By Joshua Tyler
| Published 24 seconds ago

Americans used to believe the news was unbiased, and, whether that was ever true or not, for a long time, there was an attempt to make it seem true. Eventually, the news media dropped even the pretense of being factual and went full force into openly delivering sensationalist propaganda, but they couldn’t have gotten away with it at scale if their viewers hadn’t already been conditioned to accept it.

That conditioning first began working on the public with one hugely influential movie that twisted viewers into thinking it was condemning irresponsible television, while subtly convincing them that irresponsibility was the only path to truth. And maybe, just maybe, it was right.

This is the story of how Network Screenwashed audiences into accepting fake news.

Network’s Story Of Corruption

Network follows aging news anchor Howard Beale, played by Peter Finch, as he learns he’s about to be fired after years of declining viewership. In a moment of despair, Beale announces on live television that he plans to kill himself during a broadcast. 

The shocking moment briefly boosts ratings, and when Beale returns to the air, he delivers a furious rant urging viewers to shout from their windows that they are “mad as hell.” Sensing an opportunity, ambitious producer Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway) reinvents the news broadcast as a spectacle built around Beale’s emotional tirades. 

The script presents this as a horrifying corruption of journalism. But the film’s structure quietly and intentionally undermines that message at every turn. It does that using a four-step persuasion pattern.

Screenwashed By Affective Conditioning 

Affective Conditioning is a persuasion process where repeated emotional cues are paired with a person, idea, or behavior so audiences automatically feel positively or negatively about it without consciously evaluating the argument.

Beale’s tirades are honest and compelling. His rants about alienation, corporate power, and media manipulation resonate because the film never actually proves him wrong, and they accurately mirror what people in the 70s were beginning to suspect about the true nature of their world.

Meanwhile, Beale himself is a true believer in what he’s saying and one of only two people in the film who isn’t a liar or a hypocrite. More on who the other one is, in a moment.

Though Beale is breaking all the rules and standards, you can’t help but feel good about him.

Screenwashed By Poisoning the Well

Poisoning the Well is a rhetorical tactic where the people criticizing a position are themselves portrayed as corrupt, immoral, or evil, so the audience dismisses their criticism before considering it.

Network tries to seem like it’s offsetting sympathy for Beale by framing him as mentally ill, using other characters who are shocked by what he’s doing. But every character who calls Beale insane or condemns his editorializing rants is portrayed as morally repulsive and unreliable.

The network executives exploiting him are greedy opportunists. The corporate leadership is portrayed as cold and sinister. When these characters insist Beale is unstable, the audience instinctively distrusts those accusers, because our opinion of them has already been poisoned. 

The only character truly defending traditional journalism is Max Schumacher (William  Holden). Unfortunately for the argument he’s supposed to represent, Max spends the entire movie cheating on his wife and enabling the very circus he claims to oppose. His moral authority is nonexistent, and the institution he defends collapses with him.

What Howard does is far more authentic than the fake dog and pony show of normal news that 1970s news consumers have been watching in the real world. At first, Howard’s tirades are largely anger and frustration. His ratings soar and audiences flock to him. When he demands they open their windows and shout “I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore!” into the wind, city streets echo with the sound of outraged voices.

That’s when we meet the only other honest character in the film.

Screenwashed By Revelation Framing

Revelation Framing is a persuasion technique where information is presented as if it’s a shocking truth that the audience is just now discovering. Instead of arguing a point, the message is structured like a reveal: first, something seems confusing or wrong, then the “hidden truth” is exposed. 

This often produces a feeling of emotional release or catharsis, because the audience feels like they’ve finally figured out what’s really going on. The power of the technique comes from making people feel like they’ve had an awakening, rather than feeling like someone is trying to convince them.

By framing an idea as a profound revelation rather than an argument, the audience is encouraged to accept it as insight or enlightenment rather than critically evaluate it as a claim. Instead of exposing Beale as a lunatic, the film validates him.

