Whew, Roommates! Doja Cat’s father, Dumisani Dlamini is speaking out and blaming her mother, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, for their estranged relationship. In videos that surfaced online, Doja’s dad accuses her mother of allegedly “brainwashing” her into believing he abandoned her. His comments come after Doja previously spoke about her plans to meet up with him while she was performing in South Africa.

RELATED: Doja Cat Sounds Off In Now-Deleted Posts About Fan Hugging & Kissing Her In Viral TikTok Video

Doja Cat’s Father Breaks His Silence On Their Relationship

Videos surfaced showing Doja Cat’s dad, Dumisani Dlamini, recalling his relationship with her mother and claiming she allegedly paints a image of him that is not true. Additionally, he says he refuses to let her mom ruin his reputation as “a good man” when he’s always treated Doja well, along with Deborah’s other children. “That white woman brainwashed my baby that I left her. I never left my [kid].” From there, he calls out Doja, saying she had the chance to see him while she performed in South Africa, but instead of actually making arrangements, she played him. “Everyone saw it she came to South Africa had power to see and then she faked it.” That lead him to apologize and say he’s going to keep being a respectful, loving man. Dumisani continued, “I am sorry, I am a man of integrity, respect, and love.” 

Doja Admits To Trolling Her Dad Amid Attempt Link-Up In South Africa

Doja’s dad’s comments come after she dropped a video on TikTok titled ‘The Deadbeat Chronicles.’ In the clip, Doja tells fans she planned to see him while she performed as the headliner at the Global Citizen: Move Afrika tour on March 20. She says they texted on WhatsApp, and during their convo, he allegedly told her he wouldn’t come to her show because she doesn’t reach out to him enough.

So she sent him a link to explicit content, which she claimed would give him access to tickets for her concert. Doja then says he told her his management team would handle the ticket arrangements since he was busy working, and he kept repeating that. So he sent the explicit link again, which made him question her intentions because he knew the link wasn’t legit.

@dojacatLOOOOOOOOOL i sent him tim tales♬ original sound – Doja Cat

Inside Doja’s Relationship With Her Father

According to PEOPLE, Doja and Dumisani had a rocky relationship for years. He had a brief relationship with her mother, Deborah in 1990 before their split. Then in 1992, he shot to fame after appearing in the film, ‘Sarafina’ alongside Whoopi Goldberg.

In 2020, Doja spoke about her dad during an interview with Radio One D.C. She gave him props for being a good actor but claimed she didn’t really know him. “He’s an incredible dancer and a great actor. But yeah, I don’t know him very well,” the rapper said at the time. Despite her comments in 2022, Dumisani said he was proud of her success and always believed she was destined for fame. “I’m so proud of her for what she has achieved… I’m not surprised, because it’s in the blood.” 

RELATED: Period! Doja Cat Reacts To Fans Bringing Kids To Her Concerts

You know things are getting wild in Washington, D.C. when airport terminals start popping up in political tweets. President Donald Trump recently dropped a jaw-dropper on Truth Social that’s got everyone buzzing. And it involves ICE, the TSA—and a government funding clash that’s already messing with travel plans. Folks on both sides of the aisle are now wondering how far this move could go, and what it means for future trips.

RELATED: Yikes! Trump’s Blunt Reaction To Robert Mueller’s Death Has Social Media Gagged With Shock (PHOTO)

Trump Says ICE Will Take Over Airport Security Next Week

Trump warned over the weekend that unless congressional Democrats agree to immediately fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he reportedly plans to send ICE agents into U.S. airports as soon as Monday, March 23. In a Truth Social post, he wrote that these agents would “do Security like no one has ever seen before.” Trump also suggested they would focus on arresting undocumented immigrants—specifically pointing to individuals from Somalia as part of his reasoning.

Wait…What’s Really Going On At Airports?

