The amnesiac format in psychological thrillers is always a fun one: an unreliable narrator thrown into a dizzying world where they don’t know who to trust, not even themselves, as secrets are slowly uncovered. In 2022, Apple TV gave us another rendition of this classic trope that was sorely overlooked, even though it had all the thrills and charm of the genre. Surface is a perfect escapist weekend binge, one that’ll have you playing the guessing game right until the end while you are enthralled by the lavish costumes and designs of San Francisco high society. On top of that, with psychological thriller veteran Gugu Mbatha-Raw leading the way, we’re in safe hands as we enter this emotional and paranoid spiral.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw Is a Quietly Fierce Lead in ‘Surface’

The amnesiac in question in Surface is Sophie (Mbatha-Raw), a woman who sustains a head injury after a suicide attempt and returns to her world of luxury without any memories. She lives with her husband James (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), who tries to coax Sophie back into their picturesque life with the help of her best friend Caroline (Ari Graynor). Though we already question if we can trust their claims and motivations. Things become more complicated when Sophie meets undercover cop Baden (Stephan James), who insists that she cannot trust her husband. Soon enough, she also realizes that she has some secrets of her own, deepening the cracks of the perfect picture that everyone claims to be her life. But the most damning piece of evidence that proves not everything is as it seems is voiced by Sophie herself: “If my life was so perfect, why did I try to end it?”

Playing an amnesiac is always a fun challenge for actors: balancing being a blank slate with the hints of the character’s instincts and personality underneath. In Surface, Mbatha-Raw masters the tight-rope act and is reason enough to dive into the depths of deception and betrayal of Sophie’s life. She mixes the effortless charisma we saw in “San Junipero” in Black Mirror, with the deadpanned suspicion in her role from The Girl Before, becoming a compelling lead we enjoy following down the rabbit hole. As Sophie overhears suspicious conversations and goes running around the area to clear her mind, there’s an innate fierceness that simmers beneath her surface of confusion, distrust, and vulnerability. It’s a quiet ferocity that drives the series forward, making the character easy to root for as she peels back the layers of her flashy life.

‘Surface’ Is the Perfect Psychological Thriller for Escapism

Mbatha-Raw’s persevering performance is what guides us through a show that is pure escapism, one that exists for genre thrills wrapped in the facade of luxury. In the vein of Big Little Lies, the sets scream wealth, and the costumes are devastatingly gorgeous, but this is all drenched in dark hues that suggest something sinister is going on, which is undoubtedly true. As such, the escapism stems from the timeless experience of watching rich people be miserable and bored while draped in the sinful fruits of their wealth. Combining extravagance with a distinct sense of paranoia and distrust results in an atmosphere that is charged and palpable, radiating right off the screen to include viewers in the turmoil.

Though the show has been criticized for being a tad too much of a slow-burn, this atmosphere and the visuals that come alongside it make the methodical unraveling worth it. Our amateur sleuth flits between her untrustworthy psyche and the elusive pieces of evidence she comes across, making every revelation feel earned as it arrives with a truckload of emotional weight. It’s especially enthralling when Sophie digs into her own secrets, which is where Mbatha-Raw’s performance excels, as the character is confronted with the aspects of her own identity that she has forgotten. As the plot slowly twists and turns towards the dark truth, we’re submerged in Sophie’s own internal struggles, the genre thrills, and the contrast of the surrounding opulence. Mbatha-Raw guides us through her character’s fractured psychological state, as she dissects the veneer of wealth around her, making for a twisty and escapist thriller that is utterly easy to consume.

Advertisement

Surface

Advertisement

Release Date

July 28, 2022

Network

Advertisement

Apple TV+

Directors

Kevin Rodney Sullivan, Jennifer Morrison

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Hot Ones host Sean Evans and Nope actress Keke Palmer are fueling online rumors they’re dating in the wake of their viral TV kiss.

The pair were spotted enjoying an intimate dinner at Brooklyn Italian hot spot Lucali on Friday, June 12, per photos obtained by multiple outlets including celebrity gossip site DeuxMoi and TMZ.

In the photos, Evans, 40, and Palmer, 32, were seen “locked in” during their 90-minute meal, per Cosmopolitan. While the two did not reportedly show any public displays of affection during their outing, sources told TMZ that Evans appeared to be “smitten” over Palmer.

While appearing at the special FYC event at Hollywood’s Avalon on Tuesday, June 9, Evans opened up — again — about his palpable chemistry with Palmer, who has previously described as “charming.”

Related: Keke Palmer’s Dating History

Keke Palmer has navigated her personal life in the public eye for more than a decade. “I’ve always had the same philosophy when it comes to dating. Not that I wouldn’t give someone a try. But trying to keep my private life outside of my work life, to me, it’s easiest when you don’t date […]

“Working with Keke Palmer is always like a one plus one equals three situation,” Evans said at the time, per The Hollywood Reporter. “You know who I loved interviewing was Viola Davis. I really loved interviewing Viola Davis. Paul Rudd is another one who immediately understood what we were doing and got me.”

The pair have never publicly defined or shared their relationship status. Us Weekly has reached out to reps for both Evans and Palmer for comment.

@firstwefeast

the smooch that broke the internet ❤️‍🔥😘 #HotOnes #BabyThisIsKekePalmer #SeanEvans #KekePalme

♬ original sound – Firstwefeast – Firstwefeast

Online rumors Evans and Palmer are a romantic couple have hit a fever pitch as of late and ever since the Hot Ones host admitted he had something of a crush on the actress.

“Keke Palmer,” Evans told Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg when he was asked if he liked anyone he had ever interviewed. “Very charming. Very charming woman.”

Palmer later reacted to the viral admission, writing in the comments section of a post featuring the interview clip, “It was love at first hot wing — this was too kind @seanseaevans.” The actress later told People in an August 2024 interview that she as “living for” his confession.

