SpongeBob SquarePants' very own Sandy Cheeks announced Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the Nickelodeon Valuable Player (NVP) of the Conference Championships of the 2025-2026 NFL season as part of Week 21 of NFL Slimetime season five!
Join Nate Burleson, Young Dylan, Dylan Schefter, Mia Burleson and Cameron Jordan to see NFL highlights, interviews, and game picks as you've never seen them before. Most of all, find out which player takes home the slimiest trophy in sports, the NVP. Catch NFL Slimetime on Nickelodeon, and Paramount+! Try Paramount+ for FREE at ParamountPlus.com.
UK FANS: Catch Slimetime UK Saturdays at 12:00pm on Nickelodeon UK & Ireland!
FULL STEAM AHEAD INTO THE NEXT ERA OF A BELOVED GLOBAL BRAND
The Iconic Preschool Franchise Returns to Its Roots, Reimagined for Today’s Families
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., January 27, 2026 —Thomas & Friends™, the beloved children’s franchise from Mattel, reveals a bold new look for Thomas the Tank Engine, kicking off a full-franchise relaunch rolling out this fall. Marking the first step in a broader brand evolution, the update honors more than 80 years of storytelling and authentic train-culture while paying homage to its heritage and introduces a modern aesthetic designed to inspire today’s children and fans of all ages.
Since his debut in 1945, Thomas the Tank Engine has evolved alongside generations, from classic book illustrations to live-action television, CGI, and most recently, a 2D animation style. For this new creative direction, Mattel undertook a thoughtful design process grounded in what audiences have loved most about Thomas over time. Informed by research and creative exploration, the refreshed design stays true to Thomas’s core and, in testing with preschoolers and their parents, ranked highest in appeal, personality, and emotional connection.
Key new design elements include:
Lasting Legacy - Blends classic train culture with a warm, modern look, reinforcing the emotional connection families have had with Thomas for decades.
Relatable Storytelling - Draws inspiration from the franchise’s storytelling roots and timeless train traditions.
Modernization - Offers refined, contemporary details that maintain familiar and recognizable features.
Heart - Emphasizes warmth, authenticity and dependability for today’s families.
“Thomas has been a trusted companion for families for more than 80 years, and the new look reflects both where the brand comes from and where it’s headed on its next adventure,” said Ted Wu, senior vice president and Global Head of Vehicles & Building Sets at Mattel. “We returned to the elements that parents and kids love most while updating the design to feel relevant for today’s preschool audience. Authentic train details, timelessness and emotional storytelling form the foundation for the years ahead for Thomas & Friends.”
This is just the beginning of Thomas’s next chapter. Featuring a refreshed Thomas & Friends™ logo, new brand design elements and updated character designs rooted in their iconic heritage, the franchise will roll out additional announcements throughout 2026 with live experiences, product, publishing and content. For more information on Mattel and its brands, visit www.mattel.com.
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About Mattel
Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster High®, MEGA® and Polly Pocket®, and Barney®, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us at mattel.com
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Paramount+ is HERE! Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites! Try it at ParamountPlus.com!
Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for January 28, 2026 | Nickelodeon
Stream the classic Rugrats series on Paramount+! Try it at ParamountPlus.com!
Rugrats, provided to Creators Syndicate by Nickelodeon, based off the popular animated television series has been created for children and family's to laugh and enjoy together.
Follow these comics and their take on real episodes of the show and their own spin on hilarious adventures.
Host Stephen Colbert announced the news during the taping of Thursday’s show.
In a surprise announcement on Thursday, July 17, CBS and Late Show host Stephen Colbert said the show will come to an end in May 2026.
Update (1/28/26):The Late Show With Stephen Colbert is set to end — for good — on Thursday, May 21, Colbert revealed during a Monday (Jan. 26) taping of Late Night With Seth Meyers.
