By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 15 seconds ago

The new Star Trek spinoff, Starfleet Academy, has had a controversial launch, and I have been one of its harshest critics; after all, the show’s casual mangling of franchise lore and cringeworthy humor is sometimes downright painful to watch. However, the one criticism that I’ve always found insane is fans hating how the show often focuses on its young cadets learning something about themselves and embracing a hidden power they didn’t realize was there. The reason this critique is so silly is simple: Starfleet Academy is explicitly designed as a Young Adult show, and this kind of storytelling is a major part of the most famous YA literature.

Season 1 of Starfleet Academy has spent many episodes focusing on specific characters: “Kids These Days” is all about Caleb losing his mother and becoming a criminal who seeks redemption (not to mention a surrogate mommy figure) in Starfleet. “Beta Test” focuses on how Betazed princess Tamina builds a new life for herself at the War College, and “Vox in Excelso” is about the Klingon Jay-Den making peace with his family and with the cultural heritage that he simultaneously embraces and rejects. Most famously, “Series Acclimation Mil” focuses on SAM as she studies Benjamin Sisko, all in the hopes of being a better emissary for her holographic race.

You Can Blame Harry Potter For This

These kinds of stories aren’t for everyone, and they will be particularly disappointing to fans who want stories with higher stakes. However, Star Trek fans who relentlessly dunk on these kinds of stories are missing the point of what Paramount is trying to do: recruit younger fans into the Star Trek family. With Starfleet Academy, they are attempting to do so in the most straightforward way possible: by copying the formula made famous by Harry Potter and countless other book franchises aimed at Young Adults. 

Ask yourself: beyond the specifics about wands and broomsticks, what is the story of Harry Potter about? It’s about the titular character leading a fairly boring existence until he is plucked out of obscurity and whisked away to a magical academy. There, he learns that he is a special person of important destiny, one who is destined to take on the greatest threat the Wizarding World has ever known.

May The Odds Be Ever In Paramount’s Favor

This basic formula plays out again and again in YA literature: The Hunger Games, for example, is about an unassuming young woman who receives special training and taps into abilities that help her take on a fascist dictator. Twilight is about an equally unassuming young woman who falls in love with a vampire, eventually discovering special mental abilities that she uses to save the day before becoming a creature of the night. Oh, and Percy Jackson & the Olympians involves the titular everyman character finding out he’s a literal demigod whose training will eventually help him overcome a Titan bent on ruling the world.

Starfleet Academy is doing its own version of this with its cadets: the academy functions a bit like Hogwarts, representing an entirely new world to these traumatized youngsters who grew up during the Burn. There, they all discover that the things that have always made them outcasts are actually special strengths that can help them serve the greater good. Caleb’s lifetime of criminal activity makes him a scrappy and resourceful hero, SAM’s relative lack of life experience gives her fresh insights, Jay-Den’s rejection of Klingon values helps him become a better Starfleet officer, and so on.

Kids Will Be Kids (Even Chosen Ones)

Does this mean you need to magically like Starfleet Academy’s preferred brand of storytelling? Of course not: by definition, YA literature is aimed at young adults, and many longtime Star Trek fans are very thoroughly middle-aged. Therefore, it’s no great shock that stories designed to appeal to teenagers are often off-putting to older viewers who are unlikely to pick up such books in the first place. 

However, Starfleet Academy has been (slowly but surely) getting better at balancing out its YA-centric “everyone is a special chosen one” storytelling with more serious and ambitious episodes aimed at more discerning viewers. In time, Paramount may succeed and, like JK Rowling’s famous books, appeal to fans of all ages. If not, though, this attempt to appeal to bite Harry Potter’s style could backfire, casting “Avada Kedavra” on the franchise and killing Star Trek altogether. 

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The curtain rose once again as The Muppet Show returned with a one-off reboot episode. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the original 1976 series, fans of the iconic Jim Henson characters fell back in love with the puppet sketch comedy show. Directed by Alex Timbers, The Muppet Show used the same beloved format, with Sabrina Carpenter as the featured guest star, with appearances by Seth Rogen and Maya Rudolph.

