Contact Testimonials CBR Features Copywriting

CharGirlWrites

Charlene is an Entertainment/Lifestyle Journalist and Copywriter. Her work has been featured in Glamour, GQ, HuffPost, Thrive Global, CBR, Looper, The South African, Fortress of Solitude, and more.

She loves the Backstreet Boys, advocates individuality, and is a firm believer in pancakes for dinner.

Her Bachelor of Commerce Degree gives her a unique insight into the business side of entertainment journalism. She also works as an occasional brand strategist for rock band  Bon Jovi and Tourphotographer David Bergman.

Featured Articles

CBR •

The Big Bang Theory's Worst Character, Explained

It’s been a minute since The Big Bang Theory hit our screens in 2007. Over its 12-season run,
Each week, fans tuned in to watch this lovable group of friends navigates the complexities of everyday life. Penny outgrew her ditsy qualities, Sheldon got better at picking up on social cues, Howard lost his creep vibe, and Raj was able to talk to women. But Leonard Hofstadter became increasingly irritating over the years, making him the most annoying character in the series.
CBR •

Welcome Home, Franklin Trailer Fixes Decades Old Peanuts Controversy

The Apple TV+ special addresses concerns of apparent, albeit unintentional, racism in the 1973 film, where the Thanksgiving scene seemed to "segregate" Franklin from his counterparts by seating him on a beach chair on the opposite side of the table, all by himself.

Flipping the script Welcome Home, Franklin sees the Peanuts gang sitting down to a similar meal, but this time, they save a spot for their new friend. "Hey, Franklin, we saved you a seat over here," Lunis van Pelt says, motioning to a place next to Charlie Brown.
The South African •

Taylor Swift: A breakdown of each of her musical eras

Taylor Swift is a singer that resonates with music lovers across generations. From her debut single “Tim McGraw” in 2006 to her latest venture, Midnights, Swift has sold over 30 million albums and claimed 12 Grammy Awards.

Her music is a testament to the human experience, touching hearts and providing an emotional refuge. Swift’s musical evolution has been a spectacle, transforming her from a country music darling to an indie pop icon.
GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT •

Deadpool Making Fun Of Marvel Won't Save Your Cinematic Universe, Disney

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a dominant force in filmmaking since Iron Man hit screens in 2008. But as the years passed, a slow decline in quality began to creep in. When Deadpool & Wolverine was announced as the only Marvel Studios release of 2024, fans believed it would save the franchise. However, as more information about the film, like clips of the Merc with a Mouth making fun of Marvel and Disney, make its way online, I fear those hopes have been dashed.

Deadpool & Wolverine Tak
GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT •

The Biggest Problem With Twilight Isn't What You Think

What seemed like a cute love story between the 17-year-old Bella Swan and the immortal vampire Edward Cullen (conveniently also 17 despite having lived for over a century) slowly became a subject of debate. Some fans saw it as a feminist movie about a girl who knows what she wants and will do anything (even if it breaks her dad’s heart) to get what she wants. Others criticized the movie for promoting Edward’s possessiveness and over-protectiveness as romance.
GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT •

Sitcoms Are Dead For One Brutal Reason

Sitcoms have been a television staple for decades, providing easy laughs to audiences worldwide. However, in recent years, there has been a notable decline in the number of traditional sitcoms on network television.

Gone are the days of weekly doses of shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends, or Modern Family. While many attribute the downturn to binge-watching entire series on streaming platforms, the more likely reason is the outdated and harmful tropes.
GFR •

The Simpsons Ruined The Series When It Axed Its Best Character

When The Simpsons took away the role of Apu, it set a bad precedent.

Until a few years ago, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the proprietor of the Kwik-E-Mart convenience store in Springfield, was one of the most iconic characters in The Simpsons.
But he was ultimately removed from the series, and this was a huge mistake. Removing Apu from the show not only skirts the line of censorship but in a cruel irony, it’s an example of a TV series giving its audience less racial representation.
Looper.com •

The Untold Truth of Bernadette from The Big Bang Theory

When "The Big Bang Theory" debuted in 2007, viewers were instantly drawn to Sheldon's offbeat brilliance, Leonard's awkward sensibility, and Penny's free spirit. Over its 12-season run, fans also got to know their friends, Howard and Raj, a little better too.

But it wasn't until the show's third season that Bernadette Maryann Rostenkowski stepped into Pasadena's Cheesecake Factory and slowly weaved her way into everyone's hearts.That's when the series about a bunch of funny nerds became so much more than that.
CBR •

Planet of the Apes Movies Ranked, According to Critics

Back when franchises were still a new concept, there was the Planet of the Apes film series. The story essentially holds up a mirror to humanity, depicting its failings and conflicts through a rather wild premise. The films have cemented their place in pop culture, making the franchise a must-see for anyone who loves good storytelling. That said, here's a ranking of every Planet of The Apes film by their Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes scores' average.
Fortress of Solitude •

Friends: The Reunion Is Made For Die-Hard Fans

After being delayed for over a year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, HBO Max has finally reunited Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer for the highly anticipated Friends: The Reunion special. Directed by Late Late Show producer Ben Winston, the unscripted gathering is the first time in 17 years that the Friends stars have been brought together since the show ended its ten-season run in 2004.

Friends: The Reunion begins with each cast member walking onto the recreated Friends soundstage on the Warner Bros lot. It’s filled with some emotional greetings and a good dose of reminiscing. The opening credits are (obviously) set to the show’s theme song and leads into a live interview hosted by late night television host James Corden.
CBR •

American Dad: One Family Member's Disguises Are BETTER Than Roger's

American Dad!’s resident alien Roger Smith is the king of personas. Seamlessly switching disguises in a matter of seconds, he has the residents of Langley Falls believing whatever he wants them to.
To keep track of his costumed shenanigans, the lovable alien keeps a ledger of all the people he knows and the aliases they know him as. While Roger’s never-ending carousel of outfits is impressive, Francine often gives him a run for his money when it comes to successfully pulling off a disguise.
CBR •

Zack Snyder's Justice League: Superman's Best Moment Is Also the Cut's Worst Edit

Zack Snyder's Justice League has been one of the most-talked-about cinematic events in recent history. The phenomenal four-hour feature essentially removes all of Joss Whedon's footage and brings Synder's original vision to life in its spectacular entirety.
Overall, Zack Snyder's Justice League has been extremely well-received, but when it comes to Superman and Lois' reunion, it does have one notable difference from the theatrical cut.