A volunteer group in northern Mexico searched for Nancy Guthrie after receiving an anonymous tip suggesting the 84-year-old may have been buried near the U.S.-Mexico border in an unmarked grave. The search has renewed attention on the case as investigators and volunteers continue working through potential leads with no confirmed results so far.

RELATED: Savannah Guthrie Announces $1M Reward As Search For Missing Mom Nancy Guthrie Reaches 24 Days (VIDEO UPDATE)

Buscando Corazones Nogales is a group that dedicates itself to locating missing persons. Furthermore, they conducted the search and traveled to the area known as “Mariposa” after receiving the report earlier this week. Ramona Guadalupe Ayala Ortiz, the organization’s leader, said the tip specifically pointed to a burial site near a stream in the region. “We received an anonymous call telling us that the woman’s [Guthrie’s] remains were in the Mariposa area — in a grave over a stream,” she said.

Search Yields No Findings As Efforts Continue In Mariposa Area

According to Ayala Ortiz, the group conducted an initial sweep of the area indicated in the tip, which has previously yielded the discovery of 25 unmarked graves. However, the latest search did not locate Guthrie’s remains. Despite the outcome, organizers said they plan to continue searching the region, noting that both missing persons cases and previously undocumented burial sites remain a concern in the area.

The Sonora State Commission for the Search of Missing Persons supported the effort, while local and state authorities provided security assistance during the operation.

Savannah Guthrie Shares Emotional Plea Four Months After Disappearance

It has now been four months since the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie. In a recent emotional Instagram Story, Savannah shared a post featuring the message, “Oh my, my soul it cries out, soul it cries out,” alongside a simple but direct plea reading, “Bring her home.” The post reflects the ongoing emotional toll on the family as the search for answers continues with no confirmed updates on her whereabouts.

Here’s What We Last Knew In The Case

In a previous Instagram video, Savannah Guthrie shared a direct appeal to the public, reading from prepared remarks as she addressed her mother’s disappearance. She urged anyone with information to come forward, stressing the family’s desire for confirmation that Nancy Guthrie is alive, and noted concerns about misinformation or manipulated media. Savannah also described her mother as a “kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light,” highlighting the close bond she shares with her children and grandchildren.

Nancy Guthrie’s family dropped her off at her home on the evening of Feb. 1, and she did not attend church the following day. Savannah also spoke about her mother’s health challenges, saying she lives in “constant pain” and relies on medication to survive, including a pacemaker that reportedly stopped syncing with her Apple Watch. Officials with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department continue to investigate the suspected abduction, with support from federal agencies including the FBI. At this time, authorities have not identified any suspects or persons of interest, and there is no confirmed evidence pointing to who may be responsible.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Savannah Guthrie Breaks Down In Emotional Plea For Missing Mom, Believed To Have Been Abducted (VIDEO)

Comedian Wanda Sykes was among the presenters at the 2026 Golden Globes. While on stage, she made a joke about Bill Maher, who was in the audience at the ceremony. Now, months later, she’s revealing that he confronted her over her comments. Plus, the “Undercard” star is giving her thoughts on the recent Netflix Kevin Hart roast.

Sykes recently appeared on Vulture’s “Good One” podcast. During the conversation, she was asked about her joke at the Golden Globes, in which she said the world needs “a little less” of Maher. In revealing his response, she stated that he wasted no time in confronting her.

Sykes recalled that he approached her as they were outside the venue waiting for their vehicles. According to her, he asked, “What was that about?” She went on, “And I was like, ‘It’s a joke, Bill.’ He was like, ‘Well, it wasn’t even a joke.’”

The actress went on to say that Maher referred to her onstage comments as “stupid” and that he stated he’d received texted messages from others who felt the same way.

Sykes Says Maher’s Response Epitomized The Joke

The “Undercore” star continued her line of discussion about Maher’s reaction to her Golden Globes joke. According to her, “I said, ‘See, you’re doing exactly what we said in the joke. We need less of this.’”

