The NFL minimum salary for rookies was $795,000 in 2024, representing the smallest payday of any of the league’s nearly 1,700 active players who stay signed all year. It sounds lucrative, but as the wife of former NFL playerChad Hansen explained, life in the league isn’t always as opulent as it seems.
In a December video posted to TikTok, Bryce Watts Hansen debunked the misconception that everyone in the NFL is a millionaire.
Chad, now 29, spent five years in the NFL, bouncing between the New York Jets New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons.
“He was on eight different NFL teams,” Watts Hansen said in the video. “That means eight different contracts are being signed and broken.”
She acknowledged that even at its worst, players still make considerable money, but it also comes with expenses many don’t consider — including Watts Hansen until she was confronted with the realities of having to constantly relocate.
“I know how to get a flight, move all our stuff. It’s kind of just like a cost that you have to eat.” she continued. “It’s just, like, all these little things that you can like have to play out in your head.”
Courtesy of Bryce Watts Hansen/Instagram
The “NFLadies” podcast host added that at one point, she and her husband were paying rent in three different cities because of the unpredictable nature of his job. And for the month and a half that the wide receiver was a member of the Falcons, they paid $10,000 to move to Atlanta.
Watts Hansen also admitted to previously believing that all players were millionaires, but that’s not the reality for those who are constantly signed and then cut.
“That would have been really great if that was the case, if we were one team and all that stuff,” she explained. “But you know, that’s just not the reality for everybody.”
“[Chad] signed a contract. Then a couple months later you get nothing, especially if you sign at the beginning of the offseason and then you’re cut during the offseason,” she added. “You’re not seeing any of that money because you haven’t played again and again, you haven’t gone to practice.”
Players also must account for the risky nature of their job. Watts Hansen said that the couple had to spend a considerable amount on doctors appointments, just another one of those “weird little things here and there.”
And even for players who have more stable careers, the money doesn’t go as far as some might think. The average NFL player only lasts three to four years in the league before being forced into retirement with no other professional experience. Even a six- or seven-figure salary in those few years won’t last for life.
McMahon confirmed in June 2022 that he was resigning from his post while the company investigated misconduct claims against him.
“I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” he said in a statement at the time. “I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.”
Several hours later, McMahon opened SmackDown Live with great fanfare. “It is a privilege as always to stand before you here tonight, the WWE universe,” he said during the June 17, 2022, broadcast. “I’m here simply to remind you of the four words we just saw in what we call our WWE signature. Those four words are: then, now, forever, and the most important word is together. Welcome to SmackDown!”
Amid McMahon’s exit from the WWE executive suite, federal law enforcement officials have continued investigating the allegations. The former pro athlete has not yet been charged with a crime.
Nearly two years later, McMahon faced a second misconduct scandal when a former WWE employee accused him of sexual assault, trafficking and abuse in a January 2024 lawsuit. He denied all claims before resigning from WWE’s parent company, TKO Group.
Keep reading for a breakdown of McMahon’s misconduct scandal:
What Was Vince McMahon Accused of?
Days before McMahon stepped down from his WWE position, the Wall Street Journalreported that he paid a $3 million settlement to a former employee after an alleged affair. He has not publicly addressed the allegations.
In January 2024, former WWE staffer Janel Grant accused McMahon of sexual assault, trafficking and abuse in a lawsuit.
How Did Vince McMahon React to the Scandal?
Vince McMahonDave Allocca/Starpix/Shutterstock
McMahon left his position as CEO and Chairman of the board in June 2022, pledging in a statement to cooperate with the ongoing investigation and “accept the findings and outcome.” He ultimately returned as a board member six months later in January 2023, agreeing to reimburse WWE for any expenses pertaining to the investigation. According to an SEC statement the following August, McMahon has since paid approximately $17.4 million to cover the costs.
Regarding the 2024 lawsuit, McMahon vehemently denied all claims.
“This lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself,” a spokesperson for McMahon told Us Weekly in a statement.
Who Replaced Vince McMahon as the CEO of WWE?
McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie McMahon, was appointed interim CEO and Chairwoman in her father’s absence.
“I love this company and am committed to working with the Independent Directors to strengthen our culture and our Company; it is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace,” Stephanie said in a statement at the time. “I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the Special Committee complete its work, including marshaling the cooperation of the entire company to assist in the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings.”
Is Vince McMahon Still Involved in WWE Operations?
Chief Creative Officer Triple H (real name Paul Levesque), who is married to Stephanie, revealed during an August 2023 press conference for WWE’s Summer Slam that Vince is not currently working with the WWE creative team.
“As far as contributions, I would just say this. The reason WWE is what it is … you could make an argument — a very valid one — that without Vince and his vision for this business, maybe it wouldn’t be here anymore,” Triple H said at the time. “There was some things at that time, back in the day, that were very popular … that just disappeared off the face of the planet. Vision of what he did changed the business, changed all of it for 50 years. Incredible run of success. No greater mind in the business.”
He continued: “In this point in time, if all of us didn’t look at moments in time for counsel from him on thoughts or ideas or if we had a question to go to him and ask, we’d be silly not to. It’s sitting next to somebody that knows more about this, or has forgotten more about this, than you’ll ever know, and to not utilize that in some aspect. But is he day-to-day? No. Is he in it all the time? No. If anybody has, he’s earned that right to be able to do that.”
Vince formally resigned from his position as executive chairman of the TKO Group, which is the parent company of WWE, in January 2024.
“Out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately,” he said in a statement shared with Us. “I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.”
Has Vince McMahon Cooperated With the Federal Investigation?
Several days before Triple H’s comments about the lack of Vince’s day-to-day involvement in the media brand, the SEC executed a search warrant and issued a subpoena to both Vince and the WWE. According to CNN, U.S. federal agents requested copies of certain documents. Vince has not addressed the warrant or subpoena.
How Did the Hush Money Payments Get Settled?
In January 2024, McMahon agreed to pay a $400,000 civil penalty while reimbursing WWE $1.3 million. McMahon was not forced to admit or deny the SEC’s findings.
McMahon released a statement via X shortly after the settlement was announced.
