Entertainment
George R.R. Martin’s Newest ‘Game of Thrones’ Story Finally Fills in the Blanks HBO Missed
Walking into one of the most iconic theaters in the world, to be greeted by characters you have known for years yet never seen up close or met, is inherently strange. Rhaegar Targaryen, Lyanna Stark, Elia Martell, and the Mad King, Aerys Targaryen, himself have existed largely as ghosts throughout A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones, with the choices, the decisions and the mistakes they made almost entirely shaping the bloodshed that would follow throughout every word we read and every scene we saw in decades of books and eight seasons of epic television. George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King gives those ghosts flesh and fire and blood, transforming one of the most important pieces of Westerosi history into an enormously ambitious four-hour theatrical epic that doesn’t always justify the Balerion-sized run time, even if it’s quite magical when all the pieces fall together.
‘The Mad King’ Is Not HBO’s Westeros
Perhaps the smartest decision director Dominic Cooke and adapter Duncan Macmillan make is refusing to treat The Mad King as a theatrical prequel to HBO’s Game of Thrones. After all, what we see on stage is recognizably Westeros, but the visual language is distinct. Even the banners and sigils have been redesigned. The Targaryen dragon, for example, has a longer, more serpentine appearance than the wyvern-like creature familiar from television, which immediately establishes that this is not a prequel to the television series, but rather its own piece of lore.
Those details help because ensuring it’s clear this is not a prequel to the show will make it easier for those diehard fans rushing to see the play to process the fact that some of your heroes will not resemble those you see on television. We have spent years associating characters such as Robert Baratheon, Ned Stark, and Jaime Lannister with the actors who played them on television, and seeing someone else wearing those names can initially be distracting. Curiously, characters who never really existed on screen have an advantage. There is no definitive live-action Rhaegar or Aerys lodged in the imagination that Noah Ritter or Michael Shaeffer must displace in your mind’s eye. Once you get your head around that, The Mad King becomes something much more interesting than a nostalgic exercise.
‘The Mad King’ Chronicles the Fall of the Targaryen Dynasty
The first half takes place around the legendary Tourney at Harrenhal, where Prince Rhaegar Targaryen (Ritter) hopes to gather support against his increasingly unstable father, King Aerys II (Shaeffer). What follows brings together an extraordinary collection of characters whose relationships will eventually tear the Seven Kingdoms apart: Lyanna Stark (Harmony Rose-Bremner), Eddard Stark (Michael Abubakar), Robert Baratheon (Callum Woodhouse), Elia Martell (Elizabeth Ayodele), Ashara Dayne (Tanisha Spring) and Brandon Stark (Luke Brady), among many others.
This is where the play is at its strongest, because Harrenhal gives the huge company the chance to breathe and allows relationships to develop — you see the political chessboard in action as various factions attempt to make their moves, and get a glimpse of what might have been. Particularly key is the fact that, following a vile moment where Aerys performs a dreadful act of cruelty upon a grieving Robert, the Starks pledge their banners to Rhaegar. The world would look extremely different had Rhaegar not been so impetuous.
The play is also considerably funnier than you might expect. Robert’s utterings get plenty of laughs, such is the way that character was always depicted across all forms of media. A big lad with a short temper is always funny when he’s had a drink, and he meets a pretty girl. The supporting characters help to steal the show. Hughie O’Donnell’s hilariously poisonous Varys and Richard Hansell’s simpering, mewling Grand Maester Pycelle threaten to steal scenes by leaning into heightened versions of the characters audiences already know. The performances are exaggerated without becoming outright impersonations, and the humor rarely diminishes the threat lurking beneath everything.
Noah Ritter and Michael Shaeffer Shine as Rhaegar and Aerys II
Ritter’s Rhaegar is particularly fascinating because The Mad King resists turning him into the perfect lost prince that decades of Westerosi mythology have created. He is intelligent, romantic, and well-intentioned, that’s true, but what hasn’t previously been depicted is how politically immature, dangerously obsessive, and reckless he is. There’s an air of Hamlet to him; he’s overwhelmed by expectation but he’s utterly incapable of turning that conviction into effective action. You also suspect that, were he placed amongst the Targaryens of House of the Dragon, he would be eaten alive by the likes of Rhaenyra, Daemon, and especially Aemond.
There is a wonderful irony in Aerys and Rhaegar’s relationship, too. Despite his self-admitted madness, Aerys is the only person capable of seeing through Rhaegar’s folly. The king is unquestionably insane, yet even he possesses enough clarity to recognize how foolish it is for Rhaegar to convince himself that he must be the answer to an ancient prophecy. Shaeffer’s performance finds shadows of humanity within Aerys but never asks us to side with him, and his memories of both the tragedy at Summerhall and Rhaegar’s birth are particularly effective because it allows us to see who he was before the monster. But make no mistake, Aerys is a monster. This is a man who visibly laughs at death, at suffering and sorrow, and he relishes in the twisted glee of being the one who causes it.
Rhaegar’s relationship with Rose-Bremner’s Lyanna ultimately becomes our focus as the play continues. They have a sincere romance, and an entirely joyful meet-cute, but the production never endorses their decisions. In fact, one of the benefits of the four-sided stage is that we’re able to get better looks at the reactions of those around them as their obsession with each other and their poor decision-making causes more damage. They never understand that the consequences of their actions spread far beyond the little world they’ve created together, and the whole thing becomes much stranger and sadder for it.
