Entertainment
From ‘The ‘Burbs’ Set, Keke Palmer and Jack Whitehall React to That Bonkers Finale Reveal
[Editor’s note: The following contains major spoilers for the Peacock TV series The ‘Burbs.]
Summary
When you write about television and you love learning about what goes into the production of a TV show, there’s nothing like the experience of driving onto a studio lot and walking around outdoor and soundstage sets where you can tell every little detail has been thought about and discussed with multiple departments. On June 12, 2025, Collider (along with three other media outlets) got the opportunity to head over to the Universal Studios Hollywood back lot to visit the set of the Peacock series The ‘Burbs, starring Keke Palmer, who’s also an executive producer, and Jack Whitehall. The eight-episode whodunnit comedy from creator Celeste Hughey, inspired by the 1989 movie starring Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher, is set in present-day suburbia and follows a young couple who have reluctantly moved into the husband’s childhood home in the cul-de-sac he grew up in.
Samira (Palmer) and Rob Fisher (Whitehall) move onto a street that promises to be the safest place to live, but the quiet little neighborhood quickly proves to be much more as old secrets come to light and a sense of danger looms. A new neighbor moves into the creepy Victorian across the street, and Rob along with his best friend Naveen (Kapil Talwalkar) are reminded of someone they once knew. A trio of nosy but well-meaning neighbors – Lynn (Julia Duffy), Dana (Paula Pell), and Tod (Mark Proksch) – with secrets of their own help Samira and Rob get to the bottom of what’s going on in Hinkley Hills while also uncovering the fact that things may not be as safe as they’ve been told.
At a studio like Universal, next to the soundstages on the back lot are a variety of streets and locations that could be dressed to look like they’re anywhere, in any time period. While The ‘Burbs TV series and movie were shot in the same houses on Colonial Street, previously known as Mayfield Place, but now called Ashfield Place, nothing is an exact replica, helping establish the fact that this is not a sequel. Even so, there are Easter eggs and nods to the movie, as well as fun little details of their own that they’ve sprinkled throughout.
Joe Dante’s 1989 Movie ‘The ‘Burbs’ Inspired This Seth MacFarlane-Produced Mystery Series
All eight episodes of The ‘Burbs are now available to stream on Peacock, but executive producer Seth MacFarlane originally had the intention of making another movie when he first got the idea for the re-imagining. When he and his fellow Fuzzy Door EPs Erica Huggins and Aimee Carlson were discussing their favorite movies from that era, they realized that the cult favorite was definitely one of them.
“It was Covid, there wasn’t a lot happening, and he felt like maybe this was a movie you could make on the back lot at Universal with 25 people and get away with it,” said Huggins on set during a break from filming the season finale. Cut to a year later, we couldn’t get the deal done … Covid kept continuing on, and we all got busy with something else.”
But that wasn’t the end of it, and The ‘Burbs came back around after the strikes when they thought it might work better as a TV series. Added Huggins, “After Covid, there was the idea of neighborhoods, how you know your neighbors, and what your neighbors mean to you. Since we were all at home and walking the streets of our neighborhoods, creepy houses that have always felt like a little bit of a blight on those neighborhoods made you wonder, ‘Who’s in there? What’s in there?’ It heightened the paranoia from living through Covid.”
Once the idea was in place and they were ready to move forward with the TV series, the next to sign on was showrunner Hughey, who immediately knew Palmer was the only person that she could imagine as Samira. “It was important for me to tell a fish-out-of-water story about a Black woman and a new mother, and experience the world through her eyes,” she said. “[Keke] is the perfect person to do that.”
‘The ‘Burbs’ Movie and the TV Show Are Both of Their Time, With the Peacock Version Having More of a Modern Edge
While The ‘Burbs still has a creepy new neighbor in the foreboding Victorian on the opposite side of the street, they didn’t want to just do a repeat of the Klopeks from the movie. They also decided to reclaim the Munster mansion and transform it into the Victorian, as the Klopek house instead became a normal residence for Naveen. “Your way in is, ‘What is this new creepy family doing?,’” explained Carlson. “That’s a great engine for the season, but as it unfolds, we reveal new mysteries about the characters. That’s the beauty of a television show that you don’t get to do if you only have two hours. That’s where a lot of the fun surprises in the series come from.”
In case you were wondering, they did send movie director Joe Dante the script for the pilot and Huggins said that he loved it and was happy that somebody was doing something with it, and that he wished them well on their journey with it. Added Hughey, who also wrote the pilot, “1989 was a very different time in the country. There was a little bit more fear of the foreign … and the Klopeks were a foreign family that people were unsure of. Because of the Covid of it all, we’ve had to know our neighbors and understand and rely on each other. That was more the essence of our show and how we interact with the world now. It’s about trying to find common ground with everyone around you, which is possible.”