“Not to say that I was surprised or I wasn’t surprised,” she explained at the time. “But when I heard it and people were sending it to me, I was like, ‘I knew the vibes were vibing.’”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

Related: Keke Palmer Through the Years: Nickelodeon Alum to Motherhood

Throughout her career, Keke Palmer has proven that the sky’s the limit — and she’s only getting started. Palmer began singing in the church choir at age 5 and after moving to Los Angeles she quickly found success with acting. She rose to fame after starring on her own Nickelodeon series, True Jackson, VP, from […]

Advertisement

Later, in September 2025, the pair finally shared their first (Us assumes) real-life kiss during Palmer’s third Hot Ones appearance.

“And then there’s one more thing I’d like to say, Sean,” Palmer said during the episode, taking charge of the program. “Because I saw an interview where you said, like, I was your favorite guest, you know, and all this really sweet stuff. And I know we’ve just had some wings, but I thought that maybe we could just have a quick smooch to see if there’s a spark.”

“When I’m dying and my life flashes before my eyes, I’ll have that snapshot,” Evans said after giving the actress a kiss on the lips.

Is there anything better than a gripping, spine-tingling mystery? Throw in a web of lies, deceit, and a race against time, and you’ve got something that truly keeps viewers on the edges of their seats. Modern whodunnits like the Knives Out movies and classic Agatha Christie tales might scratch that itch, but if you’re looking for something you might’ve overlooked, you need to watch The Invisible Guest.

What Is ‘The Invisible Guest’ About?

Directed by Oriol Paulo, the master of layered and intricate storytelling, the film promises to be a murder mystery. However, it doesn’t just stop there. It dives into puzzling realms and creates a narrative where every single piece counts. At the center of it all is Adrian Doria (Mario Casas), a businessman who’s found locked in a hotel room with the lifeless body of his lover, Laura Vidal (Bárbara Lennie). All fingers are pointed at him considering the damning evidence of a sealed room with no extra entry/exit points.

That’s where razor-sharp defense attorney, Virginia Goodman (Ana Wagener) comes in. Using her talent for dismantling lies, she chips away at Adrian’s version of the truth and in the process kicks off a high-stakes cat-and-mouse chase. Using an expertly patched-together set of flashbacks, shifting perspectives, and red herrings, The Invisible Guest proves that a good mystery isn’t just about finding out who did it, but figuring out who’s lying.

‘The Invisible Guest’ Capitalizes on a Web of Secrets and Expert Storytelling

Image Via Warner Bros Pictures

Your run-of-the-mill murder mystery reveals the truth, but The Invisible Guest, on the other hand, makes you work for it. In Paulo’s usual fashion, right at the moment when viewers think they’ve cracked the case, the movie flips the script… again. The Invisible Guest wastes little to no time reeling you into its intricately spun web. From the very first moment, there’s the locked room set up, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg as Wagener’s Virginia Goodman claws away at Adrian’s story. The fascinating thing is how it’s not simply about what transpired but about how each revelation leads further into a maze of lies and unexpected plot twists.

A standout moment comes in the form of the fateful car accident that changes everything. While driving through a snow-covered area, Adrian and Laura end up hitting a young man’s car. Unfortunately, the entire ordeal ends in his death. Then, panic sets in and instead of reporting things to the authorities, they cover up the accident. Unexpectedly, another driver happens on the scene of the accident, leading Adrian and Laura to pretend to be exchanging insurance information. However, from this point on, the story spirals as Adrian hides the victim’s car and body in a lake. Later, a local automotive engineer, Tomas Garrido (José Coronado), offers to help Laura repair the damaged vehicle — Adrian’s car, but in a shocking twist, Tomas happens to be the actual victim’s father. The tension in these scenes is nothing short of electric and creates the perfect cocktail of guilt, revenge, and betrayal. In a nutshell, this is how the film delivers reveals within reveals that are everything but linear or one-note.

The Thin Moral Lines in ‘The Invisible Guest’ Make for an Unforgettable Narrative

One of the most fascinating things about The Invisible Guest is how quickly morality becomes a moving target. In this film, no character walks away unaffected by the myriad of choices they make as the story runs its course. It all begins with the central characters, Adrian Doria and Laura Vidal, whose situation kicks off a string of ethically questionable decisions. It’s made clear early on that the moral compass between the couple is weak, from their affair to their calculated self-preservation at the accident scene. But it’s not just the hit-and-run that muddies the waters. There’s Adrian’s penchant for lying and manipulating everyone around him in a bid to control all versions of the truth. The combination of their questionable judgment ripples outwards, which ends up pulling other characters, like Tomas Garrido and his grieving wife, into their web of lies.

Even the moral compass of the film, defense attorney Virginia Goodman, operates in gray areas, laying psychological traps to coax the truth out of Adrian. At the end of the day, The Invisible Guest proves it’s more of a mystery as it weaves a tale that challenges viewers to consider how far they’d go when their backs are against the wall.

‘The Invisible Guest’ Revives Classic Mysteries With a Modern Bite

Image Via Warner Bros Pictures

If The Invisible Guest feels strangely familiar, it’s because Oriol Paulo knows his way around the mystery blueprint as a whole. The film boldly leans into its genre influences — from Agatha Christie’s tendency to misdirect to Alfred Hitchcock’s penchant for sleight-of-hand. But instead of taking the easy route and full-on mimicking these classics, The Invisible Guest updates them for a modern audience. To that effect, it’s faster, sharper, and less patient with predictable plotlines. Take the locked-room setup, for instance; it’s a well-worn trope that’s been used through the ages to make a murder seem impossible because the crime scene is inaccessible. Typically, in older murder mysteries, the trope is the entire puzzle, but in The Invisible Guest, it’s just the beginning of a whole lot of chaos. Sure, the sealed room is a conundrum, but the film does its best not to dwell on the logistics; instead, it turns it into some sort of narrative weapon. The impossibility pushes the lead character to come undone under the weight of his own lies.

