University of Nebraska football superfan Jack Hoffman, who famously ran for a touchdown during a 2013 Cornhuskers’ game, has died after a 14-year battle with brain cancer.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Jack Hoffman,” the Team Jack Foundation confirmed in a Wednesday, January 15, statement via Facebook. “Jack passed away after a long battle with brain cancer, a journey that inspired countless lives and left a legacy of hope, strength, and resilience. Jack Hoffman, you will always be our hero.”
Hoffman passed away at his home in Atkinson, Nebraska. According to the Team Jack website, pathology results after a tumor resection surgery in summer 2024 revealed that his tumor had advanced to a high-grade glioma. He was 19 years old.
After being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2011, Jack formed a bond with Huskers running back Rex Burkhead after his father, Andy Hoffman, reached out to the star player. Two years later, the Nebraska coaching staff invited him to run a play during the fourth quarter of a spring game. Rocking a miniature No. 22 Burkhead jersey, Hoffman — who was 7 years old at the time — took a handoff from Taylor Martinez and ran 69 yards into the end zone of Memorial Stadium to the cheers of 60,000 people.
A video of the game, which became known as “The Run,” garnered millions of views on YouTube, and weeks later, Jack accompanied Burkhead to visit Barack Obama in the Oval Office. In July 2013, he was awarded ESPN’s ESPY Award for “Best Moment in Sports.”
Jack’s moment in the spotlight helped his parents launch their foundation, which has since raised more than $14 million to aid pediatric brain cancer research. (Andy died from glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in 2021 at age 42.)
“Jack Hoffman embodied what it means to be a Husker every day through his courage, fight, and inspiration,” the official social media account for the Nebraska Cornhuskers wrote via X on Wednesday. “We are heartbroken by his loss and send all our love to the Hoffman family.”
Burkhead — who is now a player for the NFL’s Houston Texans — also sent his condolences via X, writing, “Love you buddy. Tell Jesus we say hello.”
Despite his diagnosis, Jack played on his own high school football team as a lineman before becoming a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 2024, studying political science. The school released a statement on Wednesday calling the teen a “valued member of our Loper community,” revealing that Jack made the Dean’s list this past semester.
“Jack was widely admired across Nebraska and beyond for his courageous spirit and dedication to raising awareness about childhood cancer through the Team Jack Foundation,” the school’s statement read. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to Jack’s family, friends and all those whose lives he touched. His connection to the UNK community was meaningful, and his impact will not be forgotten. We are grateful for the time he shared with us.”
In a 2020 interview with ESPN, Jack reflected on “The Run,” revealing he didn’t realize the moment would be a big deal. He recalled not knowing where the endzone was and remembered the words of wisdom his father shared that he carried with him years later: “If you don’t know it, just run until you hit the fence.”
Jack is survived by his mother, Bri Hoffman, and two sisters.
Danielle Fishel grew up in the spotlight as a child actor on Boy Meets World, and her experience on the show taught her exactly what to do — and what to avoid — when it comes to directing young stars like the ones on Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.
“One thing I try to pivot away from that we did a lot on Boy Meets World [is] super fast paced dialogue,” Fishel, 43, exclusively told Us Weekly while discussing her role as director on Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’s inaugural season. “There were a lot of scenes where the people talking to each other were rapid firing things. And depending on what’s being said, that timing could increase the funny, but it also gives the idea that no one’s really listening to the other person.”
Fishel noted that being a good actor is “all about listening to your scene partner” and “letting what they’ve said affect you in some way”— something she feels didn’t always occur on her hit ‘90s sitcom. Now, it’s something she tries to “shy away from” when helming her own episodes.
“I want my actors to feel like they’re living in a reality,” she explained. “Even if that reality involves magic, it is the reality for their character. And so I try to ground people as much as possible.”
Fishel made a name for herself by starring as beloved character Topanga Lawrence on all seven seasons of Boy Meets World, which ran from 1993 to 2000. While growing up on the ABC series inevitably taught her the “donts” of making successful TV, it also helped her discover the “dos.”
“I definitely try to incorporate some movement. It can be kind of difficult in a show where you’ve got a lot of characters in one set and everyone has to talk to each other,” she said, adding that “finding natural and organic places for people to cross and move” also presents a challenge.
“And one of the things I think we did pretty well on Boy Meets World were the crosses our actors made felt organic,” she continued “They didn’t feel like, ‘Well, why did they just do that?’”
Fishel preps for incorporating movement by blocking episodes in her “mind” ahead of shooting before walking her cast through the paces. In the end, however, she says that an actor is always the “expert” in their character — and she is open to feedback, always.
“If something I’m telling you to do doesn’t feel good for you or doesn’t feel natural for you, I want you to tell me and let’s come up with something else,” she told Us. “You make a suggestion, ‘Let’s try it. This is a safe space and let’s just find the best way to do it.’ And it’s worked very well for me thus far.”
That open communication is something that carries over when approaching any of the younger cast members on her set, especially when it involves giving notes. Fishel understands all too well the feeling of “all eyes” being on her, and doesn’t want that sensation to seep into the actors she’s directing.
“I think one of the really important things is having conversations with each kid, and not in front of everybody,” she explained. “When you’re rehearsing you’re on a set and everyone is standing around — there are crew members, the parents of the children are there, or their guardians; whoever’s there watching them that day. And when you are giving notes and you’re trying to make a scene better, sometimes it can feel like, ‘Everybody’s eyes are on me and I was just given a note.’ And I never want them to think that if I’ve given them a note, it’s that I’m correcting something they’ve done.”
Disney/Lara Solanki
Fishel added that there is “no right or wrong” approach to acting, just “different approaches” about what to try and what risks to take. “And so when I can tell that an actor is maybe feeling a little insecure or needs a bit of a pep talk for whatever reason,” she told Us, “I will ask the parent or guardian and that actor to step aside where nobody can really see us and just have a one-on-one conversation where [I say], ‘Tell me what’s going on for you.’”
Fishel’s directing career kicked off in 2014 with the BMW revival series, Girl Meets World. While she reprised her role as Topanga for the Disney series, she also stepped behind the camera for the first time. It’s there she realized that her “maternal instincts” were strong — stars Rowan Blanchard and Sabrina Carpenter felt “very much like my kids,” she told Us — but it wasn’t until she became a mother herself that her approach to directing changed entirely. (Fishel shares sons Adler, 5, and Keaton, 3, with husband Jensen Karp.)
“I know from seeing my own kids and seeing their vulnerabilities that every kid, even when they are the star of their own TV show, is dealing with their own insecurities and is having self-doubt,” she shared. “And if I can just come in and be a person who encourages them and makes them feel like, one, they learn something throughout the week or [two], possibly have a better understanding of what they do or why they do it and that they had a good time and would like to do it again, then I feel like I’ve succeeded in my job.”
Fishel has since directed countless episodes of popular TV series’ like Raven’s Home, Sydney to the Max and Lopez vs. Lopez. Her debut on Wizards Beyond Waverly Place — a revival of the hit from the early 2000s — airs on Disney Channel this month. The episode, titled “Potions Eleven” follows teen wizard Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) as she enters mentor Justin Russo’s (David Henry) mind to figure out what really happened to get him fired from being a professor at WizTech years earlier.
The plot line carries over from the OG series’ finale — which starred Henry alongside Selena Gomez, who also reprises her role as Alex Russo — and unveils a secret fans have been curious about since the show’s pilot. That pressure was not lost on Fishel.
“The biggest challenge was just overcoming my own fear that I was gonna let anybody down,” she explained, noting that the Wizards franchise is “so special” and “so meaningful” to fans. “The unicorn incident is a big [story] — it’s a big episode — and having it be in my hands was a little nerve wracking.”
Luckily, everyone on set made Fishel feel “comfortable” — especially fellow former child actor Henry, 35, who is also a producer on the series.
“David Henry is so amazing, and the minute I got on set with him I saw what he was capable of doing, both with the, like, more heartfelt, vulnerable moments and the over-the-top wacky physical comedy. He can really do it all,” she gushed. “And so once I got in there and I saw what this entire cast was capable of, I was like, ‘Oh, there’s no failing here. There’s only success.’”
New episodes of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place air on Disney Channel Fridays at 8 p.m. ET.
Big Brother alum Tyler Crispen is great at surprises — like revealing he just got engaged and welcomed his first baby!
“The best secret of all time,” Crispen, 29, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, January 14, alongside photos of his newborn daughter, Carter Rae Crispen, who was born on Sunday, January 12. “Your mama and I love you more than anything in this world.”
Crispen, who came in as runner up on season 20 of the CBS reality series, called his daughter “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” While he did not reveal the identity of the mother, he did surprise his followers further by referring to his partner as his “fiancée” while thanking his loved ones for their continued support. He also shared a small polaroid of the duo, labeling it, “Mom & Dad!”
“My fiance’ (oh yeah, double surprise) wanna thank all of our close friends & fam for helping us keep this little secret and showering her and us with all the love,” he continued. “I am the luckiest guy on the planet.”
He added, “PS. Have you ever seen a harder launch?”
The reality star also added photos of Carter via his Instagram Stories, calling her as “My Everything,” and adding “Girl Dad” to his bio.
Crispen’s fellow Big Brother alums quickly took to his comments section to congratulate him on his array of exciting news. Season 21 runner-up Holly Allen wrote, “This is the way to launch That smile on the last pic is too cute. Congrats!!!” while Dana Briones added, “Tyler! Congratulations. Girls are the besssstt. So happy for you three!! .”
Earlier this month, Crispen spoke briefly about his new romance while appearing on the “The Exclusive With Sharon Tharp” podcast, sharing what went behind the decision to keep his relationship out of the spotlight.
“It’s just something we spoke about early on. If anything it just strengthens the connection because it can be hard for someone that is in the public eye to be with someone that’s not,” he explained. “And I remember how difficult it was for me to be thrust into that at first. It’s crazy to go from hearing opinions about yourself from your friends and family to going on the show, you come out, and you hear opinions being thrown at you 24/7 on a large scale. It’s not easy to deal with.”
Crispen was previously engaged to his Big Brother costar Angela Rummans. The pair sparked a showmance in 2018 and eventually bought a home together in South Carolina. In January 2021, Crispen proposed during a beach getaway.
“You make every day seem like a dream come true and I am now officially the luckiest person on the face of the Earth,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. “I’ll love you to infinity and beyond.”
The duo eventually called it quits after four years together in December 2022. Crispen later addressed the split, telling Us Weekly exclusively that the exes would always be “friends.”
“I am not a big believer in burning bridges because she was such a big part of my life and I don’t want to have to look back on those memories and have a sour taste in my mouth,” he explained. “She’ll always have a special place with me, and I think she knows that. I think maintaining a friendship with his exes is OK, everybody. It can work out.”
Influencer Max Emerson and fiancé Andrés Camilo lost their home in the Los Angeles wildfires — and the tragedy led to them calling it quits on their nearly decade-long relationship.
“After nine years together we’ve decided to separate,” Emerson and Camilo wrote via a joint Instagram statement on Monday, January 13, alongside a series of pics throughout their relationship. “The fire that took our home accelerated this decision by giving us clarity and simplicity. We were already beginning to explore different paths- this tragedy is serving as a catalyst for a clean break.”
The duo explained that they have realized it’s “time to start” their lives again “as individuals,” but noted that they don’t regret the years they spent together.
“Our time together wasn’t wasted,” they continued. “We still love each other fully, deeply, and unconditionally. That love doesn’t end; it evolves. We are part ways with respect and gratitude, carrying forward all that we’ve learned.”
Emerson and Camilo revealed earlier this week that their residence was one of the homes lost during the wildfires, which began raging through Los Angeles on January 7 when high winds caused brush fires to spread quickly through the Pacific Palisades and surrounding neighborhoods.The fires have destroyed more than 12,000 structures, and placed over 150,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders.
At the time, Emerson and Camilo took to Instagram to reveal that nearly their “entire” neighborhood had “burned to the ground,” but clarified that they were safely in Utah for work.
