Editor’s Note: The following includes spoilers for Elsbeth Season 3, Episode 12.Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) has been in hairy positions before, but never literally — until this week, that is. “All’s Hair,” Episode 12 of Elsbeth‘s third season, sees our favorite redhead investigating the murder of a celebrity wigmaker. It’s a tale of dishonor, distrust, a drag brunch, Diana Ross, and a daring new look for Elsbeth… and Detective Bobby Smullen (Danny Mastrogiorgio). That said, is “All’s Hair” a cut above the rest, or a shear disappointment?
Dishonor Between Wigmakers Leads to Murder in ‘Elsbeth’s “All’s Hair”
Five expert wig makers are crowded into a room with a customs agent. There’s a coming Wiggageddon, a perfect storm of big events all happening at once, and they’re waiting for news about a priority shipment of Molten-Gold, rare and untreated virgin blonde hair. Unfortunately, it’s delayed, meaning they will have to wait to complete their wigs. Four of the five have high-profile clients that are waiting, and the fifth, Felix West (Jeff Hiller), “The Rug Doctor,” needs to complete a wig for a crypto king’s wedding.
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Felix returns to his shop, where he’s visited by Lina Vyanti, host of a national morning show. She has a problem: she’s being ridiculed because the wigs look like wigs in HD, and she wants a natural look, Felix’s specialty. Only Felix has a problem: Lina is a client of Domenico Cappelli, one of the wig makers, and the five have an unwritten code of honor where they don’t poach clients. But honor gets pushed aside with more money and the promise to introduce Felix to her showbiz friends. It’s Felix’s ticket out of business offices and hospitals, and he takes it. Her color, Molten-Gold, is impossible to find, but he has a stockpile of it. Not enough, though, so when he sees a teen on a bench, with her Molten-Gold hair in a ponytail, he walks over, cuts it off, and speeds off to finish his pièce de résistance.
On this date in 1975, the first-ever People’s Choice Awards ceremony was held. Here are some notable PCA television winners from the last 51 years.
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Just then he gets a phone call from Domenico, saying they need to talk. Felix goes to Domenico’s home, walking in when the aroma of Mama Cappelli’s sauce cooking lures him to the kitchen. Suddenly, Domenico appears and pulls Felix away, accusing him of poaching. Felix feigns ignorance, but Lina cancelled her appointment, opting to use her “natural hair” at a gala. He demands that from now on, Felix is his employee, and he’ll take 40% of every wig Felix produces. He knows about the ponytail snip, and if that gets out, Felix is finito. But when Domenico turns away, Felix attacks him. Domenico gets his hands on a hot curling iron and sears a burn mark into Felix’s forehead, only for Felix to wrest it away and strangle him with the cord. Felix takes the curler and a few high-priced wigs, staging the scene as a robbery gone wrong before darting away.
Elsbeth Cuts Down the Suspect List To Narrow in on Felix
Elsbeth, Chandler (Ethan Slater), and Smullen are at the scene. The smell of Mama Cappelli’s sauce proves irresistible, and Elsbeth walks over to take a whiff of it just as Mama Cappelli walks in. She’s the one who found her son, and adds that the wigs that were taken, like the one worn by Diana Ross, were the most expensive, and posits that whoever killed her bambino knew which ones to take. Smullen and Elsbeth turn back to the body, noticing that he was strangled by a cord, and a burn suggests that the murder weapon could be a curling iron. So, if he was strangled by a heated curling iron, perhaps the murderer, a wig expert, was burned as well. Cut to Felix, who is now sporting a toupee to cover the burn mark on his forehead.
Back at the precinct, Elsbeth and Smullen explain the case to Captain Wagner (Wendell Pierce), who tells them to bring in the four wigmakers, while he works on a case for a donor to the Payne-Wagner Foundation, whose daughter is being bullied. The four are brought in, with Elsbeth looking them over for burn marks as Smullen does the questioning. There’s nothing to suggest that the first three did it (one does suggest Smullen get a toupee, which he later does, humorously), and Persimmon offers up that when they talked about divvying up Domenico’s clients, Felix only wanted Lina. But Felix states that he’s just a big fan, and if she wants to work with him, he has a stock of Molten-Gold. Only Lina says that she had already commissioned Felix to make a wig before Domenico’s death.
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Felix Has Toupee the Piper in ‘Elsbeth’s “All’s Hair”
Elsbeth (Carrie Preston), in a blonde wig, with Officer Chandler (Ethan Slater) and Felix West (Jeff Hiller) at a drag show in the Elsbeth episode “All’s Hair.”Image via CBS
Felix insists he didn’t steal her, and that Lina came to him, so Elsbeth and Chandler go to visit Mama to find out if Domenico knew about Lina turning to Felix. She doesn’t know for certain, but is adamant that if he did know, he definitely would have confronted him about it. That puts Felix in the crosshairs (and a jar of Mama’s sauce in Elsbeth’s bag), but they need more. They do know Domenico called Felix just before his death, and when Elsbeth goes to Felix for a wig fitting, Chandler tags along to ask what the call was about. He waves it off as business talk, but as she keeps pressing, he switches topic, and asks what she’s doing Saturday morning.
