Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu is coming to the defense of her fellow medalist, Eileen Gu, after some controversy during the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

“I’ve known Eileen since I was 13 or something. We’re from the Bay Area. She’s super nice, and her mom is from China,” Liu, 20, told the New York Times on Thursday, March 6. “I think people are hypocritical for shaming her for representing China. So, in my head, it’s a bit hypocritical, because her mom is an immigrant. Y’all would have told her to go back to China. Now that they’re back in China, you’re mad.”

She continued, “And it’s sport, it doesn’t matter what country we represent. Sport is sport, and she has a love for competition, she has love for the game. I think that’s all that matters. There’s no shame in going to where opportunity is.”

Gu, 22, was at the center of some discourse after she decided to represent China at the Games, despite being born in San Francisco.

Both her and Liu were born in California to Chinese and American parents.

Gu opted to represent China — where her mother, Yan Gu, is from — prior to competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The chatter reached a pinnacle when United States Vice President JD Vance decided to criticize the Olympic skier.

Related: Who Is Alysa Liu Dating? Inside Olympic Gold Medal Winner’s Love Life

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Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu is having a moment following her two gold medal wins at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy. The skater has become a pop culture phenomenon as one-third of Team USA Figure Skating’s “Blade Angels” alongside Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito. Alysa’s trademark striped hair and […]

“I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United Sates of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America,” Vance, 41, told Fox News on February 17. “So, I’m going to root for American athletes, and I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for this Olympics.”

“I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet,” Gu responded to USA Today on February 19. “So many athletes compete for a different country… people only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.”

Gu added, “And also, because I win. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s OK for me.”

Gu — who became the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history with her three medals at the 2026 Games — speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and spent many of her summers in Beijing.

A Tennessee woman is behind bars after allegedly shooting a man more than a dozen times after learning he had been accused of sexually assaulting a child she’s related to.

Us Weekly has learned a Memphis police officer out on patrol February 26 came across an unresponsive man who was lying in the middle of the road shortly before 2 a.m.

A police spokesperson confirmed that the man — identified as Noe Santillan Rincon — was already dead after being shot 14 times, including once in the head.

Police learned that Rincon, 58, had been staying with Alishon Torres‘ mother, but that he’d left around 1 a.m. to go to the store.

The mother said she later started receiving calls from Torres, 18, from Rincon’s phone, police said.

Investigators gave no indication of what those phone conversations may have entailed.

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A woman has been arrested in Arizona after she allegedly shot a 4-year-old boy in the face over a breakup she’d had with the young child’s uncle. Joanna Chalup Cortez was charged in connection with the shooting of a 4-year-old boy on Tuesday, January 6, at a home in south Phoenix, Arizona, according to a […]

Torres was tracked down and arrested on Thursday, March 5, for first-degree murder. While speaking with police, she allegedly said that a 5-year-old girl in her family had accused Rincon of touching them in a sexual manner three to four weeks earlier.

Police said that Torres and Rincon crossed paths as he was driving towards the store to pick up milk and rice, and she allegedly asked him if she could use his phone. That’s when she allegedly confronted him about the girl’s allegation. Cops claim soon after, she started firing into Ricon’s van.

Torres allegedly told investigators she actually took a picture of the bloody crime scene before pulling Rincon out of the driver’s seat and onto the street. She allegedly told police she drove the van to an abandoned house where she repainted it.

She said she then left the vehicle at an apartment complex with her boyfriend, who she insisted was not involved and knew nothing about the killing.

Relatives ended up at the scene and identified the body.

Police allegedly found a gun as it fell out of Torres’ handbag, and she admitted it was one of two guns she had used in the shooting.

Torres told investigators she sold or gave the other gun away that was used to kill Rincon.

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Texas woman Courtney Renee Hooper was arrested after she was accused by police of killing her boyfriend on Christmas Eve following an alleged fight. Authorities confirmed in a press briefing on Thursday, December 25, that they responded to a report of a shooting at a residence in Bexar County, Texas, on Wednesday, December 24. Once […]

Torres is also charged with employing a firearm in the commission of a felony and tampering with evidence.

