Warning: If you are not caught up with "Game of Thrones," there are spoilers ahead.

Season five of "Game of Thrones" charged on this week with its third episode of the season. Amidst the episode's drama of religious extremism, dwarf kidnapping, and torturous betrothals, one scene stood out as the culmination of an entire character's development so far. We're talking, of course, about Jon Snow. 

In Sunday's episode, Jon had to demonstrate his ability as the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch when Janos Slynt dismissed his authority and refused to follow an order. Faced with insubordination and the breaking of Slynt's vows, Jon ordered him taken outside and beheaded him.

As straightforward as this moment may have seemed to show watchers, it is guaranteed that fans of the book series' were losing their collective minds. This is, across the board, one of book readers' favorite Jon Snow moments.

Let's break this down to see why.

Last episode, Jon was elected Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, an honor usually awarded to a wizened ranger or a respected lord. Many brothers of the Night's Watch believe him to be untrustworthy due to his time spent with the wildlings. Others simply view him as an inexperienced boy. Jon's election was unusual, but wholly deserved. He was raised among highborns, and has more education and fighting skills than many of his fellow Night's Watch brothers. Jon helps train the men (and boys), and was able to hold off the wildling army when Castle Black was attacked.

Jon has also never sought out power, which, if fantasy and hero archetypes hold true, means that he is the most worthy of that burden. He is one of the few characters that lands on the good side of the coin more often than not. Jon is loyal and honorable, like the man who raised him: Ned Stark. 

So here he is, holding his first formal meeting as the new Lord Commander, and he's trying to do the right thing. Despite his tense history with Ser Aliser Thorne, Jon names him First Ranger - an honor. Then it's Janos' turn - he is given command of Greyguard, a crumbling fortress in need of men and repair. Janos refuses, throwing a blubbering and indignant fit. 

At this point in the book, chapter seven of "A Dance with Dragons," the quarrel is stretched out a bit.

"He still sees me as a boy, Jon thought, a green boy, to be cowed by angry words. He could only hope that a night's sleep would bring Lord Janos to his senses. The next morning proved that hope was in vain."

The next day in the story, Jon gives Janos one last chance, telling him to pack up his horses and go. Janos laughs off the order, sitting comfortably amongst his comrades, still not taking the Lord Commander seriously. At this point, Jon instructs his stewards to take Janos outside and hang him.

From here, it becomes chaotic.

Janos is pale and shocked, many men get to their feet, unable to believe that the order has been given. Jon is aware of all the brothers surrounding him who have elected him to this position, but also of the many who did not want him as their leader. Stannis stands nearby with his knights, watching. 

Janos is brought outside, still protesting and in bragging of his importance and connections. Suddenly, Jon has a change of heart.  

This is wrong, Jon thought. "Stop. 

Emmett [his steward] turned back, frowning. "My lord?"

"I will not hang him," said Jon. "Bring him here." 

"Oh, Seven save us," he heard a man cry out.

That smile that Lord Janos Slynt smiled then had all the sweetness of rancid butter. Until Jon said, "Edd, fetch me a block," an unsheathed Longclaw. 

This is it. The moment. The moment when Jon goes from boy to man, from sworn brother of the Night's Watch to Lord Commander. He knows the eyes on him might not respect him, might not believe that he deserves his title. But it's his duty to command and his duty to uphold the rules of the Night's Watch. Jon has shouldered his burden of power, and found that he can carry it. He is the bastard of Winterfell, a Stark at heart. Remember this scene?

Ned Stark believed that "he who passes the sentence should swing the sword." Jon knows what he must do, and how he must do it. 

Janos Slynt twisted his neck around to stare up at him. "Please, my lord. Mercy. I'll...I'll go, I will, I..."

No, thought Jon. You closed that door. Longclaw descended.

Jon glanced back at Stannis. For an instant their eyes met. Then the king nodded and went back inside his tower.

Not long ago, Jon denied Stannis what he wanted - for Jon to swear fealty to him and rule over Winterfell. These two leaders don't always see eye to eye, but Stannis is a fair and pragmatic man. With this choice, this action, Jon has earned his respect. Stannis gives the nod to end all nods of approval. It's like the ultimate fist-bump of Westeros. 

There is also a coincidental link between this scene and Sansa Stark. Janos Slynt was the leader of City Watch in King's Landing before being sent to the Wall. When Joffrey ordered Ned Stark beheaded, Janos was one of the men who grabbed him and held him at the execution block. 

In the chapter of "A Game of Thrones" immediately following Ned's beheading, Sansa is the point-of-view character. She is forced by Joffrey to attend court and sees Janos there. The book text reads: 

Sansa stared hard at his ugly face, remembering how he had thrown down her father for Ser Ilyn to behead, wishing she could hurt him, wishing that some hero would throw him down and cut off his head.

Jon, without knowing it, is Sansa's hero. 

This scene in Sunday's episode was sandwiched between Sansa's dramatic engagement to Ramsay Bolton and a rather promiscuous brothel raid, but it stands out as one of the most significant moments so far. For book readers, this was a long anticipated moment from "A Dance with Dragons," and boy was the wait worth it. 

SEE ALSO: "Game of Thrones" just made a big divergence from the books

AND: The "Game of Thrones" season 5 premiere hinted at a huge fan theory

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 'Game of Thrones' superfans caught George R.R. Martin's mistake so he hired them

The biggest shock of Sunday's "Game of Thrones" came from a major turn in a main character's storyline.

Fans of the "Game of Thrones" series watched as Sansa's storyline veered greatly from the books. It's one the largest divergences from from the text so far. 

It starts at Moat Cailin, where Theon/Reek looks upon the gruesomely flayed remains of a man and woman hanging from the castle walls. After learning that Ramsay has been skinning northern lords alive to get their families to pay taxes, his father, Roose, teaches him a lesson about political strategy and how fragile their current position is.

With the loss of Tywin Lannister as an ally, they are vulnerable to uprising from the northerners. Roose tells his son that marriage between families, not physical brutality, is the best way to seal alliances. "As it happens, I found the perfect girl to solidify our hold on the North."

The show then cuts to Sansa and Littlefinger. The last known living Stark, Sansa is the rightful heir to Winterfell. She's the perfect person to keep the northerners in line; the daughter of the beloved, late Ned Stark and sister to the former King of the North, Robb.

For those of you who aren't familiar, or who don't remember, here's a quick reminder of who Ramsay Bolton is, and why he's the last person Sansa should want to marry.

The Lannisters, you'll remember, teamed up with the Boltons and Freys to massacre Rob Stark and his army in the Red Wedding. They cut off his head, and gruesomely attached his direwolfs head onto his body, parading it around the burning Stark camp. Catelyn Stark's throat was slit, and she was later thrown naked into the river.

Ramsay Bolton (then using the name Snow) lay siege to Winterfell, killing dozens and capturing Theon. Ramsay then tortured him until he turned him into "Reek," unrecognizable and mentally broken. For sport, Ramsay hunts women with his dogs, and skins men alive in front of their families. 

And Sansa thought Joffrey was a piece of work. 

So we watch Sansa realize what it means when Littlefinger brings her to Moat Cailin. Naturally, she's horrified at the idea of seeing the Boltons, let alone marrying one. She initially refuses, insisting she’ll starve herself or run away if this is truly her fate. But Littlefinger steps in as a master manipulater, saying that he won't force her but that she should look at this as an opportunity.

"You’ve been a bystander to tragedy since the day they executed your father. Stop being a bystander … There's no justice in the world, not unless we make it. You loved your family, avenge them.”

