Entertainment
“Heated Rivalry” star Conner Storrie shows off impressive accent skills beyond Russian — but there's 1 he won't do
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Storrie will make his “SNL” hosting debut on Feb. 28.
Entertainment
Beyond the Gates Early Spoilers March 2-6: Anita Battles Major Setback & Leslie Flaunts Her Victory
Beyond the Gates spoilers for March 2 – 6, 2026 reveal Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) struggling and Dana “Leslie” Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) showboating.
We always start with what is coming the rest of this week and then we talk about what’s coming next week.
Celebrating Beyond the Gates’ One-Year Anniversary and Ashley’s Career Milestone
On Wednesday, February 25th—just a quick note, by the way, if you didn’t know it—Beyond the Gates celebrated its one-year anniversary on Tuesday, February 24th. Man, what a year! I expect them to need a U-Haul to gather up all the daytime Emmys they are going to win at the next awards ceremony. I think they may sweep or just clean up.
Also, it is Ashley Morgan’s (Jen Jacob) work anniversary as she celebrates her first year at Garland Memorial. She and Chenise Valjean (Tiara Wilkins) are talking about the past year and all that has happened. Speaking of Ashley’s past year, her ex, Derek Baldwin (Ben Gavin), also gets some screen time as he makes a decision about what to do for a job now that his time as a firefighter is over.
Derek’s New Career Path and Leslie’s Clinic Power Plays on BTG
I wonder if Leslie is going to wind up hiring Derek. If so, I wish him so much grace. Related to that, Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) is annoyed with Leslie, who’s yapping about the clinic and telling Eva that she’s going to show her how you do real business. Leslie says, “Watch and learn.” We know she and Derek get into it. This may be when Leslie and Derek can iron things out and decide if they can work together.
Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Jacob’s Undercover Crisis – Will Isaiah Blow His Big Brother’s Cover?
Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) is getting deeper and deeper undercover. Now he is embedded with the plasma ring red market people, but then he runs into his younger brother, Izaiah Hawthorne (David Lami Friebe), while on the job. Jacob’s cover could be blown. He asks why Izaiah is out in that dodgy corner of town, and Izaiah tells his big brother he could ask him the same.
Cat and Tomas Face a Relationship Crossroads over Living Arrangements on BTG
Katherine “Kat” Richardson (Colby Muhammad) wants to know if she can stay forever after Tomas “Tom” Navarro (Alex Alegria) said Kat can come over to his place whenever she wants. Kat wants to know if Tomas still wants to live together. If you remember, he asked Kat to move in about four months ago, back in December, but she told Tomas, “No, it’s too fast.”
This time, he seems a little offended. He wants to know Kat’s motives, and it looks like Tomas may tell her no. He wants Kat to choose him for him, not by default or as a second choice because Chelsea Hamilton’s (RhonniRose Mantilla) moving out to move in with her fiancé and Kat doesn’t want to crash alone in her Aunt Dani Dupree’s (Karla Mosley) guest house.
Thursday Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Mysterious Visitors and Leslie’s Self-Promotion
On Thursday, February 26th, a “no” from Tomas might be why Kat is suddenly hyper-focused and ranting about Laura Peterson’s (Destiny Love) car accident that nearly killed her almost a year ago. Leslie has avoided any consequences for it, which of course is not okay. Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) checks in with Ashley and updates her on Jacob moving out. Will Naomi mention that Jacob is undercover and that’s why he did it, or will Naomi be cryptic just because of any potential risk?
Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) and Dani Dupree have a visitor they were not expecting and don’t want to see. It could be Leslie or it could be Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings). Meanwhile, Leslie engages in some self-promotion. She is showboating about something. Now, it could be about her new clinic that she’s funding or some other insanity. I definitely could see Leslie trying to piggyback off the attention that Anita has gotten because of the cancer.
Anita’s Brave Cancer Journey Shakes the DMV After Gayle King Interview
Speaking of which, Gayle King’s interview with Anita has energized the whole DMV. We’re going to be getting lots more breast cancer awareness as this rocks on, which is great. Awareness for that is wonderful. I wonder if Anastasia (Timeca M. Seretti) is going to be petty or sympathetic since she was one of the people pushing gossip saying that Anita was drunk at the club when she was actually suffering side effects of chemo. I wonder if Leslie is going to try and get closer to Anita to sponge off that residual attention because she’s just awful.
Friday BTG Drama: Cat’s Confrontations and Vanessa’s Dating App Dilemmas
On Friday, February 27th, Kat amps up a nasty confrontation with Eva and Leslie. Kat may be upset by Tomas and lashing out at Eva, but it’s clear the two of them are living rent-free in Kat’s head. I hope long-term that she and Eva develop a real bond as sisters, but it seems impossible—especially as long as Leslie’s around.
Chelsea has a blowup with a cousin. My money is on Kat and not Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) because Kat is in a mood. She’s so enraged, in fact, that Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix) and Dr. Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) are quite concerned about their daughter. Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) tries to cheer up Nicole. I wonder if this is about Anita’s interview and all the attention and stress that came with it, but it was unavoidable.
It’s kind of ironic; I noticed that Vanessa was defending her escort app to Nicole, who was horrified by the idea that she would look for a date for Samantha Richardson (Najah Jackson) on there. Then ironically, Vanessa’s daughter wound up with a date from the Heart Attach app. That whole scene with her and Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) discussing it featured some clever dialogue: “Do as I say, not who I do.”
Mysterious Meetings and Smitty’s Pursuit of the Plasma Ring
Izaiah is asked to meet with someone and it surprises him. Maybe it’s his dad, Police Chief Elon Hawthorne (Malachi Malik), who’s not exactly a fan of his son. Or maybe it’s tied to the plasma case because Izaiah has a background in shady DMV goings-on. Bradley “Smitty” Smith (Mike Manning) catches up with an old friend, and I wonder if this might be tied to him poking into the plasma case as well.

