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10 Forgotten ’90s Sitcoms That Have Aged Like Milk
The 1990s were the heyday for the multi-camera sitcom. Some of the greatest comedies of all time aired during that time—Friends, Seinfeld, Frasier, The Nanny, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. These are the shows we know and love and continue to watch on repeat. Then there are those great sitcoms that were forgotten yet deserved to be in the same conversation—3rd Rock From the Sun, Wings, NewsRadio. But what about those shows that were forgotten, and for good reason? That’s what we’re here to discuss.
Being forgotten is one thing, but not even holding up over time is another. The ten titles on this list have aged like milk. These shows feature terrible premises, poor caricatures, and concepts that have since become antiquated. These shows are iconic for all the wrong reasons. The ’90s were a time when every big-name star leaped onto the small screen for a television vehicle. They were car crashes, so be prepared to see some legends during some of their career low points. Many of these shows have been wiped away from memory. Others you can find on YouTube. No matter what, they’re too terrible to be believed. How many do you remember?
‘Ask Harriet’ (1998)
Once upon a time, drag was used as a punchline. In the ’90s, it was used in a wholesome manner by the beloved Mrs. Doubtfire. Then there was Fox’s abysmal Ask Harriet, which proved that when handled without care, it’s just sexist and unfunny. Created by David Cassidy, Jonathan Prince, and Billy Riback, Ask Harriet follows Jack Cody (Anthony Tyler Quinn), a chauvinistic male sportswriter, who loses his job and cross-dresses as a woman to get hired as a newspaper advice columnist. To keep his new position, he is forced to maintain his female alter ego, “Sylvia Coco,” at staff meetings and public appearances. There was only so much disbelief that could be had when the drag in question was what was presented.
The plot bore an eerie resemblance to Tootsie, but there was absolutely no charm to it. For those young adults who grew up with Boy Meets World saw Quinn, best known for playing Mr. Turner, in an entirely new light. Alongside Quinn, the cast included Lisa Waltz as his ex-girlfriend, Melissa Peters, who originally fired him, and the iconic Ed Asner as Mr. Russell, the mogul who owned the paper. Despite a 13-episode order, there was no hope for the ill-conceived show, which only broadcast five. The series relied on outdated, cringey gender politics and a drag conceit that alienated viewers because of how it was portrayed. In a time in which drag has become mainstream, it comes as no surprise that the show holds a 0% Rotten Tomatoes score.
‘Can’t Hurry Love’ (1995–1996)
Hangout comedies were all the rage once Friends found its faithful following. A year after NBC had their hit change pop culture, CBS tried their hand at a similar format. The result was Can’t Hurry Love. Created by Gina Wendkos, the series followed the everyday dating exploits in Manhattan and centered on Annie O’Donnell (Nancy McKeon), an intelligent 28-year-old woman navigating the dating scene in NYC alongside her carefree roommate and friend, Didi Edelstein (Mariska Hargitay), a sexy divorcee known for dispensing dating advice. The men in Annie’s life include Roger Carlucci (Louis Mandylor), a womanizing colleague, and Elliot Tenny (Kevin Crowley), one of Annie’s married co-workers who often joins in on the misadventures. The show was conceptualized as a female-led urban ensemble series, but it simply could not compete with the ladies of Friends.
The show was widely panned as an uninspired knock-off of its NBC rival. The “single in the city” trope was rushed to production without care, resulting in it being filled with tired stereotypes, predictable plot points, and dumbed-down humor. Sadly, it was proof that the former The Facts of Life star was incapable of leading a series as she was still seen as Jo Poliniaczek more than half a decade later. While it did hold strong with The Nanny as its lead-in, Can’t Hurry Love was canceled after a single season. It’s sadly forgotten because it couldn’t hold up to its contemporaries. Perhaps television history wouldn’t be the same if Can’t Hurry Love hadn’t succeeded, as it wouldn’t have freed up Hargitay to star as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit! If you have the urge to find the pilot, it’s a laugh to see Hargitay sex it up as she records an answering machine message on the technological relic like a call girl. A far cry from the powerful Olivia Benson we adore today.
‘Good & Evil’ (1991)
There are many credits that Susan Harris will be celebrated for. Soap, Benson, Empty Net, and The Golden Girls, just to name a few. But one show that she may not want to be remembered for is the short-lived 1991 comedy Good & Evil. Hoping to find the funny in soap operas once again, Good & Evil satirized the genre as the story revolved around two wealthy sisters with opposing personalities and their bitter rivalry over the inheritance of the family’s cosmetics empire. Teri Garr played Denise, the casually cruel and conniving CEO, while Margaret Whitton played Genny, the sweet and respected scientist. Through dark, zany humor focused on jealousy, backstabbing, and power struggles between the siblings, including their shared romantic interest in handsome Dr. Eric Haan (Lane Davies), Good & Evil may have worked had it not had one fatal flaw.
Good & Evil‘s intent was to be a campy, soap-opera-style parody. Unlike her more lighthearted comedies, Good & Evil was a tad too cynical, which was not what audiences craved. There was no doubt that Harris knew how to craft a comedy, but Good & Evil was a jarring mix of mean-spirited comedy that leaned straight into offensive territory. Though it had a fun ensemble, which included Seth Green, Marian Seldes, and Brooke Theiss, there was only one thing the show was remembered for. Good & Evil was heavily scrutinized by the National Federation for the Blind for its portrayal of supporting character George (Mark Blankfield). George was a blind psychologist but was portrayed as a bumbling, slapstick figure who constantly knocked things over in a cartoonish manner. With swift backlash for a deeply demeaning portrayal, ABC pulled the plug after airing only six of the 13 ordered episodes.
‘Herman’s Head’ (1991–1994)
The overall concept of Herman’s Head was quite strong, leading to a three-season run. Unfortunately, the execution by today’s standards is a tad uncouth. Created by J.D. Lobue and Greg Antonacci, the Fox sitcom follows Herman Brooks (William Ragsdale), an aspiring writer working as a fact-checker at a Manhattan publishing company. From all outward appearances, Herman embodies the young man on the fast track. However, his contrasting personality traits inside his head are constantly working and bickering. They include Angel (Molly Hagan), representing compassion, sensitivity, and his moral compass; Wimp (Rick Lawless), representing fear, insecurity, and anxiety; Genius (Peter Mackenzie), representing intellect, logic, and wisdom; and Animal (Ken Hudson Campbell), representing lust, hunger, and primal impulses. Outside his head, Herman is surrounded by quirky, colorful characters, including Jay Nichols (Hank Azaria), his best friend and self-proclaimed ladies’ man, Heddy Newman (Jane Sibbett), his manipulative, social-climbing co-worker who uses her attractiveness to get ahead, Louis Fitzer (Yeardley Smith), a neurotic fellow fact-checker, and Mr. Paul Bracken (Jason Bernard), the eccentric boss. Herman’s Head was a high-concept classic that does not hold up today, becoming a far cry from a concept that did work: Inside Out.
The surreal comedy was exactly what Fox was looking for. The show had instant allure with its connection to The Simpsons, which both Smith and Azaria were a part of. It had a similar referential humor that was even parodied on the animated sitcom. But that style of funny was better suited to a cartoon. Herman’s Head relied on crude gender stereotyping, extremely early ’90s lad culture, and overall flawed and cringeworthy brain caricatures. The primary draw was the “Greek chorus” inside Herman’s head, but these avatars exposed some chauvinistic traits that, without the conceit, would have made Herman unsavory. But you forgave Herman when Jay was the outright womanizer sans comedic characters to laugh at. Through his objectification and misogynistic edge, it was an Azaria character who lacked genuine charm. Herman’s Head was certainly not just a product of its time tonally, but its cramped production created a rough edit. The echoey headset is hard to watch back today, which looked like abysmal local-access television. Herman’s Head will forever be a mixed bag entry from the decade, but sadly, it does not hold up as much as it should.
