Sometimes, all it takes is the first 10 minutes of a TV show to hook you immediately and confirm that this show is going to be a huge hit. Breaking Bad was like that, for example, as was its sequel series Better Call Saul. The latter cold opened with a black-and-white scene of Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) working behind the counter of a Cinnabon in Omaha, a direct reference to a comment he made in Breaking Bad that unknowingly, it seems, predicted his exact future.

Another great one is The Walking Dead, which shows Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) as sheriff walking through a parking lot when he comes across a disheveled little girl clutching a teddy bear. As he calls to her, and she turns, he realizes her face is completely deformed, and she’s groaning like a monster. Despite his clear reluctance, he shoots her dead. It’s scenes like these that draw you into a show, and HBO shows have some of the best.

‘The White Lotus’ (2021–Present)

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How could you not instantly know that The White Lotus was going to be a massive hit? The show opens with a sad young man in the airport traveling home alone. He chats with an older couple, who heard about a death at the resort where he was staying. This is juxtaposed by the flashback of excited families and individuals, this man included, arriving at the fancy resort in Maui. It builds intrigue right from the jump, because you realize this is a murder mystery that needs to be solved.

Within the first 10 minutes, you’re scanning everyone, analyzing every conversation to try and figure out both who is the killer and who is dead. The scene of the waving staff members, which has become a signature of the show through its first three seasons (and the fictional resort), really has you wondering how this wonderful-looking trip suddenly turned so horrible. The story, along with the familiar faces among the cast like Connie Britton, Murray Bartlett, Jake Lacy, and Sydney Sweeney, will have you dying to blaze through all six episodes in a single sitting.

‘The Penguin’ (2024)

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The Penguin might tell the backstory of one of the most iconic DC Comics villains, traveling back in time to when he was just the low-level mob wannabe known as Oswald “Oz” Cobb (Colin Farrell). But it feels more like a gangster show/movie than it does a superhero one, and you pick up on this right from the jump. It begins with an ominous scene, news reports about an explosion as Oz looks out the window at the devastation. But it’s just his outline in the dark.

Those who watched The Batman know it’s Colin Farrell in heavy make-up behind the long coat, but it’s only when the camera pans around to his face that you get chills. In his first scenes that follow, you can’t help but wonder what shenanigans Oz is going to be up to. When he confronts the late mob boss’ son Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen), at first in a friendly way, you think maybe he isn’t so bad. But the events that occur from there are the beginnings of proof that Oz is not someone to be underestimated. That sets up the entire show from there.

‘True Detective’ (2014–Present)

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Widely considered to be the best season of the anthology series so far, or at least among the best, True Detective Season 1 provided a good indication of what the show was all about as immediately as in the moments following the intriguing opening credits. It’s a dark, creepy night scene as a body is being taken into the forest. A fire breaks out, and it’s clear something very bad is happening. This is the case that will come back to haunt the two leads decades later.

The scene in the perfect from start to finish detective show fades to black and officer Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson) is giving his statement about his partner, which instantly has you wondering who his partner is, why Marty is being questioned about him, and what it has to do with that opening scene. It flips to former partner Rusty Cohle (Matthew McConaughey), whose life has clearly gone a very different way. As they both begin to recall the case of Dora Lange, a woman who was murdered in 1995, the scene takes viewers back. Seeing the younger, baby-faced versions of these two characters will have you itching to know not only what happened in this case, but also what happened between them.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

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Game of Thrones begins with men of the Night Watch being attacked by White Walkers in a snowy scene. It’s clear based on the fantastic directing of this scene along with the setting and cinematography that this show is going to be brilliant. The intensity, costumes, and makeup will also blow you away.

When the scene switches to men on horseback riding on a luscious, green hill, you get the idea that Game of Thrones spares no budget, and it is going to be like a Hollywood movie told across multiple seasons. Once the scene flips to the Starks, you’ll instantly want to learn more about this family who will very likely play a pivotal role (those who read the books know they will). For anyone who has read the George R. R. Martin novels on which the show is based, the picture painted looks like pages from the book come to life instantly.

‘The Last of Us’ (2023–Present)

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Who doesn’t love a good flashback? The Last of Us really sets the stage by flashing back to a news program in 1968 when a scientist basically predicts exactly what happens with the viral pandemic decades later, including fungus mutating to the point that it becomes uncontrollable and can’t be stopped. In the beginning, the show’s host and the audience are smiling and laughing at the absurdity. But as his explanation begins to sound more and more real, it seems like they are all quietly panicking inside. Viewers at home know very well what is coming in this adventure video game masterpiece, which makes this scene even more impactful.

