It’s always nice to see two women in Hollywood become best friends and, for a long time, Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini were among the industry's most high-profile besties. However, in recent years, the pair of Second Act stars allegedly have become distant – particularly after JLo’s renewed romance with Ben Affleck from 2021 to 2024. As for what's going on with them now, an insider is now dropping claims.

JLo and Remini go way back! They met in 2004 when Lopez’s husband at the time, Marc Anthony, introduced them. Lopez previously said she and her gal pal “fell in love” immediately after meeting, and the rest was history. And then they got to work together in 2018’s Second Act. A source for Page Six now alleges that the dynamics between the two stars have changed in a few key ways:

According to the source, JLo and Leah Remini actually became more distant after working on Second Act. Lopez reportedly felt “overwhelmed by the dynamic and started pulling back” because she needed “more space from the friendship” after spending “so much constant time together during filming”. Remini’s feelings were also allegedly “hurt” by this, and they purportedly haven’t been as close since. The insider also said this:

One thing that Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini have reportedly bonded over lately are their respective divorces. Remini filed for divorce from Angelo Pagán in August 2024 after 21 years of marriage – the same month that Lopez filed from Ben Affleck. Their shared divorce experiences supposedly got them to reconnect after Affleck was allegedly another reason they pulled back from each other. Per the source:

A year after their divorces, Remini said that she and JLo would “text each other loving messages of support”. The King of Queens star also said at the time that “friendships ebb and flow” and distance doesn’t automatically mean that a pair of friends are “at odds.”

On that note, Leah Remini didn’t attend JLo and Affleck’s wedding, and instead, had dinner with her daughter before she went off to college. It's hard not to wonder if the friends will connect more now that JLo’s twins recently turned 18 and will soon be heading off to college, leaving the multihyphenate with an empty nest.

Her personal relationships aside, Jennifer Lopez has a new romantic comedy called Office Romance, and it'll soon be available to anyone with a Netflix subscription. The film sees Lopez and Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein play coworkers who fall in love. Lopez has said that her co-star surprised her by being “totally different” than she expected.

Viewers can see Office Romance on Netflix starting on June 5 and, if this insider's recent comments are any indication, fans probably shouldn't expect to see Leah Remini at the premiere.

We have long since left the time where people of any age were unwilling to publicly show allegiance to their fandoms of choice. No matter where you go, you can see adults repping the Star Wars movies, the superhero-filled world known as the MCU franchise, and everything else from their favorite video games to beloved series from their childhood. Not all of this love is just shown on clothes or bumper stickers, however, and The King of Queens star Leah Remini is now very excited because someone is showing off their massive tattoo tribute to her hit comedy.

What Does The King Of Queens Tattoo Look Like And What Did Star Leah Remini Say About It?

Even though Leah Remini has recently remade herself as an advocate for those who’ve said they’ve had negative interactions with the Church of Scientology, she’s been known for far longer as an actress. Jennifer Lopez’s good buddy (who actually took notes from JLo when filing for divorce) has been working since she was a kid, but landed the role that would really up her popularity when she began playing Carrie Heffernan on the hit CBS sitcom, The King of Queens, in 1998.

That series ran for nine seasons, ending in 2007, and it’s clear that someone is still a giant fan of the comedy, because they recently got a truly huge tattoo to pay tribute, and Remini noted her appreciation on X:

WOW. I’m not tattooed, but I know that there are a lot of people wandering around with massive works of art on their skin. Never, though, would I have guessed that someone would geek out so much over a sitcom that ended nearly 20 years ago that they’d ink themselves up with one of the largest butt/hip/thigh tattoos I’ve ever seen. And, it’s pretty clear that Remini feels the same.

The former So You Think You Can Dance judge has now been immortalized on the skin of a fan, and noted that she was “honored and touched” by the work. I have to say, I’ve seen several tattoos that are supposed to represent actual people, and they rarely look this good. Not only were the lead actors (who include one-time meme king Kevin James and the late Jerry Stiller) recreated in an incredibly realistic fashion, but so was the logo for the show and the house that the characters called home for almost a decade.

It’s crazy to think that the star may have missed out on this celebration of her work. She recently noted that she had the chance to audition for Friends and Will & Grace, but turned down the opportunity for both because she just didn’t see herself as the characters she was being asked to audition for, even though she knew the shows were probably going to be hits. Basically, without the actress being dedicated to staying true to herself, this fan might have a huge tattoo of the cast from Manimal on their body, and while that would be awesome, it wouldn’t give Remini the flowers she deserves.

The King of Queens has long been gone from the primetime TV schedule, though its run of 200+ episodes remains a favorite among viewers with Peacock subscriptions. It’s partly because of the incredible cast, which includes Kevin James, Leah Remini, Patton Oswalt, and Jerry Stiller, among others. It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the role of Carrie Hefferman, but I just found out that Remini was actually asked to audition for Friends and another iconic sitcom before The King of Queens.

Before Remini cemented Carrie as a TV wife who put her husband in his place on The King of Queens, she came close to auditioning for what would become two of the best sitcoms ever: Friends and Will & Grace. She told TV Insider why she decided to pass on the two of them, despite having a feeling they would go on to become major hits:

It makes sense why Remini wanted to pass on both Friends and Will & Grace. It’s not just about wanting to join a show one thinks will succeed, but also about finding the role that could potentially be the right fit for many years. Whatever parts Remini was asked to audition for in the other shows apparently weren't right for her.

Looking back now, it turned out to be probably the best decision, since all three shows went on to become huge hits with beloved cast ensembles. And it turns out Remini didn't feel the same hesitation when it came to going after Carrie Heffernan, and the actress knew it was the one, saying:

The King of Queens was certainly fate for Leah Remini. While Friends and Will & Grace didn’t work out for her, for good reason, she just knew that not only was Carrie Heffernan the perfect role for her, but working with Kevin James was icing on the cake. The two had undeniable chemistry on the CBS sitcom, and it’s very possible if someone else landed the role that James might not have meshed with so well, the show might not have lasted nine seasons.

Today, The King of Queens is very much still talked about, and not just because of streaming options. Last year, a photo of James from a promo shoot for the series was going viral, and Remini even reacted to the viral meme that sparked many different reactions from followers on social media. How and why that photo began circulating is unknown, but it did bring some beautiful meme-ories for a temporary stint.

Things happen for a reason, and as fate would have it, Leah Remini took The King of Queens and it turned out to be the best decision she could have had. The show would have been wildly different without her, but she listened to her gut, meaning fans never had to live in a world where Remini wasn't Carrie.

The writing was on the wall for months that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s marriage was on the rocks. So, while it was sad when JLo ultimately filed for divorce in August, it was a move many were expecting. One split that fans didn’t necessarily see coming, meanwhile, was Leah Remini’s, as she announced that she and husband Angelo Pagan were ending their marriage of 21 years. As The King of Queens star filed her own paperwork, she followed in the footsteps of her friend in not using a lawyer.

According to US Weekly, court documents show that Leah Remini submitted her divorce papers on August 29, doing so without legal representation, just as her longtime pal Jennifer Lopez had weeks earlier. There were other similarities in the two women’s filings, with both citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their splits. Remini has requested that neither she nor Angelo Pagan receive spousal support, while JLo similarly waived her own right to support and asked that it be denied to Ben Affleck.

Given that the Kevin Can Wait alum and her estranged husband’s daughter is 20 years old, child support won’t play into the proceedings. According to the documents, the longtime couple — who were together for 28 years total — separated on August 1 of this year.

Legal experts said it was “unusual” to file for divorce without a lawyer after Jennifer Lopez did so. The move was seen as a possible message to Ben Affleck that she was ready to move on and wasn’t going to put up a fight that would play out on public record. Presumably the same logic applies to Leah Remini.

The Saved by the Bell alum announced that she and Angelo Pagan were divorcing in a lengthy statement on Instagram alongside throwback and newer photos of the couple together. She said in part:

She went on to say that they remain best friends, but the roles they play in each other’s lives have evolved. However, don’t called this a “failed marriage,” the Talk alum said, continuing:

Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini have been besties since 2004, but there were rumors of tension between them when JLo reunited with Ben Affleck because Remini allegedly was not supportive of the relationship. The People Puzzler host ultimately missed Bennifer’s big wedding bash, but that was reportedly because it fell on the same weekend she was moving her daughter to college.

Whether or not the estrangement rumors were true, they reportedly reconnected amid Jennifer Lopez’s split with the Oscar winner, and one has to wonder if they influenced each other’s divorce filing procedures in any way.

The internet loves a good meme, and when Twitter got ahold of some of the promotional photos from the '90s sitcom, King of Queens, it was almost too perfect. While some don’t always initially love the goofy fun of a good internet meme, it seems like the cast of the show is embracing it. Leah Remini recently tweeted her response to the viral photo of Kevin James from the shoot, and she is loving the jokes.

It is commonplace for actors to have to participate in character photos to promote their shows, and this was even more common back in the era of network TV and editorial promotion. Often these pictures would have actors strike a pose that resembles a character’s personality. For example, an FBI agent character may choose a stoic, hardened expression. Often sitcoms would opt for a goofier look, and this definitely was the case for Kevin James, who’s bashful shrug has been fuel for internet memes as of late. You can see the photo in question below:

People have been using the photo for all sorts of relatable tweets. One Twitter user captioned the photo, saying:

Another Tweeter used the photo to make a Sopranos reference, suggesting that this is the expression Tony had when Meadow asked if he was in the mafia. They said:

One Tweet indicated that this was the face they made when they were complimented on their music taste, saying:

There are tons of memes in this vein and honestly they just get even funnier. This photo seems to be everywhere, and it’s hard to avoid the meme even if you wanted to. James’ King of Queens costar Leah Remini decided to respond to all of the memes from the hit sitcom, and she is apparently getting a kick out of it. She said she was loving all of the posts, and she sent love to the cast of the show that she adored dearly. You can see her Tweet below:

I’m glad that she thinks the meme is as funny as we do. It’s all in good fun, and if anything, it’s bringing new attention to a CBS sitcom that had over 200 episodes before leaving the air in 2007. I’d love to know what Kevin James thinks about the photo now, and if he’s also loving the meme. Maybe the actress showed her former scene partner the jokes. They have remained in touch over the years with Remini even making an appearance on Kevin Can Wait, and eventually replacing Erinn Hayes's character on the show, so it's possible. 

It’s such a niche reference photo to resurface, but those always seem to make for the best internet content. The silliness seemed to reignite all the lovely memories for Remini as well, and it’s sweet that something so goofy could be a force for good. 

You can revisit King of Queens through internet memes, or by streaming the sitcom with a Peacock subscription. For more information on other great shows available to watch on the platform, make sure to consult our feature on the best shows to watch on Peacock right now.

Leah Remini and The Church Of Scientology have been publicly criticizing each other for more than a decade, but their shared war of words has gotten a lot more intense this week. First, the longtime King Of Queens star filed a lawsuit, accusing the religious organization she belonged to for decades of “psychological torture” amongst many other grievances. Now, the organization has fired back with its own statement that tells her to “consider emigrating to Russia.”

The Church Of Scientology has always been more forward than most religious organizations with its public statements, but even against those expectations, this latest one in response to Leah Remini’s lawsuit has a lot of heat on it. It refers to the actress as “an anti-free speech bigot” and accuses her of producing “paid for tabloid hate television.” You can read a portion of the full statement below…

Of course, Remini didn’t mince words in her public statement about Scientology that preceded this either. In addition to filing the lawsuit, the actress threw up her own middle fingers on social media and explained why she decided to take her long-running battle to the courtroom. She accused The Church of silencing thousands of people over the years and said people should have the right to speak their mind without being intimidated or harassed. Here’s a portion of her quote…

The very public back-and-forth allegedly began more quietly all the way back in 2006 at Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise’s wedding. The often repeated story is that Remini asked about why leader David Miscavige’s wife Shelly wasn’t at the wedding. She was allegedly told she didn’t have the rank to ask about such things, and the argument allegedly led to her being investigated by The Church. The relationship steadily worsened until she publicly left in 2013. In the time since, she’s talked very openly about problems she sees with The Church and even produced documentaries about its alleged abuses. 

Earlier this year, Remini was very vocal during the sexual assault trials of Scientologist Danny Masterson. It’s unclear whether her very public statements during the legal proceedings set in motion the renewed problems between the actress and her former Church, but her lawsuit was officially filed on August 2nd. 

Both sides are used to commenting publicly about the other, but with the case now in front of the legal system, it’s unclear if lawyers will instruct both sides to be quieter than usual. Either way, expect to hear a lot about the case as its works its way through the process. 

Leah Remini has long been vocal about the issues she has with the Church of Scientology. A former member of the religious organization, Remini has been candid about her personal experiences and has advocated for others who’ve spoken about their own interactionss with the church. Now, it would seem that the actress is taking legal action against the group, as she’s opted to sue it. Remini is filing suit for several alleged offenses, including harassment, surveillance and defamation. She detailed her suit – and the reason she’s filing it – in a candid statement. 

The 53-year-old actress took to her social media channels to break the news that she’s taking legal action against the church. In the formal complaint, which she shared on her blog, she claimed to have been subjected to “psychological torture,” “harassment” and “indimidation,” among other elements. The star alleges that said interference has persisted for nearly two decades. The lawsuit specifically names church leader David Miscavige, the Religious Technology Center, Inc. and the Church of Scientology International, Inc. In her statement, she said: 

Per the complaint, the main intent of the suit is to implore the organization and other associated groups to cease their purported misdeeds. Leah Remini, who claims she’s been labeled an “enemy” by the church, is also asking for punitive damages because of the way in which her life and career have reportedly been negatively affected by the church. Per a message shared on her Instagram, Remini also hopes that this suit will be a positive step forward for protecting others who have referenced or are connected to the religious establishment. She closed out her address by saying the following: 

The King of Queens alum – who departed the church in 2013 after having been a member since the age of nine – lays out a number of alleged encounters in her suit. She claims that in one instance, she was followed by private investigators while in New York. And in another, she asserts that the harassment she faced led to the dissolution of a podcast deal she had with iHeartMedia. 

Another point of contention seems to be her inquiry about the absence of David Miscavige’s wife, Michele, who hasn’t been seen in public since 2007. Said question was brought up during Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding in 2006. In 2017, Leah Remini filed a missing person’s report on her. Ultimately, authorities closed the case, saying that they’d spoken with Mrs. Miscavige. 

Over the past several years, the Emmy-winning actress has found a number of outlets through which to talk about her dealings with the polarizing religious practitioners. She shared a number of stories through her A&E series, Scientology and the Aftermath, which received major viewership numbers and earned Primetime Emmy Awards. Most recently, the star also made headlines for attending the rape trial of actor and Scientologist Danny Masterson. After he was found guilty, the Kevin Can Wait alum reacted to Masterson’s verdict, she referenced the church. She specifically said that the legal decision was “just the beginning of our plan to hold them accountable.”

As of this writing, representatives from the church itself have yet to respond to Leah Remini’s lawsuit. With that, it’s currently unclear as to how the group might approach this latest legal situation. 