‘High Society’ (1995–1996)
Imagine being a cheap imitation of another show, thinking you could get away with a sanitized version of a raunchy, anarchic British cult hit. That’s exactly what High Society was. There was no way the Larry Levin-created sitcom would ever be as brilliant as Absolutely Fabulous. In High Society, the sitcom followed the decadent and outrageous lives of two wealthy New York women, Ellie Walker (Jean Smart), a spoiled, man-chasing author of best-selling, trashy romance novels, and Dott Emerson (Mary McDonnell), a divorced, successful publishing executive. Then there’s Val Brumberg (Faith Prince), a bubbly former college friend who moves into Dott’s swanky Fifth Avenue apartment after leaving her husband. Tension ensues, leading to campy, decadent, and rude humor that made Absolutely Fabulous the hit it is, only weaker than its predecessor. Unfortunately, over time, the show has largely been forgotten, becoming a blip on the stars’ resumes.
High Society was meant to be the safe replacement for If Not for You, starring Elizabeth McGovern and Hank Azaria, who play two individuals who fall in love with one another despite being involved with other people. But when the show that you replace the slightly taboo premise with is a watered-down version of a British staple, it’s not going to fully find its footing. The struggle in the writing is that it didn’t go far enough. The series relied on crude, shock-value jokes meant to be edgy. But it was seen as forced rather than pronounced. Rather than create two chaotic characters as they did with Eddie Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley), Smart’s Ellie was the crass and selfish, hard-drinking, erratic one, while McDonnell’s Dott was meant to ground her. It was a formulaic Odd Couple dynamic that undermined the intended tone. Between High Society and the similarly swiftly canceled Style & Substance in 1995, starring the aforementioned Nancy McKeon, it seemed like Smart’s sitcom run was one. The 21st century was when we finally gave Smart the chance to be the leading lady we knew she could be on television.
‘Men Behaving Badly’ (1996–1998)
One of the other most quintessential comedies out of the UK in the ’90s was Men Behaving Badly. Unlike the previous series, the States just took this premise and attempted to Americanize it. And it turned out badly. Created by Matthew Carlson based on Simon Nye‘s creation, Men Behaving Badly centers on “guy code.” Two unapologetic, beer-chugging bachelors, slacker Jamie (Rob Schneider), and more put-together Kevin (Ron Eldard), are roommates and best friends. While they are perfectly content wallowing in their own immaturity, their partners and neighbors are constantly attempting to civilize them. Avoiding responsibilities and indulging in perpetual adolescence, Men Behaving Badly was a creatively neutered remake of an edgy sitcom that pushed the bounds in the wrong direction.
The premise was far too risqué for network television, so significant creative changes were made. Morally repulsive and borderline inappropriate, Men Behaving Badly was toned down, which made it incredibly worse. The original series was raunchy, crude, and filled with alcohol-soaked humor. By trying to play the middle, the comedy came across as uncomfortable. Especially in terms of Jamie, who was unapologetic, anarchic, and toed the line of stalker behavior. In hindsight, the persistent immaturity and far-too-casual sexism are difficult to take. It was so tone-deaf that three main cast members—Eldard, Justine Bateman, and Julia Campbell— departed, though salary demands were the official reason. But even with Ken Marino as Steve Coprin replacing Kevin, the mass exodus was felt. NBC let it stay for two seasons, but even that was too much for viewers to handle.
‘Over the Top’ (1997)
It’s a shame that, looking back at it, a show like Over the Top flopped so gloriously. Of the 12 ordered episodes, ABC only chose to air three. Fortunately, Tim Curry fans circulated them all for the world to see. But the reason this show makes this list isn’t necessarily its content, but rather the behind-the-scenes antics that tarnished its potential. Created by Michael Katlin and Nat Bernstein, Over the Top follows Simon Ferguson (Curry), an eccentric, down-on-his-luck actor who gets fired from a soap opera. Broke and needing somewhere to turn, he moves into The Metropolitan, a Manhattan hotel run by his ex-wife, Hadley Martin (Annie Potts), where he mooches off her kindness. The show centered around Simon adapting to a chaotic household that included Hadley’s rebellious teenage daughter, Gwen (Marla Sokoloff), and good-hearted son, Daniel (Luke Tarsitano). Inside the hotel, there is Robert McSwain (John O’Hurley), the infrequently-seen hotel investor who has a crush on Hadley, Rose (Liz Torres), the no-guff assistant manager of the hotel, and Chef Yorgo Galfanikos (Steve Carell), a Greek immigrant who is obsessed with presenting the perfect meal while exuding a manic temperament. While the show sounds like a perfect ’90s sitcom, the executive meddling behind the scenes became a black cloud.
The show was doomed from the start. The original pilot was not set in a Manhattan hotel but in an upstate New York bed-and-breakfast. That pilot featured different actresses as Gwen and Rose, Natanya Ross and Debra Jo Rupp, respectively. But the premise wasn’t the problem. There were heavy rumors swirling that ABC only optioned the series because of the romantic entanglement between executive producer Robert Morton and ABC’s new head of programming, Jamie Tarses. With the order to retool and overhaul the script, Over the Top was flawed. The trouble was that, rather than a will-they-won’t-they dynamic, Curry’s Simon was an abrasive ex-husband who was only present to cause chaos. Even though the premise reflected the co-stars’ real-life relationship as neighbors, their chemistry in the story struggled. It was a waste of talent as Curry was forced to overact. Now, the only one to outshine him in that department was Carell, who played into the Greek stereotype, accent and all. While the show did help slowly boost his profile, it was a tad on the offensive side in hindsight.
‘The Norm Show’ (1999–2001)
Following a triumphant run on Saturday Night Live, it was inevitable that Norm Macdonald would front his own show. But looking at it today, it’s nearly impossible to sit through. Created by Bruce Heldord and the comedian himself, The Norm Show, or colloquially called Norm, follows Norm Henderson (Macdonald), a disgraced former professional hockey player banned for life from the league for gambling and tax evasion. To avoid a prison sentence, Norm is forced to perform five years of community service as a caseworker in a social services office. Unprepared and completely untrained, Norm relies on his sarcastic, mischievous, and cynical charm to navigate bureaucracy and help his eccentric clients. He is aided by his strait-laced, by-the-book best friend and co-worker, Laurie (Laurie Metcalf), and their neurotic colleague, Danny (Ian Gomez). His roster of clients includes Taylor (Nikki Cox), a former prostitute who credits Norm with turning her life around and eventually joins the office staff. With a reliance on cynical humor, The Norm Show became wildly dated quite quickly.
The show’s premise is of a man seeking redemption for egregious crimes, but he doesn’t quite do so. Macdonald’s character was defined by arrested development and a profound lack of maturity, a toxic archetype that was more grating than endearing. The show relied on Macdonald’s smart-ass sarcasm and signature trolling. The humor thrived on controversial topics like self-loathing, bad sex, and failed relationships. While the show had some behind-the-scenes turmoil, including receiving the Friday night “death slot,” the writing quality deteriorated, leading to desperate, bizarre plot shifts. Yes, Norm suddenly developed the ability to read minds. The Norm Show may have been seen as ahead of its time to some, but Norm’s brand of comedy didn’t work in a network television setting.
‘The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer’ (1998)
It’s quite terrifying to think The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer was ever allowed on television, but the ’90s were a wild decade. The ill-conceived UPN comedy from Barry Fanaro and Mort Nathan followed Desmond Pfeiffer (Chi McBride), a sharp-witted, Black English nobleman who flees gambling debts in England to become a valet to President Abraham Lincoln (Dann Florek) in the White House during the American Civil War. The show used the Civil War-era setting as a spoof of the 1990s Clinton administration and contemporary pop culture. It featured a highly satirized and historically inaccurate take on the Lincoln White House. Desmond is surrounded by eccentric figures and must navigate the politics and romance while serving as the only sane individual in the group. There certainly is room to mock the Lincolns, as seen with Cole Escola‘s Oh, Mary!, which may have been inspired by Christine Estabrook‘s emotionally unstable, flirtatious Mary Todd Lincoln. But alas, this show faced criticism before an episode even aired.
The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer was met with immediate protests and public backlash. Several African-American organizations, as well as the Los Angeles City Council, called for the show to be canceled before airing, arguing that a comedy set against the backdrop of American slavery was in incredibly poor taste and trivialized a tragic period of history. To try to mine humor from American slavery and the Civil War, paired with forced, superficial satires of the contemporary Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, the series was always in poor taste. It was misguided from the start. Even if you gave it leeway and tried to compare it to the British satire Blackadder, the humor largely fell flat, with caricatures of historical figures that alienated viewers across the political and cultural spectrum. In the end, the original pilot was pulled, and only four episodes aired before the next work gave the show the final axe.
