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‘Sister Wives’ Show Enters Unexpected Era

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Kody Brown at Red Carpet Opening of Nevada Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker

Sister Wives” fans and stars just got hit with bombshell news!

The next season of the show will not have two familiar faces on screen, as Kody Brown and his remaining wife, Robyn Brown, have said goodbye to the popular TLC series.

“Sister Wives” has been fueled by several tumultuous relationships, ranging from Kody and his three other wives, who walked out of the marriage a few years ago, to the patriarch and his older kids.

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Kody Brown at Red Carpet Opening of Nevada Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker
MEGA

It has been confirmed that the next season of “Sister Wives” will not feature two of its main characters, Kody and his only remaining wife, Robyn.

The shocking news came to light as the first trailer of season 21 of the reality TV show aired on Monday, September 14. The trailer kicked off, revealing that Kody and his wife were no longer part of the series.

“After 16 years of filming ‘Sister Wives,’ Kody and Robyn will not be returning to the show,” TLC noted at the start of the trailer. As it stands, the polygamist and his wife have maintained their silence on the issue. Neither of them was featured in the trailer, commenting on the news of their exit. 

Kody Brown’s Exit News Left His Ex-Wives Stunned

Sisterwives' Kody and Christine Brown attend opening of T-Mobile arena
Mike V / MEGA

Clips showing the reactions of Kody’s ex-wives to the news were added to the trailer, all conveying the same message of shock. “I was actually surprised when I was told that Kody and Robyn weren’t coming back to the show,” Meri Brown said 

“I was flabbergasted, really, when I got the news,” Janelle Brown added, while his first ex-wife, Christine Brown Woolley, remarked, “I don’t know what it means. I have no idea.”

As reported by PEOPLE, the “Sister Wives” clan has experienced major changes in recent years, starting with Christine’s decision to end her spiritual marriage to Kody in 2021, after six kids and 25 years of marriage.

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Shortly after, Janelle and Meri walked out of the polygamy as well. Since splitting, the women have chased love; notably, Christine married David Woodley in 2023. While two familiar faces will not be in the coming season, a new face, Pete, Janelle’s new partner, will make his debut on the show.

Kody Brown & Robyn’s Marriage Was Riding On Eggshells

General views of Kody and Robyn Brown's home at Coyote Pass in Flagstaff, Arizona on October 11, 2023.,
The US Sun/ MEGA

Earlier this year, Kody and Robyn sat down together for a “health check-up” on their relationship. During the conversation, the father of 18 revealed that he and his remaining wife were navigating through “toxic” patterns after his divorces from the three other wives.

Kody, at the time, disclosed that they were “fighting for our marriage” and for their life together. He admitted that their union had taken a low blow since going through over four years of multiple breakups.

“We go through these periods where he is back to himself, and we are like who we usually are in our relationship, and it’s really beautiful, and we’re having a great time,” Robyn, in a separate confessional, revealed. She continued, sharing that sometimes, things happen that snap Kody into being the “angry divorce guy.”

The media outlet reported that during their relationship check-up interview, Kody raised questions about whether they felt they were “the one” for each other, as they wore their emotions on their sleeves.

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The Famous Polygamist Has Washed His Hands Off Polygamy

Kody opened up last year, confessing that the rough path of his three divorces left him scarred and closed off doors to the possibility of him welcoming a new wife. 

“I had 18 kids with four wives,” he shared. “It has been three divorces, and I would never do that again, I would never marry again,” he said in a previous interview. As reported by The Blast, the Brown patriarch admitted that the breakups affected his relationship with his children, most of whom have cut communication with him.

Kody, who is now in a strict monogamous marriage to Robyn, said that he was “done” with plural marriages if his wife was on the same page. On the other hand, she explained that her only condition was that the new woman was ready to have a relationship with both of them.

‘Sister Wives’ Stars Reflected On Their Lives In Polygamy

Christine, Janelle, and Meri ended their marriages to Kody in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. In a previous interview, Meri and Janelle were candid about their ex-husband’s “big ego” and how it affected their relationship and his interactions with others.

Meri described Kody as “a little bit too cocky,” adding that despite his character, he is fun to hang out with. As The Blast shared, Janelle reiterated that she had moved on from her marriage to Kody; hence, his character issues were the least of her worries.

Later in the conversation, Janelle also gave her opinion on polygamous men. She explained that men with massive egos get into the arrangement but do not truly have what it takes to be a polygamist. Meri and Janelle also disclosed that, contrary to popular belief, they never had to compete for Kody’s affection while they were married to him. 

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What other shocking news would we see in this “Sister Wives” season?

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Ari Fletcher Reacts To “Deadbeat” Mom & Yosohn Comments

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Aht! Aht! Ari Fletcher Clocks Critics Calling Her A "Deadbeat" & Questioning What She Shares Online About Son Yosohn (VIDEO)

Ari Fletcher is not only a well-known influencer but also an entrepreneur, juggling her business and personal life. She shares her son, Yosohn, with rapper G Herbo, and the two have continued co-parenting over the years. Since the influencer lifestyle involves sharing a lot online, sometimes keeping certain moments private can spark questions. That recently became the case for Ari Fletcher after social media users began questioning why Yosohn’s back-to-school moments weren’t shared. Now, the mom is checking critics while clearing up a few things about her life as a mother! 

RELATED: Oop! Ari Fletcher Claps Back After Fan Claims She Was Bullied Into Wanting To Redo Her Teeth (VIDEO)

Ari Fletcher Explains Yosohn’s Homeschooling Arrangement

Ari recently took to social media to address folks online calling her a deadbeat. “I see y’all said I was a deadbeat. Like, y’all have to sit back, just relax,” Ari said before explaining Yosohn’s schooling arrangement. She went on to reveal that her mother, who she retired a few years back, serves as both Yosohn’s nanny and teacher. Ari explained that Yosohn is homeschooled and also participates in live lessons.

“My mom, since I retired her, is my nanny and also my son’s teacher. She homeschools him, and he also does, like, live lessons,” Ari shared.

Fletcher also praised her mother’s patience and love of education, revealing that her mother is currently pursuing her third master’s degree. She ended by expressing hope that others can eventually take care of their parents and provide them with a financially secure life.

Ari Clocks Fans Demanding To See More Of Her Son

Following the chatter about her parenting, Ari also took to X with a series of tweets defending what she chooses to share about Yosohn on social media. She initially addressed speculation about whether Yosohn lives with her, making it clear she didn’t appreciate people questioning her role as a mother.

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Ari wrote, “Are y’all really that bored, poor (yes b**** poor) and out of touch that y’all new topic is if my son is living with me? Y’all better find yall goofy b**** some to do. I’m a mom first don’t ever get this s**** confused b***. Go worry about why yall kid favorite color 4 b****.”

The influencer continued by addressing critics who questioned why she didn’t share a first day of school post for Yosohn.

She wrote, “Talking about I didn’t post my son first day of school b**** who the f*** is y’all feeling like? I don’t have to post s*** for y’all sick a**. Find y’all weird entitled no life bum a** some to do b****. When it come to my mf baby act like y’all know.”

