These days, cozy mysteries are all the rage. What’s not to love? After all, murder doesn’t have to be so grim. Folks looking for something thrilling that rivals Knives Out ought to consider perhaps the greatest mystery series of all time: Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Based on the literary works of Christie herself, David Suchet played the famed Hercule Poirot, the maddeningly vain yet terribly elegant and thoughtful detective (who is Belgian, not French) across 13 stellar seasons and 70 episodes. Nothing quite comes close to the brilliance of this undeniably effective ITV series.

‘Agatha Christie’s Poirot’ Truly Encapsulates the Famed Literary Detective

Those looking for something that will scratch that mystery itch will likely find a kindred spirit in Poirot. The fabulous program is simply unparalleled as far as cozy mystery television is concerned, as it adapts the master of murder mysteries herself. No matter if Poirot is your favorite Agatha Christie character or not, you will be fully enraptured by Suchet’s performance as he completely devotes himself to the author’s descriptions of her fictional detective. Physically, of course, by emoting the character’s unusual mannerisms, but also psychologically in the way he explores Poirot’s moral complexity. The series does masterfully capture the detective’s confident charm and his frustratingly irritable personality (which you think would conflict with each other but somehow are not). Still, what truly earns the series the “greatest of all time” label is that it is the most complete adaptation of Christie’s work ever put to the screen.

Poirot originally aired between 1989 and 2013 on the British channel ITV, with Suchet becoming internationally acclaimed for his part. While some may prefer Kenneth Branagh or Albert Finney (and that’s totally okay), only Suchet can lay claim to having adapted not only the most Poirot stories (basically all of them), but with the most clear faithfulness to Christie’s original text. All the classics are accounted for here, including Murder on the Orient Express, The ABC Murders, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Death on the Nile, and, of course, fan-favorites like Five Little Pigs. The series also features a real ending in its adaptation of Curtain (the final Poirot novel), making this detective classic a truly complete work. Agatha Christie’s Poirot may not be a quick binge, but it’s an effortless one that will check all the right British boxes for those looking for something intelligent, entertaining, and downright masterful.

Another reason to give Poirot a try is that, over the course of several decades, the ITV program secured some pretty notable guest stars. Damian Lewis (“Hickory Dickory Dock”), Emily Blunt (“Death on the Nile”), Michael Fassbender (“After the Funeral”), Jessica Chastain (“Murder on the Orient Express”), Kelly Reilly (“Sad Cypress”), and Christopher Eccleston (“One, Two, Buckle My Shoe”) all appeared in episodes, among many others. Like Poirot himself, you never know who you might find next when you indulge in this mysterious obsession.

David Suchet Is the Beating Heart Behind ‘Poirot’

There is a reason that many consider David Suchet to be the definitive Hercule Poirot, and it’s not just because of his funny mustache. The star remained faithful to Christie’s novels not due to creative obligations from the folks behind-the-scenes, but because of a sacred debt he felt to the author. “I thought I would read every single novel and very soon I realized that the character of Hercule Poirot was somebody that I’d never properly met,” Suchet once revealed at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, as recorded by RTE. “And if I hadn’t met him, then I didn’t think that her readership had either, or the future television audience.” For Suchet, it became a mission to properly explore all the multifaceted aspects of the character, which may very well be why the show lasted so long.

Ranging from hour-long episodes to feature-length installments, the 13-season Poirot series is a triumph of British television — and in mystery TV proper. Having played the character for nearly 25 years, nobody knows Hercule Poirot quite like David Suchet, and it’s that commitment to the part that has captured the hearts (and inquiring minds) of all who give Agatha Christie’s Poirot a try. For the best cozy mystery binge you’ll be sorry you haven’t already started, travel back in time for Poirot. Just be sure to watch this TV classic before Hercule premieres.

As dating trends continue to shift due to screens, dating apps, and social isolation, one Nevada brothel is seeing an unexpected side effect – young men looking for help with real-world connection. 

Sheri’s Ranch Madam Dena Duff shared some insight with The Blast exclusively about what’s bringing young men into the brothel lately. She said many younger guests are arriving less focused on sex and more interested in building confidence, holding conversations, and working on their social skills to help build the confidence necessary to form meaningful relationships.

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While it might sound crazy, there are many younger men visiting the brothel for something other than just sex. In fact, Dena said, “they’re not really coming in for sex.” 

“I think they’re coming in to work on developing their skills to be able to talk to women,” she told The Blast exclusively. “I think a lot of that has been lost in translation over the years with how much screen time they’ve got and how they’re working from home and remotely. Then when they’re done working remotely, they’re usually gaming because I’ve seen a lot of gamers come through and they just don’t have the social skills that the older generations have.”

The trend seems to be swaying in the direction of the younger generation visiting the brothel to get real world experience in areas they may be lacking thanks to screens. 

“I think it’s being able to hold a conversation, to be with somebody in front of you. Maybe hold hands, have dinner, be able to engage in a way that’s safe where you’re not going to be judged as to how you look, how you dress, or the fact that you picked up the wrong fork or said the wrong thing in a socially awkward way,” Dena said. “You are not going to get judged for that here. Adults are coming in and having the opportunity to do that with the ladies that work here. Is there sex involved? One can hope so. We are a brothel that’s full service, but is that the case all the time? No.”

