By Robert Scucci
| Published 16 seconds ago

No matter where you’re from, you probably grew up with somebody like Marty (Joshua Burge) from 2014’s Buzzard. While you went to college or joined the workforce, or at the very least tried to make something of yourself, Marty wants nothing to do with the rat race. The problem is he’s not smart enough to scrape by without resorting to criminal activity. He’s the kind of guy who would stage a slip and fall at a fast food restaurant just to get a $500 payout three years later, thinking he stuck it to the man and came out on top.

Buzzard explores this behavior to the extreme, one scam, pizza coupon, and Nintendo controller at a time. It’s the ultimate slacker comedy because Marty cares about self-preservation just enough to stay out of serious trouble, but not enough to stop himself from constantly getting hoisted by his own petard. It’s Office Space for the disenfranchised Millennial. It’s a slacker comedy with a nihilistic bent. It’s the $20 plate of hotel spaghetti that keeps you going until you can find more Mountain Dew to sustain yourself. 

It’s Always A Party With Marty

Buzzard, like most films written and directed by Joel Potrykus and starring Joshua Burge, centers on Marty, an office temp at a mortgage company who’s always looking for the next scheme to help him coast through life. He lives off frozen pizzas he gets at a discount by calling customer service to complain after every meal, scoring coupons in return. He steals toner, staplers, telephones, and keyboards from the company dumpster and returns them to office supply stores for cash. He opens bank accounts for the free $50 deposit, withdraws the funds, and then does it again. It’s not beneath him to cut his hand at home, show up to work, and stage an accident with the paper slicer so he can file a worker’s comp claim.

Marty decides to ante up when he realizes he can steal customer refund checks, sign them over to himself, and cash them at the bank. Never thinking about the consequences, he quickly learns the company receives monthly check-cashing reports, complete with images of the checks and the accounts they were deposited into.

Fearing he’s about to get caught red-handed, Marty lays low at his friend and coworker Derek’s (Joel Potrykus) house while trying to figure out his next move. If you haven’t noticed by now, planning ahead is not Marty’s strong suit. For reasons never explained, he modifies an old Nintendo Power Glove with steak knives, a la Freddy Kreuger, and carries it with him everywhere. Just in case. 

The rest of the movie plays out exactly how you’d expect. Marty tries cashing checks, but every bank flags his account. He tries breaking into a motel to sleep for free and immediately gets caught. He burns through the last of his money with no backup plan other than continuing to live exactly how he wants. The problem is he’s running out of options, and his increasingly sloppy crimes are catching up to him.

Marty Will Never Learn

What’s most fascinating about Buzzard is how deeply the slacker DNA is embedded in Marty. No matter what happens, he finds a way out of a jam, and he doesn’t care how pathetic it makes him look. When called out for his “worksite injury,” he shrugs and waits for it to blow over while the doctor stares him down, clearly not buying it. When he’s finally backed into a corner where the authorities might get involved, he busts out the Power Glove in a desperate attempt to fend off his problems. When he spends his last $20 on hotel spaghetti, he shovels it down without a single thought about where his next meal will come from.

Marty is every slacker you’ve ever met, all rolled into one composite character. He’s impulsive, repulsive, and never sympathetic. But that’s also what makes Buzzard so much fun to watch, because you end up rooting for him anyway. He’s screwing the system every chance he gets, or so he thinks, and part of you wants to live vicariously through that because he genuinely does not give a single sh*t. It’s almost inspiring how little he cares about anything, whether it’s his friendships, job security, or reputation. None of it matters to Marty.

It’s the kind of personality you envy in small doses, if only because you know you could never carry yourself with that level of nonchalance while still functioning as a productive member of society.

Consequences Be Damned

Half the fun of watching Buzzard is wondering when Marty’s run will finally end, and how many people he’d be willing to drag down with him if it means squeezing out one more free Party Pizza before getting hauled off to jail, flipping his boss the bird on the way out. Even if he does face consequences, you get the sense he’ll find a way to keep scamming his way through life.

That’s what makes Buzzard so compelling. Marty puts more effort into avoiding responsibility than it would take to just show up, do the bare minimum, and live comfortably. That’s the real irony, because everything he does looks exhausting.

As of this writing, Buzzard is streaming for free on Tubi.

Spring cleaning just got way chicer. 

Celebrity stylist Chloé Bartoli, who’s dressed everyone from Selena Gomez to Shay Mitchell and Miranda Kerr, knows exactly how to build an effortless, off-duty look. And with her brand ÉTERNE, she’s brought that same energy to everyday essentials for the rest of us.

Now, she’s breaking down the only pieces that belong in your closet this spring, and how to part with the rest.

When editing your wardrobe, Bartoli believes you can never have enough high-quality jeans, and she recently launched her core styles to reflect exactly that.

“I’m a huge denim person. I wear it almost every day and have collected vintage Levi’s for years. It felt like a natural extension of ÉTERNE because it’s the ultimate essential,” she explains.