What really sells the plot, ultimately giving the film its modern bite, is the way it handles the concepts of truth and time. Instead of giving viewers one reliable narrator — or, at the very least, a steady linear timeline — the story folds in on itself with conflicting accounts, flashbacks, and mental rewrites. The result isn’t just the spectacle of a mystery unfolding, but audiences are forced to actively try to piece together the rules of the game. This kind of narrative manipulation is more in line with the psychological thrillers of the 2000s than the neat resolutions of older whodunnits.

Then there’s the tone. It’s common for classic murder mysteries to play with elements like decorum and quiet deduction. However, Paulo’s approach is all tension and urgency. Unlike older stories where justice feels inevitable, The Invisible Guest is one of those films that makes you wonder whether anyone will ultimately pay the price for the crimes committed. In a nutshell, the movie clearly respects tradition, but it doesn’t wrap itself in it. Instead, it cleverly borrows just enough from the classics to feel familiar but sharpens the narrative to deliver something entirely new.

Advertisement

The Invisible Guest

Advertisement

Release Date

January 6, 2017

Runtime

Advertisement

106 Minutes

Director

Oriol Paulo

Advertisement

Writers

Oriol Paulo, Lara Sendim

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

When it comes to major media conglomerates, no company has more magic than the Walt Disney Company. The place where we learn to wish and dream as our imagination takes flight, Disney has been a major part of our lives in one way or another. The 21st century featured two major acquisitions for Disney to add to the roster: Star Wars and Marvel. Both media franchises had established themselves as major players in the pop culture lexicon, and now, with Disney at the helm, those opportunities and budgets increased exponentially!

Playing in the Star Wars or Marvel universe is a fun treat for an actor, but to get to do both? It’s like getting to go to Disney! We’re here to talk about the giant list of actors who have had the glory of playing in both worlds. For this list, we are sticking to those films and series that are canonically tied to both franchises. So yes, for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Netflix shows like Daredevil and Jessica Jones are included! The simple fact that this is a hefty list proves that both franchises can pull in mega stars.

1

Richard Armitage

Image via Marvel Studios

This one might be a bit of a cheat, because Richard Armitage‘s presence in the Star Wars universe came in the form of a cameo. In 1999, Armitage made his film debut as an uncredited Naboo fighter pilot in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace. As it turns out, he originally had a few lines, but they were cut. Though he’s visible in the background, we’ll count it! When it comes to the MCU, Armitage played Heinz Kruger, a top Hydra assassin in Captain America: The First Avenger. Kruger is the operative who infiltrates the facility where the super serum is created and later swallows a cyanide capsule to avoid interrogation.

2

Paul Bettany

Image via Marvel Studios

Advertisement

Some names on this list have prominent roles in both worlds. One such actor is the incredible Paul Bettany. He began his tenure in the MCU as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S., the trusty artificial intelligence of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in Iron Man through Avengers: Age of Ultron. It was in that film that J.A.R.V.I.S. was uploaded into a synthetic vibranium body, putting Bettany on screen as Vision. He brought the beloved role to the small screen in WandaVision. And yes, he will return in the upcoming VisionQuest. Bettany then stepped into a galaxy far, far away as the primary antagonist Dryden Vos in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Vos is a high-ranking, merciless leader in the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate who acts as the primary employer for Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) and Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) during their smuggling days.

3

Emilia Clarke

Image via Lucasfilm

Though her most iconic role came on Game of Thrones, this actress, known for playing Daenerys Targaryen, appeared in a Star Wars film and an MCU series. Clarke played Q’ira in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Q’ira was Han’s childhood best friend and first love from Corellia. She eventually rises in the ranks of the Crimson Dawn, only for her to defeat Dryden Vos in the end. Clarke spent more time on screen as a main character in Secret Invasion. She played adult G’iah, a hardened rebel fighting alongside the extremist faction led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir). Having the superhuman abilities from the “Harvest” machine, she eventually turned on Gravik and his followers. By the end of the series, G’iah ended up being one of the most powerful beings in the entire MCU. Clarke recently went on the record, saying that her time in both series, as well as in The Terminator franchise, was “disappointing” because they weren’t “liked.” (At least everything until the end of Game of Thrones was enjoyed by the audience!)

4

Rosario Dawson

Image via Disney+

Before taking on her most iconic pop culture role of the live-action iteration of Ahsoka Tano to life, Rosario Dawson had a recurring stint in the MCU Netflix series as Claire Temple. A dedicated medical professional, she first arrived on the scene as an ally to Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) in Daredevil. She continued the role in the subsequent connected series within The Defenders shows. Now to Star Wars, Dawson brought Ahsoka first to The Mandalorian and then reprised the role in The Book of Boba Fett. In 2023, she was granted the opportunity to lead her own series, Ahsoka. The iconic character is a Force-sensitive Togruta and formally Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan in The Clone Wars. Her grand journey on the small screen has solidified her as one of the most notorious and fan-favorite characters in franchise history.

5

Benicio del Toro

Image via Marvel Studios

To say that Benicio del Toro is versatile is an understatement, but when it comes to space, del Toro loves to play it cool. Del Toro began his MCU journey as The Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy. The Collector is a prominent Elder of the Universe known for curating a vast gallery of rare artifacts from across the cosmos. The iconic character returned with cameos in Thor: The Dark World and Avengers: Infinity Wars, while also voicing the alternate timeline version of the character in the animated series What If…? In the Star Wars universe, he played enigmatic codebreaker DJ in Star Wars: Episode VIII—The Last Jedi. The cynical mercenary’s motto is “Don’t Join,” believing both the Resistance and the First Order are equally corrupt. In the end, though he initially aided Finn (John Boyega) and Rey (Daisy Ridley), he betrayed them to the First Order to save himself. Del Toro may not have been a lead in either universe, but he brought two distinct, nuanced performances to the memorable parts.

