Maria Shriver is celebrating her family’s victory after a judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s name be removed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

“An appropriate birthday present on my uncle’s birthday today,” Shriver, 70, wrote via Threads on Friday, May 29, referring to President John F. Kennedy, who would have been 109 years old today.

She explained, “A federal judge ruled that President Trump and the Kennedy Center Board acted unlawfully in renaming the Kennedy Center after him. The judge held that only Congress can change the Center’s name and blocked the planned two-year closure for now.”

Shriver — whose mother, Eunice Kennedy, is part of the storied Kennedy family and one of JFK’s siblings — added, ”I know they’ll probably appeal and the story isn’t over, but for today, let’s celebrate a great birthday gift.”

Related: Maria Shriver Doubles Down on Donald Trump Criticism Over Kennedy Center

Maria Shriver is speaking out against the Kennedy Center’s new name once again. Hours after workers added Donald Trump’s name to the Washington D.C. building, the niece of John F. Kennedy had some questions for the current president of the United States. “Adding your name to a memorial already named in honor of a great […]

Shriver’s celebratory post comes shortly after news broke that a federal judge barred Trump, 79, from adding his name to the Kennedy Center after he put his moniker on the iconic building in December 2025. (The building currently reads: The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.)

Judge Christopher Cooper pointed out that only Congress has the authority to make a change like that. He wrote in a 94-page order that the law Congress passed to create the performing arts center in Washington, D.C., was “crystal clear” that the building be named after President Kennedy.

“Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it,” Cooper wrote.

The Trump Kennedy Center vice president of public relations, Roma Daravi, told Us Weekly in a statement on Friday that the center is “confident that on appeal the court will uphold the Board’s will to recognize President Trump’s historic contributions to our nation’s cultural center.”

The judge, for his part, also temporarily blocked the Kennedy Center from being closed for two years due to renovations that Trump had planned.

Cooper explained that his ruling was due to the fact that the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees did not balance its obligations to the center when it agreed to close for renovations. “None of the board members had sufficient information in advance of the March 16 meeting to make a well-considered decision to close the center,” the judge wrote, according to the New York Times.

Should the board work toward “independently balancing its multiple obligations to the Center in a prudent fashion,” the judge said they might be able to close for renovations.

In response to the judge’s ruling, Davari told Us on Friday, “We will review the decision carefully though the reality remains — the Center requires an urgent and significant restoration – a truth that even the plaintiff acknowledges.”

Related: RFK Jr. Breaks Silence on President Trump Renaming Kennedy Center

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. weighed in on President Donald Trump’s decision to rename the Kennedy Center to add his own name to the memorial building. In a new interview released on Thursday, January 8, CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes asked RFK Jr., 71, whether he understood why his family members were “upset” […]

The VP of public relations for the Trump Kennedy Center added, “With $257 million secured by President Trump and approved by Congress, the resources are in place and we remain committed to pursuing every lawful avenue to ensure the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy.”

Prior to today’s ruling, Trump has received backlash since renaming the establishment in December 2025.

“Adding your name to a memorial already named in honor of a great man doesn’t make you a great man. Quite the contrary,” Shriver wrote via Instagram at the time. “Putting your name on top of someone else’s doesn’t mean that people will speak of you in the same breath as the other man. Putting your name above another man’s name on his existing memorial… What is that about? Truly? What’s that about?”

Trump came under further scrutiny when it was announced he’d be closing the center on July 4 to add an entertainment space.

Related: Jack Schlossberg Reveals 1 Way Trump Could Win Kennedy Family Award

Kennedy heir Jack Schlossberg has revealed the one way President Donald Trump could win his family’s prestigious Profile in Courage Award. “To be honest, I don’t think he’s in the running anytime soon,” Schlossberg, 33, joked during an appearance on MS Now on Sunday, March 22. Schlossberg appeared on the cable network to promote the […]

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“The Trump Kennedy Center will close on July 4th, 2026, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country, whereupon we will simultaneously begin Construction of the new and spectacular Entertainment Complex,” the president wrote via Truth Social in February. “This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken and dilapidated Center, one that has been in bad condition, both financially and structurally for many years, and turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music and Entertainment, far better than it has ever been before.”

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Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s only grandson and a candidate running for Congress, was outraged by Trump’s actions as well.

“Trump can take the Kennedy Center for himself. He can change the name, shut the doors, and demolish the building,” Schlossberg, 33, wrote via X. “He can try to kill JFK. But JFK is kept alive by us now rising up to remove Donald Trump, bring him to justice, and restore the freedoms generations fought for.”

Us Weekly has reached out to the White House for comment.

Science fiction has always been cinema’s great imagination machine. More than perhaps any other genre, it allows filmmakers to explore humanity’s fears and hopes through worlds that do not yet exist. The last 50 years have been an especially fertile period for the genre, producing dozens of masterpieces.

The best sci-fi masterpieces cover a range of styles and tones, from terrifying visions of artificial intelligence to awe-inspiring journeys through space. These triumphs of the genre linger because they combine imagination with insight, using alien worlds and impossible technologies to say something truthful about our own reality. They have contributed to sci-fi’s considerable legacy, cementing their place in the annals of history.

10

‘District 9’ (2009)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

“You wanted to see what happens? This is what happens!” District 9 is one of the most creative riffs on the usual alien contact formula. It switches things up by setting the story in modern-day South Africa and portraying the extraterrestrials as refugees rather than invaders. Bureaucrat Wikus van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley) is tasked with relocating the aliens, and his exposure to their biotechnology triggers a horrific transformation.

Director Neill Blomkamp skillfully and confidently builds this premise into a compelling mix of action, comedy, effects-driven sci-fi, and sharp social commentary. The documentary-style presentation adds to the realism and immersion, while Copley’s charming performance keeps us invested the whole way through. All in all, on top of simply being an entertaining story, District 9 remains one of the most interesting cinematic statements on contemporary South Africa.

