Related: Everything to Know About the Ongoing Search for Nancy Guthrie
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Entertainment
How Star Trek’s Strongest Female Character Ruined Dr. Crusher
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Arguably, the strongest female character in Star Trek: The Next Generation was Dr. Beverly Crusher. Not only was she the Chief Medical Officer, but she had the same rank as Commander Riker, the Enterprise’s swaggering first officer. Given the character’s rank, it would have been perfectly plausible for her to hop in the captain’s chair and take command on a relatively regular basis. However, Dr. Crusher actor Gates McFadden recently revealed why this didn’t happen: Star Trek’s producers kept her out of the captain’s chair to make the arrival of Voyager’s Captain Janeway feel more special.
This information comes to us courtesy of Fan Expo Portland, where McFadden got very candid about her time on Star Trek: The Next Generation. She explained that the producers “knew they were going to have a female captain fairly early on.” Finishing her thoughts, she noted that “while I was put sometimes in the captain’s chair, since I had the same rank as [Will Riker], they were careful about how much they wanted to do that, because they were saving that for when Voyager happened.”
The Doctor Is In (The Chair)
The most notable example of Dr. Crusher being put in command happened during the two-part episode, “Descent.” To help search for Commander Data, Picard inexplicably sends himself, his bridge crew, and half the ship to canvas an unknown alien planet, leaving Dr. Crusher in command of the Enterprise. Her command skills are really put to the test, though, when she has to figure out how to defeat a new type of Borg vessel, which (not unlike the old vessels) is more powerful than her ship in every way.
Using a combination of scientific know-how and more than a little plot armor, Dr. Crusher takes the Enterprise into the planet’s sun. After that, she uses the ship’s phasers to trigger a solar eruption that completely destroys the Borg vessel. After seeing the good doctor kicking butt and taking names in the captain’s chair, it’s understandable that fans wanted to see more of Crusher in command.
No Future In Command
According to Gates McFadden, this didn’t happen very much because producers were busy developing Voyager. The timing of that show’s development generally matches McFadden’s account; Dr. Crusher led the Enterprise to victory over the Borg at the beginning of The Next Generation’s seventh season, which is exactly when the powers that be began working on Voyager. Because the producers knew the spinoff would have a female captain, they wanted to make Captain Janeway’s appearance special, effectively downplaying Dr. Crusher’s capabilities at commanding a starship.
Why was it so important for Voyager to have a female captain, though? While Deep Space Nine had proven to be a very successful TNG spinoff, Paramount wanted to create yet another Star Trek television show. Deciding that the new show would take place on a starship (hey, you can only do the space station gimmick once!), the producers faced a unique problem: how to make a new Star Trek show with this familiar setting that didn’t just feel like a lazy copy of The Next Generation.
Star Trek Leans In (At Dr. Crusher’s Expense)
Part of what would ultimately make Voyager unique was its setting: namely, in the largely uncharted Delta Quadrant that the Borg call home. The crew would also be a mixture of Starfleet and Maquis personnel, which would provide (on paper, anyway) the potential for more character conflict than we ever saw on The Next Generation. Mostly, though, what set Voyager apart was that it was led by a female captain, a first for a franchise whose first show infamously claimed that women couldn’t become Starfleet officers.
Sadly, the production of Voyager kept Dr. Crusher sidelined from possible command duties. This is doubly painful because her character was often written very poorly, and she went from drunkenly throwing herself at Picard in Season 1 to boning down with a ghost in Season 7. She was also written out of Season 2 altogether by Maurice Hurley, the worst showrunner The Next Generation ever had.
Gates McFadden ultimately got the last laugh, though: Picard brought her character back for its third and final season, and both Dr. Crusher and her son became pivotal parts of the entire plot. This was arguably an even beefier revival of her vintage character than Kate Mulgrew got by voicing Captain Janeway in Prodigy. Furthermore, Picard even made Crusher an admiral and the new Head of Starfleet Medical, finally giving the dancing doctor her due after more than 35 years of writers holding her back!
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Political Analyst Quentin Jiles
These Politicians Would Be Banished on ‘The Traitors’ ASAP!!!
Published
TMZ.com
Political commentator Quentin Jiles was a runner-up on “The Traitors” 3 years ago, so he knows what it takes to survive the roundtable … and he told us the politicians he thinks would be immediately banished.
Watch the video … Quentin stopped by “TMZ Live” to dish on who in D.C. gives off so much overtly traitorous energy, the other Faithfuls would banish them whether they were Traitors or not.
Quentin gave us 2 very notable names … and one them, Quentin joked, catches a flight out of his state “every time the wind blows,” which would be an immediate red flag to the rest of the contestants.
According to Quentin, a critical skill for doing well on “The Traitors” is gaining your castmates’ trust … which is an ability that Quentin says is extremely lacking with these 2 Washington power players.
But there was one person in particular — a Supreme Court Justice — whom Quentin thinks is just duplicitous enough to win the whole thing!
