Has there ever been a more important film in the history of rock ‘n roll than This is Spinal Tap? The 1984 documentary (or, I should say, “rockumentary”) introduced many to the sheer talent and ingenuity of the eponymous British rock band whose unparalleled influence is surely destined to increase upon the release of the next film to cover their career, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. Audiophiles be damned that they miss out on this upcoming 2025 movie, unless they have no interest in bearing witness to music history in the making…
OK, let’s snap back to reality. So, if you did not know already, This Is Spinal Tap, one of the funniest and simply best music movies of all time, is a completely fictional documentary-style comedy from director Rob Reiner and starring comedians Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer as the titular band. More than four decades later, the clever, largely improvised satire has inspired a long-awaited follow-up with many of the same creators. I am absolutely looking forward to the film, but also have a few questions about Spinal Tap II: The End Continues that I would like to speculate over, so let’s get rockin’!
Quick Facts We Know About Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
(Image credit: Embassy Pictures)
Before I talk about the things that I am curious or even confused about regarding Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, there is plenty of confirmed information that will surely boost your anticipation. Here’s a quick breakdown of everything we know about Bleecker Street’s sequel to one of the best ‘80s movies so far.
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues Rocks Into Theaters On September 12, 2025
According To Variety, The Mockumentary Follows The Titular Band’s Final Reunion Show
Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, And Other Cast Veterans Reprise Their Roles
Confirmed Celebrity Cameos (via THR) Include Paul McCartney, Elton John, Trisha Yearwood, And More
Rob Reiner Returns To Direct
Questions I Have About Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
(Image credit: Embassy Pictures)
The End Continues is only months away, but there is still very little we know about the story right now. In fact, the sequel’s first official trailer offers no footage from the film, so all we can do for now is speculate about what may happen or who else we may see in the film. And speculate I shall!
What Other Spinal Tap Vets Might Appear?
(Image credit: Embassy Pictures)
In addition to Christopher Guest as guitarist Nigel Tufnel, Michael McKean as frontman David St. Hubbins, and Harry Shearer as bassist Derek Smalls, there are other veterans of the This Is Spinal Tap cast confirmed to appear. Rob Reiner is playing his character from the first film, Marty Di Bergi, Fran Drescher is coming back as Bobbi Flekman, and Paul Shaffer will also appear, but whether or not he is reprising his role as record promoter Artie Fufkin has yet to be revealed. I cannot help but wonder, however, who else from the original film could show up.
Billy Crystal has practically been a staple of Reiner’s career since his brief cameo in This Is Spinal Tap as Morty the Mime, and also playing a mime in that scene was future SNL star Dana Carvey. Their presence would make for a much more memorable moment in the sequel if brought back in some way.
Will Any Of Christopher Guest’s Other Frequent Collaborators Appear?
(Image credit: Embassy Pictures)
A few other members of Christopher Guest’s “troupe” of recurring performers also appeared in the original film, such as Ed Begley Jr. as the band’s original drummer, John “Stumpy” Pepys, and the late Fred Willard as Air Force Lieutenant Bob Hookstratten. The End Continues opens up the perfect opportunity to bring the stars of Guest’s other great mockumentaries, such as Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman, into the world of Spinal Tap.
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I think it would be a missed opportunity to not include Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, especially following their success in the Schitt’s Creek cast, as something like business executives looking to strike a deal with the band. Also, I can see Jennifer Coolidge making a gut-busting appearance as a fan or groupie, or Parker Posey as a pretentious music critic.
Will Derek Smalls Have A Bigger Role This Time?
(Image credit: Embassy Pictures)
Above all, the one actor I hope to see more of in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is Harry Shearer, which may seem like a strange request regarding the man who is memorably hilarious as Derek Smalls in the original film. However, I feel said character gets the short end of the stick in the movie, with more time dedicated to David and Nigel’s relationship, and it is actually one of my few gripes about the film.
Outside of his great work voicing various Simpsons characters, I believe that Shearer is a deeply underrated comedic performer, and the fact that his two brief stints on Saturday Night Live are largely forgotten today is potent proof of that claim. Perhaps Smalls’ recent media exposure following his 2023 Barbie diss track, “Must Crush Barbie,” and his 2025 interview with Paul Shaffer for AXS TV is enough reason to boost his screen time for the sequel.
Might Rob Reiner Sneak In A Princess Bride Easter Egg?
(Image credit: Embassy Pictures)
Fun behind-the-scenes fact about The Princess Bride: director Rob Reiner snuck in a subtle reference to This Is Spinal Tap in the rewatchable 1987 fantasy comedy. If you look closely during the scenes featuring Fred Savage and Peter Falk as his grandfather, you can see Marty Di Bergi’s hat hanging from a lamp.
So, it only seems fair that Reiner would try to incorporate a reference to The Princess Bride into The End Continues. Maybe we will see another attempt at the “Stonehenge” performance and, instead of two little people dancing around the monument, we see a big guy dressed as Fezzik (Andre the Giant) dancing underneath it.
Who Will Be The Drummer This Time… And How Long Will They Last?
(Image credit: Embassy Pictures)
One of the funniest recurring bits from This Is Spinal Tap is how the band has had an endless rotation of drummers throughout their career, all of whom died under mysterious circumstances. Their percussionist in the original film is Mick Shrimpton (Ric Parnell), until he suddenly explodes onstage near the end of the film, and is replaced in the following scene by Joe “Mama” Besser (Fred Asparagus), who was revealed to have disappeared in a 1991 MTV interview.
I am very curious to see who will be banging the cymbals in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, and I am especially interested in discovering how long they will survive. Actually, one of the confirmed celebrity appearances is Questlove, who is best known as the drummer for The Roots, which does not give me the best hope for his fate in the sequel.
How To Watch This Is Spinal Tap
(Image credit: Embassy Pictures)
If you are reading this article, there is a good chance that you have already seen This Is Spinal Tap. However, if you have not checked out the comedy classic or simply want to revisit it before the sequel is released, there are a few ways to watch it at home.
You know, I could have said that my excitement for Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is at a 10 and made that the highest level of anticipation I could withstand. However, true fans of this film know that, to properly show your true appreciation for the greatest fake band in pop culture history, you have to go to 11.
One year ago, Investigation Discovery released Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, a five-part docuseries about behind-the-scenes indiscretions in the realm of children’s programming. At the center of the show (which is available to stream with a Max subscription) was the workplace atmosphere at Nickelodeon during the tenure of former producer Dan Schneider. As part of the production, Drake Bell was interviewed and revealed he’d been sexually abused years ago. Now, he’s opening up about life post-QoS.
Drake Bell revealed in the doc that while working at Nick, he was sexually abused by former dialogue coach Brian Peck. In 2003, Peck – who worked on a variety of kid-centric shows in the early aughts – was arrested and formally charged with 11 counts of lewd conduct with a minor. He was eventually found guilty on two counts and was subsequently ordered to serve 16 months in prison and register as a sex offender. At the time, Bell’s identity as one of the minors involved in the case was not divulged.
People, to whom he said he’d now been relieved of a burden:
It’s been a really nice weight lifted. It’s a roller coaster of emotions. I don’t want to sugarcoat it and make the message, ‘Hey, all you got to do is just tell somebody and get your story out and when you wake up the next day, it’s going to be gone and everything’s going to be fine and you’re going to walk through life without any pain or sorrow or sadness!’ It’s always going to be there, but it’s a lot nicer getting support.
Various people responded after the actor shared his story on the show, with Dan Schneider being one of them. While sharing his reaction to the doc, Schneider claimed he reached out to the Drake & Josh star, around the time of the trial, to offer support. Recounting the incident, the iCarly creator said he was “more devastated by that than anything that ever happened to [him] in my career thus far.” As for the doc itself, Schneider was critical of it, and eventually filed suit against the producers on the grounds of alleged defamation.
