By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 31 seconds ago

One of the first signs that Star Trek: The Original Series had become a pop culture phenomenon was the success of its theme song. People who barely even knew what the show was about could hum its iconic opening tune. Equally famous was William Shatner’s monologue describing the mission of the starship Enterprise: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man had gone before! The whole thing felt like pure television magic. It wasn’t magic, though: a lot of work went into this intro, including earlier attempts most fans have never seen.

Before the final version of the Original Series opening (“final” being relative, since it was tweaked slightly for Season 2 and again for Season 3), there was a completely different opening. This was attached to the version of “Where No One Has Gone Before” (Trek’s second pilot episode) that Gene Roddenberry showed to NBC executives. They were pleased with what they saw and gave this seminal sci-fi show the green light. Once they did, one of the first things Roddenberry set out to do was to create a new intro. That’s a good thing, because the intro that never made it to air is one of the worst things in the entire franchise!

An Intro Straight Out Of The Mirror Universe

When you watch this unaired Star Trek: The Original Series title sequence, the first thing you’ll notice is how spooky it is. The show did not yet have its iconic, soaring score that hinted at all the high adventure our heroes would encounter on the final frontier. Instead, we get a mostly muted score, one that makes way for William Shatner’s very different narration. The music only really comes to life when the words “Star Trek” pop up onscreen. Even then, it sounds less triumphant and more like something you’d hear when one of the Red Shirts was busy getting himself killed on an exotic alien planet.

This version of the show’s intro sequence is relatively short. Once the narration ends, we get the title of the show and the words “Starring William Shatner.” After that, it jumps right into the opening of the episode. The whole thing is just over a minute long, which is slightly longer than the final intro we ended up with (which lasts for about 49 seconds). Ironically, though, this unaired intro feels much longer because of the muted, ominous music and the somewhat plodding nature of Shatner’s narration.

William Shatner’s Narration Was Completely Different

What does Captain Kirk say in this unaired intro? “Enterprise log, Captain James Kirk commanding. We are leaving that vast cloud of stars and planets which we call our galaxy. Behind us, Earth, Mars, Venus, even our sun, are specks of dust,” he says. “The question: What is out there in the black void beyond? Until now, our mission has been that of space law regulation, contact with Earth colonies, and investigation of alien life. But now, a new task: A probe out into where no man has gone before.”

For Star Trek lorehounds, this is a lot to process. For one thing, this narration seems to conflate leaving the solar system with leaving the galaxy. While Star Trek has gotten fuzzy about things like galactic barriers and galactic centers, every single show and movie takes place firmly within our own galaxy, so that part of Shatner’s unused narration is pure nonsense. The rest of it is fascinating (as Spock might say) from a canon perspective because it implies that Starfleet has, up to this point, mostly played the role of space police who occasionally investigate aliens. Now, he says, they are tasked with exploring the final frontier.

Does This Intro Fit With The Current Canon?

Interestingly, this contradicts parts of later franchise lore while lining up with other parts. For example, Star Trek: Enterprise takes place about a century before The Original Series, and it portrays Captain Archer making first contact, discovering strange new life, and generally going where no man had gone before; all of this would contradict this original narration. But it does line up with Discovery emphasizing that Pike and other captains of Constitution-class ships were charged with deep space exploration, something Starfleet considered more important than staying home and playing cowboy.

All of this makes the unaired intro to Star Trek: The Original Series a fascinating part of franchise history. It’s also, surprisingly enough, part of national history, as Gene Roddenberry was invited to submit this, Trek’s first pilot, and other production materials to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. He did so back in 1967 and, in prime Roddenberry tradition, made a big show of it to make himself and his new series look better. A bit of shameless self-promotion? Sure. But Roddenberry certainly deserved a victory lap for creating something that truly went where no TV show had gone before!

Kyle Cooke had “Summer House” fans convinced he was saying goodbye for good after posting an emotional message about the end of Season 10. 

The reality star’s heartfelt reflection on leaving the iconic Hamptons house sparked immediate panic among viewers, many of whom feared he was announcing his departure from the Bravo series. 

