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Superhero Bits: ‘Superman & Lois’ Premiere Ratings, ‘The Boys’ Season 3 Starts Shooting & More

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 02:00:33 +0000

How is Tom Holland‘s brother playing the same character in Spider-Man 3 as he did in Cherry? Did you see how Superman & Lois paid homage to Action Comics #1? When will Stargirl and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow return to The CW? Want to see the first photo from the set of The Boys season three? When can you see Superman: The Animated Series in HD on HBO Max? All that and more in this edition of Superhero Bits.

Top creative minds from across entertainment celebrate Black History Month in Marvel’s Voices: Legacy.

The first hour of the Superman & Lois premiere gave The CW its largest audience in that time slot in two years.

Now that Superman & Lois has debuted on The CW, the first promo for the show’s second episode is here.

The second season of Stargirl will be coming to The CW this summer, but no specific release date was given.

The CW also provided a tease of what’s coming from the rest of the first season of DC’s new Superman & Lois.

Kevin Feige was not shy about how to design the lair of Agatha Harkness from last week’s WandaVision.

If you happened to miss Superman & Lois, here’s a preview of the very first episode with a classic homage.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow will return to The CW for season six on Sunday, May 2 at 8:00 P.M. ET/PT.

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The post Superhero Bits: ‘Superman & Lois’ Premiere Ratings, ‘The Boys’ Season 3 Starts Shooting & More appeared first on /Film.

90 Day Fiancé: Yara Zaya’s Instagram Followers 80% Fake, Claim Alleges

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:48:27 +0000

Yara Zaya is one of the newest 90 Day Fiancé stars, who has quickly garnered a decent social media following, especially on Instagram. She has over 85K followers on IG. However, a fan now claims 81% of her followers are fake. Many fans seem to believe this information and think she bought fake followers to establish herself as a fashion influencer.

On 90 Day Fiancé season eight, Jovi and Yara have just found out they are going to be parents. Unfortunately, this couple doesn't appear to be ready for this big responsibility. They are still constantly arguing about little things. The Ukrainian beauty thinks her future husband is not prepared to leave his party-boy attitude behind and become a father. They recently joined Jovi's parents for an engagement party, but the couple looked far from happy. Yara was upset because Jovi wasn't attentive and affectionate during the party.

Amid so much drama, many eyes were hooked on Yara's beautiful gown. Many 90 Day Fiancé viewers appear to love Yara's fashion sense. Some of her fans frequently ask about where her clothes are from. Considering fans' interest in her clothing, Yara announced she would launch a website through which fans can buy the clothes she wore on the show. The 25-year-old blonde beauty has become quite famous for her contemporary style. Still, a Redditor claims she has one of the highest numbers of fake followers on her Instagram. The person posted a screenshot captured from Modash, a site designed to check for fake followers, which stated, "80.86% fake followers." Check out the screenshot of the Reddit thread below:

Many 90 Day Fiancé fans are shocked to learn this new information. A fan reacted by saying, "Damn I think that's the highest I've seen." Another Redditor commented, "I believe it." Still another fan aid, "Fake it till you make it... And even if you make it, keep faking it. It's the Influencer way." Modash is a website used to find, analyze, and monitor influencers in the industry. It also provides an Instagram fake follower checker tool. According to the screenshot, Jovi's fiancée has followers from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine. She has a 3.36% engagement rate, which is considered to be average.

Somebody else said these trackers usually consider IG accounts fake that "don't post, like posts, don't comment, have lots of numbers in their names, and have a really high number of accounts they're following." Yara's fiancé, Jovi Dufren, only has 42K followers. The other popular couple from the season, Brandon Gibbs and Julia Trubkina, have less than 60K followers each. Even the former model Natalie Mordovtseva, who is an old cast member, has fewer followers than Yara. So, is it possible that Yara's followers are fake?

Next: 90 Day Fiance: Rebecca Suffers Makeup Malfunction On 'Facetuned' Face

90 Day Fiancé airs Sundays at 8 pm ET on TLC.

Source: Reddit

Breathtaking Minecraft Pokémon Tower Build Includes Massive Recreations

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:45:44 +0000

A Reddit user has shown off the spectacular and detailed Pokémon Tower that they built entirely in the sandbox building game Minecraft. Since its introduction in 2011, the title has become one of the most successful and popular games in history, selling more than 200 million copies. This puts it ahead of games such as Grand Theft Auto V and Tetris. That massive success has led to spin-offs like Minecraft Dungeons and a huge amount of merchandise based on the franchise.

Even in the early days of Minecraft, players found that it was the perfect game for demonstrating their creativity and artistic flair. Over the years, users have built everything from working computers, recreations of fictional worlds from series such as Lord of the Rings, and even different versions of Minecraft that can be played within the in-game world. It's little surprise that with an experience that is as open and customizable as Minecraft, fans seem to have no limitations on what they can do within the title.

Reddit user and Minecraft builder SirArzey has shown off his latest creation, a stunning Pokémon Tower created entirely in the sandbox game. The creation appears to be part of some sort of Pokémon-themed attraction, as there is also a Pokémon Center and Poké Mart next to the structure. The tower itself is surrounded by three Dragon-type Pokémon in the form of Dragonair wrapped around the building, its evolution Dragonite, and the Generation 5 creature Druddigon that was first introduced in Pokémon Black & White in 2010.

Fresh Minecraft content doesn't just come from players, either. Mojang constantly updates the game with new items, game modes, and skins to give users plenty of reasons to keep coming back to the title. The latest update is the Caves and Cliffs pack, which will introduce a variety of additional biomes for players to explore and mobs to fight. However, the biggest change with the update is the fundamental change in mining that it will bring. Players will now be able to find mega caves that contain huge amounts of ore deposits such as diamonds.

Minecraft players are constantly showing how creative and ingenious they can be, using the tools included in the game to create works of art or functional machines. This Pokémon Tower is certainly impressive but it is also just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Minecraft creations.

Next: Minecraft Herobrine World Seed Discovered After 10 Years

Source: SirArzey

Why Agatha Harkness Played Along With Wanda's Sitcom Shows

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:41:21 +0000

Wandavision episode 7 revealed that Wanda and Vision's neighbor, Agnes, was in fact the witch Agatha Harkness - and that Agatha has only been pretending to be under the sway of Wanda's sitcom scenarios. Secretly, Agatha has caused a great deal of the strife that Vision and Wanda have experienced while in Westview and has been wreaking havoc with her magic for purposes unknown. While it makes sense that her role as the surprisingly helpful neighbor would benefit from her playing into the sitcom trope that she has been seeking to embody, there are some scenes where Agatha is playing into this role without Wanda present.

Most notable of these scenes is when Agatha does a cutaway in episode 7, where she is doing one of the interview clips, addressing the camera directly. If Agatha is entirely free of the genre, why would she play along, when there is nobody observing her doing so? In the "It Was Agatha All Along" song sequence, the audience sees Agatha sitting in the interviewer's chair during the same cutaway style interview with Wanda. Clearly, Agatha is not interviewing herself, so she is either obliged to follow some of the genre conventions, or she is going the extra mile to fulfill the persona that she has crafted.

The most direct answer is that while inside the area of effect of the WandaVision television program, Agatha is still obliged to at least pay lip service to the format. Her wardrobe and house always fit the neighborhood aesthetic, and while she is evidently putting on a show of being controlled, she makes few if any vocal slips that are anachronistic to the style of the show being mimicked. Whatever is causing the broadcast effect - and some have suggested Agatha Harkness is working in concert with Mephisto or another similar being to prop up the television format - could be causing some strong inclinations, even if Agatha is not obliged to conform to them.

Equally likely, however, Agatha is actually making use of these genre conventions, which obliges her to play along, to keep them going. As she seems to have some interest in Wanda and Vision's twin sons, Billy and Tommy, the family-sitcom format allowed them to be aged up to the point at which their powers manifested, when Agatha was always present. Alternately, she may have been playing along so that she didn't become the more direct subject of Wanda's attention, even in the peripheral. While Agatha might not be compelled to act by Wanda's influence, obscurity may be security, especially given WandaVision's focus on Wanda's level of power.

Whatever the cause of her genre-obedience, Agatha abandons it in her basement gateway area, a place that is clearly a seat of power for her. Whether this is because she has decided to move into the end game of whatever scheme she is furthering, or because she feels secure enough or shielded enough from the Westview effect that she does not need the camouflage is yet to be determined. All evidence shows that Agatha's decision to drop her sitcom persona and introduce herself to Wanda signals a sea change in the events of WandaVision - but whether this is for good or ill has yet to be determined.

Spider-Man: Homecoming 3's Fake Titles Tease Green Goblin For The MCU

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:40:07 +0000

The fake titles that were released for Spider-Man: Homecoming 3 could very well be teasing the debut of the Green Goblin in the upcoming MCU film. Despite the reveal of the official title (Spider-Man: No Way Home), the possible tease still persists, and it would make sense that Marvel Studios and Sony would potentially feature some sort of real tease into their fake reveal gag. In any case, given the expectations for multiversal mayhem in the upcoming film, this tease also supports rumors about a prior version of the Green Goblin making an appearance in the film as well.

The first MCU Spider-Man film was titled Spider-Man: Homecoming, which was meta-reference to Spider-Man's debut to a shared universe of heroes with Marvel Studios. Since then, an expectation was then created after the sequel was titled Spider-Man: Far From Home, seeing Peter Parker and his friends traveling to Europe. As such, theories had abounded from fans trying to guess the title of the third film, with the assumption being made that the word "Home" would somehow be featured, following suit from the first two titles. Marvel Studios and the cast of the Spider-Man films of course knew this, which is why actors Tom Holland, Jacob Batalon, and Zendaya had fun with some good-natured trolling of fans by sharing a few fake Spider-Man 3 title reveals. Three titles were released around the same time, and were released on each of their respective Instagram pages: Spider-Man: Phone Home, Spider-Man: Homewrecker, and Spider-Man: Home Slice.

While having members of the cast troll fans before the official reveal is a pretty ingenious marketing strategy to build on the already present excitement and hype, the fake titles could be carrying a very real tease thanks to their combined color scheme which are green, purple, and silver. These are of course the classic colors of Spider-Man's arch-nemesis Norman Osborn, better known as the Green Goblin. As such, this could be a tease that Osborn's on his way and will be featured at some point in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

This potential tease for the Green Goblin's arrival also supports the consistent rumors that a past version of a live-action Green Goblin will be featured in the film, along with other past villain actors that have since been confirmed such as actor Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina, who are expected to reprise their roles as Electro and Doctor Octopus. Likewise, these rumors have specifically mentioned actor Willem Dafoe reprising his Green Goblin role from the first live-action Spider-Man film from director Sam Raimi that Tobey Maguire as the titular webslinger.

Regardless, these fake title reveals do appear as though they're teasing the Green Goblin in some shape or form. Perhaps it could be a whole new take on Norman Osborn altogether, but with so many other actors who've played past villains expected to reprise their roles, it seems logical that audiences will be seeing a past version of the Goblin as well. In any case, excitement continues to build for Spider-Man: No Way Home, which will no doubt be that much more exciting if Spider-Man's greatest foe does indeed make an appearance.

More: Spider-Man 3's Best Villain Choice Was Already Setup In Far From Home

Avatar Creators Celebrate New Movie & Shade Netflix In Statement

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:39:23 +0000

Avatar: The Last Airbender creators, Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, have expressed excitement for the upcoming Avatar movie in a statement that also could be subtly shading Netflix. ViacomCBS announced Wednesday that the franchise’s original creators would be heading up the new Avatar Studios, which will produce original content of various types for Paramount+ and other ViacomCBS platforms. The first of those projects will be a new animated film, set to start development later in 2021.

Since Avatar: The Last Airbender came to Netflix in the summer of 2020, the series’ already immense popularity shot to astronomical levels. Excitement built for the live-action remake being produced for Netflix, but fans were met with disappointment when Konietzko and DiMartino announced their departure from the reboot over creative differences. Since then, the fate of the live-action project and the future of the Avatar world has been in question.

Now, however, that future seems secure. ViacomCBS has announced that Konietzko and DiMartino are leading Avatar Studios, a new team completely dedicated to new content set in the “Avatarverse.” The creators shared a statement of optimism and excitement via EW, promising lots of new Avatar stories to come. "We are exceedingly grateful to [Nickelodeon president] Brian Robbins and [president of Nickelodeon Animation] Ramsey Naito for their enthusiasm and respect for the Avatar property and us as its stewards,” the creators said. “From the start, they've supported our ambitious plans and created a positive, proactive environment for us." That could possibly be read as a subtle dig at Netflix, whose apparent lack of deference to Konietzko and DiMartino’s creative direction led to their departure. Read the full statement below:

It's hard to believe it's been 19 years since we created Avatar: The Last Airbender. But even after all that time, there are still many stories and time periods in Aang's world that we are eager to bring to life. We are fortunate to have an ever-growing community of passionate fans that enjoys exploring the Avatarverse as much as we do. And with this new Avatar Studios venture we have an unparalleled opportunity to develop our franchise and its storytelling on a vast scale, in myriad exciting ways and mediums. We are exceedingly grateful to [Nickelodeon president] Brian Robbins and [president of Nickelodeon Animation] Ramsey Naito for their enthusiasm and respect for the Avatar property and us as its stewards. From the start, they've supported our ambitious plans and created a positive, proactive environment for us. We're excited to be back at Nickelodeon where Avatar began, doing what we do best in the biggest way possible. We can't wait to build the great teams and productions to make all of this fantasy a reality.

The first official project in the works from Avatar Studios is an animated film, which is set to begin development later this year. Some of the studio’s content will air on Paramount+, but some will air on other ViacomCBS media outlets, potentially including Nickelodeon. The planned docket includes short-form content, films, and whole new series. For fans of the franchise disappointed after the creators left the Netflix project, this should come as welcome and encouraging news.

The Netflix remake is still in development at this time, but it may be a tougher sell to many Avatar fans after the announcement of Avatar Studios. The live-action M. Night Shyamalan Avatar movie left a bad taste in the mouths of many that still remains, and the absence of Konietzko and DiMartino has cast doubt over the whole project. The good news is that lots of new Avatar: The Last Airbender content will be coming from the original creators in the future.

Next: The Avatar Story Netflix Should Really Tell (Not Remake Last Airbender)

Source: EW

Superman & Lois Retcons The Arrowverse's Kryptonite Problem

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:39:02 +0000

The Superman & Lois series premiere has retconned the Arrowverse’s Kryptonite problem, which was first introduced in Batwoman. It was previously established that there was no more Kryptonite on Earth-Prime, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.

In the first episode of Superman’s new Arrowverse show, Tyler Hoechlin’s Man of Steel was faced with a new nemesis; a heavily armored warrior who claimed be from a world that no longer exists targeted nuclear facilities and secretly observed the Kryptonian hero in action. Somehow, this character proved himself capable of going toe-to-toe with Superman. During a heated battle in space, the Stranger stabbed Clark with a piece of Kryptonite, and then let him plummet back into the Earth’s atmosphere. Luckily, he was able to remove the green shard and recover from the wound before landing. The end of the episode offered some clarity of the encounter, with the Stranger’s name being revealed as Captain Luthor.

In the same scene where Superman & Lois revealed the villain’s identity, it also provided a major retcon related to the presence of Kryptonite in the Arrowverse. In Batwoman season 2, Luke Fox (Camrus Johnson) claimed that the two pieces of Kryptonite used on the show were the last of it, but Superman & Lois brought it back into the equation. Captain Luthor’s ship AI told him after his attack on Superman that he had just used the last of his Kryptonite supply. This prompted Luthor to say, “Then we'll have to go get some.” There being no more Kryptonite on Earth would have been a serious narrative issue going forward, given that its one of the only things in the world that can actually hurt Superman (and Supergirl). With that in mind, it’s not surprising that Superman & Lois has found a suitable fix for this.

This means that the green meteor rocks are still on the table in the Arrowverse, though it does raise questions about what was said about Kryptonite in Batwoman. A simple explanation is that Luke Fox may have been just wrong, since Kryptonite was used rather recently in Supergirl. There may be secret caches of Kryptonite on Earth that people like Luke know nothing about. But if Luke was right, there not being any more of it on Earth could be a clue as to where Luthor is really from.

It’s possible that this character is from the future or has at least been to other worlds. His armor’s ability to withstand attacks from Superman do suggest that it’s made out of some sort of extraterrestrial metal. He may know places in the universe where he can restock on Kryptonite. His confidence that more can be found certainly spells trouble for Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman, and possibly Jordan Kent (Alex Garfin) as well, since he would presumably share his father’s weakness. Regardless, as long as this Captain Luthor is around, Kryptonite is sure to be a thorn in Clark’s side. If Luthor ends up bringing a great deal of it to Earth and it falls into someone else’ hands, it could continue to be a problem long after this storyline is over.

More: Why Superman & Lois Ignores The Arrowverse’s Crisis

RHOD: Everything To Know About D’Andra Simmons | Screen Rant

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:32:01 +0000

Even before joining the Real Housewives of Dallas in season 2, D'Andra Simmons was referred to as a "Dallas It Girl" by her future castmates. She was born into a very prominent Dallas family. Glen Simmons, the loving stepfather who raised her, was a renowned Dallas Dallas financier, and her Bravo fan-favorite mother Mama Dee Simmons is a successful businesswoman. However, as with many Housewives stars, D'Andra's wealth hasn't made her life perfect.

Sadly, her biological father was an alcoholic who tragically took his own life. Viewers saw the impact of this when D'Andra was hurt by insinuations from former castmate LeeAnne Locken (who's said the show is staged) that she had an alcohol problem. After her father's death, she was tied up in a complicated legal battle over his estate. This current season has featured her attempts to connect with her father's family members, encouraged by her shaman.

After being engaged 13 times, she ultimately made it down the aisle twice. In 2014, she wed second husband Jeremy Lock, a photojournalist, and she is the stepmom to his two sons. The family loves its dogs, and D'Andra was devastated when one of the pups, Dixie, passed in October. She often gushes over her "#hothubby" on social media, but little is known about her first husband, except that their wedding cost a whopping million dollars.

In 1991, D'Andra graduated from Sweet Briar College with a degree in International Affairs. Before reality TV, she had a successful career in politics. This included interning for George H.W. Bush, and later working for his son, George W. In 2004, she left a job at the Department of Energy to work at her mother's company, Ultimate Living, and prepared to lead the business.

D'Andra founded a skincare company, Hard Night Good Morning, to expand the Ultimate Living brand. As viewers have seen over the past couple of seasons, working with Dee hasn't been easy for D'Andra. Being on a popular reality show has certainly brought more attention to her brand, but the 51-year-old faced some difficulties due to the pandemic. The impact on her wasn't just financial, as in December 2020, she made headlines due to her battle with COVID-19, from which she thankfully recovered.

Real Housewives of Dallas season 5 is currently airing on Bravo. Now that her former friend LeeAnne is gone, viewers are seeing D'Andra in a new (and more flattering) light. Both she and Mama Dee were already close to LeeAnne's replacement (newest Housewife Dr. Tiffany Moon) before she joined the cast. Tiffany even said she calls Dee her "other mama" on Watch What Happens Live.

Next: Real Housewives of Dallas: The 10 Most Dramatic Storylines, Ranked

‘Solar Opposites’ Season 2 Trailer: More Mayhem, More Monsters, and Some Big D**k Energy

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:30:07 +0000

Solar Opposites is coming back for a second season, and just as we saw in the teaser trailer not too long ago, the whole alien crew is still stuck on Earth. But this time they’ll be spreading their mayhem beyond the borders of their little suburb.

The new Solar Opposites season 2 trailer shows all of the trouble that Korvo (Justin Roiland), Terry (Thomas Middleditch), Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone), and Jesse (Mary Mack) will be causing, including a trip to London and prison. Oh, and it’s got some salt language that’s NSFW. You’ve been warned!