Entertainment
Starfleet Academy Stole Avery Brooks’s Voice For Their Show, He Did Not Participate At All
By Joshua Tyler
| Published
Star Trek’s Starfleet Academy dropped an episode centered entirely around the commander of Deep Space Nine, Captain Benjamin Sisko. It’s titled “Series Acclimation Mil” and the plot involves Cirroc Lofton returning as Jake, in hologram form, and it ends with a voiceover that sounds like a cameo from Sisko himself, Avery Brooks. It’s not. It’s a lie.
Avery Brooks did not participate in this episode of Starfleet Academy and has, in fact, retired from acting in general and Star Trek specifically. He has no intention of returning, let alone for a show like this.
The voice you heard at the end of Starfleet Academy was Avery Brooks’s voice, but it wasn’t something he recorded for the series. Instead, the show’s producers stole Avery’s voice off a spoken word album he once did, and they’re now passing it off as the return of the Sisko.
Here’s what Avery Brooks said in the stolen dialogue: “Divine laws are simpler than human ones, which is why it takes a lifetime to be able to understand them. Only love can understand them. Only love can interpret these words as they were meant to be interpreted.”
If you watched the episode, you probably thought that dialogue sounded weird, out of place, and didn’t obviously fit exactly what was going on in the show. Now you know why. It wasn’t meant for the show.
Avery Brooks Was A Not Part Of This And Likely Did Not Speak With Producers At All
The show’s producers are trying to make it seem like the theft of Avery’s voice was done with his blessing, but that doesn’t seem to be strictly true. Alex Kurtzman claims, “I had a very beautiful interaction with Avery.” Who knows what that means? It could have been an email or a call from his lawyer.
The rest of what the Starfleet Academy team is telling the media suggests that Cirroc Lofton spoke with Brooks about it for them. Lofton and Brooks have maintained a close relationship over the years since the end of DS9, with Brooks becoming something of a surrogate father to Lofton.
Other than whatever private discussions Cirroc may have had with him, Avery Brooks had nothing to do with Starfleet Academy. Writer Tawny Newsome says Brooks was “aware of the project.” Being “aware” the show exists is the full extent of Brooks’s involvement, according to the show’s creative team.
Aside from stealing Avery Brooks’s voice to capitalize on his legacy, most of the episode was terrible and involved an annoying girl reducing his role as the Emissary to some sort of superhero trope that would spawn a legion of Emissaries, or something equally ridiculous. It was dumb and childish, but didn’t trample on the excellence of Deep Space Nine, which is a win.
Cirroc Lofton Is Still Excellent As Jake Sisko
If there’s a positive in the episode, it’s Cirroc Lofton, who was dignified and insightful. I have a hard time believing all of his dialogue was written by the Starfleet Academy crew; much of it sounded very different from the usual dreck they spew, and I found myself wondering if he’d come up with some of it himself.
We learn that Jake Sisko never published the novel he was writing. The reason given is some strange justification about how not publishing it made him feel close to his father. That’s a shame, since there’s nothing Ben Sisko would have liked more than to see Jake publish his book.
However, Lofton delivers the best performance we’ve seen from anyone on Starfleet Academy so far while focusing his discussion of Benjamin Sisko on Sisko’s role as a great father. That was always a key to the character, and one of the most beautiful and unique things about Deep Space Nine.
Cirroc Lofton proved he’s grown into the kind of man that both Ben Sisko and Avery Brooks would be proud of. Unfortunately, the episode itself ruined it by robbing Avery Brooks of his voice and using it to trick viewers into putting up with their streaming service.
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Why Bethenny Frankel Is Swearing Off ‘Housewives’
Frankel took to her TikTok account on February 5 to share how she feels about reality TV, specifically “Housewives.” She began, “Am I going back to Housewives? So, I have made a conscious effort to protect my peace. I’m really happy. I’m really settled. I am significantly more successful than when I created Skinny Girl because I’ve chosen to do things the way I want to do them.”
From there, she spoke about the “freedom” she’s created and her love for working with various brands and doing philanthropy. Regarding doing a show like “Housewives,” she said, “I have been asked. Just so you know, and I don’t know that that particular formula is the best for me spiritually, physically, emotionally, I’ve done it, and no one’s ever been more successful as a result of it.”
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In the end, she said, “Don’t worry. I’ve got a couple of tricks up my sleeve.”
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The Skinny Girl Founder Is Happy For Her Former Costars
Frankel also discussed “The Golden Life” during her TikTok update. The former “RHONY” star said, “I’m so happy for the women, and I’m happy for E!. I think it’s disruptive. I think it’s interesting. I think it’s business. I think it’s so many things.” Regarding her calling the show disruptive, it’s worth noting that E! is no longer under the same NBCUniversal umbrella as Bravo, meaning it has no contractual ties to “The Real Housewives of New York City.”