After the series dropped, Drake Bell discussed other aspects of the abuse he faced. That included reading the letters of support Brian Peck received amid the trial. Several notable stars wrote in on Peck’s behalf, such as James Marsden, Rider Strong, Taran Killam and the late Alan Thicke. Bell later heard from Strong and Will Friedle, who also wrote a letter and said they had a “really sweet” chat. The Nick alum still appreciates those sentiments and the fact that others are now sharing their stories own experiences with him:
It’s really great to have experiences now where, instead of walking through the airport and having people come up and ask for a selfie, they’re coming up and sharing their stories and saying, ‘I watched your documentary and after your interview, I opened up to my husband. It’s something I’ve never told anybody.’ I didn’t expect to have for the piece to have that kind of impact on people.
While the former teen idol does find it somewhat strange that “everybody knows” about his past now, he appreciates that many are also reappraising a lot of his past work. As for his acting career, Drake Bell also said he’d reteam with Josh Peck for another project if given the opportunity. It’s evident that it wasn’t easy for Bell to open up about the abuse, but it’s comforting to see that he’s found positivity on the other side of it.
Can you believe it’s been 40 years since The Goonies? The movie was Josh Brolin’s first film, and four decades later he’s an established and sought-after actor with multiple movies on the 2025 schedule. However, when the Oscar nominee reflected on being part of The Goonies cast, he spoke about his nepo baby status and how it worked against him.
In recent years, a ton of actors with famous parents have been commenting on what it’s like to be the child of a big star in the business. (For example, Johnny Depp’s daughter, Lily-Rose Depp has felt like “people have been ready” to see her fail since she was a kid). For Josh Brolin, who is the son of James Brolin, when he was trying to break into the industry, being a nepo baby only meant he needed to prove himself more. As he recalled:
I think Goonies was quite an accident. I went in there, I’d been told, they pulled the Brolin thing, ‘Are you [James] Brolin’s kid? You want to be an actor, huh?’ So instead of that nepotistic thing, they looked at me and were like, ‘Oh yeah? So act.’ ‘I’m not gonna help you, because I know that you think you’re gonna make it…’ Which is just ridiculous. I studied, and I got Stanislavski books, Grotowski, the Poor Theatre, and Antonin Artaud and the Theatre of Cruelty. I stayed in a bookstore 90% of the time. Just reading, reading, reading.
Literally! With Rob Lowe podcast, he shared that it wasn’t easy for him to get roles because he had a famous father. It sounds like it actually led people to believe he thought he had it easy, and they needed more convincing. As he continued:
And then I met Dick Donner and Steven Spielberg, and I just looked right for the part. You look at Sean Astin, you look at the type of movie it is, I looked like a bit of a bad boy, but sort of a jock, and I was in good shape or whatever. So they were like, that’s the guy. I went back six times, just so they could make sure, and then I did it.
Can you imagine your first job being with the likes of Steven Spielberg and Richard Donner? It’s actually so wild. But for those who think Josh Brolin got the part because he was the son of another actor, it sounds like he really had to prove himself, and it was the case of being there at the right place, right time.
Interestingly enough, Brolin isn’t the only nepo baby in The Goonies. Sean Astin is the son of Oscar winner Patty Duke. However, the cast also included first-time actors with blue-collar backgrounds like Corey Feldman, whose mom was a cocktail waitress and Ke Huy Quan, whose family actually fled to America from the Vietnam War and were part of the Refugee Admissions Program in 1979.
Brolin has also previously talked about how he thought he’d rise to fame right after The Goonies, but had professional struggles directly after and fell off. He wouldn’t star in another theatrical movie until 1997’s Mimic, and he didn’t really become a big name until he was cast in the Coen brothers’ No Country For Old Men. After that became a huge success, critically and commercially, things really took off for him – but it sounds like his career definitely didn’t come easy.
Spoilers for Abbott Elementary Season 4, Episode 18 – “Audit” – are ahead! Read with caution, and watch the episode with a Hulu subscription if you haven’t yet.
