Connect with us
DAPA Banner

Entertainment

Buffy’s Meanest Character Secretly Called Out Show’s Laziest Trope In First Episode

Published

on

Buffy’s Meanest Character Secretly Called Out Show’s Laziest Trope In First Episode

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is, without a doubt, the tropiest TV show ever created. Thanks to geeky showrunner Joss Whedon, the series was always channeling some of the most popular tropes of film and television, all while creating a few of its own. Eventually, this led to a minor bit of internet history: the helpful website TV Tropes began as a Buffy fan site before it expanded to cover pop culture of all stripes. Long before that site was created, Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran a stake through the laziest trope of them all!

When Willow Rosenberg is first introduced in “Welcome to the Hellmouth,” she is presented as a mousy, geeky girl. This is mostly due to how she dresses, and the character’s fashion evolves over time, revealing her to be one of the sexiest of the Scoobies. In short, Willow is the living embodiment of the “Beautiful All Along” trope, in which minor changes to someone’s appearance reveal them to have been a secret hottie all along. Even wilder, resident mean girl Cordelia draws attention to this in the first episode when she dunks on Willow’s choice of clothing.  

Mean Girls: Sunnydale Edition

Need a few crumbs of context? According to TV Tropes, “Beautiful All Along” is the trope in which a character (almost always female) is initially presented as someone who isn’t conventionally attractive. Eventually, she takes off her glasses, lets down her hair, and/or updates her wardrobe, and voila! The Ugly Duckling character is revealed to be a beautiful swan. It happens to Rachael Leigh Cook in She’s All That, Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries, Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality, and so many more examples.

It also happens to Alyson Hannigan in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In the first two seasons of the show, she wears childishly bright, mostly oversized clothing that emphasizes that she is a very nerdy character trying to hide rather than stand out. Her fashion becomes fitted and confidently quirky in Season 3. As befitting Willow’s college debut, seasons 4 and 5 show her experimenting with a mixture of bohemian and contemporary styles, and she was often dressed far better than Buffy. She eventually settled into a sexy ‘90s style that alternated between darker palettes for Season 6 and warmer palettes for Season 7.

Buffy Called Out Its Own Lazy Trope

In retrospect, it’s clear the plan was to make Willow look more overtly sexy over time. That’s why we got early glimpses of Alyson Hannigan as a smokeshow, like when she dons a midriff-bearing Halloween costume in Season 2 and meets her leather-clad, dommy mommy vampire persona in Season 3. Those early episodes reminded us how hot Willow actually was, something that her geeky wardrobe from the early seasons did its best to obscure. But in a kind of meta-moment you can only find in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Cordelia actually calls out what the show is doing to Willow in the very first episode!

In “Welcome to the Hellmouth,” we get a vintage Cordelia moment in which she apparently gives Willow an earnest compliment. “Nice dress!” As soon as the geeky girl smiles, though, Cordelia follows up with her sick burn. “Good to know you’ve seen the softer side of Sears.” A sheepish Willow says that her mother picked the outfit out, allowing Cordelia to squeeze in yet another insult. “No wonder you’re such a guy magnet.” The scene is very effective at defining who these characters are: Cordelia is the sexy bully, and Willow is her mousy target. However, there’s more going on in this scene than you might think.

Advertisement

Black (Magic) Swan

If you pay close attention to Cordelia’s insult, she doesn’t actually call Willow ugly. In her overly cruel way, she is pointing out that Willow might just be a “guy magnet” (as in, attractive to others) if she wore better clothing. This is exactly what happens later in the show: Oz, her first serious boyfriend, takes special notice of her when he sees her sexy Halloween costume. She and Xander also share some forbidden smooching after he notices how good she looks in her homecoming dress. Furthermore, she meets Tara (the love of her life) at the height of her experimental fashionista phase in college.

Long story not very short? Willow is the ultimate Buffy example of the “Beautiful All Along” trope. All it takes is an improvement in her wardrobe to show everyone in Sunnydale how sexy she really is. Incidentally, that wardrobe change also helped audiences realize how gorgeous Willow actor Alyson Hannigan is. In 2004, one year after Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired its final episode, she was voted one of the sexiest women in the world by FHM!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the king (or should that be queen?) of TV tropes, and Willow was the ultimate embodiment of the “Beautiful All Along” trope. But the show was also famous for turning tropes on their head and generally subverting our expectations. In the very first episode, not only did Cordelia effectively call this trope out, but she foreshadowed exactly what would happen to Willow: she’d eventually ditch the mousy clothing, start dressing stylishly, and become one of the loveliest ladies in all of Sunnydale.


Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Entertainment

Everyone Hates Star Trek’s Musical Episode For The Wrong Reason

Published

on

Everyone Hates Star Trek’s Musical Episode For The Wrong Reason

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Strange New Worlds is a Star Trek show that some fans think started falling off after Season 1. While the first season primarily delivered the same kind of episodic exploration that made fans fall in love with The Original Series, season 2 began taking some big, creative swings. The biggest swing of all was most definitely “Subspace Rhapsody,” better known in the fandom as “the musical episode.” While the episode has its defenders, much of the fandom has criticized this episode for a musical myriad of reasons.