This time around, the creepy neighbor is Gary (Justin Kirk), whose odd and suspicious behavior sets off alarm bells for Samira as she starts to poke around. Thankfully, Samira isn’t alone in her interest in the cul-de-sac tea, and she’s quickly joined by Lynn (Duffy), who’s very familiar with the neighborhood’s history, Dana (Pell), a blunt and direct retired Marine, Tod (Proksch), who’s equal parts socially awkward and very observant.
“You don’t choose your neighbors,” said Carlson when talking about the ensemble surrounding Palmer. “It’s inherently diverse in who they are as people, but also their personalities. It’s everything you want in an ensemble show. They’re all really distinct from one another and those conflicts obviously drive a lot of comedy.”
Added Huggins, “The tribe of characters that we’ve built around Keke are unusual and interesting in their own right, and they are all carrying a secret that we reveal throughout this season. Not completely, but mostly. Things that get revealed along the way become part of their personalities and you understand the reasons why certain things are happening. The bigger bad in the show gets revealed in a way that’s very unexpected within the cul-de-sac. Each of our characters definitely has a personality that is connected to where they live and what their secret is.
The Love Between Samira and Rob Fisher Is at the Heart of ‘The ’Burbs’
The relationship between Samira and Rob is already established when we meet them, but because they’re in a new chapter of their lives, as parents, they’re still adjusting and figuring out what that means. “Especially as relatively new parents, that was something that we really related to,” Whitehall explained, with he and Palmer being parents themselves. “There’s a real richness and depth to the story that we’re telling with them.”
Palmer added, “They’re finding themselves again after having the baby. They did fall in love with each other and they did already have this history, but as new parents, that all goes down the drain once the baby comes. All of a sudden, you don’t know each other anymore. I do think we were able to have fun with that … Me and Jack healed, doing this.”
Walking around the set for the Fisher home, it was easy to get a sense of the love Samira and Rob have for each other, with all the photos scattered around. The details help create a relationship that brings the couple together in times of danger and helps them uncover what’s really going on in their neighborhood.
Executive Producers Huggins and Carlson knew immediately that Palmer and Whitehall were on the same page when it came to their characters. “It was just an instant connection,” said Huggins. “They had chemistry. You could feel they were jumping off each other’s humor and sensibilities, and it was really sweet.”
The natural ease Palmer and Whitehall found with each other easily translated to Samira and Rob. “There were so many conversations and arguments where we were like, ‘Oh, my God, I’ve literally said these words,’” said Whitehall. “It’s so brilliantly observed and relatable in such a wonderful way. It has this nuance and these different layers that are funny and touching.”
If Anyone Tells You That You’re Moving to the Safest Place To Live, You Should Find Somewhere Else To Go
When an unresolved mystery from Rob and Naveen’s past becomes a part of their lives again in the present, Samira has to work through her initial suspicions that they could somehow be involved. Whether it’s knowing her husband well enough to know that he isn’t a murderer or supporting his wife in a way that they can figure out the cul-de-sac mysteries together, Samira and Rob are going to discover who’s really responsible for whatever is going on in their neighborhood. And in the finale, with Naveen being driven off in the trunk of a member of the HOA, who’s responsible for keeping things safe in ways that are clearly very questionable, the series sets up new questions for a possible Season 2.
“[Samira’s] investigative work, thus far, has been pretty good, so I feel like we’re a good team now and we’ve got the support network of the found family of neighbors behind us,” Whitehall said during an interview with Collider at a junket to promote the series launch. “I think they stand a good chance of finding [Naveen] and rescuing him from the trunk of that car.”
In that same interview, Palmer added, “There are so many questions. Where the hell is Naveen? That’s number one. What are you hiding? The thing that you find out about Hinkley Hills, and the reason why it’s the safest town in America, is because people are hiding a lot of things about what happened there. It’s a constant unraveling of one lie to cover up the next lie.”
While ‘The ’Burbs’ Does Resolve Some of Its Mysteries, There Is More Story To Tell in a Possible Season 2
Expanding the ideas and themes of The ‘Burbs for a TV series means that there are still areas to explore moving forward. Getting some answers doesn’t mean you have all the answers, but Hughey has a sense of Season 2 and beyond. “We get to the end of the season with a big ah-ha of what we’ve been tracking through this particular season,” Huggins said during the set visit. “But something bigger comes up at the end that reveals a bigger problem. So, it’s a continuation of the same characters and some of the same storylines, but the end reveals a bigger problem that they have to tackle. It’s definitely meant to continue.”
