Mike “The Miz” Mizanin has faced John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania, starred in movies, and spent years performing under the bright lights of WWE. However, his next challenge comes with a different kind of pressure and a staggering number of hot dogs. On Saturday, August 1, the Ohio native will team up with Smirnoff Ice in Put-in-Bay to attempt two Guinness World Records: the Largest Display of Hot Dogs and the Largest Hot Dog Party.

Although the concept may sound like a lighthearted way to celebrate summer, The Miz revealed in an exclusive interview with The Blast that there are strict rules behind the attempt. If even one participant fails to follow the instructions, it could jeopardize the entire record-breaking event.

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When asked how he was handling the pressure of attempting two records in a single day, The Miz pointed to his lengthy WWE résumé as proof that he knows how to perform when the stakes are high.

“Well, I’m a pressure player. That’s what I like. I thrive on pressure,” he told The Blast. “I beat John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 27 and retained the WWE Championship. So in the lights of the brightest, that’s when I step up to the plate.”

The WWE Superstar will serve as the host of the event, but his responsibilities will go beyond keeping hundreds of attendees entertained. He will also have to make sure everyone understands and follows the requirements necessary for Guinness World Records to recognize both attempts.

“It’s basically me being the host that I can be, Smirnoff Ice being the product that it is, and basically putting on a party of a lifetime, but not only that, everyone needs to follow directions,” The Miz explained. “So I’m gonna make sure that everyone is following the directions, so we can break two records.”

He added very confidently, “If everyone doesn’t come together as a cohesive team, this will not happen, but we’re not talking about that because this is gonna happen.”

The Hot Dog Display Comes With A Surprising Rule

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The first goal is to create the World’s Largest Display of Hot Dogs, which The Miz was told will be larger than an NFL logo. However, simply arranging a massive number of hot dogs will not be enough to secure the title. According to The Miz, every hot dog must have a condiment, and separate participants will be responsible for adding those toppings.

“Now, it’s weird, because you have to have a condiment on there, and each hot dog will have a different condiment, and a different person has to put that on there,” he shared. “So there’s going to be a lot of direction, a lot of people.”

Once the display is completed and officially recognized, the event will immediately transition into the attempt to hold the world’s Largest Hot Dog Party. “And then right after we break the record for World’s Largest Hot Dog Display, we’re going right into the World’s Largest Hot Dog Party, and it is going to be big,” The Miz declared. “It’s gonna be gigantic.”

One Participant Could Jeopardize The Entire Attempt

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The Miz emphasized that Guinness World Records does not simply hand out titles to anyone who gathers enough people and supplies. The organizers held an hour-long meeting ahead of the event to review the requirements and make sure every detail was accounted for.

While The Miz did not want to introduce any negativity, he acknowledged that one person failing to complete their assigned role correctly could affect everyone involved. “There’s a lot of rules in the Guinness Book of World Records. They don’t just give it to everybody,” he told The Blast. “You don’t just throw something together, and it happens.”

“I’m not going to put negativity out there, but if someone doesn’t do what they need to do, they can ruin it for the entire city,” he continued. “And for the entire state of Ohio. And I’m not going to let that happen as host.”

The Miz admitted that the amount of planning behind the event may surprise those who initially viewed it as nothing more than a giant hot dog party. “It sounds like a joke. It sounds funny, but it’s a lot of work. It’s for real,” he said. “We’re gonna break two records, and it’s gonna be the best time ever.”

Returning To Ohio Makes The Event Personal For The Miz

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Beyond the possibility of adding two Guinness World Records to his list of achievements, the event holds personal significance for The Miz because it brings him back to his home state. He grew up visiting the Put-in-Bay and Sandusky areas with his family, making his return especially nostalgic.

“As soon as they said Cleveland, Put-in-Bay, I instantly remembered memories, my family and I, being at the beach, you know, going in that area of Sandusky where you’d go to Cedar Point,” he shared. “It just brought back such fond memories.”

For The Miz, returning to a place tied to his childhood while attempting something unprecedented makes the occasion different from many of the other partnerships he has taken on throughout his career. “When you can go home, to the Cleveland area and go to Put-in-Bay, where I used to go as a kid with my family and break a couple world records. It feels warm in my heart,” he said. “Like I’m giddy about it. I’m excited about it, and I can’t wait to do it.”

