The nature of business is competition, allowing for multiple companies to deliver their own goods and create a dynamic environment. This is true for anything, including video games, with plenty of studios aiming to deliver the best quality to ensure even better sales. For the most part, this approach has been going well, with titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and Elden Ring becoming standout masterpieces of the modern age that push the medium forward. But even though there are thousands of game studios, there are also the big three, the juggernauts: Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo. These major companies are best known for releasing video game consoles each generation, and with them, dozens of video games each year.

The console wars used to be the biggest news in gaming, with these three companies, and a couple others, battling it out for supremacy. However, the console wars have long since ended, with each finding their niche in the following years. Everyone has their preferences and console of choice, which leads to buying hardware from any of these companies. They all have their flaws: PlayStation is ending physical releases, Nintendo is greedy and takes down fan games, and Xbox has constant layoffs. However, each has unique strengths, and that is why this list will rank the big three video game companies based on console history, video game history, quality, consistency, public opinion, lack of flaws, and overall quality. Fans should buy the consoles and games of their choice, but this list will be as objective as possible when determining the greatest video game company of all time.

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Xbox

Image via Xbox

It may have placed last on this list, but the other way fans can take it is that the company placed third, and a podium finish is always good. Xbox was one of the later companies to join the console race, but they quickly established themselves as an innovative and fresh competitor. Starting with the original Xbox, they would continue their hot streak with the iconic Xbox 360. Later consoles, like the Xbox One and Xbox Series X, wouldn’t be as popular, but they still maintained a dedicated fan base. As far as games go, Xbox is best known for the Halo franchise, alongside Gears of War, Fable, and Forza. Their future is more uncertain than most, but they are still releasing games and have a planned console, with many hoping they will turn it around.

It shouldn’t really be a surprise that Xbox came last on this list, considering it had a shorter history than the other two, and it’s already failing more than them. Xbox is already changing its plan going forward, from getting rid of console exclusives to selling well-known IPs to laying off a lot of its talent. The Xbox One was fun, but not a smash hit, and the Xbox Series X is performing even worse. They haven’t been terrible in the games department, but their biggest new titles, like Fable, will be cross-platform, and their biggest franchise, Halo, hasn’t had a new game in years. Xbox is more of a legacy company; they used to be the best in the game with classic Halo games, Rare, Call of Duty, and Gears of War. With a lot of timed and fully exclusive games, they had a vast catalog that put many to shame back in the day. Unfortunately, Xbox has seen better days, and as they continue to fall, it is easy to place it at this spot on the list.

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PlayStation

Deciding between the top two was extremely difficult, but ultimately, PlayStation ended up in the second spot. First released in 1994, PlayStation was an instant success, surpassing every expectation. This success would continue to the second, third, fourth, fifth, and portable versions, continuing to improve on the hardware and games. Their consoles have always been massively successful, and their games are just as profitable. They have had plenty of prestigious franchises, including God of War and The Last of Us, yet they also spice things up with a different vibe while maintaining the same quality, as was the case with Astro Bot, a beloved Game of the Year winner.

PlayStation has come under heavy criticism recently, ever since they announced that they will stop making physical games, meaning the digital age is finally upon fans. With a fully digital console and only downloadable games, PlayStation is taking a big risk to save costs, which will be fully implemented in its next generation. Whether it’s a good or bad decision is uncertain, but as far as it goes now, fans are livid, and rightfully so. Not only does it mean they can keep games more expensive, but players can no longer sell their used copies. Putting this tender topic aside, PlayStation has many positives, starting with their consoles, which always seem to be a must-buy for casual gamers. It is the essential piece of hardware for new games, proven by the fact that these titles are made exclusively for PlayStation; GTA VI being the most recent example. Recently, their first-party game situation has been dire, with only a couple of new games every year. However, the PS5 does have some incredible games. Historically, however, it is a different story. From Metal Gear Solid to Shadow of the Colossus and God of War, this company is home to some of the most essential video games. Recent news may have soured many opinions, but PlayStation is still PlayStation, and they have the sales and prestigious games to back up their name.

