Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Hacks Season 5, Episode 2We’re two episodes into the final season of HBO’s critically acclaimed Hacks Season 5, with Jean Smart‘s Deborah Vance determined once and for all to cement her legacy as a legendary stand-up comedian. At her side, as always in the comedy, created by Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky is Ava Daniels, played brilliantly by Hannah Einbinder, who won an Emmy last year for her work on the show. In Episode 2 of Hacks‘ final season, Deborah and Ava head to a convention in an effort to get Deborah to connect with her fans — whom she’s been neglecting — on a more personal level. If she’s going to land Madison Square Garden, she needs to start a grassroots campaign, stat.

As is often the case with some of the best comedies, nothing goes as planned for Deborah and Ava. But it’s actually the storyline between Jimmy (Downs) and his business partner Kayla (Megan Stalter) that’s the most unexpected. While at the convention, Jimmy is starstruck by Renee O’Connor of Xena: Warrior Princess fame, with the duo stumbling upon a golden opportunity that could help get their agency on the right track. During this interview with Collider, Stalter and Downs reflect on the early moments in the series that cemented their dynamic, reveal the deeper meaning behind why they chose Xena: Warrior Princess, and tease Stalter’s big emotional scene in Episode 8.

COLLIDER: This season is so fantastic. I’ve seen the majority of it, and I just have to say, congrats. It’s been a pleasure to watch. Paul, I want to take you back a little bit. Was there an early scene, line delivery, memory on set with Megan, where you were like, “Oh, that’s the person that should play Kayla. That’s why we hired her.”

PAUL W. DOWNS: It was a dream of ours to have Meg play Kayla. We thought of her for the role as we were writing it. I’m trying to think of the thing that cemented it. Honestly, her first day on set, we were like, “Yes, this is somebody who’s making the show even better.” It was beyond a dream to have her in it, because she was Kayla and made it so much better. [To Stalter] I don’t know if you improvised, “lo siento papi” in Season 1?

MEGAN STALTER: It might have been you guys. Best writers in the whole world. I love it when he gets asked questions like these. I just get to sit back and smile and watch the compliments.

DOWNS: Oh, you know what? Another thing you did in Season 1 that was so funny to me, you were on the phone with Ava. I forget if it was the first time, but we heard “girly” or “girlina” or something, and we were like, “Well, we’re going to continue to make that part of her vernacular.” There are too many moments from Kayla that we love that we quote. Usually, when we do a season, there are certain performances that Jen, Lucia, and I, when we’re editing or as we’re working, we’ll just continue to use. We have ones from Kayla every single season.

STALTER: And also, in that vein, there are lines I can barely say without laughing that you guys wrote. Remember that there’s that scene — all of the lines you wrote that I didn’t improvise — we could barely say them without laughing. It was the bicycle thing.

DOWNS: I think you were like, “This hotel room smells like my ex-boyfriend’s bicycle seat.”

STALTER: No, no. That was funny, too.

DOWNS: Oh, the prostate. “The handlebar was up against his G spot.” No, “I guess his prostate is against his G spot.” And I was like, “I don’t think your brother should be telling you this stuff.”

STALTER: Those are written lines I can barely say, even though I memorize them. And once we got on set, I could barely say them without laughing a lot.

‘Hacks’ Paul W. Downs Teases Kayla’s Big Emotional Scene in Episode 8

Image via HBO Max

“It made me emotional doing it with her.”

Megan, that’s your time to compliment Paul. Was there a piece of advice or something early on in the show that really stuck with you as you played Kayla all these years?

STALTER: I think that I just learned everything from Paul and everyone on the show. This was my first TV job and my only TV job [Laughs].

DOWNS: No…

STALTER: Well, nothing will come like this again. He just made me feel so comfortable to improv. I feel like in the first season, you guys let me improv little lines here and there, and I just got really comfortable doing it. I think I just learned from watching him because he’s the best improviser. It doesn’t matter what you say in the scene; he’s going to have something even funnier to say back. Also, sometimes you have trouble crying in a scene, but with him, I’ve never had trouble. If it’s an emotional scene with him, I’ve never been like, “Oh, can I get the tear stick?” I don’t judge anyone using that; of course, I’ve used it a lot on other things.

DOWNS: Absolutely, pop off if you do.

STALTER: But I’ve never popped off in that way here, because I look into those eyes, I’m crying.

DOWNS: In Episode 8, Meg has a really beautiful emotional scene. She’s so good in it, and it made me emotional doing it with her.

STALTER: It’s because of him. He’s giving you all the feeling there. If you’re standing across someone that’s not feeling anything, I don’t feel anything. He feels everything. I’m looking at him crying, and I start crying. He’s really just the best actor and the best comedian. I’ve loved him for years before knowing him because his character on Broad City is the funniest character on Broad City.

DOWNS: Oh my God, wow. Okay, pullquote.

STALTER: I love the girls on it as well, of course.

DOWNS: What if we hated each other off camera?

STALTER: “Get the hell away from me! That’s my coffee you’re drinking. Put it down!”

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DOWNS: We do love each other. I admire Meg so much, and I think she’s so funny. I could get emotional! I’m not going to, but it’s true.

STALTER: I’m choking it back. I had a frog in my throat a second ago, and I had to look away from him.

DOWNS: We love each other, and also, I find her so funny. You want to be your best when you’re with a scene partner who’s that good.

STALTER: If you’re with somebody that’s not good, in between scenes, you might go, “Oh, get me out of here now. I can’t be doing this for one more second with this person.” With him, I go, “I can’t wait to be with him!” My goal is to make him break in the scene, make him laugh. Also, I’ll say, nothing feels better than when the scene’s over, and you hear Lucia laugh.

