By TeeJay Small
| Updated 1 hour ago

By now, even the most casual Simpsons fan is aware of the controversy surrounding Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. The fan-favorite character, once voiced by Hank Azaria, first appeared all the way back in the show’s inaugural season and has become a staple of the series for decades. Unfortunately, Apu has been all but written out of The Simpsons and ignored since 2017, following the release of a documentary titled The Problem With Apu. In the years since, Fox has effectively pretended that the Kwik-E-Mart clerk doesn’t exist, until a recent social media post.

On July 11, the official Simpsons X account shared an image of Apu passing a golden, glowing Squishee cup across the counter at the Kwik-E-Mart. Eagle-eyed fans quickly recognized the frame as being pulled from the 2016 episode “Much Apu About Something.” Others questioned if the still was from an upcoming episode, which would place Apu back in the spotlight. Either way, there were a myriad of reactions from fans regarding this sudden acknowledgment of a character who has been relegated to the distant background since “Gucci Gang” and fidget spinners were all the rage.

Soft Lanch, Or Hot Air?

In case you’re not up to date, comedian Hari Kondabolu created The Problem With Apu to raise concerns regarding Indian stereotypes in media, and the damaging effects they can have on real-life Indians. In the special, Kondabolu claims that he and others have been tormented by refrains like “thank you, come again,” and jokes which call back to The Simpsons as a singular cultural touchstone. Needless to say, the Indian people are not a monolith (the diaspora accounts for some 1.4 billion), and others, like Akaash Singh, have argued that the character actually brings positive representation to the cultural forefront.

If this social media post is indeed a soft-launch of Apu’s return, the network will surely be met with plenty of questions. For starters, will Hank Azaria return to the role, or will Apu be recast by an actor of actual South Asian heritage? Azaria has been asked multiple times if he’s open to a return, and made it perfectly clear that he has no plans to offer up a “thank you, come again” any time soon. Other Simpsons characters, including Dr. Hibbert and Carl Carlson, have been recast in recent years, as a greater cultural push demands characters be played by actors who share their lived experience.

The Simpsons is not the only animated series that’s faced this backlash. Futurama, Family Guy, and Big Mouth have also agreed to swap caucasian voice actors out of non-white roles. BoJack Horseman (which concluded before this controversy became relevant) was criticized for Alison Brie’s performance of Diane, a Vietnamese-American with very few roots to her ethnic homeland.

No matter what happens with the Apu character, some subset of fans will surely be up in arms. For now, it seems like Fox will make their decision based on market research, and try to offend as few potential viewers as possible, while cashing in on rage-bait politics with cryptic social media posts.

Streaming was once seen as an alternative to basic cable with more options and fewer distractions, but the industry has increasingly updated its subscription services to feel more like traditional television. Amazon Prime used to make a clear distinction between its ad-supported free content and a more streamlined subscription model; until 2024, the “Freevee” app for ad-supported content was independent of Prime Video, but now all content is hosted in the same place with different tiers. Amazon is replacing its existing “ad-free tier” with Prime Video Ultra, which allows for increased offline viewing, five concurrent streams, and Ultra HD and 4K quality picture and sound by Dolby Atmos. Given that any new perks within streaming come with price hikes, the Prime Video Ultra tier has been raised from $14.99 to $19.99 per month.

While it should be expected that services will ask for more when adding new benefits, Prime Video has framed its ad-supported tier as the baseline subscription, as even those who pay the yearly rates for all Amazon Prime capabilities will have to deal with ads. Ads might have been an annoyance that could be dealt with for those using the free tier, but Prime Video isn’t even suggesting that an ad-supported subscription is the cheaper option anymore; the basic Prime Video subscriber should expect ads, as only those willing to tack on additional viewing capabilities will be exempt from distractions. There have been many questions about how streaming services will continue to be profitable as content spending goes up and the maximum subscriber count has plateaued, and the pivot towards ad integration provides an answer.

Prime Video Is Reframing Its Streaming Tiers

It’s important to remember that every major streaming service has gone back on its initial promise to be ad-free, as the option to draw in new subscribers with a less expensive option was too alluring to pass up. Prime Video is unique in this regard because it was initially seen as a bonus for those using Amazon Prime for other reasons; if a subscriber was accessing content on Prime Video, they, in all likelihood, used Amazon for other consumer needs. While Freevee had operated as an experiment to test how well subscribers reacted to ad-supported content that was hosted in the Prime Video interface, there’s a different calculation involved when there is an actual subscription price. Similar to what Netflix and HBO Max have discovered, Prime Video recognized that the integration of ads provides more unique sponsorship opportunities for companies based on how existing users navigate the service. The data Prime Video has on how its users respond to prominent ad placements within the middle of streams is just as desirable for content sponsors as the advertising of their products.