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Nintendo

Image via Nintendo

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Every company that makes up the big three is both fantastic and awful in ways, but this list has determined that Nintendo is arguably the greatest. It’s probably a controversial opinion, but they have the longest history and the success to back it up. As opposed to Xbox and PlayStation, Nintendo didn’t start with video games, but was rather a hanafuda playing card producer that began all the way in 1889. Evolving to toys, then arcades, and finally video games, their legacy is steeped in a deep history. Their first console was the NES, home to legendary franchises such as Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. From overwhelming successes like the Wii and Switch to surprising failures like the Wii U and the GameCube, Nintendo has never been afraid to innovate and take risks. They have continued to do so even now, with the Nintendo Switch 2 having a polarizing, yet overall successful start.

With the longest history, Nintendo has had the most successes and failures in terms of sales and reception. Still, the games on every console, even the underperforming ones, are critically acclaimed. Their infamous lawyers, who sue anyone and everyone, including fan games and tournaments, are a blight on the company and a poor way to protect their intellectual property. Nintendo has also raised the prices of consoles and games higher than expected, which reminds fans of the perils of capitalism. Still, out of the three, Nintendo is the most user-friendly, boasting plenty of special deals and features for their games. The Wii and Switch in particular aren’t just some of the best-selling video game consoles, but they are the most innovative and important, blending intuitive motion controls and hybrid gaming, respectively. Beloved by most, these consoles are essential, but more than that, they are home to renowned video games. Super Mario Galaxy and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild are both widely considered among the all-time greatest video games ever made, and this just scratches the surface of historically influential titles. They are also known for their handheld consoles, which open more avenues with more games and franchises. However, what separates Nintendo from the rest isn’t just their creativity, accessibility, family focus, or amazing games, but the sheer quantity and quality of their titles. Each year provides around ten new first-party games, and every one caters to different tastes, meaning there is always something for everyone. Nintendo is a nostalgic company, and from the 1980s to the 2020s, they have always been part of everyone’s lives.

Heather Graham is about to have quite a spooky couple of months. On October 7, she’ll appear as part of the cast of Mike Flanagan‘s modernized Stephen King adaptation, Carrie, on Prime Video, playing the mother of vicious mean girl Chris Hargensen. Before that, however, the veteran actress of Boogie Nights and Drugstore Cowboy fame is taking on one of the most famous reported cases of paranormal activity in U.S. history. What Happened to Doris? makes its world premiere at the 21st iteration of Fantastic Fest this month and casts Graham as single mother Doris Bither, who was allegedly violently assaulted by an unseen entity in her Culver City home in 1974.

As part of Collider’s Exclusive Preview series, we can share a new image from the horror flick that shows Graham looking deeply uncomfortable in her home. Knowing the reality of what happened there gives the wide shot of her alone at the table, pencil in hand, a sense of dread that this normal home could become a house of horrors at any moment. In the real-life case, also known as the Entity haunting, Bither claimed to have experienced torment from one or more invisible beings escalating to incidents of physical and sexual assault. Enter investigators from UCLA’s parapsychology department, who, over a ten-week period, repeatedly visited the home and documented a series of inexplicable and deeply terrifying events that ranged from reported poltergeist activity to strange, floating lights. Over the years, the findings and Bither’s claims have been subject to heavy scrutiny, though no conclusion has ever been officially reached.

What Happened to Doris? will re-explore the infamous case through the family’s eyes as the supernatural terror unfolds all around them and reckoning with the cost of refusing to believe the victim of it all. Nick Simon, who previously helmed the 2021 horror-comedy Untitled Horror Movie, directed the feature from a screenplay by Thomas Fenton, best known for his work on the story of Saw IV. The cast is led by a 1998 Lost in Space reunion, as Graham is joined by her fellow former Robinson and recent Bosch: Legacy star, Mimi Rogers. Also on board are Absentia alum Morgan Peter Brown, Smile‘s Kevin Keppy, and, in a re-team with Simon after co-writing and starring in Untitled Horror Movie, Luke Baines.

‘What Happened to Doris?’ Builds on a Horror Legacy

The Bither case is already cemented in horror history thanks to Sydney J. Furie‘s 1982 film, The Entity, starring Barbara Hershey. Frank De Felitta adapted the screenplay to the supernatural classic from his own 1978 novel of the same name, which drew heavily on the real-life haunting. Just over ten years ago, it was also close to getting a remake with horror maestro James Wan and producer extraordinaire Roy Lee producing, but nothing ever came of it. While the framework will be similar to the book and film, What Happened to Doris? aims to more faithfully recreate the original story, focusing on the real people victimized and the researchers who found terror in the search for answers.