The story flips to 2003, and we see Joel (Pedro Pascal) and his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) going about their day in what is very clearly just before the virus begins to spread in a big way. Seeing the interactions and picking up on subtle clues, you can’t wait for the other shoe to drop, but also appreciate the slow burn. It sets the stage for the pre-surly Joel, a glimpse into who he was before the loss of his daughter. The first few minutes also introduce Joel’s brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna), who, as fans know, becomes pivotal to the plot going forward.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

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The opening scene of Succession is the most vulnerable Logan Roy (Brian Cox) is throughout the entire series, but it’s important to set up the premise and why it’s so important. He awakens in the night, unaware of where he is. He walks into a room, pulls down his pants, and urinates. When the lights go on, he’s in the hallway and has relieved himself on the floor. Cut to his goofy son Kendall (Jeremy Strong) in a suit rapping to music with headphones on while in the backseat of a limo.

You instantly understand that Succession is going to follow an elderly media head in desperate need of passing the torch to someone else. But if Kendall is any indication, his grown kids clearly aren’t ready to lead. Kendall, who seems to be first in line, is desperate for respect but isn’t getting any. He’s the only Roy sibling introduced in the first 10 minutes, along with COO Frank (Peter Friedman), the obvious buffer between family and business. You can tell it’s going to be a wild ride the second Kendall and Logan are in the same room together. The circus it becomes hasn’t even begun, but you just know that when the other kids come along, it’s going to be explosive. The setup is perfectly subtle while getting the point across.

‘The Newsroom’ (2012–2014)

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The Newsroom has one of the cleverest, perfectly delivered opening scenes that sets the stage for the lead character, the show’s political slant, and the overall tone. It’s a Q&A session at a university and news anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) is innocently asked by a young student what makes America the greatest country in the world. He delivers a long monologue basically saying America is not the greatest country in the world and here’s why. Of course, it goes viral.

The idea that this drama is going to follow an already very outspoken and cynical man through a rocky situation will perk your ears up. He returns to work a month later to learn that most of his staff is gone, and his new producer happens to be his ex-girlfriend. When Will learns she has been brought on to improve the network, he doesn’t take too kindly to both the change and the awkwardness of answering to his ex. The Newsroom went on to be one of the best political shows of the decade.

‘Westworld’ (2016–2022)

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A woman is naked, sitting in a chair and being questioned by a man. He seems to be controlling her. She is staring into space as a fly crawls along her face, even onto her eyeball. But she doesn’t instinctively swat it away as most humans would do. It’s evident that this woman isn’t actually human. But what is she? When the scene in Westworld switches to the woman in bed in a lovely home, looking out into the town and discussing the order and purpose of her days, everything seems fine, like it exists in another time.

Once she meets a young man in a cowboy hat, it’s like an old Western movie. The situation turns bleak quickly, however, and you get the sense that this is just the beginning of many horrors to come. There’s no way you can stop watching now, especially when the Man in Black (Ed Harris) shows up, hinting that this show could have been the next Lost. Those who read the books know what Westworld is about, seeing it come to life in such a convincing way will have you hooked.

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

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One of the best miniseries on HBO, Chernobyl tells the story of the catastrophic nuclear plant disaster of 1986 that occurred in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union back in the ’80s. It begins with the voiceover of a man talking about truth, stories, and the importance of knowing not who the heroes are but who is to blame. You know something very bad has happened that this person is recollecting. Since it’s based on a true story, you also understand the gravity of it.

When you see the clearly broken up man recording his testimony on several mini cassette tapes then wrapping them in paper, you know this isn’t going to end well. And it doesn’t. The horrifying nature of this subtle yet powerful scene leaves it virtually impossible for you not to want to keep going to learn more about who this man is, and what his involvement was in everything that happened.

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

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Today, The Sopranos is mostly remembered for its ambiguous finale that had everyone talking. And of course, the fantastic stories and moments throughout the show’s six seasons. But it’s easy to forget how the beginning of this crime drama instantly set the stage and had fans sold on watching. It begins with Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) in the waiting room of his psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi’s (Lorraine Bracco) office. He sits down for his first-ever session. These sessions, of course, would become integral to the show as Tony gets help dealing with panic attacks.

Tony has a violent job as a mob boss but also struggles to balance this with being a family man. It’s an awkward conversation as Tony seems disinterested in sharing, forced to see her by his family doctor. But Jennifer is intrigued. As Tony begins to tell his story, she seems to imply that she’s willing to keep his secrets. It almost feels like you’re watching a gangster movie like Goodfellas. Tony is someone you need to get to know, and his dynamic with Jennifer is instantly interesting, providing a nice reprieve from the action that you suspect is coming as the plot unfolds.

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The Sopranos

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Release Date

1999 – 2007

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Network

HBO

Showrunner

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David Chase

Directors

Tim Van Patten, John Patterson, Alan Taylor, Jack Bender, Steve Buscemi, Daniel Attias, David Chase, Andy Wolk, Danny Leiner, David Nutter, James Hayman, Lee Tamahori, Lorraine Senna, Matthew Penn, Mike Figgis, Nick Gomez, Peter Bogdanovich, Phil Abraham, Rodrigo García

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Off Campus star Mika Abdalla had an epic dance party with the one-and-only Jennifer Lopez after her viral replica costume.

