By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 22 seconds ago

Recently, beloved actor James Van Der Beek passed away at the heartbreaking age of 48. He leaves behind a rich, creative legacy, full of projects that have moved and inspired millions of fans. Understandably, most of those fans have been reminiscing about his performance in Dawson’s Creek, the popular teen drama that transformed Van Der Beek into a household name.

However, I would argue that his best performance was in Don’t Trust the B— In Apartment 23, an overlooked sitcom featuring future Marvel icon Krysten Ritter. In this show, he played a hilarious, fictionalized version of himself, one that Ritter’s character playfully dubbed “the Beek from the Creek.” Sadly, this show is not currently available to stream outside of buying individual episodes, which is a shame because it is one of the funniest series ever made.

Never Afraid To Poke Fun At Himself

The premise of Don’t Trust the B— In Apartment 23 is that Krysten Ritter plays a party girl engaged in a constant scheme: she finds new roommates, gets rent money upfront, and then drives them away with her increasingly weird antics. Eventually, she lands a roommate (played by Gossip Girl supporting actor Dreama Walker) who refuses to leave. The two ladies soon settle into a life of wacky television shenanigans, which also involve James Van Der Beek, who plays a cynical, darkly comedic version of himself.

Even though Don’t Trust the B— In Apartment 23 was a lighthearted TV comedy, James Van Der Beek gives a performance that can only be described as fearless. He is never afraid to be the butt of the joke, and he’s always in on the show’s raucous sense of humor. In an age where countless celebs are afraid they’ll be mocked by fans, Van Der Beek cheerfully laughed at himself across two seasons of unhinged sitcom entertainment.

A big part of his self-parodying performance involved poking fun at Dawson’s Creek and his former status as a ‘90s teen icon. It helps that he had such a great comic partner in the form of Krysten Ritter, who imbues the show with her trademark brand of acidic, playfully sarcastic humor. Her character isn’t impressed by being BFFs with a major celeb, and Van Der Beek’s character isn’t all that impressed at being a major celeb; together, these two craft a shocking amount of comedy gold.

Shamelessly Stealing Every Scene

While he’s a regular in the cast of Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23, James Van Der Beek isn’t the focus of the show; that honor goes to Krysten Ritter and Dreama Walker, who were basically doing their own version of the successful Two Broke Girls formula. This makes it all the more notable that Van Der Beek manages to steal almost every scene he’s in. Sure, the writing for the show is great, but it can’t be overstated how the Dawson’s Creek legend can turn even the simplest glimpse or line delivery into something jaw-droppingly hilarious.

This was what startled fans most about Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23: that James Van Der Beek is an almost shockingly good comic actor. He has often been written as a kind of generic leading man, and his career suffered for it; personally, I found his character the worst in the cast of Dawson’s Creek, despite him being the titular main character. In this later, much more cynical sitcom, he is unleashed from the burden of being a leading man, and he quickly reveals himself to be the funniest member of the entire cast.

The Best Way To Process James Van Der Beek’s Death

Fans of James Van Der Beek have been returning to his earlier performance in Dawson’s Creek as a way to honor his memory, but this arguably isn’t the best way to grieve the actor’s death. Many viewers watched that teen drama when they were youngsters, so returning to the Creek is a surefire way to stir up your own traumatic memories even as you process the loss of a Hollywood icon. This is why I’m so sad that Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23 isn’t available on streaming: watching this show is the best way to both honor Van Der Beek and unpack your feelings regarding his untimely death.

That’s because this is a show where Van Der Beek himself has moved on from the show that made him famous and is willing to constantly poke fun at something he once took so seriously as an actor. There’s a lesson in here for his legion of fans that instead of dwelling on the loss of such a talented performer, we should find joy in how many great performances he had to offer. And by watching Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23, you can stop crying about Van Der Beek’s death and do what the actor would have wanted you to do instead: laugh like there is no tomorrow.

Nancy Guthrie
Investigators Use Bluetooth Technology to Detect Pacemaker Signal

Published
February 15, 2026
1:17 PM PST

Before every streaming service had its own globe-trotting puzzle thriller, there was The Da Vinci Code — the movie that turned symbology into blockbuster spectacle. And now, nearly two decades after it dominated theaters, Tom Hanks’ mystery juggernaut is heading to free streaming on Tubi next month.

If you’ve been craving something in the National Treasure lane — secret societies, ancient clues, historical conspiracies — this is your chaotic, slightly more serious option. Although, please be warned, it is not as good as it should have been. The film also stars Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu, Ian McKellen as Sir Leigh Teabing, Jean Reno as Captain Bezu Fache, Paul Bettany as Silas, and Alfred Molina as Bishop Aringarosa.

While National Treasure leaned into swashbuckling fun, The Da Vinci Code plays it straight — moody lighting, heavy themes, and a tone that insists this is Very Serious Business, and yet, that intensity is part of the appeal. It commits to its mystery. It treats every clue like a seismic revelation. It moves briskly, even when the exposition gets dense.

Was ‘The Da Vinci Code’ Successful?

Hanks pushed back against criticism in an interview with the Evening Standard, saying, “We always knew there would be a segment of society that would not want this movie to be shown. But the story we tell is loaded with all sorts of hooey and fun kind of scavenger-hunt-type nonsense. If you are going to take any sort of movie at face value, particularly a huge-budget motion picture like this, you’d be making a very big mistake.” Hanks reprised his role in two sequels — Angels & Demons, which made nearly $500 million globally, and Inferno, which tanked with just over $200 million worldwide. The franchise was rebooted for television with a show titled The Lost Symbol. Inferno in particular was spectacularly bad.

Collider’s review stated that Inferno doubled down on everything that made the previous Robert Langdon films so exhausting, delivering a messy, joyless thriller that felt creatively bankrupt from the jump:

“It’s almost like Dan Brown looked at Indiana Jones and thought, ‘Yeah, I like what he does, but I hate that he has a personality. Also, if he could mansplain everything to a female sidekick, that would be a plus.’”

The Da Vinci Code will begin streaming for free on Tubi from March 1.

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Release Date

May 17, 2006

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Runtime

149 minutes

Writers

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Akiva Goldsman, Dan Brown

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  Audrey Tautou

  Sophie Neveu

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By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 53 seconds ago

Science fiction has been warning us about the dangers of seemingly helpful technological innovations for over a hundred years. Even before computers were found in every home and in our pockets, overreliance on technology has been a common theme, including in the legendary anthology series, The Twilight Zone.

“Nick of Time” was released on November 18, 1960, and while it’s about a man’s dependence on a cheap fortune-telling novelty toy, it still works. 66 years later, in the era of ChatGPT and AI language models that are all too willing to provide advice. 

William Shatner’s Choice Paralysis

“Nick of Time” stars William Shatner as Don Carter and Patricia Breslin (future wife of Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell) as Pat Carter, newlyweds stuck in a small town in the middle of Ohio, when they come across a cheap fortune-telling novelty machine in the booth of a roadside diner. Don plays with the machine by asking it if he’ll get a promotion when he gets the affirmative response, “It has been decided in your favor.” One call to New York later, Don realizes he got the promotion, and his fascination with the tabletop trinket quickly becomes an obsession. 

Don continues asking questions to the devil-topped fortune-teller and receives inane generic responses, from “that makes a good deal of sense,” to “the answer to that is obvious,” and of course, “try again.” Paralyzed by indecision without the guidance from the fortune-teller, Don remains trapped in the booth, waiting for an answer to the question, “Where should we live?” Unlike most episodes of The Twilight Zone, Pat breaks her husband free from his obsession, and they leave town, but the ending shows another couple, trapped, unable to leave until the fortune-telling machine says they can. 

The unsubtle message of “Nick of Time” is the importance of human connection over a machine. The Twilight Zone has stood the test of time because of the universal morals at the heart of its twisted stories. 50 years later, Her told a similar story of a man becoming infatuated with a machine, and Ex Machina added a new wrinkleby giving the machine a human form. The AI in both movies is far, far more advanced than a penny fortune-teller, but the end result, obsession, decision paralysis, a loss of human connection, it’s all the same. 

The Twilight Zone Is A Timeless Classic For A Reason

William Shatner went on to star in another, better-remembered episode of The Twilight Zone, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” and a little show you may have heard of called Star Trek. His overacting has been parodied for decades, but as both of his appearances in Rod Serling’s masterpiece show, when asked to play a man slowly losing his mind, there’s no one better. 

The Twilight Zone is still one of the greatest shows of all time, and episodes like “Nick of Time” prove why no amount of reboots and revivals can match the simple effectiveness of the original. In 1960, no one imagined that we’d eventually have an app on our phones that acts exactly like the devil-head fortune-teller from the episode, but it doesn’t matter. The early horror sci-fi series could have been talking about television, computers, or telephones, and its point would still land: don’t let technology rule your life. Though today, a character would come right out and say, “go touch grass.”

Queen Latifah turned NBA All-Star weekend into a full-on family affair, popping out with her son Rebel for the 3-Point Content in Inglewood, California on Saturday, February 14. Queen was living for the vibes, while Rebel brought some next-level cuteness.

RELATED: Twinnin’ EXTRA Heavy! Flex Alexander Has The Internet Seeing Double After Sharing Rare Video With His Son (WATCH)

Queen Latifah’s Son Steals The Spotlight With Courtside Cuteness

Latifah’s son Rebel got the ultimate VIP treatment at NBA All-Star weekend. He wasn’t just chilling courtside with his mom, he hit the court to snap photos with Damian Lillard. Lillard won the 3-point contest racking up 29 points in the final round, and then posed with Queen Latifah and Rebel after the big W! Rebel was cheesing so hard, clearly hyped to be in the building, while Queen was living for their mother-and-son date. Some folks online were completely shook after seeing Rebel. To be fair, Latifah maintains a lowkey lifestyle and doesn’t really much about him or her partner, Eboni Nichols, on social media.

