Entertainment
How The All-Time Greatest Trilogy Was Saved From Hollywood Destruction
By Joshua Tyler
| Published
In the early twenty-teens, Hollywood was flying high off a decade of cinematic successes. The future had never been brighter, and the plan was to just keep delivering more of the same.
The decade of huge wins had started with the massive masterpiece success of The Lord of the Rings, when the trilogy released its first movie in 2001. It made sense that the best way to kick off the next decade was to do a lot more of that.
So the greedy ghouls behind the scenes in Tinseltown began plotting a way to bring Lord of the Rings back. They went to the man who’d made it all happen, director Peter Jackson, and poured on the pressure. Eventually, Jackson relented and gave them what they wanted, but only by refusing to compromise the world he created. He gave them more, but he did it his way, under tremendous ever-mounting pressure.
When it was all done, everyone dismissed his work as a failure and sent him off to the Gray Havens. We were all so, so terribly wrong.
This is why The Hobbit Trilogy failed.
Peter Jackson Resists Hollywood’s Greed
When Hollywood began demanding more Lord of the Rings, he resisted. Jackson knew he’d created absolute perfection with the LOTR trilogy, and matching that would be nearly impossible. Probably, he was also just tired, having spent so much of his life already living in Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
Eventually, he relented and signed on to produce The Hobbit, but he still pushed back against doing all the day-to-day work, so he started lining up other directors to take over, hiring Guillermo del Toro to helm a two-movie version of The Hobbit. Unfortunately, repeated delays caused del Toro to exit.
Facing tight deadlines, the studio turned to Jackson, who finally relented and stepped in as director with little to no prep time at all before he had to start shooting one of the most important movies in the world. To make matters worse, the studio then pressured Jackson into making The Hobbit three movies, when most fans already thought two movies was far, far too excessive.
It was excessive because, in book form, as written by JRR Tolkien, The Hobbit is a more straightforward, shorter adventure story than The Lord of the Rings. It’s focused on a single group of characters as they go on a quest to slay a dragon. It’s easy to see how you could divide it into two movies, but there isn’t enough material there for three. There just isn’t.
For Jackson, being forced into three Hobbit films must have felt like the height of irony. With The Lord of the Rings he had to fight desperately to get Hollywood to let him plan it as three movies instead of one or two. Now, spoiled by his success with making three, they pressured him into making more movies than he wanted.
Unlike The Lord of the Rings, which was created out of Peter Jackson’s total passion for Tolkien’s stories, The Hobbit was a project driven by Hollywood greed. It almost felt as if the only reason Jackson stepped up to direct at all was to save Tolkien’s world from the disaster Hollywood was trying to make out of it.
The Hobbit Trilogy Should Have Been A Disaster
Given the realities under which The Hobbit went into production, it had no business NOT being a total disaster. That’s what it should have been; that’s what always happens when Hollywood forces a prequel that has no business existing.
And yet…
With the fate of Middle Earth hanging in the balance, a weary Peter Jackson moved forward, determined to save the world he’d created from Hollywood’s greed. He pulled in ancillary material from other Tolkien sources, expanded scenes only hinted at in The Hobbit, and came up with enough script for three movies.
As it begins, the first movie in The Hobbit trilogy sticks closely to the book’s format, with a Hobbit living in a cozy Hobbit hole that’s invaded by a grumpy wizard and a bunch of hungry dwarves demanding dinner. It’s glorious, it feels perfect.
Every inch of the Hobbit hole, Bag End, is lovingly crafted. The dwarves are both hilarious and sad. Gandalf is looming and omnipresent. Martin Freeman is perfect as a young Bilbo, put upon, confused, and unwilling to admit that he’s intrigued by the possibility of an adventure.
As they often did in JRR Tolkien’s books, the dwarves begin singing a brave and mournful song about the place they’re going, their former home, Erebor, the Lonely Mountain. The haunting melody of their song becomes the musical theme of the entire series, and it’s maybe even better than the amazing score of The Lord of the Rings movies, as it carries thirteen dwarves, a hobbit, and a mysterious gray wizard out of Bag End, across middle Earth on an adventure to free the Dwarven leader Thorin’s kingdom from a murderous dragon.
The Artistry And Beauty Of The Lord Of The Rings Is Present In The Hobbit
All the artistry and beauty of the original Lord of the Rings movies is here and only added to. No role was recast, Ian McKellan returns as Gandalf, and we arguably get more of him than even in The Lord of the Rings. Orlando Bloom and others return, too, but not gratuitously, only when it makes sense for the plot and adds to the story.
The first movie ends with Bilbo reading riddles in the dark, and the scene is a masterclass in conveying darkness while still letting the audience see what’s going on. It’s a skill that modern Hollywood seems to have totally forgotten. Bilbo’s riddles in the dark with Gollum is a good endpoint for the film, with our heroes narrowly escaping the clutches of goblins and going on the run.
The escape from goblin kingdom is one of the weakest points in The Hobbit movies. It relies too much on CGI, it’s too chaotic and difficult to follow, and it’s not the finale for the first chapter that many might have wanted.
Given the constraints Jackson was working with, especially the pressure he was under to get this first movie out, you have to wonder if that sequence was really what he wanted to do himself. Because that chaotic goblin scene never becomes a pattern. There’s never another confusing, distractingly CGI moment in the rest of the series, or at least not anywhere that matters.
Sure, The Hobbit movies use more green screen and CGI than Lord of the Rings, but not nearly as much as pretty much every other Hollywood movie does. Jackson still built sets, and you feel the weight of real things being interacted with in every frame of the film.
The second Hobbit movie, The Desolation of Smaug, might be the best. The dragon is reached, battled, and sent screaming from the depths of Erebor. Martin Freeman shines as Bilbo, engaged in another battle of wits with a malevolent force, this time one that breathes fire. Thorin’s complexity only grows.
Don’t come at me about the barrel riding scene. It’s not errible. It’s fun, really fun, and it’s something the series sets up by showing us the dexterity and skill of the dwarves in the first film’s opening moments.
The third movie, The Battle of the Five Armies, is the biggest departure. The book itself is almost two books. The first half of it is the quest of some Dwarves and a Hobbit to get to the mountain and slay the dragon. The second half is a gigantic battle between kings and orcs for supremacy in this part of Middle-earth.
The third movie covers that second half, which means largely sidelining most of the characters we’ve gotten to know over the first movie. Still, it brings it back to them in the end, and feels like a completed story. A real adventure. One that sticks with you, long after the credits roll.
The Hobbit Is Filmmaking At A Level Hollywood Is No Longer Capable Of
The level of quality and care established by the first film continues over all three, and matched against modern filmmaking, The Hobbit trilogy is like rediscovering Atlantis, a forgotten world of high-level storytelling that it doesn’t seem like anyone knows how to do anymore.
At the time it was released, we were spoiled. We didn’t understand what we were experiencing. Sure, there are minor missteps and the nature of the story is different than The Lord of the Rings. Our heroes are less clearly heroic; Thorin Oakenshield, in particular, is a complex leader who makes many big mistakes, and Dwarves in general are hard to like, by design.
Those minor quibbles aside, The Hobbit trilogy is nearly as big, grand, and beautiful as its cinematic predecessor.
Instead of celebrating the film’s incredible achievement against all odds, people nitpicked over a few dodgy green screen moments and compared it to The Lord of the Rings, which may be the greatest movie trilogy ever made, and up against which literally any movie would be found inadequate and wanting.
Looked at now through the wreckage of the unending mediocrity of modern movies, it must be said that: Holy hell, The Hobbit movies are actually really, really good.
The Hobbit Trilogy Was A Box Office Mega-Hit
The Hobbit trilogy made a lot of money. An Unexpected Journey (2012) opened strong and rode holiday legs to about $1.02 billion worldwide. The Desolation of Smaug (2013) dipped slightly to roughly $959 million, still massive, still a global event. The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) closed things out at around $956 million, proving fatigue hadn’t killed demand. Combined, the trilogy pulled in just under $3 billion worldwide. Less than The Lord of the Rings, but way more than anything in theaters in the last few years.
Critics liked the first one, but reviews began to sour as the trilogy went on. And audiences began to lose patience, too, as The Hobbit trilogy began being labeled a desperate cash-in, a movie series squandering the goodwill created by the absolute goddamn triumph of The Lord of the Rings movies.
Why The Hobbit Failed
Despite its success, The Hobbit movies are now talked about as if they’re hated. Like critics, audiences grew increasingly lukewarm toward the movies as they watched them. Now it’s viewed as a failure, despite its financial success.
We were wrong. We were all wrong. We were all lost in the midst of a never-ending cinematic summer and had no idea that the creative winter we’re in now would soon come.
Peter Jackson basically stopped making movies after The Hobbit trilogy. His long-time collaborator, a cinematographer, Andrew Lesnie, died shortly after they finished releasing The Hobbit movies, and Peter has admitted that his heart just wasn’t in it anymore after that.
Jackson says, “I realize that I’ve avoided doing drama films because I’d have to work with someone else who isn’t Andrew, and I think his death changed my creative path.”
We Owe Peter Jackson A Debt
When you read other things Jackson has said about the making of The Hobbit, I think it’s more than that sadness over the death of his friend. I think he simply gave all he had to give, and he had nothing left.
Peter Jackson gave it all to salvage The Hobbit from the wreckage Hollywood was creating out of it, in an era where the movie industry was already beginning to embrace anti-merit inclusivity practices and shifting its focus toward identity over quality storytelling.
If you look at photos of Peter Jackson making The Lord of the Rings, he looks like a hobbit himself. A husky, smiling man with tousled hair and tousled clothes, he looked like he’d be right at home dancing with Rosie in the Shire.
By the time The Hobbit trilogy was over, Peter Jackson had become a drained, lifeless husk of his former self. As if he’d had all the energy sucked out of his body by the forces of Mordor. As if he’d been carrying The One Ring up Mount Doom, all by himself.
Everything Jackson had left after already nearly destroying himself to make The Lord of the Rings went into The Hobbit. He did it at a time when he should have been resting, enjoying the fruit of his rewards. Taking it easy. Living it up in New Zealand, making weird independent projects for fun.
He did none of that; instead, he gave it all to us. He gave it all to The Hobbit. He gave it because he knew that by doing so, he was also preserving the legacy of his masterwork, THE masterwork, The Lord of the Rings.
Despite the prevailing view that The Hobbit trilogy was a failure, it isn’t. Peter Jackson succeeded. Sure, The Hobbit isn’t as good as The Lord of the Rings, but it’s still really, really good. More importantly, it continues the legacy of Jackson’s first three movies, carrying the torch of Tolkien’s Middle Earth without ever tarnishing it. How many other franchises can say that about their prequels?
So the next time you’re watching Amazon’s terrible Rings of Power spinoff or Star Wars’s latest awful prequel, take a moment to say thank you to Peter Jackson. Thank you, Peter, thank you for preserving a beautiful legacy. Thank you for giving it all you had, against impossible odds, year after year after year, when you could have just quit.
Enjoy your retirement, Mr. Jackson. You’ve earned it.
Entertainment
Leonardo DiCaprio can thank Simon Rex for introducing him to the “Jersey Shore” cast: 'I wanna meet them'
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/simon-rex-031126-e7ee5f2615b04bf1ac7ac15001de9477.jpg)
Rex said the reality stars were “blown away” by DiCaprio recognizing them.
Dystopian fiction thrives on a simple but unsettling question: what happens when the world we take for granted twists into something unrecognizable? The most commercially successful story in that genre of the last decade or so was The Hunger Games, though it’s far from the richest or most interesting dystopian series on offer. (Indeed, some have accused it of borrowing a little too much from Battle Royale.)
Those curious about the genre have a lot of great movies to dive into. The titles below represent some of the best in dystopian writing, leaning specifically into dystopian YA and arguably superior to the story of Katniss Everdeen. They use their genre elements to probe moral questions, experiment with narrative voice, or imagine societies that feel uncannily plausible. The best do so while also serving up a killer plot.
‘The Giver’ (1993) by Lois Lowry
“Even trained memories can’t help you now.” In The Giver, Lois Lowry imagines a society that has eliminated pain and conflict in pursuit of perfect stability. In this world, twelve-year-old Jonas is selected to become the Receiver of Memory, apprenticed to an elderly man who holds the community’s suppressed past, including experiences of love, suffering, and individuality. He also awakens to color after growing up in a world without it. But as Jonas receives these memories, he also begins to perceive the cost of his world’s enforced sameness and quietly questions the rules that govern every aspect of his life.
There are some parallels here to the show Pluribus, in that individuality has been sanded down and all strife has been eradicated, but also uniqueness, freedom, and identity. The book is jam-packed with food for thought, touching on everything from religion and gene editing to the importance of studying history. For these reasons, The Giver has become an assigned reading at many schools.
‘Ready Player One’ (2011) by Ernest Cline
“People come to the OASIS for all the things they can do, but they stay because of all the things they can be.” Most people will be familiar with Steven Spielberg‘s blockbuster movie version, but the original Ready Player One novel is well worth checking out, too. It transports readers to a near-future where environmental collapse and economic inequality drive much of humanity into the OASIS, a vast virtual reality universe. There, teenage orphan Wade Watts embarks on a high-stakes treasure hunt designed by the system’s late creator, competing against both fellow players and a ruthless corporation determined to seize control of the virtual world.
The book riffs on online gaming culture, ’80s pop culture, and hyper-commercialization, weaving in references to countless other franchises and intellectual properties. Basically, Ready Player One takes our increasingly online world and extrapolates it to an extreme conclusion. Most importantly, it remains breezy and entertaining while doing so. This book is a crowd-pleaser rather than a dour social commentary.
‘Unwind’ (2007) by Neal Shusterman
“You can’t change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.” In Unwind, Neal Shusterman presents the aftermath of a second civil war over reproductive rights. In this timeline, society has come to a chilling compromise: parents may choose to “unwind” their children between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, harvesting their body parts for transplantation. Against that backdrop, the plot focuses on three teenagers whose lives intersect as they attempt to escape this fate and uncover the truth.
This premise could easily have become a heavy-handed and didactic lecture, but, instead, the book stays complex and ambiguous throughout. Characters are painted in shades of gray rather than reduced to cartoons. Unwind also tackles some really tough and pertinent philosophical questions: what gives value to a human life, and who decides? All in all, a smart, dark, biopunk cautionary tale.
‘Uglies’ (2005) by Scott Westerfeld
“What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.” Uglies imagines a future where everyone undergoes mandatory cosmetic surgery at sixteen to become “pretty.” This society is almost entirely looks-based and deeply hierarchical. Tally Youngblood eagerly anticipates her transformation, but her perspective changes when she meets Shay, a young girl who questions the system and introduces her to a hidden community living outside societal norms, sparking a series of tense adventures.
Though targeted for teen readers, the novel stands out for its inventive voice and imaginative world-building. The playful slang and clever futuristic devices give the setting a distinctive flavor. The plot also digs into some pretty deep themes, particularly around questions about identity and what it really means to be a person. Uglies is smart in its ideas, accessible in its storytelling, and consistently absorbing to read. Unfortunately, these qualities did not come through in the lackluster film adaptation starring Joey King.
‘The Grace Year’ (2019) by Kim Liggett
“We are not safe, and we never were.” The main character of this one is Tierney Jame, a sixteen-year-old girl who lives in a rigid patriarchal society that believes young women possess dangerous magic capable of luring men. Each year, girls are banished to the wilderness for a ritualized exile meant to purge this power, and not all of them make it back alive. Tierney and her peers must struggle to survive the harsh conditions, as well as internal divisions that might prove even more deadly. Along the way, they begin to uncover the ritual’s true purpose.
Author Kim Liggett builds this setup into a visceral narrative that blends survival thriller with feminist allegory. The book’s structure plays an important role in shaping its atmosphere, and the character development is a big part of what makes everything work. We witness the girls’ psychological unraveling over their seasons spent in the wilderness.
‘The Knife of Never Letting Go’ (2008) by Patrick Ness
“We are the choices we make.” The Knife of Never Letting Go is a young adult sci-fi novel by Patrick Ness, author of A Monster Calls. It drops readers into a colonized planet where every man’s thoughts are audible in a constant stream called the Noise. Todd Hewitt, the last boy in a settlement of men, discovers a shocking secret that forces him to flee with a mysterious girl named Viola. They journey through hostile territory, and their discoveries make Todd question the violent history that shaped his community.
Ness is a great writer, serving up a propulsive plot here alongside his typically engaging prose. The novel wastes no time in getting going, pulling the reader in from the very first paragraph and keeping the narrative wheels spinning the whole way through. Once again, however, this one is a case of a solid novel being turned into a bad movie. The film adaptation, Chaos Walking, lacks the book’s depth and intelligence.
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (1985) by Margaret Atwood
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.” Everyone will be familiar with the TV series, but The Handmaid’s Tale started as an award-winning novel by Margaret Atwood. It’s set in the Republic of Gilead, a theocratic regime that reduces women to rigid roles in response to declining fertility. Offred, a Handmaid assigned to bear children for elite households, narrates her life under constant surveillance. Memories of former freedom in her past suggest that maybe, just maybe, there is a way out of her oppressive present.
In the four decades since its release, The Handmaid’s Tale has been canonized as a classic, endlessly analyzed and debated (and occasionally censored). It is certainly rich in ideas, touching on tons of concepts from politics and philosophy, riffing on everyone from Plato and Marx to Freud. It has been hailed as a flagship work of feminist dystopian fiction and has been studied in depth as a political and social allegory.
‘Never Let Me Go’ (2005) by Kazuo Ishiguro
“Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly.” Never Let Me Go follows Kathy H., who reflects on her childhood at a secluded English boarding school where students are raised for a mysterious purpose. As Kathy and her friends, Ruth and Tommy, grow older, they gradually discover the truth about their existence: they are clones, bred as sources of organs for their wealthy doppelgängers.
Where most sci-fi books would lean into the technology or pulpiness of that premise, author Kazuo Ishiguro uses it as a vehicle to explore destiny, love, and the meaning of a life. The characters are incredibly well-written, and Ishiguro’s prose style is brilliant. He’s penned several classics, and this one is among his very best, with the emotional depth of a prestige drama alongside revelations and plot developments straight out of horror. Not for nothing, Never Let Me Go has appeared on several critics’ lists of the best novels of the 21st century.
‘The Dispossessed’ (1974) by Ursula K. Le Guin
“There was process: that was all you could ever ask of the universe.” Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Dispossessed explores two contrasting societies: the anarchist world of Anarres and the capitalist planet Urras. The story centers on physicist Shevek (loosely based on J. Robert Oppenheimer) as he travels between these worlds, grappling with political ideals, personal relationships, and the pursuit of knowledge. Through his experiences, the novel examines how different systems shape human behavior, throwing in advanced mathematics, alternate timelines, and faster-than-light communication.
Le Guin’s work frequently uses speculative ideas to comment on real-world issues, and here she sets her sights on ideas around utopia, revolution, individualism, and collectiveness. Shevek’s journey becomes a meditation on the tension between individual ambition and communal values. Most of all, the book challenges readers to reconsider assumptions about freedom and responsibility. It was well-reviewed and went on to win all three of the big awards for sci-fi and fantasy writing: the Locus, the Nebula, and the Hugo.
‘The Road’ (2006) by Cormac McCarthy
“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.” The Road presents a stark post-apocalyptic landscape overrun by scavengers, marauders, and cannibals. In this desolate world, a father and son journey in search of safety and sustenance, their bond offering the lone point of light amidst the darkness. The story is minimalist but hard-hitting. The haunting plot and Cormac McCarthy‘s signature spare prose burrow under the skin.
Yet, for all the bleakness, it is probably the author’s most optimistic book. There is hope in it, even if it’s elusive and fragile, making The Road McCarthy’s most accessible book. It reels the reader in with its tension and psychological drama rather than alienating them completely (as some of the author’s novels do). It’s a fantastic epic horror that leans into complex characterization rather than cheap genre thrills.
Kathie Lee Gifford is sharing her perspective on being a Christian and loving the LGBTQIA+ community.
“That one is a four-letter word, and it’s called L-O-V-E, love,” Gifford, 72, shared on the Monday, March 9, episode of Outkick’s “Tomi Lahren Is Fearless” podcast. “I’ve had as many or more gay friends than straight friends, or I don’t know how many letters there are now. They really got to stop with that. We know what you mean, you know?”
While podcast host Tomi Lahren chuckled at the remarks, Gifford made it clear that she’s “not telling anybody how to live their life.”
“I never have,” she continued. “I just know what Jesus said: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love God first.’”
The conversation was sparked when Lahren, 33, brought up Shia LaBeouf’s headline-making quotes about being a Catholic.
“I know I’m f***ing deep off into the Bible,” LaBeouf, 39, previously said during a February 28 interview with Channel 5 With Andrew Callaghan. “I know what the Bible says … about homosexuality.”
When host Andrew Callaghan specifically asked what the Bible says about homosexuality, LaBeouf replied, “Nah.”
Lahren asked Gifford for her perspective on Christians who also love the LGBTQIA+ community.
“The scriptures do have something to say about it. You can also just look that up, too,” Gifford replied. “I can’t hate anybody that I say I love. Love cannot live alongside hatred. It’s oil and water.”
The former Today show cohost followed up with a message she received from her God when she was just starting off in the industry at a young age.
“‘Kathie, you will be too busy loving people that you disagree with to judge them.’ I don’t judge anybody,” Gifford said. “That’s God’s business. If you’re more interested in what the scriptures say, Google it.”
Gifford — who recently released her latest novel, called Nero and Paul: How the Gospel of Grace Defeated the Ruler of Rome — has been open about her Christian faith ever since she found success as a daytime talk show host.
After stepping away from the Today show in 2019, the bestselling author has continued to share her faith through various platforms.
“This book is a statement that eternal truth will always conquer evil, a message as relevant in our time as it was in theirs,” she wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, March 10. “My prayer is that as you read, you will be inspired to consider your own place in God’s great story. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me.”
March Madness hasn’t even started yet, and one unidentified fan at the ACC Tournament already delivered the most viral moment of the college basketball bracket season.
His heckle of choice? A setlist of ‘90s bangers performed at full volume during free throws. The clips are everywhere, and honestly, we can’t stop watching.
The Moment That Broke the ACC Tournament Broadcast
The first round of the ACC Tournament tipped off on Tuesday, March 10, with the Pittsburgh Panthers facing the Stanford Cardinal. Stanford entered as the No. 10 seed against Pitt’s No. 15, so Pitt was firmly in underdog territory.
But at least one college basketball fan in the stands was ready to do his part.
When Stanford freshman guard Ebuka Okorie stepped to the free throw line, the fan — presumed to be a Pitt supporter — didn’t bother with the usual screaming-and-clapping routine.
Instead, he started belting out the Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 hit “Iris.” Not humming. Not casually singing along. Full main-character energy, so loud he came through crystal clear on the broadcast.
The play-by-play announcer clearly didn’t know what to make of it: “Ekorie hits the free throw despite the presence of the really loud guy singing the Goo Goo Dolls behind us. Not sure how that didn’t throw him off.”
One song would’ve been enough to go viral. This fan brought a full setlist.
Later in the second half, when Stanford senior AJ Rohosy stepped to the free throw line, the fan — presumed to be the same guy — started singing The Cranberries’ 1993 hit “Linger.”
If Dolores O’Riordan’s vocal runs just started playing in your head involuntarily, same.
Then Rohosy returned to the line a few minutes later, and the fan belted out Creed’s 1999 hit “Higher.”
Here’s the part that makes this whole saga even wilder. Pitt won the game 84-83. One point. Stanford went 5-6 from the free throw line.
Nobody can say for certain whether a man screaming “Iris” directly caused missed free throws. But going 5-6 from the line in a one-point loss? That’s the kind of stat line that makes you squint.
Does This College Basketball Trend Sound Familiar?
If this whole thing feels vaguely familiar, there’s a reason. Back in 2013, a fan pulled a similar move during a game between North Carolina and Belmont.
UNC player James Michael McAdoo missed a free throw while a fan was singing Miley Cyrus’ 2013 hit “Wrecking Ball.”
According to CBS Sports, that fan also sang 50 Cent’s “In Da Club,” The Tokens’ “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and a slew of Bruno Mars songs during the game. Ahead of his time, clearly.
But this Pitt fan’s commitment to a specific 90s rock aesthetic — paired with the one-point margin of victory — takes the whole concept to another level.
With March Madness approaching, the question on everyone’s mind is whether other fans will step up with their own nostalgia-fueled setlists. Will someone attempt “Mambo No. 5” during a critical possession? We can only hope.
Whoever this Pitt fan is, he just set the bar for heckling creativity heading into tournament season. The 90s called, and they want their flowers.
On this episode of ‘Stepping Into The Shade Room,’ Raven-Symoné steps in to discuss her career, relationships over the years, marriage, and rumors! While speaking with Thembi, Symoné opened up about growing up in the spotlight, navigating fame after the success of ‘That’s So Raven‘ and ‘The Cheetah Girls,’ and facing body image concerns, opening up about plastic surgery, beauty trends, and more!
Raven-Symoné Speaks On Body Trends & Undergoing Two Breast Reductions & Liposuction Before The Age Of 18
About 16 minutes into the sitdown, Raven-Symoné opened up about the pervasiveness of body trends and undergoing two extreme surgeries before the age of 18. Speaking transparently, Symoné admitted that she asked to undergo the liposuction. However, she never wanted the breast reduction surgeries.
“I hope that we remember this: when it comes to trends for body… to surgically distress your body and your temple to match a trend, no matter how long it is, hurts my heart for those who have to go through that,” Symoné shared for those with similar experiences. “And everything changes — I think it’s the grace that you give people that don’t look like the trend at the time that matters…”
The Former Disney Channel Star Talks Her Relationship With Orlando Brown
About 31 minutes into the interview, Raven-Symoné was asked about her former co-star, Orlando Brown. Symoné explained that she recently saw a clip where Brown said she wants to be a “man so bad.” In response, Symoné explained that his comment was “a little disrespectful.”
“You don’t talk to me, you don’t know the journey that I’m going through — especially in my community. It’s not that, actually. There’s a spectrum of human expression, and that’s what I sit on. But again, get your coin, boo. Don’t you get paid for interviews? I’m gonna stay out of his business,” Symone ultimately concluded.
Scroll above to watch her comments and full sitdown!
RELATED: B2K & Bow Wow Reunite, Talk Celebrity Crushes And Beef! | SITSR (Exclusive)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Kylie Jenner has caught the acting bug after “The Moment ”cameo: 'I 100 percent want to do more'
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Kylie-Jenner-2025-Met-Gala-031126-34a44b79d5dc40a092657c70e63785e7.jpg)
Jenner’s sister Kim Kardashian also appeared on scripted series such as ‘All’s Fair’ and ‘American Horror Story: Delicate.’
Whew! Dwight Howard is breaking his silence after his estranged wife, Amy Luciani, posted an emotional claim online suggesting the former NBA star had been involved with drugs. The former basketball star took to Snapchat to address the rumors head-on, making it clear that he’s not letting social media narratives go unanswered.
RELATED: Amy Luciani Reacts After Dwight Howard Files For Divorce, Royce Reed Seemingly Weighs In
Howard Hits Back After Estranged Wife’s Allegations
In a post shared Wednesday, Howard uploaded a simple black background with white text that read, “Never done coke in my life yall will believe everything yall see on the internet lol.” While brief, the message was pointed, leaving little room for misinterpretation and signaling that he intends to set the record straight on his own terms.
Despite all the drug and CPS drama, Dwight Howard hasn’t exactly been hiding. A video surfaced of the former NBA star grinning and waving while attending the Lakers vs. Knicks game on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles — looking calm, collected, and very much unbothered. Meanwhile, Amy Luciani has gone radio silent on Instagram, leaving fans to speculate what’s really going on behind the scenes.
The Roomies Ain’t Here For It Today
As soon as TSR posted the story on Instagram, the comment section went off. Some folks weren’t holding back, claiming Dwight was telling a bold-faced lie on what was supposed to be a “nice day,” while others argued they never saw him with anything, so maybe he was telling the truth. And, of course, a few couldn’t resist pointing out that someone in that house was clearly doing something — and it sure wasn’t the kids.
One Instagram user @lexijonesmua commented, “Girl bye 😂”
This Instagram user @iamcleotrapa added, “It wasn’t just the internet but okay“
Then Instagram user @campset_beejay claimed, “I believe him!! We seen it with HER not him 🙏🏾”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @dajahs said, “Somebody in that house sniffing it“
Likewise, Instagram user @avonlea_camille shared, “How sir……. ain’t nobody pulled out a bag of coke on live FUHNUTHIN“
Lastly, Instagram user @devodontlie wrote, “Dwight ain’t never touched DA WHITE?! Hmmmm…. 🤨”
So, What’s Been Going On With Dwight?
Fans are asking: What exactly is Dwight Howard up to? After Amy Luciani dropped a video accusing Dwight of drug struggles and allegedly forcing his 12-year-old to fabricate a story for CPS, the internet immediately went off. In the clip, she showed a clear bag and a small silver vial she claims contained cocaine — but the details around why CPS removed his daughter or what Dwight’s son allegedly had to say remain murky.
Adding even more fuel to the fire, Braylon Howard hopped on Instagram to clap back — or maybe just shade. Sharing multiple posts and videos, he reminded fans, “I told y’all,” while adding that his mom had also warned about the situation. “But my momma crazy, my side of the family crazy, I’m crazy, my brother crazy, my sister crazy…I hope you getting the help you need, but I told y’all,” he said. Braylon’s caption made it even clearer: he hopes his dad is getting help but also called out that “other stuff you doin gotta stop.”
RELATED: Dwight Howard Attends NBA Game As His & Royce Reed’s Son Braylon Weighs In On Amy Luciani’s Allegations (VIDEOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
‘Sheriff Country’ Episode 12 Sneak Peek Shows Mickey Investigating a Violent Kidnapping [Exclusive]
Now more than 10 episodes in, CBS obviously has a hit on its hands with Sheriff Country. Considering the popularity of its flagship series, Fire Country, the show’s success isn’t a complete surprise, but when you go into spin-off territory, there’s always a possibility that the project will crash and burn. But, with a Season 2 renewal bagged all the way back in December, the budding Sheriff Country fandom can expect to go on more calls with Morena Baccarin’s Mickey Fox next year. Today, Collider is excited to unveil an exclusive first look at the upcoming episode of the procedural, which is slated to air on Friday, March 13. With so much still unfolding from the midseason premiere, the stakes have never been as high as they are now for Mickey and the rest of her team.
For a brief refresher, Sheriff Country’s midseason finale put numerous characters at risk after a separatist group brought the fight to the police station. It’s there that Mickey and the rest of the team raced against the clock to save the life of Travis (Christopher Gorham), who had taken a bullet during the tense altercation. After the dust settled, Travis and Mickey — who were introduced to audiences as ex-spouses — seem to be moving towards a reconciliation that could very well spell the start of a new relationship.
In our exclusive first look at this week’s episode, titled “Plus One,” viewers will see Mickey and Boone (Matt Lauria) embark on the newest case threatening Edgewater. The team of officers is looking into a brutal home invasion and, after poring over the details for hours on end, they’re ready to explore other options. At the top of the clip, Boone puts forward the idea that it was never a home invasion and that, instead, they’ve walked into a violent kidnapping. Laying out the facts for his colleague, Boone makes an incredible case for his new theory, until Gina (Caroline Rhea) comes in and blows up his spot with a story about his online dating life.
The Truth Is In Here — The Collider TV Quiz!
This week, X marks the spot. Eight conspiratorial questions to see if you’re a real X-Files fan… or if you’re an alien posing as an agent.
What Else Does CBS Have on Its Spring Docket?
Between Fire Country and Sheriff’s Country, things have already been heating up (pun intended) at CBS during its stretch from winter to spring. The long-running network is currently home to a slew of original programming that recently saw the return of its beloved reality competition series, Survivor, and is also the place for audiences to get caught up on other favorites from sitcoms like Ghosts and The Neighborhood to procedurals including Tracker, Boston Blue, and the FBI franchise.
Check out our exclusive first look at this week’s episode of Sheriff Country above.
- Release Date
-
October 17, 2025
- Showrunner
-
Matt Lopez
Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
We love a morning java run, but our energy levels (and wallets) don’t agree. Coffee often leaves Us tired by noon, desperate for a fix and eventually dropping $8 on another. Morning Made matcha takes the jitters, crashes and sky-high price tags out of caffeination, making your a.m. routine calm, crave-worthy and sustainable in more ways than one.
These Matcha Latte Mix pouches bring barista quality to your kitchen. But unlike your usual coffee-shop indulgence, they’re rich in antioxidants, low in sugar and made with ceremonial-grade matcha. The result? All-day energy and laser focus to power you through your day. These lattes just dropped at Target, and at only $0.70 per drink, they’re bound to sell out.
Get the Morning Made Matcha Latte Mix for $10 at Target!
Be it original, strawberry, or mango matcha, you’ll find a minimal ingredient list and only 30 milligrams of caffeine per serving. These pouches even contain L-theanine for calmness and mental clarity. From work days to school pick-ups, you’ll feel zen and sharp, not tense and tired. The smooth umami flavor is just a bonus.
Better yet, Morning Made’s tasty lattes are much more convenient than a stop at Starbucks. Each drink takes two minutes to make (if that), requiring only warm water, a quick froth and milk to top it off. Whether you’re moseying or running out the door, these matcha packets make your morning routine that much easier. It’s no wonder shoppers are obsessed!
Although these pouches just dropped at Target, the matcha already has a cult following on TikTok and Morning Made’s website. Fans highlight the balanced profile, non-bitter taste and affordable price point, among many other things. One wrote, “I switched to matcha from coffee, and it made a huge difference to my life. I don’t crash after lunch anymore, my gut doesn’t bloat as much and I feel just as energized in the morning. Plus, it tastes delicious.”
It doesn’t matter if you’re already a matcha lover or a transitioning coffee fan. You’ll be obsessed with this new morning ritual — as will your wallet.
Get the Morning Made Matcha Latte Mix for $10 at Target!
Hilaria Baldwin is once again spotlighting her sprawling Hamptons mansion in hopes of finally finding a buyer after the luxury estate lingered on the market for four years.
Despite price cuts and renewed promotion on social media, the Baldwins’ lavish retreat remains unsold, turning what was once their beloved family getaway into an unexpectedly stubborn real estate saga.
Hilaria Baldwin Shares Emotional Farewell To Beloved Hamptons Home
Hilaria Baldwin recently took to Instagram to showcase the couple’s Amagansett property once more, posting a video tour and a carousel of professional photos while speaking candidly about the decision to sell.
Addressing followers directly, the yoga instructor explained that the family is ready for a new phase in life.
“Our family is going to go off on a new adventure, which means we are selling our Hamptons home,” she said in the video.
Reflecting on the years spent there, she continued, “It’s bittersweet because we have made so many amazing memories there, and we are excited for our next chapter!”
She also expressed hope that the estate will soon welcome a new family.
“While we are sad to leave it, we know the next owners will love it just as much as we do… so I wanted to share it here… it really is a piece of paradise.”
The 42-year-old also included a link to the property listing in her Instagram bio, encouraging followers to take a closer look at the luxurious residence.
Price Cuts And A Listing That Keeps Returning
According to the Daily Mail, the Baldwins originally placed the 10,000-square-foot estate on the market in September 2022 with an eye-watering asking price of $29 million.
However, the listing has repeatedly disappeared and reappeared over the years.
Four months after its debut, the price dropped to $24.9 million. Later attempts to sell it saw the property removed from the market altogether, only to return again after further adjustments.
The latest update suggests another reduction. The listing appears to have fallen from $21 million in December 2025 to $19.99 million, representing a significant drop from the initial figure.
Despite the cuts, a buyer has yet to emerge.
Hilaria Baldwin And Family Life Inside The 10,000 Square Foot Estate
The property itself has long been a centerpiece of the Baldwin family’s public life.
Alec Baldwin first purchased the estate in 1996 for $1.75 million, long before it became the backdrop for their bustling household.
In recent years, the sprawling home has also been featured on the reality series “The Baldwins,” which highlights the couple’s hectic life raising seven children together.
Their family includes Carmen, Rafael, Leonardo, Romeo, Eduardo, Lucía and the youngest, Ilaria.
At one point, the couple even planned to renovate the beachfront retreat. Those plans were abandoned when they instead opted to sell the home in 2022.
Alec also appeared in a promotional real estate video in January 2024, praising the property and recalling his happiest memories there.
In the clip, the actor shared that he was “always happiest” while staying at the house and pointed out that he and his wife had added “additions” that expanded the building to roughly 10,000 square feet.
Controversies That Followed The Baldwin Family
The effort to sell the property has unfolded alongside several controversies surrounding the Baldwin family.
One of the most significant came in October 2021 during the filming of the Western movie “Rust” in New Mexico.
Alec Baldwin was holding a prop revolver that discharged, fatally wounding cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The actor has consistently denied pulling the trigger and has maintained that he was informed the weapon contained no live ammunition.
The ongoing fallout from the incident created a difficult backdrop for the home’s listing, which repeatedly came on and off the market amid heightened attention to the case.
Meanwhile, Hilaria Baldwin has also faced scrutiny over her public persona after critics questioned her claims about Spanish heritage in 2020, an episode that led to widespread online mockery.
Hilaria Baldwin Painting Sparks Online Mockery
The Hamptons home has also become the setting for another unexpected viral moment involving a striking piece of artwork displayed in the living room.
The large painting, created by artist Brendan O’Connell, was inspired by a paparazzi photograph showing Hilaria Baldwin grocery shopping in front of shelves filled with Rice-A-Roni boxes.
The artwork drew attention when the Baldwins showcased their home in a photo profile for The New York Times.
Discussing the painting with the newspaper, Hilaria admitted, “I have to admit that I’m extraordinarily embarrassed that there is a gigantic painting of me in this room.”
She added with humor, “It’s like: ‘Welcome to my living room. Here is a painting of me.’”
However, when Alec Baldwin later shared highlights from the profile on Instagram, social media users quickly turned the moment into a joke.
Among the reactions were comments such as “This is multi-faceted rage bait,” “She can’t be too embarrassed with the picture bc she hung it up,” and “Only a narcissist would have their pic in their living room. Who wants to see that!!!”
As the Baldwins continue to promote the Hamptons property, the home remains both a symbol of family memories and a lingering real estate mystery, still waiting for its next owner.
Live Gold & Bitcoin Market Analysis | Practical & Educational Trading Session no.1625
Mandelson files released at sensitive time for UK relations with Donald Trump
Crypto bull run possible as Trump predicts Iran war will end soon
-
Business5 days ago
Form 8K Entergy Mississippi LLC For: 6 March
-
Tech7 days agoBitwarden adds support for passkey login on Windows 11
-
News Videos2 days ago10th Algebra | Financial Planning | Question Bank Solution | Board Exam 2026
-
Fashion5 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Ann Taylor
-
Crypto World2 days agoParadigm, a16z, Winklevoss Capital, Balaji Srinivasan among investors in ZODL
-
Tech15 hours agoA 1,300-Pound NASA Spacecraft To Re-Enter Earth’s Atmosphere
-
Sports6 days ago499 runs and 34 sixes later, India beat England to enter T20 World Cup final | Cricket News
-
Politics5 days agoTop Mamdani aide takes progressive project to the UK
-
Business1 day agoExxonMobil seeks to move corporate registration from New Jersey to Texas
-
Sports4 days agoThree share 2-shot lead entering final round in Hong Kong
-
Sports4 days agoBraveheart Lakshya downs Lai in epic battle to enter All England Open final | Other Sports News
-
NewsBeat4 hours agoResidents reaction as Shildon murder probe enters second day
-
Entertainment5 days agoHailey Bieber Poses For Sexy Selfies In New Luscious Lip Thirst Traps
-
NewsBeat6 days agoPiccadilly Circus just unveiled ‘London’s newest tourist attraction’ and it only costs 80p to enter
-
Business3 days agoSearch for Nancy Guthrie Enters 37th Day as FBI Probes Wi-Fi Jammer Theory
-
Business15 hours agoSearch Enters Sixth Week With New Leads in Tucson Abduction Case
-
NewsBeat2 days agoPagazzi Lighting enters administration as 70 jobs lost and 11 stores close across Scotland
-
Tech2 days agoDespite challenges, Ireland sixth in EU for board gender diversity
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Harry Styles Has ‘Struggled’ to Discuss Liam Payne’s Death
-
Crypto World7 days agoNew Crypto Mutuum Finance (MUTM) Reports V1 Protocol Progress as Roadmap Enters Phase 3