Young and the Restless spoilers for the two weeks starting August 17th with Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) provoking half of Genoa City with his obsessive antics. And that triggers Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) to slap back and reinvigorate the Abbott vs Newman vendetta.

Also, during the two weeks of August 17th through the 28th, we’re going to see Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) getting his flirt on, Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) completely losing it and firing Billy. Plus, Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) and Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan) are also fighting over Billy while Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) is toasting him. Let’s get right into it.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Stephanie & Nate Spark

Monday, August 17th on Young and the Restless, Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox) talks to Nate about the surgery. She’s lining up for him. He’s hoping to be able to operate again. He cooks for Stephanie and is flirting with her. And Nate says he’s okay if the surgery doesn’t work out.

But what he’s really hoping is this will heal not only his hand, but his relationship with Devon Hamilton (Bryton James). Stephanie likes his cooking. And then Nate asks her out to a sporting event and also dinner. And Stephanie wants to go, but she would prefer that Nate cooks for her instead. There’s sparks flying all over the place for Nate and Stephanie. And I’m curious to see what her son Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) thinks.

Y&R Spoilers: Cane & Lily Flip on Billy

Billy cannot wait to tell Lily his big news. Before Billy gets it out though, Lily fires him and says, “Give back the Chancellor documents you took.” But Billy says, “You can’t fire me. I own Chancellor.” So, Cane is lashing out at Billy’s stunt, calling him a spoiled brat. But he says their lawyers are confirming everything.

And Billy says by end of day, he will have the documents sent over to Lily and Cane, and they’ll see. His dad, John Abbott (Jerry Douglas), loaned Philip Chancellor money back in the day. And if it wasn’t repaid in 20 years, John would get Chancellor and it was never repaid by Phillip and John just didn’t happen to come enforce it and take the company. Billy assumes that Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) never knew about the loan. But as far as he’s concerned, that changes absolutely nothing.

So, Cane is fuming that Billy is spitting on the opportunity that Cane gave him. However, Billy blames his mom, Jill Abbott (Jess Walton), for hiding this secret from him. And Billy thinks that it’s why Jill sold Chancellor to Victor before it could come out.

Cane storms off and asks Holden if he found out anything about Billy’s investigation, but Holden has nothing for him. Billy walks over and joins and tells Holden he no longer has a job. Cane starts raging at Billy, who takes off as Cane gets on a call to Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) to tell him he’s coming by. Lily enlists Holden in the war against Billy.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: The Abbotts Discuss Billy

While over at Jabot, Jack’s telling Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) and Traci Abbott (about the Chancellor loan documents. He says Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) is vetting it right now with the lawyers. Traci doesn’t like it, but Jack says Billy’s determined. Ashley agrees Jill probably kept it secret to protect her reputation. And Ashley actually thinks this could be good for Billy.

But Jack doesn’t like it because Billy’s hurting people and he really needs to be focused on Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) and the new baby. So, Ashley suggests the three of them just stay out of it and let Billy do Billy. Traci winds up agreeing and tells Jack it’s bad for his recovery to get tangled up in Billy’s stress mess. So, Jack’s just worried that their younger brother’s going to tarnish John’s legacy. But in the end, the three older ones agree to step back, let little brother Billy do what he wants.

Young and the Restless: Cane Turns to Jack

Then Jack gets the call from Cane, who shows up right after. Jack warns Traci and Ashley that Billy has started the war. Cane shows up and asks them to shut Billy down. Then Tuesday, August 18th, on the Young and the Restless, Cane makes a new alliance in his war against Billy. I suspect it’s going to be Victor, which of course will probably pull in Adam to use Newman Media as a tool to trash Billy in the public eye. Adam and Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) don’t like Cane, but let’s be real, they hate Billy even more.

Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) reveals a new endeavor to somebody. I suspect this is him playing the new love song that he wrote for Christine Williams Romalotti (Lauralee Bell). Plus, Victoria’s bond with Kyle deepens. We had an almost kiss last week, and we may get a full on lip lock between Victoria and her daughter’s ex-lover, Kyle, this week.

Y&R Spoilers: Nikki & Victor Worry about Nick

Then, Wednesday, August 19th, on Young and the Restless, Victor and Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) discuss how they can help Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) stick to his recovery. He is still in rehab, but he’s hanging out with Marie Kirkland (Jade Harlow), and I doubt Nikki will like to hear that. You’re supposed to avoid romantic and sexual relationships while in recovery, and especially during rehab.

Kyle is on damage control. He’s trying to protect the Jabau and John Abbott’s legacy and the family. Jack doesn’t really care if Cane and Lily lose the company necessarily, but what he’s worried about is Billy spiraling and losing Sally. Meanwhile, Matt wants to know if Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) can forgive him. They’re talking at the coffee shop this week.

Then, Young and the Restless on Thursday, August 20th, has Audra stumbling into Billy, who’s in a good mood at Society, and Audra asked Billy what he’s celebrating. And Billy tells Audrey, “Join me.” And then they toast with Champagne after he tells her the big news. I do wonder if Audra is going to be worried about Sally’s reaction since it doesn’t sound like Billy has told Sally at this point.

Adam & Chelsea Bicker on Young and Restless

Adam and Chelsea are disagreeing up at the office. I’m sure it has got to do with Billy and Chancellor because Chelsea always defends Billy and Adam hates the guy. Sally, meanwhile, is worried about Billy’s big Chancellor scheme. So, Sally is back home this week. She’s going to hear about Billy snatching Chancellor from Willie and Cane. And we know Sally’s not going to like this because once again, Billy is painting a huge target on her back. She knows Victor will come after Billy and by association is going to come after her and Audra and their company.

Nina reunites with Tracy and Christine. Nina’s back to Genoa City and sneaks up on her girlfriends at the Shadow Room. Christine’s telling Tracy she knows the Abbotts really are going through it. She may tell Christine about Billy’s thing. And Christine, of course, knows about Jack and Dian’s ordeal. Tracy lays it all out and tells Christine this is why she needs a night out. And that’s when Nina sneaks up and says, “You and me both.” And the three hug each other excitedly.

