TGWrites lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

TGWrites - Lists at Ranker

Total Nerd

Disney confirmed plans for a live-action remake of their 1937 animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs back in 2016. The project, which was described as a “reimagining” of the tale, has been surrounded by controversy even since before production began. Racist backlash against the casting of a Latina actor as Snow White, charges that Disney had denied job opportunities to those in the dwarfism community, and the lead actor's comments about the original film are just a few of the issues that the creative team and marketing people have had to deal with as they prepared for the film's release in March 2025.Which of the controversies described below should have received the attention they did (or more), and which were overblown? Vote up the ones that deserved the headlines.

The Biggest Live-Action 'Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs' Controversies, Ranked

All Of The Controversies Around The Live-Action 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' Remake

TGWrites

Watchworthy

Watchworthy - What to Watch, According to Votes

In March 2025, Kieran Culkin won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film A Real Pain. For years he had been known as Macauley Culkin's younger brother, but, along with his success on the HBO series Succession, this honor showed that he had stepped out of his famous older brother's shadow.In 2012, retired NBA star Reggie Miller was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, making him one half of the only brother-sister pair to be enshrined in the hall (his sister Cheryl had been inducted in 1995).Culkin and Miller are just two of the many people in the entertainment and sports industries who have followed an older sibling into the profession. Here are some stories of how a younger sibling not only chose the same profession as their older sibling but ended up (arguably) surpassing that sibling's fame.

Younger Siblings Of Famous People Who Became Even More Famous

Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese earned his 10th career Academy Award nomination for Best Director for the 2023 film Killers of the Flower Moon. With the nod, Scorsese surpassed Steven Spielberg (9) to be the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://people.com/oscars-2024-martin-scorsese-makes-history-with-10th-best-director-nomination-8547897">most-nominated living director</a> in Oscars history (William Wyler, who died in 1979, holds the overall record for the most Best Director nominations (12) in history).Scorsese made his feature directorial debut in 1967 with the low-budget independent film Who's That Knocking At My Door. With its New York City setting and its Italian American protagonist struggling to reconcile his lifestyle with his strong Catholic faith, the semi-autobiographical film introduced themes and character types that would quickly become recognized as Scorsese trademarks, as would his always-moving camerawork and graphic depictions of violence.Beginning with 1976's Taxi Driver, 10 of the director's films have been nominated for the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-academy-award-winners-for-best-picture?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Academy Award for Best Picture</a>. Although his reputation was built mainly on his crime dramas revolving around the Mafia or other unstable violent characters, Scorsese has proven adept at bringing his individual vision to films across a wide range of genres, from literary adaptations, biopics, and historical dramas to black comedies, character studies, and concert documentaries.There is a healthy debate over which of Scorsese's films is his best. Now we'd like to know your opinion.

The 25+ Best Martin Scorsese Movies, Ranked By Viewers

The Best Martin Scorsese Movies, Ranked By True Cinephiles

Best Movies of Martin Scorsese

Nepotism in the entertainment industry has been around for more than 100 years. One of the earliest examples was when Douglas Fairbanks Jr., son of the silent film icon, was signed to a contract when he was just 13 by Paramount Pictures boss Jesse Lasky. Liza Minnelli, the daughter of screen star Judy Garland and top director Vincente Minnelli, was just three when she made a cameo as her real-life mother's screen daughter in the final scene of In The Good Old Summertime. Michael Douglas, Anjelica Huston, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jeff Bridges, Elizabeth Montgomery, Mia Farrow, and Jane Fonda are just of a few of the hundreds of other actors who would be considered “nepo babies.”But it was in 2022 that the conversation about “nepo babies” really exploded into the public consciousness. It was jump started by a tweet from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.vulture.com/article/what-is-a-nepotism-baby.html">Meriem Derradji</a> about her discovering that Maude Apatow, one of the stars of the TV series Euphoria, was the daughter of actor Leslie Mann and director Judd Apatow. The tweet received thousands of quote tweets, which in turn spurred multiple publications to write articles about what a “nepo baby” was and named dozens of actors and other media personalities who fit the definition. Soon, whenever a child of celebrities did any press, they were questioned about their parentage and how they had gotten ahead in their career.Below are the backstories about how some of these “nepo babies” got their big break.&nbsp;

