Entertainment
10 Most Perfect HBO Miniseries, Ranked
For the longest time, if there was one cable channel that network television had been terrified of, it was HBO. Home to some of the greatest series of all time, like Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and The Wire, HBO also had sensational miniseries on lock. Able to push stories to places basic cable couldn’t, HBO presented daring, brutal, and astounding stories that were wrapped up in a single sitting.
With so many great options, there are ten that are the most perfect. From a television adaptation of an award-winning play to retellings of true events, these miniseries are extraordinary. These miniseries have top-notch acting, brilliant writing, and cinematic production quality. They’re so good, you might be moved to check them out again!
10
‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)
When it comes to prolific mystery authors of the 21st century, look no further than Gillian Flynn. Her ability to pen an exceptional thriller has led studios to seek adaptations of her novels. Riding high off the success of the film version of Gone Girl came the miniseries of Sharp Objects. Based on her debut novel, the series is an American Southern Gothic psychological thriller that explores the troubling tale of a crime reporter grappling with her own traumas. Upon returning to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, Camille Parker (Amy Adams) investigates the murders of two young girls. Suffering from alcoholism and a recent discharge from a psychiatric hospital following years of self-harm, Camille is forced to battle her personal demons as she’s back under the critical eye of her socialite mother, Adora (Patricia Clarkson).
The series achieved critical acclaim thanks to Adams’ gripping performance, Clarkson’s daring portrayal, and the slow-burn storytelling leading to an ending unimaginable. That final realization serves as a massive suckerpunch. Though Flynn’s mastery as an author doesn’t resonate in the same way it sparkles on the page, the story and how director Jean-Marc Vallée rolls it out over the course of eight episodes is simply mystifying. A truly nuanced masterpiece, Sharp Objects served as a strong miniseries entry against a landscape of massive, long-running series.
9
‘Olive Kitteridge’ (2014)
HBO has produced many explosive, thrilling miniseries, but it would be a shame to leave out a brilliant miniseries that strikes right at humanity. Based on the 2008 novel by Elizabeth Strout, Olive Kitteridge stars Frances McDormand as the titular role, a retired schoolteacher in the fictional seaside town of Crosby, Maine. A strict yet well-meaning woman, she is married to the polar opposite, Henry (Richard Jenkins), a kind man who runs a pharmacy. With a troubled son, Christopher (Devin Druid), Olive battles a life of depression, bereavement, jealousy, and friction with nearly everyone in her life. Spanning 25 years across four parts, the story depicts the harrowing complexities of Olive and her various relationships. A masterclass of character study, Olive Kitteridge is an honest and poignant exploration of marriage and parenthood, navigating the highs and lows, from love to apathy and back again.
Olive Kitteridge is an unflinching view of human emotion through accessible topics of longing, loneliness, jealousy, and depression. The series brings out the best of McDormand, who continues to dominate through a balance of subtleties and strength. Her great performance led to an assortment of accolades, including an Emmy Award. An honest adaptation of Strout’s story, Olive Kitteridge is a miniseries that doesn’t deserve to be forgotten.
8
‘Landscapers’ (2021)
Whether the product is good or bad, audiences flock to true-crime stories. Often brought to life with a darker tone, these ripped-from-the-headlines narratives dramatize events that might seem too outlandish to be true. Maybe due to timing, Landscapers was a blink-and-you-miss-it black comedy true-crime thriller. The truth is, it was an understated hit. Starring Olivia Colman and David Thewlis as Susan and Christopher Edwards, the miniseries chronicles the true story of the 1998 murders of William and Patricia Wycherley. The four-episode series follows the couple as they start a quiet life in France after burying Susan’s parents in their garden. Through financial depression and their delusional fantasy of the world, Landscapers depicts the contrasting devotion to each other with the reality of their crime.
Directed by Will Sharpe, Landscapers establishes a surreal, cinematic style that blends reality and fantasy. From Susan’s obsession with old Hollywood to David’s overwhelming sense of guilt, the contrasting mindsets are seamlessly integrated for a perfect piece of visual storytelling. Through the concept of multiple truths, Landscapers gives the audience a chance to choose their own version, even though they know the ultimate result. Colman and Thewlis are sensational, offering intensely nuanced portrayals of these real-life individuals. Whether in truth or imagination, they both bring humanity and vulnerability to the screen. At the end of the day, Landscapers is an eccentric love story told through true crime wonderment.
7
‘The Pacific’ (2010)
Serving as the second of three companion piece to a miniseries soon to come on this list, The Pacific brings the action to the seas. The 10-part war drama follows the men of Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment through the European Theater. Centering on three intertwined, true stories of three Marines—PFC. Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale), Cpl. Eugene Sledge (Joseph Mazzello), and GySgt. John Basilone (Jon Seda)—from Guadalcanal through Okinawa, highlighting the overtly intense psychological toll of combat and post-war return to civilian life. A darker, more somber series, The Pacific weaves the memoirs of Sledge and Leckie together for a bold and harrowing story of survival.
Less action-focused and more psychologically forward, The Pacific explores the profound disillusionment, PTSD, and moral injury sustained through the war. Yet the under-the-helmet perspective yields a truly immersive story of the loss of innocence and humanity. The production quality was quite extraordinary, making it one of the most expensive miniseries ever produced. The cinematography brought vivid images to the screen, such as the lush island landscapes, which serve as a reminder that the serene may actually be someone’s hellscape. The Pacific boasted a wide-spanning ensemble that represented the troops with honor and care. An honest exploration of World War II, The Pacific is a perfect war series for those who adore the genre.
6
‘The Night Of’ (2016)
We’ve all had those nights that we know could serve as a domino effect on our future. What happens if a single night ruins lives in the process? That’s the beginning premise of the extraordinary miniseries, The Night Of. Based on the British series Criminal Justice, the eight-episode series tells the story of Nasir “Naz” Khan (Riz Ahmed), a Pakistani-American college student who, after a night of partying with a stranger, wakes up to find her murdered. As the prime suspect, Naz faces a harrowing journey through the American criminal justice system. Showcasing the broken and flawed complications of the investigation and legal process, The Night Of focuses on the emotional impact the system has on each individual involved.
The enthralling mystery unravels with precision, leaving you emotionally bound, hoping for a positive outcome for Naz. Rather than a typical whodunit, The Night Of soars as a character-driven procedural. With Naz’s story as the focus, the most prominent relationship is between him and his ambitious lawyer, John Stone (John Turturro), who goes to great lengths to protect Naz and his innocence. The Night Of expertly demonstrates that a client-lawyer relationship is not always purely transactional when one seeks justice. Blending extraordinary political, social, and cultural themes, The Night Of rips open the reality of how, even the innocent, can get screwed by the forces around them, simply based on who they are. A truly claustrophobic masterpiece of suspense, The Night Of became a game-changer for crime thrillers.
5
‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)
Sometimes, we finish a series and pray that a second season will follow. Such was the case for the brilliant Mare of Easttown. In Brad Ingelsby‘s crime drama, Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet), a weary Pennsylvania detective, investigates the local murder of a teenage mother, Erin McMenamin (Cailee Spaeny), as she tries to solve a year-old missing persons case. Meanwhile, Mare navigates her own life, a life that is crumbling due to past trauma, grief, and family troubles. Set in a tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone, the murder mystery begins to hit everyone in unimaginable ways. A sensational dissertation on resilience and the lasting effects of grief, Mare of Easttown is a character-centric masterpiece where nothing is unfiltered.
Before we discuss the brilliant performances, Mare of Easttown finds its perfection through its stellar backdrop. Ripe with the DelCo accent and the isms that come with the locale, like hoagies at Wawa, Mare of Easttown is masterfully atmospheric, dropping you straight into the fictional town. It’s important as the setting serves as a formidable character. Ingelsby crafts exceptionally nuanced characters that lead to grounded performances. Winslet delivers a career-best performance on screen. Unlike many of her other parts, Winslet brings a raw and unglamorous performance in order to capture the sorrow of a woman dealing with profound loss. Alongside Winslet is a stellar ensemble that includes Julianne Nicholson as Lori Ross, Mare’s closest friend, Jean Smart as Helen Fahey, Mare’s mother, and Evan Peters as Detective Colin Zabel, the county detective called in to assist Mare. Through potent realism and gripping storytelling, Mare of Easttown left us wanting more. After the success of Ingleby’s follow-up, Task, there is an open door for more Mare.
4
‘Watchmen’ (2019)
Superhero stories lifted from beloved IP have always been a major player for blockbuster movies. But why limit a story to a single film when you can expand it into something extraordinary over multiple episodes? That’s what happened with the HBO adaptation of Watchmen. Serving as a limited series sequel to the 1986 DC graphic novel of the same name, Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen remixes history in an alternate reality of the 20th century, when some of America’s boldest events are given a new lens in a sometimes hard-to-watch, yet gripping fashion. The action brought viewers to events surrounding racist violence in present-day Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a white supremacist group called the Seventh Kavalry has taken up arms against the Tulsa Police Department. Because of perceived racial injustices, the police conceal their identities with masks to prevent the Seventh Kavalry from targeting them in their homes following the “White Night”. Meanwhile, Angela Abar (Regina King), a detective known as Sister Night, investigates the murder of her friend and the police chief, Judd Crawford (Don Johnson), and uncovers secrets about the circumstances surrounding vigilantism. Watchmen, a step up from Zach Snyder‘s 2009 film, was unafraid to comment on racial injustice, white supremacy, and police brutality through the lens of a superhero story.
The time-bending series featured complex, thought-provoking narratives as some of your favorite characters are brought to life. Yet, remove the heroes and villains, and you get a sensational social commentary that was necessary for its time. Thanks to the outstanding ensemble, which also featured Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, Louis Gossett Jr., and Jeremy Irons, Watchmen rivaled many of the superhero blockbusters on the big screen. Watchmen is meant to be dark, and yet it doesn’t deter from its source material. Receiving critical acclaim, despite being review-bombed on aggregator sites, Watchmen was another example of a series that could have gone on longer. That said, one perfect season will go down in infamy.
3
‘Chernobyl’ (2019)
At first, it sounded like a hard sell to see a dramatization of one of the world’s greatest human-made disasters. But right from episode one, Chernobyl married truth with entertainment to craft a sensationally riveting drama. Across five impactful episodes, Chernobyl told the stories of the individuals involved in the disaster and those who responded to it. The series went beyond the headlines and news programs to explore the human emotional and physiological toll of the disaster’s reverberations. At the time of release, there were parallels to modern society, with a focus on the dissemination of information and leaders’ dishonesty, which was quite horrific. Now, today, it feels as if history is repeating itself. Despite how it makes you feel, Chernobyl stands as a chilling, high-stakes human drama.
Chernobyl is a lingering horror story. The series was widely praised for its exploration of the disaster and its remarkable ensemble, namely Stellan Skarsgård as Boris Scherbina, a Council of Ministers’ deputy chairman, Jared Harris as Valery Legasov, the deputy director of Kurchatov Institute brought in to aid cleanup efforts, Jessie Buckley as Lydumilla Ignatenko, the wife of a first responder, and Emily Watson as Ulana Khomyuk, a composite character of many scientists and investigators. Despite a grim story, Chernobyl became one of HBO’s most celebrated limited series of all time, earning the award for Outstanding Limited Series at the Emmy Awards and Best Miniseries or Television Film at the Golden Globes.
2
‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)
War films have always been a beloved genre on screen. Over the course of a single film, audiences are immersed in the trenches. But with a tight timeframe, you only get the major moments. So when you can bring a cinema-worthy story into series form, you get a sensational opportunity to expand and enhance the drama. That’s exactly what Band of Brothers was able to do. Based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose‘s book, Band of Brothers dramatized the history of “Easy” Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. From rigorous training in the U.S. to major campaigns in Europe, including D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge, to the end of the war. Highlighting the extraordinary bravery, camaraderie, and brutal realities of combat, the perfect series showcases what heroes are truly made of. With creators Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg on board, the miniseries was in capable hands. And the execution was flawless.
Perhaps the greatest addition to the series was the inclusion of real interviews with members of Easy Company. This element brought a raw and emotional authenticity to the story. Pair that with exceptional production and sound design, and you get a perfect series. Band of Brothers was a tried-and-true ensemble, with a genuine band of brothers making up the cast. The giant acting troupe, which featured Damian Lewis, Neal McDonough, Donnie Wahlberg, and Colin Hanks, was revered for its effortless work in making war on the small screen feel authentic. The series genuinely highlighted the horrors of war over the course of 10 riveting episodes, including the call to action from civilian soldiers. Within the violence was extraordinary bravery, the true testament of the story.
1
‘Angels in America’ (2003)
Adapting a stage play for the screen is no easy task, yet Mike Nichols made it look like a walk in the park. Lifting Tony Kushner’s Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning two-part play, Angels in America, revolves around six New Yorkers whose lives intersect. Set in the Reagan era, the individuals grapple with the AIDS crisis, homosexuality, political corruption, and spiritual revelations. From a dying gay man visited by an angel to a closeted Mormon hiding from his pill-popping wife and overbearing mother, and an infamous lawyer haunted by the ghost of a woman he got executed, Angels in America truly is a gay fantasia on national themes.
The script of Angels in America was always going to be perfect; it was going to come down to its direction and acting. With Nichols at the helm and an all-star cast featuring Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Mary Louise Parker, Justin Kirk, Emma Thompson, Jeffrey Wright, and Ben Shankman, the miniseries was in capable hands. As in the stage play, the core group of actors played multiple roles in each character’s story. It was never confusing; it was exciting. Through a fantastical, surreal, and deeply emotional story, the narrative was woven together precisely. The heart of the miniseries was its central themes, which remain timeless. It’s rare to see an adaptation of a play be greater than its source material. Angels in America was an exception. As the script reminds us to this day: The great work begins.
Continue Reading
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Randy and his film nerd cohort in Scream 2 helped to instill a pretty basic idea in moviegoers: that sequels almost always suck. Of course, the second film in this iconic slasher franchise was no exception to its own rule.
Wes Craven packed plenty of charm and style into this ambitious sequel, but it still fell short of the titanic heights set by Scream (1996). In this way, the horror maestro helped cement the idea that most scary movie franchises are victims of their own success because nothing will ever top the original.
Deep down, that was how I felt when I first watched Ready or Not. From its singular premise to its likeable final girl to its svelte runtime, this was a nearly perfect movie for audiences who love to scream and laugh.
When I heard this breakout slasher was getting a belated sequel, I worried that a follow-up film would be a slipshod mess that did nothing but retroactively ruin the earlier movie’s reputation. Fortunately, I was wrong, and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come serves as a nearly perfect entry in the franchise, one that sets a new gold standard for horror sequels.
The Devil’s In The Details
The premise of Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is that the plucky bride (played by Samara Weaving), who narrowly survived a lethal game of hide and seek, is scooped up by a mysterious, Illuminati-type group. It turns out, all of their families had signed an elaborate pact with the devil ages ago, one that offered them control over the world. In exchange, the families follow Satan’s rules, which include requirements for human sacrifices.
The bride’s survival means these families must now compete for the top spot, and the first to kill her wins. But with the unexpected help of her sister (Kathryn Newton), she might just beat the odds yet again.
Ready Or Not 2 Is A Near Perfect Sequel
Why do I think Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a nearly perfect follow-up to the earlier movie? It improves on everything from the original film without changing the essential formula.
In this sequel, we see the same bride in the same outfit competing in the same kind of competition, all while running from a similar set of wealthy psychopaths. In Ready or Not 2 everything is bigger: the bride now has a partner in the form of a heretofore unknown sister. The competition comes with higher stakes: namely, control of the world itself. Finally, there are more psychopaths than ever, led by Sarah Michelle Gellar’s ruthless character.
Buffy, The Final Girl Slayer
As you can tell from these names, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is filled with many horror icons, and it’s genuinely fun seeing genre veterans like Gellar get to play such unhinged characters. Elijah Wood (as much horror patron as performer) has a devilishly good time as Satan’s lawyer, and he steals multiple scenes with a wordless glance.
Speaking of stealing scenes, legendary horror director David Cronenberg makes the most of his limited screentime. Oh, and Kathryn Newton gives her best performance since Lisa Frankenstein, establishing the Abigail actor as a girl next door competitor for the title of Scream Queen.
Newton can’t yet wrest that title from Samara Weaving, however, who manages to inject her character with the same fierce vulnerability (and vulnerable ferocity) that made the first Ready or Not an instant classic. The sequel puts her character through absolute hell, and Weaving ensures we feel every jolt of the bride’s bloody, biting pain.
Weaving’s scenes with Newton channel electrical anger and warm empathy, perfectly embodying the sibling rivalry of sisters many miles out of their collective depth. She also becomes the genre’s most satisfying final girl in a jaw-dropping climax that gives the phrase “the devil’s in the details” a whole new meaning.
Bold, Bloody Fun
While Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is immensely satisfying as a sequel, it’s also surprisingly accessible to newcomers. I took a friend to the film who had not seen the original, but privately, we both worried that the follow-up film would be absolutely inscrutable to anyone who had not seen the earlier movie. Fortunately, we were both wrong, and he found the movie delightful despite typically only liking elevated horror. This underscores the movie’s killer word of mouth: it’s brutal and breezy enough to appeal to slasher fans while also offering enough witty dialogue and twisting plot points to appeal to those who want some meat with their blood.
Why are you still reading this? You should already have been halfway to the theater. Go check out Ready or Not 2: Here I Come to discover a nearly perfect horror sequel full of powerhouse performances, crazy kills, and memorable murders.
Go watch the movie to hear some hilarious dialogue, including more than a few one-liners that will live, rent-free, in your head. If nothing else, go see the movie for a sight that might unite all of us and finally heal a divided nation: Kathryn Newton. In a bloody tank top. With a sword.
By Jennifer Asencio
| Published
If you’ve ever watched a movie that has that familiar actor you recognize as the trusty supporting character from many other movies, you’re looking at a character actor; we typically identify them as “oh, that guy from ____!” One of the most classic such characters is Principal Strickland from the Back to the Future movies, best known for finding Marty McFly’s music so loud that he has to cover his ears.
James Tolkan, the character actor who brought that role to life, has died. He was 94.
How James Tolkan Got His Start
Tolkan started acting in 1960, but throughout the decade, his roles were sporadic as he tried to find his footing in the industry. The 1970s brought more roles, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that he really started to become established by his trademark baldness and distinctive facial features. He was featured in a number of cameo roles, starting with The Amityville Horror in 1979, in which he played the coroner.
Soon after followed the roles he is most iconic for: Wargames’ Wigan, Back to the Future’s Principal Strickland, and Top Gun’s Stinger. These were the most prominent of many appearances in films throughout the 1980s, establishing him as a recognizable face, “that guy,” even if few know his name. He was also in Masters of the Universe and Dick Tracy, as well as both of the Back to the Future sequels.
Life After Strickland Fame
Tolkan kept appearing in movies and television shows in the 1990s, but slowed his output in 2000, when he was already almost 70. He did make seven more movie appearances between 2000 and 2024, most notably a cameo as the pianist in the critically acclaimed Bone Tomahawk.
His wife, Parmelee, was a prop girl in a 1971 off-Broadway production in which he appeared. They’ve been married ever since that year, and she survives him. Not many marriages get to last that long, even outside of Hollywood, but especially within an industry where everyone’s private life is not-so-private.
Tolkan was also a supporter of animal rescue. An obituary on the official Back to the Future website asks fans to make a donation to their favorite shelter or the Humane Society in his name. Known for playing hardasses, Tolkan was known as a kind and loving man off-screen.
James Tolkan’s name may not be well-known, but his face was, and his characters are embedded in cinema culture. That is its own form of immortality, as the movies he was in have brought joy to generations and will continue to for many more.
Entertainment
“Dog Day Afternoon” Broadway review: Jon Bernthal takes on one of Al Pacino's most famous roles
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Dog-day-afternoon-032926-12-84814228dbba4f1a9862e9cbc686077c.jpg)
The more comedic adaptation for the stage has both hits and misses.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Right now, fans are processing the death of Starfleet Academy, and many are having trouble processing their feelings. Fortunately, Star Trek is a franchise that has offered many poignant thoughts on death that we can all learn from.
Perhaps the most powerful lesson came after Captain Kirk destroyed the Enterprise in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock, keeping it from being captured by Klingons. “My God, Bones, what have I done?” Kirk asked. To this, the good doctor offered an ironic reply: “What you always do, turn death into a fighting chance to live.”
The “death” of Kirk’s beloved ship gave the gift of life to its captain and crew. It also taught a lesson about mortality that Starfleet Academy fans could really benefit from.
Much like Kirk watching his starship burn, the fandom has largely been focusing on the death of something they really loved. But just like the Enterprise, this new spinoff may have died for a very specific purpose. That purpose? To give Star Trek itself a fighting chance to live!
The Man Behind The Miss
How could the death of Starfleet Academy help Star Trek to live? It all has to do with one of the most infamous figures in the franchise: Alex Kurtzman. He has been the executive producer for the entirety of the NuTrek era, helping to bring new shows to life with his production company, Secret Hideout.
When Star Trek: Discovery premiered, fans were hopeful that Kurtzman would be able to usher this venerable franchise into the modern age of TV storytelling. Now, however, it’s clear that he is the albatross around this franchise’s neck, but one that Paramount may finally be ready to remove.
In terms of shows getting canceled (more on this soon), it’s clear that Alex Kurtzman’s NuTrek era has been a failure. There are moments of greatness across various episodes, and certain series (like Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks) have been enjoyed. But even these less-hated shows keep getting the axe, proving that Kurtzman’s vision for Star Trek has been a failure. Now, though, the early cancellation of Starfleet Academy (Kurtzman is co-showrunner) may cause Paramount to finally give this man the boot and put someone new in charge of Star Trek.
The Ultimate Silver Lining
Why would the cancellation of Starfleet Academy get Paramount to let Alex Kurtzman go? For one thing, his contract is up at the end of 2026. So, this isn’t even a matter of the network firing the man; instead, they just have to figure out whether or not to renew his contract.
Kurtzman’s future at Paramount already looked pretty sketchy during the merger with Skydance. Now, with the Warner Bros. acquisition coming up, there will be even more major changes to film and television leadership. In the wake of such seismic shifts, it is common for execs to seek out new creatives rather than rely on the old guard.
That’s especially true when the creative has a horrific track record. Both Discovery and Lower Decks were canceled early, and Paramount decided to end Strange New Worlds after Season 5, which will have only half as many episodes. Prodigy left Paramount+ after Season 1, and after airing Season 2 on Netflix, it was never renewed.
Now, Starfleet Academy (a show intended to last four seasons) has been canceled after the end of its first season. Count’em up, people: Alex Kurtzman has overseen five Star Trek shows that were canceled early, plus Section 31, the lowest-rated movie in the entire franchise.
Namecalling As Cover For Bad Writing
Since the beginning of the NuTrek era, there has been discourse about how “woke” these shows are, particularly among YouTubers. Those early right-wing attacks on Discovery accidentally created eternal cover for NuTrek defenders because they could now dismiss any legitimate criticisms of these shows as the mindless rantings of someone with hateful politics.
If you say you hate overly emotional storytelling (a la the eternally crying Michael Burnham), you’re told you just hate women. If you complain about how Starfleet Academy treated the Klingons, you’re told that you must be homophobic. If you dislike the on-the-nose political storytelling of Picard (especially Season 2), you are told you worship Trump, and so on.
Any criticism of NuTrek suddenly became wrongthink and proof that you didn’t understand the franchise’s progressive ideals.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
But TV is a numbers game, and shows succeed or fail based on how many people watch them. Paramount (home, may I remind you, of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars) doesn’t care about culture wars; they care about clicks.
If all of Alex Kurtzman’s Star Trek shows had been hits, they would have correspondingly huge audiences. While Paramount has always been cagey about streaming numbers, it’s clear that most of NuTrek isn’t generating enough views to justify the huge budgets for each episode. Starfleet Academy wasn’t canceled because it was woke: it was canceled because there just weren’t enough people watching.
Bon Voyage, Alex Kurtzman!
Obviously, I can’t predict exactly what Paramount will do; there’s a chance Alex Kurtzman will land on his feet, and the slop era of this franchise will keep on Trekkin’. But new CEO David Ellison has stated that he wants to make Star Trek a priority, and he likely wants to make a big splash ahead of this sci-fi juggernaut’s 60th anniversary. With any luck, that means he will shoot Kurtzman’s contract out the nearest airlock and let someone with a bit more talent sit in the captain’s chair.
As for Starfleet Academy, it’s sad to see the show go. I mean that, truly: I’m a hater who warmed to the show over time, and I enjoyed seeing it start to reach for its full potential by the end of Season 1. But like Kirk’s Enterprise, this is not a show that died in vain. With Alex Kurtzman’s latest being yet another complete failure, the powers that be might finally replace him with someone with more knowledge of and passion for the franchise. Such a creative could do far more than just make a few great shows: they might just save Star Trek as we know it.
By Jennifer Asencio
| Published
Unless you’re a Hollywood insider, the name Barry Caldwell might not mean that much to you until now. He was a prolific animator who died on March 24, 2026. His work, however, is not only famous but extremely beloved. It is fair to say that he was a cornerstone to the childhood of a huge portion of the American population.
His career animating very recognizable cartoons started in 1980 with storyboard work on Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, and it wasn’t long before he was drawing for episodes of the classic Tom and Jerry. In 1983, he was a storyboard artist for 49 episodes of the iconic after-school cartoon, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. In 1986, less than a decade after starting his career, he was put in charge as director of My Little Pony: The Movie, an ambitious project that featured numerous celebrity voice actors and elevated the Hasbro characters from cartoon shorts to the big screen. He also spent most of the late 80s working on Alvin and the Chipmunks for 65 episodes and The Smurfs for 16 episodes.
The 1990s added even more iconic cartoons to his resume, cartoons watched back then by adults and kids alike and still enjoyed to this day by the adults who grew up watching them as kids. His work for the beloved Warner Brothers cartoons started with Tiny Toon Adventures, but went on through the whole decade with pivotal work on Animaniacs that led to the spin-off, Pinky and the Brain.
For Y2K, he pivoted to more feature films, starting with The Tigger Movie. He then directed Osmosis Jones, the germy story about a white blood cell who teams up with a cold pill to fight a virus. He didn’t stop making TV episodes, though, and was eventually tapped by Disney once again to contribute to the production of Kim Possible. This ushered in a new era of memorable work from Caldwell, including Mulan II. He would continue making and revisiting all his titles throughout the rest of his career: cartoons from Tom and Jerry, from Looney Tunes, from Scooby Doo, and from various Disney properties.
It is also notable that Caldwell was a Black artist during a time when organic diversity in entertainment was only beginning to emerge. The 1970s featured the Blaxploitation genre of movies and important comic voices like Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby; Cosby created Fat Albert, where Caldwell got his start.
Throughout the 1980s, the role of Black people in entertainment expanded to a point of organic diversity, with names like Michael Jackson, Eddie Murphy, and Oprah Winfrey paving the way for other public-facing Black entertainers. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Barry Caldwell was joining these names with cartoons that carry as massive cultural significance as any of them.
Whether we knew it or not, Barry Caldwell influenced four generations of children through his cartoons, with his latest artwork drawn for Disney in 2024. His death leaves behind a legacy of classic animation enjoyed by both its target youth audience and their adult counterparts, allowing everyone to laugh and have fun together. What a beautiful legacy for an artist to leave behind. RIP.
YouTubers Damien and Biannca Prince have been enjoying life with their new addition, making them a family of seven. After keeping the past month mostly private, they’ve officially revealed their baby girl’s name and shared the first look at her.
RELATED: Rainbow Baby! YouTubers Damien & Biannca Prince Reveal They’ve Welcomed Their 5th Bundle Of Joy After Miscarriage Last Year (VIDEO)
Biannca And Damien Prince Reveal Their Baby Girl’s Name
Before the arrival of Damien and Biannca’s fifth bundle of joy, the family carefully chose a name. From Bella to Paisley, they spun a wheel to narrow down their options. In the end, they decided to keep the name private until after her birth.
On Sunday, the couple shared a video holding their baby girl and revealing her name. They announced her name is Gianna Clarke Prince, but added that they love to call her Gigi or Gia. While explaining the meaning, Biannca opened up about her past miscarriage and emotions.
She said, “Gianna means ‘God is gracious.’ I wanted something that reflects God is great, that God has the last say, and that God is still good. She is our rainbow baby and means the world to me and all of us. When I heard ‘God is gracious,’ I just thought it was so beautiful.”
Clarke comes from Biannca’s father’s middle name, with an added “e” for a feminine touch. She got emotional as she spoke about her stepfather. She shared that he is not her biological father, but he stepped up, signed her birth certificate, and gave her his last name. Even after she learned that they were not biologically related, she said, he never treated her differently. She added that he still checks on her to this day, unlike her biological father.
To close the video, the couple kissed their baby girl and gave supporters a first look. They also asked viewers who they think the baby looks like.
The Couple Shares First Photos Of Their Latest Addition To The D&B Nation
Following the big reveal, the couple took to Instagram to share photos from Gianna’s first photoshoot. Biannca shared a picture holding her in a pink wrap. Her caption read, “Sweet rainbow baby, you are everything I prayed for. This past month has been full of love. I’m thankful for you every day, Gigi Clarke.”
Damien shared his own set of photos while holding his baby girl. He wrote, “Welcome to the world, baby girl @giannaclarkeprince.” Over on Gianna’s account, more photos and videos of their baby girl were shared.
Social Media Users Are In Awe As Users React To The Baby Reveal
Many supporters gathered under The Shade Room Teens as they reacted to Biannca and Damien’s latest reveal. Many debated who baby Gianna looks like, comparing her to their other children. Others reflected on the couple’s past moments and discussed what may be next in their journey.
Instagram user @miaakk_ wrote, “They make very pretty babies 😍😍😍😍”
Instagram user @thaonlyykveenbe3_ added, “Awe congratulations to them and I hope she is done she’s putting her body through too much and they’re so young at that. Just enjoy the babies y’all have.”
While Instagram user @always.staygracious wrote, “Them lasting longer than Chris & Queen & Ace Family was never on my bingo card.”
Instagram user @promiseeazii wrote, “I will never forget how biannca was mad because their other daughter wasn’t born with colored eyes or her skin tone ..”
Instagram user @brianaaa.aaa added, “Y’all can never just be happy for people 😂 it’s always something negative”
While Instagram user @itsshannaa wrote,”after their losses, they really needed her 🥺🥺”
Instagram user @kaylaaaherr_ wrote, “Mind uu.. that baby has kyrie whole face. Just in girl form – she finna look exactly like kyrie, if not kyrie definitely nova or Ayla”
Instagram user @i.am.salwa_ added, “Ngl they are the normalest YouTube family ever, they give their kids ACTUAL names and I’m honestly proud of them”
While Instagram user @_prayingforloyalty wrote, “THIS is the content I needed today. Damien & Biannca, y’all look like proud pros already Gianna Clarke Prince is absolutely perfect.Welcome to the world, baby girl! #ThePrinceFamily”
RELATED: Congrats! Sukihana & Snoop Learn Their Unborn Baby’s Gender At Recent Reveal (WATCH)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Taylor Frankie Paul left a flirty comment for The Bachelorette season 22 contestant Doug Mason following ABC’s decision to shelve the show.
Doug, 28, shared a clip of a new song via Instagram on Monday, March 30, where he crooned to his “baby girl” over multiple shots of a duck walking around a parking lot.
After Taylor replied, “Awe I see what you did here 🦆,” in the comments section, some eagle-eyed fans began to contemplate if there was a hidden inside joke between the two.
Her Bachelorette costar kept the mystery alive by responding to Taylor with a “hands over ears” emoji and an “I don’t know” emoji.
Despite Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette being canceled, she has needed to carry on as usual. “[I’m] always on [my phone],” Taylor, 31, wrote via Instagram comment on Friday, March 20, after a fan questioned why the reality TV star was posting on social media amid the Bachelor Nation scandal. “It’s my job, […]
ABC shelved The Bachelorette earlier this month after the release of a shocking video from Taylor’s 2023 domestic violence arrest and news that she and ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen were under investigation over separate allegations from February. (Since that time, a third violence investigation based on an alleged 2024 incident has been opened against Taylor by Utah’s West Jordan Police Department.)
Doug previously publicly supported Taylor in the wake of the controversy.
“In light of everything that has happened, I am just sending prayers to Taylor because that was her moment and her moment was blocked,” Doug wrote via Instagram on March 20. “All we can do right now is just be hopeful, and I am headed off to run to watch the sunrise.”
Doug went on, “I hope you guys have a great day, and let’s stay positive and show nothing but support for people in need.”
A Secret Lives of Mormon Wives fan later shared Doug’s supportive post, with Taylor commenting, “Aw my heart goes out to him. So sweet.”
When fans later called for Doug to get his own Bachelor season in the future, he seemed open to the idea, writing, “Let’s goooo.”
Taylor Frankie Paul Disney/Pamela Littky
While The Bachelorette season 22 will seemingly remain on the cutting room floor for now, Rachel Recchia and Charity Lawson will soon give fans a chance to get to know the would-be contestants by interviewing them on the official “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast.
“Bachelor Happy Hour’ will be the only place that you are gonna hear directly from the men of Taylor’s cast,” Charity, 30, announced on Friday, March 27.
As for the future of The Bachelorette, Us Weekly learned on Tuesday, March 24, that ABC has no plans at this stage to bring in another Bachelorette as a replacement for Taylor. There is no word yet on whether one of Taylor’s suitors will become the next Bachelor, though producers reportedly had their eye on contenders before season 22 was canceled.
Taylor Frankie Paul is thanking fans for their support after ABC canceled her season of The Bachelorette amid domestic violence allegations. “I will NEVER forget the ones with me during this time,” Taylor, 31, commented on content creator Ashley Clemons’ TikTok video defending the reality star from online “bullying” on Monday, March 23. ”Thank you. […]
ABC’s only comment thus far has been to release a statement on March 19. “In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” a rep for the network shared.
Taylor’s spokesperson, meanwhile, thanked the network for its “support” in the wake of her Bachelorette season being dropped.
“Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” her rep told Us on March 19. “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
When 28 Days Later came out in 2002, it was a zombie movie unlike any other. Rather than being a traditional film about the rotting undead coming back to life and shambling around in search of human flesh to eat, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland created monsters which were still technically alive and driven mad by a rage virus.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Jon-Hamm-033026-3b17145851064aef8d1ed7652dde9cb7.jpg)
The Apple TV show has been renewed for a third season ahead of its season 2 premiere on April 3.
Entertainment
Martha Stewart confronts New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson for breaking her big toe: 'It wasn't okay at all'
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Martha-Stewart-Jalen-Brunson-033026-e128f98142b142079b1f16579fe04091.jpg)
The bone-crushing incident went down at Madison Square Garden last May during the NBA Playoffs.
Fashion7 minutes ago
Margot Robbie Makes Chanel Lipstick Look Effortless
Politics10 minutes ago
Poll finds 74% of Brits think McSweeney is lying about stolen phone
Sports13 minutes ago
GT vs PBKS Live Score, IPL 2026: Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer in focus as Punjab Kings face Gujarat Titans at home
-
NewsBeat6 days agoManchester United reach agreement with Casemiro over contract clause amid transfer speculation
-
News Videos5 days agoParliament publishes latest register of MPs’ financial interests
-
NewsBeat4 days agoThe Story hosts event on Durham’s historic registers
-
Tech5 days agoIntercom’s new post-trained Fin Apex 1.0 beats GPT-5.4 and Claude Sonnet 4.6 at customer service resolutions
-
Business5 days agoInstagram, YouTube Found Responsible for Teen’s Mental Health Struggle in Historic Ruling
-
NewsBeat6 days agoTesco is selling new Cadbury Dairy Milk bar and people can’t wait to try it
-
Fashion7 days agoDoes It Matter What You Wear When You’re Laid Off and Looking?
-
NewsBeat7 days agoEntrepreneurs Forum survey reveals optimism in North East
-
Entertainment3 days agoLana Del Rey Celebrates Her Husband’s 51st Birthday In New Post
-
Sports4 days agoSweet Sixteen Game Thread: Tide vs Michigan
-
Business7 days agoMore women enter wealth management, but few in advisory roles: study
-
Crypto World7 days agoBTC gives up $70,000 level as markets mull higher interest rates
-
Sports6 days agoFantasy Baseball Week 1 Preview: Top sleeper hitters for both five- and 12-day period led by Munetaka Murakami
-
Entertainment21 hours ago
Fans slam 'heartbreaking' Barbie Dream Fest convention debacle with 'cardboard cutout' experience
-
Tech7 days agoEmbedding compliance in AI adoption
-
Tech6 days agoUS FCC Prohibits Approval Of New Foreign-Made Consumer Routers
-
Fashion7 days agoCoffee Break: Korean Skincare Set
-
Sports6 days ago
One Team in Particular Is Monitoring Kirk Cousins
-
Fashion7 days agoAlthea Mink: Patrice Taylor’s Atlanta Couture Brand Built on Legacy, Resilience, and Architectural Glamour
-
Fashion6 days agoHow to Style Spring Like WeWoreWhat: Easy Outfit Ideas for 2026
You must be logged in to post a comment Login