New Photo - Inside the “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” Cast Lives, Nearly 50 Years Since the Series Ended

Inside the “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” Cast Lives, Nearly 50 Years Since the Series Ended Victoria Edel, Emily KrauserThu, May 14, 2026 at 10:15 AM UTC 0 Clockwise from top left: Ted Knight as Ted Baxter, Gavin MacLeod as Murray Slaughter, Ed Asner as Lou Grant, Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, Georgia Engel as Georgette Franklin Baxter and Betty White as Sue Ann Nivens on season 6 of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'Credit: Everett The Mary Tyler Moore Show ran on CBS for seven seasons from 1970 to 1977 The beloved sitcom was one of the most influential shows of all time and had a lasting impact ...

Inside the “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” Cast Lives, Nearly 50 Years Since the Series Ended

Victoria Edel, Emily KrauserThu, May 14, 2026 at 10:15 AM UTC

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Clockwise from top left: Ted Knight as Ted Baxter, Gavin MacLeod as Murray Slaughter, Ed Asner as Lou Grant, Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, Georgia Engel as Georgette Franklin Baxter and Betty White as Sue Ann Nivens on season 6 of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'
Credit: Everett -

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ran on CBS for seven seasons from 1970 to 1977

The beloved sitcom was one of the most influential shows of all time and had a lasting impact on women

Starring late actress Mary Tyler Moore, Gavin MacLeod and Ed Asner, the series won 29 Emmy Awards

Despite ending nearly five decades ago, The Mary Tyler Moore Show remains one of the most influential shows of all time.

The beloved CBS sitcom starred the late Mary Tyler Moore, who could turn the world on with her smile, as Mary Richards, a producer for WJM-TV in Minneapolis.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ran for seven seasons from 1970 to 1977 and won a whopping 29 Emmy Awards — a record at the time.

"The producers and writers wanted to go on to other things. And at the time, it was incumbent on me to profess absolute belief that this was the smart thing to do to go off while we were ahead and on top, but I was crumbling inside," Moore told the Television Academy in 1977 of the series ending. "I didn't want it to end. Again, it was my family."

Following her life alongside her friends and coworkers in the newsroom, Moore ushered in a new era for women on primetime TV. With a massive feminist legacy, the half-hour sitcom centering on a single, independent working woman wasn't commonplace on the small screen at the time.

It has since gained new fans in syndication and via streaming. The show also spawned three official spinoffs throughout the 1970s and 1980s based on its primary characters, including Rhoda, Phyllis and Lou Grant, before launching the 2000 reunion TV movie Mary and Rhoda.

Moore, along with the rest of the cast, made it after all. Look back on where their lives took them after The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended.

01 of 09

Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards

From left: Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' in 1974; Mary Tyler Moore attends the Broadway Barks! 14 Pet Adoption event at Shubert Alley in New York City on July 14, 2012
Credit: CBS via Getty; Andy Kropa/Getty

Moore began leading The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1970, four years after her starring role as Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show. The show was produced by her company MTM Enterprises, which was behind many successful TV series, including The Bob Newhart Show, Remington Steele and St. Elsewhere, as well as the Mary Tyler Moore Show spinoffs Rhoda, Phyllis and Lou Grant.

Her TV alter ego, Mary Richards, wasn't that different from the real Moore.

Portraying a single woman happened, in part, because she didn't want to play another wife as she did in the role of Laura, and CBS didn't want the titular character to be divorced.

"I never went the actors' studio route. I'm not an actress who can create a character. I play me. I'm scared that if I tamper with it, I might ruin it," she told PEOPLE in 1974.

Moore ended up with eight Emmy nominations and four wins for her work on the series. After The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended in 1977, she moved to New York City, where she found success on Broadway in shows like Whose Life Is It Anyway?, for which she won a special Tony Award, and Noises Off. MTM Enterprises also produced the Tony-winning revival Joe Egg.

In 1981, she received an Oscar nomination and won a Golden Globe for her role in the Robert Redford-directed 1980 film Ordinary People.

Moore was first married at age 18 to producer Richard Meeker. The couple wed in 1955 and welcomed son Richie the following year, but divorced in 1961. In the fall of 1980, Moore's son Richie died in a gun accident at age 24.

She was married to her second husband, Grant Tinker, from 1962 to 1981. During their marriage, after a miscarriage, she learned she was diabetic. Moore also struggled with alcoholism. Among her health ailments over the years was also a meningioma, a slow-growing benign brain tumor she had surgery for in 2011.

In 1982, Moore was visiting her mother in the hospital when she met Dr. Robert Levine, 18 years her junior. They wed in November 1983 and were together until her death.

Levine encouraged Moore to go to rehab at the Betty Ford Center. She remained sober for the rest of her life and spoke publicly about diabetes and alcoholism. The couple also founded the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative to prevent diabetic retinal disease, which she ultimately suffered from.

Moore later guest-starred on The Ellen Show, That '70s Show , Lipstick Jungle andHot in Cleveland. The latter, which featured her Mary Tyler Moore Show costar Betty White, was her final credited role.

In 1995, she published a memoir, After All, in which she dived into her past.

She told PEOPLE at the time, "To be able to write about these things now opens up chambers that aren't well-lit otherwise."

Moore died at the age of 80 in January 2017. Levine told PEOPLE in May 2023 that he still watched The Mary Tyler Moore Show to remember his wife, saying, "I cry. I laugh. I'm just bowled over by how extraordinary she was."

02 of 09

Ed Asner as Lou Grant

From left: Ed Asner as Lou Grant on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' in 1975; Ed Asner visits Hallmark's 'Home & Family' at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, Calif., on May 21, 2019
Credit: CBS via Getty; Paul Archuleta/Getty

Ed Asner played producer Lou Grant on the series, and the essence of his character came through on the show's very first episode when he told Mary Richards, "You got spunk … I hate spunk."

Asner won three Emmys for the show, plus another for the 1976 miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man and his role on the 1977 seminal miniseries Roots. In 1978, he led his own Mary Tyler Moore Show spinoff, Lou Grant, which saw the character lead a Los Angeles newspaper. He won two more Emmys for that show, which ran from 1977 to 1982, and Asner holds the record for most Emmy wins for a male actor.

The series provided a steadiness he otherwise struggled to find.

"For the first time, I don't have to run to the phone every 15 minutes to see if I still have a career," he told PEOPLE in 1978. "Professionally, I'm in the catbird seat."

Asner remained good friends with his castmates and continued to work after The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended, including as a voice actor. He received two Grammy nominations for audiobook performances and voiced characters on ‘90s cartoons like Spider-Man, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Gargoyles and Batman: The Animated Series.

He also famously voiced the main role of Carl Fredricksen in Pixar's Up (2009) and played Santa Claus in Elf(2003). His later roles included Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Good Wife, Dead to Me and Cobra Kai, as well as the animated series Central Park. In 2001, Asner received the Actors Award (f.k.a. SAG Awards) Life Achievement Award.

Asner was married to Nancy Lou Sykes from 1959 to 1988. They shared children: Matthew, Liza and Kate. In 1987, he welcomed a son, Charles, with Carol Jean Vogelman. He married producer Cindy Gilmore in 1998. She filed for legal separation in 2007, and he filed for divorce in 2015.

Asner died of natural causes at his home in Tarzana, Calif., in August 2021. He was 91.

03 of 09

Gavin MacLeod as Murray Slaughter

From left: Gavin MacLeod as Murray Slaughter on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' in 1974; Gavin MacLeod at the seventh annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose celebrity tournament fundraiser at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Aug. 8, 2019
Credit: CBS via Getty; Michael Tullberg/Getty

Gavin MacLeod portrayed WJM-TV's news writer Murray Slaughter. He and Moore were the only characters to appear on every episode of the series.

He immediately transitioned from one hit series to another when he was cast as Captain Merrill Stubing on The Love Boat, which premiered in 1977 and ran until 1986.

MacLeod told PEOPLE in 1978 he didn't spend time feeling sad about his old job being over, saying, "When something's over, forget it. I don't miss it at all. We were close. But I don't miss my ex-wife either."

The actor had over 300 TV roles before he landed his major shows.

"Being an underdog and coming out a winner gives any human being satisfaction," he said of his career. "I'm doing exactly what I want. I give thanks all the time."

