Entertainment
Before Passing, Johnny Cash Named Elvis Presley As the Greatest Performer of All Time
Johnny Cash hardly needs an introduction; the American-born singer and songwriter was known for his deep voice and defiant persona. During his lifetime and after his death, he became one of the most influential icons in American music history. His many successful songs, such as “One Piece At A Time”, “I Walk The Line” and “Ring of Fire”, have added to his credentials as a raw storyteller and musician with deep emotional depth. But when it came to who Cash felt was the best musician and entertainer of all time, Cash named none other than the king of rock ‘n’ roll.
Johnny Cash Called Elvis Presley the Best Performer of All Time
In 1968, following his widely televised comeback special, several media outlets proclaimed Elvis Presley the most outstanding living music performer. The title of greatest music performer was not given without merit to the then 33-year-old. By the time of his tragic death in 1977, Presley was already one of the best-selling solo artists of all time. To his credit, he achieved seventeen number-one singles and eight number-one albums, starred in seventeen top-ten films, and won three Grammy Awards. But it’s not only fans and music critics who were enthralled by Presley’s artistry. There was another famous musician, too, who sang the praises of the “Blue Suede Shoes” singer, and that was none other than Johnny Cash.
As ardent fans will know, Cash and Presley were not only comrades in the music industry but were also close friends. “They were part of the driving force that created rock and roll. My dad and Elvis were friends; they worked side by side when Elvis was at Sun Records. [Of course,],” revealed Cash’s son during an interview with the Express UK. “Elvis went on to make his films and some more music later on, and they never worked together again after the 1950s. They each had their own individual, unique traits as artists. Dads reached in different directions than Elvis’ did, enduring a legacy as a long-standing artist, having resurgences and renaissances throughout his life. Dad carried on, and he made music up until the very end. In some way, his legacy’s quite a bit different, but he always appreciated and loved Elvis.”
But beyond their friendship, Cash also admired Presley’s art above all else. And he made the admission nearly 21 years after Presley’s death, during a rare appearance on The Late Late Show. When the show’s host, Craig Ferguson, asked Cash, “Of all the performers you’ve seen in action, who do you reckon was the best?” Cash, who stared straight at the camera, answered plainly: “Elvis Presley.” When asked to elaborate, Cash stated that “He [Presley] had a lot of rhythm, he was a very good singer and a fabulous performer. And the way he moved the people…” Cash then went on to recall his first encounter with the king of rock n roll: “When he was 19 years old, that’s when I toured with him for the first time,” said Cash. “And not only did the girls love Elvis, but every man backstage was standing in the wings watching Elvis…He had that charisma, that magic that a great performer needs to get the people right there.“
Elvis Presley Was Crowned the King of Rock n’ Roll but His True Love Was a Different Genre
The King of Rock n’ Roll preferred a different genre altogether.
Elvis Presley Snubbed This Other Contemporary Artist
Elvis Presley may have admired and considered Johnny Cash a friend and respected peer, but the often temperamental artist didn’t extend that same grace to everyone. Case in point, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, who had long been a fan and admirer of Presley’s. During the early 1970s, when both artists were at the height of their fame, Wilson, who was busy recording music at the famed RCA Studios in Hollywood, got wind that Presley was there at the same time recording music with James Burton, he jumped at the chance to meet his idol.
According to Burton’s account of the fateful incident, Wilson asked him to facilitate the meeting: “He said, ‘Oh! Please, please take me to meet Elvis’. I took him in, and he walked up to Elvis and was just looking at him. And Elvis stuck his hand out to shake hands, and [Wilson] couldn’t move.” However, the meeting went from bad to worse after Presley’s friend Jerry Schillling revealed that as a starstruck, Wilson’ stood there in awe of the king of rock ‘n’ roll. The very private Elvis clearly showed no recognition of the Beach Boy and became a little angered that his security team had let a stranger wander in. “Elvis was very upset with us, thinking, ‘How did this guy get in here, and who is he? So Brian said, ‘I’m recording next door. Would you come over and listen?’ And Elvis looked at us; almost in spite of us, since this guy had gotten through. He said, ‘Yeah, I’ll go over.’” Schilling then stated that as the duo headed to the other recording studio, Wilson moved to playfully karate chop Elvis’ arm to break the ice. Presley then reportedly swiped Wilson’s arm away with no look of joviality on his face. “I knew he knew karate, and he karate chopped my arm so hard,” explained Wilson during his visit to Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in 2012. . “And he goes, ‘I’m leaving, I’m leaving,’ and he split. And that was it.”
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Entertainment
Chris Pratt Had A ‘List Of Directives’ Before Getting Remarried
Actor Chris Pratt is opening up on the “list of directives” he made with Katherine Schwarzenegger before they got married. The couple tied the knot in 2019 and now share three children together. The “Guardians of the Galaxy” star recently shared a little known secret about his marriage, revealing that they went to couples counseling before tying the knot in order to set some ground rules.
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Chris Pratt Reveals He Went To Couples Counseling Before Getting Married