However, one commenter pushed back, arguing that the questions were fair because Ari frequently shares other parts of her life online. The commenter wrote, “You post every part of your day on Snap. Your fans wondering why you’re posting mukbangs instead of first day grwm for Yosohn is valid.” That prompted Ari to double down, explaining that being active on social media doesn’t mean she has to share everything involving her son.

Ari responded, “MY F****** SOCIAL MEDIA IS WTF I WANT TO POST I DON’T HAVE TO POST MY 8 YEAR OLD SON GRWM B**** DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF??????? A SICK F****** B****!!!!!!!!!”

The commenter continued the exchange, mentioning other influencers who have shared back to school content and criticizing Ari’s parenting. They wrote, “You reading to argue not to comprehend… You don’t hide your son from social media & other influencers are doing school grwm rn … Just admit you would rather eat, party & fix your dentures every other day instead of being a mom.”

Ari ultimately dismissed the comparison to other influencers, making it clear their posting choices wouldn’t determine what she shares. She responded, “Idgaf what no influencers doing you gone watch wtf I say you gone watch b****.”

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Social Media Reacts

Many gathered under The Shade Room as they reacted to Ari’s latest clap back. While some agreed that people have become too invested in seeing other people’s children online, others continued questioning her parenting choices.

 

Instagram user @king_carinaa wrote, “Why y’all worried about someone posting their kid on social media… that’s odd. Y’all don’t know these people 😂😂😂”

Instagram user @1mkh.sh added, “Have yall had to get a kid ready for school in the morning? Who tf is doing a GRWM with a damn 8yr old”

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While Instagram user @totallyti_ wrote, “Yall act like it’s Yosohn when it’s Herson 😭😭😭”

Instagram user @speakingof.lo  wrote, “He must not live with her fr this was too much 😂😂”

Instagram user @sandy_m131 added, “Retiring your mom to give her two full time • jobs (nanny and teacher) is wild 😩”

While Instagram user @red.vega wrote, “The grandma the teacher & the momma 😂”

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Instagram user @_jus.jayyy wrote, “I hate to agree with her but she’s right yall be wayyyyyy to invested in celebrities lives!! Also social media isn’t a real place and be actually live real lives outside of social media

Instagram user @_lovely_dae_ added, “The thing is .. she was bashing moms about the being a “deadbeat” months ago too 😂😂😂 she don’t like when it’s done to her though”

While Instagram user @liisam0828 wrote, “Why is calling people poor her first go to? She could’ve made her point without saying that but ok go awf sis”

RELATED: All The Feels! Ari Fletcher’s Emotional Message To Son Yosohn Has The TL Reaching For Tissues (VIDEO)

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Sydney Sweeney Slammed By Female Athletes Over Nude Ad

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Sydney Sweeney at the 41st Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Virtuosos Award

Sydney Sweeney is facing a fresh wave of backlash from female athletes after appearing in a provocative advertisement for sports prediction platform Novig.

The actress appears largely nude in the commercial, using sports equipment to cover her body while promoting Novig’s sports-only market.

Sydney Sweeney has since defended the concept as a playful celebration of sports, while the controversy has also renewed discussion about celebrity involvement in prediction-market advertising.

The controversy centers on a roughly one-minute Novig commercial in which Sweeney moves through different sports settings while using equipment such as footballs, tennis gear and basketball props to cover herself.

“So they wanted to show just sports,” she says, sitting topless on top of a basketball hoop. After saying “sports” nine times, she appears topless on a pool table and adds, “You can’t trade this; I just look good here.”

The campaign repeatedly emphasizes that Novig focuses on sports rather than politics, wars, or other events.

According to Yahoo Entertainment, the actress’s involvement goes beyond simply appearing in the advertisement.

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She joined Novig as a strategic partner and equity holder, making her a direct business participant in the company behind the campaign.

The platform launched nationwide last month as a sports-focused prediction market, putting both the company and its celebrity partner under intense scrutiny.

Female Athletes Push Back Against Sydney Sweeney’s Nude Ad

Sydney Sweeney at the 41st Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Virtuosos Award
CraSH / MEGA

Athletes responded quickly, not only condemning the advertisement but also using it to highlight the excellence in women’s sport.

The strongest criticism has come from women competing at the highest levels of sport. Olympic gymnast Gracie Kramer helped set off the response by posting footage of her own training alongside a pointed comparison to the advertisement.

She wrote, “Idk what Sydney Sweeney was doing, but this is what a woman in sports looks like.”

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Other athletes quickly followed. Australian Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus described the campaign as deeply frustrating, saying she thought this type of “bullshi-t” was long gone from advertising.

“I can’t describe how infuriated I feel when I watch this,” the four-time Olympic gold medallist wrote on Instagram. “Not only is it a kick in the face to every woman who had dedicated her life to perfecting her craft, but every woman who enjoys sports for what it really is – teamwork, friendship, dedication, excellence, unity”

“How do we live in a world where monetizing a woman’s body and sexualizing women’s sport is still a thing?” she continued.

More Athletes Blast The ‘Euphoria’ Actress

Sydney Sweeney
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA

Water polo player Tilly Kearns and swimmer Lani Pallister also shared their reactions to Sweeney’s ad online.

“I absolutely f-cking hate Sydney Sweeney’s new sports ad,” Kearns wrote on Instagram, in response to the ad.

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Lani Pallister, an Australian Olympic swimmer, also posted an Instagram video documenting her training regimen, races, and awards, seemingly taking inspiration from Kramer.

Track athletes and boxers joined the discussion, using images and videos of their own careers to emphasize the physical work behind professional sport.

The Guardian reported that the athletes’ central objection was not simply Sweeney’s appearance, but the way the advertisement connects a woman’s body with the idea of sports performance.

“There’s a big difference between looking ‘sexy’ because you do sport compared to use sex to sell ‘sport,’” world champion boxer Skye Nicolson wrote in an Instagram story. “There is nothing wrong with looking good and doing sport, and there’s nothing wrong with embracing your femininity while also being a badass athlete.”

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Sydney Sweeney Seemingly Defends Her New Ad By Sharing Images Of Nude Athletes

Sydney Sweeney at 'Echo Valley' New York Special Screening
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Sweeney has not issued an official statement addressing every criticism, but her response has been visible through the campaign itself and her social-media activity.

As reported by The Blast, the actress pointed to examples of famous athletes who have previously posed for publications in revealing or nude photoshoots, including tennis legend Serena Williams.

The discussion has centered on whether female athletes can embrace sexuality without undermining their achievements.

Critics argue the context is different because Sweeney’s images market a prediction platform rather than document athletic performance.

Novig has also described the campaign as a way of presenting its sports-only identity with confidence and humor.

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The company’s partnership with Sweeney means the actress remains closely connected to both the advertisement and the business, even as criticism has spread across social media.

Another Controversy Follows Her American Eagle Ad

Sydney Sweeney at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
CraSH/imageSPACE / MEGA

The latest backlash comes after Sweeney faced a separate advertising controversy last year over her American Eagle campaign.

That promotion, built around the phrase “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” became a political and cultural flashpoint, with critics arguing that its language carried troubling implications about genetics and beauty standards.

Sweeney later acknowledged that her decision to remain quiet about that controversy had allowed divisions around the campaign to grow.

