Entertainment
Only 5 Viola Davis Movies Are Perfect From Start to Finish
Some actors can dominate a movie with volume. Viola Davis can do it with a stare that looks like it has already survived the whole argument. She’s a class act. She has the kind of presence that towers above most other actors, even the really good ones. Her best films hit differently.
She never feels like she is chasing the big acting moment. The emotion usually arrives from pressure that has been sitting in the body too long. These five movies show the full force of that. Let’s get into it.
5
‘Prisoners’ (2013)
Prisoners is already a brutal movie before Nancy Birch (Viola Davis) fully understands what has happened. Two little girls vanish on Thanksgiving, and Denis Villeneuve turns the search into a nightmare about grief, faith, rage, and how fast ordinary parents can become strangers to themselves. Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) takes the loudest path into violence, while Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard) is crushed by the moral horror of what Keller starts doing. Davis sits in the most painful middle as Nancy, a mother who wants her daughter back and knows the cost of letting desperation decide everything.
The scene where Nancy realizes Alex Jones (Paul Dano) is being held and tortured is sickening. She is horrified, but she also cannot fully reject the tiny chance that this cruelty might lead to Joy Birch (Kyla-Drew). That is the awful truth Prisoners keeps digging into. Love can become monstrous when fear has no exit. Davis has limited screen time compared to the leads, yet Nancy’s face stays with you because she shows the part of grief that cannot scream anymore. It just sits there, bargaining with God and shame.
4
‘Widows’ (2018)
Widows opens with Veronica Rawlings (Viola Davis) losing her husband Harry Rawlings (Liam Neeson) and discovering that his criminal life has left her with a debt dangerous men expect her to pay. The movie takes a heist setup and fills it with politics, race, marriage, money, police violence, grief, and the ugly math of survival. Veronica’s life has been built partly on comfort, partly on denial, and suddenly every lie around her starts charging interest.
She mourns Harry, hates him, misses him, and slowly accepts that his death has left her no clean version of the truth. The heist crew forms because these women have been boxed in by men who either used them, ignored them, or underestimated them. Veronica’s power comes from how practical she becomes after the shock. No glamour, no cute empowerment speech, no easy healing. Just a woman standing in the wreckage and deciding she will not be buried inside it.
3
‘The Woman King’ (2022)
The Woman King gives Davis the kind of role Hollywood spent decades pretending women like her could not headline. General Nanisca (Viola Davis) leads the Agojie, the all-female warrior unit of Dahomey, and the film builds its action around discipline, sisterhood, trauma, politics, and the fight against enemies outside and inside the kingdom’s future. This could have been hollow warrior-pageant material. It has too much pain in its bones for that.
Nanisca is fierce but that fierceness doesn’t have one mood. Davis shows command in Nanisca, guilt, tenderness, fury, and the exhaustion of someone who has had to become almost untouchable to survive. Her bond with Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) brings the story its deepest wound, especially as Nanisca’s past starts crashing into the woman she has trained herself to be. The action lands because the bodies matter. The rituals matter. The scars matter. Davis makes Nanisca feel like history, myth, and personal trauma all fighting inside one person. When she stands before her warriors, the movie understands exactly what kind of star it has.
2
‘Doubt’ (2008)
This film centers on a Catholic school in 1960s New York, where Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep) suspects Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing Donald Miller (Joseph Foster), the school’s first Black student. Then Mrs. Miller (Viola Davis) arrives, and the whole moral shape of the movie gets harder. She is Donald’s mother, and she has been forced to think about survival in a way Sister Aloysius has not. Doubt gives Davis only one major scene, and it is still one of the clearest proofs of her greatness.
Davis turns that conversation into a full life. Mrs. Miller knows her son is vulnerable. She knows the school may be his best chance. She knows her husband is violent toward him. She also understands that the world is already cruel to a Black boy who may be different. Her choices sound unbearable because they are made inside an unbearable reality. The tears come, but the thinking never stops. That is what destroys you. Mrs. Miller is not confused. She is trapped, and Davis lets every sentence carry the weight of a mother choosing the least damaging path she can see.
1
‘Fences’ (2016)
Fences belongs to August Wilson’s language, to the rhythm of a backyard in 1950s Pittsburgh, and to the long shadow Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) casts over everyone near him. Troy talks, jokes, rages, seduces, lies, and fills space like a man determined to be the center of every room. Rose Maxson (Viola Davis) has spent years loving him, feeding the family, raising Cory Maxson (Jovan Adepo), caring for the home, and making peace with pieces of herself she had to put aside.
Then Troy tells her about Alberta, the affair, and the baby. Davis tears through that moment with the force of someone finally naming what the marriage has cost her. Her “I been standing with you” hits hard because Rose is finally refusing to swallow her pain politely. The performance has love in it, real love, which makes the betrayal worse. Rose’s later decision to raise Raynell Maxson (Saniyya Sidney) is not a weakness. It is her own moral line, separate from Troy’s damage. Davis turns Fences into a record of what women give, what men take for granted, and what dignity looks like after the shouting stops.
Streamer University is already serving viral moments, and now Jordyn Lucas and Skai Jackson have found themselves at the center of one of the latest conversations. Clips making the rounds online show the two sharing very different versions of what allegedly went down, leaving social media trying to piece together the full story.
