Funny or Die’s 2014 miniseries The Spoils of Babylon is everything that the 2010s-era SNL wished it could have captured in a bottle. Hosted by Will Ferrell‘sjaded fictional author and filmmaker Eric Jonrosh, this epic tale about two romantically attracted siblings, Cynthia (Kristen Wiig) and Devon (Tobey Maguire), and the rise and fall of their family business, is simply too good to be true. Joined by Haley Joel Osment as their son Winston and the critically acclaimed Tim Robbins as father Jonas Morehouse, these are actors who have proven themselves both dramatically and comedically, and they bring that expertise to the table in this spoof of the popular “televised event” of the early 2010s.
With about as much production quality as Comedy Central’s Drunk History and with premises hitherto that of IFC’s Documentary Now!, The Spoils of Babylon hits the nail on the head with a perfect balance of noir-ish melodrama, hilarious visual comedy, and a plot too compelling to turn away.
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‘The Spoils of Babylon’ Is Hilarious on Multiple Levels
The most memorable bits in the miniseries are those imbued with an underlying childishness. Moments like the performance of Jonas Morehouse’s death (similar to that of the king in Shrek The Third), the action-packed slap fight between Cynthia and Dixie Melonworth (Jessica Alba), and Cynthia’s messy response to Lady Anne York’s (Carey Mulligan) self-assertion at breakfast make the most of the ridiculousness that comes from such a melodramatic premise. The frequency with which beats are either cut off or extended into oblivion is nothing short of the show’s finest highlight.
An appreciation can be found in allowing the indiscretion of some joke setups to play out, such as when Jonas has to repeatedly tell Devon to “keep reading, there’s more” when he gifts his son an overly-inscribed compass. Of course, Devon would be able to see that there is more to be read, but for the sake of drawing out the bit for as long as humanly possible, some stopping and starting was necessary. The run-on bit is even boosted when Jonas starts to recite the inscription as though it were biblical scripture, just one testament to the show’s common denominator in that every beat meant to be taken seriously makes the show one notch sillier.
Without question, the name of the game in The Spoils of Babylon is melodramatics. Performative comedy blossoms in this series as characters habitually lose their composure for extended periods of time, no matter the pettiness of the reason for their upset. For the sake of drama, the characters behave haphazardly and contrary to what is obviously the main priority at any given moment. A prime example is when an injured Devon manages to stop bleeding out long enough to tell his entire life story, and no sooner than he catches up to the present does he immediately keel over and give up the ghost.
Sometimes you can almost see the actors themselves stifling their laughter at the absurdity of their own performance – look closely at Kristen Wiig while Tobey Maguire delivers his character’s emotionally volatile eulogy to his recently-buried daughter. But above all, this teleplay will remind you to never underestimate the secret weapon that is throwing up both fists and screaming “NOOO!” into the air.
Just as well, comedic momentum is upheld by other complementary jokes. Random and unprecedented breaks in accents across actors throw the focus of entire scenes. Props (and characters, for that matter) are occasionally blessed with comedic obviousness that goes unaddressed, like the giant banner that reads “Welcome Home Darin” when Devon returns home from war, Devon’s mannequin wife Lady Anne York and their literal doll baby, or the comically large wine glasses that Devon and Cynthia sip from on the beach, which could only stem from Eric Jonrosh’s affinity for wine.
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Each episode of the miniseries is bookended by the cranky and tangential babblings of Jonrosh — a character who was based on a latter-years “Orson Welles who had kind of fallen from grace” — as he stubbornly refuses to comply with his script, inappropriately flirts with his waitress, and branches off into personal factoids about himself and his fictional cast.
‘The Spoils of Babylon’s Cheap Production Quality Is the Only Kind That Would Have Worked
Low-budget sets and props, use of miniatures and dioramas, and ostensible practical effects give The Spoils of Babylon a laughable production quality, resembling that of community theater or a home video. Cheap wigs, fake birds, and car scenes with green screens parade through six episodesthe way a fifth-grader with a dream commands a living room full of appeasing adults. The presentation could be improved, but no one’s going to actually say something about it. However, this amateur production value lends itself to supporting a focus on a narrative riddled with greed, vanity, murder, and powerlust.