His friends have already been reaching out about participating. “My friends are already texting me, going, ‘Hey, we’re doing this. It’s happening,’” The Miz revealed. “And I go, guys, I know. Not every day you get to break two world records in one day.”

The Miz Has One Rule For His Own Hot Dog

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The Miz may be willing to oversee hundreds of uniquely topped hot dogs, but his personal order is far less complicated. He named ketchup and mustard as his go-to combination, with relish or cheese occasionally making the cut.

Chili, however, is not welcome anywhere near his hot dog. “Some people like chili. I’m not that guy,” he admitted. “I’m not a chili on my hot dog type of person. It gets too sloppy. Too messy. Not for me.” He is not particularly interested in onions, either, joking that he does not want the bad breath following him around for the rest of the day.

Whether every topping involved in the display meets The Miz’s personal approval will not matter nearly as much as every participant following the official directions. With the supplies secured, hundreds of people registering, and extensive preparations underway, the WWE Superstar is confident Ohio will end the day with two new records.

“With Smirnoff Ice’s help, my help, my friends from Cleveland’s help, and everybody that’s gonna be a part of this event at Put-in-Bay,” he said, “Oh, man, it’s gonna be something special. It’s gonna be something to watch.”

Chicago Fire is going through some cast changes — which means not everyone is returning for season 15.

The One Chicago franchise has been known for making headlines over the years as cast members often come and go across all three shows: Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. Before Chicago Fire returned for season 15, multiple outlets confirmed that Joe Miñoso was leaving the hit NBC series.

Off screen, showrunner Andrea Newman exited the show after more than a decade.

Newman, who worked on Chicago Fire for its entire 14-season run, confirmed her departure in April, with coexecutive producer Victor Teran taking over the role. Newman joined Chicago Fire after the pilot as coexecutive producer before being promoted to executive producer. She was then named coshowrunner before becoming the sole showrunner in 2023.

“Working at Chicago Fire, with the absolute best cast and crew in the business, has been the highlight of my career,” Newman said in a statement. “Like so many others, I was inspired to get into TV writing because of Dick [Wolf], so what a thrill it’s been to work with him and the amazing Wolf team of Peter Jankowski, Rebecca McGill and Anastasia Puglisi. I’m so grateful to them, Derek Haas and the NBC and Universal execs who have been so supportive of the show all along the way. After 14 years, you really do become a family and working with this group will always feel like home.”

Jankowski, meanwhile, released a separate statement, which read, “We’re sad to say goodbye to Andrea. She’s been at the center of the heart and soul of Chicago Fire since the beginning, and the show thrived under her watch. We’re grateful for her commitment to the development of the next generation and know the show will be in great hands with Victor taking the reins.”

Keep scrolling to see who is — and isn’t — returning in season 15 of Chicago Fire:

Taylor Kinney

While not everyone will remain on Chicago Fire, there is no show without Kinney’s character, Kelly Severide.

David Eigenberg

Eigenberg is expected to return as Herrmann in season 15.

Christian Stolte

The expectation for now is that Stolte returns as Mouch.

Joe Miñoso

Miñoso played firefighter Joe Cruz since Chicago Fire premiered in 2012. According to reports, the actor is expected to appear in several episodes during season 15 before his exit.

Miranda Rae Mayo

Since Mayo has played Stella on Chicago Fire since 2016, the expectation is that she sticks around despite the possible shakeups behind the scenes.

Hanako Greensmith

Greensmith is expected to remain on the show as Violet.

Related: Most Shocking TV Exits of 2026: From ‘Grey‘s Anatomy‘ to ‘Virgin River‘

It is never easy to unexpectedly say goodbye to your favorite characters — and 2026 has featured an influx of shocking departures on our TV screens from Grey’s Anatomy to Virgin River. Virgin River fans were surprised when showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirmed multiple characters were written off the show after season 7. Marco Grazzini addressed […]

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Jocelyn Hudon

The assumption is that Hudon will be back as Lizzie again.

