Many of us were first introduced to Monique Coleman and Corbin Bleu in 2006 when they played love interests Taylor McKessie and Chad Danforth in the original ‘High School Musical.’ More than 20 years later, the pair has shared the screen in four films, including the ‘High School Musical’ trilogy and the 2021 Lifetime movie ‘A Christmas Dance Reunion.’

As the longtime friends celebrate over two decades of friendship, Monique recently found herself clarifying a few things after a message she shared sparked debate across social media.

RELATED: Congrats! Vanessa Hudgens Confirms Arrival Of Baby No. 2 With Sweet Hospital Post (PHOTO)

Monique Coleman Celebrates 20 Years Of Friendship With Corbin Bleu

On Tuesday, a post from Monique Coleman began making rounds across social media. The post featured sweet photos of the actress alongside her longtime friend and co-star, Corbin Bleu, as the pair celebrated 20 years of friendship. Monique also tagged Corbin’s wife, Sasha Clements, in the post. The caption read, “20 years of loving this beautiful human. Thx for sharing your husband with me @sashclements #workwife #realwife.”

Social Media Reacts

Monique Coleman’s caption quickly sparked a debate across social media, with many users sharing their thoughts in The Shade Room’s comment section. While some felt the caption crossed a boundary, others argued that it was simply a harmless joke between longtime friends.

Instagram user @autty.c wrote, “Ain’t no way imma let my husband work wife say this in front of millions of people 😂😂”

Instagram user @ogdanidollas added, “The work wife hashtag would have me swinging. The whole caption actually”

While Instagram user @classiccourtneyyy wrote, “They were really all in this together huh”

Instagram user @prettychaoss_ wrote, “My inner child is screaming 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍” 

Instagram user @simplyyyroyal added, “Atleast she thanked the wife. Kerry Washington would’ve just posted wedding pics and said I love you 😂😭✨”

While Instagram user @illnnanaa wrote, “Why yall upset??? fun fact for the plot twist the Wife took the picture 😂😂😂😂😂”

Instagram user @ki2.prettyy wrote, “Lmao ” thanks for sharing your husband with me” ¿ this is why mine can’t  have female friends”

Instagram user @lala_skyy added, “Soulmates don’t always need to be romantic maybe they did realize it.”

While Instagram user @illnnanaa wrote, “Why yall upset??? fun fact for the plot twist the Wife took the picture”

Monique Clarifies Her “Work Wife” Comment Alongside A Photo With Corbin Bleu’s Wife Sasha

Following the online debate, Monique Coleman stepped into the comments to clear the air after one user wrote, “‘Thanks for sharing your husband’” is crazy verbiage.” The actress responded, “Let’s just chalk it up to millennial boomer language. It’s meant innocently and sincerely. Some people lose friends when they get married, and I’m grateful that’s not the case here.”

Monique later took to her Instagram Story and shared a smiling FaceTime screenshot with Sasha Clements. Alongside the photo, she wrote, “FaceTiming with @sashclements because apparently the joke I made in my last post is going viral. I didn’t know #workwife was fighting words. Oops, my bad.”

Furthermore, Sasha even reposted Monique’s story, writing, “The internet is silly… I love you so much @_moniquecoleman.”

Ultimately, Sasha also appeared to take the situation lightly. To note, she commented on Monique’s original post, writing, “My angels.” 

RELATED: ‘High School Musical’ Star Monique Coleman Says Her Character Wore Headbands Because The Crew Didn’t Know How To Style Black Hair

More than five years after Supernatural aired its controversial and widely critiqued final episode, the long-running fantasy series continues to inspire the kind of loyalty that most television shows can only dream about. Fans still regularly pack convention halls to hear stories from the cast, revisit favorite episodes, and celebrate characters who left a lasting impression across the show’s 15 seasons.

During a panel at Big Lick Comic Con NOVA moderated by Collider’s Maggie Lovitt, Amara and Rowena actors Emily Swallow and Ruth Connell spent time reflecting on their experiences joining the beloved series and becoming part of its famously devoted fandom. Eventually, one audience member asked a question about the future of the franchise that sparked an unexpected pitch. During the fan Q&A portion of the panel, one attendee asked a simple question: when is Supernatural going to get its own version of The Boys called The Girls? The suggestion immediately drew a laugh from the audience and an enthusiastic response from both actresses. Connell said:

“I love that question, I think The Girls is a great idea.”

Emily Swallow and Ruth Connell Want a Female-Led ‘Supernatural’ Series Called ‘The Girls’

Image via The CW

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Swallow was equally supportive, calling it “an excellent question” before offering her own thoughts on what such a project could look like. Rather than simply creating a direct counterpart to The Boys using women from the Supernatural cast, she suggested that a hypothetical series called The Girls could head in a completely different direction while still focusing on characters from the Supernatural universe.

There is, of course, a sizable and obvious connection between the two existing franchises. Supernatural was originally created by Eric Kripke, who now serves as the creative force behind The Boys, which just finished its five-season run on Prime Video. Connell even referenced Kripke while discussing the idea, noting that he remains heavily involved with The Boys. “I did make a slight complaint that a lot of the guys had been in The Boys but none of the women, but [Kripke just said] he respects the women too much to make them do The Boys,” joked Connell. Swallow, meanwhile, seemed more interested in imagining what a completely different type of show could look like if it ever carried the title The Girls.

The discussion also highlighted something that continues to make Supernatural stand out among genre television fandoms. Even years after the series concluded, fans remain deeply invested in its world and characters. Whether The Girls stays a convention joke or not, the idea stands as a fun reminder that the cast still enjoys thinking about the future of the franchise just as much as the fans do.

Stay tuned at Collider for more on all your favorite TV shows and movies.

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Release Date

2005 – 2020

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Network

The WB, The CW

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Showrunner

Eric Kripke

Directors

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Philip Sgriccia, John F. Showalter, Kim Manners, Thomas J. Wright, Charles Beeson, Guy Norman Bee, Richard Speight Jr., Mike Rohl, John Badham, Steve Boyum, Amyn Kaderali, Jensen Ackles, Tim Andrew, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeannot Szwarc, P.J. Pesce, Nina Lopez-Corrado, James L. Conway, amanda tapping, J. Miller Tobin, Stefan Pleszczynski, John MacCarthy, Jerry Wanek, Ben Edlund

Writers

Meredith Glynn, Davy Perez, Raelle Tucker, Cathryn Humphris, Brett Matthews, Nancy Won, John Bring, Ben Acker, Daniel Knauf, David Ehrman, James Krieg, Trey Callaway

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During Part 2 of the “Summer House” reunion, Ciara Miller spoke with host Andy Cohen about her relationship with Amanda Batula and West Wilson, saying that she didn’t believe the pair ever really had her back. While discussing the challenges Miller has faced while dating interracially, the Bravo veteran said that Wilson and Batula’s earlier comments about empathizing with her as a Black woman weren’t authentic.

Miller has been open about the backlash she’s received from the public for being a Black woman who dates white men. During a specific conversation earlier in the season, Miller told Wilson and Batula that she had struggled to cope with the negativity.

She opened up even further about the dynamics of interracial dating with a producer, according to Bravo’s Daily Dish.

“The hardest thing with, like, the me and West situation is that, like, everyone’s always just like ‘Oh, you let a white man play you on national TV.’ And, like, it’s regardless of how we feel about each other; it’s, like, the way that it looks to the entire world. Yeah, I guess if I could help it, I would, but you can’t help who you love. You can’t help, like, who you are attracted to sometimes,” Miller said.

Ciara Miller Doesn’t Believe Wilson And Batula Actually Understood Her While Filming ‘Summer House’

While speaking with Cohen during Part 2 of the reunion, Miller recalled another conversation she had with Wilson and Batula, in which they said they recognized the backlash she had received. When asked whether Miller believed them, she said she did at the time but doesn’t now.

“After watching the season back, I think it’s very clear that Amanda and West were using buzzwords of like, ‘I see you. I hear you,’ to, like, satiate maybe what I needed to hear,” Miller said. “But they didn’t really see or hear me.”

Batula jumped into the conversation, insisting that she had been authentic with Miller over the summer.

“Everything that I’ve said to you over the summer, everything that I’ve felt, everything that we’ve talked about was truly how I felt in those moments,” Batula said. “I got caught up in my feelings, and I… I… It doesn’t matter. Like, this has hurt me a lot, like, for you.”

Ciara Miller Shares When She First Believed Wilson And Batula Were Hooking Up

The first two parts of the “Summer House” reunion have centered heavily on Wilson and Batula’s surprise romance. It’s caused discord within the cast because of Wilson’s previous relationship with Miller. Batula and Miller had also been best friends for six years.

Last week, Miller told Cohen that she believed Wilson and Batula were hooking up after seeing the latter’s location pinned at Wilson’s apartment in New York City.

“I, like, went to call Amanda to invite her out to drinks with me and Mia [Calabrese], and her location was at West’s house,” she said. “And so, I had called, and she didn’t answer. And then [I] texted, and [she] didn’t answer.”

Wilson and Batula confirmed their romance in March 2026 after intense speculation. In their joint statement, the two reality stars said, “We’ve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected. Our connection grew out of a genuine, long-standing friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.”

Wilson’s Co-Stars Aren’t Vibing With Him

According to a previous report from The Blast, many of Wilson’s “Summer House” co-stars are furious with him for how he’s treated Miller.

KJ Dillard spoke with fellow cast member Carl Radke about the matter, saying Wilson hasn’t changed his behavior.

“I know people make mistakes. I’m someone that gives grace, trust me,” Dillard said. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes, and people have given me grace, but it just seems like he’s not learning from his mistakes.”

An Esteemed Journalist Also Slammed Wilson And Batula

Giant monsters are all the rage right now, with Godzilla Minus One rampaging its way to the franchise’s first Oscar last year and Legendary’s MonsterVerse regularly stomping its way onto the big and small screen. Now, a new kaiju film is emerging from the bowels of the Earth, and it features a reunion from a fan-favorite Godzilla movie. Collider is proud to exclusively reveal new casting for Kaiju: Island of Fire, which is officially in production in Japan and is expected to be released later this year.

The latest additions to the cast are Yuki Morita (Godzilla), Jason Schombing (Timecop), Jerry Tremble (Heat), Dylan Schombing (Warcraft), and Seth Whittaker (Batwoman). They join the already announced Wes Wing (Godzilla Minus Zero), Tom Constantine (Snake Eyes), Robert Scott Field (Hoshi 35), Tomoko Ai (Terror of Mechagodzilla), Chuck Wilson (Two Homelands), Masaaki Neguchi (Made in Vancouver), Yoshiro Uchida (Gamera: The Giant Monster), Linda Miller (King Kong Escapes), Carl Craig (Gamera vs. Viras), and Inge Murata (Shin Godzilla). A number of the stars of Kaiju: Island of Fire are veterans of the kaiju genre; notably, Field, Wilson, and Gilbert all starred together in 1991’s Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, a classic kaiju movie that heralded the return of the three-headed dragon that some consider to be Godzilla’s archnemesis.

What Is Kaiju: Island of Fire’ About?

Image via Northstar Pictures

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In Kaiju: Island of Fire, a construction crew is set to a remote and ancient Japanese island to begin building a new military base. When that team disappears, a multinational joint military and scientific task force is sent to retrieve them. Once there, however, the team finds that the island is a fiery hellscape. Soon, they’ll have to fight to survive against the enormous creature that calls the island home. Can any of them escape, or will they all fall prey to the massive, merciless monster? Either way, the movie is the first film in a planned franchise, so don’t be surprised if the beast doesn’t come to a permanent end by the time the credits roll.

Kaiju: Island of Fire is written and directed by veteran stunt performer Andrew L. Phillips, who has worked on films like Captain America: The First Avenger, World War Z, and The Dark Knight Rises; it is his second feature as director, after 2021’s Le Retour du Samouraï. It is produced by James H. Christy and Avery Guerra, and is a production of Northstar Pictures.

Kaiju: Island of Fire is now in production in Japan and is slated to be released later this year. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

Daphne Joy has turned heads after using a Diddy song to tease more risqué videos of herself.

RELATED: Daphne Joy Breaks Silence On Viral Video Allegedly Showing Her, Diddy & A Male Engaging In An Intimate Act

Daphne Joy Uses Diddy Song To Tease More Risqué Videos Of Herself

On the evening of Tuesday, June 2, Daphne Joy returned to Instagram with a brief but intimate clip. Furthermore, the on-screen text read, “Watch… don’t touch.” This, while the clip showed Joy dressed in a blue lingerie set, flexing her body in different poses, and even appearing topless at one point, with her back to the camera.

“would u watch..? 👀” Joy captioned the video, which also used ‘I Need A Girl (Pt. 2)’ by Diddy as its background audio.

Click here to watch the NSFW, risqué clip.

She Turns Heads With Social Media Users

Social media users immediately slid into Daphne Joy’s comment section, raising eyebrows at the clip and her use of Diddy’s song as background music.

RELATED: Internet Users Are In Daphne Joy’s Comments Following Alleged Clip That Appears To Show Her & Diddy In Explicit Encounter With Another Man

More On Daphne Joy’s Risqué Videos & Why She & Diddy Are Making Headlines

As The Shade Room previously reported, earlier this week, footage surfaced of Joy and Diddy involved in an apparent sexual encounter with a male escort named Sly Diggler. After the clip surfaced, DJ Vlad released a video statement confirming its validity. Then, on Monday, June 1, Joy released a statement addressing the recording, which she says was non-consensual.

RELATED: Who Is Daphne Joy? 7 Things To Know About The Model Trending Over Viral Diddy Video (WATCH)

After releasing the statement, Daphne Joy returned to her usual social media posts – sharing more risque content, which only provoked continued conversation.

RELATED: Chile! Daphne Joy Raises Eyebrows After Teasing Explicit Content Following “Heartbreaking” Intimate Tape Leak (VIDEOS)

Roommates, when it comes to Dame Dash and Jay-Z, it seems there’s always a new chapter in their never-ending saga. While some former business partners keep things cordial from a distance, Dame apparently had a few thoughts he just couldn’t keep to himself this week. From critiquing Jay-Z’s recent performance to offering up an unexpected review of what he claims the rapper’s breath smelled like back in the day, the Roc-A-Fella co-founder put Jay’s name — and allegedly his mouth — back in the conversation once again, and social media is already sounding off.

RELATED: Clapback Season! Dame Dash Reacts After Jay-Z Seemingly Calls Him Out In Viral Roots Picnic Freestyle (PHOTO)

Dame Explains Why Jay-Z Had Him Embarrassed

During a recent conversation with The Art of Dialogue, Damon Dash shared his reaction to Jay-Z’s rare solo performance at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia—and let’s just say he wasn’t handing out compliments. Dame admitted he felt “embarrassed” for his former business partner, saying he couldn’t understand why the rap mogul was still performing at this stage in his career.

“It must be embarrassing for him to now have to be on that stage, not the same version of himself, and still have to work at that age because he has to,” Damon Dash said.

Dame Claims Jay-Z’s Breath Needed Help

As if critiquing the show wasn’t enough, Dash took things a step further by revisiting a personal gripe he’s apparently been holding onto for years. While reflecting on their history together, he randomly claimed that Jay-Z’s breath “always used to stink,” adding that chewing cinnamon gum allegedly didn’t help the situation.

“Jay’s breath always used to stink. And you know why, because for some reason — don’t you hate when n*ggas got bad breath and chew Big Red [gum.] It’s just cinnamon doo-doo. Nobody wants to smell that,” Dash revealed.

@theartofdialoguetv

#DameDash says #JayZ breath used to always stink as he addresses #JayZ for dissing him during his Roots Picnic freestyle. (🎥: The Art Of Dialogue/YouTube)

♬ original sound – The Art Of Dialogue

Did Jay-Z Address Damon Dash Onstage At Roots Picnic?

Despite the barrage of jokes and criticism, Dash went on to suggest that fans no longer want to see this version of Jay-Z and even jokingly launched his own “Make Jay Great Again” campaign, urging the Brooklyn icon to ditch the natural hair, get a Caesar cut, throw on a Yankees cap, and return to the image Dame believes fans remember most. But Dash didn’t stop there, also poking fun at Jay’s now-signature afro and claiming the hairstyle was so distracting he could barely focus on the performance itself.

Meanwhile, fans quickly pointed out the irony of the comments, especially given Dash’s own well-documented financial struggles. To make matters even messier, some listeners believe Jay-Z may have subtly addressed Dame during his Roots Picnic set when he rapped about a “Chatty Patty” who was “down on his luck again” — a line many interpreted as a direct shot at his former Roc-A-Fella partner.

RELATED: 99 Problems? Jay-Z Seemingly Disses Drake, Nicki Minaj, Ye & More During Spicy Roots Picnic Freestyle (VIDEOS)

Beyond the Gates spoilers for June 8-12, 2026 see the huge Young and the Restless and BTG crossover as Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) winds up in Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) arms. We’ve also got a tornado blowing into Fairmont Crest and tragedy strikes. As we do on early edition day, we start with what is coming the rest of this week and then we look ahead at next week. Let’s get started!

Beyond the Gates Spoilers Wednesday, June 3rd: Naomi Has a Talk with Smitty

On Wednesday, June 3rd, we’ve got Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) having a long, long overdue chat with Smitty Smith (Mike Manning). He of course is the one who brought the red market ring to Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) attention and that started the whole undercover investigation. So I wonder if Naomi is going to be upset because Jacob almost died.

If not for Derek Baldwin (Ben Gavin), her hubby Jacob would be gone and instead Derek is dead. Tyrell Richardson (Jaden Lucas Miller) goes to do something bold with Jessica. We’ll see if it’s more horizontal action.

And Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) offers some advice to his dad, Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson). And this may be about him annoying Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix) by nominating her to be chief of staff without asking her, or stepping by setting Shanice Johnson (Ernestine Johnson) up for grief therapy with Nicole without asking Shanice. Ted’s just overstepping all around.

BTG Spoilers: Nicole Turns to Anita

Nicole goes to her mom, Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie), for advice. And Nicole tells Anita, “Not everything’s about sex, but she tells Nicole, isn’t that what this is about?” So, she may be asking Anita whether she should tell Ted that she’s been thinking about him while boinking his business partner Carlton Fitzgerald (Robert Christopher Riley). I personally think that it’s kind of cruel for Nicole to go behind Shanice’s back and talk like this to Ted. That’s just me.

Monica McCormick (Iona Morris Jackson) tells Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) her decision about whether she’ll be the new chief at Garland. Chenise would be thrilled and Nicole definitely doesn’t want the job, but if Monica turns it down, we’ll see. Ted comforts an overwhelmed Eva Thomas Richardson (Ambyr Michelle) and Samantha Richardson (Najah Jackson) is touched when Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Cat let her know how much she means to them.

Thursday, June 4th

Then on Thursday, June 4th, as Randy Parker (Maurice P. Kerry) and Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings) talk, expect some lookbacks with backstory of the whole con that she started on Bill a while back and the roots of it and just what inspired it. We also are going to see Bill feeling a bit put out by Hayley and also about Dani chewing him a new one for letting Mike get away with all that nonsense on top of Bill’s cheating and disrespecting his marriage to Dani.

So, Bill’s going to spend some time thinking about his current and past relationships that is also on their daughter’s minds as Chelsea and Naomi talk about Bill and Dani’s messy marriage. Naomi seems put out that Bill didn’t show up for Jacob’s ceremony because Hayley said no. And Bill sat there like a clown when Hayley told him and he just took it and just rolled over. Not cool. Dani’s also thinking about the past and André Richardson (Sean Freeman) is consoling Dani as she processes things.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers Friday, June 5th: Victor Newman Speaks at Fundraiser

Then on Friday, June 5th, we’ve got Vernon talking about the big fundraiser coming the following week for Martin’s reelection campaign. And Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) from Young and the Restless is going to be the keynote speaker helping to raise money for Martin. There’s also five more characters coming over from Y&R to Beyond the Gates. We’re going to talk about that in just a minute.

But we’ve also got Martin getting ready to greet the Abbott family from Genoa City. They are due in the DMV soon. And Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) from Y&R knows Martin from when they were both younger men back in New York years before he married Smitty and all that. And Kyle’s parents are also coming along. If you don’t watch Y&R, their names are Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) and Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters).

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Grayson Hopes for Forgiveness

Also, Grayson Perez (Jordie Vilasuso) is hoping Ashley Morgan (Jen Jacob) will forgive him for keeping secrets. I will say Grayson had an understandable motive. Grayson was desperate for money for his mom’s Parkinson’s care, but still Derek is dead, and you just can’t unring that bell. So, I’m not sure Ashley is in a headspace to forgive him just yet.

Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) and Randy make final preparations for their meeting with the Impaler, which is set to take place at the casino. Joey will have Randy at his side, and the bad guy also gets to bring one guy. So, we’re finally going to get some answers and find out the identity of the Impaler.

Week of June 8th-12th: Impaler Exposed on Beyond the Gates

And then the week of June 8th through the 12th, that’s when we should actually see the meeting of the Impaler. I feel like Friday, we’re still going to be in prep mode. And then early in the week, it happens. And then the big Young and the Restless crossover event is set for Wednesday through Friday, June 9th through 12th. We’re going to see Victor Newman taking his private jet to DC.

Then he arrives in a helicopter and he’s going to be the main speaker. Vernon Dupree personally goes to pick up his old friend and he greets Victor at the helicopter pad. They hop into a limo and Vernon’s happy to have a drink with his old friend. As they head to the event, he and Victor are clinking glasses and Vernon says he made sure they had Victor’s favorite tequila.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Victor Chats with Vernon

And then he and Victor are talking about the first time they ever shared that tequila. It was in Genoa City when Victor was hosting Vernon and Anita. And Victor mentions taking them to the Colonnade Room. That’s a famous old school thing they don’t even have anymore on Y&R. And that his wife Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) was talking to Anita about music.

Nikki is an accomplished pianist and Anita is of course an artist. Victor admires Vernon’s politics and says he was always fair and never played favorites. And Victor says he admires the same thing about Martin. And then Vernon’s talking about building a legacy he’s proud of. He and Victor both are toasting to their legacies.

Beyond the Gates/Young and the Restless Crossover

What’s interesting is three of the other crossover characters are people that Victor absolutely despises. Kyle was invited because he’s friends with Martin. Victor hates him and he particularly hates Kyle’s parents, Jack Abbott and Diane Jenkins Abbott, who are also on the guest list and I’m sure they’re ready to donate. The other two crossover people are Devon Hamilton Winters (Bryton James) and his wife Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway).

And if you recall, Devon has actually been on Beyond the Gates before talking to Anita about recording new material. And this time, Devon’s hoping to talk about a brand new proposition with Anita. We’ll see Jack and Diane chatting up André and Dani at the fundraiser. Martin is hanging with Victor after his speech in front of the cheering crowd. And there’s talk about the room being full of reporters itching for a scandal. And almost all of the Beyond the Gates cast is on hand at the fundraiser.

Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) runs into Joey at the fundraiser and he of course is not happy to see her as she is calling him partner. And Leslie also runs into Ted and she promises that she won’t be naughty. I don’t believe Leslie. Not for one minute. Martin is venting wondering how the hell did he get in here as he stands with his campaign manager Shonda (Dawntavia Marrero).

BTG Spoilers: Joey Ruffles Feathers

And I wonder if Martin is venting about Joey being in attendance because he hates the guy and doesn’t want him around. Doesn’t want him donating to his campaign or anything. I’m sure that Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) has brought Joey as her plus one.

We’re also going to have Kyle from Genoa City spending time flirting with Hayley and they may be sneaking a kiss after she says Kyle literally saved her life because there is a natural disaster. A tornado hits the building. Windows blow in and a chandelier falls. People are screaming and running and hiding. And Bill just happens to be with Dani in the elevator and they get a jolt and she stumbles into his arm. So, we’ll see if all of Bill and Dani’s recent reminiscing leads them to cross lines and maybe betray their spouses.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 43 seconds ago

In the history of the world, nothing has united people or divided people, like religion. It can bring peace and meaning to one person’s life while destroying another’s. To say that discussing religion in public is controversial, is if anything, an understatement. Babylon 5 ran headlong into the topic early on, using “Parliament of Dreams,” the fifth episode of Season 1, to show the good, the bad, and the importance of religion, culminating in a final shot that serves as creator’s J. Michael Straczynski’s mission statement for the entire series.

Everything that Makes Babylon 5 Great: Religion, Murder, And Love

Babylon 5 is the center of trade, commerce, and diplomacy for hundreds of species, which means when the Earth Alliance dedicates a week to celebrating religions, there’s hundreds of different celebrations on board. Each civilization showcases their dominant religion, resulting in the Minbari’s religious caste hosting prayer sessions, the Centauri throwing a party, and other, less-represented species get quick moments showing what’s important. 

The main plot of the episode has nothing to do with the religious celebration. Narn Ambassador G’Kar is trying to survive an assassination attempt he knows is coming from a political rival out for revenge from beyond the grave. Paranoid, G’Kar assumes it’s his new aide, Na’Toth, overlooking that it’s in fact, the courier his rival sent with the death message. We get an early glimpse into the character G’Kar would become when he and Na’Toth stop the assassin, and let’s them get away. After all, the punishment for failure from the assassin guild is death, so why bother getting his hands dirty? 

As usual, there’s another side plot focusing on giving fans a deeper understanding of one of the characters, in this case, Commander Sinclair (Michael O’Hare) dealing with the reappearance of his on-again, off-again lover and one-time flight student, Catherine Sakai. Now working as a planetary surveyor, Catherine ended up becoming rich thanks to her latest discovery, choosing to celebrate alongside Sinclair. Decidedly “on-again” for now, Catherine promises she’ll come back, and unlike Londo’s love, rest assured, she comes back. 

An Emmy Winning Episode

Babylon 5 pivots back to the religious festival for the closing moments of “Parliament of Dreams” in a major way. Finally, Sinclair is going to show the alien diplomats Earth’s dominant religious culture. He leads them to a long, long line of humans, each representing a different religion found on Earth, starting with an atheist. It’s a brilliant moment that plays out right into the credits to showcase how many religions are to be found on Earth and that Sinclair intends on respecting every single one of them. 

“Parliament of Dreams” was honored at the 1994 Emmys for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series thanks to all of the alien prosthetics used throughout the episode. The regular alien cast, including Ga’Kar, Londo, Koth, and Deleen, established the look for their respective species but the talented team behind the scenes used this episode to start working out their stock alien background designs. Babylon 5 felt like a real space station populated with hundreds of different species thanks to the team’s dedication in creating unique, memorable looks, even if you only see them in the background of a few shots. 

By the end of the series, there’s no doubt that Babylon 5 was ultimately a show about religion. The ultimate fates of multiple characters, including Sinclair and Neroon, is tied directly into their religious journey. “Parliament of Fates” is an early, beautiful indication to the importance of religion, and why humanity is unique in the universe.