The goal: jeans that fit like your go-to worn-in pair, without the hunt.

“They should feel easy, like you’ve had them forever, but still hold you in the right places.”

From there, the fashion expert’s uniform follows the same laidback philosophy.

“I always wear our Baby Tee, our French Terry sets, especially when I’m in Malibu, and the Francis cashmere sweater because it’s incredibly lightweight and easy to layer,” she shares. 

“It’s not about trends; it’s about how something feels on your body. … The pieces are designed to be lived in.”

That approach has clearly resonated, with It-girls including Hailey Bieber, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Zoë Kravitz, and Emily Ratajkowski, all having been spotted in the line.

When it comes to elevating an outfit, Bartoli leans into contrast.

“I love mixing new with vintage and really focusing on proportion by balancing something more fitted with something more relaxed. That always makes an outfit feel more considered.”

And once the base is there, the finishing touches pull everything together.

“A great belt, the right sunglasses, and a strong bag can completely transform a look. I’m always drawn to more masculine gold jewelry and vintage Western belts. For shoes, I love a sleek, classic loafer or a cowboy boot. I’m drawn to pieces that feel timeless but still have character.”

Still, her approach is rooted in restraint, even when it comes to what she keeps and what she lets go of. 

“I’m very edited. If I’m not wearing something consistently, it’s gone. I hold onto vintage and pieces that feel truly timeless. I’d always rather have fewer things that I love and wear than a closet full of options I don’t touch. I think that mindset naturally keeps everything clear and intentional.”

For anyone doing their own closet reset, her advice follows that same mindset.

“Start by removing everything you haven’t worn in a while, keep the palette tight and cohesive, and focus on pieces you can style multiple ways. … Then rebuild with strong essentials like great tees, denim, and vintage pieces. … That’s what makes a wardrobe feel complete.”

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Jonathan Demme‘s The Silence of the Lambs is widely considered to be the pinnacle of the thriller genre, and with good reason. The 1991 adaptation of Thomas Harris‘ seminal novel was an instant critical and commercial success, becoming the fourth highest-grossing film of the year and winning the Big Five Oscars, including Best Picture. Today, the story of how FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) stops the serial killer Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) with the help of cannibalistic psychiatrist and criminal Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) has become the blueprint for every horror thriller to follow.

Indeed, The Silence of the Lambs reigns supreme atop the thriller mountain… or does it? It’s easy to declare Demme’s triumph as the ultimate cinematic chiller, but I’d argue thar three major movies work better as thrillers than Silence. That’s not to say the 1991 movie isn’t a masterpiece, because it is. However, the three films on this list offer riveting narratives, outstanding performances, and a taut, near-unbearable tension that makes them excel as genuine masterworks of the thriller formula. Any of these is more than capable of standing alongside Silence in the Mount Rushmore of thrillers, and many surely place higher in many a cinephile’s personal rankings.

‘M’ (1931)

Image via Vereinigte Star-Film GmbH

The thriller came to be in cinema with Fritz Lang‘s seminal 1931 masterpiece M. The original thriller and even a proto-noir in many ways, the film remains a foundational piece of filmmaking that has influenced every single subsequent entry into the genre, and I’m really not exaggerating. In a now-indelible performance, Peter Lorre stars as Hans Beckert, a child serial killer operating in Berlin. As his crimes increase, Beckert becomes the target of not only a large-scale manhunt by the police but also a more violent effort by an underworld society whose criminal doings are endangered by the killer’s actions.

Often regarded as Lang’s magnum opus, including by the director himself, M is the very definition of a cinematic trailblazer. Lang creates a truly oppressive and immersive atmosphere through sound and, just as importantly, silent, painting the full picture og human hysteria. This classic thriller pioneered many major techniques that would become mainstays in the genre, most notably long tracking shots following Beckert and his hunters, and a musical leitmotif, using the piece “In the Hall of the Mountain King” to signal Beckert’s presence. M excels not only as an in-depth exploration into human depravity and mob mentality but also as an exercise in contagious paranoia and a study of humanity’s need for violence in response to things they can’t control. The film’s mark can be found in every single thriller that followed, proving itself the pillar upon which the entire thriller genre rises. Simply put, there would be no Silence of the Lambs without M.

‘Jaws’ (1975)

Steven Spielberg outright revolutionized cinema with Jaws, not only inventing the modern blockbuster thriller as we know it but also reinventing the thriller forever. Based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley, the film sees a quiet beach town resort terrorized by a great white shark. Opening in a now legendary sequence where the shark kills a young woman on a late-night swim, the film continues by chronicling the efforts of three men — the town’s chief, Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hopper (Richard Dreyfuss), and legendary shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) — as they attempt to hunt and kill the shark before it claims more victims.

