Tom Butler as Sam, Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan, Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel Monroe and Ezra Wilson as Theo
Virgin River is going full steam ahead for season 7 — minus one actor who has officially left the hit Netflix series.
After the sixth season premiered on Thursday, December 19, showrunner Patrick Sean Smith was asked about actor Mark Ghanimé‘s future on the show as Cameron, to which he exclusively told Us Weekly, “I love that relationship, and, I think this season saw a little bit of a sendoff for Cameron. In terms of Mark, the actor who I adore, he unfortunately won’t be coming back for season 7.”
Smith didn’t rule out a potential return in the future. “But that’s not to say that Cameron’s not a part of our world forever,” he added. “I would love to bring him back, and bring his character back when the story presents itself.”
Ghanimé, 47, joined Virgin River in season 4 as a new face at Doc’s clinic and a love interest for Mel. Things fizzled out for Cameron and Mel quickly and he subsequently reconnected with Muriel but had to part ways when his ex reentered the picture. Cameron and Muriel initially called it quits in season 5, but he came back after finding out about her breast cancer diagnosis.
Tim Matheson as Doc, Kai Bradbury as Denny Cutler and Mark Ghanimé as Dr. Cameron Hayek
“With Marley and that situation, we will continue to see Mel and Jack move down their path towards parenthood,” Smith explained to Us. “We get to live in the newlywed bliss that they have and the challenges that come with that as a new married couple.”
He added: “I think that with the pace at which we’re moving comfortably gives us a lot of opportunity to just keep telling more and more stories for as many seasons to come as possible.”
There’s also a love triangle to worry about after exes Brie (Zibby Allen) and Brady (Ben Hollingsworth) slept together. Fans of the fictional couple didn’t get to see them ride off into the sunset, however, after they broke the news of their infidelity to Brie’s boyfriend, Mike (Marco Grazzini). Instead, Mike chose to propose to her, which left Brie conflicted.
“A good love triangle is only as strong as the options you’re presenting, and also looking at the influence that [Brie’s] choice would have on her life,” Smith noted to Us. “So imagining what her future could look like with Brady compared to what it could look like with Mike. And I think that’s where it works really well.”
Virgin River is currently streaming on Netflix and has already been renewed for season 7.
Vanderpump Rules fans were in for a surprise when they seemingly spotted James Kennedy‘s mother, Jacqueline Georgiou, in a scene from Showtime’s Dexter prequel.
“Just watching the new season of Dexter and rewinded like 6 times trying to remember where I know this lady from,” a social media user wrote via Reddit alongside a screen grab from the new series.
The comments section largely agreed that the background actress resembled Georgiou, 54. “Yes she’s been an extra in a lot of shows,” read one reply while another Bravo viewer added, “Jax [Taylor] was an extra on Dexter too .” (Taylor was an uncredited extra in a 2012 episode of the original Dexter series.)
According to another commentator, Georgiou and Kennedy’s girlfriend, Ally Lewber, “were extras in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” together, which they actually confirmed in a deleted VPR season 10 scene. Georgiou’s IMDB, however, doesn’t reflect the gig in the Brad Pitt film, which means something similar could’ve happened for Dexter: Original Sin. (TV shows and movies Call Me Crazy and Ray Donovan are included as her only scripted roles.)
One thing is for sure, Georgiou appeared in numerous episodes of Vanderpump Rules after Kennedy, 32, was hired as a busser at Lisa Vanderpump‘s restaurant SUR. Kennedy’s behavior — which often stemmed from his alcohol issues — frequently caused him to get fired or be on the outs with his costars. Georgiou, for her part, showed her support for Kennedy during her appearances on the show.
Earlier this month, Us Weekly confirmed that Kennedy was arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence. Police were dispatched to Kennedy’s home, where he lives with Lewber, 28, on December 10 after they received a call about an argument between a man and a woman. The authorities allegedly saw Kennedy grabbing the woman and officers who responded to the scene did not see any visible injuries.
“We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations levied by the Burbank Police Department against James,” his attorneys told Us. “We understand that there were no injuries and we are hoping that, after careful review, the city’s attorneys will decide not to file formal charges.”
After the arrest made headlines, Kennedy noted that he is prioritizing his mental health, writing via Instagram, “I am committed to making meaningful changes in my life. I am taking time to focus on my sobriety, personal growth, and being present for my loved ones.”
He continued: “Navigating challenging moments is not easy but I am determined to learn, grow and move forward with the incredible support system around me.”
Lewber was subsequently seen carrying boxes outside of her and Kennedy’s shared home after sources told Us the couple was taking space.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love and support and for checking in on me,” Lewber wrote via her Instagram Story. “I’m OK and taking the time I need right now. I deeply appreciate all the kindness and respect for my privacy during this time.”
Patrick Duffy praised Step by Step for not shying away from the more adult implications about the relationship between his and Suzanne Somers‘ characters.
During an episode of Staci Keanan and Christine Lakin‘s “Keanan and Lakin Give You Déjà Vu” rewatch podcast, the former costars addressed how some viewers referred to the show as “horny” after watching it back over the years.
“I could not believe that anyone would say that,” Keanan, 49, said in an episode from earlier this month. “I thought, ‘What are they talking about? Our show is a very wholesome and sweet family show.’ Now I start [re]watching the show [and I understand].”
Duffy, 75, joked about the undertones, adding, “It’s not like we demanded it. But we always pushed for the reason these two families got together on a whim and on a vacation. They got married after knowing each other for two days.”
Step by Step chose to lean into the subtext. “It wasn’t because we were both good at playing poker. So every chance that we could, we wanted to go upstairs and we couldn’t because we had a house full of kids, you know. And they wrote to that — and we played to that,” Duffy recalled. “We thought it was important. We could be appropriately attracted to one another and also good parenting models.”
The sitcom, which aired from 1991 to 1998, followed single parents Frank (Duffy) and Carol (Somers) who each had three children from previous relationships. They met by chance and quickly married, blending their families together.
“People have come up to me and have said that watching that show was pivotal for them as a child. They wanted — if they didn’t have one — a dad like that,” Duffy recalled. “One young man came up and said, ‘I watched the show and ever since I started watching the show as a young person, I said, I want to be a dad like that. I wanna have a dad like that and then I wanna be a dad like that if I ever have children.’ So we fulfilled a certain function.”
“I had a disagreement [with the writers] when Suzanne wanted to get pregnant,” he shared about his costar, who died in October 2023. “I thought it was irresponsible. I thought we were a six-child family of a woman who was theoretically a beautician — but we never saw her work after the first two seasons — and a struggling contractor.”
Somers, however, wanted the story line so their characters welcomed daughter Lilly in season 4. “It wasn’t so much that she wanted another child on the show,” Duffy explained. “She just thought she could act that out, being pregnant, and she could. It’s a funny thing to have her doing all the Lucille Ball stuff. She was in heaven, it made her happy. So I was fine.”
The holiday season is upon Us on and off the screen.
ABC, NBC, CBS and more networks have shared their upcoming programming and there’s plenty for fans to choose from. Before Wicked is released in theaters, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are previewing the highly-anticipated movie with a TV special. Over at Freeform, there is never a dull moment with daily festive films and premieres.
There are even holiday-themed episodes for TV shows such as Ghosts, Abbott Elementary and more. For those looking for nostalgia, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and more movies are set to air multiple times throughout December.
