By Robert Scucci
| Published 22 seconds ago

The only thing I love more than a solid neo-noir crime thriller is a parody that only cares about one thing: jamming as many jokes into the premise as humanly possible. The Naked Gun franchise holds up so well because there are so many visual gags happening in the background while its characters speak almost exclusively in puns and non sequiturs that the movies practically demand multiple viewings. 1993’s Fatal Instinct is cut from the same cloth, but it’s rarely celebrated these days because critics brushed it under the rug upon release. It currently holds a 14 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Here’s the thing about movies like Fatal Instinct. They’re meant to be stupid. They’re meant to be over-the-top exercises in character incompetence and miscommunication. Everything about Fatal Instinct is intentional, with the goal being to make the smartest, stupid crime thriller you could beam into your skull on Tubi. I normally agree with old Roger Ebert reviews, but I can say with confidence that he was wrong to give Fatal Instinct a one-and-a-half star review.

Ned Ravine Is Your New Favorite Idiot

Fatal Instinct follows the exploits of Ned Ravine (Armand Assante), a cop with a law degree who incarcerates criminals and then takes them on as defense clients. More often than not, his efforts backfire because, as the arresting officer, he already has the evidence proving the person he’s defending is guilty. When approached by sexbomb Lola Cain (Sean Young) to look over some legal documents, their meeting quickly leads to an extramarital affair that he needs to hide from his wife, Lana (Kate Nelligan).

Fortunately, or unfortunately for Ned depending on how you look at it, Lana is having an affair of her own with her mechanic, Frank (Christopher McDonald). It’s fortunate because Lana is far too distracted with her own sexcapades to suspect Ned of foul play. It’s unfortunate because Lana and Frank plan to kill Ned under very specific circumstances in order to cash in on his handsome life insurance policy.

Meanwhile, convicted felon Max Shady (James Remar) finishes his sentence and swears revenge on Ned, who, thanks to his double dipping into law enforcement and the legal field, landed him behind bars for seven years. The reason? Ned Ravine is a total idiot.

Of course, all of these plot points are established between wild sexual encounters involving a fridge, a belt sander, and just about any smooth surface you can think of, making you wonder exactly how Fatal Instinct landed a PG-13 rating. My guess is that since everything is so ridiculously over the top in every conceivable way, the censors were willing to let this one slip through the cracks. It’s overtly sexual, but also so slapstick that there’s no way anybody could take any of it seriously.

Profoundly Stupid In The Smartest Ways

Jam-packed with double entendres from start to finish, it takes a special kind of director like Carl Reiner to fully realize the kind of shtick that writer David O’Malley wanted front and center. Facial expressions and elaborate sight gags dominate Fatal Instinct. Guns have volume knobs on their silencers. Cigarette smoke billows out of mouths like a fog machine. Detectives slip repeatedly in crime scene blood. Sports commentators sit at the back of the courtroom offering instant replays for the viewing audience at home.

Fatal Instinct is so dumb that it’s actually smart. There are so many laugh-out-loud moments that you’ll want to freeze frame, rewind, and replay. It’s the only way to keep up with its rapid-fire joke delivery, and even then you might still miss a punchline or two. Don’t let the critics fool you on this one because it doesn’t deserve to sit in the trenches over at Rotten Tomatoes. It’s good, dumb fun if I’ve ever seen it, and that’s all it’s ever trying to be.

As of this writing, Fatal Instinct is streaming for free on Tubi.

Former Below Deck star Emile Kotze is suing NBCUniversal for $850 million after claiming the network perpetrated a “coordinated campaign of exploitation, harassment and deceit” during his time on the show.

Kotze, who appeared on season 3 of the Bravo series, was 23 years old when he worked as a deckhand on the reality show. Now 34, Kotze has been embroiled in a legal battle with Bravo’s parent network since June 2025, Us Weekly can confirm.

Kotze claimed in his initial lawsuit that he was “sexually harassed, manipulated and subjected to degrading treatment” during and after he filmed the show in 2015.

The yachty filed a first amended complaint on June 13, 2025, less than two weeks after he initiated the lawsuit in the Southern District of New York.

In October 2025, Kotze filed a second amended complaint, claiming that after he was cast on Below Deck, the showrunners decided they wanted him to be part of a “showmance” with female crew member Raquel “Rocky” Dakota.

One executive allegedly pointed to Kotze’s South African background and possible “traditional values” as something that would help with the story line.

“We can get some fish-out-of-water tension with him. Plus, he’s not union or anything, we can push him harder,” the executive allegedly said, according to the court filing.

