1. Girlfriends (UPN/The CW, 2000–2008)

For nearly a decade, Girlfriends was the peak of Black womanhood on TV. It followed four women,  Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross), Toni (Jill Marie Jones), Maya (Golden Brooks), and Lynn (Persia White), as they navigated their careers, friendships, love, and being Black women in Los Angeles. Girlfriends was groundbreaking because it tackled real issues like colorism, class, and ambition, all while balancing comedy and heart. The show helped lay the foundation for later series like Insecure and Harlem, proving there was an audience hungry for authentic stories about the lives of Black women that expanded outside of the common struggle stories Hollywood loved to depict.

Despite having a strong following, Girlfriends was abruptly cut short in 2008 due to the writers’ strike. The final episode aired without a proper ending and ultimately left major storylines up in the air, most notably Joan’s engagement. Fans still complain about the lack of closure and have brought up the idea of a reunion movie. Even though it first aired 25 years ago, it still hits to this day via reruns on streaming and is still referred to as one of the best series in the Black community.

2. Harlem (Prime Video, 2021–2024)

The way Girlfriends defined a generation in the 2000s is somewhat of a fair comparison for how Harlem kept that spirit going into the 2020s. The Prime Video comedy followed four stylish and ambitious friends played by Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Shoniqua Shandai, and Jerrie Johnson. As they chased love and success in modern-day Harlem, they found themselves in several tough situations that they were able to navigate through the strength of their friendships.

The show blended humor with commentary on dating, career pressure, and the complexities of Black womanhood. In the middle of it all, the warmth of each character led to some heartfelt moments and a lot of behavior that women today don’t acknowledge they are guilty of (Good’s character BLOWING up that man’s phone instead of coming to terms with the fact she was ghosted was LOUD in today’s dating culture). 

Despite strong fan support and cultural buzz, Harlem was canceled after three seasons. The news was a shock to audiences, but the third season, although rushed, closed off the storylines that were built over the prior episodes. Regardless, fans still expressed their frustration that another female-led Black series was gone too soon. 

3. Happy Endings (ABC, 2011–2013)

Happy Endings was one of the most solid ensemble comedies of the 2010s. It revolved around a group of six friends living in Chicago (very close to New Girl in many ways, including the set), a premise that might sound familiar, but its wittiness and wild humor set it apart from the sitcoms we’ve come to know.

Damon Wayans Jr., Eliza Coupe, Adam Pally, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, and Casey Wilson had great comedic chemistry, where each of them pulled their weight equally. Despite critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase, ABC canceled Happy Endings after three seasons due to low ratings. But over the years, the show has become a fan fave on streaming, often praised for being ahead of its time. The diverse cast and their unique sense of humor paved the way for future ensemble comedies like New Girl and The Good Place. Thinking back to it, aside from also featuring Wayans Jr, New Girl stole their whole flow from Happy Endings, word for word, bar for bar. 

4. Freaks and Geeks (NBC, 1999–2000)

If there’s a Mount Rushmore of shows canceled too soon, Freaks and Geeks would be front and center. While it only lasted for one season, it is still regarded as the perfect high school comedic drama that captured the awkwardness and insecurity of being a teenager’s life better than almost any show before or since. Paul Feig and Judd Apatow helped showrunner and writing duties, but boy, was that cast STACKED. Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and Busy Philipps all went on to have wildly successful careers, so it’s quite mindblowing to think that they were once all on a show together that didn’t cut it with audiences.

What made Freaks and Geeks so special was its honesty and how it didn’t glamorize being a young and dumb teen, but instead, it was just authentic, funny, and painfully relatable.

The show was well-received by critics but failed to find a large audience at the time, leading NBC to cancel it after only 18 episodes. Today, Freaks and Geeks is a cult classic, studied in film schools and praised as one of the most accurate depictions of teenage life ever put on television.

5. The Get Down (Netflix, 2016–2017)

Baz Luhrmann’s The Get Down was an explosion of color, rhythm, and rebellion, and a personal favorite of mine as I remember how my jaw dropped when I heard it got cancelled. Set in the South Bronx during the late 1970s, the series chronicled the birth of hip-hop through the eyes of young dreamers determined not to let their circumstances define them.

