Julia Stiles is singing the praises of her 10 Things I Hate About You costar Heath Ledger years after his untimely death.
“He was amazing,” Stiles, 43, exclusively told E! News in an interview published on Tuesday, January 14. “He was such a bright light.”
While Stiles gushed that she and all of her costars had “such a good time and were close on that set” of the 1998 film, she recalled there being something different about Ledger’s interactions. “He just walked into the room and lit it up,” she said.
Stiles, who’s first-ever starring role was in the beloved romantic comedy, said Ledger “was very kind and generous to me.”
“Which you know, when you’re an actress in your first leading role in a big studio movie, you need to feel comfortable with the other person,” Stiles said. “And he was very generous that way.”
Stiles and Ledger played high school love interests in the film, which also starredJoseph Gordon-Levitt (Cameron James), Gabrielle Union (Chastity), Allison Janney (Ms. Perky), David Krumholtz (Michael Eckman), Larisa Oleynik (Bianca Stratford), Andrew Keegan (Joey Donner) and Susan May Pratt (Mandella).
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Ledger died at age 28 in 2008 following an accidental drug overdose. The toxicology report released at the time showed that Ledger died from “acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine.”
While recalling filming with Ledger, Stiles said her character Kat Strafford’s paintball date with Heath’s Patrick Verona was “really, really fun.” Stiles also noted that the scene where Kat read her poem out loud in class elicited an emotional reaction.
“The scene where I read the poem, I did not expect to start crying or tearing up or choking up, whatever,” Stiles recalled. “But it just happened because the movie was coming to an end, the production was coming to an end. And I think I was just so moved by the whole experience.”
In the years following the release of 10 Things I Hate About You, Stiles revealed to Us Weekly in 2019 that her memories from the movie are slipping away.
“I have so many great memories from that movie that are fading because it has been 20 years,” Stiles said. “But it was just such a special time where we were all so excited.”
She added, “It was my first big job and I really loved that part because I hadn’t seen the character of a teenage girl so feisty before and that just felt really refreshing and I was really, really happy to be a part of it.”
LaPaglia, 25, opened up about her breakup with Zach Bryan while stunning on the magazine’s cover, which launched on Wednesday, January 14. For her photo shoot, she rocked a number of sexy bikinis, beaded swimsuits, plunging one pieces and more.
Photographed by Katherine Goguen at The Austin Estate, LaPaglia first wore a black Christopher Esber design featuring a deep V-neck, a halter top and an open back. She wrapped her hands around her stomach and chest while posing for the camera in the sand. For glam, she donned mascara, manicured eyebrows and glossy lined lips. She crimped her honey blonde strands to fit the beachy aesthetic.
Next, she changed into a brown swimsuit that accented her bronzed skin. The beaded design, by Tropic of C. Top by Andres Otalora, hugged her curves as she wore a trial printed top underneath.
LaPaglia also wore a silky gold design that exposed her bellybutton and sideboob, as well as a snakeskin SAME Los Angeles halter top and cheeky bottoms.
In the article, the “BFFs” podcast cohost got candid about Bryan, 28, revealing he told her in May 2024 that if she hosted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s 60th anniversary celebration red carpet, it would come off as “trashy” and off-brand.
Now that she’s made her steamy debut on the magazine’s cover, LaPaglia quipped that her photoshoot “is just, on a petty level, my favorite f— you.” She quipped, “This is me, and I wanted to do this, and now I’m on the digital cover.”
LaPaglia continued, “It’s a lot more than me looking quote-unquote hot in a swimsuit — it’s me reclaiming who I am as a woman, reclaiming my body and my decisions and my choices.” She added, “This cover is me being me again and taking control of my life. This is my body; my body isn’t that experience, and even though I’m not 100% in it right now, this is me. This doesn’t have anything to do with anybody else.”
The influencer, who split with Bryan in October 2024 after more than a year of dating, spilled that the singer was allegedly emotionally abusive and controlling while they dated. LaPaglia also claimed that Bryan offered her $12 million and an apartment in New York City if she stayed silent about what happened during their relationship. (He hasn’t publicly commented on the breakup since his initial statement. Us has reached out multiple times for comment.)
Zach Bryan and Brianna LaPaglia attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Refusing to take the money and opening up about her experience, LaPaglia became a spokesperson for women who went through similar situations.
“I think people do tend to forget I’m just 25,” LaPaglia said about the “overwhelming” response she received after opening up about her relationship.
“It’s really overwhelming to feel the pressure of being a role model on top of everything in my life being very public, because at the end of the day, I’m still just a girl trying to figure her life out.”
During the Tuesday, January 14, episode of the “Dinner’s On Me” podcast, Bates, 76, said the executive producer “rejuvenated” her career after he cast her in his FX anthology series American Horror Story.
“Right before he gave me the opportunity to do the show, I had breast cancer and [my show] Harry’s Law had been cancelled rather unpleasantly,” Bates told host Jesse Tyler Ferguson. “When that summer happened, it was degrading.”
Bates recalled feeling “kind of humiliated” at the time, adding, “I felt like I had let my cast down and had never been through an experience like that. And then breast cancer, which does run in my family, so I wasn’t surprised.”
The actress wasn’t sure whether she would book more roles before Murphy, 59, came along.
“But, it was more painful than I thought it was going to be,” she noted. “And I really felt like this is my career over.”
Kathy Bates in ‘Matlock’Sonja Flemming/CBS
Bates appeared on season 3 of American Horror Story as Delphine LaLaurie before returningfor three more installments of the anthology series. She last appeared in season 8 as Miriam Mead and she has since struck gold with CBS reboot of Matlock.
“I remember calling my agents and saying, ‘I think maybe I want to go into, if not retirement, semi-retirement. If I can’t afford to keep my house, I’ll sell it and maybe go to New York,’” Bates told People in October 2024 about hitting a lull. “Then this happened. I couldn’t believe it.”
Despite fan concerns that Matlockwould be her final project, Bates denied that she was done with acting.
“I think people got confused and thought I was going to retire,” she added at the time. “What I meant was, how can it get any better? I would love for this to keep going.”
Bates currently plays Madeline “Matty” Matlock on the hit CBS series, which premiered in September 2024 to critical acclaim. Despite sharing the same last name as the iconic Matlock from the ’80s, Matty was introduced as a former lawyer hoping to get hired at a prestigious law firm after falling on hard times.
It was later revealed, however, that it was all an act. Matty is actually the wealthy Madeline Kingston, who went undercover at the firm to track down who is responsible for her daughter’s death. The current suspects on Matty’s list include Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), Julian (Jason Ritter) and Senior (Beau Bridges) — all of whom could have had access to documents that would have taken opioids off the streets before her daughter died from an overdose.
“Certainly, I think that there’s a level of guilt, which is in the deep marrow of Matty. The fact that she feels tremendously guilty that she failed her child, and was unable to win the battle between the drugs and her child’s future, no matter what she did,” Bates told Entertainment Weekly after the premiere. “And also the level of, she’s been grieving for 10 years and I think she spent the last couple of years with her grandson Alfie cooking up this plan and using their wits. And I think all of that level of excitement and joy of working with him and finding that he was very passionate about bringing those people to justice that killed his mother.”
Months and months ago, I decided to stop getting my nails done. There were a few motives for my decision, one being the price and two being the nail damage. I also get impatient sitting for long periods of time, so that was likely part of it! Getting my nails done every three weeks was something I could justify until I realized that I could do a better job myself — with zero experience.
And no, I’m not a nail whiz or a shockingly artistic individual. (Actually, I probably fall on the opposite side of the spectrum!) But you don’t have to be gifted in art to get a long-lasting salon-quality manicure. I tried this Daisy DND Gel Polish Set on Amazon and haven’t looked back! My nails, pocketbook and busy schedule are much happier since I switched.
