New Photo - Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5

Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened. Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5 Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened. By Samantha Highfill :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/SamanthaHighfillauthorphoto0917254112e875604542d49744a27de908d183.jpg) Samantha Highfill Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at , where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television. EW's editorial guidelines August 18, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET Katherine Pierce was a staple of the Vampire Diaries universe.

Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened.

Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5

Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened.

By Samantha Highfill

Sam Highfill author photo

Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at **, where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television.

EW's editorial guidelines

August 18, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET

Katherine Pierce was a staple of the *Vampire Diaries* universe. But at one point in the series, the writers had to fight to tell more of her story.

"We had to negotiate for the right to let Nina [Dobrev] play Katherine again because the season 2 Katherine [story] had really taken everything out of her and the network was being very protective," executive producer Julie Plec says about the show's fifth season during episode 5 of *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries*. "[The network] and studio were being very protective and they were like, 'You can't do that anymore, you can't have Katherine.'"

On an earlier episode of the podcast, Dobrev spoke about how exhausted she was at the end of season 2, the first season in which she played both Elena and Katherine in the present day. So when it came time to make Katherine human and even introduce a third Petrova doppelgänger, the writers had to get creative. "We had to basically beg the network to let us even write story for Katherine," Plec says, noting that "the triplegänger made the whole thing worth it."

Nina Dobrev as Katherine Pierce on 'The Vampire Diaries'

Nina Dobrev as Katherine Pierce on 'The Vampire Diaries'. Tina Rowden/The CW

Fans will remember that season 5 featured Katherine taking over Elena's body, which meant that for a good chunk of the season, Dobrev only had one character to play. And then, eventually, Katherine met her demise, a decision that also came about following those negotiations. "I literally think we had to say we'll kill her in order to get permission to use her," Plec recalls.

Additionally, during the podcast, Plec discusses the choice to have Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) be the two characters who "die" together at the end of season 5, which led to a discussion about Bamon, the popular ship. "Bonnie and Damon had a thing in the books we had sort of always said, 'We don't buy a romantic connection between Bonnie and Damon because Damon's just done too many terrible things and Bonnie just has more integrity than that,'" Plec says. "But we wanted to service that relationship in the canon a little bit."

For more about season 5—and the series overall—listen to the full episode below:

**To listen, subscribe to *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries* feed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also subscribe to EW's YouTube page to catch all the video interviews and stay tuned to EW.com.**

**Related content:**

- *Vampire Diaries* bosses on the 'controversial' sire bond and the role Pedro Pascal auditioned for

- *Vampire Diaries* boss Julie Plec explains why Klaroline could never happen today

- *Vampire Diaries* star Paul Wesley on Stelena's season 2 split: I was 'dealing with my own stuff' on screen

- *Vampire Diaries* creators talk season 1 Katherine twist, the fan response that left them 'aghast'

- Sci-Fi & Fantasy Shows

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Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5

Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened. Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in seaso...
New Photo - Alan Cumming says he and his X2 costars are 'bonded in trauma' from experience shooting film

The Scottish star said he, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, and more have stayed friends after being &34;so traumatized&34; by the mutant film. Alan Cumming says he and his X2 costars are 'bonded in trauma' from experience shooting film The Scottish star said he, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, and more have stayed friends after being &34;so traumatized&34; by the mutant film. By Ryan Coleman :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RyanColemanauthorphoto0081ce8f0254478080f35972c433877b.

The Scottish star said he, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, and more have stayed friends after being "so traumatized" by the mutant film.

Alan Cumming says he and his X2 costars are 'bonded in trauma' from experience shooting film

The Scottish star said he, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, and more have stayed friends after being "so traumatized" by the mutant film.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman author photo

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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May 4, 2026 8:08 a.m. ET

Leave a Comment

X-2: X-men 2 (X2) Halle Berry, Storm (Character) Alan Cumming, Nightcrawler (Character)

Halle Berry and Alan Cumming in 'X2'. Credit:

Moviestore/Shutterstock

- Alan Cumming says he's "bonded in trauma" with his *X2: X-Men United *costars.

- The *Traitors *host said he and costars like Ian McKellen, James Marsden, and Rebecca Romijn were "so traumatized" by the experience that they've stayed friends.

- Several members of the *X2 *cast are set to reunite on the upcoming *Avengers: Doomsday*.

Alan Cumming is keeping it real regarding his *X-Men** *past.

The Scottish star recently opened up about the "trauma" he and his *X2: X-Men United** *castmates endured while shooting the super-mutant sequel, which premiered in 2003.

"It's one of those films where I think we all were so traumatized we were bonded in trauma, so we stayed in touch," Cumming noted while speaking with PEOPLE at the TriBeCa ball at the New York Academy of Art on April 20.

Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler in 'X-Men 2'.

Alan Cumming in 'X-Men 2' as Nightcrawler.

Moviestore/Shutterstock

Cumming and several of his *X-Men *franchise alums will soon appear in *Avengers: Doomsday*, the first new *Avengers *entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2019's blockbuster *Avengers: Endgame*.

"The ones that I did reunite with, I've seen them since," he shared. "I also didn't reunite with that many because we did it all sort of separately; it was a bit of a modern way of doing things."

Cumming then called out the specific actors from *X2*'s expansive ensemble that he's stayed close with.

"I'm very chummy with Ian [McKellen], I've seen Rebecca [Romijn] over the years. Patrick [Stewart], I've seen quite a lot. Jimmy [Marsden], I've seen a lot of them actually," he shared.

'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer reveals first look at Robert Downey Jr.'s supervillain

Robert Downey Jr. at San Diego Comic-Con

BAFTAs host Alan Cumming apologizes for Tourette syndrome advocate shouting 'strong language' during ceremony

BAFTAs host Alan Cumming apologizes for 'strong language' shouted by Tourette syndrome advocate during ceremony

The sequel to 2000's franchise kickstarter *X-Men*, *X2 *reunited Romijn, McKellen, Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, and Famke Janssen, and introduced Cumming's Nightcrawler.

