Every year, fans watch their favorite holiday films on repeat — including It’s a Wonderful Life and Home Alone — but whatever happened to the kids who starred in the iconic movies?
While the leads often get all the love — like Tim Allen as Santa Claus/Scott Calvin in The Santa Clause trilogy — the cute child stars that accompany them help make the movies feel warmer and fuzzier.
Love Actually, for example, has a ton of major adult actors such as Liam Neeson and Keira Knightley, but for many, it’s Neeson’s character’s stepson, Sam, who steals the show. Nearly a decade after the British rom-com hit theaters in 2003, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who played Sam, still gets recognized for his adorable role.
“I don’t think Love Actually is going to go anywhere. I think I’ll forever be known as the cute little kid from Love Actually,” Brodie-Sangster told Mr. Porter in an interview published in February 2021. “I don’t mind that, that’s fine.”
Turner-Smith, 38, alleged in new court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Monday, December 23, that Jackson, 46, has not paid her any child support since news broke in October 2023 that they parted ways. She is requesting he pay her $8,543 per month retroactive to the date of her initial filing. (TMZ was first to report the news.)
The Bad Monkey actress also requested that Jackson pay her $28,641 a month in spousal support while their divorce is still pending. (She initially asked the court to take spousal support off the table but has seemingly changed her mind.)
She is asking that the court order the Dawson’s Creek alum to pay her $250,000 to cover her attorney fees and other costs as they continue to hash out their legal split.
Turner-Smith claimed that Jackson “promised to always support me” and “ensured” her that she would “not have to worry about financial security for our daughter if we ever separated because he said he understood how difficult life can be as a Black woman and a single mother.”
She argued in the docs that Jackson made more money than her during their four-year marriage and accused him of piling up attorney’s fees by dragging out their divorce.
Turner-Smith alleged that the Doctor Odyssey star is “reneging” on his “promise” to financially protect her and their 4-year-old daughter. (The former couple welcomed their child in April 2020.)
Us confirmed in October 2023 that Turner-Smith filed for divorce from Jackson after four years of marriage. She cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the breakup and listed the date of separation as September 13, 2023.
Turner-Smith, who married the Mighty Ducks actor in 2019, noted in the initial docs that she was looking for joint custody of their child.
Despite hitting a bump in their legal proceedings, Turner-Smith has been positive about her coparenting experience with Jackson over the past year.
“It’s an adjustment period for anyone when they split up with someone, because you’re used to being with your child all the time,” she told Glamour in an interview published in October. “But nobody hands you a manual. Everyone’s trying to figure it out. Each parent has a different life, and especially if the reason why you’re splitting up is because you have different lives, it’s only further complicated by how you’re going to coparent.”
The following month, Turner-Smith told Entertainment Tonight that coparenting comes down to thinking “about your kids” at all times. “When you’re parenting in the public eye, everything that you do — eventually, there’s a record of it,” she explained. “You don’t want your kids to read anything and think anything.”
She added: “It’s just about — center the children and that’s all you can do. Nobody gets everything right but at least when you know you’re focused on the right thing, you know you’re gonna do your best.”
Jackson — who dated Lupita Nyong’o from fall 2023 to October of this year — has remained quiet about his and Turner-Smith’s ongoing divorce. In September, he did share a rare glimpse at his life as a girl dad.
He exclusively told Us in September that he couldn’t pick the best thing about being a parent. “It’s not a part; it’s the whole thing,” Jackson gushed. “It’s every single day. She is a joy.”
Jackson noted that his daughter influences every aspect of his life. “I have a 4-year-old. She’s in school. I need to work here, and I want to be able to be, like, a dad,” he explained. “That’s really honestly my main priority.”
Being close to home is what drew the actor to his latest role on Doctor Odyssey. “I really wanted to do something where it was lighter, where I didn’t have to go home as a head case every night, brooding and heavy,” he added.
Us Weekly has reached out to Jackson’s team for comment.
The ESPN family is mourning the loss of one of their own, Zach Jones, following his death on Sunday, December 22. He was 41.
“ESPN lost one of our own yesterday, research manager Zach Jones,” SportsCenter anchor Randy Scott announced during the Monday, December 23, broadcast.
Scott revealed that after a “two-year fight with colorectal cancer that had metastasized before his diagnosis,” Jones passed away.
“You may have never seen him on your screens, but you saw his work on our live golf coverage, our women’s college basketball coverage or on any of our SportsCenter shows,” the journalist continued. “He came here in 2010 as a researcher and joined the management team of the stats and information group in 2018.”
Scott got tears in his eyes while detailing Jones’ most important legacies, which were not tied to his work at the sports-focused network.
“More important than that, he got married here. He started a family here. The Stanford [University] graduate loved The Cardinal, and he loved golf,” Scott said, getting choked up on camera. “He loved his wife, Amber, and he loved his son Silas. He turned 10 last month. He lost his dad three days before Christmas.”
The anchor recalled seeing Jones “just a couple of weeks ago” in the cafeteria, noting he was “hopeful” and “reflective,” telling him, “He just wanted his family to be OK after a recent move to Texas.”
Scott explained that Jones “fought like hell” during his cancer battle and “he gets to rest now.” He signed off by saying, “We love you, buddy” and sharing a photo of his late coworker with his family.
Scott shared the SportsCenter clip via X on Monday, calling Jones, “Our friend, Amber’s husband, and Silas’ dad.”
Fellow SportsCenter anchor Kevin Negandhi also paid tribute to their friend via social media.
“May you rest in peace Zach. A devoted dad who loved golf, the Chargers and his family,” he wrote via X on Monday. “He was a fantastic researcher and had the perfect demeanor for TV. He will be missed by so many. Sending all of our love to his wife, son and their family. F— cancer.”
