By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 1 hour ago

There’s been a lack of sci-fi action movies hitting theaters in the last few years, at least those that don’t involve superheroes or established franchises, which is why the Netflix original, War Machine, is a breath of fresh air. It’s predictable, and it can be boiled down to a modern retelling of Predator, but that’s not a bad thing. Starring Alan Ritchson, it’s an old-school sci-fi action story that does all the little things right, and it’s perfect for anyone who wants 80s action movies to make a comeback. 

A Modern Day Predator

Ritchson plays 81, known only by the number designation he receives when he applies for the Army Rangers following the death of his brother (Jai Courtney, making the most of his 4 minutes of screentime) years earlier in Afghanistan. War Machine doesn’t give the recruits any names, everyone has a number, but you’ll recognize some familiar faces, including Keiyan Lonsdale (Wally West from The Flash) as 60, and Daniel Webber (Lee Harvey Oswald from 11.22.63) as 57, along with the senior officers played by Esai Morales and Dennis Quaid. Don’t worry, it’s the type of movie where the moment a character seems important and we get some backstory, they’re the next ones to die. 

Doing the killing is a large, alien war machine that the Ranger recruits accidentally stumble upon during their final test. Slow but relentless, the war machine chases them through the wilderness, picking off soldiers by identifying them with a blue light, and then the red light is the sign that the guns are about to go hot. It’s a simple visual language that adds tension without the need for any explanation. No one points out how the war machine is “seeing” them, it just happens. 

War Machine embraces that “show, don’t tell” mentality throughout. It’s not only with the story, it’s the various horrible ways the soldiers die, including a brutal tumble down a cliff, and later, while attempting to escape in an armored transport that’s bouncing around and reacting to the explosive ordnance in a way most action movies would simply ignore. Rappelling, crossing a river, not wearing seat belts while the alien killing machine is chasing them, all of it makes the action brutal to watch in the best ways possible. 

The Birth Of A New Sci-Fi Franchise

Alan Ritchson’s 81 is a man of few words, but the Reacher star’s physical charisma carries him from the word go. The man was born to be an 80s action star. He has the television franchise locked up, and Fast X hasn’t led anywhere, but the early success of War Machine means we probably haven’t seen the last of 81. Richson and director Patrick Hughes have mentioned the name War Machines on social media. 

The odds are good that Netflix will greenlight the sequel, given how War Machine has been in the top ten movies for the entire month of March. These days, original sci-fi stories don’t have to do much to clear the bar, and War Machine isn’t for everyone. There’s no deeper meaning, no extensive lore, and not a whole lot to the plot, but with an under two-hour runtime and enough of the little things fans expect of action movies, there’s also no better way to kill an evening at home then relaxing, turning off your brain, and watching Alan Ritchson battle an alien invader. 

War Machine is currently streaming on Netflix.

You’re not imagining it: Basque-waist dresses are everywhere right now. Everyone from New York City ‘It’ girls to movie stars is donning the romantic dress trend that has no signs of stopping in 2026. While we saw inklings of the drop-waist style last year, the flattering design took off into overdrive due to the Wuthering Heights craze — and we’re not mad about it.

Basque-waist dresses first became popular during the Victorian era, and then stepped back into the fashion world, thanks to designers who put a new ‘cinched’ spin on the fairytale-esque style (See: Dior’s 1950’s New Look collection). And now? The look is back in a big way with A-listers slipping into the elongating design, including stars like Margot Robbie, who wore several basque-waist dresses during the 2026 Wuthering Heights press tour.

The vintage-looking dress has a V-like bodice cut that extends beyond the waist, giving you a slimming, lengthening appearance. The silhouette also accentuates curves and helps with proportions due to the round shape, making it ideal for petites and pear-shaped gals. It’s no wonder the style is so sought after. If you want to try it out for yourself, we found dresses from Lulus, Abercrombie & Fitch, Astr the Label and more that deliver the look without having to step back in time.

Romantic Basque-Waist Dresses for Spring

1. Our Favorite: Classic and gorgeous are just two ways to describe this Basque-waist dress. The fitted bodice and outlined cups give it a corset appearance without the wiring. We also like that the dress has a modern high slit to show off a bit of leg — a definite ‘no-no’ in the 1800s!

