There have been some truly fantastic political thrillers in the past two decades. Whether you want high-stakes international espionage found in Homeland or a salacious White House romance over on Scandal, this genre always offers plenty of intrigue and drama. Some of these shows have more charming idealism, like The West Wing, while others offer heart-racing plot points, like The Diplomat. If you’re looking for a political thriller that combines the vibes of all of these dramas, there’s one CBS show that’s currently finding a whole new audience over on Apple TV.

What Is ‘Madam Secretary’ About?

Madam Secretary first started airing in 2014, and with a total of six seasons and 120 episodes, it’s completely worthy of a binge-watch. Created by Barbara Hall (Judging Amy), the series follows Elizabeth McCord (Téa Leoni), a former CIA analyst who is appointed the next United States Secretary of State. Elizabeth has a loving family, including her husband, Henry (Tim Daly, who would end up marrying Leoni in real life in 2025), and their three children. After retiring from the CIA to work as a political science professor, Elizabeth at first seems like an unusual candidate for such an esteemed and high-profile position. But her former CIA boss, Conrad Dalton (Keith Carradine), is now the President of the United States, and deems her worthy of the position.

There’s just one catch: the previous Secretary of State has died in a mysterious plane crash, and part of Elizabeth’s new job responsibilities include trying to figure out who was behind his death. Elizabeth is quickly thrown into a high-pressure environment, including an icy chief of staff named Nadine Tolliver (Bebe Neuwirth), who is wary of Elizabeth’s lack of political experience. With all of these obstacles, it would be easy for someone to crumble, but Elizabeth rises to the occasion, leading the country (and her family) to peace.

‘Madam Secretary’ Is an Addictive Drama With an Incredible Cast

Madam Secretary would be fun to watch just to see each episode’s drama unfold. But it becomes even more binge-worthy because of the political intrigue that threads throughout the series. Whether Elizabeth is juggling international relations or just interpersonal conflicts within her office, there are always twists and turns to keep things interesting. In any given episode, Elizabeth might be addressing a vast global emergency or the challenges of being a working mom, but she’s still able to pull everything off like a pro. Madam Secretary operates at a breakneck speed and is an example of past network shows that featured seasons with more than 22 episodes each. Because of this pace, the series never fails to draw you in and keep your attention. Madam Secretary is also incredibly authentic, and this realism is apparent in several real-life secretaries of state making appearances in Season 5, including Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell, and Madeleine Albright (who actually plays herself giving advice to Elizabeth in Season 2 as well).

Madam Secretary could have fallen flat with a leading lady with less charisma. Luckily, Leoni is pure brilliance here as the tough-as-nails and intelligent Elizabeth. She inspires a quiet confidence that’s evident in subtle gestures and in pointed dialogue that work to make her a protagonist truly worth celebrating. But the show doesn’t just highlight Leoni’s talents. Daly is a great scene partner for Leoni as the supportive, steady force helping ground her during times of extreme stress. Neuwirth is also exceptional as the stern Nadine, whose taciturn nature actually belies a complex personal life. Zeljko Ivanek, Erich Bergen, Patina Miller, and Sebastian Arcelus all create a fascinating team that supports Elizabeth’s administration, and each actor portrays characters that feel both compelling and realistic. Some network shows run the risk of feeling predictable and schmaltzy, but because of Madam Secretary‘s stellar cast, the series never fails to be exceptional.

If you’d like a break from real-life politics, but still want to get sucked into a completely gripping Washington, DC-set drama, Madam Secretary should fit the bill. With an exciting twist in Season 6 (hint: technically, the title of the show should have been changed), the series never rests on its laurels, always evolving with riveting storylines and impressive performances. The series ended in 2019, but it concludes with a natural progression for the characters, ensuring that Madam Secretary is the perfect, relevant political thriller to add to your must-watch list.

Seasons 1–6 are available to stream on Apple TV or Prime Video in the U.S.

Josh Richards was initially wary about his former “BFFs” podcast cohost Dave Portnoy spilling the tea in his Cancel Me If You Can memoir.

“I was [nervous] when I first heard that. I think I’m always nervous when I hear Dave’s talking about me or, like, tag[s] me in something because he just has that effect on people,” Richards, 24, exclusively told Us on Friday, July 31, while promoting the second season of “Read the Room,” his self-funded sketch comedy series. “But, I think it was all positive.”

Portnoy, 49, released his nonfiction book, Cancel Me If You Can, last month about his experience building Barstool Sports. Given that Portnoy had hosted “BFFs” with Richards and Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia under the firm’s umbrella, it was assumed pre-publication that stories about the influencer would be featured in select chapters.

“People told me that it was all nice things, so, shout-out [to] Dave. He’s great,” Richards told Us, noting he has yet to read the book for himself. “I believe there was a package I got sent to my house that had ‘Barstool Sports’ on it just as I was leaving to go [celebrate] my grandmother’s 80th birthday. I missed that, but hopefully [I can get another] one.”