TL Goes WILD Over Queen & Rebel’s Mommy-Son Outing

Folks didn’t let up on being surprised to learn that Queen Latifah had a son. Some said they were today years while dropping reactions in The Shade Room’s comment section. Others were living for the cuteness and letting everyone know they are real fans, admitting they knew she had a baby boy with her partner, Eboni.

Instagram user @apple_the4biddenfruit wrote, “He’s adorable omg 😍” 

Instagram user @djcori.jaye wrote, “Damn her DNA 🧬 is strong 💪🏾!” 

While Instagram user @bigbabykrys wrote, “I see we’re all finding out this information at the same time 😳” 

Then Instagram user @buttascotch_ wrote, “He looks just like Eboni 🥰” 

Another Instagram user @_whitneysanders wrote, “Son???! Where tf have I been?” 

Instagram user @addshawn wrote, “He has a cool name. Imagine hearing ‘Rebel Latifah’ over the loudspeaker at school.” 

While another Instagram user @tfaulk86 wrote, “I love me some Queen Latifah🔥” 

Then another Instagram user @spanish_sosa wrote, “This is a great pic❤️” 

Finally, Instagram user @monique.frances80 wrote, “Wow I had no idea. He’s adorable. ❤️” 

Rebel Stays Lowkey But Pulls Up To NBA Games

If you’ve been out of the loop like some of the Roomies, Queen Latifah and her partner Eboni Nichols are parents to Rebel. They reportedly conceived him through IVF, with Eboni carrying him, and he was born in 2019. Even though Queen tends to refrain from posting on social media, Rebel has popped out with her at NBA games before.

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Whew! Barack Obama is weighing in on the wild world of social media and public discourse, and it looks like President Donald Trump might’ve sparked another round of online chaos. Across social media, folks were reacting in full force after a controversial clip involving the Obama’s made its way across timelines. And now, the former POTUS is finally speaking out.

RELATED: Trump & White House Address Backlash Over Controversial Video Depicting Obamas As Apes (VIDEO)

Obama Stays Unbothered Amid Trump Drama

In a recent interview on ‘No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen,’ former POTUS Barack Obama didn’t hold back when discussing social media controversy, indirectly addressing a viral video on former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social. He called out the loss of shame and decorum in public behavior, saying, “And what is true is that there doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office.” Additionally, Obama reflected on the contrast between the online chaos and the everyday kindness he still sees across the country.

He also shared these thoughts during the podcast conversation, noting that while the social media “clown show” chaos “gets attention” and serves as a distraction, it doesn’t reflect the majority of Americans. While traveling around the U.S., he still meets people who “still believe in decency, courtesy, and kindness,” Obama shared. Furthermore, he emphasized that even amid the online madness, him and Michelle remain unbothered and steadfast.

The Roomies Didn’t Come To Play On This One

As soon as the clip dropped, folks ran straight to TSR’s Instagram comment section, praising Obama for being a class act. Meanwhile, a few cheekily asked when is he going to say “it’s on sight” to Trump. And, of course, many just admitted they miss the days of him in office.

One Instagram user @frog_ismynickname said, “When President Obama speaks… we listen. 🎤🙌”

This Instagram user @theamyyedit shared, “I miss having an articulate, well mannered president 🥹”

And, Instagram user @_lavishlifechi added, “Very classy and well spoken …. my FOREVER president 😌”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @kissesfromkayy wrote, “Hearing his voice is comforting and reassuring 🥺🤎”

While Instagram user @spoken_highly commented, “Greatly Put Mr.President 🫡”

Finally, Instagram user @sirramoan said, “…a part of me wishes he’d be like ‘look, he knows when he sees me it’s on sight’“

The Video That Had Everyone Talking

As previously reported, the offensive clip in question crudely depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes and sparked immediate outrage across the political spectrum. Democrats, Republicans, and senior GOP members like Senator Tim Scott condemned it, with Scott calling it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” The White House initially dismissed the backlash as “fake outrage” before blaming a staffer and eventually deleting the post.

RELATED: What Was Posted?! Social Media Is Goin’ OFF After Clip Shared On Trump’s Truth Social Account Showed Obamas Depicted As Apes (VIDEO)

‘Selling Sunset’s Jason Oppenheim
Jessica & I Broke Up

Published
February 15, 2026
11:55 AM PST

Manchester Orchestra
Timothy Very Dead at 42

Published
February 15, 2026
12:35 PM PST