Despite the swirling drama surrounding the Summer House cast, Ciara Miller is focusing on what really matters.

“I grew up a Girl Scout. It’s where I first learned what sisterhood looks like,” Miller, 30, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, April 4. “It taught me courage, confidence and how to carry myself through hard things.”

Miller further asked her followers to consider donating to Troop 6000, a Girl Scout troop composed of girls living in the shelter system across the New York City boroughs.

“They meet every week, earn badges, go to camp and they learn that, no matter what they’re going through, they are worth showing up for,” she explained in her upload. “That who they are matters [and] that their story is just getting started. That’s all I’ve ever wanted anyone to feel.”

Related: Ciara Miller Feels ‘Betrayed’ by Amanda Batula and West Wilson

In the wake of Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s confirmed romance, Summer House fans want to know how Ciara Miller is coping. “Ciara is heartbroken by this,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “She and Amanda were very close, and she feels more betrayed than ever by both of them.” The insider shares that Ciara, […]

Miller further asked individuals who are “in [her] corner right now,” to also be “in theirs” by donating to Troop 6000.

Many Bravo stars and fans have recently taken sides after Miller’s friend and Summer House costar Amanda Batula confirmed her romance with West Wilson. (Wilson, 31, previously dated Miller in 2023 before they reportedly hooked up again several months ago.)

“It was never our intention to purposely hide anything,” Batula, 34, and Wilson wrote in a joint Tuesday, March 31, statement, addressing the online relationship speculation. “Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.”

They continued, “We’ve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected. Our connection grew out of a genuine, longstanding friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.”

Batula, who separated from now-estranged husband Kyle Cooke in January, also allegedly didn’t tell Miller about their apparent love triangle.

“She did not find out from her friend Amanda,” Miller’s The Traitors costar Dolores Catania claimed on the Thursday, April 2, episode of the “Two Ts in a Pod” podcast. “I will go on a limb to say, I did not know 100 percent until they both [released the statement]. You never know 100,000 percent until you hear it from the horse’s mouth, until you see it in black and white from them.”

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Related: Paige DeSorbo Declares ‘100 Percent’ Support for Ciara Miller

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Summer House alums Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner are choosing a side in the drama between Ciara Miller, Amanda Batula and West Wilson. “Obviously, we’re alive. We see the internet, we know what’s going on,” DeSorbo, 33, said during the Friday, April 3, episode of their “Giggly Squad” podcast. “Ciara is our real friend, in […]

Catania, 55, further claimed that the drama was “more between” Miller and Batula than with Wilson.

“Ciara was an amazing friend to Amanda. She was always there for her through her marriage. She rode hard for her and Amanda knew how she felt about West,” Catania added. “Now, Amanda was, of course, vulnerable, hadn’t been in a good relationship marriage for a long time now, but there’s a lot of guys though.”

Miller, Batula and Wilson are all expected to reunite at the Summer House season 10 reunion later this month.

Blake Lively is continuing to move forward after suffering a major blow in her ongoing lawsuit against her It Ends With Us costar and director, Justin Baldoni.

“Momming always continues on,” the actress, 38, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Sunday, April 5, over a photo of two plates of scrambled eggs formed in the shape of two bunnies. (Lively shares four children with her husband, Ryan Reynolds.)

The celebratory Easter post comes just days after Lively suffered a significant legal blow in her lawsuit against Baldoni, 42. On Thursday, April 2, federal judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Lively’s lawsuit against the director, including allegations of harassment, defamation and conspiracy.

The Manhattan U.S. District Judge allowed just three claims to proceed — breach of contract, retaliation and aiding and abetting in retaliation.

Related: Justin Baldoni Vows to Continue Blake Lively Legal Fight After Dismissal

Justin Baldoni isn’t backing down from his legal battle with It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively after his lawsuit against her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, was dismissed. “Ms. Lively and her team’s predictable declaration of victory is false, so let us be clear about the latest ruling,” Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman told Us […]

“This case has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set and that is the case that is going to trial,” Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively’s legal team, told Us Weekly in a statement shortly after the ruling. “For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and the playbook behind these coordinated digital attacks have been exposed and are already being held accountable for other women they’ve targeted.”

The lawyer continued, “She looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.”

One day later, Lively issued her own social media statement responding to the Judge’s ruling.

“I am grateful for the Court’s ruling which allows the heart of my case to be presented to a jury next month, and for the ability to finally tell my story in full at trial, for my own sake, but also for those who don’t have the same opportunity to … many of whom I have known and loved deeply in my life, and the countless I’ll never know,” she wrote on Friday, April 3. “The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit, but I brought this case because of the pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continued to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others.”

She added later in her social media statement, “So much critical work has already been done to expose systems, tactics and players who harm. The work to create more safety is in part at trial, but it will also continue far after this trial is over. This is the work I’m most proud of. I couldn’t begin to stand up if not for the countless who’ve gone before me – and the masses who are still around us all — creating laws, social change, sparking conversations, rallying, working privately and publicly, risking and sometimes losing everything for the safety of others in all spaces. Some whose names we know, most we don’t. Thank you. All of you.”

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Baldoni’s legal team also issued a statement in the wake of the Judge’s decision, telling Us that they were “pleased” by the ruling.

“We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel,” the statement read. “These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided.”

Lively’s legal team later disputed some of Baldoni’s lawyers’ comments, telling Us that the “Court actually decided” to allow the evidence Lively provided “to go to trial on her core claims.”

When it comes to longevity in rock and roll, look no further than The Rolling Stones. Active for over six decades, the band is one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the rock era. Rooted in blues and early rock styling, their sound became distinct as they moved further and further into the mainstream. Establishing themselves at the top of the heap of classic rock, their songbook runs deep. With 31 studio albums and more than 340 songs, with eight number-one hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts, determining which is their best songs is a near-impossible task.