Cumming and others associated with the film have previously spoken about trauma the cast endured on the set of the multimillion dollar production helmed by the disgraced Bryan Singer.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

Singer was sued in 2017 for allegedly raping a 17-year-old boy in 2003. Singer denied the allegations and settled the case in 2019. But he was hit with more allegations of sexual misconduct with underage boys that year, which he also denied.

Reports began to emerge of the extraordinary difficulty the cast of the early *X-Men *films had with their director, including one 2020 allegation that the cast of *X2 *threatened to quit en masse if Singer didn't improve on-set conditions.

Berry even named names in a February interview with **, proudly recalling the day she "got to tell Bryan Singer just where to go and how to get there."

- Superhero Movies

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Alan Cumming says he and his X2 costars are 'bonded in trauma' from experience shooting film

The Scottish star said he, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, and more have stayed friends after being &34;so traumatized...
New Photo - Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci react to their characters' major twists in Devil Wears Prada 2

Blunt tells EW that one of their lines gave her &34;goosies&34; on set, and Tucci called Nigel's decision a &34;bold move&34; for the character. Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci react to their characters' major twists in Devil Wears Prada 2 Blunt tells EW that one of their lines gave her &34;goosies&34; on set, and Tucci called Nigel's decision a &34;bold move&34; for the character. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiBiophotof93a23298bdd47ba9c13f53815fc469b.jpg) Joey Nolfi Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at .

Blunt tells EW that one of their lines gave her "goosies" on set, and Tucci called Nigel's decision a "bold move" for the character.

Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci react to their characters' major twists in Devil Wears Prada 2

Blunt tells EW that one of their lines gave her "goosies" on set, and Tucci called Nigel's decision a "bold move" for the character.

'' journalist Joey Nolfi on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

Joey Nolfi

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul's Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

May 2, 2026 2:30 p.m. ET

Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci in 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'

Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci in 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'. Credit:

Macall Polay/20th Century Studios (2)

- Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt react to big twists involving Nigel and Emily in *The Devil Wears Prada 2*.

- The actors and real-life family members tell EW how they feel about big sequel shifts for their characters.

- "She needed to be taken down a peg or two," Blunt says of her snooty character.

**This article contains spoilers for *****The Devil Wears Prada 2******.***

You probably won't catch Emily Blunt's character in *The Devil Wears Prada 2 *at a hideous skirt convention, but her behavior in the highly anticipated sequel is ghastly all on its own.

In a joint interview with **, Blunt and fellow returning star Stanley Tucci react to Emily ultimately blindsiding Andy (Anne Hathaway) and Miranda (Meryl Streep) — while Nigel (Tucci) balances things out in a moving twist that virtually knocked Blunt right off her heels.

"I think Emily is someone willing to claw over someone's back to steal anything," Blunt says of her character, who secretly plots to have her billionaire boyfriend, Benji (Justin Theroux), buy *Runway* to oust Miranda and install herself as its new leader.

Emily Blunt returns as Emily Charlton in 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'

Emily Blunt returns as Emily Charlton in 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'.

20th Century Studios

Blunt says Emily is "on a quest for success at her own undoing." The fan-favorite character is reintroduced 20 years after her departure from *Runway*, having climbed the couture ladder to become the head of Dior's United States division.

"I think she's always been someone who defines herself by her job, which is a slippery slope. I love her. I *have* to love her, playing her. I see her more as desperate than cruel," Blunt explains. "You kind of want to see Emily get her comeuppance, but what I appreciated about the film is it does deal with resolution, forgiveness, and some tentative step forward, that they all might've learned something along the way. She needed to be taken down a peg or two."

'Devil Wears Prada 2' director reveals why this original star declined return

Gisele Bündchen, Meryl Streep, Simon Baker in 'The Devil Wears Prada'

'Devil Wears Prada 2' director explains why Adrian Grenier cameo didn't happen

Anne Hathaway, Adrian Grenier in 'The Devil Wears Prada'

Blunt's words recall a scene that, after the dust settles from Andy and Miranda's scheme to buy *Runway* out from under Emily, sees her sit for an afternoon lunch with Andy, where they begin an earnest friendship for the first time in two decades.

And then there's Nigel, who, since the events of the first film, has long harbored a soft spot for Andy. His feelings are even more apparent in the sequel, in which Elias Clarke Publications' head, Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman), hires Andy — now a renowned journalist — to return to boost her former workplace's credibility in the media.

In the film's last scene, however, it's revealed that Nigel actually orchestrated Andy's return: "Forever my girl," he says, cradling her just before the movie ends.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

"That line might be one of my favorites," Blunt admits, telling her brother-in-law (Tucci married Blunt's sister, Felicity, in 2012) that the line gave her "goosies" on set.

"I think he's been aware of what she's been doing for the past 20 years, making significant inroads to the world of journalism — but *real* journalism. He knows very well that *Runway* is on quicksand, and it needs help," Tucci explains of Nigel's actions. "He always loved and admired her, and it just made sense. It's a bold move, but I love the way it's addressed in the script. I think it's beautifully done, and it's so simple. You don't expect it at all."

*The Devil Wears Prada 2* is now playing in theaters nationwide.

- Comedy Movies

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Source: "EW Comedy"

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Published: May 3, 2026 at 09:38AM on Source: MORNING MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci react to their characters' major twists in Devil Wears Prada 2

Blunt tells EW that one of their lines gave her &34;goosies&34; on set, and Tucci called Nigel's decision a &34;bold m...
New Photo - Tom Coyne on becoming an "accidental" golf course owner

This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.Tom Coyne on becoming an "accidental" golf course owner Lee CowanSun, May 3, 2026 at 2:23 PM UTC 0 Becoming an "accidental" golf course owner 07:41 Tom Coyne has one of those jobs most would envy. As a bestselling author and editor of The Golfer's Journal, he gets to travel to and play some of the most exclusive courses in the world. "It's not a bad perk of the job, Lee, I'm not gonna lie to you!" he said.