This speech settles on Sansa, as she looks over Moat Cailin and her future. After hardening her expression into one of resolve, instead of fear, she gets back on her horse and rides towards the castle. Littlefinger watches her trot off, smiling like a proud and creepy uncle.

So how exactly did the show writers decide that Sansa hadn't quite had her fill of atrocious fiancés? 

In the books, Ramsay is indeed engaged, but it's to a young girl named Jeyne Poole who was forced to pose as "Arya Stark." No one knows where the real Arya is, since she escaped King's Landing after Ned's execution. So the Boltons capture Jeyne, and pretend she is a Stark in order to keep the Northerners from rebelling against their new wardens. 

The last time we see Sansa in the books ("A Feast of Crows"), she's with Littlefinger in the Vale, scheming to marry a lord in that territory. There is the implication that Winterfell is in her future, but not through anything close to an alliance with the Boltons. It is assumed the Littlefinger is scheming to usurp the Boltons and take back Winterfell with the help of the lords of the Vale.

It seems as though the showrunners have opted to simplify this plot, and hand over a real Stark girl to the Boltons for political leverage. Meanwhile, Littlefinger is still scheming to undo the Boltons, but it appears as though he’s going to use Sansa in this mission. She has the motivation of vengeance, but what's the endgame? What does this change mean for the future of Sansa, Littlefinger, the Boltons, and Winterfell?

We know from an interview with the actor who plays Ramsay, Iawn Rheon, that there are some disturbing scenes to come in season five.

“There were some things in this series that I was really disturbed by. Just before the scene I was like, 'I don’t want to do this' but it’s my job so you’ve got to get on with it," Rheon told ITV.

So what horrors are in Sansa’s future? Last December, Turner, who plays Sansa, gave a brief interview at the British Film Award. She was asked what some of her upcoming season five scenes were like, and her response was downright eerie.

“There was one scene which I did do which is super, super traumatic," she said. "It was just really kind of horrible for everyone to be on set and watch.” 

Not just super traumatic, but super SUPER traumatic. We can only speculate what that might be, but this voyage into the Boltons’ lair is most likely the cause for the terror to come.

SEE ALSO: "Game of Thrones" brings an iconic moment from the books to life with Jon Snow

AND: Why you'll see more of Bronn in season five of "Game of Thrones"

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch these giant container ships collide near the Suez Canal

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

If you're a fan of "Mad Men," episodes like Sunday night's is why you watch.

Since the show came back from its hiatus to deliver the final seven episodes, there hasn't been much to be excited about.

In the first episode back it was fun to see one of Don Draper’s old flames from season one return in a dream sequence, but since then it has just been a lot of Draper dealing with grief, sleeping around, and little going on at the office.

But now we've finally gotten that shot in the arm we needed to get us excited for the remaining final three episodes of the show.

Sunday's episode had a major development, as Sterling Cooper & Partners got word that it would be absorbed into their subsidiary, McCann Erickson, after learning their office lease was terminated.

Following the initial shock, Draper came up with a plan to keep the company afloat. By moving to their west coast office, with a handful of accounts, the company could prove to the McCann Erickson big wigs that they are still valuable.

It seemed like one of the gritty, “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” moves we’ve come accustomed to seeing Draper and Roger Sterling pull off to keep their company in business over the seasons.

However, when Draper, Sterling, Ted Chaough, Peter Campbell, and Joan Holloway showed up at McCann Erickson to pitch the idea, McCann Erickson’s executive Jim Hobart told them that they have it all wrong.

They aren't getting thrown aside, but becoming a major part of McCann Erickson.

As he put it, "You've passed the test."

Hobart apologized for the way things were handled, but that McCann Erickson was now ”rolling out the red carpet" for them.

“You’re getting five of the most coveted jobs in advertising… Travel, adventure, and international presence. You’re dying and going to advertising heaven,” Hobart told them.

At McCann Erickson, Don, Roger, Ted, Peter, and Joan will be put on blue chip accounts like Buick, Nabisco, and Coca-Cola. (Though Joan admits to Peter after the meeting she’s suspect if a woman will get the same accounts her male counterparts will receive.)

It seems it's finally time for the SC&P brass to start playing with the big boys. And that there’s finally an end in sight for the show.

Our assumption is that the final episodes will look at SC&P being broken down and who will be moving to McCann Erickson and who will decide to go another direction.

SEE ALSO: 12 beautiful airline ads from the "Mad Men" era

MORE: Here's how 'Mad Men' creator Matthew Weiner manages his super busy schedule

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Disney just dropped another 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' trailer — and it's the best one yet

Kim Kardashian is squashing news reports that say some of the Kardashian clan have wavered in their support of her stepfather Bruce Jenner.

“I think there’s still an adjustment and I think family therapy [to be had],” Kim conceded in her first interview on Bruce’s ongoing transition into a woman on Monday’s “Today” show with Matt Lauer.

On Sunday, Hollywood Life reported that eldest sister Kourtney Kardashian’s partner Scott Disick, 31, felt Jenner’s transition is “weird” and decided not to join the family in watching the “20/20” interview. And Kris Jenner, 59, was under fire over the weekend for not having submitted a supportive quote for the special, though two of Bruce's ex-wives did.

Nevertheless, Kim said the entire family is behind Bruce and that the reports are "made up."

“We’re really close. I see reports that this one doesn’t support him and this one’s over here and my mom feels this way. It’s all really so made up,” Kim, 34, said. “We all really support him. Is it a hard adjustment? Yes. Is there things that we have learned more recently? It’s an adjustment on how to deal with it and it’s a daily process.”

During Friday's interview, the 65-year-old Olympian-turned-reality star sat down with Sawyer and confirmed "for all intents and purposes, I am a woman." He said that Kim has been the most supportive family member (with the help of husband Kanye West), while Khloe Kardashian, 30, has had the hardest time adjusting to his transition to a woman.

Over the past year and after divorcing Kris earlier this year, reports of Jenner's transition to a woman reached a fever pitch heading into Friday's interview, including paparazzi photos reportedly capturing him in various women's accoutrements like wearing painted nails, a purported sports bra under his male clothes, and recently in a full dress outside his Malibu home.

Watch Kim's interview with "Today's" Matt Lauer below.

SEE ALSO: Bruce Jenner to document life as a transgender woman for E! reality show

MORE: BRUCE JENNER: 'I'm not gay, I'm heterosexual'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 70 people were injured while filming this movie with 100 untamed lions

Don't feel bad if you support Bruce Jenner and his transgender journey but are still confused on how to refer to his gender. His own family consulted with gay organizations, including media watchdog group GLAAD, for the appropriate way to refer to their father.

Kim Kardashian spoke for the first time on her stepfather's transition to a woman on Monday's "Today" show and conceded that the family is definitely a work in progress.

“We all really support him. Is it a hard adjustment? Yes. Are there things that we have learned more recently? Yes. It’s an adjustment on how to deal with it and it’s a daily process,” she told the NBC morning show's co-host Matt Lauer.

Over the past year, and after divorcing Kardashian "momager" Kris Jenner earlier this year, reports of Jenner's transition to a woman reached a fever pitch. On Friday, Bruce spoke publicly about his gender struggles for the first time.

In the interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer, the 65-year-old Olympian-turned-reality star confirmed that "for all intents and purposes, I am a woman."

After Bruce told Kim about his transition just a few months ago, she said that the family sought advice from gay organizations.