Now, the new Novig criticism has revived some of the same questions about celebrity advertising, particularly when a star becomes closely identified with the message being sold.

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As reported by Fortune, prediction-market companies are increasingly turning to major celebrities as they compete for attention and users.

Novig’s campaign arrived shortly after Polymarket used LeBron James and other major names in a football-season advertisement.

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Celine Dion Makes On-Stage Comeback After Battling Rare Illness

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Celine Dion Makes On-Stage Comeback Six Years Into Battle With Stiff Person Syndrome (VIDEOS)

She hit the high F, held it, then blew out a breath and turned to look back at the band. She seemed to give a quick glance of disbelief towards her musical director. Some 30,000 people clocked the gesture before they had finished screaming: Celine Dion did it. She’s back, several years into her battle with the rare stiff-person syndrome.

RELATED: Celine Dion Describes The Severe Impact Of Stiff Person Syndrome On Her Singing Voice

 Celine Dion Wows Fans With Comeback Concert

Since 1996, the song ‘All By Myself’ has been used to measure Celine Dion’s vocal talents. Nearly 30 years later, the Quebec superstar saved the track for the encore of her first full concert in more than six years. The performance, which happened on Saturday (Sept. 12) is her first concert since stiff person syndrome attacked her muscles, including those of the throat. The disease is rare, progressive and neurological. Few doubted Celine Dion could still sing. What nobody knew was whether she could get through a whole show, and then get up and do it again a few nights later. But Dion gave the crowd three French words: “Je vais bien,” meaning “I’m doing fine.”

Celine Dion Makes On-Stage Comeback Six Years Into Battle With Stiff Person Syndrome (VIDEOS)Celine Dion Makes On-Stage Comeback Six Years Into Battle With Stiff Person Syndrome (VIDEOS)
(Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP via Getty Images)

Singer Gets Emotional During Performance 

Celine Dion cried before she finished the first song. In a Dior gown and a Boucheron necklace, she pressed her hands together in prayer, then missed her cue in ‘On ne change pas,’ on the line about the skinny little girl from Charlemagne, Quebec.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t cry,” she said. The crowd answered by chanting the riff from ‘Seven Nation Army.’

Celine Dion On Stage Comeback Concert Battle Stiff Person Syndrome VideosCeline Dion On Stage Comeback Concert Battle Stiff Person Syndrome Videos
(AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Dion said she had learned to live with the fragility and made it her reason to keep going. Then she sang for another two hours. According to Associated Press writer Thomas Adamson, Celine’s voice has lost some of its top. He says it is not the instrument that sold 250 million albums. Every big note is now a decision she makes in front of 30,000 people, he said. Still, the singer took most of them. Her disease attacks the larynx. She went for it anyway. Dion sang ‘My Heart Will Go On’ and ‘The Power of Love,’ then Catalani’s ‘Ebben? Ne andrò lontana’

In the end, she sang 25 songs in 2 hours and 15 minutes at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, west of Paris. And the sold-out run is hectic. She’s set to perform 16 shows in five weeks. She also has 10 more booked for May 2027. 26 nights in all before tens of thousands of people each time.

What To Know Of Celine’s Disease

The 58-year-old had not played a full concert since March 8, 2020. She was diagnosed in 2022 with stiff person syndrome. She canceled a world tour, then what was left of it, and went quiet. In fact, the last time France saw her sing, it lasted four minutes. At the Olympic opening ceremony in July 2024, Dion sang from the Eiffel Tower. It was one song, one night and the world called it a resurrection. Saturday she had to do it 25 times, then get up and do it again this upcoming Wednesday.

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Stiff person syndrome affects one or two people in a million. It stiffens muscles and sets off spasms violent enough to break bones. It’s triggered by loud noise, by touch, by emotional stress. An arena holding 30,000 people is all three at once. Singing with it, Dion told NBC in 2024, felt like being strangled.

“Touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%,” she said in a statement in 2023, canceling the last of her dates.

The last thing she told the crowd on Saturday was reportedly: “I love you, my loves. Take care of yourselves.” It had taken Celine Dion 2,379 days to get back. Now, she has 25 more nights to go.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Gloss Up’s Team Shares Health Update Following Severe Foot Injury In Car Accident (PHOTOS)

Associated Press writer Thomas Adamson contributed to this via AP Newsroom. 

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Anya Taylor-Joy Officially Returns to Netflix for ‘Queen’s Gambit’ Follow-Up in 1 Month

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Chris Evans as Mike Tyler posing for photos in Sacrifice

Anya Taylor-Joy has already added well over $1 billion to her career box office total in 2026, and as the year goes along, this total is only going to grow with more new releases. Taylor-Joy headlined the first $1 billion movie of 2026 with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (co-starring Chris Pratt), but she then took her talents to streaming to star in one of the biggest Apple TV shows of the year, Lucky (co-starring Timothy Olyphant). ATJ previously starred in one of the most successful Apple TV sci-fi movies of all time in The Gorge, which is billed as a mash-up of John Wick and The Last of Us. Later this year, Taylor-Joy will return to the sands of Arrakis in Dune: Part Three, which is expected to be one of the highest-grossing movies of the year, despite opening on the same day as Avengers: Doomsday.

Although some years have passed since it was released, most fans would agree that The Queen’s Gambit is still one of Anya Taylor-Joy’s most famous projects. The show won a whopping 11 Emmys at the 2021 award ceremonies, most of which were technical awards — Taylor-Joy was nominated for her performance as Beth Harmon, but she didn’t win the award. Now six years removed from the premiere of The Queen’s Gambit, Taylor-Joy is officially returning to Netflix in one month with the premiere of Sacrifice, her new cult thriller co-starring Chris Evans. Taylor-Joy has had other movies streamed on Netflix in the last few years, but this will be the first project since The Queen’s Gambit that will only be available to watch on Netflix upon its global premiere.











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Collider Exclusive · Universe Personality Quiz
Which Iconic Universe Do You Belong in the Most?
Star Wars · Lord of the Rings · Harry Potter · Game of Thrones · Star Trek
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Five legendary universes. Five completely different visions of what the world could be — or already was. One of them is the world your instincts, your values, and your particular way of existing were built for. Eight questions will tell you which one.

🚀Star Wars

💍Lord of the Rings

🧙Harry Potter

👑Game of Thrones

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🖖Star Trek

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01

What gives your life its deepest sense of meaning?
Every universe is built around a different answer to this question.





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02

Which kind of world do you most want to inhabit?
The environment shapes who you become. Choose carefully.





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03

How do you prefer your conflicts resolved?
The shape of a world’s conflicts tells you everything about its soul.





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04

Who do you want beside you when things get difficult?
Your ideal companions reveal the world you were made for.





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05

What is your relationship with power?
How you seek, wield, or resist power is the map of who you are.





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06

How does your universe treat good and evil?
A world’s moral architecture tells you more about it than any map.





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07

What role would you naturally fall into?
Every universe has archetypes. Which one fits you without trying?





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08

What do you ultimately believe about the future?
The answer to this is the clearest window into which universe already lives inside you.





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Your Universe Has Been Chosen
You Belong In…

Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose.

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A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars

You believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast.