Saturday morning comes along, and Elsbeth, in a blonde wig, Chandler, and Felix are having a great time at Mimosas and Mirrorballs, the “best drag brunch in the city,” when Felix points out that one of the performers has a Diana Ross wig, one of the stolen styles. The only person that would have come from is Persimmon, so he’s taken into custody. He couldn’t have done it, and has proof, but is surprised to hear that Felix would have poached Vyanti, given he was as desperate for the Molten-Gold shipment. He wouldn’t have enough to make a wig, although he would if he were to have, say, cut the ponytail off a teenage girl.
Turns out that Wagner’s case is directly tied to the cut ponytail. Domenico found out about Felix’s attack when the girl’s father approached him about a faux ponytail. But there’s still no evidence that Felix was at the scene. Or is there? The secret’s in the sauce, with a wig hair that matches the wig Elsbeth was wearing found in the jar of sauce she was given by Mama. Felix’s invite to brunch was simply to plant the stolen Diana Ross wig so he could shift suspicion to Persimmon. As Felix is escorted out, he says, “So this is it. I played it short and slick in the world of hair and got tangled in my own weave.”
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“All’s Hair” is a pedestrian affair. Not the best, not the worst, but just there. Hiller’s good, but doesn’t match the quality of the guest stars this season has brought in to this point. And resting the damning evidence on a strand of hair that somehow made it into a jar out of a huge pot of sauce is among the weakest yet. But there’s an interesting twist to the Alec Bloom storyline, with Winnie Crawford (Henny Russell) asking Elsbeth over lunch if she trusts him. She says she does, but has her guard up about Winnie, while Winnie is pretty sure Elsbeth knows more than she’s letting on. Between that and Teddy’s article, it gives Winnie a path to derail Bloom’s campaign, her true goal in bringing it up.
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Release Date
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February 29, 2024
Directors
Nancy Hower, Robert King, Lionel Coleman, Rob Hardy, Robin Givens, Ron Underwood, Rosemary Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler, Bille Woodruff, James Whitmore Jr., Joe Menendez, Kevin Rodney Sullivan, Lily Mariye, Nick Gomez, Peter Sollett, Sam Hoffman, Tyne Rafaeli, Darren Grant, Fong-Yee Yap, Mary Lou Belli
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Writers
Jonathan Tolins, Erica Shelton Kodish, Bryan Goluboff, Sarah Beckett, Michelle King
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Pros & Cons
Carrie Preston is excellent, as always.
Elsbeth with Smullen, Elsbeth with Chandler ? both partnerships get a chance to grow and shine.
Winnie Crawford’s appearance just made the Alec Bloom storyline significantly more interesting.
“All’s Hair” is a pedestrian affair in a season that’s been anything but.
A strand of wig hair in a jar of sauce is by far the weakest piece of evidence to date.
Rick Harrison is pushing back at claims made by his son Corey about his six-figure medical bills following Corey’s motorcycle accident and complications that followed … saying he covered the bills and Corey isn’t in debt to him.
The “Pawn Stars” star tells TMZ … “As far as I know, I paid all of Corey’s medical bills long before he put the GoFundMe out. He is a grown man in his 40’s and is responsible for how he handles his finances.”
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As we reported … a GoFundMe was launched to help Corey cover outstanding medical bills, rent, medications and therapy — and to pay back money he said he borrowed from Rick and friends who helped foot the hospital costs.
But, Rick’s statement contradicts what Corey previously told us … that his dad paid “at least half” of his medical bills, which came as a loan, and he was dead set on paying him back.
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Corey also said he drained his savings on the treatment and surgeries following his crash and now has just $400 left in his bank account.
However, Rick tells us … “It’s always nice to be paid back, but there is no repayment schedule in place.”
Corey isn’t convinced the debt has magically disappeared, telling TMZ … “If he decided I don’t have to pay him back the money, then happy birthday to me. But based on our personal and business relationship, I don’t see how that’s possible. I love my father very much, he’s always been there for me, and I don’t have a problem with him at all.”
While it has been controversial, Starfleet Academy has tried to establish itself as a must-see TV for those who loved Star Trek: Voyager. One reason for that is the presence of the amazing Robert Picardo, reprising his role as the fan-favorite holographic Doctor. Another reason is that the new show has picked up on the threads of multiple classic Voyager stories, including the Doctor raising (and subsequently losing) a holographic daughter back in “Real Life.”
Now, the most recent episode of Starfleet Academy (“300th Night”) has followed up on the Voyager episode “The Omega Directive,” which revealed that Starfleet deeply feared a a desructive cosmic element known as the Omega particle. In “300th Night,” we learn that future Starfleet has found a way to weaponize this particle against its enemies. Unfortunately, a central aspect of this episode makes one thing crystal clear: the Federation has now and forever become the bad guy.
