Entertainment
Patrick Stewart Still Calls This 34-Year-Old ‘Star Trek’ Episode a True Masterpiece
After almost 60 years on the airwaves, Star Trek has mastered a formula that both entertains and educates. The visionary and sometimes endearingly silly franchise embodies what science fiction does best: interrogate universal experiences through sleek, allegorical spectacle. Although Star Trek: The Original Series pioneered the franchise’s principles, its successor, Star Trek: The Next Generation, doesn’t hit its stride until it shakes off one of Gene Roddenberry‘s restrictions. Star Trek‘s late creator posited a Utopian future where humanity has evolved beyond our collective and individual flaws. Although an enviable idea, the notion deprives Roddenberry’s universe of the alchemy every compelling drama needs: conflict, transformation, and depth.
While never a fully serialized series, The Next Generation‘s later seasons inject lasting character growth into its episodic formula. As a standalone that grafts permanent ripple effects onto Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Season 5’s “The Inner Light” deserves the glowing superlatives fans, critics, the Hugo Awards, and Stewart himself have sent its way since 1992. Often regarded as the already sophisticated series’ pinnacle achievement, “The Inner Light” is an arresting and resonant example of everything sci-fi’s genre trappings can offer, swapping out epic scale for a character study that’s as psychologically contemplative as it is philosophically driven.
What Is “The Inner Light” About?
When the Enterprise investigates an unidentified space probe, the device targets Picard with a mysterious energy bolt. Struck comatose, he wakes upon the planet of Kataan, where every stranger recognizes him as Kamin, a local iron weaver. Kamin’s wife, Eline (Margot Rose), assures Picard that his memories of French vineyards and starship corridors are delirious inventions caused by a week-long fever. As years pass without answers, Picard makes the most of his unwelcome circumstances. He falls in love with Eline, grows old with her while raising their children, and practices the flute in his leisure time.
However, Kataan’s scientists determine that a nearby exploding star will annihilate the planet within their lifetimes. Since Kataan dwells outside the Federation’s borders, they lack access to the cutting-edge resources that might reverse its inevitable demise. During this civilization’s final moments, Picard learns the last four decades were an interactive mental simulation induced by the probe’s beam. Kataan’s long-dead citizens didn’t want to be forgotten, and their floating time capsule chose Picard as the best person to safeguard their legacy. Its purpose fulfilled, the program returns Picard to the Enterprise bridge, his body never left. The 40 years Picard experienced have been just 25 minutes for his concerned crew.
“The Inner Light” Is a Balanced Character Study for ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Captain Picard
“The Inner Light” rises above its classic “what if?” structure thanks to its laser-focused purpose and restrained execution. Written by Morgan Gendel and directed by Peter Lauritson, the two share a kind of harmonious understanding over which emotional beats to imply and which need lingering with. The episode’s broad concepts about our fleeting mortality and the value of cherishing humble joys are straightforward enough not to court sentimentality and are conveyed through an earnest accessibility that stands the test of time. What could be an overt laundry list of ideas instead gracefully flows through legacy, identity, second chances, environmental decay, what determines a well-lived life, and the resolved wisdom required to carve out that existence while facing imminent destruction.
And who’s a better thematic avatar than The Next Generation‘s leading man? This experience alters the series’ space-faring captain in subtler, if no less self-reflective, ways than Picard’s traumatic assimilation by the Borg in Seasons 3 and 4. Reminiscent of how “Family,” screenwriter Ronald D. Moore‘s coda to that drastic mini-arc, doesn’t neatly erase Picard’s terror, fury, and guilt — nor the stubborn effort it takes to break through his dignified exterior — “The Inner Light” both reinforces the character’s substance and offers fresh insight by exploring what he could have become in an alternate setting.
Even though he acclimates to Kamin’s name, Jean-Luc Picard retains Jean-Luc Picard’s core qualities: stalwart, altruistic, cultured, an insatiably curious scientist, and a natural mentor. He yearns to keep exploring the stars he can’t reach, but by walking a mile and then some in someone else’s shoes, Picard flourishes. He discovers equally valuable pursuits that couldn’t take root without a less distracting and regimented environment. Instead of leading by diplomatic example, he serves others by contributing to a community of his peers. Once his wife, children, and grandchildren become his greatest happiness, the Enterprise‘s biggest “get these kids off my lawn” guy even finds fulfillment through the one lifestyle he’d assumed he didn’t crave. At the risk of sounding trite, Picard nurtures his inner light.
Patrick Stewart’s Devastating Performance Cements “The Inner Light” as a Sci-Fi Masterpiece
During a Reddit Ask Me Anything from 2015, Stewart called “The Inner Light” his favorite episode because of the script’s uniquely rewarding shake-up and a fitting familial tie:
“It was a beautiful script, which for me was almost entirely located away from the Enterprise — and it’s crew! And because I was given the chance to perform what Picard would have been like if his life experience had been different. But another important reason is that I had a son in that episode who was played by my son, Daniel Stewart.”
The Shakespearean-trained Stewart has always been in a league of his own. Yet without Trek‘s regular bells, whistles, and occasionally stilted dialogue, but with the majestic vitality that makes this franchise enduring, Stewart’s favorite episode platforms some of his best work in a role spanning 38 years. The episode’s emotional versatility is an actor’s paradise; charting that transformation within 45 minutes and a handful of vignettes is a Mount Everest-tall challenge. Stewart’s delicate and internalized approach creates a tour de force performance. Picard’s opening hostility and resentment fade into subdued depression, then into contented belonging. By episode’s end, he’s both happy to be back home on the Enterprise and terribly far from home.
The tender, wrenching final scene in Picard’s quarters best exemplifies this dissonance. Drawn into himself and gathering his forgotten bearings, he half-clutches, half-cradles his flute — the one tangible relic of the confinement that became his world — like it’s a precious lifeline. Stewart’s diminished physicality transforms Picard’s silent mourning and the responsibility of keeping an extinct society’s memory alive into a physical weight. His tragic burden doesn’t vanish once he expertly plays a familiar refrain, but setting his eulogy to music says more than a lengthy monologue. The moment almost feels invasive, like audiences shouldn’t be privy to an intimately somber moment.
That flute almost didn’t make the final cut, according to Gendel’s 2016 retrospective with Star Trek‘s official website. Then and now, the closing scene’s impact speaks for itself. Later episodes feature Picard playing the instrument, while Star Trek: Picard‘s opening melody includes a flute. Even if such continuity hadn’t been incorporated, Stewart’s astute instincts and poignant dedication illustrate how this experience’s ramifications will echo throughout the rest of Picard’s natural life. It’s a stirring and exquisitely vulnerable performance cradled by a genre jewel.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is available to stream on Paramount+.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Release Date
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1987 – 1994-00-00
- Network
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Syndication
- Showrunner
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Gene Roddenberry
- Directors
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Cliff Bole, Les Landau, Winrich Kolbe, Rob Bowman, Robert Scheerer, Jonathan Frakes, Robert Wiemer, Gabrielle Beaumont, Alexander Singer, David Carson, Paul Lynch, Corey Allen, Patrick Stewart, Chip Chalmers, Joseph L. Scanlan, James L. Conway, Robert Lederman, Tom Benko, Timothy Bond, Robert Legato, Adam Nimoy, Robert Becker, David Livingston, LeVar Burton
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President Donald Trump recalled his experience during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting on Saturday, April 25.
The president said in an interview on the Sunday, April 26, episode of 60 Minutes that he “wanted to see what was happening,” which led to Secret Service agents taking longer to usher him out of the Washington Hilton ballroom in Washington, D.C., than Vice President JD Vance.
“What happened is it was a little bit me,” Trump, 79, explained to CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell. “I wanted to see what was happening, and I wasn’t making it that easy for [the shooter]. I wanted to see what was going on. And by that time, we started to realize maybe it was a bad problem, different kind of a problem, bad one, and different than what would be normal noise from a ballroom, which you hear all the time. I was surrounded by great people, and I probably made them act a little bit more slowly. I said, ‘Wait a minute. Let me see.’”
Amid the commotion, Trump said he started to leave the ballroom by walking out but was advised by Secret Service to get down to the ground.
New details have been revealed about the alleged shooter who authorities believe targeted President Donald Trump and members of his administration at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. A 31-year-old California man identified as Cole Tomas Allen was apprehended outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, April 25, shortly after shots were fired […]
“I started walking with them. They said, ‘Please go down on the floor,’ so I went down, and the first lady went down also,” he said.
Trump praised his wife, Melania Trump, for how she handled the situation, noting that, unlike him, she has not been involved in an active shooter situation before.
“My thought was, ‘I’ve been through this before a couple of times.’ She has not to this extent. She handled it great. She’s very strong, smart. She got it,” he said. “She listened. When they said, ‘Drop down,’ that meant trouble.”
A 31-year-old California man, Cole Tomas Allen, was arrested in connection with the shooting on Saturday. He is expected to be arraigned on Monday, April 27.
Erika Kirk was in attendance as shots broke out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. CNN reported that Kirk, 37, was seen crying as the chaos unfolded at the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C. on Saturday, April 25. CNN’s Sara Sidner said on air that she personally witnessed Kirk leaving the main ballroom, telling aides, […]
Following Saturday’s derailed event, Trump told reporters he was “honored” to be targeted by the suspected gunman.
“When you look at our great presidents, [this] doesn’t happen to people who don’t do anything,” he said.
“The man has been captured, and they’re going to his apartment. I guess he lives in California, and he’s a very sick person, a very sick person,” Trump added.
“I was totally shocked when something like this happens,” Trump said on Saturday night. “It happened to me a little bit, and that never changes. The fact, we were sitting right next to each other, first lady on my right, and I heard a noise … I thought it was a tray going down, and it was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away. [The suspect] hadn’t reached the area at all. He really got him … but it was a gun.”
“Some people really understood that very quickly, other people didn’t … I was watching what happened,” he continued. “Melania was very cognizant of what happened; I think she knew immediately what happened. She was saying, ‘That’s a bad noise.’ And we were whisked away. It was very quick … it was a matter of seconds that we were out the door.”
YouTuber Aries Williams is letting supporters in on one of the most personal moments of his life. After previously opening up about his faith and spiritual journey, the 23-year-old content creator has now shared the emotional moment he met his biological father for the very first time!
Related: Brooklyn Frost And Gabrielle Alayah Speak Out Following Backlash For Not Defending Tee Tee At Rolling Loud (VIDEO)
Aries Williams And His Father Share Emotional First-Time Reunion
On Saturday, April 25, Aries uploaded an hour-long video to his YouTube channel titled ‘Meeting My Dad For The First Time… Very Emotional.’
In the video, Aries shares the lead-up to the long-awaited moment he finally meets his dad. When they come face to face, the two embrace in an emotional hug, and his father apologizes for the years he missed and expresses his love for his son. In that moment, Aries makes it clear to his dad that he’s moving forward without resentment. While admitting the absence was painful during his childhood, he explains that those experiences ultimately shaped him into the man he is today.
Following the upload, Aries also shared a heartfelt message in the video’s comment section, writing, “Just want to take a moment here and just thank Jesus! My heart, my emotions, my hurt, all belongs to Him and He has truly healed me. Give Jesus a chance to work in your life just as He has worked in mine. Surrender is the best notion to deliverance.”
See the moment below:
Social Media Reacts
Social media quickly filled with reactions as users weighed in on the emotional reunion.
Instagram user @unique0badd wrote, “😢 yall got my crying 😭😭 this made me miss my dad 🕊️😭”
Another Instagram user @valentines__612 wrote, “Love this for them 🤎 and the both fine 😍”
While yonbloyal_ wrote, “It takes a lot on both ends to win this is winning in so many ways heartwarming to let go and let god ❤️”
Instagram user @nayabrii wrote, “❤️❤️❤️ Thank God for Change, and forgiveness. This is beautiful 🤩 I pray that bond gets stronger and stronger. I love to see this!!!”
Another Instagram user @t.e.e.d.y wrote, “I’d never go look for a parent that abandoned me especially not after I got money 🤷🏽♀️😭”
While Instagram user @nyasecrets_ wrote, “I think ima pop my dad if I catch him”
Instagram user @mk9750616 wrote, “Aries ur dad is going to be asking for money soon. He is coming around for fame I remember aries said his father was never in his life now he popped up all of a sudden.”
Another Instagram user, @ladymel, wrote, “This should not be recorded”
While Instagram user @jeaninewilliams124 wrote, “This is what a lot of young men need in their life right now.. I’m so happy for him you did the right thing.. In order to heal yourself you have to face the hard things about yourself 🫶🏽 God be working”
Aries Shares How His Faith Is Changing His Content
Aries’ emotional reunion comes amid a larger personal transformation he’s been open about with fans. In December 2025, he shared that he was deepening his relationship with God and planned to shift his content toward Bible study-focused streams to better align with his faith.
He also revealed his decision to remain celibate until marriage, emphasizing his commitment to living in accordance with his beliefs.
Just months later, in February, Aries took another major step in his personal life, tying the knot with his longtime girlfriend, TeeTee, the sister of DDG. The couple officially married in a courthouse ceremony on February 15, just one day after getting engaged, and shared plans to celebrate with a larger wedding ceremony later this summer.
Related: Congrats! Jay Cinco Proposes To Lala Baptiste At Their Baby Shower Celebration (VIDEOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Bravo has concluded its investigation after audio from the Summer House season 10 reunion was leaked online.
“An investigation into the recent leak of the Summer House reunion audio has concluded that the audio was an unauthorized recording and distributed by an individual involved in the production of the reunion,” a Sunday, April 26, statement shared with Us Weekly reads. “As a result of the findings, appropriate action has been taken.”
The Summer House filmed its season 10 reunion on Thursday, April 23, shortly before a clip of Ciara Miller confronting costars Amanda Batula and West Wilson from the tell-all surfaced online. Bravo immediately opened an investigation into the matter to determine the source of the leak.
