Batman: The Animated Series is not only one of the most influential superhero cartoons ever made, but also ranks among the greatest animated shows of all time. It follows Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy), a billionaire playboy living in Gotham City, and how he protects the people of Gotham City as the Caped Crusader, Batman. Its success spawned a sprawling universe of animated DC shows, from Superman: The Animated Series to Justice League/Justice League Unlimited, and it still stands as the definitive version of The Dark Knight for the pre-Christopher Nolan generation.

While Batman is usually seen as a solo hero, he has a fair few allies in Gotham who help him deal with the various super-criminals that plague the city. Some of them are trained officers of the law, others are vigilante crime fighters like him, and others are just regular civilians who help where they can. These are the best heroes in Batman: The Animated Series that aren’t Batman himself, proving that Gotham might be crime-infested, but it also has numerous good guys.

Janet Van Dorn

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

After Harvey Dent became the criminal Two-Face, he was replaced as District Attorney by Janet Van Dorn (Lynette Mettey and Stephanie Zimbalist). She makes it clear that she does not approve of Batman’s methods and believes that he should be put on trial for his role in creating the numerous villains in his rogue’s gallery. Ironically, she ends up having to defend Batman in a court setup by his villains.

Van Dorn only has a major role in one episode, but in her limited screen time, she goes from being one of Batman’s most vocal critics to a respected ally because they both want the same thing. In the end, Van Dorn realizes that Batman’s villains were responsible for their own fates. She is more than willing to admit when she is wrong, but it also strengthens her dedication to creating a world where Batman is no longer needed.

Dr. Leslie Thompkins

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

In her youth, Dr. Leslie Thompkins (Diana Muldaur) studied medicine alongside Thomas Wayne (Kevin Conroy). Upon his death, Leslie did what she could for a young Bruce, and in time, even became privy to his secret identity. These days, she mainly runs the Thomas Wayne Memorial Clinic, but whenever Batman needs medical aid, she’ll be there.

While not one of his strongest allies, Leslie always comes through for Batman when needed. Though she doesn’t always approve of Batman’s actions, she recognizes the good he does, and offers a firm voice of reason who can help to ground him in times of need. Beyond her medical skills, she also helps Bruce keep yearly appointments at the site of his parents’ murder, which again goes to show the emotional bond between them.

Simon Trent

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

Early in his career as an actor, Simon Trent (Adam West) nailed the lead role on a show called The Gray Ghost, which Bruce used to watch with his dad. Unfortunately, he got typecast after the show ended, and after years of no work, he had to sell off his memorabilia to pay rent. His luck changes when Batman seeks him out to ask for help against a new criminal using the plot of a Gray Ghost episode for their schemes.

Within the show, Simon is a heroic individual because he’s an actor with no combat training. Yet, when push comes to shove, he chooses to help Batman save the city, demonstrating the qualities of a true hero. In a meta sense, the fact that he is voiced by Adam West, star of the 1966 Batman show, adds even more to the character’s fascinating lore, as it’s one generation of Batman joining forces with another.

Selina Kyle

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

Originally a Gotham City socialite, Selina Kyle (Adrienne Barbeau) found herself drawn to animal rights activism and the thrill of breaking the law. Thus, she became the cat thief known as Catwoman, which brought her into contact with Batman. The two have a rather complex relationship: they love one another, but their opposite lifestyles mean they can never truly be together.

While originally introduced as a criminal, Selina quickly grows into an antihero role, an approach that has become a key aspect of her overall characterization across different mediums. The thrill of the heist means she can never truly reform, but she comes to the aid of Batman and Batgirl (Melissa Gilbert) on several occasions.

Renee Montoya

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

Renee Montoya (Ingrid Oliu and Liane Schirmer) is one of the newer members of the Gotham City Police Department. She worked alongside Detective Harvey Bullock (Robert Costanzo) and had several run-ins with Batman. Over time, she proves herself a reliable officer and is promoted to detective by the time of The New Batman Adventures.

Renee is one of several characters from Batman: The Animated Series to appear in the comics, and though not as well-developed as the likes of Harley Quinn (Arleen Sorkin), there’s a lot to love. She’s as brave and selfless as you’d expect an officer to be, and it’s rewarding to see her grow from a rookie cop to a detective as the show goes on. She’s also not above a few snarky comments or other moments of levity.

Barbara Gordon

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

The daughter of Police Commissioner James Gordon (Bob Hastings), Barbara first got involved with Batman when she helped The Dark Knight stop the rogue AI H.A.R.D.A.C (Jeff Bennett) from replacing humans with robots. Later, her father is framed for associating with crime lord Rupert Thorne (John Vernon), and when Batman refuses to show up at a rally protesting his innocence, Barbara dresses in the cape and cowl herself. This leads to her getting partially unmasked, and when the media begins asking who this new Batgirl is, Barbara ends up embracing the identity.

Batgirl only has a few appearances in the costume before becoming a main character in The New Batman Adventures. In the few times we do get to see her, Barbara proves herself to be a kind, capable heroine worthy of joining the Bat Family, and no stranger to witty retorts. Even without the costume, Barbara is a capable detective and crime fighter, which would lead to her taking her father’s place in Batman Beyond.