Although Cooke quickly clarified his comments, the confusion only fueled more questions about the future of the show and the cast following a season filled with major shakeups.

Kyle Cooke sparked widespread speculation on Thursday when he appeared to announce the end of his “Summer House” journey after a decade on the hit reality series.

Taking to Instagram, the Bravo star shared photos from the cast’s familiar Sag Harbor home and initially captioned the post with the words, “End of an era.”

His message quickly took on a sentimental tone as he reflected on wrapping another season. “I can’t tell how hard it was to muster up a smile in this photo with my producers,” he wrote per Page Six.

Cooke further noted, “Per usual I was the last to leave the house when we wrapped because I lug so much gear out. But this year was different. 10 seasons in the books. A new show on the way. And a heartbreaking way to end one helluva run.”.

Cooke Opens Up About Leaving The House For The Final Time

Kyle Cooke continued his emotional reflection by describing just how difficult it was to walk away from the house after filming concluded.

The 43-year-old admitted he became emotional while saying goodbye to a place that has been central to his life since the show premiered in 2017.

He explained that he was “tearing up” over leaving because “we truly become a family shooting this show and it was a gut wrenching way to leave this house for good.”

Cooke also thanked viewers for supporting the series over the past decade. 

“I think we can finally close this chapter (but don’t blame me if I post some throwbacks that are a lot happier than me driving home all by myself as we filmed the cross over). Finally, thank you to the fans for believing in this show and for all of your support over the last decade. xoxo,” he wrote.

Kyle Cooke Quickly Clarifies His Future On ‘Summer House’

As panic spread online, Cooke returned to Instagram and edited the caption to clear up the misunderstanding. The revised version offered a very different message.

“EDIT! End of Season 10 and a decade of filming this show as I know it,” the media personality wrote. He then directly addressed concerns about both the show’s future and his own status.

“The show isn’t cancelled and this is not me announcing I won’t return. I was feeling emo and always planned sharing the cover photo because it DID feel like the end of an era, which is why everyone else was so emotional saying their goodbyes on the finale. Sorry everyone!” Cooke shared. 

Advertisement

The clarification helped settle some concerns, but many viewers remained confused about why the post sounded so final in the first place.

Cooke’s Message Leaves Viewers With More Questions

Even after the correction, fans flooded the comments section with reactions ranging from relief to total confusion. Many admitted they initially believed Cooke was leaving the show.

“Not Kyle breaking the internet then having to post an update,” one follower wrote, while another fan added, “Gosh dang it Kyle. You had me running down the halls at work announcing you were off and lamenting about it.”

Others pointed out Cooke’s significance on the show, noting that “Summer House” would not be the same without him. 

“Summer House is just not it without you. Go take a nap and come back,” one person wrote. Another shared, “There’s no Summer House without Kyle Cooke.”

Advertisement

Kyle Cooke’s Post Comes Amid Major Changes For The Cast

Amid the misconception on social media, a representative for the show told Page Six that Cooke “meant it’s the end of a decade and being married on the show.”

That explanation comes after a turbulent period for the cast. Cooke’s longtime relationship with co-star Amanda Batula played out on camera for years before the two married. Earlier this year, however, the couple split.

The cast was rocked again in March when Batula and fellow cast member West Wilson revealed they had been secretly dating. 

The revelation reportedly stunned several members of the group, including Wilson’s former girlfriend and Batula’s one-time best friend, Ciara Miller.

The uncertainty surrounding the cast continued this week after reports surfaced that Wilson “was not picked up” for Season 11 following controversy tied to his relationship with Batula.

Advertisement

However, sources connected to the series reportedly revealed that Wilson could still make a cameo appearance in the upcoming season.

Actress and singer Jamie Lynn Spears is opening up about her difficult decision to leave Hollywood at the height of her career after getting pregnant with her daughter, Maddie. In a new interview, the “Zoey 101” alum also reflected on some of the difficult conversations she had with people who were against her becoming a teen mom.

