Elon Musk is criticizing Anne Hathaway for a 2018 speech she gave in support of the gay and trans community.

“She’s just a marionette. Whoever wrote her speech is the real douchebag,” Musk, 55, wrote via X on Sunday, July 26, in response to marketing professor Gad Saad’s brutal critique of Hathaway speaking at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner in Washington, D.C., nearly eight years ago.

The Odyssey star, 43, appeared at the September 2018 event to accept the organization’s National Ally for Equality award, speaking to the crowd about her societal role and greater surroundings.

“With the exception of being a cisgender male, everything about how I was born has put me at the current center of a damaging and widely accepted myth,” Hathaway said at the time. “That myth is that gayness orbits around straitness, transgender orbits around cisgender, and that all races orbit around whiteness. And it is a myth that keeps money and power in the hands of the few, instead of being invested in the lives of the free.”

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Hathaway’s speech began with acknowledgment over how she viewed the world at the time.

“I’m pretty shellshocked by what I see every day, by what I hear every day. And I really don’t like to admit this but I get scared,” she told the crowd before advocating for equality. “I am just living the values my parents gave me. I’m loving you the way you deserve and yes, I am giving major side eye to anyone that thinks differently.”

She continued, “I know I’m speaking in abstractions, and that there’s privilege embedded in my ability to do so. I know that there are very real obstacles that block the path to true equality, and I know that removing them is easier said than done.”

Hathaway added that her hope for a clear path to equality is being met by the LGBTQ+ community.

“I know that myths are destroyed by the same thing that creates them: a community,” she explained, to near-immediate applause from the crowd.

In the X critique of Hathaway’s speech, created by Saad, 61, and captioned with the text “Anne Hathaway is a Degenerate Narcissist,” the actress’ delivery is labeled as “self importance,” and smug, while her “every conceivable syllable” is slammed as “wrong.”

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In another Sunday X post from Musk that addressed Hathaway’s speech, he reiterated that Hathaway was “just reading the script someone else wrote,” while arguing that “no critical thinking” had been used to write the speech. (Musk, the world’s first trillionaire, has a long history of sharing anti-trans sentiments and beliefs. The SpaceX founder, who has 14 children with four different women, is dad to an openly trans daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson.)

Musk’s posts, shared via the social media platform he purchased as Twitter in 2022, comes after the businessman recently made multiple public jabs at The Odyssey, in which Hathaway portrays the ancient Greek mythological figure Queen Penelope.

Musk has publicly argued that the film, created by director Christopher Nolan, does not present an historically accurate reflection due to diverse casting choices such as Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page as the Greek warrior Sinon.

Three hours wasn’t enough to understand Silent Hill: Townfall, but it was enough to convince me that’s exactly the point. The best Silent Hill games have never been interested in handing players easy answers. More than just asking you to survive the monsters lurking in the fog, they ask you to question the people around you, the places you’re exploring, and sometimes even the protagonist you’re controlling. Every revelation tends to create even more questions, leaving players to debate symbolism and hidden meanings for years after they’ve finished the game.

That’s a difficult balance to strike. Lean too far into ambiguity, and a story becomes frustrating. Explain too much, and the psychological horror loses its power. After spending roughly three hours with Silent Hill: Townfall during a recent hands-on preview, I’m optimistic that Screen Burn and Konami have found that balance. By the time my session ended, I was unsettled, fascinated, and more than a little confused about what I’d just experienced. Instead of wanting immediate explanations, I wanted another three hours to find them myself. If that feeling sounds familiar, that’s because it’s exactly what I (and many other fans) want in a Silent Hill game.

‘Silent Hill: Townfall’ Makes St. Amelia Impossible To Ignore

Image via Konami Digital Entertainment

Set in the fictional Scottish coastal town of St. Amelia, Townfall immediately distinguishes itself from previous entries while still feeling unmistakably Silent Hill. It’s the first mainline game to fully embrace a first-person perspective, a shift that could have easily felt like the series chasing modern horror trends. Instead, it makes every empty street, abandoned storefront, and fog-covered shoreline feel eerily personal on a level Silent Hill has never accomplished before. Simply walking through St. Amelia became one of my favorite parts of the preview, because the town is stunning. Thick fog rolls over the waterfront while weathered buildings hint at decades of economic decline. Every environment is dense with detail, rewarding players who slow down long enough to actually look around instead of sprinting toward the next objective.

