Only four months remain until Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters, and fans have begun doing their homework. Recently, Marvel Studios released a list of “must-watch” TV shows and films to watch before the December superhero film, as it has released numerous titles during Phases 4-6. With Earth’s Mightiest Heroes teaming up once more, one of these required-viewing titles has appeared on the streaming charts.

Avengers: Doomsday is the upcoming superhero film where characters throughout Marvel’s cinematic history make a return to the big screen as they face their foe, Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. This feature has over 20 confirmed cast members across different Marvel projects and during D23, Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds have expressed interest in returning to the MCU and offered to help “rounding out the cast”. With only a few months until this film enters theaters, this over 2-decade superhero classic is making its rounds on the streaming charts.

Over the weekend, the 2000 superhero film X-Men entered Disney+’s Top 10 Movies worldwide, landing at #9 between Avatar: The Fire and Ash and Hoppers. Starring Jackman as Wolverine, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Halle Berry as Storm, Famke Janssen as Jean Grey, and James Marsden as Cyclops, the film follows the X-Men, a team of mutants (people born with superhuman abilities), as they face Magneto, who believes a war between humans and mutants is inevitable amid the government’s push for have mutants reveal their identities and abilities. Since its release, X-Men has found massive success, grossing over $296 million worldwide and launching a long-running series of films. Because the X-Men films are set in a different continuity from the MCU, Marvel Studios has announced it will make a reboot, scheduled for release in 2028.

Before ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, Marvel Recommends Watching These 15 Films and TV Shows

2000s X-Men is one of many films that Marvel has recommended watching before Avengers: Doomsday, due to the return of McKellen, Marsden, and Stewart, as well as Alan Cumming‘s Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn‘s Mystique, and Kelsey Grammer‘s Beast. According to Disney’s watchlist, the other Marvel projects that fans need to watch before Avengers: Doomsday include X2, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Loki, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Captain America: Brave New World, Deadpool & Wolverine, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. While it is a long list, it does exclude other Marvel titles that have come out over the years, like the Thor movies, the other Disney+ exclusives like What If…?, and the other films in the X-Men lineup, like X-Men: The Last Stand.

X-Men is available to stream on Disney+. Avengers: Doomsday enters theaters on December 18, 2026. Follow Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

July 13, 2000

Runtime

104 minutes

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Director

Bryan Singer

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Producers

Avi Arad, Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter, Richard Donner

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Director Griff Furst recalled spotting a “red flag” in Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson‘s relationship while they were on set of his film, A Breed Apart.

“The first scene that I’m directing Hayden in, we are in the middle of a camera rehearsal and I’m at the monitor, and Hayden’s about 15 feet away on set,” the film producer, 44, said in a Monday, August 24, Instagram video, claiming that Hickerson, 37, made a remark that caught his attention. “And I feel Brian hovering over my shoulder, and he leans in and he says to me, ‘You let me know what you need her to do. I can get her to do anything.’”

Furst continued, “And my immediate reaction to that was, ‘What the f***?’ But what I said was, ‘All right,’ because what else do you say when you’re in the middle of rehearsal, and somebody you didn’t hire says that to you?”

Furst claimed that it felt like Hickerson was allegedly making a “direct attempt to control” which seemingly came off as a “bizarre power flex.”

Related: Director Claims ‘Intervention’ Was Discussed Before Hayden Panettiere Died

Hayden Panettiere’s A Breed Apart director Griff Furst was “rooting for” the actress to conquer her addiction struggles ahead of her death. “I was rooting for Hayden to beat the addiction she had spoke about openly and publicly herself in her [This Is Me: A Reckoning memoir],” Furst, 44, said in an Instagram video shared […]

“We could all see it, and we all wanted to help,” he recalled. “But spotting a red flag and then physically pulling somebody out of a toxic situation are very different things.”

While Furst questioned Hickerson and Panettiere’s relationship dynamic years ago, he doesn’t think Hickerson wanted Panettiere’s tragic death to occur.

“I don’t think anybody knows right now what happened to Hayden, and more so, I don’t believe that Brian wanted this tragedy to happen at all,” he shared. “But the dynamic that they were in was noticeably destructive, and he is just not the kind of person that you would want directing the life of a coworker or a friend or a mother or a daughter.”

Furst and Panettiere worked together on A Breed Apart which was released in 2025. The actress — who shared daughter Kaya, 11, with ex Wladimir Klitschko — and Hickerson were first linked in 2018 and dated on-and-off. The pair had a tumultuous relationship which included Hickerson’s multiple domestic violence arrests.