“We’re very grateful to be somewhere that feels safe right now,” Emerson said in the January 10 video. Camilo added, “We’re feeling a great sense of loss for everything in our home, for everything that our neighbors are going through. Everyone that’s been displaced.”
While Emerson said they were both “grieving for our planet right now,” Camilo noted that they are grieving the loss of all their personal items as well, which included things like “art,” “photos” and other “prized possessions.”
“We are filled with gratitude and a deep sense of loss,” Emerson captioned the post, promising to share more in the coming days as “the amount of things to consider is overwhelming at the moment.”
Emerson returned to Instagram on January 11 to share a video of the pair’s home up in flames along with a carousel of photos from happier times. He revealed that he and Camilo “fully restored” the house “with the hop of starting our family” there.
“Words cannot fully convey the devastation we feel for all that was lost in less than twenty four hours,” he captioned the post. “Despite some of our dreams being put on hold, we remain optimistic and excited for the future… and it’s all because of the tsunami of love and support we’re receiving from our family, friends and community. It’s all very overwhelming, so please be patient if we aren’t super communicative in the next couple weeks. Thank you for always showing up for us.”
Emerson concluded the post by giving a shoutout to their neighbor, who “did everything he could to save our home.”
On January 11, 1995, a network launched that would become a destination for younger viewers — one that would have them saying “Oh what a night!” five times a week.
In hindsight, The WB as a network was merely a blip in TV history; remaining on the air for just a short 11 years and never scoring a Top-20 show. But that didn’t stop it from leaving its own type of legacy. Although its first original series was a sitcom, The Wayans Bros., the dramas that followed were what skyrocketed the network to its massive levels of success: Buffy, Dawson’s Creek, Felicity, Everwood, One Tree Hill … To see them was to love them.
The big four networks had dabbled in the young adult demographic before — Fox, for example, paved the way with Beverly Hills, 90210 — but The WB was an experiment in dedicating an entire channel to the often-overlooked teenage generation. What spawned were a series of shows that looked different on paper — a girl slaying vampires, a group of teens growing up in a sleepy town, the origin story of the world’s most famous superhero — but remained connected with one timeless and universal throughline: coming of age.
The TV landscape has greatly expanded since The WB said its final goodbyes in 2006, but the network remains a pillar of must-watch programming for young audiences despite the surplus of content available.
Shows like Dawson’s Creek and Buffy the Vampire Slayer came long before technological advancements like cellphones, laptops and social media, but the core of the high school experience still remains the same, with young people just hoping to find comfort in learning they aren’t alone. Thanks to The WB, they can.
(And before you come for Us, this list includes strictly WB programming a.k.a. anything that debuted after 2006 was not up for a spot — for example, Gossip Girl kicked off The CW in 2007.) From Capeside to Sunnydale, check out WB staff faves and where you can stream them:
‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’
Getty Images
Where to Watch: Hulu
Buffy has it all: iconic villains, quippy dialogue, that catchy musical episode. More important, though, is Buffy Summers’ perseverance. The slayer (Sarah Michelle Gellar) took punches, literal and emotional, from hell’s worst demons and always got back up. She taught me true strength while kicking butt in stylish-yet-affordable boots. – Nicole Massabrook, Associate Editor
‘Angel’
Frank Ockenfels/Online USA via Getty Images
Where to Watch: Hulu
The dark spinoff found Buffy’s vampire ex (David Boreanaz) in Los Angeles facing demons (including his own) and saving souls (including his own). At first I thought this series was a bad idea, but it was to Buffy what Better Call Saul became to Breaking Bad. I loved watching this haunted antihero’s rocky road to redemption. – Matt Sullivan, Writer
‘Gilmore Girls’
Warner Bros./Delivered by Online USA via Getty Images
Where to Watch: Hulu, Netflix
The mother-daughter duo of Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) provided the ideal amount of comfort, conflict (people are still fighting over Team Jess and Team Logan) and so many pop culture references that with each rewatch, I deserve a quip I missed. – Sarah Hearon, Digital Deputy Editor
‘What I like About You’
The WB/Ron Batzdorff
Where to Watch: Rent/Buy on Prime Video
Genius move: casting Amanda Bynes and Jennie Garth as this sitcom’s chaotic — and believable — sister duo. (Second place: casting the oft-shirtless Nick Zano.) The humor-to-heart ratio was perfectly calibrated. – Yana Grebenyuk, Senior Digital TV Writer
‘Dawson’s Creek’
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Where to Watch: Hulu, Prime Video
As it ushered in a new era of teen drama, Dawson’s delivered relatable, adolescent angst-filled stories with a side of meta humor in an idyllic small-town package. But I promise, one scene sums up what made the show so brilliant: Joey (Katie Holmes). Pacey (Joshua Jackson). “I remember everything.” – Kat Pettibone, Associate Editor, Film
‘Felicity’
Getty Images
Where to Watch: Hulu
While Dawson’s and Buffy drew viewers in with stories of the both unbearable and euphoric high school experience, Felicity depicted a different coming of age: college. While I was navigating the elementary school halls when the show first premiered in 1998, I was immediately mystified by what life could be like when choices about your future become your own. Felicity (Keri Russell) had a different way about her than other leading ladies. She was awkward and shy and always a little bit lost, which felt relatable and comforting. Yet despite her flaws, she still found herself in a love triangle with Scott Foley and Scott Speedman, which made the idea of higher education even more alluring. Many people condemn the show for making Russell chop all her hair off during the season 2 premiere – causing a massive drop in ratings — but for prepubescent me, I felt empowered to make bold choices for myself when it matters. (And Russell totally rocked that haircut, by the way). – KP
‘Roswell’
Cover Images
Where to Watch: Hulu, Disney+, AppleTV+
Kids today may be familiar with Max, Liz, Maria, Michael and Isabel from The CW’s Roswell: New Mexico, but the legacy all began in 1999 with the OG series. The most romantic story about teenage aliens to ever be told, Roswell expanded The WB’s supernatural universe from vampires on Buffy to something else entirely, playing on what it’s like to be a teenage outcast. The show only lasted for three seasons — with only the first two airing on The WB — but still managed to create some of the most iconic (and underrated) couples in history: soulmates Max (Jason Behr) and Liz (Shiri Appleby), and on and off again Michael (Brendan Fehr) and Maria (Majandra Deflino). If you want to talk about actors with chemistry, just press play on the season 1 episode “Sexual Healing.” – KP
‘Charmed’
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Where to Watch: Peacock, Prime Video
Halliwell sisters Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) and Paige (Rose McGowan), epitomized ‘90s cool thanks to their magical powers and killer style. Seeing them vanquish evil with the “power of three” made me want a witch sib ASAP. Plus, their San Francisco pad and P3 nightclub were total #goals. – Johnni Mackie, Senior Digital TV Writer
‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’
Cover Images
Where to Watch: Disney+, Hulu
Fun Fact: Sabrina the Teenage Witch didn’t originate on The WB. The movie, starring Melissa Joan Hart, aired on Showtime in 1996 before being picked up as a series for part of ABC’s “TGIF” lineup. The WB acquired the show in season 5 after ABC refused to pick the show up for more than one season, hoping to expand its comedy genre.
In a lot of ways, Sabrina grew as I grew. What started as appointment viewing as a kid on “TGIF” alongside Boy Meets World transitioned into my teenage viewing experience alongside Dawson’s and Roswell. Sabrina was effervescent, funny and served as an endless fashion inspo for seven seasons. Just don’t get me started on Josh (David Lascher) and Aaron (Dylan Neal) — Harvey (Nate Richert) and Sabrina remain my OTP to this day! – KP
‘Popular’
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Where to Watch: YouTube
If you thought Ryan Murphy’s first foray into the teen dramedy was Glee, you’d be wrong. Popular was his first YA hit, breaking the mold of everything I’d ever seen on The WB before. The tone was satirical and dark, exploring and blurring the line between teenage have and have-nots. Where other shows were earnest and melodramatic, Popular was all camp and comedy, marching to the beat of its own drum — and showing just what Murphy could do. There was body diversity, queer characters and a point of view that couldn’t be denied. This underrated gem deserved so much more than two seasons. – KP
‘Young Americans’
Warner Bros. Television
Where to Watch: YouTube
Young Americans only lasted one season but it delivered the same small town angst-ridden vibes as its sister show, Dawson’s Creek, swapping Capeside for New Rawley. The show’s supporting cast was filled with future stars that included Kate Bosworth, Ian Somerhalder and Katherine Moennig, whose character Jacqueling “Jake” Pratt broke the mold by exploring gender identity and sexuality in ways other shows never had. – KP
‘Everwood’
The WB/Andrew Eccles
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
This drama was set in the snowy mountains of Colorado, but Everwood absolutely warmed my heart for four seasons. Even though the show deftly tackled grief and mental health (discussing antidepressants and therapy long before they were commonly discussed), it managed to be an uplifting and hopeful story of families and community coming together to get through their hardest times. – NM
‘Supernatural’
The WB/ Brett Panelli
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Max
I first met Sam (Jared Padelecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) on The WB, and then spent 14 more seasons with the brothers on The CW. While the fun takes on mythology and classic rock soundtrack certainly make the show memorable, it was really Ackles and Padalecki’s chemistry (OK, and bone structure) as the wayward Winchester sons that allowed Supernatural to carry on for so long — and made me a lifelong member of the SPN fam. – NM
‘Summerland’
The WB/Reudi Hoffman
Where to Watch: N/A (Come on streaming services, get on it!)
Jesse McCartney and a young Zac Efron (gap in his teeth and all!) was almost too much for Us to take. Lori Loughlin led the young cast for two seasons as they hit the beaches of the fictional city of Playa Linda, California to surf, navigate teenage angst and troubled classmates. Alexa, play “Beautiful Day” by Steve Plunkett. – SH
‘7th Heaven’
The WB/James Sorenson
Where to Watch: Paramount+, Amazon Prime
Looking back, there are endless elements to 7th Heaven that make you cringe — and plenty of TikToks dedicated to the most absurd story lines. But at the time, we were all addicted to the Camden family drama. Who could forget Ashlee Simpson’s stint as a janitor? Or that time Lucy (Beverley Mitchell) went into labor in an elevator? This Us staffer will even admit that she wanted to name her first child Savannah after Lucy and Kevin Kinkirk (George Stults). – SH
One Tree Hill
Warner Bros. Television
Where to Watch: Hulu
Nothing says early-2000s drama quite like One Tree Hill, which pitted half-brothers Nathan (James Lafferty) and Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) against each other both on and off the basketball court. Throughout the series, the siblings realized that their dad, Dan (Paul Johansson), was the actual worst — and that you probably shouldn’t hook up with the same girls who are also best friends. I’m looking at you, Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush) and Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton Morgan).
Amid all the drama — seriously, think soap opera levels — OTH made me fall in love with high school sports and pine for a love like Nathan and Haley’s (Bethany Joy Lenz). Oh, and yes, I did want to shop at Clothes Over Bros on the regular and hang out at the river court. Who didn’t?
Trust me, even if you don’t like basketball, this series is worth a rewatch. It’s a quintessential WB show packed with angst, love triangles and killer music. — JM
‘Smallville’
The CW/Warner Bros. Television
Where to Watch: Disney+, Hulu
It’s hard to recall in the era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but comic books were not always such an inescapable part of pop culture. Back in 2001, there was no Arrowverse (R.I.P.) — there was just Smallville, The WB’s beloved drama about Superman before he was Superman. The show followed a teenage Clark Kent (Tom Welling) as he dealt with crushes, bullies and other vagaries of high school while adjusting to his ever-increasing superpowers. (While he starts the show able to run faster than a speeding bullet, he doesn’t develop heat vision, for example, until season 2.) Some of Smallville’s special effects look dated nearly 25 years later, but the show’s core theme — staying true to yourself in the face of a challenge and/or Lex Luthor — remains timeless. – Eliza Thompson, Senior Movies Editor
Get ready to feel the beat with Lifetime’s upcoming Lisa Lisa biopic.
Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story, which premieres on the network Saturday, February 1, tells the story of Lisa Velez, a.k.a Lisa Lisa, the 15-year-old Puerto Rican singer turned global phenomenon. Executive produced by Velez herself, the film stars Jearnest Corchado in the titular role alongside Angie Martinez and Bre-Z.
In Us Weekly’s exclusive first look at the film’s trailer, fans are given a glimpse into the true story of Lisa Lisa’s journey to becoming the first Latina artist to hit multiple music Billboard charts while battling sexism, racism and a breast cancer diagnosis.
“When I was a kid, I would dream I was on a stage, singing,” Lisa says in the teaser, later telling her mom: “One day, I’ll be so rich, Mami.”
While the initial images feature Lisa Lisa on stage, strutting down sidewalks and getting her first big break with her 1985 hit “Can You Feel the Beat,” things quickly take a turn when Lisa realizes there’s a darker side to the industry than she anticipated.
“The music business, it’s not going to be what you think it is. It’s going to try and take a piece of you,” Bre-Z, who portrays Lisa’s best friend Toni Ménage, tells her. “You can’t let them.”
Quick flashes show Lisa being told she’ll have to start “treatment right away” for her breast cancer — “I can’t stop touring,” she tearfully replies — getting physically assaulted and being threatened by her team.
“You cannot make it without us,” her manager warns, to which Lisa Lisa replies, “Watch me.”
Lifetime
In May 2024, Velez, now 57, shared that she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the height of career but decided to keep it a secret — even from even her own mother — in order to keep working.
“It was hard to talk about back then,” Velez explained on an episode of the Tamron Hall Show. “It was hard, there was no one to speak on it. The guys used to ask me, ‘Are you gaining weight? Are you pregnant?’ I was like, ‘No, I’m going through chemo.’ No one knew, I had to hide it basically, my mom didn’t even know.”
Velez said she noticed bruises on her chest one day and knew she had to get checked out. “So on a stop during a nine-month tour, I went and got checked and my oncologist said, ‘You have ductal carcinoma,’” she said.
Ultimately, Velez — who is now in remission — chose to continue on with her career, balancing her professional obligations and chemotherapy.
“It was difficult,” she said. “It was really, really hard. I didn’t know what to do, who to speak to. My doctor was like, ‘You should not be on tour,’ and I said, ‘I have to work because I have bills to pay.’”
Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story premieres on Lifetime Saturday, February 1, at 8 p.m. ET.
Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures; Peter Mountain/Studio Canal SAS; Sony Pictures Entertainment/YouTube
From the critically acclaimed The Last Showgirl to Bridget Jones: About a Boy, 2025 is transforming January from an infamous movie dead zone into a time for appointment viewing.
Historically, the start of each year isn’t the most exciting time for new releases. Studios tend to save their smaller budget films — ones that, say, might not make it to awards season — for the colder months, when the holidays are over, people are tired and staying in sounds much more appealing than shivering in a dark theater.
This year, however, things have seemingly shifted. January 2025 is starting off strong with the release of the already critically acclaimed The Last Showgirl, a film that is being lauded as star Pamela Anderson’s comeback and the greatest role of her career. The story follows Anderson as Shelley, a glamorous showgirl who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.
“I can relate to it on so many different levels. As a mother, as a person in this industry,” Anderson told Deadline in September 2024. “Most of my career has been about the external, and not the soul of what really happens behind the superficial qualities that people even hire you for, or know you for. And you’re always just like, there’s so much more to me than what people see and I don’t know if you’re ever gonna get the chance to show that, so that was really why I was so excited about this movie… I feel like a new baby in this industry in this film and I feel like it’s just the beginning.”
February, meanwhile, features the return of Bridget Jones with the highly-anticipated About a Boy just in time for Valentine’s Day. The next installment of the franchise sees Renée Zellweger reprising her role as the titular character navigating life after the death of her husband, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).
The quality movie options this winter are endless. Keep scrolling for the 22 best films to look forward to this season:
‘The Last Showgirl’
RoadsideFlix/YouTube
Starring: Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka
Release Date: January 10
Logline: A poignant film of resilience, rhinestones and feathers, the film stars Pamela Anderson as Shelley, a glamorous showgirl who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.
‘Unstoppable’
Ana Carballosa/Prime
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Jharrel Jerome
Release Date: January 16
Logline: Based on the life of wrestler Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg and won a national championship in 2011 while competing at Arizona State University.
Logline: When best friends and roommates Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) discover Alyssa’s boyfriend has blown their rent money, the duo finds themselves going to extremes in a race against the clock to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact
‘Wish You Were Here’
Lionsgate/YouTube
Starring: Jennifer Grey, Mena Massoud, Kelsey Grammer, Isabelle Fuhrman
Release Date: January 17
Logline: Julia Stiles’ directorial debut follows a woman (Isabelle Fuhrman) searching for a spark finds a whirlwind night of romance with a man (Mena Massoud) only to discover he is terminally ill. As a result, she commits to helping him spend his last days living life to the fullest.
‘Both Eyes Open’
Oasis Ave Films/YouTube
Starring: Gail Bean, Taye Diggs, Joy Brunson, Tristan Mack Wilds, , Michael Olyede, Christie Leverette, and Carla Fisher
Release Date: January 17
Logline: Both Eyes Open follows a woman named Ally (Gail Bean) who emerges from a domestic violence shelter only to be haunted by persistent hallucinations of her abuser. Mysterious cryptic messages further suggest that her past might be lurking in the distance.
‘Presence’
Neon/YouTube
Starring: Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Eddy Maday
Release Date: January 24
Logline: A family becomes convinced they are not alone after moving into their new home in the suburbs.
‘Flight Risk’
Lionsgate
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Topher Grace, Michelle Dockery
Release Date: January 24
Logline: A pilot (Mark Wahlberg) transports an Air Marshal (Michelle Dockery) accompanying a fugitive (Topher Grace) to trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar and trust is tested, as not everyone on board is who they seem.
‘Star Trek: Section 31’
Jan Thijs/Paramount+
Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Sam Richardson, Omari Hardwick, Kacey Rohl
Release Date: January 24
Logline: Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, and must face the sins of her past.
‘You’re Cordially Invited’
Glen Wilson/Amazon
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Will Ferrell
Release Date: January 30
Logline: A woman (Reese Witherspoon) planning her sister’s wedding and the father (Will Ferrell) of another bride-to-be discover that they are double-booked for their destination wedding so both parties decide to share the venue, but chaos and disaster await.
‘Dog Man’
Universal Pictures/YouTube
Starring: Isla Fisher, Ricky Gervais, Poppy Liu, Pete Davidson, Billy Boyd
Release Date: January 31
Logline: When a faithful police dog and his police officer owner are injured together on the job, a harebrained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born. Dog Man is sworn to protect and serve — and fetch, sit and roll over.
‘Love Me’
Bleeker Street/YouTube
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Steven Yeun
Release Date: January 31
Logline: A buoy (Kristen Stewart) and a satellite (Steven Yeun) meet online long after humanity’s extinction and fall in love.
‘Valiant One’
IGN/YouTube
Starring: Chase Stokes, Lana Condor
Release Date: January 31
Logline: With tensions between North and South Korea looming, a U.S. helicopter crashes on the North Korean side. Now, the survivors must work together to protect a civilian tech specialist and find their way out without U.S. military support.
Logline: Jealous of her best friend’s pregnancy, Lainy (Amy Schumer) wears a fake baby bump — and accidentally meets the man of her dreams.
‘Love Hurts’
Allen Fraser/Universal Pictures
Starring: Ke Huy Quan, Ariana DeBose
Release Date: February 7
Logline: Marvin Gable (Ke Huy Quan) is a realtor working the Milwaukee suburbs, where “For Sale” signs bloom. Gable receives a crimson envelope from Rose (Ariana DeBose), a former partner-in-crime that he had left for dead — and she’s not happy.
‘Heart Eyes’
Courtesy of Sony
Starring: Mason Gooding, Olivia Holt, Devon Sawa
Release Date: February 7
Logline: For the past several years, the “Heart Eyes Killer” has wreaked havoc on Valentine’s Day by stalking and murdering romantic couples. This Valentine’s Day, no couple is safe.
‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’
Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Leo Woodall, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson
Release Date: February 13
Logline: Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) navigates life as a widow and single mom with the help of her family, friends, and former lover, Daniel (Hugh Grant). Back to work and on the apps, she’s pursued by a younger man and maybe — just maybe — her son’s science teacher.
‘Captain America: Brave New World’
Marvel Entertainment/YouTube
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Liv Tyler, Harrison Ford
Release Date: February 14
Logline: After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam (Anthony Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
‘The Gorge’
Apple TV+
Starring: Anya Taylor Joy, Miles Teller, Sigourney Weaver
Release Date: February 14
Logline: Two highly trained operatives (Miles Teller and Anya Taylor Joy) grow close from a distance after being sent to guard opposite sides of a mysterious gorge. When an evil below emerges, they must work together to survive what lies within.
‘Paddington in Peru’
Peter Mountain/Studio Canal SAS
Starring: Ben Whishaw, Antonio Banderas, Olivia Colman
Release Date: February 14
Logline: Paddington (Ben Whishaw) returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton), who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown Family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and up to the mountain peaks of Peru.
‘The Monkey’
Neon/YouTube
Starring: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood
Release Date: February 21
Logline: When twin brothers Hal and Bill (Theo James and Elijah Wood) discover their father’s old monkey toy in the attic, a series of gruesome deaths starts occurring all around them. The brothers decide to throw the monkey away and move on with their lives, growing apart over the years. But when the mysterious deaths begin again, the brothers must reunite to find a way to destroy the monkey for good before it takes the lives of everyone close to them.
‘Old Guy’
Courtesy of The Avenue
Starring: Lucy Liu, Christoph Waltz, Cooper Hoffman
Release Date: February 21
Logline: Aging contract killer Danny Dolinski (Christoph Waltz) still believes he’s the best at what he does. Stuck in a boring “desk” assignment while pining for the love of spunky club manager Anata (Lucy Liu), Danny is thrilled when The Company pulls him back in the field — but only to train Gen Z newcomer Wihlborg (Cooper Hoffman), a prodigy assassin with a bad attitude. The mismatched pair is asked to eliminate a competing crime syndicate but uncover their employer’s true motive: removing the old guard in a full takeover.
Logline: A heart-pounding film that follows seasoned deep-sea divers as they battle the raging elements to rescue their crewmate trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface. Based on a true story, Last Breath is an electrifying story about teamwork, resilience, and a race against time to do the impossible.
“Five years post breast implant explant, and I have had a total metamorphosis,” Curry, 42, wrote via X on Monday, January 6. “The first year, I wept nonstop. Had lost over 90% of my natural breasts to necrosis and refused to get a fat transfer. I wasn’t willing to risk my health anymore for vanity. I had a crash course in being humbled and laid bare.”
A “breast implant extract,” also called a “breast implant removal” or “explant,” is a surgical procedure where a doctor removes previously placed silicone or saline breast implants, according to the Cleveland Clinic. While some people have implant removal surgery because of tissue hardening around the implant or other complications, others may have surgery to replace old implants with new ones.
Curry detailed her own grueling surgery and post-op process on Monday, sharing that her husband, Matthew Rhode, had to “cut out all my stitches due to remote living and the weather.”
“I was brought to my knees in humility and came through the fire of my vanity dying,” she continued. “It took a solid 2 years for them to settle and look human. My husband was my rock….and I can’t believe how unbothered he was by my frankentitties.”
Five years later, Curry — who won the first cycle of America’s Next Top Model back in 2003 – is “happy and healthy,” and wouldn’t “wish plastic surgery” on her “worst enemy.”
“It did nothing to ease my body dysmorphia and only gave me years of suffering,” she explained, adding, “Be OK with who and what you are. In my case, with a lot LESS of what I was.”