By now, it’s well known that Spielberg is a titan of cinema. The director has mastered more genres than most others, from adventure (Raiders of the Lost Ark) to war (Saving Private Ryan), epic (Schindler’s List), drama (The Fabelmans), and sci-fi (far too many to name). Yet, Jaws remains his only pure thriller, because how can one compete with absolute perfection? The film is expertly crafted and paced, yet the true genius lies in Spielberg’s sheer innovation. The director made up for a defective shark animatronic by placing the audience in the creature’s POV and enhancing the tension with a now-legendary score from his usual collaborator, John Williams. The result is a masterpiece of creativity that pushed the thriller to new heights by proving that less is more, and when it comes to monsters, the human imagination is still more effective. In Jaws, Spielberg crafted fear and paranoia out of water and suggestion. While movies like The Silence of the Lambs crafted elaborate, twisty narratives, Jaws enthralled with simplicity, skill, confidence, and assurance, becoming timeless in the process.

‘Parasite’ (2019)

Image via NEON

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If there’s any director that deserves the title of New King of the Thriller, it’s probably Bong Joon Ho (Park Chan-wook is a close competitor, apologies to David Fincher). Memories of Murder, Mother, and Snowpiercer would be enough to secure him the title, but Parasite is truly the masterpiece that cements it. In fact, it might not be an overstatement to call Parasite the best thriller in cinematic history. For those of you rolling your eyes at this statement and accusing me of recency bias, I hear you. However, I dare you to find a thriller that’s more timely, intelligent, or indeed masterful in balancing multiple tones and themes. Parasite is one of a kind, a genuinely shocking and shifting tale of class struggles that resonated with millions worldwide, breaking boundaries and taking international cinema to new heights.

The film follows the struggling and scheming Kim family, who plot to infiltrate the wealthy Park household by posing as four unrelated and highly experienced individuals. As the everyday dynamics lead to increasing tension, the Kims soon realize there’s more to the Park’s house than they could’ve expected. Thrillers usually follow a set series of rules, often in an effort to enhance the tension and keep the mystery going. Parasite subverts that formula by playing with genres and blurring lines, going from a comedy to a class satire to an outright murderous thriller in the end, all while keeping a latent sense of anxiety building in the background. The film was an international box office success and won the Oscar for Best Picture, giving it the credentials to qualify as a timeless masterpiece. Yet, Parasite‘s true legacy lies in its willingness to reshape the thriller, never settling for the expected and instead proving that the genre is far more flexible than anyone could’ve guessed.

Nevaeh Akira has shared a spicy message for those criticizing her relationship with Blueface.

RELATED: Nevaeh Akira’s Message About “Peace Over Chaos” Amid Her Pregnancy With Blueface Has Some Folks Scratchin’ Their Heads (PHOTO)

Nevaeh Akira Shares Spicy Message For Those Criticizing Her Relationship With Blueface

On Tuesday, March 24, Nevaeh Akira took to her Instagram Story to share an initial message which read, “What’s there to prove?… I got the n***a. It’s not for yall to like. It’s for him to love, and I’m NOT GOING NO WHERE. Last time I checked none of yall are GOD, ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE AND JUDGING IS A SIN… you hos the real demonic”

Then, in a follow-up post, she added, “If I want more donuts, HE GONE BUY THE WHOLE DONUT SHOP!”

Furthermore, in a final message, shared hours after the ones above, Akira added, “I won’t respond to nothing else until I’m 3 months postpartum…”

Social Media Weighs In

Social media users entered TSR Teen’s comment section, weighing in on Nevaeh Akira’s message.

Before Nevaeh Akira Shared A Spicy Message For Those Criticizing Her Relationship With Blueface, They Made Headlines Because Of THIS

As The Shade Room previously reported, over the weekend, Blueface was streaming via Twitch and ended up going viral while showing off condoms in his jacket. Additionally, Nevaeh Akira caught him.

Subsequently, Nevaeh Akira turned heads when she took to her Instagram, sharing photos and videos of herself in a bikini.

RELATED: Internet Users Think Nevaeh Akira Is Showing OUT Amid Her Catching Blueface Stuffing Condoms In His Jacket Before Going Out

Bold and the Beautiful stuns as Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) shows up at the Malibu cliff house with a gift for Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig), and she may barge in and cause a huge scene. But is there a chance that Sheila’s there with an agenda and already knows more than we realize?

We’re going to talk about Taylor and Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) getting blindsided if Sheila already figured out that her husband fell for Taylor.

Taylor and Deacon Finally Make Love on Bold and the Beautiful

All right, let’s talk about a big twist. This week, we’ve got Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and her husband Finn (Tanner Novlan) and their kids heading for an overnight trip. And that means Taylor has the house to herself. And since Steffy’s treating Taylor like a lovesick teenager, she’s going to act like one.

She’s going to invite a boy over while, you know, mom’s away, even though Steffy told her mother, “Try not to get into too much trouble.” So Deacon and Taylor decide to use this opportunity to have intimate time alone. And Deacon finally makes love to Taylor.

So, as suspected, the Bold spoiler about two people doing the deed for the first time is indeed about Deacon and Taylor. So, Deacon’s going to sneak in the back sliding door at the cliff house, and he and Taylor are going to start making out on the sofa and then head upstairs to shed their clothes and get down to business.