DOWNS: Oh, yeah.

STALTER: If she’s laughing, you feel like you just did heroin.

DOWNS: That is the best, I know.

‘Hacks’ Season 5, Episode 2’s ‘Xena’ Plot Point Perfectly Aligns With Deborah’s Story Arc

“The power of the fans is something that we really wanted to explore.”

One of my favorite parts of the season so far is Episode 2, when you are at the convention for Deborah. You two really get a great storyline. There are a lot of tasteful cameos this season. They always really flow well into the story. Renee O’Connor was a great addition. What made you choose her and Xena for the show?

DOWNS: That episode in particular is really about fandom, and it’s a love letter to fans, because for people like Deborah, not only are they so important to her career, but they sometimes become your friends. And in Xena, something that always struck me was that she was a character on Hercules, and the fans were so enthusiastic, so a show was born out of that. The power of the fans is something that we really wanted to explore. But, full disclosure, I was a Xena fan growing up. I watched the show with my sister. It’s the perfect thing for Jimmy to be obsessed with. It’s so surprising, but also, it’s cute. The Little Debbies are these idiosyncratic characters who can be quirky and kooky, so it was nice for us, I think, to have one of our ensemble be in that position, somebody who’s a fanatic of somebody. The show is about making comedy. We ourselves are such fans of TV, so we just wanted to give a little taste of that.

New episodes of Hacks Season 5 air on Thursdays on HBO Max.

Singer D4vd has been arrested in connection to the death of Celeste Rivas, whose body was found in the trunk of his impounded Tesla.

Us Weekly can confirm D4vd (real name David Anthony Burke), 21, is being held without bail following his arrest on Thursday, April 16.

“Detectives from Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery-Homicide Division have arrested David Burke, a 21-year-old resident of Los Angeles, for the murder of Celeste Rivas.  Burke is being held without bail,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement on Thursday. “The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s office on Monday for filing consideration.”

D4vd’s attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter addressed the arrest via a statement to TMZ on Thursday.

“Let us be clear – the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death,” the statement read. “There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed.”

They added, “David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”

Us Weekly has reached out to D4vd’s attorney for comment.

The Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation after discovering the body of the teenager inside an impounded Tesla registered to D4vd in September 2025.

Police confirmed to Us at the time that officers responded to the 1000 block of Mansfield Avenue in Hollywood on September 8, “for a foul odor coming from a vehicle at a tow yard.” Detectives responded and located human remains inside a Tesla.

Authorities told KTLA at the time that the Tesla was towed from the Hollywood Hills after it was reported abandoned nearly a week prior to being discovered.

Weeks later, investigators identified the deceased individual as Rivas, who turned 15 the day before her body was found.

Although the singer did not address any connection to the late teen at the time, a spokesperson for D4vd told NBC in September, “[He] has been informed about what’s happened. Although he is still out on tour, he is fully cooperating with the authorities.”

D4vd is known for hits like “Here With Me” and “Romantic Homicide.”

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Related: D4vd Named Grand Jury Target Amid Celeste Rivas’ Murder Case

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Five months after Celeste Rivas’ body was found in a car that belonged to D4vd, the singer has been named as the target of a Los Angeles grand jury investigation in new court documents. The court documents state that D4vd, 20, “may be involved in the death of a 15-year-old victim” identified as Rivas, according […]

Before a body was discovered in a vehicle reportedly registered to D4vd, the artist shared a post via social media on September 6, writing, “I start media training tomorrow guys wish me luck … ”

On September 8, the same day the body was found, D4vd, also promoted his upcoming album, titled Withered Deluxe: Marcescence, via Instagram.

“Every song written exclusively by me on my phone baby, this is a passion project i put together to make sure i didn’t lose the raw emotional weight my music carries and how much it means to u all,” D4vd wrote at the time. “Thank you to all the friends who collaborated with me on this everyone ATE THEIR VERSES UP ❤️❤️❤️.”

Carrie Preston‘s Elsbeth Tascioni may strike one as being a one-note character, especially if you’re not as invested as we Fanscioni’s (?) are. But in Season 3’s latest Elsbeth episode, “Murder, He Wrote,” Preston assuages such presumptions with her best performance in the series to date. It certainly doesn’t hurt that guest star Griffin Dunne delivers a truly memorable, terrifying villain with author Elliott Pope, and a host of alums from Perfect Strangers, Friends, one from Grease and Grease 2, and four returnees from previous episodes.

Some People Can’t Take Criticism In ‘Elsbeth’s “Murder, He Wrote”

Image via CBS

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Elliott Pope (Dunne) is reading a chapter from one of his books to an audience in an Authors in Conversation seminar, hosted by long-time friend Barney Corman (Mark Linn-Baker), a bookstore owner and critic. After his reading, Elliott sits down with Barney for an interview, with Barney citing how a new novel by Elliott is a major event. They talk about how their hometown of Massapequa features prominently in his books, a shared past that Barney honors by recusing himself from criticizing Elliott’s works. He then alludes to how the characters mirror people they’ve known — which Elliott chalks up to happenstance — before making reference to Elliott’s early, smutty bestsellers.

Afterward, they go to the back room of Barney’s Books, where Barney’s office is. The back room is a rat’s nest, literally, with one rat, which Barney named Templeton, scurrying about, having dodged all attempts to catch him. Barney begins to talk about how well the evening went, but Elliott is more concerned about the negative points Barney brought up, aggressively expressing his dissatisfaction. The tense moment dies down, with Barney asking if Elliott is stuck on a project, and offers to read what he’s written so far for his latest novel. Elliott relents, and hands Barney his current work. It’s still in longhand, Elliott notes, and if it gets lost, “I’ll kill you.” Cue the nervous laughter.

