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10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Most Cringe-Worthy Pop Culture Moments Ever
Certain moments in pop culture just haven't aged well: Think of Friends having Courteney Cox don a fat suit to play 'fat Monica,' or Aaliyah's hit 'Age Ain't Nothing But A Number' ― a song written and produced by R. Kelly, who married Aaliyah when she was just 15. There were a ton of 'oh, that would never happen today' moments in 2005, which, believe it or not, was 20 years ago. It was a time when Brangelina was all over the tabloids, Tom Cruise was jumping all over Oprah's couch, and MTV was making playful jokes about Diddy's infamous parties, before they led to his downfall. Below, culture critics and entertainment writers share those and other moments that, in hindsight, really haven't aged that well. 'The 2005 MTV Video Music Awards was hosted by Diddy. Any event with Diddy is already in bad taste now, but to make matters worst, the promotion for the ceremony also featured celebrities like Nicole Ritchie and Derek Jeter providing testimonials over how legendary Diddy's parties were. It could be worse: A few years before, at the 2003 VMAs, Diddy invited a 13-year-old to his afterparty. With recent allegations, it's all incredibly uncomfortable to watch.' ― Kam and Val, the hosts of the 'Empty Theater Club' YouTube channel Michael Scott's "diversity day" training in The Office " The Office is a favorite of many and gave us some of the most meme-able moments in television. But despite the fond memories many of us have of the iconic show, there are elements that have not aged well: One of the most egregious from 2005 is the 'Diversity Day' episode. While the premise of Michael delivering a Chris Rock routine in the middle of the office, resulting in HR needing to get involved, remains entertaining, the diversity training that Michael offers is so racially insensitive that it is difficult to watch. That might be the point, but using slurs is still using slurs, and probably (hopefully?) wouldn't fly today." ― Alise Chaffins, a film critic and author of The Ted Lasso Relationship Guide Tom Cruise's chaotic appearance on Oprah Winfrey's show 'Tom Cruise leaves us speechless every time he does a wild, death-defying stunt in a Mission: Impossible film, but his appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show left us all thinking, What was that? He was supposed to be discussing his sci-fi movie War of the Worlds, but he simply couldn't contain his excitement that day because he was so in love with Katie Holmes. From punching the ground and laughing incessantly, to clenching Winfrey's hands and doing the iconic couch jump, it's a moment that perplexed us all back when it happened, and it's still so cringey to relive whenever a clip resurfaces. But the most awkward part has to be when he ran backstage to bring Holmes out in front of the audience ― who were chanting 'Katie! Katie!' ― and she looked like she didn't want to be there whatsoever. How she didn't get 'the ick' right then and there is a mystery to us all. (They got married the following year, but divorced in 2012).' ― Ema Sasic, a film critic for Next Best Picture 'Few may remember that the iconic lifestyle guru once had her own spin-off of The Apprentice in 2005. This version saw contestants compete to work for none other than Ms. Stewart herself. The show had lukewarm ratings and was cancelled after one season, which some attribute to the fatigue of airing on back-to-back nights with Trump's version. One has to wonder: if the original plan for Martha Stewart to 'fire' Donald Trump and take over the franchise had gone forward, would we all be living in a better timeline right now?' ― Matt Davis, the creator of Shall I Stream It? The early-aughts aesthetic and concept of The Girls Next Door 'A reality show originally focusing on three women (Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Kendra Wilkinson) living at the Playboy Mansion feels right at home on this list. The girls embodied the intense beauty expectations of the early aughts, looking nearly identical with bleached blonde hair and Juicy Couture tracksuits. It's the kind of show that absolutely wouldn't make it to air today, especially since multiple women spoke out against Hugh Hefner in the The Secrets of Playboy documentary. That said, The Girls Next Door is a fascinating documentation of 2005 pop culture, prompting Madison and Marquardt to revisit each episode for a podcast 20 years later.' ― Lexi Lane, a culture writer and director 'This year, we celebrate Marvel's first family, The Fantastic Four, who return to the big screen on July 25. But much has changed in 25 years. In 2025, Sue Storm, played by Vanessa Kirby, is the CEO of The Future Foundation, a fictional organization which works to achieve global peace. But back in 