By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 25 seconds ago

Prior to Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Odyssey, Hollywood had never attempted a feature film adaptation of Homer’s classic epic poem. There’s been countless television episodes that have adapted it, including Ducktales and Wishbone, while the Coen Brothers O Brother, Where Art Thou is a retelling of the story. Until Nolan, the closest Hollywood came was the 1997 NBC miniseries developed by Hallmark and starring Armand Assante as Odysseus. For a generation, this was the defining adaptation of The Odyssey. 

A Generation Defining Television Event

The 1997 series, like Nolan’s version, cuts out parts of Odysseus’ journey home to Ithaca. Notably, the sirens are left on the cutting room floor, Helio’s cattle are left out, there’s no cannibals, and the Lotus-Eaters are combined with Circe’s island. Even with a runtime approaching four hours, something had to give. What remains behind, is the pinnacle of 90s made-for-tv movies and a staple of classrooms every time the teacher wheels in the AV cart. 

It starts with Odysseus fighting in the Trojan War, taunting the cyclops with “Nobody,” spending five years with Circe (Bernadette Peters), trekking to the underworld to counsel with the sage Tiresias (Christopher Lee), losing his entire crew to Scylla and Charybdis, washing up on the shore of Calypso’s (Vanessa Williams) island prison, spending two years with her before finally making it home. There you go. That’s The Odyssey. It’s the foundational myth for all Western literature. And even on a TV budget, it’s incredible.

A Visual Spectacular On A Television Budget

Armand Assante was derided by critics for his performance of Odysseus as being “stiff,” but watching it now, and instead he’s chewing up every bit of scenery and picking his teeth with it. That didn’t stop the series from becoming a cultural event with nearly 40 million viewers across both nights. The Odyssey was such a huge success, it kicked off a new era of television miniseries events that included Merlin, Dinotopia, and Jason and the Argonauts.

The Odyssey set a new bar for television during a time when it was considered to be “inferior” to feature films. The look of the boat scenes, the cyclops, and the sacking of Troy are among the greatest television visuals of the decade. It pales in comparison to Nolan’s vision of ancient Greece in IMAX, but even today, 30 years later, there’s gorgeous shots a whole new generation can appreciate. 

The Odyssey Is Impossible To Fully Adapt

Adapting the epic poem has always been a challenge due to the sheer size, scope, and frankly, weirdness, of the story. Odysseus wanders around the ocean, meets different mythological beings, all of whom could by themselves anchor a film, and then he goes home to kill every single of his wife’s suitors. When even Nolan has to cut material out, you know there’s too much there for any one film to contain. 

1997’s The Odyssey was a risky gamble. It came out before Gladiator briefly revived the swords and sandal epics, and in the 90s, culture had shifted to grounded, reality-based stories or “extreme” reinterpretations. A straight, mythological adventure should not have been a hit. Yet it was. 

Today you can stream 1997’s The Odyssey for free on YouTube, Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, and The Roku Channel.

Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun looked as in love as ever in new photos from a trip to Australia.

“A little aussie dump,” Sweeney, 28, captioned an Instagram post on Sunday, July 19, that included highlights from the getaway. The compilation included a glimpse of her romance with Braun, 45, who joined her in several photos.

In one shot, the couple posed while standing next to a helicopter and while out at dinner. Braun was also seen planting a kiss on Sweeney’s cheek, while another photo showed the pair recreating the iconic Titanic pose on a boat.

The final photo in the post caught Sweeney mid-air while trying to balance on Braun’s leg and shoulder. Elsewhere in the social media upload, Sweeney showed herself playing bumper cars, card games and spending time with Javon “Wanna” Walton and Noah Centineo. Another picture showed off Sweeney’s cleavage in a gingham bikini.

Related: Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun’s Complete Relationship Timeline

Sydney Sweeney sparked romance rumors with Scooter Braun three months after her split from Jonathan Davino — and the new couple are still going strong. Sweeney was spotted walking around Italy with Braun in June 2025, prior to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding, but it wasn’t until that September that the pair stepped out […]

Sweeney and Braun have enjoyed offering glimpses into their life together since taking their relationship public. They originally sparked romance rumors in June 2025 after they were spotted together in Italy ahead of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding.

“Sydney has been having a lot of fun with Scooter,” a source exclusively told Us later that year. “It has been low-pressure for both of them and has been a different relationship for Sydney. Scooter has introduced her to new perspectives, especially when it comes to business.”

Another insider referred to Sweeney and Braun as “the real deal” in April after the couple attended the Euphoria premiere together. The actress walked the red carpet solo at the event, but the twosome were later caught kissing and holding hands.

