Young and the Restless spoilers for next week indicate Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) is going way too far with yet another kidnapping—a real one this time. Also, Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) goes all out to get what he wants, but the question is: will it work?

We have the latest Y&R spoilers for the week of March 2nd through the 6th. Before we dive into the scoop on Victor, Cane, Nick Newman‘s (Joshua Morrow) continuing spiral, Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) getting an offer. And Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) being in crisis.

Young and the Restless Next Week Spoilers: Sharon and Victoria Worry About Nick

Let’s get things started with Nick Newman and his very concerning behavior. At the end of this week, we saw Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) and Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) chatting at Crimson Lights. His sister and his ex-wife are both really worried about Nick. Victoria is hoping that Nick is not going to go off looking for Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) on his own, but I kind of think he will.

Sharon tells Victoria about the threatening text messages that Matt has been sending to Noah Newman (Lucas Adams). And Sharon also tells Victoria that she is really worried because Nick hasn’t fully recovered from his surgery. Sharon said she’s afraid that he’s getting dependent on the pain pills, which Victoria had warned him about.

Young and the Restless: Nick at Rock Bottom?

While they’re talking, Nick is outside looking at his diminishing baggie of fentanyl pills. He is trying so hard to fight the lure of addiction, but it’s too late. He’s got that Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) gene, unfortunately. Nick takes a pill out of the baggie but then throws it onto the ground. However, like desperate junkies do, Nick picks it up off the dirty snow and pops it right in his mouth.

He goes back into the coffee shop just as Matt sends a text to Nick asking if the $5 million offer to disappear forever is still on the table. Nick tells Sharon the cops can’t do anything; Detective James Burrow (Matt Cohen) basically encouraged them to take on Matt themselves. That’s what you want—a detective that encourages vigilantism.

Sharon agrees that they should try and lure Matt out. Nick says he has an idea to trap Matt, which I’m guessing involves a cash payoff. It looks like Sharon might be left behind and Nick may go off on his own and get in over his head. Spoilers for next week have Noah wanting to know if Sharon’s heard from Nick because Noah’s been trying to reach his dad all day. Nick is not answering his calls or texts. And Sharon is also concerned. Things are going to go sideways because Nick decides he needs to protect his family while he’s drug-addled and in pain.

Phyllis Summers Gains an Ally and Billy Abbott Protects His Empire on Young and the Restless

Now let’s talk about Phyllis. At the end of this week, she was real happy to see Lauren Fenmore (Tracey Bregman) drop by her office at Newman Enterprises. Phyllis ends up going out to breakfast with her and is impressed that Lauren actually has no issue with Phyllis taking down Victor and getting her revenge.

Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) is surprised to see Lauren out with her, openly supporting Phyllis. Lauren basically says she doesn’t owe Victor anything and doesn’t care if everybody knows. I love this. And I’m sure Lauren is hoping Victor stays out of power so that Michael Baldwin (Christian Jules Leblanc) won’t be working for him.

Billy is making a vowing to himself that he won’t ever let anyone take Chancellor from him like happened before. But things are about to take a twist. Later, Billy tells Phyllis not to let anybody talk her out of her success or what she’s got. That advice may come back around to him when he’s in a really rough position.

Young and the Restless: Billy Pursues Sally Spectra as Audra Charles Issues a Warning

We also have Billy focused on his upcoming dinner date with Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope). Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) told Sally, “Don’t show up for it,” but Sally says it’s going to give her closure with Billy. Audra’s worried that Billy is going to slither his way back into Sally’s life.

Billy told Sally on Friday that he doesn’t see why they can’t be together personally and just ignore the professional side of each other’s lives. Sally disagreed. I agree with Audra that Billy is going to work real hard to slip back into Sally’s sheets. And I really hope she shuts him down.

Next week, that warning Billy gave to Phyllis is going to crop back up. Cane is back at it, trying to get Phyllis to help him get Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) and the kids back from Victor. Mind you, Phyllis is certain—and she’s right—that Lily and the kids are not at risk. Victor is lying to Cane and gaslighting him.

Cane suggested that maybe Phyllis could trick Victor long enough for him to get Lily back. And then Phyllis could still keep everything. She seemed to consider it, but I don’t think she’s going to take any risks. Cane circles back to her with a scheme. And Phyllis asks, “Okay, Cane, what are you going to do to try and sway me?” He tells Phyllis he’s got something she’s going to want so badly she won’t be able to refuse him.

Victor Newman Kidnaps Jack Abbott in a Shocking Power Move

Now let’s talk about the whole new kidnapping that happens this coming week. Billy’s going to head over to the Abbott mansion and deliver some really bad news to Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) and Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters). This is back to Billy saying, “Don’t let anybody talk you out of giving up what you have,” because he’s about to be in a dilemma where he considers that advice himself.