Dick Grayson

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

As a child, Dick Grayson (Joey Simmrin and Loren Lester) was part of a circus act with his parents known as The Flying Graysons. That all changed when a mobster named Tony Zucco (Thomas F. Wilson) sabotaged their act and killed Dick’s parents. Bruce Wayne took pity on Dick, adopted him, and eventually trained him to become Batman’s partner, Robin.

Robin had sporadic episodes in the early seasons before becoming a regular character in the later ones. As can be expected from any good sidekick, he complements Batman with his youthful energy and slightly more rebellious nature. His grievances with Bruce’s parenting and leadership style eventually see him split to become the solo hero Nightwing, but he’ll still be there when the Bat Family needs him.

Harvey Bullock

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

Next to Jim Gordon, the best officer on the force is Detective Harvey Bullock. At first glance, this might seem strange, since he is a slob of a man with a huge chip on his shoulder and a habit of antagonizing people. He also distrusts Batman, and the first episode, “On Leather Wings,” has him lead a task force to try and apprehend The Dark Knight after the actions of Man-Bat (Marc Singer and Frank Welker) make Gotham believe its protector has gone rogue.

Despite his rough exterior, Harvey is a true officer of the law. He’s fully committed to protecting his city and gets enraged at even the slightest suggestion that he might be accepting bribes. Sometimes, he’s even willing to swallow his pride and ask Batman for help, leading to the two forming a grudging respect for one another, even if Harvey still suspects the worst.

James Gordon

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

The main reason why Batman is able to operate at all is thanks to Commissioner James Gordon. As head of the GCPD, it’s his job to ensure the people of Gotham City are safe, and he realizes that working with Batman is the best way to do it. He even had a bat signal installed above the police headquarters so he could contact The Dark Knight when needed.

Jim stands as a beacon of light in the darkness of Gotham. He does everything by the book, is fair to his officers, gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, and knows when to look the other way if doing so is better for Gotham as a whole. His relationship with Batman is built on mutual trust and respect, and he never once suspects that Batman would bring harm to the city.

Alfred Pennyworth

Image via Warner Bros

Once a member of the British Secret Service, Alfred Pennyworth (Clive Revill and Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) moved to America and entered the service of the Wayne Family as their butler. He became a surrogate father to Bruce after his parents’ deaths, and remained by his side when he became Batman. Though long past his prime, Alfred can still hold his own when needed and is always there for Bruce and other members of the Bat Family.

Alfred’s heroism manifests through his unwavering loyalty. He never once betrays his master’s secrets, operates the Bat Computer when Bruce is out in the city, and anytime Bruce second-guesses himself, Alfred is there to help ground his thoughts. He’s also got the best dry wit by far from anyone in the series, reacting to even the strangest of situations with a stiff upper lip and a sarcastic quip, all spoken in a manner befitting a gentleman of his status.

General Hospital reveals Portia Robinson (Brook Kerr) just gave birth to her baby. And of course, Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper) helped deliver the adorable little boy after harassing Portia into labor.

We’re going to have Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) meeting his newborn son very soon. And I’m just wondering if there is one more big twist in store. We’re going to discuss the possibility that Aunt Stella Henry (Vernee Watson) tampered with Portia’s paternity test.

General Hospital: Portia & Jordan Work Together

Now, I know a lot of fans would be excited if it turns out that is not Curtis’ kid. After Jordan came in hot, spilling trash about how Portia is to blame for Curtis facing criminal and civil charges, that’s when Portia went into labor and then Jordan showed back up to help deliver Portia’s son.

And it’s a good thing, too, because Portia’s been pregnant since last August. That baby was so overdue. But she wasn’t happy to see Jordan bust back into her house. But the choice between Jordan being there or Portia giving birth alone made her push through her dislike of Curtis’ girlfriend. So Jordan called an ambulance, but they must have gotten lost in traffic or on Route 98.

So her helping Portia give birth was potentially this game-changing moment for Jordan and Portia. But to be honest, I don’t think she owes Jordan any grace after the way she’s acted. Because Portia’s right. Curtis doesn’t deserve any mercy considering he’s not sorry that he attacked Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson). Zero remorse and is planning to attack him again in court, just not physically.

Stella Tries to Chase Isaiah Away on GH

So, I’m sure the ambulance shows up soon to take Portia and her newborn son to General Hospital. And this week, Curtis goes up to General Hospital and Portia says, “Meet your son.” So, when Isaiah shows up to check on Portia, we’re going to see Stella trying to chase Isaiah off.

And Aunt Stella tells him to give Curtis and Portia a minute. But it doesn’t look like Isaiah listens to Stella or gives them literally just a minute because Isaiah interrupts Portia and Curtis while they are cooing over their little bundle of joy. So I’m guessing Isaiah showing up may trigger Curtis.

Hopefully he’ll behave. A GH spoiler for Summer says that Isaiah and Curtis temporarily put aside their differences for the sake of family. So, things might be a little tense, but with Portia’s little baby boy just born and Curtis over the moon happy, I’m just wondering if there is a twist ahead.