This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.Tom Coyne on becoming an "accidental" golf course owner

Lee CowanSun, May 3, 2026 at 2:23 PM UTC

0

Becoming an "accidental" golf course owner 07:41

Tom Coyne has one of those jobs most would envy. As a bestselling author and editor of The Golfer's Journal, he gets to travel to and play some of the most exclusive courses in the world. "It's not a bad perk of the job, Lee, I'm not gonna lie to you!" he said.

He's played over a thousand courses, including Augusta National Golf Club (home of the Masters), St. Andrews (the oldest course in the world), and the Pacific-hugging Pebble Beach in California.

"There's all sorts of different places in golf," Coyne said. "There needs to be all sorts of different places in golf."

Most wouldn't argue that point, but just how different are we talking about?

For a guy whose been invited to the top clubhouses in the world, how in the world did he end up at one in Upstate New York with leaky roofs, abandoned mowers, and mold as thick as the rough itself? And yet, locals weren't scared off, blinded perhaps by their love of the game.

The Sullivan County Golf Club is a rural 9-hole course that opened back in 1925 in Liberty, New York, a small town about two hours from Manhattan, up in the Catskill Mountains where tourists used to flock during the Borscht Belt resort boom.

/ Credit: CBS News

The course even made headlines in 1931 when a local pilot took off from what was then the 8th fairway for a daring transatlantic flight to Denmark – hence the club's logo (left), a nod to both its golf and aviation history.

Dan Yaun started caddying at Sullivan County when he was a teenager. His family has been here so long, there's a street named after them. The club championship board boasts its fair share of the family name, too. But over the decades, as the tourists took their clubs and money to fancier courses, things at Sullivan County were left to the locals to keep up.

"It was going downhill a little bit," Yaun said. "Basically I think we were maintaining it ourselves."

Eventually there were more deer than players. In 2023 the unprofitable but still golf-able 170 acres went up for sale.

The Sullivan County Golf Club opened in 1925. / Credit: CBS News

The only greenskeeper left, self-described "turf nerd" Shaun Smith, feared that would be the end of an era. "It's always been the local course on the edge of town; it's kind of always been for everybody," he said.

And that brings us back to Tom Coyne and his golf writing. Smith was a fan, and reached out to him. The two got to talking about the course. As a writer always in search of a good story, Coyne took the bait and came up for a visit.

It looked, he said, like a place that was ready to close. Still, there was something about it. It had none of the trappings today's golf often has – there were no tee times, no valets, no swimming pools or tennis courts, and there was certainly no attitude.

"We couldn't be less stuffy," Coyne said. "We are not fussy. You don't have to get dressed up. You just show up, bring your dog, and go play golf."

Tom Coyne shows correspondent Lee Cowan around the 170-acre golf course he began running in New York's Catskill Mountains. / Credit: CBS News

Purists might argue that's the way golf ought to be – wild fairways kept like a bad haircut, nothing manicured, but playable and accessible to anyone. And that's the story Tom wanted to write … and he has, in his latest book, "A Course Called Home."

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"I've been consuming golf my whole life," Coyne said. "But what if I got on the side of actually providing golf? That would be different."

Just how many course owners do you know who mow their own fairways? Long story short, Coyne asked its former owners to let him run the course for a year, along with Shaun Smith, and if together they could turn it around, Coyne might just buy the place.

Tom Coyne mowing the fairway at Sullivan County Golf Club. / Credit: CBS News

Obstacles weren't strangers to either one of them. Coyne said, "I recognized a kindred sort of golf sicko like myself. So, we bonded on that level. There was also connection there in that Shaun's sober and I'm sober. I think people who've gone down that path and know what that experience is like, there's a connection there and an understanding with someone that is pretty meaningful."

Tom Coyne and Shaun Smith. / Credit: CBS News

"It really became something that we forged kind of a trust around quicker than maybe two strangers would have otherwise," said Smith. "I guess he probably feels I trust him a lot, too."

Together, along with his golf course architect Colton Craig, they set about re-routing some of the holes to take advantage of the topography and the views. They also put in a putting course and a driving range. The goal was to make the course attractive for folks to travel in from outside the Catskills, but keep every bit of the Catskills in the course. "This has to remain a rural Catskills Sullivan County golf course," Coyne said. "And it has to feel like that. That's gotta be the identity. It has to feel like you've gone somewhere else."

All of that, and you could still play for less money than you might spend on lunch. "You're not sure who came in on a first-class flight and who's the local schoolteacher," Coyne said. "Everyone's just there for the love of golf and the love of camaraderie."

/ Credit: Avid Reader Press

As word got out of the rescue effort, remarkable things started to happen. "Caddyshack" star Bill Murray and NFL star Jason Kelce both came on as Tom's partners. Before long, applications for memberships were coming in from far and wide – players, Coyne says, who would likely never set foot on his greens. "For folks that have joined just for the sake of joining, they're enabling people to play golf who wouldn't have a golf course otherwise," he said. "I think that that's a beautiful thing about the golf community. You know, it's not just about my golf, it's about our golf."

These days, when he sees the ground crews at premiere courses like Pebble Beach, he's both appreciative and also a little jealous. "I even, like, covet a pile of dirt," Coyne said, "'cause that's a good pile of dirt!"

It's all part of the game he never saw before. And now that he has, it's not golf that's taken on more significance; it's all those who make the game possible.

"Golf doesn't let you hide," Coyne said. "You know, I've seen some very powerful or famous people look very normal after about two holes."

Asked if he would do it all over again if he had to, Coyne replied, "Yes. Absolutely. 100 percent. And for one simple reason: It's 'cause of the people that it's put in my life. This was something where I absolutely got to be part of a team who wanted to make something good in the world. What a gift!"

READ AN EXCERPT: "A Course Called Home" by Tom Coyne

For more info:

"A Course Called Home: Adventures of an Accidental Golf Course Owner" by Tom Coyne (Avid Reader Press), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available May 5 via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgThe Golfer's JournalSullivan County Golf Club, Liberty, N.Y.Thanks to Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif.

Story produced by John Goodwin. Editor: Ben McCormick.