Friday, August 21st on Young and the Restless. Victor puts a plan in motion to discredit Billy. Once Victor hears that Billy’s taking over Chancellor, you know Victor’s going to lose it. And I expect he’s got Newman Media running a smear campaign, whether Chelsea likes it or not. The rehab center gives Sharon an update on Nick’s recovery. I’m hoping he doesn’t have any sort of setback. And I am curious if Sharon’s going to hear that he’s hanging out with Marie.

Jack Helps Lily on Y&R

Lily asked Jack for his help and I think Lily’s hoping Jack can talk Billy down and stop this plot to take Chancellor, but Jack already said he’ll stay out of it. Then the week of August 24th through the 28th, we’ve got Billy furious and reeling after Victor’s latest attack on him.

And I’m sure Billy’s going to try and up the stakes, but I expect Sally to try and stop Billy before it’s too late. I doubt she’ll be able to. Adam and Chelsea’s relationship is strained because of this Billy mess and Nate and Stephanie keep growing closer. We’ll find out soon if Nate’s surgery is successful. Claire and Holden keep bonding. We may get I love you soon. I’m also interested to see how Claire’s going to react to the whole Kyle and Victoria twist.

We’ll see if Jack agrees to help Lily or if he decides he needs to sit this one out because he doesn’t want got to go back got to war with Victor. We’ll see more of Nick’s recovery and see him in rehab and what’s going on with him and Marie. Billy’s obsession with Chancellor further strains his relationship with Sally. And I’m sure Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) is going to have a hot take on what Billy is doing. But I’m betting that Phyllis is a fan of it. She loves chaos and hates Victor and has a lot of resentment towards Cane.

We’ll see if Sharon can forgive Matt and see more of him getting closer to Phyllis. Lily and Cane teaming up against Billy is probably going to make their relationship stronger and should grow her brother bond with Holden, who is ready to help Lily deal with the threat of Billy. I am curious to see what Devon and Nate have to say when they weigh in on this Billy mess as well.

Beyond the Gates spoilers for the week of August 17th, including Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) slapping someone with an angry ultimatum. And little Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings) is unhinged, unraveling, and unrepentant as she tries one last time to kill big bad Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett).

Also, the week of August 17th through the 21st, we’ve got Tomas Navarro (Alex Alegria) acting out, Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) forced to cash a reality check, Bradley “Smitty” Smith (Mike Manning) going rogue, and Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) has got to make threats to somebody really scary. Let’s dive right in.

Beyond the Gates: Vernon Determined to Keep Bill Away from Dani

Monday, August 17th on BTG is season 2, episode 148, and Vernon is relentlessly against Bill setting his sights on Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) again. And Bill tells Vernon, “I’m sick. I’m not blind.” And Vernon tells him, “Cut the crap.” And demands to know if Bill is trying to rekindle with Dani.

Last week, both Dani and Bill explained to family members how their relationship is going to work going forward. Dani’s parents and sister seem skeptical that she’s devoted fully to Andre and doesn’t want Bill back, but they’re going to be there for her if it goes awry.

Come Monday, Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) is back up sitting at Bill’s desk, and this gets Tomas all wound up again. Naomi took offense after Tomas accused her of marking her territory last week. So, Naomi may be there at Bill’s request. Either way, Tomas won’t like it because he thinks he should be the one stepping up in Bill’s absence.

BTG Spoilers: Andre’s Scary Secret

Andre is keeping a secret hidden from his murky past, and he hasn’t told Dani, but the past is back to haunt Andre in the form of psycho sicko Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones). As we predicted, she is Andre’s stalker. And Heather wants another taste of Andre and isn’t going to take no for an answer.

Andre tells Heather, “It’s good to see you.” But he looks really nervous and scared. And Heather says, “Now you can thank me in person.” as she’s caressing his face. I’m sure that’s thank you for the champagne. This all looks so bad. Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) just told Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) that Heather has no limits and that she’s scary.

Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Hamilton) and Kat Richardson (Colby Muhammad) make a controversial fashion pitch for a new bag they suggest calling the Nikki. And I wonder if it’s named after Nicole, but I know she’s not going to like that because that’s what Leslie calls her. Darling Nikki whenever she’s dragging Nicole. Anita is stunned and says, “Child, are you trying to get disowned?”

Tuesday, August 18th on Beyond the Gates is season 2, episode 149. Bill is flirting with disaster, but that’s typical. He laid it on thick with Andre last week about Dani coming when he calls. Bill’s pushing back on Vernon, and we’ll see what it is. But if Bill gives any hint to Hayley that a Dani reunion is on his mind, I think Hayley might get desperate and just smother him with her fun pillows right there at Garland Memorial because she wants Bill dead now.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Ted & Carlton Clear the Air

Carlton Fitzgerald (Robert Christopher Riley) and Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) are chatting. Carlton gives him a major update and I’m sure he’s going to tell Ted that he and Nicole are done. She wouldn’t commit to him and now she’s committed to Kial Rollins (Greg Vaughan).

Ted admits to Carlton at the Fairmont Crest Country Club locker room that there are many days that Ted has wanted to deck Carlton. And he tells Ted, “If you want to work that out, I’m right here, but I don’t think it’s going to come to blows.” At this point, I expect Carlton and Ted’s friendship to get back on track since both are Nicole’s exes officially.

Ashley Battles Hayley on BTG

Hayley is clashing with Ashley, and I’m expecting Hayley’s up to something at the hospital that Ashley tries to shut down. Hayley, of course, is plotting to take out Bill while he’s weak before he can recover. So, I wonder if Ashley sees Hayley acting suspicious around Bill.

Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) has words that hit Leslie hard. So, Eva’s telling Leslie she hates that she’s still stuck on Ted. And Eva says she also hates that Leslie’s tossing aside Marcel Malone (Daryl W. Handy), who’s a sure thing for Ted, who is a never going to happen thing. Leslie throws a fit this week when Marcel storms out on Leslie at her hotel room.

BTG Spoilers: Martin’s Disappointed

Shanice Johnson (Ernestine Johnson) fields an unanticipated request up at the hospital. This may come from Bill who’s playing games or it may come from her honey Ted. Of course, Bill continues to scheme with no idea his life still on the line thanks to Hayley. We also have Smitty disappointing Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) Tuesday. Last we heard, Smitty nicks the podcast idea because he didn’t want to ruffle Martin’s campaign manager’s tail feathers. But maybe Smitty changes his mind.

Wednesday, August 19th on Beyond the Gates is season 2, episode 150, and we’ve got Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) getting Grayson Perez (Jordie Vilasuso) and Ashley to help him. So, Grayson and Jacob are waiting in Ashley’s apartment when she walks Naomi in and everybody yells surprise. So, it looks like a travel themed or an international theme. There’s Tibetan prayer flags, a little pinata. Looks like maybe margaritas.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Nicole & Kial Support Noah

Nicole’s plan saves the everything for Noah. So, it sounds like maybe Nicole and Kial are at Noah’s open mic night. We know he’s excited about it and a lot of people are planning to show up. So, I’m assuming Kial will be there, too.

Dani and Andre are not being honest with each other. They’re coloring outside the lines. Dani’s got her big bill secret. Andre’s got sexy scary stalker Heather secret. They’ve promised each other absolute truth in this marriage, but neither is holding that up at this point.

Vernon’s Plans Thwarted on BTG

Vernon has big plans for Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) that are thrown off. Might be him looking for more sexy time, but whenever they try to do that and get frisky, somebody barges into their home. Then on Thursday, August 20th, it’s season 2, episode 151 of Beyond the Gates. And Eva and Isaiah are sharing some difficult truths.

And I wonder if this is more of Eva’s anxiety over her scar and it hitting her self-esteem, or it could be about Leslie, and I wonder if Isaiah admits that juggling her mom is no easy thing. Leslie has got to face the demons of her past so she can move forward.

I suspect this is her considering Eva’s advice to let go of the dream of being with Ted and to embrace Marcel, whom Leslie really does like. Plus, Marcel knows that Leslie is a bad girl and doesn’t hold it against her. Kind of enjoys it.

Bill and Ted do some bonding over their shared past with the Duprees. Bill and Ted, of course, are both Dupree daughter exes. They’re both on the outs with the family. I expect Ted’s going to drop by to see him at the hospital. And I wonder if Bill drops hints about wanting Dani back.

Nicole’s reaction to something is unexpected and she has got to consider her motives. All of this happening in front of Kial. So, maybe about Ted, maybe ex sex on Nicole’s brain, too, like her sister Dani. Kial’s pretty understanding, so we’ll see how it goes.

Beyond the Gates: Hayley’s Final Move and Andre’s Threatening Secrets

Friday, August 21st on Beyond the Gates is season 2, episode 152. And Dani’s facing off with Hayley again as Bill’s toxic little wifey may be making a move against him. So obviously Dani should stay out of it, but she can’t. She won’t. And her getting back into Bill’s business has Vernon, Anita, and everybody worried. And of course, Hayley ticked off. But I’m sure Bill is going to be thrilled.

Madison Montgomery (Kenjah McNeil) gets contradictory information from Dani and Hayley. And I wonder if Madison shuts down a fight because it’s stressing Bill. And I expect Dani and Hayley are both going to sling accusations against each other. I am hoping with Madison back, she’s going to get to the bottom of this and figure out that Bill was poison.

Andre Hurls Threats on BTG

We have Andre threatening someone by the end of the week. I’m pretty sure it’s Heather because I expect her to threaten Andre if he doesn’t come back to her. Obviously, he wants and loves Dani, but I fully expect Heather to show Andre the selfie of her and Dani and make a threat to his wife if Andre doesn’t meet Heather’s demands.

Andre may threaten her right back, though. But come on, Heather’s a straight up psycho. I wonder if Andre is going to turn to Joey for help. That might be interesting. Plus, we have Randy Parker (Maurice P. Kerry) tailing Heather this week, so he may see her and Andre entering or exiting the same hotel room.

Bill’s at his breaking point. So, I wonder if Hayley’s done something else. Also, Chelsea’s PTSD from her kidnapping is hitting her hard. She’s still got unresolved trauma. So, maybe her psycho chick stalker who wanted to force her to marry her and or kill Chelsea reminds her of Bill’s psycho chick stalker wife who’s trying to kill him.

We’ve got your Big Brother veto meeting results with Yash Patel losing control of the last bit of his HOH as Rick Devens pulled out his power and took over the event.

Blindsiding Yash and Kamu Kirk was the icing on Angela Murray’s birthday cake even before she blew out the candles. Before the meeting, Yash told Mallory Aurichio he wants Angela to go least. He’d rather it was someone else.

Mallory said “me too” but told Yash that no one has campaigned to her either. I’m expecting Yash’s tune to change depending on how big a show Angela puts on at the meeting.

Also, Yash and Mallory talked about how they hate having the backyard closed. They get so bored that they love looking at anything but the house like airplanes. Yash said it’s exciting when you see a new bird. Mallory agreed and said it’s amazing.

Also this morning, while the houseguests were slowly getting ready for their day, Kamu told Haley Thogmartin that he feels really good about today. Also Yash is really going to be unaware because Angela and Dee Valladares hung out with him this morning being so friendly.

They told Yash not to worry about the fact he had to nominate them, they know it’s a tough spot to be in. Angela laughed and said, just have nightmares about it for the rest of your life. Dee laughed and said, don’t worry, you can’t play HOH next week.

Big Brother: Yash in the Dark

Angela started cackling as Dee mocked Yash and said, don’t worry, you are safe. Yash said the evil laughs scare him. Angela then said watch out, Yash and Dee said wakey wakey.

And of course, Yash thought they were laughing with him but they were laughing at him because Dee and Angela knew exactly what was coming for him at the meeting.

Last night, Kamu had some sort of weird moment and suggested to Taylor Brown and Yash that he use the veto on Dee, then renom Barrett Pfeiffer and they’s have the votes to save Angela and evict Barrett.

So, Kamu wants Yash to get two icons worth of blood on his hands then not evict one of them? Make it make sense. Sounds like sabotage.

Guess who’s in the lead for the final BB Time Capsule in the polls? In the lead by far is Drew Campbell. With Taylor next but with only about a third of the votes that Drew has. Haley’s in last place with less than 2 percent.

Also, Angela told Drew she’d come back and play a third time. I bet Allison Grodner’s excited. Angela she’d even come back in her 70s “and be even more bat sh*t crazy”. And Drew said he’d come back and play every Summer.

Big Brother: Dee’s Savior

Pre-meeting, Devens ran through scenarios. Like what he’d do if Yash used the veto power to take Haley off the chopping block and renommed Devens. In that case, he’d play the DPOV for himself, renom Taylor because he says Dee could beat her in Blockbuster over Kamu.

Also, Devens was still pressing Dee on using her BB Bribe on him. Devens wants that cash but Dee said they need to hang onto it because if Devens is on the block they could use Dee’s bribe to try and save him even though it’s something small.

If you wondered does Devens know he’s potentially blowing up his game saving Dee. Yes, he does. But Devens is going to do it anyway although he’s worried this will cause people not to like him. Aww Big Brother‘s dad is worried the kids won’t like him.

But Devens also said he doesn’t want to play scared and will get blood on his hands. He said he doesn’t want to leave the game knowing he did nothing and had no impact. Devens cam-talked all this saying, you won’t be able to say that about me.

And pre-meeting, Taylor told Haley she thinks Devens has a power because he’s got a big fan base. Haley said he’s going to do such a stink. Taylor wants to know what his power is and said somebody needs to threaten him next week and make Devens tell them what it is.

Big Brother 28: Devens’ Big Blindside

Well on the plus side of this veto ceremony blindside is that Taylor’s curiosity will be satisfied. Also just before the meeting, Melody and Mallory were talking about wanting Kamu on the block to see how he’ll act.

Around 1030 AM Big Brother time, Yash was called to the DR room in advance of the veto meeting and then the feeds went down a little before 1130 Big Brother time. They came back up and sure enough, Devens blindsided the house.

Yash did not use his veto and then Devens got to take over and play his Diamond Power of Veto. He took Dee off the block and renommed Kamu. And they played it like Devens had told no one – not even Dee – about his power.

When they came back, there were no big fits or anything – not yet anyway. And Yash said as long as Kamu doesn’t leave, he’ll consider it a success. Well, if Kamu doesn’t leave, it’ll be Haley leaving.

I don’t think Yash has done math on that but he may not care as long as it’s a chick. Devens was actually a bit let down that there wasn’t a stronger reaction to his blindside nuclear veto power.

He called it underwhelming. But afterwards, Yash was in the storage room begging America to give him a power. Maybe the power to make better moves.

Big Brother 28: Blindside Aftermath

Devens’ DPOV would’ve hit harder if the blockbuster wasn’t in play when we all know Kamu’s a strong comp player. So, him being up doesn’t mean Kamu’s going out.

Also quick alumni news. Keanu Soto from BB27 is playing The Challenge right now. I’ve said before I didn’t start BB27 liking him but by the end, I was rooting for him. He grew on me and had my AFP vote last year.

If you don’t watch The Challenge, you should. And for anyone who watched BB27, you should go watch The Challenge Cutthroat Season 42 that’s on right now.

Skip to Episode 3 and then skip to the last 10 minutes of the episode to see Keanu in an elimination round that was brutal. Spoiler alert, Keanu beast moded. This is his rookie season of The Challenge and all eyes are on him.

It was impressive and as usual, he was a nice guy and good sportsman despite crushing the other guy. Keanu’s really agile for a big guy in addition to being so strong.

Taylor Sheridan built an empire by taking risks, and his ambitious spy thriller Lioness is no exception. Centered on the covert CIA operations program Lioness and its leader, senior case officer Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña), the high-stakes Paramount+ series continually reinvents its narrative formula with each successive season, relying on the appeal of iteration over consistency. Its first season took a slow-burn approach to storytelling, intimately tracking the opportunistic recruitment of a Lioness and her solo infiltration in pursuit of an overseas anti-terrorism mission; the second season remained linear but shifted its focus to broader team execution, tactical action, and backroom bureaucracy, reactively recruiting a new, personally involved Lioness in direct response to an ongoing domestic security threat.

For its third season, Lioness once again altered its narrative approach by dropping the routine introduction of a new Lioness, instead focusing on a high-stakes plot centered on Joe. But it’s the structural reboot of the show’s storytelling that serves as the boldest risk Sheridan has taken with the series thus far, adopting a dual-timeline format that allows two narratives to exist simultaneously – one set in the present, and one set six months prior – and allowing us to experience the present-day fallout and the actions that caused it in real time. It’s not just a stylistic shake-up, either; the shift gives Lioness a smarter way to deepen Joe’s personal stakes, ultimately providing a more urgent and unpredictable backdrop to the survival story which begins to unfold.

A Split Timeline in ‘Lioness’ Shows Joe’s Two Worlds Collide

Image via Paramount

As the head of Lioness, Joe recruits female military operatives for undercover infiltration of terrorist and criminal organizations to gain access to and eliminate high-value targets. As a wife and mother of two young daughters, Joe is perpetually torn between a sense of patriotic duty paired with the ability to compartmentalize, and the desire to be present for and protect her family. Despite the friction it causes, Joe meticulously kept the two equally important sides of her identity isolated – but in the third season’s dual timelines, they collide spectacularly, leading up to the present-day where Joe is kidnapped and held captive by Russian operatives, but beginning a slow collapse six months earlier, after a high-value extraction on the Russia-Ukraine border leads to a confrontation with contract agents to her doorstep, her family traumatized and relocated under the protection of the QRF.

The psychological boundary Joe built to separate her career in professional warfare from the sanctuary of her home began crumbling well before this season, however. The effects of the extreme nature of a job in professional warfare have taken their toll on her marital relationship, which spent the entirety of the first season on the rocks, though seemed to be getting better in the second season until a too-soon return to work after a near-fatal injury led to a heartbreaking ultimatum. Joe missed countless milestones for her children, leading to her eldest being resentful and acting out before she was in a devastating car accident – during and after which Joe was in and out of a mission, and often out of contact – forcing her to confront her absentee parenting head-on, repairing her relationship slowly but steadily over the proceeding episodes. The first three episodes of the third season dismiss any possibility of any future separation between the two sides of her life; not only does her family witness her neutralizing two would-be attackers at her home, but she’s also forced to deliver a brutally raw monologue exposing the truth of her existence to her family to ensure their future safety.

‘Lioness’ Season 3 Exposes Joe’s Greatest Vulnerability

Image via Paramount

The backbone of the Lioness program is a reliance on a tactical mixture of toughness and vulnerability, enabling operatives to connect with their targets by walking a fine line between emotional reality and manipulation. Until Season 3, Joe seemed tactically invincible, only faltering within the confines of her domestic life or in the face of a near-lethal situation for her team, even then merely doubling down on toughness to power through the moments of doubt. But the compartmentalization of her family has now proven to be her most exploitable weakness, underscored by a moment in the third episode when Ukrainian double agent Oleksandra Balakin (Elizaveta Neretin) says, “A soldier’s oath is his family’s oath,” which leads to an immediate, visceral punch from Joe but perfectly encapsulates the perilous reality she now finds herself trapped within, with her family being lifelong high-value targets regardless of what she does or does not do next.

It’s enough to make her high-ranking Special Activities boss Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) ask her power-broker husband Errol (Martin Donovan) if foreign forces have ever sought leverage through him, for Deputy Director Byron Westfield (Michael Kelly) to confront Russian intelligence contacts personally to threaten them, and for the Lioness team to be retrained in the tactical pyramid of foreign adversary threats, from disinformation to honeypots and everything in between. While the timelines are certain to converge at some point, now that we’re close to halfway through the season, it’s safe to say that Sheridan’s latest gamble, shaking up the narrative structure and focus, has more than paid off​​​. By taking Joe out of command and forcing her into survival mode, we’ve seen a far more vulnerable side to her character than the first two seasons allowed – it’s refreshed the overall urgency of Lioness, making it a very, very long seven days to find out just what insane events each timeline will deliver next.

Hayden Panettiere’s sudden death has prompted some social media users to revisit one of the most disturbing stories in her memoir and speculate, without evidence, that the two events could be connected. In “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” the actress alleged that someone she trusted placed her into bed beside an undressed, older celebrity aboard a yacht when she was 18.

Panettiere escaped before anything happened and did not publicly identify the man. Following her death at 36 on August 16, online conspiracy theories began spreading because the memoir had been published only three months earlier. However, police have reported no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. No evidence currently connects the yacht incident, the unnamed individuals involved, or Panettiere’s memoir to her death.

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Panettiere detailed the unsettling encounter in her memoir, which was released on May 19. According to the actress, she spent time aboard a yacht after someone she trusted brought her there. What began as an innocent night out took a frightening turn when she was escorted into a small private room.

Panettiere said they placed her in bed beside an older male celebrity. In the memoir, she described the unnamed man as a “famous thirtysomething British singer-songwriter.” The actress did not accuse the man of physically attacking her. Her account instead focused on the betrayal she felt toward the trusted person who allegedly led her into the room and left her there.

During the May 11 episode of “On Purpose with Jay Shetty,” Panettiere said nothing about the evening had initially warned her that she could be placed in a dangerous situation. “There was no hints of anything like that happening,” she recalled. “So it took me by surprise.”

Panettiere said the person who brought her into the room was not a stranger. “It was led by somebody that I had grown to trust and see as a protector and somebody who had my back,” she said on the podcast.

The Actress Said Her Survival Instinct Took Over

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Rather than stay in the room, Panettiere said she immediately recognized something was wrong and refused to let the situation continue. “That lion in me, that fire in me … my hair stood on end and I became ferocious,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘This is not happening.’ Panettiere fled the room and hid elsewhere on the vessel, according to her account.

The experience reportedly changed the way she viewed her younger years in Hollywood and the adults she had been conditioned to trust. She entered the entertainment industry as a child and spent much of her youth surrounded by adults who managed her work, public image, and career.

Looking back on the yacht encounter as an adult, Panettiere acknowledged how vulnerable she was at 18, despite believing she was mature enough to understand the people and situations around her. She ultimately chose not to name the singer-songwriter or publicly identify the trusted person she accused of orchestrating the encounter.

Fans Share Unsupported Theories After Her Death

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After confirming Panettiere’s death, some X users pointed to the short period between the publication of her memoir and her passing. “Welp, they killed her; it makes sense now,” one X user said.

Another commenter made the unsupported claim that powerful people in Hollywood had silenced the actress. “They are going to say she took her own life when we all know damn well they kill people in Hollywood for less. Not even surprised she went so fast after speaking up. It isn’t just a coincidence anymore,” they said.