Added to the noir-centered performative comedy of the miniseries is a more esoteric running joke in the incorporation of experimental film practices as the story progresses through the ’50s and into the ’70s. The avant-garde visual format is not as common in mainstream television and film, but is guaranteed to give film students a chuckle. During the characters’ most cerebral and emotionally torrential moments (which, admittedly, are nearly indiscernible from the rest of the show), Eric Jonrosh chooses to employ surrealist editing techniques like stark superimposition of footage, blink-and-you ’ll-miss-it title cards, prose poetry voiceover, and stylized dialogue recordings. The style is inherently random and haphazard, so it’s an appropriate choice for the scenes in which it’s used, but it makes processing the events more of an artsy-fartsy challenge to less familiar eyes.
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‘The Spoils of Babylon’ Is Designed To Test Audiences’ Patience
Image via Funny or Die
Art fans are especially bound to appreciate the display of artistic dedication in representing Devon Morehouse’s wayward and wandering years abroad. His unfortunate substance habit is reflected in a shift in musical tone through the use of jazz music, and his voiceover account is revitalized through ample samples of fluent spoken word poetry, with adjusted vocal inflection and emphasis, no less. Although the character’s objective situation is no laughing matter, the retelling of his profound exploration of the soul reels in the mockery of dramatics that call the 1950s their home. This chapter of the series is packed with wordy, metaphorical narration and a bombardment of overt references to jazz artists like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, and Freddie Hubbard. And in true Spoils fashion, Devon’s sudden passion for the written word isn’t just a one-off joke for the art world, but it continues to serve the story in combatting Cynthia’s added attacks.
Writer-director team Matt Piedmont and Andrew Steele, both seasoned sketch comedy writers, used The Spoils of Babylon to explore pushing the limits of an audience’s patience. Instead of needing quicker and more rushed attempts for laughs, Piedmont and Steele could work superfluous bits and run-on jokes into the show. Since the plot of Spoils is thick and sensitive, the floor is cracked open for increased nonsense. For example, between Devon’s flippancy toward his father’s news and Jonas’ reaction to his son’s news, the back-to-back excessiveness of Jonas Morehouse’s final moments is worth every bit of laughter. Such gratuitous instances of borderline wasteful writing are sprinkled across all six episodes.
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You Are Right to Weep for the Characters in ‘The Spoils of Babylon’
Will Ferrell as Eric Jonrosh in ‘The Spoils of Babylon’Image via Funny or Die
With an abundance of goofiness going on for the whole of the miniseries, it’s easy to forget that there is a coherent storyline to be followed. The thread of Cynthia’s and Devon’s forbidden eternal yearning for each other holds together the myriad of nonsensical and downright foolish comedy in The Spoils of Babylon. The longer they go on fighting their feelings, the more they end up hurting each other in the process. Shifting the role of antagonist from this intangible doomed attraction onto the destructive character of Winston adds a layer of conflict that amplifies the already-exceeding drama of the storyline from its midpoint to its explosive ending.
Cynthia Morehouse deserves some slack for the position she’s put herself in. Sure, she disregarded her father’s values, murdered Devon’s wife, sabotaged the progression of the auto industry, ripped Devon’s research institute from under him, and instilled in her son a horrible moral compass, but it was all in the name of love. Cynthia’s undying affection for Devon took hold of her life in a way that clouded her self-control. Her greedy and vengeful actions left Devon no choice but to retaliate in an attempt to bring her to a sense of remorse. In agreeing to return to the company, Devon managed his own self-control in trying to “kick” Cynthia by setting a boundary between them. This finally saw Cynthia reach a change of heart and pursue positive changes for the company. But with Winston knee-deep in the company, it became too late to reverse the shame that was brought on the Morehouse name.
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If the plot of the main characters isn’t entertaining enough, there are plenty of stories in the wings of the cast. The love story between Cynthia’s goon generals, Rod and Herman (Val Kilmer and Steve Tom, respectively), is one worth rooting for. As is the character of poor, peaceable Chet (Michael Sheen), Cynthia’s second husband, who did not deserve to be wedged into the chaos of this family’s story, nor to have his death go so brutally unnoticed. The fates of innocent sweetheart Seymore Luntz (Toby Huss) and beloved Marianne Morehouse (Jellybean Howie), despite some lackluster dramatization, remain a truly tragic sting. Rest assured, it is appropriate to think that Winston’s demise in particular is the least satisfying after the destruction he caused his family.