The Performances in ‘The Mad King’ Bring Characters Out of the Shadows
One of the production’s biggest treats is Woodhouse’s Robert Baratheon. This isn’t yet the drunken, exhausted, and very fat king played by Mark Addy that audiences met at the beginning of Game of Thrones. This is a man who, despite his grief, could inspire people to follow him and to depose a king. Woodhouse is imperious, and his Robert is charming, very funny, and surprisingly vulnerable, particularly when discussing the death of his parents, but when the fighting begins, he is terrifying. For perhaps the first time outside Martin’s prose, it becomes immediately obvious why Abubakar’s Ned Stark would follow this man into a rebellion and why soldiers would rally around him.
And of course, we’ve been cursed with the knowledge of what victory will eventually do to Robert. Here, he still has something to fight for, because he hasn’t yet won the crown, hasn’t yet lost the woman he believes he loves, and hasn’t yet discovered that achieving everything he wanted is going to leave him purposeless and a soft man at the end of it all.
The ensemble surrounding these characters is strong and sturdy, too. Ayodele gives Elia far more agency than the tragic footnote she could easily have become, while Spring’s charismatic Ashara is enormously entertaining. You can see why, with that level of energy, people would have suspected she was the mother of Jon Snow as Catelyn once accused of Ned. Mariah Gale makes an extraordinary impression with relatively little material as both Queen Rhaella and Lady Shella Whent, and while Jaime is only a supporting presence, Maxim Ays may be the most immediately convincing piece of visual casting in the entire production. He is perfectly pompous, and he looks entirely the part in his white Kingsguard attire, all swagger, smugness and self-confidence. Meanwhile, Abubakar, who brings the requisite heart and stoicism to Ned, commands a different sort of physicality from that of Sean Bean, who, for many, was the original face of Westeros.
Westeros Looks Incredible on Stage
The technical achievement is frequently jaw-dropping. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre has been transformed around a four-sided, cross-shaped stage, with an imposing arch across it, that brings the action remarkably close to the audience. Director Dominic Cooke uses every side of it, creating the sensation that you’re sitting within Harrenhal rather than watching it from a safe distance. An enormous weirwood and the Iron Throne emerge dramatically from the stage. The opening Targaryen procession will live long in the memory, as they cross the stage on their horses with ominous music playing. It makes them seem ethereal, or alien, but then the Targaryens and Valyrians have always been considered different even in a world as foreign as Westeros.
And then there’s the puppetry, which is extraordinary, particularly when viewed at close range. Horses thunder through Harrenhal at the hands puppets, while Gregor Clegane becomes an enormous, largely voiceless construction, a genuine mountain of engineering. A gigantic dragon appearing during a vision is one of the production’s most magical images, as Rhaegar witnesses the future that will bring Daenerys Targaryen to power with her three dragons, Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion.
But the puppetry isn’t perfect, as they occasionally substitute for performers during combat, and while technically impressive, the Battle of the Trident loses some of the personality that comes from watching two human beings physically confront each other and try to bash each other’s skulls in. That’s a very minor quibble because, while you lament that on one front, you marvel at the technical wizardry. The production also repeatedly freezes the surrounding company while important conversations continue. When your attention remains exactly where Cooke wants it, the effect is excellent, but there is a downside to this, and that’s the unintended humor that you may find when you end up spotting a reveler in mid-dance with a frozen face of ecstasy and glee while a morbid conversation about fate is going on in the background. This may need some refinement, but it’s a clever idea.
Four Hours Is Simply Too Long for ‘The Mad King’
If the Tourney at Harrenhal demonstrates everything The Mad King can be, the second half is where the stage limits the story that it’s trying to tell. The first half is set over a couple of days, at one location (for the most part), and at one event. This is probably what the whole play should have been like, but attempting to tell the story of Robert’s Rebellion in full across roughly two hours is an almost impossible task. The production races between locations, deaths, battles, and political upheavals, occasionally reducing enormous events to mere moments and, as a result, relationships that deserve more time — particularly Ned and Robert’s — inevitably get shortened. It’s not that any of this isn’t interesting, far from it; it’s just that there is too much to say and too little time in which to say it.
It’s an odd, paradoxical conundrum because, at approximately four hours, including an interval, The Mad King is too long and yet it feels rushed in that second half. Cutting 30 or even 40 minutes would not seriously damage the story, particularly if the material were streamlined around its strongest characters rather than attempting to touch so many pieces of Robert’s Rebellion.
The final image, with Ned returning to Catelyn (Marty Breen) and introducing the infant Jon Snow, certainly provides recognition for Game of Thrones fans, but that feels more like a nod to fans, particularly those who flew the R+L=J flag for so many years, rather than focusing on the inevitable conclusion of the tragedy we’ve just watched, and tragedy is probably the thing the play does the best.
These aren’t historical figures moving towards predetermined positions on a Westerosi timeline; they’re all young, impulsive, and foolhardy people making decisions we can sympathize with and understand, even if we know they’re making the worst mistakes they could ever make, without knowing they will be vilified or canonized in later years. Rhaegar isn’t yet the melancholy prince remembered in songs, admired even by those he fought against for his nobility and honor. Robert isn’t the fat king drinking himself into an early grave. Ned isn’t the legendary honorable Lord of Winterfell. Lyanna isn’t a statue in a crypt. They’re just people, young people, not realizing they’re pawns in a greater game being played from the bowels of Casterly Rock.