Looking Ahead to March 2nd: Anita’s CBS Morning Show Aftershocks on Beyond the Gates
The week of March 2nd through the 6th, we expect lots more aftershocks from Anita’s stunning CBS Morning Show announcement about her cancer, the stage it’s in, and how scary everything is. I thought that interview segment was done really well. It was perfect. I thought I was watching an episode of the real CBS Morning Show. They don’t always do stuff that well on soaps.
I expect Leslie to come over with flowers, a plant, and fake sympathy. I hope she’s not going to be making tacky comments about Anita being the second articulate who might lose her life since her mom, Barbara, was the first to pass away. And I trust that Leslie is going to make everything worse on Anita while she says she’s trying not to.
Undercover Dangers and the Hunt for Justice in the Red Market
Smitty and Jacob may both be in danger doing this red market plasma sting. I wonder if somebody we know is linked to this ring. I hope Joey’s not, but you never know with him. Lynette Wise (Domini Madison) is feeling pretty good about her cover-up con targeting that poor homeless guy that Joey paid off and sent away, but he smells a rat.
I do suspect Joey’s going to figure out Lynette and Hayley are in cahoots. I also expect Joey to confront Randy Parker (Maurice P. Kerry) about a false suspect, but he may keep Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) in the dark. Joey may just tell him people jump bail all the time. The problem is Bill still wants justice because the alleged mugger disappeared from the DMV.
Final Spoilers: Vernon’s Protection and Cat’s Growing Frustration on BTG
Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) does all he can to protect Anita now that her big secret is out and there are a lot more eyes on them. Meanwhile, Hayley thinks she got away with everything, but I doubt it. The bottom line is Lynette is never going to go away and get her hand out of Hayley Lawson’s purse. They have got to do something about that girl.
Kat’s frustrations grow and I wonder if the family’s going to stage an anger intervention. Is Tomas going to circle back around to Kat and tell her yes, he wants her to move in? Randy’s on edge and hoping the scrutiny is over, but Joey’s likely going to dig into him more. We will have to wait to see if Derek starts working with Leslie at her clinic.
Entertainment
Why Selena Gomez And Benny Blanco Divorce Calls Are Absurd
When Benny Blanco launched his new “non-podcast,” he likely expected chatter about celebrity guests and spontaneous songwriting.
Instead, the internet fixated on his bare feet and a rumored on-camera fart.
Within hours, the conversation escalated from jokes to calls for Selena Gomez to divorce him.
It was absurd, revealing far more about online culture than the couple themselves.
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Benny Blanco Podcast Moment Sparks Cancel Culture Reflex
Let’s be honest. The outrage was never about hygiene but about the thrill of piling on.
One critic wrote, “He’s the most disgusting person I’ve ever seen in my life, seriously, it blows my mind that Selena is with this f-cking creature.”
Another added, “The fact that his feet are ACTUALLY that filthy makes me sick to my stomach. Like Selena girl what’s going on?”
A third chimed in, “He’s a whole superstar with a massive fanbase and still can’t handle hygiene? Fame doesn’t replace manners.”
The escalation did not stop there. Some users went further, demanding that Gomez leave him.
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“Once again, Benny has embarrassed Selena and y’all wonder why I can’t stand his disgusting -ss,” one person wrote, while another added, “Selena needs to divorce him and find someone better.”
Take a pause and consider that. A fan asking a couple to divorce over dirty feet.
We live in a culture that treats minor imperfections like moral failings. Instead of laughter or indifference, the reflex is cancellation.
It is a digital mob mentality disguised as moral superiority.
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Hollywood Divorce Rates Are Already High Enough

If people truly cared about relationships, they would not casually chant for breakups over non-issues.
The CDC reports the U.S. divorce rate was 2.4 per 1,000 population in 2022.
Hollywood’s numbers are often higher. According to 2017 U.S. Census data, about 23% of married couples in the United States divorce, with rates of 20% for men and 26% for women.
In contrast, the average divorce rate among Hollywood celebrities is about 52%, roughly double the general population, with 50% for men and 62% for women.
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That is the real crisis. Yet instead of encouraging stability, growth, and grace, the internet now cheers for separation at the first sign of embarrassment.
Calling for a couple who have not even been married a year to divorce over dusty soles is not concern. It is spectacle.
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Benny Blanco And Selena Gomez Have Been Judged Before

This is not the first time Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco have faced public scrutiny.
Fans have questioned the pairing based largely on looks rather than character or compatibility.
The narrative was shallow then, and it remains shallow now.
What changed? Nothing. The same culture that once said Gomez “deserved better” because of aesthetics is now saying she deserves better because of feet.
Relationships are not beauty contests nor are they hygiene tribunals.
The Love Is Real And The Demands Are Pointless

There is no credible evidence that Selena Gomez is unhappy.
On the contrary, her public appearances with Benny Blanco suggest affection and ease.
Hence, demanding divorce does not give strangers control over their lives, as marriage is not a voting system.
Fans can dislike a podcast moment. They can joke. They can scroll past. However, what they cannot do is dictate the future of two adults who clearly care for each other.
Suggesting that Gomez should dismantle her marriage because some viewers were “grossed out” wastes emotional energy on something they do not own.
The truth is simple. Blanco and Gomez will not divorce because strangers disliked his feet.
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Benny Blanco ‘Non Podcast’ Innovation Got Lost In The Noise