She continued, “You’re epitomizing the joke.” From there, Sykes responded to Maher’s rebuttal about receiving reports from others after her joke, saying, “I got a lot of texts telling me how great it was and how they don’t like you, and it was really funny.”

Sykes added, “I guess that’s the problem. You’re watching Fox News, and I’m over here on MSNBC.”

Fans Are Taking Wanda’s Side

Following Sykes’s revelation about how Maher reacted to her saying she’d like “a little less” of him, social media is overwhelmingly on her side. Overall, fans believe the political comedian has become the thing he once poked fun at.

One person wrote, “At some point, Bill became what he was making fun of and started taking himself way too seriously.” A different social media user stated, “He can dish it out, but he can’t take it. I think Wanda is wonderful.”

Someone else chimed in, writing, “I forgot Bill is a comedian, and I think he has forgotten as well.” After that, another former fan of Maher stated, “Wanda Sykes is undeniably one of the best living comedians. Bill Maher should be grateful she even mentioned him.”

Another person responded, “Bill is everything he makes fun of. That joke was so light, too.” However, not everyone considered Sykes’ joke funny. One person noted, “She has never been funny to me. Neither has Bill, but her comments to him while on stage felt odd.”

Wanda Sykes Also Reacted To The Kevin Hart Roast

During Sykes’ recent Vulture interview, she was asked about the recent roast of Hart and if she’d been invited to participate. The 62-year-old responded, “Kevin called me before it was announced and I said, ‘No.”

She then shared that he told her it would be good publicity for her recent comedy special. When asked if she’d watched the roast, Sykes stated, “I consumed enough to go, ‘Thank God I went to the Sparks game instead.”

In describing what went wrong with the Netflix roast, Sykes labeled the problem as “lazy writing.” She went on, “I thought the same thing with the [Tom] Brady roast, too. Seems like the roasts, they’re just recycled sexist, racist, gay jokes. Like, come on.”

Some of the comedians featured were Shane Gillis, Chelsea Handler, Katt Williams, Pete Davidson, Tony Hinchcliffe, and Sheryl Underwood.

Sykes is one of the most sought-after comedians working today. Recently, in May 2026, she released her third Netflix special, “Wanda Sykes: Legacy.” According to the streamer, the special features the comedian’s return to her alma mater, Hampton University, where she provides humorous commentary on a variety of topics, including politics and her family life.

“Legacy” follows 2019’s “Not Normal” and her 2023 special, “I’m an entertainer.” Also in 2026, her Netflix comedy series “The Upshaws” ended after five seasons.

Selena Gomez is clearing up online speculation that she threw shade at her friend Taylor Swift attending Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Gomez, 33, simply commented, “lol” under an Instagram post showing Swift, 36, celebrating the New York Knicks’ victory on Wednesday, June 10, at Madison Square Garden with actress Mariska Hargitay.

“Woke up and was sent so many texts,” the Only Murders in the Building star wrote in an Instagram Story early Friday, June 12. “I would never insult my friends, nor was it an insult. The comment was a reaction to the first slide on the page.”

Gomez also clarified another Instagram Story she had shared on Wednesday night.

Related: Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez’s Sweetest Friendship Moments Over the Years

Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez formed a strong friendship that has lasted more than a decade. Swift and Gomez originally crossed paths in 2008 on a double date with Joe Jonas and Nick Jonas, respectively. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, I agree to the Terms and […]

“Mad respect for the game!! Congrats to the peeps that represent. What a comeback,” she wrote of the Knicks’ narrow 107-106 victory over her favorite team, the San Antonio Spurs.

The actress and singer added, “So funny how some are all the sudden fans though lol.”

In Friday’s post, Gomez explained that her comments were simply a joke between friends after she bet on the Spurs beating the Knicks.

“I bet my friends on the game. The friends in the text chain I posted,” she wrote, referring to a screenshot she shared via Instagram Stories on Wednesday. “I lost but was poking fun at my opponents, my friends.”

Gomez continued, “Believe it or not, I do have other friends in my life. But quickly forget that most assume otherwise.”

“Also.. it’s a basketball game,” the actress added.

Gomez and Swift first crossed paths in the late 2000s when they were dating Nick and Joe Jonas, respectively. While the relationships didn’t last, their friendship endured.

“Taylor and I dated the Jonas Brothers,” Gomez said on the “Therapuss With Jake Shane” podcast in August 2025. “I dated Nick, and she dated Joe.”

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Related: Taylor Swift on Her Ed Sheeran Conversation at Selena Gomez’s Wedding

Taylor Swift opened up about Selena Gomez’s recent wedding, including what she and Ed Sheeran discussed during the celebrations. In an interview with the U.K.’s Hits Radio Breakfast Show, which aired on Friday, October 3, Swift, 35, shone a light on her catch-up with Sheeran, 34, during Gomez, 33, and Benny Blanco’s September 27 wedding. […]

“It’s cute. We were young. We all know and love each other now, and it’s so cute,” she continued. “We didn’t know what we were doing [at the time]. But, yeah, she and I like to say the best thing we got out of those relationships was each other.”

Gomez went on, “It was really sweet. I was about 15. She was about 18, and that’s when it was the crazy curly [haired] Taylor, and she had all these bracelets that went all the way up [her arm],” she said. “I believe ‘Love Story’ was the first song she had ever played me and it wasn’t released yet. It was in a hotel room, I remember it vividly, and it was just like … it was one of those songs that I instantly heard and thought, ‘This is one of the most beautiful songs ever.’”

Swift was in attendance at Gomez’s wedding to Benny Blanco last year, while Gomez is expected to attend Swift’s nuptials to Travis Kelce, which are rumored to take place on July 3.

Taylor Swift paid tribute to her family while being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The “I Knew You, I Knew It” singer, 36, was admitted into the prestigious hall of fame during an awards ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on Thursday, June 11.

During her 21-minute acceptance speech, Taylor acknowledged the sacrifices her parents, Scott and Andrea Swift, and brother, Austin Swift, made to help her kickstart her music career.

“It was easy to choose songwriting over everything else in my life, but it couldn’t have been easy for my parents and my brother to just pick up and move our entire family from Pennsylvania to relocate to Nashville so that I could hone my craft in the songwriting capital of the world,” she said, per Variety. “But after making obvious that this was not even remotely a temporary phase their teen daughter was going through, they uprooted their entire lives to move me to Music City. And even though words are supposed to kind of be my thing, I will never be able to express my gratitude to you guys for doing that for me. You’re the reason I’m here tonight.”

Elsewhere during her speech, Swift, who attended Thursday’s ceremony with fiancé Travis Kelce, spoke about the impact her music has had on people.

“I’m very frequently told by people how they feel about my music,” she said. “That they never really got my music until they got their heart broken or started driving their daughter to school every day or until I made an alternative album in the pandemic called Folklore. Or that they only like the hits or that they only like the ones that weren’t hits or that they don’t like any of it at all. But it doesn’t feel uncomfortable for me to get feedback of all sorts, because I know where I stand regarding the work I’ve made.”

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The Grammy winner added, “As writers, we can only hope to meet people where they are in their lives. But you can’t ever orchestrate or force the encounter. You just have to hope that in some exquisite happenstance you bump into them on the same path at the same time. That somehow, amidst the noise of life, a line we wrote or a melody that we crafted cuts through, and they hear it and feel something. But they get chills or feel lighter or think of someone they love. Our goal is to elicit that glint of recognition in another human being because something that felt good and true to us feels good and true to them at the same time. And in that moment, when someone blurts out, ‘I love this song,’ it was easy.”

Swift concluded her speech by thanking the fans who have stuck by her since she released her first song, “Tim McGraw,” in 2006.

“Nothing makes me happier than when someone tells me that they used to listen to my music with their parent, and now decades later, they listen to it with their own child,” she gushed. “Or that they listen to it with their best friend or when a couple tells me that ‘Love Story’ is their song. Or where somebody does like a cute little dance to ‘The Fate of Ophelia,’ or I hear people in different countries singing ‘Opalite’ in their own accents, or someone tells me that the song ‘Enchanted’ gets their baby to stop crying. I’m humbled by the ways that fans have immortalized my songs in their own individual ways, allowing them to be the underscore of some of their real-life expeditions on this earth, the magnificent moments as important to me as the seemingly mundane.”

Kiddos are a beautiful thing, but bodies (and self-esteem) can take a hit. If your tummy is your primary concern, there’s a flattering sundress for that! These loose, breezy picks are designed not only to conceal your belly but also to elevate your aesthetic tenfold. Even better, these reviewer-loved finds start at just $5!

Think rich mom energy — the kind that looks effortless at camp drop off and polished enough for rosé lunches. These 17 flowy finds feature loose silhouettes that move beautifully, hide what you want hidden and still feel pulled together. Whether you’re searching for a staple dress for vacations, errands, weddings or anything in between, you’ll find it below!

17 Sundresses to Conceal Mom Tummies — From $5

1. Our Favorite: Bloated days don’t stand a chance against this tiered maxi dress. Each tier creates volume that disguises any thickness around your waist.

2. Everyday Outfit: Stretchy fabric and a paisley print make this sleeveless midi dress the kind you grab without thinking. Casual enough for errands, pretty enough that you won’t change before dinner.

3. Wedding Guest of Honor: Wrap waists cinch where you want and skim where you don’t, and this ruffle-sleeve number nails the proportions. Reviewers confirm it conceals a mommy tummy.

4. Yacht Wife: Bold stripes, a loose fit and actual pockets make this nautical tank dress the perfect resort piece.

5. Quite the Charmer: Imagine brunch on a patio in this watermelon-colored maxi. The swing skirt catches the breeze, and the stripes do all the styling.

Related: 17 Summer Dresses From Amazon That Look Very ‘Zimmermann‘

Hamptons rich moms are almost too easy to spot. They wear Zimmermann designs nonstop, and although these boho-luxe pieces cost thousands, we found 17 romantic summer dresses that channel the same energy for *so* much less. We’re talking loose, billowy picks from just $11! Flowing skirts, head-turning florals and sleeves with just enough drama are […]

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6. Modest Mini: This floral wrap dress is the ultimate emergency piece, stylish enough for impromptu cookouts and last-minute lunches.

7. Boutique Find: Self-conscious days call for texture and this lace-embellished maxi is the solution. The fabric disguises your tummy area while making you look rich.

8. Absolute Essential: Pack this printed tank dress for the cruise, the trip into town and the long flight home. On sale for just $5, it’s the one piece that’s really worth adding to your suitcase.

9. Vacation Mode: Print is your midsection’s best friend. Just check out this tropical-inspired maxi dress, which features a busy pattern and a loose cut that work together to camouflage any bumps.

10. Picnic Party: Blue gingham print and spaghetti straps make this maxi dress feel like a storybook summer. The flowy skirt keeps things light and forgiving.

11. Mediterranean Maven: Linen pants get boring. Slip on this head-turning blue sundress with leather sandals and a woven tote for that effortless Mediterranean look.

12. Preppy Pick: An empire waist is a slimming secret and this ruffle cap-sleeve number uses it well. Pockets are a welcome bonus.

13. July MVP: Hot days call for a dress that doesn’t stick. This ultra-lightweight wonder feels like wearing nothing at all.

14. English Countryside: Some dresses just feel romantic and this billowy maxi dress is one of them. The print channels Zimmermann’s dreamy energy.

15. No Sleeves Needed: Want to flaunt your shoulders and skip the rest? Zesica’s sleeveless beach dress draws attention upward, so you’ll forget about your tummy.

16. Floral Find: Wedding invitations are already stacking up. Lucky, this sophisticated chiffon dress is floaty, sleek and fancy enough for any cathedral.

