Fantasy Island is a classic fantasy drama that ran on ABC from 1977 to 1984. Ricardo Montalbán was the hunky, dashing, and enigmatic Mr. Roarke who occupied a mysterious island that could grant its guests incredible wishes. What lives on in most people’s memories is his sidekick, Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize), who would announce new guest arrivals by shouting, “De plane! De plane!” at the beginning of every episode.

The series was emblematic of the time period in a lot of ways — original, fun, and, in several ways, very problematic. But that hasn’t stopped the entertainment world from bringing Fantasy Island back to life several times (including a one-season revival series in 1998 and a horror film adaptation in 2020). But a sequel series a few years back really captured the magic of Fantasy Island in a memorable way.

What Is 2021’s ‘Fantasy Island’ About?

In 2021, Fox aired the first season of a brand-new version of Fantasy Island. This time the adaptation is actually a sequel to the 1970s series, picking up several decades after the original. Elena Roarke (Roselyn Sánchez) is the grand-niece of Mr. Roarke, and she has taken up the mantle of running the mystical island to keep the magic within her family. She continues to offer guests the chance to stay on the island and fulfill one of their greatest dreams.

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The island doesn’t always grant these wishes in the most straight-forward way, but each guest does learn a valuable lesson, so that they still always take what they need from the island before returning home. There is magic all around, and romance is in the air, especially with Javier (John Gabriel Rodriquez) as Elena’s love interest. Instead of a man as her sidekick though, Elena has Ruby Akuda (Kiara Barnes). In the premiere episode, Ruby travels to the island to gain more time before succumbing to a fatal illness. She ends up turning into her younger self, and then decides to stay on the island to assist Elena. Their partnership is a compelling, feminist twist on the original show’s island staff.

‘Fantasy Island’ Is a Fun Continuation of the Original Series

Fantasy Island might be a sequel to the original, but it’s not necessary for you to have seen the 1970s show in order to watch the new adaptation. In fact, each episode contains a fresh storyline where you can see the island’s magic at work, but it still includes the original’s entertaining fantasy aspects. One guest gets to spend her stay on the island eating as much as she wants because her job requires her to stay thin. In another, a woman gets to see versions of her life if she chooses her boyfriend or an arranged marriage her parents want her to carry out. A stand-out episode, “Once Upon a Time in Havana,” portrays a young teen who is transported to Cuba in the 1960s so that she can learn the origins of her family’s story. This time travel allows the girl to be more accepting of her relatives and helps her move forward in a healthier way on her own path.

Each island wish is fulfilled in a dreamy, yet still realistic way. There are also storylines that carry over through the season, as we learn more about Elena’s own relationship to her family and to the island itself. The sequel works because of the leading performance by Sánchez. She’s the grounded, calm conduit who helps facilitate all of the guests’ wishes, but she’s also trying to find fulfillment in her own life. Her scenes with Barnes are also intriguing, as they establish a friendship that is both nurturing and somewhat complicated. But the real reason that Fantasy Island is so fun to watch is all of the guest stars that pop up on the island. Season 1 features Scandal‘s Bellamy Young, real-life married couple Odette and Dave Annable, and the reunion of the fabulous trio of Melrose Place ladies, Daphne Zuniga, Josie Bissett, and Laura Leighton.

There’s also an episode centered around the late comedy legend, Leslie Jordan. But Season 2 didn’t hold back when it comes to television legends either, with episodes starring Desperate Housewives‘ Teri Hatcher and 90210‘s Jason Priestley. Seeing who is going to appear in every new episode makes the fantasy series even more entertaining and exciting to watch. In the end, it seems that not enough people were willing to travel to Fantasy Island. The series was cancelled in 2023 after just two seasons. Although it only consists of 23 episodes, the fantasy drama is still worthy of a binge-watch, even if you aren’t familiar with the original series. If nothing else, watching the series is a nice tropical escape from the real world.