9

‘Her’ (2013)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

“I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you.” Her takes a concept that could easily feel gimmicky — a man falling in love with an operating system — and turns it into something deeply human. Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), a lonely writer, forms a relationship with Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), an AI that evolves far beyond its original design. Their relationship feels real, shaped by mutual vulnerability, but shadowed by the gradual realization that they exist on different planes of experience.

The performances and storytelling here are refreshingly restrained and understated. The world is futuristic, but not distant: just close enough to feel inevitable. The themes around isolation, connection, technology, and romance are sensitive, astute, and years ahead of their time. Given recent increases in social media use, loneliness, and AI processing power, Her feels less and less speculative and more like a reflection of our own world.

8

‘Interstellar’ (2014)

Image via Paramount Pictures

“Love is the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space.” Interstellar is Christopher Nolan‘s most ambitious sci-fi project, operating on a scale few directors could even contemplate. It’s about a group of astronauts traveling through a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity, but it uses this premise as a jumping-off point to throw in all sorts of big-brain ideas, like black holes, time dilation, relativity, tesseracts, and higher dimensions, along with a deeply personal story about love and family.

It could easily have collapsed into a melodramatic mess, but Nolan and his stars have the talent to pull it off. The result is one of the most well-balanced sci-fi movies of the 21st century, hitting us with spectacular effects, gorgeous music, scientific food for thought, a tense plot, and a character-based drama.

7

‘Back to the Future’ (1985)

Image via Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

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“If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.” Back to the Future is perhaps the most perfectly constructed time-travel film ever made, even if it’s far from scientifically accurate. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is accidentally sent back to 1955, where he must ensure that his parents fall in love or risk erasing his own existence. The plot moves with effortless momentum: the stakes are clear, the rules consistent, and the pacing nearly flawless.

Indeed, the screenplay is one of the tightest ever. Tiny details echo across timelines in clever ways: the clock tower, the skateboard, the mayoral campaign, the family photograph, the Twin Pines Mall becoming Lone Pine Mall. On top of that, there’s an endless supply of joyful humor, along with a steady parade of memorable performances from pretty much everyone involved, but Christopher Lloyd most of all. In short, it’s a quintessentially ’80s gem.

6

‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

Image via Tri-Star Pictures

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“Hasta la vista, baby.” The first Terminator is a banger, but Terminator 2: Judgment Day expanded on it in every way, turning a straightforward sci-fi thriller into something far more ambitious. The first masterstroke was the decision to bring back the old villain as an ally. This time around, a reprogrammed Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time to protect John Connor (Edward Furlong), the future leader of the human resistance, from a more advanced machine.

Visually, the movie was groundbreaking, too. The CGI effects changed cinema permanently, particularly the liquid-metal transformations of the T-1000. Yet what makes the effects endure is that James Cameron combines them with practical effects, miniatures, stunts, and physical action. For this reason, scenes like the truck chase through the Los Angeles canals and the steel mill climax more than hold up today.

5

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

Image via Warner Bros.

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“There is no spoon.” The Matrix begins as a noirish mystery and expands into a butt-kicking martial arts movie, all while getting deeply philosophical and exploring cyberspace in pioneering new ways. Keanu Reeves delivers perhaps his most iconic performance as Thomas Anderson, a computer hacker known as Neo, discovers that reality itself is a simulation controlled by machines, and that humanity is unknowingly trapped within it.

The movie’s structure is deceptively simple, almost archetypal: awakening, training, confrontation. But within that framework lies a dense web of ideas around free will, technology, perception, control, identity. The action sequences are iconic, redefining what was possible in cinema at the time, yet they never overshadow the compelling themes. In our world of pervasive social media and online personas and doomscrolling, they ring even more true. Very smart, effortlessly cool.

4

‘Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)

“No… I am your father.” While the first Star Wars movie blew people’s minds, it was The Empire Strikes Back that really turned the franchise into a full-blown modern mythos. It gets bolder and darker, with the Rebel Alliance facing devastating losses and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) confronting the true nature of his enemy. The heroes are separated, the tone darkens, and the narrative builds toward a conclusion that offers no easy resolution.

Of course, the defining presence of the film is Darth Vader. In A New Hope, Vader was already visually striking, but The Empire Strikes Back transforms him into one of cinema’s greatest villains. He is no longer merely an enforcer, instead becoming tragic, mythic, and psychologically complex. The climactic revelation, one of the most famous twists in film history, recontextualizes the entire story and elevates the saga into something truly operatic.

3

‘Aliens’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

“Get away from her, you b—h!” James Cameron strikes again, this time taking Ridley Scott‘s sturdy horror foundation and shifting it into action territory, while retaining its core tension. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) returns to LV-426 with a team of marines to investigate a colony that has gone silent, only to discover that the alien threat has multiplied. The characters have guns this time around, but they face not one threat but dozens, including the colossal alien queen.

This movie is just ridiculously entertaining from start to finish. The characters are colorful (including a terrific supporting performance from Bill Paxton as Bishop), the effects are killer, and the xenomorphs are explored in greater detail. Here, they’re an overwhelming hive species: fast, coordinated, endless, and almost insect-like. Finally, Ripley’s relationship with Newt adds real depth to the action.

2

‘Alien’ (1979)

Image via 20th Century Studios

“In space, no one can hear you scream.” Possibly the pinnacle of sci-fi horror, Alien is a haunted house movie in space, boasting the most creepy and creative monster in movie history. In it, the crew of the spaceship Nostromo responds to a distress signal on a distant planet and inadvertently brings a deadly organism aboard their ship. The alien is rarely seen, its presence suggested rather than shown. This absence creates a sense of dread that permeates every scene.

Scott constructs the film with meticulous attention to atmosphere, using lighting, sound, and pacing to build tension gradually. The characters feel real, their reactions grounded. The spaceship itself also feels industrial, lived-in, and low-fi, a refreshing contrast from the slick and fantastical spacecraft you typically saw onscreen up til that point. Every element here made for a blueprint that still works today.

1

‘Blade Runner’ (1982)

Image via Warner Bros.

