Disney has built empires on familiar IP, but every so often, something genuinely original emerges from the studio that takes on a life of its own. In this case, that success story began with a theme park attraction. The original ride opened at Disneyland in 1967 and holds a special place in Disney history as the last attraction personally overseen by Walt Disney before his death. Decades later, Disney took that beloved ride and made it into a movie, which turned out to be a breakout hit and spawned one of the most recognizable movie franchises of all time.

The series has since gone on to gross upwards of $4.5 billion at the global box office across five films. The franchise also introduced one of the most iconic original characters of modern cinema, a protagonist (Johnny Depp) so beloved that audiences have been asking for his return ever since the series went quiet. Gore Verbinski directed the films that started it all, and Hans Zimmer scored them with one of the most recognizable adventure themes of all time.

That franchise is Pirates of the Caribbean, and now, the second film in the series, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is suddenly back in the spotlight. According to FlixPatrol, it is currently sitting in the Top 10 on Disney+ charts across 10 countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. The film is notably absent from the United States charts, but the European surge is a strong signal of enduring love for the franchise internationally.

A New ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Film Is Finally Taking Shape at Disney

It has been nearly a decade since a new Pirates film arrived in cinemas. In the years since, the franchise has been stuck in development hell. Two projects were reportedly in motion at various points: a soft reboot sequel and a female-led spin-off starring Margot Robbie. A rotating range of writers have reportedly worked on the material, starting with Deadpool writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick in 2018, followed by Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin in 2019, and then Christina Hodson in 2024. None of those efforts made it to production. But now, with Josh D’Amaro stepping in as the new head of the Walt Disney Company following Bob Iger‘s tenure, a new Pirates film is reportedly a top priority for the studio.

The latest development comes from Jeff Sneider, who reports that Oscar nominee Krysty Wilson-Cairns is on board to write the script. The story is said to center on Jack Sparrow’s (Depp) son alongside a new character set to be played by Robbie. This probably means that the spin-off and the mainline sequel that were previously rumored have been merged into a single project. Robbie’s character is described as a punk-rock cross between Jack Sparrow and Emma Stone‘s Cruella, and the goal for the film is to capture the tone of the originals but with a modern edge and a tighter budget. However, it’s important to take all this info in with a bucket of salt because nothing is official yet.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is available to stream on Disney+. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

July 6, 2006

Runtime

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151 Minutes

Writers

Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie, Jay Wolpert

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There was never going to be an easy way for Mitch Hurwitz to follow up Arrested Development. But that’s exactly what he tried to do with the bizarre project that is Sit Down, Shut Up. In 2009, a few years after his cult classic show came to its (first) conclusion, Fox greenlit Hurwitz’s US take on Sit Down, Shut Up. The expectation was that whatever came next for him would recapture the same lightning-in-a-bottle magic that made Arrested Development one of the greatest sitcom masterpieces of all time.

Instead, Sit Down, Shut Up became one of the most spectacular misfires of Fox’s late-2000s comedy lineup. So much so, in fact, it wound up disappearing from primetime after only four episodes — and was banished to one of television’s least desirable time slots. More than 15 years later, the series remains a fascinating case study: a show packed with comedic talent, anchored by several Arrested Development veterans, that somehow failed to connect with either critics or audiences.

Mitch Hurwitz Reassembled Much of the ‘Arrested Development’ Family

Sit Down, Shut Up centered on a dysfunctional group of teachers and administrators at Knob Haven High School, a Florida school populated by adults who seemed far less interested in educating students than pursuing their own selfish agendas. On paper, it really sounded like can’t-miss television. For one, it reunited Hurwitz with three key Arrested Development performers: Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Henry Winkler. The supporting cast only made the project look more promising: Saturday Night Live stars Will Forte, Cheri Oteri, and Kenan Thompson, plus comedian Nick Kroll, voice-acting legend Tom Kenny, and Broadway favorite Kristin Chenoweth.