Solar Opposites Season 2 Trailer

We expected plenty of mass destruction in this second season, especially considering how much there was the first time around. But there are also many more creatures to tear Earthlings apart, new gadgets, and the next evolution of the Pupa. Plus, there’s just a tiny snippet of what’s going on with the post-apocalyptic society inside The Wall.

Other points of interest include a visit to some kind of world where everything is made out of trees. We’re not sure if that’s a consequence of something that the aliens have done or if they’re visiting another world. Plus, it looks like Yumyulack is going to be throwing around some big dick energy, and it appears to have gotten him on Saturday Night Live.

The first season of Solar Opposites was one of my favorite things from 2020. It made me forget about the insanity of the coronavirus pandemic for a little bit and brought even more of the deranged hilarity that makes Roiland’s other animated series, Rick and Morty, so great. I can’t wait to see how crazy things get with this new season.

Co-created by Justin Roiland (Rick & Morty) and Mike McMahan (ex-writer’s assistant on Rick & Morty), Solar Opposites centers around a team of four aliens who escape their exploding home world only to crash land into a move-in ready home in suburban America. They are evenly split on whether Earth is awful or awesome. Korvo (Justin Roiland) and Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone) only see the pollution, crass consumerism, and human frailty while Terry (Thomas Middleditch) and Jesse (Mary Mack) love humans and all their TV, junk food and fun stuff. Their mission: protect the Pupa, a living super computer that will one day evolve into its true form, consume them and terraform the Earth.

Solar Opposites returns to Hulu on March 26, 2021.

The post ‘Solar Opposites’ Season 2 Trailer: More Mayhem, More Monsters, and Some Big D**k Energy appeared first on /Film.

Indiana Jones 5: Former Young Indie star comeback hopes with Harrison Ford

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:28:00 +0000

INDIANA JONES 5 is currently shrouded in mystery but a previous Indie actor has spoken up about wanting to rejoin the series after 20 years away from the franchise.

A Pet Sematary Prequel Is Coming To Paramount+ | Screen Rant

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:23:23 +0000

A prequel film to horror author Stephen King’s Pet Sematary is officially on its way from Paramount+. The subscription streaming network first launched in 2014 as CBS All Access, but starting next month, it will officially rebrand as Paramount+. The 2019 reboot of Pet Sematary was released by Paramount, though it found middling results.

After releasing his supernatural horror tale in 1983, King later stated that of all the novels he’s written in his career, Pet Sematary is the one that most frightened him. The story of a family who finds both temptation and terror in an ancient burial ground near their home, Pet Sematary is indeed filled with creepy and troubling imagery. It was believed that the novel’s concept and scares would translate well to the big screen, and thanks to its relatively low budget, the film performed well when it was first released in 1989. That being said, a common complaint of fans of the novel was that the film failed to really nail the novel’s appeal. Twenty years later, a second attempt was made at adapting the story, but audiences still weren’t overly thrilled with the end result.

With Pet Sematary not really the sort of story that can be repeatedly rebooted with varying results, Paramount+ has decided to take things in the opposite direction. According to Variety, a Pet Sematary prequel is on its way. At present, information on the newly announced project is unsurprisingly sparse, though what is known is that it will reunite the 2019 reboot’s producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, and its writer, Jeff Buhler.

Just what could happen in a Pet Sematary prequel is a subject that is sure to keep fans guessing. What’s known about the cemetery in the book and films is that it is part of an ancient burial ground. In King’s book, the burial ground is said to belong to the Mi’kmaq people, but a reboot that delves into indigenous issues is a potentially controversial proposition, with far too much prospect for creating offense. Paramount would likely do well to steer clear of this option and instead find another catalyst to the horror tale.

For those who enjoyed the 2019 Pet Sematary reboot, the idea of a prequel is cause for excitement. Yet at the same time, King’s original novel has no prequel, which means that the franchise is now going in its own direction. It is arguable that King’s original material has already had two chances for success as a film and that neither of those has produced especially spectacular results. Perhaps it is true then, that it’s time to give the story some new legs and take it to places that it hasn’t gone before. It’s hard to say if that will be the key to finding great success with one of King’s most terrifying works, but there’s no shortage of those who want to find out.

Next: Why George Romero Didn't Direct Stephen King's Pet Sematary

Source: Variety

All Paramount Movies Will Go To Paramount+, Some A Month After Theaters

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:22:17 +0000

ViacomCBS has announced that all their major motion pictures will stream on their new Paramount+ app after a theatrical window. Paramount Pictures, which is owned by ViacomCBS, is one of the oldest studios in the business and owns the right to various IPs such as Star Trek, Transformers, and the entire Nickelodeon catalog, to name a few. Like its competitors in Disney, AT&T, and Comcast the studio has its own streaming service in the form of Paramount+.

Paramount+ is ViacomCBS's attempt at rebranding their struggling streaming service CBS All Access. They made a major promotional push during CBS's broadcast of Super Bowl LV, highlighting the various properties they own. The streaming service already has various Star Trek series and will exclusively premiere the upcoming SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run motion picture and the animated spin-off Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years. Paramount+ will see many major films from Paramount Pictures come to the service in a shortened theatrical window, hoping to draw more subscribers.

During ViacomCBS Investor Day call, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish announced that all Paramount movies will premiere on the new streaming service 30 to 45 days after premiering in theaters. This includes upcoming anticipated sequels like Top Gun Maverick, Mission: Impossible 7, and A Quiet Place 2. This appears to be the plan for all Paramount movies, from their major blockbuster to smaller films.

While streaming was always going to cause a shift in the distribution of films, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the process with the various studios attempting to adapt. Disney has released some films such as Soul straight to the Disney+ app while putting other films like the upcoming Raya and the Last Dragon behind a $29.99 Premium Access feature. Universal Studios made a deal with the various theater chains to put their films onto VOD seventeen days after their theatrical release. Warner Bros. and their parent company AT&T made the biggest change by announcing all of their films for 2021 would release theatrically and on HBO Max on the same day. While Paramount is sticking to a theatrical model, the shortened theatrical window is another blow to movie theaters.

Unlike AT&T and Warner Bros., who made their announcement clear this would only be temporary for 2021, Paramount and parent company Viacom seem to indicate this could be the long-term plan for the studio moving forward, even after theaters open to full capacity. This means other major upcoming projects from Paramount like the sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog, any future Transformers films, or the next Star Trek film could be available to stream on Paramount+ just a month after the release. It was announced that New York City would be opening their theaters in March, and while some theaters across the country have opened up none of them can support full capacity while cities like Los Angelas still have no opening date for theaters announced and almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears that studios are still figuring out how to adjust to an ever-changing marketplace.

Next: Why WWE Network Joining Peacock Is Better Than Fans Realize

Source: ViacomCBS

The King in Black is Not The God He Claimed To Be | Screen Rant

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:10:07 +0000

Warning: contains spoilers for King In Black #4

The symbiote god-creator Knull goes by many names, most of them self-professed, like those kids who bestow upon themselves coveted nicknames in a desperate attempt to stand out. Among this, truly exhaustive list of designations is God of the Dark. It's obviously rarer than aliases such as the ubiquitous King In Black, around which all of Marvel currently revolves, but his entire identity seems to derive almost entirely from it. Knull's whole schtick has always been that he is darkness and that he has existed long before anything else. But that's not quite true. What he actually also explains why he's weak against light.

Readers and earth's mightiest heroes only know the truth of Knull's origin and weakness due to the efforts of the telepathic mutant Jean Grey after she suddenly came out of the blue ... err black ... in King In Black #4 by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman. Jean's purpose for her unexpected arrival, in her own words, is to "see what makes [him] bleed." Consequently, her endeavors lead Jean to uncover an unanticipated discovery. At first, she cannot perceive any weakness when digging around telepathically, but then she learns that Knull is not really darkness. In fact, it existed long before him, and because of the true nature of darkness, this darkness wasn't alone.

Marvel has always claimed that Knull awoke due to the "Light of the Creation." That may very well be true. But this reading suggests that light must not have existed until that pivotal moment, for if it had, then Knull would not have been able to sleep due to its inherent incandescent brilliance. But omega-level telepath Jean Grey's discovery reveals that light must have always been there; it just wasn't strong enough to emanate bright enough to stir the god from his coveted slumber. For as Jean reveals, "and with darkness...there is light." In other words, the "Light of the Creation" and actual light must not be one and the same.

It's for this reason why light must and can only be his weakness. Knull is god of the abyss, as Jean Grey reveals, and it can be assumed that it must be a far deeper form of blackness that's void of any light, for its existence is predicated on the absence of light. If he were truly darkness incarnate, then his survival would be contingent on light. So when Knull initiated his inexorable quest to extinguish what had so rudely interrupted his most pleasant dreams eons ago, the light knew of its own power and rose up against him. But it didn't possess enough strength to destroy him, as it was much too young and needed to find its God of Light.

Interestingly, Knull must be ignorant of his true identity and therefore truly believe himself to be darkness incarnate. If he actually knew, then he would never have embraced darkness in all of its forms. Most, especially, he would have never covered the entirety of Earth in his symbiotic goo, for, in reference to Jean's realization, where there is darkness, there is light. To truly destroy light, he must also end darkness. That's what is so ironic. Even if Earth had truly fallen, Knull would have never succeeded in his quest. The King In Black may have destroyed the Light of the Creation if he brought an end to all life, but he would have never successfully ridden himself of light, so long as he continued to embrace the nothingness black.

Next: MCU: Why Knull Would Be A Better Phase 5 Villain Than Galactus

Jennifer Garner And Mark Ruffalo Just Posted A Totally Adorable 13 Going On 30 Mini-Reunion

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:04:00 +0000

Matty and Jenna are back together in a totally adorable new photo.

The Real Housewives Of New Jersey: Ranking Each Past Housewife By Entertainment Value

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:57 +0000

Bravo's The Real Housewives of New Jersey was the fourth city added to the iconic franchise. Joining the likes of Orange County, Atlanta, and New York, RHONJ gave viewers a completely different vibe. Unlike the other cities, RHONJ's cast involved family members and close childhood friends. Husbands had pivotal roles in the show unlike many of the other cities.

Now that the show is on its 11th season, fans look back at former housewives with fondness. Some of the women are missed while others are often forgotten. When it comes down to it, if the women can't figure out how to get along with sister-in-laws Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga, they're probably not going to last long. But that doesn't mean their time on the show wasn't entertaining.

8 Dina Manzo

Dina Manzo was part of the original cast. One of her best friends was Teresa Giudice, her sister was cast member Caroline Manzo, and her sister-in-law was cast member Jacqueline Laurita. Dina was unlike the others because she was soft-spoken and focused on peace.

Her husband didn't want to be on camera, so her storyline focused more on her and her daughter. But as sweet and beautiful as Dina is, she wasn't the most entertaining of cast members. She lasted two seasons before coming back for a short stint in season six before calling it quits.

7 Kathy Wakile

Kathy Wakilie started as a guest in season two before becoming a housewife for three seasons. Keeping the family connection strong, Wakilie was Teresa and Joe's cousin. The show followed her and her family as she started her own business, but the star of every storyline was the drama that followed her and her cousin, Teresa.

Wakilie and her husband and children were a breath of fresh air on the series but they didn't light up the screen like some of the other cast members, which is why she's not higher on the list.

6 Jacqueline Laurita

Jacqueline Laurita was another original housewife who lasted for five straight seasons. Viewers could see Jacqueline trying to find herself throughout the series. She was a dedicated mother and wife but when it came to her friendships, she was somewhat a doormat.

She eventually found her voice but the drama became too much for her. She came back for one more season in season seven but once again, she couldn't hold her own against the likes of Siggy Flicker, Teresa Giudice, and Melissa Gorga. Jacqueline was sweet to watch but was she entertaining? Not so much.

5 Amber Marchese

As is the case for most of the cast on RHONJ, it wasn't just Amber that had viewers talking, it was her controversial husband too. He was just as involved in the ladies' fights as Amber was.

Amber only lasted one season (season six) and apparently knew Melissa Gorga from their days in college. Amber was out for blood in her one and only season because Melissa never reached out to her when she was battling breast cancer. Nevertheless, her aggressive nature, opinionated husband, and mission to get to the point made her an entertaining housewife.

4 Caroline Manzo

Caroline Manzo was such a fun cast member on RHONJ. She had thick family ties on the show was one intimidating woman. She spoke calmly and efficiently and defended those she loved with a vengeance. Caroline was a fan favorite until she left the series in season five for good.

It came to a point where her relationship with her family (Dina and Jacqueline) and longtime friendships (Teresa and Melissa) were in ruins. Sadly, Caroline willingly aborted the show, but fans adored Caroline and would love to have her and her fun-loving family back on the show.

3 Nicole Napolitano & Teresa Aprea

Twin sisters Nicole Napolitano and Teresa Aprea were cast members during season six. They didn't just look exactly alike but they did everything together and backed each other up in times of need.

Both women were fun-loving mothers going through different relationship issues. It was because of their "two is better than one" aura that made these twins amazing to watch on television. Sadly, the two didn't make it past one season.

2 Danielle Staub

Is Danielle Staub one of the most well-known and controversial members in the Real Housewives universe? Possibly. Due to her dark past, appetite for men, and vicious fighting skills, Danielle Staub is one of the most entertaining housewives in the series.

Fans love to hate her. She came back as a friend from seasons 8-10 as a way to redeem herself but it didn't do the job she hoped for. Drama followed her everywhere she went, which is what made her one of the most entertaining women to watch.

1 Siggy Flicker

Siggy Flicker became a housewife in season seven and only lasted two seasons but the amount of entertainment that followed Siggy was unmatched. Siggy was loud, opinionated, and emotional beyond relief. She made a big deal out of the smallest of issues and had no problem shading those who disturbed her day or event.

The show also showed Siggy's home life as a mother and wife, and it looked like even her children were just as sick of Siggy's emotional side. She cried about most things and didn't handle things with grace. And it's because of those reasons that made Siggy incredibly entertaining.

NEXT: The Real Housewives: The 10 Women With The Longest Run, Ranked

Gossip Girl: The Best (& Worst) Trait Of Each Main Character

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:57 +0000

The beauty of following the characters on Gossip Girl was that just when you invested in liking (or hating) each of them, a situation would arise and their behaviors would have you switching sides.

We'd love Blair or Chuck when they were showing their softer more vulnerable sides, then she'd turn around and throw Serena under the bus, or Chuck would pick a fight with Dan and embarrass him at a highfalutin social affair, and we'd throw our collective hands up. Or we'd cheer for Serena or Nate getting their acts together, and out of nowhere she'd be sleeping with her professor or Nate's married cousin, and he'd be bedding a high school girl. But good, bad, or ugly, we tuned in anyway.

10 Georgina: Engaging (But Deceitful)

Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg) engages the others with passive/aggressive behavior, sucking them in by being accommodating, caring, and a good listener.

On the other hand, if pot-stirring were an Olympic event, Georgina would take the gold. How low would she go? She slips Serena drugs so the high society blonde missed the SATs, outs Eric (Connor Paolo) as gay, manipulates a way to be Blair's roomie at NYU, and gets pregnant and convinces Dan that son Milo is his.

9 Vanessa: Down-To-Earth (But Insecure)

Dan's childhood friend and a budding filmmaker, Vanessa (Jessica Szohr), is grounded in a way that the Upper East Side set is not. She believes in Dan's writing and submits his story to "The New Yorker," hence is responsible for him getting published. She managed to hold her own with Blair & Co. by remaining true to herself.

But, it's always clear to Vanessa that she's an outsider when not dressed fancy enough for Blair's 17th birthday party, competing for a college internship against those with connections, and made to be the subject of ridicule as when Jenny offers her an unlined dress for the Snowflake Ball, which exposes her silhouette when she stands in the light.

8 Jenny: Creative (But Desperate)

"Little J," as she's also known, is a talented fashion designer garnering an internship with Blair's mother at Waldorf Designs. Jenny (Taylor Momsen) is very sweet and a good friend to Eric.

However, she is desperate to be part of the Upper East Side world of money, glamour, and sophistication - three things not innate to her upbringing - so she compromises herself by doing Blair's bidding, stealing an expensive dress while at a sleepover, and, after Blair graduates from Constance Billard, taking her place on the steps of The Met complete with a headband.

7 Rufus: Free-spirited (But Self-Conscious)

Once the frontman for Lincoln Hawk, Rufus (Matthew Settle) now runs an art gallery and takes care of Jenny and Dan as a single dad. He tends to see the best in others, but when it comes to his children is very protective, like when he took on Georgina and made his son get a paternity test. He sends his kids to Manhattan for school because he wants what's best for them.

That being said, Rufus still carries a torch for one-time groupie/muse Lily and the feeling is mutual. They marry, but the fighting and eventual divorce comes about because the now-socialite was not about to leave her penthouse for The BK. Living in Lily's world only diminishes the salt-of-the-earth guy who cannot compete with the money and power.

6 Lily: Sophisticated (But Snobbish)

The multi-married Lily (Kelly Rutherford) is an Upper East Side doyenne with moey and influence and uses both mostly to keep her children out of trouble. She has a big heart, which she opened to motherless Chuck during and after she was married to Bart Bass.

Lily may be kind to "the little people" in a noblesse oblige way, but is merciless when crossed. When Serena was in boarding school and (untrue) rumors flew that she was having an affair with a teacher, Lily had him thrown in jail; the consequences being his sister, Juliet Sharp (Katie Cassidy), showed up to enact revenge.

5 Chuck: Generous (But Angry)

Chuck (Ed Westwick) is a hotel scion who grew up without a mother and with a disaffected father. His hard shell envelops a heart that wants to give and get love. His goodness comes out when friends are in trouble, such as when Blair's family would have gone broke paying her dowry to end her sham marriage to Prince Louis of Monaco. Chuck footed the bill.

Nevertheless, this cool bad boy can turn into a genuinely bad guy taking mean to the nadir, such as when he almost succeeded in sexually assaulting Jenny.

4 Nate: Charming (But Disheartened)

"To All The Girls I've Loved Before" could be the theme song of this member of the Vanderbilt family (on his mother's side). No one is safe from his charisma as the heir has courted Serena, Blair, Jenny, and Vanessa from the core UES squad, Juliet Sharp, his married Hamptons neighbor Duchess Catherine Beaton (Mädchen Amick), his boss Diana Payne (Elizabeth Hurley), and on the other end of the spectrum, 17-year-old Sage (Sofia Black D'Elia).

When Nate's criminal dad, Howard Archibald, flees the country and his mother moves from Manhattan in shame, the one-time golden boy is left with no money and an empty townhouse. He eventually gets back on his feet, only to realize his grandfather and politician cousin Tripp are dishonest.

3 Dan: Good-Natured (But Duplicitous)

Dan (Penn Badgley) is totally out of his league with the UES crowd, but because he lacks the swagger of the male scions at St. Judes, the budding author attracts the attention and affection of Serena, who needs a bit of normal infused into her chaotic life. Eventually, easy-going Dan is embraced by the group.

For all his "aw shucks I'm the cater waiter serving my friends at one of their penthouse parties" demeanor, Dan not only writes a book exposing the private lives of his friends, but it is revealed that he is indeed Gossip Girl, who has been telling their secrets, hence making trouble for them, all along.

2 Blair: Trendsetter (But Elitist)

If everyone on Manhattan's Upper East Side is wearing a headband, Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) is who to thank. She held court on the steps of The Met with mini-me minions doing her bidding, planning parties to which everyone wanted an invite. When there was a caper to be carried out, Blair took the reins and masterminded the agenda. She saw herself as a princess and had two royal love affairs, but ended up with an heir to a fortune.