“All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.” Amazing that Ridley Scott delivered not one but two of sci-fi’s greatest movie masterpieces. Blade Runner may not be as viscerally compelling as Alien, but it eclipses it in terms of visual ingenuity and philosophical depth. Harrison Ford is in top form here as Rick Deckard, a blade runner tasked with hunting bioengineered beings. Yet what begins as a detective story becomes something far more introspective.

Drawing on noir influences, Blade Runner questions what it means to be human, whether memory defines identity, and whether artificial life can possess genuine emotion. The characters are unusually layered for a sci-fi flick, frequently reflecting on their decisions and confronting their own existence. Then, on the aesthetic front, the world of the movie is richly detailed, a dystopian landscape that feels both decayed and alive. Countless films since have borrowed from its style.

[Editor’s Note: The following contains The Four Seasons Season 2 spoilers]

After that Season 1 cliffhanger, Netflix’s sleeper hit series The Four Seasons returned to the streamer for an all-new adventure with the gang. In this interview, Tina Fey and Will Forte sit down with Collider’s Steve Weintraub to discuss the Season 2 finale, and that surprise David Tennant cameo, plus co-creator Fey’s hopes for the future of the series.

It’s been a hard year for our group of friends, so what better way to blow off some steam than to pack up for their traditional vacation? This time, the core pals took flight to Italy, where, amongst the sunshine and breathtaking scenery, they were confronted with personal blind spots and the grief of their late friend. The series sees Fey and Forte return as Kate and Jack, as well as Kerri Kenney-Silver as Anne, Colman Domingo as Danny, Marco Calvani as Claude, and Erika Henningsen as Ginny.

Don’t miss the full conversation with Fey and Forte, which you can check out in the video above or the transcript below, to find out what the plans are for Season 3, the pair’s favorite Will Ferrell Saturday Night Live sketches, what it’s like for The Four Seasons’ most “comforting” scenes, and more! And be sure to watch our interviews with writers and directors Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield, and fellow cast members Kenney-Silver, Calvani, and Henningsen.

Tina Fey Reveals the ‘SNL’ Sketch Everyone Sleeps On — And It’s Not “More Cowbell”

“That’s like saying ‘Stairway to Heaven’ for Led Zeppelin.”

Image via NBC

COLLIDER: Do you guys have a favorite Will [Ferrell] sketch or one that you think is underrated, one that you just want to point out?

TINA FEY: I mean, I don’t think we hear enough about Jacob Silj, who was his character who had “Voice Immodulation Syndrome.” He could not contain the volume of his voice. I remember it was a privilege, I believe I got to be an update anchor welcoming Jacob Silj to the desk. So, look that one up on YouTube.

WILL FORTE: I mean, look, I love Cowbell so much, and I know that’s just an obvious choice. That’s like saying “Stairway to Heaven” for Led Zeppelin, but you can kind of do no wrong. I just got to see, for some reason it was on my feed, I think it was Instagram, but “Get off, Chad!” was in there. But I loved it when he used to drive in on that on the little scooter.

FEY: Robert Goulet?

FORTE: No, it wasn’t him.

It’s the sketch where he’s in the clothing store.

FORTE: Yes!

FEY: Oh, Jeffrey’s.

FORTE: Yeah. That makes me laugh. He’s just the funniest.

I agree. There’s a sketch that I love. I think it’s called Mr. Tarkanian. “I’ve been doing speed and cocaine all day, and I want a piece of you!” I’m butchering it, but he’s kind of funny, you know?

FEY: Yeah, he’s pretty funny.

FORTE: Him as Harry Caray. “It’s George Bush!”

Tina Fey Reflects on Eating Her Way Through ’30 Rock’

And reveals her thoughts on The Four Seasons Season 3.

Image via NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection

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Enough about Will. We’re here for you guys. So, I loved Season 2, and I’m just curious as a fan, when do you start filming Season 3? Because I’m going to need more.

FEY: Oh, great. Let’s see. Let’s get all of this straight to Netflix. We would love to continue for as long as the world would have us.

I do have to ask you, you’re one of the creators, one of the writers, and a director. You both know how difficult food scenes are, yet this show is filled with food scenes.

FEY: It’s part of the comfort.

I know a lot of actors will eat their food, and some will spit out their food. Are you guys eaters or spitters?

FEY: Well, I will say, I pride myself. I think that on-camera eating is one of my only strengths as an actor. I ate so much on 30 Rock. I loved it. Also, you don’t have to do acting when you’re doing the eating. You just eat. That said, I don’t think I ever bit into that lobster roll because I was like, “Lobster might be dodgy.” But generally, I did eat a bunch of ice cream on the boardwalk.

FORTE: It’s situational for me because if it’s, like, a cheese plate and I know I’ve got to do 20 takes of it, you can’t have that much cheese in your system. But I will say this year I am training for a marathon, so I was keeping in pretty good shape for three quarters of the season, and then I mess up my leg. So, in my head, I’m like, “From here on out, I’m not going to exercise as much. I’m going to eat whatever the heck I want to,” because during the jump forward, I’d be a little puffier anyway. So then it was the best month of my life. No regrets, eating as much Jeni’s ice cream as I wanted, pizzas, and pastas. There was no carb I didn’t go fully down the path for.

Image via Netflix

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You two play such a real relationship. You guys are so good together. The chemistry is so great. How much are your partners in real life when you guys fight on the show, wondering, “Was that from our life?” I’m joking around here, but you know.

FEY: My husband works on the show, and he does often say to me, “Is that supposed to be me?” And I always say like, “Oh no, that’s from so-and-so in the writers’ room.” And he’s like, “That’s me.” Because this year, he was like, “That thing of talking with a little bit of an Italian accent…?” And I go, “I don’t remember where that came from?” He’s like, “That’s me.”

FORTE: [Laughs] Maybe I get lucky because I have nothing to do with the writing of this series. So, the only way I could out myself would be by saying something to you right now.

FEY: And you’re no fool.

Tina Fey Explains the Big Finale Twist and Anne’s Romance With David Tennant

“Anne’s been looking for something new.”

Image via Netflix

I definitely have to ask about the end of the season. I’m asking you as one of the co-creators and writers. When did you decide that Anne was going to stay in Italy, and not just stay in Italy, but have a romantic relationship with David Tennant?