What makes the uproar even more ironic is how it eclipsed the actual creative ambition behind the project.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Blanco explained the format, saying, “We’re kind of blurring the line of, is it streaming? Is it a podcast? Is it an interview series? Is it a TV show? Is it NPR’s Tiny Desk? The idea was to mix casual conversation with creative collaboration.”
He added, “You see Ed [Sheeran] come on and we’re making a song from scratch.”
That is innovative. A show that merges spontaneous music creation with intimate conversation could have sparked discussion about artistry and format evolution. Instead, the discourse centered on toes.
The episode became a case study in how quickly nuance disappears online. Rather than engage with a creative concept, viewers zoomed in on a visual detail and ran with it.
In the end, this controversy says less about Blanco and far more about us.
We have normalized outrage over trivialities while divorce statistics quietly remain high. We amplify dirt and ignore devotion. We confuse jokes with justice.
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco deserve the same privacy and humanity that anyone else would want.
If their marriage ever ends, it should be for reasons that matter, not because a few viewers could not handle bare feet on a sofa.
Sometimes the most radical act in a hypercritical world is simply to mind your business.
Entertainment
Delroy Lindo sees “Sinners” as more than just horror — and how he crafted one of the movie's most profound scenes
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The veteran actor also tells EW why he chose to distance himself from the possibility of getting an Oscar nomination this year.
Entertainment
7 Best ‘Simpsons’ Episodes Parodying Oscar-Nominated Movies
It’s Oscar season, and there are some pretty interesting movies nominated for 2026. Cinephiles can prepare for the upcoming ceremony by watching the films they haven’t seen, but why not supplement that by watching some television too? Specifically The Simpsons. It just reached a new milestone (which some would call remarkable and others would call tragic): its 800th episode. Most of the material worth watching isn’t so recent, but one through line you can be sure of is that the writers often throw in references to movies all throughout the sitcom’s history. Inevitably, many of these come from Oscar-nominated feature films.
Even when the sitcom aired its first episode in 1989, there was a ton of Academy-worthy material to use for Simpson stories, and the writers likewise used a ton of it. Well, as the show kept getting renewed and renewed, more and more fantastic award-nominated and award-winning material became ripe for the picking. Of course, the giants of cinema don’t always lead to great jokes, but they often do in The Simpsons‘ greatest works. There are even some episodes that dedicate a large chunk of their plots to sending up one such Oscar-nominee. The following seven episodes arguably make up the best of the bunch, showcasing intriguing sides of the whole family: Bart (Nancy Cartwright), Homer (Dan Castellaneta), Lisa (Yeardley Smith), Marge (Julie Kavner), and even Maggie. These aren’t ordered by the quality of the movies or quantity of award nominations; having one nomination is enough. It does help for the episode to pay homage to more than one Oscar-nominee, but mostly these are just excellent episodes that use their source material to the fullest.
1
“Barthood”
Season 27, Episode 9
Season 27’s “Barthood” is the experimental Simpsons episode that’s based on the experimental 2014 film Boyhood by Richard Linklater. The movie was filmed over the course of about 10 years as all the actors got older, and it represents a fascinatingly realistic and heartfelt portrayal of a boy’s childhood. Similarly, “Barthood” jumps around to the most formative points of Bart’s upbringing. As it starts with him younger than he is in the canon (which this episode is not), this proves to be one of the strongest Simpsons episodes set in the past. “Barthood” is also unique in how it explores Bart’s life when he’s older, which likewise makes it one of the best Simpsons episodes set in the future.
Boyhood was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor for Ethan Hawke, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. It even won an Oscar—the tremendous Patricia Arquette, specifically—for Best Supporting Actress. It’s also worth noting that Linklater has a 2026 Oscar-nominated movie with Ethan Hawke called Blue Moon, for those interested in checking that out before this year’s Oscar ceremony.
2
“Cape Feare”
Season 5, Episode 2
By far one of the most famous Simpsons episodes you can find, “Cape Feare” has a title that’s extremely close to the title of the film it parodies: Cape Fear. When Sideshow Bob (Kelsey Grammer) is unwisely released from prison on parole (despite having the hilariously menacing “Die Bart Die” tattoo on his torso), he goes after Bart Simpson. At this point in their rivalry, Bart has already had Sideshow Bob arrested for framing Krusty (Dan Castellaneta) and trying to blow up Aunt Selma (Julie Kavner)—so Bob has a bone to pick with him. He’s out for revenge, similar to how the antagonist of Cape Fear wants revenge on the lawyer who got him convicted.
J. Lee Thompson‘s original version from 1962 did not earn any Oscar nods, but Martin Scorsese‘s chilling 1991 remake sure did: Robert De Niro and Juliette Lewis were both nominated for their performances. No surprises there; De Niro, with a southern accent, is terrifying (as Killers of the Flower Moon makes even clearer), and Lewis puts in one of the best teenage performances of the decade. Alas, no wins. Still, the movie is worth watching. It also led to this Simpsons classic, which manages to capture some of the terror of Scorsese’s underappreciated thriller without sacrificing any laughter along the way.
3
“Marge on the Lam”
Season 5, Episode 6
Arguably the most impressive entry from Season 5, “Marge on the Lam” is largely about two women who grow a touching bond. The matriarch of the Simpson family befriends neighbor Ruth Powers (Pamela Reed), who is having a rough divorce. Marge isn’t the most adventurous person in the world, which is part of the original character’s charm, but this entry provides her with an arc that steadily uses the power of friendship to steer her onto the wild side. Without losing any of the sitcom’s trademark humor, it’s one of Marge’s best storylines by a mile.
Soon she and Ruth are on the run from the cops, which turns this into a magnificent parody of Ridley Scott‘s feminist road movie Thelma & Louise. While the pair of friends in the film are on the run for much darker reasons, the episode nonetheless marries humor with pathos in a way that adeptly touches on the movie’s themes. Thelma & Louise garnered six Academy Award nominations: Best Actress for its dynamic duo Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. Screenwriter Callie Khouri wound up winning the Original Screenplay Oscar, and deservedly so.
4
“Bart of Darkness”
Season 6, Episode 1
The Simpsons‘ sixth season premiere is “Bart of Darkness,” a title taken from Joseph Conrad‘s novella Heart of Darkness. However, neither that nor Francis Ford Coppola‘s adaptation, Apocalypse Now, seem to have anything to do with the story. As Bart breaks his leg trying to dive into the family’s overcrowded pool, he falls and breaks his leg on the ground. Unable to swim and claim the glory of popularity that Lisa now basks in, he recedes to his room and watches with suspicion a very distressed Ned Flanders (Harry Shearer) next door. Bart is convinced this man killed his wife, and it’s both funny and suspenseful as he enlists Lisa to help him get to the bottom of this mystery.
Sound familiar? That’s because it’s based on Alfred Hitchcock’s incredibly well-crafted Rear Window, which somehow received only four nominations at the 1955 Oscars: Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography (Color), and Best Sound (Recording). And it won…none of them? Well, just another example of the Academy making mistakes. Granted, Rear Window had to compete with On the Waterfront, but the total lack of wins and meager number of nominations is still ridiculous. At least this Simpsons episode helps make up for that a little.
5
“Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington”
Season 3, Episode 2
When Lisa signs up for a national speech contest, she works her way into the final round. It’s held in D.C., hence the story’s title “Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington.” Sometimes an episode’s title doesn’t line up with the material in the story itself. Not the case with this season three gem, which bases its story off of Frank Capra‘s 1939 political masterpiece Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Just as Mr. Smith (James Stewart) goes from wide-eyed newbie to disillusioned critic, Lisa quickly and compellingly learns that American politics can be a brutal game indeed.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a giant of cinema, and it had a good run at the Oscars with a whopping 11 nominations: Outstanding Production (now called Best Picture), Best Director, Best Actor, Best Writing: Screenplay, Best Writing: Original Story (another old-school oddity), Best Supporting Actor for Claude Rains and Harry Carey, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Music: Scoring, and Best Sound Recording. As it was up against Victor Fleming‘s titans The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind, our film only won an Oscar for Best Writing: Original Story. Nevertheless, neither of those movies ever did (nor ever will) get such a hilarious and cinematic treatment from The Simpsons.
6
“You Only Move Twice”
Season 8, Episode 2
“You Only Move Twice” is one of the greatest Simpsons parody episodes of all time. There’s so much packed into this story that there’s no time for things to make sense. Homer is quickly offered a better-paying job at Globex Corporation, and the Simpsons swiftly cast off their old lives for paradise at Cypress Creek. If you thought the Springfield Powerplant was problematic, you ain’t seen nothing yet! Homer’s boss (a famous Albert Brooks performance) is essentially a James Bond supervillain. As the audience witnesses sidesplitting action pieces, Homer casually walks around without even realizing what’s going on.
Given how this parody works more as a mix of Bond tropes than a focus on one specific Bond, and given how this story’s Mr. Bont is clearly a parody of Sean Connery‘s Bond, we’ll only list the Oscar-nominated entries in the franchise that starred Connery. 1964’s Goldfinger won for Best Sound Effects, 1965’s Thunderball won for Best Visual Effects, and 1972’s Diamonds Are Forever was nominated for Best Sound. Interestingly, the episode is named after “You Only Live Twice” (which also starred Connery), but that didn’t receive any nominations.
7
“A Streetcar Named Marge”
Season 4, Episode 2
Season 4’s “A Streetcar Named Marge” is absolutely stuffed with Academy-worthy allusions. As Marge tries out for the coveted role of Blanche DuBois in a local musical adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, her relationship with Homer is movingly compared to that of Stella (Kim Hunter) and Stanley (Marlon Brando). This was the first film to win three of the four acting Oscars, which is already amazing. But it also won Best Production Design, and received a whopping eight more nominations on top of that: Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Sound Mixing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor (somehow Brando didn’t win), Best Director, and obviously, Best Picture.
“A Streetcar Named Marge” is such a parody-pallooza that even its subplot is based on a movie that got an Oscar nod. As Maggie and some other babies try to retrieve their pacifiers from an evil daycare woman, everything from the action to the teamwork to the music tells us this is a send-up of 1963’s The Great Escape (nominated for Best Film Editing). If that weren’t enough, the end of that plot thread features an epic reference to another 1963 classic called The Birds — which also received an Oscar nomination (for Best Special Effects). Needless to say, when it comes to Simpsons Oscar-movie parodies, “A Streetcar Named Marge” truly belongs on the podium.
The Simpsons
- Release Date
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December 17, 1989
- Network
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FOX
- Directors
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Steven Dean Moore, Mark Kirkland, Rob Oliver, Michael Polcino, Mike B. Anderson, Chris Clements, Wes Archer, Timothy Bailey, Lance Kramer, Nancy Kruse, Matthew Faughnan, Chuck Sheetz, Rich Moore, Jeffrey Lynch, Pete Michels, Susie Dietter, Raymond S. Persi, Carlos Baeza, Dominic Polcino, Lauren MacMullan, Michael Marcantel, Neil Affleck, Swinton O. Scott III, Jennifer Moeller
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Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)
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Julie Kavner
Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)
Entertainment
The 16 best shows on Starz to dive into this weekend
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There’s more awaiting you on Starz than the upcoming season of “Outlander.”
Entertainment
How Gene Roddenberry Made Will Riker’s Family Life Terrible
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Commander Riker is a fan-favorite character on Star Trek: The Next Generation because he’s a funny, take-charge leader who continues the James T. Kirk tradition of bedding the finest babes in the galaxy. In fact, it’s fair to say that Riker is largely defined by his relationships, including his slow-burning romance with Deanna Troi that culminated in his marriage. However, Troi isn’t necessarily the most important relationship in Riker’s life: instead, the most important relationship is the one he had with his father, who shaped the future Starfleet officer into the man he eventually became.
Unfortunately, the two had a very contentious early relationship, and Kyle Riker abandoned his son when Will was only 15 years old. They reunited and eventually reconciled in the Season 2 episode “The Icarus Factor,” but director Robert Iscove was disappointed in how things played out onscreen. The reason for that is simple: Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry placed so many restrictions on character conflict that it was impossible to accurately portray the reunion between this contentious father/son duo.
To Seek Out New Life And New Daddy Issues