MacLeod's later on-screen appearances included Oz, Touched by an Angel and The Suite Life on Deck. In 2013, MacLeod released a memoir, This Is Your Captain Speaking: My Fantastic Voyage Through Hollywood, Faith & Life.

He and his first wife Joan F. Rootvik, whom he met when she was a Rockette, shared four children: Keith, David, Julie and Meghan. They divorced in 1972. He was then married to Patti Kendig from 1974 to 1982. The actor and Kendig both became evangelical Christians, which they said led them back to each other, and the two remarried in 1985.

MacLeod died in May 2021 at age 90.

04 of 09

Valerie Harper as Rhoda Morgenstern

From left: Valerie Harper as Rhoda Morgenstern on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' in 1974; Valerie Harper visits 'Extra' at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, Calif., on May 10, 2016
Credit: Bettmann Archive; Noel Vasquez/Getty

Valerie Harper played Rhoda, Mary Richards' best friend.

She won three successive Emmys for the series before starring in her own spinoff, Rhoda, in 1974.

"I thought I'd feel a dark, quiet moment of self-hatred, that I'd be saying 'You can't do it, you're not a star' and you know it," she told PEOPLE at the time about getting her own series. "I'm not a star. I simply have a wonderful job."

Harper added of taking the leap to start a new show, "Maybe I'm a fool. I was so comfortable with Mary. We are the best of friends in real life, too, and she'll only be three stages away at CBS."

The actress wasn't a fool — Rhoda became a success, running for four years and earning her another Emmy.

She starred in the 1979 movie Chapter Two, which earned her a Golden Globe nod, and on two seasons of the sitcom Valerie. After she was fired from the show, it was eventually renamed The Hogan Family.

Harper later appeared on episodes of Touched by an Angel, Melrose Place, Sex and the City, That '70s Show and Desperate Housewives, as well as in the iconic 1994 TV movie Death of a Cheerleader. She also competed on season 17 of Dancing with the Stars.

After beginning her career as a Broadway dancer and appearing in multiple shows from the 1950s to 1970s, she returned to the stage in the mid-1990s. In 2010, she received a Tony nomination for her role in Looped.

Harper was married to Richard Schaal from 1964 to 1978. In 1987, she married Tony Cacciotti, with whom she had one child, daughter Cristina.

In 2013, Harper went public with news that she had been diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare form of cancer. Doctors told her it was incurable and that she could die in as little as three months.

She would later also be diagnosed with lung and brain cancer.

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" 'Incurable' is such a concise word," the New York native told PEOPLE at the time. "I was terrified."

Eventually, her thinking shifted, saying, "Cancer makes real what we try to obscure from ourselves. We spend our lifetimes thinking, 'I'm never going to die.' But cancer says, 'Hey, not so fast.' "

"I don't think of dying. I think of being here now," she added. "I think, 'I don't want to go.' But I give myself room to grieve. I give myself the space to be sad or angry, and then it passes, and I can get back to eating ice cream, which I've been doing by the pint."

Despite her prognosis, Harper underwent treatment, and four years later, she checked in with PEOPLE again.

"I've had a good run," she said. "I've tried to embrace every single day. What more can I ask for?"

Two years later, Harper died in August 2019 at the age of 80.

05 of 09

Ted Knight as Ted Baxter

From left: Ted Knight as Ted Baxter on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' in 1974; Ted Knight attends the 12th annual People's Choice Awards at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, Calif., on March 11, 1986
Credit: CBS Photo Archive/Getty; Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ted Knight portrayed the vain, untalented newscaster Ted Baxter and received six Emmy nominations for his role, winning once.

He told PEOPLE in 1977 that he rejected an offer to do a spinoff, saying, "I love the guy ... but who could take Ted Baxter for 30 minutes each week?"

Knight did reprise his role, in a way, in a series of regional commercials and on the short-lived The Ted Knight Show.

"I was talked into that series by my avarice," he told PEOPLE in 1982. "I was tickled when it went off the air."

Knight also guest-starred on The Love Boat and appeared in the 1980 movie Caddyshack.

The actor then starred on the series Too Close for Comfort, which ran from 1980 to 1987 and was renamed The Ted Knight Show in its final season (the sitcom goes by its original title in syndication). Knight played a cartoonist whose adult daughters lived downstairs from him and his wife.

His character was famous for wearing sweatshirts from different colleges and universities, which were sent to him by fans.

"Ted was the buffoon, the butt of all the humor," he said in 1982. "Too Close for Comfort has opened up new vistas of comic possibilities for me."

He added, "People like us because we glamorize family life. They say it doesn't insult them — that they can be comfortable and entertained."

Knight married Dorothy Smith in 1948. They shared three kids: Ted Jr., Elyse and Eric.

The actor was diagnosed with colon cancer shortly after Mary Tyler Moore ended. The cancer returned in 1985, and Knight died in August 1986, per the Los Angeles Times. He was 62.

06 of 09

Cloris Leachman as Phyllis Lindstrom

From left: Cloris Leachman as Phyllis Lindstrom on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' in 1970; Cloris Leachman attends Ed Asner's 90th Birthday Party and Celebrity Roast at the Roosevelt Hotel in L.A. on Nov. 3, 2019
Credit: CBS via Getty; Michael Tullberg/Getty

Cloris Leachman played Phyllis Lindstrom, Mary's snobby friend and landlady. She, too, received her own spinoff, leading the cast of Phyllis for two years. Before The Mary Tyler Moore Show, she had already earned an Oscar for 1971's The Last Picture Show.

She had guest appearances on Cher, Promised Land and Malcolm in the Middle. Leachman also appeared in the movies Yesterday (1981), Castle in the Sky (1986), Spanglish (2004) and Mrs. Harris (2005). She was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2011.

Over her career, Leachman earned 22 Emmy nominations and won eight, including for The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are tied for the most Emmy wins for a performer (the Veep star has 11 total wins).

In 2008, Leachman competed on season 7 of DWTS. The next year, she published her memoir, Cloris. Her last credited roles were a recurring guest spot on the 2019 Mad About You reboot, the first season of American Godsand the 2021 film Not to Forget.

From 1953 to 1978, Leachman was married to George Englund. They shared four children: Bryan, Dinah, Adam and Morgan. (Bryan died of an overdose in 1986.)

Leachman died of natural causes in January 2021 at age 94.

07 of 09

Georgia Engel as Georgette Franklin Baxter

From left: Georgia Engel as Georgette Franklin Baxter on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' in 1973; Georgia Engel attends the 82nd annual Drama League Awards at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in N.Y.C. on May 20, 2016
Credit: CBS via Getty; Walter McBride/WireImage

Georgia Engel played Georgette Franklin Baxter, the girlfriend and later wife of Ted Baxter. A good friend of Mary, she and Ted even tied the knot in her apartment.

Engel, who started her career in theater, later played Pat MacDougall on Everybody Loves Raymond from 2003 to 2005. She received two Emmy nominations for The Mary Tyler Moore Show and three more for her role on Everybody Loves Raymond.

The actress also had recurring roles on Coach and Hot in Cleveland and guest spots on shows like The Office, Two and a Half Men and One Day at a Time.

She starred in Papa Was a Preacher (1985), Signs of Life (1989), The Sweetest Thing (2002) and Open Season (2006), and appeared on Broadway multiple times, including in 2006’s The Drowsy Chaperone.

Engel died in April 2019. She was 70.

08 of 09

Betty White as Sue Ann Nivens

From left: Betty White as as Sue Ann Nivens on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' in 1974; Betty White attends the media preview for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's Beastly Ball Fundraiser at the L.A. Zoo on June 11, 2015
Credit: CBS Photo Archive/Getty; David Livingston/Getty

Already a TV star, White joined The Mary Tyler Moore Show on season 4 as Sue Ann Nivens, after Harper left.

Moore told the Television Academy Foundation in 1997, "They wrote a character who was described as being 'as sweet as Betty White but as vicious as a barracuda.' I said to the writers after hearing mumblings about it, 'Well, we're auditioning, but we haven't found this character. Why don't you actually interview Betty White?' "

At the time, White was known as an absolute sweetheart, but Sue Ann was a home-wrecker who had an affair with Phyllis' husband. She earned three Emmy nominations and won two for the role.