"Even just the discussion [can be difficult]," she confessed. "We have been talking to people from the GLAAD organization, just different organizations on just what do we call him. Do we say him or her? How do we be respectful? There are so many different things that you just want to be supportive and you just want to be respectful. I think everything takes time."

So what is the correct way to refer to Bruce?

"Until that transition is done, we've learned that you do refer to him as 'him,'" Kim revealed.

Watch Kim's "Today" interview below.

SEE ALSO: Kim Kardashian says reports that some family members don’t support Bruce Jenner are 'made up'

MORE: BRUCE JENNER: 'I'm not gay, I'm heterosexual'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Disney just released a new 'Star Wars: Episode VII' trailer and it's incredible

Stars from HBO's "The Wire" have joined the ranks of people pleading for the violent riots in Baltimore to come to an end.

Andre Royo, Wendell Pierce, and show creator David Simon spoke out online against the angry mobs terrorizing the city following the death of Freddie Gray, who suffered a fatal spinal injury while in city police custody. The critically acclaimed show was filmed almost entirely in Baltimore.

Pierce, who played detective Bunk Moreland; and Royo, who played a junkie named Bubbles, both took to Twitter to vent their sadness and outrage over the looting and destruction.

Simon, who once worked as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun, railed on his website against the violent mobs.

"The anger and the selfishness and the brutality of those claiming the right to violence in Freddie Gray’s name needs to cease. Here was real power and potential in the peaceful protests that spoke in Mr. Gray’s name initially, and there was real unity at his homegoing today," wrote Simon. "But this, now, in the streets, is an affront to that man’s memory and a dimunition of the absolute moral lesson that underlies his unnecessary death."

"If you can’t seek redress and demand reform without a brick in your hand, you risk losing this moment for all of us in Baltimore. Turn around. Go home. Please."

"The Wire" centered around the Baltimore police's efforts to rid the city of drugs and corruption but also the department's own internal failings and those of other institutions. The gritty five-season drama is considered by many to be the greatest television show of all-time.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch The Chilling Protests In Ferguson As Police Fire Tear Gas Into Crowds

Hulu has struck a deal with Sony Pictures Television to secure streaming rights for classic sitcom "Seinfeld," according to The Wall Street Journal. 

The deal is one of biggest digital acquisitions ever for the company, with Variety reporting its value at "just under a million per episode, which translates to a $180 million windfall to be split by distributor Sony TV, Time Warner’s Castle Rock and 'Seinfeld' profit participants, including star/co-creator Jerry Seinfeld and co-creator Larry David."

A person with knowledge of the agreement told the Journal that the deal would mean each episode is valued at approximately $700,000.

Netflix initially expressed interest, but wound up spending about $118 million on another 90's sitcom, "Friends," instead. Amazon and Yahoo were also said to be interested.

Select episodes of "Seinfeld" had been previously available online through Sony's Crackle video platform, but this marks the first time the series will be available digitally in its entireity. 

For those who prefer the traditional route, "Seinfeld" will still air in rapid succession on TBS until further notice.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's What The 'Seinfeld' Diner Is Like In Real Life

It’s that time of year when network TV executives are preparing to announce which shows they’ll cancel to make room for a new crop of series. They’re crunching the budgets, staring at the ratings, weighing international sales, and considering how many pilots they’ll want to order for the fall.

But it isn’t always just about the numbers. A network’s relationships with producers, stars, and critical reception can also factor into the equation. With that in mind, here are the 15 shows that are most likely goners.*

ABC

1. “Revenge” (1.1 rating/4.49 million viewers)

During its first season, “Revenge” helped to rejuvenate ABC after a string of failed dramas. But its following three seasons have been plagued with declining ratings, creative problems, mini story reboots, and almost nonexistent social buzz. It has now used all of its “we’re back” passes. But it still holds a sweet place in ABC’s drama rebound, so the network may go ahead and give it a fifth season to wrap up storylines and set it up for syndication.

Update: Hours after this article was posted, ABC officially announced that "Revenge" will end after the current season.

2. “Cristela" (1.0 rating/5.23 million viewers)

In a vacuum, “Cristela’s” ratings would be low enough for certain cancellation. But it also has several things working in its favor. First off, Friday is a typically low day for viewership and ABC has no idea how a new comedy will do on that night. On the other hand, Friday would be a good night to test new shows for the very same reason. But “Cristela’s” Latino leads fit well into ABC’s diversity push, where it's been a leader in broadcast. ABC, though, has several big-name people backing comedy pilots that offer diversity, including projects with Ken Jeong, Dan Savage, and Whoopi Goldberg.

3. “Forever” (1.12 rating/4.97 million viewers)

It was a surprise when ABC decided to order a full season of this supernatural procedural. No doubt, it hoped it would find an audience. Plus, it hales from Warner Bros. Television, a partner on high-profile Marvel shows “Agents of SHIELD” and “Agent Carter.” It never did find its audience and WBTV should be happy that ABC gave it a fighting chance.

CBS

4. “Battle Creek” (.81 rating/6.49 million viewers)

There was so much excitement surrounding “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan’s new series. But, the buzz didn’t turn into ratings and CBS can’t have this drama pull its ratings average down.

5. “Stalker” (1.4 rating/6.04 million viewers)

Kevin Williamson’s (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Scream”) gory stalker thriller hasn’t become an obsession with viewers. It’s also never a good sign when a network pulls a show off the schedule to make room for another series. It returned on a new night, Monday, and was able to pick up more viewers. But it’s probably too late to save itself.

6. “CSI” (1.3 rating/8.26 million viewers)

Can CBS actually cancel “CSI” after 15 seasons and three spinoffs? It may be the show’s time to go. After all, “CSI: Cyber” is still around to carry on the name (though it isn’t doing a whole lot better in the ratings).

NBC

7. “American Odyssey” (0.74 rating/3.86 million viewers)

NBC’s lowest-rated show has been on for only a few weeks, but it's actually earning lower ratings than “Allegiance,” which NBC pulled from the schedule after just five episodes.

8. “Constantine” (0.92 rating/3.34 million viewers)

Despite a groundswell of activism among fans in support of a second season of the comic-based show, there are very few reasons NBC would give the show another season. It wouldn’t even air the totality of its first. The network’s inability to announce the show’s official cancellation could be the result of a few things: embarrassment over jumping on the comic-book adaptation craze and failing, as well as maintaining its relationship with executive producers Daniel Cerone (“Dexter”) and David S. Goyer (“Batman” trilogy). NBC is known to make silly decisions for relationships.

9. “About a Boy” (1.03 rating/3.53 million viewers)

NBC’s highest-rated sitcom in its first season, “About a Boy” has plummeted in its second season. With a healthy amount of comedy pilots waiting in the wings, it can afford to let “About a Boy” go, even if it means cutting ties with executive producer Jason Katims (“Parenthood,” “Friday Night Lights”) for a bit. See above regarding NBC and relationships.

Fox

10. “Weird Loners” (.63 rating/1.55 million viewers)

Fox’s attempt to re-create the early seasons of “New Girl” was a bust. The comedy is the lowest-rated show on Fox’s roster and can be easily plucked out and replaced with a new show in the fall.

11. “Backstrom” (1.04 rating/4.08 million viewers)

There was a lot of excitement around “Office” alum Rainn Wilson’s new detective dramedy. But it failed to find an audience.

12. “The Following” (1.17 rating/3.62 total viewers)

After a first season that captured viewers’ attention, the Kevin Bacon series struggled creatively and lost its audience and buzz. And with the success of “Empire,” dark, violent shows may not be in vogue at Fox right now.