Normally, airport security and passenger screenings fall under the TSA’s domain. However, the partial DHS funding shutdown has left TSA officers unpaid, leading to staffing shortages and long lines at airports across the country. With talks between lawmakers still stalled, Trump’s threat to deploy ICE isn’t just political posturing. It also taps into broader frustrations over travel chaos and the ongoing funding standoff. Critics argue that ICE agents aren’t trained for TSA duties, raising concerns about safety.

Officials Clarify ICE’s Role Amid Airport Chaos

Just when you thought the airport chaos couldn’t get more confusing, officials had to step in and clarify the situation. After Trump’s Truth Social post about sending ICE to “help” TSA at airports, top homeland security officials went on the record saying… hold up, not exactly. Now everyone’s trying to sort out what ICE will actually be doing and who’s trained for what.

Over the weekend, White House border czar Tom Homan told CNN that ICE officers won’t be manning X‑ray machines or directly handling passenger security scans like TSA agents do. Because, well, they simply aren’t trained for it. Instead, Homan explained that the idea is to let ICE free up TSA workers from certain duties so those agents can be reassigned to other jobs and help “move those lines” faster. He stressed that the plan was still being worked out with acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill. Furthermore, they revealed their hope to have details finalized this week.

RELATED: Yikes! National Counterterrorism Director Joe Kent Resigns Over Iran War, Urges Trump To End Conflict

Professional soccer player Jorginho has spoken out against Chappell Roan following an alleged incident in São Paulo, Brazil, involving the singer’s security and his 11-year-old daughter. According to the sports star, the encounter left the little girl upset and called Roan’s response to her actions “disproportionate.”

The alleged incident happened weeks after Roan had a confrontation with paparazzi in Paris, telling them to stop harassing her.

Jorginho Detailed The Incident On Instagram

On March 20, Jorge Luiz Frello Filho, more famously known as Jorginho, shared a lengthy post on Instagram Stories, writing that his wife, Catherine Harding, also known as Cat Cavelli, and her daughter, 11-year-old Ada, had an “upsetting” experience in São Paulo, Brazil.

Ada, Harding’s daughter with actor Jude Law, was in São Paulo to attend the Lollapalooza. According to the soccer player, Ada was excited to see Roan, “an artist she really admires.” Jorgino even shared an image of the little girl holding up a homemade sign that read, “H-O-T-T-O-G-O I am watching Chappell Roan!”

Coincidentally, Harding and Ada were at the same hotel as Roan, and while having breakfast, Ada saw Roan walk by their table.

Jorginho’s Daughter Wanted To Confirm The Singer’s Identity

As Jorginho said, his daughter was excited and “just wanted to make sure it was really her.” Based on his account, Ada didn’t approach Roan. Instead, she walked by her table to have a better look at her. When she saw that it was, indeed, Roan, she smiled and walked back to her mother. “She didn’t say anything, didn’t ask for anything,” Jorginho wrote.

“What happened next was completely disproportionate,” he continued. A member of Roan’s security allegedly approached Harding and her daughter’s table and spoke in an “aggressive” way, telling Harding that she shouldn’t have let her daughter “disrespect” or “harass” other people.

“Honestly, I don’t know at what point simply walking past a table and looking to see if someone is there can be considered harassment,” Jorginho noted.

Jorginho Tagged The Singer And Had A Message For Her

Jorginho said the encounter left Ada “extremely shaken,” adding, “He even said he would file a complaint against them with the hotel, while my 11-year-old daughter was sitting there in tears.”

The soccer player, who previously played for Chelsea and Arsenal and now plays for the Brazilian club Flamengo, said he knows all about “public exposure” and has been around well-known people for years, adding, “I understand very well what respect and boundaries are.” However, he believes what his daughter did didn’t cross any boundaries. “It was just a child admiring someone,” he noted.

He ended his lengthy post by addressing Roan and tagging her, writing, “Without your fans, you would be nothing.”

