Parents who were excited about the villain of the next “Toy Story” franchise film are about to be disappointed. Film director Andrew Stanton explained during a recent interview that the rumors aren’t technically true.
The teaser trailer, released in November, indicated that the villain this time around is a new tablet called “Lilypad,” which steals main character Bonnie’s attention as she forgoes playing to scroll. This recognizable storyline immediately resonated with parents and helped justify the idea of yet another “Toy Story” sequel.
“[Lilypad] is [the villain] to the toys because they’re understandably intimidated,” Stanton <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/toy-story-5-aging-woody-lilypad-1236750424/">told</a> Variety while clarifying the iPad stand-in is not meant to be the overall bad guy. 
“She’s just the next phase in Bonnie’s life. She’s built like a toy in the sense that she wants to help the kid go forward, but she’s got very different skills and zero experience, whereas Jessie has nothing but experience and is probably unprepared for what to do.”
Co-director McKenna Harris told the outlet that several “Toy Story 5” creators pushed to turn Lilypad into a true villain, but that idea was ultimately shot down.
“Lots of people at the studio wanted her to be a villain, and it was so hard to strike the balance because I think we all come in with such loaded emotions towards devices. At the end of the day, it never made sense,” she said.  
Harris added that the filmmakers tried to make the narrative realistic, which in this case meant learning to coexist with tech. “We’re not getting rid of these devices, no matter how hard we try. I’m always going to have my phone. I’m probably going to be partially addicted to it. So it felt right for the toys to have to grapple with that nuance.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Toy Story 5 | Final Trailer | Get Tickets Now" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QftAW9TTmuQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
While the minds behind “Toy Story 5” agree that tech is here to stay, they also revealed that the film relied on traditional animation techniques instead of straight AI.
“We’ve had machine learning since the beginning of Pixar as far as figuring things out for you occasionally, but it’s always been to make the tools work better. I have no interest in doing anything but working smarter, faster with another artist,” Stanton said.
Harris agreed, telling Variety, “Pixar is a technology company first, and so things are changing. Pixar is figuring out how to change along with it. But as far as our process on ‘Toy Story 5’ went, we had to figure it out ourselves, mainly because ultimately, what you’re seeing on screen is the work of a lot of awesome artists.”
The voice cast for &#8220;Toy Story 5&#8221; includes Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack, who return to their roles of Woody, Buzz, and Jessie. Greta Lee voices Lilypad.
The official synopsis says, “The toys are back and this time, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s jobs are challenged when they come face-to-face with Lilypad (voice of Greta Lee), a brand-new tablet device that arrives with her own disruptive ideas about what is best for their kid, Bonnie. Will playtime ever be the same?”
The full trailer was released on February 19. “Toy Story 5” hits theaters June 19.

Toy Story 5

‘Toy Story 5’ Plot Twist Set To Disappoint Parents

'Toy Story 5' Director Shares Plot Spoiler That Parents Won't Like

Animation

Children

Entertainment

Hollywood

Movies

Technology

Toy Story

The lead singer of Beartooth, an Ohio-based metalcore band, recently announced that he was gay despite being married to a woman for 14 years. 
Caleb Shomo, 33, declared on social media that he’s “a proudly gay man” after fans speculated on his sexuality. Now his wife, Fleur, has added her perspective to the conversation.
“Not really sure how to start this cause does anything even need to be said? But I guess I’ll just dive right in,” Fleur shared on Instagram Saturday. “The past few months have been a very disorientating and hurtful time to navigate. For both of us. But I will always want to love, protect, and support Caleb. I have cared more about his well being over the years than anything else in the world.”
She continued, “To see the confusion and pain he went through and the highs and lows and wanting to help but not knowing how. You never want anything more for your person than for them to just be ok. You also ask yourself constantly if you’re a bad person for wondering wtf this means for your world &amp; the anger you also feel. …You can love and support your person through the hardest time in their life, whilst also be completely demolished &amp; lose yourself at the same time.”
She confirmed the marriage is “over,” and wrote, “Nobody will know anything about our marriage like we do. And no one can ever truly know what depths of love exist between two people unless they are those people.”
“I already miss it &amp; my husband more than anything. Our story was a good one. And now it’s done,” Fleur said.
This was all in response to Shomo’s original <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYr3ld8GzI3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">post</a> on Saturday, which said, “There has been a lot of speculation surrounding my personal life as of late and I feel compelled to set the record straight before it affects those I love any further. I am a proudly gay man,” he told his Instagram followers. “This is something I’ve been unpacking and reckoning with in my life for quite some time now. It’s been difficult to navigate the feelings surrounding the subject and figure out what to do with this fact.” 
The post went on, “When it comes to my art/Beartooth, I have always strived to chase who I am in the deepest part of my soul from album to album. As you could gather if you’ve followed the band at all in the earlier years, there are 4 very self deprecating albums about exploring my religious upbringing, depression, self hatred, self loathing, and hopelessness. I am grateful for all these albums, yet feel embarrassed at times that I wouldn’t allow myself to really dig up the roots for so long.”
This was all after Shomo temporarily disabled his Instagram in March following the release of the music video for the Beartooth single &#8220;Free,&#8221; which featured him wearing a cropped leather jacket and dramatic makeup. 
The rock star left social media after the onslaught of “homophobic” comments he received following the music video’s release.

