Eight seasons in, ABC‘s hit procedural The Rookie remains one of the network’s most popular shows. After launching in 2018 with a premise centered on a rookie (played by Nathan Fillion) in the mid-stages of his life joining the LAPD, the show has evolved into a high-octane police procedural that showcases the lives of law enforcement in the world’s entertainment capital. While other shows run out of steam as seasons go by, The Rookie is one of the rare exceptions that maintains its audience or even grows. The show has been reported as one of the most popular procedurals among Gen-Z.

The eighth season started on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, and concluded on Monday, May 4, with the finale titled “The Bandit.” The season was full of major moments, including a proposal and the death of one of the show’s long-running villains, marking the end of an era for the procedural known for keeping its villains around for several years. The season shook things up a lot by including scenes outside of Los Angeles, bringing back polarizing characters, and even doing special episodes. The bad news is that The Rookie is the show ABC holds for midseason, with Season 9 expected around January next year.

However, ABC knows fans are starved for more The Rookie content, and the network is making a rare move by releasing an extended cut of Episode 10, “His Name Was Martin,” Deadline reports. The episode aired on March 9 and featured an emotional arc for Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil). In it, the team tries to prevent a cleaning crew from wreaking havoc after they are exposed to chemicals at Westview. The members of the crew exhibit rabid behavior akin to zombies, and when Lucy is cornered by one of them, she discharges her weapon and kills him. The ordeal had a profound emotional impact on her. The extended cut includes five and a half extra minutes and will be released in five days on July 20. Viewers can find it in the Extras section of The Rookie‘s landing page on Hulu.

Why Is ABC Releasing an Extended Episode of ‘The Rookie?’

With around 40 minutes available for scenes on broadcast shows, some scenes don’t make it into the final network cut. Series creator Alexi Hawley — who also wrote and directed the zombie episode — revealed that he had to cut some material that would have contextualized Tim (Eric Winter) and Lucy’s scenes later in the episode. Since episodes can run as long as they want on streaming, Hawley decided to re-include the scenes he cut as a reward for viewers who have made The Rookie one of ABC’s most-watched shows. He explained:

Network run times are set in stone. But Hulu’s are not. So, I picked up the phone and pitched the idea of releasing an extended cut as a reward to our amazing fans, who are so invested in the show. Now they’ll be able to go deeper into the character journeys (especially for Tim and Lucy) and see the previously unaired scenes that enhance the episode in a unique way.

All seasons of The Rookie are available to stream on Hulu in the US. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

October 16, 2018

Showrunner

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Alexi Hawley

Directors

Tori Garrett, Chi-Yoon Chung, Michael Goi, Sylvain White, Lisa Demaine, Lanre Olabisi, Bill Johnson, David McWhirter, Liz Friedlander, Daniel Willis, Toa Fraser, Anne Renton, Jon Huertas, Cherie Nowlan, TK Shom, Rob Seidenglanz, Valerie Weiss, Barbara Brown, Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul, SJ Main Muñoz, Nelson McCormick, Marcus Stokes, Adam Davidson, Anna Mastro

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Writers

Corey Miller, Bill Rinier, Zoe Cheng, Mary Trahan, Ally Seibert, Liz Alper, Nick Hurwitz, Racheal Seymour, Madeleine Coghlan, David Radcliff

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Katie Holmes has seemingly found a new romantic connection, leaving fans swooning. 

Following weeks of public chatter about her love life, she was spotted on a night out with a popular artist during a high-profile event in East Hampton.

This update comes weeks after fans speculated that she may have rekindled her relationship with her former flame, Joshua Jackson. 

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Holmes stepped out holding hands with prominent New York painter and illustrator Jason Bard Yarmosky. The 47-year-old actress was seen with Yarmosky at a special screening of “The Invite” at the East Hampton Regal UA theater. 

According to a nearby observer, the two presented a picture of ease as they walked into the venue hand in hand.

“He was whispering in her ear, and she was laughing; they seemed very easy together, and there was a smile on her face all night,” the onlooker revealed to People Magazine.  

The witness went on to share that the pair remained inseparable inside the theater, adding, “They sat together during the movie; she had her head on his shoulder at one point. They looked very cute”.

Although the duo didn’t appear on the red carpet together, sources confirmed they spent the rest of their evening socializing closely with friends at the afterparty.

Katie Holmes Recently Sparked Romance Rumors With Joshua Jackson

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Before stepping out with her new artist companion, the actress sent fans into a frenzy by sharing a highly affectionate moment with Joshua Jackson. 

The two stars, who first rose to fame as a beloved on-screen couple on the hit teen drama “Dawson’s Creek,” briefly dated in real life during their younger years.

Decades after their initial split, they officially reunited to star in a romantic film project titled “Happy Hours,” which was written and directed by Holmes herself.

The Blast reported that at the movie’s premiere in New York City, the former co-stars’ warm behavior on the red carpet immediately grabbed the public’s attention.

During an interview, the pair locked hands as Jackson openly praised Holmes for her creative vision and expressed deep gratitude for their lifelong bond. 

“You wrote this for us. You did the whole thing,” Jackson gushed about Holmes, who looked back at him with affection.

Joshua Jackson Was Seen With A Model Shortly After The Premiere

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While fans were busy dreaming of a real-life fairy-tale reunion between the former teen-drama co-stars, Jackson quickly signaled that his heart lay elsewhere. Shortly after his affectionate red-carpet appearance with Holmes, he was spotted enjoying a warm, public stroll through New York City with a model.

As The Blast reported, the “Dawson’s Creek” alumnus was seen holding hands and laughing with model Olivia Burgess during a relaxed weekend outing.

The pair kept things casual for their walk through the city, with Jackson choosing a lightweight linen shirt with matching trousers. Beside him, Burgess wore a black tank top and shorts, her hair in a casual, messy bun. 

Katie Holmes Had A Romantic Connection With James Van Der Beek

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While Jackson’s outing seemed to clarify the nature of his relationship with Holmes, reports surfaced, indicating that the actress had a romantic connection with another one of her co-stars. 

Long before they went their separate ways as household names, Holmes and her “Dawson’s Creek” co-star, the late James Van Der Beek, were reportedly more than just colleagues behind the scenes. 

While millions of television viewers watched their characters on the screen, insiders revealed that the actors quietly explored a real-life relationship off-camera. However, the pair reportedly kept their romance strictly confidential, per The Blast.

Although they went to great lengths to shield their romance from the public eye, their close bond was reportedly an open secret among the show’s crew. 

Katie Holmes’ Youthful Red Carpet Appearance Sparks Cosmetic Speculation

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Even with Holmes’ romantic history being under the spotlight, the actress has continued to make public appearances, looking as youthful as ever.

Back in April, her appearance at a high-profile fashion event in New York became a major talking point among fans and aesthetic experts alike.

Holmes was spotted wearing a yellow sweater paired with casual side-striped jeans. Her fresh-faced style quickly sparked online discussion, as many fans questioned if she had discovered a literal “fountain of youth.”

Meanwhile, others wondered if the star had undergone a subtle facial lift to achieve such a youthful glow.

According to The Blast, the widespread speculation prompted a cosmetic professional to offer his perspective on how the actress maintains her signature effortless look.

Analyzing her smooth cheeks, the specialist suggested that Holmes may be relying on highly effective, non-surgical skincare routines rather than invasive surgical procedures.

Jennifer Lopez is facing another setback in her attempt to sell the Beverly Hills mansion she once shared with Ben Affleck.

After reports suggested the luxury estate was close to changing hands, a prospective buyer reportedly pulled out of the $50 million deal, putting the property back on the market.

The development marks the latest twist in the home’s lengthy sales journey, which has unfolded alongside Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s post-divorce separation.

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Lopez’s efforts to sell her Beverly Hills estate for $50 million have reportedly hit another setback after a promising deal unexpectedly collapsed.

According to TMZ, a prospective buyer who had already placed a substantial deposit on the property backed out of the transaction for reasons that remain unclear. The collapse comes just days after reports suggested the estate was in escrow and on track to change hands following a lengthy and difficult sales process.

Real estate sources had previously indicated that an offer had been accepted and that the buyer was a prominent figure in the technology and finance industries. However, with the deal now off the table, the luxury property has reportedly returned to the market, leaving Lopez and her real estate team searching for a new buyer once again.

The singer and actress purchased the mansion with her ex-husband Ben Affleck in May 2023 for nearly $61 million. At the time, the sprawling estate was meant to be the couple’s dream home. But after their separation in 2024 and divorce in January 2025, the property became one of the last major ties connecting the former couple.

Inside Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck’s Marital Estate

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Situated on more than five acres, the estate spans approximately 46,000 square feet and was designed with celebrity-level luxury in mind. The residence features 12 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, expansive entertaining areas, and a dramatic entrance complete with soaring ceilings and a floating staircase.

Among its standout features are a private theater with seating for up to 100 guests, formal dining and living spaces, and numerous high-end finishes throughout the home.

Lopez reportedly customized parts of the property to fit her lifestyle, adding a glam room, a dance rehearsal space, a recording studio, and extensive wardrobe storage. Affleck’s interests are reflected in the home’s enormous indoor sports complex, complete with basketball, pickleball, and boxing facilities.

Outside, the estate offers a resort-style infinity pool overlooking canyon views, guest accommodations, private cabanas, landscaped grounds, and parking facilities capable of accommodating dozens of vehicles.

The Singer Faces Millions In Fees As Mansion Sale Drags On

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Selling the luxury home has proven far more difficult than expected. Since listing the property, Lopez and Affleck have struggled to secure a buyer.

The mansion first hit the market in July 2024 with a $68 million asking price before undergoing a series of reductions as luxury real estate sales slowed across Los Angeles.

Even if the mansion eventually finds a buyer, experts have noted that the sale may not generate a significant profit.

Between reduced asking prices, real estate commissions, and Los Angeles’ luxury property transfer tax, Lopez could face millions of dollars in transaction-related expenses.

More On The Singer’s Mansion Sale Woes

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One of the biggest financial hurdles for Lopez is the city’s mansion tax, which applies to high-value property sales within Los Angeles city limits.

Had the estate been located within neighboring Beverly Hills, many of those costs would have been substantially lower. In addition, standard real estate commissions alone could total several million dollars.

One expense Lopez has reportedly already taken care of is the property’s annual tax bill. Public records indicate that the estate’s property taxes, estimated at roughly $378,000 per year, have been paid in full.

Reports have also suggested that Affleck later transferred his ownership interest in the home to Lopez, giving her full control over the property.

While that arrangement could allow the singer and actress to turn a profit if the home eventually sells, the latest failed deal means the search for the right buyer continues.

Jennifer Lopez Turns Heads At Wimbledon In Elegant Summer Ensemble

The Lord of the Rings has the fantasy genre locked down when it comes to the big screen, but the franchise has also expanded into TV in recent years with shows like The Rings of Power. Amazon has aired two full seasons of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video, and it’s already been confirmed that the third is on the way later this year. The Rings of Power is far from the only fantasy show at Amazon with a devoted fan base, though. The Wheel of Time picked up millions of fans around the world through its first few seasons, many of whom were familiar with the books by Robert Jordan that inspired it, and others whose first experience with the franchise came through the Prime Video series.

The third season of The Wheel of Time aired early in 2025, and while most fans and creatives alike assumed that the show would be given the chance to continue into Season 4, it was sadly canceled after Season 3. The Wheel of Time fans do have a new release coming soon to look forward to, though, as a new board game titled War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time has been picking up steam as the first ever board game inspired by the hit fantasy franchise. The new release will put players directly in the middle of the epic conflict between Rand’al Thor (portrayed by Josha Stradowski in the show) and The Dark One. Over on Kickstarter, the crowdfunding campaign for the new Wheel of Time game has raised over $1.16 million from 6,156 donors at the time of writing, and it’s expected that the game will launch before the end of 2027. An official description for the game reads as follows:

“Robert Jordan’s fantasy masterpiece comes to your table with the first-ever board game based on The Wheel of Time series. War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time chronicles the epic conflict between the forces of light and darkness as players wage war across a land of magic, ancient prophecies, and powerful armies set to save the world … or destroy it. The game combines tableau building, action selection, and area control mechanics in a thrilling struggle of conquest and survival.”

Why Did Prime Video Cancel ‘The Wheel of Time’?

Image via Kickstarted

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When the news came out that Prime Video had canceled The Wheel of Time, it was reported that the studio’s reason behind the cancellation was strictly financial. It was even reported that many creatives involved with the decision were fans of the show, though that didn’t take away any of the sting from long-time fans. Despite petitions to save the show receiving thousands of signatures, Prime Video doubled down on the cancellation, confirming that it wasn’t even shopping the show to other networks and streamers, effectively sealing its fate.