  • You are drawn to the moral clarity of a universe where hope itself is a form of resistance.
  • You’d find your people in the Rebellion — a ragtag coalition of true believers held together by conviction more than resources.
  • Star Wars is fundamentally a story about ordinary people choosing to matter in an extraordinary conflict — and that is exactly your kind of story.
  • The Force may or may not be with you. But the will to use it for something larger than yourself certainly is.

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Middle-earth

Lord of the Rings

You understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world’s beauty is worth protecting even at great cost.

  • Middle-earth is a world of ancient wonder, deep friendship, and a darkness that only retreats when enough small acts of courage accumulate.
  • You would thrive here because you value the fellowship more than the glory — the road more than the arrival.
  • Tolkien’s universe rewards patience, loyalty, and the willingness to carry something heavy across a very long distance.
  • Those are not burdens to you. They are simply how you move through the world.

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The Wizarding World

Harry Potter

You believe that love, loyalty, and doing what’s right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise.

  • The Wizarding World is a place of wonder hidden in plain sight, where learning is transformative and the bonds you form at school follow you into every battle.
  • You would flourish here because you take both the magic and the friendships seriously — and you understand that one without the other is incomplete.
  • Harry Potter’s universe ultimately rewards those who choose to stand for something even when standing is terrifying.
  • That choice — made quietly, without guarantee — is something you understand completely.

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Westeros · The Known World

Game of Thrones

You see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it.

  • Westeros is a world that rewards intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to understand that every alliance is also a negotiation.
  • You would survive here — possibly thrive here — because you don’t confuse the world as it is with the world as you’d like it to be.
  • Game of Thrones is a story about what happens when the idealists and the realists collide. You are sharp enough to know which one lasts longer.
  • Winter always comes. You are already prepared.

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The United Federation of Planets

Star Trek

You believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation.

  • Star Trek is a universe where the questions matter as much as the answers, and where encountering something utterly alien is cause for wonder rather than fear.
  • You would belong here because you are fundamentally optimistic about what intelligence and decency can achieve — while being honest about how hard that achievement is.
  • The Federation is the universe’s most ambitious thought experiment: what if we actually got better?
  • You don’t just hope that’s possible. You think it’s the only thing worth working toward.
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When Does ‘Sacrifice’ Come Out on Netflix?

Chris Evans as Mike Tyler posing for photos in Sacrifice
Chris Evans as Mike Tyler posing for photos in Sacrifice
Image Via Iconoclast
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Netflix has officially announced that Sacrifice will begin streaming around the world on October 16, in almost exactly one month. Additional cast members for the film include Salma Hayek-Pinault and John Malkovich, and it was written and directed by Romain Gavras with help from Will Arbery on the script. The official synopsis for Sacrifice, which holds a score of 37% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, reads as follows:

“After the fiery death of their mother, Joan (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her siblings, driven by a mysterious volcanic prophecy, believe it is their duty to cleanse the Earth. Their radical group hijacks a glamorous charity gala and takes three unlikely hostages for a sacrificial ritual: their hero, movie star Mike Tyler (Chris Evans); their villain, pragmatically cold billionaire Ben Bracken (Vincent Cassel); and their lover, an unlucky performer named Katie (Ambika Mod). As the night descends into chaos, both an inward journey and an outward adventure ensue, where the line between performance and belief, salvation and sacrifice, begins to blur.”

Check out Sacrifice on Netflix on October 16 and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Anya Taylor-Joy’s future projects.


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Release Date

October 18, 2026

Runtime

103 minutes

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Director

Romain Gavras

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Writers

Will Arbery, Romain Gavras

Producers
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Giorgos Karnavas, Gregory Jankilevitsch, Jacob Perlin, Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Robert Walak, Romain Gavras

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Catherine Zeta-Jones Swings Hard At ‘Nepo Baby’ Label

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Catherine Zeta-Jones attends Wednesday Season 2 Part 1 Global Premiere In London, UK

Catherine Zeta-Jones is pushing back against the “nepo baby” label surrounding her children and their Hollywood ambitions.

Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas have spent decades at the center of Hollywood, making their children’s career choices impossible to separate from that legacy. Their family tree also includes Michael’s father, Oscar-winning Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas.

Catherine Zeta-Jones’s children, Dylan and Carys, are the third generation connected to the entertainment industry in the family. That history inevitably makes the “nepo baby” conversation more complicated for the family. 

Catherine Zeta-Jones attends Wednesday Season 2 Part 1 Global Premiere In London, UK
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Zeta-Jones said both of her children are currently “plugging away” as they explore careers connected to their parents’ world. Dylan is 26, while Carys is 23, and both have shown interest in following the family business. The actress acknowledged that having famous parents makes forging an independent path difficult.

She believes the public can easily reduce their efforts to their family connections instead of recognizing their individual ambitions. Carys once wanted to become Amal Clooney, the human rights lawyer, before pursuing other dreams. Zeta-Jones believes her daughter should follow whatever passion genuinely drives her.

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The mother of two described “nepo baby” as a “horrific phrase” because children do not choose the families into which they are born. The Times shared that Zeta-Jones believes Dylan and Carys are “finding their own way in life.” She added that she and her husband would be the first to suggest law school if their children were not good at acting.

The Actress’s Husband Previously Defended His Family’s Hollywood Legacy

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas at
Fred Duval/MEGA

Michael has been married to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones for 24 years, with the couple sharing two children. Their children are also exploring careers in the family business, but Michael does not want their opportunities dismissed as nepotism. He believes parents naturally try to help their children succeed in whatever profession they choose.

Michael admitted that he was initially offended by the “nepo baby” conversation. He recalled a New York Magazine article from around two years ago, from the time of his comment, that discussed second-generation actors.

“I thought, how snarky,” he said, questioning why helping children enter a parent’s profession should automatically be viewed negatively. According to TimeInk, the actor also acknowledged that he is part of the same cycle himself. “I’m a nepo baby too,” he admitted. “That’s the way it goes,” he added.

His family’s Hollywood connections have not stopped him from building a career of his own. His filmography includes “The China Syndrome,” “Romancing the Stone,” “Fatal Attraction,” “Basic Instinct,” and “Traffic.”

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The ‘Nepo Baby’ Debate Extends Beyond The Douglas Family

Robert De Niro is seen out and about in Krakow, Poland
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The pressure surrounding famous children is not unique to the Douglas family. Other Hollywood families have faced the same “nepo baby” allegation.

The Blast previously reported that Robert De Niro has also pushed back against the idea that having a famous parent makes an acting career easy. He said famous performers’ children can actually face greater pressure because people watch them more closely. 

“If you don’t look like you’re really sincere about it and busting your ass and working hard, it’ll have a negative impact,” De Niro explained. De Niro’s daughter Airyn said her parents deliberately protected her from Hollywood exposure while she was growing up. She said her father was “very big on us finding our own sort of path.”

She also revealed that she spent seven years pursuing voice acting and modeling. According to Airyn, casting directors repeatedly rejected or ghosted her, and she wanted any eventual success to happen on her own merit. De Niro’s comments suggest that a famous name can create expectations that ordinary performers do not face. 

