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By H. Alan Scott and Lauren Giella
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We did not have Benson Boone baring chest in a mall bathtub on our 2026 bingo card. Okay—knowing the singer, maybe we should have. But this year has been full of surprising twists and turns, and this week is no exception, with The Simpsons’ Apu’s return to the show after a nearly 10-year hiatus. Plus, we may see an actress make Oscar history by receiving two nominations in the same category and Lena Dunham’s Girls is coming back for a limited revival. The one thing we did have on our bingo card? Harry Styles will be getting a new documentary, with a focus on the star’s Together, Together tour.
Photo illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Matt Groening/The Simpsons/20th Television/FOX
Celebrity: Benson Boone's Shirtless Mall Splash
Benson Boone shirtless in a bathtub at a local mall? Only in Los Angeles. The acrobatic pop star recently surfaced at a Caliwater event to promote its new Dragon Fruit flavor with co-founder Vanessa Hudgens and Demi Lovato. Boone, who helped curate the new drink, has clearly decided to lean into his sex-symbol era, frequently stepping out completely bare-chested or poured into garments at least one size too small. Is anyone complaining? Absolutely not. However, the thirsty optics do beg the question: Is the singer becoming more famous for his signature backflips and missing shirts than for his actual music?
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Animation: Apu Finally Returns to Springfield
Apu is back, and frankly, it’s about time. After a nearly 10-year absence without a speaking role, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon—the iconic Kwik-E-Mart proprietor on *The Simpsons—*has officially returned to the long-running sitcom. Now voiced by Sunil Malhotra, the character made his long-awaited comeback in a recent episode. Previously voiced by Hank Azaria, Apu was effectively silenced for years after the show faced backlash for reducing him to a South Asian stereotype, intensified by the 2017 documentary The Problem with Apu. While the creatives behind the series finally did the right thing by authentically recasting the role, it’s a shame it took a decade to get here. Regardless, we’re just glad Apu is back.
Movies: Penélope Cruz Eyes Oscar History
Penélope Cruz might just pull off an Oscar first this year. The Academy Award-winning powerhouse is currently positioned to snag two nominations in the exact same category. After making a massive splash earlier this season with The Invite, she’s now generating major awards buzz for her scene-stealing turn in La Bola Negra. Thanks to a brand-new rule change, actors can finally be nominated multiple times within a single category for different films—something Academy rules previously prevented. A quick viewing of both films makes one thing abundantly clear: not only does Cruz deserve the historic double-dip, but she could very well make it happen.
Television: The Girls Are Back
It's the reboot fans never thought would come but are giddy with Obama-era optimism to watch. Lena Dunham announced a revival of her groundbreaking HBO comedy, Girls, for a limited, five-episode run with production beginning in 2027.
Sex and the City for a group of Oxford-wearing millennial hipsters in Williamsburg—Girls was a generation-defining comedy for 20-somethings living in New York in the 2010s. Girls started in 2012, running for six seasons and launching the careers of Dunham, Allison Williams and Adam Driver. In its time, the show received plenty of backlash—for Dunham being an annoying, fat woman experiencing romance on screen and for depicting the white women gentrification of Brooklyn. But 10 years out from its finale, a new generation of fans have fallen in love with Hannah, Marnie, Jessa and Shoshanna.
Gen Z should see the show as typical millennial cringe. But the brilliance of Dunham's writing, the richness of the character development and the enduring relatability withstood the test of time. Or maybe because younger adults envy the ease and hopefulness of living in New York before TikTok influencers and AI ruined everything and you could still find the love of your life at a Bushwick warehouse party or cozy coffee shop in Greenpoint.
Star Jemima Kirke even gave a shout out to the Girls Rewatch Podcast, hosted by Brooklyn-based comedians Amelia Ritthaler and Evan Lazarus since 2023 to reexamine the legendary HBO comedy through a modern lens.
Little is known about the reboot and where our favorite characters have ended up since we last saw them. But there is no doubt Hannah Horvath will continue to be the voice of her generation. Or at least a generation.
Music: Kiss All the Time. Documentary, Occasionally
From concrete to pop stars, filmmaker John Wilson is capturing Harry Styles' Together, Together residency in a new documentary. The History of Concrete director will bring Styles' 30-day Madison Square Garden run to the screen with live performance footage and behind-the-scenes moments.
After a video of Styles walking around New York City with Wilson and a camera in tow circulated on social media, rumors swirled and the collaboration was later confirmed by Variety.
After Taylor Swift's Eras Tour doc grossed over $260 million globally during its theatrical run and incited a streaming platform bidding war, auteur filmmakers are taking note of the concert film genre. Recently, Oscar winner James Cameron teamed up with Billie Eilish to bring her concert to the screen with Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D).
Wilson, known for his focus on the mundane but charming aspects of life, may provide a fresh take on the classic concert film—perhaps there will be a scene of Styles demonstrating how to tie his famous necktie.
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