Related: Spencer Pratt Claps Back at L.A. Mayoral Race Opponent Over Divisive Ad
Advertisement
Spencer Pratt released a fiery response to questions over his political loyalties ahead of the Los Angeles mayoral election primary.
“Everyone is trying to claim me for their tribe. There’s no R next to my name, there’s no D next to my name,” Pratt, 42, insisted via X on Saturday, May 23. “I’m not part of a political party, because I hate politicians. I’m just Spencer, husband to Heidi [Montag], father to Ryker and Gunner, and I’m a pissed off Angeleno who loves my city and is fed up with what corrupt politicians have done to her.”
Pratt has been registered as a Republican since 2020 but is technically running for Los Angeles mayor as an independent community advocate.
Earlier this month, Pratt was asked by CNN’s Elex Michaelson why he has aligned with the GOP in recent years.
“When I was a hated reality star, I got so many death threats. I had so much security and police and what did they tell me to do? Get a gun,” he answered. “L.A. was dangerous so I got a gun. My wife needed a gun.”
Pratt explained that he needed a Concealed Carry Weapon license to own a gun and that “the only people that supported [those licenses] was the Republicans.”
“That was what I aligned with. My safety, my family’s personal safety,” he insisted. “I know people don’t like guns but when people are threatening your life and your own security tells you you need to have home protection. … Once you feel fear and it’s real, you want to protect your family.”

Spencer Pratt in June 2019. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
His two primary mayoral election opponents — L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman — have repeatedly described Pratt as a “MAGA Republican” in campaign attack ads.
President Donald Trump also counted Pratt among his supporters during a recent press conference at the White House.
“I’d like to see him do well. He’s a character,” Trump, 79, told reporters on May 20. “I assume he probably supports me.”
The president added, “I heard he’s a big MAGA person. He’s doing well.”
Pratt has received public backing from numerous notable celebrities, including Meghan McCain, Erika Kirk, Kristin Cavallari and Jax Taylor, among others. He has also faced criticism for his inexperience in the political arena, with The Price Is Right host Drew Carey recently suggesting Pratt is not qualified for office.
“Anyone who votes for, or endorses Spencer Prattfall for Mayor of LA needs to get their head out of their ass,” Carey, 68, wrote via Threads on Friday, May 22. “I understand being angry/unsatisfied, but at least get behind someone competent and not some serial scammer without a soul or moral compass.”
The game show host added, “F*** this guy already.”
Per Newsweek’s election tracker, Pratt still trails Bass, 72, in most recent polls leading up to the mayoral primary.
A primary election will be held in Los Angeles on June 2. If no single candidate receives a majority of the vote, the top two — regardless of political party — will advance to a runoff election on November 3.
The White House shooting suspect allegedly claimed he was Jesus Christ in a police run-in months before he was killed in a skirmish with the Secret Service.
CNN identified the suspected shooter as 21-year-old Nasire Best, reporting that he had a series of documented mental health issues. Best was allegedly once arrested while claiming “he was Jesus Christ” and was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital on another occasion for obstructing a vehicle entry near the White House in July 2025.
“I’m actually the son of God,” he allegedly wrote in one social media post.
The outlet reported that Best previously threatened the life of President Donald Trump and allegedly had multiple encounters with police near the White House in the past.
An affidavit from 2025 indicated that Best was “known to the Secret Service” for “walking around the White House complex inquiring how to gain access at various entry points,” per CNN.
Us Weekly reached out to the Secret Service for comment.
Gunfire erupted near a Secret Service checkpoint outside the White House at around 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, with a bystander being struck in the crossfire and hospitalized in critical condition. No Secret Service agents were injured in the crossfire.
“Shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday, an individual in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing,” Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi told Us on Saturday. “Secret Service Police returned fire, striking the suspect who was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. During the shooting, one bystander was also struck by gunfire.”

Emergency and police vehicles are seen near the White House after a shooting. Getty Images/Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP
His statement went on, “No injuries were sustained by officers. The President was in the White House during the incident, however no protectees or operations were impacted. The incident remains under investigation and additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
Several reporters were on the premises of the White House when shots broke out. They were rushed from the Pebble Beach media location into the White House briefing room and instructed to shelter in place for around 40 minutes.
“I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots,” ABC News White House correspondent Selina Wang tweeted at the time. “It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now.”
This latest Washington D.C. shooting incident occurred less than one month after gunshots rang out in the lobby of the Washington Hilton at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, as President Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were in attendance. The Trumps and other officials were evacuated from the Hilton as the violence unfolded.