She is being held as the investigation into what transpired is ongoing. Detectives have asked anyone with information about the case to contact the Memphis Police Department’s homicide division as the case moves toward prosecution.

Jail records indicate Torres is a citizen of Honduras.

U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has asked Tennessee officials to hold on to her until they can take custody of her at a later date.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

If you know of a young person who is being exploited or are the victim of a crime, you are urged to report it to your local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be left at tips.fbi.gov

Stephen King‘s works have haunted readers for decades, but translating his unique blend of horror, suspense, fantasy, and deeply human characters to the small screen has always been one of the most challenging things to do. Some adaptations crash and burn, while others capture the feelings and messages of his novels almost to a T.

From faithful miniseries to ambitious ongoing dramas, the last few decades have produced a remarkable collection of King TV projects, proving his stories can thrive in the long-form format. Here are the 10 best Stephen King TV shows for all fans of his world-building magic, ranked by overall acclaim and how much King himself liked and approved of them.

10

‘Chapelwaite’ (2021)

Image via Epix

Chapelwaite is a 2021 series starring Adrien Brody, and it was based on one of King’s most famous short stories, “Jerusalem’s Lot,” from his 1978 collection of stories, Night Shift. Set in the 1850s, Chapelwaite is a Gothic horror series following Captain Charles Boone (Brody), who moves his family to his ancestral home in the small Maine town of Preachers’ Corners after his wife’s death. There, he discovers the dark secrets lurking in his family’s bloodline and the malevolent forces tied to the Boone legacy. The show builds suspense slowly, avoiding cheap scares and letting the atmosphere do the heavy lifting.

While there’s not a noted reaction to the series from King, critics have praised the show, saying it avoids going over the top, playing out like a methodical whodunit, which is exactly what helps keep viewers hooked from start to finish. Brody’s performance is powerful as the family’s wounded patriarch; he carries the narrative with a brilliant emotional weight. Though drab and slow-burning in some respects, Chapelwaite still holds up well and makes for one of the better adaptations of King’s works.

9

‘The Shining’ (1997)

Image Via ABC

If you thought that King’s brilliant 1977 novel The Shining only had a film adaptation, you’re wrong—there’s also a miniseries from 1997, and it was written by King himself. In an attempt to ensure the fidelity to the story, King seized the opportunity to create his own version; this came after years of expressing public frustration with Stanley Kubrick‘s film adaptation. It’s great to know that King has finally found a version of The Shining that he is happy about, and many fans who truly love the book agree with his version.

The Shining stars Steven Weber as Jack Torrance, a recovering alcoholic and aspiring writer who takes a winter caretaker job at the isolated Overlook Hotel with his wife Wendy (Rebecca De Mornay) and psychic son Danny (Courtland Mead). As winter closes in and the hotel’s evil influence grows, Jack descends into madness. Unlike Kubrick’s version, the series reinstates the novel’s themes of supernatural possession and the evil nature of the hotel. While it lacks Kubrick’s visual mastery, The Shining delivers a story with well-developed characters, completing the novel experience.

8

‘The Dead Zone’ (2002–2007)

Image via USA

The Dead Zone is a novel from 1979, and it was first adapted into a feature film by David Cronenberg in 1983, starring Christopher Walken. While this is one of the best adaptations of King’s works in movie format, the 2002 TV series of the same name is pretty decent, too. Fans liked the show’s mix of the “case of the week” trope and bigger story arcs, saying it’s perfect for anyone who enjoys their mystery sprinkled with some nice character development.

The Dead Zone has six seasons, following Johnny Smith (Anthony Michael Hall), a small-town teacher who falls into a coma after an accident and awakens six years later, only to discover he has psychic abilities; his abilities are triggered when he touches someone, revealing their past or future to him. The show takes the overarching mythology of the novel and blends it with a whodunit nature, following Johnny’s attempts to stop a rising politician from triggering nuclear war. The Dead Zone shows that King’s work is easily adaptable into a long-running series; despite an abrupt ending, it holds up as one of the most successful long-form adaptations, honoring the source well.