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Two months pass without a word from Barney. He makes his way to the bookstore and rearranges the displays, so his books are more prominent as he waits for Barney to finish with a customer. They go to the back room, where Barney shows a first edition copy of “Howard’s End” by E.M. Forster. Elliott thumbs through it, but what he wants is his manuscript, which Barney notes has some flaws. “Some” is a lot, with Barney calling it another “sad, masturbatory exercise steeped in misogyny and casual cruelty,” damning Elliott for using the good people of Massapequa as fodder, all but his sainted mother and her precious tuna sandwiches. Elliott rips into Barney, aggressively confronting him before breaking the tension, feigning he was simply upset. But when Barney is standing beside a bookcase, Elliott pushes another one over, creating a domino effect that traps Barney. Traps, that is, thanks to a footstool that prevents it from falling directly on him, until Elliott pulls it away. Deed done, Elliott takes the manuscript, turns the bookstore’s sign to Closed, and returns home, throwing the manuscript in with a host of others.

Elsbeth Senses Something Darker in Barney’s “Accident” in ‘Elsbeth’s “Murder, He Wrote”

Eighteen months later, Elliott is at another Authors in Conversation event, hosted by Fred Harrison (Arnie Burton, from “Poetic Justice“), reading a chapter from his latest book, with Elsbeth and Sheryl Jacobs (Marcia DeBonis, from “Unalive and Well“) in the audience. Afterward, Elliott takes questions from the audience, and Elsbeth has a few. One character in the book, Marty, who dies in an avalanche, bears a resemblance to Barney, but she was surprised he’d be on a ski trip, not being very athletic. Furthermore, the narrator Edgar says his and Marty’s eyes meet just before he dies, but if Marty died in an avalanche, wouldn’t Edgar as well? It gets more convoluted following the event, as Elsbeth has Elliott sign her book. She apologizes for the questions if he was offended, but can’t help herself when he says he heard about Barney’s death in the newspaper, despite an earlier claim that his widow called him personally.

Back at the precinct, Elsbeth drops a handful of Elliott Pope books on the table, telling Wagner (Wendell Pierce) and Lt. Connor (Daniel K. Isaac). Apart from noting that he’s not good at writing women, his newest book, Snow Falls Down, is different. Normally, Elliott’s narrator alter-ego is typically ravaged by guilt, but not at all in this one, despite causing the avalanche that killed him. With the help of Hackett (Lindsay Mendez), Elsbeth lays out an argument about the weakness of the initial investigation. Wagner thinks it’s a waste of time, but leaves the decision to allow Elsbeth to investigate in Connor’s hands. Connor agrees there’s something there, and off she goes.

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Elsbeth and Hackett arrive at the bookstore, where Barney’s widow, Bev (Didi Conn), is restocking. She asks to look in the storeroom, which she’s kept locked up since Barney’s death, but isn’t keen about Templeton. She calls in a favor from Brad and Jill (Mihir Kumar and Arianna Gayle, from “I See… Murder“), who trap the critter. They go into the storeroom, where Elsbeth follows the arc of the bookcases, noting the last one would have fallen on the footstool, which now has a scratch that matches the molding on the bookcase. Alongside a witness who noticed the store was closed at 6:40 that night, she’s given the green light to proceed.

Elsbeth meets up with Elliott on the sidewalk, going to a shop down the street to get a tuna fish sandwich like his mother used to make. She discloses they’ve reopened the case thanks to that new evidence, but he surprises her by inviting Elsbeth to dinner at Gogol’s, claiming he wants to know more about her. Elsbeth, however, gets an opportunity to know him better after Bev finds a log from Barney’s fax machine that shows he’s been faxing Maura (Joanna Gleason), Elliott’s first wife, frequently. It turns out he’d been writing reviews of Elliott’s work for years, sending them to Maura for a laugh. The last one is about a book called Troubled Pants, which was never released. A sneak peek, perhaps? Maura agrees, admitting that Elliott would let people read his work for a shot of adulation, which he also received from the young female grad students he is no longer allowed to hire after sexual assault allegations.

Elsbeth Writes the Epilogue to Elliott Pope’s Story in “Murder, He Wrote”

Image via CBS

“We’ll both have the borscht,” Elliott tells the waiter at Gogol’s, dismissing Elsbeth’s claim that he didn’t need to order for her and topping off her schnapps. He wants to hear about her “hopes and dreams,” but she pulls out two photos from the bookstore, one before Barney died and one after, noting that Elliott’s books are prominently displayed in the latter, which doesn’t square with the reviews Barney wrote about his books, the ones he didn’t know were being sent to Maura. And what about Troubled Pants? Elliott says it doesn’t ring a bell, then suggests that they go back to his place to “celebrate,” prompting a disgusted “No” from Elsbeth. Back home, alone, he sets fire to Troubled Pants.

It’s not enough to scare off Elsbeth, who meets Elliott at his house with a peace offering: a tuna sandwich, like his mother used to make. Only she never did, but instead bought from the shop down the street from his childhood home, shattering his illusion that she was the only woman who had never done him wrong. In an instant, Elliott’s demeanor changes, telling Elsbeth she won’t find the manuscript, the lawsuits were “misunderstandings,” and the only woman problem he has is women trying to trap him. He aggressively pushes towards Elsbeth, creating general concern for her safety in one of the few instances of such in the series, before demanding she get out.

Elsbeth does, only to reappear with Hackett and Connor at another seminar. She confronts him, noting how the death of a character in Howard’s End is eerily similar to how Barney died. Coincidence? Not likely. Elliott’s DNA is found in Barney’s copy of the book, on the very page that has the death in it, thanks to a habit he has of licking his thumb to turn pages, just as he did when signing Elsbeth’s copy of his book. Elliott’s story comes to an end, walked out on the charge of murdering Barney.