“It’s a new Jeneration of party people…🎶,” Lopez, 56, wrote via Instagram on Friday, May 22, alongside footage of Abdalla, 26, outside a dance studio.

“I don’t know her personally, but I’m pretty sure that’s J. Lo,” Abdall lip-synched Khobe Clarke’s line from Off Campus.

As the cameras cut to Lopez herself, she mouthed Abdalla’s onscreen excitement that “On the Floor” had started playing. The two women subsequently hugged before dancing together.

Related: Jennifer Lopez Wears a Cutout Crystal Gown to Play Poker

Whether she’s walking down the red carpet, performing live or simply out and about, Jennifer Lopez always serves up a seriously hot style moment. The actress’ sexy style is just as iconic as her eponymous J. Lo glow. From plunging necklines and thigh-high leg slits to slinky dresses and itty-bitty minis, the Wedding Planner star […]

Abdalla plays Allie Hayes in Prime Video’s Off Campus, a collegiate hockey romance adapted from Elle Kennedy’s bestselling novels. In one episode, Allie and then-boyfriend Sean (Riley Davis) attended a theme party as Lopez and Ben Affleck.

For Abdalla, that meant rocking a replica of the Hustlers actress’ navel-baring Versace gown that made a statement at the 2000 Grammy Awards.

“It was unbelievable. I had, like, four fittings. They built that [dress] from scratch,” Abdalla exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of the series’ premiere this month. “I had several fittings where they were just, like, draping these fabrics over me, and different brooches and different whatever. I had so much body makeup on. It was unbelievable.”

She continued, “I was seriously, seriously taped into that dress like all day, and I’m dancing around and moving around at the end of the day, I just had, like, a layer of skin [come] off my body. It was so worth it because it looks so cool. The dress looks so good and so cool, and it was so much fun.”

According to Abdalla, she spent an entire dat on set “dancing around in this unbelievable custom-made” replica of Lopez’s iconic dress.

The scene ultimately earned Lopez’s approval.

“Love this shooooww,” Lopez tweeted on May 18, alongside footage of Allie’s J. Lo dance.

The “On the Floor” dance also introduced Allie to her eventual love interest, Dean Heyward-Di Laurentis (Stephen Kalyn).

“I’m just really looking forward to digging deeper into who Allie and Dean are,” Abdalla told Us of her hopes for future Off Campus seasons. “They both, kind of, have these fronts, these personas that are hard to kind of crack through. They are kind of stereotypes of themselves. But in the books, as we know, there’s so much beneath the surface of Dean, and there’s so much beneath the surface of Allie.”

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She added, “When it is time for our season, I’m excited to dig emotionally into that a little bit more, because, you know, we see Allie and Dean as their exteriors a lot in season 1. While that is fun, and they are super fun characters to play, I think as actors, selfishly, both of us are really excited to, kind of, like, get psychological.”

Off Campus has already been renewed for a second season, though it is known whether Dean or his hockey teammates Logan (Antonio Cipriano) or Tucker (Jalen Thomas Brooks) will take the lead next after Garrett (Belmont Cameli) in season 1.

Off Campus season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video.

Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancée, Bettina Anderson, are officially married after tying the knot in a lavish, private wedding in the Bahamas.

“Forever yours Forever mine,” Anderson wrote via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, May 23, confirming the pair said “I do.” The socialite shared a professional black and white photo showing just the newlywed’s hands and their wedding rings

Trump Jr. and Anderson were first romantically linked in late 2024. That December, a source clarified to Us Weekly that the couple started dating after his split from fiancé Kimberly Guilfoyle. (Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle announced their engagement in January 2022, one year after he proposed, and similarly opted to keep their breakup quiet for months.)

According to the insider, Trump Jr. was the one who called it quits with Guilfoyle.

Related: Donald Trump Jr. Shares the Story of How He Proposed to Bettina Anderson

Donald Trump Jr. is sharing more details about his engagement to Bettina Anderson. “So we walk in, they had the whole thing decorated,” Trump, 47, told attendees at a surprise birthday party for his fiancée, 39, in Palm Beach, Florida, as seen in a video shared by friends John and Diane Sculley via Instagram. Trump […]

“The breakup was amicable and so is their relationship today,” the source told Us at the time. “They just had different goals.”

As for his then-new romance with Anderson, the insider said, “He likes her a lot and has a lot of respect for her,” adding that Trump Jr. was “smitten” with the socialite and thought she was “very smart.”

Later that month, a second source revealed why Trump Jr.’s connection with Anderson was “different” than his previous partnership.

