By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 42 seconds ago

Every now and then, there are movies that bomb at the box office but are still considered absolute masterpieces. One such film is Almost Famous (2000), which impressed every major critic (including Roger Ebert, the original film GOAT) and earned two Golden Globe awards and four Academy Award nominations. The success of the film is as ironic as it is startling: after all, it’s not every day that movies about sex, drugs, and rock and roll bring home the gold.

The secret to this film’s unexpected success is Cameron Crowe, the ambitious director who created what might be the most personal film ever made. The director channeled his own experiences as a Rolling Stone journalist into this movie, including some unforgettable tours with bands like the Allman Brothers. The result is a movie whose nostalgia for a bygone day is impossibly infectious. To see what the hype is about, you don’t need a VIP ticket or backstage pass. All you have to do is stream Almost Famous for free on Tubi!

On The Road Again

The premise of Almost Famous is that a brilliant 15-year-old boy falls in love with rock music, and he ends up interviewing Black Sabbath for Rolling Stone. Impressed by his work, his editor hires him to write a review of Stillwater, the band that was opening for Sabbath. This means hitting the road with the band, where the young writer learns more about these louder-than-life musicians and Penny Lane, the captivating leader of their groupies (though she prefers the term “band-aides”). Along the way, he learns that meeting your heroes can be painful, but not nearly as heartwrenching as falling in love.

The cast of Almost Famous is a veritable “who’s who” of Millennials’ favorite actors, including Zooey Deschanel, Jason Lee, Anna Paquin, and even Jimmy Fallon. There are also some real heavy hitters in the leading roles, including Billy Crudup (otherwise best known for Watchmen) as a tempestuous lead guitarist and Kate Hudson (otherwise best known for How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days) as his adoring groupie. But the biggest revelation of the film is Patrick Fugit (otherwise best known for Gone Girl), making his feature film debut as a young man who’s trying to find himself but keeps getting lost in the music.

More Than A Feeling

Sadly, Almost Famous was a box office bomb when it first premiered. Against a budget of $60 million, the movie earned only $47.4 million. However, it was a critical darling (more on this soon), and the movie soon became a cult hit on home video. While Cameron Crowe never released a follow-up film, he did write the stage musical adaptation of Almost Famous, which premiered in 2018 before later moving to Broadway.

Reviewers took one look at Almost Famous and decided this was one rollicking rockstar of a film. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 91 percent, with critics praising the movie for its easygoing story and ensemble performances from actors such as Kate Hudson and young Patrick Fugit. They also commended the film for its warmth. This is director Cameron Crowe’s love letter to a simpler time, and by the end of this film, you’ll agree with the movie’s implicit argument that it was a far better time.

A Celebration Of A Bygone Era

In many ways, the nostalgia factor is the biggest draw of Almost Famous. As a movie made over a quarter of a century ago, it holds special interest to any film buff wanting to step back into the pre-streaming glory days of ambitious blockbuster dramas. At the same time, the movie is a sloppy love letter to the ‘70s and everything that made that decade so groovy. To his credit, Crowe pulls it off, making this era seem like an impossibly vibrant counterpoint to the dreary drudgeries of the modern world.

Personally, I’m an ‘80s kid who never felt any real desire to live in a different time or place. But the sheer passion behind Almost Famous always makes me wish I could have been like the film’s protagonist: a wunderkind music junkie, coming of age as both a writer and a man on the road trip of a lifetime. He is surrounded by both beauty and fame, tempting him to all manner of sins along the way. However, he is both cleansed and tormented by something far more potent than carnal desire: a profound love of music.

Falling For The American Girl

Needless to say, Almost Famous is particularly perfect for anyone who loves music. If you spend all day with your headphones on, it’s because you understand one of this movie’s most elemental lessons: that nothing captures the beauty and the heartbreak of the human condition quite like a great song. In this film, music becomes a kind of divine force: something that can fill men with inspiration or simply drive them crazy. Either way, they sacrifice themselves on the altar of rock and roll so the rest of us heathens have something to believe in.

Above all else, Almost Famous functions as arguably the best coming-of-age story ever filmed. Our young protagonist experiences what most teenage boys can only dream of: the chance to tour the country in the company of rock stars and the women who love them. Along the way, he gets to make a name for himself by writing for one of the biggest publications in the country. But he soon discovers that what he wants and what he needs are two very different animals and that there is no pain quite as keen as growing up too fast.

Like A Rolling Stone 

Too young to be a man and too experienced to be a boy, he finds himself adrift before realizing something profound. Namely, that in writing the story of this up-and-coming band, he is writing his own ticket, crafting a future he is passionate about rather than the one his mother has all planned out. He longs to escape suburban doldrums, transforming himself with a love of writing that will sustain him long after the beer-soaked tour has finally ended. It’s a story of romance, rebellion, and revolution. Honestly, does it get more rock and roll than that?

Almost Famous is offering you a chance to tour with the band, but are you going to take the ride? Even if you don’t have cash, grass, or a$$, this is one occasion when you really can ride for free. All you have to do is snag the remote from your favorite groupie and stream Cameron Crowe’s cinematic masterpiece on Tubi, completely for free!

By Robert Scucci
| Published 16 seconds ago

No matter where you’re from, you probably grew up with somebody like Marty (Joshua Burge) from 2014’s Buzzard. While you went to college or joined the workforce, or at the very least tried to make something of yourself, Marty wants nothing to do with the rat race. The problem is he’s not smart enough to scrape by without resorting to criminal activity. He’s the kind of guy who would stage a slip and fall at a fast food restaurant just to get a $500 payout three years later, thinking he stuck it to the man and came out on top.