General Hospital: Stella’s Meddling Past and Paternity Test Theory

Because if you remember when Portia and Curtis’s marriage was falling apart, Stella urged both of them not to give up. She was kind of relentless. And we all know Stella loves to meddle in other people’s business, especially Curtis’. But Stella really, really wanted Curtis and Portia’s marriage to work.

Stella wanted it to work, even after Curtis and Portia had completely given up on that marriage. When Stella noticed that Portia and Isaiah seemed a little closer than boss and employee, we saw Stella going into busybody mode. And she was questioning Portia about how close she was to Isaiah. At the time, Portia assured Stella that she and Isaiah were just friends.

But after Curtis walked out on Portia, when she said, “If you go, we’re done,” that was when she hooked up with Isaiah. But their marriage was over. And Curtis was the one who triggered the split by walking out. So when Aunt Stella found out that Portia was pregnant, she was happy, assuming automatically that it was Curtis’ kid.

Once Stella knew Portia had a bun in the oven, she was even more adamant that Curtis and Portia needed to save their marriage for the baby’s sake. And then, of course, thanks to Willow Tait’s (Katelyn MacMullen) attempted murder trial, Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) dragged out on the stand that Portia had an alibi because she was with Isaiah that night.

Of course, Stella wasn’t happy to hear Portia moved on with Isaiah. And then there was the paternity test anxiety with Portia not knowing whether Curtis or Isaiah was her baby’s father.

Portia’s Hopes Dashed on GH

While Portia was very nervous about the results of the test, Isaiah was quite excited at the prospect of being a father. And of course, Curtis was acting out already. Then when Portia got her paternity test results, she said, “Curtis is the dad.” He was so happy and so was Stella.

But Isaiah was disappointed and Portia was too because that meant eighteen more years of Curtis in her life being annoying. Stella was excited though and I’m sure she would have been thrilled if Portia and Curtis reconciled and put their marriage back together. But he’s locked in with Jordan and Portia’s falling for Isaiah. She was basically living at his cabin until Curtis handed her the house.

So, picture this. Stella was extremely invested in that baby being Curtis’. And Stella knows that Portia cheated Curtis out of the chance to raise Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) by telling someone that he was Trina’s father. So maybe Stella thought Portia owed Curtis. Plus, Stella was really bothered by her assumption that Portia was cheating with Isaiah. I don’t agree with that assumption.

General Hospital: The Dissolve?

Portia and Curtis were married only on paper. He walked out on his marriage to Portia and he knew it was over and it was all because of his emotional cheating with Jordan. And in fact, Portia told Curtis, “If you walk out the door, our marriage is done.” He looked at Portia, he walked out. So, Curtis made the choice. It was done. But in Stella’s mind, Portia was unfaithful. Curtis’s mind, too.

So, Stella may think Isaiah didn’t deserve to be a father, and her precious Curtis did. And with that in mind, it’s easy to see why Stella might have rigged that paternity test. And don’t forget, she works at the hospital. She has access. She might have been able to slip into the lab, alter the results, and might have thought Curtis deserved to be a dad more than Isaiah did.

Stella’s History as a Busybody on General Hospital

And Stella might have wanted to punish Isaiah for sleeping with Curtis’ wife. Stella might even justify it in her mind that it’s the best thing for everyone. And this would not be the first time Stella has meddled in a major way. Do you remember when Jordan and Curtis were getting a divorce? Stella thought that that shouldn’t be happening. And Jordan signed the divorce papers. She put them in her outgoing mail in her office back when she was police commissioner.

Stella really wanted Curtis and Jordan to stay together. So, Stella stole the divorce papers. She put that envelope in her purse so the divorce wouldn’t be finalized. And eventually Stella was like, “Okay, they’re not getting back together.” She was going to mail them, but then she had a stroke and she spilled coffee on the envelope and it was tossed out, I think, at Bobbie’s Diner. It didn’t come out until right before Curtis and Portia were getting married and Curtis had to refile the divorce because he and Jordan both thought it went through.

Paternity Bombshell Coming on General Hospital?

So yeah, given Stella’s access at General Hospital and her tendency to meddle, I think certainly she might have tampered with Portia’s paternity test. And with the baby born, there could be a medical crisis coming and that could reveal that Curtis scientifically can’t be the dad and that Isaiah is, you know, blood type, some kind of matching for a donor, one of those kinds of things.

And at this point, given how toxic Curtis has been, assaulting Isaiah, raging around like a jerk, a lot of fans would love to find out Curtis isn’t really the dad of that cute little baby boy. But even if Stella did some tampering, I wouldn’t expect it to come out right away. For a big twist like that, it feels like a sweeps moment.

July sweeps ends on Monday, and our next sweeps is November. I think that would give us time to get through Curtis’s criminal trial, for Isaiah to drag Curtis into civil court for damages, for the injuries he did in his assault, and for Curtis to make demands on Portia about the baby.

I’m sure he’s going to get high-handed and try and tell Portia that Isaiah shouldn’t be around their baby because he left the scene of the accident. Lots more nonsense because Curtis is certain with zero evidence that Isaiah left the scene of the accident that Jordan caused to start with. So, we’ll have to wait and see. But karma may be coming for Curtis compliments of Aunt Stella being exposed if she did this thing.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 39 seconds ago

Discussions about physical media have been popping up constantly in recent months, as film fans lament the frustrating tedium of streaming services, AI upscales, and licensing agreements that strip you of your digital purchases without your consent. Now, Sony has ignited a fire in the hearts and minds of gamers, by announcing that they’ll be doing away with physical games completely. Per a report in Polygon, the PlayStation 6 will have no disc drive, and newly developed games will be bought exclusively on the digital PS Store, or will be sold in the form of promo codes inside physical game cases.