Related: Revisiting Dave Portnoy and Brianna Chickenfry’s Friendship History

Dave Portnoy and Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia’s friendship has come a long way over the years. Portnoy, 47, founded Barstool Sports in 2003, but LaPaglia, 25, didn’t join the team until much later. She got her start with the podcast network in 2020 as an intern. The organization contacted her via social media after her videos […]

Richards added, “If [he] didn’t [send a copy], Dave, what the hell? You wrote about me in it. I know that because my [live]stream told me, so give me the book. I’ll do a live reading or something like that.”

Richards, Portnoy and LaPaglia, 27, have remained on friendly terms since ending their joint podcast in 2025 after five years.

“It just felt like there needed to be a next chapter. I think that at that time, with what we were doing with the show, it didn’t feel like it was progressing in any way,” Richards recalled. “It felt like it had reached its plateau, and I think, unless there was a way that we found for it to be new and exciting again … then we’ll leave it be what it was, which was an amazing five years of getting to do this incredibly cool podcast.”

He continued, “[‘BFFs’] truly was one of those first social media creator podcasts that was made and was able to live for so long. I think it’s an amazing thing to look back at and have be what it was.”

Richards stressed that there was no lingering bad blood after deciding to hang up the mic.

“Everyone’s still friends and good and hangs out and sees each other all the time,” he stated. “I’m gonna see Dave in a week, I think, actually. So yeah, we’re always still, you know, in each other’s lives.”

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Since walking away from “BFFs,” Richards has been focused on his “Read the Room” comedy series.

“The differences in season 1 and 2 is that it’s just been so leveled up in every facet, I think, from an acting standpoint, a guest standpoint [and] from a production standpoint,” Richards told Us. “We’ve just really been able to take all the lessons we learned in season 1 and plug those into season 2. I’m just really excited for the audience to get to see it and the people that enjoyed season 1 to, maybe, enjoy season 2 even a little bit more.”

“Read the Room” season 2, featuring guests including Chris Redd and Harry Jowsey, premieres in August.

The United States Secret Service is familiar with a video aired by Iran’s state broadcaster appearing to threaten the life of President Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump.

“The U.S. Secret Service is aware of the video and investigates anything that can be perceived as a threat toward our protectees,” a Secret Service spokesperson told Us on Tuesday, August 25. “Out of concern for operational security, we do not discuss matters of protective intelligence.”

According to CNN, the nearly three-minute video begins with an English-language graphic reading, “Where to kill Barron Trump?!” and features graphics showing locations where the college student is publicly known to spend time.

Near the end of the video, the narrator suggests people were “eagerly waiting to receive our $10 million reward.”

Related: Iran-Linked Video Details Ways to Assassinate Melania and Barron Trump

A video linked to the government of Iran is under investigation after appearing to issue a threat — and detail ways — to assassinate First Lady Melania Trump and her and President Donald Trump’s son, Barron. On Monday, July 27, a video titled “Where to Kill Melania” was shared by Tasnim News Agency, an entity […]

The video was reportedly broadcast over the weekend by state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). The head of the broadcaster is directly appointed by Iran’s supreme leader.

As his dad serves as the president of the United States, Barron, 20, tries his best to live a private life. He doesn’t have social media and is believed to be studying business at New York University.

First lady Melania Trump has been especially protective of her only child ever since Donald entered politics.

“She’s got a great love of children. She has a wonderful son that she loves probably more than anybody, including me,” Donald, 80, said at the White House in August 2025. “I hate to say it.”

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Related: Donald Trump Allegedly Hid in Catering Truck to Sneak Out of Turkey

President Donald Trump’s recent exit out of Turkey was allegedly much more than just an ordinary travel day. According to multiple reports, Trump, 80, secretly slipped out of Turkey in July on an alternate military plane, which he boarded while hidden inside a catering truck. (The White House previously stated he was aboard Air Force […]

The president has previously addressed personal threats made against him specifically.

“They want to take out the US leader — me,” Donald told reporters in July when responding to reports that Iran had a desire to kill him. “I’m on whatever list. I saw this morning I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a bit lucky, but maybe that doesn’t last very long. These are evil, sick people. And we have to root out that cancer. That cancer. You know what you do? You’ve got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel.”

Since February, the United States has been at war with Iran and its regional allies. Eighteen U.S. service members have died since the conflict began, with more than 750 U.S. service members being wounded since the start of the war, according to the Defense Department.

Dolly Parton’s family is asking fans to honor the late country music legend by supporting one of the causes closest to her heart. Following Parton’s death at age 80, her representative announced that she would be laid to rest during a small, private service attended by immediate family members. Rather than sending flowers, fans were encouraged to donate to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the childhood literacy program she founded more than 30 years ago.

The request offered a fitting way to honor a woman whose generosity became nearly as famous as her music. Long after Parton’s final song, millions of children will continue discovering their own dreams through the books she helped place inside their homes.