News broke that Panettiere died after suffering an apparent overdose on August 16 at age 36. According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, “a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest.” First responders were unable to resuscitate the unresponsive woman, who was later identified as Panettiere. Hickerson was at the scene where Panettiere was found.

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An autopsy determined there were “no signs of trauma,” but Panettiere’s cause of death has yet to be revealed. Her death remains under investigation.

Hickerson later broke his silence on Panettiere’s death in a statement via his lawyer.

“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” the statement to Us read. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”

Beyond the Gates delivers Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) catching Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings) red-handed with Randy Parker (Maurice P. Kerry). It sure looks like Bill is seeing the evidence of an affair, but Randy and Hayley are definitely not kissing cousins.

Still, I think Bill’s going to want revenge after seeing Hayley and Randy together. We are going to talk about Bill’s next move after learning his wife has been lying to him.

Beyond the Gates: Hayley Doubling Down on Kill Bill Plot

Hayley’s trying her best to kill Bill, only he is not kicking off like Hayley hoped he would. This week, Bill finally gets out of the hospital after Hayley kept berating nurse Ashley Morgan (Jen Jacob) to get the doctors to let her husband out of Garland Memorial. So, on Monday’s episode, we saw Madison Montgomery (Kenjah McNeil) signing off on Bill’s release. And Ashley gave him the orders to take home and also a rehab plan to follow.

The thing is, Bill is refusing cardiac rehab. And that may only make things easier for Hayley because if Bill collapses again, Hayley can blame it on him not following doctor’s orders. So, we also saw Bill sent off to the showers once they got home while Hayley poured in a scotch and then poured in lots of poison.

And then when Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) showed up at the house, Hayley’s imagination got the better of her and she was daydreaming about Bill keeling over and dying right in front of his daughters. It looked like for a moment, oh, Hayley finally won and then she blinked and dead Bill disappeared. So, it’s just a fantasy, but it certainly got Hayley excited about finishing off Bill.

Hayley & Randy Busted on BTG

So, let’s talk about what is next. The first thing is with Hayley and Randy talking about Bill’s impending death at Uptown, that’s trouble. So, Hayley tells Randy that by the time she gets home, she expects Bill to be dead, not breathing anymore. Hayley is all smiles about that and lays her hand on Randy’s arm.

But that’s just family affection. You know, a co-conspirator congratulating their partner. It’s not an affair. But Bill is spying on them from outside Uptown and he assumes the worst. So, it looks like he may now believe the rumors of an affair between Hayley and Randy, which of course were being pushed by Chelsea, Naomi, Kat Richardson (Colby Muhammad), and Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley).

Little does Bill know, an affair would be preferable to what Hayley and Randy really have been doing to him. That mega dose of poison in the scotch didn’t seem to phase Bill. I kind of wonder if Hayley has given him so much for so long that somehow Bill has built up a tolerance to it. And it sounds like Hayley gives him another dose before she goes to meet Randy and Bill follows and assumes an affair.

Beyond the Gates: Bill Flies into a Rage

So, another thing we might have happen after seeing Hayley with Randy, obviously Bill’s going to be really mad. And at least he now knows Hayley is a liar, which is a step in the right direction. So, from there, Bill may hit up Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) and tell him about his discovery.

Bill may tell him that Hayley is with Sammy. And I’m trying to remember if Joey knows that Randy is Sammy, but Joey definitely knows that Randy’s been slinking around with Hayley. Randy, of course, is terrified of Joey. And Joey wants to keep Bill happy and he won’t be happy that Randy’s helping to murder somebody who is in Joey’s sphere of influence.

So, we’ll see if Joey can scare the truth out of Randy. Hayley’s had warnings from Randy that she’s being too sloppy. And now their plan to score 10 million in life insurance to split is about to fall apart. And Randy may realize it’s time to bail if he wants to live. He may rat out Hayley’s plan to Joey. If you recall, Randy lied and let Joey think he was with Hayley.

And now Bill comes to Joey and then he may dig further into what Randy’s really got going on with Hayley because Joey seems to know when Randy is lying. So, it could be Joey gets the name of the poison from Randy and then Joey can make sure that Bill gets treatment to save him. That would be a good outcome.

Beyond the Gates: Hayley Exposed at Last

Next, we know Hayley poisoning Bill is going to come out one way or another. If he collapses again, Madison may dig deeper and finally run the right test. But even if Bill finds out he’s been poisoned, he still may not believe that Hayley was the one trying to kill him. Bill thinks he’s this super stud that every woman is going to want. I mean, he’s got plenty of notches on his bedpost during his marriage to Dani and since then to make him think so.