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Da’Vinchi

Da’Vinchi joined the next season as Marcus Burke, according to Deadline. Da’Vinchi will portray a new firefighter candidate who is described as “roguish and funny with a wry sense of humor, and also a little defiant.”

Dermot Mulroney

Mulroney was missing for several episodes in season 14 when he was written off the show with a story line that required him to be off screen. Mulroney appeared on Chicago Fire as Dom Pascal until Rob Morgan took over his position at Firehouse 51. Mulroney returned in the May 2026 finale after his future in the franchise seemed unclear.

He is expected to return in season 15 to wrap up his story line.

Ariana Grande has got fans debating the inspiration behind her latest song!

The sensational singer/actress sent fans into a frenzy after releasing “Bad Thing (Bunny Hop)” on Friday, July 31, as part of her new album, “Petal.”

The steamy lyrics had many believing Ariana Grande wrote the song for Ricky Alvarez, her ex-turned-current boyfriend. The former couple reunited following the end of the entertainer’s romance with Ethan Slater.

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The song in question made waves after its Friday release, with the official visualizer and lyrics dropping on YouTube. The track featured what appeared to be Grande’s confessions about a lover she’s head over heels for, with some of the words hinting at Alvarez.

The song’s second verse read: “You know you make a real good boyfriend. In my dreams, and in real life. Meet you by the staircase where we fell in love, let’s do it twice.” There were also lyrics about Grande wasting time with other men while her lover was “a good boy through all of this noise.”

The catchy chorus saw Grande asking if the man has “been this fine the whole damn time,” with another verse noting their chemistry “never used to be like this.” The love confession sent fans spiraling on X, with many theorizing she wrote the song for Alvarez, as it seemingly depicted their situation.

Fans Speculate The Inspiration Behind The Singer’s ‘Bunny Hop’ Title

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Although Grande’s new song is titled “Bad Thing (Bunny Hop),” the words bunny hop did not appear in the lyrics. Some fans speculated the track’s title was a hard launch of the singer’s rekindled romance with Alvarez, with one X user writing:

“Guys, she was dating Ricky during the time she was cosplaying as a f-cking playboy bunny, like come on.”

The fan’s comment referenced Grande’s 2016 “Dangerous Woman” album cover art, where she posed in a black latex rabbit mask. Another X user agreed with the theory, claiming the singer added “Bunny Hop” to the song’s title to reference her relationship with Alvarez during her “Dangerous Woman” era.

The Song’s Lyrics Have Fans Screaming Ricky Alvarez

The theories continued, with more fans arguing that the song’s lyrics pointed to Alvarez. An X user pointed out that Grande mentioned the word “twice” and “a staircase” where they fell in love. “It takes me back to the honeymoon tour when he was always there for her by the stage staircase,” they wrote.

A fellow supporter noted the song was about Alvarez and his intimate relationship with the “Sam & Cat” alum. Someone else claimed the lyrics showcased Grande’s regret of not choosing the dancer sooner. When an X user argued the song wasn’t about Alvarez, a fan disagreed, stating:

“In the lyrics she talks about ‘trying a second time.’ And bunny hop is that expression for someone who jumps from one relationship to another. So it makes sense that it’s for Ricky.”

The Entertainer’s Ex Was Blindsided By Her New Relationship

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Days before Grande dropped her new song, The Blast reported that her rekindled romance with Alvarez was not something her ex expected. The duo’s relationship began trending months after her separation from her “Wicked” co-star, Ethan Slater, was announced.

An insider claimed Slater learned of their rekindled relationship through mutual friends, while another source noted the couple’s romance was not a rebound. They alleged that Grande and Alvarez had connected during her relationship with Slater, but they never crossed the line.

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The source explained that the singer began connecting more with Alvarez as her romance with Slater ended, rekindling their friendship before it became something intimate. Another source claimed the dancer was grateful for a second chance and was “very happy being back in her life.

Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez’s Relationship Timeline

Grande and Alvarez reportedly first crossed paths in 2014 when the latter joined the entertainer’s backup dancers. They went from performing together at the Radio Disney Music Awards to hitting the road for Grande’s 2015 Honeymoon Tour.