See also:

Roger Welsch on a golf course in Nebraska's Sandhills ("Sunday Morning")Presidential golf: A bipartisan tradition ("Sunday Morning") Renee Powell: A driving force in golf ("Sunday Morning")Jack Nicklaus stays the course ("Sunday Morning")

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Entertainment"

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Source: Entertainment

Published: May 3, 2026 at 06:00PM on Source: MORNING MAG

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Tom Coyne on becoming an "accidental" golf course owner

This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.Tom Coyne on becoming an...
New Photo - Drag Race's BeBe and Ongina reveal the truth behind season 1's infamous filter

OG queens reveal the truth behind the infamous filter and how Ongina might've indirectly caused Akasia's runway fall. Drag Race's BeBe and Ongina reveal the truth behind season 1's infamous filter OG queens reveal the truth behind the infamous filter and how Ongina might've indirectly caused Akasia's runway fall. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiBiophotof93a23298bdd47ba9c13f53815fc469b.jpg) Joey Nolfi Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at . Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul's Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more. EW's editorial guidelines July 2, 2020 9:00 a.m.

OG queens reveal the truth behind the infamous filter and how Ongina might've indirectly caused Akasia's runway fall.

Drag Race's BeBe and Ongina reveal the truth behind season 1's infamous filter

OG queens reveal the truth behind the infamous filter and how Ongina might've indirectly caused Akasia's runway fall.

'' journalist Joey Nolfi on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

Joey Nolfi

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul's Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

July 2, 2020 9:00 a.m. ET

Few things in life are as immediately clear as RuPaul's cover girl beauty, but fans had a memorably difficult time literally seeing that — or much of anything at all — through what appeared to be a glob of vaseline smeared across the camera throughout the filming of *RuPaul's Drag Race* season 1.

OG queens BeBe Zahara Benet — who walked away with the Emmy-winning series' inaugural prize — and fan-favorite competitor Ongina recently stopped by EW'S *BINGE* podcast to lovingly recap their season 1 journey through the future ratings juggernaut's fabulous fledgling waters and that infamously blurry camera lens as part of Mama Ru's debut crop of contenders vying for what would become the most coveted crown in queer television history.

"It seems like every two seconds they had to change some lighting thing," Benet affectionately jokes of season 1's aesthetic, which she tells *BINGE* cohosts Joey Nolfi and Jillian Sederholm was a recurring point of comedy for the first group of girls to face off on *Drag Race*. "[It was] that filter!" Ongina continues. "They had to keep changing the plastic layer they kept adding to the camera! They had a man with different color cellophanes. We were just sitting there!"

Benet remembers that the group had no idea the season would end up playing on national television as if it was being broadcast through a cloud of mist, which fans have adoringly come to love as one of the show's most memorable artistic choices across its 11-year history.

"We didn't even know what it was. When we looked at the final product we were like, oh, they sure blurred our faces, honey, we must not have been that cute!" she quips.

RuPaul's Drag Race

Mathu Andersen/Logo

Before the show went on to score gold with the Television Academy and morph into a global phenomenon on VH1, queer-focused network Logo shepherded the series into existence on a much smaller budget than it has now, which resulted in what appeared to be a tiny runway Benet and Ongina claim was easier to navigate than fans suspect. That wasn't the case for season 1 competitor Akashia, however, who fell atop the stage after getting tripped up on a gorgeous ballgown.

"It seemed like she was very down and very sad. What I remember from that day is she had asked me [to help her pick] between two outfits," explains Ongina. "She showed me the gown which she wore, and then she was showing me another hoe outfit. I was like, 'You should probably wear a gown this time because you've been a hoe the last few outfits you've worn.' I'm not saying it was *my* fault she fell, obviously that was her fault because she couldn't walk in a gown, but maybe I added to that!"

Ongina maintains that she made the call as a genuine move to help Akashia, who'd already landed in the bottom twice leading up to that point. Benet backs up the sentiment, speculating that the magic of season 1 stems from a lack of knowledge about how the show operated, so there was no secret plotting or back-stabbing like we see on today's televised pageants.

"Whether you hate or love us, we were very genuine," Benet stresses. "We didn't have blueprints to say 'I want to be the bitch' or 'I want to be this,' we were just who we were.... nobody came with some preconceived notion or strategy!"

Listen to Benet and Ongina's full interview on EW's *BINGE* podcast — which recaps one season of *RuPaul's Drag Race* per episode — above. New episodes premiere every Thursday with new queens (including Bianca Del Rio, Trixie Mattel, Katya, and more), so subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

**Related content: **

- Werkin' Girls: Nothing can stop RuPaul's all-star queens

- *Drag Race* icon Ongina might've quit *All-Stars 5*, but she's here to stay

- Ongina on upping her $100 season 1 outfit budget for *All-Stars 5* return

- RuPaul's Drag Race Fandom

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Source: "EW RuPaul"

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Published: May 3, 2026 at 10:19PM on Source: MORNING MAG

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Drag Race's BeBe and Ongina reveal the truth behind season 1's infamous filter

OG queens reveal the truth behind the infamous filter and how Ongina might've indirectly caused Akasia's runway fall. Drag...
New Photo - The 14 best PG-13 movies on Netflix

If you're under 13 and reading this... well, there's nothing we can do. The 14 best PG13 movies on Netflix If you're under 13 and reading this... well, there's nothing we can do. By Kevin Jacobsen, James Mercadante, and Madeline Cisneros April 29, 2026 11:00 a.m. ET Leave a Comment :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/GlassOnionDanielCraigAlwaysBeMyMaybeAliWongTickTickBoomAndrewGarfield042826c3acb9e0b4654e78a252be3f67c0beda.jpg) 'Glass Onion'; 'Always Be My Maybe'; 'Tick, Tick... Boom!'.

If you're under 13 and reading this... well, there's nothing we can do.

The 14 best PG-13 movies on Netflix

If you're under 13 and reading this... well, there's nothing we can do.

By Kevin Jacobsen,

James Mercadante,

and Madeline Cisneros

April 29, 2026 11:00 a.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Daniel Craig in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Ali Wong in Always Be My Maybe, Andrew Garfield in tick, tick...BOOM!