As for Alec Bloom (Ivan Hernandez), he wins the mayoral race but loses Elsbeth. In a show-stopping, heartrending scene, Elsbeth breaks up, unable to look past lying outright to him about Pete. She understands being a people-pleaser, but what she can’t abide is losing herself, and knowing that her gift of knowing when something’s not right was greatly compromised by their relationship is too much. It’s over, but it may have dashed Wagner’s hopes of being police commissioner, which is awarded to his rival, Tully, instead. But is Tully going to look into Elsbeth’s consent decree? We’ll see, perhaps as early as the next episode, when Kaya (Carra Patterson) returns!

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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 absolutely spellbinding here, with a powerful and emotional break-up speech that is utterly heartrending.
• Griffin Dunne is a very unlikeable villain, in the best of ways, and is among only a handful that have legitimately caused viewers concern for Elsbeth’s life.
• An excellent cast all-around, with Mark Linn-Baker a standout for his performance, albeit brief, as the ill-fated Barney.
• The return of characters from previous episodes, which has been a welcome and strong addition this season, marks a triumphant return.

• Only one: Didi Con(n). See what I did there?

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Meghan Markle did not hold back on her views about social media while on her Australian tour.

Seemingly scarred by the constant trolls, scrutiny, and dissection of her daily life, the Duchess of Sussex has raised her voice once again on the dangers of online platforms. She emphasizes how people must develop tough skin, drawing inspiration from her personal experience as a public figure. 

Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, are currently on a tour in Australia, where they have several personal events scheduled. In recent times, they have raised awareness of mental health issues stemming from the use and abuse of social media platforms.

Meghan Markle Says She Was ‘Bullied And Attacked’ Online For A Decade

Meghan has pulled back the curtains on her experience with social media as a public figure. She dug deep into her feelings about the online industry and how she was able to navigate through the heavy negativity. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited an organization at the Swinburne University of Technology dedicated to helping young people during their trip to Australia.

The organization, Batyr, is an Australian youth mental health charity with a focus on helping young people to reduce stigmas and reach out in times of need. Meghan and her husband addressed the group of youngsters, sharing their battles with social media and mental health.

The former Hollywood star disclosed that she has been “bullied and attacked” every day for 10 years on social media and was “the most trolled person in the entire world.” Despite the negative energy from online users, the mom of two declared triumphantly, “Now I’m here,” telling her listeners in the classroom that she did not let the hate weigh her down.

Megan continued her speech, noting that as the trolls fired on, social media companies were not “incentivized to stop.” She added that due to her personal experiences, she likes to listen to others going through similar phases, as it hits so close to home. PEOPLE reported that the ousted royal admonished her listeners to be strong while informing them of the reality behind online platforms. 

“When I think of all of you and what you’re experiencing, I think so much of that is having to realize that you know that industry, that billion-dollar industry, that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks,” Meghan said before adding that the clickbait nature of social media is not going to change. 

Her husband, Harry, chimed in, detailing his personal mental health struggle. He stated that social media has led to much loneliness for a lot of people. The Duke also praised the Australian government for placing a ban on social media users, which restricts the use of online platforms to 16-year-olds and older. However, he noted that it should never have gotten so bad that countries of the world need to institute bans.

Meghan and Harry have previously made their stance evidently clear against children using social media. They continue to advocate for stronger protections for children from the online community. Harry previously highlighted that he is grateful Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are still too young to use social media, saying life is better off the platforms. 

Last year, The Blast reported that the lovebirds unveiled a memorial called the Lost Screen Memorial in New York City, dedicated to the memory of children whose families believe harmful material online contributed to their deaths. The memorial featured 50 smartphone-shaped lightboxes. Each box displayed a photograph of a child whose life was lost “due to the harms of social media”. 

The Sussexes also assisted the grieving families by reaching out to tech companies, insisting that parents should be able to gain access to the phones of the children who have passed. Harry argued that tech companies refusing to allow parents to see what their children do on social media during their lifetime, on the grounds of privacy, is wrong.

The ‘Suits’ Actress Is Heavy On Security For Her Kids

Reports have shown that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have been noticeably absent as their parents visit Australia this April because it was their mother’s wish for them to remain in the US. According to insiders, Harry wanted to bring the kids along on the Aussie trip and make it a family affair, but his wife insisted that they remain at home in California. 

The source explained that the Duke wanted to create memories with his children similar to the ones he has of going on royal tours with his mom, Princess Diana. Meghan, on the other hand, was reportedly uncomfortable with the suggestion, and The Blast detailed that her fears stemmed from maintaining security and a stable environment for the kids.

Although she hates being away from her children, she believes they need to stay behind in Montecito while she and Harry focus on work. Not only is she concerned for her kids, but in a previous public address, Meghan also emphasized that the security of children is paramount.

Meghan Markle Can’t Escape Public Scrutiny 

As the couple embarked on the Aussie tour, eyebrows were raised with many questioning their motives. Some critics claim that Meghan and Harry are trying to step back into their official roles after announcing they had left that world behind.

Controversy also stems from drawn conclusions that the couple’s trip gives the appearance of a royal tour when they have fully denounced their stance as working members of the royal house. Royal expert Rebecca English brought up a statement the late Queen Elizabeth made in 2020.

At the time, the queen stressed that there would be no “half-in, half-out” arrangement for her grandson, hence he had to make a choice and stick to it. The Blast reported that while Meghan and Harry maintain that they aren’t working royals, they continue to act as such, using the name, structure, and style resembling the institution.

English stated that the couple organized their trip as “cos play royals” and are going through traditional royal tour arrangements. She also called Meghan out for smiling while appearing on a cooking show previously, where she was introduced as “royalty and the Duchess of Sussex.”

Will Meghan Markle’s words about social media effect a change?

The season 2 finale of The Pitt appeared to write Dr. Samira Mohan off the show after Supriya Ganesh‘s controversial exit.

During the Thursday, April 16, episode of the hit series, Robby (Noah Wyle) is preparing to go on his sabbatical, worrying others that he won’t return. Robby attempted to give each person an individual goodbye — leading to a candid conversation with Samira right outside the ER.

“I know that life can be challenging — especially when it doesn’t work out the way you expect it,” Robby told Samira. “I thought I would be married with two kids in college by now. Maybe have some property with a pond and we could play hockey on it in the wintertime. And yet look at me now. No wife, no kids, no pond.”

Samira reminded Robby that “it’s never too late.” He then asked if she “really” believed that for him and for herself.

Related: What ‘The Pitt’ Cast Has Said About the Show’s Numerous Exits

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“I see what you did there. Is that true or is it something you just said to make a point?” Samira asked before offering more insight into her strained relationship with her mom. “We’re not talking [right now]. I am sorry that I let it distract me. She was treating me like a child and I was letting her.”

Samira ultimately wished Robby “a good trip,” adding, “Please be safe. We need you here, even if you can be a d*** sometimes.” Their last exchange was Samira wishing Robby luck — and him reciprocating. The final scene with Samira came later on in the finale when the employees went to the roof to watch the 4th of July fireworks together.

News originally broke earlier this month that Ganesh, 28, would not be returning to the show. It was reported that the exit was a “story-driven” decision after Ganesh previously teased plans to return.

“It’s up to the writers,” Ganesh exclusively told Us Weekly in February about where she would like to see Samira in season 3. “Let’s see where they end up taking her.”

Ganesh continued: “I think we left her in a really interesting spot. I’m really curious where she ends up going.”

Following backlash, Wyle, 54, defended the decision to shake up the cast from season to season. (Tracy Ifeachor didn’t come back for season 2 despite being a fan-favorite on the show.)

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“It’s an inevitability that’s going to happen every season with this show, because as writers we’re hard-pressed to figure out what a lapse of time we can have and keep most of the ensemble together realistically,” he told Variety at PaleyFest’s screening of The Pitt on Sunday, April 12. “Emergency rooms have a high revolving door. As always, we try to bring in new characters or promote from within as we go through these cast changes and try to keep the story lines fresh, but obviously Supriya has been a huge part of our show since the beginning.”

He concluded: “Dr. Mohan is a beloved character, and I love playing with her and working with Supriya, and we wish her all the best in her next endeavors, and we’re going to miss her.”

The Pitt has been renewed on HBO Max and is returning for season 3.

Snoop Dogg has long been synonymous with his iconic “smoke weed every day” mantra, and now, he’s turning that signature line into a full-circle business move in his hometown. 

The rapper and serial entrepreneur is gearing up to open his second cannabis dispensary, S.W.E.D. (Smoke Weed Every Day), in his hometown of Long Beach. Blending nostalgia with innovation, the space channels early hip-hop energy through bold, street-inspired design, vibrant visuals, and throwbacks to Snoop’s rise. Inside, the store feels like an immersive experience, complete with retro arcade games, live DJ booths, a personal lounge curated by Snoop, and a hologram of the beloved icon. 

Every detail, from the music to nods to local culture, reflects the city’s influence on his exciting journey, turning the opening into more than just a business move – it’s a homecoming.

Snoop Dogg Set To Open Second S.W.E.D. Location In Cali

Snoop is ready to blaze a new trail in Long Beach, his hometown, with the opening of his second S.W.E.D. location. The new store, located at 2115 E. 10th Street in Long Beach, is set to officially open on May 9.

The new store represents a full-circle moment for the rapper, honoring the city that helped to shape his vision and legacy. The store will include street-inspired visuals, throwbacks to the classic Snoop era, retro arcade games, Snoop’s personal lounge, two live DJ booths, a state-of-the-art hologram of Snoop and much more.

Every element of the new store was intentionally designed to celebrate Long Beach’s culture and community that helped Snoop’s journey.

Snoop Dogg Has A Strong Commitment To Supporting California’s Cannabis Industry

Opening a second S.W.E.D. location further reinforces the rapper’s continued commitment to supporting equitable growth within California’s cannabis industry and beyond. S.W.E.D. helps to not only expand Snoop’s cannabis footprint but also helps to honor the culture and create equitable job opportunities in the community.

“Long Beach made me who I am,” Snoop said, according to a press release sent to The Blast. “Opening S.W.E.D. in Long Beach is my way of showing love to the community that showed love to me. We’re creating jobs, opportunities, and a space that celebrates the culture.”

The Blast Was On Hand For The First S.W.E.D. Location’s Grand Opening

Snoop’s first S.W.E.D. location, not too far from LAX Airport in Los Angeles, opened in July 2024. The Blast was on hand for the opening celebration and got the chance to tour the brand-new store.

This store isn’t just for the cannabis connoisseur; it’s also for the die-hard Snoop fan or anyone who loves pop culture and nostalgia. This store is more of an experience than just your typical dispensary from the moment you walk in. The famous wooden Death Row Records chair greets you near the entrance and is the perfect spot for a memorable photo.

Pop Snoop Was A Proud Dad At The Opening Celebration

Snoop’s dad, Vernell Varnado, also known as Pop Snoop, was at the opening celebration of the first S.W.E.D. location. He told The Blast exclusively what he likes the most about the store.

“I like the whole thing. I like the setup, I like the booth, and I like the old-school stuff,” he told The Blast enthusiastically. “This store has a different vibe, but the good part about it is it’s in the hood. That’s what I like about it.”

He also told The Blast that when Snoop was younger, he used to tell him to be better than him and be above it all, and that’s clearly advice Snoop took.

“People give him a bad rap, but he always seems to just keep moving,” Pop Snoop said. “As a father, I respect him more because he always gives back.”

Snoop Dogg Stays Booked And Busy

Was there ever a time you can remember that Snoop wasn’t doing something newsworthy? We’ll give you a minute to think but promise there aren’t many.

In addition to opening his second S.W.E.D. location, he also recently revealed that he’s teaming up with Lil Baby for an expansion of Dr. Bombay Ice Cream, that was founded by Snoop and his son Cordell Broadus.

According to PEOPLE, Broadus said, “Bringing Lil Baby into Dr. Bombay was a very intentional move. Lil Baby has built one of the most authentic brands in music, and he understands how to connect people at scale.”

He continued that this “isn’t about a name — it’s about aligning with someone who sees our long-term vision and can help us build something that lasts for the next generation of ice cream lovers.”

What can ice cream lovers expect? Some “90s nostalgia” mixed with “bold, accessible flavors,” such as Iced Out Orange Cream, Sticky Caramel Apple, Baked Blueberry Muffin, and more.

This article contains spoilers for Season 5, Episode 3 of ‘The Boys’.

Season 5, Episode 3 of The Boys marks the moment the final season truly locks in place. What starts as a potential solution quickly becomes the most dangerous asset in the series, as V1 turns into the central object every major player is chasing. The fallout reshapes Homelander’s trajectory, raises the stakes for The Boys, and pushes characters like Mother’s Milk into entirely new territory.

Following Episode 3, Collider’s Joe Schmidt spoke with showrunner Eric Kripke and star Laz Alonso about how the latest episode ignites the series’ endgame, what V1 really means for Homelander, and why M.M. is approaching the homestretch of The Boys with nothing left to lose.

V1 Becomes The Most Dangerous Prize in ‘The Boys’ Final Season

“And I just wish he’d quit marketing the show.”

COLLIDER: In this episode, V1 is the match that lights the powder keg that explodes and changes everything. Can you talk a little bit about that?

ERIC KRIPKE: I mean, this notion that there’s this magic bullet to this virus and that it makes you immune to the virus. That’s the main thing. And so it becomes the loose football that everyone is chasing. Homelander, so then not just will he be immune, but he’ll be immortal. And this news is the news that completely sends him over the edge into thinking that he has an opportunity to become literally God, which I would have said was totally fucking insane that any leader would actually publicly proclaim themselves to be God. And then Trump released that image of himself last night. And I just wish he’d quit marketing the show. Like enough already. Like we don’t… Anyway, it would make Homelander immortal.

But then The Boys are trying to get it for a couple of reasons. One, so Homelander doesn’t. But two, they think it’s an opportunity to save Kimiko and Annie. So the rest of the season becomes the hunt for this V1.

When ‘The Boys’ Feels Too Close To Reality

“It’s upsetting.”

Image via Amazon Prime Video

I interviewed Jack [Quaid] … and one of the things I asked Jack is, do you ever watch the news? And I’m going to ask you the same thing. Do you ever watch the news and just think, “Oh, shit, we just filmed something like this last year and now I’m seeing it happen in real life”?

KRIPKE: It happens all the time. And, you know, tomorrow’s episode is a perfect example. The talk about attacking the pope and presenting yourself as a God as we’re about to release an episode where Homelander thinks he’s God. I don’t know what to say about it. It’s upsetting. You know, I was sending a text, and someone last night who works on the show sent me the image. And my reply is about how I feel, which is like I just texted back: Sigh. Hard, sad, sigh. And I say that’s what I’ll say to you: hard, sad, sigh.

Karl Urban Sets the Tone for ‘The Boys’ Cast and Crew

Urban is the best “number one” Kripke has worked with.

Totally, totally understood. So Karl’s character, Butcher, who is the lovable bastard of the show, has a really good moment with Ryan. Actually, kind of… I shouldn’t say lovable.

KRIPKE: Yeah, he is convincing him to kill himself.

A very mixed series of moments with Ryan. But Jack also said this about Karl, how he is really a good presence on set. How would you describe him going through this final season, especially knowing that this is the last time with this set of actors and this crew and this family that has been created. And also, if you can speak a little bit about his love of driving any sort of car or boat that he can, I would love that too.

KRIPKE: Yeah, that’s funny. Yeah, and I’ve told Karl this many times. So there’s a thing… Just to pull back the curtain a little bit. There’s this expectation that when you’re… The term is “number one on the call sheet,” which means that you’re the lead of the show.

You’re setting an example.

KRIPKE: In effect, right. And with number one, like I always say, number one isn’t a privilege. It’s a responsibility. Yeah, exactly. You set the tone. The crew follows your lead. The rest of the cast follows your lead. And I can say that Karl is the best number one I’ve ever worked with in that regard. Like he takes his role as a leader. So seriously in that, when the crew is down, it’s Karl who’s clapping his hands and saying, “All right, guys, come on, we can do this.” When the actors are upset, he’ll go to them and work it out. He’s remarkable and such an incredible partner beyond the fact that, obviously, he’s wildly charismatic and talented and so good at action and drama. But just from a producer standpoint, he’s a remarkable partner to have on that set because I’m in Los Angeles a lot of the time. I think one of the reasons that that set is such a loving place is because of the tone he sets. So I give him all the credit in the world for that.

And yeah, he really loves to drive shit. But he lives on the water in Australia, so he is very, very comfortable with speed boats. And so he really wanted to drive the boat into the whale, which he did and drove it in a way that I think almost murdered Jack Quaid. And every time there’s a car or a spin out or something, he’s always the first to volunteer to get behind the wheel. Even more so than Laz [Alonso], who’s also an excellent driver, like Laz was in Fast and the Furious. Laz knows how to spin out a car, but there’s something about it that Karl just loves.

Balancing Homelander’s Power and Fragility

“I think it’s honestly the partnership with Ant most of all that makes it take off.”

Image via Prime Video

That’s funny. I wanted to ask you how on Homelander, you thread that line between narcissism and his desire for approval. And I have to ask how difficult that is to balance those two for a character like that.

KRIPKE: It takes a lot of conversation in the writer’s room. You’re balancing and counterbalancing things all the time and talking them through and talking them through again. But I have to tell you, Antony makes it easy. He’s so hyper aware of where Homelander is at that moment. And so he and I, once he gets the script, will have, I think, a really productive exchange of ideas. It’s never like, “I have notes.” It’s always, “Okay, cool. I see what you’re trying to do for Homelander here in the writing. But, could I play it like this?” Or, “This line feels off base for me,” and we’ll go through it line by line and really figure out how we stay on the tight wire that we’re trying to stay on to get them to that place so that he’s always carrying the balance between this autocratic, bullying, dictatorial, dangerous character and then just how desperate and weak and needy and small he is. And so, I think it’s honestly the partnership with Ant most of all that makes it take off. Just give that guy an Emmy already, for Christ’s sake.

Mother’s Milk is Fighting With Nothing Left to Lose

“I love that the juxtaposition is that M.M. is the most carefree he’s ever been.”

Let’s start off by talking about how this is the episode where it kind of blows everything open and changes the trajectory for where the show is going towards the final episodes. I want to ask you, V1 changes everything and Mother’s Milk is already in a dark place. What’s his goal now heading into these final episodes?

LAZ ALONSO: I think that M.M.’s goal now is to finish what we started. Regardless of whether or not he will live to see the end of it. There’s a freedom that M.M. has this season that he’s never had before. And that’s not having the will or the need to make it home to his family. He’s accepted that his fate will probably keep him from doing that. And while it sounds like a dark fate, he’s living life, man. This is probably the most fun he’s ever had fighting the superheroes. He’s smoking. He’s drinking. He’s hanging out with Butcher. And there’s just a freedom and a lack of needing to control every situation that I think allows him to meet the moment. With the stakes being so high this season, more than any other season, I love that the juxtaposition is that M.M. is the most carefree he’s ever been.

M.M. Inevitable Collision in ‘The Boys’ Final Season

“I think that he knows where this is going to lead.”

Image via Prime Video

There’s a really cool scene between you and Giancarlo Esposito in [Episode 3]. And M.M. really just has this… I wouldn’t say laissez-faire, but a whole, “Well, if you’re gonna do this, I’m gonna be the one to kill you.” I really enjoyed that scene. Do you see M.M. forgiving, if it’s possible, or is he too far gone to forgive someone like Soldier Boy or even Edgar?

ALONSO: I don’t think he’ll ever be able to do that. I think that he is willing to die on his shield. And regardless of whether or not he gets to that point, that is his goal. Right now, there are two soldiers on opposite sides of the battlefield and, sure, they can meet in the middle for a cigar. But as we see at the end of that scene, they both know where they belong. Once they can make it out of this, this bunker. And that’s not teaming up and fighting together. That’s, “You go your way. I go mine. And if I see you again, one of us ain’t gonna live to tell the story.” And they accept that, and I think that that was a fair way to end that scene, considering the history that Giancarlo’s character, Stan Edgar, had with M.M.’s whole family, with his dad, this is generational. While he can play nice for the moment, I think that he knows where this is going to lead. And he’s okay with it.

‘The Boys’ Fans Finally Got The Moment They’ve Been Asking For

People have been requesting it for at least three seasons, and it’s finally a reality.

Jasper Savage / ©Amazon / Courtesy Everett Collection

People have spoken about Eric Kripke, that he’s a very collaborative storyteller with the actors. Is there something specific that you requested for M.M. in this season going into these final episodes?

ALONSO: Yeah, man, I did. I requested… People always wanted to see Homelander and M.M. cross paths at some point because they never do, and considering M.M.’s name, they were like, “How does Homelander never come across Mother’s Milk of all people?” And so I made that request. And sure enough, he put it in there for Episode 1. So that was definitely something that we enjoyed shooting just because, literally, for at least three seasons, people have been requesting and asking for “When’s M.M. and Homelander gonna meet up?” And it lasted for a couple seconds, but it was just funny.

Does Anyone Deserve a Happy Ending in ‘The Boys’?

“But I do think that the audience would like to see somebody make it out…”

Do you think it’s possible for anyone on this team to have what looks like a happy ending? What does winning look like now?

ALONSO: I think that everyone would like a happy ending. I think that everyone on the Boys… That’s tough… That’s loaded. I don’t know if we deserve a happy ending because there is an element to having to become that which you despise in order to defeat them that we have all pretty much adopted. And there’s a level of violence that we’ve participated in that can’t just go swept under the rug. We’ve been violent too. But I do think that the audience would like to see somebody make it out, but who that’ll be is yet to be yet to be yet to be seen.

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Release Date

2019 – 2026-00-00

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Eric Kripke

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Eric Kripke

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The Boys

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The Pitt fans are divided over Supriya Ganesh‘s exit from the show ahead of season 3.

Ganesh, 28, originally joined the HBO Max series as Samira Mohan in season 1 alongside Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell and Shabana Azeez. By the time the show returned for season 2 in January, viewers saw Mohan questioning her future while looking for a residency.