Following her vulnerable post, people flocked to the comments section to praise Curry for being so candid about her experience with plastic surgery. When one fan thanked the model for “sharing what I can’t imagine to be easy things to share,” Curry replied, “If I can stop anyone from mutilation of their healthy bodies with this….then it was not a wasted lesson.”
5 years post breast implant explant, and I have had a total metamorphosis. The first year, I wept nonstop. Had lost over 90% of my natural breasts to necrosis and refused to get a fat transfer. I wasnt willing to risk my health anymore for vanity. I had a crash course in being… pic.twitter.com/bXZCTOQeWd
A second person revealed that they sent Curry’s post to their daughter who was thinking of getting implants herself. “Dear god, I hope she doesn’t mutilate her body,” Curry responded.
Elsewhere in the comments section, Curry acknowledged that she holds herself “100 percent accountable” for her breast implants and for making what she sees now as “an uneducated and life changing decision.”
The former reality star also clarified that she did not get the extract because of cancer or illness, but due to “stupidity, vanity and body dysmorphia” noting she initially got the implants because half of her chest is “conclave,” but they didn’t “fix it.”
Curry rose to fame on the debut season ofANTM in 2003, where she was awarded a modeling contract, brand deals and more. After nine years in the fashion industry — and a stint VH1’s reality show My Fair Brady with first husband Christopher Knight — she walked away from the industry. She and Rhode went on to tie the knot in 2018.
Last month, Curry took to social media to reveal that she and Rhode have been living “VERY remote” for the past seven years. “I can go months without hanging [with] anyone other than my husband,” she shared via X at the time. “My life is lived in the thundering, glorious silence of the wilderness.”
She added, “I get easily overwhelmed in large groups/cities now. It can take days to decompress from the experience.”
“I am more tuned into the earth than I ever have been in my life,” she explained. “My awareness of the forest and what is in it around me is quite sharp.”
Several hours later, Curry shared another image of her Montana paradise via Instagram, captioning the shot, “There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where. You’re meant to be. It’s easy. All you need is love.”
Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun explore romance as AI-powered machines learning how to emote in their new film, Love Me.
The film, which hits theaters on Friday, January 31, follows a buoy (Stewart) and a satellite (Yeun) as they inherit the Earth following humanity’s extinction. With only the internet as their guide, the two learn what it means to be alive — and in love.
The trailer, which was released by Bleecker Street on Wednesday, January 1, sees Stewart’s buoy floating in the ocean as it connects online and begins to learn about what it means to be a “human being.” The buoy comes across internet uploads of a beautiful woman — also played by Stewart — and chooses to recreate itself in her image. It then connects with Yeun’s satellite up in the sky and offers to be “friends.”
“We could be friends! Pick a face. How about this face?” the buoy asks the satellite as it lands on a picture of Yeun. The duo then create a universe for themselves to exist in human bodies.
“What does it feel like to be alive?” Yeun ponders as he and Stewart kiss, eat ice cream and learn their new faces. “Have you ever considered how amazing it is that we found each other?” Stewart asks as flashes of life’s milestones — like date nights, pregnancies and births — flash across the screen.
Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun in ‘Love Me’.
“Life, it’s full of rainbows and light. It’s intense,” she continues as more social media footage of humans play and Stewart holds a puppy in her arms. “I’m not even a buoy anymore. I’m just me.”
“We’re becoming who we are,” Yeun adds. “I want to be us.”
Love Me made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024, where it was awarded the festival’s Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, an accolade presented to an outstanding title focusing on science or technology.
Stewart, for her part, received a Visionary Award at the event. While accepting the accolade, the actress opened up about why she was drawn to Love Me, which dares to “jump the throat of identity.”
“Every five minutes we can just flip flop, and the overriding echo [is] if we were to just sort of inhale the internet, if we were to all just die right now and our footprint was this sort of echo of disparity, I would be proud of that,” she explained. “Like, love me. We just want to be like, ‘Can you see me? What is me? Am I anything? Am I distinct? I don’t know. Am I worth loving? I don’t know.’ It’s a movie about identity and having that change every 30 seconds, every split second, just the words affixed to it, the sort of feelings and the images affixed to identity. They’re ever changing.”
Love Me marks the first feature from directors Sam and Andy Zuchero and is intended to explore AI and identity through live-action, animatronics and classic animation in an epic tale of connection and transformation. The film is produced by ShivHans Pictures, 2AM and AgX. : Daniel Bekerman, Christine D’Souza Gelb, Connor Flanagan, Jason Netter, Heather Puttock and Anna Junger serve as executive producers.
While some holiday films focus on simple stories of romance and family, others have taken things to the next level by adding more — extraordinary — elements that lean into the magic of the season. Whether it’s a film about a snowman with abs, Chad Michael Murray’s abs, or a time travel trip back in time to the ‘90s, the 2024 holiday movie lineup brought plenty of fun.
One of this year’s most outlandish movie plots came in the form of Hot Frosty — a Netflix romantic comedy that follows a widow named Kathy (Lacey Chabert) who, after losing her husband, accidentally brings snowman Jack (who also happens to be very jacked and is played by Dustin Milligan) to life. Hijacks ensue.
“It’s refreshing — especially around Christmastime — to experience the magic and the wonder of that season through Jack,” Milligan explained to Netflix’s Tudum about the earnest optimism his character brings to Kathy’s world. “He is seeing things brand-new for the very first time and experiencing them with a very trustworthy guide.”
While the story focuses on a widow and a snowman falling in love (at least, we assume that’s what happens), there is also a ton of heart at the center of the film’s plot.
“We’re not going to spoil it, but … Kathy’s backstory is something that actually grounds Hot Frosty in a bit more of a nice realistic, dramatic tone,” Milligan said. “Then, all of this sort of fun, silly stuff occurs afterward.”
Chabert, for her part, echoed Milligan’s sentiments. “It’s really funny and light and lovely. But there is also a throughline of a lot of heart, and all of these characters are kind of going through something — whether it’s something more comedic or something more deeply emotionally rooted,” she shared. “I think this movie has a very special tone to it.”
Keep scrolling for the top 10 craziest holiday movie plot lines of 2024:
‘The Christmas Charade’
Where and When to Watch: Premiered on Hallmark Channel Friday, November 1, at 10 p.m. ET. (Check Hallmark+ and local listings for repeats.)
What to Expect:
A cautious librarian and a special agent walk into a charity ball … no, this is not the start of some wild joke, it’s the plot to The Christmas Charade starring Rachel Skarsten and Corey Sevier. Skarsten’s Whitney is a librarian who was raised by home security experts who finds herself working with Special Agent Josh (Sevier) after a blind date mishap.
The twosome are forced to pose as boyfriend and girlfriend for a Christmas Eve charity ball in hopes of taking down an art thief, which we have a feeling they will successfully achieve. Of course, there will be dancing, mischief and lots of holiday decorations sprinkled in for good measure.
‘Hot Frosty’
When and Where to Watch: Currently streaming on Netflix.
What to Expect:
Snowmen, abs … and a snowman with abs! Netflix seriously leans into the magical elements of the holiday season with Hot Frosty, which follows Kathy (Chabert), a grieving widow who brings a handsome snowman (Milligan) — complete with a six pack, shiny hair and sparkly smile — to life two years after her husband’s passing. With his naïveté and optimistic nature, the snowman slowly helps Kathy remember how to laugh and feel alive again, and maybe even convinces her to give love another chance. Viewers will enjoy watching Chabert fall in love with a chiseled ball of snow, but one question remains: will things take a turn when temperatures rise … and he melts?
‘The Merry Gentleman’
When and Where to Watch: Currently streaming on Netflix.
What to Expect:
If you’re a fan of the Magic Mike films and a holiday junkie — The Merry Gentlemen is for you. CW alums Britt Robertson and (a very shirtless) Murray team up for this hilarious romp that follows a former big-city dancer (Robertson), who is determined to save her parents’ small town performing venue by launching an all male Christmas-theme revue. Looking for some half-dressed men decked out in outrageous costumes gyrating in order to keep the holiday spirit alive? Here you go!
‘Christmas in the Spotlight’
When and Where to Watch: Premiered on Lifetime Channel Saturday, November 23, at 8 p.m. ET. (Check local listings for repeats.)
What to Expect:
So a global pop icon and NFL star falling in love isn’t too far fetched — the world already watched it happen with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. There is no time travel, Alpaca farms or magic in this story — unless you count the magic of their love — but a holiday movie based on Swift and Kelce’s romance had to be included on this list.
The film follows Bowyn (Jessica Lord), a famous singer who develops an unexpected romance with Drew (Laith Wallschleger), a professional football player. As their feelings grow, they soon face mounting pressure from the press, the paparazzi, fans and even their families. Again, if it’s all sounding a little familiar that’s because it is, and any Swift/Kelce fans will notice more than one or two parallels between real life and fiction if they choose to tune it. Don’t worry, though, because Christmas in the Spotlight is nothing if not a total celebration of Swift and Kelce as a couple, and as individuals.
‘A Cinderella Christmas Ball’
Where and When to Watch: Premiered on Great American Family Friday, November 29, at 8 p.m. ET. (Check local listings for repeats.)
What to Expect:
Cinderella-style romances are par for the course in holiday movies — but what about a hunt for your biological father based on a photo with just the man’s hand? In A Cinderella Christmas Ball, Danica McKellar’s Chelsea jumps on a plane with the obscure photo in hand in hopes of finding her roots.
The film takes an unexpected turn when Chelsea seemingly sneaks into a castle and teaches a prince (Oliver Rice) how to dance (because, really, why not?). If she doesn’t succeed before the bells ring on Christmas Eve, she’ll never find answers. While Chelsea is a dance instructor back in Chicago, we’re not sure how that will tie into her princess fairy tale romance … not to mention locating her father in a foreign land!
‘A ‘90s Christmas’
When and Where to Watch: Premiered on Hallmark Channel Friday, November 29, at 6 p.m. ET. (Check Hallmark+ and local listings for repeats.)
What to Expect:
Skip a movie that takes Christmas back to the nostalgia of the ‘90s? As if! Get ready to travel back to the time of no smartphones — and a plethora of plaid — for A ‘90s Christmas. The Hallmark holiday flick transports workaholic lawyer Lucy Miller (Eva Bourne) back to 1999 to relive Christmas Eve with her mom, sister, best friend and high school crush for a second chance to understand where all her most notable relationships went wrong. Taking an Uber will never be the same after watching this quirky holiday film that begs the question: will Lucy’s magical journey help her rewrite her future or leave her destined to be alone forever?
‘Private Princess Christmas’
Where and When to Watch: Premiered on Hallmark Channel Friday, December 6, at 8 p.m. ET. (Check Hallmark+ and local listings for repeats.)
What to Expect:
Princess bootcamp at Christmastime? Sign Us up! While royal holiday movies are a staple on the Hallmark Channel, Private Princess Christmas is outside the norm. When Princess Violet of Wingravia a.k.a. Vi (Ali Skovbye) pushes her mom’s buttons one too many times, she is sent to Colorado to boot camp — yes, seriously! Vi must complete the camp or risk losing the throne to her uncle — no, not her uncle! — but there is one thing standing in her way: the intense Captain Ryan Douglas (Derek Klena). We might be going out on a limb here, but if we had to guess, Vi and Ryan’s opposite personalities could be the perfect recipe for romance.
‘Sugarplummed’
When and Where to Watch: Premiered on Hallmark Channel Saturday, December 7, at 8 p.m. ET. (Check Hallmark+ and local listings for repeats.)
What to expect:
Maggie Lawson first learned the risk of stepping into someone else’s shoes in 2000’s Model Behavior — and in Hallmark’s Sugarplummed, she’s getting another reminder of why the grass isn’t always greener. Lawson stars as Emily, a woman who has always dreamed of the perfect Christmas but keeps falling short year after year. In hopes of bringing her family closer together, she makes a wish for a holiday as picture-perfect as the ones she sees on a made-for-TV movie, causing Sugarplum (Janel Parrish), the film’s relentlessly optimistic main character, to step out of the screen in hopes of helping Emily make her dream come true.
