Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Sheriff Country Episode 20.Sheriff Country and its sister series, Fire Country, both had hugely contrasting season finales. The Fire Country Season 4 finale had a surprisingly idyllic happy ending with absolutely no cliffhangers. Meanwhile, Sheriff Country did something completely wild and unhinged in its first season finale, “Mexico.” Although Sheriff Mickey Fox (Morena Baccarin) took down Alec Kane (Wes Chatham) and arrested her wicked ex-sister-in-law, Miranda Fraley (Kelli O’Hara), another gigantic bombshell dropped in her lap at the end. Eva Santos (Rachel Ticotin), the Deputy Director of the DEA, who was previously investigating Mickey for wrongdoing after arresting her father, Wes Fox (W. Earl Brown), is revealed as Mickey’s long-lost, presumably dead, mother, Sarah Bernal Fox. Sheriff Country has taken some wild swings and plot developments before, but this crazy plot twist completely loses the plot for the freshman drama.

Eva’s Reveal Came Out of Nowhere in ‘Sheriff Country’

Ultimately, the Eva revelation comes off as thinking up the craziest idea possible, throwing it at the proverbial wall, and seeing if it sticks. The show previously established that Mickey lost her mother at a young age, so the revelation came out of nowhere. Earlier in the season, Mickey talked about her parents’ arrest for their criminal activities, and it was stated that Sarah died in prison from viral pneumonia while awaiting trial. In another episode, Wes visits Sarah’s grave, so there was no reason to doubt Sarah’s death or suspect a greater mystery at work.

The revelation that Eva Santos is Mickey’s mother was absolutely shocking, but it also felt incredibly forced. It’s been a recurring habit for Sheriff Country throughout the season, and that’s not a compliment. It’s much like the casual reveal that Nathan Boone (Matt Lauria) was secretly married to Nora (Susan Misner). However, viewers later learned that Boone only married Nora, the spouse of Boone’s late partner, out of a sense of guilt and obligation, and the subplot grew ridiculously convoluted and overwrought. Sheriff Country leans too heavily on unrealistic melodrama that produces moments of shock and awe but lacks narrative credibility and cohesion.

Mickey’s Mother Being Alive Creates Too Many Plot Holes

The Eva Santos development fails so catastrophically because it raises multiple logistical questions and creates plot holes that a truck can drive through. To offer some semblance of an explanation, Sheriff Country showrunner Matt Lopez informed Soaps that Eva assumed the identity of Sarah Berrnal when she was a young DEA agent, and she was embedded in Edgewater to report back on Wes Fox. Instead, she fell in love with Fox, married him, and the couple started a family. Sheriff Country now expects viewers to accept that after starting a family with Fox and raising their child, she faked her death and resumed her identity at the DEA. Additionally, Eva climbed the ladder, reaching the position of deputy director. It’s improbable that after marrying and starting a family with Wes, she would have a strong career at the DEA and become one of their most senior officers.

For one thing, it’s highly illogical that Eva would be able to return to her old life in the DEA and become a high-ranking government official. The public clearly knew about the arrest of the Fox family, and Eva’s superiors would also know about her daughter. Plus, it’s equally irrational that Eva would be able to maintain the secrecy of her dual identity. Moreover, how did Mickey not recognize Eva at all? Mickey obviously held memories of her mother and was old enough to remember what happened to her parents. It’s not a memory she blocked out.

Why Did Eva Attempt To Blackmail Mickey?

Image via Darren Goldstein/CBS

Right before Wes reveals that Eva is Mickey’s mother, Eva meets with Mickey, explaining that Wes accepted a deal from the DEA to act as an informant against the Bulgarian drug cartel in Edgewater in exchange for his release, and she wants to conduct a joint operation with the sheriff’s office. Mickey outright refuses since she wants nothing to do with her father following his latest betrayal. Eva then proceeds to blackmail Mickey, her own daughter, threatening to reveal Mickey’s romantic relationship with Alec Kane and ruin her reputation.

Eva knows Mickey is her daughter, and Wes is about to be brought in, which would divulge Eva’s secret. Why is Eva attempting to blackmail Mickey right before her whole world is shattered by finding out that her mother has been alive for the last 35+ years? Perhaps a wiser move would be to lead with the mother reveal before attempting to blackmail Mickey. Not to mention, Eva’s gambit makes her extremely unlikable. Earlier, she came off as a strict yet fair agent, but her attempt at coercing Mickey makes her appear more malevolent and sinister. Sheriff Country’s outlandish plot developments will certainly persist when the show continues for Season 2 later this fall on CBS.

“Sex and the City” star Jason Lewis is chasing an entirely new high career-wise!

After a brief hiatus from being seen, the actor has resurfaced with a detailed master plan of how the next phase of his career would pan out and what is required of him to achieve that.

Jason Lewis was famous for playing Smith Jerrod, a younger romantic partner of Samantha Jones, played by Kim Cattrall, in the final season of the super successful HBO show “Sex and the City.” He continued his journey with the franchise by returning for both “Sex and the City” movies.

Three years after leaving California for Costa Rica, the actor revealed he has fully thrown himself into a new passion, which will birth a fantasy book series that has grown far beyond what he envisaged. He revealed that most of his days include surfing, learning Spanish, and waking up at 4 a.m. to write. 

Lewis shared that he has created a blueprint of an expansive literary universe consisting of three interconnected trilogies spanning different eras, all centered on themes of power, agency, tyranny, and redemption.