Former That 70s Show star Danny Masterson was found guilty of rape yesterday. The Los Angeles jury convicted the forty-seven-year-old actor on two counts of rape, while the last count resulted in a hung jury. He could face between thirty years to life for the sexual assaults that took place in the early 2000s. The guilty verdict has generated a lot of statements from those involved, but few are getting as much traction as the one from Leah Remini, who was a regular presence in court.

The noted actress has been an outspoken critic of Scientology. She left the Church back in 2013, and in the time since, she’s produced documentaries, TV shows and a podcast criticizing the Church for a variety of issues. Masterson is a Scientologist and he was also sued alongside the Church for allegedly harassing and intimidating the women making the allegations. At one point, the Church was even accused of murdering two dogs one of the women had.

After the verdict was read, Remini took to social media to drop an extended statement calling the guilty verdicts “a relief.” She said the women “faced vicious attacks and harassment from Scientology” and claimed the Church played a significant role in “obstructing justice.” You can read a portion of the statement below…

Remini also spoke directly to the women at the heart of the trial. She called them “heroes” and said the accuser who didn’t get a guilty verdict was still responsible for helping bring “justice” to Masterson. She also thanked those involved in the trial, as well as the LAPD for continuing to investigate despite “relentless harassment” from Scientologists. 

You can read the entirety of Remini’s long statement below…

Exactly what Remini's plan to bring the Church to justice for its alleged crimes are, but at this point, it's pretty clear she's going to keep trying. She's seemingly made it her life's work to call out Scientology and its senior members for perceived wrongdoing. She even filed a police report claiming leader David Miscavige's wife was missing, as the two were previously friends and she has disappeared from the public eye.

Masterson is currently in custody and is due back in court on August 4th for a hearing. It'll be the next step in a legal process that has lasted almost twenty years. The assaults allegedy took place between 2001 and 2003. One of the accusers originally went to police in 2004 but no charges were filed. Later, the three women found each other and all went to the police together. Police reinvestigated and Masterson was charged back in 2020. A trial happened late last year. The case resulted in a hung jury, but prosecutors ultimately elected to retry Masterson and were able to secure a guilty verdict the second time around. 

Danny Masterson’s rape retrial is now in progress, and early reports indicated that it wouldn’t differ from the first round of legal proceedings, which ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury. However, the case already differs from the original in one major way, as it was attended by Leah Remini. The actress and noted Scientology critic was in the courtroom on Monday, after the defense attempted to keep her out. As a result, speculation arose regarding whether she might end up taking the stand. Remini has since addressed her appearance at the trial and the rumors that she’ll serve as a witness. 

Leah Remini left the Church of Scientology in 2013 after having been a member since she was a child. Since then, she’s sought to advocate for those who’ve allegedly been harmed by the organization and its practices. That intrinsic drive seems to be what motivated her to sit in on the high-profile court case. The actress articulated her thoughts in a thread that was posted to Twitter:

The That ‘70s Show actor has been accused of sexual assault by three Jane Does, who are all former Scientologists and say that the purported incidents took place between 2001 and 2003. The TV veteran was charged with three counts of rape and could serve 45 years to life in prison if the jury finds him guilty. It was reported that this retrial would mostly consist of the same witnesses, though the King of Queens alum has since been referred to as a “percipient witness to certain conversations” by the defense.

Well aware of the buzz surrounding her, Leah Remini – who had a strong reaction after Danny Masterson was charged in 2020 – later addressed his team’s attempts to exclude her. She then proceeded to clarify her witness list status (as of right now). The outspoken Remini also shared some thoughts on the Church of Scientology’s leader and his influence: 

The 52-year-old actress closed out her thread by stating that David Miscavige “will never dictate where I'm allowed to be and what I'm allowed to say.” This is far from the first time that Leah Remini has been critical of the religious leader. In fact, she was particularly vocal years ago following the alleged disappearance of his wife, Shelly. Mrs. Miscavige hasn’t been seen in public since 2007 and, in 2013, Remini filed a missing person’s report for her. The star also tackled the topic in her widely watched A&E show Scientology and the Aftermath. The case was eventually closed in 2018, with several detectives reporting that they’d spoken with Shelly in person. 

Leah Remini’s presence at the retrial is another example of how Scientology has factored into Danny Masterson’s case. Judge Charlaine Olmedo was displeased with the opening statements of the first trial partially because of that influence. She declared that the case would not “be inundated with” the religion. Whether that notion proves to be true this time around remains to be seen but, at the very least, it seems she won’t hear Scientology-related testimony from Remini.

Danny Masterson is back in the courtroom, as the retrial for his high-profile rape case is now under way. The original case began in October 2022 a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury. So far, reports have indicated that the trial will essentially be conducted in a manner similar to the previous one, with only a few differences. Now, it would seem that one aspect of the proceedings has changed, as actress and activist Leah Remini was present during the trial this week. Masterson’s defense team had tried to keep her out, and there are alleged details on their reason for wanting her excluded. 

How Danny Masterson’s Team Allegedly Feels About Leah Remini’s Presence In The Courtroom

The King of Queens alum appeared in court on Monday and was sitting in the front row while surrounded by a group of people. According to Deadline, the defense apparently served her a subpoena “this morning” in an attempt to keep her from attending. That move was ultimately denied by Judge Charlaine Olmedo, however, and that decision was made near the beginning of the day’s proceedings. As the trade explains, Olmedo approved of the actress’ presence ahead of the jury being brought into the room. 

Leah Remini was once a Scientologist – as Danny Masterson currently is – and had been a member of the church since she was nine. Since leaving the faith in 2013, the actress has been an outspoken critic of the church. Additionally, Remini had a strong reaction to Masterson’s charges. At the time, she declared her delight in knowing that “victims are being heard” when it comes to matters involving the controversial religious organization. 

Danny Masterson is facing three counts of rape after being accused of sexual assault by a trio of Jane Does. The women claim that the alleged acts took place between 2001 and 2003, while all three were still Scientologists. Though this retrial was said to include the same witnesses, it’s believed that the former Talk alum could potentially take the stand. Shawn Holley, a new lawyer for the defense, would not confirm that, though, he did call her a “percipient witness to certain conversations.”

What Has Leah Remini Said About Scientology Over The Years?

In some respects, it almost feels like there’s nothing the actress hasn’t discussed when it comes to her Scientologist past and the aftermath of her exit from the church. Some of her experiences were chronicled in the A&E docuseries, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which was widely watched upon its debut. The program ultimately earned the star two Primetime Emmy Awards. Aside from the show, Remini has opened up about losing friends after leaving the religion. She’s also shared thoughts on the one person she thinks can bring down Scientology: Tom Cruise. 

The religion heavily factored into Danny Masterson’s first trial, which is a major reason why Judge Olmedo was unhappy with the opening statements. Early on, Olmedo declared that the case was “not going to be inundated with Scientology.” According to early reports on the retrial, she wants that notion to remain intact.

Should Leah Remini end up taking the stand though, one has to wonder if the judge’s goal will remain unaffected. A testimony from Remini appears to be far from a sure thing at this point, and it’s unknown if she’ll appear frequently moving forward amid Danny Masterson’s latest rape case.

There are few if any in this world who have had a life quite like Lisa Marie Presley. As the daughter of Elvis she became one of the most famous people in the world after doing nothing more than simply being born. Following her death, fans of the musician are remembering the icon and the life she lived.

Lisa Marie Presley suffered cardiac arrest on Thursday, January 12, and was rushed to a local hospital, but she died later in the day. Several of those who knew her, and those who simply felt like they did, have been remembering Presley. In a statement to THR, actor Nicolas Cage, who was married to Presley for two years, remembered both Presley and her son Benjamin, who passed away in 2020. Cage said: 

“Tumultuous” is a word being used by many when discussing the life of Lisa Marie Presley. While many might expect that the daughter of one of the biggest stars in the world had an easy life, Parsley’s struggles are well known due to her lifelong position in the public eye. Like Presley, sitcom vet and game show host Leah Remini was once a member of the Church of Scientology, and made reference to this in her own remembrance, saying:

Lisa Marie Presley was even more in the limelight than usual recently due to Elvis himself being the talk of Hollywood once again. The Baz Luhrmann movie about the King of Rock and Roll was in competition this week at the Golden Globe Awards, where Lisa Marie was in attendance as Austin Butler won the Best Actor award for playing the title role. Rita Wilson, wife of the film's co-star Tom Hanks, took to Instagram to talk about meeting Presley during the film’s production. 

But beyond those that knew Lisa Marie Presley, there were all those who knew about Lisa Marie. From her famous father to her brief marriage to Michael Jackson to her own work in the music industry, she was always in the public eye. Still, there are few who could likely ever understand quite what it was like to be her. One who perhaps did have a perspective similar to hers, despite never actually meeting her, Sean Ono Lennon, posted his own thoughts on her passing.

Dozens more of those who knew Lisa Marie Presley well and those who only met her briefly are now remembering the woman after she is gone. Presley is survived by her mother Pricilla and three daughters. While her life may have been difficult this outpouring of love shows that Lisa Marie Presley clearly had so many that loved her.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck officially tied the knot… again! Though the two previously exchanged vows during a quick Las Vegas ceremony in July, Bennifer’s real wedding extravaganza took place this past weekend on Affleck’s property in Georgia. It was reportedly a major event and was attended by a number of notable celebrities. One of the stars who wasn’t present, however, was Lopez’s good pal, Leah Remini. However, the actress had a good reason for missing out on the matrimonial activities. 

Those who’ve seen JLo and Leah Remini together over the years surely know that the two are thick as thieves. With that in mind, it would’ve had to have taken something massive for Remini to miss out on her girlfriend’s big day. Well, sources close to the actress told TMZ that Remini was preoccupied with a pretty sweet familial situation. Remini’s 18-year-old daughter, Sofia, is heading off to college, and the King of Queens alum reportedly wanted to spend some quality time with her before she leaves. 

You really can’t blame the star for missing out on the wedding, which sources say she was indeed invited to. One must also consider the fact that Sofia is the Second Act alum’s only child and, as a result, the devoted mother would probably feel an even greater obligation to be there for her during this time of transition. The Emmy winner seems to be quite close with her child and has posted about her on social media on occasion. Earlier this summer, on Sofia’s 18th birthday, the So You Think You Can Dance judge posted a sweet tribute: 

Leah Remini wasn’t the only notable celeb to have missed out on the wedding celebration. Believe it or not, Casey Affleck also missed out on his brother’s nuptials. Originally, Affleck provided a somewhat odd reason for missing the event, saying that he “fell asleep.” However, sources later claimed that he actually didn’t attend due to “family, parental obligations at home.” But that didn’t stop Affleck from welcoming JLo to the family with a sweet throwback. 

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck had plenty of support otherwise, though. For instance, Affleck’s longtime friend, Matt Damon, was in attendance as were Affleck’s Clerks 3 co-stars Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes. Amid the wedding weekend, Smith actually dropped a funny post about dressing up for the occasion. (Spoiler alert: He kept it classy while also maintaining his signature sense of style.)

Aside from Bennifer’s paparazzi-filled honeymoon, the A-list couple seems to be floating on air at the moment. Reports suggest that JLo adorably loves that she can now officially refer to the Batman actor as her husband. It’s been a long journey for them (to say the least), so it’s only natural that they’d relish this new stage in their lives. 

Though Leah Remini didn’t get to witness the two become one, I’m sure she’ll touch base with the newlywed couple at some point. And whenever they do, it goes without saying that they’re going to have plenty to catch up on.

Spoiler alert! This story contains spoilers for So You Think You Can Dance Season 17 semifinals, “The Final Cut.” 

There was a time when fans of So You Think You Can Dance weren’t sure Season 17 would ever come to fruition. Fox opted not to move forward with the dance competition in 2020 due to the pandemic, and it was unknown if or when the show would “cue music” for its dancers again. However, the dance gods smiled down, and Season 17 was given new life this year — albeit with a brand-new panel of SYTYCD judges and different format — and somehow we’re already down to the final two contestants. Even as we head into next week’s finale, there’s still one big change that viewers can’t seem to get over.

The final three competitors each performed three times in the semifinals, before hip-hop dancer Essence Wilmington was eliminated, advancing Keaton Kermode and Alexis Warr Burton to duke it out in next week’s finale for $100,000 and the title of “America’s Favorite Dancer.” That title, though, is something SYTYCD fans just can’t make peace with, and their complaints continued on Twitter during the penultimate episode of Season 17. As one viewer said: 

The biggest change that befell Season 17 — aside from Nigel Lythgoe’s removal from the judges’ table — was that for the first time in So You Think You Can Dance history, the voting was not in the hands of the people watching at home, but solely left to the studio audience and the judges. Therefore, many on Twitter don’t think it’s right that the Season 17 winner be dubbed “America’s Favorite Dancer.” 

Questions have loomed all season about whether or not the Season 17 voting method is fair. The in-studio voting method works well enough for other competition shows, including Fox’s The Masked Singer, but So You Think You Can Dance puts more focus on its dancers’ growth over the course of a season, or their ability to take notes on a week-to-week basis. That kind of knowledge isn’t something the studio audience is going to have access to the same way as the fans watching from home, as this fan indicated:

The voting may be the biggest point of contention this season, but it’s far from the only one. The judges have spent the past couple of months on the defensive, as So You Think You Can Dance contestant-turned-coach tWitch responded to fan complaints that began in the audition process, and Dance Moms alum JoJo Siwa had to drop a truth bomb about her own expertise in the field. After Matthew Morrison was fired for inappropriate behavior, Leah Remini was tapped as a late replacement, and the King of Queens actress also clapped back at critics, telling them to just let her enjoy the experience.

It’s unlikely the voting format will be changed for the final episode of Season 17, but it will be interesting to see how the feedback will affect the show going forward. For now, you can catch up on this season with a subscription to Hulu, and tune in at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday, August 10 on Fox to see who will be crowned “America’s Favorite Dancer” (or whatever you prefer to call it). 

So You Think You Can Dance’s decision to overhaul its judges panel this season likely hasn’t gone as smoothly as was hoped. After Matthew Morrison had to be replaced for violations to competition protocol, both JoJo Siwa and SYTYCD vet Stephen Boss (a.k.a. tWitch) faced criticism from viewers on social media. Now it’s Leah Remini’s turn to defend herself, after coming in to replace Morrison. She posted a humorous video clapping back at people who wonder why she was chosen to be a judge.

The King of Queens actress was a late addition to So You Think You Can Dance’s 17th season. Leah Remini came in for the show’s milestone 300th episode, and despite her background in entertainment — including appearances on Dancing With the Stars as a contestant, guest host, and guest judge — fans were a little confused about her lack of specific dance expertise. Remini addressed those people on Instagram. Check it out:

So while Leah Remini argued that she has every right to be on the panel, pointing out that she even owns a dance studio and has been taking lessons in all different kinds of dance, she’s on So You Think You Can Dance to judge the performances. Viewers of Season 17 have definitely seen her disagree with her fellow judges when she is entertained by a number despite any technical errors. 