This polish is made without formaldehyde, xylene, triphenyl phosphate and other harmful ingredients that are hard to pronounce as well as animal-derived ingredients, a major bonus for Us ingredient-conscious folks. You never know what you’re getting at the salon! Without all the chemicals, my nails are much stronger and healthier after removal, which only takes about 10 minutes.
The set comes with a matching gel polish and nail lacquer, both of which last much longer than regular polish; the gel polish (when applied correctly) doesn’t chip, has an ultra-glossy finish and shines from a mile away. Plus, the vibrant color lasts for up to three weeks! I constantly use my hands, so I get closer to two, but still . . . it’s much better than regular polish that chips the first day — or the first hour.
You need the DND Base Gel, Top Gel and an LED lamp to use this set, so be sure to have those before you start. Once you have the proper setup, your salon-grade manicures will cost pennies on the dollar! There are endless colors to choose from, but I love the DND collection for winter. You can also check out the Diva and DC collections for a twist!
And it’s not just me who loves this polish. Over 11,000 reviewers on Amazon give it five stars, calling it “perfect”, “bold” and “just like the salon”, one writing that it’s “worth every penny”. Salons use this brand, too, so it’s quite literally like the salon! Many reviewers buy multiple bottles of their favorites, but I’m in an experimental phase, trying as many different colors as I can. It makes sense why people are obsessed!
Get the DND Gel Pink Collection Polish Set for $17 on Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, January 15, 2024, but are subject to change.
Not what you’re looking for? Shop other nail polish on Amazon and don’t forget to shop Amazon’s Daily Deals here!
Myka and James Stauffer made a name for their family on YouTube, but everything drastically changed after they rehomed their adopted son, Huxley.
The couple adopted Huxley from China in 2017 when he was 2 years old. Myka and James also share children Kova, Jaka, Radley and Onyx, who were not adopted. The entire Stauffer family was featured in videos shared via their YouTube channel, which documented their daily lives together.
Huxley was eventually diagnosed with autism after his adoption, and fans grew concerned when they noticed he was no longer appearing in new videos. In 2020, Myka and James made an emotional confession explaining that they rehomed Huxley because they struggled to provide him with the proper care.
While the Stauffers were adamant Huxley was in a better place with a new family, they faced backlash from fans following the incident. Myka and James subsequently deleted their YouTube channel.
Despite their step away from the spotlight, the Stauffer scandal is taking center stage again thanks to the HBO docuseries An Update on Our Family, which explores Huxley’s rehoming and the family vlogging industry.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the Stauffer family’s controversy:
Courtesy of Myka Stauffer/Instagram
What Tipped Off Fans About Huxley?
In April 2020, fans noticed in a video on James’ individual channel, Stauffer Garage, that Huxley’s car seat was missing from the backseat of his vehicle. When viewers inquired about Huxley’s whereabouts, the comments were allegedly deleted. Myka and James also changed the viewing settings for their videos with Huxley from public to private.
What Did the Stauffers Say About Reversing the Adoption?
In a May 2020 video, Myka and James revealed that Huxley had found a “new mommy” and a “forever home” that could better care for him.
“Once Huxley came home, there were a lot more special needs that we weren’t aware of and that we were not told. So over the past few years, Huxley has been in numerous therapies to try and help him with all of his needs. Over the last year has been the more intense therapy to try and help him as much as possible,” James said in the video. “For us, it’s been really hard hearing from the medical professionals. A lot of their feedback [has been] really upsetting for us, because it’s not what we ever wanted to hear. We never wanted to be in this position, and we’ve been trying to get his needs met and help him out as much as possible.”
Myka, for her part, shared that she and James loved Huxley and tried their “hardest” to be the best parents they could for him.
“Do I feel like a failure as a mom? Like, 500 percent,” she said. “So when I get insidious, hurtful comments, it just, like, really makes it hurt worse. It’s not about me at all, but … the last couple of months have been the hardest thing I could’ve ever imagined.”
Courtesy of Myka Stauffer/Instagram
Were the Stauffers Investigated?
Us Weekly confirmed in June 2020 that law enforcement was looking into Huxley’s welfare after news broke that Myka and James placed him with another family. The authorities shared in a press release at the time that “all adoption cases are confidential,” so there are “legal requirements that must be adhered to,” including “home studies as well as background checks.”
One month later, the case against Myka and James was closed and charges were not filed. Authorities met with Huxley’s new adopted parents and found that the toddler seemed to be “very happy and well taken care of,” per a report obtained by Us at the time.
Courtesy of Myka Stauffer/Instagram
What Are the Stauffers Doing Now?
After facing backlash from rehoming Huxley, the family deleted their YouTube channel. Myka has not been active on social media, but her last Instagram post featured an apology to the adoption community.
“We did not adopt a child to gain wealth. While we did receive a small portion of money from videos featuring Huxley and his journey, every penny and much more went back into his care,” she wrote in June 2020. “Secondly, we are not under any type of investigation. I’m hoping to share more from my side of the story soon. And lastly, I’m so sorry for letting you down.”
James, for his part, continues to run his Stauffer Garage page where he shares videos of his various automobile projects.
Simone Biles treated herself to a timeless Birkin bag.
Biles, 27, took to Instagram on Tuesday, January 15, to show off the latest Hermès Birkin she purchased. The gymnast shared an unboxing video, where an employee pulled the accessory out of a dust bag. Biles zoomed in on the purse, which featured a brown body, white stitching, gold hardware and tan embellishments. The Birkin, which had small structured handles, retails for $34,000, per Maison de Luxe.
“,” Biles captioned the post. “Treated myself to a new lil baby while in New York.” She continued, gushing over her husband, Johnathan Owens, “Johnathan came for emotional support, baby I was sweaaaating.”
While this is possibly the largest purchase Biles has made, she’s also the proud owner of an Hermès Kelly bag.
Biles showed off her sleek black Kelly bag while posing with Owens, 29, on a date night in New York City on Monday, January 13. Her bag featured small hand straps and a single long crossbody hook. The design, which retails for $30,000, was complete with silver hardware.
Courtesy of Simone Biles/Instagram
While the accessory is the epitome of elegance, Biles dressed it down with a white zip-up hoodie and charcoal baggy jeans festooned with tiered fringe. She added the perfect amount of sparkle with a silver “JO” ring, Owens’ initials, dainty necklaces and a hand chain.
Owens, for his part, coordinated in a black bomber jacket, dark pants and a graphic white T-shirt. He teamed his look with a chain necklace and a flashy watch.
Her Kelly bag is perhaps the same one that she splurged on after becoming the most decorated gymnast of all time during the 2024 summer Paris Olympic games. While shopping, she shared pics of printed Birkins, a brown crocodile-skin Kelly and more. She later teased the purchase by snapping a pic of her orange Hermès shopping bag.
Born in 1978 to parents Sheila Kinnard and Judge C. Darnell Jones, who are divorced, Sheinelle is one of five siblings, two of whom are twins. She later welcomed her own set of twins, Clara and Uche, as well as son Kayin with husband Uche Ojeh, whom she wed in 2007.
While several of Sheinelle’s relatives joined her on Today over the years, she announced in January 2025 that she was taking time off from the NBC morning show to “deal with a family health matter.” She did not specify which family member was affected by the health concern at the time.
“It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my Today show family, but to also have all of you,” she told fans via Instagram after being absent from the show for more than a week. “Your kindness means so much to me.”
Several of Sheinelle’s Today colleagues showed their support in the post’s comments. “You are a queen and are LOVED beyond measure! Wrapping our arms around you, always ,” Jenna Bush Hager wrote, while Savannah Guthrie commented, “We love you so. not the same without you. we will see you soon .”