What These Types Of Interactions Are Showing Dena Duff And The Ladies Of Sheri’s Ranch

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Sheri’s Ranch might be more of an unconventional setting to learn about communication and dating trends, but these interactions are happening more and more. It’s taught Dena and the ladies of the brothel that the younger generation might be missing out on some communication skills and confidence, and they are happy to help shine a light on that. 

“If you want to talk to, let’s say, a girl or somebody that you are interested in dating, you have to have that one-on-one interaction. You have to be able to hold a conversation and be confident about it,” Dena shared. “And being able to come here, you are able to do that without any kind of judgment. You are kind of able to practice those skills without thinking, ‘Oh, I am going to mess this up.’”

These interactions give the men the chance to be themselves without worrying about being judged and help them work on the skill sets and tools necessary for when they’re actually face-to-face with somebody that they possible want to start a relationship with.

One Of The Biggest Challenges For A First Time Guest At The Brothel

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For a first timer at Sheri’s Ranch, there could be a little bit of fear of the unknown or nervousness about how the experience will go. But Dena said that feeling often fades away once inside when interacting with the ladies. 

“This is scary for a first-time guest to walk in the door. I mean, once you’ve gone down that journey to say, ‘You know what? I am going to do it,’ and you actually get in the car and come to the front door and ring the bell to come in, then you come in and you’re surrounded by beautiful ladies that are coming up and talking to you, that can be intimidating and could feel overwhelming for some people,” Dena told The Blast. “Being able to come in and kind of relax for a minute and not get thrown into let’s say, a traditional lineup because when you think of brothels, you think of lineups. That’s not what we do. We give people the opportunity to have a conversation and see who they connect with.” 

Dena said that alone typically has a “tendency to calm people down enough” to where they are feeling more comfortable to take the next step, which could be talking privately with the person they are connecting with.

A Misconception Dena Duff Would Like To Clear Up

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While there are likely quite a few misconceptions about brothels, Dena said the biggest one has to do with what people think they will walk into once through the doors. 

“The biggest misconception when I started was that you’re gonna walk in and see naughty things. We’re not a strip club,” Dena shared. “You’re dealing with extremely educated women and dealing with a business that’s run like a business.”

She also said that some have “preconceived notions of who the ladies are.” 

“And you realize you weren’t even on target as to what their personality or their life experiences were,” she added. “You can have an intelligent conversation with somebody and then have an experience behind it.”

Something Surprising About Sheri’s Ranch

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Something that surprises many about Sheri’s Ranch is that it’s often not what people think it is, and they also offer a bar and restaurant that’s open to the public.

“I have to go back to my first original experience when I walked in the door. You may have this thought process in the back of your head that it’s like a dark, seedy place, and all these naughty things are happening. And when you walk in the doors, it’s not like that at all,” she said. “Everything is private. Everybody’s anonymity and discretion is number one for us. And when you walk in, you may not know we have a bar and restaurant.” 

She said that locals often visit the restaurant, and that many may not know that they also have a hotel on property that guests can stay in. 

“Anybody that wants a staycation or just some peace and quiet, where you don’t have to walk through the halls of a big hotel establishment, and you can hang out by the pool but still be close to your room,” Dena said. “We have all those things here as well as the brothel.”

For more information about Sheri’s Ranch, visit the website.

Lauren London’s clapback to her son Kameron Carter’s joke in the comments has fans saying, “it be your own kids!” Lauren recently dropped some fire photos on Instagram, and while her comments filled up with heart-eye emojis and compliments, Kameron slid right in and tried to crack a joke on his mom, but she wasn’t here for the shade at all!

RELATED: New New Vibes! Lauren London Had The Gworls Double-Tapping After Her Latest Flicks Left Fans Shook (PHOTOS)

Lauren London Was Serving Face Until Her Son Kameron Carter Pulled Up

Kameron Carter didn’t let his mom have her moment in peace. Lauren London dropped new photos on Instagram from her time at Martha’s Vineyard. The actress was serving face and looking flawless as usual, until Kameron swooped in on her comments with ZERO chill! He came through with a lil’ son-to-mom shade, telling her she needs to pick better captions for her photos.

“U needa caption ghostwriter,” Kameron commented.

But chile, Lauren didn’t let him live! The minute she peeped his shade, she told him to stick his head in one of his schoolbooks, and folks online immediately lost it.

“and you need to read that English book for school. Thank you Kam,” she replied.

The Internet Couldn’t Get Enough Of Lauren Putting Kameron In Check!

Plenty of fans reacted to Kameron’s comment, saying Lauren got in her mom real quick, while others couldn’t stop laughing at him trying to play his mama in her OWN comment section. Peep some of the reactions below.

Instagram user @mz_shinningstarr wrote, “@laurenlondon 😂 it be your own kids.” 