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Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995 through The Dollywood Foundation. The inspiration came from her father, Robert Lee Parton, who never learned to read or write. Although Parton described him as one of the smartest people she knew, she understood how his lack of literacy affected his confidence and opportunities.

She initially launched the program for preschool children living in Sevier County, Tennessee, where she grew up as one of 12 siblings in a poor family. Parton wanted every local child to have access to books, regardless of how much money their parents earned. She also wanted receiving a new book to feel special, which led to the program mailing each selection directly to the child’s home.

What began as a tribute to one father soon became a global effort to help millions of families.

When the program launched, it served only children in Parton’s home county. Its popularity quickly demonstrated that families well beyond East Tennessee could benefit from the same model. By 2000, the Imagination Library had begun expanding nationally, and it mailed its one-millionth book in 2003.

Parton’s home state of Tennessee committed to pursuing statewide availability the following year. Canada joined the program in 2006, followed by the United Kingdom in 2007, Australia in 2013 and the Republic of Ireland in 2019.

The Imagination Library now operates across five countries through shared funding from Parton and local community partners.

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The Imagination Library grew at a pace few could have anticipated when the first books were mailed in Sevier County. By 2016, it was distributing one million books each month. The program celebrated its 100-millionth book in 2018 and reached 200 million books in 2023.

As of January 2025, the organization had gifted more than 267 million books, including over 3.2 million mailed during that month alone. More recent reporting estimates that the total had surpassed 330 million books by the time of Parton’s death.

The Country Legend Wanted Children To Dream Bigger

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Parton’s involvement with the program extended beyond allowing the charity to use her name. She frequently appeared at Imagination Library events, read to children and celebrated its major milestones. She also used her visibility to encourage governments, businesses and community organizations to establish local partnerships.

The singer understood firsthand how imagination could take a child beyond their immediate surroundings. She grew up in a one-room cabin in the Tennessee mountains before becoming an internationally recognized songwriter, actress and businesswoman. Through the Imagination Library, Parton wanted other children to see that their circumstances did not have to determine the limits of their futures.

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The Imagination Library Can Continue Without Its Founder

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Although Parton remained the heart and public face of the Imagination Library, she built it within a structure designed to continue expanding. The program operates through The Dollywood Foundation, a nonprofit organization, and relies on thousands of local partners to fund and administer book distribution in participating communities.

Its international network already stretches across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.

“That’s So Raven” and “Cory in The House” star Kyle Massey is stepping back into the spotlight, gearing up to headline his second comedy show at the famed Laugh Factory Hollywood. On August 26, the Disney Channel favorite will host a Birthday Comedy Jam, featuring sets from Massey, Tiffany Haddish, his brother Chris Massey, and a lineup of other celebrity guests. During an exclusive interview with The Blast, Kyle spoke with us about his major return to the Hollywood scene and detailed why now was the perfect time.

Fans are eager to see Kyle back in action after his first Laugh Factory show packed the venue, with an overflow crowd waiting outside to get in.

The response was so strong that Laugh Factory Hollywood invited the fan-favorite back for another round, this time alongside his brother, Chris.

“The audience certainly loves Kyle and Chris!! What a reaction. It was like having the Beatles in the house,” said David Fuhrer, President of Laugh Factory.

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And Kyle’s return promises plenty of laughs, with the new show featuring celebrity guests and a deeper look at his personal story.

“The one thing about my comedy show is all of the stories that I tell are real, true stories,” Kyle told The Blast. “They’re hilarious, and it’s the uncut perspective of a child star growing up in Hollywood that a lot of these people don’t really understand.”

What Inspired Kyle Massey To Tell His Story In A New Way?

Fans may know Kyle from beloved sitcoms and fan-favorite reality competition shows, but his stand-up act is giving them a chance to see a side of the star they’ve never seen before.

In his conversation with The Blast, Kyle credited his brother, known to fans from the Nickelodeon classic “Zoey 101,” with helping push him toward his next career move.

Watching Chris find success on the stand-up circuit, coupled with encouragement from comedy heavyweights like Chris Tucker, gave Kyle the confidence to bet on himself.

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“They inspired me to just get up there and just do it,” he said.

Kyle Massey Is Ready To Give Fans The ‘Real, Raw’ Story Of His Life

Elsewhere in our conversation, the “Being Mary Jane” actor opened up about making the leap into comedy, a space where he can ditch the script and give audiences an unfiltered look at who he really is.

“Growing up with so many funny people and in my family and around me has just kind of made it easier to transition to this, to this free [style] of comedy,” he said. “It’s because this is my story. This is, you know, there’s no one telling me [what to say].”

He continued, “This is me. This is me—raw, and, you know, some people aren’t going to believe half of the things that I say, but this is my perspective coming out as a child star.”

Kyle Is Staying On His Comedy, Focusing On New Show In San Diego In September

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Kyle’s return to Hollywood has exceeded his expectations, and he’s already looking forward to what’s ahead. After his upcoming Birthday Comedy Jam, Kyle will hit the stage again on September 7 at Laugh Factory San Diego for an all-new show.

“You know, the focus is on the comedy right now. The comedy shows are going very well. I’ve been booked left and right,” he shared. In addition to his California stops, Kyle will also visit Detroit, Michigan and Orlando, Florida.

More Details About Kyle’s August 26th Show

For those of you still wanting a ticket to Kyle’s upcoming Laugh Factory show, tickets are available to purchase online.

KYLE MASSEY’S BIRTHDAY COMEDY JAM

DATE: Wednesday, August 26

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TIME: 9:45 PM – 11:15 PM (Doors at 9:15 PM)

LOCATION: Laugh Factory Hollywood

UPCOMING SHOWS:

August 27 – Laugh Factory Hollywood (TBD)

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September 7 – Laugh Factory San Diego

September 20 – The Comedy Bar in Detroit

General Hospital fans, we have got some juicy new leaks for you from our reliable behind the scenes sources. This latest rumor roundup includes a shocking return for Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey), some deaths, a possible recast, and a twist for Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna).

And in today’s rumor roundup, we’ll talk surprise returns, a couple of deaths, two possible recasts actually, and Hudson Parker (Troy Lennon Appel) and Phoebe’s (Lucia & Luna Brighton) storyline may take an explosive turn tying into another huge story line.

General Hospital: Cassius’ Name Tarnished

So, right now everybody in Port Charles thinks Cassius Faison is dead and Z leaned on Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) so that she would stick to the WSB‘s fake story and say that Cassius is the villain and that Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) died a hero trying to stop him.

It’s all lies the furthest thing from the truth because Cassius died trying to stop Cullum only. He didn’t die. Good news is at least Cullum did die. And of course, Z saved Cassius and then packed him off to a WSB black site to decide what to do with him later.

This exit was to facilitate an end to Ryan Paevey’s stint on GH. He had some movie work to do, but there was supposed to be an eye on bringing him back later. And now, of course, Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati)’s mourning. Britt is upset.

Everybody thinks the worst of Cassius and assumes he’s dead. So, Josslyn helped the WSB save face. And in exchange, she got Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) and Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) both pardoned and released from WSB custody.

But Ryan Paevey said he’s definitely open to returning as Cassius. And our leaker said a while ago he wasn’t gone for good. That was before his death/non death on GH. And now the leaker’s back with more info about Ryan Paevey’s return to General Hospital.

GH: Cassius Returns

Our source says we’re going to get Cassius back this fall. Now, originally we’d heard Ryan Paevey would be back late summer, but now our source says Fall instead. We’ve heard chatter that we will see Cassius and Z both back sometime in October or November.

And of course, November is sweeps. There was also a John Oliver tidbit that hinted at his return. So, for a guest star, honestly, I thought he did okay. His stint on Days of Our Lives was a little more over-the-top than his GH turn as Z.

Also, this Fall, we know Chris McKenna is leaving GH and his character Jack Brennan is being killed off. We leaked this many, many months ago and then another source recently confirmed it.

So, there’s always the chance that Z is back with Cassius and some WSB plot gets dangerous, and that’s how Brennan dies because we know Hudson may be on the WSB‘s radar because of JJE. Plus, we know he’s a bad guy.

Also, because of how tangled Brennan is with Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros), Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen), and Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison), I kind of suspected one or more than one of them might have something to do with Brennan’s death, whether it’s accidental or deliberate.

General Hospital: Drew & Ava Target Brennan

Right now, we know that Drew wants to get his hands on the blackmail that Brennan has on him. Drew wants to steal it so Brennan can’t hold it over his head. And Drew is working with Ava Jerome (Maura West) to deal with their enemies.

And this week, Drew wants Ava to keep Brennan busy while Drew searches his hotel room. So, he’s hoping to find the incriminating evidence there. Looks like Ava may be drugging Brennan’s drink to make it happen. So, Drew and Brennan might end up in some physical confrontation soon.

Plus, we just saw him and Willow in a confrontation. Brennan dropped by her house to rant about her missing a WSB funding meeting. And Willow was really sneaky and recorded Brennan admitting he used WSB resources to make the footage of her on the night of Drew’s shooting disappear.

So, we have Willow getting that leverage against Brennan and Drew and Ava also teaming up against him. So, it certainly sounds like Brennan’s going to be in trouble on more than one front. And this could all factor into his death.

General Hospital: Anna on a Mission

We’ve also got Peter August (Wes Ramsey) pushing Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) to kill Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud). And if Brennan’s in the wrong place at the wrong time and intervenes, that could be how he dies. We also have Jenz Sidwell’s (Carlo Rota) final arc that’s just starting now. That could also tie into Brennan’s exit and possible death.

Carlo Rota confirmed that Sidwell wasn’t done and he’d be in Pentonville with another character. And obviously, we know now that’s Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner). But the leaker said that this isn’t a plan for Sidwell to stick around. They told us this is Sidwell’s last storyline before he’s done on General Hospital. So, he might die, too.

Now, we’ve heard different rumors, including one that hints Brennan might help Sidwell escape and get out of Port Charles for some reason. So, Sidwell might have some dirt on Brennan because Cullum dug something up and gave it to him since they were partners in crime. Sidwell might even have proof that Brennan deleted those files.

Also coming this Fall, our leaker says the WSB story line and the Hudson, Delilah Wilson (Lily Cardone), and Phoebe story are going to overlap. Looks like an umbrella story, which honestly I don’t usually care for, but General Hospital writers love them.

General Hospital: Hudson after Pheobe

We definitely know the Hudson and Phoebe storyline is heating up because Hudson just saw Phoebe with Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) and then Josslyn blabbed a bunch of info and pretty much confirmed to Hudson that Phoebe is his daughter. And Hudson probably suspects Ethan Lovett (Christian Howard) frauded and said he was the dad. So, Hudson’s wheels are turning and he’s finding reasons to show up and see Phoebe.

And I fully expect his next move is to get proof that she’s his daughter. He could swipe a binky. He could swipe a drool rag or a baby bottle while he’s over at the Q estate talking to Josslyn. And with her taking the position of CEO at JJE, that will give Hudson even more reason to stick around and be on the Q property seeing her.

We’ve also heard from our source that Hudson is not the next big villain, but works for the next big villain. So, wait and watch on that, too. And that kind of makes sense for why the WSB might have JJE on their radar with the leaker saying the Hudson and Phoebe stuff ties back to WSB. It’s all aligning with what we’re seeing now. Our insider said Hudson would be Josslyn’s next WSB assignment. And I can totally see that manifesting since Brennan just told Josslyn her new assignment is to take the CEO job at JJE.

Hudson’s Family Ties on GH

There was a mention in the rumors about Josslyn not knowing that Hudson is family. That might have been a weirdly worded reference to him being Phoebe’s family, but that would be kind of strange. Or maybe Hudson is Josslyn’s actual family. His last name is Parker, but that could be his mom’s name. Honestly, I’d love it if he was her cousin. And Hudson was the son of super villain Jerry Jax (Sebastian Roché). I would be so thrilled to have Sebastian Roché back to General Hospital. I love him.

You never know on soaps. And they have been bringing old characters back. They just brought back Ethan. We’ve got Serena Baldwin (Kelly Krueger) back now. We finally got Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) back after many years.

So, another info is a rumor that Frank Valentini pitched recasting Agent Vaughn with a more well-known soap actor, but that was rejected by the network. We also heard he pitched a love triangle with Giovanni Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza) in the middle of Josslyn and Emma and got another no.

And we’ve been promised an offscreen death for Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) and a memorial for Tristan Rogers and it keeps not happening. Word on the street is it’s because of Finola Hughes and Steve Burton’s long breaks that everything got pushed back by months, including this.

So, now I’m hearing it might even be next year before we say goodbye to Robert Scorpio, and that kind of hits hard. Tristan Rogers was my very first soap crush when I was a kid, and I would like to see him and Robert Scorpio properly honored by General Hospital.

There is something inherently unsettling about the overly cheerful world of children’s television. The colorful sets, catchy songs, talking objects and giant costumed characters are designed to make kids feel safe. Buddy takes all of that childhood comfort, twists it into something deeply disturbing and somehow manages to make the result as funny as it is horrifying.

Directed by Casper Kelly, the filmmaker behind the cult Adult Swim short Too Many Cooks, Buddy is exactly the kind of horror comedy that could have fallen apart almost immediately. A murderous orange unicorn from a 1990s-style children’s television show sounds like a great five-minute joke. Stretching that premise into a feature film is another story.

Somehow, Kelly makes it work.

The movie introduces audiences to It’s Buddy!, an impossibly upbeat children’s program hosted by Buddy, a towering orange unicorn voiced by Keegan-Michael Key. Buddy sings, dances and teaches his young friends important lessons, all while surrounded by the type of talking furniture, puppets and colorful characters that would have felt perfectly at home on television three decades ago.

Then one of the children stops playing along.

That is when Buddy begins revealing what kind of movie it really is.

Buddy [credit: BoulderLight Pictures]

As Buddy’s cheerful personality becomes increasingly threatening, Freddy (Delaney Quinn) and the other children begin questioning the world around them. Their attempt to escape Buddy’s increasingly dangerous playground eventually leads beyond the familiar television set and into a much stranger world.

Meanwhile, Cristin Milioti plays Grace, a mother in the real world who begins experiencing the disturbing feeling that someone is missing from her life, even though she cannot quite understand who that person might be.