2005, Jessica Alba was left contemplating her future in Hollywood when her version of Sue was written as little more than a romantic foil to her male counterparts. Worse, the filmmakers used her superpower as an excuse for the actress to appear in only her underwear. Luckily, in 2025, our female heroes have graduated from being pretty criers and leather-clad eye candy to fully-realized heroes who save the day side-by-side with their male co-stars.' ― Neil Vagg, the editor of Get Your Comic On 'Say what you will about recent comic-book movies such as Madam Web, J oker: Folie a Deux, and Captain America: Brave New World; one silver lining about the current state of the genre is that we could never reach the lows of portraying superheroines solely as eye candy like we once did in films such as 2005's Fantastic Four. Rather than showing Jessica Alba's Sue Storm grapple with her newfound mutation, the filmmakers go to exaggerated lengths to strip the character naked in order for her to be fully invisible as she's still learning to utilize her powers. Not only would that choice be categorized as creepy and cruel today, as Sue is humiliated in public every time she is discovered to be invisible/naked, but it's a waste of time when you could craft a layered character instead of over-sexualizing them.' ― E dgar Ortega, filmmaker and the co-host of the Where Heartbreak Feels Good podcast The way race plays out in the King Kong remake 'Peter Jackson's update of King Kong expands the horror classic into a sprawling three-hour film, and the director's predilection for excess contributed to a scene which, in retrospect, hasn't aged great. Granted, it's difficult to separate the knotty racial subtext from the 1933 original, but Jackson's take on introducing the native people of Skull Island doesn't just peddle in a kind of horror savagery born of racial stereotypes; it doubles down. Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody), Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) and the rest of their filmmaking crew find themselves surrounded by snarling natives, a horde of monstrous caricatures hissing and gnashing their teeth at the intruders. Rather than the cartoony stereotypes of the pre-Code Kong, these Skull Island inhabitants are explicitly horrific. When they encircle Jack and Ann, the image of Black antagonists closing in on our white heroes doesn't sit well.' ― Brianna Zigler, an entertainment writer and author of Brianna's Digest, a newsletter about lifestyle and pop culture Hayden Christensen's widely panned performance in Star Wars: Episode III '2005 was quite the year, with lots of pop culture moments to remember, from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's affair going public, to Kanye West going off script for a Hurricane Katrina telethon that shocked the world and gave us a precursor into who he is. One thing I can't forget? This was also the year Revenge of the Sith came out, and many Star Wars fans agree that Hayden Christensen's acting was not good and hasn't aged well at all.' ― Kristina Oakes, the co-host of the Movie Night Extravaganza podcast Kirsten Dunst's especially egregious "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" 'In 2005, Cameron Crowe's Elizabethtown gave us the final form of a now-infamous archetype: the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Kirsten Dunst's Claire may have once felt cute and whimsical, but rewatching it now makes it clear that behind her endless supply of chirpy affirmations, she's utterly hollow. Existing solely to save Orlando Bloom's grieving protagonist (whom she barely knows), this peppy flight attendant spends her time dropping pseudo-profound lines straight out of a Hallmark card, scrapbooking a spontaneous road trip she insists he take, and revealing nothing about herself — not that he asks, either. MPDGs may have existed before Elizabethtown, but not under an official title. While writing about the film for The A.V. Club, critic Nathan Rabin coined the term, and it's all thanks to Claire. 'I'm impossible to forget, but I'm hard to remember,' she muses at one point. Perhaps her lack of staying power comes from exactly that — there's nothing to remember. Rabin may regret coining the archetype, but in doing so, he and Crowe gave us a lasting reminder of how not to write female characters.' ― Marta Djordjevic, a film history journalist and the author of the Rewind & Revive blog Those dorky Team Jolie/Team Aniston shirts and hats 'When Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston split and he got with Angelina Jolie, everyone was wearing a Kitson hot item: baseball tees for Team Jolie or Team Aniston. Paris and Nicky Hilton both wore competing shirts spotted out in LA. This was a tabloid dominating story, and somehow still pops up. The debate of choosing a side between these women was next level. Selling merch to pick a side is something never seen before. I cannot imagine in 2025 people proudly wearing the shirts selecting sides of two women instead of just being angry at the man who cheated on his spouse.' ― Kenzie Vanunu, the founder of Offscreen Central, a film review site featuring female and non-binary writers The entire premise of the Ryan Reynolds movie Waiting... 'A majority of 2005's raunchy comedy Waiting... starring Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Justin Long, and John Francis Daley could be considered outdated and problematic when viewed with a 2025 lens. Set over a singular day at the 'family-friendly' restaurant Shenanigans, Waiting... showcases the inappropriate behavior of its staff and their interactions with patrons. The 'comedy' at the heart of the film is fueled by scenarios involving flirting with underage girls, flashing people without consent, and constantly using derogatory, homophobic, racist, and sexist terms. The climax of the film has it all on full display (no pun intended): John Francis Daley's Mitch anguishes in possibly the worst first day of work a person can have and explodes with a burst of insults to his new coworkers before finally quitting. In this scene alone, the main character comments on the intelligence of someone with Down syndrome, describes a character as a pedophile, and proceeds to flash an entire party of coworkers in a final act of defiance. Yikes.' ― Connor Petrey, the editor-in-chief at CINEFIED 'Carlos tampers with Gabrielle's birth control throughout the series! Carlos and Gabrielle Solis had a volatile relationship throughout the show, mostly stemming from how Carlos could never fully 'control' his wife. She expressed multiple times her lack of desire for children, mostly for vanity reasons. Nonetheless, it was her decision. Carlos wasn't having it, so he tampered with her birth control. Naturally, she doesn't react kindly to the news. It's seen as a good thing, though, because it's what he wanted, and they're married, they're supposed to have children. In any case, Carlos' plan sort of backfires: Since she was cheating on him with John, the teenage gardener, the baby was most likely John's, but we never get to find out since she suffers a miscarriage. That being said, this was not the end of Carlos' tampering with birth control. In a later season, he lies to her about having gotten a vasectomy when she had adamantly told him to get one after the birth of their youngest daughter. When she finds out, she is rightfully upset, but Carlos makes her take pity on him by expressing that he lied because he hoped that they would finally be able to have a son. It always felt that Gabrielle was being punished throughout the series because she was the only one of the women of Wisteria Lane who did not want children. Even when she finally has them, she is painted as a bad mother because she seems not to love her children; she could never win in this series, it seems. It was sort of the same case for Lynnette, who kept having children seemingly against her will, because she wanted to keep working, but was discouraged from doing so because of the kids. This series treated women who dared to dream a life outside of motherhood not too kindly.' ― 'The 78th Academy Awards showcased the very best in film from 2005, but apparently, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences thought that Paul Haggis' vision of race in Los Angeles was the best movie of 2005 over the beloved and heavily favored Brokeback Mountain. Crash received decent reviews in 2005, but is now looked at as a laughable film and considered by many to be one of the worst Best Picture winners ever, thanks to its absurd and narrow view of race in America and its thinly written, cartoonish characters. Basically, the Academy decided to award a film they deemed important over an actually important movie in Brokeback Mountain, which broke cultural and cinematic stereotypes in telling its story about the forbidden love between two cowboys.' ― Kevin Wozniak, a film critic and writer for Kevflix and Film Obsessive CBS 'Let me set the scene for most of you: The show was The Will. A multi-millionaire named Bill Long recruits 10 of his friends and relatives to compete in a series of challenges to inherit his 'prized possession,' a large Kansas ranch. This CBS show was outrageous and quickly pulled off the air because of low ratings. Later in the year, the show finally aired all six episodes on FOX, which saw Long's fourth wife (known as the villain) Penny win the ranch. Over the years, we've seen many bad iterations of reality TV shows, but this one was the icing on the cake. Could you imagine what the modern-day version of The Will would look like? I think it would be messy and filled with legal issues. I definitely would watch, but networks are too smart for that.' ― HuffPost.
