The dawn had just begun to break over the writhing mass of bodies. Packed – full of energy and as tight as sardines – and grooving relentlessly, as if they hadn’t just partied straight through the night. People, as far as the eye can see, spilling out across the field and over the hill, all eyes turned toward the stage – where, at last, a woman had appeared. Dressed all in white, bell-bottoms and fringe swaying as she walked, barefoot, towards the microphone. “Alright, friends, you have seen the heavy groups,” Grace Slick said into the microphone. “Now, you will see morning maniac music. Believe me, yeah. It’s a new dawn.” And with that, Jefferson Airplane began their much-delayed performance at the legendary 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair.

Woodstock is perhaps the most famous music festival of all time. There are countless legendary performances, innumerable moments that will never be forgotten. A then-unknown Santana appeared prior to the release of their debut album. Jimi Hendrix performed a psychedelic rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Pete Townshend of The Who chucked his guitar into the crowd. It is hard to choose a single set that stands out amongst so many inimitable live performances. That being said, Jefferson Airplane’s chaotic Sunday morning appearance just may be a cut above the rest.

Jefferson Airplane (Almost) Headlined at Woodstock

Image via Warner Bros

The Woodstock Music and Art Fair was marketed as “An Aquarian Exposition in White Lake, N.Y. – Three Days of Peace & Music.” With an attendance of nearly half a million people, it is one of the largest music festivals to date. Packed to the gills with hippies and free spirits, the festival was the pièce de résistance of the 1960s counterculture movement. It is no surprise that Jefferson Airplane, an unequivocal pioneer of psychedelic rock, was one of the most highly anticipated acts on the set list.

Initially scheduled to headline on Saturday night, Jefferson Airplane did not take the stage until around eight am the following morning. The festival was famously loose, with shoddy infrastructure and inclement weather affecting the schedule as the days rolled on. The lackadaisical approach to event planning reflected the cultural liberalism in which the fair was so deeply entrenched. It wasn’t about logistics – it was all about the music, man! While the constant delays were annoying, Jefferson Airplane and the other bands at the festival were committed. They were going to perform, come hell or high water.

However, there were other obstacles that made performing a bit more difficult. The members of Jefferson Airplane, worn out from a night of smoking and drinking and waiting around, went looking for a pick-me-up. In doing so, they unintentionally ingested LSD just fifteen minutes before they were finally due to perform. Fresh morning light, hundreds of thousands of people, psychedelic rock, psychedelic substances. They had waited all night for their moment in the sun, and they weren’t about to let a little mix-up get in the way.

It was well worth the wait. Despite the relentless stream of setbacks, their performance was breathtaking. Psychedelic rock had never been as fully embodied as it was at that very moment – and never has been since. Hypnotic and powerful, they had the crowd in the palm of their collective hand as they performed songs off of their wildly popular 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow. The album featured two of the band’s top hits, “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit”, both of which they performed on that bizarre Sunday morning.

Jefferson Airplane’s Most Successful Album

Image via Herb Green

Surrealistic Pillow was a keystone of the San Francisco Sound, a harbinger of the Summer of Love. The record is Jefferson Airplane’s second studio album, but their first to include the hauntingly beautiful vocals of Grace Slick. The album’s title was rumored to be provided by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead – he used the term to describe the band’s nascent sound during the album’s conception. Garcia was credited as “Musical and Spiritual Advisor” on the back of the record sleeve.

While their Woodstock performance is inarguably iconic, singer Grace Slick definitely had her qualms. She criticized her own sound during their Woodstock set, stating, “If you’ve been up all night smoking, your voice is not spectacular. I mean, I didn’t get up with a big bunch of sleep the night before. So, your attention span, a bunch of things, are not working as well as they should.” While Slick may not have been completely satisfied with every aspect of their sound that morning, given the circumstances, it was a raging success.

The Jefferson Airplane Crash

A few months later, Jefferson Airplane performed at another hugely famous music festival – but perhaps “infamous” is a more apt adjective, in this case. The Altamont Speedway Free Festival was expected to be a second iteration of Woodstock. This festival, headlined by The Rolling Stones, took place in December 1969. It was shoddy and slapdash – plans fell through, poor decisions were made. Inexplicably, the outlaw motorcycle club Hells Angels had been hired for security. The Altamont Free Concert is remembered today not for the music, but for the superfluous violence that took place there. There were stabbings, drownings, and fights. The Angels, paid with bottomless beer, became increasingly aggressive in their handling of the unruly crowd. At one point, Jefferson Airplane singer/founder Marty Balin leapt off the stage mid-performance in an attempt to intervene in the jarring violence. He was knocked unconscious by one of the Angels.