ESPN colleague Gregg Colli commented on Negandhi’s post, replying, “Zach was the best. The original fantasy football researcher who handled a ridiculous volume of work with a smile and no complaints. He was as good a human as it gets. Cancer Sucks!”
Teddi Mellencamp’s love of horses hasn’t wavered since news broke last month of her alleged affair with her horse trainer, Simon Schroeder.
Mellencamp, 43, enjoyed an afternoon at the stables on Sunday, December 22, with her daughters Slate, 12, and Dove, 4, according to her Instagram Stories.
“Frog Santa is my fave Santa,” she captioned one photo with Dove, who wore Christmas tree-shaped glasses on her face that looked a little like a frog.
Mellencamp was all smiles in the snap, wearing black riding pants and boots, a white Nike sweatshirt and her helmet. The mother-daughter duo posed by a hose wearing a Santa hat.
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star also shared several videos of both Slate and Dove riding different horses. One of the animals even wore reindeer antlers as Slate galloped.
Slate and Dove, whom Mellencamp shares with her estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave, also dressed up for the festive riding day. (Mellencamp and Arroyave also share son Cruz, 10, and Arroyave, 47, is the father of daughter Isabella from a previous relationship.)
Dove traded in her tree glasses for sparkly reindeer glasses to ride with her big sister, who added antlers to her helmet.
“Santa’s little helper,” Mellencamp captioned a separate Instagram Story video of her youngest child walking one of the horses out of its stable.
Later that day, Mellencamp posted photos of Slate and Cruz with friends during their VIP experience at Cirque du Soleil Kooza in Santa Monica, California.
The reality’s star’s family-filled weekend came nearly two months after she announced on November 2 that she and Arroyave split after 13 years of marriage.
Mellencamp initially requested sole physical and legal custody of the pair’s three children with Arroyave having “reasonable and frequent” visitation. However, Us Weekly confirmed on November 22 that she changed her petition, asking the court for joint physical and legal custody of the kids.
Arroyave, for his part, previously asked for joint legal and physical custody of the kids in his November response to Mellencamp’s filing. “Edwin and Teddi have always wanted to keep this amicable for the children,” a source told Us at the time, claiming that “Teddi and Edwin both knew each other were filing — it was not a surprise.”
While the estranged spouses appear to be handling their divorce amicably, Mellencamp has remained in the hot seat over the past two months for other extramarital affairs.
“Simon and Teddi had a thing several months ago but it’s not still happening,” a source exclusively told Us last month, claiming that Mellencamp and Arroyave were both unfaithful during their marriage.
While the insider said, “Teddi isn’t excusing her behavior,” they alleged it was “the first and only time she strayed outside the marriage.” The source added that Mellencamp says “there’s two sides to the story” and both she and Arroyave are to “blame.”
A second insider told Us that Arroyave “insists he has not had an affair since” he cheated on Mellencamp eight years ago. “Since then, he’s been focused on family and faith,” the source claimed.
Following their separation, Mellencamp has kept quiet about what led to the split. She briefly touched upon the rumors during the November 14 episode of her “Two Ts in a Pod” podcast, saying, “There’s multiple sides to every story.”
She added, “I’m not going to confirm or deny anything. But there’s many people involved.”
Mellencamp has since begun to pick up the pieces in her life, revealing during the December 5 episode of Erika Jayne’s “Diamonds in the Rough” podcast that she is living part-time with RHOBH’s Kyle Richards. She is also splitting time with Arroyave in their marital home with their kids, which she called “nesting.”
“Some places you can just file for divorce … in California, there’s a six-month cooling-off period,” Mellencamp explained. “During that six months, you can do a multitude of things. The way I learned about nesting was one of my good girlfriends, she’s a divorce coach. She told me about nesting. It’s where the kids stay [in the marital home] and the parents come and go.”
She noted that both she and her estranged husband “can be there for sporting events” and other activities for the kids. “We’re completely happy to be around one another,” Mellencamp claimed.
The cast of Below Deck and its spinoff series will do just about anything for love … or at least to have a fun crew hookup.
After seven seasons of the Bravo series — with more than 100 episodes — there have been plenty of romances to watch unfold. Add in the Below Deck Mediterranean flings and Below Deck Sailing Yachtrelationships and viewers have a lot to keep up with.
Below Deck’s Rocky Dakota and Eddie Lucas served as the guideline for crew members of what not to do while yachting. Chief Stewardess Kate Chastain revealed on the Bravo’s Daily Dish in January 2020 that the season 3 secret hookup “ruined it for everyone” moving forward.
Although Rocky and Eddie’s time together was rough for many on board the ship, the next season brought Ben Robinson and Emily Warburton-Adams’ sweet relationship. The couple lasted a while onshore as well, but ultimately ended called it quits in 2017.
Throughout its five seasons, Below Deck Med also gave life to many memorable couples, including Malia White’s two beaus. She briefly dated Wes Walton during season 2, and her boyfriend, Tom Checketts, joined the cast during season 5.
After dating for more than a year, Malia announced in September 2020 that she and Tom had gone their separate ways. “Yes, Tom and I have split. The details surrounding all of it I am trying to keep a little private just out of respect to him and I,” she said via an Instagram video. “But yes, I am single.”
TMZ reported in December that Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment and “severe emotional distress.” His lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said in a statement to Us Weekly that the allegations are “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.” Us reached out to Lively’s rep for comment at the time.
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It Ends With Us just hit theaters, but Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni ’s off-camera dynamic is what really has fans talking.
Prior to the opening on Friday, August 9, TikTok sleuths suspected that there’s a rift between the pair — partially linked to the movie’s final cut. The feud speculation originally began to swirl when fans noticed that Lively, 36, doesn’t follow Baldoni, 40, on Instagram, nor does anyone else in the cast. (Lively is also a producer on the project, while Baldoni directed the film.)
Lively has shared a lot of promotion for the movie featuring costars Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar, Isabela Ferrer and Alex Neustaedter and It Ends With Us authorColleen Hoover.