The Spoils of Babylon is available to stream on Pluto TV in the U.S.
Waka Flocka Returns To Social Media With Brief Message After Revealing He’s Expecting His First Child
On Sunday, May 31, Waka Flocka took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share a brief message with his more than 1.6 million followers. Furthermore, the message arrived as he celebrated his 40th birthday and, hours earlier, revealed that he’s expecting his first child, a baby boy.
On X, Waka seemingly signified his headspace, writing, “Put God before 1st no questions asked.”
To note, on Instagram, Waka also paid tribute to his late little brother, Kayo.
More On Waka Flocka Revealing He’s Expecting His First Child
As The Shade Room previously reported, hours earlier, Waka Flocka shared his major life update with a post on Instagram. Specifically, Waka shared a wooden cutout of the letter “J.” Additionally, the wood cutout had the name “Jaquin Jr.” featured on its base.
“Just waiting for you to come home Jr. Best gift a man could ever ask for 🤲🏽👨🏽🍼 I walked 40yrs on earth!!” he captioned the photo while celebrating his birthday.
Who Is The Rapper Having A Child With?
Waka Flocka did not disclose who he’s expecting his first child with, so at this time, that information remains unclear. As The Shade Room previously reported, Waka Flocka was last publicly linked to a woman named Melanie. In January 2024, at the time, he took to Instagram to share a photo of himself alongside her while they were standing in front of a helicopter.
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At the time, criticism of Mel prompted Charlie, Waka’s ex-wife’s daughter, to speak out and clear the air.
By March of that year, fans speculated that Melanie was throwing shade at Tammy, per The Shade Room.
At this time, it remains unclear how and if Waka and Mel’s romance progressed after these events.
A newly leaked toy description for Spider-Man: Brand New Day may have revealed one of the film’s biggest story details, and it could spell trouble for both Peter Parker and Bruce Banner.
While Marvel and Sony have already confirmed that Mark Ruffalo will return as Bruce Banner in the upcoming Spider-Man sequel, new merchandise details suggest Hulk’s role may be far more significant than fans originally expected.
According to information tied to a leaked toy line, Banner is reportedly using a device designed to suppress his Hulk transformations. However, when the technology fails, the Savage Hulk emerges, forcing Spider-Man into a dangerous situation that could become one of the movie’s central conflicts.
Spoiler Warning:
The following details are based on leaked merchandise information and have not been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios.
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According to the toy description, Bruce Banner’s attempt to control the Hulk goes horribly wrong when the device preventing his transformation fails. The leak suggests that Peter Parker finds himself dealing with the aftermath as the Savage Hulk returns.
If accurate, the storyline would mark the first major appearance of the classic Savage Hulk persona in years. Since Avengers: Endgame, audiences have primarily seen Smart Hulk, the version of Banner who successfully merged his intelligence with Hulk’s immense strength.
*Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s Hulk figurine. Image credit: Bandai/Marvel.*
The leak could also explain why Hulk appears to have such a prominent presence in early marketing and reports surrounding the film despite Brand New Day being described as a more grounded Spider-Man story.
For Marvel fans, the possibility of Spider-Man facing Savage Hulk is an exciting prospect. While the two heroes have crossed paths in comics, the MCU has never fully explored a conflict between Peter Parker and an uncontrolled Hulk. Such a matchup would instantly become one of the biggest action sequences in any Spider-Man film.
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Of course, fans should take the leak with a grain of salt. Toy descriptions are often based on early story drafts, simplified plot summaries, or marketing material that doesn’t always reflect the final movie.
Still, merchandise leaks have a long history of revealing legitimate details about major superhero films, making this one difficult to ignore.
Whether the leak proves entirely accurate or not, one thing appears certain: Hulk’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Daymay be much larger than anyone expected.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to swing into theaters on July 31, 2026.
Zack Snyder holding a viewfinder on set.Warner Bros./courtesy Everett Collection
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Although they weren’t all financial or critical successes at the time, John Carpenter‘s directorial output in the 1970s and 1980s is now considered one of the finest runs of any 20th century director. Unsurprisingly, they’ve also been fertile ground for prequels, remakes, and sequels, with films like Halloween, The Thing, and Assault on Precinct 13 providing grist for the mill in the 21st century. Now, Zack Snyder, who made his directorial debut with a remake of the George Romero horror classic Dawn of the Dead, will take on one of Carpenter’s crown jewels.
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According to reports, Snyder is set to helm a remake of the 1981 science fiction actioner Escape From New York. Snyder most recently directed the Rebel Moon duology for Netflix. A remake of the film has been lingering in Development Hell for decades; Len Wiseman, Brett Ratner, and Robert Rodriguez were all signed on to direct the remake at various times; at one point, Gerard Butler had signed on to star. Most recently, Scream‘s Radio Silence were tapped for the remake, but they have since moved on to resurrect The Mummy for Universal.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Euphoria left viewers with so many questions throughout season 3, including whether Maddy and Alamo actually had sex — which Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbajeis finally addressing.
“It was an interesting scene because it’s so layered. It’s very loaded,” Akinnuoye-Agbaje, 58, exclusively told Us Weekly at the MPTF NextGen Summer Party, which was presented by Delta Air Lines and Waymo, on Sunday, May 31.
“From the bathing suit to the music to the champagne, he knew exactly what he was going to do,” he explained. “So myself and Yana Grebenyuk Sam [Levinson], we discussed that. And whilst it was going to be flirtatious from Alamo’s perspective — and playful — there’s an ominous reality that, you know, you’re going to do what I tell you to do now.”
Euphoria‘s long-awaited return has been met with major backlash due to numerous explicit — and controversial — scenes. The HBO series, which premiered in 2019, has always been known to push boundaries while following teenager Rue’s (Zendaya) attempt to remain sober after struggling with addiction. While the first two seasons were set in high school, […]
Akinnuoye-Agbaje continued: “To answer your question, did he sleep with her? Well, he was not there to play with her toes. For what she’s asking him to do — take out a life and give a million dollars — yeah, he most definitely did what he needed to do with that beautiful lady.”
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The confusion originally started after a May episode of the hit HBO show had Alamo make Maddy put on a bathing suit and get in a hot tub with him. He ultimately agreed to help Maddy get the $1 million needed to save Nate (Jacob Elordi), but the scene cut off before the rest of their interaction was shown.
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In the season 3 finale, which aired on Sunday, Maddy visited Alamo at his strip club, where he contemplated his life choices. He also made a move on Maddie while proposing they have four kids together. Alamo started to touch Maddy — who got on his lap — before the scene cut out again amid an implied but unseen kiss.
Alamo’s conversation with Maddy didn’t last long, however, because Ali (Colman Domingo) arrived to avenge Rue’s (Zendaya) death.
While speaking to Us at the annual fundraiser, Akinnuoye-Agbaje addressed possible backlash toward Alamo’s involvement in Rue’s fatal overdose.
Euphoria has caused a lot of confusion for viewers throughout the seasons — and now they are asking what exactly took place between Maddy and Alamo. Ahead of the season 3 finale, Maddy (Alexa Demie) had to ask Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) for money after Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) found out that Nate (Jacob Elordi) only had […]
“Look, it’s a voracious fan base. It’s really their show,” he said. “It preceded me. I’ve done my part. Whatever they say and do is their part, so that’s where I leave it.”
Akinnuoye-Agbaje then weighed in on the possibility of Euphoria continuing with more seasons — despite Levinson confirming the show is over.
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“The beautiful thing about Euphoria is — first of all — this incredible performance that Zendaya has done. She narrates the show and we’ve seen it largely through her perspective,” he noted. “One of the beautiful things is that [her death] opens it up to the perspective of so many of the other characters. Whether they’re within Rue’s group and vicinity, you have Laurie’s gang and you have Alamo’s gang and you have Rue’s friends. There’s room to explore those backstories, those relationships and those adventures that they would have.”
He concluded: “This is TV. There’s always a world in which it could — if they wanted to — [they could explore the world more]. Whether they want to or not … I don’t know.”
Sydney Sweeney didn’t want to “skirt around” any nudity when it came to her Euphoria season 3 story line, according to the show’s creator, Sam Levinson.
“When I first wrote it … I thought, ‘Well, maybe, we shoot all of this, and we don’t have any nudity,’” Levinson, 41, said during the Monday, June 1, episode of The New York Times’ “Popcast” podcast. “I was talking to her about, maybe, there’s ways to shoot around certain [things] — and she looked at me, and she’s like, ‘Are you kidding? I’m playing an OnlyFans model.’”