“The case is closed,” McMahon wrote. “Today ends nearly three years of investigation by different governmental agencies. There has been a great deal of speculation about what exactly the government was investigating and what the outcome would be. As today’s resolution shows, much of that speculation was misguided and misleading.”
He continued, “In the end, there was never anything more to this than minor accounting errors with regard to some personal payments that I made several years ago while I was CEO of WWE. I’m thrilled that I can now put all this behind me.”
McMahon’s statement is a bit of a misnomer, however, as Grant’s civil suit will still move forward in the wake of the settlement.
Rolling in the dough! Reality TV shows can be grueling, awkward and time-consuming, but for many contestants, it’s more than worth it based on the prize money they can win at the end.
Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, who has won seven seasons of MTV’s The Challenge, has taken home more than $1.2 million in winnings over the years. When it comes to an individual season win, The Challenge, has ranged in what the top competitor takes home, with the grand prize totaling $900,000, split between two people for 2021’s TheChallenge: Double Agents. For its milestone 40th season, The Challenge: Battle of the Eras upped the prize to $1 million.
Baking shows also have a wide variety of seed money, with some series only giving a cake stand to the champion and others awarding the top chef a restaurant job and salary. Talent competitions, however, have the most inconsistencies with regard to prizes.
For years, The Voice coaches have been vocal about how the winners of the singing competition don’t appear to get the proper support from the record label that signs them as part of their winner’s compensation package.
“We work with these artists and give them this tremendous workshop and get them to the end of the show, and I think the work that we do on the show is amazing,” former coach Adam Levine told reporters at a press conference for The Voice‘s season finale in December 2017. “We give these guys this incredible platform and this really rare thing, a lot of exposure and airtime. Once we pass the torch, it is the record label that completely destroys that.”
Scroll down to see the reality show prize numbers from worst to best:
The bakers are not compensated for their time on the British series, nor is the winner given any sort of monetary prize. Instead, the winner gets the coveted title, a cake stand, flowers and recognition as they move forward with any baking career moves.
The Netflix competition series’ prize is $100,000. However, the season 4 champion earned an extra $50,000 after Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Mel B successfully completed a mission to help boost the winner’s pot.
The U.K. version of the dating series ends each season with a choice for the winning couple: Do they split the £50,000 prize (roughly $69,000) or do they steal the money and keep it for themselves? The Love Island USA winners have the choice to steal or split the $100,00 prize.
The tattoo-centered show hands out $100,000 to the top artist every season. In 2020, however, the coronavirus pandemic cut filming short resulting in the top three finalists each earning an unknown cash prize.
The singing competition awards each season’s winner $100,000 and a record contract with Universal Music Group, Newsweek reported in March 2021. Some past seasons have also given the winner a new car.
The biggest prize for The Voice winner is the publicity they received following the show and, in some cases, booking tours with their former coaches. Shelton, for example, took season 11 winner Sundance Head on tour with him and later brought contestant RaeLynn along for his performances.
The culinary series initially gave out $100,000 to the winner of each season but beginning with season 6, the prize was increased to $125,000. When it comes to Top Chef: All-Stars and Top Chef: All-Stars LA, the winner earned $200,000 and $250,000, respectively.
The cooking show not only awards the winner a cash prize of $250,000 (as a yearly salary), but the series also ends with the top chef landing a role as head chef at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants.
According to Newsweek, the singing competition awards winners a total of $250,000 in prize money, in the form of a record deal with Hollywood Records, which is given out in two sums. The winner gets $125,000 when they sign their record contract and the remaining $125,000 when they complete their album. The singers also have a budget of up to $300,000 to record the record, which is given as an advance and must be paid back against future earnings.
According to a leaked contract in 2019 from third-place contestant Madison VanDenburg, the winning artist also receives $1,000 per week as a salary while recording their album. However, the prize money has decreased in recent years, with earlier winners including Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard reportedly being awarded $1 million deals after their respective wins.
The grueling obstacle course has had a variety of prizes awarded throughout the years. According to ScreenRant, season 2 had an award of $250,000, while seasons 4 through 6 gave its winner $500,000. Season 7 through season 11’s winner received $1 million.
When the MTV series debuted its first-ever All Star season in 2021, the competitors battled it out for $500,000. The Challenge: Double Agents winners, on the other hand, took home $900,000, which was split between CT Tamburello and Amber Borzotra.
Season 40 upped the prize to $1 million. Jordan Wiseley came in first for the men and earned $400,000. Jenny West and Rachel Robinson tied for first for the women and took home $237,500 each. Runner-up Derek Chavez received $75,000 while Bananas and Michele Fitzgerald earned $25,000 for third place.
The talent competition, which can include winners from any walks of life, awards a whopping $1 million prize, which can be taken all at once or paid out over 40 years. In addition to winning money, the top competitor lands a Las Vegas residency.
Year after year, fans tune in to see which contestant can survive the great outdoors. The stars of the show themselves are given a cash prize of $1 million if they are able to beat out their fellow castmates. Winners at War, which was the show’s 40th season, gifted its winner $2 million. After season 40, Survivor returned to the original $1 million prize in the new era.
The Weeknd’s sixth album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, may be the last that he releases under his stage name.
The singer, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, said he is considering retiring the persona that has helped define his music and acting career after the album’s January 25 release.
The Weeknd, 34, opened up about the next chapter of his life in a cover story for Variety published on Friday, January 10.
“It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for. I feel like it comes with so much,” he explained. “You have a persona, but then you have the competition of it all. It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards and more No. 1s. It never ends until you end it.”
That thinking came in part from an onstage incident at SoFi Stadium during his After Hours Til Dawn tour in 2022. The Weeknd found his voice breaking at the beginning of his show and could not recover. He eventually had to offer the audience refunds and promise a rescheduled date.
“Part of me actually was thinking, ‘You lost your voice because it’s done; you said what you had to say. Don’t overstay at the party — you can end it now and live a happy life,’” he continued. “You know? Put the bow on it: Hurry Up Tomorrow. Now we’re here. When is the right time to leave, if not at your peak? Once you understand who I am too much, then it’s time to pivot.”