What Happened to Doris? will world premiere at Fantastic Fest, which runs from September 17 through 24 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas. Check out our exclusive image above and stay tuned here at Collider for more early looks at the genre event’s hottest premieres. Visit the official Fantastic Fest film guide for more information.

The Labor Day weekend is a great time to catch up on some movies you may have missed the first time around — or favorites you want to watch again.

Netflix has plenty of great films that fit that bill, and Watch With Us has three near-perfect flicks to stream over the long weekend.

If you want something fun, funny and frivolous, Neighbors does the trick. The Seth Rogen/Zac Efron comedy is popular for a reason, and it delivers enough laughs to make you forget about your own noisy neighbors.

There are no laughs in Cruel Intentions, only schemes, broken hearts courtesy of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s devious villain and late ‘90s needle drops that still hit that sweet nostalgic spot. (Shout out to The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony”!)

Finally, September is the unofficial start of spooky season, and what better way to begin it than by watching the excellent horror sequel, Smile 2?

‘Neighbors’ (2014)

It’s every homeowner’s worst fear — bad neighbors. And that nightmare becomes a reality for Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne), who are already at their wit’s end raising their newborn daughter. When bros Teddy (Zac Efron) and Pete (Dave Franco) and their fraternity move next door, their all-night partying is too much for the sleep-deprived war. But their innocuous request to Teddy to keep the noise down begins a slow-burning conflict that quickly spirals into all-out war between the two neighbors. Can Mac and Teddy find common ground, or will their differences prevent them from ever enjoying a beautiful — and quiet — day in their neighborhood?

Related: New on Netflix in September 2026 — The Full List of Movies and Shows

September marks the official start of the fall season, and Netflix wants to keep you inside from the colder temperatures. You won’t need much convincing to cozy up in front of the TV due to the sheer amount of great new Netflix movies and TV shows in September. Ryan Murphy returns for another Monster season, […]

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Neighbors is the perfect comedy to watch over the Labor Day weekend. The jokes are universal and effortless, with a good mix of physical comedy and verbal wordplay. Plus, Rogen and Byrne are a good comedy team; to paraphrase a famous quote about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Byrne gives him class, and Rogen gives her enough sex jokes to crack when you least expect it. As the alpha male next door, Efron has fun lampooning his heartthrob image. A slightly inferior yet still fun sequel, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, is also available to stream on Netflix.

Neighbors is streaming on Netflix.

‘Cruel Intentions’ (1999)

Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) has nothing in common with his new stepsister, Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar), except for one thing – they have no morals at all. That allows them to play cruel games on people like Cecile (Selma Blair), but when Kathryn bets Sebastian can’t seduce the virginal Annette (Reese Witherspoon), something changes. Sebastian actually falls in love with Annette, which isn’t part of Kathryn’s plans. She’s willing to do anything to get what she wants, even if that means exposing Sebastian for who he truly is to the gullible Annette.

A loose remake of the French 1782 novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Cruel Intentions is a sexy and deliberately campy teen drama that does its source material justice. Sebastian and Kathryn’s social scheming is perfect in a high school setting, and the film is the most fun when its two no-good protagonists try to one-up each other in the nasty department. Gellar makes the most of her villainous seductress, while Phillippe and Witherspoon have enough chemistry to make you believe they are a couple in real life. (They married two months after this film came out).

Cruel Intentions is streaming on Netflix.

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‘Smile 2’ (2024)

Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) is a pop star on the brink of falling apart. She’s still recovering from her boyfriend’s death in a car accident when she witnesses her drug dealer friend, Lewis (Lukas Gage), kill himself right in front of her. If that wasn’t bad enough, Skye thinks Lewis passed along something to her when he died — something evil. As Skye’s sanity begins to fracture, she becomes increasingly convinced an entity is stalking her and won’t stop until she, too, kills herself.

Of course, we all know Skye is right — she’s the star of Smile 2, the sequel to the 2022 hit about a supernatural entity that can transfer from person to person. Like any good sequel, Smile 2 raises the stakes, with Skye battling the invisible demonic force in increasingly public places like meet-and-greets and even a climactic concert filled with thousands of fans — and potential victims. What makes Smile 2 truly special — and even better than the original — is Scott’s committed, go-for-broke performance. She really convinces you she’s losing her mind, so much so that you want to check on how she’s doing after the film is over. Now that’s good acting!