Keep scrolling for a guide to the holiday programming for 2024:
Tuesday, November 19
Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked: 10 p.m. on NBC
Thursday, November 21
Nugget Is Dead? A Christmas Story: 8 p.m. on CBS
Friday, November 22
All-American Christmas Tree Lighting: 5 p.m. on Fox
Wednesday, November 27
Countdown to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: 8 p.m. on NBC
Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving: 9 p.m. on NBC
The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20: 9 p.m. on ABC
Thursday, November 28
98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: 8:30 a.m. on NBC
National Dog Show Presented by Purina: 12 p.m. on NBC
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents Mary Poppins: 8 p.m. on ABC
Saturday, November 30
Reindeer in Here: 8 p.m. on CBS
Sunday, December 1
Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You: 10:30 a.m. on Freeform
America’s Funniest Home Video’s Wreck the Halls: 35 Years of Holiday Hijinks: 7 p.m. on ABC
The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular: 8 p.m. on ABC
Monday, December 2
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune: 8 p.m. on ABC
Press Your Luck: Holiday Extravaganza III: 9 p.m. on ABC
Tuesday, December 3
CMA Country Christmas: 8 p.m. on ABC
Abbott Elementary: 8 p.m. on ABC
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town: 9 p.m. on ABC
Celebrity Family Feud: 9:02 p.m. on ABC
Wednesday, December 4
Christmas in Rockefeller Center: 8 p.m. on NBC
Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular: 10 p.m. on NBC
Thursday, December 5
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: 8 p.m. on NBC
The Great Christmas Light Fight: 8 p.m. on ABC
Frosty the Snowman: 8:30 p.m. on NBC
Matlock Holiday Episode: 9 p.m. on CBS
Elsbeth Christmas Episode: 10 p.m. on CBS
Friday, December 6
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: 8 p.m. on NBC
Sunday, December 8
The Equalizer Christmas Episode: 8:30 p.m. on CBS
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Lion King: 8:31 p.m. on ABC
Dashing Through the Snow: 9:55 p.m. on Freeform
Santa’s Little Helper: 12 a.m. on Freeform
Tuesday, December 10
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure: 8 p.m. on ABC
Toy Story That Time Forgot: 8:30 p.m. on ABC
Disney Prep & Landing: 9 p.m. on ABC
Disney Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice: 9:30 p.m. on ABC
Wednesday, December 11
Shrek the Halls: 8:30 p.m. on NBC
A Motown Christmas: 9 p.m. on NBC
Thursday, December 12
The Great Christmas Light Fight: 8 p.m. on ABC
Friday, December 13
Shark Tank: 8 p.m. on ABC
Sunday, December 15
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Sound of Music: 7 p.m. on ABC
An Evening With Dua Lipa: 8:30 p.m. on CBS
Monday, December 16
Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry: 8 p.m. on NBC
NCIS Christmas Episode: 9 p.m. on CBS
Wednesday, December 18
HeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024: 8 p.m. on ABC
A Saturday Night Live Christmas: 9 p.m. on NBC
Thursday, December 19
The Great Christmas Light Fight: 8 p.m. on ABC
Ghosts: A One-Hour Ghostmas Special: 8 p.m. on CBS
Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas: 9 p.m. on CBS
Barry Manilow’s A Very Barry Christmas: 10 p.m. on NBC
Friday, December 20
National Christmas Tree Lighting: 8 p.m. on CBS
Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays: 9 p.m. on CBS
Sunday, December 22
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Santa Clause: 8 p.m. on ABC
The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors: 8:30 p.m. on CBS
Tuesday, December 24
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents Home Alone: 8 p.m. on ABC
It’s a Wonderful Life: 8 p.m. on NBC
The Price Is Right at Night Holiday Episode: 8 p.m. on CBS
Christmas Eve Mass: 11:30 p.m. on NBC
Wednesday, December 25
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade: 10 a.m. on ABC
NBA Christmas Special: 12 p.m. on ABC
NBA Countdown: 7:30 p.m. on ABC
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: 8:30 p.m. on NBC
Thursday, December 26
Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas: 9 p.m. on NBC
The Year: 2024: 9 p.m. on ABC
Friday, December 27
The Greatest Home Videos: Holiday Edition (Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer): 8 p.m. on CBS
Grammy Greats: The Stories Behind the Songs: 9 p.m. on CBS
Sunday, December 29
Grammy Greats: The Most Memorable Moments: 9 p.m. on CBS
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents Frozen: 7 p.m. on ABC
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents Frozen 2: 9 p.m. on ABC
Tuesday, December 31
New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash: 8 p.m. on CBS
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025: ABC
Monday, January 1
135th Rose Parade Presented by Honda: 11 a.m. on NBC
2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 8 p.m. on ABC
Malik’s relationship with fellow English singer Perrie Edwards was a fan-favorite as the couple started dating in 2011 and got engaged two years later. The pair later announced the end of their relationship in 2015. Since then, Malik dated Gigi Hadid on and off from 2015 to 2021. The pair welcomed daughter Khai in September 2020.
Styles, for his part, has dated Taylor Swift, Olivia Wilde and more A-listers both before and after going solo. Horan has also romanced a few stars since signing with 1D, including Hailee Steinfeld in 2018.
Tomlinson, meanwhile, shares son Freddie with ex Briana Jungwirth, while Payne shares son Bear with former flame Cheryl Cole. In October 2024, Us Weekly confirmed that Payne died at age 31.
Scroll down for a complete breakdown of which ladies the former One Direction bandmates have dated:
The singer dated Caroline Flack from 2011 to 2012. He was spotted on a date with Swift in Central Park in December 2012, but the couple broke up one month later. Styles was linked to Kendall Jenner in 2013 and they have reunited over the years.
The Brit casually dated Tess Ward in 2017 before getting into a relationship with Camille Rowe from 2017 to 2019.
Beginning in January 2021, Styles began dating Wilde — and the pair kept to themselves in London as much as possible. "Harry and Olivia have been spending time in London," a source told Us in April 2021. "She's been staying at his place. They're trying to be as low key as possible and go to places that aren't too crowded."
Us confirmed in November 2022 that the duo had split after nearly two years together. Us confirmed in August 2023 that Styles and actress Taylor Russell had been “dating for a few months” after first being linked in June of that year.
Horan has managed to keep his romantic life relatively quiet since his time in the popular boyband.
The "Slow Hands" singer was rumored to be dating Selena Gomez in 2015. He was later linked to Steinfeld, whom he dated for several months in 2018.
“It doesn’t make a difference. If I am seeing someone, if they’re just a friend of mine, [people think] I’m going out with them,” he said on Hit90.9 Gold Coast’s Breakfast With Lise, Sarah, Dan & Ben in December 2019 about his love life. “That’s the most annoying part, isn’t it really? I can’t even be friends with a female.”
Horan confirmed his relationship with Amelia Woolley in September 2021 when they made their red carpet couple debut at his Horan & Rose Gala. The pair began dating one year prior.
Payne dated dancer Danielle Peazer from 2010 until 2012. The following year he dated his childhood friend, Sophia Smith, for two years.
The "For You" singer started dating Cole in 2016, and they welcomed their son a year later. The twosome broke up in July 2018 but continue to coparent together. The singer was briefly linked to supermodel Naomi Campbell before his relationship with Henry started in 2018. The couple dated for two years before getting engaged and Payne confirmed their split in June 2021.
"I am indeed [single]," he said during an episode of the "The Diary of a CEO" podcast at the time.
In September 2021, Payne and Henry attended a London Fashion Week party together two months after giving their relationship another try.
Us confirmed in May 2022 that Payne and Henry ended their engagement after photos circulated of the band member getting cozy with Aliana Mawla.
He was later linked to Kate Cassidy before Us confirmed in May 2023 that the duo called it quits. The following month, the pair were spotted out and about together, which fueled speculation that they reconciled.
Payne died in October 2024 after falling from the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires.
Tomlinson dated Calder from 2011 to 2015. They reconciled shortly in 2017.
The singer welcomed his son Freddie with Jungwirth in 2016. He later dated Danielle Campbell from 2015 to 2016.
Edwards and Malik’s romance began in April 2012, and he proposed to her the following year. The “Pillowtalk” singer called off their engagement in July 2015, four months after he left One Direction.
Us broke the news that Malik was dating Hadid in November 2015, and the couple continued to date on and off until October 2021 when multiple sources confirmed to Us that the pair called it quits after "having problems for a while."
Hadid and Malik are the parents of daughter Khai born in September 2020. The Ocean's 8 actor continues to be "very much involved" in his baby's life,” one insider told Us. “He and Gigi still care deeply for each other.”
After the season aired, Malia confirmed that she was no longer dating Tom. In August 2021, Malia hinted that she was dating an engineer that worked alongside her on season 6. That same month, Jake Barker, who only appeared on camera once, posted an Instagram photo of the duo kissing with a heart emoji.
Scroll down to find out which other Below Deck stars found a connection with someone outside their season:
Below Deck viewers witnessed Ben and Sunny's ups and downs during season 11. While working on deck, Ben and Sunny formed a casual relationship, which got more complicated when he was promoted. They continued to hook up when he became her boss — and before he attempted to rekindle his romance with former costar Camille Lamb.