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Kotze further claimed that once filming began, production “piled” him with alcohol during his downtime and was “encouraging him to ‘make a move’” on Dakota, despite his alleged hesitation about pursuing a romantic relationship with her.

Kotze alleged that during cast nights out after charters, the producers would encourage them to take shots and do drinking games. He claimed that one such night led to Dakota “in a distraught emotional state” climbing the yacht’s mast and jumping overboard.

Kotze claimed in the docs that he was “traumatized witnessing this, as he feared for Rocky’s life.” He alleged that production “treated it as a dramatic plot twist – cameras kept rolling, and they later used the footage as entertainment.”

“After filming, Defendants defamed Plaintiff by deceptively editing footage to portray him in a false and damaging light, misappropriated his likeness for continued commercial gain without consent, and engaged in a cover-up and retaliation campaign to silence and discredit him when he sought redress,” the lawsuit read, claiming that Kotez’s alleged mistreatment continued once filming wrapped.

NBCUniversal had no comment.

Kotze is seeking between $633 million and $850 million in damages, claiming in his lawsuit that $123 million was lost in future earnings because his “once-promising yachting career was destroyed.”

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He said he is seeking “no less than $10 million” in damages for emotional distress and proposed for punitive damages he be awarded $500 million.

Kotze also asked the court to demand that the network remove or delete any “intimate images or photos” of him from all platforms and stop future distribution or streaming of season 3 episodes “containing defamatory or unauthorized content.”

If the episodes remain up, Kotze wants the network to add a disclaimer to the show “clarifying that certain portrayals of the Plaintiff were manipulated.”

NBC, meanwhile, filed a motion to dismiss the first amended complaint in October 2025, but a judge denied the motion on January 3, People reported.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

For a franchise that’s all about peaceful exploration, Star Trek has always placed a special emphasis on fighting. From the infamous “Kirk-fu” of The Original Series to the Vulcan martial arts in Discovery, it never takes too long for an away team mission to lead to fisticuffs. Of course, we all know that the fisticuffs in question are just as fake as the special effects that bring these sci-fi series to life.

On one occasion, though, Star Trek ended up hiding a real fistfight in plain sight. In the Deep Space Nine episode “Invasive Procedures,” future Voyager star Tim Russ accidentally really punched Nana Visitor’s stunt double during a fight scene. While everyone else freaked out, she urged Russ to keep going because of how real the fight was going to look onscreen!

A Star Trek Icon Returns

“Invasive Procedures” is a Deep Space Nine episode in which the station has to be mostly evacuated thanks to a plasma storm. The command staff stays on as a skeleton crew, but it doesn’t take long before they are invaded and overpowered by a ragtag group of bad guys. One of the invaders is an unjoined Trill, and her goal is horrifyingly simple: she wants the symbiont inside Dax’s body, but without it, the perky science officer will soon die.

Among the bad guys is a Klingon mercenary played by Tim Russ, who would later famously play the Vulcan Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager. This was actually his second appearance in the franchise, as he had previously appeared as a different kind of mercenary in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Starship Mine.” He would later make a memorable appearance in Star Trek: Generations before joining the lead cast of Voyager.

Deep Space Nine’s Strongest Fighter

Obviously, Russ made a major impact on the Star Trek producers early on, which is why they kept bringing him back for future appearances. In “Invasive Procedures,” however, he made an impact of an entirely different kind: with his fist. During the occupation of Deep Space Nine, Major Kira put up a fight, and she was scripted to scrap with the Klingon played by Russ.

According to Star Trek Monthly (issue 52), the fight went sideways when Tim Russ accidentally landed a punch. At the time, Patricia Tallman (who also played Lyta on Babylon 5) was Nana Visitor’s stunt double, so she was the one engaging in the onscreen fistfight. After Russ landed an actual punch, Tallman said that “everyone on the set freaked out, but I said, ‘No, don’t stop! That was really good – it looked very authentic!”

When Stunts Get Real

The stuntwoman had her way, and “we finished the fight there and then.” To her credit, it was a good call: while “Invasive Procedures” isn’t the best Star Trek episode, it does feature one of the most memorable fights in the entire franchise. That wouldn’t have happened if Patricia Tallman hadn’t been willing to take a punch and keep on filming.

While Tim Russ was horrified at accidentally punching a fellow actor, everything worked out. The onscreen fight looked excellent, and he went on to later have a thriving career as Star Trek’s second most-famous Vulcan. As for his Tuvok character, we can only assume he would declare that Tallman made the right call: after all, making their onscreen battle look as authentic as possible was only logical!

The third season of From might have wrapped on MGM+ in late 2024 with the series set to return for Season 4 in 2026, but it remains one of TV’s most chilling small-town horror stories. The people of the unnamed hamlet are just trying to survive each day while dealing with a mysterious group of evil night creatures. However, just five years ago, the guru of macabre, Mike Flanagan, created and directed a seven-episode miniseries for Netflix with many of the same plot devices and gruesome bloodletting. In Midnight Mass, available now on, it’s the residents of a sleepy, isolated island town that deal with the wrath of an evil presence exacerbated by a haunting sense of existential dread.

In what is his beefiest and best role to date, Hamish Linklater leads a strong ensemble cast that includes Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, Henry Thomas, and Annabeth Gish. Suppose you’re digging the vibes of John Griffin‘s From, in that case, you should absolutely watch (or even rewatch) this terrifying creep show that ventures into religious epistemology and how extremely dark forces can be misinterpreted.

What Is ‘Midnight Mass’ About?

On the small island town of Crockett, the Monsignor of the local Catholic Church has mysteriously disappeared, leaving the God-fearing congregation needing help and new leadership. The people of Crockett are struggling as the fishing economy that drives the town is shrinking. The sleepy town is dying until a charismatic priest named Father Paul Hill (Linklater) arrives to ostensibly replace Monsignor John Pruitt. Along with his undeniable charm and knowledge of scripture, he brings a series of inexplicable miracles that revitalize the dreary island.

But, like in From, a malevolent being lurks, attempting to exploit the desperate populace. Flanagan does brilliant work interweaving the stories of an ensemble of players who are all engaging characters with unique storylines. When they start to realize that Father Paul is leading them down a dark path, it is too late, and dozens of the people in the community suffer the consequences of having blind faith in what turns out to be an irreparably flawed man who has no idea of the destruction he has brought to Crockett Island.

‘Midnight Mass’ Has the Same Dreadful Tone as ‘From’

Image via Netflix

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There are obvious similarities between Midnight Mass and From, including a small and isolated group of people cut off from the larger society and subject to the whims of an influential entity like Father Paul. Even as Paul brings a sense of hope and executes miracles of healing power, there is a feeling that it is a precursor to something else—something dangerous. In that sense, the ambiance of the two shows is unyielding existential dread, as if the audience is waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Fortunately, while the slow-burning story of Paul’s secret forms throughout the series, Flanagan writes a collection of salt-of-the-earth people with interesting backstories. Riley Flynn (Gilford) is a recovering alcoholic who has returned to Crockett Island after having served time in jail for the vehicular manslaughter of a young woman. He fell asleep at the wheel because he was drunk. His love interest, Erin Greene (Siegel), tries to leave the small-town life behind her for greener pastures as a performer, but has also returned, getting pregnant and failing to achieve her dreams. The relationship between these two and their deep discussions about life and death is both profound and enlightening.

Father Paul’s Deadly Secret Devastates the Small Town in ‘Midnight Mass’

Image via Netflix

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The unfortunate souls trapped in the Midwestern town deal with a deadly group of ghastly monsters every night in From. Midnight Mass is different because it continues collecting more gunpowder to deliver a massive haymaker of a shotgun blast in the final sequence. The series finale is intended to be Flanagan’s interpretation of the Bible’s Book of Revelations and the End of Days as it applies to the people of Crockett Island. He uses humanity’s shortcomings, lack of understanding, and misinterpretation of scripture to punctuate his story. Father Paul was wrong about everything regarding the bloodthirsty angel he brought back to the town.

He has brought the wrath of a cruel and winged vampire with designs to exsanguinate and own the souls of everyone on the island. He has brought a plague in the form of a ghoulish bloodsucker onto an island that has been completely cut off from the mainland and the rest of civilization. In the end, Flanagan intends to demonstrate how meek and clueless humanity is and that faith, while good for many people, can be twisted by a few in power. The result is a cataclysm that sees only two children survive as they row a small canoe away from an island engulfed in flames.

Midnight Mass is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.

Tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki has a must-see bikini body.

Wozniacki, 35, showed off her figure in a sizzling hot swimsuit while enjoying a yacht outing with husband David Lee in St. Barths. In a carousel of photos, which she shared via Instagram on Thursday, March 5, Wozniacki was seen modeling a fiery set featuring a textured red triangle cup top finished with halter straps. She styled the itty-bitty piece with low-rise bottoms that hugged her hips.

The athlete made her look even more glamorous with a number of silver and gold bracelets stacked on one wrist. She further accessorized with a bronze scrunchie on her other arm and black shades.