‘The Single Guy’ (1995–1997)
As previously discussed, every network hoped to capitalize on the hangout comedy success of Friends. Even its own network! If Can’t Hurry Love was the female-led version, The Single Guy was the male-led version. Created by Brad Hall, the sitcom centered on Jonathan Eliot (Jonathan Silverman), a struggling New York City novelist searching for his dream woman. Surrounded by quirky married friends, Trudy and Sam Sloan (Ming-Na Wen and Joey Slotnick), and an eccentric doorman, Manny Córdoba (Ernest Borgnine), who dispenses unsolicited advice, the show chronicles his humorous daily mishaps with romance and urban life. The show was meant to be Friends with a marriage perspective, hence why Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) made a random cameo. Sandwiched in between Friends and Seinfeld, The Single Guy was not Must-See TV.
Even with Hall in charge, the series was derivative. Rather than cultivating a unique identity, the show’s Manhattan-set neuroticism and cynical relationship humor felt dated even during its original two-season run. Becoming a clone served as its fatal flaw. But it didn’t go as hard as the Jerry Seinfeld-led series. It was virtually the PG version. To make matters confusing, Hall’s wife and Seinfeld star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, popped up. Just not as Elaine. She was among the revolving door of cameos of famous and soon-to-be stars, including Larry Miller, Jack Black, Conan O’Brien, Marie Osmond, Paula Abdul, Emilio Estevez, Jenna Elfman, Molly Shannon, and Don Rickles. When ratings slipped after network meddling, writers abruptly dropped major supporting characters, including Matt (Mark Moses) and Janeane (Jessica Hecht), and added new ones, completely shattering any semblance of attachment. At the end of the day, it was cynical relationship advice dispensed by the married characters that framed singlehood purely as a transitional waiting room for marriage. That couldn’t be further from reality today.
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More than 20 years after his relationship with Giuliana Rancic ended, Jerry O’Connell is taking ownership of one of the most infamous celebrity breakup stories of the early 2000s.
The actor recently reflected on the split during an appearance on Kelly Ripa‘s “Let’s Talk Off Camera” podcast, admitting he was “a terrible boyfriend” while revealing he couldn’t dispute Rancic’s long-standing account of how their relationship came to an end. His comments also offer a new perspective on a breakup that first made headlines again in 2015, when the entertainment journalist detailed the painful split in her memoir “Going Off Script.”
During the podcast, Ripa asked O’Connell about one of the most memorable moments from Rancic’s memoir, in which she claimed he ended their relationship over his condominium’s intercom system. In “Going Off Script,” Rancic recalled O’Connell allegedly telling her, “Nope, sorry, homegirl. Things change, but you take care, OK?”
While O’Connell admitted he doesn’t remember the exact exchange from their 2004 breakup, he also wasn’t prepared to say Rancic got it wrong. “I can’t deny that I said that,” the “Jerry Maguire” actor admitted. “It doesn’t sound like something I would say, but again, if I was writing a memoir, it made for a good quote.”
Rather than criticizing his ex, O’Connell praised the way she told the story. “I applaud her for using colorful dialogue and everything,” he said.
O’Connell Explains Why The Relationship Was Already Falling Apart
While acknowledging the breakup was handled poorly, O’Connell also offered additional context that wasn’t widely known when Rancic first shared the story in her memoir. Calling himself “a terrible boyfriend” during their 2003-2004 relationship, the actor apologized before revealing another woman was inside his condominium when Rancic unexpectedly arrived.
“[Another woman] was inside my condominium,” he admitted. “Giuliana Rancic wanted entry into my condominium. Thank goodness, buzzer, gate, security. I paid a pretty hefty homeowners’ fee for these things. Cameras and everything.”
Although O’Connell declined to identify the woman, Ripa speculated it could have been either former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell or O’Connell’s future wife, Rebecca Romijn.
Jerry O’Connell Explains The Context Behind Their Infamous Breakup
The actor also insisted the relationship had already begun unraveling before that moment. “Our relationship was already in trouble,” he explained, adding that he hadn’t expected Rancic to stop by.
“I said, ‘I did not know you were coming. You can’t come here unannounced,’” O’Connell recalled. “Notice no one had a key, so the relationship was not like that. There was no warning, and I didn’t want someone coming in because I didn’t want any confrontation.”
Giuliana Rancic’s Memoir Kept The Story Alive For Years
Although O’Connell and Rancic split more than two decades ago, the breakup became part of Hollywood lore after the television personality revisited the relationship in her 2015 memoir.
Along with recounting the intercom incident, Rancic accused O’Connell of cheating on her with Geri Halliwell and compared his reaction during the breakup to an airline employee delivering bad news. “[He gave me] as much emotion as the customer service representative who tells you your bags missed the flight,” she wrote.
Rather than push back against that characterization, O’Connell again complimented Rancic’s storytelling during the podcast.
When Ripa referenced the cheating allegations, O’Connell called Rancic “a smart girl” and described her writing as “great,” suggesting he appreciated the colorful way she recounted their relationship despite being at the center of it.
Jerry O’Connell Also Looked Back On Dating Sarah Michelle Gellar
Elsewhere during the interview, O’Connell reflected on another famous relationship from his younger years, joking about going on “literally one date” with Sarah Michelle Gellar before she decided not to pursue things further. “We were kids, and Sarah Michelle dumped my ass,” he joked. “She was the smartest one. Sarah Michelle took one look at me and was like, ‘I’ve got to get away from this drunk. One and done.’”
O’Connell quickly added that he has no interest in revisiting that chapter, joking that he doesn’t “want any beef” with Gellar’s husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., while praising the couple’s longtime marriage and “beautiful family.”
Today, O’Connell has been married to Romijn since 2007, and the couple shares twin daughters.
Entertainment
Days of our Lives 2-Week Spoilers July 20-31: Lexie’s Heartbreaking Deathbed Crisis & Leo Panics
Days of Our Lives 2-Week Spoilers for July 20 – 31, 2026 scare with Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford) collapsing in public and being rushed to the hospital where she is on her deathbed soon. Plus, Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) is in panic mode and determined to save his bestie Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien).
Also, in the two weeks from July 20th through the 31st, expect to see EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) trying to tie up loose ends as things continue to unravel for him. Plus, Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) is desperate to avoid consequences and Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) faces an emotional shocker.
Days of our Lives Spoilers: Holly in the Hot Seat
On Monday, July 20th, it’s the last day of July sweeps. And we know that Tate Black (Leo Howard) found the pills in Holly Jonas’ (Ashley Puzemis) bag on Friday. So, we’re going to pick back up with that on Monday. And of course, we know that EJ planted the Coriseal while Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) and Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) are away. Tate has to tell Sarah about the pills he found.
She’ll confirm they’re Coriseal and they assume the worst of Holly. So then Tate and Sarah confront Holly about the pills. And Holly’s asking Sarah if she can go home, Sarah says she can’t. And when Holly asks why not, Sarah says because of the pills and waggles the little packet of drugs that EJ planted. So Holly’s going to be stunned when Tate says he found them in her bag. Holly insists the pills are not hers. They will not believe her.
Days of our Lives Spoilers: EJ Sets Holly Up & Apologizes to Cat
And when Tate asks if they can talk, Holly explodes at Tate in front of Sarah. And Holly’s going to explode at Sarah. Also, she feels like everybody is accusing her except EJ, which is really sad because he is the one who’s setting Holly up. Also, Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) gets an apology from EJ. And this may be because she’s stressed out.
She’ll lose her job if EJ can’t keep the hospital. Not that Cat’s really stressed out about it, but EJ may tell Cat he’ll straighten it out. And EJ may be feeling cocky since he’s got Gwen on ice, so she can’t finish the deal to buy the hospital. And of course, Kayla Johnson (Mary Beth Evans) will wonder why Gwen is ghosting her.
DOOL Spoilers: Lexie’s Terminal Collapse and Escape Plans
Leo admits something to Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) in therapy, something difficult, and it may be Leo saying that he realizes he’s lost Javi Hernandez (Jacob Martinez) for good. Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) and Belle Black (Martha Madison) discuss the clue from the chess set and the letter and they realize that all the clues are pointing to Italy. Sounds to me like we’re going to get a trip to Venice or wherever. But of course Days of our Lives can’t afford a location shoot. So, they’re going to set dress one of those Salem rooms to look like an Italian hotel, I’m sure, and just use stock footage of Europe.
So, Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) is listening as Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) is griping. I suspect this is her venting to her FBI brother Rafe about the counterfeit bag that Gwen bought. And of course, she showed Gabi a couple of websites that were selling her fake merchandise. On the plus side, Gabi should have a large deposit in her bank account, which is her inheritance from Stefano DiMera’s (Joseph Mascolo) estate.
Days Spoilers: Foster Apologizes to Julie
Then on Tuesday, July 21st, we’ve got Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) getting an apology from Foster. I’m sure it’s about him bailing on the concert. Eli Grant (Lamon Archey) and Lani Price (Sal Stowers) have a nice time celebrating their anniversary. Eli surprises Lani with a gorgeous necklace and a fun afternoon at the Salem Inn. Gabi stuns Xander and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) when she drops the bombshell on them that she’s got the money.
But she’s taking back her offer to bail out Titan. Gabi will not invest her DiMera inheritance in them. And Xander and Philip are shocked and they want to know why she changed her mind. So, I wonder if Xander’s going to push Philip to guilt Gabi into investing. I doubt Xander’s going to let her walk out the door without him doing all he can to change Gabi’s mind.
Kristen has this brilliant idea that she and Lexie need to leave Salem together. She already warned Kristen about EJ’s plan to snatch her up and Lexie’s going to need a caretaker as she withers away and dies. So, the DiMera sisters may cook up an exit plan. Of course, it’s going to go awry, but they both have to say goodbye to loved ones first.
Days of our Lives Spoilers: Kayla Makes Cat and Offer
Then on Wednesday, July 22nd, Cat gets an offer from Kayla. Is this Kayla offering Cat a job where she can stay at the hospital once EJ’s officially out? Of course, Cat really probably doesn’t want that job because she works for the ISA and she’s only there to spy on EJ. Gabi teams up with Leo. I suspect it’s about Gwen. This week, Leo stops by Gwen’s room at the Salem Inn and he realizes her bed wasn’t slept in.
So, Leo knows Gwen didn’t make it back the night before, and he may tell Gabi that Gwen warned him if something happened to her, that EJ did it. Holly angrily denies taking pills and keeps insisting they’re not hers. Tate and Sarah don’t seem to believe her. We’re going to see a crying Holly with her bags packed. And it looks like she might actually walk out of the hospital when Sarah’s back is turned.
Tate’s back, too. Sarah asks for Xander’s help. But I wonder if Sarah will tell Xander about the drugs that Tate found in Holly’s bag and ask if Xander saw the pills since he’s the one who packed her things. If he confirms that Holly’s bag was empty before he packed it, that might signal to Sarah that there’s more to this.
EJ’s worried and talks things through with Rita. This may be about him losing the hospital or Johnny being so upset with him or maybe about EJ’s guilt over setting up Holly.
DOOL Spoilers: Goodbye Moments and Exposed Conspiracies
Thursday, July 23rd. We have Shawn Brady (Brandon Beemer) telling Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) his feelings. So, it sounds like Shawn is falling for Jada. Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) is venting to Belle. I’m sure it’s another tirade about Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins). Speaking of that, Chad is there for Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) who’s feeling torn on all sides.
Kristen has a sweet moment with Rachel Black (Lorelei Olivia Mote). And as Brady watches with tears in his eyes, Kristen is hugging Rachel and telling her, “You are my heart and my greatest treasure.” And Kristen tells Rachel that she wants her life to be bright and beautiful. Clearly, Kristen’s planning on ditching her daughter, and Brady may realize this is some sort of goodbye.
Lexie and Abe Carver (James Reynolds) renew their vows. Lexie seems to want this final moment before she bails on Theo and Abe so they don’t have to watch her die all over again. But Lexie isn’t going to make it out of Salem. And she and Kristen’s whole plan to run off isn’t going to work out. Instead Lexie is going to wind up in the hospital and we’ll see. But she may collapse at the vow renewal.
Days of our Lives Spoilers: Johnny Goes Off on EJ
Then on Friday, July 24th, Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) is blasting EJ with accusations. He’s asking Johnny, “What’s this about?” And he wants to know if EJ planted the drugs in Holly’s bag. Well, of course EJ did, but will he actually tell Johnny? He’s been pretty transparent with him, but I don’t think the more criminal things like kidnapping Gwen and things like that are things that EJ will share with his son.
Sarah and Xander share a peaceful moment. Despite them getting closer, Sarah and Brady will soon swap “I love yous.” And Kayla and Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) are worried about what is ahead. There’s trouble at the hospital with Coriseal. There’s the EJ stuff, trouble with Stephanie’s marriage that’s not going away ever, and lots more happening. Leo convinces someone to help him.
This may be about Gwen, especially if this person is the lawyer that Gwen used to hold that stack of EJ’s secrets and receipts that can expose him. Leo’s supposed to get them after Gwen’s been gone a certain amount of time, but Leo may try to get those materials earlier to force EJ’s hand, so he has to give Gwen back.
Days Spoilers: Lexie’s Final Days and Unraveling Conspiracies
The week of July 27th through the 31st, Kristen’s time is just about up. After Lexie collapses, she’ll wind up at the hospital after the vow renewal with Abe. That was supposed to be their final moment before Lexie slunk off to die with just her sister at her side. Abe and Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) are panicking as Lexie begins to slip away. They’re facing losing her again.
And while Abe is going to rage at EJ when he comes to the hospital, as this goes on, he and Theo may ask EJ if there’s any way to stop what’s happening to Lexie. So, their desperation may have them looking for any solutions to keep her with them, even if that means turning to EJ. Gabi may offer Theo her support once she hears what’s going on with his mom, Lexie. And Holly is frustrated with her life with the lawsuit, with Sarah and Tate and Brady and others, thinking she’s taking pills.
So, Holly may consider bailing on Salem because life is too hard for her there. Cat does more hypnosis with Marlena soon, and we’ll find out just how deep she got in with EJ in Italy, and Belle and Chad could take the DiMera private jet to Italy following the next clue they get. But there was that Irish symbol as well, so we’ll see how it goes. Also, soon we’re going to see the guy who’s keeping track of them on spy cameras who’s orchestrating the delivery of all these clues.
Entertainment
Young and Restless 2-Week Spoilers July 20-31: Nick’s Total Meltdown & Sally in Desperate Scramble
Young and the Restless 2-Week Spoilers for July 20 – 31, 2026 begin with Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) spiraling. And when he sees an ex-wife doing something very sketchy, he may actually relapse. Also, Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) is scrambling with threats to her business in a tempting offer that could save her.
Also, during the two weeks of July 20th through the 31st, we’re going to see Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) get her bandages off and we find out if her eyesight is working. There’s a big secret that Jill Abbott (Lauren Koslow) is keeping and Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland) is going all out for family. Let’s get right to it.
Young and the Restless: Matt’s Departure and Newman Family Drama
On Monday, July 20th, we have got Matt Clark (Roger Howorth) telling Noah Newman (Lucas Adams) and Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun), Nick and Sharon Newman (Sharon Case), that he is leaving town. Noah lectures him on forgiveness and Matt snaps that Noah slept with his wife and never apologized. Then Nick gets in Matt’s face and asks what is his next move. Matt wants to leave Genoa City, make a life, find somebody to love. Sounds nice. Sharon wants Matt gone and she offers to help him pack.
Matt doubts that Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) will let him go, but Nick says he’ll take care of that. And Sienna agrees it’s best for everybody if Matt leaves town. He wishes Sienna and Noah good luck with the Shadow Room. Says sorry for all the pain he caused. And Matt walks out.
Y&R Spoilers: Victor Rages
Meanwhile, Nikki asks Victor if he’d even be speaking to her if she wasn’t blind. Nikki knows he’s furious that she went to see Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) in the hospital. And Nikki tells Victor that Jack is her friend, but he tells Nikki she’s got to cut Jack out of her life. Nikki claps back about him letting Matt live on the ranch and then treating her best friend like this. Nikki walks away but stops to tell Victor she’ll always love him despite what he has done.
He’s mad and that’s when Matt shows up to tell Victor he can’t get the dirt on Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) and just wants to leave Genoa City. Victor says no and then he threatens him. Matt says the rest of his family wants him gone. Walks out and then Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) meets up with Matt after he leaves the new ranch very upset and he’s telling Phyllis he just wants to leave town. He is tired of being emotionally kicked and always being the villain. But Phyllis also refuses to let Matt go, just like Victor.