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Release Date

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2021 – 2023-00-00

Network

FOX

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Showrunner

Elizabeth Craft, Sarah Fain

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Dawson’s Creek star Mary-Margaret Humes is continuing to honor a tradition with her onscreen son, James Van Der Beek, one month after his death.

James’ wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, took to her Instagram Story on Sunday, March 8, to honor memories with the late actor on what would have been his 49th birthday — and also share new moments with the couple’s six kids. In the clip, the kids gathered around an outdoor table as they looked at a gift given to them by Humes.

“Who do you think sent this?” Kimberly asked, to which the kids replied in unison, “Mary Margaret.” After Kimberly inquired about what was inside the box, the children exclaimed, “Cookies!”

“And we always get them on Daddy’s birthday,” Kimberly explained, while one of the kids said, “Don’t stop sending these.”

Before unpacking the box, the kids read a note written by Humes, which said, “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. For those who love with their heart and soul, there is no such thing as separation. Happy birthday kiddo. I love you.”

Humes, for her part, reposted the video and added two hearts, alongside the text, “Forever family.” Humes also paid tribute to James via Instagram on Sunday, sharing a collage of throwback photos with her onscreen son and his family.

“You are never more than a thought away,” Humes wrote. “Happy Birthday James … #familyfirst #foreverfriends @vanderkimberly ❤️.”

News broke in February that James died after a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. He was 48.

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Katie Holmes is mourning the loss of her beloved friend and former Dawson’s Creek costar James Van Der Beek. “James, thank you. To share space with your imagination is sacred — breathing the same air in the land of make-believe and trusting that each other’s hearts are safe in their expression,” wrote Holmes, 47, in […]

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“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” a statement shared via the actor’s Instagram read at the time. “There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”

Humes, for her part, honored James by sharing a selfie of the twosome and a throwback photo.

“Rarely am I at a loss for words … today would be the exception. James, my gracious warrior, you fought a hard battle against all odds with such quiet strength and dignity,” Humes wrote via Instagram at the time. “I will always love and admire you for that. Our last conversations … merely a few days ago … are forever sitting softly in my heart for safe keeping. To our extended Dawson’s Creek family of friends, please be respectful of our silences at the moment as Beautiful Kimberly and family have asked for peaceful privacy for now.”

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

Starfleet Academy has been incorporating nods to earlier Star Trek shows, with varying degrees of subtlety. Sometimes, we just get, say, passing references to a Talaxian furfly. Other times, we get an entire episode dedicated to characters like Benjamin Sisko, complete with cameos from those who are closest to him.

So far, most of the show’s most overt references have been nods to shows like Deep Space Nine and Voyager. However, the most recent episode, “300th Night,” referenced The Next Generation in a powerful way by portraying an alien ritual we haven’t seen onscreen for decades. That ritual was the R’uustai, which allows Klingons to induct new members into their house.

Worf Bonds With A Child

We first saw the R’uustai in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Bonding.” In this tale, Worf led an away team mission that went sideways, resulting in the death of a woman under his command. She died a typical Redshirt-style death, but unlike the Redshirts of yesteryear, her death left her son, Jeremy Aster, without a mother or father to raise him.

Jeremy goes through plenty of trauma afterward, especially after sympathetic aliens try to replicate his mother in an attempt to soothe his pain. Eventually, the crew gets the young boy to accept that his mother is dead, and Worf (whom the kid originally blamed for his mother’s death) performs the act of R’uustai, an ancient Klingon ritual that allowed him to make Jeremy a brother who would forever be part of Worf’s family, House Mogh.

Interestingly, R’uustai didn’t come up again in Star Trek for decades. Jeremy Aster was never mentioned again, and we never saw this ritual onscreen or even heard it mentioned. This is doubly interesting because on Deep Space Nine, Martok made Worf part of his family, meaning that young Jeremy Aster (wherever he is) is technically the last surviving member of House Mogh. However, it’s doubtful that he’ll be picking up a bat’leth and battling for the disgraced family’s honor anytime soon.

