Charlize Theron is looking back on her difficult upbringing in South Africa.

“I have memories from when I was really young, seeing really drunk people, and it scared me,” Theron, 50, told The New York Times in a profile published Saturday, April 17. “Like, people crawling on the floor drunk. That became so consistent that it was every Friday, Saturday, maybe even every Wednesday. My dad had built this big bar inside the house.”

Theron further claimed that her dad, Charles, was “a full-blown functioning drunk.”

“He had moments where he would go missing, we wouldn’t know where he was and he would usually return in a state that was pretty severe,” the actress alleged. “It would get messy and loud, and my mom’s not a wallflower either. She wasn’t just sitting and taking it. She made it known that she wasn’t happy about his lifestyle. So, it really caused a lot of verbal abuse.”

Related: Charlize Theron‘s Candid Quotes About Motherhood

Charlize Theron loves her kids more than anything. The actress adopted her daughters, Jackson and August, in 2012 and 2015, respectively, and has been gushing over her role as a mom ever since. “I do know that choosing to be a mom in my late 30s has been really great for me,” Theron told W […]

She continued, “Personally, for me, the worst thing was they would ice each other. There would be a big fight, and then they wouldn’t talk for three weeks. I didn’t have siblings, and that house just went silent.”

Theron’s mother, Gerda, shot and killed her husband in 1991 out of self-defense. Theron was 15 at the time.

While speaking with The Times, Theron clarified that her father wasn’t physically violent toward her.

“He was scary. He didn’t hit me, he didn’t throw me against a wall, but he would do things like drive drunk,” she said. “There was a lot of verbal abuse, a lot of threatening language that just became normal.”

According to Theron, her mom even enrolled her in a boarding school to “get [Theron] out of the house.”

“She was very aware of what it was doing to me,” Theron told the outlet. “All the memories are there, and it’s not that I don’t try and think about it, but going in such a linear manner, it becomes almost more clear when you talk about it this way. Because people tend to just isolate it and want to talk about one thing. It helps to explain that these things build, and they build, and it takes years for things to go as wrong as it did in my house.”

Theron eventually left South Africa when she was 16 to pursue a modeling career in Europe.

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“I was so equipped. I knew how to take care of myself. That’s just something my mom instilled in me, my lifestyle instilled me, my country did,” she said. “You know how to cook, how to sew. I knew more than my kids will ever know as adults about taking care of myself. I knew I would be able to survive, and I also had this real drive. I was so determined to do this on my own and not to fail, because I didn’t want to go back.”

After Theron found success in Hollywood, she adopted daughters Jackson and August in 2012 and 2015, respectively.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

Whew! Coi Leray and Olandria have the internet in a chokehold after photos from their link-up started making rounds online. And let’s just say, the vibes are giving sweet, soft, and very much That Girl energy. Fans are already obsessed with the duo’s latest moment together, and it’s easy to see why.

RELATED: Mini-Me Moves! Coi Leray & Miyoco Have Fans Losing It Over Mother-Daughter Dance Clips (VIDEO)

Coi Leray & Olandria Have Fans Losing It Over Their Face Cards

In a video shared to Instagram on Friday, April 17, Coi Leray and Olandria popped out together with a playful caption that read, “May I Have A Chocolate Vanilla Milkshake Please With Whip Cream and Extra Sprinkles,” along with several colorful emoji. In the clip, Coi is seen rocking a matching yellow and green bikini set, styled with space buns and a toned midsection that shows off her fitness glow, while Olandria complements the moment with a sleek side part and a lace top giving full-on glam energy. Together, the pair serve undeniable face cards and effortless chemistry, leaving fans fully locked in on the aesthetic and the vibe.

The Roomies Are Livin’ For Coi & Olandria’s Link-Up

Folks wasted no time running to The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section, and you already know they had plenty to say. Some joked that this is exactly what it looks like when the “mac and yams” touch. While others couldn’t stop talking about how their face cards.

One Instagram user @attractifff commented “I can’t choose 😩😩”

This Instagram user @crystal.crave added, “Black Women are just everything 😍 the meaning of beauty“

And, Instagram user @brownbone.kee said, “WHEN THE BAKED MAC AND CHEESE TOUCH THE YAMS 😍”

While Instagram user @yanmajid.rose shared, “They’re face card eats soo bad 😍”

Then Instagram user @pictureperfectmarika wrote, “This what I mean when I say I want Neapolitan ice cream“

Finally, Instagram user @kaylatatyana said, “butter pecan & chocolate milkshakesss😍”

Coi & Her Baby Girl Stay Taking Over Timelines

Coi Leray really stays outside living her best life—and bringing her baby girl Myoco along for the vibes. In a series of clips shared to her social media, the rapper popped out in what looked like a dance studio, mirrors up and energy on 100, as she got into a full-on dance moment while keeping her daughter Miyoco close by. At one point, Coi whines her waist and drops low with ease, while Miyoco claps along like her biggest fan.

And baby, the multitasking didn’t stop there! In another moment, Coi is holding Miyoco on her hip while still catching the beat, proving she’s balancing mommy duties and good vibes seamlessly. Meanwhile, Miyoco had her own lil’ spotlight, smiling at the camera in a colorful romper and gold chain as she played by the mirror. Coi even kept it playful in the caption, joking “Gotta start ’em young,” and you already know fans were eating up this mommy-daughter energy.