2. Runner-Up: The seersucker pattern on this midi tank dress makes Us think about the lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer, so naturally, we’re adding it to our cart. The high neckline and pleated design around the V-cut bodice give off a flattering effect that works in tandem with the vertical stripes, which are known for lengthening the body.

3. Mini Me: Basque-waist dresses don’t only come in midi and maxi lengths! This cute mini dress is proof. It has bow-tie straps, a U-shaped waist and a short skirt, which is ideal for warm spring and summer days. Plus, doesn’t the short top portion give off major Bridgerton vibes?

4. Transitional Staple: If it’s still too chilly to go sleeveless where you’re located, opt for this long-sleeved number, which gives you the same vintage style with a little more coverage.

5. Top-Seller: This milkmaid-style dress is what fairytale dreams are made of. The vibrant colors, floral patterns and form-fitted bodice are chef’s kiss. It’s no wonder the dress has over 1,200 five-star ratings to date.

Related: Abercrombie Dropped New Spring Getaway Finds, and Prices Start at $19

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If you’re anything like me, you and your closet thrive during the warm-weather months. The sun’s out, you’re wearing the cutest clothes and your mood is at its peak. I get it, because that’s literally my reality. Now, if your wardrobe is lacking a few spring essentials, Abercrombie & Fitch is coming in hot with […]

6. Everyday Essential: We’ll admit that the romantic dress style skews closer toward the elevated side, but this cap-sleeved pick makes it appropriate for everyday wear. You can thank the tee-like top for that.

7. Rich Mom: There’s no arguing about it: This halter midi dress looks far more expensive than its price suggests. We can totally see rich moms everywhere donning this dress for baby showers, church services and even weddings (just in a different color).

8. Anything But Basic: This simple yet stylish dress feels like it’s from another era, thanks to the puffed quarter-sleeved, gathered bodice and bow accent in the middle. Plus, the houndstooth pattern embodies that ‘mod’ swing look.

9. Low-Key Genius: The biggest flex about this basque-waist maxi is the bra-free design. Unlike other options on this list, the Abercrombie dress has hidden built-in coverage, so you can forgo the pasties before heading out the door.

10. Pop of Color: Another trend for spring is butter yellow everything. Celebrities like Martha Stewart wear the sunny color, which makes Us want to get this smocked sundress ASAP.

11. Quite the Charmer: Everyone will turn their heads when they see you wear this lace-up maxi dress. The Lulus wedding guest dress is perfect for every spring ceremony . . . and the overlay bodice will make you feel comfy while sitting, standing and dancing the night away.

12. Out of Office: Seeing a basque-waist dress in this fun, vacation-esque print wasn’t on our bingo card, but we’re totally here for it. It modernizes the Victorian style with a short ruffle hem, exposed U-neckline and bright color palette.

13. Date Night: Your little black dress just got a revamp with this drop-waist number that gives you an hourglass shape . . . without strapping into a painful corset. Oh, and the short bubble-like hem makes legs look so long, your date will think you’re a model. Win-win!

14. Spring Must-Have: We’re kind of in love with this flutter-sleeve dress from Lulus. The deep V-neckline, lightweight chiffon fabric and corset appearance feel very ethereal. You’re bound to get princess treatment while wearing this baby.

15. Expensive-Looking: Throw on this vintage-style halter dress, book a trip to Italy and cruise around town on a Vespa. Yes, in that order. Designed with a fold-over neckline, fit-to-loose silhouette and polka dot pattern, this stylish dress is one you’ll wear over and over — especially if you want that Emily in Paris look.

Young and the Restless spoilers for April 06-10, 2026 reveal Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) is in danger and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) is increasingly frustrated.

As we always do on early edition day, we start with what’s coming the rest of this week and then dive into what is ahead next week.

Young and the Restless Spoilers Wednesday, April 1st: Adam Plays Poker as Spyder

So, on Wednesday, April 1st, we’ve got Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) twitching like a junkie while Adam mentally prepares to be Spyder at Riza Thompson’s (Tina Casciani) big game. Adam is showing Nick his card shark skills where he can read body language and tells. And Adam knows something is off with Nick and offers his help, but he says that it’s just hard to wait to find Matt Clark (Roger Howarth).