That’s not to say The Weeknd is quitting music. Though he has also delved deeper into acting, including in the accompanying Hurry Up Tomorrow film, which also stars Jenna Ortega, he admitted that music will probably always be a part of his life.
“I don’t think I can stop doing that. But everything needs to feel like a challenge,” he said. “And for me right now, The Weeknd, whatever that is, it’s been mastered. No one’s gonna do The Weeknd better than me, and I’m not gonna do it better than what it is right now. I think I’ve overcome every challenge as this persona, and that’s why I’m really excited about this film, because I love this challenge.”
The Weeknd isn’t out to satisfy anyone else. For example, he admitted it was “unfortunate” that his short-lived HBO show, The Idol, was met with so much criticism, but that’s not why he did it. It was about his expression as an artist. It’s why he’s looking forward to his next challenge, whatever it may be.
“I just want to know what comes after,” he said. “I want to know what tomorrow looks like.”
There’s no shortage of doctor shows in Hollywood but HBO’s The Pitt has a fresh take on the traditional hospital drama.
Noah Wyle (of ER fame) returned to the emergency room as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, who is easily the best doctor on shift. As emergency department chief, Robby’s goal is to keep the ER running smoothly, but the first season takes place on a particularly hard day — the five-year death anniversary of former boss Montgomery Adamson who died of COVID-19. (Yes, we said first season. Each episode chronicles one hour of Robby’s 15-hour shift.)
The first two episodes — which premiered via HBO on January 9 — also introduced viewers to some other faces in the ER, including resident Dr. Frank Langdon played by newcomer Patrick Ball.
Not much is known about Dr. Langdon thus far other than the fact that he’s full of sass and recently got a dog for his 4-year-old, much to his coworker’s chagrin. But with each passing episode more will (hopefully) be revealed.
For now, here’s everything Us knows about the cute new star with the glimmering blue eyes. Keep scrolling for five things to know about the actor:
1. He’s an Ivy League Graduate
Ball graduated from the David Geffen School of Drama (a graduate school) at Yale in May 2022, according to his Instagram account. “We out,” he captioned an Instagram post he shared at the time.
Just like every up-and-coming star, Ball appeared on an episode of Law & Order in January 2023. “Officially a member of the Dick Wolf cinematic universe,” he wrote via Instagram at the time.
The episode, titled “Almost Famous,” starred Ball as Jason Wheeler, a social media influencer and manager who ends up taking a plea deal after the death of another character occurs in the episode.
3. He’s Also a Stage Actor
HBO
Other than his onscreen roles, Ball has taken part in multiple stage shows over the years with various theatre companies. His Instagram shows him appearing in Love’s Labor’s Lost, The XIXth, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, In His Hands, All My Sons and more.
Before finding themselves at the epicenter of the college football world, Ryan Day and his wife, Nina, were just two kids playing tee-ball in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Day, 45, is now the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and Nina, whom he married in June 2005, recently reflected on their time coming of age together in the Northeast.
In an August 2024 interview with Columbus’ WBNS 10TV, Nina said she and Ryan grew up in Manchester “about a mile-and-a-half away from each other.” They went to the same elementary school, middle school and high school and college, with both Ryan and Nina attending the University of New Hampshire, where Ryan was the quarterback on the football team.
“There was a note we saved — I think I was in 7th grade — that I wrote and I said I was going to marry Ryan,” Nina said. “We’ve always been best friends.”
Nina even pulled out a photo from 1985 when they were on the same youth tee-ball team. “This is Ryan, this is my twin sister, Kelly, and that’s me,” she said while pointing out the threesome.
Before Ryan was named head coach at Ohio State in 2018, his coaching career took him and his growing family — he and Nina are parents to son RJ and daughters Grace and Nia — all across the country, from collegiate stops at schools like Boston College and Temple, to NFL coaching jobs with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
“Within a 15 year span, we moved 11 times,” Nina told WBNS. “In that time, we had 3 children. So, it was a lot. From the year we got married to probably when we got to Ohio State, every year or every two years we were moving. It was very unstable for a long time.”
For a full timeline of Ryan and Nina’s relationship, keep reading.
2005
Courtesy of Ryan Day/Instagram
Ryan and Nina got married while he was working as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida.
“We dated off-and-on and then once we graduated college, we just got back together and the rest is history,” Nina told WBNS.
She added, “There was always a comfort level with him. We’re still best friends. I think that’s the best way a marriage can be. You’re with your best friend every day.”
2009
The couple welcomed their first baby, son Ryan Jr. (RJ, for short), during Ryan’s time as wide receivers coach at Boston College.
Nina admitted that being a coach’s son wasn’t always easy for her son growing up.
“From 1st to 5th grade, he started a school in one state and ended in another school in another state,” she told WBNS. “He was in seven different elementary schools.”
She added, “But it’s made him so much more resilient.”
RJ is busy following in father’s footsteps as a quarterback at DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio.
2011
Courtesy of Ryan Day/Instagram
Ryan and Nina welcomed their first daughter, Grace, while Day was still working at Boston College.
2014
The couple welcomed their third child, daughter Nia, after Day had returned to Boston College as the school’s offensive coordinator following one season as the offensive coordinator at Temple University.
2020
Courtesy of Ryan Day/Instagram
Ryan lived separately from Nina and his three kids for three months during the COVID-impacted college football season to minimize the threat of contagion.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Nina told The Columbus Dispatch in January 2021. “Most of my life I could plan things and look ahead to the next week or the next three or four games. This year we’ve just literally lived hour by hour. I mean, every hour something comes up, and I hold my breath every time I see my husband’s name on my phone because I think, ‘Oh, goodness. Now what?’”
Nina candidly admitted it was even more difficult to have her husband in the house after the Big Ten suspended the start of its season in the wake of the pandemic.
“Those were very difficult weeks,” Nina said. “Even though he was home for the first day of school for the first time ever, and even though he could make the kids’ soccer and football games on the weekends and pick them up from school, it was a huge void. And it was extremely difficult to be around Ryan those weeks.”