The task at hand is to select The Rolling Stones’ most perfect songs. Let’s just say it’s no easy task. As each fan of the band will likely have a different list, for the purposes of this list, a song will be considered “perfect” based on songwriting, musical construction, overall influence, and its impact on the band’s musical evolution. This list is meant to celebrate one of the greatest bands and their brilliant contribution to music history.

10

“Honky Tonk Women” (1969)

Despite being a hit track, “Honky Tonk Women” sometimes gets overlooked, but the truth is, the song proved the band’s ability to tap into even more musical styles. Inspired by a holiday Mick Jagger and Keith Richards took in Brazil, the duo drew on their experience at a ranch and turned it into a song about a dancing girl in a western bar. Originally written as a Hank Williams-esque country song, Mick Taylor transformed it into the electric, riff-based hit we became familiar with. Originally released as a non-album single, the song was issued as the B-side to “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” the day after the death of founding member Brian Jones in July 1969.

Raw and bluesy, with an invitation to groove when the cowbell begins, the song’s gin-soaked groove and gritty lyrics became an instant hook for listeners. “Honky Tonk Women” soared to the top of the UK charts for seventeen weeks, five at number one, and a four-week number one run on the Billboard Hot 100. Showcasing the band at their funky best, “Honky Tonk Women” also led to a full country version released on the 1969 album Let It Bleed. “Honky Tonk Women” may be the strongest example of ’60s rock-blues.

9

“She’s A Rainbow” (1967)

The 1960s served as a brilliant opportunity for artists to explore and spread their wings. For The Rolling Stones, an uncharacteristically unique song that Jagger and Richards wrote for the band was also one of their best. Closing out their foray into psychedelic pop rock, “She’s A Rainbow” utilized a vibrant blend of baroque pop, a cascading piano line, and a lighthearted atmosphere, crafting a whimsical, joyous, and timeless masterpiece. The crowning element of the song isn’t the lyrics, it’s the arrangement. Though the classic Stones instruments are present, it’s Nicky Hopkins‘ iconic piano melody and Jones’ hypnotic usage of the Mellotran that make the track. And that string section? It’s often credited to John Paul Jones, who would go on to join Led Zeppelin a year later. Released on Their Satanic Majesties Request, the sixth studio album, the song became the most recognizable track of the album.

Music should be transcendent — “She’s A Rainbow” is proof. For a modern audience, the song has been a recent staple in commercials. Further, it became synonymous with Kristen Wiig‘s final sketch as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Guest host Jagger, alongside musical guest Arcade Fire, performed it alongside “Ruby Tuesday” as the comedian dances and says goodbye to her co-stars. If there is something that will make you cry from the hit sketch show, it’s this. Now, if we’re talking about how a song can influence an entire movement, Gilbert Baker, the creator of the rainbow pride flag, told the New York Blade in 2008 that it was not Judy Garland‘s “Over the Rainbow” but in fact the Stones’ “She’s A Rainbow.”

8

“Tumbling Dice” (1972)

Introduced as the lead single from the 1972 double album Exile on Main St., “Tumbling Dice” brought back the blues with the boogie-woogie for a song about an unfaithful gambler. Written and recorded during the period when the band became UK tax exiles, the song had some filler lyrics and an initially different intention. Though that song, “Good Time Women,” went unreleased until 2010. The song tells the story of a gambler who simply cannot remain faithful to any woman. A dark lyrical premise, the result ultimately led to the peppy, laid-back groove we know today. The tempo lives in a grey area that’s essentially halfway between slow and straightforward rock speed. Then, turning to the lyrical composition, it’s quite an irregular structure, with line counts changing throughout the verses and choruses. But what makes the song so beloved is the call-and-response in the coda, making it perfect for live performance.

An ambitious song, “Tumbling Dice” can be described as sassy with a casual swagger. Dare I say, it’s got “Swagger Jagger.” It’s credited to Jagger’s vocal charisma. Written after the swinging ’60s and the Summer of Love, the song still has a lyrical essence that explores themes of sex and love. About a half-decade later, Linda Ronstadt recorded her own version of the song, bringing a different vitality to it. And not just because the lyrics were adjusted to suit the singer’s mission. Though it had a troubled road to ultimate creation, “Tumbling Dice” remains one of the band’s most iconic entries.

7

“Beast of Burden” (1978)

Oftentimes, when you see the title of a song, you can automatically hear something from it in your head. When it comes to “Beast of Burden,” almost certainly, you hear Jagger’s soulful vocals singing the title. A vulnerable and raw rock anthem, “Beast of Burden” showcased an evolving maturity from the band. It also helped to establish and further the sound of rock and roll in the late ’70s. The second single off of 1978’s Some Girls, following “Miss You,” the song wasn’t meant to be a personal track; it was all about the attitude and hidden meaning. Taking inspiration from domesticated animals used for human labor, Richards has noted that the song was written as a thank-you to Jagger for “shouldering the burden.”

“Beast of Burden” features a masterful weave of soulful, understated guitar from Richards and Ronnie Wood, a steady groove from Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman, and Jagger’s intimate and controlled vocals, some of which were improvised. The Rolling Stones experienced internal turmoil in the ’70s, but “Beast of Burden” represented a moment of the band’s unity. One that marked a newfound comeback for the band.

6

“Wild Horses” (1971)

There are certainly a handful of Rolling Stones ballads that strike at the heart, but none do so quite like “Wild Horses.” The follow-up single to “Brown Sugar” from the ninth studio album, Sticky Fingers, “Wild Horses” exposed a softer side to the band. A beautifully emotional track that highlights raw vulnerability, “Wild Horses” is a song about longing and endurance. The origin of the song came about after Marianne Faithfull, Jagger’s former partner, woke from an overdose. She said to him, “Wild horses wouldn’t drag me away.” Though the song may not have necessarily been written about her, it was inspired by her. Soon thereafter, it evolved into a song about being a million miles from where you wish to be.

