The decision to expand Taylor Sheridan‘s sprawling Yellowstone franchise to linear television appears to have paid off, even without the hit-maker’s direct creative involvement. The Yellowstone franchise began in 2018 with the titular series, which ended its five-season run rather abruptly in 2023 following reports of behind-the-scenes disputes between Sheridan and star Kevin Costner. Since then, Sheridan has delivered the hit prequels 1883 and 1923, in addition to continuing his success streak with a string of other, non-Yellowstone titles. However, with his Paramount contract partially expired, he isn’t creatively involved with the two latest installments of the franchise — at least not to the degree he’s accustomed to. This is a major change from the norm, given that Sheridan had earned notoriety for eschewing traditional TV writers’ rooms and commanding an atypical level of creative authority on his projects.

Dutton Ranch, which premiered on Paramount+ on May 15, has remained the streamer’s number one title for weeks despite Sheridan’s hands-off approach. Recently, several of the show’s cast members — James Eddie, Sterlin English, Marc Menchaca, and Juan Pablo Raba — made the rather surprising revelation that they never met Sheridan on set at all. The show was also marred by the firing of creator Chad Feehan, who reportedly clashed with leads Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, and Sheridan himself. Sheridan was reportedly even less involved on the Yellowstone franchise’s first linear series, Marshals, which premiered on CBS in March and has since emerged as one of the most popular shows on TV.

Was Taylor Sheridan Involved in the Day-to-Day Functioning of ‘Marshals’?

According to the latest Nielsen ratings, which track television viewership data for the week of May 18 to May 24, Marshals remained the second-most-watched narrative series on television. It drew 6.5 million viewers for the week, during which it delivered its season finale and trailed fellow CBS procedural Tracker. Marshals has achieved this feat despite mixed reactions from audiences. The show, starring Luke Grimes as Yellowstone‘s returning Kayce Dutton, holds a 45% critics’ score and a 27% audience score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Marshals confines Kayce Dutton within a dim procedural that lacks the narrative spark and intrigue that Yellowstone managed instantly, making this one ham-fisted trek.” The show’s creator, Spencer Hudnut, told the Television Critics Association earlier this year that he tried not to mimic Sheridan’s writing. “I don’t think I’d be sitting here if he had to be involved in a day-to-day way,” he said. “That was never the setup. But he’s certainly there for us when we need him.”

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2026 – 2026-00-00

Showrunner

Spencer Hudnut

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Spencer Hudnut, Tom Mularz, Dana Greenblatt

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General Hospital delivers Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) protecting Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). But director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) is still a threat. Because he wants Jack dead. So, Nina may take things further and go to greater lengths to save Jack.

And an important first step is getting Cullum banned from Turning Woods. We’re going to talk about how and why Nina and Jack may get into a marriage of convenience to keep him alive and to frustrate and thwart Cullum. Let’s get to it!

A Marriage of Convenience Coming to General Hospital

All right. So, recently we reported a leak and this is from our source that’s generally pretty reliable and they said there was a marriage of convenience coming soon to General Hospital. And the one clue they gave was that it was not going to be Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) and Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), which is who you might think of first. And given what’s going on, I actually suspect it may be Nina and Jack who get hitched.

Jack’s Hidden Secret at Turning Woods

After Nina accidentally stabbed Jack with a syringe full of Drew Cain‘s (Cameron Mathison) paralytic, of course, he was rushed to General Hospital. But thanks to Nina refusing to inject him again, even though Willow Tait Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) wanted Nina to do it.

We know that Jack doesn’t have locked in syndrome. He is obviously just faking it. And because Cullum is scheming and plotting and wants to kill Jack, he’s continuing to fake it so that Cullum thinks he’s harmless. But Jack spoke to Nina and that’s why she started helping him. And if you remember, Willow wanted Nina to keep injecting Jack to keep him locked in just like she’s got Drew. But when Jack talked to Nina and revealed that he wasn’t really locked in, she just couldn’t do it.

So, now she’s lying to Willow who thinks she is continuing to inject Jack. But she isn’t. So the last time Nina went to see Jack at Turning Woods, you know, she was supposed to inject him again. But she squirted the syringe into a plant instead. And Nina recently told Jack that she is his only way out of this mess. And she could very well be right, even more than she even realizes herself.

Cullum’s Medical Control Over Jack on GH

So, Cullum told Jack that he saved himself by having a stroke. Because now he’s neutralized without Cullum lifting a finger. And if you remember, he told all the medical people that he is Jack’s medical proxy, which I’m guessing is probably a forgery. But Cullum knows that Jack can’t speak up to deny it. And at this point, Cullum’s decided to go ahead and kill Jack, get him off his plate as a future complication. But Cullum’s got to be careful.