During an appearance on Rob Lowe’s “Literally! With Rob Lowe” podcast, the “Jurassic World” star revealed that premarital counseling helped his marriage before it even began.
“A part of getting married at St. Monica [Catholic] Church is doing premarital counseling,” Pratt told his “Parks and Recreation” costar, as per Entertainment Weekly. “We did like six sessions with this guy who was, by the way, the best thing in the world.”
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“If you’re somebody who’s thinking of getting married, you should definitely follow this,” he continued. “They ask you questions you would not even think to answer until you’ve been married for eight years, and then something comes up, and you’re like, ‘What do you mean? That’s what you think about that?’ And then you have to negotiate it then. Like re-negotiating every landmine.”
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Chris Pratt Describes Premarital Counseling As ‘Really Great’

Describing the experience as “really great,” he explained how they “came up with this whole list of directives” that they were going to have in their partnership and wedding. This allowed them to confront potential disagreements before they actually happened.
“One of them was that we were gonna play Christmas music on November 1, and that we were gonna take the Christmas tree down December 26,” he explained. “We talked about it beforehand. So now we’re on board.”
Lowe, who has been married to Sheryl Beroff since 1991, said that Pratt’s “list of directives” sounded like a “great idea.”
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Chris Pratt Was Previously Married To Anna Faris

During their conversation, Pratt continued to praise the benefits of going to therapy before getting married.
“And that way, if you have an issue, you talk about it, and you hash it out, every single one,” Pratt continued. “If you agree on it, you move on. But if there’s things you disagree on, you hash it out, and you do the work” to understand your partner.
Confronting disagreements head-on was especially important to Pratt, as this was not his first marriage. The actor was previously married to “Scary Movie” actress Anna Faris from 2009 to 2018. They share one son: Jack, 13. Pratt and Schwarzenegger welcomed three children together: daughters Lyla, 5, Eloise, 3, and son Ford, 1.
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Chris Pratt Feels ‘Shaken’ As New Movie Flops

As The Blast previously reported, the “Passengers” actor is starting to worry that his days in Hollywood might be numbered. His latest movie, “Mercy,” received negative reviews from critics and failed to bring in audiences at the box office.
“Chris is panicking. Full stop,” one source told The Daily Mail in early February. “This is the first time he’s really feeling his age in Hollywood—and it’s shaken him.”
“He always thought he had another decade of bulletproof stardom,” another insider divulged. “Now he’s looking around and realizing the parts aren’t coming like they used to.”
A third source said that Pratt has now become “obsessed with box office numbers and Rotten Tomatoes scores” as a result of the film’s poor performance.
Pratt Worked With The LAPD To Film ‘Mercy’

Late last year, while promoting the film at New York City Comic Con, Pratt told PEOPLE magazine that he worked extensively with the LAPD to bring his character to life. In the film, he plays a police detective accused of murdering his wife. Ultimately, he only has ninety minutes to prove his innocence to an AI judge while being physically strapped to a chair.
“I mean, some of the stunt work we did was really great. We got to drive cop cars and do some cool bar fight stuff,” he recalled before praising the law enforcement officials that he worked with as “heroes.”
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“Man, these guys are heroes,” he continued. “The trouble that they encounter and the trauma they see on a day-to-day basis is really, really staggering.” Despite the poor box office reception, he described the experience of working with the LAPD on the film as “really incredible.”
Entertainment
Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn crashes while competing on torn ACL, dashing comeback hopes
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The women’s downhill was won by Vonn’s U.S. teammate Breezy Johnson.
Entertainment
Sigourney Weaver’s R-Rated 90s Psychological Thriller Is A Devious Game Of Cat And Mouse
By Robert Scucci
| Published