Speaking with PEOPLE, Jamie, the younger sister of megawatt pop star Britney Spears, recalled some of the nasty things she heard from those closest to her after revealing she was pregnant at 16.

“I was called the biggest letdown in the world,” she said, adding that people wanted her to believe that her “life was over.”

She added, “It was really, really tough not to believe those things.”

Why Jamie Lynn Spears Decided To Leave Hollywood Behind And Relocate To The South

While Jamie wasn’t releasing chart-topping singles like her sister, she was becoming one of the more prominent child actors at the time of her pregnancy.

She starred in the Nickelodeon sitcom “Zoey 101” from 2005 to 2008 before making the difficult decision to walk away from Hollywood to raise her daughter in “the middle of nowhere” Mississippi.

“It really was just me and her,” she said. “I had to be like, ‘Look, this little girl needs you. You better figure it out.’ I wanted to create a good, stable life for my daughter.”

Jamie Lynn Spears’ Daughter Says She’s Not The Reason ‘Zoey 101’ Was Canceled

During the interview, Jamie’s daughter, Maddie, spoke about her life as the daughter and niece of two major celebrities.

Now that she’s older, Maddie said she’s dealt with people telling her she’s the reason “Zoey 101” ended for most of her life.

“My TikTok is all like, ‘You’re the reason ‘Zoey 101’ is over. I can’t believe you made my show end,’” she said. “I’m not the one that ended ‘Zoey 101,’ I promise.”

Jamie then chimed in, saying, “I’ll repeat it until I’m blue in the face: We were wrapped! The contract ended Zoey.”

Jamie Lynn Took ‘Responsibility’ For Her Pregnancy When She Was A Teenager

In a previous interview with Hannah Brown on her “Better Tomorrow” podcast, Jamie got candid about her teenage pregnancy, revealing that she decided to take “responsibility” for conceiving at a young age.

“That was something I took responsibility for the way that made sense for me,” she said. “That doesn’t make sense for everyone else, but it made sense for me and the whole world came down and told me I was the worst human alive for doing so and that every young girl who ever watched my show was going to be ruined because of me and my personal decision.”

As she mentioned earlier, Jamie said that she relocated to the South with nothing but a house phone. Her reason? To focus on the things that truly mattered at the time.

“I think being in a small town and going into a store [where the clerk] who’s checking you out doesn’t care about who you are, what you’re doing or who’s taking your picture, she’s trying to get home to her kids,” Jamie said. “Interacting with people like that on a daily basis makes you have a much different outlook whenever a newspaper writes a bad headline about you that’s not true. Like, you know what, that doesn’t matter. These are the people that matter.”

Jamie Got To Say Goodbye To ‘Zoey 101’ In The Most Perfect Way

While “Zoey 101” wrapped in 2008, Jamie reprised her role as Zoey Brooks in the Paramount+ picture, “Zoey 102” in 2023.

Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, the actress called the moment she returned to the set “surreal,” adding that she had to “pinch myself.”

“… it’s something we’ve worked on really hard for years to get, being patient to make sure it’s right, putting the right things in place,” she said. “And then it’s like a dream come true. It’s this thing you’ve been talking about and working on and trying to bring to life.”

Jamie credited the show’s fans for bringing the series back to life before reflecting on what it meant to be reunited with a character she played at such a young age.

“I was so ingrained in that character, so revisiting her was something I always dreamed of. But I was like, ‘Can that really ever happen? In what world, dude?’ Who gets to do something like that twice? It’s one of those things that I wasn’t sure if it could ever happen, but I always dreamed of being able to do it and see where she is,” she said.

Docuseries continue to reign supreme on Netflix this June, including the return of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the third season of the Outlast series, which features 16 new contestants competing for triumph in the Panama Islands jungle. Sweet Magnolias, created by Sheryl J. Anderson, flies the flag for fiction content, taking second place in the current U.S. Netflix top 10. So, heading into a new weekend, what should you be watching? To help you decide, and with an overwhelming list of content currently on the streamer, here’s a breakdown of three shows you should binge-watch on Netflix this weekend.

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

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

1

‘I Will Find You’ (2026)

Of all the many great minds to have working collaborations with Netflix, one of the most fruitful is mystery author Harlan Coben. Several of his most-watched adaptations, from Missing You to Fool Me Once, have aired to great success on the streamer. This weekend, he’s back for more, as Robert Hull adapts his 2023 novel of the same name into a twisting eight-part puzzle, waiting for you to solve.

I Will Find You stars Avatar‘s Sam Worthington as David, a man imprisoned for his son’s murder, whose life is about to change as he receives news that his child may still be alive. He escapes from prison and works alongside his sister-in-law, played by Severance fan-favorite Britt Lower, to uncover the truth. An indulgent, easy-to-watch mystery, I Will Find You has been called “a solid way to pass the time” by Collider’s Taylor Gates.

2

‘Black Rabbit’ (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes: 66% | IMDb: 7.3/10

When looking for something to watch this weekend, you can’t go wrong with one of the most underrated miniseries currently on Netflix. Black Rabbit, created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, follows a restaurant owner and his troubled brother as they become swept up in a maelstrom of trauma and trouble against the backdrop of a busy New York nightlife. Will they lose everything they own?

When a miniseries boasts the headline talent of Jason Bateman, Jude Law, and Abbey Lee of Mad Max: Fury Road fame, it’s already a must-watch. Add to that Cleopatra Coleman, Bodies‘ Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, and Troy Kotsur, as well as a selection of eight gripping scripts and some terrific, visually-impactful direction, and you simply can’t afford to let Black Rabbit pass you by.

3

‘One Piece’ (2023–Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 8.3/10

Sure, you could begin your dive into the anime, but a much more attainable streaming binge goal this weekend is the live-action adaptation of One Piece, which returned for its second season earlier this year. Based on Eiichiro Oda‘s seminal manga, the series follows a crew of young pirates led by Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) as they sail treacherous waters and face evil obstacles on the hunt for treasure.

A simple concept packed with heart and humor, One Piece is a great watch for anyone of any age. Called “one of Netflix’s all-time best originals” in Collider’s David Caballero review of Season 2, this epic fantasy series continues to go from strength to strength, with no sign of slowing down yet. Season 3 of One Piece is scheduled for release in 2027 and has already been described as “incredible.”

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

August 31, 2023

Network

Advertisement

Netflix

Showrunner

Matt Owens, Steven Maeda, Joe Tracz

Advertisement

Directors

Tim Southam, Marc Jobst, Josef Kubota Wladyka

Advertisement

Writers

Tiffany Greshler, Diego Gutierrez, Allison Weintraub, Lindsay Gelfand

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 38 seconds ago

When Passengers came out in 2016, it caused a relatively minor blip on the pop culture radar. The movie starred two different Marvel icons, Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence, so there was plenty of hype before the movie premiered. While it made okay money at the box office, it was a critical bomb (a freaking 30 percent on Rotten Tomatoes!) that almost everybody hated. That’s because it was a sci-fi movie without any real action, adventure, or exploration. Of course, the studio couldn’t market Passengers for what it really is: a horror movie where Chris Pratt’s penis is the monster trying to kill you.

Well, not you, personally, but Jennifer Lawrence. You see, this is a film where Pratt’s character wakes up 90 years early on a sleeper ship. As his loneliness mounts, he eventually awakens Lawrence’s character early. He’s just hoping for companionship, but he doesn’t seem to realize the moral ickiness of dooming someone else to crippling, soul-crushing isolation. Because of this, Passengers (now streaming on Netflix) makes for a pretty terrible sci-fi movie. However, it’s weirdly perfect to show other people for exactly one reason: how they react to Pratt’s decision to wake up Lawrence early reveals whether or not you can actually trust your friends and family!

Creepers Gonna Creep

The idea of using Passengers as a Rorschach test for friends is important to me because I did it completely by accident. Years ago, I was discussing this film with a younger friend who had previously made the bold choice to move in with an older woman and become a father figure to her three children (I promise, this factoid will be important later). My buddy claimed that the decision made by Pratt’s character was understandable; after all, the character was so lonely and depressed that he contemplated suicide. However, I maintained that waking Lawrence’s character up early was both manipulative and cruel, effectively dooming someone else to a life of depression and isolation. 

Our debate over Passengers effectively became a debate over empathy. My friend empathized with Pratt’s character and imagined how he would feel about going the rest of his life without human interaction. To my buddy, waking up a woman for companionship was an understandable act of desperation. Meanwhile, I empathized with Lawrence’s character, arguing that I’d hate to be the one forced into a life of isolation because someone couldn’t keep it in their pants. Months after our debate, my friend got a new job far away, and his girlfriend drove him hundreds of miles, where they actively planned to buy a house together. A happy ending, right?

A Movie That Rewards Bad Choices

Nah. He fell for a girl at his new gig less than a week after moving and dumped the woman (the one with three kids who saw him as a father figure) he had been dating for years. When it happened, my first thought was our argument over Passengers. As it turns out, he really was like Pratt’s character at the end of the day: someone who would screw over anyone if he simply got lonely and horny enough.

Now, the internet is filled with countless different ideas for testing those in your life with weird scenarios. This includes everything from nonsensical stuff (“would you still love me if I was a worm?”) to weirdly controversial stuff (“do you choose the bear or the man?”). However, most of these hypotheticals are a very stupid way of learning anything useful about my friends and family. But the scenario in Passengers is so meaty and compelling that it’s like an ethics word problem brought to life. For Pratt’s character, the question is whether he’s justified in waking up Jennifer Lawrence’s character because he is on the verge of suicide.

An Argument That Makes You Wanna Scream

To me, Pratt is not justified. Sure, I felt bad for the guy, but he’s making a deliberate choice to inflict his own misery on someone else. That’d be bad enough if he had just woken up another man so he’d have someone to bro out with, making himself the only human contact the other guy would ever have.  However, he deliberately wakes up somebody that he found attractive in hopes of them having sex. It’s textbook manipulation and, spoilers, they do end up hooking up. The movie presents this as a happy ending, but this is the It’s Always Sunny “because of the implication” thing played out to its darkest extreme.

Anyway, my buddy who so passionately defended Pratt’s character? Soon afterward, he ended up making his own selfish decision in the name of getting some strange, destroying an existing relationship he had spent the better part of a decade developing. Basically, Passengers revealed something dark about this dude’s personality, and it didn’t take him long to prove his character. Want to figure out which of your own friends and family you can actually trust? Then grab the remote and brace yourself because Passengers is currently streaming on Netflix.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle earned a co-sign from the brains behind their latest venture!

The Sussexes are no strangers to Netflix productions, and right now, their latest attempt at making another masterpiece with the streaming service is getting all the green light from the author of the book.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s chapter with Netflix began shortly after they exited the United Kingdom in 2020, subsequently striking a five-year deal with the company to create various content.

Author Carley Fortune opened up about working with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the upcoming Netflix adaptation of her bestselling novel, “Meet Me at the Lake.” She revealed on a June 18 episode of Jenna Bush Hager’s “Open Book” podcast that the project is a brainchild of Archewell Productions and Netflix.

Stating that the project is still in development, Fortune noted that a director has been attached to the film and the script is still being revised. Fortune described collaborating with the power couple as a surreal experience that was “just so wild.” 

She added that while her team was in the early stages of securing the adaptation, there was an in-depth conversation with Meghan and Archewell executive Tracy Ryerson, stating that she felt they were truly connected with the heart of the story.

The author affirmed that their discussion went beyond romance and focused on the emotional themes woven throughout the novel, including motherhood, grief, mental health, and the deeper meaning behind love stories.

The Author Talks About The Emotional Themes In The Book

In 2023, it became public information that Harry and Meghan had earned the rights to Fortune’s second romance novel for an adaptation at Netflix. Fortune was beyond excited about the collaboration at the time, noting that Fern and Will’s story mean a great deal to her and described the partnership as a perfect fit.

According to a source, the story resonated with the Sussexes because they saw similarities between the book’s themes and aspects of their own lives. The novel captures the life of Fern and Will, two strangers who spend one unforgettable day together in Toronto and promise to reunite at a lakeside resort the following year. 

However, when Will finally returns nine years later, Fern is left wondering whether the person she once connected with still exists. Beyond the romance, the story also delves into the more profound emotional aspects, such as mental health and postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Advertisement

Fortune said that she has first-hand experience with postpartum OCD, which is why she included it in the book. She explained that romance novels allow readers to engage with difficult topics through stories that still offer hope and emotional payoff.

She admitted that many readers later contacted her to say that they were not aware of what they were suffering from until reading the novel. Fortune added that readers shared with her that the book gave them the confidence to speak to loved ones or seek professional help, as many of the stories in the novel have had a profound effect on their lives.

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Reportedly Developing Afghanistan War Film At Netflix

In May, Deadline shared that the couple expanded their Netflix collection with a feature adaptation based on “No Way Out: The Searing True Story of Men Under Siege,” the bestselling military memoir by Major Adam Jowett.

The project tells the story of Easy Company, which is a unit made up of Paratroopers and Royal Irish Rangers that was deployed to Afghanistan’s Helmand province in July 2006 during the war.

Under Jowett’s command, the under-strength unit was assigned to defend the Musa Qala District Center despite being isolated and heavily outnumbered by Taliban forces.

Advertisement

The book is being adapted for Netflix as part of Archewell Productions’ agreement with Netflix and screenwriter Matt Charman, who has previously worked on “Oliver Twist” and “Bridge of Spies.”

The narrative traces Easy Company’s experiences as the soldiers fought through weeks of relentless attacks inside an exposed compound, all while facing the harsh realities of combat with dwindling supplies and ammunition.

Jowett’s memoir portrays both the excitement of war and the heartbreak of commanding men in impossible situations.

The book, which was published in 2019 by Pan Macmillan, has been likened to war classics like “Black Hawk Down” and “The Bridge on the River Kwai” for its emotional and high-stakes narrative.

Advertisement

Harry has personally experienced the deployment twice with active military service, including Helmand Province in Afghanistan, and the project holds special meaning for him.

The film will be produced by Harry and Meghan in partnership with Archewell, to be overseen by scripted content executive Tracy Ryerson.

The Couple Eyes Netflix Takeover With More Scripted And Non-Fiction Projects

PEOPLE revealed in March that Harry and Meghan’s production company is on the quest to build a broader line-up of projects that will extend beyond Netflix in the coming years.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex currently have both scripted and non-fiction content in development with multiple projects moving through different stages.

The new update comes after it was announced on March 23, 2026, that Archewell and Netflix are collaborating on a new scripted series set in the world of polo.

Advertisement

The project is reportedly inspired by the 2024 Netflix docuseries POLO, which is about one of Prince Harry’s longtime interests. The pair seems to still be putting money into stories related to the sport, albeit with a bit of low viewing figures on the documentary.

Archewell’s expanding list comes after a change in its deal with Netflix, which began as a one-year deal covering both films and TV, but has since been expanded to a multiple-year first-look option for both mediums. The development news comes shortly after reports of tension between the Sussexes and the streaming platform. 

However, representatives for both Netflix and the couple reportedly denied those claims. The rumor started to spread when Netflix was reported to have been taken aback by Harry and Meghan’s extensively covered Oprah interview in 2021, ahead of their 2022 documentary series “Harry & Meghan.”

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle May Make Some Lifestyle Choices Amid Alleged Financial Trouble 

As shared by The Blast a few days ago, it is being rumored that Harry and Meghan could be forced to review and reconsider their high-profile California lifestyle as discussions about long-term financial well-being begin to arise.

The former working royal may reportedly be under growing financial pressures tied to the maintenance costs of their Montecito if they get fewer gigs moving forward.

Advertisement

The Montecito mansion was purchased for $14 million over five years ago and has served as a haven for the royals and their kids since leaving England behind.

According to a royal commentator, Maureen Callahan, the couple have been unable to profit from the public interest invested in their royal background compared to the past few years.

Should this problem persist, Meghan and Harry might reportedly move to a much smaller property in order to save running costs.

Another drastic move on the couple’s part may be the Duchess making a surprising return to acting, as she has signed several media deals and partnerships with companies like Netflix and Spotify.

Advertisement

Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix adaptation be a hit?

Original “SNL” cast member Garrett Morris has reacted to a viral photo of himself with actress Taraji. P. Henson. The image looked ordinary at first glance, with the two stars smiling for the camera. Eagle-eyed users, however, noticed the large bulge in Morris’ pants.

The comedian turned the viral photo into a marketing opportunity, using his signature humor to address the buzz and promote his upcoming memoir.

On June 16, Taraji P. Henson shared a carousel of photos featuring her friends who attended her Broadway debut. Among those included in the photos were Angela Bassett, Anthony Mackie, Whoopi Goldberg, Ellen Pompeo, and Garrett Morris.

Soon after the post was uploaded, some of Henson’s 21 million followers reacted to her photo with Morris, which captured a bulge in the 89-year-old comedian’s pants. In it, Morris sat while Henson stood beside him, both wearing beaming smiles while holding hands.

Advertisement

The actress has since removed the photo from the carousel, but not before it spread on social media.

“Is he hiding a weapon in his pants?” one user asked. Another guessed that it was a colostomy bag, while others suggested a bunched-up diaper. “Taraji looks amazing, Garrett is a legend, but can we all be honest for a second? My eyes wandered somewhere else, and now I can’t unsee it. The longer you look, the more questions you start asking,” another person wrote.

A couple of days later, Morris posted a short video on his Instagram to address the online buzz over the bulge in his pants. In the video, the comedian held a hair pick with a microphone held between the prongs.

“Well, hello there. I’m Garrett Morris. It seems I’ve caused quite a stir because of a recent photo where it looks like I have a baby boa constrictor between my legs,” Morris stated. He continued to say that he doesn’t mind the stereotypes associated with Black men. However, he said, “I’m more than a body. I’m a brain, too.”

Advertisement

The “SNL” alum pointed out that throughout his decades-long career, he’s been photographed with many award-winning entertainers, and he never thought he would be upstaged by his p-nis.

Garrett Morris Used The Viral Moment As A Marketing Opportunity

Morris diverted the attention from the photo and talked about his upcoming book. “Since you are all up in my business right now, I want you to be all up in my book,” he said. The upcoming memoir, entitled “Ain’t That a B-tch,” will be released sometime in 2027.

He also took the opportunity to urge his followers to vote. “I hope you’re laughing, but don’t laugh about this. I was here during that civil rights movement. I actually saw Martin Luther King preach about us fighting for our rights,” Morris continued. He concluded the video by reminding users to purchase his book in 2027.

In the caption, Morris wrote, “I see the internet has been busy,” followed by a smirking emoji. “With everybody talking, I figured I’d give you something new to talk about.”

Morris began his career in music and studied at Juilliard and Dillard University. He performed with Harry Belafonte for several years, was part of theater groups, appeared on Broadway, and taught music before being hired by “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels.

Advertisement

In 1975, “SNL” premiered, then titled “NBC’s Saturday Night,” featuring cast members John Belushi, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, and Garrett Morris, known collectively as the “Not Ready for Prime Time Players.” The comedian was initially hired as a writer, but Michaels saw one of the movies he was in and asked him to audition.

Morris was on “SNL” as a writer and cast member until 1980.

Garrett Morris Received Has A Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Following “SNL,” Morris appeared on several shows, such as “The Jeffersons,” “Martin,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” and “2 Broke Girls.” He was also in a few movies, including “The Stuff,” “Coneheads,” and “How High.”

Morris received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024, on his 87th birthday. At the ceremony, he said, “I am so thankful for this day. I have a whole lot of stuff I want to say, but I can’t do it all. But when you see my star, just look at it and smile because all I’ve ever wanted was to bring a little light to the world. I hope I’ve done it.”

Advertisement

Kim Kardashian might be the epitome of cool to her fans, but it’s her relationship with Lewis Hamilton that’s earned her major brownie points at home.

Hamilton, 41, has met Kardashian’s four children — North, 13, Saint, 10, Chicago, 8, and Psalm, 7 — a source exclusively tells Us Weekly, revealing the Formula 1 icon has “spent time with them.”

“Lewis loves kids so it’s been fun for him,” the insider says, referring to Kardashian’s children, whom she shares with ex-husband Kanye West. “The kids think Lewis is really cool, especially Chicago and Saint, who are completely fascinated by the fact that he drives race cars for a living.”

Advertisement

Related: How Lewis Hamilton Feels About Kim Kardashian Amid Romance

Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian’s connection is growing stronger. “They are going strong and really happy. Lewis is head over heels and those closest to him believe he has finally met his match,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “He has waited over a decade for his dream girl and is crazy about her.” The […]

Meanwhile, the Kardashians star’s friendship-turned-romance with Hamilton continues to heat up. She recently went to cheer on the racer with sister Khloé Kardashian during the Monaco Grand Prix on June 6.

“Kim jokes that having Lewis around has officially made her the ‘cool mom’ in their eyes,” the insider tells Us.

Kim, 45, and Hamilton have known each other for more than a decade. The pair famously posed for photos together at 2014’s GQ Men of the Year ceremony when Hamilton was dating Nicole Scherzinger and Kim was married to West, 49. (Hamilton and Scherzinger, 47, split in 2015 after dating on and off for seven years. As for Kim and West the former couple divorced in 2021 after six years of marriage.)

Earlier this year, Kim sparked romance rumors with Hamilton after the duo were spotted together at Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire, England, on January 31, after previously attending Kate Hudson’s New Year’s Eve party separately in Aspen, Colorado.

They were later spotted checking into a Paris hotel in early February, adding fuel to the fire. At the time, a source exclusively told Us that Kim and Hamilton had been on “a few dates recently” but were keeping things “casual.”

Related: Kim Kardashian’s Kids Join Her and Lewis Hamilton on Tokyo Trip

Advertisement

Kim Kardashian’s kids tagged along on mom’s trip to Tokyo with her casual date, Lewis Hamilton. An eyewitness told Us Weekly on Monday, March 23, that three of Kardashian’s children — Saint, 10, Chicago, 9, and Psalm, 8 — were spotted out and about in Tokyo. It is unclear if Kardashian’s eldest daughter, North, also […]

Kim has since made her relationship with Hamilton Instagram official earlier this month, including him in a photo dump posted on June 1. In one slide, the couple enjoyed a playful bike ride together.

“They are very serious now and it’s going well,” the first source exclusively tells Us.

The Skims cofounder has been “spending her downtime in between shoots traveling to where Lewis is working,” the insider shares, noting that Kim “enjoys the thrill of the race life and thinks it’s so fun.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

The couple spend “as much time together as possible while they both manage extremely busy careers,” the source says, explaining there are “a lot of Facetime calls and it’s working for them so far.”

Related: Kim Kardashian, Daughter Chicago Celebrate Lewis Hamilton’s 1st Ferrari Win

Advertisement

The Kardashians are celebrating Kim Kardashian’s boyfriend Lewis Hamilton’s first Formula 1 victory for Ferrari. After claiming the win at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in Montmeló on Sunday, June 14, the race car driver’s girlfriend, 45, took to her Instagram Stories to share a photo of her man being cheered on by his team. She […]

Even with their busy schedules, Kim and her new flame have the support of their inner circle — especially her family. “Everyone in the Kardashian/Jenner family loves them together. Kim seems really happy,” the insider adds.

Us Weekly has reached out to Kardashian and Hamilton’s reps for comment.