Entertainment
5 Classic Crime Shows That Are Still Better Than Most New Series
The phrase “classic” is used relatively when describing contemporary shows, given that television is an evolving medium that has changed significantly in the last decade. While the dawn of premium cable used to be seen as the single most defining evolution in how shows are funded and received, streaming has completely shifted the way that the market works. It is now not uncommon for shows to be treated like blockbuster films with massive budgets, A-list talent, and marketing campaigns that begin years in advance. It’s exciting that there is so much innovation that is done on the small screen, as it has opened up more opportunities in a time when the theatrical market is under stress due to the perilous limited release strategies that have made high-quality films inaccessible to those outside of major cities. However, increased budgets and attention do not necessarily make for an immediate jump in quality.
It’s a little bit unusual to think about shows from only two decades ago being now viewed as “classics,” but they do fit that definition when compared to the sheer amount of content that is released regularly. Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, and Disney+ will greenlight, renew, and cancel shows at such an alarming rate that it’s impossible to keep track of them all; given that most households subscribe to at least three or four streaming services, there is more content that they have access to than anyone could hope to watch within their lifetime. As easy as it is to be lured in by the promise of new shows that were made to address contemporary subjects, it’s worth diving into the past to rediscover the series that helped build the foundation on which modern television is based.
5
‘Twin Peaks’ (1990–2017)
Twin Peaks is the most influential show in history because David Lynch completely changed the way that audiences interacted with stories told on the small screen. Lynch disagreed with the format of crime procedurals that dismissed the plight of the victim by turning them into a “case of the week” and wanted to dig into the way that a shocking act of violence actually impacted a community. Twin Peaks told the serialized mystery of “Who killed Laura Palmer?” — the character is a high school prom queen played by Sheryl Lee. Although the show begins as a straightforward investigation into those within her hometown who may have been involved, it evolves into an epic drama about the community itself and how this one burst of violence reveals the ugly truths that lie beneath the surface.
Twin Peaks had a “water cooler effect” because it engaged new viewers with its mysteries and secrets, creating one of the first passionate fandoms. Although the series was cancelled at the end of its second season, Lynch believed strongly in continuing the story and directed the prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, which retold the events set right before the show from Laura’s perspective. The film was a financial disappointment that initially vexed fans who had wanted a firm conclusion to the cliffhanger that had ended Season 2, but it has steadily been appreciated as a masterpiece. Lynch finally returned to Twin Peaks in 2017 for a third season on Showtime that ranks among the most experimental, challenging, and complex works of filmmaking ever made and stands as the perfect swan song because it was his last major project.
4
‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)
The Sopranos is perhaps the show most often cited as “the greatest of all time,” and for good reason. David Chase wanted to create a complex psychological drama about a deeply disturbed anti-hero who struggled with the pressures of raising a family, and he merged it with his interest in Italian gangster films. The Sopranos did for mafia-related shows what The Godfather trilogy did for crime cinema; it took a genre that was otherwise considered to be “trashy” and turned it into an epic about loyalty, faith, human frailty, and the death of the American dream. James Gandolfini’s performance was brilliant because he showed vulnerability and humor within a monstrous character, all whilst making it abundantly clear that Tony Soprano was a psychopath who could never be perceived as a hero.
The Sopranos is the rare show that retained a consistent level of quality throughout its run, as it managed to get even more stylistically experimental as it went along. Season 2 showed the thematic and psychological depths the series could go to with “Funhouse,” and Season 3 offered the perfect “one-off” episode with the classic “Pine Barrens,” but it was in the Season 5 episodes “The Test Dream” and “Long Term Parking” that Chase revealed the tragic, mythic storytelling he was aiming for. While initially divisive, The Sopranos’ finale “Made in America” was the perfect way to end the series.
3
‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)
The Wire was a novelty among HBO shows because it was never a massive ratings hit and failed to get much attention from the Primetime Emmy Awards during its run, having only gained the support of critics and niche fans. However, everyone who saw The Wire came away impressed with what David Simon had achieved, making it an essential HBO show. Since Simon was a former crime reporter in Baltimore who had over a decade of experience, he was able to create a highly realistic series about the intersectionality between different infrastructures involved in the drug trade. By heightening the complexity with each season, The Wire felt closer and closer to reality as it went on.
The Wire is the rare show that offers a tremendous amount of practical information regarding the way that American law works, but it’s also highly entertaining and has at least a dozen of the greatest characters in television history. While it’s possible that the show could have gone on for longer had HBO allowed Simon to expand into a Season 6, the five installments that do exist are must-watches for anyone who considers themselves to be a serious television fan.
2
‘The Shield’ (2002–2008)
The Shield was a show that was ahead of its time and now feels more relevant than ever before. While American television has often lionized the role of law enforcement by treating cops as heroes, The Shield exposed the dark side of police corruption through the terrifying anti-hero Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), a member of the LAPD strike force who is involved in both personal intimidation and taking down even more dangerous criminals. The series wrestled with the role that someone like Vic had, as he could both be used as a blunt instrument for good and initiate scandals that caused the entire city to collapse. The Shield refused to give its audience any easy answers, and its ambiguity has only made it age better.
The Shield succeeded in growing in scale with each subsequent season and managed to draw in award-winning guest stars like Glenn Close and Forest Whitaker to make appearances. There might not be a “bad” season of The Shield, but the series finale “Family Meeting” is one of the best of the century, as it offered the most thematically resonant closure for one of the bravest, most confrontational crime shows ever made.