The Alpha And The Omega
Symbol for the problem particle in Star Trek: Voyager’s “The Omega Directive”
What is the Omega particle, you ask? In the aptly-named Voyager episode “The Omega Directive,” Captain Janeway reveals that the Omega particle is one of the biggest threats Starfleet has ever encountered. When these particles explode, it becomes impossible to travel through the affected area at warp speed. Therefore, Starfleet has a standing order: when captains encounter Omega, they must do anything and everything in their power to destroy it.
With her usual poise and style, Janeway manages to find and safely detonate all of the offensive Omega particles in the area. However, the Starfleet Academy episode “300th Night” revealed that the Federation of the 32nd century had secretly changed its mind about Omega. Rather than destroying these particles on sight, one skeezy starbase has developed a way to turn these pesky particles into the ultimate weapon.
When Star Trek Meets Star Wars
Omega Particle mines spotted on Starfleet Academy
In a previous episode of Starfleet Academy (“Come, Let’s Away”), Nus Braka acted like a reluctant ally before enacting his scheme: destroying a Starfleet vessel and ransacking Starbase J19-Alpha. At the time, it was unclear what he stole or even what kind of starbase J19-Alpha really was. However, “300th Night” revealed that the base specializes in advanced weapons research, and one of their creations was Omega-47. As the name implies, this is a synthetic variant of the Omega particle, one that has all the destructive potential of the real thing.
“300th Night” was actually a really solid episode, but I was shocked at how it casually confirmed that Starfleet is developing superweapons that would make the Empire from Star Wars blush. So far, it seems that Section 31 doesn’t exist in the 32nd century, which is a good thing: after all, most fans don’t like the idea of the peace-loving Federation relying on a secret cabal of paranoid murderers.
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Athena under attack on Starfleet Academy
Unfortunately, the revelation that Starbase J19-Alpha was developing such unethical weaponry is proof that the fringe Section 31 is no longer necessary; the high and mighty Starfleet is happy to break bad and violate intergalactic law whenever and however they see fit.
The development of Omega-47 is also insanely hypocritical because the Federation of this era had to survive the Burn, a freak cosmic incident that made warp travel absolutely impossible. In both Discovery and Starfleet Academy, this is portrayed as something that ruined countless lives and generally transformed a utopian future into a brutal, survival-of-the-fittest slugfest. Considering that the primary effect of Omega is that it can shut down subspace and make warp travel impossible, it’s clear that Starfleet is now ready and willing to cripple entire civilizations by restricting their travel and leaving them at the mercy of pirates.
Never Beam Your Heroes
Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager’s “The Omega Directive
On the balance, “300th Night” is actually a very good episode of Star Trek: it builds on Starfleet Academy lore, develops our favorite characters, and follows up on one of Voyager’s wildest stories. For longtime fans of the show, this episode is proof of how much potential this series really has. Meanwhile, if you’re someone who ditched this show early on, this latest episode is arguably the best to watch if you’re ready to give the show another shot.
Unfortunately, Starfleet weaponizing Omega is at the heart of this Starfleet Academy episode, and this does immense damage to our characters’ reputation. How are we supposed to root for the next generation of Starfleet officers when we know all these tortured geniuses will grow up to support supervillains? This organization is rotten from the top down, which makes for the ultimate bittersweet homage to The Original Series: in the 32nd century, all admirals are badmirals!
Christian Bale on the red carpetImage via Julie Edwards/Future Image/Cover Images
Christian Bale has been one of the biggest actors in Hollywood for years now. Whether it’s his commanding performances in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy or his Academy Award-winning work in movies like The Fighter, fans can always count on Bale to eat up every second of screen time in all of his movies. He’s now four years removed from his last live-action role in the Netflix original war movie, The Pale Blue Eye, but he’s soon to return to the screen this weekend in The Bride!, the new horror film written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. However, Bale isn’t just a movie star; he’s also an avid consumer of the genre he’s given so much to, and he recently went public with one of his favorite franchises.
During a recent interview, Christian Bale admitted that he loves all iterations of Godzilla, particularly the Shin Godzilla and the franchise backed by Legendary, also known as the MonsterVerse. The MonsterVerse franchise first stomped to the big screen more than 10 years ago with Godzilla, the 2014 kaiju thriller starring Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and directed by Gareth Edwards (Rogue One). Godzilla spawned a franchise that has continued through prequels like Kong: Skull Island and crossover movies like Godzilla vs. Kong, but the most recent installment came just two years back with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. The 2024 blockbuster saw the two titans team up to take down a dangerous threat. Following Bale’s praise of the Godzilla franchise, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has surged back into HBO Max streaming charts in America. It’s also one of the top 10 most popular movies on VOD platforms like Apple TV.
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What Do We Know About the Next ‘Godzilla X Kong’ Movie?