1995’s Copycat is one of those movies that should be in heavy rotation if you’re a true crime fan who also enjoys a solid psychological thriller. Like a proto version of Mindhunter, it leans into the lore surrounding heavy hitters like Albert DeSalvo, The Hillside Strangler, David Berkowitz, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Ted Bundy, but every single reference is filtered through the perspective of a strung out criminal psychology expert as she aids two homicide detectives in tracing a copycat killer who mimics the MOs of the serial killers who inspired him.
Through this framework, and with the help of Sigourney Weaver’s on-screen chemistry with Holly Hunter and Dermot Mulroney, Copycat becomes a fun murder mystery thriller that manages to appeal to both casual moviegoers and true crime buffs alike.
A Killer On The Loose, An Expert Trapped Inside Her Trauma

Copycat first introduces us to the trauma that forces criminal psychology expert Dr. Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver) into a reclusive lifestyle. Suffering from agoraphobia and drinking her way through each day, Dr. Helen is the ultimate authority on serial killer behavior. That authority comes at a cost after her dangerous run-in with escaped killer Daryll Lee Cullum (Harry Connick Jr.) during one of her lectures, an encounter that forces her to value her safety and privacy above everything else. While she still has a passion for her research and criminal profiling, Dr. Helen suffers anxiety attacks at the mere thought of leaving her luxury apartment, effectively trapping herself inside her own expertise.
When a string of murders begins to plague San Francisco, Inspector Mary Jane “M.J.” Monahan (Holly Hunter) and her partner, Inspector Ruben Goetz (Dermot Mulroney), are tasked not only with finding the culprit behind the slayings, but also with keeping the possibility of a serial killer under wraps in order to avoid sparking unnecessary public hysteria.

This is where the magic really happens in Copycat. Dr. Helen Hudson is a force to be reckoned with. Her pattern recognition and ability to profile on the fly as new evidence comes to light is intimidating to say the least. She initially helps M.J. and Ruben begrudgingly, but soon becomes just as consumed with the case as they are. M.J. is the inverse of Helen in almost every way. She lacks the years of experience needed to draw the same immediate connections, but makes up for it by trusting her instincts and acting decisively when it matters most.
As they work together, M.J., Ruben, and Dr. Hudson realize they are dealing with a serial killer whose MO is defined by the absence of one. Rather than developing his own methodology, the killer meticulously recreates the murder techniques and crime scene imagery of the serial killers he idolizes. By constantly changing his approach, he stays one step ahead of the inspectors hunting him, all while dropping increasingly unsettling hints that Dr. Helen Hudson herself is his ultimate target, for reasons that are not immediately clear.
The Perfect Intersection Of True Crime And Fiction

While Copycat leans heavily into true crime to build its internal logic, you do not need to be a true crime junkie to appreciate what it’s doing. References are limited to the most well-known real-life killers, giving casual viewers enough context to understand the stakes without requiring a post-watch research spiral.
The procedural details the film leans on are delivered in self-contained bursts of criminal profiling that are easy to follow, allowing viewers to simply sit back and watch the mystery unfold. The film never feels like it’s testing the audience or showing off its homework.

In other words, if you’re into shows like Mindhunter but less interested in the kind of granular breakdowns found in something like Last Podcast on the Left, Copycat strikes an ideal balance. It’s a rock-solid thriller that doesn’t require a crash course in the macabre to fully appreciate, and its slow-burn mystery keeps the tension simmering from start to finish.

Copycat is currently streaming for free on Tubi.
Entertainment
Lindsey Vonn Crashes, Heard Screaming in Pain at 2026 Olympics After ACL Tear
Lindsey Vonn’s heroic attempt at Olympics immortality ended in devastating agony.
Vonn, 41, crashed during her women’s downhill run at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, February 8, which came just nine days after she completely tore her ACL.
The crash happened 13 seconds into the American skier’s run. Vonn could be heard screaming in agony while being attended to by medical staff on the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Vonn was eventually airlifted off the course by a helicopter, a similar scene to the one that played out on January 30 when she tore her ACL during a World Cup Race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
“Lindsey Vonn sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians,” the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team said in a statement on Sunday.
In a photo captured by Associated Press photographer Jacquelyn Martin, Vonn’s right ski pole can be seen clipping a gate, which led to the crash.

A giant screen shows US’ Lindsey Vonn receiving assistance after a crash in the women’s downhill event during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 8, 2026. Tiziana FABI / AFP
The day before the event, Vonn defended competing despite her injury in a response to sports medicine doctor Brian Sutterer.
“lol thanks doc,” Vonn posted via X on Saturday, February 7. “My ACL was fully functioning until last Friday. Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s not possible. And yes, my ACL is 100% ruptured. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.”
Vonn also called out USA Today‘s Greg Graber on Saturday, who wrote a column questioning why Vonn was competing with a torn ACL.
“I’m sorry Greg but this is a very odd opinion piece,” Vonn wrote via X. “The pain and suffering is the point? I’m searching for meaning? Why am I taking risk “at my age?” This ageism stuff is getting really old.”
She continued, “My life does not revolve around ski racing. I am a woman that loves to ski. I don’t have an identity issue, I know exactly who I am. I was retired for 6 years and I have an amazing life. I don’t need to ski, but I love to ski. I came all this way for one final Olympics and I’m going to go and do my best, ACL or no. It’s as simple as that. And respectfully, if you don’t know the story, it might be best not to make assumptions.”
Vonn revealed she had completely torn her ACL on Tuesday, February 3, but vowed to see through her Olympic comeback, which came after she announced her return to the sport in November 2024.
“Well… I completely tore my ACL last Friday,” Vonn shared via Instagram. “I also sustained a bone bruise (which is a common injury when you tear your ACL), plus meniscal tears but it’s unclear how much of that was there previously and what was new from the crash. This was obviously incredibly hard news to receive one week before the Olympics. I really appreciate everyone giving me time and space to process what happened and find a way forward.”
She continued, “After extensive consultations with doctors, intense therapy, physical tests as well as skiing today, I have determined I am capable of competing in the Olympic Downhill on Sunday. Of course I will still need to do one training run, as is required to race on Sunday, but… I am confident in my body’s ability to perform. Despite my injuries my knee is stable, I do not have swelling and my muscles are firing and reacting as they should. I will obviously be continuing to evaluate with my medical team on a daily basis to make sure we are making smart decisions but I have every intention of competing on Sunday.”
Entertainment
17 Writer-Loved Boutiquey Sweaters That Are Warm yet Breathable
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I’ve been freezing lately. Maybe it’s the sub-zero temps or blustery winds, but either way, I’m seeking warmth ASAP. At the same time, I’m also fussy about being too hot. Enter these 17 boutique-style sweaters that are designed to combine peak coziness and breathability.
It’s best to search for fabric blends that are made with natural fibers like wool, cotton and cashmere that are temperate enough for winter weather (sans the sweat). When combined with stretchy fabrics like elastane or spandex, which complement the body, you’re sure to look and feel your best. I played Goldilocks to find these plush, lightweight knits that masterfully retain heat while promoting air flow. They’re not too thick or too thin — they’re just right. Better yet, my picks start at just $7!
17 Boutique-Style Sweaters to Stay Warm, Not Hot
1. Yacht Wife: Fuzzy and luxe, this striped sweater makes you look like a rich yacht wife. I love the nautical appeal.
2. Perfect Balance: This oversized chunky cable-knit sweater is thick, however, it’s made with a cotton-blend material for enhanced breathability.