'Glass Onion'; 'Always Be My Maybe'; 'Tick, Tick... Boom!'. Credit:

Courtesy of Netflix; Doane Gregory / Netflix; Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix has a wealth of movie options available to subscribers, with relatively easy separation of kid-friendly titles and more mature fare. But what happens when you want something in between — a movie with a little edge but not fully indulging in sex, violence, or adult language?

This is where the PG-13 rating comes into play, designated for films geared toward those 13 and up. Netflix doesn't have a set tab for movies with this rating, but, hey, that's where we come in.

Among Netflix's PG-13 titles are charming rom-coms like *Always Be My Maybe* (2019), coming-of-age gems like *The Half of It* (2020), and crowd-pleasing monster thrillers like *Godzilla Minus One* (2023).

Ahead, we're singling out 15 of the best PG-13 movies streaming on Netflix.

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Ali Wong as Sasha Tran and Randall Park as Marcus Kim in 'Always Be My Maybe'

Ali Wong as Sasha Tran and Randall Park as Marcus Kim in 'Always Be My Maybe'. Ed Araquel/Netflix

Most people would rather avoid running into their high-school sweetheart, but Sasha Tran (Ali Wong) and Marcus Kim (Randall Park) — childhood friends–turned–one-time fling–turned–strangers — don't get that choice.

Now a thirtysomething celebrity chef, Sasha returns to San Francisco to open a new restaurant and crosses paths with Marcus, who shows up to install her air conditioning in her interim home. With sparks still flying 15 years later, they decide to give their friendship a second go (and, well, you can guess where it goes from there).

Directed by *Fresh Off the Boat* creator Nahnatchka Khan, *Always Be My Maybe* is a sharp, self-aware rom-com with multidimensional Asian-American representation, fabulous fashion, and sizzling chemistry between Park and Wong. (Plus, you get to see Keanu Reeves in a rom-com for the first time since 2009's *The Private Lives of Pippa Lee*.) —*James Mercadante*

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Nahnatchka Khan

**Cast: **Ali Wong, Randall Park, Daniel Dae Kim, Michelle Buteau, Keanu Reeves

Daughters (2024)

Incarcerated fathers in 'Daughters'

Incarcerated fathers in 'Daughters'.

Courtesy of Netflix

This poignant documentary is a testament to the special bond between fathers and daughters. The film follows four young girls and their incarcerated fathers as they get ready for a special Date With Dad weekend held at the prison.

The main highlight is the Daddy Daughter Dance, and the doc centers on the daughters' point of view as they grapple with their hopes, fears, and understandable sadness over being separated from their fathers.

Winner of the Audience Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, *Daughters* is the kind of movie you'll want to watch with a box of tissues nearby. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

**Directors:** Angela Patton, Natalie Rae**

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Kathryn Hahn as Claire Debella, Madelyn Cline as Whiskey, Edward Norton as Miles Bron, Leslie Odom Jr. as Lionel Toussaint, and Kate Hudson as Birdie Jay in 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'

Kathryn Hahn as Claire Debella, Madelyn Cline as Whiskey, Edward Norton as Miles Bron, Leslie Odom Jr. as Lionel Toussaint, and Kate Hudson as Birdie Jay in 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'. Netflix

Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back at it again in this sequel to the 2019 sensation *Knives Out*. In *Glass Onion*, Detective Blanc finds himself on tech billionaire Miles Bron’s (Edward Norton) private Greek island to solve a fictional murder mystery with Miles' oddball friends, coined “the Disruptors.” But when the game becomes real, it's up to the detective to crack the case.

Per EW's critic, Craig trades “MI6 and martinis for neatly knotted neckerchiefs and Foghorn Leghorn bon mots — and he seems to revel in it, leaning happily into the pure camp of being Benoit.” The star-studded cast, including Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, and more should be enough motivation to give this movie a go. *—Madeline Cisneros*

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Rian Johnson

**Cast: **Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Kuranosuke Sasaki as Seiji Akitsu and Godzilla in 'Godzilla Minus One'

Kuranosuke Sasaki as Seiji Akitsu and Godzilla in 'Godzilla Minus One'.

Toho International/Courtesy Everett Collection

*Godzilla Minus One* offers a little something for everyone, delivering monster movie thrills and an emotionally resonant story all at once. Set in Japan after World War II, the film centers on a former pilot who struggles with PTSD after failing to stop Godzilla from wreaking havoc on his Odo Island base. Years later, the guilt-ridden pilot is spurred to join the effort to stop the monster once and for all.

EW's critic ranks *Minus One* as the fourth-best *Godzilla* movie ever made, praising its blend of "sweeping blend of character-driven drama, maritime adventure, and kaiju mayhem" while calling it "popcorn entertainment at its best."

There's a reason it became the first Godzilla movie to not only be nominated at the Oscars, but also to win — taking home the 2024 prize for Best Visual Effects. —*K.J.*

**Director:** Takashi Yamazaki

**Cast:** Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka

The Half of It (2020)

Leah Lewis as Ellie Chu and Daniel Diemer as Paul Munsky in 'The Half of It'

Leah Lewis as Ellie Chu and Daniel Diemer as Paul Munsky in 'The Half of It'.

KC Bailey/Netflix

Shy Chinese American Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) may not have any friends, but she *does* run a successful essay-writing business. When she gets an odd request from jock Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) to write a love letter for his crush, Ellie begrudgingly gives in — despite having feelings for the girl, too.

As Ellie helps Paul, the two form an unlikely bond that includes late-night movie binges and taco sausages.

*The Half of It* is described by EW's critic as an “examination of first love, and how our messy, well-intentioned attempts to do right by our own hearts can both wound and help us fumble toward the people we’re meant to be.” —*M.C.*

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Alice Wu

**Cast: **Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Wolfgang Novogratz, Collin Chou

I'm Still Here (2024)

Selton Mello as Rubens Paiva and Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva with their onscreen children in 'I'm Still Here'

Selton Mello as Rubens Paiva and Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva with their onscreen children in 'I'm Still Here'.