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Frankel echoed similar sentiments recently when she reacted to the initial reports about the upcoming E! series. She said on TikTok, “What do I think about the Housewives going to E! in a new reboot, OG style? I’m glad you asked. I think it’s fantastic. E! came in, savage, baracoota style and said, ‘These [ladies] aren’t expired, so you know what, let’s put ’em back on the shelf.”
She continued, “And Ramona is going to come out of hibernation like a bear. Ready to eat something. Jill, the machinations, she’s been turning the wheels, making this happen. Jill had something to do with this ending up in the end zone.”
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Fans Think The TV Personality Should Return
Many “Real Housewives of New York City” fans have reacted to Frankel’s comments about returning to the show or being on the new one. Many believe she should film with her former costars, and some would even like to see her return to Bravo. One person said, “PLEASEEE, we need to see you humble Kelly again.”
Someone else replied, “Honestly, just do it. We only have one lifetime; they’d pay you a bag, and you will never have this chance with that same group of women again.” Another person said, “It won’t be the same without you and Dorinda.” A different fan wrote, “I didn’t hear a no.”
A different “RHONY” fan stated, “Please, please go back. We need you to deal with Kelly. Let her know she’s down there and you’re up here! Finally, someone else had a suggestion. They said, “Girl, I get it frankly. But you COULD host the reunion!!!! Andy would absolutely die.
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The New Show Will Be Filmed Soon
Page Six first reported in January 2026 that Sonja Morgan, Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon, de Lesseps, and Singer had signed a deal for a new show on E! The report also stated that the ladies and the network hoped to have the new series on the air by the end of 2026.
Several days later, on February 3, E! finally confirmed that the rumors were true. Per the show’s synopsis, “Bound by decades of shared history, fallouts and friendship, this fan-favorite group of New Yorkers are starting fresh together in the Sunshine State.”
It continued, “In this new ‘golden’ era of life, the longtime friends are thriving in and around Palm Beach with fabulous second homes and a bustling social scene. With their signature humor and non-stop hijinks, the series will follow the group as they navigate dating, family, and career milestones.”
Reports say the ladies will begin filming the show in the spring.
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The ‘RHONY’ Alum Has A New Business Venture
Frankel may not be returning to “Housewives” anytime soon, but she is advancing her career in other ways, including with a new dating app, The Core. She spoke to The Hollywood Reporter in January 2026 about the new platform, which recently hosted its first event in Miami.
Regarding how her private dating platform is different, she said, “It’s mostly men on dating apps. [The Core] has mostly women, which is why all the good men are coming. We have more amazing, high-quality women than men, so the cream-of-the-crop men follow. Every woman in the room was high quality — not trying to get your money or ask what your net worth is, whether you rent or what car you drive. It wasn’t like that at all.”
Platform memberships start at $7,500.
Entertainment
Kogonada Tries an Experimental Movie After His Big Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell Flop
With his first two films, Kogonada created a style for himself that felt just right, telling stories that managed to be light, yet powerful. 2017’s Columbus and 2021’s After Yang were soulful and simple, but exquisitely crafted and emotionally wrecking. Even his video essays on different filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Richard Linklater, Stanley Kubrick, and many other filmmakers with distinct styles still managed to capture his own flourishes and talents.
But last year, Kogonada took a shot at something more mainstream with A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, starring Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie. This romantic fantasy, which wasn’t written by him, felt like Kogonada trying to bring his specific style into a narrative that didn’t quite match his tone. The movie was a curious failure, and a film that felt like Kogonada trying to stretch himself and losing a bit of himself in the process.
Finding himself exhausted by the logistics of making a bigger film, Kogonada went to Hong Kong with a few friends after the opening of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, and in just three weeks, they made the film zi. Almost as though Kogonada was actively attempting to fight back against the last film he made, zi was made with an incredibly small team, shot spontaneously, and trying to build the story as they went along. The result is a film that feels like Kogonada attempting to get back to where he once was before A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, but with a movie that feels more like an experiment than anything else.
Kogonada’s Latest Is More Ephemeral Than Most of His Movies
Set in Hong Kong, we meet Zi (Michelle Mao), a woman who keeps having visions of her future self that she can’t escape. Zi is waiting for the result of a scan, and is struggling with the uncertainty of what’s going on when she meets L (played by Kogonada favorite, Haley Lu Richardson), who offers to help her. We also find that these two are being followed by Min (Jin Ha), who we discover had a decade-long relationship with L, and since he works at the neurology center Zi was observed at, it seems he knows more than he lets on about what’s going on in Zi’s head.
Kogonada’s films usually take their time, quiet pieces that feel impeccably structured and regimented, yet zi is decidedly bucking that trend. There’s an intentionally ephemeral quality to the story, as though all of this could be a dream, or it could all be a hazy reality. Because of that, it certainly owes plenty to Wong Kar-wai, who also frequently films without a clear idea of where the story is going. Unfortunately, that doesn’t entirely work as well here as it does with Wong Kar-wai, with a story that slides through your fingers just when it seems like you’ve found something to grasp onto.