Rio De Janeiro’s Mayor Banned Chappell Roan From Music Festival

Jorginho’s post gained online attention, and even the mayor of Rio De Janeiro responded. In a post on X, Eduardo Cavaliere wrote in Portuguese that as long as he remains in office as Rio de Janeiro’s mayor, Roan will never be allowed to perform at Todo Mundo no Rio, a series of music megashows backed by the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Todo Mundo no Rio takes place at the Copacabana Beach and draws large crowds. Some artists who have performed at the festival include Madonna and Lady Gaga, and Shakira will be headlining the event in May.

In his tweet, Cavaliere said he doubts Shakira would do the same to Jorginho’s daughter and tagged the soccer star, inviting Ada as a guest of honor at Todo Mundo no Rio in May.

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The Alleged Incident Happened Weeks After The Singer’s Run-In With Papparazzi

In March, Roan had a public confrontation with the paparazzi while she was in Paris. In one video, the singer could be heard saying that she had repeatedly asked the paparazzi to leave her alone and let her go to dinner, but they wouldn’t listen to her. At one point, she refused to sign an autograph for a fan.

As The Blast previously reported, singer Boy George shared his opinion on social media and gave Roan a piece of advice. “The trick is to own your fame,” the singer noted, adding that he understands that being famous can be annoying. However, he said it was better than “being ignored” and called a “has-been.”

“It takes so much more time to say no to a picture or a signature. Boundaries are boring. Break them with the magic of kindness!” Boy George said.

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Marshals Episode 4.This week, Marshals takes another leap into the greater world of Yellowstone as fallout from Kayce Dutton’s (Luke Grimes) past follows him to the present. “The Gathering Storm” has many meanings in this episode, which is chock-full of enough Yellowstone references and revelations to keep you on your toes. With more packed into this episode than the last few put together, Marshals continues to teeter the line between being a direct Yellowstone sequel and a spin-off that pushes to forge its own path and identity.

‘Marshals’ Sets the Stage for a Coming Storm Against Kayce Dutton

“The Gathering Storm” begins at Yellowstone East Camp as Kayce Dutton answers the door armed. As usual, Tate (Brecken Merrill) is at his maternal grandfather’s house, and so conveniently written out while Kayce deals with the aftermath of the bullet-on-the-doorstep threat from the end of last week’s episode. Thankfully, there’s no threat at all. It’s just Pete “Cal” Calvin (Logan Marshall-Green) with some security equipment to help Kayce prepare for whatever threat is coming. While Cal thinks Randall Clegg (Michael Cudlitz) is the man behind the threat after they killed his kin in combat, Kayce knows it could be anyone who hates his family name. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take long before we learn that the former is the truth in this case.

That night at the Bullet ‘n Barrel Saloon, Marshals sets up several different plotlines that the show has no room to pay off in this episode. Andrea Cruz (Ash Santos) flirts with her new cowboy love interest Ty (Tyler Courtad), Cal seemingly pines after the local bartender Maddie (Morgan Lindholm) — before a brief sidebar with a local named Henry (Gabriel Casdorph) about the Clegg family — and Miles (Tatanka Means) runs into a family member named Sabrina (Chelsea Gray) to discuss his past at Broken Rock. But all this is preamble because the real action doesn’t start until the next day, when, at Marshals HQ, the team is met by Harry Gifford (Brett Cullen), who reveals that Randall Clegg is claiming that his son Carson’s civil rights were violated when Kayce killed him last week. With Kayce under the microscope (and benched for the time being), Cruz is left in charge of the internal investigation. So, rather than stick around and twiddle their thumbs, Kayce and Cal go off and help the Department of Forestry in the hunt for “transplant” rancher Tom Weaver (Chris Mulkey), after his daughter, Dolly (Ellyn Jameson), believes he has gone missing in the nearby Bridger Mountains.

But for those thinking that the Clegg complaint is just background this week, it becomes clear that this will be Marshals‘ main focus going forward, especially after Gifford hounds Cruz about finding the Dutton skeletons in Kayce’s closet. Even if the Clegg evidence comes up empty, he wants Cruz to fish for something that the DOJ can use against Kayce. Turns out, the lawyer who filed Clegg’s complaint, Andrew Schroeder (David Lascher), has a history of filing claims against law enforcement. However, Belle (Arielle Kebbel) knows Schroeder well, so she and Cruz go to confront the weasel. However, things don’t go as planned, as Randall Clegg shows up in the flesh to reveal that he plans to make the “Dutton finally learn that a badge isn’t a shield for their sins.” Whatever they do or don’t uncover, he plans to go public with everything.

“The Gathering Storm” Digs Up Kayce’s Past as He Battles New Threats In the Present

Image via CBS

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Back in the mountains, Kayce and Cal spot the smoke from a helicopter crash site and recognize that they’re close to Tom Weaver. The only problem is, they’re immediately held at gunpoint by an unknown man (Braxton Hale), who has been hiding out in the woods for some time. He claims that, after losing his job, house, and wife, he’s now fled to the wilderness to live off the land. After disarming him, they decide to let him go to get to Tom in time, but only under the stipulation that he goes to turn himself in. Arriving at the crash, they find Tom injured and the pilot, Helen, to be in particularly rough shape. But just as they try to stabilize her, a grizzly bear shows up and literally rocks the boat. Although Kayce manages to scare the beast off with a few shots in the air (despite the fact that that’s typically more likely to get a bear to charge at you), it’s too late for the pilot.

Meanwhile, back at HQ, Cruz, Belle, and Miles discuss Kayce and his history. Having realized that the best thing they can do to help his case is dig into his past, they discover that he has an exemplary service record in the Navy. Looking beyond his time in the Armed Forces, Miles notes that the folks on Broken Rock once whispered about Kayce’s assault on the local Montana-based militia that took Tate, which, for the uninitiated, occurred at the tail end of Yellowstone Season 2. Although Kayce’s father, John Dutton (Kevin Costner), was the Livestock Commissioner at the time (and retired only weeks later), it was a sketchy enough situation that it could be labeled “frontier justice.” At the very least, it will give Randall Clegg the ammo he needs. When they explain this to Gifford, he wants to use it as leverage against Kayce to get him fired, but pivots to claiming that Kayce killed Carson Clegg in revenge for shooting a man on the Rez who knew his dead wife.

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Back in the mountains, Kayce criticizes Tom for valuing his ranch more than the life of his pilot. Although there were no adverse weather conditions reported before they took off, the pilot recognized the turning winds and staggered their seating to distribute their weight properly. In the end, this ended up saving Tom’s life, and Kayce notes that he should be grateful. But while they are at odds at first, they bond over the fact that neither one of them was able to pick their fathers. Like Kayce, Tom felt trapped in his Wall Street father’s shadow, and moving from New York to Montana to start a ranch was the best way to make a name for himself and start something new. Kayce certainly understands. But this is when things get a bit tricky. As Cal helps Kayce and Tom rappel down the mountain, they’re shot at by the man they’d previously let go before Cal can return fire. The former SEAL leader wants to jump back into the fray and hunt the man down, but Kayce convinces him to stick with the mission and get Tom back to his family.

‘Marshals’ Latest Episode Ends With Major Revelations and Romantic Teases

Image via CBS

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Meanwhile, when Gifford and Miles return to HQ, they reveal that Kayce’s late wife, Monica (Kelsey Asbille), was beloved by the man whom the Cleggs’ shot on the Rez last week. Because Gifford’s the absolute worst, he believes this is enough of a smoking gun to hang Kayce and ostracize him from the Marshals, hoping to railroad him with the weight of the DOJ behind him. As Miles puts it to the rest of the group, “Government’s the windshield, the rest of us are bugs.” But when Miles recalls the events of the Clegg shooting once more to Belle and Cruz, the trio realize that the Clegg brothers didn’t have eyes on Kayce or Miles yet when the IED went off. As it turns out, the Clegg family had been piggybacking on local wildlife cameras in the area for years, and that footage ultimately proved Kayce’s innocence. Upon clearing her teammate, Cruz confronts Gifford about trying to play her against her team, and it’s clear she won’t get to ever again.