The visuals were absolutely stunning, from the graffiti art, wardrobe, big hair, breakdancing, and musically, there was a deep respect for the roots of Black and Latin culture. With a cast led by Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, and Herizen Guardiola, The Get Down was more than a show; it 

Although this move made absolutely no sense, Netflix canceled it after part two, citing the massive cost of production. It has such a promising future that it seemed feasible to make budget cuts and tone down on spending rather than axing the series as a whole. The good thing is the talent wasn’t left in the dust as Smith and Moore have landed some big roles since.

In the end, these five cancelled series remind us just how deeply great television can embed itself in our lives. Whether they were cut down in their prime, misunderstood by networks, or simply ahead of their time, each one left a mark that loyal fans still feel today. And while we may never get the closure, continuations, or final seasons we hoped for, revisiting these shows keeps their legacy alive. Because some stories don’t need ongoing episodes to remain unforgettable , they just need an audience that refuses to forget them.

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Sports tend to cater to the guys and oftentimes, you’ll get some family members yelling for them to change the channel. But you can’t go wrong with one of the thousands of movies to throw on. With so many options, one genre of flicks that tend to catch everyone’s attention regardless of age is a good ole pick from Marvel. You’ll get the conversation going from who’s everyone’s favorite superhero to who will win in a fight between so and so to even how comic book accurate some of the plots truly are. But with that in mind, the real question comes down to which film from the MCU you’d throw on to get everyone to lock in and stop talking for five minutes? There is only one answer to that: Avengers: Endgame. 

While there are so many solid choices over the span of a decade, nothing hits quite like the massive fight sequence in the third act. But we can break it down even further than that and pinpoint the exact five minutes everyone will be tuned in. Captain America wielding the Mjolnir and fighting Thanos are some of the most exciting minutes across any Marvel film ever made for many reasons, but most of all for how we felt when we first saw it. The excitement, the shock, the screams we let out in the theater, it was such a moment in cinematic history, especially for comic book nerds everywhere.

This was a moment that had been brewing for such a long time, spanning way back to the living room scene in Avengers: Age of Ultron when Cap attempted to lift the hammer and it moved slightly, causing Thor to jokingly show signs of worry. The interesting thing about Avengers: Endgame is that, when it is on, it’s hard to turn away. There are so many storylines and so much going on that you want to stop what you’re doing and plop down with your second round of food and just watch. Doesn’t matter what part you tune in to, you know the story well and you know what to expect, that’s why you’ll have your tissues ready for that Iron Man scene.

Now, the question posed was what can get them to keep quiet for five minutes, but if you want one that is so good, it’ll probably have everyone seated for the entire movie, well that’s a different story. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is hands down the best film from the MCU and it has yet to be topped. Sure, we loved the nostalgia that came with Spider-Man: No Way Home and End Game is fantastic, but the second installment to Cap’s trilogy was built different. It had everything from a solid group of characters (no overload, kept it simple), great storyline, and the conflict was worth following along because, well, that’s his best friend and he’s going to follow him to the end of the line. It is a masterpiece from beginning to end and contains its own five minute moment that’ll get your fam to hush: the fight between Cap and Bucky when his mask flies off and Steve is left in shock. The shock value was there and the sequence was entertaining, but it didn’t hit the same level as Thanos getting it handed to him by an unexpected hero that turned out to be as worthy as Thor.

While we’ve made our pick for what to put on the tele to entertain your family and friends this holiday season, the fact is that Marvel packs some heavy hitters that it’s kind of hard to go wrong with any of them, but Avengers: Endgame is a no brainer for us. It appeals to every generation as the older ones will recall when the comic books first released, as the kiddos will light up to see their favorite heroes battling one alongside one another. Not everyone is into movies, but Marvel has some names that everyone will be familiar with, regardless of if they’ve seen the films or not so they’ll glance over when a familiar face appears on the screen. So this holiday season, try it out: turn on Disney+, scroll over to Avengers: Endgame and test our theory. The host might find this to be the perfect time to sneak away while everyone’s watching to begin cleaning so everyone can leave on time!

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The Vought corporation changes the formula by using their heroes as products and tools rather than to make the world a better place. They are marketed to appear a certain way, with their actions often filmed to be broadcast to the public and create popularity for whichever hero they are trying to push at the moment. The Boys showcases how heroism is engineered via a drug called Compound V in their world, where medicine and technology are fairly advanced. This shines light on how heroes aren’t only born, but can be created (similar to Steve Rogers). We now see how the origin story of heroes has changed with The Boys have a long list of heroes that act more as celebrities with money on the line when they complete tasks assigned to them. Through its dark humor, violent realism, and corporate satire, The Boys shows how the superhero fantasy has evolved alongside society’s changing trust in government institutions, media, and celebrity culture. It’s a mirror showing how, in modern culture, power is inseparable from profit. While Marvel and DC tell stories about sacrifice and moral duty, The Boys shakes that ideology on its head. Their heroes don’t save lives for justice they do it for likes, PR coverage, and to keep their shareholders happy.

We’re accustomed to heroes that fight to protect their secret identities because they value being anonymous. But in The Boys, superheroes crave fame and desire social media followers, awards, and ad campaigns because being loved matters more than being good. Characters like A-Train and The Deep exhibit modern celebrity behavior: they chase relevance, manipulate the press, and protect their image after scandals. Then there’s Homelander, who is perhaps the most powerful hero, yet the most unhinged. He is arguably unstoppable because, aside from possessing so many powers above anyone else’s, people rely on him to keep order and safety. The show’s satire is sharp because it aligns with how audiences now view public figures. We no longer expect them to be pure, but instead, we expect performance. This obsession with their image reflects the rise of social media culture. People curate personal brands online, and superheroes in The Boys do the same. Their powers are secondary to their ability to control perception.

The success of The Boys isn’t just about its edgy tone, shocking violence, or its insane graphic moments (still one of the craziest opening pilot sequences of all time). It works because audiences today are more critical consumers of superhero stories. After nearly two decades of Marvel and DC dominating the superhero genre, viewers want something that questions the formula. Weirdly, when audiences cheer for The Boys, they’re not cheering for superheroes; they’re cheering for the destruction of a myth that no longer feels honest. Our relationship with superheroes now mirrors our relationship with institutions: complicated, skeptical, and aware of the cracks. We no longer see heroes as moral guides, but instead as flawed, ambitious, and trapped in systems they can’t control (much like the current state of our government).

The Boys proves that superhero narratives can evolve with the times and still connect deeply with what people feel. We might not believe in perfect heroes anymore, but we still believe in the idea of accountability. That’s why characters like Butcher and Starlight resonate. They fight against the illusion, so they aim to prove that even in a world where everything is compromised, truth still matters. The series explains our changing relationship to superheroes by revealing how modern culture has outgrown the myth of “the perfect savior”. We see heroes differently because we see power differently, and we now expect flaws, contradictions, and consequences. 

With The Boys soon entering their fifth and final season next year, the world has expanded to a spin-off, Gen V, which further explores these themes on a different level.

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This marks a major shift for the franchise since the events of No Way Home have left Peter Parker completely on his own. Fans are expecting a more grounded and emotionally-driven story that redefines what comes next for our beloved hero. There are so many characters and storylines that Marvel and Sony could adapt and lots of source material to pull from, so here are 5 things we hope to see in Brand New Day.

Fans Want More Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire

Let’s be honest: yes, we got our itch scratched to see the two prior actors reprise their roles, but the people want more! Of course, it would be absurd to bring back Maguire and Garfield for major screentime, but it would be entertaining to see them engaging with Holland’s depiction in some way, shape, or form. But then again, being a realist, this has been described many times as a “rebirth” for the character, so it seems the most we may get is a reference to how Maguire and Garfield’s Peters helped him in the past. I think even hearing that dialogue in Brand New Day would be enough for us.

New Female Characters

Zendaya has solidified herself as a strong MJ opposite Holland that we definitely want to see more of, but now it’s time to bring on some more female superpowers. With so many strong characters with interesting story arcs, there’s a sea of new potential to pick from. Sadie Sink has been cast in an unknown role that has been kept top secret to say the least, but fans of the comics have speculated she could be playing Jean Grey. This would make a lot of sense, seeing how Marvel has a clear plan to further introduce X-Men into the MCU. On that note, other speculations that are valid include Carlie Cooper and MJ, and Peter’s daughter, Mayday Parker. Mayday would be interesting, but something about seeing a young Holland in a dad role just doesn’t work for me. Cooper could fit right in, seeing how the angle for this film would center around crime being fought street level, with her being involved with the NYPD. Most importantly, Cooper was featured in the Brand New Day comic run as well.