Smile 2 is streaming on Netflix.

JWoww has shared her first day of school moment with her kids amid her hospitalization for a kidney infection and appendicitis.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Jodeci Singer Mr. Dalvin Asks Fans To Pray For T-Boz As She Reportedly Experiences Sickle Cell Anemia Flare-Up (VIDEO)

JWoww Shares First Day Of School Moment With Kids Amid Hospitalization For Kidney Infection & Appendicitis

On Thursday, September 3, JWoww took to Instagram to share a carousel post with a lengthy caption. In the caption, she wrote, “Not the ‘first day of school’ picture I wanted to post… but then again, I guess we wouldn’t have one. ❤️.”

From there, she went on to explain that the past week had been “one of the hardest weeks” of her life. Furthermore, she explained that she’s spent “every day” fighting a “horrible kidney infection and appendicitis.”

“I want to say it came out of nowhere, but the truth is, I haven’t felt like myself for months. Weight loss, exhaustion, constantly feeling off… and then last Friday, my body finally said, ‘We aren’t making it like this anymore,’” she continued.

At that point, she acknowledged that the first-day routine with her kids wasn’t normal. But they do have a memory they will never forget.

“What I am going through is temporary. For some families, something happened this summer that may have changed their lives forever. Some kids are walking into school carrying grief, illness at home, divorce, financial struggles, a new diagnosis, or something none of us can see… You never know what someone is carrying behind closed doors. Our first-day picture looks a little different this year, but we have one. And right now, I’m incredibly grateful for that. ❤️ Here’s to a new school year. May our kids be safe, successful, and above all else… kind,” she concluded.

Social Media Reacts To Her First Day Of School Moment Amid Kidney Infection & Appendicitis

Social media users reacted to JWoww’s first day of school moment with her kids amid her kidney infection and appendicitis in TSR’s comment section.

JWoww Isn’t The Only Celebrity Current Hospitalized

JWoww isn’t the only celebrity who recently faced hospitalization. As The Shade Room previously reported, Jodeci singer Dalvin DeGrate took to social media earlier this month. This, to share a message with fans. In a video clip, he explained that T-Boz was hospitalized and asked fans to send their prayers.

More recently, a representative for TLC shared a statement about T-Boz’s hospitalization and current condition.

RELATED: UPDATE: TLC Representative Shares Statement Amid T-Boz’s Missed Concerts & Hospitalization For Sickle Cell Anemia Flare-Up

Cami Chan never expected to make a living online. In fact, when she first encountered the world of adult content, she was firmly against the idea. Her route there began somewhere considerably more innocent: cosplay.

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Chan started posting on TikTok in 2019, sharing safe-for-work cosplay content for fun. At the time, she had completed high school, tried studying to become a veterinary technician, and eventually left college while dealing with health problems.

She had also worked at Kroger, an experience she remembers less for the job itself than for how disposable she felt while struggling with her health. “I didn’t really see a direction in my life,” Chan said of that period.

In 2020, after watching other creators experiment with subscription platforms, she decided to try OF herself. What began as an uncertain attempt to find another way forward eventually became a full-time career built around cosplay, social media, and a highly engaged online audience.

Today, Chan says she has more than two million followers across platforms and currently averages around $50,000 a month, with her biggest month reaching $80,000.

Cami Chan Built Her Audience Through Cosplay

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Despite the scale of her online presence, cosplay remains at the center of Chan’s identity as a creator.
She is active across platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Threads, X, and Snapchat. TikTok is primarily reserved for safe-for-work cosplay, while Instagram gives her more room for casual content and staged skits. She describes Instagram as her biggest money-making social platform.

Her interest in cosplay is not simply a device for attracting an audience. Chan is an anime fan and gamer herself, particularly drawn to gacha games including Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Goddess of Victory: Nikke. Many of the characters she dresses as come directly from games she already plays.

For Chan, the appeal is rooted in escapism. “Dressing up as them helps me escape this reality,” she said. “I just like to feel pretty, and like I am that character.”

She believes many cosplay fans are chasing a similar feeling. Rather than viewing their fascination with fictional characters entirely from the outside, she understands it because she has experienced those attachments herself. That authenticity may also help explain the longevity of part of her audience.

