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9 TV Shows That Changed Their Formula for the Better
Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for multiple TV shows.TV shows are written to follow a certain trajectory, whether that’s over a single season or multiple ones. Sometimes, this involves changing course. It might be planned as part of the narrative. But it might also be unexpected because the direction of Season 1 suggests pivoting fits better with what viewers want and how the story is shaping up. This is especially the case for shows where a second, third, and subsequent seasons aren’t necessarily guaranteed, and the writers get creative to keep things fresh.
It’s happened with lots of shows through the decades, from sitcoms to dramas and thrillers. And while this formula shift doesn’t always work, sometimes, it ends up making the show even better. When it comes to the latter scenario, there are many shows from the last few decades that stand out.
‘Silo’ (2023–Present)
Silo is one of the best Apple TV shows. The series is dubbed a sci-fi dystopian drama. Indeed, it teeters the line between all these genres, but sort of switched things up for each of its three seasons to date. Season 1 was entirely focused on the goings-on in Silo 18, only ever venturing outside for a brief moment twice. In Season 2, the focus shifted to more a survivor and rebellion angle, following two locations: Silo 18, where a rebellion was taking place, and Silo 17, where Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) discovered other survivors and had to fight for survival.
In Season 3, the series shifts even more to sci-fi, dividing screen time between present day and flashbacks to 300+ years prior to the creation of the silos. It’s like getting three different shows in one, yet everything synergistically works together to show different parts of this same, complex story.
‘Paradise’ (2025–Present)
One of the most in-your-face genre shifts I have seen in any show of late is in Paradise, which started as a political drama that was revealed to be a post-apocalyptic show as well at the end of the pilot episode. Despite a major disaster having hit Earth, you’d never know since the underground bunker that serves as the singular setting looks like the real world.
In Season 2, however, not only did the setting split for the story to take place in the desolate wasteland above as well, but the formula switched to more of a survival drama, akin to shows like The Walking Dead. It worked beautifully, as we got to see the world above and the struggles of those trying to survive juxtaposed with the lavish community below. By the end of Season 2, it became evident that Season 3 will likely shift its formula again to angle more towards sci-fi. Somehow, however, it has worked so far and the strategy will likely continue to keep the show fresh.
‘Lucifer’ (2016–2021)
Interestingly, Lucifer‘s formula shift was because of the switch from Fox to Netflix. When Fox cancelled the show after three seasons, Netflix decided to pick it up. It was a good move because Lucifer went on for three more seasons and became even bigger, attracting a larger fanbase. The formula change from network TV to streaming allowed the show to take more narrative risks.
Once it moved to Netflix, Lucifer seemed to get darker, coming across more like a gritty comedy drama than a procedural. The seasons were shorter and thus plotlines weren’t drawn out for so long, with no filler episodes. The subject matter was more mature, even with some light profanity and nudity. The lore of Heaven and Hell became darker and less comical. This all worked to breathe new life into a show that became one of the best crime comedy TV shows of all time.
‘Family Matters’ (1989–1998)
“Did I do that?” Apparently, what Jaleel White did was steal every scene he was in as Steve Urkel in this hit sitcom from the ’90s. Family Matters, a spin-off of Perfect Strangers, was supposed to center around the members of the Winslow family. In the same vein as other family sitcoms at the time, and before it, like Growing Pains, Full House, and Roseanne. But instead of the quirky, nosy neighbor or friend bringing occasional comic relief like Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) in Full House or Boner (Andrew Koenig) in Growing Pains, he became the star of the show.
The Winslow family dynamic became so secondary to Family Matters that by Season 5, they removed the youngest daughter Judy (Valerie Jones and Jaimee Foxworth) altogether with no explanation, as if she never existed. The fact that this didn’t really impact the familial plotlines all that much was proof that Family Matters became the Urkel show. The parents, along with son Eddie (Darius McCrary) and daughter Laura (Kellie Shangyne Williams), still got significant screen time. But Urkel showed up more and more, and most of Laura’s storylines became centered on her interactions with him, and his massive crush on her.
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)
Did you know that Jesse (Aaron Paul) was supposed to die in the first season of Breaking Bad? The intention was for the young delinquent and drug dealer to be the person who helped get Walter White (Bryan Cranston) into the world of drug dealing so that he could go on and do his thing after Jesse’s death. Creator Vince Gilligan has also said that he wanted Jesse’s death to show that the series wasn’t afraid to “go there” and kill off main characters. But the chemistry between Paul and Cranston in the series, one of the greatest American drama shows of all time, was too enticing on screen. Plus, with the Writer’s Strike at the time delaying the final two episodes, it gave Gilligan time to reconsider.
Fans are delighted he did because the dynamic between Walt and Jesse became as important to the show as Walter’s journey. The things Walter did to Jesse, or made Jesse do, helped better portray his descent into darkness. Meanwhile, Jesse became the heart of the show, so much so that El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie was released long after Breaking Bad ended to give Jesse a more fitting end. That’s a testament to Paul’s portrayal and the fact that Gilligan made the right decision fighting to keep Jesse alive.
‘The Good Place’ (2016–2020)
You went into The Good Place thinking one thing and the show pulled a complete 180 to deliver something entirely different. The premise was set to tell the story of Eleanor (Kristen Bell), a not-so-nice young woman who passes on and ends up in what looks like Heaven. She thinks she has been sent to the wrong place, so she decides to spend her time proving that she belongs there before anyone figures it out.