Zeta-Jones’ Son Experience In The Entertainment Industry

Dylan Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones
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Zeta-Jones’s son has built his own entertainment profile as an actor, producer, and SiriusXM host. Dylan’s recent television experience has also demonstrated the pressure that can come with the Douglas name. He appeared on CNN during a debate with Scott Jennings about the U.S. government shutdown.

Reports later claimed Zeta-Jones and Michael were furious with CNN after Dylan appeared unprepared during the discussion. A representative for Zeta-Jones denied that the couple planned to boycott the network. The representative said the family supports accurate news reporting and that Dylan himself had no reservations about appearing on CNN again.

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His career has continued across acting, producing, and broadcasting. Sources later claimed Dylan wanted to avoid platforms where he could feel exposed. One insider said CNN “really spooked him” and claimed he wanted appearances where difficult questions would not corner him.

Catherine Zeta-Jones’ Career History And Life Outside Hollywood

Catherine Zeta-Jones is all smiles waving while outside of Live with Kelly and Mark this morning in New York City
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Her early experience in Wales included dancing and singing, eventually leading her toward theater and screen acting. Zeta-Jones won a national talent contest at 10 before moving into London stage productions. She later landed a lead role in “42nd Street” at 17 after serving as the production’s second understudy.

Her early career also involved repeated rejection. By 1991, she landed a role in “The Darling Buds of May,” which made her widely recognized in the United Kingdom. Zeta-Jones described the experience as “a learning curve.” She said one hour of the show screening changed her life because she suddenly became recognized everywhere.

The actress has spent much of her adult life on the East Coast rather than building her social world around Los Angeles. She said she has “never been in L.A. schmoozing.”

Her social circle instead includes New York business people, “Wall Street” figures and people connected to the art world. She said those relationships give her a different experience from what her life might look like in Los Angeles.

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She enjoys visiting fancy houses in the Hamptons to look at art and has begun collecting pieces. She also discussed bringing $60,000 worth of Leica cameras she had collected throughout her life. The Blast shared that Zeta-Jones’ East Coast lifestyle has kept her social world away from many traditional Hollywood circles.

Catherine Zeta-Jones believes the “nepo baby” is an “horrific phrase” to be used to address her children.

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Kelly Osbourne’s Bond With Sharon Takes A Shocking Turn

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Kelly Osbourne and her family appeared more united than ever as they navigated the devastating loss of Ozzy Osbourne, but just over a year after his death, cracks are reportedly emerging behind the scenes.

The 41-year-old is said to be barely speaking to her mother, Sharon Osbourne, while her relationship with brother Jack Osbourne is also reportedly strained.

Sources claim political differences have contributed to the divide as Kelly builds a new life in the United Kingdom away from the family brand.

Kelly and Sharon Osbourne
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The reported deterioration is particularly striking considering how closely Kelly Osbourne and Sharon leaned on one another following Ozzy’s July 2025 death.

At the 2026 BRIT Awards, they clung to each other while accepting a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award for the Black Sabbath legend. Now, the Daily Mail claims they are “barely speaking,” while Kelly’s once-close relationship with Jack is also said to be strained.

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“They’re worlds apart just now in every possible sense,” a source claimed, saying Kelly is separated from Sharon and Jack “both geographically and ideologically.”

The reversal comes after a difficult grieving period for Kelly. The Blast previously reported that insiders noticed a dramatic change in her personality following Ozzy’s death.

Political Differences Reportedly Fuel The Family Rift

Sharon Osbourne looks happy as she leaves her London Hotel
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The Daily Mail‘s sources claim politics is at the heart of many of Kelly and Sharon’s recent disagreements, but Kelly has publicly confirmed only that she disagrees with some of her mother’s views.

Speaking to Attitude at the National Television Awards, Kelly addressed Sharon’s support for Tommy Robinson.

“I don’t agree. I don’t agree with my mum, no,” she said. “It’s hard because I love my mum, but I also have to understand that she’s entitled to her own opinions as well.”

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Kelly also said Sharon’s views on trans issues made her “sad,” explaining that she didn’t believe her mother knew enough transgender people to make a fair judgment.

However, she added that when she discusses the issue with Sharon privately, “she gets it.”

Kelly Osbourne Is Reportedly Breaking From The Family Brand

Kelly Osbourne at the 2026 Grammys
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The alleged tension coincides with Kelly establishing a more independent life in Britain.

She is believed to have bought a rural property in Buckinghamshire where she plans to raise her 3-year-old son, Sidney. Sharon continues to divide her time between Los Angeles and the family’s Buckinghamshire estate, where Ozzy is buried.

Kelly has also signed with Keye Talent and become a regular at British celebrity and fashion events.

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The Daily Mail claims some brands pay celebrities around £10,000 ($13,484) for appearances and that several of Kelly’s recent engagements commanded substantial fees.

“Kelly needs the money, she is going it alone now and doesn’t want to rely on family money,” a source claimed, adding that she is trying to “fend for herself.”

More From The Blast

Kelly Osbourne Is Raising Her Son After Sid Wilson Split

Kelly Osbourne at the Serpentine Summer Party 2025 Held At Serpentine Gallery In London, UK
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Kelly’s changing family dynamic follows another major personal upheaval.

She and Sid Wilson ended their engagement in March after reportedly struggling to make the relationship work. The Blast reported that the couple had been experiencing problems while Kelly was also dealing with her father’s death.

More recently, Kelly appeared to vent about her ex on Instagram, writing, “Wake up and take responsibility,” before declaring, “I’m done. I want to be happy and I have a beautiful son to raise.”

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She also asked for her dogs and possessions back and added, “Oh yeah and maybe some child support?”

Jack recently said Kelly is focusing on herself and Sidney and described his sister as being in a “happier place” while living a quieter country life.

Kelly Osbourne Is Still Navigating Her Grief

Kelly Osbourne at the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala 2025
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The reported family fracture comes as Kelly continues to speak candidly about the toll of losing Ozzy.

She recently revealed that her grief contributed to dramatic weight loss and said she didn’t initially recognize how thin she had become. After seeing herself in a photograph during a Grammy fitting, Kelly recalled thinking, “This is scary. I didn’t know I looked like this.”

The revelation adds context to months of public concern about her appearance. Kelly previously fought back against cruel body-shaming comments, with The Blast reporting that she branded one particularly vicious remark “abuse.”

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Despite the upheaval, Kelly has continued rebuilding her life. The Blast previously reported that she views dealing with her grief as a “lifetime of work.”

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Jasmine Crockett Honoring Chris Brown Sparks Fiery Backlash

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Rihanna Seemingly Addresses Baby Rumors, Talks "Little Pouch"

Over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Texas State Rep. Venton Jones made a move to honor two of R&B’s icons, Usher and Chris Brown. The singers are currently on a joint tour that’s scheduled to wrap in December. During their show at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Crockett and Jones presented the artists with Congressional Record recognitions for their contributions to music and culture. After videos of the moment swept the internet, social media users slipped into a heated, divided debate! Crockett, especially, caught heat for being a woman honoring Brown, despite his documented violent past and run-ins with the law.

RELATED: Okay! Usher And Chris Brown Extend ‘R&B’ Tour Dates And Fans Are Cuttin’ Up

Jasmine Crockett & Venton Jones Team Up To Recognize Usher & Chris Brown

Jasmine Crockett walked on stage with Venton Jones in Arlington, wearing a tied shirt, black pants and a shimmery bralette. The Texas State representative wore a striped suit jacket and slacks. Crockett engaged with the crowd on the mic as Jones stayed a few steps away. She spoke of the audience “experiencing Black Joy at the highest level.” At one point, she quoted Yung Miami, called Breezy a “real one,” and hugged him before leaving the stage.

Social Media Tears Into Crockett For Honoring Chris Brown

After the video of Jasmine Crockett and Venton Jones spread online, social media users tore into Jasmine Crockett. Despite Jones also being present, the backlash has largely focused on Crockett. She has yet to explain her thinking behind the congressional recognitions. Still, that hasn’t stopped the internet from penning think pieces about the exchange.

Meanwhile, Venton Jones, Chris Brown and Usher have also not reacted to the pointed backlash. Keep scrolling to see a little of what’s being said.

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Why Is The Internet In Shambles Over The Recognition?

As mentioned, Chris Brown’s legal issues are part of the reason social media is going off about the congressional recognition from Jasmine Crockett and Venton Jones. The most standout incident is his 2009 domestic violence case involving Rihanna. A photo following the altercation showed RiRi’s badly bruised and swollen face, including a busted lip. Ultimately, he pled guilty to felony assault and received five years of probation, community labor and domestic-violence counseling, per PEOPLE. That probation ended in 2015. Though they reportedly rekindled by January 2013, the relationship ended again months later.

In the years since that incident, Chris Brown has been arrested multiple times. There were two separate assault incidents between 2013 and 2016. He was arrested and charged in one, and arrested but not charged in the other. Then, in 2017, his ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran got a five-year restraining order against him. She testified in court that he physically abused her and made threats to kill her. He was not criminally convicted, and the probation ended in March 2015.

Additionally, Breezy has had multiple sexual assault and rape allegations that have not led to convictions. Then, earlier this year, he pled guilty to an affray charge in connection to the 2023 assault of a music producer in a London nightclub. He’s scheduled to be sentenced next month.

RELATED: Wayment! Chris Brown Reacts After Lionel Richie Takes Jab At Him & Usher Over Their ‘R&B Tour’ (VIDEO)

What Do You Think Roomies?

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Howard Stern Insists He Has ‘Never Been More Successful’

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Howard Stern at Good Morning America.

Howard Stern is addressing the controversy that followed him throughout the summer as “The Howard Stern Show” begins its new season.

The 72-year-old radio personality responded to allegations about his workplace while also pushing back against some of the reports surrounding him.

The claims against Howard Stern emerged during a critical period that included a lawsuit from a former assistant, staff cuts, and major changes to his SiriusXM program.

Howard Stern at Good Morning America.
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Stern has decided to address the negative allegations surrounding him when he returned to SiriusXM for his season premiere. Rather than completely avoiding the controversy, the broadcaster used sarcasm to acknowledge how he had been portrayed during his time away.

“I’ve never had a summer where I was treated so well in the press,” Stern joked on the Monday episode of his show, per Page Six. “It was so positive. I can’t believe it.”

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He then added, “I can’t tell you how many different people have called me a scumbag.”

Stern also denied a report claiming employees had been instructed not to speak to him during company parties. He further addressed suggestions that his wife, Beth Stern, had recently come to his defense.

According to the radio host, she was simply responding to a question about his new HBO Max arrangement rather than trying to protect his reputation.

“They interpreted it some other way,” Stern said of the coverage. “When did I ever need a defense?” He later jokingly conceded, “If you think I’m a scumbag, you’re probably right.”

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The Shock Jock Insists He Has ‘Never Been More Successful’

Howard Stern attends silver linings playbook premiere
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Speaking more about the claims surrounding his show, Stern stressed that it was his decision to drop his iconic Howard 101 channel.

According to the famous comedian, he simply no longer wanted “the responsibility” for the channel.

Stern then bragged a bit about his career in radio, labeling himself the most successful of all time.

“I’ve never been more successful. I am the most successful radio personality,” he stated. “I mean, not that that’s anything to boast. I mean, it didn’t take much effort.”

Former Assistant Accused Howard Stern And His  Wife Of A Hostile Work Environment

Howard Stern at The Ed Sullivan Theater to appear on 'The Late Show with David Letterman'
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Part of the scrutiny surrounding Stern stems from a legal dispute involving Leslie Kuhn, a former executive assistant who sued Howard and Beth in April. Kuhn accused the couple of maintaining a hostile working environment while she was employed by them.

According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Kuhn described facing “immense pressure” while overseeing the couple’s Hamptons residence. Her responsibilities also included assisting Beth with the “extensive at-home feline rescue and fostering operations,” which she didn’t particularly enjoy.

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Kuhn additionally claimed Stern’s production company, One Twelve, presented her with a nondisclosure agreement that she maintained she never signed. She alleged that the circumstances surrounding her dismissal and the NDA were created most particularly by Beth.

The dispute later produced a favorable ruling for the Sterns as the ruling judge rejected Kuhn’s allegations.  However, the workplace accusations remained among the controversies surrounding the broadcaster ahead of his show comeback.

HBO Max Contract Came At The Right Time

Howard Stern at North Shore Animal League America's 2019 Annual "Get Your Rescue On" Gala
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Amid the scrutiny surrounding his workplace and the wider changes to his radio program, Stern has secured a new opportunity with HBO Max. The agreement will allow new episodes of “The Howard Stern Show” to reach streaming viewers every Thursday.

SiriusXM described the partnership as giving Stern’s audience a deserved “seat in the studio,” allowing viewers to watch the conversations and moments they previously experienced primarily through radio.

The streaming agreement comes as Stern continues his relationship with SiriusXM under a three-year contract signed in December. At the time, he explained that the new arrangement would allow him to balance his career with a less demanding schedule.

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“I am happy to announce that I have figured out a way to have it all,” Stern told listeners when revealing the contract. He said the agreement offered him “more free time and continuing to be on the radio.”

The HBO Max expansion therefore arrives during a period of significant transition for Stern. While his SiriusXM show is undergoing major changes, the streaming partnership gives him another platform to reach his audience.

Fans Are Not Loving The New Changes To Stern’s SiriusXM Show

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Not everyone is pleased with the new direction of Stern’s show. Some longtime SiriusXM listeners have threatened to cancel their subscriptions after learning that the program would be reduced to one new three-hour episode each week.

According to a report, one listener described the idea of continuing to pay for only one fresh weekly show as “insane,” despite praising the program’s cast.

Other fans claimed on Reddit that they had already ended subscriptions they had maintained for years. However, there are currently no official figures showing how many customers have actually canceled because of the changes.

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The frustration has also been intensified by the reduction in Stern’s staff. Around a dozen employees reportedly lost their positions as the show prepared for its smaller output.

For some listeners, Stern’s desire for greater flexibility has therefore come at a cost. The combination of fewer episodes and a smaller team has left some longtime fans questioning whether their subscriptions are still worth keeping.