Shinedown: Dance, Kid, Dance Tour – New Orleans, LA

Rock Singer Comes Out As Gay And Wife Of 14 Years Reacts

Rock Singer Comes Out As 'Proudly Gay Man,' His Wife Of 14 Years Shares Her Reaction

LGBT

Music

rock music

Actress Milly Alcock is once again reacting to criticism of her upcoming female-led superhero movie, “Supergirl,” by blaming Christian dads and saying she’s glad to have triggered them.
The 26-year-old <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/features/milly-alcock-supe">spoke</a> to Variety last week about backlash ahead of the film&#8217;s release next month, insisting much of the criticism stems from her being a woman.
“I guess women know that this is just how it’s always been, unfortunately,” Alcock told the outlet. “And it’s from a lot of people whose profiles have no photo, who are burner accounts. Or someone’s name and then ‘Dad of four, Christian,’ which is hilarious to me.&#8221; 
&#8220;But I mean, whose opinion do you really care about? If you’re p***ing the right kind of people off, you’re doing OK,” she added.
This led to more reactions on social media. 
“I miss the days when actors and actresses wanted you to see their movies. Now they do everything they can to make you not want to go. Sometimes even before the first scene is shot,” one person <a href="https://x.com/SimonPhoenix77/status/2057885125480792300">observed</a>.
“In other words, they&#8217;re preemptively creating the narrative that this movie&#8217;s failure was caused by fan backlash to these comments rather than the movie itself being terrible. Got it,” another <a href="https://x.com/ChristandGuitar/status/2057808024635359667">said</a>.
DC Studios co-chairman and CEO Peter Safran praised Alcock&#8217;s handling of the criticism.
“I called her and just said, ‘You’re doing great! You’re handling it beautifully. You’re never going to make everybody happy. Just be true to yourself,’” he told Variety. “And I really do think she’s handling it well. I would also recommend, don’t wallow in it. It never makes you feel good.”
The “Supergirl” star preemptively <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/milly-alcock-vanities">blamed potential criticism</a> of the film on misogyny during a Vanity Fair interview published in March in a tactic described as “pre-release critical armor.”
“It definitely made me aware that simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on,” Alcock said when asked about the “inevitable backlash” she’d face. 
“We have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women’s bodies. I can’t really stop them. I can only be myself,” Alcock added.
The remarks were compared to Rachel Zegler’s controversial comments ahead of Disney’s “Snow White” being released.
Alcock also described &#8220;Supergirl&#8221; as a more personal story centered on Kara Zor-El, who she says is “given this incredible responsibility and doesn’t know how to deal with it.” 
“She’s not trying to save the world — she’s just trying to save her own,” Alcock told Vanity Fair. “This film is an excellent reminder that the world can be crumbling around you, but you can be the hero of your own story.”
The interview inspired many negative reactions on social media, with critics calling out Alcock for complaining about backlash that hadn’t even happened yet.
“These movies are so bad that they have to start attacking the fans before the movie even comes out,” one person <a href="https://x.com/NewsPolitics/status/2039035489760460880">said</a> at the time.