Unfortunately, critics and audiences didn’t respond well to the actual show. Part of the problem was Sit Down, Shut Up‘s unusual animation style. Hurwitz and the creative team attempted to blend traditionally animated characters with real-world photographic backgrounds. The idea was intended to give the series a unique look that existed somewhere between live-action and animation. Instead, most people just found it distractingly ugly. The series also struggled to establish a comedic identity separate from Arrested Development. While traces of Hurwitz’s trademark meta-humor and rapid-fire joke structure remained visible, many felt the writing relied too heavily on crude punchlines and broad character archetypes.

Sit Down, Shut Up premiered as part of Fox’s prestigious “Animation Domination” lineup, which meant it shared space with must-watch adult animated shows such as The Simpsons and Family Guy. That placement should have given the series every possible opportunity to find an audience. Instead, viewership tanked almost immediately. After only two episodes, Fox moved the show from its original Sunday slot to an earlier timeslot in an effort to stop the bleeding. The strategy didn’t work, though. Ratings continued to slump. After just four episodes had aired, the network removed the series from the Animation Domination lineup entirely.

Fox didn’t officially cancel the series right away, but the network’s next move revealed exactly how little confidence it had left in the project: Five months after the last airing, they stuck the remaining nine episodes on the schedule for Saturday nights at midnight. Insiders know this is one of the least valuable programming windows imaginable: Audiences are tiny, promotion is minimal, and most shows that get dumped there are basically just being burned off to satisfy contractual obligations. Fox officially cancelled the series later that year, bringing its brief run to an end after just 13 episodes.

Hurwitz would face similar struggles with his subsequent projects, as well. His next — another Will Arnett collaboration, this time called Running Wilde — was cancelled after one season in 2011. His Netflix series Lady Dynamite survived its first season but was cancelled after its second in 2017. Looking back, Sit Down, Shut Up was a canary in the coal mine. Hurwitz was in an impossible position of trying to make anything other than the infinitely quotable Arrested Development. His defining work has become one of television’s defining sitcoms, and its too-soon cancellation will always have people hungry for more of the same from him. It’s created expectations that few creators could ever realistically satisfy. Alas, even with beloved cast members from one of the best comedy ensembles on television, Sit Down, Shut Up was never going to be able escape these constant comparisons to its predecessor.

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Release Date

2009 – 2009-00-00

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Network

FOX

Directors

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Frank Marino, Dwayne Carey-Hill, Peter Avanzino

Writers

Alex Herschlag, Richard Day

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 21 seconds ago

Part of why The X-Files got so popular is that it had some of the coolest characters on television. Obviously, Mulder and Scully were awesome, and their engrossing chemistry made this one of the most popular shows of the ‘90s. However, the show had a small army of supporting characters that were equally compelling, including everyone from the quirky Lone Gunmen to the fearsome Cigarette Smoking Man. Arguably, though, nobody had a more fascinating role than Mulder’s informants. In Season 1, Deep Throat provided crucial information about aliens and government conspiracies, but even after he was murdered, it was unclear whose side he was truly on.

After Deep Throat’s death, fans shared Mulder’s concern that he’d never have another informant with juicy insider knowledge. Eventually, however, Deep Throat was replaced by a character known as X (sometimes referred to as “Mr. X”). He quickly became a fan-favorite character thanks to actor Steven Williams, who gave Mulder’s latest insider a volatile and sometimes violent intensity. Looking back, it’s understandably difficult to imagine anybody else playing such an important role. However, the role of this hypermasculine character almost went to a woman named Natalia Nogulich, and you can even watch her acting as X in a deleted scene!

You’re A Mean One, Mr. X

By design, there’s only so much we know about the informant characters in The X-Files. After all, they are supposed to have risen through some very shadowy governmental ranks and know how to hide their secrets from some of the most powerful men in the world. What do we actually know about X? He was one of the men in black (no, really!) and worked for the Cigarette Smoking Man. However, he wasn’t loyal to the evil Syndicate and offered some of their secret information to Mulder. Eventually, they found out he was helping the enemy, and the Syndicate sent the Grey-Haired Man to eliminate him.