Camille ultimately shut Ben down and he remained unsure about a future with Sunny. They recoincled once filming ended but called it quits by the end of 2024.
After he started dating Sunny again, Ben claimed Camille was previously unfaithful with former deckhand Bobby Giancola. Camille denied the accusations by noting she wasn't exclusive with Ben at any point.
Bobby, who was on seasons 1 and 2 of Below Deck Mediterranean, also addressed the drama. He told The Daily Mail he thought Camille and Ben were "done for quite awhile" when he started seeing her.
Aesha Scott hinted during season 2 of Below Deck Down Under that Luka hooked up with Magda in the past — which he confirmed in a confessional. Magda, for her part, was a stew on season 1 of the spinoff series before being let go by Captain Jess.
The Below Deck Sailing Yacht costars originally explored their chemistry during a steamy makeout session while filming season 3. Gary revealed one year later that he and Daisy had sex off screen before returning to work together in season 4. The revelation came shortly after the chief stew shared a kiss with Colin Macrae — which created a complicated love triangle.
While filming season 10 of Below Deck, Ross revealed in a confessional that he dated Elizabeth in the past. “My longest relationship was with Elizabeth Frankini,” the bosun explained in the January 2023 episode, referring to the season 8 stew. “We were together on and off for four years. I guess we just broke each other’s hearts on multiple occasions in that relationship, which is why I don’t want a relationship at the moment.”
After sparking romance rumors in season 7, Natasha and David confirmed that they hooked up before working on Home together. The chef clarified that it was meant to be a secret because the chief stew still had a boyfriend when they first got together.
The pair's connection took a turn during the season when David grew frustrated with their private romance and threatened to out them to the crew.
"It was just unfortunate," Natasha told E! News in August 2022 about the dramatic breakup. "Because I didn't want everyone to know, everything was done through text message, which is what the viewers don't get to see. Dave's more open and speaks about it. So you get to see his side a little more, which is where judgment can come in from people."
In 2018, fans were surprised when Jamie and Chandler announced that they were dating. The deckhand appeared on season 3 of Below Deck Med while the bosun left halfway through season 6 of Below Deck.
Jamie previously gushed about her boyfriend in honor of their two-year anniversary, writing via Instagram in 2020, "I know that it’s only been two years, but it feels much longer than that. We have been through so much together. All our experiences have forced us to grow up and realize things about life and love that we never would have if our relationship was smooth sailing."
She added: "I’m thankful for the challenges because they showed us just what we are capable of. I’m thankful for the struggles because they showed us a different side of each other that made us love one another even more. Thank you for being the wonderful person that you are, and for always choosing me."
Before joining season 6 of Below Deck Med, the chief stew revealed that she dated Jack and that he has a tattoo of her face on his arm.
"I know a lot of his girlfriends often aren't the biggest fans of that," Katie told Us in June 2021, about the season 4 deckhand. "He says he'll always keep it."
The pair called it quits before Jack joined the Bravo series — where he started dating second stewardess Aesha Scott. After leaving the boat, Jack and girlfriend Kelly Hidge welcomed their first child, son Phoenix Sidney, in April 2020.
After parting ways with Tom, eagle-eyed fans questioned whether Malia found love with someone from another season of Below Deck Med. In August 2021, Malia made her relationship with Jake Instagram official but they romance ultimately fizzled out.
During season 5 of Below Deck Med, viewers saw Rob and Jessica More go through ups and downs in their relationship. The duo called it quits once they left the boat — but the deckhand later sparked romance rumors with another Below Deck star.
Madison, who appeared in season 1 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht, later revealed that she was dating Rob in early 2020 before he ghosted her.
“So a domino effect thing happened where things progressed really quickly. And I haven’t dated anyone or been this emotionally invested in someone in years,” the second stew recalled during a since-deleted interview with Bravo Confessionals in October 2020, noting that he pulled back completely after that. “I’m not kidding you when I say this. I knew I did nothing wrong. I did everything right and two weeks went by without him even acknowledging a text message.”
Rob, for his part, has not publicly acknowledged the relationship or Madison's comments.
In April 2022, the Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 3 stew confirmed that she was dating Wes.
"It was really cute. In St. Thomas, they wear these bangle bracelets. It has like a little horseshoe on it — or like a hook. And if it’s facing outward, it means you’re open. And if it’s facing the other way, it means that you’re taken. So when he gave me the bracelet, he put it on me with the horseshoe, meaning closed," Gabriela told the "Gangplank Report" podcast about the Below Deck season 9 alum. “And I looked at him like, ‘Oh!’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah.’ I was like, ‘Awww, that's so cute.'”
“People were very torn up about this,” Hubbard, who welcomed daughter Gemma with her boyfriend earlier this month, shared. “They were like, ‘I can’t believe she monetized her pregnancy announcement.’ And it’s like, why not? I’m gonna make the announcement anyway, why not make money from it?”
Hubbard said she was “already going to” share the news of her pregnancy when she saw an opportunity, adding, “I used Clearblue, I used the digital test — that was the test I used back in April when I found out I was pregnant. So why not go to them and say, ‘Hey, I used your test, I’m about to announce my pregnancy, do you want to sponsor this?'”
After rising to stardom on Bravo’s Summer House, Hubbard has continued to look for ways to bring money into her household.
Lindsay Hubbard
“This is how I’m making my money,” she noted. “I’m not doing PR anymore, I’m not sitting behind a desk. That was by far the biggest announcement of my entire life. At that point, I think it was the biggest deal [I ever did]. It tied another deal I’d done in the spring.”
Hubbard revealed to Tartick that she brought in $100,000 in social media deals last year alone. She announced her pregnancy in July.
“Trigger Warning: This post contains more fireworks than the 4th of July! WE’RE PREGNANT!!!!!,” Hubbard, who has preferred to leave her significant other out of the public eye, wrote at the time. “I truly believe the universe has a bigger plan and this is it! The second I had a feeling, I took a @clearblue Early Digital Pregnancy Test and getting a clear result, in words, made the next steps sooo much easier. My boyfriend and I are beyond excited to welcome our little #HubbCub this Holiday season 2024!!”
Hubbard then shared a post from a social media user that read, “Lindsay would have to make a pregnancy announcement at some point, so why not cash in? What was she supposed to do? Say no, to keep the bitter internet hags happy?”
The reality star added her own thoughts on the matter, writing alongside the post, “My thoughts exactly. “My expenses just doubled so…. Let’s goooo!”
Michelle Randolph knows Landman viewers are confused by her character Ainsley’s behavior — but she has no regrets about how she chose to play her.
“It’s hard to not be aware of it,” Randolph, 27, told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday, December 22. “But I disassociate and the thing is, I got the script. I read it. I had my moments, my thoughts.”
Randolph, however, doesn’t disagree that Ainsley’s actions can be confusing. “Some of the things that Ainsley has to say are shocking and there were moments where I thought, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to pull this off,'” she admitted. “I want to find the most human version of this character that I can, and I work really hard at doing that.”
Despite the online backlash, Randolph notes that she sticks to what’s on the page.
“My job ended when I finished my last day on set, and then I released it. The show went out,” she continued. “I can’t tell people how to interpret my character, but at least it’s sparking conversation. And I’m really proud of the show that we made.”
Michelle Randolph as Ainsley Norris and Ali Larter as Angela Norris
In Landman, which premiered on Paramount+ in November, Billy Bob Thornton plays a corporate fixer for an oil titan (Jon Hamm). The West Texas-set drama has life-and-death stakes but its Thornton’s scenes with Randolph, who plays his 17-year-old daughter, have gone viral for moments such as her talking to her father about her sex rules while walking around his house — which he shares with two men of similar age — in bikinis and her underwear.
“I worked with a dialect coach, a movement coach and an acting coach and I just studied like crazy. I had about a year almost to prep for her,” Randolph told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday about her approach to Ainsley. “It was incredibly helpful to kind of sit with that character. I worked really hard to find ways to justify her behavior and make a full human out of something that doesn’t always seem like what a 17-year-old would say, but people like that exist.”
“I wanted to be very careful about the way that Ainsley comes across. There’s only so much that I can control, but you also can control a lot as an actor,” she shared. “And just being around Ali [Larter] and Billy [Bob Thornton] and Jacob [Lofland] and being in Texas really helped create this full person that Ainsley is. She has this free essence about her and she’s wild, and I loved every second of it.”