A Secret Service agent was struck in his protective vest and hospitalized. Shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen was arrested and later charged with attempting to assassinate the president, interstate transportation of weapons and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime, to which he pleaded not guilty earlier this month.
2025 was something of a quiet year in the director’s chair for Ridley Scott, as he only directed one episode of the Apple TV crime thriller show, Dope Thief, which stars Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura. Scott will not only return to the big screen with a new movie later this summer, but The Dog Stars will also mark his return to the sci-fi genre — he last directed a sci-fi movie with Alien: Covenant in 2017. While plot specifics about The Dog Stars are still being kept under wraps before its August 28 release date, Scott has assembled a talented cast of Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley to star in the film. Scott’s last feature film came at the end of 2024 when he directed the polarizing legacy sequel, Gladiator II, which did not include Russell Crowe in any capacity.
While Scott did not direct any episodes of the show, he did serve as a producer on one of the biggest sci-fi series of 2025 with Alien: Earth. Fans will always associate Ridley Scott with anything Alien-related after he directed the 1979 horror classic, Alien, that started the franchise in the first place. It took a few months for FX to come to a decision, but the network finally renewed Alien: Earth for Season 2 last year in November, and it was also confirmed last month that cameras are officially rolling. It’s still unclear when Alien: Earth Season 2 will be released, but before the show makes its return to Hulu in America and Disney Plus globally, it has returned to streaming charts as one of the most-watched titles in the world. Fans can’t stop binging Scott’s hit sci-fi series.
Alien: Earth is the franchise’s first installment to take place on Earth and not primarily in a spaceship or on another planet. The series follows a group of terminally ill kids whose consciousnesses were placed into new, hybrid bodies. When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands near a research facility on Earth, a team of soldiers explores the crash site and make a discovery that will forever change the human race. Alien: Earth was written and created for TV by Noah Hawley (Fargo), and it stars Sydney Chandler and Timothy Olyphant.
Check out the first season of Alien: Earth on Hulu, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Season 2.
August 12, 2025
Dana Gonzales, Ugla Hauksdóttir, Noah Hawley
Bob DeLaurentis
When you think of Elijah Wood, what first comes to mind is probably characters who embody innocence or heroism. From his career as a child actor to his performance in the record-breaking Lord of the Rings trilogy, to family films like Happy Feet, he has found great success portraying people who exemplify what is good in the world. However, one role lurks in the shadows of his filmography: Kevin, the sadistic cannibal killer in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s 2005 film Sin City.In a movie full of tough guy actors such as Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and Benicio del Toro, it’s Wood that stands out as the most intimidating, as he uses a unique approach to make the audience squirm in their seat.
The character serves as the villain of the film’s third story, “The Hard Goodbye,” which follows Marv (Rourke), a hardened criminal who finds momentary happiness with a woman named Goldie (Jaime King). After spending the night with her, he wakes up to find her murdered next to him, and is framed for her killing. He embarks on an investigation to avenge Goldie, which leads him all the way to the top of Basin City’s church establishment, and its cardinal, played by Rutger Hauer. It emerges that Goldie’s murderer is Kevin, a serial killer who has been weaponized by the cardinal to carry out murders under the pretense of some divine experience.
The 45 Best Movie Villains of All Time, Ranked
From the Wicked Witch of the West to Darth Vader to the Joker, this is Collider’s ranking of the greatest villains in movie history.
Of all the dark and bloody deeds done in the movie, Kevin is set apart as something altogether more sinister. A figure trained to kill like an animal — accompanied by wolves who are taught the same thing — the combination of his deadly appetites and the unsettling realization that something as sacred as the Church could be protecting him takes this beyond the usual corruption to something no one watching can understand. Whatever Marv’s past misdeeds, few (if any) would begrudge him his revenge in these circumstances.
So much of the impact of the character comes from Wood’s performance, which is the definition of the phrase “less is more.” He says nothing in the movie, only appearing in the shadows wearing a sensible sweater and round glasses, while sporting a detached, unmoving smile. When he moves, he moves like the wolves that accompany him, but with no explanation or backstory beyond how he met the cardinal, he remains frighteningly ambiguous, and therefore, unpredictable.
Part of the effect is also what the audience associates with the actor. For most, he is Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings, the brave Hobbit that saves the world because it’s the right thing to do, a character a million miles from the evil deeds of Kevin. Any movie fan will find it odd to see him be the instrument of such heinous crimes, let alone watch him simply smile in the aftermath. Like Robin Williams in One Hour Photo, or Hugh Grant in Heretic, there’s an extra dimension in seeing an actor outside what is expected of them.