Hughey added, “We reference Season 2 constantly. We’re like, ‘Okay, we’ll save that for Season 2. And then, we’re going to do this. And this character comes in then.’ Even on set, the cast was like, ‘Okay, in Season 2, we’ll do this.’ It’s not fully mapped out, but we know what the big bad is in the second season and what new adventures they’ll get into. We haven’t mapped it out for five years, but we can definitely see the vision for the next several seasons.”
Part of that vision for Hughey is adding neighbors to the cul-de-sac. “Some people will leave to make room for other characters. Some people can come back. Paula’s character, Dana, talks about her wife the whole season, and I’m hoping to have her come in next season.”
And if for some reason things don’t work out and they don’t get to move forward with a Season 2, Palmer and Whitehall have ideas for more Tom Hanks projects they could remake. “I would do Big,” declared Palmer. “But that’s one of the most popular, so it’s really bad to try to do that because you’re not going to do it. I would do a fake Big that’s called Small, so it reminds me of that, but it ain’t that.”
“Maybe Forest Gump 2,” added Whitehall. “There was a script that was written, apparently. I’d still be running.”
The ‘Burbs is available to stream on Peacock, where you can also watch the 1989 Joe Dante movie.
- Release Date
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February 8, 2026
- Network
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Peacock
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A battle of the 40s!
Ime Udoka
Scoffs At Bam Adebayo’s 83 Points
Free Throws and Wizards!!!
Published
Houston Rockets
Some folks are unimpressed with Bam Adebayo‘s 83-point game … including Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, who told reporters he had no idea how the Miami Heat player could score at will like that — until he looked at the box score.
The 48-year-old former pro met with the media after his team secured a 113-99 win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday … and was asked what he thought about the big man’s historic night at home against the Washington Wizards.
“First thing you think is ‘how?’ — not because of him, but because of the way he plays,” Udoka said. “And I saw he only made six threes but 40 free throws or something like that? Tells the story right there … and the Washington Wizards.”
Of course, the Wizards are not great this season — they currently have 16 wins.
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick also chimed in on Adebayo passing Kobe Bryant for the second-most points in a game (behind Wilt Chamberlain) … and he said he at first didn’t realize the Heat were playing a “different type of basketball” at the end of the game.
He did say Adebayo’s feat was “incredible” nonetheless.
JJ Redick on Bam Adebayo’s 83-point night when asked by @MirjamSwanson:
“It’s incredible what he was able to do… I watched the last three minutes and that was a different type of basketball.”#Lakers pic.twitter.com/Vk2cvpDFyf
@CarlosYakJr
Miami essentially stuffed the stat sheet in Adebayo’s favor … intentionally fouling the Wizards to gain more possessions and feed him the rock, despite the game already being secured.
As for fans, diehard Lakers supporter O’Shea Jackson Jr. had a bit of a crash-out on social media … throwing around conspiracies and saying the historic night changed how he views the NBA as a whole.
Regardless … the record books won’t include any of the chatter … and now Bam sits between Kobe and Wilt Chamberlain in one of the most important stats in league history.
Asian Doll is getting back to music seven months after giving birth to her daughter, Mi’Lani. As she continues adjusting to balancing motherhood and her rapper lifestyle, she can’t escape the judgment from social media critics.
RELATED: Asian Doll Shuts Down Folks Questioning Her Heritage After She Claimed To Be Native American (PHOTOS)
Asian Doll Gets A Commenter In Check After Sharing A Photo Of Her Postpartum Body
On Monday, Asian Doll took to the ‘net to share a cute photo rocking a bright orange short set, a pink Chanel bag, and matching pink and orange heels. In the caption, while thanking her daughter for how good she looks postpartum, she wrote, “My daughter did me right.” A commenter replied, “Legs still don’t match babes,” and the rapper quickly clapped back, writing, “Still a badder b**** than you babes.”
In the full thread, another commenter asked, “How does her legs still not match?” Asian Doll responded, “How do I still manage to be a badder & prettier b**** and have more money than every b**** obsessed over my legs?”**
Asian Doll Speaks Out After Mixed Reactions To Her New EP Cover
A new day on the net, and the rapper still wasn’t backing down. Asian Doll later previewed the cover art for her upcoming EP ‘Just Had A Baby’ by sharing a photo holding her baby girl, Mi’Lani. The post quickly sparked mixed reactions as social media users flooded the comments with their opinions about the image.
While some fans showed love and excitement for the new project, others criticized the photo. One commenter wrote, “Why do we thirst trap with kids in the photo?” while another added, “At least cover the baby butt! C’mon now.”
When another user asked, “Why everything always gotta be naked?” Asian Doll quickly clapped back writing, “Why hes always worried bout a b they don’t know???”**
After the backlash, Asian Doll took to her Instagram Story to share examples of maternity shoots that also featured nude photography. She appeared to push back on the criticism by showing similar creative concepts used by other mothers.
The rapper also liked a comment from a supporter who defended her, writing, “Let’s just admit that y’all only have a problem with it because it’s her lol. The ones saying it’s a ‘thirst trap’ need to be studied because why do you immediately think that after seeing a mother and the child smh. It’s giving self projection.”
Social Media Reacts
Folks gathered under The Shade Room Teens as they reacted to Asian Doll’s recent post. While some disagreed with the photos, others expressed that people tend to hate on her for no reason or simply because it’s her.
Instagram user @kashh_dollah24 wrote, “To use your daughter as a caption to post your moomoo print is crazy”
Instagram user @lex.lex added, “It’s okay to leave some things for the imagination….”
While Instagram user @its.kaylaah wrote, “IM SO IRRITATED”
Instagram user @mosthattedmymy_ wrote,”No shade her legs do match now”
Instagram user @dejamonett_ added, “yall hate on this lady whatever she do, the hate don’t stop”
While Instagram user @cassidee23_ wrote, “She so pretty”
Instagram user @desifuckinbaby wrote, “I wouldnt even respond to these ppl that your baby f em”
Instagram user @mermaidvibezz2 added, “With everything going on in the world and the way they’re using Al to make weird pics of children ion think no child should ever be posted online naked or not”
While Instagram user @daniidatgurl wrote, “Why yall looking at a baby in that manner anyways thats her child”
What Do You Think Roomies?
Tig Notaro and Cheryl Hines entertained comedy fans with their “Tig and Cheryl: True Story” podcast, which launched in 2020.
But three years later, Notaro, 54, abruptly exited the project. Her May 2023 departure came one month after Hines’ politician husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced his campaign for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
More than one year later, Notaro confirmed during an October 2025 episode of the “Breaking Bread With Tom Papa” podcast that she had to part professional ways with Hines, 60, as a result of Kennedy’s political advances.
“Cheryl’s married to Bobby Kennedy Jr.,” Notaro said during the episode. “When he was announcing his run, I just felt like I needed to step away … because there are beliefs that were like a gnat on the arm years ago that were getting further into the spotlight.”
Cheryl Hines opened up about losing friends due to her marriage to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during an appearance on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. The Curb Your Enthusiasm alum dived deep into the backlash surrounding her spouse, who went from being a mainstream environmental activist to a controversial member of President Donald Trump’s second […]
The comedian went on to explain that the political stance of Kennedy, the Secretary of Health and Human Services for President Donald Trump’s administration, became too problematic. “My friendship with Cheryl predated her marriage to Bobby,” Notaro said of the couple, who got married in 2014. “He was in environmental law. And again, other beliefs he had were like a gnat on my arm.”
In a new interview for MS Now’s “The Best People” podcast, published on Monday, March 9, Notaro has reflected on her past friendship even further.
Keep scrolling for more insight into Notaro’s falling out with Hines:
Notaro Felt ‘Ridiculous’ After Kennedy’s Power Move
“Tig and Cheryl: True Story” involved the two hosts dissecting a documentary every week, with their musings often resulting in humorous anecdotes and observations. Notaro said during her MS Now interview that the work felt different in the wake of Kennedy, 72, announcing his campaign.
“There were things he thought and felt that I didn’t agree with, but he didn’t have the platform he got in the pandemic. I think that I needed to stop doing the podcast, because it was so ridiculous, it was so stupid— our show — that it was hard to be doing that when he was gaining momentum and speaking,” she told host Nicole Wallace.
Tig Notaro Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for The Creative Coalition
Notaro’s Stand-Up Shows Became Impacted
Notaro said during the MS Now interview that her affiliation with Hines and Kennedy led to politically fuelled heckling during her stand-up performances.
“People would interrupt my stand-up shows and yell, ‘Bobby is crazy!’” Notaro said. “I was telling Cheryl that I know it’s a small percentage that pushes back online or yells out at shows, but I was, like, ‘Man, this is not my world. I don’t do this. I don’t want to be a part of this.’”