Iscove was a first-time Star Trek director, and he took the job of directing “The Icarus Factor” because he was a huge fan of The Original Series. That show was set during the 23rd century, while The Next Generation was set in the 24th century, and he learned the hard way what a difference a century can make. According to Iscove (as recorded in Captain’s Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Voyages), Roddenberry believed that “we’ve all kind of resolved those feelings of anger” by the 24th century, and this made it hard to direct “an emotional piece” between a son and the father who “deserted Riker for 25 years.”
The director didn’t mince words about how annoying Roddenberry’s restrictions were, claiming they made the conflict between Kyle and William Riker “very hard to play.” He went on to note that “if you’re not going to serve the resentment and anger, what happens once the two of them get together, you can’t serve any real human drama.” The episode certainly had the potential for major drama: both men were haunted by the death of Will Riker’s mother, and the future commander was doubly tormented by his father ditching him at the tender age of 15.
Fake Sports, Real Emotions

That didn’t really happen, though, as “The Icarus Factor” made their conflict rather literal. The two donned goofy costumes and duked it out in a fictional Japanese sport, with the Starfleet officer venting some of his bitterness before they finally reconciled. That reconciliation was very disappointing to audiences because it didn’t feel earned: they weren’t able to really hash out their differences or overcome lingering resentment, all because the man who created Star Trek thought humanity had moved beyond the kind of emotional conflict that those watching The Next Generation would have preferred.
Director Robert Iscove would have preferred more emotional conflict as well, and he went on to lament that “The Original Series was much more humanistic in its approach.” He was disappointed with how “The Icarus Factor” turned out, and he never returned to the franchise, even though producers kept offering him opportunities to direct additional Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes. Like Riker, powerful people kept pulling out the chair for him, but he had no real interest in sitting down.
A Bittersweet Victory For The Writers

As longtime Star Trek fans know, this is a tale that has a bittersweet ending: after Gene Roddenberry became suddenly ill and then tragically passed away, his old rule about avoiding conflict between humans went out the airlock. The Next Generation began adding more conflict before Deep Space Nine took things to the next level, and NuTrek shows like Starfleet Academy have major character conflict built into their creative DNA.
Sadly, this change was too late for Commander Riker, whose daddy issues and reconciliation were ultimately hampered by the storytelling rule that nearly ruined TNG before it could become must-see TV.
Entertainment
Timothy Busfield’s Wife Melissa Gilbert Slammed For ‘Embarrassing’ Video
Melissa Gilbertis facing criticism online after sharing an upbeat, inspirational video while her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, remains at the center of serious criminal allegations. The former “Little House on the Prairie” star posted a clip of herself singing and dancing to a motivational song on social media, but the timing, coming amid Busfield’s ongoing child sexual abuse case, sparked mixed reactions from viewers. While some supporters praised Melissa Gilbert’s positivity, others accused her of being out of touch with the situation surrounding her family.
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Melissa Gilbert’s Video Sparks Mixed Reactions Online

Melissa Gilbert shared the video through her lifestyle brand, Modern Prairie, which typically features homemaking and lifestyle content. In the clip, she sings and dances to Des’ree’s song “You Gotta Be,” an uplifting track with lyrics about resilience and strength. However, what appeared intended as an encouraging message quickly drew criticism from some commenters, who questioned the tone given the controversy involving her husband.
“I hope you sing that to yourself because you are delusional,” one person posted. “Stop embarrassing yourself,” another commenter wrote. Similarly, someone else posted, “How embarrassing,” as another wrote, “There is none so blind as one who will not see.”
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“You need not to do this,” another comment read while others urged her to stop entirely, writing, “Please stop.”
Despite the backlash, some supporters defended Melissa Gilbert in the comments. “You are precious! Love that song,” someone wrote as another chimed in with, “I absolutely love your positive energy. You are strong, sweet, kind and talented and you love your family… nothing could be better.”
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Timothy Busfield Faces Serious Criminal Charges
Busfield was indicted by a grand jury on February 6 and is accused of inappropriate contact involving two twin boys on the set of “The Cleaning Lady” while filming in Albuquerque between November 2022 and spring 2024. The alleged victims, identified only as VL and SL in court documents, were minors at the time of the alleged incidents. Busfield has pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual contact with a child and has strongly denied the allegations.
A warrant was issued for his arrest last month, after which he turned himself in to the authorities. He was later released from custody, with Melissa Gilbert present in court.
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Allegations Detailed In Court Documents

According to a criminal complaint, one of the boys told a forensic child interviewer that Busfield touched his “private areas” on set when he was seven years old. The child alleged the incidents occurred multiple times between filming sessions and continued when he was eight years old.
The boy’s twin brother also told investigators he had been touched by Busfield but did not initially report it because he feared getting into trouble, according to the complaint.
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Busfield Denies Allegations, Claims Revenge Motive

Busfield has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintains the accusations are false. His attorneys have argued the claims stem from retaliation by the boys’ parents after the children were removed from the television production.
Before surrendering to authorities, Busfield addressed the allegations in a video shared by TMZ. “I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies, and I did not do anything to those little boys, and I’m going to fight it,” he insisted.
However, prosecutors have presented a different perspective in court. Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch described the evidence as “strong and specific” during a January 20 hearing. “The boys’ allegations are supported by medical findings and by their therapist,” the ADA said. “Their accounts were specific and not exaggerated.”
She also noted that witnesses expressed concerns about possible retaliation or professional consequences.
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Melissa Gilbert Has Stood By Her Husband Throughout Case

Throughout the legal proceedings, Melissa Gilbert has publicly supported Busfield while also returning to work after briefly stepping back to focus on her family. “As many of you know, I stepped away for a little while to focus on my family,” Gilbert said at the time. “It was time I needed, time to be present, to tend to what matters most and to gather my strength in a season that has not been easy.”
The actress previously paused activity related to her Modern Prairie brand before resuming content creation in recent weeks, including the video that sparked the latest online reactions.
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Bold and Beautiful Early Spoilers March 2-6: Ridge Unleashes His Fury & Steffy Reels from Shock
Bold and the Beautiful spoilers for March 2 – 6, 2026 see Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) lashing out and Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) stunned.
On early edition day, we start with what’s coming the rest of this week, then we get into what is coming next week. So let’s dive in.
Bold & the Beautiful: Ivy’s Manipulation and the Electra-Will Breakup
On Wednesday, February 25th, it is the last day of sweeps. Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) is telling RJ Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti) about her situation with Will Spencer (Crew Morrow) and Dylan (Sydney Bullock). She says that Will said nothing inappropriate happened with him and Dylan. RJ wants to know if Electra thinks otherwise. And Electra says she trusts her aunt Ivy Forrester (Ashleigh Brewer).
She shouldn’t. That trust is quite misplaced since Ivy stole Electra’s letter, grabbed Will’s necklace. And staged what looked like a breakup message. The idea is that he ripped the necklace in half or something. RJ tells Electra that something’s wrong with Will if he won’t do whatever he has to do to be with her.
Then RJ is going to kiss Electra. Again, we’ve got Ivy snooping and watching. It looks like Will is also going to see the kiss. I think Ivy might set the stage for Will to see Electra lip-locking with RJ. Ivy is completely manipulating the situation to get them together because she is bent on getting Will and his inappropriate behavior away from Electra.
The Battle for Eric’s Designs: Ridge vs. Bill and Katie on B&B
Over at Will’s place, he reluctantly tells Dylan she has to leave his house first thing in the morning. This is a decision I’m sure Will is going to regret once he sees Electra kissing RJ, but Will initially caves to the ultimatum Electra gave him about Dylan. Will might go up to Forrester to tell Electra he told Dylan she has to go, but then he’s going to see RJ with Electra.
I think that’s going to be the game changer. Ivy could even take things a step further and try to get Will fired from Forrester. She could tell Steffy that Will’s cheating and that Electra is traumatized. Electra is a more valuable employee, so Will may get fired or walk away because he’s disgusted.
At the Spencer Publications office building, Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) reiterates for Katie Logan (Heather Tom) that Eric Forrester‘s (John McCook) designs belong to them and to Logan. Katie’s looking pretty stressed out about this. She wants Eric to work for them on the best possible terms and doesn’t want him to feel like his hand is being forced. Bill’s not going to have it; they have a contract and he’s going to enforce it.
Brooke and Ridge’s Conflict with the Logans on B&B
Meanwhile, Ridge sarcastically is snarking to Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) that, once again, Katie didn’t do anything wrong and she’s the victim. Brooke says Katie stole the Logan name and she stole Eric. Ridge and Brooke are going to do a whole lot of “we’re completely right and Katie’s completely wrong.”
I do think Brooke should have owned up to her role and Ridge’s role in driving Eric over to Logan. Katie did concede on a couple of points and was offering an olive branch, but Brooke just slapped it out of her hand. She will not acknowledge that she and Ridge did anything wrong. You don’t surprise party retire someone; they might have a literal coronary.
Despite Ridge making peace with Eric and promising respect, he went and told Bill and Katie that Eric’s not working with Logan anymore. We’ll find out what Eric has to say about that because that’s not a message he gave Ridge to deliver. Eric just told Ridge to stop treating him like a child, but then Ridge went and quit on his behalf. I don’t think that’s going to fly.
Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Daphne Discovers Ivy’s Deceitful Plan
On Thursday, February 26th, we’ve got Daphne Rose (Murielle Hilaire) getting an eyeful of something she’s not supposed to. She already saw Ivy doing the thing with the letter. I don’t know if she’s going to see something more or see Ivy eavesdropping, but Daphne is going to figure things out. Ivy tells Daphne, “Don’t you dare tell anyone about this!”
Meanwhile, Electra shares huge news with RJ. And she may tell him that she and Will are officially done. This is all part of Ivy’s deceitful plan. Spoilers say it works like a charm and succeeds by Thursday. This is clearly to break up Electra and Will and push Electra and RJ closer on Bold and the Beautiful.
On Friday, February 27th, Ivy is doing even more plotting. I really want Daphne to intervene and tell somebody what’s going on because Electra needs to know her aunt cannot be trusted. Plus, Dylan hears shocking info from Will.

Bold and the Beautiful Weekly Spoilers: March 2nd – 6th
Will told Dylan she had to move out, but after he sees Electra and RJ kissing at Forrester, he may tell Dylan she can stay since Electra chose some other guy. Will and Dylan are going to have a close moment at the beach house this week.
During the week of March 2nd through the 6th, we’re going to see Will getting closer to Dylan thanks to all of Ivy’s scheming. Daphne has to decide if she will spill the beans about Ivy or not. I wonder if she will at least tell Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) or her bestie Steffy.
RJ keeps trying to get closer to Electra. She may be a little cautious because she just broke up with Will, but Ivy is going to encourage Electra to go ahead and jump right in with RJ. Ivy is unhinged and intent on making sure there’s no way for Will to reconcile with Electra. Ashleigh Brewer is going to be going out on maternity leave soon, so I wonder how much more chaos Ivy is going to cause before she’s offscreen.
The Logan Family Feud and the Secret Designer Reveal on B&B
Katie is still reeling from her nasty fight with Brooke, and I think it’s not going to stop. Katie is hurt and Brooke is going to keep kicking her while she’s down. Donna Logan (Jennifer Gareis) is going to be on high alert to make sure Eric doesn’t get stressed out again. John McCook said in an interview that Eric is not sick; that was just a one-off stress reaction.
Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) is going to be devastated to hear about the Logans being ripped apart. Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton) is going to get an earful from Bill and Katie about what went down. We’ll find out if Eric is going to stick to his contract and whether Katie is going to bring in someone like Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) to help Eric so he can do the work without the stress.
Eric told Ridge he’s coming home to Forrester Creations, but John McCook said Eric will come back on his own terms and in his own time. He may stick with Katie short term. We’re also due for an update on Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan), Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown), and Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig). Finally, word is going to spread about Eric being the secret designer at Logan. Everybody at Forrester is going to be gobsmacked. And Steffy may be especially hard hit.
Entertainment
Days of our Lives Early Spoilers March 2-6: Abe Hatches New Scheme & Steve Races Against Time
Days of Our Lives spoilers for March 2 – 6, 2026 divulge Abe Carver (James Reynolds) is plotting and Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) being absolutely frantic.
spoilers for March 2 – 6, 2026s we always do on early edition day, we start with what’s coming the rest of this week and then we dive into what is ahead next week.
Days of Our Lives Mid-Week Drama: Ariana’s Meet Cute and Liam’s Shady Dealings
On Wednesday, February 25th, it is the last day of sweeps, by the way. Arianna “Ari” Horton (Marissa Reyes) has a meet cute with Liam Selejko (Hank Northrop) and she kisses his cheek. The single criminal dad may regret taking money from Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel) and possibly also taking money from Stephanie Johnson‘s (Abigail Klein) kidnapper now that things are looking up in his life.
We’re also going to see Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) playing mean girl to Ari, who is going to lay into her and tell Holly the attitude is not cute and to drop it now. Plus, Liam gets an offer from EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel). This may be something like an ultimatum, like “come clean or else.” He may offer a payment to Liam, understanding that he’s broke.
I think EJ is worked up about him taking money to help with the DiMera kidnappings. This is unless, before this happens, they sus out that Liam may have done some dirty work for Stephanie’s stalker, like delivering the photo frame, if they fingerprint it or something. Plus, Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) is there to encourage Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez), but that could make her feel even guiltier for planting the bug, wrecking Titan, and then lying to cover it up. Now Gabi is getting into a romance with Philip while still lying by omission every single day right to his face.
The Search for Stephanie Johnson and the Secret DiMera Lab Mystery on DOOL
Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) and Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) are going to join in the search for Stephanie. We know that EJ said the cops could search the lab, but there’s also the super secret lab within the lab. I’m wondering if this is when Rafe sneaks in and sees the big blue human test tube while he’s searching for Stephanie.
Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) has that ISA tool to read the code on the door, but EJ said that he would let her brother open up and give them access to the lab to just check and see if Stephanie is there. Meanwhile, Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) is trying to convince Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) of something.
I wonder if it’s to give up on getting evidence in Alamainia since none is forthcoming. Vivian won’t see Dimitri and things are looking really bad. Leo may think that Dimitri just needs to cut bait and run.
Sophia Choi’s Blackmail Scheme and Rachel Black’s Legal Jeopardy on Days
Meanwhile, Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd) blackmails Rachel Black (Alice Halsey). We’re going to see the tween getting a call, and Sophia tells Rachel she has to give Holly a gift, but Rachel can’t tell Holly that it’s from Sophia. I don’t know if it’s more of those nice skin supplements or if it’s something even worse. If Rachel gets into trouble, it could mess up her hearing and then she’s going to wind up in juvie or back in Bayview.
Thursday’s Emotional Fallout: Holly Jonas’ Viral Scandal and Chanel Dupree’s Health Scare
Thursday, February 26th, we’ve got Tate Black (Leo Howard) comforting Holly. She’s already distraught about the video of her just screeching at the sorority girl and the whole trending “Holly Jonas is a b-word” hashtag. Plus, Holly is of course upset that Ari chewed her out and that she’s doing well with Rush while Holly is not. Holly is the one who brought Ari into the whole Rush thing.
Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) tells Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) that he’s sorry so he won’t make it a habit. This may be about him missing the doctor appointment. Of course, right after the appointment, while she was talking to Paulina Price (Jackée Harry), Chanel started having some cramps. I think she’s just stressed out over everything that’s going on. Hopefully, the baby’s going to be just fine.
Days of Our Lives Spoilers: Abe Carver and EJ DiMera’s Secret Pact Over the DiMera CEO Position
EJ and Abe Carver (James Reynolds) talk about their shady little side deal they have going on about the DiMera CEO job that nobody but the two of them knows, unless EJ DiMera maybe told Rita Lesley (Maggie Carney). As we know, EJ wants Johnny to keep running DiMera long-term because he sees that as a doorway back into his son’s life.
Meanwhile, Abe wants his son Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) out of DiMera for good. He doesn’t want Theo to come back as CEO, and reviving Lexie Carver (Renee Jones) may play into all this. Theo, meanwhile, continues to get support from his stepmom, Paulina. If Theo wants to resume the CEO position and thinks that his health recovered enough to do it, Paulina may say, “Follow your gut.” But that might tick Abe off. The timing of it coming before Lexie Carver awakens on Days of our Lives, I don’t think, is any coincidence.
Friday DOOL Spoilers: Is Jeremy Horton Really Stephanie Johnson’s Kidnapper?
Friday, February 27th, we’ve got Steve and Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) out searching for Stephanie along with everybody else. The kidnapper has stashed Stephanie in some kind of industrial-looking store room. The cop that was drugged described a generic doctor, saying the guy was tall with light eyes.
Jada prompted him and asked the cop, “Could it be Jeremy?” because he knows what Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) looks like because of the BOLO, and the cop says yes. So, case closed, I guess. With everybody making assumptions, Leo and Dimitri have some concerns to discuss. I wonder if Leo will push Dimitri to just take his money and run so he won’t be locked up for the kidnapping.
The Return of Owen Kent and Steve Johnson’s Frantic Search on Days
Meanwhile, Stephanie tries to get free. She’s tied to that chair and stashed away in that icky store room. All this Jeremy stuff is insane. Steve showed Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) a photo of a man wearing a mask who was dressed similarly to Jeremy on Halloween as a mad scientist. Again, I think Spirit Halloween in Salem probably sold more than one of those outfits.
Julie sees it and immediately was certain that Jeremy is guilty. His face wasn’t shown. I don’t think that’s enough to get an arrest without his face being shown or some identifying characteristic like a scar or a tattoo. Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) and Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) head out looking for Stephanie as well. Brady helped save Stephanie from Owen Kent (Wes Ramsey) years ago, if you don’t remember.
Plus, on Friday, Owen Kent is back. Very soon, Steve grabs a guy in the park with a black hoodie expecting Jeremy. But it’s Owen. I think Jeremy being in a black hoodie on the most recent episode is just another red flag that this is ultimately Owen. It may be next week though when we see Steve get a hold of Owen.
Early Spoilers for March 2-6: Overdose Fears and the Lexie Carver Reveal on Days of Our Lives
The week of March 2nd through the 6th, we have to worry about whether Holly is going to overdose again. Signs point to a hospitalization for Holly soon. She’s taking very strong medication that was not prescribed for her. Ari keeps thinking about hunky Liam and she may go looking for a date with the older single dad.
I wonder if Gabi is going to find enough handwriting samples for Rafe to have the FBI lab prove the divorce document was faked. Rafe is nearly ready to try out his new Versix combo serum soon. Plus, It’s nearly time for EJ to show Paulina who he’s got in the tube and shock her. My guess remains that it’s Lexie Carver.


Shawn-Douglas Brady and Jack Junior (JJ) Deveraux Face Mortal Danger While Stefano DiMera’s Will Surfaces on DOOL
Shawn-Douglas Brady (Brandon Beemer) and Jack Junior (JJ) Deveraux (Casey Moss) may face danger as they work with Liam to find the scarred man who hired him. Klaus should be in Salem soon to tie off loose ends, and he may be the shooter who wounds Shawn, but he may have actually been aiming for Liam.
It’s nearly time for Stefano DiMera’s will to be read. EJ is certain he knows what’s in it, but does he really? Or did Stefano pull some last-minute shenanigans and alter the will? Stephanie is still missing and Owen Kent is in town. We’ll finally get a better glimpse of who’s responsible for all of these deeds. Stephanie and everybody else assumes it’s Jeremy. I still don’t think it is. We’ll find out.
Romance for Brady Black and Sarah Horton as Alyvia Alyn Lind Exits the Show on Days
Brady and Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) are ready to make love and that may drive Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) to extremes. We know Alice Halsey is leaving. As of June 11th, 2025, she was on the set of her new show, “Little House on the Prairie,” doing table reads. They are taping nine to ten months ahead. We should see her wrapping as Rachel in the next, I’m guessing, four to six weeks.
Entertainment
Young and Restless Early Spoilers March 2-6: Nick’s Downward Spiral Continues & Mariah Faces the Fallout
Young and the Restless spoilers for March 2 – 6, 2026 suggest Nick Newman‘s (Joshua Morrow) spiral and Mariah Copeland‘s (Camryn Grimes) consequences.
As we always do on early edition day, we start with what’s coming this week, then we dive into what is ahead next week. Let’s get right into it.
Young and the Restless Spoilers: Sienna Returns & Matt Strikes
On Wednesday, February 25th, it’s the last day of sweeps, and we have Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun) back in Genoa City. She tells Noah Newman (Lucas Adams) she is there to stay. I mean, we’ll see—I don’t think so. But Sienna wonders if the Newmans will accept her, and Noah says, “Sure.” Then he tells her that Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) stole the family companies.
Noah gets a threatening text from some anonymous number, but Sienna looks at it and says that is Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) threatening him. It’s basically him telling Noah he will see him in hell. So, it is definitely a death threat.
Y&R Spoilers: Nick Newman’s Rage and the Looming Threat of Matt Clark
Meanwhile, Nick is irate that Matt Clark’s charges were dropped and the guy’s on the loose. Nick is panicking about Matt maybe being on the ranch right now. Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) has his security team out searching for Matt and he’s also concerned about Nick’s pain level, but he snaps at Victor that he will take care of Matt and then storms out.
Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) is also worried about Nick’s pain and says the medication doesn’t seem to be helping. Well, I think the pain he’s in is the pain that addicts are in when they run out of pain medication.
Nikki tells Victor about Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) plan to use Summer Newman (Allison Lanier) and Daniel Romalotti (Michael Graziadei) against Phyllis, and Victor basically vetoes it. He thinks the Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) plan is still going to work.
Sharon Newman and Phyllis Summers Find Common Ground Before a Confrontation on Young and the Restless
Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) tries to reason with Phyllis over at the coffee shop and tells her she made everybody in Genoa City hate her. Sharon asks if it’s all worth it, and Phyllis says she will be forgiven and then reminds her that Daniel forgave Sharon for framing him for Heather Stevens (Vail Bloom) murder.
Sharon is offended that Phyllis went there, but she tells Sharon she has no remorse for her actions. Sharon tries to say she’s worried for Phyllis. Then Sharon says, you know, they still are friends. Their friendship is real. Their bonding was real. Then she opened up about how the Matt stuff is affecting her and giving her rage, and Phyllis understands that they’re actually doing some bonding on Young and Restless.
This is the first real polite and meaningful conversation that Phyllis has had with anybody since this all started. Sharon also says she understands why Phyllis lashed out at the Newmans and Sharon says she wants to help her. Now, Phyllis warns against manipulating her or shrinking her, but Sharon tells Phyllis they’re a lot alike and everything’s going great.
Then Nick comes in and he is raging at Phyllis and she ends up feeling tag-teamed by him and Sharon. Nick is vowing to destroy her, burn her whole life to the ground, and Phyllis gets up and leaves. That really irritates Sharon who snaps at Nick and says she was getting somewhere with Phyllis, but Nick says, “No, you aren’t.” Sharon asks about Nick’s pain, and he says that Matt is the real issue and he is vowing to murder him.
Y&R Spoilers: Cane’s Desperate Move to Reclaim Newman Assets
Cane calls Amanda Sinclair (Mishael Morgan) and says he’s still trying to get the Newman assets back from Phyllis, but it seems impossible. Cane tells Amanda, “Keep working on plan B.” Devon Hamilton Winters (Bryton James) confronts Cane about Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) being MIA and Cane says he has no idea where they are.
He thinks they’re safe and Devon keeps pushing, and Cane says he can’t say more because it’ll put them in danger and Devon is shocked. He pushes for more but Cane won’t talk and Devon finally gives up and goes.
Phyllis shows up and tells Cane, “Yes, I got your messages asking to reunite,” and she wants to know why he would want her after her betrayal. Cane says he’s not mad. He understands why Phyllis did what she did. Phyllis reiterates that Victor was bluffing about Lily. She asks about Devon and if Victor still has Lily.
Phyllis wonders if Cane is trying to seduce and betray her. But he’s telling Phyllis she can fix everything for him, but she won’t cave. So, Cane traps her in the Cane train and says he’s going to get what he wants. He’s got a huge guard there blocking the door making sure that Phyllis can’t get away. So, now he’s basically kidnapped her, which I think is funny.
The Search for Lily Winters and Victoria Newman’s Secret Trap on Young and the Restless
Thursday, February 26, Cane admits something to Phyllis and maybe it’s that he betrayed her. Maybe he’s going to apologize, admit that he needs her to please give Newman Enterprises back to Victor. I cannot imagine anything Cane will say that will get Phyllis to do what he wants.
Noah is ecstatic that Sienna is back, but now he’s afraid for her safety because Matt is free and obviously in town since he’s texting threats. So, Nick, Sharon, Noah, and Sienna talk about Matt. Detective James Burrow (Matt Cohen) joins them, and I’m sure Noah, if he’s smart, will show him the text. Sienna may wonder if she’s safer in Los Angeles or in Genoa City now that Matt is free.
Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) and Devon demand that Victor tell them where Lily is. We’ll see what prompts them to go to Victor since Cane wasn’t really giving them a lot of info. Nate and Devon return from talking to Victor and tell Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway) they have a lead and are going to go look for Lily. But I wonder if that lead comes from Cane or Victor because I don’t know why he would tell Devon any aspect of the truth like, “Oh yeah, I did fake kidnap your sister.”

Audra Charles’ Strategy and a Shocking Newman Family Showdown
Friday, February 27th, Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) gets Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) to pause and think a minute before she makes a mistake. This may be about taking Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) back or giving back Newman Media. Audra doesn’t want either thing to happen. Lauren Fenmore (Tracey Bregman) gets an unexpected offer and it may be about Beyond the Gates. They keep name-dropping her and Fenmore’s about a purse collaboration.
Nick and Victoria get a trap ready. I’m assuming it’s for Phyllis. Maybe Nick has changed his mind and is now willing to use the kids against her because he’s hopped up on drugs and is raging. But at this point, Summer and Daniel have both already cut Phyllis out. So, I’m not sure why it would work.
Young and the Restless Spoilers for March 2nd through 6th
The week of March 2nd through the 6th, we’ll see if Victoria and Nick’s trap works and how long until Phyllis is out of Cane’s trap as well. She might walk out of one trap into another. Christine Williams (Lauralee Bell) pushes to get Mariah remanded to a psychiatric facility instead of prison. I expect an off-screen plea bargain, not a full courtroom scene, but that may upset Devon and Abby.
Nate and Devon Hamilton go searching for Lily. We’ll get an update on her soon. Christel Khalil was back filming in early February. I expect to see her back by mid-March at the latest.
Billy keeps going downhill and in his spiral, he may get closer to Phyllis, especially after Cane’s latest trapping stunt. Lauren makes a decision about the offer she receives. Matt Clark’s already terrorizing Noah, and that’s going to escalate. We’re going to have a big Matt versus the Newmans showdown in March.
Sienna is going to be in danger along with Noah and the other Newmans—maybe the Abbotts, too, since they grabbed him and locked him up. The family’s concern about Nick grows because he’s either groggy and overly chill or kind of hyper-aggressive. He’s showing signs of addiction.
His pain is still an issue, but everybody’s distracted by Matt and the Newman business. I think they might be missing red flags. Nick’s going to run out of fentanyl and what then? That’s when things are going to get really scary. Finally, Sally struggles about the ethics of hanging on to Newman Media.
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