Instagram user @__.liissaa__ wrote, “I see why they call him Killa Kam 🤣” 

While Instagram user @noletdowns wrote, “She said don’t let the face fool you this mouth work 😂” 

Then Instagram user @forevershort12 wrote, “Lmao when your mom is Sagittarius 🔥 ♐️ 😂he knew that fire was coming back 😂” 

Another Instagram user @queen.gina wrote, “@tft_kam1 the troll game go CRAZYYY 😂” 

Instagram user @yahzprince wrote, “Momma still mommying 🤣🤣🤣” 

Then another Instagram user @sarahvivan wrote, “@tft_kam1 😂 Ion know Kam… Sounded like a bar to me 🤷🏼‍♀️😅🫖☕️” 

Finally, Instagram user @_big_jess wrote, “Not him on your post! Lol it be your own kids man 😂”

Lauren Honors Nipsey Hussle On His 41st Birthday With Sweet Tribute

Lauren had timelines on lock with her face card and the love she continues to show Nipsey Hussle. London paid tribute to the late rapper on his birthday on Saturday, August 15. She shared a throwback photo of Nip on Instagram alongside the message, “Happy Heavenly Birthday Ermias 💙 ♾️🏁✨” 

Fans joined Lauren in honoring him and reflecting on his legacy, while celebrities like Nia Long, Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, and more showed love with blue hearts and heartfelt messages.

RELATED: So Sweet! Lauren London Gets Gassed UP By Son Kross For Her Youthful Look At Age 41 (PHOTOS) 

We’ve got Big Brother week 6 confirmed nominations by HOH Yash Patel and also the winner of the BB Time Capsule. Here’s a hint, Haley Thogmartin’s confidence that America chose her is wasted effort.

Lala Verrett and Haley are both certain that the other’s a bully. She insisted Lala bullied her last week. She said that’s not true, she was polite. Haley accused Lala of fanning herself aggressively.

Haley kept on saying I’m not cool with the bullying. Lala called in Angela Murray and wanted her to repeat that she didn’t like how Haley talked to Taylor Brown.

Big Brother: Angela Scurries for Safety

Angela tried to sidestep. Tried to mitigate what Haley said. She insisted to Lala, I was calm and didn’t raise my voice. True but she was totally calm while flat out lying about Angela right in her face in front of Dee Valladares.

Haley kept saying girl, then called Lala girlfriend and she snapped and told Haley, I’m not your GF. Haley needs to stop that. ASAP. Haley and Lala maybe need to agree to disagree.

When asked, Melody Morris told Lala that she thought she was mean to Haley but wouldn’t call it bullying but Melody said some people might see it that way.

Lala then went on a bit of an apology tour around the house to dispel this bully talk. But then she vented to Taylor about Angela wimping out and covering for Haley in their confrontation.

Taylor told her not to let them get to her. Lala kept ranting and Taylor said trust me and let me work. Bottom line is Lala’s done with Angela and so is Taylor.

And after backpedaling and not supporting Lala, Angela went back to her and Taylor later asking them to talk to Yash and keep her off the block. Sure girlfriend, they’ll get right on that.

Big Brother 28: Time Capsule and Lord of the Latrine Punishment

Now let’s talk time capsule. Haley talked to a couple of people today about how she expected to get a power today. Something about that guy who yelled when she won the BB Blockbuster has her and some other houseguests wondering if she’s super popular with America.

But the guy identified himself on TikTok and said he’s not even a fan of Haley’s. So, she’s telling Kamu Kirk and others she’ll win it. Haley said “I mean who else would get it?”

Well, guess what? Melody won it. She won the BB Time Capsule but then didn’t hit the button right to get a power. She got a punishment and now Melody is the Lord of the Latrine.

If you’ve not seen this punishment it’s not great for anyone. The main bathroom is under lock and key and Melody has the key. Anyone that needs to do business has to ask her to unlock the room.

Big Brother 28: Doody Duties for Queen of the Latrine

And as they enter, Melody makes an announcement that they’re entering the toilet area then she has to lurk around and lock up again when they’re done. Good thing it’s only 24 hours.

So, Kamu’s stomach was upset and Melody let him into the bathroom and he was in there a while. Drew told Melody to hassle Kamu so she got out her trumpet and blew it then Melody yelled time’s up.

Kamu laughed and said Melody could leave and he’d get her when he was done since his tummy’s upset. Melody laughed and said you get a pass. Drew was laughing about the actual lock on the outside of the door and from inside the toilet, Kamu mentioned it’d be bad if Melody locked him in there.

Angela entered the chat asking is Kamu still in there? Drew then unrolled a beach towel like a red carpet in front of the bathroom door. He said so Kamu could have the 5-star treatment when he comes out.

And when he did come out and Rick Devens was heading into the toilet, Melody yelled out Devens has accused Kamu of pissing on the seat.

Nominations for Week 6 on BB28

Okay now let’s talk about nominations real quick. Dee told Devens she was thinking of threatening Yash to stay off the block. She was going to tell Yash if you’re thinking of nominating me, think again.

Dee was going to tell him you and your besties may go up and out this week. Basically, she told Devens she wants to scare Yash and make him think she has the HOH takeover. Devens said do whatever you want.

But he warned Dee that Yash said he’s not worried about powers. Yash said he’s acting like they don’t exist because otherwise you can’t do anything. Dee said she felt weird vibes and knows Yash is putting Angela up.

Devens warned Dee she might go up too and advised her to try the BB Bribe. I got to give Yash his flowers over his chat with Dee because she did try to use the BB Bribe on Yash. And it did NOT go well.