That is where Game of Thrones: The Mad King works best, because it doesn’t need to imitate HBO’s Westeros. Martin’s world existed long before television gave it a face, and Cooke and Macmillan have instead created their own version of it: theatrical, strange, funny, a bit too much at times, but it will also knock your socks off. There is probably a tighter, even better version of The Mad King hiding somewhere inside these four hours, but what is already on stage is a very worthy addition to George R.R. Martin’s world, and it gives life to those ghosts about whom we’ve only heard songs of ice and fire.
- Author
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Written by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke
- Genre
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Drama, Fantasy
- Publication Date
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First performance August 8, 2026 in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
Pros & Cons
- The staging, puppetry and atmosphere is utterly exceptional.
- Strong performances bring previously forgotten characters to life.
- Characters like Robert Baratheon, Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen are superbly fleshed out.
- Long-time fans may have difficulty with some casting choices.
- The second half of the play tries to do too much.
- The play feels too long at almost four hours.
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Race Across the World star Jo Gardiner has died from cancer at age 61, one year after her son’s death in a car crash.
Gardiner’s family confirmed her death in a statement, telling U.K. outlets Metro and The Independent, that the reality star went through “a long and courageous battle with cancer.”
Gardiner was referred to by her loved ones as “our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.”
“We know how deeply Jo was loved, and we take comfort in knowing that her laughter, her courage, her kindness and her wonderfully outrageous spirit will live on in the many people whose lives she touched,” the statement continued. “As we grieve, we ask for privacy, but we also ask everyone who knew and loved Jo to do exactly what she would have wanted: tell the funny stories, raise a glass, have an adventure, laugh loudly and live life to the full.”
Hollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026. In June, legendary music executive Clive Davis also died at age 94 following a hospitalization for an upper respiratory infection. The following month, G.R.L. member Lauren Bennett died at age 37, while Bonnie Tyler died at 75. Emergency!‘s Randolph Mantooth and Police […]
While reflecting on Gardiner’s legacy, her family said she “never did things by halves” and called her “one of a kind.”
Gardiner is survived by her son Charlie, according to the Manchester Evening News. Her death comes one year after her son Sam died at 24 after being involved in a car crash.
According to a statement by Greater Manchester Police, Sam was driving in England when his car veered off the road and “rolled before landing on its side” in May 2025.
“Sam left us far too soon, and whilst words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special,” Sam’s parents, Jo and Andrew, wrote via social media at the time. “Sam brought warmth, laughter and a smattering of chaos wherever he went. He leaves behind a huge hole in our hearts. We will miss him endlessly, but we’ll also remember him with smiles, tall tales, and a depth of love that will never fade.”
Sam and Jo previously appeared on season 2 of the U.K. reality competition Race Across the World, which aired in 2020. Throughout the series, the mother-son duo traveled from Mexico City to Ushuaia in Argentina.
“My son and I get on so well and he is desperate to travel, but I’m nervous of him going off on his own,” Jo told BBC at the time. “I want the trip to help him grow, and see how the world works. To watch him experience this will be fantastic. He’s come such a long way and I would love to see him achieve his dreams.”
The social media account for Race Across the World shared a tribute to Jo after her death, offering their “deepest and heartfelt sympathies.”
“Millions of people remembered [Jo and Sam’s] transformative journey across Latin America in 2020 and we hold that memory in our hearts as we fondly recall Jo’s passion for life, her kindness, her strength, and above all her utter devotion to Sam and her family,” read a post shared via X.
The statement continued: “At the time of filming, Sam described his mum as amazing – and that is how we will always remember her. Jo became the matriarch of the Race Across the World cast family, she leaves a lasting legacy in the many lives that she touched, both through the series and beyond. It was a privilege to share her story and she will be deeply missed.”
After the White House called Rosie O’Donnell a “total slob,” she fired back, prompting fans to share their thoughts. On Sunday, Aug. 23, the comedian, actress, and television personality took to Instagram and responded to the jab by sharing a photo.
O’Donnell, 64, who guest-hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week for her talk-show return, shared a snapshot of the US president, 80, with his hair styled sleek back. His white, short-sleeved shirt tucked under blue tailored pants, and secured with a black belt.
“This is the guy calling me a slob #mirrormirror,” O’Donnell wrote in the caption.
Fans Weigh In On Rosie O’Donnell’s Post
In less than a day, O’Donnell’s post received over 1162,000 likes and 10,000 comments. Country singer-songwriter Margo Price wrote, “He’s just jealous! Your pink suit was straight fire. He could never,” while TikTok star Scott Henry remarked, “This made me cackle!! Thank you!”
The third follower noted, “He’s literally the biggest SLOB ever. I love the way you get under his skin, Rosie.” A different user added, “You live rent free in his demented brain, and it’s glorious.”
Another fan told O’Donnell, “You are the most celebrated human in America right now! You are healing us… to quote a @rosieblog throwback YOU ARE YELLOW.”
White House Says Rosie O’Donnell ‘Nasty’ And A ‘Slob’
In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Thursday, Aug. 20, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle called O’Donnell a “nasty woman and a total slob whose brain has been completely destroyed by Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
The White House’s comments about the comedian came after her monologue on Kimmel’s show, and it was when she called Trump “President Petty Roosevelt.” O’Donnell also encouraged him to “hang up your wig” and let White House aide Natalie Harp “tuck you in.”
Rosie O’Donnell Calls Trump ‘Mango Mussolini’
During the week-long appearance on Kimmel, O’Donnell waved to Trump as she referred to him as “Mango Mussolini,” then called him “Oompa J. Loompa.” The actress eventually serenaded the president with a parody of a century-old Irish folk song.