Baldoni, meanwhile, does follow Lively on social media — and appeared on Hoover’s Instagram several times while shooting the adaptation. Hoover, 44, is not currently following Baldoni, hinting at a bigger falling out.
Eagle-eyed fans also pointed out that Baldoni was noticeably absent from joint press events for the movie and there were no big cast photos from the New York City premiere.
Lively added her own fuel to the fire when she revealed that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, wrote part of the rooftop scene in the film. She noted at the time that she and Reynolds, 47, often enlist each other to help with various projects. Reynolds was later tapped to help promote the movie by doing an interview with Sklenar.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lively allegedly then asked for a cut of the movie from editor Shane Reid before the film was finalized. (Reid previously worked with Lively on Taylor Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me” music video, which she directed. He also worked as the editor on Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine.)
The outlet noted that it is unclear whether any of the cut — credited to editors Oona Flaherty and Robb Sullivan — was used in the final version.
Us Weekly has learned that it’s not uncommon for someone to commission a different version of the film as part of the editing process before the movie hits theaters.
In the case of Lively and Baldoni the source noted, “All parties agreed on the final cut of the film and agreed that it’s the best version of the film.”
Despite rumors of tension between Lively and Baldoni, who play Lily Bloom and Ryle Kincaid, respectively, Baldoni has sung Lively’s praises throughout his press tour. He also pitched his costar to direct the possible sequel, which would be based on Hoover’s It Starts With Us novel.
“I think there are better people for that one,” Baldoni told Entertainment Tonight on Tuesday, August 6, when asked if he’d pull double duty again for the possible next installment.
He added, “I think Blake Lively is ready to direct. That’s what I think,” noting that he needed a “vacation” after starring and directing the movie.
Us Weekly reached out to Lively and Baldoni’s reps for comment.
It Ends With Us is now playing in theaters.
If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
Hallmark came in hot with its slate of 2024 movies and kept the hits rolling throughout the year — many of which still have Us talking.
There were International rom-coms like Two Scoops of Italy and period pieces like An American in Austen as well as holiday sequels that had Us rolling around on the ground laughing. We’re looking at you Three Wiser Men and a Boy.
Hallmark also released epic new sleuthing films on Hallmark Mystery and exclusive programming on its new streaming site, Hallmark+, that hooked Us in month after month.
Lacey Chabert, a.k.a. one of the queens of Christmas, starred in two of Us’ top 20 movies of the year with His & Hers — which was the 10th project for her and costar Brennan Elliott — and The Christmas Quest.
Chabert exclusively told Us Weekly in August that her “Countdown to Christmas” movie was a “grand adventure” that marked her first “treasure hunt” for the network. “Everyone knows I love Christmas, so I was super excited,” she added.
Keep scrolling for Us’ unofficial ranking of the best Hallmark movies of 2024 (and the standout moments that stole our hearts):
Hallmark Media is kicking off 2025 with four all-new Hallmark Channel movies — taking viewers all around the world from the comfort of their couch.
The network announced in December 2024 that its “Winter Escape” lineup begins on January 4 with Love of the Irish. While filming the movie, star Shenae Grimes-Beech explored the Irish countryside with her husband, Josh Beech, and their two kids in tow.
“Hard not to romanticize the simple things when you’ve got 24 hours alone in an 18th-century Irish castle *swoon*,” Grimes-Beech captioned an Instagram video of her taking a bath, reading with a glass of wine and getting cozy during her downtime in October 2024.
After nearly a month of filming the rom-com — which also stars One Tree Hill alum Moira Kelly — Grimes-Beech told her followers that Ireland has a “huge chunk of my heart.”
Love of the Irish is just one of four travel-focused features Hallmark Channel will air in January — and there’s sure to be even more with Hallmark Mystery and Hallmark+ all releasing new movies throughout the year.Scroll down — and check back monthly — to see all the new movies coming to Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery and Hallmark+ in 2025:
January — Hallmark Channel
‘Love of the Irish’
Premiere Date: Saturday, January 4, at 8 p.m. ET.
Stars: Shenae Grimes-Beech, Stephen Hagan and Moira Kelly
Logline: “Tired of her bad luck, Fiona (Grimes-Beech) takes her mom (Kelly) on a trip to Ireland to turn things around where she meets a charming single dad who helps her make her own luck.”
‘Polar Opposites’
Premiere Date: Saturday, January 11, at 8 p.m. ET.
Logline: “Emma (Fish) needs to get to Antarctica to reach her father and travels to South America but can’t get on a boat for the last leg. She sneaks onto a cruise ship and meets engineer Andy (Tarasiuk).”
Logline: “Abril (Gonzalo) goes to Argentina to save her family ranch from being bought by her ex (Di Pace). But when outside forces threaten the ranch the pair must come together, rekindling their love in the process.”
‘The Perfect Setting’
Premiere Date: Saturday, January 25, at 8 p.m. ET.
Stars: Laci J. Mailey and David Elsendoorn
Logline: “An aspiring jewelry designer (Mailey) returns to Belgium to visit her grandfather and hopefully win the Valentine’s Day Diamond Contest.”
January — Hallmark Mystery
‘The Jane Mysteries: A Deadly Prescription’
Premiere Date: Thursday, January 9, at 8 p.m. ET (originally aired on Hallmark+ but is now making its network premiere)
Logline: “Jane (Sweetin) seeks justice for a teenager who’s wrongfully imprisoned for murder. She and Detective John (Huszar) work together to prove the teen’s innocence and help reunite him with his mother.”
Kyle Cooke famously said, “Summer should be fun,” but his wife, Amanda Batula, admitted the anticipation of a new Summer House season is anything but.
“I feel like this lull between the super tease and the premiere is probably when I have the most anxiety,” Amanda, 33, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, December 19, while promoting Amazon’s Buy With Prime feature. “Because it’s like you just start thinking about like, ‘Oh, my God, everything that’s gonna air.’”