The Digital Way Lacks A Physical Tray

For some video game enthusiasts, the writing has been on the wall for a long time. I distinctly recall the 2020 release of the PlayStation 5, which launched with a digital only option at a reduced price. Since I’m kind of a hyper-minimalist, I considered purchasing the console sans-disc tray for myself, before being ultimately swayed toward the standard version by my friends. In the years since, I’ve occasionally borrowed games or popped in DVDs, but the disc drive has largely been decorative in my home.

As far as Sony can tell, I’m not a unique customer. Their 2025 consumer report says that physical games accounted for just three percent of all sales in the 2024 fiscal year, meaning a vast majority of gamers have shifted away from collecting discs, in favor of cloud-based game streaming. The company seems to view this trend as a tacit endorsement of their oncoming policy, with reps stating “This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical disc. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.”

While Sony’s numbers support the decision, you’d never know it by logging onto social media. Video game fans far and wide have taken the news with agonizing fury, alongside calls to boycott, or declarations that the PlayStation 6 will never join their roster of consoles. This news has also broken just as many collectors have begun a pivot back to physical media, in order to preserve their favorite games. One of the major drawbacks of digital downloads is that you never truly “own” them, since the digital dashboard could pull their license or revoke your access at any time.

Is There A Best Of Both Worlds Scenario?

On one hand, it makes sense for the company to stop pumping money into mass-producing discs, cases, and supplementing GameStop storefronts around the globe. That cash could arguably be better spent refining their servers, reducing lag, or building greater assets for gamers to enjoy. On the other hand, it seems absurd that gamers of the future will be expected to spend upwards of $100 for a game that they can’t hold in their hands, bring to a friend’s place, or know for a fact that they can log back onto in 10 years’ time.

Sony claims that the switch will take place in January of 2028, which perhaps hints at a Christmas 2027 release for the still-unconfirmed PlayStation 6. If fans continue to rage against the machine, it’s possible that Sony still has time to pull a Sonic The Hedgehog and backtrack on this policy before launch. Either way, the decline of physical game sales makes it a null point, since even the most ravenous of collectors won’t be able to make it profitable to sell them at scale.

I’d say the best case scenario for physical collectors is a sort of Criterion-style system, where Sony can release special edition discs of their most popular games in small batches. Barring that, we may be entering a fully-digital gaming era, for better or worse.

Crystal Hefner is pushing back after comedian Jon Lovitz publicly criticized her for expressing regret about marrying Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

Instead of letting the comments pass, the former Playmate accused Lovitz of ignoring his own long association with the Playboy Mansion while questioning her decision to finally speak openly about a chapter of her life that continues to draw public fascination.

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The latest dispute began after Crystal Hefner shared a candid Instagram video reflecting on her marriage to Hugh Hefner, whom she wed on New Year’s Eve in 2012. Their relationship remained under constant public scrutiny because of their 60-year age difference, and the marriage lasted until Hefner’s death in September 2017 at age 91.

Among those reacting to her video was comedian Jon Lovitz, a longtime guest at the Playboy Mansion who also attended the couple’s wedding. Lovitz challenged Crystal’s comments by pointing to the financial benefits she received during and after the marriage.

“Do you regret the house he bought for you to live in, after his death?” Lovitz wrote. “And keeping the money, after you sold it? And all the times your mother was at the mansion? And do you regret all he did for you? And do you regret leaving him and then coming back to marry him?”

Rather than ignore the criticism, Crystal responded through a statement to the Daily Mail, arguing that her reflections had been misunderstood.

“People often reduce my marriage to assumptions about financial benefit, but that overlooks the reality of what I experienced,” she said. “My reflections aren’t motivated by money or resentment, but by honesty. I’m at a point in my life where I’m no longer afraid to speak openly about my own experiences, and I think there’s value in that conversation.”

Crystal Hefner Says Women Should Not Be Expected To Stay Silent

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Crystal went further by suggesting Lovitz was overlooking the culture that surrounded the Playboy Mansion during the years he regularly visited.

She said, “It’s disappointing to see someone who spent time enjoying that environment criticize a woman for speaking honestly about her own life. For years, there was an expectation that women should stay quiet to protect powerful men or preserve a certain image. I’m simply no longer willing to do that.”

She also took a personal swipe at the comedian, recalling an incident involving his rescue dog during visits to the mansion.

“We had also asked that Jon’s adorable rescue dog, Jerry, not come back to the mansion because he repeatedly urinated on the curtains and damaged the property,” Crystal said. “Whether that contributed to his feelings toward me, I can’t say. I don’t have any ill will toward Jon, and I genuinely wish him well.”

The exchange has renewed attention on Crystal’s evolving public narrative. Since Hugh Hefner’s death, she has steadily distanced herself from the glamorous image associated with Playboy, particularly after publishing her 2024 memoir “Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself.”