Prime Video is in a position to pivot because it has developed “zeitgeist shows” that subscribers will sign up to watch, even if they don’t otherwise use Amazon Prime. Since its ad interactions allow Prime Video to cut more deals with companies, it is in the streamer’s best interest to develop shows that get a high amount of viewership; this might explain why Prime Video has been more ruthless in cancelling shows that had some degree of critical acclaim or niche fanbase. Prime Video has been savvy in cornering certain markets that haven’t been targeted by other streamers; while there isn’t another service that has produced as much great science fiction content as Apple TV, Prime Video has developed strong followings for its romantic and coming-of-age programs. Prime Video has also expanded some of its most popular shows with spin-offs, which will guarantee that viewers will spend more time on the platform and thus be exposed to more ads. Spin-offs for shows like Reacher, Bosch, and The Terminal List don’t just allow Prime Video to capitalize on some of its most successful properties but also give it the chance to develop a unique brand identity.

Ads Have Become Normalized on All Streaming Services

Prime Video is experiencing a broad strategic shift because its content has to be adjusted for ads to be incorporated. Some of Prime Video’s longest-running shows, such as The Boys and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, began airing on the service before ads were commonplace; these shows’ creators now must either find natural ad breaks in the episodes or risk taking the viewer out of the experience with an awkward transition. This is further complicated by the fact that Amazon Studios has found more success with its theatrically released films that hit the service months after they leave cinemas, such as Project Hail Mary, The Sheep Detectives, or Crime 101. Since the fact that these films hit Prime Video before other subscription-based services is part of the appeal, calculations are made to determine how to best incorporate ads; some feature an extended run of ads that run before the film so that there are no interruptions during playback.

Although it used to be an option to save extra on a monthly bill, ad-free streaming is now a luxury offered to those who want better restoration, multiple streams, and better surround sound. While it doesn’t come as a surprise that all streaming services seem to be following the same pattern, there’s no need for them to put up the guise that they’re much different from cable television. The massive amount of spending that Prime Video puts into its original content comes with a cost, and ads are clearly the strategy to be most profitable.

Bruce Springsteen’s political commentary has sparked plenty of debate in recent years, and another fellow musician has now joined the growing list of critics. 

Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain recently argued that politics has no place on the concert stage, saying artists should focus on entertaining audiences rather than sharing their personal views. 

His comments not only took direct aim at the rock legend but also echoed concerns Mick Jagger recently raised about Springsteen’s increasingly political performances.

Bruce Springsteen’s increasingly political concerts have become a talking point beyond his own fan base, with fellow rock legend Mick Jagger offering a different perspective on how artists should approach the stage. 

During an appearance on The New York Times podcast “The Interview” earlier in July, the Rolling Stones frontman was asked about Springsteen’s habit of addressing political issues from the stage. 

While avoiding a direct personal attack, Jagger made it clear that his own philosophy was very different. 

“The bottom line of my thing, really, is that my job in the live music world is [for] those people that come is to have the best time they possibly can,” he said, explaining that audiences should be able to forget “all their problems” for a few hours. 

Jagger added that while he occasionally included political themes into his songwriting, he didn’t believe concerts were the place for extended commentary, concluding, “You don’t want to lecture them.”

Jonathan Cain Says Bruce Springsteen Should Leave Politics Out Of His Shows

Jagger isn’t the only rock legend to question Springsteen’s increasingly political performances. Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain soon weighed in with a far more direct assessment.

The 76-year-old didn’t mince words while discussing Springsteen during an appearance on “The Complete Disaster Network” podcast. 

Although Cain acknowledged that he held firm political beliefs, he insisted he had never felt the need to turn his concerts into political platforms. 

Reflecting on his own views, Cain explained, “I used to be a Democrat back in the old days, but I couldn’t go there anymore, you know? I’m a diehard conservative.” 

He then argued that Springsteen should adopt a similar approach, saying, “And guys like Bruce Springsteen should shut up. You know, really, honestly, shut up, Bruce, you know? Him and who’s the other one? Robert DeNiro. I mean, who cares, guys? Do your art. I try to keep politics out of my music.” 

The musician added that while he once enjoyed Springsteen’s work, he now saw the singer as “an annoying, bitter old man.”

Cain Explains Why He Keeps His Personal Views Separate From Music

While criticizing Bruce Springsteen’s approach, Jonathan Cain also emphasized that his own political and religious beliefs remained just personal.

The “Separate Ways” singer said fans attended concerts to hear music, not political speeches. 

