When somebody reaches movie star status like Michael B. Jordan has, it’s often hard to think about their humble beginnings. But, like all great actors, Jordan came a long way before he got to be in a star-studded affair like Sinners.

In fact, he actually made that journey on a much smaller screen. That’s right. Because even though some major stars get their big breaks in horror movies (such as Jamie Lee Curtis in the Halloween films) other actors, such as Jordan, got their breakout roles on television.

So, here are just a few of the small-screen projects that Michael B. Jordan had a part in before he became the movie star that he is today.

His First Major Role Was The Saddest Story In The First Season Of The Wire

Is The Wire the greatest show that’s ever been on television? Possibly (I think it’s either between that or Breaking Bad). I think it’s mainly because the city of Baltimore was the main protagonist, and all of the characters within it shared their story with the city. It’s why each season was special in its own way (I especially love Season 2).

Well, aside from Season 4, which covers Baltimore’s school system and is often deemed as the best season, a close second best is Season 1, which is where we were introduced to the teenager, Wallace, who has one of the saddest character arcs in the entire series. Michael B. Jordan plays the character, and the most tragic thing about his performance is that there are 16-year-old kids just like him who also have similar fates.

He Had A Home On All My Children For Awhile

You know, the world has a funny way of being both big and small. How else can you explain Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan, who would later appear together as enemies in Black Panther, having their stars align much earlier, and on a soap opera no less?

That’s right, both Boseman and Jordan were on All My Children. Even crazier: they played the exact same character, Reggie Porter Montgomery. Boseman played the character for about a week before being fired, and then the role was quickly filled in by Jordan, who played the character from 2003-2006.

So again, life can be funny sometimes, right? From being a replacement to being in one of Chadwick Boseman’s best movies. Crazy stuff.

And Then Friday Night Lights Was His Last Major Role Before The Movies Came A-Calling

Even though Jordan hopped about in other shows after All My Children, like CSI, Without a Trace, Cold Case, and a Canadian sitcom called The Assistants, his last major show before he became a bona fide movie star was Friday Night Lights.

On the show, he played quarterback Vince Howard, who appeared in the last two seasons. Vince was a complex kid who only really got into football since he didn’t want to go to juvie, and he had natural talent. It kind of went to his head, which presents an interesting dynamic in the final season.

After Friday Night Lights, Jordan went on to bigger things (like winning a Best Actor trophy at the 98th Academy Awards for Sinners). Before he became a star, he started off small, just as most great things in life do.

We’d love to believe TV shows are perfect creations with choices made purely for creative reasons, and not scheduling, finances, ratings, studio exec whims, etc. However, that isn’t the case in an industry where the bottom line is the top dog, and so television history’s annals are riddled with fractured storylines, forgotten characters (like Chuck Cunningham) and completely ignored histories. Some of the biggest shows of their respective eras, like Friends and Yellowstone, are just as guilty as those with less pristine productions.

It’s a wide-ranging topic that TV audiences love to get into nitty-gritty discussions about, with yours truly in that group for sure, and one Redditor sparked a ton of conversations with a recent post asking for others’ thoughts on shows with unresolved plots. A ton of different shows were namechecked, going far beyond the usual suspects like Lost, that holiest grail of “Did that mean anything to the plot?” inquiries. (Even though some can argue that Lost’s story gaps don’t matter.) So let’s dig into some of the gripes that fans laid out.

To kick things off, quite a few commenters were quick to point to Taylor Sheridan's rather hectic writing habits as a frequent offender of introduced-and-forgotten ideas on and around the Montana ranch in Yellowstone. I'll no doubt carry the third one listed below to my grave.

Yellowstone's Forgotten Plots

• In the first few episodes of Yellowstone, Kayce is having trouble adjusting to civilian life and calls his old commander and says he wants back in. The CO says "Pack a bag, im sending a chopper". Kayce says "i never unpacked" No helicopter ever arrives, no mention is ever made again of Kayce rejoining the service. Hell, at the end Sheridan's super cowboy character is at the Yellowstone helping with the liquidation auction. Then Teeter asks him for a job, and he says "why do you want to leave this place?", she says "too many memories". Both of them apparently forgot they just finished liquidating the ranch. - @UnderwaterKarma
• Still waiting for the bomb on the airplane to blow up on Yellowstone. - @PhutukKusi
• The one that immediately springs to mind is the kid - the grandson - finding the dinosaur. - @BlackbirdsGarden
• Also, when John stops to help the lady change her tyre and they both get shot we never find out what happened to her son. Makes me think that boy was originally going to be Carter since he appears at the start of the next series - @OnafridayR

I mean honestly, those dinosaur bones could have (presumably) been used in SOME way to argue for the ranch to be seen as a historical site of value. And it's not like fake bones would have another TV show to shoot that would conflict with a resolution. The same goes for Kayce's military background, which didn't come up nearly as much as it seemed like it might earlier in the run.

Now let's shift our focus to some shows that introduced main characters' family members and then dropped the siblings from the face of the earth.

Missing Siblings

• In the first episode of Sherlock it is deduced that John Watson has an alcoholic brother named Sam all from the appearance of his phone. This sibling is then said to be a sister. They are never referenced again even at Johns wedding. Nor is this quirk of Sherlock getting something 95% right because Sherlock is the one to notice and admit he deduced poorly. - @HatOfFlavour
• Seinfeld mentions he has a sister in the Chinese Restaurant episode ... She's never mentioned again. - @RunDNA
• In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, it’s pointed out that Amy is the way she is because she has 7 brothers, and not only do we only meet one (Lin-Manuel Miranda by the way) but none of them even to come to her wedding! - @alehansolo21
• On New Girl, Jess having a sister out of nowhere, and then sister disappearing again right after she was introduced. - @nomnomsquirrel

So often, TV siblings are just vehicles to bring in guest stars, which has a lot to do with why we never see them again. That wasn't so much an issue for Friends' Joey, whose gaggle of sisters showed up several times in the show's run. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for Phoebe's long-lost-then-found dad.

Phoebe's Dad In Friends

• Also, there's no mention of Phoebe's biological father after she meets him for the first time. The storyline of her search for her dad was so great, and was the main story for a number of episodes. Then she finally meets him, and it looks like the two might be able to slowly heal old wounds and form a relationship. Then he never came up again and it's like the whole storyline never happened. For me, that's the most frustrating one in Friends by far. - @Scarred-Face

This is definitely the kind of story issue that bothers me the most, when more than a single episode of plotting goes into tracking down a specific character, where conversations are had about the importance of it all, and then it just never comes up again.

Speaking of lengthy build-ups to fatherly reveals that go the way of the do-do:

Jon Snow's Lineage On Game Of Thrones

• Everyone talked up Jon being a Targaryen for fucking YEARS too before it officially happened on the show. It was going to have such massive consequences and either put a massive wedge between him and Dany for their claims to the Iron Throne… OR it would draw them closer together to give them an undoubted authority to claim the throne together. Then as soon as its confirmed… no one really mentions it as being important that he’s the son of Rhaegar Targaryen. In a setting where names mean eveything and are the most important factor in determining who should be sitting on the throne. - @dynesor

This was one of those book plot points that the HBO series could not stop fans from talking about and theorizing over during the earlier seasons. But then when it came time to finally make Jon Snow's ancestry live-action canon, the showrunners didn't go as far as they could have in drawing out possible ramifications.

While I would have little problem with singling out tons of other TV plots that never panned out, let's go through a quick selection of snipes targeting Pretty Little Liars, Blindspot, and more.

• Aria murders someone in the season 5 premiere and this incident is barely mentioned again. The whole show was so messy but the good outweighs the bad for me so I still have a lot of love for it- even if the night Allison disappeared is extremely convoluted - @athmeystic
• Blindspot. Jane Doe shows up covered with clue-based tattoos related to various future crimes and terror attacks. We eventually find out who tattooed her and why, but not where they got the foreknowledge for them to be cued by things like sports scores and other unpredictable events - @Fancy-Television-760
• Landry killing a guy on Friday Night Lights. Just swept it under the rug - @spokanetransplanted
• Just as a new one that nobody mentioned: Thawne/Wells was seen to be stealing genetic tissue or blood or some shit from captured supervillains in a pre-credits sequence in the first season of the Flash but this never came up again. - @ContinuumGuy

If only we all had the powers of The Flash (or even Reverse-Flash) to go back in time to convince all of these showrunners to wrap up their stories in better ways. Justice for Judy Winslow!

The American South is full of lore and stories. The nature of the United States is such that every region is unique, and that means every region has its own legends and history to draw from. Over the years, television has tapped into that rich culture of the South with some of the best shows of all time. This is dedicated to those shows and those stories, the TV shows of the American South.

Atlanta

The city of Atlanta has been called "the capital of the South," so it only makes sense that the show named for the town, Atlanta, starring (and created by) Donald Glover, should feature on this list. The show won a slew of awards for its storytelling in the modern South of a music manager (Glover) helping his client, played by Brian Tyree Henry, navigate the music industry, and America, for that matter.

Matlock

There isn't a more classic Southern show than Matlock. We're talking about the original here, of course, the one set in Atlanta starring Andy Griffith as Ben Matlock. It's a stone-cold classic show (and frequent butt of jokes, especially on The Simpsons), and no list about shows about the South would be complete without it. The modern remake is great too, but alas, it is set in New York City.

Friday Night Lights

High school football is a huge part of modern Southern culture, and Friday Night Lights tells that story better than anything else. Over five seasons, following a small town high school football team led by Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chadler), which is based on a book (and a movie that followed) by Buzz Bissinger, the show did a deep dive into the culture and brought it to life in inspiring fashion.

Treme

New Orleans is the most unique city in America. It's truly like no other place on this continent. Treme brings the city to life like no other show ever has. Like creator David Simon's other famous HBO show, The Wire, the city is the main character here. The people who live in the city are what make it New Orleans, and in Treme, we see every aspect of life in the Crescent City.

A Different World

While the show that A Different World was spun off from, The Cosby Show, was set in New York City, A Different World follows Huxtable's daughter Denise (Lisa Bonet) as she goes off to college at the fictional Hillman College in Virginia. Bonet left after just one season, but the show still went on to become an iconic Black sitcom.

Bad Monkey

There's an old saying that the further south you go in Florida, the more north you get, but author Carl Hiaasen, who wrote the book that Bad Monkey is based on, has the great ability to show the Southern side of all of Florida. The show, which you can watch with an Apple TV+ subscription, is just a wonderful and hilarious look into life in the Sunshine State that you don't see on the tourism ads.

Dallas

There's nothing like the drama of a rich Southern oil family to get people excited, right? Dallas captivated audiences for 14 seasons and included one of the most celebrated cliff-hangers of all time with "Who Shot J.R.?"

Eastbound & Down

Danny McBride has really figured out how to tap into the humorous side of Southern culture. With shows like The Righteous Gemstones, Vice Principals, and perhaps his best example, the over-the-top-but-wonderful Eastbound & Down. The show, which is available with an HBO Max subscription, is one of the funniest shows about the South ever, even if it strayed in the later seasons. That first season will always be pure comedy gold.

Designing Women

In the 1980s, no sitcom defined Southern charm than Designing Women. Yet another movie set in the great city of Atlanta, the show about the all-female team of a design firm had one of the best casts of any sitcom from the era. A cast that included Delta Burke, Dixie Carter, Jean Smart, and Annie Potts. In the later seasons, Jan Hooks got in on the fun as well.

The Walking Dead

Though The Walking Dead is a story that could happen anywhere, almost all of it takes place in the South. The show starts in Atlanta (including an early mission to the CDC in the capital of Georgia), and ends with the crew mostly living outside of Washington, DC, in the Virginia suburbs.

Nashville

Well, as the name says, Nashville is set, of course, in the capital of Country Music. In recent years, starting around when this show debuted in 2012, Nashville, TN, has become the place to live in the South. Everyone from recent college graduates to big stars is flocking to the city with one of the richest music histories in the United States.

The Golden Girls

You might not think of Miami as the South, and to be fair, it doesn't have a ton in cultural common with say, Birmingham, but it's right there on the map, as far south as you can get in the continental U.S., so Golden Girls counts here! The show, which has lived on for decades in syndication, is famous for its zingers and, in the end, its heartfelt message of friendship. It really needs no introduction, does it?

The Waltons

Even if you've never seen The Waltons, a show about a Depression-era family living in the Virginia Appalachian Mountains, you probably know how each episode ended with the tight-knit family saying good night to each other. It oozes Southern sensibilities.

The Dukes Of Hazzard

One of the most popular and most controversial shows on this list has to be The Dukes of Hazzard. Beloved for its daredevil driving scenes and the humorous relationship between cops and bandits, the show was a staple of '70s and '80s TV. In more recent decades, the show has been criticized for its use of the Confederate flag painted on top of the General Lee (which is still a really cool car, regardless).

Tyler Perry's House of Payne

Tyler Perry is a proud resident of Atlanta, and he's invested heavily in developing what has become one of the movie-making capitals of the world. It makes perfect sense that the first sitcom he ever created, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, would be set in the city. The show, which balances silly moments with serious themes, has had a remarkable run on TBS first, and later on BET. It's gone well over 300 episodes, making it one of the most successful sitcoms with a predominantly Black cast.

The Righteous Gemstones

From the demented (and wonderful) mind of Danny McBride, The Righteous Gemstones is simply brilliant. The show, which aired on HBO for four seasons, has a fantastic cast, including McBride, alongside John Goodman, Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson, and some sublime supporting work from Walton Goggins.

The Andy Griffith Show

There may be no show on this list that espouses the gentile way of life in a small, southern town like The Andy Griffith Show. The name of the fictional town in North Caroline, Mayberry, has even become a noun to describe wholesome small towns all across the United States. The legendary show aired a total of 249 episodes over eight seasons on CBS. It also helped launch the career of Ron Howard, of course.

Army Wives

While not strictly a show about life in the South, Army Wives is set on a naval base in Charleston, SC. The popular Lifetime show didn't have the broadest appeal, to be sure, but it had a dedicated fanbase for the seven seasons it was on.

Dexter

Like some others on this list, we'll admit that Dexter doesn't always feel like a "Southern show" since it is set in Miami, but Florida, even South Florida, should definitely count here, right? How much really needs to be said about the now-iconic Showtime show about a serial killer hunting serial killers? At least we can acknowledge that Jon Lithgow plays one of the most ruthless villains in TV history.

Justified

There aren't a ton of shows set in Kentucky, but Justified would probably be the best, even if there were others. This is a show that has shown incredible legs over the years, remaining as popular–if not more popular–than it was when it first aired on FX.

NCIS: New Orleans

NCIS has had a whole lot of spinoffs. NCIS: New Orleans was the second in the franchise when it was spun off in 2014. Though it was surprisingly canceled after it's seventh season on CBS, it still ended up a very successful show in the popular franchise.

CSI: Miami

One of the most popular TV franchises of the early 21st Century is, without a doubt, the CSI group of shows on CBS. The original, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (set in Las Vegas), first hit the airwaves in 2000, and just two years later, David Caruso returned to TV as Horatio Cane in CSI: Miami. For many, including myself, Miami was just as good as its parent show, and ratings showed that. The show aired for 10 seasons and more than 200 episodes.

True Blood

Anne Rice may be the most famous teller of vampire stories to hail from Louisiana, but Charlaine Harris, who wrote the books upon which HBO's True Blood was based, is a close second these days. True Blood is set in the fictional town of Bon Temps, LA, but it is anything but "good times" for the residents, as this neo-gothic classic show highlights again and again.

In The Heat Of The Night

Based loosely on the book and the 1967 film starring Sidney Poitier of the same name, In The Heat Of The Night followed a small town police chief (Carroll O'Connor) and his top detective, Virgil Tibbs (Howard Rollins). The show, which aired first on NBC before moving to CBS, was set in Sparta, Mississippi, and it was unafraid to tackle complex subjects like racism and police corruption.

One Tree Hill

For nine seasons, One Tree Hill transported fans to Wilmington, North Carolina, in the CW TV show. One of the more popular shows among many Millennials, the show still has its die-hard fans today, more than a decade after ending its nine-season run.

Reba

Reba McEntire first entered our hearts as an actor in the cult classic Tremors. She's wonderful in it, and after another decade of parts here and there in movies and TV, the country music legend landed her own sitcom, appropriately called simply Reba. The hard-working McEntire was born and raised in Oklahoma, but the show was set in Houston. In fact, it's weirdly one of the few shows ever set in the Texas metropolis.

Fresh Off The Boat

ABC's Fresh Off The Boat is a unique take on the Southern show, as it features an immigrant family from Taiwan working to make the American Dream happen for them in Orlando, Florida. Constance Wu gave her breakout performance on the show as the hard-charging daughter, Jessica.

Ozark

I get it, some people might push back on Missouri being in the South. I'm from the Show Me State, so I understand. That said, southern MO, especially in the area around Lake of the Ozarks, definitely has more Southern influence than Midwest, so I just have to include the brilliant Netflix original, Ozark.

I Dream Of Jeannie

"The South" might not be the first thing you think of when you think of I Dream of Jeannie, but it was set in Florida. Tony Nelson, Larry Hagman's character who lives with Jeannie (Barbara Eden), is an astronaut, if you remember, living where so many other NASA pilots lived, Cocoa Beach, FL.

True Detective

When I talk about True Detective, I'm usually talking about that brilliant first season. Other seasons of the anthology show have been set in California and Alaska (two states that are definitely not The South), but the first season was set in that most southern of states, Louisiana. The third season was also set in the South, in the hills of Arkansas.

Hart of Dixie

Any show called Hart of Dixie can't be left off this list. It's also one of the few TV shows set in Alabama, so we just had to squeeze in the popular show from The CW, starring Rachel Bilson as a fish-out-of-water New York doctor living in small-town Alabama.

Saving Grace

One place that doesn't feature in a lot of TV shows or movies is Oklahoma City. Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter, bucks that trend. The TNT show, which aired for three seasons in the late '00s. The show often featured famous spots in the town, and, honestly, it's one of my favorite Holly Hunter roles. The show is underappreciated for that alone, never mind the rest of the excellent cast.

Sometimes, you watch a sports movie that is just so good you can’t help but go on your phone the moment after and look up how to play the sport. That’s the power of some of the best sports movies out there – and here are a few that exemplify that perfectly.

Challengers (2024)

This was the first movie that came to my mind when I was generating ideas for this list. While it’s undoubtedly one of Zendaya’s best films, Challengers also gave way to a huge movement of people learning to play tennis, as well as a slew of tennis-related outfits that were everywhere for so long. I’m pretty sure I have, like, five tennis dresses in my closet right now.

A League Of Their Own (1992)

I feel like with baseball, there are always plenty of movies out there, but A League of Their Own is special because it’s one of those movies that inspires girls to really get into the sport of baseball. While these types of movies can inspire anyone, since baseball is a relatively male sport and there are few softball movies out there, it’s a great film to encourage young girls to pick up the sport.

The Sandlot (1993)

Of course, I have to put The Sandlot. It’s arguably one of the biggest sports movies of all time and is considered a favorite of many people, not only those of my age but also older generations. We all want to be playing baseball outside as children after watching this film.

The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid movies have been around for several decades and continue to inspire many viewers to learn the art of karate. Mr. Miyagi’s teachings have continued into another generation, time and time again.

And to be honest, The Karate Kid is one of those franchises that I don’t think will ever die. You know that saying from Cobra Kai, “Cobra Kai never dies?” Yeah, that’s going to be this franchise. We will forever be seeing kids who want to learn karate thanks to this film, and honestly, I can’t really be upset about that.

Friday Night Lights (2004)

There are many iconic football movies out there, and I’m pretty positive that Friday Night Lights is one of them. I mean, it inspired a whole television show based on it. The movie is the epitome of high school football and the heart that goes into it.

Rocky (And The Sequels) (1976-Onward)

Do I need to say anymore? It’s the Rocky movies, as well as the Creed films. There is nothing quite like seeing an underdog rise to the top and take down big dogs throughout a film franchise. So many people became boxers because of this film.

Major League (1989)

Okay, so the movie itself is goofy and pretty raunchy, but look, it’s a hilarious baseball movie. Major League is one of those films that you watch and end up loving because of how obscene it is – and then you want to go out and whack a stick and ball around, too.

I, Tonya (2017)

Without all the assault stuff, you feel me? I, Tonya, is one of Margot Robbie’s best films – if not her best, next to Barbie, of course – where she truly shines in the starring role. I have to admit that watching figure skating made me want to get out on the ice, even if I have the same amount of coordination that Bambi had when he first learned to walk.

Either way, it’s still a great movie with some amazingly done skating scenes, and anyone who has any interest in skating will undoubtedly want to head to the rink afterwards.

She’s The Man (2006)

Amanda Bynes was genuinely a national treasure in the early 2000s, creating a slew of incredible teen movies that have defined a generation (mine). One of those was She’s the Man, where she pretends to be a boy to join a boys' soccer team when the girls' team is shut down. It’s inspiring, and it's certainly inspired plenty of young women to pick up the sport, including me.

White Men Can’t Jump (1992)

It's another hysterical sports comedy that will make you want to learn the sport while also laughing a lot. White Men Can’t Jump stars Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, and is a hilarious movie that genuinely makes you want to go out and learn to play basketball – but don’t get into any tussles with those streetballers.

The Fighter (2010)

Arguably one of Mark Wahlberg’s best movies (as well as Christian Bale), The Fighter is another great boxing film based on the real tale of MickyWard and Dicky Eklund and their time in the boxing world. It’s inspiring, dramatic, and hits all the right notes – the perfect recipe to make you want to learn boxing as well.

The Longest Yard (1974)

I literally could not think of any other football movie that fits this list better than The Longest Yard. Starring Burt Reynolds, the film revolves around a football player recruiting prisoners to play a game of football against their guards. It’s a great movie and one that certainly will make you want to play football afterwards, just for fun.

Chariots Of Fire (1981)

While Chariots of Fire inspired one of the most meme-worthy musical scores ever, it’s also an Academy Award-winning movie that amazingly showcases the sport of track and tells a fantastic true story. If you haven’t seen this film, be sure to check it out.

The Mighty Ducks (1992)

Of course, I had to put The Mighty Ducks on here. This movie was a defining kid classic of the 1990s and inspired many people to take up the sport of hockey. The movie was so popular that it spawned an entire franchise.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Okay, so this movie is silly in a lot of ways, but Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a fun racing movie. When you’re not laughing your butt off, some fantastic race scenes are very well done. I’m sure NASCAR got a lot of fans after this.

Caddyshack (1980)

I’m pretty sure Caddyshack is one of the most famous golf movies of all time, and obviously, for good reason. The movie stars comedy legends like Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, and more, and features some great golf sequences that make the sport look that much more entertaining (even if I probably will never play it).

Invincible (2006)

No, I’m not talking about one of the best Amazon Prime TV shows – I’m talking about the sports film that stars Mark Wahlberg, which tells the story of Vince Papale, a real-life football player who played for the Eagles back in the 1970s when he decided to go to a training camp for the Eagles. You’ll be rooting for this team in no time – GO BIRDS!

Hoosiers (1986)

Hoosiers is the type of sports movie that will make you want to shoot baskets the moment the film is done. The movie follows the story of a basketball team in Indiana and their journey to the national championship, but it’s so inspiring you’ll want to learn the game, too.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

"If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball," is a classic line from Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. And while there are plenty of inaccuracies about the sport in this film, it’s still a heck of a fun time, and as someone who was in school when this film came out, there was A LOT more dodgeball happening on the courts.

Happy Gilmore (1996)

While we waited years for Happy Gilmore 2, the original is still just as amazing and one that I will always recommend. It’s one of Adam Sandler’s best roles, hilarious, and makes every moment of watching it so funny while also introducing the viewer to the idea of golf.

The Blind Side (2009)

The Blind Side may have generated considerable controversy years later, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that the movie itself remains very inspiring and portrays football in a positive light. It is still one of Sandra Bullock’s best roles and makes you want the NFL season to come back around much quicker.

Raging Bull (1980)

Raging Bull might sound like a terrifying movie, but in reality, it’s a great boxing film. Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, the series tells the story of real-life boxing champion Jake LaMotta and his rise and fall as a professional boxer. It’s iconic in many ways and has won several awards.

Ali (2001)

While Will Smith won the Academy Award for his role in King Richard, he was first nominated for his portrayal of legendary heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali in Ali, which depicted his rise to fame in the 1960s and 1970s. Another inspiring tale that could lead anyone to the ring.

Remember The Titans (2000)

The Remember the Titans cast is utterly iconic, and so is the movie itself. It’s all about integrating two different teams from two other schools in Virginia back in the 1970s, and yes…it gets pretty messy regarding racial tensions, prejudices, and more. However, the movie is inspiring, and so is the sport that inspired it.

Race (2016)

Starring Stephan James, Race is based on the true story of Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, and how he surpassed all odds to do so despite facing years of racial discrimination within the sport. It’s a race movie like no other.

Field Of Dreams (1989)

There are so many great baseball movies out there, but Field of Dreams is an excellent one. I only watched Field of Dreams a few years ago, but it made me want to create a baseball field outside my apartment building if I were able to communicate with baseball players who have passed on. That’s pretty cool.

Secretariat (2010)

Secretariat is a horse racing movie that tells the true story of Secretariat, one of the best (if not the best) racing horses of all time. As someone who loved this movie as a kid, all I wanted to do was go out there and ride a horse. It’s honestly such a fun time.

42 (2013)

There are the greats of baseball, and then there’s Jackie Robinson, one of the legends. 42 is all about that, starring the late Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and telling the legendary baseball player’s story.

Bring It On (2000)

Yes, of course, I had to include a cheerleading movie here because it is a sport, and anyone who tells you otherwise is an idiot. The film, about rival cheer teams, inspired so many young girls to get into cheerleading and showed that anyone could be a cheerleader if they put their heart and soul into it.

Rudy (1993)

If you want to talk about a true underdog story, then Rudy is the film that shows that. The film is based on the real-life story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, who, despite all odds, managed to play for the Notre Dame football team.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

There were a slew of soccer movies in the early years of the 2000s, and Bend it Like Beckham is a fantastic example of one, all about two young women who look for success in the world of soccer (or football, as they call it across the pond and pretty much everywhere else in the world).

The Legend Of Bagger Vance (2000)

The film is a sports fantasy drama that not only teaches you how to play the game but also tells an inspiring story about a former golfer who is coached back to become a legend.

Geez, now I feel like I have to go and sign up for some sports clinics – or maybe rewatch these movies. Where was my popcorn again?

We know them, we love them, and most of the time, we love to hate them. Regardless of how any of us feel about the iconic, troublesome teens that round out the fabric of Hollywood’s youth-centric media, they’ve left their signature messy marks. This list covers the big hitters, the unmistakable part-of-pop-culture adolescents who derailed monumentally (dependent on their character and world, not all misguided minors are created equal). Each calling card of these chaotic characters has a few things in common–they’re lost and faced with conflict–but how they solve their issues leads to many more issues than solutions. Buckle up and grab your favorite nostalgic mix tape/playlist; we’re in for a bumpy ride.

Jim Stark and Buzz Gunderson - Rebel Without a Cause

This is by far one of the most influential movies that jumpstarted the teen genre and it’s big thanks to Jim Stark (James Dean) and Buzz Gunderson (Corey Allen). When gang leader Buzz and new-in-town Jim agree to a “chickie race,” that’s when things go up in smoke. Jim is left to face the fallout.

Marissa Cooper - The O.C.

You could probably make a case for most of The O.C. kids, but Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) undoubtedly tops them all. Coop’s undoing was a monolith and started on the wings of her parents' divorce. It led to underage drinking, tumultuous relationships, petty theft, and eventually to her passing away after a car crash at the end of Season 3.

Danny Zuko - Grease

Like many other ensembles, you could make a pick mostly anyone from the Grease cast, but Danny Zuko's (John Travolta) issues bled into everyone else’s. Not to mention, he strung Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) along until the very end of the movie.

Serena van der Woodsen - Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl is another show where you could argue a good case for any of the characters being the biggest saboteur. But like Marissa Cooper, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) just can’t shake off trouble in most things she does. The thought of old her and Georgina Sparks together really sounds like they’d top the list together.

Veronica Sawyer - Heathers

Heathers and Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) were ahead of the curve. When awkward loner Veronica gets invited to join the school’s most popular group, she quickly realizes it’s not the place for her. After befriending new kid Jason Dean (Christian Slater), they accidentally kill one of the Heathers. This sets off an entire killing spree that wreaks havoc on Westerburg High School.

Dawson Leery - Dawson’s Creek

Even though he may have been seen more as a golden boy during his reign, Dawson (James Van Der Beek) caused some major damage in his day. We literally have a separate list showcasing all the times Leery was the worst character for his loved ones to be around. If he'd only been supportive of Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) going to Paris, who knows what could've been?

Cady Heron - Mean Girls

Tina Fey’s wildly quotable Mean Girls needs no introduction or explanation. With Cady (Lindsay Lohan) coming to terms with attending a public high school in the US after growing up in Africa, she is a poster child for this list. As she explores her new reality, she gets lost for a moment amid girl world drama, which leads to multiple friend, family, and relationship troubles.

Rue Bennet - Euphoria

The Max ‘teen’ jewel-encrusted drama juggernaut holds another ensemble of lost and morose students. However, Rue Bennet (Zendaya) and her substance abuse issues are the focal point. It's upended friendships, caused familial stresses, multiple times over, causing Rue to lie, steal and hurt everyone in the East Highlanders.

Chris Hargensen - Carrie

Stephen King’s Carrie is another classic high school staple that helped push the envelope on what fictional teen worlds could hold. Popular girl and bully, Chris Hargensen (Nancy Allen) makes Carrie’s (Sissy Spacek) life a living nightmare. Hargensen continues down a downward spiral that leads to the bone-chilling but iconic prank that happens at the dance (which has some truly grim consequences).

Tim Riggins - Friday Night Lights

If you know anything about this NBC network TV classic, you either love or hate Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch). While he was a regular womanizer, heavy partier, not to mention that he sabotaged himself and the team with some regularity, he straightened up.

Dallas ‘Dally’ Winston - The Outsiders

Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of The Outsiders is a quintessential coming-of-age story. Even though the whole gang is rough and tumble, along with any of the ‘Socs,’ Dally (Matt Dillon) is the most troubled. With an already tumultuous background, Johnny’s death sends him on to make poor decisions for himself and his friends.

Cory Matthews - Boy Meets World

Surprising, I know. The more classic choice from Boy Meets World may be Shawn Hunter, but Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) sparked plenty of trouble in his time (like fellow do-gooder, Dawson Leery). Throughout the 7 seasons, he caused more rifts between his family, friends and Topanga than anyone else.

Billy Loomis & Stu Macher - Scream

Naturally, any teen in any scary movie generally has some baggage that leads to strife in one way or another. Youths like Billy (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu (Matthew Lillard) are different, though, they are intentionally motivated to terrify and harm their fellow classmates and the people of Woodsboro. Unfortunately for them, their plans backfire on them gravely.

Lucas Scott - One Tree Hill

Like the aforementioned teen network drama shows of the mid and late ‘00s, any character is up for debate. Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray), the main protagonist, puts on a good show of commotion for everyone in his life. Being a serial heartbreaker while being unloyal and manipulative to others lands him this particular title.

Jennifer Check - Jennifer’s Body

Jennifer’s Body, again, isn’t filled with average adolescents, and especially not Jennifer (Megan Fox). While she and longtime friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) head out for a semi-average night of Jennifer-approved fun, all goes awry. We find out that Jennifer has turned into a demon feasting on the male teens of Devil’s Kettle, WY. After the friends face off, Needy gets pinned for the murders and gets taken to an insane asylum.

Rachel Berry - Glee

The destined-for-greatness Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) typically stopped at nothing to get what she wanted, regardless of the consequences. While the fictional NYADA darling had moments of hope and promise, her ego and ambition always seemed to cause more harm than good. (Any Ryan Murphy-created teen could do, though.)

Seth - Superbad

The 2007 classic was the first Seth Rogen-Evan Goldberg project, and it immediately put them on the map. The semi-biographical Superbad revolves around characters with the same names and pretty typical senior tropes. Of the fictional duo Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera), and their pal, Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), the first of the trio creates the most trouble for their celebratory evening. While the trio make up, along with the girls (Emma Stone, Martha MacIsaac), before graduation.

Rory Gilmore - Gilmore Girls

“Why did you drop out of Yale?” Even though Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) is one of the more unusual fictional high schoolers on the list, her dropping out was monumental for the world of Gilmore Girls. Even Lauren Graham didn’t like the storyline because of the turmoil it created between Lorelai and Rory. Not to mention, her sleeping with Dean, missing Lorelai's graduation and later on, being more lost than ever in her 30s.

Donnie - Donnie Darko

Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) isn’t your typical troublesome, drama-filled teen, even though his choices in one reality lead to serious consequences. His present ED signifiers (Emotional Disturbance) present Donnie as something else, but we eventually come to realize he's an anti-hero of sorts. As he comes to realize that there are multiple timelines at play, he chooses to fix it to save Gretchen Ross' (Jena Malone) life. And with his developed powers, he returns to the day when it all went awry, which leads to his destiny--death.

Archie Andrews - Riverdale

Archie of The CW’s Riverdale was one of the many, much darker TV reboots out there. And though all the drama has always hinged on the red-headed football hero regardless of genre, the TV show really packs Archie with a punch. To be fair, he also found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time quite frequently–it’s how he reacted to them that gives him the top spot for the searching students of Riverdale High.

Kathryn Merteuil & Sebastian Valmont - Cruel Intentions

Another young and terrifying twosome is Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Philippe). The oddball step-siblings wager a bet that involves innocent and new Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon). Through the scheme, the group of students is faced with continuing drama until a very sad end.

Valerie Malone - Beverly Hills, 90210

Though there was plenty of actual drama on the set of Beverly Hills, 90210, Valerie Malone (Tiffani Thiessen) wasted no time sowing seeds of chaos. Arriving in Season 5 with a lot of baggage in the form of family trauma, Malone was immediately set up to be in trouble. She dated many of the guys and regularly feuded with the girls.

Max Fischer - Rushmore

As one of the many stylized Wes Anderson films, Rushmore was one of his earliest. Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is a love-drunk student determined to date his teacher and will stop at nothing to achieve it. After an array of mishaps and his fellow acquaintance, Blume (Bill Murray), hitting it off with her, Max loses it. He leaked the affair publicly and temporarily burned bridges with both of them.

Willow Rosenberg - Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Willow’s (Alyson Hannigan) rise to raising hell for Buffy and co. may be a slow burn, but once she hits it, things get wild. While her use of telepathy, manipulation and struggling to keep her magic in check kick off the season, Tara’s death sets Willow into overdrive in trying to destroy the world.

PJ & Josie - Bottoms

Gen Z coming-of-age comedies come in all shapes and sizes, including Emma Seligman’s Bottoms. The satirical take on the high school experience is wild, especially with PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri). The BFF’s hatch a fight club for girls so they can talk to cheerleaders they have crushes on. Needless to say, a lot of drama goes down, including a car blowing up.

Mona Vanderwaal - Pretty Little Liars

Honestly, most characters from the 2010 series have a fair shot here. But Mona (Janel Parrish) is the reason for all of the mystery and torment. She is who sparks the series because of her grudge against the main friend group. Eventually, she becomes one of them, and even more trouble ensues.

Laura Palmer - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

In my opinion, there’s no list about misguided high schoolers complete without Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). The character was cemented into pop culture in David Lynch’s cult show, Twin Peaks, but the less popular prequel movie shows her tragic undoing. Her last days are filled with traumas relating to her drug addiction, web of lies and darker spirits. Warning, this movie isn't for the faint of heart.

DeGrassi: The Next Generation

DeGrassi: The Next Generation is maybe the only title on the list in which each character is as chaotic and troubled as the last. The iconic Canadian teen soap has multiple iterations, but the 2002-2015 series takes the cake. Between the students, they have every classic dramatic HS storyline in the book, and alumni Drake’s “I’m Upset” reunion-filled music video summarizes some key points.

Nancy Downs - The Craft

The quartet of girls in The Craft start as lost as the next, but Nancy’s (Fairuza Balk) power-hungry ways destroy what they have together. After quiet Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) moves to town and gets wronged, Downs and her pals take her in. All four hatch a scheme to cast a spell on the wrongdoer, and when it succeeds, that’s when Nancy starts sabotaging everything.

John B - Outer Banks

Netflix’s Outer Banks is one wild ride with wayward John B (Chase Stokes) at the helm. Sure, other characters may be outwardly more troubled (JJ, Sarah or Rafe), but everyone’s lives intensified because of John B’s initial treasure hunt.

Christine ‘Lady Bird’ McPherson - Lady Bird

As one of the more subtle teenage pot stirrers, Ladybird (Saoirse Ronan) still makes her presence and opinions unmistakably clear. Her main sources of conflict reside within her relationship with her hardworking mom (Laurie Metcalf) and nerdy best friend (Beanie Feldstein). While Lady Bird temporarily burns bridges with both in pursuit of greater life expectations and new friends, she mends things with both.

Effy Stonem - Skins UK

A cult classic that ran from 2007-2013 and largely featured the rebellious but lost Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario). From the jump, we see 14-year-old her sneaking home in the early morning after being out all night at a rave. Needless to say, Effy’s journey was a bumpy one filled with substance abuse, mental health crises, and a web of lies.

Clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose… at least, that’s what the motto of Friday Night Lights used to be. However, as more information comes out about the potential FNL reboot, I’m not so sure. While the sports drama is moving forward at Peacock, it’ll do so without original cast member Minka Kelly, who is known for playing Lyla Garrity. Now, she's explained why she made that choice, and I totally get it.

Ever since the series was announced, there has been a lot of chatter about which original stars will return to Dillon, Texas. Taylor Kitsch, known for playing my personal favorite character, Tim Riggins, has said he would be open to reprising his role in some capacity. Meanwhile, FNL patriarch Kyle Chandler admitted that he hasn’t heard anything regarding the reboot, however, that's not surprising since the show is in the early stages of development. What might shock fans, though, is that Kelly has absolutely no plans to reprise her beloved role.

According to Deadline, the Ransom Canyon actress was asked about the potential reboot and what her thoughts on the matter were. She spoke candidly, saying:

As a massive fan of Friday Night Lights, I can’t help but agree. For starters, Lyla’s storyline wrapped up nicely in the original series, so much so that Kelly didn’t even appear in the final season of the show. Instead, her character arc wrapped up in Season 4 when she officially left her small town to pursue a college education at Vanderbilt.

Given how much teenage Lyla had outgrown Texas, it wouldn’t make sense for her to return to Dillon or another small town in the Lone Star State when her aspirations lay elsewhere. In fact, I’d argue that her presence in the series would be a disservice to the original character arc the writers created for her.

Kelly’s right in saying that it’s better to leave people wanting more. Sure, it might be nice to catch up with Lyla and the rest of the original Panthers in their middle-aged lives. However, in doing so, there’s a chance of ruining the magic that was already created for these characters, given how perfect the ending of the series was.

If the writers were hoping to revive Friday Night Lights, then my opinions might be different. However, since the plan is to reboot it with an entirely new cast and setting (but still have it take place in Texas), I really don’t see a problem in Kelly wanting to opt out. In fact, I applaud her for it.

The reboot is already going to face an uphill battle as so many television watchers have grown tired of Hollywood’s constant need to reboot and revive series. So, it would benefit them to try and make the new show as different as they can from the original, at least, in my opinion.

What made the original series, which was adapted from one of the best sports movies, so great was that it was a product of its time. It perfectly encapsulated teenage life in the early 2000s. If the potential reboot wants to recreate that magic, it’s going to have to cater to a new generation. Therefore, a new cast is warranted, and I think Kelly's comments capture a mentality more of the OG cast might want to have.

While Kelly won’t be returning to Dillon, Texas, you can catch her in the upcoming Netflix series Ransom Canyon, which will debut on the 2025 TV Schedule on April 17th.

Coaches inspire so many of us, even fictional coaches (or fictionalized versions of real coaches like Herb Brooks in Miracle). The coaches on this list make us want to believe, like Ted Lasso, or fight for every inch on the field like Tony D'Amato. We want to do our best because we want us to be the best. So without wasting any more time on this, let's get into the most inspiring coaches we can think of from movies and television.

Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights)

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." What else really needs to be said about Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) from Friday Night Lights? He's the kind of guy that doesn't need to get you to run through a wall with intimidation, he just wants everyone to work their hardest together, as a team. He's what every high school coach should be, when far too many aren't.

Gordon Bombay (The Mighty Ducks)

Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) might not have wanted to be on the bench at first, but like any great coach, he's as inspired by his players and they by him. You don't always need to be the best to get the best out of your team, and when you are as excited as they are, the world is your oyster, just like Coach Bombay in The Mighty Ducks.

Hayden Fox (Coach)

Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson) on Coach didn't have a knack for hiring brilliant assistant coaches, but he must have been able to inspire his players because he moved from a struggling college team to a successful one, and then onto the pros.

Herman Boone (Remember The Titans)

Herman Boone, played by Denzel Washington in Remember The Titans, but based on a real person, was put into an impossible position as the first Black coach of a high school football team in a school's history. On top of that, he was replacing a popular white coach. But he made it work. He won with his players and he won his way.

Mr. Miagi (The Karate Kid)

You might not think of Mr. Miagi (Pat Morita) when it comes to coaches, as most people think of coaches of teams. Mr. Miagi is so much more than simply a sports coach to Daniel (Ralph Macchio). He not only makes him a great fighter, he makes him a great person. Daniel's entire life is informed by what he learned from Mr. Miagi.

Herb Brooks (Miracle)

Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell in Miracle) was the kind of coach who inspired his team by making himself the villain. When he took the job as the coach of the US Hockey Team before the 1980 Olympics, he knew that the disparate groups of players needed to come together. He succeeded by getting them to bond in their collective hatred of him. It's a hard line to walk, Brooks did it brilliantly.

Tony D'Amato (Any Given Sunday)

If for no other reason, Tony D'Amato in Any Given Sunday is on this list for that amazing speech he gives: "On this team, we fight for that inch. On this team, we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch, because we know when we add up all those inches that’s gonna make the fuckin' difference between winning and losing! Between livin' and dyin'!"

Richard Williams (King Richard)

While Will Smith's Oscar-winning performance in as Richard Williams in King Richard was overshadowed by his infamous slap during the ceremony, it's still an amazing bit of acting. Williams went against the grain in every way to raise two champion daughters with Venus and Serena and it's all up on the screen.

Lou Brown (Major League)

The manager of the Indians in Major League is Lou Brown, a washed-up tire salesman who is coaxed into coaching the team. Once he gets to the club though, he knows exactly what buttons to push for each player. It's not about rah-rah speeches, it's about connecting with every player in a different way.

Mickey Goldmill (Rocky)

Without Mickey (Burgess Meredith), Rocky never makes it to the end of the fight in Rocky. From his training to his tough love to his inspiration during the fight, Mick is everything to Rocky. One of the best boxing trainers in film history, if not the best.

Ted Lasso (Ted Lasso)

Is there any doubt that Ted Lasso would be on this list? He may be out of his depth with the Xs and Os of football (or soccer), but he is so good at inspiring his players that it doesn't really matter. He can rely on his assistants for the nitty gritty, he'll take the high road and get everyone to play as hard for him as any coach ever.

Morris Buttermaker (The Bad News Bears)

Things don't start all that great for Morris Buttermaker (Walter Matthau) in The Bad News Bears, but by the end of the movie, he's not only coached up his team of misfits, but he gets them to do things the right way. He may be a drunk, but he's our drunk.

Norman Dale (Hoosiers)

It's really hard to believe that the late Gene Hackman didn't win an Oscar for Hoosiers where he played Coach Norman Dale. There are so many moments that stick with you from his coaching style, but it's really summed up when he measures the height of the net and the free throw line in the giant arena, and shows it's the same as their little gym back home. Such a unique way to calm down his team.

Molly McGrath (Wildcats)

Girl Power! Wildcats is a movie that flies under the radar, even when discussing Goldie Hawn's amazing career. It's far from a perfect movie, but as a coach, she is spectacular. How often do you see a female coach succeed, especially in a sport like football? It's not common, that's for sure.

Johnny Lawrence (Cobra Kai)

At the beginning of Cobra Kai, no one would have guessed that Johnny Lawrence would turn into an inspiring coach. There is literally nothing inspiring about him. In the end he turned into an amazing coach.

Reggie Dunlop (Slap Shot)

There is only one player-coach on this list: Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman) in Slap Shot. On the surface, he's not the most inspiring character, but like other coaches on this list, he knows exactly how to read each player and what he needs to do to get them to put forward their best foot - or skate, as the case may be.

Ernie "Coach" Pantusso (Cheers)

We don't know how good Coach from Cheers was because we only know him as a bartender. But he must have been inspiring because he inspired Sam Malone (Ted Danson) to hire him at the bar.

Annie Savoy (Bull Durham)

At first, you might think of Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon) as a coach, but that's exactly what she is. She does a better job inspiring the Bulls than their manager does, that's for sure. She works with the two most important players on the team and gets them both to exceed their own expectations.

Jimmy Dugan (A League Of Their Own)

Some other coaches on this list were just as inspired by the players as the players were by them. Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) is more inspired by his team than they are by him, but in the end, it's the combination of both that puts the Peaches over the top and gets them to that last out.

George Knox (Angels In The Outfield)

As a coach, you have to know when to pick your moments, and George Knox (Danny Glover) is great at Angels In The Outfield. He has a lot to deal with on the team and he knows just when to unload and inspire.

Patches O'Houlihan (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story)

Just when they needed him most, Patches O'Houlihan was there for the Average Joes. At least, in spirit he was there. Dying may not be the best way to inspire a team, but it worked, so for that he's on the list.

Gary Gaines (Friday Night Lights)

Before Coach Taylor took over in the TV show Friday Night Lights, Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) was the coach in the movie that inspired the show. He's a different kind of motivator, but he feels the pain in all his players and empathizes in a way that completely inspired everyone who played for him.

Jack Lengyel (We Are Marshall)

We Are Marshall is one of the most inspiring movies in a long time because the story it is based on is just so tragic. The movie isn't perfect, but Matthew McConaughey nails it as Coach Jack Lengyel, a man with the impossible task of completely rebuilding a football program after it is destroyed by a plane crash.

Ken Carter (Coach Carter)

Samuel L. Jackson inspires people in almost every role he plays. Playing a coach based on the real Ken Carter in Coach Carter, he is as inspiring as ever. The real Carter (as shown in the movie) made the impossible decision to suspend his all-star basketball team for their poor academic performance. Sometimes it's about inspiring kids to be better people, not just better players.

Stanley Sugerman (Hustle)

Adam Sandler takes a lot of heat for a lot of his movies for being silly and juvenile, but then every once in a while he puts in a performance like he does as a basketball scout and coach in Hustle. He is inspiring because he never gives up, no matter what is thrown at him, and his players (or player in this case) respond the same way.

Irv Blitzer (Cool Runnings)

Like the other movies on this list, Cool Runnings is based on a true story. However, it's a lot looser than the others, as much of the movie isn't historically accurate. Irv Blitzer (John Candy) deserves to be on this list because he was so inspiring in the movie, no matter his motives. He believed in the team.

Pop Fisher (The Natural)

Pop Fisher isn't always about being the loudest or the most gregarious coach, but all you really need from Wilford Brimley in The Natural is his knowing look and his infectiousness. He's a great manager and the kind of manager the Knights needed in the moment. That's all you can really ask for when you are as good as the players on that team.

Jimmy McGinty (The Replacements)

Gene Hackman played so many amazing roles over his incredible career, it's hard to remember each one, and one that often gets overlooked is as Coach Jimmy McGinty in The Replacements. Few coaches on this list had a harder job than McGinty, trying to coach up a bunch of washed-out players, and yet he knew exactly what he needed to do to make it all work

Chester Lee (Ladybugs)

Ladybugs isn't Rodney Dangerfield's best movie and it doesn't have any of his funniest one-liners, but still, Chester was an inspiring coach. Sure, he cheated to get there at first, but he redeems himself by the end.

Bud Kilmer (Varsity Blues)

Before Friday Night Lights, there was Varsity Blues. Okay, that they aren't the same, they aren't on the same level, and Coach Bud Kilmer is such a nut that he inspires all his high school players, just all in the wrong way. He's actually embarrassing, but it works and they win.

Ken Reeves (The White Shadow)

It's fair to criticize White Shadow as being the quintessential example of a "white savior" story, but coach Ken Reeves is still incredibly inspiring.

Jock Delaney (The Fish Saved Pittsburgh)

Jock Delaney isn't the reason that the team wins in The Fish Saved Pittsburgh, that would be Moses Guthrie, but Jock is still important and let's Moses be Moses.

The so-called "Golden Age" or "Peak TV era" of television is broadly (and roughly) defined as the running from the debut of The Sopranos to the finale of Better Call Saul. This isn't a perfect description, as there are still some really amazing shows that continue part, like, say, Severance, just to name one. But, for this article, we're going to stick to those parameters. Without further ado, here is our list of some of the truly great shows from the Peak Era of television.

Game Of Thrones

We certainly couldn't make this list without the grand dragon on them all, HBO's Game of Thrones. Though the ending made a lot of people mad and you can argue that the show declined greatly in its last couple of seasons, it doesn't diminish the greatest of the show's early years. With some of the most shocking moments in TV history, the show was must-watch TV for all eight seasons.

Atlanta

Creator and star of Atlanta Donald Glover proved yet again that he is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Over six years and four seasons the show and its star were showered with acclaim and industry awards, including multiple Golden Globes and Emmys. Not only did Glover win an Emmy for acting on the FX series, but he became the first African-American to win Best Director at the Emmys in the show's first season.

The West Wing

There aren't a lot of network TV shows on this list, but one that simply has to be is The West Wing. For seven seasons in the early 2000s, the NBC hit was one of the best shows in network history. Featuring a long list of stars that included Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, and many other cast members, The West Wing gave us all a look into all that government can be if we want it to be.

Lost

Pardon the pun, but it's fair to say that ABC's Lost lost its way towards the end. A confluence of events, including a writer's strike, left fans more than a little annoyed with the show's final couple of seasons, but those first few years were simply incredible. The show, which debuted in 2004, was one of the first shows that was ever described as "bingable" and with good reasons, the cliffhangers were amazing.

Mad Men

In a lot of ways, AMC's Mad Men kind of came out of nowhere. Set in the 1960s, it was unlike anything on TV at the time and the longer it went on, the better it got, which is rare for any show. It made a star out of Jon Hamm and fascinated viewers each week both with its wonderful storytelling and its look back at one of the most turbulent and interesting decades in American history.

The Office

In an era when sitcoms were evolving and struggling to keep up with their dramatic counterparts, The Office was one of the biggest shows of all time (that's what she said). Steve Carell's performance as the worst boss in the world became one of the most quotable and memed shows ever. It's true the NBC show did suffer some when Carell left after Season 7, the legacy of the show was well-established by then.

Downton Abbey

If you had bet on a period piece set on an opulent estate during Edwardian England would be a massive hit, most of the time, you'd lose. If you placed that bet on Downton Abbey, however, you'd have won big. There are no action sequences, stunts, or special effects. It's simply a wonderfully told story with fantastic characters played by excellent actors.

Better Call Saul

As a spinoff to another Peak TV era show, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul found its own place in television history. It's a very different show from the show that birthed it, as it's a little more surreal and, frankly, funny. In some people's eyes, the AMC's show's finale in 2022 marks the end of an era.

The Wire

Famously, The Wire was never a monster hit for HBO. Certainly not on the level of The Sopranos, which ran during roughly the same few years. Still, it has maintained a spot at the top or near the top of almost any list of "Best TV Shows in History." The Wire plays out like a 60-hour movie or a great book. The character development is unrivaled and the storytelling is heartbreaking, uplifting, and frustrating (in a good way). There is no doubt that the show will be remembered as one of the best for a long, long time.

Breaking Bad

What can we write about Breaking Bad that hasn't already been written. Widely considered the best (or close to the best) TV show of all time, the Bryan Cranston-led show was wildly popular with both fans and critics alike. It is one of the darkest shows in history, but that never diminished the love for it.

Narcos

Netflix landed itself a massive hit with Narcos in 2015. Wagner Moura, who played the kingpin Pablo Escobar stole the show with his uncanny and incredible performance as the notorious drug lord and Pedro Pascal found a new level of fame as one of the DEA agents trying to bring Escobar down. The show's third season, which shifted away from the Escobar story after the character's death wasn't quite on the level of the first two, but the show was popular enough to launch a spinoff, Narcos: Mexico, which ran for three seasons as well.

The Sopranos

The Sopranos' debut on HBO in January of 1999 marks the unofficial beginning of the Golden Age of Television - or at least the modern Golden Age. The production value, storytelling, and acting on the show were unlike anything anyone had ever seen. the characters were fully formed almost from the moment they first hit the screen and the story that unfolded, about a mafia boss played by the late, great James Gandolfini trying to keep both his crime family and his actual family together was simply unparalleled. Right down to the end and the show's much-talked-about finale.

Grey's Anatomy

As one of the longest-running prime-time shows in history, Grey's Anatomy has run for almost the entire era of "peak TV." Since its debut in 2005 and over more than 20 seasons and 400 episodes, the show has just kept chugging along with a devoted fanbase who stayed with it over the decades and though the endless cast changes can be frustrating, the show is remarkable.

24

One of the very first "bingable" shows would have to be 24. The Kiefer Sutherland-led action show from Fox kept viewers on the edge of their seats for nine seasons, one TV movie (24: Redemption), and a couple of spin-offs. It all made 24 one of the most bankable franchises of the era.

Six Feet Under

The early 2000s were an incredible era for HBO. Along with The Sopranos and The Wire, the network had another one of the best shows of the era with Six Feet Under. The show told the story of the Fisher family and their trials and turbulations running the family business, a funeral home. Mix in some supernatural elements and HBO had a unique hit on their hands.

Modern Family

Network sitcoms that enter the general cultural zeitgeist are few and far between these days. Certainly not like they were in their heyday of the 1970s and '80s. There are still a few that break through though, like Modern Family. For a time, it seemed as those everyone in the country was watching the ups and downs of the most dysfunctional and wonder families in TV history. For 11 seasons, the ABC hit dominated the ratings and is still a hit on streaming years after airing its finale in 2020.

Orange Is the New Black

Orange Is the New Black wasn't the first "prestige TV" show from Netflix, but it's safe to say it solidified Netflix's spot among the biggest players in the industry. For seven seasons over six years, the prison comedy-drama told the semi-autobiographical story of Piper Kerman, whose book of the same name was the basis for the show. Kerman spent a year in prison and many of the stories in the show reflected or told the experiences she had while in jail.

Deadwood

Many of the best Westerns on film came out many decades ago. On TV, there were big hits in the '50s and '60s like Gunsmoke and Bonanza, but the best Western television show of the 21st Century, Deadwood has almost nothing in common with any of those. The show was dark, crass, and unlike anything else on TV. The verbose language and insane moments made must-see TV at the time. Sadly it was never quite as popular as it should have been and that made for some herky-jerky starts-and-stops between seasons, but the show never dipped in quality.

Friday Night Lights

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose," from a speech by Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) in Friday Night Lights has become part of the television canon, just as the show has. Based on the movie starring Billy Bob Thornton about the spectacle that is high school football in Texas, the show has outshined its source material in almost every way.

Veep

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is unique. She not only starred in the biggest sitcom of the 1990s, Seinfeld, but she's followed it up with two more hot shows. First in the '00s she won awards for The New Adventures of Old Christine and then in the 2010s had maybe her best performance as the hapless, power-hungry Vice President on HBO's Veep for which she won an incredible seven Emmys in a row.

House Of Cards

In 2013 Netflix loudly announced it was ready to be a player in the Peak Age of TV with House Of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. Based on a British show of the same name, the show highlighted the darkest corners of politics and despite the show losing some steam when Kevin Spacey got caught in the middle of a serious legal battle forcing him off the show and effectively ending his career, it still deserves recognition for all six seasons it ran for.

The Walking Dead

Over 11 seasons and 177 episodes, it's fair to say that not every moment on The Walking Dead was peak TV. That doesn't tell the whole story though, because when The Walking Dead was great, it was really great. The AMC zombie show was a ratings monster and cultivated one of the most dedicated fanbases ever, which led to multiple spinoffs that will seemingly run forever.

Boardwalk Empire

When Boardwalk Empire premiered on HBO in 2009, it came with a lot of hype as the mind behind it, Terrence Winter, had been of the key creative minds behind The Sopranos. While Boardwalk Empire never quite reached the lofty heights of The Sopranos, it was still one of the best shows on TV in its time.

Sons Of Anarchy

Like a few other shows on this list, FX's Sons Of Anarchy isn't a perfect show. There were some ill-advised plot decisions, like moving the gang to Ireland for a while, but like those other shows, when SOA was good, it was really, really good. The characters became our own dysfunctional family who we laughed, cried, and died with over the show's seven seasons. A spinoff, Mayans M.C., wasn't as good, but it also found a fanbase and lasted for five seasons.

The Americans

Of all the shows on this list, the one that maybe flew under the radar more than most has to be The Americans. The FX show was just... cool. It was a spy thriller that brought the Cold War back to U.S. television. Set in the '80s and starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, the show ran for six great seasons and never really fell off as so many other shows do.

30 Rock

How do you follow up an incredible run as a star and head writer on SNL? Well, if you're as talented and funny as Tina Fey, you create one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 21st Century with 30 Rock. If nothing else, the show left us with the important bit of advice that you should never go with a hippie to a second location.

Justified

FX's Justified updated the Western for the 21st Century. Based on a book for Elmore Leonard and starring Timothy Olyphant as a 21st-century lawman with with his heart in the 19th Century, Justified was as noir as you'd expect from a story by Leonard and the acting is, across the board, fantastic.

True Detective

One of the darkest shows during the Peak Era of TV had to be True Detective, especially the first season. The unconventional storytelling was brought to life brilliantly by stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson and while the show was still great for a couple of more seasons, it really was that first season that stood out and above the others.

Succession

On HBO's Succession, the entire Roy family are all awful people. It's a show entirely made of characters we love to hate. We hated them so much, we couldn't wait to tune in each week to see what awful things they would do and it made the show unique and magical in that way.

Homeland

Showtime's Homeland started with a bang in its first season, or rather, almost ended its first season with a bang that never happened. The spy thriller starring Claire Danes and Damian Lewis was the ultimate nail-biter as no one really knew how the season would end. While the end of that first season was probably the pinnacle of the show, it ended up airing for seven more excellent seasons.

Battlestar Galactica

Interestingly, though there are some exceptions, Sci-Fi wasn't a huge part of the era. One of those exceptions was Battlestar Galactica, a reboot of the old series from the 1970s. The new version was a mystery wrapped in a space adventure and featured some of the craziest twists of any show from the time.

Barry

It's always cool to see an actor known primarily for their comedic talents take on a more serious role and Bill Hader in Barry is a perfect example. Sure, there is some dark comedy in the show of course, but, especially as the show went on, the character played by Hader was as complex as any character we've seen on TV and Hader is amazing.

There’s been quite a bit of buzz about Taylor Kitsch since it was announced that a Friday Night Lights reboot is happening, but meanwhile, the actor who will always be known to some as Dillon football player Tim Riggins has been keeping busy with some other projects on the 2025 TV schedule. American Primeval recently dropped on Netflix’s 2025 calendar starring Kitsch as a guide helping a mother and son survive their quest to California. The series seems to be winning fans over, but is that the reason Kitsch isn’t committing to the FNL reboot?

Critics And Audiences Give Taylor Kitsch’s American Primeval Their Stamp Of Approval

American Primeval began streaming to Netflix subscription holders on Thursday, January 9, and since then it’s accumulated an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter. In addition to Taylor Kitsch, the series stars Betty Gilpin as Sara Rowell and Preston Mota as her son Devin, who are trying to escape the vicious and dangerous Utah Territory in 1857.

Many fans, like the one below, who decided to give the period Western a shot were hooked from the very first episode, posting to X (Twitter):

Other Netflix subscribers followed suit, with many noting how brutal the six-part series is, as well as how emotional they feel over the events that play out. Other audience reactions from X include:

• American Primeval on Netflix with Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin is awesome! It’s the best thing they both have ever done. It reminded me a lot of 1883 and The English. Journeying through Utah in the old west. One of the best series Netflix has made! – JiffSchwazz
• American Primeval is by some distance the best thing I've seen on Netflix in ages. – trivet1806
• You guys have got to watch American Primeval on Netflix. That shit is so well done. Like masterpiece done. – PINELANDGHOSTX
• American Primeval on Netflix is brilliant!! It’s like Deadwood meets Yellowstone meets The Revenant. Love it!!! Strange that it’s had very little media. Best thing I’ve watched for ages. – paulbellis
• Taylor Kitsch is so fucking good in American Primeval. Everyone is, but Taylor…damn. – daytime_GG
• This show is so brutally intense and so good - American west of the 1860’s meets Squid Game – TheRealMarkLevy

It’s easy to see how the series could get an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score with audience members posting reactions like this to social media. Critics, however, were slightly less taken by American Primeval, rating it an accumulated 59%. Aramide Tinubu of Variety calls it a “truly immersive experience,” writing:

However, other critics like Rendy Jones of RogerEbert.com say the plot takes a backseat to gratuitous violence just for the sake of shock value. In Jones’ words:

Duly noted. Viewers, be prepared for all of that if you choose to hit Play on this show. My next question is, will Taylor Kitsch be too busy with this series to devote more time to Friday Night Lights?

Will American Primeval Keep Taylor Kitsch From Friday Night Lights Reboot?

Despite the positive reception the new Netflix show has received, it’s unlikely that’s the main reason Taylor Kitsch seemed to only be considering a small role on the upcoming Friday Night Lights reboot. American Primeval was only ordered as a limited series, and there’s no indication that a second season is coming. Even if there were a Season 2, it’s possible Kitsch wouldn’t even return.

If anything, it would more likely be his commitments to The Terminal List that would cause a scheduling conflict. The action series (available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription) that also stars Chris Pratt, Constance Wu and Riley Keough was renewed for a second season back in 2023, and a prequel series centered around Taylor Kitsch’s Ben Edwards was ordered.

We’ll have to see if the actor pops up anywhere else, but in the meantime, all six episodes of American Primeval are streaming on Netflix.

When news broke the other day Friday Night Lights would be making a comeback and following a new team in Texas dealing with the after effects of a hurricane, my brain scrambled in all directions. Did this mean a totally new remake or a spinoff of sorts? Would the OG cast be involved in any capacity? Would it give the same vibe and feel as the original series, which ran on NBC and then DirecTV for its final seasons? Taylor Kitsch has thankfully answered some of these questions for me, but I’d like to push back a little bit on his own ideas about what's coming. Hear me out.

Kitsch recently spoke to Sirius XM about the Friday Night Lights reimagining and as it turns out, the show has reached out to see if he would like to be involved. Amidst this, there's both good and bad news, depending on your personal bandwidth when it comes to Tim Riggins as a character.

The actor said to the radio outlet he’s “been asked,” also telling the outlet he’d “maybe do something for an episode.” He then ended the comment with “we’ll leave it at that” before actually giving us a few more tidbits about how he feels about the new series, which is bringing back some OG creators like Peter Berg.

How Taylor Kitsch Thinks He Should Come Back To FNL (And What I Think Should Really Happen)

While I’m certainly happy about the thought of getting an update on a character I adored watching and was always rooting for during the original show’s run, it sounds like we wouldn’t be getting Tim Riggins in a major capacity given the new storyline (the bad news). However, per Kitsch, there’s an easy way to bring him on board and have him pop in without having him become a regular on the show:

Listen, I know Riggins helped out Coach during Season 4 and could conceivably have ended up as a coach himself, but to me, the young jock's entire story arc was overcoming his family odds and learning to have healthier relationships. I never really saw him going down the same path Billy did as a coach. To me learning to be reliable and show up for the team was what Tim needed to thrive rather than just survive. Football gave him structure, but his arc was more one of growing out of one’s circumstances and finding a place (Texas) to call home.

On that note, a lot of fans would have liked to have seen him “officially” end up with Tyra (Adrianne Palicki). While I’m not sure that relationship would have worked out over the long haul, I’d like to think that Tim’s future would have been to be a good father figure like he was to neighbor kid Bo Miller early on in the series. Maybe he should pop in as a parent of a kid on the high school team or even on an opposing high school team?

I guess what I’m saying is I don’t care about how big the role is, but I’d like to see what happened to Tim Riggins between the end of the show and now. Even if it's only one or two episodes, I think seeing him as a coach on the field for eight seconds wouldn’t accomplish what I would want as a viewer, and I’m not sure the coach bit even makes the most sense for his character. Being a parent of a teenager or some other slightly larger role could accomplish that, however, if it was done well.

Don’t Get Me Wrong, It’s Great Taylor Kitsch Would Be Willing To Appear

Kitsch has been really active on the TV scene still in the time since Friday Night Lights officially ended back in 2011. He’s in the popular series The Terminal List, which has Season 2 on the way. He had a big role in one of the seasons of True Detective and more recently has appeared in TV miniseries like Waco and Painkiller. I wish he’d be open to a larger role in the reboot, but I’d be happy to see him appear in general and (the good news) he does seem interested in the prospect.

As he even noted, it’s possible that Kitsch could come back and not play a character related to the original at all, as he told Sirius XM he’d be open to doing both Riggins or a new role.

I suppose we should be grateful if he makes time between his work on The Terminal List and other big gigs coming to the 2025 TV schedule to sign on for a remake of the show that made him a household name. I am grateful for whatever we get, particularly given Kyle Chandler also recently admitted he hasn’t been contacted… yet. This is semi surprising given Berg has said he’d like both back for an FNL movie in the past. We’ll likely hear more in the coming months, however.

For now, I’m just saying Tim Riggins as maybe not dad of the year, but a dad who’s really putting the effort in? Where do I sign up?

Throughout the history of television, there are examples of characters from shows just disappearing. In one episode they are there, and in the next, they are gone without so much as an acknowledgment from the remaining characters. Or sometimes a half-baked reason that doesn't come until years later. It's like they never existed at all. This is our list meant to remember those characters we have lost to the curse of being written out with no explanation.

Chuck Cunningham - Happy Days

Maybe the most famous example of this is Chuck Cunningham (Gavan O'Herlihy), Richie and Joanie's older brother on Happy Days. His disappearance has become so famous it's become known as the "Chuck Cunningham Syndrome." Though he was never a main star, he was still around in the first season until one day he wasn't and he was never even mentioned again. Harsh.

Santiago Herrera - Friday Night Lights

Linebacker Santiago Herrera on Friday Night Lights was a pretty major character in the second season of the show. Despite seemingly being a leader on the team with Coach Taylor working with him a lot, Santiago vanished from the team after Season 2 and was never even mentioned again.

Monica Dawson - Heroes

On Heroes, Monica Dawson had a unique power that allowed her to imitate anyone around her's power. That would be one of the most useful powers anyone on the show had (save for Sylar). Dawson, played by Dana Davis, is a main character in Season 2 and then is dropped from the show and is never ever mentioned again, without a real explanation.

Mutt Schitt - Schitt's Creek

Mutt Schitt, played by Tim Rozon is the very good-looking son of Mayor Roland Schitt (Chris Elliot). He plays a big supporting role in the first two seasons of Schitt's Creek, especially as one of Alexis' potential love interests. He was seen less and less as the show went on until only being spotted once in Season 3 and one final time in Season 4 before never being sighted or mentioned again

Celia Hodes - Weeds

For a while, Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins) was a semi-regular reoccurring character on Weeds. She seemed to idolize Nancy and hate her at the same time. Despite being an antagonist for the first four seasons, by Season 5 she's only mentioned occasionally in passing until after Season 6 when the character completely falls off the radar and is never heard from again.