It would be easy for Buddy to rely entirely on the joke of turning a Barney-like children’s character into a killer. Instead, Kelly keeps expanding the idea. The movie jumps between the television program, the outside world and increasingly bizarre environments that make it feel as though audiences are slowly discovering just how large Buddy’s nightmare actually is.

The production design is a huge part of why it works. It’s Buddy! genuinely looks like something pulled from a VHS tape sitting in a box since 1997. The cheap-looking sets, overly enthusiastic songs, goofy characters and dated television production aren’t merely background details. They are essential to the movie’s personality.

And once the violence begins, that artificial happiness makes everything happening on screen considerably more disturbing.

Keegan-Michael Key is particularly effective as Buddy. He never needs to completely abandon the character’s upbeat children’s-host personality to become frightening. In fact, Buddy is often at his creepiest when he is desperately trying to maintain that smile and convince everyone that they are still having fun.

Buddy [credit: BoulderLight Pictures]

The supporting cast is equally game for the insanity. Patton Oswalt voices a talking backpack named Strappy, while Michael Shannon appears as the cowboy puppet Willie. Topher Grace also stars alongside Milioti, but it is young Delaney Quinn who gives the movie much of its heart as Freddy.

Most importantly, Buddy understands exactly what kind of movie it wants to be.

This is not restrained horror. It is strange, bloody, absurd and intentionally ridiculous. Kelly throws children’s television, slasher horror, dark comedy and surrealism into the same blender and rarely seems interested in asking whether he has gone too far.

Buddy [credit: BoulderLight Pictures]

That commitment is what makes the movie so much fun.

Not every gag lands, and there are moments when Buddy threatens to stretch its central joke beyond its limits. But whenever the movie begins feeling comfortable, Kelly usually introduces another bizarre character, disturbing revelation or wonderfully ridiculous piece of violence to pull audiences back into Buddy’s world.

There is also something surprisingly effective underneath all the blood and comedy. Buddy plays with the strange relationship adults have with the television shows they loved as children. Looking back, some of those programs were genuinely bizarre. Giant creatures demanded participation, characters stared directly into the camera waiting for children to answer them and everyone repeatedly insisted that viewers were their friends.

Buddy simply asks what happens when one of those characters actually means it.

The answer is one of the strangest horror comedies of the year.

Buddy isn’t interested in reinventing horror. It just takes an incredibly fun idea and commits to it with enough creativity, nostalgia and unapologetic weirdness to make the whole thing work.

You may never look at a friendly children’s television mascot quite the same way again.

Bold and the Beautiful stuns with Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig) turning down Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan)’s marriage proposal recently, I suspect there may be a big shift in their relationship soon. This could be the beginning of the end for Taylor and Deacon, and it could actually open the door wide for Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown).

Today we’re going to talk about Deacon cheating with Sheila and blindsiding Taylor. This may come after he realizes he and Taylor don’t want the same things.

Bold and the Beautiful: Taylor Crushes Deacon

So, Deacon and Taylor had this scandalous romance. Deacon was forbidden fruit because he was Taylor’s patient and he was married to Sheila. But now that Deacon’s ex-wife let him go, he and Taylor have been blissed out, enjoying their new life together. Sheila’s been staying away and Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) seems to pretty much accept the fact that Taylor is with Deacon.

So, seems like it was all smooth sailing and Taylor and Deacon had a really bright future up until he dropped to one knee and asked Taylor to marry him. Deacon had the ring and everything and Taylor and Deacon are happy and in love. So, he was pretty certain that Taylor was going to say yes to his proposal. Well, Deacon was wrong. Boy, was he wrong.

Taylor assured Deacon that she loves him and that she loves what they have together, but Taylor doesn’t think it’s necessary to get married. She talked about, “At our age, we don’t really need that.” She told Deacon they’ve both been married and divorced. Plus, Taylor’s claiming she doesn’t want marriage to change things between her and Deacon.

Taylor’s Bizarre Logic on B&B

But I find it kind of funny because it wasn’t that long ago that Taylor was planning to marry Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) yet again. Not only that, but Taylor was actually the one who proposed to Ridge. And that was not that long ago. It was slightly more than a year ago.

It was like June 2025. So if Taylor’s claiming she’s too old to get married again now, why wasn’t she too old to get married to Ridge a year ago? Especially given how many times he has trampled on Taylor’s heart. She also told Deacon that she didn’t think Steffy, her family, or anybody would accept them getting married.

But A, that shouldn’t matter, and B, honestly, like when Taylor first got with Deacon, people didn’t like it, but then they adjusted. So, I think the same would apply to them getting married.

It just seemed to me that Taylor was coming up with every excuse in the book to justify rejecting Deacon’s proposal. And it also feels like Deacon is a consolation prize that Taylor took from Sheila because she couldn’t have Ridge because Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) took Ridge from her.

Taylor was hurt and her ego was hit and then handsome Deacon wandered onto her radar and maybe she didn’t even realize it, but Taylor being crushed by being dumped by Ridge maybe made her want to retake some kind of control of her life and that’s why she rationalized stealing Sheila’s husband because that’s definitely what Taylor did.