13. “The Mindy Project” (1.05 rating/2.31 million viewers)

Beloved by TV critics and starring the popular Mindy Kaling, Fox has a couple reasons to keep “The Mindy Project” around. But its ratings are poor and most of the time business becomes the functional word in show business.

The CW

14. “Hart of Dixie” (.41 rating/1.18 million viewers)

Everyone from the show’s creator, its stars and its small loyal group of fans have declared the show over, but the CW seems to be the last to be able to utter the word “canceled.” If enough people are telling you you’re dead, then at some point it’s time to lie down.

15. “The Messengers” (.25 rating/.98 million viewers)

It may be a little early since “The Messengers” has aired for only two weeks, but the CW basically shoved this supernatural show into cancellation territory. It premiered late in the season and on Friday nights. Did the network already give up on it?

*Ratings based on available Neilsen overnight numbers for the average advertiser-coveted Adults, ages 18-49, and total viewers.

SEE ALSO: Here's which 'Full House' cast members are — and are not — returning for Netflix's spinoff show

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Amy Schumer gives a brutally honest interview about her sex life

Hulu is on a roll. The streaming video company just closed a deal with AMC for exclusive rights to replay an upcoming "Walking Dead" spinoff.

That spinoff probably refers to AMC's previously announced "Fear the Walking Dead" series, though it's unclear.

Announced during the company's NewFronts presentation to advertisers on Wednesday, Variety reports the deal will most likely also give Hulu exclusive streaming video on demand (SVOD) rights to other future AMC programming.

In March, AMC ordered two seasons of "Fear the Walking Dead." The six-episode first season will premiere this summer, with the second season projected for 2016.

This would be the second major deal announced by Hulu on Wednesday. Earlier, the company announced it had acquired the SVOD rights from Sony Pictures Television to the entire run of hit comedy "Seinfeld."The deal will reportedly cost Hulu an upwards of $180 milllion.

Watch a trailer for "Fear the Walking Dead" below.

SEE ALSO: Hulu just bought all the 'Seinfeld' reruns

MORE: 15 TV shows that will most likely be canceled in the next few weeks

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: There's a good reason 'The Walking Dead' creator doesn't use the word zombie

Before it was a viral sensation and a ratings boon for Spike TV, “Lip Sync Battle” was just a segment on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.” So, why would any A-List star sign on for a full show dedicated to celebrities pretending to sing?

“There were a lot of people that we called initially that loved the idea and were so supportive, but just couldn’t quite wrap their head around doing it in the first season,” Casey Patterson, executive producer of “Lip Sync Battle,” told Business Insider. “You’re asking people who don’t sing for a living to come out and do that, and they couldn’t quite get there."  

A few months later, the story is very different. 

“They were watching. They were waiting to see it, and now we’re hearing from all of those people,” added Patterson, who also acts as Viacom Entertainment Group’s talent development and production executive.

Hosted by LL Cool J and Chrissy Teigen, “Lip Sync Battle” pits stars against each other in two rounds of karaoke — one stripped down performance and the other turned up. Its premiere was watched by 2.2 million people and became Spike's most-watched unscripted program ever. Last week, it was renewed for a second season.

Its first season has included such big-name contenders as Dwayne Johnson, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Michael Strahan, Anna Kendrick, and Jennifer Lopez.

How did it get so many A-listers to shed their inhibitions and take the stage? That didn’t come easy and took a huge group effort, some long nights, and several favors. 

BI spoke with one of the show's executive producers and its director to find out.

1.) They hit up their famous friends.

When “Lip Sync Battle” began production, it was still an untested concept. As a guest segment on “The Tonight Show,” it had yet to be introduced. And its breakout viral Emma Stone moment was months from happening.

“Everyone called their friends, absolutely, and it was a family affair, 100% every single person around the table, including myself,” Patterson remembered. “LL Cool J was calling all of his friends.”

“He was making calls at two o’clock in the morning,” interjected director Beth McCarthy-Miller, whose credits include 'SNL’ and dozens of half-hour comedies. 

2.) They kept their famous producers close.

When your executive producers include Fallon, John Krasinski (“The Office”) and Stephen Merchant (“Hello Ladies”), it’s nice to keep them close.

“We had to earn the trust of the talent community, because we’re asking a lot,” Patterson said. “We’re asking them to come up and potentially make fools of themselves and to really commit to it, and I think he reason it worked is because everyone around the table showed up. All the partners showed up. Everyone was there producing. John Krasinski was backstage… he actually produced the backstage package for Anne Hathaway.”

At the same time, Spike had something to prove to the show's producers and were willing to do whatever it took to make the show a success.

"Spike wouldn’t be the first thing you think of when you think of lip-sync battling," Patterson said. "There are so many outlets and so many places that you can go and it was very forward thinking, and a big leap of faith, that those guys chose us. Rick Schwartz and Jay Peterson brought it to us and we were very [appreciative]."

3.) They let the stars choose whatever songs they want, no matter the cost.

The show definitely could have saved some money by making the stars pick from a selected book of songs, but producers decided not to curtail song choices.

“It’s not an inexpensive proposition because of the music,” Patterson pointed out.

“It’s already the toughest ask in Hollywood,” she added. “It’s moving so far outside their comfort zones that they need the level of comfort that they can pick their own songs, they need that level of comfort. We’re not going to musicians, for the most part, we’re going to celebrities who don’t sing for a living.”

4.) They made the experience easy.

Hathaway, for example, was rehearsing for her one-woman off-Broadway show, “Grounded,” and told the lip sync show's producers she’d be limited on time. So, the team got to work.

“We brought our choreographer, Danielle [Flora], who is unbelievable,” said McCarthy-Miller. “She works at ‘SNL’ as well, and she knows how to do as minimal or as much and be able to teach it to somebody quickly just to kind of help formulate the performances. It was a perfect storm of everybody and it was really one of those Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland movies. Everybody was like, ‘OK, I can do this. All right. I’ll go get a wig. OK, here’s some costumes.’ It was everybody totally engaged in wanting to make the show awesome.”

5.) They chose the right director.

McCarthy-Miller has taken everything she has learned from “SNL” and other projects in order to apply them here.

"Aside from how much I love Beth and our friendship, I really felt like there’s isn’t anyone else who knowing that we’re going to have a limited amount of time with people, and where we need to get them,” Patterson said. “She’s really the only person I could think of that is capable of that and at such a level that you’re seeing the results of that." 

McCarthy-Miller stood in for Madonna with Fallon while they waited to hear if she’d make a cameo during his performance of “Like a Prayer” and later joined his conga line. She also sang “Material Girl” for Taraji P. Henson at least 10 times so she could concentrate on choreography without playing the actual music. 

“I was just trying to help,” the director explained.

See some performances from the show below:

Hoda Kotb performing "Baby Got Back."

SEE ALSO: Why everyone is suddenly obsessed with Spike TV's new show 'Lip Sync Battle'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jimmy Fallon's new lip sync show looks hilarious

The E!' network's "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" is growing.

Not only does the show return on Sunday, May 24 with hourlong episodes (as opposed to its previous half-hour ones), it has also added a new cast member, according to a press release from E!.

Actor David Hasselhoff's daughter, Taylor-Ann Hasselhoff, will join returning stars Morgan Stewart, Dorothy Wang, EJ Johnson, Roxy Sowlaty, Jonny Drubel, and Brendan Fitzpatrick.

Taylor-Ann, 24, has worked on her own magazine Bellus, hosts its video segments, and has hosted on "Entertainment Tonight." According to her official website, she and her sister, Haley, also formed their own bands called Bella Vida and Electric Stilletto.

What else is there to know about the new #RichKids cast member?

Here's what we learned from Taylor-Ann's Instagram account:

She adores her mom, Pamela Bach.

But, she's down with dad too.

She's serious about her music. 

She's close to her sister, Haley.

She isn't afraid to show some skin.

 She has a pet bird and a dog.

And a pig.

She isn't afraid to sweat. 

There's a time for sophisticated...

And there's a time to keep it street.

She likes to give back to her community.

She has no wisdom teeth.

But, she does have wisdom.

SEE ALSO: The 'Rich Kids Of Beverly Hills' Were Not Happy About Their Reality Show's Title

MORE: How A Billionaire Heiress Ended Up Joining 'Rich Kids Of Beverly Hills'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Forget Kim Kardashian — the 'butt selfie' queen of Instagram is a 21-year-old from Long Island

It's May, so you know what that means!

Netflix has rolled out its list of new releases to the streaming site. 

"Inglorious Basterds,""Legally Blonde," and a group of shows from History, Lifetime, and A&E including "Duck Dynasty" and "Counting Cars" will all be available.

We'll continue to update this list throughout the month.

Here's what you should check out on Netflix in May:

TV

"Longmire" (available 5/1)

The third season of A&E's crime drama.

"Royal Pains" (available 5/3)

The sixth season of the USA series will be available ahead of the seventh season premiere June 2, 2015.

"Grace & Frankie" (available 5/8)

The Netflix original stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as "two women forced to reinvent their lives" after their husbands (Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston) leave them for each other.

"Graceland" (available 5/26)

The first two seasons of USA's hit series about a group of FBI, DEA, and US customs officers who move into a beach house called Graceland.

Movies

"Inglourious Basterds" (available 5/22)

Brad Pitt vs. Nazis. 

"Legally Blonde" (2001)

Before she was an Oscar-winning actress, Reese Witherspoon played the ditzy, but smart Harvard law student Elle Woods who was obsessed with the color pink. 

"The Boxtrolls" (available 5/23)

Here's one for the kids. In between "Big Hero 6" and "The LEGO Movie," you may have missed this stop-motion Oscar-nominated feature following a group of trolls that only comes out at nighttime. 

Here's the full list of May releases:

Available 5/1

"Beyond Clueless" (2014)
"Jimi: All is by My Side" (2013)
"Legally Blonde" (2001)
"Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, & Blonde" (2003)
"Longmire" (Season 3)
"No No: A Dockumentary" (2014)
"Shameless" (series 10)
"The Last Waltz" (1978)
"The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" (2005)
"Underclassman" (2015)
"Witnesses" (Season 1)

Available 5/2

"Lalaoopsy: Festival of Sugary Sweets" (2015)
"LeapFrog Letter Factory Adventures: Amazing Word Explorers" (2015)

Available 5/3

"Anita" (2013)
"D.L. Hughley: Clear" (2014)
"Royal Pains" (Season 6)

Available 5/5

"A Few Best Men" (2011)

Available 5/6

"The Longest Week" (2014)

Available 5/8

"Grace & Frankie" (Netflix original)
"Puss in Boots" (Season 1 with 5 additional episodes)
"Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas" (2013)

Available 5/9

"Jinn" (2014)
"The Liberator" (2013)

Available 5/12

"Extraterrestrial" (2014)
"Fruitvale Station" (2013)
"Magical Universe" (2013)

Available 5/13

"The Identical" (2014)

Available 5/14

"American Restoration"
"Counting Cars"
"Dance Moms"
"Duck Dynasty"
"Hoarders"
"Modern Marvels"
"The Universe"

Available 5/15

"Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown" (Season 4)
"Cyber-Seniors" (2014)
"Dawg Fight" (2015)
"Give Me Shelter" (2014)
"Granite Flats" (Seasons 1-3)

Available 5/16

"First Period" (2013)

Available 5/17

"Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast" (2015)

Available 5/19

"Before I Disappear" (2014)
"Girlhood" (2014)
"Zombeavers" (2014)

Available 5/21

"Between" (Season 1)

Available 5/22

"H20 Mermaid Adventures" (2015)
"Inglourious Basterds" (2009)
"Jen Kirkman: I'm Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine)" (2015)
"Richie Rich" (season 2)
"The Other One: the Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir"
"Transporter: The Series" (Season 1)

Available 5/23

"Antarctica: A Year on Ice" (2013)
"The Boxtrolls" (2014)

Available 5/24

"Love and Honor" (2013)
"Welcome to the Punch" (2013)

Available 5/26

"Graceland" (Seasons 1-2)

Available 5/27

"Before I Go to Sleep" (2014)

Available 5/29

"Hot Girls Wanted" (2015)
"Mako Mermaids" (Season 3)

SEE ALSO: Everything that just left Netflix

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Netflix's new 'Daredevil' show looks way better than Ben Affleck's version of the superhero

On Thursday night, Samantha Bee, who was the "senior senior correspondent" on "The Daily Show," ended her twelve year run on the show. 

Jon Stewart sent her off with a tribute that included some her best segments on the show. Many of the highlights include her tricking unsuspecting people at several Republican National Conventions and skewering the issue of Long Island statehood.

Unfortunately, Bee didn't get a chance to say any final words, but her amazing work on the show speaks for itself:

Bee started on "The Daily Show" on July 10, 2003. This was when "the Bush Administration was in its terrible twos" and "the Iraq War was just starting," as Jon Stewart put it. Bee surpassed Stephen Colbert as the "longest-serving correspondent" in "Daily Show" history.

But this isn't the last we'll see of her.

Samantha Bee will host her own show on TBS. In addition, Bee and her husband Jason Jones (another former "Daily Show" correspondent) are also working on another series for the network.

Jon Stewart's final episode of "The Daily Show" will air on August 6.

SEE ALSO: Here's the moment Michael Keaton realized he wasn’t going to win his first Oscar

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Jon Stewart break it to his audience that he's leaving 'The Daily Show'

NBC is taking a big leap and inviting fans to binge watch its upcoming Charles Manson drama, “Aquarius.”

On May 28, all 13 episodes of the new series will be available on streaming platforms, NBC.com, the NBC app, and On-Demand for four weeks. At the same time, the network will traditionally air one episode per week on Thursdays at 9 p.m.

This is a big deal, since it’s the first time a broadcast network will make an entire season of a new show available all at once — a strategy used successfully by streaming video companies like Netflix and Amazon.

“With ‘Aquarius’ we have the opportunity to push some new boundaries to give our audience something no broadcast network has done before,” NBC’s entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt said in a statement.

He continued, “We are fully aware how audiences want to consume multiple episodes of new television series faster and at their own discretion, and we’re excited to offer our viewers this same experience since all 13 episodes of this unique show have been produced and are ready to be seen.”

Here are five reasons you should binge watch “Aquarius”:

1.) David Duchovny returns to TV.

After finishing up on Showtime’s “Calfornication” and before “The X-Files” reboot on Fox in the fall, you can catch Duchovny in the role of homicide detective Sam Hodiak. While investigating a girl’s disappearance, he comes across a growing group of drifters led by a young Charles Manson. The series takes place in Los Angeles circa 1967.

“Bunheads” star Emma Dumont, “True Blood’s” Grey Damon and “Game of Thrones” actor Gethin Anthony also star.

2.) It’s probably pretty good.