RELATED: Friends Or Lovers? Fans Debate Olandria and Nic Vans’ Relationship Status Following Her Message Celebrating His 25th Birthday (PHOTOS)

Actress Lena Dunham is claiming that she wrote about her “Girls” co-star Adam Driver in an “honest way.” In her tell-all memoir “Famesick,” Dunham alleges that the “Star Wars” actor threw a chair, punched a hole in his trailer, and screamed in her face when she forgot her lines. She also claimed that their relationship nearly crossed a boundary before he married his now-wife, Joanne Tucker, in 2013.

Lena Dunham Addresses Her Relationship With ‘Girls’ Costar Adam Driver

While promoting her new memoir, Dunham reflected on the difficulty of being the “Girls” showrunner at such a young age, as she was only 23 when HBO called to offer her a blind pilot deal for the show. While the comedy series was a hit for HBO, Driver was also navigating his newfound fame as Kylo Ren in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy.

“For better or worse, it was all of our first jobs. I think Adam went on a very specific ride because he had the ride of the show and then also the ride of becoming a major movie star at the same time,” Dunham told PEOPLE magazine while promoting her memoir.

“So he was on these two tracks, and he’s a very, very serious work-focused private person. So I have a lot of empathy for that,” she added.

Dunham Said She Didn’t Want To Make Adam Driver ‘The Outlier’

Dunham insisted that she didn’t want to make Driver seem like “the outlier” of the comedy series when she wrote about her experiences with him in her memoir. Instead, she said she wanted it to serve as an example of how difficult it can be to navigate her “first experiences” as a boss, which she hopes others can relate to.

“And again, the goal was never to make Adam seem like he was in any way the outlier of the show, but just to talk about how complex and confusing those first experiences of trying to be a boss were,” she said.

Lena Dunham Says It Was A ‘Challenge’ To Be A Leader

Dunham insists that it wasn’t just her experiences with Driver that made it difficult to be a “boss” on set.

“I was also, at that point in my life, extremely intimidated by men. And so there was a real challenge to me in trying to be a leader when it came to men,” she explained. “And I learned on that job, and luckily, I don’t feel those same kinds of fears anymore.”

Lena Dunham Says They Shared A ‘Rich Creative Dynamic’

Adam Driver’s character, also named Adam, played the on-again-off-again boyfriend to Dunham’s character, Hannah. While reflecting on the experience of filming “Girls,” Dunham claimed that they had “two different relationships” when they were on-screen and in real life.

“It was a really rich creative dynamic in which we were able to understand each other completely when we were on screen, and then in some ways, not at all when we were off,” she said. “And so it was almost like we had two different relationships, one that kind of played out in our scenes together and one that played out in life.”

She said she wrote about Driver in the book only to capture the relationship in an “honest way” as she reflected on her experiences.  

“It was an attempt to capture that [relationship] in an honest way, and also really talk about how much being around this very talented, charismatic, complex, and powerful person affected me in ways that were really positive and in ways that were a bit harder,” she says.

Lena Dunham Reflects On The Behavior Of ‘Great Male Geniuses’

In a separate interview with The Guardian to promote her memoir, Dunham admitted, “I also care a lot about having a set where people are happy, and feel free and heard and unafraid. Largely because I don’t want people to feel some of the ways that I felt.”

“At the time, I didn’t have the skill to … it never entered my mind to say, ‘I am your boss, you can’t speak to me this way,’” Dunham said of Driver’s alleged behavior. “And, at that point in my 20s, I still thought that’s what great male geniuses do: eviscerate you. Which is weird, because I was raised by a male genius who would never do that.”

At the time of this writing, Driver has yet to publicly comment on her accusations. In her memoir, she said that the last time they had contact was when “Girls” wrapped in 2016.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 1 hour ago

One of my favorite found footage horror flicks that you’ve never heard of is 2025’s Looky-Loo (my review here), written and directed by Jason Zink (the guy behind Straight Edge Kegger). I was fortunate enough to be contacted by Jason ahead of its release back in 2024 to review the film, and it blew me away. It’s very well shot because the “found footage” comes from an aspiring filmmaker, meaning he knows how to edit his footage, and whatever camera he’s using doesn’t fall into the “scared kids running around the woods with their parents’ camcorder” trap that so many found footage films succumb to.

The footage presented to the viewer in Looky-Loo, as far as I can tell, is carefully curated by the titular serial killer because he’s trying to build out his own mythology and wants the attention. Think BTK killer, but if he knew how to use CapCut. Looky-Loo: Part II builds on this lore and keeps things interesting by showing us just how far off the deep end the killer has gotten since we last saw him. That’s saying a lot because the first film succeeds in traumatizing its audience, but only before hinting that there’s plenty more where that came from.

When Zink reached out to me again to hear my thoughts on his upcoming sequel, I was obviously primed for more of the same, just slightly escalated. He’s working the whole thing into a trilogy, so I figured we’d get a slow burn, leading to another cliffhanger. I was surprised when Looky-Loo: Part II got right into it with zero buildup to prepare you for the continuation of our killer’s rampage.

Looky Loo Wants To Be Famous

Looky-Loo: Part II wastes no time building out the mythology of its titular character and includes a letter to the viewer that spells everything out. The letter accomplishes two things. It tells the viewer that he will continue to kill, and it passive-aggressively taunts the authorities, stating that “so many more ladies ended up on the cutting room floor than the FBI knows about.” He goes on to explain that one such victim was strangled with a guitar string while she sat in her recliner, something he refers to as “Compelling footage, but cut for time.”

Right off the rip, Looky Loo is talking like an accomplished filmmaker who just so happens to be a serial killer, not a serial killer moonlighting as an amateur filmmaker. That should tell you everything you need to know about the murderous menace’s mental state. He thinks very highly of himself, and he believes what he’s doing is high art. In reality, he’s stalking women, entering and snooping around their homes when they’re not around, and returning when he’s comfortable enough with their routines to go in for the kill.