With his name cleared and his job secure, Kayce goes to the hospital to meet with a recovering Tom Weaver. Surrounded by family, namely his doting daughter Dolly, Tom rewards Kayce for saving his life by lending him some ranch hands to help with East Camp. To Tom, the Dutton heir is the type of lawman whose career he wants to ensure continues. And with that, Marshals solves the mystery of how Kayce can be a lawman and a cowboy at the same time. Oh, and if you’ve been wondering about some other Marshals mysteries over the first few episodes, the final few minutes of “The Gathering Storm” peppers in a few more revelations…

Will Kayce ever bond with his team? It turns out, Kayce surprises them by showing up at the saloon to enjoy a celebratory drink. Who was that strange man in the mountains? Cal reveals that the guy who shot at them was a serial bomber named Rudy Carpenter, who will definitely be coming back for seconds at some point in the future. Will Kayce ever get a new love interest? That’s answered the moment Kayce introduces Dolly Weaver, who hopes that he’ll give her a crash course in all things Big Sky. And what’s the story between Cal and this bartender that seems to hate his guts? As he reveals to Belle, Maddie is his estranged daughter whom he moved to the area to be closer to. With all of this in mind, Marshals has a lot of material to work with as Kayce seeks to atone for his family’s sins.

Marshals airs Sundays on CBS and is available for streaming the next day on Paramount+.

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Release Date

2026 – 2026

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Showrunner

Spencer Hudnut

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Writers

Spencer Hudnut, Tom Mularz, Dana Greenblatt

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Pros & Cons

• The rivalry between Kayce Dutton and Randall Clegg is promising
• The father conversations between Kayce and Tom was a necessary coda to the former’s time on Yellowstone
• Clearing Kayce’s name will hopefully mean we can move past all the “let’s talk about Kayce’s past” scenes between the Marshals

• That is not how you should deal with a grizzly bear…
• Kayce and Cal leaving their weapons behind feels like a massive oversight.

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Things are getting even more intense in Dwight Howard’s personal life this week. And his daughter, Layla Howard’s mother, Tiffany Render, is opening up like never before. Tiffany spoke on their Layla’s alleged status and the emotional toll their custody dispute has taken on her.

RELATED: Dwight Howard & Amy Luciani’s Estrangement Caught On Body Cam Amid Reported Divorce (VIDEO)

Dwight Howard’s Ex Gives Update On Their Daughter’s Status

In a clip obtained by LiveBitez, Tiffany Render, Dwight Howard’s daughter’s mother, was seen walking with their daughter near a shopping area, however its unclear when the video was taken. A comment on the video asked, “So baby girl is back with you??? This is so good!” with a string of happy emojis. Tiffany responded, clarifying, “no, she isn’t yet.” 

Tiffany Calls Out Dwight, Shares Daughter’s Side Of Custody Drama

Last week on Instagram, Tiffany revealed that her daughter’s father moved her from her original high school and took away her phone, citing emotional distress and feelings of neglect. She accused Dwight of attempting to create a “false and fake happy family narrative” by enrolling their daughter in the same school he attended.

Tiffany wrote, “When a child cries out for help, they deserve to be protected, not dismissed & hidden.” She also emphasized that her daughter’s breaking point led to the events of March 5, 2026. Backed by an alleged signed affidavit, Tiffany says her daughter wants to live with her. And, she called on the public for resources to ensure her child’s safety, declaring, “Baby girl mommy will always fight for your voice to be heard.”

What’s Really Happening With Dwight Howard?

What’s really going on behind closed doors with Dwight Howard? Newly released body cam footage puts Dwight and his estranged wife, Amber Rose Howard, in the spotlight as tensions reportedly boiled over on March 6. TMZ reports that Amber waited outside the front gate, claiming Dwight had locked her out.

The footage appears to tie into previously released 911 audio, where Amber alleged Dwight kicked her out and revealed that CPS had taken his daughter from a previous relationship the night before. Amber claimed Dwight was upset with her for not defending him, but his representatives deny any CPS involvement. Now, fans can’t help but wonder what really unfolded behind the mansion gates.