Young and Restless Spoilers: Adam’s Shocking Offer
Elsewhere, Sally is looking at nursery paint colors as Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) strolls up. He reminds her the color that she was going to paint their baby Ava’s nursery. And then Adam proposes a plan to take care of Newman Media so that Victor won’t try and destroy her and Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver).
Adam says that Victor will never take Sally’s offer to sell to him. So, Adam suggests that he will secretly pay her for Newman Media. Sally will sign it over to him and then Adam will tell Victor that he yanked it away from her just like his dad wants to do. And Adam says Victor will think he won. And Sally asks why Adam is willing to risk his father’s eye over this. And he says Victor shut him out of Newman Enterprises.
So, he promises Sally that only her and Audra and him and Chelsea Newman (Melissa Claire Egan) will know about this deal. Sally doesn’t want to owe Adam, but he says he’s the one who owes Sally, and he always will. It’s very sweet. I miss them together as a couple.
Across town, Noah checks on Sharon, who wishes that Nick would just let Victor handle Matt because Sharon’s afraid that this is too much on Nick and he may relapse. Victor and Nick talk about Matt wanting to leave town, and Victor asks Nick if he was in charge of Matt’s fate, what would it be?
Young and the Restless: Markham Search and Nikki’s Medical Appointment
Then on Tuesday, July 21st, Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) and Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) share secrets with each other. And I wonder if Kyle drops the bombshell that Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) rolled over on Victor and is going to give the DA evidence that her dad orchestrated all of this madness done to Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters) and Jack. We don’t know if that’s the deal that Kyle made with Patty. I know it’s the deal he wants. So maybe we’ll find out that he made it happen.
And speaking of them, Diane is thrilled that Jack is now at home, but he’s still recovering. But at least Diane gets to cuddle with him. And she wants loose ends tied up, particularly with Dr. Markham. She wants that guy behind bars so she can breathe.
So, Diane presses Traci about Martin Laurent (Christopher Cousins), who of course is Tracy’s sociopathic ex. Diane thinks Martin may have a clue how to find Markham, who had tons of Alan Laurent (also Christopher Cousins) books on his shelves. But Traci tells Diane that Martin will never talk to her. But Traci admits that Martin would talk to her. And of course, Traci never wanted to lay eyes on that creep again, but she is willing to do it for Diane. So, we’ll have scenes of Christopher Cousins as Martin talking with Traci soon.
Y&R Spoilers: Victor Makes Nikke a Promise
Then on Wednesday, July 22nd, Victor promises Nikki something as she is up at the doctor’s office. Victor’s there with her. The doctor takes off Nikki’s bandages and then Victor holds her hand and the doctor says to Nikki, “It’s time to open your eyes.” I would be shocked if she can see. There should be more to this story. Phyllis is watching Matt like a hawk. Phyllis does not want Matt to leave Genoa City, and she may tempt him to stay by seducing him on Young and the Restless.
Because this week, Phyllis has Matt in her room at the GCAC. She’s in sexy blue satin pajamas that are practically falling off of her as she flirts. And we know that Nick is going to catch Matt and Phyllis in a compromising position soon. And that could be what sends him spiraling back to drugs. Also, it’s just gross to see a woman seducing a man who assaulted her friend. I’m sorry. It’s awful. Josh Griffith needs therapy.
Young and the Restless Spoilers: Nick Fesses Up
Thursday, July 23rd, Nick makes a confession to Sharon, and I wonder if it’s Nick saying out loud, actually confirming that he wants Matt dead. Then again, Nick may tell Sharon that he popped a pill and needs a meeting. Sally and Audra consider their options. I’m sure Sally’s going to run to Audra and tell her about Adam’s offer. They may feel like they have no choice but to accept.
Chelsea and Adam try to impress Victor with a power move they are planning. I expect Adam and Chelsea to lie and to tell Victor that he’s right. They need to get back Newman Media, but they’re going to take care of it. They’re going to snatch it from Sally. They’re going to be ruthless. I am guessing that Victor will be skeptical about their reversal of attitude.
Young and the Restless: Secrets and Health Crises
Then on Friday, July 24th, Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) and Sally find out Jill’s keeping a secret from them. Could be about business with Victor. Maybe she’s investing in Chancellor to help Cane or it could be something about her heart condition and Billy finds out his mom is dying.
And if Cane finds out first, Billy will have a meltdown. We also have Cane driving a hard bargain with somebody on Friday. Could be about Billy and the whole deal for him to work at Chancellor or it could be something fun and flirty with Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) because they are sparking every time they’re together these days.
Devon Hamilton (Bryton James) and Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) find common ground. I’m sure that’s about Abigail and Dominic. And I wonder if Devon will open up to Ashley about his anger issues. Maybe he’ll get some good advice from his mother-in-law.
Young and the Restless Spoilers: Nick Pushed Over the Edge?
Then the week of July 27th through the 31st, we could see Nick popping some pills because he’s ramping up to deliver the fate that he and Victor agreed Matt should face. Nick seeing his ex-wife Phyllis in Matt’s arms might push him over the edge towards violence and possibly also drugs. We’ll find out more about Jill’s big secret and how it’s going to affect Billy and Cane and many others. Sally and Audra let Adam know what they decided about his sneaky scheme to trick Victor.
And Tracy’s probably going to have some PTSD after having to see her ex-fiancé Martin. And we’ll find out if he has any idea where to find Dr. Markham or if he knows that his dead brother Alan Laurent and Dr. Markham perhaps knew each other. I also expect Ashley to leave town again now that Jack is on the road to recovery. We’ll find out if Kyle cut a devil’s bargain with Patty that will make Victor face consequences at last. And we’ll get more on Nikki’s health struggle and find out the extent of what Victor did with Patty and whether Nikki can live with that or not.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated
“Yesterday’s Enterprise” isn’t just a great episode of The Next Generation; it’s arguably in the running for the best Star Trek episode ever made. The story takes our characters to a much darker place than they have ever been before, all while emphasizing the need to fight for a better universe. As the cherry on top, the writers used the timey-wimey nature of this episode to bring back a beloved character who had died back in Season 1: Tasha Yar, who lost her life fighting an evil oil slick named Armus. In the altered reality of “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” that never happened, and Yar was very much alive.
Unfortunately, that didn’t last very long. The Tasha of this universe decides to travel back in time, leading the crew of the Enterprise-C on a suicide mission into the past. She succeeds in restoring reality, but this ultimately comes at the expense of her own life. At the time, it seemed shocking that Star Trek: The Next Generation had brought a popular character back just to kill her off again. Why did they do that? According to one of the show’s greatest writers, they wanted to give Tasha Yar a “heroic sacrifice” and make up for the crappy way she died in the first season.
Yar Trek: The Next Generation
The plot of “Yesterday’s Enterprise” is that when the Enterprise-C travels forward in time instead of getting destroyed, it alters history for the worse. The Federation is now losing a bitter war with the Klingons. Thanks to information from Guinan, Captain Picard authorizes a risky plan to send the Enterprise-C back in time, where it was destined to be destroyed while defending a Klingon outpost. He hopes that this will restore the timeline, saving countless lives from pointless slaughter. Ironically, this plan involves sacrificing someone who should already be dead: Tasha Yar, who leads the Enterprise-C back into the past after its captain is killed.
For audiences watching this Star Trek: The Next Generation episode at home, seeing Denise Crosby’s Tasha Yar on the screen again was a very pleasant surprise. This character had died in the Season 1 episode “Skin of Evil,” fighting a living oil slick named Armus. It was sudden and unexpected, and she died the same ignominious kind of death as the various redshirts of The Original Series. Her death added tension to the show, of course; if a main character could suddenly be killed off, then nobody was safe. Still, many thought it would have been better if Tasha Yar’s death had a bit more meaning to it.
“A Chance To Kill Her Right“
Interestingly, this included the TNG writers who were hired after Season 1. Ronald D. Moore, the veteran Trek writer who went on to create the Battlestar Galactica reboot, described the writing staff’s motivation for bringing Yar back in “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” On the Season 4 DVD special features, he claimed, “We brought Denise back to kill off Tasha Yar a second time. It was a great opportunity to send the character off in a big heroic sacrifice because nobody was really happy with the way she left the series in the first season.” Continuing, he said, “Nobody on the show really liked it, the fans didn’t like it, I’m not sure even she really liked it. So ‘Yesterday’s Enterprise’ was a chance to kill her right.”