FEY: We should all, at some point in our lives, have a romantic relationship with David Tennant. I love him. At some point, we break sort of the shape of the season early, and so at some point pretty early on, we thought, “Okay, Anne’s been looking for something new and something to do. Why not have her go,” as she re-embraces her adventurous self. I think then it was sort of like, “Oh, and also, what would be a fun cliffhanger?” Because last year it was that Ginny’s pregnant. So we thought, “Oh yeah, maybe she’ll meet an actual John Pierrot.” So she does. Aren’t they cute together? They’re so cute.

Everyone told me that they shot for an hour and it was, like, electric chemistry.

FEY: Yeah, it was so cute. I had to keep telling her, “Remember, you don’t know him yet. Remember, you don’t know he’s your love interest yet.” Because he’d be like, “Hello,” and she’d be like, “Hi!” [Laughs] But he’s the sweetest.

FORTE: He is awesome. I only met him for a brief second, and I melted a little. Is that a gross word to use?

FEY: Melted? No, it’s great.

English is a second language for me. I don’t know.

One of the things the show deals with is something I’ve thought about, and I think a lot of people think about: what would it be like to move to another country? So I am curious, have either of you really ever contemplated that, wondering, “What would it be like if I moved to Paris for three years?”

FEY: I have been lucky enough to go work in other countries for a few months or something, and it’s a wonderful adventure. Usually, I end up feeling like, “Oh yeah, I’m pretty American.” I feel like I’m really American. At a certain point, I want, like, American basic coffee, and I like the idea of how much space there is in America. Like, I love going to the UK, but sometimes after a while… You know what it’s like? Did you ever see when Meg Stalter did that bit on Colbert, and he’s like, “What’s it like to work in England?” And she’s like, “It’s amazing, and then one day you’ll be having breakfast, and you’re like, ‘Get me out of here!’” [Laughs] It’s exactly like that.

FORTE: [Laughs] We are so lucky to be able to do what we’re doing and get an experience to see what it’s like for a long chunk of time in Sydney or in Dublin. I’ve fallen in love with a lot of countries, but it does also make me really appreciate living here.

You’re in the next season of Only Murders [in the Building], which I’m also a huge fan of. What can you tease about them going to London?

FEY: Well, we did the first table read yesterday. What can I tease?

FORTE: Spoilers only!

FEY: I will say, the cast, the British actors who are coming, are thrilling. Amazing. I don’t know if they’re public yet, but the cast of characters that they’re going to meet in the UK, I just saw them all on a Zoom yesterday, and I was like, “Holy moly.” Thumbs up!

The Cast Teases Season 3 Hopes as They “Manifest” a New Destination After Italy

Kerri Kenney-Silver, Erika Henningsen, and Marco Calvani talk character growth, David Tennant, and pregnancy rumors.

Netflix’s star-powered adult dramedy series, The Four Seasons, is finally back with eight more episodes. After that heartbreaking Season 1 finale, we pick back up with the friend group — Kate (Fey), Jack (Forte), Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), Danny (Colman Domingo), Claude (Marco Calvani), and Ginny (Erika Henningsen) — as they mourn the loss of Steve Carell’s Nick.

In Season 2, after a difficult year, the crew set off for a new adventure, continuing their tradition of vacationing together. And now, Ginny’s new baby is coming along for the ride! Still, even as they find themselves surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of Italy, soaking up the sun, they still have to confront personal blind spots and their grief over Nick.

Check out the full interview in the video above, with time codes below, where Kenney-Silver, Henningsen, and Calvani discuss the potential for a Season 3, Claude’s new and improved side and if we’ll see that again, Kenney-Silver’s reaction to working opposite David Tennant this season, and why Henningsen still chose to run the New York City Marathon even after watching Season 2. Plus, stay tuned to the end for Henningsen’s reaction to her pregnancy rumors online and to find out where this group may be headed for Season 3!

Image via Netflix

• 00:11 – The trio discuss when Season 3 might start filming and hopes for a renewal.
• 00:47 – Marco Calvanai on playing a more aggressive, evolved side of Claude and whether that will continue.
• 03:27 – Kerri Kenney-Silver reacts to the Italy storyline and partnering with David Tennant.
• 05:21 – Erika Henningsen discusses training for the New York City Marathon for charity.
• 06:59 – Henningsen responds to online pregnancy rumors.
• 08:14 – The trio manifests their group’s next vacation spot for Season 3!

The Four Seasons, Season 2, is available to stream now on Netflix.

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Release Date

2025 – 2026-00-00

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Netflix

Directors

Robert Pulcini, Shari Springer Berman, Oz Rodriguez, Colman Domingo, Jeff Richmond, Lang Fisher

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Writers

Dylan Morgan, John Riggi, Josh Siegal, Lang Fisher, Lisa Muse Bryant, Matt Whitaker, Tina Fey, Tracey Wigfield, Vali Chandrasekaran

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 54 seconds ago

Right now, it’s fair to say that Disney is a victim of its own success. The House of Mouse decided to get into the streaming game with Disney+, and they made this new platform the home of all things Marvel and Star Wars. They succeeded in containing the world’s two biggest intellectual properties under one roof, but this came at a cost. The MCU began to suffer under its own weight, and fans began to resent many of the new shows on Disney+. The most common complaint is that most of these series felt like annoying “homework” they had to watch just to understand the next big Marvel movie.

Is that criticism fair? That’s debatable. While some Marvel shows on Disney+ stand alone, some are basically required viewing if you want to follow along with the newest films. However, when watching The Mandalorian and Grogu, I couldn’t help but feel like movie writer Dave Filoni was trying to avoid comparisons to Marvel by creating a movie that required no homework whatsoever. He succeeded in making a movie that fans could enjoy even if they’ve ignored Star Wars for the last two decades. This approach backfired, though. While the latest Star Wars is amazingly accessible, it’s so disconnected from the franchise that it feels completely meaningless. 

