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Two more islanders were sent home during Sunday night’s episode of “Love Island USA” Season 7.

With the help of the public and safe contestants, Jeremiah Brown and Hannah Fields became the latest individuals to be dumped from the island. On June 20, viewers cast their votes for their favorite female and male islanders to remain in the villa and continue exploring their romantic connections. The results were revealed, leaving six competitors vulnerable and at risk of being eliminated from the island during the episode that streamed on June 22.

Among the women with the fewest votes were Fields, Iris Kendall and Amaya Espinal. The men who were also at the bottom of the ranking included Brown, Jose “Pepe” Garcia-Gonzalez and Austin Shepard. Although the public had the initial vote for who to remove from the villa, the ultimate decision was left to the remaining contestants.

The islanders who were saved by...

Five days into Season 7 of “Love Island USA,” the reality dating show had its first recoupling: On Sunday, Belle-a Walker was sent home after her partner, Nicolas Vansteenberghe, decided to choose another islander to pair up with.

Walker and Vansteenberghe were paired on their first evening in the villa during a coupling ceremony. The women were challenged to kiss two men who they were interested in before choosing which islander to start their journey with. The couple’s relationship was tested once two new bombshells, Cierra Ortega and Charlie Georgiou, arrived on the island. From there, Walker found herself in the first “love triangle” of the season as Vansteenberghe decided to explore both women before ultimately sending Walker home.

Although eliminated, she wasn’t the first contestant to leave the island. In the second episode, Yulissa Escobar was removed from the villa after podcast clips of her using racial slurs surfaced online.

Welcome to this review on WWE x Aaa Worlds Collide 2025, right here on Nerdly.We’ve gone from a cross-brand show to an Actual cross-promotion show featuring WWE talent going head-to-head with Aaa’s top talent.

Match #1: Mr. Iguana, Aero Star & Octagón Jr. def. Lince Dorado, Cruz del Toro & Dragon Lee The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Dragon Lee and Cruz del Toro of The Lwo teamed with Lince Dorado to take on Aaa stars Mr. Iguana, Aero Star and Octagón Jr. to get Worlds Collide started off with a bang. Mr. Iguana and his trusty pal, Yesca, wowed the WWE Universe with their unique style as Iguana battled Dorado, using Yesca to get Dorado off his game. Yesca saw more action than perhaps he’d like to as Dorado attacked the stuffed animal, performing a Spanish Fly on Iguana’s pet. The action was fast and off...

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Yulissa Escobar has something to say.

The reality star jumped on social media on June 6 in order to apologize for using racial slurs after she was removed from the cast of Love Island USA after just two episodes.

Escobar sounded as if she had arrived at some major revelations via a message on Instagram.

(Ben Symons/Peacock)

“First, I want to apologize for using a word I had no right in using,” the polarizing personality wrote in a post on Friday. “

In those clips, I used a word I never should’ve used, a racial slur. I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it. I wasn’t trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn’t excuse impact.”

Escobar departed the aforementioned Peacock series due to the resurgence of quotes she uttered in the past on a podcast.

“Love Island USA” contestant Yulissa Escobar apologized on Friday for past use of a racial slur that got her kicked off the Peacock reality dating show.

“I used [the N-word] ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history or pain behind it,” the Miami native wrote on her Instagram.

“I wasn’t trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn’t excuse impact. And the impact of that word is real. It’s tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use,” she said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yulissa Escobar (@yulissaaescobar)

After the Season 7 cast was announced on May 29, recordings from Escobar’s appearances on two separate podcasts resurfaced. In the clips, she used the n-word more than once while discussing previous relationships.

Her exit in Episode 2 was announced in a scene in which the show’s narrator informed viewers,...

Love Island USA season seven contestant Yulissa Escobar is addressing her departure from the Peacock series.

During episode two on Wednesday night, viewers learned Escobar left the villa when series narrator Ian Stirling quickly announced about 18 minutes into the show, “Yulissa has left the villa.” While the reason for her exit had yet to be revealed, it came shortly after clips of her using racial slurs resurfaced online.

“First, I want to apologize for using a word I had no right in using. Podcast clips from years ago have recently resurfaced, and I want to address it directly,” Escobar wrote in a Friday Instagram post. “In those clips, I used a word I never should’ve used, a racial slur. I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it. I wasn’t trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn’t excuse impact.

“Love Island USA” contestant Yulissa Escobar has released a statement apologizing for using racial slurs in past podcast clips that resurfaced online.

“In those clips, I used a word I never should’ve used, a racial slur,” Escobar wrote on her Instagram account. “I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it. I wasn’t trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn’t excuse impact. And the impact of that word is real. It’s tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.”

She continued: “At the time, I was speaking casually in conversation, not thinking deeply or critically about what I was saying. But that doesn’t take away from how wrong it was. The truth is, I didn’t know better then, but I do now. I’ve taken the time to reflect,...

Love Island USA Season 7 has barely even started, and it’s already dishing out the kind of jaw-dropping drama reality TV dreams are made of. The villa’s full of fresh faces, sun-kissed slow-mos, flirty challenges, and of course, a little chaos to keep things spicy. Among the ten singletons that strutted into the revamped villa this season was Yulissa Escobar — a girl who brought confidence, glam, and some serious main-character energy.

But just as quickly as she showed up, she was gone. Poof. No warning, no farewell, just a narrator dropping a surprise exit like a bomb in the middle of episode two. It left fans reeling, and since then, Escobar’s name has been making rounds online, for reasons that go way beyond villa gossip.

Let’s check out some lesser-known facts about this short-lived but unforgettable contestant.

5. Where is Yulissa Escobar from? Yulissa Escobar | Credit: Instagram\@yulissaaescobar...

Love Island USA’s Season 7 has already sparked more than just romantic drama. Yulissa Escobar, a Miami real estate and hospitality pro, entered the villa with undeniable confidence, turning heads and stirring the pot. But soon after, her time on the show ended abruptly, quietly removed after resurfaced podcast clips revealed her using N-words. The show barely explained her exit, leaving fans piecing together the story as social media erupted with backlash.

And then there’s the burning question on everyone’s lips: Is Yulissa Escobar related to the Drug lord Pablo Escobar? The answer? No credible evidence supports that claim. So who exactly is Yulissa, and what shadows does her last name cast in this reality TV storm?

Why did Yulissa Escobar really leave Love Island USA? Yulissa Escobar | Credit: @yulissaaescobar/ Instagram

Yulissa Escobar’s time on Love Island was as brief as a Miami thunderstorm: fast, intense, and...

Love Island is back, baby and it’s hotter, messier, and more dramatic than ever. For those new to the chaos, Love Island isn’t just your typical dating show. It’s a full-on reality TV rollercoaster where ridiculously good-looking singles shack up in a sun-soaked villa, flirt like it’s a sport, and try to find love (or at least a solid fanbase). And yes, all while being watched 24/7. Think bikinis, bombshells, and betrayal. It’s giving drama, and we’re absolutely here for it.

Now let’s talk about the U.S. version. Love Island USA has really stepped up its game over the past few seasons. With the new Season 7 airing, things kicked off with a glossy new villa, spicy challenges, and a fresh cast ready to mix, match, and maybe even make it to the final.

But hold up. Just when fans were starting to choose...

Exclusive: Cuban-American drug kingpin Willy Falcon is finally poised to tell the story of how he built the billion-dollar cocaine empire Los Muchachos. Entertainment A.R.E.U., the company started by Ozzie Areu after he left as longtime president of Tyler Perry Studios, has acquired the exclusive life rights and cooperation of Falcon.

Areu has also acquired rights to the T.J. English book The Last Kilo: Willy Falcon and the Cocaine Empire That Seduced America. The package is seven-figures if the film gets made.

It provides an insider’s view of one version of the chase for the American Dream, set against a backdrop of power boat racing and the lavish lifestyle of the affluent, funded by a coke empire credited with helping to build the Miami skyline, a venture headed by Falcon, his brother Gustavo and partner Sal Magluta.

“This is a story that’s captivated audiences for decades.

Love Island USA Season Seven contestant Yulissa Escobar has been dumped from the island after only one episode. While in the villa, the Miami native received intense backlash online after fans of the show discovered clips from a podcast appearance during which she used the N-word multiple times. Producers responded quickly. At the start of episode two, narrator Iain Stirling announced, “Yulissa has left the villa.”

Escobar’s social media comments have been flooded with viewers promising to use their first vote of the season to eliminate her from the show.

We are only in the second episode of Love Island USA season 7, and the drama has already stirred up. Only 18 minutes into the second episode of the newly premiered season, Peacock announced that they are voting out Islander Yulissa Escobar from the show.

After first debuting in 2019, Love Island USA is no stranger to drama – from relationships patching and breaking up, to jealousies between friends – the dating reality show has seen it all. Yet, Escobar’s exit seems to have stirred the pot in the most bizarre way possible.

As the network announced her departure during Wednesday’s episode, social media heated up with comments regarding the 27-year-old. As the internet continues to share their opinions online, it can be safely said that the Florida native’s removal from the show might come as one of the paltriest moves by the creators.

Why was Yulissa Escobar removed from Love Island USA...

Love Island USA contestant Yulissa Escobar has left the show shortly after season seven got underway.

While the reason for her departure from the villa hasn’t been revealed, Escobar’s exit comes shortly after clips of her using racial slurs resurfaced online.

During the second episode, which premiered Wednesday night, series narrator Iain Stirling quickly announced about 18 minutes into the show, “Yulissa has left the villa.” She was coupled up with Ace Greene, but he also noted later in the episode that Greene is now single.

When Peacock was reached for comment, a spokesperson shared a statement similar to Stirling’s comment with The Hollywood Reporter.

After the season seven Love Island USA cast was revealed last week, Escobar has faced backlash on social media after podcast clips resurfaced of her using racial slurs. In clips obtained by TMZ, she is reportedly heard saying the N-word multiple times.

Escobar...

Days after several racist online posts came to light, “Love Island USA” contestant Yulissa Escobar has left the show.

Escobar’s exit came early in episode 2 of the current seventh season, which streamed Wednesday night on Peacock. In a scene where the other contestants were waking up, the show’s narrator simply informed them (and the audience) that “Yulissa has left the villa.”

No reason was given for her departure and she wasn’t mentioned again. It’s not clear if her exit was due to the uproar over her resurfaced comments, or if she was kicked off the show as opposed to leaving by her own choice. Representatives for NBCUniversal didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap. Escobar has also not commented on her own social media accounts.

Shortly after the cast of “Love Island USA” was announced on May 29, recordings from Escobar’s appearances...

“Love Island USA” contestant Yulissa Escobar was removed from the villa during the second episode of Season 7, after podcast clips of her using racial slurs resurfaced online.

Her exit was given very little context on the show. At around the 18-minute mark of Wednesday’s episode, as the islanders were waking up, series narrator Iain Stirling announces, “Yulissa has left the villa.” It is unclear whether Escobar was removed from the villa in the middle of the night or whether the “Love Island” editors just cut her out of the episode.

Since joining the show, Escobar has faced massive online backlash after podcast clips resurfaced of her using racial slurs. In the clips obtained by TMZ, she is heard using the N-word multiple times while discussing previous relationships.

Fans took to social media to express their outrage by leaving hundreds of comments on her Instagram, promising to vote her off...

The upcoming episode of “History’s Greatest Mysteries,” titled “The Death and Fortune of Pablo Escobar,” promises to delve into the life and legacy of one of the most infamous figures in history. Set to air on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 8:00 Pm on History, this episode will explore the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar, the notorious narco-trafficker who dominated the cocaine trade in the 1980s.

Viewers will learn about Escobar’s staggering wealth, which is estimated to have reached over billion in today’s money by the time of his death in 1993. The episode will provide insights into how he amassed such a fortune and the impact it had on both the United States and Colombia. Through interviews, archival footage, and expert analysis, the show will paint a vivid picture of Escobar’s criminal empire and the chaos that surrounded it.

As the episode unfolds, it will also examine the...

Mayor Karen Bass (D) dismissed the city’s fire chief, bringing an escalating blame game to a head following last month’s devastating wildfires.

“Let me be clear, our firefighters acted heroically during the Palisades fire, and they act heroically every single day. That is without question,” Bass said at a press conference. “Bringing new leadership to the fire department is what they and the people of Los Angeles deserve.”

Bass cited two major reasons for Kristin Crowley’s removal: the alleged dismissal of 1,000 firefighters who could have been on duty when the fires ignited and the chief’s refusal to conduct an after-action report at the request of the city’s fire commission. “These actions required her removal,” Bass stated.

Crowley publicly said that Bass had failed the city with her response to the fire. Bass was in Ghana when the wildfires broke out despite warnings that there was a fire danger.

When I first binge-watched Netflix’s Undercover, I had no idea that the character of Dutchman Ferry Bouman was loosely based on the real-life ecstasy kingpin from Eindhoven named Janus van Wessenbeeck. But you see, after the success of Undercover, everything Netflix put out was just to milk the popularity of the character. [Spoiler Alert] And when they finally realized that there wasn’t any plot left to explore, they simply killed the character. Well, given how Ferry’s wounds are pretty ambiguous in nature, there is the slight possibility that he isn’t totally dead, and if the movie works well, he’ll probably make a triumphant return. If it doesn’t, we can bid him goodbye. Anyway, in Ferry 2’s end-credits scene, Jezebel van Kamp or Jez, sold a bag of ecstasy pills to a mysterious buyer who seemed like the owner of a nightclub. I guess, after the entire fiasco with Lex,...

What shows and documentaries were the best on Netflix? The streaming giant remains one of the top platforms for go-to shows and documentaries. Shows that have enticed the audience over the years have brought excitement and interest for everyone to watch.

During the holidays, this is the best opportunity to watch these Netflix shows and documentaries over again.

These are following shows that can have everyone’s interest over again and reminiscing the audience caught and some who missed out:

Binge watching the Netflix shows (again) is a perfect way to spend the Christmas holidayNarcos

Narcos goes back to the days of the notorious drug kingpin, Pablo Escobar. It follows the DEA agents Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook) and Javier Pena (Pedro Pascal), who attempt to infiltrate and disrupt Escobar’s (Wagner Moura) drug empire in order to capture him.

The show is inspired by true events that took place in Colombia.

The Red Sea International Film Festival (Rsiff) has announced its full industry programme. Running from December 7th to 11th, 2024, in Jeddah’s vibrant Al Balad district, this year’s expanded five-day program offers an exceptional line-up of activities bringing together new talent, emerging filmmakers and established regional and international industry leaders for a series of events, talks and networking opportunities. The Red Sea Souk activities will take place alongside the growing marketplace which features 142 exhibitors from 32 countries this year.

Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Rsiff’s Managing Director, said: “The Souk is a vital part of the Rsiff experience, serving as a hub for collaboration, innovation, and opportunity. This year, we are more committed than ever to creating an environment where filmmakers, producers, and industry professionals can come together to share knowledge, forge meaningful connections, and shape the future of cinema. We are excited to present this year’s events and thankful...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show…

Match #1: Chelsea Green def. Bianca Belair and Blair Davenport The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Bianca Belair and Chelsea Green traded pinfall attempts on Blair Davenport, but they both stopped each other from gaining the win. The Est was looking great until her tag team partner Jade Cargill was shown laying unconscious on top of a car in the backstage area. This compelled Belair to go help her partner, allowing Green to take advantage and pin Davenport after the Unprettier.

My Score: 3 out of 5 Match #2: United States Championship – LA Knight def. Santos Escobar The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

LA Knight once again put his United States Title on the line against a member of Legado del Fantasma, this...

Netflix's gritty crime drama Narcos was originally meant to have four seasons, but this plan was changed, resulting in a spiritual successor set in Mexico. The original Narcos tells the story of Colombia's cocaine trade under the drug lord Pablo Escobar, and its success sparked a new wave of drug lord shows like Narcos. Narcos ran for three seasons, with the first two focusing on Escobar's rise to power, and the third on the aftermath when Escobar is killed. While Narcos made some changes to the real story, the show was critically acclaimed and ended with people wanting more.

With Escobar dead and the Cali cartel leaving the drug business, it appeared that Narcos had come to a natural end. However, Escobar was not the only drug lord operating in the 1980s and 90s, when Narcos was set. Rather than continue the story in Colombia, the Narcos team...

Thailand’s Purin Pictures is giving out a total of $170,000 to six projects from Southeast Asia for its autumn selection, including the latest projects by Daniel Hui and Martika Ramirez Escobar and two projects from Malaysia inspired by legendary filmmaker P Ramlee.

Daughters of the Sea by Filipino director Martika Ramirez Escobar and Other People’s Dreams by Daniel Hui from Singapore are both dramas with a touch of the surreal. Purin Pictures supported their previous works: Escobar’s 2022 feature debut Leonor Will Never Die, which won awards at Sundance, Toronto and Sitges; and Hui’s Small Hours Of The Night,...

10 Series to Check Out if You Loved the Menendez Brothers Series - Main Image

Monster may have covered the story of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer first, and this year the season decided to focus on the true-crime story of Lyle and Eric Menendez, brothers who were convicted of murdering their wealthy parents with a shotgun.

The third season of the series is now set to tell the true story of serial killer Ed Gein with Sons of Anarchy actor Charlie Hunnam, but while fans wait for that to come out in a couple of years or so, there are some other true-crime dramas that are very well worth checking out if you got bitten by the true-crime bug.

American Crime Story Series

Before Monster was even a show, creator Ryan Murphy had another anthology series called American Crime Story that followed real-life crimes that became the center of huge scandals.

Cinema is the ideal medium for awakening nostalgia, a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, as it seamlessly combines evocative images, sounds, songs, styles, and places that transport viewers to another time. Through its powerful visual and auditory storytelling, films have a unique ability to rekindle memories of past eras, childhood, or simpler moments in life. Nostalgic movies often reflect cultural trends, iconic moments, and heart-warming themes, allowing audiences to emotionally reconnect with their own personal histories or with bygone periods.

This list highlights some nostalgia-inducing films that, through lush productions or skilful era recreation, evoke feelings and memories you might not realize you had. These films romanticize the passage of time and the loss of fleeting moments, using vivid imagery and sound to summon a deep connection to the past—even when this past is a turbulent one, or one you just want to lose yourself in.

Stretched to its ideological limits, Pepe is about the nasty domino effect of colonialism. Dominican filmmaker Nelson Carlos de los Santos Arias uses the strange story of the murdered hippopotamus of the film’s title to tie together themes and ideas around eco-capitalism, the prosecution of Pablo Escobar, the relationship between countries in the global south, European racism, and ecological disaster. But while the film is clearly ambitious, its patchwork approach, a consistently dizzying game of reorientation meant to mirror Pepe’s plight, only winds its way to a point of inconclusiveness that will prove frustrating for most.

The real-life Pepe was one of Colombia’s small collection of hippos, an invasive species introduced to the country by Escobar. The drug empresario started with a small coterie of four, in the late 1970s, but by the time of Pepe’s state-sanctioned killing in 2007, the population had grown to around 90—a...

As September ushers in cooler weather, AMC+ will welcome a sprinkling of new television shows. Unlike other months, the streaming service doesnt have a long list of series slated for release in the coming weeks. Nonetheless, everything scheduled to hit the platform next month will most certainly entertain those who decide to watch.

With a fan favorite returning for a second season and a stranger than fiction docuseries heading to AMC+, viewers wont want to miss what the streaming service plans to drop next month. However, given most of the shows lean more toward the spooky genre, those who prefer less gore and frights should probably steer clear of the streaming platform in the coming weeks. That being said, theres still plenty of exciting entertainment available on the platform.

The Tailor of Sin City (Season 1) Stream on September 12

The Tailor of Sin City is a docuseries that chronicles the fascinating true story of Aj Pratt,...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: The Street Profits def. A-Town Down Under The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

In the first match of the WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contender’s Tournament, Angelo Dawkins launched Grayson Waller into the time keeper’s area, effectively taking him out of the match. Montez Ford and Dawkins then isolated Austin Theory to hit a Super Blockbuster to win the match and advance in the tournament.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Jade Cargill def. Alba Fyre The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Alba Fyre did her best against the awesome Jade Cargill, but Cargill hit Jaded to win the match. After the bell, Blair Davenport hit the scene to attack Cargill and Bianca Belair with The Unholy Union.

On Monday August 12 2024, History broadcasts Gangland Chronicles!

The Medellin Cartel Season 1 Episode 3 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Gangland Chronicles,” titled “The Medellin Cartel,” promises to dive deep into the rise of one of the most notorious drug trafficking organizations in history. This episode will explore how Pablo Escobar and his cartel transformed the cocaine trade and gained immense power in Colombia. With a focus on their operations, the story will reveal the strategies that made them a force to be reckoned with.

As tensions escalate, the Medellin Cartel finds itself at war with the Colombian government. The episode will highlight the challenges and dangers faced by the cartel as they push their limits in the pursuit of control and influence. Viewers can expect to see how this conflict shaped not only the cartel’s future but also the landscape of Colombia during that turbulent time.

Throughout the episode, the...

At the end of episode 5 of Hotel Cocaine, Valeria learned what her father and uncle actually did for a living. She had been in the van when Roman was meant to shoot Yolanda dead; however, there was a big mess since Valeria stepped out of the van and distracted Yolanda, leaving her completely shocked. Fortunately, Nestor was able to keep her safe from the shooting, but Yolanda got away as well. Episode 6 further explains the Colombian agenda, and we see Nestor interact with Henao directly. Hotel Cocaine episode 6 begins with Valeria’s bout of anger at her father. On the other hand, Roman feels disturbed by the situation and worries for his daughter.

Spoiler Alert

What does Henao tell Nestor?

In Hotel Cocaine episode 6, Nestor decides to start the war for real by showing Yolanda’s men how strong the Cubans’ hold in Miami is. On the other hand, Yolanda welcomes Henao to Miami.

MGM+’s Hotel Cocaine has now crossed over the midpoint, and finally, there’s some progress in the show. In this episode, we also see the mention of Escobar and the Cali Cartel as direct rivals of the Colombians who want to take over Miami. We knew war was just around the corner, and in episode 5, we get a glimpse of it, but not exactly in the way we expected. Episode 5 of Hotel Cocaine begins with Roman and his family now living in Nestor’s house. While Marisol isn’t really thrilled about this situation, Valeria is excited to have a room of her own with a TV in it. This whole situation is going to get really messy, really quick, though.

Spoiler Alert

Who is stealing from Nestor?

Roman believes living with Nestor is the only way he can keep his family safe, but in reality, I’d like...

Netflix's Chinatown prequel series scripts are completed, bringing a fresh look at Jake Gittes' past with unexpected surprises. Robert Towne and David Fincher collaborate on the project, aiming to explore new elements without replicating the original film's villain. The prequel series will delve deep into Gittes and Escobar's relationship, shedding light on their codependence for the first time.

Back in 2019, a prequel series to Roman Polanskis classic neo-noir film, Chinatown, was announced to be in the works at Netflix with David Fincher and original writer Robert Towne. Theres been little news on the project since then, but we now have an exciting new update from Towne hinting that the Chinatown prequel may be closer than we thought. Released in 1974, Chinatown was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, and is widely regarded as one of the best crime dramas ever made. Townes original screenplay took home the films only Oscar win,...

“The episodes have been written for Netflix,” screenwriter Robert Towne says of his Chinatown prequel series, which will be directed by David Fincher.

As the classic noir thriller Chinatown marked its 50th anniversary – it premiered on the 20th June 1974 – screenwriter Robert Towne recently provided an update on a long-rumoured prequel series.

Its episodes, Towne told Variety, “have been written,” and will explore the earlier years of detective Jake Gittes, played by Jack Nicholson in the original film.

The series was first reported on in 2019, with the story being that David Fincher would direct and that it would all be bankrolled by Netflix. The streaming giant didn’t comment on the reports at the time, but it sounds as though the show has been quietly in the works for the past five years, with Towne confirming that he’s been collaborating with Fincher on the project in the interim.

“All I...

Robert Towne and David Fincher's collaboration on the Chinatown prequel series promises to delve into Jake Gittes and Lou Escobar's partnership while respecting the original film. Towne confirms all of the scripts for the prequel show have been completed. The enduring elements of Chinatown will be expanded upon in the Netflix prequel series, with an emphasis on Gittes' evolution and Escobar's backstory.

Chinatown writer Robert Towne provides an update on David Fincher's upcoming prequel series of the celebrated 1974 film. Fincher and Towne have been collaborating to create a Netflix prequel series that explores the life of J.J. "Jake" Gittes (Jack Nicholson) before the events of Chinatown. The project, along with Fincher and Towne's involvement, was first announced in 2019, with the latest update being the most substantial since its initial announcement.

While speaking with Variety, Towne shared that all the scripts for the Chinatown prequel series have been completed.

For a while there, we thought they really did forget it, Jake. But now Chinatown screenwriter Robert Towne has provided an update on the prequel series he has developed alongside David Fincher, confirming that the blinds haven’t been closed on the endeavor after all.

Towne — who won an Oscar for his original screenplay — recently told Variety that all episodes of the planned Chinatown prequel have been written. “All I’m likely to say is yes, all the episodes have been written for Netflix.” On collaborating with Fincher, he added, “Working with a force of nature like David Fincher, tho’ occasionally humbling, is never less than enlightening.”

Expanding the seedy world of noir classic Chinatown has been done before, with Towne and Jack Nicholson reuniting for 1990’s The Two Jakes, which we’ll just say is no Chinatown…But a prequel to the 1974 film exploring the origins of Jake Gittes...

It’s nearly five years since we learned David Fincher and Robert Towne would partner on a Chinatown series concerning the early days of Jack Nicholson’s Jake Gittes. The time since pointed towards a director who’d been brought back to feature filmmaking, to say nothing of how costly and expansive such a project would be for a company clearly less willing to take chances on major auteurs. Speaking to Variety on occasion of the film’s 50th anniversary, however, Towne provided the crucial notice that “all the episodes have been written.” An advanced state of development that nevertheless fails to signal where it’s at with Netflix––the company offered no update of their own.

Towne was fairly candid, though, saying the project’s villain will evoke John Huston’s Noah Cross––among the most evil characters in mainstream American cinema––having been shaped by the notion “that...

There are the classics — and then there’s “Chinatown.” First released on June 20, 1974, the seminal noir feature was a resounding success at its time: a big hit for producer and Paramount heavy Robert Evans, a renowned return to Hollywood for director Roman Polanski and an Academy Award winner for screenwriter Robert Towne, plus Oscar nominations for stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.

But the film has only become more enshrined in the canon in the decades since, in particular for Towne’s script: a grim portrait of uninhibited greed shaping Los Angeles in the 30’s, celebrated as one of the best — and often cited as the best — screenplay in history. Key to its legacy is its terrifying ending, which sees Nicholson’s detective J.J. Gittes return to his old stamping ground of Chinatown. There he witnesses another deadly miscarriage of justice that he’s helpless to stop.

That Towne...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Naomi def. Chelsea Green The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Serenaded by a raucous Glasgow, Scotland, crowd, Naomi took on Chelsea Green as WWE Women’s Champion Bayley and Piper Niven were ringside in Naomi and Green’s respective corners. Green took to the top rope to hit a huge dropkick, but Naomi kept fighting. Bayley and Niven, who clash tomorrow for the WWE Women’s Title, jaw-jacked on the outside, distracting Green enough to allow Naomi to stun Green with a surprise roll-up, earning the victory.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Santos Escobar def. Apollo Crews The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

After Legado del Fantasma attacked Apollo Crews before his match with Angel last week,...

The Emmy category for Best TV Movie has had a renaissance in recent years, with more high profile projects being exclusive to the medium. In this golden TV era, the level of talent on screen and behind the camera is at an all-time high – showcased best by the level of competition here and Best Limited Series. Once so niche that they were a single combined category at the Emmys, the fields seem to get stronger and stronger every year. As a result, the list of this season’s potential TV movie nominees is incredible. Leading the pack (for me) is Amazon Prime Video’s “Red, White & Royal Blue.”

An adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s New York Times bestselling novel, the film depicts the rivalry and courtship between Henry (Nicholas Galitzine), a prince of England’s royal family, and Alex (Taylor Zakar Perez), the son of an American presidential candidate.

Inspiration can strike at any time and from any source. For some TV, the idea comes from true events throughout history.

While the storyline may get dramatized or include events that didn't occur, the true parts can be enough to inspire a story fit for entertainment.

We've found our favorite 11 TV shows based on real-life events. Find out about each story's truth, the actors who made it awesome, and where you can watch each piece.

American Crime Story (2016-ongoing)

Where to watch: Hulu subscription

American Crime Story is an anthology series focusing on criminals and crimes throughout the U.S.

This series has portrayed some of the biggest criminal cases fought in the American court system, starting with the trial of Oj Simpson in American Crime Story Season 1.

Other high-profile cases covered in this award-winning series include the death of popular clothes designer Gianni Versace and the affair between President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.

Luis Ospina, interviewed shortly before his death, recalls a fierce career that applied the lessons of the French New Wave to his work

Jorge Carvalho’s brief documentary is a study of the Colombian documentarist and film-maker Luis Ospina, the founder of the Grupo de Cali; named after his home town of Cali in Colombia, it was an artists’ collective including director Carlos Mayolo and the writer Andrés Caicedo, whose early death at 25 helped make him a legendary figure of Colombian literature. They were formed in radical opposition to what Ospina and others saw as the dullness and complacency of Colombian cinema, and in sympathy with leftist currents in moviemaking after Godard. The Californian-educated Ospina himself displays a classic New Wave reverence for the American masters such as Hawks and Ford, in whose company he includes Jerry Lewis without any hesitation. Ospina and the Grupo de Cali were the subject...

A new rumor indicates that Disney has purchased Jeffery Epstein’s Island for $3 billion to add a new Disney Cruise Line Island and theme park.

Is it true?

No. It’s another article from the satire site Mouse Trap News.

The article was posted in early March and joked that Disney likely purchased the island as a cover-up because the island isn’t worth $3 billion. They also tease that people say it should be called “Kidcot.”

“Many people are suggesting the new name of this park should be Kidcot. However, skeptical fans aren’t buying any of this. In fact, many people are speculating that Disney bought this island to cover something up.”

The article further jokes that a Disney executive said:

“… Disney sees an opportunity to turn Epstein’s island into a beacon of innocence and wonder. As one executive put it, “Where there’s scandal, there’s opportunity for a happy ending…...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Triple Threat Match – LA Knight def. Bobby Lashley and Santos Escobar The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

LA Knight and Bobby Lashley tried to gang up on Santos Escobar to start the match, but the Legado del Fantasma leader escaped to ringside to allow The All Mighty and The Megastar to duke it out. With no rules in play, Angel and Berto slithered their way into the match to try to give Escobar the winning edge. The Street Profits neutralized Legado del Fantasma, giving Lashley and Knight more of a fighting chance. With the match breaking down, The Megastar hit Escobar with a Bft to advance in the tournament to determine who will challenge WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at WWE Backlash in Lyon,...

Welcome to this review of night one of WWE’s Wrestlemania 40 pay-per-view which came live from Philadelphia. Let’s see what went down on Saturday’s show…

Match 1: Women’s World Championship – Rhea Ripley def. Becky Lynch The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The Women’s World Championship will remain with Rhea Ripley as Mami defeated The Man to kick off WrestleMania Xl Saturday. Ripley was on a mission not to just defeat Becky Lynch, but humiliate her with an incredible strength advantage. Ever the fighter, Lynch refused to be dominated, battling back in typical Lasskicker fashion. The Man finally gained the upper hand thanks to her resiliency, punctuated by a huge leg drop to the back of the champion’s head, but the power of Ripley allowed her to dump the challenger on her head. Lynch managed to lock in the Dis-arm-her on the injured elbow of Mami,...

WrestleMania 40’s night one in Philadelphia was a spectacle of high-octane wrestling that lived up to the grandeur expected of such a storied event. The evening was headlined by a tag team match featuring Roman Reigns and The Rock against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, which delivered an electrifying performance, setting a dramatic tone for the rest Wrestlemania weekend! The stakes were incredibly high, with the outcome influencing the main event of night two, adding a layer of strategic depth to the match. Roman Reigns and The Rock took the win and if Cody Rhodes is going to “finish the story” he will be playing now by the Bloodline’s rules for night two!

Photo courtesy: WWE

The Bloodline’s presence was felt throughout the night, particularly in the emotionally charged match between estranged twin brothers Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso, which showcased a personal family drama unfolding in the ring.

Pepe.In 2009, a male hippopotamus was killed in Colombia by German hunters under authorization of the local authorities. Nicknamed Pepe by the press—after Los Pepes, a paramilitary group that opposed Pablo Escobar—the hippo was part of a small herd of pachyderms originally brought to the country from southern Africa in the late 1970s by the notorious drug lord. Escobar kept the hippos on his estate until 1993 when he was gunned down by US and Colombian special forces, whereupon they were left to wander free from the property. Today, there are over 100 of these so-called “cocaine hippos” living in Colombia’s Magdalena River Valley.Pepe (2024), the fourth feature by Dominican director Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias, takes this stranger-than-fiction story as the jumping-off point for reimagining Pepe’s journey from the frontiers of South West Africa to the tropics of Estación Cocorná, where a pair of fishermen attempt...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Legado del Fantasma def. The Lwo The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Angel and Berto are one step closer to realizing their WrestleMania dreams as they defeated Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro in a WrestleMania Xl Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match. Angel and Berto brought the fight right to The Lwo, including throwing Del Toro off the top rope in exhilarating fashion. Del Toro fought hard and tagged in the high-flying Wilde, a move that turned the tide for a short time. Legado del Fantasma were able to isolate Wilde in the ring before hitting him with a stunning press slam into a kick right to the stomach, winning them the match.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Randy Orton def.

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Tiffany Stratton def. Naomi The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Just days following their brutal Elimination Chamber Match, Tiffany Stratton and Naomi went toe-to-toe. Naomi looked to gain payback after Stratton eliminated her in Perth. Stratton was able to deftly rake the eyes before hitting the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, extending Tiffy Time for another week.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Dakota Kai & Bayley vs. The Kabuki Warriors The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Bayley and Dakota Kai were set to take on WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka and Kairi Sane to get retribution after being kicked out of Damage Ctrl. However, just as Bayley was about to tag in Kai, her tag team partner dropped from the apron,...

A hippopotamus is a semi-aquatic animal native to sub-Saharan Africa. However, in the early 1990s, hippos and other wild animals ran amok in South America, thanks to drug lord Pablo Escobar and the exotic menagerie at his Hacienda Nápoles estate.

After his death, the animals were left to their own devices. Some were sent to zoos, others facing an uncertain future — but not Pepe, he chose to carve his own path. At the center of Nelson Carlos de Los Santos Arias’ Berlin Premiere film, Pepe is titular nickname of the rogue hippo who escaped into the wilderness and left a trail of destruction in his wake.

Pepe meets a tragic end, but not before pondering life’s profoundest questions. Voiced by a chorus of actors including Jhon Narváez, Harmony Ahalwa, Fareed Matjila, and Shifafure Faustinus, the hippo waxes poetic about his own death and the circumstances leading up to it.