Taylor Swift narrowly avoided what could have been an awkward reunion over the weekend when she attended Paul McCartney’s concert in Los Angeles, only to realize her ex, John Mayer, was also in attendance. 

While the two stars didn’t cross paths, Swift’s quiet exit quickly caught attention. 

The moment comes amid a whirlwind time in her personal and professional life, with major award wins, a high-profile engagement, and lingering history that still sparks conversation years later.

Taylor Swift Avoids Awkward Run-In With John Mayer

According to a report from Page Six, Taylor Swift found herself in close proximity to a familiar face from her past when she attended McCartney’s concert at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday. 

The singer was seen mingling with fellow attendees, including Olivia Rodrigo, but the atmosphere reportedly shifted once it became clear that Mayer was also present at the venue.

Although both stars were spotted outside at different points during the night, they managed to avoid any direct interaction. 

Swift ultimately exited through a different route, sidestepping what many fans would have considered a tense encounter.

Dressed in a sleek black outfit with her hair styled in a polished updo, Swift appeared composed as she left the venue, treating the event like any other night out. 

Swift And Mayer’s Complicated History Still Lingers

Taylor Swift and Mayer’s connection dates back to 2009, when the two collaborated on the track “Half Of My Heart.” 

At the time, the Grammy Award winner was only 19 while Mayer was 32, a dynamic that later fueled widespread discussion about their relationship.

Not long after working together, the pair were romantically linked, but their relationship was short-lived. 

By February 2010, they had gone their separate ways, though the aftermath would continue to echo through their music and public statements.

Later that year, Swift released her album “Speak Now,” which included the track “Dear John.” 

The song quickly sparked speculation that it was inspired by her relationship with Mayer, particularly due to its pointed lyrics, including, “Don’t you think nineteen’s too young/To be played by your dark, twisted games when I loved you so?/I should’ve known.”

John Mayer Opens Up About Taylor Swift’s ‘Dear John’

Although Swift never confirmed the subject of the song, the narrative gained traction, especially after Mayer appeared to respond years later. 

In 2013, he released “Paper Doll,” with lyrics like, “You’re like twenty-two girls in one/And none of them know what they’re runnin’ from,” which many believed referenced Swift and her “Red” era.

Months before the release, Mayer shared his thoughts on “Dear John,” telling Rolling Stone that the song left him feeling “terrible” and “humiliated.” 

He insisted, “Because I didn’t deserve it,” and added that he had been caught off guard by the track’s release. 

Reflecting on the moment, he said, “I mean, how would you feel if, at the lowest you’ve ever been, someone kicked you even lower?”

Swift, for her part, pushed back on the assumption that the song was about their relationship. 

Speaking to Glamour, she called it “presumptuous” to assume the song was about him and reiterated, “I never disclose who my songs are about.”

Swift Celebrates Major Wins Amid Personal Milestones

Despite the resurfacing of old headlines, Taylor Swift has been firmly focused on the present. 

Just days before the concert, she made a major appearance at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, where she was joined by her fiancé, Travis Kelce.

Swift dominated the night, taking home seven awards, including Pop Album of the Year for her 2025 release “The Life of a Showgirl.” 

As reported by The Blast, she reflected on the album’s tone during her acceptance speech, describing it as having an “energy of just feeling really happy and strong and confident and free.”

She credited her current happiness in part to her relationship, telling the audience, “Because of my fiance, who’s here tonight. So thank you, thanks for all the vibes,” as Kelce looked on proudly from the crowd.

The couple, who made their awards show debut that night, shared affectionate moments throughout the evening, including a kiss before Swift took the stage.

Taylor Swift’s Engagement And Future Plans Take Center Stage

Away from the spotlight of concerts and award shows, Swift is also preparing for a major personal milestone. 

The singer got engaged to Kelce last August, later sharing the news with fans in her signature playful style, writing, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”

Sources close to the couple revealed that their engagement has been marked by intimate celebrations, with loved ones expressing excitement and support. 

Plans for the wedding are already underway, with reports suggesting the ceremony could take place at Swift’s Rhode Island mansion.

The rumored date, June 13, holds special significance for Swift, as 13 is widely known to be her lucky number. 

There has also been speculation that close friends, including Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid, could be part of the bridal party.

Sophie Turner is recovering from an unspecified injury, leading to a production pause on Prime Video’s new Tomb Raider TV show.

“Sophie Turner recently experienced a minor injury,” Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement to Deadline on Sunday, March 29. “As a precaution, production has briefly paused to allow her time to recover. We look forward to resuming production as soon as possible.”

Turner, 30, plays archeologist and adventurer Lara Croft in the new television adaptation based on the Tomb Raider video game series. The series is executive produced by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

“I’m so excited to announce the formidable Sophie Turner as our Lara alongside this phenomenal creative team,” Waller-Bridge said in a September 2025 statement announcing Turner’s casting. “It’s not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving. Everyone on board is wildly passionate about Lara and are all as outrageous, brave, and hilarious as she is. Get your artifacts out… Croft is coming…”

Related: See Sophie Turner as Lara Croft for Her New ‘Tomb Raider’ Series: Photo

Sophie Turner has officially transformed into Lara Croft. Prime Video unveiled the first look at Turner, 29, dressed as the video game heroine for her new Tomb Raider series on Thursday, January 15. The photo shows the actress dressed in one of Lara’s famous looks: a green tank top, black shorts, red sunglasses, a backpack […]

“I am thrilled beyond measure, to be playing Lara Croft,” Turner added. “She’s such an iconic character, who means so much to so many – and I am giving everything I’ve got. They’re massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina [Jolie] and Alicia [Vikander] with their powerhouse performances, but with Phoebe at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands. I can’t wait for you all to see what we have cooking.”

Tomb Raider began filming in January and will also star Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs and Martin Bobb-Semple.

In a January appearance on SiriusXM’s The Julia Cunningham Show, Turner opened up about how she prepared for the shoot.

“We’ve been doing eight hours a day, five days a week, since February last year of training, so it’s been a lot,” the actress said.

She continued, “I’ve learned I have a perpetual back problem, but I also realized that it’s much easier to build muscle if you’ve ever worked out before in your life, which I never had, so it has taken me months and months and months to get into good shape. That’s what I’ve learned.”

Turner also spoke about how her iconic role as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones did little to help her prepare for her new part.

“I was the cool queen who, like, didn’t have to do that,” she said of playing Sansa. “I also just kind of was the one that got beat up, not the one doing the beating. So, it’s quite nice to learn how to throw a punch and not just take it.”

There is a very specific kind of early-2000s studio sci-fi thriller that feels almost impossible to recreate now. High concept, glossy, a little paranoid, and stacked with stars, those movies usually revolved around one killer premise and enough confidence to carry it through. Paycheck fits that mold perfectly. It has never had the reputation of the biggest Philip K. Dick adaptations, but it has always had its own odd little appeal.

That overlooked genre entry is heading to Paramount+ on April 1 as part of the streamer’s next monthly lineup. It is an easy one to imagine finding a second life there, especially for viewers who have a soft spot for old-school puzzle-box thrillers.

Directed by John Woo, the 2003 film stars Ben Affleck as Michael Jennings, a reverse engineer who takes lucrative jobs under one unusual condition: his memory is wiped after each assignment. When he wakes up after one major project, he discovers he has given up a massive payday in exchange for an envelope full of random everyday items. Naturally, those objects turn out to be the only clues he has to survive what comes next.

The cast includes Affleck as Michael Jennings, Uma Thurman as Dr. Rachel Porter, Aaron Eckhart as James Rethrick, Paul Giamatti as Shorty, Colm Feore as John Wolfe, and Joe Morton as Agent Dodge.

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Is ‘Paycheck’ Worth Watching?

Roger Ebert‘s review stated that Paycheck starts with a genuinely great sci-fi premise and then gradually turns it into something much more ordinary. Built around a Philip K. Dick idea about memory wipes, future tech, and a man trying to decode clues left for himself, the film has all the ingredients for a sharp, paranoid thriller. Instead, it mostly settles for a pretty standard action movie.

“And the attempts of the Allcom security staff to deal with the various locks and alarms in their top-secret lab had me thinking of “Dumb and Dumber.” There are countless fascinating possibilities involved in Philip K. Dick’s story, and I’m kind of sad that the ones ranking highest in the minds of the filmmakers was the opportunity to have chase scenes and blow stuff up real good.”

Paycheck will premiere on Paramount+ on April 1.

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Release Date

December 25, 2003

Runtime

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119 Minutes

Writers

Philip K. Dick, Dean Georgaris

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Every so often, Hollywood hands viewers a science-fiction movie so committed to its own nonsense that resisting it becomes kind of impossible. The Core is one of those movies. It does not just flirt with absurdity. It digs a tunnel straight through the Earth and drives right into it at full speed. That is exactly why it still has fans.

That gloriously over-the-top 2003 disaster movie is heading to Paramount+ on April 1, joining the streamer’s April lineup alongside a long list of catalogue additions. For anyone with an affection for big-studio sci-fi that takes itself deadly seriously while doing completely insane things, it is an excellent pickup.

Directed by Jon Amiel, the film follows a team of scientists and specialists sent on an impossible mission after the Earth’s core mysteriously stops rotating. If they cannot fix it, the planet is doomed. That setup is obviously ridiculous, but The Core sells it with a great cast, a straight face, and a pace that never really slows down long enough for you to protest. Sometimes that is all a movie like this needs.

The cast includes Aaron Eckhart as Dr. Josh Keyes, Hilary Swank as Major Rebecca Childs, Delroy Lindo as Dr. Ed “Braz” Brazzelton, Stanley Tucci as Dr. Conrad Zimsky, Tchéky Karyo as Serge Leveque, Bruce Greenwood as Commander Iverson, and Alfre Woodard as Talma Stickley.

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Is ‘The Core’ Worth Watching?

Roger Ebert‘s review stated that The Core is absolutely ridiculous, and weirdly enough, that’s a big part of its appeal. The film’s premise — that the Earth’s core has stopped spinning and humanity has less than a year before solar radiation wipes everyone out — is pure old-school sci-fi nonsense, and the movie leans into it with total sincerity. That includes some truly wild dialogue, over-the-top science, and a plot that feels like it was pulled straight from a vintage B-movie.

“The Core” is not exactly good, but it knows what a movie is. It has energy and daring and isn’t afraid to make fun of itself, and it thinks big, as when the Golden Gate Bridge collapses and a scientist tersely reports, “The West Coast is out.” If you are at the video store late on Saturday night and they don’t have “Anaconda,” this will do.

The Core arrives on Paramount+ on April 1.

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Release Date

March 28, 2003

Runtime

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135 minutes

Director

Jon Amiel

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Some movies get permanently stuck in the shadow of the louder hit that came out right beside them. That has always been a little bit true of Deep Impact, which arrived in 1998 just months before Armageddon turned asteroid panic into full-on popcorn spectacle. The two films are always linked, but they are really doing different things. One goes big and bombastic. The other aims for something sadder and more human.

Now, that more emotional disaster movie is heading to Paramount+ on April 1 as part of the service’s new movie lineup for the month. It is one of several catalogue titles joining the platform, and it stands out as one of the more interesting rewatch plays in the batch.

Directed by Mimi Leder, Deep Impact follows the discovery of a comet on a collision course with Earth and the political, personal, and global fallout that comes with it. Rather than focusing only on destruction, the film spends a lot of time with families, reporters, astronauts, and officials trying to process what may be the end of everything. That gives it a very different tone from the flashier disaster movies it is often grouped with.

The cast includes Téa Leoni as Jenny Lerner, Robert Duvall as Captain Spurgeon Tanner, Elijah Wood as Leo Biederman, Morgan Freeman as President Beck, Leelee Sobieski as Sarah Hotchner, Vanessa Redgrave as Robin Lerner, Maximilian Schell as Jason Lerner, and James Cromwell as Alan Rittenhouse.

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Is ‘Deep Impact’ Worth Watching?

Roger Ebert‘s review stated that Deep Impact has a built-in problem most disaster movies wisely avoid: if a comet the size of a mountain is really heading for Earth, the ending can only go so many ways. That tension gives the film a strong premise, and the review credits the screenplay for finding a workable path through it without completely spoiling the spectacle.

“Whether Earth is saved or doomed, or neither, I will leave you to discover for yourself. I personally found it easier to believe that Earth could survive this doomsday scenario than that the Messiah spacecraft could fly at thousands of miles an hour through the comet’s tail, which contains rocks the size of two-car garages, without serious consequences. On the disaster epic scale, on which “Titanic” gets four stars and “Volcano” gets 1.5, “Deep Impact” gets 2.5–the same as “Dante’s Peak,” even though it lacks a dog that gets left behind.”

Deep Impact crashes into Paramount+ on April 1.

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Release Date

May 8, 1998

Runtime

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120 minutes

Director

Mimi Leder

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Writers

Michael Tolkin, Bruce Joel Rubin

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Roommates, you know when a moment just hits different and fans lose it immediately? That’s exactly what went down when Lil Mama unexpectedly joined Bow Wow on stage during his Brooklyn tour stop. Now, the internet can’t stop talking about the surprise reunion and the energy they brought.

RELATED: Who’s This For? Fans Demand Answers After Bow Wow Shares Cryptic Message About Replacing Performers Ahead Of ‘Boys 4 Life’ Tour

Lil Mama Crashes Bow Wow’s Brooklyn Show

On Saturday night, Bow Wow hit the Barclays Center and brought the vibes. Fans were already hyped for the ‘Millennium Tour’ stop in Brooklyn, but nothing prepared them for Lil Mama, 36, suddenly appearing onstage to join Bow Wow, 39, during his performance of the 2002 classic ‘Take Ya Home.’ As shown in the clip on his Instagram, the crowd erupted as Bow Wow teased the audience, “Can we please put both of us in the same frame so they know this is not AI?” before turning to Lil Mama: “Twin, you know I stay ready, right? … Can you do me a favor? Take this sh*t over with this one.”

From there, Lil Mama took over, delivering her iconic 2007 hit ‘Lip Gloss’ and even giving fans a brief a cappella rendition of her 2015 single ‘Sausage.’ Social media immediately blew up: Bow Wow shared on Instagram, “Brooklyn was crazy tonight! I can’t believe [Lil Mama] crashed my set tonight! Now y’all can’t say this was AI! We Finally In The Same Place At The Same Time!” Lil Mama chimed in with fire emojis in the comments.

This Surprise Performance Has Fans Talking

Fans didn’t waste a second hitting up TSR’s Instagram comments to share their thoughts on the surprise Bow Wow and Lil Mama moment. Some were quick to point out, “Okay, they really aren’t the same person.” While others noticed GloRilla wasn’t in the mix and joked she needs to clear that up next. Meanwhile, plenty of fans were just here for Lil Mama getting her flowers, celebrating the moment and the energy she brought to the stage.

One Instagram user @kweenmocha shared, “Should’ve brought out Glo too so we could have Triplets on stage 😂”

This Instagram user @mynametreety said, “😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Yeahhhhhhhhh i still remember the day lipgloss premiered 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥”

And, Instagram user @natasha_nubian added, “Finally we have the siblings on stage together 😍 and she killed that Harlem shake 🔥🔥”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @__kymo___ joked, “We finally seen them at the same time😭”

While Instagram user @_.keeandmikee wrote, “Lmfao! At least his reaction was better than Jay z that one time 😂”

Finally, Instagram user @shaiangelita added, “That’s right give mama her flowers, this is DOPE! 💐”

What’s Really Going On With This Millennium Tour?

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There was a stretch when Hollywood was trying to turn every toy brand, comic property, and action line into the next giant cinematic universe. Some of those bets paid off. A lot of them did not. The G.I. Joe movies landed right in the middle of that era, and while they never became the all-conquering franchise Paramount probably hoped for, they did carve out a place for themselves with audiences who liked their blockbusters loud, shiny, and a little ridiculous.

Now one of the key entries in that franchise is heading back to its home studio’s streamer. G.I. Joe: Retaliation arrives on Paramount+ on April 1 as part of the platform’s new monthly wave of film additions, giving the sequel a fresh streaming home.

Released in 2013, Retaliation leans harder into star power and larger-scale action than its predecessor, with Dwayne Johnson stepping into a major role alongside Channing Tatum. The story follows the Joes after they are framed and nearly wiped out, forcing the survivors to regroup and hit back against Cobra’s growing influence. It is a cleaner, punchier movie than The Rise of Cobra, and one that more confidently embraces the franchise’s cartoonishly high-stakes energy.

The cast includes Johnson as Roadblock, Tatum as Duke, Adrianne Palicki as Lady Jaye, Bruce Willis as Joe Colton, Ray Park as Snake Eyes, Lee Byung-hun as Storm Shadow, D.J. Cotrona as Flint, Jonathan Pryce as President Zartan, and Arnold Vosloo as Zartan.

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Is ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ Worth Watching?

Collider’s review stated that G.I. Joe: Retaliation isn’t interested in being smart, deep, or even especially character-driven, but it does understand the assignment. This is a movie built around giant weapons, ridiculous vehicles, ninja fights, and stuff blowing up on a massive scale, and for the most part, it delivers exactly that.

The best characters, Snake Eyes and Roadblock, are the standouts partially because they’re in tune with the film’s true lead: action. That’s all G.I. Joe: Retaliation is meant to be. Director Jon Chu understands that’s why people show up, so his task is to make sure the set pieces deliver, and for the most part he succeeds. Like all the best toy commercials, G.I. Joe: Retaliation makes you forget you’re buying a piece of plastic. It lets you imagine that you’re part of the action, and free to feel like a kid again—a reckless, violent, gleefully destructive kid.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation will arrive on Paramount+ on April 1.

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Release Date

March 29, 2013

Runtime

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110 Minutes

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When going down to South Park, one can be sure to have themselves a time. Famous for toilet humor and topical satire, it’s difficult to pigeonhole this game-changing animated series. Parking may be ample, but so too are irreverent jokes and absurd twists. The series has built a reputation for crossing every line. But Trey Parker and Matt Stone have not only crossed the line, but they have also done horrible things to the line, and now the line is crying — and audiences are loving it!

With over 300 episodes, it takes a lot to stand out in the canon. The best South Park episodes blend the crude and the clever, holding space for satire and silliness to coexist. The original songs hit all the right comedic notes, and the characters are so flawed that irreverence is an expectation. So come on down to South Park, and meet some of the show’s top-rated episodes on IMDb.

65

“Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow” (Season 9, Episode 8)

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Image via Comedy Central

Using a parody of The Day After Tomorrow as a basis to criticize the media and public response to Hurricane Katrina and to lampoon the conversation surrounding climate change, “Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow” flaunts every bit of South Park’s referential brilliance and satirical precision. It sees Cartman and Stan accidentally destroy a beaver dam, thus causing a devastating flash flood in Beaverton. Unwilling to confess, the boys sit silent as the townsfolk blame global warming for the destruction, sparking a wave of paranoia and panic that engulfs the nation.

Within its spoof story, the episode also features moments that mock Spartacus, Marathon Man, and even Kanye West’s infamous “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” quote—along with several other accusations of selective racism amid Hurricane Katrina evacuation efforts. With its cutting satire and its pop-culture playfulness, it is easy to see why so many fans love the Season 9 episode, and why it is such a defining highlight of the adult animated series.

64

“Best Friends Forever” (Season 9, Episode 4)

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Image via Comedy Central

Juggling a philosophical media war and an actual war between the forces of Heaven and Hell, “Best Friends Forever” gloriously exhibits South Park’s trademark storytelling efficiency and ambition. Kenny’s skill in the PSP game ‘Heaven vs. Hell’ leads to God conjuring his death so he can lead Heaven’s armies into battle against Satan’s forces. However, Kenny’s duties are interrupted when he is revived but left in a vegetative state. Amid growing media attention to the case, Stan and Kyle implore that Kenny remain on life support. At the same time, Cartman, eager to inherit his friend’s PSP, argues that prolonging his life in such a state is wrong and would go against Kenny’s wishes.

In addition to winning an Emmy, the episode has garnered enduring acclaim for its approach to right-to-die arguments and, more pointedly, how the frenzied popularity around such cases as Terri Schiavo’s—regardless of what side of the debate one stands on—is a grotesque trivialization of someone’s fate. Ferociously suggesting media personalities who do obsess on such cases—and people who only share their opinions to capitalize on the trending topic—are parasitic, “Best Friends Forever” represents South Park at its most piercing and precise, and is a highlight of the series’ ninth season.

63

“Professor Chaos” (Season 6, Episode 6)

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Image via Comedy Central

Having grown tired of Butters’ lame antics since he joined the group following Kenny’s death, Cartman, Stan, and Kyle evict him from their gang and run a contest to determine who will be their fourth friend. Setting up an elaborate range of challenges, the boys orchestrate a competition for the neighborhood kids. All the while, a rejected and disgruntled Butters becomes Professor Chaos, a nefarious villain seeking to destroy the atmosphere by spraying aerosol cans and flooding the world with a garden hose.

Lampooning reality TV shows like The Bachelor through Cartman, Kyle, and Stan’s story, while parodying X-Men through the focus on Professor Chaos, the Season 6 episode is a delightful highlight of South Park’s knack for mixing referential comedy with character-driven narrative. It is a defining highlight of the show’s sixth season, and has aged gracefully with its spoof gags and its origin story for the series’ most beloved supervillain.

62

“You’re Getting Old” (Season 15, Episode 7)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Image via Comedy Central

Throughout its immense run, South Park has been everything from an irreverent and crude comedy to a sharp social satire, a profound and profanity-laden parody, and even an insightful political allegory. Even with such a range being considered, there is no episode quite like “You’re Getting Old.” Following his tenth birthday party, Stan develops a cynical outlook on life, leading him to ponder his existence as he begins seeing things in the world as literal feces.

It is a moody and dark episode, one that pushes past the ridiculousness of a child experiencing such feelings to present a rich and contemplative story of growing old and growing beyond things. Stan’s emotional melancholy is only accentuated by the subplot involving Randy and Sharon’s fighting, leading to divorce, and an alarmingly abrupt ending devoid of happiness and hope. Of course, South Park still injects the story with plenty of humor, but “You’re Getting Old” is one of the most striking and unique episodes the series has ever aired, and it is no surprise that viewers consider it to be among its better entries.

61

“Go God Go XII” (Season 10, Episode 13)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Image via Comedy Central

A direct follow-on from the previous episode, “Go God Go XII,” sees Cartman stranded in the distant future where religion has been eradicated, and atheists are entrenched in a struggle against super-intelligent sea otters. In the present day, Mrs. Garrison’s love affair with Richard Dawkins becomes all the more intriguing as audiences discover the duo plays a vital role in the expunging of religion.

The Season 10 episode exemplifies the brand of efficient, large-scale storytelling South Park has always executed so well, with the episode juggling its interweaving plots with impressive grace and clarity while using the juxtaposition of the stories to conjure up laughs aplenty. In an interview with Playboy in 2012, Dawkins himself revealed he wasn’t a fan of the episode. That’s okay, though, because its impressive IMDb rating implies that nearly everyone else was.

60

“Up the Down Steroid” (Season 8, Episode 2)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Image via Comedy Central

Following up the brilliance of South Park’s Season 8 premiere with another classic gem, “Up the Down Steroid” centers on several of the South Park students’ efforts to participate in the Special Olympics, a sporting event for youths living with disabilities. While Timmy and Jimmy are eager to represent Team USA, Cartman fakes a disability so he too can participate in the event. In the lead-up to the games, Jimmy is convinced to take steroids to increase his chances of winning.

While the episode received some criticism for its similarities to the 2005 comedy film The Ringer, Parker and Stone defended their creative decisions, stating the basic premise was not at all difficult for anyone to come up with. The masses much preferred their approach to it than that of the 05 films, with the episode flaunting the series’ trademark irreverent humor and controversial zest.

59

“Something Wall-Mart This Comes Way” (Season 8, Episode 9)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Image via Comedy Central

Serving as a direct parody of Disney’s 1983 movie Something Wicked This Way Comes, the Season 8 episode sees the pitfalls and allure of commercialism stand as the villain rather than a wish-granting carnival owner. A “Wall-Mart” store is built in South Park, and businesses in the town begin to fail as the residents become completely addicted to the outlet’s bargains. The four boys go to the company’s headquarters, hoping to bring an end to the hysteria before it overruns the entire town.

Like many of the series’ best episodes, “Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes” excels by blending referential comedy and parody with a razor-sharp story targeting a contemporary flaw in society. While it is perhaps overshadowed by some of the other great episodes Season 8 has to offer, “Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes” still stands as a golden nugget of South Park’s scathing comedy. It still stands as a razor-sharp critique of unvetted capitalism over 20 years since it first aired.

58

“Die Hippie, Die” (Season 9, Episode 2)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Image via Comedy Central

Another excellent parody episode, “Die Hippie, Die,” mocks disaster films like The Core as South Park becomes overrun by a horde of hippies congregating for a music festival. Cartman, who has been working as a pest control expert specializing in the removal of hippies, stands as the town’s last chance for survival and begins working with political figures to enact a plan to rid the town of the anti-corporate invaders.

While it isn’t the most thematically pointed episode of the series, it still contains intriguing ideas about society’s attitudes towards hippies, and the questionable level of conviction many hippy-types have in their own espoused beliefs. It is a typically bold episode in this social commentary, but it is more famous for its disaster movie parody and its violent ending that includes Slayer’s “Raining Blood.” The episode also stands as the last to contain new voice dialogue from Isaac Hayes.

57

“The Jeffersons” (Season 8, Episode 6)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Image via Comedy Central

As relentless a skewering of a celebrity personality as South Park has ever undertaken—with the possible exception of Katelyn Jenner—“The Jeffersons” is remembered by many as the episode where Michael Jackson moves to South Park. Another gem from Season 8, it sees the pop icon relocating to the Colorado town and changing his name to Michael Jefferson in order to escape the rigors of stardom. Jackson tries to grow disturbingly close to the boys. Local police, agitated at claims of there being a wealthy Black man in town, set out to frame him, but have a moral conniption when the target appears to be White.

The episode swings wildly in all directions, and the vast majority of the jokes they aim for land in emphatic fashion, offering non-stop hilarity from its opening moments. While its lens on racial prejudice in the police force may only be surface-level, it more than makes up for its thematic weaknesses with its all-out assault on Michael Jackson that remains as gasp-inducing and hysterical today as it was in 2004.

56

“The Biggest Douche in the Universe” (Season 6, Episode 15)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Image via Comedy Central

While the serial, seasonal arcs wouldn’t become common practice on South Park until many years later, Season 6 does offer a consistent subplot in the form of Kenny’s spirit living on within Cartman after he mistook his friend’s ashes for chocolate milk mix and drank them. That subplot yields hilarious rewards in “The Biggest Douche in the Universe,” while the episode also offers stern skewering of celebrity psychics.

With Kenny’s spirit beginning to take possession of Cartman’s body, Chef and the kids decide to appear on a television psychic’s program to try to help Cartman, but are disappointed when they only get vague responses that offer no benefit. While Chef takes Cartman to his parents in Scotland to perform an exorcism, Stan strives to disprove the psychic publicly. It’s a hilarious take-down episode that features the creators at their scorching best.

Taylor Sheridan starred in Sons of Anarchy and penned Sicario, but he became a household name after the success of Paramount’s Yellowstone. Starring Kevin Costner, the modern Western follows the Dutton ranching dynasty as they do everything to hold onto their way of life as modern America tries to take it from them. Sheridan’s franchise took the world by storm and yielded many spin-offs about the Dutton clan.

As beloved as Yellowstone is, Sheridan’s feature films are his greatest achievements. Following the Duttons’ conflict with an increasingly modern world, the writer took on another strictly American issue. In 2016, he wrote Hell or High Water, another modern Western that did not hold back on its messaging.

Chris Pine stars in the feature as Toby, a desperate rancher who is out of options. Weeks away from the bank foreclosing on his land, he has no other option than to rob banks to pay off his reverse mortgage. Enlisting his ex-con brother, Tanner (Ben Foster), Toby achieves the American dream, which slips so easily through the fingers of many others like him. Sheridan makes a clear point with this film, with very little room for misinterpretation. While not as high-profile as Sicario, Hell or High Water is becoming a cult classic.

‘Hell or High Water’ Has a Universal Message

Taylor Sheridan is no stranger to pointed messaging in his stories. Yellowstone communicates a clear narrative about how modern America is steamrolling cowboy culture. Hell or High Water has a similar message, but one that is far more translatable to most people. While it is a story about bank robbers and the authorities that are trying to catch them, the primary villain is the banks.

Before her death, Toby’s mother was swindled out of her land by the bank, which was intent on obtaining the oil rights on it for a low price. As their family was always poor, there was no way to escape this situation fairly. In a world where it continues to be impossible to pull oneself up by one’s bootstraps, this story was extremely relevant in 2016. Toby and his brother are criminals because they have no other option. They targeted the bank branch that took their land, but they aren’t inherently wrong.

In one pointed scene, Sheridan plays a cowboy trying to outrun a fire and ensure the safety of his cattle. He laments that this is the reason his children don’t want to take on ranching as a living. Modern life has destroyed the middle class, making Americans either poor or rich. Ten years after the fact, this message is even more significant than ever.

Even though Hell or High Water garnered a few Oscar nominations that year, it is still one of the more underrated of Sheridan’s projects. The showrunner excels with these short-form stories elevated by the impressive cast. Jeff Bridges stars as the sheriff trying to catch Toby and his brother, and yet, neither party is inherently bad. They are all trying to make their way in an increasingly unfair world. With all its obvious political messaging, Hell or High Water still has immense nuance and a heartfelt story at the center. Art reflects the times in which it exists, and this one is more important than most.

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Release Date

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August 11, 2016

Runtime

102 minutes

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Director

David Mackenzie

Producers

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Carla Hacken, Julie Yorn, Peter Berg, Sidney Kimmel

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