MJ Has to Remember Peter

While it’s no secret that the conclusion of No Way Home has the world not knowing who Peter is, we are so invested in seeing him reunited with MJ that we can’t accept that to be reality. Fans were left heartbroken during that coffee shop scene, so we definitely would love to see how that is reworked for the duo to be together again. John Rocha, who has been known to call some things early in advance, says that “MJ has a new boyfriend, which is what causes Peter to snap a bit,” he said. “And it makes the film a little darker and more grounded.” This would pose an interesting angle for many reasons, but also offers the opportunity for Peter to explore a new love interest. On the topic of rumors, the streets have been saying that Sydney Sweeney had been offered the role of Black Cat, shortly after she played Spider-Woman in Madame Webb. This would be a love triangle bigger than Spider-Man 3’s Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Needs to Feel Different Than Previous Installments

The word here is grit, and that’s what we need more of in Brand New Day as it deals more with street crime. Jon Bernthal is set to reprise his role as the Punisher, which did come with some conditions: the actor agreed to return to his role in Daredevil as long as he was able to uphold the character’s R-rated vibes. Now that he has joined the cast, it will be interesting to see how they adapt this into the otherwise more kid-friendly Holland Spidey world. Frank Castle isn’t with the spells and super powers, dude uses guns, knives, and hands to get things done, something not many in the MCU can relate to (aside from Deadpool).

Spider-Man: Brand New Day premieres in theaters July 31, 2026.

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To be fair, some people need certain social media tools as a part of their job and might find it difficult to separate business from personal. Although it may seem difficult to disconnect from online and get in touch with the real world, there are many helpful tips to assist you with your social media fast. It won’t be easy and you may be tempted to take a peek, but here are some useful strategies to aid you in getting a grip on an unhealthy habit.

Designate Time Limits

Quitting cold turkey is possible, but it isn’t ideal or realistic as you might find yourself not easily able to adapt. Setting up time limits is a good move so you can choose when you might tap into your accounts. We typically check socials when we wake up, on downtime at work, and before bedtime. For some who don’t watch the news, getting on Instagram or Facebook might provide updates on what’s happening in the world.

Most phones now have a setting that tells you what you usage looks like which is a perfect tool to help you visually. Actually seeing a tangible number or hours next to the apps your frequent most can really put things into perspective for you. Try to determine how you want to reduce your time, much like when people fast with food for 16 hours and allow themselves to eat during the other eight. Maybe you can elect to decrease your usage one hour less per week until eventually you find yourself relying on social media less and less.

Hide Your Faves

We all know how true the saying “out of sight, out of mind” is, and this option is tailored to exactly that. When we pick up our phones, we kind of naturally click around to the same few apps via muscle memory. That’s how you know you’re down bad when you don’t realize how attached you’ve become and it’s just second nature. We recommend building a folder to tuck away your most used apps that you want to spend less time on.

Notice we said spend less time, not fully cut off. We know that going ghost will be more of a challenge and we want to present a a realistic approach. By storing away the tempting social media apps, you’ve now removed them from your sight and have mentally placed a hurdle between how simple it once was. Sure, you can easily get to them, but that isn’t the point; the purpose is to put things in place to remind yourself of your overall goal is to operate as if they weren’t there at all. You can even take it a step further and lock the folder, putting an extra level of security in place to make it a tad bit harder on yourself. These options work if you have uphold the self-discipline.

Allocate Your Time Elsewhere

You might have noticed that you typically spend anywhere from 6 to 10 hours a week on social media, which is a lot. But what happens when you do cut back? What do you do with that extra time? Try picking up a hobby, like reading a book you always meant to pick up or start a new show you keep hearing about. This list can go on as there are so many different things that are important to each of us. Maybe you have a project for school or work that you can get ahead on to further take less stress on you around the due date. Put in some extra time at the gym or go through old clothes you’ve been wanting to donate for months (double down and throw them on Posh Mark or Mercari and make some extra money there!). It might not seem like a lot, but you’ll soon realize that when you incorporate new habits or hobbies, those hours spent on social media definitely add up.

Hopping from app to app is such a mindless habit we take part in that can lead to an unhealthy obsession with constantly being in the know. I’ve personally known people who have made assumptions about other people’s personal lives sole based on what they see in their posts.

Stepping away for a while is a great choice for your mental state and if you find it to be difficult, that right there shows just how much you actually needed that break. It’s also important to let your friends and family know that you’ve taken a step back as some people start to become worried when they don’t see you active (to think they’d resort to freaking out about not seeing a post from you in a while rather than simply texting or calling to check on you).

We acknowledge that this isn’t an easy task, but it might benefit you in more ways than one. We as a society have grown so attached to our devices that it would be nice to prove to ourselves we are capable of stepping away. 