It’s been a few days since that fateful episode of Abbott Elementary aired on the 2025 TV schedule, and I’m still high-key reeling over Ava getting fired. However, I have to accept this new reality, and we need to figure out how to move forward. That means someone has to step up to be the new principal of Abbott, and I have a theory about who her replacement will be.
best sitcoms, it was established that Gregory had actually applied for and almost got the job Ava ended up with. He was salty about it for a long time too. However, for a while now, he’s been very happy in his position as a teacher, and he and the now-former principal are on pretty good terms.
However, now feels like the perfect time to bring this plot point back.
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For a lot of Season 4, they’ve been making a big deal about Gregory’s desire to make more money. Plus, back in the day, he had aspirations to have a bigger role in the school system. Making him principal could satisfy both those plot points, as he’d both likely make a bit more money and he’d get the job he was initially after.
Considering that Gregory seems very comfortable in his job as a teacher and in his relationship with Janine, giving him this position could shake things up on the show, and give him the chance to evolve even more as a character.
Here’s the thing though, I don’t think it will last. Ava has become a fan-favorite character, and she’s grown a lot as an individual. I’m not sure how James’ character could stay on the show if she wasn’t the principal, and I feel like her selfless act can’t end in a permanent firing. Plus, I think Gregory might be better suited as a teacher anyway.
So, overall, my guess is Gregory will take Ava’s place as principal for the remainder of Season 4. We know Abbott has been renewed for Season 5, and when it comes to who will lead the school then, I’m not so sure. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
For now, though, I think Mr. Eddie will be named principal of Abbott Elementary, and I really hope we get to see that, because it’s something he almost was back in the early days of the ABC comedy.
SPOILERS are ahead for Moana 2, now streaming on Disney+ and available to buy on digital and Blu-ray.
Did you stay after the credits of Moana 2? Yes, end credit scenes are typically saved for MCU movies, but the Walt Disney Animation sequel included one to show off its big bad, Nalo, in the flesh and give Tamotoa a hilarious little cameo. When CinemaBlend sat down with two out of three of the movie’s directors, Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr., to talk about Moana 2 spoilers like Moana’s death scene and what Disney easter eggs to look for, I asked them all about the decision and what it means for a possible third film.
Why Moana 2 Has An End Credit Scene, According to The Directors
Moana 2 is also dominating on Disney+ big time and Moana is such a beloved Disney Princess, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Moana 3 got greenlit tomorrow. However, the movie (which was originally crafted as a Disney+ series), took the filmmakers four years to develop, and I imagine they’d like some time away from the world before coming back.
Should they do so, Moana 2’s end credits have definitely set up that Nalo is still alive and well, and could continue to be the main villain moving forward.
Jennifer Lopez started the new year as a single woman as she and Ben Affleck finalized their divorce in January, thankfully without things getting “ugly” between them. Now, as JLo seeks to move forward in her life, an insider has suggested that she’s looking for something specific when it comes to her next romance.
After Lopez and Affleck ended things just two and a half years after reconnecting, it’s not a big surprise what one source has said about what’s on the actress and singer’s list when it comes to her next relationship. According to an InTouch report, she’s looking for a “regular Joe,” as an insider claimed:
Believe it or not, Jennifer says she wants a ‘regular Joe,’ a businessman or a blue-collar guy who’s secure in himself. A guy who is strong in his convictions, someone who will make her feel special, safe and secure. She’s tired of being taken advantage of by men who want the spotlight.
Ben Affleck. Given how much extra publicity the couple received by being an item, it’s understandable that the multi-hyphenate with an iconic career of her own might want a partner outside her industry if this report truly holds water. As the source also alleged:
Of course, she’s working on her expectations too. She requires a lot out of a romantic partner, that won’t change, but she knows that her expectations can be overwhelming. She understands that she comes with a lot of baggage, which is why she’s looking for a guy who will be open to discuss his insecurities and hers.
The pop star and actress is apparently still holding out hope for “a lasting love” following her and Ben Affleck’s divorce, and she believes “she’ll find it.” When it comes to finding her forever man, she is apparently acknowledging that she needs to meet “in the middle” with the person she chooses along with continuing to set high standards for a partner.
Most recently, Ben Affleck has been spending more time with ex Jennifer Garner, bringing out rumors about where the co-parents and longtime friends stand. Meanwhile, Lopez was most recently in Unstoppable, one of the best sports movies of 2024, as the inspiring mother of pro wrestler Anthony Robles.
Aside from her relationship with Ben Affleck, JLo has been in love a few times, considering she first married actor and singer Marc Anthony in 2004 before they split after seven years. She was also with MLB star Alex Rodriguez for four years (and had planned to get married), before their 2021 split. It sounds like Lopez will perhaps remain really intentional and hold on to the lessons she’s learned from being one-half of Bennifer as she steps back into the world of dating.
When discussing Star Trek now vs. decades prior, it can sometimes be like comparing apples to oranges. While the franchise always advocated progressive ideas and technology, it’s also grown a massive budget and changed with the times to align with modern trends in streaming. The spirit is still there, though watching Deep Space Nine with my Paramount+ subscription has made me realize the new shows lack something it did well.
As upcoming Star Trek shows, both known and unknown, prepare for streaming, there’s a lesson to take from, which, some would argue, was the best show of the TNG era. If there’s one way that Strange New Worlds or the upcoming Starfleet Academy series should emulate Deep Space Nine, it’s in how it spotlighted non-human species.
(Image credit: Paramount+)
Deep Space Nine Thrived On Fleshing Out The Bajoran, Ferengi And Other Species
made some fans dislike Quark.
Let’s be honest, if you’ve watched Deep Space Nine, you probably know more about Bajorans and Ferengi than you’ve learned about Vulcans throughout the entire franchise. Part of this is because Star Trek is more about humanity’s journey in the future, but it’s also because this series does that incredibly well.
Star Trek: Discovery gave us some background on his Kelpien species, but there’s not a ton to chew on besides the fact they were a repressed species that lived in fear through most of their existence.
At least, that’s compared to all the Rules of Acquisition we learned from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Beyond that, we saw three vastly different Ferengi who all wanted vastly different things in life. Quark wanted the most profit, Rom wanted what his brother had, and Nog wanted something entirely different from what his culture valued. There were three entirely different Ferengi, with three entirely different personalities.
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We don’t get that kind of variety in the new era of Star Trek, and not just because there are fewer Trek shows in 2025 than previous years. Strange New Worlds is particularly light on alien species, and to its credit, more about telling the story of the bridge crew before James T. Kirk became Captain of the Enterprise. Even so, one would think we could get some additional lore about augments with a direct descendant of Khan on the ship and Number One being outed as one.
I do hope that Starfleet Academy can do this, and with so many cadets coming in from all across the galaxy, it feels like the perfect setting for it to happen. This is especially true with the series being set several centuries beyond the other shows, so we can get a little history lesson on how each major species has changed. Don’t worry, Robert Picardo will still be there as the EMH for anyone who starts to miss the TNG era too much.
removing filler episodes, fewer episodes means that modern Star Trek shows have to stick to the main plot of the story. While Deep Space Nine was able to make Bajoran relations a main part of the story, I’m not sure either Strange New Worlds or Starfleet Academy could do the same. Then again, maybe I’m underestimating the writers and just thinking purely in the context of what past shows did.
After all, Strange New Worlds has essentially written the playbook for how Star Trek can have serialized storylines while still delivering episodic adventures. Serialized character arcs could allow for more storytelling to happen with alien species, assuming the show introduces characters from different species we haven’t seen a lot of yet. It feels like a problem that can be easily remedied if the right storyline is put in place, so maybe we’ll still see that happen in either series.
Ultimately, all Star Trek shows present and in the future can benefit from emulating Deep Space Nine, and despite its popularity, few have really done so in a meaningful way. So far our most notable references were the crossover episode in Lower Decks and the Dominion War plotline in Picard Season 3. Maybe we could even get another series set with the cast, but with no firm plans in place mentioned by the powers that be, we can only cross our fingers and continue to hope it’ll happen.
Until that day comes, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is available to stream in its entirety, along with other shows in the franchise over on Paramount+. Of course, there’s also new shows on the way, though we’re still waiting on updates of when they’ll arrive and when we’ll get more adventures with Starfleet.
When Avengers: Endgame hit theaters in 2019, it made serious waves. Plenty of fans flocked to cinemas to see the blockbuster on the big screen, and to watch the end of a Marvel era that featured box office domination for over a decade. The film was basically a surefire hit, with tons of anticipation leading up to its release and became a multi-billion-dollar success. However, Elizabeth Olsen, who famously played the Scarlet Witch in the franchise, didn’t feel the same way at the premiere, as she apparently panicked that the movie would flop.
Elizabeth Olsen sat down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, where she chatted about her long-held role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the fact that she starred in movies that garnered so much attention. Olsen explained that her anxiety over a flop never dissipated even after years of MCU hits, and fanfare leading up to each project. Apparently, the actress still felt this stress even at the premiere of Endgame, though:
I just decided I can’t watch these Marvel movies at a premiere anymore. … I just watch it, and I look around me, and I’m like, ‘Well, it’s our first flop,’ like every time. … I saw Avengers: Endgame, and I looked around me, and I said, ‘Is this our first flop?’ … I was like, ‘I don’t know. I don’t know about this one.’
second highest grossing movie of all time behind Avatar. It was not only a box office phenomenon, but a critical hit as well, with many lauding directors Joe and Anthony Russo for pulling off such a cinematic feat.
While the culmination film didn’t stumble, that doesn’t mean that other MCU entries haven’t, though. Despite the IP’s tremendous success, franchise inserts like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania andThe Marvels significantly underperformed, reversing a years-long streak of hits from Disney’s house of superheroes. Elizabeth Olsen actually doesn’t make an appearance in either of those films, so she wasn’t able to predict the doom and gloom at either of those premieres. Yet this goes to show that any movie can underperform, so Olsen’s anxiety is understandable.
Even amongst the more recent Marvel hiccups, Endgame remains a shining example of what the studio is capable of. It’s honestly amazing just how the producers were able to achieve such a large task, and it’s final gross is particularly impressive. Fan excitement and dedication should never be underestimated, which Olsen learned pretty quickly when the 2019 film opened. Hopefully, Marvel can regain this energy via upcoming MCU films, especially as we approach the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.
Fans can revisit Elizabeth Olsen alongside the rest of the Avengers: Endgame cast now, as the movie is currently streamable with a Disney+ subscription. Fans of the actress can also see her reprise her role as Wanda Maximoff in the animated series Marvel Zombies, which will also be available on the streamer this October.
Spoilers ahead for 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 11, “Holy Mother of God.”
9-1-1 just served up some serious drama this past week. Since Season 2, many have been wanting Oliver Stark’s Buck and Ryan Guzman’s Eddie to get together and, when Buck came out last season, it seemed like it could actually happen. Now that Eddie has moved to Texas, though, Buck is having a tough time dealing with it. The latest episode to air amid the 2025 TV schedule delivered a vital conversation between Buck and Maddie about the whole situation, yet there was a deleted moment that the showrunner is pissed he didn’t include.
Buck’s ex-boyfriend, Tommy, and that allowed Ravi to dip. After spending the night together, Tommy told Buck he wanted to try things again, jokingly saying that the competition was out of the way. This led to Tommy suggesting that Buck was in love with Eddie and Buck denied it, leading him to have a conversation with his sister.
Maddie also wondered if Buck was in love with Eddie, leading Buck to deny it again. Maddie told Buck it wouldn’t be far-fetched if that were the case, Buck didn’t get why everybody wanted him to be swooning over his straight best friend. Interestingly enough, all of that material wasn’t included in the first version of the scene. Tim Minear told TVLine that more was meant to be said between the siblings, with the comments harkening back to Buck’s first relationship on the show — and I really wish this would’ve made the cut:
In the original version of that scene, Maddie tells him, ‘Well, you did live in Abby’s house for six months after she walked out on you.’ And Buck’s point was like, ‘Yeah, well, I thought she was coming back. The reason I don’t want to unpack here is because, if I do, that means they’re really not coming back.’ It was sort of a dichotomy, but I got some notes on that scene. People were like, ‘No one’s going to understand this,’ and I should have just listened to my gut. The audience would understand.
To be fair, Tim Minnear was faced with a tricky creative decision, but I absolutely understand why he’s kicking himself about it now. If there had been mention of the fact that Buck moved into Abby’s house and stayed there for months after she left, it would have added a whole new layer to the conversation. Especially since Tommy brought up the fact that Buck was living at Eddie’s house or, rather, taking over his lease.
It took Buck a while to come to terms that Abby wasn’t coming back, and perhaps that’s why it took Buck so long to really settle into Eddie’s place. In short, he just wasn’t ready.
At the very least, it’s likely this will not be the last conversation that Buck has with his sister about the whole Eddie situation and the feelings he may or may not have. Maddie seems to know her brother better than anyone, and it wouldn’t be surprising that if Buck does admit to having feelings for Eddie at some point, Maddie would be the one he’d confess them to first.
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There are still several episodes of 9-1-1 Season 8 left, and I wager there are still some surprises in store. Since Ryan Guzman hasn’t officially left the series, it’s likely it’s only just a matter of time before Eddie returns from Texas for some reason or another, or maybe Buck ends up heading to the Lone Star state. Regardless, I’m excited to see what pans out!
New episodes of 9-1-1 air on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.
While the chances of a Mean Girls sequel seem slim, fans of the beloved film did get a chance to revisit with the characters, in a way, thanks to Walmart. The retail franchise had Lindsay Lohan and more reprise their roles for a series of ads, which featured many grool references. Amanda Seyfried even returned as Karen Smith and played the ditzy but lovable character perfectly. However, Seyfried just admitted it was a lot “harder” to play Karen again than she thought it would be, and her reasoning makes sense.
In Mark Waters’ 2004 flick (which can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription), the Plastics member was considered “the dumbest girl you’ll ever meet,” and she ultimately became the school’s weather girl due to her “fifth sense” being that her boobs could tell when it was raining. In the Walmart ads, it looks like her meteorology skills are still put to good use for meteorological purposes, too. While it’s one of Seyfried’s best roles and one she can still pull off, she explained in a GQ video interview why the reprisal was something of a “mindfuck”:
Getting to play Karen again was something that I’ve really wanted to do for so long and kind of a mindfuck. Because I know she’s inside of me in so many ways, because I played a version of her in my own high school in order to stay out of the drama. But it was a little harder to reach [the character], I think.
Lacey Chabert and Lindsay Lohan were explicitly selling products. I can see how that’d be awkward, but I did enjoy the ads, especially how they utilized unforgettable Mean Girls quotes. Plus, fans were treated to much-needed updates on the characters of Cady, Gretchen, Damien and Kevin, in addition to Karen. Check out the Karen-focused Walmart ad below:
Amanda Seyfried as Karen Smith in new Walmart ad – YouTube
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As daunting as the task of reviving Karen may have been, I’d definitely say that Amanda Seyfried succeeded. Considering I’m a fan, that sentiment would likely be music to the actress’ ears. She also said this:
And there is that responsibility, too, to bring it to the fans as well, because we’re making it for the fans, and we have this short amount of time to create something that a lot of people are gonna see. It was harder than I thought it was gonna be. But I would love to play someone like Karen again soon.
While Amanda Seyfried says she experienced career setbacks due to playing Karen, I’d love to see her play the role in a feature film again. Though I’d also settle for the star playing a similar character in some kind of production. Seyfried certainly has comedic chops, and I’d love to see her put her scene-stealing, humorous energy to good use again.
Until that happens, though, I totally content with Karen returning through the delightful Walmart ads. And kudos to Amanda Seyfried for managing to play the character in a way that not only felt consistent with her original portrayal but fresh as well. Now, if you need me, I’ll just be sitting here waiting for a Karen Smith spinoff movie to be greenlit.