As Sugarplum uses her movie-rules to bring Emily’s dream holiday season to life, things start to slowly backfire — leaving Emily questioning what an “ideal” Christmas really looks like. While a suspension of disbelief is needed to enjoy this heartwarming story, who wouldn’t want to see Lawson and Parrish team up for a whimsical fun-filled adventure? (Although, we’re not sure we believe our problems wouldn’t be solved if we lived inside a Hallmark holiday movie. Just saying!)
‘Christmas on the Alpaca Farm’
Where and When to Watch: Premiered on Lifetime Channel Sunday, December 15, at 8 p.m. ET. (Check local listings for repeats.)
What to Expect:
What on earth do alpacas have to do with the holidays? Well, we’re glad you asked! In Christmas on the Alpaca Farm, “Queen of Christmas Sweaters” — what a title … we can’t make this up! — Jess (Kirsten Comerford) quits her job in New York City to start her own line of luxury knits. While that sounds normal, her meet-cute with single dad and alpaca farmer Andrew (Matt Wells) wasn’t something on our holiday movie bingo card. Alas, as all holiday romances go, Jess and Andrew’s love of alpacas (and their wool) is destined to bring them together just in time for the holiday season.
‘A Carpenter Christmas Romance’
Where and When to Watch: Premiered on Lifetime Channel Saturday, December 21, at 8 p.m. ET. (Check local listings for repeats.)
What to Expect:
Sarah Drew promised another sexy Lifetime holiday movie after 2023’s A Cowboy Christmas Romance, and A Carpenter Christmas fits the bill — despite the story line being a bit outlandish. In the film, novelist Andrea (Sasha Pieterse) must escape from her fans to a farmhouse to finish her book after hinting that she wants to kill off the main character. Once outside the city, Andrea runs into her ex-crush, Seth (Mitchell Slaggert), who happens to be a woodworker in the town.
OK, yes, this sounds exactly like past Lifetime movies we’ve loved, but this tagline has us reeling: “It doesn’t take long for sawdust and sparks of romance fill the air once the two team up and work together to reignite the town’s Christmas spirit.” Cheesy doesn’t even begin to describe how cliché this logline is, but it’s Andrea’s desire to get to a haven because of her crazy fans that pushes this one over the edge for Us.
Virgin River finally let Mel and Jack walk down the aisle during the season 6 finale — and stars Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson are looking back on their best memories from the big day.
“Watching Martin cry every time I walked down the aisle,” Breckenridge, 42, exclusively shared in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “I wasn’t crying. I was like, ‘Oh no, where are my tears?’ You know, happy tears. I’m like, ‘Where are those?’ But every time I would walk down the aisle, he’d get all [misty eyed]. He was being really sentimental, and it was very sweet.”
After six seasons of breakups and make ups, a faux paternity test and a heartbreaking pregnancy loss, Mel (Breckenridge) and Jack (Henderson) said “I do” surrounded by their friends and family in the season 6 finale. It was an emotional moment for all involved in the series, and while Breckenridge was able to keep her eyes dry, Henderson explained why the moment resonated with him so deeply.
“Obviously, I’ve invested a lot of energy and emotion into the character of Jack and his love for Mel, which is kind of the crux of the show in a way,” he said. “So to finally get to that moment, and for Mel to be walking up the aisle radiant and so beautiful, I felt that love that I think these characters have for one another. It was just really moving.”
How the wedding was shot, Henderson added, felt so “beautiful” and “tender” for the two characters, who have been through so much together. “I was quite overwhelmed and very emotional about it. It was so moving,” Henderson continued. “It has been six seasons leading up to that. … I poured my heart and soul into [Mel and Jack] and I was so happy for Jack to have this woman be his wife and what that means to him.”
Henderson noted how monumental the moment was for fans as well, who have known that Mel and Jack were destined soulmates from the pilot. “They belong together,” he said. “The audience knows that when she walks into the bar [in the pilot]. So it felt like the culmination of all that energy and romance and love and emotion that has existed between them for six seasons.”
Henderson certainly wasn’t the only person on set feeling the waves of emotion. Breckenridge said most people attending the ceremony had tears in their eyes.
“I think there were a lot of people that were weepy,” she told Us. “Like, with [Mel’s father-like figure] Doc [played by Tim Matheson] walking me down the aisle … when I was doing my vows, I could hear sniffling behind me.”
While Henderson will likely remember Jack’s wedding day for the rest of his life, there was one particular season 6 moment he’s choosing to forget: performing an intimate striptease for Breckenridge to Big & Rich’s “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy.”
“I literally, completely blocked that out of my mind,” Henderson quipped of the moment, which saw Jack undress while donning a cowboy hat. “That was one of the most excruciating moments of my life, let alone my career.”
All jokes aside, Henderson wanted to ensure the scene felt authentic to who Jack was as a character — which is why he turned down the opportunity to have a professional block the dance and instead leaned into his own creative freedom.
‘They offered, ‘Do you want to choreograph it?’ And I thought, ‘Oh, yes, I do. I definitely need help.’ But then I was getting close to sort of going to the first meeting and I thought about it. I was like, ‘Hang on, that’s gonna look really weird. Jack Sheridan, the Marine, bar owner from Virgin River just busts out in some kind of Magic Mike, perfectly-choreographed gyrating? That’s just gonna look comedic. It’ll look silly.’ So I said, ‘You know what? No, forget about it. Just play the song.’”
What came of that decision was an instant fan-favorite moment and highlight of the entire six seasons, which Henderson described as an attempt by Jack to “entertain his drunken fiancée” after she was devoid of strippers at her Bachelorette party. Luckily for Henderson, Breckenridge was the perfect scene partner to help him feel comfortable being so vulnerable — especially when production had to cut off the music midway through filming.
“There was a little bit of dialogue, unfortunately, kind of interlaced amongst the strip. So in order to get the sound for her lines and my lines, we couldn’t have music playing,” he told Us. “It was so embarrassing. I was dying. There’s no music, there’s no beat. I’m just, like, doing this ridiculous dance. But I’ll say, Alexandra Breckenridge was so kind and present and she played it opposite me with just, like, such joy and fun,” he said. “And that was why I think ultimately I decided, ‘This should just be those two really enjoying each other.’”
The wedding (and bachelor/bachelorette chaos) was undoubtedly the pinnacle of season 6, but Mel and Jack were on their own respective journeys, too. Breckenridge was particularly invested in Mel’s story line with her biological father, Everett (John Allen Nelson), whom she reconnected with at the end of season 5. The twosome spend Virgin River season 6 getting to know each other while also connecting over their mutual love for Mel’s mother, Sarah, who died when she was 11 years old.
“I found it to be really touching, especially because I know what it is to lose your mother,” Breckenridge, who’s own mother passed away, told Us. “So I was very quickly connected on that level. l always have been to [Mel], but what she’s going through emotionally with finding her father and being able to have this glimpse into what her mother was like [was special].”
Although Mel and Everett experienced a few bumps in the road while trying to find their new normal, their dynamic quickly evolved throughout the season, and is something Breckenridge is looking forward to continuing with season 7.
“’I’m very curious to see where that goes,” she told Us. “I love how Mel tries to open up her relationship with her father, and he keeps trying to push her away because I think he doesn’t want to experience the loss again. You know, a lot of times people who lose people, they’re scared to love anyone again, because they’re scared, they’re gonna go through that pain. But you can’t live without it, you know? It’s not a life if you don’t love again.”
As Mel continued to navigate her new relationship with her father, Jack was also on heis own personal journey, one that Henderson believes was about making “peace and coming to terms with what his military background meant to him then, but also what it means to him now.”
“We watched him struggling with that when he had to reconnect with his ex-wife. And the medal that is given to him, he’s sort of almost disdainful about that and shuns this idea that it was a good thing,” he explained. “And he’s kind of throwing the baby out with the bath water in a way because there’s so much pain and regret around some of the things that happened.”
Henderson noted that Jack was also forced to balance his own negative emotions about his time in the army while also supporting Ricky (Grayson Maxwell Gurnsey), who returned to Virgin River before getting deployed. “Jack’s trying to stay the course and stay supportive and not undermine this poor kid. [Ricky’s] already got his own insecurity and his fear, and Jack’s trying to say, ‘Hey, it’s OK. I was scared too.’ And there’s this gray area around that, and Jack, emotionally, and he doesn’t know how to feel.”
Both Mel and Jack’s individual story lines will likely continue into season 7, but the duo will also be facing plenty of other obstacles together. The final moments of season 6 saw the duo both entrenched in cliffhangers, with pregnant teen Marley (Rachel Drance) announcing she wants Mel and Jack to adopt her unborn baby. Jack, meanwhile, went over to check on a missing Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) and found her home ransacked before opening her infant twins’ bedroom and discovering something shocking — a reveal the audience has yet to see.
Mel and Jack, of course, have been wanting a baby together for awhile, but after Mel experienced her second pregnancy loss in Virgin River season 5, their future as parents has been up in the air. Season 7, however, could mean big changes for the newly married duo.
“Jack’s still kind of holding out for this family that he wants and is quite anxious and eager to know where that is gonna lead,” Henderson shared, while Breckenridge teased there are a million thoughts racing through Mel’s head — but that doesn’t mean she’s closed off to the idea.
“She’s just like, in full shock,” she explained. “I mean, she just got married. This is literally the morning after she wakes up, and she’s in shock. And then there’s, like, that hope that sort of starts to creep in. We’ll see. I don’t know.”
It Ends With Us studio Sony Pictures and SAG-AFTRA have released statements in support of Blake Livelyamid her allegations accusing costar and director Justin Baldoniof sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her.
“We have previously expressed our support for Blake in connection with her work on and for the film. We fully and firmly reiterate that support today,” a spokesperson for Sony told Variety in a Monday, December 23, statement. “Further, we strongly condemn any reputational attacks on her. Any such attacks have no place in our business or in a civil society.”
Hours earlier, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artist also spoke out against the “startling and troubling allegations” in a statement to Deadline, noting that they “applaud” Lively’s “courage in speaking out on issues of retaliation and harassment and for er request to have an intimacy coordinator for all scenes with nudity or sexual content.”
“This is an important step that helps ensure a safe set,” a guild spokesperson told the outlet on Monday. “Employees have every right to raise issues of concern or to file complaints. Retaliation for reporting misconduct or inappropriate behavior is illegal and wrong. We all have a right to be treated with dignity and respect on the job and to work in an environment free of harassment, discrimination and retaliation.”
Lively, 37, filed the complaint against Baldoni, 40, on Friday, December 20, claiming he created a “hostile work environment” on the It Ends With Us set and caused the Gossip Girl alum “severe emotional distress.” The lawsuit additionally claimed that Baldoni and his team had launched a “social manipulation” campaign against Lively to damage her reputation.
The documents, obtained by Us Weekly after it first reported by TMZ and The New York Times, stated that a meeting was held during the film’s production in January to address Lively’s claims against her costar that included “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous “pornography addiction” no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.”
Baldoni, for his part, has vehemently denied the allegations against him. In a statement to Us, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman called Lively’s claims “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious,” alleging she filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about the film’s production. He claimed Lively made “multiple demands and threats,” 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.”
As for Lively’s smear campaign allegations — which included text messages from Baldoni and his team — Freedman told Us The Agency Group PR, which was hired by Baldoni and is one of several firms named in the lawsuit, “operated as any other crisis management firm would when hired by a client experiencing threats by two extremely powerful people with unlimited resources.”
Freedman also claimed that the texts were taken out of context. “The standard scenario planning TAG PR drafted proved unnecessary as audiences found Lively’s own actions, interviews and marketing during the promotional tour distasteful, and responded organically to that which the media themselves picked up on,” he continued. “It’s ironic that the New York Times, through their effort to ‘uncover’ an insidious PR effort, played directly into the hands of Lively’s own dubious PR tactics by publishing leaked personal text exchanges that lack critical context — the very same tactics she’s accusing the firm of implementing.”