Notaro noted that Hines was initially understanding of her decision to exit their podcast. “She [Hines] was like, ‘I understand,’ but she wanted to keep doing the podcast. I had to step away, but I loved her so much,” Notaro recalled.
Notaro was replaced by Rachael Harris on “Tig and Cheryl: True Story,” but production ended for good in December 2023.
Their Friendship Dynamic Shifted After Notaro Left the Podcast
Notaro said she was upset as her friendship with Hines changed in the wake of her departure from the podcast. “What was most upsetting to me is we were in such opposing places, but I continued to reach out to her and send her love and support because I didn’t know what was going on behind closed doors. Then things shifted very severely,” she stated in the interview.
“I realized one day that she doesn’t ever reach out to me anymore. She responds to me, but she doesn’t reach out to me. I had to kind of shake myself out of denial that, ‘Oh, she’s gone,’ and, ‘OK, I need to let this go. I need to let it go.’”
Cheryl Hines Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Accessories Council
Notaro Denies ‘Dumping’ Hines as a Friend
The comedian also claimed that reports stating that she “dumped” Hines were incorrect. “What was a bummer is that there’s some interviews claiming I dumped her and left her in the dust because of Bobby, but I was trying to be a friend to her even though I didn’t feel like I could continue with the podcast,” she said during the MS Now interview. “It’s been very strange, and I think I’ve moved past the confusion and sadness.”
Hines Felt Helpless Amid Notaro’s Exit From the Podcast
Hines said during a November 2025 episode of the ‘“Howie Mandel Does Stuff” podcast that she felt helpless when Notaro left. “When it was feeling a lot for her, there wasn’t much I could do about it other than leave my husband,” she said at the time. “This is what she feels she needs to do for herself … and she feels she needs to distance herself from me.”
Before this cool kid in his fancy beret turned into an American actor, he was just admiring his famous ‘rents and growing up in sunny Los Angeles …
He’s most known for playing Hughie on the hit Prime Video superhero series “The Boys” … as well as playing Marvel in “The Hunger Games.”
Gavin Newsom To Pete Hegseth
You Blew $93 Billion In Taxes On Steak, Lobster & Crab!!!
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Updated
Gavin Newsom is having some fun at the expense of Pete Hegseth, slamming the Department of War Secretary for going on a $93 billion taxpayer-funded spending spree to buy pricey steaks, lobsters and crabs.
The California Governor, and likely 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, ripped Hegseth for his lavish spending habits during the last month of the fiscal year in September 2025, according to government watchdog Open the Books. The watchdog highlighted that Hegseth’s bulk purchases were the largest of any federal agency since 2008.
Waiting for your permission to load the Twitter Tweet.
As a result, Newsom’s press office took a monster-size shot at Hegseth, writing in all caps on X Tuesday, “HEGSETH BLOWING $93 BILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 1 MONTH !!”
Newsom also gave Hegseth crap about his shopping binge after the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS posted an AI image of Hegseth kicking back while surrounded by lobster tail, ribeye steak and Alaskan king crab.
Breaking it all down, the Department of War reportedly spent $6.9 million on lobster, $15.1 million on steak, and $2 million on crab. The agency also splurged on a $98,329 Steinway & Sons grand piano for the Air Force chief of staff’s residence.
We reached out to The Department of War for comment … so far no word back.
Entertainment
‘Shrinking’ Star Luke Tennie Reacts to Episode 7’s Heartbreaking Loss and How It Changes Everything for Sean
[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for Shrinking Season 3, Episode 7.]For three seasons on the Apple TV series Shrinking, Sean (Luke Tennie) has gone from being a client in need of some unconventional therapy from Jimmy (Jason Segel) to a close friend that’s part of a found family that will never let him stop evolving. As he sorted through his own feelings, Sean reconnected with Marisol (Isabella Gomez), made amends for being a jerk, and rekindled their relationship in a much healthier way. Along with helping to guide his friend Jorge (Trey Santiago-Hudson) while he sorts out his own stuff, Sean has found strength in pursuing his dreams.
During this one-on-one interview with Collider, Tennie discussed the upward trajectory of his acting career, also playing characters in Abbott Elementary and The Pitt, how being a former football player is reflected in his current roles, what he’s most proud of when it comes to Sean’s journey, getting to a good place with Alice (Lukita Maxwell), the fun of getting to sing and play guitar with the ensemble cast, and how that shocking final moment of episode seven is going to have a ripple effect.
Collider: As much as I love the scenes that Sean and Jimmy share, and that Sean and Derek share, I also love the moments that Sean has had with Paul. How does it feel to be in a moment in your life and career where you can have Harrison Ford say things to you like, “Don’t be a hug bitch”?