The drug dealer shows up after Adam leaves for the game and Nick orders enough drugs for a party of six or seven people, but we know it is all for just Nick. The drug dealer hands over what he asked for, plus a bonus baggie with a different drug in it. Nick also asks if the guy knows Mitch Bacall, but either the drug dealer doesn’t know or he is playing dumb.

Also, Matt Clark is back on screen on Wednesday. He’s with Riza in her room in the casino and they’re making out. And Matt wants to hang around for the big poker game, but Riza says no. Matt then asked if he can play in the poker game and she refuses that as well. And he asked Riza about Spyder. So, Matt clearly doesn’t know that that is Adam’s secret identity. And then Matt insists he wants to meet Spyder, Riza’s partner.

Y&R Spoilers: Riza Kisses Adam

Matt gets antsy and bails and Riza is happy when Adam shows up and of course he wins big at the game for her. After the other players leave, Riza kisses Adam and tells him to slow down when he’s trying to get deeper into her business.

Riza tells him that she had to take on another partner after Spyder left, but she does want him to meet the guy, but doesn’t use Matt’s name. Also, you know, he’s asking to meet Spyder. So, there’s a big thing coming where I think Adam suspects this, but Matt is going to be blindsided.

Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) updates Faith Newman (Reylynn Caster) on a call that Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes) can’t have visitors or Zoom chats yet. Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) shows up asking why Sharon’s upset. She nags Phyllis about the Newman takeover, brings up Summer Newman (Allison Lanier), but of course, Phyllis doesn’t want to hear it.

She says Victor Newman‘s (Eric Braeden) done all this bad stuff, so why is Sharon judging her? But she warns Phyllis that Victor won’t stop until he gets everything back. Phyllis is in her I can do it alone, I deserve this, I’m fabulous phase, and Sharon wonders if this is about what Martin Laurent (Christopher Cousins) did to them.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Phyllis Hurt by Sharon

Phyllis is actually annoyed that on the anniversary of their shared Martin trauma, Sharon didn’t reach out to her. Phyllis says Sharon has another maniac after her, Matt Clark. And Phyllis says her kids are hating on her again, so neither of them have come out of the whole thing unscathed.

Sharon says at least they’re free. And Martin is in a prison cell all alone. But Phyllis makes it clear she won’t back down and that the Newmans have each other and a mountain of money, so they’re fine. And Phyllis says she’s okay doing this alone.

Tessa Porter (Cait Fairbanks) and Daniel Romalotti (Michael Graziadei) catch up at Crimson Lights. Mariah has gone to the psychiatric hospital and Daniel’s ranting about Phyllis and how Summer cut her out. Daniel says he’s also done with his mom. And Tessa’s frustrated that Mariah wouldn’t let her support her and go along to the psych hospital just to be close by.

Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) then shows up and sees Daniel and Tessa playing guitar together. And Danny wants them to cut an album and he even offers to produce it. And then he invites Tessa and Daniel to Spain to perform in a club. Tessa jumps at the offer. Daniel’s not sure about performing, but agrees to go to Barcelona. And Tessa and Daniel both agree they’re in the friend zone now.

Y&R Thursday, April 2nd: Nick Targeted by Matt

Then on Thursday, April 2nd, Nick is targeted by Matt, who I’m sure sent the dealer to sell to Nick and specifically to give him that bonus baggie, which I suspect contains something really, really scary that could push Nick off the edge.

Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) gets blasted by Phyllis for conspiring with Victor, for faking her and the twins’ kidnapping, and for hurting Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) so badly. Meanwhile, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) continues to defend Victor. I don’t think Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) is going to like this.

If you remember, Victor is the sole and only reason that Nate and Victoria split before. So, to be fair, Nate saw Victoria when she was being a megalomaniac who was so power-hungry she was screwing over her own family. And Nate still stuck around. But Victor is a big issue for him. Even though Victor and Nate have kind of said bygones about things, I think this is going to bring up a lot for Nate.

Young and the Restless Spoilers Friday, April 3rd: Diane and Kyle Confront Victoria

Then on Friday, April 3rd, we’re going to wrap up the week on Young and the Restless with Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters) and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) confronting Victoria. And if she repeats what she told Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) that it’s Jack’s own fault for what Victor did to him, I think they are going to go off on Victoria.

And of course, Kyle’s very angry with Claire Grace Newman (Hayley Erin) about this as well. The Victor backlash is tearing relationships apart all over Genoa City. Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun) walks up on Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) and Noah Newman (Lucas Adams), reflecting and talking about their past.

So, Sienna may question Noah, and I wonder if he’s going to bring up Audra’s miscarriage, and it may prompt a talk about babies since Sienna is a little too old to have any biological kids with Noah. Plus, on Friday, Victor makes good on a threat, likely against Cane.

But there’s a chance it’s against Jack or Phyllis, especially Jack since we know Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) remains in town and she is another partner in crime of Victor’s. Plus, Nikki talks Jack into something on Friday.

Y&R Spoilers Week of April 6th-10th Spoilers

Then, the week of April 6th through the 10th, we’ve got more on trouble in Vegas. Roger Howarth said in a recent interview that Matt’s been busy while the actor was offscreen. He’s plotting and up to no good. And Roger Howarth said Matt is still destructive as he ever was. He also mentioned being in scenes with new people. One of course is Riza, who we see this week and next week.

I expect to see Matt in scenes with Adam. Of course, Riza knows who Spyder is, knows he’s a Newman, but Matt has no idea that Riza was partnering up with Adam Newman. So, that’s going to be a really interesting conversation with Riza and Matt when it comes out. And Nick obviously is already on his radar and in trouble, but Adam is increasingly in danger as well.

Nate does not like this side of Victoria. Looks like she’s doubling down on defending Victor and Nate may take a step back because Nate laid into Lily about conspiring with Victor. I just doubt he’s going to appreciate Victoria continuing to enable her dad’s awfulness.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Crazy Patty Wreaks Havoc

Expect more chaos from Crazy Patty as she continues to cause problems for Jack and Diane. Lily drowns in regret. And despite Cane vowing that he’s done with Lily forever, soon Cane is going to make an effort and prove himself to Lily. Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) is determined to get Claire away from Kyle.

And Victor’s antics may actually help Holden’s cause because Claire is sticking with team Victor and Kyle has taken a step back with her. He’s not happy. Phyllis and Cane may reconnect over the Victor hate and her laying into Lily about him.

And also look for a couple of weeks when Victor’s not around because actor Eric Braeden was out sick for a couple of weeks. He’s all better now. Noah reassures Sienna not to worry about Audra, but Sienna is more focused on shutting down Matt before he hurts the Newmans. And Sienna may engage in some self-sacrifice.

Nick, Nikki and Jack strategize on how to fix their fractured marriages. Victor still off-put about Nikki defending Jack. Don’t forget Malcolm Winters (Shemar Moore) is back in April. And after Billy Abbott‘s (Jason Thompson) back from London, he and Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) are going to make some significant plans.

Days of Our Lives spoilers for April 06-10, 2026 find EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) shocking somebody and Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) scoring with a lady.

As we always do on early edition day, we start with what’s coming the rest of this week, then dive into what is ahead for next week.

Days of Our Lives Spoilers Wednesday, April 1st: Holly and Tate Feel Vindicated

So, on Wednesday, April 1st, Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) and Tate Black (Leo Howard) feel vindicated. They already suspected that Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd) swapped Holly’s drug bottle at Bayview.

And this week, Brady confirms it and tells Holly and Tate that Rachel Black (Lorelei Olivia Mote) said Sophia gave her the supplements and asks her to give them to Holly without bringing up Sophia’s name. Bottle number two. Bottle number one. They have now realized that, you know, Holly got tricked by Sophia.

Xander Kiriakis Cook (Paul Telfer) finds it difficult to be in the same room with Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey). And of course, it’s because Xander just is having a hard time letting go and accepting that she’s with Brady.

And at this point, Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) is definitely a consolation prize. Sophia gets an earful from Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk). She is livid that psycho Sophia used Rachel.

And I do wonder if Sophia will have any sort of remorse that Rachel is back to Bayview. I hope Sophia doesn’t try to go visit her. And I hope Kristen and Brady put Sophia on the ban list.

DOOL Spoilers: Gwen Breaks News to EJ

Gwen has some news about Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) that she gives to EJ. And of course, we know that Dimitri is now the main suspect in Vivian Alamain’s (Louise Sorel) mysterious death. But EJ may know even more about Dimitri’s situation since EJ is the one who had a bad bad thing done to Vivian.