Kyle asks Billy if Victor kidnapped his dad, Jack. Billy says that Victor just told him if he doesn’t hand back Chancellor by the end of the day, they’ll never see Jack again. That wasn’t on my bingo card. I guess that’s where Victor was when he was out of town—laying plans to abduct Jack.

I hope Diane makes a beeline over and tells Nikki what her horrible husband Victor has done. Diane should hold Nikki’s feet to the fire and tell her, “You better go get Jack back. Do whatever you have to do. Shut Victor down. Stop this.”

Melissa Claire Egan Shares Diagnosis of Coronary Heart Disease

On a final note, we have some a bit of scary news. Melissa Claire Egan, who plays Chelsea Lawson Newman, recently shared that she was just diagnosed with coronary heart disease after a routine annual exam. It came up with some blood results that were off. And they did some follow-up tests.

She revealed that she has a buildup of plaque in one of her arteries that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. It is rare for a 44-year-old woman to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease, but the good news is they found it and they’re on top of it. It has not progressed that far, so we hope that Missy stays in good health.

Come back tomorrow for our full weekly Young and the Restless spoilers and predictions for the week of March 2nd through the 6th.

Several stars from the Bravo universe are mourning the death of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby’s son, Robert Cosby Jr.

News broke on Wednesday, February 25, that Robert Jr. died at age 23. TMZ reported that he died in Utah following a possible overdose. His cause of death has not been confirmed.

Authorities confirmed to Us Weekly that they responded to a call on Monday, February 23, for a “full arrest” and “medical emergency.” They discovered Robert Jr. dead on arrival. A death investigation is open and active.

“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Mary’s beloved son, Robert Jr. Mary is a cherished member of our family, and our thoughts, love, and deepest condolences are with her and her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Bravo shared in a statement to Us on Wednesday.

Mary, 53, had been candid about her efforts to support her son amid his struggles with substance abuse. In a 2025 Us cover story, Mary shared that she was “shocked” when she learned about Robert Jr.’s battle.

“I immediately started blaming myself, because I thought, ‘You can’t judge him and his life and his choices,’” she said at the time. “I don’t believe in judging people. I’m just not a judger. I don’t like judging people, and I don’t like to do it. … If he’s opening up enough to tell me something this crucial, then why would I judge? I have no choice but to sit there and receive it and accept it and hope that I can help him.”

While Mary shared that her son “had a little bit of a setback” in his recovery at the time, she prayed that he “stays good,” adding, “I can honestly sit here and say he’s doing very good.”

Scroll down to see more reactions from Bravo stars:

Mary Cosby

Mary Cosby and husband Robert Cosby Sr. shared a statement to Us Weekly on Wednesday, “Our beloved son Robert Jr. has been called home to the Lord. Though our hearts ache, we take comfort in God’s promise and in knowing he is finally at peace. We are grateful for your prayers and trust in the Lord to carry us through this time of sorrow.”

Andy Cohen

Andy Cohen paid tribute to Robert Cosby Jr. on Wednesday, writing via Threads, “Devastatingly sad news out of SLC. This is every parent’s worst nightmare. My heart is broken for Mary, and I am sending all my love to her and Robert Sr.”

Scheana Shay

In the comments section of Queens of Bravo’s Instagram post, Vanderpump Rules alum Scheana Shay wrote, “💔💔💔💔💔.”

Jackie Goldschneider

“I’m so devastated for her family,” The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Jackie Goldschneider wrote in the comments section of Queens of Bravo’s Instagram post.

Melissa Gorga

The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Melissa Gorga also commented on the Queens of Bravo’s Instagram post, “Devastating.”

Dr. Wendy Osefo

“May God wrap you and your entire family in His arms,” The Real Housewives of Potomac star Dr. Wendy Osefo commented on Mary Cosby’s Instagram. “Love you 🙏🏾🤍.”

Bozoma Saint John

“I can’t even articulate my heartbreak for you, sis… but I feel it deeply,” The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Bozoma Saint John wrote on Mary Cosby’s Instagram. “I’m so very sorry that you, Robert Jr and the family are suffering through this. I pray that God blesses you with peace that passes all understanding at this time. I love you, sis ❤️.”

Shamea Morton

After Mary Cosby addressed her son’s death on Instagram, The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Shamea Morton commented, “Sending you so much love sis 🙏🏾.”

Crystal Kung Minkoff

“Sending love ❤️,” The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Crystal Kung Minkoff wrote on Mary Cosby’s Instagram post.

Britani Bateman

“I’m so saddened and sorry 😢,” costar Britani Bateman wrote in the comments section of Mary Cosby’s post. “Sending love and prayers.”

Lisa Hochstein

“I am so sorry for your loss,” The Real Housewives of Miami star Lisa Hochstein commented. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Prayers for you and your family ❤️.”

Cynthia Bailey

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey said she was “devastated” over the news.

“My heart goes out to you and your family,” she commented on Mary Cosby’s post. “I pray he is now resting in peace. May God cover you during this incredibly difficult time. My prayers are with you. We love you Mary🙏🏽❤️.”

Teresa Giudice

“So sorry 😢,” The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice commented. “My condolences to you and the family 🙏♥️.”

Lisa Barlow

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Lisa Barlow commented on Mary Cosby’s post with six red heart emojis.

Kyle Richards

“Mary, I am so very sorry for your unimaginable loss,” The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards commented. “I’m holding you in my thoughts and prayers. We are here for you and sending so much love ❤️.”

Gina Kirschenheiter

“My heart breaks for you Mary ❤️,” The Real Housewives of Orange County star Gina Kirschenheiter commented. “Prayers for your whole family ❤️.”

Erin Lichy

“Mary I am so so sorry,” The Real Housewives of New York City star Erin Lichy commented. “I am heartbroken for and your family. My prayers and my heart is with you ❤️may he RIP.”

Monica Garcia

“Love you, Mary🤎,” former Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Monica Garcia wrote on Mary Cosby’s post.

Bronwyn Newport

“I love you and your family and am here for you,” The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Bronwyn Newport shared on Mary Cosby’s Instagram post.

Angie Katsanevas

“Thank you for sharing Bubbs with my family and the world,” The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Angie Katsanevas wrote in the comments section of Mary Cosby’s post. “He touched many hearts and this loss has broken mine. I will forever remember his kindness towards Elektra, his handshake and eye contact, and his soft spoken voice. ‘Love you mom.’ I am here for you. May God bless your family and may his memory be eternal. I love you Mary.”

Toya Bush Harris

“🙏🙏🙏😢😢 I cannot even try to understand your pain,” Married to Medicine star Toya Bush Harris commented. “Praying God strengthen you during this time and you find peace in knowing he is in Heaven.”

Emily Simpson

“My heart is breaking for you 💔,” The Real Housewives of Orange County star Emily Simpson wrote in the comments section. “Sending you love ❤️.”

Whitney Rose

In the comments section of Mary Cosby’s Instagram post, Whitney Rose wrote, “Sending you all my love Mary. So sorry for your loss 💔🪽.”

Heather Gay

“There are no words big enough. We love you Mary🤍,” Heather Gay commented on Mary Cosby’s Instagram post.

Meredith Marks

“I love you and your family Mary. You will always be family,” Meredith Marks wrote in the comments section of Mary Cosby’s post. “Robert will always be remembered and may he rest in peace. I am sending so much love and my deepest condolences.”

Chanel Ayan

“Mary, we had very deep conversations recently and you were so excited to have him come home and all the plans you had for both of you,” The Real Housewives of Dubai star Chanel Ayan commented on Mary Cosby’s Instagram post. “You are a good mum. My heart breaks for you and family. I am so so sorry Mary. I pray God blesses you with peace and sending you a hug I love you sis ❤️ 🕊️🤍.”

Sheree Whitfield

“I’m struggling to find the words …My heart is so broken for u and ur family, Mary!” The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Sheree Whitfield wrote on Mary Cosby’s post. “I’m holding u so close in my thoughts and prayers. I Love u ❤️🙏🏽🙏🏽.”

Karen Huger

“Mary, I love you dearly,” The Real Housewives of Potomac star Karen Huger wrote online. “Lifting you and your family up in prayer and sending you so much strength. I am here for you, always❤️.”

Mercedeh ‘MJ’ Javid

“Mary, I am so sorry for your loss,” The Valley: Persian Style star Mercedeh “MJ” Javid commented on Instagram. “You are a beacon of strength, a wonderful loving mother. May God rest his soul 🙏.”

Sutton Stracke

“I love you so much. My deepest sorry and condolences go out to you and your family,” The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Sutton Stracke commented on Mary Cosby’s post. “May Robert rest in peace without pain in Heaven in the arms of our Father. And may you, Mary, be comforted in some way knowing that you are surrounded by so many in love and shared grief. With you not in body, but in spirit and friendship, I send you my love, and I pray for clarity and peace for you and your family.”

Paige DeSorbo

“I do feel like Bravo is such a family, and it is so nice to see when something tragic like this happens, how everyone rallies around that person,” Summer House alum and Actor Awards preshow host Paige DeSorbo exclusively told Us Weekly at Actors Rising presented by The Actor Awards and Elle on Thursday, February 26. “I’m sending so much love and prayers to Mary’s family. I can’t imagine how she’s feeling.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Nene Leakes is setting the record straight on her relationship status after fans clocked her looking real boo’d up while courtside with a new man. The former ‘RHOA’ star spilled all the tea about her love life during a livestream, letting viewers know exactly what’s going on with the guy she was spotted with.

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Nene Leakes Spills Tea About Her Love Life

Recently, Nene Leakes hopped on a livestream to clear the air after she popped out with a man social media quick ID’d as Memphis lawyer Arthur Horne. Clocking the shade, Nene called out pages for posting photos of her and Arthur at the basketball game. While on live, she said she’s taking a break from a man she previously dating. Fans probably remember that she was in a relationship with fashion designer Nyonisela Sioh, reportedly from 2021 to 2023, but it’s unclear if that’s who she’s stepping back from since she didn’t drop any names. As the stream went on, Nene opened up about dating after her husband Gregg Leakes passed away in September 2021 after battling colon cancer. She said she wanted to take her time getting to know people since she’s never really dated before.

“I really want to date with intention. I really want to give it a real shot and date with intention. She continued, “Find my life partner and… go somewhere and sit down.”

Nene Updates Fans About Her Status With Arthur Horne

Then the reality star addressed her recent courtside pop-out, telling fans it was just “a date” and that “she’s not in a relationship with anybody.” She also gave fans the scoop on how her date went and cleared up her viral kissing clip, saying it was just a simple peck. She explained that she and Arthur were outside having fun when someone recorded them and shared the footage on social media. Nene told trolls to leave Arthur alone and stop digging up dirt on his past. “Leave that man alone, his past is his past.”

Nene Is Out Here Living Her Best Life, And The Internet Loves It!

After TSR dropped the clip from Nene’s livestream, she jumped into the comment section, doubling down on living her best life writing, “I’m just having fun.” Fans were here for her energy, agreeing that dating and doing her thing is exactly how she should keep moving.

Instagram user @quianawatson_ wrote, “Let our girl LIVE ❤️” 

Instagram user @sorayasaveslives wrote, “Lets normalize DATING damn.” 

While Instagram user @zevarra_ceo wrote, “Everyone has a pass. We don’t know the full story. Let that woman date in peace. ✌🏾” 

Then Instagram user @allaboutamiyah wrote, “Date them ALL 🙌” 

Another Instagram user @cicimeee wrote, “She deserves true love again we all do.” 

Instagram user @truesstory wrote, “Some of y’all should follow in her footsteps & maybe y’all wouldn’t be getting to know y’all baby daddy after the baby.” 

Finally, Instagram user @tansformation2018 wrote, “Multiple breaks? Leave him where he is girl.” 

The Viral Clip That Has Fans Riled Up

Nene’s unfiltered livestream comes after TMZ spotted her and Arthur Horne at the Grizzlies game. While posing for photos. Nene leaned in, told Arthur to smile, and then locked lips with him. Once the video started making rounds on social media, folks online started asking, “What’s Tea?” and doing detective work on Arthur. So far, he hasn’t commented on the video of him and Nene or shared his thoughts on their date.

@tmz🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Nene Leakes was spotted kissing her new man courtside at the Memphis Grizzlies game! 👀♬ original sound – TMZ

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Bold and the Beautiful brings Ivy Forrester (Ashleigh Brewer) completely unhinged and manipulating Electra Forrester‘s (Laneya Grace) love life. Ivy is trying to force what she wants for her niece, and we know she’s going to be exposed. Then Electra is going to blow up at Ivy for ruining her relationship with Will Spencer (Crew Morrow).

Today we’re going to talk about Ivy’s inevitable walk of shame out of Los Angeles once Electra finds out what Ivy’s been up to. I’m pretty sure Daphne (Rose (Murielle Hilaire) is going to be the one who outs Ivy.

Ashleigh Brewer’s Pregnancy and Ivy Forrester’s Upcoming Exit from Bold and the Beautiful

So, we know that Ivy is going to be off the canvas for a while, maybe long term, because Ashleigh Brewer is pregnant somewhere in her third trimester, judging by baby bump photos that the actress posted. That means Ivy is exiting fairly soon when Ashleigh Brewer goes out on maternity leave.

Bold and the Beautiful is clearly setting the stage for her absence. I suspect Electra finds out that Ivy has been meddling in her life, lying to Electra’s face, and manipulating the situation to achieve a breakup between Will Spencer and Electra. I also suspect that Ivy is soon going to be pushing Electra towards RJ Forrester (Joshua Hoffman), even though Electra has made it perfectly clear it is Will that she loves and wants.

We know Electra is going to find out, and I suspect a huge fight between Ivy and Electra is the catalyst that exits Ivy and sets up Ashleigh Brewer’s maternity leave. I suspect we’re going to be seeing Ivy doing a walk of shame out of Forrester Creations and out of LA after Electra cuts ties with her interfering, deceiving, diabolical aunt.

Daphne Witnesses Ivy’s Treacherous Letter Theft on B&B

This week, Daphne saw Ivy steal the letter that Electra wrote to Will and hid it in her purse. At the time when she saw this, I think Daphne knew that Ivy was up to something, but she didn’t know until way later exactly what she had seen. Daphne got that Ivy had a whole shady vibe, but she didn’t have the context.

Once she had it, she realized exactly how treacherous Ivy was behaving. She took the letter Electra wrote and Ivy replaced it with Will’s broken necklace. Just by the way, I thought it was kind of strange; Electra was telling RJ that the material is unbreakable, and yet it broke.

I don’t know if that’s some sort of allegory for their relationship or just not good continuity in the script writing. Will didn’t mean for the necklace to break, and he was bringing it to Electra to fix. That seems what it’s like because he took it to her station where she works.

Will Spencer and Electra Forrester’s Relationship Misunderstanding on Bold

Of course, Ivy took advantage and left it on Electra’s desk to look like Will put it there intentionally after ripping it off because he’s done with her. With the letter gone, Electra assumed the worst, just like Ivy hoped, because she thought Will was going to show up to meet her. Then he left Electra sitting because he never saw it.

Really, right now, what Electra thinks is Will read the letter and chose Dylan (Sydney Bullock) over her. Electra was distraught, and that’s the only reason she let RJ hug her just for some comfort. Of course, he kissed Electra and then it worked out that Will saw it.

What he didn’t see was Electra stopped the kiss and told RJ, “You can’t ever do that again.” Then the next day, Electra reiterated to RJ, “You can’t kiss or touch me like that.” But of course, all Will saw was them kissing and was crushed.

Daphne Confronts Ivy: Will the Truth About the Manipulation Come Out?

We know that Daphne saw Ivy take the letter earlier this week and then Daphne had that chat with Electra in the showroom. The poor girl is heartbroken because she thinks Will has dumped her. When Electra explained to Dylan about the letter and Will’s necklace and then he didn’t show up to meet her, Daphne flashed back to Ivy with the letter and was like, “Oh, okay. Something’s not right here.”

I think that’s the point Daphne started to realize Ivy’s manipulating Electra and Will. Daphne is going to go confront Ivy by the end of this week. That’s when Ivy threatens Daphne and tells her, “Don’t you dare tell anyone about this.” Well, I don’t think Ivy’s warning is going to work. I think that’s exactly what Daphne is going to go do.

Steffy Forrester and Carter Walton Get Involved in the Ivy Scandal on Bold and the Beautiful

First, because she’s married to Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) now, I expect Daphne is going to tell her husband about Ivy’s threats and deeds. Since Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) is Daphne’s best friend and co-CEO of Forrester Creations, she may go ahead and just tell Steffy, too. I don’t think for a minute Ivy’s threat works. I don’t think Daphne is going to sit on this.

She may tell Carter and Steffy that Ivy stole something from a coworker—and not just any coworker, but Ivy’s niece. She did it to set up Will and cause problems. While this is a purely personal thing, Forrester Creations has no problem firing people for personal things.

Ivy is doing all this plotting and lying and conniving on company time and company property. I think Steffy and Carter need to know what is going on at Forrester Creations.

Electra Finds Out the Truth: Will and Electra’s Future in Jeopardy on B&B

Whether she talks to Steffy and Carter or not, I think that Daphne’s definitely going to circle back around to Electra and tell her the truth. It should be Daphne who tells Electra. Unless, of course, Daphne’s confronting Ivy and Electra overhears because they love eavesdropping tropes on Bold.

Even if Daphne also tells Carter and Steffy, it’s the big deal that she tells Electra because she is the only witness to it. Let’s face it, Daphne shouldn’t waste her time telling Will because even if she did and then he told Electra, she would believe her aunt over him because that’s what she said this week.

Electra said she trusts Ivy, meaning over and above Will, the man she claims to love. That’s not a good thing because that trust is absolutely misplaced.

The Fallout: Will Ivy Forrester Be Fired from Forrester Creations?

Bottom line, this is all going to come back to bite Ivy in the butt. Electra is going to feel betrayed, violated, and angry when she finds out what Ivy did. I’m betting that Electra is going to go off on her aunt Ivy because she’s the one who hurt Electra. Not Will. Not really.

Once it comes out, she is going to realize Ivy probably really did exaggerate what she saw at Will’s house. She did it to drive them apart. She’ll realize she should have listened to Will. Obviously, what she saw bothered Ivy, but then she blew it way out of proportion. She exaggerated.

Let’s be real, Dylan wasn’t flaunting herself in her bikini. Her bikini is actually quite modest and gives a lot of coverage. Electra’s got much smaller bikinis. There was no seduction scene. That was not an erotic dance. It was just a little bit of pirouetting.

Ivy’s Bold and the Beautiful Exit Strategy: Forrester International or Paris?

I think Electra is going to feel like a fool for ever believing her aunt Ivy, and then I bet Electra runs to Will, tells him Ivy was messing with them, and he was right. Ivy did ruin everything. I just hope Electra doesn’t find Will kissing Dylan or him in bed with her because he’s so distraught over seeing Electra and RJ kissing.

In that aspect, the damage may already be done. Hopefully, that hasn’t happened and Will will say, “Okay,” and he and Electra are good. I’m also sure that word of what Ivy did is going to spread. She’s going to take heat from a lot of people at Forrester.

Steffy may tell her she can’t work at Forrester HQ anymore and she may tell Ivy, “You can be fired, or you can go work at Forrester International in Paris or work remotely, but you can’t be here.” Electra may tell Ivy she is disowning her. She wants her aunt out of her life for good.

Electra is not 15; she’s 21. She doesn’t need a helicopter auntie trying to run her life like this. When Ashleigh Brewer goes out on maternity leave, realistically, that may be the last we see of Ivy for quite a while just because she wasn’t on contract and was kind of brought back simply to introduce Electra, who is fully embedded in the character canvas now. So, we’ll see. But will you be sorry to see Ivy gone?

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There’s only one thing more amusing than watching 2004’s Team America: World Police, and that’s listening to the Season 8 commentary tracks on the South Park DVDs. Not only did Team America: World Police require a biblical amount of work from Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and their puppeteering production crew to pull it off, they were also concurrently working on their flagship series, a time they now refer to as the year from hell when looking back at this era of their careers.

Parker and Stone worked themselves into the ground with Team America: World Police, resulting in some of the most unhinged episodes South Park has to offer.

Episodes like “Cartman’s Incredible Gift,” which I consider essential viewing and a perfect entry point to the series, have commentary tracks from Parker and Stone suggesting they don’t even remember making the episode because they were so locked in at that point that they were putting very little thought into the minor details. They were contractually obligated to stick to their grueling production schedule, and relied on their manic, do-or-die energy to pull it off. The finale, “Woodland Critter Christmas,” one of South Park’s most notorious episodes, is another example of a zero-hour effort that was constantly reworked until just a day before it aired.

Team America’s Grueling Production

Always leading with what’s funny and figuring out how to do it later, Parker and Stone had no idea how complicated it would be to pull off their movie, which they fully intended to play like a Jerry Bruckheimer production starring marionettes. Dozens of scale replica set pieces were constructed, including Paris, Cairo, the Panama Canal, Mount Rushmore, and North Korea.

Their vision was simple. They wanted each location to look like how it’s depicted in action movies, and therefore how the average American thinks it looks.

Additionally, 270 puppet characters had to be built, along with over a thousand costumes to make Team America: World Police possible. Given the puppets’ roughly two-foot stature, countless props had to be custom made to accommodate their size, along with multiple animatronic heads that would be attached to their bodies. Controlling the puppets proved exhausting, resulting in unthinkably long shooting days with only a handful of usable dailies passed off to editors compared to films made through more conventional means. Rumor has it that designing Kim Jong-il’s glasses was a painstaking process due to camera glare, making them one of the most expensive props in the movie.

America, F*** Yeah!

Team America: World Police centers on the titular international counterterrorist organization, run by its fearless leader, Spottswoode (Daran Norris). Under his command are psychologist Lisa, psychic Sarah, martial arts expert Chris, Carson, and all American jock Joe. Together, they fight terrorism by causing so much collateral damage to whatever locale they visit, that a terrorist attack would actually leave the area better off. When Carson is killed and a new threat reveals itself, Spottswoode recruits Gary Johnston, a Broadway actor, to use his acting skills to infiltrate various terrorist factions.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-il is revealed to be the true mastermind behind the terrorists, and the supplier of WMDs, unbeknownst to Team America, resulting in the Film Actors Guild throwing Team America under the bus for their sloppy, reckless work.

If you’ve never had the pleasure of watching Team America: World Police, all you need to know is that it carries itself like every over the top action movie, but with enough raunch that it almost landed an NC-17 rating. 

By then, knowing exactly how to work with censors, Parker and Stone knew what they had to do. By filming a prolonged sex scene with the puppets that was far longer than what they needed for the film, they simply waited for the production notes explaining how short the scene would have to be in order to secure an R rating.

Appreciate The Hustle

Though it’s not my favorite Trey Parker and Matt Stone vehicle, Team America: World Police is indirectly responsible for some of the best episodes South Park has to offer. Had they not taken on such an ambitious project while also working on the series in tandem, we may have never gotten episodes like “Good Times with Weapons,” “Awesome-O,” “Goobacks,” “Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes,” “Quest for Ratings,” or “Cartman’s Incredible Gift.”

Don’t get me wrong. Matt Damon only being capable of saying his own name, poorly, in Team America: World Police because his puppet came off the production line looking a little dim is comedy gold. But topical political humor is fleeting. South Park is forever.

Team America: World Police is streaming on Paramount+.

Roommates, something had the timeline squinting a lil’ harder this morning. Early Friday, Ari Fletcher popped out on Instagram with a message that instantly got folks talking. Without offering too much context, she shared a post… and the energy is giving recovery mode.

RELATED: Unbreakable Bond! Ari Fletcher Shows Off “Demario” Tattoo Alongside Sweet Message To Moneybagg Yo (PHOTO)

Ari Is Laid Up & In Recovery Mode

In a boomerang clip posted to her Story, Ari appeared to be laid up in bed, seemingly resting and taking it easy. The text read “Beauty is pain” followed by a heart-with-bandage emoji and a weary face. Additionally, her left leg was isolated and propped up on pillows, with a visible bandage placed between her knee and thigh. The TV could be seen playing in the background while she relaxed, suggesting she’s currently in chill-and-heal mode. While she didn’t spill specifics on what led to the bandage, the post definitely raised eyebrows. And, it sparked questions among fans about whether she recently underwent a procedure or is simply recovering from something minor.

So… What Exactly Did She Have Done?

As always, Ari kept it cute and cryptic — but the Roommates didn’t have to dig too hard. In a recent video, Ari Fletcher actually opened up about preparing for leg surgery on her thigh, revealing it’s something she’s been dealing with for quite some time. She shared that the “dent” has been there “forever” and admitted it’s one of her biggest insecurities. Ari even rolled up her pants in the clip to show exactly what she was talking about. She even further explained that she’s tried different things in the past to correct it.

According to her, this one-time procedure is meant to help fix the issue — especially since she’s said she doesn’t even like wearing shorts because of it. While the “dent” appears to resemble something like cellulite — which many would say doesn’t take away from her beauty at all. And procedure or not, let’s be real… Ari is STILL that girl.

@arithedonfanpage_1

Prayers up for Ari as she goes in for surgery this week for her leg, wishing her a speedy recovery in this video already talks about having surgery on her thigh is something she’s been dealing with for quite some time wishing her the best of luck#therealkylesister #arithedon #ari #arifletcher #surgery

♬ original sound – arithedonfanpage_1

Ari’s Fresh Ink & Diamond Are Doing ALL The Talking

While Ari’s leg has the internet talking, some folks are wondering — is that the only recent change she’s made? Just days earlier, Ari Fletcher had social media swooning after she shared a heartfelt post dedicated to her man, Moneybagg Yo. Taking to her Instagram Story, Ari posted a flick of her hand showing off fresh ink of his legal first name, “Demario,” tatted on her skin. And, let’s not forget the massive diamond sparkling heavy on that ring finger.

RELATED: Hol’ Up! Ari Fletcher Appears To Call Moneybagg Yo Her “Husband” In Romantic Clip From Their Valentine’s Day Dinner (WATCH)

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 43 seconds ago

Since Starfleet Academy first began, haters have lobbed one accusation at it above all others: “it doesn’t feel like Star Trek.” Older critics often lament surface-level issues with the show, including its poor humor and its reliance on distractingly modern slang. But to these veteran fans, the real structural issue with this new spinoff is that it feels so glaringly different than the shows (like The Next Generation and Voyager) that came before.

Recently, though, Starfleet Academy has been addressing this problem by directly calling back to earlier Trek, including dedicating an entire episode to the mystery of what happened to Sisko after Deep Space Nine. Now, the most recent episode (“The Life Of The Stars”) calls back to two of Voyager’s best episodes while providing us with plenty of familiar franchise tropes. The result is an episode that decently channels classic Trek but fails to deliver on its full potential. 

Unpacking Trauma

 “Life of the Stars” is a follow-up to “Come, Let’s Away,” and it’s all about our Starfleet Academy cadets unpacking the trauma of that earlier episode. In that story, some of our heroes were ambushed by the Furies, fearsome foes who ultimately killed multiple members of the War College. Chancellor Ahke calls in Nus Braka for help, and Tarima weaponizes her telepathy, but both efforts go away: Braka destroys a Starfleet ship and ransacks a Starbase while Tarima blows her mind, landing herself in a coma that required treatment on her homeworld of Betazed.

Believe it or not, “unpacking trauma” is my lowkey favorite Star Trek episode genre. The stories are predictably good, like the TNG episode “Family,” helping Picard work through his time (as seen in “The Best of Both Worlds”) as the ruthless leader of the Borg. Over on DS9, “It’s Only A Paper Moon” explored how Nog dealt with the trauma of what happened in “The Siege of AR-558,” an episode in which he lost a leg.

Done well, this kind of story makes for great Star Trek, but this Starfleet Academy episode delivers mixed results. It has some great highs, including a killer, dramatic performance from Robert Picardo and the triumphant return of Sylvia Tilly. But “Life of the Stars” drops the ball by focusing so much on its ensemble that its central cadets (namely, SAM and Tarima) don’t get enough screentime or development. 

The Doctor Gets Serious

Perhaps the most interesting thing about “Life of the Stars” is that it permanently intertwines the lives of the Doctor and SAM. She’s the holographic girl who is suddenly on the fritz, and the Doctor travels with her back to her homeworld for repairs. There, he discovers that her glitch is emotional in nature (she’s stuck in a trauma loop, in case you thought the episode was being too subtle), and he volunteers to parent SAM, raising her for the equivalent of 17 years on her homeworld. But that’s only two weeks back at the academy, which is a callback to “Blink of an Eye,” the Voyager episode where three years on a planet is only about three minutes back on the ship.

In “Blink of an Eye,” the Doctor adopted a son, and he later lamented that, thanks to the time dilation effects, his kid is long since dead. In “Real Life,” the Doctor used the holodeck to simulate having a family, and he makes the program so realistic that he loses his holographic daughter to a freak sports accident. “Life of the Stars” basically mashes these plots together: after revealing that he hesitated to bond with SAM because she reminded him of his dead daughter, the Doctor agrees to raise her as a father; 17 years will pass on SAM’s planet while only two weeks pass at Starfleet Academy.

This plot is mostly an excuse to let Robert Picard do some serious acting, and this comedic actor does an amazing job with the dramatic material. Plus, the episode finally answers why the Doctor has had a bug up his holographic butt about SAM all season. However, this focus on the Doctor comes at a cost: SAM is either shut down or mind-controlled for most of the episode, which feels that much weirder considering how much new lore this episode is giving her.

The Girls Are Back In Town

“Life of the Stars” features the long-awaited return of Sylvia Tilly, a fan-favorite Discovery character that most of us originally assumed would be a regular on Starfleet Academy. She is here to help our cadets (no point in guessing) unpack their trauma, and at the chancellor’s suggestion, she is doing so in the craziest possible way: by making them take a theater class. They end up studying “Our Town,” and with all the subtlety of Quark’s sweater, the play becomes a metaphor for returning student Tarima to process her feelings about being transferred out of the War College and into Starfleet Academy after the injuries she sustained in “Come, Let’s Away.”

The results on both ladies’ returns were mixed: while it is always great to see Sylvia Tilly, she barely feels like herself, and she isn’t afraid to get mildly combative with students. She cheerfully tells the class that she doesn’t care if they all fail, and she practically gets into a verbal sparring match with Tarima. Granted, these are both acts of tough love, and her methods get results, but the woman taking these actions rarely feels like the adorkable Tilly we all fell in love with back on Discovery.

As for Tarima, she is a victim of performer’s success: actor Zoë Steiner does an excellent job playing a recently traumatized cadet, but thanks to the script, that means she spends most of her time in a dull stupor punctuated only by bouts of anger and drunkenness. Is this realistic for someone who narrowly survived an attack that killed multiple colleagues? Sure. But it’s not very engaging to watch, and unlike Patrick Stewart in “Family” or Robert Picardo in this very episode, Tarima never gets a satisfyingly cathartic release of her inner pain, and we have to settle for her having a light bulb moment while reciting an ancient play.

The Final Verdict? Good, Not Great

If it sounds like I’m nitpicking, that’s because I am: “Life of the Stars” is a mostly solid episode, and it’s notably better than the early episodes of Starfleet Academy. The show continues to improve, and as usual, spending less time on forced comedy has made the episode stronger. It also features the return of Sylvia Tilly, deep lore for the Doctor, and even updates on Caleb and Tarima, the couple who have quickly become the hottest Star Trek pairing since Riker and Troi.

But we really just get Tilly in name only here, and the Doctor’s cool new lore comes at the expense of sidelining SAM. The Caleb and Tarima stuff remains very cute, but Tarima mostly spends the episode in a boring daze before snapping out of it due to a sleepy inspirational speech. It all adds up to an episode that’s good, not great, and one that showcases both the potential of Starfleet Academy and how much the show fails to reach that potential.

Once again, Starfleet Academy is getting better, slowly clawing its way back from its negative reputation at a snail’s pace (and not even a warp snail). One episode at a time, it’s channeling more classic Star Trek than ever before. The question is, will any Trekkies still be watching by the time this show crawls past the finish line? 

Singer-Songwriter Neil Sedaka
Dead at 86

Published
February 27, 2026
1:48 PM PST