Levinson made it clear that he “always” has a discussion with actors about “what works best for the character.” Sweeney, 28, wasn’t afraid to take any risks.
“I think she’s a totally fearless actor. She’s also just wonderfully professional, and shows up just game every day,” he continued. “I adore working with her, because there’s such a flexibility in terms of the performance.”
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Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Levinson said there’s “a lot of trust” between him and Sweeney.
“I can say, ‘Why don’t we try this scene just a little crazier, with a little more humor.’ Suddenly, this whole other version of the scene can come out just based on her performance,” he added. “We’re tackling this world of OnlyFans where women are being paid to whisper into an ear-shaped microphone and lick it. There is a level of absurdity to it that is just fun.”
While other story lines had a more definitive end during the Sunday, May 31, season finale, Sweeney’s was left open-ended with her final scene taking place alongside Maude Apatow. Cassie (Sweeney) was washing her sex toys while her sister, Lexi (Apatow), got emotional over Rue’s (Zendaya) death.
Sydney Sweeney has been candid about what goes into stripping down for nude scenes in Euphoria and other projects. After Euphoria premiered in 2019, Sweeney, who plays Cassie, opened up about the downsides of being naked on screen. “I don’t think as many people took me seriously in Euphoria because I took my shirt off,” […]
“It’s called… acting,” she captioned the post, which included a nearly nude photo. (Sweeney’s topless scenes received widespread criticism throughout the season.)
“[Cassie] has got her dog house and her little dog ears and the nose, and that has its own humor,” he said at the time. “But what makes the scene is the fact that her housekeeper is the one filming it.”
He added, “What we wanted to always find is the other layer of absurdity that we’re able to tie into it so that we’re not too inside of her fantasy or illusion. The gag is to jump out, to break the wall.”
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The couple first sparked romance rumors in January 2024 when they were spotted cozying up together at an event. Turner kept things on the low-key side initially, offering a “no comment” when asked about their relationship status.
“It’s very exciting,” she gushed. “This decision to grow old together, to see a life and just, I don’t know, be best friends forever — it’s a really special feeling.”
Training season is over for Dua Lipa now that she’s with Callum Turner. The singer first sparked romance rumors with the British actor in January 2024, when they were spotted cozying up at the Masters of the Air premiere party. However, Turner played coy about their connection, telling photographers “no comment” when asked about his […]
News broke in May 2026 that Turner and Lipa had tied the knot in an intimate London ceremony. Photos obtained by multiple outlets showed the couple looking happy as they exited Old Marylebone Town Hall.
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While Turner made a name for himself before he started dating Lipa, being connected to the singer has skyrocketed his fame.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about Turner:
Does Callum Turner Talk About His Mental Health?
“I try to break the pattern of being self-destructive every day,” Turner discussed with the Independent in February 2020.
The BAFTA nominee referred to himself as “a big stoner,” as he noted that a “determination to change and not miss my life” convinced him to stop smoking.
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Where Did Callum Turner Go to School?
Turner left school at 16 after he started questioning what he wanted his career to be. Since he knew he didn’t want to be anything that was being taught to him, he chose to try a different approach.
“I was naughty, but within reason. I wasn’t mean, but I was a bit of a class clown. I was in all the lowest sets, but not because I couldn’t do it – because I didn’t want to do it,” he told the Independent about his time as a student.
When Did Callum Turner Start Acting?
Turner decided to try to play for a semi-professional football team after he left school, but he quickly realized that wasn’t the right choice for him.
“I’m not a professional athlete. Very simple. I was incredibly dedicated, I just wasn’t a footballer,” he added during his discussion with the Independent.
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Who Are Callum Turner’s Parents?
The War and Peace alum previously spoke about how his “brilliant” mother, Rosemary Turner, led him to the acting world and how her job as a nightclub promoter offered him a unique outlook.
“My mum allowed a community of people around me and wasn’t protective of her love for me,” he shared with the Independent. “It was almost like a tribe.”
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Does Callum Turner Have an Instagram Account?
“I don’t go to events and I don’t have Instagram,” Turner revealed in February 2020. “I have a pretty low-key life and I enjoy that, but also I love acting.”
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