Nepo Babies Talk About How They Landed Big Roles

Entertainment

When it comes to actors, there are multiple ways that they might prepare for a role. For example, there are method actors, who throw themselves completely into the part - sometimes to the point of remaining in character at all times, even when they aren't filming. There are actors who don't fully become the character, but will research the role in an attempt to gather information about the person they will be portraying. For example, if the film is adapted from a book, they will read this source material.Then there are actors who do very little preparation prior to filming. Their reasons for doing this vary. Some, like Nicholas Galitzine (Red White &amp; Royal Blue) or Michael Gambon (the Harry Potter films) believe that they should play the part as it's portrayed in the script, and don't want to be influenced by the source material, which may have a different spin on the character. Others, like the cast of Game of Thrones, might be told by the filmmaker or show runner not to read the book. Still others, like Hugh Jackman (with the X-Men comics) might not even be aware that any source material exists.Here are some actors who did not read, or finish reading, the book on which a film they appeared in was based.

14 Actors Who Maybe Never Read The Book They Were Adapting

Wrestling is one of those sports that seems naturally suited to drama. From the scripted violence and oversized personalities of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-wwe-superstars-of-all-time/ranker-wrestling">pro wrestling promotions like the WWE</a>, to the high-stakes competition of the Olympics, there's something compelling about the matches and competitors that appeal to not just fans, but to filmmakers. Specifically, documentary filmmakers.&nbsp;Movies are the perfect format to reveal the behind-the-scenes stories of wrestling promotions like Extreme Championship Wrestling or to try and provide some explanation for the senseless <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/who-was-john-du-pont/lea-rose-emery">murder of an Olympic champion</a>. These are just two of the subjects covered in the great wrestling documentaries found below. Fans of athleticism and melodrama alike should check out these quality documentaries and help decide which deserves a championship.

The 15 Best Wrestling Documentaries, Ranked By Fans

15 Hard-Hitting Wrestling Documentaries, Ranked By Real Fans

Ireland

For such small countries, Ireland and Northern Ireland have dealt with more than their share of violent conflicts. From the Irish War of Independence and Irish Civil War to “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland, questions such as how, or whether, to gain independence from the UK, whether the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland should become one united country or remain two separate ones, and the treatment of Catholics in a largely Protestant area - and vice versa - have not only resulted in significant bloodshed but have torn apart families and turned formerly close friends into enemies.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-about-ireland/ranker-film">Ireland, and these conflicts</a>, have drawn the interest of filmmakers and movie audiences for years. Whether historical bio-dramas, stories ripped from more recent headlines, thrillers, or melodramas, filmmakers have found many different ways to present their POV about how the violent conflicts have shaped the two countries and their citizens.

The 18 Best Irish War Movies of All Time, Ranked By Viewers

18 Irish War Movies That You've Probably Never Seen

From the early inhabitants of the original 13 colonies, to the pioneers who moved West and South as America expanded, there was one common problem when it came to establishing new settlements: What would they name their city?Some US cities and towns were named after a founder, a nearby geological feature, or a place the settlers had come from, but <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-american-small-towns/noah-henry">others</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-american-town-names/laura-allan">had very unusual names.</a>And the city or town could end up being renamed, sometimes multiple times. Here are the stories about how some US cities got their original monikers, and the reason(s) why the name ended up being changed.

US Cities That Changed Their Names

US Cities That Changed Their Names, And The Surprising Reasons Why

Streaming

As the largest streaming service in the world, Netflix offers its viewers a massive library of original series that grows every year. These shows compete against each other to grab, and keep, viewers' attention, and while sometimes they are given months, or even years to build an audience and present complete storylines, other times Netflix will pull the plug on the show before the plot can reach a satisfactory conclusion. GLOW was cancelled at a point where all the characters were on the verge of a complete arc, while The OA left fans wondering what wild swing would come in a third season.The reasons why a show gets canceled prematurely vary, but no matter the reason, fans of the show generally are angered and/or confused by the decision, while the show's creators are left to wonder about how the series would have played out if it had been allowed to end as they had planned. Here are just a few of the Netflix series that were canceled prematurely. Vote up the ones you believe should have had a longer run.