Check out all three seasons of The Wheel of Time on Prime Video and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time.

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Release Date

2021 – 2025-00-00

Network

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Prime Video

Showrunner

Rafe Judkins

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Directors

Sanaa Hamri, Ciaran Donnelly, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Thomas Napper, Maja Vrvilo, Wayne Che Yip

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Writers

Amanda Kate Shuman, Dave Hill, Rohit Kumar, Justine Juel Gillmer, Celine Song, Rammy Park, The Clarksons Twins, Katherine B. McKenna

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By TeeJay Small
| Published 48 seconds ago

Today, multi-cam half-hour comedy series have largely gone out of style, with the format looking aged and reminiscent of the 1990s. While many shows maintained this format throughout the golden years of cable television, one of the most defining shows of that era is The Nanny, which ran for six seasons from 1993 through 1999.

If you’re looking for a nostalgic series to instantly transport you back in time to a world of Nintendo 64, mood rings, and pogs, you need to take a moment to binge through a few seasons of this iconic CBS sitcom for yourself.

A 90s Icon

The Nanny was created by series star Fran Drescher and her then-husband Peter Marc Jacobson. It centers on a fictionalized version of Drescher as she takes on the role of a live-in nanny for a trio of adorable wealthy children. As the show’s iconic theme music will explain, Fran originally showed up at the door of the Sheffield family with the intention of selling makeup door to door before falling into the role of a nanny through her style, flair, and compelling presence.

Niles Is The Real Hero

Over the course of six seasons, The Nanny relies on a number of running gags, inside jokes, and catch-phrase humor, each punctuated with the riotous laughter of the live studio audience. The show is heavily dated, with references to decades-old television programs, fourth-wall breaks, and nods to the camera, but in today’s era of sardonic humor and eight-episode seasons, it might be exactly what audiences need.

Personally, I binged the entire series over the last few months with a friend, and we were shocked to see the 50/50 split on jokes that would hold up perfectly for today’s Gen Z audience and jokes that went way over our heads because we would have been babies when these pop culture references germinated.

Much of the humor in The Nanny also requires you to have at least a basic understanding of Fran Drescher’s actual life, as she based a ton of the characters, comedy, and wacky situations on her own personal experience.

A Prototypical Sitcom

Regardless, the barrier for entry on the show is remarkably low, even if you might be left scratching your head at a few jokes while the studio audience laughs themselves into an aneurysm.

Looking back with decades of hindsight, it’s easy to see why The Nanny was such a major hit in its day, as it contains everything that made that quintessentially 90s period of television so great. The show has tons of heart, a lot of sweet moments, and a main character who is equal parts freakishly attractive and unbearably annoying.

Relevant Today Thanks To Fran Drescher

In my opinion, The Nanny is as relevant as ever today, due to the real life exploits of Fran Drescher. For those of you who don’t know, the former sitcom legend stepped into the role of President of SAG-AFTRA back in 2021, and was instrumental in navigating the terms and conditions of the union’s new deal with the major studios during the lengthy 2023 strike.

Today, Fran Drescher is a Hollywood icon, partially for her role as a union leader, and partially due to her instantly recognizable series, which has become a comfort sitcom for millions of viewers around the world.

If you’d like to watch The Nanny today, the series is available to stream on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. The show arguably deserves to be on a 90s sitcom Mount Rushmore alongside Seinfeld, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Frasier.

This September will officially mark three years since Disney‘s ambitious Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hosted its last passengers at the Walt Disney World Orlando Resort. After opening in March 2022, this lavish hotel, designed like a luxury cruise liner among the stars, lasted only one and a half years before shutting down despite so much promise. Hopes were high for the two-night experience, which offered an immersive live role-playing experience for fans to step aboard the Halcyon, interact with beloved Star Wars characters, hone their skills with a lightsaber, and join the battle between the First Order and the Resistance. However, its execution, while dazzling and impactful for those fortunate enough to experience it, was marred by a sky-high price tag of nearly $5,000 for a couple and $6,000 for families that prevented most customers from ever enjoying it.