Milly Alcock

‘Supergirl’ Star Says She’s Glad To Trigger ‘Christian’ Dads

Celebrities

Feminism

Stephen Colbert spent a decade obsessing over President Donald Trump.
For his final “Late Show” appearance, the far-Left host wouldn’t so much as utter Trump’s name. By design, of course.
Thursday’s CBS finale proved a bizarre affair, a forced repudiation of what Colbert &amp; co. built over the show’s 11-year run. He pretended he was Johnny Carson signing off for the last time, an aw, shucks comic looking back on a show filled with gentle riffs on news and culture.
“The Late Show” was anything but that.
Still, Colbert must have decided not to give his literal devil his due. That left an hour-plus affair that felt dishonest and jarring. Think a mashup of forced gratitude and weak-tea jokes.
“The Late Show” went out not with Clapter but by defying its true nature.
The veteran host began with charity to both the gig and his employers.
“We were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years … we can’t take that for granted,” he said, despite having attacked the Tiffany Network early and often since it announced his cancellation last July.
Remember how, mere days ago, Colbert and former “Late Show” host David Letterman watched as employees hurled furniture from atop the Ed Sullivan Theater to target the CBS logo waiting below?
Lucky or spiteful? Colbert can’t make up his mind. Still.
Celebrities in the crowd interrupted Colbert’s final monologue, including Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tig Notaro, Ryan Reynolds, and “Saturday Night Live” veteran Tim Meadows. None proved funny, but the star power fed Colbert’s assertion that his cancellation will be a loss for the culture.
It’s actually more painful for stars who will have one less outlet to hawk their films, TV shows, and records.
Colbert described his late-night approach as “feeling the news with you” over the years, which made even less sense than his trademark “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/truthiness-meaning-word-origin">truthiness</a>” shtick.
He lectured audiences on how to process the news headlines and avoided stories that hurt his fellow Democrats. But he couldn’t say that aloud. Not even on his final night.
That last monologue avoided politics entirely, including a certain world leader. The results were tepid, like a weak spin on what Jay Leno shared for more than two decades on NBC’s “The Tonight Show.”
Colbert’s heart wasn’t in it. Nor were the writers’, apparently.
Yet throughout the night, Colbert flashed his considerable skills as a host and comic. He always had solid timing and delivery chops. That was never in question.
“What do I plan to do after tonight? The answer is, ‘drugs,’” he quipped, turning a milquetoast joke into a solid laugh.
Still, throughout the night, Colbert’s rage at his dismissal and anti-Trump fury peeked through. One daffy dolphin sketch included a line suggesting his dismissal “was purely a financial decision.”
Yes, a network has every right to cancel a show that loses a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/colbert-blames-producer-for-turning-late-show-into-left-wing-lecture-hour">reported $40 million a year.</a> No one has disputed that number, shared at the time of the show’s cancellation. Yet the legacy media and Colbert himself have done all they could to ignore that inconvenient truth.
Colbert played the rebellious employee to the end, forcing his band to play a classic “Peanuts” song he claimed could get CBS in legal hot water. Unlikely, but this Rebel Without a Cause never took any prisoners.
He played The Victim and Martyr Cards to the bitter end.
The final episode did land a stellar guest – Sir Paul McCartney.
Sir Paul remains miraculously unaffected by both Father Time and the fact that he’s Paul Bleepin’ McCartney. He’s just a funny, unassuming lad from Liverpool. Still.
The final interview was far from Colbert’s best, but the moment didn’t require a Walter Cronkite-level interrogation. Macca merely played along with the bits, an old pro delivering as usual.
McCartney did allow for two Trumpian references. He shared how he had to wear bright orange makeup when <a href="https://www.edsullivan.com/artists/the-beatles/">he appeared with his old band</a> at The Ed Sullivan Theater back in 1964.
“I hear that’s popular in certain circles these days,” Colbert said.
The host didn’t lean into that Orange Man Bad shtick, though. He wanted to make his final show about him, not the man who became his White Whale and drained the humor from him.
McCartney attempted a second Trumpian reference, explaining what it meant to play in America for the first time, way back when.
“America was the land of the free, the greatest democracy … that’s what it was, and still is hopefully,” the singer said, another wink to Colbert’s far-Left faithful.
Then things got … weird.
A recurring bit throughout the night found The Ed Sullivan Theater flooded with an odd green light. Later, backstage, a green wormhole appeared, ready to suck Colbert and everyone in the studio into a void.
They even trotted out astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to quasi-explain it.
You’ve got the number one late-night talk show but you’re still getting canceled, Tyson said, another attempt to ignore that $40 million annual loss.
“It’s not a hole, it’s a metaphor,” said Jon Stewart, offering his old “Daily Show” chum some wisdom.
“When faced with something dark &#8230; stare it down and laugh,” Stewart said, sharing some final wisdom for his pal. Colbert got paid untold millions for hosting a talk show, will write a future “Lord of the Rings” movie, and will likely host a podcast or similar program before the year ends.
If only the rest of us faced such dark challenges.
Then, Colbert’s other late-night hosts dropped by (except Bill Maher, who wouldn’t be caught dead in such stale shtick) for more forced gaiety.
The show wrapped with McCartney performing The Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye” while Colbert sang backup with Elvis Costello, ex-“Late Show” bandleader Jon Batiste, and the band’s current head honcho, Louis Cato.
“This may come for all of our shows,” fellow far-Left talker John Oliver said late in the final episode, referencing Colbert’s fate. Yes, it will, and likely sooner than later. Even <a href="https://www.aol.com/articles/letterman-night-tv-future-surprised-143532596.html">Letterman predicted as much recently.</a>
And everyone in The Ed Sullivan Theater on Thursday was likely in denial as to why.
***
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News&#8217; Big Hollywood. He&#8217;s also the host of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hollywood-in-toto-podcast-w-christian-toto/id1186449155">The Hollywood in Toto Podcast</a>. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en">@HollywoodInToto</a>.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert Exits Stage Left

Stephen Colbert

The Late Show

The 911 call placed by a person reporting Britney Spears driving “erratically” prior to her DUI arrest was made public this week, along with a new video showing her arrest.
In the newly released audio, a caller described the driver, later identified as Spears, as swerving “in and out of lanes” and “erratically slamming on the brakes.” 
“I’m reporting an erratic driving person. They are driving a BMW,” the caller is heard saying in an audio recording obtained by <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/05/21/celebrity-news/britney-spears-harrowing-911-dui-calls-revealed-as-drivers-beg-police-to-help-erratic-singer/">Page Six</a>. 
“It almost sideswiped a couple of vehicles. It’s driving at high speeds. I’m worried they’re going to crash with somebody,” the anonymous 911 caller added. 
Another call was placed to a dispatcher for California Highway Patrol, the outlet noted, and that citizen reported identical behavior. 
“Possible drunk driver. It is a black BMW,” the second caller said. “They’re randomly braking in and out of the lanes. … Almost sideswiped three or four vehicles. I am loosely trailing them.”
A video of the incident also dropped on Thursday, which includes footage of Spears after she was pulled over. The pop singer is heard asking repeatedly about her cell phone, admitting to taking Adderall, Prozac, and Lamictal, and then making the declaration, &#8220;I&#8217;m like a Stepford wife.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Britney Spears makes strange ‘Stepford wife’ confession during DUI arrest" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K_zEA-9I63M?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
There were even more details about the pop star’s arrest earlier this year revealed in the newly released police report. 
In the report, it was noted that the officer detected “the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from” the vehicle, per <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/britney-spears-argued-police-denied-intoxicated-march-dui-arrest-footage/">CBS News</a>. Spears reportedly said she had one mimosa seven hours earlier.
She declined when officers asked her to get out of the vehicle, saying she was afraid of traffic, and also declined their offer to drive around the corner to exit. &#8220;I&#8217;ll make you food or lasagna, whatever you want. I have a pool,&#8221; Spears said.
“I could probably drink four bottles of wine and take care of you. I’m an angel,” she allegedly told an officer.
Spears also told law enforcement she had ingested prescription drugs that day, including the bipolar medication Lamictal. When police searched her vehicle, they found a bottle of Adderall that was not prescribed to Spears and a wine glass in the front cup holder, CBS News reported. 
Spears was found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.06% and 0.05% after two Breathalyzer tests administered around an hour after she was pulled over.
Spears took a deal on May 4, pleading guilty to violating California’s “wet reckless” law. This is a lesser charge offered at the county prosecutor’s discretion. She will serve 12 months of probation, enroll in a three-month substance abuse program, and pay a fine of $571, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/britney-spears-speaks-out-after-dui-rehab">reported</a>.
On March 4, the California Highway Patrol arrested Spears on suspicion of DUI after officers observed her driving erratically and at a high rate of speed near Thousand Oaks. Spears was the “solo occupant” of the BMW and “showed signs of impairment and submitted to a series of field sobriety tests.”
Her representative released a statement at the time, calling it an “unfortunate incident” and saying that it was “completely inexcusable.”
“Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law, and hopefully this can be the first step in a long-overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life. Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time,” the statement said. “Her boys are going to be spending time with her. Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for well-being.”
Spears checked herself into rehab in April.
The singer was charged with a misdemeanor hit-and-run in 2007, though the case was later dismissed. The following year, Spears was hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation and placed under a conservatorship largely overseen by her father. The arrangement lasted 13 years, ending in November 2021 when a judge terminated it amid the fervent “Free Britney” movement.

Britney Spears

WATCH: Britney Spears Makes Strange ‘Stepford Wife’ Confession During DUI Arrest

California

Hilary Duff graced the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition this month and immediately turned heads while showing the world you don’t have to bare it all to be that girl.
The child actress, icon, singer, and now mom of four told SI she would not pose in a bikini for the famous photoshoot. Instead, the 38-year-old opted for a more modest look.
&#8220;Like, I have had four kids. I feel comfortable showing this. I don&#8217;t feel comfortable showing this,&#8221; Duff told Kylie Kelce, another mom of four, on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCcCQcXMKVw">Not Gonna Lie</a> podcast. &#8220;And they&#8217;re like, &#8216;Got it. Got it. Got it.'&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The 2026 SI Swim issue officially dropped Tuesday <a href="https://t.co/6WtFaChAhf">https://t.co/6WtFaChAhf</a>
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) <a href="https://twitter.com/SInow/status/2054181690961023039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
Duff donned a white one-piece with a deep plunge neckline for the summer 2026 issue. Her hair was slightly wavy, reminding millennials of Duff’s often crimped locks on the hit Disney Channel show &#8220;Lizzie McGuire.&#8221; The makeup was a natural, glowy look, perfect for the occasion, as Duff posed at a sandy beach bar in South Caicos back in February.
&#8220;The editor-in-chief is incredible. The photographer was who I wanted. It got to be my whole styling team, my hair and makeup,&#8221; she said. &#8220;They wanted me to feel my best.&#8221;
But this shoot was about more than looking pretty. Duff told Kelce she wanted this shoot to represent how proud she was of her body after giving birth to four children and showing up for her family every single day.
&#8220;My body’s worked really hard for me and produced an entire family,&#8221; Duff said.
She shares her son Luca, 14, with ex-husband Mike Comrie, and three daughters, Banks, seven, Mae, five, and Townes, who turned two earlier this month, with husband Matthew Koma.
In a previous interview with <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@time/video/7632386823280545054">Time</a>, Duff opened up about how her views on a woman’s body changed, especially after becoming a mother.
&#8220;I obviously, you know, grew up during that time where all of us were trying to, like, disappear and be waifs, and that’s not natural for my body,&#8221; she said. &#8220;For most of our bodies, especially as we endure the hormonal changes or motherhood and pregnancy, and all of those amazing things that make us women, right? So stronger, not smaller is a huge, impactful statement that resonates with me.&#8221;
Arguably the most popular magazine cover to be featured on, Duff, despite her confidence in her skin, was still intimidated to &#8220;model,&#8221; she told Kelce.
&#8220;My first reaction was like, &#8216;sh*t&#8217;— I thought I&#8217;d get in, like, rip-roarin&#8217; shape,&#8221; Duff said. &#8220;And I&#8217;m also, I&#8217;m not a model. I&#8217;m 5&#8217;2&#8230; had four kids… it scared me.&#8221;
The pop star, who is touring this summer for the first time in almost two decades, decided to embrace the nerves and do the cover shoot.
&#8220;At this stage in my life, I feel really proud of myself.&#8221;

Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Hilary Duff Ditches Tradition For 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover

Disney

hilary duff

News

Actress Michelle Pfeiffer detailed what she described as harrowing work conditions on the set of the Taylor Sheridan project “The Madison.”
The 68-year-old star <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PzUeBcqPg8">discussed it</a> during an appearance on the Los Angeles Times podcast, “In Conversation,” earlier this week.
“It was all a little bit rushed for everyone, and so there weren’t certain accommodations set up,” Pfeiffer said. “There is no bathroom, even the outhouse is not real. So there’s no AC, there’s no plumbing, there isn’t anything. But it is breathtakingly glorious.”
“We didn’t really have trailers there, because they were shooting 360, so they couldn’t have a bunch of trailers around. So there’s really no place for us to sit,” she went on. “There was no bathroom nearby. There was no food. And in the winter, it was cold. It was like, ‘Could we have a heater?’ And in the summer, it was like, ‘Could I get an umbrella because the sun’s really intense?’”
Pfeiffer stars in the Paramount+ neo-Western drama series “The Madison” along with Kurt Russell, Beau Garrett, Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, and Ben Schnetzer. The show’s description calls it, “a heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River Valley of Central Montana.” The show was filmed in Montana and Texas. 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Madison | Official Trailer | Paramount+" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OSb-X_YkLg4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
She’s not the first professional working on a Sheridan project to speak on the extreme set conditions. Cole Hauser, who worked on Sheridan&#8217;s massively popular “Yellowstone” series in addition to the spinoff project “Dutton Ranch,” had some thoughts about the challenging conditions in the latter.
“Coming down there, it was just a totally different world,” he <a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/features/dutton-ranch-beth-rip-actors-creating-sexy-chemistry-1236749779/">told</a> Variety earlier this month. 
“The weather was different. We started in July and August, and that was painful. It was 118 degrees, and you’re in all black, sitting on a horse. The trailers aren’t 200 yards away — they’re miles away. So you’re out there in the elements. Getting into that and being able to survive the first couple of months was a feat in itself.”
“The Madison” premiered on March 14 and has generally <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_madison">positive reviews</a>, with Pfeiffer in particular being praised for her performance.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Fan-Favorite Actress Details Harrowing And ‘Breathtakingly Glorious’ Taylor Sheridan TV Set

Paramount

Taylor Sheridan

Television

After a long, painful goodbye, Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” on CBS gasped its final dying breath on Thursday from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City.
As many critics are saying, it’s about time.
President Donald Trump, the main subject of Colbert’s yearslong tirades, <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116616669222083429">said</a> Friday morning, “Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted so long! No talent, no ratings, no life. He was like a dead person. You could take any person off of the street and they would be better than this total jerk. Thank goodness he’s finally gone!”
&#8220;Stephen Colbert’s firing from CBS was the &#8216;Beginning of the End&#8217; for untalented, nasty, highly overpaid, not funny, and very poorly rated Late Night Television Hosts,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116618496946919115">added</a>. &#8220;Others, of even less talent, to soon follow. May they all Rest in Peace!&#8221;
During the last episode, Colbert skipped the monologue when he walked out and addressed the audience, saying, “This show…has been a joy for us to do for you. In fact, we call this show the ‘joy machine,’ all right? …We call it the joy machine because to do this many shows, it has to be a machine. But the thing is, if you choose to do it with joy, it doesn&#8217;t hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears.” 
The host continued, “On night one of ‘The Colbert Report’ back in the day, I said, ‘Anyone can read the news to you, I promise to feel the news at you.’ And I realized pretty soon in this job that our job over here was different. We were here to feel the news with you. And I don&#8217;t know about you, but I sure have felt it.”
The hyper-partisan late night host brought former Beatles band member Paul McCartney on as his final guest. McCartney gave Colbert a framed, signed photo of The Beatles playing during “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964.
“Wow,” Colbert said, joking that the caption said, “To Stephen, you’re better than The Beatles, Paul McCartney.”
The show ended with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jon Stewart, and Andy Cohen helping Colbert transition through a wormhole portal that opened to swallow the show. McCartney was tasked with cutting power from the control room, then the wormhole turned the Ed Sullivan Theater into a miniature version of itself inside a snow globe. 
And then it was over.
CBS announced last summer that “The Late Show,” which began in 1993, would conclude this year and not be replaced with a traditional late-night format.
“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount,” the network said at the time.
Colbert followed the announcement with an expletive-laced monologue in which he blasted President Donald Trump and CBS. During the segment, Colbert referenced Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company, noting that it paid Trump a $16 million settlement after being accused of election interference.
CBS Entertainment CEO George Cheeks later reiterated that the show had been losing “significant” amounts of money, describing the losses as being in the “tens of millions of dollars.”
“At the end of the day, it just wasn’t sustainable to continue,” Cheeks said.
Colbert became more reflective in later interviews, blaming changing audiences rather than his political rants on the show’s demise.
“It’s possible that two things can be true,” Colbert <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/colbert-blames-producer-for-turning-late-show-into-left-wing-lecture-hour">told</a> The New York Times during an April interview. “Broadcast can be in trouble. They cannot monetize because of things like YouTube, because of the competition of streaming. They’ve got the books, and I do not have any desire to debate them over what they say their business model is and how it does not work for them anymore. But less than two years before they called to say it’s over, they were very eager for me to be signed for a long time. So, something changed.”
CBS will replace “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” with a new late-night program block led by comedian Byron Allen. It’s described as being politically neutral and appropriate for all ages.
“I tell the comedians we’re shooting ‘I Love Lucy,&#8217;” Allen told The Los Angeles Times in 2025. “Something that’s evergreen. So I don’t want to hear any political humor. Just be funny, family-friendly, and advertiser-friendly.”

America Waves Goodbye To Stephen Colbert As Trump Lands A Final Parting Shot

Late-Night

It was <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/quinta-brunson-betty-boop-movie-1236754550/">announced this week</a> that actress Quinta Brunson will star as Betty Boop in an upcoming film adaptation, sparking spirited discussion over Hollywood&#8217;s trend of casting traditionally white characters with actors of different races. 
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh criticized the decision after Discussing Film shared the announcement on social media.
“There is only one reason to bring back an iconic piece of Americana just to race swap it like this,&#8221; Walsh wrote. &#8220;Even a faithful Betty Boop reboot probably wouldn’t sell many tickets. A race swapped Betty Boop has absolutely no chance of success. But they do it anyway out of spite.&#8221;
Walsh later claimed the account blocked him and disabled comments on the post after the backlash intensified.
“This is a pretty interesting way to have a discussion about film,” he wrote in a follow-up post.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The account “Discussing Film” turned off the comments and then blocked me. This is a pretty interesting way to have a discussion about film. <a href="https://t.co/XIrQNOiL4w">pic.twitter.com/XIrQNOiL4w</a>
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog/status/2057435837244035415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Daily Wire host Michael Knowles also weighed in on the controversy during his show on Thursday.
&#8220;Betty Boop is a white lady. And it changes the story if you try to change that,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We&#8217;re told that race doesn&#8217;t matter. It&#8217;s a social construct. It&#8217;s totally meaningless. So all the white characters can and really should be played by black people or Hispanic people or just non-white people. But surely no one&#8217;s ever casting Tom Cruise to play Malcolm X in the autobiography of Malcolm X.&#8221;
As the controversy lit up online, many commenters argued that Betty Boop was actually based on a black woman, but even the left-leaning outlet PBS admitted that is a misrepresentation. 
“A short item promoting PBS’ Black History Month programming suggested the Betty Boop cartoon character was based on a black performer of the Jazz Age,” the outlet <a href="https://www.pbs.org/publiceditor/blogs/pbs-public-editor/betty-oops/">posted</a> in 2021. “That’s not entirely true.”
The outlet noted that Betty Boop is widely believed to have been inspired by jazz performer Helen Kane.
Betty Boop debuted on August 9, 1930, in the Fleischer Studios cartoon short “Dizzy Dishes,” in which she appeared as an anthropomorphic dog. Kane later sued Fleischer and Paramount Pictures in 1932, claiming Betty Boop was a “deliberate caricature” of her “baby vamp” persona, the outlet noted.
Despite these facts, there are plenty of commenters who insist Betty Boop was inspired by the black singer Esther Jones, or, at the very least, that Kane was ripping off Jones the whole time, thereby indirectly contributing to the creation of the character.
Brunson, best known for creating and starring in ABC&#8217;s “Abbott Elementary,” is developing and starring in the film adaptation through her company, Fifth Chance Productions, which teamed up with Mark Fleischer, who is the grandson of Betty Boop creator Max Fleischer, according to a Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/quinta-brunson-betty-boop-movie-1236754550/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a>. 
The outlet noted that the movie will trace the origin and evolution of Betty Boop through the perspective of her creator.
“Betty Boop is one of our nation’s most beloved cartoon characters, yet somehow still remains pleasantly niche,” Brunson wrote in a statement. “She has had a quiet but undeniable impact on culture for nearly a century. After Erin and I met with Mark and learned more about his grandfather’s creation of Betty, I realized there was a much deeper story to tell. One that could be explored in a way that feels refreshing, subversive, and timeless, much like Betty herself.”
Fleischer said, “When Quinta first approached me with the unique concept of a movie about the relationship of my grandfather, Max Fleischer, and his creation, Betty Boop, I was breathtaken. Quinta so embodies Betty’s love of life, intelligence, humor, sassiness and compassion that the relationship between her as Betty and Max burst into life at its mere mention.”