But again, I’m with Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow). I don’t think Madame Vivian is dead. Also, we’ll see. But I wonder if we’re going to get any April’s April Fool’s Day pranks. I suspect not. The new headwriters seem to have dropped that nonsense that Ron Carlivati always did. They didn’t do it in 2025. So we’ll see if it happens this Wednesday.

Thursday, April 2nd on Days: Johnny Needs Another Favor from EJ

Thursday, April 2nd, Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) approaches EJ needing another favor. Now that Kate wants a pile of cash to settle the copyright claim against Bonnie Kiriakis’s (Judi Evans) book. We know that Johnny is reeling and he’s told Kate that he would fight it in court.

So, I bet EJ will show up for his son because he wants Johnny to stay at DiMera and this Titan suit that Kate threatened probably means that Johnny can’t go back to Titan, which is great news for EJ.

Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) are talking business. And I just wonder if Gabi is going to offer Gabi Chic back to DiMera to get a cash infusion so she can help Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) save the family business and the Kiriakis mansion.

Bonnie gets an earful from Justin Kiriakis (Wally Kurth). He doesn’t see how Bonnie doesn’t understand that her book and Stephanie Johnson‘s (Abigail Klein) are way too much alike, as in copyright infringement alike. It’s not fanfiction and it’s beyond plagiarism.

Even Arianna Horton (Marissa Reyes) noticed the striking similarities when she was reading the manuscript. Bonnie asked Justin what he thinks about her book, and he tells his darling wife, Bonnie, that One Rainy Afternoon reminds him a whole lot of Stephanie’s book, One Stormy Night.

This could rip the Kiriakis family apart because of the chicanery around this. You know, it’s one thing for Bonnie to write something, but a whole another thing to publish it. And it never should have gotten this far.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Philip Turns to Maggie

Philip needs a favor from Maggie Kiriakis (Suzanne Rogers). So, I wonder if Philip wants Maggie to help him pursue this lawsuit or just not to intervene and try and shut him down. You know, obviously she knows it’s going to be problematic.

Bonnie and Justin live at the mansion and Justin’s going to be really upset if he figures out that Bonnie was essentially set up by Kate and Philip. However, I do think Justin can see that the legacy and the Kiriakis mansion and everything is at stake, but he’s not going to want to see Bonnie roasted in public.

So, Philip is going to tell Maggie that Bonnie screwed up and her mistake could save Titan. And then Philip also tells Maggie they cannot afford the next loan payment. They could lose Titan. They could lose the mansion. But damages paid from DiMera for the copyright suit could bail them out.

Also, Chanel Dupree DiMera (Raven Bowens) questions Mama Paulina Price (Jackée Harry), and I wonder if it’s her asking why her mom has been so off-kilter lately. And we know that’s all about Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford).

Also, this week, speaking of her, EJ shows Theo that his mom, Lexie, is indeed alive. She’s not yet awake, though. And of course, Theo’s stunned, and I’m sure he’s going to be thrilled. He may have some questions, but overall, I think he’s just going to be happy.

Days of Our Lives Spoilers Friday, April 3rd: Stephanie Faces Off with Owen

Friday, April 3rd, Leo Stark’s (Greg Rikaart) writing reflects his achy, breaky heart, and Belle Brady (Martha Madison) is hurt a little that Shawn-Douglas Brady (Brandon Beemer) wants to stay with Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) instead of her or letting her come stay with him while she caretakes him.

And in case you have not heard, Elia Cantu has reportedly been pushed back to recurring as Jada, which mirrors Brandon Beemer’s status as Shawn. So, they may be coupling up mostly offscreen from Days of our Lives while he recuperates.

Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) gets an apology from Steve Johnson. They both want Stephanie to be happy and safe, but Alex Kiriakis seems to want Jeremy to step back and leave Salem, but he’s not going just yet. It’s going to be a whole another month before Jeremy goes.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Stephanie Faces Owen

Stephanie faces off with Owen Kent (Wes Ramsey). I mean, good for her for facing her kidnapper. And hopefully Stephanie can get some peace of mind. She closes the blinds, blocking Steve and Alex’s view so she can confront Owen in private after Jada brings him in and handcuffs him to the chair.