Way Too Much Homework

Complaints about Marvel TV shows feeling like homework are tied to broader debates about what, exactly, a movie should be. Many like the idea of a film as being a self-contained unit of entertainment unto itself. This is one (admittedly, of many) problem that certain Star Wars fans had with the Prequel Trilogy and the Sequel Trilogy: interesting characters like Count Dooku and Snoke are placed onscreen with no real introduction or fanfare. The assumption made by those in charge of Star Wars (George Lucas and, later, Disney) is that fans could simply get these characters’ backstories in various books and comics and didn’t need to see it onscreen.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe took this idea and made it much, much worse. You had to watch entire films (like the solo Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America movies) to really understand big team-ups like The Avengers. Later, Disney+ became home to shows you had to watch ahead of movies. Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness makes no sense without watching WandaVision, for example, and The Marvels makes no sense without watching Ms. Marvel. This led to widespread fan complaints that Disney had basically assigned homework and that we’d need to watch eight hours of a TV show just to understand a movie. 

No Homework (And No Meaning)

Initially, this wasn’t really a problem with Star Wars because The Rise of Skywalker was so bad that we went seven years before seeing a new film in the franchise. That meant that various Disney+ shows in a galaxy far, far away could mostly stand on their own. But The Mandalorian and Grogu finally brought Star Wars back to theaters, and we’ll be getting more franchise films (like Starfighter) in the coming years. Mandalorian and Grogu writer and new Lucasfilm President Dave Filoni seemingly tried to avoid the homework problem by making a movie that requires almost no prior Star Wars viewing whatsoever, a decision that became something of a double-edged sword.

On one hand, Filoni made The Mandalorian and Grogu the most accessible Star Wars film since A New Hope. If someone only vaguely remembers an episode or two of The Mandalorian Season 1, they can follow along. They know the title characters, and Din Djarin even gets a new version of his old ship back. Even if you’re a Star Wars fan who never watched the show at all, it’s easy to follow along with the plot. The Boba Fett-looking man and his Baby Yoda sidekick are the good guys, the Stormtroopers are the bad guys, and all you have to do is turn your brain off and watch. 

Two Hours Of Your Life You’ll Never Get Back

On the other hand, Filoni’s ultra-accessible writing is a big part of why The Mandalorian and Grogu failed. The movie doesn’t touch on or resolve any of the major plot points from The Mandalorian or advance Din Djarin or Grogu’s characters in any meaningful way. It’s such a disposable plot that if The Mandalorian ever gets a Season 4, you could skip the film entirely before watching the new season. If the show doesn’t get another season, though, this movie is the worst kind of finale for these characters because there are no significant payoffs to ongoing mysteries like Grogu’s past or Din Djarin’s future with the Mandalorians and the New Republic.

All of this underscores how cynical The Mandalorian and Grogu really is. Disney didn’t create this movie to provide an emotionally rewarding sendoff, and they obviously didn’t make it because the writers had a great story to tell. No, the House of Mouse just wanted to put Star Wars back in theaters with a film that would wash The Rise of Skywalker out of our mouths. The idea is to prime audiences for more Star Wars films in the coming years, but the effort backfired. If this is the best thing you can put onscreen today, why would anyone spend good money to see the crap you put onscreen tomorrow?

So, congrats, Dave Filoni (and cowriters Jon Favreau and Noah Kloor): you played yourself. You solved the homework problem that has plagued Marvel by creating the most accessible Star Wars film in half a century. But the result is a disconnected mess, one that pisses off fans of The Mandalorian while making everyone else wonder why this film was even made. At least failures like the prequels and the sequels were trying to tell a meaningful and impactful story. All that The Mandalorian and Grogu is telling us is that Yoda’s admonition of Count Dooku applies very much to Clone Wars showrunner Filoni: “much to learn, you still have.”

NBA player Anthony Edwards’ high earnings have been revealed amid his child support battle with ex Alexandria Desroches.

According to court documents filed on May 19 and obtained by Us Weekly, Edwards, 24, monthly gross income was listed as $4,783,744. His adjusted income, which is configured after tax deductions, was $4,778,744.

Edwards’ seven-figure income includes his monthly salary of $3,416,288.00 as a player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also receives additional income from endorsements and interest dividends. His endorsements earned him $1,360,956 while he received $3,250 from dividends.

Desroches income was listed at $0, per the docs.

Related: Anthony Edwards Faces New Paternity Lawsuit From Ex Over Child Support

Anthony Edwards has been hit with another paternity lawsuit. On April 21, per documents obtained by Us Weekly, Alexandria Desroches filed a combined petition for custody, child support and a declaration of paternity against her ex — 23-year-old Edwards — in New York. The documents claim the NBA star is the biological father of the […]

Edwards signed a five-year designated rookie maximum extension contract with the Timberwolves for $244,623,120. The agreement went into effect during the 2024 season. Edwards will remain under that contract until he is eligible for free agency in 2029.

At the time of filing, Edwards was paying Desroches $3,222 in child support for their son, Amir, whom they welcomed in 2023. It’s noted that $3,222 is the basic child support obligation per month, according to the docs.

An additional child support worksheet was completed later that month on May 21. The updated document listed Edwards’ monthly gross income as $3,364,911.06, a million less than he originally listed.

Desroches’ listed her monthly gross income as $1,016, per the child support worksheet.

The basic child support obligation was still listed at $3,222. However, $9,279.00 added for deviations from presumptive child support. Edwards must pay Desroches a total of $12,500 in child support per month.

In April, Desroches filed a combined petition for custody, child support and a declaration of paternity against Edwards. The documents claimed that Edwards is the biological father of Amir who was born in October 2023.

“She is raising a child as a single mother and has an open-door policy for [Anthony] to see the child,” Desroches’ lawyer Al Hedayati told In Touch in April.

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Us previously reached out to Edwards’ spokesperson for comment but did not hear back.

Meanwhile, Edwards is also involved in another paternity suit with ex Ayesha Howard over their daughter Aubri’ Summers Howard. Edwards filed a paternity suit in October 2024.

According to docs obtained by Us, the athlete asked for a DNA test using a “neutral and licensed laboratory.” Edwards was “not seeking child custody or visitation of Aubri” and claimed “the only issues to be resolved [were] financial in nature,” per the filing. Howard has sole legal and physical custody of Aubri.

Science fiction is still popular in Hollywood, with a new Star Wars movie dominating the box office and Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day just around the corner.

The genre is also popular on Hulu, which just added a slew of new films that deal with aliens, robots and groundbreaking inventor Nikola Tesla.

The streamer just added Descendent, one of those under-the-radar flicks you discover on streaming and wonder why no one else has seen it.

Watch With Us also recommends you stream the early Christopher Nolan hit The Prestige, which features Tesla and a gaggle of feuding magicians, and the Will Smith action picture, I, Robot.

‘Descendent’ (2025)

Like a lot of soon-to-be first-time fathers, Sean (Ross Marquand) is nervous. His wife, Andrea (Sarah Bolger), is depending on him to be a good dad, and he’s already feeling the pressure before the baby is even born. After he has a strange encounter with what could be a UFO, Sean’s behavior begins to change for the worse. He becomes increasingly paranoid, leading him to hallucinate strange visions of a spaceship and a dog he gave up as a child two decades ago. Was Sean touched by an angel alien? Or have his ambivalent feelings about becoming a parent caused him to go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?

Descendent is a lo-fi thriller with a high-concept premise — what if aliens were real, and they’re here to tell you you’re going to suck as a dad? To its credit, the movie never fully reveals what’s going on with Sean; the director, Peter Ciella, leaves it up to you to decide. The film gives you enough clues to support a variety of theories, from the sensible (Sean’s just insecure) to the out-there (aliens are invading and Sean is patient zero). If you’re a sci-fi fan looking for an alternative to big, noisy blockbusters like Independence Day, Descendant is a good film that will inspire some robust debate with the people you’re watching it with.

‘The Prestige’ (2006)

Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are Victorian-era magicians who used to be friends but are now bitter rivals. Both men are obsessed with outdoing one another and frequently sabotage each other’s magical acts. When Borden pulls off the seemingly impossible task of teleporting himself across a stage, Angier becomes determined to discover the secret behind his trick. But the more he discovers about Borden, the worse his life becomes until he’s driven to commit an act that no magic trick can erase.

That’s just the tip of the convoluted iceberg that is The Prestige, a thriller that is as engrossing as it is confusing. It should come as no surprise that it’s directed by Christopher Nolan, who loves a good pretzel-shaped narrative. In this film, he blends magic, science, cloning and Nikola Tesla in a perplexing plot I’m still trying to figure out. Miraculously, that only enhances the film’s entertainment value.

It’s fun watching Jackman and Bale one-up each other, and the supporting cast, which includes Scarlett Johansson as a love-struck magician’s assistant and David Bowie as Tesla, constantly surprises you. After The Prestige, Nolan graduated to bigger, more mainstream films like The Dark Knight and this summer’s epic The Odyssey, but you’d wish he’d return to making schlocky period thrillers like this one.

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‘I, Robot’ (2004)

It’s 2035, and humanoid robots help humanity with all the menial tasks they are no longer willing to do. Things are going great until the unthinkable happens — a world-famous scientist is found dead, and it looks like one of the robots he created, Sonny (Alan Tudyk), did it. But as Detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) interrogates Sonny, he begins to realize Sonny might be innocent — and the pawn in a larger conspiracy that could spell doom for humankind.

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Liberally adapted from Isaac Asimov’s classic short-story collection of the same name, I, Robot is an odd blend of “hard science fiction” and mindless action. The movie works because both are expected so well, with Sonny’s artificial humanity brought to fascinating life by Tudyk’s nuanced vocal performance and still-impressive special effects, and Spooner’s frequent battles with all kinds of rogue technology. I, Robot is good enough to warrant a watch, but its flaws make you wish someone would remake it as Asimov intended.

Fans and close friends are showing Latto mad love amid the release of her fourth studio album ‘Big Mama.’ On top of that, they’re flooding her social media with heart eyes after she gave a peek at her baby girl. Keyanna Joseph, the mother of 21 Savage’s two sons, also jumped in and reacted to Big Mama’s new flicks with her lil’ mama.

RELATED: Big Mama & Lil Mama! Latto Melts Hearts With Adorable First Look At Her Baby Girl (PHOTOS) 

Keyanna Joseph Sends Love To Latto & Her Baby Girl

Hours after Latto dropped her ‘Big Mama’ album, she hit up Instagram with adorable photos, giving fans a first look at her baby girl, whom she reportedly shares with 21 Savage. One image sees the Atlanta femcee cuddling her mini-me while posing next to a pink carriage in a backyard. Other snapshots show Latto pushing her daughter in the carriage, and a video shows her playing with her, giving full Big Mama energy. Fans immediately flooded Latto’s comment section with reactions showing love and double tapping the rapper’s first photos of her daughter. Among the hearts was Keyanna Joseph, the mother of 21 Savage’s two sons. Keyanna also double tapped the post and showed love to Latto as she steps into her mommy era.

Keyanna & Latto Previously Went Viral With Their Link-Up

Recently, Keyanna Joseph had the internet popping off after she dropped a pixelated photo of her and Latto alongside her two sons, Kamari and Ashaad, whom she shares with 21 Savage. The image shows them in a restaurant setting, with Latto and Keyanna sitting side by side. At the time, it’s unclear what led Keyanna to drop the pic, but fans quickly assumed the post meant that they’ve been cool behind the scenes all along.

On top of that, a viral video shared by Kei, the alleged mother of 21’s daughter Rhian, shows Latto prior to their dinner outing. The clip sees the raptress behind the wheel of a whip, cracking up and saying, “Big Mama, five kids!” 

Keyanna Also Weighed In On Big Mama’s Pregnancy Announcement

Keyanna previously shut down speculation about her and Latto’s status back in March. When Big Mama dropped a teaser clip on Instagram, Keyanna made sure to show love and double tap. Latto posted a quick clip of her feeding a baby cheetah after going MIA for a minute. Fans immediately clocked the visuals as a pregnancy announcement and a new music tease — and it turned out to be both!

RELATED: Social Media Pops OFF After Alleged Mother Of 21 Savage’s Two Sons Appears To Post Photo With Latto 

Maura Higgins is not interested in pursuing romantic connections at this point in her life.

“I’ve been celibate for like a year and a half now, which is great,” Higgins, 35, exclusively told Us Weekly while promoting her partnership with Wingstop. “I feel great. I’m like a new woman, not dating, not even speaking to anyone.”

Higgins noted that she doesn’t “have the time” for a love life considering she’s heading to the ballroom soon to begin Dancing With the Stars season 35 and will be “on a flight every three days” beforehand.

“I actually don’t have time for it, even if I wanted it — which I don’t, by the way,” Higgins quipped with a laugh.

Related: Maura Higgins Says ‘Absolutely Not’ to Starring on ‘The Bachelorette’

Maura Higgins has no interest in following in Taylor Frankie Paul’s footsteps as the next Bachelorette. “Absolutely not,” the Traitors breakout star told Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday, April 22, at Hulu’s Get Real event, responding to fans calling for her to be on the ABC reality dating show. Higgins said, “Guys, I’m 35!” going on […]

After Rob Rausch infamously betrayed Higgins in season 4 of The Traitors (which Rausch, 27, ultimately won), she shared during press interviews that she had been celibate for a whole year. While reflecting on her time in the show’s Scottish castle, Higgins told Us that she learned one valuable lesson: “Don’t trust men.”

“It’s a hard one, because I do tend to trust people until they do me wrong,” Higgins explained to Us. “A show like Traitors, it’s just a game. Yeah, there was that initial shock and all of that, but it’s not real life. But I am a loyalist, and loyalty means a lot to me. With friends and in relationships, if you can’t trust someone, then what really is left?”

In the wake of Rausch’s onscreen betrayal, the pair hashed out their friendship, and he ultimately gifted Higgins a burgundy-colored Birkin bag. For Higgins, “all was forgiven” before receiving the luxurious gift from Rausch.

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“The Birkin was just the cherry on top, really,” Higgins told Us. “I didn’t really take it hard, if I’m being honest. Like, yeah, I was shocked — and because I thought I was gonna win — but I didn’t really take it that hard. Like, I got over it so quickly. I knew it was just a game, and I had a lot of fun. I met amazing friends, and Rob played a fantastic game. And then I got a Birkin out of it, so I kind of feel like the winner.”

Related: Maura Higgins Doesn’t Know Who Kyle Cooke Is After His ‘WWHL’ Shoutout

Maura Higgins is weighing in on whether she would be interested in pursuing someone in the Bravo world — including Summer House’s Kyle Cooke. “I don’t know who Kyle Cooke is,” Higgins, 35, exclusively told Us Weekly, while promoting her partnership with Uber IrishXit. “Does he have a big ego? I’ve never watched Summer House […]

Higgins — who knows a thing or two about loyalty — is bringing this mentality to her partnership with Wingstop to launch their new rewards program, Club Wingstop. While celebrating the launch, Higgins curated a limited-edition “Club in a Box” (featuring one of her signature berets and more) for fans to purchase online for 94 cents starting Monday, June 1.

“Obviously, I know a lot about loyalty from doing reality TV for many years. This is kind of like a taster of what members can get. They can get access to new flavors and events, and it’s just very exciting,” Higgins told Us, sharing that her go-to order is lemon pepper, fries and a “big-ass ranch” on the side. “Fans have been wanting this for a long time, so it’s about time.”

Milly Alcock is facing increased online attention ahead of DC’s “Supergirl,” as her recent remarks about critics and fandom culture spark debate and add to early concerns about the film’s box office outlook.

With projections suggesting a modest opening and heavy competition in the summer slate, the conversation around the film has expanded beyond performance expectations to Alcock’s public comments and rising profile in Hollywood.

The actress, however, also reflects on her journey from humble beginnings to leading a major superhero role.

Milly Alcock has become the center of a growing online debate surrounding DC’s upcoming “Supergirl,” after recent comments she made about critics sparked backlash and renewed scrutiny ahead of the film’s release.

According to Page Six, early box office projections for the June 26 release suggest a soft opening, with industry estimates placing its domestic debut between $47 million and $65 million and a total U.S. run potentially ranging from $107 million to $181 million, according to “Box Office Theory.”

With a reported production budget of around $170 million and marketing costs pushing total expenses close to $245 million, analysts say the film may need about $425 million worldwide to break even.

Against that backdrop, Alcock’s remarks during a Variety interview have drawn significant attention.

What The Actress Said About Her Critics Being ‘Christian’ Dads

While responding to online criticism, the actress dismissed anonymous accounts, including users identifying as religious parents, saying many lacked credibility.

“It’s from a lot of people whose profiles have no photo, who are burner accounts,” she said, adding that she sees profiles that read like “Dad of four, Christian,’ which is hilarious to me.”

Alcock went on to say, “If you’re p-ssing the right kind of people off, you’re doing OK,” a comment that quickly circulated across social media and intensified debate around her public image ahead of the film’s release.

The actress also expanded on her broader views about fandom and celebrity culture, suggesting that distrust in traditional institutions has pushed many people toward online spaces for validation and guidance.

Speaking further on the topic of fandom, Alcock argued that governments don’t always have “anyone’s best interests at heart” and that audiences often turn to “online forums to find that guidance.”

However, she cautioned that this kind of emotional reliance on celebrities or fictional characters can become unhealthy, creating what she described as “an unhealthy relationship with a person” who will ultimately disappoint.

Alcock’s remarks have divided opinion online. Some critics believe her comments risk alienating audiences and dampening enthusiasm for the film, while others defended her stance as pushback against online harassment.

The discussion has also drawn comparisons to previous Hollywood controversies involving public statements made by lead actors in major studio releases, a recent one being the Disney live-action remake of “Snow White,” which bombed at the box office.

Meanwhile, “Supergirl” faces a crowded summer box office window, with major releases such as Disney’s “Toy Story 5,” “Minions & Monsters,” and the live-action “Moana” all arriving within weeks of its release.