Bold and Beautiful: Deacon Second-Guessing Himself

I already thought Deacon might have been having buyer’s remorse with Taylor because remember when she turned down the proposal, Deacon asked Taylor if he made a mistake leaving Sheila for her. And then things get twisted up this week. Deacon is up at Bikini doing business stuff and Sheila stops by.

We’ve got Deacon behind the bar and Sheila’s catching him up on her life and she tells Deacon that she can’t have the relationship that she wants with her son John Finnegan (Tanner Novlan). And Sheila tells Deacon he can’t fully recognize the relationship he wants with Taylor. And Deacon quickly defends himself and says that just because he and Taylor aren’t getting married doesn’t mean that Taylor doesn’t want to be in a relationship with him.

But then Sheila hits back. So, Sheila’s telling Deacon that Taylor is not exactly allergic to the idea of marriage. And then Sheila asks Deacon, “How many times did Taylor walk down the aisle with Ridge?” I mean, there isn’t much Deacon can say to that, but he tries and he tells Sheila that being treated like that would put anybody off the idea of marriage. You know what she went through with Ridge.

But Sheila makes a very solid point, the same one I mentioned above. If Taylor was willing to marry Ridge, why not marry Deacon? I suspect this is going to eat at him because how can it not? That Taylor was willing to do something with Ridge that she is refusing to do with Deacon.

Deacon Questions Taylor on B&B

And I think he might go back to Taylor and Deacon may ask Taylor, “Explain, why won’t you marry me when you were going to marry Ridge last year?” The too old excuse she gave doesn’t sit right given Taylor’s recent engagement to Ridge, an engagement that she’s the one that set it up.

So, I think this is going to bother Deacon, as it should. And I’m curious to see what Taylor’s response is, if Deacon comes back with follow-up questions, because he was crushed when Taylor rejected his proposal, but she thinks Deacon’s fine with it, but he’s not.

Meanwhile, Sheila was so appreciative when she had Deacon as her husband. She adored him. And with Sheila now upset about losing Finn for good, I suspect that she might try and steal Deacon back from Taylor. And if Deacon asks Taylor these questions that are bothering him about her rejecting the proposal and she doesn’t give good answers, that’s a red flag of trouble.

Plus, we know that Deacon is a serial cheater. He slept with Brooke when he was married to Bridget Forrester (Ashley Jones). That’s how they made Hope. And Deacon also cheated on Macy Alexander (Jennifer Gareis) with Jackie. Then he cheated on Sheila with Taylor. And now Deacon may cheat on Taylor with Sheila.

Deacon & Sheila Vibing on Bold and the Beautiful

The friendly encounter this week between Deacon and Sheila has me real curious. This week they’re chatting. They’re kind of cracking jokes a little bit. They’re getting along well. So, Sheila may prove to Deacon she’s not the same villainess she always was on Bold and the Beautiful.

That she really is a different person. And Sheila hasn’t been lashing out at all even after Deacon cheated on her and left her for Taylor. The old Sheila would have gone nuts. Probably tried to kill Taylor for daring to sleep with her man.

But Sheila’s been chill and calm even despite the heartache. So, I think Deacon might notice that. Plus, Taylor’s rejection still isn’t sitting well with Deacon.

So, Sheila might be able to tempt Deacon into a little fling. I don’t think Sheila would feel bad since Taylor did the same thing to her. And Deacon may realize no one will ever love him like Sheila does.

Bold and Beautiful: Deacon Belongs with Sheila

And honestly, I kind of hope Deacon does because Taylor doesn’t seem to be all in with Deacon. I don’t think Taylor’s putting Deacon first. Taylor cares more about other people’s opinions of their relationship than the relationship itself, it seems.

Whereas Sheila would do anything for Deacon. Her loyalty to him was unwavering. To Sheila, Deacon was the most precious thing in the world to her. You know, besides Finn and Hayes.

So, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw Deacon going behind Taylor’s back and sneaking around with Sheila. We may get Deacon and Sheila having a torrid little affair for a little while and then Deacon may decide enough of this.

I made a mistake with Taylor and he calls it quits with her because she’s not willing to commit to him. She refused to marry him and Deacon may just say I can’t do it anymore. And he can tell Taylor he needs someone who wants to commit to him the way that he needs and that’s Sheila.

I think that’s fair. I mean, the cheating wouldn’t be fair except it’s kind of fair in this case. You know the saying, the way you meet them is the way that you lose them. Deacon met Taylor basically in terms of this relationship by cheating. So, it would be fitting if she lost Deacon to Sheila the exact same way.

Dolly Parton has passed away, her family confirmed on Tuesday (August 25) in a sweet, emotional video. Her nephew revealed that she had asked him years earlier to announce her passing when the time came. She was 80.