For Elijah Wood, taking chances on more outlandish roles has proven a consistent success for him, even if those movies do not have the same global impact as The Lord of the Rings. He has worked on unusual films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Toxic Avenger, tense dramas such as Grand Piano, and even returned to Middle-earth with a small role in The Hobbit films. These independent films might not have the same reach, but offer the creative diversity that can show a different side to the actor.
Over two decades on, Sin City remains a true individual in the history of comic book adaptations. With black and white visuals ripped from the pages of Miller’s original graphic novel, few characters were realized more vividly on film than Kevin. If you haven’t seen the film in a while, it’s time to revisit the dark and ruthless streets of Basin City again. Just beware of two unblinking eyes watching you, with an emotionless smile.
April 1, 2005
124 minutes
Frank Miller
Lizzo has tried all she can to shake the feud rumors, and now she is facing it head-on!
The singer has once again corrected the notion that she spends her free time talking ill about her peers in the industry, especially when it comes to Taylor Swift.
Lizzo has definitely name-dropped the billionaire once or twice in the past, often declaring her admiration for the pop star and reiterating that she is not in a competition with the musician.

The day began with a post from an X user attempting to compare streaming numbers from some of their projects, stating: “The Life Of A Showgirl + MY FACE HURTS FROM SMILING — 4.005M. ICEMAN + MAID OF HONOUR + HABIBTI — 683k.”
Lizzo reacted to the post, asking for clarification on what the X subscriber meant, to which a fan responded that all that sh-t talking has finally caught up to her and impacted her record’s position on the chart.
The musician quickly tackled the commenter, reiterating that she has never talked sh-t about Swift for any reason. Lizzo continued, “Also, while we’re on the subject, I’ve never talked sh-t about any artist. Just because I mention an artist by name does not mean I’m talking sh-t — grow tf up pls.”

Internet users did not waste time rushing down to Lizzo’s comment section with lots of opinions about her past behavior and new claims. According to them, Lizzo is getting those allegations now because she had indeed thrown shade at Swift at some point in the past.
This commenter declared: “YES YOU HAVE TALKED SH-T ABOUT TAYLOR STOP GASLIGHTING US ?? You literally sided with KANYE WEST in 2016, let’s not.”
Some X subscribers praised Lizzo for shutting down these reports, thereby laying unnecessary fan wars to rest for good. Others also praised her for always showing love to female artists instead of descending into mindless dramas.
“Please don’t respond to trolls on social media. Get off social media and just do your job/art, be happy, and live your life. Take a clue from some of the biggest artists that are your friends and acquaintances and how they handle SM,” this user stated.

As shared by Seventeen, Lizzo got talking with a fan during one of her performances in Perth when she addressed a fan who held up the “I chose you over Taylor” sign. The singer responded by first thanking the fans for attending the show, joking that she would even get them tickets to attend a Swift show.
Lizzo continued that Swift is an amazing artist, and the fan should not have to choose between herself and the billionaire because she also adores her as an artist. Lizzo also extended a request to the fan holding the “I chose you over Taylor” sign if she could put her autograph on the sign.
Although the singer realized midway into her performance that Swift was not scheduled to sing at the venue, she reminded the audience that she “heart Tay Tay too,” stressing that there was no competition between them.

In 2022, Bustle noted that Lizzo openly compared herself to the pop superstar during an interview about songwriting and relationships. While promoting her album “Special” on “The Breakfast Club,” the singer shared that her real-life experiences and romances inspire a lot of her songs.
When asked whether the people she dates should expect to end up in her music, she jokingly replied that she is the “Black Taylor Swift,” admitting she writes candidly about her love life. Lizzo referred to her track “Break Up Twice” as an example, revealing her relationship inspired it with boyfriend Myke Wright during a period when they rekindled their romance.
The singer recalled one of her protective friends threatening Wright at a barbecue if he hurt her again, a moment that later made its way into the track. The singer also humorously noted that she and Wright had only done a “soft launch” of their relationship online at the time, teasing that things would only become truly official once they appeared on a red carpet together.
Like Swift, the musician emphasized that she often channels personal experiences into her songwriting while still keeping some details private. She also revealed that she wrote more than 170 songs for “Special,” hinting that many unreleased tracks could eventually end up on streaming platforms.

A few days ago, the singer spoke about the rollout for her upcoming fifth studio album, “B-TCH,” claiming her label, Atlantic Records, has not properly promoted the project ahead of its release.
As reported by The Blast, Lizzo took to her TikTok to urge her fans to support the album and place their pre-order before it gets released in a few weeks.
