By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 12 seconds ago

Born in the early ‘80s, I quickly became a video game junkie. That made me the perfect age to fall in love with Mortal Kombat, the bloodier, edgelord alternative to fighting games like Street Fighter II. For an embarrassingly long time, I kept up with the early games’ lore, which was adapted into a shockingly good PG-13 movie in the ‘90s. When I heard that we would be getting a new, R-rated Mortal Kombat movie, my hopes were high. Filled with boring fight scenes and flat characters, the first of these newer movies couldn’t escape its digital roots, and the whole thing looked and felt like a video game cutscene.  

Still, the early previews for Mortal Kombat II made it seem like the producers had learned from the failures of the 2021 film. Trailers promised better characters, better fights, and a more interesting story. Oh, and a secret weapon in the form of The Boys star Karl Urban as audience surrogate Jonny Cage. Unfortunately, the final result isn’t quite what the filmmakers were hoping for. Mortal Kombat II is better than the previous movie in the sense that a polished turd is better than an unpolished one. But that’s still bad news for discerning audiences hoping that they might get something other than complete sh*t for their money. 

All Style, No Substance

The premise of Mortal Kombat II is that the titular Mortal Kombat tournament is on the horizon, and if Earth loses, it will be invaded and conquered by the reigning Outworld bad guy, Shao Kahn. Our heroes assemble a team to defend the planet, which includes washed-up action movie star, Johnny Cage. But they faced some pretty big hurdles. Not only is Kahn able to resurrect the dead and turn old allies into enemies, but he has an amulet that makes him functionally immortal. Unless they can defeat the godlike Shao Kahn and win the tournament, all of humanity will be destroyed by the forces of death and darkness.

That sounds pretty engaging, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, for a movie that’s all about fatalities, Mortal Kombat II is really bad when it comes to executing its ambitious plot. It doesn’t help that Shao Kahn has no real personality other than “scary masked guy.” Seriously, he looks and acts like the generic villains you’d find in the worst horror movies of the ‘80s. Such a one-dimensional character works in video games because nobody is worried about the guy’s backstory when they’re frantically mashing buttons. But when you sit in the theater for nearly two hours, you expect (in vain, as it turns out) something more substantial from this new guy we’re supposed to care about.

Get Over Here

Speaking of new guys that we’re supposed to care about, Karl Urban is supposed to be the big draw of Mortal Kombat II. After all, he’s a charismatic character actor who plays the perfect audience surrogate role in this new film. Unfortunately, this never works even half as well as the filmmakers wanted because the script is just that bad. Urban does the best he can with the material, but he spends almost the entire runtime either gawking at Outworld weirdness or busting out tired one-liners. In-universe, Cage achieved fame by starring in a bunch of action schlock films. In an ironic and unintended twist, his dialogue never rises above that level of forgotten B-movie crapitude.

For longtime Mortal Kombat fans, there are a few things to enjoy about this movie. Adeline Rudolph is all deadly grace as Kitana, the perfect embodiment of sex and violence. Kano is resurrected, giving Josh Lawson more chances to steal every scene he’s in. There are fun callbacks to the original games, including hearing Ed Boon (who also makes a small cameo as a bartender) doing Scorpion’s iconic “get over here!” line. Plus, the fatalities are pretty solid, including a final execution that’s one of the most metal moments ever captured onscreen. These things, plus the inexorable force of nostalgia, may be enough to please the most hardcore Mortal Kombat players out there.

Shock And Awful

Unfortunately, the movie is a disappointment to pretty much everyone else. Aside from the awful writing and the slipshod plot, the biggest reason for this is that the fights are just absolutely awful. Every punch and kick lacks the visceral weight of even the simplest martial arts movies (seriously, Karate Kid has more intense fighting than this!), and the special moves are just bland CGI. The awful battles are basically the final failure of Mortal Kombat II. As an adaptation of a fighting game, the fights are woefully bad. As a character-driven genre story, the characters are one-dimensional. As a starring vehicle for Karl Urban, this is the worst thing he’s been in since Shortland Street.   

Mortal Kombat II isn’t the worst thing in theaters right now, but it’s a disappointment on every level. There’s not enough fan service to really please the franchise’s base, and there’s not enough substance to please anyone else. It’s flat, boring, and everything is covered in a grey tint that makes the film look like a cutscene from an early PS3 video game. Mortal Kombat II spends its last few minutes blatantly setting up a sequel, which is ironic because this awful film just performed a fatality on the franchise. It didn’t do the same to me, which is unfortunate; after all, I’d rather be dead than endure this low-effort crapfest ever again.

By Zack Zagranis
| Published 5 seconds ago

With all the talk of Marvel in decline, it’s easy to forget that the studio already hit its low point in 2023, and everything since has been an incremental improvement. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was Marvel’s biggest disappointment since the Spider-Man Clone Saga in the 90s (that’s a deep cut for all you old-school comic nerds out there) and had fans questioning if the House that Stark built was beginning to crumble.

The third Ant-Man movie was again helmed by Bring It On! director Peyton Reed based on a screenplay by Jeff Loveness. Reed teased that a third film in the Marvel franchise would explore the quantum realm during press for 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp. Both of the previous films had shown glimpses of the realm but only hinted at its true potential as a sci-fi action movie setting.

Shrinking Ant-Man To Nothing

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania follows superhero duo and romantic pairing Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne (played byPaul Rudd and Lost star Evangeline Lilly, respectively) as they get sucked into the quantum realm by Kang the Conqueror, played masterfully by Jonathan Majors. Along for the ride are Scott’s daughter Cassie, played by Kathryn Newton, and Hope’s parents, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet van Dyne (former Catwoman Michelle Pfeiffer).

Throughout their adventures in the quantum realm, a sort of Marvel version of the Star Wars galaxy that can only be reached by shrinking to sub-atomic size, the quintet comes across several interesting characters, including Bill Murray’s Lord Krylar and Corey Stoll’s M.O.D.O.K. Stoll, as many may remember, played Darren Cross (AKA Yellowjacket) in the first Ant-Man film.

Cross, thought to be destroyed at the end of the first movie, was instead transported to the quantum realm and transformed by Kang into a Mechanized Organism Designed Only For Killing. M.O.D.O.K. is essentially a giant head with a tiny body, forced to wear a hover helmet/chair in order to have any mobility.

Why Quantumania Failed

It all sounds like a fun, sci-fi romp on paper, but somehow didn’t translate well to the screen. Part of the blame can be placed on the shooting restrictions that came with the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to push things around and reschedule shootings. Meanwhile, the movie’s visual effects suffered thanks to another Marvel film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which stole most of the VFX workers that were supposed to be working on Ant-Man.

This led to substantial edits having to be made to Quantaumania so that scenes with unfinished VFX shots could be cut entirely. On top of that, the film made heavy use of Industrial Light & Magic’s StageCraft virtual production technology, the same equipment used in The Mandalorian and Thor: Love and Thunder. While the tech works fine with The Mandalorian, both Marvel movies ended up looking like a bunch of actors thrown into a PS4 game.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania cost an estimated $200 million to make and only grossed $476 million worldwide. While that seems like a pretty good haul (who doesn’t want to make double their budget?) it’s not as good as it looks. When the cost of advertising is factored in, along with the 50 percent of the profits that go to the theaters themselves, any profit Ant-Man 3 made was a pittance compared to some of the other Marvel blockbusters.

The Critical Destruction Of A Marvel Tentpole

If we’re being honest, however, the damage Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania did to Marvel’s reputation, their pride, and possibly even their future outweighs the money the film did or didn’t lose. The critical response to the film was largely negative, as evidenced by Quantumania‘s abysmal Rotten Tomatoes score of 47 percent. Audiences were slightly kinder, giving the movie a “B” on CinemaScore’s A+ to F scale.

The movie was the centerpiece of the first really serious think pieces about superhero fatigue, Marvel fatigue, and the just plain fatigue felt by the entire movie industry post-pandemic. Does the movie deserve all the crap it gets? The best way to answer that is to see for yourself. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is currently streaming on Disney+

Late NASCAR driver Kyle Busch and his wife, Samantha Busch, helped welcome more than 100 babies, conceived through IVF, as part of their Bundle of Joy Fund.

Kyle, who died on Thursday, May 21 at age 41, and Samantha, 39, started the fund in 2015, inspired by their own fertility journey. The couple welcomed son Brexton via IVF that same year, and later daughter Lennix in 2022.

The Bundle of Joy Fund touts on its website that it has “awarded over 150 grants valued at more than $2 million, helping bring over 100 beautiful babies into the world.”

Kyle died unexpectedly after being found unresponsive in a racing simulator and rushed to the hospital on Wednesday, May 20.

“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” his family said in a statement on Saturday, May 23. “The Family asks for continued understanding and privacy during this difficult time.”

Kyle’s death came less than a year after Samantha opened up about the struggle that the couple went through after Brexton was born and they desperately tried to have a second baby. That included what she called a “very sudden miscarriage” that put a strain on their marriage.

“We had a lot of marital struggles because we had never dealt with something so heavy and we didn’t understand how each other were grieving and we didn’t understand what each other needed in that time and place, so it was a struggle,” she explained in a July 2025 episode of the “Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley” podcast. “So we worked on it. We worked really hard. We went to marriage counseling.”

She continued, “I just had this immense guilt and I was so mad at myself for it. Kyle, on the other hand, he was like, ‘You know, I’m not trying to sound cold, but it’s done. There’s nothing that you can do to change this outcome. We have to keep moving forward.’”

Related: Kyle Busch’s Wife Samantha Breaks Down in Tears Ahead of Moment of Silence

Samantha Busch (née Sarcinella) was brought to tears ahead of a moment of silence at the Indy 500 that honored her late husband, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch. Clutching the shoulder of son Brexton, Samantha, 39, was overcome with emotion while one of the event’s announcers paid tribute to the Busch family at the Indianapolis Motor […]

After Brexton was born, Samantha said, the couple tried to conceive again via IVF. When that didn’t work, they considered using the help of a gestational carrier. But after considering several candidates, including a stranger that approached Samantha on social media, that option fell through as well. She and Kyle again turned to IVF, and Samantha found herself pregnant with twin girls.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

“We went back two weeks later and both of them were gone,” Samantha said. “Unfortunately, my body thought I was still pregnant and wouldn’t miscarry, so my body was growing two empty sacs. I let that go for a bit until, unfortunately, I had to have a D&C two days before Mother’s Day.”

In one last attempt to have another baby, they went back to one of their potential carriers and Lennix arrived in May 2022.

Brexton and Lennix were both on-hand at the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 24, where their dad was supposed to race. He was honored before the event started with a moment of silence and the Amazon Prime broadcast went silent on the eighth lap, matching Kyle’s now-retired number with Richard Childress Racing.

Fleur Shomo has been by husband Caleb Shomo’s side long before he publicly came out.

Caleb and Fleur were first linked in 2010 and tied the knot two years later. Since then, Fleur has been by Caleb’s side while he was in the band Attack Attack before becoming Beartooth’s frontman.

In May 2026, Caleb came out as gay following fan speculation about his sexuality.

“There has been a lot of speculation surrounding my personal life as of late and I feel compelled to set the record straight before it affects those I love any further. I am a proudly gay man,” he wrote via Instagram at the time. “This is something I’ve been unpacking and reckoning with in my life for quite some time now. It’s been difficult to navigate the feelings surrounding the subject and figure out what to do with this fact.”

Keep scrolling for everything to know about Fleur:

Fleur Shomo Is From the United Kingdom

Before meeting Caleb, Fleur was born and raised in London. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

Fleur Shomo Had a Podcast

Fleur previously hosted the “My Top 5” podcast from 2018 to 2022. On the show, Fleur spoke to multiple guests where they would rank their favorite things in a particular category every week including movies, TV shows, music and more.

Fleur Shomo Runs a Gluten-Free Page

In addition to hosting a podcast, Fleur runs an Instagram page titled @glutenfme. The account is dedicated to finding gluten free food items. Fleur launched the page in 2016 and last posted on it in March 2026. Not only has she highlighted her go-to gluten free snacks but also dishes from multiple restaurants around the world.

Fleur Shomo Worked on ‘The Pitt’

Since season 2, which premiered in January 2026, Fleur has been a background actor on The Pitt. Fleur opened up about her experience on the hit medical show ahead of the premiere.

“As a background actor on The Pitt for the past few months, it makes me so, so happy to see all the discussions, excitement & love for this show,” she wrote via Threads. “We only have one week left of filming & I already miss everyone who works on making it the top notch TV that it is. The cast & crew are all wonderful & deserve all the awards they’re getting.”

Fleur Shomo Proudly Supported Caleb Shomo After He Came Out

After Caleb came out as gay, Fleur took to social media to express her support for her husband.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

“Not really sure how to start this cause does anything even need to be said? But I guess I’ll just dive right in,” she wrote via Instagram in May 2026. “The past few months have been a very disorientating and hurtful time to navigate. For both of us. But I will always want to love, protect and support Caleb. I have cared more about his well being over the years than anything else in the world.”

Fleur added that while the situation has been “incredibly hard to figure out” for both of them, she wouldn’t trade any of their memories.

“Our nearly 14yrs of marriage was wonderful and full of so much fun, adventure & love. Nobody will know anything about our marriage like we do,” she continued. “And no one can ever truly know what depths of love exist between two people unless they are those people. I already miss it & my husband more than anything. Our story was a good one. And now it’s done.”

Meghan Markle is giving fans some insight into the cute nicknames she uses for kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Meghan referred to her kids as “Lil” and “Arch” in a video posted via the As Ever Instagram account on Sunday, May 24, discussing the brand’s iconic jams.

“Everyone in my family has a different favorite. My husband loves the raspberry,” Meghan, 44, said in the clip. “Lil loves the strawberry. Arch likes both.”

She added, “And I like the marmalade.”

The video’s caption offered more details about the history behind the jams — which started the entire brand.

“Inspired by the jams Meghan has created in her own kitchen and shared over the years, each spread reflects a small-batch, carefully balanced approach to flavor,” the caption read. “Bright and fruit-forward with just a hint of tartness and a whisper of lemon, these spreads are crafted to highlight each fruit’s natural essence without overpowering it.”

Sunday’s Instagram post is hardly the first time Meghan has offered details into her kids’ lives as they have grown older.

Earlier this month, the Duchess of Sussex shared an inside look into their family’s trip to Disneyland.

She posted a series of images via Instagram on May 13, captioning the carousel with a red heart emoji. The first image showed Meghan standing alongside her mother, Doria Ragland.

Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 4, also appeared in other images, wearing Mickey Mouse ears. The kids met several characters at the theme park and Lili even got a chance to hug Cinderella.

One photo showed Meghan and Harry holding hands with their two kids while walking around the park.

Meghan has offered her insight into her family life with Harry and the kids since welcoming Archie in May 2019. (Harry and Meghan wed in May 2018, and stepped back from the royal family in 2020.)

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

“That man loves me so much. And, you know, look at what we’ve built,” Meghan gushed during an April 2025 appearance on the “Jamie Kern Lima” podcast. “We’ve built a beautiful life and we have two healthy, beautiful children.”

Elsewhere in the same interview, Meghan compared her life to Super Mario Brothers — complimenting her “very, very handsome” husband who has a “beautiful” heart.

“They’re like, ‘Slay the dragon, save the princess,’” she explained. “I’m like, ‘That’s my husband. He’s just out there. Just constantly — he’s just going to do whatever he can to make sure our family is safe and protected and we’re uplifted and still make time for date nights.”

David Letterman is keeping the heat on CBS over its controversial decision to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

As The Blast reported, Letterman recently returned to the Ed Sullivan Theater to stand with Colbert, rip CBS’s handling of the cancellation, and join him in a chaotic rooftop stunt. In an even more recent interview, the retired host has doubled down on his position, describing the network’s move as a “huge mistake.”

The situation surrounding Colbert’s firing continues to raise eyebrows as many suspect a twist involving Donald Trump, who shared an AI video mocking the comedian.

Letterman has reacted to Colbert’s firing from CBS, calling the network’s decision a “huge mistake.”

The legendary host headlined the famous late-night show from its inception in 1993 before passing the baton to Colbert in 2015. Ahead of the show’s final taping last week, he said the situation surrounding his successor’s exit marks a loss for American culture.

“Kind of makes me sad,” the 79-year-old funnyman said, per Today. “We always relied on you to read the newspaper in the morning, and at night, you would watch Johnny Carson. And Johnny would give you a perspective whether you agreed with it or not, but it was always funny.”

“And without that, I think we’re losing a valuable perspective. I think it’s very, very important to the American culture,” he continued.

He added elsewhere, “I think it’s too bad that Stephen is gone. I think it’s a huge mistake.”

Letterman And Colbert Trashed CBS In Rooftop Stunt

CBS announced in July 2025 that it was pulling the plug on Colbert’s show due to financial reasons, with reports suggesting it was losing up to $40 million. However, the news raised eyebrows, as it came shortly after the 62-year-old host used his nightly monologue to ruthlessly mock a controversial $16 million legal settlement involving the network’s parent company, Paramount, and Trump.

Despite their shared disappointment at the end of the Colbert “Late Show” era, the final episodes have appeared to take on a more celebratory tone.

In a clip shared on the show’s Instagram page, Letterman joined Colbert on the roof of the historic Ed Sullivan Theater to hurl set furniture, watermelons, and a custom cake off the side of the building toward a giant target featuring the CBS eye logo below.

Before leaving the rooftop, Colbert asked the late-night titan if he had any parting words for the audience. Turning his focus back to network executives, Letterman invoked the iconic sign-off of legendary CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow with a sharp twist: “Good night and good luck, motherf-ckers.”

Trump Keeps Mocking Stephen Colbert After CBS Exit

Amid the fallout, Trump has continued taking jabs at Colbert, making it clear he is thrilled the late-night host is no longer on air.

Following Colbert’s final show, the former real estate mogul took to his Truth Social platform, as well as his official page, to slam the comedian.

“Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted so long! No talent, no ratings, no life,” Trump wrote.

Advertisement

“He was like a dead person. You could take any person off of the street, and they would be better than this total jerk. Thank goodness he’s finally gone,” he added. Trump then escalated the mockery by sharing an AI-generated video that depicted him walking up to Colbert, picking him up, and tossing him into a dumpster. The clip then cuts to the president dancing to Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.”

Fans Question Trump’s Priorities After Colbert Jab

However, the president has come under fire for his repeated jabs at Colbert, with many internet users questioning why he focuses on the late-night host rather than national issues.

“Can’t believe he’s running the country. What an embarrassment,” one X user wrote.

“Posting more boomer AI slop instead of fixing our broken f-cked up country. You really are useless,” another person wrote.

“In my total imagination, I would have never thought that an American President would post something so absolutely asinine. Does that make you proud that he is your President?” a third user quizzed.

Advertisement

CBS’s New Host Says He Is Not Replacing Stephen Colbert

Colbert’s show is being replaced by the roundtable comedy talk show “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen.”

Before Colbert’s firing, Allen’s show aired after his, but the media mogul has now taken over the slot, with CBS saying the move will bring “instant profitability” to the network.

However, Allen made it clear he is not looking to replace Colbert. In an interview with The Guardian, when asked whether he thought he would be able to keep Colbert’s viewers, Allen pushed back on the idea.

“It’s never been – I’m not trying to replace Colbert. I don’t think anybody can replace Colbert. I think he’s phenomenal. I think he’s fantastic,” he said.

“This is a show we’ve been doing for 20 years,” Allen continued. “And there’s nothing like it on TV right now where you have five comedians sitting around with one purpose: making people laugh.”

Advertisement

He added that when the show first started, he set a clear rule for the comics: “No political humor, nothing racist, nothing sexist, nothing antisemitic, nothing homophobic, just be funny.”

Louisa Levy’s Off Campus continues its run at the top of Prime Video’s TV rankings this week, winning even more hearts with its “fake” relationship story adapted from Elle Kennedy’s book series. Starring Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli as lead characters Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham, the show has earned acclaim from critics and fans alike, becoming a new genre favorite for many. But in case that’s not quite your cup of tea, the platform still has a ton of other entertaining series you could check out right now. Here’s a look at three great shows that we think you should binge on Prime Video this week.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Prime Video.

1

‘Kevin’ (2026)

An adult-animated comedy series, Kevin was created by Aubrey Plaza and Joe Wengert and follows the titular house cat, whose life takes an unexpected turn when his humans break up. Arriving at a local pet rescue in Astoria, Queens, Kevin embarks on a journey of self-discovery with the help of his new, eccentric friends, leading to hilarious situations. Jason Schwartzman leads the star-studded voice cast as Kevin, with Plaza, Whoopi Goldberg, John Waters, Aparna Nancherla, Gil Ozeri, Carey Elwes, Amy Sedaris, and more voicing supporting characters.

Since its premiere on April 20, Kevin has had a mixed but generally favorable critical reception, and while the jokes may not all land on their feet, it’s an entertainingly weird sitcom that gets surprisingly sweet, even though it’s mostly filled with gross-out body humor. The show is not for everyone, but it is an enjoyable watch for pet parents and fans of Aubrey Plaza’s signature style of comedy. Add in the excellent performances by its ensemble voice cast, and you get one of the most engaging (if underrated) new comedies of the year.

2

‘Cross’ (2024–Present)

Adapted from James Patterson’s Alex Cross novels, Cross is a crime thriller series created by Ben Watkins that stars Aldis Hodge as the titular Washington, D.C., detective and forensic psychologist. The series takes an anthology approach, with each season following Cross on a high-profile, politically charged investigation, as well as exploring his personal psychological struggles. The show also features Isaiah Mustafa, Juanita Jennings, Alona Tal, Samantha Walkes, Caleb Elijah, Melody Hurd, and more in other key roles.

The first season of Cross premiered to mixed reviews in 2024, receiving criticism for its predictable narrative, but Season 2, released earlier in 2026, has raised the bar for the series, earning much better reviews and audience acclaim. Anchored by Aldis Hodge’s charismatic lead performance, the series is an enjoyable action show with interesting characters and original cases that capture the spirit of the source material without being a direct adaptation. It’s a great watch for fans of gritty TV crime shows, and easily one of Prime Video’s most underrated action series.

3

‘Gen V’ (2023–2025)

If you’re still reeling from the series finale of The Boys, then you really should check out this hit spin-off show. Developed by Craig Rosenberg, Evan Goldberg, and Eric Kripke, Gen V is set in the same universe as The Boys and follows young adult superheroes studying at the prestigious Godolkin University School of Crimefighting, who find their lives complicated by the secret politics and machinations of the superhero world. The series features an expansive cast that includes Jaz Sinclair, Lizze Broadway, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Shelley Conn, Hamish Linklater, Sean Patrick Thomas, and the late Chance Perdomo in lead roles.

First released in September 2023, Gen V was a hit with critics and fans alike, and it got even more fascinating in its second season, which premiered in September 2025. Though it has since been canceled, the two-season series is a must-watch for The Boys fans, and not just because of its in-universe connections to the parent show. It’s a compelling, character-driven series that combines the franchise’s trademark chaos and gore with an enjoyable New Adult narrative, following the relatable struggles of college-aged adults in the context of a superpowered world.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

September 28, 2023

Network

Advertisement

Prime Video

Showrunner

Michele Fazekas

Advertisement

Directors

Nelson Cragg, Clare Kilner, Philip Sgriccia, Sanaa Hamri, Shana Stein, Steve Boyum

Advertisement

Writers

Craig Rosenberg

Advertisement

• 

  Jaz Sinclair

  Advertisement

  Marie Moreau

• 

  Lizze Broadway

  Emma Meyer / Little Cricket

  Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The Blast caught up with Lisa Barlow of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” at the American Music Awards on May 25. She looked stunning and stylish on the red carpet, and we couldn’t resist asking her a few questions about the new season of “RHOSLC.” The self-described entrepreneur had a lot to say about the new season, a misconception about herself that she wanted to clear up, and her love of Teyana Taylor!

We asked Lisa to dish on the new season, and she didn’t hold back! “Oh my gosh, this new season feels so fresh, so magical,” she said. “I feel like you’re going to get an in-depth view of who we are. I think you’re going to see a different side to all of us. I think a lot of rumors and nastiness are going to get dispelled, and I think you’re going to get a very fresh, new feeling, RHOSLC like never before.”

“It’s very different from the last six years,” she added. “I think it’s going to surprise people.”

Lisa Jokes About Her Viral Plane Incident

We also asked Lisa to name one misconception about her that she wanted to clear up once and for all. “Oh my gosh, there’s so many,” Lisa said with a laugh. “I’ll tell you what’s true. I’m very confident and I love the truth. What’s false is that I’m, like, the source of anything. I’m not the source of anything but myself, and nothing went down on the plane.”

For those who don’t know, she had a viral “diva moment” after losing her first-class seat and was forced to fly in coach a few years ago. The incident sparked a lot of debate across social media and plenty of memes.

There was also another notorious incident that took place on an international return flight with the “RHOSLC” cast. Lisa’s close friend Meredith Marks and returning cast member Britani Bateman got into a fight, which reportedly revolved around a TikTok video regarding Meredith’s husband.

AMA Excitement Is In The Air!

The last question was about the AMAs. We asked her who she was most excited to see, and she had a bunch of names already on the top of her mind! “Oh my gosh, there’s so many people I’m excited to see!” she said, naming Rod Stewart and Teyana Taylor as her two top picks. She also revealed she has her eye on several new artists, like country singer Ella Langley.

We even got to hear a small snippet of her singing Langley’s hit song, “Be Her.” Lisa sang, “She drank wine by the glass, not by the bottle,” and we think that Lisa might have her own singing career ahead of her if she wants one!

Lisa Barlow Has Lots Of Love For Teyana Taylor!

She also went to share a lot of love for Teyana Taylor!

“Teyana Taylor performing is iconic,” she continued. “I’ve loved her, I love watching her be a mom, an entrepreneur, an actress, her acts on stage. I think she’s amazing and so positive and she has such a real light and energy about her that I’m excited to watch Teyana Taylor.”

She went on to say that there are “so many” great artists performing tonight. “I mean, we are surrounded by some of the greats, and I love that it’s bringing the fusion of the past and present together,” she continued. “And it takes us on a trip down memory lane and reminds us how we got here and how sounds has evolved, but it always goes back to the iconic sounds of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and how they transpire into today’s music.”  

We couldn’t agree more! It seems Lisa Barlow’s taste in music is just as good as her style!

Raymond Cruz will always have one of television’s most instantly recognizable villain faces because of his character, Tuco Salamanca, in Breaking Bad. The wild eyes, the sudden violence, the terrifying switch from funny to fatal was a different vibe. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul made him unforgettable despite surprisingly little screen time. The other side of his TV career, meanwhile, is just as interesting, and with this show, which came three years before Breaking Bad, Cruz had already built a completely different kind of presence inside one of cable’s most dependable police-procedural universes.

That universe came from The Closer, a TNT hit built around Brenda Leigh Johnson’s (Kyra Sedgwick) ability to crack suspects through confession-heavy interrogation. When the parent show ended, the follow-up, instead of simply copying the same formula with a new lead, shifted the department’s rhythm. The cases still involved murders, high-profile investigations, and LAPD politics, but the new show leaned more into plea deals, cooperation agreements, unit dynamics, and longer serialized arcs.

That spin-off is Major Crimes, and all six seasons will stream free on Pluto TV beginning June 1, 2026. Cruz returns as Detective Julio Sanchez alongside Mary McDonnell​​​​​​, G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Michael Paul Chan, Phillip P. Keene, Robert Gossett, Jon Tenney, and Jonathan Del Arco, with Graham Patrick Martin’s Rusty Beck giving the spin-off its most personal long-running thread.

Where Else Have You Seen Raymond Cruz

Image via Alex Cobian

Advertisement

Cruz played Julio Sanchez in Major Crimes for 105 episodes from 2012 to 2018, giving him far more room than his explosive but brief Tuco Salamanca run for three episodes each in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. After that, his most notable TV project was Nova Vita, the 2021 drama built around powerful men, erased identities, and a secret organization selling second lives. Interestingly, Dean Norris (Breaking Bad) was also a part of that show, alongside Titus Welliver, Raymond Cruz, Michel Gill, and Robert Knepper. Since then, Cruz has not had another comparable series role, and his later credits lean more toward film roles.

Major Crimes will be available to stream for free on Pluto TV starting June 1, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

2012 – 2018-00-00

Network

Advertisement

TNT

Directors

Stacey K. Black, Michael M. Robin, Anthony Hemingway, David McWhirter, James Duff, Jon Tenney, Rick Wallace, Steve Robin, Sylvain White

Advertisement

Writers

Michael Alaimo, Adam Belanoff, Ralph Gifford, Carson Moore, Duppy Demetrius, Jim Leonard, Leo Geter

Advertisement

• 

  G.W. Bailey

  Advertisement

  Lt. Louie Provenza

• 

  Mary McDonnell

  Captain Sharon Raydor

  Advertisement
• 

  Tony Denison

  Lt. Andy Flynn

  Advertisement
• 

  Michael Paul Chan

  Lt. Mike Tao

Advertisement

Advertisement