'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' during Monday’s January 20, 2025 show. | Scott Kowalchyk/CBS
Colbert told the show’s live audience during the taping of Thursday’s show at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York. In a statement, CBS said the cancellation was “purely a financial decision” made in a declining linear TV landscape.
The end of The Late Show at the end of the 2025-26 season will leave CBS without a late-night presence for the first time since 1993, when David Letterman moved from NBC to launch The Late Show. Colbert took over the show in 2015 and has been a consistent ratings leader among the network 11:35 p.m. shows for much of that time.
The announcement also comes as CBS’ parent company, Paramount Global, is hoping to close a merger with Skydance in the next few months. The company recently settled a lawsuit filed last year by Donald Trump (before he was elected to a second term as president) over a 60 Minutes interview with Trump’s election opponent, Kamala Harris. The settlement is widely seen as helping the merger’s chances for approval by the FCC under the Trump administration — and which Colbert, an outspoken Trump critic, criticized upon his return from a hiatus earlier this week. In its statement, CBS said that wasn’t a factor in the decision.
“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season,” reads a statement from Paramount co-CEO and CBS president and CEO George Cheeks, CBS Entertainment head Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios president David Stapf. “We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.
“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.
“Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult. Stephen has taken CBS late night by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews with leaders in entertainment, politics, news and newsmakers across all areas. The show has been No. 1 in late night for nine straight seasons; Stephen’s comedy resonates daily across digital and social media; and the broadcast is a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist.
“The accomplishments of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert are memorable and significant in performance, quality and stature. With much gratitude, we look forward to honoring Stephen and celebrating the show over the next 10 months alongside its millions of fans and viewers.”
For his part, Colbert told the audience Thursday that he was informed of the decision to end The Late Show on Wednesday night, drawing boos from the crowd. “Yeah, I share your feelings,” he said. “… This is all just going away. I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners. I’m so grateful to the Tiffany Network for giving me this chair and this beautiful theater to call home. And of course, I’m grateful to you, the audience who have joined us. … And I am extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here.” Watch Colbert’s full announcement below.
As for the rest of the network late-night landscape, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! will begin the final season of its current three-year deal in the fall. NBC late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers signed deals last year to continue hosting The Tonight Show and Late Night through 2028.
This whimsical underwater attraction immerses guests in the heart of Bikini Bottom, where SpongeBob’s signature bamboo cage baskets rise skyward, then drop and spin in thrilling interactive motions. As glowing jellyfish tentacles swirl and spark with playful “zaps,” riders are swept into a dazzling adventure that combines safe, family-friendly fun with the unforgettable energy of SpongeBob’s world.
Rise, drop and spin! Enjoy a thrilling Bikini Bottom tour among the Jellyfish tentacles!
The Jellyfish Jump ride, a creative vision from Paramount, was brought to life in partnership with RES RIDES, a leading Swiss global amusement ride manufacturer. RES re‑engineered its Interactive Observation Tower to fit seamlessly within the indoor venue, transforming it with SpongeBob SquarePants–inspired bamboo baskets and an immersive jellyfish spectacle. The family ride accommodates 768 guests per hour and is designed to be inclusive of guests requiring accessibility support. As the world’s first Jellyfish Jump ride, it follows RES’s successful installation of an outdoor balloon‑themed Interactive Observation Tower at LEGOLAND Günzburg, Germany.
“The Jellyfish Jump ride was a truly unique installation for us, as we completely re‑engineered our Interactive Observation Tower to realize Paramount’s creative vision,” said Roman Rothe, CEO of RES RIDES. “One of the key challenges was integrating the attraction into the lower level of the venue, which required us to reduce the ride’s height and manufacture it in modular components to fit within the building. The result is a beautiful, innovative ride that we are proud of and thrilled to deliver.”
Designed for children and families, Nickelodeon Play! Tersane Istanbul offers a comfortable, year-round indoor entertainment experience. The unique indoor theme park, filled with iconic characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, Dora, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is inspired by Nickelodeon’s imaginative and creative world. Inviting visitors of all ages to the heart of fun, discovery, and imagination, Nickelodeon Play! opens the doors to a world full of unforgettable memories.