3. Like Loungewear: You’ll forget you ever left the couch in this stretchy ribbed-knit sweater that’s casual but polished. One shopper even said it feels like being wrapped in a blanket.
4. Be Mine: This darling heart-print sweater is perfect for February. If you wear it on Cupid’s Day, expect a proposal.
5. Layering Staple: Polyester isn’t all bad. In fact, the material is known for trapping heat like a champ, which works well with this thin, layering-ready sweater.
6. Polo Trend: Rich moms like Gwyneth Paltrow and Hilary Duff can’t stop wearing this preppy polo sweater style. Need I say more?
7. Old Money: People will think you’re old money-rich when you wear this long, relaxed-fitting cardigan that features elegant gold buttons. It should cost thousands!
8. Corporate Queen: Look no further for the perfect office cardigan. The tailored fit makes you appear stylish and professional.
9. Cool Mom: Oversized sweaters aren’t always flattering, but this fuzzy wonder hangs in all the right places.
10. Check Yes: I’m obsessed with this checker-print sweater, especially the mock neckline and roomy lantern sleeves.
11. Wrapped Up: This wrap piece in between a cardigan and a classic sweater, giving you a two-in-one design we can’t get over. Psst, it effortlessly cinches at the waist.
12. Pretty and Playful: This quarter-sleeve sweater is both trendy and timeless, thanks to wavy hems and contrast detailing.
13. Apple of My Eye: Between the eyelet material and gentle pleated detailing, this dainty puff-sleeve sweater belongs in a Hamptons boutique . . . as well as my closet.
14. Budget-Friendly: Channel millionaire vibes in this expensive-looking pullover that features crochet details, a ribbed knit design and rich color options.
15. Short-Sleeve Stunner: Transition seamlessly from winter to spring in this wool-blend tee. I’m grabbing one for picnics, errands and Zoom calls.
15. Center of Attention: It doesn’t get cozier than this Merino wool cardigan, especially since it has a tastefully oversized construction.
16. So Sporty: Who needs a country club membership? This business-casual polo sweater does all the talking, especially when you roll the sleeves up slightly.
17. Run Warm: This 100% cotton pullover layers beautifully with cardigans, denim jackets and trench coats. It gives you control over your temperature at all times.
18. Like Butter: Shoppers rave about this relaxed quarter-zip pick, describing it as buttery soft, warm and wrinkle resistant. Score!
19. Everyday Outfit: If you’re always running out the door like me, you’ll want this crochet-style blouse on hand. It styles perfectly with jeans and sneakers.
Entertainment
Which The Artful Dodger Stars Are — And Aren’t — Returning for Season 2
Hulu’s The Artful Dodger is returning for a second season three years later — so who is and isn’t returning after that deadly cliffhanger?
Acting as a sequel to Charles Dickens‘ novel Oliver Twist, The Artful Dodger is set in the 1850s and follows Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), who is a former Royal Navy surgeon trying to establish himself as a respected young doctor.
“When an old acquaintance, Fagin, resurfaces, it forces Jack, once a London-based pickpocket known as the Artful Dodger, back into a life of crime,” read the official synopsis. “Jack forms an attachment to the governor’s daughter, Lady Belle Fox, who aspires to be a surgeon.”
The description continued: “As Jack’s past intersects with the present and external forces jeopardize his goals, his life unravels, raising questions about whether he can genuinely reshape his life in the colony as he had envisioned.”
The first season, which premiered in 2023, concluded with Fagin (David Thewlis) getting the better against Oliver Twist (Hal Cumpston) while Jack performed risky surgery to save Belle (Maia Mitchell). Before the love interests can be reunited, Jack is betrayed and arrested by Gaines (Damon Herriman).
One year after the show debuted on Hulu, the streaming service renewed it for a second season.
“The Artful Dodger returns, and he’s in deep trouble. He’s got an appointment with the noose, he’s being hunted by Inspector Boxer, Port Victory’s new lawman, and if he sees the woman he loves, Lady Belle, he’ll be hanged,” teased the official synopsis. “Meanwhile, Lady Belle is determined to forge her future in medicine, defying expectation and stepping into danger, driven by ambition and a love already hanging in the balance.”
The description concluded: “With Boxer competing with Jack for Belle’s affection, the crafty Fagin drags Dodger into their most dangerous heist yet, and a killer is on the loose. Get ready for an explosive season of new characters and locations with more thrills, humor, heart, invention and deception than ever.”
Keep scrolling to see which cast members are — and aren’t — coming back when the show returns:
Thomas Brodie-Sangster

