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'Grotesque puppet show': CNN alum ripped for interviewing AI version of Parkland victim

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall
Ron Sachs – CNP / MEGA

Jim Acosta's journalistic integrity is being questioned after the CNN alum interviewed an AI avatar of Parkland shooting victim Joaquin Oliver, who died in the 2018 tragedy along with 16 other people. While the conversation was organized by Oliver's parents' gun control group, Change the Ref, in honor of his 25th birthday, the decision wasn't well-received.

"I was taken from this world too soon due to gun violence while at school," the AI version of Oliver said in the interview. "It's important to talk about these issues so we can create a safer future for everyone."

The AI version of Oliver went on to discuss the Second Amendment with Acosta.

"I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support and community engagement," it said. "We need to create safe spaces for conversations and connections, making sure everyone feels seen and heard. It's about building a culture of kindness and understanding."

"Though my life was cut short, I want to keep inspiring others to connect and advocate for change," the AI Oliver added.

The mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, continues to be used in activism against gun violence. But viewers didn't feel like Acosta moved the needle with his AI interview, which he shared on YouTube.

Critics took to Bluesky to share their concerns.

"You don't have an interview. You're facilitating a grotesque puppet show, using grieving parents' heartbreak for a bit," one Bluesky user wrote. "The bar is in hell and you still managed to trip on it."

"You're interviewing an AI recreation of a person who was murdered by a spree killer? Wow," another Bluesky user complained to Acosta. "It's hard to accept that no one around you suggested that this was probably in the worst possible taste. AI exists, we know that, but just because you CAN do something with it, that doesn't mean you SHOULD."

"'I'll have a one of a kind interview with Joaquin Oliver.' … No, you won't. You're talking to a glorified answering machine message, you dingbat," another critic wrote.

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Colleen Hoover's 'It Ends With Us' follow-up debuts first trailer: Watch

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall
Paramount Pictures/YouTube

Colleen Hoover is returning to the big screen with another adaptation of one of her books. A year after the headline-making adaptation of her 2016 novel It Ends With Us opened in theaters, the first trailer for the adaptation of her 2019 book Regretting You has debuted.

Allison Williams, Dave Franco, McKenna Grace, Willa Fitzgerald, Scott Eastwood and Mason Thames star in the film, which centers around a young mother and widow (Williams) as she bonds with her widowed brother-in-law (Franco) over their mutual loss, all while navigating the complex relationship with her teen daughter (Grace) as they both explore new romances.

After screenwriter Susan McMartin handled the script, while The Fault in Our Stars filmmaker Josh Boone directed Regretting You.

It Ends With Us — which performed well at the box office in spite of mixed reviews — was famously directed by star Justin Baldoni. His legal drama with costar Blake Lively is still playing out in court.

Hoover's books are clearly resonating with Hollywood. Her 2022 novel Reminders of Him is getting an adaptation starring Maika Monroe in early 2026, and an adaptation of her 2018 novel Verity starring Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnett and Dakota Johnson is due in October 2026.

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'Wednesday' season 2 reviews are in: What the critics are saying

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

Everyone's favorite moody teenager is back!

Season 2, Part 1, of Netflix's Wednesday starring Jenna Ortega and Catherine Zeta-Jones is out now — and critics are weighing in.

Courtesy of Netflix

Perhaps the most beloved member of the Addams Family, Wednesday (Ortega) returns to Nevermore Academy for the fall term as she continues to use her psychic abilities to try to solve a shocking mystery and dive deeper into her ancestral history.

Variety's Aramide Tinubu applauded the series' consistency and the abilities of its leading lady. "Like its first season, the first part of Wednesday Season 2 is spooky, kooky and mysterious. As Wednesday races against the clock to unpack her startling vision of Enid and prevent it from coming to fruition, she understands there are certain darker aspects of her precognitions she still hasn't grasped," she wrote. "Wednesday has been criticized for being a Netflix-ified version of the Charles Addams classic, with Nevermore standing in as a Hogwarts-type institution. And while that may be true, it doesn't diminish the exquisite details embedded in the show, its mystifying darkness or Ortega's commanding control of her character."

MEGA

While some praised Ortega, others critiqued her performance. The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Fienberg, for example, claimed the young star gets "lost" amid the "overcrowded" season.

"Whereas my original review of the first season praised Wednesday for having the restraint and focus to not simply become The Addams Family, Wednesday has simply become The Addams Family, complete with a recast, still underutilized, Lurch (Joonas Suotamo) and the always handy Thing (Victor Dorobantu). Only Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen) hasn't become a full-time member of the ensemble, but he appears in the midseason' 'finale' (words have lost all meaning)," he wrote.

The Guardian's Sarah Dempster gave the series' latest installment four stars but seemed to have mixed feelings on the story. "Fun is to be had in the return of Catherine Zeta-Jones's, woozy, pillowy Morticia Addams if not in Luis Guzmán's lumpy, grinning Gomez, whose character, as ever, seems oddly unfinished, as if he'd abandoned rehearsals halfway through, having been distracted, perhaps, by a scotch egg," she wrote, adding that "minor quibbles aside, the season opener is wonderfully skittish and dense with jokes and plot."

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Pop star dominates 2025 MTV VMAs

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall

Lady Gaga and her iconic meat dress made quite an impact at the 2010 MTV VMAs, and the pop star continues to build a legacy at the award show 15 years later, as she is the most-nominated artist this year.

The Mother Monster's 12 new nominations include artist of the year, best album for Mayhem and best direction, best art direction, best cinematography, best editing, best choreography and best visual effects for "Abracadabra." She scored the other four nominations — video of the year, song of the year, best collaboration and best pop — for her hit duet with Bruno Mars, "Die with a Smile."

Lisa OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

Aside from Gaga, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus and Tate McRae all scored multiple nominations for their work this year.

This is Gaga's third time dominating the awards show, and fans were enthusiastic about the news.

"Lady gaga is the best out there," one fan wrote.

"The run Gaga has been on is unmatched. Each era, something new, but always fresh," another penned.

"THIS REALLY IS GAGAS YEAR," someone else declared.

But not everyone was thrilled for the "Just Dance" chart-topper.

"Did that with 0 good songs in over a decade. Impressive. Not that much deserved. Right, guys?" one critic wrote.

"And that's how you know the entire industry is rigged," another hater shared.

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'South Park' mocks DHS for using controversial premiere episode as ICE recruitment ploy

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

South Park isn't having it with Donald Trump and his administration's antics.

After the United States Department of Homeland Security used a teaser still from the Comedy Central series to encourage people to join ICE, the show's creators took to X slam the agency.

"Wait, so we ARE relevant?" South Park's X account commented on the DHS post, adding a crude hashtag for "eat a bag of d****."

The X exchange is just the latest move in the back and forth between the White House and the adult cartoon, which never backs away from making fun of the Republican president. In the season 27 premiere, South Park depicted Trump in bed with Satan while complaining about his microp****. 

The Trump admin lashed out at South Park in response: "This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention," spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak."

Comedy Central

"The left's hypocrisy truly has no end – for years they have come after South Park for what they labeled as 'offense' content, but suddenly they are praising the show," Rogers continued. "Just like the creators of South Park, the left has no authentic or original content, which is why their popularity continues to hit record lows."

According to Nielsen and internal data, South Park's season 27 launch raked in 5.9 million viewers across Comedy Central and Paramount+ in its first three days.

Comedy Central

On the season premiere episode titled "Sermon on the 'Mount," creators crafted a bold takedown of Trump and Paramount Global after the company settled a defamation lawsuit with the former star of The Apprentice.

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'80s cop series gets Netflix comedy movie remake

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall
ABC/Disney

Popular 1980s police procedural T.J. Hooker is getting a revival on Netflix. According to TheWrap, Jarrad Paul and Andy Mogel are developing a film adaptation of the series for the streaming platform.

The cop series starring William Shatner, Heather Locklear and James Darren first premiered in 1982 on ABC and aired its final episode in 1986 after five seasons.

The original show chronicles "the weekly adventures of tough-as-nails veteran police officer Sgt. T.J. Hooker, who rides the beat with his rookie partner Vince Romano."

Deadline first reported the news, noting that the retelling could take a comedic turn as the original "roughneck" approach to crime fighting could be seen as "out of place in a more woke world."

On X, fans of the series had a mixed reaction to the news.

"I am sure @WilliamShatner is ready and able to reprise the role," one user joked of the now-94-year-old actor, who portrayed the titular cop.

"The T. J. Hooker cast was perfection," another fan chimed in. "Netflix will juice it up so only the names are recognizable. So why not just write a new script? The target audience wasn't born for the original show."

"How can you top the 1980s and this cast… I watch the reruns and laugh," someone else shared. "It was so bad it was good."

"More proof Hollywood is creatively bankrupt," yet another person griped.

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'Freakier Friday' reviews are in: What the critics are saying 

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are officially back for Freakier Friday.

The A-listers return to the iconic dual roles of mother (Tess) and daughter (Anna) from the 2003 Disney smash Freaky Friday in the highly anticipated sequel, which opens in theaters on August 8.

©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

In the 2025 installment, the mother-daughter duo has déjà vu when the body-swap experience plagues them yet again. This time, Anna's daughter and soon-to-be stepdaughter get involved in a four-way switch.

With the two Hollywood stars reunited and a new twist on the premise, what do the critics think of Freakier Friday? Deadline's Pete Hammond admits that although the plot laid out by screenwriter Jordan Weiss may be confusing, the flick is a good time for all.

"I do have to confess that with all of this body switching and the various subplots Weiss has introduced, it isn't always easy to keep track of it all, but in the end it pays off, a feel-good comedy ripe for the times as evidenced by the loud laughter at the screening I attended of this nostalgic Disney film that is about as Disney as it gets," he wrote.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw heaped praise on Curtis for her comedic chops and the script for not being melodramatic. "Another version of this movie might have wanted to dip its toe into the issues of body image and identity: Freakier Friday keeps it light, partly as a result of Curtis's jokey grandma, in whose knockabout generational presence there is no question of anything tricky. Curtis gets the laughs with her puppyishly uninhibited performance and there are some great gags, including one at the expense of oldsters who use a certain social media platform," he wrote.

As for Lohan, the critic claims she does a "reasonable job, although her own body-swapped status as the legendary wild-child of old who is now playing a stressed middle-aged person has to remain unemphasized, simply because Lohan doesn't really have the comedy chops."

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

According to Variety's Owen Gleiberman, the sequel misses the opportunity to expand the rebranding of the switch-up situation. "The stage is set for an even wilder comedy than Freaky Friday. Yet somehow it doesn't quite happen that way. What we're longing to see is that inside-out performative magic, the irrepressible primal comedy of an actor playing a character who's literally channeling someone else. We want to feel that body-swap tension. But in Freakier Friday this plays out in a weirdly limited way and for a confluence of reasons," he wrote.

The Washington Post's Ty Burr gave it two and a half stars, calling it an "unnecessary" yet "inoffensive" sequel. "More frantic than funny but sweet in its plastic Disney way, Freakier Friday will be a welcome and effective date movie for mothers, daughters, grandmothers and anyone else who had the 2003 Freaky Friday on heavy DVD rotation with Mean Girls in the first years of the new millennium. All other audiences are warned away," he wrote.

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Francis Ford Coppola shares health update from Rome hospital

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA

Francis Ford Coppola took to Instagram to reassure fans that he is ok after being hospitalized in Rome for heart-related issues.

"Da Dada (what my kids call me) is fine, taking an opportunity while in Rome to do the update of my 30-year-old afib procedure with its inventor, a great Italian doctor – Dr. Andrea Natale! I am well," Coppola told fans.

Both friends and fans rushed to share their love for the filmmaker in the comments section.

"We love you, honey," Sharon Stone, who starred in Coppola's The Rainmaker, wrote.

"This is wonderful news that all went well…Rest and recover! "🙏🏼Btw, The Godfather Part II has been playing a lot lately," Lynn Sellers wrote. "I'm always happy to see it, especially to see my late husband, Bruno Kirby. I still have his Young Clemenza shoes and hat from it."

Along with Stone and Sellers, The Godfather actor Andy Garcia and Goodfellas alum Frank Sivero also shared their support via social media.

"Francis, I will say a prayer for you. I want you to take care of yourself. You just finished a big tour. God bless, friend," Sivero wrote.

According to TheWrap, local outlets in Italy first reported that Coppola was hospitalized for a mild heart arrhythmia shortly after ending his U.S. tour for his movie Megalopolis. Italian outlets reported that the director already had an appointment scheduled with Dr. Natale, but while preparing for a procedure, physicians noticed an arrhythmia. Coppola's medical team reportedly decided it was best to keep him under observation.

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'War of the Worlds' adaptation starring Ice Cube scores impressive 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes: What went wrong

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

Ice Cube's War of the Worlds reboot is facing harsh criticism.

After the newest version of the sci-fi classic — starring the rapper and Eva Longoria — hit Amazon Prime Video in July, the film received a zero percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score, with more than a thousand reviews, stands at a low 14 percent.

Courtesy of Prime Video

In the flick — which is based on H. G. Wells' original novel — Ice stars as a surveillance expert for the Department of Homeland Security who deals with aliens taking over through his computer.

While the 2005 adaptation starring Tom Cruise and directed by Steven Spielberg was beloved, the updated installment seems to be getting ripped apart by people on social media.

"War of the Worlds (2025) is the worst adaptation of the source material to date," one X user lamented. "It had no ideas beyond the found footage approach and even then the film is struggling to find ways to present coherent scenes. Ice Cube is so lost. Maybe one of the worst movies I've ever seen."

"That new War of the Worlds movie was hilariously awful," a second person penned in an update.

Courtesy of Prime Video

"This new War of the Worlds movie might be the worst movie I have seen in years," a third added.

Variety film critic Peter Debruge wished he could get his time and money back that he spent on the movie. "It's really only worth watching to see Ice Cube jump out of his chair and shout, 'Take your intergalactic a**** back home!' When it comes to customer satisfaction, does Amazon's refund policy apply to stuff like this?" he penned.

The watch only received one star from Empire's Ian Freer, who called it "prime nonsense" and a "witless affair that fumbles the one or two good ideas it has."

MAR/Capital Pictures / MEGA

"If Steven Spielberg's 2005 War Of The Worlds tapped deeply into post-9/11 anxieties, this latest update feeds into all the fears of today — the invasion of privacy, the dangers of data farming, the duplicity of governments, where Amazon will dump your package — but doesn't have any idea about how to make them feel real or pertinent," the writer noted.

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Raven-Symoné details ex's shocking behavior surrounding baby conceived from affair

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

Raven-Symoné spilled the tea about her former boyfriend.

While sitting down with Jeff Lewis for SiriusXM's Jeff Lewis Live, the radio host pressed the Disney Channel alum about her past long-term relationship where the man cheated on her, got another woman pregnant and then asked Symoné to be the godmother.

2023 Kathy Hutchins / Hutchins Photo/Newscom/The Mega Agency

During the chat, Lewis pressed the That's So Raven star — who is now married to wife Miranda Maday — about the tumultuous romance. "I wanted to ask you about your past relationships because you had said, I believe, that you were in a relationship for seven years, Raven?" the Flipping Out cast member asked.

"I was," Symoné confirmed, while also making clear it was with a man.

"And he stepped outside of the relationship, is that correct?" Lewis questioned.

"That's a nice way to put it, yes," the Cheetah Girls actress said.

"And he got another woman pregnant?" the Bravo star inquired before Symoné replied, "Yes."

David Acosta/Image Press Agency

When Lewis asked if the anonymous person was someone who was also in the spotlight, the former child star explained, "Um, in our community, he's pretty well known. Like in the community that he works in, yeah. He's pretty okay. Wow. I wasn't expecting that."

"He didn't have a car. We were together for a really long time and he got another girl pregnant," she said. "And the best part of it was he asked me to be the godmother of the kid. And we're still in communication now. He's been through a lot. So, there's nothing but love and respect for all that he's gone through in his family. But he still talks about it all the time. D******."

Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA

Symoné tied the knot with her current spouse in 2020. In June, the couple celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary. "What time has given us is only measured by the love and growth we share," the funny lady penned in an Instagram tribute to Maday. "Hugs to sides-eyes, to kisses and snuggles, to space we have tackled, monsters and celebrated the wins."

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6 movies and TV shows coming to Prime Video in August

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

Prime Video is ready for all of your streaming needs this summer.