An Old Ritual From A New Klingon

After decades of its absence from Star Trek, however, R’uustai just made a quiet comeback. In the penultimate episode of Starfleet Academy Season 1 (“300th Night”), the unconventional Klingon Jay-Den conducts the R’uustai ritual for his fellow cadets, inviting them to join his family, House Kraag. All but Caleb drink during the ceremony, making them brothers and sisters of Jay-Den. Despite Caleb not wanting to join House Kraag because he is still obsessed with finding his mother (the last of his biological family), Jay-Den considers him a chosen brother and helps Caleb with his reckless mission to reunite with his mom.

In a weird way, this forgotten ritual from Star Trek: The Next Generation was perfect for Starfleet Academy. The show is all about found family and the strength you gain from letting close friends into your heart. In “300th Night,” the R’uustai ritual makes the “family” part official for these cadets while calling back to a TNG ritual that proved how easy it was for humans and other outsiders to officially join Klingon houses.

Today Is A Good Day To Bond

As a longtime Star Trek nerd, I just wish we knew a little more about how R’uustai works in this fictional universe. In the TNG episode “The Bonding,” this ritual was used to induct Jeremy Aster into Worf’s family, but an entirely different ritual (one involving less drinking and more bloodletting) was used in the DS9 episode “Sons and Daughters” to induct Alexander into House Martok. Therefore, it’s unclear whether the R’uustai temporarily fell out of fashion as a way to induct new House members before Jay-Den embraced it or if the rituals are race-specific, with one being reserved for Klingons and the other being used for everyone else.

At any rate, if you’re a Star Trek fan who loves Klingon lore, it’s particularly rewarding to see the return of R’uustai, something last seen in the excellent TNG episode “The Bonding.” The ritual emphasizes Starfleet Academy’s themes of found family, all while steeping itself in decades-old franchise lore. Hopefully, everything works out for Jay-Den, whose induction of Darem into House Kraag means he now officially has a family member who wants to have sex with him.

Let’s just hope this doesn’t lead to any particularly weird holodeck misadventures. If a simulated Darem gets stuck in a Jeffries Tube and starts saying things like, “What are you doing, chosen brother?” that will be our cue to turn the TV off quicker than you can say “qapla’!”  

Andy Cohen Opens Up About Carole Radziwill Returning To ‘Real Housewives Of New York City’ After Leaving The Series In 2018

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Despite being one of the most underrated shows on Apple TV, Trying seemed to have a limited run. When the show begins, a couple named Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall) embark on an adoption journey, as they hope to become parents despite the obstacles in their way. This is not an easy process, and they face several ups and downs in their effort to adopt young siblings Princess (Eden Togwell) and Tyler (Mickey McAnulty).

In Season 3, Nikki and Jason finalize their adoption, but Trying continues the story, moving on from the original plot and jumping ahead six years in Season 4 to a daunting period when Princess (Scarlett Rayner) and Tyler (Cooper Turner) are entering their teenage years. The time jump reframes the show’s title to be less about Nikki and Jason’s attempt to grow their family and more about the fact that they are simply doing their best. Ultimately, Trying‘s time jump completely changed the show for the better, providing new opportunities that have kept the story alive, especially with a fifth season on the way.

‘Trying’s Time Jump Provides New Opportunities for the Show

A six-year time jump seems like a big move, but it allows Trying to enter a new era of its characters’ lives and explore how they have grown, both in and outside the family unit. The Apple TV sitcom embraces chaos as the messy characters make questionable choices, and jumping forward in their lives introduces the potential for new drama. This is most prevalent in Princess’s story, as she emerges with a focus on finding answers from her birth mother, Kat (Charlotte Riley). Now 16, Princess is mature enough to be asking questions she could never have understood at 10, giving her new storyline an emotional undercurrent that Trying handles so well.

Princess’s age is only one way the show benefits from the time jump, as her time with Nikki makes the search less jarring. Throughout Season 4, mother and daughter struggle to see eye to eye, but the fact that they have an established bond prevents Princess’s desire to find her birth mother from undercutting her relationship with Nikki. While this major change for Trying is most obviously reflected in Princess’s plot, all the characters grow as a consequence, and these developments are only going to become more noticeable going forward.

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‘Trying’s Future Is Promising Because of the Show’s Time Jump

The story of Princess and Tyler’s adoption had run its course, but thanks to the time jump, Trying is still going strong, with Season 5 expected later this year. Picking up shortly after Season 4, the next installment will continue to benefit from this revamp as it explores the fallout from Kat turning up on the family’s doorstep. Like Princess, Tyler’s age will help this storyline. Not only will a 12-year-old be better able to understand the drama, but the older actor will be better equipped to portray the complex emotions needed.

Although little is known about Trying Season 5, in addition to Kat’s arrival, it is set to explore Nikki and Jason’s professional lives, with several new cast members joining to add complications just as things at home appear to spiral. Celia Imrie and Gbemisola Ikumelo will be involved in Jason’s story as he starts a new career as a social worker. Meanwhile, Colin Morgan will play a new coworker of Nikki’s, promising that something will be going on at the Vista Car Rental she manages. All of these new storylines are made possible by the six years that have passed between Season 3 and 4, which successfully reinvents Trying for the better.

The internet is living for this one. Megan Thee Stallion was spotted on a livestream laughing her butt off at a diss track aimed at BIA. It looks like Bia ended up peeping Meg’s lil’ chuckle and now she’s stepped in with some words.

RELATED: Claressa Shields & Papoose Set Timelines Off After Megan Thee Stallion Drops SPICY Lyrics About Them On ‘B.B.B.’ Remix (VIDEO)

Megan The Stallion Laughs, Bia Strikes Back

On Saturday, Megan Thee Stallion was on a TikTok livestream vibing to a rap song referencing BIA. The track also threw shade at Bia’s songs, claiming no one could name them. And Megan couldn’t contain her laughter, cackling, “Why would she say that?!” all while getting her glam done. See the video here.

However, just a few hours later, Bia seemingly responded, clapped back with a record. On her IG Story, she posted a screenshot from Meg’s interview with Gayle King captioned, “when I know someone lying but I let them keep going anyway…” Shade? Delivered. And, she didn’t stop there. Bia also shared a selfie with the background track—Nicki Minaj’s ‘Big Foot’—carefully choosing the exact part of the song where lies get called out. If you’re keeping score, that’s a thinly veiled reminder of history these rap streets don’t forget.

You Already Know That Fans Picked Sides

Fans and critics flooded both LiveBitez’s comment section, picking sides in the Megan vs. Bia drama. Some argued that Megan started it, while others pointed out she’s laughed at City Girls verses before, so it’s not exactly new. A few kept it real, saying they couldn’t name five Bia verses. Chile, this tea was groundbreaking.

One Instagram user @livelaughlove_20041 said, “LOL. I remember when she was laughing the same way when Caresha rhymed buenas noches with roaches lol“

This Instagram user @yeahbullet_ joked, “I can’t name 5 Megan songs either though 😂”

And, Instagram user @hillypecanrican added, “Nah seriously I like bia .. I think she’s a beautiful girl when I heard that verse .. I yelled the same way 🤣🤣🤣🤣”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @everybodyhatekrissy commented, “I love Meg down!!!! But my sis kinda started it….“

While Instagram user @lamaronbain shared, “See how she had to use a Nicki song, even she can’t name 5 of her own songs“

Finally, Instagram user @joan45656htj wrote, “Bia standing on business 😂”

Are Meg & Bia Really Beefin’?

For those just tuning in: Bia and the rapper shading her in the song have beef going back to livestream moments in 2023, subliminal posts, and even messy on-wax allegations. Things flared up again during this year’s Super Bowl with more subliminals and a diss track targeting personal life rumors. Megan’s ties to other major players in this ongoing saga make her popping up here no surprise. Will she trade bars with Bia next? Or is this just another playful side-eye? Either way, the tea is piping hot, the receipts are ready, and fans are here for every second.

RELATED: BIA Fires Back At Online Comment Amid Ongoing Social Media Debate About Her Age Gap With Boyfriend Cam Whitmore

Bad hair days don’t stand a chance when you have the right styling tool. And for a lot of shoppers, the Wavytalk Thermal Brush is quickly becoming a go-to for achieving a smooth, salon-style finish at home.

Designed to add volume, shine and soft curls without complicated styling steps, this heated brush helps transform frizzy or flat hair into a polished blowout look in minutes. Even better? You can grab it on sale right now at Walmart.

Get the Wavytalk Thermal Brush for $46 (was $70) at Walmart! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

If you’ve ever struggled to recreate that fresh-from-the-salon blowout with a round brush and hair dryer, this tool simplifies the process. With ionic technology and an easy-to-use brush design, it smooths and shapes hair while adding shine, making it a favorite for anyone who wants effortless styling without juggling multiple hot tools.

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If you’re on the fashion or beauty side of Pinterest at all, it’s a near impossibility that you haven’t come across the gorgeous hair Matilda Djerf has. Her images have been re-pinned millions of times due to not only her fashion sense but also her truly iconic hair. She’s rarely pictured without perfectly blown-out, effortless, […]

Unlike a traditional blow-dryer brush, this thermal brush works best on already-dry hair, helping smooth strands and add shape without excessive heat exposure. The 1½-inch barrel is ideal for creating soft curls, face-framing waves or a lifted blowout effect, while the nylon bristles help grip hair gently as you style.

Another bonus is its two adjustable heat settings, which give you more control depending on your hair type or styling goal. The ionic technology helps tame frizz and enhance shine, so your finished look feels sleek and polished rather than stiff or over-styled.

Shoppers say it’s surprisingly effective, especially for frizz control and shine. One reviewer shared, “I have very curly frizzy hair! This has worked wonders! Been getting a lot of compliments and just enjoying my hair again!” Another wrote, “So easy to use. My hair really looks shiny and soft.”

A third reviewer explained why it’s become part of their routine: “This thermal brush is great! Two heat settings so it’s not TOO hot… Once my hair was dry, this thermal brush smoothed and shined my hair perfectly. The brush was much easier than a curling iron to get some volume and even better than a flat iron for obtaining a smooth frizz-free look.”

If you’ve been looking for an easier way to get that smooth, bouncy blowout look at home, this styling tool could quickly become your new favorite beauty shortcut.

Get the right styling tool for $46 (was $70) at Walmart! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

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Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu is coming to the defense of her fellow medalist, Eileen Gu, after some controversy during the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

“I’ve known Eileen since I was 13 or something. We’re from the Bay Area. She’s super nice, and her mom is from China,” Liu, 20, told the New York Times on Thursday, March 6. “I think people are hypocritical for shaming her for representing China. So, in my head, it’s a bit hypocritical, because her mom is an immigrant. Y’all would have told her to go back to China. Now that they’re back in China, you’re mad.”

She continued, “And it’s sport, it doesn’t matter what country we represent. Sport is sport, and she has a love for competition, she has love for the game. I think that’s all that matters. There’s no shame in going to where opportunity is.”

Gu, 22, was at the center of some discourse after she decided to represent China at the Games, despite being born in San Francisco.

Both her and Liu were born in California to Chinese and American parents.

Gu opted to represent China — where her mother, Yan Gu, is from — prior to competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The chatter reached a pinnacle when United States Vice President JD Vance decided to criticize the Olympic skier.

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Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu is having a moment following her two gold medal wins at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy. The skater has become a pop culture phenomenon as one-third of Team USA Figure Skating’s “Blade Angels” alongside Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito. Alysa’s trademark striped hair and […]

“I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United Sates of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America,” Vance, 41, told Fox News on February 17. “So, I’m going to root for American athletes, and I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for this Olympics.”

“I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet,” Gu responded to USA Today on February 19. “So many athletes compete for a different country… people only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.”

Gu added, “And also, because I win. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s OK for me.”

Gu — who became the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history with her three medals at the 2026 Games — speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and spent many of her summers in Beijing.