Howard Beale has begun trashing his network’s parent company, and so he’s brought to a meeting with conglomerate chairman Arthur Jenson, played by 1970s powerhouse Ned Beatty. Arthur Jensen doesn’t dismiss Beale’s warnings about corporate power. He confirms them. In one of the film’s most famous speeches, Jensen explains that the world is run by vast economic forces beyond the control of nations or voters.

The movie’s supposed madman is suddenly the only person who understands reality. For unstable Howard Beale, it’s a revelation. He says he believes that he has just seen God.

Howard stops his tirade against the company and begins preaching a deeper truth to his audience. Not because he’s been corrupted, but because he’s been converted by revelation.

Screenwashed By Martyrdom Framing

Martyrdom Framing is a narrative device in which a character is killed or punished for their beliefs, signaling to the audience that their message must have been true or threatening to powerful interests.

Howard Beale’s reputation as a truth teller is cemented in the mind of the audience by the film’s ending, in which Beale is murdered live on air. Like Jesus Christ, Socrates, and many others throughout history who were right, Howard Beale is made a martyr for speaking out, further cementing his status as a hero in the minds of Network’s viewers. 

How Network Created What It Hated

The film’s director, Sidney Lumet, may have intended Network to be a cautionary tale, but instead it subtly conditions the audience to accept the very thing it’s supposed to be warning them against by making the man who perverts the news into a hero surrounded on all sides by evil.

You might think that could be a positive, since Howard is a truth teller and Network persuades the audience they’d be better off with news men who stand up and voice their opinions, than those who sit and read copy. That would be accurate if audiences could tell who was telling the truth and who wasn’t, but they can’t.

When Network normalized the idea of news men voicing opinions, it normalized the good along with bad, creating a new vector for mass media manipulation.

How Network Changed The World For The Better

There’s another way to read it. A look back at history reveals that maybe news was never truly neutral; it was simply better at pretending to be. 

Anchors delivered narratives with calm voices and professional posture, and the performance of objectivity made those narratives feel like facts. If Network helped strip that mask away, it may have exposed something that was already there. 

Opinion didn’t invade the news; Network may have inadvertently helped it stop hiding. The result of that is messier and often more manipulative, but it’s also more honest about what the medium actually is: people interpreting events, not machines reporting them. In that sense, the loud, openly opinionated era of media may be less deceptive than the quiet one that claimed neutrality while shaping the story all the same.

George Clooney Proved Network Right

Decades later, the 2005 movie Good Night, and Good Luck would quietly (and accidentally) prove Network’s point by trying to screenwash audiences into believing the opposite. Good Night, and Good Luck was the retelling of how, in 1954, CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow used his television news program See It Now to directly challenge the methods of Joseph McCarthy, who had built national fame by accusing government officials, soldiers, and entertainers of communist ties. 

Rather than doing a straight report on the controversy or giving the audience facts, Murrow devoted an entire broadcast to criticizing McCarthy’s tactics. He assembled character assassination clips of the senator’s own speeches and interrogations with the clear goal to persuade his audience into sharing his point of view: that McCarthy’s investigations were fraudulent and must be stopped. 

Murrow then cashed in his reputation as an unbiased newsman to deliver an ultra-biased closing editorial warning that the United States risked damaging its democratic principles if suspicion replaced evidence. The broadcast was one of the first major television moments in which a national news anchor openly used his platform to challenge a powerful political figure, helping turn public opinion against McCarthy and marking a turning point in the senator’s influence.

The only difference between Beale’s fiction and Murrow’s history is framing. In the George Clooney-directed movie, Murrow’s opinionated broadcast is presented as courageous journalism through a series of familiar narrative tricks. These are designed to distract the audience from the bias in Murrow’s broadcasts.

Murrow is intentionally depicted as the opposite of Howard Beale. He’s calm, rational, and morally steady. His opponent appears mainly through his most extreme moments. The black-and-white cinematography, cigarette-smoked newsrooms, and restrained dialogue all signal integrity even though there is none. 