LUKE TENNIE: I don’t know where my career is going from here. I don’t know what I’m going to do. It kind of seems like it’s done. I’m just getting started, but if this is not a peak, I don’t know what to tell you. It’s great, and not just Harrison, but every single cast member on the entire show. With Lukita [Maxwell] and Rachel [Stubington] and Isabella [Gomez] and Trey [Santiago-Hudson], who plays Jorge, I feel like I get to be a part of people who will be stars. And then, obviously, I get to be a part of people who’ve been stars. So, it’s a really exciting position to be in on Shrinking, at this time in my career. No matter where I look, in the next five years or in the past, there’s a bunch of excellent artists who I can say, “Hey, I know that person,” and that’s pretty cool.
Luke Tennie Just Wants To Continue To Elevate the Quarterbacks He’s Supporting in ‘Shrinking,’ ‘Abbott Elementary’ and ‘The Pitt’
“Maybe one day, I’ll be a quarterback, but for right now, I’m blocking, and I’m blocking well and hard.”
You’re doing this TV series with Harrison Ford, and you’re popping up over at Abbott Elementary. And then, two hit TV shows aren’t enough for you, so you also doing The Pitt. How exciting is it to be doing three hit TV shows all at once? When you go from Shrinking to Abbott to The Pitt, do you realize just how important an ensemble is that really clicks and finds that magic?
TENNIE: You found it. There’s the secret. A lot of people take certain things for granted as performers. I’m comfortable saying, you know the idea that there are no small parts? That’s not necessarily true. I think there are small parts, and there’s a reason for it. I am a supporting actor. That is what I do. I do it well. I used to play football. And for me, to act as though my position on the offensive line is the same as a wide receiver or a quarterback, no, I block a block for the quarterback. I feel like I get to continue to block for all these different quarterbacks. And when I say quarterback in the metaphor that I’m using, I’m talking about people who are multi-hyphenates. Look at Jason [Segel]. He’s a writer, executive producer and star. Look at Quinta [Brunson]. She’s a writer, executive producer and star. Look at Noah [Wyle]. He’s a writer, executive producer and star.
I am blocking for these quarterbacks, and they’re just like, “Hey, man, I’ll have this guy come back for me.” For me, it’s an honor to be in a position where I am playing a supporting part. Every time I step onto the set, it’s for me to support. It’s an honor and a privilege for me, and I take it very seriously because the positions that I’m put in right now are to elevate these quarterbacks in a specific way. Maybe one day, I’ll be a quarterback, but for right now, I’m blocking, and I’m blocking well and hard. I couldn’t be happier. I’m also on the same lot. All these shows shoot at Warner Bros. I know everybody now. I know where the gym is at. I know how to get to the parking lot. I know where the sun sets in the best spot. I’ve been working there all year. By the time I get back to Shrinking, ideally, I’ll be warm, ready, still on the lot, hyping, and ready to go.
I love that Sean has gone from being lost, to running a food truck, to being in this romantic relationship with Marisol, to now pursuing even bigger dreams as a chef. How are you most proud of Sean and who he has become since he started on the show?
TENNIE: That’s connected to your first point about this ensemble. There is no way that Sean would have access to any of that without the other characters. He wouldn’t have the truck if it wasn’t for Liz. Liz wouldn’t have had the money for the truck if it wasn’t for Derek. Sean never would have had the idea to start the truck if he wasn’t at the art gallery with Gaby. And Gaby was the person who make sure that Sean had a therapist, in Jimmy. It’s all connected. All this growth and opportunity that Sean is having is because of the environment that he’s in and all these people just saying, “Oh, can I help here? Can I help there?” And Sean wouldn’t have the truck if it wasn’t for Alice invoking the stones, so that he could get it from Liz and Derek. It’s all connected in such a beautiful way.
‘Shrinking’ Season 3 Review: One of Apple TV’s Best, Most Heartfelt Comedy Series Should End Here
Will this be the last we see of Jimmy and his found family?
Alice and Sean have really been able to talk things out together this season. I love the moment that they have in episode five when Alice reminds Sean that she tried to kiss him and she tells him that they’ve both been hiding from the world because of what they’ve been through. What was that scene like to share with Lukita Maxwell and how did it feel to really get them to that place, especially since it has been a journey to get there?
TENNIE: Yeah, it’s been a long time coming. In Shrinking, we see a lot of balance in relationships. There are mirrors that Bill [Lawrence], Brett [Goldstein] and Jason [Segel], and the rest of the other writers nail. If you remember the speech that Jimmy gave to Liz about, “You’re unforgiven. You’re banned from my house,” I love that speech because it’s incredible. You can see the other side of that from Liz’s perspective, as these characters grow. Sean is somebody who’s been on the older end of that relationship with Alice and hasn’t really experienced a real check from her, and he maybe took for granted the fact that he’s got a couple of years on her and thinking that there’s only learning happening in one direction. When she then schools him, he’s got to either live up to it or let his ego take over. I think that Sean is mature enough at this point to begin participating in his life and join Alice in not hiding anymore, which is a really cool thing to see.
The Ensemble Scenes in ‘Shrinking’ Often Feel Like Big Holiday Gathering Moments
“It should feel like a family reunion.”
I also loved the moment in episode seven with everyone around the piano singing together and you’ve got a guitar. What was it like to have a moment like that where you guys are all together and singing, and then you also throw in some laughs with Cobie Smulders singing so off key?
TENNIE: That’s our show. That’s Shrinking. All these little scenes build up to when the family gets together again for those big scenes. For a lot of people, that’s how life is punctuated. A lot of people don’t have those families to connect with over the holidays. The reality is, when the family is together in a healthy moment, that’s what can punctuate a lot of people’s lives throughout the year, and that’s how the show is punctuated. We’ll have these two people over here, and these two people there, and then every once in a while, you’ll see everyone together again. When viewers see that on Shrinking, it should feel like Thanksgiving, it should feel like Christmas, it should feel like when everybody gets together on the 4th of July. It should feel like a family reunion, to a degree.
Did you know that song at all? How did you come to play guitar in that scene?
TENNIE: Did I know that song? Have I seen Twilight? Absolutely! I did learn the chords in my trailer for a bit because I said to the director, “Is it cool if I played his guitar?” He was like, “Oh, it’s real cool if you play the guitar. Do you know the chords?” I said, “I just learned them in the trailer.” He said, “If you know the chords, then you can play it.” I was like, “All right, I’m playing it. Let’s play it!” I got to play because I just felt like that would be something that Sean would do. Sean is low-key and understated. He probably would sing if his friends wanted to, but to do something where he gets to hide a little bit, I obsess over the little details. The guitar being in front of you versus singing was one of those things where he got to participate in a low-key way, so I’m glad that they accepted that.
Losing Maya Will Have a Ripple Effect Through the Remainder of ‘Shrinking’ Season 3
“It’s going to change the direction of how they live their lives.”
Along with all the funny this season, there is a serious moment when Gaby learns about the loss of Maya and how that ripples through everyone on the show, including Sean. What is it like to throw Sherry Cola into the mix this season and to have her on the show?
TENNIE: I started following Sherry after I met her on socials. She’s everywhere. She’s in this show, that show, the up show, the down show. She’s everywhere. She’s able to fit into so many different pieces of art because of how versatile she is a performer, but also because of the warmth that she brings to her characters. She was perfect for that part in Shrinking because we knew where it was headed, and it needed to be a lasting impression. Sherry is the performer that can make that happen. The impression that she put on the show will live in Sean and Gaby. It’s going to change the direction of how they live their lives. It’s going to make them pay a lot more attention to how they operate and move through this world where they are aware of how therapy can potentially help people. Her contribution was a lot more than just being funny and witty and warm. It really alters the entire course of a couple of characters on our show. It was a pretty important part to cast. Shout-out to (casing directors) Brett [Benner] and Debby [Romano]. They did it again. They found the perfect performer for the part.
- Release Date
-
January 27, 2023
- Network
-
Apple TV
Shrinking is available to stream on Apple TV.
Kyle Cooke
I’m Not Dating Ava Dash…
and Amanda Ain’t Dating West Wilson!
Published
Bravo
Kyle Cooke is denying dating “Next Gen NYC” cast member Ava Dash … and giving his two thoughts on rumors Amanda Batula is getting with one of their “Summer House” costars!
Check out the clip — Kyle appeared on “Watch What Happens Live” Tuesday night and fully squashed the romance chatter going on about him and Ava.
ICYMI, reports circled that he and his fellow reality star were holding hands at dinner over the weekend, but he tells Andy Cohen the entire table was holding hands to do a group blessing.
And regarding the gossip about his estranged wife Amanda, he says he believes rumors that she’s eyeing down their co-star West Wilson is BS — though he says if they were dating, he just wants her to be happy.
As you know, the Loverboy founder and Amanda announced they were parting ways back in January after 4 years of marriage. Amanda has said she’s open to dating … but isn’t looking for anything too serious.