Blair's competitiveness can only be bested by her snobbery. For a lot of the series, she treated Dan (who she called Humphrey) like dirt because he hailed from an outer borough. The mean girl thing extended to Jenny, whom she tolerated long enough to take advantage of, and called Serena her BFF, yet was so jealous of her that Blair was always willing to sell her out, as in when she told Sage she'd break up her dad Steven and Serena if the teen would wear a Waldorf Design dress to cotillion.

1 Serena: Bohemian (But Self-Destructive)

The stunning and independent It Girl may have been part of the UES crowd, but always stood out in it. From her effortless-chic take on her high school uniform (that would have gotten anyone else a detention slip for slovenliness) to flowing gowns or micro-mini cocktail dresses she wore to society events, when Serena walked in all eyes were on her. Unlike Blair, Serena didn't want to be copied; she enjoyed the cachet of being one-of-a-kind.

"Beautiful things grow to a certain height and then they fail and fade off." Serena quoted from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and Damned to a movie director after a chance encounter with his assistant who was reading the book. "I relate to it more than I should admit," she added before he offered her a production assistant position. For all her good fortune, Serena often feels worthless and not taken seriously, so she acts out with men and was known to abuse substances.

NEXT: Bridgerton: The Main Characters & Their Gossip Girl Counterpart

Euphoria: 5 Reasons Rue Should Be With Lexi (& 5 She Should Be With Jules)

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:55 +0000

Rue and Jules are currently the centric couple in Euphoria, as the first season of the series focused on their growth as individuals and their relationship. Although the two share something beautiful, Jules isn't Rue's only option. Rue's best friend, Lexi, is more of a viable love interest than people give her credit for.

Seeds were planted all throughout the show that had viewers wondering if there was something more between them. But should there be? There's definitely a spark of some sort, but can it compare to what she has with Jules? Arguments can be made for both sides.

10 Lexi: She's Rue's Best Friend

Best friends to lovers is a popular trope in fiction for a reason. There's something about two people who already care about each other entering a new phase of their relationship. The most successful romances are often the ones that are rooted in friendship, so Lexi and Rue have a good foundation.

They did admit to growing apart over the years, but they always come back to each other. Plus, Rue seems to trust her, and she opens up to her in a way she can't with anyone else.

9 Jules: They Have An Intense Connection

It's impossible to deny that Rue and Jules share something that goes beyond words. They're like magnets who were drawn to each other from day one. It could be due to the actor's chemistry, the writing, or a combination of all three, but their relationship is deeper than most.

What they have is rare, and it's not something everyone is able to find. It would be a shame for Rue and Jules not to take advantage of what has blossomed between them.

8 Lexi: Rue Believes Jules Cheated On Her

Cheating isn't something that is easily overlooked, but in this situation, the line is a bit blurry. Jules did hook up with her friend when she was out of town, and Rue says in her special that Jules cheated on her. When she opens up about it to her sponsor, Ali, he didn't think it was cheating because they never said they were in a relationship.

In Rue's defense, they spent all their time together, were intimate, and acted as any established couple would. Whether or not they put a label on it, it still didn't feel right for Jules to be with someone else without a second thought. It's difficult to know for sure, but from what viewers have learned about Lexi's character, she'd never make Rue feel the way Jules did.

7 Jules: She Made Rue Want To Get Clean

Rue's a drug addict. That's the entire premise of Euphoria. She returns from rehab in the pilot with no desire to get clean. Seeking out a dealer is one of the first things she does when she comes home.

But once Rue and Jules connect, something about Jules changes her. Life feels a little bit less bleak. Rue never cared about beating the disease until she met the person who made her feel like she could. In that way, Jules probably saved her life.

6 Lexi: Rue Depends On Jules Too Much

There's a difference between a healthy relationship and a co-dependent one. Rue wanting to get clean for Jules is a step in the right direction, but she should be wanting to get clean for herself. Until Rue can do that, she's not in the right headspace for a relationship of this intensity.

It's also unfair to Jules because she feels like the burden of Rue's sobriety is resting on her shoulders. All it takes is one wrong conversation for Rue to end up back at square one. Because they could balance friendship with romance, Lexi and Rue's relationship would have more give and take.

5 Jules: They're At Their Happiest With Each Other

When Rue and Jules are together their smiles can light up a room. This is particularly telling because of Rue's depression and how hard it is for her to find happiness in anything. There's something about Jules that makes Rue believe everything is going to be okay.

Rue embraces life rather than despising it. In Rue's fantasy, she shared an apartment with Jules in absolute bliss. There was nothing extravagant about it other than Jules being by her side. All they need is each other to be content.

4 Lexi: Rue Was Her First Kiss

It was interesting that Euphoria decided to include this tidbit about Rue and Lexi. In a flashback, they're seen kissing, and Rue admits that she was teaching Lexi how to French because she got asked to the school dance.

But could it have been more than that? Lexi pulls away first and she looks like she's in a bit of a panic. It's hard to tell whether it's because she was uncomfortable with what they were doing, or uncomfortable about the feelings she was having.

3 Jules: Rue Is Miserable Without Her

Without Jules around, Rue is downright miserable. It's always difficult to see Rue suffering, but after Jules got on the train and left her, Rue seemed defeated. It was a whole other level of despair. It's one thing not to experience happiness, it's another to experience it and have it ripped away.

The cold hard truth is that Rue might never be happy without Jules. Jules has become her other half, and whether that's a good or a bad thing, there's no tiptoeing around it.

2 Lexi: She Seems To Have A Crush On Rue

It wouldn't make any sense to drop hints about Lexi's feelings for Rue unless the show intended on following through with them. It's subtle, but there are several instances where Lexi appears to be pining over her best friend.

She had an odd reaction to finding out that Rue was in love with Jules and she didn't act happy about it. Lexi is such an underutilized character who deserves more of a storyline. Taking her relationship with Rue to the next level is the perfect opportunity to showcase her more in the second season.

1 Jules: They're In Love

No matter how many reasons a person belongs with someone, the fate of their relationship will always boil down to one simple fact. They have to be in love with each other to make it work. Rue and Jules are and it's clear as day.

Neither one of them can shut off their feelings no matter how hard they try. Even if Rue did decide to give things a shot with Lexi, she would have to move on from Jules before there could be the possibility of anything serious between them.

NEXT: 15 Gritty Teen Shows To Watch If You Love Euphoria

This Is Us: 5 Ways The Show Has Improved Over Time (& 5 Ways It's Gotten Worse)

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:45 +0000

From the moment it premiered on NBC in 2016, the family drama series This Is Us has been a television giant like so few series manage to be in the era of streaming versus broadcast. This is Us, the story of the multigenerational Pearson family, has gripped audiences for five seasons so far, developing one generation of Pearsons after another through deeply emotional and barrier-breaking journeys.

Yet no matter how popular the series may be, both in terms of viewership ratings and critical reactions, it's clear that the series isn't necessarily as good as it once was. Some aspects of the series have definitely been changed for the better over time, but in many ways, the series has failed to recapture the craze of its initial popularity.

10 Improved: Understanding Miguel

More than any other character in the series, Miguel is a character who had the odds stacked against him almost from the moment he was introduced. After all, it was only the second episode of the series in which it was revealed that Rebecca was no longer married to Jack, but now to his best friend, Miguel.

Over time, as the show has moved away from showing Miguel in flashbacks and focused more on Miguel in his old age as Rebecca's supportive second husband and a member of "the other big three" with Toby and Beth, Miguel has finally won the audience over.

9 Worse: Too many new unlikable characters

Given how much time and space This Is Us covers, with its seemingly endless number of timelines, ever changing locations, and always beginning and ending relationships (particularly in Kevin's world), it's only natural that not every character introduced is a winner.

But recent seasons have been bogged down by the introduction of far too many characters who have been duds from the beginning, yet continue to get much more screentime than they deserve, most notably Jennifer Morrison's dreadful Cassidy and Caitlin Thompson's unbearable Madison.

8 Improved: Beth's time to shine

Beth Pearson has been a key player in the Pearson family and in the series from the very beginning, but only in recent seasons has the series finally allowed Beth the time and space to shine in the way the character deserves.

Whether through the emotionally fraught near-divorce arc between Randall and Beth, her deeply moving centric episode "Our Little Island Girl," her journey to running her own dance studio, or her deft navigations of mental health and race issues within her family, Beth continually shows that she is one of the best Pearsons of all, and one of the series' true assets.

7 Worse: Mishandling Kate

In an early series episode, Kate Pearson states that aspects of her life are always going to be about weight for her, given how long being overweight has defined her experiences. But it's a real shame that the series seems committed to making this true for her character overall.

Every time Kate embarks on a new journey, whether in her career or personal life, it's always brought back to her weight. And no matter how many new careers she starts, these plots always fizzle out and never amount to anything more. Kate deserves better.

6 Improved: New moving stories aplenty

Though many new characters introduced in the series don't always land in the way they were perhaps intended to, it's hard to deny the fact that This Is Us still manages to bring viewers to tears week after week with unexpected and moving new stories.

Recent highlights have included the ill-fated romance between Laurel, Randall's birth mother, and Hai, a Vietnamese fisherman; Kate and Toby's journey to adoption; the inclusion of the real life love story of Nasir and Esther Ahmed.

5 Worse: Lack of Jack

From the very beginning of the series, it has been clear that Jack Pearson is the heart of the Pearson family. The mystery of his death kept the series moving in its first two seasons, but over time, the series has been gradually using his character less and less since this reveal.

Even in later storylines featuring Jack, such as the Vietnam arc, the storyline was primarily used to introduce and develop Nicky's character. In recent seasons, Jack has felt like an afterthought, which is a true shame.

4 Improved: More Randall

While not every Pearson is created equal, it's become abundantly clear that Randall Pearson is the best written, best developed, and best acted of them all. Season after season, Sterling K. Brown turns in award-caliber performances as the most complex member of the wide-ranging Pearson clan.

Whether working as a Councilman in Philadelphia, navigating decades of trauma and identity issues in therapy, bonding with adopted daughter Deja, or exploring the pasts of the parents he never got to be raised by, Randall is a character who is impossible to look away from, and impossible to stop rooting for.

3 Worse: More Kevin

This Is Us can try as hard as it wants to hammer in the idea that Kevin is more "Jack Pearson's son" than anything else, but it becomes clearer and clearer over time that Kevin is arguably the series' greatest failing.

Selfish beyond reason, childish to a fault, and downright unbearable in almost every single relationship, Kevin is a character the series has made impossible to stand not just in its main present timeline, but every single past and future timeline, too.

2 Improved: More inclusive

From the very beginning, This Is Us has been dedicated to depicting a far more modern family than its contemporaries. But over time, the series has become inclusive in incredibly important and moving ways.

Tess, Randall and Beth's first daughter, came out as gay; Jack Damon, Toby and Kate's son, is blind, and is portrayed by blind actor Blake Stadnik in the future. The fifth season has delved into the Black Lives Matter movement, and discussions of mental health and stigma have been far-ranging and thought-provoking.

1 Worse: Less of the past

As This Is Us continues to look to the future, most notably to a timeline in which Rebecca is elderly and the Pearson children are much older as well, the series continues to let viewers down in one impossible to ignore way: by featuring less of the past in which the Big Three were children, and Jack was still around.

Many of the series' most emotional moments, in terms of bringing on the tears and revealing key episodes of character development, have occurred in this crucial timeline. The series is absolutely worse off by utilizing it less, and would be much improved by changing course and including it more frequently once again.

NEXT: This Is Us: The 5 Most (& 5 Least) Realistic Storylines

Frasier: Every Main Character, Ranked By Intelligence

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:38 +0000

As a spinoff from the much broader sitcom Cheers, it was always clear that Frasier was going to be a series focused on the intellectual pursuits of the ever-elitist Dr. Frasier Crane. Of course, along the way, Frasier finds his world once again populated with characters of varying intellectual strengths and failings, just as it was in the world of Cheers.

But unlike on Cheers, Frasier finds himself faced with some near intellectual equals, and perhaps even a character or two who could rightfully claim to be superior to him in intelligence. Whether a member of the KACL radio staff or the Crane family, the main characters of Frasier vary greatly in their intelligence level, always to humorous results.

9 Bulldog Briscoe

It'd be pretty hard to find a dumber character in the world of '90s sitcoms than Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe. Not only is Bulldog a total sexist basically every waking moment of the day, but there's also not much more there to KACL's host of the Gonzo Sports Show.

Known for hitting on any woman that moves, screaming whenever he doesn't get his way, and making one crass joke after another, Bulldog is the total opposite of the intelligentsia that Niles and Frasier identify with.

8 Kenny Daly

While Kenny is far from the complete ignoramus that Bulldog is, it's always a bit confusing to try and figure out how someone as clueless and, oftentimes, airheaded as Kenny Daly wound up running a radio station.

Kenny always means well, but he's almost always blissfully unaware of how things work at KACL and what people think of him. He's a good guy, but it's hard to think there's much more to him than that.

7 Gil Chesterton

Though Gil Chesterton might pride himself on being a man of refined taste, particularly as the host of KACL's Restaurant Beat, it's clear that Gil has his limits in the intellect department.

Somehow even more of a snob than Frasier, Gil is a character who seemingly only exists for the sole purpose of annoying those around him. His haughty personality and condescending behavior stand in direct contrast with his often childish actions and his surprising friendship with Bulldog of all people.

6 Eddie Crane

Surprising as it may be, Frasier is a show in which a dog character is, in fact, much smarter than some of the human beings populating the world around him.

Eddie Crane is a dog unlike most other television dogs. He has character journeys, elaborate costumes, rivals and allies, and much more. He knows how to get on Frasier's last nerve time and again, and he's always there for Martin when he needs him. Eddie is a true man's best friend, and also a source of many of the Frasier's best sight gags.

5 Daphne Moon

In terms of book smarts, Daphne Moon might not measure up to most of the other characters, but through her super sensory sensitivity and her impeccable and bizarre street smarts, Daphne can more than hold her own against the Crane men.

For 11 seasons, Daphne is one of the show's wittiest characters, even though none of her witticisms have roots in the classics or psychiatry. When Daphne is given her time to shine, it's clear that she's so much more than just Martin's caretaker and Niles' love interest.

4 Roz Doyle

Roz is another character who is absolutely more versed in street smarts than book smarts, but it's never once a question whether she can hold her own either. As one of the only women in the boys' club of KACL, Roz is well-versed in standing up for herself and making her needs known.

Her humor may be one of the more sardonic and cutting of all the series' main characters, and her taste in men might not always be the best, but the one and only Rosalinda Doyle is a true gem from beginning to end, more than earning the position of KACL's Station Manager.

3 Martin Crane

Though he may not always understand the many highbrow references his sons make or share their tastes for the finer things in life, Martin Crane is so clearly the father of the Crane boys and equally responsible for their intellect in many ways.

No matter how different their understandings of the world might be, Martin never fails in keeping up with both of his boys. He might prefer to spend all his time in retirement down at McGinty's with a can of his favorite Ballantine, but he was once a gifted detective who never once lost any of his sharpness.

2 Frasier Crane

Frasier Crane might be the titular character, but at the end of the day, not even he can top the list of the series' most intelligent people.

He boasts an IQ of 129, placing him within the superior intellect category, and he's esteemed in the world of therapy and radio alike. But he has many failings, too, most notably his self-interest, stubborn tendencies, and childishness.

1 Niles Crane

It's the age-old debate at the heart of so much of the series: which Crane brother is smarter? Though the case is so easily made for both of them and is frequently debated within the series itself, it's clearly Niles who wins out in the end.

Niles might be more neurotic than his older brother (which is truly saying something), but he's often far less immature, far more advanced in his career than his brother, the "lowly" radiotherapist, and boasts a much higher IQ at 156.

NEXT: 10 Most Prominent Character Inconsistencies In Frasier

Jack Nicholson: His 5 Most Lovable Characters (& 5 Most Hatable)

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:25 +0000

The great Jack Nicholson has been retired from acting since 2010, when he played a supporting role in the comedy How Do You Know. A 12-time Oscar nominee and 3-time winner, Nicholson has, for decades, been one of Hollywood's biggest stars, as well as one of its most versatile performers. He's played many a hero and a villain in his day, and has received widespread acclaim for portraying all kinds of characters with equal believability.

From comic book supervillains to romantic leading men, there's hardly a character type Nicholson hasn't portrayed on screen. Here are 5 of his most lovable characters, and most hatable.

10 Lovable: Randle McMurphy - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Nicholson won his first Academy Award for his portrayal of Randle McMurphy in 1975's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. This was already his fifth career Oscar nomination, even though he hadn't yet turned 40 years old.

McMurphy is the tragic hero of the film, a mental patient who leads a doomed rebellion against the villainous Nurse Ratched, played by Louise Fletcher, who also won an Oscar for her performance. In the end, Randle is made an example of in the cruelest way imaginable, but his big heart and his warrior spirit make him one of the most sympathetic characters in cinema history.

9 Hatable: Johnny Varron - The Wild Ride

1960's The Wild Ride is a mostly forgotten film, so much so that it's actually in the public domain. It stars Nicholson in one of his earliest roles as Johnny Varron, a troubled young man who hits the road after kidnapping his buddy's girlfriend. He's an arrogant, narcissistic, mean-spirited character in a film that rightfully went nowhere.

In 1999, a re-cut version of the film was released as Velocity, in which additional footage was shot and the original film was used as a long flashback.

8 Lovable: Jake "J.J." Gittes - Chinatown

There's not much to "love" in Chinatown's characters, as it's one of the bleakest neo noir thrillers ever made. But Nicholson's J.J. Gittes, a private eye who's lured into a sinister mystery involving political corruption, incest, and murder. It's a lot for any investigator to handle, and it all goes awry. Jake is no ordinary Hollywood private eye - he sincerely cares about his clients, especially the one in this story.

His decency and commitment to doing a good job is what makes the ending all the more tragic. His good intentions are what make the line, "Forget it, Jake - it's Chinatown," sting so much.

7 Hatable: Francis Costello - The Departed

Nicholson has often played characters that are neither lovable nor hatable. He's mastered the "antihero" role, which he's played in films like Five Easy Pieces and Prizzi's Honor.

At the beginning of 2006's The Departed, however, Nicholson's Francis Costello utters a horrible racial slur in voiceover, establishing right away that this will not be one of those characters of his that the audience "loves to hate," or "hates to love." In Costello's case, audiences just hate him and rightfully so. He's a ruthless, piggish, and bigoted murderer who has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

6 Lovable: Melvin Udall - As Good As It Gets

Nicholson won his second Oscar for James L. Brooks' 1983 film Terms of Endearment, in which he played a flawed but redeemable womanizer. Years later, he reunited with Brooks and won his third statue for his performance as Melvin Udall in As Good as it Gets.

Melvin begins the film a miserable, merciless, and mean misanthrope who lashes out at seemingly everyone in his path. He ends up in an unlikely romance with a waitress at the only diner he's welcome in, and the result is a surprisingly genuine and heartfelt love story that won rave reviews from critics and audiences alike.

5 Hatable: Jonathan Fuerst - Carnal Knowledge

1971's Carnal Knowledge stars Jack Nicholson and Art Garfunkel as two college roommates whose lives are followed over the course of 25 years. Garfunkel's Sandy is a soft and gentle man, while Nicholson's Jonathan is a hardened and aggressive male chauvinist who objectifies all of the women in his life.

There's no redemption in the film for Jonathan, who is the same superficial and hollow man at the end that he is at the beginning. The film was very controversial at the time of its release for its mature sexual themes.

4 Lovable: Warren Schmidt - About Schmidt

Director Alexander Payne is known for his bittersweet comedies which are often equal parts moving and hilarious. About Schmidt is no exception. Jack Nicholson plays the title character, Warren Schmidt, who hits the road to Denver, Colorado for his estranged daughter's wedding.