Buzzard explores this behavior to the extreme, one scam, pizza coupon, and Nintendo controller at a time. It’s the ultimate slacker comedy because Marty cares about self-preservation just enough to stay out of serious trouble, but not enough to stop himself from constantly getting hoisted by his own petard. It’s Office Space for the disenfranchised Millennial. It’s a slacker comedy with a nihilistic bent. It’s the $20 plate of hotel spaghetti that keeps you going until you can find more Mountain Dew to sustain yourself. 

It’s Always A Party With Marty

Buzzard, like most films written and directed by Joel Potrykus and starring Joshua Burge, centers on Marty, an office temp at a mortgage company who’s always looking for the next scheme to help him coast through life. He lives off frozen pizzas he gets at a discount by calling customer service to complain after every meal, scoring coupons in return. He steals toner, staplers, telephones, and keyboards from the company dumpster and returns them to office supply stores for cash. He opens bank accounts for the free $50 deposit, withdraws the funds, and then does it again. It’s not beneath him to cut his hand at home, show up to work, and stage an accident with the paper slicer so he can file a worker’s comp claim.

Marty decides to ante up when he realizes he can steal customer refund checks, sign them over to himself, and cash them at the bank. Never thinking about the consequences, he quickly learns the company receives monthly check-cashing reports, complete with images of the checks and the accounts they were deposited into.

Fearing he’s about to get caught red-handed, Marty lays low at his friend and coworker Derek’s (Joel Potrykus) house while trying to figure out his next move. If you haven’t noticed by now, planning ahead is not Marty’s strong suit. For reasons never explained, he modifies an old Nintendo Power Glove with steak knives, a la Freddy Kreuger, and carries it with him everywhere. Just in case. 

The rest of the movie plays out exactly how you’d expect. Marty tries cashing checks, but every bank flags his account. He tries breaking into a motel to sleep for free and immediately gets caught. He burns through the last of his money with no backup plan other than continuing to live exactly how he wants. The problem is he’s running out of options, and his increasingly sloppy crimes are catching up to him.

Marty Will Never Learn

What’s most fascinating about Buzzard is how deeply the slacker DNA is embedded in Marty. No matter what happens, he finds a way out of a jam, and he doesn’t care how pathetic it makes him look. When called out for his “worksite injury,” he shrugs and waits for it to blow over while the doctor stares him down, clearly not buying it. When he’s finally backed into a corner where the authorities might get involved, he busts out the Power Glove in a desperate attempt to fend off his problems. When he spends his last $20 on hotel spaghetti, he shovels it down without a single thought about where his next meal will come from.

Marty is every slacker you’ve ever met, all rolled into one composite character. He’s impulsive, repulsive, and never sympathetic. But that’s also what makes Buzzard so much fun to watch, because you end up rooting for him anyway. He’s screwing the system every chance he gets, or so he thinks, and part of you wants to live vicariously through that because he genuinely does not give a single sh*t. It’s almost inspiring how little he cares about anything, whether it’s his friendships, job security, or reputation. None of it matters to Marty.

It’s the kind of personality you envy in small doses, if only because you know you could never carry yourself with that level of nonchalance while still functioning as a productive member of society.

Consequences Be Damned

Half the fun of watching Buzzard is wondering when Marty’s run will finally end, and how many people he’d be willing to drag down with him if it means squeezing out one more free Party Pizza before getting hauled off to jail, flipping his boss the bird on the way out. Even if he does face consequences, you get the sense he’ll find a way to keep scamming his way through life.

That’s what makes Buzzard so compelling. Marty puts more effort into avoiding responsibility than it would take to just show up, do the bare minimum, and live comfortably. That’s the real irony, because everything he does looks exhausting.

As of this writing, Buzzard is streaming for free on Tubi.

Spring cleaning just got way chicer. 

Celebrity stylist Chloé Bartoli, who’s dressed everyone from Selena Gomez to Shay Mitchell and Miranda Kerr, knows exactly how to build an effortless, off-duty look. And with her brand ÉTERNE, she’s brought that same energy to everyday essentials for the rest of us.

Now, she’s breaking down the only pieces that belong in your closet this spring, and how to part with the rest.

When editing your wardrobe, Bartoli believes you can never have enough high-quality jeans, and she recently launched her core styles to reflect exactly that.

“I’m a huge denim person. I wear it almost every day and have collected vintage Levi’s for years. It felt like a natural extension of ÉTERNE because it’s the ultimate essential,” she explains.

The goal: jeans that fit like your go-to worn-in pair, without the hunt.

“They should feel easy, like you’ve had them forever, but still hold you in the right places.”

From there, the fashion expert’s uniform follows the same laidback philosophy.

“I always wear our Baby Tee, our French Terry sets, especially when I’m in Malibu, and the Francis cashmere sweater because it’s incredibly lightweight and easy to layer,” she shares. 

“It’s not about trends; it’s about how something feels on your body. … The pieces are designed to be lived in.”

That approach has clearly resonated, with It-girls including Hailey Bieber, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Zoë Kravitz, and Emily Ratajkowski, all having been spotted in the line.

When it comes to elevating an outfit, Bartoli leans into contrast.