Musically, Richards used the melody as a lullaby for his newborn son. Richards experimented with the twelve-string guitar. Taylor played with a Nashville-strung acoustic guitar. Wyman stayed on the bass guitar. With Jim Dickinson playing tack piano and Watts on drums, the musical roadmap was set, turning “Wild Horses” into an acoustic masterpiece. It was stylistically different from many of the classic Stones’ previous tracks, which helped it earn instant recognition. The change of pace allowed the band to take a newfound direction. They no longer had to stick to pulse-pounding rock and roll. Because of its timelessness, “Wild Horses” is often cited as a fan favorite. A delicate and intimate song that continues to resonate emotionally, “Wild Horses” is just as powerful five decades later.

5

“Sympathy for the Devil” (1968)

“Please allow me to introduce myself. I’m a man of wealth and taste. I’ve been around for a long, long year, stole many a man’s soul and faith.” Pair that with the infectious conga groove at the top of the track, and you get something hypnotizing. “Sympathy for the Devil” was a musical departure for the band, and yet it defined their ability to explore musical experimentation. Taking on a first-person perspective through the eyes of the Devil, the narrative was quite sinister. And yet, that samba-like rhythm transports you, asking you to pay attention to the specificity in the lyrics, focusing on atrocities in human history. The album version, clocking in at over six minutes, pushed the Stones into a new musical era.

“Sympathy for the Devil” caused quite a stir when it was released. Whether it be the accusations of Satanism or that humanity is responsible for evil in the world, including the assassinations of the Kennedys, it doesn’t take away from the sheer brilliance of the composition. Structurally masterful, with nods to African and South American sounds and a gripping “woo-woo” vocal chant, there was no song in the catalog quite like “Sympathy for the Devil.” Very few classic rock songs have a musical break as visceral as that of “Sympathy for the Devil.” That searing guitar solo by Richards may be his best. Fortunately, much of the creation process was captured for Jean-Luc Godard‘s avant-garde film of the same name.

Music that is reactionary to the time often leads to remarkable works of art. In the late ’60s, many singers, songwriters, and musicians found themselves using their talents to help art reflect society. One such example, as a means to comment on the intense social upheaval of 1968 and the broader chaos, was the brilliant “Sympathy for the Devil.” It was referenced in Hunter S. Thompson‘s book and film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Decades later, Guns N’ Roses explored their own take of the track, being featured in the film adaptation of Interview with the Vampire. Needless to say, “Sympathy for the Devil” stands as the band’s most profound artistic achievement.

4

“Paint It, Black” (1966)

When you think of rock music in the ’60s and ’70s, you tend to think of the typical instruments. But can you achieve rock-and-roll success by playing a sitar? It’s a resounding yes. With a groundbreaking fusion of Eastern-influenced sitar with Hammond organ, castanets, and tom-toms, “Paint It, Black” became a chart-topping smash, serving as a reminder that unconventional instrumentation can be a recipe for success. The British Invasion set a standard in sound for the bands that crossed the pond. But as the big acts began to become more musically sophisticated, big risks led to big rewards. An influential song for the burgeoning psychedelic genre, “The Rolling Stones” joined The Beatles in pushing commercial appeal toward artistry outside the mainstream.

From the jump, the track’s introduction became instantly recognizable. From there, the eerie, exotic use of Jones’ sitar made a perfect addition to the song about grief. “Paint It, Black”is, on its surface, a depressing premise about the desire to turn the whole world black to match internal sorrow. And yet, the experimental nature, with its tight structure, added a cinematic element to the song. By straying from the standard pop-rock vibes synonymous with the band, “Paint It, Black” opened the door for new paths to explore. On one of the rare occasions when each member of the band added something to the track, it gave the track a sense of further completion. The song’s vibrancy has inspired countless artists to cover it and many films to include it on their soundtracks. Maybe an unofficial pioneer in emo punk rock, The Rolling Stones found the light by tackling the darkness.

3

“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (1965)

There is no hook in rock history that matches that of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” A song about sexual frustration and commercialism, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” became one of the band’s most popular songs. The song came to Richards in his sleep, as in he really wrote it, recorded a rough cut, and awoke unaware that he did. With the iconic guitar riff kicking off the track, what followed was a cascade of sound before Jagger came in with the titular line. The song featured a hard-driving blues beat that paired well with the rock sounds already familiar to listeners. It had a catchy hook with a catchy title and captured the spirit of the time. Though the song had difficulty being played on the radio because of its allegedly suggestive lyrics, it didn’t matter, as those lyrics resonated instantly. It thrust the band to superstardom.

“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” became a staple for the Stones, especially during live performances. It made sense as the song hit number one in many countries on multiple charts. In a sense, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” is a generational song. Otis Redding recorded a version of it that went full-tilt jazzy blues. In the late ’70s, new wave band Devo provided their own rendition. Then, at the start of the new millennium, it was Britney Spears. This may be a stretch, but there may be an entire generation that found The Rolling Stones and classic rock through Spears’ cover of the song. The fact that the princess of pop could reconstruct rock royalty’s song in such a brilliant manner is a testament to the strength of the track.

2

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (1969)

Sometimes simplicity is all it takes. Truly, what a profound statement the lyrics made. “You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, well, you might find you get what you need.” The chorus became a mantra that continues to resonate today. Straight from Let It Bleed, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” proved to be one of the most defining songs the band ever recorded. Unlike almost any other Stones song, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” didn’t start with a guitar riff or Jagger’s signature vocals. Instead, it was the London Bach Choir and the soaring horns opening the track on the album. Not there to cover anything up, rather they were present to add something new.

A song about the major topics of the 1960s— love, politics, and drugs—the lyrics take the audience on a journey from initial optimism to eventual disillusionment. Though the chorus may be resigned cynicism, there was hope within. Originally, the B-side for “Honky Tonk Women,” there was no second fiddle about it. “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” remains one of the most popular songs. Said to be a counterpart to “Hey Jude,” the song shared the Stones’ maturity through their philosophical words. The song is timeless, having been covered nonstop and used in a wide range of media. If there was ever a song that marked the end of the Swinging Sixties, it was this song.

1

“Gimme Shelter” (1969)

A sense of urgency and a dire warning in music don’t always need to come from a deeply poetic dissertation in lyrics. Sometimes all it takes is repetition to make a message poignant. With an ominous, moody tone, “Gimme Shelter” expertly conveys intent. Starting from a whisper and crescendoing to a frantic cacophony of controlled vocals, “Gimme Shelter” evoked a sense of panic. The lyrics, which reiterated the main words throughout, became a reflection of war, violence, and fear while marking the closure of ’60s idealism. Encapsulating the doomed decade, the song is a complete masterpiece. What may be a shocker: the song, which was never released as an official single, found prominence when it was included on many of the band’s compilation albums.

At its core, “Gimme Shelter” is an apocalyptic song. With the lyrics evoking that tone, “Gimme Shelter” relied on the vocals. Jagger isn’t the only prominent vocalist on the track. Singer Merry Clayton‘s guest vocals helped launch the song to the stratosphere. Her vocals reached immense emotional peaks, amplifying the desperation of the song’s message. Jagger spoke to NPR and called the song “a very moody piece about the world closing in on you a bit. And yet, that same feeling can be evoked today. There’s no song that defines the band while transcending music more than “Gimme Music.” It’s an anthem for the world.

Brandi Glanville is far from impressed after country music singer LeAnn Rimes shared an emotional video highlighting her recent jaw release treatment.

“We did see LeAnn Rimes in the news today,” Glanville, 53, said on the Thursday, April 2, episode of her “Unfiltered” podcast. “I don’t understand why I saw it, and I’ve had that done a million times [because] I have TMJ.”

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) affect the joints that help the jaw move, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It often causes pain, headaches or difficulty chewing.

Rimes, 43, underwent a “deep jaw release” late last month.

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“Healing isn’t always quiet. Sometimes it’s a physical letting go of things we didn’t even know we were carrying,” Human Garage captioned footage from Rimes’ treatment session. “You can see the exact moment the tension breaks and the emotional weight lifts, leaving her feeling visibly lighter and more aligned.”

The caption continued, “The jaw is one of the body’s primary storage sites for stress. When we hold back our voice or push through pressure, the fascia in the face and neck ‘locks’ to protect us. By using the maneuvers to signal safety to the nervous system, we can finally allow that stored energy to move.”

Glanville, who was previously married to Rimes’ husband Eddie Cibrian from 2001 to 2009, reiterated on Thursday that she underwent the same treatment multiple times.

“They put on gloves and they go inside your mouth, and it’s very painful,” Glanville explained of the procedure. “I think I just have a very high pain tolerance.”

Glanville’s podcast cohost, James Maas, chimed in to note that Rimes seemed “happy” at the end of the treatment.

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LeAnn Rimes documented a wellness treatment that has helped clear her body of “micro-toxins” after past health struggles. “Listening to my body and choosing what feels supportive for this season of healing, especially after a very busy year of filming and touring,” Rimes, 43, wrote in a recent Instagram post after undergoing a “plasma exchange” […]

“I just don’t know why you share that,” the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum quipped of the singer’s vulnerable post. “Well, I hope she feels better, and yeah, that was that on that.”

Maas, meanwhile, pointed out that Rimes likely shared the video to be candid about her health journey.

“Oh, like me? So weird,” Glanville quipped.

Glanville has been battling multiple health issues for several years, including an alleged parasite infection and a breast implant rupture that she claims caused a serious facial disfigurement.

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Brandi Glanville’s two sons have rallied around her amid her mysterious health scare. “They’re so fed up [and] they’re like, ‘You’re going to another doctor.’ They’re like, ‘This is ridiculous. I can’t believe no one’s figured this out yet,’” Glanville, 52, recently told Us Weekly exclusively while promoting her “Remedy” single. “They’re like, ‘It’s two […]

“It’s been a slow process, but I’m finally getting back to my normal routine and feeling like myself again,” Glanville exclusively told Us Weekly in November 2025, noting that moving houses also gave her a fresh start. “The new space has really helped me reset and focus on creating a calmer, more positive environment for myself. I’m enjoying keeping things simple, spending more time at home, and really taking care of myself.”

It took Glanville more than two years and thousands of dollars to find a diagnosis and cure. She even sought help from Rimes.

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“[LeAnn] said, ‘You need a breath coach,” Glanville previously told Us in April 2024. “She told me a long time ago, but it just kind of resonated with me.”

Using Rimes’ tip, Glanville said that she bought “a book on breathing” and hired a wellness coach to help her endeavors.

“I can actually talk myself out of a panic attack,” she said at the time. “I’m still doing cosmetic stuff, but at the same time trying to fix myself. I eat better and breathe and actually exercise. I’m getting there. I just started with this journey, but I can actually do things.”

Editor’s note: The below interview contains spoilers for the Dark Winds Season 4 finale.

This season of Dark Winds has been quite the roller-coaster. As Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon), Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), and Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) have quite literally left the reservation to bring back a missing girl who has scurried off to 1970s Los Angeles, they find themselves in the crosshairs of a dangerous conspiracy — one with Titus Welliver‘s Dominic McNair at the very center. Collider had the immense pleasure of speaking with the Bosch star himself about his role in Season 4, his love for the original Tony Hillerman novels, his hopes for the show’s future (and his potential involvement in it), and more.

COLLIDER: First off, I heard you’re a big fan of the original Tony Hillerman novels; is that true?