In the book, she described the emotional toll of life inside the Playboy Mansion and discussed experiences that challenged its carefully cultivated public image.

Crystal Hefner Explains Why She Regrets Marrying Hugh Hefner

Crystal’s latest comments stemmed from an Instagram video in which she openly admitted she regrets marrying the Playboy founder.

“Do I regret marrying Hugh Hefner? Of course I do,” she said. “I regret being in my mid-20s and thinking that marrying one of the most famous men in the world meant I had finally made it, that I finally mattered or had value.”

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She continued by reflecting on how the relationship affected her sense of identity, noting, “I regret the years I spent making myself smaller so his world could feel bigger. I regret learning to stay quiet when I could have spoken. I regret the version of myself that I had to abandon just to survive in that environment. I regret that it took me as long as it did to understand what was actually happening – like years.”

Her comments echo themes she has discussed in recent interviews while promoting her memoir, where she has described rebuilding her confidence and creating a life outside the Playboy brand that made her famous.

Crystal Says She Is Finished Living Someone Else’s Story

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Crystal Hefner concluded her video by acknowledging that many people expected her to maintain the image she had carried for years.

“A lot of people” expected her to “stay in the story that was written for me – the grateful young wife, the lucky girl,” she said.

She added, “But I’m done living in that story. Yes, I regret it, and saying that out loud is one of the most honest things I’ve done.”

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Whether her remarks continue to spark criticism or support, Crystal’s response to Lovitz signals that she is no longer willing to let others define her years at the Playboy Mansion.

Instead, she appears determined to frame that chapter on her own terms, even if it means revisiting one of the most scrutinized relationships in modern celebrity culture.

Hugh Hefner’s Estate And Playboy Legacy Continue To Draw Attention

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Financial questions have long followed discussions about Crystal Hefner’s marriage.

Before the wedding, she and Hugh Hefner signed a prenuptial agreement. Following his death, reports indicated she received a $5 million cash payment along with a four-bedroom Hollywood Hills home purchased for her in 2013. She later sold the property for about $5 million.

Those financial details have frequently resurfaced whenever Crystal speaks about her marriage, but she insists they are not the reason she has chosen to revisit that period of her life.

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Playboy itself has also undergone significant change since Hugh Hefner’s passing. Once one of America’s most influential media brands, the company shifted away from its traditional magazine business while expanding into licensing, digital ventures and lifestyle branding.

Meanwhile, debates over Hugh Hefner’s legacy intensified following documentaries and memoirs from former Playmates who described their experiences inside the mansion in sharply different ways.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 8 seconds ago

If you grew up in the early 2000s, there’s a good chance you’ve spent hours glued to the TV watching Malcolm In The Middle. The series, which aired from 2000 through 2006, spawned dozens of memorable characters, as evidenced by the success of the recent revival special Life’s Still Unfair. If you ask 10 Malcolm In The Middle fans to list their favorite character, there’s a good chance you’ll walk away with 10 different answers. Even still, there’s one single character that is solely responsible for making the series possible, thanks to an issue with behind-the-scenes logistics. The character in question, Francis, only exists because of child labor laws.

From Workaround To Fan-Favorite Character

Most children who watched Malcolm In The Middle as it aired had no idea about television production schedules or A plot and B plot mapping. But, rewatching the series as an adult, you can really see Francis’ misadventures sticking out like a sore thumb. In most episodes of the show, the A plot centers on the three main kids, Malcolm, Reese, and Dewey, as they rebel against their mother and nearly send their father into cardiac arrest. Meanwhile, Francis is off in military school, or an Alaskan outpost, or a dude ranch run by a clueless but lovable German national. Sure, Bryan Cranston‘s Hal occasionally had solo adventures while he blew off every single Friday work day for a decade, but his stories were still generally tied to the kids in some way.

The reason that Francis even exists in the show relates to the main kids’ legal prohibition to film for long hours. As Reese actor Justin Berfield explained on an episode of The Joe Vulpis Podcast, “When the show first started, Frankie [Malcolm] and I were like 13, 14, Erik [Dewey] was eight. So the time that we could film on set was so short. So we could only be on the set for like nine hours or 10 hours maybe at that point … Three of those nine or ten hours had to be in school … Then with a lunch break it’s like less, so you basically have like five hours of actual filming that you can do with kids. That’s a very short day for a production.”

When questioned about how Francis’ storylines differed from the main cast, Berfield confirmed “The Francis character was brought in specifically for that purpose because they had to have something to film for the rest of the day … They filled it with the Francis character completely separated outside of the household.” Looking back with this information, it almost seems insane that the production team behind Malcolm In The Middle were capable of delivering dozens of episodes per year under these strict guidelines.