The X was technically introduced in the Season 2 episode “The Host,” but he didn’t appear onscreen until two episodes later. In “Sleepless,” he has the first of what would be many clandestine meetings with Agent Mulder. The original script for that episode referred to X as a woman, and Natalia Nogulich was cast in the role and filmed a scene alongside David Duchovny. However, once director Rob Bowman, prolific X-Files writer James Wong, and others sat down to watch the dailies, they decided she was wrong for the role. Interestingly, though, the original scene with Nogulich was included as a bonus feature on the Season 2 DVD set.

See What This Gender Swap Would Look Like

X was recast, and the role was given to veteran character actor Steven Williams. Williams added some welcome intensity to the role, and he had some solid inspiration. He later stated that he modeled his performance after Avery Brooks’ iconic role in Spenser: For Hire. While the actor ended up being a great addition to the show (writer Glen Morgan thought he’d be perfect as a series regular), putting him into “Sleepless” proved to be difficult. Rather than reshooting the entire scene with David Duchovny, Bowman simply filmed Williams’ scenes and edited them into the existing footage. Thanks to some creative close-ups, his addition to the scene was relatively seamless.

Why, though, was X originally written as a woman? X-Files creator Chris Carter thought that he could play with fan expectations by introducing a new female character that Mulder could potentially hook up with. While Nogulich didn’t work out as X, Carter still liked the idea of Mulder having a female informant. Therefore, after X died in Season 3, he was replaced by Marita Covarrubias, a character played by Laurie Holden. Unfortunately, her character was poorly written and often poorly acted, and she is almost universally considered the worst of Mulder’s informants.

Personally, I’ve always thought that X was the greatest informant on The X-Files. This is mostly due to the performance of Steven Williams, an accomplished actor who can supercharge any scene simply by walking in the room. While Natalija Nogulich is a great actor (sci-fi fans will know her best as Admiral Nechayev from Star Trek: The Next Generation), it’s impossible to imagine anyone other than Williams playing Mulder’s second informant. However, the fact that Chris Carter wanted Nogulich to play the role of a potential hook-up while looking like a multiversal variant of Scully is absolutely wild. Forget the truth, Mulder; the Freud is what’s really out there! 

NHL legend Claude Lemieux’s death certificate has been released, shedding more light on the aftermath of his death by suicide at age 60.

A document obtained by TMZ from Florida’s Bureau of Vital Statistics confirmed that Lemieux was found dead at a “place of business” on Thursday, May 28, in Lake Park, Florida. (Prior reporting clarified that one of Lemieux’s adult sons found him dead in a rear warehouse at the Andros Home showroom in West Palm Beach County.)

Lemieux’s body was initially taken to a Stuart, Florida, funeral home before it was transferred to Henson Chapel Cemetery in Vilas, North Carolina.

A Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson confirmed to Us Weekly at the time that officers on the scene at the warehouse determined that Lemieux died by suicide.

“The business was secured for evidence preservation/investigation by VCD Homicide,” a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson confirmed. “The victim is believed to be Claude Lemieux.”

The news of Lemieux’s death shocked the sports world, as he’d served as a torchbearer at the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes in Montreal on Monday, May 25.

In the wake of Claude’s death, his four adult children —sons Christopher, Michael and Brendan as well as daughter Claudia — released a collective statement to celebrate their father’s life and incredible legacy in the NHL. (Claude was a four-time Stanley Cup champion and won the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy in 1995.)

The Lemieux children and their mother, Deborah Lemieux, confirmed on Saturday, May 30, that they plan to donate the athlete’s brain “as a gift to science” for research into the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). (Per the Mayo Clinic, CTE is a brain disease linked to repeated head trauma. It is most commonly linked to athletes and combat veterans.)

The family shared that Claude’s brain would go to the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center for a study of “the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury.”

“Claude dedicated his post-play career to helping the next generation,” his family said on Saturday. “By allowing his name to be connected to this research, we hope his life can contribute to greater understanding, more honest conversations, and better protection for athletes and families in the years ahead.”

The Lemieux family also cautioned the public to avoid speculating about the “circumstances of Claude’s death.”

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Related: NHL Honors Late Claude Lemieux and Jessi Pierce Before Stanley Cup Finals

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman met with the media before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Tuesday, June 2, using the time to pay tribute to former player Claude Lemieux and reporter Jessi Pierce. “It’s appropriate to reflect on the people we’ve lost — those who thrilled us, and those who contributed to building […]

“Suicide is complex, and the family asks media and the public to discuss this loss with care, compassion and respect for those who lost him,” they asked.

In his final years, Claude worked as a sports agent to NHL stars such as Timo Meier, Frederik Andersen, Moritz Seider, Hampus Lindholm and Rasmus Andersson. NHL insider Pierre LeBrun indicated via a tweet on Sunday, May 31, that Claude hoped to become more active in professional hockey again, including potentially “run[ning] a team one day” as a general manager.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Love Island USA‘s Vasana Montgomery is speaking out for the first time since being removed from the villa amid a racism scandal.

“I want to address a couple videos from my teen years that have recently resurfaced,” she wrote via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, June 3. “In those videos, I used a racial slur. I am embarrassed and disappointed by my words.”

Vasana noted that she wanted to take accountability for her actions.

“I take full responsibility for what I said and understand why it has hurt and upset people,” she continued. “Since then, I have grown a lot as a person and taken the time to educate myself, listen, learn, and better understand the impact that language can have.”

Related: Did Love Island USA’s Vasana Appear in Season 8 Premiere Before Her Exit?

Love Island USA returned for season 8 — minus one contestant — but did Vasana Montgomery appear in the premiere before her exit? The popular dating show returned on Tuesday, June 2, with contestants Aniya Harvey, Beatriz Hatz, Bryce Alakai Dettloff, Gabriel Vasconcelos, KC Chandler, Mackenzie “Kenzie” Annis, Melanie Moreno, Sincere Rhea, Sean Reifel, Trinity […]

She added: “That growth does not erase my mistake, and 1am not asking anyone to excuse it. I believe people should be held accountable for their actions, but I also believe in growth, learning, and becoming better. To anyone I hurt or disappointed, I am truly sorry.”

Vasana was cut from season 8 of Love Island USA after resurfaced social media posts showed her using a slur. Vasana was removed from the show before she got a chance to enter the villa. Both clips were leaked from her private social media, which meant producers weren’t privy to the posts while casting the season.

The Peacock dating show has previously weathered similar issues with Islanders when Yulissa Escobar left days into the experience in season 7 after clips of her using racial slurs on a podcast circulated online.

Cierra Ortega also faced backlash when a resurfaced social media post showed her using a slur. She was pulled from the villa and later issued an apology for her posts.

“Now that I’ve been back in the U.S. for about 48 hours and I’ve had the chance to process, I now feel like I’m at a space where I can speak about this without being highly emotional because I am not the victim in the situation,” Cierra said in an Instagram video in July 2025. “While I was in the villa, there were some posts that resurfaced from my past where I was very naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term. I want to first start by addressing not just anyone that I have hurt or deeply offended — but most importantly — the entire Asian community. 
I am deeply, truly, honestly, so sorry.”

Cierra admitted she didn’t know she was using a slur at the time.

“I had no idea that the word held as much pain, as much harm and came with the history that it did or I never would have used it. I had no ill intention when I was using it but that’s absolutely no excuse because intent doesn’t excuse ignorance. 
It just doesn’t,” she noted. “I just need you to know that I am so sorry — but this is not an apology video. This is an accountability video. I do want to hold my hands up and say that I take accountability for using the word, but I do want it to be known that I genuinely had no idea that it was a slur. I had no idea of its meaning.”

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After leaving the villa, Cierra said she found the online backlash “very hard to deal with,” adding, “I can do my best to drown out the noise and pay attention to the truth. But what’s been extremely, extremely difficult is the way people are approaching my family and my loved ones. They have had ICE called on them. My family doesn’t feel safe in their own home. 
I’m receiving death threats and there’s no need to fight hate with hate. I don’t think that that’s justice. If you want to know that you are heard and that I’m sorry and that I will move differently, I promise you that’s what will happen.”

Cierra promised to take the necessary steps to grow from the experience.

“I know that no apology could ever be enough for the harm that I’ve caused and the offense that’s taken place. I know that moving forward my actions and how I decide to live my life from here on out is going to speak louder than any apology ever could,” she said. “But I do need it to be known that I am sorry and I did mean no harm. Hopefully there are people out there that can use my mistake as a learning moment and to just be better because that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna take today and tomorrow and I’m gonna take strides to be better.”

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 2 minutes ago

What do you think are the most iconic images related to The X-Files? Honestly, my vote would probably go to that old Rolling Stone cover where Mulder and Scully are in bed together (yes, I had the poster in my childhood bedroom and no, I won’t be answering any questions). If I had to pick images from the show, though, I’d probably go with the countless shots of these plucky FBI agents shining their flashlights down dark corridors. The X-Files was basically a horror show already, and whenever the flashlights came out, I’d sit on the edge of my seat, waiting for some creepy critter to pop out of the shadows.

While Mulder and Scully were always tracking down weird, paranormal phenomena, the flashlights themselves sometimes seemed supernatural. After all, those things were far brighter than anything you can buy at a local store. In fact, they often seemed brighter than the brightest car headlights. The lights were so bright that you might be forgiven for thinking they were a special effect. They weren’t CGI or anything, but they were so expensive that they might as well have been. You see, starting in the Season 2 episode “Sleepless,” The X-Files began using specialized flashlights that cost a small fortune, but the visual effect on the screen is absolutely priceless.  

Lights, Camera, Aliens

So, some of you are likely reading this right now and asking a very straightforward question: “what’s so special about the flashlights in The X-Files?” To best understand the answer, try turning off all the lights and record yourself shining a flashlight in the room. For most flashlights, you don’t really see the actual beam of light. Instead, you just see the area you are pointing at lighting up. However, The X-Files famously has scene after scene where Mulder and Scully are shining their flashlights, and we see very distinct beams of light that stretch into the ominous darkness, creating some of the series’ most iconic shots.

How did the X-Files crew achieve this effect? By throwing money at the problem, of course! Starting with the Season 2 episode “Sleepless,” the crew began using special Xenon flashlights. They were purchased at the insistence of episode director Rob Bowman, who (according to the special features on the Season 2 DVD set) wanted to “have plenty of exposure in absolute blackness.” It worked better than the director could have dreamed of, with each device creating its own very distinct tunnel of light. The result was a beautiful visual effect, but it didn’t come cheap. These flashlights cost a cool $7500, and they could very easily be broken.

Mulder, Scully, And…Tin Foil?

This was money well spent, as the sight of Mulder and Scully regularly shining those tunnels of light into the darkness became one of The X-Files’ signature images. However, there was just one problem: the lights were so bright that they transformed the actors into silhouettes. For the climax of “Sleepless,” Bowman found a solution: he’d crumple up pieces of tinfoil and put them around the darkened set. The crumpling diffused the reflection, allowing the director to softly light the actors’ faces as needed. “The actors were able to, while they’re searching around, just hit that piece of foil and get a little exposure on their face,” Bowman said.

Mulder always insisted that “the truth is out there.” Now, you X-Philes have the truth of exactly how the show created its most iconic visual effect. Those Xenon flashlights cost a small fortune. To put this in ‘90s terms, they cost as much as 2.5 of the spiffiest uniforms on Star Trek: The Next Generation. But the investment was worth it because these lights transformed even the simplest scenes into something dramatic and foreboding. Onscreen, Mulder was always hoping that his own flashlight would reveal an alien. Offscreen, though, we now know another truth: that David Duchovny spent most of these scenes lighting up crumpled pieces of tinfoil!

Tensions have escalated at CBS in the wake of 60 Minutes reporter Scott Pelley’s firing.

“Morale is terrible throughout the company,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “No one knows what to believe or who is working against them. It has never been like this before. The staff in the newsroom all feel like they cannot trust anyone. How can you work like that?”

News broke on Tuesday, June 2, that Pelley, 68, was fired from CBS and 60 Minutes after an alleged verbal altercation with the show’s new executive producer, Nick Bilton.

Bilton, 49, reportedly stormed out of a staff meeting after Pelley told him he has “slender” qualifications for his role, also questioning the network’s future plans for the program.

Related: Scott Pelley Reacts to CBS Editor-in-Chief’s Comments After His Firing

Scott Pelley has responded to CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss’ comments about his recent departure from the network. “I am saddened to see the transcript of the CBS News morning editorial meeting,” Pelley, 68, said in a statement shared with The New York Times on Wednesday, June 3. “Bari Weiss knows what she said is not […]

According to the New York Times, Pelley also privately accused Bari Weiss, the network’s editor-in-chief, of “murdering” 60 Minutes during the explosive meeting.

“You should hear this from me first. We have parted ways with Scott Pelley,” a memo sent to staffers and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter read on Tuesday. “I know how much Scott meant to many of you, and I don’t say this lightly. I made repeated attempts to have direct conversations with him over the weekend, and this afternoon I tried to find common ground. That was not the path Scott chose.”

In an email to Pelley obtained by NBC News, Bilton told the correspondent that he “hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt.”

Pelley broke his silence on his firing on Wednesday, June 3.

“There has never been anything in America like 60 Minutes,” he said in a statement. “60 has been the number-one program in America for decades because our beloved audience finds integrity, quality and humanity in our stories.”

Pelley then accused CBS’ new owners of bowing to President Donald Trump. (Skydance Media, led by David Ellison, the son of billionaire Larry Ellison, bought CBS parent company Paramount in a merger last year.)

“The new owner of our network is casting this legend aside, apparently to curry a moment of favor with the Trump administration,” Pelley alleged in his statement. “The waste is heartbreaking.”

Related: Who Is Nick Bilton? What to Know About the ’60 Minutes’ EP After Shakeup

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Scott Pelley was fired from CBS’ 60 Minutes after an allegedly tense standoff with executive producer Nick Bilton. “You should hear this from me first. We have parted ways with Scott Pelley,” a note distributed to CBS staffers and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter in June 2026 read. “I know how much Scott meant to […]

Pelley wrote in conclusion, “I depart after 37 years at CBS with one emotion — a heart brimming with gratitude for the men and women of CBS News who encouraged and enriched my work, very often at the risk of their own lives. I pray for a day when those people and their ideals are honored again — a day when sanity, competence and courage return.”

According to Us’ insider, CBS staffers have felt uneasy ever since the merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global.

“From the beginning, the general belief has been that the intent is to destroy the news [division] from the inside,” the source says. “Instead of cancelling or dismantling the programs, they want to humiliate them. That’s truly how the staff feels. And they 200 percent believe the same will happen at CNN.” (Paramount Skydance has been working towards merging with CNN’s parent company Warner Brothers Discovery in a landmark $110 billion deal.)

The insider adds that the alleged narrative that Pelley was “problematic and disliked” by others at the network is “BS.”

“These are not fragile people, they can deal with tough personalities,” the source says. “That is not the issue. They are demanding honest communication about the changes that are occurring, and that’s the least they deserve.”

The insider concludes, “This is happening throughout the company, but especially in the news division.”

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An additional insider exclusively tells Us that despite the backlash, some staffers are looking on the bright side of the network’s new diction.

“Some are happy and supportive about the changes,” the CBS insider shares. “And there’s recognition throughout the newsroom that these changes are necessary.”

Us reached out to CBS for comment.