Lizzo responded to a fan who asked why there had been little promo for her album, such as absent billboards and advertisements. According to the singer, the promotional plans have been decided upon during marketing meetings.
However, despite her signing off on the billboard campaigns and ads for the album rollout, work is yet to take off in that department, leaving the singer frustrated over the lack of support.
Some of the most celebrated shows tackle tough topics. The ability to take a complex issue and present it in an entertaining but informative way is a huge risk that can backfire if not handled correctly. However, some shows like Dopesick, Adolescence, and I May Destroy You have been praised not only for being great works of art but also for exploring nuanced topics with the complexity and care they need. Netflix has been at the forefront of such shows recently, but HBO has forever remained the home of difficult storytelling. Their latest show is another attempt to explore the effects of masculinity, abuse, and sexuality.
This limited series follows two half-brothers over a 30-year period as they develop a complicated yet unhealthy relationship. Their personalities could not be more different, which causes friction but also allows them to complement each other. Ruben (Richard Gadd) is the older, more popular, and masculine of the two, while Niall (Jamie Bell) is the more intelligent one. They both struggle with personal issues; for Ruben, it is blinding anger, while Niall’s is his sexuality. The show is deeply violent — physically, emotionally, and sexually. Viewers and critics alike have found it difficult to watch, even when it is excellently written and acted.
That show is Half Man, the six-episode drama created by, written by, and starring Richard Gadd of Baby Reindeer. Gadd rose to prominence for doing the same thing with Baby Reindeer, and the show was a breakout hit thanks to its honest exploration of obsession and sexual assault against men. Half Man circles the same themes but from a more intimate place between relatives in a relatively challenging time period. The final episode airs on Thursday, May 28, bringing to a close the story of Ruben and Niall. All lingering questions get answered, and the intensity justified.
While the show has not achieved the critical acclaim Baby Reindeer enjoyed, critics have praised it for its ability to remain entertaining even when hard to watch. “Richard Gadd delivers a broodingly bleak sophomore effort that dares to plumb the depths of toxic masculinity and repression in a complex and unsettling tale that makes for unsettlingly good TV,” their verdict reads on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, accompanying a 77% score. Viewers are not that far away, giving it an 80%. Half Man also stars Mitchell Robertson (Young Niall), Stuart Campbell (Young Ruben), and Neve McIntosh (Lori).
Catch the series finale on Thursday or stream episodes on HBO Max in the U.S. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
2026 – 2026-00-00
BBC One
Alexandra Brodski, Eshref Reybrouck
Richard Gadd
Not long after his surprising win in the Best Actor category at the Oscars, Russell Crowe clearly attempted to go for gold again. Crowe won the prestigious honor for his performance in Ridley Scott‘s Gladiator, the massive blockbuster that remains one of the most controversial winners of the Best Picture Academy Award. Crowe had previously shown promise in acclaimed films such as L.A. Confidential and The Insider, and following his Best Actor win, he appeared in a string of awards-bait movies. The first of the lot earned him a third straight Oscar nomination following The Insider and Gladiator. While Crowe didn’t win, the movie in question — A Beautiful Mind — became his second film in a row to pick up the Best Picture honor.
Crowe didn’t stop there. He starred in Peter Weir‘s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, a period epic that has become a millennial favorite in recent years. Two years later, Crowe reunited with Howard for a critically acclaimed boxing drama that once again courted The Academy. While the movie was well-received, it wasn’t the smash-hit that A Beautiful Mind turned out to be with its $300 million-plus worldwide box office haul. Crowe and Howard’s 2005 film concluded its run with around $110 million worldwide against a reported budget of around $90 million — certainly not enough for it to be categorized as a hit. In fact, it did only slightly better at the box office than fellow boxing gem Ali, directed by Crowe’s The Insider collaborator Michael Mann. The movie in question is now poised to debut on Netflix in the United States, over two decades after its theatrical run.
We’re talking, of course, about Cinderella Man. Also featuring Renée Zellweger and Paul Giamatti, the movie tells the true story of the heavyweight champion James Braddock, who emerged as a beacon of hope for the American public during the Great Depression. Cinderella Man holds a “Certified Fresh” 80% critics’ score and a 91% audience score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “With grittiness and an evocative sense of time and place, Cinderella Man is a powerful underdog story. And Ron Howard and Russell Crowe prove to be a solid combination.” Like Master and Commander, Cinderella Man has been reappraised in recent years, which is reflected in its terrific audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. You can watch the movie on Netflix from June 1. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
June 2, 2005
144 minutes
Akiva Goldsman, Cliff Hollingsworth
2026 has been a great year for sci-fi movies, with releases like Mercy, Project Hail Mary, and War Machine. These films have seen varying degrees of success, with Mercy underperforming at the box office but excelling on streaming. Meanwhile, Project Hail Mary has been a critical and box office hit and is expected to replicate this success when it eventually arrives on streaming. War Machine never had a theatrical release, but it has become Netflix’s top movie of 2026. But looking ahead at the rest of the year, there are still some strong contenders that have yet to have their moment. Among them is a thriller that promises an emotional but action-packed tale.