This unfortunate and traumatic festival – a far cry from the “Woodstock West” they had envisioned – was the beginning of the end for Jefferson Airplane. The first flake in what would snowball into messy relationships, disagreements, and lifestyle changes, eventually leading to the band’s dissolution in the early ‘70s. Their fleeting existence as the Jefferson Airplane that graced the stages and mud-pits of Woodstock makes their Summer of Love performance all the more powerful.

While Jefferson Airplane’s popularity may not share the longevity of bands like the Grateful Dead, they had just as big (if not bigger!) of an impact on psychedelic rock music. They brought the counterculture into the mainstream, shone a spotlight on the anti-war movement and the push for social change. Jefferson Airplane was both musically and culturally significant, and they had never been more impactful than during their performance at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969.

Jimmy Kimmel confirmed that he recently offered former late-night rival Stephen Colbert the chance to guest host Jimmy Kimmel Live! during his summer vacation.

“Of course, I asked him, and I think it feels premature,” Kimmel, 58, revealed to Variety in an interview published on Wednesday, July 22. “But I told him, ‘Anytime you want to host, it doesn’t matter if it’s the summer, I’ll gladly step aside.’”

While Kimmel made the offer ahead of his summer break, he revealed to the outlet that Colbert, 62, politely declined.

Both Colbert and Kimmel have been frequent targets of President Donald Trump over the years. In May, Colbert signed off as host of The Late Show after 11 years amid questions over whether his series’ cancellation was influenced by Trump, 80, recently settling a $16 million lawsuit against CBS.

Related: Jimmy Kimmel Tells His Viewers to Turn Off CBS After ‘The Late Show’ Ends

Jimmy Kimmel showed solidarity for Stephen Colbert by encouraging his viewers not to support CBS. “We will be off tomorrow night out of respect for our colleague and friend Stephen Colbert, and the writers, producers, and staff and crew at The Late Show, whose final show on CBS airs opposite ours,” Kimmel, 58, said on […]

(The Late Show has been replaced by Comics Unleashed as part of a deal where producer and host Byron Allen purchased airtime from CBS.)

Colbert kicked off his final Late Show episode with a poignant tribute to the audience who stood by him for over a decade.

“We have done over 1,800 of these shows, and most nights I come out here and I talk to the audience beforehand, and tonight, I thought I’d talk to the audience in here and the audience out there at home,” he said. “This show, I want you to know, and you to know, has been a joy for us to do for you.”

Later in his monologue, Colbert added, “We call it the ‘joy machine’ because to do this many shows, it has to be a machine. But the thing is, if you choose to do it with joy, it doesn’t hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears. And I can’t adequately explain to you what the people who work here have done for each other and how much we mean to each other.”

Colbert wasn’t off screen for long as he made an unannounced appearance on a public access show in Monroe, Michigan, one night after wrapping up his CBS tenure. (He previously hosted a show for Monroe Community Media in 2015 while gearing up for his Late Show debut.)

“Since I was last here in Monroe, Michigan, I spent 11 years as the primary host of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on CBS, which came to an end last night,” he explained to viewers. “Viewers outside the greater Monroe area are able to view Monroe Community Media thanks to something known as streaming, which I promised not to learn about while I was on CBS. And evidently CBS also decided not to learn about it.”

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While Colbert likely won’t be guest-hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! this summer, Kimmel announced on June 18 that he’d personally asked Rosie O’Donnell — another of Trump’s nemeses — to replace him for a week in August.

“As a special treat for our commander-in-chief, I asked one of his all-time favorites, Rosie O’Donnell, to be here to keep the hits coming. So, you’re welcome,” Kimmel joked. “All I ask in return, Mr. President, is that you don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs every on ABC weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET.

In the past few years, romantic period TV shows have swept millions of viewers off their feet. From Netflix’s gift-that-keeps-on-giving Bridgerton, which is currently in production for Season 5, to Apple TV’s The Buccaneers, which gives a modern, refreshing take on the genre, these are shows that not only transport viewers into a new era, but have them at the edge of their seats with the drama, romance and intrigue.

So, of course, Netflix will likely have a new hit on their hands when the upcoming series My Brilliant Career lands on the platform on August 13, 2026. Set in Australia at the turn of the 20th Century, the series, adapted from the 1901 novel written by Miles Franklin, is set to have a feisty female protagonist, dashing love interests, and the sprawling Australian countryside as its backdrop. It’ll be the first of its kind on the platform, and it’ll surely climb the streaming charts.

