardest for me to do is “Let Love Lead the Way” because it’s all about Geri leaving two years after we made it and it still makes me sad.

4. If I had to go on America’s Got Talent, my most random talent would be being able to read your mind!
5. I am lucky to be married to a great cook, so I rarely cook. But when I do, I make a spicy fish soup that I love.
6. I’d love to have been a Navy SEAL. I’m obsessed. I did the show Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test, and I enjoyed every second.
7. My first kiss was too long ago to remember.
8. If I could be reincarnated, I’d want to come back as an invisible superpower person so I could spy on anyone and see anything. I’m very nosy!
9. I never throw anything away. I have all my Spice Girl outfits, including the lime-green Mister Byrite top I wore on the “Wannabe” video 30 years ago.
10. Apart from my music, I hope my legacy is my book Brutally Honest and the work I’ve done with and for other survivors.
11. I’m definitely a night owl. I love to potter around when everyone else is in bed.
12. I love playing the card game “Pairs” with my kids. Phoenix and Angel will tolerate a few games, but Madison is supercompetitive like me, so she loves it.
13. My favorite comfort meal is roast chicken, Yorkshire pudding, gravy, sprouts, roast potatoes and the full works.
14. The most famous person in my phone book? Maybe all the girls: Emma, Mel C, Geri and Vic Beckham!
15. I think all domestic abuse charities do incredible work, which is why I’m an advocate for them speaking in Parliament and in places like the World Economic Forum.
16. At school, I was called Pineapple Head because I used to wear my hair up on top of my head — and then obviously I became Scary!
17. I keep my awards all over my house. I love being surrounded by them!
18. Before performing, I meditate. Always.
19. My most embarrassing moment was when I turned on the Christmas lights in Leeds and I ran out on stage, skidded and fell off. But I did get up laughing.
20. Anything by Fleetwood Mac brings back the best memories because my dad, who died in 2017, used to listen to them.
21. I love, love, love Yellowstone. Beth Dutton is my hero. In my dreams, I’m like her!
22. I don’t ever order fast food. I don’t like to eat anything processed.
23. My first job was at Pizza Hut. I was fired every week for messing up orders and then rehired every week because the customers liked me.
24. I live on a farm, so I decompress by feeding my animals.
25. Three items I can’t leave the house without are my little comfort dog, Cookie, my giant water bottle and my Revive Menopause collagen, which I swear by.
Season 15 of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” concluded recently on Bravo. Now, following the three-part reunion, there have been multiple reports about the show’s future. Among the most prevalent claims was that Dorit Kemsley was being pushed out. Now, the “RHOBH” star is opening up about whether or not she wants to return.

Kemsley interviewed with E! News in May 2026 to promote her upcoming memoir, “Unburdened.” During the chat, she was asked about her future with “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and if she would return if the network extended an offer for season 16. They also asked if she knows when it will be time to step away from the show.
She said, “Yes.” After that, she became more hesitant, saying, “The answer is yes, I believe, and yes.” Kemsley then began discussing the “hard lessons” she’s learned over the past couple of years, noting that anything can change.
The “RHOBH” star continued, “I’m very open right now. I’m having some really wonderful conversations.” Kemsley then went on to note that she’s “in a creative space” and that her focus is currently on her new book.
She stated, “I’m enjoying this moment so much, it’s really where my focus is.”

The Bravo star continued her line of discussion, revealing how much she has evolved over the years. According to her, “I feel like I am entering into a new chapter of peace, acceptance, happiness, adventure.”
From there, Kemsley stated that with all she’s learned, she’ll know “whether it’s the right thing to do- move forward and continue, or step back.”
Regarding her time on “RHOBH,” Kemsley joined the show during its seventh season in 2016. Since then, she’s become a staple on the show, with her ongoing divorce from Paul PK Kemsley being among the biggest storylines of the past couple of seasons.