While the attraction was understandably grounded in controversy, filmmaker and Star Wars fanatic Carrie Coaplen wanted to capture the real impact for the people who got to go on their own adventure in a galaxy far, far away. She helmed the feature-length documentary Halycon Daze: The Final Voyages of Disney’s Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, a partially Kickstarter-funded exploration into the experience with copious footage from inside the attraction and interviews with the people who made it possible, from designers, actors, and crew to industry experts and the fan community who fell in love with it. It’s meant both as a reflection on everything the Starcruiser was and aimed to be, and the work that elevated it into a brief, yet thrilling way to become immersed in the Star Wars universe. Now, the film, built on the dedicated efforts of fans and researchers, is coming to one of the pop culture events of the year.

Halcyon Daze is officially slated to screen on the first day of San Diego Comic-Con next Thursday, July 23. Not only that, but the feature is also bound for the tabletop-gaming staple Gen Con in Indianapolis the following weekend on Saturday, August 1. It’s a chance to see a fan-focused documentary that has been met with widespread acclaim so far and represents both a community-focused affair and the journey of one filmmaker from casual Star Wars fan to a true diehard. In an official statement, Coaplen expressed her excitement for being able to share the deeply personal passion project on such a big platform. “At its core, Halcyon Daze has always been about the people who made the experience possible and the community that found connection and meaning on the Starcruiser,” she said. “It’s a thrill to bring the film to events like Comic-Con that are really about connecting fans with things they love.”

‘Halcyon Daze’ Has Already Been Met With Widespread Praise

So far, Halcyon Daze has enjoyed screenings at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, Indy Film Fest, and the Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival, even earning Best Fan Documentary honors at the latter. The Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation, and Technology has also named it as an official selection and nominated it for Most Innovative Documentary. For lead researcher and producer Carly Kocurek, attending Gen Con next feels particularly fitting because of how Galactic Starcruiser was designed with interactivity in mind. “I first got interested in the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser because of the way it leveraged game design, turning its guests into active participants,” they added in a separate statement. “Bringing the documentary to a gaming celebration like Gen Con feels a little like going back to the beginning of the project.”

Halycon Daze: The Final Voyages of Disney’s Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser screens at San Diego Comic-Con and Gen Con this year on Thursday, July 23, at 9:30 p.m. PT at Grand 6, Marriott Marquis San Diego, and on Saturday, August 1, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Capitol Ballroom III in The Westin Indianapolis, respectively. Additionally, the Flyover Film Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, will also host a screening at the Kentucky Science Center on August 1 at 5 p.m. Members of the team behind the documentary will be in attendance for all three events.

Check out the official trailer in the player above.

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First TV Show

Star Wars The Clone Wars

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George Lucas

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The Acolyte

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Angela Simmons and Yo Gotti sparked online chatter after allegedly attending Jay-Z’s concert in New York City on Sunday, July 12. The Memphis rapper and Simmons broke up earlier this year. But footage from the final night of shows has fans wondering if they have rekindled.

RELATED: Spill The Tea, Sis! Angela Simmons Shares What She Believes Ended Her Romance With Yo Gotti (WATCH)

Were Angela Simmons And Yo Gotti Together At Jay-Z’s Concert?

The three-day Jay-Z concerts in New York City celebrated the 30th anniversary of ‘Reasonable Doubt.’ Simmons shared footage from the show on Instagram. The video features Simmons and a friend enjoying the music as they sing along. IG Model Tea Room caught a clip of the footage in slow-motion, and it appears as if a man resembling Yo Gotti is in the background just behind Simmons’ right shoulder. Also, an arrow was placed in the footage to point out the alleged ‘Pose’ artist, and the footage has folks wondering if the former duo had gotten back together.

Fans Have Questions After Seeing The Video

The video was shared on TSR‘s Instagram page, and several people left remarks in the comment section.

User @_msjaymarie_ joked that they couldn’t see anything. “I’m glad y’all added the arrow cause I ain’t see sh*t 😂.”

@sharonlatelle added, “I just spinned the block this week no judgement this way 😂😂😂.”

@glamarus noted, “I MEAN HE IS IN HER CITY Y’ALL GOTTA CHILL AFTER A BREAK UP LINKING UP IS STILL A THANG 😂.”

User @karesse_a replied, “😂😂😂😂 Listen mann… it be like that. Mind y’all business…. I AM SCREAMING.”

@teridixon_32 wrote, “The FBI need to hire the whole Shade Room staff.”

User @valleygirlfee35 joked, “The slow zoom in was diabolical af 😂😂😂😂😂.”

@officiallyroyaltayy added, “The slo mo , pause , rewind and arrow is crazy 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.”