Wozniacki went makeup-free while soaking up the sun and wore her blonde hair down and styled in a blowout.

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When fans swiped through her carousel, they were met with even steamier snaps of Wozniacki taking an outdoor shower. She leaned her head back and rinsed her hair out in one pic before turning to the side and laughing in another.

She also posed with Lee, 42, who wore blue swim trunks. The couple, who share daughter Olivia, 4, and sons James, 2, and Max, 7 months, wrapped their arms around each other and gazed at the camera.

“Lady in red👙🌊☀️⛵️😍,” she captioned the post. Her celebrity friends and followers were quick to praise her in the comments section.

“OMG!!! Hot!!!😍🔥🔥,” one wrote, while golfer Michelle Wie West commented, “DAYUMMMMM.” Karlie Kloss also gushed, “🔥🔥🔥.” Olympian Donna Vekic playfully added, “Probably ate pasta and french fries before taking these pics 🥲.”

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Wozniacki announced that she gave birth to Max in July 2025. At the time, she shared an adorable pic of Olivia and James cuddling with her newborn on a couch. “Max Wozniacki Lee, born July 26, 2025! Mom and baby are healthy and our family couldn’t be happier! ❤️✨,” she captioned the post.

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Move over “trad wives,” because you might have some competition from the “trad sons” for the latest viral craze.

The term “trad son” started making waves via TikTok in 2025, describing adult sons that live at home for an extended period long after graduating from high school or college.

“There’s a lot of unrest in men in their 20s and 30s, today. There’s a lot of insecurity and instability. Most young people haven’t truly found themselves yet,” family therapist Kathryn Smerling told The New York Post in October 2025. “For some, it’s comforting to be at home. They feel safe and secure with their parents in a very conflictual world.”

Soon enough, several of these so-called “trad sons” began popularizing the term in a flurry of social media posts. Keep scrolling to learn more:

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What Is a ‘Trad Son’?

The term “trad son” describes a child who has continued to live with his parents into adulthood in exchange for helping with various household chores.

The movement got a boost when Brendan Liaw appeared on Jeopardy! in May 2025 when he was 28, where he was introduced as a “stay-at-home son.”

“It’s a pretty good gig, but I’m worried I’m going to be called a loiterer at some point,” Liaw told Vanity Fair in October 2025. “I really threw it out there as a little joke. I don’t want to be permanently associated with the face of unemployment forever.”

He added, “I think it’s fun that we get to talk about what it’s like to be a young man, navigating the labor market right now. I think it’s very different than it was for my parents or other people of other generations.”

Liaw eventually did move away from home later in 2025, relocating to Canada to attend law school at the University of British Columbia.

Why Are Men Interested in Becoming ‘Trad Sons’ Over Independent Living?

Several social media users have disclosed their reasoning for living at home, often citing the rising cost of living as a major factor.

“I just wanted to,” Luke Jonathan Parkhurst, for his part, told Vanity Fair in 2025. “I packed up and moved home and sold my house.”

Parkhurst, whose mother calls him a “hub-son,” begins his day by going to the gym while his mom walks the family dog. From there, Parkhurst picks up groceries from Costco before returning home to cook them both lunch. He handles other chores later in the day.

“Even at school, when they would ask what I wanted to be when I was older, I would always write, ‘stay-at-home son,’” he quipped to the outlet, revealing he identifies as a “truth seeker” but distances himself from traditional masculine values associated with new Republican figures. “When they talk about, ‘Hey, this is what a man’s supposed to do,’ I’m not saying they’re incorrect, but I have different perspectives on what I think a man should do as well.”

Related: TikTok Creator Enitza Templeton Recalls Days of Being a Trad Wife

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Courtesy of Enitza Templeton/Instagram TikTok creator Enitza Templeton is looking back at her time as what would now be considered a trad wife. “It’s just this little dangling carrot to keep you trying to be this perfect trophy wife. She’s beautiful, she has the children, she does it unmedicated,” Templeton, 41, said in an interview […]

Are ‘Trad Sons’ Related to ‘Trad Wives’?

The “trad wives” movement, associated with women who follow stereotypical gender roles in their marriage, has gained traction through the likes of Hannah Neeleman and Nara Smith cooking their families home-cooked meals and raising a large brood of children. (Neeleman and Smith, however, both deny any connection to the label.)

Trad sons were given a similar name by virtue of living at home with goals of tackling housework.

Smokey Robinson
Accusers Hit Back in Legal Battle

Published
March 6, 2026
5:30 PM PST
|
Updated
March 6, 2026
6:06 PM PST