Here’s the thing, though: pretty much all of this episode’s biggest critics hate it for the wrong reason. The biggest problem with “Subspace Rhapsody” isn’t that it’s “not Star Trek” or that its premise is wonky or that it’s too silly. No, the major issue here is that the music just isn’t very good, especially when you compare it to “Once More With Feeling,” the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode that is still the gold standard for musical television.

Star Trek Sings!

To bring you up to (warp) speed, “Subspace Rhapsody” is a Strange New Worlds episode where they encounter a very unique cosmic phenomenon: an “improbability fold.” After Uhura broadcasts a song into it (because why not, right?), the crew of the Enterprise suddenly start singing and dancing on a whim. Just like that, everyone is stuck inside a musical, and they can’t help but sing their feelings at the drop of a hat. But unless this intrepid crew can figure out what is happening to them before some bad guys show up, they’ll all have a front-row seat to the day the music died!

Relatively speaking, “Subspace Rhapsody” is considered a middle-of-the-road episode. It has a 6.8 rating on IMDB, which may not sound that bad, but it was the lowest-rated episode of the entire season. Even when you account for Season 3 (which had more stinkers than the previous season), Star Trek’s first foray into musical shenanigans is one of the five worst episodes of the entire series (“Subspace Rhapsody” is tied with “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans,” another overtly silly episode).

Close, But No Harmony

What do people actually dislike about “Subspace Rhapsody,” though? The classic criticism is that it doesn’t feel like a Star Trek episode, which isn’t entirely true. Sure, the franchise had never gone musical before, but Trek is filled with crazy cosmic crap. If you can believe that going Warp 10 turns humans into lizard people, that transporters can de-age people, and that candles can contain impossibly horny, DTF Scottish ghosts, then let’s be real. You can believe some weird space widget forces people to sing.

Others complained that “Subspace Rhapsody” was too silly, but that’s something of a cop-out. Star Trek has always had silly episodes. Kirk encounters a giant bunny in “Shore Leave,” for example, and Picard has to literally play Robin Hood in “Qpid.” Heck, Sisko fights racism with baseball in “Take Me Out to the Holosuite.” It’s not a problem to have an occasional silly episode here and there. As Season 3 of Strange New Worlds later demonstrated, it’s a big problem when a noticeably large chunk of your 10-episode season is dedicated to pure silliness. 

Advertisement

That Old Time Spock And Roll

The final major complaint about “Subspace Rhapsody” is that the stakes are low, which is true. But to these haters, I say you can’t have it both ways. One of the biggest criticisms of NuTrek is that every major plot ends up becoming a super-serious race to save the entire galaxy, and fans eventually got catastrophe fatigue from the whole thing. Strange New Worlds was created in large part as a silly palate cleanser after the heaviness of Discovery and Picard. Given that, it seems silly to complain that an episode of SNW finally delivered the low-stakes storytelling we’d been asking for.

So, given all of that, why do I hate “Subspace Rhapsody”? Simple: the songs stink! For context, I’m a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and that show’s musical episode, “Once More With Feeling,” is filled with wall-to-wall bangers. The songs have infectiously catchy beats and impossibly clever lyrics. Not only are these songs I happily jam out to outside of the episode, but they are songs I frequently sing out loud to the shock (and occasional delight, damn it!) of the people around me. As for “Subspace Rhapsody,” I don’t think I could hum a single note if you had a phaser up to my head.

It’s No Buffy

The songs just aren’t memorable, either in terms of music or lyrics. They’re serviceable to the plot, of course, and they do a decent job of advancing plots like the endless romantic drama between Spock and Chapel. Part of the problem is, unlike the writers of the episode, the songs of “Subspace Rhapsody” don’t take any big, creative swings. Nothing stands out because no creative risks are taken, and it simply feels like a bunch of lyrics were just jammed into a musical AI with the prompt “make it sound like off, off-Broadway.”

It doesn’t help that some cast members can clearly sing better than others, and even the ones who can seemingly carry a tune were helped out with pitch correction, better known as autotune. With Buffy, the cast practiced until they could all confidently lead a song, with the exception of poor, tone-deaf Alyson Hannigan. Rather than forcing her to deliver a subpar melody, Joss Whedon simply honored her request to bow out and didn’t give her any songs of her own (which is why one of her only contributions is the cheeky “I think this line’s mostly filler”).

The result is the worst of both worlds. Not only does the premise and tone of “Subspace Rhapsody” set older fans’ teeth on edge, but the songs are a disappointment to those of us who were looking forward to a musical episode. Why do something so unprecedented if you’re going to do it in such a half-assed way? Unfortunately, it’s not clear that Star Trek’s powers that be ever learned their lesson from this, and with our luck, Season 4 will give Muppet Captain Pike one goofy, autotuned song after another!


Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Whoopi Goldberg“,” Goldie Hawn tried to make a movie where they played sisters: 'People used to call me Whoopi'

Published

on


Goldberg said Hawn used to sign her name as “Whoopi” in the past.

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Jeff Bezos Looking To Offset $500M Asset Before Met Gala 

Published

on

Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos is reportedly looking to offload his massive superyacht, Koru, just as the high-society season kicks into high gear. 

The billionaire is quietly seeking a buyer for the custom vessel because its record-breaking size has created significant logistical hurdles that have become difficult to manage. 