White told PEOPLE in 1976 that she supported Moore's decision to end the show, saying, "Mary knows when to quit."

White met her husband, Allen Ludden, when she appeared on an episode of Password, which he hosted. They wed in June 1963, and she became stepmother to his children, David, Martha and Sarah. Ludden died of stomach cancer in June 1981.

In 1983, White began appearing on Mama's Family in a recurring role, based on a part she had played on The Carol Burnett Show in 1975. She also hosted her own game show, Just Men!, and became the first woman to win the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host.

White's biggest triumph came in 1985 when she was cast as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls. The hit series became a classic in both its first run and the decades of syndication that followed. White received seven Emmy nominations for the show, winning once. She also starred on the spinoff The Golden Palace.

The actress went on to star on Maybe This Time and Hot in Cleveland. She won two more Emmys for appearing on The John Larroquette Show and hosting Saturday Night Live, and earned a Grammy for the audiobook of her 2011 memoir If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't).

White continued to make regular TV appearances through 2019 and starred in the 2009 movie The Proposal alongside Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. She also worked as a voice actress in 2012's The Loraxand 2019's Toy Story 4.

In 1999, as the late actress celebrated her 50th year in television, she told PEOPLE, "I've been the luckiest broad on the face of this earth."

"You better realize how good life is while it's happening," she added, "because before you know it, it will all be gone."

White died on Dec. 31, 2022, just days before her 100th birthday.

09 of 09

John Amos as Gordon Howard

From left: John Amos as Gordon Howard on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' in 1972; John Amos in 2019
Credit: CBS via Getty; Eric McCandless via Getty

John Amos appeared as weatherman Gordon "Gordy" Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

He went on to star as James Evans Sr. in Good Times. The actor revealed to PEOPLE in 1977 that he didn't get along with the show's creator, Norman Lear, calling them "two billy goats butting heads," adding, "But he owned the pasture."

Amos received acclaim for playing older Kunta Kinte on Roots, for which he received an Emmy nomination. The miniseries, he said in 1977, "helped shrink my head and put the whole business in perspective. My ego was getting in the way — I had a bad case of the biggies."

"I wanted to make an important motion picture, like tomorrow morning," he continued. "But Roots taught me it took us 200 years to get where we are now."

Amos also starred on Hunter and The West Wing and made dozens of guest appearances on TV, including 30 Rock, Ballers, Two and a Half Men, Touched by an Angel and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

The New Jersey native was married twice. He wed artist Noel "Noni" Mickelson in 1965, and they welcomed two children: daughter Shannon and son Kelly Christopher "K.C." After he and Mickelson divorced in 1975, He briefly wed actress Lillian Lehman, though details about their relationship are private.

Amos — the last surviving member of the Mary Tyler Moore Show cast — died at 84 of congestive heart failure in August 2024, but his death wasn't publicly announced until October.

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Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Entertainment"

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Source: Entertainment

Published: May 14, 2026 at 01:37PM on Source: RON MAG

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Inside the “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” Cast Lives, Nearly 50 Years Since the Series Ended

Inside the “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” Cast Lives, Nearly 50 Years Since the Series Ended Victoria Edel, Emily KrauserThu, May...
New Photo - “The Boys” Kills Off Main Character in Shocking Moment Ahead of Series Finale

“The Boys” Kills Off Main Character in Shocking Moment Ahead of Series Finale Sabienna BowmanWed, May 13, 2026 at 6:58 PM UTC 0 Tomer Capone, Laz Alonso, Karl Urban, Jack Quaid and Karen Fukuhara in 'The Boys'Credit: Jasper Savage/Amazon Prime Video Warning: This post contains spoilers for season 5, episode 7 of The Boys. An emotional sacrifice took place in The Boys&x27; penultimate episode Showrunner Eric Kripke explained why the beloved character&x27;s death was necessary to push the story’s emotional and narrative impact Samuel L.

“The Boys” Kills Off Main Character in Shocking Moment Ahead of Series Finale

Sabienna BowmanWed, May 13, 2026 at 6:58 PM UTC

0

Tomer Capone, Laz Alonso, Karl Urban, Jack Quaid and Karen Fukuhara in 'The Boys'
Credit: Jasper Savage/Amazon Prime Video

Warning: This post contains spoilers for season 5, episode 7 of The Boys.

An emotional sacrifice took place in The Boys' penultimate episode

Showrunner Eric Kripke explained why the beloved character's death was necessary to push the story’s emotional and narrative impact

Samuel L. Jackson also voices a shark in a comedic cameo, marking a full-circle moment from his Deep Blue Sea role

The Boys have lost one of their own.

In episode 7 of The Boys' fifth and final season, "The Frenchman, the Female, and the Man They Call Mother’s Milk," the crew suffered a shocking loss when Frenchie (Tomer Capone) sacrificed himself to save Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) from Homelander (Antony Starr). During the final moments of the episode, Frenchie distracted Homelander from a weakened Kimiko and then opened up a hatch, allowing a blast of radiation to hit him.

His death was devastating, but in true Frenchie fashion, he used some of his final words to highlight his humanity — something Homelander could never understand. "Look at you, I bet you never danced a day in your life," he told the supe with a God complex, as the radiation hit them.

Homelander flew away unscathed, but there was no hope for Frenchie.

Kimiko then cradled him in her arms and thanked him for saving her, only for him to respond, "No, mon coeur, you saved me." The episode ended with Kimiko cradling Frenchie's body as "Dream a Little Dream of Me" played over the credits, calling back to a sweet third-season scene featuring the pair.

Karen Fukuhara and Tomer Capone in 'The Boys'
Credit: Prime Video

In a Wednesday, May 13 interview with The Hollywood Reporter,The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke explained why Frenchie had to die.

"We knew we had to kill off one of the Boys,” Kripke, 52, told THR. “You can’t have a shot at victory unless it costs your heroes something that’s really hard ... For narrative momentum, your heroes have to pay a steep price — because that’s how it works in the real world."

He added, "So it was going through each character and deciding what was going to be the most heart wrenching. I think we knew early on it was going to be Frenchie. In so many ways, Frenchie and Kimiko are the heart of the show. Despite what killers they are, they’re both so emotionally sweet. We knew this would have real maximum destruction, and I think it had to happen. They would not have a chance of winning if Frenchie doesn’t sacrifice himself.”

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Tomer Capone in 'The Boys'
Credit: Prime Video

With just one episode of the series left, the stakes couldn't be higher for the remaining Boys as they race to stop Homelander, who is on a path toward global domination. Still, The Boys remained true to its anarchic roots with an A-list voice cameo from Samuel L. Jackson as the Deep's (Chace Crawford) hammerhead shark companion, Xander, who officially banned him from the ocean.

"Shut the f--- up," Xander tells the Deep. "We know you were responsible for the pipeline genocide. Remember March 15, motherf---er!"

While the Deep tried to deny Xander's accusations, the no-nonsense shark wasn't having it. "If you step one f---ing simian toe in the water, anywhere — an ocean, a stream, a f---ing puddle — oh God, son, you're dead. We're going to kill you!"

For good measure, he added, "You are dead to us. B---- ass."

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Xander the shark in 'The Boys'; Samuel L. Jackson
Credit: Prime Video; Michael Rowe/Getty

Jackson, 77, voicing a shark on the show was something of a full-circle moment for the actor, whose character in the 1999 horror movie Deep Blue Sea was famously eaten by a shark. While the veteran actor was Kripke's first pick for the role, Kripke told Entertainment Weekly that he wasn't sure Jackson would be game when his team responded. Jackson joined the likes of Tilda Swinton and Charlize Theron in guest-starring on the show.

"There was just a morning. He was free in New York City and we brought him into a booth. I was in L.A., but video conferencing and was able to watch him do it," Kripke told EW.

He added, "That's a bucket-list thing, man, watching Sam Jackson read your dialogue. And I think it makes the scene just so funny because the Deep is getting told off and Sam Jackson's very, very good at that."

The Boys series finale premieres on Wednesday, May 20 on Prime Video.

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Source: "AOL Entertainment"

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Source: Entertainment

Published: May 13, 2026 at 10:10PM on Source: RON MAG

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“The Boys” Kills Off Main Character in Shocking Moment Ahead of Series Finale

“The Boys” Kills Off Main Character in Shocking Moment Ahead of Series Finale Sabienna BowmanWed, May 13, 2026 at 6:58 PM UTC 0 ...
New Photo - Whoopi Goldberg calls out Spencer Pratt for sharing 'violent imagery' amid political race: 'Freak...