Chan says some of her most dedicated followers have been around since 2019, before she ever joined OF. “They’ve seen my personality over the years and realized that I’m a real person with feelings and a goal,” she said.

The Work Behind a Single Costume

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The finished image can make cosplay appear effortless. Chan argues that the reality is considerably less glamorous. A custom request can involve makeup, styling a wig, finding and fitting the outfit, accessories, and then actually producing the content while wearing it.

She says she would charge thousands of dollars for particularly involved custom cosplay work because of the time and effort required. “It’s a lot more work than they realize,” she said.

There is another recurring feature of Chan’s costumes: heels. At 5-foot-1, she originally began wearing dramatic heels because she thought they improved the proportions and overall appearance of her costumes. Over time, followers became increasingly interested in them. She now estimates that she owns close to 100 pairs.

The collection is practical by creator standards. Chan says she generally buys inexpensive pairs rather than spending thousands on designer shoes, even when followers suggest particular styles. Her larger collecting habit is reserved for the fictional worlds behind the costumes.

She says she has spent well over $10,000 on figures from anime and games, alongside a Pokémon card collection that has cost her a few thousand dollars. Much of the money she earns, she said, ultimately goes back into creating content, particularly costumes and accessories.

Millions of Views Can Still Feel Lonely

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Online attention has occasionally arrived in ways even Chan cannot explain. One video from 2023 reached roughly 40 million views before later disappearing from her account, which Chan believes happened after it was flagged. The premise was remarkably simple: while she was driving, her then-boyfriend repeatedly snapped her sock against her thigh as she became visibly annoyed. “I don’t even know,” she recalls of its extraordinary reach.

Yet millions of views and followers have not necessarily produced a large social circle. Chan moved frequently and changed schools during childhood, and says she never developed a lasting friendship group in high school.

Today, almost everyone she knows socially is involved in content creation, but she remains cautious about confusing industry acquaintances with genuine friends. “It is still pretty lonely being a content creator because you don’t know who’s using you for views and followers or who actually views you as a friend,” she said.

For someone whose livelihood depends on being seen, that distinction between visibility and connection has become increasingly important.

When Online Attention Crosses Into Real Life

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There is also a more unsettling consequence to being recognizable online. Chan says she is regularly recognized at anime conventions, but deliberately avoids personal interactions with subscribers when possible because of safety concerns. She says she has experienced stalking, including an incident in which someone managed to identify her family’s home from old cosplay photographs.

The images had been taken when Chan was around 13 or 14 and included recognizable details of the property in the background. She believes someone used those visual clues to locate the address. The person subsequently found her grandmother’s email address and sent her a link to Chan’s Patreon.

The experience changed the stakes of maintaining a public identity. It also explains why Chan draws a clear boundary between the character people encounter online and access to her private life. Even seemingly minor convention interactions can feel different when viewed against that history.

Four Cats and a Life Mostly Lived at Home

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Away from conventions and content shoots, Chan’s preferred lifestyle is considerably quieter than her online reach might suggest. Although she travels around the United States for conventions, she describes herself as a “huge introvert” and prefers being at home in a controlled environment. She lives with four cats, which provide their own form of chaos.”There’s always somebody throwing up,” she joked. “There’s always somebody screaming for food.”

One of her earliest significant purchases after beginning to earn money online was a Ragdoll cat. “I prefer to have him over a Lamborghini,” she said. It is a fitting detail for a career that has rarely followed the obvious route. Chan went from feeling directionless and leaving college to building an audience around the fictional characters, games and costumes she already loved.

The platforms have changed, the audience has grown and the business surrounding the content has become more complicated. But cosplay, the hobby that started the entire journey, is still at the center of Cami Chan’s online world.

Inde Navarrette is continuing her rapid rise in Hollywood, signing on to both star in and executive produce Apple Original Films’ upcoming sci-fi thriller The Waffle House Index.

Apple has acquired the project, which will come from Apple Studios with Plan B Entertainment producing. Louis Paxtonis set to direct from a screenplay written by Andrew Nunnelly.

For Navarrette, the project represents another major step forward following the massive success of Obsession, while also giving the actress a significant role behind the camera as an executive producer.

A Waffle House, Killer Crocodiles and Aliens

Despite its unusual title, The Waffle House Index appears ready to take audiences on an even stranger ride than its name suggests.