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Often regarded as one of the best films of all time, the cast includes John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Christopher Walken, Ving Rhames and Harvey Keitel. For anyone who hasn’t seen it to this day, those names alone would lure anyone into giving it a go. It’s important to note that their resumes back then didn’t hold the same weight as they do now. The movie made Thurman recognizable everywhere, as she was the focus of the theatrical poster, which can be found plastered anywhere from vintage clothing stores to smoke shops worldwide. 

Not only is Pulp Fiction a fan favorite that lands on many film enthusiasts’ top 10, it went on to win many awards as well. Perhaps the most decorated nominations came from the 1995 Academy Awards where it garnered seven nominations including Best Picture, while giving Jackson and Thurman their first Oscar nods for Best Actor and Best Actress. Despite losing the biggest category of the night to Forrest Gump (understandable, as Shawshank Redemption was also a contender), Tarantino and his partner, Roger Avary, took home the golden statue for Best Original Screenplay. Conversation has been swirling for months now regarding whether or not the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood director will be retiring from, well, Hollywood. His final film was initially set to be The Movie Critic, which was to star Brad Pitt in the lead role, but it was reported back in April that he simply changed his mind. 

Back on the topic of writing, Tarantino has been nominated for seven Oscars, but the two he took home were both for his screenwriting abilities. This is important to note because, when it all boils down, one of the stand out qualities that make Pulp Fiction a masterpiece of its time is the dialogue. Films weren’t having the type of exchanges that Vicent and Jules (Travolta and Jackson) were having, amongst others, as it served for a big chunk of the characters’ development.

The dynamic of the cast worked incredibly well, making this a movie where you’re meant to focus on not only what is happening, but what is being said. One of the more memorable scenes is a car conversation about McDonalds, just that simple. But the way it was written somehow made it much more than that, as it is still a popular reference three decades later. That’s the magic of Tarantino; he is truly a unique artist with a vision unlike others in this industry, as many have tried to imitate his creativity but have failed. It’s clear that audiences didn’t know what they were witnessing unfold at the time, but many generations have grown to appreciate the way Pulp Fiction pushed boundaries. 

Earlier this year, a screening of the film was shown at the TCM Classic FIlm Festival to commemorate the milestone anniversary. Most of the cast including Jackson, Thurman, and Travolta were in attendance. Willis was absent due to his ongoing battle with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia. In his place, his wife Emma Heming Willis and daughter Tallulah Willis were present to honor him. Notably missing from the gang was Tarantino, although a clear reason as to why is still unknown. On the carpet, the stars reflected the film’s long-lasting impact, with Jackson saying, “Creating those characters and creating those relationships changed the dynamic of how people looked at films and how they want the characters to react to each other inside those films.”

Pulp Fiction was, in many ways, ahead of its time with its unconventional storytelling, violent moments, and comedic elements that made it an overall smorgasbord of a film. With storylines that intertwined through the entire two-and-a-half-hour run time, there is never a dull moment. At a time when movies being pushed out were sentimental or full of action, Pulp Fiction was truly unhinged.

Ask anyone why they love it, as most won’t give a solid answer across the board. Whether their older sibling introduced them to it at a young age or they recall quoting it non stop with their friends, it’s definitely a flick for the people. Its gritty style has become something filmmakers long to duplicate, but to no avail. While Tarantino’s directorial debut came in 1992 with Reservoir Dogs, it was the masterpiece he delivered two years later that solidified him as a genius in the film industry. 

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Decorations

Whether you want to turn your garage into a haunted house or simply dim the lights and add some strobes, the visuals are the main ingredient. The party has to feel like your guests are immersed in spookiness, so the decor has to be eye-catching. Throw up some streamers and stretch fake cobwebs over furniture pieces (nothing that will catch on fire of course), then add some plastic spiders to it to top it off. If you’re super crafty, carve out some pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns and add those around the party. This could be a good way to add some minor lighting in case you’re considering turning off most of the lights to set the tone.

Costumes

It goes without saying, but have your guests dress for the occasion. On your invite, encourage them to go all out and maybe even opt for a costume contest. Some categories to consider when picking winners can be overall costume, best couple, and scariest. This brings an element of excitement as people show up looking to see the competition. Let’s be honest: It kind of sucks to go to a party when people are boring and ignore the theme. Incentivize partygoers with cool prizes, and, depending on how deep your pockets are, maybe even offer some cash prizes too.

Themed Drinks

This is a fun one! While a punch bowl is standard, craft some specialized cocktails (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) for folks to enjoy. You can really get creative with this one as food coloring will be your best friend. Get some plastic syringes and fill them with red Jell-O for a “bloody shot” or orange Fanta with your favorite vodka for some “pumpkin tears.” If you want to take your drink set up to another level, snag a block of dry ice to create ghost-like fog. Try some green coloring in lemonade (liquor is optional) and drop in some candy eyeballs for a ghoulish themed concoction. The recipes and ideas are endless.

Solid Playlist

We go to holiday parties for the people and the fun, but the music definitely sets the vibe. There are essentially two main approaches for whoever is taking the reins of being on “the aux.” You can take the route of curating a playlist in advance that’s full of sounds and music from your favorite Halloween movies or just a general list of “bangers” that’ll really get the party going (I think “Not Like Us” might still hit at a costume party, right?). Either way, make sure the tunes are continuous, as dead air always ruins the mood and draws everyone’s attention in a bad way.

Photo Wall

Did you even go to a party if you didn’t take pictures? An underrated piece to throwing a memorable party is the photo wall. Have a designated area where people can flick it up with props and good lighting. People often spend lots of money and time on makeup to get their costume to killer status so they are going to want to document every bit of it. It’s also a win for you as they post to their social media letting everyone know that you threw a dope party that they missed out on.

Spooky Movie 

Your guests will be there to chat it up and have a good time, but having a scary movie on in the background is a must. Will they sit and watch the whole thing from beginning to end? Probably not, but a few might stumble over to the coach and get sucked into Hocus Pocus if it’s on. This is one of those elements that contribute to the overall ambiance rather than being a front and center feature. Why not throw on Agatha All Along? Lucky for you, if you turn it to ABC or TBS, you’ll most likely catch a marathon of spooky flicks on repeat anyway so that’ll help you out.

Treats

This goes without saying, but food and snacks are a must (especially if drinking will be involved). There are so many creative ways to turn everyday appetizers and desserts into Halloween-themed bites. How about some string cheese with marinara on the tips to look like a bloody finger or popcorn balls with candy corn on them to look like pumpkins? If you’re wanting to cut corners on time, perhaps order a pre-made charcuterie board (some places will even align it with your party’s theme). You can’t forget the sweets! Cookies, brownie bites, or even pretzel sticks dipped in white chocolate with sprinkles for eyes to make them look like ghosts.

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Foxx would go one to make history as the third Black man to ever win an Oscar for Best Leading Actor, with Sidney Poitier being the first for Lilies of the Field, followed by Denzel Washington for Training Day. While the film also won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing, it was Foxx that cleaned up at award shows like the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Screen Actors Guild, Critic’s Choice, and many more. Directed by Taylor Hackford (Blood In, Blood Out), the film has a star-studded cast that features Kerry Washington, Regina King, Clifton Powell, Larenz Tate, Harry Lenix, and Bokeem Woodbine. 

Many had originally known Foxx as a funny guy from In Living Color and later snagging his own TV show, The Jamie Foxx Show, which was quite popular, especially among the Black community. He had long been known as a king of impressions, and it paid off for him soon enough. The movie was on a much bigger scale as it gave the Texas-born actor a mainstream platform to thrive on in front of the world. Ironically and to Hackford’s surprise, he already knew how to play piano as he landed a scholarship to play when he was in college. It was a role of a lifetime, as it propelled Foxx into conversations about his amazing talent and how much he really poured into mirroring Charles through and through.

Foxx was committed to truly embodying the legend, even going as far as learning piano and spending many hours practicing his mannerisms and voice. In addition, he lost weight, learned Braille, and wore eyepieces for a set number of hours per day to imitate the darkness of being blind.

Foxx met with Charles in 2002 when he was initially cast in the film. During an interview with Michael Strahan, he shared some quotes from the icon. Charles told him, “If you can play the blues man, you can do anything. … Life is notes underneath your fingers, man. You gotta take the time to play the right notes, baby.” In a tragic turn of events, the musical genius passed away of liver disease only four months before Ray was released in theaters October 29, 2004. 

Foxx is a master of his craft as he seamlessly conveys the good and the bad of Charles’ life. From his rise to fame, difficulties dealing with blindness, troubled relationships, and addiction, he got it down to a T while giving such a convincing portrayal. One of the beautiful things about Ray is that it doesn’t try to be a pristine biopic that glosses over the negative. Instead, it showcases the barriers that Charles had to face through his long and successful career. The movie also introduced the musician to new generations for those who may not have been all that familiar with his music and what he had to overcome to rise to the top.

Charles’ story is set to his original music and visually depicted through Foxx recreating some notable performances. The attention to detail and overall level of importance the creative team put into making Ray as authentic as possible heavily contributed to it being one of the greatest biopics to ever be made. Set to some of his biggest hits like “Georgia on My Mind,” “What’d I Say,” and “Hit the Road Jack,” the film paints an astonishingly beautiful picture of how revolutionary and influential Charles’ music really is. Luckily, before he passed away, Charles was able to sit through an early version of the film as he was tasked with providing vocals for the production. Foxx shared, “We got a chance to show him the movie… he viewed it in his own way, just before he passed. It was a blessed experience.”

Ray is still considered to have set the bar extremely high for any future directors that want to take a stab at that music legend biopic. In a sea full of biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody, Elvis, and Rocketman, this one still reigns supreme after all this time. It’s a powerful story of one man’s perseverance and resilience through many struggles all while he navigated the music industry in the 1950s and 1960s. His compelling legacy is forever cemented and his style and tune is often imitated, but never duplicated.

Foxx’s portrayal was a pivotal move in his career, as he has earned the right to be spoken about amongst some of the greatest actors of his generation. What makes it a full circle moment is that Foxx got the seal of approval to play the icon, with Charles saying: “The kid’s got it.”

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First things first: Who is this new kid on the block? Wonder Man, also known as Simon Williams, first appeared in Avengers #9 back in 1963, making him far from a newbie. While this could potentially leave room for Williams to make an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, the cast is already wildly stacked, so the chances of that are quite slim. Cast in the role is fan favorite actor crossing over from DC, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, best known for his roles as Black Manta in the Aquaman films and as young Morpheus in The Matrix Resurrections.

As his story goes, he loses his father and is left with a weapons factory, which puts him in direct competition with Stark Industries. After doing a stint in jail for embezzlement at his own company, he strikes a deal with Baron Zemo (the main villain in Captain America: Civil War) and Amora the Enchantress and agrees to take on superpowers and go after Tony Stark. Early conversations around the plot point to the series following Williams as a struggling actor who auditions for a role as a superhero. Ben Kingsley is also set to appear in the eight-episode series as Trevor Slattery, who you might remember as the actor who played the Mandarin in Iron Man 3. This has the potential to be really fun or extremely corny, but only time will tell.

Right off the bat, Williams having direct ties to Stark is immediately attention-grabbing, given that it seems highly unlikely that Marvel would introduce a fresh character without tapping into his roots. This leads me to believe that one of two things will happen: Robert Downey Jr. will make a few appearances on the series, exciting us all to see him return in the role (despite his casting as Doctor Doom). The second possibility is that Feige and team are looking to cast a new, younger Stark, which might make sense if Downey is truly done for good with Iron Man.

If the MCU is going to continue the upward path back to where we once were, they very much need an Iron Man, whether we like it or not. Sure, we can’t see anyone else playing the role after the phenomenal job Downey did, but all good things must come to an end (look how we accepted Anthony Mackie as Cap after Chris Evans). With that being said, for Wonder Man to be successful, Stark will have to make a physical appearance because simply suggesting that he is “around” is just not going to work.

Creator Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) has entered post-production on the show and is currently slated for a January 2026 release date.

Wonder Man was one of the many projects that were affected by the writer’s strike and suffered a few delays, so it’s a breath of fresh air to see it still being released. While little about the plot and characters is fully known at the moment, one of the show’s stars, Demetrius Grosse, gave some insight about what we can expect. During an interview for Sound of Hope, he tells ComicBook.com, “I think people are going to be intrigued by the dynamic between Simon Williams and Eric Williams as much as they’re excited about the dynamic between Grim Reaper and Wonder Man. This series is gonna be a very, very different kind of show, but pleasantly so.”

All in all, now that Marvel Studios has checked themselves and owned up to churning out projects left and right, we’ve gotten some good content as of late. With the time in between its initial announcement a few years ago to now, there has been enough time to really get this script right and give us something good. Abdul-Mateen is a fantastic actor who can lead to us enjoying his time on screen, as long as the material is solid and entertaining, pretty much the opposite of Secret Invasion.

During NYCC a first-look teaser was released for the series. Check it out below:

Wonder Man is scheduled to debut on Disney+ in January 2026 and will consist of eight episodes. Each episode is 30-minutes in length and this series is part of phase six of the MCU.

The post Everything We Know So Far about Disney+’s ‘Wonder Man’ appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

The gaming industry has always been a growing field, and that only multiplied when streaming platforms, such as Twitch, were created. Back in the days, we didn’t have the luxury of a simple hit record and play set up. Gamers would have to screen record their sessions and then upload them to YouTube. Oh, how things have evolved and for the absolute better! Because of the ease of streaming, many gamers have turned their favorite pastime into a way of building an audience with people who share common interests. For the lucky ones who have been successful in their venture, this has become a full time job that helps them pay the bills while having fun. Let’s take a look at seven Black girl game streamers you should check out!

Samora

If Final Fantasy and the Legend of Zelda are your jam, Samora is your girl. Hailing from Amsterdam, she dives into weekly broadcasts on her Twitch account in front of 36,800 followers. She is one of those gamers to keep an eye on as she has been gaining popularity through her 8-hour sessions. She is active on her Twitch schedule, constantly updating when she will go live next. She’s serious about her craft as her next stream is set for a five a.m. start time!

ChelseaBytes

When you think of paving the way for women in the gaming world, think of ChelseaBytes. She recently spoke with Black Girl Nerds along with a fellow streamer, BigBossBoze. She’s a leader of Twitch’s Women’s Guild, a group that offers a space to share your authentic voice and experiences with peers where privacy is respected, concerns are acknowledged, and differences are celebrated. That’s not all! In addition to gaming out, Chelsea is also an official G2 Esports content creator and on-camera host so there’s no telling where you’ll see her next!

PikaChulita

Katie goes by several names including Pika, KatieChu, or most notably, PikaChulita. Identifying as  bi/pan, she has a strict code of no homophobia, transphobia, or racism for engaging on her channel. She began her streaming journey in 2014 primarily on console but eventually branched out to Twitch where she houses close to 16,000 subscribers. Pika expresses that she plays entirely for fun but welcomes anything extra along the way. Ever wonder what tech to buy to get started in this field? She’s got you covered with a detailed list of things she uses in her personal set up!

StoryModeBae

Briana, better known as StoryModeBae, is very well rounded, making a name for herself across several platforms including over 65,500 subscribers on YouTube, 47,400 on Twitch, and sharing her thoughts to her 30,000 followers on X. She started her gaming journey at the tender age of five years old with Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Frogger, so it’s clear sis knew what she was born to do. Bri stands out with her branding, as her Twitch displays graphics detailing her rules for engaging with her content as well as what perks (such as custom emotes and sub hat badges) she offers to her viewers. 

JazzyGuns

Jasmine aka JazzyGuns has been around for over eight years and continues to build a name for herself on YouTube. While her fellow colleagues have made the transition to Twitch, she has remained loyal to the OG platform. With over 601,000 subscribers, she plays a variety of games, with a focus on Among Us and Resident Evil. In addition to her gaming account, she also has a shared channel called Dwayne N Jazz, which she creates content on with her boyfriend. Their reactions, challenges, pranks, and skits have earned them an impressive 2.45 million subscribers. If you ever needed a sign to join forces with your man and build a following, this is it.

JaharaJayde

Jahara is the go to for all things Final Fantasy, as she is currently on a mission to play all games in their entirety. Her home base is Twitch, where she goes live for hours at a time, diving into fantasy and adventure. In addition to gaming, she’s an avid cosplayer as she got her start on IG showcasing hundreds of characters to her 361,000 followers. She’s proof that you can pursue more than one passion, even combining them into one as her TikTok features her fits and gaming clips (she’s killing it with over 736,000 followers there). At this pace, there’s no telling what she can accomplish.

BlackGirlGamers

While not exactly an individual account, we can’t leave out BlackGirlGamers as they represent exactly what this list highlights. Garnering the title of Official Twitch Channel for Black Girl Gamers, they offer heightened visibility and put together events, workshops, and consulting to anyone looking to build themselves. They have a consistent schedule of streams weekly that reach their 42,000 subscribers, so it’s safe to say they are the go-to channel for any female Black gamer looking to get insight.

The post 7 Black Girl Game Streamers You Should Be Following appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.