14 Netflix Canceled Shows Gone Too Soon

14 Netflix Original TV Shows Canceled Before Their Time

Unscripted

While not all controversial films become “cult films,” let alone “cult classics,” it does seem like controversy can attract attention for a film, especially from audiences that are interested in movies that push boundaries.What “cult classics” have in common: they are films that not only found a specific audience but went on to have another life beyond the original release. The ways that these films found this other life vary: for example, maybe it was re-discovered through screenings years later (Freaks). Or maybe word-of-mouth or the sharing of bootleg copies help build an audience for the film (I Spit On Your Grave).&nbsp;In fact, the phenomenon of “midnight movies” grew out of the idea of presenting unusual or controversial films to an audience that wanted to see something they wouldn't be able to see anywhere else. The idea was to encourage the viewer to come back and see the film again and again, to build a loyal following for the film. In Pink Flamingos, John Waters deliberately put in the scene where Divine eats dog poop as a stunt to draw the interest of midnight movie fans; before long, Pink Flamingos became known for the audience participation at the film's screenings, fans reciting lines of dialogue along with the actors. In addition to campy films like Pink Flamingos, low-budget horror films were a staple at midnight movie shows. A film like Cannibal Holocaust, which was rumored to be a “snuff film,” might be far too controversial to get a wide theatrical release but had great appeal to midnight movie audiences who wanted to see what all the fuss was about.Here are just some of the films that have become “cult classics” despite, or because of, the controversy that surrounded them. Which ones do you believe deserve that reputation?

15 Controversial Cult Classic Movies, Ranked By Film Buffs

Controversial Movies That Became Cult Classics

Performances

Actors are often typecast as a specific type of character. Those who become defined as &quot;good guys (or girls)&quot; and &quot;heroes&quot; wind up playing, more often than not, good guys and heroes. When actors play&nbsp;the same kinds of roles over and over again, it can be easy for audiences to start accepting them only in those roles.

But actors often like to stretch and challenge themselves by taking roles <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/superhero-actors-you-forgot-played-villains/josh-plainse" target="_blank">outside the bounds</a> of their typical persona. Just as a comedian might be eager to take on a dramatic role, an actor known mainly for playing a hero might relish the chance to finally take on a true baddie. Sometimes the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-played-both-superheroes-and-supervillains/anncasano" target="_blank">role reversal</a> is successful and goes down as one of the performer&#39;s most loved performances; other times, it&#39;s a bad fit, or audiences are simply unable to accept the star in an unfamiliar role.

Here are some of the actors who have generally played&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-trustworthy-celebrities/celebrity-lists" target="_blank">trustworthy</a>&nbsp;characters but <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-broke-type-casting/anncasano" target="_blank">broke away from that typecasting</a> to play a villainous role. Which of these risks paid off?

The Best Villain Performances By Actors Who Always Play The Hero 

Basketball

Scandal and sports seem to go together, and the NBA hasn't been immune from this trend, as the league has been rocked by many NBA player controversies over its nearly 80 years of existence. As recently as 2024, the Toronto Raptors' Jontay Porter was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nba.com/news/jontay-porter-banned-from-nba">banned from the NBA for life</a> after it was discovered he was conspiring with gamblers for betting purposes. This banishment came 17 years after one of the biggest gambling-related scandals in basketball history - the discovery that referee Tim Donaghy had bet on games that he had worked.&nbsp;Those two NBA scandals ruined the careers and lives of the principals; Donaghy ended up serving time in prison, and Porter likely will have to do so as well. Another basketball scandal that ended the career of one of the main participants was the beef between teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton; although the fight was stopped before they could shoot one another, both were suspended, and Crittenton never played in the NBA again. That could have been Kermit Washington's fate as well, if his punch had killed Rudy Tomjanovich instead of “just” severely injuring him.There are so many choices when it comes to wondering what the worst NBA scandal has been. Such as when Donald Sterling's blatant racism not only sparked a leaguewide protest but resulted in him being forced to sell the Los Angeles Clippers. Or when Daryl Morey's tweet in support of human rights in Hong Kong caused a huge rift between the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/nba-players-in-china/ranker-nba?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">NBA and China</a>. So check out the stories below and then vote up the NBA and basketball scandals you think are the most interesting or important.