But if Madison calls to confirm and say, “You’ve been poisoned.” Can Bill’s ego let him accept that his little wife Hayley never wanted him and has been playing him this whole time? I doubt Bill will call the cops about him being poisoned. I’m guessing he might ask Joey to take care of his poisoner for him. And I’m sure Bill is going to want Hayley to pay, but Bill’s also not the kind to get his own hands dirty. Joey, though, has no problems with wet work, and he could kill Hayley for him.

BTG: Bill Makes Hayley Miserable

Another option for Bill to punish Hayley for trying to kill him is just to make her life miserable. Bill could turn the tables on her and pretend to drink the toxic stuff that she’s been giving him. And then while Hayley’s looking away, Bill could toss it in a plant or down the drain. Then he could even play dead like a possum and wait for Hayley to find him. And then when she’s doing a happy I killed Bill dance, he could pop up and just scare the crap out of her. It would be ironic if Bill actually did that and gave Hayley a mild heart attack.

Bill could confront her and ask Hayley, “Why were you dancing?” instead of doing CPR or calling 911. Bill could have Hayley right where he wants her if he did something like this. I’m sure she would deny poisoning Bill, but she’d be busted. And then he could toss Hayley out without a penny. Divorce her and send her away broke. That would honestly be the best revenge, but then she’d live on to con some other guy.

Beyond the Gates: Horrifying Mishap Ahead?

One last awful way for Bill to find out he’s been poisoned is for somebody who loves him to accidentally get dosed. So, Dani’s been coming over to see him. Chelsea and Naomi have just been there to see him. I mean, heck, Joey might drop by the house to see him. Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) comes by sometimes.

And if Hayley left out some scotch or a smoothie or some lemonade with poison in it, somebody else may drink it and collapse because Hayley is now doing mega doses. It could even be Tomas Navarro (Alex Alegria) who drops by or somebody random like the housekeeper or the housekeeper brings her dog to work and somebody ends up dying or the dog ends up dying on Beyond the Gates.

Bottom line is by the end of the week, Bill’s going to see Hayley with Randy. He knows something is off and Bill goes on high alert, but he won’t know about the poison yet. Hopefully though, he’ll be suspicious of anything that Hayley wants him to do. Even if he doesn’t know he’s been poisoned, I think Bill’s going to realize that Hayley is not who she says she is and she has a hidden agenda.

BTG: Haley Lashes Out in Desperation

But if Bill starts acting out or confronts her about his suspicions, honestly, Hayley might do something crazy and just grab a gun and try to finish him off or whack him with a fireplace poker. I think she’s desperate enough to kill Bill any way that she can and then tell a lie about how it happened. You know, whoops, he fell and hit his head three times.

So, it looks like Hayley’s time is almost up at last. But the question is, how close to death will Bill get before he finally realizes the extent of her treachery? Hayley is straight up evil, where Bill’s just a cheating jerk. So, I think he’s kind of punching above his weight class where Hayley’s concerned because she’s a coldblooded shark of a conwoman and she is a killer. So, Bill should proceed with caution or else he might really wind up dead.

Country music icon Dolly Parton died on Tuesday, August 25. She was 80.

“Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee,” read a statement from Parton’s rep. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth and kindness that made us all feel like family.”

The statement continued: “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”

At Parton’s request, a “small, private service will be held for immediate family” while her “fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly” on social media and her website. The statement concluded that “in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.”

Related: Dolly Parton’s Generosity Knows No Bounds: Most Charitable Moments

Dolly Parton must have worked longer than 9 to 5 to balance her music and impressive charitable efforts. In 2022, Parton was honored with the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy for her decades of good deeds and gushed over how “proud” she was to receive the recognition. Her acts of kindness included the creation of The […]

Born in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, in January 1946, Parton grew up around music —  her mother taught her church songs and ballads while her uncle Bill Owens bought her a guitar. At age 10, Parton landed a gig on a television variety show in Knoxville, Tennessee, before going on to make her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage in 1959 at 13. Despite the disappointing performance of her early singles, Parton moved to Nashville in 1964 after her high school graduation. She soon garnered recognition for her songwriting and earned her first Top 40 hit with “Dumb Blonde.”

In 1967, Parton became Porter Wagoner’s duet partner on The Porter Wagoner Show, launching her to a new level of fame. This led to a recording contract alongside Wagoner and as a solo artist with RCA Records. Parton achieved her first solo No. 1 hit with 1971’s “Joshua,” followed by the additional chart-topping songs “Jolene,” “Love Is Like a Butterfly” and “I Will Always Love You” in 1974.