Randolph urged viewers to give Ainsley the space to evolve, saying, “She’s 17 and she’s growing. I think she gets it more than the audience gets to see. There are moments where your realize that she can be, not manipulative, but she knows how to play her dad, and also her mom. She knows how to get what she wants. She loves her family.”
She concluded: “She is figuring out who she is and meeting different peers and going to school. She’s not just the bratty young daughter; she is a person. We get to see 5 percent of who Ainsley is. Hopefully as the show goes on, we get to see all of who she is.”
New episodes of Landman premiere Sundays on Paramount+
Accola rose to fame playing Caroline Forbes on TVD from 2009 to 2017. Krueger, meanwhile, played the role of Josh Rosza in The Vampire Diaries spinoff, The Originals. During her time on The CW series, Accola started dating Joe King. The couple, who got married in 2014, expanded their family with daughters Florence in 2016 and Josephine in 2020.
Us Weekly broke the news in May 2022 that Accola filed for divorce from King. She later started spending time with Krueger at TVD fan conventions and cast reunions.
In December 2023, Accola subtly launched her romance with Krueger on social media when she uploaded a video that included a clip of them kissing. Accola and Krueger have since offered glimpses into their romance.
“We’ve all moved on to new projects, but we still jump at the opportunity to catch up any chance we get,” he told Us alongside a snap of him sitting next to Accola at dinner alongside their other former costars, including The Originals’ Charles Michael Davis.
That same month, Krueger hinted at his plans for parenthood, telling 26 Magazine, “A family is definitely in my future, as well.”
“I’ve been dating. I am going to say that out loud. That feels very personal and new and interesting and super cool and casual to say out loud. But I have,” Accola said on an episode of her “Superbloom” podcast. “Not multiple people — only one. And I don’t even want to get into it.”
Accola hinted she had a “really nice person” in her life, adding, “This is not brand new. This is the most you are going to hear me talk about it. It is good. There’s a smile on my face and joy in my heart.”
December 2023
Steven Krueger and Candice Accola
“I laughed. I cried. I laughed til I cried. I loved. Thanks for the dance 2023 ,” Accola wrote alongside the various videos from the year, including a brief clip of her and Krueger sharing a kiss.
January 2024
Accola took to Instagram Story to document her attempt to spot Krueger in the background of red carpet footage at the Emmys. The actress posted multiple clips of other celebrities being interviewed before she finally found — and zoomed in on — Krueger outside of the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.
The pair enjoyed a romantic trip to Paris, France.
April 2024
“Had the dreamiest time at @blackberry.mountain last week swipe through for adventures and to see if what was rustling in the bushes was a Turkey or a Bear …. And it legit was ,” Accola captioned an Instagram photo of her and Krueger posing for the camera.
June 2024
Accola uploaded several Instagram photos of Krueger spending time with her and her daughters while the actress was on location filming season 1 of We Were Liars.
October 2024
For Halloween, Accola and Krueger dressed up as Taylor Swift and Post Malone in the “Fortnight” music video. “Who uses typewriters anyway? #thetorturedboyfriendsdepartment ,” King captioned a clip via Instagram set to Swift’s Tortured Poets Department song.
December 2024
“December, you sure kept me on my toes From Mystic Falls to Paris to Florida… It’s been a beautiful adventure but I’m officially ready for that sleepy week between Christmas and New Years anyone else? ,” Accola wrote via Instagram alongside photos of her and Krueger kissing.
That same month, Krueger joined Accola and her two daughters — whom she shares with her ex-husband — on a trip to Florida.
In her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively claimed a lack of protocols led to her and her infant son contracting COVID on set of It Ends With Us.
In court documents obtained by Us Weekly, and filed by Lively, 37, on Friday, December 20, she alleges Baldoni, 40, and his business partner Jamey Heath “failed to implement” proper protocol when there was a COVID outbreak.
“Ms. Lively was told by another producer that because [Justin and Jamey’s production company] Wayfarer did not have insurance coverage for COVID, Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath deliberately withheld from Ms. Lively that she had been exposed to COVID,” her lawyers claimed in the paperwork. “Both Ms. Lively and her infant child contracted COVID from the outbreak.”
Lively — who shares daughters James, 9, Inez, 8, and Betty, 5, as well as a son, Olin, whom they welcomed in early 2023 with husband Ryan Reynolds — “attempted to raise concerns” during a conversation with Baldoni and Heath.
“When Ms. Lively expressed her upset that Mr. Heath and Mr. Baldoni had hidden the fact that she had been exposed to a COVID outbreak on set from which she and her infant contracted COVID,” the docs continued. “Instead of acknowledging responsibility and committing to safety moving forward, they expressed upset over production days missed and resulting costs.”
Lively included a copy of guidelines that needed to be “met without fail” for her to come back to film It Ends With Us after the writer’’s strike halted production.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively are seen on the set of ‘It Ends with Us’ on January 12, 2024 in Jersey City, New Jersey.
“If BL is exposed to COVID-19, she must be provided notice as soon as possible after Wayfarer or any producer or production executive becomes aware of such exposure,” the request read.
Lively’s legal filing comes months after reports of their tension on set made waves all summer. The actress accused him of sexual harassment, creating a “hostile work environment” and causing her “severe emotional distress” while working on a movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover‘s hit book.
“Ms. Lively often had to work while breastfeeding, which she felt comfortable doing so long as she was given the time and space to cover herself. She did this frequently, because she was not given breaks to feed her baby,” the lawsuit continued. “But Ms. Lively did not expect or consent to anyone entering her private spaces while topless, exposed, and vulnerable with her newborn, or during body makeup application or removal. Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath both showed a shocking lack of boundaries by invading her personal space when she was undressed and vulnerable.”
“[This] sometimes stretched into six hours without a break. When filming finally broke, Ms. Lively would have to run to her trailer to breastfeed,” the documents noted. “The lack of accommodation for her need to express milk caused her to develop painful mastitis.”
“There are days when she has struggled to get out of bed, and she frequently chooses not to venture outside in public,” the lawsuit revealed. “While she has fought to maintain her personal life and business interests, behind closed doors she has suffered from grief, fear, trauma, and extreme anxiety. She also has been experiencing repeated and painful physical symptoms as a result of this experience.”
The lawsuit concluded: “Mr. Reynolds, too, has been affected mentally, physically, and professionally by his wife and children’s pain. Worst of all, however, has been the impact on their young children, who have been traumatized and emotionally uprooted in ways that have substantially impacted their well-being.”
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, addressed Lively’s “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” allegations in a statement to Us, claiming she filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” regarding the production of the film.
Freedman alleged that Lively made “multiple demands and threats” during the film’s production, which included “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”
In a statement to The New York Times on Saturday, December 21, Lively stated, “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
Below Deck costars Ben Willoughby and Sunny Marquis are officially over.
“I need to kindly ask that people respect my space at this time and stop the negative commenting and messages,” Willoughby wrote via Instagram Story on Saturday, December 21. “It’s been a very difficult couple of weeks and some things are private between two people.”
Willoughby noted that he was focused “on moving forward,” adding, “I understand that a relationship was publicly and followed by many. Thank you for understanding.”
Willoughby sparked breakup speculation earlier this month when he removed photos of Marquis from his social media. The former coworkers often documented their romance online after reuniting when filming on season 11 wrapped earlier this year.
“Yes you guessed it we are still together! Finally we can let go of the secrecy that has been held for the past 15 months,” Willoughby captioned an Instagram post in May of him and Marquis. “We want to thank you all for the support throughout season 11 @belowdeckbravo it’s been a rollercoaster to relive the season and the beginning of a relationship.”
Willoughby explained how his relationship with Marquis progressed outside of the show, noting, “We ended up traveling the globe together last year and Sunny made her way to Australia for Christmas. Anyways, hoping you all enjoyed the season. Sunny and Ben xx.”
He continued in a separate post: “We did a lot of traveling last year! From Mexico, Italy, Greece, Morocco, canary islands, Australia, we had a great time navigating life together. This one is a keeper, she’s a special person .”