So, after he threatened Jack, you know, he panicked over what Cullum said and asked Nina to go to Valentin for help. And now it looks like Carly and Valentin are actually considering it. But their help might not happen in time. And the most important thing is to block Cullum’s access to Jack right now.

Jack and Nina’s Marriage Strategy on General Hospital

As his medical proxy, Cullum can come and go just like he’s family. But if Jack pretends, “Oh, I just got my ability to speak back,” he could change his medical proxy over to Nina. And to add another layer of protection, Jack and Nina could get married while he is still at Turning Woods. And from there, as Jack’s devoted new wife, Nina could take over all the medical decisions. She can block Cullum from getting into Jack’s room. Period. And if she wanted, Nina could even take Jack out of Turning Woods. She could bring him home with her to continue his recovery. And of course, Cullum would be outraged if he lost his power over Jack. And I’m sure even at that point, Cullum would still be plotting to kill Jack, even if this happened.

However, it would be a lot harder for Cullum to murder Jack with Nina gatekeeping and her having a close and watchful eye on Jack. And I think Nina could be a real thorn in Cullum’s side. Jack and Nina being in a marriage of convenience would also come in handy if there were any sort of charges. You know, that way Jack and Nina can’t be questioned by any governmental agency about each other’s activities. Because of spousal privilege. And they can’t be forced to testify against each other for any past or future legal or criminal issues.

GH Shocker: How This Would Shake Up Port Charles

But of course, if Jack and Nina do get hitched, it would flip Port Charles upside down. So many people would be absolutely floored, especially Carly and Valentin. I think their heads would kind of explode if their exes got hitched. Not that Carly or Valentin wants their exes back. I don’t think they would be jealous. But I think they might be salty. Carly made it clear to Jack that she hates him for recruiting Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) into the WSB and putting her daughter at risk. And Valentin hates Jack for turning on him after decades of friendship.

Plus, Carly hates Nina. Full stop. And that feeling is mutual. So, marrying Jack might put a smile on Nina’s face. Becauseshe knows how much it would irritate Carly and also Valentin because Nina freaked out a little and was snarking at Carly over her sloppy seconds. I don’t think Valentin or Carly would care that much if they got married because, you know, we can see they’re falling for each other. I don’t think Valentin though is going to want Nina in danger and her aligning with Jack would definitely put her right in the middle on Cullum’s radar as a complication to be dealt with.

And I’m sure lots of people would have strong opinions about a Jack and Nina marriage. Of course, Willow would be stunned. But Nina could play that off and tell her daughter she’s doing it to protect her. And I think Josslyn would be stunned. Because Jack’s her boss and he was dating her mom, Carly. And Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) might feel some kind of way about Nina getting married to Brennan.

A Potential GH Love Story

Bottom line, Jack and Nina tying the knot would rattle the whole town, all of Port Charles.  And it would infuriate Cullum and would take away his power. And I think that would be the most dramatic outcome. I like the idea of Jack and Nina getting hitched for unromantic reasons and then wind up falling improbably in love. I like that.

And a huge red flag that it’s plausible is that Cynthia Watros mentioned in a recent interview that she sees a potential romantic future for Nina and Jack and Cynthia said she’s all for it. She made a joke about there not being a lot of eligible bachelors in Port Charles. That’s why they have to overlap. And she and Carly have several men in common. There’s been Franco Baldwin, (Roger Howarth) Sonny, Jasper Jacks (Ingo Rademacher), and Drew just for starters. And now, of course, there’s also Valentin. And that means Jack might be next, if it plays out the way I think it’s going to.

Enemies to Lovers on General Hospital

I love a good enemies to lovers trope. And if you remember, Nina and Jack used to hate each other after she went to him to get help for Willow and then he was wanting her to spy on Charlotte Cassadine (Bluesy Burke) to get Valentin and she didn’t deliver and he was getting very hateful with her. So Nina marrying Jack after putting him in the hospital and after all the stuff he has done and said to her is super soapy.

Even though it wasn’t intentional on Nina’s part that he wound up having that stroke, it still happened. And we all know that she’s known for her impulsiveness. So, I could see Jack and Nina talking and her suggesting this marriage out of left field as a Hail Mary scheme to protect Jack. So, we’ll see.

Y’all! Daphne Joy has the internet doing a double-take after dropping a bold new video that made it very clear she’s not here for the opinions—or the doubt. The clip, which quickly started making rounds online, shows her confidently shutting things down in a way only she can, while also giving followers a moment they definitely didn’t expect.

RELATED: Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop? Daphne Joy TURNS Heads After Using Diddy Song To Tease More Risqué Videos Of Herself

Daphne Joy Lets Us Know How She Really Feels

In the video shared to her Instagram, Daphne Joy appears in a brown silky dress paired with heels and sunglasses, wearing her long dark hair down as she faces away from the camera and twerks in what looks like a sunny backyard setting. Behind her, a sliding glass door reflects trees, blue skies, and daylight, adding to the laid-back but confident vibe. She also directly addressed viewers in the comments after some questioned whether the clip was AI-generated, making it clear with a simple response: “ai could never baby,” confirming the moment was very much real and unfiltered. And, the clip was paired with a cheeky caption that read “kiss here.”

Folks Flood Comments with Mixed Reactions And Theories

Folks quickly ran to The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section and absolutely cut up over Daphne Joy’s video, with reactions all over the place. Some users speculated she might be soft-launching an OnlyFans, while others defended her, saying she’s beautiful and can do whatever she wants with her content.

One Instagram user @theicebergslim wrote, “OnlyFans soft launch🤝“

This Instagram user @jryanjl joked, “That good ol church dress 👗 😂😂😂”

And, Instagram user @ladydebdarling added, “She said IDGF about my son going into 8th grade 😂”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @candaceadina said, “I don’t understand girl are you a victim or tryna build your clientele?“

While Instagram user @kaekaekenette shared, “My girl said yeah my tape got leaked and what about it !!???“

Then, Instagram user @dominiquechinn commented, “The woman is beautiful and fine 😍😍”

Why This Moment Sparked So Much Conversation?

As previously reported, on Tuesday, Daphne Joy returned to Instagram with a brief but highly intimate clip that immediately drew attention for its bold tone and provocative framing. The video featured on-screen text reading “Watch… don’t touch,” while she appeared in a blue lingerie set, posing confidently, at times turning away from the camera in a way that briefly revealed topless nudity from the back. She captioned the post, “would u watch..?” with Diddy’s ‘I Need A Girl (Pt. 2)’ playing in the background, further fueling online discussion around the clip’s intent and timing.

In the aftermath of the video going viral, previously resurfaced claims and statements surrounding an alleged leaked intimate tape involving Daphne Joy, Diddy, and Sly Diggler continued circulating online. DJ Vlad also weighed in at the time, confirming the tape’s authenticity based on a prior interview involving Sly, adding another layer to the ongoing discourse. Meanwhile, Daphne posted a statement on her Instagram before quickly deleting it, where she described emotional distress, said she “never consented” to the filming, and alleged she faced blackmail and extortion attempts tied to the footage.

Just in time for the FIFA World Cup, Hot Pilates founder Shannon Nadj is giving her celebrity-loved workouts a sporty summer makeover with soccer-inspired classes.

Think: stability balls standing in for soccer balls, plenty of lower-body work, and exercises designed to have clients feeling more like athletes than ever.

“We’re bringing a fun, energetic team atmosphere into the studio,” Nadj tells ET while celebrating the launch of her Bikini Body World Cup Challenge.

“Expect challenges that focus on agility, coordination, balance, and endurance, which are all qualities that are essential in soccer. The goal is to celebrate movement and community while creating a workout that feels playful and engaging.”

While the classes will still deliver the signature full body burn Hot Pilates regulars know and love, expect a little extra attention on legs this month.

“We’ll definitely incorporate lower-body work because strong legs are essential for athletic performance, but every class will include core strength and cardio as well,” the fitness instructor explains.

“Soccer requires power, endurance, balance, and agility, so we want participants to feel energized, challenged, and strong while having fun with the World Cup-inspired theme.”

Of course, no great workout is complete without the right soundtrack, so instructor Laurel Galanter has curated playlists inspired by the global tournament, featuring artists and genres from around the world.

The soccer influence extends beyond the studio floor and into Nadj’s closet.

“When you walk in feeling confident and put together, you tend to carry yourself differently. There’s an energy shift,” she notes.

“Wearing something that makes you feel strong and comfortable can help boost motivation, create a positive mindset, and make movement feel even more enjoyable.”

And when it comes to her own game-day uniform?

“I love keeping it simple and elevated,” she shares. “A sleek lululemon set paired with a soccer-inspired jersey, team colors, or sporty accessories creates a fun nod to the World Cup while still feeling polished and performance-focused. It’s all about blending style, comfort, and functionality.”

Nadj is also paying it forward this month through a partnership with lululemon, which will provide one aspiring instructor with full tuition to the Hot Pilates Mat Training program.

“Participants will learn movement fundamentals, anatomy, cueing, class programming, and how to confidently lead and connect with others,” she says.

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“Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Amanda Frances recently discussed costar Dorit Kemsley‘s home potentially going up for auction. Now, the “Unburdened” writer is responding to the first-season housewife and giving an update on where they stand following season 15 of the show.

Kemsley appeared on an episode of “Page Six Radio” in June 2026 to promote her new memoir. While on, the host mentioned how Frances said she contemplated buying Kemsley’s home as it’s currently in limbo.

When asked where they stand today, she stated, “No, we don’t talk.” Regarding what Frances said, Kemsley responded, “I mean, I find that really cringe, but I think a lot of the things that come out of her mouth are kind of cringe.”

From there, she discussed her overall take of Frances, saying, “I wasn’t getting authentic vibes. That was the issue that I had.” Kemsley then stated that Frances portrayed her life as being “perfect,” before saying, “That’s not real.”

Dorit Also Says Amanda Only Talked About Her Business On The Show

The “RHOBH” star continued her assessment of Frances following her stint on season 15. However, this time she explained that the “Housewives” newbie never opened up about her personal life. According to her, “She had a lot of opinions, but really every time we wanted to talk about her, it was about her business.”

She continued, “And it was only about her business.” Then, Kemsley told the hosts that she initially hoped to be friends with Frances. However, their “RHOBH” costar, Sutton Stracke, informed her that Frances had been speaking ill behind her back.”

In the end, she added, “However, I don’t think that b-tch is going to be buying my house anytime soon.”

Amanda Frances Had Much To Say

Frances appeared on “The Viall Files” in June 2026. During it, Nick Viall mentioned Kemsley’s home, saying he believes she’ll lose it. In response, Frances claimed, “I mean, sometimes I consider buying it.” After being asked if the home was her style, she stated that it was too modern in design for her.

They then joked about renovating the home before Frances said, “I don’t think it would be a fun renovation for us.” After that, they began discussing Kemsley’s divorce with PK Kemsley.

She claimed, “I think she just wants him to look bad, and I think she wants everyone to side with her because he stopped being the provider.”

Dorit Recently Claimed Her Home Was Not At Risk Of Foreclosure

PEOPLE obtained court documents in May 2026 that show the “RHOBH” star accusing her estranged husband of using foreclosure as a tactic to force a sale of the home. Per her attorney’s filing, “there is no real risk of foreclosure.”

They claim PK “has ample ability to honor his financial obligations, including making timely payment of the mortgages.” Dorit’s legal team also called PK’s request for an order to sell the home “baseless.”

Her legal team also threatened to “inform the court of PK’s unwarranted litigation tactics, and she will seek relief and sanctions associated therewith.” In the meantime, she is requesting that his updated financial records be admitted into evidence. However, he and his legal team claim it will further delay the process.

The ‘RHOBH’ Star Gave An Update On Her Status With The Cast

Kemsley appeared on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” on June 3 to promote her book, which was released the day prior. Per Us Weekly, while on, host Andy Cohen asked which of her “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” costars had congratulated her.

According to her, “Just Boz,” highlighting her friend, Bozoma Saint John. She added, “So funny.” As fans will recall, Kemsley wasn’t in a great space with the majority of her costars when season 15 of RHOBH concluded in May 2026.

However, she gave an update on her friendships with Kyle Richards and Erika Jayne during her “Page Six Radio” interview. Regarding Jayne, whom she’s recently texted, Kemsley explained, “There’s a lot of love there. There’s a lot of love, there’s a lot of history.”

She added, “You know, prior to that one moment in Italy, Erika and I — we never had a cross word. We’ve always been good.” Kemsleys said about Richards, “I thought we really turned a corner. So then to feel that, I felt blindsided, and that’s exactly how I felt by Erika in Italy.”

However, the two ladies have not spoken since filming the “RHOBH” season 15 reunion. Currently, it’s unclear when season 16 will go into production and who will return.

Young and the Restless gives Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) officially giving back Newman Enterprises this week, which to be honest, many fans find a very lackluster ending to the storyline, and I tend to agree.

And after she does it, she’s griping to Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc) that she just lost everything. So once again, Phyllis has got to figure out what to do with her life. So, we’re going to talk about what big and wild moves Phyllis makes now that her corporate thievery is at an end.

Phyllis Loses Everything on Young and the Restless

So, before we get into it, I will say something I’m seeing a lot of recently on soap social media, both in posts and comments and replies to posts is that fans want to see less of Phyllis on Y&R, not more.

Many viewers feel like Michelle Stafford is getting way too much screen time and that we are watching the non-stop Phyllis show. All those complaints aside, and I don’t necessarily disagree, I don’t think Josh Griffith is going to slide Phyllis to the back burner. Michelle Stafford is clearly one of the headwriter’s favorites and he writes a lot for her on Young and the Restless. So, with that in mind, let’s look ahead.

Victor Gets Newman Enterprises Back on Y&R

This week, Phyllis gives Newman back to Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) because Phyllis finally realized she’s got no choice. She’s up against a wall and it’s give it back to Victor or go to jail. Once she signs it over, Phyllis is complaining to Michael, poof, everything is gone. She’s got nothing. She’s hit rock bottom and it sucks to be her. So, Michael thinks her kids may forgive her. But at this point, Phyllis is just really, really frustrated. And she even went off on Christine Blair Romalotti (Lauralee Bell) and let her have it for accepting faked evidence, calling her Victor’s puppet.

But we all know she did the crime, but she’s not going to do the time. So, Phyllis is basically at loose ends right now and she’s drifting. And that has me wondering what is coming next because she’s got to start pretty much completely over from ground zero. Right now, she’s got no man, no job. She’s living in a hotel and she’s got no direction in life. Since stealing Victor’s company, you know, she was living large, living a lie, and basically flying by the seat of her pants. And now what?

Phyllis’s Professional Options on Young and Restless

So, first off, let’s talk about the professional front. We can see Phyllis shamelessly circle back to Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) and ask him for a job. Phyllis might offer to manage the GCAC for Cane since he owns it and she’s already living there because she’s going to need some sort of job. Now that the charges against Phyllis are dropped, they’ll be dropped against Cane also. And Phyllis ran her own hotel, the Grand Phoenix. So, honestly, she would be perfect for that job. So maybe Cane will cut her some slack and hire her and he might enjoy being Phyllis’ boss.

Alternatively, I’m pretty sure Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) would give her a job at Crimson Lights pouring lattes, but I don’t think Phyllis would ever decide to be a barista working for Sharon. And in a really stunning move, I could see Phyllis maybe going to Victor and asking him for a job since she was just running his company. And Victor has a grudging respect for Phyllis now because she actually did best him even though she wound up having to cave and had to give the company back in the end.

Victor May Help Red Out on Y&R

Plus, she just saved Nick Newman ‘s(Joshua Morrow) life and Victor is truly and deeply grateful for that. And he is indebted to her. He has expressed that verbally right to her face. So, you never know. He might throw Phyllis a bone and let her work at some minor subsidiary at Newman Enterprises. You know, put her in office in the bathroom like he did before. Didn’t he do that to Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) years ago? So, I could definitely see that happening. Her asking maybe not Victor saying yes.

We may also see Lauren Fenmore Baldwin (Tracey E. Bregman) offer Phyllis a job at Fenmores. By the way, Lauren’s been Phyllis’ ride or die for a while. And even though Lauren didn’t agree with Phyllis stealing Newman Enterprises from Victor, we saw that Lauren still accepted Phyllis’s offer to work there with her.

And Lauren stuck with Phyllis until the bitter end. Lauren really did everything she could to help and support Phyllis. So, we know that Lauren’s been this amazing friend to her. And now that Phyllis doesn’t have anything going on in her life and no job, no source of income, I think Lauren would do anything to help Phyllis. So, I could definitely see Lauren offering to bring Phyllis on board at Fenmores. And honestly, I think it’d be really cool if Lauren and Phyllis were working together again. That was kind of fun. And Lauren is good for Phyllis. She’s a positive influence and Michael is too most of the time.

Phyllis’s Romantic Prospects on Young and the Restless

And on the personal front, I think Phyllis is going to be a big part of Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) redemption story. She might start out as his friend and it may eventually turn romantic. Phyllis seems to feel protective of Matt and she wants to help him. Phyllis was even worried about what would happen to Matt if she went to prison because she’s pretty much the only one in Matt’s corner, except of course for Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk), and she would likely do Matt more harm than good.

So, I think we’ll see Phyllis and Matt’s friendship continue to develop. Phyllis might help Matt navigate this new and scary life now that he remembers what a monster he was. And of course, he doesn’t want to be that guy anymore. So, I think we could see Phyllis and Matt helping each other, getting closer, and then organically evolving from friendship to a full-fledged romance. I mean, we know that those two have chemistry because they were a very popular couple over on General Hospital years ago.

Another romantic prospect that Phyllis might try is to make a play to get back with Nick. Right now, Phyllis is furious that Nick was going to turn her into the cops and lie. But Phyllis also thinks that when Nick was saying all this that it was the drugs talking. And just like she wants to help Matt, Phyllis might actually want to help Nick.

Plus, Phyllis may think because she saved Nick’s life that somehow she’s back involved with him. You know, got her claws back into him. So, Phyllis might pursue Nick before she gets involved with Matt. And, you know, from there, Phyllis might move on to Matt if Nick shoots her down, which I’m certain he will. I don’t think he wants Phyllis. Not at all.

Phyllis and Her Family on Y&R

Finally, circling back to what Michael said, another thing that Phyllis may do now that she gave Newman Enterprises back to Victor is to try and get close to her family again. Phyllis may reach out to her kids, Daniel Romalotti (Michael Graziadei) and Summer Newman (Allison Lanier), and you know, Phyllis may act like she decided to do the right thing.

When in reality, with Nick threatening her like that, Phyllis was cornered and she had no choice. She didn’t give back Newman to be a moral or decent person. But Phyllis might tell Summer and Daniel that she did it for those reasons. And Phyllis might also say that she gave it back because Summer and Daniel wanted her to.

You know, they wanted Phyllis to do the right thing, give Newman back to Victor, give back what she stole, and just be a decent person. So, they might be skeptical, and I doubt a reconciliation would happen overnight, but Daniel and Summer might at least be willing to talk to Phyllis rather than completely cutting her out of their lives.

So, I think she has some things to look forward to. I don’t think we’re going to be seeing less of her, and I’m sorry if you don’t like that if you’re one of the people on social media, but I think this is where we’re headed.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 1 hour ago

I’ve got to say that my life is pretty good these days, as the biggest problem I’m having lately is looking up information about obscure sci-fi flicks on Tubi only to realize they all have multiple titles depending on the markets they were trying to reach. One such Fred Olen Ray film, 1995’s Cyberzone, loves to change the stationery, as it also exists as Droid Gunner and Phoenix 2. Really, none of these titles work, and I would much rather call it Blade Runner with Sex Bots, but that would be too on the nose.

The reason I constantly seek out schlocky, trashy B-movie titles like Cyberzone is because they’re just so fun and outside the box. You can expect that from any one of the over 200 Fred Olen Ray joints in his filmography, but this one is absolutely bonkers compared to 1988’s Terminal Force while still carrying the same sleazy energy that keeps bringing me back to his filmmaking.

Oh, Jack! Fetch Me My Sex Bots!

Cyberzone is a straight-up blast and wastes no time introducing us to Jack Ford (Marc Singer), a futuristic bounty hunter living in the year 2077. Fifty years prior, an 8.9-magnitude earthquake destroyed the West Coast, submerging California entirely and making Phoenix, Arizona, the busiest sea and spaceport on the New West Coast. Jack spends his days hunting down androids for chump change, but his life changes when he’s offered the gig of a lifetime. He’s summoned by the exceedingly wealthy Mr. Reginald (Cal Bartlett), who operates out of the same set used in Bio-Dome (1996).

Mr. Reginald lives in a fortified suburb, far removed from Jack’s stomping grounds, which are irradiated, polluted, and relegated to the dregs of society, where every man fends for himself. Mr. Reginald has deep pockets, and he needs help tracking down his four pleasure bots, which were stolen by an intergalactic smuggler named Hawks (Matthias Hues), who plans to deliver them to a crime lord named Chew’Bah (Robert Quarry), who lives beneath the newly constructed New Angeles, an alleged utopia that forbids any form of carnal pleasure. In Chew’Bah’s ideal world, he’ll have a monopoly on sex, drugs, and gambling, giving people what they want, but at a steep price.

Jack is reluctantly teamed up with a robotics expert named Beth (Rochelle Swanson) because he’s not trusted to bring the fembots back in one piece. The problem is that Jack doesn’t trust Beth to fend for herself in the futuristic ghettos, where bodies are sold as currency and she could easily be sold into slavery for $10,000. It’s a classic odd-couple setup because Beth claims to be fluent in martial arts thanks to her extensive simulated training protocols, but she dresses like a sheltered bureaucrat.

Since this is a Fred Olen Ray film, we know that Beth is actually an absolute smoke show, and when she’s forced to throw hands, she’s not only competent but frighteningly good at close combat, impressing Jack, who just wants to finish the job and collect his bounty.

The Humor Comes From Lack Of Enthusiasm

While it’s obvious that Cyberzone has taken more than a few pages from the Blade Runner playbook as far as its aesthetic goes, we get more of a buddy-cop experience here. Jack and Beth’s dynamic evolves into your typical romantic tug-of-war because they come from two very different worlds, but the real charm comes from Matthias Hues’ portrayal of Hawks, the most reluctant smuggler you’ve ever seen in a film.

When he first successfully captures the sex droids under the guise of “reconfiguring their oral programs,” he couldn’t look more bored. The only things he cares about are making sure his ship reaches its destination in one piece and collecting his fee. He’s surrounded by babes who will do anything he wants, and he brushes them off on several occasions because they’re distracting him from his navigation system. The look of frustration on his face is not only palpable but reliably hilarious every time this happens.

Beth’s shift from prude bureaucrat to smoking-hot femme fatale of the wasteland is sudden, but she leans fully into it when it’s time to deliver a proper beatdown, and her character arc is surprisingly satisfying when all is said and done. She evolves from a blissfully ignorant cog in a sanitized world into a ballsy heroine after finally catching a glimpse of how the other side lives.

As you would expect, the special effects in Cyberzone are crude, but they succeed in getting the job done. If anything, a big-budget production might actually take away from its charm. Thanks to its willingness to lean fully into its schlock and awe delivery instead of trying to be something it isn’t, Cyberzone remains a memorable outing because it embraces its sleaziness while operating within a familiar retro-futuristic framework that any sci-fi fan can get behind.

As of this writing, you can stream Cyberzone for free on Tubi.

Days of Our Lives excites as Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) just dropped a nuclear bombshell on EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) this week. And worse yet, he found out about it from somebody else that he hates, Paulina Price (Jackée Harry). And so now, EJ is furious that Gwen is planning to buy Salem University Hospital.

She’s trying to snatch it out from under her former co-conspirator and it’s about to get messy. You got to love EJ’s outrage over Gwen sticking up for herself and sticking a knife in EJ’s back.

Gwen’s Revenge Plan Takes Shape on Days of Our Lives

So, Gwen has been wanting to get revenge on EJ ever since he reneged on their financial deal for the miracle serum resurrection serum. It was Gwen who funded the secret lab project to help EJ and he promised Gwen a 50/50 split and they were expecting big millions of dollars in future sales.

And if not for her, EJ probably couldn’t have funded Dr. Wilhelm Rolf’s (Richard Wharton) secret resurrection research. And then once Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford) was successfully revived, that’s when EJ turned around and he did her really dirty. Not only did he tell Gwen that it would be quite some time before they made any cash on the serum.

That’s fine. But EJ said the percentage of the proceeds that she was going to get would be far less than Gwen expected. And of course, EJ was smug because he thinks Gwen has no recourse. She’s got no way to come back at EJ and force him to give her what he promised, at least not in a court of law.

Gwen’s Devious Plot on DOOL

But ever since EJ announced that he was stabbing her in the back, Gwen has been busy plotting. First, she went and talked to Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer)  about going in with her and buying the hospital. But of course, money is tight over at Titan thanks to Tony DiMera Thaao Phenglis) and Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) corporate sabotage. However, Gwen has got a big fat divorce settlement from Dimitri Von Leuschner (Peter Porte) and she seems to be planning to use it to stab EJ right in the back to get revenge for his betrayal. But Gwen also knows that going to war with EJ is very dangerous.

The Dead Man’s Switch on Days

So, this week, Gwen went to her former best friend, Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart), because Gwen knows that he has wanted to get the scoop of the century and expose EJ’s shady dealings that he knows are going on down in that lab. So Gwen told Leo he can have all the dirty details of what EJ has been up to, but the terms of Gwen’s deal are that Leo cannot write the story until Gwen is dead or missing.

And it turns out she gave all the information to a third party. All the dirt on EJ and Rolf’s sketchy science is in her lawyer’s hands. The whole story is in a sealed letter that she left with her attorney. And that letter will drop right into Leo Stark’s hands if Gwen dies or if she doesn’t contact her attorney every 10 days.

Days of our Lives: Leo’s Worried about Gwen

So, this dirt that Gwen promised to Leo is a much bigger deal than just Rolf and EJ resurrecting Lexi. And immediately Leo was concerned that Gwen might be in danger. And Leo told Gwen, “Oh, okay. What you did? You set up a dead man’s switch.” That’s the thing in action movies where the villain like has a hand grenade taped to their hand. You know something where you have to hold the switch constantly or occasionally push a button or something or else the bomb detonates like in a case of death or incapacitation. So, Leo was intrigued but also worried.

And the best part I thought was when Gwen made a big confession to Leo. Gwen finally admitted to Leo that although yes, she’s mad about what happened with him and Dimitri, she knows that Leo is still the truest friend that she’s ever had. Gwen knows she can trust Leo to follow through if something happens to her. And of course, he’s hoping that Gwen won’t die. However, there’s also the chance that Leo could double cross her and maybe prevent Gwen from contacting her lawyer for more than 10 days, which would trigger the dead man switch so Leo can get the letter detailing EJ’s dirty deeds and publish it.

EJ Gets the News

It was big fun, I thought, also to see Madame Mayor Paulina personally deliver the news to EJ that the state medical board voted to censure him. Paulina said that is one step closer to stripping EJ of his hospital ownership, but he mocked her and said they can’t do it because they need another buyer.

And when Paulina said they have an offer on the table, EJ assumed it was Xander. And then he was basically laughing at her because EJ knows that Xander can’t afford to buy it. Paulina was so pleased to tell EJ that no, it’s not Xander, it’s Gwen who made an offer to buy the hospital. And he knows she’s got the money to do it. She’s got all those Dimitri dollars.

And after letting Leo know about the dead man’s switch, you know, just in case something happened, Gwen marched over to tell EJ that she’s returning the knife he stabbed her in the back with, and she’s doing it blade first. And since Gwen knows he’s dangerous, she let EJ know if anything happens to her, he will be ruined. But we also know he’s not going to let Gwen get away with betraying him, even though EJ betrayed her first.

The War Escalates on Days of Our Lives

But now the ball is rolling on Days of Our Lives. I can see him trying to wreak havoc on Gwen, especially if she moves forward with buying the hospital. And it appears that she still wants to let Xander in on that deal because she called him after confronting EJ. And of course, you know, he was feeling smug until she did this. Because Gwen and EJ didn’t have any legally binding contract because they were doing something dodgy.

But that also means that the blade cuts both ways and Gwen can also do whatever she wants. She knows Caleb Brady will support her purchasing the hospital. Anything to get rid of EJ. So, we’ll have to wait and see if it happens. However, I don’t think it will because the summer promo shows that EJ is still in control of the hospital because he fires a very shocked Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey). So, something may happen to slow up or prevent the sale. But even so, Gwen’s not going to stop.

Big Negotiation Coming Up

We know that she and Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) get together with Leo and Dimitri for an intense negotiation in the next few weeks. Leo and Gwen are now rekindled as besties. And of course, Leo has had to accept that Javi Hernandez (Al Calderon) has moved on with firefighter Gus (Michael Ocampo). So, when Dimitri comes back to Salem their dynamic is different.

There’s a little potential there. And it looks like Rafe, Gwen, and Leo are trying to get Dimitri to conspire with them. And it’s probably against EJ because Rafe still wants to take him down. He’s working with the FBI, and the ISA. So, it looks like they need Dimitri for some reason. And Leo may offer himself as a bargaining chip because he tells Dimitri, “If you won’t make a deal with Rafe, maybe you’ll make one with me.”

So, yeah, whatever they’re asking, if Dimitri winds up getting Leo back, he might agree to it. So, even if EJ manages to hang on to the hospital and block Gwen from buying it, that doesn’t mean she lost the war. Just that battle. So, wait to see, but it is about to get really, really messy between EJ and Gwen. And I can’t wait.

Allie Hayes’ hair was one of the notable book-to-screen changes in Off Campus — and there’s a reason for that.

“Her skin tones factored into it because once you start changing those hair colors, the skin tones change,” series hairstylist Debra Wiebe told Elite Daily in an interview published Wednesday, June 3, referring to actress Mika Abdalla, who brings Allie to life onscreen. “We enhanced the color to make it a bit more golden. Her highlights had more of a golden blonde tint, where Stephen [Kalyn]’s was lighter and more pastel.”

Off Campus is adapted from Elle Kennedy’s bestselling hockey romance series of the same name, in which Dean Heyward-Di Laurentis and love interest Allie Hayes both have blonde locks. In the Prime Video adaptation, Dean and Allie are portrayed by Kalyn, 28, and Abdalla, 26, respectively. 

Much like his book counterpart, Kalyn’s Dean had a bleached ‘do. Abdalla, meanwhile, kept her naturally dark tresses for the role.

“Sometimes those conversations go on before I’m in the room. When producers are casting, they put the two actors beside each other and decide on the look,” Wiebe told the outlet. “Then, we all had a conversation of, ‘Can we lighten her hair just a bit?’”

For Wiebe, giving Abdalla blonde highlights helped nod to the literary inspiration and distinguish the character from her BFF Hannah Wells (Ella Bright).

Off Campus season 1 highlighted Hannah’s love story with Dean’s hockey teammate Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli). Abdalla and Kalyn will take the reins in the already renewed season 2, after fans got a peek at their journey at the end of the first season.

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“I’m just really looking forward to digging deeper into who Allie and Dean are,” Abdalla exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of last month’s premiere. “They both, kind of, have these fronts, these personas that are hard to kind of crack through. They are kind of stereotypes of themselves. But in the books, as we know, there’s so much beneath the surface of Dean, and there’s so much beneath the surface of Allie.”

She continued at the time, “When it is time for our season, I’m excited to dig emotionally into that a little bit more, because, you know, we see Allie and Dean as their exteriors a lot in season 1. While that is fun, and they are super fun characters to play, I think as actors, selfishly, both of us are really excited to, kind of, like, get psychological.”

Off Campus season 1 is currently streaming on Prime Video, while season 2 recently started production.