This update comes shortly after he reportedly threw an exclusive Pre-Met Gala celebration that featured the likes of Kris Jenner and Nicole Kidman. 

Advertisement
Jeff Bezos
MEGA

Bezos is reportedly ready to part ways with his $500 million sailing yacht, Koru, after discovering that the vessel’s immense scale is more of a headache than a luxury.

While the 417-foot ship is a maritime masterpiece, sources suggest it has become too recognizable and difficult to dock in some of the world’s most exclusive ports.  According to Page Six, the operational costs for Koru and its $75 million support vessel, Abeona, total roughly $30 million annually. 

The vessel, which features a mermaid sculpture on the prow resembling Bezos’ wife, Lauren Sanchez, has struggled to navigate popular European wedding destinations and glamorous American waterways alike. 

In Venice, the couple was forced to stay far from the lagoon during their wedding festivities, and in Florida, the boat was relegated to docking near industrial oil tankers rather than luxury marinas.

Despite these practical issues, the boat remains a sight to behold, boasting three jacuzzis, a glass-bottom pool, and enough space for 18 guests. 

Advertisement

The Billionaire And His Wife Reportedly Paid Their Way Into Anna Wintour’s Good Books

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez seen leaving their hotel in Venice, the day before their wedding
Andrew Evans / MEGA

While the logistical burden of owning one of the world’s largest yachts has Bezos looking to sell, his financial focus recently shifted toward securing a top-tier spot at the 2026 Met Gala. 

Reports suggest the billionaire has contributed between $10 million and $20 million to sponsor the event, cementing his and Sanchez’s status as honorary co-chairs.

As reported by The Blast, the couple’s significant financial backing has reportedly earned them the highly coveted “Anna Wintour OK.”

Former Vogue editor William Norwich described the duo as the modern embodiment of the American dream, characterized by status, wealth, and “conspicuous consumption.” 

Meanwhile, one fashion insider expressed heartbreak over the situation, suggesting that the prestigious event has become a place where the ultra-wealthy can simply buy their way into the good graces of the industry’s most powerful gatekeepers.

Advertisement

Jeff Bezos And Lauren Sanchez Hosted An Exclusive Pre-Gala Bash

Fred Duval/MEGA

Beyond securing their spot at the gala, Bezos and Sánchez also expanded their influence with a private pre-party for the festivities. The couple reportedly sent out disco-themed invitations for an exclusive “Pre-Met celebration” held at their New York City residence. 

While the exact location was only revealed to guests upon confirmation, the event served as a high-profile kickoff for fashion’s biggest week. 

Notably, the secretive nature of the pre-party only increased the buzz among New York’s social elite, per The Blast, and the glamorous atmosphere at the billionaire’s residence drew many famous faces.

Inside The Billionaire Couple’s Star-Studded Guest List 

Kris Jenner Step Out for Dinner at Nobu in Malibu
MEGA

Some of the popular names who attended Bezos’ party include Kris Jenner, who has long been a friend of the pair. The businesswoman reportedly attended the intimate gathering alongside her daughter, Kendall Jenner, and other notable guests, including actor Nicole Kidman and singer Sam Smith.

The Blast reported that Gayle King and Nicky Hilton were spotted among the attendees, along with fashion legend Donatella Versace and visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. 

The event also became a stylish destination for several celebrity couples, such as Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian. Venus Williams, who is also serving as an official co-chair for the main gala, arrived with Andrea Preti, while Ashley Graham and Justin Ervin were also seen entering the private party.

Advertisement

The Businessman And His Wife Are Reportedly Being Targeted

Jeff Bezos and girlfriend Lauren Sanchez arrive to Carbone Beach during F1 Miami Grand Prix weekend
MEGA/Backgrid / MEGA

Despite the strong support Bezos and Sanchez received from other A-listers during their pre-Met celebration, the couple is reportedly facing an organized effort to disrupt their highly publicized appearance at the 2026 Met Gala. 

Activist groups are reportedly launching a targeted campaign to humiliate the couple and criticize their massive financial sponsorship of the prestigious event.

An activist group known as Everyone Hates Elon has spearheaded a campaign intended to challenge the couple’s elevated role as lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs. 

The Blast reported that the group raised thousands of dollars through small donations to fund their efforts, which include a widespread poster campaign across Manhattan and the city’s subway system. 

These posters specifically target Amazon’s business practices, with one controversial design featuring a plastic bottle of urine on a red carpet, which is a direct reference to the difficult working conditions reported by the company’s delivery drivers.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden Welcome Baby No. 3

Published

on

Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden have welcomed their third child.

Madden, 47, broke the news via Instagram early Monday, May 4, that the couple are proud parents to a baby boy named Nautas.

“Cameron and I are Happy, Excited, and feeling so BLESSED to announce the birth of our third Child, Nautas Madden. Welcome to the world Son!!👊❤️,” the singer wrote.

He added, “We love life with our family- our kids are healthy&happy, and we are grateful!!!🙏🙏having a blast ❤️Sending all our best wishes- the Madden Family ❤️🙏👊🏴‍☠️.”