There would be no Artful Dodger without Jack Dawkins so Brodie-Sangster is returning — despite that cliffhanger.
David Thewlis

Jack’s surrogate father a.k.a Fagin also has a central role in the sophomore season of the show.
Maia Mitchell

After Jack and Belle’s relationship became the main focus of season 1, Mitchell is back in the fan-favorite role.
Susie Porter
Belle’s mother is expected to keep playing a role in keeping Jack and Belle apart.
Damon Herriman

Gaines isn’t expected to return in season 2 after being a main character on the show.
Damien Garvey

The rest of the Fox family is also a crucial part of the show.
Lucy-Rose Leonard

Belle will need her sister by her side in the second season of the show.
Nicholas Burton
Since Jack will keep performing surgeries, Sneed is back in the hospital as well.
Luke Bracey

Belle and Jack’s romance might hit a snag with the introduction of Bracey’s Inspector Henry Boxer.
Jeremy Sims
Sims is introduced as Uncle Dickie in season 2 of The Artful Dodger.
Zac Burgess
Burgess will be part of the ensemble cast when The Artful Dodger returns to Hulu.
Hal Cumpston
Cumpston’s return hasn’t been confirmed for season 2.
Entertainment
‘Masters of the Universe’ Can’t Replace One of the Greatest ’80s Toy Shows
The 1980s were a veritable golden age of toy-based cartoons, especially in the action-figure-driven category. Many success stories grew out of that era, including Masters of the Universe, and its spin-off, She-Ra: Princess of Power, The Transformers, ThunderCats, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. However, the arguable king of the 1980s toy-based cartoons was the classic, animated series for Hasbro’s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. G.I. Joe led the pack through the formative decade of “toyetic” action-adventure animated shows, but Hollywood still struggles to get G.I. Joe right.
A Collaboration Between Hasbro and Marvel Comics Gave Birth to the Revamped Version of ‘G.I. Joe’
Although Hasbro’s line of G.I. Joe military-themed toys dates back to the 1960s, many fans and children of the 1980s who grew up with the IP know that the “Real American Hero” version of G.I. Joe derived from a collaboration between Hasbro and Marvel Comics, at a time when Hasbro wanted to revamp its G.I. Joe trademarks. Ultimately, the late former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, as he explained in NYC Graphic Novelists, put together a creative team including himself, Larry Hama, Archie Goodwin, and Tom DeFalco, who broke the stories and came up with a new concept for what became G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.
Ultimately, under their new concept, G.I. Joe would serve not as a nickname for a soldier, but as a codename for an elite, anti-terrorist unit. As Shooter described, “Maybe it’s like a secret squad of the best soldiers and sailors and airmen. They’re all in this secret group, and they fight terrorists and have special technology.’” Hama came up with many of the character names and would eventually become the writer of the original A Real American Hero comic series published by Marvel Comics.
Besides creating the popular 3.75-inch action figures for Marvel’s new comic, Hasbro also helped finance new animated commercials that advertised the series. The animated commercials proved so popular that an episodic animated series inspired by the new comics and action figures was commissioned, produced by Marvel and Sunbow Productions. Thus, the popular G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero animated series was born, debuting in 1983 with “The M.A.S.S. Device” miniseries, ushering in a new cartoon legend.
‘G.I. Joe’ Featured an Incredibly Diverse and Electic Cast
One of the things that’s still so striking about the 1980s G.I. Joe show, even to this day, is its incredibly diverse, eclectic, and unique cast of characters, including men and women from all walks of life and various nationalities. The troops in G.I. Joe were assembled from the best of their respective fields, with characters who specialized in everything from guerrilla warfare and ranged combat to underwater and naval battles, to pilots and airmen. G.I. Joe truly represents the melting pot culture that is America, and it spotlights those Americans coming together, fighting to defend their nation against a common enemy in COBRA. With such a large and diverse cast, there was a G.I. Joe for every type of kid.
Although the plots of the animated series were far less mature, dark, and intense than Marvel’s original comic series, some episodes of the 1980s show proved to be quite serious and provocative for their time. Series standouts easily include the two-parter, “Worlds Without Ends,” which finds a group of Joes transported to an alternate dimension where COBRA has succeeded and taken over the world, enforcing a brutal, fascist regime across the globe. In a dark scene, Steeler (Chris Latta) finds the open graves of the dead bodies of that dimension’s Joes, who were all wiped out by COBRA. The episode reinforces the importance of G.I. Joe’s work in fighting COBRA, especially for Steeler, who was growing weary from the two sides’ never-ending struggle. From time to time, G.I. Joe featured layers of nuance and pathos rarely seen in kids’ cartoons of the era.
Hollywood Constantly Struggles To Adapt ‘G.I. Joe’
Hollywood has struggled to find success in its multiple attempts to adapt G.I. Joe to the big screen, first with the 2009 live-action movie, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and its 2013 sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, which achieved mixed results. Then came the absolutely awful live-action spin-off, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, in 2021. The 2009 movie attempted to force goofy personal backstories with Cobra Commander (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), The Baroness (Sienna Miller), and field leader Duke (Channing Tatum). The romance from the comics between Snake-Eyes (Ray Park) and Scarlett (Rachel Nichols) is sadly abandoned in favor of Scarlett and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans).