Because of that, zi isn’t what you’d call a return to form for Kogonada, but rather, somewhat of a reset artistically for the writer-director-editor. Zi is a character presented as lost, confused in her life, and especially unsure about what she keeps seeing as her future self that keeps coming into her field of view. It’s hard not to see this as symbolic of what Kogonada must be feeling now as a filmmaker, uncertain of his future, unsure of where to go, but desperately searching for answers. It’s also a film that’s likely more intriguing for its meta-narrative than for the story that was obviously being made up on the spot as Kogonada’s team went.
‘zi’ Feels Like Kogonada Is Trying To Find His Love for Filmmaking Again
In a way, zi does feel like Kogonada falling in love with filmmaking again through this experimental process, and in doing so, he’s sticking with a small team of people he obviously trusts. His cast and crew are all producers on this project, and it does feel like an effort of love. Richardson is never better than when she’s in Kogonada’s camera, and she’s a burst of life in this story. Mao is decent as a character we can’t quite pin down and of which we don’t get many solid answers about, while Jin Ha as Min is best when he’s put alongside Richardson and reckoning with their recent relationship that fell apart — yet frustrating as a character who has answers that he refuses to share about what’s going on.
Kogonada also brought along his After Yang and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey cinematographer Benjamin Loeb, who makes Zi’s foggy world come to life in beautiful, confusing ways, while the soundtrack mostly relies on the music of Ryuichi Sakamoto, who the film is dedicated to. As an aesthetic piece, zi is undoubtedly successful, and even when the story is hard to parse, it’s hard to not get wrapped up in the pleasing sights and sounds of what Kogonada is going for.
The Director Behind ‘The Acolyte’ Episode 3 Made One of the Best Sci-Fi Films of the 2020s
Kogonada’s 2022 film is brilliant a examination of living with modern technology.
But again, zi is a film that is more of an experiment than a movie, and that’s what ultimately hurts it. We can feel the run-and-gun nature of this story in every scene, the unclear direction that’s obviously being made up on the spot, and the performances that don’t quite know what to play because they don’t know enough about their characters. zi almost comes off like a mood board for a potential Kogonada film more than a concrete Kogonada film. Every once in a while, zi seems like it’s moving forward to finding the structure it so desperately needs, close to latching onto some semblance of narrative that we can fully connect with, but it soon fades away like a passing vision. Like Zi, we watch the film searching for answers and clarity that never come.
Even though zi isn’t quite the powerhouse of independent cinema that films like Columbus and After Yang were, it does feel like the work that Kogonada needed to do in order to right his sails and figure out where to go next. zi is essentially a cinematic palette cleanser for the filmmaker, and while it’s interesting to watch him work through his issues after the failure of his last film, and hopefully, fall back in love with film, it’s just not entirely there. At the beginning of zi, the title character asks if she’ll be lost forever. With zi, Kogonada proves that he’s no longer lost, but he’s at least on the right track to finding where he needs to be.
zi premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
- Release Date
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January 24, 2026
- Runtime
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99 Minutes
- Director
-
Kogonada
- Writers
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Kogonada
- Producers
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Kogonada, Michelle Mao, Jin Ha, Haley Lu Richardson, Christopher Radcliff, Benjamin Loeb
Cast
Pros & Cons
- Kogonada’s latest is an aesthetically pleasing experiment.
- The three main characters are intriguing, if a bit underwritten.
- This is also more experiment than movie.
- You can tell this story was made on the fly, rather than working with an actual script.
Celebrities are speaking out after Savannah Guthrie and her siblings shared an emotional video about their missing mom, Nancy Guthrie.
“We want to thank all of you for the prayers for our beloved mom, Nancy,” Savannah, 54, tearfully began in a clip posted via Instagram on Wednesday, February 4. “We feel them and we continue to believe that she feels them too. Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light. … She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her and you’ll see.”
Savannah added that Nancy’s “health is fragile” before addressing reports that a ransom note has been received.
“As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk,” she said. “However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please, reach out to us.”
Savannah Guthrie and mom Nancy Courtesy of NBC News
The Today show star added that her family “will not rest” until Nancy is found. “We speak to you every moment. And we pray without ceasing and we rejoice in advance that the day that we hold you in our arms again. We love you, mom,” she said.
Nancy, 84, was last seen on Saturday, January 31, before she was reported missing in Arizona. Authorities confirmed Nancy’s home is being treated as a crime scene but have insisted there are no potential suspects at this time.
“Detectives are working closely with the Guthrie family,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department noted in a statement on Wednesday. “While we appreciate the public’s concern, the sharing of unverified accusations or false information is irresponsible and does not assist the investigation.”