1
’24’ (2001–2014)
24 redefined what a thriller show could look like because of its novel structure, made even more impressive because it aired on a network that didn’t have the advanced resources of premium cable. Every season of 24 consisted of 24 episodes, with each corresponding to the hour of a single day; the show progressed in real time, allowing audiences to be swept up in the adventures of the CIA counterterrorist agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) as he got to the root of various conspiracies and threats against the American public. The fact that the series began right after 9/11 only fueled the political fire, turning the series into a lightning rod of controversy. Although it might be easy to look at anything from the past that features problematic behavior and claim that it “hasn’t aged well,” 24 didn’t necessarily advocate for Bauer as a flawless hero; in fact, the show often explored the deep-seated corruption in American politics and questioned whether the end justified the means.
24 proved to be a successful franchise that frequently attracted notable actors for guest star roles and was surprisingly able to keep itself on a healthy pace with new seasons released on a yearly basis. A television film was released in-between seasons as a placeholder during the WGA strikes, and Sutherland reprised his role for an extended miniseries in 2014 that, thus far, serves as the final appearance by Bauer. Although there have been rumors about a potential reboot or continuation, it remains to be seen if 24 can be adapted into the modern television era. Nonetheless, it’s a great product of its time, and one that remains more gripping, exhilarating, and emotionally fulfilling than a vast majority of the content that streamers are releasing today.
24
- Release Date
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2001 – 2010-00-00
- Showrunner
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Robert Cochran
- Directors
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Robert Cochran
- Writers
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Robert Cochran
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Will Ferrell has once again addressed a long-running rumor about his connection to the OJ Simpson trial.
In a recent podcast appearance, the comedian and actor shared more details about the time he and his comedy troupe performed a sketch show for the sequestered jurors, rather than a stand-up routine, as many people often speculate.
During the “Fact or Fiction” segment of Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson’s “All The Smoke” podcast, Will Ferrell opened up about his unusual comedy performance for the jurors involved in the OJ Simpson trial.
Ferrell explained that the performance was not a stand-up routine, as many people often believe, but rather a sketch show that he performed with his colleagues.
“We were doing our sketch show at the time, which was when the OJ jury was sequestered, and we felt so bad for, you know, this group of people that just went from their hotel to the courtroom that we performed right comedy in the courtroom,” Ferrell revealed, adding, “Not in the courtroom, but a courtroom.”
Describing the experience as “surreal,” Ferrell also recalled how strange it looked for him and his fellow comedians to appear in wigs and costumes while entertaining the jurors.
Will Ferrell Claimed The Jurors Were ‘Mildly Entertained’
Early last year, Ferrell also recalled the performance during an appearance on “The Graham Norton Show.”
He admitted that the idea to perform the sketch show did not come from him, but the group unanimously agreed to do it in an effort to “lighten the mood” for the jurors.
“It was just us and the jurors,” Ferrell recalled. “They seemed mildly entertained, but it was very bizarre.”
In both instances in which Ferrell discussed the performance, he did not reveal what types of sketches he and his colleagues presented to the jurors.
Ferrell Says Comedy Will Always ‘Ebb And Flow’
As for what Ferrell thinks about today’s comedy landscape, the comedian told Barnes and Jackson that he does not spend much time analyzing the genre’s state and explained why.
“I don’t really get into the weeds of comedy analysis too much,” he said. “It’s always a thing that’s going to ebb and flow in terms of people’s tastes and what people want to create.”
Ferrell said he simply focuses on following his instincts and hopes people connect with the results. Although he has achieved tremendous success in comedy, he admitted that he is sometimes still surprised by the career he has built.
“A lot of times, uh, what still strikes me today is the weird stuff that comes out of my brain,” he said. “Somehow, a majority of people thought it was funny for the most part.”
‘SNL’ Taught Will Ferrell To Trust His Instincts
Much of Ferrell’s success as a comedian can be traced back to his time on “Saturday Night Live,” which began the same year he performed for the OJ Simpson jurors.
His seven-year run lasted until 2002, during which he became one of the show’s most beloved cast members and earned an Emmy nomination in 2001.
Looking back on his time on “SNL,” Ferrell said the experience taught him to trust his instincts and avoid overthinking his ideas.
With a new sketch required every week, he learned to experiment, accept that some ideas would fail, and quickly move on to the next one. He also credited that process with helping him develop confidence in his comedic style.
The Actor Returns To TV With Netflix’s ‘The Hawk’
On July 16, Ferrell added to his extensive catalog of comedy projects with a new Netflix series titled “The Hawk.”
The project marks his first leading role in a television comedy since 2021 and brings him back to the small screen after years spent focusing primarily on film roles.
In the series, Ferrell portrays Lonnie, a former world No. 1 golfer who dominated the sport in 2004. Despite his physical decline, Lonnie embarks on an ambitious comeback, determined to capture one final major championship and prove he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Speaking about the inspiration behind “The Hawk,” Ferrell said golf’s complicated hold over those who play it made the sport ideal material for a comedy series.
“People who play it hate it as much as they love it,” the actor explained.
Prime Video’s highly anticipated live-action God of War series has hit a major setback, as star Ryan Hurst will no longer portray Kratos following a serious injury sustained during production.
According to a report from Deadline, Hurst tore his bicep while performing a stunt on set in Vancouver. The injury required surgery, and with an extended recovery expected, the production has made the difficult decision to recast the iconic Spartan warrior rather than wait for the actor to return.
The decision reportedly comes after several episodes had already been completed. As a result, scenes featuring Hurst as Kratos will need to be reshot once a replacement is cast, adding another delay to one of Prime Video’s biggest upcoming adaptations.
Hurst was announced as Kratos earlier this year, bringing an interesting connection to the franchise after previously providing the voice and motion capture performance for Thor in God of War Ragnarök. His casting was met with excitement from fans, especially after first-look images showcased his transformation into the legendary Ghost of Sparta.
God of War [sony entertainment]
The series, developed by Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Television, and PlayStation Productions, is based on the acclaimed 2018 God of War video game. It follows Kratos and his son Atreus as they embark on an emotional and dangerous journey across the Nine Realms to fulfill the final wish of Kratos’ late wife, Faye.
The cast also includes Callum Vinson as Atreus, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Ed Skreinas Baldur, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Max Parker as Heimdall, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Danny Woodburn as Brok, and Jeff Gulka as Sindri. Ronald D. Moore serves as showrunner, with the series already receiving a two-season order before filming began.
No replacement actor has been announced, and there is currently no updated release window for the series. Production is expected to resume once a new Kratos has been cast and the previously completed scenes are reshot.
Sydney Sweeney has sparked online speculation after promoting a new design from her underwear line featuring a phrase that is a song title on Taylor Swift‘s 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department.”
The slogan quickly caught the attention of the singer’s fans, with some questioning whether it was a subtle reference to her amid Sweeney’s reported romance with music executive Scooter Braun.
Braun was previously involved in a dispute with Taylor Swift after his company purchased her former record label, which gave him ownership of her early music catalog.
Sweeney has sparked online debate after unveiling a new item from her SYRN underwear collection, with some Taylor Swift fans questioning whether one design contains a subtle reference to the singer’s long-running feud with music executive Scooter Braun.
The actress, 28, recently promoted a fresh batch of underwear from her brand on Instagram, sharing a photo of a pair featuring the phrase “but daddy I love him.”
While Sweeney playfully described the designs as containing some of her “little sayings,” the slogan quickly caught the attention of Swift fans because it matches the title of a song from Taylor Swift’s 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department.”
The phrase sparked discussion across social media, where some users interpreted the underwear design as a possible jab at Swift.
Fans Are Divided Over The Phrase Amid Sydney Sweeney’s Romantic Link To Scooter Braun
The speculation over the phrase on Sweeney’s new lingerie was fueled by her romantic relationship with Scooter Braun, whose highly publicized conflict with the pop superstar dates back several years.
The music executive purchased Swift’s former record label, Big Machine Records, which granted him ownership over her first six studio albums.
This prompted the singer to embark on a massive re-recording project to regain leverage over her catalog. The dispute officially ended in May 2025, when Swift successfully bought her original master recordings back directly from Shamrock Capital, the private equity firm Braun had sold them to in 2020
Reacting to Sweeney’s recent move, one social media user accused her of being “messy,” suggesting it was unlikely the phrase was merely one of her personal expressions given its strong association with Swift’s song.
Others, however, argued that there is no evidence that the actress intended the design as a jab at the singer.
“I don’t love her, but ‘but daddy I love him’ isn’t from the Taylor Swift song; it’s a line in ‘The Little Mermaid,’” a Swift fan said in defense of Sweeney.
Sydney Sweeney’s Rumored Romance With Scooter Braun Continues To Draw Attention
The renewed attention comes as interest in Sweeney’s personal life continues to grow. Rumors linking her to Braun first surfaced after the pair were reportedly seen together during festivities surrounding Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding celebrations in Venice.
The reports emerged shortly after Sweeney’s split from longtime fiancé Jonathan Davino and were later followed by claims that she and Braun were casually dating, though neither has publicly commented on the speculation.
Addressing life in the spotlight during a recent interview with Cosmopolitan, Sweeney reflected on the challenges of navigating relationships under constant public scrutiny.
After spending years keeping her previous relationship largely out of the spotlight, she acknowledged that navigating romance can be difficult when so many people feel invested in your personal life.
“I understand that I’m a public person, but I’m still in my 20s,” she said.
The Actress Opens Up About Dating In The Public Eye
The actress said she is still learning about love and relationships, adding that it is “hard to do that with millions of people who have their own opinions of what that looks like.”
While she values her privacy, she admitted that balancing personal experiences with life as a public figure remains an ongoing challenge. “It’s hard deciding that I want to experience love in the public eye. I’m just navigating it all,” she explained.
The “Euphoria” star also shared the qualities she finds most attractive in a partner, describing her ideal match as someone “athletic and outgoing and funny.”
She added: “I’m a sporty girl, so someone needs to be able to climb a mountain with me, go skydiving with me. And someone who loves their family. I love myself a man.”
Sydney Sweeney To Star In Supernatural Romance ‘Hollow’
Away from the headlines surrounding her personal life, Sweeney continues to build an increasingly busy film career. Her latest project is “Hollow,” an upcoming adaptation of Lindsey Anderson Beer’s debut novel, which Beer will also write and direct following her work on “Pet Sematary: Bloodlines.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film reimagines Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” as a gothic thriller infused with supernatural and romantic elements. Sweeney is attached to play Katrina Van Tassel, who becomes the central figure in a dangerous love triangle involving Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, and the legendary Headless Horseman.
Production duties will be handled by several high-profile companies, including LuckyChap, Beer’s Brew Lab banner, and Sweeney’s recently launched production company, Honey Trap.
The novel has already generated significant industry interest. Publisher Putnam, an imprint of Penguin Random House, reportedly acquired the book before it could enter a competitive auction process. The film adaptation is also expected to be presented to studios in the near future as producers seek distribution partners.
Every so often, a television series comes around that captures America’s hearts. These shows typically feature a family that makes us feel like we’d love to be part of the gang. Whether it’s a lovable sitcom family like The Brady Bunch or Modern Family, or a more dysfunctional bunch like All in the Family or The Simpsons, these families help to represent our own shared commonalities up on the screen. When This Is Us premiered on NBC in 2016, we quickly found a new family to be obsessed with. With the series available to stream for free on Tubi, you can either catch this heartwarming drama for the first time or do a re-watch of this fantastic six-season comfort show.
What Is ‘This Is Us’ About?
At the start of This Is Us, we’re introduced to five main characters. There’s Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) and his wife, Rebecca (Mandy Moore), a happily married couple who are expecting triplets. Randall (Sterling K. Brown) is raising two daughters while struggling with bouts of anxiety. Kate (Chrissy Metz) is kickstarting a wellness journey in an effort to lose weight. And Kevin (Justin Hartley) is a famous actor who is working towards being taken more seriously. At first, it’s unclear how these people are all connected to one another. But then, in a major twist in the first episode, we discover that Jack and Rebecca’s storyline is not taking place in the same timeline as the other three adults like we assumed. In fact, Jack and Rebecca are actually the parents of Randall, Kate, and Kevin.
When we see their storyline, it’s actually occurring in the 1980s (a fact that’s cleverly concealed with non-specific clothing and settings). This shocker allows This Is Us to move forward with a unique non-linear storytelling method for the entire series. The plots in each episode are told by shifting back and forth from the past to the present, allowing us to see the Pearson family in every stage of their lives. With flashbacks ranging from when Jack and Rebecca were kids to Rebecca as an elderly woman, the series is able to traverse through a family’s entire existence in a truly captivating way. Whether the show is depicting a disaster of a Thanksgiving with Jack and Rebecca and their children, or offering the simple narrative of how one vehicle can be crucial to a family’s history, This Is Us fills each episode with rich character development and twists and turns that will keep your eyes glued to the screen.
‘This Is Us’ Utilizes Unique Storytelling Angles by Jumping Through Time
What makes This Is Us so special in its storytelling is that the viewer learns certain things about the family, like how Jack is missing from the present day timeline, but it takes its time unfolding each layer of the narrative for you to learn the details behind how these important events play out. You might not know exactly what will occur in these characters’ lives yet, but it’s an exciting, heartfelt journey to watch it eventually be uncovered. Each character’s experiences become fully fleshed out, even secondary characters like Randall’s wife, Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson), or Kate’s partner, Toby (Chris Sullivan), who also serve as instrumental aspects of the Pearsons’ lives. Even when the family experiences conflicts with each other, which they often do, there’s such a clear throughline of love that spreads throughout the series, and that ensures you can never be mad at any character for long.
The series expertly combines heart-wrenching drama and moments of humor with extremely lovable characters that you can’t help but find yourself rooting for. There are many examples of relatable occurrences, including poor decisions and trauma responses that affect their life paths, but that only adds to the realism of the series. With explorations of grief, addiction, and loss, the show is a true representation of the universal themes we all experience. This Is Us also portrays one of the most heartbreaking storylines we’ve witnessed on television in recent years, when Randall meets his biological father, William (Ron Cephas Jones). Jones, in a two-time Emmy-winning performance, cracks the show wide open in a complex depiction of a father-son relationship.
‘This Is Us’ Offers Many Impressive Performances
It’s not just the excellent writing on This Is Us that makes it worthy of a binge-watch. The Pearsons’ story also comes alive because of the incredible performances by the cast. Ventimiglia and Moore are able to successfully pull off one of the sweetest and most loving marriages portrayed on television, manifesting true couple goals for the rest of us. Metz and Hartley also portray Kate and Kevin with an honesty that makes their individual journeys — as well as their sibling relationship — ultimately very believable. However, when it comes to the main cast, Brown is definitely the standout as Randall. He grounds his performance in vulnerability and a sly humor that makes Randall one of the best characters in the series. It’s no surprise that he took home an Emmy in 2017 (and netted four other nominations). The series is definitely an ensemble piece, but Brown proves he can be a leading man thanks to his role in This Is Us.
This Is Us is also able to thrive in large part because of its guest actors, particularly Jones. Gerald McRaney also landed an Emmy for his role as the wise, folksy doctor who delivers Rebecca’s babies. Several other outstanding actors earned Emmy nominations for their work, including Denis O’Hare, Brian Tyree Henry, and Phylicia Rashad. This Is Us also stands apart from the rest by casting child actors who master subtlety and vulnerability. Every actor in the series works together to create an authenticity that makes This Is Us sing.
Throughout its run, This Is Us earned an impressive 39 Emmy nominations and four wins before ending in 2022. Even if the series can get a tiny bit schmaltzy at times, it is this sentimentality that reminds us of the importance of family and love in all of our lives. Critics and audiences alike have made this show an important part of television history, which means it’s now the perfect time to binge all six seasons for free.
This Is Us is available to stream on Tubi in the U.S.
- Release Date
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2016 – 2022
- Showrunner
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Dan Fogelman
- Directors
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Ken Olin, Chris Koch, Kevin Hooks, Anne Fletcher, George Tillman Jr., Jessica Yu, Milo Ventimiglia, Rebecca Asher, Catherine Hardwicke, John Fortenberry, Jon Huertas, Roxann Dawson, Sarah Boyd, Uta Briesewitz, Zetna Fuentes, Justin Hartley, Craig Zisk, Helen Hunt, Joanna Kerns, Kevin Rodney Sullivan, Mandy Moore, Regina King, Sarah Pia Anderson, Silas Howard
- Writers
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Bekah Brunstetter, Laura Kenar, Eboni Freeman, Danielle Bauman, Elan Mastai, Jonny Gomez, Donald Todd, Joe Lawson, Jake Schnesel, Chrissy Metz, Susan Kelechi Watson, Aurin Squire, Tim O’Brien
Wendy Williams‘ niece, Alex Finnie, has shared recent photos of the talk show queen amid celebrating her 62nd birthday.
RELATED: Pop Out, Then! Wendy Williams Stuns With Recent Look At NYFW (VIDEO)
Alex Finnie Celebrates Wendy Williams 62nd Birthday By Sharing Recent Photos
On Saturday, July 18, Alex Finnie, Wendy Williams’ niece, took to Instagram to share a quick carousel of photos with her aunt. In the flicks, Finnie donned sunglasses, a white shirt, and bedazzled jeans. This, as Williams rocked her signature blonde tresses, a bedazzled black romper, and a Gucci belt. In the caption of the carousel, Finnie wrote, “• 07 • 18 • 2026 • celebrating the QUEEN 👑 happy birthday Aunt Wendy ❤️ LOVE YOU! 🤞🏾”
Furthermore, Instagram user @heycindii_ wrote, “OMG is this recent?? 💜”
To which Finnie responded, “@heycindii_ yes 💜”
Social Media Users React
Social media users reacted to the recent photos of Wendy Williams in TSR’s comment section.
Instagram user @bakes_bakes_bakes wrote, “My girl look TF GEWDTTT”
While Instagram user @colour_mee_beyoutiful added, “Love me some Wendy. She was literally my morning coffee. Every morning 10 am 😂”
Instagram user @avy_04.04 wrote, “Wendy your bounce back must be studied cause u look good and strong 👏👏”
While Instagram user @nurse___net added, “HappyBirthday Wendy we miss you!”
Instagram user @faithdonna.z wrote, “62 years of giving people unsolicited truths and somehow surviving the aftermath. 😭”
While Instagram user @shana_mcd added, “Missing my cancer ♋️ big sis. She looks great”
Instagram user @softlyfemami wrote, “Love to see her😍😍🔥 happy birthday”
While Instagram user @ajeannah.__ added, “Ok the messiness makes sense now.. a cancer 😂♋️♋️♋️ happy birthday girl”
Before Wendy Williams Celebrated Her 62nd Birthday, She Was Dealing With The Passing Of Her Dad
Months before Wendy Williams celebrated her 62nd birthday, she was dealing with another major moment. As The Shade Room previously reported, on February 8, the passing of her father, Thomas D. Williams, was announced to the world. At the time, Alex Finnie revealed the news to the public, writing that her grandfather had passed away at the age of 94.
RELATED: Prayers Up! Wendy Williams’ Family Shares Heartfelt Tribute After Her Father’s Passing (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Comic books have decades-long, built-in fan bases, and every single one of those fans has their own idea of what makes a great superhero story. Some grew up on a specific run. Some latched onto a specific artist’s version of a character. That means everyone walks into the theater with a different version of the character already living in their head, and a movie can only really commit to one of them. So, when a new superhero movie finally comes out, pleasing everyone in that crowd is basically impossible.
And then there’s the other kind of divide — the one between critics and audiences. A movie can deliver everything the fanbase has been begging for while still failing on basic filmmaking fronts, and that creates the most divisive results of all. Other times, a movie can be unanimously hated on release and then slowly turn beloved as the years go on, once audiences have had time to reassess it outside of its initial launch. Whatever the reason behind the split, here are the seven most divisive superhero movies ever made.
7
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024)
When Deadpool & Wolverine hit theaters, it received glowing reviews. The third entry in the franchise finally brought Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) into the mainline MCU in all his R-rated glory, and it stacked the cast with legacy heroes fans never thought they’d see onscreen together. Hugh Jackman got to reprise his role as Wolverine, complete with the iconic yellow suit fans had been asking for since 2000. And cameos from Jennifer Garner‘s Elektra, Wesley Snipes‘ Blade, Dafne Keen’s X-23, and a scene-stealing Channing Tatum as Gambit turned the movie into a perfect send-off for 20th Century Fox’s mutant era.
But once the hype of the cameos wore off, the cracks started to show. Many fans now admit it’s a fun rollercoaster ride that doesn’t hold up nearly as well on rewatch. The plot is paper-thin, Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) is one of the weakest villains in the franchise, and the entire story hinges on a lazy MacGuffin. A growing number of fans now consider it the weakest Deadpool movie of the trilogy, even with all that star power on display.
6
‘Eternals’ (2021)
Chloe Zhao was arguably the most decorated director Marvel has ever hired. Her film Nomadland won Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars the same year Eternals came out, but her sensibilities didn’t translate that well to the superhero genre. She delivered a deliberately slow-paced story built around mythology and philosophy, and that pacing alienated fans who were used to the MCU’s usual quip-heavy formula. The film also introduced 10 brand-new heroes in a single movie, which left a lot of viewers feeling like they needed a flowchart just to keep track of everyone.
It was more so a superhero movie made for cinephiles. Eternals earned real praise for its striking visuals and cinematography, and it also delivered some of the most beautiful depictions of superpowers ever put on screen. However, the disconnect between cinema fans and comic book fans turned this into one of the most polarizing entries in the entire MCU.
5
‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ (2014)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was widely hated when it first came out. Electro (Jamie Foxx) and Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan) were both weak, underdeveloped villains crammed into a movie that was already juggling too many subplots. But something changed after Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Fan opinion on Garfield’s version of the character shifted so hard that many now consider him the greatest live-action Spider-Man. It’s the small moments, like him fighting in winter wearing street clothes over his costume, hanging out with the firefighters, and helping a random kid with his science project. These are the friendly neighborhood, street-level Spider-Man moments that have been largely missing from Tom Holland‘s trilogy, and fans have grown to crave that version so badly that Brand New Day is taking heavy inspiration from Garfield-era Spidey.
4
‘Man of Steel’ (2013)
Man of Steel came out at a time when the Superman franchise had been dead for nearly a decade. It delivered a genuinely compelling superhero origin story, one that leaned darker and more brutal than anything the MCU was doing at the time, and that was enough to win over mainstream audiences. But for anyone who’d ever actually read a Superman comic, it was obvious that this brooding, almost Jesus-like figure wrestling with his place in the world was not really Superman. In the comics, Clark Kent is a bright, relentlessly optimistic farm boy with a heart of gold, and Henry Cavill’s version felt more like an Elseworlds take on the character.
The film also drew heavy criticism for the sheer scale of destruction in Metropolis during the final battle. When Superman fights in the comics, he goes out of his way to save as many lives as possible, the same way he does in James Gunn‘s Superman, where he refuses to even kill the giant monster tearing through Metropolis. Man of Steel skipped over that instinct, and the controversy peaked when Superman kills Zod (Michael Shannon) in the final confrontation. Sure, he’s forced into a corner, but that’s exactly the problem. Finding another way, no matter how impossible the situation looks, is the entire core of who Superman is. It’s the one trait that separates him from every other hero with god-like power, and it’s the reason kids have looked up to him for generations. Man of Steel stripped that part of the character away in its very first outing.
3
‘Captain Marvel’ (2019)
Right before Captain Marvel came out, Brie Larson made headlines when she said, “I don’t need a 40-year-old white dude to tell me what didn’t work about A Wrinkle in Time. It wasn’t made for him!” The comment came off as openly hostile toward men, a group that happens to make up a huge chunk of Marvel’s audience base. And thus, Captain Marvel became a flashpoint in a much bigger online war over political correctness in Hollywood. The film got brutally review-bombed on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of release, eventually settling at a 79% critic score against a 45% audience score.
The film itself didn’t do much to cool things down either. Carol Danvers came across as the archetypal one-note girlboss character, constantly putting down the men around her while carrying almost no weaknesses of her own. And that flawless, invincible portrayal only gave the existing backlash more fuel. Fans who were already primed to dislike the movie because of Larson now had an actual on-screen reason to point to, and the two controversies fed into each other.
2
‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015)
Avengers: Age of Ultron drew plenty of criticism when it first came out. Ultron (James Spader) was nowhere near the menacing threat he is in the comics. Instead, he came across as a wisecracking Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) clone, which fit the movie’s plot but felt like an injustice to one of the greatest villains in comic history. The film also buckled under the weight of setting up future installments. Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) entire detour into the cave felt like pure filler, tossed in just to plant seeds for future Phase 3 movies.
But now that Tony and Steve (Chris Evans) are both gone, and the team was fractured in Captain America: Civil War, fans have really come around on Age of Ultron. It was one of the last times we got to see the OG Avengers together, especially the banter between Cap and Tony, which was the emotional core of the entire MCU. They were the Buzz and Woody of the franchise. It’s also one of the last movies that features the team on their downtime, just hanging out at a party, taking turns trying to lift Mjolnir. Rewatching that sequence now genuinely feels like a warm hug. Comics and cartoons have always understood that seeing heroes hang out, argue, joke around, and act like a family can be just as interesting as watching them fight aliens or robots. The MCU doesn’t really make time for that anymore.
1
‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ (2016)
BvS took everything people hated about Man of Steel and took it a step further. The Superman Jesus imagery was dialed up to 11. Batman (Ben Affleck) became a murderous psychopath who branded criminals and showed zero regard for human life. Lex Luthor felt like Jesse Eisenberg was just reprising his role as Mark Zuckerberg from The Social Network, except this time he was on crack. On top of that, the movie tried to introduce the entire Justice League, kick off the Death of Superman storyline, and set up Darkseid, the Parademons, and an alternate future with evil Superman all in one film. Then, of course, there was the infamous “Martha” moment, which became the punching bag of the internet for the better part of a year.
But time has been kinder to BvS than anyone expected. The Ultimate Edition smoothed out a lot of the pacing issues, cleaned up character motivations, and made the political subtext land with more coherence. The warehouse rescue scene still remains one of the best live-action fight sequences ever filmed, and easily the greatest live-action Batman fight put to screen. And next to later DCEU failures like Suicide Squad and Joss Whedon‘s Justice League, BvS looks like a masterpiece by comparison.
Megan Fox is not here for the haters — and can’t help but wonder if at least one of them is someone she knows personally.
“Men would have them believe disobedience was Eve’s vice, when it was her greatest virtue,” Fox, 40, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, July 16, alongside sultry photos of herself dressed in a sheer, black bandeau bra with matching underwear.
The actress received a mixed response to the pics in the comments section.
“This s*** is so unbelievably embarrassing for a 40-year-old mom to be posting,” one social media user replied. “[This is] 16-year-old tumblr s***.”
Megan Fox certainly knows how to break the internet. In her latest post, the Jennifer’s Body actress, 39, posed on all fours in a latex bra and a matching skirt with her thong popping out, pairing the racy getup with thigh-high boots. She completed her look with Andre Montana rimless sunglasses and a statement silver […]
Fox didn’t let the comment be.
“Which one of my exes is this 🧐,” she coyly asked, wondering if one of her past partners were responsible for the offending comment.
Fox is a mom of four, sharing three children with ex-husband Brian Austin Green and daughter Saga Blade, 15 months, with ex Machine Gun Kelly.
It’s not known whether Fox’s exes anonymously trolled her online, though the Transformers star has long been aware of her sexualized image.
“I think [being labeled a sex symbol] adds pressure to a girl who, like I said, has body dysmorphia and didn’t really ever see herself that way,” Fox admitted on a 2024 episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. “There’s this energy of me that I don’t give any f***s,” she continued. “To some degree that’s true, in terms of I would never change anything about myself in order to get someone to like me.”
Still, Fox noted that she is “always” confused by her constant objectification in the limelight.
Vanessa Marcil is not here for trolls shaming Megan Fox for her rocky relationship with Machine Gun Kelly. “FEMALE TRIBE — Are y’all really still out here saying STUPID, TRANSPARENT (jealousy) s—t about each other? Tearing each other down? Calling each other whores????” Marcil, 55, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, May 5, alongside screenshots of […]
“I never really did anything bad. I was never associated with drugs or alcohol,” she said at the time. “I was never around, until recently, anyone who’s been associated with drugs or alcohol. I was never caught at clubs. I was never arrested.”
Fox dated Kelly, 36, on and off from 2020 to 2025. He announced in 2024 that had been sober for one year.
“I don’t drink anymore,” the rapper said on the “Dumb Blonde” podcast, revealing he went rehab for the first time after his 2023 world tour. “I didn’t tell anybody outside of the [people] closest to me. That was my first time I ever went to rehab. They just gave me so many ways to operate the body and show where this anger is coming from and methods to quell it. … I ended up falling into an awareness of what my condition is and have made peace with it. It’s a constant tightrope walk.”
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Finding a top that’s comfortable, flattering and easy to wear can feel surprisingly difficult, especially when you want a little extra coverage through the midsection. Luckily, this budget-friendly blouse has earned a loyal following for exactly that reason, with shoppers saying it offers a relaxed fit that skims the body without looking boxy.
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Everyone needs a go-to top to pair with jeans, skirts and linen pants. But if you’re self-conscious about your tummy, finding a flattering blouse can feel impossible. When in doubt, take it from reviewers who have been in your shoes. Through trial and error, they uncovered these 17 summer blouses that masterfully conceal the belly. […]
Shoppers say the fit is what keeps them coming back for multiple colors. One reviewer shared, “I do have some belly fat that I want to hide, and this does the job.” Another customer wrote, “This shirt makes my tummy disappear.” They also noted that the shirt goes with everything in their wardrobe.
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Get the Anrabess Short-Sleeve Crew Neck for $9 (was $15) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
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Streamer University is so popping that everybody wants a spot on campus, but Kai Cenat isn’t letting just anybody pull up to his campus grounds. Kai hopped on a livestream to clear the air after Saucy Santana allegedly snuck onto campus, and somehow Lizzo is getting dragged into the mix too!
RELATED: All Good? BenDaDonnn Responds After Saucy Santana Calls Him Over Livestream Comments (PHOTOS + VIDEOS)
Saucy Santana Tried To Keep His Streamer University Visit Lowkey
It looks like Saucy Santana might’ve been a little too loud on the Streamer University creek because Kai Cenat hopped on a livestream to make it clear he isn’t rocking with any surprise pop-ups. For context, videos started making rounds online showing Santana on the Streamer University campus, seemingly filming content for his new song, ‘Quiet On The Creek.’ Santana even spilled tea on TikTok, telling his followers that Lizzo tried to sneak him onto campus as a surprise. But chile, the surprise might’ve been too loud because clips later showed Lizzo and Santana seemingly chatting with Kai’s security.
@saucysantanaWe was too loud!!! 😩♬ Quiet on the Creek – Saucy Santana
Kai Cenat Sets The Record Straight After Saucy Santana Pulls Up To Streamer University
Shortly after Saucy Santana’s videos started going viral, Kai Cenat hopped on his livestream to confirm he had seen Saucy on campus. Kai explained that he reached out to Lizzo’s team and let them know Streamer University was a private event, meaning he wasn’t allowing any outsiders onto the campus, regardless of their status. He said he also told Lizzo’s team that he wanted everyone to “please respect the event.” Kai added that a miscommunication happened despite his conversation with Lizzo’s team and made it clear that he believes Lizzo is innocent. He also defended his security guard, saying he wasn’t rude to anyone on campus and he was simply doing his job. Kai explained that if anything goes wrong, he needs his team to step in and make sure everyone is safe. “Whatever y’all trying to put on the security […] come on bro, it’s just not fair, because we lay good rules down,” Kai said.
The Comments Were Coming in HOT After Saucy Santana’s Campus Surprise
After The Shade Room Teens shared clips of Saucy Santana’s Streamer University moment, the comment section filled up with reactions. Plenty of folks said they supported Kai setting boundaries. Meanwhile, others joked that Saucy was definitely a little too loud while pulling up to the creek.
Instagram user @__letsgetin2it wrote, “He ain’t wrong 😂 why are y’all sneaking on campus?”
Instagram user @jazzyfizz_ wrote, “Damn Santana wasn’t quiet on the creek 😂”
While Instagram user @knowmarz wrote, “But if it was Beyonce.”
Then Instagram user @pretty.sincerely wrote, “👏👏good , just because they are celebs doesn’t make them entitled.”
Another Instagram user @3xclusive.neff wrote, “y’all stressing Kai df out 😂😂😂”
Instagram user @_karon._ wrote, “‘Quiet on the creek’ got him thanking he bigger then the program lol.”
Then another Instagram user @princedagreatest wrote, “If it was drake it would’ve been okay tho Kai stop the cap.”
Another Instagram user, @_mkayyyyyyyyyy, wrote, “Lizzo could’ve asked Kai off camera if Santana could come lol.”
Finally, Instagram user @unkknownn.001 wrote, “I’m glad kai kicking people out.”
RELATED: Plot Twist! Kai Cenat’s Traffic Stop Takes An Unexpected Turn After Police Officer Recognizes Him (VIDEOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Pamela Anderson is one proud plant mom!
“Look what’s growing in my garden,” Anderson, 59, said in a Wednesday, July 15, video shared via Instagram, showcasing her backyard oasis.
Anderson’s garden features multiple beds of greens to grow a variety of fruits, vegetables and stunning flowers. The space also includes a wooden picnic table in between two benches, flanked by white two-seater chaises on each side.
“Good morning from the garden 🌷✨🧚♀️,” the actress captioned her upload.
Pamela Anderson’s garden is her oasis away from Hollywood. The actress lives in a dreamy home on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, with a flourishing garden. Anderson first purchased the estate from her grandparents 30 years ago and decided to make some renovations to the property. She first made the move from her native […]
Anderson’s famous friends and loved ones were immediately in awe of the landscape.
“There’s something about nurturing a garden 🪴 that’s so nourishing to us,” influencer Malia Hana wrote in comments section. “I’ve just started, but wow❣️.”
Anderson’s son Dylan, 28, added, “Tell me you love to garden without telling me you love to garden 😅❤️.”
In addition to her storied film and TV career, Anderson has touted her passion for both cooking and gardening on her Pamela’s Cooking With Love lifestyle series.
“We got to retrofit the barn and my son’s fiancé designed the kitchen. She’s a great designer,” Anderson said on Canada’s Etalk in February 2025, referring to Paula Bruss, who married Dylan in July 2026. “So, I’m just calling in the troops. I have the kids involved, my mom and dad are involved — everybody’s on the show I know and love.”
Anderson, who shares Dylan and Brandon, 30, with ex-husband Tommy Lee, meets with a cohort of professional chefs to create new concoctions on each episode. Brandon also serves as a producer.
“He’s an incredible producer and he just knew. He said, ‘Mom, I just want you to do all the things you love. We’ll create businesses around it and you can just be you,’” the Naked Gun star recalled to the Canadian outlet last year. “I said, ‘OK, I want to do a cooking show,’ and they created this magical environment, where I could also do crafts, which I really love to do and centerpieces. I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve always been like this.”
James Devaney/GC Images Pamela Anderson’s skincare routine is surprisingly achievable. The actress, 56, shared the secret to healthy glow with Us Weekly at the Pandora Lab Grown Diamond launch party on Wednesday, September 6, in New York City. Anderson — who was previously known to slay a smokey eye and overlined pink lips in the […]
Anderson continued, “I’ve always set the table and set the tone and the environment [in our neighborhood], which I think is really important to the experience of eating. It was just fun to do. It was a dream come true.”
While Anderson’s program drew comparisons to Meghan Markle’s With Love, Meghan, on Netflix, she has found there is plenty of room in the market.
“I didn’t really look [at her show]. I didn’t invent cooking shows,” Anderson said on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in August 2025. “So, I mean … she’s just doing her thing.”
With Love, Meghan, coincidentally, was cancelled earlier this year after two seasons.
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