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Sarah Jessica Parker’s 7 Tough Years With Robert Downey Jr: Romance Rewind
Long before her marriage to Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker counted Robert Downey Jr. as her great love — but, unsurprisingly, their relationship was not an easy one. Two child stars moving in together at 18 after a few weeks of dating — what could possibly go wrong? Let’s find out …
How it Began
Both just 18 — they’re now 59, with birthdays 10 days apart — Parker and Downey Jr. met on the set of teen movie Firstborn way back in 1984. Acting since childhood and well-known faces on the Brat Pack scene of the era, things got serious fast: they moved in together in Los Angeles after just a few weeks of dating.
How Long it Lasted
Parker was basically a saint: she stayed with Downey Jr., through his well-documented substance abuse issues, for seven whole years. While the romance included iconic 1980s outfits, great film roles and glamorous parties, it was also seven years of heartache, addiction, fear and stress, with the clean-living Sex and the City star telling the New Yorker in 2023 that the relationship made her “feel like a parent at the age off 22.”
How it Ended
The pair split in 1991, with Parker realizing she couldn’t help her charming and charismatic but deeply troubled love anymore. She moved back to New York, where she went on to date the late John F. Kennedy Jr. before settling down with Broderick a few years later, in 1997. This was around the time Downey Jr., who said he had been addicted to drugs since being given them by his father at the age of eight, hit rock bottom. He eventually served 12 months in prison after repeatedly missing court-ordered drug tests, but has now been sober since 2003 and has been married to Susan Downey since 2005.
Robert Downey Jr. Recreates Intimate Wedding Photo With Wife 18 Years Later
What They Said About Each Other
Both parties are probably grateful that their relationship pre-dated social media and the explosion of the internet in general, since we can only imagine the amount of discussion it would generate now, but when they were together, they regularly stepped out at red carpet events. Many years on from their split — and with Downey Jr. now maintaining a life of sobriety and enjoying major critical and commercial success in movies like Iron Man and Oppenheimer — she has spoken about their relationship in a number of interviews, and it’s clear it was a hugely challenging time for them both.
What They Say Now
As recently as 2023, Parker opened up to the New Yorker about the couple’s era-defining but doomed relationship. “People around him would be dismissive of me, but I had given him stability and tried to create a steady heartbeat that allowed him to show up on time,” she said. “That made me angry and embarrassed me.”
Why Sarah Jessica Parker Felt 'Angry' During Robert Downey Jr. Romance
In 2020, she told People that she thought the relationship had actually influenced her own parenting (she and Broderick share twin daughters Tabitha and Loretta and son James). “Maybe it taught me a little bit about being a parent too, because the things that I ended up caring about, and the way I cared for Downey, were things that might be more suitable for a parent at a certain point,” she said.
Further back, in a podcast interview in 2016, Parker revealed that she had been constantly scared that Downey Jr. would die if she left him. Speaking on “WTF with Marc Maron,” she said: “You love this person, and you’re afraid they’re going to die if you aren’t there to shore up their base every single solitary day. … I just didn’t want him to die. The biggest, hardest choices about those kinds of relationships are feeling brave enough to leave, even if you think they’re going to die.”
Meanwhile, Downey Jr. told Parade magazine in 2008 that he had happy memories of their time together, despite everything they went through. “I liked to drink, and I had a drug problem, and that didn’t jibe with Sarah Jessica, because it is the furthest thing from what she is,” he said. “She provided me a home and understanding. She tried to help me. She was so miffed when I didn’t get my act together. Private stuff aside, we were able to spend some time together and it was really cool. I was in love with Sarah Jessica, and love clearly was not enough.”
Key Relationship Takeaways
The former couple actually met up in 2015 to get closure on their tumultuous relationship — and, by all accounts, it went well.
Speaking during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show in 2016, Downey Jr said: “You know, the funny thing too is you always have a perception of somebody that you spent a big chunk of your life with and I think it’s typical… that the further you get away from that in your new relationship, you sub-intentionally taint your perception of the person. Seeing her I was like, ‘She’s so great and so cool and so funny and so in command’. I got to meet her kids and I saw the way she and Matthew live and I respect both of them so much.”
Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick’s Son Shares Pics from Family Trip
Parker, too, also spoke to Stern about their reunion in 2016. “It was really nice. It was surprisingly not weird. Fundamentally, we’re sort of the same,” she said. “The difference is he has a family and a wife and obviously his career is a massive thing. But I think his true nature was completely familiar. I always felt very affectionate toward him, I thought it ended well in a way. I never didn’t care about his well-being and I never felt resentment or bitterness.”
Yup, despite everything they went through together, these two are now about as mature and measured as it gets, with incredible careers to be proud of too. What a journey.
Jimmy Fallon and More Stars Share Their 2024 Spotify Wrapped Top Artist
As 2024 comes to a close, everyday music lovers and celebrities alike get excited to discover who their top artist of the year was on Spotify Wrapped — and the stars are spilling all their music listening secrets with Us.
“Taylor Swift was my top artist. I’m a Swiftie. I’m a fan of hers since day one. I love her,” Jimmy Fallon told Us Weekly exclusively at iHeartRadio’s Z100 Jingle Ball in New York City on December 13. “It was Taylor Swift, it was Chappell Roan and then it got to like, [The] Carpenters?”
After clarifying that he was talking about the sibling duo Karen and Richard Carpenter and not Sabrina Carpenter, one of 2024’s top pop stars, Fallon explained the divergence in his music taste.
“I took a real curve on my playlist,” he said. “I let my daughters use my Spotify as well, so you can see where dad hopped in. And then The Beatles, and then Paul McCartney and John Lennon, yeah. But it’s a good mix and it’s an honest mix. I didn’t make it up.”
Jimmy Fallon Reveals His ‘Honest’ Spotify Wrapped List: 'I Am a Swiftie'
Check out the exclusive video above and keep scrolling for more stars’ top artists of the year — including Teddy Swims, Jessica Capshaw and more:
Jimmy Fallon
“Taylor Swift was my top artist. I am a Swiftie. I’m a fan of hers since day one,” Fallon told Us. “I love her. It was Taylor Swift, it was Chappell Roan, and then it got to like, [The] Carpenters?”
And no, the Tonight Show host wasn’t talking about 2024 pop queen Sabrina Carpenter.
“No. THE Carpenters,” he clarified. “Yeah. I mean, I took a real curve on my playlist. You showed my age. Yeah. I let my daughters use my Spotify as well so you can see where dad hopped in. And then The Beatles, and then Paul McCartney and John Lennon, yeah. But it’s a good mix and it’s an honest mix. I didn’t make it up.”
Kelly Bensimon
While the RHONY alum told Us she loves music, the truth is, she said, “I love me more.”
Bensimon took the opportunity to plug her new podcast rather than share her top artist.
“I’m on Spotify with ‘I Do, Part 2,’ my new podcast with iHeartRadio,” she told Us. “I’ve had so many amazing listeners who are also looking for love and really celebrating that second chapter in their life.”
Ashley Iaconetti
The Bachelor alum admittedly doesn’t use Spotify — “I just like to stick to what I’ve known since I was a sophomore in high school,” she told Us — but she took a guess as to what her top artists would be.
“It’s gotta be Taylor [Swift],” Iaconetti told Us. “Of course it’s gonna be Taylor. I think it’s probably been like that for the past 10 years.”
Yet, as a mother of two kids under 3 (son Dawson, 2, and son Hayden, 17 months, whom she shares with Jared Haibon), Iaconetti admits some of her childrens’ favorite songs make their way into her playlists as well.
“You’ll probably find some kids — not kids’ songs because Dawson really doesn’t listen to kids’ songs — but we get him into certain things, like, he’s been really into NSYNC, he’s been into Backstreet Boys, very into Jonas Brothers, loves Jonas Brothers, so those would be up there as well,” she shared.
Sabrina Carpenter Reveals She Was on Her Own Spotify Wrapped
Jessica Capshaw
“I’ll give you one guess,” the Grey’s Anatomy actress prompted Us when asked who her top artist was. Sure enough, just like Us, it was Swift.
“It was Taylor, then Gracie [Abrams] and then Sabrina [Carpenter],” Capshaw revealed. “Truly, on the day that that came out, my kids were like, ‘What’s your Wrapped?!’”
Teddy Swims
For the “Lose Control” singer, his top artist was a no-brainer — and, funny enough, it was one of his fellow Best New Artist Grammy nominees.