The next Godzilla x Kong movie has been titled Supernova, and it’s currently scheduled for release on March 26, 2027. Dan Stevens is returning to reprise his role as Trapper in the film, but it mostly consists of an all-new ensemble led by Sinners veterans Delroy Lindo and Jack O’Connell, along with Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Kaitlyn Dever (The Last of Us), and Matthew Modine (Stranger Things). Plot details about the film are being kept under wraps, but Grant Sputore is directing with a script from Dave Callaham.
Check out Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire on HBO Max and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates and coverage of the Godzilla franchise.
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Release Date
March 29, 2024
Runtime
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115 Minutes
Writers
Terry Rossio, Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett, Jeremy Slater
Ryan Murphy‘s Love Story has caused a variety of strong reactions — but why has there been so much backlash surrounding the show about John F. Kennedy Jr.?
Before Love Story even premiered on FX in February 2026, Murphy was criticized by the Kennedys for his plans to dramatize Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and JFK Jr.‘s story after their deaths in a 1999 plane crash. Kennedy Jr.’s nephew Jack Schlossberg accused Murphy in June 2025 of “grotesque[ly]” profiting off his late uncle’s death.
“Lately, my news feed has been filled with pictures of my uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr., a great man,” Schlossberg wrote via Instagram at the time. “For those wondering whether his family was ever consulted, or has anything to do with the new shows being made about him, the answer is no. And there’s really not much we can do.”
Schlossberg continued: “For that matter, [JFK Jr. is] considered a public figure, so there’s not much we can do. I hope those making these shows about him take seriously what he stood for in his life, all that he achieved in it. And that they donate some of the profits [that] they’re making.”
FX’s Love Story brings John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette‘s tragic romance to life — but how does the cast compare to their real-life counterparts? Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, which premiered Thursday, February 12, is a limited series that explores the “undeniable chemistry, whirlwind courtship and high-profile marriage of […]
“I thought it was an odd choice to be mad about your relative that you really don’t remember,” Murphy said on Gavin Newsom’s “This Is Gavin Newsom” podcast one month later. “The days of civil discourse are over, and it’s very hard. And you kind of either get into the muck or you try and rise above it.”
The FX series is the first installment in Ryan Murphy’s Love Story anthology and is inspired byElizabeth Beller’s book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Sarah Pidgeon plays Carolyn Bessette, while Paul Anthony Kelly portrays JFK Jr.
After meeting in 1992, Bessette and JFK Jr. were on and off for years before getting married. Their relationship was thrust into the spotlight, with highs and lows making headlines. They both died in a plane crash in 1999.
“We had Elizabeth Beller’s book for reference, but we did face challenges [capturing certain moments]. They died so young, but we had enough information from people around them to know what the problems were in their marriage, what the tensions were, what the highs were, what the lows were,” executive producer Brad Simpson exclusively told Us Weekly in February 2026. “People don’t have an idea of what her voice was like because we only have a tiny clip of her voice, but they have a very distinct idea of what her image was like. So we had to get the walk down and the look and the allure. But Sarah could really interpret and go with it. John, we have a lot of recordings of him, and we have a lot more on him.”
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What Is Ryan Murphy’s History With Adapting Real-Life Stories?
Miles Crist/Netflix
Ryan Murphy found success adapting true crime stories and high-profile events, which often resulted in backlash from the subjects of his shows. After getting his start with Nip/Tuck, Glee and American Horror Story, Murphy expanded by taking on projects such as American Crime Story, which chronicled the murder trial of O.J. Simpson, the killing of designer Gianni Versace and the sex scandal involving former President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.
Murphy also created the American Sports Story spinoff, which focused on the rise and fall of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez in its first season.
Has Ryan Murphy Received Backlash for His Scripted Shows?
Eric Liebowitz/FX
Ryan Murphy’s most controversial spinoff has been the Monster anthology series. In 2022, the limited series centered on Evan Peters’ portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer, which received backlash from the families of the serial killer’s victims.
Season 2 faced similar backlash after Erik Menendez slammed Murphy’s portrayal of him and brother Lyle Menendez.
FX’s Love Story has also been called out for dramatizing events in JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s lives before their tragic death.
The Kennedy family has endured several tragedies throughout the years. After being in the public eye for decades through politics and the entertainment industry, the prolific family became a household name. The Kennedys haven’t just made headlines for their personal and professional lives — with the amount of young and tragic deaths surrounding the famed […]
What Has Been Said About Ryan Murphy’s Love Story?
“If you want to know someone who’s never met anyone in my family, knows nothing about us, talk to Ryan Murphy,” Schlossberg said on CBS Sunday Morning in February 2026. “The guy knows nothing about what he’s talking about, and he’s making a ton of money on a grotesque display of someone else’s life.”
Meanwhile Daryl Hannah, who is played by Dree Hemingway on the show, broke her silence on how she was portrayed. Hannah, who dated JFK Jr. in the ‘80s called the show not “remotely accurate” in its “representation of my life, my conduct or my relationship with John.” She also wanted to clarify the “actions and behaviors attributed” to her, which she called “untrue.”