RELATED: What Went Wrong? Zoe Spencer And Jordyn Lucas Share The Tea On Their Friendship Fallout (VIDEOS)
Jordyn Lucas Calls Out Skai Jackson’s Alleged Attitude
In one video circulating on social media, Jordyn can be seen walking outside at night with a group of people, airing her frustrations. She claimed she initially tried to be on Skai Jackson’s side but said the actress eventually left her “fed up.” Jordyn also appeared to take several shots at Skai, calling her attitude “dirty,” questioning why she came to Streamer University in the first place, and suggesting her behavior was “Disney Channel” kid energy. She continued venting, adding that “they be off” before making additional remarks about Skai’s personality.
Skai Jackson Responds, But Jordyn Isn’t Letting Up
Now, Skai later appeared to respond in a separate clip, claiming Jordyn approached her to gossip about someone, but she shut the conversation down. Skai maintained that she didn’t believe she was wrong and explained she came to Streamer University simply to “have fun.” In another circulating video, Jordyn watched Skai’s explanation on her phone before showing it to nearby cameras and reacting with a look. She then denied talking negatively about Ezee, a fellow streamer. Jordyn also continued criticizing Skai, saying, “This girl is as slow as she looks,” escalating the apparent back-and-forth even further.
@megamedia__ Jordyn Lucas called out Skai Jackson for nasty attitude at streamer university #skaijackson #jordynlucas #streameruniversity
Skai Jackson Says Fans Took The Jokes Too Seriously
As clips of Jordan started making the rounds, Skai Jackson and Yona Lashay stepped into The Shade Room Teens’ comment section to clear the air on another matter. After viewers believed Skai had shaded Wardrobe and suggested Yona’s Chanel bag was fake, Yona first hopped online, writing, “Naw boo everything over here real tf wrong wit Skai.”
Skai later explained that there was no real tension, commenting, “Yall need to chill! Me and Wardrobe troll each other. Whenever he says something it’s not a problem vice versa. It’s called being silly with ur friend.” Yona also assured fans she was joking, writing, “Yall im joking too my bag is definitely real 😂 but it’s 7 years old. I let my kids play in all my old bags!” before adding, “& Wardrobe better come back with all my sh*t cus who even told him take my Chanel.”
RELATED: Skai Jackson Addresses Backlash Over AI Use After Fan Questions Her Content (WATCH)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Shaquille O’Neal did not make the guest list for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s massive Madison Square Garden wedding, but he is not holding a grudge.
The NBA legend playfully called out the newlyweds after learning that his friend Charles Barkley had received an invitation to the July 3 ceremony. Despite being left out of the 1,000-person celebration, O’Neal offered Swift and Kelce the same heartfelt wish he shared following their engagement.
O’Neal addressed the apparent wedding snub while attending Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center in New York City on Friday, July 17.
When PEOPLE Magazine asked whether he and Barkley had received invitations, the four-time NBA champion offered a deadpan response directly to the camera. “No. Thanks, Taylor. Thanks, Travis,” O’Neal joked.
However, the 54-year-old quickly set aside the teasing to offer the newlyweds a four-word blessing. “May it last forever,” he said.
The message was not entirely new. After Swift and Kelce announced their engagement in August 2025, O’Neal told the outlet that he “couldn’t wait” for them to marry and similarly wished for their relationship to last.
Charles Barkley Turned Down His Invitation
While O’Neal was not invited, Barkley revealed that he received, and declined, an invitation to the highly anticipated celebration. “I don’t go to weddings and funerals,” Barkley said during an appearance on the “Unfiltered with Ricky Bo & Bill Colarulo” podcast.
The NBA analyst said he “politely declined” because he expected the high-profile event to become a “crap show.” “I love Travis and Jason [Kelce],” Barkley explained. “I’ve only met Taylor one time. But yeah, I did get an invite, but I said, ‘Hey, that’s just too much.’”
Barkley ultimately spent the day golfing rather than joining the hundreds of celebrities, athletes, musicians, and friends who gathered at Madison Square Garden.
Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Married At Madison Square Garden
Swift and Kelce exchanged vows at the famed New York City arena after nearly three years together. The couple wore custom Christian Dior Haute Couture designed by Jonathan Anderson, with Swift completing her bridal look with Christian Louboutin shoes and Cartier jewelry.
Instead of choosing traditional bridesmaids and groomsmen, the singer selected her brother, Austin Swift, as her “Man of Honor.” Kelce’s older brother and “New Heights” co-host, Jason Kelce, served as his best man. Adam Sandler, a friend of the couple, reportedly officiated the ceremony.
After Swift and Kelce were announced as husband and wife, the jumbotrons outside Madison Square Garden displayed a celebratory message reading, “JUST&T MARRIED!”
The Guest List Combined Music, Hollywood, And Sports
Approximately 1,000 people reportedly attended the wedding, bringing together major figures from Swift’s music career and Kelce’s life in professional football. Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Bradley Cooper, Ed Sheeran, Dakota Johnson, Mariska Hargitay, Jack Antonoff, Lena Dunham, and Zoë Kravitz were among the stars spotted arriving for the festivities.