A third user similarly attempted to connect Panettiere’s memoir to her death. “WTF?? Hayden Panettiere JUST DIED at 36… 3 months after her bombshell exposure of the Elite Hollywood/ Music system. And now she’s dead. Cause still unknown. She had just flown from LA down to the South with her boyfriend when it happened. Hollywood is pure evil,” another said.

Those posts reflect suspicions circulating online, not evidence investigators have uncovered. Authorities have not accused anyone connected to Panettiere’s memoir of wrongdoing in relation to her death. Police also have not indicated that her decision to publish the book put her in danger.

Police Say There Were No Signs Of Foul Play

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Panettiere was found unresponsive at her residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday. According to 911 dispatch audio obtained by Page Six, the emergency involved an “unidentified female” in “cardiac arrest.” Dispatchers reported that “CPR [was] in progress” as emergency personnel attempted to revive her.

An acquaintance reportedly called 911 at approximately 1:51 p.m. First responders then used “advanced cardiac life support” and chest compressions, but Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. The Greenville Police Department said its preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

The department is investigating the death alongside the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy is expected to help authorities determine the cause and manner of Panettiere’s death. Until those findings are available, conclusions about what caused her death remain premature.

Dispatch Reference To An ‘Overdose’ Is Not An Official Finding

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The emergency audio reportedly included a reference to an “overdose,” but that description has not been confirmed as Panettiere’s official cause of death.

Dispatch communications capture preliminary information relayed during an active emergency. They are not a substitute for an autopsy, toxicology testing, or a coroner’s formal determination.

Tracee Ellis Ross is pulling back the curtain on the sharp disparities of early-2000s television culture.

Decades after taking center stage on television, the 53-year-old actress is opening up about the stark lack of mainstream industry recognition she faced during her star-making run on the hit sitcom “Girlfriends.”

Ross was a huge part of the show’s iconic eight-year run, after which she has appeared in other major projects, including “Black-ish.”

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Appearing on the most recent episode of Trevor Noah’s “What Now?” podcast, Ross candidly discussed how television culture was “very segregated” while “Girlfriends” was airing between 2000 and 2008. 

Although the beloved sitcom has earned widespread recognition and classic status in hindsight, Ross highlighted that major television institutions turned a blind eye to the show throughout its eight-season tenure.

She recalled being completely shut out of major late-night television platforms and prestigious industry awards shows. 

“I remember thinking, ‘What?’ Like, what else do you have to get? I don’t know,” Ross reflected, noting that during the show’s entire eight-year run, she received “no talk shows, no Tonight Show, no David Letterman, no Emmys.”

The snub became even more glaring when Ross noticed that critically acclaimed white-led shows, such as “Monk,” which had smaller audiences, were routinely prioritized for late-night guest slots.

She concluded by noting that she didn’t know what else to boil it down to except discrimination. In her words:

“And I was like, ‘I don’t understand. Is it viewership?’ And the only thing you can boil it down to, you’re like, ‘Is it just racism?’ I’m not sure how to — how do you categorize it? I don’t know what it is.”

Mara Brock Would Like To See A ‘Girlfriends’ Movie Idea Brought To Life

While conversations about the historical oversight of “Girlfriends” continue, interest in reviving the iconic franchise remains exceptionally high.

However, series creator Mara Brock Akil recently revealed that bringing the core cast back together for a return faces significant financial challenges.

In early July, the 56-year-old got candid about her efforts to bring a “Girlfriends” feature film to life. While Akil and the original core cast, including Ross, Jill Marie Jones, Persia White, Golden Brooks, and Reggie Hayes, are eager to reunite, securing the necessary backing has been challenging.

“I think I have a story that I would love to do in a film, and I have been trying to get it made,” she said, per People Magazine.

Akil disclosed that she is actively seeking a $50 million budget to deliver the cinematic continuation the series and its fans deserve. However, if the funding fails to materialize, she still has confidence in her ability to create fresh stories while remaining open to future possibilities for the group.

Tracee Ellis Ross Previously Opened Up About Issues With Her Body Image

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While efforts to bring the “Girlfriends” cast back together are yet to materialize, Ross has continued to succeed in other Hollywood endeavors.

However, despite her massive success, she has had some issues with her personal image in the past, which she has been open about. In a 2022 discussion, she reflected candidly on learning to feel comfortable in her own skin after decades of self-doubt.

Looking back at her younger years, Ross admitted that feeling truly at ease within herself once felt almost out of reach. 

“I actually feel comfortable in my skin now. If you had told me that was going to happen, I don’t know that I would’ve believed you,” she said, as reported by The Blast.

Tracee Ellis Ross Firmly Denied The Pregnancy Rumors

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As Ross has grown in confidence, she has also learned to navigate rumors about her personal life. 

In late June, she returned to “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where she set the record straight about viral speculation that she was expecting her first child.

“I am not pregnant. I am not,” Ross clarified, per Entertainment Weekly. Finding the humor in the rumors, the Golden Globe winner offered a witty commentary, noting that she doesn’t know “how you get the preggers.”

She also joked that the rumors only came about because the media was having a slow news day. 

Tracee Ellis Ross’ Home Was Broken Into Last Year

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Ross’ efforts to clear the air on the pregnancy rumors came months after her L.A. home was broken into. 

According to The Blast, she fell victim to a costly burglary after intruders targeted her Southern California residence while she was away.

The incident occurred early in the morning on Sunday, August 31, 2025, when three masked suspects forced entry into the property and fled with an estimated $100,000 worth of luxury jewelry and designer handbags.

Fortunately, she was out of town at the time and was not harmed. While the surveillance cameras captured footage of the three suspects moving through the residence, no arrests were made.

World War II has been the subject of a nearly countless number of films — the first WWII movies were released shortlly after the war itself began — but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t new stories to tell. Even today, a significant global conflict of that size, with so many different parties involved and theaters of warfare, still offers new opportunities to show what a “war film” can look like — especially when merged with different genres.

Pressure is an effective chamberpiece based on a stageplay of the same name that explores the critical process of planning D-Day, the Allied campaign that changed the course of the war and turned the tide against the Nazis. Rather than focusing on the actual combat on the battlefield, Pressure offers insights into how preparations were handled among the different offices tasked with research. It’s not only a great showcase for a terrific cast to deliver memorable depictions of some of the most important historical figures of the 20th century, but a reminder of how close D-Day was to being a catastrophic failure that doomed the world to live under fascism.

Before becoming President of the United States, Dwight Eisenhower was the supreme commander of the United States military in World War II, and became the leader of the entire Allied Forces. Played by Brendan Fraser, Eisenhower gathers a close circle of advisors and military allies to ensure that D-Day will go smoothly. Among those that Eisenhower enlists is RAF Group Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott), a Scottish meteorologist who is told to put together a weather forecast for the day of the planned attack. Eisenhower expects this to be nothing more than a precaution, but Stagg’s instincts suggest that there could be a storm that would prevent a seabound invasion from working. It’s a fascinating showcase about trying to plan for the unpredictable when the stakes couldn’t be higher. Scott and Fraser are beloved and well-known actors, but they completely disappear into their roles. And at 100 minutes, Pressure is the perfect bottled-up thriller that offers more than a standard history lesson.

‘Pressure’ Is a Different Type of World War II Drama

Image via Focus Features/StudioCanal

World War II is a fascinating subject for dramatic interpretations because it was a war in which military officials from different nationalities had to pool their resources to create a cohesive strategy, even if there were clashes of culture along the way. Eisenhower developed respectful relationships with the English MTC First Lieutenant Kay Summersby (Kerry Condon), British Army General Bernard Montgomery (Damian Lewis), and USAAF Colonel Irving P. Krick (Chris Messina), but Stagg is framed as being an outsider who is unused to military protocol. Since the tension couldn’t be more bracing, the initial awkwardness of Stagg’s introduction to the other military leaders causes friction when they later have to work together. That Stagg is a meteorologist first and a military man second is held against him, especially when compared to Krick, who is a longtime ally of Eisenhower.

Pressure feels like an authentic depiction of what went on behind closed doors during the preparations for D-Day, because there is legitimacy to the perspective of every figure in the story. The feud between Krick and Stagg is particularly illuminating because of the different methods that they utilize to calculate their predictions: Krick uses his past experience in similar weather conditions to form a pattern, whereas Stagg pulls from a larger pool of data, including information that would otherwise not have been considered. Since the technology used to put together these forecasts was far less advanced than it is today, the decision of whom to trust comes down to a matter of guesswork. Even if it’s a professional debate, there’s a personal edge to the dispute, because Stagg feels disrespected and doesn’t understand why Eisenhower would bring in another advisor when he has already proven to be loyal.

‘Pressure’ Is a Successful Stage-To-Screen Adaptation

Fraser delivers a terrific performance that captures the General at a unique stage in his career. It would have been easy to paint Eisenhower as an aggressive, grumpy veteran determined to win the war as soon as possible, but Fraser shows how personal the conflict is for him, given that he feels responsible for any loss of life among his men. That the decision comes down to Eisenhower alone is one of the film’s most significant points, as Stagg grows to respect the General and wants to ensure that his strategy is appropriate. At the same time, it never feels like Eisenhower is ignoring science to stroke his own ego; his desire to proceed with D-Day is informed by his knowledge that there will be more casualties if Europe continues to live under fascist rule.

Pressure is an appropriate companion piece to the many World War II films that explore the actual D-Day invasion, because it gives a window into the anxiety of watching a battle proceed from afar. While there was a novelty to the fact that the original stage play was able to encapsulate the scope of an entire conflict within a few intense moments, Pressure is an appropriately cinematic film that succeeds in both its claustrophobic, confined moments and the grandiose spectacle of an epic.

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Pressure

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Release Date

May 29, 2026

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Runtime

100 Minutes

Director

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Anthony Maras

Writers

David Haig, Anthony Maras

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The past few weeks have been a barrage of trailers and announcements from Marvel Studios throughout San Diego Comic-Con and D23, but the biggest news may have come from new merchandise. A new Doctor Doom figure by Hot Toys features the tech wiz-turned-sorcerer holding a book that looks a bit like the Darkhold — the magical book from Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that The Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) destroyed. On top of that, Marvel’s official booth featured several movie costumes on display, including the mysterious “Latverian Witch” that works with Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) This is all fuel for the theory that Wanda Maximoff is alive and working with Doom, making WandaVision essential viewing before Avengers: Doomsday premieres on December 18.

WandaVision might be the most beloved entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the Multiverse Saga began, and it makes sense that the studio would want it to tie into the big finale. However, Wanda appeared to die in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so the MCU will need to either explain her return or replace her with a multiverse variant. Fans have long theorized that some version of Wanda will be working with Doom in Doomsday, and the evidence is stacking up. One way or another, Marvel is definitely trying to draw our attention back to Wanda’s story, as the new trailer for VisionQuest calls it “the final vision of a groundbreaking trilogy.”

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Needs Wanda Maximoff

Image via Marvel Studios

The Multiverse Saga has been a bumpier ride than the Infinity Saga was for Marvel Studios, and it makes sense that the franchise would try to capitalize on its biggest successes. WandaVision was the first release of the new saga, the first title in Phase Four, and the first streaming series made for Disney+. It was a massive success, breaking the formula and drawing in new viewers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It even inspired a sequel series, Agatha All Along, and Marvel is now calling this a TV trilogy concluding with VisionQuest.

Establishing that continuity just before Doomsday debuts is a strong sign it’s important to the crossover. The Multiverse Saga is littered with dropped plot lines, so the ones Marvel calls attention to now are likely to be the most important ones. Wanda’s story never really crossed over with the saga’s original Kang the Conqueror arc, so it doesn’t require a major pivot the way that others will. In fact, Wanda may be the key to smoothing the transition and making it feel like Doom was the plan all along.