But here’s what Looky Loo doesn’t want to admit. He’s getting sloppy.

In the first film, one thing that really stuck with me was how he used his camera for reconnaissance. At first, it seems like he’s just filming his voyeuristic activities for the thrill of it. But if you really think about what he’s doing, he’s playing things smart. He films very specific things when he goes into a house. You catch glimpses of calendars, he goes through junk drawers and medicine cabinets, looks for potential murder weapons, and comes up with potential escape routes.

He’s also scoping out places to hide once it’s time to strike. He takes the footage home and reviews it so there are no surprises. In other words, he’s sizing up the joint from a safe distance once he has what he needs, giving him intimate knowledge of his victims’ daily habits and floor plans. He’s planning everything out in advance, giving him a horrifying advantage over his victims. 

Our Killer’s Sophomore Slump

In the lore that Looky-Loo: Part II establishes, there’s now a popular snuff film playing at drive-in theaters that features footage from the first film. The sequel itself opens in the home of his next victims, an older married couple who don’t match his usual victim profile. Up to this point, Looky Loo has always gone after young, attractive women, but there’s a personal stake in this opening sequence. He’s playing a news broadcast featuring a man saying that if he ever got his hands on the killer, it’d be game over. When the camera zooms out, it’s clear that this is the same man Looky Loo currently has bound and gagged.

After finishing off the man and his wife, Looky Loo reaches into a puddle of blood and writes “Part II” on the refrigerator, because in his mind this is just another film project, and this is the most badass way to come up with a title card.

I’m not going to go into the granular details and do a full breakdown of Looky-Loo: Part II, but there are a couple of things to consider about our killer’s mental state that I clocked while watching the upcoming sequel. He’s getting careless. He doesn’t appear to be constantly editing footage anymore, which suggests he’s less cautious when entering his victims’ homes. He gets spotted and nearly overpowered on more than one occasion. He starts interacting with objects in his victims’ houses that could easily blow his cover before he’s able to satisfy his sadistic urges.

Looky Loo’s check engine light is illuminated, which tells you he’s not even taking care of his getaway vehicle despite planning to escalate. He shows up in public places with his camera, presumably in plain clothes, though we only ever see his shadow. Again, careless. There are also several sequences involving a woman who is either his next victim or someone he hires so he can work out his fantasies in a controlled environment before doing it for real. In these scenes, she sits awkwardly on a bed, reads his poetry, and tries on various outfits and wigs that match his preferred victim type. Strangely, she doesn’t seem scared, but almost sympathetic toward him.

Like its predecessor, Looky-Loo: Part II has sparse dialogue and features long tracking shots, heavy breathing, and the sound of footsteps scraping along the sidewalk. Occasionally, while hiding in somebody’s closet, he turns off the camera to conserve battery life. When he starts recording again, it’s clear that time has passed, and he’s about to do something terrible now that everybody is asleep and completely unaware of his presence in the one place they’re supposed to feel safe.

Most disturbing, though, is the same sick rush I had while watching this film that I had with the first one. Zink makes the deliberate choice to have viewers follow the worst protagonist imaginable. He’s a horrible person. He’s mentally unstable. He’s done nothing but stalk and kill throughout the entire runtime. But the important thing that you need to consider is that Looky Loo is the protagonist, so you feel compelled to see his story through, and, to a degree, see him succeed, because that’s how storytelling works. The protagonist is usually the hero. Here, he’s the exact opposite. Everything he does is reprehensible, but you stay invested because it’s the story you’re following. In a way, his sick and twisted fantasy of being famous comes to life because you’re watching him build out the lore in real time, and you can’t help but hope it’s a great story.

That’s what makes the Looky-Loo films so messed up and fun to watch. By design, you’re forced to root for the bad guy, and that’s exactly what he wants.

As of this writing, Looky-Loo: Part II is wrapping post-production, and a release date has yet to be announced. To prime yourself for what’s to come, you can stream the first Looky-Loo for free on Tubi. 

Minimalist director Kelly Reichardt weaves an affecting portrait of four unconnected women living in the American Northwest. Starring Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart and Lily Gladstone, Certain Women is broken up into sections and based on a collection of short stories by Maile Meloy. It centers chiefly on the characters played by Dern, Williams and Stewart, each attempting, in their own way, to build their own ordinary lives.

Deeply empathetic and engrossing, Certain Women is a slow-burn that mesmerizes with its careful pacing and attention to detail. At the same time, its characters are rich yet understated, portrayed with care by all four actresses. It is difficult to watch the film and not see a little bit of oneself in each character, as scenarios depicted are specific yet universal. Certain Women warmly showcases the bittersweet, beautiful melancholy of life.

Since the earliest days of the medium as a mainstream form of entertainment, television drama has been defined by the creative dare, pioneering brilliance, and thematic richness of crime stories. Regardless of whether they be police procedural series that take viewers on taut and twisting tales of mystery or cutting and callous immersions into the world of organized crime, the genre has produced countless shows that function as addictive and binge-worthy drama.

Ranging from hard-edged cop shows of the 80s and 90s that broke new ground for the medium to modern stories of power and criminal ambition that stand among the greatest series ever made, these outstanding television spectacles are still easy to sink into today. Many of them stand not only as dazzling masterpieces that represent the genre at its intense and impeccable best, but as some of the most important and innovative series in television history as well.