TITUS WELLIVER: That is true. That is true. I read them… you know, it’s very funny. My youngest brother — half-brother, although I say half-brother only because of our age difference — he’s 19 years younger than I am. But he started reading the Hillerman books when he was, I wanna say, nine years old.

Oh, wow.

WELLIVER: Yeah, he was at a used bookstore with our dad, and he was attracted to the cover art on the paperback. He started reading the books, and he would be talking about them all the time. So, I was like, “You know what? Let me check…” It’s not like I wasn’t aware of them. So, I started reading them, and I got into them. When I heard a few years ago that they were doing the show, I was like — as I’m sure the experience was for people who had read the Bosch books — who were they going to cast as Leaphorn? Then it was announced that it was Zahn [McClarnon], and I was like, “Yes! So excited.” He so embodies that character. Because I have that experience, Zahn and I kind of talked about it briefly, but it’s the daunting prospect. He brought breath of life into Joe in the most perfect way. Everybody does on that show. To then be asked to be a part of it was really, really exciting.

Titus Welliver Was a ‘Dark Winds’ Fan Long Before He Joined AMC’s Smash-Hit Crime Thriller

“To then be asked to be a part of it was really, really exciting.”

Image via AMC

I’m assuming then that you’ve read The Ghostway? Obviously, there are some differences between Dominic McNair, your character, and the George McNair character in the novel. Did you revisit the book when crafting your take on the character, or did you always kind of see them as two different people?

WELLIVER: Yeah, I did. I think sometimes, with certain things as an actor… obviously, if you’re going to be Harry Bosch or Leaphorn, it ain’t broke [so] there’s no need to fix it. You don’t want to mess around with it. But it had been a while since I had read [The Ghostway], and when I was speaking to [showrunner] John Wirth, it all kind of came back to a certain degree. But he’s incarcerated, so all of his action is put into motion and enacted from jail, which is interesting and challenging, right? Because he kind of flips the switch and sh*t starts to go sideways. So, in that way, it was cool to have that character really contained but still be formidable and be this sort of malevolent character.

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‘Dark Winds’ Stars Explain How Season 4’s Biggest Turning Point Yet Changes Chee and Bernadette Forever

Will their relationship survive the fallout of Joe’s decision?

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You’re almost a dark specter behind everything that’s going on this season.

WELLIVER: Yeah. And also, visually, they really did interesting things. Todd A. Dos Reis, he was one of the cinematographers on the show, and he shot the first season of the spin-off Bosch: Legacy. So, he and I already had a shorthand [as] actor and cinematographer. The whole show is shot beautifully. I always say: “A cinematographer creates a beautiful painting, or they create an image, and then you, as an actor, go in there and dwell within that image.” You’re telling the story, but the story is also going on all around you with the visual aspects of it. And I thought that was really… well, look, I was just looking at the monitors.

As I think I said to you, I save it up, I squirreled it, because once I start Dark Winds, I’m gonna blaze it. I have not yet watched it. But, you know, you go to the monitors, and you look at the stand-ins, and you’re like, “Ooh, okay, now I understand where I’m playing, and what I can and can’t do, and what’s gonna really work.” So, it was really exciting.

McNair and Vaggan Have a Complicated Past, According to ‘Dark Winds’ Titus Welliver

Image via AMC

What can you tell me about McNair’s relationship with Irene Vaggan? These two clearly have some sort of rapport. What does he see in her that others don’t, and do you think that he’s somewhat scared of her himself?

WELLIVER: I don’t think that he’s scared of her. John sort of alluded to the fact that there’s probably been some kind of a sexual relationship, possibly, in the past, although he said, “Don’t let that inform what you want to do.” John was really generous in that way. He was like, “I just wanna unleash you.” But we did have a conversation. McNair, he’s a puppet master. He knows Vaggan’s capabilities, and so I think in that regard, you have a guy who’s using this instrument of destruction. I would say it’s like somebody who uses a dog as a weapon, like a pitbull or a vicious animal that you have to dominate and control, or else it turns on you. That was sort of the analogy I played in my head. “Yes, of course, that snake can bite you, but you know how and when to grab that snake by the neck so it can’t injure you.” So, there’s that. But he’s more than aware of her capabilities.

We had worked together, Franka and I, on Titans, so we knew each other. Because we knew each other, there was a comfort. As actors, we were already friends. So, we got in there and really played with it, and despite you never [seeing] that happen, it creates some dynamic in the relationship so that the audience had a sense of that.

Titus Welliver Hopes to Return for ‘Dark Winds’ Season 5, but Nothing’s Official Yet

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At the end of Season 4, McNair is still behind bars, but he’s certainly not down for the count. Can we expect him to come after Joe and his allies in the upcoming fifth season?

WELLIVER: I don’t know… I’m not sure. I would certainly do it in a heartbeat. With the renewal, and they were renewed early, which is always a great thing. I don’t know if there’s necessarily room in Season 5, but you never know. That being said, if I get a call from John in the eleventh hour, and he goes, “Hey, we just decided to throw this scene in. Get on a plane tomorrow.” I’d be there in a heartbeat. It’s just a marvelous group of people to work with.

Here’s hoping. I think there’s still a lot of potential for your character.

WELLIVER: I think he’s been… He’s had a few teeth pulled by Leaphorn, but I don’t think that he’s been sidelined to the point where he’s ineffectual as to what he can do. But it would be interesting to revisit that character for sure.

All four seasons of Dark Winds are available to stream on AMC+.