The 14 Biggest NBA Scandals In History

14 Huge Scandals And Controversies That Rocked The NBA, Ranked By Fans

Ugly NBA Scandals

Sports

Professional football has been around for more than 100 years. From pretty much the start, the sport has been rocked by scandals and controversies, both on and off the field; indeed, organized pro football was only in its second season of play when the first controversy - over whether <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wnyheritage.org/content/the_buffalo_all-americans_and_the_staley_swindle/index.html">the Buffalo All-Americans or Chicago Staleys</a> should be crown league champs - arose. One of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weirdest-cheating-scandals-in-sports/tracey-graham">more unusual controversies</a> dealt with the New England Patriots allegedly deflating footballs in order to get an edge on their opponent.&nbsp;Unfortunately, many of the scandals and controversies the NFL has dealt with go beyond the football field. Even though the NFL encourages fans wagering, players<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/athlete-gambling-scandals/melissa-sartore"> betting on games</a> is against the rules; in the 1960s, this temporarily derailed the careers of two of the NFL's biggest stars. Meanwhile, Colin Kaepernick didn't see his career derailed by betting on games but by acting out against racial injustice; his decision to kneel during the National Anthem sparked a nationwide debate about patriotism, equal rights, and free speech. It also effectively got him blackballed from the NFL. But some of the biggest scandals the NFL has dealt with have to do with the players' violent off-the-field behavior, from sexual assault and domestic violence to murder.Below are the stories behind some of these scandals.&nbsp;

NFL Controversies And Scandals

13 Of The Biggest NFL Controversies And Scandals

In many television shows, the location can play as big of a role as the characters do. This is especially true when the series is set in a real&nbsp;place. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/extremely-detailed-television-shows/nathan-gibson" target="_blank">more details</a>&nbsp;used about the lifestyle, culture, or favorite hangouts of the locals, the more accurate the show&#39;s setting is going to feel.

Many series are filmed in the actual location where the show is set. When that&#39;s the case,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-home-values-today/michael-muir" target="_blank">private homes</a>&nbsp;and businesses in the area can be used not just as background scenery, but as ways to develop a character or act as the location for a key scene.

From the poverty- and crime-stricken area of&nbsp;The Wire&#39;s&nbsp;West Baltimore to the sunny beaches and substance-fueled club culture of White Lines&#39;s&nbsp;Ibiza, Spain,&nbsp;here are a dozen television shows that have done an excellent job of portraying the scenery and way of life in their real-life locales.

TV Shows That Perfectly Capture Their Real Life Settings

12 TV Shows That Perfectly Capture Their Real-Life Settings

When it comes to team sports, it's no secret how important camaraderie between teammates is when it comes to a club's success. Everyone must work together to achieve the goal of winning a championship. But that doesn't mean that players (or coaches) always get along. In addition to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-rivalries-in-sports">rivalries between teams</a>, tempers can flare between those on the same squad.After all, there are going to be a lot of different types of personalities on a team, and it's also a fairly high-pressure environment, so it would be unusual if everyone was perfectly buddy-buddy all the time. In general, disagreements are fleeting and not serious. On occasion, teammates find themselves unable to work out their differences - sometimes due to an incident that leads to a long-standing grudge.From the complicated relationship between <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-chicago-bulls-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Chicago Bulls legends</a> Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen to Jose Mesa's threat to “kill” former teammate Omar Vizquel, here are some of the more famous sports “feuds” between teammates of the past 40 years.