Time Magazine
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
The 20 Best Episodes of
This year, the iconic NBC sitcom The Office turned 20 years old. Originally based on the UK series of the same name, the mockumentary has only grown in esteem since its conclusion in 2013, even inspiring multiple podcasts from actors on the show. It might be one of the most universally beloved shows out there; in 2020, it was reportedly the most-streamed show by far on Netflix, evident from the sheer number of dating app profiles seeking 'the Jim to my Pam.' Here are the 20 best episodes of The Office, available to pop on anytime for a reliable mood boost—or even a comforting sleep aid, for those who have already binged the show multiple times. Season 1, Episode 2: 'Diversity Day' The Office truly took off when it established its own identity in Season 2. But the six episodes of Season 1 aren't without their moments, especially after the very first one, a direct Americanized adaptation of the original British pilot. The follow-up, the first episode to feature original writing, gets huge laughs out of Michael Scott's ignorance when an inappropriate recitation of Chris Rock's famous 'N----s vs. Black People' routine leads to a mandatory diversity training seminar headed by Larry Wilmore's sensitivity trainer (hideously co-opted by Michael, of course). Season 2, Episode 1: 'The Dundies' Beyond the iconography of Pam getting drunk and sloppy and giving a speech at Chili's before smooching Jim, the beginning of Season 2 is a significant turning point for the show. The reconfigured version had brighter lighting, more of the supporting cast, and a new, more empathetic take on Michael, no longer quite as villainous and unpleasant as in the first season. The new and marginally improved regional manager gets his time to shine at the annual office awards show in this fan-favorite episode, flopping as MC until he gets some drunk encouragement from his favorite receptionist. Season 2, Episode 11: 'Booze Cruise' A cruise doubling as a party and a leadership training exercise—it's a pretty classic Michael Scott idea, and his petty jealousy of the ship captain is a very Michael Scott reaction. But by far the most memorable Michael moment of this episode is his final conversation with Jim, when the latter confesses his feelings for a still-engaged Pam. Michael is characteristically oblivious hearing this for the first time, but his response is an all-time moment, telling Jim that 'engaged ain't married' and urging him to 'never, ever, ever give up.' Season 2, Episode 12: 'The Injury' One of the early standout episodes rests on a singularly hilarious hypothetical: what if Michael burned his foot on a George Foreman Grill? Watching him navigate this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day never gets old, especially with the obvious enjoyment everyone else derives from the incident. And when his self-pity about the injury turns into a weird possessiveness upon the discovery of Dwight's very real concussion (from a car crash on his way to rescue Michael, mind you), the episode reaches another level. Season 2, Episode 22: 'Casino Night' Season 2, probably the show's very best, is bookended by two episodes that feature Jim and Pam locking lips, and ends on a cliffhanger following Jim's confession of his love for Pam and their first real kiss in the Steve Carell-penned finale. Though it would take another season for the pair to officially get together—Pam is still engaged, and Jim requested a transfer to the Stamford branch—this is one of the biggest and most triumphant moments of the show. And it's not the only romantic development of the supersized episode, with Jan pining for Michael at the charity casino night where he brought another date: his realtor Carol (played by Nancy Walls, Carell's real-life wife). Season 3, Episode 9: 'The Convict' Prison Mike, Michael's purple-bandana'd ex-convict alter ego, is easily one of his most memorable and silly personas in a show full of them. Like most of Michael's gambits, this is a mostly well-intentioned effort, originating with an unnecessary attempt to stand up for Martin Nash (Wayne Wilderson), an employee who did time for insider trading. But it becomes much more about proving to his employees that prison isn't actually better than the office, overreacting to their jests by improvising about how 'The worst thing about prison was the Dementors.' It's no surprise Martin quits by the end. Season 3, Episode 10 and 11: 'A Benihana Christmas' Arguably the show's best Christmas outing (with Season 2's 'Christmas Party' at a close