Goldberg condemned the former reality star, who's running for mayor of Los Angeles, for resharing an AIgenerated video of current mayor Karen Bass. Whoopi Goldberg calls out Spencer Pratt for sharing 'violent imagery' amid political race: 'Freaked out by what I saw' Goldberg condemned the former reality star, who's running for mayor of Los Angeles, for resharing an AIgenerated video of current mayor Karen Bass. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiBiophotof93a23298bdd47ba9c13f53815fc469b.jpg) Joey Nolfi Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at .

Goldberg condemned the former reality star, who's running for mayor of Los Angeles, for resharing an AI-generated video of current mayor Karen Bass.

Whoopi Goldberg calls out Spencer Pratt for sharing 'violent imagery' amid political race: 'Freaked out by what I saw'

Goldberg condemned the former reality star, who's running for mayor of Los Angeles, for resharing an AI-generated video of current mayor Karen Bass.

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Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul's Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

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May 14, 2026 1:26 p.m. ET

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Whoopi Goldberg on 'The View'; Spencer Pratt at SiriusXM Studios in 2026

Whoopi Goldberg on 'The View'; Spencer Pratt at SiriusXM Studios in 2026. Credit:

ABC; Gary Gershoff/Getty

- Whoopi Goldberg slammed Spencer Pratt on Thursday after the reality star and political candidate reposted an AI-generated video featuring current Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass.

- "It stunned me," Goldberg said on *The View*. "Especially when we're talking about [how] we have to tone down the violence."

- Bass described the AI video as indicative of a "dangerous trend" in politics.

Whoopi Goldberg called out what she condemned as "crazy stuff" happening in the Los Angeles mayoral race — with the EGOT-winning actress expressing particular concern over reality star Spencer Pratt's campaign.

Goldberg kicked off Thursday's live show of *The View* with a Hot Topics discussion about an AI-generated ad shared by Pratt's campaign last week. She said the video is "full of violent imagery featuring Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, and incumbent mayor, Karen Bass." Show producers then played a clip of Bass also speaking out against the ad.

Bass said on a recent appearance on CNN's *The Story Is With Elex Michaelson* that the AI video (which spoofs *Star Wars* and features Bass as Darth Vader) represents a "dangerous trend" and is "absolutely 150 percent fiction." She added that she's worried about the "violent turn" the video took, as it depicts candidates clashing.

"I'm glad we're not showing it, because it stunned me," Goldberg said on *The View*, which did not air clips from the video. "Especially when we're talking about [how] we have to tone down the violence, I was kind of freaked out by what I saw."**

Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Alyssa Farah Griffin on 'The View'

Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Alyssa Farah Griffin on 'The View'.

Goldberg then attempted to calm general anxieties about celebrities crossing over into the world of politics.

"If they know what they're doing, I welcome anybody who knows how to do this," Goldberg said.

"But, if you're going to be like the guy who's already in charge? Thank you, no, I'm not happy with what's going on," she went on. "Just because somebody's famous or is famous for something doesn't mean they know what's going on and how you're thinking or feeling."

Cohost and former Donald Trump White House staffer Alyssa Farah Griffin also spoke out against the video Pratt shared, calling it "AI slop." Sara Haines then noted that "there were people that didn't agree to it that are all over it."

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Donald Trump in White House Rose Garden; Alyssa Farah Griffin on 'The View'

Griffin added that she's "all for the viral approach if it's pushing forward a message and solutions for people," but she called the use of AI "super dangerous" and said she was "shocked to see so many people applauding it."****"We're throwing tomatoes at Democratic politicians we don't like? Do better," she said.

Goldberg finished the segment by speculating that Pratt might not "have any solutions" while he's "throwing shade" at others.

Spencer Pratt at 2025 American Music Awards

Spencer Pratt at the 2025 American Music Awards.

Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty

"You have to have some idea of what needs to be done. A lot of people were affected by those wildfires [in California], a lot of my friends, people you know, lost everything. This is not a 'Ha ha, let's do an AI video.' This is real stuff, this is people's lives," Goldberg said.

"Before you're passing judgment, you need to be able to tell people what you have to offer, Spencer," she continued. "I don't know what qualifies as the right way to be a politician, but what I do know is they have to be the people to understand what people are going through."

** has reached out to Pratt for comment.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter*****.**

Prior to joining the L.A. mayoral race, Pratt rose to fame in the early aughts as one of the stars of the MTV reality series *The Hills*, which also starred his current wife, Heidi Montag.

*The View* airs weekdays on ABC.

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Talk"

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Source: Talk

Published: May 14, 2026 at 09:00PM on Source: RON MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

Whoopi Goldberg calls out Spencer Pratt for sharing 'violent imagery' amid political race: 'Freak...

Goldberg condemned the former reality star, who's running for mayor of Los Angeles, for resharing an AIgenerated video of current m...
New Photo - The 26 best miniseries ready to binge-watch this weekend

Miniseries have maximum entertainment value. The 26 best miniseries ready to bingewatch this weekend Miniseries have maximum entertainment value. By Ilana Gordon :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ILANAGORDONHEADSHOT80577598f8ed442cacff5de184ceb9f5.jpg) Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles. EW's editorial guidelines and Declan Gallagher on May 12, 2026 9:13 a.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/thegirlfriendadolescenceblackrabbit022526a82614090ef6417d9d15b694bbdd4a42.

Miniseries have maximum entertainment value.

The 26 best miniseries ready to binge-watch this weekend

Miniseries have maximum entertainment value.

By Ilana Gordon

Ilana Gordon

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

and Declan Gallagher

on May 12, 2026 9:13 a.m. ET

Olivia Cooke as Cherry Laine in 'The Girlfriend'; Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in 'Adolescence'; Jason Bateman as Vince Friedken in 'Black Rabbit'

Olivia Cooke as Cherry Laine in 'The Girlfriend'; Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in 'Adolescence'; Jason Bateman as Vince Friedken in 'Black Rabbit'. Credit:

Christopher Raphael/Amazon; Netflix (2)

For those who can’t commit to dozens of 20-plus-episode seasons, miniseries are a major solution. In 2025, audiences enjoyed premium content across a variety of genres, including Netflix's *Death by Lightning *(historical drama),* *Hulu's *Dying for Sex *(dramedy), and Amazon Prime Video's *The Girlfriend *(psychological thriller). Still to come in 2026: Apple TV will release *Cape Fear* (psychological thriller) on June 5, and a new *Pride & Prejudice* adaptation (romance) is slated to hit Netflix at some point later in 2026.

In these busy times, find a series as limited as your attention span. Read on as ** runs down the 26 best miniseries streaming options.

Adolescence (2025)

Mark Stanley as Paulie Barlow, Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, and Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in 'Adolescence'

Mark Stanley as Paulie Barlow, Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, and Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in 'Adolescence'.

Courtesy of Netflix

One of the most talked-about pieces of television to emerge in 2025 is *Adolescence**. *A British crime drama about a 13-year-old boy named Jamie Miller who is accused of murdering his classmate, the miniseries offers four episodes, all of which were shot in one continuous take. The technical execution of the project is thrilling, and so is the show’s depiction of how modern media affects the minds and actions of teenage boys.

Young actor Owen Cooper makes a brilliant Emmy-winning debut as Jamie, and the scenes between him and his therapist (Erin Doherty) in episode 3 are some of the most affecting examples of storytelling in recent history. A series that feels especially relevant as talk of incels and loneliness epidemics becomes more mainstream, *Adolescence *gets deep about what teenage boyhood really looks like today. *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Adolescence*: Netflix

**Cast: **Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay

American Crime Story (2016–present)

Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson and Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran in 'The People v. O.J. Simpson: An American Crime Story'

Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson and Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran in 'The People v. O.J. Simpson: An American Crime Story'.

Ryan Murphy more or less does away with his signature campy trappings for this riveting fact-based anthology series profiling some of the most notorious crimes in American history. Each of the three seasons so far — concerning O.J. Simpson’s trial; the murder of Gianni Versace; and the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal — are accomplished pieces of television, but the first two installments are particularly well done.