Questions still remain after Today show host Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the news on Sunday, February 1, sharing a missing person report via X. Nancy was described as a “vulnerable adult” who was last seen “at her residence” within Arizona’s Catalina Foothills area on the […]
Scroll down to see how some of Hollywood’s biggest stars are rallying around Savannah and her family amid Nancy’s disappearance:
Jennifer Garner
“May God hold Nancy and her family in the palm of His hands,” Jennifer Garner wrote.
Valerie Bertinelli
“Please bring her home🙏🏻❤️,” Valerie Bertinelli added
Julie Chen Moonves
Julie Chen Moonves wrote that she hoped Nancy is “safe and unharmed,” adding, “Please Lord God, reveal what You know and deliver Nancy back home to her family and safety without harm or incident. Please guide investigators with Your wisdom and knowledge to find Nancy. Please use them as Your tools to bring her home safely. Until You bring Nancy back to her children and those who love her and will protect and care for her, please Lord Jesus place a hedge of protection around Nancy and allow her and her children to feel Your Light, Your presence and Your peace. I pray this all in the healing mighty name of Jesus. Amen and amen 🙏 ❤️🙏.”
Monica Lewinsky
“Oh sweet Savannah. We are all praying for her and you and your family. Sending love to Nancy. and hoping whoever has her has a rise of consciousness and brings her home to you. 🙏❤️,” Monica Lewinsky wrote.
Savannah Guthrie and her husband, Michael Feldman, tied the knot in 2014 and have been going strong ever since. Guthrie met Feldman in October 2008 when she attended his 40th birthday party with a mutual friend after her separation from her first husband, Mark Orchard. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please […]
Maria Shriver
Maria Shriver reposted Savannah’s video via her own Instagram account, writing, “This story continues to be without any answers, but what is without a doubt is this family’s love for their mama. @savannahguthrie and her siblings describe her so beautifully, as being their center, their heart, their home. They desperately want her home. They need their mama.”
Shriver added, “Regardless of their age, their mama is their guiding light. So I’m praying for my friend, her family, and their mama, as I know so many others are. I believe in the power of prayer, the power of love, the power of friends. Sending love. ♥️.”
Gia Giudice
Teresa Giudice‘s daughter Gia wrote, “My prayers are with you and your family🙏 bring her home❤️.”
Ree Drummond
“Oh Savannah, our hearts and prayers are with you and your family, and especially your beautiful mom. ❤️🙏,” Ree Drummond commented.
Lindsey Vonn
Olympian Lindsey Vonn said she’s “praying for her and all of you 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻.”
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos doesn’t believe Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, was targeted before her disappearance. “I think everybody, rightfully so, understands that her daughter Savannah is a national figure out there at least within the news media, and that’s always a possibility,” Nanos exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Monday, February 2. “But […]
Jenna Dewan
“Praying for you and your family daily ❤️🙏🏻❤️🥺,” Jenna Dewan added.
Ellie Kemper
“We love you, Savannah, we are all praying for you and your dear mom ❤️❤️,” Ellie Kemper wrote.
Chloe Fineman
Saturday Night Live‘s Chloe Fineman wrote, “Sending you so much love ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💔💔💔💔💔💔.”
Sophia Bush
“I can’t fathom what you’re all going through,” wrote Sophia Bush. “Sending love to you and your family and prayers for her safe return 🙏.”
Allison Janney
Allison Janney told Savannah she’s “praying for your Mom to come home safely.”
Elizabeth Chambers
“Praying for your precious family and for Nancy 🙏❤️,” Elizabeth Chambers wrote.
Netflix has rarely had a month where it didn’t have an abundance of new shows to watch.
That’s not going to change in February, thanks to an assortment of shows borrowed from other networks.
All of Watch With Us‘ picks for the three new Netflix shows to watch in February 2026 originated on another network or streamer.
This month’s selections include a sitcom revival, a tense police procedural and a sci-fi series that was even more successful than Star Trek.
Netflix is giving the best Valentine’s gift for its many, many subscribers — a library full of hit movies and TV shows to binge-watch. That library grows a bit bigger in February, when the streamer adds at least one must-see new movie and/or irresistible show practically every day. At the top of Watch With Us‘ […]
3. ‘Night Court’ (2023 – 2025)
The original Night Court was one of the fan-favorite sitcoms on NBC that could get away with almost any kind of joke thanks to the late Harry Anderson and the rest of the cast. For the recent revival series, Saturday Night Live veteran Melissa Rauch plays Abby Stone, the daughter of Anderson’s character, Judge Harry Stone.
Abby follows in her father’s footsteps by becoming a night court judge, and she convinces Harry’s friend, Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), to return to the court as a defense attorney, rather than resuming his role as the prosecutor on the first series. Dan’s grown a heart over the last three decades, and Larroquette does spectacular work bringing out his character’s humanity while retaining the wit that made him so much fun to watch in the ’80s.
Night Court is streaming on Netflix.
2. ‘Prodigal Son’ (2019 – 2021)
Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne) never brought his father, Martin Whitly (Michael Sheen), to his school’s career day … and for good reason. As seen in Prodigal Son, Martin was a prolific serial killer until his son helped the police bring him to justice. Malcolm’s greatest fear is that he will turn out just like his father, and those feelings have sabotaged his personal and professional relationships.
In the present, Malcolm is coaxed into resuming his career as a criminal profiler, but he soon realizes that he needs his father’s insight to crack the case. Martin is only too happy to help his son, because this is his way of worming back inside Malcolm’s head so he can manipulate him for his own ends. This isn’t some heartwarming tale of reconciliation — it’s like living with Hannibal Lecter as your father.
Prodigal Son is streaming on Netflix.
1. ‘Stargate SG-1’ (1997 – 2007)
The Stargate movie didn’t make a big splash in theaters, but the franchise took hold on television and became the longest-running American sci-fi series to date. Stargate SG-1 started on Showtime and shifted to Syfy halfway through its run, which may be why it’s considerably darker in the earlier seasons. This series picks up after the movie, with Jack O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) reuniting with archeologist Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) after he elected to remain behind on an alien world.
When an ancient threat to humanity arises, Jack and Daniel from the SG-1 team, with Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and an alien warrior named Teal’c (Christopher Judge), explore the galaxy through the Stargate network and discover a way to defeat their common enemy before Earth itself is threatened. There are over 200 episodes, so this show will keep you busy for a long time.
Stargate SG-1 will stream on Netflix on February 15.
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Despite the glamorous job title, most fashion editors are far from millionaires. This makes my line of work extra tricky. While I want to look stylish and rock high-end labels, sacrificing an entire paycheck on clothes isn’t the smartest move. That’s why I pay close attention to details like material. Rather than splurging on full cashmere, I’ve found that cashmere-blend pieces can be just as luxe. The right design gives off an expensive vibe while also saving me hundreds of dollars.
If you’re not ready to drop a ton of dough on one winter essential, I’ve gathered a few cashmere-blend sweaters and other knit staples that I think are worth adding to your wardrobe. These turtlenecks, crewnecks, cardigans and more are soft, warm and seem like they’re right off the runway. I promise, no one will ever know the difference — and I won’t tell if you don’t!
14 Cashmere-Blend Knits That Look and Feel Like Luxury
1. Everyday Ease: When you don’t have much time to get ready, you’ll be grateful for this oversized turtleneck. Made with 15% cashmere, the soft, slightly chunky pick feels like a warm blanket . . . and the cream option looks straight out of Meghan Markle‘s closet.
2. Classic Crew: A timeless cashmere-blend crewneck acts as the perfect base. Sure, the solid staple works well on its own, but it can also be layered over a button-down or under a blazer for a totally different vibe.
3. Polished Prep: Rather than paying big bucks for a designer quarter-zip top, save a few hundred by scooping up this cashmere-blend version. You’ll be surprised by how often it comes in handy, whether you’re wearing it with work trousers or throwing it over leggings post Pilates.
There’s a moment every winter when your sweaters start to feel…tired. The static, the pilling and the fabric that somehow never looks quite right. Suddenly, that once-cozy knit just isn’t cutting it anymore. That’s usually the cue to start craving pieces that feel a little more intentional, the kind of sweaters that drape better, wear […]
4. Pop of Color: You might think neutrals are the trick to looking expensive, but 2026 is all about colorful fashion. Trade your basic, neutral knit for a fuzzy purple alternative and watch how quickly it enhances your outfit and boosts your mood.
5. Spring-Ready: For me, navy striped designs signal warmer days ahead. It’s worth it to scoop up this wool-cashmere cardigan now, then work it into your wardrobe once spring arrives, giving your outfit a fun, nautical twist.
6. Rich Mom: There’s something extra luxurious about a cap-sleeved sweater. The eye-catching cut just feels different and fancy, spicing up the most basic of bottoms and helping you nail wealthy, Upper East Side elegance.
7. Wardrobe Staple: This cable-knit crewneck is one you’ll likely break out every winter. Aside from being cozy and warm, the textured design never feels dated, so it’s a worthy investment — even at half off!
8. Celebrity Inspired: If you tend to take fashion cues from the stars, add a red cardigan to your rotation. Not only will the bold shade add life to your outfits, but the piece is easy to throw on in a pinch. Just make sure your white tee is visible, and you’ve got yourself a paparazzi-worthy look.
9. Sleeveless Style: Cashmere is typically associated with the colder weather, but Quince’s blended tank is something you can work into your summer wardrobe, too. You’ll love how the added texture amps up simple bottoms when it’s too warm to layer.
10. Luxe Loungewear: No offense to my everyday sweats, but Intimissimi’s palazzo pants feel straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie. The soft, quality fabric will make weekends on the couch feel downright romantic, and no one will blame you if you choose to wear them multiple days in a row.
11. Very Versatile: If you’re searching for a black dress to wear to weddings, baby showers and date nights, Quince has you covered. This 5% cashmere midi looks as almost regal, thanks to the plisse pleats. At the same time, it has a simple yet chic appearance that can be styled with bold jewelry and heels or dressed down with white sneakers.