RES RIDES is a leading global amusement ride manufacture that develops, designs, builds, installs, maintains and supports some of the most innovative rides and attractions. RES RIDES never creates the same ride twice. We constantly bring new and innovative rides to the market and breathe new life into our existing ride models with new movements, new experiences, new sensations, and new value. Your riders won’t know what’s coming next!
RES RIDES has a wide variety of unique tower rides, thrill rides, flat rides, and water rides, with all types of thrill level that will delight small kids and families to adrenaline seekers. For more information about RES RIDES’ Interactive Observation Tower, and other flat rides, towers, roller coasters, dry rides, water rides, or parts and services contact us.
School Spirits | Maddie & Wally's Relationship Timeline | Paramount+
Wally (Milo Manheim) supported Maddie (Peyton List) through it all - from her first Split River High afterlife support group meeting to discovering what happened to her body. Rewatch the moments that brought them closer together as their relationship evolved over the course of the first two seasons.
Stream School Spirits on Paramount+. Get started at ParamountPlus.com.
This week Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is getting to the heart of the franchise ethics in the brand new episode. As Star Trek boldly continues its 60th anniversary year the latest series in the fleet digs in to the future of the Klingon Empire whilst tasking the students to practice their negotiating skills. New episodes continue to roll out new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+ in the U.S. and U.K.
(Image Credit: Paramount+)
This week’s episode, “Vox in Excelso”, is written by Gaia Violo & Eric Anthony Glover, and directed by Doug Aarniokoski. Here’s the synopsis for the episode.
When an existential crisis threatens to wipe out a beloved but infamous Star Trek species, a cadet is forced to confront his past and strained relationship with his family. As he pursues an unexpected method of coping, Nahla races against time to save this species from extinction.
Take a look at all 13 officially released images from “Vox in Excelso” below:
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy stars Holly Hunter as the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy, the Starfleet cadets played by Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins and Bella Shepard, plus Zoë Steiner, Tig Notaro, Robert Picardo, and guest stars Oded Fehr, Mary Wiseman, as well as recurring guest stars Gina Yashere and Paul Giamatti.
Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau serve as co-showrunners and executive produce the series alongside executive producers Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa and John Weber. The series’ premiere episode is written by Gaia Violo and directed by Alex Kurtzman. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is available to stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the U.K., Latin America, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Japan. The series is also available on Paramount+ in Canada. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
Stream the Star Trek Universe on Paramount+! Get started at ParamountPlus.com!
Star Trek Scouts Save a Baby Animal! 🌋 | Holodeck Rescues #1 | Star Trek: Scouts | Blaze and the Monster Machines and Nick Jr.
The Star Trek Scouts, JR, Roo, and Sprocket are on a mission to save a cosmic creature separated from its family! They use rocket boots, a tricorder, and a replicator in an epic volcanic eruption rescue to bring the animal back to safety and complete another epic rescue mission!
The Star Trek Scouts are here to help! Join JR, Roo, and Sprocket as they go on exciting holodeck adventures to rescue baby animals across space. Watch them work together on amazing missions, saving the day and helping new friends along the way. Together, they learn, grow, and boldly go!
Stream your favorite Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows on Paramount+! Try Paramount+ for FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Star Trek: Scouts Holodeck Rescues | Official Trailer | Blaze and the Monster Machines and Nick Jr.
The Star Trek Scouts are here to help! Join JR, Roo, and Sprocket as they go on exciting holodeck adventures to rescue baby animals across space. Watch them work together on amazing missions, saving the day and helping new friends along the way. Together, they learn, grow, and boldly go!
Stream your favorite Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows on Paramount+! Try Paramount+ for FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
It’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Night! | Season 14 | The Masked Singer
Cowabunga dudes! It’s TMNT night and everyone’s got a role. Nick’s Master Splinter. Ken’s Leonardo. Jenny’s Rita’s Michelangelo and Robin’s Raphael. Watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles night Wednesday at 8/7c on FOX and next day Hulu.