But in the Season 1 finale, it’s revealed that Eleanor isn’t where she thinks she is at all: it’s all an elaborate hoax. She’s actually in the “Bad Place”, where she is forced to live out her existence with others who are just as awful as she is. As the show progressed and everyone figured out what was going on, the angle changed to follow a stream of reboots where the deceased individuals were given the opportunity, over and over, to prove that they could be good and moral people until they got it right. The show’s formula changed in a way that made it better and better with each passing season.
‘Person of Interest’ (2011–2016)
Many sci-fi fans consider Person of Interest to be one of the best and most underrated sci-fi shows of all time. But it didn’t actually start as a hard sci-fi show. It was a network procedural with themes of crime and sci-fi behind its formulaic episodes. However, as the show moved through its five seasons, an underlying story beneath the case-of-the-week format began to take bigger shape until it became the main story.
Complex and riveting with lots of moving parts, Person of Interest was covering topics of government control and modern-day AI in a way that only sci-fi movies had done up to that point. It’s the type of show you look at today and could easily see launching on a streamer, not network TV. Yet even without the leeway to show more violence and mature storylines, Person of Interest, created by Jonathan Nolan, is fantastically written and acted. And the show’s progression from standard procedural with a hint of sci-fi to a sci-fi crime drama tackling deep topics like algorithms, human behavior, and machine learning, was brilliant.
‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ (2015–2019)
Watching the first few seasons of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, it’s a hilariously absurd romantic musical comedy-drama about an incredibly intelligent but eccentric woman who runs into her old teenage flame and becomes obsessed with him. So much so that she quits her New York City law firm job to move back to her hometown of West Covina, California, in hopes of reigniting something with him. But he’s completely oblivious to her advances, even as she becomes more and more blatant in her attempts at capturing his attention.
It’s easy to see the humor in the storyline, especially when presented in such a way that it’s clearly designed to be absurdist, embellished humor. But creator and star Rachel Bloom decided to do something drastic with the final seasons and make the show more about mental health. It was still a comedy and there were lots of laughs. But Crazy Ex-Girlfriend set out to leave a powerful mark by diagnosing Rebecca (Bloom) and following her life as she deals with therapy, finding herself, and managing her mental health.
‘Ted Lasso’ (2020–Present)
Another show that put mental health at the forefront, no one had any idea that this would be a central theme of Ted Lasso. All fans knew about it before the series premiered was that it was based on the popular character Jason Sudeikis developed for NBC sports coverage. The title character, played by Sudeikis, was an American football coach called in to coach a flailing English football (soccer) team, even though he knew nothing about the sport.
But it became clear as the show progressed that Ted Lasso was setting out to tell a powerful story of mental health with men and, more importantly, mental health with men in sports. Ted’s infectious personality made him hard to dislike, yet you slowly begin to realize that he hides sadness and anxiety behind this façade. Meanwhile, characters like star player Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) use his ego and bravado to hide his insecurities, while veteran player Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) slowly learns to drop his guard and be more vulnerable. It was such a smart tactic to get people to watch the show, laugh hysterically, become hooked, then hit them with a one-two punch of mental health education. Fans are excited to see what the upcoming fourth season, arriving three years after the show supposedly ended, will bring to the table.
Ted Lasso
- Release Date
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August 14, 2020
- Network
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Apple TV
- Directors
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Declan Lowney, MJ Delaney, Erica Dunton, Matt Lipsey
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Kim Kardashian‘s parenting is being defended by the ladies of “The View” in light of public concern about her daughter, North West.
The 13-year-old has been making headlines for risky fashion statements like hand piercings and attending events without her parents’ supervision.
Recently, British rapper Skepta raised alarm about the teenager’s presence and interactions during Paris Fashion Week.
In a fiery debate during Wednesday’s episode of the ABC talk show, the panelists expressed concern at the intense backlash North and Kardashian were getting over the piercings.
“If she and her kid decided that’s okay, why do you care? Leave this child alone. What’s your children doing?” Whoopi Goldberg slammed, leading the charge.
Speaking to her co-hosts, Goldberg explained that she believed her colleagues at the table are parents who allow their kids “to do what they’re gonna do when they think it’s time for them to do it.”
Alyssa Farah Griffin, who gave birth to her son months ago, shared her personal story of getting her second piercing when she was 14 behind her parents’ backs. She, however, urged that tattoos should be gotten when children are more grown, like 18 years of age.
North West Facing Immense ‘Pressure,’ ‘The View’ Declares
Panelist Sunny Hostin then turned the attention to how North might be feeling having a lot of eyes on her as the world forms opinions about every move she made.
When Joy Behar interjected, insinuating that the Kardashian-Jenner family might be enjoying the attention, Hostin fired back on “The View“:
“I don’t know. Maybe North doesn’t like it. I think we need to give a 13-year-old kid a break. She’s growing up under the spotlight. I can’t imagine having that kind of pressure on a 13 year old.”
The lawyer further noted that having global superstars like Kanye West and Kardashian doesn’t help matters for the 13-year-old.
Expert Dishes On Possible Scars In North’s Future
The defense from the women of “The View” comes after North’s enhancements drew the attention of medical experts who couldn’t help but give an opinion.
The eldest daughter of West and Kardashian has piercings on her hand, face, and lips. According to dermatologist Corey Hartman, this puts the teenager at risk of scarring, rejection, and possible permanent disfigurement.
As reported by The Blast, Hartman explained that North is particularly at risk of such brutal skin conditions, which could even lead to loss of bodily function given that she is melanated.