Coming from Murphy’s stable, the miniseries are nothing if not soapy. However, *American Crime Story* takes a much more serious approach to its material, allowing a murderer’s row of talent to dramatize the most notorious period in the lives of those chronicled. *—Declan Gallagher*

Where to watch *American Crime Story*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A

**Cast: **Sarah Paulson, Sterling K. Brown, John Travolta, David Schwimmer, Courtney B. Vance

Angels in America (2003)

Meryl Streep as the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg in 'Angels in America'

Meryl Streep as the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg in 'Angels in America'. HBO/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Tony Kushner adapted his own Pulitzer Prize-winning two-part play into a six-part HBO miniseries. For the uninitiated, *Angels in America* is a fever dream collision of historical figures and events (Republican lawyer Ray Cohn’s closeted homophobia, the AIDS crisis, the execution of Ethel Rosenberg) and everyday New Yorkers of Kushner’s own design. Director Mike Nichols' televised version breaks the story into six chapters and adds a dash more humor and coherence to appeal to HBO’s audience.

The finished product is an achievement in both acting and writing. EW’s review compliments “Kushner’s language, arias of desire and fury and lamentation,” and gives special praise to Al Pacino’s work as Ray Cohn, and Meryl Streep’s performances. (She plays multiple roles — blink and you’ll miss her as the Rabbi.) *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Angels in America*: HBO Max

**Cast:** Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Patrick Wilson, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson

Angelyne (2022)

Charlie Rowe as Freddy Messina, Emmy Rossum as Angelyne, Martin Freeman as Harold Wallach, and Tonatiuh as Andre Casiano in 'Angelyne'

Charlie Rowe as Freddy Messina, Emmy Rossum as Angelyne, Martin Freeman as Harold Wallach, and Tonatiuh as Andre Casiano in 'Angelyne'. Isabella Vosmikova/Peacock

Emmy Rossum gave an astonishing performance in this sweet-natured but pleasantly barbed look at the life of Los Angeles’ No. 1 celebrity, Angelyne. Through a fascinating grass-roots campaign, Angelyne rose to fame simply on the merits of being famous decades before the Kardashians dreamt of such things.

Peacock’s lithe five-part series is a fictionalized version of Angelyne’s rise, but it’s emotionally truthful in its exploration of pre-internet fame (and infamy). Rossum is spectacular here, disappearing into the role in a way she’s not been afforded to do before. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Angelyne*: Peacock

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast:** Emmy Rossum, Molly Ephraim, Alex Karpovsky, Lukas Gage

Baby Reindeer (2024)

Richard Gadd as Donny Dunn in 'Baby Reindeer'

Richard Gadd as Donny Dunn in 'Baby Reindeer'.

This Netflix hit is as controversial as it is buzzy, but there’s no denying a terrific miniseries when you see it. Making splendid use of both the short-form medium and the tragi-comedy genre, Richard Gadd’s seven-episode, semi-autobiographical work follows a struggling comedian (Gadd) who can’t shake an increasingly deranged stalker (Jessica Gunning) who inserts herself into all aspects of his life.

*Baby Reindeer* is an excellent example of juggling tone and allegedly true events with dramatizations. That’s caused quite a stir, including a lawsuit, but the combination makes for one of the most daring and bingeable miniseries in recent memory. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Baby Reindeer*: Netflix

**Cast:** Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau, Nina Sosanya, Hugh Coles

Band of Brothers (2001)

Cast of 'Band of Brothers'

Cast of 'Band of Brothers'. Everett Collection

HBO’s groundbreaking dramatization of WWII takes an ensemble approach to the mayhem, showing many different facets of the American men who served and their disparate experiences fighting abroad.

Created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who are well-heeled in authentic WWII productions, *Band of Brothers* positions itself as overtly emotional and realistic. This is an incredibly harrowing, at times hard-to-watch miniseries, but it’s one of the finest stories ever told about war. The heartbreaking moments feel authentic and well-earned, while the brilliant writing rarely relies on the easy way out. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Band of Brothers*: HBO Max

**Cast:** David Schwimmer, Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Peter O’Meara, Matthew Settle

Beef (2023–present)

Ali Wong as Amy Lau and Steven Yeun as Danny Cho in 'Beef'

Ali Wong as Amy Lau and Steven Yeun as Danny Cho in 'Beef'.

Andrew Cooper/Netflix

The first season of Netflix’s astonishing anthology series stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as Amy and Danny, two strangers who get into a fender bender and proceed to disrupt each other’s lives to the nth degree. To say any more would ruin *Beef*’s terrific surprises. This is both one of the funniest and most tragic shows in recent memory, one which conveys with unmistakable clarity the low-level anxiety, and perhaps anger, that many people harbor in the modern age. The second season (starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny) premiered on April 16. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Beef*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Cast:** Ali Wong, Steven Yeun, Young Mazino, David Choe, Ashley Park

Black Rabbit (2025)

Jude Law as Jake in 'Black Rabbit'

Jude Law as Jake in 'Black Rabbit'.

Combine *The Bear'*s subject matter with the stress of *Uncut Gems* (2019), and you get *Black Rabbit*. Netflix’s thriller miniseries tells the story of the Friedken brothers, Jude Law's Jake and Jason Bateman's Vince, whose restaurant business is threatened by debt, accusations of sexual harassment, and other criminal activity. As their family, friends, and co-workers get pulled into the madness, Jake and Vince must confront their history and look for a way to save themselves and their restaurant, The Black Rabbit.

The series unfolds over eight fast-paced episodes — New York City culinary and scandal nerds may recognize elements of the story as being similar to those that precipitated the closing of the West Village’s beloved gastropub, The Spotted Pig. And while no one would describe this miniseries as uplifting, it does give Bateman a chance to reunite with former *Ozarks* costar Laura Linney, who directs two *Black Rabbit* episodes. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Black Rabbit: *Netflix

**Cast:** Jude Law, Jason Bateman, Cleopatra Coleman, Sope Dirisu, Amaka Okafor

Chernobyl (2019)

Jared Harris as Valery Legasov and Emily Watson as Ulana Khomyuk in 'Chernobyl'

Jared Harris as Valery Legasov and Emily Watson as Ulana Khomyuk in 'Chernobyl'.

The 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine was a situation unlike anything ever experienced on planet Earth. Millions of Europeans were exposed to low levels of radiation, and doctors later linked thousands of cancer cases to the nuclear contamination. Even after four decades, the city of Chernobyl and the surrounding Exclusion Zone remain restricted.

History lovers will be pleased to learn the story of what occurred that April night is available to watch as a five-part miniseries on HBO Max. Craig Mazin (*The Last of Us*) focuses *Chernobyl* on the scientists and government officials tasked with cleaning up after the disaster, and the everyday people who lost their lives and loved ones. Jessie Buckley is a particular standout in her role as Lyudmilla Ignatenko, the wife of one of the first responders. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Chernobyl*: HBO Max

**EW grade: **A–

**Cast: **Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, Adam Nagaitis

Death by Lightning (2025)

Michael Shannon as James A. Garfield in 'Death by Lightning'

Michael Shannon as James A. Garfield in 'Death by Lightning'.

Larry Horricks/Netflix

President James A. Garfield is best known for how he was born and how he died: in a log cabin, and by assassination, only 120 days into his time in office. His truncated presidency meant Garfield was largely overshadowed in the history books, but the 20th President of the United States finally gets his time to shine in Netflix’s *Death by Lightning*.

The four-episode series stars Michael Shannon as Garfield, chronicling his election, civil rights advocacy, and eventual collision with Charles J. Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen), the failed lawyer with a mental health condition, who was destined to end his life. Adapted from the 2011 book *Destiny of the Republic* by Candice Millard, *Death by Lightning *is a fascinating historical footnote. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Death by Lightning*: Netflix

**Director: **Matt Ross

**Cast:** Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford

Dopesick (2021)

Michael Keaton as Dr. Samuel Finnix in 'Dopesick'

Michael Keaton as Dr. Samuel Finnix in 'Dopesick'. Antony Platt/Hulu

Hulu’s distressing miniseries spotlights America’s opioid epidemic, from the Purdue Pharma headquarters to a small middle-American community ravaged by drug abuse. Michael Stuhlbarg stars as Richard Sackler, a modern-day villain if there ever was one, while Michael Keaton plays a well-intentioned GP who is suckered into prescribing OxyContin to a young coal miner (Kaitlyn Dever) with a back injury.