7

‘Salem’s Lot’ (1979)

Image via CBS

Salem’s Lot was based on the book of the same name from 1975, and it’s a unique series because it was directed by the ’70s king of horror, Tobe Hooper. His two-part miniseries translates King’s vampire novel to television beautifully, with King himself having praised this adaptation for its faithfulness and atmosphere. Even decades later, viewers recognize the show’s immense quality, proving flashy visuals aren’t always the best way to evoke genuine fear; atmosphere is the biggest part of Salem’s Lot‘s success. This, together with great characters and a steady pace, makes Salem’s Lot an adaptation worth raving about.

Salem’s Lot follows writer Ben Mears (David Soul), who returns to the small Maine town of Jerusalem’s Lot, his hometown, seeking inspiration. While there, he discovers that a mysterious antique dealer has brought an ancient evil with him; as townspeople begin vanishing or turning up dead, Ben realizes he’s facing a vampire epidemic. Salem’s Lot is, on its own, an inspirational story for many horror fans, but the ’79 show also inspired a generation of filmmakers.

6

‘Mr. Mercedes’ (2017–2019)

Image via Audience

Mr. Mercedes is a three-season series based on the Bill Hodges novel trilogy: Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch. Hodges is a retired detective, and Mr. Mercedes is a rare detective story by King; it’s also related to The Outsider, which is frequently cited as the best King TV show. King has spoken positively about the adaptation, and though the trilogy represents his first foray into pure detective fiction, he brings his characteristic psychological depth to the genre. It’s one of the best and highest-quality adaptations of King’s work, though it flew under the radar big-time, mostly because of its network.

Mr. Mercedes follows retired detective Bill Hodges (Brendan Gleeson), who is haunted by an unsolved case of a killer who drove a stolen Mercedes into a crowd of job fair applicants, killing about a dozen people. When Brady Hartsfield (Harry Treadaway) begins taunting Hodges with emails, he launches an unofficial investigation, getting drawn into a cat-and-mouse game with a psychopath hiding in plain sight. Treadaway plays Brady in a frightening, chilling way, while Gleeson brings immense depth and likability to Hodges.

5

‘Castle Rock’ (2018–2019)

Image via Hulu

Castle Rock is an original story that draws from the entire Stephen King universe, blending together some of the most iconic characters in the most iconic town from his novels. Hulu’s ambitious anthology series creates an entirely new story set within the interconnected world of King’s works, and executive producer JJ Abrams worked closely with King to create an authentic extension of his universe. The project was welcomed with critical acclaim and audience acclaim, with everyone embracing this ambitious concept, consistently giving it high praise. It’s one of the best adaptations that takes creative liberties and succeeds in honoring where it comes from.

Castle Rock is set in the infamous Maine town of Castle Rock, a setting featured in numerous King stories. The story follows Henry Deaver (André Holland), a death row attorney who returns to his hometown when Shawshank Prison discovers a mysterious young man (Bill Skarsgård) held in a forgotten underground cell. The series weaves together references, locations, and characters from across King’s bibliography: Shawshank Prison looms large, characters mention events from novels like Cujo and The Body, and we meet Jackie Torrance (Jane Levy), the niece of Jack Torrance from The Shining.

4

‘11.22.63’ (2016)

Image via Hulu

11.22.63 was based on the novel of the same name from 2011, which reportedly involved the most research King has ever undertaken for a book, with every period detail meticulously translated. He’s also satisfied with the TV adaptation, which is remarkably faithful to his vision. Critics praise the show’s world-building, suspense, and emotional depth. 11.22.63‘s arrival on Netflix propelled it to the streamer’s Top 10 chart, introducing a new generation to this masterpiece adaptation.

11.22.63 follows Jake Epping (James Franco), a recently divorced English teacher from Lisbon Falls, Maine, whose dying friend Al Templeton (Chris Cooper) reveals a shocking secret: the diner’s storage closet is a portal to 1960. Al begs Jake to travel back and prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy—a task he believes could create a better world; Jake agrees but soon discovers the past doesn’t want to be changed so easily. As he establishes a new identity in Texas and falls deeply in love with librarian Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon), he must balance his historical mission with the human connections that make the past feel like home.