2023
Before the start of his fifth full season as the head coach at Ohio State, Ryan shared a photo via Instagram of his family coming home from vacation side-by-side with a picture from the same location, four years prior.
“Time flies,” Ryan wrote. “1st Pic: Winter of 2019 before first season as HC. 2nd Pic: Today on our way back to Columbus. 5th season right around the corner! Stronger than ever. Go Bucks!!”
2025
Harry How/Getty Images
Nina and Grace were photographed celebrating with Ryan on the field after Ohio State defeated the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.
Kotb and Bush Hager joined NBC’s Today in 2007 and 2009, respectively, and went on to cohost the show’s fourth hour together following Kathie Lee Gifford’s 2019 exit. For over five years, the duo made fans laugh and cry while interviewing some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, trying internet hacks, playing games and opening up about their personal ups and downs.
During a October 2021 episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager credited Kotb with helping her get her big break. “I was here for years doing a lot of different things, and I worked really hard. And I had producers say, ‘Well, you’re a correspondent. That’s where you are,’ and that was good. That was what I wanted to be. I wanted to tell stories,” she tearfully shared. “And you asked me to fill in with you, and I’ll never forget it.”
Bush Hager shed more tears after Kotb announced she was exiting Today after nearly 30 years at NBC in September 2024. “You’re who I come to when I’m feeling joyful, when I’m feeling unsure. You are who I come to. And you believed in me first,” she said at the time.
Kotb, for her part, said that her replacement was “going to have the easiest job in the world ‘cause they’re sitting next to you.”
Kotb bid farewell to the morning show in January 2025, after which Bush Hager continued to cohost the fourth hour, retitled Today With Jenna & Friends, with a lineup of celebrity guest hosts.
Scroll down to see some of Kotb and Bush Hager’s sweetest friendship moments from over the years:
Starting Their Journey
Today/YouTube
The pair kicked off their cohosting journey on an emotional note, as Kotb made Bush Hager tear up with special video messages from her family: dad and former President George W. Bush, mom Laura Bush and mother-in-law Margaret Hager.
“Is this what’s gonna happen? I’m just gonna cry all the time?” Bush Hager asked, unknowingly predicting many more tearful moments in the future. “That was so sweet.”
Support System
Today/YouTube
Bush Hager has stood by Kotb’s side through difficult times, including when Kotb announced she and her ex-fiancé Joel Schiffmanhad split in January 2022. “Watching you sit right here, strong, I can’t think of anybody stronger every day,” Bush Hager said on Hoda & Jenna at the time, praising Kotb for her bravery, courage and ability to “tell the truth.”
Kotb, for her part, comforted Bush Hager when she expressed guilt for not being there more for Kotb when her youngest daughter, Hope, experienced a health scare in early 2023. (Kotb shares daughters Haley and Hope with Schiffman.)
“When Hoda’s daughter wasn’t feeling well, I just wasn’t there for her the way I wanted to be,” Bush Hager explained on Hoda & Jenna in May 2023. “And I didn’t know how to be, and I felt terrible about it, but I didn’t know what to do. So, I just said it. I said, ‘I feel like I haven’t been there for you.’”
Kotb called her cohosts’ comments “one of the most beautiful statements” and said her words “meant everything to her” during her tough time.
Taking the Plunge
Today
Among Kotb and Bush Hager’s many memorable TV moments is their January 2022 polar plunge. While watching the event on air, however, Bush Hager got angry with Kotb after seeing she did not fully submerge herself in the frigid water.
“Wait, what? You didn’t dive? You just put your head [in]?” she said as Kotb laughed. “No wonder you were out so [fast]. You didn’t dive? I thought you said we were gonna dive together.”
Making Music
Nathan Congleton/NBC
Kotb and Bush Hager fulfilled their dreams of releasing a Christmas song together in November 2023 with the help of viral vocal coach Cheryl Porter. One month after debuting the festive track, titled “Carefree Christmas,” they took to the Today Plaza with Porter to perform it live.
“We learned, literally, to go from non-singers to below average singers,” Kotb quipped in a December 2023 video package before their live performance, noting that the song charted on the iTunes Top 10 chart.
Playing Matchmaker
Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images
Two years after Kotb and Schiffman’s split, Bush Hager revealed that she had set her pal up on a date by texting friends to find someone outside of Kotb’s usual social circle.
“I texted three people: my sister [Barbara Bush] who [was] in graduate school; One friend that had just moved to Connecticut, so I had a whole new different world; and another friend that had just moved out of the city too,” she said of a past matching making attempt on a March 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna. “And guess what? One of the friends had somebody. So, ask outside of your zone.”
Bush Hager also had her sights on setting Kotb up with some of Today’s celebrity guests, including Lenny Kravitz. “I know someone else who meditates — and wears leather,” she said on air in September 2024, referring to how Kotb and Kravitz each wore leather earlier on the show that morning.
Career Milestones
Today/Youtube
Kotb and Bush Hager gushed about working together while celebrating their fifth anniversary as Hoda & Jenna cohosts in April 2024. “It feels like it was yesterday, and it feels so profound to get to sit next to somebody that exudes joy no matter what you have going on,” Bush Hager said on the show. “You greet me with a smile every single day, and I know it’s not always easy. In fact, it’s probably not easy at all. But you’re here and you sit next to me.”
Kotb, meanwhile, noted that he and Bush Hager grew to share a “deep understanding of the other’s soul and purpose” over their five years of hosting together. “Every day, it’s something different, something new, something we’re learning. You’ve led me down a path because of people who you know in your life and people who are, kind of, healers who’ve helped heal me. And, I mean, it’s all meant to be. This is all meant to be,” she added.
They rang in the milestone with several surprises, including lighting up the Empire State Building in the show’s signature pink and purple colors, getting a brand new theme song performed by Meghan Trainor and having New York City mayor Eric Adams declare April 8, 2024, as Today With Hoda & Jenna Day.
Hilarious Nicknames
Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust
On an April 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager surprised viewers when she revealed her nickname for Kotb is “Dad.” She explained at the time, “I call her Dad because she’s early to everything, always early, and she just reminds me of my father. I’m like, ‘Dad says we can’t drink too much, Talia [Parkinson-Jones],’ to our boss. ‘Dad says put the vodka down.’”