Charting the crisis from the early 1990s to the present day, *Dopesick* lays out in tragic and unambiguous detail how pharmaceutical companies have been allowed to prey upon hapless victims for decades. The series, created by writer Danny Strong, is one of the most compelling and credible modern dramas. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Dopesick*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A–

**Cast:** Michael Keaton, Michael Stuhlbarg, Kaitlyn Dever, Will Poulter, Phillipa Soo

Dr. Death (2021–2023)

Joshua Jackson as Dr. Christopher Duntsch on 'Dr. Death'

Joshua Jackson as Dr. Christopher Duntsch on 'Dr. Death'. Scott McDermott/Peacock

The first season of NBC’s haunting true-crime procedural, based on the Wondery podcast of the same name, stars Joshua Jackson as real-life spinal surgeon Christopher Duntsch, who was eventually found guilty and sentenced to life in prison after maiming 31 of his patients and killing two.

*Dr. Death*’s terrifically satisfying structure pivots around Duntsch’s co-workers, Dr. Robert Henderson (Alec Baldwin) and Dr. Randall Kirby (Christian Slater), slowly putting the pieces together which implicate the twisted surgeon in a series of increasingly botched procedures. The series is “part medical drama, part mystery, part *Catch Me If You Can* thriller,” EW's critic noted in a glowing review. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Dr. Death*: Peacock

**EW grade:** A–

**Cast:** Joshua Jackson, Grace Gummer, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, AnnaSophia Robb

The 23 best bingeable miniseries streaming on Netflix

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The 50 best shows to watch on HBO Max

Larry David as himself on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'; Harley Quinn (voice: Kaley Cuoco) on ‘Harley Quinn’; Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson on ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’

Dying for Sex (2025)

Jenny Slate as Nikki and Michelle Williams as Molly in 'Dying for Sex'

Jenny Slate as Nikki and Michelle Williams as Molly in 'Dying for Sex'.

One woman’s terminal cancer diagnosis prompts her to leave her husband of 15 years and prioritize pleasure in *Dying for Sex*. Based on a true story — which was first shared in a critically acclaimed podcast — this miniseries follows Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams) and her best buddy, Nikki Boyer (Jenny Slate), as Molly tries to find a partner she can have an orgasm with, and Nikki tries to support her sick friend through her sexual exploration.

A story about living and dying on one’s own terms, the series is thoughtfully created, beautifully performed, and uniquely empowering. As EW’s critic writes, “*Dying for Sex* is a heartbreaking (and at times, very horny) story about female friendship, self-actualization, and the realization that it’s never too late to heal.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Dying for Sex*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B+

**Cast: **Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney, Jay Duplass

Five Days at a Memorial (2022)

Vera Farmiga as Dr. Anna Pou in 'Five Days at Memorial'

Vera Farmiga as Dr. Anna Pou in 'Five Days at Memorial'.

Russ Martin/Apple TV+

Among the best shows Apple TV has produced thus far, John Ridley and Carlton Cuse’s eight-episode miniseries is an adaptation of Sheri Fink’s non-fiction book, which chronicled a New Orleans hospital left devastated after Hurricane Katrina.

If “agonizing” and “deeply anxiety-inducing” are things you avoid in your entertainment, *Five Days at Memorial* is probably not for you. The title itself is almost a taunt — can you make it through another? However, despite the challenging material, the series is a compelling dissection of the U.S. government’s beyond-blundered response to the natural disaster and an inspiring ode to the first responders who attempted to fill the gaps. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Five Days at Memorial*: Apple TV

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast:** Vera Farmiga, Cherry Jones, Molly Hager, Julie Ann Emery, Cornelius Smith Jr.

Feud: Bette vs. Joan (2017)

Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford and Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis in 'Feud: Bette vs. Joan'

Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford and Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis in 'Feud: Bette vs. Joan'.

The polar opposite of *American Crime Story*’s (relatively) austere presentation, this is likely the closest Ryan Murphy will ever come to producing an out-and-out WWE battle. Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange play the titular divas, respectively, in this dramatization of their infamous (though largely invented) feud.

Less baroque than its title suggests but just as campy as it needs to be,* Bette vs. Joan* relies less on extended sequences of Sarandon and Lange berating one another (though there are plenty) in favor of more nuanced stories about how hard it was, and still is, to be a woman in a man’s world. There are also fun Easter eggs for film buffs — like John Waters playing schlock-meister William Castle, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Olivia de Havilland, doing her best *Lady in a Cage* impression. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Feud: Bette vs. Joan*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B

**Cast: **Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon, Jackie Hoffman, Stanley Tucci, Kathy Bates

The Girlfriend (2025)

Robin Wright as Laura Sanderson in 'The Girlfriend'

Robin Wright as Laura Sanderson in 'The Girlfriend'.

Christopher Raphael/Amazon Content Services LLC

Yes, technically, *The Girlfriend* is a miniseries about two women fighting for a man’s attention, but not in the way that you think. This psychological thriller tells the story of Daniel (Laurie Davidson), who brings his girlfriend, Cherry (Olivia Cooke), home to meet his mother, Laura (Robin Wright), only for the two women to engage in a power struggle for the ages.

Set in London and Spain, the story unfolds across six episodes — Wright directed the first three — and cleverly heightens the tensions sometimes experienced in in-law relationships. The series skews soapy, and Cooke and Wright revel in putting each other through psychological hell. It’s all leading up to what Wright calls a “psychotic" ending, making *The Girlfriend* the perfect binge option. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Girlfriend*: Amazon Prime Video

**Directors:** Robin Wright, Andrea Harkin

**Cast:** Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke, Laurie Davidson, Waleed Zuaiter, Tanya Moodie

I May Destroy You (2020)

Michaela Coel as Arabella in 'I May Destroy You'

Michaela Coel as Arabella in 'I May Destroy You'. HBO

Writer-director-actor Michaela Coel’s devastating, terrifically smart miniseries follows a young writer (Coel) who attempts to remount her life after a sexual assault lingers as such a fleeting, dim memory she’s not entirely sure what happened.

Coel’s exceptional, largely autobiographical 12-part series upends the clichés about processing unspeakable trauma. *I May Destroy You* is a vicious satire of modern social mores and a deeply authentic, heartbreaking examination of a life undone just as it was taking flight. Coel has just lined up her next series with Max and the BBC, *First Day on Earth*, and we can’t wait to see what she has in store. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *I May Destroy You*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B

**Cast:** Michaela Coel, Paapa Essiedu, Weruche Opia, Marouane Zotti

Lady in the Lake (2024)

Mikey Madison as Judith Weinstein and Natalie Portman as Maddie Schwartz in 'Lady in the Lake'

Mikey Madison as Judith Weinstein and Natalie Portman as Maddie Schwartz in 'Lady in the Lake'.

Apple TV+/Everett Collection

Clear your weekend and find a cozy comforter. Once you begin this magnificently drawn Apple TV miniseries, based on the novel of the same name by Laura Lippman (not Raymond Chandler), you’ll be hooked until its final moments.

*Lady in the Lake *concerns Maddie Schwartz (Natalie Portman), a journalist in 1960s Baltimore who comes up against a community activist (Moses Ingram, in a role originally intended for Lupita Nyong’o) while trying to uncover the culprit responsible for murdering a young girl. As Maddie finds herself drawn deeper into the case, she’s taken further from her domineering husband (an astonishingly repellent Brett Gelman) and her young son (Noah Jupe). *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Lady in the Lake*: Apple TV

**Cast:** Natalie Portman, Moses Ingram, Noah Jupe, Brett Gelman, David Corenswet

Midnight Mass (2021)

Hamish Linklater as Father Paul in 'Midnight Mass'

Hamish Linklater as Father Paul in 'Midnight Mass'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Mike Flanagan’s stunning Netflix miniseries stars Zach Gilford as a former finance bro who returns to his hometown following a tragedy. His arrival coincides with that of Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater), a charismatic priest who is to replace the church’s ailing monsignor. As you may have guessed, Father Hill isn’t exactly who (or what) he appears to be, and his presence has shocking ramifications throughout the close-knit community.