The film centers on a Waffle House waitress whose already difficult night takes a dangerous turn when an armed stranger arrives during her shift.

From there, things escalate dramatically.

Inde Navarrette for Schön!

The story reportedly involves a massive flood, killer crocodiles, a nuclear explosion, a mysterious bunker beneath the Waffle House and even aliens, combining elements of disaster movies, survival thrillers and science fiction into one ambitious story.

The title itself is inspired by the real-world “Waffle House Index,” an informal method of measuring the severity of a natural disaster based on whether local Waffle House restaurants are able to remain operational.

The concept generally uses three levels. Green indicates a restaurant is operating normally, yellow signals limited service or supplies, while red means the restaurant has closed entirely and conditions in the surrounding area could be severe.

That real-world concept appears to serve as the jumping-off point for a movie that quickly ventures into much bigger sci-fi territory.

Navarrette’s Breakout Run Continues

The Waffle House Index arrives as Navarrette continues what has become a breakout period in her career.

She currently stars as Nikki Freeman in Obsession, the horror thriller that became a major theatrical success after earning strong attention following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Navarrette’s performance has also generated awards attention, with Focus Features reportedly preparing a Best Actress Oscar campaign for the actress.

Her career is expanding well beyond Obsession.

Navarrette has also landed the role of Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men film and is attached to the upcoming horror project Invertigo.

Before her recent run of major film roles, Navarrette appeared as Estela de la Cruz in 13 Reasons Why and played Sarah Cushing on Superman & Lois. Her other credits include Trap House and Wander Darkly.

Now, The Waffle House Index gives Navarrette the opportunity to take another major step in her career by serving as both the film’s leading star and an executive producer.

Apple has not yet announced a release date for The Waffle House Index.

Tyler Cameron is preparing to test his dance experience against the demands of “Dancing With The Stars.”

The 33-year-old reality star earned a dance minor while attending Wake Forest University. He originally entered dance classes after failing his first semester to help raise his GPA.

Tyler Cameron played college football alongside longtime friend Matt James, who later competed on the dance show himself. He will compete alongside Sharna Burgess on “Dancing With the Stars.”

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Cameron said his dance education began because his grades needed to improve immediately. His coach told him to take dance classes after he failed his first semester of college. His classes included ballet and jazz, despite his insistence that he was not naturally talented.

The dancer joked that he was surrounded by 30 women and compared the experience to becoming the Bachelor early.  “None of the girls paid any interest in me,” He admitted to the podcast host, Amanda Hirsch.

“But I was in there giving maximum effort and giving the worst pirouettes and, like, the worst ballet dances ever,” he added. He revealed he was simply there to have fun rather than pursue professional dance training. The experience 

Improved his GPA. Years later, Cameron returned to dancing through the 2022 series “The Real Dirty Dancing.” The show paired celebrities for ballroom routines inspired by the classic movie. That experience eventually became another part of the dance history he brings to “DWTS.”

The ‘Bachelor Nation’ Star Says His Experience Is Nothing Like ‘The Real Deal’

Cameron doesn’t believe his earlier dance experience should lead fans to assume he is already prepared for “DWTS.” He specifically compared his time on “The Real Dirty Dancing” with the much larger challenge ahead.

According to US Magazine, he said the difference between the two experiences is enormous. “I will say that is like one-fifth of what we’re doing here,” Cameron said on the “Get Real” podcast. He acknowledged that the earlier show was enjoyable and taught him some things about dancing.

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The “Bachelor Nation” fan favorite explained that “The Real Dirty Dancing” lasted only about two weeks. By comparison, “Dancing With the Stars” demands much more of its celebrity contestants.

“That was, like, a two-week show, but this is the real deal,” he declared. Cameron’s comments came shortly after his Season 35 casting was announced. He will compete for the Len Goodman Memorial Mirrorball Trophy alongside professional partner Burgess.

More From The Blast

Jenna Johnson Has A Different Take On The Ringer Debate

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Johnson recently pushed back against the idea that trained contestants automatically enter the competition with an unfair edge. She argued that ballroom presents challenges that previous dance training cannot completely prepare contestants for.

The Professional dancer pointed to the pressure of performing live before millions of viewers as one major obstacle. Contestants also have only a few days to learn ballroom techniques while handling themes, characters, and judges’ expectations.