Kim Kardashian Fully Backs Her Daughter’s Fashion
Despite the medical warning, the SKIMS founder is fully on her daughter’s side, allowing the teenager to freely express herself whichever way she deems fit.
Kardashian explained during an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast that she has no intention of ever taking away North’s creativity. Also, she believes she is doing the best she can as a single parent of four children.
The reality star and West are parents to daughter North, 13, son Saint, 10, daughter Chicago, 8, and son Psalm, 7. The pair split in 2021 after seven years of marriage.
The billionaire entrepreneur then defended her daughter’s experimental nature. She noted that North used to dress as a tomboy but wanted to switch up her style to try a trend among her friends.
What Did Rapper Skepta Say About North West?
While Kardashian approves of her mini-me’s lifestyle, not everyone in the industry is pleased with how the teenager is always in the spotlight.
Such was the case when Skepta publicly condemned an interaction North had with an older man when she attended the Vetements Menswear Spring/Summer 2027 show.
The teenager was seen in a viral clip approaching an older man and extending her hand for a shake. However, he seemingly pulled her into a hug, after which they posed for photos.
The British artist was displeased, urging that North’s body language showed she wanted just a handshake. “My fans know I try to stay out of [people’s] business, but damn the way grown men, complete strangers, try to use North makes me sick,” he slammed, per The Blast.
When a fan critiqued that the interaction was seemingly harmless, Skepta emphasized that North was only 13 before urging people to protect their kids.
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Though it’s billed as a sci-fi horror comedy, I wouldn’t consider 2024’s Ick a horror film. It’s a monster story, and it certainly has fun with Lovecraftian imagery (read: lots of tentacle violence), but if anything, it’s a comedy that leans into horror tropes rather than a horror flick that adds levity through comic relief.
With a real-life global pandemic still in recent memory, Ick also has fun with how people react to government mandates when the powers that be, at least as far as we know, are actually trying their best to protect their citizens. A lot of the humor comes from the fact that the citizens of Eastbrook refuse to stay confined to their homes. The titular Ick has been a presence for as long as they can remember, and they’ll be damned if they can’t go about their daily lives just because it suddenly becomes violent and starts killing everyone in its path.
Normalizing Something Horrible
When we’re first introduced to Hank Wallace (Brandon Routh), it’s the early 2000s, and he’s a high school football star destined for greatness, dating the girl of his dreams, Staci (Mena Suvari). During one of his games, he’s attacked by the Ick, a giant, tentacled, and seemingly sentient organism that lives beneath the town. Nobody believes him when he claims his life-altering injury, which requires him to wear a leg brace for the rest of his life, was caused by the Ick, and life goes on without him.
Between the early 2000s and present day, Hank becomes a shell of his former self. He never leaves his hometown of Eastbrook and now works as a high school science teacher. Staci ends up marrying former classmate Ted Kim (Peter Wong), and together they have a daughter named Grace (Malina Pauli Weissman). Hank has good reason to believe Grace may actually be his daughter, given her date of birth, his sexual history with Staci, and the fact that Grace looks nothing like her Asian father.
Shortly after collecting saliva samples from his students so he can secretly run a paternity test, the Ick, as he always suspected, becomes violent and slowly starts destroying the town. The Feds show up and advise all the citizens of Eastbrook to lock down, only to be met with immediate pushback. Prom is coming up, which is the big event none of the teenagers want to miss.
Given that we’re talking about kids and what’s considered by most to be a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, they’re right to be apprehensive about government overreach. It’s the adults who act like children here, as they absolutely refuse to let their way of life be interrupted, consequences be damned.
From this point forward, Ick goes full bore into tentacle-driven madness, leading to the kind of third-act blowout that makes the Stranger Things finale look like a strawberry festival by comparison. It’s full-on Lovecraftian bedlam, but I still refuse to call Ick a horror movie. It never gets scary in the traditional sense, and most of the plot is driven by the sheer magnitude of CGI violence, panic, and constant allusions to a ridiculous rivalry between Eastbrook and the neighboring town of Vicksburg that’s never explained but constantly brought up.
Oh, Come On!
Ick wins serious points for its willingness to go fully absurd, and that’s not even the best part about this movie. What really sold me was realizing that every single little setup, no matter how seemingly insignificant, has an eventual payoff. I can’t get into them too deeply without revealing massive spoilers, but everything from the specs of Ted’s car to the Louis Vuitton pepper spray comes back into play when you least expect it, instantly reminding you of the first-act moments where these plot devices were subtly introduced. It’s an alarming and impressive amount of Chekhov’s gunnery from start to finish, and you don’t even realize it in real time because everything unfolds so casually.
The only thing that really took me out of the movie, even if only briefly, was the excessive use of needle drops in the first act. They really had to drive home the point that Hank listened to Good Charlotte, All-American Rejects, and Fountains of Wayne (because he dated Staci, and they have that song about her mom). For a second, it felt like a gigantor slice of Member Berry pie, but circling back to the Chekhov’s gun thing, it had to be this way. Otherwise, we’d never get the Creed montage that makes the third act so memorable. After all, we’re all six feet from the edge if you think about it.
All in all, Ick is an absolute blast from start to finish. It has the small-town charm and sense of adventure that the golden era of Stranger Things had, and it’s not afraid to embrace its own ridiculousness. The science behind the titular tentacled antagonist is deliberately under-explained so you can just lock in and enjoy the show without putting much thought into it.
Ick is hilarious, thoughtful, and excessively violent in all the best ways. If you want to see what it’s all about, you can stream it on Tubi for free as of this writing.
Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton are letting ‘The Cheetah Girls’ fans know they’re back in that mode! The duo shared rehearsal footage for the reboot, and fans are loving the energy they’re bringing. From the looks of it, Raven and Adrienne aren’t letting anything slow them down as the new clip comes shortly after Kiely Williams’ sister called them out for allegedly leaving her out of ‘The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen’ reboot.
RELATED: Raven-Symoné Confirms Production On ‘The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen’ As Disney Unveils The Official Cast (VIDEOS)
Raven-Symoné & Adrienne Bailon-Houghton Gives Fans A Peek At Reboot Rehearsals
On Wednesday, July 15, Raven-Symoné gave fans a first look at dance rehearsals for ‘The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen.’ Raven hopped on TikTok and dropped a video showing her and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton perfectly in sync while coordinating in all-black fits. She captioned the clip, “@adriennebailon-houghton rehearsing neva felt so good.” Raven also slid into her comment section to thank fans for all the love. At the same time, she let folks know she’s been peeping the shade too, writing, “Yall have been sending soo much love our way. Thank you! And for those bein’ shady…. Tisk tisk 👁️.”
Raven recently teased that production for the reboot was underway, and the announcement instantly had millennials ready to relive their childhood. Symoné is set to return as Galleria, while Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Sabrina Bryan, Lynn Whitfield, and Lori Alter are expected to reprise their roles in the reboot.
Fans Say Raven & Adrienne Have Them Ready To Relive Their Childhood
After The Shade room dropped Raven and Adrienne’s rehearsal clip, the Roomies flooded the comment section with reactions. Some fans said they still have the moves, while others joked that movie theaters are about to be packed with millennials. Meanwhile, a few commenters threw a little shade and said they should have Naturi Naughton in the reboot to take Kiely Williams’ place.
Instagram user @rikkideenelson wrote, “Still got it!!”
Instagram user @j_low1986 wrote, “If they wanna really send Kiely over the edge they’d go get Naturi 😫”
While Instagram user @dijouncruz wrote, “lol the fact that the theaters will be packed with mostly us 30 sumthin’s 😂👌🏼”
Then Instagram user @risssaa.2real wrote, “All I know is all of the old cheetah girls better b these lil girls mama or I ain’t watching it 🤣🤣”
Another Instagram user @beautybx wrote, “Awww they need to let little Keily in. B2k put their issues aside for the fans.”
Then another Instagram user @sashasleigh wrote, “the only cheetahs that actually matter anyway 🤩😍”
While another Instagram user @bigsallyfromthevalley wrote, “As a true MILLENNIAL I’m here for the cheetah girls hooking back up.”
Lastly, Instagram user @iamel_aye wrote, “Millennials aging like fine wine.”
Kiely Williams’ Sister Enters The Chat With Strong Words For Raven & Adrienne
While plenty of fans celebrated the reboot, not everyone shared the excitement. Kiely Williams’ sister entered the chat and called out Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, accusing them of being “2-faced.” She responded to a message shared by a fan on X claiming that Kiely was always the easiest to villainize since 3LW.
“Raven and Adrienne are truly hateful b*****s. They are also 2 faced and liars. Sabrina will always be a ‘pick me.’ Kiely was the easy person to villainize since the 3LW so here we are. I believe in karma. They will get what is due they will have earned it.”
RELATED: Kiely Williams Sister’ Calls Out Raven-Symoné & Adrienne Bailon-Houghton Amid ‘The Cheetah Girls’ Reboot (PHOTO + VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Win Tickets to Our Early ‘Futurama’ Season 14 Screening and Q&A With Cast and Creators
Brace yourselves, Season 14 of Matt Groening’s Emmy Award-winning sci-fi series, Futurama, is just on the horizon. But before we officially reunite with the Planet Express crew, Collider is proud to announce that we’re partnering with Hulu to offer our readers and fans of the long-running hit series an exclusive early screening of an episode from the new season on Friday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m. on the Disney Lot before it hits streaming.
Not only will we get to visit the future up on the big screen ahead of its debut, but we’ll be inviting creator Groening, showrunner and head writer David x. Cohen, producer and EP Claudia Katz, supervising director Peter Avanzino, and stars Billy West (Fry, Professor Farnsworth), Maurice LaMarche (Morbo, Kif Kroker), and more cast to the stage for an exclusive Q&A interview.
Read on for more information on how you can enter for your chance to win free tickets!
How to Get ‘Futurama’ Season 14 Screening and Q&A Tickets
If you’re in the Los Angeles area, join us on Friday, July 31st, at the Walt Disney Lot in Burbank, in the main theater. The episode screening will begin at 7:30 p.m., followed by our Q&A panel with the cast and creatives, moderated by our own Steven Weintraub. We’ll also have photo moments, swag bags, and more surprises, plus all guests attending will receive free popcorn!
Attendees are encouraged to cosplay and dress to impress as their favorite Futurama character for the screening and photo opps!
Don’t miss out on your chance to experience an episode from Futurama Season 14 in a theater, plus an exclusive Q&A conversation with series directors, executive producers, and cast members. This special fan event is going to go fast, so don’t wait to claim your tickets! For your chance to win free tickets to the event, hit this link to provide us with your email address. The theater will fill up quickly, so grab your seats before they’re gone. Be sure to let us know if you’d like to bring a guest with you, and RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot.