Flanagan is a clear-eyed auteur who rarely puts a foot wrong. With this darkly hilarious, genuinely quite frightening ode to Stephen King and ‘80s supernatural horror, *Midnight Mass** *is unabashedly an homage to the author, but it’s also blessedly and entirely its own beast. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Midnight Mass*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Cast:** Zach Gilford, Hamish Linklater, Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli, Samantha Sloyan

Normal People (2020)

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Marianne and Paul Mescal as Connell in 'Normal People'

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Marianne and Paul Mescal as Connell in 'Normal People'. Enda Bowe/Element Pictures/Hulu

Sally Rooney writes novels “about what it feels like to be alive right now,” and the miniseries adaptation of her book *Normal People *is bursting with youthful romance and struggle. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal star as Marianne Sheridan and Connell Waldron, two Irish high school seniors transitioning into college life and young adulthood.

At school, Marianne is the rich outcast and Connell is the working-class jock whose single mother cleans Marianne’s family’s home. In spite of their differences, the two connect emotionally and begin a complicated relationship that continues through their time at Trinity College Dublin. The story is told over 12 episodes, and while binging is definitely an option, *Normal People* is best enjoyed slowly, so you have time to process the show’s vulnerability and nuance. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Normal People*: Hulu

**Cast:** Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul Mescal, Sarah Greene

One Day (2024)

Ambika Mod as Emma and Leo Woodall as Dexter in 'One Day'

Ambika Mod as Emma and Leo Woodall as Dexter in 'One Day'.

This adaptation of David Nicholls’ 2009 novel gets the source material completely right, unlike the anemic 2011 film of the same name starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. The Netflix miniseries sees Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (Leo Woodall) meet at their university graduation and proceed to fall in and out of love throughout the next two decades.

*One Day* takes the *Normal People* recipe of sex and tragedy and manages to do the most authentic, interesting version of it since. Nicholls’ novel, and both of its screen adaptations, are upfront about their emotional manipulation. It’s a testament to Woodall and Mod’s undeniable chemistry and the sharp character writing that *One Day* makes those turns not only believable but deeply affecting. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *One Day*: Netflix

**Cast:** Ambika Mod, Leo Woodall, Essie Davis, Eleanor Tomlinson, Amber Grappy

One Hundred Years of Solitude (2024–present)

Claudio Cataño as Colonel Aureliano Buendía in 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'

Claudio Cataño as Colonel Aureliano Buendía in 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'.

Considered one of the foremost literary achievements of the last century, Gabriel García Márquez’s magical realism novel, *One Hundred Years of Solitude*, has finally been adapted for television. The series tells the story of the Buendía family over multiple generations and is set in the fictitious town of Macondo, Colombia, which the family founded.

Critics and fans have commended the adaptation for its acting, cinematography, and adherence to the original source material. A TV series with the spirit of the novel, Netflix released the show's first eight episodes in December 2024, with another eight to come this August. A must-watch for literary lovers and TV nerds alike, treat yourself to *One Hundred Years of Solitude*. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *One Hundred Years of Solitude*: Netflix

**Cast: **Claudio Cataño, Diego Vásquez, Marleyda Soto, Viña Machado, Loren Sofía

The Queen's Gambit (2020)

Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon in 'The Queen's Gambit'

Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon in 'The Queen's Gambit'.

Ken Woroner/Netflix

One of the cultural highlights of the pandemic, *The Queen’s Gambit* is a period drama about an orphan who becomes a chess prodigy in the 1950s and '60s. Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Beth, a young woman who becomes addicted to tranquilizers during her time in an orphanage, and whose substance abuse and mental health issues threaten to undermine her rise through the competitive chess world.

Chess is an internalized and intellectual pursuit, but Taylor-Joy throws her body, face, and soul into it, and the result is a performance that makes a board game feel as exciting as an NBA championship. The show’s success generated a renewed interest in chess, and Taylor-Joy’s performance is almost universally acclaimed. EW’s reviewer highlights the show’s “luscious production design” and notes the “darkly fascinating lead performance duel against mawkish sentiment and a messy final act. It's always fun to watch, even when it's playing emotional checkers.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Queen's Gambit*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Cast: **Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram, Isla Johnston, Christiane Seidel

Sharp Objects (2018)

Patricia Clarkson as Adora Crellin in 'Sharp Objects'

Patricia Clarkson as Adora Crellin in 'Sharp Objects'. Anne Marie Fox/HBO

Amy Adams stars as Camille Preaker, a big-city journalist who returns home to her small hometown in Missouri, where a spate of child murders has unsettled locals. In addition to outing the killer, Camille must deal with her icy, high-society mother (the always incredible Patricia Clarkson) and her creepy little sister (Eliza Scanlen), not to mention her own struggles with alcoholism.

The late, great Jean-Marc Vallée directed all eight episodes of this darkly comic, consistently suspenseful adaptation of former EW staffer Gillian Flynn’s 2006 novel. It’s a delight to watch actors like Adams and Clarkson go toe-to-toe, while Vallée, ever a master at capturing the near-imperceptible shifting loyalties amongst society’s ranks, puts his sardonic eye to particularly good use here. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Sharp Objects*: HBO Max

**EW grade: **B+

**Cast:** Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Eliza Scanlen, Chris Messina, Sydney Sweeney

The Thing About Pam (2022)

Renée Zellweger as Pam Hupp, Judy Greer as Leah Askey, and Josh Duhamel as Joel Schwartz in 'The Thing About Pam'

Renée Zellweger as Pam Hupp, Judy Greer as Leah Askey, and Josh Duhamel as Joel Schwartz in 'The Thing About Pam'. Frank Ockenfels 3/NBC

Renée Zellweger stars as real-life murderer Pam Hupp in this pleasantly campy six-part series. In 2011, Betsy Faria (​​Katy Mixon) was found slain in her suburban home. A bullish prosecutor (Judy Greer) comes after Betsy’s husband, Russ (Glenn Fleshler), but it’s Betsy’s best friend Pam who was the last person to see her alive.

Much like HBO Max’s *The Staircase*, *The Thing About Pam* uses a star-studded assortment of actors to sketch a lightly fictionalized dramatization of a notorious murder. This miniseries isn’t always beholden to the facts, but it’s pretty close and is certainly one of the most delightfully odd entries in the true-crime television genre. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Thing About Pam*: Peacock

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast:** Renée Zellweger, Judy Greer, Katy Mixon, Glenn Fleshler, Gideon Adlon

The White Lotus (2021–present)

Walton Goggins as Rick Hatchett in season 3 of 'The White Lotus'

Walton Goggins as Rick Hatchett in season 3 of 'The White Lotus'.

The best way to travel these days is through HBO’s *The White Lotus*. The anthology series is set at The White Lotus Resort and Spa, a fictional hotel chain with luxurious locations in Hawaii, Italy, and Thailand (so far — France is next). The staff at The White Lotus is on hand to provide a special experience to the resort’s wealthy, if eccentric, guests, but the hotel is fast becoming known for the strange deaths that keep occurring.

Mike White has established himself as a character study artist, a keen observer of families, friend groups, and social dynamics. The characters on his show are fascinating, flawed people, and White knows exactly where to push to apply pressure and tension. The show is especially beloved for its ensemble casts, which are full of some of the best actors you forgot about. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The White Lotus*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast: **Jon Gries,** **Jennifer Coolidge, Natasha Rothwell

- TV Reviews & Recommendations

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW TV"

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Published: May 13, 2026 at 07:19AM on Source: RON MAG

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New Photo - Why JD Vance was 'obsessed' with wife Usha when they met – Exclusive memoir excerpt

Why JD Vance was &x27;obsessed&x27; with wife Usha when they met – Exclusive memoir excerpt Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY Sun, May 10, 2026 at 12:55 PM UTC 470 Vice President JD Vance is gearing up to publish a new memoir, this time about rediscovering religion. “Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith” (out June 16 from Harper) is Vance’s second book. His bestselling 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” chronicles his childhood plagued by abuse, alcoholism and poverty. It was the basis for the 2020 Ron Howarddirected movie starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close.

Why JD Vance was 'obsessed' with wife Usha when they met – Exclusive memoir excerpt

Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY Sun, May 10, 2026 at 12:55 PM UTC

470

Vice President JD Vance is gearing up to publish a new memoir, this time about rediscovering religion.

“Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith” (out June 16 from Harper) is Vance’s second book. His bestselling 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” chronicles his childhood plagued by abuse, alcoholism and poverty. It was the basis for the 2020 Ron Howard-directed movie starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close.

In "Communion," Vance reflects on his conversion to Catholicism after a Protestant upbringing and a stint as an atheist.

"A critical part of that journey was falling in love with a girl who would eventually become a mother four times over," Vance told USA TODAY in a statement.

He continued: "All moms − all families − have their own stories, with a mix of ups and downs. To all the moms reading this, I hope your stories have included more good days than bad −and I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Read an excerpt from ‘Communion’ JD Vance: VP on meeting wife Usha

Not long before I got to law school, one of my best friends, Mike, went through a particularly tough breakup with a girl. All the standard clichés applied as I did my best to soothe my buddy with a combination of good conversation and copious amounts of Natural Light. During his relationship, he had acknowledged that he and his girlfriend weren’t a particularly good match. He had complained that she was jealous. She had demanded too much of his time. Her parents had been intrusive. But all that faded away in the mists of heartache. Now she was perfect, beautiful, the love of his life. She had dumped him, and as I’ve noticed time after time with my buddies, the only thing worse than heartache is heartache with a bruised ego on top.

Mike and I were home in Middletown over Christmas, so I took him out to our favorite watering hole – Carol’s Speakeasy – to play darts and tell stories and drink his troubles away.

It’s fresh, but he’s in a pretty good place, I thought as we left the bar.

But as I drove him home, the sense of loss – well lubricated by alcohol – came flowing out of him.

There he was in my old Honda Civic (me sober, him not) bawling his eyes out about this girl. I gave him a hug, listened to him in his driveway for about an hour, and told him to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. I reminded him he hadn’t been all that crazy about her until she dumped him and that he was a good-looking guy with a lot of options.

“Plus,” I told him. “I’m single, and when we get back to Columbus, I can be your wingman. There are plenty of fish in the sea.”

“Yeah,” he replied half-heartedly. Columbus was nothing if not a target-rich environment for a couple of bachelors.

I hadn’t felt the same heartache in my own dating life. For a couple of years during and after college, I’d dated a girl named Mary. She was sweet, and she wanted the same things out of life that I did: a nice house, a decent job, and a couple of kids. My family got along with her fine. No relationship is perfect, but nothing seemed like a deal breaker. Still, I could never escape the feeling that, as much as I liked her, if she were to dump me the next day, I’d get over it quickly. I’d never react the way Mike had reacted to his breakup with Jessica.

“Dude, I don’t think I have that gene or something,” I told Mike.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I’ve just never fallen head over heels for a girl. Some are better and some are worse. I could rate Mary on all these objective criteria, and she’s mostly great. But would I sob if she broke up with me? No way. Isn’t that a problem?”

“Maybe she’s not the right girl,” he suggested.

“Maybe,” I said. “But maybe I’m just not that emotional.”

A few months after that conversation, I was still dating Mary – now long distance, from New Haven, Connecticut, where I was a couple of months into my first year of law school. I was walking late at night on an unusually cold and rainy fall day. New Haven is spooky in the fog, and the rain had emptied out the streets. And the whole time I was thinking about another student: Usha Bala Chilukuri.

Second lady Usha Vance and Vice President JD Vance arrive for a military mothers celebration in the East Room of the White House on May 6, 2026 in Washington, DC.

I called my buddy Mike, who asked about law school, the classmates, the vibe, and the girls.

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“Dude, I think I’m obsessed with this chick in my small group. It’s unhealthy.”

The small group, I explained, was the collection of sixteen students with whom I shared all of my first-year classes.

I told him all about her: That she was smarter than everyone. That her smile could light up a room. That she had the most amazing posture.

“She doesn’t even walk like normal people. Normal girls seem kind of unstable in high heels,” I told him. “Not her. She glides across the room in whatever shoes she wears. And her laugh, man. Whenever she laughs it’s, like, the most wonderful thing. She’s super reserved, but she has this chortle that is the best sound I’ve ever heard.”

“JD?” Mike interrupted. “Remember when you told me you don’t have the gene where you fall head over heels for a girl? I always thought that was BS. Now I know it is.”

He was right, of course. I don’t need to belabor the point. A consequence of my current job is that my relationship with the Second Lady has been written about, analyzed, researched, and dissected more than I ever thought possible. It is strange to read things about the person you love the most that you know are false. For example, a former classmate (and former acquaintance) told some major newspaper that I was initially attracted to Usha because of her “ambition.”

Usha and I found this laughable – that I would ever confide in this classmate, but more so that I was attracted to Usha’s ambition. There were many things that I thought were unusual about Usha when I first met her. One is that she was intensely competitive, but I saw this as more bizarre than attractive. She was incapable of jealousy, something I assumed came from a supreme inner confidence. But when I asked her – she was more capable than any person I had ever met – what she wanted to do, I was shocked at how uninterested she was in traditional markers of success.

“I just want interesting work,” she told me.

Her dream job was to run the Sesame Workshop because she loved kids and the idea of making educational programming that appealed to them. At Yale Law School, every person thinks they’re eventually going to run the world. You couldn’t throw a rock without hitting a person who thought they’d eventually become a Supreme Court Justice or US senator. But Usha, more capable than any of them, couldn’t have cared less about any of that. “There’s something a little jacked up about all of this,” I told Mike. “The least impressive person at this school is the most ambitious. But the most impressive just wants to have a family and a decent job.”

"Communion" by JD Vance comes out June 16.

I told Usha something similar: “You have the biggest mismatch between ambition and ability of any person I’ve ever met. You could be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and you have no interest in it.”

That complete indifference to what other people wanted to do – or wanted her to do – was just another in a long list of magnetic personality traits.

I once described Usha as a combination of every genetic gift a person would want to have – beauty, intelligence, height. But there was something more: She was intense. I was drawn to her unlike I had ever been drawn to anyone.

I broke up with Mary, in part because of the long distance, but mostly because I couldn’t imagine settling for anyone else.

“I will marry this girl,” I told my friends. “Or I will be a lifelong bachelor.”

Everyone else was like a dim light bulb set against Usha’s radiance. My feelings for her overrode every instinct and everything I thought I knew about women. “Play hard to get” was something young men told one another about attracting the opposite sex. But instead, I told Usha before we ever dated that I was in love with her. “Don’t come on too strong” was another adage of dating I had learned from the world, but we had been together only a few weeks when I told her I wanted to marry her and would do whatever I needed to do to make that happen.

I had always wanted to move back home to Ohio, and she had fallen in love with New York. So I told her I’d move to New York with her, or California, or Colorado. I didn’t care, so long as she was there. I told her everything and I asked her about everything. Her life was the most interesting thing in the world. Politics, technology, business – these were professional interests, things I read about and wanted to work on. But Usha was the only one for whom I’d ever felt real passion.

Amazingly, it worked out. Usha and I began dating in law school, and during our first summer together romantically we were apart physically – me in Washington, DC, at first and then in New Haven, doing research for a professor, and she in New York working for a law firm. We had been together only a few months, and I felt so intensely toward her that she occupied my thoughts nearly every waking moment. This was normal, of course: Two young lovers caught in that early stage of romance, where everything is new and exciting and profound. But I remember thinking that no man had ever felt so strongly about a woman in the history of the world and that I had to hide at least some of my feelings lest I come on too strong. The fact that we spent most of that summer in separate cities – the absence – only compounded it all.

In hindsight, it’s a wonder I didn’t ruin it. I didn’t just come on too strong; I was a lousy boyfriend in many ways. My traumatic childhood had made me resentful and left me with awful conflict management skills. I would overreact or withdraw – fight or flight! – over minor transgressions. If Usha was my soulmate at Yale, I didn’t deserve her. But still she stuck around.

Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Exclusive excerpt of 'Communion' – JD Vance remembers falling for Usha

Original Article on Source

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Published: May 12, 2026 at 01:01PM on Source: RON MAG

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Why JD Vance was 'obsessed' with wife Usha when they met – Exclusive memoir excerpt

Why JD Vance was &x27;obsessed&x27; with wife Usha when they met – Exclusive memoir excerpt Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY Sun...

 

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