What Is ‘My Brilliant Career’ About?

The novel, and subsequently the series, follows main character Sybylla (Philippa Northeast), described as a “fiercely modern young woman” who, instead of wanting to follow her family’s desires for marriage, aspires to become a writer instead. “I’m sure you’ll make someone a lovely wife,” a voice states in the trailer. “That’s Granny’s plan, not mine,” Sybylla responds. Throughout the episodes, she attempts to derail her family’s designs, as well as society’s expectations, while trying to stay true to who she is. That is, however, until she falls in love. “Will she marry, or risk it all for a creative life?” the official synopsis questions.

In addition to Northeast, the series will also star Christopher Chung as Harry, Anna Chancellor as Mrs Bossier, Genevieve O’Reilly as Helen, Kate Mulvany as Augusta, Jake Dunn as Frank, Alexander England as Julius, Sherry-Lee Watson as Nell and Miah Madden as Betty. The series is developed and written by Liz Doran, who’s also been a writer for Barons and Please Like Me. “It’s been a privilege to work with so many incredible creatives on this reimagining of Miles Franklin’s rollicking tale of a young woman’s quest to determine her own life,” Doran said in a statement to Netflix. “My Brilliant Career is a timeless Australian story with themes as relevant today as when it was originally published,” said Minyoung Kim, Netflix Vice President, Content APAC. “We’re excited to be partnering with some of Australia’s best creatives and talent to bring this story to a whole new generation on Netflix, and with its stunning locations, there’s no better home for this production than South Australia.”

The TV Series Won’t Be the Novel’s Only Adaptation

While the upcoming six-episode series will certainly be the first time Franklin’s novel has been highlighted on such a global stage, My Brilliant Career has been adapted onscreen before. Most famously, the novel was made into a feature film in 1979. The movie was directed by Gillian Armstrong and starred Judy Davis and Sam Neill, who sadly passed away earlier this month. The movie was beloved by critics and holds an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. “It’s hard to imagine a film filled with more quiet integrity, intelligent passion, realistic drama and genuine entertainment than Gillian Armstrong’s My Brilliant Career,” states one review. “My Brilliant Career is not only a good plot – in the full Victorian sense of that word – but is also a shimmering impressionistic gem to behold,” echoed another.

With only a few weeks until the TV version of My Brilliant Career gets released, it’s clear that Netflix could have another hit in their hands. In a genre that has been booming, and with an original source material that is such an Australian classic that it’s taught in schools around the country, My Brilliant Career will surely be another heartwarming coming-of-age story blending love, humor and just enough Australian flair to win over its viewers.

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Nivea offered an important update on her health after being diagnosed with blood cancer.

“I was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year, “ the “Don’t Mess With My Man” singer, 44, revealed on the Tuesday, July 22, episode of Cadillac Chronicles. “I am so grateful to God. I am going through treatment.”

During the interview, Nivea confirmed that she started treatment for the blood cancer several months ago.

According to the Mayo Clinic, leukemia is a “cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues” that develops when bone marrow produces an overabundance of white blood cells. Common symptoms include bone and joint pain, frequent infections, unexpected weight loss, recurrent nosebleeds and increased bleeding or bruising, among other warning signs.

Related: Normani Paused Music Career After Both Parents Were Diagnosed With Cancer

Normani got candid about how her parents’ respective cancer diagnoses impacted her music career and her debut solo album, Dopamine. After Normani, 27, discovered her parents, Andrea Hamilton and Derrick Hamilton, were both diagnosed with cancer, the first thing she thought was “‘F–k all of this.’” “This is bigger than the music,” Normani told Who […]

Despite her diagnosis, Niveac assured Cadillac Chronicles host Brian Freeman that she was maintaining a positive outlook due to her deep spirituality.

“Everything is going great so far and I expect it to continue,” she said. “Amen. Amen. Amen! I’m very grateful for life. It’s so cliche to say, ‘You don’t know the time nor the hour,’ but it’s true. It just helped me put a lot of things into perspective.”

The musician added, “I live in gratitude religiously. I’m just grateful for everything.”

Nivea told Freeman that she was keeping busy and even pursuing a music technology degree despite her illness.

“I’m doing things I want to do,” she declared. “I’m definitely back into my music. I’m going to school for audio engineering.”