Amanda noted that while it’s “exciting” for fans to get a glimpse of the upcoming season, the official trailer release gets her worked up. “I’m glad that it happens over the holidays, so that there’s plenty of stuff to distract us with,” she confessed.
She revealed, “Even though it was a great summer, it’s just always that anticipation of, ‘What the hell did we do?’”
Paige DeSorbo cried over a possible breakup with boyfriend Craig Conover, while one of her best friends, Ciara Miller, claimed Craig, 35, gives “hater energy.”
Although Amanda wasn’t at the heart of the drama, her spouse, 42, did get into a fight with her bestie Paige, 32. “The only reason I came here tonight was so that someone kept his wife company while he pretended to be Diplo,” Paige said of Kyle in the trailer.
Despite seemingly being in hot water with Paige, Amanda told Us that Kyle “doesn’t get anxious” about the show before it airs.
“It also just feels like a lifetime ago even though it was just last summer,” Kyle exclusively told Us of his mindset. “You know, what were you doing for every hour of your July 4th weekend?”
Amanda, however, confessed it’s “hard” to wait and see what made the cut. “It’s exciting to watch but it’s also just like, ‘Oh my God, what’s gonna play out?’”
She teased, “Do you remember everything you said or did when you had a few cocktails? You know, it’s a little hazy.”
When she does watch the events unfold on TV, Amanda said it’s “weird” because so much has “transpired” since they wrapped filming. “You watch it back knowing what you know now and you have a different perspective on it than you did in the moment.”
One thing that Amanda doesn’t worry about every season is getting her costumes and vacation supplies shipped directly to the Hamptons thanks to Amazon’s Buy With Prime feature.
“Have you seen the boxes that stack up on our porch? I mean, we’re constantly using Buy With Prime [and] Amazon Prime,” Amanda explained. “It’s just so convenient. Like any last-minute things that we need, it’s just so easy to ship it to the house when we’re forgetting stuff.”
She revealed that “100 percent” of Kyle’s costumes and “98 percent” of her own looks this past summer came from Prime.
“I feel like Ciara orders most of her stuff to the Hamptons instead of her apartment,” Amanda said. “So there’s constantly personal boxes there for her.”
Amanda noted that because the Hamptons “takes a little bit longer” to get packages, she has turned to Buy With Prime because it curates “your favorite sites instead of doing the normal five to seven shipping days.”
Season 9 of Summer House premieres on Bravo Wednesday, February 12, at 9 p.m. ET.
Will Ferrell drew viewers in as the iconic Buddy the Elf in 2003’s Elf, and fans still can’t get enough of the silly holiday film more than two decades later.
In the Christmas movie, Buddy goes to New York City in hopes of finding his biological father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan), after learning that he is a human and not an elf as he’d always thought.
In October 2021, Ferrell revealed that fans won’t be getting an Elf sequel anytime soon, revealing that he turned down a major payday on a second movie because of the story line. A movie reunion, however, has not happened.
Scroll down to see what the cast of Elf has been up to since the movie’s 2003 release:
Ethan Slater and wife Lilly Jay’s relationship spanned more than a decade before they parted ways — and he began seeing Wicked costar Ariana Grande.
The Broadway star — who is best known for playing SpongeBob SquarePants in the musical by the same name — found love with Jay in 2012. The twosome proceeded to make a life for themselves in New York City two years later.
Their romance culminated in saying “I do” in fall 2018. “Two years into marriage and we still find each other funny. Phew,” Slater wrote via Instagram in November 2020, sharing a rare photo from the pair’s nuptials. “Happy anniversary to the love of my life.”
While Slater and Jay appeared to be going strong in fall 2022 — they welcomed a baby boy that same year — by summer of the next year, they were no longer together.
In July 2023, Slater and Grande — who married Dalton Gomez in May 2021 — sparked romance speculation after getting close during their U.K. filming of the Wicked movie beginning in early 2023.
“Ariana and Ethan are dating; however things are fairly new. Ariana and Dalton split in January, and Ethan is separated from his wife,” a source told Us Weekly at the time. “Ariana and Ethan have only recently begun seeing each other but they have a lot of fun together and are enjoying each other’s company.”
Scroll down for Slater and estranged wife Jay’s relationship timeline from the beginning:
2012
Slater and Jay, who were high school sweethearts, began their romance.
Jay was by Slater’s side when he attended the 2018 Tony Awards following his nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for SpongeBob SquarePants.
November 2018
The twosome got married after six years of dating.
November 2022
“My best friend. 4 years married, 10 years together,” Slater wrote via Instagram in honor of their anniversary. “And this is easily the best (and most *bizarre*) year yet.”
January 2023
Slater confirmed via social media that he and Jay welcomed a baby boy before the new year. “Super vague post, but we have a baby now,” he joked, sharing photos of Jay’s positive pregnancy test from December 2021, and a picture of them pushing a baby stroller in December 2022.
May 2023
“Happy first Mother’s Day to the most loving caring and wonderful mom/person in the world. — from me and this little guy,” Slater captioned a series of snaps via Instagram.
Days later, Us confirmed that Grande, who plays Glinda, and Slater, who was cast as munchkin Boq in the musical-inspired film, are dating in the wake of their respective splits. Neither Grande nor Slater have publicly spoken about their romance nor their recent breakups.
Slater filed for divorce from Jay on July 26. The reason for the split was not listed at the time.
September 2024
On September 12, Us Weekly confirmed that Slater and Jay finalized their divorce and reached a settlement. Details of their docs remained sealed.
In an essay for The Cut titled “How Does My Divorce Make You Feel?,” Jay opened up about how her highly publicized split from Slater affected her.
“No one gets married thinking they’ll get divorced … but I really never thought I would get divorced. Especially not just after giving birth to my first child, and especially not in the shadow of my husband’s new relationship with a celebrity,” she wrote. “Days with my son are sunny. Days when I can’t escape the promotion of a movie associated with the saddest days of my life are darker.”
Slater has since moved on with Grande, celebrating the release of their movie Wicked in November.
Austen Kroll hasn’t always been successful in love, but he does know a thing or two about dating during the holidays.
Kroll, 37, began seeing his current girlfriend, Audrey Pratt, during cuffing season last year. As they celebrate their one-year together, Us Weekly asked the Southern Charm star for his tips for entering — and maintaining — a romance that starts during the cozy months.
Cuffing season a.k.a. the holiday season refers to colder months when it’s desirable to snuggle up to a special someone and be in a romantic relationship. According to Kroll, it’s a total “yes” to start dating a new person during the autumn and winter months.
The reality star does, however, have mixed feelings on whether the new partner should meet one’s parents at the holidays.
“How serious is this partner and how long have you been dating? Have you been dating for longer than three months?” he asked. “Then yes, you can introduce your partner to your family during the holidays.”
When it comes to gift giving in a new relationship, Kroll confessed that it’s “not my love language” so he’s not the best person to ask.
“I’m terrible because I feel like jewelry is such a lame gift, but women love jewelry, right?” he questioned. “I don’t know. … I mean are flowers, like, a lame gift? Yes.” Kroll said when in doubt turn to “girls that are friends” to help find the perfect present.
Although gifts aren’t his area of expertise, Kroll was confident about a few other cuffing season faux pas.
“If you’re on the fence about the relationship, you wait until after Christmas and the new year, probably [to break up],” Kroll told Us. “That would be cruel to break up with somebody right before Christmas.”
He also advised against “calling an ex because you don’t have a date” for a holiday bash, calling it a total “don’t.” If an ex calls you to be their plus one for a festive affair, Kroll said it’s “dealer’s choice.”
However, he aired on the side of caution and reminded Us, “They are an ex for a reason,” so maybe don’t pick up the phone.
No matter what stage of romance you’re experiencing, Kroll said that holiday movie dates or solo views is a must.
“My favorite holiday rom-com to watch by the fire during the holidays at the moment is The Holiday,” he shared. “I’ve seen it two times already this December.”
Southern Charm airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.
“He’s a troll,” Madison, 34, said about JT during the Thursday, December 19, episode of the Bravo show. “With JT after hearing what he said about us, I don’t want to associate myself with this guy.”
Madison told friends Craig Conover and his girlfriend, Paige DeSorbo, “You don’t play around with something like that,” vowing to “ring his neck.”
During the December 12 episode of Southern Charm, JT told multiple people that Madison’s husband thought he and Madison hooked up during the group’s trip to Jamaica last season. While Craig, 35, and Shep Rose told JT, “No one thinks that,” JT was adamant that Brett, 38, perceived it that way.
“JT is a friend of mine. Or was. I was his ally. I had his back,” Madison said on the latest episode. “So, the fact that he’s talking about my marriage feels like a slap in the face.”
She also revealed that since Brett was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in fall 2023 — which she announced earlier this season — JT spreading rumors about them hurt even more. (Brett underwent surgery to remove a three-centimeter nodule and is now in remission, but Madison said his recovery has been filled with highs and lows.)
“The last thing that I need is some weasel in the middle of this real-life s—,” Madison told the cameras.
Later in the episode, Madison confronted JT about his allegations. “You made an accusation that my husband thought that you and I were having an affair,” Madison told him during a coffee meet-up.
JT, however, claimed that his words “may have gotten a little bit twisted,” alleging, “I didn’t say we had an affair.”
Madison explained that she felt “blindsided” that he’d speak negatively about her and her marriage since she thought they were friends. “It has never been anything more than that,” she said before throwing shade at her costar. “Sorry, JT, but are f—ing blind? Have you seen my husband? Do you really think for one second, I would have an affair with you?”
JT was taken aback but didn’t let up. He noted that when Madison previously FaceTimed him with Brett to ask about what happened in Jamaica she was “confused.”
“The one time that we called you it was because he said, ‘Wait, who was in your room late at night?’ I said, ‘Well, a bunch of people came back to my room,’” Madison recalled telling JT, “It was never just me and you.”
The hairstylist, who married Brett in November 2022, told the cameras that her spouse is “not a jealous person.” However, since Madison called him every night except one on the trip, he had her call JT to clarify what transpired that evening.
“I think Brett was just trying to confirm that it wasn’t me and [my ex] Austen [Kroll] hanging out drinking red wine, eating McDonalds in the bed,” Madison revealed.
JT noted that he felt “uncomfortable” that Brett and Madison called him together to question him about the getaway. He alleged that after the call, “everything changed” with Madison and their friendship. “You mean girled me,” he claimed, telling Madison that he was left wondering “what did I do wrong?”
Madison, however, didn’t have time for JT or his feelings about the situation. “I think Austen might’ve been right about you this whole entire time. You are not a gentleman,” she declared.
She then mentioned another rumor. “You called Patricia a bitch? You’re the bitch,” Madison said, referring to Craig’s claim that JT used that word to describe Patricia Altschul behind her back.
“What? What are you talking about? I don’t believe that I ever called that woman that word,” JT said in response. He then apologized for not knowing “how to handle” his FaceTime with Madison and Brett.
He concluded by saying he wanted to “leave it there,” saying his and Madison’s drama “doesn’t need to go any further.”
Madison didn’t agree. “You’re unbelievable. I don’t even know why I’m wasting my time speaking to you,” she said before leaving the table.
After leaving JT alone, Madison told the cameras she was done with him. “I’ll be mad at JT until the day I die,” she vowed. “I think it’s starting to hit him that he made a huge mistake. I think he’s just realizing he lost a good friend.”
Southern Charm airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.
Craig Conover and Paige DeSorbo are a match made in reality TV heaven — and their quirky romance is why they’re Us’ pick for Bravo’s best couple of 2024.
Craig, 35, has been a fan-favorite on Southern Charm since his 2014 debut and Us Weekly’s love for him has grown almost as much as his pillow empire year after year. (Remember when he famously asked, “What’s wrong with my sewing?” Now he owns Sewing Down South and the pillows are magical.)
Paige, meanwhile, joined Summer House in season 3, which aired in 2019, and has become known for her sassy — and sometimes savage — one-liners. Season 9 hasn’t even premiered and her quip in the trailer about costar Kyle Cooke pretending to be “Diplo” already has Us reeling for more.
While Craig and Paige, who began dating in 2021, have faced split rumors over the course of their romance, Craig has denied there is trouble in paradise. “We’re still together,” he told E! News on December 9, confirming that he and his “chicken,” as he calls Paige, are still going strong despite living in different cities.
Scroll down to see why Paige and Craig are Bravo’s best couple of 2024:
Costumes Aren’t for Casual Conversations
Whenever Craig pops up in the Hamptons to see Paige on Summer House the pair somehow find themselves having serious discussion while wearing the most absurd costumes. Think pirates or flamingos and you’ve got it.
Honestly, it doesn’t matter the topic, Us is just fans of watching Craig explain his conspiracy theories in “end of the world” style costumes or Paige recounting a fight while dressed like a race car driver.
Paige Is Making an Italian Out of Craig
During a February episode of Summer House, Paige revealed that she had to teach Craig about the different types of pasta. She confessed that Craig “Googled, ‘What is rigatoni’ when we were in Italy.” His reason? “He couldn’t remember the shape of it,” Paige said.
Gabby Prescod responded, “That’s not even a niche noodle!” to which Paige replied, “No, it’s not niche!”
Despite Craig’s noodle faux pas, Paige has continued to show him her Italian roots by going to Itay together several times. After their September trip to Capri, Craig shared a series of Instagram photos, including a selfie by the sea, snaps of different pasta dishes and desserts. “I date an Italian,” he captioned the post.
If You’re a Witch, I’m a Witch
Craig and Paige don’t shy away from awkward conversations, in fact they usually add fuel to each other’s fire.
During a March episode Summer House, Paige asked a serious question: “If we were dating for, like, six months and then I told you I believed that I’m a witch, would you stay with me? Or would you break up with me?”
Craig said it “wouldn’t bother” him and he’d actually “think it’s cool.” Paige, however, joked if the roles were reversed, she wouldn’t be down. “If you were a witch, I’d break up with you,” she quipped, to which Craig asked, “Can boys be witches?”
Their Travels Give Us Envy
When they’re not traveling back and forth between Craig’s house in Charleston and Paige’s pad in New York City, the couple are jet setting around the world. Their getaways to Italy are at the top of Us’ envy list, but their trips to St Tropez, France and Aspen, Colorado, this year also made Us jealous.
Craig Isn’t Afraid to Feel All the Feels
Craig has made it clear in the past that he wants to get married and have kids, and while he and Paige aren’t there yet, he’s not afraid to talk about his feelings.
“[We’re] really just not letting the unknown of the future ruin our happiness today,” Craig exclusively told Us in September of his and Paige’s choice to stay long distance. “With our ability to travel and technology, we’re very fortunate to be able to spend half our time in New York and the other half in Charleston. They’re two great places to live.”
He explained that “until we have kids” they don’t have to “pick a place” to put down roots. Craig also noted that he could “go date someone that lived in Charleston” but she “wouldn’t be the right person.”
The reality star added that for now he and Paige are “just kind of enjoying life and seeing where [it goes] and [seeing] what we can do with our careers.”
Distance Makes Their Hearts Grow Fonder
“Craig is my sweet, sweet, sensitive, childlike boyfriend. I have been taking care of him now for two years,” Paige said during the Summer House season 8 premiere, which aired in February. “Currently, we’re still doing long distance. But I feel, like, in a good rhythm now.”
That same month, Paige trolled her boyfriend from afar after he posted a sexy photo at the gym during their time apart. “Did you just post a thirst trap? We will talk when I get home,” she cheekily wrote in the comments section.
They Raised the Bar on Couples Style
Craig had a somewhat preppy southern style when fans first met him, but after dating Paige he has upgraded his look. Paige has always had style, and her fit photos on social media inspire Us on the regular, but her work with Craig has elevated his wardrobe and made him even sexier.
Paige Stands Her Ground on Their Timeline
When Paige called Craig her “friend” and said she thought of him as her “best friend” during an April episode of Summer House, Danielle Olivera grew concerned. Paige, however, stood her ground and said she’s confident he’s The One. “I’m going to marry him but it’s going to be on my own terms,” she declared.
Craig exclusively told Us in September that he’s cool with Paige’s timeline. “It’ll be fun when that time comes,” he said of marriage. “I think the fact that we’ve been able to settle down and just chill has been really nice.”
Homebodies for the Win
“For Paige and I, time spent in the backyard, that’s our quality time,” Craig revealed during a season 10 episode of Southern Charm, which aired in December, referring to his decked out house in Charleston.
He explained, “When we first started dating, we were out and about all the time. We’ve just grown with each other where we’d rather spend the time at home relaxing than out partying. I built this sanctuary for us to be away from the world and be able to relax and connect.”
The one thing the couple doesn’t have yet is a dog, which Craig exclusively told Us in September is a “great idea.” He noted that Paige’s cat, Daphne, “would love a brother.” He gushed, “I’m all about growing our little animal family.”
He’s the Pillow King — And She’s His Queen
In 2023, Paige teamed up with Craig for two Sewing Down South collections that she helped design. “It’s a fun complementary relationship where we’re busy enough that we have our own stuff going on, but we’re always able to support the side projects and stuff,” Craig exclusively told Us in September.
While they haven’t released a third collection this year, Paige has consistently supported her man, which makes Us love them even more.
The couple did, however, add to their cozy and comfortable brand when Craig made an appearance on Paige’s “In Bed With Paige DeSorbo” Amazon Live web series in July. As they sat in bed, Paige grilled Craig on different female beauty products to test his knowledge.
Amy Slaton signed a plea deal after her September arrest, Us Weekly can confirm.
The 1000-Lb. Sisters star, 37, pleaded guilty to “simple possession” in a plea deal submitted to the Crockett County courthouse in Tennessee on Thursday, December 19, according to docs obtained by Us.
She received a suspended sentence of 11 months and 29 days to time served and therefore won’t spend any time behind bars. Slaton will have to pay a $500 fine and attend an alcohol and drug assessment. Additionally, she cannot have any contact with the Tennessee Safari Park.
Slaton’s additional charges of child abuse and child endangerment were dismissed, per the filing.
Slaton was arrested in September after the Crocket County Sheriff’s Department was called about a guest being bit by a camel at the local drive-through zoo.
“Upon arrival, deputies were immediately overtaken by suspicious odors coming from the guest’s vehicle,” the police revealed in the social media statement. (Slaton was reportedly bitten by the animal at the zoo and taken to the ER for medical attention before being taken into custody.)
When police investigated further, they arrested Slaton on “illegal possession of Schedule I, illegal possession of Schedule VI, and two counts of child endangerment,” per the report.
Slaton was also with a man named Brian Scott Lovvorn, who was arrested on the same charges. Her two children, sons Gage, 4, and Glenn, 2, whom she shares with ex-husband Michael Halterman, were also in the car during the incident. (Lovvorn’s case has not yet been resolved.)
Us confirmed at the time that Slaton and Lovvorn were thought to have had mushrooms and marijuana in their possession at the time of their arrests.
After Slaton was taken into custody, the Department of Children and Family Services became involved in the case to make sure her two boys were not harmed or in danger.
Both Slaton and Lovvorn initially pleaded not guilty to the drug possession and child endangerment charges. According to Thursday’s filing, Slaton has since pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.
Amid all her legal drama, Slaton gave fans a glimpse at her home life, sharing photos in October of each of her sons dressed in Halloween pajamas. “2024,” she captioned the social media post.
The following month, Slaton took her boys to “meet Santa” dressed in festive Grinch-themed sweatpants. The kids wore Christmas light-printed beanies that matched their mom’s hat.
Prior to her arrest, Slaton gained fame by starring on TLC’s 1000-Lb. Sisters with sibling Tammy Slaton. The show premiered in 2020 and documented their respective weight-loss journeys and health highs and lows.
Phil Collins will always love playing the drums, but years of rocking and rolling has taken its toll on his hands.
“I’ve spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock,” Collins, 73, confessed in the Phil Collins: Drummer First documentary, which was released by Drumeo on Wednesday, December 18.
The musician explained that after playing drums in concert with Genesis for five decades and on solo tours since the ‘80s, it impacted his hands and legs. The strain on his body led Collins to retire from drumming in March 2022 after his last performance with his band Genesis.
“If I can’t do what I did as well as I did it, I’d rather relax and not do anything,” he said. “If I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I’ll have a crack at it.”
“I just feel like I’ve used up my air miles,” Collins continued, noting that not being able to play was “still kind of sinking in a bit.”
The Oscar winner got his first plastic drum at the age of 3, which started it all. Two years later, Collins was playing music for his family. “It was something I could sit at, and I thrashed along to the TV set,” he recalled.
Looking back on his career, Phil’s son Nic Collins said his dad was like many musicians of his time and didn’t think about what drumming would do to his muscles.
“Musicians, people in bands in general had this thought that they were invincible,” Nic, 23, explained. “I think that’s really what it is with my dad is just this kind of sense of you’re a drummer, you’re invincible, you do what you do. But you don’t know it’s gonna take a toll in the long run.”
In 2015, Phil underwent neck surgery that “stemmed from all those years playing drums and bad posture,” according to Nic. Phil also suffers from drop-foot, which is when one of your feet has no sensation. That ailment led to the singer using a cane.
Ahead of Genesis’ reunion, Phil announced that Nic would be taking over for him at the drums because of his health. He remained on as the lead vocalist.
“I’d love to, but you know, I mean, I can barely hold a stick with this hand. So there are certain physical things that get in the way,” Phil told BBC Breakfast in September 2021. “I’m kind of physically challenged a bit which is very frustrating because I’d love to be playing up there with my son.”
Phil hinted at the time that the tour could be his last. “We’re all men of our age, and I think to some extent, I think it probably is putting it to bed,” he teased. “I think, yeah, I think just generally for me, I don’t know if I want to go out on the road anymore.”
Phil joined Genesis in 1970 as the drummer. The band consisted of bassist Mike Rutherford, keyboardist Tony Banks, guitarist Steve Hackett and singer Peter Gabriel. The group went on hiatus in 2000 but reunited in 2006 for the Turn It On Again Tour.
Phil headed out on The Last Domino? Tour with Genesis in September 2021. His last show with the band took place in March 2022 with Nic on the stage with him and his daughter Lily Collins in the crowd.
“Tonight marks the end of an era. To have witnessed this last show was truly the memory of a lifetime and an event I shall hold in my heart forever,” Lily, 35, wrote via Instagram after the show in London.
She continued: “Endlessly grateful doesn’t begin to do it justice. So much love was left on that O2 stage and an even bigger amount shared between an audience who didn’t want it to end. Thank you @genesis_band for the memories, thank you dad for being such an inspiration and thank you @nic_collins for making me the proudest sister there is. 50 years of songs later and still generations more to celebrate you long after this tour has finished…”
Phil shares son Simon, 48, and adopted daughter Joely, 52, with first wife, Andrea Bertorelli, whom he divorced in 1980 after five years of marriage. He shares Lily with Jill Tavelman, whom he was married to from 1984 to 1996. The musicians also shares Nic and son Matthew, 20, with ex-wife Orianne Cevey. The exes were married from 1999 to 2008.
Nothing screams the holidays like snuggling up on the couch, grabbing cocoa and putting on a festive movie.
Us Weekly has rounded up the most “snuggle-worthy” Christmas films to stream this season, including The Holiday, White Christmas and Hallmark’s The Christmas Cottage.
“Going on to the sets for The Holiday, you just felt like you were walking into the characters’ homes,” Cameron Diaz, who played Amanda in the 2006 rom-com, told Vulture in December 2020. “You kind of forgot that you were on a soundstage.”
She noted that the cozy feel of the movie stems from the “wonderful” sets that director Nancy Meyers created. “Lots of textures, lots of layers. … So that kind of wraps around you when you walk on set,” Diaz added.
The Holiday’s winter wonderland locations, including a cozy cottage in England, is just one of many reasons it’s on Us Weekly’s snuggle-approved Christmas movies list.
Austen Kroll has been an open book when it comes to his love life on Southern Charm, but he kept his cards close at the start of his relationship with Audrey Pratt.
Kroll first teased their budding romance in January 2024. He shared a glimpse of Pratt, who resides in North Carolina, during a group trip to Mexico the following month, but he didn’t publicly talk about her until months later.
The reality star exclusively told Us Weekly in December 2024 that after one year together he learned that not all relationships have to be “tumultuous and hard.” (Kroll’s ups and downs with ex Madison LeCroy included getting caught on camera cheating before they split in December 2020.)
“Whether she knows it or not, [she] is a big part of my happiness and my inner peace,” Kroll gushed to Us, calling Pratt “very, very chill.”
Pratt’s calm demeanor has made her fit in easily with their Southern Charm group. “I have nothing but good things to say about her,” LeCroy exclusively told Us in December 2024, giving Kroll’s new partner her stamp of approval.
Scroll down to see Kroll and Pratt’s relationship from the start:
December 2023
Kroll confirmed to Us in December 2024 that he and Pratt “began to date at the end of December” one year prior. He teased that he would tell fans “yes” to dating someone during “cuffing season,” a.k.a. the cold winter months, since that’s when he first pursued Pratt.
January 2024
“I am seeing someone right now, yeah,” Kroll teased during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. He confirmed at the time that she did not live in Charleston.
February 2024
Fans caught a glimpse of Pratt in an Instagram video Kroll posted after returning home from a group vacation in Mexico. “8 nights in 7 spicy margs drank on night 1. 6 great friends 5 nights @moonpalacecancun 4 nights of @phish 3 nights @etereoauberge 2 nights of 1 (00th) Phish show,” he captioned the post.
May 2024
Kroll and Pratt enjoyed a hockey date cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes. The outing marked the first Instagram grid photo of the couple.
June 2024
The Trop Hop beermaker celebrated his birthday with Pratt in Mexico City.
July 2024
When Kroll and costar Shep Rose headed to Arlington, Texas, for the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby, Pratt tagged along for the fun.
December 2024
Pratt made her Southern Charm debut during season 10, first over the phone before joining Kroll in Charleston for a group event. Kroll exclusively told Us that same month that Pratt would be popping up in a few episodes of the season, which began filming in March 2024.
When it comes to their future, Kroll said he’s not quite ready to put a ring on it. “It’s an interesting thing, but we’re certainly not rushing anything and we’re just enjoying [it],” he teased to Us. “She lives in Charlotte, [North Carolina], so she doesn’t live in Charleston, [South Carolina]. And that’s fine. It’s like a quick little drive. It’s nice.”
He added that calling someone his “girlfriend” was a “shock to even say,” so they’re taking things slow. Kroll, however, told Us that he couldn’t “ignore” his “feeling” about their connection from the moment they met.
Tim Allen brought Father Christmas to life in 1994’s The Santa Clause — and fans are still enchanted by his hilarious depiction of the iconic holiday figure.
One year later, Scott must embrace the role and deliver gifts to children near and far with help from the No. 1 elf, Bernard (David Krumholtz), and his son, who never stops believing in Santa — or his dad.
Allen reprised the role for 2002’s The Santa Clause 2 and 2006’s The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. More than a decade later he slipped back on the red suit and hat for Disney+’s The Santa Clauses, which premiered in 2022.
Scroll down to see what the original stars of The Santa Clause and The Santa Clause 2 are doing now:
Hallmark Channel is known for its Christmas movies, but the network has expanded to Hanukkah-themed features as well.
In 2012, Hitched for the Holidays paid homage to several Hanukkah traditions, but it wasn’t until 2019 that Hallmark started making at least one Judaism-focused holiday movie for the season.
“I understand that everybody wants to see themselves represented on television, and I did too,” Double Holiday writer Nina Weinman told Variety in December 2019 of her combined Hanukkah and Christmas movie. “And we’re not going to be able to show the individual ways that every single person celebrates, and so I think that we accomplished showing Hanukkah in a really fun and interesting way.”
Both Double Holiday and Holiday Datefocused on Hanukkah festivities in 2019 before Love, Lights, Hanukkah! continued the tradition in 2020. The network has since given viewers a closer look at the religious celebration with 2021’s Eight Gifts of Hanukkah and 2022’s Hanukkah on Rye.
In 2023, Hallmark crossed the plot of Groundhog Day with Hanukkah in Round and Round. In the movie, a Jewish woman gets trapped reliving Hanukkah on a loop. She tries everything possible to get herself to the eighth day of the Festival of Lights while falling in love with someone who doesn’t remember meeting her each day.
Scroll down for a complete guide — and Us Weekly’s unofficial ranking — of Hallmark’s Hanukkah films: