Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s youngest daughter, Vivienne, appears to be carving out a creative path of her own.

The 18-year-old recently sparked mixed reactions online after displaying and selling her original artwork at a street fair in Los Angeles, with her twin brother, Knox, showing up to support her.

Vivienne’s latest venture comes during a period of significant change in her life, as she is also seeking to legally drop her father Brad Pitt’s name from her surname.

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt Takes Her Artwork To The Streets Of L.A.

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Vivienne spent Saturday showcasing her artistic side at a local street fair in Los Angeles. According to the Daily Mail, the teenager operated her booth under the name The Tulip Fields and offered several of her creations to visitors.

Her collection included prints, stickers, and birthday cards featuring her drawings and paintings, with some items priced between $10 and $25.

Among her designs were a grey mouse holding a large pink heart, an underwater scene featuring an octopus and fish, and a playful image resembling E.T. dressed as a ballerina.

The outing appeared to be successful, with Vivienne speaking with customers and selling several pieces throughout the event. Knox was also present to support his twin sister. He helped her prepare the display and was spotted photographing Vivienne during the fair.

See photos from the outing here.

The 18-Year-Old Was Scrutinized Online Over The Outing

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Vivienne’s art sale outing brought some heavy scrutiny online, with critics highlighting her wealthy background due to who her parents are.

One post on X read, “How cute, living one day as poor to understand what it’s like,” while another stated, “10$ for a childish drawing? It’s nice to be famous. I hope that’s for charity.”

A third commented, “How good it is to be rich. And to keep coming up with ways to sell paintings and flowers.”

One harsh critic wrote, “These rich f-cks have zero talent,” while another said, “The drawings are trash, sorry for being honest.”

Amid the backlash, several defended Vivienne, with some even praising her for not relying on being a “nepo” baby.

“At least she made something herself,” a person said, while another noted, “Better than certain nepo babies who want everything without putting in any effort.”

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt’s New Venture Comes Amid Her Decision To Drop Her Father’s Last Name

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Vivienne’s public display of independence comes about a month after she took another major step in her personal life. The teenager is seeking to legally change her name from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie.

According to the Daily Mail, she published a notice in The Los Angeles Daily Journal as part of the required legal process. Court documents reportedly list her reason for requesting the change simply as “personal.”

A final hearing is scheduled for November 2. Before then, anyone wishing to object to the petition can submit their opposition.

If there are no successful objections, a judge can approve Vivienne’s request. Her decision follows earlier indications that she had stopped publicly using her father’s surname.

More Of Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie’s Children Have Distanced Themselves From The Actor

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Vivienne is far from the only one of Pitt and Jolie’s children to make such a decision. Maddox and Zahara also published notices announcing plans to remove Pitt from their surnames, while Shiloh dropped her father’s last name in 2024, when she turned 18.

Knox, meanwhile, was listed as Knox Jolie on his high school graduation diploma. Pitt’s relationship with his son Pax has also appeared strained. Pax previously called Pitt a “world-class -sshole,” and accused him of making his younger siblings “tremble in fear.”

The harsh remarks offered another glimpse into the brewing tension between Pitt and some of his children.

The distance between Pitt and his children follows years of family tension after his marriage to Jolie came to an end. Their separation began in 2016, and the former couple eventually finalized their lengthy divorce in 2024.

A source close to Pitt described the situation with his children as “deeply painful.” The insider told the Daily Mail that Pitt views Jolie’s alleged involvement in how their relationship deteriorated as “the ultimate betrayal.”

Jolie, however, has denied wanting an ongoing fight, with a source close to her saying, “She just wants everyone to heal.”

Angelina Jolie Has Always Encouraged Her Kids To Choose Their Own Paths

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Vivienne’s move into art also reflects the independence Jolie says she has tried to encourage in all six of her children. The actress recently spoke about her approach to motherhood and expressed pride in seeing them develop their own identities.

“One of the most important things, I think, is to basically not get in their way,” Jolie told L’Officiel, according to Page Six. She described her children as “definitely individuals” and said she is proud of the different directions they have chosen for themselves.

Jolie explained that parenting, for her, also involves recognizing that a child has ambitions and ideas separate from their parents. “You want to make sure that you support them,” she said while discussing the importance of allowing them to explore that potential.

Now that all six children have reached adulthood, Jolie is also considering what her own next chapter will look like. She said her children support her desire to travel more, return to field work, and pursue interests she had less time for while raising them.

A Florida man was arrested after he allegedly tried to arrange a murder-for-hire plot to kill his neighbor over a drone dispute.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that David Butka was charged with one count of solicitation to commit murder following the incident.

Butka, 69, was already in custody after he pleaded no contest to a charge of aggravated assault following an incident involving the same victim on July 22. He was scheduled to be released on Thursday, September 17, but a fellow inmate reported him to a jail supervisor on Wednesday, September 16, regarding allegations of the murder-for-hire plot, according to a probable cause affidavit viewed by Us.

During the July incident, a witness told authorities that Butka and a neighbor were involved in an ongoing civil dispute regarding the defendant flying a drone over their property.

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The victim said they left their home when they “noticed the drone stopped above his house and pulled out his phone to record the ongoing civil issue involving the drone.”

They then claimed that Butka “aggressively” threw a rock at their vehicle, which left “marks and dents all over” it. Butka was subsequently arrested for the incident.

Butka was in custody on the aggravated assault charge when he allegedly approached another inmate on September 7 or September 8 and “solicited him to kill his neighbor,” per the affidavit.

He allegedly told the inmate that he had “approximately $1.3 million in the bank and would give him $5,000 up front to kill” his neighbor. He then allegedly shared the victim’s personal address, telephone number, their first name, a physical description, their morning schedule and instructions on how to find their home.