Alile Onawale/Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

This moving, Oscar-winning drama follows the struggles of real-life activist Eunice Paiva under the Brazilian dictatorship of the 1970s. Fernanda Torres plays Paiva as a steadfast, resilient wife and mother seeking answers about her politician husband's disappearance. Her mission spans decades, but her resolve remains.

*I'm Still Here* made history as the first Brazilian film to win the Oscar for Best International Feature and to be nominated for Best Picture. Torres also won a Golden Globe and scored an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. —*K.J.*

**Director:** Walter Salles

**Cast:** Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro

Lion (2016)

Nicole Kidman as Sue Brierley, David Wenham as John Brierley, and Sunny Pawar as Saroo in 'Lion'

Nicole Kidman as Sue Brierley, David Wenham as John Brierley, and Sunny Pawar as Saroo in 'Lion'. Mark Rogers/Weinstein Co.

It took Saroo Brierley 25 years to find his birth family again, an extraordinary true story that the Indian businessman recounted in his autobiography, *A Long Way Home*, which was adapted to this powerful drama.

As the film depicts, Saroo (Sunny Pawar) accidentally got lost at age 5 and was unable to locate his village in India. Australian couple John (David Wenham) and Sue Brierley (Nicole Kidman) eventually adopted and raised him to adulthood, when he finally resumed his search.

Nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, *Lion* is a sensitively told story that wears its heart on its sleeve. —*K.J.*

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Garth Davis

**Cast:** Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar, Rooney Mara, David Wenham, Nicole Kidman

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Matthew Lawrence as Chris Hillard, Lisa Jakub as Lydia Hillard, Robin Williams as Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire, Mara Wilson as Natalie Hillard, and Sally Field as Miranda Hillard in 'Mrs. Doubtfire'

Matthew Lawrence as Chris Hillard, Lisa Jakub as Lydia Hillard, Robin Williams as Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire, Mara Wilson as Natalie Hillard, and Sally Field as Miranda Hillard in 'Mrs. Doubtfire'.

Courtesy Everett Collection

There will never be another Robin Williams. Just watch this family comedy favorite and you'll see the kind of raw commitment missing among today's stars.

Williams plays a divorced father who disguises himself as a elderly female housekeeper to spend time with his children. It's a wacky concept that could've gone very wrong (as most films from decades ago involving cross-dressing do), but Williams brings surprising nuance to his portrayal of a man desperate to reconnect with his family.

Props also go to Sally Field as his ex-wife, whose "The whole time?" line reading is truly one for the ages. —*K.J.*

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Chris Columbus

**Cast:** Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Robert Prosky

The 30 best Netflix original movies — including Best Picture nominees

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in 'Maestro'; Matías Recalt as Roberto Canessa and Augustín Pardella as Fernando 'Nando' Parrado in 'Society of the Snow'; John Boyega as Fontaine, Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo, and Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles in 'They Cloned Tyrone'

The 18 best PG movies on Netflix for kids and adults alike

Roz (voice: Lupita Nyong'o) in 'The Wild Robot'; Pinocchio (voice: Gregory Mann) in 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio'; Alisha Weir as Matilda Wormwood in 'Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical'

People We Meet on Vacation (2026)

Emily Bader as Poppy and Tom Blyth as Alex in 'People We Meet on Vacation'

Emily Bader as Poppy and Tom Blyth as Alex in 'People We Meet on Vacation'.

Daniel Escale/Netflix

As any fan of the genre knows, a good rom-com doesn't have to reinvent the wheel — it just has to be well-executed, with charming leads and clever writing.

Such is the case with *People We Meet on Vacation*, an adaptation of the best-selling Emily Henry novel of the same name, about an outgoing travel writer named Poppy (Emily Bader) and her relationship with her platonic best friend, Alex (Tom Blyth). Inspired by the friends-to-lovers dynamic of *When Harry Met Sally* (1989), the film largely succeeds in its aims due to Bader and Blyth's sizzling chemistry. —*K.J.*

**Director:** Brett Haley

**Cast:** Emily Bader, Tom Blyth

Rustin (2023)

(From left to right): Gus Halper as Tom, CCH Pounder as Dr. Anna Hedgeman, Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin, Melissa Rakiro as Yvette, Ayana Workman as Eleanor, Lilli Kay as Rochelle, and Jordan-Amanda Hall as Charlene in 'Rustin'

(Left to right): Gus Halper as Tom, CCH Pounder as Dr. Anna Hedgeman, Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin, Melissa Rakiro as Yvette, Ayana Workman as Eleanor, Lilli Kay as Rochelle, and Jordan-Amanda Hall as Charlene in 'Rustin'.

While Martin Luther King Jr. is a household name, his advisor — Bayard Rustin, who taught him the principles of nonviolent protest — has historically slipped through the cracks. *Rustin* chronicles this unsung hero's efforts to mobilize the 1973 March on Washington while also holding his own amid public scrutiny of his sexuality.

Though this biopic follows a middle-of-the-road formula, Colman Domingo's Oscar-nominated portrayal of the gay civil rights activist is what truly sets the film apart. As EW's critic wrote, "Domingo infuses Rustin with a warmth and vibrancy that creates a performance of immense empathy." *—J.M.*

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** George C. Wolfe

**Cast:** Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Jeffrey Wright, Glynn Turman, CCH Pounder

Sing Street (2016)

Kyle Bradley Donaldson as 5th Former, Ben Carolan as Darren, Percy Chamburuka as Ngig, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo as Conor, Lucy Boynton as Raphina, Mark McKenna as Eamon, Conor Hamilton as Larry, and Karl Rice as Garry in 'Sing Street'

Kyle Bradley Donaldson as 5th Former, Ben Carolan as Darren, Percy Chamburuka as Ngig, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo as Conor, Lucy Boynton as Raphina, Mark McKenna as Eamon, Conor Hamilton as Larry, and Karl Rice as Garry in 'Sing Street'.

The Weinstein Company/Courtesy Everett Collection

Like many lovestruck teens, awkward 15-year-old Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) goes to great lengths to earn the affection of his aspiring model crush. That includes inviting her to star in a music video for his nonexistent band. To corroborate his trumped-up tale, Conor assembles a ragtag group of surprisingly talented misfits to create a Duran Duran-esque glam-rock ensemble.