Fortunately, Moore and the other writers succeeded in this task. Tasha Yar died to save billions of lives throughout the galaxy by restoring reality and ending a pointless war. “Yesterday’s Enterprise” implied that the Enterprise-C would be destroyed as soon as it returned to the past, killing everyone on board. Later, the two-part episode “Redemption” clarified that the attacking Romulans took a handful of prisoners, including Tasha Yar. Later, she was betrayed by her own half-Romulan child and killed. That child was Sela, who grew up to be one of the scariest threats Picard and the Enterprise-D crew would ever face.
Arguably, “Redemption” ruined Tasha Yar’s act of self-sacrifice. Sure, she still saved an entire reality, but instead of dying in battle, she died at the hands of the evil aliens who captured and violated her. However, one person who had no problem with this retcon was Denise Crosby, who now had another reason to return to the show that she had left back in Season 1. Of course, it’s fair to say her character was having more fun in that first season. Instead of saving the galaxy or forcibly bearing Romulan kids, she was cozying up to a drunken android and performing a job much more rewarding than security chief: Data entry.
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Sure, jeans pair well with basic tops, but on days when you’re looking for something a bit more elevated, Reese Witherspoon‘s outfit is the perfect source of inspiration. Her classy blouse style begs to be worn with denim, and we found a near-identical, expensive-looking design on Amazon, on sale for only $13!
Witherspoon recently took to Instagram to share a photo of herself in front of a large American flag. Her look was classic, featuring a white flutter-sleeve blouse, a straw hat and rich mom sunglasses. While we couldn’t see the star’s pants, we really didn’t need to. Her white top stole the show, and since the photo was posted for Independence Day, we could easily envision it styled with jeans or cutoffs.
Get the Astylish Ruffle-Sleeve Blouse for $13 (was $15) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
This Astylish Ruffle-Sleeve Blouse has the same fluttery cap sleeves that flatter the arms, plus a loose, breezy fit that skims rather than hugs. The budget pick even has ruffles framing your neckline, ensuring it’s crisp, romantic and feels straight out of a Nashville boutique.
Leave it to Charlize Theron to turn our favorite loungewear staple into something incredibly polished. The actress recently stepped out in blue satin shorts, and although hers were probably made of silk, we found the comfy-luxe look on sale for only $14. While promoting The Odyssey in Paris, France, Theron took her chic, pajama-like bottoms to the next […]
It’s easy to picture this top styled a number of ways, whether you’re letting it hang loose with your favorite jeans and adding gold hoops or keeping it breezy by tucking it into wide-leg linen trousers. Even if you knot it over a slip skirt, you’ll find yourself reaching for this elevated basic over and over, rocking it for brunches, book club meetings and dinners with your boo, then shrugging it on for errands the next day.
One five-star fan wrote, “The material is very lightweight, cool and really comfortable. It looks good with jeans and shorts and also looks good with a skirt.”
Better yet, shoppers swear the piece is extremely flattering. “Makes me look 10 pounds slimmer, and the material is thin for the summer,” one happy customer wrote.
If you’re searching for a box-checking, celebrity-approved blouse style that makes you look and feel your best, this sleeveless top is it. It’s ideal for pairing with jeans, but honestly, just like Witherspoon showed Us, it won’t even matter what you wear on the bottom!
Get the Astylish Ruffle-Sleeve Blouse for $13 (was $15) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more summer blouses and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
UsNow Summer Sale Alert: These Chic Fashion Finds are over 30% off – Plus Free ShippingWelcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone. Shop the UsNow Summer Sale –>
Like Us, Kate Middleton leans on mega flattering dress styles. During a summer outing, Middleton opted for a dress that covered her upper arms and cinched her waist at the same time, no squeezing involved. We found the look on sale for only $50! While visiting a children’s hospital, Middleton wore a crisp white dress, […]
After competing on Big Brother and The Amazing Race, Rachel Reilly now has her eyes set on another CBS reality show.
“Yes, I would love to do Survivor,” Rachel, 41, exclusively shared with Us. “That’s, like, oh my gosh, my dream. I talk about it all the time with my husband Brendon [Villegas].”
Both Rachel and Brendon, 46, competed on season 12 of Big Brother in 2010. Although they came into the game as complete strangers, they fell in love while filming and are now married with two kids.
“Brendon is in the process of teaching me how to get a really good fire going,” Rachel shared with Us. “What else did you say you’re going to work on with me?”
Brendon replied, “Eating one handful of rice a day. Building a shelter.”
Although Rachel is confident that she knows “how to do that,” her husband of more than 10 years remains doubtful.
“OK, let’s see,” he said with a laugh. “Hey, we’re in Alabama. We got plenty of stuff to practice with out here. Surviving mosquitoes for 10 minutes.”
During the season 28 premiere of Big Brother, host Julie Chen Moonves revealed Survivor alums Dee Valladares and Rick Devens would be competing this summer.
Rachel Reilly Matthew Taplinger / 2026 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.
While Rachel made a surprise appearance on the July 9 episode, her visit was cut short when she was pushed by a velociraptor into a volcano and, ultimately, her fiery death.
Back home in Alabama, Rachel and her husband make quite the team as they raise their two kids. While Brendon may be considered the “fun” parent, Rachel said she is likely the “strict” and “mean” one.
“Brendon’s a really good dad,” she told Us. “I’m so lucky. I love watching him with the kids.”
Brendon added, “It’s really fun. We love being parents. It’s really cool because you get to relive all of your favorite things that you got to do growing up and do it with the kids.”
When asked about a return to reality TV, Brendon said he has his hands full working full-time as a medical physicist. If his wife got the call to compete in a show, however, he’d make it work.
“She’s made me be a soccer coach. She was signed up to be a soccer coach, and then she went on Traitors and was like, ‘Oh yeah, hey, can you take over the soccer?’” Brendon recalled. “I was like, ‘You went to one game, and you’re making me coach the entire season.’”
Big Brother airs on CBS Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
George R.R. Martin‘s world of Westeros has had its fair share of busy eras. From the Doom of Valyria to Aegon Targaryen’s Conquest of Westeros, backed by his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys, to The Dance of the Dragons, the Blackfyre Rebellion, and eventually, Robert Baratheon’s rebellion, which would ultimately cripple the House from Dragonstone. Outside the world of fantasy, Westeros has become exceedingly busy well beyond the bounds of the original Game of Thrones series. HBO and Warner Bros. have embarked upon an effort to expand the franchise beyond its previous limits of novels and television.
A franchise expansion that now includes film and gaming comes on the back of House of the Dragon Season 3, currently delivering the next devastating chapter of the civil war that effectively began the decline of Westeros’ most powerful House. With a lesser emphasis on war, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is preparing to adapt more of Martin’s beloved Dunk and Egg novellas as we get to enjoy Westeros from the countryside and not the confines of castles and great halls. In film, it has been officially announced by Warner Bros. that an Aegon’s Conquest feature film exploring the Targaryen invasion of Westeros is on the way — and we can’t wait to see Balerion the Black Dread onscreen.
However, beyond television and film, the franchise has expanded its influence into gaming. Video games like Game of Thrones: Dragonfire, which allows fans the opportunity to be dragon riders, and the strategy game, Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, which gives fans the chance to fix Game of Thrones‘ controversial ending, show a growing portfolio in gaming. Sadly, War for Westeros, which represents Jon Snow’s return to the franchise, which was originally scheduled to release later this year, has since been delayed. However, the franchise’s gaming collection continues to grow even further, as a brand-new release coming out on July 22 called The North Bannerman Duel Festival is set to enthrall hardcore fans (via Netmarble). At the moment, gamers can explore the Westerosi universe through two notable titles: the aforementioned Dragonfire and the free-to-play RPG Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, which has just begun its first season, Frost and Steel, which includes the newly announced Duel Festival event. However, it is important to note that the event is currently limited to APAC regions, with no confirmation of a global release.