Several sports personalities also received invitations, including Barkley and ESPN host Pat McAfee. McAfee nearly missed the celebration after mistaking his digital invitation for a phishing scam. The former NFL player said he deleted messages containing links from an unfamiliar phone number and only realized the invitation was legitimate after Kelce contacted him personally.
McAfee and his wife ultimately attended, with the sports personality later describing the wedding as one of the most spectacular events he had witnessed.
Shaq Has Supported The Couple From The Beginning
O’Neal has been complimentary of Swift and Kelce throughout their relationship. He met Swift at the 2024 Super Bowl, where the singer watched Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers. O’Neal has also developed a friendship with Kelce and previously joined him for an appearance on the “New Heights” podcast.
Swift and Kelce began dating privately in 2023 after the NFL star revealed that he had unsuccessfully attempted to give her his phone number at an “Eras Tour” concert. Their relationship became public that September when Swift attended her first Chiefs game and sat with Kelce’s mother, Donna.
Nearly three years later, O’Neal may not have witnessed them exchange vows in person, but his message for their marriage remained sincere, even if it came with a playful reminder that his invitation never arrived.
Before Reacher made Alan Ritchson a household name, he spent years as a journeyman actor with a familiar face. The former model first broke through when he famously serenaded Paula Abdul during American Idol auditions, launched into acting as the first-ever live-action Aquaman in Smallville, and built a cult following as unhinged football captain Thad Castle in Blue Mountain State. Over nearly two decades, he played everything from a young Norm Scully in Brooklyn Nine-Nine to Raphael in the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but his best role is one we don’t talk about nearly enough: as Hank “Hawk” Hall in Titans.
Ritchson’s imposing physical presence comes with a profound capability to display emotional vulnerability, making him a natural fit for action and superhero casting. But he was deemed too inexperienced when Smallville considered spinning off Aquaman, was turned down for Thor because producers said he didn’t have “the craft,” and was told he was too old for the role of Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and given a smaller part instead. The Greg Berlanti-led Titans was the first franchise to play off his true potential; he plays a central role that showcases the depths of his acting ability and delivers the best performance of his career, one that very clearly laid the groundwork for taking on the mantle of Jack Reacher.
What Makes ‘Titans’ a Must-Watch Superhero Series
A gritty, mature, high-budget reimagining of the classic Teen Titans franchise, Titans premiered in 2018 and ran for four seasons; the first two were aired on the DC Universe streaming platform, then the show moved to HBO Max. Centered on a found family of young misfit heroes and vigilantes who band together to navigate their personal demons, master their abilities, and fight dark supernatural forces, the series opens with former Batman sidekick Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites) attempting to erase his violent Gotham past and live a normal life as a Detroit detective, but still moonlighting as Robin at night.
That all changes after demon-powered teenager Rachel “Raven” Roth (Teagan Croft) witnesses her mother’s brutal murder, and after Dick takes her into his protection, is forced to reboot his former squad – the Titans – to fight the ongoing threats that they encounter, alongside fire-powered alien princess Kory “Starfire” Anders (Anna Diop), shapeshifting former Doom Patrol member Gar “Beast Boy” Logan (Ryan Potter), Batman’s second Robin, Jason Todd (Curran Walters), the genetic offspring of Superman and Lex Luthor, Conner “Superboy” Kent (Joshua Orpin) and original Titans members Hank and his girlfriend, Dawn “Dove” Granger (Minka Kelly), better known as the masked vigilante duo Hawk and Dove.
If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is – but in the best possible way. Part soapy drama, part chaotic lore-based romp, there’s absolutely nothing that was off the table for the plot in terms of angst, danger, or even resurrection. But what made Titans so different from any other superhero show was the human element; at the end of the day, the characters spent time processing the surrounding madness, not just creating it or acting like it was commonplace, and it was a fascinating thing to behold.
Hank Hall’s ‘Titans’ Backstory Is Harrowing
The character that Ritchson plays, Hank, is initially introduced in the second episode of the series when an attempted kidnapping goes sideways, and Dick brings Rachel to stay with Hank and Dawn. He comes across as a hotheaded, toxically masculine, drug-addicted brute; he’s especially horrible to Dick, presumed to be the result of a complicated love triangle between Dick, Hank, and Dawn. But towards the end of the first season, an entire episode, delivered primarily through flashbacks, reveals a deeply traumatic past hidden beneath his abrasive exterior, reframing his demons as grief and physical pain and his motivations as fierce loyalty and deep morality.
Much like Jack Reacher, Hank has a ton of baggage and no special powers, but what makes Ritchson’s performance so much better in Titans is that while the imposing presence is there, we get to see the raw, emotional side, too. It’s revealed that in his youth, he was a star football player who submitted to sexual abuse from his coach to protect his younger half-brother, Don “Dove” Hall (Elliot Knight), and that in college after their mom died from cancer, he felt so helpless after being unable to protect her from that pain that he played through multiple concussions in college to ensure he didn’t let his team down, too. After Don informs the school that he needs to stop, Hank is pulled off the team – and absolutely furious about it – but Don convinces him to channel his energy into something more productive, so they end up becoming the original iteration of Hawk and Dove, violent vigilantes in search of justice against predators.