Something that all the live-action G.I. Joe movies have in common is that they failed to capture the magic of the cool characters that Larry Hama, Marvel Comics, and Sunbow Productions created, along with the more compelling elements of the G.I. Joe versus COBRA conflict. Additionally, A Real American Hero is very much steeped in 1980s values and Americana — something that does not always align with today’s values, and Hollywood creators struggle in attempting to recreate. Additionally, the Snake Eyes movie utterly fails in realizing the cool backstories of Snake Eyes (Henry Golding) and Storm Shadow (Andrew Koji), two of G.I. Joe’s most popular and iconic characters, making Snake Eyes come off like a selfish, amoral jerk. With Hollywood so desperate to reboot iconic properties over and over again, perhaps one day, someone will finally understand how to recapture the magic of G.I. Joe’s most popular era of A Real American Hero and bring it to life on the big screen.
Entertainment
The 23 best Super Bowl commercials of all time, from Hare Jordan to the E-Trade Babies
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For some, they’re the best part of the big game.
Entertainment
Steven Spielberg’s Most Debated Sci-Fi Film Is Being Reclaimed as a Free Streaming Hit
Few movies spark this much discourse two decades later. A.I. Artificial Intelligence has always been polarizing — too sentimental for some, too bleak for others — but now that it’s blowing up on free streaming, people are realizing something important: This movie was way ahead of its time.
Released in 2001 and directed by Steven Spielberg, A.I. sits at the crossroads of Spielberg’s emotional storytelling and Stanley Kubrick’s colder, more existential sci-fi instincts. That tonal collision confused audiences back then. Today? It feels eerily on point.
The film centers on David, an artificial child programmed to love unconditionally, played with devastating sincerity by Haley Joel Osment. Set in a future where climate collapse has reshaped civilization, David’s search for belonging becomes a brutal meditation on what it means to be human — and whether humanity actually deserves the empathy it demands from its creations.
Is ‘A.I. Artificial Intelligence’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review stated that A.I.: Artificial Intelligence remained one of Spielberg’s most challenging and fascinating films, growing richer with distance from its initial release. Once seen as narratively alienating, the film revealed itself as a deliberate self-critique, using Spielberg’s familiar cinematic language to unsettling ends rather than emotional comfort. Technically impressive and emotionally icy, the story of David, a child Mecha programmed to love, inverted the sentimentality of E.T. and reframed it as something eerie and tragic. What initially felt like emptiness instead emerged as restraint, forcing viewers to sit with abandonment, longing, and artificial devotion without easy release.
“A.I.: Artificial Intelligence is not a Kubrick film in that it’s a commentary on humanity, instead it’s Spielberg deconstructing himself. Kubrick and Spielberg had a relationship that the two talked about and I don’t know what it was really like, but I wonder if Kubrick was kind of an asshole about Spielberg’s more sappy moments. The film seems to dispute so much of what Spielberg did in E.T. – again right down to the title. Where ET was a jesus figure, that’s pretty much the opposite here, and all the tricks Spielberg uses to make ET cute are used here to make David creepy. The moon that signifies Amblin and Elliot’s flight in that film becomes the enemy, and the mother is the person who casts David out. The film builds to an ending that Spielberg has seen as happy, but most audiences have viewed as anything but.”
A.I. Artiificial Intelligence is streaming now, on Tubi, for free.
- Release Date
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June 29, 2001
- Runtime
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146 Minutes
Entertainment
Which CBS Shows Have Gone Through Surprising Showrunner Changes?
Fire Country isn’t the only CBS show currently going through a surprising showrunner change.
News broke in January 2026 that showrunner Tia Napolitano was leaving after multiple onscreen departures.
“Tia has been instrumental in helping both build and steer Fire Country, which not only became a top series, but is also the foundation of a growing universe,” CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios President David Stapf said in a joint statement. “We’re grateful for all her contributions and tireless work, and look forward to collaborating with her on future projects.”
Napolitano was with the show since its 2022 premiere on CBS. Before her exit, Napolitano spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about what fans could expect from the remainder of the fourth season.
“[You should] be worried. We’ve got Bode and Tyler in a fire shelter in the middle of a blaze. Those things are built for one, there’s two lives in there,” Napolitano shared in December 2025. “And we’ve got Jake and his brother over the side of a cliff. You see how many times that vehicle goes over and over. We see heads hit hard surfaces.”
Napolitano teased that “those are not easy things to come back” from, adding, “We’ll watch our people fight to get out of there.” She also revealed there was a “huge twist” coming in the midseason premiere.
The showrunner change came after budget cuts led to Billy Burke and Stephanie Arcila‘s exits. Elsewhere at the network, NCIS‘ prequel series NCIS: Origins and FBI spinoff CIA also faced some shakeups behind the scenes.
Keep scrolling for a breakdown of the changes:
‘Fire Country’