10

‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)

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Wickedly exciting from start to finish, Hannibal excels as an engrossing psychological thriller that amplifies the intensity of its cat-and-mouse game of manipulation with stunning performances, macabre intrigue, and a glorious penchant for some of the most artistic and auspicious gore television has ever seen. Based on the works of Thomas Harris, primarily “Red Dragon,” it follows Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), a deeply disturbed FBI criminal profiler whose ability to empathize with serial killers makes him an invaluable asset to solving active cases. However, as his unique ability also sees him confront the deepest depravities of humanity, he is consistently monitored by the esteemed psychologist, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen).

Despite garnering an impassioned fan following and consistent critical acclaim, the series was prematurely canceled after just three seasons, but not before delivering one of the most absorbing and intoxicating crime thrillers the small screen has ever been treated to. Its marriage of rich character drama, scintillating psychological horror, and stunning visual display makes it ridiculously easy to binge-watch, as does the captivating dynamic between the two leads, whose relationship of intellect and manipulation makes for one of the most engrossing rivalries in the medium’s history.

9

‘Homicide: Life on the Streets’ (1993–1999)

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Based on the nonfiction book by crime reporter David Simon—who would become one of the most influential crime TV showrunners in his own right in ensuing years—Homicide: Life on the Streets is a definitive catalyst of television’s golden era. Groundbreaking for its time, the ’90s cop show following homicide detectives in the Baltimore Police Department revolutionized the genre with its gritty realism—defined by everything from its handheld camera work to its confronting depiction of coarse police methods—as well as its emphasis on serialized storytelling rather than episodic entertainment.

Even by today’s standards, the crime series achieves an air of authenticity that is commanding, not to mention beautifully supported by its incredible writing and performances, particularly in its earlier seasons. Its documentary-style approach endows the series with a visceral intensity that was not only innovative but has proved to be truly timeless as well. Complemented by character-driven drama that acknowledges the humanity and the faults of police officers, Homicide: Life on the Streets is a precursor to the glory the genre would experience through the 2000s that is still an intoxicating and enlightening viewing experience in 2026.

8

‘Magnum P.I.’ (1980–1988)

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It is easy to look back on many of the crime classics of ’80s television and cringe. They tend to be overly glorifying, anachronistic, casually racist, and thematically gutless as they celebrate law enforcement getting the bad guys in the most sensational and violent ways possible. One series that has surprisingly held up well over the decades is Magnum P.I., which was something of an early pioneer of this vein of action-packed police entertainment that ran for eight seasons following the cases worked by the easy-going Hawaii-based private detective, Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck).

The series does exhibit a highly entertaining spectacle of action, carnage, and a surprisingly heartfelt friendship between Magnum and the stern former British Army regimental sergeant major, Jonathan Higgins III (John Hillerman), but it also never shies away from tackling cultural issues with depth when they arise. This blending of nostalgic, escapist fun and thematic maturity makes Magnum P.I. an old-school cop show that is still easy to enjoy today, even standing as a binge-worthy spectacle of style and fun in today’s world, where police drama is steeped in gloom.

7

‘Hill Street Blues’ (1981–1987)

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While police drama in the ’80s was largely defined by a certain flamboyance and fantasy escapism, Hill Street Blues proved that there was still an appetite for taut and dramatic storytelling that relished realism over sensationalist action. In many ways, the ’80s series was decades ahead of its time, with the show using its story revolving around the police and staff of an inner-city precinct to not only deliver deep and nuanced character studies, but to examine such themes as the corrosive inefficiency of bureaucracy, the moral complexity of law enforcement, and even social issues like racism, alcoholism, and corruption in the force.

Not dissimilar to the aforementioned Homicide: Life on the Streets, Hill Street Blues exhibits a penchant for gritty and intense cinematography that immerses viewers in the immediate suspense of police work with documentary-style visuals while delivering narrative arcs that span over the course of multiple episodes. It may be a forgotten classic of the genre for many in today’s world, but Hill Street Blues is one of the most influential titles in the genre’s history on the small screen, and its narrative sensitivities and arresting style are every bit as addictive today as they were back in the ’80s.

6

‘The Bridge’ (2011–2018)

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Nordic noir has become a defining staple of crime television over the past 15 years. The Scandinavian grasp on mystery intrigue is one laced with compelling darkness, nuanced characters, and winding stories packed with shocking plot twists and addictively disturbing central mysteries. Among the very best of this subgenre of crime television is The Bridge, with the series revolving around the investigation of a murder in which the victim is placed on the Oresund Bridge that serves as the border between Denmark and Sweden. International tensions simmer as detectives from both countries work together on the sinister and politically loaded case.

Grounded by the surprisingly sweet relationship between the socially awkward and blunt Swedish detective Saga Norén (Sofia Helin) and her Danish colleagues, while still having skewering thematic ideas on everything from international politics and culture clashes to social issues of inequality and environmentalism, The Bridge is able to captivate viewers with far more than just the grisly nature of the crimes it focuses on. A faultless mixture of shocking and suspenseful cases and humane, socially-minded drama, the series’ four-season run is an underappreciated high point of television police drama at its bleak and brutal best.

5

‘Mindhunter’ (2017–2019)

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An instant phenomenon of crime television that has already come to be heralded as a genre-defining classic despite being released less than 10 years ago, Mindhunter is a series defined by its atmospheric intensity, slow-burn suspense, divine cinematic visuals, and its unique spin on serial killer drama. Set in the 1970s, it follows two FBI agents and an esteemed psychologist as they travel around America interviewing detained murderers, gaining insights into their psychological conditions, motivations, and upbringings that can be applied to active cases to profile suspects.

