Entertainment
How A Star Trek Convention Turned Fans Against An Episode Before It Aired
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Star Trek conventions have been an essential part of the fandom for over half a century. Fans love these events because they get to mingle with other like-minded nerds and meet their favorite stars. The stars love these events because they get plenty of under-the-table autograph money from people who basically worship them. Finally, Paramount loves Star Trek conventions because these events help advertise the franchise, keeping fans watching their favorite shows and (what else?) buying a starship load of merchandise.
On one occasion, however, a Star Trek convention backfired for Paramount. Months before the Voyager episode “Twisted” aired, Robert Duncan McNeill and Robert Picardo dunked on it at a fan convention. This led to months of speculation about just how bad the episode really was, and more than a few fans made wagers as to whether “Twisted” would see the light of day. While their employers would likely have wanted the actors to keep their mouths shut, McNeill and Picardo were effectively vindicated: when “Twisted” aired, it quickly proved itself as one of the worst episodes of Season 2.
TFW You Get The Script
“Twisted” is a bizarre episode in which Voyager gets stuck in a weird energy field that somehow changes the layout of the ship. This leaves our heroes wandering around, trying to return to important areas like engineering or the bridge. Everyone keeps ending up back at the holodeck and can’t figure out what they should do. Eventually, Tuvok decides they should do nothing, since all of their attempts to solve the problem have made things worse. Janeway and her crew hang back and do nothing, safely passing through an energy field that they speculate was an alien lifeform trying to communicate with them.
Like many of Star Trek’s worst stories, “Twisted” was a bottle episode that was made to save money. It was also originally filmed for Season 1 but wasn’t shown until Season 2. That led to an interesting situation where Voyager actors Robert Duncan McNeill and Robert Picardo discussed the making of this episode at a Star Trek convention several months before it aired. While their exact comments are sadly lost to history, Picardo would later claim that “Twisted” is the worst episode of the entire series. Eventually, the fandom learned about them badmouthing the episode, and this led to even more rumors and speculation.
This Episode Was Hated Months Before It Aired
Based on their comments, some fans thought the episode was so bad that Paramount would scrap it rather than air it. The fandom spent months morbidly wondering if the entirety of this hated episode would end up on the cutting room floor. There were other rumors that the episode had to be entirely rewritten by showrunner Michael Piller and that director Kim Friedman couldn’t understand the wonky story, requiring both rewrites and reshoots. Because of all of this, “Twisted” had a bad reputation long before it was ever broadcast.
Arguably, that reputation was well-earned. “Twisted” has a 6.9 rating on IMDB. That’s not the worst (it has a higher rating than the episodes before and after it), but it’s far from the best the show had to offer. Plus, there were some kernels of truth among all the myths and speculation. While Piller didn’t rewrite the script, he did hate a storyline involving Neelix being a jealous boyfriend, and he tried to fix that with the subsequent episode “Parturition.” Also, while there is no evidence that director Kim Friedman didn’t understand the story, she did have to shoot five entirely new scenes because of the very short script.
Is “Twisted” as bad as Robert Duncan McNeill and Robert Picardo made it out to be? Not really. But it’s a cheap, slow-paced, and extremely underwhelming episode where the solution to the dilemma of the week is to literally do nothing. The result is a boring and ultimately forgettable sci-fi adventure. We may not agree with Picardo that it’s the worst episode of Voyager ever made, but this subspace stinker is easily in the Top 10 of terrible Star Trek stories.
Entertainment
How to watch F1 live streams online for free
How to live stream 2026 F1 for free at a glance:
Best Apple TV Deal
Apple TV
7-day free trial
Best Apple One Deal
Apple One
30-day free trial
This season of F1 is unlike any other. Every season of F1 has a number of fascinating storylines to follow, but due to a major set of regulation changes, there’s so much uncertainty right now. And uncertainty can lead to exciting racing.
Lando Norris secured an incredible title victory on the final day of last season. Now the pressure is on McLaren to defend that title against a long list of talented drivers and motivated teams. Expect the likes of George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton to challenge for race wins this season. Mercedes look like the team to beat this season, but a lot can change.
If you are interested in watching F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.
What is F1?
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. A season consists of a series of races (Grands Prix) that take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed public roads.
Lando Norris is the defending champion. McLaren won the Constructors Championship in 2025.
When is F1 in 2026?
The 2026 F1 season is the 77th edition of the championship. This year’s championship features 24 Grands Prix events held all over the world between March and December:
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Australian Grand Prix — March 8
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Chinese Grand Prix — March 15
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Japanese Grand Prix — March 29
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Miami Grand Prix — May 3
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Canadian Grand Prix — May 24
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Monaco Grand Prix — June 7
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Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix — June 14
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Austrian Grand Prix — June 28
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British Grand Prix — July 5
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Belgian Grand Prix — July 19
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Hungarian Grand Prix — July 26
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Dutch Grand Prix — Aug. 23
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Italian Grand Prix — Sept. 6
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Spanish Grand Prix — Sept. 13
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Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sept. 26
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Singapore Grand Prix — Oct. 11
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United States Grand Prix — Oct. 25
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Mexico City Grand Prix — Nov. 1
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São Paulo Grand Prix — Nov. 8
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Las Vegas Grand Prix — Nov. 21
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Qatar Grand Prix — Nov. 29
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Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Dec. 6
It’s important to note that these dates are only for race days. The Chinese, Miami, Canadian, British, Dutch, and Singapore GPs will host a sprint race.
Mashable Deals
How to watch F1 for free
In the U.S., F1 is now exclusive to Apple TV. An Apple TV subscription costs $12.99 per month or $99 per year, but it’s possible to gain access to Apple TV without spending anything.
Apple TV
Apple TV comes with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. This is a sneaky trick, but you could sign up to watch the next F1 race and then cancel your subscription before you need to spend anything. This obviously isn’t a long-term fix, but it does give you the opportunity to live stream select F1 race weekends for free.
Apple TV Prime Video Channel
Already an Amazon Prime member? You’re in luck. You can sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. This lets you watch select F1 races live with the Prime Video app. The subscription typically costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel at any time. That means you can watch select races without actually spending anything.
Apple One
Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial. Time it right and this trial could provide access to up to four race weekends for free. You do need to be a new or returning subscriber to each of the included services to get the free trial.
It’s worth noting that the best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, or Apple TVs. This special offer goes live for 90 days after the new device is activated — that’s a good chunk of the season.
Entertainment
Im watching the Miami GP for free this weekend — how to live stream F1 for free
TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races live. Watch the Miami GP for free with the Prime Video app.
Watch the Japanese GP for free with a 7-day trial
We know the new F1 regulations are not for everyone. A lot of fans and drivers would like to go back to the way things were, but you can’t deny that we’ve had some exciting racing this season. And after missing the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs due to regional conflicts, we’re desperate to see some racing at the Miami GP.
Kimi Antonelli leads the standings coming into this race weekend, but George Russell is only nine points back in second. The Ferraris are third and fourth right now, but McLaren showed some promise in the last round. All eyes will be on Norris and Piastri as they look to challenge Mercedes at the front of the grid.
If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.
When is the Miami GP?
The Miami GP is the fourth race of the 2026 F1 season. Here’s the full schedule from the Miami International Autodrome:
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Practice 1 — 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET on May 1
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Sprint Qualifying — 4:30-5:14 p.m. ET on May 1
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Sprint — 12-1 p.m. ET on May 2
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Qualifying — 4-5 p.m. ET on May 2
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Race — 4 p.m. ET on May 3
It’s possible for fans to follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.
How to watch the Miami GP for free
I’ve been a member of Amazon Prime for some time. I happily pay up for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. I can’t say that I watch Prime Video all that often. I occasionally watch live soccer, but that’s about it. That was until I found this hack for F1.
It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this automatic renewal at any time.
By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the Miami GP this weekend without actually spending anything.
Mashable Deals
I already pay for Amazon Prime, so I understand the argument that I’m not actually watching for free. But I was going to be a member whether I could watch F1 for free or not. Anyway, Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial period if you’re new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.
If you’ve already used this method to watch a race this season, you’ve got other options to consider. I suggest you go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.
It’s also worth noting that the best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you’re planning on upgrading to something from the Apple lineup, you could gain access to Apple TV for a good chunk of this season.
How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026
Best Apple TV Deal
Apple TV
7-day free trial
Best Apple One Deal
Apple One
30-day free trial
Entertainment
R-Rated, 80s Heist Thriller Is James Caan's Most Overlooked Masterpiece
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Though writer-director Michael Mann is best known for 1995’s Heat, there’s another film in his catalog that is just as daring, and a little rougher around the edges. 1981’s Thief, his feature film debut, is now considered a classic, proving its staying power over the decades. It tells a slow-burn story involving the planning and execution of an elaborate diamond heist, but its tension comes from the inner workings of the crime syndicate orchestrating it, and the man trying to pull off one last big score before going legit.
In 2026, Thief sounds like any other heist flick, but it endures because it’s not beating you over the head with the heist itself. Vaults get broken into, and loyalties are betrayed, but what really makes this such an engaging watch is witnessing the planning more than the execution. The buildup is just as strong as the payoff, and that’s what makes you want to stick around.
Kind Of A True Story
Based loosely on Frank Hohimer’s 1975 memoir The Home Invaders: Confessions of a Cat Burglar, Thief centers on Frank (James Caan), a safe-cracking expert and ex-con who uses his “legitimate” business ventures as a front for his criminal activities. He’s in love with Jessie (Tuesday Weld), and plans to settle down with her after explaining the true nature of his work. As luck would have it, his most recent score gets ripped off when his accomplice, Gags (Hal Frank), is thrown out of a window, and the money is stolen. After some investigating, Frank traces Gags’ murder to Attaglia (Tom Signorelli), a plating company executive who operates similarly to Frank, but at a much higher level.
As it turns out, Attaglia works for another crime lord named Leo (Robert Prosky), who has seemingly limitless resources thanks to his organized crime ring. In so many words, Leo’s racket is essentially a union for criminals who carry out heists, report their earnings, and wait for their cut. Leo, who benefits most from this operation, provides protection by supplying the infrastructure they need to get the job done. Basically, he operates like any other company ever made. Wealth is generated by frontline employees, and then they fight over the scraps their boss is kind enough to toss their way.
Frank, wanting to settle down and start a family, reluctantly teams up with Leo because he has needs that can’t be fulfilled through conventional means. Jessie cannot conceive a child, and Frank’s criminal record prevents them from adopting. Leo, with his deep pockets and endless connections, can get him a baby off the black market, along with a home, a car, and just about anything he could imagine needing. The problem is that Frank is a lone wolf, and he doesn’t want to continue this lifestyle if he can score big and move on.
As Frank tries to distance himself from Leo, he also does what he does best: cracking safes. The best moments in Thief aren’t the heists themselves; it’s the biblical amount of planning that goes into them. The film goes deep into safe-cracking semantics, supply lists, timing, and getaway logistics, and this is where it really shines. Watching a group of guys plan a diamond heist while Frank suspects the police are tailing him is just as compelling as the heist itself.
Heists Are Loud As Hell In Thief
While I’m far from a credible expert in diamond thievery, I couldn’t stop laughing at the actual safe-cracking sequences in Thief. The opening sequence that establishes how seasoned Frank is, as well as the final score, are louder than God himself as he hammers and blowtorches his way through massive vaults to secure the goods.
While this is probably how cracking a safe actually works in real life, my notes while watching this movie describe Frank as “An expert safecracker who’s also the loudest one. It’s a montage meant to showcase how good he is, but he’s so f****** loud that it becomes really funny if you think about it in bad faith.” That said, given how well-connected Leo is and how skilled Frank’s team is, it’s easy to suspend disbelief.
What’s even more impressive is that Frank is incredibly smart, but he doesn’t have to be the smartest guy in the room. He knows what supplies he needs, travels light, and gets straight to work. For a heist movie, it’s a simple operation that benefits the storytelling, since you don’t get lost in junk science or technical jargon about CCTV and security systems. What you get instead is a group of smart criminals executing at a high level, and the fallout when they get too big for their britches.
Thief has earned its place as one of the best neo-noir films ever made, thanks to its realism and its willingness to show how far one man is willing to go to achieve what he believes is the American dream.
As of this writing, you can stream Thief for free on Tubi.
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