And I’m sure he’s going to be creepy as usual with Stephanie. JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss) gets some advice from Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) to keep at the therapy for PTSD for the Shawn shooting event and him feeling like he had to resign. And hopefully JJ will follow through on all of that.

Week of April 6th-10th Spoilers for DOOL

The week of April 6th through the 10th. Just by the way, side note, in addition to Elia Cantu going on recurring status, Galen Gering has also gone recurring as Rafe Hernandez. That’s why we were seeing Gabi on a phone call with Rafe this week because he is not in town.

They’re just going to say he’s off doing FBI stuff, I guess. I have heard a rumor that he was going to wind up back with Jada eventually, but we’ll see if that manifests. And again, it may mostly be offscreen. Rachel wants out of Bayview so desperately, and I wonder if she’s going to tell Dr. Gregory what Sophia did and that she, you know, was saving up her psych meds and all that kind of stuff.

And the bottom line is because Rachel is involved in this, Holly is feeling a little trapped in terms of, you know, not being able to go to the police. But then again, they can’t really prove whose psych meds were whose because it looks like Rachel and Sophia were taking the same thing.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Brady & Sarah Heat Up

Gwen continues to enjoy her friends with benefits and cheeky fun relationship with Xander, but of course, his heart remains with Sarah. Meanwhile, Brady and Sarah are going to take their relationship to the next level and sleep together. Here’s my question.

With Rachel in Bayview and Kristen blowing up at the hearing and acting inappropriately, seems like Brady may need to boot Kristen out of his house if he is going to be getting intimate with Sarah. Now, of course, Brady can go over to the Kiriakis mansion. He was staying there before, but let’s face it, Kristen needs to go.

Gabi and Philip are looking to get a place together, a little love shack all their own. Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) and EJ keep getting closer, but with recast Chad, played by Connor Floyd, debuting in April, things are going to get even more twisted.

Leo chooses Javi over hot as heck suspected murderer Dimitri, but it turns out Javi already has a new man. So, was one of his exes still in Texas and they rekindled? Plus, Stephanie may continue to bond with Jeremy and we know Alex won’t like it.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated 1 hour ago

Recently, Paramount made the surprisingly sudden decision to cancel Starfleet Academy shortly after the end of its first season. Starfleet Academy was designed to attract younger audiences, and it failed to do so. Its characters and storytelling drove away older fans while failing to capture that coveted youth demographic.

With any luck, Paramount will learn from this show’s failure and learn the truth behind the biggest lie in Star Trek. Namely, that the franchise must court younger viewers to survive. That’s never been true. In reality, simply following the blueprint for The Original Series is enough for new shows to attract both younger and older audiences, a formula that has worked for nearly four decades.

Fandom: The Next Generation

The most obvious example that the Original Series formula works is, of course, the success of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The show featured a new crew and new adventures, but at its heart, it was about the starship Enterprise and its mission to explore strange new worlds. We also got some entertaining new characters, but more of them are throwbacks to Kirk’s era than you might think. 

The android Data was clearly meant as a stand-in for Spock, and like the legendary Vulcan before him, his attempts to understand what makes humans tick served as a reflection of our own humanity. Riker was (as confirmed by the Season 2 Writer’s Guide) modeled after Captain Kirk. Worf was an ongoing reminder of Kirk’s old nemesis, the Klingons. Dr. Pulaski channeled much of Dr. McCoy’s famous crankiness, and even wunderkind Wesley Crusher was an echo of Chekov, whom Gene Roddenberry created to appeal to younger audiences.

Simply put, Star Trek: The Next Generation very explicitly modeled itself after The Original Series. Its success was so (ahem) out of this world that it launched the franchise’s Golden Age. An era that ended only when Paramount finally began deviating from its winning formula.

Playing The Hits

It’s not hard to see how Star Trek: Voyager similarly built off the formula of The Original Series. As with TNG, producers once again focused on an intrepid crew constantly making contact with new and exciting alien life. The premise that our titular starship was stranded on the other side of the galaxy helped this show channel TOS even more explicitly by bringing back the vibe of going where (in a quite literal sense) no man had gone before.