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The 8 Best James Ellroy Books, Ranked

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Blood's a Rover - 2009 - book cover

It’s a shame people don’t call works of noir literature “book noir” the way “film noir” is the name of a genre (or movement) when you’re talking about movies, but either way, noir books do exist. Plenty of them were adapted into film noir movies, if you’re looking at the golden age of noir fiction, yet sticking to that period a little before – and then around – the middle of the 20th century means missing out on some great neo-noir movies, and also compelling noir books.

Enter James Ellroy, whose earliest novels were published around the start of the 1980s, and whose best novels started coming out nearer to the end of the decade in question. The 1990s was also a good decade for Ellroy, and he’s had some interesting books published in the 21st century, too. His works of noir and/or historical fiction are very intense, downbeat, violent, and unpredictable, and the following books of James Ellroy’s stand as his best.

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8

‘Blood’s a Rover’ (2009)

Blood's a Rover - 2009 - book cover Image via Windmill Books

Ellroy’s Underworld USA trilogy concluded with Blood’s a Rover, which is certainly the most challenging of the three, a little like how his other well-known series ended with its most out-there entry (more on that one shortly). The first of the Underworld USA books covers 1958 to 1963, the second 1963 to 1968, and Blood’s a Rover 1968 to approximately 1972… intentionally ducking away from covering the Watergate scandal, maybe because it was too convenient an endpoint?

Ellroy’s not super interested in establishing patterns, though, and that makes Blood’s a Rover admirable and sometimes frustrating.

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Big historical events that happened in 1963 and 1968 were what the other two books, respectively, built to. Ellroy’s not super interested in establishing patterns, though, and that makes Blood’s a Rover admirable and sometimes frustrating. It’s uncompromising, at least; that can’t really be denied. It also pushes things especially far with how many of its characters are intensely unlikable, because most people here feel like they could be villains of any ordinary story, which contrasts with most Ellroy novels where you’ll have at least one prominent character who feels almost like a hero compared to everyone else. Blood’s a Rover is too miserable and cynical (even by Ellroy’s standards) for that.

7

‘White Jazz’ (1992)

White Jazz - book cover - 1992 Image via Arrow Books Ltd
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The other big series that’s inevitably going to get mentioned alongside Underworld USA, if you’re talking about James Ellroy, is the L.A. Quartet, with the first book in that quadrilogy being the one that really put him on the map, as a writer of crime fiction. White Jazz is not that first book, though, instead being the fourth and easily the densest of the bunch. Again, it’s like Blood’s a Rover and its position within the overall saga it belongs to.

The best parts of White Jazz concern some threads left hanging from earlier books in the L.A. Quartet, making it a necessary sequel if you want some closure. It’s harder to recommend in other regards, because Ellroy goes all-out on his signature style of punchy sentences and a cutting of words that only the most ruthless of editors would consider unnecessary. The result is a book that tells a story which would usually be told across 600 to 700 pages, but Ellroy does it in about 350. It’s hard to keep up, to put it mildly, but if you can manage to avoid drowning while immersed in White Jazz, it can certainly be a rewarding read.

6

‘The Cold Six Thousand’ (2001)

The Cold Six Thousand - 2001 - book cover Image via Cornerstone Digital
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The Cold Six Thousand is the second book in the Underworld USA trilogy and, what do you know, also the second-best. Narratively, this one picks up right after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, with the lead-up to that event being what the first book focused on, and then The Cold Six Thousand ends up building to two more assassinations that happened just a couple of months apart in 1968: Martin Luther King Jr.’s and Robert F. Kennedy’s.

Characters both fictional and based on real-life people are involved in various shady events that, in Ellroy’s version of this historical period, contribute to those two assassinations eventually happening. That probably sounds a bit vague, but it’s hard to go into more detail than that without dedicating countless more paragraphs. The Cold Six Thousand is almost a bit much, but it’s a stronger effort overall than Blood’s a Rover, and there is ever-so-slightly more room for things to breathe than was the case with the plot of White Jazz.

5

‘My Dark Places’ (1996)

My Dark Places - 1996 - book cover Image via Random House
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The title here is certainly not deceitful, as My Dark Places does indeed go to some incredibly dark places. There might be more by way of cynicism in some of Ellroy’s fiction, but My Dark Places, which is part memoir and part true crime, could well be the boldest of all his books. What Ellroy acknowledges while getting painfully introspective about some very traumatic events sometimes proves hard to comprehend.

My Dark Places is about the murder of James Ellroy’s mother, Geneva “Jean” Ellroy, which happened when he was only 10 years old, detailing the aftermath and how it shaped Ellroy’s life and outlook on the world. Much of it also concerns his efforts, nearly four decades later, to assist in solving the murder (unsolved since 1958), desperate for any sort of closure. My Dark Places is beyond striking, as far as memoirs go, and very much worth reading, as long as you’re prepared for at least some of the heaviness you’re in for through the act of picking it up.

4

‘The Big Nowhere’ (1988)

The Big Nowhere - 1988 - book cover Image via The Mysterious Press
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The Big Nowhere complicates things, as the second of the L.A. Quartet books, in terms of its style and structure. There are three different point of view characters here, and that’s one reason why the scope of the story here is also more ambitious than the crime novels Ellroy had written before, with a fair few crimes needing to be solved, and certain ways those crimes are all linked, via conspiracies and all that.

It’s dizzying, like a lot of James Ellroy books, and also pretty upsetting in parts. Saying that might not sound like much when Blood’s a Rover and My Dark Places have already been singled out for being depressing and particularly downbeat, but hey, what can you do? It’s another Ellroy novel that scratches that itch, really digging in its nails and drawing blood in the process, but the hurt is possibly what you’re here for (or at least anticipating), in any event.

3

‘The Black Dahlia’ (1987)

The Black Dahlia - 1987 - book cover Image via The Mysterious Press
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Before My Dark Places, James Ellroy explored similar things in the book that opened the L.A. Quartet: The Black Dahlia. The murder at the center of this story did really happen, to a woman named Elizabeth Short who ended up being known as the Black Dahlia, and it was also infamously unsolved in real life. If that’s not enough to make it line up with My Dark Places, then the dedication at the start of The Black Dahlia (“to Geneva Hilliker Ellroy”) definitely will.

The main characters, though, are fictional, and the story’s ultimately about them getting wrapped up in the Black Dahlia case, and torn apart psychologically by all the uncertainty and anxiety that came with it. Plenty of things expanded on thematically in later James Ellroy books are present here, with that leading to it being a good deal more approachable than most of his other novels. It’s the ideal starting point, if you want to tackle Ellroy’s body of work, since it was his first great book, and the one that justifiably made him a well-known writer of crime fiction.

2

‘L.A. Confidential’ (1990)

L.A. Confidential - 1990 - book cover Image via The Mysterious Press
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The style and structure of The Big Nowhere are retained in L.A. Confidential, with three protagonists being cycled through here (and the multiple point of view thing is something he’d continued with the Underworld USA trilogy, of course). It’s an arguable refinement of what already worked in The Big Nowhere, with these two books being perhaps the most similar out of any potential pairing in Ellroy’s whole bibliography.

Call it a Goodfellas to Casino situation, if you want to make a film/director-related comparison, but he really makes it work, and there’s enough here, in L.A. Confidential, to stop it from feeling exclusively like a retread. The retreading is also compelling anyway, because what James Ellroy did in The Big Nowhere arguably deserved to be repeated and then built upon. Crime, conspiracies, death, show-business, copious amounts of immorality… it’s all here.


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L.A. Confidential

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Release Date

September 19, 1997

Runtime
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138 Minutes

Director

Curtis Hanson

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Writers

Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson

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1

‘American Tabloid’ (1995)

American Tabloid by James Ellroy book cover Image via Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

The basic premise of American Tabloid was already alluded to, when talking about the other two books in the Underworld USA trilogy. This one’s set between 1958 and 1963, and so it works as something of a sequel to the L.A. Quartet books, too, since the events of that series begin in the late 1940s and then end around the end of the 1950s, with a few characters and historical figures being relevant to both of the series in question.

American Tabloid benefits from being about an especially interesting and dramatic period in American history, and it builds up an immense amount of dread throughout. This time in history is depicted as the start of a downfall for the entire United States, which sounds like a bit much for one book to handle, but American Tabloid does pack a whole lot into its nearly 600 pages, with the next two books then showing the even more chaotic fallout of what happens here. Still, what does happen here is the most interesting, and overall, American Tabloid manages to be Ellroy’s most impressive and compelling novel.

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‘Breaking Bad’ Meets ‘Sex Education’ in Netflix’s 12-Part Comedy

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Mae Martin and Charlotte Ritchie in Feel Good.

Starring comedian Mae Martin playing a version of themself, Feel Good is the funniest, most heartfelt show streaming on Netflix, and it’s only 12 episodes long. Uptight formerly-straight woman, George (played by Charlotte Ritchie of Call the Midwife) falls hard for Mae Martin, who is recovering from a cocaine addiction. Martin’s writing paints a witty, poignant portrait of addiction that somehow manages to be laugh-out-loud hilarious. The show tracks the development of Mae and George’s relationship, finding the comedy in situations like coming out to homophobic loved ones, learning how to love without codependency, and reckoning with a difficult past. There’s also a particularly gut-busting scene featuring a horny Alien reference (no spoilers—it’s too good). Funnier than Friends or The Office, its runtime is under five hours, making Feel Good the best bang-for-your-buck comedy on streaming.

Despite the fact that you could binge the entire show in an afternoon, Feel Good tackles the complex intersection of love and addiction with clarity, compassion, and remarkable humor. Part of what makes the show so funny is that all the characters believe they are in a drama, experiencing high stakes at every turn. By allowing humor and drama to co-exist, Feel Good is able to transition seamlessly from pure comedy to pure disaster without any unpleasant whiplash. (Though there’s pleasant whiplash aplenty.) The dual presence of comedy and drama speaks to the emotional heart of the show: in life, one can be grappling with impossibly difficult things and still find pleasure, joy, and humor. In fact, Feel Good posits that one can’t always tell pain and pleasure apart.

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‘Feel Good’ is Surprisingly Optimistic

Mae Martin and Charlotte Ritchie in Feel Good.
Mae Martin and Charlotte Ritchie in Feel Good.
Image via Netflix

Early in their relationship, it becomes clear that Mae has swapped one addiction (cocaine) for another (her new girlfriend, George). In Episode 2, George goes to a wedding without Mae. To keep from calling George constantly, Mae goes to great lengths to separate herself from her phone, eventually getting herself locked out of her apartment without any shoes on. This neurotic behavior serves to show how strong Mae’s compulsions are when it comes to George. Mae says to her Narcotics Anonymous sponsor, “I love grapes. Sometimes I think I just love George, but I actually also love grapes.” Mae and George are both keeping secrets: after 3 months dating, Mae hasn’t told George about her addiction, and George hasn’t come out to her friends or family.

To avoid talking about their problems, the pair engage in increasingly ridiculous sexual roleplay, which they are hilariously bad at. George admits to spending 300 pounds on a police uniform to roleplay with Mae, and when Mae only half-plays along with the fantasy, asking to speak to her lawyer, George responds, entirely horrified at what she’s saying, that Mae’s lawyer is taking personal time “because his kid’s got ALS.” In a landscape of pessimistic media that explores humanity’s worst (see: BoJack Horseman, Breaking Bad, Black Mirror), Feel Good believes that people can get better, and there’s a lot to laugh at while doing so.

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Mae Martin’s Writing Uses Tension Masterfully for Both Comedy and Drama

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Feel Good Season 2 trailer
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Every time Mae or George finds a way to come clean to the other about their shortcomings, even by accident or disaster, they grow closer. They stumble into the truth that hiding from pain only makes it stronger. The parts where they stumble are what makes the show funny, like any sitcom is funny. Shows like How I Met Your Mother and New Girl are built on idiot plots in which characters are rubber-banded closer to and further away from each other. It’s not just the negative tension that’s funny, however. Watching Feel Good is like riding a wave of tension, and the show is smart enough to manipulate that tension to produce both humor and anxiety, which often amplify each other.

Martin’s writing is clever enough and the show’s actors are charismatic enough that drawing closer together is also funny. In one scene, George ends up in the hospital, and finally comes out to her friends in spectacular fashion, proudly declaring to Mae, “I love you,” before pulling a purple strap-on out of her purse. Everyone is shocked and embarrassed except for George and Mae, who finally get to be out in front of other people, including the old woman sharing a hospital room with George, who watches them make out once the doctor leaves. Tension creates comedy when pulling characters apart, but also when bringing them back together.

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‘Feel Good’ Escapes the Trap of the SitcomI Bet You Never Noticed These Blink-and-You'll-Miss-It Changes to 'Seinfeld's Apartment

The sitcom genre depends on everything staying the same. There can be infinite hijinks and gags if the world resets at the end of every episode. In The Office, Jim can put all of Dwight’s things into the vending machine, but he has to give Dwight a bag of quarters to get them all back and reset for the next episode. The unchangeability of the sitcom is such an established rule that meta-inclined shows like Community play with this convention, recognizing it in-dialogue and then re-setting at the end of an episode anyway.

While Feel Good‘s comedy is very situational, it escapes the trap of the genre by allowing the characters to change. In a conversation with Mae’s mom, played by Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe from Friends), Mae says “I just can’t even remember what I used to think about before George.” Over Skype, Mae’s mom says, “Well, before George, you thought about Nicole, who was your true love. Before that, you thought about Caroline, who, oh yes, was also your true love. And before that it was drugs.” Mae’s mom may be direct and unforgiving in her assessment, but Mae does begin to recognize that her relationship with George follows the patterns of addiction, and that both she and George deserve better.

Growth certainly isn’t linear, and viewers may question if Mae and George are even ultimately right for each other, but the characters do grow. In a climactic argument at the end of Season 1, Mae says to George, “I think you’re right that I need to be okay on my own, because what I’m doing now is just jumping from thing to thing, and that’s not healthy.” The characters move from failure, to recognition of failure, to attempts at healing and amends. The traditional sitcom structure actually mirrors the cycle of addiction, in which tension rises and resolution is sought and nothing really changes. Feel Good seeks to break that cycle in the structure of the show as well as in the lives of its characters. With wit, heart, and an incredibly economical runtime, Feel Good is one comedy that no one should skip.


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Release Date

2020 – 2021-00-00

Network
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Channel 4

Directors

Luke Snellin

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Writers

Mae Martin

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