“Poor Donnie boy, your polls, your polls are falling,” O’Donnell sang, referring to Trump’s declining popularity in public polls and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. “Your reflecting pool is green as Mountain Dew. Your wig’s a mess, your ballroom is appalling.”
“The Flintstones” star’s hosting duties concluded on Thursday, Aug. 20, as Kimmel continues his summer break. O’Donnell followed other guest hosts, such as Anthony Anderson, Colman Domingo, Tiffany Haddish, and Ike Barinholtz.
How Did Rosie O’Donnell’s Feud With Trump Started?
O’Donnell’s feud with Trump has spanned around two decades. After an episode of The View in 2006, the comedian and the president began butting heads. During a Hot Topics segment, O’Donnell, who hosted the show at the time, criticized Trump for acting as a “moral authority,” following Tara Conner’s win of the Miss USA title, despite allegations of underage drinking and cocaine use.
“He annoys me on a multitude of levels,” she said. “[He] left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair, had kids both times, but he’s the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America.”
O’Donnell continued, “Donald, sit and spin, my friend. I don’t enjoy him.”
After O’Donnell’s comments, Trump responded by calling her “a woman out of control,” during an interview with PEOPLE. Since then, their feud has only escalated, with the president calling out the comedian several times on social media.
Serayah and Joey Bada$$ have called it quits! She dropped the breakup bombshell on Instagram on Monday (August 24) and didn’t hold back the reason! In her statement, the ‘Empire’ star accused Joey of repeatedly cheating on her. She later shared now-deleted audio of him speaking to another woman. He has yet to publicly address the split.
RELATED: Match Each Other’s Fly! Serayah & Joey Bada$$ Serve Couple Goals With Recent & ‘Fit Check (WATCH)
Serayah Exposes Joey Bada$$ In Breakup Statement
Four hours after posting, the breakup statement was still available on Serayah’s IG page. She opened with a comment about a woman choosing herself and why, at certain points in life, it’s necessary. Her second sentence got straight to the point. Serayah revealed she ended her engagement to Joey Bada$$, calling it a “difficult decision.” The ex-couple went public with their romance in 2023 and welcomed their first and only child, a son named Joey, last year.
“I loved deeply, believed wholeheartedly in the life we were building and wanted nothing more than to protect our family,” Serayah said in her statement. “Unfortunately, I had to face a painful truth: there had been repeated infidelity throughout our relationship, including during some of the most vulnerable and meaningful moments of my life.”
Serayah clarified that she wasn’t seeking sympathy, retaliation or to “tear anyone down.” She said her reason for exposing her situation is to encourage the next woman to notice the red flags and take action without questioning herself. “If your intuition is telling you something is wrong, listen to it,” her statement said.
“Don’t make yourself smaller to keep someone else comfortable. Don’t compromise your values because you’re afraid of losing the future you imagined. And don’t allow someone else’s choices to become a referendum on your worth. Love should not require you to abandon yourself.”
She closed her statement by saying she respects sharing a son with Joey Bada$$, adding that the boy’s peace and having a relationship with both his parents are her priorities.
The ‘Empire’ Actress Drops Receipts After Ending Her Engagement
RELATED: JaNa Craig Responds After Kenny Rodriguez Accuses Her Of Assault & Addresses Alleged Racist Texts Following Their Breakup (VIDEOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Nestled deep inside Toronto’s iconic Distillery District, Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie already feels like a place built for a little drama. The restaurant is huge and unmistakably French, with a marble bar, tiled floors, and the kind of dining room that makes you sit a little straighter once you reach your table. But when Collider stepped inside the fancy establishment (and wore dress pants for the occasion) this past winter, dinner service looked a little different. For starters, Gordon Ramsay was decked out in chef attire and sipping from a water bottle near the kitchen entrance, watching guests pour in because MasterChef had taken over the restaurant. Cameras were tucked into just about every corner, and the Top 6 were getting ready for one of the toughest tests of Season 16.
We had already spent time on the MasterChef set earlier in the day, but its legendary Restaurant Takeover challenge has a completely different vibe. Cluny’s central open kitchen became an extension of the show’s own, only now there was a real dinner service that didn’t care whether its chefs were ready for the heat. Airing August 26 on FOX, Restaurant Takeover splits the Top 6 into teams and asks them to run appetizer and entrée service inside the sprawling neo-Parisian bistro. At the end of the night, one cook will not make it through, and after watching a bit of that service unfold in person, it was easy to see why this challenge is one of the series’ most daunting.
‘MasterChef’s Restaurant Takeover Is a Whole Different Kind of Chaos
If the regular MasterChef kitchen is already chaotic enough and riles up your IBS just as much as ours, Restaurant Takeover makes it feel almost comfortable by comparison. The usual kitchen is massive and packed with cameras and crews in addition to its contestant cooks. But that’s built specifically for a competition. Cut to Cluny, and the remaining contestants had to fit themselves into a restaurant that was already established and somehow make it run as if they belonged behind the line. That’s a much bigger ask than making one great plate for Ramsay.
For Restaurant Takeover, the cooks now have a whole dining room to take care of. With one plate after another, the pressure is high, all while making sure diners aren’t sitting around wondering what happened to their dinner (which did obviously happen to a few). But Ramsay’s co-judge, Joe Bastianich, isn’t watching all of this from the sidelines. Instead, the longtime restaurateur is right in the middle of service. “I’m the one managing the dining room. I take the orders, I bring them to Gordon. If the plates don’t come, I answer,” Bastianich told Collider ahead of the chaos. “I’m intimately involved.”
With Ramsay monitoring the kitchen and Bastianich handling the dining room, the contestants are essentially caught in the middle, which is why Bastianich wants diners waiting for their meals to get the same experience they would on any other night. “I value creating an authentic restaurant experience with quality — fast timing, flavors, temperatures, beautiful dishes that taste good that you would have in this restaurant as if it were being run by a professional crew every night,” he said.
You know, no big deal for a group of home cooks! But that’s what makes Restaurant Takeover such a great test. By the time the Top 6 are announced in the season, cooking is no longer a part of the equation. Sure, they can all cook, but they have to prove they can do it quickly, consistently, and alongside others while orders continually pour in. And those orders are where things can get ugly fast.
When asked what tells are evident that a restaurant service is starting to fall apart, Bastinach doesn’t point to a bad plate or even a cooking mistake. It’s what happens when the kitchen stops moving. “The biggest red flag is when the first orders start coming in, and they’re not responding and not moving in the process towards cooking the plates,” he said. “And then it starts to spin out of control.”
Watching as an insider (who greatly enjoyed their meal), it’s easy to understand how quickly all of that could happen. Though there were no subtitles floating around for us while observing the central open kitchen, expressions from each contestant were a dead giveaway for the heat each was facing. There isn’t much room to stand around and figure out what goes wrong when another order is already coming in. One delay becomes two, another person gets backed up, and suddenly guests sitting in that very pretty dining room want to know where their food is.
Gordon Ramsay Wants the ‘MasterChef’ Top 6 To Prove Everything They’ve Learned
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Image via Geoff George; FOX, 2026 FOX Media LLC.
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Image via Geoff George; FOX, 2026 FOX Media LLC.
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Image via Geoff George; FOX, 2026 FOX Media LLC.
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Image via Geoff George; FOX, 2026 FOX Media LLC.
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Image via Geoff George /FOX. ©2026 FOX Media LLC.
Of course, Restaurant Takeover isn’t just about throwing six home cooks into a restaurant like Cluny and watching it catch fire. Ramsay might be leading the charge, but at this point in the competition, he’s also spent weeks helping contestants become more aware and just, overall, better. But they have to prove they’ve listened — an aspect of communication that Ramsay takes very seriously. “I want the best, and so some of those challenges are culinary training. I just want them to shine,” Ramsay told Collider. “You can’t just stand back and watch those mistakes happen, and I’m going to do my job and be there.”
But there is a bit of a catch, as he puts it. He’ll help you figure out the problem, but he’s not going to fix it for you. “I’ve always said that you give me a problem, I’ll come back to you with a solution, but you’re going to execute that solution,” he said.
Inside Cluny, that’s a pretty important distinction. Ramsay can be standing at the pass, but he can’t cook six people’s food for them. According to Tiffany Derry, that starts with knowing when to actually listen. “I think that being a leader, especially here at MasterChef, you have to lead, but you also have to listen,” Derry told Collider. “I don’t think the leader is just the loudest voice, because I’ve been in many kitchens my whole life where the loudest one has no clue what they’re doing, really. They’re just barking.”
It might sound funny, but it’s also exactly the kind of thing Restaurant Takeover can expose very quickly. Derry adds that a good leader has to know their team well enough to put people where they’ll actually succeed, and that means relying on everyone around you, respecting what they can do and, in her words, knowing when to “let the egos go.”
It sounds like you’re asking a lot when you’re down to six contestants, and every person left can practically see the finale from where they’re standing. But the show serves as a nice portrait of their growth. Ramsay said that what he enjoys most is seeing that progress happen, especially as cooks start picking up smaller skills that can make a huge difference under pressure.
Behind the scenes, he even helps shape the culinary classes around what they’re struggling with, whether that’s plating, execution, or simply getting a sauce finished properly. “I just want to be a prolific coach,” Ramsay said. “They’re going to love me, they’re going to hate me, they’re going to be unsure about me, but at the end of it, I think they’re going to leave a much better individual.”
MasterChef: Global Gauntlet airs “Restaurant Takeover” on Wednesday, August 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX and streams the following day on Hulu.
Social media is reacting to Blueface, Nevaeh Akira, and their days-old son getting patted down by cops during a recent livestream.
RELATED: Jaidyn Alexis Responds To Blueface Saying Javaughn & Journey Can Be Replaced As He Shares Closer Look At Newborn Son Johnathan Jr.
Blueface, Nevaeh Akira & Their Days-Old Son Get Pat Down By Cops During Recent Livestream
On Sunday, August 24, Blueface was streaming live via Kick, apparently showing off his family’s Sunday funday. Following a trip to the park and a stop at Blueface’s seafood restaurant, King Crabs, things took a turn for the group. While they were eating, something outside appeared to catch their attention.
“We’re being swatted? Oh lord,” Blueface said as Akira appeared concerned. “We’re being swatted.”
See clips from the incident below.
Social Media Reacts To Cops Patting Down Blueface, Nevaeh Akira & Their Days-Old Son
Social media users reacted to the video of Blueface, Nevaeh Akira, and their days-old son, Johnathan Jr., being patted down by police in TSR’s comment section.
Instagram user @_.bert.__ wrote, “Baby ain’t even a week old already been arrested and held for questioning 😂😂😂😂”
While Instagram user @curt_cobain added, “Mind you the baby is 4 days old …. 🤷🏾🤦🏾”
Instagram user @urforeigndollie wrote, “how do I block the whole franchise”
While Instagram user @j.essicacm added, “The baby is only 3 days old… why is she not at home literally recovering and spending time with her 2 babies!!?”
Instagram user @sheis.king wrote, “Why they calling blue face instead of Johnathan 😂”
While Instagram user @naturalcurlab added, “I think the swat team are paid actors 😂 cause this is wild and I’m too invested in the love triangle. Definitely more entertaining than the love and hip hop on now. This is the real love and hh forreal”
Instagram user @just.latrice wrote, “He probably called for all I know! He thrives off this 😂”
While Instagram user @madamgp132 added, “Yall saying this all for streams ain’t never been in no shyt like this 😂 those are the real sheriff deputy’s somebody keep calling them on them”
Instagram user @reregotemsickkk._ wrote, “Whole time chrisean called them😂😂😂😂😂😂”
More On Recent Events & Livestreams
On Friday, August 21, Blueface also went live via Kick, streaming his day and outing with another female. Apparently, during his time out, he linked up with fellow streamer India Love.
Instagram user @mik.jefa slid in TSR’s comment section, writing, “Girllll this is the last man you should want to be seen hanging around 😭”
While Instagram user @_noka added, “he really get on my nerves 😂😂😂”
RELATED: Whew! Karlissa Saffold Seemingly Calls Out Blueface Over His Alleged Comments About Replacing Javaughn & Journey (VIDEOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Almost a year after announcing their engagement, Toosii has revealed that he and Samaria J. Davis have called it quits.
RELATED: He’s A Fiancé! Toosii Proposes To Longtime Girlfriend Samaria J. Davis (VIDEOS)
Toosii Reveals He & Samaria J. Davis Have Called It Quits
On Monday, August 24, Toosii apparently took to Instagram to share a now-deleted message via his Story. “Me and Samaria are not together and we haven’t been for some time now,” he wrote.
See his now-deleted message below.
Social Media Reacts To The Update A Year After Their Engagement
Social media users reacted to the update on Toosii and Samaria J. Davis in TSR’s comment section.
Instagram user @olivirahhhhh wrote, “So, on this big Monday, everybody decided to break up with their significant other? 😭 That’s literally all I’ve been seeing on my timeline since I woke up. Wow! 😭😂”
While Instagram user @shaunaadiorr added, “TF GOIN ON TODAYYYY , boutta ask mine is we good 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣”
Instagram user @theezodiacstore wrote, “Aight, who next?! Damn Rasheeda if u wanna announce leaving Kirk it seems like today’s the day to do it😂😂😂”
While Instagram user @khazandkocktails added, “Like they couldn’t have they moment we didn’t ask u toosi 😂”
Instagram user @rocky5_____ wrote, “DAMN IS TODAY END ENGAGEMENT DAY”
While Instagram user @ambitiousyella added, “Break up Monday ??”
Instagram user @r0832t wrote, “Damn everyone calling it quits except these bill collectors ”
While Instagram user @perfect.lilyanna added, “She literally said she wanna live in separate houses , she meant that . She do not fw that man .. yall be missing all the hints 😂.”
More On Toosii & Samaria’s Engagement
As The Shade Room previously reported, in September 2025, Toosii proposed to Samaria J. Davis. This months after they welcomed their second child, a baby girl named Aliza, into the world.
“We laugh together, we cry together, but most importantly we pray together. What the Lord has planned, no man can dismember. He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and Lord knows I found a great thing. I pray the Lord allows our love to be as steadfast as His is to us. Listen to me, you’re a gorgeous woman! May life with you be like a field full of flowers or the beak of a toucan—bright and full of colors. May we grow old and ripe together, and our souls never be untethered. Thank you for loving me unconditionally when I didn’t love myself. You are superwoman. ❤️ @samariajdavis,” he wrote in the caption of his post announcing their engagement.
In May, Davis made headlines when she shared an interesting message online.
Additionally, it appeared to surprise Toosii.
At this time, Samaria J. Davis has not publicly weighed in on Toosii’s relationship update.
RELATED: Pump The Brakes! Toosii Reacts After Samaria Says She Doesn’t Want To Live With Him After Marriage (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
It’s been a great year for horror in theaters, with the likes of Obsession and Backrooms proving big favorites. This past weekend, Insidious: Out of the Further became the latest horror flick to find quick success, turning its $18 million budget into $60 million in just three days. However, it is the latest in a line of films to fall victim to the all-conquering Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which now ranks as the fifth highest-grossing film of all time. With Brand New Day continuing to dominate the box office, you might need to look elsewhere for something fresh to watch. With that in mind, here’s a list of three movies you should stream on Netflix this week.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
1
‘M3GAN’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 6.3/10
With September just around the corner, it isn’t long before sepia leaves fall, and spooky season is upon us. To get in the mood early, why not catch one of the most inventive slashers of the decade so far? The brilliantly original M3GAN follows robotics engineer Gemma (Allison Williams), who introduces a groundbreaking robotic AI into the life of her orphaned niece, unaware of the bloody consequences that would follow.
A film arguably ahead of its time with an anti-AI message that hits harder today than four years ago, M3GAN is, at its heart, a thoroughly enjoyable slasher. Absurd and prescient in perfect measure, M3GAN successfully blends comedy into its shocking thrills for a viewing experience that will have you laughing whilst watching through your fingers.
2
‘The Great Wall’ (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes: 36% | IMDb: 5.9/10
One of the biggest hits of the summer, Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey puts Matt Damon center stage as the King of Ithaca in one of his best roles in years. If you are one of the many millions to have watched and enjoyed Nolan’s highest-grossing film yet, then you might be interested in this arguably underrated Damon historical performance from 10 years ago.
The Great Wall, directed by Yimou Zhang, follows Damon’s European mercenary William Garin as he discovers the titular Great Wall of China, learns that it is built to keep away dangerous monsters, and joins the disciplined armies of the Nameless Order in its defense. Also starring Andy Lau, Pedro Pascal, and Willem Dafoe, this gritty, ambitious epic marked the Hollywood feature debut of Chinese director Yimou and, despite facing mixed reviews from critics, still enjoys streaming success to this day.
Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 7.6/10
There have been many great new movies debuting on Netflix this year so far, with Remarkably Bright Creatures being one of the best. An adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt‘s debut novel of the same name, the movie stars Sally Field as a grieving widow whose life-changing discovery during night shifts at an aquarium leads to bonds being formed and a new joie de vivre emerging.
Field is one of the best actors of her generation, and she brings her customary warmth, heart, and emotional nuance to her latest performance. She is joined by both Lewis Pullman, ahead of his performance in Avengers: Doomsday, and the great Alfred Molina in a true streaming gem that is sure to have you beaming from ear to ear.
- Release Date
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May 8, 2026
- Runtime
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111 Minutes
- Director
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Olivia Newman
Music legend Chaka Khan is gearing up to release her 13th solo album, “Chakzilla,” in September, following the lead single of the same name. Recently, while promoting her new music, the “I Feel For You” singer issued an impassioned response to those who believe she and Prince had been intimate in the past.
Khan has a long history with Prince, having first met the late musician in 1977 while he was working on his debut album. Of course, she later covered his song “I Feel for You” in 1984, and the single reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, earning her a Grammy.
In August 2026, the “Chakzilla” singer spoke to The Observer. During the conversation, the reporter mentioned her friendship with Prince, who passed away in 2016, and wondered if she’s often asked about the dynamics of their relationship.
She responded, “Hell yeah I do! It’s sad that they just assume I’m either a whore or a singer. Make up your mind! What do you want me to be?”
Regarding many music fans wanting the rumors of romance between her and Prince to be true, Khan added, “I’m not going to lie to you and add to your fantasy. This ain’t Disneyland. I’m living for real.” She then said, “If I’d slept with all the guys I’ve done tours with, I don’t know what I’d be right now. I’d probably be dead.”
Chaka Khan Discusses The Impact Prince Had On Her Career
During the Observer interview, Khan discussed not only the impact of covering Prince’s song on her career but also his artistry. According to her, “He plucked me out of a place where I was trying to survive. My record company [was] in my ass, being the meanest people on the planet.”
She continued, “I felt like I was being pimped. I cried a lot, because I was falling out of love with music. I was ready to throw in the towel, and then Prince came along.”
Regarding how she sees the music icon as an artist, she stated, “He was a really deep and beautiful thinker. Prince just grabbed ideas out of the air and left you wondering: where did you get that?”
Chaka Previously Opened Up About Meeting Prince
Khan spoke to The Guardian in 2019 and opened up about her first encounter with Prince, which came after they were both in San Francisco, and he called her hotel room pretending to be Sly Stone.
According to her, “I could have sworn it was Sly; Sly and I were very close. He said: ‘I’m at a studio in Marin County doing this album, do you want to come?’ So I drove for 100 years and get in there, and it’s like dark and sterile and very eerie. There’s this little guy with a guitar. I said, ‘Excuse me, where’s Sly?’ and he put his guitar down and said, ‘I’m sorry, that was me.’”
She continued, recalling having said, “Well, who the f-ck are you? I was truly pissed about this. He told me who he was; I said, ‘OK, nice meeting you, but I’m really pissed now, so goodbye,’ and I left.”
The Songstress Had No Idea Prince Was Battling Addiction To Painkillers
Prince passed away on April 21, 2016, after an accidental fentanyl overdose. During her interview with The Guardian, she opened up about his passing and revealed that she was unaware that the music legend had been struggling with painkillers.
She stated, “I never, ever got any indication that he was on pills. I knew he was doing certain things; I knew he had a couple of bouts with acid and all that. That’s OK. A one-off here and there, you got the money, you ain’t working. You like acid – go do it.”
After that, she shared that Prince was “totally against drinking” beyond the occasional glass of red wine. Khan then said, “Secrets kill. Secrets kill, and if he hid from me for so many years where he was really at, and I was like his confidante in many ways, you know … It’s hard to keep a secret like that from me.”
Khan went on to reveal how Prince’s untimely death may have saved her. She said, “So I learned a lot, you know. I just said: ‘I better go check myself.’ And I’m alive maybe because he’s dead. I went to a doctor, and I said, ‘Here’s the deal,’ and he told me there are certain pains you’ve just got to live with; that’s part of life.”
Chaka’s New Album Is On The Horizon
Khan’s new album, “Chakzilla,” is set for release on September 18 and features contributions from Sia, Lenny Kravitz, and Snoop Dogg. She unveiled the title track from the album in May 2026 before releasing another song, “Curious Subject,” in August.
In shedding light on the album title, she told PEOPLE, “When I was a kid, I really liked the ‘Godzilla’ movies. When we came up with [‘Chakzilla’] as a title, lots of things just ran through my head and made a lot of sense.”
She went on to say, in reference to the title track’s music video, “Instead of becoming a monster and just tearing up things, I became sort of a monster of a person who does good things.”
The last few years have been the definition of booked and busy for Morena Baccarin, who is soon to have a key figure in her life join her in her hit CBS series. Best known for her role as Vanessa in the Deadpool movies, Baccarin recently teamed up with another MCU veteran in Anthony Mackie for the 2024 sci-fi thriller, Elevation. The film has found a home streaming on Hulu this year after an underwhelming performance at the box office. Baccarin also played a key role in another massive box office bomb, Amazon’s Masters of the Universe movie, but the film is well on its way to completing its redemption arc. News broke over the weekend that Masters of the Universe has been one of the most-watched movies of the year on Prime Video.
While the success of movies and TV may come and go, Baccarin has one of the most popular shows on CBS to fall back on in Sheriff Country. The first season of Sheriff Country wrapped up earlier this year on CBS, and after picking up a Season 2 renewal, the network has already confirmed that the Baccarin-led procedural is coming back for Season 2 starting October 9. The premiere is getting an extra-special dose of love, also, as it was announced this afternoon on Instagram that Ben McKenzie, Baccarin’s real-life husband, will also play a key role in the first episode of Sheriff Country Season 2. This will be something of an on-screen reunion for Baccarin and McKenzie, who previously starred together in several episodes of the DC series, Gotham, which ran for five seasons between 2014 and 2019.
What Is ‘Sheriff Country’ About?
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- Image via Darren Goldstein/CBS
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Image via Darren Goldstein/CBS -
Image via Darren Goldstein/CBS -
Image via Darren Goldstein/CBS -
Image via Darren Goldstein/CBS -
- Image via Darren Goldstein/CBS
The first season of Sheriff Country follows Mickey Fox, a straight-shooting sheriff, as she runs the small rural town of Edgewater, California. Together, Mickey and her stepsister, Cal Fire’s division chief Sharon Leone, must balance the demands of law enforcement with the complexities of motherhood, community politics and a past that won’t stay buried. Sheriff Country is a spin-off of another enormously popular CBS show, Fire Country, which was written and created for TV by Max Thieriot, who also stars as Bode. Matt Lauria and W. Earl Brown also star in Sheriff Country as Nathan Boone and Wes Fox.
Check out the first season of Sheriff Country on Paramount Plus and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Season 2, which is coming soon to CBS.
- Release Date
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October 17, 2025
- Showrunner
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Matt Lopez
Las Vegas welcomed a different kind of competition this past weekend when Mister USA brought some of the country’s most charismatic contenders to Sin City to compete for the coveted title. The event put male pageantry, style, and confidence center stage, with contestants representing their states and showcasing their personalities and talents behind the sashes.
Mister USA Finals were held on Sunday evening at The Portal at AREA15, just a few minutes off the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. Not only was The Blast in attendance for the event, but we were also one of the judges.
During an exclusive chat with Jino Cabrera, CEO & President of Mister USA & Mister Universe Organization, he explained why they decided to bring this year’s Finals to Las Vegas.
“We’ve hosted it in LA the last two years, so this is actually our third year for Mister USA. Mister USA has become bigger, more exciting, more diverse, and truly entertainment driven. [Las Vegas] is one of the entertainment capitals of the world and people come here expecting to experience something memorable,” he told The Blast exclusively.
“So for Mister USA, we’re building more than a traditional pageant, we’re creating a national entertainment platform that celebrates the modern man from across the country, their stories, ambitions, confidence, individuality, and purpose and bringing that vision to Las Vegas felt like the perfect next chapter for us.”
The First Two Years Were Held In Los Angeles
Cabrera felt The Portal was the perfect venue for the Finals because it has a different feel than a traditional pageant venue. The space gives the event the ability to combine many facets, such as fashion, competition, and visual production” into one experience.
“We want audiences to walk in and feel like they’re attending a major entertainment event, not simply sitting in a ballroom watching a pageant,” Cabrera said. “So the venue really reflects where we believe men’s pageantry is heading.”
The Blast Was Asked To Judge The Mister USA Finals
When Mister USA organizers asked if I would consider being a judge, I thought it could be a fun experience. I was planning to be there to cover it for The Blast, so why not get a little more involved?
While they couldn’t possibly know, I have a past that included pageants. I was a contestant in a Miss Arizona pageant in the early ’90s, I judged a children’s pageant that was run by one of the moms from the show “Toddlers and Tiaras” over a decade ago, and I had done some modeling and walked in fashion shows in my early 20s. So, this opportunity wasn’t just fun, but it was nostalgic for me on so many levels.
Judging is not easy; at least for me. I’ve judged a few competitions in my time, and it doesn’t ever get easier in my eyes. Listening to everyone’s stories, because they all have a story of what led them to this moment, makes this process even more difficult. But I will say this…listening to so many stories that include how they got to this point is inspiring.
Mister USA 2026!
The competition was tough, but the judges were able to narrow it down from 23 contestants to 12 before ultimately crowning the winner. After scoring them all in three categories — personal interview, swimwear, and formal wear — it was time to tally the votes.
Drumroll please…introducing Mister USA 2026 – Mister Tennessee (Jaydon Kanipe) in first place and Mister Nevada (Colin Walling) in second place!
Mister USA 2025 (Michael Chadwick) will be competing in this year’s Mister Universe competition in Los Angeles in November, and this year’s winner will be doing the same next year.
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