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Release Date

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June 12, 2022

Network

AMC

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Directors

Michael Nankin

Writers

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John Wirth, Steven Judd, Max Hurwitz, Rhiana Yazzie, Thomas Brady, DezBaa’

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While Christopher Nolan is best known for delivering critically acclaimed, groundbreaking films throughout his career, he’s also got some surprising tastes when it comes to movies. He’s called the Fast and Furious films a “tremendous action franchise,” named Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby as one of his favorite films of all time, and even shown appreciation for the Marvel Cinematic Universe for bringing audiences into theaters, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. If Nolan’s fans are surprised by his taste in movies, they’ll definitely be shocked by his favorite TV show. Nolan has showered praise upon Showtime’s black comedy The Curse, saying that it’s “unlike anything” that’s currently on TV.

What Is ‘The Curse’ About?

The Curse focuses on Asher Siegel (Nathan Fielder) and his wife, Whitney (Emma Stone), as they host an HGTV show called “Fliplanthropy” where they attempt to help renovate the local neighborhoods. They’re also trying to start a family in the process, until a girl named Nala (Hikmah Warsame) curses Asher when he pretends to give her a $100 bill for the show. Strange and horrific things begin to happen to Asher after he’s “cursed”. His marriage to Whitney starts to unravel. They learn they’re having a child, but the pregnancy is ectopic, meaning that there’s a slim chance it’ll survive. Asher is even cursed again by his friend and producer, Dougie (Benny Safdie), during an argument. Fielder, who co-created The Curse with Safdie, said he based the series on a real-life experience he had where a woman supposedly cursed him:

“I don’t believe in that stuff, but I can’t get those things out of my head. Sometimes if someone says something to you, even conversationally, where you feel like you messed up something, it can linger in your mind and grow and consume you. Then we just started riffing on that idea, like, ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting if that vibe was hanging over an entire show?’”

The Curse received universal acclaim, with critics praising its mix of black comedy and drama. It’s well deserved, as the series doesn’t just deal with a potential curse but also tackles multiple topics, including gentrification, marriage, and Asher and Whitney’s struggle to be considered “good people.” Despite “Flipantrophy’s” premise, The Curse reveals that the show is more or less gentrifying the town it works in; Whitney’s parents are also revealed to be slumlords. Asher is also revealed to have his own hangups, including some deeply rooted insecurities about his marriage and his position in life. That The Curse can balance all of these different stories shows why it made such an impact, and it probably explains why Christopher Nolan was drawn to the series.

Christopher Nolan Compared ‘The Curse’ to ‘Twin Peaks’

Image via Showtime 

Christopher Nolan hosted a Q&A after a screening of The Curse‘s pilot with Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, where he delivered praise for the series and even made a surprising comparison to another beloved, twist-filled TV show. “It’s an incredible show, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen on television before. There are so few shows that come along that have genuinely no precedence. You’re going back to things like Twin Peaks, or The Prisoner, or Dennis Potter’s Singing Detective, and things like that, so you’re in an amazing space, and I can’t wait to catch up with the climax,” Nolan said. Comparing Twin Peaks and The Curse might be surprising, but it makes sense: both series start in one genre, then take some surprisingly sharp narrative turns throughout their run. In the same vein, Fielder’s other projects, including Nathan For You and The Rehearsal, feature the kind of surreal edge that David Lynch would have been proud of.

Nolan also had praise for Emma Stone’s performance as Whitney. “I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say, as the series develops, she can be pretty maddening at times, in a very credible way. The performance, I think, is absolutely amazing and wonderful. She’s totally in it,” he said. Stone slowly unveils more layers to Whitney as The Curse progresses, showcasing that she isn’t that happy in her marriage to Asher; it all boils over in the penultimate episode “Young Hearts”, where Whitney delivers a searing monologue to Asher about how he’s held her back from her dreams. It’s a very uncomfortable, intense sequence that’s magnified by Stone’s performance, as she layers levels of escalating scorn throughout the monologue. It wouldn’t be the first time that a 2023 project starring Stone had an intense performance from her, as she shocked audiences with her turn in Poor Things.

‘The Curse’ Has an Ending That Nolan Would Be Proud Of

The biggest plot twist in The Curse involves its finale, “Green Queen.” Though Asher and Whitney’s marriage seems to have improved, and Whitney’s ready to give birth to their baby, things take a turn for the weird for Asher. It’s a completely unexpected moment, but it’s proof that the curse never left Asher — and it’s made darkly more hilarious when the fire crews get involved. It’s the kind of plot twist that Nolan loves putting in his films, which might explain part of why he was drawn to The Curse. Nolan has also drawn Benny Safdie into his cast of recent collaborators, as Safdie had a role in Oppenheimer as physicist Edward Teller; Safdie will also appear in Nolan’s Greek epic The Odyssey.

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To the surprise of no one, King has incredible taste in TV.

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Despite its critical acclaim, The Curse has yet to be renewed for a second season. Both Fielder and Safdie have mentioned that they have ideas for a second season, with Fielder telling The Hollywood Reporter, “There definitely could be. From the start, we had it mapped out beyond the first season.” If The Curse returns, hopefully it keeps the same mix of black comedy and drama that looped in Christopher Nolan… or, at the very least, get him to direct an episode or two.

The Curse is available to stream on Paramount+.

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Release Date

2023 – 2024-00-00

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Network

Showtime

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Directors

Nathan Fielder

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Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers from Tracker Season 3, Episode 15.There’s a classic saying that dates back to the 12th century that is most commonly quoted as “no good deed goes unpunished,” and that’s an apt description of Tracker‘s most recent Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) adventure. This week, Colter and Randy (Chris Lee) team up for a Midwestern adventure that starts off as a simple missing person’s case turned violent kidnapping — and the direction it goes will surprise you. “No Good Deed” certainly lives up to its name as the CBS drama continues to keep us on our toes.