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“I have never used cocaine in my life or hosted cocaine-fueled parties. I have never pressured anyone into marriage. I have never desecrated any family heirloom or intruded upon anyone’s private memorial,” she continued. “I never compared Jacqueline Onassis’ death to a dog’s. It’s appalling to me that I even have to defend myself against a television show. These are not creative embellishments of personality. They are assertions about conduct — and they are false.”
What Have the Executive Producers Said?
Getty/FX
Executive producer Brad Simpson told Us in February 2026 that they hadn’t heard from any of the real people featured on screen, adding, “We haven’t yet, and we hope that people appreciate their portrayals. Every actor approached [their role] with love.”
He added: “You reach out to one person, and then it becomes, ‘Why are you not reaching out to every person?’ We love these characters. We did deep, deep research. It’s based on not just the Elizabeth Beller book but many other artifacts from that time and many other historie.We came from a place of love, but if you foreground one person’s personal story and their version of the truth, then you have to foreground everybody’s, and often they’re in conflict. On all our shows we tried to be true to what we think the characters were and show you what it was like to walk in their footsteps.”
Fire Country‘s Bode makes it clear that he can’t forget Tyler after Chloe’s son admitted to causing Vince’s death.
In Us Weekly‘s exclusive clip from the Friday, March 6, episode of the hit CBS series, Bode (Max Thieriot) is visited by Chloe (Alona Tal), who asks him for help with Tyler (Conor Sherry). Bode, however, has no sympathy for the teenager responsible for starting the fire that killed his father, Vince (Billy Burke).
“He lit up half of Edgewater,” Bode tells Chloe. “Why would Tyler take the fall for something so bad if he didn’t actually do it?”
Chloe asks for Bode’s help supporting Tyler, saying, “I know that your family has done too much for my family already. But Tyler won’t talk to me and he’s alone and he’s scared in jail. I can’t help him. I know that you cared about him. You and I both know that you have the best shot to get through to him, so please.”
Fire Country has faced numerous surprising cast — and crew — changes over the years. The CBS series, which premiered in 2022, introduced Us to the town of Edgewater after inmate Bode (Max Thieriot) returned home and began volunteering for the California Conservation Camp Program. By season 2, a backdoor pilot set up the world […]
His strong reaction comes shortly after Tyler turned himself in for arson. Before the show’s midseason return, showrunner Tia Napolitano hinted that the show’s story will be going through some changes.
“[You should] be worried [about the rest of the season]. We’ve got Bode and Tyler in a fire shelter in the middle of a blaze. Those things are built for one, there’s two lives in there,” Napolitano exclusively told Us Weekly in December 2025, one month before her departure from the CBS series was announced. “And we’ve got Jake and his brother over the side of a cliff. You see how many times that vehicle goes over and over. We see heads hit hard surfaces.”
Napolitano teased that “those are not easy things to come back” from, adding, “We’ll watch our people fight to get out of there.” She also teased a “huge twist” coming in the second half of the season.
“It’s going to change everything that hugely impacts Bode. He is going to really fight to continue to be on his path to progress and growth that we love to see him on. He has made those good choices — though he still struggles — and winning those struggles and really becoming someone who can continue to be someone Tyler wants to grow up to be,” she said. “Bode is a role model. Look how far we have come.”
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She continued: “Eve is going to find her way with these new guys at Three Roc. Sharon is learning even more so how to stand on her own. Ruby — her mother — comes back. There’s a lot of surprises, twists and turns and drive coming out of that twist that comes at the end of the midseason premiere.”
Following her exit from the show, news broke on Thursday, March 5, that Eric Guggenheim will be taking over for Napolitano. According to Deadline, Guggenheim is coming onboard after previously serving as showrunner of Magnum P.I and co-showrunner of Hawaii Five-0.
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Fire Country airs on CBS Fridays at 9 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Paramount+.
For horror fans, Freddy Krueger has been silent for far too long. The last film in the franchise was the 2010 reboot, meaning it has been more than fifteen years since audiences last stepped into the dream world of Elm Street. But new developments suggest that Freddy may be sharpening his claws once again.
The Rights Situation Finally Changed
One of the biggest reasons the franchise has remained dormant is a complicated rights situation. The U.S. rights to A Nightmare on Elm Street reverted back to the estate of creator Wes Craven, while New Line Cinema continues to control the international rights to the series and the iconic Freddy Krueger character.
Since that shift, the Craven estate has reportedly begun reviewing pitches for new projects connected to the franchise, including potential films and even television series.
In other words, Freddy’s return has been a matter of timing rather than interest.
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Freddy Could Return With a Completely New Direction
Several creators have already floated ideas for bringing the character back. One proposal would move away from simply remaking the original 1984 classic and instead build a new story inspired by later entries in the franchise.