12. Quite the Charmer: While Nordstrom’s embellished knit is a tad pricier than other options on this list, it’s a small price to pay for a piece that seemingly does it all. It’s jewelry and clothing rolled into one, and while the top is warm enough for winter, you’ll still be reaching for it in the early days of spring.
13. A Little Extra: If you’ve had your fill of sweaters, grab yourself a chic poncho, which will instantly enhance your current knitwear collection, and can even be layered over a coat.
14. Secretly Warm: You won’t need to bundle up if you opt for a toasty tee. Uniqlo’s high-tech design converts body moisture into heat (cool), and since it’s made from 9% cashmere and 6% spandex, you’ll have no problem wearing this soft, stretchy find on repeat.
I love the ease of wearing skirts and dresses, but after weeks of below-zero temps in New York City, sheer tights and worn-out leggings are the last things I reach for, even when I’m running straight from a taxi to a restaurant door. Instead of completely phasing out some of my favorite pieces until the […]
By Robert Scucci
| Published
If you’re of a sound mind and in good health, and everything is going great in your life, you probably won’t ever find yourself manipulated into joining a cult. Or, if you’re like Ansel Roth (Leland Orser) from 2014’s Faults, you’re so against the idea of cults separating families and ruining lives that you devote your own life to seeking out victims and reprogramming them so they can go back to the way things were before running away from home.
This is where things get messy, because what if you also owe a ton of money to your loan shark publisher at the same time a desperate family tracks you down so you can reunite them with their estranged daughter? You have no guarantees that you can help them, but you can probably get the cash you need, put on a good show, walk away relatively unscathed, and move on with your life.
At least that’s what Ansel thinks will happen in Faults, but it’s only a matter of time before his reckless behavior catches up with him.
One Sad, Sad Man’s Disingenuous Redemption Arc
In Faults, Ansel Roth is living a very sad life, traveling from cheap hotel to cheap hotel, trying to push his new book. Though his first published work was a highly successful tome about deprogramming cult victims so they could go back to their old lives, his new book is simply a cash grab meant to recoup losses from his recent divorce and other life failings.
Though he has trouble selling his new book, he’s at least able to work out a free room and meal per hotel visit, and otherwise lives out of his car. It’s all really pathetic, but there’s also a sense of entitlement that makes the whole situation disproportionately funny, particularly when he argues over fraudulent meal vouchers and steals all the towels and remote batteries from whatever room he’s about to get kicked out of.
To make matters worse for Ansel, his manager, Terry (Jon Gries), not only severs ties with him because he’s not moving any units, but demands payment for past debts within a week, or else. He even sends one of his goons, Mick (Lance Reddick), to threaten him in person as Ansel travels the country on his increasingly pathetic book tour.
Desperate for cash, and considering the possibility that his entire career is a joke, Ansel is approached by Evelyn (Beth Grant) and Paul (Chris Ellis) about their daughter, Claire (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who ran away to become a member of Faults, an elusive cult that preys on the innocent. Ansel, in his infinite wisdom, agrees to help deprogram her for the exact amount of money he owes Terry so he can put all of his failures behind him and move on with his life.
The plan is simple at first. Ansel, with Evelyn and Paul’s permission, hires actors to stage Claire’s abduction. Staying at yet another seedy motel, Ansel gets to work with Claire, who doesn’t know her parents are staying in the adjoining room, waiting for her breakthrough. Matters are continually complicated by Claire’s resistance to treatment, along with Mick making surprise appearances to collect the rest of the money Ansel owes Terry.
A Masterclass In Manipulation
Faults takes a deep dive into the exact kind of cult level manipulation you’re familiar with if you’ve watched any documentaries on the subject, but subverts expectations every step of the way. Ansel knows all the methods used to deprogram someone and has had mixed results in the past. He believes he needs to break Claire’s spirit and rebuild her from the ground up so she can assimilate back into her family and put Faults behind her.
Claire, on the other hand, has her own ideas about how things should work. She’s incredibly stubborn, and her behavior, along with external forces beyond her control like Terry and Mick’s looming presence, pushes Ansel into increasingly compromising positions. Constant money runs and impromptu detours during deprogramming sessions leave him sleep deprived, slowly wearing away his resolve and, in many cases, giving Claire the upper hand.
What’s so enthralling about Faults is just how deeply everybody digs themselves in for their own selfish reasons. Ansel needs money. Claire doesn’t want to leave her cult. Her parents want everything to go back to the way it was, even if the way things were years ago no longer serve Claire, who is now an adult.
On some level, everybody is manipulating everybody else, and Faults makes you question who’s actually the real article. Half the fun is figuring out who’s pulling one over on who, and this feeling of distrust and animosity is pushed onto the audience in ways that make you never really want to root for anybody, while also hoping the right party gets what they’re looking for.
As of this writing, Faults is streaming for free on Tubi.