The singer went, “I’ve always wanted to learn how to engineer, how to mix and engineer, in particular. In general, I’m just doing all the things, honey! I’m loving all my children and just being grateful. I’m taking every opportunity that comes my way!”

Nivea is a mom of four — she shares daughter Navy Talia Nash, 21, and twins Christian and London Nash, 20, with producer The-Dream. The former couple were married from 2004 to 2008.

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Following her split from The-Dream, 48, Nivea reconciled with ex-boyfriend Lil Wayne and they welcomed a son, Neal Carter, in November 2009. (Lil Wayne, 43, and Nivea broke up in 2010 but later reunited to perform the 2018 duet “Dope New Gospel.”)

Related: Rapper Bhad Bhabie, 22, Shares Cancer Update: ‘God Has the Last Say’

Rapper Bhad Bhabie received an update in her ongoing cancer battle. “Bad news from my doctor yesterday,” Bhad Bhabie, 22, wrote via X on Saturday, February 28. “God has the last say so, not my cancer.” Bhad Bhabie, who did not elaborate further or offer additional updates, announced her diagnosis in November 2024. “I’m sorry […]

Nivea is perhaps best known for her 2003 breakthrough single “Don’t Mess with My Man,” which featured brothers Brian and Brandon Casey from R&B group Jagged Edge. The track received a Best R&B Performance Award nomination at the 2003 Grammys and ultimately reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

She later scored minor hits with “Laundromat” and “Okay” in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Her most recent album, Mirrors, was released in 2019.

Ed Harris isn’t walking away from “Dutton Ranch” after all. Days after the Oscar-nominated actor openly questioned his future on the series and admitted he felt misled about the size of his role, a dramatic behind-the-scenes shake-up appears to have changed everything. 

With Season 2 gearing up for production, Harris is reportedly set to play a far more prominent part, marking a major turnaround after his very public frustrations with the show’s debut season.

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Ed Harris never hid his disappointment over how the role of Everett McKinney on “Dutton Ranch” was written. 

While speaking at the premiere of Apple TV+‘s “The Dink,” the 75-year-old revealed he accepted the role believing Everett would be one of the series’ central figures.

“Prior to signing on for it, I was talked to quite a bit about what the season was, and what my character was going to do – and that I was one of the four main characters. And that wasn’t really the case,” he told Variety.

The reality quickly left him questioning whether he should remain with the series at all. According to Harris, he even told his representatives to “get me the f-ck out of here” before approaching producers directly to explain that he felt “underused and inconsequential.”

Those conversations now appear to have paid off. Sources told Deadline Harris has already been picked for Season 2, with filming expected to begin on January 15. 

His character is reportedly being given a much larger storyline this time around, and writers have allegedly kept him informed as new scripts continue to come together.

Behind-The-Scenes Changes Reportedly Followed Harris’ Frustration

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Harris’ public frustration wasn’t the only thing making headlines. According to reports, the fallout also coincided with significant changes behind the camera as the series prepared for its second season. 

Sources claim Season one showrunner Chad Feehan was removed before the show even premiered after concerns that Everett McKinney had been given far less to do than originally intended. 

“SEAL Team” creator Benjamin Cavell has since stepped in to lead the series, and insiders allege Harris was consulted during the search for the show’s new creative head. 

One Deleted Scene Nearly Sent Ed Harris Walking Away

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Long before producers reportedly promised him a bigger role, one missing scene became the breaking point.

Harris recalled filming a sequence in which Everett chatted with Beth Dutton before Rip Wheeler called him onstage to perform.

“So there’s this scene in there… I’m talking to [Beth Dutton] at the bar, and [Rip Wheeler] comes in and says, ‘OK, Everett, come on, it’s your turn,’” he said during the Variety interview.

Viewers, however, never saw Everett sing. “I walk up to the mic, and they cut it. They cut the song out. I’m going, ‘F*ck you, people,’” Harris recalled.

Producers later told him the musical moment felt “too up” for the darker tone of the episode’s ending, but the explanation didn’t ease his frustration.

In fact, Harris admitted he came so close to walking away that he felt the decision alone was “enough reason to say I am voiding my contract.”

Harris Gets Another Vote Of Confidence From Kelly Reilly

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With “Dutton Ranch” already undergoing creative changes ahead of Season two, Kelly Reilly has offered the clearest picture yet of how those adjustments will play out on screen. 

Earlier this month, the actress revealed that viewers could expect far more from Ed Harris’ character, stressing that the series was never meant to revolve solely around Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. 