“No Good Deed” Begins With the Disappearance of Randy’s Old Friend

This week’s episode begins in Minneapolis when Simon Boyce (Matt Murray), an old friend of Randy’s, walks outside his home in the middle of the night. As he looks around nervously, he ducks into some bushes when a mysterious truck pulls around the corner. It’s here we discover that Simon is under house arrest for hacking, and his ankle monitor keeps track of his every movement. Well, until it doesn’t. The next day, Reenie Greene (Fiona Rene) and Mel Day (Cassady McClincy Zhang) do the expositional download and reveal that Simon went missing. Although his monitor still shows that he’s at home, his mother, Mrs. Boyce (Jill Teed), can’t find him anywhere. Unsurprisingly, Randy flew out to Minnesota to catch up with Colter for the job — and Reenie is flying out next for backup.

Arriving at Simon’s place, Colter sees that Randy is taking this pretty hard. He and Simon haven’t been super close lately, and so Randy has internalized some of the guilt. But Colter won’t have it. Indoors, they speak with Simon’s mother, who informs them that her son has been missing for a while. As a parameter for his house arrest, Simon isn’t allowed access to the internet or any other technological items that may contribute to his old habits. So, Colter and Randy take a look around, and after scanning the perimeter, discover that Simon’s ankle monitor has been ditched in a nearby brush. But what’s especially interesting is that it looks as if it’s been cut somehow without going off, which either took a lot of skill or some help. “Either someone helped him, or he was taken,” Colter concludes. Looking into the chip on the ankle monitor, Randy tracks it to BJH Industries, which lies just outside of Minneapolis. Arriving at the address, Colter and Randy happen upon one of Simon’s old buddies, Bill Henderson (Reggie Watkins), who sent the chip to Simon.

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The series stars Justin Hartley.

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However, that’s not all that Simon ordered. According to Bill, he also sent him several items just last week, including parts involve drone. As if by some technical magic that continues to border on wizardry, Colter and Randy track down Simon’s drone footage and peruse through his archive of cloud data, which definitely goes against his court mandate. They discover that he witnessed a kidnapping in the middle of his neighborhood, which appears to have gotten him in some trouble. Meanwhile, Reenie goes to talk to the attorney Jim Osmond (Andy Thompson), hoping to postpone the court date just a few days, but no dice. The attorney — whose wife’s identity was stolen the year prior by folks not far off the path from Simon — has no interest in doing anything other than punishing Simon to the full extent of the law. Overall, things aren’t looking good.

Colter and Randy Finally Team Up in ‘Tracker’ Season 3’s Latest Thrill

Image via CBS

Back in the truck, Tracker reminds us that these dialogues between Colter and Randy are always infinitely better when they’re in the same room together. But as they head to their next destination, the pair shift their focus from Simon to Reenie when Colter asks how she’s really doing. Randy tries to avoid dishing on his boss, but eventually folds and tells Colter what we already know: she’s covering up for something. The non-conversation is cut short, however, when the pair pulls up at the house in question — the same one where the kidnapping occurred. Colter goes indoors to investigate, telling Randy to stay in the truck, but Tracker‘s resident hacker has fancied himself a rewardist too and stumbles into the sights of a nearby nervous neighbor (Ryan Beil). It turns out, the neighbor has the wrecked drone, which would have been fine if Randy hadn’t revealed that he had seen the kidnapping footage, because it turns out the man knows the kidnapper in question, a man named Stone (Andrew Nadanyi).

In the neighboring house, Colter finds the drone’s remote control and turns on the monitor to find Randy staring at him from the other end. Back in the neighbor’s house, Randy finds himself in a pickle as Stone, the kidnapper, creeps up on our favorite hacker with a gun pointed at the back of his head. But before he can shoot Randy in the back, Colter arrives and disarms the kidnapper. The cowardly neighbor reveals that Stone was the mastermind, trying to shift the kidnapping blame to someone else. Colter goes with the homeowner downstairs to see where the woman, now identified as Bruna Pryor (Leah Gibson), was held. Was being the operative word here. It turns out, Bruna had escaped earlier that morning — and Colter deduces that she had help. Upon reviewing the ransom video of Bruna, Randy looks into the text thread between the kidnappers and her poor excuse for a husband. Elsewhere, we find out that Simon is with Bruna at a safe house of some kind. But while he’s concerned that she’s lost too much blood, she refuses to go to a hospital or get any authorities involved. So, when Bill arrives to try and help (after Simon borrowed her phone to text him), Bruna murders him instead.

Upon learning from Reenie that Bruna’s husband, Leon (Chris Walters), is a major fentanyl dealer wanted in several states, Colter and Randy begin to piece some things together. Although the Pryors have gotten good at covering their tracks, Randy pulls off yet another seemingly impossible cyber miracle and finds a location that may just be the one. Back at Bruna’s safe house, the outlaw holds Simon at gunpoint and gets him to cooperate. Her plan? To meet up with her husband, who left her for dead and, well, you get the picture. After Colter and Randy arrive at the apartment and find Bill’s corpse and phone, they use that information to track Bruna and Simon to the other side of town.

This Week’s ‘Tracker’ Concludes With a Colter and Reenie Reunion

Image via CBS

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Things get a bit explosive when Colter and Randy trace Bruna and Simon all the way to the meeting location. Stopping the car, Bruna arrives to confront her husband, and a firefight breaks out between them. Colter pulls up and runs into the middle of the gunfire, hoping to pull Simon out before he’s killed. As Leon gets the upper hand on Bruna, Colter saves her life by shooting her husband dead, though he leaves her for the cops to deal with. After Randy pulls Simon out, they get him home safely.

Back at Simon’s house, the longtime friends are able to make amends after Randy wasn’t there before. No doubt, everything they went through more than makes up for it. Likewise, Randy thanks Colter for saving his life before, but our hero refuses to let him think about it again. But before “No Good Deed” comes to a close, this Tracker episode does what we’ve been waiting for all season: bring Colter and Reenie back together. The next day at the courthouse, Colter catches her after Simon’s hearing, which goes quite well for the former hacker. But as they leave the building, Colter finally stops and asks her if she’s okay. But what could be a real moment of vulnerability for Reenie turns out to be nothing but a tease. Instead, she refuses to admit what she’s been going through. Surprising us with one last twist, Colter offers to buy her lunch as they walk arm-in-arm toward a nearby diner.