Advertisement
A Timeline of Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden’s Private Relationship 364


Related: Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden’s Relationship Timeline

Cameron Diaz has dated several celebrities, but never thought she’d get married until she started dating her now-husband, Benji Madden, in May 2014. “[Marriage] was the biggest thing I’ve done in my 40s, and it opened me up in different ways,” Diaz told Harper’s Bazaar in May 2016, 16 months after she and the rockstar […]

Diaz, 53, commented on the post, “✨❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️✨.”

Advertisement

In Monday’s One Piece-themed Instagram announcement, Madden shared that Nautas’ name is derived from the Latin word “nauta,” meaning “sailor, navigator, voyager.”

Cameron Diaz, Benji Madden Relationship Timeline
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

“One who embarks on a journey and fears not the unknown,” the description continues.

Diaz and Madden also share daughter Raddix, 6, and son Cardinal, 2.

The couple wed in January 2015 and welcomed daughter Raddix via surrogate in December 2019. They announced the news in early January 2020 with a joint Instagram post.

“Happy New Year from the Maddens! We are so happy, blessed and grateful to begin this new decade by announcing the birth of our daughter, Raddix Madden,” they wrote. “She has instantly captured our hearts and completed our family.”

Advertisement

“They went through so much to get to this point,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly in January 2020. “Cameron feels like this baby is truly a miracle.”

Another source said at the time, “Cameron and Benji had been trying to have a baby for a long time. There were disappointments along the way, so it was difficult and stressful at times. But they say it was a price worth paying. They feel beyond blessed.”

In March 2024, the couple announced the news of Cardinal’s arrival in another joint Instagram post.

Cardinal Birdie Cricket and More Celebrity Babies Who Were Named After Animals


Related: Cameron Diaz and More Celebrities Who Named Their Babies After Animals

Feeling fierce! Unique celebrity baby names are nothing new — North West, anyone? — but these moms gave their little ones animal-themed monikers. Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden announced the arrival of their second child, son Cardinal, in March 2024. “We are blessed and excited to announce the birth of our Son, Cardinal Madden❤️🙏,” the […]

Advertisement

“We are blessed and excited to announce the birth of our Son, Cardinal Madden❤️🙏He is awesome and We are all so happy he is here! For the kids safety and privacy we won’t be posting any pictures- but he’s a really cute ☺️,” the couple shared. “We are feeling so blessed and grateful 🍀Sending much love from our fam to yours 🙏❤️Best wishes and Good Afternoon!! 🤘⚡️.”

In January 2025, Diaz spoke about how becoming a mom had changed her perspective on her Hollywood career while promoting Netflix comedy Back in Action. The movie marked her return to acting after a 10-year absence.

“You’re a different person after you have children, after marriage, after building a life,” Diaz told E! News. “Everything changes, your whole perspective, your whole world, your understanding of it. For me, I never made a movie before with a family. So, all of the boxes change that need to be checked off. That’s the most important, and then everything else has to line up to support that.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

The Robin Williams Sci-Fi Fantasy That Has Absolutely Been Forgotten By Everyone

Published

on

absolutely anything

By Robert Scucci
| Published

absolutely anything

Simon Pegg has been one of my favorite comedic actors ever since I first saw Shaun of the Dead, and I was thrilled to see that Absolutely Anything was not only streaming for free on Tubi but also co-starring the late and legendary Robin Williams. Unfortunately for me, I have a tendency to click on any title without knowing anything about it because I genuinely have no real hard likes or dislikes when it comes to my entertainment choices; I just want to see what’s out there.

Sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised, but in the case of Absolutely Anything, I’ll just say that my time would have been better spent watching reruns of Spaced instead.

Aliens Deliver Super Powers As A Test

Absolutely Anything boasts one of those classic “be careful what you wish for” kind of narratives like The Monkey’s Paw. Instead of a cursed paw that messes with one’s fate, Simon Pegg’s Neil Clarke gets gifted supernatural powers from a distant alien species who debates whether they should allow Earth into their galactic council, or destroy the planet.

The aliens decide that if Neil has the power to do absolutely anything he wants for 10 days, they’ll let Earth join the council if he uses his newfound powers for good. If Neil uses his powers for evil purposes, the trigger-happy aliens will blow up the planet and kill everybody living on it.

The Power To Make Kate Beckinsale Fall In Love With You

I’ve repeatedly said in the past that I love a quick setup if it means that a movie’s run time is spent exploring the premise to its fullest potential instead of wasting its entire first act on exposition. But Absolutely Anything is not one of those films because it does nothing but set up gag after gag with little to no payoff once its narrative framework is established.

Once Neil realizes that he can do literally anything he wants, he wastes his powers trying to get his neighbor and romantic interest, Catherine (Kate Beckinsale) to fall in love with him. As the title suggests, he can do absolutely anything, but he decides that he wants his boss, Headmaster Mr. Robinson (Eddie Izzard), to be nice to him. He wishes that his students at his school would all disappear and stop bothering him, but immediately reverses his wish when the classroom explodes and kills them.

Advertisement

Robin Williams Voices A Dog

absolutely anything

My ears perked up when Neil granted his dog, Dennis (Robin Williams), the ability to speak and understand English. As a lifelong fan of Robin Williams, I was gravely disappointed when it quickly became clear that his voice-acting talent would be used for leg-humping jokes and incessantly begging for biscuits for the remainder of the film.