Police said Butka also gave the inmate his credit card information, which the inmate gave to his wife so that she could put $300 in his commissary account.

The inmate “had written the information regarding the plot on a piece of paper and provided a handwritten note containing the information regarding the plot” to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office official on September 16, which led to Butka being hit with the additional charge.

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Butka has denied his involvement in the murder-for-hire plot, and he claimed he gave the money to the inmate in order to retain a lawyer.

Sergeant James Vachon told WESH that it’s “still not real clear on why he felt the need to have this witness murdered other than, possibly, just anger and revenge.”

Butka’s bond for the new charge has been set at $25,000. It’s unclear whether he has retained an attorney or entered a plea in light of the new charge.

George Clooney reportedly offered Presley Gerber private encouragement as the 27-year-old struggled with addiction and his mental health in the years before his death. The actor, affectionately known as “Uncle George” by Presley and his sister, Kaia Gerber, allegedly spent hours speaking with the young model and sent notes reminding him, “I am here for you.”

Clooney’s reported efforts grew from his decades-long friendship with Presley’s father, Rande Gerber. Sources now claim the actor is devastated by the loss and intends to support Cindy Crawford, Rande and Kaia as they grieve.

George Clooney Reportedly Spent Hours Talking To Presley Gerber

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According to the Daily Mail, Clooney had been present in Presley’s life since he was a child. “George would spend hours talking to Presley. George is the nicest guy in the world and would do anything to help Rande’s family,” a source close to the actor claimed.

Clooney reportedly offered Presley direct advice after the model was charged with driving under the influence in 2018. “Especially after Presley got a DUI (in 2018), George would advise, ‘Don’t do that, it’s not smart. Be careful.’ More recently, George shared loving notes like, “I am here for you,” that kind of stuff,” the insider said.

Another source described their connection as more meaningful than the typical relationship between a celebrity and a friend’s child. “They were close. Presley was more than just a friend’s kid; they had a bond,” the source said.

‘Uncle George’ Watched Presley Grow Up

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Clooney and Rande reportedly met during the mid-1990s at The Whiskey, a bar Rande owned inside New York City’s Paramount Hotel. After Rande married Crawford in 1998, Clooney became increasingly close to the couple and their children. Presley was born in 1999, followed by Kaia in 2001. “George was around Presley a lot when he was growing up; he was Uncle George, and they were all pals, really like family,” the source shared.

The families allegedly spent time together at Clooney’s former home in Studio City and at the Gerbers’ Malibu residence. “Often Cindy and Rande would take the kids to George’s old house in Studio City (LA) for dinner, to swim, and to hang out, or George would come to their house in Malibu. They had a lot of dinners together, a lot of downtime. The Gerbers also visited George in Italy quite often,” the source said.

The insider added, “They used to hang out in Mexico together a lot too; they had side-by-side homes, and the kids were always around having fun. More recently, they would hang out in New York City; they always caught up over dinner.”

Clooney and Rande’s friendship eventually developed into a major business partnership. The two men founded Casamigos Tequila with real estate entrepreneur Mike Meldman in 2013. The company began with tequila the friends created for themselves before growing into a commercial brand. The trio sold Casamigos to Diageo in 2017 in a deal reportedly worth as much as $1 billion if performance targets were met.

The Actor Reportedly Drew On His Own Past Experiences

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The Daily Mail’s source suggested Clooney could speak openly with Presley partly because the actor had experimented with drugs when he was younger. In a 2025 interview with Esquire, Clooney acknowledged using cocaine during the early 1980s but maintained that it never became a serious problem for him.

The actor also spoke about his past experiences with marijuana and alcohol during the interview. “George had his own experiences with substances,” the Daily Mail’s insider said. “He was never addicted, but he tried it, and he knows about the attraction to drugs, so he could talk openly with Presley about this and Presley could relate. His message was always, stay clean.”

Presley had publicly discussed using multiple prescription medications while seeking treatment for panic attacks, night terrors, and substance dependence. He also revealed that he previously survived a fentanyl overdose that left him in a coma.

Presley Gerber’s Official Cause Of Death Remains Undetermined

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Presley died on September 20 at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California. Santa Monica police said officers responded to a report of a possible overdose at approximately 9:35 a.m. Authorities found Presley dead at the facility and said there were no immediate indications of foul play.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner completed an autopsy but deferred the official cause and manner of death while additional testing is conducted. The process could take several months.

George Clooney Is Reportedly ‘Sick’ Over The Loss

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The death has reportedly devastated Clooney and other members of the family’s close Hollywood circle. “George is sick over this because Rande is his best friend and everyone felt for Presley,” an insider said. “There is no anger or shame, just deep sadness. Presley had a real problem with depression and anxiety. No one can fault him for that. Presley was living a nightmare.”

Another source claimed the loss has also affected those close to Clooney and the Gerbers, including Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt. “It’s just awful. I know that George is so sad about it. This is devastating for everyone in that circle,” the source said.

An industry insider described Presley’s death as a “tremendous gut punch” for Clooney. “George wears his heart on his sleeve, and he really, really loved Presley. He knew Presley had his struggles, so while you can’t say something like this was completely unimaginable, that doesn’t make it any less shocking or devastating,” the insider claimed. “It was an incredibly painful and unwanted surprise, and honestly, a tremendous gut punch for George.”

Clooney Reportedly Plans To Support The Gerber Family

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Sources said Clooney’s immediate priority is supporting Rande, Crawford and Kaia rather than publicly discussing his own grief. “He feels absolutely awful for Rande and the entire family, and he wants them to know that he is there for them in any way, shape or form,” the industry insider said.

“George has always been the person people turn to when they’re going through something, and with something of this magnitude, that isn’t going to change. It doesn’t matter how busy he is or what he has going on in his own life – if Rande or anyone in the family needs him, everything else stops,” they added. “It’s really that simple.”

Additional testing to determine Presley Gerber’s cause of death remains ongoing.

Riverdale‘s Cole Sprouse is a man in mourning in the new dramedy Wake. He’s part of an ensemble cast that finds itself trapped at a wake where everything seems to be going wrong. Before the film makes its festival premiere next month, Collider is proud to exclusively present a first look at Wake and its cast. In the film, Sprouse plays Cade; he’s one of four semi-estranged siblings who are thrown back together after their father dies by suicide.

Now, reunited with sisters Rose, Cassie, and Becca, he has to deal not only with them and their wildly contrasting grieving methods, but with overbearing relatives, clueless guests, and a funeral director who suffers from an intense aversion to death. Wake is set to make its world premiere early next month at the Heartland International Film Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana; it will then screen later in October at the Newport Beach Film Festival in Newport Beach, California.

Sprouse has recently starred in the indie thrillers Neglected and Under Fire. In Wake, he’s part of an impressive ensemble cast. It also features performances by Penelope Ann Miller (Carlito’s Way), Chris Parnell (Rick and Morty), Nelson Franklin (New Girl), Riki Lindhome (Wednesday), Michael Learned (The Waltons), Ali Astin (Candy Cane Lane), Willow Shields (The Hunger Games), Kelly O’Malley (Swing), Ali Gallo (Forever), Michael Shacket (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), Oliver Durante (V/H/S/Halloween), Sasha Compère (Single Drunk Female), and Dylan Alvarado (The Mandalorian).

Who Are the Creatives Behind ‘Wake’?

Wake is directed by Devon Michaels, an actor who appeared on Gilmore Girls, House M.D., and The Rookie; the film serves as his feature-length directorial debut. He also co-wrote the script for the film with Kelly O’Malley, who also stars. O’Malley penned the script after her own father’s suicide, using it to explore and process her grief. O’Malley produced the film with Michel Rangel and Eugenio Villamar; Sprouse executive produces with Jodi Schwartz Gomillion.

Wake will have its world premiere at the Heartland International Film Festival in October in Indianapolis, Indiana; it will then have its West Coast premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival later that month. Check out our exclusive images above and stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

Christina Haack is crediting her boyfriend, Chris Larocca, for changing the way she views love and life as she marks two years together. 

The “Flip or Flop” alum has openly praised Larocca for bringing a sense of ease and patience into her life, while also addressing speculation about a possible future marriage.

Beyond her romance with Larocca, Haack has openly shared how she has developed a more cordial co-parenting relationship with some of her ex-husbands, adding another layer to her evolving approach to love, family, and life.

Christina Haack Celebrates Sweet Milestone With BF Chris Larocca

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Haack recently celebrated her second dating anniversary with Larocca, with a three-slide Instagram post featuring loved-up photos of the couple.

In the caption, she thanked him for handling life with “grace and understanding,” saying his approach had also taught her to do the same.

“I have watched you handle everything with grace and understanding and therefore you have taught me to do the same,” Haack wrote. “Thank you for making my life EASY. What a true gift that is.”

The television personality also admitted that she might not have fully appreciated such a relationship earlier in life. Now in her 40s, Haack said she had learned to value taking things slowly instead of constantly rushing toward the next chapter.

“Taking things slow and not rushing through life is something I also can greatly appreciate in my 40s,” she added. She ended the tribute by thanking Larocca for being “a true partner in all the ways.”

Haack further shared that their relationship also extended beyond romance as the couple built the Clé Cachée champagne brand, partnered on a television house flip, and traveled to different destinations together.

Christina Haack Sparked Marriage Rumors With A Mystery Ring

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While Haack is clearly enjoying her relationship with Larocca, speculation has surfaced about whether wedding bells could eventually be ringing in the future.

In March, the reality star sparked marriage rumors after she was photographed wearing a ring on her wedding finger at an HGTV event in Los Angeles.

For Haack, however, marriage did not appear to be an immediate priority. After three previous marriages, she said she would probably marry eventually but made it clear that it would not happen anytime soon, per The Blast. 

She even joked that, if she became engaged again, she would want to remain engaged for at least five years. “Marriage is just not on my radar right now,” Haack confessed.

Christina Haack Previously Called Her Boyfriend A ‘Good Person‘

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The latest two-year tribute is not the first time Haack has publicly praised Larocca’s character. In November 2025, she celebrated his 53rd birthday, giving fans a closer look at what she appreciates about the Network Connex CEO.

According to The Blast, she described him as someone who helped the people he cared about without expecting anything in return.

“You help me (and everyone you care about) with zero motives,” she wrote.

She also called him a “good person” and praised his drive, positive attitude, and commitment to personal growth. Haack described him as an “amazing father, son, and friend,” adding that he held her hand and guided her through difficult situations.

Christina Haack Faced Questions About Their Romance Timeline

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While their relationship became increasingly public, it also faced scrutiny about how and when it began.

As The Blast previously reported,  Andrea Deanna, Larocca’s former girlfriend, questioned the timeline of his romance with Haack.

Deanna claimed that Larocca met Haack in June 2024 while she was still married to Josh Hall and Larocca was still dating her. She also alleged that Larocca had been unfaithful during their relationship.

Haack’s representative denied the allegations, stating, “This person continues to make false allegations and spread lies. Christina was separated when she met Chris.”

Larocca’s representative also rejected the claims, saying he ended his relationship with Deanna before becoming involved with Haack, denying that the pair met in June.

