Entertainment
Alex Cooper’s $500M Empire Faces Another Major Shake-Up
Alex Cooper is making a major change to the business structure surrounding her media empire.
The “Call Her Daddy” podcast host has reportedly parted ways with UTA as she expands Unwell beyond podcasting, while tensions involving prominent figures in her orbit appear to have complicated the relationship.
The move comes alongside a broader push into television, film, live events and branded work, giving Cooper a potentially much larger business to manage.

Alex Cooper is stepping away from her talent agency, UTA, as her focus increasingly shifts from traditional talent representation to building Unwell into a broader media company.
As Variety reported, three people familiar with the matter said the 31-year-old had left the agency, while a representative for Unwell confirmed that the company ended its relationship with UTA on July 27.
The agency had been part of Cooper’s rise, helping develop her profile and negotiate major opportunities, including interviews she hosted for Peacock during NBCUniversal’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
However, the priorities surrounding Cooper’s career have changed considerably since then. One source familiar with the situation claimed the media personality had become frustrated with UTA’s continuing relationships with Alix Earle and Dave Portnoy, two personalities who have feuded with her.
According to the source, Cooper had pressed the agency to end its relationship with Earle. The dispute has not been presented as the sole reason for Cooper’s departure. However, the broader expansion of Unwell is now a major focus.
The company has moved into television, film, live events and creative agency work, while Cooper and her husband, Matt Kaplan, continue to hold a majority stake.

The bigger story surrounding Alex Cooper is what she is building outside the podcasting world. Unwell has been expanding its slate of projects, including “Unwell Winter Games,” a reality competition series that will bring 16 contestants to “a luxury chalet in Park City, Utah” for “mental and physical challenges over four days.”
The company is also producing “Icebreaker,” a Netflix series based on Hannah Grace’s novel, while veteran marketing executive Joanne Bradford has joined Unwell as president.
That expansion received a significant boost from Patrick Whitesell, the former executive chairman of Endeavor and WME co-founder. His investment firm, WTSL, invested an undisclosed amount in Unwell, with the company releasing information on August 12 valuing the business at $500 million.
Cooper and Kaplan retain majority ownership of the company, which they originally self-funded after its formation in 2023. Unwell says it has been profitable since its launch and considers the WTSL deal growth capital.
The company is also targeting traditional media and advertising organizations, with WTSL offering “deep strategic expertise, industry relationships and a proven track record of supporting some of the most innovative companies and storytellers in media,” including Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions.
Alex Cooper Faces Questions About Unwell As Expansion Accelerates

The rapid growth of Cooper’s company has unfolded alongside uncomfortable questions about what it is like to work inside Unwell.
A June Vanity Fair investigation included an allegation from a freelancer who said Kaplan “creates the most toxic work environment that I’ve ever seen.”
Anonymous sources also alleged that Kaplan questioned employees about their sex lives and commented on their physical appearance.
Bloomberg had previously reported that Kaplan “has earned a reputation for frequently yelling at staff members” and that employees were “looking for the exit.”
Cooper addressed the criticism during a Wall Street Journal interview at Cannes Lions in June, where she declined to delve into the specific allegations. “I will just kind of leave it at ‘Don’t believe everything that you read on the internet’ — but I think everyone knows that at this point,” she said.
She also stood behind the company and its employees, saying, “I think that we have done a really incredible job at Unwell, and I think if you walk the halls, there are so many people that are so happy to work at this company.”
Cooper’s Unwell Expansion Gets A Reality TV Test With Harry Jowsey
Alex Cooper’s push to make Unwell more than a podcast company is already taking shape on Netflix, where her latest project has put her in a very different position behind the scenes.
Cooper serves as an executive producer on “Let’s Marry Harry,” the dating series starring Harry Jowsey.
The Netflix series follows 20 women competing for Jowsey’s hand in marriage over five weeks, with people close to him, including Cooper, helping guide him through the experience.
Speaking about his experience while filming, Jowsey told Page Six Radio that living alongside all the contestants made filming “overwhelming,” particularly because the women were constantly trying to pull him aside for conversations.
“It was a lot,” he admitted. “They’re always trying to pull you for a chat, and I’m the only one. So, it was a lot the whole time.” He even joked, “I don’t know how ‘The Bachelor’ does 30 [women].”

While Cooper is expanding her career into new areas, an old chapter has also returned to the conversation after Portnoy made explosive claims about the circumstances surrounding her departure from Barstool Sports.
Portnoy addressed the former “Call Her Daddy” host in his memoir, “Cancel Me If You Can,” alleging that Cooper and her former co-host Sofia Franklyn had discussed using false sexual-harassment accusations as a way to escape their contract.
When Cooper was confronted about the allegation during a CNBC interview, she did not offer a detailed account of what happened.
Instead, she acknowledged the complicated history between herself and Portnoy while making clear that she remembered events differently.
She also explained that she had not read Portnoy’s memoir, although she had seen herself being discussed online.
When asked whether she wanted to give her version of the story, Cooper declined. “No. I’m in my mother era. I’m no drama right now. We’re here to talk business,” she said.
Entertainment
Taylor Swift Praises Friend Phoebe Bridgers’ New Album
Taylor Swift is proudly supporting her dear friend Phoebe Bridgers after she dropped her newest album, Lost Weekend.
“It’s her birthday but she gave us a gift,” Swift, 36, wrote while resharing Bridgers’ new record via her Instagram Story on Monday, August 17, which also fell on the indie musician’s 32nd birthday.
Swift added that she hasn’t “been able to stop listening” to Lost Weekend since its Friday, August 14, release.
“This album is an absolute triumph in every way,” Swift gushed. “To write about grief with such vulnerability and detail, and to trust the listener with this much honesty.”
Swift ended her post by wishing Bridgers a happy birthday and sharing, “I love you!!”
The pop star and Bridgers have been close friends for years. The pair collaborated for the first time in 2021 on Swift’s song “Nothing New,” a vault track for the Red rerecording.
“I just am so excited to have people take it at face value the day that it comes out, because I got teary recording it. I just couldn’t be more excited,” Bridgers said of working with Swift in an interview with Billboard at the time. “I think that she is an incredible businessperson and an incredible writer. What she’s been able to build just from writing adeptly from a young age is insane.”
Two years later, Bridgers opened for Swift during several shows of her Eras Tour concerts.
While Swift and Bridgers have been celebrating the “Motion Sickness” singer’s new album release, the pair also spent some quality time together. Over the weekend, Swift and Bridgers were both in attendance at Oli Jacobs and Laura Sisk’s wedding held outside of Gloucestershire, England, on Saturday, August 15. Sabrina Carpenter and Jack Antonoff were also at the event.
According to photos published by online gossip site DeuxMoi, Swift — who wed husband Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden last month — debuted a new shorter hairstyle. Swift also paired her Kindred Lubeck by Artifex Fine Jewelry engagement ring with a gold wedding band.
Kelce did not attend the wedding as NFL preseason just kicked off. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end also donned his own gold wedding band at the Chiefs’ first home preseason game on Saturday.
“It was a fun offseason, man. [Our] wedding was the best night of my life,” Kelce gushed during an August press conference . “I appreciate everybody who came out and celebrated and had fun with us. That’s about all I really got from that night. It was a crazy night. It was full of a lot of celebration.”
Entertainment
10 Greatest Historical Adventure Books of All Time
When done right, historical adventure can be one of the most enjoyable subgenres. The best of these books bring the past to life, transporting us to a far-flung time and charming us with epic journeys, daring escapes, adrenaline-pumping battles, and, often, grand, dramatic romance.
All the books below are worth checking out, whether set aboard eighteenth-century warships, in medieval castles, on the American frontier, or amid the chaos of revolution. These are the best historical adventure books ever written, powerful reminders that the figures of the past were humans just like us.
10
‘The Last Kingdom’ (2004)
“Destiny is all.” This book introduces readers to Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon nobleman captured and raised by Viking warriors during the ninth century. Torn between the culture of his birth and the people who became his family, he finds himself caught in the struggle between the invading Danes and King Alfred’s fragile vision of a united England. Uhtred’s divided loyalties add some emotional weight to a story that might otherwise have been a straightforward military adventure.
The Last Kingdom was the debut novel by Bernard Cornwell, a master of historical writing (he’s written some military nonfiction, too). In particular, he has an amazing knack for writing historical battle scenes: every shield wall, cavalry charge, desperate duel, and clang of steel against steel feels immediate and believable. The fighting is tactile and brutal, really bringing the mayhem of medieval combat to life.
9
‘The Eagle Has Landed’ (1975)
“There are no heroes in war. Only survivors.” Some readers will be familiar with the movie adaptation starring Michael Caine and Donald Sutherland, but the original novel is worth checking out in its own right. The premise is certainly audacious: in it, the Nazis concoct a plan to kidnap Winston Churchill during the Second World War. We follow an elite team of German paratroopers, an Irish Republican Army operative, and a host of British civilians whose lives become intertwined as the seemingly impossible mission unfolds… in a quiet English village, of all places.
This story could have been pure pulp (and there are definitely some pulpy elements), but ultimately author Jack Higgins elevates it by refusing to reduce the conflict to simplistic notions of good and evil. In fact, he gets surprisingly complex with some of the characters, painting everyone in shades of grey. For instance, many of his German soldiers are honorable professionals, and several of the Allies have serious flaws.
8
‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ (1905)
“They seek him here, they seek him there.” Long before modern superheroes appeared in comics, Baroness Orczy created one of fiction’s greatest masked adventurers. The Scarlet Pimpernel centers on a mysterious English nobleman who repeatedly slips into Revolutionary France to rescue innocent aristocrats from the guillotine. At the same time, he continually outwits the relentless French agent Chauvelin.
By day, Sir Percy Blakeney presents himself as a dim-witted aristocrat but, by night, he’s a genuine hero, a skilled swordsman and cunning strategist. Consequently, in many ways, the book is the archetypal “secret identity” story, using disguises, cover stories, daring escapes, and clever deception that went on to be hugely influential. Indeed, its DNA lives on in everything from Zorro to V for Vendetta. While obviously dated now, it’s still interesting to see where many of these tropes originated.
7
‘Master and Commander’ (1969)
“There is very little that is not dangerous about a ship.” Here’s another one that served as the basis for a great movie. The first novel in Patrick O’Brian‘s Aubrey-Maturin series introduces Captain Jack Aubrey and naval surgeon Stephen Maturin during the Napoleonic Wars. As Aubrey commands HMS Sophie across the Mediterranean, the two men forge one of literature’s greatest friendships while confronting conspiracies, enemy warships, and the unforgiving realities of life at sea.
The main appeal of the book is its stunning attention to detail. O’Brian’s unparalleled knowledge of naval warfare allows him to recreate the Age of Sail with astonishing authenticity: every maneuver, cannon exchange, and shipboard routine feels convincing. More importantly, though, Master and Commander never gets bogged down in technicalities or info dumps. Instead, the settings and description push the characters into tense situations, crucibles to reveal their courage and, occasionally, their flaws.
6
‘The Wager’ (2023)
“The sea was indifferent to every human ambition.” Although technically a work of nonfiction, David Grann‘s The Wager possesses all the excitement and narrative momentum of the finest historical adventure novels. Recounting the catastrophic 1741 voyage of the British warship HMS Wager, the book follows its crew through shipwreck, starvation, mutiny, murder, and an extraordinary struggle for survival after becoming stranded on the coast of Patagonia.
Grann reconstructs the ordeal with remarkable clarity, drawing extensively upon journals, court records, and firsthand accounts, thus making the past tangible. Every hardship the men endure feels immediate, from the relentless storms that destroy the ship to the impossible moral choices confronting the starving survivors. We are left with an adventure that never needs embellishment because history itself proves astonishing enough.
5
‘Shōgun’ (1975)
“To learn patience is not to rebel against every hardship.” This book reentered the public consciousness two years ago thanks to the masterful TV series adaptation. Inspired by the real-life arrival of English navigator William Adams in seventeenth-century Japan, the first novel in the Asian Saga follows the shipwrecked pilot John Blackthorne as he becomes entangled in a deadly struggle between rival daimyo, samurai, Jesuit missionaries, and the ambitious Lord Toranaga, who seeks ultimate political power.
It’s a fantastic tale of culture clash. Importantly, rather than presenting Japan merely as an exotic backdrop, author James Clavell allows us to fully engage with its culture through Blackthorne’s eyes as he slowly transforms from bewildered outsider to respected participant. Every aspect of society, from politics and religion to warfare, commerce, and even etiquette, feels fully realized. Decades later, Shōgun remains one of the finest reconstructions of feudal Japan.
4
‘The Pillars of the Earth’ (1989)
“There is no longer any such thing as innocence.” This is one of the most beloved books by Ken Follett, one of the most ambitious historical fiction writers currently working. Set in twelfth-century England during a period of civil war known as the Anarchy, The Pillars of the Earth follows an enormous cast of builders, monks, nobles, craftsmen, and merchants whose lives become intertwined through the construction of a magnificent cathedral. Their lives are defined by faith, corruption, revenge, and perseverance.
In a lesser writer’s hands, this complex setup could have become a dry history lesson, a cavalcade of names, facts, and dates. Follett instead turns it into a page-turning blockbuster, with an entertaining plot and an endless stream of colorful characters. There’s romance, action, betrayal, and suspense, so the book’s 800-odd pages fly by. Those who enjoy it are in luck, as there are three other books in the series to dive into.
3
‘Lonesome Dove’ (1985)
“I hate rude behavior in a man. I won’t tolerate it.” Lonesome Dove is a fantastic adventure/Western/drama hybrid. It revolves around retired Texas Rangers Augustus “Gus” McCrae and Woodrow Call as they lead an ambitious cattle drive from Texas to Montana, accompanied by an unforgettable cast of cowboys, outlaws, settlers, and drifters crossing the vast American frontier. Their friendship is exceptionally well-drawn and genuinely touching.
Here we have a book of immense landscapes and flawed heroes, where the protagonists are equal parts tough and vulnerable, often uncertain, making their triumphs and losses surprisingly affecting. And that’s without even getting started on the action, including showdowns with the Sioux and shootouts with bandits. Lonesome Dove was a huge hit, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and spawned an acclaimed TV series starring Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall.
2
‘Treasure Island’ (1883)
“Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest. Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!” Another cornerstone of the entire historical adventure genre that has produced countless remakes and homages. Narrated by the young Jim Hawkins, Treasure Island begins with the discovery of a pirate’s treasure map and quickly develops into an unforgettable voyage involving mutiny, buried gold, naval battles, and one of literature’s greatest villains: the charismatic Long John Silver.
Returning to Treasure Island now, it’s amazing how fresh Robert Louis Stevenson’s storytelling feels nearly a century and a half after publication. His pacing is relentless, his dialogue crackles with personality, and every chapter introduces new dangers that keep readers hooked to the page. That said, Silver himself is the book’s most enduring creation, an engaging, intelligent, unpredictable antihero who oscillates dangerously between charming and ruthless.
1
‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ (1844)
“All human wisdom is contained in these two words: Wait and Hope.” Like Treasure Island, The Count of Monte Cristo is a reference point for the whole genre. Wrongly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, protagonist Edmond Dantès, a young sailor, spends years confined within the Château d’If before making a miraculous escape, discovering an immense hidden fortune, and embarking upon a classic quest for revenge.
Edmond’s transformation into the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo ranks among fiction’s greatest character arcs. The book keeps us hooked with a twisted thicket of subplots, each involving disguises, shaky alliances, and shocking revelations, along with a hearty helping of swashbuckling adventure. Admittedly, the book’s writing style does sometimes show its age, and the whopping page count (over 1000!) is intimidating, but The Count of Monte Cristo is a classic for a reason.
Entertainment
The Year’s Biggest Horror Sensation Officially Hits Its First Real Speed Bump
Despite having a lukewarm run at the box office, Steven Spielberg‘s first sci-fi movie in nearly a decade, Disclosure Day, emerged as a major hit on the PVOD market. A few weeks earlier, the very Spielbergian sci-fi blockbuster Project Hail Mary also continued its smashing streak after debuting on home video. However, the year’s biggest sleeper hit hasn’t immediately been able to replicate its theatrical success at home. The movie in question premiered in theaters in May and emerged as a word-of-mouth sensation. Over the course of its run, the film broke numerous box-office records on the back of intense fan-frenzy and unanimous critical acclaim. It was added to the Peacock library on July 17.
According to the latest Nielsen report, which tracks viewership data on streaming platforms for the week of July 13 to July 19, the movie was unable to secure a spot on the overall top 10 list. It did, however, finish second on the top 10 movies chart for the week. It drew 456 million minutes watched across two days, behind the critically acclaimed Project Hail Mary, which added 699 million minutes watched for the week. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Project Hail Mary debuted with 860 million minutes watched. This sets the bar for the 2026 sleeper hit, which drew roughly half the viewership in its debut frame on streaming.
The Theatrical Blockbuster Needs Time to Spread Its Wings
We’re talking about director Curry Barker‘s horror super-hit Obsession. The movie has grossed nearly $490 million at the worldwide box office so far, and has an outside chance of passing the $500 million mark. It has already emerged as one of the biggest horror movies of all time, and the most successful movie ever made in terms of return-on-investment. Obsession famously cost less than $1 million to produce, and its success has turned its cast and filmmaker into overnight stars. Inde Navarrette, especially, has emerged as the project’s breakout star, and her name is now being floated for several major films. Obsession holds “Certified Fresh” and “Verified Hot” 94% scores from critics and audiences on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.
Stay tuned to Collider to find out if the movie delivers bigger numbers in its first full week on Peacock.
- Release Date
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May 15, 2026
- Runtime
-
108 minutes
- Director
-
Curry Barker
Entertainment
Paramount+ Exec Gives Landman Season 3 Update Amid Delays
Viewers just received an update on Landman as season 3 continues to go through major filming delays.
Paramount+’s head of originals, Jane Wiseman, spoke with Deadline on Monday, August 17, about the future of the show, saying, “Between Tulsa King and Landman, which Yana Grebenyuk Taylor [Sheridan] is writing right now, Frisco King, Dutton Ranch, The Madison, we have a lot of business, and we’re going to be in business for time to come.”
Wiseman credited Sheridan’s vast TV empire for bringing in more audience members.
“We are definitely developing a lot; we’ve announced seven scripted drama greenlights in the last 10 months, so it does feel like there’s volume. And then we have a lot on the runway that we haven’t announced yet,” she teased. “So, to me, what we don’t want to do is scale so big so fast. We want to be very deliberate in our choices. We want to stay on strategy. We want to curate what we have, but we also want to take care of the Sheridan audience, the Taylorverse.”
Sheridan, 56, originally started off as an actor before he pivoted to writing movie scripts. He shifted his focus to TV with Paramount Network’s Yellowstone, which aired from 2018 to 2024. Sheridan has also worked on original shows Landman, Lioness, Tulsa King and more.
News broke in October 2025 that Sheridan had closed a major with NBCUniversal. The five-year overall deal for film, TV and streaming will begin January 1, 2029, after Sheridan’s TV deal with Paramount — which goes through 2028 — officially ends.
Paramount will retain the rights to Yellowstone and the other franchises Sheridan created under his deal with the company, so he is expected to create brand-new property for NBCUniversal. Sheridan’s move came after Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media.

Landman, meanwhile, premiered in November 2024 after filming began in Texas early that year. Production on season 2 started in April 2025 and ended that August, with the episodes airing in November 2025.
Season 3, however, has been plagued with changes. While filming was originally scheduled for May 2026, it got pushed to three months later. Production was apparently delayed again, as actor James Jordan confirmed exclusively to Us that filming would start in September.
“It’s going to be fantastic. Taylor is writing as we speak. It’s going to be 10 crazy, wonderful, funny and wild episodes — just like season 1 and season 2 have been. Billy Bob [Thornton] and everybody, we’re all ready to get back to work,” he shared in July. “I believe we’re bringing back the same director, Stephen Kay, who I adore. So it’s going to be a great ride.”
Jordan continued: “We start that sometime in September, and we’ll shoot that through the first quarter of next year. Then we should have it out … I don’t know when. It’s up to the powers that be, but we’re very excited to get started on that.”
While no reason was given for the delay, the news about Landman’s production change came after the last of the show’s stars secured raises in June. According to Deadline, the entire original cast — outside of Thornton — successfully negotiated paycheck increases. (Thornton, who plays Tommy, reportedly has a separate three-year deal with standard year-to-year increases. He would be up for negotiating a new contract if Landman is renewed for a fourth season.)
Entertainment
Robert Pattinson Wasn’t Chris Hansen’s Pick To Play Him
Robert Pattinson is taking on a different kind of role in the upcoming movie “Primetime,” portraying TV presenter and journalist Chris Hansen. While the actor has been lauded for his transformation into the “To Catch a Predator” host, as seen in the trailer, Hansen has some thoughts about the casting choice.
In a recent interview, the TV personality revealed that he wouldn’t have picked Pattinson to play him and named the actor he would have chosen instead. In addition, he is also questioning the motive behind the A24 film.
Robert Pattinson is having a big year on the big screen, with four major films on his slate. He has already appeared in “The Drama” and “The Odyssey,” with two more highly anticipated movies still to come: “Primetime” and “Dune: Part Three.”
When the first look at Pattinson as Chris Hansen was released in a teaser in May, many reacted positively to the transformation, praising how the actor embodied the “To Catch a Predator” host.
In a recent interview, Hansen shared his honest thoughts about the movie and the casting. He acknowledged that Pattinson was a good actor, but he wouldn’t have picked him if he had been given the option.
“Years ago, I had crafted a script and thought Denis Leary would be a good guy to play me, depending on the age of it all,” Hansen told host Annie Elise on the “Serialously” podcast.
Leary appeared in movies such as “Judgment Night,” “Demolition Man,” and “The Thomas Crown Affair,” and he also provides the voice of Diego in “Ice Age.”
The Journalist Was Not Involved In ‘Primetime’
“Primetime” is a crime thriller that explores the production of the TV series “To Catch a Predator,” in which Hansen confronted suspected internet predators after conducting sting operations. The series aired from 2004 to 2007.
The movie is produced by A24, with Lance Oppenheim at the helm. The movie also stars Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher, Bokeem Woodbine, and Anna Faris.
Hansen said that while he was made aware that a film about the show he hosted was being made, he wasn’t involved in the production whatsoever.
“A couple of months ago, they came and said, ‘Hey look, we’re doing this, we’d like you to have some sort of consideration in terms of helping us with this’,” Hansen said. However, he noted that the filmmakers had already completed the project before they reached out to him.
Chris Hansen Thinks The Trailer Is ‘Very Dramatic’
Hansen has not yet seen the movie and, as a journalist, does not want to form an opinion before watching it. He did, however, see the trailer, and in his opinion, it was “dramatic.”
“It looks very dramatic. But again, you know, I’ve been busy being the real Chris Hansen. So I don’t have a lot of time to focus on the fake Chris Hansen in the movie… I know he’s a popular actor, and I know the director is a popular guy. I also have some questions. What’s Hollywood’s motive here?” he asked.
Hansen shared that he had been invited to a private screening of “Primetime” and would share his thoughts on the movie afterward.
‘To Catch A Predator’ Faced Controversy
“To Catch a Predator” faced controversy during its run, with many questioning ethics and the “entrapment” methods used to catch suspects.
The show ended in 2007 following an incident the year prior, in which a Texas assistant district attorney became the focus of a sting operation for soliciting sex with a minor. As the show’s crew and a SWAT team surrounded the home, the suspect shot himself before authorities could get to him.
The show faced severe criticism afterward, but Hansen has repeatedly said “To Catch a Predator” ended because “it had run its course.”
Fans Already Think Robert Pattinson’s Performance Is Oscar-Worthy

Pattinson as Hansen is already generating a lot of online buzz. The full trailer was released on August 6, and it has already accumulated more than 35 million views.
“No freaking way that’s Pattinson’s voice. Simply unbelievable,” one commented. Another user wrote, “Dude legitimately clawed his way out of just being ‘sexy vampire guy.’ Good for him,” referring to Pattinson’s role as Edward Cullen in the vampire saga “Twilight.”
Based on the trailer alone, critics from some outlets are saying the actor deserves an Oscar nod.
“Primetime” will be released in theaters on September 25.
Entertainment
Guy Ritchie’s 2-Part Crime Thriller Is the Perfect Weekend Binge
Guy Ritchie has made a career with tightly edited crime movies, but his two-movie franchise has perfected the art of style. After cult classics like Snatch and Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, the filmmaker proved he could continue his crime brand on a larger budget scale. In 2009, he delivered the beginning of his highly entertaining Sherlock Holmes franchise.
Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective has been featured in many adaptations before, but none delivered Ritchie’s trademark sense of humor and delightful thrills. Robert Downey Jr. stars as the titular investigator, with Jude Law co-starring as his indomitable Watson. For two films, the duo exhibited a fun-filled friendship with more excitement than any previous attempt.
‘Sherlock Holmes’ Reinvents the Classic Detective
Sherlock Holmes purists may balk at the creative liberties Guy Ritchie’s films take, but that is precisely what makes them a perfect binge. While Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows are less cerebral than the subject material, these mysteries more than make up for that discrepancy. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law’s chemistry is flawless as Holmes and Watson, and the decision to make their relationship the focal point of the series is paramount.
When the story begins, Watson and Holmes are at odds because the former decides to get married and leave their business behind. This, of course, is a promise that needs to be broken as the two embark on the mystery of an occultist who has supposedly risen from the dead. The push and pull between the characters is punctuated with witty one-liners and an impeccable score by Hans Zimmer. Visually breathtaking, the first Sherlock Holmes is more than its IP.
Viewers can round out their viewing experience with the sequel, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows. This was the highly anticipated second movie that made good on its promise to incorporate the classic Holmes villain, Moriarty. Jared Harris is perfectly cast as Holmes’ adversary, who matches him for intelligence. Both features rush by at a clip, utilizing all the hallmarks of a great blockbuster. With a stacked cast including Yellowstone’s own Kelly Reilly, fans likely would have tuned in for countless sequels.
Game of Shadows ends with a book-accurate conclusion for Sherlock, though as many literature fans know, that was not the end for the great detective. Ritchie certainly left cinema-goers wanting more after the ending of the second film, which makes binge-watching the series even easier. The director went on to create even more big-scale pictures like Aladdin and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., but no one would question a decision to give these characters one last hurrah.
All these actors are still in high demand, and maybe even another sequel to the elite thriller could retcon Irene Adler’s controversial demise. Experience laughs, mystery, and an extremely engaging rendition of “The Rocky Road to Dublin” before Sinners’ Irish vampire did the jig. After all, the game is afoot.
Sherlock Holmes
- Release Date
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December 25, 2009
- Runtime
-
129 minutes
- Writers
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Simon Kinberg, Anthony Peckham, Lionel Wigram, Michael Robert Johnson, Arthur Conan Doyle
-
Robert Downey Jr.
Sherlock Holmes
-
Entertainment
Copy Victoria Beckham’s Comfy, Slimming Dress Style for Less
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Victoria Beckham has mastered the art of understated fashion, and her vacation dress style is proof that the simplest outfits can also be some of the most flattering. With a sleek silhouette, rich neutral color and easy fit, it’s the kind of comfy maxi dress women over 50 reach for again and again.
Beckham was spotted in Saint-Tropez wearing a chocolate brown spaghetti-strap maxi dress that skimmed her figure in all the right places. She styled it with a woven bucket hat, raffia bag and white pointed-toe heels, creating an effortlessly polished look that’s easy to recreate without a designer budget.
Get the Laughido Double-Lined Cami Maxi Dress for $40 (was $50) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Luckily, you don’t have to splurge to steal the A-lister style. We found the Laughido Double Lined Cami Maxi Dress on Amazon, and it captures the same streamlined silhouette, chocolate brown shade and timeless appeal that made Beckham’s look stand out.
The slimming spaghetti strap dress features a fitted silhouette that drapes in a way that gives you a full-length, elongating effect. The double-lined fabric feels substantial without being heavy and helps smooth the midsection for a flattering fit.
In addition to the brown hue, which matches Beckham’s style best, the dress also comes in white, black and red. Plus, it’s available in sizes S through XL.
Shoppers can’t stop raving about it, either. One reviewer, who’s “absolutely obsessed” praised the “soft, stretchy” material, adding that it’s “comfortable while still smoothing everything out beautifully.” Another customer said the dress “hugs the body beautifully” and creates an “effortless classy-but-sexy look.”
Just add a straw hat and strappy sandals to channel Beckham’s chic summer style, or layer it with a lightweight cardigan as the weather cools. It’s the kind of comfy, slimming dress you’ll reach for long after vacation ends, making it a wardrobe staple you’ll wear on repeat.
Get the Laughido Double-Lined Cami Maxi Dress for $40 (was $50) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more from Laughido here, 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 Shipping
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Entertainment
Nashville’s Charles Esten Reacts to Hayden Panettiere Death
Charles Esten is breaking his silence after his former Nashville costar Hayden Panettiere died at the age of 36 just days after she reportedly attended one of his shows.
“Patty [Hanson, his wife] and I are stunned and saddened at the loss of our dear and beautiful friend Hayden,” Esten, 60, wrote via Instagram on Monday, August 17.
Esten starred alongside Panettiere in the hit ABC series, which aired from 2012 until 2016 and concluded with its final two seasons on CMT from 2016 until 2018. Panettiere starred as rising country music star Juliette Barnes, while Esten portrayed songwriter Deacon Claybourne.
“I will never forget the first time I met her,” Esten continued. “In a sound stage office in Hollywood, I was finishing up my very first Nashville audition. I had read two Deacon scenes before pulling out my guitar and singing two songs. I said my goodbyes and, hoping I’d done well, went to open the door to leave. Instead of swinging all the way out, the door bumped into somebody. Kinda hard.”
He went on, “To my complete surprise, It was Hayden Panettiere, who — in full Juliette Barnes mode — had been listening with her ear to the door. Instead of looking even a little bit caught, her face instantly bloomed into the most beautiful smile. Eyes twinkling, she clapped her hands and said, ‘That was so good!!’”
Esten recalled the way Panettiere supported him in that potentially embarrassing moment.
“I can promise you that in that moment, there was nothing in the world I needed to hear more than that. I told her that, along with my Heroes-watching family, I was already a big fan of hers, and that I was grateful for the very kind words. It was her turn to go in, so as I went to leave, I said a jokingly cocky, ‘See you on the set!’”
He added, “I was, of course, many auditions away from landing that incredible role. But when I finally did, and showed up in Nashville to start work, she walked right up to me, pointed in my face, and with that magical grin said, ‘See you on the set!’”
Esten recalled that he and the late became “fast friends,” often “having fun and laughing a whole lot” in between shooting emotionally charged Nashville scenes.
“She was, of course, extraordinarily talented, infusing her larger-than-life character with all the heart, charisma, humor, whip-smart intelligence, and flat-out magic that were, alongside whatever troubles and pain she carried, a part of her own personal palette,” he noted. “What a great gift it was to act with her, sing with her, and to just be her friend. She was always extremely kind to my family, especially my wife, Patty, who I’m certain she liked even more than me.”
“Together, we are heartbroken that she is gone, and praying for her family, and for all those who, like us, will miss and mourn her so dearly,” he concluded. “God bless you, Hayden. Rest In Peace and Light”
Us previously reported that Panettiere died on Sunday, August 16, at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, from a suspected overdose.
A resident of the building exclusively told Us that a neighbor shared with them that one of Panettiere’s friends was playing at The Foundry on Friday, August 14. The music venue is attached to the apartment building, which was why Panettiere was at the complex. The resident said she was staying at an Airbnb in the complex, and “there was more than one person staying” in the unit.
Esten was booked to perform two nights at the venue as part of his Carolina Tour. Panettiere died one day after his last show at The Foundry.
Authorities in South Carolina confirmed to Us on Monday, August 17, that police responded to reports of an “unresponsive female” at a residence, later identified at Panettiere.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office also confirmed to Us on Monday that an official autopsy had been completed, and there were no signs of trauma that may have contributed to Panettiere’s death.
“On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1:51 PM, a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest,” a statement from the Greenville County Coroner’s Office read. “First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest. EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM.”
Esten and Panettiere grew close while working on Nashville, and they remained friends for years after the show wrapped.
Back in 2018, Esten exclusively spoke to Us about his bond with the Ice Princess star, recalling that they’d been “buddies ever since” they started working together.
Entertainment
TikTok Influencers Abby and Matt Howard’s Relationship Timeline

Influencers Abby and Matt Howard went from high school sweethearts to a family of four.
The couple met in 2013 when they were in a local production of Mary Poppins in St. Louis. While Matt was based in the city, Abby grew up in a small town nearly two hours away. However, her passion for the performing arts brought her to St. Louis as she chased her teenage dreams.
After landing a role in the ensemble, Abby moved to St. Louis for the summer and quickly became friends with Matt.
“I remember thinking you were super cute and all these things,” she said in a May 2020 YouTube video. “I think that my mom had become friends with your mom so I kind of felt like I had an in.”
Matt, for his part, started to develop feelings for Abby a few years later. Ahead of his 18th birthday, Matt decided to ask out Abby — and the rest is history.
Keep scrolling to relive Abby and Matt’s relationship timeline:
June 2016
After three years of friendship, Abby and Matt officially became boyfriend and girlfriend. At the time, the pair tackled long-distance since they were attending different high schools. They would drive two and a half hours to see each other when their schedules aligned. While they didn’t get to see each other physically, the twosome would FaceTime every day.
“It was so fun just getting to become best friends with Abby and spend time talking for hours on end on FaceTime,” Matt reflected in a May 2020 YouTube video. “The reason we were so committed was because we really liked each other and we really did become best friends.”
2017
Both Abby and Matt attended Missouri State University together.

August 2018
The couple got engaged after dating for more than two years.
“It just came down to we knew each other was the one, we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together and we were going to be able to make it work financially,” Abby recalled in an August 2021 YouTube video. “And we had awesome people to lean on.”
July 2019
Less than one year after Matt proposed, the pair tied the knot.
“July 6, 2019 was the most humbling day of my life to date. A tremendous amount of love was showered on the two of us, and we can’t help feeling a little undeserving,” Abby wrote via Instagram at the time. “We are sincerely grateful to everybody that made this day a dream for us. And most of all, thank you Matt for choosing me. Being your bride is lookin like a pretty sweet gig.”
That same month, Abby and Matt officially launched their YouTube channel.
December 2020
Abby graduated from Missouri State University, and Matt shared a sweet tribute in honor of his wife.
“Congratulations!!! I am SOOO proud of you Abby. You have been working your butt off to make this happen and you did it. You graduated,” he wrote via Instagram alongside a snap of him and her in her cap and gown. “I can’t wait for the big adventure we’re about to take on together! You deserve this and so much more. I love you.”

July 2022
The pair welcomed son Griffin.
“Our whole world changed July 3, 2022 at 7:43 p.m.,” Abby wrote via Instagram alongside a picture of her holding her newborn.
August 2023
Nearly one year later, the duo expanded their family with son August.
“August Jacob Howard 08/10/2023 8lbs 14oz 21in,” Abby captioned a pic of her, Matt and their little one. “The best little addition that we didn’t know we were ready for.”
June 2024
Matt and Abby celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary a little early with a trip to Cabo San Lucas.
“5th anniversary trip 📸,” Matt captioned a series of photos from their tropical getaway.
September 2024
The twosome raised eyebrows online during a family cruise when Abby posted that they went to dinner without their two kids who were sleeping in the room.
“So we ended up taking them for 5 nights and it became apparent that they weren’t enjoying it and therefore we weren’t either,” Abby wrote in a since-expired Instagram Story. “So, THEN we switched our dinner time to AFTER their bedtime and FaceTIMED the monitors while we ate.”
A source later told Us Weekly that their families’ “rooms were right next door to each other and they were taking turns being there.” The insider added that the children “were never alone and the use of the baby monitors was an extra precaution.”

Abby and Matt Howard Courtesy Abby Howard/Instagram
September 2025
One month after the couple announced their third baby was on the way, the influencers announced Abby suffered a pregnancy loss.
“At a routine pregnancy appointment, our doctor could not find a heartbeat. Shortly after they sent us in for an ultrasound where the technician said words we will never forget, ‘I am so sorry I do not have good news,’” read a caption shared via Instagram. “That is when we got the gender reveal we never hoped for and also the news that our baby had a genetic condition that took her life around 17 weeks gestation.”
The pair were expecting a baby girl. “The news felt unimaginable. The grief is absolutely devastating. But we feel so much gratitude for the time that we did get to have with her. And we still have hope. Hope has continued to show up for us in so many ways,” they wrote. “For now we will grieve and continue to think of ways to honor her life offline. Thoughts and prayers are more than welcome. Thank you everyone for celebrating this precious life with us for the past 17 weeks.”
August 2026

Abby Howard with newborn son Courtesy Instagram / Matt and Abby Howard
One year after they endured a pregnancy loss, Matt announced on August 17, 2026, that Abby had given birth to the couple’s third child, a boy.
“He’s here!!!!” Matt shared via Instagram. “We have been soaking up every bit of this beautiful new chapter as a family of 5. can’t wait to slowly catch you all up on the past week of our life.”
The influencer also shared a sweet photo of Abby cradling her newborn son in her hospital bed.
Entertainment
Galyna Fired, Steven and Allie Split
Season 3 of The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys ended with a bang, a breakup and Steven McBee Jr.’s windows getting smashed by Galyna Saltkovska — and all just months after Steven “Steve” McBee Sr. reported to prison for crop insurance fraud.
“We’re gonna sell the car washes as soon as we can,” Steven, 33, told Galyna during the Monday, August 17, while his three brothers, Jesse, Cole and Brayden, sat beside him. “Now is the time.”
Galyna, who had been running the car washes since they opened, was visibly surprised by the announcement as she had just vowed to help the boys in any way possible amid her ex-boyfriend Steve’s incarceration. (Steve was sentenced in October 2025 to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to fraud. He reported to jail in December 2025.)
“We have some banks that are getting nervous with some loans we have up at the farm,” Steven explained. “Specifically one that’s on Cole’s house. Selling the car washes would be a clean slate, debt wise.”
He insisted it was a “good thing” and a “good deal for everyone,” claiming that whoever purchases the McBee Coffee & Car Wash business would give Galyna a big “payday” and most likely keep her on with a good salary for three to five years.
Galyna shared her unfiltered reaction during a confessional, saying, “Are you f***ing kidding me? … I don’t even know what to think about it. This is insane.”
Galyna tried to remain composed during the meeting, telling Steven that she’s the one who is “really aware” of when it would be the right time to sell.
“This isn’t a debate. It’s happening,” Steven fired back. “We’ve already made this decision and the boys are behind it.”
Galyna was upset that they allegedly made the decision behind her back, but Cole — who was expecting his second baby with wife Kacie McBee at the time — argued they had to look out for themselves.
“At some point we have to worry about our salary and what we’re making and what’s the best for our family,” Cole, 25, confessed.
Jesse, 29, told the cameras they would “always care” for Galyna, but admitted, “With the bank loans that we have, seeing Galyna go with the sale of the car washes, as bad as that sucks, that’s a sacrifice I’d make any day.”
Cole took it a step further in the meeting, telling Galyna, “It’s time to cut ties and go our separate ways.”

Brayden, Cole, Jesse and Steven McBee Jr. Bryan Steffy/Bravo
“Oh, we’re taking it that far? You guys are getting rid of me? What’s going to happen?” Galyna asked, visibly upset. “I’ve treated you guys as a family.”
Galyna, who worked with the family under Steve’s guidance for seven years, then got fired up and began seeing red.
“You know on this note, if you chose to make it personal let’s go ahead and make it personal,” she said before storming out of the room, grabbing a crowbar and walking out to the parking lot.
Galyna then started smashing in all the windows on Steven’s truck before making a run for it in her car.
“You gotta f***ing be kidding me. Are you f***ing serious?” Steven said as he walked outside with his siblings to see the damage. “She’s so done.”
Steven later told the cameras, “We’ve been through a hell of a lot and Galyna going scorched earth was not in our cards.”
The four McBee sons were stunned by Galyna’s reaction to their decision, but vowed to stick with the plan to save their farm.
The drama over their business, however, wasn’t the only issue Steven had to deal with in the finale.
Elsewhere in the episode, Allie Eklund came to visit Steven on the farm only to call it quits after not seeing eye to eye on their future.
“I’m all in and ready to go and move down to Texas and spend the majority of my time there,” Steven told his then-girlfriend, 29, after she recently moved in with her sister in her home state of Texas.
Allie, who previously told Steven she was hoping her move would help them slow down their relationship, was visibly shocked by his declaration of love.
“This is a massive decision. We’ve only been dating a couple of months,” she told Steven, shutting down his idea.
Allie noted, “If we were to [have] moved in together and we talked about maybe getting engaged [it might be different], but I just feel like after you meeting my family, my gut was saying, ‘I think we need more time.’”

Steven McBee Jr. and Allie Eklund. Casey Durkin/Bravo
Allie asked Steven what was the “rush” in him uprooting his life when they were so fresh in their relationship.
“It feels weird for me because we lived together for two months. Now you’re moving down to Texas for a year-long lease with your sister,” Steven explained. “We’re taking a major step backwards.”
Allie confessed to the cameras that she felt “a little dumb” after realizing that his inner circle’s warning about having a “hard time communicating with him” was accurate.
“I’m not used to being talked to a certain way,” she said through tears. “I know that he’s under a lot of pressure which is why I tried to have lots of grace. I love him a lot but I really worry about what that looks like long term.”
Steven, for his part, said during a confessional that he felt “embarrassed” and “a little upset” after thinking they were focused on the same future.
After their conversation, Steven told his family that he was not moving to Texas and confirmed that he and Allie split.
“It’s taken a little bit of an emotional toll for me,” Steven told his crew. “I felt really good about things. … Real life happened real quick.”
Allie, meanwhile, packed up her bags and said goodbye to the farm once again, admitting, “I didn’t see this coming and it’s a bummer.”

Tessa Lollar, Jesse McBee, Masha Petrova, Jake Denton, Brayden McBee, Allie Eklund, Steven McBee Jr., Steve McBee Sr., Kacie McBee. Paul Andrews/Bravo
She revealed, “I told Steven exactly what I was going to do with my move. … I am scared that he expected me to now drop all of that and fully immerse my life into his.”
Allie previously told Us that she and Steven broke up “privately” in the middle of filming the Bravo series but they got back together “with the support and encouragement of his family to try to work through some of those things.”
The pair were a full-fledged couple at the start of 2026, but they called it quits for good in April after Steven publicly accused Allie of cheating on him at Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California.
Allie denied the allegations, telling Us in July that Steven’s “actions showed me exactly how he feels about me” and therefore she didn’t need closure.
“When I realized that it was a pattern and it wasn’t circumstantial, this was really just the icing on the cake for me. And [that] was it,” Allie added. “There’s no conversation to be had, no closure left. Like that’s closure enough for me.”
Steven later apologized publicly for calling Allie names and airing their dirty laundry. He also exclusively told Us in July that he’s had “a lot of learning lessons” after watching his and Allie’s ups and downs on the show.
“I have a lot of regrets about how things happened. But one of the worst is I think the world of her family,” he shared. “They treated me like gold, and to see now all the publicity and headlines that have come around regarding our breakup, [I] hate that. But there’s just so many learning lessons from this experience.”
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