Napolitano released a statement in January 2026, which read, “I am beyond proud of the past four seasons of Fire Country. All of my gratitude to our cast, crew, writers, producers, fans, and of course CBS and CBS Studios. It’s been a beautiful ride!”
Multiple outlets including Deadline reported that a replacement for Napolitano hasn’t been found yet.
‘NCIS: Origins’

Mariel Molino, Austin Stowell. Erik Voake/CBS
It was confirmed in January 2026 that co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal is departing from the show at the end of season 2. David J. North will remain and will serve as sole showrunner in her absence.
“Gina has been an important beloved member of the ‘NCIS’ family for many years,” CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios President David Stapf said in a joint statement. “We are incredibly grateful to her for helping launch and steer NCIS: Origins, and bringing these incredible characters and stories to life. We look forward to working with her again in the future on new projects, and know the creative foundation she helped build will continue to thrive.”
Monreal released her own statement about the surprise exit. “It’s been the biggest honor of my career to write NCIS: Origin’ alongside my incredible co-showrunner and friend David North,” she wrote. “I want to thank Amy Reisenbach, David Stapf, and everyone at CBS Network and Studio for their support.”
She continued: “To have had this opportunity to work again with the incomparable Mark Harmon, Sean Harmon, our writers, and the best cast and crew in the business — how lucky am I? I can’t wait to see what this extraordinary group cooks up for season 3.”
‘CIA’

In April 2025, CBS gave CIA a straight-to-series order starring Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss. Originally planned for a fall 2025 premiere, CIA was pushed to midseason after Warren Leight replaced FBI: Most Wanted‘s David Hudgins as showrunner.
The changes kept coming when Michael Michele, one of the series’ leads, left in November 2025. Days later, Eriq La Salle left the series as executive producer. He was attached to CIA since its conception and directed the pilot before his exit.
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