Bush Hager’s comments were followed up by a clip of the pair partying in New Orleans the night prior, after which she remarked to Kotb: “You weren’t Dad that night. Hoda took a shot. We went into a dive bar, and they were yelling ‘shots,’ and before I even knew it, Hoda was in there pounding something. And then we danced, we had the best [time].”
Birthday Surprises
Today
Bush Hager caused Kotb to burst into tears with the meaningful present she gave her during their “Hoda’s 60th Birthday Bash” episode of Hoda & Jenna in August 2024. “I had my dad, who has started painting, paint your favorite photo of you holding your girls,” Bush Hager said as Kotb cried. Seeing her cohost’s strong reaction, Bush Hager shouted, “Oh no! It’s too much!”
Taking Trips
Today/YouTube
Kotb and Bush Hager took their show on the road multiple times in their years cohosting Today, visiting places such as Québec City, Canada, Bermuda and New Orleans, the latter of which was where Kotb lived while getting her start in local news. For their final trip in October 2024, they visited Austin, Texas, where Bush Hager went to high school and college.
During their visit down south, Bush Hager took Kotb on a tour of her old stomping grounds, including Austin High School, restaurants such as El Arroyo and Joann’s Fine Foods and Donn’s Depot piano bar and saloon.
Family Outings
Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager and kidsCourtesy of Hoda Kotb/Instagram
Just as Kotb and Bush Hager grew close on air over the years, so have their families. In October 2024, the pair and Guthrie traveled with all of their kids to Miami to attend Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. “SWIFTIES!!!” Kotb captioned Instagram pics from the concert.
Halloween Hijinks
John Nacion/Getty Images
Despite several years of memorable Today Halloween costumes, Kotb and Bush Hager didn’t do their first joint costume until their last Halloween celebration in October 2024. Fitting with the year’s “VHS Rewind” theme, the duo dressed as the famous movie couple Jack and Rose from Titanic.
They even poked fun at Kotb’s Today departure while reenacting the film’s infamous door scene on Hoda & Jenna. “It’s been amazing, but I kind of feel like I’m outta here. I’m repotting. I’m gonna repot myself elsewhere,” Kotb joked as she pretended to sink into the sea.
Giving Signals
Today/YouTube
Though Bush Hager never got to cohost a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Kotb, that latter began a tradition of doing a secret signal for Bush Hager during the broadcast. “Last year, Hoda and I came up with this secret symbol, which was Hoda brushing her teeth with a finger,” Bush Hager explained on a November 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna.
For Kotb’s final parade hosting gig, the pair agreed that her signal to Bush Hager would be a dance move they created in the music in the music video for comedian Matt Rogers’ Christmas song “RockaFellaCenta.”
Bush captured the moment Kotb pulled out the dance move with Guthrie during that year’s parade via Instagram. “So thankful for my most hilarious and LOYAL @hodakotb who always comes through! With assist by my dearest @savannahguthrie!!!” she captioned the clip. “That was a (not so!) secret dance move!”
Saying Goodbye
Today
Bush Hager expressed her sadness over Kotb’s Today departure several times before her final episode in January 2025. “When everybody’s like, ‘Oh, my God! Congratulations,’ it’s like, I feel like I’ve been dumped,” she joked on a December 2024 episode of her “Open Book with Jenna” podcast. “Not really, you know, ‘cause she’s choosing herself. I get that. But my heart is broken a little.”
During Kotb’s final Today episode, she passed her “Hoda’s Morning Boost” segment torch to Bush Hager during the show’s second hour. Later on Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager thanked Kotb for “everything you have taught me” in a video package, stating, “I will miss you, my friend, but I love you and I’m so proud. Love always and forever, Jenna.”
In a letter of her own, Kotb said that a “new era started” when she began cohosting the show with Bush Hager. “Six unforgettable years, uncontrollable laughter and pure friendship,” she gushed. “I can hardly even say her name without laughing out loud, but that is not the part I fell in love with. I fell in love with her tears, her vulnerable, lovable self.”
Bush Hager squeezed in some final kind words for Kotb before she drove away from 30 Rock with her kids in her minivan. “You are loved. I can’t imagine this place without you, but I don’t have to ‘cause we already have a date on your calendar. Thank you all for believing in us, and Hoda, I love you,” she stated, after which Kotb gave a shout-out to Jenna & Friends, which was beginning the following week.
Hold on God, Sam Moore is coming -- the famed singer, who was half of the legendary soul duo Sam & Dave, has died. Sam's rep says the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer passed away Friday morning in Coral Gables, FL after suffering post-surgery…
Going their own way. For some musical artists, they needed to leave their former bands to explore opportunities as a solo act.
Zayn Malik did just that in 2015. He left his longtime One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne to embark upon a solo music career, dropping his debut record the following year. The singer has had success through songs including “Pillowtalk” and “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever,” a song that he performed alongside Taylor Swift for the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack.
While speaking with British Vogue in 2018, he explained the reasoning behind his decision to leave the band. “We went from theaters to arenas to stadiums — there was never any sort of bridge between. Just boom, boom, boom,” he told the magazine at the time. “I guess that kind of progression to any mind — but especially when you’re 17, 18 — it kind of affects you a little bit.”
Malik added, “People take it different ways — especially when there are five different personalities. The relationships had broken apart.”
Despite fan hopes of a 1D reunion, the group did not reunite. Tragically, the remaining four members were next seen all together at Payne’s funeral in November 2024. (Payne died at age 31 one month prior after falling from a third-story hotel balcony in Argentina.)
Scroll down to see the many stars who have left their groups over the years.
The drummer for the group behind "Pumped Up Kicks" announced his departure in October 2021. "I’ve struggled with finding the words to begin this announcement so I guess I’ll just rip off the band-aid and say that I’ve decided to leave the band I helped start 11 years ago," he wrote via Instagram, adding that the coronavirus pandemic gave him a lot of time to think about what's important to him. "Among those things, I became a father to a now 2 year old daughter who has really changed the way I feel about living my life on tour. I find myself drawn to things closer to home. I’ve seen the world (a couple of times) and I really checked everything off my career bucket list."
Halliwell, a.k.a. Ginger Spice, abruptly left the group in May 1998 during the midst of their Spiceworld tour. She confirmed that differences among the ladies and depression led to her exit. Despite parting ways, she has since reunited with the band across multiple tours.
The rapper, born O’Shea Jackson, left N.W.A. in 1989 after facing conflict over royalties. He later launched a successful solo career with AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted in 1990. His departure was depicted in 2015’s Straight Outta Compton, a film where his son O’Shea Jackson Jr. portrayed him.
After announcing her hiatus from Little Mix in November 2020, the X Factor winner confirmed her official exit the following month. In an since-deleted Instagram statement, she said that “being in the band has really taken a toll on my mental health.”
She continued: “I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to the expectations very hard. There comes a time in life when we need to reinvest in taking care of ourselves rather than focusing on making other people happy, and I feel like now is the time to begin that process. So after much consideration and with a heavy heart, I’m announcing I’m leaving Little Mix.”
Nelson concluded her message by stating she was “ready to embark on a new chapter in my life,” adding, “I’m not sure what it’s going to look like right now, but I hope you’ll still be there to support me.” She went on to release her debut solo single, “Boyz (featuring Nicki Minaj), the following year.
When The Fugees parted ways in 1997 to focus on solo careers, Hill amassed great success through her debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the following year. She has yet to release a follow-up record.
Cabello made headlines after announcing her departure from Fifth Harmony in 2016, leading the band to become a quartet for one last album before taking a hiatus. The former X Factor contestant released her self-titled debut album in 2018. The record garnered hits such as “Havanna” and two Grammy nominations.
Malik shocked fans with his departure from One Direction in 2015, choosing to become a solo act. He released his debut record, Mind of Mine, the following year.
Brown didn’t leave the popular group on his own terms. In December 1985, his now-ex bandmates voted him out over his behavior. As a solo artist, he garnered hits through “My Prerogative” and “Every Little Step.”
Timberlake left the popular boy band in 2002 to embark upon his solo career. He had major success after dropping his debut album, Justified, that same year and became a 10-time Grammy winner. The “Sexyback” singer staged an ‘NSync reunion during his 2013 MTV VMAs performance.
Shortly after reuniting at the 2023 VMAs, the group released their first song in 20 years, “Better Place,” as a part of the Trolls Band Together movie soundtrack.
Fergie was a big part of The Black Eyed Peas before pursuing a solo career in 2006. She returned to the group in 2009, but the group took an indefinite hiatus in 2011. She did not return to the band when they reunited in 2018. Will.i.am told Billboard in 2020 that Fergie is “focusing on being a mom” to her son with estranged husband Josh Duhamel. “That’s a hard job, and that’s what she really wants to do and we’re here for her, and she knows how to contact us for a retreat or a breakaway,” he said.
Paramore members Hayley Williams, Jeremy Davis and Taylor York announced the shocking exit of brothers Josh and Zac Farro in a since-deleted post on the band’s official website in December 2010. After Davis left in 2015, Zac returned to the band in 2016. Williams, for her part, eventually went on to unveil her debut solo album, Petals for Armor, in May 2020. That same month, she teased a sixth Paramore record, This Is Why, released in Frbeuary 2023.
The English musician decided to leave The Police while performing at a concert in August 1983. He then put out his debut solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, in 1985. Despite the band members all working on solo projects, they reunited in 2007 for a reunion tour.
The late music legend was a standout talent while a part of The Jackson 5 with his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon Jackson. After releasing his debut album, Got to Be There, in 1972, the rest was history. He has since garnered massive hits through “Thriller,” “Bad” and “Billie Jean.”
Richie left The Commodores in 1982 to pursue a solo music career. Since then, he has produced hits such as “Hello” and “All Night Long.” He is also a judge on ABC’s American Idol reboot.
After leaving The Supremes in 1970, Ross found great success as a solo artist with songs including “Ain't No Mountain High Enough” and “I’m Coming Out.”
The English crooner announced his departure from the iconic band in a press release in April 1970. From there, McCartney went on to have a successful solo career that included songs such as “Live and Let Die” and “Silly Love Songs.”
One of Cardi’s most talked about looks came in January 2023. The “I Like It” rapper took to Instagram to show off the bedazzled set she donned for an appearance on the Jason Lee Show. In the carousel of photos, the “Please Me” musician’s nails were elongated with acrylics and filed into a square shape. Manicurist Jenny Bui — who has worked with the New York native for over a decade — topped Cardi’s claws with colorful rhinestones in various shapes and sizes.
Cameron has also slayed with edgy manicures. In May 2022, she took to social media to share a flawless design with her followers. Some of the almond-shaped nails featured a clear coat while her others were covered in show-stopping accessories. To top the look off, Cameron’s fingers were painted silver.
MGK, for his part, turned heads with eye-catching nails at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards. For the soirée, he arrived with a unique set of lengthy nails that reportedly took six hours to create — even though only one of his hands was decorated. Brought to life by celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce, the manicure featured snakeskin polish, chains, spikes and more. He paired the acrylics with a white and pink suit that was also finished with studs.
Keep scrolling to see these celebrities and more wildest nail designs of all time:
The Wicked actress showed off her intricate nail art featuring green gems, silver stones and more at the Wicked photocall in Australia in November 2024.
The singer flaunted a wild manicure created by Juan Alvear at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. The design featured a pearly bead set in a gold rectangle that cascaded into long silver stiletto nails.
The “Kill Bill” singer showed off a detailed manicure at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards in April 2024, featuring monarch butterfly wings, bees, spiders and more.
Bailey donned dewdrop nails at the 55th annual NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles in March 2024. She paired the look with an emerald green Nicole + Felicia Couture gown.
Brown donned a 3D design featuring a black and white pattern with gold embellishments while being honored as one of Glamour’s Women of the Year in November 2023.
Hudgens celebrated the start of spooky season on Instagram and showed off her manicure which featured long clear nails with a fun gold squiggly design in September 2023.
The “Cold Heart” singer sparkled with rosy colored nails finished with a glimmery star design in November 2022. The set paired perfectly with her fuchsia Patrick Star knit dress.
As wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area, Angelina Jolie and her son Knox are doing what they can to help.
Jolie, 49, and Knox, 16, were spotted at the grocery store while loading up on essentials, including water, according to a story published by the Daily Mail on Friday, January 10.
“We’re having people at our house,” she said while packing up her trunk in a video obtained by the outlet. When asked if she plans to donate toward relief efforts, she replied, “Yeah I will, right now I’m taking care of people close to me and having them at my house.”
Knox is one of six kids that Jolie shares with ex-husband Brad Pitt. The exes are also parents to sons Maddox, 23, and Pax, 21, and daughters Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 18, and Knox’s twin sister, Vivienne.
The wildfire crisis has been raging in the Los Angeles area since Tuesday, January 7, when high winds sparked fast-burning brush fires that have continued to spread in an area that has not had significant rainfall in months.
As of Friday, January 10, 10 people have died, 9,000 structures have been damaged and 150,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders, according to the Los Angeles Times. Jolie’s $25 million Los Feliz home has remained outside of the evacuation zones.
Because of the fires’ locations, a slew of other celebrities have not been as fortunate, with many living in the affluent Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles. Paris Hilton, Anna Faris, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, Billy Crystal,Mel Gibson and Milo Ventimiglia are among the celebrities who have confirmed that they’ve lost their homes.
“Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience,” Hilton wrote via Instagram on Wednesday. “This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London.”
Meanwhile, Jolie isn’t the only celebrity to lend a helping hand. Jamie Lee Curtis announced on Thursday that she is donating $1 million to the relief efforts. Sharon Stone is working with LA store The Coop to gather donations for those displaced, and Halle Berry said she is donating her “entire closet.”
Overall, CBS News reports that more than 200,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes with 166,000 more people under evacuation warnings.
From L’Oréal to Laneige, several of beauty’s hottest brands took “New Year, New You” to the next level for 2025. Helping Us upgrade our beauty routines, there’s been several new products dropped for the year already that we can’t stop talking about. And while there’s hundreds of new products circulating the market, we narrowed down 18 of the best ones we think are actually worth adding to your cart.
Whether you’ve been on the hunt for some new makeup to refresh your look for the year or some skincare to keep it in shape during the winter, this roundup has got something for you! Some of the launches we’re most excited about are the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glow Skin Tint, which is a skin tint version of their viral bronzing drops, and the Virtue Scalp Remedy Shampoo, which comes from a Jennifer Garner-loved brand. These are far from the only things we’ll be adding to our shopping bags though, keep scrolling to shop the best in beauty newness for 2025, according to Us!
18 of the Best New Launches of 2025 That are Worth Adding to Your Cart
Stan-Out Skincare
1. Laneige Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser:A gentle moisturizer that smooths and softens while cleaning our pores? Sign Us up! That’s exactly what Laneige’s new gel cleanser does, made with hyaluronic acid and papain.
2. Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer: Peptides, peptides, peptides are all of the rage in the beauty industry right now and Paula’s Choice’s new peptide plumping moisturizer goes the extra mile in that department! It includes 3 times the amount of pro-collagen peptides mixed with non-greasy formula that’s guaranteed to visibly plump and boost skin elasticity.
3. Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Moisture Cream: A new take on Cloudberry from the fruit-based skincare brand is this moisture-boosting brightening cream from Glow Recipe. Like many of their other products, it contains an antioxidant-rich superfruit base — this time with cloudberry seed oil, which provides a rich vitamin C and E base.
Must-Have Makeup:
4. L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glow Skin Tint: Since their viral Lumi glotion was so good, we have no doubt that it’s sister product the Lumi skin tint will be just as good!
6. Stila Liqua-Play Eye Shadow: Artistry brand Stila Cosmetics, which is used at show fashion houses at NYFW, just launched a new longwear liquid eyeshadow — and we’re obsessed!
7. Mac Lip Pencil in Cool Spice: Get ready to channel 90s supermodel vibes with MAC cosmetics’ new collection that features the supermodel-esque shade, Cool Spice!
8. Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer Waterproof Glow Drops: Make room in your makeup bag for this new multi-use luminizer from Urban Decay that can be used on the face, body, as highlighter, eyeshadow, bronzing drops and more!
9. L’Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil: A fantastic affordable alternative to more expensive brands, L’Oréal just launched a new Hyaluronic acid lip oil that’s made to moisturize for up to 24 hours.
10. L’Oreal Paris Glossing Sulfate Free Shampoo: Though this new sulfate-free glossing shampoo from L’Oreal is newer on the market, it’s already beloved by Amazon shoppers with over 2,000 bottles bought within the last month!
11. Monday Haircare Deep Moisture Hair Mask: Get a luxurious deep hair hydrating for a fraction of the cost with this new damage-reversing hair mask from Monday Haircare that’s just $8!
12. Bumble and Bumble Bond-Building TripleBond Flash Rinse: We’re already obsessed with the smell of Bumble and Bumble’s bond-building collection and now they added a new hair rinse that provides 2x the shine and builds 3 kinds of essential hair bonds.
13. Cecred Nourishing Hair Oil: Made with 13 luxe oils and Cecred’s signature African oil blend, the brand’s new hair will keep your hair nourished and hydrated without weighing it down.
14. Virtue Scalp Remedy Shampoo: A brand beloved by Jennifer Garner,Virtue haircare just launched a new scalp remedy shampoo and conditioner duo that’s made to help balance the microbiome, while cleansing and hydrating as well.
15. John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Operator Blowout Spray: Blowout-style hair has always been a sought-after look, but in recent years it’s blown up significantly. John Frieda is helping Us all to get the look without going to the salon with their new blow out spray that’s already gone viral.
Other Can’t-Miss Finds
16. Essie to The Rescue UV Gel Damage Repair: Another new trend as of late is actually taking care of your nails instead of wrecking them at the salon and what better brand to come up with ways to help us than Essie. They just released a new damage repair treatment that’s made to restore UV gel damage within just 5 days. It’s also a nail strengthening formula as well, with a 3 protein complex, keratin building block MSM, and ceramides too.
17. Issey Miyake Men’s Le Sel d’Issey Eau de Toilette: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Issey Miyake dropped a new men’s Eau de Toilette that has a woody, marine fragrance with notes of marine seaweed, oak moss, sand vetiver, cedarwood and ginger.
18. Snif Me Eau de Toilette: If you’re looking for a new everyday fragrance and like something on the floral-meets-musky side, you’re going to want to try Snif’s new ‘Me’ eau de toilette.
Jessica Alba, ZendayaMonica Schipper/Getty Images;Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for Bulgari
If you’re anything like Us, you’ve always wondered what it would be like to experience celebrities’ hair extensions.
Zendaya, Ayo Edebiri, Jessica Alba, Peyton List, Elsa Hosk and Ashley Graham are only a few of the stars who have worn (and loved!) Covet & Mane’s hair extensions. It’s no secret that extensions immediately give you unprecedented volume and instant length, but how comfortable are they really? Us Weekly’s Assistant Editor Grace Riley tried out Covet & Mane’s tape-in extensions and is here to spill all the tea.
I got the extensions installed by celebrity hairstylist Lilybeth Vargas in November 2024 and instantly fell in love with my transformation. I have naturally thick hair, so she used three rows of extensions to make sure they blended in seamlessly. Unlike generic tape-in extensions, which come in small wefts, Covet & Mane has a unique design with a row of hair that is taped to your head, creating a more seamless look.
By the end of my first day wearing the extensions, they definitely felt heavy on my head. I was aware of them while laying down, but they never felt uncomfortable. When I woke up, I had adjusted to the weight and was able to wear them in the same bouncy curls Vargas styled for me.
The next day, I went on a run and followed Vargas’ suggestion of wearing my hair in two braids instead of a ponytail. Splitting my hair in two sections made my workout feel easier, whereas the tension of a ponytail made my mane feel heavier on my neck while jogging.
When it came to washing my hair, I was using more product than I normally would, but the thickness actually didn’t take too much extra time in the shower. I tried to only wash my extensions once a week, as Vargas recommended, but would sometimes section off my crown and wash that hair if it was greasy.
Us Weekly
Styling the extra hair and length was a challenge for me at first because my natural hair only goes to my chest. I learned to style it the night before events to save time in the morning — and even got handier at using a curling iron!
Throughout these past few months, I’ve received more compliments on my hair than ever before. Strangers came up to me to tell me my hair was “so pretty,” and whenever I see my friends, they immediately start playing with my mane and gushing over how amazing it looks. Something about having this much hair on your head makes you feel so glammed up wherever you go. They made me feel like the most confident, baddie version of myself — with really good hair.
If you’re willing to take care of the extensions and dedicate a bit more time to your routine than normal, then I would no doubt recommend extensions to anyone.
Covet & Mane also offers textured extensions, which Zendaya rocked in an On sneaker campaign in November 2024. Edebiri, 29, sported the length at the 2024 Emmys, while Graham, 37, donned the tresses at the 2024 Met Gala. That same month, Hosk, 36, could be seen wearing Covet & Mane’s platinum strands at Cannes Film Festival, and Alba, 43, slayed the voluminous strands on the cover of Marie Claire in August 2024.
With Covet & Mane, you don’t need to be a celebrity to have Hollywood-worthy hair.
Prime Video’s On Call is connected to Dick Wolf‘s TV universe — but there likely won’t be any onscreen crossovers.
During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Creator Tim Walsh explained how his show with fellow creator Elliot Wolf is separate from the One Chicago and Law & Ordershows, which have all been produced by Dick Wolf.
“I do not want to do a crossover with any of the existing shows. I do believe we are in our own universe and they’re in their own universe,” Walsh noted. “However, expanding our universe into other first responders, we’re all very game to doing that. There are paramedics in Long Beach.”
On Call found a way to lean into Walsh’s roots as a producer on Chicago P.D. with a guest appearance from Monica Raymund, who played Gabriela Dawson in NBC’s Chicago Fire. But the intention is for On Call to create its own fictional world instead of connecting itself to an existing one.
“I came up on Chicago P.D. and I have an enormous amount of respect for network TV. It is deceptively difficult to write. However, with that being said, I wanted to take everything I did in that show and do the exact opposite [with On Call],” he explained to Us. “We want to let things breathe. It’s an R-rated show, which obviously network TV is not.”
David Higgs Photography
Walsh continued: “I wanted this to be its own unique kind of animal and probably the lessons I took from other shows I’ve been on were things not to do quite honestly.”
On Call, which premiered on Thursday, January 9, is Wolf Entertainment’s first scripted streaming series. The gritty drama utilizes bodycam, dash-camera and cellphone footage to follow cops in the field and it marks Elliot’s first executive producer credit on a scripted show after he served for years as the head of digital at Wolf Entertainment.
“I have to give a shoutout to my partner, Elliot Wolf. I would not be here without him. He sold the show prior to me coming on and he sold it with the vision of we were going to use the lenses of cell phones and bodycam and dash-cam, so all credit goes to him,” Walsh told Us. “He had the genius of seeing visually how much that could set us apart from other shows.”
Elizabeth Morris/Prime Video
The series also sets itself apart by introducing important conversations without picking sides.
“That was the goal of going into it was it’s not an anti-police or pro-police show. It’s pro-character — and the characters happen to be cops,” Walsh explained. “We started doing a lot of research from the jump including multiple ride-alongs with the Los Angeles Police Department, Sheriff’s Department and Long Beach police. You realize when you get in a car that it’s just another human being next to you.”
On Call’s mission is to “entertain” their audience, Walsh explained. “People are at a point in their lives where they don’t want to be preached at anymore. So we were very aware of that,” he continued. “It’s a complicated subject matter. We’re not ignoring that part of it. But we’re also saying that outside of the complicated subject matter, there’s also an incredibly important job that these people have to do. We wanted to focus on that part.”
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