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Dolly Parton’s Nephew Breaks The Tragic News 

No details have been revealed about the singer’s cause of death. However, according to a statement from her publicist, Dolly Parton died peacefully on Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee.

Her nephew mentioned that he hopes she’ll be welcomed in heaven by her husband, Carl Dean, who was an asphalt paving contractor. In the mid-1960s. They were together until his death in 2025 at the age of 82. Though rarely seen in public, he influenced her career. She told NPR that she wrote ‘Jolene’ about a flirty bank teller who seemed to take an interest in Dean.

Dolly Parton Was THAT Girl 

Parton was a country music icon whose soaring, vibrato-laden vocals, poignant songwriting, and sparkling costumes took her from her log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the heights of stardom. Others might remember her curvy physique, massive blonde wigs and skin-tight outfits and stage style.

Parton also plucked bejeweled banjos, guitar and dulcimers with her long fingernails during performances. She wrote hundreds of songs, including classics like ‘Jolene,’ ‘Coat of Many Colors’ and ‘I Will Always Love You.’ That music totaled more than 100 million worldwide sales and more than 1 billion online streams. With 55 Grammy nominations and 10 wins, Parton is the third-most nominated woman in Grammy history, only behind Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.

Parton’s career was forever influenced by her upbringing as one of 12 children born into what she called a “dirt poor” Tennessee family. Her first musical performances were in church, where her grandfather was a preacher. By age 10, she was learning guitar and singing on local television shows. At 13, she appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. By the mid-1970s, Dolly Parton was a Nashville queen.

Outside of music, Dolly Parton was a generous philanthropist and successful businesswoman. Her projects included a theme park in the Smoky Mountain foothills near her birthplace. She started her education nonprofit, Imagination Library, to send free books to children in Tennessee because her father struggled to learn to read. He had quit school to work on the farm.

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New details have emerged about Dolly Parton’s final days, revealing that the country music legend spent her last four days in the hospital. The revelation is raising questions about the health struggles Parton publicly addressed shortly before her death at age 80. However, questions remain about what led to the hospitalization and whether it was connected to the symptoms she had recently discussed.

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PEOPLE confirmed that Parton was admitted to the hospital on Friday, August 21. The “Jolene” singer remained there until she died on Tuesday, August 25, four days after being admitted.

Parton lived outside Nashville, Tennessee, but the outlet did not identify the hospital where she received treatment. It also remains unclear why Parton was hospitalized. Her cause of death has not been publicly released.

The hospitalization occurred on the same day Parton opened up about her declining health and revealed that she had neglected her own well-being while caring for her late husband, Carl Dean.

Dolly Parton Opened Up About Her Health Before Entering The Hospital

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Parton acknowledged that she had been experiencing ongoing health issues following Dean’s death earlier this year. “As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” Parton told PEOPLE on August 21.

She continued, “You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ‘80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health.”

Despite her condition, Parton remained focused on working and bringing several planned projects to life. She told the outlet that social media had intensified public interest in her health, but insisted she was still healing and working.

Parton also expressed her desire to continue pursuing the many goals she had not yet completed, making the timing of her death particularly heartbreaking.

The Singer Recently Missed A Major Dollywood Appearance

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One week before entering the hospital, Parton appeared virtually at the grand opening of Dollywood’s newest attraction rather than attending the event in person. The singer had been expected to travel from Nashville to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, but explained in her video appearance that she had been dealing with dizziness and dehydration. Her doctors ultimately advised her against making the trip.

The missed appearance was the latest professional setback attributed to Parton’s health. She had previously postponed her highly anticipated Las Vegas residency in 2025 before canceling the shows entirely in May 2026.

Despite those setbacks, Parton continued working behind the scenes on business ventures, music and “Dolly: A True Original Musical,” which was expected to arrive on Broadway.

Her official website also announced on August 19 that she had received 82 new global sales certifications across 14 countries, marking one of the final career milestones publicized before her death.

Dolly Parton’s Nephew Announced Her Death

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Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, confirmed her death in an emotional Instagram video shared on August 25. “My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” Seaver said.

Seaver revealed that Parton had asked him years earlier to be the person who publicly announced her death. “This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”

Seaver described the responsibility as both an honor and an emotionally difficult moment for the family. “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens,” he said.

Her Family Plans To Protect Her Legacy

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Seaver also acknowledged the deeply personal connection millions of fans developed with Parton throughout her decades-long career. “My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you. She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD and on your phone playlist, becoming an extended part of your family whether you liked it or not,” he shared.

“Our family and the team she has entrusted with her legacy will work diligently to ensure her spirit will live with us forever,” he continued. “Dolly was a farmer, just like her daddy; he farmed the soil, she farmed songs and happiness.”

The nephew ended the announcement with one of Parton’s final requests, which reflected the humor and love of rhinestones that remained central to her public personality, explaining, “Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.”

Although questions remain about Parton’s hospitalization and cause of death, her family has made it clear that protecting her work, spirit and extraordinary connection with fans will remain a priority.