Also, the actress questioned, what makes a person worthy of judging a dance competition? Does one have to be a dancer? In the end, she basically told fans to just back off and let her have her fun, which she's apparently having a lot of. She said in the video:

The actress’ co-hosts also seem to like having her next to them, as both JoJo Siwa and tWitch praised Leah Remini for what she brings to the show. The dancers on the panel certainly haven’t been immune to the negative feedback. The Dance Moms alum dropped a truth bomb on the critics who questioned her expertise, and tWitch even had to respond to fan complaints.

It’s definitely been an adjustment this season, as fans not only are seeing the first season in SYTYCD history without Nigel Lythgoe behind the judges’ table, but also a change in how the contestants are moved forward in the competition. Voting for “America’s Favorite Dancer” in Season 17 has been limited to the studio audience and judges, with home viewers not having any input for the first time.

So You Think You Can Dance airs at 9 p.m. ET Wednesdays on Fox, and you can catch up on this season's episodes with a subscription to Hulu. Be sure to check out our 2022 TV schedule to see what premieres are coming soon.

So You Think You Can Dance flipped the script on the judges panel for its long-awaited return to Fox for Season 17. Co-creator Nigel Lythgoe had been the only permanent judge for the dance competition's first 16 seasons, but when the show was revived after two years post-COVID, it was done so with three fresh faces behind the table. At the time, Lythgoe expressed sadness over the decision, and with Season 17 in full gear, he again indicated how he’d feel about returning.

Despite being removed from the judges panel this season, Nigel Lythgoe has remained faithful to the show he created with Simon Fuller back in 2005, regularly tweeting support for the dancers, as well as the judges who currently reside on the panel — tWitch, JoJo Siwa and Leah Remini. A recent post on Twitter, however, made it look like he may still be holding out hope for a return appearance himself, when he thanked followers for well-wishes on his birthday. He said: 

Fans, of course, guessed that Nigel Lythgoe’s birthday wish was to be back on So You Think You Can Dance, and to that, he responded with a simple smiley face emoji. 

It makes complete sense that Nigel Lythgoe would still be interested in returning to the show. He was originally announced to be judging Season 17 with Mary Murphy and Laurieann Gibson, before the long hiatus and eventual decision to skew for a younger audience. 

Fans actually thought he might get his chance to come back, after Glee alum Matthew Morrison was fired for not following competition production protocols when he apparently contacted one of the contestants outside the show. It was Leah Remini, however, who got the call — not Nigel Lythgoe — and she made her SYTYCD premiere on the competition's milestone 300th episode.

It has not been an easy road for the new judges of Season 17. Lifelong dancer JoJo Siwa has fought off critics who said she’s not qualified enough to serve on the panel, and Stephen “tWitch” Boss — who was runner-up of SYTYCD Season 4 — has responded to fans’ critiques about the dancers who were being chosen to compete. The elimination process has changed this season as well, and for the first time, the dancers who advance in the competition are being chosen by the in-studio audience and judges, rather than the viewing audience at home.

Only time will tell if Nigel Lythgoe’s birthday wish will come true, as well as whether or not this season will dictate further changes to So You Think You Can Dance’s format — should it get renewed for Season 18, that is. Check out new episodes at 9 p.m. ET Wednesdays on Fox, or catch up on this season so far, with the first eight episodes available for streaming with a Hulu subscription.

Leah Remini is settling into her new and unexpected role as a judge on Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance. The King of Queens actress replaced Matthew Morrison for Season 17 after he was fired over not adhering to “competition production protocols” following the audition rounds in which he, JoJo Siwa and Stephen Boss (a.k.a. tWitch) chose the Top 12 dancers to advance in the competition. Some viewers found it odd that the Emmy-winning Remini heeded the call to take the third spot behind the judges’ table, due to her not having a background primarily in dance.  It doesn't bother her fellow judges, though, who seem to like the way she fits into the group regardless.

While tWitch got his start on So You Think You Can Dance as a contestant on Season 4, and JoJo Siwa has been dancing on TV since she was 10 years old on Abby Lee’s Ultimate Dance Competition (and later Dance Moms), Leah Remini’s background is far less dance-specific. She does, however, come with decades of experience in the entertainment industry on both sides of the camera, and tWitch told People he loves what she brings to the judging panel:

In her first couple of episodes, Remini proved that she’s not afraid to disagree with the arguably more knowledgeable dancers to her right, sometimes praising the performance aspect of a number even if tWitch or JoJo Siwa has critiqued that contestant’s technical execution. If only all situations in life involving contrasting opinions also included such positivity. 

Just as tWitch said he enjoys the different perspectives the trio are bringing to the table, Siwa also doesn’t seem to mind when Leah Remini has a different opinion. To her, Season 17’s newest judge helps to bring the humor. As the YouTube star put it:

JoJo Siwa is known for her larger-than-life personality, and tWitch’s smile could light up the darkest cave, so it’s hard to imagine that group would need someone else to lighten the mood. However, they both also take their craft very seriously, and some of their more pointed feedback to the contestants has elicited boos from the audience. 

Plus, having a judge who focuses on aspects other than technical ability is important for a show that has cemented the distinction to crown “America’s Favorite Dancer” as it does, rather than the best dancer. But that still hasn’t kept some fans from speaking out on social media about their disappointment in not having a third dance professional in the mix.

Of course, JoJo Siwa has also clapped back at critics who’ve questioned her own expertise even though she's been dancing for her whole life. And tWitch has even addressed disappointed fans who complained about some of the choices the judges made in choosing which contestants are advancing on the show. So at least Leah Remini is in good company with not being able to please them all! 

So You Think You Can Dance is down to its Top 10, and after the June 22 episode saw the girls dancing in their preferred genres. SYTYCD returns to Fox at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday, June 29, as the dancers will take us “Around the World.” Be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what shows are premiering soon.

Spoilers ahead for the milestone 300th episode of So You Think You Can Dance.

So You Think You Can Dance returned to Fox after a long hiatus with some major changes to hit the impressive milestone of 300 episodes, which isn't something that many shows last long enough to accomplish. This was a notable episode for more than one reason, as it had to combine the celebrations with the introduction of new judge Leah Remini as part of the panel with JoJo Siwa and tWitch. She joined part of the way through Season 17 after Matthew Morrison was fired. So, now that the episode has aired, let's look at how SYTYCD handled everything with the big 300. 

How SYTYCD Handled Matthew Morrison's Departure

News broke that Matthew Morrison had been cut from So You Think You Can Dance not too long after Season 17 premiered, but a number of episodes had been pre-taped, so he was still appearing up to the 300th episode. He eventually spoke out to address the allegations that inappropriate behavior resulted in his firing, claiming that he'd simply sent a contestant a message asking for her number to talk about a choreography job. 

In contrast to the situation when longtime Bachelor Nation host Chris Harrison was fired, SYTYCD didn't add disclaimers to the episodes to clarify that they'd taped before the controversy and then Morrison's subsequent firing, and episodes weren't edited to cut him. The same was true in the 300th, as he was featured in the recap from the previous week, and his commentary to the dancers who were cut was still included, even though tWitch (who recently responded to a fan complaint) had the most time on camera in those segments. 

Host Cat Deeley ultimately didn't mention Morrison at all or address his absence other than to welcome Leah Remini to the show, so it seems that SYTYCD made the transition with as little drama and fuss as possible, with the focus on good news rather than why Morrison was cut. 

How SYTYCD Welcomed Leah Remini

Even though So You Think You Can Dance didn't explicitly acknowledge Morrison's departure or give him a goodbye, there was some fanfare for the arrival of Leah Remini. The King of Queens actress who has spoken out about her experiences with Scientology doesn't come to the show with an extensive dance background like JoJo Siwa (who had to defend her qualifications for SYTYCD on social media) and tWitch, although she did compete in Season 17 of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, and she would later return as a guest host and divisive guest judge. Cat Deeley gave her the warm welcome, saying:

Leah Remini didn't hold back in her commentary on the dancers in her first outing as a SYTYCD judge, sometimes agreeing with her fellow judges while sometimes vehemently disagreeing. There can be no doubt that she's enthusiastic about her new role, and it should be interesting to see how she settles in now that the show has settled on the Top 12. 

How SYTYCD Celebrated 300 Episodes

The episode wasn't a grand extravaganza that spent the whole hour celebrating the milestone, but there were moments throughout the episode building up to a big surprise. After Cat Deeley announced that SYTYCD has run for over 1000 performances and accumulated 71 Emmy nominations (with 17 wins), the commercial breaks were bookended by videos of celebrities celebrating the show, including Ken Jeong, Jason Derulo, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jennifer Lopez, and Enrique Iglesias. 

The biggest acknowledgement that this was a truly special episode came at the end, after the audience votes were tallied and four dancers were singled out. As far as they knew, it was the end of the road for two of them, and the Top 12 would be knocked down to the Top 10 by the time the final credits rolled. But there was no bad news on the night of the 300th episode! After tWitch built up the suspense about which two dancers were being eliminated, he dropped the big reveal:

All of the dancers in the Top 12 will go on to dance at least one more time, and what better way to end such a huge milestone than with some good news for some incredibly talented dancers? It was an eventful hour of television all around, with Leah Remini replacing Matthew Morrison while the competition picked up and they celebrated 300 episodes. 

The milestone celebrations presumably won't continue as Season 17 keeps going, but Leah Remini isn't going anywhere. See which dancers have what it takes to stick around with new episodes of So You Think You Can Dance on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox, and check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule for some more viewing options now and in the coming weeks. 

So You Think You Can Dance finally returned after a break of nearly three years earlier in the spring, but controversy soon overshadowed Season 17 when judge (and former Glee star) Matthew Morrison was fired. Rumors circulated about why he lost his job on the show, and he eventually responded to the allegations, but there was still no news about who would replace him on the panel with JoJo Siwa and tWitch… until now. Actress Leah Remini will be the third judge on SYTYCD following Morrison’s departure, and she arrives in a milestone episode. 

Leah Remini is likely best known for her acting work on shows like The King of Queens and her willingness to speak out about her experiences with Scientology, but she has also served as a guest judge on another dancing show. Reactions were mixed to her appearances on Dancing with the Stars, but she does come to SYTYCD with some dance TV show experience. She debuts in the next episode, on June 15, which also happens to be the milestone 300th episode. Few shows are successful enough to hit 300 episodes, and Remini said this about joining SYTYCD:

Although Season 17 is hitting that 300 episode milestone, it has been a season featuring a lot of changes, including on the judges’ panel. Stephen "tWitch” Boss was the only returning judge on the panel (and already responded to fan complaints about the new season), with JoJo Siwa (who dropped a truth bomb of her own before making a prediction about who will win) and Matthew Morrison as newcomers. Morrison lasted less than a full season. 

With the news that Leah Remini will debut as the new judge on June 15, it seems that fans have already seen the last of Morrison on SYTYCD despite the show not acknowledging an upcoming departure in the most recent episode on June 8. The judges were about to finalize the Top 12 at the end of the latest episode; it should be interesting to see if and how Morrison’s absence is addressed with Remini’s arrival. 

As for what else to expect from the 300th episode, it will introduce the Top 12 as well as celebrate the legacy of SYTYCD, which originally debuted back in 2005. It’s not clear just yet how much the show will focus on legacy and how much will focus on the Season 17 dancers, but it should be must-see TV for any longtime fan of So You Think You Can Dance. As for how well Leah Remini will fit in with JoJo Siwa and tWitch as a judge of the show… well, only time and new episodes will tell. 

See Leah Remini’s debut on So You Think You Can Dance on Wednesday, June 15 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. You can revisit the earlier episodes of Season 17 so far streaming with a Hulu subscription, and check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule for some more upcoming viewing options.

The Wendy Williams Show has faced an uphill battle regarding its recent return without its namesake host to steer the ship. The battle started even before Season 13 premiered, as it was delayed a few times due to Wendy Williams’ ongoing health issues. Despite Williams’ personal setbacks, the producers decided to start things off without her often chaotic and messy energy. It was certainly unclear how the premiere week would fare in her absence, but those numbers are now in, and they present some interesting results, for better or worse. 

The long-running daytime series moved forward with its Oct. 18 premiere date in syndication, and it appears The Wendy Williams Show saw a relatively huge increase from the previous week. According to The Wrap, the chatfest’s key demo ratings jumped up by 33% compared to the previous week's installments. To be sure, that audience increase appears to be partly because the new episodes are being compared to the repeats that aired in the weeks leading up to the premiere. But considering no guarantees were set for how well anything would do without Williams, that's a victory for the producers.   

While the ratings did jump up from week-to-week, the overall numbers were slightly down from the same period in 2020. The daytime talk show achieved a demo rating of 0.8 during its premiere week, which was a decline from the 0.9 stat the gossip fest earned during the same week last year. It’s unknown if the decline was due to Wendy Williams’ absence or if the general decline of year-to-year viewership, or some other factor. 

On the upside, those numbers allowed The Wendy Williams Show to move from eighth place to fifth amongst the daytime talk show rankings. It ranked behind other daytime staples like Dr. Phil, Live With Kelly and Ryan, the soon-to-be-ending The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the karaoke-filled The Kelly Clarkson Show.

While the ratings did see a slight dip, daily viewers appear to be very receptive to the various hosts taking on hot topics. They have continued to watch the chatfest in Wendy Williams’ absence, with Leah Remini anchoring the first week of Wendy-less episodes. Sherri Shepard and Whitney Cummings have also served as fill-in hosts. But having the guest hosts thrive might not sit well with the talk show host given her reported stance from her previous hiatus. The last time Williams’ health issues led to a long hiatus, stars like Nick Cannon and The Talk’s Jerry O’Connell stepped up to carry the show in her absence, and rumors of her exit were sparked. 

While the ratings and audience reception have remained fairly stable, the show might be experiencing some troubles behind the scenes. The Wendy Williams Shows has allegedly been paying viewers to fill the in-studio audience without Williams around. So, viewers might want to see Wendy Williams in the flesh instead of coming to see a bunch of substitute hosts, regardless of who they are. Unfortunately, there have been no signs of Williams’ return to her namesake show. 

Until the talk show host’s return is announced, viewers will need to tune in on weekdays in syndication to see who will guest host next. Check your local listings to see when and where it airs in your area. 

Leaving any religious faith or organization tends to be a major deal for anyone experiencing it, so when Orange is the New Black’s Laura Prepon revealed over the summer that she'd exited the Church of Scientology years prior, it made headlines. While many in Hollywood championed the move itself, not everyone was on board with how Prepon announced things. To be expected, one of those somewhat unimpressed people was actress and advocate Lean Remini, and the outspoken Emmy winner revealed why she didn’t care too much for Prepon’s surprise admission.

Lean Remini was rather unimpressed by Laura Prepon’s Scientology exit, or at least the subdued way she went about it. Of course, most viewers know Remini isn’t afraid of making headlines. Being the outspoken person she is, Remini didn’t mince very many words regarding Prepon leaving Scientology years early, saying this in an interview with Daily Beast Live when asked if she'd tried contacting the former That '70s Show star.

In true Leah Remini style, the actress couldn’t help but air out her true feelings on Laura Prepon, whose lack of anti-Scientology rhetoric accompanying her exit reveal seemed to bother Remini. The rights advocate was blunt with her opinion on Prepon's silence.

Understandably, anyone staying silent about exiting the Chuch doesn't sit well with Leah Remini. Since leaving the faith herself, Leah Remini has been very outspoken about her exit as well as her issues with it. She has even documented her post-Scientology life through several docuseries, including the Emmy-winning Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, in which the King of Queens veteran advocated for other former followers.

While on a smaller scale compared to Leah Remini’s Scientology exit, Laura Prepon's reveal made some serious waves in Hollywood. For the most part, fans didn’t know Prepon had left the faith until she revealed the news in an interview. She explained she left the religion five years earlier; around the time she and her husband Ben Foster started a family.

Leah Remini just seemed annoyed and dissatisfied with Laura Prepon’s late-stage revelation, not that Prepon needs to keep Remini happy for any specific reasons. While Remini is all about advocating for others, and has used her voice to highlight others like former Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, that process is not for everyone. Some choose to use their voice to uplift others while others prefer to keep things closer to their vest, and at the end of the day, everyone’s journey is their own. Just don't expect Remini to stay quiet about it.

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Leah Remini is a star in her own right these days, known for her longtime role as Carrie Heffernan on The King of Queens, as well as her work as an activist against the Church of Scientology. But, back in 1991, Remini had only a handful of small acting jobs on her resume when she accepted the role of Stacey Carosi on Saved by the Bell. Stacey was the boss’ daughter during Saved by the Bell’s Malibu Sands episodes, where the gang worked at a beach club for the summer, and Stacey struck up a romance with Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s Zack Morris.

The beach episodes of Saved by the Bell came later in the series’ run — after Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez and the rest of the gang were already well-established as teen idols. Leah Remini talked to Gosselaar on his podcast Zack to the Future about how intimidating it was to join the cast, especially in the role of Zack’s girlfriend.

It’s sad to know that Leah Remini felt like that next to Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, especially because fans of Saved by the Bell actually welcomed Stacey as a new love interest for Zack — a strange and surprising phenomenon in a world that, to this day, worships at the shrine of Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski. But, it’s also totally understandable that Remini was nervous to join the established cast. She was still fairly new to acting, and I mean, I wouldn’t want to be the girl who comes after Tiffani-Amber Thiessen either; who wasn't in awe of her face?

It’s crazy to think that Leah Remini was only in six episodes of Saved by the Bell. Stacey Carosi’s summer romance with Zack Morris lives in infamy, which is probably in part due to the chemistry the couple shared on the screen. Remini even told Mark-Paul Gosselaar that she’s still recognized as Stacey Carosi more than any other role she’s played since.

Season 1 of the Saved by the Bell follow-up series is streaming now on Peacock, and while we’ve seen the return of many of our favorites from the series’ original run, Stacey Carosi has had no reason to grace the halls of Bayside High — which might be a good thing, if she wants to avoid an awkward encounter with Governor Zack Morris and his wife, Kelly Morris.

But, who knows? Maybe Mac Morris will take a summer job at Malibu Sands one of these seasons. The original Saved by the Bell episodes can be streamed on Peacock and Hulu, and be sure to check out our 2021 Summer TV schedule for more to watch.

After an ill-fated engagement with Alex Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez is having a hot summer with Ben Affleck by her side. Rumors about Bennifer being back on have been swirling for the past few months, as the two actors have been spotted spending time with each other in Los Angeles and Miami. We’ve been pretty sure the Gigli couple are back on 17 years later but, now, we have an official look at the two together, and they are picture perfect. And it comes courtesy of Kings of Queens star Leah Remini.

Leah Remini posted about her birthday festivities on Instagram a month following her big day. Jennifer Lopez and Remini were co-stars on 2018 comedy Second Act, and they reunited for her 51st birthday party. Oh, and Ben Affleck was there:

Okay, so this might not be on Jennifer Lopez’s Instagram account, but it might be as close as we’re going to get to social media official. J-Lo and Ben Affleck found a cozy pose, as they took a photo booth picture with Leah Remini during her birthday party. Affleck looked happy with placed his arm around Lopez, and the Hustlers actress gave a model-like glance at the camera while placing her hand near Affleck’s chest. The photo was part of Leah Remini’s birthday video thanking her guests for celebrating with her:

Bennifer 2.0 is looking incredible, and it’s great to see the couple enjoying themselves at parties as their relationship progresses. Back in May, the pair were seen hanging out together, even taking a trip to Montana together. As the season has changed to summer, Ben Affleck has visited Jennifer Lopez on her side of the coast in Miami and Lopez has also been seen hanging out with her new flame in L.A. in between her business on the west side.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck first met when they were cast in Gigli in early 2002. The couple got together on the heels of J-Lo’s divorce with Cris Judd. The couple went as serious as becoming engaged but, in 2004, they broke up. J-Lo went on to marry Marc Anthony, and Ben Affleck got hitched to Jennifer Garner, with each couple settling down and having kids in between their high-profile Hollywood careers.

Ironically, both stars found themselves living the single life again by the first part of this year. Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas broke things off after having quarantined togther for much of last year, while Jennifer Lopez and A-Rod claimed they’re “better as friends” after four years together. After all the hype surrounding the famed couple reigniting their flame, it’s sweet to see that it is in fact not too good to be true. Long live Bennifer!

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This February marked the 18th anniversary of Old School, Todd Phillips' back-to-school sophomoric comedy that propelled the film careers of its three lead stars, Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Will Ferrell. Co-starring a variety of future celebrities, including Jeremy Piven, Ellen Pompeo, and Simon Helberg, this raunchy romp was met with mixed reviews and a modest box office intake, but it found a loving audience, becoming one of the most quoted movies of the early '00s. Now that nearly two decades have passed since its theatrical rollout, what's the Old School cast doing now? Let's find out!

Luke Wilson (Mitch “The Godfather” Martin)

As Mitch Martin, i.e. "The Godfather," a lovelorn 30-something who moves into Beanie's frat house after his girlfriend cheats on him, Luke Wilson plays our hapless lead character in Old School. Most notably, Wilson played Anthony Adams in Bottle Rocket, Richie Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums, and Emmett Richmond in the Legally Blonde movies. Additionally, he starred in Home Fries, The Family Stone, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, and Idiocracy. His other notable film credits include My Dog Skip, Charlie's Angels (2000), Blades of Glory, 3:10 to Yuma, and Death at a Funeral (2010). Also, he appeared in Anchorman, Brad's Status, and Zombieland: Double Tap. Most recently, the actor was seen in Netflix's All the Bright Places and heard in Bobbleheads: The Movie.

Additionally, on television, Luke Wilson starred in short-lived shows like Roadies and Enlightened. Currently, he plays Pat Dugan, i.e. S.T.R.I.P.E., in The CW's Stargirl. Next, Wilson will be seen in 12 Mighty Orphans and The Cleaner. Right now, the actor is filming a role in Gasoline Alley. Also, Wilson will be heard in the animated series, New-Gen. Outside of acting, he was the host of ABC's 2020 docuseries, Emergency Call.

Will Ferrell (Frank “The Tank” Ricard)

In the role of Frank "The Tank" Ricard, a domesticated man who puts a strain on his recent marriage when he returns to his hard-partying ways, Will Ferrell played a memorable character in 2003's Old School. Making a name for himself as a standout performer on Saturday Night Live, Ferrell became a movie star through his lead performances in Anchorman 1 & 2, Elf, Talledega Nights, Blades of Glory, Step Brothers, The Other Guys, Daddy's Home 1 & 2, and Stranger Than Fiction, to name only a few.

Most recently, Will Ferrell starred in Downhill and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which he co-wrote and produced. Also, the A-list comedian appeared in Impractical Jokers: The Movie and the short film, David. Next, he'll star in Apple TV+'s The Shrink Next Door. Additionally, Ferrell is expected to star in The Prince of Fashion, Fruitcake, Christmas Carol, and an untitled eSports comedy. Meanwhile, as a producer, Ferrell is attached to several projects, including Tig Notaro's directorial debut, Am I Ok?

Vince Vaughn (Bernard “Beanie” Campbell)

Playing the part of Bernard "Beanie" Campbell, who turns his house into a fraternity to stay compliant with the university rules, Vince Vaughn starred in Old School. Following his breakout performance as Trent Walker in Swingers, Vaughn found fame with his lead performances in Wedding Crashers, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and The Break-Up. Additionally, Vaughn was well-liked for his supporting turns in Anchorman, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and The Lost World: Jurassic Park. His other notable post-Old School film credits include Hacksaw Ridge, Into the Wild, and Todd Phillips' Starsky & Hutch.

More recently, Vince Vaughn starred in genre films like Brawl in Cell Block 99, Dragged Across Concrete, and last year's Freaky. His other recent film credits include Arkansas and Hulu's The Binge. Outside of film, Vaughn was seen in True Detective Season 2 and heard in F is for Family. Coming up next, the actor will appear in North Hollywood and Queenpins. Additionally, Vaughn is expected to star in The Last Drop and an untitled Netflix action-adventure movie. Also, the actor is attached to the Amazon animated series, Oaklandia. Furthermore, he's rumored to reprise his role in Wedding Crashers 2.

Jeremy Piven (Dean Gordon “Cheese” Pritchard)

As Dean Gordon Pritchard, i.e. "Cheese," an old classmate who's out for revenge, Jeremy Piven plays the primary antagonist in Old School. Most notably, Piven is known for his three-time Emmy-winning performance as Ari Gold in HBO's Entourage. Later, the actor reprised this role in the 2015 big screen continuation. His other notable television roles include Mr. Selfridge, Ellen, The Larry Sanders Show, and Seinfeld.

Additionally, on the big screen, Jeremy Piven played the lead role of Don Ready in The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard. He also starred in Keeping Up with the Steins, PCU, and I Melt With You. His other notable film credits include supporting turns in Scary Movie 3, RocknRolla, The Grifters, Say Anything, Black Hawk Down, and Grosse Point Blank. Additionally, Piven played standout characters like Damon Schmidt in The Kingdom and Michael Berkow in Very Bad Things. Most recently, Piven starred in Last Call. Next, the actor will appear in American Night, Ghost Killers, and Jamie Foxx's All-Star Weekend.

Ellen Pompeo (Nicole)

In the role of Nicole, Mitch's high school crush who reconnects with our lead character, Ellen Pompeo plays a romantic character in Todd Phillips' Old School. Most notably, Pompeo is known for her long-standing title role as Dr. Meredith Grey in ABC's Grey's Anatomy. She also played this part in Station 19. Additionally, she's seen in Friends, Law & Order, and Strangers with Candy. Outside of television, Pompeo appears in Catch Me If You Can, Daredevil, and Moonlight Mile. She also starred in Art Heist and Life of the Party (2005). Currently, Pompeo can be seen in the latest season of Grey's Anatomy.

Perrey Reeves (Marissa Jones)

Playing the part of Marissa Jones, Frank's concerned wife, Perrey Reeves plays a stern supporting character in 2003's Old School. Most notably, Reeves reunited with Old School co-star Jeremy Piven to play Melissa Gold in Entourage. She reprised this role in the movie continuation. Her other TV credits include Covert Affairs, Famous in Love, Private Practice, and Grey's Anatomy. Additionally, on the big screen, Reeves appears in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Child's Play 3, Kicking & Screaming (1995), Plus One, and Smoke Signals. Most recently, she was seen in Cosmic Sin and Amazon Prime's Paradise City.

Juliette Lewis (Heidi)

As Heidi, Mitch's girlfriend, Juliette Lewis plays a randy supporting character in Old School. Previously, Lewis scored an Oscar nomination for her supporting turn in Cape Fear. She also received an Emmy nomination for My Lousiana Sky. Most notably, Lewis is known for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Natural Born Killers. Her other film credits include Kalifornia, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, From Dusk Till Dawn, Whip It, August: Osage County, Conviction, Strange Days, and Husbands and Wives.

Additionally, Juliette Lewis starred in The Other Sister and appeared in Starsky & Hutch, Mixed Nuts, Cold Creek Manor, Nerve, Due Date, Ma, and Jem and the Holograms. Earlier this year, Lewis was seen in Music, Breaking News in Yuba County, and Mayday, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. On TV, the actress is seen in Secrets & Lies, Camping, and Wayward Pines. Next, Lewis will star in Showtime's Yellowjackets.

Leah Remini (Lara Campbell)

In the role of Lara Campbell, one of Marissa's friends, Leah Remini plays a sarcastic supporting character in 2003's Old School. Most notably, Remini is known for playing Carrie Heffernan in CBS's The King of Queens. She reunited with Kevin James for CBS's Kevin Can Wait. She can also be seen in Saved by the Bell, Cheers, and The Talk, where she co-hosted. Additionally, Remini hosted the documentary series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which resulted in two Emmy wins. Also, the actress frontlined the reality TV series, Leah Remini: It's All Relative. Furthermore, outside of television, Remini appears in Mad Families, The Clapper, Handsome, and Second Act.

Currently, Leah Remini is the host of the podcast, Scientology: Fair Game, which she started in July 2020. Also, the actress hosts Game Show Network's People Puzzler.

Elisha Cuthbert (Darcie Goldberg)

Playing the part of Darcie Goldberg, Mitch's no-nonsense one-night-stand, Elisha Cuthbert has a prominent role in Old School. Most notably, Cuthbert starred in The Girl Next Door. She's also known for her performances in House of Wax (2005), Love Actually, Captivity, The Quiet, and He Was a Quiet Man. Additionally, Cuthbert's recent film credits include Goon: Last of the Enforcers, Just Before I Go, and My Sassy Girl.

Outside of film, Elisha Cuthbert played main roles in Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Fox's 24, and ABC's Happy Endings. Additionally, she played a lead part in NBC's short-lived sitcom, One Big Happy. More recently, Cuthbert was in the main cast of Netflix's The Ranch. Furthermore, she had a recurring role in ABC's The Forgotten and she was a host on Global TV's Popular Mechanics for Kids. Next, Cuthbert appears in Eat Wheaties! The actress will also star in the Ireland-based horror movie, The Cellar.

Simon Helberg (Jerry)

As Jerry, Simon Helberg received one of his first high-profile roles in Old School. Most notably, the actor played Howard Wolowitz in CBS's long-running sitcom, The Big Bang Theory. His other notable TV credits include MADtv, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and Derek and Simon, which he co-created and produced. Furthermore, as a voice actor, Helberg can be heard in Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil, and The Tom and Jerry Show.

Outside of TV, Simon Helberg is best known for his supporting performances in Florence Foster Jenkins and A Serious Man. He also appeared in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Good Night and Good Luck, A Cinderella Story, and Van Wilder. Additionally, Helberg starred in, wrote, and co-directed We'll Never Have Paris. Next, the actor appears in Leos Carax's Annette, which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. He'll also be seen in Mayim Bialik's feature directorial debut, As Sick As They Made Us.

Seann William Scott (Peppers)

In the role of Peppers, Seann William Scott had a standout cameo in Old School. Previously, Scott appeared in Todd Phillips' Road Trip. Most notably, the actor played Steve Stifler in the American Pie franchise. Seann William Scott also stars in the Goon movies. Elsewhere, he's recognized for his lead performances in Dude, Where's My Car?, Mr. Woodcock, Evolution, and Bulletproof Monk. Furthermore, the comedic actor played Travis Walker in The Rundown, Bo Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard, and Wheeler in Role Models. His other film credits include Final Destination, Cop Out, and Southland Tales.

Outside of these film titles, Sean William Scott can be seen in Bloodline, Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach (which he produced), The Promotion, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. On television, the actor starred in the third season of Fox's Lethal Weapon in the role of Wesley Cole. Next, Scott is expected to star in Fox's new reboot, This Country.

Craig Kilborn (Mark)

Playing the part of Mark, Nicole's boyfriend, Craig Kilborn plays a combative character in Old School. Most notably, Kilborn hosted The Daily Show and The Late Late Show. He also appeared on SportsCenter and hosted The Kilborn File. Additionally, in film, Kilborn can be seen in The Benchwarmers, The Shaggy Dog (2006), Full of It, and The Bronze. Most recently, Kilborn guest-starred in an episode of ABC's short-lived United We Fall.

Patrick J. Adams (Patch)

Taking on the role of Patch, Patrick J. Adams made his film debut in 2003's Old School. Most notably, Adams is known for his leading role as Mike Ross in the first seven seasons of USA Network's Suits. His other television credits include Orphan Black, Pillow Talk, Sneaky Pete, Rosemary's Baby, and Friday Night Lights. Additionally, in film, Adams appeared in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Christmas in Boston, Rage, Weather Girl, Clara, and Room for Rent. Most recently, the actor starred in Disney+'s The Right Stuff. Furthermore, Adams can be heard in the animated series, Pandemica.

You can rent Old School on Amazon Prime here.

Up until a few days ago, Mission: Impossible 7 seemed to be on a roll. The franchise is actually shooting two movies back-to-back and we’d seen numerous stunts and car scenes being filmed for the Tom Cruise-led blockbuster. Then, audio surfaced allegedly featuring Tom Cruise berating crew members for not following safety protocols, a move Leah Remini has claimed was a publicity stunt and the Church of Scientology has now denied.

Days after Tom Cruise’s alleged outburst showed up online, Leah Remini took to a blog to claim that the whole thing was a “publicity stunt” from the Mission: Impossible 7 actor. She feels that producers on the movie could have “handled the the situation privately and professionally” and that “Tom probably saw this as an opportunity to appear as the epitome of strength.” She claimed this type of action was a common effort in the Church of Scientology, as well.

After Leah Remini’s blog comments received wider notice, the Church of Scientology, which Tom Cruise is a member of, got involved. Now, the Church has released a statement saying that it is taking Covid-19 seriously and disagreeing with Remini’s take that Tom Cruise's behavior on set was connected with the Church or its ideals. In a statement (via The Wrap) the Church of Scientology said:

Leah Remini and the Church of Scientology have had a contentious relationship in recent history. Remini used to be a member of the Church. After leaving, she has spoken out about her experiences via the docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which ran on A&E. She has also said the Church sent hundreds of letters to advertisers on the network to try and discourage spending. She previously has also noted her issues with Scientology began when she attended Tom Cruise’s wedding.

Following the reported leaked audio clip, Tom Cruise and his publicity team have remained largely silent about the incident. However, reports from the set of Mission: Impossible 7 have alleged a few people quit the movie following the rant. Then, the film itself reportedly shut down production a few days earlier than expected to give the cast and crew more of a break around the holidays.

Mission: Impossible 7 is not the only movie or TV production dealing with major safety protocols right now. There’s additional stress on every production as there are longer working hours, more safety gear and there is less camaraderie allowed on set. Some projects have even had to shut down for periods, including high-profile projects such as Netflix's The Witcher. In a recent interview with Emmy Magazine and Paul Bettany, that actor spoke of the WandaVision set and how production has been affected in that forum, noting,

Tom Cruise’s specific safety protocol commentary was reportedly related to crew members who were masked on the set of the movie, but were not following the protocols for proper social distancing in terms of space. The crew members were reportedly fewer than two meters apart. Cruise is also credited as a producer on the Mission: Impossible films, as well as starring in them as spy Ethan Hunt.

That ‘70s Show and The Ranch alum Danny Masterson was formally charged with raping three women this week. The investigations regarding the alleged sexual assaults started back in 2017, leading to Masterson's firing from Netflix, and have been ongoing. Following the recent news, Leah Remini had a strong reaction to Danny Masterson facing criminal charges.

Danny Masterson, a member of the Church of Scientology, has been under police investigation since 2017, when three women publicly accused him of sexually assaulting them in the early 2000s. The allegations against the actor were meant to be the focus of an episode of Leah Remini’s A&E series, Scientology and the Aftermath, but that episode was reportedly shelved. In light of Masterson’s formal rape charges, though, Remini took to Twitter with a powerful reaction to the news. Here’s what she wrote:

Leah Remini did end up covering the rape allegations against Danny Masterson in the two-hour series finale of Scientology and the Aftermath, which aired back in August 2019. Remini, a former Scientologist, sat down and interviewed two of the three women who accused Masterson of sexual assault.

Last year, Danny Masterson and the Church of Scientology were sued by those same three women, who claimed they had been targeted by the Church of Scientology through stalking and intimidation methods after having reported Masterson to the Los Angeles Police Department in 2016 and 2017. In that same vein, Leah Remini alleged that the Church of Scientology sent hundreds of hateful letters to A&E advertisers, reportedly so the network would pull the episode interviewing the sexual assault accusers.

After the allegations initially went public, Danny Masterson was ultimately fired from Netflix’s The Ranch in December 2017, months after the allegations came to light. Masterson's character was written off the show in brutal fashion, and his character was replaced with one played by Dax Shepard.

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the rape charges against Masterson took place by “force or fear,” while all of the alleged sexual assaults happened inside his home. If Masterson is convicted of all three cases, he could be facing up to 45 years in prison. The actor, who was released after posting a $3.3 million bail, currently has his arraignment scheduled for September.

Leah Remini has long held strong opinions about the Church of Scientology. Since leaving the religion years ago, Remini has openly discussed her experiences within the church. While she hasn’t been the only ex-member to speak out over the years, Remini has been the most vocal, giving interviews that led to the aforementioned Emmy-winning docu-series on A&E. You can check out her tweet below.

It might be a while before there’s any more information regarding Danny Masterson’s charges, as well as how his case will move forward. As always, stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates.

Spoilers ahead for the October 7 episode of Dancing with the Stars Season 28.

Although Dancing with the Stars is only a few weeks into Season 28, there have already been some surprising twists and turns, not the least of which have been the celeb dancers withdrawing. In the October 7 episode, former DWTS competitor Leah Remini returned to the stage, but not to strut her stuff to try and win the mirrorball trophy this time. She was a guest judge, joining the panel of regular judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Len Goodman.

As a Dancing with the Stars judge, Leah Remini had a dominant personality and didn't bring a professional dancer's eye to the judging, but she was enthusiastic and seemed to echo the thoughts of a lot of viewers. Basically, the audience seems to be pretty divided on Leah Remini as a judge. Some want her back, some want her never to return, and others pretty much think some of the other judges are the ones who won't want her back.

Let's jump into some of the reactions! First, the positive:

For one person on Twitter, Leah Remini as guest judge made the October 7 episode of Dancing with the Stars the first "highly entertaining" installment of the season. According to the hashtag, this person also wouldn't mind if Remini returned as more than just a guest judge.

For somebody else, Leah Remini was the voice of the viewers:

Will Leah Remini be brought back on a weekly basis? Probably not, as the judge panel has been mostly consisted of the same group throughout the run of Dancing with the Stars, and pro dancers are the ones who judge the dancers. But could that change for Remini?

Another person on Twitter feels strongly enough about the need for more Leah Remini that they busted out the caps lock:

Well, I'd say that's one very enthusiastic vote for Leah Remini as a permanent judge on Dancing with the Stars! Then again, there are very real questions about whether the voting on DWTS this season is fair (and if one celebrity has an unfair advantage), so even legions of fans calling for more Remini may not get what they want.

And while there may be legions of fans wanting more of Leah Remini, there are some who definitely don't.

Placed in one of the middle seats of the four judges, between Carrie Ann Inaba and Len Goodman, Leah Remini was able to take over the commentary from time to time. There's no denying that she mixed things up, considering her dance experience came from past work as a celebrity dancer on the show, and she approached everything very differently from the other three. That just didn't work for everybody, especially if it meant the other judges didn't get as much of the spotlight as in usual episodes.

Somebody else on Twitter chose not to name names in their criticism, but it was pretty clear who they were referring to:

That was at least a tactful way to suggest that Leah Remini wasn't the right choice to step in as a Dancing with the Stars judge! Not everybody on screen was so polished during the episode.

Some of the other judges didn't seem to quite know how to go about business as usual with Leah Remini on board. Viewers certainly noticed it:

Things did seem to get a little tense toward the end of the episode, to the point that host Tom Bergeron felt the need to comment and try to play it off. Carrie Ann Inaba didn't appear to be involved, at least!

More than one person on Twitter took the tension as a sign that the future of Dancing with the Stars may not include Leah Remini. Here's one who put it bluntly:

Will Leah Remini return as a guest judge? We'll have to wait and see on that front. Dancing with the Stars has made some surprising moves in the past that were quite possibly for the purpose of generating buzz, such as the addition of former White House press secretary Sean Spicer as a celeb dancer this season. For my part, I'm still astonished that he hasn't been eliminated. Maybe that's why I'm not a Dancing with the Stars judge!

Find out what the future holds for Dancing with the Stars when new episodes air Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC in the fall TV lineup.

Three seasons after premiering on A&E, the series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath is calling it quits. Series star and activist Leah Remini isn’t sad about it, though. After winning an Emmy for the documentary-style series, the actress believes the show has done what it can to inform the public about Scientology. While previewing the series finale, Remini explained that the Church of Scientology sent letters to the network expressing its distaste with the series.

In an interview, Leah Remini explained the details behind the show’s cancellation, whether she’ll partner with A&E in the future, and the Scientology policies that dictate what “speaking out against” the religion entails.

Speaking with EW, it's clear Leah Remini has very strong opinions about her former religion and, for many years, she has made it her mission to educate the masses about her experience with Scientology. Though she isn’t the only one to bring up the church in public, she has been among the most outspoken. Most recently, she stated that the Church of Scientology, under the guise of the STAND League, has sent hundreds of what she deems “hateful” letters to A&E’s advertisers about the show. She stated:

This isn’t the first time this has happened. In January, Leah Remini and the Aftermath were, in fact, blamed for someone’s murder via some outlets and the Church of Scientology cited this as the reason the series should end. However tumultuous and tense things have been, Remini doesn’t think this is necessarily the end for her brand of programming. With the series ending, the actress believes she needs to “move on to the second level."

Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath aired its final episode on August 26. Before ending its run, Scientology and the Aftermath closed out with a two-hour event and discussed the events surrounding The Ranch’s Danny Masterson and the sexual assault lawsuit filed against him. For more TV shows to watch, check out our Fall TV premiere schedule.

UPDATE: The Church of Scientology reached out to CinemaBlend to provide a statement about Leah Remini's allegations, which can be seen below.

Leah Remini claims that Scientologists should have no right to complain about the hate campaign she has been waging against their religion. She disrespects a staff member of our Australasian headquarters who was murdered by one of her deranged followers and showers the media that covered the story with a potty-mouthed rant. Remini’s hatred has totally consumed her. That alone justifies A&E cancelling her series.

This likely won't be the last time Leah Remini will butt heads with the Church and its members.

The world of Scientology has been a big topic in pop culture in recent years, with HBO's Emmy-winning documentary Going Clear serving as the arguable zenith. In terms of episodic television, the most prominent take on the Church of Scientology hails from A&E, with Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath taking home its own Emmy in 2017. Now, around six months after Season 3 of the docu-series finished, A&E has announced the series is ending.

Thankfully for those who have been the most loyal viewers over the past three years, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath is giving audiences just a little more before bowing out for good. The series will offer up one final installment in the form of a two-hour finale, filmed in front of a live audience.

On Monday, August 26, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath will air its last episode, which will see former King of Queens and Kevin Can Wait star Leah Remini taking the stage with the A&E series' co-creator Mike Rinder. According to a synopsis (via EW), the live special will see Remini and Rinder further discussing the Church's allegedly damaging practices, such as the way victims of alleged abuse or sexual assault are said to be impeded from reporting claims to authorities.

The Scientology and the Aftermath special will reportedly also bring in a team of law enforcement experts, as well as legal and psychological experts. These special guests will offer up advice and further information about how former members of the Church of Scientology can assist in efforts to bring justice to others.

Below is a hopeful and gratitude-filled farewell statement released by Leah Remini herself.

Not that Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath has been without its own controversies and detractions. Basically ever since the show first came into being at A&E following the publishing of Remini's book Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, the show has been accused by the Church of Scientology of, among other things, proliferating falsehoods with its various claims. Not only the various allegations made on the show by former members, but also the docu-series' bigger-picture focuses, such as Remini and Mike Rinder's claims that Shelly Miscavige, wife of Church leader David Miscavige, has been missing.

It would appear that the Church of Scientology hasn't heard the last of show creators Leah Remini, a former follower from the age of 9 until the age of 43, and Mike Rinder, a former high-ranking Church member until 2007. In a blog post announcing the show's ending, Rinder hinted at more to come in this field of focus. In his words:

While it's unclear exactly what Mike Rinder is talking about, whether its non-sponsored streaming TV or something more independently web-centered, it appears he and Leah Remini hope to maintain the following they've built up through the A&E series. For what it's worth, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath earned its third Emmy nomination for Outstanding Informational Series or Special for this year's ceremony. Fans will get to see if the show can pick up its second Emmy, nearly a month after officially ending, when Fox airs the awards ceremony on September 22.

For anyone who wants to tune in to see the final episode of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, be sure to tune into A&E on Monday, August 26, at 9:00 p.m. ET. For a bunch of other shows that don't necessarily have anything to do with Scientology or Leah Remini, check out our fall TV premiere schedule to see what other excellence is on the way.

For three seasons now, actress and activist Leah Remini has been a boon for A&E thanks to her documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. The show has attracted its share of controversy, earning rampant criticisms from the Church of Scientology itself, but these most recent accusations are perhaps the most troubling yet, as Remini and her A&E show are being blamed for inciting the murder of a Taiwanese-born Scientologist living in Australia.

For background: On January 4, a 24-year-old Scientology security worker named Chih-Jen Yeh was at work at a Church headquarters in Sydney, Australia. As he was walking a female church member over to her "purification ceremony," the woman's 16-year-old son approached them, brandishing a large kitchen knife. The teen then stabbed Yeh in the neck.

Chih-Jen Yeh was taken to the hospital, where he died in the emergency room. Another 30-year-old male also came away from the attack with minor injuries. The teen, whose name has been withheld, is currently being charged with murder, and is being held without bail while awaiting a court appearance currently set for February 19, according to THR.

A week later, on January 11, A&E Networks Group president Paul Buccieri received a letter from the Church of Scientology spokesperson Karin Pouw that alleged the teenaged assailant voiced "religious hatred and propaganda" while stabbing Yeh. The letter, in no uncertain terms, purports the network and Leah Remini's show to be responsible for inspiring and encouraging such hate-mongering behavior.

Here is a reported excerpt from the letter, per The Underground Bunker.

Closing things out with "Stop your program," spokesperson Karin Pouw makes the Church of Scientology's case clear with its strongly worded letter. It claimed that the teenager had previously voiced intentions to burn the Church down, and said that he was influenced by an anti-Scientologist website that linked back to the former King of Queens star's A&E series, and also featured people who are or were involved with the show.

Scientology and the Aftermath's co-host Mike Rinder had this to say by way of refuting the Church's accusations.

With all that said, it is unclear what, if anything, will actually happen next involving this tragic incident. Without any official proof tying Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath to the murder of Chih-Jen Yeh, A&E likely won't change anything due to the Church's direct accusations. It's certainly possible, if things got litigious, that someone could take a deeper look at the cable docu-series' content to deem whether or not it could be responsible for incitement. The situation has not reached that point yet, however.

For now, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath is airing on A&E every Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. ET, and it might not be the only place to find Remini in the future. Head to our midseason TV premiere schedule to see all the new and returning shows hitting primetime and beyond soon.

Leah Remini made her way back to leading lady status on a sitcom in the 2017-2018 TV season after she replaced Erinn Hayes on CBS' Kevin Can Wait. While that show got off to a solid start and King of Queens fans rejoiced to see Remini sharing the screen with Kevin James on a regular basis again, Kevin Can Wait got the axe from CBS back in May. Now, Remini has landed a new comedy pilot for Fox that could bring her back to primetime to deliver laughs once more. Here's what we know.

The pilot does not yet have a name, but a fair amount of info about the plot and main characters has already been released. The multi-camera project will follow a Middle America women, her ex-husband, and her new wife as they must collaborate to raise a family. Remini still star as Jean, who would describe herself as a patriot with deep love for her nation who holds the steadfast belief that everybody deserves the right to be left alone. Despite sharing some traits associated with stereotypical conservatives, Variety reports that Jean leads a progressive lifestyle with her wife, Betty. Together, Jean and Betty raise Jean's two sons. They get some help from Jean's ex-husband and her sons' father, Richie, who lives in the garage. Oh, the shenanigans that will ensue!

No word of who will play Betty, Richie, and the two boys has yet been released, but we have to hope that Richie won't be played by Kevin James. Leah Remini can hold her own without reprising that dynamic yet again, especially after it didn't win the hearts of viewers en masse on Kevin Can Wait. We'll have to wait to learn who will fill out the rest of the ensemble. If the pilot scores a series order from Fox, Remini will need a talented cast around her.

The project already has a talented team behind the scenes. Rob McElhenney and Rob Rosell are on board as writers and executive producers. McElhenney is of course known for starring, co-creating, and writing for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Rob Rosell has credits as a producer on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, New Girl, and The Mick. Interestingly, talented comedienne Kaitlin Olson -- who just so happens to be married to Rob McElhenney -- has appeared and/or starred in all three of those shows Rosell has helped produce. Always Sunny co-stars and writers Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton are on board to produce as well.

Leah Remini has more going on than just this sitcom pilot. Back in April, Remini signed a development deal with A&E for more new shows after the success of her Scientology and the Aftermath series, and she has a special in the works that will take on Jehovah's Witnesses. Her A&E works don't deliver a lot in the way of laughs, but her sitcom should be much funnier if it gets ordered to series. It will be in consideration for a potential midseason launch on Fox.

For what you can watch now and in the not-too-distant future, check out our summer TV premiere schedule. If you're more in the mood for some streaming content, we have a handy 2018 Netflix guide and 2018 Amazon Prime rundown.

Not too long ago, it was announced that Leah Remini would be making more unscripted TV shows courtesy of her development deal with A&E Networks. Now we know what her next project will center on, and for those wondering if she will be heading away from religion, the answer is "no." It will remain the central theme of her next project. The actress's next show will spotlight Jehovah's Witnesses. Unlike Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, the upcoming project will be a one-time special, rather than a series.

For now, the known details about the special pertain to its subject. According to THR, the special will air after the third season of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. It is unclear if the special will include interviews with former members, or speak to current Jehovah's Witnesses. Among the more known practices of Jehovah's Witnesses is that they do not accept blood transfusions and believe in political neutrality.

Without a trailer or further details on the special, it is unclear what narrative Leah Remini will be taking on the Jehovah's Witnesses; perhaps it is simply a deep dive into their belief system. The special marks Leah Remini's first non-Aftermath project with A&E Networks. Depending on how well the upcoming special is received, there could more projects in a similar vein. There are many things Remini could explore going forward and with her particular interest, there is no real ceiling on further points of intrigue.

The success of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath will be a tough act for Remini to follow. Her original series was a hit in the ratings and with critics. It even won a significant award. In 2017, the docuseries took home the Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series or Special. The show will return for its third season with eight one-hour episodes and five related specials. A premiere date for the third installment has not been announced.

Leah Remini now has even more time in her schedule to focus on her upcoming special and other projects for A&E Networks. In between seasons of Scientology and the Aftermath, Remini had taken on a higher profile role on the CBS comedy Kevin Can Wait. Following Season 1, Remini was upped to the series' female lead. Season 2 subsequently underwent a creative reboot that entailed Remini and her King of Queens co-star Kevin James headlining the series. CBS ended up cancelling the comedy, earlier this month.

There is currently no premiere date set for Leah Remini's upcoming special, so stay tuned. For shows that do have premiere dates, check out guide to TV's summer premieres. For a better understanding of what's been cancelled and renewed, check out our 2018 network TV rundown.

Leah Remini is a busy woman, and she is about to get even busier. The actress, author, and activist's docu-series Scientology and the Aftermath was recently renewed for a third season and has been a massive hit for A&E. So it comes as little surprise the network wants to continue their budding partnership with Remini. Thanks to her burgeoning relationship with A&E Networks, Leah Remini is gearing up to make even more TV shows, as she's just signed a first-look deal with the network.

The Hollywood Reporter shared the news of Leah Remini's development deal with A&E Networks. The network's interest in continuing its relationship with Remini is unsurprising. Not only has her A&E show been a ratings success, but Scientology and the Aftermath won the Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series or Special in 2017. As part of her new development deal, Remini will produce new unscripted series for A+E Networks.

While Scientology and the Aftermath airs on A&E, it is important to note that Leah Remini's new series will not necessarily air on that network. Her deal with A&E Networks includes its namesake channel, Lifetime, and History, among others.

There is no word on when Leah Remini's new shows will premiere, or what they will be about when they do. Being that they are described as unscripted, you can probably expect Remini's upcoming series to continue in the vein of her Scientology-themed docu-series. In her part of the statement announcing the new deal, Remini said that she looks forward to "telling brave stories." Whether those stories will include more stories about Scientology, remains to be seen.

This latest news marks the continuation of Leah Remini's career resurgence. Since Remini competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2013, she has been on a bit of roll. In 2016, she hosted and produced the docu-series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. The show's second season premiered the following year and Season 3 is currently in the works.

Until Leah Remini's new shows on A&E start rolling out, you can catch the actress on the CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait. In it, she stars opposite her King of Queens co-star Kevin James. Remini guest starred on the show in Season 1, playing Vanessa Cellucci, Kevin's former rival on the police force before he retired. Due to the popularity of her appearance, Remini was promoted to a series regular for Season 2. She eventually took over as the female lead of the series, following a huge cast shake-up and plot reboot.

No premiere date has been revealed for Season 3 of Scientology and the Aftermath. You can watch Leah Remini in the next episode of Kevin Can Wait, when it airs April 16 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. For more info on other TV shows that are coming up on CBS, check out our guides to TV's midseason and summer premieres.

Warning: spoilers ahead for the second episode of Kevin Can Wait Season 2.

Kevin Can Wait made a big cast change for Season 2 when original leading lady Erinn Hayes was written off the show and former guest star Leah Remini was bumped up to regular status as Vanessa Cellucci. The whole Gable family is struggling to adjust to life without Donna, and the latest episode showed Kevin attempting to tackle the domestic tasks that he once left to his wife. As his son wasn't enjoying Kevin walking him home from school and his daughter wasn't a fan of her dad washing her clothes, the whole family was under a lot of pressure. Luckily, Kevin found a reason to get out of the house, and it gave viewers the answer to the question of how Kevin James will be paired with Leah Remini in Season 2.

Vanessa Cellucci entered the episode when she wandered into the Gable house to recruit Kevin to join her on a mission to serve papers to a man dodging his wife's quest to divorce him. She had left the police force for the private security sector, and things worked a bit differently. The man had gotten a look at Vanessa, so she needed an assist from somebody who couldn't be identified by the target. Unsurprisingly, the partnership didn't go too smoothly, starting when Vanessa got the burger with onions that Kevin ordered.

Although their first attempt to serve papers failed when Kevin tried to chase their target on a kid's malfunctioning dirt bike, Kevin discovered that he liked being at work yet again. He decided to apply to work for the Golden Phoenix security company, which he discovered to his dismay was owned and run by Vanessa. Kevin decided to start his own security firm, but it got off to a poor start when he used a scrap of paper as his business card and used "insecurity" as part of his slogan.

Well, Kevin lost his competitive streak when Vanessa revealed that her company was failing, and she was behind on her rent. They began to work as a team to take down their target at an amusement park, and it was clear that they were good to keep going as partners. The two will be working together in private security, which will shift the focus away from Kevin's shenanigans as a stay-at-home dad to his hijinks in private security with the long-suffering Vanessa.

Only time will tell how much the show will change now that Kevin is getting back to work and Leah Remini has a larger role in the show. It should be interesting to see how the fans who weren't happy at how Donna was written off will react to the shift. We'll have to wait and see. New episodes of Kevin Can Wait air on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. Don't forget to swing by our fall TV premiere guide as well.

Recently, Leah Remini has made headlines for talking about celebrities whom she believes are in the Church of Scientology. Now Jada Pinkett Smith, one of the stars Remini asserts is a Scientologist, has set the record straight. In response to Remini's claims, Pinkett Smith turned to social media to explain her holistic approach to studying world religions. She used the occasion to deny being a member of the religion founded by author L. Ron Hubbard.

In fact, Jada Pinkett Smith tweeted that she had studied Dianetics, a set of practices in Scientology. She also acknowledged having respect for Study Tech, a pedagogical technique by L. Ron Hubbard. Still, Pinkett Smith maintained that she is not a Scientologist, noting,

Then Jada Pinkett Smith closed with the hard-hitting statement:

Those powerful words were part of a string of tweets that helped Jada Pinkett Smith to make her point. She also gave examples of other times when she shared in the customs of religions not her own. The 46-year-old Girls Trip actress tweeted about lighting Shabbat candles with Rabbi Bentley of Temple Sinai despite not being Jewish. She said she had prayed in mosques despite not being a Muslim. Pinkett Smith stated she had read the Bhagavad Gita even though she is not a Hindu, and she had chanted and meditated in Buddhist temples even though she is not a Buddhist.

While Leah Remini has yet to respond in a direct way to Jada Pinkett Smith's string of tweets, she did reply to a couple of Twitter users who commented on them. In one reply, Remini said she did not realize Pinkett Smith had a problem with people calling her a Scientologist. Then Remini clapped back at a different Twitter user for calling her a bully over the issue.

Leah Remini is not the first person to connect Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith with Scientology. Nevertheless, she did call them out in a rather unusual anecdote in her book, Troublemaker. The Kevin Can Wait actress wrote that she and the Smiths were among the guests at a party at Scientologist Tom Cruise's house some years ago when a seemingly clandestine game of adult hide-and-seek transpired.

Jada Pinkett Smith later denied the story on an episode of Watch What Happens with Andy Cohen. Pinkett Smith said the game was for the kids at the party. However, later reports said Remini contradicted Pinkett Smith's explanation and said there were no children at the event. She asserted that Pinkett Smith was in the Church of Scientology, and she had often seen her at the Scientology Celebrity Centre. For proof, Leah Remini pointed to the New Village Leadership Academy, a private institution Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith set up in the late aughts and closed in 2013. Reportedly, the school implemented strategies of Study Tech.

From the sounds of it, Jada Pinkett Smith is a student of world religions. Her movie-star husband has made similar statements. He told the New York Daily News in 2008,

Leah Remini has become outspoken about her experiences growing up in the Church of Scientology. She talks about the intense difficulty she faced trying to quit Scientology, and her documentary, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, won an Emmy this year. It is important for Remini to speak her mind, as she has strong feelings about the subject. At the same time, Jada Pinkett Smith's response was sophisticated and bold. We'll have to stay tuned to see what they say next.

Kevin Can Wait was one of the biggest new comedies to hit the small screen in the 2016-2017 TV season, and it came as no surprise when the show all about the Gable family scored a renewal order for Season 2. As it turns out, however, Season 2 will look quite different from Season 1 thanks to Leah Remini joining the cast and Erinn Hayes' character passing away over hiatus. Actress Mary-Charles Jones plays middle child Sara Gable on Kevin Can Wait to perfection, and she recently spoke to CinemaBlend about what the show will be like with Leah Remini on board, saying this:

The premise of Kevin Can Wait in Season 1 was that Kevin Gable (played by Kevin James) retired from the police force with the intention of spending time with his family, only to discover that family life was more complicated than he expected. The status quo will shift in a big way for Season 2, with Kevin returning to work in order to provide for his family (including Mary-Charles Jones as Sara) after the death of his wife. Instead of going back to the police, however, Kevin will go to work with Leah Remini's Vanessa Cellucci at her private security firm. Now that Donna has passed away, Kevin's parental role with Sara and her siblings will need to expand at home on top of his position as breadwinner.

There will be a time jump of a year between the end of Season 1 and the beginning of Season 2, so we shouldn't expect to see what remains of the Gable family still in the throes of their immediate grief at Donna's death. The time jump should allow Kevin Can Wait to bring the laughs right out of the gate in Season 2 rather than starting on a glum note. We'll be able to enjoy Kevin and Vanessa sparring and the Gable kids interacting without feeling guilty because Donna just died. Kevin as a single dad at home and bouncing off Vanessa at work has the potential to be pretty hilarious. Mary-Charles Jones went on to explain how Season 2 will feel different after Season 1:

Many shows do take some time early on to figure out what works best, and it seems that Kevin Can Wait simply needed one season to work out the kinks. While Erinn Hayes was wonderful as Donna, her character's purpose had been fulfilled, and the story will bring the laughs in some entertaining new ways in Season 2. Mary-Charles Jones' comments indicate that Season 2 of Kevin Can Wait with Leah Remini on board as a regular should be an exciting ride.

You can catch Kevin James, Leah Remini, and Mary-Charles Jones on Kevin Can Wait when Season 2 premieres on Monday, September 25 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. Don't forget to swing by our fall TV premiere schedule for your viewing options on the other nights of the week.

When it was announced that CBS' Kevin Can Wait was bringing in Kevin James' former King of Queens co-star Leah Remini as a guest-star, fans undoubtedly had expectations for their respective characters to share the same kind of chemistry that they did on the former comedy. And with Remini's promotion, combined with the show-written death of Kevin's wife Donna, it seemed like that could be an eventual end-game, but executive producer Rob Long claims that's not the case at all. At least not at this point in the show, or the characters' time together. In his words:

Leah Remini's Vanessa Cellucci made her big Kevin Can Wait debut appearance in the two-part Season 1 finale, serving as a foil for Kevin as his former rival on the force. When Season 2 of Kevin Can Wait kicks off, the revised storyline will keep the characters at odds, but with Vanessa now taking on the role of Kevin's boss at the top of a new security firm. They've got to keep up a working relationship, of course, but fans shouldn't expect that awkward friendliness to turn into anything more lovey-dovey. For the time being, this isn't a will they/won't they situation, because they won't.

Season 1 was more tied to the relationship between Kevin and his family, with his job situation obviously coming up a bit. But now that the show is in Season 2, Rob Long told TVLine that everyone involved on the creative side is having a ton of fun dealing with things on the work-relationship side, since they hadn't gotten to do that before. Of course, Kevin will also be a single father raising the three Gable kids, with Kendra assumedly watching everyone when Kevin heads out to work. But it's not clear if Vanessa will enter into his home life very much.

We'll just say it right here that Rob Long specifically pointed out that fans shouldn't expect that "by Episode 12" to see Kevin and Vanessa having any kind of romantic kindling. So maybe in Episode 13? Okay, probably not, but still.

Kevin Can Wait will make its Season 2 debut on CBS on Monday, September 25, at 9:00 p.m. ET. To see everything else that'll be making primetime a little more complicated in the coming months, head to our fall premiere schedule.

Over on A&E, Season 2 of the Emmy-nominated docu-series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath is going strong, maintaining much of the audience base that tuned in for the first season's initial run. The actress and former Scientologist will be back on network TV full-time for Season 2 of CBS' Kevin Can Wait, where she'll be reunited with her former King of Queens co-star Kevin James. Remini is now claiming that during her time on the '90s sitcom, she was pressured into trying to convert James into a Scientologist. Here's why she said she refused to go through with it.

That assessment sounds similar to other things that Leah Remini has said in the past, as well as what other former Scientologists have reported after leaving the Church behind, as far as the importance placed on the recruitment process goes. Given how much value people tend to place on fame, there would certainly be an advantage in having TV stars as the ones supposedly being tasked to do the recruiting, though perhaps not the biggest one if it's another TV star as the one being targeted. And it's perhaps interesting that Remini says it was Kevin James' Catholicism that stopped her from pressuring him into considering Scientology.

Leah Remini's claims, given in an interview with People, weren't the most strongly worded allegations that she's laid out, and they're not the easiest statements to verify outside the actress' own take on it all. And to be expected, the Church of Scientology was quick to put its branded kibosh on Remini's allegations that other Scientologists were peppering her to get Kevin James interested in joining. According to a statement issued by the Church:

Certainly an interesting denial, as it spins things in a different light as far as Leah Remini and Kevin James' on-set relationship goes. But without anything more than hearsay to finger Remini for calling James a bully back then, that claim in the same boat as Remini's own words.

It's apparent that Remini and James' relationship hasn't soured over the years, though. The duo's reunion earlier this year for the CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait was received so well by both the stars and the show's crew that Remini was brought on as a full-time cast member, while actress Erinn Hayes was given the boot. (The latter's character will have been killed off whenever the new season begins.)

Tune in every Tuesday night on A&E to watch new episodes of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, airing at 8:00 p.m. ET, with back-to-back installments popping up on September 5. Meanwhile, Kevin Can Wait Season 2 will be hitting CBS' schedule again on Monday, September 25, at 9:00 p.m. ET. And to see everything else that's heading to the small screen in the near future, head to our fall premiere schedule.

When it comes to big TV shows making big casting changes behind the scenes, CBS has had its share of headline-worthy instances in the past couple of years, though usually with dramas like NCIS and Criminal Minds. Most recently, Kevin James' sitcom Kevin Can Wait has gotten attention for the shocking decision to replace lead Erinn Hayes with former King of Queens star Leah Remini ahead of Season 2's production start. Here's how CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl explained the reasoning behind the big switch-up.

Kelly Kahl's explanation is assumedly meant to placate Kevin Can Wait audience members by saying that there was no inclination to push Erinn Hayes out the door by bringing Lean Remini in for her then-guest spots, but the way it's worded still doesn't exactly make the situation sound completely two-sided. Good intentions or not, as soon as Remini and Kevin James reconnected on the set, everyone apparently made the mental switch to try and bring her on board for a more permanent basis. Well, everyone meaning "Kevin, the studios and the network," and presumably not Hayes herself.

This explanation was given by Kelly Kahl and other CBS execs during this year's TCA summer press event (via THR), where it was also unveiled that Erinn Hayes' Donna would be killed off the show, as opposed to having her absence be explained in a different way, and that Season 2's debut will mark a time jump within the narrative. Confirming that Hayes also wasn't in the conversation chain about how Donna's death would be handled, Kahl did mention that her death at least won't be handled comedically.

Considering Erinn Hayes has lined up a new gig already, and hasn't kicked up any dust over the Kevin Can Wait casting change-up, it's entirely possible that this mini-controversy will mostly be swept under the sitcom living room rug by the time Season 2 starts up. After all, nostalgia is a powerful thing, and seeing Kevin James and Leah Remini back together again could not only qualm any complaints, but it could also draw more viewers to Kevin Can Wait's sophomore season than its first one. We'll be paying attention to those numbers.

Kevin Can Wait fans will get to see exactly what the show is doing with Donna's character, or the memory of her, when Season 2 premieres on Monday, September 22, at 9:00 p.m. To see everything else that's hitting the small screen both before and after that, check out our summer premiere schedule and our fall TV schedule.

Earlier today, the nominations were announced for the 69th annual Emmy Awards, and there were lots of big surprises to be found in the bunch. While not all of them were good, there was still much to cheer for, and it was quite the gigantic day for Leah Remini, whose A&E docu-series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath received its first nomination, which was also a first for Remini. But don't go thinking she's getting an ego over it. Here was her reaction to getting the nod.

True to form, Leah Remini humbly deflected the initial attention for the honor of getting a nomination in Outstanding Informational Series or Special. When Scientology and the Aftermath first premiered, it was quite a big hit for A&E, earning championable numbers for its series premiere in November 2016, and its numbers throughout Season 1 were solid enough to earn it not just a season renewal, but also three different specials, with two coming in-season and one coming post-season. By all counts, success was already achieved for Scientolgy and the Aftermath, but with the Emmy nomination, Remini and the rest of the show's crew know that the Emmy voters are paying just as much attention as audiences around the country.

And in Leah Remini's case, it's obviously less important to take home a physical trophy than going home with the knowledge that her not-always-supported efforts are being witnessed and appreciated by a growing number of people. And as she told EW, she's all-around surprised that this is the show that got her Emmy cred, but is still incredibly thankful.

Not all of the attention that Leah Remini has received for Scientology and the Aftermath has been of the soul-lifting sort, of course. The Church of Scientology itself has been extremely critical of both the show and its creator, as many involved with the Church feel her depiction is one-sided and unfairly negative. But that won't stop Season 2 from hitting A&E at some point in the coming months.

While we're not sure when Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath will return to primetime, Remini herself will be back on network TV and sharing scenes with her former King of Queens co-star Kevin James when Kevin Can Wait Season 2 premieres on CBS on Monday, September 25, at 8:00 p.m. ET.

UPDATE: In the time since this article was first published, the Church of Scientology reached out to CinemaBlend with its take on the A&E program, which it feels is biased and dangerous. You can get a fuller perspective on the Church's position here.

Leah Remini's career has taken her from Saved By the Bell to The King of Queens and now to the second season of the CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait. But it's hard to say that any of those projects -- as well as The Talk -- have been more impactful on society than her unscripted A&E series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. As one of the only ongoing mainstream series shining any light on the Church of Scientology, Remini's show has attracted much controversy, and she says she was initially advised not to go forward with it.

Yeah, that definitely sounds like the mindset of someone who has the confidence necessary to walk away from the Church of Scientology in the first place. At the age of nine, Remini became a part of the Church, and she was a loyal member until 2013, when she left after witnessing the stonewalling of any attempts to investigate leader David Miscavige and his policies. On the flip side, she landed her first big TV roles in her late teens in the late 1980s. So considering her involvement with Scientology goes back further than her time as an Los Angeles actress, so there's no questioning her justification, even if her team didn't think the risks were worth it.

Leah Remini talked about Scientology and the Aftermath with THR, along with other creators of sometimes controversial shows -- entertainers like Drag Race's RuPaul, United Shades of America's W. Kamau Bell, Keeping Up with the Kardashians' Kris Jenner and Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party's Sallyann Salsano. There, Remini also talked about how she doesn't do any personal vetting for any of the former Scientologists that come on her show, since she wouldn't understand how anyone would want to lie about being in that kind of painful situation. (The producers do vet potential contributors, though, so don't worry.) But she doesn't want to necessarily take the credit for doing the positive things she's doing. In her words:

There's no question that Leah Remini's work on Scientology and the Aftermath has made waves, as it was one of A&E's bigger premieres, and was a top-rated show for the channel over the course of Season 1. The popularity was enough to warrant a Season 2 renewal and a between-seasons special, as well as a lot of criticism from the Church of Scientology. Can't please them all, I guess.

At this point, there's no release date locked in for when A&E will premiere Season 2 of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, but it's projected to pop up in the coming summer months. Speaking of, check out everything else you can find then with our summer premiere schedule, and you can witness Kevin Can Wait's big casting change when that show hits CBS this fall.

The gods of television say that when one window closes on the family home set of a hit sitcom, a door opens up, thus allowing someone else to walk through and take the place of the person who left through the window. Kevin Can Wait experienced just such a casting shake-up, with reports that star Erinn Hayes was being pushed out of the show while Kevin James' former King of Queens co-star Leah Remini was being added as a Season 2 regular. Let's look at how each of the principle players here reacted to the news. First up, the newbie:

Leah Remini followed up her King of Queens run with a somewhat surprising capitalization of fame within unscripted television, both as a part of The Talk and as the center of series such as Leah Remini: It's All Relative and the super-successful Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. But on the scripted side of things, she hasn't been quite so lucky, with limited stints for shows like The Exes, Family Tools, In the Motherhood and more. If the actress has indeed been dreaming about re-finding her footing as a sitcom queen, then reteaming with Kevin James is a good bet, considering Kevin Can Wait had the highest viewership of any new TV show last season. Her involvement in the two-part finale didn't bring audiences en masse, but next season is waiting.

Now, the ousted Erinn Hayes.

Quite the diplomatic response from comedic actress Erinn Hayes, whose career is full of one-season shows and pilots that failed to get ordered, though it's not for a lack of anything on the actress' part. (Her talents are easily viewable on projects that did last a while, such as Childrens Hospital.) She did seem to have a pretty sizable fanbase on Kevin Can Wait, too, as part of the Internet's response to the big switch-up has been in Hayes' corner, with some insulted viewers claiming they won't be watching anymore because of it.

Time will obviously tell how things really play out, especially after the show starts advertising with Leah Remini front and center. And you KNOW that CBS is going to majorly play up the King of Queens reunion as much as possible, while quietly working in all the plot changes and explanations necessary for Donna's absence and Vanessa's permanent fixture. In fact, Kevin James himself seemed to be making an overt reference to his future with Remini in a recent Instagram post.

Not that anything in the post's message ultimately refers to the actor's sitcom work, since he could easily be talking about dieting. But there can be no coincidences found in the cheese on said pizza spelling out "K of Q." I believe we can also agree that pizza would be pretty good right now.

It'll be interesting to pay attention to all things Kevin Can Wait for the rest of the summer as we make the long trek through the seasonal hiatus. To catch up with all the shows that are hitting primetime in the near future, check out our summer TV premiere schedule.

Cast changes for big networks shows aren't the rarest of TV incidents, but something very interesting and strange happened over the weekend with CBS' hit sitcom Kevin Can Wait. It was announced that Kevin James' former King of Queens co-star Leah Remini, who was the season finale guest star, is joining Kevin Can Wait on a full-time basis in the upcoming Season 2, and that was followed by reports that co-lead Erinn Hayes was fired. But was this really a good move for the comedy?

To start off, we have to consider the fact that Kevin Can Wait was the most-watched new series of the 2016-2017 TV season. And you're talking about a year when pop culture conversations were overrun by conversations centered on NBC's emotional roller coaster This Is Us, so one would assume that Kevin Can Wait would want to adhere to whatever formula led to such stellar viewership. But that's apparently not the case, since fellow TV vet Erinn Hayes confirmed on Twitter that she was let go.

It was admittedly a no-brainer for Kevin Can Wait, which dealt with behind-the-scenes changes pretty early on, to tap Leah Remini for Season 1, since The King of Queens was one of the most popular network sitcoms of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Playing up TV nostalgia is nothing new or unseen these days, as Fuller House proves every time we open up Netflix, and the James/Remini connection is a powerful one. Plus, Remini has been making headlines all on her own for her controversial unscripted A&E series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. But did their reunion make the kind of TV magic that required a long-term follow-up?

Not necessarily. The widely publicized two-part finale was far from being Kevin Can Wait's most popular pair of installments, and in fact, the May 8 finale brought in the smallest viewership of the entire run, with 5.68 million viewers in Live+Same Day stats. Not helping things is the episode's 1.1 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, which ties a series low. The numbers were mostly consistent once Kevin Can Wait hit its stride, but things definitely dipped lower in some weeks than others. Here's hoping that Leah Remini's presence can provide a return to the numbers that came during its earliest weeks.

With the summer season now upon us, Kevin Can Wait won't be back on CBS for Season 2 until some point this fall. While waiting to hear more about this latest shake-up, check out our summer TV schedule for a rundown of primetime's future.

Some on-screen dynamics are just too good to let go of. Even when a series comes to an end, certain actors become inextricable from one another. That is exactly what has happened between former King of Queens co-stars Kevin James and Leah Remini. The two recently reunited on James' new CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait, and now it appears that we can look forward to seeing quite a bit more of Remini's character in Season 2 as she moves into a series regular role.

According to a new report from TVLine, we can expect to see quite a bit more of Leah Remini on Kevin Can Wait when the show returns for its second season in the fall. Remini portrayed police officer Vanessa Cellucci on a guest stint during the show's two-part Season 1 finale, and success of that appearance has subsequently led to her joining the cast as a series regular. As long as this means we can look forward to her regularly trading barbs with Kevin James on a weekly basis, I think it's safe to say that we are on board with the idea.

It's obviously no secret that this news will likely excite any longtime fans of Leah Remini's dynamic with Kevin James from King of Queens. The duo starred on the hit CBS sitcom for nine seasons as Carrie and Doug Heffernan, and their bitter (yet still loving) dynamic has been sorely missed from the multi-camera sitcom landscape in the ten years since the show went off the air in 2007. Now if CBS can just get Jerry Stiller to return to a brand new role, then Kevin Can Wait will be able to pull off the King of Queens hat trick.

This development seems like a great upswing for Leah Remini, as her own recent return to the small screen did not fare quite as well as Kevin Can Wait. Remini starred as the lead on NBC's pilot presentation of What About Barb? Unfortunately, the network passed on the gender-swapped small screen version of Frank Oz's 1991 classic What About Bob? thus freeing up Remini to take on a more substantial role on Kevin Can Wait. Additionally, she's received positive reception toward her documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.

Kevin Can Wait will return to CBS next fall on Monday, September 25 at 9 p.m. EST. For now, take a look at our summer TV premiere guide and get yourselves caught up on all of the most highly anticipated small screen debuts of the next few months.

When Kevin James ventured back into primetime television on CBS with Kevin Can Wait, you knew it was coming. It was only a matter of time before James' new television series would make some connection to his first hit series on the network, The King Of Queens. Now, CBS has announced the predictable-yet-exciting reunion will happen in the two-part season finale, where James will reunite with his former television wife, actress Leah Remini.

Leah Remini will join Kevin James on Kevin Can Wait's two-part finale, and will once again play his wife. While James already has a television wife on Kevin Can Wait (Erinn Hayes), a weird series of events will put his character Kevin Gable back into police work, where he'll work as an undercover agent with fellow officer Vanessa Cellucci (Remini) posing as his wife. The Wrap reports the episodic pair is set to begin on May 1st and will be the final two episodes of Season 1. It will certainly be exciting to see the two actors get together after the great run they had on The King Of Queens.

From 1998 to 2007, The King Of Queens was a ratings winner for CBS, and was the only remaining live-action '90s sitcom on television at its finale. It remains to be seen if Kevin Can Wait can offer the same amount of success for CBS, as the show has struggled early on with ratings. But with Season 2 on the way, no doubt showrunners are looking to tap Leah Remini to draw in fans of The King Of Queens who may not be aware that Kevin James is back on television with a new show.

Guests stars are always a way to draw fans to a new series and something Kevin Can Wait has been doing a lot. The show has had CBS primetime icon Ray Romano (who also appeared with Kevin on The King Of Queens), Adam Sandler, and music legend Billy Joel on the series. With big names like that, you have to wonder who else CBS can pull to the series to get more eyes on the show. I have my fingers crossed for a Jerry Stiller appearance, but at age 89, who knows if Stiller is up for something like that? Patton Oswalt, however...

Regardless of ratings, it will be sweet for fans of The King Of Queens to see Doug and Carrie back together again. You can watch Kevin Can Wait on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. New episodes pick back up for the series on April 10th, so maybe now is a good time to binge-watch episodes on-demand if you're gearing up for Leah Remini's appearance. You could also just wait until her episode May 1st and check out our Summer premiere schedule for some new shows to jump into as warm weather draws near.

If there's one subject that has captivated people for decades, it's the Church of Scientology. The relatively new religion includes some of Hollywood's biggest characters, from Tom Cruise to John Travolta. Much of the organization is shrouded with mystery, but that seems to be changing. HBO's documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief was met with critical acclaim back in 2015, and was praised for reportedly revealing the inner secrets and corruption within The Church. And this year actress and former scientologist Leah Remini brought her own perspective to A&E with the series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. The show focused on the experience of ex-scientologists, and was met with high viewership and pop culture status.

And now it appears that we can expect much more of Leah Remini's work. A&E has renewed Scientology and the Aftermath for a second season. Additionally, Season 2 will also be longer than its predecessor, going from eight episodes to ten. And given that the series has become the #1 new unscripted television project on TV, it should come to no surprise that the network is bringing Leah Remini back for another go.

While Going Clear may have paved the way for Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, they're actually quite different projects. Rather than explaining the layered and confusing mythology of Scientology, Leah Remini's series focuses on the individual people who have left the Church. The stories are reportedly true, and focus on what life is like once someone leaves Scientology.

And given The Church's practice of ex-communicating those who depart, the stories are very emotional. The subjects of the show are often without their families, who may still be Scientologists and are therefore forbidden from contact. Additionally, Leah Remini and company maintain that The Church often goes on the offensive with ex-members, using their impressive fiscal resources to seek legal action, as well as harassment techniques and creating websites that attack their character.

With the news of Scientology and the Aftermath's renewal, host and producer Leah Remini stressed the importance of the series for not only the participants, but any victims of abuse. She said,

It should be interesting to see if and how the Church of Scientology responds to Leah Remini's renewal. The organization is obviously staunchly opposed to Scientology and the Aftermath. As such, A&E usually airs a small disclaimer at the start of each episode, where you can essentially hear the Church's side of the story. This is to presumably avoid legal action, but it certainly allows the organization to stick up for themselves.

Be sure to check back with us here at CinemaBlend for updates on Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath as they become public.

Leah Remini still may be on her crusade against Scientology, but that doesn't mean she has to step away from acting. The actress just scored herself a new gig alongside actress Jessica Gunning for an NBC pilot based off a classic comedy. The two will join forces as they try to recreate the magic of 90s film What About Bob? with a new take: What About Barb?

What About Barb? is meant to be a genderbent small screen spin on the aforementioned 90s comedy that starred Bill Murray. For those who haven't seen that film, it features Murray as Bob, who accompanies his psychiatrist's family on a vacation. This television pilot will take a bit of a similar direction as psychiatrist Suzanne Marvin (Leah Remini) tries to sever ties with her overbearing patient Barb (Jessica Gunning) only to gain her as a family member. If the pilot is looking to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, we should all be very excited.

What About Bob? is considered a black comedy for its plot, and it will be interesting to see if What About Barb? can make that same concept work in a shorter pilot. If you've seen the film, the whole premise is that Bob ends up driving his psychiatrist crazy while he appears to be more and more well adjusted as the film continues. Should What About Barb? turn from a pilot into a full series, that would be an awfully slow burn to build and keep going. That said, as a big fan of the film, I would be excited to see if and how producers could pull it off in a way that's faithful to the original project.

No word from Deadline on whether Bill Murray will make an appearance in the pilot, but it wouldn't be the first time he's appeared in a product he made famous. As for Leah Remini, the project will put her back in comedy TV for the first time since her short-lived TV Land series The Exes. Most television fans would know her from her work on The King Of Queens where she played Carrie, the wife to Kevin James' Doug. As a television comedy veteran, Remini could serve as a mentor to co-star Jessica Gunning who, with this pilot, will be breaking into American television.

It's not an exposé like Scientology And The Aftermath, but let's remember Leah Remini was making us laugh before blowing our minds with secrets of large organizations. Out of all the pilot's I've heard about recently, What About Barb? is one I'm most definitely interested in seeing. Of course, we'll keep you posted if anything else comes to light in regards to the potential NBC series, and until then you can visit our midseason premiere guide and find a new show to watch tonight!

Perhaps more than any other religion, Scientology has a tinge of fame about it. Because of the movie stars it attracts and because of the giant blue church on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, L. Ron Hubbard's belief system has always felt oddly famous in its own right, which is perhaps why it seems fitting that so many of the recent attacks on Scientology have played out on television. Those attacks continued this week as ex-member Leah Remini swung by Real Time with Bill Maher and made the bold claim that the entire religion could be brought down by one person.

Tom Cruise.

It sounds ridiculous, but it actually makes a fair amount of sense. With all due respect to John Travolta, Beck and dozens of other celebrities, Tom Cruise is, without question, the face of Scientology to the outside world, and according to Leah Remini, he's the face of Scientology to the inside world too. Apparently, members are being taught some pretty bold claims about the Edge Of Tomorrow star, though not all of them allegedly believe it...

So, thanks to his lofty position within the organization, if he were to ever turn against Scientology, both Remini and Maher believe it could take down the entire religion. That's probably a bit of an exaggeration, given HBO's aggressive documentary Going Clear didn't upend the system, but it's likely that were he to ever turn against Scientology, it would likely produce a major crisis of confidence for a sizeable percentage of the members.

Leah Remini left Scientology several years ago, and in the time since, she's been on a one woman crusade to expose the evils she claims are rampant within leader David Miscavige's group, or as she would call it -- cult. She appeared on Dancing With The Stars. She's given countless numbers of interviews, and now, she has her own show on A&E entitled Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. You can check out the interview in question with Bill Maher below...

Fair or unfair, members of the media have long treated Scientology different than other religions, at least in their willingness to openly chastise it. Were this interview about say Islam or The Catholic Church, audience reaction likely would have been a little more mixed, and certainly, more headlines would have been generated. Whether or not that's unfair or warranted obviously depends on who you talk to.

As Tom Cruise doesn't seem to be showing any signs of separating from Scientology, expect debates like this to continue for many years to come.

Scientology has been pretty mad about Leah Remini ever since she left the organization. However, the Church of Scientology has been even madder now that Remini has started publicly talking out about Scientology via her TV show Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. It's spread to her other endeavors, too. During Leah Remini's appearance this week on Conan, the late night host admitted that Scientology had contacted him in an attempt to discredit his guest. Here's what Conan O'Brien had to say:

It was clear during the interview that Conan O'Brien was a little bit startled by his brief contact with the Church of Scientology. Leah Remini went on to explain that this badmouthing of people who have left the organization is the most effective way to keep Scientologists from looking in-depth at what other information is out there. You can look deeper into the interview here.

If you've been keeping tabs on the whole Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath brouhaha, you may already know that the Church of Scientology has created a website dedicated to smearing the former Dancing with the Stars and King of Queens actress. The Church has also been sending similar messages out to the likes of A&E, which hosts Remini's docuseries. Scientology alleges that the cable network is being hypocritical because it pulled a KKK docuseries but not Scientology and the Aftermath.

The Church of Scientology has stopped short of actually suing Leah Remini or anyone participating in Scientology and the Aftermath. The actress has said she is stating the truth on Scientology and the Aftermath, as are the other people involved with the show. Because of this, she doesn't feel Scientology would have any ground to stand on should they get litigious. She reiterated that opinion during her appearance on Conan last night.

Scientology and the Aftermath attracted a sizable audience during its run on A&E. It's unclear if the show will be back for a second season, but as a contained docuseries, it has been pretty compelling and attracted a lot of notice. If you'd like to watch and form your own opinions, keep an eye out on A&E for repeat episodes. In addition, you can see what else TV has coming up with our midseason TV premiere schedule.

Actress Leah Remini is known for being outspoken about what she believes in, and she took that outspokenness to A&E for a new series about her experiences with Scientology. From a young age, Remini was a member of the Church for many years, but she very publicly left back in 2013. Her unscripted show Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath debuted on A&E on November 29, and the ratings prove just how many people are interested in her perspective. As it turns out, quite a lot of people are interested.

The series premiere of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath pulled in a whopping 2.1 million viewers for A&E. Of those 2.1 million, 1.1 million were in the valuable 25 - 54 demographic and 913,000 were in the 18 - 49 demographic. The numbers mean that the first episode of the show is A&E's most-viewed new series premiere in more than two years, as well as one of the top unscripted cable premieres in 2016 to date. The debut even did well on social media, ranking as the top trending series on Twitter in the 10 p.m. hour that night.

Of course, 2.1 million viewers is practically incomparable to the ratings consistently drawn by high-profile shows on the major broadcast networks, and A&E will almost certainly never catch up to cable channel fare like AMC's The Walking Dead and HBO's Game of Thrones, but 2.1 million is an incredibly impressive number for an A&E series premiere. The network likely has a huge hit with Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, with the only bad news for A&E being that it's a limited run series.

The show will run for eight one-hour episodes in which Leah Remini exposes stories of heartbreak, harassment, and emotional distress allegedly caused by the Church of Scientology and its flock. She has recruited former high-ranking Church executives to share their insight, as well as former members of the Church who have agreed to speak publicly about their experiences. Such a thing used to be extremely rare, but projects like HBO's Going Clear have opened the door for others to follow in going public with their stories.

Remini reportedly left Scientology in 2013 after she was alarmed at the disappearance of a fellow member (which she realized while at Tom Cruise's wedding), and she has revealed that she could not remain part of an organization that told her what to do. Her departure from Scientology evidently cost her a lot of friends who remained with the Church, but Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath clearly shows that she's not afraid to burn even more bridges if that's what it takes to tell her story.

The Church of Scientology hasn't taken well to Leah Remini's allegations on her series, claiming that she is "in it for the money" and is working to "distort the truth" about Scientology. The truth may always be a case of she-said/they-said between Remini and the Church, but to see for yourself what Remini has to say in Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, tune in to A&E on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET for the rest of the eight episodes. Check out our midseason TV premiere schedule to see what else you'll be able to catch on the small screen in the near future.

Leah Remini is famous for acting roles on sitcoms like The King of Queens and Family Tools. However, if you know anything about her personal life, she's also famous for being a part of and then leaving the Church of Scientology. In recent years, she's spoken out about the religion that famously attracts celebrities and is set to continue to do so via the TV platform Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which will air on A&E. In a recent interview, the actress explained how Scientology affected her life for years, alleging that the Church and even Tom Cruise tried to get her to do things while at CBS, including shutting down a 60 Minutes episode. Here's what she had to say:

This story is nuts. Leah Remini reports that Tom Cruise and others pressured her into trying to stop an episode from happening on CBS, and then she says she actually went out and made the attempt. Clearly, a network head like Les Moonves wouldn't take kindly to a random actor---or in this case actress---trying to tell him how to do his job, and Remini's account to THR basically explains that it didn't go over well. She also alleges that when she failed to change the head of the network's mind, people in Scientology were upset with her.

While the Church of Scientology has not refuted the story, the group has spent considerable time trying to discredit Leah Remini, noting that she will be profiting off of her new A&E series. Here is part of the statement given to the outlet:

When Scientology weighs in, the religion clearly goes hard. Still, the group hasn't outright stated the incident Leah Remini is referring to didn't happen. In he said, she said situations, it's often hard to know exactly what happened. However, I bet there's one other person who could weigh in on the Tom Cruise/ 60 Minutes incident: Les Moonves. So far, he's stayed out of this one.

You can catch Leah Remini's take when Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath hits the schedule on November 29 at 10 p.m. ET, only on A&E. To find out what else is headed to the schedule, check out fall TV premiere schedule.