second), this double-length installment revolves around two rival Christmas parties at the office, one thrown by Angela's Party Planning Committee and one organized by Pam and Karen, whose new friendship freaks Jim out. It also features Michael's post-breakup trip to Benihana with Andy, Jim, and Dwight, which ends with Michael marking one Asian waitress with a Sharpie back at the office to differentiate her from Andy's date. Problematic to be sure, but also a very in-character move for an ignorant buffoon. Season 3, Episode 19: 'The Negotiation' Michael and Darryl are one of the most underrated Office pairings, and it's a delight to watch them work together to secure raises. But this is also the episode that officially closes the door on Pam and Roy forevermore with Roy's attempt to attack Jim for kissing Pam back in 'Casino Night'—a fight that ends before it can even begin when Dwight pepper-sprays him. Part of the joy of the episode comes from Jim's rare efforts to show his sincere gratitude to Dwight, who refuses to accept his praise. Season 3, Episode 20: 'Safety Training' Michael's trip to the rooftop to illustrate depression and suicidal ideation yields the great 'Dwight, you ignorant slut' line, but it's also just funny to watch him cope with his hurt pride after the warehouse guys make fun of an office safety session. This episode also includes some other standout moments, like a watermelon bouncing onto Stanley's car and Dwight 'shunning' Andy. Season 3, Episode 23: 'Beach Games' Michael's beach competition to choose a potential successor isn't just enjoyable for fans of Survivor, on which the games are based; it's a classic episode, especially remembered for the sumo wrestling and the turn in the Jim/Pam/Karen love triangle. Pam running barefoot across hot coals is impressive, but her biggest act of growth is the unusually candid speech she delivers in front of her coworkers, taking them to task for missing her art show and blaming Jim for the cooling of their friendship. Season 3, Episode 24 and 25: 'The Job' The episode that finally brings Jim and Pam together for good! The finale also gives us a glimpse of what Dwight's tenure as regional manager would look like, complete with motivational Schrute Bucks, and sets up Ryan's new role in Season 4, when he gets offered Jan's old job. But the standout moments here are all about the romance, especially that interrupted confessional when Jim asks Pam out. Season 4, Episode 1 and 2: 'Fun Run' After three seasons of Jim and Pam's tantalizing will-they-won't-they, it's quite refreshing to watch them secretly date in the Season 4 premiere—though that storyline can't quite beat the hilarity of Michael fracturing Meredith's pelvis by accidentally hitting her with his car in this episode, then hosting a charity 5k to fight rabies. Dwight telling Angela he euthanized her cat Sprinkles is a highlight, and you won't soon forget the image of Andy's nipples bleeding through his shirt. Season 4, Episode 12: 'The Deposition' Michael Scott can be a terrible person, but there's a reason his relationship with Jan is so good for the show: her cruelty brings out our empathy for him, like during the deposition where she forces him to be a witness against Dunder Mifflin. To bolster her wrongful termination case and prove that she had no prior relationship with Michael before they disclosed it, she goes so far as to submit her boyfriend's personal diary—and he finds out she gave him a terrible performance review after they started dating. (An all-time quote: 'You expect to get screwed by your company, but you never expect to get screwed by your girlfriend.') The subplot of Kelly trash-talking Jim's ping pong skills is pretty great, too. Season 4, Episode 13: 'Dinner Party' Up there with 'Scott's Tots' as the most difficult-to-watch episode of The Office, this cringey masterpiece takes place during a couples' dinner at Michael's condo. There, all of his and Jan's relationship issues are lain bare, with Michael in the role of victim (albeit a pathetic, unselfaware one) to Jan's control issues and selfishness. Whether it's Michael showing off his tiny plasma TV and describing a wine's 'oaky afterbirth,' Jan mistaking Pam for an ex and competitor for Michael's heart, or Dwight bringing a former babysitter as a date, everyone is firing on all cylinders here. Season 4, Episode 18 and 19: 'Goodbye, Toby' A going-away party for Toby before he leaves for Costa Rica? Jim planning to propose to Pam, only to get preempted by Andy's proposal to Angela? Ryan getting arrested for fraud? This season finale has it all, though the most consequential development is the introduction of the charming HR rep Holly Flax (Amy Ryan), the future love of Michael's life. Season 5, Episode 14 and 15: 'Stress Relief' Chances are you've seen the incredible cold open from this two-part episode clipped on your social feed sometime in the last decade: Dwight 'simulating' an office fire as a safety demonstration. It's a huge episode all around for Dwight, who famously destroys a CPR dummy and wears its face, Hannibal Lecter-style, during a training session. Much of this episode also revolves around Michael's comedic roast of himself, which goes exactly how you'd expect when his employees enjoy it a little too much. Season 5, Episode 25: 'Broke' The last three or four seasons of The Office would struggle to keep the dynamics fresh, but Season 5 staved off that issue with the great Michael Scott Paper Company arc, a stretch of episodes that injected new energy into the show by introducing a new villainous manager named Charles Miner (Idris Elba). In this conclusion to the arc, Michael scores one of his biggest wins ever, displaying some actual business acumen by successfully pressuring David Wallace into hiring back him, Pam, and Ryan. Supremely satisfying. Season 5, Episode 28: 'Company Picnic' Another seriously consequential season finale promising significant change while delivering big laughs. Pam finds out she's pregnant; Michael displays some ugly but hilarious jealousy of Holly's boyfriend A.J.; Michael and Holly perform a skit ('SlumDunder Mifflinaire') that accidentally reveals the Buffalo branch is closing due to the recession. A pathos-heavy episode—but an important one. Season 7, Episode 19: 'Garage Sale' The Office in treacly mode isn't always the show at its best, but this episode sets up Michael moving to Colorado in the sweetest, most deserved way, ending with his pitch-perfect proposal to Holly and the shocking announcement of his departure. That proposal makes for one of the most romantic and tear-jerking sitcom scenes of all time, up there with Ben Wyatt and Leslie Knope—and the lighter titular subplot, with Jim pranking Dwight by replacing the supposed 'miracle legumes' with fully grown plants, offers a nice counterbalance. Many would argue The Office should've ended when Steve Carell left, and this farewell would definitely work as a series finale in a pinch. It's the ideal tribute to a complicated but ultimately lovable character, especially in his last scene: an emotional last-minute airport goodbye with Pam, both their mics off. If we had to bid farewell to the show's best and most important character, at least we can feel comforted by the happy ending he gets with Holly, and the fitting way he goes out.
Axios
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Actor Brian Baumgartner's Best Day Ever in Atlanta
When Brian Baumgartner is in town, you can find him golfing, cheering on the Atlanta Braves or enjoying a medium-rare stake at Marcel. We asked the Atlanta native and Westminster Schools graduate — whom you might know as Kevin from "The Office" — to describe his ideal day in the city: 🏌️ How he starts the day: Baumgartner enjoys his morning on the green, playing a round of golf at East Lake, with Tom Glavine, John Smoltz or Greg Maddux. Zoom in: Baumgartner started golfing after college and uses the game as meditation. "When I go out (to play golf), I can spend four hours and work goes away, any issues go away, family stuff goes away and it's just concentrating on getting this little tiny ball into this little tiny hole for four hours, and for me it's a release where I don't have to worry about anything else." He played in last week's Hilton Grand Vacation's Tournament of Champions in Florida — the LPGA Tour's first stop of 2025. ⚾ Afternoon activity: The avid sports fan then heads to Truist Park. "Maybe there's an early afternoon Braves game which doesn't (usually) happen. Love the new stadium there." 🍴 Evening outing: For dinner, he goes to Marcel. "And if things get weird, Hotel Clermont and Tiny Lou's. But Marcel is my go-to and I'm getting a steak. It's the best in town." Yes, but: He's not using any steak sauce. "No sauce. High-quality meat, salt and pepper, no sauce." Worthy of your time: If he could pick one celebrity to play a round of golf with, it would be former President Obama. Fun fact: "Stress Relief" (Season 5 Episode 14 and 15), "Diversity Day" (Season 1, Episode 2) and "The Injury" (Season 2, Episode 12) are his current favorite episodes of "The Office." What's next: Baumgartner will have a guest role in "Suits LA" streaming later this month on NBC and Peacock.