17. Elevated Tee: Soft fabric and actual pockets make this T-shirt maxi the easiest thing in your closet. It’s as stretchy as loungewear.

Related: 17 Loose Zara-Style Amazon Dresses for Women Over 40 — Under $30

Who doesn’t want a Zara wardrobe? Boho, breezy and all sorts of luxe, the brand is a rich mom summer go-to for a reason. The price tags are the only not-so-cute element, but we found 17 chic summer dresses that channel the exact same energy — for under $30. These Amazon dresses have all the telltale […]

If there’s one thing ‘Love Island USA’ fans are going to do, it’s clock in daily and sound off online. Just one week into the season, viewers are already picking favorites, rooting for couples, and campaigning for who they think needs to pack their bags and leave the villa. Most recently, Lizzo had social media talking after sharing exactly how she thinks the next elimination should go down.

Related: Vasana Montgomery Speaks Out After Being Removed From ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 For Allegedly Using Racial Slur In Resurfaced Clips

Lizzo Weighs In On The Next Love Island USA Elimination

‘Love Island USA’ has completely taken over timelines, group chats, and TikTok For You Pages. Fans have been debating everything from their favorite Islanders and couples to who should pack their bags and leave the villa next. Now, even celebrities are joining the conversation.

Lizzo recently took to TikTok to weigh in on the latest villa drama and share her strategy for the upcoming vote. In a post, she wrote, “If we vote for Sol & Sincere, then Melanie will choose Corbin, and then we can send Mel & Corbin both home next vote.”

The post quickly made its rounds online, with viewers debating whether Lizzo was cooking up the perfect elimination strategy or completely off base with her prediction.

Social Media Reacts

Social media users wasted no time sharing their thoughts on Lizzo’s comments.

Instagram user @adoreee_mani_ wrote, “See I was with you at first but Mel not goin now where”

Another Instagram user @therealkalia wrote, “leave mel alone!!!!!!”

While Instagram user @nae.arielle wrote, “Celebrities need to keep it to a minimum…”

Instagram user @dom.evansss wrote, “Why would we send Mel home and she’s the drama ?? Y’all gotta make it make sense”

Another Instagram user @skytoopretty wrote, “Speak for yourself who tf is we?”

While Instagram user @nyahnashae wrote, “how about we send you home next vote”

Instagram user @angiespamz2.0 wrote, “I like how Lizzo thinks”

Another Instagram user @tasiaaaaa.a wrote, “she do only one actually ‘exploring’ which is what you pose to do on there show….its about finding love not being popular”

While Instagram user @benikabongo wrote, “Lizzo need to gone on and worry bout that album that flopped”

Sean Reifel Becomes The First Islander Dumped From The Villa

While fans continue debating who should be sent home next, the villa has already seen its first elimination.

Sean Reifel became the first Islander dumped from the villa after finding himself single following a recoupling. Sean had begun building a connection with Kenzie, but newcomer Corbin ultimately chose her first, leaving Sean without a partner and vulnerable to elimination.

Before entering the villa, Sean had already made headlines after leaving his job as a police officer to join the reality dating show. His departure sparked criticism from local officials, with Easton Mayor J. William Reynolds expressing frustration over the time and taxpayer money invested in training Sean before he resigned.

Now, Sean’s ‘Love Island USA’ journey has officially come to an end, making him the first Islander sent packing this season.

Related: Yikes! Sean Reifel’s Mom Claps Back After Mayor Calls Him Out For Leaving Police Job To Join ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Episode 5 of Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed

Apple TV has yet another hit on its hands with David Rosen‘s Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. The darkly comic thriller follows Tatiana Maslany‘s charming and wonderfully messy Paula, a recently divorced soccer mom who, on top of a child custody battle and irritating young coworkers, is swept up in a chaotic blackmail scheme involving online sex worker Trevor (Brandon Flynn).