From hilarious comedy series to new original movies with A-list actors, the platform is serving up something for everybody in August.

Here are the top six titles hitting Amazon Prime Video this month…

MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news and photo galleries

6. Death Becomes Her (August 1)

The 1992 comedy romp Death Becomes Her stars Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis. The plot centers around a writer, Helen Sharp (Hawn), whose husband (Willis) falls into the arms of Hollywood actress and former friend Madeline Ashton (Streep). Years later, Sharp confronts the now-married pair after taking a mysterious drug that grants eternal life to the person who drinks it.

5. Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues (August 1)

The five-part docuseries Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues follows former NFL star Tom Brady as he begins his journey as part-owner of an English soccer club. No stranger to leading a team to victory, the program follows Brady and the athletes as they attempt to build a championship team.

4. Pulp Fiction (August 1)

The 1994 thriller Pulp Fiction — which was directed by Quentin Tarantino and stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis and Uma Thurman — centers around four different intertwining stories of crime and violence in Los Angeles. The flick was nominated for seven Oscars and took home Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.

3. 30 Rock (August 1)

The hilarious NBC comedy series 30 Rock — which ran from 2006 until 2013 — is a surrealist sitcom created by Tina Fey. The plot follows the trials and tribulations of the cast and crew of a Saturday Night Live-like program. The show racked up 16 Emmy Awards during its run.

2. The Map That Leads to You (August 20)

The Madelyn Cline and KJ Apa-led romantic drama The Map That Leads to You will have you reaching for the tissue box. Adapted from the novel of the same name by J.P. Monninger, the Prime Video original sees Heather (Cline) embark on a European adventure when she meets Jack (Apa) and the two go on a journey they never saw coming.

1. The Pickup (August 6)

 Eddie Murphy, Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson join forces in the Prime Video original The Pickup. The action comedy centers around two unlikely armored truck drivers, Russell (Murphy) and Travis (Davidson) as they are followed by criminals led by a mastermind, Zoe (Palmer).

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Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson's 'The Pickup' reviewed: What the critics are saying

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall
Photo by Courtesy of Prime Video – © Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video's new film The Pickup features an A-list cast comprised of Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer and Eva Longoria, but critics aren't impressed. Murphy and Davidson may be two of the biggest names in comedy, but according to reviews, their Tim Story-directed team-up just isn't funny.

"A routine cash pickup turns into a deadly pursuit when two mismatched armored truck drivers are ambushed by ruthless criminals with plans beyond the cash," the film's official logline reads.

"As an action-comedy starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer, it all reeks of overbearing cheapness to where we're left to wonder why anyone would bother," Matt Goldberg wrote in his review for TheWrap. "It plays like the Temu version of better buddy-comedy action films where no human hands touched it during production, and then [it] falls apart the moment you look at it funny."

"But neither the script nor Story's direction really gives anyone much of a chance to shine," Goldberg continued. "So much of the movie is confined to the interiors of the armored truck, and Story's camera is always just trying to keep up with the speaker rather than provide any space for a comic beat to land."

The Hollywood Reporter noted that the cast is talented, but their star power couldn't compensate for the flaws within the storytelling.

"The film boasts a strong comic cast with Murphy, Davidson and Palmer at the lead. Their chemistry is naturally compelling, which helps us buy into their increasingly ridiculous situation," Lovia Gyarkye wrote for The Hollywood Reporter.

"But the adventure often seems random in its humor and low in its stakes," she continued. "There seems to be an effort to outsmart viewers familiar with the beats of this kind of plot, and while that's initially somewhat charming, the antics start to wear on you."

Gyarke noted that the "jokes start to become repetitive and the character dynamics more one-dimensional."

While The Pickup weaves together comedy and action, Deadline depicted the project as flat.

"There are a few twists and turns — literally — in this action flick, and the action part of it is perfectly serviceable even if the expected hilarity from two former [Saturday Night Live] stars in a dream pairing (young and old comic genius combined) fails to materialize and is mostly left to Davidson to do the heavy lifting," Pete Hammond wrote for Deadline.

Murphy is a lauded comedic talent, but even he couldn't save the lackluster action-comedy flick.

"It's a shame, because Murphy is still one of the funniest personalities in Hollywood. He always feels like he's trying, even if some of his movies aren't great. In The Pickup, not only is the movie bland and lifeless, but Murphy is also clearly uninterested in the events unfolding on the screen," Nate Richard wrote for Collider.

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Musk donated millions to Trump after fallout

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Elon Musk and Donald Trump had a public falling out earlier this year, but the tech tycoon still gave a reported $15 million to the president's Super PAC MAGA Inc. in the wake of their friendship breakup. The Federal Election Commission shared that aside from contributing to MAGA Inc., Musk also gave to the Congressional Leadership Fund and the Senate Leadership Fund.

During the 2024 election, Musk reportedly donated $300 million to Trump and Republicans. He was later brought on to manage Trump's new DOGE department. Once his time in the role came to an end, he publicly criticized Trump's One Big, Beautiful Bill and accused the former reality star of being mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein files. He made the additional $15 million in donations on June 27 — weeks after dropping the Epstein bomb.

Musk and Trump were close during the election and early in the president's second term, but things have greatly shifted.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination," Musk told followers on X. "Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."

"This spending bill contains the largest increase in the debt ceiling in US history! It is the Debt Slavery Bill," he also wrote.

Trump responded by publicly calling Musk a "big-time drug addict."

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NASA boss announces plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

Donald Trump's administration plans to get a nuclear reactor on the moon.

According to a leaked internal memo, Transportation Secretary and acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy has announced the plans to place an electricity-generating reactor up in space.

Chris Kleponis – CNP / MEGA

"To properly advance this critical technology to be able to support a future lunar economy, high power energy generation on Mars and to strengthen our national security in space, it is imperative the agency move quickly," he wrote.

According to one NASA source, Duffy's ambitious plans — which could come to fruition by 2030 — are "about winning the second space race."

Chris Kleponis – CNP / MEGA

Per Duffy's memo, if Russia or China were to cross this milestone before the United States, they could "declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit" America's progress.

NASA is set to appoint someone to lead the reactor project. The agency will also have to get private industry feedback within 60 days. 

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The current goal for NASA to get the reactor on the moon is slated for 2030, the same year China reportedly intends to land on the lunar space.

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Trump rages at radio host over MAGA commentary

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Donald Trump publicly attacked Charlamagne tha God after the radio personality criticized the president while on Lara Trump's My View with Lara Trump show.

"I wouldn't give it a good rating simply because the least of us are still being impacted the worst," Charlamagne told Lara after she asked him to share his thoughts on the second Trump administration.

"Anything that takes away Medicaid from people and will put people in a worse financial situation than they were previously in, I'm not for," he added, referencing budget cuts in the president's One Big, Beautiful Bill.

Lara's father-in-law took to Truth Social to react to Charlamagne's comments

"The very wonderful and talented Lara Trump, whose show is a big ratings success, put racist sleazebag Charlamagne 'The God' (Why is he allowed to use the word 'GOD' when describing himself? Can anyone imagine the uproar there would be if I used that nickname?). He's a low-IQ individual, has no idea what words are coming out of his mouth, and knows nothing about me or what I have done, like just ending 5 Wars, including a 31-year bloodbath between Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight," Trump wrote.

"He didn't know that, or India and Pakistan or, wiping out Iran's nuclear capabilities, or closing the horrendous open Border, or creating the greatest economy, where prices and Inflation have come way down, and where STUPID and CORRUPT JOE BIDEN set the record for doing the Worst Job as President, EVER," the former reality star continued. "But this dope, Charlamagne, would vote for Sleepy Joe or Kamala? Remember, one year ago our Country was DEAD, now it's the 'HOTTEST' Country anywhere in the World. MAGA!!!"

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'All out war': Gavin Newsom vows to 'fight fire with fire' in standoff with Texas

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

Gavin Newsom is taking action against Republicans.

After Texas Democratic representatives fled the state to stop right-wing politicians from trying to enact controversial redistricting legislation, the California Governor made it clear that he's a proponent of independent redistricting and a national framework. He also revealed that a proposal supporting his views is being advanced in the legislature.

UPI/Newscom/MEGA

"The proposal that we're advancing with the legislature has a trigger only if they move forward, to dismantling the protocols that are well-established," Newsom explained during a press conference. "Would the state of California move forward in kind? Fighting? Yes, fire with fire."

When the liberal politician was questioned on whether Democrats had drafted redistricting maps, Newsom admitted he hadn't seen any plans but noted that people in the party were continuing to talk about how to respond to conservatives.

"That process has to have the concurrence, the support of two-thirds of the legislature," Newsom said. "The maps, we believe, should be transparent. They should be provided in a transparent way to the public and as a consequence, those maps are being processed and will be brought to light."

Annabelle Gordon – CNP/Newscom/MEGA

The 57-year-old pointed out how it's vital that the people of California have their say in the matter if they have to pull the trigger. "We will offer them the opportunity to make judgments for themselves, again, only if Texas moves forward," Newsom said. "I'll reinforce that we believe it should be a national model, independent national redistricting and it would revert back to its original form, but it's done in response to the existential realities that we're now facing. Things have changed, facts have changed, so we must change."

"They've triggered this response and we're not going to roll over and we're going to fight fire with fire, but we're going to do so not just punching with the weight of the fourth largest economy, the most populous state in our union, the size of 21 state populations combined," he said. "We also will punch above our weight in terms of the impact of what we're doing and I think that should be absorbed by those in the Texas delegation. Whatever they are doing will be neutered here in the state of California and they will pay that price."

California GOP Chairwoman Corrin Rankin responded to Newsom's plans, claiming the move could challenge Californians' constitutional rights.

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

"While Governor Newsom frames this redistricting as a defensive move, it undermines California's nationally respected, voter-approved Citizens Redistricting Commission and if successful, sets a dangerous precedent that voters' choices can be overruled whenever politicians find it politically convenient," she said. "Our primary concern is safeguarding Californians' constitutional rights against partisan manipulation disguised as defending democracy; true democracy means empowering voters, not politicians, to decide representation."

When multiple Democratic politicians escaped the state of Texas to block a redistricting vote, the southern state's Governor Greg Abbott threatened to arrest and expel the lawmakers if they do not return.

One of Texas' left-wing representatives Julie Johnson called the situation the start of a "national war" and "an all-out war" on democracy with Donald Trump at the helm. "We come from a state of great pride and I never thought as a Texan, as an elected member of the Texas House of Representatives and now as an elected member from Texas to the United States House of Representatives, that I would see the governor of the proud state of Texas bend a knee to a felon from New York," she said. "I never thought I'd see the day, but here we are."

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Stephen Colbert scores first post-'Late Show' gig

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall
CBS Entertainment

CBS essentially fired Stephen Colbert when the network canceled The Late Show, but the comedian isn't hurting for work. He already has a new late-night gig lined up — with a caveat. According to TheWrap, Colbert will guest star on Elsbeth playing a fictional late-night host named Scotty Bristol who hosts a show called Way Late With Scotty Bristol.

The spinoff of The Good Wife and The Good Fight stars Carrie Preston as crime solver Elsbeth Tascioni. It's unclear how Colbert's character will factor into the plot.

Like The Late Show, Elsbeth airs on CBS, which caused a media firestorm when it announced its decision to end the long-running late-night talk show in 2026.

"We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise," CBS executives said in a statement. "We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late-night television. 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 [parent company] Paramount."

While the network asserted that it was a business move, rumors continue to spread that Colbert lost his show due to his criticism of Paramount's $16 million settlement with Donald Trump after the president sued CBS over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.

"I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings," Trump said on Truth Social.

The president later claimed he wasn't responsible for CBS' decision to end The Late Show.

"Everybody is saying that I was solely responsible for the firing of Stephen Colbert from CBS, Late Night. That is not true! The reason he was fired was a pure lack of TALENT, and the fact that this deficiency was costing CBS $50 Million Dollars a year in losses — And it was only going to get WORSE," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Next up will be an even less talented Jimmy Kimmel, and then, a weak, and very insecure, Jimmy Fallon," Trump continued. "The only real question is, who will go first? Show Biz and Television is a very simple business. If you get Ratings, you can say or do anything. If you don't, you always become a victim. Colbert became a victim to himself, the other two will follow."

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Russia backs down after Trump moves nuclear subs closer to Moscow

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

Russia is backing down.

After a top Kremlin official made "highly provocative statements" that made Donald Trump move United States nuclear submarines closer to Moscow, the country issued an apology to American leadership.

Yuri Gripas – Pool via CNP / MEGA

"Overall, of course, we do not wish to be drawn into such discussion or comment on it. We approach any statements related to nuclear issues with great caution," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. "As you know, Russia holds a responsible position. President [Vladimir] Putin's stance is well known."

"Russia takes the issue of nuclear non-proliferation very seriously," Peskov continued. "And, of course, we believe that everyone should be extremely careful when it comes to nuclear rhetoric."

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Russia's former President Dmitry Medvedev caused alarm when he took to X to lash out at Trump over possible United States sanctions on Moscow in response to the country's ongoing war with Ukraine.

"Trump's playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10. He should remember two things: 1. Russia isn't Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war," one post read.

Trump took to Truth Social to fire back at Medvedev's threats. "I have ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that," he wrote.

Kyodo/Newscom/MEGA

As Trump left the White House on his way to his New Jersey golf club, he doubled down on the move. "When you talk about nuclear, you have to be prepared. And we're totally prepared," he told reporters.

In response to Trump's military order, Peskov claimed in a statement, "U.S. submarines are already on combat duty. This is an ongoing process."

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8 movies and TV shows coming to Netflix in August

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

Netflix is giving subscribers reasons to stay inside this August.

From the return of fan-favorite series to action-packed franchises, here is everything new you can watch on the streaming platform in the coming weeks.

MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news and photo galleries

8. Fast and Furious Movie Collection (August 16)

A significant portion of the Fast and Furious franchise lands on Netflix on August 16. Viewers will be able to watch The Fast and the Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Fast Five, Fast and Furious 6, Furious 7 and Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw. (You'll have to look elsewhere for the fourth installment, Fast & Furious, as well as the three most recent films in the franchise: The Fate of the Furious, F9 and Fast X.)

7. The Departed (August 1)

Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg star in the classic 2006 film The Departed. The movie follows a South Boston cop, Billy Costigan (DiCaprio), as he goes undercover to break into a mob boss' (Nicholson) inner circle. The flick nabbed four Oscars: best picture, best director for Martin Scorsese, best adapted screenplay and best editing.

6. Titans: The Rise of Hollywood (August 5)

Titans: The Rise of Hollywood is a six-part docudrama series that chronicles Tinseltown's early stages throughout the early 20th century.

5. The Truth About Jussie Smollett (August 22)

The Truth About Jussie Smollett is a 90-minute documentary that examines the alleged hate crime Jussie Smollett suffered in 2019. The special hosts interviews with the Empire star himself along with police, lawyers, journalists and investigators involved in the case.

Courtesy Netflix

4. Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser (August 15)

The shocking behind-the-scenes tell-all Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser, features former contestants and producers from the former NBC series The Biggest Loser as they reveal the damaging situations they were allegedly put through. Trainer Bob Harper and longtime host Alison Sweeney are interviewed for the documentary.

3. My Life with the Walter Boys Season 2 (August 28)

The hit teen drama series My Life with the Walter Boys is back for Season 2. Jackie returns to Colorado set on fixing her relationship with Alex and setting boundaries with Cole. Unfortunately, Alex is deep in rodeo ambitions.

2. Thursday Murder Club (August 28)

Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan star in the crime comedy Thursday Murder Club. The film follows a group of friends in a retirement home who set out to solve a crime.

1. Wednesday Season 2 (August 6)

Jenna Ortega and Catherine Zeta-Jones are back for the second season of Wednesday, which sees Wednesday Adams returning to Nevermore Academy, where she dives deeper into her family's legacy while dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a teenager.

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Lionsgate and Suretone Pictures Unveil Gripping Trailer for Supernatural Horror Film 'Do Not Enter'

by Wonderwall.com Editors Wonderwall
Courtesy of Lionsgate

Lionsgate and Suretone Pictures have unveiled the chilling first trailer for Do Not Enter, a thriller that plunges a group of urban explorers into a deadly hunt for hidden treasure inside a decaying, haunted hotel.

The film marks the feature debut of veteran music video director Marc Klasfeld and is penned by horror script writer Stephen Susco (The Grudge, Unfriended).

Produced by Suretone Entertainment's Jordan Schur, Do Not Enter promises a tense, genre-bending ride that fuses paranormal terror with gritty human conflict.

Set in an abandoned hotel rumored to house a long-lost gangster's fortune, the story follows a group of young thrill-seekers who stumble into danger from all sides, including a violent rival faction of explorers and a spectral force lurking in the shadows.

Klasfeld, whose visual style has defined videos for artists like Katy Perry and JAY-Z, called the film a deeply personal venture.

"I have waited decades to find the right feature film project to which I could truly dedicate myself," Klasfeld said in a statement. "The passion I have found to make Do Not Enter all it can be is extraordinary, and I honestly can't wait for the world to see what we have."

Combined with Klasfeld's dynamic visuals, the film is poised to attract horror fans and thrill-seekers alike.

Courtesy of Lionsgate

Jordan Schur, the film's producer and founder of Suretone Pictures, has long worked at the intersection of music and film.

His previous credits include Lone Survivor and Warrior.

With Do Not Enter, Schur returns to the horror genre with a film that blends myth, greed and the supernatural.

The trailer teases unsettling images of decrepit hallways, flickering lights and frantic chases, hinting at the terror that lies within the hotel's crumbling walls.

The tone is grim and fast-paced, suggesting a modern horror experience that also pays homage to classic urban legend thrillers.

No release date has been announced, but Lionsgate is expected to distribute the film theatrically later this year.

Do Not Enter stars a young ensemble cast and introduces fresh faces in a perilous setting where not everyone will make it out alive.

As competition for the gangster's hidden treasure escalates, so too does the wrath of an entity that's been waiting far too long.

The trailer is now streaming on Lionsgate's official YouTube channel and across social platforms.

Do Not Enter's official trailer is now streaming on YouTube and Instagram.

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Megyn Kelly compares Kamala Harris to Elle Woods

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Megyn Kelly compared Kamala Harris to the Legally Blonde character Elle Woods during her interview with Stephen Colbert. While the film — which stars Reese Witherspoon — has a cult following, Kelly wasn't exactly complimenting the politician.

"This is what I find interesting about her," Kelly said. "It's how empty she is. The only time she really gets animated is when she talks about race, abortion, or herself. Truly, I'm a connoisseur now of this woman's commentary, and those are the three things that really light her up, and the giggling about when she gets to herself. 'I call them my baby nieces, like, that's something special about me. I have this term of endearment about my two nieces. You see, I put the word baby in front of them … That's what I do. That's my thing.'"

"And then she gets equally animated when she gets to her stupid AirPod choice … It's ridiculous," Kelly said, as Harris defended her use of wired headphones with Stephen Colbert. "She comes alive on the subject of 'Me.' Reminds me of this gal from Legally Blonde."

Kelly later showed a video of Woods yelling, "Me!" while in the halls of Harvard.

Harris went on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to discuss her new book, 107 Days, and her decision not to run for governor of California. Harris' book documents her transition from supporting Joe Biden's presidential campaign to then replacing the president after he dropped out. The former senator also explored how she views government differently after losing the election to Donald Trump.

Aside from Harris, Kelly has been critical of Colbert's response to CBS firing him and pulling the plug on The Late Show franchise.

"Many of us have had very public cancelations and some were absolutely brutal," she said after the news dropped. "And we didn't invite all our friends to come cry on the set and say, 'Poor poor her. Poor poor him. American democracy will not be the same.' Some of us took it like professionals, then picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and moved on with life. Is this how it's going to be for the next year? Watching this crybaby try to play the victim that his show got cancelled? Grow up. It's called television, you toddler."

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Most popular show of summer 2025 crowned

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

The ratings are in — and summer's most popular show of summer 2025 has been revealed.

According to Nielsen's streaming charts, Netflix's Squid Game Season 3 is the most-watched program of the past few months, with 60.1 million views in its first three days on the platform.

Courtesy of No Ju-han/Netflix

The final installment of the survival thriller drama has gained 134.7 million views thus far. The company's critically acclaimed series Adolescence garnered 142.6 million, while Stranger Things 4 stands at 140.7 million.

Peacock's Love Island USA also has a large reach, as it became the number two most-watched streaming program for the weeks of June 23 and June 30, with 1.78 billion and 1.7 billion viewing minutes.

Ben Symons/Peacock

Prime Video's The Summer I Turned Pretty is a hit, with five million viewers globally in its first week on the streaming service following the debut of its first two episodes on July 16. The coming-of-age story's third installment is outpacing the second season by 40 percent and tripling from its first within the same timeframe.

The other teen drama from the platform We Were Liars cracked Nielsen's top 10 streaming originals list for the first three weeks since it launched on June 18.

Amazon Prime Video

HBO Max's The Gilded Age expanded its viewership with Season 3, as episode six nabbed 4.5 million viewers across HBO Max in its first three days. The period piece is growing by 25 percent higher than its previous installment.

Netflix continues to score major wins with Eric Bana's Untamed also debuting the week of July 14 with 24.6 million views, which expanded to 26.1 million views in its second week.

Courtesy of Karolina Wojtasik/HBO

The latest hit of the summer seems to be Netflix's The Hunting Wives. The eight-episode program raked in 5.2 million views on Netflix during its first week, becoming the number three most-watched series.

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Bill Maher lists his biggest grievances with Trump

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall
YouTube/Real Time with Bill Maher

Bill Maher opened up about his biggest grievances with Donald Trump, as the comedian continues to dissect the president's second administration.

"Let's take stock of the first half of the first year of Trump's second term, and make some rational decisions about what to lose our s*** over," Maher said while discussing liberals' tendency to get distracted by the president's lesser offenses.

While Trump continues to make headlines, Maher noted that his antics are distracting from the "domestic army of masked troops" in ICE that are impacting urban communities.

"I'm not incensed. … I just don't have room," Maher said. "Right after he got elected in November, I said — here and everywhere else I could — he got the White House, but this time, he's not going to get my mind. There's only so many f*** to give."

"Steve Bannon famously said that the way you win is to flood the zone with s***. You want to help him with that? Great, you do you, but I'm not chasing every brain fart down the rabbit hole," he continued. "So therefore, here is my 1/8 of the term scorecard for what actually matters: Turning the Environmental Protection Agency into the pollution Protection Agency. Yes, that's going to matter. All the people who will lose health care and all the debt that will be run up from the Big, Beautiful Bill. Yes, that matters."

"Turning the Justice Department into the national revenge agency, firing all the inspector generals, maybe firing the head of the Federal Reserve, letting Doge destroy lives here and abroad in a way that didn't have to go down like that in order to slim the government down, which it didn't do anyway, creating a Domestic army of masked troops, rounding people up and sending them off to detention centers and foreign prisons? Yeah," Maher ranted.

He went on to share a tip liberals, saying, "Life is complicated, and Democrats need to be less emotional and more focused."

"Get a life, stop making [Trump] your whole personality," Maher said of Democrats. "So, please, when I'm out there, no more, 'Bill, did you just see what he did today?' If you don't even have to say who 'he' is, you already lost, because 'he' is already living too rent-free in your head."

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'Family Guy' boss heaps praise on 'South Park'

by Katherine Tinsley Wonderwall
FOX

Seth McFarlane has joked about other adult cartoons over the years, but the Family Guy creator heaped praise on South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone in an interview that was released after they fearlessly mocked Donald Trump on the season 27 premiere.

"I would never trade our animation team for anything on Family Guy, but their production cycle of, what is it, like, two weeks? It's kind of amazing," McFarlane said on The Ringer's "The Town" podcast.

South Park is known for its fast turnaround and cultural commentary. Parker and Stone typically write and produce new episodes in just six day.

"It's pretty incredible. … Any show that lasts that long is pretty astounding," McFarlane said. "Our shows take about 10 months to a year to produce each episode, so we have to really kind of guess what the world is going to look like, which obviously gets harder and harder."

In the past, Parker and McFarlane have publicly slighted each other.

"I just want to say for the record right now, we've seen Family Guy. … We do hate it," Parker previously said, according to TheWrap. McFarlane later told Rolling Stone that he didn't know where the "venom" came from.

"It'd be interesting to know where it comes from because I don't know them," McFarlane once told Howard Stern.

While the animosity between the television creators seems to have cooled, the creators of South Park are now facing "venom" from the White House, which publicly criticized the show shortly after the new season debuted.

"The Left's hypocrisy truly has no end – for years they have come after South Park for what they labeled as 'offense' content, but suddenly they are praising the show," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement. "Just like the creators of South Park, the Left has no authentic or original content, which is why their popularity continues to hit record lows."

"This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention," the statement continued. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak."

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SJP says goodbye to Carrie Bradshaw with a poem 

by Molly Claire Goddard Wonderwall

Sarah Jessica Parker bid an emotional farewell to Carrie Bradshaw.

Following showrunner Michael Patrick King's announcement that the S** and the City spinoff series And Just Like That… is coming to an end, the actress took to Instagram to share a heartfelt poem about playing the iconic character since 1998.

Tara Rice/Airbnb/Mega

"She has made the hardest, worst and best decisions. Traveled near and far for the new, the vintage, friends and love. Changed homes, time zones, boyfriends, her mind, her shoes, her hair, but never her love and devotion to New York City," Parker wrote of her alter-ego while captioning a slew of images from both the original show and the reboot.

"Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte, there will never be better friends," the 60-year-old remarked of the characters portrayed by Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis. "What great fortune for Carrie to come to know and love Seema (Sarita Choudhury) and LTW (Nicole Ari Parker), most divine new connections."

"Carrie Bradshaw has dominated my professional heartbeat for 27 years. I think I have loved her most of all. I know others have loved her just as I have. Been frustrated, condemned and rooted for her. The symphony of all those emotions has been the greatest soundtrack and most consequential companion. Therefore, the most sentimental and profound gratitude and lifetime of debt. To you all," she continued.

"MPK and I together recognized, as we have in the past, this chapter complete. AJLT was all joy, adventure, the greatest kind of hard work alongside the most extraordinary talent of 380 that includes all the brilliant actors who joined us. I am better for every single day I spent with you. It will be forever before I forget. The whole thing. Thank you all," Parker concluded the emotional update.

Tara Rice/Airbnb/Mega

In a message to fans shared on Instagram, King dropped the bomb that the franchise will be concluding after the current season of And Just Like That…, which debuted in 2021.

"And just like that… the ongoing storytelling of the S** and the City universe is coming to an end," the executive producer wrote. "While I was writing the last episode of And Just Like That… Season 3, it became clear to me that this might be a wonderful place to stop. Along with Sarah Jessica Parker, Casey Bloys and Sarah Aubrey, we decided to end the popular series this year with a two-part finale and extended the original series order from ten episodes to 12. It's with great gratitude we thank all the viewers who have let these characters into their homes and their hearts over these many years."

The last two episodes will launch on HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT on August 7 and August 14.

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