Fans have theorized that Wanda will appear alongside Doom for years now, so it’s nice to see the evidence pointing in the same direction. Marvel loves to keep secrets and surprise its fans, but above all the studio needs to tell compelling, satisfying stories. Predictability is not always a bad thing in movies, an Marvel seems to understand that here. The new figure of Doom holding a book of magic naturally evokes theories about the Scarlet Witch, and Marvel Comics provide plenty of explanations for how this grimoire may be linked to the Darkhold.

Meanwhile, the Latverian Witch costumes displayed at Marvel’s booth could be our first look at Wanda in disguise. Fans suspect that Doom may have found a way to rescue or resurrect Wanda, and that he has either persuaded or coerced her into working alongside him in Doomsday. The Scarlet Witch did get a peak into Doom’s universe, Earth-838, and we’ve seen how open she can be to extreme measures. This is definitely still just a theory, but one that Marvel is not trying to dissuade fans from.

‘VisionQuest’ Should Give Us Clues About ‘Doomsday’

Image via Marvel Studios

Whatever cataclysm is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse, VisionQuest will be the studio’s last big chance to share clues with us. The streaming series premieres on October 14, and it’s the last and only release left between now and Avengers: Doomsday. That timing doesn’t seem like an accident — VisionQuest has been in the works for years now, and other productions have turned around much faster. Marvel may have been saving this show for a reason — even if only to re-center the WandaVision storyline at the last moment.

There’s a lot of room for thematic symmetry here as well — Doom combines his scientific genius with his ancestral tradition of magic, leading to a unique fusion of technology and mysticism. There’s something similar at play in the MCU’s version of Wanda, whose magic was harnessed and enhanced by experimental exposure to the Tesseract. Vision (Paul Bettany) is similar — a bio-synthetic body combined with an advanced artificial intelligence and awakened by a magical blow from Thor’s hammer. Wanda and Vision embody this duality as a couple as well since her powers are magical while his are technological.

Wanda and Vision seem like Marvel’s best chance at making this brand new villain feel relevant to the stories they’ve been telling, an that means their trilogy of shows are likely central to Avengers: Doomsday. WandaVision and Agatha All Along are streaming now on Disney+, while VisionQuest premieres there on October 14. Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18.

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Release Date

October 14, 2026

Network

Disney+

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HBO Max has been on fire over the last year of television. When Emmy nominations were announced back in July, the streamer led all platforms with 122 nods, most of which could be attributed to two shows — Hacks and The Pitt. The former comedy came away with an impressive 24 nominations for its final season, but the latter only continues growing, nearly doubling its total of awards nods from its colossal freshman run with a staggering 25 nominations to lead all shows. Noah Wyle, Shawn Hatosy, Sepideh Moafi, Fiona Dourif, Katherine LaNasa, and Taylor Dearden were all recognized in the acting categories after breaking out as HBO stars last year, while series creator R. Scott Gemmill is up for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.

While the names on the script and at the top of the call sheet get the most praise, it takes a village to bring Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center to life. The Pitt Season 2’s many Emmy nominations also include production design, casting, prosthetic makeup, picture editing, sound mixing, and much more. Everyone involved behind the scenes is just as responsible as those on-screen for the chaotic feeling of the emergency room when disaster strikes and Dr. Robby and his team have to scramble. To highlight that atmosphere of teamwork aboard the medical drama, Collider can exclusively share a video of the expansive team, including Wyle, Patrick Ball, Isa Briones, and more from HBO Max’s Emmy Nominee Celebration as they shout out the unsung heroes behind the chart-dominating series.

First and foremost, Wyle highlights Johanna Coelho, The Pitt‘s director of photography, whom he credits for designing every frame of the drama down to the last detail with help from everyone working the cameras. Part of the reason the series can have such an intense pace while still giving the cast plenty of freedom is the operators’ ability to deftly navigate a moving set like “Ginger Rogers dancing in heels backwards” while capturing the action. The AD department also received praise as the set’s “air traffic controllers,” while the prop, sound, and makeup departments were hailed as being some of the best in the business, to the point that “it’s kinda up to you to mess it up.” As for the set itself, production designer Nina Ruscio earned a particularly enthusiastic response for bringing the titular emergency room to life beforehand, so the writers could structure the story around her work. Isa Briones gave further credit to the background team for truly making The Pitt feel, for the actors, like they were in constant life-or-death situations, which, in turn, fed into their acclaimed performances.

‘The Pitt’ Season 3 Will Shake Up the Emergency Room

Between its much-lauded ensemble and the crew that creates the perfect stage for them to perform on, The Pitt Season 2 was able to raise the bar and the stakes from its 2025 debut. The sophomore outing explored more of the harsh realities of the modern U.S. medical industry, as Robby’s final day before sabbatical sees him clashing with his interim replacement, Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi (Moafi), facing an influx of patients from another recently closed hospital, and witnessing the horrors of an ICE raid. Season 3 is currently in production with a few changes in store, as Dr. Samira Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) exits the building and Dr. Parker Ellis (Ayesha Harris) moves from night shift to day shift. No matter who comes in or walks out of the hospital’s doors or what time of year a shift takes place, though, the series is built with rotation in mind, and the technical staff will still be there to ensure the set is ready to accommodate faces both fresh and familiar.

All episodes of The Pitt Season 2 are now available to stream through HBO Max. Season 3 is expected to return around the same time in January. Check out the video of Wyle and the team praising the series’ unsung heroes in the player above.

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Release Date

January 9, 2025

Network

Max

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Showrunner

R. Scott Gemmill

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Directors

Amanda Marsalis

Writers

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Joe Sachs, Cynthia Adarkwa

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  Noah Wyle

  Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch

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  Tracy Ifeachor

  Dr. Heather Collins

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