“There is no evidence that any member of the cast was involved in the recording of the audio,” the statement continues. “We take these matters seriously and will continue to take appropriate measures to respond to the unauthorized distribution of our content.”
Bravo launched an official investigation into the events surrounding leaked audio from the Summer House season 10 reunion taping, sparking outrage from the network, host Andy Cohen and multiple cast members. “This represents a serious breach of trust and a clear lack of respect for the cast, crew, and the integrity of the production process,” […]
The note adds, “We are aware that there is additional improperly obtained audio circulating and we caution all parties and platforms to refrain from posting, sharing or amplifying any unauthorized audio.”
Amid Bravo’s investigation, several cast members denied any involvement regarding the leaked audio.
“I wouldn’t risk losing my job by leaking audio of a deeply emotional reunion,” KJ Dillard wrote via Threads on Friday, April 24. “The leak wasn’t me.”
Kyle Cooke also addressed the incident, denying that he had any knowledge of the recording.
“Bravo takes it insanely seriously. They’re doing a full-blown cyber investigation,” Kyle, 43, said in a social media video. “If you’re the one that leaked, you might wanna seek cover or counsel.”
According to Kyle, it was unlikely that any of the cast members had their phones present during production.
“If you have a phone on set, it’s stuck behind a pillow or couch cushion, so the cameras can’t see it. I don’t really see why anyone would gain [from] having leaked this,” he said. “That goes for producers, crew [and] Bravo. This is someone clearly acting on their own. It doesn’t even look like that got paid because the audio clip is everywhere.”
The reunion is set to address the love triangle between Ciara, 30, Amanda, 34, and West, 31. Ciara and West casually dated in 2023, briefly hooking up again at the start of the year. By March, West confirmed that he started seeing Ciara’s BFF Amanda amid her separation from Kyle.
“We’ve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected,” West and Amanda wrote in a joint statement last month. “Our connection grew out of a genuine, longstanding friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.”
Ciara, meanwhile, told Glamour in an early April profile that she was blindsided by the news.
“I read [their statement] with the rest of the world. There’s something about the lack of being able to say each other’s names in the statement that I found very telling, but I don’t know,” Ciara told the outlet. “It’s one thing to experience hurt behind closed doors. To experience it so publicly is like another layer, and then to have to see what you thought was your life still play out in season 10. It’s a major mindf***.”
Bravo launched an official investigation into the events surrounding leaked audio from the Summer House season 10 reunion taping, sparking outrage from the network, host Andy Cohen and multiple cast members.
“This represents a serious breach of trust and a clear lack of respect for the cast, crew, and the integrity of the production process,” a Bravo spokesperson told Us Weekly in April 2026. “We take this matter very seriously and have launched a full investigation and we will take appropriate action based on our findings.”
Audio of the highly-anticipated reunion surfaced on social media hours after the Summer House cast gathered in New York City on April 23, 2026, to break down the ongoing drama over Amanda Batula and West Wilson‘s relationship and more. In the purported audio, Ciara Miller confronted former BFF Amanda about dating her ex after months of denial.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about the Bravo drama:
Andy Cohen Calls the Leak ‘Disgusting and Illegal’
Andy Cohen, who hosted the reunion, did not hold back when he learned about the leak.
“On my way to eye surgery and just reading about it,” Andy wrote via Threads after a fan warned him to stay off social media. “People laid their souls out emotionally for ten hours yesterday and it’s disgusting and illegal for someone to leak or distribute this.”
The Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen host added, “It’s disrespectful to the work and tears the cast put in yesterday. Let the season play out. You will see it all in due time.”
Hours earlier, Andy previewed the tell-all special and promised that fans would soon see one of the most raw reunions in Bravo history.
“This was one of the most intense [reunions] we’ve ever shot. This was a lot. This was a lot. It was very intense, you guys,” he shared via his Instagram Story at the time, confirming that “every question was asked” about Amanda and West’s dating timeline.
‘Summer House’ Cast Members React to the Leak
Kyle Cooke broke his silence about the “frustrating leak” hours later, sharing his theory about how the audio was captured.
“Bravo takes it insanely seriously,” he said in a video posted via his Instagram Stories. “They’re doing a full-blown cyber investigation. If you’re the one that leaked, you might wanna seek cover or counsel.”
Kyle further speculated the audio was captured by “someone [who] took their phone and put it next to a speaker where there was a live feed,” claiming that it was unlikely that a makeup artist or hair stylist would risk their jobs by leaking the audio.
“This is someone clearly acting on their own,” he speculated. “I don’t think this is something we’re going to make sense of anytime soon.”
Kyle also set the record straight on who he called a “schmuck” in the leaked clip.
“This was directed at West,” he wrote via Threads.
KJ Dillard, for his part, denied being involved in the leak, writing via Threads, “I wouldn’t risk losing my job by leaking audio of a deeply emotional reunion. The leak wasn’t me.”
Castmate Levi Sebree, meanwhile, shared a fan account’s post that stated she wasn’t the leaker. She replied, “Put some respek [sic] on my name, y’all be real.”
Bravo Finds the Source of the Leak
A spokesperson confirmed to Us on April 26, 2026, that the investigation had concluded.
“An investigation into the recent leak of the Summer House reunion audio has concluded that the audio was an unauthorized recording and distributed by an individual involved in the production of the reunion,” the statement reads. “There is no evidence that any member of the cast was involved in the recording of the audio. We take these matters seriously and will continue to take appropriate measures to respond to the unauthorized distribution of our content.”
The statement concludes, “We are aware that there is additional improperly obtained audio circulating and we caution all parties and platforms to refrain from posting, sharing, or amplifying any unauthorized audio.”
The Drama Behind the Reunion
Amanda Batula and West Wilson stunned the Bravoverse on March 31, 2026, by revealing they are dating. Amanda and her estranged husband, Kyle, had announced their separation in January. West, meanwhile, dated Ciara in 2023 and reportedly hooked up earlier in 2026.
“We’ve seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity,” West and Amanda wrote in a joint statement. “It was never our intention to purposely hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.”
Days before the reunion, West insisted on his “Show Me Something” podcast that there was “no overlap” with the end of Kyle and Amanda’s marriage. “I know there’s a thousand different theories on the internet right now but that is one thing that for sure did not happen,” he said “Everyone was single.”
As for Ciara, she claimed that she was blindsided by her costars’ relationship and told Glamour that the situation was a “major mindf***.”
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
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Enjoy this comprehensive guide to the 24 movies released by the beloved animation studio across four decades.
Alicia Keys isn’t holding back when it comes to the music industry’s long-standing power structure.
The 17-time Grammy winner is calling out what she describes as a “good old boys’ network,” urging greater access and opportunity for women, while pushing artists to think beyond the spotlight and take ownership of their work.
As she gears up to appear as a guest mentor on “American Idol” and perform during the upcoming season finale, Keys is making it clear that success in today’s industry isn’t just about talent, but about control.
Keys is speaking candidly about the barriers women still face behind the scenes in music. In a recent interview with The Times, the “Girl on Fire” singer described the industry as a “good old boys network,” noting that while female artists may be highly visible, opportunities remain limited for women working as producers and engineers.
“The music world becomes a good old boy network, and all the incredible women working as engineers and producers are not given an open door,” Keys said. “Women make up 2% of the entire business. I’m a producer, and here we are, doing a bunch of work, killing it, so it’s shocking that the number is so small.”
Rather than just voicing frustration, Keys said the focus now is on creating more opportunities to help shift the imbalance.
Keys Advocates For Artists To Own Their Work
Keys is also encouraging artists to think beyond the creative process and focus on ownership.
While many of her songs have been embraced as feminist anthems, the singer also explained that the messaging was often not deliberate but rather a reflection of her personal journey.
“I didn’t aim to come up with feminist message songs, and most of them were written because I wasn’t feeling that strong, so I had to give myself a pep talk to keep going, but it is a thread through my work,” she said.
For Keys, that same mindset extends into the business side of music, with artists needing to advocate for themselves and take control of their work in order to truly thrive.
Alicia Keys Shares Hard Truths About The Business Side
Keys is keeping her advice for emerging artists firmly rooted in the business realities of the industry.
When asked what up-and-coming talent should focus on, the “No One” singer emphasized the importance of ownership, urging artists to do everything in their power to retain control over their creations and long-term careers.
She noted that navigating the business side can be especially challenging, with many artists left to figure things out on their own.
“No one tells you these things,” Keys said. “You deal with all these executives and lawyers who love to take their percentages and overcharge you, but they never say, ‘How can we ensure you’re here to stay?’”
Keys Set To Join ‘American Idol’ Finale
Keys is adding another major feather to the cap of her already stacked résumé. According to Deadline, the multiple award-winning singer is set to appear on “American Idol” as a guest mentor, where she’ll help guide the top three contestants as they compete for the title.
Keys is also scheduled to perform twice during the three-hour live finale, including a special set marking the anniversary of her 2001 debut album, “Songs in A Minor.” One of the performances will feature the finalists themselves.
Alicia Keys Reflects On 25 Years Of ‘Fallin’’
Speaking earlier this year at the “She Is the Music’s Women Sharing the Spotlight” event, Keys reflected on the 25th anniversary of her breakout hit “Fallin’,” which spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001 and later won Song of the Year at the Grammys.
“I’m not sure how I wrap my head around this whole existence called life,” Keys said, per PEOPLE Magazine. “It’s very crazy and wonderful and exciting and amazing.”
Looking back at her younger self, she admitted she was figuring things out in real time.
“And just thinking back to that girl in me at that time and how she had no idea, none. That she was completely what you call ‘fake it till you make it,’ that’s what she was doing, and she did a damn good job.”
Euphoria has been building up to Cassie and Nate’s chaotic wedding — but did they actually get married?
The Sunday, April 26, episode of the hit HBO series showed Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Nate’s (Jacob Elordi) big day. While the guests were curious about the event, Nate was busy throwing up and Cassie was nearly pushed to the brink with pressure and stress.
Despite delivering their vows without a hitch, things took a turn when a man Nate owed money to approached him during dinner. Some people overheard that Nate was very in debut, which Cassie was learning about for the first time. They managed to mend their issues — after Cassie “accidentally” injured Nate in the eye with a cork from a champagne bottle — but they arrived home to the same man, Naz, waiting to threaten Nate.
Nate didn’t just receive a warning this time. He got beat up before his pinky was cut off — as Cassie had to watch. This was a disastrous start to the rest of their lives, which made sense considering the origin of their love story.
Euphoria has become known for its graphic sex scenes — and the stars haven’t held back about stripping down on camera. “Every scene is like, ‘He sleeps with this person. He does this with this person naked,’” Jacob Elordi said about playing Nate Jacobs during a March 2022 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “On […]
Before the wedding episode, Cassie’s story line received backlash due to her OnlyFans arc. Creator Sam Levinson, meanwhile, hit back at the ongoing criticism.
“[Cassie] has got her dog house and her little dog ears and the nose, and that has its own humor,” Levinson explained to The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published earlier this month. “But what makes the scene is the fact that her housekeeper is the one filming it.”
He continued: “What we wanted to always find is the other layer of absurdity that we’re able to tie into it so that we’re not too inside of her fantasy or illusion. The gag is to jump out, to break the wall.”
Euphoria fans have watched the cast change on and off screen since the series first debuted. Based on the Israeli series of the same name, Euphoria follows troubled high school student Rue (Zendaya) as she struggled to remain sober after rehab. The series also explores topics including mental illness, toxic relationships, sexuality and more. After […]
Levinson also weighed in on how the series had to adapt for season 3.
“We have a motto of: Evolve or die,” he told THR. “We wanted to make sure we were changing things up.”
He added: “We’re seeing them out in the world, in the wider world, and allowing the actors to communicate emotionally through the performance as opposed to in the past, when we did it moreso through camera. We wanted to see them fending for themselves.”
Euphoria airs on HBO Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
After Hallmark star Janel Parrish and estranged husband Chris Long separated, fans have wondered whether she sparked a romance with former Dancing With the Stars pro Sasha Farber.
“She’s still got it @janelparrish 🔥,” Farber wrote via Instagram on April 9, 2026, sharing footage of the pair dancing together on a sidewalk.
Parrish replied, “Thanks for dancing with me as I laughed in your ear very loudly.”
Parrish competed on Dancing With the Stars season 19 with Val Chmerkovskiy in 2014, finishing in third place. Farber, for his part, appeared in the troupe that year.
Actress Janel Parrish is dancing up a storm with Sasha Farber after her split from husband Chris Long. In a clip posted via Farber’s Instagram on Thursday, April 9, the Pretty Little Liars alum, 37, appeared with the Dancing With the Stars pro, 41, as they danced in a parking lot. “She’s still got it @janelparrish […]
Neither Parrish nor Farber addressed their relationship status after their 2026 dance video, which was shared hours before the actress confirmed she was getting divorced.
“Thank you all for the incredibly kind and supportive messages, they’ve truly meant the world,” Parrish wrote via her Instagram Stories on April 10, 2026. “After 10 beautiful years together, including seven years of marriage, Chris and I made the difficult decision to end our marriage.”
She concluded, “There is still so much love and respect between us, and I’m deeply grateful for everything we built together. This chapter of my life, and Chris, will always mean so much to me. Thank you all again for the messages of love and support.”
Farber, for his part, was previously married to DWTS pro Emma Slater from 2018 to 2023.
Keep scrolling for more on Parrish’s rumored connection with Farber:
Sasha Farber Seemingly Soft-Launched Janel Parrish
Sasha Farber appeared to share a pic of Janel Parrish playing piano on April 16, 2026.
“It’s the small things in life,” he wrote via Instagram.
In the pic, Parrish played the keys while glancing at Farber’s pet dog, Ruby. The pro dancer, for his part, was spotted watching from across the room.
Sasha Farber Feels ‘Lucky’
“I’m a very lucky man!!!” Farber wrote via Instagram on April 17, 2026, alongside a selfie.
Parrish “liked” the post.
Sasha Farber is done dancing around all the rumors surrounding his dating life. After fans speculated that the former Dancing With the Stars pro could be dating Kaitlyn Bristowe, Julianne Hough or Francia Raisa, Farber, 41, decided to set the record straight. “First of all, it’s so funny. I’ve known Kaitlyn for so many years,” […]
Sasha Farber’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Peers Question His Relationship Status
After Sasha Farber seemingly snapped the pic of Janel Parrish playing piano in April 2026, he received a flurry of questions about the image’s subject.
“So happy for you bro ❤️,” Gleb Savchenko commented, while Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi joked she was “texting [Farber] right away” for answers.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy added, “Not that little 😂😂😂. Is this a hard launch??”
Sasha Farber Opened Up About Dating 4 Months Earlier
Nearly four months before sparking romance rumors with Janel Parrish, Sasha Farber opened up about the perils of dating.
“I hate dating. But it takes like a sec, you got to meet the person. There’s a lot that goes into when you want to find someone special,” Farber said on the “Casual Chaos” podcast in January 2026, noting that DWTS has a history of showmances turning into real love stories. “[On the show], you’re just thrown in. ‘Let’s go. Hi, nice to meet you. OK, we are going to rub hips. We are going to dip. We are going to do this. I want to get in your face here. You have to really look at me.’”
Sasha Farber and Janel Parrish Pack on the PDA
The pair were photographed together at the Studio City Farmer’s Markets in Los Angeles on April 26, 2026, with Farber seen wrapping his arm around the actress as they strolled stalls.
Additional snaps also showed the pair, both sporting sunglasses, chatting as they held hands.
The Big Bang Theory‘s highly anticipated spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe has officially been picked up — but what is there to know about the show so far?
Warner Bros. Television announced in 2023 that executive producer Chuck Lorre would be creating a new comedy series based on The Big Bang Theory universe. No split or casting details were announced at the time — and the studio has preferred to keep it that way.
The Big Bang Theory, which aired from 2007 to 2019, starred Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch as a group of friends made up of scientists and their significant others.
During its run, the CBS comedy won 10 Emmy Awards and spawned the prequel series, Young Sheldon. Parsons, who served as the executive producer and narrator for the Sheldon-centered prequel, previously discussed the decision to end The Big Bang Theory after more than a decade.
Fans welcomed the cast of The Big Bang Theory into their living rooms for 12 seasons before saying goodbye to the sitcom — and we’re still keeping up with them today. Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper), Kaley Cuoco (Penny Teller), Johnny Galecki (Leonard Hofstadter), Simon Helberg (Howard Wolowitz), Kunal Nayyar (Raj Koothrappali), Mayim Bialik (Amy Farrah Fowler) and Melissa […]
“It’s both as complex and as simple as just feeling innately that it was time,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2019. “It speaks to a lot of things, none of them bad. There is no negative reason to stop doing Big Bang. It felt like we have been able to do this for so many years now, it doesn’t feel like there is anything left on the table. Not that we couldn’t keep doing it, but it feels like we’ve chewed all the meat off this bone.”
Many of the show’s stars have supported the idea of a reunion since The Big Bang Theory came to an end.
“It does still feel like yesterday that we wrapped. I think everyone is kind of trying out their new paths and seeing what their next project is, and I’m excited to see how everyone flourishes,” Cuoco shared with E! News in 2021. “I think in a few years or whenever anyone’s open to it, I definitely will be down for that. It was a life-changing experience for all of us, and it’d be great to do that for the fans, too, because we had such an amazing fan base that stuck with us for so long.”
Meanwhile, Bialik showed her support for CBS‘ decision to end the series when it did.
“The way that I described the show ending was there are a lot of factors that the public doesn’t get to know about, about what goes into the decisions behind why a show doesn’t continue,” she exclusively told Us Weekly in 2021. “I think, as someone who was grateful to work alongside Jim and eager to see the rest of what all of our lives held for us, I think there was a general feeling like it was time for us to move into something different.”
Bialik praised the legacy that The Big Bang Theory left behind.
Just the beginning! From The Vampire Diaries to The Bachelor, many TV shows have found a continuation for their stories in the form of a spinoff show. For a hit show like Beverly Hills, 90210, the next chapter was a reboot that followed the original characters — but had a special twist. The original show […]
“I would like our show to be remembered as a show that really demonstrated how the other half lives or how most of us live, which is kind of on the outside in some way. I think everyone has a little bit of [an] outsider in them,” she continued. “And I know that Big Bang Theory is often credited with kind of making nerd chic a thing. But for those of us who kind of have those kinds of friends and revolve in those kinds of circles, I guess it just kind of is what it always has been for us. It’s just the way to think and live and play in many cases.”
Keep scrolling for everything to know about The Big Bang Theory sequel:
When Does ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Spinoff Premiere?
Mayim Bialik, Brian Posehn and Jim Parsons on ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Warner Bros.
The show was in development, which means it was waiting for Warner Bros. Television to green light it into a series after seeing the pilot. The spinoff will air on Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service, HBO Max, after it was officially picked up in July 2025.
“I wanted to do something radical that would take me out of my comfort zone,” Lorre said in a statement. “Something the characters on The Big Bang Theory would have loved, hated, and argued about.”
Who Stars in the Spinoff Series?
Kevin Sussman and Jim Parsons on ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Warner Bros.
Brian Posehn, Lauren Lapkus and Kevin Sussman have been tapped to headline the show. They will all reprise their roles from the original series with Posehn returning as a geologist at Caltech who was interested in dating Amy. Sussman, meanwhile, played Stuart a.k.a the owner of a comic book store that Sheldon and his friends often visited on the show. Stuart went on to find love with Denise (Lapkus) and the couple remained together once The Big Bang Theory came to an end.
The Big Bang Theory, which ran for 12 seasons, followed the daily adventures of a group of scientists and their significant others until the show’s conclusion in May 2019. The show, which premiered in September 2007, starred Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch. While filming the […]
What Is the Show About?
Lauren Lapkus on ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Warner Bros.
Lorre, who created The Big Bang Theory, is attached as an executive producer on the project alongside Bill Prady, who also worked on the OG show.
According to the synopsis, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe “follows comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon. Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke. Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from The Big Bang Theory. As the title implies, things don’t go well.”
Are There More Shows in ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Universe?
The spinoff is the fourth installment in The Big Bang Theory franchise. In addition to the original, CBS picked up a prequel about Sheldon titled Young Sheldon, which ran for seven seasons. Young Sheldon spawned its own sequel — Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage — about Sheldon’s older brother, Georgie (Montana Jordan), and his wife, Mandy (Emily Osment).
Those rascally Minions are invading theaters once more this summer. However, that’s not the only place you’ll be finding the ubiquitous yellow hench-creatures; they’re also coming to a store near you. Collider is proud to present an exclusive first look at the Minions & Monsters merchandise that’s headed your way from Moose Toys this spring.
Parents beware: the signature item in the line is the Fart Blaster Pro ($29.99 USD), which is exactly what it sounds like. It blasts “fog rings” up to six feet with both sound and stink. Odors include “Yum Yum Bubble Gum,” “Garbage Gusher,” and “Nacho Nasty,” and refill packs ($9.99 for a four-pack) are available. For those with more delicate constitutions, the Mini Fart Blaster ($9.99) features pocket-sized sound effects, but no odor. Other offerings include Cast and Crew minifigures ($3.99) of all your favorite Minions; they’re blind-packed in individual boxes, so you’ll want to hunt them all down, including two chase figures that glow in the dark.
To go with the movie’s film-making theme, Moose Toys is also introducing miniature Sound Stage playsets ($9.99); they include minifigures and props, and can connect with each other and the larger Studio Lot ($24.99) to form a whole studio complex. And don’t forget the “Monsters” half of the title, either: in the new Quest for Monsters set ($24.99), you can complete a secret ritual and reveal a hidden monster. Finally, stretchy/goopy/squishy versions of James the Minion and Cthulhu-like monster Goomi will be available in the Goo Jit Zu line ($13.99 each). All this and more will hit store shelves this spring.
What Do We Know About ‘Minions & Monsters’?
Taking place before both Minions and Minions: The Rise of Gru, Minions & Monsters features the titular creatures (all voiced by Pierre Coffin) attempting to make a monster movie in the early days of Hollywood. It features the voices of Trey Parker, Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch, Allison Janney, Bobby Moynihan, Phil LaMarr, Christoph Waltz, and Jeff Bridges. Coffin, the helmer of the first three Despicable Me movies and the first Minions, will direct, and also co-wrote the script with Brian Lynch (Puss in Boots).
The Despicable Me/Minions franchise has grossed over $12 billion dollars since launching with Despicable Me in 2010. It centers around the mad scientist Gru (Steve Carell), who gradually becomes a family man and a reluctant hero over the course of the series: the Minions spin-offs center around the Minions, a race of Twinkie-shaped creatures that are instinctively driven to serve villainy, with Gru as their latest master.
Minions & Monsters will hit theaters on July 1. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
- Release Date
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July 1, 2026
- Writers
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Brian Lynch
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