“I think Season 2 is going to feel very much more Ed’s show,” Reilly told TV Insider, before adding, “This is not the Beth and Rip show. This is Dutton Ranch, and there’s four lead characters, five.” 

She also credited Harris and Annette Bening with elevating the Paramount+ drama, saying, “They made us legit. We could have just been a little soapy spinoff, and we’re not because of them. We’re a drama, we’re a new show, and it’s got some heavyweights in it.” 

Reilly And Cole Hauser Always Believed Ed Harris Would Elevate ‘Dutton Ranch’

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A few months before Reilly promised that Season two would become “very much more Ed’s show,” she and Cole Hauser had already made it clear they viewed Harris as one of the key ingredients in “Dutton Ranch”’s success. 

Ahead of the spinoff’s premiere, the pair told PEOPLE they were “over the moon” to welcome Harris and Bening to the cast, with Reilly explaining they “needed some heavyweights alongside us to tell a new story” and were “deeply flattered” the Oscar nominees agreed to join the series. 

Hauser echoed that enthusiasm, calling the opportunity to work with Harris “a dream come true” and praising him as “just as good of a person as he is an actor.” 

Reilly later said Harris and Bening “made us legit,” adding that without them, “Dutton Ranch” “could have just been a little soapy spinoff,” but instead became “a drama… with some heavyweights in it.”

Whitney Cummings has revealed that she had to cut several jokes about Donald Trump before performing at the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The comedian also claimed that another was edited out of Netflix’s filmed special of the event.

Cummings shared the details during a recent episode of her podcast, where she discussed the jokes she removed and explained why she decided not to perform them.

Speaking on her podcast, Cummings said concerns about the political climate surrounding the Kennedy Center partly influenced her decision to cut some of her jokes about Trump.

The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony was held at the Kennedy Center, where Cummings performed.

According to the comedian, she was surprised to learn that President Donald Trump serves as chair of the Kennedy Center’s board. She also claimed staff members warned her that certain jokes could cost them their jobs.

“We’ll get fired if you say that,” she recalled being told during rehearsals, adding that it was “the worst thing you could hear before [going on] as a comic.”

“Like what a dork,” Cummings said of Trump. “I’m like, if he even watches this, he is such a dork. Um, but I did cut a joke.”

The Trump Jokes Whitney Cummings Decided To Scrap

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Among the jokes Cummings removed was a punchline about Trump putting his name on the Kennedy Center.

She joked that Trump had “always hated John F. Kennedy because the Kennedys had Marilyn Monroe before he had a chance to grab her,” referencing Trump’s infamous “Access Hollywood” remarks.

Another joke she had planned was that Trump could not attend the show because he “got caught in sex traffic.” Cummings claimed she performed that joke for the live audience but later realized producers had removed it from the Netflix special.

Reflecting on the experience, Cummings argued that comedians should not have to second-guess whether political jokes are acceptable before taking the stage.

Netflix Says Kennedy Center Controlled Trump Joke Edit

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On X, the comedian continued the discussion by posting a cryptic message alongside a clip from her Mark Twain Prize performance.

“Mark Twain Prize for @billmaher now on @NetflixIsAJoke. Netflix didn’t cut any of my jokes. Some were cut. Use your noggin,” Cummings wrote.

Entertainment journalist Matthew Belloni later appeared to clarify who was responsible for removing the “sex traffic” joke from the special.

He wrote, “New: Netflix tells me it wasn’t their call to omit Whitney Cummings’ Trump ‘sex traffic’ joke from Mark Twain Prize show: ‘While it’s our preference not to cut jokes from anyone’s set, The Kennedy Center has the contractual right to do so.’”

Trump’s Kennedy Center Shake-Up Sparked Controversy

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Trump’s controversy with the Kennedy Center began after he removed former president Deborah Rutter, replaced former board chair David Rubenstein, and dismissed several board members appointed by former President Joe Biden.

He later appointed a new board that included several allies, including Second Lady Usha Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Fox News host Laura Ingraham, before installing himself as chairman of the center.

The controversy later escalated after Trump announced plans to rename the institution the “Trump-Kennedy Center.”

The White House press secretary said the Kennedy Center board had unanimously approved the proposal, citing “the unbelievable work President Trump has done in saving the building.”

Judge Blocks Trump’s Kennedy Center Name Change

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Last month, Judge Christopher R. Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia blocked the proposed name changes and paused renovation plans at the Kennedy Center.

Cooper ruled that the proposal appeared to violate the 1964 federal law establishing the Kennedy Center as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy and as a symbol of the nation’s commitment to the arts.

He further stated that any attempt to rename the institution would require congressional approval, noting that only Congress has the authority to amend the law governing the center.

Following the ruling, Trump’s legal team sought to pause the decision while pursuing an appeal. However, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the lower court’s decision would remain in effect while the appeal proceeds.

Margaret Qualley was spotted publicly for the first time amid her split from estranged husband Jack Antonoff.

The Substance actress, 31, returned to the horror movie genre on Wednesday, July 22, when she filmed scenes for the remake of the cult classic Possession in New Jersey, per People.

Qualley perfectly recaptured the spooky elegance that original Possession star Isabelle Adjani embodied in the 1981 movie, having been photographed on Wednesday wearing a black long-sleeved, button-up shirt, a dark knee-length skirt and leggings as well as ballet slippers as she screamed in terror for the camera.

Smile writer-director Parker Finn is partnering with producer Robert Pattinson to remake filmmaker Andrzej Żuławski’s supernatural thriller about a spy’s wife who experiences unexplainable horrors when she asks for a divorce. (Callum Turner, Paul Dano and Diego Calva are all starring with Qualley in the new version of Possession.)

Related: Who Did Jack Antonoff Bring to Taylor Swift’s Wedding Amid Margaret Split?

Jack Antonoff didn’t show up solo to Taylor Swift‘s wedding amid his separation from wife Margaret Qualley. News broke on Wednesday, July 9, that Qualley, 31, and Antonoff, 42, had split after three years of marriage. Rumors swirled about the couple’s status after Qualley was absent from Swift’s wedding to Travis Kelce at New York […]

Qualley got back to work two weeks after reports emerged that she’d quietly separated from Antonoff, 42, after three years of marriage.

Speculation arose about the couple’s marital status when Jack attended longtime friend and collaborator Taylor Swift’s wedding to Travis Kelce at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on July 3 with his sister, Rachel Antonoff, rather than Qualley.

On July 9, Us reported via an exclusive source that Qualley and Jack split “recently” but were “having issues for the last few years.”

“Margaret initiated the separation,” a source told Us. “Both of their busy schedules and distance were factors, along with many other things.”

The insider added, “They were still trying to work on the marriage a few months ago, but it ultimately wasn’t working. At some point, the rose-colored glasses came off for Margaret, and she felt she needed to take a step back.”

Us learned from the source that Jack also “had expressed to friends” that “it was difficult being married and that there were struggles” in his relationship with Qualley.

“[They] don’t have divorce plans yet,” the insider confirmed.

Qualley’s spokesperson subsequently spoke out on July 10 to shut down persistent theoried that there were “trust issues” in the actress’s marriage.

“The narratives running in the press about Margaret and Jack are categorically untrue,” her rep told Us at the time. “There are no trust issues. There was no infidelity or anything outside of respect and partnership in this relationship. They have deep love and care for one another.”

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Related: Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff’s Relationship Timeline

Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff kept their romance under the radar before getting married. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Deal of the Day Cool […]

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The rep continued, “There are only two people in this marriage, and the sources who are talking to the press and commenting on their relationship are not people who know them. Please respect their privacy.”

Antonoff and Qualley were first spotted together in August 2021 before eventually tying the knot in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, in August 2023. Their star-studded wedding guest list included Swift, 36, Lana Del Rey, Zoë Kravitz and the bride’s mother, Andie MacDowell.

Prior to her marriage to Jack, Qualley dated comedian Pete Davidson in 2019 and was with Shia LaBeouf the following year. Jack was in a long-term relationship with Girls creator Lena Dunham for more than five years before they split in late 2017.

There is a very fine line between the moronically mundane and the mindfully magnificent, between the momentary appeal of nonsensical silliness and the enduring legacy of excellence. Some of the most brilliant television series ever released have toed this line with astonishing skill, presenting thought-provoking observations on contemporary society beneath a foolhardy façade of unassuming asininity.

Ranging from vulgar teenage comedies to the awe-inspiring absurdity of adult animation, and even to the underrated impact and influence of some of the boldest family sitcoms the medium has ever seen, each of these 10 series has a depth and a genius to them that many overlook on first viewing. Slapstick silliness and smut may abound in these shows, but audiences shouldn’t think that is all they offer.

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‘The Office’ (2005–2013)

Image via NBC

Based on the UK series of the same name, and even emulating its mockumentary format, The Office excels as an absurd distortion of workplace chaos as it immerses viewers in the Scranton branch of a paper supply company. Under the management of the well-meaning but often offensive and misguided Michael Scott (Steve Carell), the employees balance their time between going about their work and embarking on numerous misadventures that lead to all kinds of calamity.

Its gleeful, energized delight goes hand-in-hand with its frenetic lunacy, but the true masterstroke of The Office—and the quality that distinguishes it from Ricky Gervais’s British predecessor—is its underlying sense of heart. The silliness is grounded in emotional realism, making the characters more than just walking punch-lines or shallow caricatures, but nuanced and deeply relatable spins on stereotypical workplace personalities. Its infectious goofiness works in tandem with its heartfelt warmth to make for the ultimate comfort comedy, one that is still enjoyed and rewatched by the masses well over a decade on from its conclusion.

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‘Trailer Park Boys’ (2001–2026)

Image via Blue Fox Entertainment 

Another hit series that soared with its mockumentary format, Trailer Park Boys is an unrestrained descent into absurdist brilliance anchored by strong and unforgettable characterizations. The comedic Canadian TV series follows the mania and hilarity that ensues when three ex-cons start living together in a trailer park. The trio embark on all manner of mischievous misadventures while struggling to adjust to their new lifestyle.

It leans heavily on inspired depravity, pairing the lowbrow obscenity and criminal instincts of the characters with a sneakily sweet air of loyalty, community, support, and brotherhood. It doesn’t invest in these qualities to the point of becoming soppy or sentimental, but the presence of the three men’s sincere connection allows for their antics to boast a sense of good-natured chaos, even if the results of their labor are typically disastrous.

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‘Futurama’ (1999–Present)

Image via Hulu

A series that is perhaps undervalued in the wheelhouse of animated comedy, Futurama was dismissed by many as being a sci-fi knockoff of The Simpsons due to its similar animation style and comedic tastes, and the creative in-put of Matt Groening and David X. Cohen. However, its ability to combine lowbrow crassness with advanced scientific concepts, refined philosophical points, and a litany of memorable and beloved characters is testament enough to its genius.

Fry (Billy West) is a pizza delivery boy from 1999 who ends up 1000 years in the future when he accidentally places himself in a cryosleep chamber. Awakening at the dawn of the 31st century, Fry finds work for an interplanetary delivery company and enjoys a series of wacky adventures with his colleagues. The series’ ability to embark on feverishly absurd tangents and include ridiculous gags without sacrificing narrative quality is one of its defining strengths, as is its gradual character arcs and melancholic themes that ground the series in emotional earnestness and prevent the zany humor from feeling hollow.

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‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’ (1969–1974)

Image via BBC

There are few in the history of film and television who have perfected the nature of stupid comedy quite like Monty Python. The British troupe is fondly remembered for their work in comedy cinema, with enduring classics like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python’s Life of Brian. However, before those pictures came to be, they first ingratiated themselves to British audiences with their sketch comedy series, Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

Through short and snappy skits, Monty Python’s appetite for sheer ridiculousness is even more profound than it is in their movies, with everything from crude innuendo to sight gags, animated chaos, deadpan absurdist satire, and even abrupt outbursts of musical mayhem being used to conjure laughs. Beneath its frenzied chaos, however, the sketch comedy series makes pointed and surprisingly timeless observations on the idiosyncrasies of British life, the nature of class, and the perplexing lunacy of social norms. Its four-season run is a treat of comic purity that features everything from lowbrow smut to intelligent philosophical musings.

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‘Bob’s Burgers’ (2011–Present)

Image via FOX

Even more so than many other animated comedy series, Bob’s Burgers leans heavily into the appeal of stupidity as it follows third-generation restaurateur Bob Belcher (H. Jon Benjamin) as he manages his struggling burger shop with help from his uptight wife and their three underachieving children. However, the series never stoops to mean-spirited satire to conjure laughs, actively subverting the “disaster family” sitcom formula as it explores a loving and wholesome blue-collar family dynamic.

Aided by its brilliant conversational nature, a byproduct of the cast recording their lines together and allowing for organic improvisation and overlapping dialogue, Bob’s Burgers finds its comedic heart in the art of witty wordplay and the relatability of fluid family bickering. The absurd brilliance of the animated sight gags only adds to this intriguing and warm-hearted dimension, making Bob’s Burgers one of the most resonant and charming animated sitcoms television has to offer.

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‘American Vandal’ (2017–2018)

Image via Netflix

A hysterical and ceaselessly brilliant skewering of the true crime phenomenon that has erupted in recent years, American Vandal is a delightful blending of parody and potty humor. It follows two high school students as they investigate pranks carried out by their peers to determine who was truly behind them. Season 1 sees them looking into a case where 27 faculty cars were vandalized with phallic imagery, while Season 2 revolves around a mystery concerning contaminated cafeteria lemonade in a Catholic school.

Despite the juvenile nature of its premise, American Vandal soars as an all-consuming satirical masterpiece. It conjures surprisingly engrossing central mysteries while offering considered queries on the exploitative state of today’s entertainment and engaging with notions of social media and the modern teenage experience with authenticity and intelligence. In this regard, it uses its license for obscenity and absurdity fantastically, making for a profound and piercing parody that is as confident and assured in making penis jokes as it is illuminating essential issues in modern society.

9

‘Rick and Morty’ (2013–Present)

Image via Adult Swim

There is a peculiarity to the intelligence and genius of Rick and Morty. On one hand, anyone obsessively dictating to you that it is smart only proves that it has an appeal to stupid people. On the other hand, there is an inspired brilliance to its comedy that has to be respected. The animated series marries cartoonish absurdity and sci-fi intricacy as it follows the many misadventures of a depressed, eccentric, and alcoholic mad scientist and his naïve and kind-hearted young grandson.

The magnificence of Rick and Morty resides in how seamlessly it juggles its many different comedy styles, tones, and ideas. Many of its most well-known gags are examples of unadulterated lunacy and low-brow humor, and yet there is a philosophical might to the series that has a certain knack for blindsiding viewers amid all the tomfoolery. Its grasp on complex scientific theories and its extensive mockery of pop culture are also factors that serve as a testament to the series’ excellence and perhaps overlooked intelligence.

8

‘Mr. Bean’ (1990–1995)

Image via ITV

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There is so much about Mr. Bean that feels like it offers a momentary chuckle, only to be instantly forgotten and never thought of again. And yet, despite the fact that the series consists of just 15 episodes across one season, which was released 30 years ago, the offbeat British sitcom remains one of the most well-known titles in comedy television. The series simply follows Rowan Atkinson’s eponymous character in his daily misadventures as his unusual wit and his peculiar perspective of the world always conspire to get him in awkward situations.

There is a certain simplicity to the idea that is timeless, while Atkinson’s mastery of physical humor and visual gags has made the character truly universal. Many would be quick to suggest that Mr. Bean’s childlike naivety and slapstick silliness are what makes it stupid, but these qualities imbue the series with the ability to appeal to absolutely anyone in the world, while also making Bean himself a surprisingly endearing and sympathetic character despite his muteness and absurdity.

7

‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ (2005–Present)

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In any form of narrative writing, it is seldom advised that one make all their main characters as despicable, unlikable, and irredeemable as is humanly possible. Somehow, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia did exactly this and struck comedy gold, and that is not something that can be accomplished by accident. The irreverent sitcom follows five toxic and completely immoral friends in their efforts to manage a decrepit Irish bar in Philadelphia, with the group being led on many manic and monstrous misadventures in the process.

Profound, nihilistic, and always finding new ways to shock fans with its characters’ depravity, the hit series has thrived with its exceptional comedy performances and writing. Perhaps the greatest testament to its genius, however, has been its longevity, with the series’ consistent excellence highlighting that it doesn’t entertain with mere shock value, but through its unbridled creativity and its ceaseless sense of dare to push the boundaries of what society will deem to be acceptable.

6

‘All in the Family’ (1971–1979)

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If modern audiences were to revisit the iconic 70s sitcom All in the Family, the chances are they would consider it funny, but ultimately outdated and completely out of taste. After all, the brash and insensitive style that marked the comedy of that era has become archaic. However, what viewers of today perhaps wouldn’t initially understand is how pioneering the series was, with it being the first sitcom to actively address trending social issues in a manner that is both insightful and fun.

It follows the Queens-based Bunker family as they navigate the trials of working-class life with Archie Bunker’s (Carroll O’Connor) prejudiced and narrow-minded views often clashing with the perspectives of his wife and children. All in the Family’s boof-headed veneer often gives way to great discussion points and observations about issues such as discrimination, gentrification, and the impact of the Vietnam War on American society. Its formula of laughs and enlightenment has been adopted by countless sitcoms since, making All in the Family not only a stroke of writing genius, but one of the most influential series of all time as well.