Warren is a flawed man, for sure, and if not for the beautifully written screenplay and Nicholson's performance, it would have been hard to look past these shortcomings when evaluating the character on the whole. But Nicholson brings such vulnerability to the character that it's impossible not to forgive Warren in the end.

3 Hatable: Joker - Batman

Nowadays, Jack Nicholson's performance as the Joker in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman is viewed as a scenery-chewing riot. It's important to remember, however, that at the time of its release, Burton's Batman was considered surprisingly dark, and by far the most serious version of Batman ever.

Nicholson's Joker is a gangster-turned-larger than life supervillain determined to bring Gotham to its knees. He isn't quite as crazed and maniacal as Heath ledger's Oscar winning interpretation of the character, but he's hardly benign.

2 Lovable: Edward Cole - The Bucket List

Director Rob Reiner's 2007 drama-comedy The Bucket List stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as Edward Cole and Carter Chambers, a billionaire and an auto mechanic who meet in a hospital where they're both being treated for terminal lung cancer. They decide, against their doctor's wishes, to hit the road and embark on adventure to live out their last days on their own terms.

Critics mostly panned the film as overly sentimental, but audiences liked it quite a bit, as evidenced by its strong audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and its massive $175 million box office haul. Nicholson's Edward Cole reconciles with his estranged family by the end of the film, before he meets his maker.

1 Hatable: Jack Torrance - The Shining

What made Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's novel so brilliant is the way Kubrick and Jack Nicholson approached the character of Jack Torrance. In the novel, Jack is a good man and a loving father who's driven to madness by ghosts at the Overlook Hotel. In the film version, Nicholson's Jack Torrance is a disturbed man and an abusive husband and father before the ghosts drive him into a violent psychotic rage.

It's clear that he mistreats his wife, and it's implied that he is abusive to Danny as well. Once the ghosts at the hotel get to him, he goes from being a terrible person to a maniacal axe murderer.

NEXT: Leonardo DiCaprio & 9 Other Big Stars Headlining Netflix Originals In 2021

The Office: 5 Times The Show Was Sex Positive (& 5 Times It Wasn't)

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:22 +0000

The Office (US) stole the hearts of audiences everywhere, thanks to its larger-than-life characters, including that of it its childlike boss, Michael Scott. The show incorporated many storylines over the course of its eight-year run, many of them on the topic of sex. With such a diverse group of characters, these storylines varied between sex-positive and sex-negative.

The show's writers often used its characters to explore everyday American attitudes towards sex and sexuality. More so, the writers used the characters to also mirror changing attitudes towards sex during the period, both for the good and the bad. The brilliance of The Office is that the writers explored these topics in very humorous ways that audiences could relate to.

10 Sex Positive: Phyllis

Bob Vance, of 'Vance Refrigeration', became one of the most wholesome characters on the show, despite being a minor character. He is portrayed as a loving boyfriend, and later husband, who takes good care of Phyllis financially and emotionally and protects her from the worst of Michael's shenanigans.

Despite Michael's fatphobia and his refusal to date overweight women, Phyllis is, nevertheless, portrayed as a desirable woman, who has a very healthy sex life with Bob, much to the embarrassment of Jim and Pam, who catch the two making love in a restaurant's public restroom.

9 Not: Oscar

"I don't think I can work here anymore. This has been the worst, most backwards day of my life."

The unfortunate circumstance of Oscar's outing as a gay man in the episode titled, 'Gay Witch Hunt', lives in fame as one of the funniest episodes of The Office. Michael does not know how to react to news of Oscar's sexuality and, in true Dwight form, Dwight is incredibly insensitive about the topic.

In a season three episode, Angela has also not been through much character development and is incredibly bigoted towards Oscar, including not wanting to touch him. To prevent Oscar from resigning in this suddenly-hostile environment, Michael tries to forcibly kiss Oscar to prove that he has no issue with gay people.

8 Sex Positive: Michael & Jan

Michael's relationship with Jan is a chaotic and toxic one that brought audiences a lot of laughs at the expense of Michael. The relationship examines how emotional abuse plays out between couples, although it does so in a clever way that makes audiences laugh while feeling sorry for Michael at the same time.

After mocking Phyllis's encounter with a flasher by poking his finger out of his zipper, Michael asks the ladies out to lunch to repair some of the damage. During lunch, he confesses that Jan sometimes forces him to do things sexually that he does not feel comfortable doing. The best part is, the women encourage him that this is not healthy, and he needs to leave Jan since she does not respect sexual consent.

7 Not: Meredith

After a rowdy Christmas party, a drunk Meredith comes into Michael's office and flashes him without saying a word. There is no question that, throughout the series, Michael acts insultingly towards women he does not find attractive. He treats Meredith the same way too.

After she flashes him, he takes a quick photograph, then posts it on the office building's billboard to mock her for having a supposedly unattractive body. Truly, Michael has no concept of consent, and, many times, acts in ways that really should get him fired, and even arrested.

6 Sex Positive: Creed

When the office finds out that Oscar is gay, the usual ignorant suspects act with the expected amount of ignorance. Similarly, the more tolerant colleagues accept this news fully, and without prejudice. Creed, the office's wildcard, reacts to the news with his usual crazy aplomb. Happily, he describes his time during the free love movement of the 60s, where he whiled away time with women, having orgies in the mud.

Discursively, he adds that it is possible that he accidentally had sex with some men during these orgies, because everyone was covered in mud, and it was hard to tell.

5 Not: Meredith Again

Another disaster occurs in the office thanks to Michael's unconventional managerial style. This time, he tells his employees that they have immunity to confess whatever unethical thing that they have done with regards to their work.

The confessions are all tame until Meredith pithily declares that she has sex with a distributor once a month for a company-wide discount. Although Holly, the HR rep, tries to inform the bosses of this, she is shut down and told to her business, because Dunder-Mifflin needs the discount.

4 Sex Positive: Michael & Helene

At Pam's wedding, Michael meets Helene Beesly, Pam's mother. He is depressed about not meeting anyone at the wedding as he anticipated, so he is happy to hook up with Helene. They begin a relationship that leaves Pam furious with Michael for dating her mother.

Although this is a minor storyline, it is a sex-positive one, because it shows a fifty-nine-year-old Helene still with her agency and her sexual prowess as an older woman. When Michael breaks up with her, it is not because of her age, but because he wants someone he can experience important life milestones with - milestones that Helene has already achieved.

3 Not: Todd Packer

Todd Packer, general bully, and inconsiderate jerk taught Michael most of the insensitive things that he says and even believes, including the ever-popular, "that's what she said." Todd calls Michael often to ask him about the women he slept with and to just generally have some good old-fashioned locker room talk with Michael.

For example, he asks Michael "do the carpets match the drapes" when speaking on the phone on corporate time. In a final triumph for Michael, he learns to stand up to Todd, showing his character development in the process.

2 Sex Positive: Angela

Angela starts off the show as a highly conservative woman who judges the other women in the office for even the simplest things. As time goes by, Angela slowly learns that life is much more complex than trying to have a perfect life, free of judgment. Her love affair with Dwight also opens her mind to the possibility that love does not have to be constraining, and sex can be freeing too.

At the end of the series, Angela learns to go with the flow, and she learns many lessons about sex positivity along the way, including accepting her friend, Oscar, as he is.

1 Not: Michael & Jan Again

As the seasons go by, Michael learns to be more tolerant and to be more respectful to others. His employees help him understand what is right and wrong with human interaction, such as when Jim teaches him not to declare his love for Holly because he just met her.

Conversely, in the earlier seasons, Michael does not understand how to approach women. In the case of Jan, he harasses her constantly, refusing to take no for an answer, and embarrassing her with his sexual comments in the office, in front of her employees. The writers do not handle this storyline very well, because Jan ends up with Michael, reinforcing the idea that a woman's no means yes.

NEXT: The Office: Dwight's 10 Most Hilarious Complaints Against Jim, Ranked

5 Ways The Twilight Soundtrack Is Better Than The Hunger Games (& Vice Versa)

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:22 +0000

Back in 2008, Twilight shook the world with the first movie in the franchise being released to massive commercial success. In 2012, The Hunger Games repeated its young adult predecessor's success at the box office while also getting quite a lot of love from critics. Both movies developed into franchises with millions of fans praising almost every aspect of the book adaptations.

One aspect of both of these franchises that has been particularly noted for contributing to their success is the soundtrack. With some songs even performed by the actors themselves (Robert Pattinson's "Let Me Sing" and "Never Think" and Jennifer Lawrence's "The Hanging Tree"), both movie franchises feature some of the best songs of their time.

10 The Hunger Games: "Silhouettes" By Of Monsters And Men

"Silhouettes" by Of Monsters and Men was one of the four songs on the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire that was actually featured in the movie. Most songs on these soundtracks were chosen separately from the movies simply because they wouldn't fit into the atmosphere and narrative.

The song itself is eerily dark both in its atmosphere and themes which perfectly fit the subject matter of the world of Panem and particularly the spirit of revolution and rebellion.

9 Twilight: "Possibility" By Lykke Li

Perhaps one of the most well-known scenes from Twilight: New Moon also happens to be the one featuring one of the best songs from the entire franchise - "Possibility" by Lykke Li.

The song plays during the scene where Bella is missing Edward and feeling depressed. To show just how much time passes, the scene is presented in an arc shot as Bella looks out of the window and seasons change outside.

8 The Hunger Games: "Yellow Flicker Beat" By Lorde

Though some songs didn't get into the movies while others did, there is even a third group of songs that were featured in the end credits - and Lorde's "Yellow Flicker Beat" is one of them (featured at the end of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1).

The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for the movie and its lyrics refer to Katniss' rise as the symbol of rebellion. "Yellow Flicker Beat" was praised by critics and nominated for the Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards.

7 Twilight: "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" By Iron & Wine

One of the most beautiful songs from the first Twilight movie, "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" by Iron & Wine plays during the scene where Bella and Edward are dancing at the prom.

But even though it sounds beautiful and plays during such a heartwarming moment, the lyrics actually talk about someone finding a lost love who - now that he's found her - becomes trapped and grounded, unable to experience her youth. And that fits Bella's situation perfectly.

6 The Hunger Games: "Abraham's Daughter" By Arcade Fire

Playing during the closing credits of the first movie, "Abraham's Daughter" by Arcade Fire was actually one of the two songs that the band had contributed to the soundtrack. "Abraham's Daughter" was the one that resonated with the fans the most and is often remembered as one of the best in the franchise.

The song was written specifically for the movie and played with its dystopian themes. The Biblical storyline of Abraham having to sacrifice his son to God was taken as the basis for the song's story - but in this case, it was an alternate reality where Abraham had a daughter and this daughter was Katniss.

5 Twilight: "Rosyln" By Bon Iver And St. Vincent

"Rosyln" by Bon Iver and St. Vincent is a surprisingly mesmerizing yet twisted song that plays in several consecutive scenes closer to the beginning of Twilight: New Moon. The song itself is about a girl named Rosyln who is thinking about suicide - and someone trying to save her. The song starts playing when Bella prints out a picture of Edward and leaves it in her room as she goes to school.

Edward finds the picture while she is away. When she arrives home, she sees Edward waiting for her and that's when the song stops playing. What happens next, however, is closely connected to the song - Edward and Bella go for a walk in the woods and he breaks up with her, making her fall into an almost endless depression.

4 The Hunger Games: "Safe & Sound" By Taylor Swift Feat. The Civil Wars

Right now, it seems that Taylor Swift's "Safe & Sound" featuring The Civil Wars could have been a bonus track on either one of Swift's latest albums because of just how similar the atmosphere is.

The song was released as a single for the soundtrack and was featured during the end credits of the movie. It is sung from the point of view of Katniss who is addressing it to her little sister Prim and makes a promise to keep them safe and sound even though she knows she probably won't be able to.

3 Twilight: "Supermassive Black Hole" By Muse

Muse's "Supermassive Black Hole" is one of the most recognizable songs from all the Twilight installments - and it also plays during an iconic scene in the first movie.

The song wasn't actually written for the movie and was released way back in 2006. It was used in the baseball game scene which shows Bella bonding more with the Cullens which is both fun and exciting to watch.

2 The Hunger Games: "Elastic Heart" By Sia Feat. The Weeknd

Though it wasn't in the movie, "Elastic Heart" by Sia feat. The Weeknd is arguably one of the best, if not the best, song from all The Hunger Games soundtracks. Released as one of the singles from the soundtrack, it reached high spots on various charts.

The song sounds very energetic, but where the lyrics are concerned, it becomes even deeper. It's about staying strong which is exactly what Katniss Everdeen is all about.

1 Twilight: "A Thousand Years" By Christina Perri

"A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri joined the collective soundtrack of The Twilight Saga only with Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 1, yet it feels like it has been there all along thanks to its theme of the fear of falling in love.

The song was initially heard during the end credits of Breaking Dawn - Part 1, but was then re-recorded with vocals from Steve Kazee and played in the final tribute scene of Breaking Dawn - Part 2 which was the perfect ending for the franchise.

NEXT: The Hunger Games: 10 Characters Who Just Didn't Look Right In The Movies

10 Reality Shows From The 2010s That Are So Overrated

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:20 +0000

The 2010s was a decade of "wokeness". Old norms were no longer acceptable, as younger people sought to change what was permissible in everyday society. Reality TV was also scrutinized under this new atmosphere, breaking former norms. Under scrutiny, the genre did not hold up well.

As the genre courted more controversy to win more audiences, audiences, in turn, pushed back at the idea of being manipulated for views. Despite this, reality TV is still going strong in the early 2020s. The controversies surrounding the genre were not enough to kill it. Even so, some of these 2010 shows were not worth the hype.

10 Dance Moms

Dance Moms premiered in 2011. In the 2000s, reality TV about children in showbiz became popular. Shows such as Showbiz Mom And Dads and Toddlers And Tiaras were precursors to Dance Moms.

The show follows young dancers, aged between 6 and 15, as they practice for competitions, and prepare for nationals. Dance Moms did not deviate from the reality TV script. It has many conflict scenes of the dancers' mothers yelling at each other and at their coach. The show has been heavily criticized for exploiting and abusing children.

9 Love Island U.K.

Love Island is one of the most popular reality TV shows to come out of Britain. Contestants are flown to a villa in Mallorca, and must couple up in a bid to win a £50,000 cash prize.

The show took the simple dating show format of the 2000s, like The Bachelorette, and added a few slight twists to it. Love Island forced contestants to compete ruthlessly to win. It has attracted criticism for its treatment of its contestants, especially causing tragedy for people linked to the show.

8 Jersey Shore

An MTV classic, Jersey Shore was a controversial show from the beginning. It premiered in 2009, as reality TV became more scripted, to maximize audience enjoyment. Jersey Shore was also criticized for using cast members not from the area, despite claiming otherwise.

It was not a "reality" TV show, yet was marketed as such. Additionally, the show was criticized for portraying Italian Americans as stereotypical caricatures. It birthed the rise of the reality TV celebrity after JWoww and Snooki achieved fame.

7 Love & Hip Hop: New York

Love And Hip Hop: New York began what would become an entire franchise. In addition to the New York branch, there is now Atlanta, Miami, and Hollywood. Love And Hip Hop: New York followed the lives of hip-hop personalities in the area.

Some of the personalities, like Cardi B, were in the early stages of their career, trying to make it. The franchise is controversial because it deals with issues of sexuality and female representation in the hip-hop industry. On the other hand, it portrays black and Latino women as hypersexual, aggressive, and materialistic women.

6 Vanderpump Rules

A spin-off of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, Vanderpump Rules featured housewife Lisa Vanderpump. The series also followed the staff in her West Hollywood restaurant, SUR. The series courted controversy when recurring cast member, Faith Stowers, faced racial discrimination from main cast members, Doute and Schroeder.

Doute and Schroeder reported Stowers to the police for a crime she did not commit. Their only proof was that the suspect was black, like Stowers. Other cast members have also been fired for racist Tweets. Vanderpump Rules did not promote diversity. Instead, it has been torn apart by racism and intolerance.

5 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Keeping Up With The Kardashians is one of the most popular reality TV shows of all time. It is also the US' longest-running reality TV show. The focuses on the three Kardashian sisters, their brother, and their parents. The series promotes hyper-consumerism and a fixation on looks.

The Kardashians, now Kardashian-Jenners, have also been accused of exploiting and capitalizing on black culture, including blackfishing, trying to make their skin look much darker than it is. Furthermore, audiences have accused producers of staging parts of the show.

4 Judge Judy

American audiences love courtroom reality TV shows. Judge Judy was first broadcast in 1996 and quickly became a hit. It won three Emmys and lasted twenty-five seasons. The show largely remained unquestioned throughout the 1990s and 2000s. By the end of the 2010s, audiences began to condemn the show's representations of class.

Judge Judy often shouts down poor, often uneducated people on national television. What's more, as an arbitrator, she is quick to speak and slow to listen. This attitude has made her very harsh to people on her show.

3 90 Days Fiancé

90 Days Fiancé premiered in 2014. The reality TV show followed couples who had 90 days to get married under the K-1 visa. The show naturally breeds drama, because it relies on the trope of the foreigner preying on Americans. The central tension revolving around each couple is whether their love is genuine.

Similarly, audiences want to find out if the foreign fiancé is only 'using' his spouse. The show relies on negative stereotypes about foreigners as scam artists to hook its audience. It promotes the image of non-Americans as desperate.

2 American Ninja Warrior

Ninja Warrior (Sasuke) took the world by storm. The Japanese sports reality TV show began in 1997 in Yokohama, Japan. The course is notoriously difficult to complete, and many warriors try repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, for years.

An American version debuted in 2009, with only three winners so far. Unlike Ninja Warrior, American Ninja Warrior is not as challenging or grueling. In particular, this applies to earlier stages of the competition. As the seasons progressed, however, producers made the American version more difficult, in fitting with the Japanese version.

1 Married At First Sight

Based on the Danish TV series, Gift Ved Første Blik, Married At First Sight is as its name describes. The series is on its twelfth season after only seven years. The premise of the show is simple. A couple gets married after only just meeting each other.

They go on their honeymoon, then return to live married life together for three months. At the end of those three months, they must choose whether to stay married or not. Although the show might be simple, it exploits the contestants' emotions to increase viewership.

NEXT: 10 2000s Reality Shows That Are So Underrated

10 2010s Reality Shows That Are So Underrated | ScreenRant

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:20 +0000

The year 2010 was a special one for reality TV. It was the year Gordon Ramsay's Master Chef hit screens, the year The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills began, and it was the year that Jersey Shore was at its highest. With there being so many iconic reality TV shows around this time, there were plenty of shows that didn't get the respect of notoriety they deserved. There was simply too many shows to keep up with.

From networks like VH1, MTV, Bravo, and beyond, competition for the best reality TV show was heavy. There's only so many days in a week — how many TV shows can a person watch! Thanks to streaming services, fans can rewatch some of these under appreciated reality TV shows.

10 Plain Jane

Plain Jane premiered on The CW for one season and followed fashionista, Louise Roe, as she gave random "plain Janes" a complete makeover from head-to-toe. Unlike some shows on networks like TLC, Louise gave her "Janes" challenges to work on that would help with their confidence and finding their purpose.

By the end of the episode, not only did they look completely transformed but they also worked on themselves internally.

9 Real Housewives Of Miami

There were only two cities in Real Housewives history that didn't pan out the way the network hoped: Miami and Washington DC. The Real Housewives of Miami lasted for three seasons before being canceled for low viewership, but it's one of those cities that's still talked about by Bravo fans.

The show focused around prominent figures in Miami who were all friends from the social circle. Among the more notable women was Kim Kardashian's former best friend, Larsa Pippen.

8 3 Days To Open With Bobby Flay

Bobby Flay is a world renowned chef with multiple high-end restaurants and has dabbled in television. He's currently on season 26 of Beat Bobby Flay but not every television show Flay touches turns to gold.

3 Days to Open released on The Food Network and centered around Flay visiting different restaurants that were opening in three days. Within those three days, Flay would give them recommendations to make their business a success. Sadly, the show only lasted for one season and six episodes.

7 9 By Design

Robert and Cortney Novogratz were big time home designers in New York City in the 2010 era before moving to Los Angeles. What made the Novogratzs unique is that they had six children and a busy, successful design business.

9 By Design was a reality show that focused on their thriving business as they tackled large projects on the East Coast. The show was canceled after one season but their family dynamic made for great television. They later had a show on HGTV called Home by Novogratz.

6 America's Worst Driver

After the success of Britain's Worst Driver, the Travel Channel aired America's Worst Driver. The two hosts, comedians Alonzo Bodden and Jill Simonian, put eight different horrible divers through various tests to find out who the worst driver really was.

The contestants would go to drivers education classes to gear up for the competition. Those that past the tests received free prizes and gifts for their car for their good work. But the worst driver in America got their *drum roll, please* car destroyed! This is a show that was gone too soon.

5 Real Housewives Of DC

Bravo's The Real Housewives of DC is another city that was gone too soon. Unlike The Real Housewives of Miami, the ladies of DC only lasted one season. The rumor is that after former housewife Michaele Salahi and her husband breached security and snuck into the U.S. State Dinner back in 2009, Bravo had to ax the show.

Nevertheless, the ladies of DC are missed. There was a lot of political power and class that came with this series.

4 Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It

Rockstar Bret Michaels was not new to the reality TV world. He was the center of VH1's Rock of Love for three seasons in 2007. After the failure of finding love on the show, he went back and found love with he mother of his children, Kristi. The show followed his life as a dad and committed partner.

Viewers had an inside look at his continuing health problems along with his desire to marry Kristi. Bret Michaels is a rock star, but he made great television, too. Sadly, the show only lasted on season.

3 The City

Fans of The Hills were pumped that a spinoff based on the East Coast was happening. Called The City, it now focused on Whitney Port's life in New York City as she began working at Diane von Fürstenberg. Alongside Port was was her boyfriend and fashionista Olivia Palermo.

As intriguing as life in fashion in the big city was, The City only lasted two seasons.

2 Fantasia For Real

Singer Fantasia Barrino won American Idol in season three. Sadly, her stardom didn't last long after her legendary win.

To reinvent herself and take control of her life, Fantasia starred in her own reality show on VH1 called Fantasia For Real. The show followed her and her family as she tried making a comeback. And while Fantasia is still very active today, her reality television series was not a hit.

1 Jerseylicious

One could say TV was fascinated with the state of New Jersey after the success of Jersey Shore. Jerseylicious was another show that released in 2010 that followed six hair stylists at competing salons in a town in New Jersey.

While renovating the salon and styling customers' hair, the women of Jerseylicious were also deeply enthralled in the drama between hair stylists.

NEXT: 10 One-Season Reality Shows That Deserved A Second Shot

Game Of Thrones: 10 Ways The Lannisters Could Have Won

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:19 +0000

Game of Thrones had one of the most intense and controversial final seasons in television history, and the Starks came out on top with Bran becoming King. Of course, there were many Lannisters that had their ambition for the throne, and Cersei was impressively close to taking the crown with Jaime at her side. On the other hand, maybe even Tyrion could have scored the title.

While everything ended in flames and death, there are many decisions that could have been made that might have resulted in the Lannisters taking control of the Seven Kingdoms. It's time to look back at some key turning points that could have landed this powerful family on top.

10 If Joffrey Didn't Marry Margaery

The purple wedding resulted in Cersei's eldest child, and the current king, being assassinated. Cersei knew that she couldn't trust Margaery or Olenna, but still let them get close to her family and the throne.

If Joffrey hadn't been murdered and the Tyrells didn't get their foot in the door, things might have been very different with the sept and the following heirs. It was a domino effect of death and failure after that.

9 If Tyrion Didn't Murder His Father

If Tywin had been around, there might not have actually been the chaos that just continued to spiral at the Red Keep. From Cersei's power moves to the High Sparrow to Tommen's suicide to the Tyrells' destruction, Tywin could have prevented it all.

It was almost relieving for fans to finally see Tyrion take back his power and flee King's Landing, but it probably wasn't the smartest move in the Lannisters' trek to taking the throne - nor was it smart for Tyrion's position and reputation.

8 If Cersei Didn't Sleep With Lancel

Lancel Lannister definitely had quite the character change, from being a tattle-tale annoying pushover to being a killer and cult-member of the High Sparrow. Cersei's affair with him led to her arrest, and completely ruined her position at King's Landing.

Certainly, it wasn't the direct reason that she didn't win the throne in the end, but this hiccup was a large one, and the whole thing ended in bloodshed, betrayal, and Cersei's loss.

7 If Jaime Didn't Underestimate Ellaria Sand

Myrcella's death was a downward spiral for Cersei. After her daughter's death, she became even more hateful, spiteful, and violent. She tortured the Sands and was set on destruction and power, which ultimately blinded her from her true intelligence and ambition.

Jaime shouldn't have trusted Ellaria - even for one second. He had his daughter die in his arms because this character was able to gather even a sliver of trust.

6 If Cersei Didn't Hate Tyrion

This is one sibling relationship that was pretty tragic and intense. Cersei hated Tyrion for being alive and because she was sure he'd be the one to kill her due to the prophecy that foreshadowed her demise. However, these two are some of the smartest characters in the entire series. If they actually worked together, they could have been unstoppable.

Cersei underestimated and neglected Tyrion, when she should have realized he could have been a great asset - and her Hand. These two could have easily taken the throne together.

5 If Jaime Sided With Tyrion

Jaime was the middle ground between his two siblings. He secretly met with Tyrion, saved him, and helped him. However, his true loyalty sided with Cersei, and he stuck by her at King's Landing.

At the Battle of the Goldroad, fans were on the edge of the seat - unable to decide if they wanted Jaime's or Tyrion's army to win. However, Jaime could have just been on Tyrion's side, throughout literally the entire series. His loyalty to Cersei was his downfall, and it was for Tyrion, too.

4 If Tyrion Didn't Underestimate Cersei

There's a lot of underestimating that went on for the Lannisters, and all of it ended up poorly for them. Tyrion's biggest mistake was thinking that his sister had even a shred of loyalty or selflessness. He convinced Daenerys she would fight the white walkers.

Instead, she really only cared about advancing her position and getting the throne. If Tyrion knew his sister better, he and Daenerys could have taken the Seven Kingdoms without the burning of King's Landing.

3 If Jaime Didn't Choose Cersei

While there's something to be said about how these two almost won the throne together, there's another side to the story - where Jaime could have ended up with much more power without his evil sister at his side.

If Jaime had stayed with Brienne and not gone back for Cersei, he would at least be alive, and he also could have found himself back in a powerful position. It's unlikely he'd have gotten the throne, but he could have worked closely with Brienne and those in power.

2 If Cersei Didn't Kill Missandei

If there was one final nail in Cersei's and King's Landing coffin, it was Daenerys watching her best friend and confidant getting her head lopped off at the hands of Cersei Lannister. If she wasn't the Mad Queen before, she certainly was now.

Missandei's death might have seemed like a good push of power for Cersei and the Lannisters, but ultimately, it just made Daenerys all the more convinced that she had to burn everything to the ground - including Cersei and Jaime.

1 If Tyrion Left His Family For Good

If there was one thing stopping Tyrion from getting the throne at the end of all the chaos, it was the 'Lannister' last name that he carried with him. Everyone knew he still cared about Cersei and Jaime, and he never really left the family.

If he had right from the start, he could have been a much better candidate for the throne. He was always getting stuck in the drama and the violence, from Joffrey to Shae to Tywin to Cersei to Jaime. Tyrion could have been king if he just stuck it out without them.

NEXT: Daenerys Targaryen Vs. Sansa Stark: Who Should Have Been Queen Of Westeros?

‘Mothership’: Halle Berry to Star in Netflix Sci-Fi Flick from ‘Bridge of Spies’ Writer Matt Charman

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:18 +0000

After more 30 years in the industry, Halle Berry is set to make her feature directorial debut with Bruised, an MMA fighter drama which will be released by Netflix sometime this year. The coming release has apparently kicked off a strong relationship between Berry and the streamer, with the actress now signing on to star in a new Netflix sci-fi thriller called Mothership, to be directed by Oscar-nominated Bridge of Spies writer Matt Charman.

Collider reports that Matt Charman is set to make his feature directorial debut with Mothership, a sci-fi thriller starring Berry as “a fearless woman whose husband mysteriously vanishes, but when she discovers a strange extraterrestrial object beneath her home, she and her children set out to find him and uncover the truth behind his disappearance — which may involve the CIA.”

Charman will write and direct the film, though previous drafts of the scripts were written by Pablo Fenjves (Man on a Ledge) and Andrew Marlowe (Castle). Berry, who is still waiting for her own directorial debut Bruised to receive a release date from Netflix, will produce Mothership with Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas (Kidnap) and Fred Berger (La La Land).

Mothership sounds like the type of solid mid-budget sci-fi flick that you would be likely to find on Netflix these days. But with a big name like Berry involved, it has the potential to be a crossover hit for the streamer along the lines of the Sandra Bullock-starrer Bird Box, which became a minor phenomenon when it was released in 2018. But as it’s Charman’s directorial debut, it’s hard to speculate what kind of film Mothership might be, though the British writer-director’s Oscar accolades certainly point in his favor. But apart from Bridge of Spies, even Charman’s writing resume is pretty slim — the only other titles of note are the 2017 Amazon film Oasis, directed by Kevin Macdonald and starring Richard Madden, and an ITV miniseries called Black Work, which he also created. But perhaps Charman is an emerging talent with lots of potential — the $30 to 40 million budget for Mothership appears to suggest so.

Production for Mothership is expected to start this spring.

Meanwhile, Berry is reportedly on the lookout for her next directorial effort, which she hopes to center around a strong female protagonist of color. Berry’s Bruised, which stars the director as a former MMA fighter struggling to regain custody of her son and return to her athletic career, was acquired by Netflix for $20 million following its world premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.

The post ‘Mothership’: Halle Berry to Star in Netflix Sci-Fi Flick from ‘Bridge of Spies’ Writer Matt Charman appeared first on /Film.

10 Fantasy-Romance Movies To Watch If You Love Edward Scissorhands

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:13 +0000

Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands is rightfully considered to be one of the best fantasy-romance movies ever made thanks to Johnny Depp's and Winona Ryder's performances, the unique and well-written story, the magical music of Danny Elfman, and Tim Burton's unmatched direction.

The romance at the center of the story is particularly alluring to many viewers who go on to look for more similar movies; after all, not many stories combine elements of fantasy and romance so well. Luckily, there is a number of similar fantastical romantic movies that the fans of Edward Scissorhands would enjoy.

10 Thirst (2009)

Park Chan-wook's Thirst might not be a particularly well-known horror movie outside certain circles, but it did win the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Palme d'Or. Besides, it stars Song Kang-ho in the lead role who also starred in Bong Joon-ho's Parasite and the director's other movies.

Loosely based on the 1867 novel Therese Raquin, it tells the story of a Catholic priest who undergoes a medical experiment. But once the experiment ends up in an accident, he develops vampiric tendencies. In addition to that, he is also secretly in love with his friend's wife.

9 Chocolat (2000)

Starring Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, and Johnny Depp among others, Lasse Hallstrom's Chocolat was a box office success and received multiple nominations at major awards, including the Best Picture Academy Award.

Based on the novel of the same name, it follows a woman named Vianne Rocher who arrives into a French village with her six-year-old daughter. Though the villagers are initially hostile, they start changing as Vianne opens a chocolaterie and makes them see life from a new perspective.

8 The Shape Of Water (2017)

Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water made waves with its critical and commercial success that led the movie to being nominated for multiple awards and to win Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards.

Set in 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, it tells the story of a mute cleaner working at a high-security government laboratory. A strange humanoid amphibian creature is brought in and the woman starts falling in love with it.

7 Corpse Bride (2005)

One of Tim Burton's stop-motion creations, Corpse Bride, was a success at the box office and with critics and would go on to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. With the lead characters voiced by Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, its haunting atmosphere was enhanced by Danny Elfman's beautiful music.

Set in a fictional Victorian village in England, it follows a shy groom who, while practicing his wedding vows, accidentally summons a deceased bride who now believes that he has married her.

6 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

Every Edgar Wright movie has its own funky charm and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is no different. Though it underperformed at the box office, it received positive reviews from critics and went on to become a modern classic.

Based on the graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim, it follows the eponymous protagonist who is a slacker musician training with his band to take part in a competition that would lend them a record deal. Along the way, he falls in love with a girl whose exes he must now fight to be able to date her.

5 Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

Nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes, Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive stars Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as well as Mia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin, and others.

Two vampires - Adam and Eve - who have been married for several centuries now reunite after living apart for some time, but their romance is disrupted by Eve's younger sister.

4 The Illusionist (2006)

Though somewhat forgotten, The Illusionist was a success at the time of its release and a worthy addition to Edward Norton's filmography.

Loosely based on a short story called "Eisenheim the Illusionist," the movie follows a late 19th-century magician living in Vienna who reunites with his childhood love. What follows is a fictionalized version of the Mayerling incident as the two try to stay together despite societal pressures.

3 The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008)

A peculiar addition to David Fincher's filmography, the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is unlike the director's usual works. Yet, it was a success in every way and was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Brad Pitt), and Best Supporting Actress (Taraji P. Henson).

Loosely based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story of the same name, it follows a man who is born old and ages in reverse as he navigates life and falls in love with his childhood friend.

2 Big Fish (2003)

Unarguably one of Tim Burton's best works, Big Fish stars Ewan McGregor and had music composed by Danny Elfman. The movie was a critical and commercial success getting nominated for all the major awards.

Based on the novel of the same name, it tells the story of a son reconciling with his dying father as his father tells him a fictionalized account of his life, love, and achievements.

1 Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

One of Charlie Kaufman's best works, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet among others and was a success both at the box office and with critics. No wonder that Kaufman went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and Winslet received a nomination as Best Actress.

The story follows a couple who decide to erase memories of each other after being frustrated with their relationship. It is told in a non-linear narrative allowing the audience to get a glimpse of the timeline of the couple's relationship.

NEXT: 10 Awesome Upcoming 2021 Movies That Would Make Great Video Games

Grand Theft Auto: 10 Most Outrageous Crimes Committed By Series Protagonists

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:00:06 +0000

When the first Grand Theft Auto game debuted in 1997, no one could have predicted that they were witnessing the beginning of such a massive gaming franchise. After more than two decades and almost two dozen games, fans have been treated to some incredible stories led by some truly awful people.

As a general rule, all of the protagonists in GTA are hardened criminals with dubious pasts. Surviving in a criminal world is kind of the point of the franchise. Keeping that in mind, some of the acts those characters committed in the games were much worse than others. And surprisingly, those terrible acts weren't all perpetrated by GTA V's Trevor.

10 GTA: Chinatown Wars -- Huang Kills His Uncle, Takes Over The Triads

Finding a GTA game on any Nintendo system is a virtual impossibility. In fact, it happened once and only once with the release of Chinatown Wars on the Nintendo DS. But releasing a game about committing criminal acts on a family-friendly system definitely rubbed some people the wrong way.

Chinatown Wars was set in Liberty City in roughly the same era as GTA IV. Huang Lee, the main character, gets heavily involved in dealing drugs. He eventually even kills his own treacherous uncle, making him the kingpin of all drug activity in Liberty City.

9 GTA V -- Michael Betrays Trevor And Their Gang

Grand Theft Auto V remains the second best-selling game of all time as well as one of the best-reviewed. Having three separate releases on PS3 and Xbox 360, then PS4 and Xbox One, and finally on PCs certainly didn't hurt that situation.

In the early stages of the game, Michael, Trevor, and their old friend Brad screw up a heist in North Yankton. The incident leaves Brad dead and Trevor on the run. Michael uses the opportunity to cut an under-the-table deal with the FIB and get out of the criminal life, screwing Trevor over.

8 GTA IV: The Ballad Of Gay Tony -- Luis Ambushes Niko And Johnny

GTA IV had two DLC story packs, which is exactly two more than GTA V has had. The Ballad of Gay Tony focused on Luis Fernando Lopez as he and his business partner Tony Prince tried to build a nightclub empire in Liberty City.

One scene goes down from three different perspectives in GTA IV, The Ballad of Gay Tony, and The Lost and Damned. Luis ambushes a diamond exchange involving Niko Bellic and Johnny Klebitz, setting in motion a series of events that cause problems for everyone.

7 GTA IV -- Niko Kills Vlad

Niko Bellic was an Eastern European man who left home for Liberty City based on the stories of his cousin Roman. While Roman had played up his success, the reality could not have been further from the truth.

Roman owed a lot of money to loan sharks like Vlad Glebov. Niko would go on to kill Vlad, but not so much because of his loan sharking. It was more because Vlad had slept with Roman's girlfriend, which was a pretty extreme response to the situation.

6 GTA IV: The Lost And The Damned -- Johnny Executes Billy

The Lost and Damned DLC happened at the same time as GTA IV and The Ballad of Gay Tony. In it, the vise president of the motorcycle club known as The Lost, Johnny Klebitz, tried to help manage their nefarious dealings while sorting out the plans of the club's president, Billy Grey.

After getting out of rehab, Billy instigated a massive turf war as part of a plot to build his own fortunes. Billy then decided to work with the cops as a means of getting out, so Johnny raided the prison Billy was being held in and straight-up executed him.

5 GTA: San Andreas -- CJ Gets Revenge On Big Smoke

After being in Liberty City for five years, Carl "CJ" Johnson returned to Los Santos for his mother's funeral after she was murdered. He was almost immediately drawn into the business dealings of his old gang, the Grove Street Families.

While trying to help his old gang regain their former status, CJ discovered that one of its own members betrayed the Families to their rivals. CJ eventually tracked Big Smoke down and killed him as an act of revenge.

4 GTA: Vice City -- Tommy Vercetti, Drug Kingpin

Mobster Tommy Vercetti spent 15 years in prison. Upon his release, he was sent to Vice City to establish a presence in the drug trade there for his employers. As it turned out, things went way too well for Tommy.

He ended up becoming the main drug lord in the entire city. As impressive as that was, it's still quite illegal. He also did it without cutting in the mob he worked for, which created a whole new set of problems for him.

3 GTA V -- Franklin Had A Choice To Make

How bad a crime this turned out to be depended entirely on a choice made by the player. While GTA V had a well-executed three protagonist system, the finale of the game came down to Frank Clinton. The young man ultimately had to make an incredibly difficult choice.

The decision presented to him was to kill Michael, kill Trevor, or try to save them both. While not killing either Michael or Trevor seemed like the more loyal and moral choice, it did lead to the trio going on a giant-killing spree where they wiped out all of their enemies.

2 GTA III -- Claude Murders Maria

While it wasn't the first game in the franchise, GTA III was the game that launched the series into the stratosphere of success. It focused on Claude, a silent criminal who escaped from a prison transport in Liberty City with a man named 8-Ball.

Claude ended up working with Maria, a mob boss' wife who was simultaneously his best and worst influence. As the game ended, the closing moments heavily implied that Claude killed Maria as a gunshot was heard and Maria suddenly went silent.

1 GTA V -- Trevor Kicks A Man To Death

If there's one thing that Trevor Phillips was great at in GTA V, it was making and maintaining friendships. After the events in North Yankton, Trevor believed that Michael was dead and Brad was in prison. That was all a lie formulated by Michael to facilitate his escape to Los Santos.

When Trevor found out the truth, he snapped and ended up stomping Johnny Klebitz from The Lost and Damned to death. It was a gruesome, ignominious end for the protagonist of a different GTA game.

NEXT: Fan Casting The Movie Version Of Red Dead Redemption 2

Why Endgame Gave Every Avenger A Character Arc But Hulk

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:55:54 +0000

Every Avenger's inner journey went through a satisfying development in Avengers: Endgame, but Hulk was left with an open-ended and mostly underwhelming transformation. Most of Bruce Banner's live-action appearances focused on his conflict with his Gamma-irradiated alter ego. That changed slightly in The Avengers, where Banner demonstrated a greater degree of control over the Hulk while fighting alongside the Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The green Avenger's conflict once again evolved in Thor: Ragnarok, where the Hulk took over and became an intergalactic gladiator. Avengers: Infinity War then flipped it around and featured Bruce Banner without the Hulk, but even though Hulk's absence suggested a dramatic transformation in Avengers: Endgame, his actual appearance as Smart Hulk — a comedy relief character — disappointed many fans.

By contrast, each of the original Avengers all got fitting conclusions. The most obvious ones were Tony Stark's final transformation into a selfless hero when he wielded the Infinity Gauntlet and Captain America's retirement with Peggy Carter, but Thor also learned to forge his own destiny, Black Widow made up for the "red in her ledger," and Hawkeye abandoned his Ronin persona. Unfortunately, Hulk's evolution happened offscreen during the 5-year time jump, and his character arc had nowhere else to go after that.

The biggest problem with Bruce Banner's transformation into Smart Hulk was precisely how abrupt it was. The dilemma that made him suffer for several years was resolved instantly, and Avengers: Endgame didn't seem to consider important enough to depict it onscreen. However, Smart Hulk's introduction wasn't always going to be so sudden. The deleted scene that was included in the movie's re-release revealed that Smart Hulk was going to be the MCU's last remaining hero after the Snap in Infinity War, showcasing how Hulk and Bruce Banner both had finally become one respected hero instead of the volatile monster they were known as.

The deleted scene would have given Smart Hulk a bit more complexity in the final movie, but the main problem still stands. Smart Hulk doesn't have a real character arc during the entirety of Avengers: Endgame. But whereas Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, and Thanos enjoyed a final sendoff (linearly speaking, at least), Hulk still has plenty of potential stories left in him, including his supporting role in the She-Hulk Disney+ show and perhaps as a mentor (or even villain) in The Avengers 5. A more conclusive storyline would have limited Hulk's future appearances at a time when the MCU needs an original Avenger to pass on the torch to a new generation.

In the end, Hulk's raw power and Bruce Banner's intellect did find a long-awaited agreement, though they left no room for new surprises in Avengers: Endgame. The closest thing to a character arc Smart Hulk got in the movie was his realization that the Gamma radiation in his body, a curse he suffered through for so long, ended up being ideal to wield the Infinity Stones and save the universe. Fortunately, Hulk's viable storylines, such as his fight against Red Hulk, a long-awaited rematch with the Abomination, or Smart Hulk's death to redeem Savage Hulk are all very exciting possibilities.

More: Phase 4 Introduces A Bigger MCU Problem Than Retiring The OG Avengers

Better Call Saul: Every Theory About What Happens To Gene

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:55:14 +0000

These are the best theories for how Better Call Saul's Gene story might end. Starring Bob Odenkirk as the titular crooked lawyer, Better Call Saul is generally perceived as a prequel to Breaking Bad and, for the most part, that's true. The spin-off focuses on Jimmy McGill's life before Walter White, detailing his long journey into criminality and fleshing out the landscape of the New Mexico meth business through returning characters such as Mike Ehrmantraut, Gus Fring and Hank Schrader. When the picture switches to black and white, however, Better Call Saul swiftly jumps into the future.

Saul's Breaking Bad story ends with the lawyer skipping town to evade the DEA as they close in on Walt. Hiring the services of Ed Galbraith, Saul runs off, never to be seen again. Or almost never, as Better Call Saul's black and white scenes depict his life after Breaking Bad, posing as Gene Takavic in a Omaha Cinnabon.

Sitting on his ill-gained wealth, Jimmy is jumpy, constantly living in fear of being found out. That fear is not without foundation either, as a local "taxi driver" with links to Albuquerque recognizes Saul from his old TV commercials. With the driver acting suspiciously and his fake ID compromised, Jimmy considers another Galbraith escape job, but decides to deal with the matter himself. Better Call Saul season 6 will reveal whether that decision was the right one.

One major question Better Call Saul's final season must address is the status of Kim Wexler, who isn't mentioned whatsoever in Breaking Bad. Most viewers suspect Kim will either die or break up with Jimmy before the prequel timeline ends, but others believe the husband and wife are still somehow in cahoots. Thanks to her "ruin Howard Hamlin" plan, Better Call Saul season 6 will take Kim even deeper into illegality, meaning she could be jailed or in hiding during Breaking Bad. Since Saul Goodman's holding company (Ice Station Zebra Associates) is named after a film he and Kim watched together, Rhea Seehorn's character could've been pulling Jimmy's strings all along in Breaking Bad, secretly handling the business end of his legal affairs. This would mean Kim is both alive, and still with Jimmy, but can't see him for fear of getting caught by the authorities.

Jimmy's miserable experience in the Gene timeline might convince him that life is too short not to be with the woman he loves. Or maybe Kim could simply be released from jail. In either scenario, Better Call Saul season 6 could end with Jimmy and Kim coming face to face again in Omaha after years of separation, bringing meaning back into each other's lives. From there, Jimmy and Kim could settle in Omaha, run away together, or return home to face whatever comes. Anything, so long as they're together.

If reuniting with Kim and driving into the sunset feels a little too similar to Jesse's ending in El Camino, Jimmy might actually get his just desserts in Better Call Saul season 6. Within the Breaking Bad universe, characters usually either escape or die (mostly the latter), with very few main players winding up behind bars. But for Jimmy, being arrested and tried for his role in the Walter White meth operation might be the most logical ending. With Better Call Saul more of a legal drama than Breaking Bad, the theme of justice is woven throughout all five seasons. Jimmy might feel that managing a Cinnabon and wearing a mustache is punishment enough, but he really should be in jail.

Better Call Saul's final Gene sequence could see Jimmy lose a courtroom battle (he'd probably represent himself) and then fade out with his cell door slamming shut. Finally, a legal conundrum Saul Goodman can't wriggle out of with charm and ingenuity. Every time he visits a client or evades the law, Better Call Saul teases the possibility of Jimmy McGill being imprisoned, and watching the criminal lawyer get screwed over by the legal system would be a bitterly ironic end to his story. Furthermore, viewers have theorized that the cab driver who recognizes Jimmy is actually an undercover cop, meaning the authorities might be closing in.

If Better Call Saul's Gene timeline proves anything, it's that being a criminal on the run isn't much fun. Not only has the constant anxiety caused Jimmy to be hospitalized with health problems, but he lives alone with no enjoyment, possessions, luxuries or friends. Until Jimmy faces his past and atones for his crimes, he can never enjoy life the way he used to as an exuberant showman. This sense of disillusionment could compel Jimmy to hand himself over to the police, but after so long on he run, he needs a bigger motivation to come clean.

This theory could tie into Better Call Saul season 6's Kim storyline. Jimmy and Kim's scheme against Howard Hamlin will inevitably go awry, leaving the married co-conspirators in serious trouble. Ever the survivor, Jimmy could show his true colors (and complete his transformation into "Saul Goodman") by selling out Kim to save himself. By handing himself over in Better Call Saul's Gene narrative, he can simultaneously set Kim free and begin facing his own demons, allowing the woman he loved to walk free while he takes her place in jail. This redemptive sacrifice would feel less downbeat than Jimmy simply being caught against his will, and echo how Walter White gave his life to rescue Jesse from capture in the final episode of Breaking Bad.

From Chuck's death to Howard's number plate, Better Call Saul has featured its fair share of tragic moments. Perhaps the show's biggest tragedy, however, is how Jimmy McGill was, once upon a time, a talented and honest lawyer with a promising career. Through a combination of self-sabotage, bad luck, and brotherly meddling, Jimmy was forced into becoming a hack operating out of a strip mall, when he could've been a partner in a major and respectable firm. In Better Call Saul's Gene future, the scene in which a frustrated Jimmy shouts legal advice to a young criminal highlights how desperately unhappy he is away from the courtroom.

Better Call Saul season 6's happiest possible ending would be Jimmy finding a way to get back to what he loves, maybe returning to his previous elder law job in Albuquerque, serving the state's geriatrics once again - something he was genuinely good at. Considering his current status as a wanted man, however, Jimmy's return to law looks incredibly unlikely, but Walter White could change that.

It's not clear exactly when Jimmy's black and white flashforward scenes take place, so Walt may not be dead during the Gene timeline. Before bowing out in a hail of bullets, the man formerly known as Heisenberg tried to make amends with family and friends, and although it doesn't happen on-screen, Jimmy might've been one of them. During Breaking Bad's time jump, did Walter White use his wealth and intelligence to get Jimmy McGill off the hook?

While Better Call Saul's mysterious cab driver could be an undercover cop, he might also be a criminal looking to tie up loose ends - either an associate of Jack's white supremacist gang, or a member of a rival cartel who stands to lose if Jimmy gets arrested and starts talking shop with the cops. Jimmy couldn't rely on local law enforcement for protection, and after telling Ed he'd handle the situation alone, Jimmy's only course of action might be to murder the one person who knows "Gene" is a bogus identity.

Despite operating within the murky world of narcotics, Jimmy has maintained a healthy distance from the rough stuff. The lawyer would be taking a huge step into darker territory if he were to actually "do a murder" with his own fair hands. Most fans assume Jimmy's ending will bring him peace, either through justice, freedom, or death. But throughout Better Call Saul, Jimmy's morality has decayed gradually, and even in the Gene future, he may not have reached the bottom of that ethical pit. An unexpected, but not necessarily unattractive, ending for Jimmy McGill could be transforming into a more hardened criminal who takes whatever steps necessary to ensure his liberty. Then fast-forward 5 years, and Nobody begins.

Jimmy McGill has always been a figure of tragedy, and a miserable ending would suit the character well. Defying fan expectation, Jimmy might simply accept his current lot in life, stay at Cinnabon, continue to keep a low profile and quietly hate himself for falling so low, all without ever attempting to change his bleak situation. The cab driver could be telling the truth about his innocent intentions, and Walter White's former lawyer would simply retreat back to his mundane black and white existence.

In the same vein, Jimmy might decide to pack up (without Ed's help) and make another fresh start in a new part of the country, never settling long enough in one place to raise suspicion. Jimmy would never find fulfillment in his existence, merely surviving from one town to the next. Better Call Saul season 6 could end with a montage of all Saul's future driver's licenses, showcasing decades of false names, disguises and states, with Bob Odenkirk looking more miserable in each photo.

Breaking Bad is no stranger to death, and perhaps there's no other possible destination for Jimmy McGill than six feet under. In one of Saul Goodman's first ever scenes, he's taken to the edge of a shallow desert grave by a masked Walt and Jesse as part of an elaborate threat. How fitting it would be for Jimmy's story to end in another shallow desert grave, actually dead this time. McGill has made plenty of enemies, and the Omaha cab driver may well be one of them. Without Kim, Chuck, or his legal career, Jimmy has precious little to live for in Better Call Saul, and as long as there's a measure of redemption before his last breath, audiences won't feel too deflated by a violent ending, just as they didn't with Walter White's.

More: Better Call Saul: Everything That's Happened To Jimmy After Breaking Bad

Wandavison: Marvel boss Kevin Feige Doctor Strange statement today confirms Vision's fate

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:55:00 +0000

WANDAVISION will link into the movie Doctor Stange and the Multiverse of Madness but Marvel boss Kevin Feige spoke today about how the Disney Plus show will fit into the wider MCU.

Hell's Kitchen: Why Christina Wilson Wasn’t Asked To Cook For Audition

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:53:22 +0000

When it comes to Hell's Kitchen, it's the drama and the chef's personalities that really set the cooking competition apart from all the other cooking shows out there. Though people flock to Gordon Ramsay's many famed restaurants for a taste of his delicious food, they come to HK to watch as the chefs get schooled (and, hopefully, to hear Ramsay call someone a "donkey" or a "doughnut"). Therefore, it's unsurprising that the secret sauce of Fox's hit series is the casting.

The ultra-rich and successful Gordon Ramsay is a master in the kitchen and behind the camera. His ever-growing collection of TV shows and restaurants (35, worldwide) landed the celebrity chef on the Forbes Top 100 in 2020, and he was the only chef on the list. His cooking and hosting skills make him the embodiment of lightning in a bottle. The show looks for people who can take Ramsay's heat, which is the reason why the chefs don't have to cook a single dish during their auditions.

In a recent interview with Mashed, Red Team sous chef and season 10 winner Christina Wilson opened up about the whole auditioning ordeal. She went through three rounds of in-person auditions with producers and never cooked one dish. She auditioned in Philadelphia, New York, and Los Angeles. As for why producers didn't ask her to cook, Christina says, "I think they do that on purpose, so people that are like, 'yeah, I'm an executive chef. I'm the best [in] Philly.' Okay, fine. We'll see it for the first time in front of Gordon. We'll all see it for the first time."

Essentially, producers encourage contestants to tout their experience and talents and then put them all together in front of Chef Ramsay. That's when they get to cook their signature dishes. This is why Ramsay is (more often than not) seen spitting their signature dishes out into the trash. Contestants basically audition for Ramsay with their culinary offerings after the real Hell's Kitchen auditions end.

Christina was part of the group auditioning for seasons 9 and 10. She says she likes to believe that when the producers were looking at her, "they had all the crazy spots filled," so they let her join. She feels very fortunate to have been selected for season 10 instead of 9. Though the grand prize is always that coveted $250k and an executive chef position, season 10's executive chef position was extra special, as it was for Gordon Ramsay's first-ever Las Vegas restaurant, Gordon Ramsay Steak, which is just one jewel in Ramsay's crown.

Christina won that spot and it was life-changing. She went on to oversee Gordon Ramsay Steak, as well as his next Vegas eatery, Gordon Ramsay Burger. Today, Christina is the Corporate Executive Chef, U.S. Division, Gordon Ramsay Group. Hell's Kitchen might have put her through three auditions and never once asked her to cook a thing, but it didn't matter, because Christina had the chops.

Next: Hell's Kitchen: What To Know About Red Team Sous Chef Christina Wilson

Hell's Kitchen airs Thursdays at 8pm ET on Fox

Source: Mashed

Hitman 3's First Major Update Adds Several Improvements & New Turtleneck

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:50:30 +0000

Developer IO Interactive recently launched Hitman 3's first major update, Patch 3.11, which introduces several improvements and the Tactical Turtleneck as an unlockable suit. The final entry in IO Interactive's World of Assassination Trilogy, Hitman 3 hit stores last month to universal acclaim. It achieved great commercial success, too, recouping development costs during its first week on the market.

Though the latest entry put a bow on Agent 47's story for the time being, the development team is not finished with the shadowy world of Hitman just yet. It seems IO Interactive will provide a drip-feed of post-launch content in a manner somewhat similar to its post-release work on Hitman 2. Brand-new maps and the like are not part of the plan, however; the crew is instead remixing existing maps from the previous two entries, giving players access to something fresh and familiar. Hitman 3's February roadmap constituted the first example of said plans, since this month's updates took 47 back to locales such as Dartmoor and Sapienza for revised adventures.

The February update for Hitman 3, Version 3.11, recently went live across all platforms, most notably adding in the Tactical Turtleneck as an unlockable outfit. According to IO Interactive, players earn it by completing "The Final Test" at the ICA Facility. Upon gaining access to 47's tactical and stylish new attire, users can equip the turtleneck from their inventory at all locations with suit selection options. Naturally, the 2 to 3GB patch also addressed a slew of known issues. Owners of the Deluxe Edition who were previously locked out of their exclusive content should be able to unlock their various goodies once the update's download is complete. As the first major patch, Version 3.11 additionally allowed IOI to better manage Hitman 3's connectivity. And Trophy/Achievement hunters will be pleased to learn the studio resolved whatever issue prevented players from unlocking the "Reach Mastery Level 20" Trophy/Achievement.

The ability to dress Agent 47 in new threads is always an easy sell. Who doesn't want the assassin to look good while hidden in a corner, patiently awaiting the perfect opportunity to dispatch his next target with an elaborate trap? That he can don the outfit in multiple levels represents yet another big win for players.

Of course, the general improvements are something fans will want to take a good look at, as well. With IOI continuing to combat connectivity issues, here's to hoping players are no longer plagued by such setbacks. The Trophy/Achievement fix for "Reach Mastery Level 20" should come as a relief to PlayStation and Xbox players, especially PS4 and PS5 users who were unable to obtain the Platinum.

Next: How to Get a Silenced Sniper Rifle in Hitman 3

Hitman 3 is out now on Nintendo Switch, PC via the Epic Games Store, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

Source: IO Interactive

Best Clubhouse Alternatives For Android (While It Remains Only On iOS)

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:49:04 +0000

The Clubhouse app is currently only available on iOS devices. Clubhouse developers have previously confirmed their intention to bring the app to Android devices, although it still isn’t clear just when that’s going to happen. Fortunately, while Android users are waiting for the Clubhouse app to arrive, there are plenty of alternatives that they can download from the Google Play Store.

Anyone wanting to join Clubhouse does need to be invited by someone already using the app. Invites aren’t unlimited, either. Instead, users are allowed to send out invites based on their own activity. So, the more active someone is on the app, the more invites they receive and can give to others. Once invited to the app, users can then take part in voice chats in public rooms. Recently, security concerns arose when a user was able to stream multiple conversations to a third-party app.

For Android users seeking a Clubhouse alternative, Spoon is an option worth considering. The Spoon app allows people to search for and join trending conversations about a variety of topics, such as games or music. Chats happen live and anyone is free to join one of the public voice chats. There are also some additional voice chat options, including talk, cast, and live. A difference between Spoon and Clubhouse that's interesting is users have the option to accept monetary donations for their livestream efforts.

Discord is another great option. Similar to Clubhouse, Discord users have the ability to create individual voice chat channels for whatever topic they want to discuss. These channels can also be private, resulting in the same exclusivity factor that has helped draw people to Clubhouse in the first place. However, Discord also offers a chatroom option. So while Android users are waiting for their Clubhouse invite, Discord offers the best of both worlds, with voice chats and a privacy option.

Another good alternative is the Riffr app. Like Clubhouse, Riffr is centered around audio. Users can post “riffs” (audio conversations) and others can respond with their own. The app also comes with a search feature, making it easy to find topics that a user is interested in, similar to Clubhouse. However, unlike Clubhouse voice chats, Riffs aren’t in real time. For any user that's not specifically interested in the live aspect of Clubhouse, but an audio app, this is a good contender.

While it can be frustrating to wait for access to the Clubhouse app, users do have other options available. The fact that Clubhouse recently passed 8 million users might be a good sign that Android users won’t have to wait much longer, as it is likely that Clubhouse developers will be looking to capitalize on that growth. After all, there's few ways better than growing an app's audience then by making it available on Android.

Next: Clubhouse: How To Unmute & Mute Yourself Again

Source: Play Store, Beebom

Brett Ratner’s Milli Vanilli Film Ditched by Avi Lerner’s Millennium Media

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:46:09 +0000

Avi Lerner’s Millennium Media has backed out of Brett Ratner’s upcoming Milli Vanilli film, which the company had been planning to shop at the European Film Market.

“On the heels of the announcement of the long gestating Milli Vanilli movie, the project fielded multiple competitive bids and a group of private equity investors have emerged that are fully financing the movie to begin production shortly,” said a spokesperson in a statement for Millennium Media and RatPac Entertainment. “Millennium will not be selling the film at EFM or be involved in the production.”

Ratner is still attached to direct the project. A representative for Millennium Media did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment on who the group of private equity investors are.

Also Read: Time's Up Condemns Brett Ratner's Proposed New Film: 'There Should Be No Comeback'

On Saturday, Times Up lashed out at Ratner after a report that the disgraced director had lined up a new film project just four years after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct.

“You don’t get to go away for a couple years and then resurface and act like nothing happened,” the organization said in a statement. “We have not — and will not — forget. And Millennium Media shouldn’t either. There should be no comeback,” “There should be no comeback. #wewontforgetbrett.”

Last week, Deadline reported that Ratner was set to direct a new film about the pop duo Milli Vanilli. The film would be Ratner’s first directing job since 2014’s “Hercules” — and also the first since he was accused of sexual misconduct four years ago by at least six women, including actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge (The director has disputed the accusations — and even filed a defamation lawsuit against one of his accusers, which he later withdrew).

Also Read: Brett Ratner Drops Lawsuit Against Woman Who Accused Him of Rape

Time’s Up was not pleased to hear about Ratner’s potential comeback.

“Time’s Up was born out of the national reckoning on workplace sexual harassment. Our movement is a product of countless courageous acts by many survivors, including those who spoke out about what they endured at the hands of Brett Ratner,” the group said in its statement. “Not only did Ratner never acknowledge or apologize for the harm he caused, but he also filed lawsuits in an attempt to silence the voices of survivors who came forward — a tactic right out of the predator’s playbook.”

Shortly after the misconduct accusations surfaced in 2017, Warner Bros. severed ties with Ratner and his production company RatPac, which was founded with billionaire investor James Packer.

Ratner is the director of the “Rush Hour” movies and other hits that have grossed $2 billion worldwide; he has also served as executive producer on “The Revenant,” “Horrible Bosses” and TV’s “Prison Break.”

Related stories from TheWrap:

Brett Ratner Drops Lawsuit Against Woman Who Accused Him of Rape

Brett Ratner's Hilhaven Lodge Whiskey Discontinued by Liquor Giant Diageo

'Wonder Woman' Star Gal Gadot Says She Didn't Get Brett Ratner Fired From Franchise (Video)

Paramount+ TV Shows: ‘The Italian Job’, ‘Fatal Attraction’, and More Are Becoming Streaming Series

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:41:40 +0000

If you love watching reheated versions of old intellectual property, it seems like you are going to absolutely lose your mind for Paramount+, the soon-to-launch streaming service from ViacomCBS. During an Investor Day presentation, the company backed up a metaphorical dump truck and unloaded a metric ton of Paramount+ TV shows, including the fact that they’re developing TV versions of films like The Italian Job, Fatal Attraction, and The Parallax View, as well as revivals of Frasier, Yo! MTV Raps (yes, seriously), Inside Amy Schumer, Rugrats, and more. Find out what’s coming to the service below.

There were so many Paramount+ announcements this afternoon that they were honestly a bit difficult to keep track of, but I’m going to try my best to round up the biggest announcements as succinctly as possible here. I’ve broken this into sections, but there was one pesky announcement that didn’t fit squarely into any of my categories: the seventh and final season of Younger will premiere on Paramount+ this spring before it hits TV Land. With that out of the way, let’s get started.

Based on Movies

In addition to shows like a Grease prequel, a series about the making of The Godfather, and a TV version of The Man Who Fell to Earth, Paramount+ has picked up several shows to series, including Love Story, Flashdance, The Italian Job, Fatal Attraction, and The Parallax View. All of those are based on Paramount movies.

A TV version of Love Story, based on the mega-popular Ali MacGraw/Ryan O’Neil romance drama, hails from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (The O.C., Gossip Girl), who are “beyond excited to update it for the next generation.”

Flashdance is based on the Jennifer Beals-starring film; Tracy McMillan (Amazon’s Good Girls Revolt) wrote the revival, which “will again focus on a Black woman struggling to make her mark in the ballet world and will pick up from where the story left off — but in present day.”

The Italian Job is a sequel to the Michael Caine heist film from 1969, which was remade in 2003 as a Mark Wahlberg/Charlize Theron vehicle. This sequel show “revolves around the grandchildren of the legendary Charlie Croker (Caine in the original) who inherit his old safety deposit box and reignite the quest for the infamous Italian bullion.” Matt Wheeler (Hawaii Five-0) is behind this new version.

Fatal Attraction is being referred to as a “deep-dive reimagining” of the Glenn Close/Michael Douglas movie, and it “will be told through the lens of modern attitudes when it comes to strong women, personality disorders, victim shaming and coercive control.” Alexandra Cunningham and Kevin Hynes, who were behind the Dirty John TV series, are writing and executive producing this reimagining.

The Parallax View is based on Alan J. Pakula’s paranoid political thriller from the 1970s that starred Warren Beatty, although no writer has been attached to a new version yet. Paula Wagner, Tom Cruise’s former producing partner, is on board as an executive producer.

Resurrections

I’ll group all of the reality shows together in one paragraph: Paramount+ is working on revivals of MTV’s The Real World called The Real World Homecoming: New York (with the cast of Season 1 returning and shot in the same house as that season), The Challenge, Yo! MTV Raps, VH1 staple Behind the Music, and Unplugged.

We already heard about the Frasier revival, but that is now officially coming to the new streamer.

A Criminal Minds revival is in the early stages, with the streamer still figuring out which cast members from the original show would come back. Longtime showrunner and executive producer Erica Messer is expected to return behind the camera.

Inside Amy Schumer is coming back for five specials, since Schumer was still under contract to create more episodes when she left the Comedy Central show to make movies.

Reno: 911! The Hunt for QAnon, a continuation after the show was recently picked up by Quibi (which is now dead), is being described as a “supersized event” based on the original comedy series.

Mike Judge is coming back to make a new Beavis & Butt-Head movie for the streamer; he previously announced that he would be making more episodes of the animated series for Comedy Central.

A new special based on the Comedy Central series Workaholics has also been given the go-ahead, with original cast members Blake Anderson, Adam Devine, and Anders Holm reuniting with director/producer Kyle Newacheck.

The BET series The Game is coming back to “offer a modern-day examination of Black culture through the prism of pro football.”

Kid Stuff

#ParamountPlus is bringing back your favorite babies: The Rugrats. The new series features the original voice cast with an updated animation style. pic.twitter.com/2vmzPUhmXc

— Paramount+ (@paramountplus) February 24, 2021

The original cast of Rugrats is coming back to reprise their roles in a new iteration of that series. Get a load of that new animation style – I imagine that’s going to take some getting used to for fans of the original, scratchy 2D aesthetic of the 1990s series.

Paramount+ is also working on a live-action incarnation of kid-friendly fave Dora the Explorer (no surprise there, considering Dora recently starred in a live-action movie of her own), as well as the first live-action iteration of the Nickelodeon staple The Fairly OddParents.

The presentation offered a new look at Star Trek: Prodigy, the new animated kids show that was originally set to debut on Nickelodeon. And while the series will still air on regular network television, it will debut first on Paramount+ before heading to Nick later. In the meantime, a new image arrived, teasing a look at the new bridge crew, which leans very heavily on alien and non-humanoid characters.

Are you an iCarly fan? Or are you old enough to have children and you want to transform them into iCarly fans? You’re in luck. A revival of the Nickelodeon series is coming to Paramount+.

We previously knew that the knew film SpongeBob SquarePants: Sponge on the Run and the new prequel series Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years would be coming to Paramount+, but the streamer is doubling down on the ever-popular animated franchise. Paramount+ will launch with not only the new titles, but the complete SpongeBob library.

New Ideas

Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters is directing a six-part series called From Cradle to Stage, which tells “stories of the special relationship between successful musicians and their moms.”

Kenya Barris, who created black-ish and #blackAF, will have a new show exclusive to the service that will debut at some point this year, but there are literally zero details about it other than that.

In a new series called Guilty Party, Kate Beckinsale will play “a journalist who gets in over her head by investigating a young woman in prison for murdering her husband.”

Paramount+ is launching a new anthology series called American Tragedy, which, in the wake of Paramount Network’s mini-series Waco, will explore “complicated moments in true crime” in each season.

This isn’t exactly “new,” but it’s new-ish, and that’s good enough for today: Paramount+ will be the home of Y: 1883, a prequel to Taylor Sheridan‘s hit series Yellowstone which will track “the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America,” and be a “stark retelling of Western expansion, and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana.”

Speaking of Sheridan, the Hell or High Water screenwriter also has a new show coming to the streamer called Mayor of Kingstown that will star Jeremy Renner. It follows “the McLusky family – power brokers in Kingstown, Michigan where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. Tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality, the series provides a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither.”

He’s not done yet: he also has yet a Yellowstone spin-off called 6666, which is about a ranch that was founded “when Comanches still ruled West Texas” and still operates as it did two centuries before. The ranch is “where the rule of law and the laws of nature merge in a place where the most dangerous thing one does is the next thing…The 6666 is synonymous with the merciless endeavor to raise the finest horses and livestock in the world, and ultimately where world class cowboys are born and made.”

And there’s one more Sheridan project in the works: Land Man, which is “set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas” and is “a modern day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs. The series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics.”

Trevor Noah will host The Weekly Show With Trevor Noah, which has gotten an initial six-episode run and will “explore stories across the societal landscape and talk with people behind the headlines.”

Paramount+ launches on March 4, 2021.

The post Paramount+ TV Shows: ‘The Italian Job’, ‘Fatal Attraction’, and More Are Becoming Streaming Series appeared first on /Film.

Rugrats Revival With Original Cast Coming to Paramount Plus

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:31:18 +0000

For readers of a certain millennial persuasion, Rugrats was everything. The Nickelodeon animated series, originally airing from 1991-2004 (alongside some movies and All Growed Up spinoffs), was immediately iconic thanks to its unique visuals, surprisingly mature storylines, idiosyncratic Mark Mothersbaugh score, and of course, that beloved lizard monster known as Reptar. Now, all of these millennial Rugrats fans are about to have a mess of opinions with this new Rugrats revival series coming to Paramount+. As revealed during the network's February 24 TCA presentation, the series will have its original cast in stow — yay! — but a new, CG animation style instead of the original's 2D look — hmm!

The original cast is all back: E.G. Daily (Tommy), Nancy Cartwright (Chuckie), Cheryl Chase (Angelica), Cree Summer (Susie) and Kath Soucie (Phil and Lil). Watching this initial clip gave me goosebumps at times — they all sound exactly like their characters, the dynamics between Angelica and Chuckie are fierce and funny, they're watching a friggin' Reptar special, and Mothersbaugh's strange "Bahh bahh" sampled voice score is kickin' in all its glory. And yet... this animation style feels like a downgrade to me. I don't necessarily mind a CG shift if it looks good, and this doesn't look the best. Are these unfinished visuals rendered specifically for this preview? Will I get used to the "weirdly darting eyes"? Should I just chill and accept that this is a series primarily for children?! Probably that last one, right?

The new series comes from returning Rugrats producers Eryk Casemiro, Kate Boutilier, and Rachel Lipman, alongside new producers Dave Pressler (Robot and Monster) and Casey Leonard (Breadwinners). Of the new series, Ramsey Naito, President of Nickelodeon Animation, said this: "Rugrats is one of the most iconic cartoons recognized by fans around the globe, and this original version is one we are taking great care and pride in creating for a brand-new audience. Having the voice cast behind these special characters come together is one of the essential pieces to making the show recognizable and we can’t wait to watch this talented group bring them to life again."

Check out the first look at the new Rugrats series coming to Paramount+ below. The series comes to the service this spring. What do you think about the new animation style?

KEEP READING: Nickelodeon Is Expanding the 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Universe with New Streaming Movies & Shows

Mattel and Nickelodeon Team Up to Reboot ‘Monster High’ With a Live-Action Musical and a New Animated Series

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:30:41 +0000

Mattel and Nickelodeon are looking to make a graveyard smash together. Monster High, Mattel’s toy line centering around the daughters of classic monsters (think Frankie Stein, Draculaura, and Clawdeen Wolf), is returning from the grave with two new projects for television.

Deadline reports that Mattel and Nickelodeon are teaming up to develop a two-fold Monster High reboot — both as a live-action TV musical feature film, and a brand new animated series.

The TV movie will be written by Jenny Jaffe (Big Hero 6), Greg Erb, and Jason Oremland (Princess and the Frog), while the Shea Fontana (DC Superhero Girls) will serve as showrunner for the animated series. Per Deadline, the animated series will follow the characters “as they navigate the hilarity of high school in the hallowed halls of Monster High.”

This will be the first time that Monster High will make its live-action debut, though it’s not the first Hollywood attempt to bring these ghoulish teens to life. Universal had long been attempting to develop a live-action feature adaptation of Monster High, first hiring Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar before signing Gossip Girl creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage to steer the big-screen adaptation in 2013. The project fell apart, however, and the world was left without Monster High for a few more years.

But now Monster High is coming back to life for a new generation — which is strange to say, since the Mattel toy line was only launched in 2010 and spawned a variety of animated projects over the years. But the kids that grew up on Monster High have probably graduated by now, leaving a new class ready for the teen Monsters again.

“These classic monsters have always captured kids’ imaginations and we are so excited and proud to welcome Monster High to our brand for a new generation of kids,” said Ramsey Naito, President of Nickelodeon Animation. “We have terrific partners on board at Mattel to create original content in different formats, and, with the expertise of the Nick creative team helmed by Claudia Spinelli on the animation development side, and Zack Olin and Shauna Phelan on the live-action side, we can’t wait to showcase the comedy and adventure of these characters as they defy expectations and take on the world.”

“Monster High’s strong message of inclusivity is more relevant than ever,” added Fred Soulie, General Manager, Mattel Television. “Nickelodeon shares our passion for the brand and its purpose having worked on the franchise when it first launched more than a decade ago. They are the ideal partners to bring these beloved characters and their stories to life through episodic television and the live-action television movie.”

Both of these Monster High projects are set to premiere on Nickelodeon in 2022.

The post Mattel and Nickelodeon Team Up to Reboot ‘Monster High’ With a Live-Action Musical and a New Animated Series appeared first on /Film.

Spider-Man: No Way Home Has Marvel's Most Impressive Fight Scene Ever Insists Tom Holland

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:27:40 +0000

A particular Spider-Man 3 fight sequence is like nothing audiences have ever seen before, says Tom Holland.

Mission Impossible 7 & Quiet Place 2 To Stream 45 Days After Theaters

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:25:09 +0000

Two of 2021's most anticipated movies, Mission Impossible 7 and A Quiet Place Part II, will go to Paramount + 45 days after their theater release. The new streaming service from ViacomCBS, which owns Paramount Pictures, launches on March 4 and is expected to become the home of all Paramount movies going forward. Besides Top Gun: Maverick, MI7 and A Quiet Place Part II are two of Paramount's biggest 2021 releases.

The Tom Cruise vehicle is currently shooting, although Mission Impossible 7 and 8 won't shoot back-to-back anymore due to Cruise's promotional commitments, while the horror sequel was set for release in early 2020 and is sitting on the shelf currently. Both movies were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, though the John Krasinski-directed, A Quiet Place Part II was hit worse, getting delayed just weeks before release and getting repeatedly delayed until it finally landed on a September release date. Mission Impossible 7, meanwhile, is now scheduled for a November release, just months after Cruise's Top Gun: Maverick drops this summer. Now we know when, and where, both of those movies will be available to stream once their theatrical release is complete.

At today's CBS Investor Day, Paramount Pictures CEO, Jim Gianopulos, announced that both Mission Impossible 7 and A Quiet Place Part II will be released straight to the company's new streaming service, Paramount+, just 45 days after their theatrical debut. That puts A Quiet Place Part II on the service in October, while Mission Impossible 7 will be available on Paramount+ around Christmas time. This is a departure from the normal theatrical release schedule, which usually ensures a minimum of 90 days between release in theaters and availability on streaming or VOD.

The shortened theatrical window isn't a surprise, however. Warner Bros. smashed that window for 2021, announcing all of their movies would be released on HBO Max on the same day as in theaters, and there was speculation that Paramount would do the same. However, this announcement confirms that they still believe the theatrical release is worth it, even with the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, but also that they want to make Paramount+, the CBS All Access replacement, as attractive as possible for potential subscribers.

By promising that two of their biggest releases in Mission Impossible 7 and A Quiet Place Part II, will be exclusive to the service in 2021, they're hoping to attract blockbuster fans. It's a less aggressive approach to streaming than WB, and probably a smarter one, as the studio will want to keep its relationship with theaters, given it doesn't have the same kind of content catalogue that WB does to fall back on.

Next: Everything We Know About A Quiet Place 2

Source: Viacom CBS Investor Day

Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra to Expand With Avatar Studios

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:24:15 +0000

The shared universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra is about to get a lot bigger. Nickelodeon has established Avatar Studios, a brand-new content division dedicated to expanding the beloved franchise with animated shows and movies for streaming and linear platforms as well as theatrical releases. The studio's first project will be a theatrical film set to begin production later this year.

In an official press release, original series creators and executive producers Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino said, “It’s hard to believe it’s been 19 years since we created Avatar: The Last Airbender. But even after all that time, there are still many stories and time periods in Aang’s world that we are eager to bring to life. We are fortunate to have an ever-growing community of passionate fans that enjoys exploring the Avatarverse as much as we do. And with this new Avatar Studios venture we have an unparalleled opportunity to develop our franchise and its storytelling on a vast scale, in myriad exciting ways and mediums.”

“Avatar: The Last Airbender and Korra have grown at least ten-fold in popularity since their original hit runs on Nickelodeon, and [Nickelodeon Animation President] Ramsey Naito and I are incredibly excited to have Mike and Bryan’s genius talent on board to helm a studio devoted to expanding their characters and world into new content and formats for fans everywhere,” said Brian Robbins, President, ViacomCBS Kids & Family. “Creator-driven stories and characters have long been the hallmarks of Nickelodeon, and Avatar Studios is a way to give Mike and Bryan the resources and runway to open up their imaginations even more and dive deeper into the action and mythology of Avatar as we simultaneously expand upon that world and the world of content available on Paramount+ and Nickelodeon.”

Despite a disastrous live-action film adaptation in 2010, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra have maintained a massive fanbase that will no doubt be delighted by the news that Konietzko and DiMartino will be involved in a slate of new Avatar animated projects. The pair had initially been attached to a live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender for Netflix before departing the project citing creative differences last year.

KEEP READING: CBS All Access Adds Viacom Content Like Nickelodeon’s ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’

A Quiet Place 2 And Mission: Impossible 7 Will Be Going To Streaming A Lot Sooner Than Expected

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:14:00 +0000

Some massive news about some of the most exciting films coming later in 2021.

Beavis and Butthead to Return for Paramount+ Movie

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:08:33 +0000

New advertising pitch for Zoom: So simple to use, even Beavis and Butthead have figured it out.

As part of a landslide of announcements today related to its upcoming launch (landslide, get it? because the logo is a mountain?) it was revealed that the animated sniggering duo which became an iconic part of MTV's lineup in the 1990s would be coming back on Paramount+. This will of course be the second film featuring Beavis and Butthead, following 1996's Beavis and Butthead Do America.

Mike Judge created Beavis and Butthead in 1992, well before creating cult-favorite films like Office Space and Idiocracy (the fact that the same guy who made Idiocracy also created Beavis and Butthead is something that really makes you think).

Prior to today's announcement, Comedy Central had previously announced a two-season deal for a reboot, with Judge involved as writer, producer, and voice actor. Details are currently scarce on this new film (though we'll update this post as soon as we know more) but it seems like a safe bet that Judge is involved with this new project.

No word yet on when this film might be planned for release — or if we might expect similar good news regarding Beavis spin-off series Daria. But you'll be able to watch the classic Beavis and Butthead series when Paramount+ launches on March 4. Watch the announcement below.

KEEP READING: Nine to Five: 'Silicon Valley', Mike Judge, and the Workplace Comedy

Tracy Morgan Almost Played Eddie Murphy's Son in Coming 2 America, But It Just Wasn't Right

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:06:46 +0000

Tracy Morgan was originally meant to play Eddie Murphy's son in Coming 2 America.

Avatar Studios Launched To Create More New TV Shows & Movies

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:06:07 +0000

Nickelodeon announces the creation of Avatar Studios, a division designed to create more content for the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon's Avatar only ran for three seasons from 2005 to 2008, but its popularity is currently bigger than ever. The animated series is centered on Aang, the titular last airbender who stands as his world's last hope for peace. Over the years, it has been praised for its inventive world-building, well-written character arcs, and its appeal to fans both young and old. The success of Avatar later led to a sequel series, The Legend of Korra, and a live-action film that was widely panned by critics and fans.

Last year, Avatar's Netflix debut helped the series reach an entirely new audience and propelled it to brand new heights. Reports have indicated Avatar was Netflix's most-watched animated kids' show in 2020, and The Legend of Korra made quite a splash too. As a result, there has been renewed interest in new content from Aang's world. Netflix is currently in development on their own live-action Avatar series, but updates have been relatively slow to come. It also suffered a blow when the show's original creators departed over creative differences. Now, there's a major development in the Avatar realm - but it isn't coming from Netflix.

Nickelodeon has established Avatar Studios, a new division that will create original content spanning animated shows and movies set within the world of The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. Avatar's original creators, Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino, will serve co-chief creative officers, and they will report to Nickelodeon Animation head Ramsey Naito. It's said Avatar Studios will create content for a variety of platforms, including Paramount+, Nickelodeon, third-party platforms, and theaters. Konietzko and DiMartino said in a statement:

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 19 years since we created Avatar: The Last Airbender. But even after all that time, there are still many stories and time periods in Aang’s world that we are eager to bring to life. We are fortunate to have an ever-growing community of passionate fans that enjoys exploring the Avatarverse as much as we do. And with this new Avatar Studios venture we have an unparalleled opportunity to develop our franchise and its storytelling on a vast scale, in myriad exciting ways and mediums. We are exceedingly grateful to Brian Robbins and Ramsey Naito for their enthusiasm and respect for the Avatar property and us as its stewards. From the start, they’ve supported our ambitious plans and created a positive, proactive environment for us. We’re excited to be back at Nickelodeon where Avatar began, doing what we do best in the biggest way possible. We can’t wait to build the great teams and productions to make all of this fantasy a reality.”

The first project to emerge from Avatar Studios will be a brand new animated theatrical film, which is expected to go into production later this year. No plot details have been given so far. Nevertheless, it's clear there are plenty of story opportunities present within the Avatar universe, and this new venture will explore as many as possible. The promise of additional animated shows is especially promising, since that's where the Avatar brand originated.

What's particularly interesting about the creation of Avatar Studios is Konietzko and DiMartino's involvement. Fans were disappointed last summer when the two exited Netflix's live-action Avatar series over creative differences. At the time, Konietzko indicated he and DiMartino would still be working inside the Avatar universe, and it looks like this is what he was referring to. Their inclusion in Avatar Studios promises the content that emerges from it will be true to the original spirit of Avatar, and that it will be the stories they wish to tell. What this means for Netflix's adaptation remains to be seen, but on the surface, it looks like Avatar Studios is the more natural way forward for the franchise. Either way, there is plenty of content ahead.

More: Last Airbender: Every Confirmed Avatar That Came Before Aang

Source: Nickelodeon

How Feedback Changed Diablo Immortal According To Blizzard

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:04:45 +0000

While Diablo Immortal continues its development, the team at Blizzard has been hard at work implementing changes based on fan feedback, using a deeply involved system to ensure any consistent complaints are at least heard if not addressed outright. Diablo Immortal is the upcoming mobile title from Blizzard that's set within the larger universe of Diablo, and despite a rocky reception initially, it's still a game plenty of people are interested in seeing succeed.

That's at least partially because of the fondness with which many fans remember Diablo, a series that laid the foundation for so many grim fantasy settings in future hits from other developers. With Diablo 4 now a reality and the burden of being the only Diablo title in the works now lifted off its shoulders, Diablo Immortal has been given room to breathe and adapt. With Diablo Immortal's Technical Alpha period now over, fans have been wondering if any major changes will be getting made, or how much of their feedback is being heard by the development team.

During a group interview for Diablo Immortal attended by Screen Rant, Lead Game Producer Caleb Arseneaux and Technical Game Designer Kris Zierhut helped elaborate on just how Diablo Immortal would change based on feedback. Both developers gave clear, precise insight into the process that's going on behind the scenes in Diablo Immortal, indicating a refined process that has emerged out of Technical Alpha feedback - one that, according to Arseneaux, meant the team looked at "every single piece of feedback" it received:

"At the end of our Technical Alpha, we looked at every single piece of feedback we got. There's a few different channels of it. One, there is an in-game feedback tool, which allowed any player to capture screenshots or video, type up some feedback, and send it in. That actually went directly to a a project tracking system we had inside Blizzard, and then our production team and Quality Assurance team actually went through and pulled all of those over, and our Design Team, and we went through them all. We basically did a summit where we had all the team on a Zoom, and I was sharing my screen, and we just went line-by-line.
When you look at that feedback, we're trying to look for trends. Not just anecdotes. Some people might have a really easy time fighting a boss, and another person is having a difficult time, but they're the same class. So we have to make a judgment call on what the experience is going to be, weighing all that different feedback. But we try to look for trends. So, people weren't tagging monsters when they thought they should be able to tag monsters and get credit for them. That was a trend we saw over a bunch of different feedback from many players. In the end, we do have to make a judgment call, but we really do value that kind of feedback, especially when we see clear trends over multiple players. And we're also looking at Reddit and other community channels to get anecdotes and other feedback from there, as well."

Arseneaux's answer highlights just how much the team behind Diablo Immortal prioritizes fan feedback. While being careful not to suggest that every complaint will result in a change, Arseneaux did acknowledge that the team had a solid system in place for determining things that needed looking at or outright changing, suggesting that trends were key in highlighting issues that might affect a large number of players. Zierhut broke the discussion down even further, providing a specific example of how fan feedback directly resulted in changes made to Diablo Immortal:

"Another trend we were seeing was complaints that the Wizard class felt underpowered, that it wasn't playing the way people wanted to. A lot of people, the way they want to play Wizards, is they want to 'Kite.' So they get a big monster, the hard elites, and they get chased, avoiding damage while controlling these monsters. And Wizard just wasn't really cutting it at doing that. And we identified that one of the core ways the Wizard controls monsters is by chilling them, so they move more slowly. And the chill effects from the Wizard just weren't strong enough. So you would chill something, and by the time you go to do the next attack, it's already caught up with you again. So we made all the chill effects from the Wizard class stronger so monsters would be slowed down even more, and we also redesigned the ability Ray of Frost.
Now, instead of chilling the monster when they get hit, Ray of Frost beam is more effective based on how long a monster is hit. They move slower and slower, and that lets you use Ray of Frost to slow them down and get some distance to hit them with combos like Scorch and Arcane Wind to cause an Inferno that kills the monster. Before, it was too hard to pull that off. We saw the feedback, and then we tried to understand what was causing the Wizard to feel underpowered by looking for where the problems were that class was having, and then make specific changes to help the class feel better."

Zierhut's answer, while obviously particularly great for fans of the Wizard class, shows that the team has been tweaking with very small features in-game to produce big effects. The team first identified that players felt Wizards were underpowered, then noted it was because of the way they perceived the Wizard class' role, before finally finding out where the biggest disconnect was for fans and solving it.

It's pretty clear by now that Diablo Immortal is not a NetEase reskin, but answers from the developers like these show just how much fan feedback matters. Those giving the game a chance haven't been hesitant in making their voices heard, and it's working, meaning that anyone who wants Diablo Immortal to be a good game should take opportunities to try it during testing - they may be the catalyst for the fix that pushes the game from good to great, or great to truly special.

Next: Diablo 4’s Confirmed Classes Explained

Diablo Immortal is currently in development for Android and iOS mobile devices.

Bachelor: Fans Call Rachael’s Skydiving Crash A Staged Plan By Producers

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:02:35 +0000

Hometown dates are one of the most anticipated episodes by fans each season of The Bachelor. But this week, a skydiving date gone wrong had viewers gasping. One of Matt James’ frontrunners, Rachael Kirkconnell, endured a rough landing that had fans thinking production recklessly endangered one of the show’s contestants.

This week, Matt met Rachael’s family. But before that, the couple had a date doing a tandem skydiving jump. The Bachelor franchise has featured many thrill-seeking dates, but this one ended badly. Matt landed comfortably on the ground after the jump, but Rachael face-planted into the cold Pennsylvania dirt. Though Rachael has been under fire for racist behavior, fans still didn’t want to see her injured, especially if it was on purpose.

Fans on Reddit quickly thought the landing was suspicious and suspected it might not have been an accident. One commenter even thought production “could have slipped the guy a twenty to add some drama.” It’s a shocking allegation, but not entirely unfounded, as fans have felt a lot of the drama on Matt’s season has been heavily produced. There’s no actual evidence that Bachelor producers paid off the tandem skydiving instructor for a crash landing, but fans still think the theory has merit.

On a skydiving Reddit thread, experienced skydivers thought the landing was “100% canopy pilot error,” and claim the tandem instructor crashed on purpose. “This joker hooked a lady in on TV. May he be shamed for the rest of his days,” one user commented. Many pointed to how young the instructor looked, questioning his experience level. Other skydiving enthusiasts with insider information revealed that the tandem instructor was badly injured in the landing and was on crutches for some time after.

The producers probably didn’t pay off the tandem instructor, but it does seem they might have put Rachael in an unsafe situation. This also wouldn’t be the first time producers have been accused of mistreating cast members. Bachelorette contestant Dylan Barbour blasted production for being manipulative and controlling of the cast. Viewers have felt Matt’s season is overproduced and that may explain why they think producers had a role in Rachael’s crash landing.

The crash was rough on Rachael, but in the moment, it seemed to bring her closer to Matt. The Bachelor frontrunner has been heavily criticized by fans for her behavior off the show, but Rachael has since apologized and the painful crash could have won her some sympathy with the viewers. Fans may take issue with Rachael, but they agree putting her in real physical danger is a step too far.

Next: Bachelor: Fans Think Rachael Looks Like Rebecca Black & These Celebs

The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 pm ET on ABC.

Source: Skydiving Reddit, Bachelor Reddit

Why Display Makes Galaxy A51 Samsung's Best Mid-Range Phone

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:01:58 +0000

Samsung customers looking for a good mid-range smartphone still can't do much better than the Galaxy A51, largely because of the display. That's saying a lot, considering the sheer number of options the world's number one smartphone seller offers. Here's why the Galaxy A51's screen makes it stand out from the rest and deserves the status of best Samsung mid-range phone.

The Galaxy A51 was released back in 2019 while the 5G model came out the following year. Both phones run on Samsung's own Exynos octa-core chipsets, have quad-lens rear camera systems and are available in the U.S. with 128GB of storage. The A51 has 4GB of RAM and the 5G model comes with 6GB. Samsung also released the more-advanced A71 line in 2020 and while most of its specs are better, the display is basically the same.

Both the Galaxy A51 and A51 5G feature a 6.5-inch FHD+ (2,400 x 1,080) Super AMOLED display. This is the same resolution as the Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays found on this year's flagship Galaxy S21 and S21+. Granted, the S21 series offers other advancements here. For example, the S21 and S21+ have refresh rates of up to 120Hz, while the A51 line is stuck at 60Hz. This means the S21 phones have smoother video playback and are quicker to respond. However, since the resolution is the same, the image quality and color depth on the A51 will still be comparable. Not to mention, its successor, the Galaxy A71 has a similar type of display. It is o.2 inches bigger and uses Super AMOLED Plus technology, but it is still a 60Hz FHD+ screen.

One of the best features of the A51 series is the price. Samsung is currently selling the Galaxy A51 unlocked for $399.99 and the 5G model costs $100 more. A mid-range phone of this quality for under $400 is quite a good deal. While they're not premium devices, many of their other features likely won't disappoint either. The A51 and A51 5G are powered by Exynos chipsets, with clock speeds up to 2.3 GHz and 2.2 GHz, respectively. The quad-lens camera system on both phones consists of a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 5-megapixel macro and 5-megapixel depth camera. They can also shoot 4K video at 30fps and HD video at up to 120fps. In addition, each phone boasts a 32-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies.

For consumers who want a little more luxury, Samsung's Galaxy A71 5G is also a worthwhile choice. It is equal, if not superior to, the A51 series in pretty much every respect. The A71 5G runs a little bit faster (its CPU has a clock speed of up to 2.4GHz), has a 64-megapixel wide-angle lens and comes with 6GB of RAM. However, the Galaxy A71 is priced at $599, making it more expensive than both A51 models. All in all, Samsung's A51 and A71 lines are great choices for consumers looking to purchase a good-quality mid-range phone at a reasonable price.

Next: All The Samsung Devices That Will Get Four Years Of Security Updates

Source: Samsung

‘Mission: Impossible 7’, ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ and More Will Stream on Paramount+ 45 Days After Theatrical Debut

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:00:49 +0000

Universal Pictures has already been shaking up the exclusive theatrical release window by sending their smaller and midrange theatrically released titles to VOD just 17 days after they hit the big screen. Then Warner Bros. Pictures came along and took things a step further by releasing all of their 2021 theatrical movies simultaneously on HBO Max for 31 days. Now Paramount Pictures is the latest to shorten the time their movies spend exclusively in theaters.

As part of a Viacom CBS investor day presentation today, Paramount Pictures announced that they will be sending blockbusters such as Mission: Impossible 7, A Quiet Place Part II, and Top Gun: Maverick to the recently rebranded streaming service just 45 days after they’ve hit theaters.

Variety announced the change in Paramount Pictures’ theatrical windows for their major blockbusters. Top Gun: Maverick is slated to hit theaters on July 2, 2021, followed by A Quiet Place Part II on September 17, 2021, and Mission: Impossible 7 on November 19, 2021, and they will all arrive on Paramount+ just 45 days after those dates. Paramount Pictures CEO Jim Gianopulos said, “Audiences are changing in their habits and we want to make sure that these films are available when they’re fresh after a full theatrical run.”

Among the recent changes in theatrical windows at some of the major studios, this one is certainly much more generous to movie theaters. It still cuts the traditional 90-day theatrical window in half, but it’s nearly three times as long as Universal’s shortened window, and nowhere near what Warner Bros. Pictures is trying out with HBO Max. Though the aforementioned blockbusters will have 45-day theatrical windows, many of Paramount’s releases will actually have 30-day theatrical windows. Unfortunately, a comprehensive list of which movies will be receiving this treatment was not made available at this time.

Paramount’s movies will also be arriving a little earlier than usual on the pay TV front as well. The studio struck a new deal with Epix to make many of their theatrical releases available for an exclusive 90-day window on EPIX before they eventually become available on Paramount+. Keep in mind that this is different from a movie being made available sooner on VOD. The pay TV window comes after the theatrical and VOD releases. In the case of the aforementioned blockbuster titles, Paramount+ will have those movies available to stream before that, but it’s not clear if they will also end up on EPIX at a later time.

MGM is also getting cozy Paramount+ in addition to expanding their previous deal with EPIX. Upcoming MGM movies like the James Bond sequel No Time to Die and Creed III will not have a shortened theatrical window before heading to streaming. However, they will head to pay TV on EPIX a little earlier than usual with the same 90-day exclusive window that Paramount Pictures movies will get. After that window is up, MGM’s movies will then be made available to stream on Paramount+.

I think it’s safe to say that the coronavirus pandemic has changed the theatrical release model forever. But it remains to be seen how theaters will deal with these changes once the coronavirus pandemic has been squashed and movie exhibitors are running at full capacity again.

The post ‘Mission: Impossible 7’, ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ and More Will Stream on Paramount+ 45 Days After Theatrical Debut appeared first on /Film.

Tom Holland Says His Spider-Man Contract Is Up After Spider-Man: No Way Home

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 23:59:27 +0000

Spider-Man: No Way Home starring Tom Holland doesn’t hit theaters until this December, but already fans are wondering if this might be the end of the road for Holland’s Peter Parker. Indeed, the past two franchises saw Tobey Maguire tapping out after three movies and Andrew Garfield only getting to make two, but Holland is in a unique position in that the Marvel Studios/Sony Pictures deal has allowed him to not only lead his own Spider-Man movies, but also make impactful supporting turns in MCU movies like Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War.

So when Collider’s own Steve Weintraub spoke with Holland during the press day for his new film Cherry, he asked the actor if he’s under contract for any additional Spider-Man movies past Spider-Man 3, and Holland revealed that his contract is up after this movie – but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to hang up the suit:

“[Spider-Man 3] would be my last one [under contract] so I’ve always said to them if they want me back I’ll be there in a heartbeat. I’ve loved every minute of being a part of this amazing world. It’s changed my life for the better, I’m so lucky to be here. If they want me back I’ll be there, if they don’t I will walk off into the sunset a very, very happy person because it’s been an amazing journey.”

For a brief moment there, Holland was almost out of the MCU when talks broke down between Marvel and Sony after Spider-Man: Far From Home was released. The deal between the two studios for the first two Spider-Man movies was unprecedented, with Marvel Studios taking creative lead while Sony distributed the film and reaped most of the profits. Holland was credited with helping bring the two studios back together for Spider-Man 3, and he said during our interview that as he understands it, the deal they worked out for Spider-Man: No Way Home prevents any future negotiation breakdowns between Marvel and Sony. So if a Spider-Man 4 were to happen, they wouldn’t have to bridge that gap again:

“The way I understand it is that agreement between the two studios has already happened. I don’t think that they’re going to run into the same troubles that they did as we were going into… was it ‘Spider-Man 2’? ‘Far from Home’ had come out and then the whole thing happened between Sony and Marvel. I think the two studios have worked that out, and I don’t think that that will be a problem in the future. That said, I’m just the actor and I was a part of a few phone calls during that process, but I think they love working with each other, I think they found a way in which it can be beneficial for both studios, and I’m just kind of like a kid in the middle of it, between two parents during an argument (laughs).”

Indeed, the deal between Marvel and Sony now sees Disney/Marvel co-financing 25% of Spider-Man 3 for a 25% equity stake, and it also called for at least one more Spider-Man appearance n a future Disney/Marvel movie.

So will Tom Holland Spider-Man movies continue? Back in 2017, Holland said that Spider-Man: Homecoming was the start of a planned trilogy, and already director Jon Watts – who has helmed all three movies – has been announced as the director of Marvel’s upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, so it appears that Watts will be moving on. It’s possible Holland takes a cue from Robert Downey Jr. who segued to co-starring and supporting MCU roles after Iron Man 3, but again the Sony of it all complicates matters here. These Spider-Man movies make a lot of money, so one imagines that unlike the previous attempts at bringing the webslinger to the screen, they’ll see this one hasn’t run out of steam just yet and might be keen on making Spider-Man 4 happen.

That’s still a ways off, but at least we know that Holland is game to keep playing Spider-Man for as long as Sony and Marvel want to keep making Spider-Man movies.

Look for our full interview with Holland on Collider soon.

KEEP READING: Upcoming Superhero Movie Release Dates: From 2021 to 2023 and Beyond