Scroll down to get to know Sheinelle’s family members:
Judge C. Darnell Jones
Courtesy of Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
Sheinelle’s dad began his career in 1987 as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia, per his bio on the University of Pennsylvania’s law school website. Throughout his renowned career as a judge, C. Darnell served as President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, was appointed the Chair of the Administrative Governing Board of the First Judicial District by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and acted as an adjunct law professor at schools such as St. Joseph’s University’s Graduate School, Temple University School of Law, The National Institute for Trial Advocacy and UPenn.
C. Darnell was nominated to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by former President George W. Bush (a.k.a. Bush Hager’s dad) and was sworn in to the role in 2008. Sheinelle revealed via Instagram in November 2022 that her dad retired after 35 years as a judge upon turning 73.
She, her siblings and their respective spouses and kids got together to surprise C. Darnell with a family reunion for his 75th birthday in November 2024. “This might be the best surprise ‘The Jones Siblings’ have pulled off yet!” she captioned an Instagram video of their gathering. “My father had no idea we were rolling into town, complete with pillows and air mattresses to crash! Haha – Happy 75th Birthday to the best father & pop pop .”
Sheila Kinnard
Courtesy of Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
Like her ex-husband, Sheinelle’s mother is also retired after working as a drama teacher at the Mayberry Cultural Fine Arts Middle School, according to her bio on The Forum Theater’s website. “She now fills her days with reading and running around to stay busy,” Sheila’s bio reads. “Audiences have enjoyed her talents since 1998 in many shows and musicals with various companies here in Wichita. She lives by her motto: ‘Expect the best and the best is what you’ll get.’”
Sheinelle shared a sweet birthday tribute to her mom via Instagram in July 2024. “To the woman who has ALWAYS patiently answered my questions or addressed my needs … even when we were supposed to be taking a picture! (Now I can ask all of the questions I want, for a living! Ha),” she captioned pics of the two of them from over the years. “I am so thankful for you! Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!!”
Antonia Thomas and Fernando Jones
Courtesy of Antonia Jones Thomas/Instagram
All four of Sheinelle’s siblings crashed an episode of the third hour of Today in April 2019, acting as models for a fashion segment. Twins Antonia and Fernando showed off their looks together, much to Sheinelle’s surprise and delight. While not much is known about Fernando, Antonia shares three kids with her husband, Clifton.
Cardozie Jones and Keesha Williams
NBC
Like Fernando, Sheinelle’s eldest sibling, Keesha, keeps her social media private. However, Sheinelle revealed to Today.com in December 2018 that Keesha has five kids. “I always say, ‘Keesha, Keesha, Keesha,’ instead of ‘Marcia, Marcia, Marcia,” Sheinelle joked on Today in April 2019.
According to his Instagram, Sheinelle’s brother Cardozie has been married to his husband, Dewey Fleszar, since 2018. “Our entire relationship can be defined by moments like these: walking down streets we love, talking about our hopes and dreams for the future. Let’s never stop,” he captioned an Instagram photo of the two of them in May 2023. “Happy Anniversary Dewey. I love you.”
Jo Brown
Courtesy of Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
Sheinelle credits her maternal grandmother with helping her excel in school by making her read street signs while driving around together during her childhood. “I remember coming home one day in middle school and I was like, ‘Oh man, English is easy,’” she told MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski in March 2020. “And the next day, [my grandmother] walks with me to class and talks to the principal. And next thing you know, I’m in AP English.”
Sheinelle showed off four generations of the women in her family in a sweet July 2024 Instagram video. “Come on, Mom!” Sheinelle, her daughter, Clara, and her mom each said while walking past the camera in matching green outfits. The clip ended with Jo walking into frame, stating, “I’m coming!”
Uche Ojeh
Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF
Sheinelle met her husband while studying at Northwestern University and the two tied the knot after several years of dating in 2007. “Happy birthday Uche. To think it all started right here at Northwestern … 25 years ago ,” she wrote in a February 2023 Instagram birthday tribute to Uche. “Then marriage a decade later … Then baby #1. Then #2 & #3. Moving to NYC … and 10,000 games, music and dance lessons later … We’re just getting started. Happy Birthday.”
In a February 2024 Instagram birthday tribute, Sheinelle wrote: “I’ve had a crush on you since I was 19 … and I still do.”
Kayin
Courtesy of Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
Sheinelle and Uche became parents with the birth of their eldest child, son Kayin, in August 2009. Kayin seemingly shares his mom’s passion for journalism, as he interviewed Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney for NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt: Kids Edition in March 2021.
Kayin served as Sheinelle’s date at the 2024 White House holiday party, which they attended with Bush Hager, Guthrie and their kids. “Thank you @whitehouse – for a magical night,” Sheinelle captioned Instagram pics from their night out, during which they posed for a photo with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. “To be here with my oldest son and work friends -who are more like family at this point … it was a night I hope he will cherish forever.”
Clara and Uche
Courtesy of Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
Sheinelle and Uche’s fraternal twins were born in July 2012. “With all three of my children, I try to show them that they’re ALL a team, and they have to take care of each other,” Sheinelle wrote of parenting three kids in a June 2015 Today.com essay. “At the same time, I’m learning that they each like to know they’re special on their own. They will often come to me for individual affirmation and then head back into the ‘group’ ready to play as a team.”
The Today host enjoyed a special day with her twins at the US Open in August 2023, at which Clara and Uche served as the “ball kids” for a kick-off pickleball game. “Fun night of fellowship before these guys get down to the real business! ,” she captioned Instagram pics of herself and her kids posing with pros such as Venus Williams, Holger Rune and Ons Jabeur.
Kate Middleton just showed Us how she’s doing the burgundy bag trend this winter — and we found a $70 lookalike so we can get the look too!
The Princess of Wales was just recently spotted at the Royal Marsden Hospital on January 14, 2025 in London, England. Knowing all eyes would be on her during the visit, she wore an outfit that basically said “I’m back and I’m better,” after revealing that her cancer is fully in remission via an Instagram post. She style an outfit that consisted of two of this season’s biggest trends, chocolate brown and burgundy, and made it look attainable for us to get too.
Her whole trench coat, sweater and slip skirt look was a full slay, but we couldn’t take our eyes away from her mini bag. We’re loving the burgundy bag trend right now and Middleton’s look showed us how to do it in a simple, posh and timeless way. It’s currently unclear as to where she got her royal pick, but luckily we can still wear the style for ourselves with this lookalike version on Amazon — just $70.
Get the LA FESTIN Leather Top Handle Satchel Purse for just $70 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, January 15, 2025, but are subject to change.
Looking exactly like something you’d see hanging in Middleton’s dreamy closet is the LA FESTIN Leather Top Handle Satchel Purse. Just like her recent pick, the bag has a vintage-inspired design that consists of a small square silhouette, a flap over closure, gold detailing and a small strap. Helping justify its price point is quality cowhide leather fabric, which makes it highly durable, long-lasting and easy to clean.
The devil is always in the detail when it comes to purses though and we love the ones featured on this one. Not only does it have a small leather strap handle for when you simply want to carry it like a handbag, it also comes with a gold and leather strap that transforms it into a crossbody as well. It also has an ornate gold clasp on the front where it closes, which gives it that extra bit of royal flair.
This is one of those bags you carry for occasions you need only the essentials. It’s not going to be one of those styles you carry when you’re needing to take a book along for an afternoon (it won’t fit that). It’s a style that’s meant for date nights or quick outings where you only need things like your wallet, cellphone, keys and some lip gloss.
Have you been eyeing the burgundy bag trend but need it in something a little bit bigger? Or maybe you’re looking for a woven style? Check out our other favorite burgundy bag options below so you can find your new arm candy!
Jinger Duggarhas learned to have a “healthy relationship with food” after childhood struggles.
“I think, for me in particular, [my people-pleasing tendencies were] definitely something I was so insecure [about] for so many years, which led me to some bad places,” Duggar, 31, said during the Wednesday, January 15, episode of the “Unplanned” podcast. “Even with the way I was viewing eating and things like that. I struggled with, like, not eating enough and it was because I thought I was too fat — and I wasn’t.”