Below Deck viewers witnessed Willoughby and Marquis’ ups and downs during season 11. While working on deck, Willoughby and Marquis formed a casual relationship, which got more complicated when he was promoted. They continued to hook up when he became her boss — and before he attempted to rekindle his romance with former costar Camille Lamb.
“Being back on board St. David, it is like taking a stroll down memory lane. With Camille, it was this instant spark. We were very much like kids in love. I’ve just been really thinking about her recently,” Willoughby told cameras during an April episode of the show. “Maybe there’s a part of me believing there could be something because we were great together. See what girls have done to me?”
“It’s a bit of a roller coaster between Sunny and I. Sunny said she didn’t want a relationship. She was very much just there just to enjoy the experience and what was happening,” he exclusively told Us Weekly in March about their current status. “And then as things turned out, we both sort of got a bit more involved and it was quite hard for me to just tell her that I need to focus on my job because I’m stepping up into this leadership role.”
Willoughby saw his issues with Marquis as a lesson, adding, “I think she did take a lot of things personally when it should have just been for work and I very much want to see her after the show. So that’s where my head is at just at the moment. We just want to get work done first and then we can see what can blossom after that.”
Since their time on Pretty Little Liars, the cast of the hit Freeform series have been candid about their search for love.
Before and after starring on the hit Freeform series, which ran for seven seasons from 2010 to 2017, Lucy Hale dated a number of famous faces, including David Henrie, Chris Zylka and Skeet Ulrich.
“I haven’t really had rules with dating,” Hale, who played Aria on PLL, said of her love life during a January 2023 appearance on Rachel Bilson‘s “Broad Ideas” podcast. “I’ve dated all the way up to 52 — [from] 27 to 52. I’m 33 and I feel like I’ll probably end up with someone around my age or older, just because of the non-negotiables. I feel like a lot of people in that older age bracket will meet those.”
Hale’s onscreen love interest, Ian Harding, meanwhile, tied the knot with longtime girlfriend Sophie Hart in 2019 after eight years of dating.
Scroll down to see who the Pretty Little Liars cast has dated through the years:
The California native, who portrayed Spencer, has been married to Patrick J. Adams since 2016. Bellisario and Adams welcomed their daughter Aurora in 2018 and their second child, daughter Elliot, in June 2021.
Since playing Hanna, Benson has made headlines for her relationship with Cara Delevingne. The twosome met on the set of 2018's Her Smell and dated for two years before calling it quits. Benson moved on with G-Eazy from May 2020 to February 2021.
In February 2023, the Spring Breakers star sparked romance rumors with Brandon Davis, the grandson of oil tycoon Marvin Davis. They announced their engagement five months later and wed that year. Benson announced that she had given birth to her and Davis’ child in February 2024.
The You alum, who brought Emily to life, briefly dated Ryan Silverstein and Jimmy Butler. The Canada native became a mother when she gave welcomed daughter Atlas with partner Matte Babel in October 2019. Mitchell gave birth to their second child, daughter Rome, in June 2022.
In addition to Henrie and Zylka, Hale has been linked to Alex Marshall, Drew Van Acker, Graham Rogers, Joel Crouse, Adam Pitts, Anthony Kalabretta, Riley Smith, Ryan Rottman and Colton Underwood over the years.
In 2021, the CW star briefly dated Ulrich before they parted ways. She surprised her fans when she announced in February 2023 that she was one-year sober.
The South Africa native, who played Allison, married actor Hudson Sheaffer in May 2018 after four years of dating. Their son, Hendrix, was born in November 2020.
While playing Caleb on Pretty Little Liars, the model sparked dating speculation with Benson off screen. The duo, however, have never publicly confirmed their romance and have remained friends throughout the years.
In 2019, Blackburn came out as bisexual. He hasn't shared much about his love life on social media.
The musician became a fan-favorite on PLL after portraying Toby Cavanaugh. Off screen, Allen was linked to Skyler Samuels and Chuck Grant. He has remained tight-lipped about his dating life — instead preferring to use his platform to share his photography.
While playing Mona, Parrish sparked romance rumors with costar Brant Daugherty. She moved on with Payson Lewis and was briefly linked to her Dancing With the Stars partner Val Chmerkovskiy. The To All the Boys I've Loved Before star married Chris Long in 2018.
The One Tree Hill alum, who played Spencer's sister Melissa, was married to Paul Wesley from 2011 to 2013. She has since dated Rick Glassman, Artem Chigvintsev, Jesse Lee Soffer and Will Estes. In 2021, DeVitto confirmed that she was dating Chicago Cubs manager David Ross. By March 2023, she confirmed that they had split.
DeVitto revealed her relationship with Jared LaPine in June 2023, and by that September, Us Weekly confirmed that they were engaged. DeVitto and LaPine announced in May 2024 that they were gearing up to welcome their first baby together. The couple got married in September 2024 and welcomed daughter Lyle-Josephine in November 2024.
Ray left a lasting impression on Pretty Little Liars for her performance as Charlotte Drake and A. The Suits alum was married to Derek James from 2003 to 2009. She moved on with Landon Beard and they exchanged vows in 2015 after six years of dating.
Outer Banks is coming to an end, but the fictional world is still growing with a prequel and a spinoff.
The hit Netflix series, which premiered in 2020, introduced the conflict between two groups of teenagers in a coastal North Carolina town. The social divide was focused on the Kooks, a.k.a. the wealthy residents, and the working-class crew known as the Pogues. The search for a lost treasure caused the two squads to be even more at odds, while a found family formed between the friend group at the center of the show.
Outer Banks catapulted stars Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Rudy Pankow, Drew Starkey, Carlacia Grant and Austin North to fame before Netflix confirmed in November 2024 that season 5 would be the show’s last.
“We are excited for season 5, and we’re excited for other stories in this universe down the line,” the executive producers said during an interview with Deadline about the future of Outer Banks. While the trio wouldn’t elaborate on their plans for the fictional universe, the outlet reported that no projects are currently in the works but offshoots are being explored.
Fans already know about The Runarounds, which was ordered by Prime Video but will explore a teen band that originated on Outer Banks. Meanwhile, Netflix will remain in the treasure-hunting game through a potential prequel titled Kildare.
Keep scrolling for a comprehensive guide to the entire Outer Banks universe:
‘Outer Banks’
After premiering in 2020, Outer Banks quickly found its audience and the show continued to break streaming records for Netflix. Outer Banksmade a controversial decision ahead of its final season when Pankow’s fan-favorite character, JJ, died.
‘The Runarounds’
Based on a teleplay from Jonas Pate and David Wilcox, the fictional series will follow the real band of the same name featuring William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdock and Jesse Golliher.
Fans of Outer Banks might recognize The Runarounds after they appeared on an episode of the show in 2023. The Runarounds were seen in the background playing at an anniversary party for the parents of Kiara (Bailey).
Pate confirmed in December 2024 that Prime Video already ordered a second season before the show even premiered.
Pate revealed in December 2024 that he was writing a prequel to Outer Banks titled Kildare. The series is still in the early stages but would feature a whole new set of young actors and focus on the founding of each group in the show’s fictional Figure 8 town.
Not all shows have stuck to their original premise over the years — in fact some changed their central story lines on purpose.
Family Matters is a great example since it shifted its cast. The sitcom, which aired from 1989 to 1998, was a spinoff of Perfect Strangers that followed a middle-class Black family living in Chicago. The hit sitcom starredReginald VelJohnson, Jo Marie Payton, Darius McCrary, Kellie Williams, Jaimee Foxworth, Bryton McClure and Michelle Thomas.
Jaleel White joined Family Matters halfway through the first season.
“My performance was so well received during that initial episode that they began writing me into the next episode,” White recalled in his November 2024 memoir, Growing Up Urkel. “They even reshot new teasers for the season that featured me prominently, as if l’d been an original cast member all along.”
Meanwhile, Westworld writers enjoyed not being confined to a specific story line. (The dystopian show initially pulled inspiration from the 1973 film of the same name before evolving the story.)
“One of the fun things about me for the show, when [producer] Lisa [Joy] and I were talking about it way back when, was the ability of this show to shift genres every season, and the invitation to do it,” creator Jonathan Nolan told The Hollywood Reporter in May 2020. “We felt we had an open invitation to play around, especially in this moment where TV is reinventing itself constantly, to have a show that reinvents itself season after season.”
At the time, Nolan highlighted that the genre changed from one season to the next. “You have a Western, you have a samurai movie, you have war movies, you have science-fiction. There are all of the different versions of the future you have seen over the years in movies,” he added. “We get to play around with all of that, and make text of all of that. So the idea that next season will feel different and distinct in genre from the previous seasons? Yes, that’s absolutely part of the structure of the show.”
Keep scrolling for more shows that changed their premise between seasons:
‘Twin Peaks’ (ABC)
The Original Vision: The series, which ran from 1990 to 1991, followed an investigation into the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington. The series developed a cult following in part because of its campy storytelling — and creator David Lynch and Mark Frost‘s unique vision.
Where the Show Ended Up: According to Lynch, there was never any plan to reveal who killed Laura. But after the network forced the show to answer that mystery, Twin Peaks had to pivot to a larger conversation about good and evil.
The Original Vision: The season started out in a futuristic theme park with androids that look like humans staging a rebellion.
Where the Show Ended Up: As the show continued to air, the hosts were brought into the outside world and became integrated within human society.
‘iZombie’ (The CW)
The Original Vision: Based on a DC comic book series of the same name, iZombie was a take on a supernatural police procedural that had Liv Moore (Rose McIver) eating brains from people who were murdered to help the authorities figure out what happened to them.
Where the Show Ended Up: The third season introduced a major change when a zombie-run private military organization forced everyone in Seattle into a zombie state. As a result, Liv traded working at the morgue into a job where she smuggled people in and helped them complete their transformation into zombies.
‘Mom’ (CBS)
The Original Vision: The Chuck Lorre-produced sitcom originally introduced three generations of mothers. Anna Faris played Christy, who found out her teenage daughter Violet (Sadie Calvano), was pregnant. While attending an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Christy ran into her estranged mother Bonnie (Allison Janney), who also battled substance abuse problems.
Where the Show Ended Up: Christy’s attempts to raise her two kids with Bonnie’s help quickly fizzled out. Instead, the show pivoted to Christy, Bonnie and their group of friends from AA. This dynamic shifted again when Farris left the series during season 8.
‘Riverdale’ (The CW)
The Original Vision: Based on the iconic Archie Comics, the teen drama initially focused on a group of friends who came together to uncover the dark secrets that existed within their town.
Where the Show Ended Up: Riverdale didn’t wait long to push boundaries with their storylines, which ranged from cults to killer board games to time travel.
The Original Vision: The first season of Saved by the Bell was actually titled Good Morning, Miss Bliss and starred Hayley Mills as a junior high school teacher navigating complicated situations with help from the students in her eighth grade class.
Where the Show Ended Up: Good Morning, Miss Blisswas ultimately retooled into Saved by the Bell, which changed the setting from Indianapolis to Los Angeles and recast many of the roles to focus on the students.
‘Scream Queens’ (Fox)
The Original Vision: The slasher series, which premiered in 2015, starred an ensemble cast that included Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, Billie Lourd, Lea Michele, Abigail Breslin, Glen Powell and Keke Palmer. During the show’s first season, Scream Queens focused on members of the Kappa Kappa Tau sorority that were getting killed off by the mysterious Red Devil killer.
Where the Show Ended Up: Season 2 shook things up by having the satirical anthology introduce the Green Meanie that targeted a hospital and its staff — which included many of the cast members from the first season. Stars such as Kirstie Alley, Taylor Lautner, John Stamos and James Earl III rounded out the sophomore season.
‘Scrubs’ (NBC)
The Original Vision: Scrubs debuted in 2001 as a medical comedy focused on the lives of employees at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital. More specifically, it was about J.D.’s (Zach Braff) journey from naive med school grad to confident physician.
Where the Show Ended Up: After season 8, ABC renewed the show for a surprise season, which took Scrubs from a hospital to medical school.
‘Cougar Town’ (ABC)
The Original Vision: Created by Bill Lawrence in 2009, Cougar Town introduced Courteney Cox as a single mother named Jules who decided to get back into dating by spending time with men younger than her.
Where the Show Ended Up: Before the first scene was even over, Jules found love with her neighbor Grayson (Josh Hopkins) — who happened to be her own age. Cougar Town then pivoted to a show about a friend group in the fictional town of Gulfhaven, Florida. Since Cougar Town couldn’t change its title, the opening credits would usually suggest other options as a joke.
The Original Vision: Family Matters was a spinoff of ABC’s Perfect Strangers with Carl (VelJohnson) and Harriette (Payton) at the helm for the first few episodes.
Where the Show Ended Up: White joined Family Matters in 1989 — halfway through the first season — as the Winslows’ nerdy neighbor, Steve Urkel. The role was only meant to last one episode, but Urkel became a breakout character that paved the way for White to join the main cast.
‘Kevin Can Wait’ (CBS)
The Original Vision: The sitcom, which premiered in 2016, initially followed a newly retired police officer Kevin (Kevin James), his wife Donna (Erinn Hayes) and their three kids. Kevin Can Wait showed Kevin and Donna navigating life after their daughter Kendra dropped out of college to support her new fiancé.
Where the Show Ended Up: Kevin Can Wait took a major risk when Hayes’ character was written off in between seasons. After killing Donna off, the show replaced Hayes with James’ former The King of Queens costar, Leah Remini, as the new female lead. While the first season centered on Kevin’s family life, the sophomore season had Kevin focusing on his new career, partnership with Vanessa (Remini) and life as a single parent.
Kevin Can Waitwas canceled after two seasons and the outrage over Hayes’ shocking departure inspired AMC’s dramedy Kevin Can F**k Himself.
The Secret Circle has ended, but the show’s stars including Britt Robertson, Thomas Dekker and Phoebe Tonkin have remained on our screens.
The CW initially found success in 2009 when it adapted L.J. Smith‘s The Vampire Diaries book series. Two years later, the network expanded with Smith’s The Secret Circle. Set in the fictional town of Chance Harbor, Washington, the series focused on Cassie Blake who — after moving to town following her mother’s murder — discovered she is a hereditary witch and became the sixth member of a secret coven.
Despite becoming The CW’s third-highest rated performer, The Secret Circle was canceled after one season. Fans attempted to bring the show back with various campaigns but The Secret Circle wasn’t brought back — yet.
“A movie, a play, a commercial campaign for crystals, you name it,” Miller told Book Trib in 2012. “[Production company] Alloy [Entertainment] asked me if I had any interest in trying a lower budget version of the show that could be done on Netflix and I pitched them an idea I really loved and would’ve done in a second.”
He continued: “Following [Shelley Hennig]’s Diana after the finale to California, where she was alone and confused and struggling between her good nature and the dark magic she just accessed to kill her father. My dream was to set her life up in California, then bring in [Phoebe Tonkin]’s Faye to mess it up.”
The Secret Circle ended up one of many short-lived shows on The CW but the cast has continued to document their reunions over the years. Keep scrolling to see where the cast of The Secret Circle is now:
After playing newly-revealed witch Cassie, Robertson remained a memorable face on the small screen with leading roles on Under the Dome, For the People, Big Sky and The Rookie: Feds. Robertson has also appeared in The First Time, The Longest Ride, A Dog's Purpose, I Still Believe and The Merry Gentlemen.
The actress dated Logan Henderson, Dylan O'Brien and Graham Rogers before finding love with Paul Floyd. The couple got engaged in 2022 before tying the knot one year later.
The Secret Circle made Us care about Adam thanks to Dekker's performance. He has since booked roles on Backstrom, The Rookie and Star Trek: Picard. On the big screen, Dekker appeared in Enter the Dangerous Mind, Squatters, Fear Clinic, Miss Bala, Body Brokers and Little Dixie.
Dekker, who has been married to Jesse Haddock since 2017, transitioned to music with albums including Into the Night and Tasma.
Tonkin played fan-favorite Faye on The Secret Circle before remaining on The CW with a role on The Originals. She’s also starred on Safe Harbour, Bloom, Westworld and Boy Swallows Universe. On the big screen, Tonkin may look familiar because of appearances in The Ever After, Babylon and Night Shift.
In addition to winning Us over as Diana, Hennig appeared on Teen Wolf, Dollface, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window and Obliterated. Hennig has also been in several movies including Ouija, Unfriended, When We First Met, Teen Wolf: The Movie and Cult Killer.
Hennig dated Jay Kenneth Johnson from 2007 to 2012 and has previously been linked to Ben McKenzie.
Kennedy played Melissa on The Secret Circle and after the show's cancellation, Kennedy moved on with roles on Black Sails, The Flash and Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
After several years of dating, Kennedy exchanged vows with Ronen Rubinstein in 2022. They expanded their family with a son in 2024.
The first season of The Secret Circle introduced Hunter as Nick. Since then, Hunter has appeared on The Fosters, On the Ropes and The One. Hunter starred in Jack Goes Home and The Honor Farm.
He has been married to Bella Dayne since 2017.
The actor joined The Secret Circle later in the first season as Jake. Zylka has also appeared on The Leftovers and Dare Me. On the big screen, Dare Me scored roles in The Amazing Spider-Man, Freaks of Nature, Novitiate and The Death & Life of John F. Donovan.
Zylka dated Lucy Hale for nine months before their 2012 split. He was engaged to model Hanna Beth Merjos from 2014 to 2015. After several years of dating, Zylka got engaged to Paris Hilton in 2018. They called it quits later that year.
In December 2024, Zylka was reportedly charged with multiple felonies following an altercation with the police in Warren, Ohio.
Henstridge played Faye's mother, Dawn, before scoring roles on Selfie, Beauty & the Beast and Diggstown. On the big screen, Henstridge has appeared in The Black Room, The Unhealer, This Game's Called Murder, 7th Secret and Cinderella's Revenge.
Henstridge was married to Damian Chapa from 1995 to 1996. She moved on with Liam Waite and they were together from 1996 to 2004. After expanding their family with two sons, the couple called it quits and Henstridge found love with Darius Campbell. The pair exchanged vows in 2011 and called it quits two years later.
Harold brought the role of Charles to life and has since appeared on Defiance, Criminal Minds and Equal. He also starred in Echo Park, Andron: The Black Labyrinth, Kiss Me, Kill Me and Weepah Way for Now.
Aidan Turner caught everyone’s attention when he stripped down on Rivals — and he is now breaking down why he wanted Declan’s body to look authentic on screen.
“He’s a dad and he’s a journalist so I think it’d be a bit weird [to make him look too sculpted],” Turner, 41, exclusively told Us Weekly about his approach to those shirtless scenes. “I’ve often seen actors in films or TV shows where their character’s job doesn’t necessarily call for them to be [very buff]. So you see them naked and you are going, ‘Hold on a second, I know what that takes. I know the hours, the dieting and the strenuous physical activity. I know you don’t have time for that.'”
Turner didn’t want fans to question whether Declan’s appearance was too perfect after seeing him at his most chiseled in Poldark.
“I didn’t want it to be one of those moments where it’s just a TV body. I want it to feel real,” he noted. “I tend to keep fairly in shape. So the pressure was all me. And we were really lucky because we had these amazing intimacy coordinators [for the show’s NSFW scenes].”
He continued: “Our concern is that we get the shot. But I think certainly most of my peers in this show don’t really get too self conscious. We kind of just get on with it. We knew what we were getting into. If you’re signing up for a Jilly Cooper show, you know what world you’re stepping into. Sex is part of it and if there’s more then there’d be more.”
Based on British author Cooper’s novel of the same name, Disney+ and Hulu’s Rivals centers around a feud between two men fighting for control of a television station in 1980s Britain. Rivals stars an ensemble cast that includes Turner, David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Bella MacLean, Nafessa Williams, Katherine Parkinson, Victoria Smurfit, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer.
“It’s always lovely [to hear how well-received the show and Declan is]. Any actor who says he doesn’t want to hear nice things like that, I don’t believe them. It’s always nice to hear those things, especially in the early days of a show being released,” Turner told Us about the positive reception to the show. “I’ve been aware of how it’s been received in this country [in the U.K.], which has been really positive.”
Now that Rivalshas been renewed for season 2, Turner is excited to keep giving the fans what they want.
“There’s a funny thing that happens when you’ve done a fair bit of work over 20 years. You land the plane on some things and some you completely miss the airport,” he quipped. “When you do land the plane, you start hearing from people that you’ve not heard from in a little while. My friends whom I haven’t spoken to in months have just emailed me saying they love the show. And it’s like, ‘Wow, it must be really touching people.”
Turner, who is not on social media himself but hears about the buzz secondhand, feels very grateful for the outpouring of support, adding, “But not having the social media element, it does keep you very much out of the loop. But I love to hear that it’s being received on a really positive level. … I suppose to some degree it is always still a surprise when people respond to a show and really like it.”
He concluded: “Being an actor there is a lot of disappointment and some shows you think will travel that don’t — and you get confused by that. I just gave up years ago trying to figure out what the business wants and what the markets pick. So it’s so lovely to hear you say these things though [about the support]. It puts a real smile on my face.”
Rivals is currently streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.
For more reasons why Turner is one of the people we are googling shirtless this week, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.
The passion for TV shows such as Outer Banks, My Lady Jane, NCIS: Hawai’i and more has resulted in committed fan-led efforts following disappointing cancellations and shocking character deaths.
My Lady Jane is a prime example. Based on several historical novels, My Lady Janewas a radical reimagining of Lady Jane Grey’s (Emily Bader) very brief time as monarch after King Henry VIII’s son Edward (Jordan Peters) died of tuberculosis. In this version, Jane and her husband, Guildford (Edward Bluemel), aren’t beheaded and Edward isn’t killed off.
The chemistry between Jane and Guildford was the highlight of 2024 — but apparently not for Prime Video who axed only seven weeks after it premiered in June 2024. It didn’t take long for fans to jump in to advocate for the show’s return either on the streaming service or elsewhere.
“The cast and crew have very clearly poured their whole hearts and souls into this project, creating a series that resonates deeply with its audience. Being the only show both by and for women on Prime Video, My Lady Jane is precisely what female viewers want and need. To cut this story short now feels not only premature but also heartbreakingly unjust,” read the mission statement on the campaign website. “Well, as devoted fans to the show, we simply cannot and will not stand for this! So, the fight starts here!”
While Outer Banks certainly doesn’t seem to struggle with ratings, fans came together to address JJ’s (Rudy Pankow) shocking death in season 4. Since it happened right after the show introduced an ancient crown that could supposedly bring people back to life, viewers used that as inspiration for their own fan-led project.
Keep scrolling for more fan-led TV show campaigns — both successful and the ones currently in the works:
‘Outer Banks’
Madison Bailey as Kiara, Rudy Pankow as JJ in ‘Outer Banks.’
JJ’s death hit fans hard and that rage turned into billboards, a petition and more ongoing efforts to have Pankow reprise the role despite the fan-favorite character’s death.
‘My Lady Jane’
Edward Bluemel as Lord Guildford Dudley, Emily Bader as Lady Jane Grey, in ‘My Lady Jane’.
The most shocking TV cancellation of 2024 definitely goes to My Lady Jane. After not giving the show more than a few weeks to find an audience, Prime Video chose not to renew the show for a second season. My Lady Jane, however, did have a fanbase that came out in droves to advocate for its return.
‘The Acolyte’
Before the Star Wars series was even cancelled, fans were brainstorming campaigns out of concern. The Acolyte was ultimately not renewed for a second season by Disney despite decent viewership — and acclaim from critics.
‘Vampire Academy’
An adaptation from Julie Plec about a show with vampires and fictional ships with exceptional chemistry should have been an easy renewal. Instead, Peacock gave up one season — to the outrage of the audience. This resulted in several endeavors from the fans in an effort to bring the supernatural series back.
Just as fans were getting everything they wanted, Paramount+ took the iCarly revival away from them. Not only that, the last episode ended on a major cliffhanger that served as the motivation for an ongoing campaign. The cast and crew have joined in because of their love for iCarly.
‘NCIS: Hawai’i’
After CBS abruptly axed NCIS: Hawai’i, fans created a petition to get the network to change their minds. The network stood by their decision after pulling the plug on Blue Bloods too, which was another hit series at CBS.
‘Manifest’
NBC was Manifest’s original home before it pulled the plug on the show in 2021. Fans and show creators campaigned hard for the show’s return — and Netflix responded by reviving Manifest for a fourth and final season that topped the streaming platform’s Top 10 list of content.
‘Lucifer’
Following three seasons on Fox, Lucifer briefly came to an end. A Twitter campaign motivated Netflix to save the show for three more seasons, which consistently earned high viewership for the streaming service.
‘One Day at a Time’
The sitcom, which was based on the 1975 series of the same name, lasted three seasons on Netflix before being canceled. Viewers advocated for more episodes and that led to Pop TV reviving One Day at a Time for season 4.
Veronica Mars was canceled by the CW after its second season — but not for long. Fans raised $7,000 to have a plane fly over the studio with a banner and that resulted in one more season. Later a Kickstarter campaign raised $2 million, which funded the Veronica Mars feature film and that paved the way for Hulu’s short-lived revival season.
‘Timeless’
Online support caused NBC to walk back their cancellation of Timeless three days after announcing their initial decision. The series ultimately ended again one season later.
‘Friday Night Lights’
Another NBC show that nearly didn’t run as long as it should have was Friday Night Lights. The ratings for season 2 (after the writer’s strike contributed to some wonky scripts) forced the network to cut ties but they reconsidered after receiving an influx of letters from the audience. The “Light’s Out” campaign, which also featured light bulbs being sent to NBC, resulted in three more seasons and a deal with DirecTV to air the episodes first.
‘Arrested Development’
Fans mailed bananas and letters to Fox after Arrested Developmentwas canceled by Fox. That briefly saved the show for one more season and it later was revived on Netflix.
‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’
Fox pulled the plug on Brooklyn Nine-Nine after five seasons and that promptly caused social media backlash. Thanks to the #SaveBrooklyn99 campaign, NBC picked the show up from Fox one day later.
The phrase “six seasons and a movie” wouldn’t exist if not for Community. After five seasons on NBC, fans kicked off campaigns that included a themed art gallery and a convention. This allowed for Community to have a sixth and final season — and a move is in the works.
‘The Expanse’
Prime Video saved The Expanse once Syfy made the decision to cancel the show. The #SaveTheExpanse campaign included viewers sending emails and a plane to fly over the studio.
‘Warrior Nun’
Two seasons wasn’t enough for fans, who fought for Warrior Nun‘s upcoming three-movie deal.
Jason Segel has thought about where his Freaks and Geeks character, Nick Andopolis, would be today — but the answer is tragic.
“In my mind, he gets sent off to war and doesn’t make it,” Segel, 44, told GQ on Wednesday, December 18. “That was always like the threat looming for Nick, and that’s what happens to a lot of men of that generation and socioeconomic status.”
Segel kept that in mind when originally playing Nick in NBC’s short-lived series, adding, “That’s always how I was thinking of playing him. For Nick, the desperation in his character is that the alternative is not making it. That’s how he felt, like, ‘I’m gonna drum my way out of this.’ How sad, because you’re not going to drum your way out of it.”
Freaks and Geeks, which was developed by Judd Apatow and Paul Feig, premiered in 1999 and was set in a 1980s Detroit suburb. The series followed teenager Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini), who fell into a crowd of slacker “freaks,” and her brother Sam (John Francis Daley), who attempted to navigate high school life with his “geek” friends.
Despite not lasting long, Freaks and Geeksdeveloped a cult fanbase.
Jason Segel
“Even to this day, I think I didn’t want to admit that Freaks and Geeks was cancelled,” Apatow said during a 2014 talk at the Paley Center. “Everything I’ve done, in a way, is revenge for the people who canceled Freaks and Geeks.”
Freaks and Geeks helped develop Segel’s career, who has continued to book comedic roles in hit shows such as How I Met Your Mother and Shrinking. Behind the scenes, Segel was just as in-demand, with a writer for Freaks and Geeks previously revealing she had a crush on the actor.
“While I adored most of the actors [on Freaks and Geeks], I became especially close with Jason Segel. He played Nick, the drummer freak who is Lindsay’s love interest,” Patty Lin wrote in her 2023 memoir, End Credits: How I Broke Up With Hollywood. “Only 19 at the time, he wasn’t the type that made girls swoon, but he was cute. He had warm brown eyes, a goofy smile and a tall, lanky frame — like, basketball player tall. In fact, he used to play basketball, just like his character.”
It didn’t take long for Lin to develop a connection with Segal — even though she already had a boyfriend.
“That was when I started having feelings for Jason, despite our nine-year age gap and the fact that I already had a boyfriend,” she recalled. “We talked about acting and writing, our career goals, his fear of fame, our love of privacy and the need for solitude. It was the kind of conversation that makes you fall in love with someone. Judd [Apatow] once told me he’d had a conversation like that in the car with the actress Leslie Mann, when they were working on the Cable Guy. They ended up married.”
Segal ended up politely turning Lin down before he started dating Cardellini, now 49. After their split in 2007, Segel was linked to Bojana Novakovic and later Alexis Mixter, whom he dated from 2013 to 2021. He is currently dating professional dancer Kayla Radomski.
Shay, 39, mentioned Vanderpump’s recent appearance on Access Hollywood’s “Housewives Nightcap” podcast, sharing on the Friday, December 20, episode of her “Scheananigans” podcast, “One thing was the host brought up Kristen’s exciting pregnancy news and Lisa’s response was, ‘Do we know who the dad is?'”
Vanderpump’s response didn’t sit well with Shay. “I just want to say — with all due respect — it was kind of shady,” Shay called the “unprofessional” humor. “It is super shady. But especially because Lisa is a producer on The Valley.”
Since The Valley is a spinoff of Vanderpump Rules, Shay assumes that Vanderpump, 64, is familiar with Doute’s fiancé.
“Like you know who Luke [Broderick] is. You know he’s a cast member on this show,” Shay continued. “This season, they get engaged. And if you don’t know who someone is on a show that you’re producing, then why is your name in the credits as a producer?”
Vanderpump admitted to Access Hollywood that she “never talks” to Doute, 41,. The duo previously shared the screen on Vanderpump Rules before Doute was fired from the show in 2020 — and they haven’t publicly spoken since then.
“I hadn’t heard that [Kristen is pregnant]. How on Earth did that happen? Who’s the father? Do we know?” Vanderpump said earlier this month. “Oh, she’s getting married? I’m really not very involved in The Valley even though I’m a producer.”
Shay slammed how Vanderpump answered the question.
“It’s just a paycheck [for Lisa] basically,” she added on Friday. “Knowing the struggles that Kristen has openly shared — on her path to becoming a mother and her pregnancy loss — even if you don’t like someone, it’s just kind of distasteful on this topic of motherhood. How hard is it to say I wish her best?”
While reflecting on Doute and Vanderpump’s feud, Shay explained why she thought they were still at odds, adding, “I feel like because Kristen has always stood up to her and has never just bowed down and been like, ‘OK, Lisa is the boss and producer.’ Like she’s going to tell her how she feels. Whereas I’m going to be nice and respectful and just like, ‘Yes, ma’am, OK. Jump, how high?'”
Doute is currently expecting a baby girl with Broderick, Us Weekly exclusively broke news of their engagement earlier this month. After their gender reveal, Doute spoke with Usabout getting ready to expand her family with Broderick.
“I guessed wrong 100 percent of the time when it came to my friends’ pregnancies and not shockingly, I wasn’t right for mine either,” she quipped. “Luke was made to be a girl dad.”
The Stranger Things cast has been showing fans how much fun they are having while filming the show’s final season.
Viewers were introduced to the residents of Hawkins, Indiana, when Stranger Things debuted in 2016. The series focuses on a fictional town where a series of supernatural events cause mystery and mayhem. After appearing on the show, the main cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton and Joe Keery quickly became household names.
“I don’t share, but I’m having a really good time,” she exclusively told Us Weekly in February 2024. “I have friends now that will text me and go, ‘Where are you? Or you can’t say?’ But that’s out of respect and love for the Duffer brothers.”
“I keep things very tight, very close to the vest. I don’t tell anyone I know anything,” Gelman explained to Us in July 2024, adding that his loved ones “know not to” ask him what happens on the show ahead of time. “And a lot of people in my personal life don’t want to know. They want to be surprised when it comes out. They don’t want it ruined.”
The cast and crew wrapped production on season 5 in December 2024. Keep scrolling for the rare behind-the-scenes glimpses that Stranger Things fans have gotten so far:
