Denise Richards is embracing a fresh chapter, but it hasn’t come without emotional and personal complications. 

The actress recently revealed the results of a full facelift, a decision tied closely to a turbulent period in her life. 

While the transformation has given her renewed confidence, it has also stirred tension within her family and unfolded against the backdrop of a difficult divorce, making her journey about far more than just appearances.

Denise Richards Underwent Full Facelift Amid Personal Struggles

Richards underwent a full facelift eight months ago, performed by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Ben Talei, and the results have now been revealed through striking before-and-after images. 

The transformation comes at a time when the actress has been navigating a highly public and emotionally draining divorce from Aaron Phypers.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, an insider revealed the procedure was deeply personal and tied to her desire to reclaim some joy amid the turmoil. 

The source shared that Richards felt her personal life had been suffering and wanted to do something uplifting for herself.

“She is very happy that she made the move last year because she feels beautiful,” the source said, describing the facelift as a “rare bright light” during an otherwise difficult period. 

The ongoing divorce has reportedly taken a toll on her both emotionally and financially, making the decision feel like a form of self-care rather than vanity.

“She deserves to have a little joy in her life and her new face makes her very happy,” the insider added. 

Richards’ Daughters Initially Pushed Back On Her Decision

Despite her confidence in the procedure, Richards faced resistance at home. 

Her eldest daughters, Sami and Lola, whom she shares with Charlie Sheen, were not initially supportive of her choice. 

The actress admitted they felt she was “too young” to undergo such surgery and worried about the risks involved.

Speaking about their reaction to Allure Magazine, the 55-year-old explained, “My oldest daughters were not happy that I was doing it. But I think now they understand, and they see that I still look like me.”

She acknowledged their concerns were rooted in care, adding, “I think they were just worried, in general, of [me] having surgery. They were telling me I didn’t need it. I was too young.”

Still, Richards stood firm in her decision, telling them, “this is something that I want to do for me,” while asking for their support even if they didn’t agree.

Denise Richards Revisits Old Family Tensions Over Cosmetic Procedures

The conversation around Richards’ facelift also reopened an earlier disagreement with her daughter Sami. 

The two had previously clashed when Sami wanted a nose job, and Richards had expressed hesitation at the time.

Reflecting on that moment, the model revealed her daughter reminded her of the situation, saying, “Mom, you did not want me to get a nose job.”

Richards defended her perspective, explaining, Sami was only 20 years old at the time and getting a nose job would change her looks. 

She emphasized that her own procedure was different, noting, “For me, he’s just putting things back where they were. I’m not trying to change the way I look; I’m just trying to put things back.”

Despite the disagreement, Richards acknowledged her daughter’s feelings and tried to reassure her, even complimenting her appearance and her resemblance to her father.

Richards Opens Up About The Reality Of Her Transformation

Richards has been candid about both the physical and emotional aspects of her facelift. Before the procedure, she had heavier eyelids, visible wrinkles, and a downturned lip. Afterward, the changes were noticeable, featuring lighter eyelids, smoother skin, and a more balanced look.

She admitted the decision was not easy, saying, “I was terrified. Being in the public eye since my 20s, people know what I look like – a facelift is not something that I could hide.”

Richards also clarified that while she had undergone breast augmentation at 19 and revision surgeries later on, this marked her first facial cosmetic procedure. 

Reflecting on the outcome, she described the transformation as “It is night and day” and added, “It’s shocking, actually.”

Interestingly, she noted that her openness encouraged other celebrities to share their own experiences privately, though she declined to name anyone.

Denise Richards’ Facelift Drama Unfolds Amid Divorce And Legal Battles

Richards’ cosmetic journey has been overshadowed by her ongoing divorce from Aaron Phypers, who filed in July 2025 after six years of marriage. 

The split has played out publicly, with legal and financial tensions continuing to mount.

The actress revealed that her ex exposed her facelift before she had the chance to speak about it herself. “Going through my divorce, my ex [Aaron Phypers] disclosed that I’d had a facelift,” she said, adding that he even arranged for a photographer to capture her during a follow-up appointment. 

Richards then pushed back against claims that the procedure was unsuccessful, calling the suggestion that  it was “botched” “really ridiculous.”

The legal battle has also included financial rulings. As The Blast reported in February, a judge ordered Richards to pay Phypers $5,000 per month in temporary spousal support and contribute $30,000 toward his legal fees. The payments were itemized to cover rent, a car, food, and other expenses.

Meanwhile, Richards’ legal team argued that supporting him was unfair, especially given that she had previously been granted a restraining order against him. 

Her lawyer stated, per the Daily Mail, “Victims of abuse shouldn’t be required to support their abuser,” while the opposing side noted that Phypers has not been convicted of the charges he faces.

As the legal proceedings continue, Richards has reflected on the past year as one of major emotional upheaval, describing it as a time of “letting go [and] truths being exposed,” while also expressing gratitude for the clarity it has brought.

A Florida man has been arrested after police allege he exposed and then touched himself in front of three teen girls while in a sauna on a Celebrity cruise ship.

An arrest affidavit from the Broward Sheriff’s Office stated that Michael Henry Mullis was charged with two counts of indecent exposure in the incidents that took place on the Celebrity Eclipse ship on Saturday, March 21, according to NBC Miami.

A 17-year-old and a 16-year-old told investigators that Mullis, 39, exposed himself and started masturbating as he sat on the top bench in the sauna, per the affidavit.

Another incident took place that same day when a 19-year-old employee claimed he saw Mullis in the sauna. The employee told investigators that Mullis allegedly took off all of his clothing before he covered himself with a towel.

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“Do you mind if I stroke my d**k?” Mullis allegedly asked the teenager, according to the affidavit.

After the reports were made against him, ship security took Mullis into custody. He was then transported to Broward’s main jail.

It is not currently clear if Mullis has entered a plea or retained legal representation following his arrest. The Broward Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case.

Those who are found charged with indecent exposure in the state of Florida “must have exposed your sexual organs to another person in public in a vulgar or offensive manner,” according to the Flaherty & Merrifield Criminal Defense website.

If Mullis is found guilty of indecent exposure charge, he could be ordered to pay up to $1,000 in fines, be sentenced to prison for up to one year and have his driver’s license suspended for one year.

“The accusation of a sex crime can adversely affect your life even before you have a chance to defend yourself,” according to the law firm’s website. “If convicted of this first-degree misdemeanor, you could be ordered to serve jail time and pay high fines, but you could also lose your job and your standing in the community.”

Those who are charged with indecent exposure involving a child under 16 years old will likely face even more severe punishments.

“Any indecent exposure involving a child raises the penalties significantly,” the law firm stated. “Under Florida law, lewd or lascivious exhibition is a form of child sexual abuse, even if it does not include physical or sexual contact with the victim.”

By Robert Scucci
| Published 15 seconds ago

There’s no problem in life that can’t be solved by an epic rant because it’s the best way to lay all your thoughts out on the table and properly dissect them. In 2025’s Is This Thing On?, these rants come in the form of an amateur stand-up set as a man tries to navigate his upcoming divorce. What starts as a completely impulsive move turns into a lifeline for Will Arnett’s Alex Novak, who doesn’t necessarily want to move on without his wife and kids, but doesn’t yet know how to accept this phase of his life.

A comedy drama with an extra emphasis on comedy, Is This Thing On? is a feel-good story about falling out of love, coping with the loss, and picking up the pieces in unexpected ways. If I have any criticism of the film, it’s that it’s just a little too convenient, and the stakes, all things considered, are considerably low for the kind of point it’s trying to get across. The concept, which is loosely based on English comedian John Bishop’s life, is fun, and it’s a light watch. It’s a great movie about second chances, and sometimes that’s all you really need after a particularly tumultuous week on the home front.

From Bachelor Pad To Comedy Club

Is This Thing On? doesn’t have much going on at a narrative level, but its character arcs are still satisfying. Amicably separated from his wife of 20 odd years, Tess (Laura Dern), Alex Novak (Will Arnett) feels lost post-marriage. Their divorce wasn’t rancorous, and they still run in the same social circles. They live separately, but share custody of their two kids, Felix (Blake Kane) and Jude (Calvin Knegten). By all measures, this is the healthiest way to approach divorce, but it’s obvious that the separation is gnawing away at both Alex and Tess, who no longer feel like a couple but still show up for each other every day.

After eating a pot cookie with Tess and accidentally getting separated at the train station, Alex walks into a comedy club. Not having any cash on hand, he signs up for an open mic to get out of paying the cover charge, and something awakens in him that night. He goes on stage and kills it, finding the sense of purpose outside of his white-collar job and family life that he’s been desperately craving.

It doesn’t take long for him to become an open mic regular, and eventually a featured act, unbeknownst to his family, which is probably for the better. Since most of his jokes are about his failed marriage, it’s a good thing that Tess doesn’t hear his rants. That is, until she shows up at a comedy club by sheer coincidence and sees him in action.

From this point forward in Is This Thing On?, Alex and Tess decide to give their relationship a second chance, learning the real reason their marriage failed now that they’ve had some time apart. It’s not like everything gets fixed overnight, but they still have feelings for each other, even if they don’t quite know how to move forward at this point in their lives.

When A Feel-Good Movie Feels Too Good

A total feel-good movie through and through, Is This Thing On? is about more than life after divorce and one man’s attempt to pick up the pieces. By all measures, Alex is killing it. He’s showing up for his family in ways he neglected in the past, and his comedy hobby puts a bounce in his step. His new lease on life is immediately noticed by the woman who no longer wanted to be with him, but decides that she does upon realizing that she could also be chasing her dreams of being an Olympic volleyball coach while supporting him with his.

The problem with this dynamic, however, is that it doesn’t feel plausible, even if it’s inspired by a true story. Too many critical changes happen too quickly, making the whole thing play out like a Lifetime movie, which is unfortunate because with a little more drama and tension, this could have been a perfect movie. It explores themes that a lot of married couples struggle with, but its “conflict” is borderline nonexistent.

For what it’s worth, though, it’s a nice movie about finding a new purpose in life well into adulthood, when you should be set in your ways, and that’s really all it needs to be. I’m not buying how clean everything resolves here, but if these things happened in my life, it’s probably how I’d want them to play out.

As of this writing, Is This Thing On? is streaming on Hulu.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

For men, one of the most difficult tasks on this planet is picking out a good date movie. This seemingly simple task is made nearly impossible because the two parties are into completely different films. For example, maybe he likes action movies and stoner comedies. Meanwhile, she likes indie dramas and period piece Oscar bait. How can you pick something both will enjoy? Simple: get yourself a movie with a little something for everyone!

To this day, the best date movie is 50 First Dates (2004), a vintage Adam Sandler film that pairs him up yet again with Drew Barrymore, his most affable onscreen partner. It wasn’t exactly a critical hit, but audiences way back when enjoyed how this film managed to combine some deeply deranged comedy with genuinely emotional storytelling. If you’re ready to watch a perfect date movie with your girl (or maybe just cry some manly tears on your own), then you need to stream 50 First Dates for free on Tubi!

Thanks For The Memories

The premise of 50 First Dates is that a quirky marine veterinarian living in Hawaii falls in love with a local art teacher. They hit it off really well, but there’s one enormous problem: she has amnesia so severe that she always forgets what happened the previous day, which would normally make a relationship impossible. However, this wacky vet decides that he can solve this problem by doing something most men would dread. Namely, making her fall in love with him again, each and every day!

The cast of 50 First Dates is relatively small, but it’s full of really big names, including Dan Aykroyd (best known for Ghostbusters) and Sean Astin (best known for the Lord of the Rings movies). There are a few surprising actors in the cast (like Maya Rudolph), and at least one very unsurprising one: Rob Schneider, who is the apparent lifetime beneficiary of the Adam Sandler jobs program. Speaking of which, Sandler turns in one of his better performances as an amiable doofus, and he has powerful enough chemistry with a quirky Drew Barrymore that you can easily buy the two of them as the most adorkable couple on the island.

Too Cool For The Critics

Relative to its budget, 50 First Dates earned quite a bit of Hawaiian pork. Against a budget of $75 million, this quirky rom-com earned $198.5 million. That wasn’t enough scrilla to warrant a sequel, though the film leaves a complicated legacy involving both a stage musical adaptation and (somewhat inexplicably) a Thailand remake that is scheduled to premiere later this year.

When 50 First Dates came out, reviewers decided it was quite the frustrating cinematic vacation. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 45 percent, with critics complaining that the film had too much gross-out humor for their liking. However, they did begrudgingly acknowledge that Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have an amazing chemistry that often elevates otherwise mundane scenes.

A Sexy Chemistry Lesson

For me, the chemistry is more than just a saving grace. It is, in many ways, the only reason to watch 50 First Dates. That’s not a slam against the movie, whose Hawaiian backdrop leads to some genuinely breathtaking shots. But this is a romantic comedy, and as any film buff knows, a rom-com is only as good as its lead couple. Fortunately, Sandler and Barrymore (who also shine in films like The Wedding Singer) bounce off each other in such a natural way that their onscreen affection is downright infectious. 

Plus, as I mentioned before, the film is great for couples with different tastes who want a film they can both enjoy. Those who enjoy typical bro comedies will enjoy the film’s humor, which embraces grossout gags without getting as unhinged as, say, The Waterboy. At the same time, the film functions surprisingly well as a romance in which the last two people you’d ever expect to fall in love find joy in each other’s arms. Trust me, fellows: if you like Jackass and your gal likes Bridgerton, 50 First Dates is the hilarious and heartfelt compromise you’ve been looking for. 

Bound For Laughs

Finally, for better or for worse, this is an Adam Sandler movie, and he has spent a lifetime transforming himself into the McDonald’s of cinematic comedians. Like McD’s, he’s the same in almost every comedy, which is great for fans of films like Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison who are looking for a bit of guilty pleasure entertainment. In 50 First Dates, he does nothing to really change up the brand of goofball humor that originally made him a star. But that won’t matter a bit to Sandler fans who are happy to watch the actor follow a very familiar, very funny formula from beginning to end.

Will you remember 50 First Dates for the rest of your life, or will you be stuck reliving the moment when you hit the back button and bail out? The only way to find out is to stream the movie for yourself on Tubi. It’s the perfect film for couples, and one that you can stream completely for free. If nothing else, that means you’re halfway to every man’s romantic dream: a cheap date night!

By Shanna Mathews-Mendez
| Published 28 seconds ago

When Orson Scott Card first conceived of a short story about a gifted kid in a futuristic battle with alien forces, he could not have imagined the scope this work would eventually take on. Today, almost 50 years later, the film adaptation of that original work, Ender’s Game, is streaming free on Plex and Tubi. 

The central theme of the story asks: How far would you go to win a war you didn’t start?

Ender’s Game began as a short story, first published in 1977. The short story did so well that Card developed it into a full-length novel, Ender’s Game, released in 1985.

The book is named for the main character, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, a supernaturally gifted young boy enlisted to help win the war between Earth and the aliens. Card also said he chose the name because of how close it comes to “endgame” in chess. 

The novel was hugely popular, winning multiple awards, including the Hugo and the Nebula. For decades, Card was sure his work could not be developed into a film because the entire experience takes place in Ender’s head. After much deliberation, debate, and discussion, he finally agreed to the version we have now.

So, we can take the word of the author and the reception by critics. Even the U.S. Marines have declared that the book stands as an excellent example of what kinds of decisions are necessary when in the midst of war. 

While the movie Ender’s Game, directed by Gavin Hood, follows the book quite closely, it must leave some things out. However, more than edits, the primary change readers of the book who watch the film will note is that the on-screen version of this story makes Ender, played here by Asa Butterfield, a much more sympathetic figure. 

In Ender’s Game, the novel, Ender exerts decisive force over perceived bullies from a very young age, which catches the attention of higher-ups in the military. His reasoning is that it is better to take extreme measures now to prevent conflict later.

It must be acknowledged that Ender is only 10 years old when he kills two different people. Whether he needed to kill them or not is up to the reader to decide. In the movie, we see only one death, and it is portrayed as much more accidental.

Despite the changes to the story and the softening of the tone, Ender’s Game was praised for its exceptional cast. In addition to the rising star Asa Butterfield, it includes Viola Davis, Hailee Steinfeld, Ben Kingsley, Abigail Breslin, and Harrison Ford as Colonel Gruff. Author Orson Scott Card even makes a cameo, well, his voice does.

While the film received mixed reviews, it has a mostly positive following and has already become a cult classic since 2013. It’s certainly worth watching, but of course, as in most cases, you should read the book as well.

When you’re ready to take on this heavy material, you can stream Ender’s Game on Tubi. Just be prepared to have a conflict of conscience. 

Miss J Alexander still has hope that his long-time friendship with Tyra Banks can be repaired following the explosive Netflix documentary about “America’s Next Top Model,” where the former judge and runway coach revealed a devastating and debilitating stroke.

According to reports, Alexander wants to get back to a good place with the supermodel, who he has known since she was 17, even though the two have not spoken since his stroke in 2022.

Miss J Alexander Hopes To Repair Tyra Banks Friendship Despite Estrangement Following His Stroke Battle

Per TMZ, inside sources told the outlet that Miss J has “no ill will or animosity” towards Banks, and “remains hopeful they can reconcile.” 

All he wants is for her to reach out to him in person or a phone call instead of the text message she sent him during his lengthy hospital stay due to his stroke that left him with limited mobility.

Miss J Previously Revealed Who Visited Him After His Stroke

While Miss J says Banks has yet to come check in on him, the beloved runway coach has not been without support from old “ANTM” colleagues.

Among those said to have visited him during the early days of his recovery are “ANTM” alumni Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker, who both reflected on the emotional toll of seeing their longtime friend hospitalized.

“It was just such a terrible shock, and really upsetting and horrifying and scary,” Barker said in the Netflix docuseries, “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.” “I don’t know whether he even wanted me to see him in that way.”

The Famed Runway Coach Detailed The Severity Of His Stroke And The Supermodel’s Absence In ‘ANTM’ Docuseries

Miss J’s misfortune began on December 27, 2022, when he suffered a stroke that rendered him unable to walk.

Speaking in the docuseries, he recalled the traumatic events. “I had a stroke,” he said. “I woke up, I didn’t know where I was, other than the hospital.”

Revealing the full gravity of the ordeal, Miss J explained that he spent more than a month in a coma.

“I spent five weeks in a coma. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t talk,” he recounted.

The former “ANTM” judge also addressed his relationship with Banks, noting that although she expressed interest in visiting, she has yet to do so.

“She just sent me a text that she wants to come and visit me,” said Miss J. “But no, not yet.”

Tyra Banks Found Support Following Online Backlash After ‘ANTM’ Doc Release

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Kelly Cutrone, who was a judge on “America’s Next Top Model” during cycles 18 through 22, spoke about what the future holds for supermodel and mogul Banks, as she faces backlash from the explosive documentary “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.”

“I feel confident that Tyra will prevail,” Cutrone told the outlet. “She’s done a lot for people, including the people who are out there trashing her right now, specifically the people who worked on the show.”

“I feel that she will prevail, and I think that she will get through this,” the famed fashion publicist said. “But I think that 80 percent of [the docuseries] is incredibly twisted. I believe that the facts and the truth will come forward.”

Sherri Shepherd also came to Banks’ defense during a segment on her daytime talk show on February 19.

She noted how different reality television was at the time “ANTM” was at the height of its popularity.

“But I also say, you have to understand the time this all happened was in 2003,” she said. “Reality TV was the wild, wild west back then. Every show was trying to outdo each other to stay on the air.”

“We’re woke now, we know so much more now than we did back then,” Shepherd continued her defense of Banks. “I hate that she’s getting so much flak. She does need to take accountability, I know that, but I also know the battles some people will never understand that are fought.”

Additionally, Cycle 3 winner Eva Marcille sang Banks’s praises for making her dreams come true.

During an appearance on “CBS Mornings,” per PEOPLE, Marcille said, “Thanks to ‘Top Model,’ though. What I will say is I will never fail to thank Tyra.”

“What Tyra set out to do in this business, I will always say — and especially for ‘Top Model,’ initially — she set out to change the world; to change what the modeling industry looked like, sound like, felt like and expected. And she did that for me,” she added.

Friend Who Created GoFundMe For Miss J’s Medical Expenses Defended The Fundraiser Amid Backlash

Steven Grossman, a talent manager and producer, shared a throwback photo on Instagram of himself with Alexander, Manuel, and Cutrone, paired with a lengthy caption about his health struggles before asking his followers to contribute to the GoFundMe.

“I started a @gofundme to help @miss_jalexander with the overwhelming financial burden of medical bills and long term care,” Grossman’s caption read in part. “So if Miss J ever made you smile or laugh – I hope you will consider donating or sharing with your community. Let’s all come together for someone who has inspired so much joy, confidence and individuality in all of us.”

In the comments of the post, an Instagram user asked Grossman why he was starting a GoFundMe if he was so close to Alexander, also alluding to his financial status as a Hollywood manager and producer, and Grossman offered a defense.

“Because he kept it private for years until the Netflix documentary came out and it wasn’t my news to share,” he wrote in response. “For clarity though I’ve never repped Miss J. He’s just a friend.”

Some criticism arose regarding the GoFundMe, specifically as it relates to recent Hollywood figures having fundraisers on the platform, such as late actors Eric Dane and James Van Der Beek.

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To date, the GoFundMe has raised over $37,000 of its $50,000 goal.

Ten years ago, Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, and it’s safe to say not everyone was thrilled about it. The decision was immediately regarded as a radical and divisive act, with critics and fans alike left debating what it meant for the defining boundaries of literature. Crucially, if music has the power to dilute the strength of literary devices.

Project Hail Mary Interview | Sandra Hüller

Even a decade later, questions linger around Dylan’s win, revealing a deep-rooted tension between tradition and evolution, or perhaps more uncomfortably, so-called high and low art. Dylan’s work is at a unique crossroads of the two, having been inspired by both blues legends like Muddy Waters and literary icons such as Herman Melville. In recognizing Dylan’s songwriting as legitimate poetry, the Nobel Committee invited a serious reevaluation of what modern literature looks like, and perhaps an equally serious evaluation of what modern snobbery looks like.

Bob Dylan’s 2016 Nobel Prize Win Shocked the World and Sparked a High vs. Low Art Debate

This year is the tenth anniversary of Bob Dylan winning the Nobel Prize in Literature, and when it was announced on October 13, 2026, it was met with a plethora of mixed reactions. The division of opinion was to be expected, as he was the first songwriter to win the mightily impressive accolade, with The New York Times dubbing the win as “Perhaps the most radical choice” in the history of the prize. The announcement sparked debate regarding the boundaries between so-called high art and low art. The very notion of this distinction alone is problematic. It suggests that a certain form of media deserves to be recognized as having more value, often implied by the way or by whom it is consumed.

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According to The Swedish Academy, Dylan’s win was “For having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” Throughout his career, Dylan has been heavily influenced by the blues music of the likes of Ma Rainey, Muddy Waters, and Robert Johnson and the literary works of Herman Melville, Erich Maria Remarque, and Homer. This combination of influences could be perceived as the marriage of the distastefully labeled lower and higher arts, and how the prize is slowly adjusting to accommodate a more representative reflection of contemporary art.
The criticism that Dylan’s win attracted was, arguably, understandable. I’m not saying he deserved hate, disrespect, or ridicule, but I’m sure his fans could empathize with the literary community being surprised and feeling like a songwriter was in a different category than, say, a novelist. Rabih Alameddine, a novelist himself, tweeted that “Bob Dylan winning a Nobel in Literature is like Mrs Fields being awarded three Michelin stars,” and Pierre Assouline slammed the win as “Contemptuous of writers.” They’re somewhat valid in their feelings, but what they perhaps failed to see is that many people love Mrs Fields, a brand that has contributed to the shaping of a generation, and Dylan is a writer.
Because Dylan’s poetry is delivered against a musical backdrop, some critics may have felt as though the literary aspect of his work is in some way diluted. However, it could be argued that once any written work is lifted from the page (a playscript, a poetry reading, an audiobook), it becomes a performance piece. So, what critics may want to consider is that the introduction of music to Dylan’s work doesn’t necessarily make it any less poetic, it just adds a contemporary flair to its performance.

Bob Dylan’s Nobel Win Only Got More Complicated

Following the announcement of his win, Bob Dylan only fueled further controversy by not attending the Stockholm ceremony due to “pre-existing commitments.” It is very unusual for prize winners to be absent from the ceremonies, and to some, Dylan’s move felt like a snub. However, Dylan assured fans that winning the Nobel Prize in Literature was “amazing, incredible. Who ever dreams about something like that?” Dylan later received his award in April 2017 in a private ceremony with no media present.
In true music legend fashion, Dylan submitted his Nobel lecture just days before the lecture deadline, six months after the prize was awarded. His lecture also raised eyebrows for its content. In a 2017 article, Andrea Pitzer found multiple examples of Dyan’s lecture that mirrored a SparkNotes analysis of Moby Dick. An Associated Press analysis found that the two pieces of work share twenty “identical phrases and similar phrasing”, but “no verbatim sentences.” Perhaps Dylan was simply continuing the “Rich and enriching tradition” within folk music of using pre-existing material.

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The cover was released less than a year later.

A decade on from the win, Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize in Literature accomplishment still sits at a rather controversial intersection of music and literature. What felt like a radical decision at the time continues to raise questions about how artistic merit is defined. Even if those boundaries are increasingly blurred, many will deem Dylan’s win as a potential blunder rather than a justification for recognition. The thing is, either way, it disrupted the cultural conversation, which is a subtle act of literature itself. Fair play, Bob Dylan.

For Wilmer Valderrama and Emily Wickersham, hitting 500 episodes of NCIS isn’t just about breaking network television records — it’s about the people who’ve grown up with the show. Speaking with Collider for our expansive Collider Rewind look back at the legacy of the franchise, the actors reflected on what’s kept the long-running series going for more than two decades, pointing to its focus on deeply human, relatable characters and the way it’s become part of viewers’ everyday lives.

Wickersham first joined NCIS in Season 11 in a recurring role before being promoted to series regular later that same season. She went on to play Ellie Bishop for seven seasons before exiting the show, only to return in the current Season 23. Valderrama, meanwhile, joined as a series regular in Season 14 and has portrayed Nick Torres ever since. Over the years, Bishop and Torres developed a classic will-they-won’t-they dynamic — one that quickly became a fan-favorite and drew comparisons to some of the franchise’s most iconic relationships. That storyline was ultimately cut short by Wickersham’s departure, but now, with her return (albeit for just one episode), fans are once again tuning in and hoping Season 23 might finally deliver the payoff they’ve been waiting for.

During our conversation, Valderrama described NCIS as something that evolves alongside its audience, while Wickersham highlighted how it’s created a shared experience across generations—parents, grandparents, and kids all watching together. Together, their perspective frames the franchise not just as a global hit, but as a lasting source of comfort and connection for millions of fans. You can read the full interview below, and stay tuned for more epic NCIS conversations this week.

COLLIDER: Talking about the 500th episode, when it airs, NCIS will have now surpassed Grey’s Anatomy, Family Guy, and classics like Bonanza. What do you think it is about NCIS that has made it such a mainstay on television?

WILMER VALDERRAMA: It’s a beautiful question. Every year, the show defies the odds of gravity by continuing and having this many people watch. I mean, last year, over 300 million people watched around the world. You think about those numbers, and you think about what this show might have actually meant to people at different times of their personal journeys and their lifespans, or the families that have seen children be born and gone off to college throughout the run of the show. It’s something incredibly special.

When you ask, what’s the secret sauce? We’ve understood what the show really is about, and it’s about the people solving the cases. It’s about creating these characters that you can see yourself in, and then also go through some kind of subliminal journey, spiritual journey, physical journey, where it goes like, “Okay, I know what they’re going through.” And you get answers, and you get to places. So, I think in many ways, NCIS has had a soulful journey, as any individual has. The show performs as a living organism, so everything you see on that screen is alive. It’s not a character that you’re just watching solve a crime of the week, and to me, that’s the gift, right?

I knew the show was incredibly special before I joined it. I joined in Season 14, I’m going into Season 24 next year, and I’ll tell you, the thing that really sticks out to me is that the people behind the characters are just as special as the people who are on-screen, and that’s something that is also part of the secret sauce.

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Reunions Not a Moment Too Soonions — The Collider TV Quiz!

It’s always fun when actors from one show find their way back to one another in a new show. Were these television reunions memorable to you?

‘NCIS’ Has Cracked the Code for Continuing to be a “Good Show”

“It’s been so cool to have that experience from fans over the years.”

Image via CBS

That’s such a beautiful answer. Emily, do you have anything to add to that, or did he hit the nail on the head?

EMILY WICKERSHAM: He always hits the nail on the head. He’s so good at this. But I think that, I’m sure, Wilmer, you’ve experienced this also, that different generations of people will come up to you and be like, “I watched the show with my grandma. I was a little kid, and I watched with my grandma, or my mom, or my dad.” It’s built this connection between generations, which I’ve always thought was so cool, that a grandparent watched it with their grandson or granddaughter, because it’s been on for so long that it does have this special quality about it. It’s been in people’s living rooms for so long, of different ages, and I always have found that so special that everyone has been able to have this shared experience with these characters over the years.

There are so many episodes to watch. People who are in hospital beds or whatever have so many wonderful episodes they can just throw on the TV, and it’s become this comfort. It’s been so cool to have that experience from fans over the years.

VALDERRAMA: You nailed it there. That’s one of the most special things is when you either are walking through an airport or you’re walking through a mall, and you’re walking down the street and somebody comes up and is like, “Hey, I just want you to know, I lost my grandfather or my father two years ago, and I keep watching NCIS because it’s the one thing that connects me to them.” What a gift, and what a beautiful responsibility to continue to be a good show.

I think that’s part of the beauty of the show. It’s one of those very few shows still in our lifetime that can bring families together in the living room. I think we’ve lost a lot of that viewership in television. There are so many options, there are so many genres, there are so many age groups that have specialty shows dedicated to them. Shows that bring us all together in one cohesive, extraordinary experience are very few. So, I think for CBS to continue to cultivate that NCIS night and to continue to give families a place where they can watch together, it’s cool enough, it’s seasoned enough, and it’s mature enough that that gets people talking together. I feel like it’s been the greatest gift in my life, in my career, to be able to see that through this show.

It’s really been such a gift for fans. I’ve actually been watching NCIS since it first started as a backdoor pilot on JAG, so it’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I have a lot of fond memories tied to it. I was also thinking about how you both came into the show in Season 10 and Season 14, and I’m curious what that experience was like — especially the audition process. Did you go back and watch specific episodes to get a feel for where the show was at, its tone, or how your characters might fit into that world at the time?

WICKERSHAM: I went in pretty blind, if I’m being completely honest. I actually hadn’t watched much of NCIS before my audition. There were several episodes to watch, and I watched a few. The audition process was really cool, and I think very different from Wilmer’s, where I auditioned with a few girls, and we did scenes on the actual set for the tests with the actual actors at the stages, and it was so cool, I felt, the way they went about it. In a way, it took the pressure off because it was like it doesn’t matter if you get the job, you just kind of have the job for the day, and that went for all the actors auditioning.

I just had the best time. It was Sean Murray, Michael Weatherly and Mark Harmon for those tests, and everyone was wonderful. I had such a great experience. I didn’t know if I was going to get it or not, and I did, and it changed my life.

And the rest is history, right?

WICKERSHAM: Yeah!

Wilmer Valderrama Resisted the Call for ‘NCIS’ Until it Was the Right Moment

“You guys don’t need anything. Your cast is stacked.”

Image via Michael Yarish/CBS

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VALDERRAMA: I would say for me, yeah, we had a little bit of a different experience. Years before I actually joined NCIS, there was this opportunity to join NCIS: Los Angeles, and I wasn’t ready at that moment. I was doing some other stuff. There were a couple of things that I had on the horizon that I really wanted to see through, and the timing wasn’t right for NCIS: Los Angeles, for me, so it didn’t happen.

But then, years later, I was shooting Minority Report, which lasted one season, and then I was shooting From Dusk Till Dawn with Robert Rodriguez. I was covered in gunpowder and fake blood and vampire fangs, and Robert Rodriguez directed, and I’m in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I get this phone call from my team, and they’re like, “Hey, an offer came in for you to join NCIS.” And I was like, “I don’t know, man. That show is like the number one show on television. I feel like they won’t need me.” I feel like going to a show that needs you is so much more rewarding because you get to contribute on a greater level. They’re like, “But just take the meeting!” And I was like, “I don’t know. I don’t know. I think I’m okay.” Then I got back in town from shooting the show and they’re like, “Just take the meeting with the showrunner.” And I was like, “Alright.”

I’d just done this pilot for CBS Studios, where I played a young colonel in a show called Four Stars. It was a beautiful show. Unfortunately, at that time, there was no slots because nothing got canceled on CBS, so the show didn’t go, even though the show was really, really good. I think the network and Amy Rosenberg, who was our current executive on NCIS at the time, now the president of the network. She had seen that pilot and she had said, “What about Wilmer Valderrama for this part?” And I was like, “What?” Then she talked to the team, Mark Harmon, talked to everyone, and they’re like, “Yeah, that sounds like an interesting idea.” So I met with the showrunner, Gary Glasberg, rest in peace, and I was like, “Hey, man, look, I’m taking the meeting. I really appreciate it. I’m very flattered, but you guys are number one. You guys don’t need anything. Your cast is stacked.”

Then that’s when he told me that Michael Weatherly was leaving, and they wanted to shake things up in the squad room. They wanted to do something different. I was like, “Well, I don’t know how different, because I don’t know that I’m going to be playing what he was to the show.” And he said, “Well, what do you want to create?” And that’s when my ears went like, “Create? I can create my own character from scratch?” And then we’re having this conversation, and he’s like, “Look, man, the next two years are picked up. You get to have a journey to build a character you would like to play.” He said, “Not a lot of people are running up to the bad guy anymore, so we need to actually go chase the bad guys.” So, long story short, I was like, “Well, this is an interesting opportunity.”

By the way, in referencing Cote de Pablo and giving her her flowers, a Latina who played a really beautiful, strong character on that show, yet she was never allowed to play a Latina; she played an Israeli character, you know? I just felt like, “Wow, this will be the first Latino on the cast. Could be interesting. It could be fun. I could really spice it up. I could really be myself, unapologetically.” And the promises were right. They were just like, “Go. Fly.” So, we created a character that I felt was so different than NCIS had seen that I felt like, “At least I’m contributing something that dynamically feels different.” And I really loved it.

My first two days there were amazing. Emily and Sean Murray and Pauley Perrette, at the time, and that same year, Jennifer Esposito joined. Man, I was like, “This team is awesome!” The nicest crew in Hollywood. The writers just like to keep writing out amazing episodes, and they knew how to make my character sing. So, I had a lot of fun the first couple of years, and I realized, “Man, this really could be a home.” And I really worked very hard to make sure the fans knew that I was here with all respect, that I was here to build on what they had already seen, and that hopefully they would have me in their living rooms. And so far, I still got a job, so that’s pretty good.

Two things off of that. One, From Dusk Till Dawn, is one of the best shows ever. I loved it so much.

VALDERRAMA: Thank you!

Two, you mentioned here that this is 10 years going into your 10th season. What has being part of NCIS taught you as a member of a cast, especially when you have a show like this where there are so many guest stars, so many day players, so many supporting roles? How have you grown as an actor?

VALDERRAMA: Thank you for that. It’s a great question. The first thing that comes to mind is collaboration, to be at a place where nobody’s afraid to try things. When you have a show that gets 20-episode pickups, you’re like, “Alright, let’s try this this episode. Let’s make him a little moody on this episode. Let’s make him a little bit more of a ball-buster on this one.” You get to really try things. That’s one of the things I feel, that they have created such an environment for all of us to play and have fun, and the writers really are not very picky about how it’s interpreted. There’s a science for solving cases, but when it comes to letting our characters sing, they really let us cook, and so that makes it very fun. I think when you have that environment, you start swinging for the fences. You have a lot of fun. You come to work excited to do something different, and I think that that definitely was one of those elements.

The other environment is that everyone’s very grateful to have a job, and everyone’s very grateful to be there, and that feels refreshing. There’s no bitterness on set, and so that’s also really exciting.

But I don’t know, it’s a really loaded question because there’s like a million reasons and a million ways that I could answer that. I would say that what this show has really taught me is to lead with opinion and lead with solutions. I’m not going to complain about the script if I didn’t read it three days before. I’m not going to have an opinion on the scene unless I talked about days before, where the writers can actually have an opportunity to help you mold it into what you expect it to be. That level of respect for each other’s artistry, I think, is also kind of a great runway. But I think that’s the thing: lead with ideas and solutions, and help move the ball a little closer to the touchdown.

I love that answer. It was really astute.

WICKERSHAM: No, he’s so articulate. So good!

Bishop’s Return to ‘NCIS’ Was “So Serendipitous”

“It was like stepping back in time into this family that I really love.”

Don’t worry, Emily, I have one for you now.

VALDERRAMA: [Laughs] Oh, here we go!

Coming back as Bishop, I remember being so gutted when your character left, and I was so excited when the news came out that you were coming back. What was it like coming back? Because there have been so many cast changes, so many differences between now and then. How has it shaped your return for Bishop as well?

WICKERSHAM: It was so serendipitous and perfect the way it unfolded. Bishop went off and had to really shift her life. There was this fire that she didn’t want to put out, and I think that was happening for me in different ways as Emily. So, coming back to the show, the show really did change my life in so many ways. I feel like I really had the opportunity to work every day as an actor, and I got to learn how to act in a lot of ways. Because before you’re doing it every day, I found it very difficult to get into the rhythm, but you get into such a wonderful rhythm on this show. For 10 months out of the year, you’re sharing this experience with these people. You become so close. I don’t think I’ll actually ever have this experience again in my life, where I get the opportunity to go back.

I knew everybody. There were a few characters and a few new cast members that I didn’t know, and I got to know, and they’re wonderful. But a lot of the crew has stayed the same, and it was like stepping back in time into this family that I really love. It was such a special, wonderful experience for me, and I think for Bishop, as well. Coming back, Bishop had such a great period of her life, had so many incredible experiences at NCIS solving cases, and all this stuff, and just the day-to-day rapport with everyone there that there’s this familiar thing about NCIS where it was just cool. I knew I wouldn’t be as articulate as Wilmer.

VALDERRAMA: Oh my god!

WICKERSHAM: [Laughs] But it really was! It was cool. And I really don’t think I’ll ever experience anything like it again, both for myself and Bishop.

Tune into the 500th episode of NCIS tonight, and stay tuned for more Collider Rewind drops as we look back at the series’ legacy.

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NCIS

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Release Date

September 23, 2003

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Showrunner

Donald P. Bellisario

Directors

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Dennis Smith, Terrence O’Hara, Tony Wharmby, James Whitmore Jr., Thomas J. Wright, Michael Zinberg, Arvin Brown, Rocky Carroll, Diana Valentine, Leslie Libman, Tawnia McKiernan, Colin Bucksey, William Webb, Bethany Rooney, Alrick Riley, Jeff Woolnough, Alan J. Levi, Lionel Coleman, Martha Mitchell, Peter Ellis, Michael Weatherly, Edward Ornelas, Stephen Cragg, Tom Wright

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  Sean Murray

  Timothy McGee

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  david mccallum

  Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 39 seconds ago

Right now, Firefly fans are cheering for some seemingly good news: this sci-fi cult classic is going to finally get a revival. Even better, the new show will be animated, and it will be set between the events of the Firefly show and the Serenity movie. This allows the animated series to sidestep the biggest problem a live-action revival would face: namely, showing us the depressing sight of aging actors trying to wheeze their way through acting young again.

However, as a huge fan of Firefly, I can’t help but think this animated show is going to ruin this franchise’s legacy. Right now, Firefly has a reputation as an absolutely perfect one-season show; if the cartoon is not similarly perfect, then the fandom is going to lose its mind. Furthermore, the fact that the animated series will have an entirely new writing staff means it will likely lack the magic of the old show. But even if the old creators came back, this venture would still be doomed because everything we know about Firefly’s aborted second season makes it sound like the worst thing in the ‘verse.

The Chicken, The Egg, And The Starship

Among Firefly fans, there is sometimes a “chicken and the egg” style argument about the show’s quality. Some think the show could have kept its momentum going into future seasons, and that Fox canceling the series after one season kept us from getting years of impossibly awesome sci-fi entertainment. Others think that Season 1 effectively captured lightning in a bottle and the cancellation was a good thing: after all, the thinking goes, it’s better to get one flawless season than watch a show you love sink into mediocrity, year after year.

In a weird way, my biggest worry about the animated Firefly revival isn’t that it will be bad but that it will be average. For other franchises, average wouldn’t be so bad, but the stellar quality of the original Firefly show will cast a big, damn shadow over this new series. Should we get a season or two of mediocre storytelling, fans will be disappointed because the original show set such a high bar. More importantly, it will only take one or two “meh” seasons to completely ruin Firefly’s reputation. It will no longer be a perfect show; it will just be the solid opening of a sci-fi franchise that simply got worse over time. 

Joss In Space

A major elephant in the room is that Firefly was the brainchild of Joss Whedon, the same visionary creator who gave us Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Whedon was once celebrated as the king of the geeks, one whose kingdom rested on his reputation as the world’s biggest male feminist.

Later, the inevitable happened: his ex-wife revealed that he was constantly cheating on her with other women, including the stars of his shows. This happened during the #MeToo movement, hurting his reputation. Later, after stars like Charisma Carpenter, Ray Fisher, and Gal Gadot shared toxic tales of alleged workplace abuses, Whedon was fully canceled and effectively retired from filmmaking. 

This is important because it means the Firefly revival, like the recently-canceled Buffy reboot, is facing an impossible situation. If they were to bring Whedon back, it would be seen as an endorsement of a very controversial figure, leading to the show getting canceled before it ever gets off the ground. But without him, the show is not going to have the exact same quirky humor and whimsical characterization that fans fell in love with in the first place.

Reportedly, the Firefly animated show is proceeding without Whedon, which is likely for the best: it will keep the revival from getting canceled alongside the original show’s creator. But as much as I loathe to say it, his absence means the new show won’t be as good as the old one. At that point, we have to ask the obvious question: why bring Firefly back in the first place if it’s just going to be a crappy imitation of itself?

The Stories Firefly Was Planning To Tell Next

Over the years, fans have fervently wished that Fox hadn’t canceled Firefly so that it could have gotten more seasons. However, that’s a monkey’s paw style wish, and I’ll tell you why. Based on everything we know about the stories planned for it, Firefly Season 2 would have been a disaster.

For one thing, there were plans to make Firefly much darker. Proposed Season 2 stories involved episodes where Mal decided to abandon a planet full of people asking for his help, leaving them all to die. Alan Tudyk pitched an episode where the crew would be helping some criminals who were organizing alien dog fights, getting our crew involved in intergalactic animal abuse. Believe it or not, though, that’s not the worst of it.

According to producer Tim Minear, the very first episode Joss Whedon pitched for Firefly Season 2 focused on Inara; she was the ship’s Companion, a prostitute with many of the privileges of a diplomat. Whedon wanted a story where she was not only suffering from a terminal disease, but also had injected herself with a special syringe that would kill anyone who had sex with her. This comes in handy when she is kidnapped by some Reavers who are known for intimately assaulting their victims. By the time Mal comes to rescue her, all the Reavers are dead, implying Inara had survived a very brutal ordeal.

In case you think that’s a one-off, think again: Minear claims that, after pitching this horrific episode, Whedon told him, “These are the kinds of stories we’re going to do.” Had Firefly gotten a second season, the show would have been a grimdark mess that transformed your favorite characters into a collection of monsters and victims. The show’s early cancellation saved its reputation; now, I can’t help but worry that the Firefly animated show will take its cues from these unused Season 2 stories, ruining this franchise the same way Picard’s grimdark storytelling nearly ruined Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The Hero Of Streamtown

Will the Firefly animated series be any good? As the hero of another Fox TV show might put it, “I want to believe.” The show has a lot going for it, including the return of the original cast and a groundswell of fan support. But it also has a lot going against it because, without the original creators, the storytelling will suffer. That could hurt the entire franchise’s reputation, turning Firefly from the most beloved modern sci-fi property into just another failed reboot.

Like all Firefly fans, I will be tuning in for the animated revival, and I really want it to be the best new show in the entire ‘verse. However, after years of crappy revivals like The X-Files, I’m steeling myself for disappointment. Should that happen, though, I’ll do what any good fan does and dust off my physical media collection. To paraphrase the Firefly theme song, “I don’t care, I’m still free. You can’t take the Blu-rays from me!”