The actor shared that he put an interesting twist on the project by choosing to start right at the end, which means that the first book he intends to release is actually the seventh installment in the nine-novel fantasy saga.

Lewis admitted that he knew his creative idea was a big dream, but he had no idea it would expand into a universe, which would require him to uproot his entire life from California to Costa Rica.

The budding author continued to The Hollywood Reporter that he also knew his new mission required time, space, and a healthier lifestyle that would allow him to focus on writing while staying connected to his hobbies.

Jason Lewis Credits ‘Star Wars’ For Inspiring His Unconventional Fantasy Epic

Lewis continued that settling into his new normal required him to embrace a life of discipline, which begins from the moment he wakes up.

His daily ritual includes completing between 1,000 and 2,000 words just within the limits of his concentration, of course, after his morning walk and a cup of coffee.

The unusual structure of assembling his book’s release is also a nod to his admiration of one of the biggest sci-fi projects, “Star Wars,” which also revealed part of its story in an order different from chronological.

Prior to his role as Samantha Jones’ devoted boyfriend, Smith Jerrod on “Sex and the City,” Lewis was one of the most recognizable modeling faces.

The actor broke onto the scene in the last golden age of male supermodels, when supermodels had their faces photo-shopped into world-celebrity status. 

Lewis’ career was, however, not confined to the fashion limelight, as he was known for his work on high-profile campaigns and magazine covers. He has already developed that kind of on-screen magic when he was cast as Smith on HBO’s popular series. 

The love interest was one of the most endearing in the show, thanks to his acting skills, which added a natural charm and refined confidence to the role.

The ‘Sex And The City’ Star Broke Three-Year Silence With Surprise Update For Fans

On May 21, PEOPLE shared that Lewis appeared on Instagram with an explanation surrounding his protracted disappearance from the radar.

The HBO star surprised fans with a new video message, declaring that after three years, it was time to interact with the public again.

In the video, the 54-year-old actor explained that he intentionally went quiet to focus on a project that demanded his full attention.

“I went quiet. Not because I have nothing to say, but because I had something to do. The kind of creative work that doesn’t leave room for much else, and I made my peace with that,” he explained.

While he stopped short of revealing all the details, Lewis hinted that he has reached a point where he is finally ready to start sharing more of what he has been working on. A few years before his hiatus, Lewis had addressed questions surrounding his appearance on the “Sex and the City” revival series.

He explained that he was never approached about playing Jerrod, but he had so much love for the franchise, which made him a household name.

The Former Model Raved About His Partner’s Love For Him In 2020

In 2020, the fan favorite popped the question to his long-time girlfriend, Liz Godwin, about four years after they met for the first time at a party in Miami.

As shared by PEOPLE, Lewis described Godwin as a constant source of love and encouragement who goes through the best and worst times with him. 

He credited her with helping him grow as a person and said her acceptance of his marriage proposal was one of the greatest blessings of his life. The actor shared that he had strategized the proposal to surprise Godwin. 

He hosted a day of climbing and beach fun disguised as a trip out to Malibu with friends and family. Godwin finished his climb at a point that overlooks the sea, as Lewis was at the top with a ring, and down on one knee during the beautiful sunset. According to him:

“I anchored myself to the rock, clipped her to me, just in case, then got on one knee and did ‘the thing.”

For her part, Godwin affirmed that their relationship has been filled with love, support, fun, and personal growth. She expressed excitement about spending the rest of her life with Lewis and building a future together as husband and wife.

Jason Lewis’ On-Screen Love Interest Also Tied The Knot Last Year

The Blast shared in 2025 that Cattrall officially wed her long-time boyfriend Russell Thomas in an intimate ceremony set in the Old Town Hall, Chelsea, in London. The wedding was a private affair with only 12 close friends and family members in attendance. 

Cattrall wore a chic Dior suit styled by Patricia Field, paired with vintage-inspired accessories. The pair first met in 2016 after Cattrall appeared on BBC Radio’s Woman’s Hour. 

Thomas reached out on social media and began to build a friendship-based relationship with them, which eventually became a romance of sorts.

After years of keeping their relationship largely out of the spotlight, the couple has now made it official with a low-key celebration focused on love and family.

Before marrying Thomas, Cattrall had been married three times. She previously married Larry Davis in 1977, but that relationship did not last long.

After her third marriage in 2004, the actress took her career and personal development seriously for several years before falling in love again with Thomas.

Jason Lewis is set to capture hearts with his fantasy series!

Whew! Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson have both been at the center of online conversation lately, as fans revisit past relationships and start dissecting lyrics with a sharper lens than ever. Although the Hot Girl Coach hasn’t directly confirmed who her bars may be about, listeners are convinced there are layers hidden between the lines. And when Megan Thee Stallion linked up with Klay Thompson, then later stepped into a very public breakup narrative, the internet has only become more invested in decoding every new verse.

RELATED: Lexie Brown Speaks Out After Klay Thompson & Megan Thee Stallion Fail To Clear Her Name In Cheating Allegations

Megan The Stallion’s New Verse Sparks Klay Thompson Speculation

Months after Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson quietly went their separate ways, conversation around the breakup has hardly disappeared. Earlier this year, Megan accused the NBA star of cheating in a series of emotional social media posts. In contrast, Thompson has chosen not to publicly respond. Lately, listeners have started wondering whether some of that experience shaped Megan’s latest verse on Bossman Dlow’s ‘Motion Party (Remix).’