“When it comes to his relationship with Bettina it’s just about them,” the insider told Us in December 2024. “He wants a partner. She doesn’t need anything from him and just wants to be with him.”

In July 2025, a source revealed just how serious Trump Jr. and Anderson’s relationship had become.

“She would love to have kids one day and sees what a good father he is,” the insider told Us at the time. “She 100 percent would say yes if he asked her to marry him and his friends think that will happen sooner than later.”

Five months later, Trump Jr. and Anderson announced their engagement during a December 2025 event at the White House. In a social media video, he thanked her “for that one word — yes” as the pair addressed holiday party attendees.

“She said ‘yes,’ so that’s a big win for the end of the year,” Trump Jr. said.

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Related: The Most Expensive Celebrity Weddings Over the Years

Some notable names certainly had the “no expense spared” mentality when it came to their wedding. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez opted for lavish festivities in Italy, and things seemed pretty pricey even before they walked down the aisle. It was widely reported that the nuptials had a price tag of $50,000 per person, putting […]

Anderson then added, “It’s really been the most unforgettable weekend of my life, and I get to marry the love of my life. I feel just like the luckiest girl in the world.”

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Later that month, a source told Us the couple’s preparations for their nuptials were already underway.

“Bettina is so happy she’s engaged to Don, and they’re already starting to plan the wedding,” the insider shared. “She has wanted this from day one and knew he was her person. She loves how he has made her part of his kids’ lives and is such a good dad.”

This is the second marriage for Trump Jr. after he previously tied the knot with Vanessa Trump in 2005. The exes, who divorced in 2018, share five children: daughter Kai, sons Donny, Tristan and Spencer and daughter Chloe. After her relationship with Trump Jr. ended, Vanessa began dating Tiger Woods.

Tom Cruise is never far from the biggest movies of the year, and his next project is already earning him far-too-early predictions for a Best Actor nomination at next year’s 99th Academy Awards. The project in question is Digger, which sees Cruise team up with Academy Award-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu for his first English-language pic since his 2015 hit The Revenant. Scheduled for release by Warner Bros. Pictures on October 2, 2026, the film promises a satirical black comedy that also stars the likes of John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Jesse Plemons, Sandra Hüller, and more.

As you wait for Digger to arrive, you’ll be pleased to learn that one of Cruise’s biggest sci-fi blockbusters is heading to a new streamer next month. Not to be confused with the disastrous 2025 effort of the same name, 2005’s War of the Worlds was director Steven Spielberg‘s attempt at adapting H.G. Wells‘ iconic 1898 novel, with the man behind Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial seemingly a perfect fit for this timeless sci-fi story. However, the film wasn’t without its critics, with many complaining that most of the central characters were unlikable, something very strange for a Spielberg movie.

Despite this negative feedback, War of the Worlds was a huge hit with audiences who couldn’t get enough of Cruise, Dakota Fanning, and Justin Chatwin‘s fight against an invading alien threat. Against a reported budget of $132 million, the movie earned just over $600 million worldwide, split between a domestic haul of $234 million and a further $372 million from overseas markets. 21 years later, War of the Worlds will be available to stream on Starz starting June 1, 2026.

Steven Spielberg Is Returning to Sci-Fi

21 years after Spielberg took on Wells’ 1898 novel, the legendary director is back in the sci-fi driving seat, ready to release one of this summer’s most hotly anticipated movies. Titled Disclosure Day, the film features a star-studded cast including Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colman Domingo, Wyatt Russell, Colin Firth, Elizabeth Marvel, and more. Released worldwide on June 12, the movie marks Spielberg’s first sci-fi feature since 2018’s Ready Player One, and the debut of the most recent trailer suggests this might just be one of the best sci-fi efforts of the year.

War of the Worlds will stream on Starz next month. Stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming updates.

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Release Date

June 29, 2005

Runtime

116 Minutes

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Writers

Josh Friedman, David Koepp, H.G. Wells

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Off Campus ended its first season with a serious twist — and now the actor involved is breaking their silence on the major book change.

During season 1, which premiered in May, Allie (Mika Abdalla) formed a connection with a mystery man who she then hooked up with amid a casual relationship with Dean (Stephen Kalyn).

The final scene of the season showed Dean getting into an argument with the guy — previously referred to as Carter — who turned out to be Hunter Davenport (Charlie Evans) but no further details were revealed. There appeared to be a hint that Dean’s issues were connected to his sister, Summer, dating Hunter in the past.

“I went in for Carter St. James V, and I knew he was wealthy,” Evans told Swooon about how much he knew about the role before booking it. “I knew a little bit [that] he played for a rival team, things like that, just vague details. But no, I only found out after I got the job who he actually was.”

Fans of Elle Kennedy‘s book series are familiar with the character, who was Dean’s teammate in The Score and they were on good terms. Hunter then became the focus of his own book — The Play — while Summer was featured prominently in The Chase.