“I love mixing new with vintage and really focusing on proportion by balancing something more fitted with something more relaxed. That always makes an outfit feel more considered.”

And once the base is there, the finishing touches pull everything together.

“A great belt, the right sunglasses, and a strong bag can completely transform a look. I’m always drawn to more masculine gold jewelry and vintage Western belts. For shoes, I love a sleek, classic loafer or a cowboy boot. I’m drawn to pieces that feel timeless but still have character.”

Still, her approach is rooted in restraint, even when it comes to what she keeps and what she lets go of. 

“I’m very edited. If I’m not wearing something consistently, it’s gone. I hold onto vintage and pieces that feel truly timeless. I’d always rather have fewer things that I love and wear than a closet full of options I don’t touch. I think that mindset naturally keeps everything clear and intentional.”

For anyone doing their own closet reset, her advice follows that same mindset.

“Start by removing everything you haven’t worn in a while, keep the palette tight and cohesive, and focus on pieces you can style multiple ways. … Then rebuild with strong essentials like great tees, denim, and vintage pieces. … That’s what makes a wardrobe feel complete.”

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Jonathan Demme‘s The Silence of the Lambs is widely considered to be the pinnacle of the thriller genre, and with good reason. The 1991 adaptation of Thomas Harris‘ seminal novel was an instant critical and commercial success, becoming the fourth highest-grossing film of the year and winning the Big Five Oscars, including Best Picture. Today, the story of how FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) stops the serial killer Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) with the help of cannibalistic psychiatrist and criminal Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) has become the blueprint for every horror thriller to follow.

Indeed, The Silence of the Lambs reigns supreme atop the thriller mountain… or does it? It’s easy to declare Demme’s triumph as the ultimate cinematic chiller, but I’d argue thar three major movies work better as thrillers than Silence. That’s not to say the 1991 movie isn’t a masterpiece, because it is. However, the three films on this list offer riveting narratives, outstanding performances, and a taut, near-unbearable tension that makes them excel as genuine masterworks of the thriller formula. Any of these is more than capable of standing alongside Silence in the Mount Rushmore of thrillers, and many surely place higher in many a cinephile’s personal rankings.

‘M’ (1931)

Image via Vereinigte Star-Film GmbH

The thriller came to be in cinema with Fritz Lang‘s seminal 1931 masterpiece M. The original thriller and even a proto-noir in many ways, the film remains a foundational piece of filmmaking that has influenced every single subsequent entry into the genre, and I’m really not exaggerating. In a now-indelible performance, Peter Lorre stars as Hans Beckert, a child serial killer operating in Berlin. As his crimes increase, Beckert becomes the target of not only a large-scale manhunt by the police but also a more violent effort by an underworld society whose criminal doings are endangered by the killer’s actions.

Often regarded as Lang’s magnum opus, including by the director himself, M is the very definition of a cinematic trailblazer. Lang creates a truly oppressive and immersive atmosphere through sound and, just as importantly, silent, painting the full picture og human hysteria. This classic thriller pioneered many major techniques that would become mainstays in the genre, most notably long tracking shots following Beckert and his hunters, and a musical leitmotif, using the piece “In the Hall of the Mountain King” to signal Beckert’s presence. M excels not only as an in-depth exploration into human depravity and mob mentality but also as an exercise in contagious paranoia and a study of humanity’s need for violence in response to things they can’t control. The film’s mark can be found in every single thriller that followed, proving itself the pillar upon which the entire thriller genre rises. Simply put, there would be no Silence of the Lambs without M.

‘Jaws’ (1975)

Steven Spielberg outright revolutionized cinema with Jaws, not only inventing the modern blockbuster thriller as we know it but also reinventing the thriller forever. Based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley, the film sees a quiet beach town resort terrorized by a great white shark. Opening in a now legendary sequence where the shark kills a young woman on a late-night swim, the film continues by chronicling the efforts of three men — the town’s chief, Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hopper (Richard Dreyfuss), and legendary shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) — as they attempt to hunt and kill the shark before it claims more victims.

By now, it’s well known that Spielberg is a titan of cinema. The director has mastered more genres than most others, from adventure (Raiders of the Lost Ark) to war (Saving Private Ryan), epic (Schindler’s List), drama (The Fabelmans), and sci-fi (far too many to name). Yet, Jaws remains his only pure thriller, because how can one compete with absolute perfection? The film is expertly crafted and paced, yet the true genius lies in Spielberg’s sheer innovation. The director made up for a defective shark animatronic by placing the audience in the creature’s POV and enhancing the tension with a now-legendary score from his usual collaborator, John Williams. The result is a masterpiece of creativity that pushed the thriller to new heights by proving that less is more, and when it comes to monsters, the human imagination is still more effective. In Jaws, Spielberg crafted fear and paranoia out of water and suggestion. While movies like The Silence of the Lambs crafted elaborate, twisty narratives, Jaws enthralled with simplicity, skill, confidence, and assurance, becoming timeless in the process.

‘Parasite’ (2019)

Image via NEON

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If there’s any director that deserves the title of New King of the Thriller, it’s probably Bong Joon Ho (Park Chan-wook is a close competitor, apologies to David Fincher). Memories of Murder, Mother, and Snowpiercer would be enough to secure him the title, but Parasite is truly the masterpiece that cements it. In fact, it might not be an overstatement to call Parasite the best thriller in cinematic history. For those of you rolling your eyes at this statement and accusing me of recency bias, I hear you. However, I dare you to find a thriller that’s more timely, intelligent, or indeed masterful in balancing multiple tones and themes. Parasite is one of a kind, a genuinely shocking and shifting tale of class struggles that resonated with millions worldwide, breaking boundaries and taking international cinema to new heights.

The film follows the struggling and scheming Kim family, who plot to infiltrate the wealthy Park household by posing as four unrelated and highly experienced individuals. As the everyday dynamics lead to increasing tension, the Kims soon realize there’s more to the Park’s house than they could’ve expected. Thrillers usually follow a set series of rules, often in an effort to enhance the tension and keep the mystery going. Parasite subverts that formula by playing with genres and blurring lines, going from a comedy to a class satire to an outright murderous thriller in the end, all while keeping a latent sense of anxiety building in the background. The film was an international box office success and won the Oscar for Best Picture, giving it the credentials to qualify as a timeless masterpiece. Yet, Parasite‘s true legacy lies in its willingness to reshape the thriller, never settling for the expected and instead proving that the genre is far more flexible than anyone could’ve guessed.

Nevaeh Akira has shared a spicy message for those criticizing her relationship with Blueface.

RELATED: Nevaeh Akira’s Message About “Peace Over Chaos” Amid Her Pregnancy With Blueface Has Some Folks Scratchin’ Their Heads (PHOTO)

Nevaeh Akira Shares Spicy Message For Those Criticizing Her Relationship With Blueface

On Tuesday, March 24, Nevaeh Akira took to her Instagram Story to share an initial message which read, “What’s there to prove?… I got the n***a. It’s not for yall to like. It’s for him to love, and I’m NOT GOING NO WHERE. Last time I checked none of yall are GOD, ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE AND JUDGING IS A SIN… you hos the real demonic”

Then, in a follow-up post, she added, “If I want more donuts, HE GONE BUY THE WHOLE DONUT SHOP!”

Furthermore, in a final message, shared hours after the ones above, Akira added, “I won’t respond to nothing else until I’m 3 months postpartum…”

Social Media Weighs In

Social media users entered TSR Teen’s comment section, weighing in on Nevaeh Akira’s message.

Before Nevaeh Akira Shared A Spicy Message For Those Criticizing Her Relationship With Blueface, They Made Headlines Because Of THIS

As The Shade Room previously reported, over the weekend, Blueface was streaming via Twitch and ended up going viral while showing off condoms in his jacket. Additionally, Nevaeh Akira caught him.

Subsequently, Nevaeh Akira turned heads when she took to her Instagram, sharing photos and videos of herself in a bikini.

RELATED: Internet Users Think Nevaeh Akira Is Showing OUT Amid Her Catching Blueface Stuffing Condoms In His Jacket Before Going Out

Bold and the Beautiful stuns as Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) shows up at the Malibu cliff house with a gift for Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig), and she may barge in and cause a huge scene. But is there a chance that Sheila’s there with an agenda and already knows more than we realize?

We’re going to talk about Taylor and Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) getting blindsided if Sheila already figured out that her husband fell for Taylor.

Taylor and Deacon Finally Make Love on Bold and the Beautiful

All right, let’s talk about a big twist. This week, we’ve got Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and her husband Finn (Tanner Novlan) and their kids heading for an overnight trip. And that means Taylor has the house to herself. And since Steffy’s treating Taylor like a lovesick teenager, she’s going to act like one.

She’s going to invite a boy over while, you know, mom’s away, even though Steffy told her mother, “Try not to get into too much trouble.” So Deacon and Taylor decide to use this opportunity to have intimate time alone. And Deacon finally makes love to Taylor.

So, as suspected, the Bold spoiler about two people doing the deed for the first time is indeed about Deacon and Taylor. So, Deacon’s going to sneak in the back sliding door at the cliff house, and he and Taylor are going to start making out on the sofa and then head upstairs to shed their clothes and get down to business.

Deacon has Taylor in her bed stripped down to just her bra and panties. And Deacon’s telling Taylor they tried hard to stay apart, but Deacon says nobody’s going to come between them anymore.

Hope Covers for Deacon on B&B

And he enlists his daughter, Hope Logan (Annika Noelle), to cover for him so he can sneak off to be with Taylor. So, it sounds like Hope is going to be more than happy to conspire with Deacon to make this hookup happen. He makes a whispery phone call to Hope asking for her help.

Official Bold and the Beautiful spoilers for this week say that Deacon lies to Sheila about what he’s doing and where he’s going for the evening. Deacon is going to fib to his wife and then call Hope and say that he’s sorry to put her in this position, but he told Sheila that he’s having dinner with Hope tonight.

And we all know that Sheila is not welcome over on the Logan estate. And Hope wants to know from Deacon if he is seeing Taylor tonight. So, Hope is going to be there to help make Deacon’s night alone with Taylor happen.

Bold and Beautiful: Hope Hits Back at Steffy

And I think part of this is to spite Steffy. If you remember, she ranted at Hope and said their parents can never ever be together. Steffy was chewing Hope out and being high-handed and things got really tense between them. So, this is a little payback on Steffy because Hope really wants Deacon away from Sheila and wants him to be with Taylor.

Does Sheila Already Know About the Affair?

And another B&B spoiler says Sheila takes matters into her own hands. So when she shows up at the Malibu house, it may be to bring a gift or, you know, maybe much more, maybe some trouble. So, she may bring flowers to Taylor as a pretext, hoping to catch Deacon and Taylor being bad.