“Benson Boone,” Swims — who was nominated for his first Grammy award this year alongside Boone — “Easy. Yeah, easy, dude. The amount of time I have him, I haven’t even shown him my Spotify Wrapped, so it’s going to be rough. But yeah, Benson Boone all the way.”
Myles Smith
The British singer-songwriter is keeping things in the U.K. when it comes to his top artists of the year.
“I think [my top artist] could have been Central C,” he told Us. “I love what [he’s] doing, I think he’s another great U.K. act that’s breaking boundaries in America.”
Smith added three more British musicians to his list as well.
“Adele every year is in my top five. She’s never not going to be in my top five,” he added. “Big Ed [Sheeran] fan. He was in my top five. I think Artemas was in my top five as well. So yeah. A diverse array.”
Gracie and Clyde Lawrence
While the sibling duo — who comprise the pop group Lawrence — initially joked that their top artists were “ourselves and ourselves,” they went on to share their personal musical acts of the year.
“I recently got in a big John Mayer phase music listening wise,” Clyde shared. “He was one of my top artists of the year this year as he has been in some other years past.”
Gracie shares her brother’s love of Mayer, but her tastes this year leaned more female-focused.
“I think Sabrina Carpenter was in there. I think Ella Fitzgerald was in there,” she told Us. “I have an eclectic [mix]. It’s mostly women, and it’s many different eras, like, different genres. I don’t know. Maybe some Paramore is in there. I can’t be hemmed in.”
The Best Albums of 2024: Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and More
Meghan King
The RHOC alum’s top artist of the year is a House duo.
“I think maybe Sofi Tukker,” she told Us. “I saw them, like, three times last year, so that would make sense.”
Isabel LaRosa
The 20-year-old singer-songwriter admitted to Us that her top artist was Artemas — but by accident.
“My top artist was Artemas because I listen to his song ‘Good Girl,’ and I would fall asleep on planes to it,” she revealed. “I was like, ‘Wait, I didn’t remember listening to this song,’ and then I was like, ‘Oh, because I would put it on and then I would fall asleep on a plane.’”
While she didn’t intend to crown the British singer-songwriter her top artist on Spotify Wrapped, she still appreciates him as an artist.
“He’s great,” LaRosa said. “I feel like we’re in a similar lane and he’s a very cool artist.”
Mckenna Grace
The singer and Ghostbusters actress shares a similar conundrum with LaRosa.
“You know what? My top artists were Cigarettes After Sex and Deftones because I sleep to both of those artists,” Grace told Us. “That’s my music that I turn on at night and I’ll fall asleep to.”
Chris Olsen and Ryan Trainor
Like many celebs, Olsen’s Spotify Wrapped was dominated by Swiftie-mania.
“My top artist was Taylor Swift again,” the media personality told Us. The second was Billie Eilish, though. I think it was almost, it was probably close with the two.”
As Olsen shared his answer, his friend and tourmate shook his head in embarrassment at his own top artist lineup.
“I’m laughing at mine,” Trainor told Us. “Like, Drake and Yeat. I gotta go.”
Mark Ambor
While he admitted that he hasn’t done his Spotify Wrapped quite yet, he predicted that his top artists would be Coldplay or Royel Otis.
“I want to see them so bad,” he told Us of the latter. “Their song ‘Oysters in My Pocket,’ I’m, like, obsessed with it. So good.”
Alex Warren
Lucky for Warren, he got to see many of his top artists of the year at iHeartRadio’s Z100 Jingle Ball — but the singer at the very top of his list was Noah Kahan.
“I know, I’m sorry. Basic bitch,” he joked to Us. “Quite literally, every car ride, I don’t listen to a lot of music, but I’ll listen to Noah, Benson [Boone], Teddy [Swims], those guys. Mark, too, I listen to Mark’s music a lot. Mark Ambor.”
Erin Lichy
When it comes to music, the RHONY star likes to stick to the classics.
“I don’t check [my Spotify Wrapped] because I’m the worst. I don’t have time,” she revealed to Us before guessing who she thought her top artist would be. “Well, my kids use my Spotify, so probably their music, but I’m really into classic rock. Again, I go through phases, so I’m on a Tracy Chapman kick.”
Dasha
The country pop singer is just like other girls — and she’s not ashamed of it.
“I actually didn’t do mine. I think I ran out of time,” she told Us. “I would guess it’s Sabrina [Carpenter], Chappell [Roan] and Gracie [Abrams], like every girl ever in the U.S. right now, so I’m one of them.”