As her star rose, Parton crossed over from country to pop with 1977’s Here You Come Again. She also pursued a film career with memorable roles in 1980’s 9 to 5, 1982’s The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and 1989’s Steel Magnolias. In 1992, Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” became an even bigger hit when Whitney Houston recorded the track for her movie The Bodyguard.

Parton returned to her country music roots in 1989 with the release of her album White Limozeen. In the decades that followed, she continued to try her hand at different genres, including bluegrass, rock and gospel. She also launched her own record label, Dolly Records, in 2007.

Outside of her musical projects, Parton was known for her many business and philanthropic ventures. She opened her Dollywood theme park in East Tennessee in 1985, created the Dollywood Foundation to inspire educational success among children in 1988 and launched her Imagination Library to gift free books to kids in 1995.

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As for her many accolades, she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. She received the Living Legend Award from the Library of Congress in 2004, the National Medal of Arts in 2005, Kennedy Center Honors in 2006 and a Lifetime Achievement from the Recording Academy in 2011. Throughout her career, she also won multiple Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award and received Academy Award and Tony Award nominations.

Parton was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Dean, whom she married in May 1966 after meeting him at a laundromat on her first day in Nashville. She announced in March 2025 that Dean had died at the age of 82.

“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” she wrote in a statement at the time. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”

A man killed his girlfriend, her two family members and two friends on a rural property in Oregon before he died by suicide, according to authorities.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Benjamin Charles Parker died of an apparent suicide inside of a car after he murdered his girlfriend, Stella Jade Kimsey, her mother, Rowan Karla Kimsey, and her grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Kimsey, on Saturday, August 22. In addition to Stella, 26, and her family members, police said Parker, 36, killed Stella’s best friend, Linsey Mae Haraldsen, and Haraldsen’s boyfriend, Alvin Raymond Chu.

The killings took place on a farm, which was owned by Rowan, 60. Rowan also lived at the property with Stella and Parker.

Several animals also lived on the property, and authorities said that two cats and dogs were found dead at the crime scene. Another cat was taken to a veterinarian for treatment, but was ultimately euthanized “due to the extent of its injuries.”

Related: Police Shoot Man to Stop Stabbing Spree That Left Mother, 3 Others Dead

Police fatally shot a Washington man in order to stop him from a stabbing spree that left his mother and three other women dead. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office announced that Aleksandr Aleksandro Shablykin was shot dead by a responding deputy. The victims have been identified as the suspect’s mother, 52-year-old Zoya Anatolyevna Shabliykina, and […]

Authorities have not yet announced how the five people or animals were killed, and a motive for the killings is not currently known.

Authorities learned of the murders when firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle fire at the property, according to KGW8.

“We do have a deceased victim up here. We’re gonna need law enforcement,” a firefighter said in dispatch audio, which was obtained by KGW8. “I need a police unit or a sheriff’s office unit code for you to see just in case we have two victims here.”

The firefighter added, “This is some suspicious circumstances certainly so we’re gonna … just take our hoses and get out of here and let the sheriff’s office clear this. Then we’ll return.”

After detectives found the five victims at the property, they tracked Parker’s vehicle about 180 miles away behind a Safeway in Enumclaw. He was already dead by the time police found him.

Enumclaw Police Chief Tim Floyd said that detectives found Parker by tracking his cell phone, per the outlet.

“They called us and said, ‘We have a cell phone ping in your city,’ here’s the plate and the car that you’re looking for,’” Floyd continued. “So we go to the flock system, we put the plate in, we could see that he’s hit a couple of our cameras and the last hit was him coming into the city and he had not left so we had a good indication that he was still here.”

Related: Michigan Man Called 911 After Shooting, Killing His Fiancee and Her 2 Teens

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A man in Michigan called 911 to report that his fiancée and her two teenage sons were fatally shot. However, it wasn’t until later that he admitted to committing the killings himself. Charles Broomfield first called 911 to report the deadly shootings on Tuesday, January 27. He told officers that he heard his fiancée, Jacqueline […]

The crime was further discussed in a press conference on Sunday, August 23, in which Washington County Detective Shannon Wilde said that authorities do not believe the killings were a “random act.”

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Forest Grove Fire and Rescue addressed the tragedy in a Facebook post, saying they viewed the victims as “our friends and our neighbors.”

“Tragedies like our community experienced over the weekend are incredibly sad, while also being so hard on our hearts and souls. Even though many of you did not know the vibrant lives so needlessly lost, some of you most certainly did,” the department wrote on Facebook. “While others still undoubtedly moved past them in a local grocery store, restaurant, or our otherwise normal day to day lives. These were our friends, and our neighbors, and they too called this beautiful place home.”

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

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.