Betty Boop and Quinta Brunson

Hollywood’s Latest Race-Swap Debate Centers On Iconic Cartoon Character

Cartoon

Race

Comedian Shane Gillis had the perfect snarky response after Chelsea Handler publicly accused him of being “racist” and “sexist” for making jokes.
“This is a big moment for Chelsea. I am glad she’s capitalizing. Good for her. We’re all rooting for her. Anyway, come see me July 17th at the football stadium in Philly,” Gillis <a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/chelsea-handler-slams-shane-gillis-tony-hinchcliffe-racists-1236755525/">told</a> Variety.
The drama started after the Netflix special “The Roast of Kevin Hart,” which caused all kinds of controversy for including edgy jokes. One SNL star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/snl-star-drops-out-of-kevin-hart-roast-complains-writers-were-too-white">dropped out</a> because the joke style annoyed him so much. 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="CHELSEA HANDLER FULL EPISODE &quot;FUNNY KNOWING YOU&quot;" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mB_IMMzDL7M?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Handler was also miffed that political correctness was not properly honored during the event, as she explained during an appearance on the podcast “Funny Knowing You.”  
“It’s just everything we know: that they’re racist, that they’re bigots, that they’re sexist,” Handler said of Gillis and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. “That they think they’re invincible.”
“It was gross. I don’t find those jokes to be funny — jokes about lynching black people,” the former talk show host complained. “Lynching is not a joke. That’s worse than rape. You’re not joking about rape, are you? … You know you can’t do that, but you can say ‘lynching’?”
This was in response to the joke Gillis made, saying Hart is “so short, you’d have to lynch him from a bonsai tree.”
Handler also took issue with Gillis joking about roast participant Sheryl Underwood’s husband, who died by suicide in 1990, despite him clarifying he had cleared the jokes with Underwood ahead of time. 
“I found them making fun of Sheryl Underwood’s dead husband who committed suicide [gross],” Handler went on. “If she says she’s fine with that, she’s fine with that. I wasn’t fine with that. I thought that was disgusting, too.”
“There was so much disgustingness. I knew it was going to be such a gross vibe that I would be able to elevate it, no problem,&#8221; the comedian insisted. &#8220;Kevin didn’t deserve that. He deserved an elevated roast.&#8221;
Hours after Handler’s podcast episode aired, Gillis put out a podcast episode of his own with Underwood as a guest. She confirmed that the jokes about her deceased husband were still fine by her. 
“Sometimes humor is the thing,” she told Gillis. “It’s the most uncomfortable humor that lessens the tension and the stress.”
Hart was also more than OK with all the jokes. He posted a video on Instagram following the event, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYNuiWHP6m7/">saying</a> in part, “That, my friend, is what the f*ck a roast is supposed to be — hard-hitting, relentless jokes.”

Handler and Gillis

Shane Gillis Gives Savage Response After Chelsea Handler Calls Him ‘Racist’

Shane Gillis Offers Savage Response To Chelsea Handler Calling Him 'Racist'

Chelsea Handler

comedian

Comedy

Kevin Hart

Billy Joel is not happy about the upcoming biopic “Billy and Me” and says it&#8217;s being made without his permission.
“Billy and Me” is told from the perspective of Joel’s first manager, Irwin Mazur, and details the time before he became famous with the release of the 1973 iconic single “Piano Man.” Per <a href="https://variety.com/2026/music/news/billy-joel-biopic-billy-and-me-john-ottman-1236753697/">Variety</a>, casting is currently underway, and the film is scheduled to start shooting later this year.
The moviemakers procured rights to Mazur’s life story and to that of drummer Jon Small, who played with Joel in the bands The Hassles and Attila. But they do not have the rights to Joel’s music or life. 
A statement from Joel’s rep said, “Since 2021, the parties involved have been officially notified that they do not possess Billy Joel’s life rights and will not be able to secure the music rights required for this project. Billy Joel has not authorized or supported this project in any capacity, and any attempt to move forward without it would be both legally and professionally misguided.” 
Film producer Adam Ripp told Variety in reply to the statement, “The story of ‘Billy and Me’ is told from the perspective of Billy’s manager at the time, Irwin Mazur, and features Billy’s lifelong friend and former drummer Jon Small. The project has acquired the exclusive life story rights of Irwin Mazur, as well as the life story rights of Jon Small.”
“‘Billy and Me’ focuses on the period surrounding Billy Joel and The Hassles, and features the cover songs performed by them during that era,” he added. “As such, characterizing ‘Billy and Me’ as ‘legally and professionally misguided’ does not accurately reflect the nature of the project nor the legally obtained rights underlying the production. The film is based on Irwin Mazur and Jon Small’s firsthand experiences and Irwin’s legitimate right to tell his own life story and perspective regarding the events depicted in the film.”
The film will likely delve into the story of Joel’s first wife, Elizabeth Weber, the inspiration for his hit singles, “She’s Always a Woman” and “Just the Way You Are.” 
Weber was married to Small and had an affair with Joel. During a career decline, Joel became depressed and attempted suicide, as he <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/06/entertainment/billy-joel-documentary-suicide-attempts">discussed</a> in the HBO documentary, “And So It Goes.” Small found Joel after one of the attempts and brought him to the hospital. 
Joel and Small became friends again, and he and Weber also repaired their relationship. They married in 1973, and she became his manager, then divorced in 1982. The Grammy Award-winning singer has been married to his fourth wife, Alexis Roderick, since 2015.

Billy Joel

Billy Joel Is Really Mad About The Movie Coming Out About Him

Billy Joel Blasts Upcoming Biopic As 'Professionally Misguided'

singer

“Top Gun: Maverick” star Miles Teller explained this week why he avoided profile interviews for more than a decade. The 39-year-old star said it all traces back to writer Anna Peele from Esquire calling him a “d*ck” in her piece.
“That was so mishandled,” Teller <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/miles-teller-cannes-interview-paper-tige-1235194680/">told</a> IndieWire in Cannes as he promoted his upcoming film, “Paper Tiger.”
“The reason why I have not done profiles is because I said, ‘Wow, if I’m not doing this interview on camera, this person can misquote things or put things out of order or say things that didn’t happen.’ It felt like such a violation of what actually transpired.”
The 2015 <a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/interviews/a36894/miles-teller-interview-0915/">Esquire profile</a> in question opened with the line, “You’re sitting across from Miles Teller at the Luminary restaurant in Atlanta and trying to figure out if he’s a d*ck.”
Later, Peele concludes, “yeah, he is kind of a d*ck,” claiming Teller compared a highball glass to his genitals and generally acted arrogant during their conversation. 
Teller said the whole experience was enough to turn him off to profile interviews completely. 
“I told my team, ‘Guys, I don’t think I’m doing this again, because I’m reading this and this doesn’t sound like me to me. This is not life, so why would I ever want to be a part of something where they can just put that in?&#8217;” he continued. “So it’s unfortunate that being a good person, that doesn’t sell. People want to click on the negativity. If you go to bed and put your head on your pillow and how you treat people truly, that’s what matters. That [2015] interview was like 12 years ago.”
Teller said that in the end, “the actors, the directors, the crew and the producers” know the real him because, “you can’t hide who you are when you’re on set.”
The “Whiplash” star also reacted to the Esquire piece right after it came out, posting on <a href="https://x.com/Miles_Teller/status/629045612567248896">social media</a>, “Esquire couldn’t be more wrong. I don’t think there’s anything cool or entertaining about being a d*ck or an a**hole. Very misrepresenting.”
One year later, he addressed the incident during a conversation with The Guardian in 2016.
“Oh, I felt frickin’ helpless, I felt extremely misrepresented, I felt a little angry,” he <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/21/miles-teller-i-felt-extremely-misrepresented-war-dogs">told</a> the outlet. “For the average person, they are reading this article, they haven’t met you, they’re like, ‘Oh Miles is an a**hole. You didn’t hear it? You didn’t read that Esquire? Yeah, she said he was an a**hole – he must be!’
“I’d say that you get a little more guarded but I’m actually not,” Teller added. “Certain times I’ll choose my words very carefully and maybe come off a little more boring. But I also think that’s why people – certain people – do relate to me: because there is no agenda, honestly. I was raised middle-class in a small town. I have all my same friends from high school. I’m close with my family. I’m dating a normal girl. So I want to feel people think I’m a man of the people. Because I feel that way.”

Miles Teller

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Star Reveals What Led To His Decade-Long Interview Refusal

Mainstream Media

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