R&B singer Keke Wyatt is speaking out after she was allegedly arrested on what multiple outlets have reported to be a number of charges, allegedly including suspicion of child cruelty and making terroristic threats, in Georgia.

“Contrary to information currently being circulated, the Henry County court documentation reflects one charge: simple assault,” a statement shared via her Instagram read on Friday, September 26. “It denied that she was charged with cruelty to children, terroristic threats and acts and aggravated assault.”

The statement released on behalf of the singer and mom of 11 children differs from reporting by CBS Atlanta and The Georgia Gazette that Wyatt, 46, faced significantly more serious criminal charges for aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and acts and third-degree cruelty to children as a misdemeanor. (Court records show that Wyatt paid a $1,050 bond to be released from Henry County Jail on Tuesday, September 22.)

Wyatt is a mom to 11 children — sons Keyver, 26, Rahjah, 24, Ke’Mar, 16, Wyatt, 14, Kendall, 8, Ke’Riah, 6, and Ke’Zyah, 4, as well as daughters Ke’Tarah, 18, and Ke’Yoshi, 11, stepdaughter Mickayla and an 11th child whose name was not been publicly revealed. She shares her three eldest children with ex-husband Rahmat Morton, four with ex Michael Jamar Ford and her youngest three with former spouse Zackariah Darring. (Wyatt suffered the loss of daughter Heaven, who was stillborn, in 2009.)

Related: Why ‘Keke Wyatt’s World’ Season 1 Is a Must-Watch

The first season of Keke Wyatt’s reality series, Keke Wyatt’s World, came to an end on Thursday, November 16, and the singer is back on top. Wyatt, 41, proved she can balance it all during each episode of the WE tv series. The six-episode season kicked off last month and gave viewers an inside look […]

“We are particularly concerned by the circulation of allegations involving cruelty to children, as this is an extremely serious characterization and is not a charge reflected in the court documentation in this matter,” her team’s statement read.

Us has reached out to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office for clarification on Wyatt’s alleged charge.

Alongside her Instagram statement was a screenshot of an alleged booking sheet from the Henry County Jail, which appears to list a single charge of “simple assault unindicted.”

“We are not offering excuses or asking anyone to prejudge the circumstances surrounding the case,” her rep said. “We are simply asking that facts be reported responsibly and that inaccurate information-particularly information involving children— not continue to be repeated as fact. Keke will respect the judicial process and address the matter through the appropriate legal channels.”

Friday’s statement concluded with a message to promoters and “event partners” who have booked Wyatt for upcoming events, confirming that her “performance schedule remains unchanged.”

“She will continue to fulfill all confirmed and new contractual engagements and appearances as scheduled,” the statement clarified. “We sincerely appreciate your continued support and partnership.”

The “Nothing in This World” singer (legal name Ketara Wyatt Darring) exclusively told Us in November 2023 that it was “actually not hard at all” to be a mom to 11 children.

“If I have to go to the store, I’ll take one with me and that’s our time. Or if I’m going to the studio to record, I’ll take one, whoever’s asking to go. I just do it like that and I get my one-on-one time in,” she explained.

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At the time, Wyatt was not ruling out the possibility of welcoming a 12th child to the family.

“I thought it was complete at 10 and here’s 11. So I don’t know. I can say yes and then look up and now we got 12. I don’t know, I’ll just say that,” she said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

Best known for being on iconic romance book covers in the 80s and 90s, as well as being in the “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!” commercials, Fabio is lending a hand to help an old friend. 

TUBZ, the face of “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!,” has branched out to write a self-help book titled, “Lifting the Lid: The T.U.B.Z. Method for Unlocking Your Full Potential.” Fabio jumped in to help his old friend out by sharing a personal story in the foreword of the book. 

Fabio had some time to sit down with The Blast to chat about the book, why he felt now was the time to reunite with TUBZ and “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!,” as well as how important it is to him to constantly reinvent himself. 

Fabio Felt Now Was The Right Time To Reunite With ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!’

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During the 90s, TUBZ and Fabio were besties. And now, years later, they’re reuniting to celebrate TUBZ new book. You might be asking why TUBZ decided to write a self-help book, and the answer is actually simple – he learned to love himself and lift his lid without any shame.

“For a while, I wasn’t just forgotten, but nearly invisible,” TUBZ said, according to a press release sent to The Blast. “Behind the milk carton and that forgotten old jar of capers with the peeling label, I could have stayed back there feeling sorry for myself. But in the dark, I finally stopped asking why nobody was reaching for me and started asking a different question: what if it was something in me? This book is my unfiltered truth, and an invitation for everyone else to share theirs.” 

‘The Brand Is Like Family’

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Fabio told The Blast that the “brand is like family” so the time was right for a blast from the past collaboration with them. 

“We started in 1994 and have been around the world. We shot a commercial, and always a great time with the brand and especially because I never take myself too seriously because you can’t take yourself too serious in life, right?” Fabio told The Blast. “It was a perfect fit because it was always like tongue in cheek and let’s have some fun, and they bring out a great product.”

Fabio Is Constantly Reinventing Himself

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Spanning many generations with iconic moments, Fabio is no stranger to reinventing himself to continue to evolve.

“I’m telling you, you always have to evolve in life. It’s like when you’re 5 years old, you like certain things. When you’re 10, you like other things. So life is evolving always and it’s great. It’s good to change in life and discover yourself,” he told The Blast. “It’s also very important to live life day by day because I don’t believe crying over the past is going to resolve anything, so you’re not actually living in the present time. You’re not living in the moment and when you don’t live in the moment, you’re not creating anything for your future.” 

Fabio said that life is a growing process and with each day, you grow a little more. But if you don’t grow, “eventually life is gonna slap you so hard in the face” to force that growth.

“I don’t want that. I prefer to grow every year than not to grow for ten years,” he added. “And all that time, life is gonna hit you so hard that you have to grow in one year for ten, and that’s where people lose it.”

Writing The Foreword In TUBZ New Self-Help Book

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Fabio was happy to write the foreword for TUBZ new self-help book. He said the book will help you strive to be the best version of yourself. 

“When you are the best of yourself, you are an original, and when you’re an original, you can be 100 percent yourself,” he said. “Otherwise, you’re just going to be a copy, and a copy is never as good as the original.” 

Part of the foreword reads, “In 1994, I became the spokesperson for ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!’ It became an unforgettable part of my career and, over the years, part of American pop culture. So when I heard that TUBZ was writing a book, naturally I was curious.” 

He goes on to write how he’s not surprised that TUBZ had “something to say” and shared a little about what the book is all about. He concluded his two-page foreword by saying if he was not Fabio, “This is exactly the kind of book I would pick up.” 

The book is 75 pages of motivational and inspirational words and ideas. The book is currently available on Amazon.

What’s Next For Fabio?

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Fabio, being a big believer in constantly evolving and changing, said he’s thinking about his next chapter and what he wants to do.

“I’m thinking about opening up a wellness center. Today, a lot of people have problems with sciatic nerve,” he said. “So open up a total wellness center, not only for the outside, for the face or the body, but also for the nervous system, muscles, spine, bones. A total wellness center for your entire body.” 

He also shared, “I’m probably gonna have a big TV show next year,” but couldn’t say anymore on that topic just yet.

Hayden Panettiere is still living in the hearts of those she touched, even weeks after her death. In a new interview, “Heroes” creator Tim Kring opened up about how “extraordinary” a person and actress the late Panettiere was, calling her casting in the 2006 sci-fi TV show the perfect fit.

‘Heroes’ Creator Tim Kring Details How Hayden Panettiere Booked The Role

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“Heroes” premiered in September 2006, and Panettiere played the spunky Claire Bennet. She was a popular cheerleader with supernatural powers.

In an Entertainment Weekly interview honoring the show’s 20th anniversary, creator Tim Kring detailed how Panettiere was chosen for the role, revealing the budget wasn’t big, so they had to settle on actors who “felt like they were ordinary people.”

“Yes, they might be a little better looking than you or me, but I was going for that relatability of the everyman quality,” he said, adding that Panettiere’s character was the “cheerleader who you had a crush on, not the one that everybody else had the crush on.”

Finding The Right Actress For The Role Didn’t Take Much Searching

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According to Kring, finding the perfect fit for the role wasn’t hard. He explained that the search was pretty simple, adding that once they saw Panettiere, it was over.

Kring said a combination of Panettiere’s characteristics made her right for the series, pointing to her calm demeanor and acting ability.

“First of all, she was an extraordinary actress,” Kring said. “She just embodied that girl-next-door quality, and then her range was exceptional.”

Panettiere’s audition for the role was so stellar that Kring said he forgot who else may have even been in mind to portray the character.

“It was just pure talent that walked in the door,” he stated. “There’s nobody in my head that we saw other than her. For some of the other parts, I can remember other actors from casting, but no, she was it.”

More About Hayden Panettiere On ‘Heroes’

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“Heroes” ran from 2006 to 2010 and aired 78 episodes. The pilot episode brought in over 14 million viewers, making it a ratings success.

And while Panettiere was grateful to land the role, the actress wrote in her book, “A Reckoning,” that she was struggling with substance abuse behind the scenes.

“I grew up on that set, and I was so lucky to have those people around me,” she said about her time on the show. “Outside of work, I was dealing with paparazzi for the first time and my freedom being taken away, basically overnight. The cast of “Heroes” really kept me grounded at a very pivotal time in my life. I’m not saying I didn’t do some bad things — I definitely was a rebel — but they saved me from getting sucked into all sorts of trouble.”

Panettiere Died In August 2026

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According to a previous report from The Blast, Panettiere died at a South Carolina home in August 2026. Several people spoke out about the actress after learning of the loss, including her mother and father, as well as other esteemed performers, including Viola Davis.

“I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered. Rest well, Hayden. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name,” the “How to Get Away with Murder” actress said.

Child Star Speaks Out After Panettiere’s Death

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Before her death, Panettiere opened up about being subject to alleged mistreatment as a child star. In her book, she claimed that she was “groomed” to be an actress at a young age. At another point, Panettiere wrote about a high-powered Hollywood figure who tried to assault her at 18.

After her death, “Kim Possible” actress Christy Carlson Romano spoke about Panettiere’s experience and said child stars need more protection. “The former child actor exists in a category the world does not know how to hold,” she said. “We are children when the public wants to feel protective of us, professionals when the industry wants to profit from us, and spoiled celebrities when we eventually show symptoms of having been both.”

President Donald Trump received a not-so-warm welcome while attending the biggest college football game of the week.

The commander-in-chief, 80, was loudly booed shortly after he was introduced at the highly-anticipated Saturday, September 26, matchup between No. 1 Texas and No. 14 Tennessee.

The president first took part in a pregame Air Force One flyover at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday, before he took his seat in a secure suit next to gubernatorial candidate and self-proclaimed MAGA supporter Marsha Blackburn.

“Ladies and gentleman, the 45th president and 47th president of the United States — Donald J. Trump,” the announcer said over the intercom and as Trump was shown on the jumbotron. Despite being met with audible boos amid some positive cheers, the president seemed undeterred as the two teams battled it out on the gridiron. (The Longhorns defeated the Volunteers 20-17 on Saturday. The president declined to publicly endorse any team prior to the game.)

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian spoke about the possible game-time disruptions the president could pose simply by choosing to attend the game in-person.

“In the fourth quarter, if he decides to leave early, your communication gets cut off and shuts down,” Sarkisian, 52, told reporters ahead of Saturday’s matchup. “A good friend of mine is Mario Cristobal. Last year, when they were playing Indiana in the national championship, they had the drive at the end of that game, they had no communications because he was leaving early before the game ended. And so you get no warning, it just cuts out. You’ve gotta be prepared for that.”

Trump’s Saturday appearance and subsequent reception was far from the first time the command-in-chief has received a cold shoulder from a large crowd.

Related: President Trump ‘Not Expected’ to Attend Game 4 After Getting Loudly Booed

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After getting thunderously booed at Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals, President Donald Trump likely won’t be subjecting himself to potentially more hazing at Game 4.  “President Donald Trump is not expected to attend Game 4 of Knicks-Spurs in the NBA Finals on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden due to scheduling conflicts and […]

Amid rising gas and diesel prices, rising inflation and an increase in the cost of living, the ongoing war in Iran and a historically low approval rating, Trump was also loudly booed while appearing at this year’s 2026 World Cup Final.

After Jennifer Hudson performed a stunning rendition of the U.S. national anthem on July 19, Trump was shown clapping while standing from his section inside Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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As the camera panned to him, Trump was audibly booed by the audience. He watched the match — where defending champs Argentina faced off against Spain — beside his wife, Melania Trump, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. (Spain emerged victorious, winning 1-0.)

Trump was also met by a loud chorus of boos while appearing at Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. (The Knicks lost 115-111, with many critics blaming the president’s appearance for the New York team’s only loss of the championship series.)

“It was certainly amazing,” Trump told reporters of his reception at Madison Square Garden after the Knicks’ loss. “It was, I think it was mostly cheers.”

Nick Cannon is ready to pull back the curtain on his unconventional lifestyle in his family’s new reality show, but according to the father of 12, not everyone was on board. In a new interview, the “Masked Singer” host implied he had to convince his kids’ mothers to participate. However, once he shared his vision for the series, things were smooth sailing. The upcoming series has no premiere date yet, but according to Cannon, it will show his fans the “raw” and “real” side of his chaotic life.

Nick Cannon Says His Kids’ Mothers Weren’t Excited About The Reality Show At First

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For those unfamiliar, Cannon has 12 kids with six different women. He shares his oldest kids, twins Moroccan and Monroe, with singer Mariah Carey. Then Cannon has Golden, Rise, and Powerful with Brittany Bell, followed by twin boys Zion and Zillion and daughter Beautiful with Abby de La Rosa. Cannon later welcomed son Legendary with “Selling Sunset” star Bre Tiesi and daughter Onyx with LaNisha Cole. The rapper also had a son, Zen, who died at five months with Alyssa Scott. They also share a daughter, Halo.

While his family life seems complicated, Cannon hinted that things behind the scenes are actually much calmer than they seem. He also implied that fans would be surprised to see how well they get along, despite the negative headlines. “I think people will be really surprised how there’s so much love there,” he told Us Weekly.

It’s unclear who will be part of the show, but based on his comments, some of his children’s mothers will appear. They weren’t all game for the idea at first, though. “They were like, ‘Why are we letting cameras into our homes?’” Cannon recalled. “I think that everybody’s very comfortable with just keeping their peace. But everybody said that they would do it for me, so I’m appreciative of that.”

Nick Cannon Is Ready To Show The World His Reality After Living In The Spotlight For So Long

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Cannon has been a public figure for decades, appearing on Nickelodeon’s “All That” before appearing in blockbuster films like “Drumline” and “Roll Bounce.” Cannon became an even bigger star after starring in even more work, including “Wild ‘N Out” and “America’s Got Talent.”

Outside of his career, though, Cannon has always been the subject of some story or headline, and now, it’s time for him to address the claims head-on. “People have been fascinated with my lifestyle for quite some time, so instead of letting them make up stuff, I’m gonna give you everything,” he said about his new series, adding that he’s giving viewers the “raw” and “real” deal.

“I think we’re being more open and more vulnerable, and coming from you know a very unorthodox setting,” he continued about his family.

Nick Cannon Says He Was ‘Careless’ Before Fathering 12 Children

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According to a previous report from The Blast, Cannon has opened up about fathering 12 children and said it was never his plan.

During his conversation with Charlamagne Tha God, Cannon said that his dozen kids came from him “being careless and frivolous with my process.”

He explained that having the money and status caused him to think he wanted more. “Then, obviously, life happens as well, so it wasn’t like ‘Oh, I’m gonna go have 12 kids.’ It was more about like, ‘Yo, I’m gonna just live life and have fun and whatever happens happens. I can handle it,’” he said.

Would Cannon Ever Get Remarried?

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While he has many kids with a handful of different women, Cannon was only ever married once, per The Blast. His marriage to Carey ended in November 2016, after they first tied the knot in the spring of 2008.

Though Cannon and Carey ended their marriage on good terms, the former recently admitted that his experience with the “Obsessed” singer was enough to make him know he wouldn’t do it again.

“I don’t like the government in my love life,” he said about remarrying. “I think the institution of marriage should be respected, but I can’t see myself going through the legal paperwork again.”

Cannon And Carey Are Still Close

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Netflix may explore part of Cannon’s relationship with Carey on his new reality show, but if not, the comedian and rapper said in September 2026 that they’re closer than people think.

“We were laughing about [reports we’re not close]. I was like, ‘Who is telling people that?’ On the flip side, I’ve heard we’re getting back together. I’ll deliver the truth with the doc. I’m always open [to that]. Our divorce wasn’t messy. We were able to move on and be the best parents we can,” he said.

In another interview, Cannon shared a similar statement, calling the Queen of Christmas “my greatest friend and my greatest teacher.”

Editor’s Note: The following article contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame Encore.

Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are shaping up, in many ways, to be a massive shift in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Doomsday is assembling two different generations of Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and a collection of X-Men, marking the first time all three superhero teams have appeared in a movie. If that mighty Marvel mashup wasn’t enough of a draw, directors Joe and Anthony Russo, alongside Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige, have hinted that Secret Wars could potentially serve as a fresh start for the MCU. The biggest shift, though, lies with the character at the center of Doomsday and Secret Wars.

That character is none other than Doctor Doom, portrayed by MCU veteran Robert Downey Jr. Doom has taken center stage throughout Doomsday’s marketing, with a trio of posters focusing on the metal-clad monarch and a special trailer revealing more of his history with the Fantastic Four. Many fans have questioned whether Downey’s take on Doom will be as complex and menacing as the character in the comics, especially since he hasn’t had as much buildup as previous MCU villains. Judging from what’s been shown in trailers and the extra scenes added to Avengers: Endgame Encore, it looks like the Russos might succeed in that regard.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Couldn’t Be More Different from Iron Man

Image via Marvel Studios

When Robert Downey Jr. unveiled himself as Doctor Doom during Marvel Studios’ San Diego Comic-Con presentation in 2024, the reaction was very mixed. Some felt that Marvel made the right pivot following Jonathan Majors‘ ousting as Kang the Conqueror. Others felt that bringing Downey and the Russos back was essentially an attempt to win back lapsed audiences, especially following a downturn in Marvel’s theatrical efforts. The recent trailers for Doomsday show that Downey isn’t returning for a nostalgia play, but is making Doom as compelling a character as he did with Iron Man. Whether he’s staring forlornly at a picture of someone who might be his late mother or talking about taking back “stolen lives” from the Avengers, Doomsday aims to keep audiences engaged with Doom.

Downey’s performance as Doom isn’t the first time that he’s played an antagonist in the MCU. That honor goes to Captain America: Civil War, which saw Iron Man and Captain America coming to blows. Even though Tony Stark was an antagonist, audiences still saw the emotions that drove his decisions, and Anthony Russo recently revealed in an interview on Marvel’s official website that the same impulse drives Downey’s performance as Doom.

“It was a very scary idea to a lot of people that we would sort of put that character in a position of being considered the bad guy. But Robert is brave. He likes to be surprised, he likes to be pushed into difficult places. It was a very similar process thinking about [him] playing Victor Von Doom.”

‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ Gives Fans a First Look at Doctor Doom’s Plans

Fans got their first glimpse of Avengers: Doomsday and Doctor Doom’s goals during screenings of Avengers: Endgame Encore. In addition to the original cut of Avengers: Endgame, Encore features four different scenes that set the stage for Doomsday. One of these scenes directly connects Endgame to Doomsday, as Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) have their romantic reunion interrupted by Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Another confirms that Earth-10005, where the X-Men reside, is the sole survivor of countless incursions. However, the biggest scene involves none other than Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo).

After the events of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Banner works in an underground bunkeron a serum meant to suppress the Hulk. Doom interrupts his work, saying he’s here to “collect” Banner; Banner starts transforming into the Hulk, and the camera cuts out shortly afterward. This scene serves as a dark mirror to Ruffalo and Downey’s previous interactions in the MCU, as Banner and Tony Stark quickly formed a rapport. The same goes for a scene where Doom is forging his iconic armor, hinting that the Lord of Latveria is both similar to, and wholly different from, the hero that kick-started the entire MCU.

Avengers: Doomsday premieres in theaters on December 18, 2026. Avengers: Endgame Encore is now playing in theaters.

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Release Date

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December 18, 2026

Runtime

165 Minutes

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In the 1980s and 1990s, when newspaper comic strips were at their peak, the “funnies” were often quick workplace or family stories meant to elicit a chuckle before we moved on to the next and nothing more.

Some comics, however, were incredibly smart and caused the reader to pause and think more about the themes past the initial laugh. Bill Watterson‘s Calvin and Hobbes was great at this. So was Gary Larson‘s The Far Side, which had the challenge of saying so much with just one panel. These eight examples prove just how brilliant the cartoonist was.

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Monsters on Top of the Bed

Image via Gary Larson

For generations, every kid has feared the monster under the bed. We know there’s nothing under there during the day, and our parents can come in and check at night, but it doesn’t diminish the fear of the unknown. It’s so common that Pixar made Monsters, Inc. about those monsters and what they do away from their night job of scaring children. In this Far Side panel, the twist is that the monsters under the bed aren’t there to scare anyone — they’re there because this is where they sleep. Even they have their fears as well. What waits on top of the bed creeps them out. According to Gary Larson, everyone fears what they cannot see.

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A Dry Fish Basement

Image via Gary Larson

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The Earth is three-quarters water. As humans, we only pay attention to the dry land we live on, where water, if it’s not in a pool or body of water as a place of relaxation, is often a problem, especially in the home. We’ve all had to deal with the annoyance of some sort of water leak, and nothing is worse than when water gets in and ruins a basement. In this panel, Larson sees fish as being just like us, living in their own homes. In their opposite world, water is, of course, needed and ruins nothing. What would be an issue in a fish world is a place of dryness. Here, the entire basement is flooded with dry. Now poor John is going to have to deal with it.

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Superman and the Lighthouse

Image via Gary Larson

Summer is the favorite season for many. Still, as fun as it can be, there’s one part every person hates about it. Go outside at night and turn on a porch light, and you’re sure to be besieged by mosquitoes and other bugs that are pulled to the light, zooming around it constantly. In this strip, two lighthouse operators, like a massive porch light for ships in the night, are besieged by their own annoyance: Superman. Even the Man of Steel, as strong as he is, can’t resist the pull and hypnotizing effect of an electric light in the darkness. Murray better get that light turned off quick!

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Painting the Fly Woman

Image via Gary Larson

Gary Larson forces the reader to really pay attention to this Far Side strip, with the punch line not so immediately easy to find. In it, an artist paints a portrait of a woman. There’s nothing funny about this. But why in the world is her head half human and half giant fly on the canvas when she looks completely normal in reality? Look closer, and it becomes clear. There is a fly sitting on the lens of the painter’s glasses. He’s so invested in his work and painting everything he sees in his vision that he’s combined his near and far sights into one terrifying painting.

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Peter Pan Grows Up

Image via Gary Larson

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J.M. Barrie‘s Peter Pan has been adapted many times over the last century plus, from a popular animated Disney film to stage plays. The themes of wanting to stay a child forever and the loss of innocence as we grow up have stuck with generations. But what if Peter Pan, the boy from Neverland who refuses to grow up, actually did just that? Steven Spielberg‘s 1991 Hook imagined this, with Robin Williams as an adult Peter Pan working a normal life as a lawyer. In this similar Far Side strip, however, there’s no saving the day. A grown-up Peter Pan has it all with a wife and kids, but as he sits at his dull office job, even he can’t escape the pull of wanting to go back and live as a kid again.

Image via Gary Larson

It doesn’t get much smarter than meta-humor, as a form of art steps outside itself and looks in, exploring the themes behind its creation. Wes Craven started an entire franchise out of this idea with Scream in 1996 by creating a slasher movie that winked knowingly at the rules of the genre. Comic strips have their own rules, too. Because it’s still life, with no movement or sound, when a character speaks or thinks, their words are shown in a dialogue or thought bubble above their head for us to read. In this strip, there’s no escape. These characters know they live inside a comic strip, so when Lewis’ boss catches his employee having negative thoughts about him, it’s game over for Lewis, who will now have to think about getting another job.

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God Creates Jerks

Image via Gary Larson

Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? These are the questions that have troubled humanity since the beginning of time. In a search for answers, many of us turn to religion and the idea of god. Whether you’re a believer or not, it can’t be denied that the idea of a creator has soothed billions of people. In this Far Side strip, Larson imagines God as a chef, with Earth a creation being concocted in his kitchen. In the background, God has boxes and jars for bugs and reptiles and different colors of skin for humans. If there is a god, though, why are there bad people who do bad things? Here, it’s simple. God wants to make things interesting, so he dumps in some jerks. Sorry, God, but you may have put in too many.

1

Midvale School for the Gifted

Image via Gary Larson

Arguably The Far Side’s most famous strip, this one is so simple and easily brilliant. The Midvale School for the Gifted takes only the brightest and most gifted students, yet here’s this kid pushing on an exterior door to the school even though there is a sign that obviously says “PULL” in big letters. This boy’s actually not so gifted after all. Is this school a joke where anyone can get in, including this idiot? Or maybe Larson is trying to say something else. No matter how smart we are, all of us are the same. No one has escaped having a mindless moment where they’ve attempted to push their way in through a door that needs to be pulled open. It’s embarrassing.

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Release Date

December 20, 1996

Runtime

112 minutes

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Writers

Kevin Williamson

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Producers

Bob Weinstein, Cary Woods, Cathy Konrad, Harvey Weinstein

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If you think your morning commute seems perilous, spare a thought for Brad Pitt’s Ladybug in the 2022 action-comedy Bullet Train. Currently slicing its way up the Hulu charts, the movie takes the world of assassins and puts it on high-speed rails, as a colorful cast of familiar faces clash in the carriages in David Leitch’s inventive, hilarious adaptation of Kōtarō Isaka‘s 2010 novel. With kinetic action that evokes the John Wick franchise, and a multi-character mystery worthy of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, it’s been a sleeper hit for action fans.

‘Bullet Train’ is a High-Speed Battle Royale

Image via Sony Pictures

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Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an assassin with a reputation for being a bad luck charm to all those around him. Drafted in by his handler (Sandra Bullock) as a last-minute replacement on a job, he boards a bullet train departing Tokyo with the aim of retrieving a suitcase. His hopes for a quiet journey are dashed when he discovers the vehicle is filled with fellow killers, all with interweaving motives and orders. What begins as a routine job spirals into a chain reaction of mistaken identities and fate‑driven twists that tie every passenger’s destinies together.

Playing out like a video game come to life, the movie ignites the screen with a knowing wink and self-referential humor. Each carriage, and each stop offers a new ‘level’, with the enjoyment coming in the variety of wild encounters and twists in the tale. There’s never time to get bored as a new challenger comes to meet Ladybug, who usually greets them with a tired sigh. While he may not be happy to see them, it offers one of the most diverse and intriguing casts in modern memory.

An All-Star Cast Makes for a Hilarious Adventure

Image via Sony Pictures

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It feels like every seat on Leitch’s express journey has a character worthy of a film in their own right, played by an actor who makes the most of every moment. There’s English assassins Tangerine and Lemon (Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Bryan Tyree Henry), Prince (Joey King), a young hit woman disguised as a schoolgirl, stoic patriarch Elder (Hiroyuki Sanada), and criminal kingpin The White Death, played with menace by Michael Shannon.

Some might think that makes for a train that’s too crowded, but the ensemble offers a tonal spread that keeps the viewer interested. Taylor-Johnson and Henry feel ripped straight from a buddy comedy, while King adds a shiver of mystery that belongs in a paperback thriller. Sanada brings a seriousness and gravitas to proceedings, while Shannon works as the puppet master, manipulating all who come aboard. Each character shifts the energy within the carriage, making for a story made of very different chapters. There’s a feast of familiar faces who make small but significant appearances, such as rapper Bad Bunny and Marvel star Zazie Beetz. It’s their ability to bring individual flavors, and complications, to proceedings that make it all the more compelling to untangle the web.

Brad Pitt Continues His Late-Career Resurgence

At the center of it all, of course, is Pitt, as the charmingly unwilling protagonist who treats each life-threatening duel like an inconvenience. His pacifist assassin is something of a contradiction, and watching Ladybug’s reluctance to dispatch his opponents (even when it means his own survival) is a consistent highlight of the movie. It’s also a notable chapter in his late-career resurgence, as Pitt rushes toward his sixties with an Oscar and a desire to make interesting work.

Having spent much of the early part of his career pigeonholed as a Hollywood heartthrob, age has suited the actor who always chased a variety of different roles. In his late fifties and early sixties, that’s meant creating some truly iconic performances; he won his first Academy Award three years prior as Cliff Booth, the cool and mysterious right-hand man of Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. While Ladybug may not have the composure of that role, Bullet Train is another example of the actor’s charisma shining through as he becomes less of a matinée idol and more of a pulp hero. It also gives him the opportunity to be funny in a way that wasn’t possible when he was an up-and-coming leading man.

Four years after its release, Bullet Train remains a fresh and exciting movie with Hollywood favorites at every turn and a momentum that won’t let up until the story reaches its destination. If you’ve ever wondered why Pitt remains a superstar at the age most are looking toward retirement, look no further than this unique cinematic obstacle course.

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Release Date

August 5, 2022

Runtime

126 minutes

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Writers

Zak Olkewicz

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Certain stories return to the Hollywood landscape because people believe they remain relevant. Others come back periodically because the story will not be forgotten. John Steinbeck’s East of Eden clearly falls into the latter category. Over 70 years after the book’s release, Netflix is turning the family saga into a seven-episode series, and with Florence Pugh in the lead, it could be the most ambitious work in this direction.

Devised by Zoe Kazan, the series will air on the streamer on October 1, 2026, with Pugh portraying Cathy Ames and Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Joseph Zada, Joe Anders, Hoon Lee, Tracy Letts, Martha Plimpton, and Ciarán Hinds in key roles. Additionally, Kazan’s connection to the story is highly personal, as her grandfather, Elia Kazan, wrote the screenplay for the popular 1955 film adaptation, with James Dean in the lead.

What Is Netflix’s ‘East of Eden About?

Image via Kristy Griffin / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

At its core, East of Eden is a story about family, jealousy, and the fear that we might be destined to become the worst parts of the people who came before us. Steinbeck divides the novel between two intertwined families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, while repeatedly returning to the biblical story of Cain and Abel.

The Trask family provides the novel’s central conflict. Brothers Adam and Charles grow up locked in a rivalry for their father’s approval, setting the pattern for the next generation. Adam eventually marries Cathy, a woman whose capacity for cruelty becomes one of the novel’s most disturbing elements. After giving birth to twin sons, Caleb and Aron, Cathy abandons the family, leaving Adam to raise the boys in California.

Years later, the brothers find themselves repeating the same emotional battle their father and uncle fought. Aron is idealistic and dutiful, while Cal is more troubled, resentful, and convinced that something is fundamentally wrong with him. Their relationship becomes another variation on Cain and Abel, with Steinbeck asking whether people are actually trapped by the nature they inherit.

That question is ultimately what makes East of Eden more than a multigenerational melodrama. The novel’s defining idea is “timshel,” Steinbeck’s rendering of a biblical passage as “thou mayest” — the notion that people can choose what they become. For Cal, that choice becomes whether he accepts the darkness he sees in himself or fights against it.

John Steinbeck Considered ‘East of Eden’ His Magnum Opus

Image via ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Published in 1952, East of Eden was no small undertaking for Steinbeck. The author considered it his most ambitious work and described it as the culmination of everything he had learned as a writer. He originally envisioned the novel partly as a way of preserving the sights and sounds of California’s Salinas Valley for his young sons, and the landscape became inseparable from the story itself.

The novel also draws heavily on Steinbeck’s family history. Steinbeck was inspired by his maternal grandfather, Samuel Hamilton, and he briefly appears as a character. The story moves between generations and locations before ultimately settling into the Salinas Valley, where the Trasks’ family drama unfolds against the backdrop of early 20th-century California and World War I.

Its biblical foundation is impossible to miss. Steinbeck took the title from Genesis, specifically the passage describing Cain leaving God’s presence and settling in the land “east of Eden.” But the novel uses that story as a framework for examining guilt, envy, love, self-destruction, and, most importantly, whether anyone is doomed to repeat the sins of their parents.

Florence Pugh Leads Netflix’s ‘East of Eden’ Cast

Image via Geoffrey Short / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

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Pugh has the unenviable task of bringing Cathy to life, following Jane Seymour’s memorable performance in the 1981 television adaptation. Abbott plays Adam, while Faist takes on Charles. Zada and Anders portray the adult Trask twins, Caleb and Aron, respectively. The cast also includes Hoon Lee as Lee, the Chinese-American servant who becomes one of Adam’s closest confidants; Hinds as Samuel Hamilton; Letts as Cyrus Trask; and Plimpton as Faye.

Kazan wrote and executive produced the series, with Jeb Stuart serving as co-showrunner. Garth Davis directed the first four episodes, while Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre directed the final three. Filming took place in New Zealand between October 2024 and March 2025, with the production using locations including Auckland, Dunedin and Oamaru to bring Steinbeck’s world to the screen.

The Netflix series has plenty of East of Eden history to contend with. Elia Kazan’s 1955 film became an enduring classic, but it famously focuses only on the final portion of Steinbeck’s enormous novel. The 1981 ABC miniseries had considerably more room to tell the full story, stretching across three installments. Netflix’s version gets seven episodes to do the same, which doesn’t guarantee a better adaptation, but it gives the Trask family’s history room to breathe.

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East of Eden

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Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

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Network

Netflix

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Directors

Garth Davis

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Susan Sarandon arrived at the 2026 Venice Film Festival looking every bit the movie legend she is, and her outfit instantly made its way onto our mood board. Rather than opting for a fancy dress or formal suit, the 79-year-old traded fussy fashion for barrel-leg pants, a.k.a. that softly rounded yet sleek silhouette that’s suddenly everywhere. She looked laid-back, relaxed and youthful, sending Us on a search for a similar budget style we could add to our wardrobes.

Sarandon has always been the epitome of cool, so it makes sense she’d show the world exactly how to rock barrel-leg pants like a pro. Styled with a white button-down, black jacket and chunky sneakers, the bottoms added a bit of playfulness without feeling over-the-top. They were also a million times more flattering than skinnies, skimming the hips and tapering just above the ankle.

Get the Egocka Barrel Ankle Pants for $35 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

The fall-friendly look works beyond important industry events, and definitely doesn’t require a stylist or a Hollywood budget to pull off. Amazon has a nearly identical pair from Egocka for $35, and the pull-on pick has a 4.4-star rating, with shoppers scooping up multiples.

Related: 13 Wide-Leg Pants That Are More Flattering Than Skinny Jeans — From $9

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It’s official: fall has arrived, and temperatures have unfortunately dropped well below shorts weather. But rather than reaching for your trusty pair of skinny jeans this year, you might want to try something different — mainly, wide-leg trousers, which are more flattering and elevated than your typical slim-fit pants. In addition to looking good, wide-leg […]

While a Sarandon-inspired black colorway is available, the same bottoms come in green, navy, coffee and more, so you can build out a whole rotation without blowing your budget. The stretchy fabric is even machine washable, saving you trips to the dry cleaners and allowing you to wear these babies on repeat.

One reviewer put it simply: “Surprisingly, I am in love with these pants. They drape perfectly and [are] very comfortable.” They noted that they bought the barrel pants in both navy and brown, and wear them everywhere from yoga to coffee runs to the casual office. Talk about versatility!

Another shopper took their pair on a two-week European vacation and called them “the real MVP,” pointing out that the pants can be styled with a T-shirt by day and a dressier top for dinner out. That’s the beauty of this shape — it reads polished with loafers and a blazer, but works just as well with sneakers and a linen tee.

Sarandon-approved, wallet-approved. . . are they in your cart yet? Add ’em now!

Get the Egocka Barrel Ankle Pants for $35 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more barrel-leg pants here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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Related: 17 Elevated Barrel Pants That Channel the Cool Silhouette Beyond Jeans

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Some trends stay in style much longer than we expect them to, and that’s certainly the case with barrel-leg pants. The roomy, wide-leg silhouette is the oddly flattering pants style everyone can find comfort in. And the best part? The loose shape spans beyond denim — just ask all the cool NYC girls who are […]