We could get a Bold and the Beautiful twist if Sheila already knows that Deacon and Taylor are involved because she’s been doing a lot of creeping and a lot of watching and a lot of listening and she may have already gotten the clue.

So, Sheila may bring flowers along so she can innocently claim that with Deacon busy with Hope, she decided to come and bring a gift to her really good friend Taylor. And if for some reason, you know, she ran into Steffy or Finn, Sheila could say it’s a little thank you for helping mend her marriage to Deacon. But they’re not going to be around and the flowers are a shield in case something happens and they cancel their trip. But really, Sheila may be playing a long con on Taylor and Deacon, and she might have figured out a while ago that they were involved. So, could be Sheila’s been trying to catch them in the act.

Sheila Hunting for Proof on Bold and Beautiful?

That way, she has concrete proof that Deacon is cheating with Taylor. Because without evidence, Deacon can simply lie and deny. So, Sheila may be holding out for 100% irrefutable proof that she sees with her own eyes. She may want to catch Deacon and Taylor in the act, catch them red-handed

And that would explain why Sheila has been non-stop stalking Taylor. You know, maybe she had suspicions and Sheila kept showing up at Taylor’s office. Remember, she would bust in without knocking, without an appointment. So, Sheila might have been trying to catch Deacon with Taylor in his arms all along.

And Sheila might have even brought the toe cookies over—because you remember she nagged at her—so that she could later laugh at forcing Taylor to eat her feet. Something really twisted. And when Deacon tells Sheila he’s going to be out for the night using Hope as an excuse. Well, she might see right through that and it confirms her suspicions.

She may realize instantly that Deacon is sneaking out to hook up with Taylor. And so Sheila may play innocent and say, “Oh yeah, sure. Go see Hope. Go help her out.” You know, go have fun. No problem. I’ll be waiting at home. And Sheila may think this is her big gotcha moment where she gets to confront Deacon with Taylor.

Sheila Is Not Stupid on B&B

And I mean, let’s be real. Sheila Carter is not stupid. Never has been, but she is unhinged and she’s lethal. And she knows Hope and Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) haven’t exactly been subtle about it either. So, Sheila may realize everybody’s conspiring against her and are determined to keep her in the dark while he keeps on cheating.

So it makes sense that Sheila would show up and stage a confrontation. And you know, we do know Deacon has a lot of allies. But Sheila might have one of her own because Li Finnegan (Naomi Matsuda) is back on Thursday. And Li is the one who tells Sheila that Steffy and Finn are going to be out of town overnight.

And that seems to inspire Sheila’s visit to the cliff house. But also, if Sheila does suspect cheating, Li might help out in another way. Because I bet Finn’s mom has a key to the house. So Li might loan her spare key to Sheila. And with Finn and Steffy, you know, hopefully gone like they said, Sheila can use the key to get inside, creep upstairs, and find the cheaters and call them out.

I could see Li helping Sheila because, let’s face it, she despises cheaters. And that’s because of her ex-husband, Jack Finnegan (Ted King). Ironically, it was Sheila that Jack was cheating with many years ago and he got her pregnant with Finn.

Will Sheila Catch Them in the Act?

So, it’s confirmed Deacon and Taylor make love this week and we know that they are thinking that they are completely alone. Steffy and Finn are gone and he thinks he’s got his bases covered because Sheila thinks he’s with Hope. This is so teenagery. It reminds me when you lie to your mom, you know, back in the day and tell her you were spending the night with a friend when you were really, you know, going out with a boy.

So, I think Deacon and Taylor are going to be so enamored and wrapped up in each other that they’re not going to be on their guard. They’re going to assume that they’ve gotten away with this, you know, got away with going behind Steffy and Sheila’s back to do what they want, which is each other. So, it’ll be shocking if Deacon and Taylor are rolling around in bed and his wife Sheila walks right in on them.

Bold and Beautiful Star Promises Big Things

In a recent interview, by the way, actress Kimberlin Brown said that when Sheila Carter inevitably finds out about the Deacon and Taylor affair, the fallout is going to be huge. Everything’s going to hit the fan.

So, we’ll have to wait and see if Sheila is blindsided or if she already figured out Deacon and Taylor were cheating and she was playing innocent and waiting to confirm it and blow everything up at the worst possible moment. And let’s face it, that would be a big twist.

A registered sex offender is facing new charges in Texas, after authorities allege he dropped a thumb drive loaded with child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in the parking lot of a sheriff’s office.

William Raymond Catron was required to check-in with the Parker County Sheriff’s Office in Weatherford to verify his registration as a convicted sex offender and did just that on Wednesday, March 18, according to FOX 4.

For some reason, he decided to bring a thumb drive with him containing over 2,000 images and videos of CSAM, along with a bunch of selfies he’d taken.

Gravity worked against Catron, 66, as he was leaving, police said. FOX 4 reports he dropped the thumb drive outside the sheriff’s office, in the very lot where the deputies park their vehicles.

After a visitor found the thumb drive and turned it over to police, surveillance footage was reviewed and allegedly showed it falling from his pocket as he was digging around for his car keys.

Related: Wanted Child Sex Offender Busted After Being Recognized on News

A wanted sex offender on the run from Colorado police was arrested in southern New Mexico after he was recognized from news coverage of his case. The search for Jorge Campos began when he didn’t show up at court in Douglas County on Friday, March 20, for a trial related to the sexual assault of […]

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Catron is being held on a $750,000 bond after being charged with felony possession of child pornography depicting the assault of a child under 10 and failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements.

“A twist of fate and bad decisions would lead to his arrest,” police said in a statement on the arrest. “This is the kind of criminal that we love to catch and put behind bars.”

Catron was later asked to return to the sheriff’s office to speak with investigators, and he allegedly confessed to being the thumb drive’s owner.

Police later searched his residence and allegedly located additional electronic devices, which they seized.

Sgt. Shane Cartwright with the Parker County Sheriff’s Office spoke to FOX 4 and said that Catron’s been checking in with them since 2019.

“I don’t think he ever expected to get caught. Not in a million years,” Cartwright added. “He’s been flying under the radar — until now.”

Catron was apparently oblivious to the fact that he’d even dropped his thumb drive.

Related: Missing Juvenile Was Allegedly Found in Registered Sex Offender’s Car

Florida deputies rescued a missing juvenile when they pulled over a man on New Year’s Eve. The driver, Darnell Hairston, tried to escape during the traffic stop the morning of Wednesday, December 31 along U.S. Highway 1 in Flagler County, which is in northeastern Florida, the county sheriff’s office said in a news release issued […]

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“He came, unknowing, he didn’t know what was going on at the time,” Cartwright said. “Told us that he had a problem, that he knew that he had a problem, that he’d been praying about it for some time.”

“That’s divine intervention,” Cartwright told FOX 4. “That’s the man upstairs knowing that you don’t need to be out there running loose. That’s what that is.”

It was unclear if Catron had been asked to enter pleas or retained legal counsel for his defense.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is, for the most part, a generally apolitical show. Obviously, there are embedded messages about the importance of feminism and accepting others who may be different (like being gay, being a witch, or being a gay witch). Some might consider those “woke” messages, but the show was simply emphasizing the importance of treating everyone equally. However, one memorable episode might have taken the idea of equality a little too far. You see, the climax of Season 3’s opening episode, “Anne,” actually endorsed Communism!

For some context, “Anne” was the first Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode of Season 3, and it continued from the previous season’s fairly startling cliffhanger, “Becoming.” In the Season 2 finale, Buffy killed Angel, who had turned evil. In doing so, she managed to save the entire world from getting sucked into Hell. However, at the last minute, Angel’s soul was restored, forcing Buffy to kill the man she loved to save all of humanity. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she previously got an ultimatum from her mother to never return home if she walked out the front door. Accordingly, Buffy packed her things and secretly moved out at the end of the episode.

A New Life In The City Of Angels

“Anne” continues Buffy’s story, revealing that she is now living in Los Angeles and working as a waitress. She just wants to lead a normal life, but she discovers a supernatural plot where a demon is forcing humans into hard labor at his evil factory. Buffy saves the day, of course, killing the demon and helping to free all of his captives. Realizing that she just can’t escape her calling as a Slayer, she returns home to Sunnydale, where she is reunited with her very worried mother.

Generally speaking, fans really like “Anne,” an episode that takes Buffy out of her comfort zone and even plants the seeds for the eventual Angel spinoff. However, most of this episode’s biggest fans miss Buffy’s not-so-subtle endorsement of Communism. You see, when she is fighting some of the demon’s sidekicks, the most prominent weapon she uses is a hammer and sickle!

It’s Hammer Time

The hammer and sickle is, of course, the famous symbol of the Soviet Union. These tools symbolically represent Communism because they show the workers and peasants unifying themselves against common enemies. Those enemies nominally include those who would try to take power and make themselves superior to others. In this way, there is also a threat embedded in this symbol. Namely, that when someone tries to oppress others, workers and peasants will unite to overthrow their usurpers.

Believe it or not, the climax of “Anne” really emphasizes this. On top of Buffy wielding a hammer and sickle (the latter of which she stole from a bad guy), she fights in a factory where a demon has uncharacteristically forced humans into hard labor. It’s not entirely clear what the purpose of the factory is, but it’s very obvious that the demon has tried to seize the means of production from the workers (a big no-no in Communism). Buffy even gets the workers to chip in, and they all work together to escape. Uniting the workers and peasants together to fight a demonic capitalist? In this case, both Giles and Stalin would be proud!

Obviously, Buffy the Vampire Slayer didn’t become an openly Communist show after this, and the inclusion of a hammer and sickle in “Anne” was likely nothing more than a glorified Easter egg. But it’s undeniably fun to see our protagonist become a hero of the people, openly leading helpless workers in a revolt against the literal boss from Hell. Speaking of bosses, “Anne” offers some gallows hope to anyone who hates their job. At least your employer is only sucking out your soul metaphorically rather than literally.

Days of Our Lives teases as it sure looks like Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel) has met her maker yet again. But did Madam Vivian really and truly die this time, or are we being misdirected yet again about Vivian’s fate?

We know that Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) is suspected of kidnapping Vivian and Ivan Marius (Ivan G’Vera). But then out of nowhere, Vivian went from missing person to having a death certificate filed. Let’s get into it.

Vivian’s Death Certificate Has Been Filed on Days of Our Lives

Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) and Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) recently learned that a death certificate for Madame Vivian Alamain was filed in her home country of Alamania. And we’ve seen her gravestone with some flowers on it. But are Rafe, Jada, the viewers. And the ISA all being misled already?

ISA agent Andrew Donovan (Colton Little) suspects that Vivian’s disappearance was foul play. And he told Dimitri von Leuschner that he’s the prime suspect given his issues with her and his presence in Alamania when this happened. And of course, he’s already on the lam suspected of kidnapping EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) and the others.

So, the good news for him is thanks to Dimitri finding the house he was held in on Zillow, Andrew was able to exonerate Dimitri in the DiMera kidnapping case by finding DNA and fingerprints at the house, substantiating his statements. But now he’s back in the hot seat. Because Madame Vivian has gone missing and Dimitri might be accused of killing Vivian now that she is supposedly dead again.

Leo May Have Helpful Information on DOOL

So, Dimitri’s partner in crime, Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart), is safely back in Salem after Andrew released him to get treatment for the concussion he got when Dimitri knocked him down to the floor to avoid the sniper. And after he’s feeling better, Leo may actually have some helpful info about Vivian’s disappearance.

Because if you remember, Leo was in his drag queen funeral attire keeping a lookout for Vivian and Ivan who visit Stefan DiMera’s (Brandon Barash) grave weekly. And while Leo was at the cemetery, there was a mystery man digging a grave or possibly digging up a grave near Stefan’s final resting place. So, what happened to Vivian and her manservant Ivan? And did Vivian really die? And was Ivan just collateral damage if she did?

Vivian Is the Queen of the Fake Out on Days

We know that Vivian is no stranger to death when she was shot in a struggle with Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow). It was back in, I think, 2018. Vivian had been pronounced dead. But then a mysterious doctor who was implied to have been working with the infamous Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) injected Vivian with the resurrection serum. So after the doctor did his thing, Vivian woke up in a morgue that time.

And then a couple years later in 2020, she tried to shoot Lani Price (Sal Stowers) at her wedding. But when Vivian was taken into police custody, she faked a fatal heart attack and then Yvonne helped to get her out of the Salem jail. And in that instance, Vivian was presumed dead for a while. But then once again, she resurfaced alive again. So these are just two times of many.

Honestly, Vivian is the queen of the fake out. She was revived by Dr. Rolf multiple times before 2018. Vivian has a pattern of dying when she needs to, only to be brought back by a serum. Or because it was fake to start with from some sort of phony baloney medical event or she was helped along by Ivan’s undying loyalty.

Did EJ Have Vivian Killed on Days of Our Lives?

So, for all those reasons, I am not sure if I believe Vivian is dead this time. We know that EJ and Rita were working on something secretive last week, if you remember, something very dodgy. And it sure seemed like EJ wanted his loyal right-hand woman, Rita, to permanently eliminate Vivian. We know EJ and Vivian have never gotten along.

And with the new investigations into the kidnappings of EJ and the other DiMeras and into Dimitri, honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if EJ had ordered that Vivian and Yvonne may get a fitting for cement shoes and told Rita to walk them off the long end of a short pier on the nearest Alamanian lake or ocean.

EJ Takes Vivian Out on DOOL?

So, EJ could have orchestrated a hit while Vivian was visiting her twins’ graves, you know, Stefan and Jake DiMera (also Brandon Barash). And it could be that Ivan and Vivian were ambushed and they’ve been buried alive next to Stefan.

It would be ironic. Because Vivian is known for burying people alive. And also, it was kind of interesting that somebody put a bouquet on the fresh grave that was right below Vivian’s headstone recently. So, was that the work of Rita or is it somebody else? Is that a hint that this is a fake out? In a really soapy twist, you know, Rita could have sealed them up in the DiMera crypt on Days of our Lives.

EJ suspects that Vivian was the one helping Peter Blake (Dan Gauthier) kidnap him and the other DiMeras. But Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) was trying to frame Dimitri for the kidnappings. And EJ is not happy about Gwen getting her revenge. Because it put the secret lab in jeopardy.

Did Vivian Fake Her Own Death on Days of our Lives?

So, that’s where we are right now. And it could be that Vivian has faked her death once again, trying to escape consequences of her actions. She knows it’s only a matter of time before the ISA and the FBI figure out she was the one who had Klaus Mueller (Bassel Alzaro) helping Peter Blake carry out the DiMera kidnappings.

So Vivian may have staged her disappearance and sudden death, even making it look like foul play. And of course, Ivan would help Vivian carry this off. And she’d want to keep Ivan with her, so they might make it look like he died as well. A fake grave and a forged death certificate would be the icing on this dark, twisted Vivian death cake.

So, not only was she nervous about the authorities finding out she was involved in the kidnapping of EJ and the others. But Vivian also knew that people were starting to figure out that Stefan was held captive before his alleged death. But bottom line is he could be alive, too. Vivian could actually just be hiding out, waiting to make her next move now, later, a couple of years down the road. You know how Days rolls.

Days of our Lives: Vivian May Really Be Dead

But the writers could make it even more interesting by having Leo or Dimitri seeking revenge when Vivian’s scheme is uncovered. And somebody may eventually go looking for the dead madam. And there’s always the possibility that maybe Vivian is actually dead. You know, someone may have poisoned her, buried her alive. Somebody close to her may have decided she was their enemy.

Could Stefan Have Ambushed His Mother?

I think it’d be wild if Stefan ambushed his mom Vivian and her pet Ivan at the cemetery. Stefan may have pulled a page right out of his mother’s playbook and had Vivian buried alive or gave her a slow poison and sealed her in the tomb. Since Vivian had a hand in putting the DiMeras in the crypt and buried Carly Manning alive, I think either of those options would be karma.

But the question is, would Stefan treat his mother Vivian like that? I mean, maybe because she forged his divorce papers to Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez). And then had Ivan shove Stefan in a trunk and they spirited him off to Alamania where he was reportedly kept under lock and key until he supposedly died.

And yes, the DNA of the remains that were in Stefan’s coffin matched his. But he had a twin brother, Jake, who died during a mugging a few years ago. So, Vivian could have ordered one of her servants to take Jake’s remains and put them over in Stefan’s grave.

So what do you think? Is Vivian really dead and gone this time, or did she fake another death, or did somebody else fake it for her and has her locked up somewhere? Because I personally feel like we have not seen the last of Madam Vivian.

Reality star Lisa Vanderpump is no stranger to Las Vegas. With multiple restaurants on the Strip, she’s now leveling up to something new and exciting – hotel owner. 

Her first-ever signature hotel is set to open its doors to the public in May. What was once The Cromwell, will reopen as The Vanderpump Hotel after renovations are completed, and you can now book your stay for May or later. 

This 188-room boutique property, designed alongside her design partner Nick Alain, will feature a luxe, glam-infused aesthetic with moss-green tones, dusty lilac accents, mixed metals, and reflective finishes for an elevated and seductive feel only Vanderpump can bring.

The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum is personally curating in-room amenities and putting all the finishing touches on everything from the rooms to the casino floor, promising a one-of-a-kind, high-style stay in the heart of Sin City. 

The Vanderpump Hotel Is Now Taking Reservations

The countdown is on! The Vanderpump Hotel is now accepting reservations for May and beyond!

Transforming the iconic Cromwell into a boutique hotel, the property sits at the bustling corner of Flamingo Road and the Las Vegas Strip. And since Vanderpump is fully involved in every detail, it promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience for guests. 

With 188 rooms and suites crafted by Vanderpump and Alain, this hotel is a complete luxe experience that’s inviting, relaxing, and memorable. 

“Taking the next step from restaurateur to hotelier and partnering once again with Caesars Entertainment on another extraordinary project has been such an exciting chapter for me,” Vanderpump said, according to a press release sent to The Blast. “Our vision was to create a room that feels like a true retreat, a calming escape just steps from the energy and excitement of the casino floor. The guest rooms are as beautiful as they are serene.”

The Reality Star’s Signature Aesthetic Will Be Featured Throughout The Hotel

Beyond the guest rooms, Vanderpump is bringing her signature style to every corner of the hotel, including the reception area, gaming floor, brand-new lounge, and other public spaces.

The property will feature custom furnishings and lighting crafted exclusively by Vanderpump and Alain’s renowned design brand, Vanderpump Alain. And fans of Vanderpump will notice personal touches from her – from attention to detail to her cheeky British humor. 

“Lisa’s passion for creating unforgettable destinations is unmatched, and it’s exciting to see her continuing to make her mark on Las Vegas with a boutique hotel that now bears her name,” said Sean McBurney, Chief Commercial Officer and Regional President of Caesars Entertainment. “Lisa has proven how distinctively she can transform a space with each restaurant she opens, and The Vanderpump Hotel builds on that vision in an entirely new way. Guests from around the world will soon be able to experience her signature style, elegant taste and meticulous design detail through a hotel experience unlike anything else on The Strip.”

Lisa Vanderpump Is Not New To The Vegas Entertainment Scene

While being in the hotel business is new to the reality star, she’s far from new to the entertainment scene in Sin City. She’s opened multiple restaurants with Caesars, both in Vegas and outside of Vegas. 

In March 2019, she opened Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars Palace. She followed that up with Vanderpump à Paris at Paris Las Vegas in April 2022. In December 2024, she opened Pinky’s by Vanderpump at Flamingo Las Vegas. 

She also opened WOLF by Vanderpump at Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe in April 2024 and WOLF by Vanderpump at Caesars Republic in Scottsdale in December 2025. 

The Vanderpump Hotel Now Has An Instagram Page

Just one day old, The Vanderpump Hotel’s Instagram page is already grabbing tons of attention. More than 20,000 followers are already keeping tabs on what’s to come with the new hotel.

With about 10 posts already, it’s well on its way to attracting more followers.

One post shows what the outside of the hotel will look like once renovations are all complete. One viewer shared, “It looks stunning from the outside, I can only imagine what the inside looks like. With LVP’S design it will be incredible.” Another said, “I cannot wait to stay here!! I hope Lisa happens to visit when I’m here.”

Another IG Video Teases The Vibe Of The Vanderpump Hotel

The pinned post on the page gives a sneak peek of the glamorous party vibes the hotel will have once it opens its door to the public in May.

“My darlings, the wait is almost over! The Vanderpump Hotel is now accepting reservations starting with May arrivals! Follow @thevanderpumphotel for updates as construction continues!” the caption reads.

Many viewers are really excited about the hotel and plan to book a stay, including some of the hotel’s neighbors.

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The Vegas IG page wrote, “This feels very meant to be.” Nearby neighbor on the Strip, Planet Hollywood, shared a glittery gif to express excitement for the new property. Caesars Palace wrote, “Welcome, neighbor.” Gordon Ramsey shared, “Can’t wait to see x.”

One viewer simply said, “Booked!” and another wrote, “*books immediately*.”