@lala_leaks21 wrote, “Lmao Boy Y’all Don’t Miss!! 😂😂.”

Simmons Recently Spoke On The Couple’s Breakup

Simmons told Angie Martinez on her podcast ‘In Real Life‘ last June that the couple had broken up.

“I had to make a decision,” she said. “Some stuff is better left unsaid. Again, much love and respect to him, he’s doing his thing, I’m happy for him.”

RELATED: What’s Tea? Yo Gotti Sparks Breakup Rumors With Angela Simmons After Sharing “Lonely” Post On Social Media (PHOTOS)

By Robert Scucci
| Published 36 seconds ago

For the sake of convenience and continuity, every single sitcom somehow has a soundproof kitchen that’s seemingly located in another dimension where guests can’t hear conversations across an open floor plan. On a technical level, this trope makes sense because erecting an entirely new set for secret conversations to take place would prove to be a cumbersome ordeal. But how much disbelief are we supposed to suspend when sitcom characters like Frasier Crane talk loudly about their guests who are clearly within earshot? 

Magically Sound Proof Kitchens

The only sitcom in recent memory that actually acknowledged this trope during its run was How I Met Your Mother. In the episode “Okay Awesome,” Marshall and Lily are frustrated after inviting their new boring friends, Claire and Austin, over for a wine-tasting party. When Marshall steps into the kitchen to air his grievances about Claire and Austin, it’s revealed that Claire is standing right behind him, having heard every word. It’s a rare instance of a sitcom recognizing that an open-concept apartment doesn’t magically become a private confessional just because somebody crossed into the kitchen.

Even then, it’s implied that if Claire hadn’t breached the kitchen’s threshold, Marshall would have gotten away with his mean-spirited jabs about Claire and Austin’s 30-year fixed mortgage and ultrasound photos. Given how the episode concludes with Marshall and Lily literally climbing out of their bathroom window to meet up with the rest of the gang at the club, “Okay Awesome” didn’t need to lean into the soundproof sitcom kitchen trope because it’s not like they were trying to save face in the first place. If anything, having Claire overhear the entire conversation from the living room would have better sold the joke while poking even more fun at one of television’s oldest unwritten rules.

Pokes Fun At The Concept

From this point forward, we never see Claire or Austin in any significant capacity again, so who cares if their feelings get hurt over some critical commentary when their hosts rudely abandon their own party to meet up with the rest of the gang anyway? Their friendship was clearly doomed regardless, which makes the need for a magically private kitchen feel even more unnecessary.

I’m willing to forgive How I Met Your Mother because it at least acknowledges the absurdity of the trope instead of pretending it isn’t happening. Most sitcoms simply expect us to accept that crossing an invisible line into the kitchen somehow creates a cone of silence, but “Okay Awesome” briefly calls attention to how ridiculous that idea actually is before going right back to business as usual.

The Most Egregious Examples Can Be Found In Frasier

But I can’t say the same thing about Frasier, where Frasier Crane routinely has crucial conversations in his kitchen with his booming baritone voice while his guests sit less than 10 feet away in the living room. One of the most egregious examples of the soundproof sitcom kitchen trope comes in “Daphne Dates a Niles Doppelganger,” when Niles has a complete meltdown over hesitating to tell Daphne how he feels, only to watch her start dating a man who’s practically his exact double.

While the episode implies that conversations taking place in Frasier’s kitchen can’t be heard anywhere else in the apartment, it completely undermines that logic moments later. As Frasier mingles with his guests in the living room, he immediately hears Niles accidentally drop and shatter one of his antique coffee cups in the kitchen (Catherine of Aragon!), proving that sound can, in fact, travel freely between the two rooms. If Niles breaking a coffee cup carries across the apartment, there’s no reason an emotionally distraught Frasier ranting at full volume shouldn’t.

The Rare Exception

If sitcoms are going to use this trope, they should at least commit to it. The kitchen can’t only become a soundproof bunker when the plot demands a private conversation, only for noises to travel freely across the exact same distance moments later. Either sound carries through an open floor plan or it doesn’t.

That’s also why the trope feels less noticeable in sitcoms like Seinfeld and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Those shows thrive on characters openly scheming against one another, insulting each other to their faces, or making no effort to hide their selfish intentions in the first place. When everybody’s already saying the quiet part out loud, there’s far less need for a magically silent kitchen to keep the story moving.