The Actress Reflected On Her Rise To  Fame And The Pressure Of Leading ‘Supergirl’

Alcock, who first rose to prominence as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s “House of the Dragon,” has since taken on roles in projects like “Sirens” before landing the lead role in “Supergirl.“

She has also acknowledged the pressure of stepping into a major superhero franchise, admitting she is mindful of audience expectations but trying to manage what she can’t control.

“Of course I’m scared,” she said earlier this year. “Of course, I want people to like me and the movie. But, ultimately, it’s out of my control.”

In her Variety cover story, the 26-year-old actress shared that her early life and career were far from glamorous. Before her breakout roles, Alcock said she was living in the attic of her family home and working part-time in a Sydney restaurant while auditioning for roles.

“I sound like a Roald Dahl character,” she joked, recalling how she also worked as a dishwasher in an open kitchen where customers could see her. “I was washing these dishes so proudly and so terribly.”

Milly Alcock Is ‘Excited’ For All The Young Women Who Are Going To Watch ‘Supergirl’

Alcock first gained recognition starring in the Australian series “Upright,” which ran from 2019 to 2022, before her career shifted dramatically with her casting in “House of the Dragon.”

That role paved the way for her selection as Kara Zor-El in James Gunn’s DC universe, beginning with “Supergirl.” She is also expected to reprise the character in the follow-up film “Man of Tomorrow,” slated for 2027.

Reflecting on her rapid rise, Alcock admitted she is especially looking forward to young women connecting with the character on screen. “I am so excited for all the young women who are going to see this.”

Alongside the demands of fame, Alcock has also spoken about navigating online criticism as someone who “grew up online,” saying she tries not to engage with negativity while adjusting to life in the spotlight.

“Supergirl” is set to hit theaters on June 26.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 41 seconds ago

Here’s a rhetorical question for you: Who’s the best Batman? That’s right, Michael Keaton. I’ll bet you’re wondering what an article about Frasier has to do with Batman, which forces me to direct your attention to the Season 9 episode, “Wheels of Fortune,” in which we learn that Frasier’s ex-wife Lilith has a disgraced half-brother, Blaine Sternin, portrayed by the best Batman himself. Most conflicts in Frasier come down to an epic battle of the wits, and our favorite titular gasbag certainly meets his match here.

Normally, Frasier and Niles spend their days looking down their noses at everybody else through a lens of self-righteous, tongue-in-cheek pomposity, including their retired cop dad Marty, Frasier’s radio producer Roz Doyle, sports shock jock Bulldog, and just about anybody else who crosses their paths. In “Wheels of Fortune,” however, Frasier comes to intellectual and spiritual blows with Blaine Sternin, a con artist of the highest order who’s working yet another scheme that Frasier sees through immediately while everybody else falls for it hook, line, and sinker.

It’s Michael Keaton at his scummiest, and he’s truly in his element, making for one of the more entertaining episodes this late in the series’ run.

Charm Is The Viscous Grease With Which He Lubricates His Flim-Flam Machine! 

Up to this point in Frasier’s run, we’ve never even heard of Blaine Sternin, and rightfully so. Frasier’s divorce from Lilith before the events of the series has him living on the other side of the country, only seeing his son Frederick during holidays or school breaks. Once Frasier realizes that a run-in with Blaine is imminent, however, we quickly learn why he’s avoided any form of contact with the man for the sake of his own mental health and personal finances.

The episode kicks off with Frasier wrapping up his call-in show at KACL when Roz steps into the booth to let him know that Blaine, who he hasn’t heard from in years, is looking for him. Frasier immediately assumes that his ex-half-brother-in-law is back to his usual tricks, the most egregious involving Blaine stealing his antique salt server years ago. All signs suggest that Blaine wants to reconcile with Frasier, but Frasier wants no part of it because he assumes the worst is about to happen.

Back at his apartment, Frasier warns Niles, Marty, and Daphne about Blaine just before hearing a knock at the door. It’s Blaine, but now he’s confined to a wheelchair and supposedly a Born-Again Christian. He quotes scripture, encourages everybody to say grace before dinner, and reveals his true intentions: he’s starting a career as a preacher and will be speaking in town the following day. He also alludes to being $1,000 short on the room deposit needed to make that happen, though he assures Frasier he’s not asking for a handout.

Frasier, neither impressed nor willing to believe that Blaine is actually paraplegic, remains on high alert while the rest of the group slowly warms up to him. He’s right to be wary because the last time he fell for Blaine’s tricks, he lost a significant amount of money on “Kelp Futures.”

As you would expect, Frasier gets humbled in the worst possible way when he tips Blaine out of his wheelchair during the event before receiving confirmation from the doctor that Blaine is actually crippled. Publicly humiliated, Frasier makes a sizable donation to save face, only to later learn that Blaine was faking the whole thing after all. It’s one of those rare instances where Frasier becomes so obsessive in sizing somebody up that he comes off as irrational and absurd, only to be completely vindicated in the end because you never mess with Batman.

This Isn’t The Only Batman To Frasier Pipeline

“Wheels of Fortune” is a top-tier Frasier episode that would never have landed nearly as well without Keaton’s legendary performance. Going back to his stand-up days, when he made esoteric jokes about Bazooka Joe comics, Keaton has always carried this wry smile and borderline sleazy energy without ever feeling outright sleazy. Something about his smirk always suggests he’s up to something, and he fully leans into that energy in “Wheels of Fortune.”

But the Batman-to-Frasier pipeline doesn’t stop there. In the 2005 sports dramedy Game 6, Keaton’s Nicky Rogan has an extramarital affair with one of his investors, Joanna Bourne, portrayed by Bebe Neuwirth, who of course portrays Lilith in Frasier. In other words, Lilith and her half-brother Blaine are romantically involved in this context, which would absolutely make Frasier’s blood boil if he ever walked in on them getting down to business. Fortunately for the world-weary psychiatrist, these two fictional worlds will never collide because if they did, I don’t think the man would ever recover from it.

Frasier is streaming on Paramount+.