Hosted by Nick Cannon, with panelists Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Rita Ora and Robin Thicke, “The Masked Singer’' is a top-secret singing competition in which celebrities face off against one another while shrouded from head to toe in an elaborate costume, concealing his or her identity. With each performance, the host, panelists, audience, viewers and even the other contestants are left guessing who is singing behind the mask. The singers may attempt to throw off the crowd, but keen observers might pick up on tiny clues buried throughout the show. Each week, a singer is eliminated -- and then reveals his or her true identity.
Subscribe to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles OFFICIAL YouTube channel - the ultimate home for all things TMNT! Here you’ll find Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello’s best moments from all your favorite TMNT series. Join the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in their fight against evil, and be the first to get notified of exclusive original content you won’t find anywhere else! https://at.nick.com/TMNTSubscribe
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game (working title) is an upcoming 2D anime action fighting game based on the hit Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra series, developed by Gameplay Group International in collaboration with Paramount, set to launch in Summer 2026 for PlayStation 4 (PS4), PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam).
PAW Patrol continues to be a top-rated powerhouse in preschool entertainment filled with memorable stories and meaningful lessons, and there's a lot in store for our favorite search-and-rescue pups in 2026, including the brand new hour-long special Rocky’s Cat-astrophe, set to premiere on Friday, January 30 at 10:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.
Photo: Nickelodeon
In Rocky’s Cat-astrophe, our favorite mixed-breed Eco pup, Rocky, takes the lead in this new hour-long adventure. When Mayer Humdinger's scheme goes awry, the home of junkyard kitten Percy ends up in shambles. Rocky, out of the kindness of his heart, invites the kitty to stay at the Lookout overnight. Despite Ryder’s offer to work as a team to watch the “zippy kitty”, Rocky’s determined to take the lead and says he’s got this.
Little does he know what a handful the mischievous kitten will be. While Rocky’s heart's in the right place, he learns a valuable lesson that even heroes with the best of intentions sometimes need to ask for help. The hour-long episode teaches teamwork, kindness, and problem-solving through a fun, preschool-friendly adventure.
To celebrate Rocky embarking on his first solo rescue mission, Nickelodeon has unveiled a PAWsome first look at the all-new PAW Patrol special, which you can check out in the video clips above and below, courtesy of Parents!
“Get ready for a heartwarming and action-packed PAW Patrol adventure!,” said Laura Clunie, Senior Vice President of Spin Master Entertainment, the global entertainment company behind the series.
“This hour-long special puts our favorite eco-pup, Rocky, in the spotlight as he sets out on a rescue, leading him to bite off a little more than he can chew. What unfolds is a powerful story that shows that even the mightiest heroes need to ask for help sometimes—in fact, it is one of the bravest things you can do.”
Photo: Nickelodeon
Exciting Year Ahead for the Pups
This new special is the latest in a series of five hour-long specials announced last May. Each special centers on a different character from the Paw Patrol universe. In the Fall special, Valiente: A Tracker Story, pup Tracker and his caretaker, Carlos, recruit Ryder and the rest of the Paw Patrol to take on a new villain. During the holiday season, we followed Rubble in A PAW Patrol Christmas as he saves the holiday when Humdinger tries to take all the gifts from Santa for himself.
PAW Patrol has a global audience, reaching 180 territories and being translated into 22 languages. With the remaining hour-long specials forthcoming, a brand-new season on the horizon, new episodes of spin-off Rubble & Crew, and a third feature film set to be released this summer, preschoolers around the world have a lot to be excited for.
PAW Patrol fans can stream full PAW Patrol episodes and movies, including The Mighty Movie, on Paramount+. Try it today at ParamountPlus.com.
Shop all things PAW Patrol on the official Paramount Shop.