The ‘Game of Thrones’ Universe Is Awash With Possibilities
It is amazing just how detailed Martin’s fantasy world is, and as such, it presents an incredible amount of opportunity to explore even more stories. An Arya Stark-led show bringing back Maisie Williams to the iconic role was confirmed earlier this year, and that in itself is great news. But the level of attention, intrigue, and detail woven into crafting Westeros’ history and its many houses, both major and minor, offers ample opportunity for those clever enough to craft a new story. A series on the Blackfyre Rebellion, showcasing Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel), the firstborn son and heir of King Daeron II Targaryen, in the prime of youth, might be interesting. So would other spin-off options, like Nymeria and the 10,000 Ships and The Sea Snake, focused on Corlys Velaryon. There might still be some hope for a Jon Snow spin-off, with Kit Harington admitting recently that “there was something left to say” regarding Jon Snow.
Check out new episodes of House of the Dragon every Sunday night on HBO Max and stay tuned to Collider for more Game of Thrones updates and coverage.
For every television revival that finds a second life, there are plenty more that mistake nostalgia for a creative direction. Too often, reboots either recreate familiar stories beat for beat or lean so heavily on legacy characters that the new cast never gets a chance to stand on its own. Netflix’s upcoming A Different World sequel doesn’t appear to be falling into either trap.
Instead, it’s making a series of smart decisions before the first episode even premieres. Rather than rebooting one of television’s most influential sitcoms from scratch, it’s telling the next chapter. It’s keeping Hillman College at the center of the story, surrounding the new generation with the people who shaped the original, and handing the keys to a showrunner who’s already shown she understands how to update beloved television without losing its identity. If those choices are any indication, Netflix already understands what made A Different World special in the first place.
Netflix Isn’t Remaking ‘A Different World’
Image via NBC
The biggest reason to feel optimistic about the new series is that it isn’t pretending the original never happened. Instead of introducing a brand-new group of students with only a passing reference to Hillman College, the sequel follows Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), the youngest daughter of Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy), as she begins her freshman year at her parents’ alma mater — a far more compelling starting point than another modern retelling because it immediately creates stakes that only this series can have.
Deborah is entering a campus where her parents are legends, meaning she’ll spend her first semester trying to build an identity that isn’t defined by one of television’s most beloved sitcom couples. Just as importantly, the decision allows the original series to remain intact. Nothing is being overwritten or reimagined.
The history of Hillman matters because the characters still remember it. New viewers can jump in through Deborah’s perspective, while longtime fans get the satisfaction of seeing what became of the people they spent six seasons with instead of watching younger actors recreate familiar moments, which is a much harder creative path than simply remaking the original, but is also the one that respects it most.
Debbie Allen and the Original Cast Keep Hillman’s DNA Intact
Of course, continuing the narrative remains possible only if those engaged in this production have a clear understanding of why audiences may have related to Hillman. Debbie Allen is amongst the few people who meet the required qualifications. Although A Different World started off as a spin-off sitcom from The Cosby Show that introduced us to Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet), it came into its own only when Allen took over after the first season. Drawing on her college experience at Howard University, Allen elevated the sitcom, making it more than an ordinary sitcom by addressing college-related themes. Thanks to her endeavors, Hillman has become a place where characters can discuss not only love and friendship but also important issues related to race, class, sexual harassment, HIV/AIDS, and identity, and it seems this creativity is being carried over to Netflix’s sequel.
Allen returns as an executive producer and will direct the premiere, while original stars Guy, Hardison, Cree Summer, Darryl M. Bell, Dawnn Lewis, Glynn Turman, Charnele Brown, and several other familiar faces are reprising their roles. Original writers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood are back as executive producers as well, giving the sequel something many revivals never manage: genuine continuity behind the camera, not just in front of it.
Just as significant is the decision to keep Hillman itself as the setting. The fictional HBCU has always been more than a backdrop because, for many viewers, Hillman represented possibility. The original series inspired countless students to consider historically Black colleges and universities, turning a fictional campus into one of television’s most meaningful institutions. Returning there feels like the only place this story could happen.
Felicia Pride Feels Like the Right Person To Lead the Next Generation
Legacy television is difficult to modernize because audiences usually want two contradictory things at once. They want something that feels familiar, but they also don’t want to watch the same show again, and that’s where Felicia Pride’s hiring stands out. Her work on Bel-Air demonstrated that she understands how to revisit recognizable material without becoming trapped by nostalgia. That series didn’t copy The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air scene-for-scene. Instead, it used the original as a foundation for telling stories that reflected a different era and different conversations.
A Different World requires a similar balancing act, as the original series became groundbreaking because it constantly evolved. After a shaky first season, it grew into one of television’s smartest ensemble comedies precisely because it refused to stay frozen in time. It reflected what college students were actually experiencing instead of presenting an idealized version of campus life.
If the sequel hopes to honor that legacy, it can’t simply recreate late-’80s and early-’90s television with updated wardrobes and smartphones. It has to ask what Hillman looks like for today’s students, what conversations belong on campus now, and what issues deserve the same honesty that defined the original. The new series introduces an entirely fresh student ensemble while surrounding them with characters who understand Hillman’s history. Deborah’s journey is rooted in legacy, but the future of the show clearly belongs to her generation. It’s a difficult balance to strike, yet it’s one the creative team appears to be embracing rather than avoiding.
No reboot succeeds on paper alone, and A Different World will ultimately have to prove itself once classes begin at Hillman again. The foundation is unusually strong, though. Netflix is treating the original series like a story worth continuing. After 39 years, that’s exactly the approach this sitcom deserved.
By Joshua Tyler
| Published
Below is what you think South America’s Aztec pyramids look like.
This is what they actually look like.
What the Aztecs actually built was so shoddy it dissolved in the rain after the Conquistadors showed up. The impressive, long-lasting structures you’ve been attributing to them weren’t built by the Aztecs or any other Native American culture. They predate them by thousands of years, and no one knows for sure who built them. The Aztecs found them in the jungle, moved in, and started using them to perform horrific human sacrifices.
You believe something different because of Hollywood’s persuasive ability. It’s a process that’s been happening since the dawn of film, and it began with the books of Zane Grey.
Hollywood Was Created By Agreeing To Do Anything For Money
If you know Zane Grey at all, it’s as the author of cheap cowboy books your Dad used to read before bed. But his work wasn’t always viewed that way. In the early 1900s, he was one of the pet authors of America’s elites, who had recently become enamored with a trendy ideology suggesting we had the American Indians wrong.
These ideas had been around since the mid-1800s, but never gained any traction. The elites continued circulating them, though, lapping up books which supported their unpopular view of American Indians as victims.
So Zane Grey wrote a book called The Vanishing American, in which he reframed American Indians as morally superior and European descendants as inferior murderers. The elites loved it. However, no one else did. The average American of the time, perhaps with the recently heard horror stories of their grandparents’ real experiences fighting them in their heads, still thought of Natives as brutal savages who had it coming.
Around that same time, movies were just starting to become a thing. But the movie industry was viewed as low-class, and it was sneered at by those same Zane Grey fanboy elites.
So, in what would become a pattern for the film industry, in 1923 Hollywood cynically adapted Zane Grey’s The Vanishing American into a movie, specifically to access the investment capital of the American upper class. This strategy worked and was one of the first steps toward legitimizing the film industry.
Despite being turned into a movie back in the days when there weren’t many movies, The Vanishing American didn’t change the minds of anyone outside that upper crust. While Hollywood had made the movie, it hadn’t made them true believers in its ideology.
Jimmy Stewart’s Broken Arrow Launders American Indians
Hollywood spent World War II cranking out government-mandated content showcasing Germans as crazed demon worshippers and the Japanese as evil caricatures. When the war was over, the head honchos in Hollywood, who were by then on their way to becoming the new elites, had begun to adopt those early-1900s elitist views.
Yet the war hadn’t changed the minds of average Americans, who returned from fighting Nazis with their belief in the superiority of their own culture not only intact, but fortified by their experience battling repugnant Nazi culture. So in 1950, Hollywood set out to change those average American minds, starting with their favorite and long-time cultural villain: the American Indian.
20th Century Fox hired director Delmer Daves to adapt a book by Elliot Arnold called Broken Arrow, a book that fictionalized the signing of a peace deal between the Apache Chief Cochise and the American government. Daves’s explicitly stated purpose in making the film was to make it Pro-Indian, something which was at the time basically unheard of.
To play Broken Arrow’s native loving crusader, he hired the most sympathetic actor who has ever lived: Jimmy Stuart. To play the chief Cochise, Daves hired a white man. In fact, all the Indian speaking roles are played by white actors in brownface, actors who talk in plain English rather than attempting some semblance of an accent.
That was Broken Arrow’s chief trick. Daves wanted his caucasian audience to think of Native Americans as being no different from them. This isn’t a guess; the movie explicitly states that as its primary goal. So Broken Arrow painted some Californians brown and called them Indians, while doing little to make them seem like Native Americans.
This is Familiarity Laundering.
Familiarity Laundering is the process of making a person, group, idea, or culture seem safer and more acceptable by stripping away the traits that make it feel foreign, difficult, alien, or threatening. It’s like changing the cover of a book and pretending that has somehow also changed its contents.
The native characters’ costuming is minimal. Feathers are nowhere to be seen, and most of the natives Jimmy Stuart encounters look more like day laborers hanging out in a Home Depot parking lot than they do fierce Apache warriors.
Of course, the real Apaches didn’t speak English and didn’t act like Europeans at all, but in this movie they do, and Broken Arrow papers over that factual inaccuracy at the outset with an announcement claiming everything you’re about to watch is totally factual and truly how it happened.
It’s a clumsy and obvious attempt at audience manipulation, but it worked. After decades of trying, public opinion started to shift. The myth of the noble savage began to grow among the media class.
Kevin Costner Pushes Jimmy Stewart’s Message Across The Finish Line
Average Americans continued to resist. Schools still taught the Plains Indians as savages and their Mesoamerican counterparts as doubly so, while the Conquistadors were still taught as heroes.
So the now fully convinced media doubled down on the noble savage myth, with crying Indians and rock songs about how cool they were. They had limited success, but it wasn’t until 1990 that it finally, fully took hold and became the common view. It was Kevin Costner who made it happen.
1990 was the year Dances With Wolves arrived in theaters, made half a billion dollars at the box office, and cleaned up at the Oscars. In it, Costner plays Union soldier John Dunbar. He becomes a war hero by accident and uses his reward to escape to a remote frontier post.
He finds his post abandoned, but stays anyway. Alone with his horse and a curious wolf, Dunbar slowly comes into contact with a nearby Lakota Sioux tribe.
What begins as fear turns into trust, helped by Stands With A Fist, a white woman raised by the tribe. Her entire family was slaughtered by the Lakotas she lives with, but the film glosses over that by only showing it in a flashback with slow motion and careful cutaways, so the audience never sees any of the true brutality.
Stands With A Fist is played by Battlestar Galactica’s Mary McDonnell, and she’s a key component. Until this movie, most people believed women taken by natives were kept as slaves or worse. But Dances With Wolves uses her to “prove” the Lakota are kind and caring. She loves her life there; is treated like an equal, and doesn’t want to leave.
Costner’s Dunbar learns their language, joins their hunts, fights beside them, and begins to understand that the “savages” he was taught to fear are not the threat. The audience is made to believe that real danger on the frontier isn’t the natives; it’s the army coming west behind Dunbar.
This is an Identification Reversal
Identification Reversals are something we’ve talked about a lot on Screenwashed. If you want to see how it’s used in other movies, check the link! It’s a psychological technique in which an audience is initially encouraged to identify with one character, viewpoint, or emotional response, only for that identification to gradually shift to an opposing or contrasting figure as the story progresses.
Soon Dunbar, as the audience representative, turns traitor and joins the Lakota in fighting his own people. The film justifies this by portraying American civilization as collapsing and corrupt. Every part of it Dunbar encounters is a mess.
American medicine is quackery; American forms of government are frauds; American frontier living is so terrible that people are literally committing suicide to escape it. It’s so cartoonish and ridiculous that your brain never questions it. You accept it as, ok, this is what history must have really been, because obviously no one would invent something this silly.
This is an Absurdity Bypass.
An Absurdity Bypass is a persuasion trick where an idea is made so extreme, exaggerated, or openly ridiculous that the audience stops applying ordinary skepticism and accepts it as part of the premise.
It’s an intellectual clown show, but Dances with Wolves looks and feels beautiful. It was all anyone could talk about that year. The world fell in love, and whatever remaining anti-Indian sentiment was left after decades of screenwashing totally evaporated.
Now Americans were clearly the evil ones, and Native Americans were a great and proud civilization which had somehow been conquered by a totally inferior one. None of that makes any sense, but that’s how it felt to audiences walking out of Dances With Wolves. That feeling has only intensified, pushed by further and continuous screenwashing being used on the public ever since.
Dances With Wolves finished the job Broken Arrow started, by fully flipping popular sympathy toward Native Americans and transferring the stereotype of violent savage Indians over to the soldiers who’d previously been portrayed as defenders of civilization.
That stereotype reversal was then transferred to all native cultures. Suddenly Aboriginal bushmen became noble, and the Aztecs invented an advanced civilization with a polite and peaceful culture that definitely didn’t ritually murder millions of children. Even those cannibalistic tribesmen in Papua New Guinea probably weren’t actually so bad. Sure, they may have eaten Michael Rockefeller back in 61, but have you seen a picture of him? That guy looked delicious.
For you see, my fellow Americans, you were the bad guy all along. Enjoy your fake Aztec pyramids, everyone; you’ve been screenwashed.
Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello has been suspended by the WNBA for one game after making an “inappropriate comment” about Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese.
Brondello, 57, was overheard calling Reese, 24, a “protected species” during the Tempo’s game against the Dream on Friday, July 17.
While issuing an apology on Sunday, July 19, Brondello, who is Australian, attempted to explain that the phrase is frequently used in Australian sports circles and she did not intend to be racist.
“Have a ton of respect for her, but I wanted to make sure that [she knows] it was an emotional statement,” Brondello told reporters. “It’s a statement that’s very common in Australia, it wasn’t directed at Angel. I’d never do that to any kind of player. That’s not the kind of coach I am or player back in my day. It was just unfortunate. I was pretty emotional with [Tempo player] Nyara [Sybally], her being injured again. I made a comment that, Australians, we say all the time.”
She continued, “Unfortunately, I should have took a breath and realized where I am in America because I know racism is such a big issue here. I’ve been in this league for 27 years and, obviously, I never had any issues like this because these are all my teammates and I’ve learnt so much from the Black players that I’ve coached and that I’ve had on staff.”
After goading fans of the Detroit Pistons throughout the team’s first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic, Angel Reese got a taste of her own medicine after the Pistons’ Game 7 victory. Pistons fans chanted Reese’s name while the WNBA star’s boyfriend, Wendell Carter Jr., was at the free throw line during the fourth quarter […]
Brondello will serve her suspension on Monday, July 20, when the Tempo host the Las Vegas Aces.
“I know I’m not racist, so it’s a really unfortunate situation,” Brondello insisted. “So, I wanted to apologize whenever Angel is ready. I have reached out to their organization. Very sincere because I never want that to happen to anyone. It’s so much in this WNBA and I felt mad at myself because I’m a part of the solution, not the problem.”
Sandy Brondello and Angel Reese Getty Images (2)
She added, “Hopefully I can have that chat and she gets to know me and my heart. I think everyone else that I’ve coached in this league, they know that and what I’m about. I’ll try to be better as I move forward. I did make a mistake and I’ll try and keep my Australianisms, I suppose, out. But it was never meant to be personal. So, I am truly sorry and, you know, hopefully she’s doing OK.”
Livingstone College has addressed speculation after Gabrielle Muñoz, a softball player at the school, died on July 9. She was 19. “As we continue to honor Gabriella’s life, we are aware of inaccurate reports circulating online regarding the circumstances of her passing,” the school, located in North Carolina, posted via Facebook on Sunday, July 12. […]
Reese addressed the situation before the Dream’s victory over the Chicago Sky on Sunday.
“First, I appreciate Sandy’s apology, but I also appreciate the love and support that I’ve had for the last 48 hours,” Reese said. “It has been very overwhelming with a lot of love and also other things. But I am grateful that the league did take action.”
She continued, “There is no place for discrimination or hate in this league from anyone — from fans to coaches to players. And I’m just grateful that we are able to move on from the situation and just play winning basketball. The WNBA is supposed to be positive and we are going in a great light right now, so I just want to continue that and move forward.”
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