Though he may have been created out of a production necessity, Francis, as portrayed by Christopher Masterson, blossomed over the course of the show, and emerged as one of the greatest characters in TV history. His adventures allowed him to exhibit tremendous growth, going from a screw-up teen with a penchant for prodding authority, to a hard-working married man. As we see in Life’s Still Unfair, he’s still got major mommy issues decades on, but nobody’s perfect.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 10 seconds ago

Back in 2019, as I was catching the final episodes of Silicon Valley on HBO, I recall anxiously waiting to see what each member of the hilarious ensemble cast would do next. This was especially the case for Zach Woods, whose off-the-wall performance as Jared turned me into a lifelong fan. Just as the credits rolled on the final episode, I was treated to a promotional ad for a new HBO original series called Avenue 5, with Zach Woods front-and-center. I was hooked before the pilot even hit streaming, and I stayed hooked right up until a global pandemic, industry shutdowns, and a writers strike doomed the series before it could reach its natural conclusion.

In case you missed it, Avenue 5 was an absolutely hilarious comedy series created by Armando Iannucci, centering on an interstellar cruise ship loaded with entitled rich passengers. Iannucci is a brilliant Scottish filmmaker best known for creating HBO’s Veep and directing the 2017 satire The Death of Stalin. Zach Woods is joined in the cast of Avenue 5 by an all-star line up of comedic heavy hitters, including Josh Gad, Rebecca Front, Suzy Nakamura, and House‘s Hugh Laurie.

Your Typical Cruise Trip, IN SPACEEEEE!

The premiere episode of Avenue 5 opens on a not-so-distant future, where space travel is as common as taking a cruise across the Caribbean. The titular space ship is owned by a billionaire doofus named Judd (Josh Gad), who insists on burning through his fortune and sticking his gold-plated name on just about anything he can reach. Right at the start of the show, the Avenue 5 ship is knocked off course by a technical malfunction, increasing their return-to-Earth timeline from eight weeks to three years.

As the wealthy passengers enter into a panic, they are soothed by the confidence of Captain Ryan Clark (Hugh Laurie). Unfortunately, Clark is a huge fraud, whose entire role on the ship is a public relations facade. The true captain, who engineers the Avenue 5’s course, was killed during a routine spacewalk, leaving the ship completely rudderless. As the show progresses, Clark attempts to receive hands-on training from engineer Billie McEvoy, in order to get everyone home on time. But, as he receives this crash course, the ship is bombarded with issues, including failing oxygen levels, latrine overflow, and conspiracy-minded VIPs.

The Right Show At The Wrong Time

The first season of Avenue 5 premiered in January 2020, just in time to get absolutely kneecapped by news of an impending global pandemic. By the time the season concluded, nationwide shut-downs had already begun, and producers began to fear that the live action film industry would never return to normal. When the writing staff were finally able to get together to pen season two, there were already rumblings of an incoming WGA strike, which officially took hold in 2023. By the time the second season released, many of the core stars had already outlasted their contracts, and audiences had lost hope for the show.

Just a few months after season two concluded, Avenue 5 was officially cancelled at HBO. The series ended on a quixotic cliffhanger, but still delivered a satisfying finale for super-fans. While it’s an unbearable shame that we’ll never get to see the series play out to a proper conclusion, it’s still well worth the watch for sci-fi and comedy fans alike. If you’re interested in checking out this off-the-walls comedy of errors, be sure to pull up Avenue 5 on HBO Max today.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 5 seconds ago

At the height of “Weird Al” Yankovic’s first wave of popularity, he made the decision to pivot to filmmaking and pen the screenplay for UHF. Known for subverting viewer expectations with his parody music videos, Weird Al made a wholehearted attempt to do the same thing with his feature film debut, and the end result is exactly what you’d expect. The final product is a movie that’s as insane as Weird Al’s hair and one that’s now celebrated as a cult classic despite the lukewarm reception it received upon its release.

It’s Exactly What You Expect

At first glance, UHF is your classic underdog story centered on Weird Al’s George Newman. Following the usual beats, George is a slacker with a penchant for daydreaming that causes him to lose focus and, with that, his many short-lived jobs. Everything changes for George when his uncle Harvey (Stanley Brock) wins ownership of Channel 62 in a poker game and gives George full creative control.

On a diet consisting primarily of Twinkies, hot dogs, and Easy Cheese, George immediately gets to work with experimental programming in an attempt to save the UHF network from bankruptcy. After the initial failure of Uncle Nutzy’s Clubhouse, which comes off as a cross between Pee-wee’s Playhouse if it were hosted by Mr. Noodles from Sesame Street while high on bath salts, George is ready to drown his sorrows in a blueberry daiquiri and give up on his dreams.

However, when the show becomes an unexpected hit after George hires recently-fired Channel 8 Janitor Stanley Spadowski (Michael Richards) to take his place, Channel 62 becomes the highest-rated channel in the region.

In order to be a true underdog story, UHF needs a villain which comes in the form of Channel 8 CEO RJ Fletcher (Kevin McCarthy). RJ decides to buy the channel from Harvey, who signs over the rights because he owes a considerable amount of money to his bookie. George decides that he’s not going to go out without a fight and continues to offer his newfound audience more of the ridiculous programming that made the network an overnight success in the first place.

A Box Office Flop Turned Cult Classic

Through its predictable narrative construct, UHF sets itself apart from its contemporaries because it’s clearly from the warped mind of Weird Al, who offers what can only be described as multiple levels of visual assault. Not only is the main narrative loaded with slap-stick humor, but the programming found on Channel 62 plays out like a Weird Al music video but with a Hollywood budget. Thanks to Weird Al’s innate instinct to lampoon anything and everything, we bear witness to a solid Indiana Jones parody sequence, as well as a surreal movie trailer suggesting that Mahatma Gandhi is a blockbuster action hero in this universe.