There were, of course, parallels with TOS characters: Tuvok is Spock 3.0 (no, I’m not counting Xon, and you can’t make me!), and the grumpy Doctor is Dr. McCoy 3.0 (albeit a holographic one). Harry Kim was, like Wesley and Chekov before him, an attempt to appeal to younger audiences. Interestingly, Voyager shared significant DNA with the highly successful Next Generation: B’Elanna Torres was a new iteration of K’helyr, TNG’s popular half-human, half-Klingon. Seven of Nine was an ongoing reminder of Captain Picard’s assimilation. Finally, Tom Paris was very explicitly based on TNG’s Nick Locarno character, who was also played by Robert Duncan McNeil. 

Even The Exception Followed The Rules

On paper, Deep Space Nine is the anomaly: as a show set on a space station, it is seemingly the antithesis of the Original Series formula. However, the early show still echoed the TOS focus of life on the frontier, and it echoed TNG more than you might think. The entire relationship between Cardassians and Bajorans was set up in TNG. It featured Miles O’Brien from the beginning, and it later added the fan-favorite TNG character, Worf. 

Finally, by Season 3, Sisko had his very own starship with which to engage in adventures on either side of the wormhole. The addition of Worf and the Defiant made DS9 more like The Next Generation (itself an iteration of The Original Series) than ever before. Uncoincidentally, these changes also made the show popular enough to earn a dubious honor: it was the last Star Trek show to get seven seasons.

The Pattern Is Clear

Star Trek: Enterprise was infamously canceled after four seasons. Its first two seasons tried to follow The Original Series formula, though audiences didn’t cotton to changes like Vulcans (save for the hottie in the catsuit) being complete jerks. Season 3 tried to modernize the series’ formula by focusing on an ongoing story clearly inspired by 9/11. Season 4 righted the ship with some stellar episodes, but the damage was done, and the show ended with one of the worst finales in TV history.

The same thing happened to Star Trek: Discovery. While that show’s early days had its detractors, most fans agree that the first two seasons were the best. The show channeled TOS in some provocative ways, including illustrating the brutality of Starfleet’s earlier war with the Klingons and the horrors of the Mirror Universe. Audiences also loved the introduction of a young Captain Pike and Spock so much that they headlined Strange New Worlds, the beloved spinoff that is popular explicitly because it’s modeled so heavily after The Original Series.

Conversely, Star Trek: Picard didn’t get good until its final season, and that’s because it finally became one big cast reunion for The Next Generation. This season reunited our favorite TNG characters and even focused on familiar bad guys like the Borg. Fans loved this season so much that they practically begged Paramount to give us a Star Trek: Legacy spinoff series. Meanwhile, Starfleet Academy deviated from the formula entirely, focusing on different characters (young, vulgar cadets) and a different setting (the titular academy). Nobody begged for more; in fact, the show was canceled after one season due to low viewership.

The Blueprint Is There, Will Paramount Actually Use It?

There you have it, folks. While each new Star Trek series gives the franchise a new coat of paint, it’s clear that the most successful shows are the ones that draw heavily from The Original Series or its successor show, The Next Generation. Some worry that sticking to a 60-year-old blueprint means that things will get repetitive and boring, but that’s the brilliance of Gene Roddenberry’s amazing creation: it allows for endless different stories, technologies, alien races, and so on. Fans just want the characters encountering all of this to be in the vein of Kirk and Picard’s iconic Trek through the stars.

Now, Paramount is on the cusp of reinventing this franchise yet again. Doubtlessly, there will be plenty of internal debates about the direction new shows and movies should take. Sadly, NuTrek, with its astonishing failure rate, is a startlingly expensive example of what not to do. From the most hardcore fans to the most casual viewers, nobody wants another slick sci-fi show that is Star Trek in name only. 

By sticking to Roddenberry’s successful blueprint, Paramount can reinstate a new golden age for the franchise. Otherwise, they risk destroying their most vital IP and fully driving away the fans they will so desperately need when the dust finally settles on these endless mergers and acquisitions. If that happens, though, the Star Trek fandom has a handy catchphrase they should go ahead and start practicing: “Kurtzman, when the Trek fell!” 