Cosmopolitan reported that they first sparked dating rumors in June 2015 when they shared a kiss onstage during a performance at New York City Pride. The following month, she and Alvarez sparked controversy for the doughnut-licking incident.

In 2016, they attended The Creators Party, presented by Spotify, as a couple, with Grande opening up about their romance in an interview months later. However, their relationship did not survive the rest of the year as they broke up in July.

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Did Ariana Grande write “Bad Thing (Bunny Hop)” for Ricky Alvarez?

John Cusack became a bona fide movie star as a teen, but over the years he has opted to live a quieter life.

Cusack made his film debut in 1983’s Class. One year later, he appeared in Sixteen Candles alongside Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling and Anthony Michael Hall. His performance led to him starring in Better Off Dead, The Sure Thing and Say Anything.

While Cusack cemented himself as a teen idol in the ‘80s, the actor started to expand his horizons. He pursued roles in various genres including the crime thriller Grifters, black comedy Grosse Pointe Blank, romantic comedy Serendipity and more.

Cusack has appeared in fewer projects in recent years. His last film credit is for the film Fog of War, which was released in 2025. The following year, Cusack explained why he stepped away from acting during a rare appearance at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2026.

Related: ‘80s Stars: Where Are They Now?

While some of today’s biggest A-listers got their start in the ’80s, many of their famous contemporaries in the “Me” decade live quieter, more low-profile lives today. From Tom Cruise, who bravely donned those tighty whities in Risky Business, to the boys and girls of the Brat Pack, click through to see which stars got their big breaks in the 1980s — and see where they ended up!

“I wanted to tell a story, but I didn’t want to negotiate telling a story,” he said while explaining his graphic novel Momo. “When you ask somebody to put $20 or $30 million into a bank account [to finance a film], they want to have an opinion and they’re afraid and all that stuff.”

Keep scrolling to see what Cusack has been up to since stepping out of the spotlight:

John Cusack Makes Rare Appearances at Screenings of His Past Films

Every once in a blue moon, Cusack will make an appearance at a screening for one of his previous movies and do a Q&A for fans. In January 2026, the actor showed up for a showing of Serendipity at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall, Pennsylvania, as well as a screening for Say Anything in El Cajon, California. More recently, he attended a screening for Grosse Pointe Blank in Chicago back in June 2026.

John Cusack Wrote a Graphic Novel

During Comic Con 2026, Cusack proudly shared that he wrote a graphic novel titled Momo.

“I got this beautiful, wonderful artist, Ignacio [Noé], to do the illustrations,” he said at the time, per Variety. “Nobody edited anything I wrote or what he drew, and so, it’s really a piece of work done by two people. … It was just me and Ignacio’s story, and that doesn’t happen today. It’s an anti-algorithm thing, like, there’s no committee and there’s no computer up in Seattle that’s poll-testing it.”

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John Cusack Is a Political Activist

Cusack identifies as a Democratic Socialist. He has been candid about being anti-war and speaking out against President Donald Trump. On his Instagram page, Cusack frequently collaborates with the Freedom of the Press Foundation to advocate for spreading the truth.

John Cusack Is Selective About His Projects

The actor candidly shared at a 2025 screening for Say Anything that he doesn’t enjoy how the movie industry has prioritized making sequels or reboots.

“I was lucky that I never had the desire, or no one asked me to do any sequels. There’s one that I think would be interesting to do, which would be 1408,” Cusack quipped, per People. “Just because … I think today, you know, most movies suck. There’s still the horror psychological, you know, that Rod Serling kinda stuff. That’s still pretty pure. If you can pull off something like that, it’s fun.”

Since DeenTheGreat’s arrest in May, the streamer and boxer hasn’t missed a beat with his content or boxing journey. From releasing new music on YouTube with Adrien Broner to participating in the 45-Day Locked-In-Thon, he’s remained active despite his ongoing legal case. Now, there’s a major update as Deen faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted in connection with an alleged yacht incident in Miami. His lawyer is now speaking out on the latest developments.

RELATED: Streamer DeenTheGreat’s Arrested In Miami On Attempted Robbery Charge (MUGSHOT)

Here’s What The Court Documents Allege

As previously reported, court documents obtained by TMZ allege the charges stem from a May 27 yacht incident in Miami. Prosecutors claim DeenTheGreat, whose legal name is Nurideen Shabazz, became involved in a physical altercation with a woman aboard the yacht.

According to the alleged victim, Destiny Aleman, Deen became upset after other men tried talking to her aboard the yacht. She claimed Deen grabbed her forearm while she was recording the interaction, leaving a minor scratch before allegedly taking her phone.

The yacht owner reportedly turned over security footage to police, which authorities say showed Deen allegedly grabbing Aleman multiple times. Police were reportedly waiting at the dock when the yacht returned, and authorities say Deen’s account did not match the footage.

If convicted of the felony robbery charge, Deen could face up to 15 years in prison under Florida law. The charges remain allegations, and no conviction has been reported.

DeenTheGreat’s Attorney Addresses The Charges

DeenTheGreat’s lawyer, Richard L. Cooper, is speaking out after the streamer faces up to 15 years in prison following felony robbery and misdemeanor battery charges in Miami. Cooper says he believes the case will be dismissed and expects it to be resolved soon.

In a statement to TMZ, Cooper said, “On May 27th Deen was arrested and charged with a 2nd degree felony which carries a maximum of 15 years in a Florida prison. This is nothing new. However, we still anticipate that this case will be dismissed by the prosecutors in short order. We look forward to resolving the case next week.”

DeenTheGreat Reacts Amid The Latest Update In His Case

When the news first surfaced, DeenTheGreat appeared  upset during a live.Many supporters flooded his comment section on Kick.. While responding to reports about the case, he shared that he was in contact with his lawyer.

Moments later, after noticing an update to the report, he said, “TMZ weird asf for that. But they just updated it tho, we good. Cuh Free B***tch. 1st it was Free Cuh, now it’s Cuh Free.” He also took to X account writing, “Know the facts #CuhhFree”

Know the facts 🧢☝🏾 #CuhhFree https://t.co/OaHdt7lhjp pic.twitter.com/BfhGT3Pofe

— DeenTheGreat (@DeenTheGreat) July 30, 2026

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RELATED: Adrien Broner Speaks Out After Reportedly Being Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Battery

Bunnie Xo is embracing a fresh start following her divorce from Jelly Roll, throwing herself into new career opportunities and personal projects.

As she explores television ventures, returns to education, and focuses on her personal growth, the podcast host has been open about life after the split from the country singer.

Despite ending their nearly decade-long marriage, Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll have maintained a close friendship, insisting there was no betrayal involved in their breakup.

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Bunnie Xo is embracing a fresh start following her divorce from country star Jelly Roll, with new projects, career opportunities and personal goals reportedly keeping her busier than ever.

According to a source who spoke with People Magazine, the “Dumb Blonde” podcast host has been spending time in Los Angeles meeting with television producers, agents and production companies as she explores new opportunities in the entertainment industry.

The insider claimed Bunnie is actively “taking a ton of meetings. She’s meeting with agents, TV agents, and production companies. So she’s going full-blown Hollywood.”

They described her as highly motivated and determined to build the next phase of her career, suggesting she has fully immersed herself in new business opportunities since the end of her marriage.

Bunnie, whose real name is Alisa DeFord, officially finalized her divorce from Jelly Roll earlier this month after the singer filed to end their marriage in May. The former couple had been together for nearly a decade.

The Influencer Teases Reality Show and Opens Up About Her ‘Hot Girl Summer’

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Before the divorce was finalized, Bunnie hinted on her podcast that several major projects were already in development.

Among them was a potential reality television series centered on a shared living compound she plans to create with a close-knit group of friends.

“We’ve got big things happening,” she said at the time, teasing that cameras could eventually follow the group’s move and adjustment to their unconventional living arrangement.

In recent weeks, Bunnie has also shared updates about her personal life with followers, including undergoing a breast augmentation procedure and purchasing a new Rolls-Royce.

Bunnie Xo Says There’s An ‘Ice Box’ Where Her ‘Heart Used To Be’

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During a July episode of her podcast, Bunnie spoke candidly about life after the split, joking that she was enjoying a “hot girl summer.”

While she confirmed she is not currently in a relationship, she revealed she shared a kiss with reality star Dylan Wolf during Fourth of July celebrations.

“So what, I got kissed under the f-cking fireworks? I hope I get kissed under f-cking 10 more fireworks shows,” she said.

“But I’m not dating anybody,” Bunnie continued. “I do not want to be with anybody. There’s an ice box where my heart used to be. That sh-t is chained up, trust me.”

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Bunnie has since revealed plans to return to school through Arizona State University, where she intends to pursue a double major in fields she has not yet publicly disclosed.

“I have the mental capacity to want to learn right now, so I’m going to do that,” she said. “Going back to college for me is a huge deal.”

Her social media activity has reflected that same outlook. During a recent trip to Los Angeles, she shared photos and videos of outings with friends, later joking on TikTok that she had entered her “healing era” while singing along to Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me.”

Despite the end of their marriage, both Bunnie and Jelly Roll have maintained that there is no animosity between them.

A source previously told People that neither party wanted a prolonged legal battle and that they approached the divorce with mutual respect.

“They both wanted to handle the divorce with respect for one another,” the source said. “[Jelly is] a very generous person by nature and wanted to make sure the divorce was handled fairly and respectfully.”

Although they have gone their separate ways, both have indicated they remain on good terms as they move forward with their lives.

Bunnie Xo Says Jelly Roll Remains Her Best Friend Despite Divorce

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Despite ending their marriage, the former couple has continued to emphasize that they remain close and are committed to maintaining a positive relationship moving forward.

Addressing the split on an episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Bunnie revealed that she and Jelly Roll still plan to expand their family together through surrogacy. “We’re going to co-parent together. J is my best friend. Like, this isn’t what you guys think this is,” Bunnie said.

Bunnie also pushed back against speculation surrounding the breakup, insisting that infidelity played no role in their decision to part ways. “Nobody cheated on the other person,” she explained. “It’s literally just we served our purpose for each other.”

She went on to speak candidly about the emotional toll of their fertility journey, revealing that she experienced multiple embryo losses while trying to conceive during the marriage. “It wrecked me emotionally, spiritually, physically.”

With Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey now in theaters, earning enthusiastic reactions and making waves at the box office, audiences are once again embracing Homer’s timeless epic. But Nolan’s film isn’t the only modern story to explore the difficult journey home after war. FX series The Old Man hits on classics, both in film and literature, to impress upon viewers a memorable story that far outshines the action/adventure show’s first impression.

Show creator Jonathan Steinberg (Black Sails) is no stranger to creating memorable adaptations, and The Old Man comes across as better than the novel. The series converses with classical stories like Homer’s Odyssey and classic films like Apocalypse Now to create an entry in a long list of epics that deal with a personal journey home after wandering deep into unfamiliar territory. The show might initially appear to be another action series for jingoists who want to see someone who killed Soviets in a past life get his due. Still, the series stands out in its genre by resonating with a universal longing to return home.

Dan Chase’s Journey Mirrors Homer’s ‘Odyssey’

The show opens with Dan Chase, played by Jeff Bridges, living a quaint life in upstate New York with two dogs. Of course, we soon learn that he is living off the grid, forced into hiding after crossing the wrong people during the Soviet-Afghan War. He has lost his wife to Huntington’s, and he has rarely seen his daughter. His situation is akin to being stranded, much like the hero Odysseus from The Odyssey on Calypso’s island. Both stories open with a character who found returning from war was a difficult, if not impossible, task.

If you are unfamiliar, Odysseus is saved by some kindness from Zeus, who practically forces Calypso to free him. Still, he is waylaid by Poseidon as soon as he sets sail from the island, with a storm that blows him off his expected path home. Similarly, we see Chase get unstranded. He starts reconnecting with his daughter over the phone. He also goes to the doctor to take precautionary steps to prevent mental decline. Still, he is brutally reminded that he has not yet come back from war, at least not fully, when an assassin breaks into his home, forcing him to begin the long journey back to a semblance of a life he can call home.

With The Old Man, we get to see an epic unfold before our eyes and see Chase’s return home from Afghanistan through flashbacks. This evokes The Odyssey again, which largely comprises Odysseus’ narrative of how he got from Troy to Calypso’s island and the story of his final return by way of the Phaeacians. Chase’s stopover with Zoe McDonald is close in shape to Odysseus’ stop with the Phaeacians. Initially, Chase hides his true identity from Zoe, and she takes her to him and offers help. When she eventually learns his true identity, like Alcinous to Odysseus, she still wants to help him. This episode also serves the dual purpose of showing what it is Chase longs for by giving him a fleeting moment of a stable, suburban lifestyle.

You also learn that Chase’s daughter, Emily, is secretly FBI Agent Angela Adams (Alia Shawkat), one of the agents tasked with tracking down Chase. Firmly implanting her with the people who thought her father was dead and are now plotting his demise places Emily/Adams parallel to Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, who must thwart the suitors who have taken over his father’s home.

‘The Old Man’ Season 2 Deepens Its Story About Homecoming

Image via FX

Season 2 expands the series’ central journey by taking Chase and Harold Harper directly into Afghanistan as they search for Emily, whose complicated identity becomes even more central to the story. While the first season focuses on Chase being pulled out of hiding and forced to reckon with his past, the second and final season confronts him with the people, relationships, and consequences he left behind.

The journey home is no longer just about Chase finding safety or returning to the life he once knew. Like Odysseus, Chase discovers that reaching home does not necessarily mean his wandering is over. Across its completed two-season run, The Old Man continually asks whether someone shaped by war can ever truly return to the person they were before it.

‘The Old Man’ Also Draws From ‘Apocalypse Now’

The Old Man also has some similarities with the film classic Apocalypse Now, itself an Odyssean journey. In Apocalypse Now‘s opening, we see Martin Sheen‘s character of Captain Willard struggling with flashbacks and hallucinations in his hotel bedroom. We get similar insight into Dan Chase. The Old Man opens with scenes of Chase struggling to sleep, grappling with hallucinatory visions of his dead wife. Both scenes evoke a lost feeling. Both Willard and Chase know that they are not where they want to be in life, but neither knows if returning from war is even possible.

One telling moment in Apocalypse Now comes as Willard is thinking about his crew’s longing for home, and he states, “Trouble is, I’d been back there, and I knew that it just didn’t exist anymore.” Just like Willard longs for the jungle, it seems that Chase cannot put his past behind him. He still keeps two highly trained dogs and a cache of arms with him in his idyllic, upstate New York life. He cannot imagine going back to a situation that resembles his life before getting involved in the Soviet-Afghan War.

Through flashbacks, we also see that Chase served as a Colonel Kurtz-type character, portrayed by Marlon Brando. Colonel Kurtz was the man Captain Willard is tasked with assassinating for having gone rogue during the war to fight the Viet Cong with his cadre of warriors. Chase apparently also took a path of his choosing during the Soviet-Afghan War, choosing to back a militant rebel leader and funnel intelligence assets his way in the name of killing Soviet soldiers.

It is almost an alternate ending where Kurtz survives well into adulthood with Willard, his assassin, lurking behind closed doors. In this way, FBI Agent Harold Harper (John Lithgow), who was the Chief of Station during the war and is tasked with hunting down Chase, serves as a Captain Willard-type character. Just as Willard doubts whether there is any sense in killing Kurtz, Harold is unsure that his orders surrounding Chase during the war were just. As the two characters in Apocalypse Now serve as mirrors to one another, so do The Old Man‘s Agent Harper and Dan Chase.

‘The Old Man’ Is a Modern Epic Worth Revisiting

The way The Old Man delves into the depths of the incitement to journey and the universal aching for home sets it apart from other entries in the retired-veteran-that-still-kicks-butt genre. This television series transformed a decent novel with catchy characteristics into a wonderful piece of television. Across its two seasons, The Old Man created an entertaining, sometimes pulpy epic that used espionage and action to explore the lasting consequences of war. Now that Nolan’s The Odyssey has brought Homer’s story back to theaters, The Old Man deserves to be revisited as another ambitious adaptation of the themes that have made the ancient epic endure: war, wandering, family, and the painful search for home.