After five non-stop episodes, it’s become crystal clear that Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is anything but predictable. One of the most interesting parts of the series, though, has (largely) nothing to do with Paula’s deadly circumstances. Paula’s ex-husband Karl (Jake Johnson) and his new partner, Mallory (Jessy Hodges), are pushing to bring Paula and Karl’s daughter Hazel (Nola Wallace) to Boise permanently, much to Paula’s growing frustration. In their defense, Paula hasn’t been the most trustworthy guardian.

Episode 5 of Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed has been quite telling, with Mallory’s bribery twist ahead of the custody trial putting her in a darker light, and Karl lying about the cops adding another layer of deceit to their marriage. During this interview with Collider, Jake Johnson and Jessy Hodges talk about the importance of perspective in a series like this, why Johnson never saw Karl as an antagonist, and whether or not they were surprised about where their characters would go.

Jake Johnson and Jessy Hodges Reveal What Brings Them Pleasure

“I want to make sure I answer correctly.”

Image via Apple TV

COLLIDER: I’m really excited to talk to you both. Jake, I just want to start by saying Ride the Eagle is one of my absolute favorite movies and I really admire you as a screenwriter. As someone trying to make it as a screenwriter, that movie means a lot.

JAKE JOHNSON: Thanks so much! That was our little pandemic baby we made for $250,000. That was a little backyard project.

And Jessy, I love Barry. I feel like the common denominator here is D’Arcy Carden, I’m realizing.

JESSY HODGES: It is! [Laughs] It is.

JOHNSON: You love D’Arcy Carden. [Laughs]

HODGES: As do I! She’s like my best friend.

That’s so cool. Yeah, she’s great. Okay, let’s talk about this show. As we can see pretty quickly in the series, Paula has an outlet for her pleasure. Is there a TV show or a movie or maybe something you do that can turn your mood around instantly if you’re in a funk?

JOHNSON: Well, this is going to be hard because she’s masturbating.

HODGES: Oh boy. Here we go.

JOHNSON: [Laughs] I have an outlet for my pleasure, but I want to make sure I answer correctly.

HODGES: Careful….

[Laughs] I was thinking something more PG.

JOHNSON: I can always watch the show Cheers, which I love, but it’s different than what Paula does. [Laughs]

HODGES: It’s a different kind of a pleasure.

It is.

JOHNSON: [Laughs] I could watch that show endlessly, and I’ve been able to since I was a boy. I just adore it.

HODGES: That’s a great answer. It’s a classy answer. Mine’s not. Mine is The Real Housewives. It doesn’t even matter the franchise. Almost anything on Bravo is a pleasure to me. Right now, I’m really loving Summer House, but Real Housewives of Atlanta is really coming on up and Beverly Hills is always important to me, too.

Jake Johnson Enjoyed the Challenge That Came With Playing ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’s Karl

“I think everybody always thinks they’re the protagonist of their story.”

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is so unpredictable, all the way up to the finale’s final scene, which rattled me. What was your impression when you first got the story and learned where your characters were going?

HODGES: We read so many scripts and when I got this script, it just leapt off the page. It’s just so well written and so dynamic. There’s so much going on. Seeing that David Gordon Green was attached to direct it and that the cast that was coming together, I was just like, “I will give my left leg to be a part of this.”

What were your first impressions, Jake, when you were reading Karl? Because I feel like you play a lot of very charming characters that are really easy to like and you have really great chemistry with everyone you interact with. Karl is not really doing anything wrong — he wants the best for his daughter — but you kind of are positioned to not really like him that much. How did you approach that?

JOHNSON: I try to approach them all the same way. I viewed this from Karl’s point of view. I think if the script was a little bit different and we were seeing it from Karl’s point of view, the audience would like him a lot more and like Paula a lot less, but it’s her show. But I don’t view it any differently. I think everybody always thinks they’re the protagonist of their story, so from his point of view, he’s a really great father who has made a hard decision and that is to leave the mother of his daughter for a woman that he thinks is a better fit for not only him, but for his daughter. And he thinks the Idaho move is really great for everybody, Paula included. So when terms like manipulative get thrown at him, I think it was a shock to Karl. And as the guy playing him, it was a shock to me too. I was team Karl.

There were so many scenes where you could tell just without him even saying anything, that he didn’t want to do what he was doing.

JOHNSON: Yes.

He doesn’t want to rip Hazel from Paula.

JOHNSON: It was a very enjoyably frustrating job to have because I felt like they’re not letting Karl win and they’re not letting the things that he wants to happen, happen. And I’m not just talking about towards the end, but each sequence, like when he goes to the soccer game and he’s trying to be nice to her, Paula keeps doing things where you’re like, “There’s such an easy way we can get along and make this work.” And she never allows his plan to finish, which was incredibly frustrating. Again, I think if Karl was the lead of it, the audience would say, “Wow, how does he deal with such a frustrating partner?” [Laughs] But that’s me being a salesman again. My next job is going to be a real estate agent. I’d love to get you a beautiful property.

HODGES: [Laughs] Yeah, he has a whole plan.

JOHNSON: [Laughs] But that’s not about this.

Jessy Hodges Wasn’t Surprised by ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’s Episode 5 Twist

“She’s a lawyer.”

Image via Apple TV

Jessy, your character starts out fairly benign, and then she really takes things into her own hands. I think Karl gets really upset with the private investigator and her swapping the file. Were you surprised at the direction Mallory was going in?

HODGES: No, I was not surprised. I think it’s important to remember that she’s a lawyer, and I think she’s a very black and white thinker. Once it became clear that they were involving lawyers and courts in this custody situation, it became a thing to win or lose. And she’s not a person who looks forward to losing, which means she’s trying to win. Is it what I would have done myself? Not necessarily. But I think it was very consistent with the character.

JOHNSON: I have to jump in here. I’m sorry. I love Jessy very much.

HODGES: Uh oh, here we go.

JOHNSON: But she was confused about the character, deep into the series. When I said something about how Mallory’s kind of the bad

guy of the show. She went, “What?”

HODGES: [Laughs]

JOHNSON: I said, “I think you will see this.” We were at a restaurant and she’s like, “No. Mallory? No.” And I was like, “Yeah, I think she’s more than just Karl’s new wife. I think she’s somewhat of a villain. And Jessy very clearly was like, “Jake, you are crazy.”

HODGES: “Honey, you’ve got it wrong.”

JOHNSON: “And quite a big imagination.” [Laughs]

HODGES: Well, I mean, this actually speaks to the quality of the writing, but like Jake was saying, we are all the leads of our own storyline. So to me, everything that she was doing was pretty natural, and in keeping with what they’re trying to achieve for their family and what she’s personally trying to achieve.

Image via Apple TV

Tatiana is such a great anchor to this series and Paula is such a powder keg. What was it like sharing scenes with Tatiana?

JOHNSON: She’s an amazing actress. Really great to work with. Great to be around.

But what was interesting, at least for us, is we didn’t experience any of her other storylines. So now when you watch it, you get to see what she was going through, but especially in production, you’re not thinking about what else they shot. So at least for the three of us, we were in a little indie about a custody drama.

HODGES: Yeah. We were so siloed. We only saw each other, but just to add to what he’s saying, she is so talented and what she’s doing in this show is so exciting and dynamic and unpredictable and working with her was such a joy. I think especially as our duo too, because in the same way that Karl and Mallory are like, “Well, what’s Paula going to come at us with this time?” is thrilling for actors. That’s what it was like. It was like, “What is Tat going to bring this time?”

JOHNSON: Totally.

HODGES: My job was just responding to her. It was so easy to act with her as it was this guy. When actors are this talented, it’s just easy.

Thank you so much. I have to wrap, but it was a pleasure talking to you and watching the show. Thank you for your time.

JOHNSON: Good luck with the screenplays.

HODGES: Yeah!

Thank you so much! I appreciate it.

New episodes of Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed air Wednesday on Apple TV.