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 33 seconds ago

Supernatural felt like it was on the air forever, 15 seasons and 327 episodes is an incredible run, but it’s even more impressive for a genre show. That’s why it’s hard to remember, but way back in the second episode, “Wendigo,” Alden Ehrenreich made his acting debut as the young Ben Collins, and while he’d go on to star in Weapons, Ironheart, and Beautiful Creatures, his most infamous role was no fault of his own. Ehrenreich starred as young Han Solo in Solo, the most unneeded prequel of all time, and a film that destroyed the entire Star Wars side-story project Disney had been pursuing, which is a little ironic, as his very on-screen role was so good, it helped turn Supernatural into the juggernaut it would become.

Sam And Dean Take On One Of Supernatural’s Best Monsters

“Wendigo” is the second episode of Supernatural. which means it had the task of setting the tone and format for the rest of the series. The pilot introduced characters, set up the world, and established stakes, but “Wendigo” was the first real Monster of the Week episode. Back before it was a battle against demons and angels, the show mined folklore and urban legends for its villains, and the Algonquian legend of the Wiindigoo, a ravenous, gigantic, emaciated cannibal, made for the perfect introduction to the Winchesters. 

Alden Ehrenreich’s Ben Collins is wandering in the wilderness with his older sister, Hayley, as they try to find their other brother, Tommy, who went missing. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) find the siblings, and thanks to their dad’s journal, deduce it was a Wendigo that took Tommy. The Wendigo they find isn’t a furry, bestial monster, instead it’s closer to the actual tradition, a strange-looking, gaunt, humanoid that has more in common with Slender Man than Big Foot, but it’s also one of the best-looking monsters of Season 1.

The episode plays out as you’d expect, with Sam and Dean losing horribly to the beast before they outsmart it and snatch victory from its ravenous jaws of defeat. Supernatural eventually got stuck in a rut with subsequent episodes playing out in the same fashion, but given its later seasons’ emphasis on the mythology arc, it’s refreshing to go back and see such a simple Monster of the Week story that lets Sam and Dean be, well, Sam and Dean, going up against a beast from classic folklore.

From All-Time Great To All-Time Flop

Following the success of “Wendigo,” Supernatural became a hit, and Alden Ehrenreich hasn’t had to stop working yet. Supernatural fans should at least check out Beautiful Creatures, based on the young adult novel of the same name, where he plays a teen who falls in love with a young witch. It’s Southern Gothic, giving it a sense of style and charm that what should have been his breakout film, Solo, completely lacks. 

It’s not Ehrenreich’s fault that Solo was a failure. Asking him to play one of the most iconic roles in movie history that made Harrison Ford a movie star was an impossible task. The fact that he does as well as he does is a testament to his acting ability and his own natural charm. Solo was the victim of studio interference.

Supernatural had to overcome its own periods of studio interference, and its spin-off, The Winchesters, also had a rough start to production. Years after it finally came to an end, it’s fun to look back at the saga of Sam and Dean and realize how good we had it. Two brothers, a 1967 Chevy Impala, and a Monster of the Week became one of the greatest genre shows in history.

Jen Shah was indicted for her alleged role in a long-running telemarketing scheme while filming season 2 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

Bravo viewers met Shah during season 1 of RHOSLC, which filmed in 2019 and aired in 2020. She quickly became a polarizing character on the franchise, with fans questioning her job and need for several assistants.

“People will come to me and I’ll invest in their companies, so we have got a lot of different investments, all different kinds of things,” Shah said of her career on Access Hollywood’s “Housewives Nightcap” in November 2020. “I’ve been able to do it because what I’ve been able to carve out, the niche I’ve been able to carve out in the direct response marketing world.”

Not long after production began on season 2 of RHOSLC — which also starred Meredith Marks, Whitney Rose, Heather Gay, Lisa Barlow and Mary Cosby — news broke on March 30, 2021, that Shah and one of her assistants who appeared on the show, Stuart Smith, were arrested in Utah.

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Every defendant in the case has pleaded guilty to their respective charges as of July 2022, when Shah became the final defendant to change her plea. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a plea deal. After Shah was convicted, she was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison. Shah reported to prison in 2023, and was later released in December 2025.

Scroll through for a breakdown of the charges and everything we know about Shah’s legal drama:

This is an ongoing article that was originally published in March 2021 and last updated on April 1, 2026.