You might not immediately recognize Patti Yasutake‘s name, but you’ve almost certainly seen her on screen. On TV she’s appeared in Beef, Grey’s Anatomy, Boston Legal, and ER, and in theaters we’ve seen her in Drop Dead Gorgeous, Dangerous Intentions, and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot!

But she’s best known for playing Nurse Ogawa in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and reprised the roles in the Star Trek feature films Generations and First . So, naturally, Star Trek fans have taken to social media to post tributes after the sad news of her death at the age of 70:

Yasutake’s final role was in Netflix’s hit show Beef, where she played the mother-in-law of Ali Wong’s Amy, and was hilarious as a judgmental grandmother who’s clearly never worked a day in her life and ends up wielding a shotgun against burglars after breaking into her son’s home. It was a fine role to go out on – but what were the exact circumstances of Yasutake’s death?

A long battle with illness

Yasutake’s obituary states that she “ed away peacefully on Sunday surrounded by friends and family after a long brave battle with cancer.” More specifically, she was suffering from a rare form of T-cell lymphoma, which results in blood and lymph tumors. It’s unknown when she received this diagnosis, but given that we’re told it was a “long” battle we can presume she was dealing with the condition for some time before her death.

Yasutake died at the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center. Her family has invited fans to a memorial at East West Players 120 N Judge Aiso Street LA 90012. If you attend don’t bring flowers as the family would prefer you donate to Asian-American theater company East West Players.

RIP Patti Yasutake.

While Netflix remains the king of streamers, it’s no longer news that other platforms are slowly clawing their way to the top. Across the pond however, Netflix UK subscribers still enjoy a ton of great content. 

From gripping dramas, to thrilling mysteries and hilarious comedies, Netflix has something to suit every taste. And while Netflix US has said goodbye to some shows, subscribers in the UK still have them in stock. Here’s a curated list of some of the best shows on Netflix UK in 2024 that are must-watch.

Skins

Long before they became a household names, a crop of today’s British stars (including the charming Dev Patel, Nicholas Hoult, and Kaya Scodelario) starred in Skins. The controversial British TV show became a major hit. While it garnered a lot of pushback for its harsh depictions of teenage life, the acclaimed series won hearts for its relatability. While US fans only have access to the show via Hulu, Skins is available on Netflix UK, and remains of the best TV shows on the platform.

Behind Her Eyes

Without giving too much away (because of the insane plot twist), Behind Her Eyes is a fantastic and compelling watch. The thrilling, psychological drama seeks to unravel the mystery behind a couple’s failing marriage, and the harmless woman who seeks to undo it all. There’s a lot of deeply disturbing moments on the show, but it all serves to deliver a landing blow right at the end. Trust me, you’ll be thinking about the twist for at least a few week after watching.

The Fall of the House of Usher 

Much like many of Stephen King’s works, The Fall of the House of Usher is a gripping horror story that will remain on your mind for a while. The series follows the rise of Roderick Usher, a formidable CEO of a corrupt pharmaceutical company, and his sister Madeline Usher, the company’s brilliant COO. The story also takes viewers through the events that culminate in the tragic demise of all six of Roderick’s children. It’s gripping, and the actors all do a fine job of keeping you glued to your screen. 

3 Body Problem

A new addition to Netflix’s greats, 3 Body Problem is one of the best TV shows on UK’s Netflix right now. It’s an adaptation of the 2008 novel The Three-Body Problem. The series follows a group of scientist friends who come into with an extraterrestrial civilization from a neighboring star system. After almost dying off, the aliens look for help to move to a more habitable planet. 3 Body Problem is quickly becoming one of Netflix’s popular releases so far.

The Gentlemen

Aristocracy meets comedy, action, and vicious gangsters in Netflix’s The Gentlemen. The television series features notable names like Theo James, Vinnie Jones, Kaya Scodelario, and Giancarlo Esposito. When a young man inherits his father’s estate, he discovers that it’s the home base for a bustling marijuana business. Only problem is, the gangsters behind the operation are hell bent on keeping business as usual. What results is an exciting, fast-paced series.

Baby Reindeer

It’s not every time we get an actor starring as himself in a show retelling a harrowing life experience. Starring Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer tells the uncomfortable, true story of a young, aspiring comedian who becomes the target of a disturbing and relentless stalking campaign by a mentally unstable woman with a troubling criminal past. There are comedic elements sprinkled all around the series, but one can’t help but shudder that the events of Baby Reindeer actually happened in real life. 

Beef

What do you do when road rage goes wrong? Beef chronicles the evolving and tumultuous relationship between two individuals named Danny and Amy, whose first meeting occurs during a violent road rage incident. The two become obsessed with finding out who can hurt the other more. It all culminates in a comedic and gripping story of revenge.

Wednesday

The Addams Family’s golden child Wednesday finally got her very own Netflix show. Audiences were given a full view of her life as a teenager. Overall,Wednesday follows the protagonist’s time as a student at Nevermore Academy, as she navigates her growing psychic abilities, works to unravel her parents’ past, and prevents a potential killing spree from happening.

Heartstopper

Heartstopper follows the evolving relationship between Charlie, a shy and openly gay teenager, and Nick, a popular and easygoing rugby player. Set in an English high school, the story beautifully captures the complexities of young love, friendship, and self-discovery as Charlie and Nick begin to understand their feelings and identities.

Stranger Things

This captivating sci-fi thriller is set in the 1980s in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. When a young boy named Will Byers goes missing under mysterious circumstances, his friends embark on a quest to find him. Along the way, they encounter a telekinetic girl named Eleven with extraordinary powers and uncover dark secrets about a parallel dimension called the Upside Down.

Bridgerton

Who doesn’t love a period drama full of intense romance? Bridgerton follows the lives and romantic escapades of the Bridgerton family and the elite society of the town. The series unfolds as debutante Daphne Bridgerton forms a complicated alliance with the Duke of Hastings to navigate high society. Each season of Bridgerton has brought many lovely moments and swoon-worthy lines that are sure to win every girl over, and as most Brits will tell you, it’s one of the best TV shows on UK Netflix.

Arcane

Arcane made its rounds as one of the best animated series of 2021 and has since remained fresh in the memory of every viewer. The series explores the origins of two iconic League of Legends champions, Jinx and Vi, in the city of Piltover and the undercity of Zaun. The series delves into their complex pasts, the rivalry between the two sisters, and the power struggles within these contrasting societies.

Black Mirror

Black Mirror is a thought-provoking anthology series, and often ranked as one of the best TV shows on UK Netflix. The visually stunning series explores the dark and often dystopian side of modern society and technology. Each episode presents a standalone story with a unique premise, focusing on themes of human nature, the consequences of technological advancement, and the impact of digital media on our lives. Altogether, you’re getting a great story, amazing visuals, and a potential warning of things to come. 

Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders is a masterfully crafted British period drama that focuses on the exploits of the Shelby crime family in the aftermath of World War I. Led by the cunning and ambitious Tommy Shelby, the Peaky Blinders fight through the treacherous world of organized crime, political intrigue, and family rivalries. With Cillian Murphy as the focal point, there’s no shortage of phenomenal acting moments. 

Blue Eye Samurai

This animated series won the praise of both critics and viewers alike for its storytelling and animation. Set in 17th-century Edo-period Japan, Blue Eye Samurai centers around Mizu, a skilled mixed-race sword master. After being abandoned by her father and spending her childhood being bullied for her white heritage, she takes matters into her own hands. While hiding her identity, she seeks vengeance against her father. Netflix UK subscribers are in for a treat, as this animated series is worth the hype.

Sense8

Sense8 follows eight strangers from different parts of the world who become mentally and emotionally connected, forming a unique cluster of “sensates.” As they try to control their newfound abilities to communicate and share experiences, they must also evade a mysterious organization that seeks to capture and control them. Until this very moment, fans still protest the series’ unjust cancellation, but it’s still one of the best TV shows on Netflix UK for fans to binge through.  

Orange is the New Black

With its unique mix of drama, friendship, and dark humor, Orange Is the New Black centers around Piper Chapman, a woman sentenced to prison for a past crime involving drug trafficking. Inside the all-female prison, Piper encounters complex relationships with fellow inmates. All the while, she must confront the challenges and realities of life behind bars.

After Life

Created by and starring Ricky Gervais, After Life is a comedy-drama series that follows Tony who struggles with profound grief after his wife’s death. Tony contemplates suicide but decides to live long enough to punish the world by saying and doing whatever he wants. As he interacts with people in his small town, Tony’s outlook gradually changes, and he begins to rediscover the joys of life amidst his profound loss.

Baby Reindeer has captivated audiences the world over with its pitch-black humor and sent internet sleuths into a tizzy with its true story origins.

When it hit Netflix earlier this month, even the showrunners themselves couldn’t have predicted just how resonant it would become. Now legions of viewers have poured over the partly comedic, but mostly traumatic tale of writer and star Richard Gadd. 

The twisty thriller, adapted from Gadd’s one-man show of the same name from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, has a star out of Jessica Gunning, who portrays an obsessive stalker whose behavior becomes increasingly disturbing.

So feverish was the reception to the show that many have been eager to broaden their watchlist with similar titles. Here are ten shows that might scratch that Baby Reindeer itch.     

Beef

Subscribing to Baby Reindeer’s particular brand of black comedy, fellow Netflix hit Beef also uses humor to explore heavy themes around mental illness, trauma, and the tendency to gravitate towards people who might not be the best for us. Beef and Baby Reindeer both contain laugh-out-loud gags that also pack an emotional punch, and explore two traumatized souls who are cosmically bound, for better or for worse (but mostly for worse). 

You

While Baby Reindeer takes the point of view of a stalking victim, Netflix’s You places viewers squarely on the side of the perpetrator. Although You is certainly more of a pulpy and campy affair (the TV equivalent of a trashy beach read), it draws parallels to Baby Reindeer in the criminal element of Martha’s behavior, and the first-person narration offers an inside look into the protagonist’s mind. Don’t come to You expecting quite the same level of thematic complexity, but you’ll get your stalker fix nonetheless. 

Fleabag

Like Baby Reindeer, fellow UK hit Fleabag was also adapted from a one-woman Fringe Festival show, whose creator would go on to write and star in its adapted TV version. Though Fleabag is a much lighter affair (and in this writer’s opinion, much funnier), viewers can expect that same sense of getting an intimate look into the life of its writer, star, and narrator, while also getting a feel for the London locales both shows are set in.

For extra emotional pull, both Donny and Fleabag (played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge) deal with the consequences of past traumas, and how this plays into their sex lives. In all honesty, Olivia Coleman’s scene-stealing role is reason enough to watch Fleabag. 

I May Destroy You

Perhaps the show most similar to Baby Reindeer on this list, I May Destroy You offers a stirring and at times uncomfortable look into the aftermath of sexual assault. Both shows are intensely personal, and are both written by their main star (Michaela Coen in I May Destroy You’s case). Donny and Arabella shared a kindred resolve in piecing their lives together after a traumatic event, with a somewhat happy (though still emotional) ending. 

Swarm

If you were to multiply Martha by one thousand, you’d get the type of obsessive group that is the focus of Swarm, the comedy-horror series co-created by Donald Glover. Like Baby Reindeer, this Amazon original details the dark side of obsession, though Swarm looks into how that fixation plays into celebrity fandom. In that way, both shows draw real-life parallels, and there are similarities in how Martha and Dre’s (played by Dominique Fishback) delusions are based in an emotional vulnerability.    

The Act

Similar in its real-life origins and its depiction of how love and infatuation can veer toward the criminal, The Act will give fans of Baby Reindeer another dose of true crime thrills. Based on the true story of Munchausen’s by proxy victim Gypsy Rose Blanchard, The Act delivers the same edge-of-your-seat excitement as Baby Reindeer, with both Martha and Dee Dee’s (played by Patricia Arquette) seemingly pleasant exterior hiding something much darker. Gypsy (played by Joey King) and Donny, meanwhile, are both caught in a Stockholm syndrome dynamic with their assaulters.   

Please Like Me

Another show coming from the mind of its writer and star, Australian dramedy Please Like Me delivers a similar level of emotional intimacy as Baby Reindeer, though it is decidedly heavier on the laughs. Both Donny and Please Like Me’s Josh (played by Josh Thomas) have their lives impacted by mental illness, which they suffuse with humor. The protagonists also find themselves coming to with their sexuality and how it impacts their lives.    

Feel Good

Also written by a comedian who portrays a stand-up comic in their show, Feel Good carries the same emotional intensity as Baby Reindeer, with similar explorations around mental health. The autobiographical elements are there (with Feel Good’s writer and star Mae Martin basing much of the story on their own life), and fans will also get a similar insight into the life of a struggling comedian, and how the profession itself can be anything but funny. Both shows also explore sexuality and how that plays into the protagonist’s struggles.  

Based on a True Story

This entry is perhaps only for those Baby Reindeer fans who were drawn to its true crime origins, since Based on a True Story is a much, much, much more frivolous affair. The heavy themes of Baby Reindeer are altogether absent from Based on a True Story, though the latter show — perhaps in a more meta sense — does delve into society’s obsession with true crime, and how that can get us into some pretty sticky situations (like attempting to identify the real-life inspiration behind Martha).

The End Of The F***ing World

Both Baby Reindeer and The End Of The F***ing World are created by the same production company, Clerkenwell Films, giving you a sense of their similarity in of themes and even aesthetics. Both shows detail the sometimes humorous, sometimes toxic bond between two intensely complex characters, who are drawn to the dark sides of each other. Donny and The End Of The F***ing World’s Alyssa (played by Jessica Barden) find a twisted companionship in people who spell trouble, with The End Of The F***ing World throwing in a fugitive storyline for extra measure.    

Baby Reindeer’s twisted tale of obsession has taken the world by surprise. Inspired by the series creator Richard Gadd’s true experience with stalking, Netflix’s latest hit reveals the darkest corners of the human mind.

Each episode of Baby Reindeer flips the story upside down, keeping the audience in a constant state of tension. The story of a man (Gadd) avoiding his stalker (Jessica Gunning) might sound straightforward. Yet, the sick game of cat-and-mouse that unfolds before your eyes is both addictive and deeply disturbing.

Baby Reindeer has one problem though — how quickly you’ll binge it. With only seven half-hour episodes, you’ll probably finish Baby Reindeer in one sitting, leaving you eager to find new dark tales of lies and deceptions. Fortunately, you don’t need to change streaming services to scratch your Baby Reindeer itch because Netflix has other delightfully unsettling thrillers you can watch next.

BEEF

Part of what makes Baby Reindeer so fascinating is watching how a simple gesture can snowball into unspeakable nightmares. While BEEF never gets as scary as Baby Reindeer, the series follows a similar principle, pitting Steven Yeun against Ali Wong in an unnerving battle of wits. The two protagonists get entangled after a road rage incident. Since each part of the conflict believes they deserve compensation, they feed a neverending cycle of pettiness and revenge. However, what begins as relatively innocent pranks quickly escalate into acts of violence and destruction. BEEF is a fascinating Netflix original show, elevated by both Wong and Yeun arguably delivering the best performances of their brilliant career.

You

If, for any reason, you’ve been avoiding You, let Baby Reindeer guide you to one of the best Netflix original series ever. Starring the phenomenal Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg — a serial killer with a conscience —You is a brilliant exploration of how far people go to justify their most despicable actions. Each season of You brings something new to the table, subverting expectations and never allowing the story to get stale. Plus, since the story is told through the serial killer’s eyes, you sometimes forget he’s a villain. Few things are as scary as relating to a gruesome killer, so You should be on your radar if you enjoyed Baby Reindeer.

Finally, Joe will stick around longer, as Netflix already has four full seasons of the series available, with the fifth and last season expected to hit the streaming platform sometime in 2024.

Baby

It is not only in Hollywood that good thrillers are made. Baby is an Italian three-season TV show that follows two teenage girls in Rome, played by Benedetta Porcaroli and Alice Pagani. Together, the duo slowly gets involved with a ring of underaged prostitution while looking to escape the monotony of their privileged lives. However, what starts as a game for the girls soon becomes a nightmare, as they have to hide their secret lives from family and friends, knowing they are forever bound to some perilous people.

The subject of underaged prostitution can make your skin crawl sometimes, especially when you realize that Baby is based on a true story, just like Baby Reindeer. Still, if you are looking for TV shows that explore the darkest corners of the human experience, Baby is the show for you.

Mindhunter

Mindhunter follows two FBI agents who are determined to understand what makes some people become killers. Based on a true story, the David Fincher series retells how the term “serial killer” was coined and builds a breathtaking story involving some of America’s most famous criminals, from Ed Kemper to Charles Manson. The production value of Mindhunter turns it into one of the best investigative thrillers ever forged, with the whole cast committing to playing historical characters faithfully.

It’s frightening to delve into the crimes of real people and learn how their mind works, but Mindhunter is an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys Baby Reindeer. There is a catch, though. While Fincher had initially planned five seasons for Mindhunter, only two seasons are available on Netflix. While the series was not officially canceled, the show has been on an extended hiatus since 2020.

Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer

Contrary to every other recommendation in this list, there’s nothing fictional about Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer. While real-life events inspire TV shows such as Baby Reindeer, Don’t F**k with Cats is a docies, meaning it uses pure reality as its raw material.

The series explores a crowd-funded manhunt that began after a video of a man killing two cats became viral. People horrified by the man’s action wanted to find him and bring him to justice. The killer, on his turn, started to make even more brutal videos to remain in the spotlight. Don’t F**k with Cats shows how disturbingly easy it is to use the internet to stalk people. At the same time, the World Wide Web is also a tool for perpetrators to hide their identities.

Finally, the docies shows how things can escalate to a point where all hell breaks loose, making one wonder if the people who give killers attention are also responsible for the crimes they do to get exposure.

Even so long after its initial release Netflix’s Beef is still riding high thanks to a sterling performance at the Emmys and Golden Globes. The show delivers a rollercoaster ride of resentment, bad decisions, and broken people ruining not only their lives but those around them.

One of the driving forces in the show is David Choe’s Isaac Cho, cousin to Steven Yeun’s series lead Danny Cho. He’s a sketchy small-time criminal and bully, though has a chaotic charisma to him that makes him a blast to watch.

In the wake of the show’s success some of Choe’s older comments came back to haunt him. In a 2014 podcast that he’d engaged in “rapey behavior” with a masseuse. He claims he was playing a character at the time and that the podcast was fictional, but controversy continues to swirl around him for his statement.

But what you might not know is that aside from being a renowned graffiti artist, musician and actor, Choe is also fabulously rich, and the story of how he got his money is truly bonkers.

The Social Network

In the late 1980s, Choe began establishing himself as a graffiti artist of note in Los Angeles. He eventually went legit as an artist, attending the California College of the Arts and self-publishing a graphic novel, Slow Jams. Along the way, he picked up a fan in Napster founder Sean Parker, who wrote him a letter in 2003 commissioning a painting. This was, as per a 2012 interview with Howard Stern, to be an image combining “uncertainty with eroticism”.

Unfortunately for Choe and Parker, Napster was quickly hit by a wave of lawsuits from the music industry. Parker was unable to pay for the painting, as Choe explained:

“Just one day he’s like, ‘Ah! F**k!’ — this is 2003 — he’s like, ‘F**k, I can’t get the painting.’ I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ He’s like, ‘My company’s being sued for a trillion dollars right now.’ And I was like, ‘What company is that?’ He goes, ‘It’s Napster.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh s**t! That’s like the company that … you guys do all …’ He’s like, ‘Yeah.’ And he was 23 or 24 at the time, and he goes, ‘You and me, like …’ He’s like, ‘You’re the f**king best artist ever. Like, I love your s**t. I need to get a painting from you one day. Just wait for this bulls**t to blow over and I’ll get one from you next time.’”

Said BS did indeed blow over, and two years later in 2005 Parker was heavily involved in the launch of Facebook. Needing someone to bring some artistic flair to the fledging social network’s small headquarters, he ed Choe, who was freshly out of prison after an altercation with a police officer in Japan. Parker’s commission was somewhat bizarre, asking Choe to “go crazy and draw as many giant cocks” as he wanted.

Choe delivered, festooning the walls with explicit sexual imagery. A journalist from the defunct Silicon Valley gossip mag Valleywag visited the headquarters in 2005 and reported:

“The cool part was they hired some graffiti artist to paint stuff on the walls. Weird abstract designs, scantily clad busty women on hellhounds, etc. Aggressive, but fun. So then he says, “hey, come here, check this out.” Sean takes us in the women’s restroom, and shows us the wall. The wall has on it a fresh, lifesize, starkly realistic painting of two naked women having sex. It was an amazing painting: one woman standing up, back arched, nude, legs spread; other woman on her knees eating her out.” 

At the time Parker claimed this art was by his girlfriend, though it seems likely that this was a fib and he’s actually describing Choe’s art.

Whatever the case, once Choe finished, Parker made him an offer. He could either be paid $60,000 on the spot, no small amount for a struggling artist just out of prison. Or he could be paid the equivalent amount in Facebook stock. This was a huge gamble, but as Choe explained:

“I believed in Sean. I didn’t care about Facebook… I’m like, this kid knows something and I’m going to bet my money on him.”

Facebook goes public

Seven years later and Facebook had become an online behemoth, defining social media and clocking up billions of s around the world. Facebook was valued at $104 billion and Zuckerberg took the company public with the initial offering raising $16 billion.

Choe’s Facebook shares were suddenly worth a lot of money. How much money? Well, when Facebook went public Choe minted around $200 million for his work painting Facebook’s offices with graphic sexual imagery.

This newfound megawealth clearly unnerved Choe. In a 2012 interview with Barbara Walters, he said:

“You can’t buy your privacy back. Because I was already doing OK, and to have this abstract amount of money now, I cannot buy my privacy back. I was like: What the hell’s happening? Every news– Al Jazeera, every news organization in the world is beating down the door, trying to get a, you know, interview. And I’m like, ‘Oh, my God.'”

And how did it affect his life? Not as much as you might assume:

“It’s gonna sound horrible for me to say money is meaningless. But everyone’s like: What are you gonna do now, now that you have all this money and freedom? I did everything I wanted to when I had nothing. Everyone’s like: Well, what are you gonna do now? I’m like, I’m still gonna do whatever I want except more people are just gonna bother me now.”

Or, to summarise, “mo money, mo problems”.

The story of how a graffiti artist fresh out of prison ended up this rich is probably worth a Netflix show in its own right. It remains to be seen whether the sexual assault allegations will result in any meaningful consequences for Choe, though being a part of one the best Netflix shows in a very long time likely means his acting career will continue to go places.

Beef is available to stream on Netflix.

Getting the chance to play in the Marvel sandbox is a dream come true for many actors out there, but it’s not up everyone’s street. Just ask Emily Blunt or Jeremy Allen White. And maybe we can add another name to that niche list too.

Austin Abrams perhaps isn’t a household name, but if you’ve ever watched a TV screen you’re bound to have seen his face. The 1996-born actor has appeared in the likes of The Walking Dead and Euphoria, as well as in movies such as Paper Towns and Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark. A rare leading role, however, came in Netflix’s Dash & Lily, an acclaimed festive teen romcom that was cruelly cancelled after just one season in 2021.

A jump into the Marvel realm would be a huge break for the star, then, but it seems like the MCU isn’t of any interest to Abrams. Or maybe he just didn’t want to exist in the shadow of a certain Beef icon…

Austin Abrams reportedly turned down the chance to replace Steven Yeun in Thunderbolts

According to rumored intel, Austin Abrams could have been Thunderbolts‘ new Sentry, but he turned the part down. For context, the mega-superpowered character was all set to be played by Steven Yeun before the Minari star was forced to exit the project due to scheduling conflicts caused by the strikes. Word has it that Abrams was then offered to take his place but ed on the opportunity to play the golden-haired hero.

Again, this is unconfirmed as yet, but it would make a lot of sense for director Jake Schreier to have reached out to Abrams considering they worked together on Paper Towns. Likewise, Schreier clearly likes to turn to trusted collaborators as he and Yeun already paired up on Netflix’s Beef. This prior working relationship makes it all the stranger that Abrams would on such an exciting role, one with huge potential for the future. He knows firsthand what Schreier can bring to a project and the director is big business right now amid Beef‘s awards success and his work on Star Wars series Skeleton Crew.

Maybe Marvel just isn’t for Abrams, which would somewhat add up with the lack of franchises in his filmography so far. On the other hand, perhaps he also had scheduling conflicts or else didn’t feel the role of Sentry was for him — although a glimpse at the image above suggests he would’ve looked the part. All we can say is that, if this info is accurate, then we might’ve missed out on two intriguing Sentry castings, not just one.

Ali Wong is one of the queens of comedy, but while she towers over the comedy competition, she usually falls short, literally, standing next to them. Now we’ve got her actual height confirmed.

Big things come in small packages, and that is certainly the case with Ali Wong. Wong is a stand-up comedian, actress, writer, producer, etc. basically, you name it, and she has probably done it. She is certainly a woman of many talents, with three Netflix specials under her belt: Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, and Don Wong. She also stars in the hit Netflix series Beef, alongside Steven Yeun, and was in the romantic comedy Always Be My Baby. She is the first Asian woman to ever win an Emmy for a leading role. Her list of accomplishments is obviously quite extensive, yet one of the most Googled things about her is her height.

How tall is Ali Wong?

Ali Wong attracts a lot of attention, she’s a very successful comedian and actress, yet one of the things people notice most about her, oddly enough, is her height. Yet never fear, because we are here to clear up the confusion and give a final answer on exactly how tall Ali Wong actually is, or in this case, is not.

According to a report Ali Wong gave to E-News the 41-year-old actress is a self-disclosed 5 feet tall. She jokes she is so short that she can even fit into a tracksuit made for an 11 or 12-year-old. So while Ali is certainly a comedic giant, physically she is quite small.

Okay, so maybe she doesn’t tower over the competition physically, but comedically, Wong is still heads above the crowd. Coming in at only 5 feet tall, she is certainly proof to us all that it is not the size of the package that matters, but what’s inside that truly counts.

Succession and The Bear may have swept up at the 75th Emmy Awards, but a number of other shows earned much-deserved statuettes.

The HBO series about the dysfunctional billionaire Roy family added six wins to its already impressive Emmy haul last night, but their 2024 tally was matched by the FX show about a superstar chef who returns to his family-owned restaurant after his brother’s suicide. They were followed closely by Ali Wong’s Beef, which was honored five times. The White Lotus and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver added to HBO’s overall plunder, continuing their dominance of the event.

Competition was incredibly tough this year, and some truly outstanding shows like The Last of Us and Wednesday went home empty handed. Better Call Saul continued its streak of raking in the nominations without winning anything, much to the chagrin of its devoted fanbase. And there was some big news for Sir Elton John, who secured the final letter of his EGOT thanks to Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.

If you’re keen to catch up on all this excellent television but don’t know where to start, you can find out where to watch all the Emmy 2024 winning shows below!

2024 Emmy comedy series winners

• The Bear: this fast-paced, addictive series about a high-end chef who returns to run his family’s restaurant has been renewed for a third season, and we’re thankful for it. It can be found on Hulu in the U.S., and Disney Plus in the U.K.
• Abbott Elementary: writer, creator, and lead actress Quinta Brunson won the Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series award for her performance in this heartwarming show about a group of dedicated teachers in an underfunded, inner-city school. U.S. viewers can find it on ABC, Hulu, fuboTV, and DirectTV. U.K. viewers will find both seasons on Disney Plus.

Drama series winners

• Succession: Jeremy Strong may have played the eldest boy in the Roy clan (if we ignore Connor, which we always do), but it’s Kieran Culkin who has been picking up the best actor awards for his turn as younger sibling Roman. You can watch the Shakespearean power struggle on Max in the States, or Sky/NowTV in the U.K.
• White Lotus: Jennifer Coolidge was her usual iconic self in season 2 of this HBO anthology series set around a chain of luxury hotels, and was rightfully rewarded for it. You can watch it on Max in America, and Sky or NowTV in the U.K.

Limited or anthology series winners

• Beef: most of the time when viewers talk about chemistry, it’s in a romantic context. In this hilarious limited series about a road rage incident that escalates into a life-changing feud, Ali Wong and Steven Yeun manage to show the other side of the coin, and the enemies are as compelling to watch as any other on-screen pair. You can find it on Netflix.
• Black Bird: this mini-series about a convict who is offered the chance at freedom if he can elicit a confession from another prisoner is tense, bingeable, and full of great performances. All episodes can be found on Apple TV Plus.

Reality competition winners

• RuPaul’s Drag Race: the long-running and much beloved drag reality television show sashayed away with an award at the 75th Emmys. You can watch it in all its lip-syncing glory on MTV if you have cable (it moved from VH1 a few years prior). If you want to stream it, it’s on Philo, DirectTV, and fuboTV. In the U.K., it’s available to stream on Netflix too.

Talk series winners

• The Daily Show with Trevor Noah: South African born Noah has announced his departure from this beloved talk show, but he went out with a much-deserved Emmy win. You can find episodes on Comedy Central in the U.S., and Apple TV Plus in the U.K. It’s also available to purchase episode-by-episode on Prime Video.

Scripted variety series winners

• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: the British funnyman added to HBO’s sweep of the 75th Emmy Awards with yet another statuette to add to the show’s burgeoning collection. You can watch the show on Max in the U.S. and NowTV/Sky in Britain.

Variety special (live) winners

• Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium: the Rocket Man finally claimed his EGOT with this win. He turns back the clock in this filmed live performance, which you can watch on Disney Plus.

The stars of Netflix’s Beef walked away happy from the 2024 Golden Globes.

Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, who play dual leads Amy Lau and Danny Cho, secured the awards for Best Actor and Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film, and the series likewise earned the Golden Globe for Best Limited Series. The captivating Netflix show swept in every category it was nominated in, and each award was well-earned.

The Emmy Awards are like to follow in suit, and each fresh award urges new viewers to set sights on the incredible limited series. Its stars are likewise earning fresh acclaim, as dazzled viewers walk away from the show as Yeun and Wong fans. Both stars have lengthy, and successful, careers behind them, with notable work on either side.

What are Steven Yeun and Ali Wong’s net worths?

You may not know their names by heart, but you’ve likely heard at least one or two Ali Wong jokes, and everyone‘s heard of The Walking Dead. Zombies may not be your thing, but even newcomers can likely recognize Yeun’s character, Glenn, on sight.

That’s on top of their other work. Wong has a three Netflix comedy specials under her belt, a slew of television shows — including 2022’s Paper Girls and the animated Big Mouth — and several film appearances to her credit.

Yeun’s work in The Walking Dead is easily his best known, but its far from his only prominent project. He’s discovered a real talent for voice acting — appearing as the lead character in Prime Video’s Invincible and the Tales of Arcadia collection — and he’s been in several dozen various film and television projects, many of which display his incredible range.

That work, and several years of additional experience on top of Wong’s — not to mention those good old Hollywood pay discrepancies — has earned Yeun a slightly higher net worth. All that may be set to change, as new creators recognize and cash in on Wong’s clear talent, but for now Yeun is worth a good $1 million more than his Beef co-star. His net worth currently stands at around $5 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, and Wong’s is a touch lower at $4 million.

Both Yeun and Wong are likely to see those bank s bulk up in the coming years, as their incredible performances (and those awards wins) earn them more and more profitable roles. Within a few years, we should be seeing the stars everywhere, and they should see those net worths doubling and tripling. Sounds like a win for everyone.

Steven Yeun was one of the most exciting new castings in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at a time when more and more actors seem to be turning away from superhero films. Naturally, the news that he was dropping out of Thunderbolts was a bitter pill to swallow for Marvel aficionados on the heels of a frustrating 2023. Still, there’s hope yet.

The Nope actor isn’t completely done with the MCU — or at least, not if he has any say in the matter. Yeun told Variety he still wants to do a Marvel movie, but scheduling conflicts pulled him out of the antihero team-up project. Making sure he didn’t ruffle anyone’s feathers and threaten his future in the franchise, Yeun confessed to writing and rewriting his resignation email “to make sure that [he] conveyed the sincerity of how sorry [he] was to have to back out.”

As for where we might see him next in the MCU, the 40-year-old believes the wound is a bit too fresh to be making projections just yet.

“I think it’s too early to say [what future Marvel movie I would like to be a part of]. I probably pissed off too many people leaving, so I’m just gonna say, ‘Thank you for having me.’”

Our educated guess for Yeun’s possible return to the MCU

Steven Yeun’s association with the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been connected from the start with his time on the acclaimed Netflix show, Beef. The director of Thunderbolts, Jake Schreier, worked closely with Yeun on six episodes of the series, in which the actor played a lead role. Shortly after reports emerged that Yeun would be ing the superhero franchise, another Beef alum became connected with the film as well.

One month following Yeun’s Thunderbolts casting news, Beef creator and scribe Lee Sung Jin boarded the project to rewrite the script from a draft that Black Widow and Thor: Ragnarok screenwriter Eric Pearson had previously been working on. The professional relationships bred in the making of Beef seemed to be paying off, as Lee confirmed his involvement came at Schreier’s request. It’s not a stretch to assume the same could be true of Yeun’s attachment to the film.

Should Thunderbolts do well at the box office when it comes out in the summer of 2025, there might be a chance for the Schreier/Lee partnership to continue flourishing under the Marvel brand, which, in turn, is also the most likely scenario for the hoped-for return of Steven Yeun. There’s just one issue.

Why James Gunn could spoil Marvel’s plans to bring back Steven Yeun

Kevin Feige and Co. will surely be looking toward productions like Thunderbolts to help ease the pain left by a disastrous 2023, which increased the pressure on Schreier and Lee. An already precarious scenario, only made worse by the looming comeback of James Gunn to the superhero market, happening just 14 days before the release of Thunderbolts when Superman: Legacy hits theaters July 11.

So many moving parts factor into the goings-on of the spectacular Marvel machine, but there is one that reigns above all others. Movies must perform well. Regardless of which actors are cast or which creatives are tapped, if the movies aren’t connecting with audiences, nothing else really matters. And, at the moment, Marvel is not enjoying the best track record.

The underwhelming performances of The Marvels and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, the downfall of Jonathan Majors, and the double Hollywood strikes made this past year especially difficult for the company. 2024, however, is bound to be reformative.

Marvel seems to at least be attempting to course-correct for the future by pumping the brakes on a dizzyingly packed release schedule and giving Deadpool 3 the monopoly over MCU theater releases for the new year. Despite the best of intentions, though, Gunn’s highly anticipated return with his revamped DC Universe could ultimately spoil Feige’s plans. For Marvel, there was virtually no worse time for the relaunch of its new and improved eternal rival. Let’s just hope Thunderbolts is up for the challenge.

As the year comes to a close, the time has come to reflect on everything that Netflix had to offer.

The streaming titan put out an impressive collection of new projects. The TV series released this year were particularly quite successful. From the faithful adaptations,  to original stories, it’s been a great year for Netflix, and these shows dominated in 2023. 

10. Painkiller

This scathing drama series chronicles the opioid crisis as it follows Richard Sackler of Purdue Pharma, where OxyContin was first manufactured and distributed nationwide. The show was based on the acclaimed New Yorker article by Patrick Radden Keefe, and Barry Meier’s novel covering the crisis. 

9. Castlevania: Nocturne

Netflix’s announcement of a sequel to the original Castlevania series was met with extreme excitement, and thankfully, the follow-up did not disappoint! Nocturne is set during the French Revolution, and follows Richter Belmont, the descendant of Trevor and Sypha Belmont. Together with his friend Maria, and a former slave named Annette, they fight the forces of evil as a new threat emerges, the Vampire Messiah. 

8. Beef

Ali Wong and Steven Yeun had audiences letting out primal screams of rage in this comedy-drama series. The pair star as strangers who get involved in a sprawling beef after a road rage incident. The show tackled themes of rage, race, classism, and more in a funny, yet poignant manner that resonated with viewers. The show would later get shrouded in a major controversy, but fans are ittedly still hoping for a second season.  

7. That ‘90s Show

Fans of That ‘70s Show were initially wary when Netflix announced a sequel about the teenage daughter of Eric and Donna Forman. Thankfully, the show was a success and has been renewed for a second season. It follows Leia Forman as she spends a summer with her grandparents Red and Kitty, and the escapades that she engages in with the other teens in the neighborhood. That ‘90s Show also struck some nostalgia chords by bringing back the original series’ stars (though not Danny Masterson, for obvious reasons) for some comedic cameos.

6. One Piece

Live-action anime adaptations have historically been more misses than hits. However, Netflix managed to knock it out of the park with their adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s iconic anime, One Piece. The show follows aspiring pirate Monkey D. Luffy who dreams of becoming the King of the Pirates. He sets off in search of the legendary One Piece treasure, assembling his crew and evading pirate-hunters. The adaptation was well received, with praise going to its cast and special effects. 

5. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

Netflix once again struck gold with the third entry in the highly acclaimed period romance, Bridgerton. The prequel limited series follows Queen Charlotte at age 17, and her arranged marriage with King George. Despite neither party being enthusiastic about the union, they grow closer as they face multiple challenges as Charlotte rises to prominence. In usual Bridgerton fashion, there were marvelous exclamations of love, emotionally gripping moments, and steamy scenes!

4. All The Light We Cannot See

Based on the Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name, this miniseries was a huge hit on Netflix. The four-part series follows Werner, a young German soldier as he begins to question his beliefs on the war when he starts listening to a radio show hosted by Marie-Laure, a blind French girl. The show transcends borders and time as we see the trajectory of their lives and how they intersect. 

3. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

The Scott Pilgrim comic series, as well as the cult classic 2010 film are widely beloved. The 2023 animated series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is a retelling of Scott’s story, following most of the same plot beats and battles against Ramona’s exes. Released to critical acclaim, the series reunited the cast of the live-action to voice the characters. This made for an even more exciting series filled with hilarious and absurd events that is sure to be a great watch for old and new fans alike. 

2. The Fall of the House of Usher

Fans of horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan were obsessed with his Edgar Allan Poe-inspired Netflix series this year. The miniseries revolves around Roderick Usher, the prestigious and corrupt CEO of a pharmaceutical empire, as his heirs begin to mysteriously die. Following an interview format, we see Usher recount the events that led to his success and demise in this chilling series. 

1. Blue Eye Samurai

Blue Eye Samurai has been making waves for its impressive animation and story. Set in the Japanese Edo period, the animated series follows Mizu, a half-white Samurai who had been discriminated against all her life for being mixed-race. After the death of her mother, she sets off on a quest of vengeance to hunt down the four remaining white men in Japan, knowing that one of them must be her father. With a compelling plot, striking visuals, and superb voice acting, Blue Eye Samurai wasted no time in becoming a hit!

The Last of Us certainly took the world by storm when it first began airing this January, and since its historic release fans can’t seem to stop talking about that episode. You know the one. It tugged at our heartstrings, made us weep, and somehow transformed the apocalypse into an even more depressing Hellscape— I’m talking about the Bill and Frank episode.

Peter Hoar served as director for that bit of groundbreaking television, and during The Hollywood Reporter’s latest Directors Roundtable talked about how he was able to pull it all off.

First of all, look at all the firepower this Round Table episode has going for it. You’ve got Mark Mylod (Succession), Paris Barclay (Netflix’s Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), Liz Garbus (Yellowjackets), Karyn Kusama (Dead Ringers), Jake Schreier (Beef), and Peter Hoar.

These folks have been responsible for some of the most popular stories playing today. Before asking about their creative exploits, the interviewer in charge wondered if any of them had ever found themselves in “director’s jail.” Although Hoar (irably) didn’t seem to have a clue what that meant, colleague and Succession superstar Mark Mylod was quick to explain.

It’s when you can’t get a gig! I made a horrible pilot when I first came to the States. I’d come over to do one episode of Entourage, and ended up staying and jumping into that producer-director role. Toward the end of that run, I took on a pilot, which I won’t name and never should have done. The script wasn’t ready to go. I was bland and vanilla in my choices, and consequently, so was the pilot. It quite rightly didn’t go forward. I found it difficult to get a job afterward, and was in a tricky situation financially. That and a terrible movie I’d made the same year forced me to reexamine my choices and completely change direction away from straight comedy.

Director’s jail sounds a lot less fun than a round table, and making a few shoddy career moves seems like a one-way ticket straight to it. Still, adversity is all a part of the creative process and failure is as much of a teacher as success.

Like you, Paris, that which scares me ultimately will be the thing I’m drawn to. But it took me a while to get there. I got out of [the rut] by just pitching the heck out of doing the American version of Shameless and then, when I got that pilot, making sure it was as extraordinary as I could possibly make it. I was really hungry by then. I’ve remained hungry.”

It’s sweet that Peter Hoar didn’t seem to have a clue, but is anyone surprised? He’s crazy talented. The moral of the story for anyone who doesn’t want to find themselves in any sort of proverbial jail is to remain hungry, remain humble, and be ready for opportunity when it comes a-knocking.