Depending on who you ask, Kemsley was either the best part of season 15 of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” or she made it unwatchable. Because of the wide spectrum of opinions about her performance, viewers are divided, with many believing she may have already been fired from the show following the reports.
One person said, “She got the ‘thank you for your services’ pink slip.” Another “RHOBH” fan wrote, “Please, Bravo, put her on pause or just get rid of her.”
However, in support of Kemsley, a different social media user stated, “Disgusting, she’s on pause. @bravoandy ruins every show. They can’t handle Dorit not falling in Kyle’s line, and it’s just obvious.”
Someone else defended her, writing, “People are so mean, I look at these comments, and I think, how do I see it so differently than all of you. No empathy for a woman going through a struggle with divorce from a husband, she married for Love, unlike some of the others with two young children, and the only empathy from Rachael, Boz, and the ever-endearing Jennifer.”
Then, another person assumed she had been fired from the show, saying, “This means her a-s got fired. That book isn’t selling sh-t.”
Lastly, an Instagram user discussed the overall future of “RHOBH”. They commented, “Even if Bravo pushed Dorit out bad move! Are they going to keep Sutton over her, really? Get rid of Kyle, her story is over and boring. And she is always full of crap. Keep Kathy full-time. How about taking a poll on who the fans like, and see where that goes?”

Kemsley ended season 15 of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” on a sour note with multiple of her costars. This includes Kyle Richards and Erika Jayne. In a May 2026 Entertainment Tonight interview, she opened up about how she could have handled her friendships differently and whether she believes they could move forward.
Regarding them repairing things, she responded, “I think so. I like to think so.” However, she added, “I need them to want it as much as I do.” She also spoke about the reunion with the interviewer, noting that many perceived her as stubborn.
Kemsley explained, “I think I was in such a dark place, and I was hurt and frustrated and aggressive, and you know, it was hard to watch back because it’s not who I am.”
When asked how she would approach the ladies differently if she could, she surmised, “I would be a lot more open and not so closed off.”

Kemsley’s book, “Unburdened: A Memoir,” will be released by Podium Entertainment on June 2. Kemsley has been promoting the new memoir with several in-depth interviews, but she’s also going on a three-date tour.
The tour begins May 31 with an appearance at the Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles. After that, she had stops in New Jersey on June 3 and New York City on the following day. Kemsley shared the first look at the book’s cover on an “RHOBH” episode from season 15.
When someone says they love Christian Bale, they’re usually talking about one of just a handful of films. American Psycho is front-of-mind for a lot of people, being the film that turned him into a cult icon. The Dark Knight is another, with his performance as Batman still considered the gold standard for many. Then there’s The Fighter, The Machinist, and recent standout Ford v Ferrari… the list goes on. But Bale’s finest work isn’t any one of these. Truth be told, it came long before any of those movies even existed. When Bale was just 13 years old, he delivered one of the most emotionally staggering performances of the 1980s — not to mention his career — in Empire of the Sun. Nearly four decades later, it stands as some of the clearest proof that Bale has always operated on another level — even as a kid.
Steven Spielberg’s underseen World War II epic was released in 1987, just a couple of years after his most mature film to date: The Color Purple. To be hit with a pair of such heavy dramas straight off a run of crowd-pleasers including E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was a bit of a shock. After all, this is a war drama centered almost entirely on a child’s psychological unraveling. It’s a far cry from the fun Spielberg moviegoers thought they knew. Though it was largely critically respected, Empire of the Sun underperformed commercially and has remained somewhat overlooked within Spielberg’s — and Bale’s — filmography ever since.
The film follows Jamie “Jim” Graham, a privileged British schoolboy living in Shanghai during the Japanese occupation of China in World War II. After being separated from his parents during the chaos following Pearl Harbor, Jim is forced to survive on his own before eventually ending up in a Japanese internment camp. As distant as it sounds from all his sci-fi films or his action-adventure romps, it’s a premise that sounds almost tailor-made for Spielberg: a child’s perspective on the spectacle of war.
He weaponizes that childhood innocence in fascinating ways, too: Jim sees fighter planes as these awe-inspiring things before he understands they’re instruments of death. He looks up to soldiers before recognizing the cruelty they unleash. That naivety gives the film a haunting quality few other Spielberg movies possess. The result is something unusually bleak for Spielberg in the 1980s. It also gives the film surprising similarities to a couple of great international war movies that also explore childhood trauma: Ivan’s Childhood and Come and See. Like those films, Empire of the Sun becomes less about combat and more about watching war fundamentally distort a child’s understanding of the world. Spielberg approaches it through a more polished Hollywood lens, of course, but the emotional devastation underneath isn’t all that different.
Spielberg is movie magic personified, but not even that would be enough to pull this film off without a great actor in the leading role. What makes Empire of the Sun work at all is Bale. Without him, the movie collapses under the weight of its massive scale and delicate tone. Luckily, he carries the part with astonishing confidence — especially for his age. The crew reportedly auditioned more than 4,000 child actors before casting Bale, but it’s impossible to imagine anyone else as Jim.
Today, Empire of the Sun feels long overdue for reappraisal. It may have been a box office flop, and it might not have the immediate cultural footprint of Spielberg’s biggest hits, but it still contains some of his most impressive direction and one of the strongest performances Bale has ever given. He avoids the exaggerated sentimentality that often drags down child performances in prestige dramas. He doesn’t behave like a movie version of a traumatized kid. He actually feels real, and it’s devastating precisely because Spielberg refuses to soften the psychological damage war has inflicted on his lead. That’s an incredibly difficult thing for a child performer to pull off, especially in a film this emotionally demanding. For all the acclaim he’s earned as an adult, it’s remarkable that this tour de force still hasn’t received its due.
December 25, 1987
Tom Stoppard, J.G. Ballard, Menno Meyjes
Julie McKnight and Brian McKnight Jr. are keeping Nikolas “Niko” McKnight’s memory close as they mark one year since his passing. As The Shade Room previously reported, Niko passed away on May 30, 2025 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Recently, Brian Jr. took to Instagram to honor Niko on the one-year anniversary of his passing. He posted sweet throwback flicks of them together from childhood through their teenage years. In a lengthy caption, Brian Jr. shared that not a day goes by without him thinking about his baby brother.
“Can’t believe it’s been a year […] Or that my eyes still water after a billion tears. At no time are you not thought of / Your smile never disappears / Sometimes I despise the angels who get to see you so clear.” He added, “I’m forever in half sincerely. I love you my baby brother.”
Along with his carousel post, Brian Jr. also shared two photos of himself and Niko posing with their mother Julie and added the caption, “Three the hard way. Forever. ♾️”
Julie McKnight also showed love to Niko on the anniversary of his passing. Fans who keep up with her on Instagram know she often shares throwback memories of him. This time, she posted a sweet clip of him out at a restaurant vibing to music with the hashtag #NikoForever. She also dropped an adorable baby photo of him.
After The Shade Room reshared Brian Jr.’s tribute to his brother, the Roomies also showed love in the comment section. Plenty of fans said they couldn’t believe it’s already been a year since his passing, while others continued sending Julie and Brian Jr. condolences.
Instagram user @rere_belike wrote, “Losing a sibling is rough. I hope Niko is resting peacefully 🙏🏽🕊💙”
Instagram user @richlifeshawtydred wrote, “I hate to see kids passed away. That is so sad. My prayers and heart goes out to the McKnight family.😢”
While Instagram user @althea_lola wrote, “It’s Been A Year Already?! Time Is Moving Fast.”
Then Instagram user @richlifeshawtydred wrote, “Rest in peace, Young King you will be truly missed😢😢”
Another Instagram user @t.saintbridges wrote, “@brianmcknightjr sending love and light to you and your beautiful mom beautiful tribute to your baby brother ❤️”
Instagram user @loosmile_ wrote, “🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️❤️”
While another Instagram user @godblessedmewith_3 wrote, “Continue to rest in eternal peace Niko ♾️🕊🙏🏽🤍💫”
Finally, Instagram user @kimmy_lmc wrote, “May his memory be a blessing 🙏🕊️❤️🩹”
What Do You Think Roomies?
Pete Davidson is looking back on one of the most talked-about relationships of his life with surprising admiration.
Nearly four years after his romance with Kim Kardashian ended, the comedian had nothing but praise for the reality star during a recent podcast appearance.
His comments come at a time when he is also dealing with major changes in his own personal life.

During a recent episode of “The Pete Davidson Show,” the comedian reflected on Kardashian’s growing acting career and admitted he was impressed by how naturally she stepped into the field.
Davidson recalled a conversation from their relationship when Kardashian first expressed an interest in acting.
“Isn’t it crazy Kim’s good at acting?” Davidson asked guest Nikki Glaser, per the Daily Mail. He then remembered Kardashian telling him, “I think I’m gonna be an actress.”
His reaction at the time was immediate. He said, “F-ck yeah.”
Since then, Kardashian has built a growing acting résumé with appearances in projects such as “American Horror Story” and the Hulu legal drama “All’s Fair.”
Watching her transition into the profession left Davidson stunned. He shared, “And then she’s just good at it, and I was like, ‘God, get the f-ck out of here.’ She’s so good at acting.”
The comments offered a rare glimpse into how Davidson views his former girlfriend years after their breakup.

Pete Davidson was not the only person singing Kardashian’s praises during the conversation.
Glaser, who stars alongside Kardashian in the upcoming Netflix film “The Fifth Wheel,” spoke enthusiastically about working with the SKIMS founder and witnessing her dedication firsthand.
“She’s amazing. She’s so smart. She does anything she wants to do. Especially if people are like, ‘You can’t do this,’” Glaser said.
She also pointed out the challenges Kardashian faced entering an industry where many critics doubted her abilities from the start.
Glaser noted, “And for her to go into acting with all the public perception of her anyway, she knew she was gonna – everyone was gonna look for her to fail.”
Despite those expectations, Glaser came away impressed.
She said, “I already liked her, and she was just better than that,” she said after noting that Kardashian had “exceeded my expectations.”

As the discussion continued, Davidson revealed what he believes sets Kardashian apart from many other celebrities.
The comedian described her ability to keep moving forward despite endless headlines and public attention.
“She’s superhuman,” Davidson said.
He also explained that one of the most valuable lessons he learned from Kardashian involved handling criticism and outside noise.
“I learned from her that no matter what’s going on, like whatever in the news, you’re still you, and you can just still go do sh-t,” he shared.
For someone who has spent much of his adult life under the spotlight himself, Davidson appeared to admire Kardashian’s resilience and ability to stay focused regardless of public opinion.
His comments also offered a noticeably positive perspective on a relationship that generated enormous media attention during its brief run.

Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian first connected in October 2021 when she hosted “Saturday Night Live.” Sparks flew after the pair shared an on-screen kiss while portraying Disney characters during a sketch.
Soon after, they became one of entertainment’s most talked-about couples.
Over the following months, they traveled together, made public appearances, and generated constant media coverage. One of their most memorable outings came at the 2022 Met Gala, where they appeared together on fashion’s biggest night.
Despite the attention surrounding the romance, the relationship lasted less than a year.
Their split became public in August 2022. At the time, a source explained to PEOPLE that scheduling challenges played a major role in the breakup.
They revealed, “Part of the reason they split was because of their busy schedules. They both travel all the time and it was hard.”
Although the relationship ended, Davidson’s latest remarks suggest there is still plenty of respect between the former couple.

The timing of Davidson’s comments has drawn additional attention because of developments in his own life.
Earlier this month, reports surfaced that he and model Elsie Hewitt had ended their relationship after 14 months together. The pair welcomed daughter Scottie in December of last year, making the breakup particularly significant.
According to a source who spoke with Us Weekly, the former couple is still navigating life after the separation.
The insider said they are “still sorting things out” following the split.
The source added that they “tried to make it work but there were different stressors, including having a baby together as two people who didn’t yet know each other that well.”
Even so, both are reportedly committed to co-parenting.
“They are both trying to make it work and have made accommodations in their schedules for the baby,” the insider explained.
However, the source also indicated that reconciliation appears unlikely, saying it is “very unlikely” that Davidson and Hewitt will reunite romantically.
While Davidson adjusts to this new chapter, his recent comments about Kardashian show that some past relationships continue to leave a lasting impression long after they end.
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An anthropologist says the skeleton discovered near Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother’s home in early May may be 1,000 years old.
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The “Halloween” star mourned her sister, who was the eldest daughter of Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis: “She will be remembered for her loving generosity.”
Larsa Pippen‘s son, Preston Pippen, had an open and honest conversation with his “Calabasas Confidential” co-stars about her alleged affair with Future. In the latest batch of episodes, Preston, 23, spoke about how much his mother’s reported romance with the rapper affected him, revealing that he had to deal with weird dynamics at school as a result of her alleged actions.

On the new Netflix reality series, Preston opened up to his friends about what it’s like to be the child of famous parents. He admitted that his mom was once in a “weird place” after entering into a “new relationship per usual.”
Preston, son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, explained that he was happy he no longer had to deal with being in his parents’ shadow. He also spoke about how their divorce had a negative impact on him.
“It kind of sucks when your parents are divorced. That’s one thing, and then once they start dating, it’s another thing. If they get remarried, then it’s a bigger thing,” he said.
![Larsa Pippen was seen leaving good friend Kim Kardashian's 37th Birthday dinner at the 'Carousel' Lebanese and Armenian Restaurant in Los Feliz, CA. 26 Oct 2017 Pictured: Larsa Pippen. Photo credit: MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA106631_012.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]](https://media.theblast.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MEGA106631_012-scaled.jpg)
As the episode continued, Preston got real with the audience about the negative attention his family faced a decade ago. For those who may be unfamiliar, in addition to her alleged affair with Future, Larsa was also best friends with Kim Kardashian.
Preston said in his confessional that the news about his family was everywhere and that the drama even followed him to school.
“It was just all over the place. You would think, at that age, when you’re going to school, that it is safe and you’re dodging the drama at home,” he said. “People I thought were my friends would make jokes, and there’s already so much noise in the house.”
“Kids at school, like my friends, would play music by a rapper that my mom was taking to at the time, and it was just sh-tty,” he continued, adding, “I am removed from it now, so it’s easy to kind of talk about.”

While Larsa initially denied her relationship with Future, she opened up about their connection in a 2020 interview with Hollywood Raw, according to Complex.
“It was definitely a respectable relationship. It wasn’t like a—it was just like we were friends and we needed each other at that moment. And that was basically it,” the “Real Housewives of Miami” star said. “I think people make more of it. It’s just better conversation for people to say, oh she cheated on him, she this, she that. It was none of that. Scottie wasn’t even living at home with me.”
Continuing, Larsa said that dating Future wasn’t what she expected, noting that he was “very romantic.”
“We related on the most simple, organic way. I didn’t need anything from him, he didn’t need anything from me. … It wasn’t how you’d think,” she said.

According to PEOPLE, Larsa and Scottie divorced in December 2021.
“All issues were resolved amicably. The parties are now focusing successfully coparenting their remaining minor children,” Larsa’s lawyer, David Glass, shared.
Larsa and Scottie married in 1997 and have four children together: Scotty Jr., Preston, Justin, and Sophia.
“Although they are no longer to be married, Larsa remains hopeful that she and Scottie will always do what is best for their 4 beautiful children and jointly raise them with love and respect,” one of Larsa’s reps said at the time.

According to a previous report from The Blast, “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum Brandi Glanville appeared on the same Netflix show as Preston and spoke about her relationship with her son, Mason Cibrian.
While hanging out with Mason and his friend, Glanville boasted about her son’s girlfriend, Sarah Dower, saying, “She’s the best.”
Elsewhere in the scene, Glanville opened up about the time she learned her son was no longer a virgin.
“I remember realizing he wasn’t a virgin when I walked by his room, and I heard a spanking being given,” she shared. “I was just like, ‘F-ck my life, my son is not a virgin anymore.’”
She went even further, sharing, “I think he was 15 or 16, and I was crying. I’m like, ‘I am so uncomfortable right now. But at least he’s giving a spanking at least. He’s got some moves.’”
Stream season 1 of “Calabasas Confidential” on Netflix.
For every unexpected blockbuster like Backrooms, which is breaking box-office records in its debut weekend, there is an unfortunate counterpart that must settle for future cult status. The cult hit of 2026 has already been crowned, and it’s doing tremendously well on the PVOD market even as movies like Backrooms and Obsession break through the clutter to achieve box-office success. In a way, the year 2026 will be seen as a pivotal period in the history of Hollywood, where a contingent of new filmmakers took over the baton from giants who’ve dominated the industry for decades. What else can explain Backrooms, which cost less than $10 million to produce, delivering a domestic debut in the same range as Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer? It’s a figure that even Steven Spielberg will find impossible to surpass with Disclosure Day in a few weeks.
Spielberg, Nolan, and Denis Villeneuve aren’t the only mavericks who are eying theatrical success this year. Some months ago, director Gore Verbinski made his directorial comeback after a decade with a movie so strange that the only logical outcome for it was flopping at the box office and promptly establishing itself as a niche oddity at home. Verbinski, who achieved culture-defining success in the 2000s with his Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and won an Oscar with the brilliant animated movie Rango, was sent to solitary in director jail following two back-to-back underperformers. In 2016, he directed the psychological horror movie A Cure for Wellness, which failed to recoup its reported $40 million budget. But it was the infamous, Disney-damning failure of The Lone Ranger that caused the most damage to his reputation.
Verbinski’s latest movie is Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die — a highly topical sci-fi gem in which a time traveler from the future recruits the patrons of a diner to fight a war against artificial intelligence with him. The movie grossed roughly half of its reported $20 million budget at the box office, despite a “Certified Fresh” 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The aggregator website’s consensus reads, “A gleeful high-concept comedy with a serious message at its core, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die lets Sam Rockwell rip with thrilling results while marking a very welcome return of director Gore Verbinski in peak form.” In his review, Collider’s Aidan Kelley described the movie as “a raucous sci-fi comedy with extremely ambitious goals and insightful commentary.” The film’s positive reviews seem to be fulfilling their purpose and driving audiences toward it on PVOD. According to FlixPatrol, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die has now spent more than 60 days on the domestic iTunes and Google Play charts. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
February 13, 2026
134 Minutes
Gore Verbinski
Matthew Robinson
Erwin Stoff, Oly Obst, Robert Kulzer
A Pennsylvania mayor is being blasted online after making a dig at one of the city’s ex-cops who left public work to go film the newest season of Peacock’s hit reality series “Love Island.” Sean Reifel, 29, is from Easton, Pennsylvania, and was announced as one of season eight’s OG islanders. While the fans are excited about the upcoming season, J. William Reynolds, mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is not.
For those who may have been unfamiliar, Peacock recently revealed the next lineup of “Love Island” reality stars set to enter the villa. Season 8 of the series will air on Tuesday, June 2, at 9 PM EST. Among the cast is Reifel, a former Pennsylvania police officer looking for love.
“I’m not a model, not an actor, I’m a police officer actually,” he said in the show’s trailer. “You could be having the worst day of your life, and I’ll just help you sift through that.”
J. William Reynolds isn’t too pleased with the 29-year-old’s decision, though. In fact, he made public comments about Reifel’s exit, criticizing him for leaving public work behind for fame.
“Our police department spent a lot of time training and we paid thousands of taxpayer dollars to send him to the police academy. We are disappointed he left as we now have another vacancy in our department that is impossible to fill until next year,” Williams said, according to ABC27.
And he didn’t stop there. He added, “I never thought I’d see the day in America where reality show participation wins out over being a police officer.”
Reifel, badge number 532, was sworn into the Bethlehem Police Department in August 2025, according to a post shared on Facebook. The post also includes photos of Reifel standing next to Williams, shaking his hand, and smiling.
“Love Island” fans have been reacting to Reynolds’ comments about Reifel on Reddit, slamming him for taking a shot at a former employee.
“What a loser this mayor is,” someone posted, while another said, “Lol, this amuses me. They are BIG mad.”
A third user posted, “This is stupid. Anyone can quit their job at anytime as long as they don’t have a contract obligation. I know you probably want to stay in a job, especially one that requires training, for longer, but he hasn’t done anything wrong here.”
Someone else chimed in, alleging that Reynolds was “jealous” of Reifel, and another said his comments were completely “unprofessional.”

“Love Island” is one of reality TV’s most-talked-about shows, and this season, viewers are in for big surprises.
The 12 sexy singles will enter the villa on June 2, and in the coming weeks, the islanders and viewers alike will be introduced to new islanders (bombshells) who will test the already-formed connections with the other contestants.
By the end of the series, the viewers will vote for their favorite couples to win their share of $100,000.
Like “Big Brother,” “Love Island” is filmed in real time, so the drama that watchers will see nightly on Peacock happened mere hours before.
“I’m always surprised by who ends up coupling up,” host Ariana Madix said about the series. “Sometimes I think you can feel an energy between people that maybe you don’t even see on camera but when you’re there in person you can always kinda feel like, ‘Oooh, there’s some chemistry here.’”
The last season of “Love Island” was filled with drama, and it spilled over into real life. Passionate viewers took to various social media forums to defend their favs while also blasting other castmates.
Peacock recently uploaded a statement to their Instagram, reminding viewers to keep things respectful before the season starts.
“The Villa runs on good vibes, and so does this community,” the post read. “We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected.”
The post continued, “This is a space for fun, not negativity – so keep it kind, keep it positive, and remember: this is LOVE Island!”
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