This dystopian sci-fi drama has assembled a powerful cast, and the story gives them a lot to work with. The film has been set for an August 28 release by 20th Century Pictures. It follows the main character, Hig, a young pilot who, together with a military survivor, Bangley, has carved out their own space in a violent world where humanity has ceased to be the bare minimum. However, when Hig intercepts a radio transmission, he leaves their secluded compound because, despite what this brutal world has shown him, he believes that out there somewhere, humanity still exists.
The film in question is The Dog Stars, directed by Ridley Scott (The Martian). Mark L. Smith adapted it from Peter Heller‘s book of the same name. The main cast includes recognized actors like Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame), Margaret Qualley (The Substance), Guy Pearce (Memento), Benedict Wong (Avengers: Endgame), and Allison Janney (I, Tonya). 20th Century has already released a trailer that sets the stage.
The video above introduces Hig (Elordi), who has survived a world-ending event. So he knows the before and the after. He knows the joy of love and family, and the pain of losing it. Hig is forever optimistic, even when the world gives him no reason to be. Bangley (Brolin), on the other hand, doesn’t share the same optimism. He knows what humans are capable of, especially when pushed to their limits. Nothing pushes people more than the realization that the rules no longer exist and society has collapsed. But the world of “wake up, survive, rinse and repeat” doesn’t appeal to Hig. He knows there must be something more out there, and he’s willing to take a risk. So he puts his pilot skills to use and ventures out on a dangerous but potentially rewarding mission. And who knows, he might find love again.
The Dog Stars is in theaters on August 28. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
August 28, 2026
Mark L. Smith, Peter Heller, Christopher Wilkinson
Sometimes, all it takes is the first 10 minutes of a TV show to hook you immediately and confirm that this show is going to be a huge hit. Breaking Bad was like that, for example, as was its sequel series Better Call Saul. The latter cold opened with a black-and-white scene of Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) working behind the counter of a Cinnabon in Omaha, a direct reference to a comment he made in Breaking Bad that unknowingly, it seems, predicted his exact future.
Another great one is The Walking Dead, which shows Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) as sheriff walking through a parking lot when he comes across a disheveled little girl clutching a teddy bear. As he calls to her, and she turns, he realizes her face is completely deformed, and she’s groaning like a monster. Despite his clear reluctance, he shoots her dead. It’s scenes like these that draw you into a show, and HBO shows have some of the best.
How could you not instantly know that The White Lotus was going to be a massive hit? The show opens with a sad young man in the airport traveling home alone. He chats with an older couple, who heard about a death at the resort where he was staying. This is juxtaposed by the flashback of excited families and individuals, this man included, arriving at the fancy resort in Maui. It builds intrigue right from the jump, because you realize this is a murder mystery that needs to be solved.
Within the first 10 minutes, you’re scanning everyone, analyzing every conversation to try and figure out both who is the killer and who is dead. The scene of the waving staff members, which has become a signature of the show through its first three seasons (and the fictional resort), really has you wondering how this wonderful-looking trip suddenly turned so horrible. The story, along with the familiar faces among the cast like Connie Britton, Murray Bartlett, Jake Lacy, and Sydney Sweeney, will have you dying to blaze through all six episodes in a single sitting.
The Penguin might tell the backstory of one of the most iconic DC Comics villains, traveling back in time to when he was just the low-level mob wannabe known as Oswald “Oz” Cobb (Colin Farrell). But it feels more like a gangster show/movie than it does a superhero one, and you pick up on this right from the jump. It begins with an ominous scene, news reports about an explosion as Oz looks out the window at the devastation. But it’s just his outline in the dark.
Those who watched The Batman know it’s Colin Farrell in heavy make-up behind the long coat, but it’s only when the camera pans around to his face that you get chills. In his first scenes that follow, you can’t help but wonder what shenanigans Oz is going to be up to. When he confronts the late mob boss’ son Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen), at first in a friendly way, you think maybe he isn’t so bad. But the events that occur from there are the beginnings of proof that Oz is not someone to be underestimated. That sets up the entire show from there.
Widely considered to be the best season of the anthology series so far, or at least among the best, True Detective Season 1 provided a good indication of what the show was all about as immediately as in the moments following the intriguing opening credits. It’s a dark, creepy night scene as a body is being taken into the forest. A fire breaks out, and it’s clear something very bad is happening. This is the case that will come back to haunt the two leads decades later.
The scene in the perfect from start to finish detective show fades to black and officer Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson) is giving his statement about his partner, which instantly has you wondering who his partner is, why Marty is being questioned about him, and what it has to do with that opening scene. It flips to former partner Rusty Cohle (Matthew McConaughey), whose life has clearly gone a very different way. As they both begin to recall the case of Dora Lange, a woman who was murdered in 1995, the scene takes viewers back. Seeing the younger, baby-faced versions of these two characters will have you itching to know not only what happened in this case, but also what happened between them.
Game of Thrones begins with men of the Night Watch being attacked by White Walkers in a snowy scene. It’s clear based on the fantastic directing of this scene along with the setting and cinematography that this show is going to be brilliant. The intensity, costumes, and makeup will also blow you away.
When the scene switches to men on horseback riding on a luscious, green hill, you get the idea that Game of Thrones spares no budget, and it is going to be like a Hollywood movie told across multiple seasons. Once the scene flips to the Starks, you’ll instantly want to learn more about this family who will very likely play a pivotal role (those who read the books know they will). For anyone who has read the George R. R. Martin novels on which the show is based, the picture painted looks like pages from the book come to life instantly.
Who doesn’t love a good flashback? The Last of Us really sets the stage by flashing back to a news program in 1968 when a scientist basically predicts exactly what happens with the viral pandemic decades later, including fungus mutating to the point that it becomes uncontrollable and can’t be stopped. In the beginning, the show’s host and the audience are smiling and laughing at the absurdity. But as his explanation begins to sound more and more real, it seems like they are all quietly panicking inside. Viewers at home know very well what is coming in this adventure video game masterpiece, which makes this scene even more impactful.
The story flips to 2003, and we see Joel (Pedro Pascal) and his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) going about their day in what is very clearly just before the virus begins to spread in a big way. Seeing the interactions and picking up on subtle clues, you can’t wait for the other shoe to drop, but also appreciate the slow burn. It sets the stage for the pre-surly Joel, a glimpse into who he was before the loss of his daughter. The first few minutes also introduce Joel’s brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna), who, as fans know, becomes pivotal to the plot going forward.
The opening scene of Succession is the most vulnerable Logan Roy (Brian Cox) is throughout the entire series, but it’s important to set up the premise and why it’s so important. He awakens in the night, unaware of where he is. He walks into a room, pulls down his pants, and urinates. When the lights go on, he’s in the hallway and has relieved himself on the floor. Cut to his goofy son Kendall (Jeremy Strong) in a suit rapping to music with headphones on while in the backseat of a limo.
You instantly understand that Succession is going to follow an elderly media head in desperate need of passing the torch to someone else. But if Kendall is any indication, his grown kids clearly aren’t ready to lead. Kendall, who seems to be first in line, is desperate for respect but isn’t getting any. He’s the only Roy sibling introduced in the first 10 minutes, along with COO Frank (Peter Friedman), the obvious buffer between family and business. You can tell it’s going to be a wild ride the second Kendall and Logan are in the same room together. The circus it becomes hasn’t even begun, but you just know that when the other kids come along, it’s going to be explosive. The setup is perfectly subtle while getting the point across.
The Newsroom has one of the cleverest, perfectly delivered opening scenes that sets the stage for the lead character, the show’s political slant, and the overall tone. It’s a Q&A session at a university and news anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) is innocently asked by a young student what makes America the greatest country in the world. He delivers a long monologue basically saying America is not the greatest country in the world and here’s why. Of course, it goes viral.
The idea that this drama is going to follow an already very outspoken and cynical man through a rocky situation will perk your ears up. He returns to work a month later to learn that most of his staff is gone, and his new producer happens to be his ex-girlfriend. When Will learns she has been brought on to improve the network, he doesn’t take too kindly to both the change and the awkwardness of answering to his ex. The Newsroom went on to be one of the best political shows of the decade.
A woman is naked, sitting in a chair and being questioned by a man. He seems to be controlling her. She is staring into space as a fly crawls along her face, even onto her eyeball. But she doesn’t instinctively swat it away as most humans would do. It’s evident that this woman isn’t actually human. But what is she? When the scene in Westworld switches to the woman in bed in a lovely home, looking out into the town and discussing the order and purpose of her days, everything seems fine, like it exists in another time.