It was later confirmed in March that Ganesh wouldn’t be coming back to The Pitt, with Ayesha Harris‘ role as Dr. Parker Ellis being elevated. Variety reported at the time that the decision was “story-driven” due to the nature of a show set in a teaching hospital.

The reasoning sounded familiar for those who remembered Ifeachor’s shocking exit in July 2025. Us Weekly confirmed at the time that Ifeachor would not return as Heather Collins in season 2, with a source revealing that it was always the plan for Ifeachor’s character — who was a fourth-year resident in the first season — to move on as a doctor.

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The insider noted that Ifeachor “didn’t choose to leave the show” and isn’t aware of “any doors being closed” on a possible return. Ifeachor, for her part, addressed her experience on the show months later.

“It was just such a joy and a pleasure to play Dr. Heather Collins and to know that my character has been so phenomenally well-received. It just blew me away,” Ifeachor told Us in September 2025. “I don’t know where she will be on the weekend of next season, but I know where I’m going to be, which is on my next project, which is just so amazing. But I take the lessons that I’ve learned from playing Dr. Heather Collins — playing this character who goes through such a traumatic event and still shows up every day for other people.”

She continued: “[No one] stops to ask if she’s OK, if she needs time out, if she needs to run away. I think as a woman, sometimes we carry a lot of emotional labor without even knowing it. I’ve learned that through this character, so I wouldn’t change that. This experience has been so life-changing, really.”

Ifeachor admitted she didn’t know where her character would be after the events of season 1.

“These are the tough stories. Do I think she will get out of this? Maybe. Again, if she is able to be safe, she’ll have fun. Where would she go next?” she added. “The thing about playing a character that’s so wonderfully nuanced and well-written — there was so much to mine — is that it’s a story that could go anywhere. At the same time, I will leave it up to the viewer to decide where she would be.”

Ganesh, for her part, spoke to Us shortly before her departure was announced. The actress hinted she was “curious” where her character would end up while teasing season 3 of the medical drama.

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“It’s up to the writers,” Ganesh shared in February about where she would like to see Mohan in season 3. “Let’s see where they end up taking her.”

Ganesh continued: “I think we left her in a really interesting spot. I’m really curious where she ends up going.”

New episodes of The Pitt air Thursdays on HBO Max.

Lindsay Hubbard is over comparisons between her past with Southern Charm star Austen Kroll and the current drama surrounding Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s budding romance.

Instagram account Unhinged and on Camera got her attention this week by suggesting that “Lindsay kind of did the same” to Ciara Miller when they were both interested in Austen, 38, during the filming of Winter House in 2021. In this case, Lindsay had history with Austen before Winter House and the drama erupted when Ciara also developed feelings for him.

Lindsay, 39, later accused Ciara of holding a grudge over how things turned out with Austen when they returned to shoot Summer House.

Flash forward nearly six years, and Lindsay had no patience for her past with Ciara being brought up for debate in light of a new love triangle with Amanda, 34, confirming her relationship with West, 31, so soon after her split from estranged husband Kyle Cooke.

Related: Lindsay Hubbard Responds to Claim West Reached Out Amid Amanda Romance

Summer House’s Lindsay Hubbard is setting the record straight amid claims West Wilson has reached out to her after confirming his relationship with Amanda Batula. “I am very triggered by liars at the moment,” Hubbard, 39, shared via Instagram on Monday, April 6, responding to a Deuxmoi post claiming she was “just at Zero Bond […]

“No no no … let’s stop right there,” Lindsay replied to an Instagram account referencing Austen on Thursday, April 16. “If you remember correctly, I’m the one who had history with Austen. And then I came into Winter House late, not knowing what I was walking into. Get your facts straight before you start reporting how things went down.”

The Summer House star added that “nothing bothers [her] more than bad reporting.” Unhinged and On Camera responded that they were “not reporters but they do know the facts.”

“It was just an observation of another time in Summer House where there was a love triangle and Ciara felt ‘unseen,’” the social media account’s response read. “It wasn’t that deep or meant to be a direct comparison to Amanda. Appreciate that this is your real life and if you don’t think the situations are at all similar, that’s fair! All love.”

Lindsay wasn’t ready to drop the issue yet, firing back, “The situations are not similar in any way. And, in fact, I was the one with history with Austen, not the other way around. You don’t have to be ‘reporters’ to report the facts straight, so thank you for acknowledging that you have no ethical standards in this statement where you are attacking character (from 6 years ago) without factual information.”

The drama with West and Amanda will certainly be a main topic of discussion at the Summer House season 10 reunion. Ahead of the showdown, Lindsay opened up exclusively to Us Weekly about what she’s expecting when the Summer House cast reconvenes.

“I don’t know if I have anything to be nervous about. I thought it was a really good season so far for me,” Lindsay declared. “I know we still have half of a season left to go on Summer House and then a whole other show [In the City] after that, so there’s still a lot to come.”

Us reported on Thursday that the Summer House cast is coming into the reunion with a game plan on how to approach Amanda and West’s relationship.

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Related: Austen Kroll Thought Lindsay Hubbard Wanted to Hook Up at BravoCon

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Southern Charm star Austen Kroll thought BravoCon 2025 would turn over a new leaf with former flame Lindsay Hubbard. During his Wednesday, February 4, appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Austen, 38, was asked about the “last time” he hooked up with Lindsay, 39. “I thought it was going to be at […]

“They are all going [to the reunion],” a source told Us. “The plan is they will be talking about everything and the timeline of Amanda and West hooking up.”

The insider teased, “Everyone on the cast wants [Amanda and West] to admit on camera when this all started and how serious it is.”

Summer House airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. The season 10 finale air date has not been announced.