For its willingness to never take itself seriously, UHF‘s inherent ridiculousness garnered a 64 percent critical score against an audience score of 77 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The biggest criticism that UHF received upon its release is that it plays out like a number of disjointed skits instead of an entirely cohesive story. But it’s worth noting that there is a satisfying yet predictable resolution to the premise.

Commercially speaking, UHF only earned $6.1 million at the box office against its reported production budget of $5 million. Since UHF failed to be a commercial success, it was not widely distributed for home viewing and quickly went out of print. While out of print, audiences made it clear that there was a demand for the film, and circulating VHS copies ended up selling for over $100 for those who were eager to get their hands on it.

By 2002, MGM gave UHF a wide DVD release, and it quickly became a best-seller. These days, UHF is celebrated as a cult classic and a must-see for anybody who is willing to let their guard down and let Weird Al do his thing. And thanks to streaming platforms like Tubi, you can watch UHF for free today.

For the past ten days, Prime Video subscribers have been heading in their millions on a mission to the stars, as they join Ryan Gosling‘s science teacher, Ryland, and the adorable alien Rocky in saving the universe. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller‘s modern sci-fi masterpiece Project Hail Mary, based on the bestseller by Andy Weir, has unsurprisingly dominated the streaming charts in the U.S. following a hugely successful run in theaters earlier this year, and ahead of likely awards success in early 2027.

It’s been reported that, following its streaming arrival, Project Hail Mary smashed the record for most-watched opening weekend on Prime Video. Two years ago, a much less critically successful project broke the record for the most-watched global film debut on Prime Video, reaching over 50 million viewers globally in its first two weeks. The film in question is Road House, directed by Doug Liman, which was a remake of the 1989 action classic directed by Rowdy Herrington.

Despite featuring the great Jake Gyllenhaal as former mixed martial arts fighter Dalton, the film faced huge backlash from critics, backlash that has since aged like a fine wine considering the choice to cast Conor McGregor. “Road House is regular, plain-old messy and dull,” wrote Matt Donato in his review of the movie for Collider, adding that “the final cut is haphazard at best.” Despite the backlash, Road House is still managing to prove popular two years on, officially ranking as one of the ten most-streamed movies on Prime Video in the U.S., at the time of writing.

An Action Veteran Has Quit the Sequel

It wasn’t a surprise when Road House 2 was announced, considering the streaming success of the 2024 remake. However, the road was certainly not supposed to be this rocky, with plenty of unquiet reported. This is largely due to Guy Ritchie, who was initially announced to take the reins, having to drop out, with Nobody director Ilya Naishuller taking over. The cast for the sequel includes Dave Bautista, Aldis Hodge, Iko Uwais, Jay Hieron, Leila George, Andrew Bachelor, and Peter Sarsgaard, with Aquaman writer Will Beall behind the script.

Road House is streaming now on Prime Video. Stay tuned to Collider for more stories.

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Release Date

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March 8, 2024

Runtime

121 minutes

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Director

Doug Liman

Writers

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Anthony Bagarozzi, Charles Mondry

Producers

Joel Silver

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A frightening security breach reportedly unfolded at NBC’s New York City headquarters Thursday morning when an unauthorized individual allegedly made his way deep inside the building before confronting “TODAY” co-anchor Craig Melvin.

The man is said to have initially entered the building looking for longtime weather anchor Al Roker. After failing to locate Roker, the intruder allegedly encountered Melvin in a restricted area backstage and lunged toward him while shouting racial slurs.

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According to TMZ sources, the suspect managed to bypass security and access an internal stairwell near areas used by on-air talent and staff. Security personnel and employees quickly intervened, and the man was ultimately detained and arrested.

No injuries were reported, and the incident was not shown during the live broadcast.

The Incident Raises Questions About NBC Security

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The reported breach has reportedly left employees seeking answers about how an unauthorized visitor was able to move beyond the publicly accessible plaza and into areas reserved for staff and television personalities. While the suspect allegedly made it backstage, sources told Page Six that he never entered the actual filming studio where the program was being broadcast.

The incident nevertheless has raised concerns because of how close the individual reportedly came to one of the network’s most recognizable faces before security intervened. Just minutes after the encounter, both Melvin and Roker returned to the air without publicly acknowledging the incident.

Craig Melvin Has Become One Of NBC’s Most Visible Stars

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The frightening encounter comes during a major chapter in Melvin’s career at NBC. After joining “TODAY” in 2018, Melvin was elevated to a larger role in January 2025 when he succeeded Hoda Kotb as Savannah Guthrie‘s co-anchor during the program’s flagship morning hours.

At the time of the announcement, Kotb praised her longtime colleague, telling him, “You were made for this job.” “You have all the things that this job needs,” she added. “You’re the right person for it.”

Since taking over the position, Melvin has become one of the most prominent faces of the network’s morning programming, making Thursday’s reported security breach all the more alarming for viewers and staff alike.