Tracker airs Sundays on CBS and is available the next day for streaming on Paramount+.

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Release Date

February 11, 2024

Showrunner

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Elwood Reid

Writers

Ben H. Winters, Hilary Weisman Graham

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• 

  Justin Hartley

  Colter Shaw

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Pros & Cons

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• Colter and Randy on the job together is always a blast
• The twists this week were well layed out.

• Reenie has got to let somebody in already. What are you waiting for, girl?

Y’all… money moves run in the family! Reginae Carter opened up about some wild childhood perks in a new podcast interview, spilling on how her dad, Lil Wayne, wasn’t shy about showing love in cash. But it wasn’t all smooth—her mom, Toya Johnson, apparently had to step in to keep things in check.

RELATED: Social Media Weighs In After Reginae Carter & Jeezy’s Son Seemingly Flirt While Reflecting On Their Past History (VIDEOS)

Reginae Carter Was Getting Stacks Until Her Mom Shut It Down

Reginae is giving more insight into her childhood—and baby, the coins were definitely flowing! During an appearance on the ‘Pour Minds’ podcast, Nae revealed she didn’t have a traditional allowance growing up, but made it clear her dad Lil Wayne made sure she was more than straight. According to Reginae, every time she pulled up to her dad’s, he had a set routine—$1,000 in cash ready for her like clockwork! She said he’d even have his crew fly back with her so she was never traveling alone.

Nae shared that Weezy sent money to her mom Toya Johnson to make sure everything at home was handled, but still made sure his baby girl had her own spending money on deck. And whew, she put it to use! Reginae recalled one time she pulled up to school and bought lunch for everybody, really living her best little baller life. But y’all know mama Toya wasn’t going for too much of that! Reginae said things got so out of hand at one point that her mom had to hit Wayne like, “Okay, that’s enough,” and tell him to tone it down to keep her grounded. Not Nae out here casually running it up before she could even drive!

One Instagram user @atlantahairdoctor claimed, “$1,000 in early 2000s was really like $5,000 to us stuff was so cheap. What a blessing. ❤️”

This Instagram user @coopcancook added, “Meanwhile, my bald head ahh daddy owe me money.“

And, Instagram user @iamjoliver410 commented, “Yea Wayne!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @_yanna2xx shared, “😂😂😂this was def suppose to be my life growing up“

While Instagram user @showoff_247365 joked, “It’s the Toya impersonation (that was spot on) took me tf out 😩😩😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂”

Finally, Instagram user @kinsley.amari shared, “😂😂😒$1000 equivalent to $10 now“

Reginae Stays Spilling Her Daddy’s Tea

RELATED: For Real? Reginae Carter Has Fans Shook After Bringing Up Solange And Lil Wayne’s Apparent Dating History (VIDEO)

Roommates, things between Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann are heating up again. After Biermann filed court documents seeking sole custody of their kids, claiming everything from missed therapy sessions to a dog bite incident, Kim isn’t staying quiet. The reality star fired back, insisting the allegations are false and calling out the internet for blowing things out of proportion.

RELATED: Kim Zolciak Temporarily Loses Custody Of Children With Estranged Husband Kroy Biermann Amid Ongoing Divorce

Kim Zolciak Sets The Record Straight On Custody Claims

Hours after TMZ reported on her alleged loss of custody on Friday, April 3, Kim Zolciak called out the publication on her Instagram Story. Over a screenshot of the article, she wrote, “I will absolutely not put up with these lies any longer.” Additionally, in a lengthy Story post with white text on a black background, she made it clear that folks need to stop playing with her:

“I signed a temporary custody order at the end of January. The order clearly states that both the mother and father are to participate in two counseling sessions per month for two months, followed by one session per month thereafter. I was out of the country from February 26 through March 28 due to contractual filming obligations on two separate productions. During that time, I did not have a single day off, making it impossible to attend the required counseling sessions. Kroy as of today (I had Kj and Kash up until 5pm today) currently has the children for spring break, which is his designated parenting time under the existing agreement. I am scheduled to resume my parenting time when the children return on Friday. My counseling sessions are scheduled and will be completed next week. For the avoidance of any doubt, I have not lost custody of my children, nor has there been any modification to the custody arrangement outside of the agreed-upon temporary order.”

What Led Kim To Speak Out?

Here’s what we know so far in the ongoing Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann custody saga. As previously reported, court documents obtained by TMZ stated that a Georgia judge has temporarily granted Kroy custody of their kids from April 3 until Kim completes four parent therapy sessions, though she could reunite with them as soon as April 13. In his filing, Kroy alleged that Kim skipped court-ordered therapy sessions, spent two weeks out of the country, and only saw the kids one night—during which a dog reportedly bit one of their children.

Kim, however, quickly shut down the claims. Speaking to TMZ, she called the allegations false and a deliberate attempt to defame her. Furthermore, the ‘Tardy For The Party’ artist explained she spent time away to film two television shows, emphasizing that her work was meant to provide for her family and ensure her children were cared for.

Kim & Kroy’s Divorce Seemingly Continues

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann first filed for divorce in May 2023, officially citing April 30 as their separation date. In her filing, Kim described their marriage as “irretrievably broken with no hope of reconciliation,” with both parents initially seeking sole physical custody of their children, while Kroy also requested sole legal custody. By July 2023, the couple decided to pause the divorce and attempt to work on their marriage, with Kim asking the court to dismiss her petition. However, just a month later in August, Kroy refiled for divorce, keeping the legal battle very much alive.

RELATED: Kim Zolciak Addresses Claims Alleging She Was Secretly Spending Her Daughters’ Money (VIDEO)