With no second chances once the cameras roll, she believes every celebrity faces a new experience. Johnson, who debuted on “DWTS” in 2014, said ballroom dancing requires specific techniques and partnering skills that other dance styles may not provide. 

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The choreographer also noted that athletic stamina, acting ability, musicality, and fan support can give contestants different advantages. “I understand when people are like, oh, you know, dance experience, whatever. Who cares!” Johnson said.

“This is the first time they’re ever doing Dancing with the Stars,” she added, stressing that the competition itself remains unfamiliar, as shared by The Blast.

Julia Stiles Of ‘Save The Last Dance’ Comes With Her Dance Experience Too

Stiles is also joining the competition after becoming famous for her role in the dance movie “Save the Last Dance.” She played Sara Johnson, a classically trained ballet dancer who discovers hip-hop while pursuing her dream of attending Juilliard. However, she did not have formal dance training before taking the role.

She had only danced casually and taken brief ballet lessons when she was younger. To portray Sara convincingly, Stiles underwent months of intensive dance training before filming began. She described the choreography as challenging and daunting because she was not a professional dancer.

Stiles later called dancing the best thing about making the movie, despite the difficulty. She also revealed that she has long been a fan of “Dancing With the Stars.”

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In 2025, she called the show her version of Monday Night Football and admitted she had considered participating. As The Blast reported, she had previously worried that living in New York City would make joining the competition difficult.

While Tyler Cameron Is Embracing The Ballroom, Andy Cohen Says No To ‘Dancing With The Stars’

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The Bravo executive, Cohen, revealed that producers previously asked him to join “Dancing With the Stars.” He has remained firmly opposed to turning his dancing into televised entertainment. His comments came after people posted clips of him dancing at Dead shows and mocked his moves on TikTok.

Cohen made his position clear with a simple request. “Let me dance in peace,” Cohen said while explaining why he has no interest in competing. He has spent two decades building his career around the “Real Housewives” franchise and remains more comfortable behind the scenes.

His work involves hosting, reunions, and casting rather than learning choreography and facing elimination. Cohen’s refusal places him among several celebrities who have rejected the ballroom for their own reasons. The Blast also noted that John Stamos has repeatedly declined invitations. 

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Ervin Joaquin Gutierrez is now facing a murder charge after a family gathering in New Mexico reportedly took a devastating turn when a disagreement between two cousins escalated far beyond the kitchen. What started as a night of cooking and drinking allegedly ended with 25-year-old Nathaniel Cavazos losing his life.

RELATED: South Carolina Woman Reportedly Orders Lyft And Stabs Driver 11 Times In His Head & Body Before Stealing His Car (VIDEO)

Gutierrez Remains In Custody Following Fatal Family Dispute

According to reports, Gutierrez was arrested Saturday, Aug. 29, and charged with an open count of murder. He remains in custody as of Wednesday, Sept. 2, according to online records for the Metropolitan Detention Center. It’s unclear whether he has an attorney. Authorities say the deadly incident happened Aug. 27 at an Albuquerque apartment complex, where Gutierrez had reportedly traveled from Roswell to cook green chile enchiladas with family.

An Enchilada Debate Allegedly Escalated Into Deadly Violence

A cousin who told investigators he was related to both men reportedly said Gutierrez and Nathaniel Cavazos began arguing over whose enchiladas were spicier. The disagreement allegedly escalated into a physical altercation. Gutierrez then allegedly shot Cavazos in the back three to four times as he attempted to walk away. A witness reportedly told investigators the two men were standing about 10 feet apart at the time. Gutierrez allegedly fled before officers arrived shortly before 11 p.m., and Cavazos was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gutierrez Allegedly Asked If Cavazos Was Really Dead

Following the shooting, Gutierrez allegedly contacted family members through Snapchat and asked, “Is he really dead?” He reportedly claimed that Cavazos had threatened him first, allegedly writing, “I did not want to kill him but i didn’t want him to kill me.” Meanwhile, Cavazos’ loved ones and neighbors gathered for a vigil, remembering the 25-year-old as someone who was kind, laughed often, and went out of his way to help others. One neighbor described him as someone who would help residents, including people with disabilities, while another said it was heartbreaking that such a kind person was taken by violence so close to home. Cavazos’ family attended the vigil but reportedly told local news they were not ready to speak on camera.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Mass Shootings In Chicago & Trenton, New Jersey Reportedly Leave 3 Dead And 18 Injured (VIDEOS)

“Dancing with the Stars” dance pro Witney Carson is not only a mom with a busy career, but also expecting her third baby with multiple projects heading her way. 

Carson recently teamed up with Chevron ahead of Labor Day, when many take road trips. She sat down with The Blast to share some of her road trip memories, favorite part about the partnership, what it’s like being pregnant for the third time with two little ones at home, and what’s next for her in her career.

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For Carson, many great memories are tied to family road trips, so partnering with Chevron ahead of a long weekend felt like a good fit for her.

“My family and I do a lot of traveling. We do a lot of planes, but when we really want to have an adventure, we do road trips. We rented a jeep in Australia, we took a big road trip up to this cabin in Idaho, and we just took a road trip to Huntington,” Carson told The Blast exclusively. “So for us, it’s really more of an adventure, and so when this opportunity with Chevron came about, it just felt like a very seamless partnership.” 

Carson added that learning about the technology of Techron has been enjoyable for her, and it’s something that impresses her husband.

“The technology is amazing. It actually cleans your engine from low quality fuel over time so it actually helps with your mileage. It also helps the longevity of your cars,” she said. “This has really opened my eyes as well to what I could be doing for my car and for my mileage. And my husband is very impressed. He’s a mechanical engineer so he’s worked on cars his entire life. So it’s been really fun to be able to partner with them and we’re really excited to get people out and about and spending time with their family on road trips.” 

Tips To Make Your Family Road Trips A Little More Adventurous

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When asked for some tips to make a family road trip more fun, Carson said it’s all about making some stops along the way.

“I feel like people are always like, ‘We’re going straight there, no stopping.’ It actually makes it a lot more fun if you do stop. We always try to find cute little cafes or a cute little shop in a random town we’re driving through,” she shared. “And we’ll make a little pit stop and just find fun things along the way to do together as a family making it just that much more fun and makes the adventure.”

A Core Memory For Witney Carson

Carson vividly remembers her childhood family road trips and she’s hoping for the same with her kids. She shared that when she was a child, her parents would wake everyone up in the middle of the night to start their road trip, and that’s become a core memory for Carson.

“They would just pile us in the car, put our blankets on, and drive us to Disneyland,” she said. “So, I want to do that with my kids. They’re still a bit young, but that was my favorite memory growing up – being able to just get on the road, drive to Disneyland in the middle of the night, and then wake up and we were in Disneyland. So, I think that would be fun for my kids to experience, too.” 

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‘Dancing With The Stars’ Memories

Spending more than a decade on “DWTS,” Carson has a lot of great memories. Stepping into “Dancing with the Stars: Next Pro,” she shared why this next chapter has been so special to her.

“It means so much. These contestants and these dancers are so talented. They are beautiful in what they do, and this whole show is incredible,” she told The Blast. “It’s giving someone an opportunity to completely change their lives. It was a big deal for us pros coming in to judge them.”

She explained that while she loves judging and giving feedback, eliminating someone was “really hard” for her. At the end of the day, she said it was “an honor to be part of three episodes.” She also got to co-host the finale. 

When asked if she has a favorite former dance partner from “DWTS,” she said that’s like “picking a favorite sibling.” 

“That is really hard to do,” she said. “I’ve been really lucky that all my partners have been really kind and really amazing. I have my favorites, but I’ll keep that to myself so I don’t get blasted.”

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Advice Witney Carson Would Give Her Younger Self

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From the time Carson started out on “Dancing with the Stars” to now, she’s learned a lot. One piece of advice she would give her younger self now having gone through the full experience is to “embrace the experience and celebrate in the small successes.” 

“When I first started out, it was very much trying to prove something and I was very competitive. I had to prove myself, which is not a bad thing, but I think in some cases, I definitely lost bits of myself in that because I was so focused on winning or getting something,” she said. “So my advice would be just truly embrace the experience and celebrate in the small successes.”

She added that despite the show being all about winning, it goes deeper than that. 

“It’s about growing yourself and helping your partner grow,” she said. “Not only in dance, but also as a person. I’ve learned so much each season. I would truly say just to enjoy the experience instead of only having a winning mentality.”

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