Leah Murphy - Grey's Anatomy

Dr. Leah Murphy, played by Tessa Ferrer, had a fairly brief, but action-packed couple of seasons on Grey's Anatomy during Seasons 9 and 10. She was fired at one point, but earned her job back the character seemed like she might make it for the long, but it wasn't to be and after one brief appearance in Season 13, she completely disappeared from the show.

Tiger - The Brady Bunch

When The Brady Bunch first hit the airwaves, it was just the six kids that made up the blended family, there was also the boys' pet dog Tiger. Tiger often made a mess of things, including Mike and Carol's wedding, but he was beloved. Until he wasn't. Tragically, the dog who played Tiger was hit by a car and killed, and rather than replace him, the producers just wrote the poor mutt right out of the show, though his doghouse remained in the backyard for years later.

Mr. Turner - Boy Meets World

For a while there, it seemed like Mr. Turner (Anthony Tyler Quinn) might be a very important teacher on Boy Meets World as he mentored Shawn and even took him in for a time. He was a regular character for three seasons before he dropped off the face of the earth after Season 4. He was mentioned briefly in the series finale, but fans never really got any closure from his sudden departure from the cast.

Judy - Family Matters

One of the most notorious examples of a character simply vanishing was the youngest Winslow child on Family Matters, Judy, played by Jaimee Foxworth. After Season 4, she was completely gone from the show as though she'd never existed. For shame Carl! Ignoring one of your daughters!

John Bennett - Orange Is The New Black

John Bennett was a key character during the first three seasons of Orange Is The New Black, and even had an affair with one of the inmates (Daya) and got her pregnant. Despite this, by the end of Season 3, he had quit his job and was never really even mentioned again. Fan theories abound, but ultimately it was the real world interfering as actor Matt McGorry simply quit the show.

Mandy Hampton - The West Wing

Right up there with Chuck Cunningham in notoriety is Mandy Hampton (Moira Kelly) in The West Wing. A full cast member and one of the stars in the show's first season, she completely disappeared and was never even mentioned again from the beginning of Season 2 on. Like the "Chuck Cunningham Syndrome," her disappearance has become shorthand for this kind of thing happening with fans calling it "Going to Mandyville."

Ser Ilyn Payne - Game Of Thrones

Ser Ilyn Payne, played by the late Wilko Johnson, was one of the scariest characters in Game of Thrones. He was King Joffery's executioner and despite playing a larger role in the books, he disappeared from the show after Season 2. Johnson had a major cancer scare and though he didn't end up dying from it, he was given only a few months to live at the time. He wasn't recast out of respect for Johnson. He is mentioned later once by Tywin Lannister in Season 6, but he's never seen again on screen, nor is his absence ever explained.

Tina Pinciotti - That '70s Show

Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon) was referred to as an only child for most of The '70s Show. This, however, is an example of confusing retconning for many hardcore fans. In Season 1 of the show, Donna had a sister, Tina Pinciotti (Amanda Fuller) and she is even seen on screen, not just mentioned. After one more throwaway joke in Season 2, Tina is never even mentioned again and Donna refers to herself as an only child. Did something sinister happen? We'll never know.

Mike - My Three Sons

As the name of the show would imply, on My Three Sons, there were, at least in the beginning, three sons. Mike, Robbie, and Chip were Steve Douglas' sons on the show for the first years. Mike, the oldest, played by Tim Considine, who left the show after Season 5, went to college and is barely ever mentioned again and he's never seen again. He doesn't even show up for weddings. He's just...gone.

Seven - Married... With Children

In Season 7 of Married... With Children, Peg's 12-year-old nephew Seven is introduced. It's a clear attempt at the "Cousin Oliver" effect when a young, precocious kid is randomly introduced to make the show "cuter." For Seven, however, it doesn't last long, as after 12 appearances, the show simply forgets about him, despite a few inside jokes (like appearing on the side of a milk carton).

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

In the pilot episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Detective Daniels is introduced as part of the team in the squad house. He seems like he'll be at least a semi-occurring character, but instead, he's never seen or heard from again.

Ben Geller - Friends

Even fans of Friends can admit that Ross (David Schwimmer) is pretty awful most of the time. Nothing is worse, however, than how he seemingly abandoned his first son, Ben. Ben wasn't a regular on the show, but he did appear multiple times. At least until his daughter, Emma, is born with Rachel. Ben, who was played by Cole Sprouse for a couple of seasons, is never even mentioned again and never meets his half-sister. Harsh, Ross.

Gwen Grandy - The Mindy Project

Gwen Grandy (Anna Camp) is one of Mindy's best friends on The Mindy Project. They talk all the time and Gwen even named Mindy as her newborn's godmother. Then Season 2 happened and Gwen was just gone from Mindy's life without even an explanation. Poof, the best friend is gone forever.

Robin Sylvester - Glee

Did you know Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) on Glee had a child? You might vaguely remember that she was pregnant at one point and in Season 3 fans even meet the child. Then the baby is hardly ever mentioned again and never seen on screen. We know that Sue was selfish and mean, but wow.

Tori Scott - Saved By The Bell

Tori Scott, played by actress Leanna Creel in the final season of Saved By The Bell was a very brief, but very serious girlfriend of Zach Morris. Sadly for Tori, after Jessie and Kelly returned to school after leaving for a time, the character was unceremoniously dropped and never mentioned again. It's not even clear if Zach broke up with her or if she fell off a cliff. She was just gone.

Amy Jessup - Fringe

Before she was cast in Suits, Meghan Markle had an all-too-brief role in Fringe. Markle's character Amy Jessup was introduced in Season 2 of the show and seemed to be a new, full member of the team. However, after two episodes, she was gone and no one ever found out why. She's never mentioned again,

Jenny Kelly - Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Sometimes there is off-screen drama that causes a sudden disappearance and that may be the case here with the character Jenny Kelly (Michelle Beaudoin) in Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Jenny was Sabrina's best friend and a major character in Season 2, but she didn't even get the dignity of a proper send-off when she suddenly disappeared from the show, never to even be mentioned again.

Mark Brendanawicz - Parks And Recreation

Mark Brendanawicz, played by Paul Schneider, was a key character in the early days of Parks And Recreation until he was written out completely when the actor left the show and the producers re-tooled and brought in new characters. Brendanawicz was never mentioned again.

Mo-Mo - Nurse Jackie

Mo-Mo (Haaz Sleiman) in the first season of Nurse Jackie provides a lot of much-needed fun and comic relief with his snarky asides to Jackie (Edie Falco). Sadly, it seems the show's producers didn't think the character was really necessary so he was written out after Season 1 without much explanation, despite being such buddies with Jackie. He deserved much better.

Molly Parker - The Facts Of Life

The character of Molly Parker, played by the great Molly Ringwald in the first seasons of The Facts Of Life and a couple of episodes of Diff'rent Strokes, met an unfortunate end when Ringwald was fired from the show in favor of other, older actors. Her leaving wasn't given any kind of explanation until years later when it's briefly mentioned that she left to become an actress. It seems like everything worked out just fine for Molly Ringwald.

Dr. Grace Miller - Scrubs

Dr. Grace Miller on Scrubs, played by Bellamy Young, was introduced with a lot of hype and promotion. She was essentially playing the female version of Dr. Cox and fans immediately hated the character. The backlash was so bad that she was dumped after just a handful of appearances as though she never existed. It's too bad because Young was great in the role.

President John Keeler - 24

24 went through presidents like people with a cold go through Kleenex. One president who lasted a couple of seasons was President John Keeler (Geoff Pierson), but after he was shot down in Air Force One and left incapacitated, his VP, Charles Logan, took over. It's completely unclear if Keeler died or was simply too injured to return as the character is basically never mentioned again.

Nebula Lawrence - Boy Meets World

Boy Meets World had a little bit of a habit of introducing seemingly important characters only to have them fall by the wayside without explaining why. Nebula "Nebby" Lawrence (Krystee Clark) is the perfect example. She was introduced in an episode of Season 1 and as her name implies, she is the sister of Topanga. That was her first and only appearance on the show and for the rest of the show's run Topanga is an only child. Nebby is never heard from again.

Caitlin - Heroes

Caitlin (Katie Carr) on Heroes gets at least a little explanation as to why she disappeared. She is introduced as a love interest for Peter in Season 2 and together they travel to the future, where she gets stuck and seemingly remains there forever, as she's never mentioned again, nor is her ultimate fate.

Frank Cubitoso - The Sopranos

Frank Cubitoso (Frank Pellegrino) was introduced as the head of the New Jersey office of the FBI in the first season of The Sopranos. He plays a recurring and pivotal role in trying to take down Tony and his crew for a while until he pretty much disappears after the murder of Adriana.

Nina Cassady - Law & Order

Characters coming and going from Law & Order was pretty standard fare for the long-running procedural. Most of the time though, they at least get some kind of send-off or at least an explanation. That was not the case for Detective Nina Cassady, played by Milena Govich, who lasted just one season before she was gone without so much as a hint as to what happened to her.

Behrooz Araz - 24

The Araz family were the main villains in Season 4 of 24 and while the fate of Navi and Dina Araz is clear (both are killed), the fate of their son Behrooz is left hanging. He is traded in a prisoner swap for Jack Bauer and the men who take him find the hidden trackers CTU hid on him. But after that, he just disappears and is never heard from again.

Alright sports fans, get excited because a Friday Night Lights reboot is officially in the works. After hearing about potential FNL reboots for years, I'm hopeful this one will really get off the ground this time and be available to stream with a Peacock subscription. Honestly, I’m feeling great about its chances too, because it’s been confirmed that this new series is being worked on by the OG show’s showrunner, director and producer. However, there’s one original Friday Night Lights cast member I need to see added to this roster, and that guy is Taylor Kitsch.

Friday Night Lights Has Landed At Peacock With Its Original Creative Team

It would appear that Peacock is aiming for a touchdown with this new Friday Night Lights show. That’s because, according to Deadline, the drama's original showrunner Jason Katims, original director Peter Berg and the original producer Brian Grazer are all on board to executive produce the project.

They’ll be working with Kristen Zolner for Imagine Entertainment and Universal Television to make the show, which is also encouraging since the OG series aired on NBC back in the early 2000s.

While this is a tall order, seeing as Friday Night Lights is one of the best sports movies and shows, it seems like it’s in good hands. Plus, I’m here for the plot too, as the report revealed the following details about this reboot’s story:

So, it sounds like this reboot will tell a new story about a new team with a new coach. Seeing as the first season of the early 2000s series and the movie focuses on a team coming back from their star quarterback getting injured, it’s clear that this new story that begins with a devastating natural disaster will be quite different from its predecessors.

At the moment it’s unclear if it will feature all new characters, all returning characters or both. However, no matter what happens, I want Taylor Kitsch to be involved!

Now, I’m Hoping Taylor Kitsch Comes Back Too

When you look back at Taylor Kitsch’s best projects, two of them came from Peter Berg. First of all, his breakout role was Tim Riggins in Friday Night Lights. Then, almost two decades later, he worked with the director again on Netflix’s Painkiller.

I spoke to Berg when that Netflix series came out, and he told me he loved seeing Kitsch “shed the Tim Riggins legacy” with that true crime show. It truly did show off his range and growth as an actor, and it was great to see a project made by these two long-time collaborators.

Now, I’d like to see them come back together for this Friday Night Lights reboot.

Think about it, it’d be a great way to show off Kitsch’s range again, as they could cast him as this new coach – a character who could potentially be totally different from the the football player he portrayed all those years ago.

Or, if he returns as Tim Riggins, it’d give him the opportunity to play a grown-up version of his beloved character, and it’d offer a deep connection between the first series and this new one.

Either way, I think it’d be wonderful to see Taylor Kitsch back in the world of Texas football. Plus, considering his history with the show’s director, I think it’d be a natural fit to cast him in this reboot.

Overall, there’s a lot to be excited about with this Friday Night Lights show that’s being made for Peacock. Here’s hoping it really works out this time and that my dreams of Taylor Kitsch returning come true! Now, while we wait for more updates about this exciting new series, I’ll be going back to stream its NBC predecessor with a Netflix subscription.

There are some crazy popular TV shows out there. There are also some big characters from those TV shows that have gone on to become fan favorites. But there are also plenty of other characters as well that have fallen into a long hole of forgotten characters that we still can barely remember. So today, we'll get into some of the most obvious.

Heath (The Walking Dead)

It would be a crime if I didn't include Heath on this list. In all eleven seasons of The Walking Dead, I have never seen a character more forgotten than Heath. He seemed important, but then, after one bad zombie run, we literally never see him again and don't even know if he's alive or dead. There was some solution later, one where we found out Jadis traded him over to the Commonwealth, but that came years later.

Mark Brendanawicz (Parks And Recreation)

The Parks and Recreation cast is filled to the brim with talented stars and great characters, but one who was part of the main cast in Season 1 was Mark Brendanawicz. He was actually a love interest for Leslie and Ann, but he instantly left in Season 2 because he had an epiphany. And we never saw him again.

Sunshine Corazon (Glee)

There have been many characters on Glee who have come and gone from the limelight, but one I have to point out is Sunshine Corazon. She is a transfer student who dared threaten Rachel's spotlight in Season 2 of the show, so much so that Rachel tricked Corazon into going to a crack house. We saw Corazon one more time in the show before, but we never heard from her again despite her killer vocals.

John Bennett (Orange Is The New Black)

It felt like during the first few seasons of Orange Is The New Black, we would find a way for John Bennett to stick around. Eventually, he ends up leaving Daya and their baby alone when he has cold feet. And then we literally never hear about him again. I mean, the Orange Is The New Black cast was still stellar without him, but he just up and left.

Lincoln (The 100)

I really do love The 100 and think it's one of the best shows to binge if you want a series that you have no idea where it's going to go next. But sometimes, I forget the times when the series was grounded, and Octavia fell for a man named Lincoln, who taught her everything about being a Grounder – only for him to be executed a few seasons later and spurring her into the fighter she becomes. But I feel that we all forgot about him, right?

Nicole (Zoey 101)

It's really a sad story about what happened to the actress behind Nicole in Zoey 101, and I stand by her in what she has done standing up to the wrong situations behind the scenes at Nickelodeon. But that doesn't change the fact that her character, Nicole, was also completely forgotten in the show. Out of all the characters in the series, she didn't have much of a story and ended up getting written out entirely as the show went on.

Cathay Simms (The Office)

While Jim and Pam are certainly the most significant relationships in The Office, there have been plenty of other women in Jim's life. One of those was Cathay Simms, a young woman who tried to sleep with him on a business trip, but the trip itself fell apart. However, even when they get back to Scranton, she is literally never seen again.

Simon (The Walking Dead)

I might get some flack for this, but I swear, on my rewatch of The Walking Dead, I forgot Simon even existed until I saw him again. I think the main reason is that Negan became such a tremendous character that most of his followers felt like complete background people, even when some of them – like Simon – played essential roles in the plot. He was killed anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

Jacqueline "Jackie" Ames (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

While Tyra Banks has gone on to appear in plenty of movies and TV shows, she made her acting debut in Season 4 of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, where she played Jackie, a friend of Will's from childhood. Their romantic chemistry is off the charts. Still, after a bad night of partying and her fed up with Will's behavior, she leaves. From then on, Jackie is not a part of the show anymore.

Scott Rosson (Gossip Girl)

Yeah, what happened with this? It felt like the fact that Dan and Serena had a half-brother was such a massive part of Gossip Girl for a bit, and then he just vanished without a trace. They even had a family reunion, but it's pretty much never brought up again. Like, how do you forget about a half-brother?

Abby Day (New Girl)

Believe it or not, Jessica Day has a sister—Abby Day, who the lovely Linda Cardellini played. We saw her once, and then we legitimately never saw her again during the series, which is pretty surprising because New Girl has some good consistency with a lot of its characters.

Santiago Herrera (Friday Night Lights)

This is another case of someone just vanishing from a TV show. He was a major recurring character in Season 2 of Friday Night Lights and had a pretty good story, but then he just vanished the next season. Legit, no one knows what happened to his character.

Frank Jr. (Friends)

Remember when Phoebe from the Friends cast got pregnant for her half-brother, Frank Jr.? Yeah, I barely did, too, but that did happen. Frank Jr. seemed like he was going to be a bigger part of the overall story, but then, after she gave birth to the triplets in the one-hundredth episode, we really don't see him or his family that often again.

Olivia Burke (Gossip Girl)

There are a lot of random people I forgot guest-starred in Gossip Girl, and one of those was Hilary Duff, who played Olivia Burke. The character was only there for six episodes, which explains why we forgot about her so quickly, but when looking back, it really feels like she should have been part of a bigger Gossip Girl cast. She was a good addition.

Robin Sylvester (Glee)

Sue had a daughter.

Yeah, that's right, I'll tell you again – Sue Sylvestor had a daughter, whom she named after her deceased sister, and then we rarely ever see her again—a baby. Don't even try to pretend you remembered because I sure as heck didn't.

Detective Daniels (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Alright, while what happened to Detective Daniels isn't that surprising, it's still a good thing to point out. This character was introduced in the pilot of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but we never see her again after. This isn't the first time a show has cut people out from the pilot, but still, a character that we totally forgot about.

Tara (The Walking Dead)

Out of any forgettable character on The Walking Dead, Tara is one that stuck around for several seasons, and I still needed to remember her. Maybe it was because her stories felt like they were pushed far in the background in comparison to what else we were all going through, but man, every time I've rewatched this show, I always forget that she becomes a decently big character.

Tori Scott (Saved By The Bell)

Tori was a new character introduced to Saved By The Bell in her later years. While she made friends with the group and even dated two boys, she was gone ten episodes later and is barely mentioned again.

Matt Rutherford (Glee)

The Glee cast is endless, and it feels like there are always new characters coming and going, but man, everyone forgets about Matt Rutherford. He was a background character in Glee in the first season, and there were so many other crazy characters there that it's honestly not that surprising he was just gone in Season 2. We will always remember to forget you, Matt.

Charles Miner (The Office)

I swear to God, every time I watch The Office, I always, always forget that Idris Elba guest-starred. He's a new VP for Dunder Mifflin, and he doesn't get along with Michael at all. While he was hilarious on the show, it wasn't enough for his character to last super long and be memorable.

Ben Geller (Friends)

I remember back in Friends Season 1, it was a big deal that Ross was going to have a baby with his ex-wife, but then we barely got to see him throughout the show. Thankfully, we did see him grow up a little when young Cole Sprouse played him, but before then, it was like Ben Geller never even happened.

Dani (Glee)

As a young bisexual woman, seeing Dani on Glee basically altered my state of mind. I wished she had stayed on the show forever because she and Santana seemed like a power couple with their voices. However, Dani (and Demi Lovato) ended up not staying on the show for long—and inevitably, Santana went back to Brittany anyway.

Isaac Lahey (Teen Wolf)

These teen supernatural dramas are filled to the brim with characters that just come and go all the time, and one to point out is Isaac Lahey, a student at the primary school of the franchise who was there and then just not the following season.

Ruby Lucas (Once Upon A Time)

Ruby is a character that seemed like she was going to have a big part in Once Upon a Time, but as any fan of this show knows, more and more storylines began to converge and push out other ones that could have been great, and Ruby's was sadly one of them. Eventually, she does get her happy ending, but no one ever really remembers her that much now.

Tina Pinacotti (That ‘70s Show)

Remember that Donna had a little sister? Yeah, I didn't either. We see Donna's supposed little sister, Tina, in an episode about a party, but then we never hear from her again after that episode. And then, we see Donna say several episodes later that she's an only child, so that got retconned.

Chuck Cunningham (Happy Days)

For those who have watched Happy Days, you might remember Chuck Cunningham, the brother of Richie and Joanie. However, he ended up becoming a background character and then vanishing altogether.

Morales (The Walking Dead)

We see Morales one other time in The Walking Dead besides Season 1 of the show, where we watch him leave the leading group with his family. And then, when he suddenly shows up as part of Negan's crew, he's killed by Daryl. Why bring him back to die? Ridiculous.

Mutt Schitt (Schitt's Creek)

Alexis from the Schitt's Creek cast has certainly had her fair share of love interests, and one of those was Mutt Schitt. That fling ended up fading away just as quickly as it began, and then soon, he was gone—which is honestly a shame because he was pretty funny.

Isla (Succession)

The Succession cast is so talented, and the characters have so much depth. One of those that continued to grow over the course of its four seasons is Roman Roy. But do you remember that in Season 1, he had both a wife and a daughter? Her name was Isla (the daughter), and yeah, we legit never heard about this little girl, like, ever.

Cooper Anderson (Glee)

Blaine had a brother who Matt Bomer played, and they actually had some sick duets on the show. But yet again, we legitimately never see him again. He was actually a great addition and really gave Blaine a kick in the butt to become better at singing (even though he already was), but we don't even see him in the finale or anything.

Otis (The Walking Dead)

There are plenty of The Walking Dead deaths that are pretty much forgotten about, and one of them, hands down, has to be Otis. One of the farmhands on Hershel's farm, Otis, is devoured by zombies thanks to Shane leaving him behind. We only saw him for a few episodes, and he was never mentioned again.

Ken Tanaka (Glee)

Ken Tanaka was the former coach of the football team at McKinley and was engaged to Emma. However, after suffering a nervous breakdown, he's gone from the show, and Coach Beiste takes his place. We never see him again after Season 1, despite him playing a big role in the first season.

Did any of these picks stir your memory? They certainly stirred mine—and now I have to rewatch all these shows to see them all again.

Moms are strong by nature but TV's toughest moms rule their roost with high standards, great expectations and strong discipline. From sitcom staples like Roseanne Conner and Clair Huxtable to dramatic dames like Cersei Lannister and Cookie Lyon, these iron-fisted mamas don't get the credit they deserve when it comes to their strict and stern parenting styles. Here are 32 of our favorites. 

Roseanne Conner (Roseanne)

The fierce working-class "domestic goddess" at the center of the ABC sitcom Roseanne was always crazy-quick with a wisecrack and was never one to hold back an opinion. But though known for her loud, sarcastic and domineering nature, Roseanne Conner (Roseanne Barr) was always loving and protective towards her four kids, daughters Becky (Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke) and Darlene (Sara Gilbert), and sons D.J. (Michael Fishman) and Jerry (Cole and Morgan Roberts).

Clair Huxtable (The Cosby Show)

Despite having to juggle raising five children, maintaining a household and continuing a successful law career, The Cosby Show's Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) was always a vision of class and composure. While her husband Cliff was the more fun-loving and boisterous parent, Clair was the disciplinarian of the Huxtable residence and was assertive in teaching her kids about responsibility and respect. 

Peggy Bundy (Married... With Children)

With her refusal to cook, clean or cater to her boorish husband Al (Ed O'Neil), Peggy Bundy (Katey Sagal) from the beloved blue-collar comedy Married... with Children was TV's ultimate anti-housewife. Where other small-screen moms used their iron fist to ensure order and discipline, Peg unapologetically prioritized her own couch-sitting, Oprah-watching "Me Time" over traditional parenting and domestic work. But that doesn't mean she didn't regularly make time to voice her opinions about her lackluster hubby and kids Kelly (Christina Applegate) and Bud (David Faustino).

Wilma Flintstone (The Flintstones) 

When you're married to a literal caveman, it's no surprise that Wilma Flintstone had to be level-headed and strong-willed for the sake of her family. Throughout the classic cartoon series The Flintstones, the Stone Age mama was tender and caring to her hubby Fred and daughter Pebbles but was known to utilize a firm hand — and a frying pan — when things got a little too rambunctious in her household. 

Claire Dunphy (Modern Family)

Often regulated to being the strict mom opposite goofy dad Phil (Ty Burrell), Claire (Julie Bowen) is the hardworking and often anxiety-ridden head of the Dunphy household. In trying to wrangle her husband and three children — Haley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter) and Luke (Nolan Gould) — The Modern Family matriarch can regularly be neurotic and controlling but every ounce of that effort clearly comes from a place of love. 

Jessica Huang (Fresh Off The Boat)

Just as her husband Louis (Randall Park) described her, Jessica Huang (Constance Wu) from the ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat is "aggressive yet elegant." No-nonsense, traditional and very competitive, she pushes both her spouse and their sons Eddie (Hudson Yang), Emery (Forrest Wheeler) and Evan (Ian Chen) to succeed in their careers and academics, respectively. For example, she's plenty pleased with Evan's future plans of becoming "doctor/president," but less so when Eddie reveals that he wants to go to culinary school instead of college.

Cersei Lannister (Game Of Thrones)

Like many things in her life, Cersei Lannister's (Lena Headey) relationship with her children throughout Game of Thrones was often fueled by her own pride and need for power. However, that doesn't mean that Cersei wouldn't kill for her kids — and she did. When it came to the safety of Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), Myrcella (Nell Tiger Free) and Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman), she parented with a leonine fierceness, to the danger of her enemies. 

Florida Evans (Good Times)

First introduced as a feisty maid in Maude, strong-willed Chicago mother Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) is the heart and soul of the original Good Times. Despite considerable financial issues and a never-ending list of chores and responsibilities, Florida always kept her household in line, offering up stern but loving discipline and instilling valuable morals in her three children J.J. (Jimmy Walker) Thelma (Bern Nadette Stanis), and Michael Evans (Ralph Carter). 

Lois Wilkerson (Malcolm In The Middle)

As the mother of five highly mischievous and unruly young boys, we really can't blame Malcolm in the Middle's Lois Wilkerson (Jane Kaczmarek) for being a touch stubborn, overbearing and hotheaded. Lois genuinely cares about her children, but her idea of discipline is jokingly dubbed "sadistic" by the boys: "Your punishment isn't over until that bathroom floor is so clean you'll be eating off it. Which is what you'll be doing for the next three weeks," she memorably punished son Reese in Season 6. 

Norma Bates (Bates Motel)

Now, we're certainly not suggesting that Norma Bates (Vera Farmiga) had a healthy parenting style throughout the A&E horror drama Bates Motel, but she certainly was a devoted, if domineering, mother to Norman (Freddie Highmore). Norma can be clingy and critical of her son — and has especially harsh opinions about the girls Norman hangs out with — but she always does everything in her power to protect him. 

Emily Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

It seems like the only people Emily Gilmore (Kelly Bishop) is more judgmental of than her own daughter Lorelai (Lauren Graham) — no picnic in the mom department, herself — are her maids, who she seemingly hired and fired every other episode of Gilmore Girls. The wealthy matriarch of the eponymous family is known for her high standards, snooty attitude and controlling nature: a textbook example is forcing Lorelai and granddaughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) to attend Friday night dinner at her home every week, no exceptions. 

Debra Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)

A classic example of a TV mom having to play the "bad cop" to a "fun dad" type is Debra Barone (Patricia Heaton) from Everybody Loves Raymond. While husband Ray (Ray Romano) often gets up to nearly as many hijinks as their kids Ally (Madylin Sweeten), Geoffrey and Michael (Sullivan and Sawyer Sweeten), Debra is all business. She's responsible, hardworking and not afraid to speak her mind — except, it seems, when it comes to her meddling mother-in-law Marie (Doris Roberts). 

Harriette Winslow (Family Matters)

The matriarch of the Winslow family (largely played by Jo Marie Payton but replaced with Judyann Elder in Family Matters' final season) knows order and discipline: she left the police force when she became pregnant with her eldest, Eddie (Darius McCrary). Raising three kids, Harriette is regularly the voice of reason in the Winslow household but is a sharp-tongued disciplinarian when she needs to be. 

Colleen Donaghy (30 Rock)

Portrayed by the legendarily brash Elaine Stritch, the mother of Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) always dishes out tough love when it comes to her son. With just one of her many characteristically biting quips (“Don’t talk to me like that Jack. I breastfed you for nine years!”) Colleen is able to instantly turn her slick, successful businessman of a son into a fearful little boy. 

Beverly Goldberg (The Goldbergs)

The Goldbergs' Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) puts the "mother" in "smother" — hugs are mandatory and she can often be found meddling in various areas of her kids' worlds, from school to sports to social life. But the snuggies-loving matriarch can be strict, tough and opinionated, not only when it comes to her children Erica (Hayley Orrantia), Barry (Troy Gentile) and Adam (Sean Giambrone) but also herself: "I have failed as a mother!" is the character's main catchphrase. 

Galina ‘Red’ Reznikov (Orange Is The New Black)

Yes, even prisoners need a mother figure and Litchfield Penitentiary has Red (Kate Mulgrew). Compassionate but very cunning — this is a woman who was in cahoots with the Russian Mafia, after all — she rules her block of the prison with a watchful eye, explicitly prohibiting her girls from partaking in drugs whilst running a well-oiled smuggling ring to get them the contraband goods they need. 

Vivian Banks (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

Firstly, we're specifically talking about Aunt Viv as portrayed by Janet Hubert for the first half of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. (Daphne Maxwell Reid took over the role in season four after Hubert was dismissed from the show.) As no-nonsense as she was nurturing, Hubert's take on the character was more fiery than her successor, a strong, confident university professor who wasn't afraid to lay down a hard lesson to her three children, her students or her troublemaking nephew (Will Smith). 

Marge Simpson (The Simpsons)

Marge is the blue-haired, bee-hived moralistic center of the Simpsons family. With a fam that includes an oafish husband like Homer, a notorious prankster like Bart and an eternal infant like Maggie, The Simpsons matriarch has to run a tight ship to maintain order in her antics-filled household. She doesn't approve of the kids' violent video games or cartoons, has followed Bart's whereabouts through his cell phone and is always pushing her family to go to mass. As Homer says of his wife: "If it were up to [Marge], all we would ever do is work and go to church."

Violet Crawley (Downton Abbey)

Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham (played by Dame Maggie Smith), is not exactly known for being a cuddly grandmother sort. Instead, the stately Downton Abbey matriarch is defined by her dry wit, direct nature and deep investment in maintaining the family's traditions, honor and legacy. 

Barbara Howard (Abbott Elementary)

Barbara Howard (Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph) didn't just raise kids of her own at home — she's raised whole classrooms full of impressionable youngins as a kindergarten teacher at Willard R. Abbott Elementary School for the past two decades. Super old-school (no, she will not be learning that new teaching technology, thank you very much) and strictly religion, she's the kind of teacher who quiets rowdy classrooms the second she steps foot into them. 

Tami Taylor (Friday Night Lights)

As both a mother to teen daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden) and little Gracie Belle (Madilyn Landry) and a counselor at Dillon High School to countless students, Connie Britton's tough yet compassionate Tami Taylor regularly guided the youth with equal parts firmness and fairness. Through five seasons of Friday Night Lights, she was a sounding board and a calm authority, but always with a little bit of Southern sweetness sprinkled on top. 

Jill Taylor (Home Improvement)

The lion-hearted leading lady of the Taylor family, Jill (Patricia Richardson) raises her three sons Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan), Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) and Mark (Taran Noah Smith) with a stern hand and Type-A attitude while also remaining lovingly perceptive and good-naturedly allowing for silly moments. However, you know that when she addresses her husband Tim (Tim Allen) or her sons by their full name, somebody is definitely in trouble. 

Cookie Lyon (Empire)

Talk about one tough cookie: Empire's queen bee Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) tells it like it is, demands respect and doesn't tolerate nonsense in any aspect of her life, including when it comes to her children Andre (Trai Byers), Jamal (Jussie Smollett) and Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray). She can be extremely headstrong and brash, but she definitely has a caring and compassionate side and she always puts her family first. 

Sophia Petrillo (The Golden Girls)

Sarcasm and sass certainly seem to be genetic in the Petrillo household: both mom Sophia (Estelle Getty) and daughter Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) possess each personality trait in spades. As Dorothy's actual parent and the surrogate mother of her roommates Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) and Rose Nyland (Betty White), Sophia doles out wisecracks and criticisms often — about Dorothy’s lack of love life, Blanche’s promiscuity and Rose’s stupidity — but beneath all of her hilarious put-downs beats a lot of love. 

Nalini Vishwakumar (Never Have I Ever)

Never Have I Ever's Nalini (Poorna Jagannathan) can be hard on her teen daughter Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) but her overly strict and at times overbearing nature stems from not only her traditional Indian upbringing but also her sheer love and concern for her child. (As fans no doubt remember, Nalini lost her husband to a heart attack before the start of the series, a trauma which sparked temporary paralysis in her daughter.) Sometimes it's hard for her to show tenderness, but her heart is always in the right place. 

Olivia Walton (The Waltons)

Yes, Olivia Walton (Michael Learned) is an exceedingly sweet and compassionate lady, but there's one area of her life in which she does not play around: her parenting. She prompts all seven of her children (John-Boy, Jason, Mary-Ellen, Ben, Erin Walton, Jim-Bob and Elizabeth) to have good manners and posture, requires them to read the Bible and never miss Sunday service, and will resort to scolding her children if they misbehave. 

Carmela Soprano (The Sopranos) 

Steely and steadfast, Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco) is like any good Italian-American mom: she's armed with a deep sense of obligation to her family, works hard to create a (somewhat) stable environment for daughter Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and son A.J. (Robert Iler), and can make a mean lasagna. With her husband Tony (James Gandolfini) busy with Mafia business, Carmela does the lion's share of the parenting and when it comes to chastising her children, she's proven to be just as formidable as her spouse.

Thelma Harper (Mama’s Family)

Known simply as Mama, Thelma Harper (Vicki Lawrence) from the NBC sitcom Mama's Family headed her household with a sharp wit, an acid tongue and a quick temper. Bluntly outspoken and hilariously grumpy, the series version of the character was actually reportedly softer-edged than the original iteration conceived for The Carol Burnett Show. And despite Mama's frequent bickering and bad attitude, all of her cooking, cleaning and curmudgeonly care is clearly out of love.  

Gemma Teller Morrow (Sons Of Anarchy) 

A more hard-edged mama than her other famous TV mom character Peg Bundy, Katey Sagal's Gemma Teller Morrow is unapologetic about how protective she is of not only her son Jax (Charlie Hunnam) and grandchildren but also her surrogate family, the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club. Equipped with equal parts savagery and vulnerability, she's adapted to her gritty environment and can be tough, competitive and manipulative in the lengths she'll go to to defend those she loves.

Penelope Alvarez (One Day At A Time)

Don't let her quirky, fun-loving demeanor fool you — as One Day at a Time's main madre Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado) is quick to remind you, she's a "total badass." As a single Cuban-American mother, a nurse practitioner and a former Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, "Lupe" has a strong work ethic and sense of discipline, which she makes sure to instill in her children Elena (Isabella Gomez) and Alex (Marcel Ruiz).

Evelyn Harper (Two And A Half Men)

Son Alan Harper (Jon Cryer) doesn't jokingly call her "the queen of darkness" for nothing. Yes, the wealthy and five-time-widowed Evelyn (played by Holland Taylor) can be quite cold, callous and critical when it comes to her sons Alan and Charlie (Charlie Sheen) and grandson Jake (Angus T. Jones). She majorly disapproves of Alan's failed marriages as well as Charlie's personal hobbies — granted, the latter is drinking, gambling and womanizing, so she might be onto something. 

Lynette Scavo (Desperate Housewives)

Having to deal with four demanding children (Porter, Preston, Parker and Penny) as a stay-at-home mom while her husband Tom (Doug Savant) is at the office every day, Lynette (Felicity Huffman) is understandably stressed much of the time, which tends to manifest itself as a neurotic and controlling nature. She also often tends to go over the top when it comes to disciplining her children — for example, she once ditched her kiddos on the side of the road to teach them about following orders. 

There are tons of great movies about the history and culture of the American South. They aren't all positive, because all histories and cultures are messy and the South is certainly no exception. Some of the movies are heartwarming in a way that only Southerners can be and some are heartbreaking for many reasons. Either way, they are important, powerful, and fun stories about everyone living below the Mason-Dixon line. 

Fried Green Tomatoes

There is nothing more quintessentially southern than the dish fried green tomatoes. Like the dish, the movie of the same name just oozes Southern culture. Kathy Bates stars alongside Jessica Tandy and listens as Tandy's character tells her life story, which is a microcosm of life in the South in the 20th Century, including all the highs and lows. 

My Cousin Vinny

Everyone loves a good fish out of water story and having Joe Pesci play a lawyer - or someone pretending to be a lawyer - in the South is just perfect for that. My Cousin Vinny doesn't really punch down at anyone, while still maintaining a humoristic look at both the South, and the North, and how the two cultures may clash at times, but ultimately are still the same people, under it all. 

Selma

The Civil Rights movement is one of the most consequential periods in United States history, and while the story has been told many times in movies, in many different ways, Selma is one of the best, and broadest, telling of the story. David Oyelowo's performance as Dr. Martin Luther King is mesmerizing. 

No Country For Old Men

In many ways, Texas is a culture apart from the rest of the Deep South, but it still does overlap quite a bit. There are a lot of movies set in Texas, but No Country For Old Men finds a way to really nail a lot of the culture, while still maintaining the fanciful nature of the plot. Not bad for a couple of directors like the Coen Brothers who hail from Minnesota. 

To Kill A Mockingbird

The book and movie To Kill A Mockingbird is without a doubt one of the most important stories told in the 20th Century. It captures small-town life in the South in the Depression era perfectly. It's also obviously not afraid to dig into the more disturbing parts of life in Alabama at the time, the terrible racism that hung over everything. 

The Outsiders

The Outsiders became a cultural phenomenon when the book was first published in the late '60s. Telling the story of working-class kids fighting with the rich kids in Tulsa in 1965. It took a decade-and-a-half for Francis Ford Coppola to put together the now-legendary cast of The Outsiders and make the movie, but it was worth the wait. 

O Brother Where Are Thou?

For a couple of guys from Minnesota, The Coen Brothers really know how to capture the essence of the American South. They set a few of their movies there, but O Brother Where Are Thou? really stands out as a great example of how to tell a wild story that is sarcastic, fantastical, and over-the-top, but grounded in realism. 

Smokey And The Bandit

When a guy needs a bunch of beer you can only buy west of the Mississippi for a party in Georgia, there's only one person to hire to smuggle the load. The Bandit (Burt Reynolds). The movie basically covers all of what we call the Deep South from Texarkana to Atlanta. Jackie Gleason's Texas sheriff, Buford T. Justice, is the icing on the cake. 

12 Years A Slave

Sometimes filmmakers need to tell stories we don't want to hear but need to hear. 12 Years A Slave is a movie you can only watch once, but one that everyone needs to see at least once. It's a powerful story about the ugliest part of American history that everyone has a difficult time confronting, but a time we all need to remember for exactly what it was. 

A Street Car Named Desire

Playwright Tennessee Williams did as much to define Southern culture as anyone else in the arts with his plays like The Glass Menagerie and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The most successful adaptation of one of his plays, A Streetcar Named Desire, is no exception, bringing the era of mid-20th Century New Orleans to life with a classic cast that included Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, and Karl Malden. 

Dazed And Confused

Being a teenager in Austin, TX in 1976 sure looks like a lot of fun in Dazed And Confused. The cult classic comedy by director Richard Linklater is loved all over the country, not only for its witty script, but for the monster cast of then-up-and-comers like Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, and Matthew McConaughey. 

A Time To Kill

Matthew McConaughey is a proud son of Texas, but he's not afraid to call out the troubled history in the Southern U.S. A Time To Kill is a perfect example, of confronting racism in rural Mississippi in the 1990s. It's also one of Samuel L. Jackson's most powerful performances as the accused Carl Lee Hailey. 

Baby Driver

Let's be honest, Baby Driver could have happened in any city, but it happens in Atlanta. Atlanta, as anyone who has driven there will tell you, is actually kind of the perfect city for a movie about car chases. Wide highways, big streets, elevation changes... it all makes for great car chases, and Baby Driver has some of the best car chases ever. 

Glory

The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was one of the very first Black units in the Union Army during the Civil War and while it may have Massachusetts in the name, and the movie Glory is based on the true story of the regiment, it takes place almost entirely in the South during the war. It's one of the best war movies ever made and one of the most powerful stories about the South ever told. 

Friday Night Lights

No matter where you are in the South, from Virginia to Texas, if it's Friday night in the fall, there is serious high school football being played. Friday Night Lights, which is based on a book of the same name telling the true story of a small Texas town's team is one of the best representations of that culture ever put on film. The story is so good, that they later fictionalized it on TV as well. 

The Color Purple

Steven Spielberg managed to surprise everyone when he directed The Color Purple. It was a big departure from the kind of summer blockbusters audiences were used to from the director. It's no surprise that his deft hand helped tell an amazing story about all the hardships of life for a Black woman in the South in the early 20th Century. 

Steel Magnolias

If you want a real slice of Southern life on the big screen, there is no better example than Steel Magnolias. It's not always pleasant, but it's real. The highs and lows of life burst off the screen, all while celebrating all that is great about small-town life in the South. 

Gone With The Wind

It may be the most famous movie set in the South, ever. While Gone With The Wind is not without some deserved controversy, it's still one of the greatest cinematic achievements in history. Of course, it tells the story of the hardships even the very rich faced in the South during the Civil War 

Hustle & Flow

Hip-hop may have developed in the streets of New York, but it didn't take long for the South to start putting its own unique spin on the genre. Hustle & Flow is a great way to experience the development of rap in Memphis. Memphis plays an important role in the history of all American music and it's great to see where hip-hop fits in. 

Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil

High society in the South is perfectly represented in Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil. Kevin Spacey, as problematic as he is, puts in his typically great performance here, as a member of Savannah, Georgia's elite. It's just a darn good crime story. 

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Magical realism, Louisana-style is what Beasts of the Southern Wild is. The fantasy elements tell the tale, but the harsh realities of living in the Bayou with rising sea levels set the backdrop for this incredible movie. A movie made on a tiny budget that made a fortune. 

Deliverance

There are a whole lot of negative stereotypes in Deliverance that have to be acknowledged off the top here. The portrayals of locals as inbred, violent hicks are offensive to many, but that doesn't mean the movie isn't really scary and exciting. It's legendary for a reason. 

Driving Miss Daisy

Sometimes people forget just was a massive hit Driving Miss Daisy was. It's easy to see why it's argued by some that it's not a great representation of the South, but it is pretty accurate in a lot of ways. This is especially true of Miss Daisy (Jessica Tandy) and her attitude towards her driver (Morgan Freeman) in the beginning. 

Norma Rae

Sally Field stars as Norma Rae Webster in Norma Rae, who is based on the real-life North Carolinian labor organizer Crystal Lee Sutton. While the struggles of African-American communities across the South have often (and deservedly) been highlighted, the struggle of poor, white Southerners is less represented. That's part of what makes Norma Rae important when telling the story of the South in the 20th Century. 

Nashville

Director Robert Altman's 1975 masterpiece Nashville is one of the best representations of the power of music, specifically country music, carries in the South. Rock and Roll, Blues, Jazz, and of course, Country music all have their roots somewhere in the South, so spreading the gospel (another genre of music born in the South) of music tells us much of what we want to know. 

The Green Mile

Frank Darabont might have directed the best movie of the 1990s with The Shawshank Redemption, but it's another prison movie by the director that lands on this list. The Green Mile, which like Shawshank, was based on a Steven King story tells a very different kind of story, in a very different kind of prison. Of all the places in the world you wouldn't want to get locked up in, Louisiana in the 1930s would have to be close to the top of the list. 

The Iron Claw

Professional wrestling really came into its own in the South in the 50s and 60s. Sure, it's always been popular everywhere in America, but the South is its home. The South, specifically Texas, was also home to the legendary Von Erich family. The Iron Claw wonderfully tells the family's tragic story, all with the backdrop of 1970s and 1980s Southern culture. 

Green Book

2018's Green Book is an uncompromising look at the Jim Crow South. It's raw and honest about what it was like to be a Black man, specifically a musician, traveling in the South in the early 1960s. Mahershala Ali plays Don Shirley, who was one of the greatest jazz pianists of his day, but still found little respect in many parts of the South because of the color of his skin. 

Cape Fear

Martin Scorsese's 1991 remake of Cape Fear could have been set anywhere, but it's set in North Carolina and there really wasn't a better choice. The unique Carolina coast is the perfect setting and watching Robert De Niro's excellent performance with a Southern accent makes it all the better. 

Moonlight

There's a common saying saying in Florida that the further south you travel, the further north you get. That's because northern Florida has far more in common with the deep south than Miami. Still, Miami is as far south as you can get on the mainland of the United States, so a movie like Moonlight fits in, despite being more about the gritty streets of Miami than say, high school football. 

Coal Miner's Daughter

Kentucky isn't often represented in movies, and when it is, it's usually a pretty depressing take on the state. Coal Miner's Daughter isn't all sunshine and lollipops, either, but it is a very fair representation of life in a coal town for a young girl named Loretta Lynn. Yep, that Loretta Lynn, who came up in a tough situation but found her way to huge fame as a country singer. 

The Princess And The Frog

We couldn't have this list without a little Disney flavor. While the company has smartly buried Song of the South deep in their vault, or maybe even under the vault, The Princess And The Frog is another story completely. There are few better representations of New Orleans in film. The culture, the food, and especially the music.

Some TV shows stumble their way to the finish line, such as these series that went on way too long. But others end the race cruising to victory, with final seasons and series finales that satisfyingly wrap up the journey their characters were on over the years. From classic comedies like Cheers to acclaimed dramas like The Americans to sci-fi standouts like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, here are TV 32 shows that absolutely nailed their farewells. (WARNING! Obviously there are spoilers ahead!)

Succession

Succession creator Jesse Armstrong could have milked all of that Shakespearean family drama for one or two more seasons but smartly decided to end the hit HBO drama after four seasons because "this was simply how this story had to go," Armstrong told Vulture. And it ended in brutally brilliant fashion, with outsider Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) sniveling his way to the top of Waystar Royco over Roy siblings Connor (Alan Ruck), Kendall (Jeremy Armstrong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv (Sarah Snook). 

Breaking Bad

It was inevitable: after five seasons of greed and ruthlessness, chemistry teacher-turned-meth cooker Walter White (Bryan Cranston) had to die. But what a way to go, with an explosive, critically acclaimed final run — both halves of season five won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2013 and 2014 — that not only offered up some of the drama's greatest episodes ("Ozymandias" is one for the history books) but cemented the TV series as one of the best ever.

Newhart

Nowadays, the "it was all a dream" twist has become a cliché but when the CBS sitcom Newhart pulled that very move back in 1990, it cemented itself as one of the most memorable moments in pop culture history. In the final minutes of the comedy's series finale, lead character Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart) woke up after getting knocked out by a golf ball in Vermont — the surprise was that he was now in a Chicago bedroom as Bob Hartley, his famous The Bob Newhart Show character, with TV wife Emily (special guest Suzanne Pleshette) by his side.

Mad Men

Fitting for an iconic and complicated character like Don Draper (Jon Hamm) — and finally earning the actor that much-deserved Emmy for Best Actor — Mad Men left viewers with quite an ambiguous conclusion when it ended in 2015 after seven seasons. The existential finale saw the advertising executive searching for inner peace at a meditation retreat, or was he really just tapping into some Zen as inspiration for that famous Coca-Cola advert? We'll never know!

The Leftovers

Grounded by a standout performance by Carrie Coon as Nora Durst, the conclusion of HBO's The Leftovers was ambiguous yet sentimental, a gratifying and thematically fitting send-off for the complex drama. Following Nora in her decision to enter a radioactive machine that could reunite her with her husband and children who vanished in the "Sudden Departure," the series finale didn't so much answer all of our questions about all the ones who left — we still don't entirely understand the quantum mechanics of it all — as it did give hope to the ones left behind. 

30 Rock

The seventh and final season of 30 Rock said goodbye to Liz (Tina Fey), Jack (Alec Baldwin), Tracy (Tracy Morgan), Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) in equal parts hilarious and heartfelt fashion, with all of the nostalgic callbacks, witty one-liners and delightful absurdism that fans have come to know and love from the NBC sitcom. The series finale also movingly said farewell to the real-life behind-the-scenes folks from 30 Rock by casting them as the TGS crew. 

Parks And Recreation

Co-written by lead Amy Poehler, the series finale of Parks and Recreation warmly said goodbye to both beloved characters and the city of Pawnee. The sweet two-parter took place mostly in the future, with happy endings for all: Garry (Jim O'Heir) being elected mayor (with Christie Brinkley as his wife, no less); Andy (Chris Pratt) and April (Aubrey Plaza) becoming parents; Ron (Nick Offerman) taking over as superintendent of the Pawnee National Park; and Leslie (Poehler) continuing her life of political service...potentially all the way to the White House?

Fringe

The final episode of the Fox sci-fi drama Fringe was a bittersweet one for Olivia (Anna Torv), Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Walter (John Noble). The fifth season had jumped far into the dystopian future overtaken by the Observers. Walter sacrificed himself and took Michael (Rowan Longworth) into a wormhole even farther into the future to stop the Observer invasion from ever happening in the first place. In the process, the story reset back to 2015, where Walter sadly no longer existed, but through time-travel magic, he still managed to send his son a drawing of a white tulip.

Justified

The story of Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) continued with the sequel series Justified: City Primeval, but the end of its predecessor Justified was a more than satisfactory closing chapter in and of itself, especially in wrapping up Raylan's rivalry with friend-turned-foe Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins). The Harlan County criminal was an endlessly quotable character across all six seasons of the FX drama, but his final words — “We dug coal together" — prove he saved the best line for last.

The Shield

One of the most gripping crime dramas of the 2000s, The Shield lived up to its own reputation with its bold finish, which saw Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) trying so hard to stay out of prison that he got a fate worse than incarceration: with blood on his hands, his family running from him, and him banished to a desk job. With police sirens blaring in the distance, Vic grabbed the gun from his desk drawer and left the ICE building. Where he went, we'll never know, but it surely can't be good. 

Cheers

It can be hard to leave those special places where everybody knows your name, but if you have to, at least take "One for the Road." Such is the title of Cheers' standout series finale, which poured one out for all of our beloved barflies: Woody (Woody Harrelson) was elected Boston councilman; Norm (George Wendt) finally got his coveted city job; Cliff (John Ratzenberger) was promoted at the Post Office; and Sam (Ted Danson) chose between reconciliation with the one who got away, Diane (Shelley Long), and the real love of his life, the bar itself. 

MASH

It's the most-watched finale of all time for a reason: seen by a TV audience of 121.6 million, the 1983 end of MASH beautifully brought closure to the dysfunctional members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. With the Korean War coming to a close, the camp had to go their separate ways, but no departure tugged at our hearts quite like the one between Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell), which saw the former leave on a helicopter only to spot the latter's parting message: the word "GOODBYE" spelled out with rocks on the ground below.

The Sopranos

One of the most polarizing TV finales of all time was also one of the most powerful. That shocking The Sopranos ending was a masterclass in embracing ambiguity and racking up tension, with Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) seemingly enjoying a simple diner meal and some Journey tunes with his wife (Edie Falco) and son (Robert Iler) while keeping an eye on every patron entering the establishment. As the diner door opened and the bell rang, Tony looked up — and the screen cut to black. Was it Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler), who finally found a parking spot? Or was it someone far more nefarious? Frustratingly and fantastically, we will never know. 

Six Feet Under

It seems so obvious now to end a series about a family that owns a funeral home by fast-forwarding into the future to see how each character dies, but the laying to rest of the HBO drama Six Feet Under felt clever and emotional when it aired back in 2005. An episode of television dominated by death doesn't sound all that cheerful, but getting to see the Fishers years down the line — particularly Claire (Lauren Ambrose), the last one standing at 102 — felt as right and cyclical as life itself. 

Friday Night Lights

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose." Such was the motto of football coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and the showrunners of Friday Night Lights took it to heart when it came to graduating the high school-set drama series. Despite the gleam of game glory blurring his vision — the East Dillon Lions happily won that tense match-up against the Dillon Panthers — Coach Taylor clearly saw that it was only right for him to leave Texas behind by the series' end, moving to Philadelphia to support his beloved wife Tami (Connie Britton) and her new job as dean of admissions at Braemore College. Couple's goals, much?

The Wire

One of the best episodes of The Wire is its last, which managed to wrap everything up while also leaving things intriguingly open. It showed that Baltimore and all of its complexities would continue long after the credits roll. Things could change — Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) could become governor, Templeton (Tom McCarthy) could win a Pulitzer, Michael (Tristan Wilds) could become the new Omar, McNulty (Dominic West) could leave the police department — but, devastatingly, many things would always stay the same. 

The West Wing

The end of The West Wing was the end of an era — literally, as the seventh and final season chronicled the last weeks of President Jed Bartlet's (Martin Sheen) administration. The series finale was a heartfelt farewell to the former POTUS as well as all of the government employees and officials in his orbit, including C.J. (Allison Janney), Leo (John Spencer), Josh (Bradley Whitford) and Donna (Janel Moloney). But it didn't languish in nostalgia: "What are you thinking about?" Stockard Channing's Abbey asked Jed at the show's end. "Tomorrow," he replied. 

ER

The medical drama came full circle for its grand finale, which echoed its premiere episode 15 years prior by taking place over the course of 24 hours in the emergency room of Cook County General Hospital. The cases are dramatic and dizzyingly varied, from emergency cesarean sections to terminal cancer diagnoses to triage patients from an industrial explosion. As the theme music played, the camera pulled out for ER's final, effective shot: the entire exterior of the hospital, seen for the first and only time in the show's history, with all of that curative frenzy happening within. 

Battlestar Galactica

After years spent traversing the stars and avoiding being blown to smithereens by enemy Cylons, the Battlestar Galactica crew and the last remaining humans finally made it to Earth — well, the Earth of the distant past — at the end of the Sci-Fi Channel series. That primitive planet eventually evolves into modern-day civilization and the epilogue picks up 150,000 years in the future, where half-human, half-Cylon Hera has been announced as a "Mitochondrial Eve," the progenitor of modern-day humanity. Leaving us with Jimi Hendrix's warning cry "All Along the Watchtower," the finale chillingly questioned whether humans are doomed to repeat themselves. 

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

There's a lot of pressure with being the "Chosen One," as Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) no doubt learned through seven seasons of the iconic fantasy series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But after 140-plus episodes of single-handedly saving Sunnydale and suffering greatly in the process, Buffy recognizes that she doesn't have to do it all alone. In the series finale, the Hellmouth crumbles and Sunnydale is destroyed but Buffy has the Scooby Gang and a new crop of Slayers by her side, and a whole future ahead of her.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

"We kept putting off writing that last show," said executive producer Allan Burns as he accepted The Mary Tyler Moore Show's Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1977. "I think it said what we wanted it to say. It was poignant." Poignant, yes, but also plenty funny, with Mary (TV icon Mary Tyler Moore), Lou (Edward Asner), Murray (Gavin MacLeod) and Sue Ann (Betty White) ultimately getting fired from WJM-TV. From that group shuffle to the tissue box to the swan song of "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," the finale had us laughing and crying in equal turns.  

The Americans

With a high-stakes show like The Americans, it seemed only inevitable for Russian spies Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) to be exposed and have to flee the United States for Mother Russia. Despite that eventuality, the FX drama still managed to end on a tensely unexpected and devastating note, with both their American-born children Paige staying behind. That shot of Paige (Holly Taylor) standing on the platform as Philip and Elizabeth's train pulled away will haunt us for years to come.

Parenthood

Over six seasons, Parenthood fans came to love the Braverman clan like their own family, which made it all the harder to say goodbye when the show ended in 2015. But even though the series finale was a tearjerking one, with patriarch Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) dying peacefully in his sleep, a hopeful time-jump showed that all would be well with the Bravermans, with weddings, pregnancies, graduations, vacations and puppies at Christmas all happily in their futures. 

Better Call Saul

It's hard enough to make a great spin-off of an already great show. But to end that spin-off with as much acclaim as its predecessor is a whole other thing entirely. Better Call Saul, part of the Breaking Bad universe, did just that with its sixth season, which saw Jimmy McGill-turned-Saul Goodman-turned-Gene Takavic (Bob Odenkirk) finally facing the consequences of his choices. However, as co-creator Peter Gould told AMC, Saul's end can actually be seen as hopeful: "In spite of the fact that he's in prison, which is terrible, Jimmy is Jimmy again. He's recovered his soul."

The Good Place

Though diehards of The Good Place would have wanted to spend eternity with all of its beloved characters, the NBC afterlife comedy did come to an end in 2020 after four seasons and 53 episodes. But it did so with a characteristically funny and cathartic conclusion, which saw Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Chidi (William Jackson Harper) and Jason (Manny Jacinto) ready to step through the door and move on from the Good Place, and Michael (Ted Danson) made human and allowed to live out a normal life down on Earth. 

Angel

Trying to save the world from evil forces is a nearly impossible but always worthwhile task, as the Angel series finale "Not Fade Away" powerfully showed. After a season of loss, including the deaths of both Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Fred (Amy Acker), it would have been very easy for Angel (David Boreanaz) and the rest of the Angel Investigations team to wallow in their grief and raise a white flag. But, even knowing that it would likely end in their own demise, Angel, Spike (James Marsters), Gunn (J August Richards) and Illyria (Acker) chose to go into battle against the supernatural baddies and fight for good.

Friends

What Friends got so right in its tenth and final season was showing how transient of a town New York City is, especially when you grow from those lively twentysomething years to your more settled thirties. "The Last One" saw Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) adopt twins and move out of that famously purple-walled West Village apartment for the suburbs. After Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and the recently reunited Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross (David Schwimmer) returned their keys, Chandler landed one final hilarious quote before they went — where else? — to Central Perk one last time.

The Office

Sure, there's an argument to be made that The Office should have ended after Steve Carrell's Michael Scott left Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and Scranton, PA, at the end of season seven. But though the show was shaky in the years following that character's exit, if it had ended years earlier, fans wouldn't have gotten that sentimental happy ending, with Michael pulling off the perfect surprise at the wedding of Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) and Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey) to serve as best man and drop the final "That's what she said." 

Star Trek: The Next Generation

All good things must come to an end, and that includes the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In the farewell to sci-fi favorite Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Jean-Luc Picard mentally jumps around in time: from the present, then back to the ship's first mission seven years ago and then 25 years into the future. In each era, Picard makes it so that the Enterprise stops a temporal anomaly, which destroys the ship but saves humanity. It all ends up being a test from Q (John de Lancie) but Picard passes, and in the present, he finally joins the crew's poker game.

Fleabag

After the brilliance of Fleabag's first season, it seemed impossible that Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Co. could match the sharp wit and gut-punching emotion with a season 2 of the BBC One dramedy. But PWB managed to prove every naysayer wrong with that devastatingly romantic and electrifyingly funny second — and, judging by that fourth-wall-breaking final scene, last — season, which famously saw our nameless heroine meet and fall for a "quite hot" priest, played by Andrew Scott. 

Veep

The end of Veep, one of the most consistently hilarious shows in all of television, saw Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) get everything that she always wanted: namely, the Oval Office. Yes, the seemingly perpetual Vice President became POTUS by the series finale, a ruthless political rise that saw her betray those closest to her, especially her loyal aide Gary (Tony Hale). But Selina gets a viciously hilarious comeuppance when, 24 years in the future, coverage of her funeral is interrupted by the breaking news that American icon and "Philadelphia 2 star" Tom Hanks has died. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender

The epic four-part finale of Avatar: The Last Airbender not only gave every major character their chance to shine but also cemented it as one of the best-animated shows of the 21st century. In his spectacular final face-off against Ozai, Aang stays dedicated to pacifism and decides not to kill Fire Lord Ozai, instead using energy bending to remove his firepower as punishment for his crimes. In doing so, the final installments offer up a philosophical exercise that's far more mature and sophisticated than anyone would expect from a "kiddie" show. 

To have a father in your life whom you can trust and look up to is a blessing that should not be taken for granted. You can find more than enough men like this in some of our favorite movies and TV shows. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most honorable dads in pop culture and why we love them.

Chris Gardner (The Pursuit Of Happyness)

One of Will Smith’s best performances comes from 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness, which is inspired by real-life entrepreneur Chris Gardner’s experiences single-handedly raising a child (played by Smith’s real-life son, Jaden Smith) while struggling with poverty in 1980s San Francisco. In addition to the hard work he puts through to provide for his son, also named Christopher, he also guides him with moving words of wisdom, such as refusing to be told he cannot achieve his dreams.

Mike Brady (The Brady Bunch)

One of the most iconic sitcoms of all time is the story of a man named Brady — architect Mike Brady (Robert Reed) — who married the lovely Carol (Florence Henderson) and became the father to three young step-daughters, in addition to his three biological sons. While The Brady Bunch never offered a particularly grounded depiction of life in the 1970s, a man willing to accept the responsibility of six children (seven, if you count the later casting shake-up of Robbie Rist as Cousin Oliver) was refreshing for the time and remains as such today.

Atticus Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird)

Some of the most valuable lessons that a parent can teach their children are the importance of empathy and the evils of prejudice, which Atticus Finch explains to young Scout in Harper Lee’s influential novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. It is no wonder that Gregory Peck’s portrayal of the widowed Southern Lawyer — who comes to the defense of a Black man wrongfully convicted of assault — in the 1962 adaptation was named cinema’s greatest hero by AFI in 2003.

Philip Banks (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

While he often seemed irritated by his nephew’s antics, Judge Philip Banks (James Avery) clearly loved Will Smith (Will Smith), as evident by his willingness to let the Philadelphia-raised teen live with his family in California after a dangerous run-in. It is especially clear, however, in one of the most tender scenes from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (and one of the most heartbreaking serious sitcom moments ever) when Uncle Phil confronts Will’s real father after learning he plans to abandon him again.

Gil Buckman (Parenthood)

A major theme of Ron Howard’s Parenthood is the insecurities that parents often face when raising children, and no character from the 1989 comedy better represents that than Gil Buckman (Steve Martin). However, there is no doubt that the St. Louis ad executive is an exceptional father when he dons a cowboy outfit to fill in as the entertainment for his son’s birthday party.

Dan Conner (Roseanne)

Few TV shows represent the blue-collar lifestyle as authentically as Roseanne did in its original run and one of the crucial elements was John Goodman’s performance as Dan Conner. Roseanne’s husband was everything a middle-class family could ask for in a patriarch — a hard-working, optimistic, and lovingly supportive father who was also never afraid to tell it like it is.

Bob Ivanovich (My Life)

In the 1993 tearjerker, My Life, Academy Award nominee Michael Keaton plays Bob Ivanovich — a Los Angeles public relations firm manager who is expecting his first child with his wife, Gail (Nicole Kidman), when he is given a terminal diagnosis. Yet, he is not going to let his impending death prevent him from being there for his son, giving him the idea to film a series of videos in which he explains how to shave, how to cook, how to drive more valuable lessons every parent should be the first to teach their children.

Jason Seaver (Growing Pains)

With a job career in psychology, it seems like raising four children would be impossible to keep up with. However, Alan Thicke’s Dr. Jason Seaver on Growing Pains achieved a decent balance between his professional and personal life beautifully by always keeping his family as the highest priority.

Gomez Addams (The Addams Family)

To the average, everyday individual, Gomez Addams — portrayed by the likes of John Astin in the 1960s-era The Addams Family series and Raul Julia in Barry Sonnenfeld’s ‘90s movies — does not seem like an ideal role model. However, when you consider his creepy and cooky home life, he and Morticia really do seem to be pushing their daughter Wednesday and son Pugsley in a decent direction at the end of the day.

Danny Tanner (Full House)

Following the sudden death of his wife, Danny Tanner (the late Bob Saget) enlists the help of his brother-in-law, Jesse (John Stamos), and best friend, Joey (Dave Coulier), to help him raise his three daughters on Full House. Yet, if not for his job as a TV personality, we imagine the tidy and tenderhearted dad could have handled the job all by himself.

Bryan Mills (Taken)

When his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), is kidnapped while vacationing in Paris, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) travels to Europe and reignites his “particular set of skills” to find her. The role that made Neeson into a modern action movie icon — from co-writer and producer Luc Besson’s 2008 thriller, Taken — is the rare kind of father who would single-handedly take on an entire human trafficking ring to rescue his child.

Carl Winslow (Family Matters)

Reginald VelJohnson has played quite a few cops in his day, but none more iconic than Carl Winslow as part of the Family Matters cast for nine seasons. When he was not trying to keep society in line patrolling the streets of Chicago, the father of three did a wonderful job keeping his family in line with love and support that his neighbor, Steve Urkel (Jaleel White), must not have received at home, which might explain why he spent so much time at Winslow household.

Guido Orefice (Life Is Beautiful)

Writer and director Roberto Benigni also leads his Oscar-winning 1998 dramedy, Life is Beautiful, as a goofy Jewish-Italian man attempting to protect and shelter his young son (Giorgio Cantarini) from their treacherous surroundings while living at a Holocaust-era concentration camp. While one might say honesty is a more important parental quality, sometimes keeping your child smiling and laughing in the midst of tragedy is the one thing they need most.

Adam Braverman (Parenthood)

Peter Krause told TV Guide that what attracted him to joining the Parenthood cast as Adam Braverman was the character’s goal to be “the best father, the best husband, the best son, the best brother he could be.” Considering the immense dedication he showed for his children — especially toward Max (Max Burkholder), who is a young boy on the Autism spectrum — we would say he succeeded.

Jack Pearson (This Is Us)

There are few modern TV characters who cross off all the boxes of an admirable fatherly portrayal quite like Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) on This is Us, whose devotion to his wife and three children is stronger than many could claim. His wisdom and wit would even prove to be a large influence in his children’s lives long after his untimely passing.

Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights)

In addition to being the real father of his teenage daughter, Julie (Aimee Teegarden), Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) acts as a devoted father figure to the Dillion High School Panthers football team he coaches on Friday Night Lights. Not to mention, what better advice could someone offer on or off the field than, “Clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose”?

Marlin (Finding Nemo)

In one of the saddest openings to a Pixar movie, tragedy makes clownfish Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) a single father to a single son, Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould), whom he coddles to a suffocating degree as he grows up. However, by the end of Finding Nemo, he learns to be a more trusting father, but only after facing his greatest fears searching the ocean for his son after he is taken by a scuba diver.

Burt Hummel (Glee)

Just about any teen on the LGBTQ+ spectrum has gone through the challenging decision to come out to their parents, but they might have found some helpful encouragement after seeing Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) reveal his true self to his father, Burt (Mike O’Malley). Not only does the United States Congressman accept his son for who he is, but fights for his well-being against anyone who shows him adversity.

Johnathan Kent (Smallville)

Being the adoptive father of super-powered extra-terrestrial sounds like the toughest job imaginable, but John Schneider made it look easy with his portrayal of Johnathan Kent on Smallville. You could say that the farmer’s moral guidance is what led his son, Clark (Tom Welling), to become the crime fighter he needed to be when he accepted his destiny as Superman.

Louis Huang (Fresh Off the Boat)

Inspired by the childhood of celebrity chef Eddie Huang, Fresh Off the Boat follows the challenges of a Taiwanese family trying to make it in the States. The lovingly optimistic patriarch of the family, Louis Huang (Randall Park), is the embodiment of the American dream, working hard to ensure his children the life they deserve.

George Banks (Father Of The Bride)

In 1991’s Father of the Bride, George Banks (Steve Martin) struggles to let go when his daughter, Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), becomes engaged to Bryan (George Newbern). The reaction is certainly a definitive trait of the typical over-protective father, but considering it comes from a place of great love for his daughter and a certain nostalgia for his early days as a parent, we cannot help but feel a heartwarming empathy for his “overreaction.”

Floyd Henderson (Smart Guy)

The underrated WB sitcom Smart Guy followed T.J. Henderson (Taj Mowry) — a young boy of above-average intelligence who still finds himself in need of the kind of guidance a child of his age typically requires. That is where his widowed father, Floyd (John Marshall Jones), would come in — answering his son’s complicated questions and even disciplining him without ever talking down to him, which even he understands would be a strange thing to do to someone with double his I.Q.

Man (The Road)

The 2009 adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is one of the most frightening depictions of a post-apocalyptic society ever put to celluloid, but that is not what makes it a valuable entry to the genre. At its core, the film is a powerful story about an unnamed man (played by Viggo Mortensen) struggling to do the right thing for his son (played by Kodi Smit-McPhee), which is something any father in the real world can easily relate to.

Phillip Drummond (Diff’rent Strokes)

Before his former housekeeper suddenly passed away, widowed millionaire Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain) promised to take care of her sons, Arnold (Gary Coleman) and Willis (Todd Bridges). That is the plot of Diff’rent Strokes — a hit sitcom that proved that family is defined by the devotion you have for each other and Mr. Drummond’s devotion to his adopted sons and his biological daughter, Kimberly (Dana Plato), was undeniable.

Mac MacGuff (Juno)

In another story about teen pregnancy, you might expect the father character to fly off the handle after learning his young daughter is with child, but that is not the case in 2007’s Oscar-winning dramedy, Juno. Mac MacGuff (J.K. Simmons) reacts to the news that his titular daughter (played by Elliot Page) is pregnant in a surprisingly calm demeanor and offers strong support to her through every step of the process.

Daniel Hillard (Mrs. Doubtfire)

We cannot deny that Daniel Hillard’s (Robin Williams) actions in the 1993 comedy favorite, Mrs. Doubtfire — posing as an elderly woman to act as his estranged family’s nanny after being denied custody — is a little messed up. However, there is no denying that his extreme decision came from a place of strong commitment for his children, who were actually delighted to learn their father was him in disguise.

Mr. Levenstein (American Pie)

Not too many teens actively seek advice about the more awkward moments of adolescence from their parents, but Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs) would not have to seek such conversations in the American Pie movies. His father (played by Eugene Levy) had no trouble openly discussing the most uncomfortably “adult” topics with his son, but always had the wherewithal to make the discussions somewhat more comforting with the caveat that these were “perfectly normal things.”

Alan Matthews (Boy Meets World)

If you could not figure it out before, the title of Boy Meets World refers to Cory Matthews’ (Ben Savage) journey to figure out what life is all about, often with help from his teacher, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels). Of course, he also received more than enough guidance from his admirable humble, down-to-earth father, Alan (William Russ), who also served as a father figure to Cory’s best friend, Shawn (Rider Strong), whenever he needed it.

Ted Kramer (Kramer Vs. Kramer)

Director Robert Benton’s Best Picture Oscar winner, 1979’s Kramer vs. Kramer, depicts a marriage that falls apart when Joanna (Meryl Streep) leaves her husband, Ted (Dustin Hoffman), forcing him to finally learn what it really takes to be a parent. By the time Joanna returns to take their son, Billy (Justin Henry), with her, she realizes from the love and devotion he shows that he belongs with Ted after all.

Michael Kyle (My Wife And Kids)

We would consider Tisha Campbell’s Janet “Jay” Kyle from My Wife and Kids a TV wife who often put her husband in his place whenever his more childish and egotistical attributes came out. However, Michael Kyle (series co-creator Damon Wayans) is still a TV dad for the ages because of his unique approach to teaching lessons that sometimes even involve elaborate pranks at his kids’ expense.

Mason Evans Sr. (Boyhood)

When Ethan Hawke first appears as Mason Evans Sr. in 2014’s Boyhood, he seems like the stereotypical irresponsible estranged father you might see in most movies centered on divorced families. However, in retrospect, he offers young Mason (Ellar Coltrane) and his daughter, Samantha (Lorelai Linklater), some very profound advice even then and proves, that by the time Mason reaches manhood, he becomes the dad he was always destined to become, including to his child with his second wife, Olivia.

Sonny Kofax (Big Daddy)

Adam Sandler’s role in 1999’s Big Daddy, Sonny Kofax, is the one character her who is not actually a dad and, in fact, is very irresponsible. However, the love he shows for Julian (the illegitimate son of his friend, played by Dylan and Cole Sprouse) is worth a million fathers combined.

Hopefully, you have or had a father (or father figure) who can hold a candle to any of these movie and TV characters.

Movies scores add so much to films it’s hard to overstate just how important they are. Music can completely change the mood of a movie, or a scene, in ways that little else can. Most movie scores follow a tried and true formula and while we would never discount the importance of such scores, the ones on this list are different. They are meant to be jarring, or at least different enough that they reach new heights in what a film score can be. Here are 32 of the most unconventional film scores we think are among the best of all time. 

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

We’re all very used to Dany Elfman’s contributions to film scores at this point. He’s been one of the most in-demand composers for decades. That wasn’t always the case, and when Tim Burton brought him in to do the score for Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Elfman’s eclectic style wasn’t at all conventional. Elfman came from an art-rock background and by diving into movie scores, he brought a very fresh perspective. It fit Burton’s style perfectly, which explains why they’ve worked together so often since. 

There Will Be Blood

Leave it to Paul Thomas Anderson to think outside the box and bring in Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood to do a soundtrack for him. There Will Be Blood was not Greenwood’s first soundtrack, but it was his first for a major studio production. It’s a haunting, discombobulating soundtrack that adds so much to the movie, that it’s hard to imagine that the film would be as harsh and disturbing as it is without it. 

Birdman

Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Birdman is unconventional in many ways, not the least of which is the percussion-heavy score by jazz drummer Antonio Sánchez. The pulsing rhythms push the story forward as much as the editing of the movie, meant to be seen as all one take. It’s brilliant. 

No Country For Old Men

Composer Carter Burwell has been scoring the films of the Coen Brothers for decades, but with No Country For Old Men, his score is different, mostly because of how little there is of it. A majority of the movie has no score at all, but that makes the rare times it does appear so much more effective. In all, there are only 16 minutes of music on the soundtrack and even those are minimalist. It evokes a perfect eerieness for the film. 

The Social Network

Trent Reznor had never composed a film score before David Fincher approached him to do the music for The Social Network. Reznor, and his co-composer Atticus Ross, weren’t sure they could do it at first, but Fincher stayed on them and we’re all lucky for it. The pulsating soundtrack, which reminds us of Nine Inch Nails, but definitely isn’t,  is one of the many reasons the movie’s seemingly mundane story crackles to life on screen. 

Tron: Legacy

The original Tron was a groundbreaking film in its use of CGI, and so for the sequel, which was almost three decades in the making, the filmmakers knew they had to make a splash. Hiring EDM legends Daft Punk to score the film was a stroke of genius. While the soundtrack only has fleeting moments of the duo’s signature sound, it’s completely outside the box of what one expects from a soundtrack and fits the movie’s CGI look perfectly. 

28 Days Later

According to director Danny Boyle, he had the post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor “in his head” the whole time he made 28 Days Later. While one of the cult band’s songs, “East Hastings” appears in the film, they did not write the foreboding soundtrack. Still, composer John Murphy's soundtrack evokes GY!BE brilliantly, and it makes for a seriously scary soundtrack, in all the best ways. 

A Clockwork Orange

Groundbreaking composer and musician Wendy Carlos’ first foray into film scoring came in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. The combination of her Moog-heavy electronic sounds with the classical music (mostly Beethoven) in the movie is spot on for the dystopian future the film portrays. Carlos would work with Kubrick again on the eerie soundtrack for The Shining as well. 

Punch-Drunk Love

Classical music critic Greg Sandow calls the soundtrack to Punch Drunk Love “sounds” as much as music in his glowing review. He’s completely right, as composer Jon Brion used field recordings as much as music to create the soundtrack, to amazing effect. It’s unlike any other rom-com soundtrack you’ve ever heard, which is what you expect from a movie directed by P.T. Anderson. 

Dredd

Most of the soundtrack to Dredd has a fantastic heavy synth/industrial sound which is pretty unique on its own, but what sets this soundtrack truly apart from others is the music set to the “slo-mo” scenes. The composer, Paul Leonard-Morgan, took inspiration from a Justin Bieber song he heard that was slowed down so much that one minute represented 10 minutes of music in real-time. The ethereal effect is astounding. 

Requiem for a Dream

Kronos Quartet is one of the most avant-garde classical music so if they are going to agree to perform on a soundtrack, you know it’s going to be interesting. The work they do on composer Clint Mansell’s Requiem for a Dream soundtrack is wild and unsettling, just like the movie. It’s impossible to think of the film with any other music. 

Psycho

Without Bernard Herrmann’s legendary score for Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, it’s safe to say that it’s a completely different film. It’s easy to watch Psycho today and giggle at what seems like tropes in the filming and the music (the violin screeching in the shower scene), but you have to remember it was all cutting edge in 1960. It’s one of the scariest scores to one of the scariest films ever. 

Metropolis

Metropolis was originally released as a silent movie in 1927, but in 1984, the great composer Giorgio Moroder reimagined the film with an entirely new and modern score. Moroder wrote the music and enlisted some of his friends, like Freddie Mercury and Loverboy, to perform the music. While it was panned at first, it’s gone on to achieve cult status and is definitely a unique take on an old movie. 

Sicario

The music for Sicario first makes its presence felt in a very real way in the scene just before the main characters cross from Texas to Mexico for the first time. “Presence” is the best way to describe it, because audiences feel the music as much as they hear it. The rumbling bass and minimalist music convey the perfect sense of dread the scene needs. 

The Virgin Suicides

The soundtrack for Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides, composed and performed by the French electronic duo Air, has been hailed by numerous publications as one of the best of all time, and with good reason. Despite the movie, released in 1999, being set in the 1970s, the music is very much of the era in which it was released, and its bright-yet-dark, fresh sound sets a perfect tone. 

Thor: Ragnarok

Marvel movies aren’t the first place most people would think of looking for a unique soundtrack, but Thor: Ragnarok isn’t a run-of-the-mill superhero movie, either. Director Taika Waititi brought in former Devo leader and long-time film composer Mark Mothersbaugh to do the soundtrack. Mothersbaugh is probably best known for his work on Wes Anderson movies but for Thor: Ragnarok, he incorporated more synth than usual and went out of his way to create a different-sounding Marvel movie, and boy does it work.

Blade Runner

Vangelis, a Greek composer whose career started in the 1960s is best known today for his avant-garde work in the early ‘80s on soundtracks like Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner. His electronic sound was the perfect compliment to the dark future presented in Blade Runner and without it, with a more traditional score, the movie would have been very different. 

Flash Gordon

There are a few reasons Flash Gordon has remained a cult classic over the years and one of the big ones is the amazing soundtrack. Written and performed by Queen, it has remained one of the most interesting soundtracks ever made and is just as listenable as an album as it is backing the movie. 

Rushmore

Composer Mark Mothersbaugh and director Wes Anderson have formed one of the most fruitful partnerships in modern Hollywood. Mothersbaugh's quirky music fits Anderson's style to a T and the music has been as much a part of Anderson's style as the production design and camera angles. When you hear a Mothersbaugh score, you know immediately who wrote it. Their first project together was Bottle Rocket but it was on Rushmore that the former member of Devo found his true voice within Anderson's world. 

Hanna

One surefire way to get a unique soundtrack is to task The Chemical Brothers with creating it. Hanna's soundtrack is spectacular and the pulsing rhythms and dream-like movements drive the movie forward like they are part of the main character's psyche. Without the soundtrack, it just wouldn't have the urgency that it has throughout. 

Friday Night Lights

Post-rock band Explosions in the Sky has a big, bold, triumphant sound. It's a style that fits Friday Night Lights perfectly. It's not the kind of music you'd expect to accompany a movie set in West Texas, or about high school football for that matter, but it just works so well. It moves you as much as the movie does. 

2001: A Space Odyssey

The score for 2001: A Space Odyssey is notable on this list because it's the only one that used predominately previously recorded works. It was very rare at the time for movies to forgo original scores and yet Stanley Kubrick did, choosing to use the music that inspired him to make the movie, rather than the original score by Alex North. It's hard to imagine the ending of 2001 with another other than György Ligeti's "Atmospheres"

Suspiria

One of the most underappreciated soundtracks on this list is Suspiria, written and performed by the Italian prog band Goblins. It's like no other soundtrack on this list and is one of the best to listen to on its own if you are a fan of '70s prog rock, though you've probably never heard anything like it. The 2018 remake of Suspiria also features an incredible and unique soundtrack written by Radiohead's Thom Yorke. 

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The soundtrack for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is probably the most conventional on this list, but even though it was composed by the great Hans Zimmer, it still falls outside the box of most of his work. Zimmer worked with a supergroup to co-write and record the music that included Pharrell Williams, Johnny Marr, Mike Einziger, Junkie XL, and others. 

The Third Man

In 1949, when The Third Man was produced and released, music in movies was generally written for, and performed by large orchestras. Composer Anton Karas was a zither player, and as such, he wrote much of the music for that unique instrument. It has a jangly, post-war jazz style to it that was very different for its time and it's just lovely. 

The Warriors

The cult classic The Warriors has a soundtrack full of ominous synths and driving beats that composer Barry De Vorzon expertly crafted to fit the style and plot of the movie. While there are a number of pop songs included, it's the score itself that best represents the action on the screen. It is jarring at the best of times and keeps the audience on the edge as the gang navigates the city towards the safety of Coney Island. 

The Revenant

The late Ryuichi Sakamoto was a true pioneer in electronic music. Beginning with the Yellow Magic Orchestra in Japan in the late 1970s, Sakamoto was always pushing the envelope musically, and that includes his work on movie scores, especially The Revenant. For the score, he teamed up with Alva Noto and The National's Bryce Dessner to create something unique and special. 

Forbidden Planet

The soundtrack to Forbidden Planet, written by Bebe and Louis Barron, was like nothing that had come before it. It is considered the first entirely electronic score and it literally set the tone for sci-fi soundtracks for decades. 

Annihilation

The music in Alex Garland's Annihilation is haunting and eerie, just like the movie. Made up more of evocative sounds than a true score, it's still a work of genius by co-composers Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow. The two have teamed up a number of times to work with Garland including the incredible 2024 release, Civil War.

Hereditary

Horror films often incorporate interesting and nontraditional scores and Hereditary is a perfect example. It oozes feeling and dread in the best way. Written by multi-instrumentalist Colin Stetson, who is known for his work with bands like The Arcade Fire and TV on the Radio, the soundtrack is sparse but powerful. 

Midsommar

Midsommar's writer and director Ari Aster found inspiration while writing the movie in the music of electronica artist Bobby Krlic, also known as The Haxan Cloak. Aster naturally hired Krlic to compose the score and it's a home run, and not what you would expect from the movie, yet fitting perfectly. 

The Road

Indie music legend Nick Cave is not someone you might expect to compose the music for a dark, post-apocalypse movie like The Road, yet his work, alongside co-writer and fellow Bad Seeds member Warren Ellis, is as haunting, terrifying, and beautiful as the story the movie tells. 

Whatever kind of movie you like, Texas has one for you. From teen comedies to horror movies to westerns, of course, Texas will provide. Not only do many of our favorite stars hail from Texas, but dozens of movies have been filmed in, or at least set in, the Lone Star State and its many landscapes. Here is a list of our favorites. 

Dazed And Confused

When it comes to teen comedies, Dazed and Confused ranks near the top of the list of the best ones. The hilarious movie was filmed in Austin and takes place there in the 1970s. Not only is high school football one of the most important activities in the movie, but the famous Moon Tower location is a real place, too. 

Friday Night Lights

Texas' passion for high school football is second to none in the United States and there is no better high school football move than Friday Night Lights. Based on a true story, the movie follows the 1988 Permian High School Panthers season, in Odessa, TX.  

The Last Picture Show

Director Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show is one of quite a few movies set in Texas to receive a Best Picture nomination. The coming-of-age movie is set in the small town of Anarene, TX. While the town is fictional, its name is taken from the name of a ghost town in northern Texas. It's based on a book by one of Texas' favorite sons, writer Larry McMurtry. 

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Who would've guessed in 1974 that the low-budget slasher flick, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre would become one of the most successful and influential movies of all time? It has spawned a franchise with nine entries, inspired countless young filmmakers, and invented tropes that are still leaned on today. As the name implies, it does, of course, take place in Texas. 

No Country For Old Men

One of the best Westerns is the Coen Brothers' No Country For Old Men. Set in dusty West Texas, the movie oozes Texas, just like Fargo oozes Minnesota. It helps that a West Texas native, Tommy Lee Jones, plays the perfect role for him, a Texas sheriff on the hunt for all the bad guys running around his county. 

For A Few Dollars More

It's no surprise that some of the best Westerns of all time have been set in Texas, even the ones that are filmed in Spain, like For a Few Dollars More starring Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef. Set in and around the El Paso area, it's hard to believe it wasn't shot in the Lone Star state. 

The Iron Claw

The Von Erich family was the first family of professional wrestling, and the Dallas-based World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) was the alliance the family is most associated with. Patriarch Fritz was born in Texas, and while his five wrestling sons, Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris (who wasn't included in The Iron Claw ) weren't all born in the great state, they were all raised there and it's where most of The Iron Claw takes place.  

Office Space

Office Space feels like it takes place anywhere, or nowhere in particular. The movie is universal, but it actually takes place in Texas, where it was also filmed, mostly in and around Austin. 

Blood Simple

Joel and Ethan Coen were raised in Minnesota, but they've often looked to the southern U.S. for inspiration, including for their first movie, Blood Simple, in 1984. Like others on this list, it was filmed in and around Austin, TX. 

Bonnie And Clyde

Only a state like Texas could birth a legend like Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. The real-life Parker was born in the tiny town of Rowena, TX, while Barrow in the country outside Dallas. The movie Bonnie and Clyde, starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty, takes place kind of all over the south, but Texas is a big part of it. 

The 24th

With the ongoing global pandemic at its height in the summer of 2020, The 24th flew under the radar and that's too bad. It tells the true story of Black World War I veterans returning from Europe only to face the racism and bigotry of the Jim Crow south in Houston. The soldiers hit their breaking point and the result is an armed conflict against the Houston police that eventually leads to the execution of some of the soldiers for mutiny. It's an underrated film that more people should see. 

Sicario

Technically only part of Sicario takes place in Texas, more specifically the Texas-Mexico border in El Paso, but it's such an intense scene, and so crucial to the movie, that it belongs on this list. The shootout at the border is the best part of Denis Villeneuve's film. 

Boyhood

Houston, TX is home to the groundbreaking Richard Linklater film Boyhood. Filmed over 12 years, it's a movie like no other as audiences watch Mason grow up, in real time. It's no surprise that Texas native Linklater set another of his films in the great state. 

Reality Bites

Reality Bites may not feel like a Texas movie, but it is. It takes place in Houston, though the city and the state take a backseat to the story. The Ben Stiller-directed flick is a Gen X touchstone that really could have taken place anywhere, but Houston is home. 

Bottle Rocket

Set in Texas, starring Texans, and directed by a Texan, can anything get more Texas? Wes Anderson's debut film is much more straight forward than his later films, after he nailed down his particular style, and plays out more or less like a traditional heist movie, but it's worth watching, especially for Luke and Owen Wilson's film debuts, which they kill. 

True Stories

It's no surprise that Talking Heads frontman David Byrne would make a strange and, frankly, cool movie, even if at times it just feels like a set of weird music videos. True Stories is, however, set in the fictional town of Virgil, TX, not New York City, as you might expect from Byrne. 

Hell Or High Water

Nothing says Texas like a couple of bank robbers being pursued across the state by a Texas Ranger. Hell or High Water, from the mind of writer Taylor Sheridan, might feel the most like Texas of any movie on this list. Jeff Bridges is brilliant, and while Chris Pine might be a little pretty to sell the idea of his character being desperate enough to rob banks, his performance is perfect. 

Ghost Rider

About a year before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was born with the first Iron Man, Marvel Entertainment released Ghost Rider with Nicolas Cage. Set in Texas, its fun to think about how history could have been different if the idea for the MCU had come just a little earlier. 

Happy, Texas

This one is easy, it says it right there in the name, Happy, Texas. This surprisingly funny film takes place in the titular town and features some wonderful performances by Steve Zahn, William H. Macy, and Jeremy Northam. It flies under the radar but comes highly recommended. 

The Highwaymen

The Highwaymen, starring Woody Harrelson and Kevin Costner as Texas Rangers, is the other side of the Bonnie and Clyde story, focusing on the two lawmen pursuing the homicidal bank robbers. While it's a far from perfect movie, the performances are great, and the film oozes "Texas."

The Positively True Adventures Of The Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom

Football may be king in Texas, but only slightly lower on the list of important things is cheerleading. The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom highlights just how crazy people can get, telling the true story of Wanda Holloway (Holly Hunter), who tries to put out a hit on her daughter's high school cheerleading rival. Bring it on. 

Rush

Based on a true story and set in Smith County, TX, Rush is an intriguing movie and a very hard watch. It tells the story of undercover police officers, played by Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh who get in so deep, they become criminals and addicts themselves. Today, the film is most remembered for its soundtrack written by Eric Clapton and featuring his hit "Tears in Heaven."

The Outlaw Josey Wales

Clint Eastwood starred in, and directed, The Outlaw Josey Wales, which follows a Missouri farmer-turned-outlaw in Texas as he's pursued by just about everyone, including the Texas Rangers. It's one of the best Westerns ever made. 

The Old Man & The Gun

What could very well be Robert Redford's final movie, as he's said in the past, The Old Man & the Gun tells the true story of bank robber and escape artist Forrest Tucker. Tucker was a career criminal whose final arrest, as depicted in the movie, happened in Texas, where he later died in prison. 

Old Yeller

If you didn't tear up a little immediately upon reading the name of this film then you likely haven't seen Old Yeller. It's a cultural touchstone, ingrained in the minds of movie lovers everywhere, and it all takes place in Texas. It's almost 70 years old now, but it's still making kids (and their parents) cry today. 

The Searchers

John Wayne, John Ford, and Texas. It's a trio that defines the Western genre and while there are a few movies that combine the three, the best is probably The Searchers. Set in West Texas about a decade after the end of the Civil War, Wayne defines what it is to be a Western star and John Ford defines what the genre can be at its best. It's natural that the Texas desert be the backdrop. 

Jason's Lyric

Jada Pinkett-Smith was a rising talent when she starred alongside Allen Payne in 1994's Jason's Lyric. Set in an impoverished neighborhood in Houston, Lyric (Pinkett-Smith) and Jason (Payne) fall in love and try to escape their violent families with mixed results. It's not a perfect movie, but it is powerful at times. 

Paris, Texas

Sometimes movies are really more about their setting than anything else, and Paris, Texas is one of those movies. Texas is almost like another character in this Sam Sheppard-penned movie from 1984. Starring Harry Dean Stanton, Dean Stockwell, and Nastassja Kinski, the Palme d'Or winner is set in the panhandle town of Happy.

Miss Congeniality

Who can forget the epic conclusion of Miss Congeniality, when Gracie (Sandra Bullock) almost wins a beauty pageant in San Antonio? The surprise smash, a take on My Fair Lady, has become a beloved film over the years and it's easy to see why, as it's charming and fun and full of classic lines.  

Cloak & Dagger

It seems over the last 40 years, many have forgotten about Cloak & Dagger, starring Dabney Coleman and E.T. star Henry Thomas, and that's too bad. It's a really fun kids movie full of exciting action and intrigue, but with an easy enough story for kids to actually follow. Filmed and set in San Antonio, it's a movie that is ripe for a remake. 

Talk Radio

Oliver Stone has made a lot of hard-hitting movies in his career, not the least of which is JFK, which obviously takes place partly in Texas. One of his more underrated movies, though, is Talk Radio starring Eric Bogosian as a radio shock jock who meets with a tragic end. It's loosely based on the true story of Alan Berg, who was a radio host in Denver, but this film is set in Dallas. 

Rollerball

There are a lot of movies about Texas, but only a few are science-fiction, like Rollerball. James Caan, in one of his best roles, stars in this cult classic set in...2018 Houston (the movie came out in 1975). The dystopian future is ruled by corporations and the sport of Rollerball serves as a bread and butter circus for the masses. Actually, maybe it's not that far off from reality. Yikes. 

Everything is bigger in Texas, as they say, and the Lone Star state definitely has an outsized role in American society and that includes the movies that are set in the state, as this list can attest to. 

Conventional wisdom says that “when one door closes, another door opens.” In the case of the 32 TV shows we’re about to discuss, that saying isn’t just blowing smoke. Rather, when these titles saw change or cancellation staring them down, shows like Futurama and Buffy The Vampire Slayer jumped ships -- and kept on sailing. Behold, these conquering heroes. 

Futurama

Starting life as a Fox network original, Futurama’s shiny metal lifespan was initially cut short due to being canceled after four seasons. Years down the road, Comedy Central would revive Matt Groening’s irreverent fan favorite, and Hulu would later save it from cancelation as well. As a result, Planet Express’ doors were kept open… with some gaps of time, and a couple of direct to DVD movies in between. 

The Great British Baking Show

The cozy comfort that is The Great British Baking Show switched channels in both the UK and the US, though not as often as its swapped co-hosts. In its home nation (where it’s still allowed to be called The Great British Bake Off), the program started at the BBC in 2010 and eventually moved to Channel 4 after seven seasons. Meanwhile, the rights to that show in the US were first with PBS in 2014 but are now scattered between The Roku Channel and Netflix. 

Gilmore Girls

A show like Gilmore Girls doesn't always make a switch because of being canceled. Rather, in the final season of Amy Sherman-Palladino’s pop culture touchstone, The WB became The CW, after merging with fellow defunct network UPN. As for the miniseries Gilmore Girls: A Year in the LIfe, it did originate at Netflix but eventually received a homecoming of sorts when it aired on The CW in 2020.

Arrested Development

One of, if not the first network series revived through the powers of streaming, Arrested Development seemed to constantly struggle through its three seasons at Fox. And then, the good folks at Netflix revived what seemed to be one of the Internet’s favorite shows for two additional seasons. They were even nice enough to recut Season 4 into traditional episodes, once the initial character-centric installments were met with a less than stellar reception.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s broadcast history is rather interesting to follow. Starting out as The WB’s big Tuesday night hit in 1997, it transferred to fellow upstart network UPN in 2001. After two more seasons, Buffy would go off the air…just a couple years shy of the merger that turned The WB and UPN into what we now know as The CW.

Cobra Kai

Hey folks: remember when YouTube had original series? That’s exactly how Cobra Kai started, as YouTube Red/Premium was where the Karate Kid legacy-quel first got its legs. After two seasons aired, and with YouTube apparently not interested in anything past season 4 (according to Deadline), Netflix opened its doors and let Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) bring his dojo over to its streaming paradise. 

Last Man Standing

As Last Man Standing was sitting at six seasons, ABC canceled Tim Allen’s sitcom in 2017. That decision was supposedly due to some disputes between the network and the series’ production company, 20th Television. Which made it all the more interesting when Fox revived the series that it was already producing, for two more seasons. 

Supernatural

Just how long was Supernatural on TV? Well… it started in 2006, as a show on The WB; and then became a flagship title of its next parent, The CW, once WB merged with fellow fledgling network UPN. So while you’d know the Winchester brothers’ adventures for playing on The CW for 14 of its 15 seasons, that first aired under the house that Michigan J. Frog built. How’s that for magic?

A.P. Bio

For its brief lifespan of four seasons, A.P. Bio kicked things off at NBC and was revived as a potential Peacock subscription driver and aired two more seasons as such. Alas, the streaming reaper came for the series in 2021, ending Whitlock High’s time on our screens all too early. And what’s even sadder is we never did learn about what happened to Devin (Jacob McCarthy) after he mysteriously disappeared following Season 1? 

Family Matters

TGIF had a bit of an interesting shakeup in its later years, thanks to series like Family Matters and Step by Step defecting from its original home. Jumping from ABC after providing eight seasons of Urkel (Jaleel White) and his antics with the Winslow family, the former wrapped up on the CBS network with one final season. And depending on who you talk to, Season 9 is probably best forgotten by the world.

Archer

Archer’s 14-season run was both a hilarious parody of the James Bond movies, while also being funny and bittersweet in its own ways. While it was never canceled, and blew past the original plans to end in Season 10, a network shift did come after Season 7 aired in 2016. And that was thanks to FX Networks creating a new imprint for comedy and soccer programming, FXX. 

Babylon 5

In the beginning, Babylon 5 was a syndicated TV show that, much like Star Trek: The Next Generation before it, had no singular network home. Distributed through the Prime Time Entertainment Network for its first four seasons, creator J. Michael Strazynski didn’t think the show would get a fifth season. With a series finale already filmed, TNT stepped in to grant one last round of episodes (and a new Season 4 finale), for 1998. And according to Strazynski’s blog post from when it all happened, “Sleeping In Light” would have played just as fine at the end of Season 4. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Here’s a fun scenario to ponder: what do you do when a series like Brooklyn Nine-Nine wants to keep existing, but home network Fox doesn’t want to go past Season 5? Well, you send the series to its true home: NBC! As the Andy Samberg-led ensemble was one of several shows saved from cancellation in 2018, the final three seasons could be chalked up to production company Universal Television saving one of its own.

Manifest

After Manifest’s wild Season 3 cliffhanger, the series’ cancellation by NBC left creator Jeff Rake, as well as the show’s fandom, all hoping for closure. While it wasn’t the full second half that Rake took to Twitter to mourn in 2021, streaming provider Netflix did step in for one final season, after finding great success with past seasons being available on its platform. 

Columbo

Detective Colombo (Peter Falk) ran through two pilots and seven seasons on NBC, between 1968 and 1978, looking to solve his cases with “just one more thing” he needed to ask about. But when it came to his eponymous series’ own fate, it received “just” three more seasons on ABC, from 1989 to 2003. 

Community

If it was up to NBC, Dan Harmon’s Community would have never gotten to the six seasons it called out for in its own universe. With that final, prophecy-fulfilling season airing on the now defunct Yahoo! Screen platform, part of a prophecy, that involves "a movie," has been fulfilled.

Everybody Hates Chris

With Chris Rock’s semi-autobiographical sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, the network shift came from a natural place: a merger. Beginning its life in 2005 on UPN, the sitcom Rock co-created with Ali LeRoi would become an original series on The CW in the 2006-2007 TV season. It would continue to air until 2009, as it would then be canceled after its fourth season. 

The Expanse

The Expanse came to an end after six seasons, with the first three airing on Syfy and the last batch going to Amazon’s Prime Video platform. But apparently, in an interview with Polygon, authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (collectively known as James S.A. Corey),said  they don’t even see the show as cancelled, but rather “paused” after Season 6. If a show can be renewed after a fan campaign draws in the likes of Wil Wheaton, George R.R. Martin, and Patton Oswalt, who are we to doubt there’s still gas in the tank? 

American Dad!

Fox ran Seth MacFarlane’s topically inclined animated comedy, American Dad!, for 11 seasons, before pulling the plug on the Family Guy originator’s co-creation with Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman in 2013. However, it didn’t take long for cable station TBS, which had been airing reruns for some time, to snag itself a new original program. So just under a month after the series “ended” on Fox, it came roaring back to life in its second healthy home. 

Friday Night Lights

Most people probably remember Friday Night LIghts as an NBC series, and considering its first two seasons aired there, that would make sense. However, if we’re going by season count, you’d technically call Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton’s ensemble drama a 101 Network series; thanks to the last three of its five seasons airing on that platform between 2008 and 2011.

The Critic

For a two-season wonder like The Critic, you’d think it would have been easy to keep it in one place for the whole run. That couldn’t have been further from the truth, as the first season aired on ABC in 1994, followed by the second season going to Fox in 1995. It’s something that would be joked about in the Jon Lovitz’ comedy’s third and final revival, as a series of webisodes on AtomFilms/Shockwave distributed between 2000 and 2001.

Matlock

Lawyer Ben Matlock (Andy Griffith) broke a lot of cases over six seasons on NBC, between 1986 and 1992. And before anyone could ask if we’d see Ben again, the fall of that very last year saw Matlock jumping over to ABC, for its final three seasons. While cast members may have changed, the iconic theme song and the public’s love for this series did not.

JAG

Here’s something fun to consider: JAG technically has two network shifts. The major one saw David James Elliott’s Lt. Harmon Rabb, Jr. go from NBC to CBS, right after Season 1’s conclusion in 1996. At its second home, the series would run for nine more seasons and spawn the hit spinoff NCIS; which is basically the procedural world’s version of Cheers and Frasier. However, the 22nd episode of Season 1, the true season finale “Skeleton Crew,” wouldn’t air on TV until 1999 on the USA Network. 

Longmire

Neo-noir/western detective series Longmire began its life as a pretty popular title on the A&E Network back in 2014.. Three seasons in, despite being a strong performer, the cable channel axed the Robert Taylor-starring series, with no rhyme or reason. Of course, that didn’t stop Netflix from reviving the series, giving it another three seasons that ran from 2015 until its second and final cancellation in 2017. 

Lucifer

After three seasons, and a finale that was specifically designed to keep the show running, Lucifer was canceled due to a “pretty narrow” audience. That, and the series was made by an outside studio, which only made the decision apparently clearer. It was Fox’s loss though, as Netflix not only brought Tom Ellis’ demonically good time back from the grave,but  the streamer gave it three more seasons to finish up. 

Mystery Science Theater 3000

Was it ever important for Mystery Science Theater 3000 to stay at one network? Not totally, though there were some hiccups in how films were chosen in later seasons because of such switches. Starting life in 1988 as a public access show for KTMA-TV, MST3K would move to Comedy Central for the bulk of its run between 1989 and 1996. One last broadcast move would happen in 1997, giving this show its final TV-bound home… before it went to Netflix for two seasons between 2017 and 2018, and then to its own indie platform, The Gizmoplex, in 2022. 

One Day At A Time

The reboot of Whitney Blake and Allan Manings’ sitcom, One Day at a Time, gave the world a new perspective on a very familiar formula. This Latinx-flavored version only lasted for four seasons sadly, with three of those seasons streaming on Netflix. After being canceled by the big red streamer in 2019, the series would be revived by Pop TV for one final abbreviated season, which aired in 2020.

Girls5Eva

Girls5Eva was a series that had a pedigree that seemed destined to last more than two seasons at Peacock. Yet the Tina Fey co-created/Sara Barellies-led ensemble found itself out the door after Season 2 ended. Though that’s not where the music stopped, as Netflix resurrected the show, proving that the cancellation reaper doesn’t always have the last word.

Doug

Most people remember Doug as a four-season Nicktoon that delved into the inner mind of Doug Funnie (Billy West) as he navigated his teenage years of crushes and bullies. But if you’re a true die-hard, then you, of course, remember Disney’s Doug…It was Doug but an ABC-tweaked incarnation that ran as part of the One Saturday Morning block. 

Cougar Town

Over four seasons of Courteney Cox’s ensemble sitcom Cougar Town, there were things that could change and things that couldn’t. While co-creator Bill Lawrence’s Twitter crusade to rename the show never came to be, the former ABC series eventually became a TBS original in the back half of its life span. And no, the network change didn’t help the case to rename the series at all.

Damages

Through 2007 to 2011, FX had a hit legal drama on its hand with Damages, starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne. When it came to the end of the third season, EW reported that the costs of the series weren’t worth the viewership to the network. Which lead The 101 Network to enter talks and eventually pick up the series, for its final two seasons. 

Clueless

Can one network alone hold the charisma of Cher Horowitz (Rachel Blanchard)? As if! While original network ABC wasn’t sold on Clueless until reruns had proven them wrong, UPN kept the series adaptation of the ‘90s movie classic going for another two seasons. If only ABC had taken a little more time to feel things out. 

Whether it’s because of cost issues, audience demand, or just good old-fashioned mergers, sometimes you’ve got to move to another network to keep the party going. These series did just that, and for better or worse, fans got more time to hang out with some of their favorite TV characters as a result. 

One Tree Hill is a classic teen drama, and to this day it’s beloved for its soapy drama, romances and focus on friendship, family and basketball. The story follows the iconic OTH cast – which features Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz – as they make their way through high school in a small town. This early 2000s series was a staple of its time, and if you are looking to find this kind of drama and nostalgia again I have some show recommendations for you.

The O.C.

When the wealthy Cohen family adopts Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), he and Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) go about their dramatic lives in Orange County.

Why The O.C. Is Like One Tree Hill: This soapy teen drama from the early 2000s focuses on two brothers, albeit their relationship is a lot healthier than Nathan and Lucas’, and their journey through high school. With romantic pairings like Seth (Brody) and Summer (Rachel Bilson), and big dramatic moments played out by the ensemble cast of The O.C. too, it’s actually super similar to One Tree Hill.

Stream The O.C. on Max.

Stream The O.C. on Hulu. 

Outer Banks

A crew of teens from the Outer Banks, led by Chase Stokes’ John B. are on the hunt for an ancient treasure. 

Why Outer Banks Is Like One Tree Hill: Need a show that also takes place in one of the two Carolina states and features beloved romances, intense adventures and unexpected action? Outer Banks is for you. While its main character John B. almost dies way more often than any character on One Tree Hill, it’s still full of the same soapy drama that I’m sure you’ll like if you dug the early 2000s show. 

Stream Outer Banks on Netflix.

Dawson's Creek

To this day, you’ll find people re-watching Dawson’s Creek much like they do One Tree Hill. The story follows Dawson (James Van Der Beek) and Joey (Katie Holmes) through high school and the drama that ensues between them and their romantic interests – especially when Pacey (Joshua Jackson) and Jen (Michelle Williams) get involved.

Why Dawson’s Creek Is Like One Tree Hill: This show is arguably the most similar to One Tree Hill on this list. Both series ran for many seasons during the early 2000s and centered around high schoolers dealing with love, life, family and soapy drama. Along with their plot similarities, both the Dawson’s Creek cast and OTH ensemble took off because of their shows. Also, Chad Michael Murray played a role in both seminal teen dramas. 

Stream Dawson’s Creek on Hulu.

Stream Dawson's Creek on Amazon Prime.

Stream Dawson's Creek on The CW.

Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl centers around a group of rich Upper Eastside teens (and Dan from Brooklyn) who are targeted by the titular anonymous gossip blog. 

Why Gossip Girl Is Like One Tree Hill: While the New York City setting is what greatly differentiates these two shows, at their core, they are both centered around a dramatic high school and the interpersonal relationships between the core characters. And let’s face it, both One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl live up to their hype because of their iconic relationships (like Chuck and Blair and Nathan and Haley). 

Stream Gossip Girl on Max.

Stream Gossip Girl on The Roku Channel.

Gilmore Girls

Mother/daughter duo Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) live in Stars Hallow, and they go about life in their small town with their friends and family.

Why Gossip Girl Is Like One Tree Hill: Both Tree Hill and Stars Hallow are small towns, and both shows span over many years as we watch the ensemble cast grow up. Also, like Gilmore Girls, OTH focuses a lot on family, both biological and found. Not to mention, one of the Gilmore Girls cast members whose career took off after he starred in the show was our beloved Chad Michael Murray – however, a big difference is Lucas from Tree Hill is significantly nicer than Stars Hollow’s Tristin.

Stream Gilmore Girls on Netflix.

Riverdale

Based on Archie Comics, Riverdale follows Archie (K.J. Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Veronica (Camila Mendes) through high school. Throughout the show, there are murder mysteries, supernatural entanglements and even musicals.

Why Riverdale Is Like One Tree Hill: If you are looking for over-the-top high school drama, relationships that you’re excited to ship and a fun ensemble, both these shows have you covered. While Riverdale has crazy plot twists that involve more magic and mystery than OTH, they both will fill your need for a good ol' high school drama. Oh, also, Chad Michael Murray guest stars in a few episodes of this too.

Stream Riverdale on Netflix.

Stream Riverdale on The CW.

Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights follows one of high school’s best football teams, the Dillon Panthers, and their coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler).

Why Friday Night Lights Is Like One Tree Hill: The biggest reason these two shows are like one another is how sports play into the story. The majority of the Friday Night Lights cast are on or involved with the town’s football team. Just switch the sport to basketball, and you have a similar situation with One Tree Hill, especially in the earlier seasons. 

Stream Friday Night Lights on Netflix.

Stream Friday Night Lights on Hulu.

Stream Friday Night Lights on Amazon Prime.

All American

All American follows a young football player, Spencer James (Daniel Ezra) after he moves as he attempts to adjust to his new school, life and team. 

Why All American Is Like One Tree Hill: While there are many shows like All American, One Tree Hill stands out as an apt comparison because it's centered around sports -- football and basketball, respectively -- and the story of one guy adjusting to a new team. While Spencer is new at his school, Lucas has been in Tree Hill forever. However, when he joins the basketball team, it almost feels like he’s the new kid. 

Stream All American on Netflix.

Stream All American on The CW.

On My Block

On My Block follows Monse (Sierra Capri), Ruby (Jason Genao), Jamal (Brett Gray) and Cesar (Diego Tinoco) through high school in this coming-of-age drama. 

Why All American Is Like One Tree Hill: When it comes to the legacies of On My Block and One Tree Hill, they both stand as beloved dramas about growing up, coming-of-age and friendship. If you are looking for a YA drama from more recent years, this is the show for you.

Stream On My Block on Netflix.

Parenthood

Parenthood follows the Braverman family by focusing on Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) and Camille (Bonnie Bedelia), their kids and grandkids. 

Why Parenthood Is Like One Tree Hill: Along with One Tree Hill and Parenthood featuring famous folks you forgot were in it, its central focus on family and the trauma and love that comes with them is the major reason why these two shows are alike. 

Stream Parenthood on Hulu.

Degrassi

This long-running Canadian teen drama follows an ensemble of kids as they deal with love, life and high school as well as the transition from childhood into adulthood. 

Why Degrassi Is Like One Tree Hill: Like One Tree Hill, Degrassi was long-running, ending on Season 14, and it told its stories in a soapy way. Whether it be tales of love, coursework, sports or the occasional crime, both shows are big and dramatic, which is why we love them.

Stream Degrassi on Amazon Prime.

Stream Degrassi on Max.

Stream Degrassi on Tubi.

The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty focuses on Belly (Lola Tung) and her relationship with Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) as she navigates her romantic feelings for the brothers.

Why The Summer I Turned Pretty Is Like One Tree Hill: Both TSITP and One Tree Hill have romance at the center of them, and feature some seriously iconic love triangles. From Lucas, Peyton and Brooke on OTH to the aforementioned Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad, the romantic relationships in these shows are messy, dramatic and oh-so-compelling. 

Stream The Summer I Turned Pretty on Amazon Prime.

One Tree Hill is truly one of the most iconic teen dramas, and luckily many came both before and after it that are worth checking out. So, after you see how Brooke, Lucas, Nathan, Haley and Peyton’s stories come to a close, make sure to check a few of the aforementioned shows out. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them! 

In the world of television, there are plenty of great iconic catchphrases that I'm sure everyone has heard of or seen used in different situations. Today, we will review some classic TV catchphrases and the characters that started them all. Sometimes, there's a story behind them; other times, they just caught on and became infused with the character itself. Either way, there are plenty here; let's get started. 

"Lucy, You Got Some 'splaining To Do!" (I Love Lucy)

Perhaps one of the most iconic TV shows of all time, I Love Lucy was a staple of television and defined the medium as a whole, setting a standard for sitcoms that are followed even today. One of the most notable catchphrases from the show was when Ricky, Lucy's husband, would say to her, "Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do!" after Lucy's antics during that episode. 

Truthfully, this phrase isn't said exactly in the show, but Ricky would often say things to Lucy such as "Lucy, 'splain," or something along those lines, which leads to many people now considering this the show's catchphrase. 

“How You Doin’?” (Friends)

The Friends cast is hilarious in many ways, and personally, Joey Tribianni was one of the funniest with his hilarious catchphrase, "How you doin'?" There's no real origin story for the slogan. Still, anyone who knows the character understands that when Joey meets an attractive woman, this is one of the first lines he would flirtatiously deliver to score a date with them. It will always make you laugh.

“That’s What She Said” (The Office)

While Steve Carell from The Office cast might have made this famous catchphrase popular, "That's what she said" has different origins than the show. The popular sitcom often used the phrase whenever there was a particular innuendo that Michael Scott believed a woman would say. 

According to Thrillist, the phrase was used much earlier before then, including Chevy Chase using the joke in Saturday Night Live, and from way back during the Edwardian period of England. Talk about some exciting origins. 

“You Got It, Dude” (Full House)

Whenever anyone rewatches Full House, you can't miss Michelle's classic catchphrase, "You got it, dude," that she would often lovingly say to her caretakers as she grew older. According to Entertainment Weekly, John Stamos' son even says the quote now when he rewatches. 

“Is That Your Final Answer?” (Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?)

If you've ever watched the show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? you've heard this phrase. According to Inside Edition, Regis Philbin, the show's host, coined the term, "Is that your final answer?" when a contestant would answer one of the questions that could make or break their new fortune. 

“Hey, Hey, Hey!” (Fat Albert)

Anyone who grew up watching The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids also knows this phrase. Like many catchphrases that are used in television, the term "Hey, hey, hey!" would follow Fat Albert before he entered a room, letting everyone know he was there greeting everyone. 

"Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" (The Brady Bunch)

Fun fact – the phrase "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" was only uttered in one epiosde of The Brady Bunch, according to The Cheat Sheet. It became such a famous line that it became a catchphrase for a particular character, Jan Brady. She says the line where she feels that Marcia gets all the credit and attention for her success, saying it's always about, "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" Now, everyone coins the phrase with the character.

“Kiss My Grits” (Alice)

"Kiss My Grits" from Alice wasn't just a catchphrase for the show – it became a famous Southern phrase in the United States, according to AL. The show was based on the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, where the character, Flo, uttered, "Kiss me where the sun don't shine," but it was changed to "Kiss my grits" so it was more acceptable for TV standards at the time. The phrase won its way into the hearts of viewers. 

“Eat My Shorts” (The Simpsons)

So many of The Simpsons' characters didn't appear until Season 2, but Bart was always on the show, and one of his signature catchphrases was "Eat my shorts." The actress who voices Bart, Nancy Cartwright, spoke in an interview with the Television Academy Foundation that the phrase was an ad-lib initially and that she did it because back in high school, it was a phrase she and her friends would say, and that they were messing around. She decided to say it for the character. 

“Live Long And Prosper” (Star Trek)

This is for you if you love the Star Trek movies or the original Star Trek TV show. Anyone would recognize the iconic Vulcan phrase, "Live long and prosper," and the salute that comes with it. According to StarTrek.com, the actor who originally played Spock on the TV show, Leonard Nimoy, introduced the hand sign, which is also a blessing in Judaism, a symbol of the Kohanim Jewish blessing. 

“To The Batmobile!” (Batman)

Everyone thinks of "To the Batmobile" from Batman, as it's one of Batman and Robin's most iconic phrases. While we no longer say the phrase in today's iterations of Batman, the car has continued to become a staple in any media portraying the famous superhero. 

“Ay Caramba” (The Simpsons)

Bart Simpson's catchphrases were plentiful, and the actress who voices Bart, Nancy Cartwright, in an interview with the Television Academy Foundation, said that "Ay Caramba" from The Simpsons was just written into the script, and it caught on over time and ended up being on Bart Simpson T-shirts. 

“Bazinga” (The Big Bang Theory)

"Bazinga" was a phrase that Sheldon uttered from The Big Bang Theory cast, and in the prequel series, Young Sheldon, its origins were revealed. According to Entertainment Weekly, the character began to say the word because a novelty toy company named Bazinga had a slogan that said, "if it's funny, it's a Bazinga!" After that, it became his catchphrase. 

“I Love It When The Plan Comes Together” (The A-Team)

The A-Team is a famous show from back when, where the line, "I love it when the plan comes together," was uttered by Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith in several episodes. The catchphrase even began in the pilot episode of the series. The tagline is even used now in different versions of the franchise. 

"It's Gonna Be Legen — Wait For It — Dary." (How I Met Your Mother)

The How I Met Your Mother cast is full of stars, and Neil Patrick Harris is one of them, where he played Barney Stinson. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the creators of the show, Craig Thomas and Carter Bays, said it wasn't their idea, as the script for the original uttering of the line in the Season 1 episode, "The Taste of Liberty," was written by Chris Miller and Phil Lord. 

“Dyn-O-Mite!” (Good Times)

The catchphrase "Dyn-o-mite" was synonymous with the TV show Good Times, and the actor behind it, Jimmie Walker, said that the catchphrase almost didn't happen in an interview with The Wrap. One of the EP's, Norman Lear, hated the phrase and didn't want Walker to say it, but the director, John Rich, kept it in the script, and the catchphrase caught on from there. 

“Norm!” (Cheers)

You know he's there when he enters the bar. While it's not necessarily a catchphrase but a greeting, the shouts of "Norm!" on Cheers were a running gag whenever Norm entered the bar, as he was a regular. The show's writers even told Entertainment Weekly that it was always expected Norm would be greeted and that writing jokes for him afterward was the hardest. 

“Good Grief” (Charlie Brown)

Charlie Brown from the Peanuts franchise is known to say "Good grief," the phrase became a part of his character when it was first uttered in the print comic in 1952. Since then, the character always says it when he is bummed out. 

“Suit Up!” (How I Met Your Mother)

Barney from How I Met Your Mother was a hilarious character. Neil Patrik Harris, who played him, shared the origin story of "Suit up," one of his catchphrases, in an interview with The Back Label, revealing the Bob Saget (the narrator of the show) coined the phrase, saying that he said it more than a decade before the show in a party that he and Saget both went to, and that he said the phrase so often they added it to the show. 

“Oh My God! They Killed Kenny!” (South Park)

One of South Park's most iconic catchphrases and running gags is when Stan or Kyle would say, "Oh my god, they killed Kenny!" followed by an insult said by Kyle. The line was first said in a short, The Spirit of Christmas: Jesus vs. Frosty, but now the series' creators have found different ways to take Kenny out in several various episodes – even if they don't do the bit as much anymore. 

“D’oh!” (The Simpsons)

Homer's catchphrase from The Simpsons, "D'oh!" originated from Dan Castellaneta, the voice actor behind Homer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The actor mainly drew inspiration from James Finlayson and the way the actor would say "Doooh!" in Laurel and Hardy films. 

“Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose” (Friday Night Lights)

There are plenty of sports TV shows, and Friday Night Lights is one of them, with this phrase uttered to a team of high school football players, "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." The creator of the series, Jason Katims, spoke with Vox about the phrase, saying that it was written in the pilot episode, but since it was such an impactful moment, they saved it for big moments in the show. 

"Book 'Em, Danno” (Hawaii Five-0)

The phrase, "Book 'em, Danno," was said by Detective Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-0 whenever they would capture a villain. It became synonymous with the character overtime. 

“And That’s The Way It Is” (CBS News)

Walter Cronkite was a famous news anchor for CBS Evening News, where he would end every broadcast with "And that's the way it is." Cronkite spoke in an interview with Archive of American Television and said that he came up with it to close out whatever news he was telling the audience so that it could fit with the story he was speaking about. 

“That’s Hot” (The Simple Life)

Paris Hilton said, "That's hot" in The Simple Life, her reality TV show. Her memoir (via People) revealed that she stole the phrase from her little sister, who was in middle school then, saying Hilton saw it as a "positive affirmation."

“Whatchoo Talkin’ ’Bout, Willis?” (Diff’rent Strokes)

In the classic TV show led by a Black actor, Diff'rent Strokes had the phrase, "Watchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" uttered by Arnold Jackson. It was something he said from time to time in response to his brother, Willis. 

“Yada, Yada, Yada” (Seinfeld)

"Yada, yada, yada" was said in the hilarious Seinfeld episode, "The Yada Yada," and this is a case where the phrase was only uttered once, but it became a huge hit. It's said as a way to forward a story quickly. 

“The Tribe Has Spoken” (Survivor)

Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor, revealed on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon that the catchphrase, "The tribe has spoken," was created by creator Mark Burnett as a final line for Probst when they were trying to come up with something. 

“Aaay” (Happy Days)

Henry Winkler told the Television Academy Foundation in an interview that the reason why "Aaay" ended up becoming a big catchphrase for the Fonz in Happy Days was because he felt the writers would "write paragraphs" for the character. He would reduce it to "language and sound," hence the "Aaay."

“Yabba Dabba Doo!” (The Flintstones)

The phrase, "Yabba dabba doo!" was first said by Alan Reed in the first episode of The Flintstones. According to The Fayette Tribune, Alan Reed's son said that the word was his father's idea and that it was an ad-lib.  

“You’re Fired” (The Apprentice)

In the TV show The Apprentice, Donald Trump often used the catchphrase, "You're fired," to kick contestants off the show, as well as in Celebrity Apprentice. It became his signature sendoff on the series, and one that many people still relate to him years after the show ha ended.

“Did I Do That?” (Family Matters)

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly on YouTube, Jaleel White said that the phrase Urkel would utter in Family Matters became synonymous with something the character would do that was completely obvious. He said the delivery of the line made it so famous. 

There are so many popular catchphrases out there, but these are some of the best that I'm sure are interesting to learn about. As time passes, we'll only see more catchphrases appear. 

When your favorite TV show is said and done, it’s kind of hard to pick which episode is the best of the bunch. But that’s exactly what we’re here to discuss, as according to the voters at IMDb, there’s a definitive answer for the highest rated episodes for 32 of beloved TV series like Star Trek: The Next Generation and Friends. Prepare to be amazed by these potential conversation/argument starters! 

“Ozymandias” - Breaking Bad - Season 5

In Breaking Bad’s five seasons of TV, the Rian Johnson directed “Ozymandias” is easily the victor. A perfect 10/10 in its IMDb vote, many have heralded this chapter of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and his crime saga as the finest. Which is probably because of all the acclaim spotlighting one word that this installment seems to embody: “payoff.”

“Plan And Execution” - Better Call Saul - Season 6

Much like its predecessor Breaking Bad, it’s the setup to the punchline that made Better Call Saul’s crown jewel a fan favorite. “Plan and Execution” is so close to the finale that you can feel the series’ finality, but at the same time you might be surprised to know that the climactic betrayal and death of Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian) was actually the mid-season finale of Bob Odenkirk’s swan song.

“Connor’s Wedding” - Succession - Season 4

How was Succession ever going to send out Logan Roy (Brian Cox) with a bang? Well, in the episode “Connor’s Wedding,” the answer was simple: you kill him by surprise, and early on in the final season. Stuff the episode with the sort of tragically awkward Succession moments that we all know and love, and you’ve got a recipe for a story that brings down the house.

“Finale” - The Office - Season 9

The Office’s series finale, aptly titled “Finale,” tied things up with a beautiful knot, which just happened to include Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Angela (Angela Kinsey) tying the knot. Also, Steve Carell’s big return as Michael Scott still circulates online as a true moment of joy from this landmark chapter. 

“Pine Barrens” - The Sopranos - Season 3

Even after The Sopranos pretty much answered the pressing question of whether or not Tony Soprano was wacked, Season 3’s “Pine Barrens” still contains an unsolved mystery. So on top of Steve Buscemi’s directorial chops, and watching Paulie (Tony Sirico) and Chris (Michael Imperioli) spend some time in those Jersey woods, people are probably still watching this episode in hopes of answering, “Is Valery dead, or not?” The world may never know.

“Modern Warfare” - Community - Season 1

What happens when a mile-a-minute pop culture joke machine like Community dedicates an entire episode to some of the best action movies of all time? Well, you’d get the Justin Lin directed “Modern Warfare,” an all-time heater that sees Jeff (Joel McHale) battling it out for priority registration. It’s an episode that blew people away so hard, that much like Die Hard, it got a couple sequels. 

“The Constant” - Lost - Season 4

Through Lost's best episodes, it was a series that bent people’s minds in all sorts of directions, and left them wanting more. “The Constant” is a firm example of that, as the time travel-centric episode went down the usual rabbit holes the show was known for. However, throwing in that romantic plot line between Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) and Penny (Sonya Walger) probably stuck the landing for this one in the hearts of fans. 

“The One Where Everybody Finds Out” - Friends - Season 5

It’s not hard to see why “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” is Friends’ highest-rated episode on IMDb. With Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica (Courteney Cox) finally seeing their clandestine love affair outed to their whole group, it's a watershed moment for the pair. It's also considered one of Matthew Perry's best Friends episodes, so there's something else to consider.

“Everyone’s Waiting” - Six Feet Under

Would anyone be surprised to learn that Six Feet Under’s series finale “Everyone’s Waiting” is the highest rated entry? Alan Ball’s darkly comic dramedy about death went out on a fitting note, showing the entire Fisher family’s final fates. Sia’s “Breathe Me” still brings people to tears when thinking about it.

“How Your Mother Met Me” - How I Met Your Mother - Season 9

Getting the answer to who “The Mother” was in How I Met Your Mother was only the beginning of the road for the series’ endgame. With Season 9 bringing fans closer to Tracy (Cristin Milioti) and her marriage to Ted (Josh Radnor), “How Your Mother Met Me” took the time to fill us in on every hysterical and heartbreaking moment that led these two to each other.  

“Once More, With Feeling” - Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Season 6

There are several reasons “Once More, With Feeling” probably topped the list of Buffy the Vampire Slayer favorites. Known forever as “the musical episode,” the keen gimmick introduced us all to the silky smooth singing of Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) just as he was heading out the door. Also, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Spike (James Marsters) had their first actual, non-magically influenced kiss. 

“The Stockholm Syndrome” - The Big Bang Theory - Season 12

Sitcom characters are a good example of systems so delicate that the wrong type of change could sink them rather quickly. The Big Bang Theory managed to seemingly avoid that with its series finale “The Stockholm Syndrome,” which both gave Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) everything he wanted, and the audience an ending they didn’t know they needed. Seeing a very married, and very loving Sheldon is the ingredient that more than likely made this curtain closer one fans still remember.

“The Contest” - Seinfeld - Season 4

When an episode of a sitcom happens to be so good it invents pop culture slang that still lands to this day, as well as finds itself referenced in an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you know its done the trick. One of Seinfeld’s best episodes, “The Contest,” fits both of those bills, as the New York gang of idiots challenge each other in a very personal way. 

“Connection Lost” - Modern Family - Season 6

Sometimes, you need a good format breaker to keep things fresh. In the sixth season of Modern Family, the powers that be recognized that and gave us “Connection Lost,” a story where Claire (Julie Bowen) plays a literal game of telephone to investigate what may or may not be happening with daughter Haley (Sarah Hyland). 

"The Inner Light" - Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 5

"The Inner Light" is an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation that's so popular, all you need is music to spark its memory within the fandom. A touching story of bittersweet devastation and empathy, this could be the episode that epitomizes who Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) is, and what he's always stood for in this landmark sci-fi franchise.

“Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” - The X-Files - Season 3

Story driven series like The X-Files sometimes strike it big with the occasional one-off episode. In the case of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson’s third season of action, “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” was one such episode, following the case of an insurance salesman (Peter Boyle) who knows when people are going to die. Properly spooky, but also slyly witty, it may be Mulder and Scully’s greatest victory against the show’s shadowy conspiracy. 

“Middle Ground” - The Wire - Season 3

“Middle Ground” is the type of episode that shows like The Wire live for. Well regarded by fans and critics alike, the Season 3 heater saw Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) ringing on the streets of Baltimore for the last time. With Omar (Michael K. Williams) helping punch his ticket, this endgame between these legendary characters is still the episode to beat.  

“The Suitcase” - Mad Men - Season 4

“THAT’S WHAT THE MONEY’S FOR!” You could probably hear a pin drop after Don (Jon Hamm) and Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) had their infamous argument over who deserved the true credit for the Glo Coat ad. “The Suitcase” saw perhaps the greatest fracture between this mentor/mentee team, and its effects would reverberate through to the series’ finale. Also, that quote did become one hell of a meme; so that helped in the longevity department of this Mad Men champion.

“Eye Of The Beholder” - The Twilight Zone - Season 2

Technically, The Twilight Zone has two episodes tied for the highest rating in its iconic collection of episodes. If you guessed Nightmare at 20,000 Feet as the technical tie, you’re absolutely correct. However it’s Season 2’s  “Eye of the Beholder” that still wins out, based on a higher volume of votes. And if you want to guess why that is, it’s probably because this episode has one of the biggest twist endings in Twilight Zone history, complete with truly frightening prosthetics.

“One Last Ride” - Parks and Recreation - Season 7

Sorry Parks and Rec fans, even with Chris Pratt’s legendary improv “Flu Season” isn’t the NBC series’ highest rated episode. Rather, the series finale “One Last Ride” is the best regarded installment of the pop culture hit. Though if you’re a true fan of the Amy Poehler-led ensemble series, you’re probably not sorry, as this is the episode that gave everyone a pretty happy ending.

“Two Cathedrals” - The West Wing - Season 2

“Two Cathedrals” is both one of the darkest hours and finest moments of President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen). The episode where he ponders running for another term, in light of an MS diagnosis and the loss of close friend and colleague Mrs. Landingham (Kathryn Joosten). The reason this episode is the top of the class is, unquestionably, Sheen’s enraged monologue in discussion with God; which became a real bilingual tongue lashing of fury.

“Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse” - The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air - Season 4

If you ever need inspiration to cry in a rush, put on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’s Season 4 episode “Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse.” When you get to the end, in which Will (Will Smith) expresses his heartbreak of being abandoned by his father again, you’ll understand why this is the episode that still has fans singing its praises.

“11:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.” - 24 - Season 1

24 was a massive cultural hit when it first premiered, and eventually spawned the story of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and the worst days in his life. The best rated episode of his adventures, “11:00 pm - 12:00 am” saw Jack’s deadly battle with the Drazen family come to an explosive conclusion; but at a cost. With the loss of his wife Teri (Leslie Hope) and the escape of traitor Nina Meyers (Sarah Clarke), the path of his life would be set for years to come.

“Crossroads: Part 2” - Battlestar Galactica - Season 3

Talk about a “payoff” episode, as Battlestar Galactica's "Crossroads: Part 2" not only brought Starbuck (Katee Sackoff) back from the dead, it also revealed the Final Five Cylons hiding among the Galactica’s crew.  So depending on where your head is at as a fan, you’ve got two different reasons to choose from, and both lead to Earth! 

“Happy Ending” - Schitt’s Creek - Season 6

When a comedy can make you laugh as much as Schitt’s Creek has, the ability to make the audience cry in-between laughing fits is seen as a bit of a superpower. “Happy Ending” closed out the ensemble series with tears of joy and sadness, as David (Dan Levy) and Patrick (Noah Reid) finally got married. With the Rose family splitting off for fates unknown, a truly happy ending was had as all of our favorite characters grew into the beautiful beings we saw in this final frame.

“On The Beach” - ER - Season 8

Good luck talking about this episode of ER without breaking into tears. Serving as the tearful goodbye to Dr. Greene (Anthony Edwards), watching a dear friend make peace with his mistakes before his death was a heart smasher. To this day, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s cover of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” is an easy emotional trigger. 

“Abyssinia, Henry” - M*A*S*H - Season 3

M*A*S*H is a unique animal. “Abyssinia, Henry” proves that point rather well, as the departure of Colonel Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) went from bittersweet to downright devastating. With the series regular dying in a finale that even surprised the cast, you could imagine how fans felt when they first saw it.

“Raincoats And Recipes” - Gilmore Girls - Season 4

Gilmore Girls fans, you know exactly why you voted “Raincoats and Recipes” as the top rated episode on IMDb. If you’re a fan of Lorelai (Lauren Graham), you love this episode because it’s her first kiss with Luke (Scott Patterson). If you’re on Team Rory (Alexis Bledel), then the rather complicated moment of her and Dean (Jared Padalecki) trying to “salvage their friendship” is probably the high point.

“An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux” - Sex and the City - Season 6

Before both movies and the formation of the legacy-quel And Just LIke That would change history, Sex and the City landed its grand finale with “An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux” as Carrie's (Sarah Jessica Parker) fairy tale reunion with Mr. Big (Chris Noth) seemed like the happy ending fated from square one.

“Always” - Friday Night Lights - Season 5

The last dance with Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his East Dillon Lions resulted in “Always,” the series finale to the ever popular Friday Night Lights. With a State Championship on the line, as well as Coach’s own future in football, the results weren’t the draw for those who followed the show. It was, as always, about clear eyes and full hearts. 

“Lucy Does A TV Commercial” - I Love Lucy - Season 1

Legendary sitcoms like I Love Lucy have those gags that always land on t-shirts, trivia questions, and fan favorite roundups. “Lucy Does A TV Commercial” gave the world one such moment, as Lucy (Lucile Ball) talks her way into a medicine commercial for Vitameatavegamin. Let’s just say the side effects of that elixir are what make this episode very “poopular.”  

“One For The Road” - Cheers - Season 11

There is no Cheers without Sam Malone (Ted Danson). Full stop, no exceptions. The series finale “One For The Road” got that right out of the gate, and seeing Sam realize it in the closing moments is probably why fans love it so much. It’s good to know that there’s always somewhere where everybody knows your name.

Fans know what they love from their favorite series, and the episodes that top the charts only prove it. So remember that whenever your favorite show takes its final bow, it'll eventually be contributing to the history of moments and plotlines like the ones shown above.

There was a time in the mid-to-late 2000s when it seemed like Taylor Kitsch was everywhere, as if it were every major Hollywood studio’s goal to make him the next big movie star. He showed up in everything from teen horror movies like The Covenant, a small role in the John Tucker Must Die cast, played fan-favorite Marvel character Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and led an action-packed thriller based on the board game Battleship.

These days, Kitsch is not necessarily opening blockbusters. Yet, as his frequent collaborator Peter Berg will vouch for, he has grown into an actor you can depend on to give a grounded, adept, and riveting performance, as seen in the very impressive filmography he has created for himself. Let’s go over these highlights in our guide for how to watch the best Taylor Kitsch movies and TV shows.

American Primeval (2025)

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Better Gilpin

What it's about: The dawn of the American West, as seen from various viewpoints.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch TV shows: From creator Mark L. Smith and director Peter Berg, the new Netflix TV show American Primeval is an intriguing, six-part look at a revolutionary time in American history through a gritty, brutal lens.

How to watch American Primeval

• Stream American Primeval on Netflix

Painkiller (2023)

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch

What it's about: Under the direction of Richard Sackler, Purdue Pharmaceuticals develops and distributes a powerful pain medication called Oxycontin, which proves to have a highly addictive, fatal, and devastating effect on millions of people.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch TV shows: From director and executive producer Peter Berg (who has a personal connection to Oxycontin), Painkiller is a fictionalized, six-episode Netflix original limited series dramatizing Purdue’s contribution to the opioid epidemic as told from multiple perspectives.

How to watch Painkiller

• Stream Painkiller on Netflix

Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)

Starring: Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton

What it's about: A dedicated head coach contends with his own personal struggles while leading his top-ranking high school football team – the pride of his Texas town – to greatness.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch TV shows: Years before working together on Painkiller, Taylor Kitsch collaborated with executive producer Peter Berg as part of the Friday Night Lights cast (in the role of Dillon Panthers’ fullback/running back Tim Riggins) in this hit series based on a movie of the same name that Berg also directed in 2004.

How to watch Friday Night Lights

• Buy Friday Night Lights on Amazon
• Buy Friday Night Lights on Blu-ray on Amazon

Lone Survivor (2013)

Director: Peter Berg

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster

What it's about: A Navy SEAL and his crew set out to capture a wanted Taliban leader dead or alive, only to come at odds with multiple armed adversaries in a harrowing fight for their lives in 2005 Afghanistan.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Kitsch plays real-life, deceased United States Navy SEAL officer Michael Murphy in Lone Survivor – a film that features a brutal depiction of war based on the tragic experience of Marcus Luttrell, who lost the rest of his unit during Operation Red Wings.

How to watch Lone Survivor

• Rent or buy Lone Survivor on Amazon
• Buy Lone Survivor on Blu-ray on Amazon

Snakes On A Plane (2006)

Director: David R. Ellis

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Nathan Phillips, Byron Lawson

What it's about: An FBI agent accompanies a murder witness on a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles where he is meant to testify against a notorious gangster – unaware that said criminal has orchestrated an attack on their plane by releasing a swarm of venomous snakes on the passengers.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Taylor Kitsch appears in the deliciously campy, cult-favorite horror-comedy Snakes on a Plane as a man who, along with his girlfriend (played by Samantha McLeod), falls prey to slithering enemies while 30,000 feet above ground.

How to watch Snakes on a Plane

• Stream Snakes on a Plane on Peacock
• Rent or buy Snakes On A Plane on Amazon
• Buy Snakes on a Plane on Blu-ray on Amazon

John Carter (2012)

Director: Andrew Stanton

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins

What it's about: A former Civil War veteran is mysteriously transported to a distant planet where he is forced to compete in barbaric challenges and comes to the aid of a desperate royal figure.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Taylor Kitsch’s first major leading role was the title hero from Disney’s John Carter – an adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “A Princess of Mars,” which was a critical and commercial failure upon release but is seen as an underrated epic by many today.

How to watch John Carter

• Stream John Carter on Disney+
• Rent or buy John Carter on Amazon
• Buy John Carter on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Grand Seduction (2013)

Director: Don McKellar

Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Taylor Kitsch

What it's about: To secure a contract to establish a factory in his struggling fishing village, an elder resident enlists fellow citizens to help convince a young, unwitting physician to take up a permanent residence in the town.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Following a run of disappointing big-budget projects, Taylor Kitsch put his attention toward smaller-scale films, such as The Grand Seduction – a funny and charming English-language update of the French-Canadian satire, La Grande Séduction.

How to watch The Grand Seduction

• Stream The Grand Seduction on Tubi
• Stream The Grand Seduction on Pluto TV
• Rent or buy The Grand Seduction on Amazon
• Buy The Grand Seduction on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Normal Heart (2014)

Director: Ryan Murphy

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Taylor Kitsch

What it's about: A group of gay activists ally with medical practitioners to raise awareness of the New York AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Taylor Kitsch plays Bruce Niles, a fictional character inspired by real-life gay rights activist Paul Graham Popham, in HBO's Emmy-winning adaptation of Larry Kramer’s Tony-winning, semi-autobiographical play, The Normal Heart.

How to watch The Normal Heart

• Stream The Normal Heart on Max
• Rent or buy The Normal Heart on Amazon
• Buy The Normal Heart on Blu-ray on Amazon

Only The Brave (2017)

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Starring: Josh Brolin, Miles Teller

What it's about: A firefighter crew is put to the ultimate test when a historic forest fire threatens to burn their to town the ground in 2013 Arizona.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Taylor Kitsch plays real-life firefighter Christopher MacKenzie in Only the Brave — a thrilling and inspiring account of the development and sacrificial heroism of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

How to watch Only the Brave

• Stream Only the Brave on Paramount+
• Rent or buy Only the Brave on Amazon
• Buy Only the Brave on Blu-ray on Amazon

Waco (2018)

Starring: Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch

What it's about: A fanatical religious group violently resists ATF suspicions, causing the FBI to initiate a 51-day siege on the cult’s Texas compound in 1993.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch TV shows: Taylor Kitsch gives one of his most acclaimed performances as leader of the Branch-Davidians, David Koresh, in Drew and John Erick Dowdle’s shocking, six-episode true crime limited series, Waco, which would later spawn a follow-up series called Waco: The Aftermath in 2023.

How to watch Waco

• Stream Waco on Paramount+
• Buy Waco on Amazon

21 Bridges (2019)

Director: Brian Kirk

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Taylor Kitsch, Stephan James

What it's about: A disgraced New York detective goes to desperate measures to capture a pair of notorious criminals by sealing off every exit from Manhattan.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Taylor Kitsch would turn up the dark to take on another villainous role in 21 Bridges – a high-concept action thriller also produced by Boseman, alongside his Avengers: Infinity and Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo.

How to watch 21 Bridges

• Rent or buy 21 Bridges on Amazon
• Buy 21 Bridges on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Defeated (2020)

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Logan Marshall-Green

What it's about: An American cop establishes a much-needed law enforcement unit in post-World War II Berlin, where he must also contend with a ruthless gangster.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch TV shows: Taylor Kitsch makes up for his bad behavior in 21 Bridges by playing someone on the right of the law as the lead of The Defeated – an intriguing historical limited series original produced for German television before being acquired by Netflix.

How to watch The Defeated

• Stream The Defeated on Netflix

The Terminal List (2022)

Starring: Chris Pratt, Taylor Kitsch

What it's about: After surviving a deadly ambush, a traumatized former Navy SEAL begins to suspect he is targeted by a conspiracy that threatens him and his loved ones.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Nearly a decade after playing a Navy SEAL in Lone Survivor, Taylor Kitsch plays yet another named Ben Edwards, who will reportedly be the focus of a prequel spin-off to The Terminal List – Amazon Prime’s hit action TV show based on a series of novels by Jack Carr.

How to watch The Terminal List

• Stream The Terminal List on Amazon Prime

If you still cannot get enough of Taylor Kitsch after this binge, keep an eye out for his upcoming projects. He told Variety in 2018 that he is developing a movie of his own that would be his feature-length debut as a writer and director.

While Friday Night Lights was not Taylor Kitsch’s first big job, it’s safe to say it was his breakout role, and to this day it’s one of the projects he’s best known for. Back in 2006, he was cast as Tim Riggins in Peter Berg’s show based on the film of the same name, and now the two creatives have reunited, 17 years later for Netflix’s Painkiller. While discussing this new drama, Berg opened up about seeing Kitsch grow as an actor over the course of nearly two decades, and he explained to CinemaBlend why he’s loved seeing him “shed the Tim Riggins legacy.” 

Both Friday Night Lights and Kitsch’s performance as Tim were critically acclaimed and wildly popular. The tortured football player was a constant among the Dillon Panthers. While he wasn’t a regular during the show’s final season, Tim Riggins still played an important part in the story, and to this day the actor behind him is known for the role. However, Berg noted that after the NBC drama came to an end, The Terminal List star was determined to not play a version of Tim Riggins over and over again. During the Painkiller junket, the director spoke to me about his relationship with the actor, and how he’s loved seeing him grow up and past the Dillon Panthers running back. He said:

After Friday Night Lights, Kitsch starred in John Carter and Battleship in 2012. Since then, he collaborated with Berg again on the 2013 film Lone Survivor, starred in a season of True Detective and worked alongside Chris Pratt in The Terminal List, plus he has his own show on the way that is within the Terminal List world. His most recent project on the 2023 TV schedule though is Painkiller – a fictionalized drama about the rise and consequences of OxyContin – which allowed Berg to collaborate with him again. 

The creator of the NBC football drama explained that he was excited to work with Kitsch on the Netflix drama. Speaking candidly, Peter Berg noted that the actor, like the families in the disclaimers of Painkiller, has had family members who struggled with OxyContin addiction. When it came to the Friday Night Lights star’s performance in the Netflix drama as Glen, a man who is prescribed and becomes addicted to Oxy, the director explained that his personal connection and skill as an actor really made for an “outstanding” performance. 

Taylor Kitsch does give a moving and heart-wrenching performance in Painkiller as a man who is struggling with addiction to this drug. He plays one part in the greater story about those who have been impacted by OxyContin addiction and the fight to bring down Purdue Pharma and those selling the drug. While both Friday Night Lights and Painkiller are dramas, this Netflix series shows just how much Kitsch has grown since his breakout role as Tim Riggins. 

To throw it back, and see where Berg and Kitsch’s partnership started, you can stream Friday Night Lights with a Hulu subscription. If you are looking to see their latest collaboration, you can watch Painkiller with a Netflix subscription. 

1-2-3-4, what have we been waiting for? Cheer Season 2!

Wait, I binged through it already? 

Those were my thoughts exactly when I unfortunately hit the last episode of Cheer Season 2 this past weekend. As someone who loved the first season of Cheer and couldn’t wait to see what they did next, I was eager to continue the saga of this team. But now that I’ve finished all the episodes so quickly, I can only wonder what to watch next, and I’m sure you’re feeling the same way too. 

Luckily, there are plenty of options out there for you to enjoy if you’re looking for a new show to watch that might remind you of Cheer in many ways. From scripted shows that have gone on for quite some time to other awesome docuseries that you’ll really love, these are some of the best shows just like Cheer that you can watch now. 

Last Chance U (Netflix)

This is their last chance, and they’re not going to throw it away. Last Chance U is a Netflix original series that follows the inspirational stories of a group of young men who have one dream - to play in the NFL, all taking place at East Mississippi Community College. 

For fans of Cheer, this is the perfect series for you. It reminds me a lot of the team from Navarro and the love that they have for each other, but also the strength they need to have in order to be the very best. Most NFL players come from major Division 1 college football teams, but a small percentage manage to make a team through less conventional means... like Last Chance U. 

Stream Last Chance U on Netflix.

Friday Night Lights (Peacock)

The first of three scripted series on this list, Friday Night Lights is a banger of a show. This popular drama series follows how football can shape a town, from its players to the fans to the family members of the team, and how they all have one shared thing in common - their love for the game. 

Friday Night Lights was iconic in many ways. The Friday Night Lights cast was stellar creating excellent drama and keeping me enthralled from beginning to end. But for fans of Cheer, this show has two things you’ll love - the sheer athleticism of the games (even if they are fictional), as well as the family bonds that come from playing on a team, like the cheer squad. Friday Night Lights is apparently getting rebooted, so maybe now is the best time to watch. 

Stream Friday Night Lights on Peacock.

Cheer Squad (Netflix)

Next up, we have Cheer Squad, another cheer reality series. In this reality series, we follow a team of cheerleaders who are at the top of their game and are the two-time World Champions. But with the pressure getting stronger each season, are they able to keep their crown amidst all the other talent? 

I mean, do I have to spell out why this show would be perfect for you? It has all the same elements of Cheer and more. The crazy stunts, the fun relationships, the intense competition. But what makes this series even more special is the drama. I feel like Cheer Squad is a million times more dramatic and in a great way. It’s something you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from, not for a single second. 

Stream Cheer Squad on Netflix.

Fightworld (Netflix)

The world of fighting, from MMA to mixed martial arts, is a dangerous yet interesting one, and that’s exactly what Fightworld is all about. Following Frank Grillo, this Netflix original docuseries explores the different elements of fighting that are taught around the world, and the traditions that surround each of their cultures. 

While you probably know Frank Grillo from his time in the Marvel movies, specifically the fun fight scene in Avengers 4 (even though he originally turned down his reappearance as Crossbones), the actor is a prominent enthusiast of fighting culture and has a serious passion for it, one that could rival the coach of the Navarro squad in Cheer. 

Something else I really love about Fightworld for fans of Cheer is how much you learn about each fighting style. It’s the same concept as Cheer where you learn so much about why cheerleading is such a great sport. Fightworld is just as educational as it is entertaining in all the right ways.  

Stream Fightworld on Netflix.

Sunderland Til' I Die (Netflix)

Next up, we have this docuseries that focuses on the trials and tribulations of a soccer team - otherwise known as the real football. In Sunderland Til’ I Die, a soccer club is trying to fight back to their glory days after they are relegated from the Premiere League, and must prove that they are better than they seem. 

For fans of Cheer, this is one of the best shows out there because it shows the pure passion that these players have for the game. Even if they failed in so many ways possible, they want to prove that they are better than anyone bargained them for, and to fight their way to the top tooth and nail. Honestly, this docuseries reminds me a lot of the Apple TV+ original series, Ted Lasso, which follows almost the same premise. For fans of Cheer, maybe watching both shows will entertain you, but start off with this incredible docuseries. 

Stream Sunderland Til’ I Die on Netflix.

Hard Knocks (HBO Max)

Moving on, we have another amazing football series, but this time, focusing on the NFL. For almost twenty one years now, Hard Knocks has been focusing on the worst of the worst in football each year - or, at least close to the worst depending on the year - showing their training camp from day one to their first game, and seeing if the football team can improve in any way. 

The reason I put down Hard Knocks for Cheer fans isn’t really because they have similar premises. I know they're very different sports, but the one thing I really relate to both of these is the pure enthusiasm that the players have for their teams. For example, the 2021 season of Hard Knocks focused on the Dallas Cowboys, and both the pros and the rookies had the same passion for this team to succeed, just like the team for Cheer. And look, they ended up going to the 2022 playoffs through the Wild Card division - they didn't make it very far, but that’s another article for another day. 

Stream Hard Knocks on HBO Max.

Basketball Or Nothing (Netflix)

Another awesome docuseries from Netflix, Basketball or Nothing follows a basketball team that is located on the largest Native American reservation in the country, the Navajo Nation, and follows the boys team at Chinle High School and how their lives have changed because of the game. 

For fans of Cheer, this series has that same premise - the urge of this team to bring home a state championship trophy and prove that their community is far more than anyone else believes them to be. But something I really like about this docuseries is that it heavily focuses in on how their cultures and home-lives affect who they are in the sport. I grew up not knowing much about the Navajo tribe or what their culture is, and having a series like this that explains what life is like in this community and how basketball fits into that is super helpful and really intriguing to learn about. 

Stream Basketball or Nothing on Netflix.

Dare Me (Netflix)

Next up, we have Dare Me, the second scripted series on this list that is sure to hook you the moment you turn it on. In this thrilling series, Dare Me tells the story of a high school cheer squad whose lives get upturned when a new coach arrives, and with her, a whole chest full of dark secrets that are waiting to be unleashed.

I will never forgive USA for cancelling this show after one season. Dare Me is so good and I wish we got to see more of it. For fans of Cheer, it has all that you want regarding some cool stunt work with cheerleading and a whole lot of drama, but Dare Me has such an amazing cast, incredible storylines and so much more that you’ll be dragged in from the second you start watching it. Truly, give it a shot if you haven’t seen it yet. 

Stream Dare Me on Netflix.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making The Team (Paramount Plus)

You thought we were done with cheerleading reality shows? Heck naw, let’s look at Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. In this ongoing reality series, we follow the cheerleaders of the popular football team, or rather, the people who are trying to become a cheerleader, and the incredibly difficult audition process you’d have to go through. 

I bet you didn’t think you’d see the Dallas Cowboys twice on this list, huh? Don’t worry, that’s the end of my sports talk, but for fans of Cheer, this show is perfect. The show has gone on for sixteen seasons, following a new cast of cheerleaders every year, detailing their troubles to try and get to the top of the squad. The training camp system is intense as well. If anyone ever says that cheerleading isn’t a true sport, just show them this series, because I’m always astounded at the athleticism of these women. 

Stream Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team on Paramount Plus.

All American (Netflix)

Last but not least, we have All American, the last scripted series on this list. This popular CW show follows a young man who grew up in South L.A., but when he is recruited to play for the varsity team at Beverly Hills High School, he has to not only prove his ability on the field, but off as well, dealing with a vastly different lifestyle that he never thought he would get close to. 

All American has hit number one on Netflix multiple times and developed a fanbase for a reason. The show has a phenomenal story and touches on serious topics, such as the effects of class in the sports system, inequality, racism, and so much more. For fans of Cheer, you’ll not only love the characters as much as you love the real-life cheerleaders, but want to root for their success every step of the way. All American is even receiving a spinoff soon, so now is the perfect time to watch it. 

Stream All American on Netflix.

What will you watch next? Will there be a Cheer Season 3? Only time will tell, but for now, at least you have something fun and new to watch while we wait. 

No actor wants to be typecast as a villain, but Jesse Plemons is just too damn good at playing them. Thus, ever since his sinister turn in the Breaking Bad cast as Todd, he has practically made a living playing characters that range from morally questionable (such as Agent Roy Mitchell in Judas and the Black Messiah) to stereotypically mustache-twirling (Prince Joachim in Jungle Cruise).

Believe it or not, the two-time Emmy-nominated former child actor has played a few roles that are worthy of empathy, which we will highlight in our following picks of the best Jesse Plemons movies and TV shows to watch right now. However, we cannot help but start with his biggest, baddest, and (arguably) most iconic role.

Breaking Bad (Netflix)

Desperate to be able to provide for his family after learning he is terminally ill, a high school chemistry teacher (five-time Emmy-winner Bryan Cranston) teams up with his former student (Aaron Paul) to start manufacturing and selling crystal methamphetamine, which sparks a slow, dramatic change to his morality.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: For how despicable Walter White became over the course of Breaking Bad’s groundbreaking five seasons from 2008 to 2013, he is a freaking angel when compared to the cruel, inhumane, and soulless Todd, whom Jesse Plemons began playing on its final season and would reprise in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, through harrowing flashbacks to Jesse Pinkman’s time under his captivity.

Stream Breaking Bad on Netflix.
Buy Breaking Bad on Amazon.

Also try streaming El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie on Netflix.

Black Mirror: U.S.S. Callister (Netflix)

A charismatic space traveler (Jesse Plemons) bravely, wisely, and compassionately leads his loyal crew on a dangerous journey through the farthest reaches of space… or so it seems.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: Similarly to how he portrayed Todd, Jesse Plemons lures you in with a seemingly harmless, almost sympathetic demeanor before pulling the rug right from under you in one violent jolt with his Emmy-nominated performance in one of the best Black Mirror episodes, “U.S.S. Callister” - a stunning ode to old school Star Trek with a disturbing, technophobic twist.

Stream Black Mirror: U.S.S. Callister on Netflix.

I’m Thinking Of Ending Things (Netflix)

An unnamed young woman (Irish actress Jessie Buckley) joins her new boyfriend (Jesse Plemons) on a trip to meet his mother (Toni Collette) and father (Dave Thewlis) at his secluded childhood home, where bizarre circumstances cause her to question the nature of her relationship and her own life as she knows it.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: Another Netflix original in which Jesse Plemons’ moral compass and trustworthiness are put into question is the 2020 movie, I’m Thinking of Ending Things - an impeccably strange and thoroughly unnerving adaptation of Ian Reid’s novel, that writer and director Charlie Kaufman adapts into one of his most defining works. 

Stream I’m Thinking Of Ending Things on Netflix.

Game Night (Amazon Rental)

A married couple (Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams) who regularly have friends over for evenings to play harmless games are in for their most memorable instance of such an occasion (if they can survive it), when the husband’s brother (Kyle Chandler) offers to be the host this time.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams’ characters question the moral compass and trustworthiness of the creepy cop who lives next door (Jesse Plemons, who also gets to reunite with Friday Night Lights’ Kyle Chandler) in 2018’s Game Night - a surprisingly clever and uproariously funny dark comedy, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.

Rent/Buy Game Night on Amazon.

Like Mike (HBO Max)

An orphaned teenager (Shad “Bow Wow” Moss) becomes an NBA star with the help of a pair of shoes that once belonged to Michael Jordan which, after a freak electrical accident, magically give him extraordinary athletic abilities.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: Jesse Plemons was “breaking bad” even as a child actor, when he played the resident bully at Lil Bow Wow’s orphanage in 2002’s Like Mike - one of the best sports movies for kids that the whole family can enjoy.

Stream Like Mike on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Like Mike on Amazon.

Friday Night Lights (Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, Tubi)

A Texas high school football team and their dedicated head coach (Kyle Chandler) struggle to stay on top while falling under the pressures of life and from being one of the nation’s top-ranking academic athletics programs.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: Speaking of sports, Jesse Plemons’ first major role on a hit series came when he was hired for the Friday Night Lights cast as high school football player Landry Clarke - one of the most likable characters (a rarity for the actor now) on one of TV’s most beloved athletic dramas.

Stream Friday Night Lights on Netflix.
Stream Friday Night Lights on Hulu.

Stream Friday Night Lights on Peacock.
Stream Friday Night Lights on Tubi.

Buy Friday Night Lights on Amazon.

Fargo, Season 2 (Hulu)

A deadly shooting at a local diner has a tangentially life-changing effect on a State Trooper (Patrick Wilson), a seemingly innocent married couple (Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst), and a small criminal organization in 1970s Minnesota.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: In his first Emmy-nominated TV role, Jesse Plemons plays a meek butcher’s assistant who becomes embroiled in a different kind of bloody mess with his wife (Kirsten Dunst, who became Plemons’ real-life romantic partner) in the second season of Fargo - FX’s arresting anthology crime series loosely inspired by Joel and Ethan Coen’s Oscar-winning 1996 masterpiece.

Stream Fargo, Season 2 on Hulu.
Buy Fargo, Season 2 on Amazon.

The Irishman (Netflix)

An elderly man (Academy Award winner Robert De Niro) reminisces about the decades he spent loyally working as a hitman for the mafia and how that career tragically intersected with his friendship with labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Academy Award winner Al Pacino).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: Jimmy Hoffa’s unofficial “adopted son” (and unwitting accomplice to his mysterious disappearance), Chuckie O’Brien, in the allegedly fact-based 2019 Netflix original movie The Irishman was Jesse Plemons’ first role as directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, who would later cast the actor in his upcoming historical crime drama, Killers of the Flower Moon.

Stream The Irishman on Netflix.

Judas And The Black Messiah (HBO Max)

To avoid serving time in prison and to make some good cash, a young thief (Oscar nominee Lakeith Stanfield) accepts an offer from a shady FBI agent (Jesse Plemons) to be an informant for Chicago’s chapter of the Black Panther party, and unexpectedly comes to admire the chairman, Fred Hampton (Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: While he is not exactly playing a criminal this time, you will not remember Jesse Plemons’ role as Roy Mitchell too fondly by the Judas and the Black Messiah ending - director Shaka King’s powerful, Oscar-winning retelling of a shocking and unjustly overlooked tragedy in the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

Stream Judas And The Black Messiah on HBO Max.
Buy Judas And The Black Messiah on Amazon.

Other People (Netflix)

After recently breaking up with his boyfriend, a New York comedy writer (Jesse Plemons) must confront his dysfunctional relationship with his conservative family when he moves back in with them to help care for his terminally ill mother (former Saturday Night Live cast member Molly Shannon).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: In 2016, Jesse Plemons gave one of the most honest and heartfelt performances of his film career in Other People - a deeply emotional, but effectively funny, story loosely inspired by writer and director Chris Kelly’s own life experiences.

Stream Other People on Netflix.

Vice (Hulu)

Politician Dick Cheney (an almost entirely unrecognizable Christian Bale in Oscar-winning makeup) rises to unprecedented power in the United States government from his discreet position as Vice President of the administration headed by George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: Other than the fact that Jesse Plemons plays him, I suppose it is not too surprising that the most likable and sympathetic character in writer and director Adam McKay’s Vice is a fictional character named Kurt, who also narrates this dazzling, inventive 2018 satire for reasons I will not give away.

Stream Vice on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Vice on Amazon.

The Power Of The Dog (Netflix)

A charming, yet domineering, ranch hand (Benedict Cumberbatch) ungraciously taunts his brother’s (Jesse Plemons) new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her feeble son (Kodi Smit-McPhee), until he and the young man begin to grow unexpectedly close.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Jesse Plemons: Jesse Plemons reunites with his real-life love, Kirsten Dunst, onscreen and has the advantage of not being the most brutally antagonistic character in the 2021 Netflix original, The Power of the Dog - a stunning return for The Piano director Jane Campion, based on Thomas Savage's Neo-Western novel.

Stream The Power Of The Dog on Netflix.

In addition to Martin Scorsese’s aforementioned Killers of the Flower Moon, set for a 2022 release on Apple TV+, Jesse Plemons is also starring opposite Jason Segel and Lily Collins in the home invasion thriller, Windfall, which is expected to come out that same year. He is also currently filming the HBO Max exclusive true crime miniseries, Love and Death.

Clear eyes, full hearts, new show? A rebooted Friday Night Lights film has been in the works for years, and now it seems that more than just a movie is on the way. The beloved football drama series Friday Night Lights that originally aired on NBC is getting a reboot as well. But unlike the original, this one will actually follow its movie counterpart.

Producer Brian Grazer confirmed to Collider that a new Friday Night Lights movie, set in 2015, is in the works, with hopes to begin filming early next year. The movie is planned to be a starting point for a new TV show, as the film events will carry on into the series and take place in a more recent time.

A new Friday Night Lights movie was first announced back in 2018 with David Gordon Green, director of Halloween Kills, attached to the project. A year later, a filmmaking duo, the Dowdles brothers, took over directing and will also serve as showrunners on the TV show.

Inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H.G. Bissinger, the original Friday Night Lights series ran on NBC for five seasons and followed Kyle Chandler as a high school football coach in the town of Dillon, Texas. The series also starred Connie Britton as Chandler’s better half, plus Minka Kelly, Adrianne Palicki, Aimee Teegarden, Michael B. Jordan, Jurnee Smollett, and more.

The reboot will reportedly be a new story featuring all new characters, meaning fans of the original likely won’t be seeing Coach Taylor, Jason Street, Lyla Garrity, Matt Saracen, or Tim Riggins any time soon. The new movie and series will be set in a different town than Dillon.

Although there was a 2004 FNL film that was adapted from the book, the original NBC series had no relation to the film and was all its own. This won’t be the case for the new reboots since there is a clear plan to have the film connect to the new series, which raises new questions about the casting of any high schoolers if the movie is set in 2015 and the show is set more recently.

There is no telling who will be cast in the series or what the full plot is going to be. It could follow the original series or the book, but there’s also the possibility that it could be its own story. Friday Night Lights remains a beloved drama more than a decade after it wrapped in 2011, so hopefully the reboots do justice to the originals. But honestly, nothing can beat Kyle Chandler saying “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” to the Dillon Panthers.

It will definitely be interesting to see this new Friday Night Lights series and how it compares to the original. Hopefully at least one or two characters pop up in the reboot, for the sake of nostalgia. During the wait for more reboot news, the OG Friday Night Lights is available to stream on Peacock, Netflix, Hulu and Tubi, because you can never get enough of the Dillon Panthers.

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Over the years, Billy Bob Thornton has played everything from a thief conning his way through the holiday season in Bad Santa to the man behind one of the most unbelievable plans to save the world in Armageddon and just about everything in between. The Academy Award winner, who can do everything from act to write and direct, as was the case with Sling Blade, has built up a respectable filmography throughout this career, and it doesn’t look like he plans on slowing down anytime soon. So, before he goes off and makes another thriller or drama we’ll surely be talking about for years to come, here is a quick rundown of the best Billy Bob Thornton movies and how you can watch them.

Sling Blade (1996)

When Karl Childers (Billy Bob Thornton) is released from a mental hospital decades after killing his mother, he forms an unlikely bond with Frank Wheatley (Lucas Black), a young boy still coming to terms with his father’s suicide. While Frank, his mother Linda, (Natalie Canerday), and Vaughn Cunningham (John Ritter) are accepting of Karl and his tormented past, others in the small Arkansas town, like Doyle Hargraves (Dwight Yoakam), aren’t as welcoming to then mentally disabled man.

Why it’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s best movies: Billy Bob Thornton not only starred in Sling Blade but he also directed and wrote the 1996 drama, taking home an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his efforts. The film was based on a short called Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade that Thornton wrote and directed two years earlier. On top of that, Sling Blade also tells a beautiful and at times harrowing story about second chances and understanding set in the American South.

Stream Sling Blade on HBO Max.

Rent/Buy Sling Blade on Amazon.

Buy Sling Blade on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Bad Santa (2003)

As far as anyone is concerned, Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) is nothing more than a foul-mouthed and persistently hungover mall Santa who takes the holiday season one bottle of cheap booze at a time. Unbeknownst to the shoppers and management at various shopping centers throughout town, Stokes and his partner Marcus Skidmore (Tony Cox) are actually prolific con artists with an annual tradition of robbing stores blind on Christmas Eve. Well, that is until Stokes meets and befriends a young boy (Brett Kelly) who could bring on a Christmas miracle.

Why it’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s best movies: Bad Santa has become one of the most iconic holiday movies of the 21st Century though it shouldn’t be confused with something you could share with the family next Christmas Eve. And despite the drinking, debauchery, and thievery, there’s a heartfelt story about redemption even for the crudest and drunkest of mall Santas.

Rent Bad Santa on Amazon.

Buy Bad Santa on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Armageddon (1998)

With a planet-killing asteroid set on a collision course with Earth, NASA executive Dan Truman (Billy Bob Thornton) comes up with a far-fetched plan that just so happens to be humanity’s only chance of survival: send a group of roughnecks from an offshore oil rig led by Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) to drill into the surface of the rock and blow it up with a nuclear bomb.

Why it’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s best movies: Released the same summer as another end-of-the-world asteroid movie, Michael Bay’s Armageddon is a stylized and unrealistic popcorn movie that makes you say “To hell with it, let’s have a good time,” and it does just that. One thing that makes the movie so enjoyable 22 years later (well, besides the guy yelling about his phonebook) is the insanely stacked cast, which includes Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Steve Buscemi, Owen Wilson, Michael Clarke Duncan, and more.

Stream Armageddon on Peacock.

Rent/Buy Armageddon on Amazon.

Buy Armageddon on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Friday Night Lights (2004)

When their star player, Boobie Miles (Derek Luke) sustains a season-ending injury in the opening game, the Permian High School Panthers, head coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) leads the team on improbable campaign to the state championship game. But not if the team’s families and town of Odessa, Texas, don’t fall apart first.

Why it’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s best movies: Before it was adapted into a successful television series, Friday Night Lights, which was based on the H.G. Bissinger’s 1990 non-fiction novel of the same name, told one of the greatest football stories ever brought to the big screen. With outstanding performances from its large ensemble case, a gripping and highly emotional story, and an amazing soundtrack by Texas post-rock outfit Explosions in the Sky, there’s are plenty of reasons it’s one of the best sports movies of all time.

Stream Friday Night Lights on Starz*_._

Rent/Buy Friday Night Lights on Amazon.

Buy Friday Night Lights on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.*

Monster’s Ball (2001)

Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) and Leticia Musgrove (Halle Berry) are a grieving widower and widow who strike up an improbable bond shortly following the death of their children. They find comfort, security, and solace in one another, but when Hank, a prison guard, learns he was witness to the execution of Leticia’s husband on death row, the relationship, and their lives become all the more complicated.

Why it’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s best movies: Monster’s Ball is mostly remembered for showcasing the Oscar-winning performance of Halle Berry, which was the first and only (as of 2021) time an African-American woman has taken home the Academy Award for Best Actress. This emotional and intimate story about two people from different walks of life finding love again in one another is truly something to behold.

Stream Monster’s Ball on Showtime.

Rent/Buy Monster’s Ball on Amazon.

Buy Monster’s Ball on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

A Simple Plan (1998)

The lives of Hank Mitchell (Bill Paxton), his brother Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton), and their friend Lou Chambers (Brent Briscoe) are forever changed when they find a crashed plane with a dead pilot and $4 million in cash. What starts out as a simple, yet morally complicated plan quickly unfolds into something that could further complicate not only their lives but everyone they know.

Why it’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s best movies: Directed by Sam Raimi, A Simple Plan is a dark and twisted take on the crime noir genre that gets rid of darkened city streets for rural Minnesota and all its mysteries. The film would go on to receive two Academy Awards, including a nod for Billy Bob Thornton in the Best Supporting Actor category.

Stream A Simple Plan on Paramount+.

Rent/Buy A Simple Plan on Amazon.

Buy A Simple Plan on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)

Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton), a small-town barber in 1940s California, has grown tired of his life after discovering his wife Doris (Frances McDormand) has been carrying on with an extramarital affair. To get back at his wife, her lover, and to spice up his seemingly normal and quiet life, Ed comes up with a blackmail scheme. What starts out as a relatively simple revenge plot quickly unfolds into something no one, not even Ed, could have ever expected.

Why it’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s best movies: Directed by Ethan and Joel Coen, and shot by the incomparable Roger Deakins, The Man Who Wasn’t There is what would you come to expect from the visionary filmmaker brothers and a cast that also includes Richard Jenkins, Tony Shalhoub, James Gandolfini, and a young Scarlett Johansson, and it doesn’t let down.

Rent/Buy The Man Who Wasn’t There on Amazon.

Buy The Man Who Wasn’t There on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Primary Colors (1998)

When Jack Stanton (John Travolta), a Democratic governor from an unnamed southern state announces his candidacy for President of the United States, his campaign puts together a remarkable, diverse, and somewhat morally-bankrupt team of advisors including his wife, Susan (Emma Thompson), political strategist Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton), and the idealistic Henry Burton (Adrian Lester). Told through a comedic lens, the film explores the ups, downs, and compromises one must take to lead a successful campaign.

Why it’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s best movies: Loosely based off the 1992 Clinton Campaign, Primary Colors takes stories and people tied to the successful Presidential bid and turns it up by a few degrees. Billy Bob Thornton, whose character was based on Louisiana political strategist James Carville, is outstanding as a ruthless political insider who wants nothing more than to get a win for his boss, no matter what it takes.

Stream Primary Colors on Hulu.

Rent/Buy Primary Colors on Amazon.

Buy Primary Colors on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

One False Move (1992)

Three ruthless criminals — Ray Malcolm (Billy Bob Thornton), Lila “Fantasia” Walker (Cynda Williams), and Lane “Pluto” Franklin (Michael Beach) — go into hiding in a rural Arkansas town after pulling off a series of violent crimes in Los Angeles. While the trio initially think they’ve escaped consequences for their actions, they quickly realize how wrong they are after they fall in the crosshairs of Sheriff Dale “Hurricane” Dixon (Bill Paxton).

Why it’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s best movies: Another movie on this list written by Billy Bob Thornton, One False Move, which was directed by Carl Franklin, is a hard-hitting and complex crime thriller with its fair share of secrets. Plus, who doesn’t love Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton sharing scenes together.

Stream One False Move on Starz.

Rent/Buy One False Move on Amazon.

Buy One False Move on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Tombstone (1993)

Tired of being gunslingers in the American West, Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell), his brothers, Morgan (Bill Paxton) and Virgil (Sam Elliott), and best friend Doc Holiday (Val Kilmer) move to Tombstone, Arizona, with hopes of starting a new and less bloody life as businessmen in the boomtown. Trouble, however, isn’t far behind in the form of the Cowboy gang, a ruthless band of outlaws hellbent on making life difficult for everyone in their path.

Why it’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s best movies: Tombstone is the one of the best cowboy movies of the late 20th Century and one that is just beloved now as it was upon its release nearly 30 years ago. One thing that makes the movie so great is its outstanding cast, which happens to include Billy Bob Thornton as the foul-mouthed card dealer Johnny Tyler who just stands there and bleeds.

Rent/Buy Tombstone on Amazon.

Buy Tombstone on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Love Actually (2003)

Told through nine interconnected stories of romance, loss, and new beginnings during the holiday season, Love Actually paints a beautiful picture of Great Britain during the holidays and how anything can happen on Christmas if you believe in love.

Why it’s one of Billy Bob Thornton’s best movies: Billy Bob Thornton is only in Love Actually for a few minutes, but he makes the most of his time on screen as U.S. President, the bullish American commander-in-chief who thinks he railroad British Prime Minister David (Hugh Grant) in every way possible. This tension leads to one of the best character stories in Richard Curtis’ 2003 modern Christmas classic.

Stream Love Actually on IMDbTV.

Rent/Buy Love Actually on Amazon.

Buy Love Actually on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

BONUS: Fargo Season 1 (TV Series) (2014)

The first season of the FX anthology series adaptation of Joel and Ethan Coens’ Fargo centers on the story of Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton), a mysterious hitman who crashes his car in the small town of Bemidji, Minnesota, and proceeds to become involved in the lives of the local townsfolk, sometimes with disastrous results.

Billy Bob Thornton, who previously worked with the Coen brothers and who also appeared in a crime drama set in Minnesota, would end up winning a Golden Globe in the Best Actor — Miniseries or Television Film category with multiple other nominations. The dark, mysterious, and deadpan nature of Thornton’s character makes this an easy binge.

Stream Fargo Season 1 on Hulu.

Rent/Buy Fargo Season 1 on Amazon.

Buy Fargo Season 1 on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

As you can see, the list of best Billy Bob Thornton movies is a varied bunch, with everything from sports dramas to crime thrillers, and just about everything in between. With other projects in the works, including The Gray Man from the Russo Brothers, expect to see Thornton pop up in some of the most exciting 2021 movies as well as all the upcoming 2022 new movie releases.

Thanks in part to his years as the inimitable Coach Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights, Kyle Chandler brings a certain kind of amicable authority to just about every role he plays. His latest casting will no doubt bring that persona out in full, as Chandler is teaming with Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan for the new streaming series Mayor of Kingstown, which also stars MCU vet Jeremy Renner. Only, the actor's new character doesn't sound nearly as respectable as Coach T, even if I wouldn't want to tell him that to his face.

Mayor of Kingstown is a crime drama set in the titular Kingstown, Michigan, where good jobs and good people aren't necessarily easy to come by, and the prison systems are the main source of employment. (And possibly housing, depending on one's moral status.) With an intention to focus on themes such as corruption, racism and inequality, the series centers on the McLusky family, a clan always seeking more power within a town where justice is a rare commodity. As one might have guessed, Chandler will be a pillar within the family unit.

While Jeremy Renner will be taking on the role of Mike McLusky, Kyle Chandler was brought in to play the older brother Mitch McLusky, proving that their parents were fans of alliteration. According to Deadline, Mitch is a well-established "fixer" both within Kingstown's prison system and outside of it, so you know he's got connections for days. And who's gonna tell Kyle Chandler no to something?

With the full trailer yet to be released, Paramount+ did put out a first look video for Mayor of Kingstown, in which Kyle Chandler and Jeremy Renner get to share the screen together, so check it out below!

Kyle Chandler is just one more in an already long line of A+ actors that Mayor of Kingstown co-creator Taylor Sheridan has locked down for his various TV and film projects in recent years. Along with co-creator Hugh Dillon, who's also part of the main cast, this new drama boasts 9-1-1: Lone Star's Derek Webster and the Oscar-winning legend Dianne Wiest. For more proof, just look at Kevin Costner and the rest of Yellowstone's ensemble, in which just about every character has earned their own mini-fandom. As well as the recent casting news for the prequel spinoff 1883, which landed Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill as its initial trio of stars. Sheridan is so good at crafting characters for stellar actors to bite into, and I'm thinking Mitch McLusky is going to be another standout role for Chandler.

It's somehow been ten years since Grey's Anatomy vet Kyle Chandler left the sidelines of Friday Night Lights, but the actor definitely hasn't been absent from our lives or our televisions. His meatiest role since then was definitely as John Rayburn in Netflix's nerve-grinding drama Bloodline, with Hulu's limited series Catch-22 as his other marquee role. He'll soon be heard in the Star Wars universe for Disney+'s Star Wars Visions, As well, he is set to star opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt within an episode of Showtime's upcoming ride-sharing anthology comedy Super Pumped. And that's on top of all the film work he's been busy with, including the Godzilla franchise, Netflix's space drama The Midnight Sky, and Jason Momoa's upcoming fantastical thriller Slumberland.

Thankfully, fans won't have TOO long to wait to see Kyle Chandler back in action on the small screen, as Mayor of Kingstown will make its simulcast debut on both Paramount Network and the streaming service Paramount+ on Sunday, November 14, after a brand new episode of Yellowstone. Check out all the other big shows coming to the 2021 Fall TV schedule!

Anyone who has spent any amount of time in and around Texas during the fall months knows that the general population in the Lone Star State is obsessed with high school football. There have been books, TV shows, and documentaries about the phenomenon that is prep football, but few capture the passion, pageantry, and raw emotion that is a Friday night under the stars in the Heart of Texas Friday Night Lights and Varsity Blues. But which film does a better job?

Below we will break down and compare several aspects that can be found in both movies and decide once and for all, which Texas high school football is not only the better movie but also which of the two films better captures the essence of the only thing Texans love more than the Dallas Cowboys. Let’s find out who’s the real champ of the Lone Star State.

The Plot

Before we get into all the nitty gritty details about the specifics of Friday Night Lights and Varsity Blues, let’s first break down each movie’s plot and which one is more effective.

Friday Night Lights’ Plot

Based on a true story, Friday Night Lights tells the story of the 1988 Permian Panthers, a high school football team based in Odessa, Texas. When star running back James “Boobie” Miles suffers a potentially career-ending injury during the opening game of the season, his teammates, classmates, and fellow Odessites fear all is lost. What follows is an improbable season that takes the Panthers to the State Championship game in a losing effort against Dallas Carter High School.

Varsity Blues’ Plot

Set in the fictional town of West Canaan, Texas, Varsity Blues follows Jonathan “Mox” Moxon (James Van Der Beek), the backup quarterback for West Canaan High School as he is thrust into the spotlight after the starting QB, Lance Harbor (Paul Walker) suffers a horrific knee injury and is forced to stand on the sidelines. Going against the tyrannical head coach and conventional wisdom, Mox leads the Coyotes to the District Championship game which they win in spectacular fashion.

Which Movie’s Plot Is Better

While Varsity Blues’ story about Jonathan “Mox” Moxon is great (as are various subplots about his teammates) and makes for some great drama, the movie’s plot pales in comparison to that of Friday Night Lights’ and how it tackles so many different issues off the field that go beyond high school drama. The story of James “Boobie” Miles (Derek Luke) and his uncle going on a crusade to fix his ACL to the way the town responds to the loss is absolutely heartbreaking.

Depiction Of Football Culture In Texas

With both movies being set in the heart of Texas, it only seems natural for each film to showcase the football culture that is so prevalent throughout the state, but which does a better job?

Friday Night Lights’ Depiction Of Football Culture

One of the best examples of Friday Night Lights’ true-to-life depiction of football culture can be seen in the character of Charles Billingsley (Tim McGraw), the alcoholic father of fullback Don Billingsley (Garret Hedlund) who won a State Championship with the Panthers in his day but has never let go of youth or gotten over his “glory days,” creating a myriad of issues.

Varsity Blues’ Depiction Of Football Culture

In Varsity Blues, West Canaan, like many small towns in Texas, essentially shuts down every Friday night as the Coyotes take to the gridiron. Students, teachers, school officials, parents, business owners, you name it, they’re all there to watch the game under the lights each week, creating this close-knit and high-intensity environment that feels as real as anything you’ll see on ESPN.

Which Movie’s Depiction Of Football Culture Is Better

This round has to go to Varsity Blues simply for the fact that it faithfully captures the feel of football-obsessed small town in Texas on a Friday night. It gets bonus points for the way Jonathan “Mox” Moxon is transformed from a nobody to the most popular person in town in a split-second.

How Injuries Affect The Team

Another thing Friday Night Lights and Varsity Blues have in common is the way in which the conflict of both films largely has to do with star players suffering devastating injuries on the field. It’s only the approach that is different.

Friday Night Lights’ Injuries

Multiple players on the Permian High School football team sustain injuries throughout the course of the movie but none compare to running back James “Boobie” Miles who tears his ACL after being tackled in the opening game of the 1988 season. Ahead of the playoffs, Boobie lies to Coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) and says that his knee is fine, but the injury becomes even more severe when he takes a hard hit later in the game.

Varsity Blues’ Injuries

At the start of the season in Varsity Blues, Lance Harbor is the starting quarterback and star of the team so when a nagging knee injury threatens West Canaan’s hopes of a championship season, Coach Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight) pressures the high school athlete into injecting shots into the affected area to numb the pain. This shortsighted plan backfires and Lance’s knee is injured once more, this time costing him not only the season but his football scholarship to Florida State University.

Which Movie Does A Better Job Of Tackling Injuries

Lance Harbor’s injury and the driving force behind it in Varsity Blues does make for great drama, it lacks the subtlety of Boobie Miles’ journey in Friday Night Lights, which is more effective at showing the lengths athletes will go to follow their dreams while not being forced to do so by a tyrannical coach.

The Quarterback

Friday Night Lights and Varsity Blues both feature teams led by improbable leaders with Mike Winchell (Lucas Black) and Jonathan “Mox” Moxon, respectively, but which quarterback brings more to his team?

Friday Night Lights’ Quarterback

At the start of the season, Mike Winchell essentially has one goal: get the ball to Boobie Miles. That obviously goes out the window with the running back’s injury in the opener, forcing Winchell to step up his game and become a leader both on and off the field if the Panthers are to win the State Championship.

Varsity Blues’ Quarterback

Mox Moxon starts off the season counting down the days until West Canaan and his life in Texas are in the rearview mirror, but that all changes when he’s thrust into the spotlight. Through it all, Mox keeps his wits about him and pulls through to win the District Championship on his own terms and while also not sacrificing himself or his teammates to fuel the ego of his head coach.

Which Movie Has The Better Quarterback

Nothing against Lucas Black and his portrayal of Mike Winchell, but there is no way he can compete with the charm, athleticism, and intelligence of Mox Moxon from Varsity Blues. By the end of the postseason, he is literally running the show and giving everyone on the team a shot and a voice, becoming the embodiment of a hero.

The Coach

The coaches in Friday Night Lights and Varsity Blues could not be any more unlike one another in every possible way and represent two completely different leadership philosophies.

Friday Night Lights’ Coach

Coach Gary Gaines in Friday Night Lights is a tough and stern man, but he genuinely cares about the players on his team and members of his community. Gaines didn’t want Boobie Miles playing when he got injured and only did so after the running back blackballed his backup prior to the fateful play. There’s a similar situation later when Miles lies to Gaines to get back on the field, further injuring himself.

Varsity Blues’ Coach

Coach Bud Kilmer, on the other hand, is an egotistical maniac who cares about one thing and one thing only: his ego. Sure, he wants to win, but not for his players or his school’s pride. Instead, Kilmer wants to win, through any means necessary, to feed and stroke his ego. Lance Harbor, Billy Bob (the late Ron Lester), and others pay dearly for this mentality.

Which Movie Has A Better Coach

This one isn’t even close; Coach Gary Gaines from Friday Night Lights is the better high school football coach.

And The Winner Is...

Well, after going through each of the rounds, we have a clear winner: Friday Night Lights. While Varsity Blues does get points for its lead in James Van Der Beek and its depiction of small-town life in Texas, Friday Night Lights’ plot, delicate handling of on-field injuries, and its more grounded portrayal of a high school football coach give it the edge here.

Both of these dramas deserve a spot on the list of best sports movies for their own reasons, and that’s before you even consider the great soundtracks that were included with each of them.

Connie Britton became iconic for her role as Tami Taylor, the beloved wife of Coach Eric Taylor, in the 2006 NBC sports drama Friday Night Lights. The series’ fandom is so strong that any mention of the show from the original cast immediately brings up the question of if/when/can we get a revival? (Clear eyes, full hearts, reboot?) Britton found herself on the other end of that question again recently, and gave an honest response on what she thinks about revisiting that story.

As news came this week that all five seasons of Friday Night Lights will hit Netflix on August 1, Connie Britton spoke with ET about the chances that Tami Taylor will dust off her big glass of wine and reprise the role of the Dillon Panthers matriarch, and her response was … maybe not as enthusiastic as many fans would hope to hear.

It’s true that the series, which centered around a high school football team in Texas (where they take their high school football verrrrry seriously), was already based off of a movie, which itself was based off of a book. And the series spawned Friday Night at The Luncheonette, a crossover web series with NBC’s Parenthood, which not only shared a number of the same actors but also apparently existed in the same universe. But in an era when everything is getting rebooted and revived, you still can’t expect the Dillon, Texas loyal to be satisfied with what we’ve already had.

Not to be overlooked in Connie Britton’s statement is what sounds like a pretty good chance fans might get to see a cast reunion, as the series celebrates its 15th anniversary this fall. Friday Night Lights premiered in October 2006 starring, along with Britton, Kyle Chandler as football coach Eric Taylor. The show ran for five seasons on NBC. Other well-known stars from the series include Jesse Plemons, Aimee Teegarden, Scott Porter, Zach Gilford, Taylor Kitsch, Michael B. Jordan, Minka Kelly and many more. Any reunion with this much star power would call for a celebratory trip to the Alamo Freeze!

So while we may not see a revival of Friday Night Lights anytime soon — at least with Connie Britton as the coach’s wife — don’t expect fans of the series to give up hope. It sounds like a revival has at least been discussed in the last few years, so fans will continue to pledge “Texas forever!” until better news comes along. You know what they say about clear eyes and full hearts. And we can always relive the glory years when the series hits Netflix on August 1. Until then, check out some other great options on Netflix, as well as our 2021 summer TV schedule.

July was a very good month for Netflix, with originals like the Fear Street Trilogy, Gunpowder Milkshake, and others lighting up the screen. Yet August 2021 is ready to try and outdo that already impressive month, and it has the aid of fan favorites such as Inception and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. With a new animated musical featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Netflix is really pushing hard to wrap the summer right. If you want a refresher for July 2021’s additions to the library, you can find them below. Otherwise, it’s time to see what’s coming to Netflix in August 2021.

Movies And Shows Premiering on Netflix - Week Of August 1

Friends old and new are coming back at the top of the month! As Inception and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off bring up the more classical side of the library, the animated musical Vivo sees Lin-Manuel Miranda return to a genre he’s made quite a name in. Oh, and 30 Rock’s back; so tell all the fives to be quiet, as a 10 has returned.

30 Rock: Seasons 1-7 - 8/1/21

Beethoven - 8/1/21

Beethoven's 2nd - 8/1/21

Beowulf - 8/1/21

Catch Me If You Can - 8/1/21

Darwin’s Game - 8/1/21

Deep Blue Sea - 8/1/21

The Edge of Seventeen - 8/1/21

Ferris Bueller's Day Off - 8/1/21

Five Feet Apart - 8/1/21

Friday Night Lights: Seasons 1-5 - 8/1/21

Good Luck Chuck - 8/1/21

The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia - 8/1/21

Hunter X Hunter (2011): Seasons 5-6 - 8/1/21

Inception - 8/1/21

The Lincoln Lawyer - 8/1/21

The Losers - 8/1/21

The Machinist - 8/1/21

Magnolia - 8/1/21

Major Payne - 8/1/21

My Girl - 8/1/21

My Girl 2 - 8/1/21

The Net - 8/1/21

The Original Kings of Comedy - 8/1/21

Pineapple Express - 8/1/21

Poms - 8/1/21

Seabiscuit - 8/1/21

Space Cowboys - 8/1/21

Team America: World Police - 8/1/21

Pray Away - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/3/21

ShinyFlakes: The Teenage Drug Lord - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/3/21

Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/3/21

Aftermath - 8/4/21

American Masters: Inventing David Geffen - 8/4/21

Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/4/21

Control Z: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/4/21

Car Masters: Rust to Riches: Season 3 - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/4/21

Cooking With Paris - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/4/21

Hit & Run - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/6/21

Navarasa - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/6/21

The Swarm - NETFLIX FILM - 8/6/21

Vivo - NETFLIX FILM - 8/6/21

Movies And Shows Premiering on Netflix - Week Of August 8

Netflix’s trilogy capper, The Kissing Booth 3, concludes the romantic saga told in this wildly popular original film series. Plus, Alita: Battle Angel fans are going to want to keep their subscriptions current, as Rosa Salazar is about to embark on a rather interesting journey in the Netflix original series Brand New Cherry Flavor.

Quartet - 8/8/21

SHAMAN KING - NETFLIX ANIME - 8/9/21

Gabby's Dollhouse: Season 2 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/10/21

Phil Wang: Philly Philly Wang Wang - NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIAL - 8/10/21

UNTOLD - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY (new films weekly) - 8/10/21

UNTOLD: Malice at the Palace - 8/10/21

Bake Squad - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/11/21

The Kissing Booth 3 - NETFLIX FILM - 8/11/21

La diosa del asfalto - 8/11/21

Misha and the Wolves - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/11/21

AlRawabi School for Girls - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/11/21

Lokillo: Nothing's the Same - NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIAL - 8/11/21

Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild - NETFLIX ANIME - 8/11/21

Beckett - NETFLIX FILM - 8/13/21

Brand New Cherry Flavor - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/11/21

Fast & Furious Spy Racers: Season 5: South Pacific - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/13/21

Gone for Good - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/13/21

The Kingdom - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/13/21

Valeria: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/13/21

Movies And Shows Premiering on Netflix - Week Of August 15

If you like Jason Momoa setting out on a quest for vengeance, then Sweet Girl is going to be the movie for you.

Mother Goose Club: Seasons 3-4 - 8/15/21

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai: Season 1 - 8/15/21

Winx Club: Season 6 - 8/15/21

Walk of Shame - 8/16/21

Go! Go! Cory Carson: Season 5 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/17/21

UNTOLD: Deal with the Devil - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/17/21

The Defeated - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/18/21

Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/18/21

Out of my League - NETFLIX FILM - 8/18/21

The Secret Diary of an Exchange Student - NETFLIX FILM - 8/18/21

Like Crazy - 8/19/21

The Chair - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/20/21

Everything Will Be Fine - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/20/21

The Loud House Movie - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/20/21

Sweet Girl - NETFLIX FILM - 8/20/21

Movies And Shows Premiering on Netflix - Week Of August 22

We may still be waiting for Season 2 of The Witcher, but at least the anime prequel, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, is well on its way. Also, if you want to see how He’s All That puts a modern spin on a ‘90s teen classic, that too will be available this week.

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf - NETFLIX ANIME - 8/23/21

Oggy Oggy - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/24/21

UNTOLD: Caitlyn Jenner - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/24/21

Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/25/21

Clickbait - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/25/21

John of God: The Crimes of a Spiritual Healer - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/25/21

Motel Makeover - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/25/21

The November Man - 8/25/21

The Old Ways - 8/25/21

Open Your Eyes - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/25/21

Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/25/21

Rainbow High: Part 2 - 8/25/21

Really Love - 8/25/21

The River Runner - 8/25/21

Tayo the Little Bus: Season 4 - 8/25/21

The Water Man - 8/25/21

EDENS ZERO - NETFLIX ANIME - 8/26/21

Family Reunion: Part 4 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/26/21

He's All That - NETFLIX FILM - 8/27/21

I Heart Arlo - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/27/21

Titletown High - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/27/21

Bread Barbershop: Season 2 - 8/28/21

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/28/21

Movies And Shows Premiering on Netflix - Week Of August 29

Sparking Joy - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/31/21

UNTOLD: Crime and Penalties - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/31/21

Movies And Shows Premiering on Netflix - August TBD

Comedy Premium League - NETFLIX SERIES

D.P. - NETFLIX SERIES

Once again, Netflix’s library is ready to entertain anyone who chooses to subscribe to its delights. If you’re still confused about the Inception ending, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered there. However, that won’t make up for the fact that all titles on this list are subject to change and availability; so keep a close eye on this schedule for any potential changes. We’ll see you back here around the same time next month, as September 2021 is bound to have even more Netflix thrills for everyone to enjoy.

It's time for a 10-year reunion. It's hard to believe that a full decade has passed since NBC's acclaimed football drama series, Friday Night Lights, left the air. Starring Kyle Chandler in the Emmy-winning role of Coach Eric Taylor, this television adaptation of H.G. Bissinger's best-selling non-fiction book, which also inspired the 2004 film, featured acclaimed performances from Connie Britton and Aimee Teegarden. It also launched the careers of future big-league stars like Michael B. Jordan, Jesse Plemons, Minka Kelly, Taylor Kitsch, Adrianne Palicki, and Jurnee Smollett. With its 10-year anniversary crossed, let's see what Friday Night Lights' star-studded cast is doing now.

Kyle Chandler (Eric Taylor)

As Eric Taylor, the head coach of the Dillon Panthers, Kyle Chandler won an Emmy playing the protagonist of NBC's Friday Night Lights. Prior to his time on this show, Chandler starred in Early Edition, Homefront, What About Joan?, and The Lyon's Den. Following his time on Friday Night Lights, Chandler gave a two-time Emmy-nominated performance in Bloodline. He was also Emmy-nominated for his guest turn in Grey's Anatomy. His other TV credits include Catch-22, Robot Chicken, and King of the Hill.

Away from TV, Kyle Chandler played Hamilton Jordan in Argo. He was also seen in Super 8, The Wolf of Wall Street, Manchester by the Sea, King Kong, Game Night, First Man, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Additionally, the actor appeared in The Kingdom, The Spectacular Now, Zero Dark Thirty, Carol, and The Midnight Sky. Most recently, Chandler starred in Godzilla vs. Kong. Currently, he's filming Slumberland.

Connie Britton (Tami Taylor)

In the role of Tami Taylor, a guidance counselor at Dillon High and the wife of Eric Taylor, Connie Britton gave a two-time Emmy-nominated performance in Friday Night Lights. Away from this series, Britton gave an Emmy-nominated performance as Rayna Jaymes in Nashville. She also received an Emmy nomination for her work in American Horror Story. Additionally, Britton starred in 9-1-1, Dirty John, and Spin City.

Away from television, Connie Britton appeared in Friday Night Lights (2004), Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Bombshell, Professor Marston and the Wonder Woman, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, The To Do List, This Is Where I Leave You, A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), and Beatriz at Dinner. Most recently, Britton was seen in Promising Young Woman. She was also heard in Pandemica. Next, Britton will appear in Joe Bell and The White Lotus.

Aimee Teegarden (Julie Taylor)

Playing the part of Julie Taylor, the eldest Taylor daughter, Aimee Teegarden is a liberal-minded character in Friday Night Lights. Following her time in this show, Teegarden starred in the short-lived Star-Crossed, as well as Notorious. Her other television credits include The Ranch, 90210, Robot Chicken, CSI, Legend of the Seeker, Hannah Montana, CSI: Miami, and Cold Case. Away from TV, Teegarden starred in Prom and Rings. Her other film credits include Call of the Wild, Love and Honor, A Change of Heart, and For Sale by Owner. The actress also produced and starred in Beneath the Darkness, Beautiful Wave, and Bakery in Brooklyn. Last year, she appeared in Guest House.

Most recently, Aimee Teegarden guest-starred on The Rookie. Next, the actress will be seen in The Road to Galena.

Michael B. Jordan (Vince Howard)

As Vince Howard, a troubled teenager who becomes the football team's leader through Coach Taylor's guidance, Michael B. Jordan played a primary part on Friday Night Lights for the show's final two seasons. Discovering his breakout role in The Wire, Jordan found fame after Friday Night Lights with his star performances in Chronicle, Fruitvale Station, Just Mercy (which he produced), and the Creed movies. The actor also stole the show as Erik Killmonger in Marvel's Black Panther. His other film credits include That Awkward Moment, Fantastic Four (2015), Red Tails, Hardball, and Black and White. Additionally, Jordan can be seen in All My Children, Parenthood, and Raising Dion.

Most recently, Michael B. Jordan produced and starred in Tom Clancy's Without Remorse. The actor also lent his voice for Love, Death & Robots. Next, he'll be heard in What If. Currently, Jordan is filming a role in Denzel Washington's A Journal for Jordan. He'll also expected to star in Danny Boyle's Methuselah. Additionally, Jordan reprises his titular role in Creed III, which serves as the actor's directorial debut.

Jesse Plemons (Landry Clarke)

In the role of Landry Clarke, a well-studied student-turned-football standout, Jesse Plemons plays a transformative character in Friday Night Lights. Shortly after his time in this show, Plemons played Todd Alquist in Breaking Bad, which is a role that he reprised in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. He also received an Emmy nomination for playing Ed Blumquist in Fargo Season 2. Furthermore, Plemons received another Emmy nomination for his performance in Black Mirror. Plemons' other TV credits include Olive Kitteridge and Drunk History.

Away from television, Jesse Plemons starred in Other People. He also appeared in The Irishman, Game Night, Vice, Bridge of Spies, Black Mass, The Master, Observe and Report, Varsity Blues, and The Post. Last year, Plemons starred in I'm Thinking Of Ending Things. Most recently, Plemons appeared in Judas and the Black Messiah. Next, he'll be seen in Jungle Cruise, Antlers, and The Power of the Dog. Currently, Plemons is filming the lead role in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. He's also signed on for Love and Death.

Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins)

Playing the part of Tim Riggins, the party-loving fullback of the Dillion Panthers, Taylor Kitsch found his first brush with fame in Friday Night Lights. Following this NBC series, Kitsch played the titular role in John Carter and starred in Battleship, Savages, Lone Survivor, The Grand Seduction, and Only the Brave. His other film credits include X-Men Origins: Wolverine, American Assassin, 21 Bridges, John Tucker Must Die, Snakes on a Plane, and The Covenant. Additionally, Kitsch appeared in HBO's The Normal Heart.

Away from film, Taylor Kitsch played Paul Woodrugh in True Detective Season 2. Later, the actor earned acclaim for portraying David Koresh in Waco, which Kitsch produced. Most recently, Kitsch starred in Shadowplay. Currently, Kitsch is filming Amazon Prime's The Terminal List. Additionally, he's signed on to star in Neill Blomkamp's Inferno.

Jurnee Smollett (Jess Merriweather)

As Jess Merriweather, the East Dillon Spirit Squad leader and the former girlfriend of Landry Clarke and Vince Howard, Jurnee Smollett played a primary character in the last two seasons of Friday Night Lights. Away from this NBC series, Smollett played Nicole Wright on True Blood. Additionally, the actress was a series regular on Underground, The Defenders, Wanda at Large, and On Our Own. Her other TV credits include Grey's Anatomy, Parenthood, Do No Harm, and Full House. She's also heard in Sofia the First.

Away from TV, Jurnee Smollett played Eve Batiste in Eve's Bayou. She also starred in Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. Her other film credits include The Great Debaters, Gridiron Gang, Hands of Stone, Roll Bounce, and One Last Thing. Most recently, Smollett starred in HBO's Lovecraft Country. She also appeared in Birds of Prey and The Twilight Zone. Next, Smollett will be seen in Escape from Spiderhead.

Minka Kelly (Lyla Garrity)

In the role of Lyla Garrity, a smart, bubbly cheerleader infatuated with Jason Street, Minka Kelly played a primary character in Friday Night Lights for four seasons. Away from this show, Kelly played Gaby in Parenthood, Valerie Stahl in Almost Human, and Eve French in Charlie Angels (2011). Her other TV credits include What I Like About You, Jane the Virgin, and Drunk History. Currently, Kelly plays the part of Dawn Granger/Dove in HBO Max's Titans. The actress also starred in Hallmark Channel's The Beach House.

Additionally, on the big screen, Minka Kelly starred in The Roommate. She also played Jackie Kennedy in The Butler. Her other notable film credits include (500) Days of Summer, The Kingdom, Papa: Hemingway in Cuba, Just Go With It, Searching for Sonny, and Naked. Next, Kelly will be seen in Lansky, She's in Portland, and Titans Season 3.

Adrianne Palicki (Tyra Collette)

Playing the part of Tyra Collette, a self-thinking woman who doesn't care about football in a sports-obsessed town, Adrianne Palicki is a strong-willed girl in Friday Night Lights. Outside of this series, Palicki plays Barbara "Bobbi" Morse in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Commander Kelly Grayson in The Orville. Her other notable TV credits include Supernatural, Robot Chicken, From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, and Supernatural.

Away from TV, Adrianne Palicki played Ms. Perkins in John Wick. She also appeared in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, S.W.A.T.: Under Siege, Legion, Elektra Luxx, and Red Dawn (2012). Most recently, Palicki was seen in the short film, Thoughts and Prayers. Next, Palicki is expected to appear in The Orville Season 3, which was picked up by Hulu, and With/In.

Scott Porter (Jason Street)

As Jason Street, a quarterback for the Dillion Panthers, Scott Porter plays a protege player in NBC's Friday Night Lights. Outside of this show, Porter played George Tucker in Hart of Dixie. He also played Blake Calamar in The Good Wife and Nestor Williams in Caprica. His other television credits include Scorpion, Why Women Kill, and As the World Turns. Additionally, the voice actor has a recurring role in Harley Quinn. He can be heard in Avengers Assemble and Ultimate Spider-Man.

Additionally, Scott Porter's film credits include Bandslam, Dear John, Speed Racer, Music and Lyrics, 10 Years, Prom Night, The Good Guy, and The To Do List. Currently, the television actor plays a main role in Ginny & Georgia. He was also seen in Lucifer.

Gaius Charles (Brian “Smash” Williams)

In the role of Brian "Smash" Williams, the confident running back for the Panthers, Gaius Charles played a joke-loving, career-driven star athlete on Friday Night Lights. Following this show, Charles played Dr. Shane Ross in Grey's Anatomy. He was also a series regular on Taken and Aquarius. Additionally, he had a recurring role in God Friended Me.

Additionally, in film, Gaius Charles can be seen in Salt, The Messenger, The Stanford Prison Experiment, and Takers. Most recently, the television actor provided a recurring role in Roswell, New Mexico. Next, Charles will be seen in Land of Dreams and Alice.

Matt Lauria (Luke Cafferty)

Playing the part of Luke Cafferty, a newcomer to the East Dillion team, Matt Lauria is a hard-working personality in Friday Night Lights. Outside of this series, Lauria played Ryan York in Parenthood, Ryan Wheeler in Kingdom, and Ben Newton in Dickinson.

Additionally, Matt Lauria played main roles in Tell Me a Story, Little Birds, Traitors, and The Chicago Code, as well as a recurring role in Lipstick Jungle. In film, he appears in Miss Bala (2019), Ma (2015), and Shaft (2019). Next, Lauria is seen in CSI: Vegas and To Leslie.

Dora Madison (Becky Sproles)

As Becky Sproles, Luke's girlfriend, Dora Madison, a.k.a. Madison Burge, played a recurring role in Season 4, followed by a lead part in Season 5, in Friday Night Lights. Elsewhere, Madison starred in Chicago Fire. She was also a series regular on What Would Diplo Do? and a recurring player on Dexter, Star-Crossed, and Chicago Med.

On the big screen, meanwhile, Dora Madison starred in Bliss. Also, Madison appeared in Everybody Wants Some!!, The Loft, Song to Song, Divine Access, and Night of the Babysitter, which she also produced. Most recently, Madison appeared in VFW. Next, the actress will be seen in Lapsis.

Zach Gilford (Matt Saracen) 

Playing a main role in Friday Night Lights' first three seasons and a recurring role in the final two, Zach Gilford portrayed Matt Saracen, a rising quarterback for the Dillon Panthers. He was also a love interest to Julie Taylor. While Friday Night Lights wasn't Gilford's first screen credit, it was certainly one of the roles that took his career to the next level. Since the NBC drama wrapped up, Zach Gilford has gone on to take on a number of TV roles, the most recent of which include Good Girls and the part of Ben Walker on L.A.'s Finest. 

On the big screen, Zach Gilford appeared in the Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Last Stand, and played a starring role in The Purge: Anarchy.  Coming up, he's among the cast of the Netflix horror series Midnight Mass.

You can stream Friday Night Lights on Peacock.

It is hard not to recognize Aldis Hodge these days. The star of director Regina King’s Amazon Prime original film, One Night in Miami, in which he plays football legend Jim Brown, seemed to earn a spot in Hollywood’s A-list overnight, and just recently. However, in reality, the multi-talented actor has spent much of his life in the business.\

From his scene-stealing starring role on the hit TNT series Leverage, star-making supporting turn in The Invisible Man, and acclaimed performance opposite Kevin Bacon in Showtime’s historical miniseries City on a Hill, it really is no wonder how the 34-year-old North Carolina native got the part of Hawkman in the upcoming Black Adam movie. Of course, like many other actors, Aldis Hodge came from humble beginnings, making small appearances in films and TV shows as a child, through his teens, and beyond, until becoming the sought-after talent he is today.

I imagine you are probably wondering where you might have seen Aldis Hodge pop up on the screen without even realizing it at the time. Well, I can help refresh your memory with 10 of the actor’s lesser-known roles on the big and small screen, below, starting with his truly explosive feature film debut.

Die Hard With A Vengeance (Raymond)

How many actors can say they played Samuel L. Jackson’s nephew in their very first movie? Aldis Hodge can, having appeared opposite the Oscar-nominee in 1995’s Die Hard with a Vengeance at 9 years old, in a scene before Jackson reluctantly becomes Bruce Willis’ partner against a terrorist bomber. Coincidentally, Hodge would appear in the action franchise’s fifth installment, A Good Day to Die Hard, but it might be a lost cause to find some canonical connection between the two roles.