The audience isn’t just hearing Murrow’s argument. They’re being conditioned to experience it as responsible and sane, whether it is or not. Strip away those cues, and the act itself looks very familiar: a television newsman abandoning neutrality to tell the public what they should believe. Howard Beale and the real anchors who followed Murrow simply did it louder and more obviously.

Network’s Brave New World

Whether Network meant to or not, it prepared audiences for a new kind of journalism. One where the anchor isn’t pretending to be neutral anymore. One where outrage replaces reporting. One where the loudest voice in the room becomes the most trusted one. In other words, it helped create exactly the world we live in now. 

Congratulations news puppets, you’ve been screenwashed.

The cast of Hulu’s “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has been navigating troubled waters over the past month, and the latest incident involving Jessi Draper and Miranda Hope may be more than the women can handle. In the past 24 hours, reports have surfaced that Draper allegedly kissed Hope’s ex-husband, Chase McWhorter, adding fuel to what already feels like a never-ending cycle of dramatic feuds.

Jessi Draper Reportedly Kissed Miranda Hope’s Ex-Husband, Chase McWhorter

The drama began when blogger Deuxmoi shared a tip alleging that Draper and McWhorter were spotted kissing at a friend’s birthday party over the weekend. The claim seemed bogus; however, Hope shared a photo of flowers allegedly sent to her by Draper on her Instagram Stories.

“I completely understand you being upset with me,” the card read. “But wanted to send you a little something to let you know I’m thinking about you, and I am so, so sorry. -Jessi.”

After that, Hope posted a TikTok and seemed to confirm the rumors by writing the caption, “GRWM while I process my friend group being a waiting room for my ex-husband.” She added, “It’s not even betrayal at this point, it’s a tradition.”

Miranda Hope Shares A Statement Following The Rumors, Says She Feels ‘Slighted’ By Jessi Draper For Allegedly Kissing Her Ex

In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, Hope seemed to confirm the rumors, stating that she’s “familiar with this territory.”

While Hope admitted she knew about the communication between her ex-husband and Draper, she was unaware of how close they had become.

Hope explained that she received a heads-up about Draper and McWhorter’s alleged kiss and said her co-star reached out only after Hope learned she knew, resulting in a surprise set of flowers.

“What I never want to get misconstrued is that there is not any emotional attachment to Chase. He is my co-parent. Although I do feel disrespected by Chase, I feel slighted by my friend. Chase and I are no longer partners, and while I have high expectations of him as a co-parent, I also hold my friends to a high standard and believe in girl code,” Hope finished.

Fans Are Reacting To The Allegations That Jessi Draper Kissed Miranda Hope’s Ex-Husband

Social media users are also reacting to the allegations against Draper and rushing to Hope’s defense.

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On Reddit, one user said, “WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP DOING MIRANDA DIRTY I’M FUCKING SICK!!!”

Another user said, “yeah uhm jessi and chase, yall f-cked up. Miranda needs better friends.”

A third posted, “I feel like everyone seems to think Miranda’s so chill and whatever, so they think they can do whatever and she’ll forgive and forget, but I don’t think Miranda forgets anything and will only forgive so much.”

Another netizen chimed in, speculating that McWhorter was allegedly hooking up with Hope’s friend to get back at her. “This isn’t the 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd time. It’s not normal, and it’s not a coincidence. Also, he doesn’t get an ounce of credit for being “upfront” and telling the mother of his kids that he (once again) couldn’t stay off her friends. It’s just gross,” they wrote.

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Draper Is Going Through A Divorce Of Her Own

The allegations surrounding Draper and McWhorter come days after Draper’s husband, Jordan Ngatikaura, filed for divorce, according to PEOPLE.

Draper appeared on a recent episode of “Call Her Daddy” with Alex Cooper and opened up about the downfall of her marriage.

During the conversation, Draper got candid about the alleged “emotional abuse” she’s experienced and even claimed Ngatikaura had cheated on her with escorts during wild parties.

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Draper also alleged that she was the victim of blackmail, stating Ngatikaura would threaten her with unreleased text messages that allegedly show her communicating with other men.

Draper’s Husband Releases A Statement Following News Of Divorce

Ngatikaura released a statement after filing for divorce, admitting it wasn’t an “easy decision.”

“I’m grateful for the shared memories and the lessons,” he said to PEOPLE. “While our paths are now moving in different directions, my priority remains my children and ensuring they feel loved, supported, and protected through this transition. I am committed to handling this next chapter with kindness and respect.”

Bravo announced the cast for season 16 of “The Real Housewives of New York City” in March 2026. Among the cast is famed makeup artist Daisy Toye, best known for her work with Martha Stewart. Now, the 84-year-old icon is opening up on her upcoming “RHONY” appearance following rumors she may appear as a housewife herself.

Martha Stewart Says She Had Fun filming ‘RHONY’

TMZ reported on March 16 that Stewart had filmed a cameo for “The Real Housewives of New York City” as production on season 16 had begun. The outlet stated at the time that they had filmed her scenes within the last couple of weeks.

More recently, she spoke to TMZ on March 26 about her “RHONY” cameo. When asked to confirm that she filmed, Stewart said, “Daisy is a fabulous housewife of New York.”

When asked about the production, she stated, “The filming was very fun. They’re very professional, and I think it’s going to be a very exciting series.”

After that, the interviewer asked if the former talk show host planned to make more “RHONY” appearances, or if it was a “one and done” situation. She stated that it was “one and a half done.”

Martha Stewart’s Makeup Artist, Daisy Toye, Was Already Rumored For ‘RHONY’

Bravo announced the cast for season 16 of “RHONY” on March 2. In addition to Toye, the cast includes other newcomers Hailey Glassman and Erika Hammond. Regarding the returners, there are three: Sai De Silva, Jessel Taank, and Erin Lichy. Fans will recall that they initially joined the show amid Bravo’s full reboot ahead of season 15.

Additionally, Carole Radziwill, who appeared on “RHONY” from seasons 5 through 10, will appear as a friend of the show. Regarding Toye joining, Page Six first reported that this was the case in August 2025.

Fans Are Reacting To Her Upcoming Bravo Cameo

Following Stewart’s TMZ interview and the initial announcement of her filming for “RHONY,” fans have had varying opinions. Many are excited to see the beloved businesswoman and television personality on the show, even if it’s only for a scene or two. However, others think the show itself has run its course.

One person said on Instagram, “Martha Stewart, Princess Carole. I don’t know if anyone can help that franchise. We shall see.” Another “RHONY” viewer said, “We have Kathy Hilton, why not?”

Someone else mentioned Toye, writing, “We don’t need Martha’s staff on the show.” Lastly, a different fan mentioned the business she’s built, stating, “I love Martha Stewart. She actually owns her empire and didn’t marry into one. She’s the real deal.”

It Was Rumored That The Homekeeping Expert Would Join ‘RHONY’

There were several reports about “The Real Housewives of New York City” leading up to Bravo’s March 2026 announcement. This includes rumblings that the network was considering a hybrid cast, featuring the legacy ladies and a few from the failed reboot.

One rumor about “RHONY” season 16 was that Bravo was interested in casting Stewart. An insider told Page Six in August 2025, “The producers are talking about it as they interview new people, as they’re planning to bring the show back.”

They added, “Martha Stewart is in talks with Andy Cohen to become a New York housewife.” However, her rep shot down the report, telling the outlet, “not Martha. She says she is not a ‘Housewife.’” Additionally, the network also stated that this was not the case.

Martha Stewart Has A New Restaurant

Stewart has been a fixture in pop culture for decades. However, her television fame has never taken her away from her love of homemaking and cooking. Now, her newest venture involves the latter of the two as she’s opened a new restaurant, The Bedford by Martha Stewart, at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

According to CT Insider, Stewart opened the restaurant on March 14, 2026. Notably, this is her first restaurant on the East Coast. Her first was The Bedford by Martha Stewart in Las Vegas, which opened to the public in 2022.

Regarding her television career, Stewart hosted the cooking competition show “Yes Chef” in 2025. However, Deadline reported in March 2026 that NBC had decided not to renew the series for a second season. This is despite the show delivering consistent viewership across its 10 episodes.

Published Mar 27, 2026, 2:03 PM EDT

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These television artists were posthumously recognized for their work, and the awards they received were testaments to their lasting legacies.

Image via Marcus Owen/startraksphoto.com

Kelly Ripa is said to have no plans to bring back Howie Mandel after their tense encounter on her show.

The “America’s Got Talent” judge appeared to snap at Ripa on Monday’s episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark” after she made comments about his looks and age.

According to reports, Kelly Ripa feels the 70-year-old “disrespected” her and made her feel “uncomfortable” on her own set. As such, she feels freezing him out is the best move to protect the show.

Kelly Ripa Felt ‘Disrespected’ By Awkward Exchange With Howie Mandel

A potential return for Howie Mandel to “Live with Kelly and Mark” may be off the table for now after his uncomfortable exchange with co-host Ripa during Monday’s episode.

Sources say Ripa was left unimpressed by Mandel’s response to her exchange of remarks about his age, which centered on him hitting the 70th year milestone.

“He disrespected her in her house,” an insider told Rob Shuter’s #ShuterScoop about Mandel. “That’s her show, her audience, her tone — and he bulldozed right through it.”

Meanwhile, although Ripa tried to maintain a cool front during the interaction, within her, she was unsettled as she felt that the moment disrupted the flow of her tightly run show.

“Kelly runs a tight, polished ship,” another insider said about the TV personality. “She expects guests to play along, keep it light, and protect the vibe. That interview did the opposite.”

The TV Personality Reportedly Won’t Ask Back The Talent Show Judge

Despite her reported stance, Ripa is not expected to explicitly tell Mandel he is no longer welcome on the show.

Instead, she would likely take a more subtle approach to avoid a reunion and expects Mandel to pick up on the signals.

“She’ll never say ‘you’re banned,’” an insider shared. “But suddenly bookings get tricky, schedules don’t align, and invites… vanish.”

“Howie won’t be asked back,” another source further emphasized. “Not after making her uncomfortable on her own set.”

All of this is reportedly part of her effort to keep the focus on her show, especially after Mandel disrupted its carefully maintained vibe.

“In daytime TV, chemistry is everything,” another insider continued. “Once that trust is broken, it’s almost impossible to rebuild.”

All About The Tense Moment Between Kelly Ripa And Howie Mandel

On the episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark,” Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, began the conversation by congratulating Mandel on recently turning 70.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Ripa remarked of the comedian’s age and looks, prompting Mandel to respond, “What do you mean it doesn’t make any sense?”

Trying to smooth things over, Consuelos explained, “You look great.” Mandel then repeated the phrase incredulously: “That I look great? That doesn’t mean anything.”

He went on, “No, no, no. I don’t like that because that’s a caveat, ’cause you tell someone you’re 70, and they go, ‘you look great….’”

Ripa, determined to ensure Mandel gets it, jumped in with a clarification.

“We’re not saying you look great for 70. We’re saying you look great, and I don’t believe you’re 70,” the co-host said.

Howie Mandel Refused To Back Down From His Stance During The Awkward Moment With Kelly Ripa And Mark Consuelos

Ripa’s attempt at reassurance, however, didn’t ease the tension between her and Mandel.

Instead, the moment grew even more uncomfortable as the comedian seemed to fuel it further with a pointed analogy.

“It’s like saying you’re smart for a stupid person,” Mandel remarked. “‘Oh, you seem smart, you seem smart,’ you see, no, I don’t look good.”

Fortunately, the tension eventually eased, with Mandel ultimately accepting the compliment and shifting the conversation to his workout routine.

Social Media Users Slammed Howie Mandel For Being ‘Insecure’ About His Age

Snippets of the tense moment between Ripa and Mandel went viral online and earned reactions from netizens.

Some claimed that there was nothing wrong with what Ripa said, and Mandel was just being “insecure” about his age.

“He’s insecure about his age, that’s the bottom line. Ripa was just being polite,” a user remarked.

“What a pompous jerk. A compliment from @KellyRipa  is pretty pretty pretty pretty good,” another netizen remarked.

“I don’t understand why he was offended by this. He does look great. Putting them in this situation is rude,” one more individual noted.

Marvel has spent the last few months teasing just how massive Avengers: Doomsday is going to be, but one major piece of the puzzle has stayed mostly in the shadows. The movie is clearly building toward a full-scale Multiversal war, with heroes from across different corners of the MCU set to collide in one giant event. Even so, the villain at the center of all that chaos has remained more of a looming presence than a fully unveiled threat. That is finally starting to change, and Marvel has now offered its clearest look yet at the face behind the coming destruction.

New officially licensed Avengers: Doomsday merchandise has revealed fresh promotional art of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, giving fans a much better sense of how Marvel is approaching the character’s big-screen design. A new Amazon listing showed off two comic-style images of Doom, complete with a comic-accurate metal mask, heavy armor, his signature green cloak, and the classic clasped look that fans have long associated with the iconic Marvel villain.

These latest images mark the sixth official look at the villain ahead of the movie’s release. The most recent reveals before this included a variant cover for Ultimate Endgame #1, signed by Downey Jr., along with a Doomsday keychain that offered a lower-resolution glimpse at the costume. It’s clearly their way of showing off Doom without actually doing the big reveal.

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Who Stars In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’?

The cast of Avengers: Doomsday includes Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Wyatt Russell as John Walker/U.S. Agent, Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Simu Liuas Shang-Chi, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Lewis Pullman as Bob Reynolds/Sentry, Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres/Falcon, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, James Marsden as Cyclops, Channing Tatum as Gambit, and Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theatres in December 2026.

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Release Date

December 18, 2026

Writers

Stephen McFeely, Michael Waldron, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 23 seconds ago

There are many great things about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, including its epic plots, cool fights, and amazing characters. However, the real strength of the show has always been its writing. Dialogue in Buffy was always fast and funny, showcasing that our titular Slayer could do more than put down killer vampires. She could, as needed, deliver witty lines just as sharp and just as deadly as her trusted stake.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the writing in Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed how an entire generation of writers approached dialogue. Because of this, I’m always fascinated to discover which lines were cut from classic episodes. Sometimes, deleted dialogue feels like a missed opportunity to flesh out our favorite characters even further. Every now and then, though, cutting a line helps the producers effectively dodge a bullet. For example, one deleted scene from “Beauty and the Beasts” predicted the show’s biggest controversy and would have forever linked Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the most infamous school shooting in American history!

Buffy, The Dark Humor Queen

The dialogue in question comes from the episode “Beauty and the Beasts,” which has Buffy dealing with a student whose magic potion transforms him into a murderous, Mr. Hyde-type figure. She also has to deal with Oz in his werewolf form and Angel, her undead lover, who is suddenly back from the dead. On top of everything else, she has to see the school psychologist because she was a runaway teen who only recently returned to Sunnydale after the harrowing events of the Season 2 finale.

While Buffy grows to really like the school shrink (at least, while he’s still alive), she initially resents having to see him and complains about having to prove she is “Little Miss Stable” just to stay in school. In a brief, deleted scene, Scott tells her to avoid certain topics, jokingly mentioning “the little men who live in your teeth” and “your compulsion to paint circus clowns.” To this, Buffy responds with an atypically ominous response: “But if God keeps telling me to kill, it just seems snotty not to, you know?”

Buffy’s Link To America’s Most Infamous School Shooting

This is, admittedly, a very funny line, especially if you have a dark sense of humor (it’s not just me, right?). But it’s one that would have likely gotten Buffy canceled for making jokes about killing people on school property. That’s because, exactly six months after this episode aired, America was rocked by the Columbine High School massacre.

That infamous school shooting cast a long shadow over Season 3 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The episode “Earshot” featured a lunch lady trying to kill as many students as possible by poisoning their food. At first, Buffy (who knows someone is plotting to kill students due to temporary telepathic powers) thought Jonathan was the culprit, and she finds him in a clock tower with a high-powered rifle. However, after Jonathan shockingly admits that he brought the rifle just to kill himself, she ends up tracking down and stopping the lethal lunch lady.

The Episodes You Almost Never Saw

The episode was originally set to air one week after Columbine, but it was postponed for nearly five months because the network was worried about associating Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a school shooting. Similarly, the season 3 finale, “Graduation Day, Part Two,” premiered two months later than intended because the plot involved Buffy arming her fellow students to fight the Mayor after he turned into a snake demon. Again, the network wanted absolutely no association between its top show and the most infamous school shooting in American history. 

Therefore, deleting Buffy’s flippant joke about murdering people on God’s orders from “Beauty and the Beasts” was definitely the right decision. The episode aired well before Columbine, but this dialogue would have painted a target on the Slayer’s back for a culture that wanted to know who to blame for youth violence. Plus, it might have retroactively worried the network when they began considering whether the show really did encourage violence. Fortunately, the episode aired without any issues or scandals, and we can now appreciate Buffy’s deleted line for what it is: a downright hilarious joke and a perfect example of peak Millennial humor.  

For a while there, it felt like the Alien franchise was drifting through deep space with no real place to land. Some of the movies vanished from streaming, others were split across platforms, and keeping track of where to watch the saga became more trouble than it should have been. That has been especially frustrating for a series this important, one that did not just help define sci-fi horror, but changed the genre altogether. Nearly 50 years after it first burst onto screens, the Xenomorph is still one of the most iconic monsters in movie history.

Now, the whole situation is finally getting sorted out. HBO Max has confirmed that it will become the new streaming home for much of Disney-owned franchise beginning Wednesday, April 1, when a major batch of Alien titles arrives on the platform. The lineup includes the first four films, multiple alternate cuts, and both Alien vs. Predator crossover movies.

The April 1 rollout includes *deep breath* Alien, Alien: Director’s Cut, Aliens, Aliens: Director’s Cut, Alien 3, Alien 3: The Assembly Cut, Alien Resurrection, Alien Resurrection: Special Edition, Alien vs. Predator: Extended Cut, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, and Alien vs. Predator: Requiem: Extended Cut. Two other franchise titles, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, are already streaming on HBO Max after joining the service last summer.

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Where Is ‘Alien: Romulus’ Streaming?

Not to worry, you won’t miss out. Alien: Romulus, the franchise’s 2024 shot in the arm, is set to arrive on HBO Max on Friday, April 3. Once it lands there, it will leave behind its current streaming home on Amazon Prime Video. The original franchise stars Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, with key cast members across the series including Tom Skerritt as Dallas, Veronica Cartwright as Lambert, John Hurt as Kane, Ian Holm as Ash, Carrie Henn as Newt, Michael Biehn as Hicks, Charles S. Dutton as Dillon, Winona Ryder as Call, and Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in Alien: Romulus.

Disney is still moving ahead with Alien: Earth Season 2 for FX, which is expected to begin production in the coming months for a 2027 premiere. A sequel to Alien: Romulus is also in development after the 2024 film pulled in more than $350 million worldwide.

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Release Date

June 22, 1979

Runtime

117 Minutes

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Writers

Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett

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