Despite the controversy surrounding the early timeline, Haack and Larocca continued their relationship publicly. 

Christina Haack Found A Different Dynamic With Her Ex-Husbands

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As Haack continues to build a new romance, she was also navigating a different kind of relationship with her ex-husbands.

As reported by The Blast, Haack shares three children with her former husbands, Tarek El Moussa and Ant Anstead, while her marriage to Josh Hall ended without children.

Her relationships with El Moussa and Anstead became more cordial in recent years, particularly when it came to co-parenting with Anstead.

The former couple shares son Hudson, and Haack previously spoke about having a heart-to-heart conversation with Anstead about creating a healthier co-parenting relationship.

They eventually began attending Hudson’s soccer games, sitting together at school events, and celebrating birthdays together. Haack said she was grateful they reached a point where their son could experience those family moments with both parents.

A couple in Arizona was arrested after they allegedly forced a 9-year-old girl to sit on a balcony in 104-degree heat for at least four hours as punishment for holding a book the wrong way.

Jennifer Carrillo and her husband, Jose Carrillo Ayala, have both been hit with child abuse charges in connection to the incident. The couple was arrested on Thursday, September 17, and were booked on two counts each. Carrillo is facing an additional charge of unlawful imprisonment.

An affidavit obtained by Law & Crime stated that Carrillo sent the victim, who is her stepdaughter, “to the outside balcony, which is Jennifer’s typical punishment of choice.”

Carrillo and Carrillo Ayala allegedly made the victim and her 12-year-old sister “sit on plastic lids, consistent with storage containers” as punishment.

“They were assigned their own individual lids and they had to cover them in a garbage bag when seated on them in case they urinated or defecated while sitting,” the affidavit stated. “They were made to sit for long periods of time on these lids, to the point where they sustained pain in their buttocks.”

The victim eventually climbed over to a neighbor’s patio to ask for help, and authorities were called to the scene.

The 9-year-old told investigators that she had been “disciplined to sit on the outside balcony for long periods of time” as a common form of punishment.

“[The girl] had gotten in trouble by Jennifer for the way she was ‘holding a book,’” the affidavit said. “[The girl] stated she was outside on the balcony for ‘four hours’ and eventually got so hungry and thirsty that she didn’t know what to do; therefore, [the girl] climbed over the balcony wall (which is located on the second landing of the apartment building) and landed in her downstairs neighbor’s porch area.”

Police learned of the incident when the neighbor called 911 after finding the girl hiding on his patio as her parents were “trying to drag her out.”

“The caller also stated he heard the young female state that she was scared because ‘CPS was coming to take her away,’” the affidavit said. “The caller believed the family resided in the apartment above him.”

The child was then taken to a local hospital, and doctors allegedly found signs of abuse and severe malnutrition. Police added that the girl weighed about 43 pounds, which puts her below the fifth percentile for her age.

Additionally, doctors found bruises that covered her body, hair loss and underdeveloped teeth that were consistent with severe malnutrition.

The 12-year-old sibling also underwent a forensic medical examination, which revealed she suffered similar injuries.

Carrillo Ayala reportedly admitted to abusing his kids, including “using his belt” to strike the children multiple times.

It was also revealed that the two girls did not have a bedroom and instead slept on the living room floor of their home. The sisters were allowed to use their parents’ bathroom, but only when they got permission.

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A mother and father have been arrested in Florida after they allegedly forced their daughter to drink homemade hot sauce as punishment for putting “ink on the cat,” despite her being allergic to its ingredients. Robert Elderidge and Ashley Elderidge have both been accused of abusing their daughter in Cocoa, Florida. An investigation into the […]

Carrillo and Carrillo Ayala allegedly gave conflicting accounts about the children’s circumstances and living situation while speaking to investigators. Carrillo alleged that the younger girl had “mental health issues” and behavioral problems at school, while Carrillo Ayala denied the claim. Police also looked at the girl’s school records, which did not document the alleged behavioral problems.

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Both Carrillo and Carrillo Ayala were ordered to be held on $50,000 bond following their arrests.

It’s not currently clear if Carrillo or Carrillo Ayala have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests.

If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

If you’re an avid fan of “The Real Housewives,” a new book that’s getting ready to be released should be on your list. 

“Lessons from the Housewives,” written by feminist media scholar Evie Psarras, opens the curtain on many behind-the-scenes insights that fans might be fascinated to learn more about. Through interviews with Housewives and producers, cultural analysis, and her own take on the hit Bravo franchise, Evie shares a relatable look at the shows that has many fans glued to their TV screens week after week. 

Evie Psarras sat down with The Blast to chat exclusively about the book ahead of its October 13, 2026, release. She shared why she felt this was a topic she wanted to do a deep dive into, what makes fans come back for more each week, and what has contributed to the success of the reality shows for two decades. 

The Time Was Right For Evie Psarras To Write ‘Lessons From The Housewives’

For Evie, the time was more than just right to dive into writing a book about the Housewives. She shared that she’s a “day one viewer” of the franchise and has continued to watch the entire 20 years its been on the air. 

“I just remember the first moment seeing Vicki Gunvelson and Lauri Peterson working in her home office and being like, ‘Who are these babes?’ Like, they get to live the life. This lady has a waterfall pool in her backyard,” Evie told The Blast. “At the time, it was like fly on the wall reality TV, like we literally just got to peek into their lives. There wasn’t drama amongst the women, and it was just like we got to watch how these wealthy people lived behind the gates of this community, and I was fascinated.” 

Evie recalls her love of strong female characters began in her teen years as she read Jackie Collins books. She also grew up watching shows like “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Melrose Place,” where strong women dominated the screen and drama was served every episode. 