Entertainment
Liza Minnelli says late costar Gene Hackman was 'downright rude' on set of “Lucky Lady”
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Minnelli and Hackman starred alongside Burt Reynolds in the 1975 dramedy, in which their characters form a love triangle.
As a genre, true crime has dominated television for years. Massive documentary hits like Netflix’s Making a Murderer and HBO’s The Staircase proved just how captivated audiences can be by real-life criminal cases. But as the genre has grown more popular, networks and studios have increasingly looked for ways to tell these stories outside the traditional documentary format, creating scripted series that allow writers and actors to explore the personalities and circumstances surrounding the crimes in greater detail.
That was the approach NBC took in 2022 when it teamed up with Blumhouse Television to produce The Thing About Pam, a limited series based on one of the strangest murder cases in recent American history. Rather than presenting the story as a grim procedural, the series leaned into the bizarre nature of the real-life events and the outsized personality at the center of the case. The result was a show that blended crime storytelling with dark humor and an almost Coen Brothers–style sense of absurdity. The tonal gamble didn’t work for everyone, but four years later, The Thing About Pam remains a fascinating look at a real-life story that was already stranger than fiction.
What Is ‘The Thing About Pam’ About?
The Thing About Pam is based on the real-life murder of Betsy Faria (Katy Mixon) in Troy, Missouri, a case that quickly spiraled into one of the most convoluted investigations in recent memory. When Betsy is found stabbed to death in her home in 2011, suspicion immediately falls on her husband, Russ Faria (Glenn Fleshler). Despite a lack of convincing evidence and the fact that he had a strong alibi, Russ is ultimately convicted of the crime, largely due to a deeply flawed investigation.
At the center of the story is Pam Hupp, played by Renée Zellweger, a seemingly friendly acquaintance of Betsy who becomes increasingly entangled in the case. As the investigation unfolds, Pam’s role begins to look far more suspicious than anyone initially realized. Over time, prosecutors and investigators begin uncovering a web of lies and manipulations that point to a far more disturbing truth behind Betsy’s death. The series also features a strong supporting cast, including Judy Greer as prosecutor Leah Askey and Josh Duhamel as defense attorney Joel Schwartz, as the case becomes increasingly bizarre.
From ‘The Sopranos’ to ‘Breaking Bad,’ the 10 Most Ambitious Crime TV Shows, Ranked
These are all-time heavy hitters.
What sets The Thing About Pam apart from most true-crime adaptations is its unusual tone. Rather than presenting the case strictly as a grim procedural, the series often leans into the absurdity of the situation, from the baffling and botched investigation to the unusual personality of Pam herself. That tonal choice set the show apart, in both good ways and bad. At times, it risked feeling like it was adopting the darkly comedic style of shows like Fargo while telling the story of a very real murder. Still, the strange twists of the case, and Pam Hupp’s outsized personality, help explain why the creative team leaned into a more stylized approach. And much of that tone ultimately works because of Renée Zellweger’s bold performance at the center of it all.
Renée Zellweger Delivers One of Her Boldest Performances in ‘The Thing About Pam’
Looking at Renée Zellweger’s impressive resume, it might be surprising that her first real foray into television came through a network true-crime series. But Zellweger herself was introduced to the story of Pam Hupp while listening to Dateline’s popular 2019 podcast of the same name. As she explained in a 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly, the case was so strange that it immediately drew her in. “You can’t quite believe the facts that surround the case,” she said, describing the story as an “escalating absurdity.” That sense of disbelief ultimately became central to her performance.
Zellweger commits fully to the role, leaning into Pam’s strange blend of seeming totally relatable while also being incredibly manipulative and unpredictable. It’s a performance that feels very different from the other real-life figures she has portrayed in the past, including Judy Garland in Judy, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Pam Hupp is not a tragic icon or beloved public figure, but someone far messier and far more baffling. That challenge results in a deliberately heightened performance that matches the show’s unusual tone. The Thing About Pam also marked a milestone in Zellweger’s career: not only was it her network TV debut, but she also served as an executive producer, helping shape the tone of the series while anchoring it on screen.
Looking back four years later, The Thing About Pam remains one of the more unusual entries in the ever-growing world of true-crime television. Its willingness to blend dark humor with a real-life murder case remains controversial, but the show’s attempt to capture the bizarre nature of the story, and the odd person at the center, gives it a distinct identity among a crowded field of true-crime adaptations. For viewers who missed it the first time around, the six-episode limited series makes for a quick and compelling binge.
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