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Ian McKellen says Magneto absolutely 'destroys' New Jersey in“ Avengers: Doomsday”: 'Sorry about that'
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“My fault,” the Marvel star said.
Bridgerton author Julia Quinn is sending fans a warning message that the tears might be flowing before season 4 comes to a close.
“I can just say, get your tissues ready, because it’s rough,” Quinn exclusively told Us Weekly of the events that transpire in part 2 of the Netflix series. “When I visited the set, they were filming scenes and I saw a scene that was — at the same time incredibly joyful and just heart wrenching — so, yeah, you’re gonna need tissues for part 2.”
Eagle-eyed fans began speculating that there could be a major character death after a teaser for the second half of the season showed Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) dressed in all black attire — sparking rumors of a potential funeral. While it’s unclear whose death or funeral viewers might potentially see play out, fans have pointed to a couple characters as options.
Readers of Quinn’s book To Sir Phillip, With Love know that Eloise’s love story with Phillip (Chris Fulton) begins after Marina’s (Ruby Barker) untimely death. But it’s also possible that Francesca’s (Hannah Dodd) husband, John (Victor Alli), could end up dead as Quinn’s When He Was Wicked centers around the pair’s marriage — and the Bridgerton sibling’s journey to find love again with John’s cousin Michael. (The series notably introduced Masali Baduza’s character Michaela instead of Michael in the season 3 finale.)
Bridgerton author Julia Quinn has gotten insight into the upcoming seasons of the show — including which actors will take the lead. “I know who is scheduled next,” Quinn, 55, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, May 22, while discussing her upcoming judging duties for The Novelry’s “Next Big Story” writing contest. “It could always […]
“I just remember when they introduced John last season, and he was so awesome. I was just like, ‘Oh.’ Because in the books, you don’t get to know him as well as the show. And I was like, ‘You’re just making it so much worse,’” Quinn told Us regarding if and when John’s time comes. “He’s so wonderful.”
Aside from the potential onscreen death, fans have also weighed in on several moments from the first half of season 4 — which begins with Benedict’s (Luke Thompson) Cinderella-inspired meet-cute with maid Sophie (Yerin Ha). Despite Benedict’s social class preventing him from marrying Sophie, he begins to fall in love with her and ultimately asks her to be his mistress.
Quinn, meanwhile, wanted to make sure that viewers of the series — which takes place in the Regency era of England — were aware of how unusual it would be for someone of Benedict’s rank to ask for Sophie’s hand in marriage.
“It wasn’t so much a scene,” Quinn told Us when asked whether there was anything from the books that she wanted included in season 4. “It’s just saying, ‘You have to make sure that viewers understand how unprecedented it would be for him to offer her marriage.’”
Season 4 of Bridgerton pulls inspiration from Julia Quinn‘s book An Offer From a Gentleman — but there were also a few major changes. The latest season of Bridgerton follows Benedict’s (Luke Thompson) love story with Sophie (Yerin Ha) from the third novel in Quinn’s series. As some fans know, Benedict’s world gets turned upside […]
“That’s something I just said, ‘You need to make sure they understand this, because it’s going to seem really awful,’” Quinn continued of Benedict’s offer to Sophie. “And so that’s why I’m always telling people, ‘Hey, the big deal is not that he does this, not that he asked her to be his mistress, because that’s what would happen.’”
Quinn noted that Benedict’s controversial question is a “huge part” of her third book, An Offer From a Gentleman.
“I mean, the characters do — I don’t know if I call them stupid things — but they don’t always make the right choice right away, or they don’t always make the bold choice right away, and they have to learn,” she explained to Us. “And again, I don’t want to have perfect people. I want them to grow and learn, and so that’s why they do some of the things they do.”
As fans await to find out how Benedict and Sophie’s love story plays out in part 2, Quinn is launching her JQ Editions to recommend similar historical romance novels.
“I get so many readers who want to know, like, ‘What do I read after Bridgerton?’ And, ‘I’m new to historical romance, and what should I read?’ And now I can be like, ‘This. This is what you should read. These are my very favorite books,’” she shared. “I do recommend books on social media. But this one it’s going to be six books a year to start out. So these are the top, these are the very, very best. This is me saying, ‘This is the one you should read and I’m mailing it to your house.’”
The famed author is also partnering with Spotify to promote the streamer’s first-of-its-kind Page Match, where readers can connect physical and e-books to audiobooks on Spotify with a single scan.
“My jaw dropped,” Quinn said of seeing the feature for the first time. “I know so many people who have one book that they read and one book that they listen to because they read in bed and they listen to things at the gym. And now, with the Page Match, you can go back and forth seamlessly. You can stay with one book, which I think is incredible for people like me, who don’t split their attention very well.”
Season 4 of Bridgerton part 1 can be streamed on Netflix now. The show returns for part 2 on Thursday, February 26. All of the Bridgerton audiobooks are available in Spotify Premium.
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