Savannah Guthrie Has Also Faced A Difficult Year Off Camera

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The reported security scare comes during an already challenging year for the “TODAY” show family. Earlier this year, Savannah Guthrie stepped away from the morning program after her mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reportedly kidnapped from her home in Tucson, Arizona. Nancy was last seen on January 31, and authorities have continued investigating the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

Throughout the ordeal, Guthrie’s “TODAY” colleagues publicly rallied around her, with Craig Melvin among those who supported the longtime anchor during her time away from the show.

“When everything happened with me and my family, they just stopped everything and said, ‘We’ll wait for you,’” she recalled. “Hollywood is, like, a really tough business, and I didn’t expect that. And I just want to say thank you, it means so much to me.”

Savannah Guthrie Is Preparing For A New Hosting Gig

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The security scare also comes as Savannah Guthrie prepares to step away from “TODAY” temporarily for an exciting new project. During a recent broadcast, Guthrie revealed she will be taking a short break from the morning show to film a Wordle-inspired game show being produced by Jimmy Fallon.

“We’ve been holding in a secret between us for a long time now,” Guthrie told viewers as Fallon joined the program to discuss the upcoming series.

“I’m so happy it’s you. We were looking for the perfect host for this,” Fallon said. “We needed someone who looks like they play Wordle, someone who knows how to run a show.”

The late-night host also praised Guthrie’s performance in the pilot episode, telling her, “We did the pilot, and you were amazing.”

The game show, based on The New York Times’ wildly popular word puzzle, is scheduled to begin filming this summer. “Everything is strange right now,” she said. “It’s strange to get up and do the ‘Today’ show every day, and it’s strange to say that I’m going to do a game show when your heart is broken.”

She added, “Nothing about that has changed, and it’s not easy, but I’m determined to put one foot in front of the other.”

Actress Laura Benanti has revealed that she was forced to leave an apartment she owned after her impression of Melania Trump allegedly led to her being doxxed by MAGA supporters. The actress has, over the years, performed several impressions of the first lady, beginning with an appearance in 2016.

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During an appearance on “The Downside” podcast, Laura Benanti told hosts Gianmarco Soresi and Russell Daniels that she had to change homes shortly after first performing her Melania Trump impression.

The hosts asked whether she received “any new level of hateful comments” after doing the impression, to which the actress revealed that someone had doxxed her, leaving her with no choice but to move.

“This like right-wing psychopath sent an email blast to all of his people, and he was like ‘let her know what you think of her’ and then put my f-cking address,” the “Mayor of Kingstown” star said.

“Someone took a picture of me walking my daughter to school,” the actress also recalled.

Benanti Says A MAGA-Supporting Driver Warned Her

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Speaking further about the doxxing incident, Benanti explained how she discovered that she had been targeted.

She claimed that at the time she had a driver who also served as her security guard. According to Benanti, he was a strong MAGA supporter and received the doxxing email from the person responsible.

“He was so upset that they would do this. He texted me, and he was like, ‘This is what’s going on, and what are we going to do?” Benanti recalled.

The “Elsbeth“ star said she was initially at a loss over how to respond before ultimately deciding that the safest option was to leave the apartment and move into a rental.

Netizens Slam MAGA Supporters After Benanti’s Story

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Benanti’s revelation prompted outrage online, with many condemning her alleged doxxing and expressing concern over how it affected her family.

“A picture of the daughter, too?!?! That’s so so terrifying. I don’t think Russell and Gianmarco understood how scary this is for women,” one person wrote.

Another commented, “I remember seeing her for the first time, thinking about how good her impression was. To find out how much of her life got upended by a dope impression is insane. What the heck is wrong with people?”

Others argued that doxxing has increasingly become a tactic used by extremists against people they disagree with politically.

“It’s so sad that doxxing has become a political tool by extremists,” one netizen said, while another added, “It’s terrible. Political satire is so important, even if one finds it objectionable, violence should never be a reaction.”

Inside Laura Benanti’s First Melania Trump Impression

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Over the years, Benanti has performed several Melania impressions, but it all began with an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in 2016.

The impression came shortly after Melania’s now-infamous Republican National Convention speech, which drew widespread criticism over allegations that portions had been plagiarized from then-first lady Michelle Obama.

In an interview with The New York Times, Benanti revealed that she decided to impersonate Melania after Colbert pointed out their resemblance while she was promoting her comedy musical on his show.

She later received an email from a CBS executive asking whether she would appear as Melania and spoof the convention speech.

Benanti said she immediately accepted the offer and ultimately found performing the character live on the show to be “really exhilarating.”

Laura Benanti Revived Her Melania Trump To Mock Epstein Scandal

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Benanti most recently reprised her Melania impression on April 13, 2026.

In the sketch, she spoofed Melania’s press conference addressing Jeffrey Epstein by satirizing the administration’s response to the controversy.

“Most importantly, talking about Jeffrey Epstein distracts people from the war that was started to distract people from talking about Jeffrey Epstein,” Benanti’s Melania joked.

“So, to once again distract from the war, I would like to make the following announcements,” she continued. “Just as I rarely hung out with Jeffrey Epstein, I rarely cooked with Jeffrey Dahmer. We just had overlapping social circles in Milwaukee.”