RELATED: Dwight Howard Announces Retirement As 911 Calls From Him And Amy Luciani Surface (AUDIO + PHOTO)

A twisted discovery at a Utah landfill has led to the arrest of a 54-year-old man who allegedly believed he had adequately covered his tracks, police claim.

The Iron County Sheriff’s Office arrested Shane Alexander Larson, who lives in Cedar City, on Friday, March 20.

A week earlier, a worker at a Utah landfill called 911 after coming across a discarded box containing sex dolls resembling children.

The shipping label, police alleged, was left on the box that the dolls were shipped in, and while Larson had used a Sharpie marker to black out his name and address, police said in a booking affidavit that the text was “still legible.”

Cops successfully obtained a search warrant from a judge, which they later served at Larson’s home, where police allegedly found more than a dozen of the life-like dolls in his possession. Five of the dolls, authorities allege, were “made to appear consistent with pre-pubescent juvenile females.”

Related: Man Arrested After Wife Finds Videos of Naked Teen Babysitter on His Phone

A man has been arrested in Tennessee after his wife found nude videos of their teenage babysitter on his phone, which were shot in the couple’s bathroom. Christopher Thomas Collins stands charged with nine counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, according to Hamilton County court records. Us Weekly can confirm that his […]

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Several electronic devices were also confiscated from Larson’s home and will be searched as part of the investigation, according to investigators.

Larson was charged with six counts of distributing or purchasing a child sex doll, a third-degree felony, and six counts of possession of a child sex doll, a misdemeanor.

When questioned by police, Larson allegedly admitted that the dolls found at the garbage dump were his and that he is the one who discarded them. He said he got rid of the dolls “because they appeared to look too young,” according to the arrest report.

It was unclear if Larson was represented by a defense attorney on Sunday, March 22. He has yet to enter pleas to any of the charges.

In 2023, Utah passed HB108, a law to ban “child sex dolls,” defining them as anatomically correct dolls with features that resemble minors and that are intended for sexual use.

The enrolled bill makes possession a class A misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum $2,500 fine. It further makes distributing or purchasing a child sex doll a third-degree felony with a mandatory minimum fine of $10,000.

Related: Dad Allegedly Killed Infant, Took Baby to Hospital With ‘Severe’ Injuries

An Illinois man charged with murder in the death of his infant son had taken the 5-month-old to a hospital with “severe” injuries before the baby died, according to police. When Dominic G. Larson arrived at the Northwestern Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb, Illinois, with his baby on Monday, February 23, the boy’s face was […]

The arrest comes after authorities in New Orleans arrested a man for possessing child porn and importing a child sex doll. Jamie Borne was detained on February 25 after a routine probation turned up a “child-size sex doll” in his bedroom.

Borne, 30, is now charged with 40 felony counts of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13 and one felony count of possessing, trafficking or importing a child sex doll. His bond was set at $2 million for the child porn and $50,000 for the doll.

Plea and attorney information was not available at the time of publication.

Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker now lives in a changed world that doesn’t remember him, leaving the door open for a fascinating next installment. After years of waiting, this next installment, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is scheduled to swing into theaters on July 31 as one of the year’s biggest summer blockbusters. Anticipation has recently hit record-breaking heights for the movie, after Sony’s release of a pulse-racing trailer officially generated 718.6 million views globally within its first 24 hours, making it the most-watched trailer launch of all time.

Brand New Day will feature Holland alongside the returning Zendaya and Jacob Batalon as MJ and Ned. Mark Ruffalo returns to his MCU favorite as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, with Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, Michael Mando as Scorpion, and Marvin Jones III as Tombstone, also confirmed. It has also been announced that Stranger Things favorite Sadie Sink will join the cast, although it has yet to be announced who she will play, with most fans convinced she will portray Jean Grey, the powerful telekinetic from the X-Men franchise.

Ahead of Brand New Day‘s arrival, one of Holland’s more forgotten movies has become a surprise hit on the streaming charts. Officially placing in the Disney+ top ten in the U.S., at the time of writing, animated comedy Spies in Disguise features the voice of Spider-Man alongside the likes of Will Smith, Parks and Recreation’s Rashida Jones, Superman‘s Rachel Brosnahan, and more. The movie was directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, who would later team up for the Academy Award-nominated Nimona.

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How Did Critics Respond to ‘Spies in Disguise’?

Image via Blue Sky Studios

Not just a hit on the streaming charts seven years after its release, Spies in Disguise is also popular with critics. Boasting a “certified fresh” 77% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and a 92% score from audiences, the consensus on the site reads, “A cheerfully undemanding animated adventure that’s elevated by its voice cast, Spies in Disguise is funny, fast-paced, and family-friendly enough to satisfy.” A synopsis for the film reads:

“Super spy Lance Sterling and scientist Walter Beckett are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave and debonair. Walter is not. But what Walter lacks in social skills he makes up for in smarts and invention, creating the awesome gadgets Lance uses on his epic missions. But when events take an unexpected turn, Walter and Lance suddenly have to rely on each other in a whole new way. And if this odd couple can’t learn to work as a team, the whole world is in peril.”

Spies in Disguise is streaming on Disney+. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

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Release Date

December 25, 2019

Runtime

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102 minutes

Director

Troy Quane, Nick Bruno

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Writers

Brad Copeland, Lloyd Taylor

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What distinguishes HBO’s comedies from other premium networks is their self-awareness and ability to direct ruthless satire back at Hollywood. Although the notion of presenting fictional characters alongside real celebrities originated with The Larry Sanders Show, The Comeback takes meta comedy to a new level with its scathing look at the industry’s treatment of women. It’s a hilarious show that gives Lisa Kudrow her best role outside of Friends, but it also hits so close to the truth that it can be painful to watch. None of the artificiality often present in Hollywood satires applies to The Comeback, which is equally abrasive to people in different positions within the industry. Although it is highly critical of the very notion of celebrity, The Comeback does not deny the allure of famous people.

What Is ‘The Comeback’ About?

While HBO is known for inserting dark protagonists into its shows, Kudrow’s performance in The Comeback is no less monumental than that of James Gandolfini in The Sopranos or Idris Elba in The Wire. Kudrow stars as Valerie Cherish, a sitcom actress who has feared fading into obscurity. To gain momentum for what she predicts will be a return to prominence, Valerie hires a camera crew to document her every move, resulting in a mockumentary style for the series. This intimate look at the private lives of famous people was groundbreaking when The Comeback debuted in 2005, but it now feels like an accepted part of the media landscape.

What’s most brilliant about The Comeback is that the series presents a character in a sympathetic situation, even thoughshe is completely narcissistic. The unfortunate reality that the show recognized early on, and continues to retain, is that women are held to different standards in the industry, particularly when it comes to age. Valerie had never earned her “big break” when she was younger, and the only way for her to be part of a new sitcom is to accept the degrading role of “Aunt Sassy,” a highly quirky role that doesn’t have any nuance. The Comeback frequently exposes the sexist rhetoric that Valerie faces about her viability as a star, but the show doesn’t go as far as to suggest that she is a victim. Valerie feels entitled to the perks of being a celebrity and believes her life is worthy of documentation; as a result, the show isn’t exploitative because Valerie has control over how her story is broadcast.

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The Comeback is clever because it presents a character who somewhat mirrors Kudrow herself. Kudrow has obviously had more success than Valerie ever did because Friends was such a phenomenon, but they both face the risk of being defined by a single role. The difference is that Valerie is trying to take an old-school approach to becoming a sitcom breakout star in a generation where television culture is completely different because of the different routes of distribution; comparatively, Kudrow was able to earn an actual “comeback” because The Comeback itself is something daring and experimental, and only could have been done on HBO. Even though Valerie is disruptive and often causes incidents, Kudrow is so inherently charismatic that it’s hard not to root for her; at the same time, it’s inevitable that Valerie won’t be content with any success that comes her way, as she is always striving for more.

HBO’s ‘The Comeback’ Has a Unique Release Strategy

Given that Kudrow is also one of the show’s creators, it is impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. That said, The Comeback deserves more credit for its amazing supporting cast, especially since it includes both fictional characters and celebrities who appear as exaggerated versions of themselves. Damian Young’s performance as Valerie’s husband, Mark Berman, offers the perspective of a non-celebrity who expresses discomfort with the invasive presence of camera crews in their daily lives. Although the banter between Mark and Valerie exists to represent the realistic struggles of a Hollywood power couple, it does not toothlessly retain the status quo; the end of the second season, in which Mark realizes Valerie has been documenting some of their most serious marital quarrels, is the type of daring comedy that is as cringe-inducing as it is hilarious.

What’s most unique about The Comeback is that the series has taken extended breaks between seasons, allowing it to acknowledge the rapidly changing ways Hollywood has changed overits run. The first season was cancelled after thirteen episodes in 2005, but returned nine years later for a revival in which Valerie attempted to produce her own reality pilot. The third and final season is set in contemporary times, where artificial intelligence threatens to dismantle the entire creative process. It’s a snapshot of the different tools used to tackle emerging trends, and it continues to age well because it shows how out-of-fashion those trends become after a short time. The Comeback doesn’t always present a particularly flattering portrayal of the entertainment industry, but the fact that it can mine such fruitful comedy while being brutally honest is a testament to the uniqueness of what it’s already achieved.

My off-duty wardrobe is colorful, fun and expressive, but my workwear attire is almost the opposite. It’s practical, pared back and, at times, a little dull. Adhering to an office dress code policy tends to mean I repeat the same sensible outfits again and again, but I finally found an office‑friendly dress that makes me look forward to getting ready for work again.

As a hybrid employee, I oscillate between comfort‑first outfits at home and more structured pieces in the office, and this stretchy fit‑and‑flare dress from Quince manages to bridge both worlds; it’s comfortable enough for WFH days yet polished enough for in-office hours. It’s also the first work dress I’ve worn in a while that doesn’t make me self-conscious about my midsection, thanks to the fit-and-flare silhouette that looks stunning on every shape and size. I know my ‘mom-belly’ is still there, but the dress glides right over my tummy so I don’t spend the day adjusting the fabric or overthinking the fit.

Get the Ultra-Stretch Ponte Short-Sleeve Midi Dress for $60 at Quince! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

In true quiet‑luxury fashion, the Quince Ultra-Stretch Ponte Short-Sleeve Midi Dress relies on structure, great tailoring and a minimalist silhouette that speaks for itself. Living in the thick of Texas heat, I need pieces that are breathable all year long, and this one actually keeps me cool no matter the forecast. For those who are also ultra busty, like me, this dress has impeccable design details that provide a naturally ‘lifted’ look.

Made with a durable double-knit ponte fabric, the stretchy midi dress is incredibly forgiving and resistant to annoying snafus like wrinkling, piling or fading. I own the dress in three colors that I rotate on the regular, including orchid blue and espresso, and they all look remarkably pristine . . . even after countless washes, coffee spills, kids tugging at the hem and the general chaos of working-mom life.

Like any good thing, this figure‑flattering dress is a cult-favorite among Quince shoppers, with reviewers raving that it is “comfortable and moves with ease,” “perfect to dress up or dress down” and “floats away from the belly area.”

“I was speaking at a conference, and it was a real confidence booster for me,” one shopper wrote. “I felt good in it, and after my talk, I got so many compliments! It’s a definite winner for a professional, polished look . . . I am more pear-shaped, so it worked well for my body type.”

Whether you’re on the hunt for a slimming work dress or simply a flattering piece that makes getting ready easier, this quiet-luxury find is the reason so many shoppers keep coming back for a second — or third — color. Myself, included!

Get the Ultra-Stretch Ponte Short-Sleeve Midi Dress for $60 at Quince! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

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