14 Sets of Teammates In Sports Who Hated Each Other

14 Sets Of Teammates Who Really Did Not Get Along

Weird History

In December 2020, Major League Baseball <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2020/12/16/22178257/mlb-acknowledge-negro-leagues-officially">officially recognized</a> the seven leagues that collectively made up the Negro Leagues from 1920-48 as being Major Leagues. This belated recognition meant that the statistics of the approximately 3,400 players who performed in the Negro Leagues during those years - men who had been barred from playing in the National or American League simply <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/groundbreaking-black-athletes/tracey-graham">because of their race</a> - would be added to MLB's official historical records. Because record keeping in the Negro Leagues was inconsistent at best, only statistics that were put up in official Negro League games and that could be verified by a committee of researchers and historians put together by MLB would be included. On May 29, 2024 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mlb.com/news/stats-leaderboard-changes-negro-leagues-mlb">MLB announced</a> that these statistics had finally be added to the official records.This has resulted in several changes at the top of the official Major League leaderboards. Most notably Josh Gibson, who has long been considered one of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-black-baseball-players-ever/ranker-sports">best players in baseball</a> - not just Negro League - history, now holds the records for the highest career batting average, slugging average and OPS - supplanting Ty Cobb in the first and Babe Ruth in the latter two categories. He also holds the single-single marks in all three of those categories. Aside from Gibson, all of the former Negro League stars listed below, many of whom have been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, can also now be found among the Major League batting or pitching leaders. Meanwhile, any former Negro Leaguers (like Satchel Paige) who were already included in these records because they played in the National or American League after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, will see their verified Negro League stats added to their previous totals.&nbsp;NOTE: Many of the people listed below either started their careers prior to the official formation of the Negro Leagues in 1920, and/or played in leagues that have not been officially designated as a “major league.”

14 Negro League Baseball Players With MLB Records

14 Negro League Baseball Players Who Rightfully Made It Into The MLB Record Books In 2024

Song Lyrics

Have you ever played a record backwards, hoping to discover some hidden message from the artist? If so, you are aware of the popular recording technique known as backmasking, in which the artist deliberately records words or phrases backwards onto a track that is supposed to be played forwards. Although The Beatles are generally given credit for popularizing the idea of hiding <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-songs-with-message-in-the-title/ranker-music?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">messages in songs</a>, the first hit song to include backmasking is thought to be “Car Trouble" by a group called The Eligibles.The 1959 song, which included <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://genius.com/The-eligibles-car-trouble-lyrics">two backward phrases</a>, peaked at #107 on the Billboard chart.Backmasking can be used for artistic, satiric, or comedic reasons, among others. It has also led to several conspiracy theories; in 1969, a rumor began circulating that Paul McCartney was dead, with listeners claiming that The Beatles had included hidden messages about this in their songs “Revolution 9” and “I'm So Tired.” In the late 1970s some Christian fundamentalists began to claim that (mainly rock and heavy metal) musicians were using backmasking to put subliminal Satanic messages targeted at young listeners in their songs. The hysteria about this belief peaked in the mid-1980s but has continued to persist on a lesser level to present day. It also started an obsession with listeners deliberately playing the songs backwards in the hope of finding a message, Satanic or otherwise.&nbsp;Here are some of the more well-known songs that use backmasking that you may not have known about.

The 15 Best Examples of Backmasking In Music

The Best Examples of Backmasking In Music

Songs

It can be very difficult for an artist to put an original spin on someone else's song. If the musicians sticks too close to the original, they risk being compared to the original performer, getting labeled as karaoke, or being questioned about why they even bothered to record the song. But if they go in an entirely different direction, maybe making significant changes to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cover-songs-that-changed-lyrics/tracey-graham">the lyrics</a> or production, they risk alienating the original performer and fans.&nbsp;On occasion, a cover song gets recognized as being <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cover-songs-better-than-the-originals/anncasano">better than the original</a>, but it's more common for the cover to be dismissed as an inferior version. No one is immune from this criticism. While there are a lot of WTF covers from people not known for their singing - William Shatner's version of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” for example - many well-respected musicians have also been blasted for the way they covered a particular song. Here are some of the cover songs that have been called among the worst in history.

The 14 Worst Cover Songs, Ranked 

The Worst Cover Songs, Ranked By How Much They Butchered The Originals

Albums

When it came to popular music in the 1950s, singles, which often were only around 2 minutes long, were king. But by the mid-1960s, listeners wanted to hear something besides just the latest radio hit. LPs, which were up to 42 minutes long (21 minutes per side) meant that not every song a musician released had to make it to radio. And as recording costs started to drop, suddenly artists could release a double album and still have a legitimate chance of making money. In 1966 Bob Dylan released Blonde on Blonde, arguably the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/inside-bob-dylans-blonde-on-blonde-rocks-first-great-double-album-164769/">first great double album in rock history</a>. Its success opened the floodgates for others to put out their own double albums. Many of these were concept albums, but others were originally meant to be a single LP that turned into a double one simply because the artist(s) recorded too many strong songs to fit on a single album.Many double albums are considered to be the best work ever released by a particular artist. Take a look at the list below and let us know if the artist succeeded in delivering a work worthy to fill two records.

The 20 Best Classic Double Albums of All Time, Ranked

20 Classic Double Albums That Are All Killer, No Filler

Culture

The fashion world is embracing power suits and big shoulder pads again. On TV, shows like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-stranger-things-characters-list/ranker-tv">Stranger Things</a> have introduced - or re-introduced - viewers to the music of artists like The Police, New Order, The Bangles, Duran Duran, and Kate Bush. In fact, the series helped the latter surpass <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://people.com/kate-bush-blown-away-running-up-that-hill-1-billion-streams-spotify-stranger-things-7551591">1 billion Spotify streams</a> with her song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God).”That's so epic! The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-80_s-movies">1980s</a> are back, dude! Well, maybe not back - but references to the decade have seemingly become more common in today's pop culture.And why not? The 1980s were totally rad! So, with the current interest in the decade seeming so strong, why not bring back some of the slang that dominated the era? Take a look at the suggestions below and let us know which ones you think are like totally tubular!

The 15 Best 80s Slang Words, Ranked By Fans

The 15 Best 1980s Slang Words, Ranked From Bodacious To Bogus

The&nbsp;opening words to the national anthem are familiar to anyone who watches or attends a sporting event in the United States. But why is the national anthem played at games to begin with? Depending on one&#39;s point of view, you can blame - or thank - World War I&nbsp;for being the catalyst for this tradition.

&quot;The Star-Spangled Banner&quot; began its life as a poem by Francis Scott Key&nbsp;about seeing the flag flying over&nbsp;Fort McHenry after it was bombarded by British troops in 1814.&nbsp;Long before it became the official US national anthem in 1931, the song was recognized for its ability to boost patriotism.

But not everyone believes that the song should be the national anthem&nbsp;or that it represents all American citizens. Indeed, &quot;The Star-Spangled Banner&quot; has been part of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/every-national-anthem-protest-in-us-history/sarah-blumert" target="_blank">many protests</a>. Furthermore, not every <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-badass-national-anthem/melissa-higgins" target="_blank">country plays their national anthem</a> before every sporting event, so why does the United States? Well, the answer is deeply rooted in politics, war, and profits.

Why The U.S. Plays The National Anthem Before Sporting Events

The Actual Reasons The US Plays The National Anthem Before Sporting Events

A League of Their Own (1992)

When&nbsp;A League of Their Own&nbsp;was released in 1992, it brought attention to a women&#39;s professional baseball league that had disbanded nearly 40 years earlier. Based on the true story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which existed from 1943-1954, the film attempts to put the AAGPBL - which went from being a gimmick to save baseball from going extinct during WWII&nbsp;to a respected league that drew sizable crowds for years -&nbsp;in some sort of context.

Some details, like the short-skirted uniforms and the players having to attend charm school, are accurate, while others are pure dramatic license. The film also glosses over the fact that the AAGPBL&nbsp;banned women of color from playing, and ignores the idea that the rules emphasizing&nbsp;a feminine appearance&nbsp;may have been instituted, in part, to keep players from being perceived as lesbians.

Sadly, there have been few opportunities for women in the US&nbsp;to pursue professional baseball since the AAGPBL folded in 1954.&nbsp;A League of Their Own&nbsp;reminds us that the league is an important part of American history that shouldn&#39;t be forgotten.

The Real-Life Inspirations For 'A League Of Their Own'

The Real-Life Historical Inspirations For 'A League of Their Own'

Cover songs - recordings or performances of songs by someone other than the original artist - have been around since the beginning of the music industry. For example, in the early years of rock ‘n roll, white artists would often cover songs originally recorded by Black artists; Elvis Presley’s hit “Hound Dog” is one example of this practice. In the 1960s, not-yet-famous <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/bands-like-queen/william-mccarthy?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">bands like the Beatles</a> and the Rolling Stones would include multiple cover songs on their early albums. Decades later, cover versions of both well-known and obscure songs populate TV and film soundtracks, can be heard during many artists' live sets, and even will occasionally be released as a single.Sometimes the reaction to a cover is along the lines of, “<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/surprising-cover-songs/devon-ashby">Why would that artist cover that song</a>? It makes no sense!” For example, would most fans expect punk rock icon Sid Vicious to cover a Frank Sinatra standard or rock band Cake to put their twist on Gloria Gaynor's empowering disco anthem?It's probably natural for cover versions to be compared to the original. After all, fans and critics can be very protective of the original artist's version. On occasion, the consensus can be that the cover version <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cover-songs-better-than-the-originals/anncasano">is an improvement</a> on the original. But one thing that can really confuse listeners is when the artist covering the song decides to change the lyrics. Which is what occurred with the cover songs listed below. Let us know if you think changing the lyrics made sense.

19 Cover Songs That Changed The Lyrics, Ranked

Cover Songs That Changed The Lyrics, Ranked

For some competitive athletes, winning really is everything. Sports history is full of controversial moments in which athletes or coaches can <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sneakiest-sporting-loopholes/tracey-graham">exploit loopholes</a> in the rules, or outright cheat. Rivalries, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/petty-sports-retributions/michael-muir">long-standing grudges</a>, big payouts, or the fierce desire to earn first-place gold or glory at any cost have led to the most controversial scandals and moments from the annals of sporting history.And pretty much all sports are in contention.

Controversial Sports Scandal History

15 Of The Most Controversial Sports Moments In History

Wild Facts

Pop culture has played a huge role in shaping what we know - or what we think we know. Hardly a day goes by without some <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/random-trivia-facts/elle-tharp">random</a> - often <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/dumb-funny-facts/elle-tharp">bizarre or funny</a> - piece of trivia popping up in the news or on social media. It could be a fun fact of entirely new information, or it could be something that challenges a previous opinion about a character, person, food, or company.&nbsp;The list below includes some pop culture trivia that's strange but true. Vote up the facts you're learning about for the first time.

Weird Pop Culture Trivia That Made Us Say 'Whoa'

14 Bizarre Pop Culture Facts We Can't Believe We're Just Learning

In 1987, a short documentary about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL; 1943-1954)&nbsp;aired on television, catching the attention of producer and director Penny Marshall. The documentary inspired the making of the feature film&nbsp;A League of Their Own, which became a commercial and critical hit when it was released in 1992.

Behind the scenes, the cast members trained hard to convincingly portray baseball players, even suffering&nbsp;real injuries in the process. Many of the details in the film, such as the players being sent to charm school, having chaperones, and being forced to play in skirts, are based on the real experiences of the&nbsp;AAGPBL athletes.&nbsp;

While the film project hit some stumbling blocks along the way - the original studio placed it in turnaround and several of the actors originally cast dropped out or were replaced - the final film remains one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-inspirational-sports-movies" target="_blank">most entertaining and inspirational</a>&nbsp;sports movies in Hollywood history. In 2012, it was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry. And in 2020, <a href="https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/a-league-of-their-own-series-amazon-1234727631/" target="_blank">Amazon announced</a> it had picked up a TV series version of the film; the show will follow a new set of characters as they attempt to become professional baseball players.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the film, Tom Hanks&#39;s character memorably claimed, &quot;There&#39;s no crying in baseball!&quot;&nbsp;That may or may not be true, but what&nbsp;is&nbsp;true is that the making of&nbsp;A League of Their Own sounds as fun as the finished movie.

Behind The Scenes Stories From 'A League Of Their Own'

Behind-The-Scenes Stories From ‘A League of Their Own,’ The Most Rewatchable Sports Movie

Firsthand Accounts

Tom Cruise has been one of the biggest movie stars in the world for decades. From his star-making role in 1983's Risky Business to later films like 2018's Mission: Impossible - Fallout and 2022's Top Gun: Maverick, the actor has worked with hundreds, if not thousands, of producers, directors, writers, co-stars, and crew members.&nbsp;And, as has been the case with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/people-talk-about-nicolas-cage/pierce-nahigyan">other famous actors</a>, many people have told their stories about what it was like to work and/or just hang out with Cruise. Perhaps not surprisingly given the length of his career, some people have had very positive experiences dealing with the actor, while others have not.Below are just some of those stories about <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tom-cruise-over-the-top-role/melissa-sartore">dealing with Tom Cruise</a> on and off the set.

What Tom Cruise's Costars Had To Say About Him

What People Who Know Tom Cruise Had To Say About Him

History

Over the course of history, many scientific and medical&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/true-crazy-historic-theories/ivey-nucilli">discoveries</a>&nbsp;have been ignored, mocked, or met with open hostility. A physician was thought to have lost his mind when he theorized that medical personnel simply washing their hands before examining pregnant patients greatly reduced the chances of the patients dying of childbed fever; he eventually was confined to a mental institution. The British explorer who discovered that members of a lost expedition may have resorted to cannibalism in a failed attempt to survive became the victim of a vicious smear campaign that damaged his reputation and may have cost him a knighthood. Both men's theories turned out to be spot-on.Of course, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/mysterious-ancient-scientific-discoveries-and-inventions/kellen-perry">scientific discoveries</a> aren't the only things that can struggle to find wide acceptance. So can speaking out about controversial topics.&nbsp;Sinéad O'Connor learned this when she received major backlash&nbsp;after tearing up a <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/pope-john-paul-ii-photos/rylee_en?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">photo of Pope John Paul II</a> during an appearance on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-shocking-snl-moments/best-of-snl">Saturday Night Live</a>; the singer was attempting&nbsp;to expose the Catholic Church's complicity in covering up child sexual abuse being committed by some priests. Corey Feldman, meanwhile, was accused of trying to destroy an&nbsp;entire industry when he spoke out about how he and other child actors had been abused. And no one believed Greg LeMond when he accused fellow cyclist Lance Armstrong - regarded by many as a hero - of doping. Again, all of these allegations eventually proved to be true.Below are some of the more memorable times when people who were originally mocked, ignored, or called out turned out to be correct about what they claimed.

People Who Were Mocked That Turned Out To Be Right

People The World Mocked Who Turned Out To Be Right

The world of pro wrestling is a combination of an often violent competitive sport and a kind of live theater, complete with&nbsp;characters who have sometimes over-the-top storylines meant to promote the wrestler and/or the brand. The WWE, ECW, TNA, and other pro wrestling groups have built large audiences for their products by both blurring and exaggerating the line between the real and the scripted and by turning the wrestlers into larger-than-life &quot;heroes&quot; or &quot;villains&quot; the audience can root for or against.&nbsp;

Because pro wrestling is presented as this blend of reality and scripted spectacle, it shouldn&#39;t be a surprise that the sport has received more than its share of backlash over the years. From storylines that crossed the lines of good taste to steroid scandals to faked deaths and real-life murder-suicides, here are some of the most controversial events in the history of the sport.

Pro Wrestling Controversies That Left People Outraged

12 Pro Wrestling Controversies That Left People Outraged

Sitcoms

Before Michael J. Fox was&nbsp;Back to the Future&#39;s teenaged time traveler, Tom Hanks won multiple Academy Awards for his film work, or the Olsen twins established their fashion empire, they were among the actors who starred in a 1980s sitcom. Now, a conservative yuppie teen (Fox) living with his liberal, ex-hippie parents, a struggling ad man (Hanks) pretending to be a woman in order to rent affordable housing, and a toddler (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) being raised by her widowed father and his two best friends&nbsp;don&#39;t have much in common as characters. But that just underscores the diversity of sitcoms in the 1980s.

The decade was definitely big on <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/comedy-tv-shows-big-families-sitcoms-list/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">sitcoms about families</a>, both &quot;conventional&quot; and &quot;unconventional&quot;; for example, in their own way, the four best friends living together in&nbsp;The Golden Girls&nbsp;and the four best friends attending boarding school together in&nbsp;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-facts-of-life-behind-the-scenes/genevieve-carlton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">The Facts of Life</a>&nbsp;formed their own kind of &quot;family&quot; units as much as the parent-children groups on shows like&nbsp;Family Ties, Full House,&nbsp;or&nbsp;Married... with Children&nbsp;did.&nbsp;Workplace comedies featuring ensemble casts, such as&nbsp;Cheers, Night Court, and Designing Women,&nbsp;were also big in the 1980s.

But no matter the setting of a show or the topics&nbsp;it explored, pretty much every sitcom in the 1980s likely had interesting behind-the-scenes stories. Some of those stories are explored below.

Top 5 Most Popular Lists

176 lists