“Their relationship has become very serious,” the insider shared at the time, noting that “people around them thought that this would be just a fling, but they are committed.”

Before finding love with Braun, Sweeney was engaged to ex-fiancé Jonathan Davino from 2018 to 2025.

Related: ‘Euphoria‘ Cast‘s Dating Histories Through the Years

Once Euphoria debuted in 2019, fans of the teen drama have continued to keep an eye on the main cast — especially when it comes to their love lives. Sex, love, drugs and friendship are front and center on the HBO series, but the show’s stars tend to lead more private lives. Zendaya, for example, […]

“I was in a relationship for a very long time, for seven and a half years, and I never talked about it. I was very private. No one would ever see us,” she told Cosmopolitan earlier this year. “I think it’s important to have some things for myself. I understand that I’m a public person, but I’m still in my 20s. I’m still figuring out love, and it’s hard to do that with millions of people who have their own opinions of what that looks like.”

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She continued: “At the same time, for all of my 20s, I put my head down and focused on work — and now I want to experience things. But it’s hard deciding that I want to experience love in the public eye. I’m just navigating it all.”

When asked to describe her ideal partner, Sweeney replied, “Athletic and outgoing and funny. … Look, I am a boss in my life. I take control. I go after what I want. I am confident, and I am successful, and I don’t actually need a man. I’ve got myself. I’ve got an incredible group of girlfriends. I’ve got a team of badass women. That is very intimidating to a lot of guys, so a guy needs to be able to stand in that with me. It takes a very specific person who can handle the world that comes with me. There was a guy who I really, really liked, but he told me he can’t handle my world. It’s a hard thing.”

Braun, for his part, was married to health activist Yael Cohen from 2014 until their 2021 split. The former couple, who share three children, finalized their divorce in September 2022.

I Will Find You was one of those gems that popped up on your Netflix recommended list, piqued interest given its incredible cast, and exploded from there. The crime drama miniseries is about David (Sam Worthington), a man convicted for the murder of his son. But when his sister-in-law Rachel (Britt Lower) finds evidence that she believes confirms that the boy is still alive and thus proves David’s innocence, the two team up to investigate.

It’s a wild and twisted ride through the eight-episode series that will hit you with moments you won’t see coming and some that leave you scratching your head and rolling your eyes. But the performances are great, bringing yet another Harlan Coben story to life. While his many other shows are obvious next watches, there are other shows in the same vein that you might like, too.

‘The Stranger’ (2020)

Image via Netflix

Another from Coben, there’s something intriguing about The Stranger, the story of people who are approached by a mysterious young woman wearing a baseball cap (Hannah John-Kamen) who reveals secrets to them that upend their entire worlds. When Adam Price (Richard Armitage) comes face-to-face with her, and his wife Corrine (Dervla Kirwan) goes missing as a result, Adam is desperate to figure out how it all connects, and who this woman is.

The Stranger is one of Coben’s more highly rated shows, bringing to life a story that was addictive on the pages of his book in a way that makes it equally interesting on screen. The story itself is very different from I Will Find You, but it has Coben’s signature style to the narrative that you’ll enjoy.

‘Safe’ (2018)

Image via Netflix

Another show based on Coben’s book, Safe‘s premise is a lot closer to I Will Find You. Tom (Michael C. Hall) is a pediatric surgeon and widowed father trying to navigate raising two teenage daughters on his own. When one suddenly goes missing, however, Tom must go on the hunt to find her. In the process, he uncovers a web of lies and secrets that shake him to his core.

The same frantic energy you feel in I Will Find You is felt in Safe. Interestingly, while the characters in I Will Find You believe that Matthew (Ashton Cressman) is alive, and they are desperate to find a boy they know is at least safe, Tom is riddled with worry because he doesn’t know if his daughter is okay. Both shows highlight the love a parent has for their child, and the lengths they would go to protect them.

‘His & Hers’ (2026)

Image via Netflix

As the saying goes, there are three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the truth. His & Hers is as much about misinterpretation and miscommunication between an estranged married couple, fueled by their grief, as it is about the mysterious murder of a young woman in their small town. Both shows follow an investigation and people who are both involved in ways that make you question their innocence.

The show is emotional and enthralling, with just as big an unpredictable twist at the end as the one in I Will Find You. If you loved that element of the Coben show, His & Hers, adapted from the Alice Feeney novel, delivers as well. It has the same soapy feel, yet it’s also dark and twisted. It’s a perfect guilty pleasure watch and with just six episodes, you can binge it in a night or two.

‘Defending Jacob’ (2020)

Image via Apple TV

A murder mystery legal drama, Defending Jacob has a similar theme of a couple and their son dealing with a horrifying situation. In this case, 14-year-old Jacob (Jaeden Martell) is accused of murder, and his father Andy (Chris Evans) and mother Laurie (Michelle Dockery) are gutted at the news and desperate to protect their son. But they also can’t help but wonder if Jacob might actually be guilty given the mounting evidence, despite trying hard to push away any of these dark thoughts.

Defending Jacob is one of those Apple TV shows that flew under the radar, despite the huge cast that also includes Cherry Jones, Pablo Schreiber, and J. K. Simmons. Fans weren’t happy with the way the show ended and its slow pacing through the eight episodes. Nonetheless, you get a similar sense of desperation to prove someone’s innocence.

‘Presumed Innocent’ (2024–Present)

Image via Apple TV

A new adaptation of the Scott Turow novel, as was the 1990 film, Presumed Innocent has the same idea of a man who has mounting evidence against him that seems to prove his guilt for murder. But Rusty (Jake Gyllenhaal) swears he is innocent. Things are complicated, however, because he does admit to having an affair with the victim, Carolyn (Renate Reinsve), who also happens to have been his colleague.

The story extends to Rusty’s family as well, including his wife and two teenage kids. They get caught up in the drama surrounding their dad. Rusty is fighting not only to prove his innocence, but also against a rival prosecutor who appears more interested in convicting Rusty than actually proving he’s guilty. Rusty’s story is similar to David’s in I Will Find You, and the end reveal will have you just as shook.

‘All Her Fault’ (2025)

All Her Fault tugs at your heartstrings and rips your heart out right from the start. The story centers around working mom Marissa (Sarah Snook) who arrives to pick up her son at a playdate only to learn that the mother who she arranged the date with via text doesn’t actually live at that house. Her son isn’t there either. The panic that sets in emanates through the screen and continues on through the entire show.

All Her Fault focuses on fractured family dynamics and the blame game, Marissa at times feels as though she is being painted as a villain just as David was in I Will Find You. The mystery thriller that is perfect from start to finish is darker and more ominous than I Will Find You, and the story takes similarly unpredictable turns. While no one is actually convicted as they search for Milo (Duke McCloud), All Her Fault highlights the concept of guilt and judgment in the court of public opinion, and the one-sided nature of how this often falls on the mother.

‘The Beast in Me’ (2025)

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When struggling author Aggie (Claire Danes) meets new neighbor Nile (Matthew Rhys) in The Beast in Me, she recognizes him as the billionaire who was accused of killing his wife years prior. She isn’t sure if he was wrongfully accused or just used his money, power, and influence to get off on the charges. While you may watch I Will Find You and think David can’t possibly be guilty, you’ll likely watch The Beast in Me and think there’s no way Nile is not.

The psychological crime thriller is darker than I Will Find You, a much more refined show if you want something that’s a level up. The acting is superb, and while the story has some weak spots, it ramps up by the final episodes to keep you at the edge of your seat to find out what happened next. The show does have a twist or two of its own, but it relies mainly on the compelling narrative, and you’ll enjoy it as your next watch.

‘The Undoing’ (2020)

Image via HBO

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant are brilliant in The Undoing. The story begins with the death of a beautiful young woman, with respected oncologist Jonathan (Grant) eventually accused of her murder. What does he have to do with this woman, Elena (Matilda De Angelis)? This is what Grace (Kidman), a successful psychologist, sets out to determine.

It’s another show about someone outside of law enforcement running their own investigation to either prove someone’s innocence or guilt. A son is at the center of this story, too, as the couple’s teenage boy, Henry (Noah Jupe), is stuck in the middle of this impossible situation. With just six episodes, The Undoing is another step-up show if you want something that hits a bit harder.

‘The Night Of’ (2016)

Image via HBO

One of the best crime drama miniseries of late, The Night Of focuses on another wrongfully convicted man who is sent to prison because the situation seems impossible to be explained any other way. When David is the one who finds his son in I Will Find You, his history of night terrors and a bloody bat found buried in the backyard make it seem like there’s no other viable explanation but that he’s guilty. The same happens to Naz (Riz Ahmed) in this series when he wakes up next to the random woman he met the night before, and she has been murdered.

The Night Of shows the descent of a promising young man when society and the justice system turn against him. David seemed to harden from his time in jail, but he didn’t lose himself. Naz, on the other hand, becomes a shell of his former self, and the journey to get there is heart-wrenching. It’s a much more emotional, deeper story if you’re interested in delving outside of soapy territory.

A Florida mother died after rescuing her 4-year-old son from drowning in the St. Johns River. Nicole Grayson died after jumping into the river on Saturday, July 18, to save her son after he fell in.

RELATED: Say, WHAT?! 20-Year-Old Florida Woman Reportedly Indicted After Allegedly Giving Birth In Toilet & Letting Her Newborn Baby Drown

Florida Mother Dies Saving Her 4-Year-Old Son

Grayson was visiting Ed Stone Park near DeLand, Florida, with her son when he fell into the St. Johns River, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. The 43-year-old mother immediately jumped into the water to save her son after he fell in. The boy had been playing with an item by a wooden fence near the river’s edge when it fell in. The boy fell in after he tried to retrieve the item.

“A DeLand mother whose 4-year-old child fell into the St. Johns River on Saturday has died after she jumped in to save his life,” read the statement. “Deputies responded to Ed Stone Park west of DeLand around 4 p.m. Saturday after witnesses reported the child and his mother, later identified as 43-year-old Nicole Grayson, were in the river.”

Nicole Grayson Was Rescued But Died At The Hospital

Witnesses called the authorities to report that a woman and child were struggling in the water at around 4:00 p.m. After another witness flagged down a boat, the boater threw two life preservers to Grayson. However, the mother of six became submerged while holding her son above water. The person on the boat pulled the four-year-old onto the boat as another witness jumped into the river and swam to Grayson. The witness helped her into the boat and performed CPR until the EMS unit arrived.

Her son was unharmed, but Grayson died in the hospital’s ICU unit at approximately 10:00 p.m. on Saturday evening, according to WESH 2 News. 

GoFundMe Set Up To Help The Family

Grayson has six children, and a GoFundMe was set up by her oldest child, Montraevia Adams.

Hi everyone, my name is Montraevia Adams, and I am my mom’s oldest child,” she wrote. “I want to sincerely thank everyone for the love, prayers, condolences, and support following the passing of my mother, Nicole Grayson.”

“She was an incredible mother who raised six children. She loved each of us unconditionally and would do anything for her kids. We were truly blessed to have a mother who was caring, supportive, selfless, and always willing to sacrifice her time to make sure we had what we needed.”

Adams added that all donations will go to Grayson’s funeral expenses and to help support herself and her siblings.

“Thank you all for your continued prayers, kindness, and support,” she added. “Our family is truly grateful. ❤️”

RELATED: Newly Released Audio Shows Nolan Xavier Wells’ Friends Calling For Help After Boat Reportedly Malfunctioned, GPS Data Also Shared (LISTEN)

Ryan Reynolds may not be ready to reveal when Deadpool will return, but he has assured fans that the foul-mouthed superhero’s movie career is not over. The 49-year-old actor made the revelation during a rare public appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York City on Sunday, July 19. While discussing the character’s growing presence across movies, comics, animation and collectibles, Reynolds casually confirmed that another film remains in Deadpool’s future.

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The carefully worded update stopped short of confirming an official “Deadpool 4,” leaving open the possibility that the character could return through another Marvel project. “There’s eventually, you know, remotely, another Deadpool film,” Reynolds said during “The Art of Deadpool” panel, per IGN.

Reynolds also discussed how portraying Wade Wilson transformed his career and became the creative center of an expanding franchise. “Deadpool’s got so many different verticals,” he said. “It’s obviously major motion pictures. That’s a huge part of it. It’s the part that… changed my whole life. It’s a part that I still to this day feel is my mothership in a lot of ways. But it’s such an expansive universe.”

Deadpool has appeared in several live-action films, animated projects and comic-book series, allowing Marvel to use the character without immediately committing to another standalone sequel.

Reynolds’ wording is significant because Marvel Studios has not formally announced “Deadpool 4” or provided a release date. His comments confirm that discussions about the character’s cinematic future are continuing, but they do not establish which project will bring him back.

The actor last starred opposite Hugh Jackman in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which brought the franchise into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and opened the door for both characters to appear elsewhere.

Reynolds Jokes About Hugh Jackman’s Autographed Card

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The panel also celebrated Topps’ Deadpool Chrome trading-card collection, which incorporates imagery from the films, comic books and animated versions of the character.

Reynolds revealed that he purchased an autographed Hugh Jackman card for his personal collection after deciding against a much more expensive double pack. “I did some bartering. I was looking for… autographed Deadpool Chrome cards. I got them,” he explained. “I didn’t get the double pack. That was like $50,000 or something, but I did get the one with Hugh Jackman.”

Reynolds joked that Jackman’s handwritten message created an unexpected obstacle. “It’s going in the personal collection,” he said. “I don’t know which one it was, it was the chrome, which is beautiful, autographed… I can’t totally read the inscription that he wrote, he wrote it in Australian, so I don’t know what he’s talking about. But lovely though.”

The collectible line includes cards signed by Reynolds and Jackman, along with original artwork, sketches and moments inspired by their Marvel appearances. A rare dual-autograph card featuring inscriptions from both actors sold for $13,200 through Fanatics Collect in May, illustrating how the franchise has expanded into a lucrative memorabilia market beyond its box-office success.

Ryan Reynolds Praises Lionel Messi’s Work Ethic

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Reynolds later returned to the Fanatics Fest stage for Men in Blazers’ World Cup watch party. As the co-owner of Welsh soccer club Wrexham, the actor was asked about Argentina captain Lionel Messi and the discipline required to remain competitive at 39. “Lionel Messi’s running off Aura right now,” Reynolds said. “These are these guys that find this kind of extra gear.”

He recalled seeing a video about Messi training on his birthday, which prompted some viewers to suggest the soccer icon had sacrificed his personal life for the sport. “People are kind of like, well, he has no life. And I was like, no, he doesn’t have a life. He’s Lionel f-cking Messi,” Reynolds said. “The guy’s a born competitor, and he rises to the occasion. This is his sandbox right now,” he added.

Messi’s Argentina ultimately fell short, losing 1-0 to Spain after Ferran Torres scored during extra time.

Blake Lively Attends World Cup Without Her Husband

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While Reynolds remained at the Javits Center in Manhattan, Blake Lively attended the World Cup final approximately 16 miles away at New York New Jersey Stadium. The 38-year-old actress shared a smiling selfie from the field with friends Libby Glazer, Kendall Arin Glazer and Emma Gray.

Lively’s World Cup appearance came shortly after she and Reynolds were reportedly excluded from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s July 3 wedding at Madison Square Garden. The absence drew attention because Lively and Swift had maintained a close friendship for more than a decade, with the singer becoming godmother to Lively’s daughters.

Taylor Swift Wedding Snub

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Their relationship reportedly deteriorated after Swift was pulled into Lively’s legal conflict with “It Ends With Us” director Justin Baldoni. Swift’s name surfaced in court filings and related communications despite the singer maintaining that she had no involvement in the film.

Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, allegations he denied. Baldoni countersued Lively and Reynolds, but his claims were dismissed. The remaining dispute was resolved in May, although the parties continued fighting over Lively’s request for more than $8 million in legal fees.

Neither Lively nor Swift has publicly detailed the current state of their friendship.

Recent years have given us some amazing horror flicks. This year, we have seen Obsession, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and Sam Raimi’s Send Help to name just a few. Each movie has its own sub-genre, but all of them stunned audiences. Among notable entries last year were Ryan Coogler’s Oscar-winning Sinners, Zach Cregger’s Weapons, Luc Besson’s Dracula, and more. Nonetheless, the most stunning flick commercially and critically was Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.

Starring Jacob Elordi as the monster and Oscar Isaac as his creator Victor Frankenstein, the movie is del Toro’s gothic vision come alive. After a short theatrical window, it made its way to Netflix with a lot of critical acclaim and fanfare. Frankenstein is a stunning film, with the director’s signature visuals, practical sets, and gothic grandeur.

Based on Mary Shelley’s iconic novel, the fan-favorite director brought his own touch to the final moments between the creator and his creation. It was widely loved by fans and critics, earning 94% and 85% scores on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively. The story has been adapted brilliantly, the Oscar-winning production design is pristine, and there are equally compelling performances to match it all by Isaac, Elordi, and Mia Goth. Owing to its brilliant craft, the movie picked up three Oscars for production design, costume design, and hair and makeup.

‘Frankenstein: The Reborn Cut’ Director’s Cut Is Coming Soon

For fans who’d love to own the movie on physical media, the time is right. The Criterion Collection has confirmed the release of Frankenstein: The Reborn Cut, a 4K remastered version of the feature, as per CBR. The director’s cut is 158 minutes long, nearly 10 minutes longer than the version released streaming. Earlier in January, del Toro described the “all the stitches” cut for the loyal fans. Now, we know what it entails along with the extended runtime. Fans will also find the theatrical version of the film in 4K UHD format.

Furthermore, along with the 4K UHD and Blu-ray set, regular Blu-ray and DVD versions will also be available. As for bonus content, fans can look forward to del Toro’s new audio commentary on The Reborn Cut, a new “making of” documentary titled The Anatomy Lesson: Director’s Cut, and an interview with composer Alexandre Desplat, among other things.

You can pre-order Frankenstein: The Reborn Cut at Criterion.com before it drops on October 27. Frankenstein is streaming on Netflix.

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Release Date

October 17, 2025

Runtime

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149 Minutes

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Craig Melvin missed out on the Monday, July 20, broadcast of the Today show following a frightening incident with an intruder on set.

Savannah Guthrie kicked off the show on Monday with Sheinelle Jones by her side, noting that Melvin, 47, had “a little family vacation.” The women recapped the exciting 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina before diving into the top news stories of the day.

Melvin’s absence comes less than one week after a man breached security at the Today show’s New York City studio on Thursday, July 16. The intruder — later identified as Andrew Truelove — was reportedly looking for Al Roker at first before finding Melvin, lunging toward him and shouting a racial slur.

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Related: ‘Today’ Show Security Guard Fired After Craig Melvin Incident: Report

NBC reportedly fired a security guard after an intruder breached the Today show set and confronted cohost Craig Melvin on Thursday, July 16. Page Six and TMZ reported that the employee was terminated on Thursday after a man was able to slip past security at the show’s New York City headquarters. The man was allegedly […]

“There was a security incident this morning at the TODAY show studio. An individual entered an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A,” read a statement from NBC on Thursday. “The person approached anchor Craig Melvin, who alerted security. The individual was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident. There was no altercation, and no one was injured.”

The statement continued, “TODAY is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter. NBC and TODAY take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously. We are reviewing the incident and our security protocols and remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios.”

Us confirmed that Melvin and Roker, 71, were granted a restraining order against Truelove, 41, who is facing multiple charges. Several outlets further reported that a security guard was fired in the wake of the incident.

Melvin broke his silence on the situation in a brief message shared via social media on Thursday, writing, “Hey everyone. I’ve heard from so many of you over the last few hours. I’m doing just fine. Thanks for reaching out. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning on @todayshow.”

During the Friday, July 17, broadcast, he shared an additional update and assured viewers that he was “safe and sound.”

“You may have heard that unfortunately an intruder made his way into an unauthorized area here at Studio 1A,” Melvin said. “Thankfully he was apprehended quickly [and] he was placed under arrest.”

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He added, “We are cooperating fully with the NYPD as they investigate the matter and we are just very happy that everyone is safe.”

Roker, for his part, issued his own social media statement shortly before Friday’s episode.

“A really heartfelt thank you to all who reached out over the last 24 hours to check in on my brother, @craigmelvinnbc … It’s moments like these that serve to pull us together,” he wrote. “You all, like Craig, said ‘You come after one of us, you come after all of us.’ We’ll talk about it this morning on @todayshow.”

Jennifer Lopez has once again proven that beauty is ageless as she posed, leaving little to the imagination in a bathtub photo.

The singer shared the sizzling shot in a carousel featuring other stunning images of her and her sister ahead of her 57th birthday.

Jennifer Lopez also recently celebrated her children graduating from high school and passing their entry exams into college with a photo dump from their graduation event.

Lopez is living her best life and maintaining beauty even as she approaches her 57th birthday. Over the weekend, the “This Is Me…Now” singer took to Instagram to share moments from a recent trip with her sister, Lynda Lopez, in commemoration of both their birthdays.

The pair are only two years apart, as Lynda turned 55 on June 14, while Lopez celebrates her 57th birthday on Friday, July 24. In the post, the sisters were photographed attending Wimbledon in London, as well as a D&G fashion show in Italy earlier this month.

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The carousel also included more personal photos of the multi-hyphenate superstar and her sister helping themselves to a dessert in a hotel bathroom, with Lopez taking a dip in the tub.

“A double birthday sister trip is always a good idea!! I love you, Lynnie!! Happy birthday!!” she captioned the post.

Fans Gush Over The Actress’s Snaps With Her Sister

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Fans were left stunned by the singer’s photos, with many praising her for her ageless beauty while also leaving kind words for her sister, Lynda.

A person wrote, “Damn, that first pic is everything. Glad you had the best time here in Europe, love having you here.”

“Damn, you so fine, mummy. You look 20 years old,” another fan commented, while a third noted, “Happy birthday beautiful!! You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

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One more person stated, “Happy birthday to both of you!!!! I hope you are very happy today as you celebrate on your birthday and always!!!”

Jennifer Lopez Says Hollywood Had To ‘Realize’ That Women ‘Get Sexier’ With Age

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Lopez has always been aware that age has nothing to do with a woman’s beauty, and in fact, brings it to full bloom.

In a 2023 chat with Elle Magazine, she spoke about how Hollywood has grown to appreciate actresses of all ages after only realizing women “get sexier” with the passing of time.

“It has changed a lot, and I think it’s appropriate,” she said. “As you get older and you have more experience, you become a richer human being, and you have more to offer. The idea of, ‘There’s nothing really valuable about watching a woman over 30’ is so ridiculous; it’s the opposite of right. It just makes me laugh.”

Lopez continued, “People have realized that women just get sexier as they get older. They get more learned and more rich with character. All of that is very beautiful and attractive, and not just physically, but on the inside, the beauty that you gain as you get older, the wisdom you gain.”

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At the time, Lopez expressed that she plans to stay active in Hollywood for “as long as” she wants to and will still be beautiful at that.

“I don’t know what that age is,” she said. “It might be 70, it might be 80, it might be 90, I don’t know. But I know that it’s there for me if I want it, and I want to create it.”

Inside The Singer’s Relationship With Her Sister Over The Years

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Meanwhile, Lopez has always been open about her close relationship with Lynda, and the pivotal role her family, including mom Guadalupe, her dad David, and elder sister Leslie, played to help her rise to the top in her pop career.

The “Hustlers” actress particularly shares a close relationship with Lynda, who’s an Emmy Award-winning radio and TV journalist in her own right.

In a 2013 chat with Cosmopolitan, Lopez sang her praises, especially on how she raised her child, Lucie, at the time.

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“I just love and respect her so much. She’s a single mom, but not like I’m a single mom,” she told the news outlet, per Hello! Magazine, adding, “I have a lot of help; she doesn’t.”

“I always ask, ‘Do you need anything?’” she continued. “And she’s like, ‘I’m good.’ But I know she’s exhausted.”

Jennifer Lopez Called Lynda Her ‘Ride Or Die’

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As is quite typical among siblings growing up, Lynda shared that Lopez and Leslie would often gang up against her and give her the whooping of her life.

“When we were kids, the two of them would beat up on me ’cause I’m the youngest,” the journalist said, as per People.

However, Lopez clarified, “We were all very close in age. She’s a year and a half younger than me, okay?”

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Both sisters have since grown closer, with the “Office Romance” star calling the journalist her “ride or die” in a touching Instagram tribute to Lynda in 2021.

“You light the world and show me what’s possible, and are my inspiration always. Sometimes I can’t believe I was so lucky that God put the beautiful soul that is you into my life,” she captioned the post.

By TeeJay Small
| Updated 1 second ago

Since The Simpsons first kicked off back in 1989, couch gags have been an iconic episode-opening staple. Over the years, the team behind the show has collaborated with numerous writers, animators, and artists, creating surprising crossovers with other popular works. While every couch gag holds a special place in my heart, I’d argue that the most memorable iteration came from 2010’s “MoneyBart,” as part of a collaboration with the cryptic political artist Banksy.

Even if you’re not familiar with Banksy by name, you’ve surely crossed paths with his work. The anonymous British artist has delivered numerous thought-provoking pieces, often providing some cutting social commentary or political undertone. He’s about as anti-establishment as an artist can be, so you can understand why it came as a shock when he agreed to collaborate with one of the most well-known cartoons in the history of the world. After all, tagging your name on a Fox branded series doesn’t exactly scream “down with capitalism.”

A brief glance at the intro sequence, which has been making the rounds on social media lately, will quickly clear up any questions you might have about Banksy’s agenda. Rather than using the platform to deliver a fun, simple gag about the yellow family kicking their feet up in front of the TV, Banksy offered an extremely dark critique of the animation industry, the network, and the nature of mass-produced art on the whole. The full gag is nearly two minutes in length, but it feels like a lifetime as you watch in twisted horror at the scathing repudiation of mainstream television.

Not Your Average Couch Gag

The couch gag opens on the usual cloud-first drop into Springfield, but quickly goes off the rails. As soon as the Simpson family takes to the couch, we zoom out to see individual cartoon frames being animated in an Asian sweatshop. Miserable workers toil in squalid conditions, as children paste the film together using vats of toxic waste. Beneath the sweatshop, we see that Simpsons merchandise is made under similar soul-crushing conditions, with adorable kittens being woodchippered to stuff mass-produced Bart plushies.

Other instances of animal abuse are rampant in the supply chain, with panda bears being whipped, decapitated dolphins applying packing tape, and a shackled, sickly unicorn used as a crude method of cutting DVDs to size. The whole thing is deeply disturbing, uncomfortably funny, and uniquely self-reflective, even by Simpsons standards. It all wraps up with a 20th Century Fox logo surrounded by barbed wire fences and dystopian watchtowers, à la George Orwell‘s 1984.

Series executive producer and longtime showrunner Al Jean described the process of linking up with Banksy during a 2010 interview with The New York Times, and revealed the ways in which Fox was apprehensive about airing the segment. Despite arguing that “Fox has been very gracious about us biting the hand that feeds us,” Jean explained that the network demanded several changes “for taste.” When asked what specifically was cut before the segment made it to air, the Harvard alumnus said, “It was even a little sadder. But I would have to say almost all of it stayed in. We were thrilled. It was funny, I watched Mad Men last night, and I wondered if this was my Don Draper letter to The New York Times. I knew just how he felt.”

The original storyboards for the couch gag are available to view on Banksy.blog, so you can see for yourself exactly what was changed before animation. The most notable change is the absence of the propaganda poster depicting Fox founder Rupert Murdoch. Al Jean claims that axing the jab toward Murdoch was the only non-negotiable point for the network, while he himself objected to the unicorn dying on camera.

Luckily, the episode eventually made it to air without any serious threats of cancellation, and Al Jean still works as a writer and producer on The Simpsons to this day. Still, it seems unlikely that Disney will allow any returning Banksy collabs of this sort in the near future.

By Nina Phillips
| Published 58 seconds ago

Psychological horrors are all well and good, but sometimes you need something that disturbs you immediately, and leaves you feeling disquieted long after the film is over. If that’s what you’re looking for, the Korean “zombie” movie, 2016’s The Wailing, is just the film. It keeps you guessing every step of the way with its complicated storyline.

Heats Up Quickly And Never Lets Up

The Wailing focuses on a policeman, Officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won), in a remote village in Korea. Shortly after a mysterious Japanese man enters the village, some strange infection breaks out in the area, leaving villagers who contract it deranged and murderous. Many end up killing their families in a fit of rage. Jong-goo’s daughter, Hyo-jin (Kim Hwan-hee) ends up becoming one of the infected. Growing desperate, Jong-goo starts to target the Japanese man (Jun Kunimura) after a local hunter and the mysterious Moo-myeong (Chun Woo-hee) tell him about some of the man’s strange behaviors.

Working with a deacon, Yang I-sam (Kim Do-yoon), and a shaman, Il-gwang (Hwang Jung-min), Jong-goo works hard to save his daughter and stop evil from taking over his village, if only he could find out how.

Na Hong-jin’s Past And Future Work

The original name of The Wailing is Gokseong in Korean. Those who watched the film might have noticed that this is the name of the village. However, in Korean, the word also means “wail.” Both commercially and critically, The Wailing was considered a success. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave the movie an impressive average score of 99 percent. Audience members enjoyed the movie as well, giving it an 81 percent.

Na Hong-jin was both the writer and director for The Wailing, which was his third feature film. He has done a few other impressive movies as well, including The Chaser, The Medium, and The Yellow Sea.

Na Hong-jin is also the writer for another film, Hope, whihc saw its Cannes release on May 17, 2026, followed by its South Korean debut on July 15. It has a similar premise to The Wailing: “A mysterious discovery is made on the outskirts of the remote harbor town. The residents find themselves in a desperate fight for survival against something they have never encountered before.”

With the plot sounding so similar, it will be interesting to see how the director spins his new film to make it different from The Wailing. With no official stateside release date yet, though, fans of this director will have to wait a little longer to access the film through streaming or on-demand viewing.

A Cut Above Your Average Zombie Movie

The Wailing is full of twists and turns as you go along with Jong-goo to learn who the real villain is. The twists sometimes make for a confusing story that not all audience members will be able to follow along with. Still, those who managed to follow along, or understood all of the twists later, found the story interesting and detailed, with some parts left open so viewers could decide for themselves what happened.

Most interestingly, The Wailing appears to be a zombie movie right off the bat, setting it up for undead creatures. However, as viewers continue watching, they realize that isn’t quite right, and that there’s much more going on under the surface. It covers several different genres of stories but focuses heavily on Christian themes, such as demons and angels.

If you want to watch this disturbing movie for yourself, The Wailing is currently streaming for free though Xumo Play, Sling TV, and Philo. For those always on the hunt for new horror movies, this movie did so well that it was included in Letterboxd’s top 250 horror films.