‘Futurama’ Heads Into Even Stranger Territory in Season 14
Since 1999, Futurama’s sharp satire and blend of heart and humor have kept viewers hooked, following the shenanigans of Fry (West), Leela (Katey Sagal), Bender (John DiMaggio), and the gang. In 2023, Futurama returned on Hulu and Disney+, launching us back into the future right where we left off. Now, with Season 14 premiering this month, that future is about to get a whole lot stranger!
Keep an eye out for an email from us. Only confirmed RSVP’s will gain admittance to the screening.
Futurama season 14 premieres Monday, August 3, 2026 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers. New episodes will stream on Mondays. Be sure to check with Collider for more special event screenings!
About ‘Futurama’ Season 14
Brace yourselves… The future is about to get a whole lot stranger! It’s a non-stop onslaught of swaggering space pirates, lab-grown meats, sexy scams… plus the shocking return of Dr. Zoidberg’s lost love! You didn’t see that coming, prior to being told about it just now! It’s a thrilling, all-new season of FUTURAMA on Hulu!
Futurama stars John DiMaggio, Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil Lamar, David Herman. The series was created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen. Executive Producers include Groening, Cohen, Ken Keeler and Claudia Katz. Futurama is produced by 20th Television Animation, a part of Disney Television Studios, with animation provided by Rough Draft Studios.
- Release Date
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March 28, 1999
- Network
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FOX, Comedy Central, Hulu
- Directors
-
Peter Avanzino, Brian Sheesley, Crystal Chesney, Frank Marino, Edmund Fong, Stephen Sandoval, Bret Haaland, Rich Moore, Ron Hughart, Dwayne Carey-Hill, Raymie Muzquiz, Mark Ervin, Susie Dietter, Gregg Vanzo, Swinton O. Scott III, Ira Sherak, James Purdum, Corey Barnes, Lance Kramer, Ray Claffey, Chris Sauve, Jeffrey Lynch, Pat Shinagawa, Wes Archer
- Writers
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Eric Rogers, Dan Vebber, Maiya Williams, David A. Goodman, Ron Weiner, Aaron Ehasz, Kristin Gore, Brian Kelley, Evan Gore, Heather Lombard, Jason Gorbett, Michael Saikin
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Billy West
Fry / Professor Farnsworth / Zoidberg / Zapp Brannigan (voice)
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Cindy Crawford knows a thing (or three) about flattering fashion, as seen from her latest wrap dress style. Crawford wore the dreamiest white dress that screamed ‘summer in Calabasas,’ and we found the waist-snatching look for only $50.
In an Instagram post, Crawford blessed Meaningful Beauty’s followers while promoting a new SPF. We couldn’t focus on anything other than her maxi dress, a billowy white wrap number adorned with fluttery cap sleeves, delicate Swiss dots and a classy front ruffle. This breezy Amazon twin hits every note!
Get the Btfbm Ruffle Wrap Dress for $50 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Like Crawford’s, this Btfbm Ruffle Wrap Dress cinches at the smallest part of your waist while the flutter sleeves skim your arms. It even has similar Swiss dots that read instantly romantic. A high-low hem is the cherry on top, showing off your shoes and creating a dramatic silhouette.
Like Us, Kate Middleton leans on mega flattering dress styles. During a summer outing, Middleton opted for a dress that covered her upper arms and cinched her waist at the same time, no squeezing involved. We found the look on sale for only $50! While visiting a children’s hospital, Middleton wore a crisp white dress, […]
But honestly, the belt tie is where this silhouette-enhancing dress really earns its keep. You can leave it loose for a relaxed vibe or cinch it tight for a defined shape. It skims your curves instead of squeezing them, a major perk at any age, but especially after 40.
One five-star fan wrote, “Hitting my 40s and have gained so much weight that I have a hard time finding clothes that are both comfortable, especially in hot weather, and don’t make me hate the way I look. I love that the fabric is lightweight and breathable, but not clingy. It does not show every lump and bump. It will be perfect for hot weather and traveling!”
Pair this flattering maxi dress with sandals and gold hoops for a baby shower, or with a denim jacket and sneakers for farmers market runs. Crawford makes California polish look effortless, and at $50, it is.
Get the Btfbm Ruffle Wrap Dress for $50 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more summer dresses and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
UsNow Summer Sale Alert: These Chic Fashion Finds are over 30% off – Plus Free ShippingWelcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone. Shop the UsNow Summer Sale –>
In case you missed it, 2026 is the year of pretty dresses. But there are dozens of categories that qualify. If you’re wondering what the fashionistas of New York City, London and Santorini are wearing, these four trends dominate. Fashion people reach for equally trendy and timeless styles, ones that channel effortlessly rich vibes and […]
Latto has fans catching a serious case of baby fever after she dropped adorable beachside photos with her daughter. Big Mama and Lil’ Mama popped out in matching mommy-and-me fits while enjoying their apparent tropical getaway.
RELATED: Latto Reveals Who Her Daughter Looks Like & The One Thing That Surprised Her About Motherhood (VIDEO)
Latto & Her Lil’ Mama Bring The Cutest Vacation Vibes In Matching Beach Fits
Big Mama has fans in their feels after giving them a peek into her mommy life with the cutest Instagram photos of her and her baby girl. Latto shared a carousel of vacation photos showing her and her daughter twinning in matching Burberry ‘fits. In one flick, she holds lil’ mama while they chill at the beach, and then in another, she pushes her mini-me in a stroller while rocking cheetah-print pajamas and carrying a Chrome Hearts diaper bag. In another flick, Latto gave fans a closer look at her baby girl as she caught some peaceful Z’s in her bassinet.