It certainly leans into the modern obsession with true crime entertainment, featuring many of America’s most notorious serial killers as major characters and examining the crimes they committed from a perspective of analytical understanding rather than shocking violence or even obscene glorification. This sense of maturity is beautifully complemented by David Fincher’s trademark cinematic style, a ceaseless sense of psychological suspense, and deft writing and performances. The end result is a modern masterpiece of crime television that stands as one of the most defining Netflix original titles.

4

‘Twin Peaks’ (1991–1992; 2017)

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35 years have passed since Twin Peaks premiered, and its influence over not just crime television but the medium at large continues to be profound to this day, and yet there has never been another series quite like it. Directed and co-created by David Lynch, it flaunts a hypnotic blending of piercing horror, surrealist fantasy, black comedy, and murder mystery as it follows FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) in his investigation of the murder of a teenage prom queen in the small town of Twin Peaks, Washington.

Filled with a litany of intriguing characters and defined by its erratic unpredictability that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats throughout, Twin Peaks exudes a magnetic and addictive allure through its atmospheric richness as much as it does through its intriguing mystery story. Its serialized narrative structure—which was decades ahead of its time—has also helped the series transcend generations to still be one of the most captivating crime dramas of all time, a fact supported by the success of the sequel series, Twin Peaks: The Return, released in 2017.

3

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

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Viewed by many as being the greatest television series of all time, of any genre, Breaking Bad is a near-perfect story of one man’s descent into immorality and corruption as he becomes embroiled in America’s drug trade. After being diagnosed with inoperable cancer, high school science teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) applies his knowledge of chemistry to the cooking of crystal meth, hoping to raise a sum of money to leave for his family after he dies. However, as he accrues influence in the crime world, his honorable intentions devolve into a manic lust for power that threatens to destroy everything he cares about.

Walter White’s bleak evolution from a meek suburban family man to a vindictive and cunning drug lord is supported by a litany of incredible performances and Vince Gilligan’s fiercely smart writing, ensuring every season sees the stakes rise exponentially. It makes for relentlessly thrilling television, a masterpiece of small-screen crime drama that culminates in one of the greatest finales the medium has ever seen. Even on multiple rewatches, Breaking Bad holds a compelling gravitas that makes it the epitome of binge-worthy drama. An honorable mention should also be extended to its spin-off series, Better Call Saul, which is similarly addictive from start to finish.

2

‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)

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2026 marks 18 years since The Wire came to its conclusion, and yet the sprawling HBO crime show remains at the pinnacle of crime television drama. Set in Baltimore, it maintains its focus on the hierarchy of the drug trade and the efforts of the police to bring the criminals involved in it to justice, but its scope steadily expands with each season to explore everything from the corruption in city hall to the career-minded priorities of the police department, the shifting nature of criminal enterprise in the early 2000s, and even the inefficiencies and failures of institutions that millions of Americans rely on.

Flaunting a constant sense of grounded realism, The Wire never once depicts any of its characters as hero or villain, instead delving into the complex morality of gangland violence and the bureaucratic red tape of law enforcement to present an enrapturing, epic-scale drama that compels from its opening moments to its finale. It is incredibly rewarding to binge-watch as it allows viewers to immerse themselves in the intricacies and thematic might of the story while riding every volatile twist and every outburst of violence. It marks one of television’s most defining masterpieces, and it is quite bitter that so many of the cultural and societal issues it explores are still so prevalent in today’s world.

1

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

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Not only standing as one of television’s most enduring masterpieces, but as a series that completely re-shaped the landscape of small-screen drama as well, The Sopranos is one of the most influential TV shows ever made, as well as one of the greatest. The HBO drama follows New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), who, after suffering a series of panic attacks linked to his volatile work-life balance, begins seeing a therapist in secret.

Every aspect of the series is handled with sublime artistry, from the depth, ambiguity, and nuance of its narrative progression to the absorbing complexity of its main characters, the profound brilliance of its performances, and even its tender thematic ideals that cover everything from generational trauma and traditionalism to the shallow lie that is the American dream. Also bolstering its often intense and extremely violent crime story with inflections of uproarious comedy and an emphasis on psychology that allows for Tony to be not only an authentic presentation of a mob boss but an engrossing and often confronting depiction of human nature as well, The Sopranos is incredibly easy to herald as being television’s defining masterpiece. It has lost none of its excellence over the 19 years since it concluded, making it an effortless binge-watch for today’s television lovers and an essential piece of small-screen drama for all who enjoy the medium.

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The Sopranos

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Release Date

1999 – 2007

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Network

HBO

Showrunner

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David Chase

Directors

Tim Van Patten, John Patterson, Alan Taylor, Jack Bender, Steve Buscemi, Daniel Attias, David Chase, Andy Wolk, Danny Leiner, David Nutter, James Hayman, Lee Tamahori, Lorraine Senna, Matthew Penn, Mike Figgis, Nick Gomez, Peter Bogdanovich, Phil Abraham, Rodrigo García

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Ciara Miller held her tongue about her ex West Wilson’s new romance with her onetime best friend, Amanda Batula, for weeks. When she finally spoke out, she didn’t hold back.

Ciara broke her silence on the Summer House dating drama in a wide-ranging Glamour interview published April 17, 2026.

“It’s one thing to experience hurt behind closed doors,” Ciara told the outlet. “To experience it so publicly is like another layer, and then to have to see what you thought was your life still play out in season 10. It’s a major mindf***.”

Scroll below for Ciara’s biggest revelations about the cast love triangle and fallout:

Related: Ciara Miller Breaks Silence on Amanda Batula and West Wilson Romance

Ciara Miller has broken her silence on Amanda Batula and West Wilson‘s relationship. “It’s one thing to experience hurt behind closed doors,” Ciara, 30 said in an interview with Glamour published on Friday, April 17. “To experience it so publicly is like another layer, and then to have to see what you thought was your […]

Ciara Miller Had Almost No Warning About Their Statement

Amanda Batula and West Wilson confirmed their romance in a joint Instagram statement on March 31, 2026. Ciara Miller told Glamour she had “less than 24 hours” notice before it went live.

“One [notification] was about 45 minutes before,” she recalled. “I read [the statement] with the rest of the world. There’s something about the lack of being able to say each other’s names in the statement that I found very telling, but I don’t know.”

Ciara Miller Chose ‘Glamour’ for a Reason

Ciara Miller waited weeks to speak publicly on the scandal, explaining, “I want to do it in my way, in a way that feels more intentional than just a podcast or a comment under a picture.”

Hours after Ciara’s interview was published, Amanda Batula and West Wilson appeared unbothered as they were spotted kissing at the Yankees vs. Royals baseball game.

Ciara Miller and West Wilson Set Boundaries — Including Not Sleeping With Bravo Stars

Ciara Miller revealed that she and West Wilson had been working toward a friendship following their 2023 split, even inviting him to her 30th birthday dinner.

“We had had a lot of conversations about, ‘OK, what do I need from you? What do you need from me? What are some of the boundaries that we want to keep in place? What’s going to make our friendship a lot easier?’” she recalled. “One of those [boundaries] was no more sleeping with people on Bravo. Obviously, now that’s out the window.”

Just before West confirmed his relationship with Amanda, a source claimed to Us Weekly in April 2026 that he hooked up with Ciara months earlier.

Related: Ciara Miller Feels ‘Betrayed’ by Amanda Batula and West Wilson

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In the wake of Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s confirmed romance, Summer House fans want to know how Ciara Miller is coping. “Ciara is heartbroken by this,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “She and Amanda were very close, and she feels more betrayed than ever by both of them.” The insider shares that Ciara, […]

Ciara Miller Is More Hurt by Amanda Batula Than West Wilson

Ciara Miller made it clear that Amanda Batula’s involvement stung far deeper than her ex-boyfriend’s.

“At the end of the day, a guy’s a guy. Whether or not West and I are working on a relationship, you just can’t put anything past a man,” she said. “But I just never would think that it would come from someone like Amanda, who has been what has felt like in my circle and in my corner for so long. I think that’s the craziest part.”

According to Ciara, her last conversation with Amanda was “minimal,” which she planned to address further at the Summer House season 10 reunion.

Ciara Miller Trusted Her Gut Before It All Went Down

Ciara Miller hinted that she felt something was off before the news broke.

 “Just know when something’s weird in your gut, there’s a reason,” she said. “What’s done in the dark always comes to light. And sometimes you really don’t even have to do anything except sit back and let the universe handle it all.”

Related: Where Ciara Miller Stands With Amanda Batula After West Wilson Scandal

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Ciara Miller is still sorting through her feelings after longtime friend Amanda Batula started seeing her ex-boyfriend, and their Summer House costar, West Wilson, earlier this spring. “Ciara has told friends that if they really are in love, she will accept it,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly, noting that if West, 31, and Amanda, […]

The Crying-Outside-Hermes Photo, Explained

While speaking with Glamour, Ciara Miller addressed the tearful photo of herself sitting on the sidewalk outside the Hermès boutique in New York City that was taken moments after the couple’s statement went live in March 2026.

“I was supposed to be meeting my friend at Pastis, and it’s 12:45, and I’m like, ‘I cannot be sitting at this lunch while I’m reading this f***ing statement.’ I’m, like, ‘I’ll lose my f***ing mind,’” she said. “I didn’t mean for it to be right outside of Hermès, but chic nonetheless, I have to say.”

The Cast Feels ‘Bamboozled’

Ciara Miller told Glamour that the Summer House cast has been divided over the situation.

“I think everyone feels a little bamboozled at this point in time,” she told Glamour reporter Hunter Harris in an article outtake shared via Substack. “I’m not telling anyone to take sides, but if they’re taking a side, it’s probably because they’re also very confused and feel like they were led astray. I feel like there’s been a lot of lying on both sides between Amanda and West. They’ve both lied publicly to my face, to everyone else’s face, so it’s like, ‘Why?’”

She continued, “I think some people are clearly [taking sides]. But, at the same time, I feel like we have also so many new dynamics in the group. I’m not expecting anyone to take sides. Honestly, I’m not asking that of anyone. But I think they really know me, and they know how I move, and so I think that this is maybe more of a barometer of maybe why … I don’t know if I’m saying this right, but they’ve watched the whole story unfold in person.”

Ciara Miller Is Planning a ‘Statement’ Reunion Look

Ciara Miller teased her reunion outfit, telling Glamour that whatever she wears will be “a statement of where I stand” but stopped short of calling it a revenge dress. “I just think about what’s a proper representation of who I am right now,” she said, “Even at the reunion two years ago, I really wasn’t preparing anything to be a revenge dress. I was genuinely just like, ‘Oh, what do I want to wear?’ and I was working with my stylist at the time and we came up with something together.”

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Don’t Expect Ciara Miller on ‘The Bachelorette’

When asked about fan theories that she could lead ABC’s dating franchise, Ciara Miller quickly shut it down.

“F*** no. I’m way too private,” she said, adding, “I’m so happy being single.”

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. 

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 11 seconds ago

One of the many reasons Trekkies were salty about Starfleet Academy is that they wanted a different show entirely. Specifically, they wanted Star Trek: Legacy, a series in which Seven of Nine is the captain of the Enterprise.

Picking up where Picard left off, this show would give us adventures set in the 25th century while mixing new characters with familiar faces from shows like The Next Generation and Voyager. Fan demand for this show was insanely high, and since we never got it, there have been persistent rumors that Alex Kurtzman hated and ultimately killed that project, driving Picard showrunner Terry Matalas away so that he could focus on Starfleet Academy, his passion project.

Now, Jamie Rixom of the popular Tachyon Pulse podcast has presented a different narrative. He claims that both Kurtzman and Paramount were very eager to make Star Trek: Legacy, but that Kurtzman convinced them to do Starfleet Academy first.

However, the merger with Skydance and the subsequent purchase of Warner Bros. suddenly turned the future of the franchise into a question mark. If this is true, then Kurtzman effectively signed Star Trek’s death warrant by insisting on a doomed show that will almost certainly result in Paramount killing the franchise as we know it.

A New Spin On Old Rumors

During his recent podcast, Jamie Rixom addressed the most common narrative about Star Trek: Legacy. Namely, that Alex Kurtzman was jealous of how much fans liked Picard Season 3 and how much credit they were giving to showrunner Terry Matalas. That narrative (which, to be fair, is mostly touted by avowed Kurtzman haters) claims that Kurtzman wanted to ice Matalas out and then shove Starfleet Academy down our throats. There has never been any real confirmation of these rumors, but based on the fact that he was co-showrunner, it seems true that SFA was a real passion project for Kurtzman.

Rixom presents an interesting variant of these rumors. Citing his insider knowledge of studio wheelings and dealings, he claims that Paramount and Kurtzman were very keen to do Star Trek: Legacy, but that the network didn’t want more than two Trek shows streaming at once. Therefore, Starfleet Academy got the green light first, and there were allegedly plans to start working on Legacy after Strange New Worlds wrapped up. However, the merger with Skydance effectively shut down production of new shows in the franchise, though hopes were high that the already greenlit SFA would prove popular. Now, that show has been canceled after Season 1, leaving Star Trek in a kind of creative limbo.

Our Last Hope, Lost

Obviously, the show will go on, and Paramount will create new movies and TV shows in this franchise because it is one of their most bankable IPs. Why, then, do I believe that Alex Kurtzman has killed the brand as we know it? Because we’re never going to get another show anything like the Golden Age of Star Trek. Legacy was our last shot at getting a series that had familiar faces and took place in the beloved time period of TNG and DS9. 

If Legacy had gotten the green light instead of SFA, then its inevitable success (remember how much everyone liked Picard Season 3?) would encourage Paramount to make more Trek shows and movies in this vein. Now, though, I’d bet my last bar of gold-pressed latinum that Paramount’s new leadership will look at the failure of Starfleet Academy and the general train wreck that is NuTrek and decide to reboot this entire universe for a second time. Kurtzman haters may cheer at this prospect, but consider this: new shows headed by a new empty suit who has even less reason to care about canon are going to be even less like classic Trek than ever before.

Star Trek In Name Only

Star Trek: Legacy wasn’t just fans’ wishful thinking: it was, in every way that counts, the last chance to get a new show with the vibe of beloved series like The Next Generation and Voyager. Even in the kinder, gentler narrative of Jamie Rixom’s alleged insider info, Alex Kurtzman is still the guy who personally championed making SFA instead of Legacy. He had no way of knowing about the upcoming changes to Paramount, but his decision still guaranteed the last show of the NuTrek era was a complete failure that will likely doom this franchise as the network builds new shows that are Star Trek in name only.

Before Paramount fully runs Trek into the ground, I have a simple request: can you please shoot Kurtzman’s contract out of the nearest airlock?

Country music star Maren Morris has opened up about her first relationship with a woman after coming out as bisexual in 2024.

The singer, unfortunately, didn’t have nice things to say about the experience, branding the brief relationship “f-cked up.”

Maren Morris shared that within weeks of their casual romance falling apart, the unidentified woman resorted to lies and even threatened to destroy her reputation.

Maren Morris Says Her First Experience With A Woman Was ‘Pretty F-cked Up’

In a video shared on her TikTok page on Wednesday, Morris spoke about her bisexual journey, recounting her “depressing” experience dating a woman for the first time.

“I briefly was seeing a woman, and I was not looking for anything serious,” she said per Page Six. “I feel like I’m at a point in my life right now where I don’t have that to give.”

The singer said she “was very clear” about what she wanted from the relationship because she’s “all about communication,” adding that the unidentified woman responded, “‘Oh, totally. I’m down.’”

However, according to Morris, things quickly went awry: “I’m not kidding, within like, three weeks of this completely falling apart, it was lies, threats to my reputation and borderline extortion.”

“It was pretty f-cked up. And for that to be my first experience, it was just so depressing,” she continued, before adding she is “just really cool being alone” now.

Speaking further about the “f-cked up” relationship, Morris shared that her friends from the lesbian community told her it was not an unusual experience, hinting that it was to be expected when one starts dating women.

“‘You start seeing women, and one is going to almost ruin your life,’” Morris recalled a pal of hers saying, per Page Six. “‘We’ve all been there. You just have to push through.’”

The singer then asked her fans, “Is that a thing?” while chuckling in disbelief at the advice she received.

Morris captioned the video “bi trauma.”

Fans of the star also advised her to stay strong, with one writing, “Every other one will be crazy, but hang in there. When you are ready, it will happen. You have to be good being alone first.”

Maren Morris Recently Slammed Trump Voters

Morris’ comments about her first experience dating a woman come shortly after she went viral for her scathing criticism of people who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. presidential elections.

In a TikTok video, the 35-year-old said she has little patience for those who continue to back the president.

She criticized what she described as loyal “triple Trumpers,” arguing that voters ultimately bear responsibility for the political situation they helped create.

“You did vote for this,” she said. “He is a dementia ridden, diaper-clad, cornball, ex-TV host … you voted for this, and you got bamboozled. This is literally the result of ploying and voting for losers.”

Morris has long been vocal about politics and how those views have shaped her experience in the country music industry. Earlier this year, the “Chasing After You” singer reflected on how her career has unfolded alongside major political shifts in the United States.

The Singer Reflects On Career Success Amid A Politicized Country Music Scene

In a January TikTok, Morris explained that her breakthrough single, “My Church,” brought her major success when it was released in 2016. The song gained heavy country radio play and later earned her a Grammy Award.

But the timing of that success coincided with Trump’s first presidential victory, which she said made the atmosphere around her career feel increasingly political.

“My entire, like, success of my first record was under this first year of Trump’s reign. So weirdly everything felt very political, even though, like, no one cared that much before,” she noted.

Her debut album, “Hero,” arrived just months before the 2016 election, and Morris said the industry climate changed noticeably afterward.

According to the singer, the past decade of her career has largely taken place during a period defined by the Trump presidency, the administration of Joe Biden, and Trump’s return to the political spotlight, which has made the country music space “very politicized.”

Maren Morris Embraces Her Queer Identity, Shares Pride Celebration With Fans

Beyond politics, Morris has long been outspoken about her progressive beliefs, frequently criticizing conservative politics and right-leaning media while advocating for causes like LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice.

Last June, she celebrated her first Pride since coming out as bisexual, reflecting on her journey amid a country music scene she has called “toxic” in the past. Morris shared the milestone with her Instagram followers, writing, “Happy to be the B in LGBTQ+, happy Pride!”

Previously married to fellow country singer Ryan Hurd, 39, the couple shares a five-year-old son, Hayes Andrew Hurd. Morris has said she “always knew” she was attracted to both men and women but had never publicly discussed it.

In an interview with The Zoe Report, she explained that her straight relationships over the past 15 years, combined with the demands of her music career and life in Nashville, had kept her from coming out sooner.

“I never felt brave enough to talk about it,” she said. In June 2024, she finally embraced her truth. “That was just a facet of me that I didn’t think I wanted private anymore,” Morris said.

She added, “I wanted to be able to connect with my fans and my queer community. Especially in a time where you’re in this free-for-all post-divorce reckoning, community has been so necessary for me and life-saving. Being honest and being vulnerable is the only way that you find community.”

Justin Theroux and his wife, Nicole Brydon Bloom, are officially parents following the arrival of their first baby.

“He’s here 🕊️ we are so in love,” Theroux, 54, and Bloom, 32, wrote via a joint Instagram post on Saturday, April 18, alongside a black and white photo of the newborn lying across the actor’s chest.

News broke in December 2025 that Theroux and Bloom were expecting their first baby nine months after their wedding.

That same month, Bloom confirmed her pregnancy when she debuted her baby bump at the season 2 premiere of Fallout in Los Angeles. The actress glowed in a sparkly figure-hugging dress on the red carpet as she posed for photos and held hands with Theroux.

Related: Meghan Trainor and More Celebrities Who Welcomed Babies in 2026

Many stars grew their families in 2026. Former Bachelor contestant Sydney Warner announced in January that she gave birth to her second baby with her husband, NFL star Fred Warner. The Warners aren’t the only stars who have their hands full this year. Meghan McCain, for her part, welcomed baby No. 3 nearly a week […]

Bloom and Theroux subsequently closed out the year with a babymoon in Mexico.

“So much fun to revisit our favorite place with a little one on the way 🕊️👶🏼,” she captioned an Instagram post featuring photos from their December 2025 getaway.

Bloom and Theroux stayed at Hotel Esencia in Xpu Há, Mexico, where the couple tied the knot in March 2025.

After their trip to Mexico, the pair traveled to Florida to spend time with family. Bloom shared several photos of their time at The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, showing off her pregnant belly in the process.

In January, Bloom posed solo on the red carpet at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, cradling her baby bump in a champagne sequined gown. (Her show Paradise was nominated for Best Drama Series but ultimately lost the accolade to The Pitt.)

Theroux and Bloom were first linked in February 2023. The duo were later spotted kissing while out for drinks in New York City that August. That December, Bloom made their romance Instagram official when she posted a photo of Theroux at her twin sister Chrissy’s wedding.

Theroux and Bloom got engaged in August 2024 when he proposed while they were in Italy for the 2024 Venice Film Festival. She sparked rumors about their upgraded relationship status when she was spotted with what appeared to be a diamond ring on her left hand at the premiere of Theroux’s movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice earlier that month.

“Of course, I was nervous proposing,” Theroux told The Times in September 2024. “It is a question after all, so the answer isn’t guaranteed. But it was wonderful.”

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News broke in March 2025 that Theroux and Bloom tied the knot in Mexico. Photos obtained by TMZ at the time showed the newlyweds taking romantic photos on the beach with the bride in a white wedding dress and the groom in a coordinating white tuxedo.

Prior to his relationship with Bloom, Theroux was married to Jennifer Aniston from 2015 to 2018. After they parted ways, Theroux explained why he opted to keep his love life private following the scrutiny surrounding his marriage to Aniston.

“There’s something to, once you’re out of that, where I want all of my relationships to exist within the four walls of whatever room we’re in,” he told Esquire in May 2023. “And I’m not trying to be evasive but I talk to Jen — I don’t talk about Jen. People will always want to gossip and say things, but you have to find that balance.”