Entertainment
Jimmy Kimmel Pokes Fun at Mitch McConnell’s Hospital Photo
Just hours after Senator Mitch McConnell released a photo of himself smiling in a hospital bed, Jimmy Kimmel shared his own satirical proof of life.
“For those who’ve been asking, I’m feeling great,” Kimmel captioned an edited version of McConnell’s original snap, showing the late-night TV host’s head replacing that of the 84-year-old politician.
McConnell’s original image, shared via Facebook on Sunday, July 12, came almost one month after the senator was mysteriously hospitalized, sparking widespread speculation over his health.
The photo shared by Kimmel, 58, similarly came almost one month after he stepped away as host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! amid a voluntary two-month summer hiatus. The extended vacation had raised the eyebrows of some social media users given it was announced less than one year after his show was suspended for five days. (ABC’s suspension was the result of comments made by Kimmel about the murder of ring-wing political activist Charlie Kirk.)
Senator Mitch McConnell‘s mounting health concerns have thrust the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican back into the political and cultural spotlight, spurring a series of conspiracy theories and demand for transparency from his office. McConnell was reportedly found unconscious at his Washington, D.C., home on June 14, 2026, according to multiple outlets who reported on the incident […]
Fans of Kimmel’s were quick to show their approval of the comedic post, amid the update on the star’s whereabouts, with one fan writing in the comments section, “Well playyyyyyyed, “ and several posting strings of crying-laughter emojis.
As for an update on McConnell, the senator shared a statement on his health alongside Sunday’s original photo. “My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages,” the statement, shared via his office, read. “But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia.”
Jimmy Kimmel Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
He continued, “In fact, with signs of continued progress, I’ve been able to move from hospital care to a rehabilitation center where I’ll keep regaining my strength.”
McConnell was admitted into the hospital after he was found unconscious in his home, sparking online conspiracy theories and calls of increased transparency after no formal explanation over his health was offered by his team at the time.
Laura Loomer, a right-wing activist, was particularly vocal about her opinion on McConnell’s health, claiming that he may be brain dead after receiving intel from a White House source.
Senator Mitch McConnell Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
McConnell’s office debunked her theory in a statement to Us Weekly on July 7. “Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital,” the statement read. “The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”
McConnell’s Sunday health update arrived in the wake of fellow Senator Lindsey Graham’s death at age 71 on Saturday, July 11. A preliminary cause of death found that he had died of “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”
Per the Cleveland Clinic, aortic dissection is “a tear in the inner layer of a weak area of your aorta” which is considered life-threaning given the artery’s role in delivering oxygen-rich blood to the body.
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Sam Neill, the beloved New Zealand actor best known to generations of movie fans as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, has died at the age of 78. In a statement, they said his passing was “sudden and unexpected,” but that he was surrounded by family and “passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.”
Entertainment
Henry Cavill and Guy Ritchie’s 97-Minute Action Thriller Is Quietly Crushing the Competition on Streaming
Henry Cavill is among the stars who have a very loyal fanbase that follows his work everywhere, be it streaming or the big screen. To his credit, Cavill makes sure to give his all to his roles, be it playing a brooding Man of Steel, bringing Geralt to life in The Witcher, or taking a dig at iconic detective Sherlock Holmes in Netflix’s Enola Holmes trilogy. The actor always brings something new and nuanced to our screens.
But he’s best loved in action-heavy or thriller roles like Night Hunter, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, and others. Earlier this year, the actor collaborated with director Guy Ritchie and co-star Jake Gyllenhaal to bring another slick action thriller, In the Grey, to theaters after much delay. It follows a sharp lawyer, Rachel (Eiza González), and her elite mercenary squad, Sid (Cavill) and Bronco (Gyllenhaal), as they are hired by Wall Street to recover a debt from a criminal dictator. The team must pull off an impossible heist across multiple glamorous international locations to retrieve the stolen fortune, providing the premise for the thrilling third act.
Sadly, In the Grey failed to bring the audience to theaters, becoming a box office flop, earning approximately $13 million against an estimated $70 million budget. It further divided its viewers, as critics gave it a 47% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience gave it a whopping 83%. After the movie’s box office failure, it was sent to digital in a matter of weeks, which actually worked in the film’s favor. So, while it proved a dud with critics, fans’ love is catapulting the movie to new heights.
‘In the Grey’ Found Its Audience on Streaming
Ever since its streaming debut, In the Grey has seen resounding success, first capturing its audience on multiple PVOD platforms. Currently, In the Grey is at #6 spot on Prime Video’s top 10 lists, as per FlixPatrol. The feature is standing tall among features like the latest horror hit Obsession, Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep’s legacy sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2, Chris Pratt’s animated billion-dollar sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Ryan Gosling’s stunning sci-fi Project Hail Mary, and more. Check out In the Grey for its star cast, sleek visuals, and kinetic action set pieces.
In the Grey is available on Prime Video. Stay tuned to Collider for more such updates.
- Release Date
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May 13, 2026
- Runtime
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98 minutes
- Producers
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Ivan Atkinson, Dave Caplan, Guy Ritchie, John Friedberg
Senator Mitch McConnell’s office is updating on the public on the politician’s health after the shocking death of fellow Senator Lindsey Graham.
“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages,” McConnell, 84, said in a written statement shared via his office on Sunday, July 12. “But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia.”
The senator, who has been hospitalized since June 14, continued in the written statement, “In fact, with signs of continued progress, I’ve been able to move from hospital care to a rehabilitation center where I’ll keep regaining my strength.”
After the politician was found unconscious in his home, he was transferred to a local hospital, where he has reportedly been reportedly “working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery,” per his spokesperson, Stephanie Penn.
Still, conspiracy theories and calls for transparency have dominated the internet as McConnell has continued to miss voting sessions.
Laura Loomer, a right-wing activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, has been outspoken about McConnell’s health in the midst of his hospitalization. The known conspiracy theorist claimed the senator was brain dead amid his hospitalization, alleging she received the information from a “high-level source close to the White House.”
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnel pushed in a wheelchair Getty Images
“Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital,” McConnell’s office said in a statement to Us Weekly on July 7, debunking claims the senator was incapacitated. “The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”
In his Sunday health update, McConnell acknowledge that he has been missing from the Senate floor for some time.
“You’re right to expect your representatives to work hard for you,” the statement read in part. “And part of my decision to retire at the end of my term this coming January was being honest about the demands of Senate work. But I still have unfinished business to complete on your behalf, and I have every intention of finishing the job you elected me to do.
Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell was admitted into the hospital after suffering “flu-like symptoms” over the weekend. “In an abundance of caution, after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend, Senator McConnell checked himself into a local hospital for evaluation [on Monday, February 2],” a spokesperson for McConnell told Us Weekly on Wednesday, February 4. “His prognosis […]
McConnell’s health update comes in the wake of Graham’s shocking death at age 71 on Saturday, July 11. After his office confirmed his death on Sunday, authorities released a preliminary cause of death, saying the politician died of aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”
An aortic dissection is also referred to as an aorta rupture, per the Mayo Clinic, which can occur when arteries harden over time.
Priscilla Presley’s son, Navarone Garibaldi Garcia, is speaking out in defense of his recent GoFundMe to raise money for a personal pizza business.
“Haters gonna hate… and I’m sure I’ll have to explain this many more times to ignorant people who think I should ‘ask my mom’ or that I have money…..” Garcia, 39, wrote via Instagram on Friday, July 10. “YEAH, I also have a lot of bills, I also have a budget, I also donate to other causes… I also give to the homeless… I just don’t film and put it on YouTube… but, I also have crazy ADD and try to do lots of things… if I just went all in every time I thought I had a great idea… I’d be broke in 2 days.”
He continued, “I’m not asking anything to donate that can’t afford to, I’m offering free pizza to people that donate… and I’m putting in a lot of my own money to buy this oven. Just asking for help on the remaining bit that’s out of my budget. That’s all. Love and Peace, Kindness and pizza. The link is in all my stories if you want to help out.”
In a video alongside the message, Garcia told followers to donate to his link and noted that “every little bit helps.”
Speaking from the heart. Lisa Marie Presley‘s half-brother, Navarone Garibaldi, sent a sweet message to fans after her public memorial. “Thank you all so much for the support,” the 35-year-old wrote via his Instagram Story on Tuesday, January 24, two days after Lisa Marie was honored with a public service at Graceland. “Truly grateful for […]
“I already stashed away $3,000 for this. It’s going to be about $8,500 with all the set-up and getting it here. So I’m trying to make $5,500. But you can donate here. Every little bit helps,” he said. “If you can’t donate, you can share this. Everything helps. Thank you.”
Garcia shared in his GoFundMe — which has a goal of $5,500 — that he has “always wanted to start [his] own business, but marketing and advertising always get in [his] way,” adding, “As well as having the whole brick and mortar shop to add another expense.”
“Now I would like to make and serve affordable organic pizza for my community and sell it from my driveway to the large foot traffic in my neighborhood. I have found a large industrial pizza oven and negotiated it from $14,000 down to $8,500,” he wrote in the description. “I have 3,000 saved up for this… and the pizza dough and sauces already sourced. It’s just buying the oven that I need to get me started. I would truly appreciate any help.”
In an interview with TMZ published on Saturday, July 11, Garcia explained why he wasn’t asking his mom for money.
Nothing to see here? Amid Priscilla Presley and granddaughter Riley Keough’s ongoing legal battle surrounding Lisa Marie Presley’s estate, Navarone Garibaldi has revealed where the family stands. “They are fine,” the 36-year-old Them Guns musician, whom Priscilla shares with ex Marco Garibaldi, said of his famous family during an Instagram Live earlier this week, according […]
“She loves the idea but I can’t ask for money for every whimsical idea I have or we both would be broke!” he said.
After sharing his initial post, Garcia took to his Instagram Story on Sunday, July 12, to share that his fundraising is “working.”
“Now I feel like I have to explain economics to all these people that biasedly hate me,” he said. “But, you know, those people donate $20, they can come get free pizza anytime now. I’m trying to help out and get a little help in return. And people hate me for it. It’s sad.”
Presley welcomed her son in 1987 while in a long-term relationship with Marco Garibaldi, whom she split from in 2006. Priscilla is also the mom of daughter Lisa Marie Presley, whom she welcomed in 1968 with late ex-husband Elvis Presley. Lisa Marie died in 2023 at age 54.
After a summer full of relationship drama, Love Island USA finally crowned the season 8 winner — but which couple scored the most votes?
During the Sunday, July 12, season finale of the hit Peacock dating show, host Ariana Madix announced that Trinity Tatum and Bryce Alakai Dettloff got the most votes from the public while Aniya Harvey and Carl Lee Schmidt came in second. Melanie Moreno and Sincere Rhea took third place while Kayda Bosse and Zach Georgiou were in fourth.
Love Island USA originally premiered in the U.K. in 2002 before it expanded worldwide with various spinoffs, including Love Island USA on Peacock. The series follows a different group of singles every season who have to pair off in order to stay in the show’s luxury villa.
The contestants — referred to as Islanders — live in isolation in a villa and are under constant video surveillance. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and stand a chance at receiving the $100,000 prize.
Love Island USA is all about coupling up — so which Islanders are currently together and which have already called it quits in the villa? Peacock’s popular dating show returned in June 2026 with contestants Aniya Harvey, Beatriz Hatz, Bryce Alakai Dettloff, KC Chandler, Mackenzie “Kenzie” Annis, Melanie Moreno, Sincere Rhea, Sean Reifel, Trinity Tatum […]
Season 8 has had its fair share of drama — both while filming in Fiji and off screen. Earlier this season, Vasana Montgomery was cut from the show after resurfaced social media posts showed her using a slur.
Casa Amor bombshell Alannah Keyser also got pulled from the season after facing backlash for a resurfaced video that allegedly showed her using a racial slur.
Similar issues arose during season 7, with Yulissa Escobar leaving days into the experience last year after clips of her using racial slurs on a podcast circulated online.
Season 7’s Cierra Ortega also faced backlash for using a slur in her own resurfaced social media post. She was pulled from the villa and later issued an apology for her past behavior.
There was also drama between the couples with Melanie Moreno and Sincere Rhea still considering their future days before the finale.
Aniya Harvey and Carl Lee Schmidt remained together while Kayda Bosse and Zach Georgiou wanted to keep exploring their chemistry.
Based on past seasons, the Islanders will reunite for a reunion special where they hash out their feuds and offscreen issues.
Love Island USA is currently streaming on Peacock.
The Love Island USA finale had a lot going on — and still found a way to mention Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce after their wedding.
During the Sunday, July 12, episode of the hit Peacock series, narrator Iain Stirling poked fun at the way Zach Georgiou uses different phrases to describe certain words in his native Britain. Iain joked that instead of “royal family,” Zach would say “Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.”
The couple’s romance started in 2023 when he made a move during one of her Eras Tour shows. Two months later, Swift, 36, took fans by surprise when she showed up to support Kelce, 36, at a Kansas City Chiefs game.
“We actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other,” Swift explained of her relationship with Kelce in a November 2023 interview with TIME. “By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple. I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.”
It’s the celebrity wedding of the year. On June 3, 2026, pop singer Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce are reportedly tying the knot in Madison Square Garden in New York City. Over 1,000 guests are expected to attend, including Gigi Hadid, sombr, Dakota Johnson, Ellie Goulding, Benson Boone and more. […]
Swift also defended their frequent public outings as their romance continued to blossom.
“When you say a relationship is public, that means I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” she added at the time. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone. And we’re just proud of each other.”
The pair got engaged in 2025 after weathering overwhelming public interest into their relationship.
“[Our relationship] can be perceived as something else because of how much it is talked about and how much we are tracked whenever we do go out, but I would say that it’s as normal of …,” Kelce told GQ in 2025. “Nothing I’ve ever done has been a controlled, organized process. When I say it was so organic, we fell in love just based off the people we were sitting in a room together with.”
Swift and Kelce officially tied the knot on July 3 after three years together.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are all anyone can talk about since they got together in 2023. Their 2025 engagement, which came weeks before Swift released her album The Life of a Showgirl (featuring plenty of references to Kelce), has made them an even bigger topic of conversation. Swift and Kelce were first linked in […]
“The bride and groom’s wedding ceremony looks have been created by Christian Dior Haute Couture. They are designed by Jonathan Anderson, Creative Director of Dior Women’s, Men’s and Haute Couture Collections, in close collaboration with the Bride and Groom,” read a statement from Swift’s rep. “This is the designer’s first couture wedding dress for a world-renowned celebrity. Their shoes were custom made by Christian Louboutin and the bride wore Cartier jewelry.”
The statement continued: “Taylor & Travis did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen. Instead, her brother Austin Swift served as Taylor’s Man of Honor and Jason Kelce was Travis’ Best Man. The ceremony joined both families together and was officiated by friend Adam Sandler.”
Love Island USA is currently streaming on Peacock.
The season 8 cast of Love Island USA is reuniting to address all the drama that took place this summer.
Peacock confirmed that the special will premiere on Monday, August 31, after Trinity Tatum and Bryce Alakai Dettloff won in the finale. The reunion will be hosted by Ariana Madix and Andy Cohen while reuniting “this season’s winners, fan-favorite couples, and this year’s bombshells for an up close and personal look back at their experience in the Villa,” according to a press release.
The Love Island USA spinoff Love Island: Beyond the Villa has also been renewed for a third season, which is set to premiere in 2027. The cast will be confirmed later this year as the Islanders leave Fiji and return to the U.S.
Love Island USA originally premiered in the U.K. in 2002 before it expanded worldwide with various spinoffs, including Love Island USA on Peacock. The series follows a different group of singles every season who have to pair off in order to stay in the show’s luxury villa.
Love Island USA is all about coupling up — so which Islanders are currently together and which have already called it quits in the villa? Peacock’s popular dating show returned in June 2026 with contestants Aniya Harvey, Beatriz Hatz, Bryce Alakai Dettloff, KC Chandler, Mackenzie “Kenzie” Annis, Melanie Moreno, Sincere Rhea, Sean Reifel, Trinity Tatum […]
The contestants — referred to as Islanders — live in isolation in a villa and are under constant video surveillance. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and stand a chance at receiving the $100,000 prize.
Season 8 has had its fair share of drama — both while filming in Fiji and off screen. Earlier this season, Vasana Montgomery was cut from the show after resurfaced social media posts showed her using a slur.
Casa Amor bombshell Alannah Keyser also got pulled from the season after facing backlash for a resurfaced video that allegedly showed her using a racial slur.
Similar issues arose during season 7, with Yulissa Escobar leaving days into the experience last year after clips of her using racial slurs on a podcast circulated online.
Season 7’s Cierra Ortega also faced backlash for using a slur in her own resurfaced social media post. She was pulled from the villa and later issued an apology for her past behavior.
There was also drama between the couples with Melanie Moreno and Sincere Rhea still considering their future days before the finale.
Aniya Harvey and Carl Lee Schmidt remained together while Kayda Bosse and Zach Georgiou wanted to keep exploring their chemistry.
Love Island USA is currently streaming on Peacock. The reunion will premiere August 31 at 9 p.m. ET.
Bonnie Blue isn’t letting pregnancy get in the way of her professional life.
During a ten-hour stunt staged on July 4 inside London’s Portland Place, the adult content creator, 27, said in a post-event press release shared with Us Weekly that her male participants were respectful while engaging in sex acts with her.
“Some boys were lucky and only queued for an hour while others had a six-plus-hour wait for my holes, I didn’t receive any complaints and the boys were all super gentle with my bump,” Blue detailed. “I took 154 loads and no, my waters didn’t break, but my back nearly did.”
The press release also confirmed that Blue, who revealed her pregnancy in February after having unprotected sex with about 400 men at the same London venue earlier that month, will “continue creating content while expecting her first child.”
While the identity of the baby-to-be’s father remains unknown, three men who took part in events with Blue around the time period exclusively told Us that they’re each wondering if they’re the ones facing parenthood. (Blue, real name Tia Billinger, told Us in May that her baby is due in November.)
Jak White, one of the three participants, told Us in February, “Like, ‘God, she’s actually got pregnant from it. Is it mine? Could it be mine? I don’t know.’ It’s kind of the question in my head now, like, ‘Oh gosh, I don’t know.’”
Fellow content creator Tommy Lee shared White’s thoughts while speaking to Us last month. “I don’t think anything really sinks in until proven. But it’s still a big worry in the back of your mind, thinking about what do you do if it is,’” he said.
Another creator, Owain Laing, also questioned the scenario, telling Us that he’s waiting until the child is born to determine if there is a physical resemblance.
During Blue’s interview with Us in May, she revealed that she is planning on auctioning off the baby’s name in the lead-up to its arrival. “I think that would be quite fun,” Blue said at the time. “I think I want to get my fans involved in a gender reveal. They’re going to be involved along the way.”
She also addressed speculation over the validity of her pregnancy after she was accused by social media users of wearing a silicone bump in April. “I would just say women’s bodies come in all different shapes and sizes, and it’s as simple as that,” Blue saod. “It’s not my job to convince them I am actually pregnant. The more doubts, the more comments, the more views, and it will stay that way. So enjoy watching me carrying a doll around this year, because I am pregnant.”
To learn more about the serious potential risks and harms of “competitive sex” and other explicit OnlyFans content — read what doctors, mental health professionals and other experts told Us Weekly here.
Nicolas Cage is never far away from a streaming hit. Recently, the Oscar-winner reprised his role of Ben Reilly — alongside the likes of Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, and Brendan Gleeson — in Prime Video’s perfect superhero replacement following the end of The Boys. Spider-Noir, a live-action series serving as a spin-off to the animated Spider-Verse films (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), is a huge streaming hit, and Cage’s central performance is key to its success.
A pulse-racing adventure that blends visual style and mystery, Spider-Noir is the latest in a long line of movies to show off Cage’s enigmatic leading ability. Another example of this is Cage’s answer to the Indiana Jones franchise, the 2004 action-adventure National Treasure. As historian and code-breaker Benjamin Gates, Cage attempts to hunt down a prize hidden in America by the Founding Fathers. However, crime boss Ian Howe (Sean Bean) is on his tail after double-crossing Gates, leading to a furiously fast race for triumph.
Although National Treasure was a flop with critics, the movie earned much more praise from audiences, which helped it find box office success during a six-month run. Against a reported budget of $100 million, the film returned an impressive $331 million worldwide, split between a domestic haul of $173 million and a further $158 million from overseas markets. Over two decades later, National Treasure has returned to the streaming charts, ranking as one of the most-watched movies on Hulu in the U.S., at the time of writing.
Could Another ‘National Treasure’ Movie Be on the Way?
A 2007 sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, followed the successful original, and rumors of a third installment have followed ever since. Cage himself might have cast doubts over the franchise’s future when he said “there is no National Treasure 3″ in 2024, but hope has arisen once more, with legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealing that the threequel is “coming along quite well,” with the screenplay already underway, while attending the Producers’ Guild Awards earlier this year. An attempt to revive the franchise was made by Disney+ with the series National Treasure: Edge of History, but it was sadly canceled after its first season due to a negative response.
National Treasure is streaming on Hulu. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
- Release Date
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November 19, 2004
- Runtime
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131 minutes
- Director
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Jon Turteltaub
- Writers
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Cormac Wibberley, Jim Kouf, Marianne Wibberley, Charles Segars, Oren Aviv
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Diane Kruger
Abigail Chase
HBO is a network that is synonymous with high-quality television that transcends the barriers of the medium to become truly cinematic. That being said, not every HBO series ends up being a phenomenon in the vein of Game of Thrones or a cultural touchstone like The Sopranos. Just like every network or streaming service, HBO has shows that weren’t well-appreciated when they were first released or didn’t get the audience that they deserved.
It’s a better time than ever to check out older HBO shows given how readily accessible they are, and many have aged well because of how much stronger they look when compared to what is currently airing. It’s much harder to recommend an older show because of the significant time commitment that is required to watch one from start to finish, but these are undersung achievements that are deserving of that attention.
10
‘Perry Mason’ (2020–2023)
Perry Mason is a show that was ahead of its time in anticipating the rise of Matthew Rhys, who has become one of the most popular stars on television. Although there have been various iterations of the titular character in various forms of media for several decades, HBO’s Perry Mason returns the franchise to its pulpy roots and fully immerses itself in the period setting to be an old-fashioned, swanky neo-noir.
Perry Mason is a richly stylized, exciting legal drama that managed to improve within its second season by taking a closer look at the social and cultural biases of early 20th-century American history. While at times the series is dark to the point of cruelty, it’s an exciting new spin on what an investigative thriller can look like because it doesn’t rely on the format of a procedural.
9
‘Westworld’ (2016–2022)
Westworld might be the single most ambitious show in HBO’s history because it operated on a massive scale, involved a huge ensemble cast, was told in a non-linear way, and merged several genres at once. While both the original novel by Michael Crichton and the 1973 film had offered dire warnings about putting too much faith into technology, HBO’s Westworld feels more relevant than ever in showing the dangers of putting power into artificial intelligence, particularly when there are major corporations involved.
Westworld was never not interesting, which makes it all the more disappointing that showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy were not allowed to complete the five-season story arc that they had pitched when HBO initially picked up their adaptation. Nonetheless, it’s hard to imagine another show with such lofty goals ever being greenlit in today’s entertainment ecosystem.
8
‘Bored to Death’ (2009–2011)
Bored to Death is another show that was guilty of coming out at the wrong time, as it might have succeeded in ratings had it debuted after its three stars became even more prominent. In the years following the premiere of Bored to Death, Ted Danson has only solidified himself further as one of television’s most dynamic stars, Zach Galifianakis has spiked in popularity as one of the most unusual living comics, and Jason Schwartzman has gained even more respect for his talents as both a dramatic and humorous actor.
Bored to Death offered a nostalgic look at classical detective stories while also highlighting narcissistic, selfish characters, and is well worth a watch for anyone that wanted an “HBO version” of Only Murders in the Building that is slightly raunchier and far more cynical. Its three existing seasons are all completely hilarious.
7
‘Silicon Valley’ (2014–2019)
Silicon Valley is a far more authentic series about the growth of the tech industry than many of the more “serious” shows about the same subject because it understands how ridiculous those making decisions in this space are. Although there isn’t another showrunner out there who better understands the minutiae of workplace culture than Mike Judge, Silicon Valley combined his skepticism about big tech with a surprisingly optimistic storyline about independent entrepreneurs establishing a space for themselves.
Silicon Valley has aged quite well because it retained a consistent level of quality throughout its seasons and delivered a satisfying conclusion that did not overstay its welcome. It marks one of the last instances in which HBO dared to make a comedy series about a relatively niche subject, as the service has aimed itself at broader audiences in the decade since.
6
‘Flight of the Conchords’ (2007–2009)
Flight of the Conchords is a comedy perfectly suited for those with a very specific sense of humor, as it’s completely meta and proudly idiosyncratic. While not technically a mockumentary, Flight of the Conchords is based on the real band of the same name and stars its two members, Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, as fictionalized versions of themselves during their first trip to New York City.
Flight of the Conchords is an authentic depiction of the challenges faced by emerging artists who never run the risk of “making it big” and offers a heartwarming story of friendship that doesn’t become too cloyingly sentimental. Although it is often the case that these types of highly specific cult comedy shows are cancelled too soon, Clement and McKenzie chose to end Flight of the Conchords on their own terms, making it a fully satisfying show.
5
‘The Newsroom’ (2012–2014)
The Newsroom is a show that has caught a lot of backlash in recent years due to the changing perspectives on Aaron Sorkin, a showrunner whose optimistic idealism about American government has felt far less aspirational in the Trump era. While The Newsroom does make some mistakes in how it chooses to assert itself into real events, it’s also a well-acted show that boasts a lot of insights about contemporary journalism and is clearly well-researched.
The flaws in The Newsroom are partially why it is so interesting, as the show is nothing if not a good way of inviting important conversations. Even though Sorkin has become a bit of a punching bag who has been made fun of for being out of touch, it’s a shame that he doesn’t have another show that incites as much discussion and introspection as The Newsroom did.
4
‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010–2014)
Boardwalk Empire was a successful show that won Emmys, performed well in ratings, and included a stacked cast of guest stars, yet it still feels somewhat underrated as an entry in HBO’s canon of classic crime dramas. The fact that it is a period piece set in the Prohibition era and contains many real historical figures should not suggest that it is in any way a stuffy history lesson; it’s five seasons of propulsive, violent, and darkly funny mafia drama, which makes sense considering that it was produced by Martin Scorsese.
Boardwalk Empire features one of the all-time great television anti-heroes in Steve Buscemi’s Nucky Thompson, an Atlantic City treasurer who is connected to the mob. Although there have been various films and shows that have depicted some version of the notorious gangster Al Capone, Boardwalk Empire offers the best version thanks to the terrific performance by Stephen Graham.
3
‘Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ (2022–2023)
Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is among the most disappointing cancellations in HBO’s history because the historical basketball series was cut off right at the moment when it was about to launch into a fascinating period in the development of the NBA. While its hasty resolution was a desperate means by the showrunners, given that they were not expecting to be canceled after receiving strong reviews, Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is still worth watching because it offered a more immersive and emotional depiction of sports media than nearly any other show.
Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty has fascinating insights on power, race, and media that make it a thoughtful work of historical adaptation, ensuring that it has value for members of the audience who don’t already have an outstanding interest in the trajectory of the NBA.
2
‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)
Sharp Objects is based on the novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn, the bestselling author who would go on to write Gone Girl (as well as the screenplay adaptation for David Fincher’s film). Sharp Objects was never going to be as successful as Gone Girl because it is darker, more cynical, and less entertaining in its commentary on media, and the adaptation is just as ruthless as the source material required.
Sharp Objects features a performance by Amy Adams that ranks among the best that she has ever given, proving that she can add even more to a character when given the chance to develop over the course of eight episodes. The series ends on such a shocking, emotional twist that it is worth rewatching just to track how the jaw-dropping revelation is subtly hinted at along the way.
1
‘Scenes From a Marriage’ (2021)
Scenes From a Marriage is a show that shouldn’t have worked because it is based on an Ingmar Bergman classic that is already well-regarded as a masterpiece. English-language reboots of international films often end up failing, but Scenes From a Marriage was an effective modern interpretation because it looked at the changing perspective on divorce and dedicated equal time and sympathy to the two lead characters.
Scenes From a Marriage would not have worked nearly as well if the two leads hadn’t already had an established repertoire with one another, but Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain were already familiar with each other after working together on the underrated A24 crime drama A Most Violent Year. While it is by no means an easy show to watch, Scenes From a Marriage is refreshingly honest in its depiction of the different ways people choose to express love.
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