6

Giancarlo Esposito

Image via Disney+

Advertisement

It’s not fair to call Giancarlo Esposito a character actor, but when you’re in the hunt for an exceptional actor to play a villain, look no further than him. The prolific actor’s more prominent part in the two worlds came as the ruthless Imperial warlord and leader of the Remnant Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian. Like many of us, he was obsessed with Grogu. Unlike the rest of us, he wanted to harness his powers for his own benefit. Moff Gideon has emerged as a notorious figure and one of the franchise’s greatest bad guys. Now, to the MCU. Let’s just say we were extremely short-shafted after his brief appearance in Captain America: Brave New World. Esposito played Seth Voelker, who is better known to Marvel Comics fans as Sidewinder. As the leader of the Serpent Society, Sidewinder went all combat mode with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), only to be defeated and taken into custody fairly early on in the film. Though no official projects have been announced, with Esposito’s high profile, his character is expected to return in the future.

7

Jon Favreau

Image via Marvel Studios

Many, many years ago, one might have laughed at the thought that comedian Jon Favreau would become a prolific architect of the MCU and Star Wars franchises. But between his on-screen work and his roles as a creator, director, and producer, our current landscape has been shaped by his extraordinary work. Let’s begin in the MCU. The very first entry into the MCU was a tone-setter as Iron Man featured Favreau in the director’s chair. That is in addition to him playing the now long-running Happy Hogan, Tony Stark’s faithful bodyguard and chauffeur. Having been so successful, Favreau continued to direct Iron Man 2 before becoming a major producer on future MCU projects. And fret not, Happy was back quite often in featured and cameo moments. His proven skill then allowed him to help give Star Wars a prominent identity on the small screen, bringing The Mandalorian to life and producing many subsequent projects. Having his stamp on The Mandalorian, there was no better man than Favreau to direct the recent blockbuster The Mandalorian and Grogu. Now, it would only be fair to include Favreau on this list if he acted in the Star Wars universe, and guess what? He did! In addition to voice work on The Clone Wars, he portrayed Paz Vizsla on The Mandalorian and an Ardennian pilot in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

8

Cailey Fleming

Image via Disney

Casting directors don’t always get the credit they deserve when they do slam dunk work by casting the spitting image of the adult in the young version of a character. Such was the case for Cailey Fleming, who portrayed Young Rey in The Force Awakens. The former The Walking Dead actress played the pivotal role, setting the stage for the adventure Ridley’s character would eventually go on. Fleming’s Young Rey did appear via archival footage in The Rise of Skywalker. Fleming once again got to take on a younger version of a major character in the Disney+ series Loki. This time, she took on Young Sylvie, the role played by Sophia Di Martino. It’s through Fleming’s appearance that we learn the critical backstory of Sylvie. All the youngster was doing was playing with the toys in Asgard before being taken into custody. But her detainment didn’t last long as she escaped, plotting her revenge under the original guise of Loki. Fleming was the perfect young star for these mammoth franchises.

9

Donald Glover

Image via Lucasfilm

Very few actors have such a fascinating career as Donald Glover. After establishing himself on Community and as Childish Gambino, Glover continued his dominance in Hollywood. During that run, Glover made his MCU appearance as Aaron Davis in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Though it wasn’t explicitly stated in the live-action film, Aaron is Miles Morales’s uncle, the protagonist of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Glover voiced Aaron, under his future role as Prowler in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. His big cinematic breakthrough came in Solo: A Star Wars Story as Lando Calrissian. His performance was so iconic that he was initially tapped to create a Lando project. Glover has stated that a film still lives, so we must wait for its fate.

10

Richard E. Grant

Image via Disney+

Advertisement

Richard E. Grant is one of the most enigmatic actors of our time. An almost chameleon of the screen, Grant’s appearances in both universes are quite wonderful. He took on a central antagonist role in Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker as the ruthless Allegiant General Pryde. The cold and ambitious high-ranking military officer in the First Order serves as a faithful ally to the Emperor (Ian McDiarmid) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). In the MCU, Grant’s cameo in Loki was met with great praise, taking on an older “Classic Loki” who survived Thanos (Josh Brolin) by casting a hyperrealistic illusion of himself, then going into a self-imposed exile. His variant of the God of Mischief made a major decision, sacrificing himself to distract the giant monster Alioth to allow the main Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to escape. Now, technically not in the MCU, though it might be canon soon, Grant played Dr. Zander Rice in the 2017 film Logan. Dr. Race was the ruthless chief of surgical operations who was responsible for creating X-23, also known as Laura Kinney (Dafne Keen). Put a pin in her!

A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump‘s name must come off the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — and members of the Kennedy family are celebrating the decision.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper handed down the 94-page ruling in May 2026, finding that only Congress has the power to rename the federally chartered Washington, D.C., institution. The decision also temporarily blocked the venue’s planned two-year closure for alleged renovations, throwing the building’s future into uncertainty.

Trump appointed himself the president of the Kennedy Center upon his second term as president, which began in January 2025. He also replaced the entire board of trustees, who subsequently voted to rename the theater “The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”

Keep scrolling to learn more:

Related: Kennedy Family Reacts to Donald Trump’s Planned Kennedy Center Closure

President Donald Trump has even more plans for the Kennedy Center after he worked to rename the landmark. “The Trump Kennedy Center will close on July 4th, 2026, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country, whereupon we will simultaneously begin Construction of the new and spectacular Entertainment Complex,” Trump, 79, wrote via Truth […]

Judge’s Ruling Explained

A judge ruled in May 2026 that Trump and the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees acted unlawfully when they added the president’s name onto the venue, which Congress previously dedicated to President John F. Kennedy in 1964 — a year after his assassination.

“The Kennedy Center’s organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board’s unilateral say-so,” Cooper wrote in his decision. “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.”

The judge also halted Trump’s planned two-year shutdown of the venue, which was originally scheduled to begin in July 2026 to coincide with the country’s 250th anniversary. Cooper found that “none of the board members had sufficient information in advance of the March 16 meeting to make a well-considered decision to close the center,” according to The New York Times. He left the door open for the board to revisit the closure if it independently weighs “its multiple obligations to the Center in a prudent fashion.”

Kennedy Center Staff Told to Scrub Trump References

In a June 4, 2026, memo obtained by Politico, Kennedy Center employees were told to strip Trump’s name from internal and public-facing materials.

“You must immediately change email signatures, letterhead, and other documents to reflect the name as ‘The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,’ or ‘Kennedy Center,’” the memo read. “Other changes, such as to templates and forms, signage, brochures, and website pages, must be completed no later than Friday, June 12, 2026.”

Trump’s name had already been quietly removed from the center’s official website, voicemail and YouTube channel in the days leading up to the memo, according to the Associated Press.

A Kennedy Center spokesperson said in a statement, “We are complying with the court’s order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump’s leadership.”

Construction workers were spotted removing Trump’s name from the building facade on June 13, 2026.

Maria Shriver and Jack Schlossberg Celebrate the Decision

JFK’s niece Shriver called the ruling a “birthday present” for her late uncle, who would have turned 109 the day Cooper issued his decision.

“An appropriate birthday present on my uncle’s birthday today. A federal judge ruled that President Trump and the Kennedy Center Board acted unlawfully in renaming the Kennedy Center after him,” Shriver wrote via Threads in May 2026. “The judge held that only Congress can change the Center’s name and blocked the planned two-year closure for now. I know they’ll probably appeal and the story isn’t over, but for today, let’s celebrate a great birthday gift.”

JFK’s grandson, Schlossberg, took an even sharper tone, writing via X: “Trump can take the Kennedy Center for himself. He can change the name, shut the doors, and demolish the building. He can try to kill JFK. But JFK is kept alive by us now rising up to remove Donald Trump, bring him to justice, and restore the freedoms generations fought for.”

Donald Trump Responds to Judge’s Ruling

The president slammed Cooper’s decision in a lengthy Truth Social post, accusing the judge — a President Barack Obama appointee — of bias and vowing to push Congress to take the building off his hands entirely.

“Shockingly, a Judge appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, Christopher Cooper, ruled that The Kennedy Center, which was going to close in early July for large-scale renovations and construction due to years of neglect, decay, and poor maintenance, and which was to be transformed by the Trump Administration into the Finest Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World, is not allowed to close for these renovations,” Trump wrote, claiming that he instructed the Department of Commerce to “make all necessary arrangements” to transfer control of the Kennedy Center back to Congress.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Kennedy Center Board of Trustees Files Appeal

The Board of Trustees voted to seek a stay of Cooper’s order in June 2026, arguing the name change reversal would be “both wasteful for the Center and confusing for the public.”

Roma Daravi, the Trump Kennedy Center vice president of public relations, said in a statement, “With $257 million secured by President Trump and approved by Congress, the resources are in place and we remain committed to pursuing every lawful avenue to ensure the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy.”

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. 

John Stamos is getting candid about the cosmetic surgery he’s received — and the procedures he says that he’d never consider.

“I’m always with younger people or younger girls and stuff, so I don’t want to look super old,” Stamos, 62, admitted on the Wednesday, June 10, episode of the “Really Good” podcast, revealing he has no plans to undergo an invasive facelift. “I won’t do that. I’ve gotten Botox in my forehead, but not for a long time.”

The Full House alum further revealed that he had a rhinoplasty “when he was a kid” acting on General Hospital.

“I broke it when I was a kid. I got hit by a golf club,” Stamos explained of his reasoning for getting a nose job. “I just didn’t like the way it looked, and so I got it done and it didn’t look great. Then, I went and then I actually had it fixed by Michael Jackson‘s guy. He didn’t make me look like Michael Jackson.”

Related: Stars You Forgot Were on ‘General Hospital’: John Stamos and More

General Hospital has had numerous different cast members during its 60-year run, including some familiar faces. John Stamos got his start on the soap opera with his role as Blackie Parish from 1982 to 1984. Even though he starred on the show for only two years, Stamos has discussed the tremendous impact General Hospital had […]

Jackson underwent multiple plastic cosmetic procedures years before his death in 2009. (The King of Pop died at age 50 after suffering cardiac arrest triggered by an acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication.)

“I have never had my cheekbones done, never had my eyes done, never had my lips done,” Jackson said in a 1993 interview, revealing the procedures he said that he had done. “I try not to look in the mirror. I’m never happy with what I see.”

The “Billie Jean” singer, who battled the skin condition vitiligo prior to his death, has asserted that he’s only had two nose jobs.

“Everybody in Hollywood gets plastic surgery,” Jackson said in his 2003 Living With Michael Jackson documentary. “Plastic surgery was not invented for Michael Jackson.”

As for Stamos, he’s long been candid about how he manages his aesthetics while aging.

Related: Celebs Who’ve Talked About Getting Plastic Surgery

While some prefer to fly under the radar when they get plastic surgery, celebrities including Denise Richards, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Jessi Ngatikaura and Heidi Montag keep it candid. After getting some of her enhancements reversed in 2013, Montag exclusively told Us Weekly that she struggled with the decision. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. […]

“I am getting old, although I don’t feel it. I take care of myself. I stopped drinking 10 years ago. That’s why I’m alive,” Stamos exclusively told Us Weekly in an August 2025, reflecting on his sobriety. “I never would have met my wife [Caitlin McHugh] if I was still drinking. I’m happy where I’m at in my career, but I think I would be a lot further along if I’d stopped sooner.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

He continued, “I got the job done, but I could have done it better, and I could have been more connected. Getting married and having a child, that’s kept me young and kept me alive. I think that’s helped with my longevity.”

Stamos credits must of his seemingly everlasting youthfulness to his wife and their 8-year-old son, Billy, over any skincare regimens.

“I don’t do a lot. I wash my face, depends on if there’s some scrub around,” the actor told Us. “I work out three or four times a week. I do this electric muscle-stimulant thing where you put a suit on, but you only wear it for 20 minutes. But good sleep now is important. Having a young son helps.”

Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay is opening up about the palpable shift that occurred on the set of the hit crime procedural once the show secured its first woman to serve as showrunner.

“I had a secret fantasy of having a female showrunner for … a few years,” Hargitay, 62, told Variety in an interview published on Saturday, June 12, commenting on the hit NBC show hiring Michele Fazekas as the show’s season 27 showrunner. (Fazekas, 49, worked in the show’s writers’ room for seasons 3 through 7.)

“Michele and I always connected. She was so smart, and those years on SVU were some of my favorites,” the actress continued. “Her episodes during that time were the best ones.”

Fazekas had just finished working on Prime Video’s Gen V when she became the first woman to showrun the Dick Wolf series. While also speaking with Variety, Fazekas said there is a “great synchronicity with how we all think” on- and off-set, which only benefits the show’s overall culture.

“We were all rowing in the same direction,” Fazekas told the outlet. “There’s no toxicity. Having worked in really toxic environments, it’s like, oh my God, I don’t know what to do with myself! We all just want to make a good show and not make it harder than it needs to be.”

Hargitay added that with Fazekas now steering the ship, so to speak, things feel both “old and new” on the show.

“It’s new and coming home at the same time,” she explained. “There are emotional beats and comedy beats that are so specific to me and to the origins of the character. Obviously, it was time. It’s what SVU needed more than anything, and it was the perfect fit. It’s all the elements coming together in a perfect way.”

She continued, “I want to highlight that word: Team. That is the difference now. There’s such a sense of lock arm, ladies. Let’s do this together — and, at the same time, push each other to be excellent, to be great, and we know that we can do it and we will figure it out.”

While the on-set collaboration and non-toxic work environment certainly aided everyone on- and off-set, Fazekas couldn’t help but point out how hard Hargitay continues to work since making her SVU debut back in 1999.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

“She does not phone it in,” Fazekas told Variety of Hargitay’s work ethic. “She is not just collecting a paycheck. She makes everyone better.”

After wrapping season 27 — yes, Fazekas did write the season’s finale — Hargitay told Variety she couldn’t help but grow emotional when considering all she has accomplished on the show.

“Twenty-seven years in and I’m thinking, that’s one of my favorite episodes — that Michele could dig in and write this story that’s haunting me,” Hargitay said of the season’s finale. “Brenna is elevating details and tweaking constantly. We all play hard and play our best.”

Tyra Banks participated in the February 2026 Netflix documentary, “Reality Checked: Inside America’s Next Top Model.” However, months later, the 52-year-old is suing the streaming giant, calling the widely talked about special defamatory.

This comes after a former “America’s Next Top Model” judge defended Banks over not having visited J. Alexander in the hospital amid his stroke.

According to PEOPLE, Banks and her legal team filed the lawsuit against Netflix on June 13. In it, she accuses those involved in the production of attempting to paint a false narrative by omitting much of what she said during her three-plus-hour interview. Banks wants a jury to determine the “appropriate” amount of damages she should receive.

The lawsuit starts, “Tyra Banks participated in the Netflix documentary series ‘America’s Next Top Model’ (‘ANTM’) because she believed viewers deserved a candid conversation about the show’s legacy—its successes and its shortcomings.”

Specifically, the lawsuit claims the comments left on the cutting room floor included her taking accountability for many of the more controversial moments from “Top Model.” Per the docs, “There are aspects of the show for which Ms. Banks takes accountability, and she wanted ‘ANTM’ viewers to hear that from her directly.”

Regarding Banks’ sitdown with producers, “Going into her interview, Ms. Banks did not limit the ‘ANTM’ topics the interviewer could ask.” She states that only 16 minutes of her more than three-hour conversation were featured.

Tyra Banks Is Firing Back Over Claims She Allowed A Contestant To Be Assaulted

One of the most troubling aspects of the document involves a former “America’s Next Top Model” contestant, Shandi Sullivan, who was allegedly sexually assaulted on camera during the show’s second cycle.

Per PEOPLE, Banks addressed the claims in the lawsuit.

It reads, “Worse, the false narrative the producers constructed—through selective editing, deliberate omission, and surgical manipulation of continuous footage—included that Ms. Banks knowingly allowed a contestant to be sexually assaulted on her show, exploited that contestant’s trauma for ratings, and then could not even remember it when asked.”

The legal docs continue, “That narrative about Ms. Banks is a complete fabrication—one that Netflix streamed to a global audience of millions. The implication is devastating and deliberate: that Tyra Banks cannot even remember the story of the woman who was assaulted on her show.”

Banks and her legal team then described what the documentary’s producers removed from the final edit. They claim, “But that was false. The full footage of Ms. Banks’ interview reveals two things that the producers cut out and did not show viewers in Episode 1: before the upward glance, Ms. Banks nods—affirmatively, unmistakably—and immediately says, ‘I do remember her story.’ By carving the nod out of the middle of the sequence and cutting off Ms. Banks’ comment at the end, the producers ensured that viewers would see only the lie and not the truth.”

The Lawsuit Also Addresses The Miss J Situation

“Reality Checked: Inside America’s Next Top Model” also focuses on Banks’s relationship with the show’s former judges. Notably, Miss J revealed that Banks did not visit him while he was hospitalized in 2022 following a massive stroke. Specifically, she says she was never given the chance to give her side of the story.

The suit states, “Had the producers informed Ms. Banks that part of the Netflix Series narrative would include Miss J saying that Ms. Banks never visited him in the hospital, Ms. Banks would have explained that she had been living in Australia for 2 1/2 years.”

Additionally, Banks claims she was not allowed to show a text message she sent to the former ‘Top Model’ judge that went unanswered. It is also alleged in the filing that the two have spoken at length since his hospitalization, with the most recent conversation occurring in December 2025.

Per the suit, “They texted numerous times. As recently as Christmas Day 2025, Ms. Banks and Miss J exchanged holiday messages, and he updated Ms. Banks about his improved health. She replied, ‘Yesssssss. Can we speak this week?’ They never spoke. Just weeks later, the Netflix Series streamed to a worldwide audience.”

Former ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Judge Kelly Cutrone Defended Banks

Kelly Cutrone, who appeared on “Top Model” from cycles 18 to 22, defended Banks in June 2026 in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. She told the outlet that Banks, who was living in Australia, was concerned about Miss J after learning of his health struggles.

She said, “They [including producer Ken Mock] were worried.” After being contacted, Cutrone had a mutual friend, Arton, seek information about Miss J, which led them to learn that he had been admitted to the hospital under an alias, making it harder for Banks or anyone else to locate him.

The former judge continued, “Arton went to his apartment” at the behest of Tyra and Ken, who were worried.

The Netflix Documentary Was A Hit With Viewers

According to Deadline, “Reality Checked: Inside America’s Next Top Model” debuted with an astounding 14.2 million views within its first week, which tracked from February 16 to 22. Notably, this figure includes all three parts of each documentary.

The 2026 World Cup is officially here— and the stars are stepping out to root for their favorite teams.

The global soccer tournament will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the qualifying teams competing in matchups throughout the three countries this summer ahead of the championship game at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

“I think it’s very cool, [and I’m] very much excited for it and what it can do, or what it means for the world and the country itself,” Team USA athlete Miles Robinson exclusively told Us Weekly before making the team in May 2026. “I think it’s a great opportunity for, you know, all humans to come together to celebrate a sport … and can really bridge some gaps between cultures, and can hopefully make people realize that we’re so much more alike than unalike,”

Robinson, in particular, gushed that making the USA roster was a “dream come true.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

“It [is] something [that is] super surreal to me,” he told Us. “For me, right now, I’m just trying to stay focused and on the present and recognizing that, you know, the moment is king, because I think that’s when I’m at my best when I’m not worried or thinking about the future, I’m really just very much dialed in on the present.”

Robinson and his teammates earned their first victory on June 12, 2026, thanks to midfielder Gio Reynas’ trivela goal in the final seconds of the qualifying match against Paraguay.

Keep scrolling to see which celebrities attended World Cup 2026 games:

The 2000s were an exceptional decade for science fiction television, a golden age for the genre much in the same vein as the 1990s. Packed with refreshingly creative ideas, cutting-edge special effects, groundbreaking serialized stories, and a shift toward more “prestige” television, the living room was the place to be for sci-fi fans during the 2000s.

The whole decade had exceptional sci-fi shows both for kids and for grown-ups; for animation fans and for those who prefer live-action sci-fi; for those who love “mystery box”-type shows and for those who love more straightforward space operas. But over the course of those 10 years, the 2000s only produced 10 sci-fi TV shows that can truly be considered masterpieces.

10

‘Phineas and Ferb’ (2007–Present)

Image via Disney Channel

Children deserve sci-fi masterpieces, too; and during the 2000s, they never got one better than Phineas and Ferb. It’s one of those Disney Channel shows that are perfect from start to finish, a modern classic that allowed 2000s kids to grow up with a cartoon of the same level of quality as the many sci-fi cartoons their parents had grown up watching.

It’s a show so good, in fact, that you’d be hard-pressed to find an adult sci-fi fan who wouldn’t have a blast with the series’ entire run. The show was recently revived on Disney+ after a decade-long hiatus, and it doesn’t seem to have lost one bit of its spark while it was away. But the two seasons of Phineas and Ferb that aired during the 2000s were where it all got started, and it’s one of the most vibrant, colorful, funny, and heartwarming children’s cartoons from its era you could find.

9

‘Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace’ (2004)

Image via Channel 4

Perfect for those who love when science fiction goes as meta as it can possibly get, Richard Ayoade and Matthew Holness‘ Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is nothing short of a must-see. It’s one of those classic sitcoms that are even better than most modern shows, a horror parody that has grown into more and more of a cult classic as the years have gone by.

The show is a masterclass in parodic and satirical television writing, poking fun at both low-budget sci-fi television and the pretentiousness of those shows’ creators. Brilliantly layered and irresistibly hilarious, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is a genius sci-fi comedy that all those who love the clunkier sci-fi shows of the 1980s should check out.

8

‘Samurai Jack’ (2001–2017)

Image via Adult Swim

Genndy Tartakovsky is one of the biggest legends and icons of the world of cartoons, a champion of the animated medium who has made some of the greatest shows it has ever seen. Case in point: Samurai Jack, which blends elements of feudal Japanese lore with bits of retrofuturistic science fiction in a way that has aged like fine wine.

Indeed, it’s one of the best sci-fi shows of the 2000s by a decent margin, the only proof any sci-fi fan should need that cartoons deserve to be placed alongside any live-action show when talking about the genre’s best television outings. Stylish, masterfully genre-bending, visually gorgeous, and with a bloody and more mature final season that feels like it grew up with its audience, it’s undeniably peak 2000s science fiction.

7

‘Fringe’ (2008–2013)

Image via FOX

After leaving his showrunning duties relatively early in the run of a certain other masterful sci-fi show from the 2000s, J. J. Abrams co-created Fringe with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. What started as a more episodic spiritual successor to the likes of The X-Files and The Twilight Zone soon started to evolve into entirely its own thing, a more serialized story perfect for parallel universe fans and fringe science enthusiasts.

As it changed over the course of its five-season run, Fringe kept growing more and more into one of the most rewatchable sci-fi shows of all time. It’s perfect for science fiction fans who love both deeply emotional stories and elements of heavy speculative science. It’s easy to see how such a masterful show revolutionized “monster-of-the-week”-type genre shows.

6

‘Life on Mars’ (2006–2007)

Image via BBC One

Life on Mars is one of those mystery shows that are perfect from start to finish, yet not many fans of sci-fi remember it today. That’s an absolute travesty. This British police procedural is one of the best shows of its kind, as well as one of the most unique. Here, science fiction isn’t the focus. Rather, it’s cleverly used as both a powerful thematic device and a fuel for the show’s psychological mystery.

Those who prefer hard sci-fi that makes ample use of genre elements won’t likely love Life on Mars, but people who like to see the genre’s boundaries pushed to their limits ought to watch it at least once in their lives. Gritty, tense, mysterious, and potently character-driven, it’s proof of why no one does police procedurals quite like British television-makers.

5

‘Lost’ (2004–2010)

Image via ABC

Advertisement

With Lost, J. J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffrey Lieber altogether revolutionized American broadcast television, at least as far as the sci-fi genre went. Along with The X-Files, this masterful (and often quite overhated) show is often credited as a pioneer of the “mystery box” genre, shows following complex storylines entirely based on mysteries, secrets, and jaw-dropping twists.

It’s one of those sci-fi shows that keep you hooked throughout, polarizing final season notwithstanding. With an exceptional ensemble cast, a narrative that brings up two fascinating questions for every answer that it provides, and some of the most exciting creativity of any 2000s sci-fi show, Lost is a vital piece of the pop culture zeitgeist of the decade.

4

‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (2008–2020)

Image via Cartoon Network

Advertisement

After the disaster that was the 2008 film of the same name, fans probably didn’t expect much from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Little did they know, after a relatively slow start, the show would soon enough become one of the most widely beloved pieces of Star Wars media in history. Largely responsible for the sudden surge in popularity that George Lucas‘ prequel trilogy has seen since the 2010s, this exceptional anthology series is Star Wars at its best.

Indeed, it’s one of the best Star Wars shows ever, an exceptionally written space opera and military sci-fi series that can be enjoyed by any fan of the galaxy far, far away, regardless of their age. Its visuals have aged well, and Kevin Kiner‘s score is excellent, but what has really kept The Clone Wars timeless is how marvelously it expands on the beloved lore of the Star Wars prequel era.

Image via Bones Inc.

Advertisement

The second-ever animated adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa‘s Fullmetal Alchemist manga series, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood also happens to be not just the best sci-fi anime series of the 2000s, but also the highest-rated sci-fi show of the decade on IMDb. If that’s not a sign that it’s one of the best anime series of all time, what could possibly be?

It’s hard to know where to even begin singing this masterful show’s praises. The visuals are phenomenal, and there’s virtually no filler here, which should satisfy any sci-fi television fan. But the real star of the show is the gripping narrative, an airtight and meticulously constructed tale full of powerful philosophical themes, emotionally satisfying moments, and fascinating bits of world-building.

2

‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)

Image via FOX

Advertisement

Nowadays, Joss Whedon‘s Firefly is perhaps best-known as one of the most infamous examples of a hugely promising show that was canceled after only one season. It’s always worth looking back at how it developed that reputation, however: It’s one of the best single-season action TV shows in history, a riveting space Western that has aged like fine wine.

For one, the show’s brilliant blend of genres is a delight, creating some of the most entertaining stories that sci-fi television has told at any point during the 21st century. But what really makes Firefly work is not just the legendary ensemble cast, but primarily the endearing characters that they play. This is character-driven science fiction first and foremost, and the result is a deeply human narrative that never loses its spark, even after several rewatches.

1

‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)

Image via SYFY

Advertisement

There is perhaps no sci-fi television masterpiece from the 2000s more important, more iconic, or better-made than Battlestar Galactica. Not every sci-fi show needs a remake, but the outdated 1978 version of Battlestar definitely did, and the result couldn’t have possibly been better than this. 2004’s Battlestar Galactica is one of those sci-fi shows that hold up surprisingly well, a space opera unlike any other in the history of television.

An exceptional cast, masterful character writing, a thematically and politically complex plot, apocalyptic stakes—what’s not to love about the absolute masterpiece that is Battlestar Galactica? Unlike many of its space opera peers, Battlestar is all about gritty storylines and emotionally raw character moments, a show that was able to masterfully tap into the fears and anxieties of the post-9/11 21st century. It’s a product of its time, but it has gotten nothing but better with age.

Advertisement

Battlestar Galactica

Advertisement

Release Date

2004 – 2009-00-00

Advertisement

Directors

Wayne Rose, Michael Nankin, Rod Hardy, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Edward James Olmos, Robert M. Young, Jeff Woolnough, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jonas Pate, Allan Kroeker, Anthony Hemingway, Jean de Segonzac, Marita Grabiak, James Head, Paul A. Edwards, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Brad Turner, Ronald D. Moore, Bill Eagles

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement