Entertainment
The Star Trek Episode So Raunchy Nobody Knows How It Got Past Censors
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
While Star Trek: The Next Generation has quite a few bad episodes, including “Code of Honor” (an insanely racist throwback) and “Shades of Gray” (an insanely lazy clip show). However, no episode is more infamous than “Sub Rosa “ in which Dr. Crusher has surprisingly explicit onscreen sex with a ghost, causing fans to ask the obvious question: how in the name of Q did they get all this raunchy material past the censors? As it turns out, almost everyone involved in the production of this episode has been asking that same question for decades.
For example, Next Generation effects supervisor David Stipe (as quoted in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion) was particularly worried about getting the ghost effects just right because of how much Dr. Crusher was going to (ahem) feel the spirit moving through her. He understood better than most the challenge of doing “purposeful, borderline-erotic ephemerals to look like it’s caressing and hugging Beverly, without looking ridiculous or lewd.” The effects guru was only partially successful, though: while the visual effects look great (especially on the remastered Blu-rays), the doctor’s ghostly encounters in “Sub Rosa” look downright raunchy.
She’s Got The Spirit
Veteran Star Trek: The Next Generation writer and producer Rene Echevarria actually enjoyed how transgressive the broadcast episode was. After praising Gates McFadden for her enthusiastic performance and commending the episode’s pleasantly campy story and high production values, he said (as quoted in Captain’s Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Voyages) that “just having an orgasm at 6 o’clock on family TV was great.” He claimed “that alone” made the episode “worth doing” and finished his thoughts by noting how amazing it was that the episode got past the censors: “We got away with murder.”
“Sub Rosa” episode writer Brannon Braga seemingly agreed; after scripting lines such as “She writhes around in the bed having invisible sex,” he thought to himself (as quoted in Captain’s Logs) that, “’Oh man, we’re asking for trouble. Are they gonna be able to pull this off?”
Downright Haunting Sex Scenes
Obviously, the Star Trek: The Next Generation producers did end up pulling the episode off, which surprised executive producer Rick Berman. According to Braga, Berman took one look at the freaky ghost sex episode script and declared, “I can’t believe we’re doing this.” As for Braga, he was proud of Gates McFadden’s performance but still shocked at the raunchy details that made it to the screen: as he put it, “Picard catches Beverly masturbating, for crying out loud!
Interestingly, one of the only Star Trek creatives who didn’t worry about “Sub Rosa” was its director, Riker actor Jonathan Frakes. In Captain’s Logs, he is quoted as saying that he “drew a good straw” in getting to direct this wild episode because “it wasn’t a Star Trek” episode and instead felt “it was more like Tales From the Crypt.” He also really enjoyed working so closely with McFadden and felt that “she looked like a movie star” in this wonderfully transgressive adventure.
As you can see, almost everyone involved in the production of “Sub Rosa” (minus Frakes) was concerned about its raunchy content and subsequently amazed at what they were allowed to put onscreen. In some ways, the episode was ahead of its time; while it remains one of the lowest-ranked Next Generation episodes, modern fans have embraced its campy humor and how it recontextualizes the reserved Dr. Crusher into the most sexually adventurous member of the Enterprise crew (move over, Riker). While she never rocked a proton pack, Beverly’s experience with a seductive specter ultimately helped her learn something the Ghostbusters figured out long ago: busting makes her feel good!
Entertainment
Pennsylvania is suing Character.AI for allegedly practicing medicine without a license
Pennsylvania has taken the unusual step of suing an AI company for practicing medicine without a license.
In a lawsuit filed May 1, the state is targeting Character.AI after an investigator found a chatbot on the platform posing as a licensed psychiatrist and providing what the state characterizes as medical advice.
According to the complaint, filed by the Pennsylvania Department of State and State Board of Medicine, a Professional Conduct Investigator for the state created a free account on Character.AI and searched for psychiatric characters. He selected one called “Emilie,” described on the platform as a “Doctor of psychiatry.”
The investigator told Emilie he had been feeling sad, empty, tired, and unmotivated. The chatbot mentioned depression and offered to conduct an assessment to determine whether medication might help.
When pressed on whether she was licensed in Pennsylvania, Emilie said she was and even provided a specific license number. The state checked and found that the number doesn’t exist.
The complaint also states Emilie claimed she attended medical school at Imperial College London, has practiced for seven years, and holds a full specialty registration in psychiatry with the General Medical Council in the UK.
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In a similar case, 404 Media reported last year that Instagram AI chatbots were pretending to be licensed therapists, even inventing license numbers when prompted for credentials by the user.
Pennsylvania is seeking an injunction ordering Character.AI to stop allowing its platform to engage in the unlawful practice of medicine. The company has more than 20 million monthly active users worldwide and hosts more than 18 million user-created chatbot characters, according to the complaint.
In an email to Mashable, a Character.AI spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit. Further, they added that “our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our users. The user-created Characters on our site are fictional and intended for entertainment and roleplaying.”
The spokesperson added that the company “prioritizes responsible product development and has robust internal reviews and red-teaming processes in place to assess relevant features.”
A much bigger legal battle looms over AI health
The Pennsylvania lawsuit lands in the middle of an already messy legal debate over what AI is actually allowed to tell you — and whether any of it is even admissible in court.
As Mashable’s Chase DiBenedetto reported, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly advocated for “AI privilege,” arguing that chatbot conversations should be afforded the same legal protections as conversations with a therapist or an attorney. Courts have so far been split, with two federal judges reaching opposite conclusions on the question within weeks of each other earlier this year.
The stakes are high on both sides. Legal experts warn that sweeping AI privilege protections could effectively shield companies from accountability, making it harder to subpoena chat logs and internal records when something goes wrong. Meanwhile, health AI is booming — $1.4 billion flowed into healthcare-specific generative AI in 2025 alone, according to Menlo Ventures — and much of it operates outside of HIPAA protections.
Pennsylvania is one of several states to have introduced an AI Health bill this year, following a trend of states that aren’t waiting for Washington to act.
Entertainment
How to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Bayern Munich vs. PSG would have made an amazing Champions League final, but we should be happy that we’re getting two matchups between these electric teams. The first leg finished 5-4 to PSG. We’re not expecting the same again, because that was probably one of the best games of all time. If we get half that level of entertainment in the second leg, we’ll be delighted.
Expect more of the same from the likes of Michael Olise and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as these teams battle it out for a spot in the showpiece event. The winner will meet Arsenal at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
If you want to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Bayern Munich vs. PSG?
Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on May 6. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Arena.
How to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free
Bayern Munich vs. PSG is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.
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RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTÉ Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
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Visit RTÉ Player
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Watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world
$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPn for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTÉ Player, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Ireland
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
AI stocks are cooling — this ChatGPT trading tool keeps delivering
TL;DR: A ChatGPT-powered investing platform that helps you find and manage stocks with clearer signals—lifetime access for a one-time $54.97.
Credit: Sterling Stock Picker
The AI trade has seemingly had its moment — big runs, big headlines, big expectations. The AI fun is not over by any means. But now that things are settling, the real question is what comes next?
Instead of chasing whatever’s trending, Sterling Stock Picker leans into a more grounded approach: using a ChatGPT-powered assistant (Finley) to help you understand what’s actually happening inside a stock. You can ask questions about companies, sectors, or your own portfolio and get explanations that are tied to real data — not just surface-level summaries.
Mashable Deals
It also handles the heavy lifting most people avoid. The platform analyzes financials, growth metrics, and risk, then surfaces signals like whether a stock is worth buying, holding, or avoiding. There’s even a “North Star” system that simplifies that call into something actionable.
Mashable Trend Report
If you’re building from scratch, there’s a done-for-you portfolio builder that aligns with your risk tolerance. If you already have positions, it can suggest adjustments based on your portfolio’s performance.
One thing that stands out is how it balances guidance with transparency. You’re not just handed picks — you can see the reasoning behind them, which matters if you’re trying to build a repeatable process.
Have a lifetime way to pressure-test your judgment — especially in a market that’s moving past hype and into something more selective.
Get lifetime access to the ChatGPT-driven Sterling Stock Picker while it’s on sale for a one-time $54.97 payment (reg. $486) through May 10.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Pennsylvania is suing Character.AI for allegedly practicing medicine without a license
How to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG online for free