“What I know is that Yana Grebenyuk Louisa [Levy] has a pretty stellar layout for season 2 that she’s ready to shoot, and it’s all about Dean,” Evans teased. “It’s all about Dean’s world and Dean’s history, and everyone close to him, and not so close to him, and I’m very excited for people to see that story.”

Evans didn’t rule out meeting Summer — and exploring her past with Hunter.

“I think anything’s possible. I think the way that we’re doing this show, Louisa has very cleverly set up these characters to be malleable and to react to their environments,” he added. “There’s a lot of topical, beautiful story shifts that she’s made that translate incredibly well on-screen, and that she’s going to continue to make.”

He continued “I mean, she really knows everything about the future of this story and how she wants it to be told, and I’m so grateful to be a part of that because it is comprehensive. I’ve been in those rooms and seen the boards, and they have the books out, and they’re pulling pages, and it’s really impressive.”

According to Evans, it was always the plan to shake things up with Hunter.

“This was always the setup for Season 2. We knew the plan when we started, and that was where we went,” he shared. “I think we were pretty clear about that from the beginning. We wanted a big climactic ending. We wanted everyone in the same place. I mean, Louisa plans this stuff well in advance. She’s got the next five books down, ready to go.”

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Evans expressed excitement at where the show goes from here, saying, “All that stuff with Allie, that vulnerability and that trauma, honestly, because he does have a bit of a sad history and letting those walls break down a bit.”

He concluded: “Seeing him just drop the BS and get into a place of realness, just kind of shedding all of these structural walls that he’s built up because of his family and what’s expected of him, and all of that stuff, and just kind of finding who he is.”

Off Campus is currently streaming on Prime Video.

Spencer Pratt released a fiery response to questions over his political loyalties ahead of the Los Angeles mayoral election primary.

“Everyone is trying to claim me for their tribe. There’s no R next to my name, there’s no D next to my name,” Pratt, 42, insisted via X on Saturday, May 23. “I’m not part of a political party, because I hate politicians. I’m just Spencer, husband to Heidi [Montag], father to Ryker and Gunner, and I’m a pissed off Angeleno who loves my city and is fed up with what corrupt politicians have done to her.”

Pratt has been registered as a Republican since 2020 but is technically running for Los Angeles mayor as an independent community advocate.

Earlier this month, Pratt was asked by CNN’s Elex Michaelson why he has aligned with the GOP in recent years.

“When I was a hated reality star, I got so many death threats. I had so much security and police and what did they tell me to do? Get a gun,” he answered. “L.A. was dangerous so I got a gun. My wife needed a gun.”

Pratt explained that he needed a Concealed Carry Weapon license to own a gun and that “the only people that supported [those licenses] was the Republicans.”

“That was what I aligned with. My safety, my family’s personal safety,” he insisted. “I know people don’t like guns but when people are threatening your life and your own security tells you you need to have home protection. … Once you feel fear and it’s real, you want to protect your family.”

His two primary mayoral election opponents — L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman — have repeatedly described Pratt as a “MAGA Republican” in campaign attack ads.

President Donald Trump also counted Pratt among his supporters during a recent press conference at the White House.

“I’d like to see him do well. He’s a character,” Trump, 79, told reporters on May 20. “I assume he probably supports me.”

The president added, “I heard he’s a big MAGA person. He’s doing well.”

Related: Spencer Pratt Claps Back at L.A. Mayoral Race Opponent Over Divisive Ad

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Spencer Pratt has fired back at criticism of a new attack ad in his Los Angeles mayoral campaign. On Wednesday, April 29, the former Hills star released a campaign ad filmed outside the homes of two of his opponents in the upcoming mayoral primary: current Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman. […]

Pratt has received public backing from numerous notable celebrities, including Meghan McCain, Erika Kirk, Kristin Cavallari and Jax Taylor, among others. He has also faced criticism for his inexperience in the political arena, with The Price Is Right host Drew Carey recently suggesting Pratt is not qualified for office.

“Anyone who votes for, or endorses Spencer Prattfall for Mayor of LA needs to get their head out of their ass,” Carey, 68, wrote via Threads on Friday, May 22. “I understand being angry/unsatisfied, but at least get behind someone competent and not some serial scammer without a soul or moral compass.”

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The game show host added, “F*** this guy already.”

Per Newsweek’s election tracker, Pratt still trails Bass, 72, in most recent polls leading up to the mayoral primary.

A primary election will be held in Los Angeles on June 2. If no single candidate receives a majority of the vote, the top two — regardless of political party — will advance to a runoff election on November 3.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce cheered on the Cleveland Cavaliers from their courtside seats at Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

Swift and Kelce, both 36, got into the pivotal game with animated reactions as the Knicks and Cavaliers battled for Eastern Conference supremacy at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday, May 23. (As of publication, the Knicks lead the series 2-0.)

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end was decked out in his Cavs cap and a short-sleeved denim shirt and jeans while Swift wore a black tank top and jeans.

The entire Kelce family are diehard fans of the Cavaliers, with Travis and older brother, Jason Kelce, often discussing their lifelong support for the NBA franchise on their “New Heights” podcast.

“Big Cavs household over here,” Travis once declared on the podcast.

A montage from “New Heights” cut together several clips of the Kelce brothers discussing their Cavaliers fandom dating back to the “tail end of the Mark Price years” in the 1990s.

“We got to witness the chosen one [Lebron James], baby, and it all just went to the roof,” Travis fondly recalled. “We’ve got a bunch of fan favorites. There are so many.”

While Swift and Kelce often keep a low profile during the NFL offseason, they have been stepping out regularly in recent weeks.

On Friday, May 15, they held hands while heading to dinner at Mediterranean restaurant Or’esh in New York City. Swift wore an off-the-shoulder cream dress with a floral pattern, paired with Aquazzura’s Twist Sandal 95 heels and a straw shoulder bag, while Travis had on a light blue and white pinstriped button-down with an emblazoned patchwork.

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The engaged couple were out again the following night when they attended a private function in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Swift turned heads in an outfit valued at nearly $6,000 — a golden Maria Lucia Hohan allar cutout silk mousseline gown with Aquazzura’s Tequila Sandal 105 heels and an Ari Clutch bag — whereas Travis went for a dark pinstriped suit and black sunglasses.

Kelce and Swift kept their busy week going by kicking off Memorial Day weekend on Friday, May 22, with date night in New York City at Manhattan hotspot Sartiano’s. Travis was wearing a multicolored, flower shirt while Swift looked effortlessly glamorous in a black Stella McCartney minidress, accessorized with matching Dior pumps and a handbag.

In August 2025, Swift announced her engagement to Travis by humorously posting that “your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” along with sharing a romantic shot of the NFL star proposing on one knee. Swift and Kelce are expected to tie the knot this year, but no exact date has been confirmed.

Sometimes, a show with six to ten seasons is just too much of a commitment. That’s probably why some of TV’s greatest stories come from miniseries that know exactly when to end a story before it overstays its welcome. This limited format is honestly fascinating. When done right, a miniseries can deliver the emotional payoff, character depth, and scale of a long-running show while still being completely self-contained with no filler or pressure to keep going.

Now, over the years, the idea of a miniseries has evolved into a space where storytellers can take creative risks and even reinvent entire genres. Here is a list of such universally beloved miniseries that have accomplished more in a handful of episodes than many shows can manage across multiple seasons

8

‘Watchmen’ (2019)

Image via Max

HBO’s Watchmen is a rare sequel that actually justifies returning to a story many people considered complete and borderline untouchable. The miniseries, created by Damon Lindelof, takes place decades after the events of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ original graphic novel. However, instead of just recreating that world, it pushes the story into 2019 Tulsa, Oklahoma. The series follows Angela Abar (Regina King), a masked police detective known as Sister Night, who uncovers a much larger conspiracy tied to white supremacy, masked vigilantism, and the buried history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre while investigating the murder of her police chief.

The show respects the original comic’s themes, but uses them to tell a story that feels extremely relevant to modern America. Watchmen begins as a murder mystery, but evolves into a much larger narrative that jumps between timelines, perspectives, and even genres. None of this ever feels disjointed, though, because Angela’s personal trauma and family history are at the center of it all. Watchmen won 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series, which cemented its universal acclaim. Most importantly, the miniseries never relied purely on nostalgia but used familiar mythology to tell a story that felt genuinely ambitious and fresh.

7

‘Unbelievable’ (2019)

Image via Netflix

Unbelievable is an emotional rollercoaster of a miniseries. The show, based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation and real events, follows Marie Adler (Kaitlyn Dever), a young woman who reports that she was assaulted, only to later be pressured into retracting her statement after detectives begin doubting her story. At the same time, in Colorado years later, detectives Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever) and Grace Rasmussen (Toni Collette) begin investigating a series of eerily similar assaults that slowly reveal the truth nobody wanted to believe. A premise like this is definitely controversial, but Unbelievable never sensationalizes its subject matter.

The series approaches every victim with empathy. It focuses less on shock value and more on the emotional aftermath of situations like these. Marie’s story is genuinely heartbreaking because the audience can practically feel her pain and isolation. Unbelievable grounds every element of its storytelling in unflinching realism, and that means it’s not an easy watch by any means. In fact, the first few episodes of the show are genuinely frustrating as Marie is forced to relive her trauma. However, that honesty is exactly why the show lands with such great impact.

6

‘The Night Of’ (2016)

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The Night Of tells a story that’s almost impossible to shake long after the credits roll. The series follows Pakistani-American college student Nasir “Naz” Khan (Riz Ahmed), whose life takes a turn when he spends the night with a young woman and wakes up the next morning to find her brutally murdered. Naz flees the scene in a panic, but is soon arrested and pulled into the justice system that seems less interested in what actually happened than in processing the case as quickly as possible. The Night Of is so gripping because it never treats the murder mystery as the only point of the story.

The miniseries explores what actually happens to a person once the system decides who they are. The story follows Naz’s journey from a soft-spoken student to a man hardened by prison, courtrooms, and legal offices. Ahmed delivers one of the finest performances of his career and perfectly captures Naz’s fear, confusion, and anger. John Turturro is equally memorable as John Stone, Naz’s attorney, who comes off as strange at first, but eventually becomes his only ally in this flawed system. A decade later, The Night Of remains one of HBO’s most impressive limited series because of how much it conveys in such a restrained format.

5

‘Midnight Mass’ (2021)

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Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass is one of the most haunting horror miniseries of the last decade because it doesn’t rely on surface-level fears. The story takes place on the isolated Crockett Island and follows Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford), who returns home after serving time in prison for a fatal drunk-driving accident. Around the same time, the island welcomes a mysterious new priest, Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater), whose arrival coincides with a series of strange miracles that slowly transform the island’s deeply religious community. Soon enough, things take a disturbing turn as the townspeople become consumed by fanaticism and desperation. Midnight Mass is a slow-burning masterpiece that patiently builds its horror.

The series spends plenty of time exploring its characters alongside the central supernatural mystery. Everyone on the island is dealing with their fair share of grief, which is exactly why they are so consumed by Father Paul’s sermons and supposed miracles. The series is a thought-provoking exploration of religious fanaticism and constantly blurs the line between devotion and delusion. The dialogue-heavy structure also gives the series a unique identity, with the characters often engaging in long conversations about religion, mortality, and what happens after death. Those moments never feel pretentious, though, because they directly feed into the emotional core of the story. Midnight Mass builds toward a finale that feels tragic and beautiful at the same time, which is exactly why it continues to resonate with the audience to this day.

4

‘The Queen’s Gambit’ (2020)

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The Queen’s Gambit is one of Netflix’s most-watched scripted miniseries, and for good reason. The show somehow managed to make chess feel as tense and engaging as a high-stakes sports drama. That’s not all there is to the story, though, because The Queen’s Gambit is also a deeply fascinating character study. The series follows Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), an orphaned girl with an extraordinary talent for chess. As Beth rises through the competitive chess world and gains international recognition, the series also follows her struggles with addiction, loneliness, and the pressure that comes with being viewed as a genius from such a young age.

There’s no denying that chess is an important part of the storyline, but The Queen’s Gambit never treats it as the entire point. The matches are exciting only because the audience understands the emotional consequences they hold for Beth. Every victory and loss is tied to the very trauma she spends the entire show trying to suppress. She is brilliant, but the show never romanticizes. Instead, it focuses on just how isolating intelligence can be at times. Few modern miniseries have connected with audiences on such a massive scale while still feeling this intimate and character-driven.

3

‘The Haunting of Hill House’ (2018)

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The Haunting of Hill House is another Mike Flanagan masterpiece that delivers more than just hollow jump scares. At its core, the story is about grief, trauma, and the way families carry pain for years without knowing how to deal with it. The miniseries is loosely inspired by Shirley Jackson’s novel of the same name, and follows the Crain family across two timelines. The audience follows Hugh (Henry Thomas) and Olivia Crain (Carla Gugino) as they move into the massive Hill House with their five children. They hope to renovate the mansion over the summer before selling it, but the house slowly begins affecting each family member in terrifying ways.

The present-day timeline shows the Crain siblings as adults who remain emotionally fractured as they try to process the time they spent in the house as well as the mysterious death of their mother. The Haunting of Hill House is brilliant in how it uses horror to explore relatable human emotions instead of relying purely on scares. The ghosts in the show are terrifying, but the real fear comes from watching this family fall apart. The story constantly jumps between timelines to slowly reveal what actually happened the night Olivia died. However, the narrative never feels confusing because the audience is almost desperate to discover the truth. The Haunting of Hill House set a new benchmark for the genre, one that very few series or films have reached.

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‘Adolescence’ (2025)

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Netflix’s Adolescence became a cultural phenomenon overnight because it taps into a fear that feels terrifyingly real. The British miniseries follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), whose family’s entire world collapses after he is arrested for the murder of a classmate. The show doesn’t unfold as a straightforward crime drama, though. The first episode spends most of its time establishing this world, and in doing so, it makes the audience sympathize with Jamie. The viewers are almost convinced that there is no way this young boy did something so heinous. However, the final moments of the episode deliver a devastating blow as the police officers play the footage, which clearly proves Jamie as the culprit.

From there, Adolescence shifts its focus in fascinating ways. One episode moves entirely through Jamie’s school environment to explore the influence of online radicalization, bullying, and the young boy’s distorted idea of masculinity that was shaped by the content he consumed. Another episode centers heavily on Jamie’s therapy sessions, while the last episode focuses on his family and their struggle to reconcile the boy they thought they knew with the reality that they now have to face. Adolescence is unapologetically immersive and emotionally exhausting. Each episode is filmed in one continuous take, which traps the audience inside every uncomfortable moment without giving them room to breathe. Yet the technical ambition never overshadows the emotional core of the story. Cooper’s performance is the soul of the show. It’s not easy to watch this innocent-looking boy playing such a messed-up character, but that’s the entire point.

1

‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)

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Band of Brothers practically set the standard for what prestige TV could be. There’s no denying that it remains one of the greatest war miniseries ever made. The story follows Easy Company, a unit of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, from their brutal training days all the way through World War II. The narrative picks up at Camp Toccoa, where the soldiers are pushed to their physical and emotional limits before eventually being dropped into some of the war’s most horrifying battles, including D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge. The great thing about Band of Brothers is that it never treats war like a spectacle divorced from reality.

Sure, the large-scale battles are intense and incredibly realistic, but the emotional core of the series always comes from the relationships between the soldiers themselves. The audience watches these men evolve from nervous young recruits into exhausted survivors shaped by fear, loss, and loyalty to one another. The miniseries spends so much time developing each member of Easy Company, which makes every death and victory carry genuine emotional weight. This sense of humanity runs through every episode, and despite the scale of the war, the show never stops feeling personal. The fact that it includes interviews with real veterans before each episode adds another layer of authenticity to the entire story. Band of Brothers still hits just as hard over two decades later, which goes to show its incredible appeal and staying power.

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Band of Brothers

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Release Date

2001 – 2001

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Network

HBO

Directors

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David Frankel, David Nutter, Mikael Salomon, Phil Alden Robinson, Richard Loncraine, Tom Hanks

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• 
• 

  Donnie Wahlberg

  C. Carwood Lipton

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Stephen Colbert made a surprise TV return one day after his CBS finale to host a public access show in Monroe, Michigan.

“It’s been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV, so I am grateful to be able to be here on Monroe Community Media before they also get acquired by Paramount,” Colbert, 62, joked during his opening monologue of Only in Monroe on Friday, May 22.

The comedian actually has a long history with Only in Monroe, as he previously filled in for hosts Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rafko-Wilson when he was preparing for his Late Show debut in July 2015.

Colbert even dropped an Easter egg into his final Late Show monologue by referencing his 2015 appearance on Only in Monroe, joking that “show business being what it is these days, that’s probably where you’ll see me next.”

Related: Stephen Colbert Feels ‘A Sense of Relief’ About ‘Late Show’ Ending

Stephen Colbert is opening up about his next chapter after CBS canceled his late night show. In a new interview with GQ, which was conducted shortly before The Late Show With Stephen Colbert won big at the 2025 Emmy Awards, Colbert, 61, said he “accepted” the network’s decision to pull the plug on his show. […]

“Since I was last here in Monroe, Michigan, I spent 11 years as the primary host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS, which came to an end last night,” he explained on Friday’s Only in Monroe episode.

Colbert then quipped, “Viewers outside the greater Monroe area are able to view Monroe Community Media thanks to something known as streaming, which I promised not to learn about while I was on CBS. And evidently CBS also decided not to learn about it.”

Throughout the hour-long episode, Colbert discussed local issues and was joined by celebrity guests, including Jack White as his musical director and actor Jeff Daniels. Eminem and Steve Buscemi filmed cameos that aired during the special Only in Monroe episode.

He also spoke with Byron Allen, whose show Comics Unleashed will replace The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on CBS.

“Byron, have a great show,” he told Allen, 65. “You’re the best, buddy.”

The unusual Only in Monroe episode ended with Colbert, Daniels, 71, and White, 50, burning down the show’s set after receiving approval from “the fire marshal” (a.k.a. Marshall “Eminem” Mathers, 53.)

“That’s a wrap,” Colbert announced. “Thanks for watching Only in Monroe and if you watched any of my other talk shows over the years, thanks for watching those too!”

He then teased, “Until we see each other again, I’ll be only here, only on Only in Monroe!”

CBS announced in July 2025 that it was cancelling The Late Show With Stephen Colbert despite the series’ late night ratings dominance.

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“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season. We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time,” a CBS statement read at the time. “We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.”

CBS insisted that the decision to end The Late Show was a “financial” one and was not “related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

Colbert wrapped up The Late Show with a star-studded final week of episodes featuring guest appearances from Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Reynolds and Paul McCartney, among others. He jabbed at CBS during Thursday’s finale by having his band play expensive licensed music and ending with a CGI-animated scene of the Ed Sullivan Theater being sucked into a glowing green vortex.