Afterwards, Dee told Kamu that at first, she tried to bribe Yash and asked to keep her and Angela safe. Yash said no. Then, Dee asked if he’d keep just her safe. She told Kamu I offered him the $5K and said “That’s easy f-cking money”. He said no.

And then he told Dee, and now Yash knows you have that power. Haley too, I think. Because she was lying down nearby in earshot of Kamu and Dee’s chat. Haley had a blanket over her face which had people wondering if she’s crashing out over Melody getting time capsule.

Big Brother 28: Pedestal Falls for a Couple of Icons?

Lala told Yash about her Haley fight and said she apologized to Haley but she said I don’t accept your apology. Then Lala said Haley started this bully narrative about Lala. And Haley said everybody in the house said Lala’s a bully. Yash hugged Lala and said you’re all good.

So, feeds went down and came back up and Yash’s nominations were official. Haley, Angela and Dee are on the block. And Yash may be on the receiving end of some bullying by that trio. But that’s two icons on the block.

Also, I’ve been asked why I call them icons. That’s not my opinion. That’s the terminology Big Brother applied and I’ve been using it.

A Memphis family is mourning the loss of a little girl after what they say was a devastating lapse in care left her in a daycare bus for hours. Winter Jones was just 6 years old, and now her loved ones are seeking answers as an investigation continues into what happened to the young girl.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Minnesota Man Fatally Stabs Wife & 7-Year-Old Daughter At Daycare After Allegedly Killing Another Relative

Winter Was Allegedly Left On A Daycare Bus

According to Winter’s father, Bryan Jones, his daughter rode a Kid University daycare bus to and from Macon-Hall Elementary School, but she was allegedly never taken off the bus on Thursday morning. Winter, who was nonverbal and autistic, was later discovered at the daycare, and her father said she had an internal body temperature of 109 degrees. The outdoor temperature in Memphis reached about 97 degrees that day.

Memphis Police said officers responded around 3:23 p.m. to the 700 block of Walnut Knoll Lane after receiving a call about a child in need of medical assistance. Winter was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where she was later pronounced deceased. Authorities have not announced any charges, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Her Family Says She Couldn’t Advocate For Herself

Winter’s uncle, Christopher Jones, said the little girl’s autism and inability to communicate made the situation especially heartbreaking. He said Winter could not alert anyone that she was still on the bus. According to the family, no one realized she was missing until workers returned to the vehicle later in the day.

“She couldn’t advocate for herself. She couldn’t open her mouth and say, ‘Hey, I’m still on the bus,’ or anything, nothing like that,” he shared. “I’m standing here sweating. So, I can only imagine her being enclosed in a bus for so long with no windows down, no doors open, no nothing.”

Winter’s Family Is Seeking Answers After Her Death Amid Investigation

The investigation has prompted questions about the safety procedures in place at the daycare. Tennessee childcare regulations require providers to conduct vehicle checks and maintain records of those checks. Moreover, the Tennessee Department of Human Services confirmed it is involved in the investigation. The agency also expressed condolences to Winter’s family.

RELATED: Florida Daycare Worker Faces Charges After Allegedly Assaulting Five Toddlers With Stapler As School Speaks Out

For anyone born after, say, 2000-ish, it’s surely hard to fathom a Batman era before the Christopher Nolan pictures. Starting with the critically acclaimed sleeper hit Batman Begins before skyrocketing as a cultural marker with the unprecedented success and acclaim of The Dark Knight, the Nolan trilogy completely revolutionized comic-book, superhero and blockbuster filmmaking as we know it. Surely The Dark Knight is the single most influential motion picture of the 21st century.

Alas, there was a time before Nolan, and there were Batman movies that were huge successes in their own respective rights. From the gothic duology from Tim Burton that began in 1989 to the glittering fever dream that was the Joel Schumacher films, this era was uneven and chaotic to put it mildly. It was brilliant at times, too, and tangibly influenced Nolan and plenty of other filmmakers in generations to come. The following ranks every theatrically released Batman movie of this era, specifically the ’80s and ’90s, from worst to best.

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‘Batman & Robin’ (1997)

Image via Warner Bros. 

Joel Schumacher’s second Bat outing has a reputation as one of the worst movies ever made, and though whether it fully earns this is up for debate, its placement on this ranking is not. Batman & Robin is an overproduced—but, it must be said, slickly produced—mess of pat-puns, Adam West-era corniness and garish production design. There were plans for a fifth live-action Batman movie of this era, which would have been Schumacher’s third, but the box-office and critical failure of Batman & Robin nipped this in the bud. Schumacher has even apologized for the infamous movie on camera. Respect, honestly.

But is Batman & Robin really that bad? Well, yes and no. If you sit down and watch the Batman movies of this era in chronological order, it is is truly jarring in all the wrong ways. The Burton films had their flaws, mostly narrative ones, but their commitment to a tone and to character is mostly demolished here in favor of “toyetic” freneticism that distracted some kids and sold some admittedly cool toys, perhaps, while largely repelling the target demographic and almost anyone who’d enjoyed previous Batman entries. Uma Thurman is the one actor who famously emerges entirely unscathed here, playing Poison Ivy with just the right amount of camp. She understood the assignment, and she’s even gone on to say she loved making Batman & Robin.

4

‘Batman Forever’ (1995)

Image via Warner Bros. 

Batman Returns was a critical and financial disappointment in 1992, and this was generally chalked up to the film being overly dark and punishing… perhaps an odd complaint with hindsight. All the same, Warner Bros. insisted on a new direction and reportedly, essentially fired Burton, with Michael Keaton quitting the third film in solidarity. Despite the reputation he now holds, Schumacher may have seemed like a sound replacement at the time, thanks to having The Lost Boys and numerous dark thrillers under his belt. And to be fair, Batman Forever is far from a terrible film. It’s confused and conflicted, with a notorious lost cut that, contrary to popular belief, would probably only improve it marginally.

Val Kilmer plays a serviceable Batman and a pretty decent Bruce Wayne, sharing top billing with Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey. The former delivers a total miscalculation of a performance as Two-Face, empty and shrill buffonery that ranks about the worst turns in comic-book movies. Carrey, on the other hand, pretty much walks away with the movie as Riddler. Every joke lands, every mannerism registers. A year after his historic rise to stardom with a trio of comedy blockbusters, it was the right casting at the right time. Batman Forever feels like something of a footnote in the overall Batman franchise, but on its own merits, it’s a pretty decent and watchable action blockbuster.

3

‘Batman’ (1989)

Image via Warner Bros.

Over two decades after his ridiculous, shark-punching previous big-screen appearance, which truthfully was a cash-grab transplant of TV show at its height, Batman finally arrived in fully fleshed-out summer blockbuster form, with Burton of recent Beetlejuice fame at the helm and the seemingly unlikely Michael Keaton of, er, Mr. Mom fame, in the title role. Top billing actually went to Jack Nicholson as Joker, in an iconic, transformative and darkly hilarious performance that netted the actor something around $90 million thanks to a back-end deal. Memorable as it is, it just doesn’t match anything like the depth of Heath Ledger‘s take on the character two decades later.

Batman won an Academy Award for its production design, and it’s hard to imagine it not winning this looking at it now. The story, though, really is paper-thin, and it’s been done no favors by comparison to the Nolan films over the years. Even the weakest of Nolan’s pictures, The Dark Knight Rises, giant plot holes and all, is demonstrably more satisfying as a narrative than Burton’s original blockbuster. Still, film is a visual medium, and it’s hard to overstate the achievement here on that level. 1989 was simply the year of Batman at the box office. At the time of release, this was the sixth highest-grossing movie ever.

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‘Batman Returns’ (1992)

Following the absolute mammoth success of the 1989 blockbuster, Burton was afforded near-complete creative control over a sequel he initially didn’t want to make. Whether this creative freedom was a good thing may depend on who you’re asking. Batman Returns is a divisive movie to put it mildly, largely rejected in its day and even highly controversial. It’s one of the weirdest blockbuster movies ever made, and uncommonly gripping. These days, many will call it the best Batman movie ever made.

One thing that’s really important to mention here is that neither Bruce Wayne or Batman have the most screen time, or even the second-most. Danny DeVito’s Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer‘s Catwoman largely drive the story, a gloomy Christmas-set narrative that sees Oswald Cobblepot seeking vengeance against Gotham for a lifetime of ostracization. Batman Returns is an oddly compelling story of three outsiders, and what it means to be an outsider. It’s also the most visually stunning depiction of Gotham City, ever. Batman Returns lives up to its polarizing reputation for being repellingly bleak and violent, but it’s also a stunningly crafted feature whose merits become more vividly undeniable with every rewatch. TIme has been good to it.

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‘Batman: Mask of the Phantasm’ (1993)

Image via Warner Bros.

The best Batman movie of this era, by some distance, is an off-shoot and prequel of Warner Bros. Animation and Fox Kids’ Batman: The Animated Series, a show that is now widely revered and serves as the ultimate depiction of the character for many. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is particularly haunting for showing us a young Bruce Wayne with a shot at happiness, particularly a tender romance with kindred spirit whose day-to-day is similarly plagued by grief. There’s also an intriguing mystery concerning a Batman-like figure in shadows who’s murdering people in Gotham, but Mask of the Phantasm is widely revered as one of, if not the best Batman film ever made because of how close we get to Bruce Wayne, soulfully played by Kevin Conroy.

It’s perhaps a testament to the divisive, frankly overall rather rejective response to Batman Returns that Mask of the Phantasm was a box-office bomb despite positive reviews. Its reputation has steadily grown since its release on VHS, and these days it’s a touchstone for fans of the character, and even the filmmakers tasked with his various reincarnations. Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel rather famously covered the film some time after its release, praising its artistic merits and story while chiding Warner Bros. for botching its theatrical release. Ebert praised the film for having “more of a story” than the live-action films that preceded it. Siskel encouraged Warner Bros. to greenlight more features from the animation team behind Phantasm and said, “I’m sorry we caught up with this picture a couple of years late.”

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Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Release Date

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December 25, 1993

Runtime

76 minutes

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Director

eric radomski, Bruce W. Timm

Writers

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Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Bob Kane, Martin Pasko, Michael Reaves, Jerry Robinson

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Married at First Sight alum Jessica Castro has broken her silence after her ex-husband, Ryan de Nino, died at the age of 40.

“I have not had contact with Ryan in years so I have/had no idea what his life entailed. However, I do send my sincerest condolences to his family during this very difficult time,” Jessica, 42, told Page Six on Friday, August 14. “I can not imagine what they are going through. May he rest peacefully.”

News broke earlier on Friday that Ryan had suddenly died. A cause of death was not immediately revealed.

“Ryan was so damn funny and witty. He was fiercely loyal to those he loved,” Ryan’s sister, Melissa de Nino, wrote via Facebook on Tuesday, August 11, announcing her sibling’s death. “He had a huge heart, always.”

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She continued, “I can’t explain what it’s like to lose a sibling. Someone who’s  been there from the beginning and shares the same memories. No matter what we were going through, I loved him immensely. Life as I know it will never be the same.”

Melissa received a flurry of support in the comments section.

“Oh my gosh, my heart breaks hearing this. I am so incredibly sorry, he was so funny and witty and the world was lucky to have him,” one individual replied, with another adding, “Melissa everything you said about your brother is true. Incredible potential with a great heart. I miss him so much. I smile when I think of him.”

Ryan and Jessica were matched and married on season 2 of Lifetime’s Married at First Sight, deciding to stay together at the end of the reality TV experiment.

“I come from a family of long successful marriages,” Jessica said on the show. “The word ‘divorce’ just doesn’t fall into my lifestyle.”

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When it comes to reality TV couples, it’s not easy to make a relationship last – but many from Married at First Sight have proven that they could do just that. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, I agree to […]

However, Jessica and Ryan went their separate ways weeks after cameras stopped rolling. Jessica subsequently filed a restraining order against Ryan, claiming that he allegedly threatened his wife and her family. Jessica also alleged that Ryan was unfaithful.

The two came face to face at the season 2 reunion in 2015, which ended with Jessica tossing Ryan a $100 bill because “he needed the money more than” she did. He pocketed the cash and stormed off set without addressing the accusations.

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“She’s f**king dead. When I get back to Brooklyn, she’s f**king dead, this girl,” Ryan said on a hot mic at the time.

After Ryan’s apparent threat, MAFS producers provided Jessica with a security team. Kinetic Company, which produces MAFS, issued a statement at the time.

“The experts on our show have the best of intentions and highest hopes for success for each couple. After undergoing extensive background and psychological checks by third parties, couples agree to be legally married on our show,” a statement shared with Us in 2015 read. “We document their journey for six weeks after their wedding, but we can’t control how they behave, or govern their actions after production.”

Hugh Jackman is reportedly ready to marry Sutton Foster, but one major obstacle lies in the way: the actress’s estranged husband, screenwriter Ted Griffin.

According to a new report, the Marvel star is now trying to establish a relationship with Griffin and is willing to do whatever it takes to get him to sign off on the divorce papers.

Sources also speculate that Sutton Foster’s ongoing divorce from her ex-husband has become a dark cloud over her romantic relationship with Hugh Jackman.

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According to a source, Jackman plans to get on good terms with Foster’s estranged husband, Griffin, as his romance with the Broadway actress continues to get bogged down by her ongoing divorce.

“Hugh has spent time in the past with Ted socially, and they did have a good rapport, but obviously things are much different now that Hugh is with his ex-wife,” a source told Globe Magazine. “Still, Hugh is hoping that he can find a way to get Ted to give him a chance.”

Jackman and Foster went public with their romantic relationship amid the rumors that the former “Music Man” costars began seeing each other while they were still married to their respective spouses; Jackman to Deborra-Lee Furness and Foster to Griffin.

Now, the actor is reportedly determined to mend fences, as he would really like to have a healthy relationship with Griffin.

“He really would like to have a friendly relationship with [Ted], and he knows Sutton would love it if they were all on good terms, so he intends to swallow his pride and do whatever needs to be done to make peace with Ted,” the source added.

Sutton Foster And Ted Griffin’s Complicated Divorce Is Affecting Her Ongoing Romance

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News of Jackman’s intention to make nice with Griffin comes after it was revealed that Foster’s ongoing divorce from the screenwriter was straining their relationship.

The Globe source noted that Sutton’s divorce “dragging on for long” has no doubt affected the situation, making it more necessary for the “X-Men” star to get friendlier with Griffin.

“Of course Hugh wishes the circumstances were different, but he can’t change the fact that he and Sutton fell in love and he wants to marry her,” the source stated.

In October 2025, Foster filed for divorce from Griffin after a decade of marriage, on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.

While the split seemed amicable at first, sources speculate the negotiations got increasingly complicated, thereby impacting the plans Jackman and Foster have.

Despite the fact that Jackman has gone through with his own divorce in early 2025, he needs Griffin to sign off on the deal before he can move on with his relationship with the actress.

Hugh Jackman And Sutton Foster’s Romance Has Been Plagued By Rumors They Cheated On Their Ex-Spouses

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Speculation surrounding a romance between Jackman and Foster first ignited behind-the-scenes while they co-starred in the Broadway revival of “The Music Man,” which ran from 2021 to early 2023.

At the time, both actors were still married to their respective partners. The rumor mill went into overdrive following two major personal shifts: Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness announced their separation in September 2023, and Foster filed for divorce from Griffin in October 2024.

By January 2025, the couple officially went public with their relationship, confirming months of intense public speculation. However, their blossoming romance faced immediate public scrutiny and complex emotional fallout.

While Foster’s uncontested split progressed quietly, Jackman’s separation proved far more challenging, with Furness later finalizing their June 2025 divorce amid a highly publicized narrative of personal betrayal.

Now, despite initially filing for an uncontested divorce, Foster and Griffin’s split has yet to be finalized and has instead dragged on, with her current romance with Jackman likely further complicating things.

All Eyes On Ted Griffin As His Divorce From Sutton Foster Stalls

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For now, all expectations fall on Griffin as to whether he will sign off on the divorce that would allow Jackman and Foster to marry.

Jackman, on the other hand, is willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen, even though it requires a brush at his ego.

And while the delay has been frustrating, the couple’s commitment remains unwavering.

“They are eager to take that next formal step, so Hugh really needs Ted to play ball and sign off on the deal,” the source noted.

Hugh Jackman And Sutton Foster’s Have Other Romance Issues, Sources Claim

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Back in June, a report claimed that Jackman and Foster’s romance has hit a rough patch. Insiders told Woman’s Day that the actor’s relentless work ethic is creating major friction between the couple.

The actor’s intense drive to work reportedly intensified after his expensive legal split from Furness, forcing him to take on endless projects to rebuild his finances.

While Foster, who is a major Broadway star herself, originally agreed to a temporary professional grind before pausing to focus on their wedding plans, his schedule is said to have become completely unmanageable.

This endless cycle has left Foster feeling incredibly isolated, leading their inner circle to fear that the distance is doing “more harm than good” as the two begin to drift apart.

“Sadly, the biggest casualty of all is Hugh and Sutton finding quality time together – they’re like passing ships sometimes,” a source said of the couple’s struggle to balance their romance with their work life.

Shaquille O’Neal built DUNKMAN to prove that dunking deserves to be treated as its own sport, not just a highlight-reel afterthought. Since launching with TNT Sports earlier this year, the league has delivered exactly that: a genuine professional circuit built around the athletes who can jump higher, and do more with that height, than anyone else on earth. But as DUNKMAN barrels toward its August 25 world championship on TNT and HBO Max, one of the loudest voices talking about the league isn’t in the competitor pool. It’s Ellie Blue — model, influencer, competitive fighter, fashion designer, and philanthropist — who showed up to a DUNKMAN qualifying event, walked away stunned, and hasn’t stopped talking about it since.

A front-row seat to something she’d never seen before

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Ellie Blue has built a career on being in rooms most people only see from a distance — Miami Swim Week, New York Fashion Week runways, MMA gyms, red carpets. DUNKMAN, she says, still managed to catch her off guard.

“Attending DUNKMAN was honestly one of the most incredible sporting events I’ve ever experienced,” she said. “I’ve always known dunking takes an insane amount of athleticism, but seeing these athletes perform at this level in person gave me an entirely new appreciation for the sport.”

That appreciation only deepened as the event went on. DUNKMAN’s format pushes competitors well past the traditional dunk contest — cars, people, and ladders have all been used as literal obstacles to clear — and Ellie says watching that in person changed how she thinks about the sport entirely. “Watching these guys jump over cars, people and ladders, and seeing how every athlete had his own completely different style and approach to dunking, was unbelievable,” she said. “There were moments where I genuinely couldn’t believe what I was watching. The height they get, the control they have in the air, and the creativity behind these dunks make you realize these guys aren’t just great dunkers — they are world-class athletes.”

It’s not an offhand compliment. DUNKMAN’s roster includes Darius Clark, who broke the world record for vertical jump this July with a staggering 53-inch leap — the kind of number that turns a dunk contest into a legitimate athletic proving ground. Ellie’s reaction tracks with how the sports world has responded to the league since it launched: this isn’t a novelty act. It’s professional sports with a new set of records still being written in real time.

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Beyond the athleticism, what stuck with Ellie was the stakes. DUNKMAN athletes aren’t just performing — they’re competing for a $500,000 grand prize and the DUNKMAN World Champion title, and Ellie says that competitive charge was impossible to miss courtside.

“I also loved how competitive the entire event felt,” she said. “These athletes are pushing the limits of what people think is physically possible, while competing for the opportunity to become a DUNKMAN World Champion. Being able to experience that energy firsthand made me even more excited for the championship.”

A model, an athlete, and now a believer in a brand-new sport

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Ellie’s own background makes her an unusually credible hype woman for a sport built on physical extremes. Long before Mariella Swimwear — the brand she launched in 2021 after growing frustrated with the swimwear options available to working models, and which now donates 10% of every sale to charity — Ellie was a competitive fighter, training in boxing, MMA, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. She’s talked openly about how that training shaped her relationship with her body and her mental health, and it’s part of why her read on DUNKMAN carries more weight than the average front-row influencer take: she knows what elite physical training actually looks like from the inside.

That same instinct for building something from scratch shows up in Ellie’s Angels, the youth-focused nonprofit she founded in 2025 to support kids facing adversity — a project she says is rooted in the belief that “everyone has a place where they belong.” Between the swimwear brand, the charity, and a modeling career that’s taken her from Jupiter, Florida beaches to Miami Swim Week runways, Ellie has made a habit of showing up early to things and building a real presence around them. DUNKMAN, by her own account, is the newest addition to that list — and she’s making no secret of wanting to be part of where the league goes next.

Don’t miss the finals

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For Ellie, the qualifying event was only a preview of what’s coming. “I cannot wait to see who takes home the title,” she said. “If the championship is anything like what I witnessed at the qualifying event, people are going to be blown away. I definitely want everyone to tune in, because DUNKMAN is bringing something completely different to professional sports, and I truly believe this is only the beginning.”

The DUNKMAN World Championship airs August 25 on TNT and HBO Max, with the winner walking away with the $500,000 grand prize and the league’s first World Champion title. Between Darius Clark’s record-breaking vertical and a 24-athlete field built to push the sport into territory it’s never been in before, DUNKMAN has already proven it belongs on the biggest stage in sports television. If Ellie Blue’s reaction to the qualifying rounds is any indication, the finals won’t just be a dunk contest — they’ll be appointment viewing.

Whew, chile! Claressa Shields has taken over timelines ahead of her big fight against Kaye Scott tonight. Amid all of her viral online clapbacks, fans think she took a shot at Remy Ma after Rem dropped her new single ‘Wanna Go.’ And if that wasn’t enough, boxer Alycia Baumgardner also entered the chat and seemingly called out Shields for copying one of her past outfits at a recent weigh-in.

RELATED: Oop! Remy Ma Post Clip Of Claressa Shields While Teasing ‘Knuck If You Buck’ Sample In New Song ‘Wanna Go’ (VIDEO) 

The Internet Thinks Claressa Shields Sent A Message To Remy Ma

Fans are speculating that Claressa Shields’ latest comments could be a shot at Remy Ma. LiveBitez dropped videos of Shields leaving a venue with her crew, where she made it clear that she isn’t beefing with anyone and would rather let her fists do the talking. From there, Claressa started rapping the lyrics to her new track, ‘Good Life,’ which she had previously teased to fans. “I don’t beef with b*****s, I beat b*****s.” She continued, “It’s Gwoat with a ‘W’ dumb a** it’s Claressa bum.” Shields said in the video.

Folks online instantly took Claressa’s energy as a jab at Remy, especially since Remy previously used a clip of Shields to promote her new single, ‘Wanna Go.’ On the track, which samples Crime Mob’s ‘Knuck If You Buck,’ Remy talks about being copied and calls out someone for shopping on TikTok and hitting the clearance rack.

Social Media Had One Name In Mind After Claressa Spoke

Once LiveBitez dropped Claressa’s videos, the comment section was quickly split. Some folks said they think she’s pretending to be unbothered by Remy Ma, while others said they would rather see her tune out the drama and focus on tonight’s fight.

Instagram user @nonchalant_barbi wrote, “Would never beef with my dude ex like what 😂” 

Instagram user @to_fabulouss wrote, “Remy lives rent free in head big time.” 

While Instagram user @thesekidsauntie wrote, “She so exhausting. Just go fight. Beefing with the wife of your current bf. How that sound? Then she’ll never be able to be around the kid(s) smh he gotta co parent wit Remy boo. Chill.” 

Then Instagram user @kingjonesthe1st wrote, “So Remy can make diss tracks but Claressa do it and it’s ‘corny’ …” 

Another Instagram user, @ wealthylady144, wrote, “I cannot believe that people think Remy Ma is obsessed with her.” 

Then another Instagram user @tylashboss wrote, “TO CALL REMY A BUM ON THE QUEEN INTERNET IS CRAZY.”

Alycia Baumgardner Enters The Chat With A “Rent-Free” Message For Claressa

Chile, the shade didn’t stop there — it came from a whole different direction when Alycia Baumgardner stepped in and seemingly called Claressa out during a podcast interview. Alycia came through with some “you already know why I’m here” energy, telling the host that she had peeped some “nasty behavior.” She didn’t name-drop anyone, but folks quickly put two and two together and figured she was talking about Claressa’s weigh-in look for her face-off with Kaye Scott. Shields rocked a long, dramatic white furry coat over a nude, strappy, cutout studded bodysuit. When Shields later posted photos from the event on Instagram, fans pointed out that the look resembled one Alycia rocked in December 2025.

Alycia thought the fit choice was wild, but she also said she know she has always been the inspo for the gworls. “Like I said, I been on these b*****s mood board, all of them.” She suggested the look only proved how obsessed folks are with her. “And this b***h in particular, this one tops the cake. You feel me? She’s been obsessed and pressed okay, nasty work.” From there, Alycia seemingly called Shields out again for wearing heels to the weigh-in, saying the whole look gave very much copying vibes. “To the heels. These h*es wasn’t wearing no heels to weigh-ins. But I see it though, that’s really love a b***h, but she a hating a** b***h, so that’s the difference.” 

RELATED: The GWOAT Speaks! Claressa Shields Claps Back At BroRilla After She Compares Her Looks To Remy Ma (VIDEOS)