Once she meets a young man in a cowboy hat, it’s like an old Western movie. The situation turns bleak quickly, however, and you get the sense that this is just the beginning of many horrors to come. There’s no way you can stop watching now, especially when the Man in Black (Ed Harris) shows up, hinting that this show could have been the next Lost. Those who read the books know what Westworld is about, seeing it come to life in such a convincing way will have you hooked.
One of the best miniseries on HBO, Chernobyl tells the story of the catastrophic nuclear plant disaster of 1986 that occurred in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union back in the ’80s. It begins with the voiceover of a man talking about truth, stories, and the importance of knowing not who the heroes are but who is to blame. You know something very bad has happened that this person is recollecting. Since it’s based on a true story, you also understand the gravity of it.
When you see the clearly broken up man recording his testimony on several mini cassette tapes then wrapping them in paper, you know this isn’t going to end well. And it doesn’t. The horrifying nature of this subtle yet powerful scene leaves it virtually impossible for you not to want to keep going to learn more about who this man is, and what his involvement was in everything that happened.
Today, The Sopranos is mostly remembered for its ambiguous finale that had everyone talking. And of course, the fantastic stories and moments throughout the show’s six seasons. But it’s easy to forget how the beginning of this crime drama instantly set the stage and had fans sold on watching. It begins with Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) in the waiting room of his psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi’s (Lorraine Bracco) office. He sits down for his first-ever session. These sessions, of course, would become integral to the show as Tony gets help dealing with panic attacks.
Tony has a violent job as a mob boss but also struggles to balance this with being a family man. It’s an awkward conversation as Tony seems disinterested in sharing, forced to see her by his family doctor. But Jennifer is intrigued. As Tony begins to tell his story, she seems to imply that she’s willing to keep his secrets. It almost feels like you’re watching a gangster movie like Goodfellas. Tony is someone you need to get to know, and his dynamic with Jennifer is instantly interesting, providing a nice reprieve from the action that you suspect is coming as the plot unfolds.
1999 – 2007
HBO
David Chase
Tim Van Patten, John Patterson, Alan Taylor, Jack Bender, Steve Buscemi, Daniel Attias, David Chase, Andy Wolk, Danny Leiner, David Nutter, James Hayman, Lee Tamahori, Lorraine Senna, Matthew Penn, Mike Figgis, Nick Gomez, Peter Bogdanovich, Phil Abraham, Rodrigo García
Off Campus star Mika Abdalla had an epic dance party with the one-and-only Jennifer Lopez after her viral replica costume.
“It’s a new Jeneration of party people…🎶,” Lopez, 56, wrote via Instagram on Friday, May 22, alongside footage of Abdalla, 26, outside a dance studio.
“I don’t know her personally, but I’m pretty sure that’s J. Lo,” Abdall lip-synched Khobe Clarke’s line from Off Campus.
As the cameras cut to Lopez herself, she mouthed Abdalla’s onscreen excitement that “On the Floor” had started playing. The two women subsequently hugged before dancing together.
Abdalla plays Allie Hayes in Prime Video’s Off Campus, a collegiate hockey romance adapted from Elle Kennedy’s bestselling novels. In one episode, Allie and then-boyfriend Sean (Riley Davis) attended a theme party as Lopez and Ben Affleck.
For Abdalla, that meant rocking a replica of the Hustlers actress’ navel-baring Versace gown that made a statement at the 2000 Grammy Awards.
“It was unbelievable. I had, like, four fittings. They built that [dress] from scratch,” Abdalla exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of the series’ premiere this month. “I had several fittings where they were just, like, draping these fabrics over me, and different brooches and different whatever. I had so much body makeup on. It was unbelievable.”
She continued, “I was seriously, seriously taped into that dress like all day, and I’m dancing around and moving around at the end of the day, I just had, like, a layer of skin [come] off my body. It was so worth it because it looks so cool. The dress looks so good and so cool, and it was so much fun.”
According to Abdalla, she spent an entire dat on set “dancing around in this unbelievable custom-made” replica of Lopez’s iconic dress.
The scene ultimately earned Lopez’s approval.
“Love this shooooww,” Lopez tweeted on May 18, alongside footage of Allie’s J. Lo dance.

Jennifer Lopez Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Netflix
The “On the Floor” dance also introduced Allie to her eventual love interest, Dean Heyward-Di Laurentis (Stephen Kalyn).
“I’m just really looking forward to digging deeper into who Allie and Dean are,” Abdalla told Us of her hopes for future Off Campus seasons. “They both, kind of, have these fronts, these personas that are hard to kind of crack through. They are kind of stereotypes of themselves. But in the books, as we know, there’s so much beneath the surface of Dean, and there’s so much beneath the surface of Allie.”
She added, “When it is time for our season, I’m excited to dig emotionally into that a little bit more, because, you know, we see Allie and Dean as their exteriors a lot in season 1. While that is fun, and they are super fun characters to play, I think as actors, selfishly, both of us are really excited to, kind of, like, get psychological.”
Off Campus has already been renewed for a second season, though it is known whether Dean or his hockey teammates Logan (Antonio Cipriano) or Tucker (Jalen Thomas Brooks) will take the lead next after Garrett (Belmont Cameli) in season 1.
Off Campus season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video.
Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancée, Bettina Anderson, are officially married after tying the knot in a lavish, private wedding in the Bahamas.
“Forever yours Forever mine,” Anderson wrote via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, May 23, confirming the pair said “I do.” The socialite shared a professional black and white photo showing just the newlywed’s hands and their wedding rings
Trump Jr. and Anderson were first romantically linked in late 2024. That December, a source clarified to Us Weekly that the couple started dating after his split from fiancé Kimberly Guilfoyle. (Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle announced their engagement in January 2022, one year after he proposed, and similarly opted to keep their breakup quiet for months.)
According to the insider, Trump Jr. was the one who called it quits with Guilfoyle.
“The breakup was amicable and so is their relationship today,” the source told Us at the time. “They just had different goals.”
As for his then-new romance with Anderson, the insider said, “He likes her a lot and has a lot of respect for her,” adding that Trump Jr. was “smitten” with the socialite and thought she was “very smart.”
Later that month, a second source revealed why Trump Jr.’s connection with Anderson was “different” than his previous partnership.
“When it comes to his relationship with Bettina it’s just about them,” the insider told Us in December 2024. “He wants a partner. She doesn’t need anything from him and just wants to be with him.”
In July 2025, a source revealed just how serious Trump Jr. and Anderson’s relationship had become.
“She would love to have kids one day and sees what a good father he is,” the insider told Us at the time. “She 100 percent would say yes if he asked her to marry him and his friends think that will happen sooner than later.”
Five months later, Trump Jr. and Anderson announced their engagement during a December 2025 event at the White House. In a social media video, he thanked her “for that one word — yes” as the pair addressed holiday party attendees.
“She said ‘yes,’ so that’s a big win for the end of the year,” Trump Jr. said.
Anderson then added, “It’s really been the most unforgettable weekend of my life, and I get to marry the love of my life. I feel just like the luckiest girl in the world.”
Later that month, a source told Us the couple’s preparations for their nuptials were already underway.
“Bettina is so happy she’s engaged to Don, and they’re already starting to plan the wedding,” the insider shared. “She has wanted this from day one and knew he was her person. She loves how he has made her part of his kids’ lives and is such a good dad.”
This is the second marriage for Trump Jr. after he previously tied the knot with Vanessa Trump in 2005. The exes, who divorced in 2018, share five children: daughter Kai, sons Donny, Tristan and Spencer and daughter Chloe. After her relationship with Trump Jr. ended, Vanessa began dating Tiger Woods.
Blockchain.com files with SEC for U.S. IPO
Holiday Weekend Open Thread – Corporette.com
Dell Technologies DELL Stock Surges 15% on AI Server Momentum and Analyst Upgrades in 2026
Space X IPO Is ‘Bad News’ for Tech Stocks: But What About Bitcoin?
Robinhood crypto COO Tanya Denisova exits
Bitcoin Accumulation Weakens as BTC Realized Losses Hit $600M
Makerfield: a tale of two social-media histories
WhatsApp ads could make Irish debut after discussions with DPC
AI infrastructure race heats up as IREN pitches full-stack strategy, WhiteFiber lands $160M deal
A 0.12% parameter add-on gives AI agents the working memory RAG can’t
Trump Invests $1M-$5M in Kura Sushi USA Chain With 27 California Locations
Revolut Launches Dogecoin Debit Card Across UK and EU
You Can Now Add ChatGPT To PowerPoint
2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson leaderboard: Brooks Koepka finds putting stroke in Round 1
Trump Media’s Bitcoin Stash Shrinks Again as 2,650 BTC Lands on Crypto.com
Charity run by Reform leader Malcolm Offord accused of ‘law breaking’ over Scottish registration
Goldman Sachs reinstates Ageas stock coverage with neutral rating
SEC to propose tokenized stock framework as Wall Street efforts deepen: Bloomberg
SECOND secret Israeli base discovered in Iraqi desert
Exa Labs raises $250 million in funding led by a16z
You must be logged in to post a comment Login