“I just loved the drama, but also loved that it was like these shows were showing women at the center, and I felt like that’s something that should always be taken seriously,” she said. 

After graduating and struggling to find a job, Evie decided to go back to school and get a Master’s in Sociology and that’s when her “academic brain took over.” 

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“I was like, okay, something’s really going on here with these shows that are celebrating ostensibly wealthy women, but they’re sort of there to be laughed at,” she shared. “During this time, economic disparity, and at this time of an economic recession, we’ve got these women on here who are celebrating materialism, so that sort of started my journey into academically considering Housewives and taking it seriously.” 

What Surprised Evie The Most During Her Research

Throughout her official research for the book, Evie learned something many might not realize – how the women are chosen to star on the show. She was told by a former producer that the way they cast the women, might not be exactly how you think it’s done.

“We obviously want strong women characters and people who would play well on TV,” she was told. “But they cast the house before they cast the Housewife, is what he told me.”

She reiterated that they look for women who have the “McMansions, the ginormous houses.” 

“That tells me that they’re looking for women who can at least perform wealth and class and status and materialism and all those things. Because we also know these women have gotten evicted from those homes,” she continued. “But what it told me is that producers and Bravo can also make any woman a Housewife, right? It’s not just a process and so that sort of led me down a path of these women are actually doing a job for Bravo, and they are employees of that network, paid to carry out the labor of being a Bravo Housewife.” 

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‘We’re Watching A Mix Of Authenticity And Complete Fabrication’

While Evie did interview some Housewives, they couldn’t talk too much about certain things because of their “ironclad” contracts. One Housewife, who remains anonymous, gave her “a great heading in the book.” 

“What we’re watching is a mix of authenticity and complete fabrication,” Evie shared. “Because she was like everything that she was doing on camera was partly herself and who she is authentically but there was also a push and pull with what they knew network executives were going to ask for and what producers wanted to put on right for the season.” 

Evie said she had a “hunch that these women are sort of playing into certain characters.” 

Evie Realized Through Her Research That The Housewives Were More Than Just Reality TV

Evie explained that because of the time period in which the series became such a phenomenon and has spanned two decades, you can’t exactly make an argument that the Housewives have reshaped what it means to be a woman today. 

“You can’t make that argument right out of the gate. It’s more so like you have to look at it over this period of time,” she said. “What I love so much about the early seasons is they really show some of these women were housewives. You see a lot of women who have been in abusive or bad relationships with men. You literally get to see them take that Bravo platform and use it to their advantage, but also through the platform, find their voice, find their strength, and leave those bad men and create a life and an income for themselves separate from their husbands that they probably wouldn’t have ever had the opportunity to do.” 

Evie said she feels the Housewives series’ documents examples of “feminist progress over these last two decades.” As the women realized their power, they rebranded themselves and started businesses, became influencers, began podcasts, and made their own path in the world. 

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Thinking About The Formula That Makes ‘The Real Housewives’ Last The Test Of Time

With so many reality shows on television, and many not lasting more than a few seasons, you might wonder what “Housewives” does differently to not only last the test of time, but continually add new cities to the lineup.

An example discussed with Evie is how fast “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” took off but then just as quickly, began to derail along the way. 

“I sort of left the ‘Mormon Wives’ train. I liked season 1, but they can’t hook me because at the base, you’re talking to a feminist media scholar. I’m always looking for the feminist angle that I can find in watching media that sometimes is packaged to look anti-feminist,” Evie told The Blast. “But I think at the end of the day, ‘Housewives’ has actually been a great thing for women to witness over the last two decades, because many viewers probably were in the same sort of positions as some of these ‘housewives’ in the beginning years.” 

Viewers have witnessed the “housewives” go through breakups, start businesses, and evolve from those early days. With “Housewives,” Evie said you’re “watching a celebration of women.” 

“If you’re watching ‘Ultimate Girls’ Trip’ right now, it’s like we get to see the actual sisterhood that is being a ‘housewife,’” she added. “And I feel that’s something that more and more women want to see today.”

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For more information and to purchase “Lessons from the Housewives,” visit Sourcebooks’ website.

Wendi McLendon-Covey broke her silence after her former costar Jeff Garlin called her “very resentful” in the years after his departure from The Goldbergs.

“Let’s just say I remember things very differently, as does the crew, the other actors, the writers, and our executives,” McLendon-Covey, 56, wrote in a social media comment after Garlin, 64, spoke about the show’s tumultuous conclusion on the Daily Beast’s “Obsessed” podcast.

Garlin claimed on the podcast that his undiagnosed bipolar disorder contributed to how he behaved on set, saying, “I actually empathize with [Wendi] because, at the time, I was undiagnosed bipolar. I was miserable on the show, and I was miserable with my performance.”

The actor recalled receiving support from McLendon-Covey, who played his wife on the show.

“I didn’t believe her. I just got to the point where I had to quit,” he said. “And she was very resentful.”

Garlin continued to address the challenges he faced, adding, “Being bipolar, I was either one of three things: dark, dark, dark, dark, didn’t talk and look at anyone. Then happy to the point of mania, never turning off my thing. Or mean — really, really mean.”

In December 2021, reports surfaced that Garlin allegedly engaged in a “pattern of verbal and physical conduct that made people uncomfortable” while working on The Goldbergs, which debuted in 2013. Garlin denied the accusations following a human resources investigation.

“No, I was not fired from The Goldbergs. I have not been fired from The Goldbergs,” he told Vanity Fair after confirming to the outlet that Sony had been looking into his behavior for three years. “There was no … Nothing physical by any stretch of the imagination. And the verbal part was a joke that was completely missed — because I like this guy.”

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Related: Kelly Rowland, Emma Watson and More Stars Who Stormed off Sets

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Everyone has bad days, but for celebrities, their bad days sometimes happen while on set. Several stars have made headlines for storming off the sets of TV shows and movies over the years, including Kelly Rowland. The actress and singer reportedly left the Today set right before she was set to guest host an episode […]

He added: “If I said something silly and offensive, and I’m working at an insurance company, I think it’s a different situation. If I, as the star of the show, demanded a gun range and on set, and I was firing guns every day and I was a little bit loose — to me, that’s an unsafe work atmosphere. If I threatened people, that’s an unsafe work atmosphere. None of that goes on ever with me. That’s not who I am. I am sorry to tell you that there really is no big story. Unless you want to do a story about political correctness.”

Garlin was ultimately released from his contract in 2021. The Goldbergs was later canceled after 10 seasons on ABC.

McLendon-Covey previously referred to Garlin’s exit as being “a long time” coming, saying on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM show in 2023, “And [when] it finally happened, it was like, ‘OK, OK. Finally someone is listening to us.’”

The Sopranos is one of those shows that honestly ended pretty excellently. It did all the things excellently, really. It had a bold first season, an improved second season, some risky things that paid off in seasons 3 and 4, and then a pretty big overall plot in season 5, with gang-related chaos building up and threatening to explode in season 6.

All that while, personal and family relationships were being tested, and it all made for great drama, alongside more than solid comedy (when appropriate). The final season of The Sopranos was extra long, and split into two, with the first 12 episodes being season 6A, and airing in 2006, while the final nine episodes were season 6B, and they aired in 2007. All 21, all up, are ranked below, starting with the pretty good and ending with some episodes that are among the very best in TV history.

This article will contain spoilers for all six seasons of The Sopranos.

21

“Chasing It” (2007)

Episode 16

Image via HBO

Across six seasons, Tony’s vices were explored in ways that usually felt organic, and he obviously remained compelling and human throughout, even with him being more flawed near the show’s end than he was at the start. Still, giving him a full-on gambling addiction so close to the end of the series felt weird, and that’s what “Chasing It” is largely about.

Not that Tony having a gambling problem seemed absolutely preposterous, but the way it sort of just arrived in this episode felt odd, and then felt even stranger because of how close the series was to its end, at this stage. There are only five episodes after “Chasing It,” and they’re all much better (especially the show’s final four episodes). Tony stumbling into an Uncut Gems-esque narrative here for one episode honestly felt a bit like one of his bizarre dreams, albeit unintentionally.

20

“Luxury Lounge” (2006)

Episode 7

Image via HBO

Of all the episodes that spend quite a lot of time with Christopher and his screenwriting aspirations, “Luxury Lounge” is probably the weakest, and it does feel a tad gimmicky. Or maybe prone to stunt-casting is a fairer way to describe it. Christopher and Mr. Sacred-and-the-Propane himself, Little Carmine, both travel to Los Angeles to try and cast “Cleaver,” the mafia-themed horror film Christopher’s been developing.

They meet Lauren Bacall and Ben Kingsley, who get to play fictionalized versions of themselves, and that’s a bit fun, albeit also quite broad for The Sopranos, with the comedy and satire dug into here. The show’s usually a little smarter with the things it wants to critique, but The Sopranos at its broadest is still wittier than most other TV shows out there (yes, even the comedies, because The Sopranos is pretty much a crime dramedy a lot of the time, a bit like how Succession is almost equal parts comedy and drama, too).

19

“Moe n’ Joe” (2006)

Episode 10

Image via HBO

“Moe n’ Joe” is one of a few season 6A episodes where it feels like things are moving just a tiny bit too slowly. It’s not fair to call the season padded, necessarily, but The Sopranos gets closest to feeling like it has padding in this particular season, or this first half of this particular season, with season 6B generally faring a little better. For season 6A, though, the Vito storyline, where he temporarily flees New Jersey, gets a decent amount of blame for that feeling, but it’s a bit more than just that.

Vito’s time in New Hampshire is a particular focus of “Moe n’ Joe,” and to some extent, the slowness of it all is purposeful, because it illustrates (in a way that’s darkly funny but also tragic) how Vito can’t really fathom living a normal, quieter life after being associated with the mob. He returns to New Jersey at the episode’s end, and that does lead to the most dramatic event of season 6A in the next episode… but more on that later.

18

“Johnny Cakes” (2006)

Episode 8

Image via HBO

Vito gets a lot to do in “Johnny Cakes,” because a good chunk of this episode concerns him beginning a brief romance with a man in a peaceful town he flees to, after being outed. It’s a change of pace for the show that doesn’t work 100%, but it is built upon and paid off eventually, as a way to showcase strange morals and prejudice within the whole mafia thing (you know, that thing of theirs).

A.J. continues drifting as well, getting some initiative at one point, but the wrong kind, seeing as he makes a very poorly planned attempt to kill Junior in retaliation for what he did to Tony at the start of season 6. Things generally fall apart in other areas of the show, in rather small ways, and then it doesn’t take too long for the one thing being built, in “Johnny Cakes” (Vito’s new relationship), to also fall apart. That’s just season 6 for you, in all its heaviness.

17

“The Ride” (2006)

Episode 9

Image via HBO

Season 6A has been quite well-represented so far, unfortunately for it, and here’s another episode from that first half of the final season: “The Ride.” The strongest scene here is a flashback, which might sound like it contradicts the mixed feelings just expressed about the flashbacks in “Down Neck,” but the “flashback” here was actually more of a deleted scene from one of the best episodes of season 5, repurposed to fit in with “The Ride.”

It involves Christopher telling Tony about Adriana being an informant, and it was left out of “Long Term Parking,” but fortunately not cut altogether, as the acting here, by James Gandolfini and Michael Imperioli, is really powerful. Christopher’s scenes in “The Ride” are very strong, but the other major storyline in this episode, involving Paulie and an accident on a ride at a street festival, isn’t nearly as compelling.

16

“Kaisha” (2006)

Episode 12

Image via HBO

“Kaisha, whatever happened there…” No, but for real, the complications with season 6 arise once more, because “Kaisha” is the final episode of season 6A. And if you want to count it as a season finale, it is quite easily the worst of them. You’re not going to run into another season finale until you get to the top 30 of this ranking. The season finales are that good, and all range from excellent to perfect, so long as you don’t count “Kaisha.”

The real season 6 finale is “Made in America,” which is also the series finale, or some might still say it’s the season 6B finale, and then “Kaisha” is the season 6A finale. Really, not much happens in “Kaisha.” It is a good episode if you treat it like the mid-season episode (within the broader sixth season) that it is, but it disappoints if you want anything finale-worthy. It’s mostly concerned with being a calm-before-the-storm kind of thing. And it’s a Christmas episode, too, for what that’s worth. Yay?

15

“The Fleshy Part of the Thigh” (2006)

Episode 4

Image via HBO

“The Fleshy Part of the Thigh” is a better music-focused episode than “A Hit Is a Hit.” And, to be fair, it’s not as focused on the music industry as that misfire of a season 1 episode. The part the title refers to is more of a humorous subplot that involves Bobby taking part in a staged shooting in a purportedly harmless part of an aspiring rapper’s body, in an attempt to boost said rapper’s street cred.

This comedic subplot then becomes kind of bitter, in hindsight, when you compare it to the shooting Bobby has to do in “Soprano Home Movies,” a good bit later in the final season. “The Fleshy Part of the Thigh” is also quite good as a Paulie episode, and then Tony’s recovery following waking up from his coma (the one he was in throughout episodes #2 and #3 of the season… more on those in a bit, because they’re both amazing episodes) also makes for compelling drama.

14

“Remember When” (2007)

Episode 15

Image via HBO

“Remember When” is itself best remembered for being the movie where Paulie really gets on Tony’s nerves, to the extent that Tony seems like he’s right on the verge of just murdering Paulie in the moment. He doesn’t, but then three episodes later, he’s in another situation where someone who’s technically on his side does cross a line in a big way, and he makes a decision in the moment to go through with murdering them.

In that sense, “Remember When” readies you for – or foreshadows – that even more dramatic late-stage Sopranos episode. And then if you want to talk about the thing “Remember When” is second most remembered for, Lin-Manuel Miranda shows up in what feels like a cameo, but it’s just him being an extra, basically, since he wasn’t a recognizable face at that point, unless you were a big theater fan and had seen one of the very earliest shows of In the Heights.

13

“Live Free or Die” (2006)

Episode 6

Image via HBO

Not to be mixed up with an identically named Breaking Bad episode, “Live Free or Die” is one of the better hours found in season 6A of The Sopranos. Vito was first caught out in season 5 of the show, but then in “Live Free or Die,” there is no doubt, and it’s mobsters who witness him in an establishment mafia men don’t usually hang out at, which is what prompts him to flee New Jersey.

Tony shows he has some morals regarding Vito, perhaps more than some of his associates, and the conflict around what to do for this whole situation does make for engaging drama. It picks things up a bit, though after this, Vito’s time on the run does slow things down a little, once more, in the next couple of episodes. But “Live Free or Die” is a very good episode, and the main storyline in this episode does prove undeniably important going forward.

12

“Cold Stones” (2006)

Episode 11

Image via HBO

Though Vito’s season 6A was mentioned before as a little slow-going, his death isn’t being celebrated here, with the relatively high placement of “Cold Stones.” This is the episode where his attempts to go back to New Jersey cost him his life, since he’s ambushed and taken out by Phil in a way one imagines Phil probably wanted to do a season earlier to Tony B.

So, if you don’t absolutely detest Phil at this point, here’s “Cold Stones” for you, as one more chance to finally get the memo. The taboos and controversies about Junior in “Boca” were played for laughs, but Phil is well and truly a good deal more brutal than anyone back then, since he resorts to doing this when he finds out the truth about Vito. It’s not a nice episode, but it is one where something big happens (and there aren’t a ton of big events in season 6A, once you get past the first three episodes), and it’s undoubtedly important for the narrative going forward.

General Hospital fans, our leaker told us a while back and we shared it with you that Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) would make a prison break and then we shared an updated leak that Sidwell gets loose after an attack. And now it looks like those leaks are a lot closer to being confirmed. Because of this week’s promo with him and Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner).

Today we’re going to talk about Sidwell’s brutal attack he suffers in prison, who’s behind it, how Curtis gets involved, and what comes next with new info from our leaker, and also some official General Hospital spoiler info.

General Hospital LEAK: Sidwell Makes a Break for it

So, the brand new promo, if you haven’t seen it, for General Hospital this week shows big trouble in Pentonville. Jenz Sidwell is in danger this week and Curtis Ashford gets tangled up in it, which to be honest is his own fault. Remember, the warden placed Sidwell and Curtis together, and that was to be able to keep a closer eye on both of them. The warden said it was. Because he and Sidwell were both high-profile and high risk. But it looks like those safety measures don’t pan out.

In the promo, we have Curtis being warned to find a reason not to be in their cell after lunch. And then Sidwell gets cornered in the cell he shares with Curtis and it looks like at least two other inmates attack Sidwell, maybe three. And if the leak is correct, the brutal assault in Pentonville this week is bad enough to send Curtis’s cellmate to General Hospital for treatment.

But Sidwell might not be the only one that gets a trip to General Hospital. Because of their injuries. I have shared some of the leak about this over the past many weeks, and I’m always excited to see when things from the leak go from the status of rumor to the status of official General Hospital spoilers, and it just happened.

Sidwell’s Strategy Revealed on GH?

What is not certain is if Curtis also winds up in the hospital and there’s a question of who is behind the attack. So, Sidwell’s plea deal was for him to serve thirty years behind bars. And I doubt that Sidwell took that deal from Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) office intending to serve all that time. That’s just not the kind of man that Sidwell is.

Even though Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) fully expects that his enemy will rot behind bars, I honestly wouldn’t put it past Sidwell to be staging an attack on himself, paying prisoners to attack him. Something bad enough to send him to General Hospital. Not so bad he’s handicapped or killed. But it would need to be something more serious with Sidwell than the Pentonville Infirmary can handle.

General Hospital: Jason Morgan Behind It?

However, our leaker told us that somebody surprising is behind the assault. They said it’s Jason Morgan (Steve Burton). Our inside source says Jason finds out Sidwell and Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) are behind his torture at the WSB black site in Indonesia. So, as you know, Jason falsely confessed to save Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr). But for a while, Cullum and Sidwell believed that Jason shot Cullum. And then Jason was taken away and he was tortured and he came back a drastically changed man. The leaker said he spirals and wants revenge on Sidwell.

I’m not entirely sure it’s going to play out quite like that if it is Jason. Because there’s just no time for the spiral. The assault on Sidwell happens this week and we had this leak a while back. So if Jason finds this out and has a spiral, we might see it more in flashbacks. Also, Jason came back saying he was done with the violence. So, him setting up a hit on Sidwell in Pentonville kind of contradicts that. However, Jason might do this for closure. And if it is intended as a hit, Sidwell being a dead man means that Jason can move on and people will be safer.

Curtis Gets Involved on GH

Then again, maybe it’s not intended as a hit. Maybe Jason set it up as payback on Sidwell for the physical abuse that Jason suffered. Because of him and Cullum. The leak also said that Curtis gets caught in the crossfire of Sidwell’s attack and that seems to be intentional. Because Curtis is warned to stay away. So, I’m sure he figures out quickly that something bad is going to happen to Sidwell and Curtis should just stay out of it.

But I think him sitting by while Sidwell is getting attacked, even if Curtis doesn’t like Sidwell, isn’t something he’ll do. Plus, Curtis thinks he’s a tough guy. We know he can throw a punch. Just ask Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson). But Curtis should stay out of it. Because he doesn’t need to risk his parole in two years, especially for a dirt bag like Sidwell.

General Hospital: Repeat of Drew/Cyrus Storyline?

But we also know General Hospital likes to repeat plots. And this reminds me of when Drew Cai (Cameron Mathison) was in Pentonville and saved villainous Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober) several years ago. If you forgot, Drew saved Cyrus from a physical attack and then he had a coronary moments later. Drew did CPR and saved his life. Didn’t help Drew get out early or anything. In fact, after he saved Cyrus, the warden put Drew in solitary confinement, and that was for getting into a fight with another prisoner, even though it was done to save Cyrus.

In fact, he repaid Drew by having him beaten in prison as part of his scheme. So, looks like Sidwell is attacked by the end of this week and Curtis intentionally intervenes when he shouldn’t and he may wind up injured or he may wind up put into solitary if the warden similarly punishes Curtis for getting into an altercation even if it’s to save Sidwell like the warden did with Drew.

If the leaker is correct, despite Curtis’s help, Sidwell is hospitalized and this could set the stage for November sweeps. So Curtis plays hero, Sidwell’s taken to General Hospital for treatment and Sidwell could be there a week or two and then if he escapes that would be right in time to be a big part of November sweeps which kicks off October 29th. The search for Sidwell and the danger is absolutely perfect. The kind of thing they love to do for sweeps and this might set the stage for Curtis to get out of prison early.

General Hospital: Curtis Gets Out Early?

If Jason’s behind the attack on Sidwell, he might feel horrible that Curtis became collateral damage. And Jason might use his money or Quartermaine family ties to get Curtis released early from prison. Saving a horrible criminal is not the usual thing that gets you like a governor’s pardon. But you never know.

You know, Jason and Curtis both are close friends with Mayor Laura Collins (Genie Francis). She could use her influence except she’s in Ireland visiting Kevin Collins (Jon Lindstrom) and Ace Cassadine (Jay and Joey Clay). But acting mayor Ezra Boyle (Daniel Cosgrove) might help if Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper) or somebody else leans on him. That would be interesting because Sidwell is somebody who terrifies Ezra and he’s not going to want Sidwell on the loose. And I’m not sure Ezra would necessarily help with anything to do with Sidwell. But you never know.

General Hospital: Curtis’ Life on the Line

General Hospital Fall spoilers say Curtis may get help from a surprising source if he lives long enough to accept it. That to me definitely sounds like Curtis is injured possibly seriously. We’ll see. That might have something to do with the attack. But even though the leakers said Sidwell is attacked, them saying Curtis is caught in the crossfire means he might be seriously injured. So, Jordan might even go to Willow Tait Corinthos (Katelyn MacMullen) for help.

I think the most surprising source would be Kai Taylor (Jens Austin Astrup). He might see how stressed Portia and Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) are after this. And Kai might appeal to have Curtis’s sentence lessened. He could make a victim impact statement asking for leniency. In the meanwhile, Sidwell escapes and wreaks havoc one last time, and that would be a lot of soapy fun for November sweeps.