That authenticity isn’t accidental. During a roundtable interview at the event, writer and director Jon McKellan explained that the team chose Scotland because they wanted to build a place they genuinely understood. “You write what you know,” McKellan said, adding that Scotland’s coastal towns naturally share many of the feelings associated with Silent Hill: isolation, creeping fog, and communities struggling to survive. He even went as far as calling the town itself the story’s main character. That philosophy is immediately apparent during the opening hours. Rather than rushing from set piece to set piece, Townfall encourages players to absorb the atmosphere while searching St. Amelia for clues surrounding the disappearance of Zoe. The result is a feeling of slowly peeling back layers of a place that’s actively hiding something from you.

The CRTV Is the Best New Mechanic in a ‘Silent Hill’ Game in Years

Image via Konami Digital Entertainment

If St. Amelia is Townfall‘s greatest character, the handheld CRTV is its most compelling gameplay addition. The portable device serves multiple purposes throughout exploration. Players tune into different frequencies scattered throughout the world to uncover hidden signals, reveal clues, and solve environmental puzzles that gradually point Simon toward Zoe’s whereabouts. It never feels like a gimmick. Instead, the CRTV becomes central to how you interact with the world. Finding the right signal often means discovering pieces of the narrative you otherwise would have missed, making exploration feel consistently rewarding. Even better, it doubles as an important survival tool by helping identify nearby threats before they find you.

That single mechanic naturally reinforces Townfall‘s emphasis on caution. Barging into every new location is something I rarely do when it comes to a new game, but even more than normal with Townfall, I found myself slowing down, checking frequencies, scanning my surroundings, and planning how to move through each area safely. The CRTV creates tension without relying on cheap jump scares because you’re constantly aware that something could be nearby even if you can’t see it yet. And if you ignore the CRTV, there will be jumpscares as well. The puzzles themselves also strike a satisfying balance. They’re rooted in the narrative rather than abstract logic tests, asking players to interpret information they’ve discovered instead of just matching symbols or pushing blocks around. While I heard other attendees mention getting stuck during certain sections, I never felt the game crossed into being unfair.

Combat Feels Great, Which Makes ‘Townfall’ Even Scarier

One of the biggest surprises from the preview was how polished combat felt. The opening hours primarily encourage stealth, with developers explicitly advising players not to come out swinging. After experiencing the demo firsthand, that’s advice worth taking. Enemies are genuinely intimidating. Melee combat carries satisfying weight, while a later sequence showcasing firearms demonstrated that gunplay feels just as natural and intuitive. Controls are responsive, animations are clean, and I never found myself fighting against the mechanics. Ironically, that’s exactly why combat works. Even though fighting feels good, I rarely wanted to do it. Every encounter carried enough danger that avoiding confrontation usually seemed like the smarter decision. The monsters never become disposable obstacles, preserving the vulnerability that has always defined Silent Hill at its best.

The creature designs also made a strong first impression. Without spoiling specific encounters, one massive figure briefly emerging through the fog prompted me to scribble one very scientific observation in my notebook: “What in the Cloverfield fuck?” When I repeated that reaction during the roundtable, McKellan laughed before joking that it was “a good reference.” Humor aside, he also explained that the team’s approach to monster design intentionally prioritizes psychology over gore. Every creature represents something tied to the story, though those meanings may not become apparent until much later in the game. The team wanted monsters that remain unsettling because they still feel strangely human beneath their impossible appearances, not just deliver excessive violence. That restraint comes across during the preview.

‘Silent Hill: Townfall’ Understands Questions Matter More Than Answers

Image via Konami Digital Entertainment

Perhaps the most encouraging part of the preview came after I set the controller down. During the roundtable, I asked McKellan and Silent Hill series producer Motoi Okamoto what they hoped players would be thinking about after finishing the game.

“I want them to feel something. I hope it gets people to think about things, and just take a moment to kind of take in what they’ve just played and the stories… I hope that people take the time to unpack it. Take a moment to actually consider what they’ve done and discuss it with someone else and have a different opinion.”

I think McKellan’s answer perfectly captures why Townfall left such a strong first impression on me. I left my preview with countless unanswered questions. I don’t fully understand Simon’s role in St. Amelia. I don’t know where the story is ultimately heading. I’m still trying to figure out exactly what I saw disappearing into the mist. Normally, uncertainty after three hours might concern me. Here, it left me eager to keep playing. If the full game can maintain that delicate balance between mystery, atmosphere, and genuinely satisfying gameplay while delivering answers worthy of the questions it’s asking, Silent Hill: Townfall could become one of the series’ strongest entries in the series. After three hours in St. Amelia, I’m ready to go back into the fog.

Silent Hill: Townfall releases September 24, 2026.

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Released

September 24, 2026

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ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood, Strong Language, Violence

Publisher(s)

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Annapurna Interactive, Konami

Franchise

Silent Hill

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The smart home market keeps expanding, and so does the pile of gadgets promising to make daily life easier. Some deliver real savings and convenience. Others cost hundreds more than a standard version and add little beyond a phone app. Sorting the two matters because prices span from about twenty dollars for a plug to thousands for a connected fridge.

Tech writers at Yahoo, Consumer Reports and CNET have weighed in on which upgrades earn their keep and which ones you can pass on without regret.

Which Smart Home Devices Are Actually Worth Buying

Robot vacuums that also mop rank high on the list. Chris McGraw with Yahoo Tech writes, “I’m one of those people who actually likes vacuuming. It’s mindless and I can easily do it with my AirPods in, blasting music or listening to a podcast. Mopping, on the other hand, is awful. That’s why, if I’m looking for a robot cleaner, I’m going to ask it to do more than just vacuum. I want my floors to be spotless in the mornings, and when I take out the trash, I want my unused mop and bucket to be in it.”

McGraw points to the Shark Matrix Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop as an example of a machine that handles both chores.

Smart plugs also make the cut. They cut standby energy waste from electronics like TVs, gaming consoles, coffee makers and chargers that keep drawing power when idle. Owners can flip devices on or off from a phone and set schedules that shut things down overnight.

Smart water leak sensors offer another clear win. Tyler Lacoma with CNET notes that leaks are trouble even when homeowners are well prepared, because freezing weather can cause pipes to burst. Undiscovered leaks can lead to mold problems and extensive water damage. These small smart home devices connect to an app and alert homeowners the moment moisture appears, allowing fast action at home like shutting down water lines or raising indoor temperatures to prevent freezing.

Why Smart Sprinkler Controllers Can Pay for Themselves

Homeowners with in-ground irrigation have another upgrade worth considering. Daniel Wroclawski with Consumer Reports writes that smart sprinkler controllers typically cost around $80 to $300 and “replace the existing programmable timer on your sprinkler system to open and shut the water valves.” Much like smart thermostats that adjust indoor temperature automatically, these controllers adjust watering based on weather, keeping lawns healthy while trimming water bills in drought-prone areas.

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The Smart Home Upgrades You Can Skip

Not every connected device earns its price. Smart blinds carry a high upfront cost and offer limited energy savings that can take years to recoup. Some models also require professional installation or specific wiring, pushing the total higher.

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Smart kitchen gadgets fall into the same trap. A connected coffee maker, toaster or blender often costs much more than a standard version while solving small problems. Apps and software support can also disappear, leaving owners with a pricey ordinary appliance.

Large smart appliances present the biggest gamble. Smart refrigerators, ovens, washers and dryers can cost hundreds or thousands more than standard models, and the extra features are often unnecessary. Because appliances tend to last 10 or more years, the software behind them may lose support long before the hardware fails.

The takeaway is simple. Small, targeted devices like plugs, leak sensors and irrigation controllers tend to pay for themselves through saved energy, avoided damage or lower water bills. Bigger connected appliances usually do not.

Sam Smith and designer Christian Cowan are engaged after three years of dating.

Smith, 34, confirmed that Cowan, 32, is their fiancé in an interview with The New York Times published on Tuesday, July 28. The musician, who has publicly identified as nonbinary since 2019 and uses they/them pronouns, also revealed that their upcoming album Hazel Eyes, which drops on August 12, was inspired by their relationship and named the record after the color of Cowan’s eyes.

“For me, there’s something radical about being queer in this time, in this world, and singing love songs,” Smith gushed to the outlet. “I’m not going to allow the poison that I read and that I see to affect my way of loving.”

Smith added that the album’s first track “Everlasting Love” was the result of the singer writing “about requited love” for the very first time.

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Smith and Cowan were first linked in December 2022. At the time, the pair posed for a photo with former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden at the White House after the president signed the Respect for Marriage Act. The “Stay With Me” singer also performed at the historical event.

Two years later, Smith and Cowan confirmed their romance. (Smith was previously candid about keeping details of their love life out of the spotlight.)

The couple made their red carpet debut at the 2024 Met Gala. They donned coordinated looks, designed by Cowan, that featured metal-plated roses. Cowan shared that the detail was a nod to the beginning of their romance.

“Early on in our days, I gave Sam a metal-plated rose,” the designer told Vogue at the time. “So it was a nod to that moment.”

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Earlier this year, Smith stepped out for the Met Gala wearing another look designed by Cowan. The Grammy winner rocked a 52-pound feathered black ensemble which Cowan shared that Smith served as his muse.

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“This look is a love letter to the king of fashion illustration,” Cowan shared of the design in a May Instagram post. “And to my love, Sam.”

Smith also gushed about how special they felt when wearing something designed by Cowan.

“There’s no one who knows my body more than this man,” Smith said in a joint interview with Cowan to Vogue. “I feel very lucky to be here and to wear your incredible talent like this. It’s amazing.”

Hilaria Baldwin, media personality and wife of actor Alec Baldwin, has been a pop culture fixture thanks to appearances on shows like “Dancing with the Stars” and her career as a yoga expert. However, the 42-year-old recently opened up about her decades-long battle with various eating disorders, admitting she experimented with multiple extreme ways to lose weight.

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Baldwin appeared on “Page Six Radio” in July 2026 to promote her new show, “Nation’s Dumbest.” While on the program, the topic of eating disorders came up, with the “Dancing with the Stars” alum admitting that she had a 20-year battle with various extreme eating habits.

She shared, “I had a really bad eating disorder for 20 years, and I realized that I just didn’t know when I was hungry and when I was full. I did all of it. I did anorexia, I did bulimia, I did overeating, I did undereating.” When discussing how bad things became, Baldwin mentioned not being able to go to restaurants with loved ones and also being “afraid of how many calories might be in toothpaste.” 

Regarding healing from the way she viewed dieting, Baldwin recalled saying to herself, “I don’t want to live this way; I’m miserable. I can’t have good relationships, I can’t have good friendships, I can’t eat out to dinner with people. It’s just so, so, so stressful.”

The Reality Star Says She Started Dieting Early

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As the interview continued, the hosts asked Baldwin if she had tried to conceal her battle with eating disorders. According to her, “When I was younger, yeah. I started dieting when I was five.” From there, the mom of seven reflected on how she once saw herself in regard to body image.

She said, “I look back, and I looked fine. But I thought I was a whale [back then]. I just thought there was something broken inside of me.” Baldwin also discussed her kids and how she “didn’t want to pass” her struggles with food onto them.

She added, “What I try to do with my kids is empower them, talk about strength, talk about, ‘How does the food make you feel?’” Baldwin also says she doesn’t “shame” her kids for wanting snacks such as chips.

Hilaria Previously Opened Up About Suffering From An Eating Disorder

Baldwin first opened up about her experience with various eating disorders in her 2016 book, “The Living Clearly Method.” Two years later, the yoga expert took to her official Instagram account to share an unretouched bikini photo of herself with one of her children.

She said in the caption, “In my book, ‘The Living Clearly Method,’ I opened up about growing up with an eating disorder. I turned to yoga, health, and wellness to heal my body and my mind.”

Baldwin then reflected on motherhood, saying, “I think back to my old self and how much I would have struggled with gaining weight during pregnancy and being patient with healthfully losing it. I’m so happy I can be a strong and happy mommy now, completely accepting of my body.”

According to PEOPLE, she shared further thoughts on the topic of eating disorders via her Instagram Stories. She said, “Eating disorders are founded in realty [sic]. Those of us who have struggled or who are still struggling use eating, not eating, bulimia, etc. as coping for when we feel ungrounded or out of control.”

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Baldwin continued, “I have found that being healthy is about not focusing on weight and rather on how I feel, how strong I am, and how healthy I am. Weight and how you look are side effects. Not the main focus. When I started focusing on health, my obsession with weight went away. They should not be confused.”

‘Nation’s Dumbest’ Premiered Recently

Fox’s newest celebrity competition series, “Nation’s Dumbest,” premiered on July 15, with comedian Jake Whithall serving as the show’s host. The new Fox series features various celebrities competing in games to test their smarts, with the goal of not winning the show.

In additon to Baldwin, “Nation’s Dumbest” stars Carmen Electra, ICE-T, Anthony Michael Hall, Jon Heder, JoJo Siwa, and more.

Hilaria Isn’t Saying ‘No’ To ‘Housewives’

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In additon to her “Page Six Radio” interview, Baldwin also appeared on the outlet’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast in July 2026. During the interview, she was asked if she would ever consider joining “Real Housewives.” This comes after Andy Cohen stated that he approached her about joining “The Real Housewives of New York City.”

According to her, “I never say no to possibilities.” After that, she tilted her head, saying, “Who knows where this little life is going to go next?”

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The fantasy genre is among the most popular and enduring in literature. Few things amaze us more than fantastical worlds full of magic, danger, mysticism, and valerous characters on larger-than-life quests. Indeed, there’s no shortage of great fantasy stories, going back to the early days of classical literature, all the way to today. However, a great book stands out from a mere good one from the very beginning — in fact, it does so from the opening line.

In the last decade, no fantasy book has a better opening line than Mark Lawrence’s 2017 science-fantasy Red Sister. The first entry in the Book of the Ancestor trilogy, Red Sister is among the best entries in the genre of the last decade, yet it doesn’t have nearly half the recognition it deserves. It’s only a matter of time, though, as any reader will undoubtedly be hooked in the action from the first line, a pretty killer sentence that’s as witty as it is striking. The rest of the book is equally impressive, but coming up with a great opening line for a book is an art in and of itself, and Red Sister is the prime example.

What Is ‘Red Sister’ About?

Red Sister is part of the larger Book of the Ancestor trilogy, and it has some of the best worldbuilding in fantasy. The action is set on the planet Abeth, home to four types of people: hunska, gifted with superspeed; gerant, gifted with superstrength; marjal, who can do elemental magic; and quantal, who can perform even more powerful magic. The planet is almost fully frozen, thanks to its dying red sun. The man-made moon reflects what little sunlight remains to the Corridor, a narrow strip of land that circles the entire globe. The Corridor is populated by several kingdoms, each one vying for control.

Our protagonist is Nona Grey, a peasant with hunska blood purchased as a slave by a trader. Following an incident where she attacks a nobleman, Nona escapes execution thanks to the intervention of Abbess Glass of the Sweet Mercy Convent, who recognizes her abilities and invites her to become a novice. At Sweet Mercy, Nona trains alongside other novices, stumbling upon a plot to steal a powerful item from the convent, all while the nobleman’s family brews a revenge plot against her. A frame story set in the future follows an adult Nona and her companion, Sister Thorn, as they fight another threat.

Lawrence, perhaps best known for writing the acclaimed fantasy trilogy, The Broken Empire, cleverly subverts expectations and traditional tropes with Red Sister. The book operates on a structure of deception, with an unreliable narrator and multiple other characters acting out of self-interest and self-preservation. Without entering into spoiler territory, it’s safe to say Red Sister is not a traditional “Chosen One” story. It has all the classic elements of a great fantasy narrative — prophecies, magic, political stakes, and multiple factions operating at once — but the main action is defined by misdirections, false expectations, and a sense of perpetual danger that ultimately shapes the whole thing.

The Opening Line of ‘Red Sister’ Instantly Hooks You

Image by Bastien Lecouffe Deharme

“It is important, when killing a nun, to ensure that you bring an army of sufficient size.” Those are the opening words of Red Sister, and it’s hard to imagine a more effective, creative, or memorable way to start your story. In fewer than 20 words, Lawrence has already established the nuns of this world as formidable opponents capable of claiming victories against numerous enemies. There’s also a humorous quality to the sentence that makes it all the more engaging, a morbid irony that spells doom for both parties. Lastly, it sets up what will undoubtedly be a bloody conflict without the need for exposition or info dumps; it’s incredibly economical writing on Lawrence’s part, and the fact that he makes it seem so easy is nothing short of impressive.

All these ideas are perfectly conveyed by the next sentence: “For Sister Thorn of the Sweet Mercy convent, Lano Tacsis brought two hundred men.” Now, we have a clear protagonist, Sister Thorn, and a clear antagonist, Lano Tacsis. Of course, we don’t exactly know who these characters are — and we won’t know for quite a while longer — but the opening lines are no less effective. They have instantly hooked us in the action, immersing us in Sister Thorn’s plight from the get-go without doing an ounce of character work beyond offering us her name and her profession. From there, Red Sister throws us directly into Abeth’s chaos. It jumps back and forth in time via flashforwards and flashbacks, all while keeping the narrative drive going.

‘Red Sister’ Is a Terrific Start to a Great Trilogy

Image via Harper Collins

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Red Sister is a near-perfect fantasy story set in a grimdark world that stands out thanks to its all-female cast and fascinating exploration of familiar themes like corruption, maturing and self-discovering oneself, and the inevitability of fate. Lawrence’s writing is assured and ambitious, setting up plot points here that don’t get a proper payoff until the third book, Holy Sister. In that way, Red Sister rewards patience and commitment, which makes it a challenging but rewarding read. Lawrence’s writing is grim but filled with hope (which can, again, be felt from the opening line), crafting a tale that will undoubtedly resonate with many a fantasy lover.

Joe Amabile is refusing to let an unexpected health crisis stop him from looking toward the future. The “Bachelor in Paradise” alum revealed that he has been accepted into the 2026 New York City Marathon, even as he prepares to undergo brain surgery next week for what doctors believe could be an early-stage tumor. While Joe Amabile has not committed to running the race, sharing the acceptance appeared to signal his determination to remain hopeful amid an emotional and uncertain period.

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Amabile posted a screenshot of his marathon acceptance through his Instagram Stories on Tuesday, July 28. “We’ll see,” the 40-year-old wrote alongside the image, adding a crossed-fingers emoji.

The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon is scheduled for November 1. That would give Amabile approximately three months between his planned surgery and the 26.2-mile race. However, his brief message made it clear that his participation remains uncertain as he focuses on his upcoming procedure and recovery.

The hopeful update arrived weeks after the reality television personality disclosed that doctors had discovered a lesion in his brain during a preventative full-body scan.

Doctors Discovered A ‘Blueberry Size Lesion’ In His Brain

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Amabile explained that the lesion was unexpectedly detected after he underwent a Prenuvo scan. “So a little medical update. I didn’t share my Prenuvo results because they ended up finding a lesion in my brain, so then I had to go get a brain MRI, and there was a blueberry-sized lesion in my brain that looks to be a glioma, which is a tumor,” he said in an Instagram video.

The reality star initially stated that the surgery would happen the following week before correcting the timeline with text placed over the video. “So I now need to get brain surgery next week to get it removed and get it tested,” Amabile continued, while the added message read, “(Surgery is in two weeks … my bad).”

The procedure will allow doctors to remove and test the lesion. Amabile stressed that the process remained in its early stages and expressed hope that surgeons would be able to remove it entirely. “And then we’re going to go from there,” he shared. “So it’s been a wild couple weeks. I definitely wasn’t expecting this. I think it’s one of those things where you’re like, ‘Oh, something like this will never happen to me.’ And here I am.”

The ‘Bachelor In Paradise’ Alum Prepares For A Craniotomy

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Amabile later provided further details about his diagnosis and the procedure he is expected to undergo at Memorial Sloan Kettering. “After multiple scans and MRIs, I have what looks to be an early-stage brain tumor,” he captioned his video. “In two weeks I’ll be undergoing a craniotomy to have it removed, yeah brain surgery, @memorialsloankettering.”

Despite the frightening discovery, the former “Bachelorette” contestant said he was working to maintain a positive outlook with help from the people closest to him. “I’m doing my best to stay positive during this time and am lucky to have a lot of support from family and friends,” he wrote.

Amabile admitted that he initially struggled with whether he wanted to discuss the situation publicly. He ultimately decided that hiding such a significant development from his followers no longer felt necessary. “I’ve gone back and forth about what I wanted to share on social media but ultimately this is now part of my life now, so might as well,” he explained. “Onto a new journey.”

Joe Amabile Says Waiting For Surgery Has Been ‘Tough’

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Amabile’s procedure had originally been scheduled for Tuesday, but switching hospitals resulted in it being delayed by one week. The postponement created another emotional challenge for Amabile, who acknowledged feeling caught between wanting the surgery completed and recognizing the seriousness of the operation.

“Alright so today was supposed to be my original, was my original, surgery date. But when I switched hospitals, I got pushed back a week,” he said in a subsequent Instagram video. “The waiting game has been, it’s been tough. It’s been tricky.”

He continued, “Because like, on one hand, I’m like, ‘Alright let’s get this over.’ On the other hand, I’m telling myself, ‘Why are you rushing to have brain surgery?’ Type of thing. So yeah, little update. Surgery is next week.”

Amabile further addressed the delay in the video’s caption. “I’m someone who likes to just rip the band-aid off, so the waiting game has been tough, to say the least,” he wrote. “A lot of ups and downs, but I’m almost there… Surgery is next week.”

Serena Pitt And Bachelor Nation Rally Around Joe Amabile

Amabile’s wife, Serena Pitt, immediately made it clear that he would not face the difficult journey alone. “You’re so strong, and we’re going to get through this together. I love you,” she wrote.

Numerous members of Bachelor Nation and other reality television stars also filled the comment section with messages of encouragement. “Love you brother. You got this and we’ve got you!” Wells Adams commented.

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Former “Bachelor” lead Joey Graziadei shared his hopes that the two could reunite after Amabile’s recovery. “Sending all the love and support brother, can’t wait to play a round of golf when you’re all better,” Graziadei wrote.

For now, Amabile remains focused on making it through surgery. However, his marathon acceptance gives him another potential milestone to pursue once he reaches the other side of his recovery.

One of the advantages of streaming is that you can always go back to a show and watch it, even years later. It’s always “on,” meaning it’s available to stream 24/7. But this isn’t necessarily actually the case. Netflix, like other streamers, licenses non-original shows for streaming, and eventually, those licenses expire, and the show is removed. Meanwhile, even some Netflix originals are removed from the service from time to time.

This means you might find that one day a show you bookmarked ages ago has suddenly disappeared. Consider, for example, that Dexter was removed from Netflix in the U.S. in 2025 and left Netflix in other countries in 2026. In July 2026, Netflix removed Between, a short-lived co-production with Canada that originally streamed a decade ago. Gilmore Girls also recently left the streamer, along with classics like The Bernie Mac Show and Prime Video original series Sneaky Pete. Lots more shows are leaving soon, so make sure to watch them before they’re gone.

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‘Home Improvement’ (1991–1999)

Image via ABC

This classic ’90s sitcom will be leaving Netflix on August 1. Home Improvement stars Tim Allen as the grunting handyman dad who spends his days on his fictional home improvement show Tool Time and his nights with his wife and three sons. It’s a traditional heartwarming sitcom that highlights family, parenting, and all its challenges, told through a humorous lens, as per Allen’s signature style.

The highlights of every episode are Tim (Allen) and his interactions with his sons, as well as the advice he gets from his wise neighbor Wilson (the late Earl Hindman), whose face is never seen above their backyard fence. The show is relatable, nostalgic, and cleverly written, with plenty of jokes to keep you laughing all the way through.

2

‘The Game’ (2006–2015)

Image via BET

Only the first three of nine seasons of The Game have been streaming on Netflix, but they will be leaving the streamer on August 15. The comedy drama is a spin-off of Girlfriends that originally aired on The CW, after which it was cancelled, then revived for BET. There was also a revival that aired for two more seasons on Paramount+. The show centers around Melanie Barnett (Tia Mowry), a medical student who abandons her studies to move to San Diego with her boyfriend Derwin (Pooch Hall), who is pursuing his rookie football career. While there, she meets other women who help her balance her medical education with her boyfriend’s rising sports stardom.

Fans love the focus on strong female characters in The Game, along with how it portrays complicated relationship dynamics. Sharp, witty, and tackling serious topical issues in later seasons like mental health and the pressures of fame, The Game is one of those underrated series you probably haven’t even heard of. But if it sounds like it’s up your alley, watch now before it’s gone. Along with the talented cast, the special guest appearance cast list is huge, too, including names like Tichina Arnold, Rob Base, Morris Chestnut, Terry Crews, Cuba Gooding Jr., Tiffany Haddish, Jason Momoa, and more.