Set in 1985 Dublin, *Sing Street* spins an earnest, multilayered story about taking control over your destiny. It was overshadowed by the same year's much-hyped *La La Land*, but, hey, it's never too late to give this sleeper movie musical's soundtrack a spin. —*J.M.*

**Director:** John Carney

**Cast:** Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Lucy Boynton, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Aidan Gillen, Jack Reynor

Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)

Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson in 'Tick, Tick... Boom!'

Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson in 'Tick, Tick... Boom!'.

Macall Polay/Netflix

Yes, Andrew Garfield can sing. He even won a Golden Globe for it. From director Lin-Manuel Miranda, *Tick, Tick... Boom!* follows *Rent *creator Jonathan Larson (Garfield) as he struggles to make it as a composer in New York City.

The musical is described by EW's critic as “an exuberant ode to Larson and a tribute to anyone, especially those in the arts, who might be chasing big dreams.” *—M.C.*

**EW grade:** A–

**Director: **Lin-Manuel Miranda

**Cast: **Andrew Garfield, Robin de Jesús, Alexandra Shipp, Vanessa Hudgens, Bradley Whitford

Train Dreams (2025)

Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier in 'Train Dreams'

Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier in 'Train Dreams'.

Courtesy of Netflix

The passage of time weighs heavily on *Train Dreams* and its protagonist, Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a humble man living in the early 20th century. This adaptation of Denis Johnson's 2011 novella tracks Robert across various trials and tribulations as he works as a logger, experiences love and loss, and searches for his life’s purpose.

A profound meditation on the American experience, *Train Dreams* was universally hailed by critics as one of the best films of 2025, earning four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. —*K.J.*

**Director:** Clint Bentley

**Cast:** Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon, William H. Macy, Clifton Collins Jr.

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023)

Sunny Sandler as Stacy Friedman and Samantha Lorraine as Lydia Rodriguez Katz in 'You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah'

Sunny Sandler as Stacy Friedman and Samantha Lorraine as Lydia Rodriguez Katz in 'You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah'.

Courtesy of Netflix

This comedy shows off Adam Sandler's daughters’ acting chops. Based on Fiona Rosenbloom's eponymous book, *You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah* follows best friends Stacy (Sunny Sandler) and Lydia (Samantha Lorraine), who dream of celebrating their bat mitzvahs together — though middle school drama and a boy threaten their friendship.

Now one of Sandler's highest-rated films on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie oozes a sense of comfort and belonging. Much of this can be attributed to the Sandler family, as director Sammi Cohen explained to EW that they "have this way of really making everyone feel like family and feel at home." *—M.C*.

**Director: **Sammi Cohen

**Cast: **Adam Sandler, Jackie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Sadie Sandler, Idina Menzel

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.*****

- Movie Reviews & Recommendations

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Source: "EW Movie"

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Published: May 3, 2026 at 11:38PM on Source: MORNING MAG

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New Photo - Why Ty Simpson's first 2 months with Rams will be important as he teams up with Matthew Stafford

Why Ty Simpson&x27;s first 2 months with Rams will be important as he teams up with Matthew Stafford Jori EpsteinFri, May 1, 2026 at 3:05 PM UTC 0 When Tua Tagovailoa signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and when Justin Fields was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, a similar narrative of opportunity unfolded. The teams’ incumbent quarterbacks, Michael Penix Jr. and Patrick Mahomes respectively, are recovering from lateseason ACL tears. Each is aiming to return by Week 1 but in serious question for offseason participation.

Why Ty Simpson's first 2 months with Rams will be important as he teams up with Matthew Stafford

Jori EpsteinFri, May 1, 2026 at 3:05 PM UTC

0

When Tua Tagovailoa signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and when Justin Fields was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, a similar narrative of opportunity unfolded.

The teams’ incumbent quarterbacks, Michael Penix Jr. and Patrick Mahomes respectively, are recovering from late-season ACL tears. Each is aiming to return by Week 1 but in serious question for offseason participation.

So Tagovailoa and Fields likely await acclimation to new teammates not only in the locker room and meetings. Their onboarding to new schematic principles and terminology will likely not be confined to mental reps.

Tagovailoa and Fields should each get plenty of offseason and preseason snaps, including reps with the starters.

Ty Simpson, selected 13th overall by the Los Angeles Rams last week in the NFL Draft, could find a similar opening.

The Los Angeles Rams do not have an injured quarterback in the driver’s seat. And reigning MVP Matthew Stafford is not fighting to retain his role after the Rams selected the Alabama quarterback with their first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.

But Stafford’s preseason limitations due to an aggravated disc in his back last summer, and his subsequent MVP campaign, taught the Rams a lesson.

Expect them to limit the 38-year-old’s offseason and preseason work yet again.

And thus expect Simpson to have a chance to acclimate on the field soon.

Rams general manager Les Snead spoke to that reality last month at the league’s annual meetings in a conversation with Yahoo Sports about the challenges of investing in the immediate future while planning a longer-term outlook.

Los Angeles is realistic, Snead said, that when “you go through a quarterback transition, that’s a cliff.” The club hopes managing Stafford in the offseason can firstly support his late-season performance and secondarily support the depth chart’s development for their post-Stafford era.

“The way we manage Matthew, at least our backup QB is going to get more reps,” Snead told Yahoo Sports on March 30. “But it's going to come during OTAs. It's going to come during some portions of training camp. And then once the season starts, so that's the tough part.”

Without 2025 Rams QB2 Jimmy Garoppolo in the fold, Simpson will compete with 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett to allocate snaps. Bennett may have a leg up on understanding the offense at first — but head coach Sean McVay reiterated before the draft that “Stetson is considered a backup” compared to how he viewed Garoppolo as a starting quarterback.

It strains credulity to think the Rams would select Simpson 13th overall without a belief Simpson will be, if not already is, a starter. And thus, opportunity during Stafford’s cautionary period awaits.