She added, “It was a thought process of wanting to belong and wanting to have those friendships that were genuine. At some point, we realized, ‘OK, well, we were designed for community. That’s a good thing, [and] we weren’t designed to live on an island by ourselves. We’re supposed to be in community with other people.’”
For Duggar, she was fearful of rejection and not being accepted by her peers. The Counting On alum also compared herself to others by the time she reached her teenage years.
“I was in the ages of, like, 13, 14, 15 [and] I had friends who naturally were super skinny and I would look at these girls and would compare myself to them,” Duggar recalled. “I was actually pretty skinny at that point. I wouldn’t gain weight easily, but I thought I might. It was that fear of just, like, ‘I wasn’t as skinny as them, but I was still healthy.’ It was that comparison that started to happen in my mind. I didn’t think properly about myself.”
Duggar continually thought she wasn’t “pretty enough” or “skinny enough” compared to her peers and slowly started trying to “avoid meals and things like that.”
(L-R) Jessa Duggar, Jinger Duggar, Jill Duggar, and Jana Duggar visit “Extra” at their New York studios at H&M in Times Square on March 11, 2014 in New York City.D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra
“I felt miserable because I was thinking, ‘OK, I don’t want to eat’ or I would think, ‘If I went to somebody else’s house, then I’d be [thinking about] what we were going to eat [and] am I going to have something that’s going to not make me fat?’” she said. “My entire day would be consumed with that thought.”
Jinger ultimately spoke with her mother, Michelle Duggar, since she struggled with bulimia as a teenager herself. (Jinger, who is one of Michelle and husband Jim Bob Duggar’s 19 children, did not battle bulimia.)
“I was able to go talk to her after many months of wrestling with this,” Jinger said. “When I talked to her, she was really sweet [about] the way she handled it. It was so helpful because she did not go from one extreme to the other, where she was just telling me, ‘OK, now you need to eat everything in sight.’ She didn’t force me to eat things that were unhealthy.”
Jinger continued, “She’s like, ‘Jinger, I really appreciate you telling me that,’ but she came up with a plan [to] ‘text me what you eat every day and I’d love to be accountable too, and I’ll text you what I eat.’”
Jinger found her mom’s support to be “so sweet” when she “was struggling so much.”
“I was so embarrassed by how I was struggling,” the reality TV personality admitted. “I didn’t want to open up to her, but I knew I could ‘cause she’s the sweetest person in the whole world.”
According to Jinger, Michelle, now 58, was also adamant that she ate enough protein and fiber.
“It was the most helpful thing for me because then I started to develop a healthy relationship with food,” Jinger explained. “It was something that I realized, ‘OK, yeah, when you struggle like that, she was telling me, it doesn’t mean [she would] force you to eat three cheeseburgers because you don’t need that. [It’s] just, ‘eat what you need to eat and that’s enough.’ It was helpful for me to process and she kept telling me, ‘You’re beautiful just the way God made you.’”
“I started to feel better [and had] more energy,” Jinger gushed. “Just enjoying life again because I wasn’t thinking about food and then when I got to somebody’s house and they had something I typically wouldn’t eat or it was super greasy or unhealthy, I’d be like, ‘I’m OK, I’m going to eat this and it doesn’t matter.’”
If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, visit the National Alliance for Eating Disorders website or call their hotline at +1 (866) 662-1235. Text “ALLIANCE” to 741741 for free, 24/7 support.
Renée Zellweger has finally revealed what she was really up to during her six-year acting hiatus.
The Jerry Maguire actress decided to take some time off in 2010, not appearing in another film until 2016. Zellweger, 55, admits she “needed” the break.
“I was sick of the sound of my own voice,” she said in a discussion with her Bridget Jones’s Diary costar Hugh Grant, published by British Vogue on Wednesday, January 15. “When I was working, I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, listen to you. Are you sad again, Renée? Oh, is this your mad voice?’ It was a regurgitation of the same emotional experiences.”
That’s not to say Zellweger sat around the house during her hiatus. She loaded her schedule with just about everything except for acting.
“I wrote music and studied international law,” she said. “I built a house, rescued a pair of older doggies, created a partnership that led to a production company, advocated for and fundraised with a sick friend, and spent a lot of time with family and godchildren and driving across the country with the dogs. I got healthy.”
Nikolai von Bismarck
Zellweger’s hiatus came on the heels of her starring in Case 39, a supernatural horror film that was panned by critics and struggled at the box office. Though she’s had far more success since then, including as Judy Garland in 2019 biopic Judy, she isn’t about to go running to social media to read reviews of her performances. She never has.
“I promise you. I’ve never looked at the box office or Rotten Tomatoes,” she said.
Zellweger added she doesn’t have X, doesn’t read reviews and has never googled herself, saying, “Why care? It’s none of my business.”
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, the fourth installment in the Bridget Jones series, is set for a February 13, 2025 release on Peacock. Zellweger and Grant also discussed how the films have endured since the original came out in 2001.
Nikolai von Bismarck
“What I think is, don’t you meet a lot of people who say, ‘I am Bridget Jones’!?” Zellweger asked. “I think maybe folks recognize themselves in her and relate to her struggles and feelings of self-doubt. Bridget is authentically herself and doesn’t always get it right, but whatever her imperfections, she remains joyful and optimistic, carries on and triumphs in her own way.”
She added, “She seems to make her quirky individuality and shortcomings charming, lovable and acceptable — and, in turn, she makes us feel lovable and acceptable too.”
See the full feature in the February issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 21st of January.
The next generation of Duggars are here and more are on the way — because 19 Kids and Counting just wasn’t enough.
It all started when Jim Bob Duggar andMichelle Duggar tied the knot in 1984 and started growing their family four years later. SinceJosh’s 1988 birth, the couple have welcomed twins John-David and Jana, Jill, Jessa,Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, twins Jeremiah and Jedidiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johanna, Jennifer, Jordan-Grace and Josie, in that order.
The same year that Jim Bob and Michelle welcomed Josie, their oldest became a parent for the first time. Josh and his wife, Anna Duggar (née Keller), had Mackynzie in 2009 — and they’ve added six more little ones to their brood since.
Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joy-Anna, Joseph, John-David, Josiah, Jeremiah and Jedidah have since all started families of their own.
Keep scrolling to meet the next generation of Duggars:
Jessa gave birth to her fifth baby in December 2023.
“Just when you think your heart can’t get any more full as a parent, you see your bigger kids loving on the newborn baby and your heart just swells with emotion. It’s the sweetest thing to witness,” she said in a YouTube video at the time.
Joy-Anna and her husband announced the birth of their third child in May 2023. "He’s here!" the duo wrote via Instagram at the time. "Thank you all for praying … Mama and baby are recovering well." A few days later, Joy-Anna revealed her son’s name and birthday in another Instagram upload.
“Gunner James Forsyth 💙. 5/17/23 — 8lbs 14oz,” she captioned a pic of her newborn. “Soaking up every moment. He is the sweetest lil man 🧸.”
Jeremiah and Hannah Duggar, who tied the knot in March 2022, announced in August of that year that they were expecting their first child. The couple welcomed their daughter, Brynley, in December 2022.
John-David and Abbie quietly welcomed their second child, a son, in September 2022.
“We are now a family of 4! We welcomed little 💙Charlie💙 into the world last month and have been soaking up newborn snuggles ever since,” the proud parents wrote via Instagram that October, sharing a snap with the infant and eldest daughter Grace. “We are so thankful to God for this precious gift!”
Jill and Derick welcomed their third son, Freddy, in July 2022. "Frederick was set to arrive later in July, but he decided he wanted to come a little early (the day before big brother Samuel’s birthday!), so we had our planned C-section a bit before originally planned," the couple wrote via their Dillard Family Blog shortly after the little one's birth.
Jed and his wife, Katey Natasku, announced the birth of their first child in May 2022. "He’s here! We love you so much, baby True!💙💙💙," Jed wrote via Instagram at the time, adding that Truett means "warrior for Christ" and Oliver means "peace."
"To say my heart is full is an understatement," Joy-Anna Duggar told Us in an August 2020 statement. "We have been dreaming of this day. ... She has her nights and days mixed up, but honestly, I love it! Getting to spend that quiet, quality time with her through the night has been SO special!"
Us broke the news in January 2020 that Abbie Duggar (née Burnett) and John-David Duggar’s first child had arrived. “Our lives have changed forever with the arrival of our baby girl,” the couple told Us at the time. “She’s is a beautiful gift from God. We are so blessed the Lord has given her to us. It’s still surreal to know that we are really parents but it’s a great new adventure that we are excited to take on together.”
“On Thanksgiving eve our hearts are overflowing with joy and gratefulness for the arrival of our sixth child! Maryella Hope arrived this morning at 9:12am. 8 pounds and 2 ounces, 20 inches long,” Josh and Anna told Us exclusively in November 2019. “Anna had a fast labor and delivery without complications. We are so thankful for a beautiful, healthy baby girl!”
“After a long and difficult labor, our girl arrived,” the Counting On couple told Us exclusively in November 2019. “When we finally got to see and hold our precious Bella Milagro, all the pain instantly went away. We can’t believe she is ours — she is so perfect! She definitely has lived up to her name which means ‘beautiful miracle.’ Today we are basking in God’s goodness.”
“Addison Renee has made us a family of four and we are already so in love with her!” Kendra and Joe told Us exclusively in November 2019. “She made a quick arrival in the early hours of the morning and has already melted our hearts. We know Garrett is going to be a great big brother. Children are each a special gift from God and we are so happy our newest blessing is here.”
"We’re so grateful to God for this precious gift," Jessa and Ben told Us exclusively when their daughter arrived in May 2019. "She is already so loved. Her big brothers adore her!”
“No matter how many times we’ve experienced the joy of babies born in our families, there’s nothing comparable to the joy in our hearts today,” Joe and Kendra Duggar told Us in a statement when their son arrived in June 2018. “Children truly are a gift from God. We are so thankful for his safe arrival and this new journey as parents.”
Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo exclusively confirmed to Us on July 19, 2018, that they welcomed their first child together. "God is so kind. Jinger gave birth to Felicity Nicole Vuolo this morning at 4:37 a.m.," Vuolo told Us in a statement. "Felicity weighs 8 lbs and 3 oz, and is 19.5 inches long. Both mom and baby are healthy, doing great, and resting well. We are very thankful for her safe arrival and look forward to life as parents!"
Jill Duggar Dillard and husband Derick Dillard welcomed their first child together in April 2015. The little one spent his first two years of life in Central America, where his parents were working for Dillard Family Ministries.
Jill and Derick welcomed their second child together, son Samuel Scott, in July 2017, shortly before they left Central America and returned to their native Arkansas.
“I just have to say something about Mark and Kelly,” Lucci, 78, said during Susan Lucci in Conversation with Andy Cohen: All My Children at 55 in New York City on Tuesday, January 14. “I was happy to be in the hair and makeup room watching their audition scenes, and we were all like, ‘Oh, get a room!’”
Ripa, 54, joined Lucci — and other former All My Children costars — for the appearance on Tuesday.
“The chemistry between you two was coming right through the screen,” Lucci told Ripa.
The future talk show host made her soap opera debut as Hayley Vaughan in 1990. Consuelos, 53, auditioned for the show in 1995 and was cast as Mateo Santos that same year. After meeting on set, the pair tied the knot in 1996 and said goodbye to their All My Children roles in 2002. (Both Ripa and Consuelos briefly returned to the soap opera in 2010.)
Despite their real-life chemistry, All My Children casting director Judy Blye Wilson told Andy Cohen on Tuesday that it was a hurdle getting Consuelos cast on the show.
“They couldn’t make a decision about Mark, and I was so behind him and I brought Kelly into my office, and I showed her a black and white picture of him and his headshot, and she really liked him, really,” Wilson recalled, noting that execs were “dragging their heels” when it came to making a decision about his part.
“They actually had him play the role, so he started playing the role, and I had to continue to search for another person,” Wilson recalled. “We screen-tested Mark several times. Finally, I begged the producer, and she relinquished, and it turned out to be the best, one of the best parts I ever cast.”
Ripa and Consuelos, who share three children together — Michael, 27, Lola, 23, and Joaquin, 21 — have continued to work together over the years. She appeared in a 2019 episode of Riverdale as Ms. Mulwray alongside Consuelos, who played Hiram Lodge from 2017 to 2023.
The couple have also cohosted Live with Kelly and Mark every morning since 2023, and because of their openness as duo, sex is often brought up on screen.
Ripa explained during a 2020 interview that meeting Consuelos “really young” allowed them to keep a healthy relationship after all these years.
“We learned each other well, and with that comes a certain level of comfort and confidence and experimentation,” she said on SiriusXM show Quarantined With Bruce at the time. “We have fun. We enjoy [each other].”
“René, we can’t believe you’ve been gone nine years already,” Dion, 56, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, January 14. “Not a day goes by that we don’t feel your presence, RC, Eddy, Nelson and I.”
Alongside her message, Dion shared a rare photo of her and their three kids: René-Charles, 23, and twins Eddy and Nelson, 14. The family smiled as they sat on an outdoor couch and posed in all-white attire.
“You were my greatest champion, my partner, and the one who always saw the best in me,” Dion concluded. “I honor you and you are forever missed mon amour…. We love you. — Celine xx…”
Dion and Angélil met in 1980 when she was 12 years old and he was married to Anne Renée, with whom he shared son Jean-Pierre and daughter Anne-Marie. The pair divorced in 1985. (He also shared son Patrick with first wife Denyse Duquette.)
Angélil went on to manage Dion’s career, and their relationship turned romantic in 1988. After keeping their relationship out of the spotlight until 1993, the couple tied the knot the following year. Angélil continued to manage Dion’s career until his retirement in 2014 after his diagnosis with throat cancer.
Angélil died at age 73 in 2016. “He will be remembered as a gentle man, generous and kind, an unprecedented visionary, a modern Pygmalion, a renaissance man,” Dion said in a statement shared via social media at the time. “All who had the privilege of knowing him and of working closely with him, whether personally or professionally, salute a leader and a man of great intelligence and wisdom.”
Dion, who publicly revealed her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome in 2022, has continued to honor her late husband through the years and shared an emotional Instagram post to commemorate the fifth anniversary of his death.
“There’s not one day that we don’t think about you,” she wrote in 2021. “We’re reaching out to you now more than ever, to guide us, protect us, and continue to watch over us. And we pray that you’ll shine your love on the entire world, to all those at this very moment, who are facing incredibly difficult times. You are in our hearts and in our lives forever.”
In December 2024, Dion remembered Angélil on what would have been their 30th wedding anniversary. “You still fill our hearts, every day. You are everything for us. We miss you so much,” Dion captioned an Instagram post. “Happy 30th anniversary, mon amour!”
Jenna Bush Hager and MilaCourtesy of Jenna Bush Hager/Instagram
Sorry, Today fans. It sounds like Jenna Bush Hager will never bring her 11-year-old daughter Mila on the show again.
Following sidekick Hoda Kotb’s final episode on January 10, Jenna, 43, is set to have a rotating panel of celebrity cohosts on the new Today With Jenna & Friends until a permanent replacement joins the fold. Jenna joked that her daughter is the only member of her family “jumping” at the chance to cohost following Kotb’s retirement. However, her husband, Henry Chase Hager, has put his foot down — especially after Mila’s last appearance on the morning show.
“She said something very controversial,” Jenna explained to E! News in an interview published on Monday, January 13. “Therefore, my husband gave her a lifetime ban. We’ll see if that’s lifted maybe for bring your kids to work day. But she hasn’t been always the most supportive, let’s just say that.”
Mila’s “controversial” Today show appearance took place in December 2022. At the time, the then-9-year-old dropped some “truth bombs” about her mom — including a few intimate details.
Nathan Congleton/NBC
“One time she was laughing in our living room and she peed her pants!” Mila said. “You changed your pajamas!”
Then, after Kotb pressed Mila for one more secret about her mom, Jenna’s preference for going commando was brought up.
“She never wears underwear,” Mila declared. “She’s not wearing it right now! I saw her change!”
Jenna yelled, “OK goodbye!” in response and ushered her daughter off stage.
Courtesy of Jenna Bush Hager/Instagram
While it was an embarrassing moment for sure, that was hardly the first time Jenna shared that she’s not a huge fan of undergarments. Kotb, 60, first told Today viewers that her cohost “never wears underwear” during a November 2022 broadcast.
“I was a little surprised because Jenna and I know a lot about each other,” Kotb said at the time, noting that they had to share a dressing room that particular day. “I just had a little shock with it!”
Kotb “noticed” that Jenna wasn’t wearing underwear when they had a minor outfit change.
“I think it makes a more pretty silhouette,” Jenna responded. “I also think you don’t have to pack as much. There’s a lot of pros to it! … [Hoda asked me], ‘Do you wash your clothes?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I do.’ But it’s also not like I’m sharing your jeans with you.”
Jenna also joked that Kotb “promised” the topic wouldn’t be brought up.
There’s a lot of people here,” Jenna continued. “I’m sure my mom [Laura Bush] has never been more proud.”
“One summer after my freshman year in college, I was just looking for work, and my mom said, ‘Well, you can be a process server for me,’” Schwimmer, 58, recalled on the Tuesday, January 14, episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. “My mom was a divorce lawyer. I was the guy who would pop out of the bushes and serve you divorce papers.”
The Friends star, who was 18 at the time, joked that he felt like James Bond because he would get “tipped off” as to where people may be so he could serve them the papers.
“Once, oh man, thank goodness I’ve never run into him since, but I served Rod Stewart,” Schwimmer shared. “I don’t even know if he knows. I don’t think he knows.”
After Schwimmer’s admission, host Stephen Colbert quipped, “He knows now.” Colbert, 60, added, “Change your locks, man. He’s vengeful.”
Colbert joked that Stewart, 80, was going to come out on stage, before adding, “Wow, that is fantastic. You could theoretically run into Rod Stewart sometime and now he knows to punch you.”
While Schwimmer did not reveal who Stewart was married to at the time, the rocker and his first wife, Alana Stewart, divorced in 1984. Schwimmer would have been 18 years old that year. (Before their split, Rod and Alana, now 79, welcomed daughter Kimberly and son Sean in 1979 and 1980, respectively.)
Following his split from Alana, Rod went on to tie the knot with Rachel Hunter in 1990. Rod and Rachel, 55, welcomed daughter Renee and son Liam in 1992 and 1994, respectively. The pair split in 1999, finalizing their divorce in 2006.
Rod moved on with his current wife, Penny Lancaster, in 2007. The couple welcomed sons Alastair and Aiden in 2005 and 2011, respectively. (Rod is also dad to Sarah, whom he welcomed in 1963 with ex-girlfriend Susannah Boffey and Ruby, whom he welcomed in 1987 with ex-girlfriend Kelly Emberg.)
Rod previously credited Lancaster, 53, for bringing his children together. “For some of the kids when she first came into my life, they obviously thought, ‘Oh, money grabber,’” Rod said during an appearance on U.K. talk show Lorraine in 2016. “But she’s won them over entirely now. She’s a great girl.”
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for The Birley Clubs
Rod gushed that he appreciates parenthood more than ever “in old age,” adding, “I’ve got a hockey player, I’ve got a musician, I’ve got a ballet dancer, a jazz dancer and they are all pursuing wonderful careers. Extremely proud of them.”
Schwimmer, for his part, split from wife Zoë Buckman in 2017 after seven years of marriage. They share a 13-year-old daughter, Cleo.
For 2025, Jennie Garth is saying “new year, new skin!” The 52-year-old and previous Beverly Hills 90210 star’s skin looks just as youthful and radiant as it did 30 years ago . . . and she’s now revealing her skincare secret! She’s using two new retinol serums — and they come from a brand she’s used since the 90s!
“They’re formulated with a triple retinol blend so you get all of the benefits of retinol with little to no irritation,” she said. “These are the gentlest retinol formulas I’ve ever used.”
In a bold claim, Garth called the High Potency Triple Retinol Renewal Serum her “number 1 essential for visibly reducing texture, lines and wrinkles” . . . and looking at the ingredient list we can see why! In a formula Garth called the “next generation” of retinol serums, the anti-aging treatment aims to provide a high strength formula that’s also non-irritating to the skin.
Just as the name infers, the serum is power-packed with three retinols, coenzyme Q10 and beta-carotene (provitamin A). The coenzyme Q10 may sound lab-made, but really it’s a naturally-occurring antioxidant that helps stimulate collagen production and therefore, increasing skin elasticity and reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. In a similarly fancy-sounding name, beta-carotene is also a natural antioxidant, a precursor to vitamin A, that supports skin cell regeneration, repairs damaged skin and promotes a natural glow.
As you can see in Garth’s Instagram reel, the serum is lightweight and gently glides onto the face. It’s also fragrance-free . . . a major benefit to those with extra sensitive skin. According to the brand, the Triple Retinol Renewal Serum increases skin surface renewal within just 3 days and can be used both day and night.
If you ask Garth, the High Potency Triple Retinol Renewal Eye Serum is “a must-have” for “minimizing the look of crow’s feet.” It has the same power-packed, but gentle retinol formula as the face serum . . . except it’s specifically geared toward the thin skin around the eyes. Like the above, it’s made with the exact triple threat formula, with encapsulated retinol, retinol ester and phyto-retinol. Apart from just fine lines and crow’s feet, the serum also helps to reduce puffy under-eye bags and dark circles and discoloration too.
As mentioned above, this partnership between Garth and the brand didn’t pop up out of thin air . . . the television star has long been a fan of the brand. Calling him the “skincare king,” she admires Dr. Perricone’s beauty from the inside-out approach since she gravitates more toward the holistic approach to aging. She values his stance on the importance of a 360 view at skincare that includes supplements, a healthy diet and topicals from his line as well.
The serums are both already available to shop on the brand’s website and come in at $135 for a 2 ounce bottle of the face serum and $75 for a .5 bottle of the eye serum. On the more luxury end they may be . . . if they give Us the Garth glow, they’ll both be more than worth it!
Now that we’re in the thick of January, we’re starting to realize we have a long winter ahead — especially those of Us experiencing the deep freeze sweeping through the Northwest and Midwest states. With all the extra time indoors, you likely need something to keep you going and we have just the thing. Shopping is the answer!
And no, we don’t mean shelling out your entire paycheck to enjoy some retail therapy. Some of the classiest dresses, coziest slippers, most versatile jackets and more are over 50% off right now on Amazon. Whether you’re looking for something new or simply want to browse, there’s a new go-to winter piece with your name on it.
If you want to know what we’re grabbing, read on! We gathered our top picks, from sweaters, jackets and cardigans to jewelry, shoes, pants and dresses. So let’s jump in before the deals are gone!
1. New favorite cardigan: Somewhere between a cardigan, jacket and coat, this knee-length outer layer will keep you warm all season long. It even has a trendy belt tie!
2. Everyday tee: Nobody would ever guess you scored this everyday fitted tee for under $10. It’s made of a stretchy polyester and spandex blend you could sleep in!
3. Flattering find: Have a fancy occasion on your agenda this year? This square neck mini dress is sure to make you look and feel like a billion bucks. The bodycon fit highlights your best curves!
4. Indoor or outdoor: These slip-on clogs are trendy enough to wear around the house or around the town. They even have a memory foam cork footbed for extra comfort!
7. Real deal: These expensive-looking earrings are secretly only $11 . . . oh, and you get four sets of all different sizes! These are a wardrobe must-have for any season.
8. Slim fit: We all need a fitted long sleeve to wear — and layer — at this time of year. You can tuck it into a pair of baggy jeans or leather pants for an elevated look!
9. Baby, it’s freezing outside: What a find! This thick jacket is exactly 50% off right now. It has toggle buttons, two side packets, a hood and fleece lining for added insulation.
10. Super slippers: You won’t want to take these foam slippers off — like, ever. If not for you, they make the perfect gift for your mom, bestie or sister!
13. Professional princess: Get ready to be the office envy. This chiffon top is perfect for all-year wear, but looks particularly chic when paired with a blazer and heeled boots.
14. Grandma style: No, not really. Your grandma would probably approve of this cardigan sweater though! It has knit material, a v-neck design and front buttons.
15. Center of attention: We can vouch for the softness of this sweater. It has lantern sleeves and a crewneck design that keeps it modest for all occasions.
17. Levi’s, but not jeans: In case you missed it, Levi’s has a slew of fashionable items that don’t include jeans. This long quilted teddy coat will be the talk of your friend group!
Dr. Will Kirby hinted at plans to move on from reality TV after season 2 of Deal or No Deal Island.
“This is a young person’s game,” Dr. Will, 52, told People on Tuesday, January 14. “I really love what I do for a living. I love reality television and I have been part of it for 25 years. But nothing in life is sadder than a reality television person who doesn’t know when to retire.”
After competing with the next generation of reality stars, Dr. Will added, “If I’m being really transparent, I think it’s time to pass the torch. And this is the best group to pass the torch to.”
Fans met Dr. Will on season 2 of Big Brother in 2001, which he won. He returned for Big Brother: All Stars in 2006 and came in fourth before becoming the jury roundtable host on the CBS reality show.
“I can confirm that I will not be serving as the Big Brother jury roundtable host this season,” Kirby told Parade in a September 2024 statement. “It’s simply time to hang up the proverbial cleats. The run I’ve had on the show, first as contestant and then as a host, is practically unheard of but nothing lasts forever; I am ready to pass the reality television baton!”
Dr. Will Kirby and Joe Manganiello on ‘Deal or No Deal Island.’Monty Brinton/NBC
Over the years, Dr. Will has discussed how emotionally draining the hosting gig could be, exclusively telling Us Weekly in 2020, “Every jury has an element of bitterness. And why would we expect otherwise? You would be bitter too if you just lost half a million dollars. But the right person always wins. He or she did whatever it took to have the most keys come out of the box on finale night!”
“Please let me address your question with a question of my own: What other non-scripted television show cast member is still relevant nearly two decades after his or her first appearance?” he noted. “I laid the foundation for the antihero gameplay that fans relish today, I was the architect of alliances and I’m well-rounded in every aspect of strategic gameplay.”
Dr. Will continued: “Moreover, I provided pure unadulterated entertainment enveloped in a comedic shell. On top of all that, I literally created the word ‘showmance.’ So, yes, unequivocally, I’m the best to ever play.”
Dr. Will Kirby on ‘Big Brother.’Sonja Flemming/CBS
Following two decades away from competitive reality TV, Dr. Will joined Deal or No Deal Island during the Tuesday, January 14, episode.
“I was well aware of my reputation,” he told People on Tuesday. “So I came in hot, guns blazing. I wanted to win people over.”
Dr. Will said he “couldn’t be who” he really is on the show, describing himself as “meek and quiet and introverted” and “a guy who reads books and goes to bed at 9 [o’clock].”
“Not only is that not good for the show, it’s just not what people would’ve believed,” he continued. “So I came in just screaming and yelling. I came here to entertain.”
Mandatory ride alongs with law enforcement not only helped On Call writers conduct vital research for the show — it also inspired crucial scenes from Wolf Entertainment’s first streaming series.
The Prime Video series, which premiered on Thursday, January 9, utilizes bodycam, dash-camera and cellphone footage that allows viewers to follow cops in the field. On Call is largely centered around veteran training officer Traci Harmon (Troian Bellisario) and her rookie partner Alex Diaz (Brandon Larracuente) as they respond to emergency calls on the streets of Long Beach, California.
The duo deal with everything from gang-related incidents to domestic disputes to escalated incidents of arson. While some of the cases seem overexaggerated for the sake of making good TV, cocreator Tim Walsh exclusively told Us Weekly how his own experiences on ride alongs informed the show’s scripts.
“I can say with all honesty that probably 90 to 95 percent of the calls that you saw on the show all came from our experiences in the ride along,” Walsh shared. “Or they were told to us by the officers on a ride along. So we took a lot from being on the street.”
“The bodycam is a lens that takes everything in. We learned right away in editing that you would see the boom operator, craft services and the porta potties. We had to be really careful,” he explained. “We learned, but we had to be really careful. At one point in time there were 12 cameras in episode 4 when they hit the motel.”
Walsh continued: “It’s a big action sequence and every single one of our characters — or police officers — are wearing a bodycam. You can only imagine they’re going to get the crew, they’re going to get the people sitting off to the side. So that was really challenging. We just had to figure it out and we found it in the editing part of the process.”
Despite the complications, Walsh says he’s thrilled with the final product. The screenwriter specifically highlighted On Call‘s mission not to pick sides while highlighting important conversations about first responders.
“That was the goal of going into it — it’s not an anti-police or pro-police show. It’s pro-character, and the characters happen to be cops,” Walsh said. “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 overall mission was to “entertain” the audience. “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,” Walsh 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.”
On Call is currently streaming on Prime Video. Keep scrolling for a breakdown of how offscreen ride alongs played a role in creating the newest police procedural:
“Honestly, when I hired the writing staff I asked them, ‘Do you have a problem with going on ride alongs? Because if you do, you’re [likely] not going to be writing on the show,'” Walsh told Us, referring to how necessary it was to have knowledge of the field when creating the series. “If someone was going to write a show about a TV writer, they get to shadow a TV writer or a showrunner to figure out what their daily life is. They can’t just make it up.”
The entire On Call team wanted to do right by the material, with Walsh adding, “We couldn’t do that to these law enforcement officers either. We wanted this to always be very authentic because there’s just so much drama out there to mine. So preparation was No. 1 and the actors really stepped up. They all did ride alongs, the directors did ride alongs, some of the producers did ride alongs and our Director of Production did. So if you wanted to be on the show, you absolutely had to go and sit in a car with these folks.”
“What stuck with me in one of my first rides while developing this show with a 30-year-old young kid who pulls over to the side of the road. He then turned to me after we had a very friendly conversation back and forth. He looks at me and asks, ‘Where are we right now?’ I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He’s like, ‘I’ve just been shot. You’re my partner tonight. Where are we?'” Walsh told Us about a conversation that made it into the season premiere of On Call. “I am looking all over the place and he’s like, ‘I’m dead. I’m already dead.'”
Walsh continued: “He said, ‘The most important thing you can learn from day one is where you are at all times in life. That went right into the pilot.”
Was Anything Off Limits?
Elizabeth Morris/Prime Video
“When you are with these officers, you go right into these communities and right into people’s homes. You are in their living rooms, in their backyard and you learn so much,” Walsh shared, referring to how his first-hand experience was used on screen. “We’re not just watching the police, we’re watching the community and how they interact with the police as well. That’s also very important.”
The more heavy subject matter on the show — including the cold open with a car accident that led to an injured dog — was lifted from actual incidents.
“That had to go in there. I’ve done a few shows where I’ve developed them and they haven’t gone forward and it’s devastating. I felt like this might be my last opportunity,” he admitted to Us. “And if I was going to fall on anyone’s sword, it was going to be on my own sword. I was just like, ‘Nothing’s off limits. Let’s just leave it all out there and I think it’ll find its audience.'”
“We rolled up on a gentleman [once] who was smoking crystal meth on a bus stop bench and the officer got on his loudspeaker and just said, ‘Hey, do me a favor. Just move and go smoke that somewhere else. You can’t be in public.’ In the past, they probably would’ve gotten out of the car and confronted him, but he is taking precautions,” Walsh recalled. “The guy said, ‘No, I’m not going to move.’ When he shifted around, we saw that he had a tennis ball size of crystal meth. That’s a felony, so the officer got out of the car and I got out with him.”
The routine stop ended with a “physical altercation” between the man and the police officer.
“I’ll never forget this young deputy rolling around on the ground with this guy. I turned around and everybody in the intersection was stopped with their cell phones and they were recording us. I was like, ‘Please, do not let this end in a more violent way.’ And the suspect took off running,” Walsh continued. “Then the whole fleet went after him and about 30 minutes later, they caught him. But things like that, I was literally his only backup. So I was wondering, ‘Do I need to jump in here and help him?’ But that’s pretty much every ride along — you have absolutely no idea what you’re going to encounter.”
What Was the Main Takeaway From the Experience?
Elizabeth Morris/Prime Video
“What I hope [viewers] take away is that a huge part of the daily interactions of the police really is mental health. I don’t think they get enough credit for that,” Walsh noted. “Obviously there’s a lot of focus on the negative incidents, which rightfully so and which needs to be called out. But also they are helping people with mental illness and substance abuse issues.”
He concluded: “That’s really not in their job description, but it has fallen on them and the fire department. So the takeaway would probably be to just bring more awareness that these are the people that are helping the folks on the street with addiction problems — more so than you probably imagined.”
Life Unexpected debuted in January 2010 and followed teenager Lux as she sought emancipation from the Portland foster care system. Her path led her to discover the identity of her biological parents, Nate “Baze” Bazile (Polaha) and Cate Cassidy (Appleby), who had placed her in the system after a teen pregnancy and subsequent breakup. Instead of becoming emancipated, Lux was placed in their joint custody. The show was ultimately canceled following its second season.
“I was totally surprised,” creator Liz Tigelaar told the Los Angeles Times in January 2011. “I always thought that we would keep going and I thought that we would get to our endgame, which is with Cate and Baze eventually finding their way together on some level.”
Scroll below to check in with the cast more than one decade later:
Appleby started acting long before landing the role of Cate, and after a string of TV commercials and guest roles on various sitcoms, she landed a starring role on The WB’s Roswell as Liz Parker. After the alien-inspired series wrapped in 2002, she booked roles in Thrill of the Kill, Charlie Wilson’s War, ER and more. Appleby later starred as Rachel Goldberg on Lifetime’s UnReal, the fictitious drama about the behind-the-scenes world of The Bachelor. She eventually returned to the Roswell universe in 2021 as a guest star and director on The CW’s Roswell: New Mexico reboot.
Appleby and her husband, celebrity chef Jon Shook, share two children.
Polaha, who previously guest-starred on a 2001 episode of Roswell alongside Appleby, went on to score roles in the likes of North Shore, Miss Guided and Mad Men before portraying Baze on Life Unexpected. Since the two-season show wrapped, his acting credits have included Little Fires Everywhere, Jurassic World Dominion and a slew of Hallmark movies, including 2016’s Dater’s Handbook opposite Meghan Markle. Polaha is also an author and has written multiple best-selling novels.
The Nevada native married Julianne Morris in 2003, and they share three sons.
Robertson’s early acting credits include The Ghost Club, Keeping Up With the Steins, Cherry, Avalon High and Scream 4. After Life Unexpected, she continued acting in The First Time, The Secret Circle, Under the Dome, Mother’s Day and The Longest Ride. Robertson joined Shondaland in 2018, starring as attorney Sandra Bell on ABC’s one-season For the People. She currently stars as Laura Stensen on the network’s The Rookie: Feds.
When the Re-Education of Molly Singer actress married Paul Floyd in April 2023, many of her Life Unexpected costars scored invitations. Both Tigelaar and Polaha shared wedding day photos via their Instagram accounts.
Prior to finding love with Floyd, Robertson was linked to Graham Rogers, Dylan O’Brien and Logan Henderson.
Long before he played Cate’s fiancé, Ryan Thomas, on Life Unexpected, Smith rose to fame playing Ryder Hughes on As the World Turns and Jack McPhee on Dawson’s Creek. Smith’s other acting credits include Charmed, The Fosters, Riverdale and Where Hope Grows.
Smith was previously married to Harmoni Everett from 2003 to 2009.
Solo appeared in 2010’s Black Swan shortly before landing the role of Lux’s BFF, Natasha “Tasha” Siviac. She has since acted in Locke & Key, Orphan Black, Lost Girl, Another You and Project Blue Book.
Gavron portrayed Lux’s bad-boy boyfriend, Bug, who notably had a spider tattoo on his neck. The British actor has also appeared in Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Parenthood, Celeste & Jesse Forever, 2018’s A Star Is Born, Catch-22 and The Godfather of Harlem.
Basis appeared on Life Unexpected as Baze’s roommate Matthew “Math” Rogers, who was also a teacher at Lux’s new school. After The CW series ended, he continued acting in J. Edgar, The CW’s Beauty and the Beast, Casual and the final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Austin played another one of Baze’s roommates, Jamie, during Life Unexpected’s first season. His acting credits also include Devious Maids, Agent Carter, The Fosters, On My Block, Pretty Little Liars and The Marked.
Butler recurred on Life Unexpected as Lux’s classmate Jones Mager, with whom she eventually sparked a romance. The Golden Globe winner rose to fame with roles on other teen series, including iCarly, Switched at Birth, Zoey 101 and The Carrie Diaries. Butler later appeared in the critically acclaimed movies Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic, the latter of which earned him his first Academy Award nomination.
Butler dated High School Musical actress Vanessa Hudgens for nine years before they broke up in 2020. He has since moved on with model Kaia Gerber but they called it quits in 2025.
Kebbel had a recurring role as Ryan’s sister, Paige Thomas, on Life Unexpected. Prior to joining the series, she notably appeared as Lindsay on Gilmore Girls and in the movies Aquamarine and John Tucker Must Die. Her acting credits also include UnReal, Think Like a Man, The CW’s 90210 reboot, The Vampire Diaries, 9-1-1 and the 50 Shades of Grey franchise. Kebbel is also a staple on the Hallmark Channel, recently appearing in 2023’s Love in the Great Smoky Mountains.
While Kebbel remains tight-lipped about her personal life, Us Weekly exclusively confirmed in 2020 that she was “very excited” about her then-new relationship with a mystery man.
The She’s the Man star made brief cameos on Life Unexpected as Cate’s sister, Abby Cassidy, who had a brief fling with Baze. Breckenridge has since landed featured roles on This Is Us, True Blood and The Walking Dead. She currently stars as Mel Monroe on Netflix’s Virgin River.
Breckenridge shares two children with her husband, Casey Hooper, whom she married in 2015.
Karpluk appeared as Cate and Ryan’s radio producer (and Cate’s close friend) Alice in the first season. Her acting credits also include Godiva’s, Almost Heaven, Being Erica, Saving Hope, Rookie Blue, Holly Hobbie and A Million Little Things.
,” Jenna Bush Hager wrote, while Savannah Guthrie commented, “We love you so. not the same without you. we will see you soon 
(Now I can ask all of the questions I want, for a living! Ha),” she captioned pics of the two of them from over the years. “I am so thankful for you! Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!!”
,” she wrote in a February 2023 
,” she captioned 