Sony and SAG-AFTRA are just the latest to speak out in support of Lively. It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover took to social media on Saturday, December 21, to praise Lively for being nothing but being “honest, kind, supportive and patient from day one.”
Lively and Baldoni’s costar Brandon Sklenar also came to the Simple Favor star’s defense, sharing the NYT story about the allegations via his Instagram Story on Monday. “For the love of god read this,” he wrote with a link to the article, tagging Lively and adding a red heart emoji.
Baldoni, meanwhile, has been dropped by his agency WME, who also represent Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. His “Man Enough” podcast host, Liz Plank, also announced her exit on Monday along with women’s non-profit Vital Voices rescinding their Voices of Solidarity Award, which Baldoni was presented with just last week.
Virgin River made Brie’s life more complicated than ever in season 6 — and Zibby Allen couldn’t be more excited about it.
“I love what the writers did for Brie,” Allen exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of the season 6 premiere. “They have not made her life more simple. They have only added layers of complication.”
Warning: Spoilers below for season 6 of Virgin River.
Since joining the cast in season 3, Allen’s Brie has found herself in a complicated romance with her brother Jack’s (Martin Henderson) former military comrade Brady (Ben Hollingsworth). The pair ultimately called it quits at the end of season 5, and Brie opted to move on with good-guy cop Mike (Marco Grazzini) while Brady fell into a relationship with Lark (Elise Gatien), a woman he met at the homeless camp on the outskirts of town.
Despite their attempt to date other people, season 5’s Christmas episodes proved there were still some major sparks between them. When season 6 premiered on Thursday, December 19, viewers watched as the exes gave into their desires and slept together on a pool table in Jack’s bar.
“I feel like it’s been building, though, the tension [between them],” Allen said of twosome’s shocking tryst. “There’s so many sparks between them. Even if they’re not talking, they’re dating other people. It’s just there, always.”
With a smile, she added, “I think people are going to love it.”
While the intimate moment definitely came as a surprise when reading the script, Allen said she and Hollingsworth, 40, were fully on board after a period of not working together.
“We were just excited to have such a beautiful, juicy scene,” she explained. “And I think what that scene does for me — beyond it being, like, so sexy and steamy and the Brie and Brady chemistry that we all know and love — is that the writers gave them both a moment to acknowledge that neither of them have felt worthy of love.”
Allen noted the complexities of the moment between the two exes, pointing out that Brady — who had just discovered that his girlfriend was trying to steal his money behind his back — was facing the fallout from Lark’s “betrayal.” She added that both characters are coming from a “very low place of self-worth.”
As for actually filming the scene — which was one of the show’s spicier moments in its six seasons — Allen said she and Hollingworth were completely comfortable since the pair have had the “pleasure” of working together for four seasons now.
“And our first scene ever together was a makeout scene,” she said with a laugh. “So we’ve felt safe with one another from the get go. I’m really, really grateful for that. I think we both are. There’s just a given line of respect.”
Allen also revealed that the scene changed over time, with the original script setting the location in Brody’s room above Jack’s bar — the same room Brie used to live in — instead of on the pool table downstairs. Allen and Hollingsworth, however, had a different idea.
“Ben and I read it and we were talking about it and he’s like, ‘Man, we’ve seen scenes up there already.’ I’m like, ‘I know.’ And we were kind of riffing,” she recalled. “And then Ben was like, ‘What about the pool table?’ I was like, ‘Oh, that’s scandalous!’ And he was like, ‘Let’s pitch it.’ So we did and they went for it. And I’m so glad because I think it’s kind of iconic!”
The aftermath of their infidelity was a major focal point of season 6. Brady — who had dumped Lark for betraying him only to take her back — confessed his undying love for Brie at Mel and Jack’s wedding as Lark eavesdropped on the conversation. Brie, meanwhile, confessed her secret to Mike, who responded by revealing he’d known about the affair from the start before getting down on one knee to propose.
The credits rolled before Brie could make her decision, but Allen told Us fans can expect season 7 to heavily focus on her “grappling” with whether she’s made the right decision — whatever that may be.
“Many of us know what that’s like to make a decision that’s based on logic and parsing through and going, ‘This is why I should be doing something or be with this person.’ And then there’s that sort of undeniable thing, this chemistry that doesn’t just die overnight,” she said. “It’s hard to reconcile what that is. I don’t think it’s gonna be, like, all wrapped up in a bow.”
So where does Allen stand when it comes to her character’s future? Brie and Brady have been a fan-favorite couple from the jump, after all. “I’ll be walking down the street and out of nowhere a stranger will yell, ‘Team Brady!’” Allen said with a laugh.
Many of Allen’s castmates, however, feel differently. Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson, for example, both told Us earlier this month they think Mike is the better choice. Allen, for her part, is still undecided.
“Brie needs to get really real with herself,” she explained. “I think that she has an old identity that she’s still fixed too. The one that was really good at everything, she was amazing at her job. Nothing could get past her. And then that huge betrayal with her sexual assault with her ex totally turned her sense of self upside down. I think she’s still trying to cling to an old sense of herself. So until she can start to really get right with who she is now, and soften, it won’t be clear to any of us.”
No matter where Brie goes in season 7 and beyond, Allen is fully down for the ride — “That’s my girl,” she quipped — and she’s embracing the lessons she’s learned from Brie along the way.
Zibby Allen.
“As cheesy as it sounds, I always like to think that roles choose me because however that character shows up in that metamorphic field will need some of my qualities to help them along their journey,” she explained. “And conversely, I need some of what they have to offer.”
She continued, “I think Brie is, in a lot of ways, a lot stronger than I am. I’m a little softer and I wear my heart on my sleeve more. And I think Brie can use some of that, you know, where she’s going to be really self-sufficient and hard charging. I think that her vulnerability is both her strong suit and also the thing that she’s afraid will make her weak. And so I think that maybe I bring that more to that character as we grow together. And then I have had to borrow from what I’ve learned from Brie over the years in terms of just being a lot more of an advocate for myself.”
“She’s helped toughen me up,” Allen explained. “And I really appreciate that.”
Virgin River season 6 is now streaming on Netflix.
Virgin River fans can expect a lot more romance and fun when the show returns for season 6.
“I think my intention was never to have subsequent seasons match the intensity of season five,” showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told The Hollywood Reporterin December 2023. “I would say that going into season 6, my intention is to have it feel lighter, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to be complicated with the signature Virgin River twists and turns.”
Smith noted that “leaning more into the romance of the series” is also one thing he’s “excited” to prioritize as well: “Just giving the “fans what they want,” he said.
Virgin River premiered in 2017 on Netflix and followed Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) after she moved to a small California town while mourning the loss of her husband. For the five subsequent seasons, viewers have watched the character fall in love, get engaged, face a pregnancy loss and discover the identity of her biological father. The rest of the town, meanwhile, has dealt with surprise pregnancies, natural disasters and a massive drug ring — something Smith said will take a backseat for season 6.
“I think probably moving forward, the drug story engines will kind of fall to the wayside a little bit, which always did feel more extreme,” he explained to THR. “I appreciate it, especially in the first season. … But it did feel like it was starting to overtake the show a little bit, and when you’re dealing with bigger physical stakes like that.”
Smith, who took over as showrunner from Sue Tenney before season 5, explained that he never had the “intention” of making sure season 6 matched the “intensity” of the ones before it. Instead, he hopes to explore more of Mel and Jack’s (Martin Henderson) romance, deal with Jack’s PTSD, learn more about Doc’s (Tim Matheson) prognosis and see where the romantic future lies for the rest of Virgin River’s major players.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about Virgin River season 6:
When Did Production on ‘Virgin River’ Season 6 Start?
The first half of season 6’s scripts were completed when the WGA went on strike in May 2023. Now that the strike has ended, Smith told Deadline that the writers are crafting the back half of the season and production is set to begin in early 2024.
Breckenridge, meanwhile, told Deadline she’s “been hearing” that filming will start in the spring “as the Vancouver weather allows.” (Virgin River films in Vancouver, Canada.)
Where Can You Watch ‘Virgin River’ Season 6?
Season 6 will be available to stream on Netflix, where the first five seasons are currently streaming.
When Will ‘Virgin River’ Season 6 Be Released?
The show will drop on Netflix Thursday, December 19.
Who Is Returning for ‘Virgin River’ Season 6?
While the official cast list hasn’t been released, season 5 story lines left big cliffhangers for Breckenridge’s Mel, Matheson’s Doc, Colin Lawrence’s Preacher and Benjamin Hollingsworth’s Brady, leading fans to believe those actors will reprise their roles.
Smith also teased “more Mel and Jack” for season 6, which promises Henderson’s return, as well as more on Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) and Denny’s (Kai Bradbury) pregnancy.
Other main characters likely to return are Hope (Annette O’Toole), Brie (Zibby Allen), Mike (Marco Grazzini), Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley), Cameron (Mark Ghanimé) and Muriel (Teryl Rothery).
Tudum reported that all main cast members are returning, but did not name Charmaine nor Muriel. However, Muriel was present in a first-look at season 6.
Jessica Rothe and Callum Kerr are set to join the series as a young Sarah and Everett.
Will There be a Time Jump for ‘Virgin River’ Season 6?
While the Netflix series is known for its drawn-out story lines — Charmaine was pregnant for four seasons! — Smith told Deadline that season 6 will open with a time jump.
“I don’t know exactly how many months but it won’t be a direct pickup from the holidays,” he explained, referencing season 5’s Christmas Day finale.
Smith revealed to Tudum in October 2024 that season 6 takes place “deeper into springtime.”
Has a 1st Look Been Released?
Netflix released a first look at season 6 in October 2024, sharing a photo of Mel embracing Jack and a pregnant Lizzie sitting with Denny.
All American Season 7 is taking it back to where it all began: Beverly Hills and South Crenshaw High.
“I can’t wait for everyone to watch season 7,” showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll told Us Weekly in an exclusive Thursday, December 19, statement. “It has been so exciting taking it back to the high stakes of high school hallways, first loves and NFL dreams. And I’m especially proud and excited by this blend of our incredible original cast and the brilliant new generation that has captured our hearts. Beverly and Crenshaw are back stronger than ever.”
After the season 6 departure of series star Daniel Ezra’s Spencer James, All American revealed it would be undergoing a revamp by introducing a new generation of teenagers. Season 7 will feature some returning faces; Michael Evans Behling, Greta Onieogou, and Bre-Z will all be navigating new roles, while Osy Ikhile, Nathaniel McIntyre, Antonio J. Bell, and Alexis Chikaeze make up the cast as new series regulars. Kareem Grimes and Elijah M. Cooper will appear as additional recurring stars.
In Us’ exclusive first look at season 7 (which you can watch above), All American proves the new generation will carry the same heart, NFL dream, crosstown rivalry and messy hormones that were introduced by the original cast. The characters fans have come to love, meanwhile, will be busy learning that they’re supposed to be the responsible adults now.
Jordan Baker, for example, is seemingly taking over as coach at Crenshaw High to follow in the footsteps of his late father, Billy Baker (Taye Diggs). “It’s the first day of school. I do not want to screw it up,” he tells his wife, Layla Keating (Onieogou) in the trailer.
While Layla assures Jordan that he will be “an amazing coach,” things prove to be harder than anticipated once Jordan finds himself in the middle of multiple physical altercations between his team — and he struggles to find the balance between coach and confidant.
“You realize you’re not their teammate, right?” Jordan is asked at one point in the teaser, after enjoying a dance breakdown with the kids.
Despite others doubting him, Jordan seems to be on a mission to honor his father’s legacy. At one point in the trailer, he recruits a student, telling them, “I want you to come play for me,” paralleling Billy asking Spencer to join him at Beverly Hills in the pilot.