By the time Absolutely Anything gets into existential territory in the third act with Neil’s decision to fix the world’s many problems (war and climate change), it was already too late to redeem this movie that first tried to be witty, but then lost the plot with its many attempts to be an over-the-top, slapstick gross-out comedy.

The Absolutely Wrong Target Audience

Absolutely Anything is one of those movies that demonstrates how an amazing cast and fun idea can get in its own way if it fails to execute in a meaningful way. Pegg and the rest of his supporting cast understood the assignment, but I can’t in good conscience say that the assignment was worth their time given how great their past work had been leading up to this movie.

What’s more, this could have been a fun, low-stakes family film if it didn’t have an R rating. As far as I can tell, the only reason Absolutely Anything was rated R was due to its willingness to carpet-bomb the dialogue with f-bombs whenever the opportunity presented itself.

absolutely anything

I always try to think of who movies like this are for, and in an effort to remain civil, I’m going to put Absolutely Anything in the laundry-folding or dish-washing category. If you want something playing in the background while you’re doing your household chores, you can fire up Tubi and give it a go. If you want to watch a solid alien movie starring Simon Pegg, I’d advise you to watch Paul instead.


Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Eric André blows up John Cena's life — and teaches the 'ancient art of analingus' — in “Little Brother” first look (exclusive)

Published

on


The comedian describes the film as “What About Bob?” meets “Parasite.”

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Chris Brown Accused Of Copying Ryan Coogler Film

Published

on

Ryan Coogler on the red carpet.

Chris Brown recently released the visuals for his latest single, “Fallin’,” but the conversation has already shifted from the music to the video’s creative direction.

Soon after the video dropped, viewers began pointing out similarities between Brown’s visuals and Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed film, “Sinners.” The comparisons have since sparked debate online, with some fans accusing the singer of leaning too heavily on the movie’s style and others even calling on Coogler to take legal action.

On May 1, Brown released the visuals for “Fallin,” his latest project with singer Leon Thomas.

Within 24 hours of its release, the video had already gathered nearly two million views, a number that highlights just how much fans were anticipating it. However, that early success is now being overshadowed by accusations that the creative inspiration behind the video heavily borrowed from “Sinners.”

One detail that quickly stood out to viewers was the wardrobe. Brown and the male cast members appear in suits that some fans felt resembled the styling seen in Coogler’s film, while several female performers wore gowns that also drew comparisons.

Advertisement

Observers also spoke about the video’s color grading and overall tone, noting how its moody, atmospheric palette seems to mirror the same visual identity that helped “Sinners” earn critical acclaim.

Fans Urge Ryan Coogler To Sue Brown

Ryan Coogler on the red carpet.
MEGA

At some point, the comparisons escalated into stronger reactions, with some online users even calling on Coogler to take legal action against Brown. Some also chose to mock the singer, saying, “at least have some originality,” and “this feels like cosplay.”

A third critic took things further, alleging, “He stole his swag. Word for word. Bar for bar. Song sounds A.I. generated too.”

Still, Brown received some support from several X users who saw nothing wrong with the video.

“Chris is paying homage to the film… they didn’t steal the aesthetic, they were inspired,” one user argued.

Advertisement

‘Fallin’ Is Part Of Chris Brown’s Upcoming LP

Directed by Travis Colbert, “Fallin’” is not just another visual from Brown. The song is expected to appear on the singer’s upcoming self-titled LP, “BROWN,” which is set to arrive on streaming platforms on May 8 via RCA Records. Apple Music lists the project as a 27-track pre-release album under RCA Records and Chris Brown Entertainment.

Before “Fallin’,” Brown had already released several singles from the project, beginning with “Holy Blindfold,” which arrived on June 13, 2025.

Brown Set To Tour With Usher In June

Usher posing on the red carpet.
MEGA

The “Fallin’” video also features a cameo from Usher, who is set to hit the road with Brown later this year.

The two R&B stars announced their joint stadium run in April with a promotional video shared on Instagram, captioned, “It’s Time!” The tour, titled “The R&B Tour,” is a play on their names, Usher Raymond and Chris Brown.

Produced by Live Nation, the 33-date North American tour is scheduled to kick off on June 26 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. It will make stops in major cities, including Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, and Miami, before wrapping up on December 11 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Advertisement

Beyond the music, Brown and Usher have also tied the tour to a charitable initiative through a partnership with Global Citizen. As part of the collaboration, $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which supports access to quality education for children around the world.

Chris Brown Slammed Critics Of His Upcoming Tour

Chris Brown on the red carpet.
MEGA

Following the tour announcement, several netizens took to social media to criticize the collaboration, and it ultimately drew a reaction from Brown.

Taking to Instagram, Brown stated that critics who disliked the tour had the option not to attend, adding that he believed fans of both him and Usher would still show up in large numbers just like they did at his previous tour.

He also addressed negative online commentary aimed at discouraging attendance based on his past controversies.

“The dudes hating, I can understand that (thinking we gone steal ya girl and shit). BUT THE KARENS, and the self-hating hoes be making me LAUGH. I CAN’T WAIT TO RUB THIS sh-t IN YALL FACE,” the singer said.

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Hugh Jackman’s Wild New Whodunit Sneak Peek Teases a Hilarious Murder Mystery [Exclusive]

Published

on

the-sheep-detectives-poster.jpg

Hugh Jackman has a new movie coming out that is apparently his best yet: The Sheep Detectives. Starring Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Molly Gordon, and an all-star cast of both voice actors and live-action players, the story follows a group of sheep all investigating the death of their beloved shepherd (Jackman). To celebrate the film’s release this week, Collider is delighted to bring you an exclusive sneak peek from the film that takes us into the human side of the investigation, which exemplifies why the sheep have to take matters into their own…hooves.

The Sheep Detectives is described as follows: “A must-see family film this summer, packed with laughs, heart, and the cutest (and fluffiest) team of amateur sleuths! The film follows George Hardy (Hugh Jackman), a shepherd who loves to read murder mysteries to his sheep, never suspecting that they can understand him. When George is found dead under mysterious circumstances, the sheep decide to solve the crime themselves, even if it means leaving their meadow for the first time and facing the fact that the human world isn’t as simple as it appears in books.”

Our sneak peek includes Braun’s Tim Derry investigating people around town, including American Rebecca Hampstead (Gordon), who came into town for the first time on the day of the murder. While his questions start out with him asking about her whereabouts and why she was in town to begin with, they do take a detour into asking about her personal life. While Tim is earning collective groans from the locals, Beth (Hong Chau) notices Rebecca is fidgeting with her bracelet while talking to the detective. This is just the beginning of the mystery in The Sheep Detectives​​​​​​.

Advertisement





















































Advertisement
Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz
Which Lord of the Rings
Character Are You?

One Quiz · Ten Questions · Your Fate Revealed

The road goes ever on. From the green hills of the Shire to the fires of Mount Doom, every soul in Middle-earth carries a destiny. Ten questions stand between you and the truth of who you are. Answer honestly — the One Ring has a way of revealing what we most want to hide.

💍Frodo

🌿Samwise

👑Aragorn

Advertisement

🔥Gandalf

🏹Legolas

⚒️Gimli

👁️Sauron

Advertisement

🪨Gollum

Advertisement

01

You are handed a responsibility that could destroy you. What do you do?
The weight of the world falls on unlikely shoulders.




Advertisement

02

Your closest companion is heading into terrible danger. You:
True loyalty is revealed not in comfort, but in crisis.




Advertisement

03

Enormous power is within your reach. Your instinct is:
Power corrupts — but only those who reach for it.




Advertisement

04

What does “home” mean to you?
Where we long to return reveals who we truly are.




Advertisement

05

When a battle is upon you, your approach is:
War reveals what we are made of — whether we like it or not.




Advertisement

06

Someone comes to you for advice in their darkest hour. You:
Wisdom is not knowing all the answers — it’s knowing which questions to ask.




Advertisement

07

How do you see yourself, honestly?
Self-knowledge is the most dangerous kind.




Advertisement

08

Which of these best describes your relationship with the natural world?
Middle-earth speaks to those who know how to listen.




Advertisement

09

You encounter a wretched, pitiable creature who has done terrible things. You:
How we treat the fallen reveals the height of our character.




Advertisement

10

When the quest is over and the songs are sung, what do you hope they say about you?
In the end, we are all just stories.




Advertisement
The Fellowship Has Spoken
Your Place in Middle-earth

The scores below reveal your true character. Your highest number is your match. Even a tie tells a story — the Fellowship was never made of simple people.

💍
Frodo

Advertisement

🌿
Samwise

👑
Aragorn

🔥
Gandalf

🏹
Legolas

Advertisement

⚒️
Gimli

👁️
Sauron

🪨
Gollum

Advertisement

You carry something heavy — and you carry it alone, even when you don’t have to. You were not born for greatness, and that is precisely why greatness chose you. Your courage is not the roaring, sword-swinging kind; it is quiet, stubborn, and terrifying in its refusal to quit. The Ring weighs on you more than anyone can see, and still you walk toward the fire. That is not weakness. That is the rarest kind of strength there is.

You are, without question, the best of them. Not the most powerful, not the most celebrated — but the most essential. Your loyalty is not a trait; it is a force of nature. You would carry the person you love up the slopes of Mount Doom if it came to that, and we both know you’d do it without being asked. The world needs more people like you, and the world is lucky it has even one.

Advertisement

You were born to lead, and you have spent years running from it. The crown is yours by right, but you know better than anyone that right means nothing without the will and the worthiness to back it up. You are tempered by loss, shaped by long roads, and defined by a code of honour you hold to even when no one is watching. When you finally step forward, the world shifts. Because it was always waiting for you.

You have seen more than you let on, and you say less than you know — which is exactly as it should be. You are a catalyst: you do not fight the battles yourself, you ignite the people who can. Your wisdom comes not from books but from an age of watching what happens when it is ignored. You arrive precisely when you mean to, and your presence alone changes what is possible. A wizard is never late.

Advertisement

Graceful, perceptive, and almost preternaturally calm under pressure — you see things others miss and act before others react. You do not need to make a scene to be remarkable; your presence speaks for itself. You are loyal to those you choose to stand beside, and that choice is not made lightly. You have lived long enough to know that the most beautiful things in this world are also the most fragile, and that is why you fight to protect them.

You are loud, proud, and absolutely formidable — and beneath all of that is one of the most fiercely loyal hearts in Middle-earth. You don’t do anything by half measures. Your friendships are forged like iron, your grudges run as deep as mines, and your courage in battle is the kind that makes legends. You came into this fellowship suspicious of everyone and ended it willing to die for an elf. That is not a small thing. That is everything.

Advertisement

You think in centuries and act in absolutes. Order, dominion, control — not because you are cruel by nature, but because you have decided that the world left to itself always falls apart, and you are the only one with the vision and the will to hold it together. You were not always this. Something was lost, or taken, or betrayed, and the version of you that stands now is the answer to that wound. The tragedy is that you’re not entirely wrong — just entirely too far gone to course-correct.

You are a study in contradiction — pitiable and dangerous, cunning and broken, capable of both cruelty and something that once resembled love. You are defined by loss: of innocence, of self, of the one thing that gave your existence meaning. Two voices war inside you constantly, and the tragedy is that the better one sometimes wins, just not often enough, and never at the right moment. You are a warning, yes — but also a mirror. We are all a little Gollum, given the right ring and enough time.

Advertisement

Advertisement

‘The Sheep Detectives’ Is 2026’s Most Whimsical Whodunit

When the first trailer for The Sheep Detectives was shown at CinemaCon in 2025, many wrote the movie off as a joke. However, as we approach the film’s release this weekend, The Sheep Detectives has officially become Jackman’s highest-rated film yet with a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences long for new and original whodunit stories. Author Leonie Swann did something special with the novel that translated to the screen better than anyone could’ve hoped.

You can see the sheep solve a murder when The Sheep Detectives hits theaters on May 8. Stay tuned at Collider for more.


the-sheep-detectives-poster.jpg
Advertisement


Advertisement

Release Date

May 8, 2026

Runtime

109 Minutes

Advertisement

Director

Kyle Balda

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

17 Loose, Slimming Dresses With Rich Upper East Side Style

Published

on

Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!

You know that effortless look certain women have when they’re walking out of a Madison Avenue cafe? The kind where the dress skims rather than clings, the fabric looks expensive (even up close) and nothing pinches at the waist after lunch. That polish doesn’t come from squeezing into something restrictive. It comes from knowing what actually flatters.

To help you on your journey, we rounded up loose, slimming dresses that channel rich Upper East Side energy without the high price tag. Think: Drapey silhouettes, tailored sleeves and fabrics that move with you through school pickups, brunches or gallery openings. Prices start at just $25, so you can build out your whole wardrobe rotation without worry. Scroll on for the picks worth adding to your closet this season.

Advertisement

17 Loose, Slimming Dresses With Upper East Side Rich Mom Style

1. Our Favorite: The contrast trim and ribbed knit material on this sleeveless maxi dress adds subtle structure without clinging. The V-neck elongates your frame, while the flowy skirt skims everything below.

2. Pretty Polka Dots: Picture this flowy polka dot dress at a garden lunch with woven flats and a straw tote. The relaxed fabric has a way of moving with you, instead of pulling. Plus, the classic print never goes out of style.

3. Throw-On-and-Go: This loose flowy shift earns its keep on humid mornings when fitted clothes feel impossible. Wear it with espadrilles to brunch or sneakers for errands.

4. Brunch-Approved: Brunch outfits shouldn’t require holding your stomach in for two hours. This Swiss dot wrap dress flows away from the body, so you can actually enjoy the eggs Benedict.

Advertisement

5. Resort Polish: Vacation packing gets simpler when one dress works for dinner, the pool deck and sightseeing. This colorful wrap maxi handles all three activities without wrinkling into oblivion.

Diane Batoukina wears a white silk midi dress with blue and navy graphic stripe print, short sleeves, and a pointed collar by Sandro. A matching Sandro silk scarf is tied loosely around the neckline. A white mini flap bag with a chain strap and gold hardware by Chanel is worn crossbody. Footwear consists of white open-toe heeled sandals by Aeyde. Dior square sunglasses with dark gradient lenses complete the look. Long, straight brown hair is styled with a center part. Lips are subtly tinted and skin appears smooth and even. Full body shot, during a street style fashion photo session, on April 28, 2025 in Paris, France.


Related: 17 Spring-to-Summer Dresses That Look Like Boutique Bestsellers

Working at a boutique, I learned quickly that not every dress makes it past spring. You’d see someone buy a piece in March, wear it once or twice, then move on when the weather changed. The styles that actually lasted were always the same: easy midis, breezy maxis and throw-on dresses that feel right no […]

Advertisement

6. Ladylike Luxe: This sleeveless halter dress works for an outdoor wedding with strappy heels or a milestone birthday dinner. The chiffon material catches light beautifully in photos.

7. Hamptons Style: Beach town dressing should feel cool, not clammy. This halter chiffon maxi moves with the breeze, and doesn’t stick to skin after a walk on the sand.

8. Boutique-Worthy: Wear this pink eyelet maxi to a daytime baby shower or vineyard lunch with tan sandals. People will assume it came from a small boutique, not a $41 click.

9. Park Avenue Polish: Beige colors can read flat on its own. However, the halter design and V-neckline on this flowy maxi sundress adds quiet luxury vibes, so the neutral shade looks intentional.

Advertisement

10. Floral Find: The square neckline on this floral midi dress frames the collarbone in a way V-necks can’t. Short sleeves and a flowy skirt keep proportions balanced.

11. Tennis Club-Chic: Slip on this black floral maxi over a swimsuit for the club pool, then wear it solo to lunch with espadrille wedges. The neutral palette works through fall.

12. Timelessly Chic: The bow tie front and ruffle hem on this V-neck midi dress adds personality without crossing into trendy territory. The short sleeves give it three-season range.

13. Must-Have Maxi: The smocked high waist on this floral maxi dress cinches without a belt or zipper. The ruffle sleeves cover the upper arms without adding bulk.

Advertisement

14. Polished Ease: The beige and black contrast trim on this spaghetti strap maxi mimics designer color-blocking style. The flowy V-neck cut keeps it relaxed as well.

15. Figure-Flattering: Maxi dresses without waist definition can swallow your shape. The elastic waist on this V-neck maxi gives structure where you want it and ease everywhere else.

16. Lunch Date-Ready: The subtle cutout on this square-neck dress adds interest without exposing too much. The short sleeves and flowy cut keep it lunch-appropriate, too.

17. Country Club Chic: Pull on this tulle midi dress for a daytime event or anniversary dinner with metallic sandals. The smocked waist holds its shape through dinner and dancing.

Advertisement
Alba Garavito Torre wears a pink mini dress with long sleeves from Natan, a pearl beaded necklace, earrings, a pearl beaded belt, a white Jacquemus El Chiquito bag, green high heeled shoes from Manolo Blahnik, on July 02, 2021 in Paris, France.


Related: 17 Petite Spring Dresses That Flatter Women Over 40 — From $10

Shopping for a spring dress when you’re 5’4″ or under usually means hemming the bottom, hiking up the shoulders or giving up entirely on a style you loved on the hanger. The designs just happen to be too big or loose or long, but there’s good news! More brands are finally cutting petite spring dresses […]

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Skai Jackson Responds To AI Baklash After Viral Snapchat Photos

Published

on

Skai Jackson Addresses Backlash Over AI Use After Fan Questions Her Content (WATCH)

Skai Jackson is speaking out after facing online criticism over her frequent use of AI on social media. During a recent livestream, Jackson addressed questions from viewers, which has sparked ongoing debate across platforms.

Related: Skai Jackson Addresses Cast Beef Rumors As Fans Question Why She Missed ‘Jessie’ Link-Up (PHOTOS)

Skai Jackson Responds To AI Criticism During Livestream

Skai Jackson has recently gone viral for sharing AI-generated photos depicting fictional life moments, including images of herself getting married, having a child, and even being in a hospital. Some of her posts even include edited images placing her alongside high-profile celebrities, including Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and Kylie Jenner.

Recently, during her Twitch stream, Skai was questioned about her use of AI, following the internet’s debate.

One commenter asked, “Did she say why she uses AI so much?”

Advertisement

In response, Jackson said:

“Everybody uses it. Apple uses it, I believe Microsoft uses it. So if you don’t want to use AI, I would suggest you maybe turn your phone off and delete Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, throw away your iPhone and switch to a Samsung.”

Social Media Reacts

Jackson’s response quickly sparked mixed reactions on social media, with users debating both her reasoning and how she chooses to use AI.

Instagram user @aysiadiorr wrote, “It’s the way she’s using it….. to make this fake like of herself”

Another Instagram user @chanparislynn_ wrote, “you didn’t answer the question. Don’t nobody use it like you girl and you know that”

Advertisement

While Instagram user @visualdiaryny wrote, “I hate when peoples excuse for doing something is because everyone else is doing it 😭😭😭😭 like stand up”

Instagram user @asaaa_jacque wrote, “She is so me 😂😂😂 I hope she keep using it til y’all learn that it’s her life and she can do pretty much whatever the hell she wanna do with her life”

Another Instagram user @itss.monnie wrote, “I think it be funny 😂😂😂 I’m just as delulu as she is 💁🏽‍♀️😭”

While Instagram user @ninam0sley wrote, “just say them folks are cutting you a check”

Advertisement

Instagram user @1alaaalandd wrote, “Okay let’s be fr tho. Shes trynna clickbait with those photos and it’s literally working. Using Al is literally give her money 😭”

Another Instagram user @legitnesha wrote, “She not wrong tho, a lot of companies like Google and Apple use it. How do you think the algorithm is so quick to change now”

While Instagram user @jaseanbrackett wrote, “Can’t spell AI without Skai”

The Internet Questions Skai Jackson’s Recent Photo With Kai Cenat

The debate surrounding Skai’s use of AI has also led to confusion among fans about distinguishing real moments from edited ones.

Advertisement

The former Disney Channel star recently attended the Los Angeles premiere of ‘MICHAEL,’ the upcoming biopic centered on Michael Jackson. While at the event, Jackson posed for a photo with streamer Kai Cenat, who was also in attendance. After the image began circulating online, some social media users questioned whether the photo was authentic or another AI-generated post.

Related: Skai Jackson Raises Eyebrows After Sharing AI-Generated Photos With Celebrities On Snapchat (PHOTOS)

What Do You Think Roomies?

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025