Mormons Ruled TV in 2024: From 'DWTS' to 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives'
Reality TV was at its best in 2024, and Us has just one request going into the new year: more Mormons, please.
Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives debuted with a bang in September, joining Dancing With the Stars and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City in representing Utah on the small screen. Viewers were quickly captivated by the MomTok influencers featured on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, including Taylor Frankie Paul, who previously sparked interest with her soft swinging scandal long before cameras started rolling on the Hulu series.
“We’re not all swingers,” costar Whitney Leavitt exclusively told Us Weekly in September, joking that she “just took the clout” from Taylor’s scandal despite not being directly involved.
Fellow MomTok personality Mayci Neely doubled down on the swinger denial but noted that there’s more to Mormon culture than meets the eye. “You can be Mormon and wear a crop top and leggings as well,” she said. ”You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be the stereotypical Mormon that people think we’re all supposed to be.”
What ‘RHOSLC’ Stars Have Said About ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives certainly showed a different side of women in Salt Lake City — but it’s not the only reality show putting the LDS lifestyle front and center. Scroll down for a look at how Mormons stole the TV spotlight in 2024:
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
RHOSLC has brought its A-game since the beginning, but something shifted at the end of season 4. The bombshell finale aired in January and showed what might go down in history as the Housewives dinner to end all dinners. Heather Gay designed her very own Bermuda Triangle as the women wrapped up their tropical vacation with a dramatic confrontation. “Receipts, proof, timelines, screenshots. F—ing everything” was brought to the table, revealing Monica Garcia was one of the masterminds behind the social media account Reality Von Tease.
The drama continued in a three-part reunion special — which even included a Mean Girls-inspired Burn Book — and kept Us on the edge of our seats before the show returned for season 5 in September. Monica didn’t come back with her fellow Housewives, but a few new faces joined the ranks: Bronwyn Newport and Britani Bateman.
The stakes have been higher than ever throughout season 5 — and even the husbands are getting involved in fighting their spouses’ battles. Heather gave Us some exclusive insight into how the season ends, teasing in December that the finale is “better than Bermuda.” Sign Us up.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Hulu introduced Us to MomTok in September, and our lives have never been the same. This show has everything — TikTok dances, soft swinging, a devout Mormon threatening to divorce his wife if she goes to a Chippendales performance. One Mormon influencer considers taking a sponsorship deal for a vibrator, while another admits to trying ketamine therapy. And yes, the “Utah curls” are basically a character in and of themselves.
The series was quickly renewed for a second season and caught the attention of some other famous Mormons. “If you’re wondering what the blue coat [from the opening credits] is in the Mormon Church, there’s literally nothing that that has to do with,” Lindsay Arnold, a DWTS pro from Utah, joked in a September TikTok video sharing her reaction to the reality show.
Why Are So Many 'DWTS' Pros Mormon? Utah Ballroom Culture Explained
Sister Wives star Janelle Brown, who was also born into a Mormon family, told Us in October that she did a “deep dive” into the lore of the Hulu series. “The Mormons I know, they’re so conservative,” she explained to Us. “They’re very salt of the earth, very traditional. These ladies are not traditional.”
Dancing With the Stars
Mormons have always had a prominent presence on the ABC ballroom dance competition, but the Utah connection was even more powerful during season 33, which began in September. Two months later, there were still eight dancers representing Utah on both the pro and troupe levels. “Utah gang in THE ballroom,” troupe member Stephani Sosa captioned a TikTok video in November alongside her brother Ezra Sosa and more DWTS pros, including Jenna Johnson, Rylee Arnold and Brandon Armstrong.
Us previously dug into why there are so many DWTS pros with Mormon backgrounds, and for Armstrong, the answer is simple. “There’s nothing else to do,” he joked during an October podcast interview. “What else do you do? You talk about our biggest cities, like Salt Lake, ain’t nothing there. … You play sports, go to school, date super young — these guys get married when they’re 19, 20 years old — and then you dance.”
Sold on SLC
The Selling Sunset-esque reality show is new to Bravo’s rotation, having just premiered in December, but it’s already packing a punch. The first episode alone featured a cameo from RHOSLC star Lisa Barlow (complete with a joke about swingers) and a fight between colleagues about who does or doesn’t respect Mormons enough. While the world of real estate gets cutthroat in Salt Lake City, the tension is offset by footage of agents reading scripture with their kids and the network’s classic tongue-in-cheek editing. In some ways, Sold on SLC could even qualify as educational programming — who knew Mormon clients won’t show their homes to potential buyers on Sundays?
How Sold on SLC stacks up against other Mormon-inspired heavy hitters remains to be seen, but there’s definitely enough drama to keep Us tuning in.
Did Mickey Rourke Just Slam Timothee Chalamet's Portrayal of Bob Dylan?
Mickey Rourke seemingly criticized a portrayal of Bob Dylan just days before Timothée Chalamet takes on the rock legend.
“Bob Dylan was one of the most interesting people i’ve ever met,” Rourke, 72, wrote via Instagram on Monday, December 23 with a photo of the music icon. “But whoever was the actor who played Bob Dylan in ‘Portrain Bob Dylan’ the actor really sucked. Mickey,Dima & kids wuffwuffwuff.”
While Chalamet was not named, Rourke’s candid post comes days before the young actor’s new movie, A Complete Unknown, is released on Christmas Day.
In the film, Chalamet, 28, portrays Dylan, now 83, from the beginning of his career in 1960s New York to his famous electric guitar performance of “Like a Rolling Stone” at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
The Best Music Biopics of All Time: From ‘Selena’ to ‘Elvis’
One person who appeared more than excited about the casting and movie was Dylan himself.
“There’s a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!). Timothee Chalamet is starring in the lead role,” Dylan wrote via X on December 4. “Timmy’s a brilliant actor so I’m sure he’s going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me.”
Dylan explained that the film is taken from Elijah Wald’s Dylan Goes Electric — a book that came out in 2015.
“It’s a fantastic retelling of events from the early ‘60s that led up to the fiasco at Newport,” he added. “After you’ve seen the movie, read the book.”
Chalamet later expressed his gratitude for Dylan’s post by replying, “Floored. I am so grateful. Thank you Bob.”
As part of the role, Chalamet enlisted the help of a vocal coach before he sang and played guitar live on set. When speaking to Apple Music in November, the actor called the role “the most unique challenge I’ve taken on.”
While it’s unclear what Dylan thinks of Rourke’s latest Instagram post, he previously expressed awe at his work on the big screen.
In his memoir titled Chronicles, Volume One, Dylan recalled seeing Rourke’s performance in Homeboy and shared how it made such an impact on his album Oh Mercy.
Timothee Chalamet Sings as Bob Dylan in ‘A Complete Unknown’ Biopic Trailer
“He could break your heart with a look,” Dylan wrote. “The movie traveled to the moon every time he came onto the screen. Nobody could hold a candle to him. He was just there, didn’t have to say hello or goodbye. Just seeing him act gave me the inspiration to cut the last two songs for this album.”
Us has reached out to Rourke’s team for comment.
A Complete Unknown hits theaters on Wednesday, December 25.
Meri Brown Spills ‘Sister Wives’ Secrets: Her Off Limit Topics and More
Meri Brown is giving Us an inside look behind the scenes of Sister Wives.
“There’s so many good memories,” Brown, 53, exclusively told Us Weekly in December. “When I sled down the hill and landed on the other side of the snow berm. I don’t even know what you call it.”
Meri has starred on the TLC series since its 2010 premiere alongside ex-husband Kody Brown, Janelle Brown, Christine Brown and Robyn Brown. While Meri has become a pro in front of the camera for the past 19 seasons, she confessed that the first day of filming took her by surprise.
“Just thinking of that very first scene when I was introduced, I didn’t expect the cameras to be there,” she recalled. “I didn’t know they were there. I would’ve been a little bit more prepped.”
Sister Wives' Kody Brown and Meri Brown's Relationship Highs and Lows
When the show began, Meri, Janelle, 55, Christine, 52, were all married to Kody, 55, and he was in the process of courting Robyn, whom he wed in 2014. However, their relationship dynamics have shifted a lot since then. Christine and Kody split in 2021 while Janelle and Kody called it quits the following year. While Meri prefers to be prepared for the camera, she teased that Kody is the one who would most likely be the “star of the blooper reel.”
“Just because of all the things that actually come out his mouth should be blooper,” she quipped.
While the Brown family have been open about their lives on screen, there are some topics Meri doesn’t like to broach on the show.
“I don’t like talking about or hearing other people talking about intimacy, PDA and finances,” she told Us. “I think finances is not a necessary conversation.”
As for who takes the longest to get ready, Meri admitted it’s a toss up between her or Robyn.
“I always take an hour and a half to get ready,” she confessed “Sometimes I’ve done it in 45, but that’s only when I’m staying at home.”
While Kody remains married to Robyn to this day, Janelle, Christine and Meri, (aka., the ex-wives club), have remained close as they continue to navigate life as a family. Meri shared that over the years her favorite family gatherings had to be Thanksgiving where all their children were in attendance. Meri and Kody share a son, Leon, 29. Kody is also the father of six kids: Logan, 30, Maddie, 29, Hunter, 27, Gabriel, 23, and Savannah, 20 whom he shares with Janelle. Kody and Christine also have six children together: Aspyn, 29, Mykelti, 28, Paedon, 26, Gwendlyn, 23, Ysabel, 21, and Truely, 14. With fourth wife Robyn, Kody shares son Solomon, 13 and daughter Ariella, 8. He also adopted Robyn’s little ones from her previous marriage: David, 24, Aurora, 22, and Breanna, 20. (Kody and Janelle were also parents of son Garrison who died in March at age 25.)
Us Is Here for Meri Brown Finding Her Voice in ‘Sister Wives’ Season 19
“As the kids got older, they would go off and do different things for different holidays,” Meri said. “But on Thanksgiving almost everybody was always there.”
Meri added that out of all the women on the show, Christine was the “best” cook but teased that she has also made “some not so good things too.”
Sister Wives airs on TLC Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
Chicago Med's Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut Teases Goodwin's Fate in Winter Premiere
Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut was just as surprised as Us by the Chicago Med season 10 midseason finale — and teased Sharon Goodwin’s fate will be shown during the winter premiere.
“All answers will be revealed,” Chestnut, 32, exclusively told Us Weekly while promoting her OWN holiday movie, Mistletoe & Matrimony, which premiered on December 14.
The actress, who plays Dr. Naomi Howard on Chicago Med, noted that viewers will definitely find out what happened to Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) during the show’s Wednesday, January 8, return.
During the midseason finale, which aired on November 20, Goodwin learned who her stalker was when she was cornered by her in the office. During their altercation, Goodwin was stabbed and began bleeding out. However, she made one last effort to get free after hearing Dr. Dean Archer (Steven Weber) outside her office door.
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As the elevator door began to close, Archer saw a bloodied Goodwin run out of the room and scream for help as the assailant came up behind her. The episode ended with Archer trying to go back up to help his longtime friend and boss.
“When I was reading it, I was like, ‘Oh no, what’s gonna happen?’” Chestnut recalled to Us of learning about Goodwin’s traumatic moments in the episode. “I’m literally on the edge of my seat asking for advanced copies of scripts and they’re like, ‘No.’”
Even though Chestnut didn’t get to see the scripts early, she told Us they were already shooting episode 14, so she knows what transpires. “All answers will be revealed soon,” she reiterated.
The TV star further teased, “There’s a lot more of Naomi in what that looks like. I’m trying to be vague, but there’s a lot more Naomi.”
S. Epatha Merkerson Says Sharon Is 'Giggly' Over Romance on 'Chicago Med'
Chestnut played coy about how Naomi might be involved in Goodwin’s story line but explained that her character will get more screen time the second half of the season. (Chestnut joined as student doctor Naomi at the end of season 9 and has since become a recurring character.)
“I can tease [that] there will be some actual drama that Naomi gets involved with other characters outside of Dr. Archer and Dr. Lenox (Sarah Ramos),” she said. “That’s who Naomi’s, like, go-to people are, [but] there’ll be some drama outside of those two.”
Since becoming part of the ED, Naomi has worked closely with both Archer and Lenox, who split the duties of running the emergency department until the midseason finale. At that point, Goodwin appointed Lenox (who was new to their staff this year) as the sole leader.
The staffing switch is what led Archer to come up to Goodwin’s office during the November episode as he planned to resign.
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Naomi, for her part, has been put in the middle of Lenox and Archer all season as they butted heads over how to successfully run the ED. According to Chestnut, that push and pull won’t completely go away when the show returns.
“I am between Lenox and Dr. Archer [still]. There’s a little bit more of that,” she shared. “And you’ll see a little bit more of the relationship between Dr. Lenox and Naomi.”
Season 10 of Chicago Med returns on NBC Wednesday, January 8, at 8 p.m. ET.
Kelly Bensimon and More Celebs Share Trends They Want to Leave in 2024
Trends have a way of cycling back around, but there are certain fads the stars want to leave behind in 2024.
“The catsuit is here to stay,” RHONY alum Kelly Bensimon told Us Weekly exclusively at iHeartRadio’s Z100 Jingle Ball in New York City on December 13. “I just saw that on Alix Earle and I was like, ‘I like that.’”
Bensimon, 56, continued: “I wore that in the early ‘90s. I mean, I’m a little bit older than Alix. I don’t know if I’m going to be doing the Catwoman outfit.”
The catsuit isn’t the only trend making its way back into the pop culture-sphere. Skinny jeans and low-rise jeans have caused quite a stir, with Bensimon, Bachelor Nation’s Ashley Iaconetti and RHOC alum Meghan King all sharing conflicting opinions on the controversial denim fits.
To read the reality stars’ hot takes on fashion trends, plus what music stars like Dasha and Alex Warren want to leave in 2024 as we head into the new year, watch the exclusive video above or keep scrolling:
Keke Palmer and More Stars Share What’s on Their 2024 ‘Hot’ and ‘Not’ List
Kelly Bensimon
You know, I’m loving skinny jeans. I’ve always loved the skinny jean. My daughters are like, “Mom, it’s never coming back.” You know, I actually said, I was like, “Bringing the skinny jeans back is like making Real Housewives of New York a thing.” And I love the skinny jean, and I want them to be a thing, they’re just not a thing. But they will hopefully be a thing. So, in the spirit of the skinny jean, let’s bring Real Housewives to, like, the real deal, and we’re gonna be smokin’ hot for 2025.
I mean, honestly, the skinny jean is the only jean that actually makes you look like a smokeshow. It’s cute to wear a bigger jean, but if you want to be a smoking hot girl, you’re wearing a skinny jean or a legging. Sorry, I like leggings too.
Ashley Iaconetti
It’s not so much a trend of 2024 that I would like to leave behind, but I just want to make sure that skinny jeans don’t ever come back. I really, really hate them. I hated them when they were popular for, like, 15 years, and I know there’s some people who are trying to get them to come back. No. Please no.
Oh, the low-rise jeans, I tried them. And unfortunately for me, I tried them two months postpartum, and I regretted it absolutely immediately. And I think even if I wasn’t two months postpartum, I would’ve been like, absolutely not.
Skinny Jeans Are Back and Younger Stars Aren’t on Board
Meghan King
Trends to leave behind in 2024, I would say, I don’t know, low-rise jeans. I want them up high. That’s where they belong.
Isabel LaRosa
Any trend I want to leave behind? Just hating on people for no reason. If it doesn’t directly affect your life, don’t say anything about it. I think it’s annoying. Just be nice. It’s not that hard. God.
Alex Warren
Honestly, the thing I’m trying to get rid of is when people are in the way-left lane driving, it’s a fast lane. Go fast, and if you’re not going fast, move over! You know? I feel like that’s proper etiquette. I’d like to leave that behind.
Dasha
Dating guys that are uglier than you. That’s a trend I’d like to leave behind.
Every Celeb Who Has Joined Saturday Night Live’s 5-Timers Club
Saturday Night Live has featured several celebrity hosts throughout its nearly 50-year run, but only a select few have joined the show’s coveted Five-Timers Club.
Tom Hanks became the club’s first official member upon its creation in 1990, though several stars such as Steve Martin, Danny DeVito, Drew Barrymore, Justin Timberlake and Melissa McCarthy have each hosted SNL five or more times over the years. Upon reaching the entertainment milestone, each member is presented with the club’s iconic velvet robe.
While the honor is usually bestowed upon the show’s hosts, several musical guests have also appeared on the NBC sketch series five or more times, including Paul Simon and Jack White.
Emma Stone became the show’s youngest (at 35) Five-Timer Club inductee in December 2023. “Emma, this is your day. You’re part of SNL herstory,” fellow member Candice Bergen quipped, making a special cameo.
Scroll down to see every SNL celebrity host who has joined the Five-Timers Club:
Former One Direction Members: Where Are They Now?
The One Direction days are over, but Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik have continued to make music — and headlines — over the years.
After forming and finishing in third place on the U.K.’s version of The X Factor in 2010, One Direction released four successful studio albums — Up All Night, Take Me Home, Midnight Memories and Four. Following five years as a group, however, Malik was the first to leave the band, announcing his departure in March 2015.
Horan, Payne, Styles and Tomlinson went on to release a fifth album, Made in the A.M., without Malik. Shortly after the record dropped, however, the remaining band members announced they were taking an extended hiatus. Less than a year later, Us Weekly broke the news in that the foursome decided “not to renew their recording contract,” ultimately calling it quits as a band.
In October 2024, Payne died at age 31.
Scroll through for an update on where the former 1D stars are today:
Top 10 Craziest Holiday Movie Plots of 2024: A Snowman With Abs and More
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.
Hallmark's ‘Countdown to Christmas’ Kicks Off This Weekend: Full Schedule
“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.
Tori Spelling Details Sons’ 'Porn Massacre' Elf on the Shelf Mishap
Tori Spelling confessed giving her four eldest children free reign over their Elf of the Shelf activities this year resulted in a few NSFW moments.
“I like to do very creative things,” Spelling, 51, said on the Monday, December 23, episode of her “MisSpelling” podcast. “I always say our elves are a little naughty. They’re mischievous. … But my kids went next level.”
The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum explained that she asked her kids Liam, 17, Stella, 16, Hattie, 13, and Finn, 12, to trade off setting up the holiday elves for their youngest brother, Beau, 7.
While she said her daughters were “very creative” and “very artsy” with their choices, the boys took it up a notch.
Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott's Family Album Through the Years
“The boys do it and they’re like, ‘Sex, love and rock and roll, minus the love,’” Spelling said with a laugh.
She recalled one specific incident when Liam was in charge that left her shocked. When she woke up one morning, Beau told her there was a “problem” and the elves needed “help” so she investigated.
“I walk into the kitchen and the elves are there and there’s some porn massacre going on there. It was like Elfie Does Dallas,” Spelling quipped, referring to the 1978 pornographic movie Debbie Does Dallas.
The actress, who shares her children with ex-husband Dean McDermott, said she couldn’t believe her eyes.
“The elves were all doing various things to each other,” she explained, noting there are four elves and a reindeer. “Mouths on different areas. Hands where they shouldn’t be. Some were upside down, all around.”
Spelling said the scene also included “beef sticks and cheese sticks pulled out of the refrigerator for school snacks” as well as ranch dressing and oil from the kitchen. “It was like OnlyElves,” she chuckled, comparing it to the online subscription service OnlyFans.
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The Troop Beverly Hills star admitted she instantly knew Liam was the culprit. “It’s funny. I’m not going to lie, I laughed. But it was like, ‘Wow,’” she said.
After Beau told her that the elves had “real problems,” she replied, “Yeah, big sex addictions.” Spelling laughed as she recounted the experience, calling it “crazy.”
Although Spelling told Liam and the rest of her brood to “cut back on the dirtiness,” the wholesome Elf on the Shelf experience didn’t last long.
Tori Spelling's Airbnb With 5 Kids Was 'Next Door to a Drug Den'
“There were some cute ones in between. Like, ‘Oh, they’re taking a marshmallow, chocolate bomb bath.’ Marshmallows and hot chocolate. It’s cute,” Spelling said, but when it circled back to Liam she got another wild scene.
She remembered coming downstairs and seeing the elves “all in a circle” with the reindeer in the middle. “I was like, ‘Oh man, Liam you’re a jerk.’”
When it comes to Finn’s prank with the elves, Spelling recalled him putting the reindeer in a skillet and asking, “How do you like your reindeer? Rare, medium or well done?” He later tried to “pull out the cheese grater” to “shred their clothes,” but Spelling shut it down.
She teased that “poor Beau” has seen a lot this year with the Elf of the Shelf but insisted he’s OK.
'Virgin River' Cast Talk Mel and Jack's Wedding, That Striptease and More
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.”
'Virgin River' Showrunner Explains Season 6 Ending, Teases What's to Come
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.
Everything to Know About ‘Virgin River’ Season 6
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.”
Virgin River is now streaming on Netflix.