“People say, ‘Well, you’re a Christian and you’re conservative,’ and I’m like, ‘So what?’” he explained, adding, “I don’t preach it on stage. I don’t spend 10 minutes talking about it.” 

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For Cain, live performances should provide an escape from everyday divisions rather than reinforce them. 

He argued that audiences come together through shared songs and memories, regardless of where they stand politically, which is why he believed entertainers should resist using their performances to promote personal ideologies.

Cain Also Took Aim At Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born In The U.S.A.’

Cain’s criticism extended beyond Springsteen’s recent public comments, reaching back to one of his biggest hits. 

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Discussing “Born in the U.S.A.,” the keyboardist argued that the song itself reflected a message he believed was overly critical of America. 

“You were born in the USA, weren’t you, dude? So act like it,” Cain said before adding, “But even that song, if you look at the lyrics, I mean, it’s a kind of a diss toward our country.” 

By pointing to the decades-old anthem, Cain suggested that Springsteen’s political messaging didn’t begin with his recent speeches but had been embedded in his music for years. 

Jonathan Cain Believes Music Should Unite, Not Divide

Rather than using concerts to show political differences, Cain said he believed music should bring people together. 

Citing Paul McCartney as an example, he recalled, “I mean, Paul McCartney said, ‘Hey, when I sing Hey, Jude, Democrats and Republicans all sing together.’” 

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Cain said he strived to create that same atmosphere whenever Journey took the stage. 

“And I feel the same way with Journey,” he explained. “We have our parties out there in the audience, respective parties, and they’re singing Don’t Stop Believin.”

For the veteran musician, that sense of unity was what made live performances memorable, regardless of fans’ political affiliations. 

Summing up his perspective, Cain argued that entertainers risked undermining that shared experience when they ventured into politics, concluding, “I just don’t think it’s cool to have celebrities going there. It’s a bad look.”

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The Scrubs revival will look a little different in season 2 following multiple cast exits.

Multiple outlets confirmed on Monday, July 20, that Joel Kim Booster, who played Dr. Kevin Park in season 1, will not return. X Mayo, who recurred as Charge Nurse Raymond, is also not set to be back in season 2.

16 cast members are confirmed to be back — including returning stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke and Donald Faison. Out of the new group of interns introduced in season 1, Ava Bunn has been promoted to series regular.

The rest of the actors playing interns — Jacob Dudman, David Gridley, Layla Mohammadi and Amanda Morrow — are set to recur in season 2. Scrubs is also expanding with new characters such as Rachel Bilson‘s Charlie.

Related: Meet the ‘Scrubs’ Revival Cast — Including Alums From the Original Show

Most of the original Scrubs cast is reprising their roles for the highly anticipated revival — but who else is new to the show? Scrubs, which originally aired from 2001 to 2010, followed the lives of employees at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital. The hit series starred Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Judy Reyes, […]

“This isn’t a show about the kids, but the audience is curious about their family life and home life, and so we do want to show a little bit of that as well,” showrunner Aseem Batra told Deadline in April.

Other members of the cast such as John C. McGinley and Judy Reyes are still recurring amid filming other projects outside of Scrubs.

“Both shows have been amazing and working with us to get those performers over to Vancouver [where Scrubs films],” Batra added. “So we’ll do our very best to keep them in the fold, because they are part of this in a big way, but we’re happy for their success in other areas, and we’d just love them back as much as we can get them.”

Scrubs, which originally aired from 2001 to 2010, followed the lives of employees at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital. The hit series starred Braff, Chalke, Faison, Reyes, Neil Flynn, Ken Jenkins and McGinley before it was brought back for a ninth season titled Med School.

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Related: Which ‘Scrubs’ Stars Are — And Aren’t — Returning for the Revival?

Bill Lawrence‘s medical drama Scrubs is being revived over a decade after its finale season — but which stars are and aren’t reprising their roles? Scrubs, which originally aired from 2001 to 2010, followed the lives of employees at the fictional teaching hospital Sacred Heart Hospital. The hit series starred Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald […]

The show’s final season moved the setting to a medical school to introduce new characters. Only Braff, Faison and McGinley remained regular cast members while others made guest appearances. Kerry Bishé, Eliza Coupe, Dave Franco and Michael Mosley were brought in, with Bishé taking over as the show’s new narrator after Braff.

According to the official synopsis, season 2 of the revival will show J.D., Turk and Elliot as they “have leveled up from interns to icons at Sacred Heart.”

“Now, the respected doctors inspire the next generation while balancing the ups and downs of working in a hospital,” the description continued. “Together with characters new and old, they are navigating this next chapter with laughter, heart and some surprises along the way.”

Country singer Rory Feek revealed his 12-year-old daughter Indiana is out of the hospital eight days after experiencing complications from open heart surgery.

“Indy’s doing amazing and looking and feeling better than ever,” Rory, 61, revealed in a Substack blog on Monday, July 20. “Pretty much completely her old self. And although she’s excited about getting back to sleeping in her big girl bedroom…for the next few nights, Mama’s not taking any chances.”

He clarified, “She’s sleeping in a bed at the foot of ours.”

The musician initially announced on June 22 that he and wife Rebecca Feek were preparing Indiana for surgery to repair a hole in her heart. She was later admitted back to the hospital in July when fluid built up around her heart. (Indy has Down syndrome, which can be linked to heart issues, per the National Down Syndrome Society.)

Related: Rory Feek Went to See Daughter Amid Dispute, Says Nobody Opened Door

Rory Feek, who is in an ongoing family dispute over the welfare of his youngest daughter, Indiana, claimed on his personal blog that he tried to personally reach out in order to talk matters over with his adult daughters, but was rebuffed. In a blog entry titled “Canceled” published Tuesday, September 17, on his website, […]

“We’ve known for the last couple of months that this was on the horizon. This is part of why we’re here in Texas,” Rory wrote about her surgery in June. “Throughout February and March, we visited a couple of different children’s hospitals around the state and ultimately decided to do it at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin. It’s an incredible facility with a wonderful staff, and Dr. Frasier, who will be doing the surgery, is one of the very best pediatric cardiac surgeons in the world.”

He added, “[We’re] preparing her for something that’s going to be very hard on her. Hard on all of us, especially her Papa, to see her go through so much difficulty and pain. But I also know that when it’s done, it’s going to make her life better.”

Rory had a very positive update on Monday, revealing that Indy was officially released from the hospital eight days after her complications arose. (Rory welcomed Indy with his late wife and musical partner, Joey Feek. He married his third wife, Rebecca, in 2024.)

“When we got back home here to the little farmhouse we’ve been renting, as Rebecca and I unpacked (thankfully, some folks here had secretly showed up and cleaned up the house, since we had left everything in such a rush last Thursday morning), Indy and her friends went through more of the sweet cards and letters and played some games together in her bedroom,” he wrote. “Honestly, the outpouring of love from everyone — some we know and most we’ll probably never meet — that we’ve received in the last few weeks, has been absolutely humbling for our whole family.”

Indy’s medical issues have reignited a conflict with the Feek family. Amid her hospitalization, Rory’s older daughters, Heidi, 39, and Hopie, 38 — from his first marriage to Tamara Gilmer — criticized their father for publicizing Indy’s surgery.

Heidi and Hopie took legal action against their dad in the fall of 2024, claiming that he’d cut them off from contacting Indy because of a family dispute over her care. The case is ongoing, as of publication.

“Yesterday my father posted a Substack post where he detailed how she essentially almost died, according to him. And while I’m glad that she’s doing better and that she’s okay, according to him in that Substack post, I am upset that I found out on Instagram,” Heidi said in a vlog on July 12 “I am still upset because of the ongoing exploitation of my little sister on his monetized Substack account.”

She argued that Rory should not be sharing Indy’s “vulnerable moments” for social media content before criticizing him for promoting his song “Thank You Lord” at the end of his post.

“That’s not a moment to be taking photos, that’s not a moment to be blogging about, and it’s not a moment to be self-promoting or promoting your organization performing your song,” she insisted. “It all makes me absolutely sick to my stomach.”

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Related: Rory Feek Responds to Claims That Youngest Daughter Is in Unsafe Situation

Rory Feek has responded to threats of legal action made by his oldest daughters, Heidi and Hopie, who claim that he has placed their 10-year-old sister Indiana Boone in an unsafe situation. Heidi, 38, alleged that her father had been neglectful of Indiana, who has special needs, in an interview with People published on Saturday, […]

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Her sister Hopie claimed she and Heidi had not seen Indy in two years because of their disagreements with Rory.

“My beautiful 12 year old sister was being life flighted to Austin due to complications after her heart surgery…which somehow was the pristine time to stop and take photos!” Hopie alleged. “I see Indy scared and hurt surrounded by strangers being photographed from afar by a parent. In moments like these I would never stop to think I need to take photos for my blog and for my fans!”

Rory’s spokesperson declined to comment on Heidi and Hopie’s social media posts when contacted by Us.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated 29 seconds ago

Last year, Marvel tried building hype for Avengers: Doomsday by releasing a series of different teasers, each focused on different characters. It was an interesting strategy, but it didn’t work out: not only were the teasers intended for theaters leaked early online, but the only one that really got people excited was the one with the X-Men. Sure, these teasers raised awareness about the upcoming blockbuster movie, but they arguably did a poor job of generating hype, especially for fans who have felt burnt out on the MCU since the credits rolled on Endgame. 

Now, Marvel surprised everyone by dropping the first proper trailer for Avengers: Doomsday. Previously, many assumed they’d be unveiling a trailer at San Diego Comic-Con this week. Maybe the studio feared another leak, or maybe they have something bigger and better to show off at SDCC. Either way, you can now watch the trailer for yourself with the click of a button. No need to get Wong to open a portal; below, we’ve got the full trailer and a breakdown of what everything in it means for your favorite characters.

Doomsday Is Finally Here

The Avengers: Doomsday trailer begins at the X-Men’s home, where Xavier is watching an incursion event (more on this later). The whole thing is narrated by Doctor Doom, whom Robert Downey Jr. gives a gloriously thick accent. The villain discusses how “something’s coming…something we may not be able to deter. Before this day is done, we will be faced with an unthinkable decision.” After that, we see various heroes gathering (including Avengers, Thunderbolts, the Fantastic Four) while Thor gives a speech about how he’s fought alongside far stronger warriors who died fighting foes that scare him far less than this new threat.

During Thor’s cheerful speech, we see various shots, including Namor on a throne, Black Panther and her fellow Wakandans, Shang-Chi fighting Gambit, and Thor walking towards Doctor Doom. There’s a brief shot of Loki looking at a TVA card and of the Wakandans teaming up with the other heroes, with M’Baku shaking Thing’s hand. We see Yelena fighting Mystique, who shapeshifts to look like her foe. There’s also an emotional shot of a tearful Xavier holding Magneto’s hand. We then get an action montage that culminates with Doom stopping a blow from Stormbreaker while Thor’s speech ends with him saying they’d need “a miracle” to win.

It’s Hammer Time

As if on cue, we see Thor, carrying Mjolnir, encounter Steve Rogers, who greets the god with a soft, “Hey, pal.” Thor says, “it’s not possible” and holds his hammer out, testing if this is the real Captain America. Steve holds his hand out, and Mjolnir comes right to him, and America’s greatest hero smiles at his old friend. After that, we get the title card, a reminder of the release date (December 18), and one of the countdown clocks that we first saw in the earliest teasers for Avengers: Doomsday.

This first trailer doesn’t really tell us much about the story of Doomsday. What’s really going on here? Basically, different realities are colliding. Normally, this destroys both universes, but one universe can survive if it destroys the other. The bright explosion Xavier is looking at is one of those realities (most likely the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man universe) getting destroyed. This is the “unthinkable decision” Doom speaks of: to save everything and everyone they have ever known, our heroes must be willing to doom countless lives in another universe. In all likelihood, Thor’s speech is referring to the incursions themselves and how they’d need a miracle to avoid this “kill or be killed” scenario.

So far, fan reaction to the trailer has been mixed. Many are just happy to see familiar faces (especially Patrick Stewart’s Xavier and Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers) back onscreen again. Others are disappointed that the trailer tells us so little about the plot and does very little to establish who Doctor Doom is and why we should care about him as a villain. Here’s hoping Marvel can generate a little more hype for Avengers: Doomsday before the movie comes out. Otherwise, the movie intended to reenergize the entire fandom may end up destroying the MCU.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated 19 seconds ago

Say what you will about Marvel Studios, but they are still capable of surprising us. We haven’t gotten any big reveals about Avengers: Doomsday for a hot minute, and many fans assumed that we wouldn’t get anything significant until San Diego Comic-Con. However, the studio shocked everyone by releasing the first full trailer for the upcoming film online this morning. It’s far more substantial than the teasers we got last year, showing ample footage of our heroes teaming up to fight a new threat. We also get a great look at Doctor Doom in action as he deflects a mighty attack from Thor without breaking a sweat.

While the fan reaction has been divided, the trailer has some undeniably cool moments, including Steve Rogers’ reunion with Thor. What you might not realize while you’re soaking it all in, though, is that Marvel is effectively lying to us with this trailer. Most of the dialogue comes from Thor, who is rallying other heroes against a threat they will need “a miracle” to stop. The framing of the Avengers: Doomsday trailer implies that Doom himself is the threat. In reality, everyone is freaking out about the movie’s real Big Bad: the incursions that threaten the entire multiverse and that will kill all of your favorite heroes.

Mighty Marvel Misdirection

Now, before we get started, a word of warning. In discussing the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer, I’m going to be dipping into spoilers for the film. Some of these spoilers come from trusted leakers, but most come from my long boxes of comics. You see, Doomsday and Secret Wars are adapting a Marvel comics storyline that came out over a decade ago, so it’s easy to extrapolate some of where these films are going. If you haven’t read the comics or peeked at the leaks, though, my breakdown may spoil some of the movie’s biggest surprises. That makes this your last chance to back out if you’d rather know as little about Doomsday as possible.

Still with me? Great. Now, why do I say the Avengers: Doomsday trailer is effectively lying to us? Most of the dialogue comes from Thor, who gives a grim speech to other heroes. He discusses how he has teamed up with far stronger warriors who “died facing enemies and threats that scared me far less than this one.” He ends the speech saying, “we’re going to need a miracle.” There are plenty of interesting scenes while he speaks, but none are as captivating as Thor’s fight with Doctor Doom. Because of this, the trailer leads us to believe Thor has been talking about Doom the entire time.

The Saddest Marvel Movie

He isn’t, though. What he is talking about, which is only hinted at in the trailer (when Xavier looks up to see a bright explosion), are the incursions. Ripped straight from Marvel Comics, the plot of Avengers: Doomsday deals with different realities colliding into one another. When this happens, both universes are destroyed. However, a universe can survive by doing something horrific: wiping out the other universe before the collision. Doctor Doom alludes to this in the trailer when he talks about being “faced with an unthinkable decision.” That decision is whether the heroes are willing to wipe out entire realities in order to save everyone they love.

So, all of this is more or less backed up by official synopses for Avengers: Doomsday. The next parts are based on speculation from me and other comics-loving fans across the internet. Early in the trailer, we see Xavier looking in shock at a bright explosion. This is one of the other realities (most likely the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man universe) getting destroyed. According to the rumors, the X-Men have had to do this several times before, which is why the Avengers are wary of them. Presumably, this is why Gambit and Mystique are fighting, respectively, Shang-Chi and White Widow Yelena Belova in Xavier’s mansion.

From Secret Enemies To Secret Wars

Interestingly, the rumors claim that Doctor Doom presents himself as an ally first … someone who convinces both the Fantastic Four and Steve Rogers to come to the 616 universe and work with the Avengers to stop the incursions. However, the heel turn comes when the villain reveals that he actually wants the incursions to happen, and by the end, one of those incursions has killed everyone except Doom, who uses powers stolen from Loki to resurrect everyone, erase their memories, and make them part of the only reality that is left: Doom’s Battleworld. Avengers: Secret Wars will show what happens next, and its climax will help reboot the MCU.

Kevin Feige is basically gambling everything on that reboot. It will pave the way for properly introducing new X-Men into the MCU, recasting popular characters, and even bringing in fan-favorite superheroes like Miles Morales. There’s a certain irony here, of course: the incursions are the major existential threat of Avengers: Doomsday, and because of them, none of our favorite heroes will survive. Without those incursions, though, we’d never get the upcoming reset, and without that, there would be no way for the MCU to live. 

Multiple fictional worlds at stake, an entire cinematic universe on the line, and Robert Downey Jr. talking like Nandor from What We Do in the Shadows? Superhero fatigue be damned, it sounds like Avengers: Doomsday will be one hell of a thrill ride!

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 3 seconds ago

With less than five months left until the film’s release, Marvel has taken their marketing for Avengers: Doomsday to the next level. Right now, fans are mostly focused on the trailer that dropped today, which is no surprise; after all, it’s not every day that you see the reunion of Thor and Steve Rogers or, for that matter, a battle between Shang-Chi and Gambit. Amid all the breathless hype over the trailer, however, a more powerful advertisement is lurking in plain sight. At the same time Marvel launched the trailer, they also released a new Avengers: Doomsday poster.

Compared to that crowded character poster, the new poster is downright subdued. It features Doctor Doom staring at a huge tapestry with a broken world and two characters: a woman and a boy. Some comics fans think this image is Doom and his mother, a character who is eventually damned to Hell. However, other fans are convinced that this is actually an image of Doom’s wife and child; if true, this would effectively ruin the biggest plot twist. How does it do that? If you don’t mind some potential spoilers for this year’s biggest film, just keep reading!

You Can’t Spell “Painting” Without “Pain”

So, let’s start this story in reverse (just don’t let the TVA get me!): why do some fans think the woman in this poster is Doctor Doom’s mother? In the comics, she’s a big deal. To defeat an evil dictator who was ruling her country with an iron fist (an actual fist, not the kung-fu guy), she made a deal with the devil. As usual, the deal went wrong, and she lost control of the powers that she gained from Mephisto. She renounced those powers, got killed, and was then dragged into Hell. To see her again, Doom later mastered magic, visited Mephisto, and conducted an experiment that ruined his own face.  

However, all of the lore behind this origin story is too dense to fit into Avengers: Doomsday, a movie which is already crowded with endless character cameos. It seems the movie is taking a different direction, as multiple reports have claimed that the two figures are actually Doom’s wife and child. An unconfirmed leak of the movie’s plot (don’t say I didn’t warn you about spoilers, kids!) claims that Doom actually lost his family to one of the incursions, which is when one reality collides with another. This motivates Doom to learn more about the incursions and to plot his revenge.

A Hero Will Be Broken

Revenge against whom, you ask? According to the leaked plot, Steve Rogers! Reportedly, Loki visits the former Captain America in the past and warns him that the TVA will prune his entire timeline because he’s not supposed to be there. In an act of seeming kindness, Loki brings Cap, Peggy, and their young son to the Fantastic Four’s universe. However, the leak claims that Steve’s presence in this universe somehow triggers an incursion and that Doom disfigured himself and killed his own wife and son trying to stop it. In a shocking twist, Doom reportedly kills Steve’s son in front of the hero in an act of vengeance.

Now, again, all of this comes from a leaked plot summary that hasn’t been confirmed, so all of this could be an Ego-sized bottle of hogwash. But it’s worth noting that the Avengers: Doomsday teasers last year prominently focused on both Captain America and Thor becoming fathers. This potentially adds credence to the idea that this is a film about family and how far someone will go to protect the ones they love. If the leaks are true, this innocuous poster featuring Doctor Doom is spoiling the motivation the villain will have to cross time and space and cross countless moral event horizons along the way.

A movie where costumed vigilantes (like Batman, Spider-Man, and so many more) are driven by the ghosts of family members they lost when they were children? Well, nobody ever accused Marvel of being all that original!

Steven “Steve” McBee Sr.’s family experienced an emotional goodbye during the latest episode of The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys.

“We’ll have some hard days ahead, but it won’t be anything like this,” Steve’s eldest son, Steven McBee Jr., told his family on the Monday, July 20, episode of the Bravo series as they drove together from Missouri to South Dakota watch their father begin his mandated prison time at FPC Yankton.

Steve’s ex-wife, Kristi McBee — with whom he shares four sons — was on hand during the five-hour drive, serving as a source of support for their children. (The episode was filmed in December 2025.)

“We got the bus because we all just wanted to spend as much time together as possible,” she told the cameras as footage of the large bus driving through snowy terrain flashed across the screen.

As the camera panned around the bus, Steve’s sons, Steven, 33, Jesse, Cole and Brayden McBee, all tried to keep their emotions in check. However, it was clear that the sadness of the day was felt by them all, including Jesse’s wife, Alli McBee, who had puffy eyes from crying.

In the background, Blues Saraceno’s 2013 song “Carry Me Back Home” played, setting the tone for the melancholy journey.

“Goodnight, my dear, be still your worried heart / Keep me in your prayers, and we’ll never be apart,” the American musician sang while playing the guitar.

Kristi could be seen wiping tears from her eyes as a “Federal Prison Camp” sign appeared, telling everyone she’s been “dreading this moment.”

Kristi — who divorced Steve in 2019 after 28 years of marriage amid his affair with Galyna Saltkovska — then told her boys and their significant others, “It’s gonna be OK.”

“My dad has always been our biggest hope. Kinda the person to rally us and give us confidence in any situation,” Jesse revealed during a confessional. “No matter what we do, no matter what we say, we can’t change what’s happening right now. I think that’s the hardest part.”

Steve, who remained off camera while on the bus, tried to lighten the mood by checking on Cole’s fiancée, Kacie Adkison — the only person at that point in time not starting to tear up.

“Kacie, you good?” Steve, 54, asked, to which she nodded. “She’s the rock here,” the patriarch said.

Kacie — who is pregnant with her and Cole’s second baby — made a joke, telling her future father-in-law, “I’m ready to get rid of ya.”

The comment broke the tension on the bus and everyone let out a little — but much needed — laugh.

“That’s why I love ya,” Steve told her, before he made his way off the bus and outside into the snow alone.

Steve yelled back, “Bye, baby,” seemingly talking to his granddaughters, Blair and Summer, who were both under the age of 1 when he reported to prison.

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Related: Steven McBee Jr. Reveals When Dad Steve Sr. Will Be Released From Prison

The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys stars are gearing up to welcome Steven “Steve” McBee Sr. home early amid his two-year prison stint, Us Weekly can exclusively confirm. “Thankfully, we’re down to less than two months now before he gets out,” Steve’s eldest son, Steven McBee Jr., exclusively told Us on Thursday, July 16, confirming that […]

“Love you, dad,” Steven, 33, said as both he and Cole began to cry back in the vehicle.

As Steve exited the bus, baby Blair began to cry and the rest of the group huddled at the window to see him make his way to the gate.

Steve wore a green hooded sweatshirt, jeans, sneakers and was carrying what appeared to be a Bible as he left his family to start serving his time.

“To see him walking away into prison by himself, it is a top three hardest day in my life,” Steven later told the cameras. “I don’t want to say that it’s broken our spirit, but we’re damn close to being there.”

Steve reported to prison on December 1, 2025, after pleading guilty to one count of crop insurance fraud in November 2024. He was sentenced in October 2025 to two years behind bars and two years of supervised release.

Steve, who founded McBee Farms & Cattle Co., was ordered to pay $4 million in restitution and $3 million in fines.

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Less than one year into his sentence, Steven exclusively told Us that his dad was “down to less than two months now before he gets out.”

Steven revealed on Thursday, July 16, that Steve was “able to get into a program that allows him to cut down on the time served” but when he is released later this year, he will be “under home confinement for four to six months.”

The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys airs on Bravo on 9 p.m. ET.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 second ago

My absolute favorite kind of movie is the anthology. When you have a collection of short films all rolled into one, it provides the ultimate ROI for the audience. Don’t like one of the stories? You can just thug it out with the short runtime or skip ahead to the next tale. Either way is infinitely preferable to slogging through a two-hour film that started boring you to tears in the first scene. The anthology is much rarer in television, however, because networks and streamers have learned just how attached fans get to the same characters and stories, causing them to run these shows into the ground.

Heroes, Stranger Things, Star Trek: Discovery…what do all of these shows have in common? They were designed to be anthologies that would change things up each season, but their early success meant we were stuck with the same cast for years as the show got worse. Fortunately, true anthology lovers are just a click away from getting their fix. Right now, Tales From the Crypt is streaming for free on Tubi, just waiting to delight all you ghouls and boys. It’s not just the perfect anthology show; it is, in fact, the greatest horror series ever made!

Meet The Cryptkeeper

Tales From the Crypt fully embraces its anthology format, with every single episode focusing on different characters and different terrifying tales. What ties all of them together is our host, the Cryptkeeper. He’s a snarky, hilariously mean corpse of a character brought to life by a small army of puppeteers. The show originated on HBO, and its creators embraced the fact that it didn’t have to abide by any of the restrictive standards of network television. As such, episodes were filled to the brim with vulgar language, nudity, sex, and more buckets of blood than you can shake a bodybag at.

Younger horror fans should know that it’s almost impossible to overstate the popularity of Tales From the Crypt and its ghoulish host. Despite all the blood, breasts, and beasts, the show was wildly popular with kids, including my own underage self. Accordingly, it got two spinoffs aimed directly at children: Tales From the Cryptkeeper (a Saturday Morning children’s cartoon) and Secrets of the Cryptkeeper’s Haunted House (a weird gameshow). If that seems odd, this was during the same time that Kenner marketed toys based on Terminator 2 and Aliens directly to kids. What can I say? The ‘90s were weird, man!

Friends In Low Places

One compelling reason to check out Tales From the Crypt is that it had plenty of awesome guest stars, all of whom were happy to do an episode without being tied down to a long contract. Guests included Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brad Pitt, Michael J. Fox, Tom Hanks, and so many more. In most cases, these actors are performing against type, making what happens to them onscreen that much more shocking. Trust me: if you only know actors like Robert Picardo and Wil Wheaton from Star Trek, you’ll never look at them the same way after watching Tales From the Crypt.

For me, though, the single best thing about Tales From the Crypt is the show’s wicked sense of humor. With his relentless puns, wild expressions, and unhinged laughter, the Cryptkeeper sets the tone for a show that has black comedy running through its veins at all times. This adds serious entertainment value and also helps position the show as a light (but filling) bite for horror fans. Not in the mood for elevated horror and don’t have the time for a two-hour psychological thriller? You can always count on Tales From the Crypt to deliver a perfect slice of scary entertainment in under 30 minutes.

There’s not much more to say, especially without spoiling these awesome episodes. Ready to see if this early HBO success story lives up to the hype? Maybe you want to laugh and scream in equal measure, or just write down some weird new puns with which to torment your children? Whatever your reason, the best horror series ever made is just a click away. Tales From the Crypt is currently streaming for free on Tubi, which is arguably the best platform for any boils and ghouls who love a good scare!

TALES FROM THE CRYPT REVIEW SCORE