How Alan Ritchson Made ‘Titans’ a Better Show
The devastation of his youth culminates in a random encounter that leads to Hank’s brother and Dawn’s mother being killed in the same freak accident. The new Hawk and Dove are bonded by their shared trauma – she, too, was a victim of childhood abuse – and their deep grief about losing their families. Through his volatile relationship with Dawn, it becomes clear Hank’s struggles with drugs and alcohol are a result of long-standing grief and physical injury, and his brusqueness stems from an unyielding, moral obligation to protect his loved ones and hurt the ones that hurt others. These unchecked emotions are visible in everything he does, and make Hank the most tragic, compelling character in the series – especially when he meets his ultimate end.
In Season 3, Jason Todd, who has been expelled from the found family and become his evil alter ego, Red Hood, convinces Hank he’s changed, knowing he has a soft spot for those in need and will always protect him. Jason betrays his loyalty, using a moment of weakness to surgically implant a bomb in Hank’s body, and since he’s the character that always ruins everything, manages to trick Dawn into pulling the detonation trigger and killing him. Hank appears once more towards the end of the season to tie off his tragic arc, appearing alongside Don in the afterlife, to guide Tim Drake (Jay Lycurgo) and Donna “Wonder Girl” Troy (Conor Leslie) back to the living.
Soon after Hank’s journey ended – one in which he was revealed as emotional, relatable, and a force to be reckoned with – so did Alan Ritchson’s tenure as a journeyman actor. Less than six months after his final episode aired, Reacher premiered. Titans would end due to a DCU shake-up just one season later, but Ritchson powered forward and became the powerhouse star we know today. But his best performance will always be the one where he showed his vulnerable side, when we got to see not just him as a formidable actor but also a glimpse at the soft underbelly of the tough guy we’ve come to love.
- Release Date
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2018 – 2023-00-00
- Network
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DC Universe, HBO Max
- Showrunner
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Akiva Goldsman
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Michael Mosley
Arthur Light / Dr. Light
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Anna Diop
Koriand’r / Kory Anders / Starfire
Pop star Britney Spears has been the subject of rumors that she has been cloned for years. After getting her start on “The Mickey Mouse Club,” the Princess of Pop went on to dominate the entertainment industry with hit songs like “Oops!… I Did It Again” and “…Baby One More Time.” After her controversial 13-year conservatorship, she has largely faded from the spotlight and has repeatedly stated on Instagram that she has “retired” from the industry. That being said, she still appears in Instagram videos, often dancing in her home. Some fans have taken to social media to insist that it’s not actually Britney in those videos, but a clone. Now her son, Jayden James, is speaking out about those rumors.
Britney Spears’ son Jayden doesn’t seem to be too happy with rumors that his mother has been cloned, although she’s far from alone. Actors like Jim Carrey and Selena Gomez have also faced similar accusations that they have been replaced with clones.
“I hop on TikTok, and I see this one video that has 1.2 million likes, and the caption is like, ‘The biggest theory ever: Is Britney Spears still alive?’” Jayden said during a July 17 livestream, per screen-recorded footage obtained by Us Weekly. “Like, bro, you can go to her page and see her right now.”
He went on to call the accusation “ridiculous,” adding, “It makes me know that a lot of the stuff on media is exaggerated and fake.”
Instead of blaming fans for believing the “crazy” conspiracy theory, he put the blame on the media for taking advantage of “gullible” people.
“People know how gullible people are, and they use that to their advantage,” he said in the video. “Anyone that sees it on media, they just see it and if it has a lot of likes, they [believe] it. They don’t even research it, they’re just, ‘Wow, yeah, it’s crazy. I believe it.’”
Jayden’s brother, Sean Preston, did not comment on the accusations. Britney shares both of her sons with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline.
Britney Spears Is Repairing Her Relationship With Her Sons
Although the “Toxic” singer had a notoriously difficult time raising her sons due to complications stemming from her court-ordered conservatorship, it appears they are now working to repair their relationship.
Following her March 2026 DUI arrest, Spears’ rep said that her sons were spending time with her. Weeks later, a source told Us Weekly that the pop star had decided to check into rehab after “several conversations” with her sons.
“They expressed concern about her recent behavior and urged her to seek professional help, which has been long overdue, to get her back on track,” the insider shared. “All they’ve ever wanted for their mom is health and happiness, even during the years they were estranged. They hope she’ll take it seriously.”
Britney Spears’ Sons Made Their Paris Fashion Week Debut
Earlier this year, Jayden and Sean made their debut at Paris Fashion Week. “She wasn’t there with us, but she sent us flowers to our hotel as a good luck thing, and called and texted us so many times,” Jayden told Vogue. “It was good to have that and to carry that with us before we went out there.”
He went on to say that the “Lucky” singer was “so nervous” for her sons, but went on to say, “She was just looking out for us and making sure that this was what we wanted to do.”
When asked if their famous mother gave any tips before their big debut, Jayden said, “I feel like she knew we had it,” adding, “She was like, ‘Yeah, you guys are my sons. You’ve got this.’”
Both Sean and Jayden walked the runway together during the Vetements Menswear Spring/Summer 2027 show on June 26. Us Weekly reported that Jayden wore a white tank with light-wash jeans. Preston wore a black dress top and a long jacket over blue jeans.
Britney’s Sons Are Interested In A Music Career
Looking back, Jayden said he could “master my walk better” and felt “stiff” due to his nerves. “But Preston and I are trying to do music and other things,” he said, noting that a modeling career is probably not in his future.
Sean Preston added, “I don’t know if it’s something that I’m super passionate about, but I know I had a lot of fun doing it. Music is the foundation of everything for me. Jayden and I have done music our whole lives, and we definitely gravitate towards that more than anything else.”
Fans are looking forward to her sons’ first steps in the music industry and a potential collaboration with their famous mom!
One of the burning questions on the lips of cinephiles at the moment is “Who will play the next James Bond?” We know that the list for the actor has recently been narrowed, as certain popular names continue to be ruled out. Casting director Nina Gold commented that he will be someone who “oozes sex appeal” and is young enough to carry the role for many more movies, as the new era for the franchise dawns following Amazon’s eye-watering $1 billion acquisition.
Recently, Debbie McWilliams, an integral part of the Bond casting process since 1981’s For Your Eyes Only, has had her say, commenting, “Ian Fleming wrote a character, and that’s the character that stays. That’s what I think. I mean, other people might think otherwise, but I don’t think that.” Whoever the new Bond is, they will certainly be in safe hands, considering Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will pen the script for the next installment, Dune‘s Denis Villeneuve is stepping behind the camera, and Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing.
Next month, you can get in the Bond mood in a way you might not have expected, as a hugely underrated Hollywood veteran’s Bond-esque conspiracy thriller gets a new streaming home. The film in question is Chief of Station, starring Thank You For Smoking and The Dark Knight‘s Aaron Eckhart in a performance that perhaps deserves more credit. In the film, Eckhart portrays Ben Malloy, a former CIA station chief grieving the horrific loss of his wife. When a cryptic message sends him back into the clutches of danger, Ben must face both evil and his own demons head-on. Starting August 1, you can stream Chief of Station on Netflix in the U.S.
Was ‘Chief of Station’ a Hit With Critics?
Eckhart, who is no stranger to a movie with mixed reviews, received yet another middling critical response when Chief of Station first came out. Although many praised the pacing and Eckhart’s performance, others weren’t convinced overall, with one critic writing, “This generic spy thriller consists of rudimentary action and chase scenes, tons of exposition as characters explain the plot to one another, and textbook twists that lack life or spark.” You can make up your own mind next month.
Starting August 1, you can stream Chief of Station on Netflix in the U.S. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for all the latest streaming stories.
- Release Date
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May 3, 2024
- Runtime
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93 Minutes
- Director
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Jesse V. Johnson
Will Ferrell has once again addressed a long-running rumor about his connection to the OJ Simpson trial.
In a recent podcast appearance, the comedian and actor shared more details about the time he and his comedy troupe performed a sketch show for the sequestered jurors, rather than a stand-up routine, as many people often speculate.
During the “Fact or Fiction” segment of Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson’s “All The Smoke” podcast, Will Ferrell opened up about his unusual comedy performance for the jurors involved in the OJ Simpson trial.
Ferrell explained that the performance was not a stand-up routine, as many people often believe, but rather a sketch show that he performed with his colleagues.
“We were doing our sketch show at the time, which was when the OJ jury was sequestered, and we felt so bad for, you know, this group of people that just went from their hotel to the courtroom that we performed right comedy in the courtroom,” Ferrell revealed, adding, “Not in the courtroom, but a courtroom.”
Describing the experience as “surreal,” Ferrell also recalled how strange it looked for him and his fellow comedians to appear in wigs and costumes while entertaining the jurors.
Will Ferrell Claimed The Jurors Were ‘Mildly Entertained’
Early last year, Ferrell also recalled the performance during an appearance on “The Graham Norton Show.”
He admitted that the idea to perform the sketch show did not come from him, but the group unanimously agreed to do it in an effort to “lighten the mood” for the jurors.
“It was just us and the jurors,” Ferrell recalled. “They seemed mildly entertained, but it was very bizarre.”
In both instances in which Ferrell discussed the performance, he did not reveal what types of sketches he and his colleagues presented to the jurors.
Ferrell Says Comedy Will Always ‘Ebb And Flow’
As for what Ferrell thinks about today’s comedy landscape, the comedian told Barnes and Jackson that he does not spend much time analyzing the genre’s state and explained why.
“I don’t really get into the weeds of comedy analysis too much,” he said. “It’s always a thing that’s going to ebb and flow in terms of people’s tastes and what people want to create.”
Ferrell said he simply focuses on following his instincts and hopes people connect with the results. Although he has achieved tremendous success in comedy, he admitted that he is sometimes still surprised by the career he has built.
“A lot of times, uh, what still strikes me today is the weird stuff that comes out of my brain,” he said. “Somehow, a majority of people thought it was funny for the most part.”
‘SNL’ Taught Will Ferrell To Trust His Instincts
Much of Ferrell’s success as a comedian can be traced back to his time on “Saturday Night Live,” which began the same year he performed for the OJ Simpson jurors.
His seven-year run lasted until 2002, during which he became one of the show’s most beloved cast members and earned an Emmy nomination in 2001.
Looking back on his time on “SNL,” Ferrell said the experience taught him to trust his instincts and avoid overthinking his ideas.
With a new sketch required every week, he learned to experiment, accept that some ideas would fail, and quickly move on to the next one. He also credited that process with helping him develop confidence in his comedic style.
The Actor Returns To TV With Netflix’s ‘The Hawk’
On July 16, Ferrell added to his extensive catalog of comedy projects with a new Netflix series titled “The Hawk.”
The project marks his first leading role in a television comedy since 2021 and brings him back to the small screen after years spent focusing primarily on film roles.
In the series, Ferrell portrays Lonnie, a former world No. 1 golfer who dominated the sport in 2004. Despite his physical decline, Lonnie embarks on an ambitious comeback, determined to capture one final major championship and prove he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Speaking about the inspiration behind “The Hawk,” Ferrell said golf’s complicated hold over those who play it made the sport ideal material for a comedy series.
“People who play it hate it as much as they love it,” the actor explained.
Prime Video’s highly anticipated live-action God of War series has hit a major setback, as star Ryan Hurst will no longer portray Kratos following a serious injury sustained during production.
According to a report from Deadline, Hurst tore his bicep while performing a stunt on set in Vancouver. The injury required surgery, and with an extended recovery expected, the production has made the difficult decision to recast the iconic Spartan warrior rather than wait for the actor to return.
The decision reportedly comes after several episodes had already been completed. As a result, scenes featuring Hurst as Kratos will need to be reshot once a replacement is cast, adding another delay to one of Prime Video’s biggest upcoming adaptations.
Hurst was announced as Kratos earlier this year, bringing an interesting connection to the franchise after previously providing the voice and motion capture performance for Thor in God of War Ragnarök. His casting was met with excitement from fans, especially after first-look images showcased his transformation into the legendary Ghost of Sparta.
God of War [sony entertainment]
The series, developed by Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Television, and PlayStation Productions, is based on the acclaimed 2018 God of War video game. It follows Kratos and his son Atreus as they embark on an emotional and dangerous journey across the Nine Realms to fulfill the final wish of Kratos’ late wife, Faye.
The cast also includes Callum Vinson as Atreus, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Ed Skreinas Baldur, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Max Parker as Heimdall, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Danny Woodburn as Brok, and Jeff Gulka as Sindri. Ronald D. Moore serves as showrunner, with the series already receiving a two-season order before filming began.
No replacement actor has been announced, and there is currently no updated release window for the series. Production is expected to resume once a new Kratos has been cast and the previously completed scenes are reshot.
Sydney Sweeney has sparked online speculation after promoting a new design from her underwear line featuring a phrase that is a song title on Taylor Swift‘s 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department.”
The slogan quickly caught the attention of the singer’s fans, with some questioning whether it was a subtle reference to her amid Sweeney’s reported romance with music executive Scooter Braun.
Braun was previously involved in a dispute with Taylor Swift after his company purchased her former record label, which gave him ownership of her early music catalog.
Sweeney has sparked online debate after unveiling a new item from her SYRN underwear collection, with some Taylor Swift fans questioning whether one design contains a subtle reference to the singer’s long-running feud with music executive Scooter Braun.
The actress, 28, recently promoted a fresh batch of underwear from her brand on Instagram, sharing a photo of a pair featuring the phrase “but daddy I love him.”
While Sweeney playfully described the designs as containing some of her “little sayings,” the slogan quickly caught the attention of Swift fans because it matches the title of a song from Taylor Swift’s 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department.”
The phrase sparked discussion across social media, where some users interpreted the underwear design as a possible jab at Swift.
Fans Are Divided Over The Phrase Amid Sydney Sweeney’s Romantic Link To Scooter Braun
The speculation over the phrase on Sweeney’s new lingerie was fueled by her romantic relationship with Scooter Braun, whose highly publicized conflict with the pop superstar dates back several years.
The music executive purchased Swift’s former record label, Big Machine Records, which granted him ownership over her first six studio albums.
This prompted the singer to embark on a massive re-recording project to regain leverage over her catalog. The dispute officially ended in May 2025, when Swift successfully bought her original master recordings back directly from Shamrock Capital, the private equity firm Braun had sold them to in 2020
Reacting to Sweeney’s recent move, one social media user accused her of being “messy,” suggesting it was unlikely the phrase was merely one of her personal expressions given its strong association with Swift’s song.
Others, however, argued that there is no evidence that the actress intended the design as a jab at the singer.
“I don’t love her, but ‘but daddy I love him’ isn’t from the Taylor Swift song; it’s a line in ‘The Little Mermaid,’” a Swift fan said in defense of Sweeney.
Sydney Sweeney’s Rumored Romance With Scooter Braun Continues To Draw Attention
The renewed attention comes as interest in Sweeney’s personal life continues to grow. Rumors linking her to Braun first surfaced after the pair were reportedly seen together during festivities surrounding Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding celebrations in Venice.
The reports emerged shortly after Sweeney’s split from longtime fiancé Jonathan Davino and were later followed by claims that she and Braun were casually dating, though neither has publicly commented on the speculation.
Addressing life in the spotlight during a recent interview with Cosmopolitan, Sweeney reflected on the challenges of navigating relationships under constant public scrutiny.
After spending years keeping her previous relationship largely out of the spotlight, she acknowledged that navigating romance can be difficult when so many people feel invested in your personal life.
“I understand that I’m a public person, but I’m still in my 20s,” she said.
The Actress Opens Up About Dating In The Public Eye
The actress said she is still learning about love and relationships, adding that it is “hard to do that with millions of people who have their own opinions of what that looks like.”
While she values her privacy, she admitted that balancing personal experiences with life as a public figure remains an ongoing challenge. “It’s hard deciding that I want to experience love in the public eye. I’m just navigating it all,” she explained.
The “Euphoria” star also shared the qualities she finds most attractive in a partner, describing her ideal match as someone “athletic and outgoing and funny.”
She added: “I’m a sporty girl, so someone needs to be able to climb a mountain with me, go skydiving with me. And someone who loves their family. I love myself a man.”
Sydney Sweeney To Star In Supernatural Romance ‘Hollow’
Away from the headlines surrounding her personal life, Sweeney continues to build an increasingly busy film career. Her latest project is “Hollow,” an upcoming adaptation of Lindsey Anderson Beer’s debut novel, which Beer will also write and direct following her work on “Pet Sematary: Bloodlines.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film reimagines Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” as a gothic thriller infused with supernatural and romantic elements. Sweeney is attached to play Katrina Van Tassel, who becomes the central figure in a dangerous love triangle involving Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, and the legendary Headless Horseman.
Production duties will be handled by several high-profile companies, including LuckyChap, Beer’s Brew Lab banner, and Sweeney’s recently launched production company, Honey Trap.
The novel has already generated significant industry interest. Publisher Putnam, an imprint of Penguin Random House, reportedly acquired the book before it could enter a competitive auction process. The film adaptation is also expected to be presented to studios in the near future as producers seek distribution partners.
Every so often, a television series comes around that captures America’s hearts. These shows typically feature a family that makes us feel like we’d love to be part of the gang. Whether it’s a lovable sitcom family like The Brady Bunch or Modern Family, or a more dysfunctional bunch like All in the Family or The Simpsons, these families help to represent our own shared commonalities up on the screen. When This Is Us premiered on NBC in 2016, we quickly found a new family to be obsessed with. With the series available to stream for free on Tubi, you can either catch this heartwarming drama for the first time or do a re-watch of this fantastic six-season comfort show.
What Is ‘This Is Us’ About?
At the start of This Is Us, we’re introduced to five main characters. There’s Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) and his wife, Rebecca (Mandy Moore), a happily married couple who are expecting triplets. Randall (Sterling K. Brown) is raising two daughters while struggling with bouts of anxiety. Kate (Chrissy Metz) is kickstarting a wellness journey in an effort to lose weight. And Kevin (Justin Hartley) is a famous actor who is working towards being taken more seriously. At first, it’s unclear how these people are all connected to one another. But then, in a major twist in the first episode, we discover that Jack and Rebecca’s storyline is not taking place in the same timeline as the other three adults like we assumed. In fact, Jack and Rebecca are actually the parents of Randall, Kate, and Kevin.
When we see their storyline, it’s actually occurring in the 1980s (a fact that’s cleverly concealed with non-specific clothing and settings). This shocker allows This Is Us to move forward with a unique non-linear storytelling method for the entire series. The plots in each episode are told by shifting back and forth from the past to the present, allowing us to see the Pearson family in every stage of their lives. With flashbacks ranging from when Jack and Rebecca were kids to Rebecca as an elderly woman, the series is able to traverse through a family’s entire existence in a truly captivating way. Whether the show is depicting a disaster of a Thanksgiving with Jack and Rebecca and their children, or offering the simple narrative of how one vehicle can be crucial to a family’s history, This Is Us fills each episode with rich character development and twists and turns that will keep your eyes glued to the screen.
‘This Is Us’ Utilizes Unique Storytelling Angles by Jumping Through Time
What makes This Is Us so special in its storytelling is that the viewer learns certain things about the family, like how Jack is missing from the present day timeline, but it takes its time unfolding each layer of the narrative for you to learn the details behind how these important events play out. You might not know exactly what will occur in these characters’ lives yet, but it’s an exciting, heartfelt journey to watch it eventually be uncovered. Each character’s experiences become fully fleshed out, even secondary characters like Randall’s wife, Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson), or Kate’s partner, Toby (Chris Sullivan), who also serve as instrumental aspects of the Pearsons’ lives. Even when the family experiences conflicts with each other, which they often do, there’s such a clear throughline of love that spreads throughout the series, and that ensures you can never be mad at any character for long.
The series expertly combines heart-wrenching drama and moments of humor with extremely lovable characters that you can’t help but find yourself rooting for. There are many examples of relatable occurrences, including poor decisions and trauma responses that affect their life paths, but that only adds to the realism of the series. With explorations of grief, addiction, and loss, the show is a true representation of the universal themes we all experience. This Is Us also portrays one of the most heartbreaking storylines we’ve witnessed on television in recent years, when Randall meets his biological father, William (Ron Cephas Jones). Jones, in a two-time Emmy-winning performance, cracks the show wide open in a complex depiction of a father-son relationship.
‘This Is Us’ Offers Many Impressive Performances
It’s not just the excellent writing on This Is Us that makes it worthy of a binge-watch. The Pearsons’ story also comes alive because of the incredible performances by the cast. Ventimiglia and Moore are able to successfully pull off one of the sweetest and most loving marriages portrayed on television, manifesting true couple goals for the rest of us. Metz and Hartley also portray Kate and Kevin with an honesty that makes their individual journeys — as well as their sibling relationship — ultimately very believable. However, when it comes to the main cast, Brown is definitely the standout as Randall. He grounds his performance in vulnerability and a sly humor that makes Randall one of the best characters in the series. It’s no surprise that he took home an Emmy in 2017 (and netted four other nominations). The series is definitely an ensemble piece, but Brown proves he can be a leading man thanks to his role in This Is Us.
This Is Us is also able to thrive in large part because of its guest actors, particularly Jones. Gerald McRaney also landed an Emmy for his role as the wise, folksy doctor who delivers Rebecca’s babies. Several other outstanding actors earned Emmy nominations for their work, including Denis O’Hare, Brian Tyree Henry, and Phylicia Rashad. This Is Us also stands apart from the rest by casting child actors who master subtlety and vulnerability. Every actor in the series works together to create an authenticity that makes This Is Us sing.
Throughout its run, This Is Us earned an impressive 39 Emmy nominations and four wins before ending in 2022. Even if the series can get a tiny bit schmaltzy at times, it is this sentimentality that reminds us of the importance of family and love in all of our lives. Critics and audiences alike have made this show an important part of television history, which means it’s now the perfect time to binge all six seasons for free.
This Is Us is available to stream on Tubi in the U.S.
- Release Date
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2016 – 2022
- Showrunner
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Dan Fogelman
- Directors
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Ken Olin, Chris Koch, Kevin Hooks, Anne Fletcher, George Tillman Jr., Jessica Yu, Milo Ventimiglia, Rebecca Asher, Catherine Hardwicke, John Fortenberry, Jon Huertas, Roxann Dawson, Sarah Boyd, Uta Briesewitz, Zetna Fuentes, Justin Hartley, Craig Zisk, Helen Hunt, Joanna Kerns, Kevin Rodney Sullivan, Mandy Moore, Regina King, Sarah Pia Anderson, Silas Howard
- Writers
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Bekah Brunstetter, Laura Kenar, Eboni Freeman, Danielle Bauman, Elan Mastai, Jonny Gomez, Donald Todd, Joe Lawson, Jake Schnesel, Chrissy Metz, Susan Kelechi Watson, Aurin Squire, Tim O’Brien
Wendy Williams‘ niece, Alex Finnie, has shared recent photos of the talk show queen amid celebrating her 62nd birthday.
RELATED: Pop Out, Then! Wendy Williams Stuns With Recent Look At NYFW (VIDEO)
Alex Finnie Celebrates Wendy Williams 62nd Birthday By Sharing Recent Photos
On Saturday, July 18, Alex Finnie, Wendy Williams’ niece, took to Instagram to share a quick carousel of photos with her aunt. In the flicks, Finnie donned sunglasses, a white shirt, and bedazzled jeans. This, as Williams rocked her signature blonde tresses, a bedazzled black romper, and a Gucci belt. In the caption of the carousel, Finnie wrote, “• 07 • 18 • 2026 • celebrating the QUEEN 👑 happy birthday Aunt Wendy ❤️ LOVE YOU! 🤞🏾”
Furthermore, Instagram user @heycindii_ wrote, “OMG is this recent?? 💜”
To which Finnie responded, “@heycindii_ yes 💜”
Social Media Users React
Social media users reacted to the recent photos of Wendy Williams in TSR’s comment section.
Instagram user @bakes_bakes_bakes wrote, “My girl look TF GEWDTTT”
While Instagram user @colour_mee_beyoutiful added, “Love me some Wendy. She was literally my morning coffee. Every morning 10 am 😂”
Instagram user @avy_04.04 wrote, “Wendy your bounce back must be studied cause u look good and strong 👏👏”
While Instagram user @nurse___net added, “HappyBirthday Wendy we miss you!”
Instagram user @faithdonna.z wrote, “62 years of giving people unsolicited truths and somehow surviving the aftermath. 😭”
While Instagram user @shana_mcd added, “Missing my cancer ♋️ big sis. She looks great”
Instagram user @softlyfemami wrote, “Love to see her😍😍🔥 happy birthday”
While Instagram user @ajeannah.__ added, “Ok the messiness makes sense now.. a cancer 😂♋️♋️♋️ happy birthday girl”
Before Wendy Williams Celebrated Her 62nd Birthday, She Was Dealing With The Passing Of Her Dad
Months before Wendy Williams celebrated her 62nd birthday, she was dealing with another major moment. As The Shade Room previously reported, on February 8, the passing of her father, Thomas D. Williams, was announced to the world. At the time, Alex Finnie revealed the news to the public, writing that her grandfather had passed away at the age of 94.
RELATED: Prayers Up! Wendy Williams’ Family Shares Heartfelt Tribute After Her Father’s Passing (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
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