How MTV'sThe Challengeleveled up after 22 years

It’s timeThe Challengegot some Emmys love. And35 seasons in, it continues to hit ratings highs. So why hasn’tThe Challengegotten awards recognition like fellow competition showsSurvivorandThe Amazing Race? Credit: MTV That’s exactly what executive producer and showrunner Emer Harkin wants to know. And we kind of have fallen between the cracks." But she believes that season 35 could be the spark they need to finally break into the awards race. MTV...

May 1, 2025 · 5 min · 881 words · Robert Patrick

How much is the Game worth to you?

Today,AmieStreet.commarks the date 6/6 by offering six new (and exclusive) tracks from the Game. Its the same impulse that led me to fill my closet with garments from Burlington Coat Factory.) But enough about my weakness for Worlds Best Dad apparel on to the music. So, how much are these tracksreallyworth? Get those downloads rolling, then check back after the jump for EW.coms suggested pricing. AlSharpton probably wont be bumping to this in his whip, and neither will I....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 141 words · Lori Walker

How N.K. Jemisin'sThe City We Becamecame to be

Jemisin, the answer is easy: Start writing a new fantasy trilogy! Its also set pretty near to our own world, rather than in a fantasy realm like the Stillness. Theres one exception, though: New York City, the focal point of the book. Credit: Tomas/IMAGES/Getty Images; Orbit; Dark Anarchy InThe City We Became, each borough is represented by a different human. Sounds like quite a brew, right? EW caught up with Jemisin to discuss the ingredients of her newest book....

May 1, 2025 · 3 min · 459 words · Jeffrey Fisher

How Netflix beat HBO in Emmy nominations for first time ever

Netflix just toppled HBO from its Emmy nomination throne. For the first time ever, the streaming service garnered more Emmy nods than the premium cable web link. (Last year, by comparison, Netflix had 91 nominations to HBO’s 111). NBC was third this year with 78 nominations and FX fourth with 50. Netflix racked up nods through a wide breadth of nominations for 40 shows in total. Historical dramaThe Crownpicked up 13....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 173 words · Ryan Diaz

How Netflix hitMoney Heistraises the stakes with its second heist

The crime series goes for broke with its latest installment. NetflixsensationMoney Heistrecently returned with the second part of its Bank of Spain heist. This time its personal Our thieves arent just in it for the money this time. Credit: Tamara Arranz Ramos/Netflix The international coverage of the crews first job and its success resulted in a lot of fanfare. They cannot, under any circumstances, accept another loss at the Bank of Spain....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 152 words · Brandi Flores

How Netflix'sCastlevaniaanime crafted its bloodiest, scariest, most mind-blowing season yet

A man sits alone in an otherwise empty house. Sunlight shines through the trees outside, but theres no one else around to share the beauty with. Sounds like just another day in quarantine, eh? Credit: Netflix Castlevaniais based on Konami’s long-running gothic fantasy videogame franchise of the same name. Alucard has starred in several installments, including the acclaimed 1997 PlayStation gameCastlevania: Symphony of the Night. I had no experience with theCastlevaniagames....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 398 words · Nicholas Hale

How Netflix'sSong Explodergot 'unbelievable access' to Alicia Keys

The smile is casual. Keep in mind, Sampha is in the studio with them. He’s quiet, but off-camera he’s listening in on their conversation at that very moment. Credit: MATT SAYLES/NETFLIX Keys' answer comes swiftly. And to fans, too. (Lin Manuel-MirandadissectsHamilton’s"Wait for It" in episode 2.) MATT SAYLES/NETFLIX The four-episode batch ofSong Exploderis out now. “It was an unbelievable treat,” Hirway tells EW. “It was an unbelievable piece of access that we got....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 186 words · David Ramos

How new CBS reality showThe World's Bestwill differ fromAmerica's Got Talent

It feels fresh and new. The show will be hosted by James Corden. AfterIdol, WhatThe Voicedid was take a singing contest and added a game show element. Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS When I was at Fox, I thought there has gotta be room for one more variety show. What were our spinning chairs? It was the Wall of the World. This was created in America. Darnell also expressed optimism for the state of the unscripted genre....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 168 words · Donald Larsen

How new novelThe Ministry for the Futurelays a blueprint for fighting climate change

Our imaginative landscape islittered with dystopias. Thats what I think is being offered to us in The Ministry for the Future. The relief is that these efforts seem, if incredibly difficult, still realistically achievable. Credit: Will Ireland/SFX Magazine/Future via Getty Images; Orbit The eyewitness accounts were crucial to me, Robinson tells EW. So, how might it be fixed? Its called carbon coin, and its drawn from actual economic proposals. Orbit...

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 259 words · Patricia Morris

How Nirvana,The Jungle Book, and Mr. Bean inspired an apocalyptic new novel narrated by a crow

Humanity is going extinct and its up to a sassy, TV-obsessed crow in Seattle named S.T. to save the earth from total apocalypse. One element that informed the authors process: pop culture. Credit: Laura Zimmerman; Grand Central Publishing This genre-bending novel is entirely its own creation, to be sure, but influences and homages still abound. Check out the fascinating connections below.Hollow Kingdomisavailable for purchase. Its scythe-sharp and clever, and the jokes dont get old....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 310 words · Frank Blake MD

How Octavia Spencer'sTruth Be Toldtackles true crime and 'wild West' journalism

Its basically a glimpse into Americas obsession with crime podcasts. [I love]Serial. I wanted to explore the effect on families. Apple TV+ What does journalism look like when theres no one to police it? So, the show explores the messiness when all those things collide. Its a unique way into a crime story instead of following the traditional path of reinvestigating a crime. Apple TV+ Its reinvestigating the effects of tragedy and trauma on all the people that were touched....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 87 words · Brian Gaines

How oneFrozenanimator is keeping the Disney magic alive from quarantine

With his Olaf short series, Hyrum Osmond shows how animators are keeping on during self-quarantine. “‘When hes not saving the world with Anna and Elsa, what does he do?’ was the idea,” Osmond, alsoMoana’s co-head of animation, tells EW. Hyrum Osmond The pitch was a hit. “I had to do it by myself. There were no resources for me. Disney They said, ‘Just go.’ And I did.” “Then,” Osmond adds, “everything changed....

May 1, 2025 · 3 min · 433 words · Edward Anderson

How Patton Oswalt steered his late wife's brilliant final book to completion

How did he do it? Manage to push himself through such an intense grieving period? That whole year is just this really painful blur. HarperCollins Publishers; Jim Spellman/WireImage Ill Be Gone in the Darkmarks McNamaras greatest achievement, a fitting cap to a career of investigative writing. He does remember being nervous about getting the bookright, however. Absolutely, yeah, he says when asked. It was her book and its an amazing book....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 207 words · Brian Rose