3

‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ (2025–Present)

Image via HBO

HBO’s ambitious prequel series, Welcome to Derry, shifts focus from the Losers’ Club—the protagonists of King’s most famous novel, It—to the cursed town itself. Set in the winter of 1962, 27 years before the events of the film It Chapter One, the show explores the societal rot that allows Pennywise to thrive. We’re in the middle of the Cold War, and racial tensions are through the roof, creating the perfect feeding ground for an entity that feeds on paranoia and division. The pilot episode makes a bold statement by killing off most of its young cast and including a gruesome sequence involving a mutant baby’s birth. The show is additionally filled with Easter eggs that refer to King’s vast universe.

With fears that Welcome to Derry would be a redundant prequel in the shadow of the iconic Losers’ Club, expectations seemed both high and low. Yet, audiences and critics loved Welcome to Derry, which grew better in quality and lore from episode to episode. The timed appearance of Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise cemented the iconic status of this future classic, making it one of the most exciting and beautiful stories that honor the Stephen King universe and his biggest story of a killer clown, adolescent friendships, and good versus evil.

2

‘The Stand’ (1994)

Image via ABC

The 1978 novel The Stand is one of King’s most ambitious works, boasting incredibly detailed and vast world-building. It seemed too hard to adapt for the small screens, but even before prestige television existed, ABC took a massive swing at adapting King’s apocalyptic magnum opus; King personally wrote the teleplay, ensuring unusual faithfulness to his vision, and even did a small part as a truck driver himself. And while the production values feel outdated now, The Stand is still one of the most acclaimed and appreciated adaptations of King’s works, boasting a massive and super-talented cast and a timely story.

The Stand is a four-part miniseries that follows the survivors of a superflu that wipes out 99% of humanity as they’re drawn into a final battle between good and evil in Boulder and Las Vegas. While the series follows an ensemble, there are the quietly heroic Stu Redman (Gary Sinise), the childlike Tom Cullen (Bill Fagerbakke), and the arsonist Trashcan Man (Matt Frewer), standing out as important characters relevant to the plot. The Stand also introduces one of the most iconic villains of King’s universe—Randall Flagg, who is the human embodiment of the devil. Flagg is mentioned, most notably, in The Dark Tower series, too.

1

‘The Outsider’ (2020)

Image via HBO

The Outsider is from 2018 and counts as one of King’s newer works; that’s why not many people would be familiar with it. King himself showed praise and love for the adaptation, even taking part in a potential Season 2, which was planned and ready to go before HBO inexplicably decided it wouldn’t be happening. Screenwriter Richard Price took liberties in adapting the source material, which King was obviously OK with; he thought of changing the role and name of Holly Gibney, but King didn’t allow it, showing that Holly is a vital character in his universe and even important to him. She is, truly, one of the best characters in King’s vast world.

The Outsider begins as a gritty police procedural: in Cherokee City, Georgia, Detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) arrests beloved teacher Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman) for the brutal murder of 11-year-old Frankie Peterson. The evidence is overwhelming, but Terry has an ironclad alibi: he was at a teaching conference in another city. This impossible contradiction forces Ralph, still grieving his own son’s death, to enlist the help of unorthodox private investigator Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo) to explain the unexplainable. Erivo elevates the show with her performance, posing as both the heart and mind of the series; everyone around her is just as brilliant, and The Outsider is a crime series with immense love for the supernatural and fantastical.

Maren Morris to Trump Voters
You Got Bamboozled!!!

Published
March 8, 2026
6:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 14 seconds ago

Everyone loves dinosaurs. Everyone loves Jeff Goldblum. Everyone loves dinosaurs with Jeff Goldblum. It should be a simple formula, and yet 2021’s Jurassic World: Dominion managed to fumble the return of Jurassic Park’s trio with a ludicrous plot, dull set pieces, and managed to avoid addressing the ending of Fallen Kingdom. The cool ending with the dinosaurs starting to repopulate around the world? The one that had you pumped for the next Jurassic World movie? Replaced with a story about genetically modified locusts that’s so exciting I fell asleep in the theater the first time I watched it. 

Rise Of The Mutant Locusts

Other films have almost put me to sleep, including, ironically, Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland and the Ryan Reynolds/Denzel Washington film Safe House, but none have knocked me out like Jurassic World: Dominion. I made it to Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ellie Satler (Laura Dern), and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) running around a biotech facility and then woke up to the credits. The plot has none of the tension of the first four films, the dinosaurs feel like a minor nuisance, and the two generations of Jurassic characters are kept separated for 90 percent of the film. It takes one hour and 45 minutes for Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Alan Grant to finally meet. 

After Jurassic World turned the theme park of the original into a reality, and Fallen Kingdom became a haunted house horror for its third act, Dominion’s reliance on a Biosyn facility for the final act was a huge step back. Owen and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), sneaking into a black market auction for dinosaurs, would be fun, except again, that was seen in the previous movie. There’s nothing here that the same stars, same director (Colin Trevorrow), and same writer (also Colin Trevorrow) hadn’t done before, but better. 

Dinosaurs Are Awesome

I did enjoy Jurassic World: Dominion significantly more the second time around on Netflix. Part of that is my expectations were tempered, and the other is that my cat (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)  never lets me fall asleep on the couch. The streaming experience allowed me to appreciate the old guard slipping into their roles like a well-used pair of pants, and Isabella Sermon, who plays the genetically altered Maisie, more than holds her own alongside the cadre of established stars. 

Though Jurassic World: Dominion was filmed during the COVID pandemic, and it has the hallmarks of those productions, namely the complete lack of extras during the third act, the actual story, the weakest part of the film, was solidified long before the pandemic hit. Trevorrow’s original vision, available on the Blu-Ray as an extended cut, includes more dinosaurs and more backstory. That cut isn’t available on Netflix, which is a shame, as the one thing the dinosaur movie needed was more dinosaurs. 

Jurassic World: Dominion is the weakest of the franchise, and yet it still earned a billion dollars a the box office. When the worst film of a series sets records and is still a decent film, if you go in with the right expectations, that says something about the overall quality of Jurassic Park. Or it could just be that dinosaurs are awesome. Jurassic World: Dominion, and the rest of the Jurassic World series, including Jurassic World: Rebirth, are now available to stream on Netflix.

Jason Hughes, a Georgia high school teacher died after what was supposed to be a harmless prank went horribly wrong. This all comes just days after his school district warned students about past pranks that “have gone too far.”

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Toilet Paper War Ends In Heartbreak

Jason Hughes, 40, was allegedly targeted during what students call the annual “Junior/Senior Wars.” According to reports, the tradition involves teams of students pulling pranks on each other—and sometimes targeting teachers. On Friday, March 6, five students, including 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace, covered Jason Hughes’ trees with toilet paper. When Hughes came outside to confront the pranksters, he reportedly tripped and fell into the road, where Wallace’s pickup truck allegedly ran him over. The teen and others at the scene attempted to provide aid until emergency responders arrived. However, Hughes later died at the hospital.

Pranksters Hit With Criminal Charges

Furthermore, Jayden Ryan Wallace was arrested at the scene and currently faces multiple charges, including first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving. The four other teens involved—Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque, and Ariana Cruz, all 18—were also charged with criminal trespassing and littering on private property. According to reports, all are residents of Gainesville, as was Hughes.

The prank itself had been documented on social media in previous years, with students posting photos and updates as part of the so-called “Junior/Senior Wars” point system. Teachers homes reportedly carried extra points, making Hughes’ house a prime target, especially since both he and his spouse were educators at North Hall High School. A GoFundMe reportedly set up by Hughes’ loved ones has since been launched to support Hughes’ two young sons.

School Warned Students Days Before Tragedy

Just days before the incident, the Hall County School District had warned students to end the “Junior/Senior Wars” tradition, citing previous pranks that had caused property damage. Officials also stressed that destructive behavior could lead to criminal charges and impact graduation and other senior-year events.

“Our hearts are broken,” the district’s statement reveals. “Jason Hughes was a loving husband, a devoted father, a passionate teacher, mentor, and coach who was loved and respected by students and colleagues. He gave so much to so many in numerous ways. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and family. We ask that the media and the public respect their privacy as they grieve this incredible loss.”

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