Social Media Is Loving Latto’s Mommy Era Moments
Once The Shade Room shared the photos of Big Mama and Lil’ Mama, the Roomies flooded the comment section with heart-eye emojis. Some fans said Latto’s snapback needs to be studied, while others said they love seeing her fully embrace her mommy era!
Instagram user @pauladaughter wrote, “Motherhood just gives you a different glow 😍”
Instagram user @blinxmagicglams wrote, “Being a rich mom has to be funnnn😍”
While Instagram user @l0nglivety wrote, “I’m loving motherhood on her 😍😍😍”
Then Instagram user @deannaaivy wrote, “Awww stinkkk 🩷 my girl is a girl mom 🥰 motherhood looks great on Latto.”
Another Instagram user @keemah_marie wrote, “😍Can’t wait to experience the rich mom life! She looks happy & proud to be a new mom 👏😍”
Instagram user @srilankanmafia wrote, “Her snap back is crazy.”
Then another Instagram user @its_justmeia wrote, “love her having a girlll💕💕🫧”
While another Instagram user @bevluxdoll wrote, “Latto is so pretty 😍 and the best mommy ❤️”
Lastly, Instagram user @l0nglivety wrote, “Big mama with one kid 😍😍😍”
Latto Reveals That Lil’ Mama Takes After 21 Savage
Latto hasn’t stopped gushing about her daughter ever since she seemingly confirmed her arrival back in May. During an exclusive sit-down with Monica on Essence magazine’s ‘Yes, Girl’ podcast, Big Mama spilled more tea about her lil’ mama, revealing that her daughter looks a lot like her dad, 21 Savage. She said she loves everything about her baby girl, but joked that she’s a little annoyed she got his looks since she’s the one who carried her for nine months.
“Everybody say she looks like her daddy, and that just be pissing me off, cause I’m the one that carried her,” she said. “That’s about it right now, but she definitely looks like her daddy.”
The rapper also shared that she’s ready to see what motherhood has in store, but she’s asking for a few extra prayers because she gave her own parents a run for their money as a kid and isn’t sure what to expect from her daughter. “I wasn’t the easiest out of the two […] So pray for me,”
RELATED: Okay, Big Mama! Latto Has Fans Talking After Showing Off Her Snatched Waist Following The Birth Of Her Daughter (VIDEOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Roommates, it looks like a major update has surfaced in one of hip-hop’s most closely watched legal cases. While the road ahead is still far from over, a recent courtroom decision could change how the next chapter plays out. With his trial date quickly approaching, Lil Durk just scored a legal win that could impact what jurors hear when proceedings officially get underway.
RELATED: Family First! India Royale Shows Up At Lil Durk’s Son’s Graduation As His Ex Nikki Reacts At The Celebration (PHOTOS)
Lil Durk Avoids New RICO Charges—For Now
According to new court filings, Lil Durk’s defense team, including high-profile attorneys Brian Steel and Drew Findling, successfully argued to have two recently added RICO charges excluded from his upcoming federal trial. The court issued the ruling just weeks before jury selection begins on August 20.
The presiding judge in the case, Michael Fitzgerald, ordered that the two RICO charges—added to the indictment in June—be severed from the current case and tried at a later date. While the decision removes those allegations from the upcoming trial, it does not dismiss them entirely. Durk could still face those RICO charges in future proceedings. Despite the ruling, the Chicago rapper is still facing several serious federal charges, including one count of murder-for-hire, one count of murder-for-hire resulting in death, and use and/or possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.
Roommates Weigh In On Durk’s Case
Roommates wasted no time flooding The Shade Room’s comment section after the update, and while some fans celebrated the ruling as a major win, others had plenty of questions. A few commenters even admitted they forgot Lil Durk is still behind bars awaiting trial, while others kept it simple, saying, “A win is a win.” Meanwhile, plenty of folks reminded everyone that Durk hasn’t beaten the case, urging people to actually read the details before assuming he’s off the hook.
One Instagram user @srt.breezy claimed, “That FDO gonna go crazy 🥋😂🔥🔥🔥”
This Instagram user @doeboy added, “Smurk coming home ❤️”
And, Instagram user @_.janaaee_ shared, “ohh that lawyer dont play“
Meanwhile, Instagram user @1fly_dude clarified, “This is not good news! He’s still gonna be tried on the RICO charges, just AT A LATER DATE! Yall gotta read!“
While Instagram user @ms_lalanicole said, “He isn’t completely off.. they just saving it for later in other words…. This isn’t a celebration.”
Finally, Instagram user @samueljozeph commented, “I know the feds hate to see Brian Steele on a RICO defence team 😂”
The Case Against Lil Durk Explained
As previously reported, federal prosecutors allege that the charges stem from an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting rapper Quando Rondo. Authorities claim the alleged plot targeted Quando Rondo and led to the 2022 shooting that killed his cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, after gunfire erupted near a Los Angeles gas station. Prosecutors have maintained that Durk played a role in orchestrating the alleged retaliation, while his legal team has continued to deny the allegations and push back against the government’s case.
The latest ruling is viewed as a procedural victory for Durk’s defense, as it narrows the issues jurors will consider during next month’s trial. By separating the newly added RICO allegations from the existing indictment, the court allows both sides to focus on the charges that were already pending, rather than introducing additional racketeering claims just weeks before trial. Durk remains in federal custody as he awaits the start of proceedings, and the outcome of the August trial could determine whether prosecutors move forward with the severed RICO counts at a later date.
RELATED: Lil Durk Hires Popular Lawyer Brian Steel And Fans Are Already Saying “Welcome Home” (PHOTO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Hey Big Brother fans, we’ve got a live feeds update. Despite Rome Seymour and Lawyer Lyric Medeiros thinking they’re sneaky, everyone knows they’re showmancing. And now, another unlikely pair’s emerging and I’m shipping them.
We’ll talk about them, also how Jason de Puy‘s digging himself in deeper telling obvious lies.Plus, we’ve got three on the block and only one campaigning to stay in the game. Plus, a birthday party, and lots more.
Big Brother: Jason’s Lies and Angela’s Doubts
So, Angela Murray seems like she doesn’t want to believe the worst of Jason. And Angela told Rick Devens she needs to find out if Drew Campbell was telling the truth. Angela’s talking about testing Drew.
Angela said it’s heartbreaking if Jason really did her like that. Plus, we know Jason plans on targeting Dee, Devens and Angela. And Drew told them. But Jason thinks he’s flying under the radar.
Instead, he got a shovel and dug himself deeper. He approached Angela with some nonsense about being nervous that others were going to target Angela, Devens and Dee. He says because you’re the three that came back.
Then Jason reassured Angela that he hasn’t heard anything like that and said you’re not on the radar at all. Not honest at all. Then, he hugged Angela and said “I told you I’d come to you if I hear anything”.
She did some lying and told Jason she, Dee and Devens are not even together. Later, Angela twerked with Jason. Later, Angela said it’s hard to be nice to Jason. I will give her credit that Angela’s holding all that anger because in BB26, she’d have popped off on Jason by now.
And speaking of Angela, Alison Grodner said they chose her over other Big Brother alums because she’s a disruptor. Grodner said people love or hate Angela. She’s polarizing and causes chaos.
And although she’s in check now, Grodner doesn’t think it’ll stick. She said, as much as Angela says “she’s not going to cause chaos, she’s probably going to at some point”. You know they want Angela unhinged and fighting.
BB28: Mallory’s Evil Antics and Jason’s Hypocrisy
Speaking of unhinged, Mallory Aurichio‘s reminding me of Kelly Jorgensen from BB27. Remember when she was just always doing evil things to stir the pot, just random wickedness?
I feel like Mallory is Kelly 2.0 because Mallory was talking to Jason about the Have-Nots. Mallory was being so spiteful saying she knows Have Not Haley Thogmartin’s favorite food is spaghetti.
So, Mallory plans to make it and eat it in front of her because she can’t have it. Then, Jason and Mallory did some villain laughter about that. Also, Mallory and Melody Morris have clocked why Jason wants Devens out – because Jason wants to be AFP.
Jason thinks that Devens is his biggest competition for American’s Favorite. And they both agree they can’t trust Jason and have felt he was not trustworthy from the start. Bottom line – he’s playing too hard, too fast.
Big Brother: Dee and Barrett’s Unexpected Showmance
Now let’s talk about the second showmance not on my bingo card. Survivor Dee Valladares and Jumbotron Barrett Pfeiffer are flirtmancing. They’ve held hands. He’s been coming up behind Dee and wrapping his arms around her. The live feed cams have them holding hands.
And while cam talking Dee said he’s a nerd, but he’s my nerd and Dee said she really likes Barrett. And we know Barrett came into the game with a hard-core crush on Dee. However, many fans think Dee’s playing him because she toyed with men on Survivor and The Challenge.
BB28: Headed for the Pitts?
On the BB28 live feeds, Barrett came in the room when Dee was talking to Jason. And he had a banana in his hand. Dee sniffed Barrett’s armpit and said he has good pheromones. Then, Dee talked about how someone’s scent can turn her off.
Meanwhile, Jason was grossed out by Dee’s pit sniffing and said y’all are nasty. Barrett cuddled her. And she laughed and said Jason’s feeling some kind of way about this. Barrett stood up and Jason said he liked the way Barrett was holding the banana.
Then Jason said I’m the only one who could, you know… And Dee said you’re not the only one. She gave Barrett this big flirty smile and said peel it for me while Jason died laughing. Very flirty – we’ll see if it’s the real deal.
Big Brother: The Eviction Campaign and Survivor Connections
Meanwhile, Drew’s macking on Melody but she has a man at home. I’ll admit I’m kind of off Drew after he said he hates seeing Lala Verrett walking around in her bikini and heels. She looks good especially for pushing 60.
Drew tells Dee that Mallory wants to target her if she wins HOH and Yash Patel is planning to come for Dee also. There’s been some vote talk too. Jason and Lala will vote to keep Taylor Brown over Yash or Ashley Trail.
Dee thinks evicting Yash would be smart this week and would break a tie for Taylor. Yash has been campaigning hard, but Ashley needed some advice from Drew on how to approach people and really has been more chatty than working on votes.
Yash has been working overtime trying to get votes to stay. Taylor was doing some work but then completely slacked off and focused on Lala’s 58th birthday celebration instead. Taylor also said she was in Big Brother more for the experience than the money.
Basically Taylor campaigned, seemed to check it off a to-do list and stopped. But then today, she asked Dee if she’s safe and she warned Taylor the HGs are torn between her and Yash. Taylor said she has the littles vote.
That’s what she’s calling Lyric, Melody and Mallory. Angela told Taylor she has her vote too but we’ll see – that may not be genuine. Dee reassured Taylor again today she’ll tie break in her favor in part because Yash and Ashley haven’t come to her.
Also, a big chunk of the house is not feeling Haley ranging from mild dislike to outright hate and calling her a snake and other wild words.
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Writing for this site, I’ve covered countless RoboCop and Mad Max ripoffs because they’re just so fun to watch, no matter how good or bad they may be. I’m going to have to start adding more Predator-style films into the mix after watching 1996’s Star Hunter, which plays out like Surviving the Game or Judgment Night, but with an antagonist doing his best Predator impersonation while wearing trash can armour, while it’s up to the Scooby-Doo gang to take him down once and for all.
Star Hunter has plenty of action but no choreography behind it. It’s total amateur hour, but I love it because everybody leans into the camp without ever taking anything too seriously. It hits all of the Most Dangerous Game tropes you’re familiar with, but it’s also about a bunch of teenagers fighting off some seemingly invulnerable celestial assassin who likes to kill for fun.
Let’s Keep This Simple
Star Hunter is about a group of high school football players and cheerleaders whose bus breaks down after the big game. They’re stranded in the bad part of town and need to make a phone call for roadside assistance, which leads them to an eccentric blind man named Reicher. He lives by himself in a luxury apartment and is more than accommodating to his unexpected guests, which immediately makes them suspicious because there’s barely any furniture, but the back wall is covered from floor to ceiling with weapons.
As it turns out, Reicher works closely with an escaped space robot convict named Star Hunter, and together they make a game out of hunting humans for sport as they move from planet to planet. The kids learn this the hard way when they discover a trophy room in Reicher’s apartment filled with severed human heads. Reicher gives everybody a one-hour head start before the hunt begins, and it doesn’t look good for the teenagers.
What the teenagers don’t know at this point in Star Hunter is that space officers known as trackers are also trying to stop Star Hunter and Reicher. When the token pothead starts acting even stranger than usual, it’s heavily implied that he’s possessed by a tracker, and it becomes his destiny to ensure everybody’s safety before they all get wiped out by the killing machine hunting them down.
A Total B-Production That Will Win You Over
Star Hunter leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to action choreography and special effects. Star Hunter is supposed to be some iteration of Predator, but it’s clearly just a guy in a suit.
Listen, I know how movies are made, and that Predator is also a guy in a suit, but this really looks like a guy in a suit. He walks around like a guy in a suit. He shoots guns like a guy in a suit. And he is 1000 percent, without a shadow of a doubt, a guy in a suit. It’s fine to know this as a movie watcher because most monsters are just guys in suits, but in my mind, and within this fiction, it’s just a guy in a suit, which really doesn’t do Star Hunter any favors.
What really saves this film, and inspired me to review it, is how much fun it has despite the fact that the antagonist is just a guy in a (really bad) Predator suit. It’s straight-up Scooby-Doo, and I mean that as a compliment. There’s no dog in this movie, but every single person looks like they’re about to say “jinkies” whenever something bad happens, but only after they all peer through a doorway in tandem, with the shortest person at the bottom and the tallest person on top.
While there’s no clear instance of everybody running in place before darting out of frame and leaving nothing but a cloud of dust behind, Star Hunter has some serious Mystery Gang energy that makes it way more fun than it has any right to be.
If you’re into action thrillers like Surviving the Game, but also find yourself craving low-budget sci-fi schlock and awe, Star Hunter, which is currently streaming on Tubi for free, should be your next watch. Don’t take this one too seriously, and you’ll have an absolute blast (pew, pew!) with it.
Entertainment
Michelle Branch Reveals She Bought Her Iconic ‘Everywhere’ Music Video T-Shirt at the Mall
Who knew a trip to the mall would lead to one of the most iconic music video looks of the early 2000s?
Michelle Branch took fans down memory lane while celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Spirit Room during a Q&A ahead of her MBTV livestream event at The Sun Rose in West Hollywood, California, on June 14.
Looking back on the era that launched her career, the singer revealed that the blue T-shirt with yellow graphics she wore in the “Everywhere” music video wasn’t a custom piece or designer look. Instead, it was a find she picked up during a trip to the mall.
“I got it at Urban Outfitters. At the mall, yeah,” Branch shared.
While reminiscing about her biggest hits, Branch also reflected on how her approach to touring has changed over the years.
“It took me a long time to really learn a life balance with work,” she admitted.
“I think it’s so easy to travel to all these amazing cities and countries and just see the backstage area of a venue or a parking lot where your bus is parked.”
These days, the songwriter makes a point of getting out and exploring “everywhere” she visits.
“I try to get out in every city and find local restaurants. I try to stay away from chains and eat the local food or go to museums and try to be a little cultured,” she noted.
“It’s also a lot of fun dive bars with my band after we play.”
Whether she’s on the road or at home, keeping her playlists fresh is a priority.
“I try to listen to music as much as possible,” she shared.
“I’m always on the hunt for new music or even old music that I don’t know yet. The city that I grew up in was so small that it didn’t even have a record store, so all of the music that I discovered was on MTV or the radio. I feel like there are all these deeper cuts and genres that I didn’t get exposed to as a kid, so I’m always searching that way.”
As for what’s always in rotation, Tom Petty tops the list.
“He’s my hero,” the hitmaker said. “He’s number one. The best.”
And when it comes to making songs, Branch has learned not to force the process.
“A song could just fall out of the sky,” she explained. “When I go fishing for them, they’re not there. But when I’m just minding my own business and listening to music, that’s when they happen.”
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