One of the best shows of the crime genre right now also happens to be a hidden gem: Sweatpea. Created by Kirstie Swain, the series follows the dark descent of Rhiannon Lewis (Ella Purnell), a young woman who trades a mundane life for a desire to commit murder. For valid reasons, of course. Based on the novel by CJ Skuse, the 6-episode drama follows Rhiannon as she navigates her everyday life, traumatic bullying, work woes, and mounting stress until she suddenly snaps and her suppressed rage takes control. Filled with cheeky dark humor to cover the bloodshed, Sweetpea subverts genre tropes about who is seen as a potential suspect and the motives behind the crimes; the series forces its viewers to assess morality once they comprehend Rhiannon’s mindset. With Season 2 coming in November, there’s no time like the present to binge this dark thriller.

‘Sweetpea’ Is a Profound Character Study of Ella Purnell’s Rhiannon

Sweetpea is a brilliant psychological study of a woman who finally takes control in the darkest way possible after a lifetime of feeling invisible and ignored. From the jump, Rhiannon starts the series off on the wrong foot. Her father, Tommy (David Bark-Jones), passes away early in the show. And with him dead, her sister, Seren (Alexandra Dowling), decides she wants to sell their childhood home — where Rhiannon also lives. To make matters worse, Seren hires Rhiannon’s high school bully, Julia Blenkingsopp (Nicôle Lecky), as the real estate agent. Her dismissive boss, Norman (Jeremy Swift), literally sees her as a coat rack and refuses to promote her. This all culminates in a moment when she snaps and kills a stranger, but with the knowledge of her suffering, one might understand where that murderous urge comes from.

With a satirical twist, Sweetpea takes you on Rhiannon’s journey of trauma and revenge without feeling entirely guilty. Her dark, destructive path is not warranted, but the lingering trauma that Rhiannon faces makes her decisions make sense. The bullying she endured from Julia in the past still hurts her, but Julia refuses to acknowledge it. It all makes Rhiannon’s desire for revenge a driving force that we can understand, if not fully get behind.

Purnell is on a much different crusade than her character on Fallout. While Lucy MacLean is, at her core, a good person who is just trying to survive out in the Wasteland, Rhiannon is fueled by bitter and repressed revenge. Her character is out for blood and will stop at nothing for vengeance. Sweetpea showcases Purnell’s immense range. While in any other show, Rhiannon would be the primary antagonist, Purnell is able to turn her into a complicated antihero, someone who flips from a mousy office worker to a terrifying murderer.

‘Sweetpea’s Cast of Characters Reflect Rhiannon Directly

Perhaps the greatest mirror in the story is the one between Rhiannon and Leah Harvey (Marina Farrar), the junior detective who is the only person who suspects Rhiannon. Each episode, sans one, opens with a voice-over detailing Rhiannon’s list of who she’d like to kill like a modern Arya Stark. The one episode that shifts the perspective gives us Leah’s perspective and her voice-over. In her voice over, we see that Leah is not that different from Rhiannon, making her a strong foil to the protagonist. They have a distinct cat-and-mouse game: Leah is analytical and logical, while Rhiannon acts on pure emotion. But despite Leah’s deductive skills, it’s Rhiannon who continues to come out on top, making the role reversal in this story exceptionally engaging.

Beyond her connection to Leah, Rhiannon and Julia’s relationship is the most fascinating to watch on screen. From a bully and victim dynamic to individuals who are forced to depend on one another, it becomes clear that there are more similarities between the two women than there are differences. Things get more complicated when you throw romance into the mix. Craig (Jon Pointing) is a one-night stand-turned-casual romantic partner who is easily swayed by other women. Meanwhile, AJ Pierce (Calam Lynch) is Rhiannon’s new co-worker, who seems to be the perfect guy for her, but letting him in becomes a fatal flaw. Sweetpea delivers everything you want in a thriller series, and it does it on a short timeline. With only 6 brisk episodes, Sweetpea is a must-watch for lovers of crime dramas, and now is the time to catch up on Rhiannon’s story before Season 2 premieres later this year.

Sweetpea is available to stream on Starz.

Chris “CT” Tamburello‘s estranged wife, Catalina White, subtly shaded her ex after he debuted his romance with Traitors costar Phaedra Parks.

“I genuinely wish Chris well in whatever relationship or career he chooses to pursue. I’m not interested in commenting on whether his new relationship is real, for publicity, or anything in between,” White told Us in a statement on Monday, September 7. “What I would like is for him to put the same energy into ending our marriage that he’s putting into publicly promoting his new relationship.”

Tamburello and White tied the knot in October 2024 and separated earlier this year. Us confirmed that White filed for divorce in Miami-Dade County, Florida, in January. According to court docs obtained by Us, White stated that her and Tamburello’s marriage was “irretrievably broken.” She initially asked the court to divide her and Tamburello’s assets “equitably” and requested that neither party pay alimony.

“I filed for divorce in January. I never wanted to withdraw that case, but I felt pressured by Chris to do so,” White alleged. “Then, after I withdrew my filing, he turned around and filed himself — only for the case to continue dragging on for months. Since then, I’ve been trying to finalize this divorce. My counsel has made repeated efforts to move things forward as quickly as possible, and we continue to wait for his cooperation.”

White added that she is not interested in The Challenge star’s money since she has a successful career of her own.

“I am one of the top earners on OnlyFans. I support myself, I have my own career, and I do not — and never did — need or want money from this man. I’m not asking for anything from him other than his cooperation in finalizing our divorce,” she continued. “Contrary to popular belief, I don’t want his money. I don’t want to interfere with his life or mine. I want the same thing I wanted when I filed in January: to end this marriage and move forward with my life.”

White concluded her message saying that “if Chris is ready to publicly move on, he should be ready to legally move on too. Sign the papers!”

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Earlier this month, Parks revealed that she and Tamburello were an item two years after they competed on The Traitors season 2, which aired in 2024. During an appearance on SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live, the Real Housewives of Atlanta star confirmed to host Jeff Lewis that she’d “been out” with Tamburello a few times. She also teased that he was going to be her date to the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Related: Inside ‘Challenge’ Star CT Tamburello and OnlyFans Model’s Divorce

The Challenge star CT Tamburello and OnlyFans model Catalina White are divorcing less than two years after privately tying the knot. Court documents obtained by Us Weekly confirmed that White, 40, quietly filed for divorce in Miami Dade County, Florida, on January 9, stating in her petition that the marriage was “irretrievably broken.” She asked […]

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After news of Tamburello and Park’s relationship status made headlines, White was quick to react. She responded to a news post about the new couple by writing, “sign the papers,” referring to her and Tamburello’s ongoing divorce.

Prior to his marriage to White, Tamburello was married to ex-wife Lilianet Solares from 2018 to 2023. The exes share a 10-year-old son. Tamburello was also in an on and off relationship with his late The Challenge costar Diem Brown before her death in 2014 following a battle with cancer.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce recently went out on a date in New York City over the weekend, marking their first public night outing since their wedding at Madison Square Garden in July.

The newlyweds were spotted on arrival at Ambassadors Clubhouse, the Punjabi restaurant in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood, where they spent the evening.

The dinner comes as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are settling into life as a married couple while balancing their already demanding professional careers.

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Swift and her brand-new husband were seen walking hand in hand into the Ambassadors clubhouse on their first reported night out following their high-profile wedding.

As seen in photos obtained by Page Six, the newlyweds captured everyone’s attention and showed off their style during the Manhattan outing.

Swift looked stunning in a metallic brown Stella McCartney halter dress that showed off her shoulders, with gorgeous bronze metallic shoes to match.

She accessorized her look with an opal ring and bracelet, which the publication says was a Christmas gift from her husband.

Kelce, on the other hand, was caught in a white silk striped shirt with brown chinos and checkered Vans.

See the sizzling images here.

The Couple Had Classic Indian Cuisine During Their Date Night

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People Magazine shared some more information about Kelce and Swift’s date night in NYC.

A source told the publication that the pair spent the evening in the company of two men and enjoyed classic Indian cuisine in the restaurant, ordering “a variety of classics from the menu.”

The outing offers a fresh new look into the couple’s relationship two months after their star-studded wedding in July.

The couple’s relationship was first confirmed in 2023 with Kelce revealing that he’d never dated anyone with Swift’s “aura.”

According to ABC, Kelce opened up about embracing Swift’s life as a very public figure, saying he wasn’t “running away from any of it.”

The pair started “showing up for each other,” with Swift going to Kelce’s games and the Kansas City tight end attending her shows.

More About Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Love Story

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In February 2024, the couple celebrated the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win with Swift saying loudly, “I cannot believe that. I can’t believe you. How did you do that?”

The couple were spotted together at various locations, including Kelce’s surprise appearance at one of Swift’s Eras Tour stops in London that year, where he lifted the pop star off the stage and later was pleased with himself that he didn’t disappoint her.

In August 2025, the couple announced their engagement in a joint Instagram post with Swift writing, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”

They would subsequently get married in July 2026, and Kelce described the wedding as the most memorable night of their lives.

The Outing Comes After The Couple’s Historic MSG Wedding

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Swift and Kelce exchanged vows at Madison Square Garden on July 3. Dozens of A-listers were in attendance among a reported one thousand guests.

According to the BBC, famous comedian and actor Adam Sandler, who’s a huge fan of Swift’s music, officiated the ceremony.

Her brother Austin Swift served as the pop star’s “man of honor,” and Kelce’s brother Jason Kelce stood as his best man.

The couple wore Christian Dior Haute Couture designed by Jonathan Anderson, the creative director of women’s, men’s, and haute couture collections at Dior, who reportedly worked “in close collaboration” with Swift and Kelce.

Journalist George Stephanopoulos is one of the guests who has directly spoken about the wedding, saying it looked like a “garden inside the Garden.”

He added that the nuptials were “so beautiful” and was impressed that “a place that big and a wedding with such stars could feel so personal and so intimate.”

For Kelce, the wedding was the “best night” of his life. On the “New Heights” podcast, which he hosts along with his brother Jason, he described the night as one he and Swift would “never forget.”

Travis Kelce And Taylor Swift Are Juggling Their Demanding Careers

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Swift and Kelce’s dinner is perhaps a respite before what appears to be a very active period for the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end.

Kelce is preparing for the start of another NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs, with the team’s season opener against the Denver Broncos scheduled for September 15.

The “Shake It Off” singer, on her part, has continued working on her music following the conclusion of her world-famous Eras tour.

Swift returned to the top spot on the U.S. Country Radio Chart with her “Toy Story 5” track “I Knew It, I Knew You”. The song became her first No. 1 song on the chart in 13 years.

The couple’s latest outing serves as a little glimpse into how they intend to manage their relationship while navigating their demanding football and music careers.

When it comes to detective shows, it’s a genre that’s been explored time and time again. From grittier versions like True Detective to more mind-bending puzzle ones like Sherlock or High Potential, TV has reminded audiences time and time again how satisfying it is to see a crime or murder take place, and retrace steps until it’s solved, and the people responsible are behind bars.

But while there’s no shortage of the genre on TV, there are few detective shows that lasted longer than ITV’s Poirot. First aired in January 1989, the beloved series, which ran for 13 series and 24 years, brought to life one of Agatha Christie‘s most beloved crime sleuths, and entertained millions with its episodic cases. But as a new about Poirot series gets announced (more on that later), Poirot’s stellar final episode continues to be worth remembering, and celebrating.

The Last Episode of ‘Poirot’ Marked a Major Shift

The last episode of Poirot, aka Series 13, Episode 5, titled “Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case,” ended the series with a memorable, perhaps even frustrating twist. After watching David Suchet’s Poirot expose murderers and insist on the importance of justice for more than two decades, the series ends by giving him a case that destroys the moral certainty he held so highly. The episode presents him with a suspect, Stephen Norton, who, instead of being a traditional criminal and killer, has been psychologically manipulating people and making them into killers. When Poirot connects the dots and traces the killings to Norton, he realizes he’s facing one of his most frightening opponents to date: someone who has others commit murders for him, leaving him entirely unscathed. Poirot then knows of Norton’s guilt and involvement, but has virtually no evidence to stop him.

As examples (and bodies) of Norton’s antics continue to pile up, Poirot, frustrated by his powerlessness, and adamant that Norton will continue to cause harm, believes he has no choice than to stop him himself. As a result, while perhaps going against the unwavering, morally firm and rule-following persona he’s been in the past 13 seasons, Poirot becomes a murderer himself. He concocts a plan and kills Norton in cold blood, making his final victory the darkest and most morally unsettling case of the entire series. After that, the series ends with Poirot killing himself in an act of self-sacrifice, unsure whether saving future victims justified what he did.

There’s a New Poirot Series Coming Soon

Image via Britbox

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While the ending of Poirot certainly finished the series on a memorable and character-ending note, the beloved Christie character will be returning to screens. As announced by the BBC last month, the studio is working on a new series titled Hercule, which will see Edward Bluemel, known for My Lady Jane and Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, as a younger, more naive Hercule Poirot in his formative years as a young detective. The series, which started filming this summer, will “take a magnifying glass” into three of Christie’s most celebrated stories, including 1933’s Lord Edgware Dies. “I feel very lucky to have been trusted with such an iconic character who has been played by so many great actors,” Bluemel said in the series announcement on BritBox. “I can’t wait to continue Hercule’s legacy.”

With all that said, while Agatha Christie’s hero Hercule Poirot will certainly continue to be adapted to the big and small screen time and time again, David Suchet’s version in the long-running series Poirot is one of the most notable onscreen versions. With 13 incredible seasons, and a finale that was as shocking as it was entertaining, the series solidified itself as one of the best detective shows of all time. The upcoming BBC series Hercule certainly has some big shoes to fill.

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Release Date

1990 – 2013-00-00

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ITV1

Directors

Andrew Grieve, Edward Bennett, Renny Rye, Brian Farnham, Andy Wilson, Ashley Pearce, Richard Spence, Andy Wilson, Andrew Piddington, Hettie Macdonald, John Bruce, Ross Devenish, Charles Palmer, Peter Barber-Fleming, Dan Reed, David Moore, James Kent, John Strickland, Ken Grieve, Paul Unwin, Peter Lydon, Sarah Harding, Simon Langton, Tom Clegg

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Writers

Anthony Horowitz, Nick Dear, David Renwick, Guy Andrews, Douglas Watkinson, Kevin Elyot, Mark Gatiss, Andrew Marshall, Stewart Harcourt, Michael Baker, Bill Craig, David Pirie, David Reid, Peter Flannery, Philomena McDonagh, T.R. Bowen, William Humble, Ian Hallard, Russell Murray, Rod Beacham

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• 
• 

  David Suchet

  Hercule Poirot

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Jack Doherty built an online empire by provoking strangers, staging confrontations, and pushing pranks to their limits, but a former classmate now claims his troubling behavior began long before fame. The 22-year-old YouTuber was recently arrested in Florida on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge, adding another legal controversy to a career shaped by increasingly outrageous stunts. As questions surround his latest arrest, people from Doherty’s past are speaking out about his alleged conduct at school and behind the scenes of his content business.

Doherty grew up in Sea Cliff, New York, where he reportedly lived with his family in a four-bedroom home valued at approximately $1.2 million. He began attracting an audience at 13 by sharing trampoline stunts, hockey trick shots, prank calls, and other seemingly harmless videos.

As his following grew, one former classmate claimed that Doherty began treating his school, teachers and fellow students as sources of content. “He was a menace,” the former classmate told the Daily Mail.

By 15, Doherty was producing videos about skipping school, pretending to drop out and staging confrontations with people presented as bullies. The classmate claimed Doherty’s “massive ego” fueled his desire for internet fame and left other students concerned that they could become his next target. “Kids were afraid of him because he could turn his camera on you at any time,” the former student alleged.

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Mother Accuses YouTuber Of Mocking Vulnerable Students

A mother whose child attended school with Doherty made an even more disturbing allegation about his teenage behavior. Both the mother and former classmate claimed Doherty filmed students with learning difficulties and used the footage to mock them.

“It was terrible. He was absolutely awful. And I think everyone was afraid in some respects to be in the line of fire with him,” the mother told the Daily Mail. “He was really a bully, a mean kid.”

The allegations have not been independently substantiated, and Doherty did not respond to the Daily Mail’s requests for comment. However, the claims suggest that his confrontational online persona may have developed while he was still in school.

That same willingness to turn uncomfortable encounters into entertainment eventually helped Doherty accumulate nearly 30 million followers across his social media platforms.

McKinley Richardson Says She Felt Pressured To Join OF

Doherty’s former girlfriend, model and content creator McKinley Richardson, has made similar allegations about her experience with his business. The pair began dating in late 2023. Richardson claimed she was pressured to join OF despite being raised in a Christian household.

According to Richardson, Doherty introduced her to members of his management team who told her the platform could make her wealthy. “They said my parents would get over it when they saw how much money I’d make,” she told the “Clock It Podcast.”

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Richardson also alleged that she felt her future with Doherty could be threatened if she refused to become involved in the business.

Their relationship eventually became part of Doherty’s online content. In November 2024, they staged a fake wedding ceremony in Las Vegas. During the ceremony, Doherty announced that Richardson would receive nothing if they divorced, even if he cheated. He also claimed she would owe him $10 million if she was unfaithful.

After their 2025 breakup, Richardson described the experience as “humiliating.” Doherty has denied her allegations.

YouTuber Arrested On Domestic Battery Charge

Doherty’s latest legal problem began when Fort Lauderdale police responded to a reported domestic dispute at a Florida residence on Friday. Authorities said Doherty and an unidentified woman were involved in a physical altercation inside the home. Police said the woman was not injured.

Doherty was arrested and booked into the Broward County Main Jail on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge, according to Fox 6. A source close to the influencer claimed that Doherty acted in self-defense. Few details about what allegedly occurred before police arrived have been released.

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A magistrate reportedly found probable cause and set Doherty’s bond at $1,000. He was also ordered to have no contact with the woman. The probable-cause finding allows the case to proceed but does not represent a determination of guilt.

Jack Doherty’s Previous Arrest Ended Without A Conviction

The domestic battery arrest came less than a year after Doherty was detained by Miami Beach police in November 2025. Police accused him of blocking traffic while filming content and repeatedly refusing orders to move. Officers also reported finding amphetamine and marijuana during a subsequent search.

Doherty faced charges that included possession of a controlled substance and resisting an officer without violence. He later entered a pretrial diversion program. According to court-record reporting, he completed its requirements by May 2026, and the case ended without a conviction.

The outcome of that case does not affect the new domestic battery allegation, which will proceed separately.

For years, controversy has been a central part of Doherty’s brand and a reliable source of views. His growing list of legal problems and allegations, however, could force a court to examine where staged provocation ends and real accountability begins.

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Lizzo opened up about one of the darkest periods of her career.

The “Truth Hurts” hitmaker recalled feeling as though her “life is over” when the public perception around her dramatically changed. On top of that, her latest album “B-TCH” missed the Billboard Top 20.

Lizzo’s rise had been extraordinary, with “Truth Hurts” eventually reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after initially being released years earlier.

Lizzo discussed the emotional toll of the backlash during her appearance on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast. She said she had not fully realized how famous she had become because she still felt like an ordinary girl from the Twin Cities.

At the same time, everything she was doing had become news, from her clothing line and television work to touring and releasing music. She explained that she had been going “full throttle” as her career thrived.

Lizzo recalled that her album was doing extremely well, even though she was not paying close attention to its success at the time. That period of success made the backlash that followed feel even more shocking. In her words:

“The world stopped f-cking with me. I was like, ‘Whoa, this feels like my life is over.’”

The Singer Learned To Find Herself Again

After her “Special Tour” ended, Lizzo said the hatred directed toward her felt different from the smaller waves of negativity she had experienced before. Lizzo said she genuinely believed she had been moving through her career with an open heart and did not expect everything to change so dramatically.

The singer admitted that she wondered whether she should “cease to exist” because the situation became so heavy. The 38-year-old said she eventually had to find herself again as a person rather than defining herself through her career. She explained that knowing who she is, rather than focusing only on what she does, felt freeing.

Apple Podcasts lists the September 7 episode of “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard” as a conversation covering Lizzo’s relationship with fame, success, and the emotional impact of public criticism.

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Lizzo Says Her Failed Album ‘Hurt’ Her

Lizzo’s emotional struggles also came as she faced a difficult response to her latest album, “B-TCH.” The project released on June 5 failed to produce a significant hit and missed the Billboard Top 200. The album reportedly sold fewer than 3,000 copies in its first week, a sharp contrast to her previous projects’ success. 

The singer admitted that the album’s performance affected her deeply. During an appearance on the “Proto Pop” podcast, she said it hurt her feelings and left her stressed and sad because she believed the project contained some of her best work. She also acknowledged that the music industry had changed over the previous three years and that her connection with audiences had changed with it.

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Lizzo said she noticed her presaves were much lower than expected and responded by personally pushing the project, including hanging posters and connecting with people. Even after meeting her presave goal, the first-week results failed to match her expectations.

She described that experience as “soul-crushing” and revealed that SZA called to check on her, prompting Lizzo to ask whether she was a failure. Despite the setback, she later confirmed she returned to the studio and insisted the “B-TCH” era was not over, according to The Blast.

The ‘Juice’ Hitmaker Previously Clapped Back At Body Shamers

The iconic singer has also pushed back against internet users who made jokes and insensitive comments about her body. Her message was simple: “Mind Your Business.” She urged people not to shame others for their personal choices. 

Lizzo encouraged fans to protect their peace of mind and avoid negative energy from naysayers. In an Instagram post, she said any body changes she made were completely her business and decision. This included everything from losing 100 pounds to undergoing a BBL.

The Grammy Award winner also disclosed that overwhelming external pressure briefly led her to turn to Ozempic during her weight-loss journey. She later chose a more natural approach involving dieting and intense cardio workouts. The singer also invested in skincare and dental work to feel more comfortable in her skin overall.

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How Lizzo Embraces Sobriety 

The singer revealed she had gone two months without alcohol as she continued pursuing a healthier routine. The update followed an intentional weight-loss journey that began in 2023, during which she reportedly lost 60 pounds.

She had previously stopped drinking for the longest period of time in her life before eventually returning to alcohol because she felt she had “earned it.”

By April 2026, she was again documenting her decision to stay away from alcohol. Her changes also included adjustments to her diet and fitness routine. Lizzo previously revealed that her routine included training three times a week, daily sauna sessions, and cardio.

She cut sugary Starbucks drinks, potato chips, and full-fat sodas, hired a chef to help with meal prep, and added animal protein back into her diet. 

She also stays active with pickleball, hiking, long walks, and dancing, and she makes hydration part of her routine. “I’m not going to lie and say I love my body every day,” Lizzo explained. She acknowledged that her feelings about her body change daily, with some days bringing more appreciation than others. 

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It’s a long fall from Bradley Cooper’s beloved directorial debut of A Star is Born to his latest project, Is This Thing On? On its surface, it looked like it could be exciting and new—how many movies are there about stand-up comedy, after all? But what initially seems like another promising Cooper directorial project falls pretty flat upon watching.

Shrouded by the plot point of stand-up, this is pretty much your basic “rediscovering purpose in middle age” story. You’d think with such a tired narrative, Cooper would’ve at least made an effort to portray stand-up authentically, or have some captivating characters you can’t help but fall in love with. But nope—he didn’t do any of that.

Sadly, even Will Arnett, Laura Dern, and Peyton Manning (yes—Peyton Manning) couldn’t save this one.

There’s Nothing New in ‘Is This Thing On?’

Image via Searchlight Pictures

This movie really has nothing new going on. You might be initially intrigued by the plot of a guy going through a divorce (Alex, played by Will Arnett) getting involved in the New York comedy scene, but once you actually press play, that feeling doesn’t linger.

The idea of a man trying stand-up is old news at this point. Stand-up is arguably at its peak right now—with the significant increase in Netflix’s stand-up comedy portfolio, along with clips of crowd work often going viral on social media, there are more avenues than ever for people to be successful at stand-up. And who typically believes they’re funny enough to try stand-up? Men. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, but the problem is this: most men (and just people in general) are not funny enough to do stand-up. So what we’re left with is a bunch of dudes talking at us through a microphone, thinking what they’re saying is clever and interesting, when it’s just unoriginal and tasteless.

In Is This Thing On? the protagonist, Alex, isn’t any different, and he doesn’t get a free pass just because he’s separating from Laura Dern (who plays Tess). Put the mic down and go home to your kids, Alex.

‘Is This Thing On?’ Portrays Stand-Up Inaccurately

Image via Searchlight Pictures

One aspect of this movie audiences might look forward to, especially if you’re a stand-up comedy fan, is the portrayal of the endlessly fascinating and complex stand-up scene (especially in New York City, where this film is set). Sadly, this is another area where Cooper lets us down.

Alex’s first time doing stand-up goes unbelievably well. After putting his name down on the open mic list just so he doesn’t have to pay a cover to drink at the bar, Alex’s name is called, and he saunters onstage with no plan, no bits, not even a joke or two scribbled on a cocktail napkin. Despite all this, he gets laughs from the crowd, most of which are far too enthusiastic for the actual “jokes” he’s telling. If you’ve ever been to an open mic, you already know you’re lucky to have an audience that’s more than just the one or two comedians going up after you, let alone a responsive audience, like the one Alex performs for the first time.

The supportive, tight-knit community feel of the stand-up scene in this movie is sweet—it’s also not true. Sure, it’s conceivable that some friendships can be formed doing stand-up comedy, but other comedians smiling at you after your first-ever set, telling you how great it was and asking you to stay and have a drink with them is just usually not what happens. Veteran comics are generally wary of novice comics, either looking down on them or ignoring them entirely because they expect they won’t stick around long anyway. This is probably even more so the case for the New York stand-up scene, where the competition is that much more intense.

The best thing that comes of the whole stand-up subplot are the appearances of Dave Attell and Jordan Jensen (Jordan, if you’re reading this, this review is nothing against you, you’re perfect). Still, both of them are barely in it, so that should tell you something.

There Are No Likable Characters in ‘Is This Thing On?’

Image via Searchlight Pictures

With all of this failure to meet expectations, you’d think Cooper would at least create characters who were either so likable or interesting you couldn’t help but care about them. Sadly, none of these characters are that.

Alex feels like a copy-and-paste archetype of a guy experiencing middle-aged malaise who needs to discover his zeal for life again, and his wife Tess is pretty much the female version of this. Maybe she’d be more interesting if her storyline got a little more attention, but again, this is a story very much interested in the man’s side of things, so we don’t get to know Tess nearly as well as Alex.

Then there are the supporting characters. Cooper himself plays “Balls,” an arrogant, obnoxiously outgoing actor. He and his wife Christine (Andra Day) are close friends of Alex and Tess, and towards the end of the film, the tables are turned, and it’s revealed there’s a bit more going on below the surface of their relationship. You might see why Cooper would want to incorporate another couple into the story—it’s a way to show how Alex and Tess interact not only with each other, but with other people, and how that changes over the course of the movie as their relationship evolves—but it’s a bit less effective when the characters are insufferable. Balls is an attention-hungry, selfish jerk, and Tess is kind of judgmental and rude. It’s hard to find any reason to care about either of them. There are a few others within the friend group, but even the smaller ones seem utterly unlikable and pretentious.

Although the stage might’ve been set for a killer of a story, Cooper’s Is This Thing On? flops in every way. Is it funny? Not really. Is it heartfelt? Barely. Is the best part Jordan Jensen’s five minutes of collective screen time? Absolutely (seriously, Jordan, you’re perfect and we love you).

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December 19, 2025

Runtime

121 minutes

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Pala Negara has announced the tragic death of her newborn son.

“Creating life with the love of my life has been the most profound healing journey I could have never imagined being written into our journey,” the model wrote via Instagram on Sunday, September 6. “Growing life for nearly 10 months, growing our family, falling so deeply in love in a union that was always destined to be, falling in love with the life we have created for our family, birthing life, and then birthing death has been incomprehensible.”

The former Ex on the Beach star added that her “body feels broken” and “aches” for her baby with partner Chris Hunter.

“I don’t think we will ever know how to move through this heartbreak,” she wrote. “Our little boy, Harmony Hunter, due 8.8, born 28 August 2026 at 4:27 a.m. at 42 weeks and 5 days in the most powerful birth of our lives, passing peacefully in our arms at 8 p.m. that night.”

Related: Influencer Nicole Faith Announces Death of ‘Miracle’ Baby Daughter

Influencer Nicole Faith announced her infant daughter died during a stillborn delivery. “Our sweet Sunny girl has died,” Faith, 29, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, January 21. “I wish I could soften the words to make them palatable, but I cannot dull this heartache. At 8 months pregnant, on January 1st we went into the […]

Negara then thanked her friends for their support, as well as hospital staff.

“Our hearts sit in deep gratitude to our friends who have loved and cared for us this past week, to our community, to Lismore Hospital who worked tirelessly to save Harmony and treat me for Post Partum Hemorrhage, the Neo Resc team who flew to us and continued to spend hours trying to save our little boy, and to Gold Coast University Hospital who held us so deeply as we spent three nights and four days in Comfort Care as a family,” she wrote.

Negara concluded, “We will soon lay our angel to rest on Bundjalung Country where he was born, the land that has held my family and continues to hold our family. We know you will return to us again, old soul, we can feel you surrounding us, our Angel 🤍.”

The post included photos and videos from a picnic maternity shoot featuring the couple’s dog and their two older toddlers. Negara also included photos from the hospital, where they mourned their son’s death.

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Hunter also paid tribute to their late son via his Instagram Story.

“The most perfect son a dad could ever ask for. I know you will return to us,” he wrote.

Negara, a Balinese Australian model who lives in Byron Bay, Australia, appeared on MTV’s Ex on the Beach Couples: Now or Never in 2023.

We’ve got your Big Brother Veto meeting results. It is official. Barrett Pfeiffer‘s game defining move of getting out an icon is happening for certain. We’ll get into who’s likely going home out of the icons and some live feeds fun.

Even before the veto meeting, Rick Devens, Dee Valladares, and Angela Murray pretty much knew they were going to remain on the block.

Big Brother: Stickbug Barrett Pfeiffer

First, Dee is now calling Barrett Stickbug, which is a reference to Season 45 of Survivor, which she won. Also, production messed up this morning. Devens, Angela, and Barrett were sitting at the dining room table when the wrong recording played.

Instead of the get up houseguests thing, the Big Brother voice came on and played the auto-recording they play to congratulate the final three. They were surprised by the clear mistake.

Devens said whoever pushed that button I hope you have a very special day because you have to work Labor Day.” And Big Brother answered him, “Thank you very much.”

Speaking of Labor Day, the houseguests are getting a surprise from production. Barrett wondered if they’d get to watch a movie. And Devens joked it was going to be a 2-hour episode of Blue Bloods.

Looks like it’ll be a Labor Day party and Have-Nots Dee and Melody should get to eat. Plus, Melody Morris made an irate Labor Day phone call to her mom after the veto ceremony which Melody called a meeting of Clown College.

She ranted that she, “literally can’t stand Drew Campbell. I wish Mallory Aurichio was here instead of Drew.” Melody said Drew had no backbone. Then, Drew asked Melody, “Are you mad at me?”

And Melody acted like it was a real call and said, “I’m on the phone.” Later, at Drew’s request, by the way, Melody spit in his mouth. Then, he said it tasted like strawberry. It got weird when she was the meat in a Barrett and Drew sandwich in the HOH bed.

Big Brother 28: Creepy Vibes or Magic Moves?

It was bizarre. Barrett reached across Melody to touch Drew who was skeeved out. I suspect Melody’s playing them both. Barrett told Drew he has a crush on Melody because of an outfit she had on.

Drew said get in line and said those are my clothes so you like both of us. Taylor Brown chimed in that Barrett has a crush on Drew who told Barrett, just say you want both of us at the same time.

Fun on the BB28 Feeds

Also, fun on the feeds when the Ceasefire 5 talked about acting out at the veto ceremony. They talked about making little hand yapping motions. Then they joked about ending the veto ceremony with Drew kissing Barrett and Melody kissing Taylor.

Drew was laughing but said no. Barrett said he could say this veto meeting is far from over, hold up a peeled banana and two of them come take a bite off each end, then Barrett adjourns. Taylor said it should be funny something that would make the icons laugh.

But it went nowhere because of Drew. Yash Patel and Melody griped about Drew not wanting to participate in antics at the meeting. Yash and Melody said Drew’s pathetic. And Yash said he’s a wimp and said because Drew didn’t participate, they couldn’t do it.

Big Brother: Drew Gets Warned

Dee said at the veto ceremony she’s already won a game so she doesn’t care about this one. That is not good jury management. Dee’s speech was aggressive, moreso than the other two.

Apparently Drew got upset by his daddy Devens at the veto meeting. Because Devens told them they were coming for them. Sounds like the icons were rage-baiting at the meeting but Drew’s the only one really scared about it.

Melody’s mad because Drew won’t be mean to the icons this week. Melody thinks he’s spineless. But the three icons are jury votes so why burn votes you need? Drew can be weasely but Melody can be a rage monster.

So, the official veto meeting results were that Yash put the veto in the box unused. Barrett’s nominations of Devens, Dee and Angela stand and they’ll face the BB Blockbuster on Thursday.

Devens is really worried it’ll be the ropes. If it is, they can just hand it to Dee. I’m sure Devens will try but Dee’s so much more athletic and coordinated than either of them.

Big Brother 28: Attitude Attacks Ahead

Dee and Angela have also decided to be totally rude to Barrett the rest of the week. Dee says she wants Barrett “scurred” of them. After the ceremony, Dee was sunning while Angela was in the pool.

And Dee dragged her chair to a strange spot and Angela asked if it’s better sun there. Dee said, “No, it’s cause Barrett was running, I’m being petty”. She dragged it right into the spot where they do laps.

Dee also was talking some crazy about how the others are going to have nightmares every night about “everything they wished they’d done different”. Aside from Angela’s chainsaw snoring, I bet they sleep like babies.

Big Brother: Get the Ball Rolling

Also, I really liked the rolling ball HOH comp. It can be hit and miss when Big Brother adds a new comp into the mix. I hate we’re not getting slip and slide this year and may not get dizzy discs either which is a real bummer.

Hide and Go veto should be soon though. The rolling ball comp is good because it wasn’t pure luck. There was some strategy and was literally anyone’s game. You didn’t need a good memory, or strength, or endurance.

You just had to figure it out and play and Barrett did. I feel like going nearest to farthest might be best. Big Brother made some updates to the schedule and next Thursday, September 17, is a 2-hour episode so that sounds like double eviction.

Some of the houseguests are wondering if this week might be the double eviction, but it seems very unlikely. So, we’ve got Devens, Dee and Angela in the Blockbuster. Maybe they’ll save the ropes if Big Brother doesn’t want to lock in Dee for the win.

The plan seems to be to evict Devens as the most dangerous if he doesn’t win Blockbuster and Dee’s the backup target.

Prime Video’s flagship action crime show Reacher is really pulling its weight this year, topping the streamer’s TV charts for another week. Developed by Nick Santora and adapted from Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, the show stars Alan Ritchson as the titular hero, with its ongoing fourth season putting Reacher in a tricky situation involving a missing USB drive that escalates into a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of government. However, as popular as the show is, it’s hardly the only thing worth watching on the streaming platform. Here’s a look at three great shows that we think you should binge this week on Prime Video.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Prime Video.

1

‘Over the Garden Wall’ (2014)

Created by Patrick McHale and based on his animated short film Tome of the Unknown, Over the Garden Wall is an Emmy-winning animated dark fantasy adventure show. The miniseries follows half-brothers Greg (Collin Dean) and Wirt (Elijah Wood), who get lost inside a mysterious forest. While trying to find their way home, the brothers encounter several strange and fantastical creatures and are stalked by an ancient Beast. The voice cast also includes Melanie Lynskey, Christopher Lloyd, Jack Jones, Samuel Ramey, and more.

A beautifully whimsical animated masterpiece, Over the Garden Wall was highly acclaimed at the time of its release, and it’s easily one of the greatest fantasy miniseries of the 21st century. Combining imaginative storytelling with intelligent themes, a folklore-infused take on the enchanted forest motif, and excellent use of rubber hose animation, the series is a brilliant work of fantasy that’s accessible to viewers of all ages. It’s been highly praised for its character designs, voice acting, and rich atmosphere, as well as for its “cozy-creepy” vibe, making it a perfect show to watch in the fall.

2

‘Desperate Housewives’ (2004–2012)

Created by Marc Cherry, Desperate Housewives is a 2000s TV landmark. The mystery comedy-drama series stars Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, and Eva Longoria as the four titular housewives, who all live seemingly perfect lives in the same neighborhood, but behind that facade are secrets and crimes. The show also stars Nicollette Sheridan, Dana Delany, and Vanessa Williams in key supporting roles.

Desperate Housewives was a true pop culture phenomenon in its day, building a massive following over the course of its eight-season run and receiving near-universal acclaim. Praised by critics and fans alike for its narrative, dialogue, and performances, it’s an addictive and gorgeously produced drama with engaging characters and storylines, anchored by the stellar talents of its lead cast. Desperate Housewives also received several honors, including seven Emmys, three Golden Globes, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. A spiritual sequel, Wisteria Lane, is currently in development.

3

‘The Terminal List: Dark Wolf’ (2025)

Created by Jack Carr and David DiGilio, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is a spin-off prequel to DiGilio’s action thriller series, The Terminal List, based on Carr’s 2018 novel of the same name. The show stars Taylor Kitsch as Navy SEAL Ben Edwards, following him as he finds himself drawn into a risky CIA operation that pulls him steadily into increasingly morally compromised situations. Kitsch and Chris Pratt reprise their roles from the parent show, with Tom Hopper rounding out the main cast. The series also features a number of notable guest and recurring stars, including Dar Salim, Luke Hemsworth, Robert Wisdom, Rona-Lee Shimon, Michael Ealy, Betty Gilpin, and Pablo Schreiber.

The first season of The Terminal List was a lot of things, but it was decidedly not critically acclaimed. By comparison, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf had a much more favorable critical reception when it premiered on Prime Video in August 2025. Gritty and thrilling, the prequel is essentially what the parent show aspired to be, but with much better execution, and it has certainly raised expectations for The Terminal List’s upcoming second season as well.

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Release Date

August 27, 2025

Network

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Prime Video

Directors

Fred Toye, Liz Friedlander

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Writers

Max Adams

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Franchise(s)

The Terminal List

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