3

‘Better Than Us’ (2018)

Image via Netflix

If you’re looking for a hidden sci-fi gem, Better Than Us is Netflix’s first Russian original show. With dialogue in Russian (you can watch with subtitles or dubbing), it tells the story of Arisa (Paulina Andreeva), an advanced android who exists in the future year 2029, at a time when androids live alongside humans. When Arisa accidentally kills a man who tries to use her as a sex robot, she goes on the run. If the leaders discover that she went against Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, it will be the end of her.

It’s easy to see how Better Than Us is so relevant, showcasing a future world that isn’t so far off from today, both in date and in the rise of humanoid AI robots doing menial jobs. The story takes a more touching turn when Arisa meets a young girl named Sonya (Vita Kornienko) and acts as her guardian, protecting her and becoming part of a family. The 16-episode season is worth a watch before it’s gone on August 16. You get a clever mix of fast-paced, futuristic thriller with family drama, which makes Better Than Us oddly relatable, too.

4

‘The Venture Bros.’ (2003–2018)

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If you have been meaning to watch this highly rated adult animated action-adventure series, check out The Venture Bros. before August 16, as that is when it will reportedly be removed from Netflix. The show, which originally premiered on Adult Swim, follows the Venture family, led by their scientist father, as they go on all their adventures. From the world-building to the blending of comedy and drama, The Venture Bros. has been a hit since it debuted.

With seven seasons under its belt, the series ties traditional superhero and supervillain stories with the boy adventurer satire of the 1960s. You get a subversive story with compelling characters and plots that intentionally lean into tropes. While The Venture Bros. starts and ends as a satire, the character development and unique narrative sometimes make you forget that’s the intent.

5

‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (2015–2023)

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It’s possible that an extension deal can be made with AMC before the license for Fear the Walking Dead expires on August 19, but if not, that’s the day that all eight seasons will no longer be available to binge. So, if you stopped halfway through and have been meaning to catch up, now is the time. The post-apocalyptic horror drama is the longest-running The Walking Dead spin-off, existing in the same world but telling the story from a different perspective and location.

You get to see the onset of the outbreak for the first time in this must-watch zombie show, something The Walking Dead skipped over by only beginning when Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) woke up from his coma. There’s the stunning backdrop of Los Angeles and eventually Mexico, and a different mix of characters, even some crossover ones in later seasons. While Fear the Walking Dead admittedly lost its way in the final seasons (I’d recommend even skipping the final season altogether), its first seasons tell a strong story with characters you will adore, like Colman Domingo‘s Victor Strand, and ones you’ll mourn as they depart one by one.

6

‘Under Fire’ (2021–2024)

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One of the rare Netflix originals that will be removed from streaming, the Belgian drama Under Fire will no longer be available to stream starting August 24. The story follows a team of firefighters and their daily work saving people in danger while also dealing with their own internal conflicts. At the heart of the story is the risk of the fire station being closed following a fatal error.

Under Fire doesn’t offer anything markedly different from other dramas that focus on first responders, but if you’re looking for something with a perspective from another country, it might scratch an itch while you wait for your favorite American procedural shows to return or new episodes to come out.

7

‘Undercover Law’ (2018)

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You have until August 31 to binge the extra-long first and only season of this Colombian drama about a group of women who form their own special police force to infiltrate the local drug cartels. What makes Undercover Law, called La ley secreta in its native language, especially compelling is that it’s inspired by a real story about a police intelligence unit in Colombia made up entirely of women.

Undercover Law follows these women as they manage their double lives, working as wives, mothers, and caretakers while also keeping their dangerous jobs a secret from the people they love. The high-stakes action is gripping and exciting in this Netflix show no one remembers today. If you’re looking for a good female-led series, Undercover Law is a worthwhile watch.

8

‘A Discovery of Witches’ (2018–2022)

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Another show with the potential for renewal, if that doesn’t happen, A Discovery of Witches will be leaving Netflix on August 19. The British fantasy series is based on Deborah Harkness‘ All Souls Trilogy and centers around Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer), a historian and witch who reluctantly heads back into the world of magic. She gets help from Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode), a biochemist and vampire.

The series is smart, romantic, and brings you into a wonderful world of magic, monsters, and fantasy. You see witches, vampires, and demons living among humans. The plot weaves in historical themes, science, and political tensions as various factions come together to fight evil forces.