Another idea would explore Freddy’s backstory before the events of the first film, creating a prequel that dives deeper into the mythology of Springwood and the infamous dream demon.
The biggest challenge facing any new project will be replacing Robert Englund, the actor who made Freddy Krueger one of horror’s most recognizable villains.
Could a New Actor Become Freddy?
Englund has largely stepped away from the role, but the character could live on through a new interpretation. Some filmmakers have even suggested bold casting choices that would take the character in an unexpected direction.
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Others believe the role should go to a relatively unknown actor who can create a fresh version of Freddy without competing with Englund’s legendary performance.
Why Now Might Be the Perfect Time
Horror franchises are thriving again. Films like Halloween, Scream, and The Exorcist have all returned to theaters with new legacy sequels and reboots.
Freddy Krueger remains one of the most iconic villains in film history, and the franchise still holds enormous cultural power. The original series was so successful that it helped establish New Line Cinema as a major studio, earning the nickname “The House That Freddy Built.”
Never Sleep Again
While no official Nightmare on Elm Street film has been announced yet, the pieces are finally in place for Freddy’s return. With rights issues largely resolved and new ideas circulating, it may only be a matter of time before a new generation hears the warning once again.
British author J. R. R. Tolkien wrote an enormous mythology surrounding his own made-up world, Arda. Though, Arda is more commonly known by the name of its central continent, Middle-Earth. His works detail thousands upon thousands of years of history, legends, and storylines about the world, which became his life’s work, some of which is still posthumously being published.
Throughout the history of Arda, one of the most prominent villains that pops up again and again is the Dark Lord Sauron. Sauron also happens to be the main antagonist behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy of novels, and its subsequent film adaptations. Although Sauron is a dangerous beast in the world of Arda, many who aren’t well-versed in Tolkien’s lore may be surprised to know that there are forces in Middle-Earth that could still stand against Sauron’s enormous power.
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Tom Bombadil
Tom Bombadil, played by Rory Kinnear, in ‘Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power’ Season 2, Episode 6.Image via Amazon Prime Video
Tom Bombadil actually appears in the original novel of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (though he is absent from the film), and he’s remained kind of a mystfiying character since. This jolly moss-collector lives in the heart of the Old Forest, near the Shire, along with his wife, Goldberry. However, it’s never made clear who or what exactly Tom Bombadil is. His species is unknown, as is his purpose and his age. Gandalf seems to know a bit more about him, and believes that Tom is just as older, if not older than Gandalf is.
One thing that remains even more mysterious about him is that the One Ring’s corrupting power has no effect on him whatsoever. He is able to see and hold the One Ring, but he isn’t tempted by it for even a second, which is pretty bizarre, considering almost anything and everything else will find themselves tempted by it. While Tom Bombadil is no warrior, and likely couldn’t defeat Sauron in a physical fight, he renders Sauron’s greatest asset completely worthless, leaving Sauron at a severe disadvantage.
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Gandalf
Image via New Line Cinema
Gandalf is one of the Maiar, a race of demigods that were created along with the gods, the Valar, by the supreme creator, Eru Ilúvatar. Gandalf and Sauron are actually both the same species–they’re both Maiar, and thus, both demigods. The difference is that Gandalf is one of the five wizards, so he has a little more magic behind him. He also has his own Ring of Power, carrying one of the rings that were given to the Elves by Sauron.
While this ring doesn’t compare to the power of the One Ring, Gandalf could definitely stand a chance against Sauron. There’s still a fair chance he could lose a fight against him, but Gandalf has proven that he is a capable warrior and wizard, and can hold his own when he needs to. While Gandalf loses a fight to Sauron directly in The Hobbit (which isn’t mentioned in the books), in Tolkien’s version of things, Gandalf would probably fare much better, rather than be so swiftly defeated.
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Saruman the White
Image via New Line Cinema
It doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense that Saruman the White decided to join Sauron. It would be understandable if Saruman’s power paled in comparison to Sauron and joined him to escape destruction, but this isn’t the case, so this implies that Saruman is really just evil. As another of the Maiar, Saruman has enough power behind him to stand against Sauron. The White Wizard is the chief and most powerful of the five wizards, also known as the Istari, even more powerful than Gandalf.
Moreover, Saruman is easily able to rally armies to his cause and create armies in the form of the Urûk-hai, coming up with quite a formidable host of thousands of troops. Honestly, if Saruman had fought on the side of Gondor and Rohan, the War of the Ring probably would have been a heck of a lot shorter. With his inner magic and his combined armed forces, he’d probably make a pretty even match for Sauron.
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Ungoliant
Image via New Line Cinema
Ungoliant is the first of the Great Spiders, and was known for her immense size. It’s not sure where she came from, but she is an ancient being, almost as old as Middle-Earth itself. Ungoliant doesn’t make a physical appearance in the films, but her daughter, Shelob, does. Famously, Shelob has a lair in the mountain pass of Cirith Ungol, an orc stronghold, though she is no friend of Sauron’s or hs minions.