NBC wouldn’t drop an entire season of a new show on us if it didn’t think it was good, especially since it will also air an episode of the show each week on TV. If it were bad, then the negative buzz would spread like wildfire on social media and kill the subsequent airings of the show.

3.) Less advertising.

NBC is limiting the amount of advertisers who can buy time on “Aquarius,” which means that there will be shorter commercial breaks — both in streaming and on TV.

4.) There will be different, more provocative footage for streaming customers.

Show producers took advantage of the less stringent content rules on the internet, so the streaming episodes of “Aquarius” will include scenes that couldn’t be aired due to broadcast standards.

5.) Other networks will follow suit.

NBC is making a large leap here and all the other networks are watching. If the show does well in streaming, please believe that ABC, CBS, The CW, and Fox will do a similar release — a good thing for those of you who like to binge watch or truly choose how and when you watch TV.

SEE ALSO: How Spike's new 'Lip Sync Battle' landed its A-list celebrity contenders and became a breakout hit

MORE: TV shows that will most likely be canceled in the next few weeks

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's what 'Game of Thrones' stars look like in real life

"Breaking Bad" fans could possibly get a taste of the now wrapped series.

Apparently, there's a chance that the show's fictional Mexican restaurant, Los Pollos Hermanos, could become a real thing, show creator Vince Gilligan said during a Reddit AMA on Thursday.

“Believe it or not…there is talk of a Pollos Hermanos becoming a real restaurant,” he said. “This is not an idea that I generated personally. But it’s one that’s been presented to me, through the good folks at Sony, and the idea came to them from a businessman who has an interest in doing that.”

That businessman could be barking up the right tree.

Twister, the Albuquerque, New Mexico restaurant where "Breaking Bad" shot the Garduno's restaurant scenes had been hit with some big business from the show.

In 2013, there was a run on the restaurant's guacamole dip after "Breaking Bad" featured a tense dinner scene between Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and his wife (Anna Gunn) in which the waiter continually interrupted them with glowing praise for the restaurant's guacamole.

Reddit members began a long chain of things a restaurant based on Los Pollos Hermanos should have if it really came to fruition, including "a guy that looks like Walter White sitting alone eating,""a set of mute twins in silver suits staring into space in the corner," and "ice cream covered with blue pop rocks."

SEE ALSO: Why you should watch 'Breaking Bad' in one chart

MORE: Breaking Bad-ness: NY cherry factory hid drug op

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The 15 Best Quotes From 'Breaking Bad'

It’s that time of year when network TV executives are preparing to announce which shows they’ll cancel to make room for a new crop of series. They’re crunching the budgets, staring at the ratings, weighing international sales, and considering how many pilots they’ll want to order for the fall.

But it isn’t always just about the numbers. A network’s relationships with producers, stars, and critical reception can also factor into the equation. With that in mind, here are the 15 shows that are most likely goners.*

ABC

1. “Revenge” (1.1 rating/4.49 million viewers)

During its first season, “Revenge” helped to rejuvenate ABC after a string of failed dramas. But its following three seasons have been plagued with declining ratings, creative problems, mini story reboots, and almost nonexistent social buzz. It has now used all of its “we’re back” passes. But it still holds a sweet place in ABC’s drama rebound, so the network may go ahead and give it a fifth season to wrap up storylines and set it up for syndication.

Update: Hours after this article was posted, ABC officially announced that "Revenge" will end after the current season.

2. “Cristela" (1.0 rating/5.23 million viewers)

In a vacuum, “Cristela’s” ratings would be low enough for certain cancellation. But it also has several things working in its favor. First off, Friday is a typically low day for viewership and ABC has no idea how a new comedy will do on that night. On the other hand, Friday would be a good night to test new shows for the very same reason. But “Cristela’s” Latino leads fit well into ABC’s diversity push, where it's been a leader in broadcast. ABC, though, has several big-name people backing comedy pilots that offer diversity, including projects with Ken Jeong, Dan Savage, and Whoopi Goldberg.

3. “Forever” (1.12 rating/4.97 million viewers)

It was a surprise when ABC decided to order a full season of this supernatural procedural. No doubt, it hoped it would find an audience. Plus, it hales from Warner Bros. Television, a partner on high-profile Marvel shows “Agents of SHIELD” and “Agent Carter.” It never did find its audience and WBTV should be happy that ABC gave it a fighting chance.

CBS

4. “Battle Creek” (.81 rating/6.49 million viewers)

There was so much excitement surrounding “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan’s new series. But, the buzz didn’t turn into ratings and CBS can’t have this drama pull its ratings average down.

5. “Stalker” (1.4 rating/6.04 million viewers)

Kevin Williamson’s (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Scream”) gory stalker thriller hasn’t become an obsession with viewers. It’s also never a good sign when a network pulls a show off the schedule to make room for another series. It returned on a new night, Monday, and was able to pick up more viewers. But it’s probably too late to save itself.

6. “CSI” (1.3 rating/8.26 million viewers)

Can CBS actually cancel “CSI” after 15 seasons and three spinoffs? It may be the show’s time to go. After all, “CSI: Cyber” is still around to carry on the name (though it isn’t doing a whole lot better in the ratings).

NBC

7. “American Odyssey” (0.74 rating/3.86 million viewers)

NBC’s lowest-rated show has been on for only a few weeks, but it's actually earning lower ratings than “Allegiance,” which NBC pulled from the schedule after just five episodes.

8. “Constantine” (0.92 rating/3.34 million viewers)

Despite a groundswell of activism among fans in support of a second season of the comic-based show, there are very few reasons NBC would give the show another season. It wouldn’t even air the totality of its first. The network’s inability to announce the show’s official cancellation could be the result of a few things: embarrassment over jumping on the comic-book adaptation craze and failing, as well as maintaining its relationship with executive producers Daniel Cerone (“Dexter”) and David S. Goyer (“Batman” trilogy). NBC is known to make silly decisions for relationships.

9. “About a Boy” (1.03 rating/3.53 million viewers)

NBC’s highest-rated sitcom in its first season, “About a Boy” has plummeted in its second season. With a healthy amount of comedy pilots waiting in the wings, it can afford to let “About a Boy” go, even if it means cutting ties with executive producer Jason Katims (“Parenthood,” “Friday Night Lights”) for a bit. See above regarding NBC and relationships.

Fox

10. “Weird Loners” (.63 rating/1.55 million viewers)

Fox’s attempt to re-create the early seasons of “New Girl” was a bust. The comedy is the lowest-rated show on Fox’s roster and can be easily plucked out and replaced with a new show in the fall.

11. “Backstrom” (1.04 rating/4.08 million viewers)

There was a lot of excitement around “Office” alum Rainn Wilson’s new detective dramedy. But it failed to find an audience.

12. “The Following” (1.17 rating/3.62 total viewers)

After a first season that captured viewers’ attention, the Kevin Bacon series struggled creatively and lost its audience and buzz. And with the success of “Empire,” dark, violent shows may not be in vogue at Fox right now.

13. “The Mindy Project” (1.05 rating/2.31 million viewers)

Beloved by TV critics and starring the popular Mindy Kaling, Fox has a couple reasons to keep “The Mindy Project” around. But its ratings are poor and most of the time business becomes the functional word in show business.

The CW

14. “Hart of Dixie” (.41 rating/1.18 million viewers)

Everyone from the show’s creator, its stars and its small loyal group of fans have declared the show over, but the CW seems to be the last to be able to utter the word “canceled.” If enough people are telling you you’re dead, then at some point it’s time to lie down.

15. “The Messengers” (.25 rating/.98 million viewers)

It may be a little early since “The Messengers” has aired for only two weeks, but the CW basically shoved this supernatural show into cancellation territory. It premiered late in the season and on Friday nights. Did the network already give up on it?

*Ratings based on available Neilsen overnight numbers for the average advertiser-coveted Adults, ages 18-49, and total viewers.

SEE ALSO: Here's which 'Full House' cast members are — and are not — returning for Netflix's spinoff show

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Amy Schumer gives a brutally honest interview about her sex life

NBC is taking a big leap and inviting fans to binge watch its upcoming Charles Manson drama, “Aquarius.”

On May 28, all 13 episodes of the new series will be available on streaming platforms, NBC.com, the NBC app, and On-Demand for four weeks. At the same time, the network will traditionally air one episode per week on Thursdays at 9 p.m.

This is a big deal, since it’s the first time a broadcast network will make an entire season of a new show available all at once — a strategy used successfully by streaming video companies like Netflix and Amazon.

“With ‘Aquarius’ we have the opportunity to push some new boundaries to give our audience something no broadcast network has done before,” NBC’s entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt said in a statement.

He continued, “We are fully aware how audiences want to consume multiple episodes of new television series faster and at their own discretion, and we’re excited to offer our viewers this same experience since all 13 episodes of this unique show have been produced and are ready to be seen.”

Here are five reasons you should binge watch “Aquarius”:

1.) David Duchovny returns to TV.

After finishing up on Showtime’s “Calfornication” and before “The X-Files” reboot on Fox in the fall, you can catch Duchovny in the role of homicide detective Sam Hodiak. While investigating a girl’s disappearance, he comes across a growing group of drifters led by a young Charles Manson. The series takes place in Los Angeles circa 1967.

“Bunheads” star Emma Dumont, “True Blood’s” Grey Damon and “Game of Thrones” actor Gethin Anthony also star.

2.) It’s probably pretty good.

NBC wouldn’t drop an entire season of a new show on us if it didn’t think it was good, especially since it will also air an episode of the show each week on TV. If it were bad, then the negative buzz would spread like wildfire on social media and kill the subsequent airings of the show.

3.) Less advertising.

NBC is limiting the amount of advertisers who can buy time on “Aquarius,” which means that there will be shorter commercial breaks — both in streaming and on TV.

4.) There will be different, more provocative footage for streaming customers.

Show producers took advantage of the less stringent content rules on the internet, so the streaming episodes of “Aquarius” will include scenes that couldn’t be aired due to broadcast standards.

5.) Other networks will follow suit.

NBC is making a large leap here and all the other networks are watching. If the show does well in streaming, please believe that ABC, CBS, The CW, and Fox will do a similar release — a good thing for those of you who like to binge watch or truly choose how and when you watch TV.

SEE ALSO: How Spike's new 'Lip Sync Battle' landed its A-list celebrity contenders and became a breakout hit

MORE: TV shows that will most likely be canceled in the next few weeks

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's what 'Game of Thrones' stars look like in real life

In Sunday’s ‘Game of Thrones’ episode, season five continued with religious warfare, a first look at the Dornish Sand Snakes, and an epic concluding scene in Meeren.

But one of the best scenes came from a tender father-daughter moment between Stannis Baratheon and his daughter, Shireen, which didn't occur in the books.

Though her face is disfigured with greyscale, a normally deadly and highly contagious disease, Shireen manages to be one of the sweetest and most likeable characters on the show.

In a world where everyone seems to have enemies, Shireen stays in the sweet land of neutrality. She sees the Wildlings as just another group of people, and even teaches Gilly how to read.

Stannis is a hardened man, one who views his claim to the throne as the only just and fair outcome of this war. He rarely displays emotions other than annoyance and anger.

In this episode, we see Shireen wander into his chambers and, after some small talk, ask a heartbreaking question.

“Are you ashamed of me, father?”

Stannis pauses, and then tells her the story of how she came to have greyscale. A Dornish trader brought goods to the castle to sell, and among them was a small wooden doll dressed in Baratheon colors. Stannis, a new father, gave it to his only child — Shireen. But it was diseased, and by the time they realized what the doll carried, it was too late.

"I was told you would die, or worse, the Greyscale would go slow and you’d grow just enough to know the world before taking it away from you. Everyone advised me to send you to the ruins of Valyria to live out your short life with the stone men before the sickness spread through the castle. I told them all to go to hell."

You can hear the bitterness in his voice, the regret of ever handing that small doll to his daughter. Shireen listens with rapt attention, smiling gently at hearing how her father defended her.

"I called in every maester on this side of the world. Every healer, every apothecary. They stopped the disease and saved your life. Because you did not belong across the world with the bloody stonemen. You were the Princess Shireen of House Baratheon. And you are my daughter."

Shireen, her eyes brimming with tears, runs to Stannis, and hugs him fiercely. After hesitating, he wraps his arms around her in return.

This is one of the better scenes we’ve had so far this season, and it is also one that was not sourced from the books, which could be significant. Why did the show writers decide that an emotional scene between Stannis and Shireen was necessary character development?

It could mean bad news for Shireen. 

Fans of “Game of Thrones” should be well-accustomed to untimely deaths of their favorite characters by now. Generally speaking, emotionally uplifting moments are far and few between in the series.

Here’s the evidence that we have so far that Shireen may be in danger: 

Back in season four, when Stannis was preparing to leave Dragonstone and head for The Wall, there was contention between Stannis and his wife, Selyse, on whether or not Shireen should come with them. In episode seven, titled “Mockingbird,” there is a significant scene between Selyse and Lady Melisandre.

Selyse expresses her doubt to Melisandre about Shireen joining them, stating that her daughter doubts the existence of the Lord of the Light. Melisandre says that she must come, and elaborates when Selyse seems confused.

“You are strong enough to look into the Lords light and see his truth for yourself. However harsh it is, however hard it is for us to understand. You don’t need my help, but I will need yours soon. When we set sail, your daughter must be with us. The Lord needs her.”

Now, that can’t be good. What would the Lord of Light, and therefore Melisandre, need from Shireen?

Flash forward to Sunday’s episode, and there is a scene when Selyse is apologizing to Stannis for never birthing him a son, and only giving him a disfigured daughter. Melisandre overhears, and interjects by saying that the Lord of Light does not care about Shireen’s affliction.

“Her father is the lord’s chosen King, and her father’s blood runs through her veins,” Melisandre said to Selyse, and they exchange a loaded look.

The last time king’s blood was a hot topic with Melisandre was during season three, when she tracked down Gendry (Robert Baratheon’s bastard) and brought him to Stannis. Her plan was to sacrifice him, since he has Baratheon blood, in order to bring favor from the Lord of Light.

She tied him down, and used leeches to draw his blood. Stannis then threw the three leeches into a fire, stating the name of each of his enemies as he did - "The usurper Robb Stark, the usurper Balon Greyjoy, the usurper Joffrey Baratheon."

Two of those three “kings” are now dead - and Melisandre attributes this to her blood-magic leech spell. Stannis agreed to have Gendry sacrificed for the sake of a more powerful spell, but Davos helped him escape before their execution could be carried out.

So now we have Shireen, chock-full of her father’s blood, and Melisandre has emphasized to Selyse that the Lord of Light “needs” her daughter. Selyse is a fanatic of the religion, and seems to completely rely on Melisandre for guidance.

It’s very possible that the touching scene where Stannis emphasizes his love and defensive nature towards Shireen is hinting at a larger conflict to come.

We can only hope that if the time comes when Melisandre and Selyse believe it is necessary to sacrifice Shireen, or harm her in the name of their Lord, that Stannis will be able to protect her.

SEE ALSO: "Game of Thrones" brings one of the most iconic scenes from the books to life

AND: "Game of Thrones" just made a big divergence from the books

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how much sex happy couples have every month

How has Bruce Jenner's transgender announcement affected the Kardashian family? We're about to find out.

The E! Network will be airing a two-part special titled "Keeping Up With the Kardashians: About Bruce," the cable channel said in a press release.

The special will premiere on Sunday, May 17 at 9 p.m. and conclude on Monday, May 18 starting at 9 p.m.

It will feature footage of the family reacting to Bruce's admission that he is transgender and plans to transition into living as a woman full time.

Here's E!'s description of the program:

In the special Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall, Kylie and Scott speak candidly with Bruce, ask many questions and begin to understand the tough journey he’s been on his entire life. Through difficult and direct conversations, the family’s unfiltered reactions are surprising, thoughtful and ultimately compassionate and supportive. Through sharing their own family’s story, the Kardashians are hoping to help other families experiencing the same thing. The special also includes family home video footage that reminds viewers and the family of the special times they spent with Bruce as a father, husband and friend, and serves as inspiration for the memories they’ll create as Bruce lives his “new normal.”

E!'s announcement of the special arrives nearly two weeks after Bruce spoke for the first time about his transgender status and intention to live as a women with Diane Sawyer on ABC's "20/20." In the interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer, the 65-year-old Olympian-turned-reality star confirmed that "for all intents and purposes, I am a woman."

It was followed by reports that some in the Kardashian family aren't supportive of Bruce. Ex-wife Kris Jenner, 59, reportedly passed on submitting a comment for the special, although two other ex-wives of Bruce provided supporting statements. Kris denies that ABC offered her an opportunity to give a statement. Additionally, there were reports that Kourtney Kardashian’s partner Scott Disick, 31, felt Jenner’s transition is “weird” and decided not to join the family in watching the “20/20” interview. 

The special is produced by Bunim/Murray Productions and Ryan Seacrest Productions, the companies behind the "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" TV franchise.

Watch a first look at the special below in which Kris and Kim Kardashian West have a heart-to-heart about Bruce:

SEE ALSO:  BRUCE JENNER: 'I'm not gay, I'm heterosexual'

MORE: He or she? Kim Kardashian explains how to refer to Bruce Jenner as he transitions to a woman

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Kanye West explains how marriage has helped him become a better man

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

On Sunday night’s episode of “Mad Men,” we learn that although the series has made it to the 1970s, women’s rights in the workplace is still far off.

Last week, Sterling Cooper & Partners got the shocking news that they where being absorbed by their subsidiary, McCann Erickson.

Erickson’s head executive, Jim Hobart, pitched SC&P partners — Don Draper, Roger Sterling, Ted Chaough, Peter Campbell, and Joan Holloway — that they were “rolling out the red carpet” for them with major accounts, companies SC&P had been struggling to nab for years.

But when Hobart went around the table telling the partners which big accounts they would head, he left out Joan, and she noticed. After the group celebrated the news, Joan told Peter she didn’t know if a woman could get the same accounts as the men at McCann Erickson.

This premonition, unfortunately, turned out to be accurate Sunday night for Joan in a heartbreaking episode.

We find out very quickly that McCann Erickson is a boys club when Joan is on the phone with her Avon contact, along with her junior account man, Dennis. Suddenly, Dennis takes over the call and basically ruins it with his lack of knowledge of the client (like asking if he golfs, unaware the client is in a wheelchair).

This leads Joan to reach out for support from Hobart’s second in command, Ferg Donnelly. She asks for Dennis to be put off her team. Ferg says he’ll handle it.

Ferg gets back to Joan with a solution, but first tells her the logic behind why Dennis acted the way he did.

He tells Joan that Dennis acted in a more authoritative role because he has a wife and three children and “he’s not going to work for a girl… What is he going to say, ‘she’s my boss?’”

This obviously isn’t Joan’s first time hearing a chauvinistic remark. We’ve seen her endure it countless times on the show, and again she lets this one roll off her.

But things get even more uncomfortable for Joan when Ferg tells her his solution is that he would now work on the account for her, adding, “I know a good job when I see one.”

Ferg then pushes Joan to set up a trip to Atlanta to speak with the Avon client in person and apologize for Dennis' remarks. Joan deflects Ferg’s sly advance of proposing a trip together by saying that the client will be in town soon. Ferg replies by telling her he’s “not expecting anything more than a good time” by working with her.

Joan is completely deflated from the encounter. But to drive home the point that McCann Erickson has little need of Joan, Ferg leaves her office with this zing: “We can’t lose those accounts, what else would you do around here?”

With nowhere to turn (and now getting candy and love letters from Ferg), Joan goes right to the top and has a meeting with Hobart. She voices her displeasure with Ferg and suggests that she takes on the accounts on her own, suggesting she receive the same “certain amount of status” she had at SC&P.

But Hobart responds to Joan’s suggestion by saying, “Your status has changed.”

“I don’t care about your SC&P partnership,” he told her. “I don’t know if somebody left it to you in their will, but your little stake doesn’t mean anything here.”

This leads to a battle of words with Joan standing up for her rights and letting Hobart know that she’s happy to take her half million dollars McCann Erickson owes her and just leave the company. Hobart tells her to figure out a way to get along with Ferg, or expect a letter from their lawyer.

“I wonder how many women around here would like to speak to a lawyer?” Joan fires back. “I believe the equal employment opportunity commission has one.”

Joan continues that the second she made a complaint the ACLU would be in her office and in the lobby there would be “Betty Friedan and half the women who marched down 5th avenue.”

Hobart counters by saying he’ll give her 50-cents on the dollar to never see her again, essentially offering her half of what she’s owed to walk away.

Joan says she’s not negotiating, and Hobart tells her to leave the office.

Though any "Man Men" fan wouldn’t be shocked by this unethical exchange, recent seasons did show the evolution (albeit, minor) of women's rights in the workplace. Joan being a partner at SC&P and Peggy Olson named head copy chief, proved that. But by being gobbled up by the larger Erickson, it’s evident equality hasn’t spread throughout Madison Avenue.

Along with Joan’s troubles on Sunday’s episode, Peggy was still at the empty SC&P offices because Erickson thought she was coming to the company as a secretary, not one of the heads of the copy division. She demanded an office before setting foot there.

As Joan points out to Hobart with her mention of feminist activist Betty Friedan, the cry for equal equality for women was becoming louder at the time.

Friedan lead the Women’s Strike for Equality in August of 1970. Falling on the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment, which gave American women the right to vote, more than 20,000 women gathering for protests in New York City and throughout the country to protest the lack of equal equality in the workforce, political rights for women, and social equality.

Though that historic moment had recently happened, it didn’t help Joan.

The day following her heated meeting with Hobart, Roger Sterling told Joan to take Hubart’s deal of 50-cents on the dollar.

“Take the money and be done with them,” said Sterling.

Joan was finally beaten. She took the framed picture of her son and rolodex from her desk and told Sterling, “Tell him it's a deal.”

She then walked out of the office.

With only two episodes left of the show, we hope Joan will find redemption before the final curtain falls.

UPDATE: On Monday, the ACLU tweeted their support of Joan.

SEE ALSO: 10 early roles of 'Mad Men' actors before they were stars

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How the stars of AMC's blockbuster 'Mad Men' have changed over the years