Reviving the show’s tone with humor, heart, and humanity, The Muppet Show‘s singular episode served as a potential backdoor pilot. Met with welcome praise, the prospect of a full reboot series is on many fans’ minds. Should it come to fruition, we’ve all begun to dream up potential celebrity cameos that could come with more episodes. Using a formula similar to the types of individuals who appeared during the original run, our list features actors playing iconic roles, the music industry’s finest, and some of the funniest people on the planet. It’s time to play the music and light the lights and welcome these potential stars to The Muppet Show.

1

RuPaul

Image via MTV

If there is anyone who can slay The Muppet Show, it’s RuPaul. The reason that drag is mainstream is because of the hard work Ru has done with RuPaul’s Drag Race. Coming in or out of drag, RuPaul would match the high camp that’s inherently attached to The Muppet Show. Of course, RuPaul would bring enough glitter and sequins to truly make the episode sparkle and shine.

Now, this wouldn’t be the first collaboration between Ru and The Muppets. He has had cameos on other Muppet shows, as well as alongside Lady Gaga for her Thanksgiving special, while Miss Piggy stopped by Drag Race. Another RuPaul appearance would continue the tradition. Ru could help teach The Muppets to read while Miss Piggy instructs them as to how to throw shade. Then, of course, one of The Muppets would have to get in drag, officially. The episode could feature a lip sync for your life and a runway extravaganza. The options are endless! What’s clear is that RuPaul would most certainly bring charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent!

2

Josh Gad

Image via Peacock

With The Muppets being a part of the Disney family, some Disney legends would inevitably swing by to hang out with the gang. The perfect Disney legend, who just officially became a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, would be Josh Gad. While his appearance might then raise the question whether The Muppets are canonically in the MCU, a Muppet x Frozen crossover seems natural. As the voice of Olaf, Gad has a natural Muppet quality that would fit seamlessly into this world. His appearance could tie into a winter-themed episode in which they all have a sing-along to “Do You Want To Build a Snowman?”

Like a child at heart, Gad would bring the joy we have that’s inherent in The Muppets. He could be a perfect fit to do a sketch with Dr. Bunson Honeydew and Beaker. With so many brilliant actors who have lent their voices to Disney animation, many stars could fill this spot. When it comes to Gad, he has the Disney spirit in his heart. He would be a joyful guest host, to say the least. Plus, there would only be one possible way to end the show: warm hugs!

3

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo

Image via Universal Pictures

Even though their time together with Wicked has concluded, that doesn’t mean our two best friends can’t “hold space” for a guest spot on The Muppet Show. Both beloved for their voices and acting prowess, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo could defy gravity together again. If ever there was a moment to recognize how well pink goes with green, it’s at the home of the original home of where pink and green together began.

While they easily could appear as a solo act, The Muppet Show would serve as the perfect place for a reunion. They might even invite Jonathan Bailey to join them after he reunites with his Glinda on the West End. There’s no doubt that parodies alongside Miss Piggy and Kermit on “Popular” and “The Wizard and I,” respectively, would be on the docket. While it may be one short day at The Muppet Show, it’ll be one for the ages.

4

Ayo Edebiri

Image via FX

Some of the greatest guest hosts on The Muppet Show were the female comedians. From Madeline Kahn to Carol Burnett, their brilliant appearances mean the reboot would definitely call in a female comedian from this decade. Who better to ask than Ayo Edebiri! After her brilliant stint on Saturday Night Live, Edebiri knows how to do sketch comedy and do it well. With a whimsical quality, she would be a wonderful character actress who could match the zaniness around her.

Another major reason why you may see her on your screens is that she may be campaigning for a spot. As a diehard Muppets fan, having previously stated she’d love to steal Gonzo’s role in The Great Muppet Caper, it’s a match made in television heaven. Now, the big question: Would Gonzo be flattered or find an instant rival? Whichever direction it is, there’s already content built for Edibiri’s appearance. As a versatile performer, she might be the wildcard guest host we never knew we needed.

5

Olivia Colman

Image via Prime Video

All hail the queen! The original run of The Muppet Show had many Hollywood greats swing by. From Rita Moreno to Raquel Welch, definitive actresses have brought some truly special episodes. To continue that tradition, Oscar and Emmy-winning actress Olivia Colman would be extraordinary. Though mainstream audiences are familiar with her dramatic works, including The Crown, she has many comedies on her resume. And in real life, she’s actually quite silly. Need proof? Check out any of her hilarious appearances on The Graham Norton Show.

A guest spot on The Muppet Show would allow Colman to flex her comedy chops alongside the cast in silly sketches that would give viewers a new perspective on her. Certainly, Miss Piggy will have something to say as to who the real queen is. Further, she could also showcase her softer side, as we saw on Heartstopper. There are certainly many fine actresses who could fill this spot, but Colman would be a bloody delight.

6

Bowen Yang

Image via HBO

Comedians were mainstays during the original run, especially Saturday Night Live alumni and previous guest hosts. Like Gilda Radner, Steve Martin, and Candice Bergen before him, Bowen Yang would be an excellent option to follow in their footsteps. Having just seen Maya Rudolph in the one-off, an SNL star would have an ease into this world. Yang, who recently left his long-standing post, had always been tapped as the player who would play some of the most random creatures and objects, including Moo Deng and the Iceburg. Surely Yang would be willing to pop on any costume and lampoon anything.

Yang would serve as an excellent foil to Muppet stars like Fozzy Bear and Gonzo. His ability to match their energy would lead to some excellent sketches. Or, he could go full high-culture like Radner and do a Gilbert and Sullivan parody as she did with the “Carrots of Penzance.” Yang just seems like a logical option and someone who would adore the opportunity to join another iconic franchise.

7

Cole Escola

Image via HBO Max

This may be the most random entry on this list, but assure you, there’s a method to the madness. Perhaps you may recognize Cole Escola from their brilliant Tony Award-winning performance as Mary Todd Lincoln in their original play, Oh, Mary! Fans of the show have begged the producers to cast Miss Piggy in the part. While that’s unlikely to come to fruition, Escola does have a connection to Miss Piggy: they are writing a Miss Piggy movie to be produced by Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence. Not only would this be a wonderful tie-in, but it would also be brilliantly chaotic.

If you’re unfamiliar with their work, luckily, they have made many talk show appearances where you can get a gauge of their energy. As someone who would go all out for the sake of comedy, Escola would likely be a part of any sketch while wearing any frock. Escola might even appear alongside Stone and Lawrence to pump up their future star! The Muppet Show was notorious for inviting wild card entertainers like Vincent Price, Peter Sellers, and Alice Cooper to play along. If there is one person who could benefit from this appearance, it’s Escola.

8

David Corenswet

Image via Warner Bros.

To mirror one of the most memorable appearances from the original run, when Superman himself, Christopher Reeve, dropped in, the new revival could welcome our current Man of Steel, David Corenswet. With those beautiful baby blues, this genuine heartthrob might surely be pursued by Miss Piggy just like Reeve was. With a Juilliard background, he, too, could slip in and offer up some Shakespeare. The range of possible sketches and characters he could share screen time with could make for a fun appearance.

As one of Hollywood’s quickest rising stars, Corenswet could continue to expand his reach to a larger audience. Perhaps the only hiccup is if you expect Superman to appear, the House of Mouse owns Marvel, and Superman is DC. That said, throw on some sexy little glasses, and you get Clark Kent. This guest spot would be a modern take on nostalgia, especially for the individuals who grew up with the original run.

9

Chappell Roan

Image via Island Records

As we saw at the end with the company-wide Queen sing-along, there’s no doubt The Muppets wouldn’t want to capitalize on a finals number featuring the modern classic, “Pink Pony Club.” And who better to lead it than pop’s rising star, Chappell Roan. A singer who is the modern representation of camp in pop music, Roan’s appearance could easily mirror the iconic guest spot by Elton John during the original run. With innate flamboyance and a flair for the dramatics, Roan would bring the same energy John brought during “Bennie and the Jets.”

There are all sorts of options for what Roan and The Muppets could do. Surely we could see a newfound recurring bit in which Miss Piggy might be wearing the same attire as Roan. She has worn a pig prosthetic before, so it’s not far-fetched! Like many pop stars who have graced The Muppet Show stage, they represented the music of the moment. No one is more of the moment than the Midwest Princess!

10

Olivia Rodrigo

Image via Ben Birchall/PA Images/INSTARimages

Just like Sabrina Carpenter, a modern pop star with an association with Disney is destined. While it could be Miley Cyrus, who could revive Hannah Montana, the more likely option would be former High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star Olivia Rodrigo. Drawing on her HSMTMTS days and her iconic songbook, Rodrigo could bring a fun edge to the show. We’ve seen SNL lampoon “Drivers License” via sing-along, so it’s feasible The Muppets might carry on the tradition.

The joy of the reboot episode was the show’s ability to bridge the generation gap. By maintaining the spirit of the original and welcoming modern stars, The Muppets can be a multigenerational watch. Rodrigo’s youthful vibe matches Carpenter, but brings a different aura that would make her visit different. Charismatic and theatrical, Rodrigo would be a wonderful guest host. Now, who will join her on “Vampire” dressed as a vampire? My money’s on Rizzo.

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The Muppet Show

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Release Date

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February 4, 2026

Director

Alex Timbers

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Writers

Albertina Rizzo, Kelly Younger, Jim Henson

Producers

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Matt Vogel, Seth Rogen, Alex McAtee, Eric Jacobson, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Sabrina Carpenter, Michael Steinbach, David Lightbody

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By Joshua Tyler
| Published 56 seconds ago

The age of streaming has, in theory, been a boon for older content, which is suddenly available for everyone to watch in a way it never has been before. That’s how it looks on paper, but the reality is that streaming platforms only stream content they think they can make money off of, and sometimes, the rest isn’t worth their time.

That wouldn’t be a problem if physical media were still a viable format, but fewer than 50% of households still have access to a Blu-ray player, and as a result, Hollywood has stopped supporting it. Odds are, if you’re looking for something old, it’s out of print, and you’ll be forced to dig through boxes at garage sales hoping to find a diamond in the rough.

For certain content, this won’t be a problem. Obviously, a version of an iconic movie like Back to the Future will always be available to watch. Other sci-fi, though, hasn’t been as lucky, and some of it is on the verge of being erased from existence altogether.

These are the eight sci-fi movies and television shows most in danger of being deleted from reality, ranked in order by which I believe is the most in danger of vanishing forever.

8. Buck Rogers

Released in 1979 first as a movie and then as a series, Buck Rogers was based on characters created in 1928 by science fiction writer Philip Francis Nowlan. For two seasons, it followed its title character half a millennium after he was accidentally frozen.

Revived 504 years later, Buck Rogers tries comically to adjust to the social changes of the future, all while helping the Earth Defense Directorate fend off warring factions from the planet Draconian. Along the way, he befriends a robot and the hottest babe in the future, one Wilma Deering, played by the iconic Erin Grey.

Buck Rogers is the kind of show that should be getting endless rewatching by old and new fans alike, but no one can do that. For a brief time, it was available to stream on Peacock, but the show was yanked without explanation and hasn’t come back. The cause could be a lengthy legal battle over the rights, but that has since been settled, which makes the situation strange.

Whatever the reason, you can’t watch it on streaming services, and while older physical media copies can be found online, they’re often only available at very high prices. Buck Rogers is a major media property, and Hollywood always seems on the verge of resurrecting it, but if things continue the way they are, it’ll be forgotten long before they get around to it.

7. Cocoon

Cocoon asks: What would you do to be young again? At first, Cocoon is a laid-back movie about the residents of a retirement home. One day, they show up for a swim and see large rocks at the bottom of the pool. 

The misery of old age begins to vanish.  They regain their health. They start dancing. 

In parallel, there’s 1980s icon Steve Gutenberg taking a group of nice people out on his character boat. Out at sea and lusting after the female member of their group, Guttenberg accidentally stumbles into the truth: they’re aliens, and those rocks they’ve been bringing up from the ocean floor are alien pods. 

Despite being one of the biggest and most acclaimed movies of the 1980s, Cocoon is not available to stream anywhere, and it’s out of print on DVD. Why? The movie’s director, Ron Howard, has been asked, but refuses to answer. 

Basically, blame the estate of the film’s composer, James Horner. The way Horner’s contract was negotiated may have been odd compared to the other movies he worked on. That likely turned into an even bigger problem when, sadly, James Horner died in 2015 at the age of 61, and now there’s confusion over who owns his work in Cocoon.

Unfortunately, there seems to be no movement at all to rescue this movie and bring it back to the public. It was last released on DVD more than 20 years ago and has been out of print on all physical media for a long time. Copies of Cocoon have become so rare that eBay sellers are now charging significant money for them.

6. Space Above and Beyond

Space: Above and Beyond tried to do something different from all the rest: it was first and foremost a military series. Centered on a group of fighter pilots, the prime directive of the series was to find bugs, kill bugs, and make it home in one piece. Space: Above and Beyond aired on Fox, which means that you, the discerning sci-fi fan, know exactly what happened to ensure that the series never received a second season

Today, you can’t find Space: Above and Beyond on any streaming network, not even through Video on Demand. There are bootleg copies available on YouTube, but those will likely only last until the IP’s current owners do their next copyright sweep.

You can find it on DVD, but it’s out of print, so you’ll pay a premium and maybe have to look for used copies. Worst of all, after their buyout, Disney owns it, and they’re unlikely to care at all about a one-season show that was canceled decades before they owned the company. 

5. The Lone Gunmen

The Lone Gunmen was an X-Files spinoff from the mind of Breaking Bad and Pluribus creator Vince Gilligan. The show revolves around the titular trio, the show is named for, as they get in over their heads in various conspiracies.

Unfortunately, it proved to be too good at predicting the future. The pilot episode of The Lone Gunmen involved a plot where rogue government agents try to pilot a major airliner into the World Trade Center and make it look like a terrorist attack. Further, the episode’s revelation that secret government forces merely wanted to use terrorists as scapegoats echoes many real-world conspiracy theories about the role that George W. Bush or other powerful government forces may have had in the attack on the Twin Towers.

That was enough to get it canceled, despite good reviews and decent ratings. It’s also enough to make sure that no one will ever be able to watch it again. It’s not available on legitimate streaming services, and DVD copies are long out of print. 

4. Time Trax

Time Trax aired on television from 1993 to 1994 as part of the iconic, syndicated television “action pack.” In it, criminals from the year 2193 use a time machine called a Trax to go back to the past of a parallel universe. Police Captain Darien Lambert, played by Dale Midkiff, goes off in pursuit, aided by SELMA (Specified Encapsulated Limitless Memory Archive), his version of Al, and he can’t return until all of them have been apprehended.

What Time Trax did differently was to make the future humans superior, ranging from higher IQs and rapid memorization to the ability to move faster and, in what were frequently the best shots of the series, the ability to perceive time faster, giving the appearance of slowing down time around them. Time Trax was delightfully charming in the same way as other 90s syndicated hits like Hercules and Xena. And now it’s being erased from existence.

You can’t find it on streaming anywhere, and physical media copies, while available, are all basically used since it hasn’t been in print since 2012, when it was released on DVD. That means the cost to get a copy is rising rapidly. 

The mess the show is in is caused by the tangled web of who owns the actual rights to it. Gary Nardino Productions developed Time Trax, while Lorimar helped get it to air. The problem is that Lorimar was bought by Warner Bros., while Paramount purchased Gary Nardino. 

The rights to the series were split between two studios, and nothing has been done with Time Trax since. Given the short run of the series and its limited fanbase, it’s safe to assume that nothing ever will be done to preserve it, unless people start making noise about it.

3. Ernest Goes To Camp

Alright, I’m cheating a little on this one, because this is definitely not a sci-fi movie, though you could argue that the Ernest movie Jim Varney followed it up with, Ernest Goes To Jail, is. But Ernest Goes To Camp is a movie for the kinds of people who watch sci-fi, the geeks, the outcasts, the oddballs, and it’s being erased from existence.

The movie is a standard 80s summer camp film, following a group of outcast kids, the Second Chancers, as they attend Kamp Kikakee, a struggling summer camp run by Chief St. Cloud, a Plains Indian. It’s the usual outcasts vs. evil industrialist plot, as Sherman Krader wants to shut down the camp and mine its resources. It’s elevated to instant classic levels thanks to Varney’s portrayal of Ernest as the camp’s maintenance man.

Unfortunately, Ernest Goes to Camp has become a victim of cancel culture. Worst of all, neither Jim Varney nor the Ernest character did anything wrong. 

The problem is an actor named Iron Eyes Cody, who plays a minor role as a Native American in the movie. His real name was Espera Oscar de Coti, and he was actually Italian. No one knew that Cody was a fraud when Ernest Goes to Camp was made. He fooled everyone, including his close friend Walt Disney. 

Embarrassed by their founder’s faux pau Disney now classifies it as a racist movie, alongside other past productions like Song of the South. They’re determined to make sure it’s erased from existence. You won’t find it on streaming, and physical media copies are long since out of print. Disney has no intention of ever making it available again. 

2. Harrison Bergeron

In 1995, Showtime adapted a Kurt Vonnegut short story into a TV movie called Harrison Bergeron. Harrison (played by Samwise Gamgee himself, Sean Astin) is still an abnormally bright kid, but when he is taken away by the government in the movie, it’s under the pretext of being given a lobotomy. In reality, Harrison’s been selected to join the secret organization that actually runs the world.

Harrison decides to work in the government’s television division and eventually plans a variation on the short story. He takes over the broadcast room and begins playing classic movies and music for the public that have been hidden away for generations. 

It’s no secret masterpiece, but Harrison Bergeron is the kind of challenging sci-fi movie we shouldn’t leave in the dustbin. That’s looking like the case. As I write this, the movie is not available on any streaming or video-on-demand service, and it’s out of print on physical media

Worst of all, because it was a TV movie, and even though it was a really good one and a popular one, there’s no real urgency from Hollywood to preserve it or put money into it. They’re happy to let it rot. Without some sort of outcry, they probably will. 

1. Misfits of Science

The sci-fi most in danger of being permanently deleted from existence? Misfits of Science. Misfits of Science was pure 80s with a sci-fi twist. A team of super-powered oddballs work for a think tank called the Humanidyne Institute, studying “human anomalies.”

Misfits of Science was lighthearted, funny, and packed with heart, perfect for kids dreaming of superpowers. It’s Ghostbusters meets The A-Team, with madcap energy and zero budget for subtlety. 

Misfits of Science lingered in pop culture for years after its disappearance, but now it’s gone. You can’t watch Misfits of Science legally anywhere in the US. It’s not available anywhere on streaming, and definitely not legally.  And because it was a failed TV show, good luck finding it on physical media. 

You’d think NBC would throw it on Peacock, because, why not? But no, the show isn’t there. Some episodes pop up on YouTube, bootleg-style, but that’s not a dependable way to watch it.

Why? The theme song may be a cause. The show’s theme song is one of the all-time best opening credits numbers, and it seems to be mired in extreme levels of copyright policing. Try playing a few seconds from it on YouTube, and you’ll see what I mean.

That song, “Feels Like Science”, was performed by Karen Lawrence and composed by the great Basil Poledouris, the genius behind the score of movies like Robocop and Conan the Barbarian. Work like his often ends up locked in studio copyright vaults, and that may be part of the problem with Misfits. It just isn’t worth the trouble to sort all that out. 

Protecting the rights of musicians and creators is important, and I support it. But it’s not so important that it’s worth erasing a vital piece of cultural history in the name of it. Far too many of the shows and movies on this list are being forgotten, simply because someone who owns the music rights has an inflated sense of their own importance.

Cultural Preservation Trumps Copyright

Does refusing to let NBC stream Misfits of Science unless they pay big fees help the estate of Basil Pouleoris? No, it only helps people forget about his music and everything he was ever involved in.

You know what would help? Letting people hear his music.

That’s the answer for most of these. There’s no real money left to be made here, but there is a history worth preserving. Let people preserve it by lifting copyright restrictions and allowing fans to upload copies on YouTube.

Meghan Markle, undoubtedly, has the sweetest valentines around.

“These two + Archie = my forever Valentines,” Meghan, 45, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, February 14, sharing a rare photo of her husband, Prince Harry, holding their  daughter Princess Lilibet, 4.

In the snapshot, Harry, 41, held Lili in the backyard of the couple’s Montecito, California, mansion. Lili, for her part, wore a ballet uniform that complemented her bright red hair and held onto a bouquet of red balloons. (Harry and Meghan also share son Prince Archie, 6.)

Harry and Meghan moved to California in 2020 after stepping down from their duties as senior working royals.

“We were looking in this area, and this house kept popping up online in searches,” Meghan recalled to New York Magazine’s The Cut in a 2022 interview. “We didn’t have jobs, so we just were not going to come and see this house. It wasn’t possible. It’s like when I was younger and you’re window shopping. It’s like, ‘I don’t want to go and look at all the things that I can’t afford. That doesn’t feel good.’”

Regardless of any hesitations, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex toured the property.

“One of the first things my husband saw when we walked around the house was those two palm trees,” Meghan added to the outlet. “They’re connected at the bottom. He goes, ‘My love, it’s us.’  And now every day when Archie goes by us, he says, ‘Hi, Momma. Hi, Papa.’”

She continued, “You walk in  [to the house] and go … joy. And exhale. And calm. It’s healing. You feel free.”

While Meghan grew up in California, Harry famously lived his entire adolescence in England.

“I enjoy living [in the U.S.] and bringing my kids up here,” Harry said during The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in December 2024. “It’s a part of my life that I never thought I was going to live and it feels as though it’s the life that my mom [Princess Diana] wanted for me.”

According to Harry, his “main goal” is to be “the best dad and best husband” he can be.

“The reason why these things have happened is because of my 10 years in the military and the values and principles I live by,” Harry said, referring to his ongoing fight for security in England. “It is becoming increasingly hard for people that have values and principles as the world starts to change. But the thing I want to be known for is that, ‘He stuck to his values and always stayed true to that principle.’”

Related: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Quotes About Daughter Lilibet

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are loving life with daughter Princess Lilibet following her birth in June 2021. Harry and Meghan had welcomed their eldest son, Prince Archie, two years earlier in May 2019 and he took to his big brother role immediately. “Archie absolutely adores his little sister and gives her lots of kisses,” […]

Harry has long had a soft spot for his only daughter ever since her 2021 arrival.

“Harry adores Lili and loves reading her bedtime stories and rocking her to sleep,” a source previously told Us Weekly months after Meghan gave birth in June 2021. “He has a real magic touch. Every day just gets happier. There’s just so much love and gratitude and they couldn’t ask for more.”

Weeks later, Harry admitted to Ed Sheeran in an interview that it was “definitely a juggle” raising two kids.

“She’s very chilled and seems happy to just sit there,” he quipped. “Archie is running around like crazy. [We’ve] been very lucky so far.”

Roomies, Papoose wasn’t upstairs on Valentine’s Day — he stepped all the way out to show Claressa Shields just how deep his love runs. He made sure she got an oceanfront view that was covered in rose petals. While he laughed, Claressa stood there shook and speechless! It’s safe to say, Love Day made both of their hearts full!

RELATED: Don’t Play With Her! Claressa Shields Gags The TL With Spicy Twerk Session For ‘Liberian Girl’ TikTok Challenge (VIDEO)

Papoose Sets The Bar HIGH With Sweet V-Day Surprise For Claressa Shields

Listen, one thing for sure and two things for certain — Papoose did his BIG one for Claressa Shields on Valentine’s Day. The rapper came through with vacation vibes and turned the romance all the way up. He took her out to the beach and set up a beautiful, fully decked-out spot with cozy pillows, massive pink and red bouquets, and rose petals everywhere. And to seal the vibe? The perfect view of tropical blue waters. Claressa showed off Pap’s set up in an Instagram video and made sure to point out that he even lined up some healthy meals for them to snack on.

Pap didn’t stop there! Claressa even flexed the sweet gift he got her too: a black-and-gold Van Cleef bracelet. As if that wasn’t enough, he took their day to a whole new level. In the middle of their romantic getaway, he shocked her with a plane flying overhead carrying a message that read, “Claressa, Papoose Loves You. Happy Valentine’s Day.” He really put a ribbon in the sky for his Queen. If that’s not setting the bar, we don’t know what is! Claresas stood there in complete shock, but immediately grabbed her phone to capture the moment. In her caption, she said this was the best Valentine’s Day she’s ever had and honestly, we see exactly why!

“Thank you @papoose for being so thoughtful! I love you so much Papi ! I am at lost for words 😍🥰🤞🏾💪🏾 #papoosegf #claressashields #gwoat #valentines,” Shields wrote.

The TL Explodes After Papoose Flexes His Love For His Queen

After TSR dropped the clip of Pap and Claressa’s V-Day festivities, the comment section lit UP with love. Roomies flooded the post with heart-eyes and sweet reactions — peep a few of them below.

Instagram user @kidochild wrote, “I’m sorry I love Clarissa 💚” 

Instagram user @wlrd0fivy wrote, “Now y’all can’t say pap upstairs😩🫶🏼he came downstairs and ate.” 

While Instagram user @king_leiyaah wrote, “She pulled that phone out so fast like ‘I told y’all he loved me’ 😂😂😂😂😂😂” 

Then Instagram user @fahdy_87 wrote, “So y’all can stop saying Papoose don’t love this lady now he put a ribbon in the sky lol❤️😍” 

Another Instagram user @trappthageneral wrote, “Black love is always good to see 💙” 

Instagram user @callme_quady wrote, “Love seeing people happy. ❤️”

Then another Instagram user @_.ravyn__ wrote, “Finally pap not upstairs 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭”

Finally, Instagram user @its__marii wrote, “A beach date w roses and champagne 😍😍😍 love this.” 

Mirror Selfies & Heartfelt Shoutouts — Pap Shows MAJOR PDA

Pap isn’t shy about professing his love for his Queen! He stays showing Claressa off, even with a little PDA on social media. Back in January, he posted the cutest mirror selfie of them and gave her a heartfelt shoutout. He told his followers his lady might look tough on the outside, but she has a heart of gold and an aura that’s unmatched!

“Claressa has a big heart. Always wearing a big smile! Most think she’s so rugged because she’s a fighter. But The way she takes care of her body is on another level. Zoom in… she has small hands, small feet, & some unbelievably smooth ass skin.  Very beautiful black woman. When the way you LOVE can Inspire others. That says a lot!!!”

RELATED: Taste Test? Papoose Rates Claressa Shields’ Cooking In Skeptical Clip As Fans Side-Eye His Review (VIDEO) 

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By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 35 seconds ago

In the last decade, we went from multiple raunch comedies hitting theaters every year to nearly zero. One of the last of the mainstream raunch comedy releases, 2014’s Sex Tape starring Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel, was a small hit, but its premise could only have supported a film in 2014 when the general public didn’t know what “the cloud” was or how it worked. A few years later, Apple’s iCloud became a common, everyday feature for users, who now understood that the entire plot of the film made no sense. 

Sex Tape Has No Idea How Technology Works

In Sex Tape, Diaz and Segel play a married couple, Anne and Jay Hargrove, trying to rediscover the spark that they once had when the kids are away for a night. With nothing else working, they let their intrusive thoughts win and decide to film a sex tape. The problem is that instead of deleting the next day, Segal’s hapless Jay realizes it’s been uploaded to the cloud and shared with the iPads he gave away for Christmas. And yes, they are not only called iPads, but they are constantly shown on screen in the oddest product placement you can imagine.

Jay and Annie head out to recover all of the iPads and delete the video before anyone can see the sex tape. This involves committing breaking and entering, battling a German shepherd, accidentally doing a rail of cocaine, and getting busted by their best friends, played by Ellie Kemper and Rob Corddry, a pairing that, in a just world, would have headlined their own rom-com by now. The thing is, in reality, videos aren’t sent to iPads through the Cloud unless you specifically set up a shared file, then download them on each and every iPad. The entire plot could be resolved with one five-second act of deleting a file. 

Sex Tape relies entirely on the comedic chemistry of Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel, who reunite after knocking it out of the park with Bad Teacher. The physical comedy and one-liners are so few and far between that it’s one of those movies where you see everything in the trailer. Everyone involved has been in better, funnier films, but in the 12 years since Sex Tape’s release and the complete collapse of the rom-com industrial complex, it now looks like a masterpiece. 

Sex Tape Hastened The End Of Rom-Coms

Bad Teacher set off the last gasp of rom-com relevance thanks to great reviews and a huge box office haul, while Sex Tape approached rock bottom with a 16 percent critical rating and a 33 percent audience rating. At the box office, it made three times its estimated budget with $120 million, but again, that doesn’t take into account the large marketing budget from attempting to turn the two leads into a Julia Roberts and Richard Gere for a new generation. 

This decade, Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell had a little success with a rom-com, Jeniffer Lauirence crashed and burned in her attempt, while the time-loop rom-com Palm Springs, starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti, has been the most creative entry in the genre in decades. By comparison, Sex Tape hinges on a plot that’s both out of date and, given the Cloud’s common knowledge, makes zero sense. You can do better by watching Bad Teacher or Palm Springs again, then spending your time watching Sex Tape.