Ungoliant was, at the time, such a remarkable force, that she was almost able to defeat Morgoth, coming close to destroying him completely. This really impressed Morgoth, although he did send Balrogs after her in retaliation. Needless to say, if Ungoliant is able to nearly kill the ultimate evil, who is a literal god himself, it’s likely that Ungoliant could easily overpower Sauron, who is only a demigod.
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Morgoth
Morgoth about to fight Fingolfin in The SilmarillionImage via J.M. Kilpatrick
Morgoth is one of the Valar, which means he is basically a god. In fact, he is the only one of the Valar that turned against the rest of them, opting to embody the darkness rather than the light. Morgoth, formerly known as Melkor, waged war against the Valar, and is the primary reason for most of the conflict throughout Tolkien’s legendarium. His influence is far-reaching and his power is immense, with few living beings, mortal or immortal, able to match his prowess.
In fact, Sauron is not the ultimate Dark Lord–he is only a servant of Morgoth, and ultimately lives to do his master’s bidding. While Sauron is a dangerous force and a serious threat to the safety of Middle-Earth, his power is microscopic compared to his master’s. Morgoth could easily best Sauron in a fight, and could probably crush him between the tip of his finger and thumb, to be honest. Due to his species and inherent power, there is no doubting that Morgoth (or any of the Valar, really) could dwarf Sauron’s power and really give him a run for his money.
Dr. Drew on Britney Spears Bipolar Disorder, Addiction Must Be Her Focus
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TMZ.com
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Dr. Drew says Britney Spears needs to focus on two key areas of her life after her DUI arrest … substance abuse and bipolar disorder.
The good doc joined us on “TMZ Live” Friday and we asked him about Britney firing her sober coaches in the weeks leading up to her DUI bust.
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Dr. Drew says sober coaches aren’t the solution … he says Britney’s best bet would be to address her addictions with treatment, and that in turn would help with her bipolar diagnosis.
We broke the story … Britney had pills with her in the car when she was pulled over, and our sources say it was Adderall she got from Mexico.
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Dr. Drew says an Adderall-and-booze combo is terrible for someone who is bipolar … and he explains how addiction and bipolar disorder affect each other.
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The way Drew sees it … Britney’s never taken the time necessary to address some of the root issues here … and he’s hoping she makes a big change moving forward.
Jania Meshell Shares Strong Messages After Social Media Page Spreads Claim About NBA YoungBoy Allegedly Being Abusive To Her
On Friday, March 6, Jania Meshell took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share an initial message, which read, “People only hide behind fake pages fake numbers fake etc cause they p***y asf and they mama never loved them so it makes sense…”
Then, she followed up with, “I have over extended my niceness so fuck anybody that feel like they can play with me GO to hell”
From there, Meshell reposted a tweet that featured an apparently old clip of her alongside the caption:
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“Jania Meshell speaks on NBA Youngboy losing money and being abusive to her and says one time Montana stole $400k from him and he broke her jaw ‘I’m too grown for that lil boy , I moved on to bigger and better things’”
Meshell apparently wasn’t here for the false news and immediately called out the false information.
“Listen and listen to me good whoever adding these captions to old videos needs to be PUT DOWN CAUSE WHY TF YOU LYING BITCH,” she reposted alongside the tweet, which had garnered over 55,000 views.
From there, Meshell shared a few more strong words for those who were in the comment section of the tweet, apparently believing the lies.
Peep her initial tweets, the false viral tweet and video, and her follow-up messages by swiping below.
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To note, the X account that shared the false tweet has previously been called out by Skai Jackson and Yaya Mayweather for spreading false information. Both stars apparently threatened lawsuits against the account — Jackson for it apparently spreading false information about her and her son’s father, and Mayweather for the account spreading a false rumor about her and NBA YoungBoy.
Social Media Reacts To Her Strong Messages After Social Media Page Spreads Abusive Claim
Social media users weighed in on the false rumor about NBA YoungBoy allegedly being abusive to Jania Meshell and her response to the false tweets in TSR’s comment section.
Instagram user @reagannn.__ wrote, “honestly that’s real af because these pages are getting out of hand with these captions”
While Instagram user @terrisrenee added, “Nene said who yall feeling like!!????? 😂😂”
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Instagram user @michellelewis_1_ wrote, “That page has lied so many times on Skye and her baby daddy too.😂”
While Instagram user @bigmamaxoxozz added, “Yall need to leave the girl tf alone 😂😂😂 damn”
Instagram user @_kamillahd wrote, “And that’s the page that made up the lies about Gigi STAY FOCUSED”
While Instagram user @amarushakurr_ added, “I think she really upset bout that yb and nique bs lol girl let it go”
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Instagram user @sheslikrllypretty wrote, “There’s no way she don’t know how to ignore social media like seriously u damn near 30 block them an move on”
While Instagram user @inkmychina69 added, “That page did the samething to @indiaroyale they need to sue it and have it shut down”
Jania Meshell & NBA YoungBoy Previously Made Headlines
To note, Jania Meshell and NBA YoungBoy have previously made headlines. According to TMZ, in February 2018, footage captured YoungBoy apparently body slamming Meshell in a hotel hallway before “dragging” her into his room. Meshell reportedly alleged she and he were just playing, and ultimately declined to testify against him.
Ultimately, YoungBoy pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple battery family violence, was sentenced to 12 months probation, and was ordered to have no violent contact with Meshell.
A PR expert has warned that Meghan Markle‘s lifestyle brand As Ever may face issues despite growing website traffic.
While visits rose by 36% between October and January, experts claim online interest alone does not guarantee long-term success, stressing the importance of sales conversions, repeat customers, and clear product planning.
Experts have also suggested that the Meghan Markle brand needs a stronger structure and alignment with her husband, Prince Harry‘s, public image.
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PR Specialist Flags ‘Strategic Issue’ For Meghan Markle’s As Ever Brand Amid Website Growth
James Whatling / MEGA
A public relations expert has weighed in on the progress of As Ever, warning that the venture may face a significant “strategic issue” despite signs of growing online interest.
The lifestyle brand, launched by the Duchess of Sussex in April 2025, has released several product collections since its debut and has gradually expanded its online presence.
Recent data suggests that traffic to the brand’s website has been increasing. According to analytics from SimilarWeb reported by Newsweek, the site recorded around 196,800 visits in October before climbing to roughly 268,200 by January. The rise appeared steady over the months in between, with December bringing in about 246,000 visits.
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However, while those numbers indicate “solid growth,” PR and branding specialist Renae Smith cautioned that growing website traffic does not necessarily translate into long-term business success.
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Speaking to the Daily Express, Smith said that a 36 percent increase in visits is a promising sign for a relatively young brand that does not operate through traditional retail channels.
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Expert Says The Duchess’s Brand Needs’ Rhythm’ To Become A Serious Lifestyle Brand
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Smith emphasized that visitor numbers alone are not the most meaningful metric.
According to the expert, factors such as how many visitors actually purchase products, whether customers return for additional orders, and how inventory is managed will ultimately determine the brand’s sustainability.
“We’ve seen items sell out in minutes, including the recent bookmark that reportedly went in under a minute. That can mean high demand, but it can also mean extremely limited stock,” Smith said. “Without context, a one-minute sellout is just a headline.”
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From a branding perspective, she explained that scarcity can sometimes be used intentionally to create excitement around a product launch. But if shortages happen repeatedly, it can begin to look less like a marketing strategy and more like a logistical challenge.
Smith also suggested that the brand still needs a clearer structure to develop into a fully established lifestyle label.
She pointed out that a successful and “serious lifestyle brand needs rhythm,” including scheduled product launches, consistent engagement with their audience, and a well-defined identity.
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“Right now, it still feels reactive rather than disciplined,” the expert noted.
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PR Expert Warns Meghan Markle’s As Ever Brand Must Align With Prince Harry’s Global Image
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Another potential challenge, Smith added, could be the broader narrative surrounding Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry.
“If Harry is doing humanitarian travel and Meghan is scaling a commercial lifestyle brand, those two narratives need to feel complementary, not parallel,” she said.
Despite those observations, sources close to the brand say its team is pleased with how things are developing so far.
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According to the Daily Express, those involved with As Ever view the growth as encouraging and believe the brand still has significant room to expand.
The Duchess Of Sussex Is Committed To Building Her Lifestyle Brand
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Insiders say Meghan remains committed to refining the business as it evolves, learning from early challenges while continuing to build momentum.
The brand’s team also believes the steady increase in interest reflects genuine engagement from its audience.
A source connected to As Ever told the news outlet that while the brand is still in its early stages, its trajectory so far has been encouraging.
They added that the focus remains on building the business carefully and sustainably while continuing to listen to the community that has supported it.
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Meghan Markle’s As Ever Products Reportedly Given Away To Netflix Staff At Los Angeles Offices
Lisa OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA
Meanwhile, last month, reports suggest the As Ever products have also been circulating within the offices of Netflix in Los Angeles.
According to Page Six, staff at the streaming company were able to take home items from the As Ever range that were stored at the company’s headquarters.
One source claimed that two storage rooms at the campus were filled with products from the brand, adding that employees had been allowed to take items home.
“They’re literally just giving it away to employees,” the source said, alleging that one staff member left with around ten products.
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Items reportedly kept at the offices include jars of jam, candles, wine, and Meghan’s well-known flower-petal sprinkles.
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The products were said to be stored in rooms located in the Icon Tower and Epic buildings on Netflix’s Hollywood campus. “There’s so much overstock,” confirmed a second source.
However, it is understood that the brand’s main inventory had already been moved to a separate warehouse some time ago.
According to the report, the remaining items at the Netflix offices are intended primarily for gifting, sampling, and promotional purposes, which is why employees have been able to take some products home.