Deacon has Taylor in her bed stripped down to just her bra and panties. And Deacon’s telling Taylor they tried hard to stay apart, but Deacon says nobody’s going to come between them anymore.

Hope Covers for Deacon on B&B

And he enlists his daughter, Hope Logan (Annika Noelle), to cover for him so he can sneak off to be with Taylor. So, it sounds like Hope is going to be more than happy to conspire with Deacon to make this hookup happen. He makes a whispery phone call to Hope asking for her help.

Official Bold and the Beautiful spoilers for this week say that Deacon lies to Sheila about what he’s doing and where he’s going for the evening. Deacon is going to fib to his wife and then call Hope and say that he’s sorry to put her in this position, but he told Sheila that he’s having dinner with Hope tonight.

And we all know that Sheila is not welcome over on the Logan estate. And Hope wants to know from Deacon if he is seeing Taylor tonight. So, Hope is going to be there to help make Deacon’s night alone with Taylor happen.

Bold and Beautiful: Hope Hits Back at Steffy

And I think part of this is to spite Steffy. If you remember, she ranted at Hope and said their parents can never ever be together. Steffy was chewing Hope out and being high-handed and things got really tense between them. So, this is a little payback on Steffy because Hope really wants Deacon away from Sheila and wants him to be with Taylor.

Does Sheila Already Know About the Affair?

And another B&B spoiler says Sheila takes matters into her own hands. So when she shows up at the Malibu house, it may be to bring a gift or, you know, maybe much more, maybe some trouble. So, she may bring flowers to Taylor as a pretext, hoping to catch Deacon and Taylor being bad.

We could get a Bold and the Beautiful twist if Sheila already knows that Deacon and Taylor are involved because she’s been doing a lot of creeping and a lot of watching and a lot of listening and she may have already gotten the clue.

So, Sheila may bring flowers along so she can innocently claim that with Deacon busy with Hope, she decided to come and bring a gift to her really good friend Taylor. And if for some reason, you know, she ran into Steffy or Finn, Sheila could say it’s a little thank you for helping mend her marriage to Deacon. But they’re not going to be around and the flowers are a shield in case something happens and they cancel their trip. But really, Sheila may be playing a long con on Taylor and Deacon, and she might have figured out a while ago that they were involved. So, could be Sheila’s been trying to catch them in the act.

Sheila Hunting for Proof on Bold and Beautiful?

That way, she has concrete proof that Deacon is cheating with Taylor. Because without evidence, Deacon can simply lie and deny. So, Sheila may be holding out for 100% irrefutable proof that she sees with her own eyes. She may want to catch Deacon and Taylor in the act, catch them red-handed

And that would explain why Sheila has been non-stop stalking Taylor. You know, maybe she had suspicions and Sheila kept showing up at Taylor’s office. Remember, she would bust in without knocking, without an appointment. So, Sheila might have been trying to catch Deacon with Taylor in his arms all along.

And Sheila might have even brought the toe cookies over—because you remember she nagged at her—so that she could later laugh at forcing Taylor to eat her feet. Something really twisted. And when Deacon tells Sheila he’s going to be out for the night using Hope as an excuse. Well, she might see right through that and it confirms her suspicions.

She may realize instantly that Deacon is sneaking out to hook up with Taylor. And so Sheila may play innocent and say, “Oh yeah, sure. Go see Hope. Go help her out.” You know, go have fun. No problem. I’ll be waiting at home. And Sheila may think this is her big gotcha moment where she gets to confront Deacon with Taylor.

Sheila Is Not Stupid on B&B

And I mean, let’s be real. Sheila Carter is not stupid. Never has been, but she is unhinged and she’s lethal. And she knows Hope and Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) haven’t exactly been subtle about it either. So, Sheila may realize everybody’s conspiring against her and are determined to keep her in the dark while he keeps on cheating.

So it makes sense that Sheila would show up and stage a confrontation. And you know, we do know Deacon has a lot of allies. But Sheila might have one of her own because Li Finnegan (Naomi Matsuda) is back on Thursday. And Li is the one who tells Sheila that Steffy and Finn are going to be out of town overnight.

And that seems to inspire Sheila’s visit to the cliff house. But also, if Sheila does suspect cheating, Li might help out in another way. Because I bet Finn’s mom has a key to the house. So Li might loan her spare key to Sheila. And with Finn and Steffy, you know, hopefully gone like they said, Sheila can use the key to get inside, creep upstairs, and find the cheaters and call them out.

I could see Li helping Sheila because, let’s face it, she despises cheaters. And that’s because of her ex-husband, Jack Finnegan (Ted King). Ironically, it was Sheila that Jack was cheating with many years ago and he got her pregnant with Finn.

Will Sheila Catch Them in the Act?

So, it’s confirmed Deacon and Taylor make love this week and we know that they are thinking that they are completely alone. Steffy and Finn are gone and he thinks he’s got his bases covered because Sheila thinks he’s with Hope. This is so teenagery. It reminds me when you lie to your mom, you know, back in the day and tell her you were spending the night with a friend when you were really, you know, going out with a boy.

So, I think Deacon and Taylor are going to be so enamored and wrapped up in each other that they’re not going to be on their guard. They’re going to assume that they’ve gotten away with this, you know, got away with going behind Steffy and Sheila’s back to do what they want, which is each other. So, it’ll be shocking if Deacon and Taylor are rolling around in bed and his wife Sheila walks right in on them.

Bold and Beautiful Star Promises Big Things

In a recent interview, by the way, actress Kimberlin Brown said that when Sheila Carter inevitably finds out about the Deacon and Taylor affair, the fallout is going to be huge. Everything’s going to hit the fan.

So, we’ll have to wait and see if Sheila is blindsided or if she already figured out Deacon and Taylor were cheating and she was playing innocent and waiting to confirm it and blow everything up at the worst possible moment. And let’s face it, that would be a big twist.

A registered sex offender is facing new charges in Texas, after authorities allege he dropped a thumb drive loaded with child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in the parking lot of a sheriff’s office.

William Raymond Catron was required to check-in with the Parker County Sheriff’s Office in Weatherford to verify his registration as a convicted sex offender and did just that on Wednesday, March 18, according to FOX 4.

For some reason, he decided to bring a thumb drive with him containing over 2,000 images and videos of CSAM, along with a bunch of selfies he’d taken.

Gravity worked against Catron, 66, as he was leaving, police said. FOX 4 reports he dropped the thumb drive outside the sheriff’s office, in the very lot where the deputies park their vehicles.

After a visitor found the thumb drive and turned it over to police, surveillance footage was reviewed and allegedly showed it falling from his pocket as he was digging around for his car keys.

Related: Wanted Child Sex Offender Busted After Being Recognized on News

A wanted sex offender on the run from Colorado police was arrested in southern New Mexico after he was recognized from news coverage of his case. The search for Jorge Campos began when he didn’t show up at court in Douglas County on Friday, March 20, for a trial related to the sexual assault of […]

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Catron is being held on a $750,000 bond after being charged with felony possession of child pornography depicting the assault of a child under 10 and failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements.

“A twist of fate and bad decisions would lead to his arrest,” police said in a statement on the arrest. “This is the kind of criminal that we love to catch and put behind bars.”

Catron was later asked to return to the sheriff’s office to speak with investigators, and he allegedly confessed to being the thumb drive’s owner.

Police later searched his residence and allegedly located additional electronic devices, which they seized.

Sgt. Shane Cartwright with the Parker County Sheriff’s Office spoke to FOX 4 and said that Catron’s been checking in with them since 2019.

“I don’t think he ever expected to get caught. Not in a million years,” Cartwright added. “He’s been flying under the radar — until now.”

Catron was apparently oblivious to the fact that he’d even dropped his thumb drive.

Related: Missing Juvenile Was Allegedly Found in Registered Sex Offender’s Car

Florida deputies rescued a missing juvenile when they pulled over a man on New Year’s Eve. The driver, Darnell Hairston, tried to escape during the traffic stop the morning of Wednesday, December 31 along U.S. Highway 1 in Flagler County, which is in northeastern Florida, the county sheriff’s office said in a news release issued […]

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“He came, unknowing, he didn’t know what was going on at the time,” Cartwright said. “Told us that he had a problem, that he knew that he had a problem, that he’d been praying about it for some time.”

“That’s divine intervention,” Cartwright told FOX 4. “That’s the man upstairs knowing that you don’t need to be out there running loose. That’s what that is.”

It was unclear if Catron had been asked to enter pleas or retained legal counsel for his defense.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is, for the most part, a generally apolitical show. Obviously, there are embedded messages about the importance of feminism and accepting others who may be different (like being gay, being a witch, or being a gay witch). Some might consider those “woke” messages, but the show was simply emphasizing the importance of treating everyone equally. However, one memorable episode might have taken the idea of equality a little too far. You see, the climax of Season 3’s opening episode, “Anne,” actually endorsed Communism!

For some context, “Anne” was the first Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode of Season 3, and it continued from the previous season’s fairly startling cliffhanger, “Becoming.” In the Season 2 finale, Buffy killed Angel, who had turned evil. In doing so, she managed to save the entire world from getting sucked into Hell. However, at the last minute, Angel’s soul was restored, forcing Buffy to kill the man she loved to save all of humanity. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she previously got an ultimatum from her mother to never return home if she walked out the front door. Accordingly, Buffy packed her things and secretly moved out at the end of the episode.

A New Life In The City Of Angels

“Anne” continues Buffy’s story, revealing that she is now living in Los Angeles and working as a waitress. She just wants to lead a normal life, but she discovers a supernatural plot where a demon is forcing humans into hard labor at his evil factory. Buffy saves the day, of course, killing the demon and helping to free all of his captives. Realizing that she just can’t escape her calling as a Slayer, she returns home to Sunnydale, where she is reunited with her very worried mother.

Generally speaking, fans really like “Anne,” an episode that takes Buffy out of her comfort zone and even plants the seeds for the eventual Angel spinoff. However, most of this episode’s biggest fans miss Buffy’s not-so-subtle endorsement of Communism. You see, when she is fighting some of the demon’s sidekicks, the most prominent weapon she uses is a hammer and sickle!

It’s Hammer Time

The hammer and sickle is, of course, the famous symbol of the Soviet Union. These tools symbolically represent Communism because they show the workers and peasants unifying themselves against common enemies. Those enemies nominally include those who would try to take power and make themselves superior to others. In this way, there is also a threat embedded in this symbol. Namely, that when someone tries to oppress others, workers and peasants will unite to overthrow their usurpers.

Believe it or not, the climax of “Anne” really emphasizes this. On top of Buffy wielding a hammer and sickle (the latter of which she stole from a bad guy), she fights in a factory where a demon has uncharacteristically forced humans into hard labor. It’s not entirely clear what the purpose of the factory is, but it’s very obvious that the demon has tried to seize the means of production from the workers (a big no-no in Communism). Buffy even gets the workers to chip in, and they all work together to escape. Uniting the workers and peasants together to fight a demonic capitalist? In this case, both Giles and Stalin would be proud!

Obviously, Buffy the Vampire Slayer didn’t become an openly Communist show after this, and the inclusion of a hammer and sickle in “Anne” was likely nothing more than a glorified Easter egg. But it’s undeniably fun to see our protagonist become a hero of the people, openly leading helpless workers in a revolt against the literal boss from Hell. Speaking of bosses, “Anne” offers some gallows hope to anyone who hates their job. At least your employer is only sucking out your soul metaphorically rather than literally.

Reality star Lisa Vanderpump is no stranger to Las Vegas. With multiple restaurants on the Strip, she’s now leveling up to something new and exciting – hotel owner. 

Her first-ever signature hotel is set to open its doors to the public in May. What was once The Cromwell, will reopen as The Vanderpump Hotel after renovations are completed, and you can now book your stay for May or later. 

This 188-room boutique property, designed alongside her design partner Nick Alain, will feature a luxe, glam-infused aesthetic with moss-green tones, dusty lilac accents, mixed metals, and reflective finishes for an elevated and seductive feel only Vanderpump can bring.

The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum is personally curating in-room amenities and putting all the finishing touches on everything from the rooms to the casino floor, promising a one-of-a-kind, high-style stay in the heart of Sin City. 

The Vanderpump Hotel Is Now Taking Reservations

The countdown is on! The Vanderpump Hotel is now accepting reservations for May and beyond!

Transforming the iconic Cromwell into a boutique hotel, the property sits at the bustling corner of Flamingo Road and the Las Vegas Strip. And since Vanderpump is fully involved in every detail, it promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience for guests. 

With 188 rooms and suites crafted by Vanderpump and Alain, this hotel is a complete luxe experience that’s inviting, relaxing, and memorable. 

“Taking the next step from restaurateur to hotelier and partnering once again with Caesars Entertainment on another extraordinary project has been such an exciting chapter for me,” Vanderpump said, according to a press release sent to The Blast. “Our vision was to create a room that feels like a true retreat, a calming escape just steps from the energy and excitement of the casino floor. The guest rooms are as beautiful as they are serene.”

The Reality Star’s Signature Aesthetic Will Be Featured Throughout The Hotel

Beyond the guest rooms, Vanderpump is bringing her signature style to every corner of the hotel, including the reception area, gaming floor, brand-new lounge, and other public spaces.

The property will feature custom furnishings and lighting crafted exclusively by Vanderpump and Alain’s renowned design brand, Vanderpump Alain. And fans of Vanderpump will notice personal touches from her – from attention to detail to her cheeky British humor. 

“Lisa’s passion for creating unforgettable destinations is unmatched, and it’s exciting to see her continuing to make her mark on Las Vegas with a boutique hotel that now bears her name,” said Sean McBurney, Chief Commercial Officer and Regional President of Caesars Entertainment. “Lisa has proven how distinctively she can transform a space with each restaurant she opens, and The Vanderpump Hotel builds on that vision in an entirely new way. Guests from around the world will soon be able to experience her signature style, elegant taste and meticulous design detail through a hotel experience unlike anything else on The Strip.”

Lisa Vanderpump Is Not New To The Vegas Entertainment Scene

While being in the hotel business is new to the reality star, she’s far from new to the entertainment scene in Sin City. She’s opened multiple restaurants with Caesars, both in Vegas and outside of Vegas. 

In March 2019, she opened Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars Palace. She followed that up with Vanderpump à Paris at Paris Las Vegas in April 2022. In December 2024, she opened Pinky’s by Vanderpump at Flamingo Las Vegas. 

She also opened WOLF by Vanderpump at Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe in April 2024 and WOLF by Vanderpump at Caesars Republic in Scottsdale in December 2025. 

The Vanderpump Hotel Now Has An Instagram Page

Just one day old, The Vanderpump Hotel’s Instagram page is already grabbing tons of attention. More than 20,000 followers are already keeping tabs on what’s to come with the new hotel.

With about 10 posts already, it’s well on its way to attracting more followers.

One post shows what the outside of the hotel will look like once renovations are all complete. One viewer shared, “It looks stunning from the outside, I can only imagine what the inside looks like. With LVP’S design it will be incredible.” Another said, “I cannot wait to stay here!! I hope Lisa happens to visit when I’m here.”

Another IG Video Teases The Vibe Of The Vanderpump Hotel

The pinned post on the page gives a sneak peek of the glamorous party vibes the hotel will have once it opens its door to the public in May.

“My darlings, the wait is almost over! The Vanderpump Hotel is now accepting reservations starting with May arrivals! Follow @thevanderpumphotel for updates as construction continues!” the caption reads.

Many viewers are really excited about the hotel and plan to book a stay, including some of the hotel’s neighbors.

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The Vegas IG page wrote, “This feels very meant to be.” Nearby neighbor on the Strip, Planet Hollywood, shared a glittery gif to express excitement for the new property. Caesars Palace wrote, “Welcome, neighbor.” Gordon Ramsey shared, “Can’t wait to see x.”

One viewer simply said, “Booked!” and another wrote, “*books immediately*.”

Jay-Z is opening up about how his teenage daughter, Blue Ivy, was an unexpected support system for him during the rape case that threatened to drag his name through the mud. 

After enduring a year marked by intense scrutiny and emotional heartbreak, the business mogul is finally opening up about the toll the experience took on his mental well-being.

The singer was dragged into a lawsuit that accused him of raping a minor with Sean Diddy Combs, who is currently serving time for prostitution-related crimes. 

Jay-Z Reflects On The Lawsuit And Blue Ivy’s Reaction

In a candid interview with GQ, Jay-Z described 2025 as an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking year due to a high-profile lawsuit that left him feeling “uncontrollable anger.”

He expressed frustration with the modern era of “instant” accusations, noting that there was once a time when people had to be “super sure” before making such serious claims. 

“That whole [lawsuit thing], that sh-t took a lot out of me. I was angry. I haven’t been that angry in a long time,” he said. 

Despite the pain, the rapper refused to settle the case, even though it would have been cheaper and quicker, because he believed the truth would eventually reign supreme. The emotional weight of the situation was compounded by the fact that the allegations were released on the night of his daughter Blue Ivy’s movie premiere. 

While he initially questioned whether he should even attend the red carpet to avoid overshadowing her moment, his family’s tight-knit nature ultimately brought them together. Jay-Z revealed he was moved to tears when 13-year-old Blue Ivy showed her support by wearing a jersey with his name on the back to school.

“Blue has this jersey with ‘Jay-Z’ on the back. She put it on one day. She went to school with the ‘Jay’ [points to his back]. I was just in the corner, like tears coming down,” he recalled. 

He further noted that it was touching to see such support from his loved ones even during his “darkest” moments. 

Jay-Z Slammed The Lawsuit, Tagging It A ‘Blackmail Attempt’

The raw emotional vulnerability Jay-Z showed stemmed from the conflict, which originally ignited in 2024 when a series of explosive allegations threatened to dismantle his reputation. 

In December 2024, Jay-Z formally addressed a civil lawsuit that named him as an accomplice to Diddy in the alleged 2000 assault of a 13-year-old girl. Represented by Texas lawyer Tony Buzbee, the unidentified “Jane Doe” plaintiff refiled the claim, which Jay-Z immediately labeled a “blackmail attempt” aimed at forcing a settlement. 

In a lengthy online statement, the rapper declared he would not give “one red penny” to what he described as a fraudulent effort to exploit public scrutiny, per The Blast.

He challenged the attorney to file a criminal complaint instead of a civil one, arguing that if such a heinous crime had occurred, the perpetrator should be locked away rather than sued for money.

Jay-Z Was Worried About The Impact The Lawsuit Would Have On His Family

In addition to the legal strategy, Jay-Z also expressed worry over the impact these claims would have on his family and children. 

In his initial statement, the rapper made it clear that while he was ready to fight for his reputation, his “only heartbreak” was for his wife, Beyoncé, and their three children. 

The businessman described it as “unfair” for them to have to process the degrees of malice that he believes were intended to destroy his family’s spirit. He was particularly concerned for his eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, who was at an age where her peers would inevitably see the headlines and ask difficult questions. 

Why Jay-Z And Beyoncé Made A Public Appearance Amid The Rape Allegations

Amid the explosive allegations, Jay-Z and Beyoncé made a high-profile public appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of “Mufasa: The Lion King” to support their eldest daughter. 

According to The Blast, reports surfaced suggesting that Beyoncé was the driving force behind the family’s decision to attend the premiere of the film, which featured both her and Blue Ivy. 

The singer reportedly felt it was vital for the family to face the accusations “head-on” rather than retreating from the spotlight.

To navigate the intense public scrutiny, the Carter family reportedly worked with a specialized crisis strategist. This professional guidance shaped their “confrontational” approach, advising them to remain visible and vocal rather than silent.

The Claims Against Jay-Z Were Eventually Dismissed

The Carter family’s decision to face the crisis head-on reached a definitive conclusion in February 2025 when the legal battle finally ended in a total withdrawal of the claims.

According to The Blast, a New York filing confirmed that the anonymous accuser voluntarily dismissed the action with prejudice, meaning the case can never be refiled in its current form. 

Jay-Z’s entertainment company, Roc Nation, issued a formal statement shortly after, labeling the dismissal a “victory.”

Despite the favorable outcome, Jay-Z lamented the lasting trauma inflicted on his wife, children, and loved ones, stating that their pain “can never be dismissed.”

He criticized the legal system for allowing what he called a “money grab.” The rapper also argued that while the courts must protect true victims, they have an equal ethical responsibility to protect the innocent from false accusations.

Alix Earle is opening up about a challenging period in her life, and how much things have changed since then. In a recent TikTok video, the influencer took fans back to this time last year, revealing she’s been having “flashbacks” to a moment when her career and personal life felt completely up in the air. Now, Alix Earle is sharing what really went down behind the scenes, and how she’s finally finding her footing again.

Alix Earle Reflects On Podcast Drama And Rumored Fallout With Alex Cooper

At the center of that difficult period was her podcast, “Hot Mess with Alix Earle,” which was unexpectedly put on pause. “I just keep getting flashbacks to being here this time last year,” Earle said in the March 20 video. “This is right when I stopped my podcast, on pause for a second.”

The podcast’s hiatus came after reports surfaced that it had been dropped from Alex Cooper’s “Unwell Network,” fueling speculation about a possible fallout between the two.

Earle Reveals She Was On The Phone With Lawyers Amid Podcast Drama

Earle didn’t hold back when describing just how chaotic things got behind the scenes. “Basically, it was kind of, like, in a mode of, ‘What am I doing?’ I really wanted to try out vlogs, so I’m pretty sure this vlog and then Miami Music Week was my first vlog I put out,” the influencer added.

At the time, she was juggling personal commitments while simultaneously dealing with professional uncertainty. “We were watching my sister compete last year, and then I was in the corner on the phone with lawyers trying to figure out what’s going on,” she said.

Alix Earle Reflects On Feeling ‘Lost’ Before Turning A Corner

Now, with some distance from the situation, Earle says her perspective has completely shifted. “I just felt pretty lost, unsure of what was going on,” she said. “And now I look back at that time and I’m like, I forgot that that was even a thing I went through. So it’s really crazy what time can do.”

These days, Earle says she’s in a much healthier headspace. “I’ve been feeling a lot better and a lot more like myself again, just at least compared to last month,” she shared.

Earle Teases ‘Really Big Week’ Amid Mystery Project

While reflecting on the past, Earle also teased what’s next. She hinted at a major new project tied to a mysterious social media account, which has already gained significant traction in just a matter of days.

“If anyone else is going through a weird time, this too shall pass,” she said before signing off. “We have a really big week ahead. Everyone will know what the f-ck Alix is doing.”

Alix Earle Gets Real About Anxiety And Medication

Earle has also opened up about her mental health journey and offered candid insight for fans navigating similar struggles. During a YouTube vlog, the influencer responded to a fan who admitted they deal with anxiety but feel hesitant about starting medication. Instead of dodging the topic, Earle shared her own experience.

“What I did do was go on medication. … I’ve been on 10 milligrams of Lexapro since [I was] 14,” Earle said. “I was so reluctant to do it at first. I was like, ‘There’s no way, I don’t need that.’ But it really did help me.”

Earle also acknowledged that the decision isn’t always easy, noting the stigma that can sometimes surround mental health treatment. “Taking medication can feel really scary, and there feels like there’s like a stigma around it at times,” Earle added. “I am in favor of it, but I’m also not a doctor, so I’m not going to really tell you what to do,” she concluded.

Earle Opens Up About Panic Attacks

@alixearle

Hope this helps anyone who struggles with anxiety 🫶🏼

♬ original sound – Alix Earle

She has also spoken honestly about experiencing a panic attack while attending the U.S. Open in New York City.

“I had a little panic attack which I really haven’t had in a while,” she said in a video in 2023. “I’m literally on the floor of the bathroom in the suite. I thought I was going to go home, I thought I was going to have to call 911, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.”

“No. 1, and I know this is super hard, but I like to tell someone that I don’t feel good, that I’m having anxiety,” she added. “For example, here I’m with my friend Christian. I was like ‘Christian, I’m having really bad anxiety right now. We need to go to the bathroom.”

“It helps to have someone there, you know, that if something does happen to you they’ll be be able to get help or do something,” she continued.