Jordan isn’t the only one finding a new role. Elsewhere in the trailer, a new regime of students and coaches at Beverly Hills high begin their journey — and rivalry — while Layla gives her own protegé some much-needed advice. “The longer you let people keep you in a box, the harder it gets to break out,” she says.
Samantha Logan, who played Samantha Baker, also makes a brief appearance in the teaser and despite Logan not returning as a regular for season 7. “My dad was a winner,” she says in a speech as Jordan looks at his father’s old jersey. “There was not a single life he didn’t have a positive impact on.”
All American premiered in 2018 and followed Spencer James — a young football prodigy from Crenshaw who is recruited to play for Beverly Hills. The series is based on real-life NFL star Spencer Paysinger and is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Studios. Greg Berlanti, Okoro Carroll, Jameal Turner, Sarah Schechter, and David Strauss are executive producers.
A sneak peek at All American season 7 premieres on The CW Wednesday, January 29, and the premiere episode airs again on Monday, February 3.
Virgin River season 6 gave viewers more joy – and drama — than ever before, and showrunner Patrick Sean Smith broke down all the crazy reveals, plot twists and cliffhangers with Us Weekly.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for season 6 of Virgin River.
Season 6 of the small town drama, which hit Netflix on Thursday, December 19, saw various characters’ lives being turned upside down in mere minutes. Just as Doc (Tim Matheson) reached a happy (and healthy) groove with Hope (Annette O’Toole), his medical practice was put into jeopardy; Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson) finally got married but were thrown for a loop when a local teen girl asked Mel to adopt her baby; Charmaine (Laura Hammersley) seemingly disappeared after filing a restraining order on her druglord ex; Preacher (Colin Lawrence) and Kaia (Kandyse McClure) found themselves at a major crossroads about their future and Muriel (Teryl Rothery) announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
No drama, however, compared to the ever-evolving messy love triangle between Brie (Zibby Allen), Brady (Ben Hollingsworth) and Mike (Marco Grazzini). Brie and Brady’s impulsive decision to sleep together despite breaking up in season 5 — and being in relationships with other people — caused major fallout, which was only exacerbated by two major finale bombs: Brady confessing he was still in love with Brie and Mike proposing after she confessed her infidelity.
According to Smith, those types of high stakes are what make the trio’s story line so enticing.
“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,” the showrunner exclusively shared with 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.”
Brie was previously sexually assaulted by her former boyfriend, and Smith noted that her journey to “heal” from her past is a major contributor to her indecision.
“What Mike presents to her, I think, what she feels like she needs right now, which is safety and consistency and a good man,” he continued. “And Brady offers the opposite, which is also very appealing.”
While season 7 — which was greenlit earlier this year — will continue to unravel many of season 6’s plot points, Smith promised that Mel’s pre-wedding jitters won’t be one of them. (The bride almost bailed on the ceremony after her biological father, Everett, played by John Allen Nelson, had a medical emergency but she ultimately made it down the aisle.)
“For me, it was looking at [Mel] as a character, who has had so many hard times, [and the] anxiety of anticipating your wedding day being a day completely free of any of that. Then your worst case scenario happens when your newly emerged biological father suffers a health scare,” he explained. “It knocks her off balance a little bit, and being off balance is the last thing that I think her character wants to feel as she’s going through this experience with Jack. But I don’t see it coming back again. I see it more as sort of a final lap for her in trying to put the past behind her to start this new chapter in her life with Jack.”
Keep scrolling for more of Smith’s teasers for Virgin River season 7:
Will There Be More ‘Virgin River’ Flashbacks?
Virgin River introduced a new structure in season 6 by flashing back to Everett’s love story with Mel’s mom, Sarah, who died when she was 11 years old. The glimpse into the past, Smith said, was a trial for what a potential prequel spinoff might look like.
“[It would] expand Sarah and Everett’s story more while also expanding and learning more about the history of Virgin River,” Smith told Us. “One reference that was made in the pilot that had never really been explored before was Hope says that the McCrea Cabin is a place that people within 50 miles know all about, which implies there she has a sort of family legacy to this area that we haven’t really gotten to scratch the surface of.”
Smith said that the Sarah and Everett flashbacks are just the beginning of “expanding the Virgin River-verse,” and its history, but worked as a great jumping off point.
“When we committed to the idea of introducing Everett, it felt like a great opportunity as somebody who we know has resided in the area but has kind of removed and isolated himself from the community to have this history and have this relationship to this town and to this area,” Smith explained, adding that it “felt like an opportunity that we could introduce a new couple, which the show has done fairly consistently over the course of the seasons, and not inherit another couple that we have to keep servicing in the present.”
For Smith, Everett and Sarah’s love story resembled Robin Carr’s approach in the Virgin River novels where she introduced a new couple in each book. “And it felt like looking at Mel’s biological parents as having the depth of this epic romance that would be book-worthy,” he continued. “[Something] that could span time, that could be star crossed and could have a pregnancy and a child and a father that wants to be a part of that. And everything just felt like a unique way to explore a couple in this through the lens of this show in a way that we haven’t seen before.”
What’s Up With Hope and Her Ex-Husband?
Season 6 introduced a new character in Hope’s ex-husband, Roland. While a shroud of mystery still surrounds the curmudgeonly horse trainer, the pair clearly have a tumultuous and rich history.
Smith confirmed that Roland will return for season 7 and that past will be delved into further, explore “more of where their relationship didn’t work, but also start to maybe dip a toe into how their relationship did work.”
Smith also said that Hope’s history will continue to expand in various other ways, which will come into play for the potential prequel.
Will Cameron Make Any More Surprise Appearances?
Although Cameron (Mark Ghanime) and Muriel called it quits in season 5, the doctor came back after finding out about her breast cancer diagnosis to help prepare her for the tough road ahead. Fans of the pairing, however, will have to be satisfied with the exes’ season 6 interactions, as Smith told Us their romance is likely a closed chapter.
“I love that relationship, and, I think this season saw a little bit of a sendoff for Cameron,” he explained. “In terms of Mark, the actor who I adore, he unfortunately won’t be coming back for season 7, but that’s not to say that Cameron’s not a part of our world forever.”
As for potential appearances in the future, Smith said, “I would love to bring him back, and bring his character back when the story presents itself.”
Could Brie and Brady Find Their Way Back Together?
After breaking up in season 5, Brie and Brady realized they weren’t quite over each other and gave into their passions on one of Jack’s bar pool tables despite being in relationships with other people. Brady had been dating Lark — the woman who tried to steal all his money — while Brie had sparked a romance with good-guy cop Mike.
The pair struggled with how to handle their infidelity all season, with it culminating in a few major surprises during the finale. Brady confessed his love for Brie at Mel and Jack’s wedding, while Brie came clean to Mike about having sex with Brady.
The season ended in true cliffhanger form when Mike revealed he knew about the tryst but got down on one knee and proposed anyway.
When it comes to Brie and Brady’s future in season 7, Smith wouldn’t give too much away but admitted that the pair’s chemistry is undeniable.
“I’m a practical person. I see and love all the story potential in their chemistry, and in what Zibby and Ben bring every time they get in front of the camera,” he shared, noting that even the executives at Netflix were blown away by Brady’s love confession. “I remember at the table read, our network exec who I love, she texted me or emailed me after and she was like, ‘Oh my God, that scene!’ It was special.”
Smith pointed out, however, that the exes had legitimate issues that caused them to split — even if many of their passionate fans don’t agree. “When people were upset with the breakup in season 5, I was like, ‘He’s working for a fentanyl queen! He’s screwed her brother over repeatedly!’” Smith said with a laugh.
Despite their rocky past, Smith acknowledged that the duo are a very “special” part of the show, and have a dynamic that works “really well” on screen. “I want to be very mindful and careful of it,” he said of their story, “and continue to make it as fresh and exciting and sexy as possible.”
Smith said that Brie’s confession and Mike’s subsequent proposal was the original plan, noting it was “part of the pressure cooker” he wanted to put Brie in “with the secret she was sitting on for multiple episodes,” leading her to “confess in order to atone.”
Things slightly changed, however, when Smith realized he wanted to film the proposal two different ways.
“On the day we decided to shoot it two ways and we added his, ‘I know [you slept with Brady].’ And I was like, ‘I just want to see what it looks like in the cut.’”
Smith then ran it by his writing team, and the response was undeniable. “We had a viewing with the writing staff when the episode was cut together. They didn’t know it was going happen,” he recalled. “And when we watched it together and he said that, there were, like, audible gasps and screams in the room, and I was like, ‘I think we’re going with that one!’”
As for how Brie will respond, Smith revealed — just kidding, you know he didn’t tell Us!
Will Mel and Jack Become Parents?
Mel — and the rest of Us — were shocked in the finale’s final moments when a pregnant Marley revealed that the couple who were going to adopt her baby changed their minds. Marley then asked Mel and Jack to take her baby, leaving Mel stunned.
Smith told Us that Marley’s predicament, along with other conversations about expanding their family, will continue to be a focal point for Mel and Jack moving forward.
“With Marley and that situation, we will continue to see Mel and Jack move down their path towards parenthood,” he explained. “We get to live in the newlywed bliss that they have and the challenges that come with that as a new married couple.”
Smith added that he’s trying to find a “distinction” from how Mel and Jack were while dating to who they are as a married couple. “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,” he said.
What Happened to Charmaine?
After giving birth to her twins in season 5, Charmaine only made a few brief appearances in season 6 as she continued to deal with her kids’ father, Calvin (David Cubitt) — a drug kingpin and gang leader — and worked with Brie to get a restraining order.
Charmaine was scheduled to style Mel’s hair for her wedding, but when she never showed up, Jack headed over to check on her the next day only to find her home empty and ransacked. The last scene of the finale saw Jack opening the babies’ room looking aghast, but the reveal was hidden from viewers.
Smith couldn’t dish on what lies on the other side of that room, but promised it would be a story line for season 7.
“Charmaine has found herself in the middle of a mess, which is a place where she tends to reside and it pulls our character into it,” he teased. “Not just Jack and Mel, but there are some other characters that find themselves pulled into it as well.”
Barbara Alyn Woods and Mark Anderson are having a truly sublime Barbie and Ken holiday season.
Woods, 62, took to social media on Tuesday, December 17, to show off her and Anderson’s matching sweaters while on their latest getaway. In one snap, the Golden Bachelorettealum, 57, smiled from behind as Woods showed off her new outfit. Other photos featured the duo with their families, enjoying delicious food and even feeding each other while Woods donned a Santa hat.
“Malibu Barbie in her happy place @thecove_wilmington hanging with her favorite besties and loving the new @bonitalatinfusion ,” Woods captioned the post.
Mark’s daughter, Kelsey Anderson — who appeared on season 28 of The Bachelorbefore getting engaged to fiancé Joey Graziadei — seemingly couldn’t be there for the festivities, but took to the comments section to give her approval. “Omg the sweaters hahaha I love,” she wrote.
Mark and Woods’ coordinating getups didn’t end there. TheOne Tree Hillalum also shared a carousel from the Friends With Benefit Tricmukkah event, which the pair recently attended in North Carolina. The duo dressed in the same red sweatshirt that read “Scott 23” on the front and “Save Tric” on the back. Woods paired her top with a sparkly red skirt and white sneakers, while Mark opted for a pair of jeans and black converse.
Woods starred as Deb Scott on OTH for nine seasons from 2003 to 2012. 23 was the basketball jersey number of her on screen son, Nathan Scott, portrayed by James Lafferty. Lafferty, along with other stars of the teen drama, were also in attendance and posed with Woods in a few snaps.
Woods and Mark first sparked romance speculation in October, when they dressed up as Cinderella and Prince Charming, respectively, for Halloween. “When Cinderella and Prince Charming have a baby,” Woods captioned the Instagram post, referring to daughter Natalie, who was dressed as Grogu from The Mandalorian.
The following month, Woods shared a sweet TikTok video of her and Mark dancing together in front of a Christmas tree. Mark smiled at the camera as the duo performed a routine in sync, leaning into each other before ending the dance with an embrace.
Woods captioned the video, “IN GOOD COMPANY.” Kelsey, 26, took to the comments section to gush over the sweet moment, writing, “AWE.”
Just weeks later, Woods celebrated Graziadei when he took home the Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy on season 33 of Dancing With the Stars. “CONGRATS @joeygraziadei,” she wrote alongside a clip from the episode.
While neither Mark nor Woods have confirmed the status of their relationship, Mark left season 1 of the Golden Bachelorette single after vying for the affections of Joan Vassos. The two called it quits when Vassos claimed Mark didn’t seem ready for a serious romance. (Vassos, for her part, got engaged to Chock Chapple.)
Zach Gilford is recovering after suffering a health scare earlier this week – with his sense of humor still intact.
“Sooooo yesterday was fun,” Gilford, 42, captioned a series of selfies via his Instagram Stories on Tuesday, December 17. “Good thing we wrapped @criminalminds last week.”
In the first two shared photos, Gilford showed off his face having what appeared to be a reaction, which caused his face to swell and eyes to completely close shut.
The third and final picture, meanwhile, showed that his face is now on the mend.
“Thanks to all the nurses, doctors, and staff at @huntingtonhospital for coaxing my face back to normalcy. … Still a little ways to go,” he captioned the third snap, shouting out the California-based hospital. He did not disclose any further details.
Gilford has starred as Elias Voit on the Criminal Minds revival since its debut in 2022, a prolific serial killer who spent years building his own network of murderers and aiding them in their crimes. While speaking exclusively to Us Weekly in August, Gilford revealed he was only supposed to appear on the first season before being asked to stick around.
“I only signed a one-year deal,” she explained. “And part way through the first season, [showrunner] Erica [Messer] said to me, ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen. We haven’t figured out the end of the season, but we’ve decided we’re not going to kill you. We want to keep you around.’ So, I came back and was so happy to [do it].”
The character remained a mainstay in season 2, and will return for season 3, which wrapped filming earlier this month. In addition to giving Gilford a juicy role in front of the camera, the has also provided the actor with a major career milestone: his first time in the director’s chair.
“I wanted to direct forever. I shadowed on Friday Night Lights. I’ve shadowed on almost every show I’ve been on,” Gilford gushed. “It’s just hard to get that opportunity. I’ve wanted to do it for a long time. And it was inspiring to me when I got to direct my episode because Erica and everyone was just like, ‘Make your episode. Do whatever you want.’”
“It was f—king awesome,” he added. “It was so fun.”
Gilford got his start by portraying Matt Saracen on FNL in the early 2000s before moving on to starring roles on Good Girls, Midnight Mass and more. He met his wife, Kiele Sanchez, on the set of their 2010 TV pilot The Matadors, and the pair tied the knot two years later. They have worked together multiple times since, including on Evolution.
While speaking to Us, Gilford recognized how “lucky” he’s been to be part of the Criminal Minds franchise.
“I don’t know how I got so lucky. I’ve been really lucky in my career, but it’s been cool,” Gilford shared of his experience on the CBS procedural. “Everyone who comes on that set says, ‘This is the best set I’ve ever been on,’” he told Us. “It’s so fun to get to work with your friends and they’re really the best group of people. Then, cast aside, our crew is f—king awesome. They’re so dope, they’re so cool, they’re so funny, they’re so chill and so good at their jobs. I am appreciative to be on a set [where] this is the vibe. It all trickles down from the showrunner, Erica Messer.”
Ariana DeBose always carries herself with the utmost grace — but the ups and downs of her past have allowed her to become the best version of herself for the future.
“I have had quite the journey with criticism over the last few years,” DeBose, 33, exclusively shared with Us Weekly while promoting her new film, Kraven the Hunter. “Or at least for me, it was my own personal journey. And I think you have to get really good at taking things with a grain of salt. And when I’ve had those moments where I have felt heavily criticized or critiqued, I do take a minute and consider the source or sources. And I have decided for myself, and it has helped me create a healthier way of being.”
Following her hosting gig during the 2023 BAFTAs, DeBose faced backlash from social media trolls after she opened the awards show with a musical number that praised the women nominees like Angela Bassett and Jamie Lee Curtis for doing “the thing,” leading to her deactivating her X account. The year prior, she addressed haters who critiqued her Saturday Night Live hosting gig after she accidentally cited the wrong year during her monologue.
Looking back on those experiences, DeBose has learned to ignore anyone who can’t relate to her experience — one that includes an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and two Emmy nominations. The multi-hyphenate is now also back on X — making her page private, because, boundaries — and has figured out how to protect her peace.
“There’s a great quote that’s like, ‘Don’t take advice from people who are not in the arena, do not listen to criticism from people who are not in the arena,’” DeBose told Us. “That has been very helpful to me. I don’t necessarily think that all criticism is bad criticism, but I think the society we’re living in today, the first thing we do is criticize. It’s as if we have lost the ability to see the light in something or the intention behind something.”
Ariana DeBose
“The first thing we do is find fault or why it’s less than. And that is so wholly uninteresting to me,” she continued. “I just don’t take advice or listen to criticism from people who are not in the arena anymore.”
Still, if DeBose were able to channel any magical power — like her “slippery” voodoo priestess character, Calypso, in Kraven the Hunter — she would upgrade her natural “white witch” abilities to be able to “hone in” and get a read on who is worth her time and energy from the very start.
“Clarity of reading auras and character of a person, if that could be my superpower for every person I meet, so that I know like, ‘Cool, cool. I’m gonna go,’ or, ‘Cool. Cool, let’s have a conversation,’ that’d be great,” she said with a laugh. “You know, just hone in even sharper and get like a really clear read, like in a sci-fi movie where there’s like something written by your head and [alerts you], ’This person is a psychopath!’”
That trick would certainly come in handy for someone as busy as DeBose, who has a plethora of projects dropping in the next year including films like Love Hurts, with Ke Huy Quan, and Lear Rex opposite Al Pacino. She’s also celebrating the release of Kraven, which hit theaters on Friday, December 13.
Aaron Taylor Johnson as Kraven.
DeBose is particularly proud of her introduction into the Sony Marvel universe, which features her in a role that is so much more than a typical love interest. DeBose told Us that Calypso’s “badassery” and “intellect” shine much brighter than her relationship with Kraven, portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
“I liked the idea of playing a character like that,” she explained. “I love that she is a part of an origin story. You know, this is Kraven’s origin story, the how he came to be, and I think, given context, what becomes a partnership between him and Calypso and partnership between men and women on screen, that is not always implied to be romantic, I think that can be a rarity in the industry. And I was very intrigued by that.”
Virgin River’s most adored couple are finally about to say “I do” — and their wedding will be the can’t-miss event of season 6.
“It’s been six seasons in the making,” showrunner Patrick Sean Smith exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of season 6, which hits Netflix on Thursday, December 19. “When we started writing it, we looked at the responsibility and expectations that come with that, so I wanted to make sure that there was no wedding stone unturned that we didn’t get to portray in the season.”
After coming to the town of Virgin River in season 1, Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson) immediately connected. Over the course of the next five seasons, the pair weathered breakups, a faux paternity scandal, a pregnancy loss and more before getting engaged at the end of season 4. Two seasons later, they are more in love than ever, and more than ready to walk down the aisle.
Smith told Us that while writing season 6, he wanted to ensure that audiences felt “satiated from the wedding experience they have been looking forward to” for so long, but also wanted to allow the show to continue moving forward after so much anticipation.
“To introduce the notion [of marriage] in season 4, it felt like [we] might be overextending the engagement [by season 6], so it was time to finally pay it off,” Smith explained. “The show’s celebrating its five year anniversary, and for the characters, too, it felt like it was time for them to enter a new phase in their relationship.”
While Mel and Jack’s wedding will be a huge focal point of the new season, it’s far from the only thing happening in Virgin River. Keep scrolling to see what the cast teased to Us about their characters’ upcoming story lines:
Mel
Alexandra Breckenridge exclusively told Us that Mel’s connection with her biological father, Everett (John Allen Nelson), will also be a major part of her journey — and even weave into her wedding day.
“Where we left off in season 5, she had just met her biological father,” she explained. “So she’s really trying to connect with [Everett] because it’s a surprise, but it’s really meaningful for her. And he knows so much about her mother that she didn’t know.”
Breckenridge said that Mel is excited to bond with a “living parent” as well as learn more about her late mother, Sarah, who died when she was 11. (Episode 2 of season 6 will tell the story of a young Sarah and Everett through flashbacks.)
“It’s really deep and meaningful for her throughout the season,” Breckenridge told Us. “I think that [Mel and Everett’s] relationship, there’s some bumps in the road, but I think ultimately their connection is very strong and it becomes very strong throughout.”
As for her wedding, Breckenridge joked that Mel “thinks” things are going to go smoothly — but Hope’s (Annette O’Toole) looming presence might cause a few issues.
“Mel set out to have a really small, lovely, intimate wedding, and the town sort of took over and Hope definitely took over and wanted it to be the event of the year,” she explained. “And I think Mel understood that she was really giving something to the community by letting that happen, even though that wasn’t necessarily what she wanted.”
She added that Mel is “trying to roll with it” but it proves “a little difficult” to do at times. “Hope can be a little bit much when she’s planning events,” she said with a laugh. “I think it causes a little bit of friction when it comes to the actual wedding day.”
Jack
In addition to celebrating his upcoming nuptials to Mel, Martin Henderson told Us exclusively that Jack will be looking inward and re-examining his feelings about his time in the military.
“I think part of Jack’s inner journey and arc throughout the season is trying to make peace with and come to terms with what his military background meant to him then, but means to him now,” he shared. “And we watch him struggling with that.”
Henderson also teased that Jack will form “a relationship” with a horse — but promised that it won’t turn romantic. “Mel and Jack will stay together,” he quipped. “For now.”
Jack’s relationship with his father will also continue to evolve. “He’s also got some nice moments where he’s reconnecting with his dad, and I think he’s reevaluating what that relationship is, and his dad is able to be more forthcoming emotionally with Jack,” Henderson revealed. “I think there’s a softening there around that father-son relationship that was really nice.”
Brie
After ending season 5 by sparking a new romance with Mike (Marco Grazzini) and testifying against her abusive ex-boyfriend, Zibby Allen exclusively told Us that Brie will be “working through the thing she needs to work through to heal” in season 6, and “figure out what she needs the most, both in love and life and career.”
“She’s chosen to stay in Virgin River,” Allen continued. “So I think this upcoming season you’re going to see her sort of still working through that conversation between the head and the heart, which maybe aren’t always saying the same things.”
Hope
Annette O’Toole teased that Hope’s season is an “intense” one.
“She has a goal, she has something very specific she’s doing, which is getting people together to do this wedding,” she exclusively told Us. “Officiating and deciding all these things. And she loves to be the director and that’s what she gets to do. So for her it’s a very positive thing along the way.”
O’Toole noted that despite Hope’s excitement about planning Mel and Jack’s wedding, there will be a “few hiccups with misunderstandings” along the way — both with Doc (Tim Matheson) and “others.”
Hope will also get to have some other great bonding moments with other characters. “I love the comradery with the sewing circle,” O’Toole said. “I just think that’s such a great part of this show is; how the women really are there for one another.”
Doc ended season 5 with plans to start a trial that could help his eyesight, and while season 6 will address his health issues, Tim Matheson said that viewers will see a different, very “wonderful and touching” part of his journey in season 6.
“He comes to terms with a simmering dislike of a person that’s gone on for years and finally makes peace with someone, and lets go, which is an important thing for people to do,” he exclusively told Us, “to let go of their hatred or their annoyance or their dislike of someone.”
It won’t all be smooth sailing, and Doc’s career could be in the line of fire.
“Doc, because of his commitment to caring for people, it gets him into some trouble,” Matheson explained. “His commitment to letting nothing get in the way between him and his patients, saving his patients, gets him into a bit of trouble. And that’s one of the elements of his story line. It’s an interesting turn.”