Fans quickly began parsing through the lyrics for possible references to the former relationship. “I ain’t goin’ through no phones, that sh*t stupid/If I catch a n**a cheatin’ on me, it’s deuces,” Megan raps early in the track. Moments later, she follows with, “Sh*t strict over here, I’m a rich b*tch/ Thought he did his big one ‘til he met the biggest.” She never mentions Thompson by name, but the song leaves enough ambiguity for listeners to draw their own conclusions. Even so, the timing of the release—arriving months after Megan publicly discussed infidelity—has only intensified speculation surrounding the verse.

The Internet Has A Lot To Say Again

Fans quickly flooded The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section once the lyrics and old breakup details resurfaced, making their opinions known in full force. Some users argued that if the situation was truly “that strict,” Klay Thompson wouldn’t have even had the opportunity to step out, questioning the narrative being discussed. Others took a more joking approach, claiming Klay is probably somewhere “smoking a cigar on a boat” and completely unbothered by all the online speculation.

One Instagram user @__toystory claimed, “So when Taylor Swift sing about her life it’s cool but Megan can’t? 🆗😒”

This Instagram user @margiimayy added, “shidd you gotta go thru the phone to catch em 😂😂”

And, Instagram user @julietdonna_ shared, “Aquarius don’t play about moving on, they’ll move on like you never existed“

Then Instagram user @only1jsn asked, “How it strict if you always gettin cheated on😂”

While Instagram user @chelseamichel said, “Mmmm i doubt he gaf… so saying this doesn’t matter.“

Finally, Instagram user @indiaxxclusive wrote, “I mean she said what she said , yall hate when women respect themself and bash the ones that don’t 😭😭😭😭”

Y’all Remember When Megan’s April Post Set The Internet Off

As previously reported, Megan first confirmed their breakup in April through a candid Instagram message that quickly spread across social media. “Cheating, had me around your whole family playing house… got ‘cold feet’[.] Holding you down through all your HORRIBLE mood swings and treatment towards me during your basketball season now you don’t know if you can be ‘monogamous’???? b*tch I need a REAL break after this one .. bye yall,” she wrote, setting off a wave of discourse that continues to resurface with every new release.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 5 seconds ago

It seems that Disney has finally figured out the secret to getting fans to care about Marvel again: throw in the X-Men, baby! Hype for Avengers: Doomsday didn’t reach its zenith until the trailer, which brought back Cyclops, Magneto, and Professor X from the 20th Century Fox films. Before that, a third Deadpool movie seemed pretty “meh” until the reveal that he’d be fighting alongside Wolverine, everyone’s favorite canucklehead. Meanwhile, fans who couldn’t remember the last time they watched anything on Disney+ flocked to the streamer to watch X-Men ‘97, arguably the best thing this franchise has given us in at least a decade.

Now, the trailer for X-Men ‘97 Season 2 show just dropped, and you don’t need Cerebro to detect fan excitement all around the world. One reason to be excited is that the second season, like the first, is going to incorporate some of the most important storylines from the X-Men comics. By reading (or re-reading) those comics, you can get a solid idea of what will be happening in Season 2, which premieres on July 1, and be better able to appreciate every little Easter egg. Based on the trailer, which comics should you thumb through before the new season hits? Keep reading, true believer, and I’ll tell you!

Adventures Of Cyclops And Phoenix

In the ‘90s X-Men comics, Cyclops and Jean Grey finally got married. The miniseries Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix revealed that, not too long after they got hitched, these newlyweds were transported to an Apocalypse-ruled far future by Rachel Summers, their daughter from a different alternate future (it’s complicated). There, they are reunited with Nathan Summers, Cyclops’ son from a previous relationship, who grows up to be Cable, the time-traveling hero. Cyclops and Jean Grey spend 12 years raising Nathan and training him in his powers, but they are eventually brought back to their present day, where no time has actually passed.

Why should you re-read this comic before X-Men ‘97 Season 2? Cyclops and Jean Grey were transported into the future at the end of Season 1, and the new trailer shows them walking through a field of corpses in a world ruled by Apocalypse. It looks like the show will be doing its own homage to Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix, and it’s a pretty solid bet we’ll see young Nathan Summers in Season 2. That will also give us some important background information and character-building for Cable, who (thanks to his time-travel abilities) remains one of the show’s most important characters.

The Twelve

“The Twelve” (sometimes written as “Apocalypse: The Twelve”) was a crossover comic event in which a weakened Apocalypse hatched a crazy plan to achieve supreme power. He captured 12 very specific mutants with the intent of basically stealing their powers and becoming omnipotent. However, his battered body couldn’t withstand all this extra juice, so he had a backup plan: to give it all to Nate Gray (an alternate universe Cable) and then put his own mind in the young man’s body. Our heroes stop the villain, but he goes on to rewrite reality in a later arc, and he’s only stopped when the X-Men defeat him in both the past and the present.

Why read this crossover before X-Men ‘97 Season 2? The trailer shows an interesting cave etching where several X-Men are seemingly looking up at a mysterious floating figure. This implies we may be getting a version of “The Twelve” storyline where Apocalypse is hoping to steal some very specific powers, putting them into a new body along with his own mind. This is the story where Wolverine gets his adamantium back, which would build on the hero’s story from Season 1. Plus, the overarching plot of Season 2, where X-Men fight Apocalypse in the past and the present, is reminiscent of what happened in “Ages of Apocalypse,” a comic story that happened soon after “The Twelve.”

Bonus Reading

So, based on the trailer for X-Men ‘97 Season 2, those are the big comic storylines we can expect to be adapted for the show. With that said, there’s some bonus reading that you may want to do. For example, you should consider reading “Blood of Apocalypse,” a story in which the titular villain transforms Gambit into one of his Horsemen. The end of Season 1 highly implied that Apocalypse intended to bring the ragin’ Cajun back to life, and the Season 2 trailer further implies that there’s a resurrection in the cards for Gambit. By reading this comic, you may get a better idea of how the hero’s return will be handled in the show.

Additionally, you should consider reading Grant Morrison’s New X-Men run for several reasons, including the fact that it’s the best run in the entire history of the comics (I said what I said!). Additionally, the trailer gave us glimpses of Quentin Quire and maybe Xorn, two characters introduced to the franchise by Morrison. The trailer also briefly showed Emma Frost, who first joins the team in New X-Men. Finally, the show has already adapted one major storyline from Morrison’s run (namely, the brutal attack on Genosha), and it wouldn’t be surprising if we get other arcs. As a bonus, this comic also introduces Cassandra Nova, who was the Big Bad of Deadpool & Wolverine.

Bust Out Those Longboxes, Boys

Obviously, you don’t have to read these classic comics to enjoy the show. One of the best things about X-Men ‘97 is that it is remarkably accessible to new fans of the franchise. However, Season 1 was filled with amazing homages and Easter eggs from the comics, and noticing them is a great way to enhance your appreciation for the best show Marvel ever made. Now, you have a chance to brush up on some classic comic reading and maybe get a better idea of what to expect from Season 2.

Of course, the show never does a straight adaptation of comic events, and it’s also rewarding to see how the writers have modified classic storylines and woven them into something new. If nothing else, the imminent arrival of X-Men ‘97 Season 2 gives you a chance to read New X-Men, the most important comic in the history of the franchise. In the immortal words of Bob Belcher, “I don’t want to oversell it. But if changes you forever.”

Martina McBride, Bret Michaels and several other artists backed out of appearing at the Great American State Fair’s Freedom 250 concerts.

The 16-day Great American State Fair has been promoted as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, with exhibitions, parades and a controversial UFC event at the White House building up to Independence Day festivities on July 4.

An element of the festivities that has generated considerable backlash is the Freedom 250 concerts, which are being held to “celebrate the triumph of the American Spirit.”

“250 years ago, America chose freedom,” the official website said. “This year, we celebrate it in every city, every town, every stretch of American road.”

Related: Breaking Down Rock the Country Festival Drama After 4 Artists Drop Out

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While the concerts are promoted as “nonpartisan,” the Freedom 250 website does feature photos of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. The website’s list of financial partners and sponsors raised eyebrows as well, as it includes numerous Trump administration agencies — including the Department of Homeland Security and the White House itself — as well as corporations such as Palantir, UFC and ExxonMobil, all of which have ties to the administration.

As public outcry over the Great American State Fair grew in the late spring of 2026, numerous artists pulled out of performing at the Freedom 250 concerts.

Keep scrolling for an explanation of why each artist backed out of the Trump-backed music festival:

Martina McBride Said She Was Misled Over the Festival

The country music icon announced via Instagram on May 28 that she was backing out of a scheduled slot at the Great American State Fair.

“I would like to talk to you and clear the air. I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25,” she confirmed. “I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.”

McBride insisted that she’d only agreed to appear at the festival after asking “lots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states.”

“In my mind, I thought this was a great way to celebrate the states and also bring people together in the way that only music can,” she explained. “I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special. Sounds fun, right? Wholesome even.”

As Freedom 250 took shape, McBride noticed that “things started changing” and she grew uncomfortable with the optics.

“I’ve spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues,” she noted. “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one. It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I’m abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you that is not the case. I appreciate every single fan who has reached out. I hope to get back to the DC area very soon.”

Bret Michaels Allegedly Faced Threats Over ‘Freedom 250’

On May 28, 2026, the Poison frontman joined a chorus of artists backing out of Freedom 250.

“As many of you know, I’ve spent my entire career bringing people together through music, positivity and good vibes,” he said in a statement on his website. “My shows have never been about politics. They’re about giving people a place to come together, have a great time and forget about life’s stresses for a few hours.”

The “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” singer was upset that “a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of.”

“Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable,” Michaels said. “Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.”

Michaels insisted that his Freedom 250 cancellation “isn’t about politics,” rather it’s about “staying true to what I’ve always believed in.”

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinions,” he wrote. “That’s one of the freedoms our veterans fought for and something I’ve always respected. But as a father, friend and bandmate, I have to take threats and safety concerns seriously.”

Milli Vanilli’s Involvement in ‘Freedom 250’ Raised Questions

One of the more confusing aspects of the Freedom 250 backlash has centered around Milli Vanilli.

When the 1990 Best New Artist Grammy winners found fame with “Girl You Know It’s True,” the public was led to believe that the duo’s vocalists were models Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. However, it later came out that studio musicians — including Jodie Rocco and Linda Rocco — actually performed vocals that Morvan and Pilatus lip-synced to on stage. (Pilatus died of a drug overdose at age 32 in 1998.)

Freedom 250 organizers announced “Milli Vanilli” as part of the musical lineup without specifying who exactly would be performing. The Rocco sisters told The Associated Press in an email that they were “shocked” to see Milli Vanilli on the Freedom 250 lineup and had no plans to take part.

However, Morvan subsequently confirmed to Consequence of Sound that he was the one who was actually booked for the concert, not the Rocco sisters, and would “finally sing Milli Vanilli songs live in person” at the Washington D.C. festival.

“I am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them,” Morvan — a French native — went on. “Let’s celebrate life & music and take a trip down memory lane. I feel honored to be a part of the Great American State Fair as it will celebrate the 250 Year Anniversary of America with so many other accomplished artists.”

Young MC Refused to Take Part in a ‘Trump-Backed’ Event

Young MC announced via Instagram on May 27 that he would not take part in any “Trump-backed” event.

“I have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom 250 event. The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,” the “Bust a Move” rapper wrote. “And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed. I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”

C+C Music Factory’s Frontman Hit Out at the Backlash

Frontman Freedom Williams insisted via Instagram on May 27 that he doesn’t “f*** with Trump” and was not originally made aware that a June 2026 concert booking in Washington D.C. had any political implications.

However, Williams fired back at fans threatening to “cancel” C+C Music Factory over their involvement with Freedom 250.

“The day I let you mother-f***ers tell me what to do is the day I die,” he insisted. “Let me make it crystal clear: I do not live for none of you …. I will vote for Genghis Khan, Hitler and Ivan the Terrible before I let you n*****s tell me what to do.”

Related: Biggest Country Music Controversies Through the Years

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Sometimes America’s sweethearts go sour. From Morgan Wallen to The Chicks, the biggest names in country music have been at the center of some major controversies. Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer found themselves in hot water in the early 2000s after sharing their personal politics on a public stage. While performing across the […]

However, C+C Music Factory later released a statement distancing the group from Freedom 250, insisting that the band members do not “participate nor side with any specific political party.”

“WE stand neutral when it comes to sides. We side with Global Love & Peace,” the group statement read.

Morris Day and the Time Denied ‘Rumors’ They Were Playing ‘Freedom 250’

The R&B group — best known for their collaborations with Prince — clarified via Instagram on May 28 that “contrary to rumor” they would not take part in Freedom 250.

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“It’s A No For Me,” Day added.

The Commodores Denied That They Were Aligned With Any ‘Single Political Party’

The classic R&B band confirmed on May 28, 2026, that they “will not be performing at the Great American State Fair.”

“Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party,” they continued. “We support the betterment of all Americans.”

The journey through the time vortex was never going to be smooth. Just when things felt somewhat back on track for Whovians, Doctor Who gets more frustrating news. When the timey-wimey show partnered with Disney for a new era under returning showrunner Russell T. Davies, it seemed like the BBC was making a statement of intent as they looked to secure the future of the show for many years to come. Instead, the next few years were riddled with mistakes and ended in controversy, with the House of Mouse partnership crumbling and Ncuti Gatwa‘s run as the titular Time Lord coming to a seemingly premature close last year.

After months of uncertainty, Kate Phillips, chief content officer at the BBC, confirmed that “Doctor Who is going nowhere,” adding that “going forward, with or without Disney, Doctor Who will still be on the BBC.” Davies then seemingly confirmed that the show would be returning in Christmas 2026, even going as far as to announce that the script left BBC bosses “with jaws agape, loving it.” Alas, despite this script seemingly being set during the festive period, it seems that there’s another setback likely to demand some rewrites from Davies.

According to a new report from The Sun, albeit without confirmation from the BBC itself, Doctor Who‘s 2026 Christmas special will now move to Easter 2027. Via an insider source, the BBC has found searching for the 16th Doctor an impossible task, with the allure of the role having lost some of its spark thanks to the recent controversial era. “There are fears that even if they do manage to pull something together, it is going to be a poor cousin to previous Christmas specials, which have always been adored by fans,” the report read.

The Hunt for the 16th Doctor Confirms a Fan Theory

This frustrating search for the next Doctor would seemingly confirm most people’s expectations that Billie Piper, whom Gatwa had regenerated into at the end of the last season, will not officially take over control of the TARDIS. It seems the cynics were right, that she was merely a placeholder intended to shock viewers into staying hooked on a show that has long been past its best. Perhaps the best choice for all involved is to go with a fresh, relatively unknown face and try to build the franchise around someone who can commit their entire time to portraying a role that demands so much both on and off-screen.

The most recent Doctor Who is available on Disney+. Stay tuned to Collider for the latest updates.

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Release Date

2005 – 2021-00-00

Network

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BBC

Directors

Graeme Harper, Euros Lyn, Douglas Mackinnon, Jamie Magnus Stone, Charles Palmer, Rachel Talalay, Joe Ahearne, James Strong, Jamie Childs, Saul Metzstein, Toby Haynes, Wayne Che Yip, Nick Hurran, Richard Clark, James Hawes, Daniel Nettheim, Colin Teague, Keith Boak, Azhur Saleem, Adam Smith, Andrew Gunn, Nida Manzoor, Lawrence Gough, Paul Murphy

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You could stick to Stephen King’s novels and get almost everything he has to offer as a writer, sure, but you’d still be missing out if you didn’t also take the time to read some of his short fiction. Those novels are legendary, and some of his very best ones are memorably long (oh hey, IT and The Stand), so it’s worth stressing that King can also do some pretty great stuff when tackling stories of a less paper-intensive nature.

There are, to date, 12 main/official collections of Stephen King short fiction, and they’re all ranked below. Maybe some won’t like the idea of having the novella-heavy collections compared to the collections of King’s that are more made up of short stories, but if something is made up of mostly one, or the other, or there’s a mix of both, then it’s going to be here. With these collections, you do ultimately get some of the author’s best works, and then a few stories that also showcase him at his most flawed, plus everything in between, of course.

12

‘Just After Sunset’ (2008)

Image via Hodder Paperbacks

If you’re a fan of Stephen King’s, you might be aware that he had a somewhat divisive run of novels throughout the mid-2000s (namely, The Colorado Kid, to Cell, to Lisey’s Story, and then Blaze). Throw in the final Dark Tower book as well, if you want, for its divisive ending, and maybe Duma Key, which does have some fans, but also feels a bit too familiar, even by King’s standards, where repurposed/reused concepts feel, to some extent, forgivable.

In this period, you also have Just After Sunset, which is the least impressive of his short story collections. Things range from forgettable at best to pretty clunky at worst, with the novella N. being perhaps the closest thing to a highlight (and even then, it’s not really amazing or anything).

11

‘Full Dark No Stars’ (2010)

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A slightly better collection of novellas than Just After Sunset was a collection of short stories, but not by much, Full Dark, No Stars suffers from some of the same problems, even if all the novellas here have premises that, to some extent, sound promising. “1922,” for instance, starts pretty well, but doesn’t maintain momentum from start to finish the way you might hope a psychological horror/crime novella by Stephen King would.

At least it sustains things better than “A Good Marriage,” which feels drawn out in the tradition of Gerald’s Game (and has some thematic links), so it’s admirably ambitious, albeit a little disappointing. “Big Driver” is kind of forgettable, but the third (and unfortunately shortest) novella of the bunch, “Fair Extension,” is pretty fun, and feels the closest to vintage King, being kind of nasty and intriguing in all the right ways… it’s just a shame it’s so short, compared to the other stories here.

10

‘The Bazaar of Bad Dreams’ (2015)

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Things actually start getting a little better from here, because it’s hard to call The Bazaar of Bad Dreams bad, and so naturally, it’s even harder to call the collections that’ll be mentioned after this bad, too. The biggest “sin” this one commits is being mostly forgettable, as a collection of short stories with a handful of novellas thrown in for good measure.

The closest thing here to a bad selection is probably “Blockade Billy,” though that one could be kind of engaging if you’re a baseball fan (King himself undeniably is, that’s for sure). “Mile 81,” on the other side of things quality-wise, is quite good, and a better story about a weird/spooky car that’s probably not really a car than From a Buick 8, and maybe even Christine, though the latter is iconic, and came from King’s most celebrated period.

9

‘Hearts in Atlantis’ (1999)

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The ambition of Hearts in Atlantis goes a fair way in making it a worthwhile read, if you’re a big Stephen King fan, but it’s certainly not a flawlessly done work throughout. That ambition is what keeps it interesting, though, since this almost defies being categorized as a novella or short story collection, seeing as the five stories here play out chronologically, and have some real ties thematically, not to mention featuring a few recurring characters throughout.

Things keep tying back to the Vietnam War, especially after “Low Men in Yellow Coats,” with that first story (and the best in the overall collection) being, overall, a bit more of a coming-of-age sort of thing. There is a sense of diminishing returns from each story there onward, but at least those lesser stories aren’t as long as the highlight here, which is especially a highlight if you’re a fan of King’s Dark Tower series (which makes it frustrating that the movie version of Hearts in Atlantis, which mostly sticks to adapting “Low Men in Yellow Coats,” leaves out most of the Dark Tower references).

8

‘You Like It Darker’ (2024)

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The afterword of You Like It Darker kind of cheekily includes the words: “You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” which does imply a real return to horror after a decade or so where Stephen King’s novels often seemed to de-emphasize the elements of that genre, which he used to (well, still is) so well known for. Like, most of the Holly Gibney-related books (there are lots of them) weren’t too horror-focused, and neither was 11/22/63, nor whatever the hell Elevation was.

So, you see him call a book that, in 2024, and you get a bit excited, particularly if you’re a fan of Cujo and hear that one of the stories here is a sequel to that novel (still one of his most frightening works), but then You Like It Darker, in actuality, really isn’t that consistently dark or scary. At least the final three novellas included in the collection are quite good, redeeming things after some largely shaky short stories and the rather baffling “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” which some people do admittedly seem to like.

7

‘Nightmares & Dreamscapes’ (1993)

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Nightmares & Dreamscapes is quite exhausting, seeing as there are 24 short stories here, and the page count – at least for the first edition – was over 800, making it the longest of all the collections here. Unsurprisingly, that also makes it his most chaotic and all-over-the-place in terms of quality. Here, you get the best of King, and the blurst of King.

Like, this might sound like a joke, but there’s a story here called “Head Down,” which is a non-fiction essay about King’s son, Owen, and his Little League baseball team, and it goes on for a surprisingly long time. It’s nice that Stephen King is so invested in it, and also interesting to read after Sleeping Beauties, which the two Kings wrote together, but “Head Down” is still probably something of a slog for anyone else to get through. At least you also get the likes of “Dolan’s Cadillac” and “The Moving Finger” here, plus some experimental stories that work a little better than “Head Down,” like “Sorry, Right Number” (a teleplay) and “The Doctor’s Case” (an instance of King doing a Sherlock Holmes story).

6

‘If It Bleeds’ (2020)

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There’s a little horror to be found in If It Bleeds, but it’s also sort of in line with You Like It Darker in de-emphasizing the horror, to some extent, or at least by Stephen King standards. “If It Bleeds” is a Holly Gibney novella that works as a pretty solid thriller, while the final story, “Rat,” is probably the closest to the horror genre overall.

Okay, there is also the first story, “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” but that feels pretty heavy on coming-of-age elements, with horror being secondary, and then there’s the rather striking “The Life of Chuck” as the second of the four novellas here, which is more of an existentialist fantasy/drama story over anything else, and stands out thanks to its unique structure. Overall, If It Bleeds is a good collection. None of these stories are absolutely top-tier King, but none of them are bad, so it’s an overall more consistent batch of tales than all the previously mentioned collections.

5

‘Everything’s Eventual’ (2002)

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Probably the most underrated collection of Stephen King’s, Everything’s Eventual compiles a bunch of short stories and novellas that King wrote (and originally had published in a variety of places) between 1994 and 2001. The most notable might well be “The Little Sisters of Eluria,” since it’s one of the longer stories here, and it also features Roland of Gilead, who’s the protagonist of The Dark Tower.

That novella’s not essential to understanding The Dark Tower, but it is a worthwhile story within that much broader and more expansive epic. And then the rest of what Everything’s Eventual has to offer is quite fun and surprisingly consistent, especially considering King’s previous short story collection – Nightmares & Dreamscapes – was so out of control in terms of quality/consistency.

4

‘Four Past Midnight’ (1990)

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There is one undeniable standout, if you’re looking at King’s novella collections that contain precisely four stories, and that one standout will be gotten to in a bit, but the runner-up is Four Past Midnight. This is Stephen King’s longest novella collection, and is a good deal better than his longest short story collection, Nightmares & Dreamscapes, with at least one story here (“The Langoliers”) being longer than some Stephen King stories that are classified as novels (like Carrie and Rage).

Everything here is good, and some stretches of Four Past Midnight come pretty close to being great, with “The Library Policeman” being a potential highlight, since it really depends on what you’re willing to call a highlight. It’s the most confronting story here, and it comes close to being too much, but you do have to give it props for being equal to some of King’s much longer and more well-known works in terms of sheer horror offered.

3

‘Night Shift’ (1978)

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Night Shift is the oldest of the official Stephen King collections, and it’s also notable for having just short stories throughout. It’s not a particularly long book, but there is a large number of individual pieces here… well, specifically, 20 all up. And almost all of them are really good, with a handful that are genuinely great, and anything that’s a bit less-than-amazing doesn’t matter too much, since no story here will really take up a great deal of your time.

It’s a breathless and easy-to-get-through read, and maybe the best book to present to someone if they ever accuse Stephen King of being too long-winded. There are also a surprisingly large number of short stories in Night Shift that were later made into movies, including – quite infamously – the largely unrelated The Lawnmower Man. That’s an interesting rabbit hole to disappear down, if you’ve got the time and want to see what King does when he really doesn’t approve of how a filmmaker handled his work.

General Hospital has some critical leaked info about Robert Scorpio‘s (Tristan Rogers) funeral, including who will not be there. Also some info about what Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) is enduring at that clinic in France. Plus a violent end for WSB director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

We’re going to get into the latest leaks from our trusted source who has come through for us on quite a lot and I love to share these things with you guys. We actually have stuff from two sources by the way.

And as always when I’m covering leaks and rumors, I want to remind you these are not official General Hospital spoilers. That being said, because we have a couple of sources and one has a really, really good track record. One’s, you know, a little more hit and miss, but I love to share these rumors. They’re good. So, we’re going to dive into another roundup.

Jason Morgan And The WSB Story on General Hospital

So, first, our leaker gave us some info about Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) and this WSB story. So, despite the fact that we have Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) and Cullum and Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) all in it, reportedly this is all just a carryover of that Pikeman plot that kind of went nowhere with Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) and Brennan running the organization.

Remember and then Jack was in prison and then Valentin’s on the run and if you remember Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) was an assassination target, all that just kind of fell apart, right?

So word has it that Jason was actually supposed to join the WSB a couple of years back when he was first coming back and was intended to be part of the plot to take down the Pikeman organization, which you know back then was essentially Jack and Valentin and they said that was the storyline that lured Steve Burton back to General Hospital. But then if you remember there was one headwriter change after another. It was like musical chairs. There was some behind-the-scenes drama. And then they brought Sidwell to Port Charles after the whole thing in Africa.

FV Couldn’t Let Carlo Rota Leave GH

And the source said that showrunner Frank Valentini really likes Carlo Rota. I do too. He’s a lot of fun. So, they wanted to keep him and they expanded the Sidwell plot and then kind of moved Jason away from the WSB join up and then deepened it by creating the fourth Faison child, Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey). And they brought back Jagger Cates (Adam Harrington). So, they also said that as part of the Jason in the WSB plot that Jagger was actually supposed to be his handler, but there were reportedly some issues and the actor they wanted for his recast didn’t work out.

Then they got a different actor who I liked and of course it just didn’t work well. So, that was another complication that pulled Jason away from the WSB story. And of course, Steve Burton is back to filming very soon, and his story is reportedly going to pivot when he’s back. Our leaker said Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) and Jason aren’t going to work out. That remains to be seen.

Josslyn And Cashes Pairing Potential

All right, the next leak, speaking of WSB related stuff, is about Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) and Cassius. So, reportedly, we’re going to be seeing more of Joss with Cassius, even though he insisted he had real feelings for Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havins Bruening). The leak said that we will be seeing more of Cassius with Lulu and Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) after the kid gets back to Port Charles, but we’ll also be seeing more of Joss with Cassius, not just because he has her locked up but because rumor has it that Frank Valentini thinks there is potential for Josslyn and Cassius as a romantic pairing.

I know some fans on soap social media were complaining about the physical fight that Joss got into with Cassius and him taking her down so hard, but I mean, come on. Joss is a WSB agent. She’s supposed to be a badass and it’s not like Cassius was, you know, sexually assaulting her or something. GH has done some really icky stuff in the past, you know, with rape stories. And first of all, for, you know, glorifying it.

General Hospital: Ryan Paevey on the Fence

Second of all, for excusing it and reforming rapists, and also for making the stories more about men than women. Like when Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst)’s rapist got out of prison and it turned out to be more about Franco. And then they even got Sonny in there more so than it was about Liz.

So anyway, I know that Luke and Laura are fan faves, but just the whole rape origin is ick. So in terms of things they’ve done between men and women, a good clean basically fight like that between a bad guy and a WSB agent, I personally think it’s fine.

Also, rumor has it that Ryan Paevey is considering whether to renew his contract or not. His first air date was in September, so he started taping as Cassius in August. Word is that Ryan’s looking to see what’s next after Cassius goes dark this summer.

One potential storyline could set up Ryan Paevey to exit after Cassius does something heroic to protect the people in his life, which obviously include Lulu, Rocco, Joss, James West (Gary James Fuller), or possibly Britt that he might save because he’s closest to them. Other chatter said to expect exits this fall. They hinted that Britt and Cassius might be casualties of late summer or early Fall drama. And I’m sure that’s down to whether Ryan renews his contract or not.

Anna Devane’s Situation in France

Now, let’s talk about Anna. The leaker said Cullum’s paying a doctor at the facility in France to drug Anna. And that same doctor is giving falsified reports to her daughter Robin Scorpio-Drake, (Kimberly McCollough) who has been checking in and monitoring the psychological care that Anna is getting.

So, this next piece of info, you know, I’m taking a wait and see on this because it says that Mac Scorpio (John York) uses some influence to get Anna sent to Ferncliff in Port Charles in June. However, to me, that kind of contradicts what we already know is in the works with Willow Corinthos (Katelyn MacMullen) clearing the way with the French authorities.

So, we’ll see if the Mac stuff manifest or not. But Ferncliff definitely sounds plausible as sort of a halfway house for Anna before she’s back to her real life. And once she is back, that clears the path to do the goodbye and tribute to Tristan Rogers and his character.

Robert Scorpio’s Memorial And Other General Hospital News

The leakers said Robert Scorpio will have an offscreen death. We all knew that, of course. But also his memorial this summer apparently will also be offscreen because they’re not planning to bring back Holly Sutton (Emma Samms) or Sasha Gilmore (Sofia Mattsson). So, personally, if they do it this way, I think an off-screen funeral for a legend like Robert Scorpio would really suck, and Tristan Rogers deserves better. So, I hope it doesn’t wind up that way.

Now, some casting news. Scout Cain (Cossette Abinante) may be getting SORAS’d aging her up to a teen and recasting the role. Also heard that Ethan Lovett (Nathan Dean) was exiting this summer. We’ll see. That feels really fast and a waste unless he just kills Sidwell and then packs his bag to leave Port Charles. I kind of doubt the summer exit, but we’ll see.

New GH Villain Coming

The leaker also said the Delilah Wilson (Lily Cardone) mystery will bring in another villain. And this week, Maxwell Caulfield pops up as Apollo, the art dealer. Ava Jerome (Maura West) and Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) visit in New York asking about Delilah. So, we may get a hint about this new villain. Then, also, we’ve heard it several times, and although I love the actor, I kind of hope it’s true that Cullum is killed off in June.

We initially heard he was going to die in May but then got an airtime extension because Finola Hughes’s return was delayed. That being said, the leaker also said it won’t be Anna that kills him. I’m hoping it’s Sidwell says he stabbed Marco Rios (Adrian Anchando) to death.

However, the leaker also said Cullum’s death triggers ripple effects for several characters and Britt is one of them. Might have something to do with her Huntington’s meds. We are supposed to be getting a few new faces, including two younger recurring actors.

And I do wonder if one of them is the little boy, Derek, who is waiting on that liver transplant. The leaker said we’re getting two new contract roles to General Hospital this summer. One’s supposed to be a guy in Britt’s orbit helping her again. Maybe it’s about her meds. This is exciting.

General Hospital: Martin & Brick Return

Also, we heard Michael E. Knight is back filming as Martin Gray, so we’ll have him on screen soon if the rumor is correct. And I wonder if he might be the lawyer Curtis hires for his criminal assault case.

And we heard Stephen A. Smith is back soon as Brick. That’s not surprising. Sonny basically already confirmed that when he said he’s putting Brick on the Rocco case, but then again, sometimes Sonny says Brick is on something and then we don’t actually see him in person. And according to the leaker, Stephen A. Smith is going to have new scenes. So, we’ll see what goes from leak and rumor to confirmed spoiler. But for now, it’s all interesting stuff.