“The most important thing is, when you’re going into Year 18, how do we keep you as physically, emotionally and mentally, basically as fresh as possible?” McVay said in a news conference. “[Using our other quarterbacks] allows us to operate in a manner where you're saying, ‘All right, hey, what's the priority? How do we keep our guy feeling as good as possible?’

“And being able to do that without allowing it to fall off too much.”

‘There's moments where I think he's better than Fernando [Mendoza]’

Creating a succession plan for any contributor, much less an MVP- and Super Bowl-winning quarterback, is a tricky balancing act.

But the Rams’ belief in their Super Bowl-contending legitimacy fuels their belief that a potentially strong class of 2027 first-round quarterbacks will be out of reach by the time Los Angeles gets onto the draft board next year (they hope to pick 32nd). The most successful quarterback currently set to hit free agency in 2027 is Baker Mayfield, whom the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will likely extend before then.

All of this made the path to a Stafford successor next year murky. And while Stafford has confirmed he’ll play in 2026, his status in 2027 and beyond remains to be seen.

Add to that a young, talented corps that includes Puka Nacua, Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, Byron Young and Braden Fiske? The Rams will have choices to make on second contracts. Consider that 2025 first overall pick Cam Ward received a four-year, $48.8 million deal that averages $12.2 million per year (the division of cap hits is malleable). Compare that to the veteran quarterback market, where 10 quarterbacks have received contracts averaging more than $50 million per season? The Rams want to extend their Super Bowl window by positioning themselves financially to keep their young stars beyond Stafford’s era.

So drafting Simpson, the Rams believed, has the potential to answer a major question mark as soon as 2027. The Rams are also not naive enough to feel sure they won’t need Simpson in 2026.

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“Sometimes you might take someone and it's a little bit for the future and you have an unforeseen attrition due to injury, and all of a sudden, the delayed becomes the immediate,” Snead told reporters in a pre-draft news conference. “So you're always balancing that with every pick. And I think, as you mentioned, that's subjective on where our roster ranks and things like that.”

An AFC talent evaluator told Yahoo Sports they graded Simpson similarly to Bo Nix coming out. The two quarterbacks’ volume of experience differs drastically — Nix started a massive 61 games in college, compared to Simpson’s 15 — but Simpson’s best moments this past season reflected NFL-caliber play.

“There's enough really good film of him this year,” the AFC evaluator said. “There's moments where I think he's better than Fernando [Mendoza] when I watch Fernando.”

Simpson ranked third among quarterbacks on Yahoo Sports’ 2026 NFL Draft consensus big board from draft experts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald. But he ranked as their 55th prospect overall, compared to Mendoza at second overall and LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier at 34.

Will that be enough to earn Simpson the second-string snaps behind Stafford, and the first-team snaps when he’s on veteran mandatory rest? Snead spoke to the challenges of earning any spot on a perennial playoff team.

“Usually it is very hard for any rookie to come into an ecosystem like ours that has the efficacy,” Snead said. “We've won before, so it's hard for those players to come in and earn equity. [We] try to find players that give us an edge and then put them in the ecosystem. Let them earn equity. And at the right time, they'll get on the field.”

Why Simpson looks like a natural fit in L.A.

McVay explained his muted draft-day expression the following day.

“The demeanor would have been stoic by nature because you are excited but … it is Matthew’s football team,” McVay said on Friday, in part. “Whenever that time comes for [Simpson] to get an opportunity to be Matthew’s successor will be on Matthew’s terms.”

If Simpson does need to wait a year or three before seeing meaningful action in live games, the experience will be familiar.

In the transfer-happy era of college football, Simpson made the rare decision to stay at Alabama his entire college career. He did not attempt more than 25 passes until his fourth and final season. Then, he completed 64.5% (305 of 473) of his attempts for, 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Simpson led the SEC in completions and attempts, ranking second in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Alabama finished 11-4 in his 15 starts.

The 6-foot-2, 208-pound quarterback raised concerns from some evaluators who believe his slighter frame contributed to his 2025 injuries and could increase his injury risk going forward. But even in his one-year sample size, Simpson impressed the Rams with his ability to process, his mobility, his versatility from dropback passing to play-action, and the timing and rhythm with which he threw.

His late-season performance dipped from his 2025 start, which evaluators attribute to a mix of playing through injury and playing tougher competition. Regardless, Simpson is aware he has room for refinement.

“There's not a throw that I feel like I can't make on the field,” Simpson said, “but it's also, I got to make sure that I throw it on time.”

Stafford health permitting, Simpson won’t be thrust into immediate regular-season action. But if he is, the Rams believe Ryan Grubb’s Alabama offense last season was rooted in similar principles to those which McVay asks of his quarterback.

And first, expect Simpson to receive opportunities over the next couple months to immerse on and off the field. He’s entering a team with the oldest starting quarterback in the league under contract. (Aaron Rodgers can change that if the 42-year-old signs his Pittsburgh tender or another deal.) There are practice benefits that come with that in spring and summer.

And once the regular season hits, Simpson will have opportunities to learn as the reigning MVP digests film, acts on his instincts and manipulates defenses with his footwork.

Simpson knows how to play the waiting game after three years sitting at Alabama. He’ll begin by focusing on improvement rather than expectations.

“I learned that from Coach [Nick] Saban about how if you have expectations, you're always really bound to fail,” Simpson said. “If I come in here and say, ‘Well, I want to win rookie of the year,’ well, Matthew Stafford just won the MVP. That's going to be a fail. So my plan is to just get better each day.

“I just want to get better each and every day so eventually I have a long career like Matthew.”

Making it to 18 seasons, like Stafford?

Somewhere, a 2043 class first-round quarterback will be waiting.

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Source: "AOL Sports"

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Published: May 1, 2026 at 06:27PM on Source: MORNING MAG

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Why Ty Simpson's first 2 months with Rams will be important as he teams up with Matthew Stafford

Why Ty Simpson&x27;s first 2 months with Rams will be important as he teams up with Matthew Stafford Jori EpsteinFri, May ...

 

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