Connect with us

Entertainment

‘Stranger Things’ Star Charlie Heaton Breaks Down His ‘Industry’ Character’s Downward Spiral

Published

on

HBO logo

[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for Industry Season 4, Episode 4.]

Summary

  • In Season 4 of the HBO series ‘Industry,’ Harper and Yasmin clash as Tender’s mysteries implode and financial journalist James Dycker’s exposé backfires.
  • Charlie Heaton likens ‘Industry’ to Shakespeare and talks about the little prep time he had for the intense shoot where he was warmly welcomed by the cast.
  • Jim spirals on pills, bad choices and ruined credibility, and playing his collapse was exhausting yet rewarding.

In Season 4 of the HBO series Industry, Harper (Myha’la) and Yasmin (Marisa Abela) are at the top of their game when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of finance, but their competitive nature also quickly puts them at odds with each other. Harper wants to turn things around by striking out on her own while Yasmin tries to carve out a place for herself alongside her tech founder husband, Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington), at Tender. But things are not what they seem when it comes to the fintech company’s enigmatic co-founder, Whitney Halberstram (Max Minghella), which sparks interest in financial journalist James Dycker (Charlie Heaton). Unfortunately, no one is immune to a downward spiral, and his promising exposé of Tender’s business practices gets turned on him, shifting the spotlight to Jim’s bad decisions instead.

During this one-on-one interview with Collider, Heaton discussed how watching Industry is similar to watching Shakespeare, not having much time to jump into Season 4 and find his footing, how welcomed the cast made him feel in joining Season 4, his club scene introduction with Kiernan Shipka (who plays Tender executive assistant Hayley Clay), and how exhausting his characters building spiral was to experience. He also talked about who his Stranger Things character Jonathan Byers might cast in his movie, The Consumer, that funny NYU Alumni Instagram post inviting his character for their Alumni and Families weekend in the fall, and how he’s excited to continue pushing himself in future projects.

Advertisement

Understanding the World of the HBO Series ‘Industry’ Feels a Bit Like Watching Shakespeare

“You understand the stakes and you understand the tension, but you don’t really understand what’s going on.”

Collider: I have to admit that Industry is a show that I totally do not even remotely understand. I don’t understand the finance world at all. But I’m obsessed with the show because of the characters and their relationships.

CHARLIE HEATON: Yeah, that was very much me going into this. I’d heard of the show when I first was in talks for the role. I was talking to a friend of mine about it who’d watched it, and she said the same thing. She was like, “I have no idea what they’re talking about, but you get it.” That’s part of it. It’s almost like watching Shakespeare, in a way, with the language. You understand the stakes and you understand the tension, but you don’t really understand what’s going on, as a viewer.

HBO logo


HBO’s Addictive and Horny Drama Series Surges on Streaming

Plus, a new season is imminent.

Advertisement

Because there’s so much heaviness with this show, to get a little silly first, have you seen the NYU Alumni Instagram page that posted about how they’re looking to get in touch with Jonathan Byers from the NYU class of 1991 for the 35th anniversary of his graduation. I just thought that was the funniest.

HEATON: No, I hadn’t seen that. Where do I go? That’s so funny. I’ll check it out.

Advertisement

They invited him to join the NYU Alumni and Families weekend this fall, and I just thought it was so funny. How weird is it to have a character that you’ve played take on a life of its own in that way?

HEATON: Yeah, it is. What a treat. We’ve been saying goodbye to these characters for over a year now. We’ve just come off this huge press tour where everyone was asking what it feels like to say goodbye. When we wrapped, it really did feel like you were saying goodbye to a friend. I kept using that analogy. You’re leaving them, and they’re going on with their own life. It felt like that. So, the fact that that’s how people feel about all these characters, that they’re real people who really exist in the world, that’s a testament to the show, to the writing, and we played these characters for so long and people have resonated with them for so long that they feel like real, full-fledged people. It’s amazing, really.

Advertisement

Who Would Jonathan Byers Cast in His ‘Stranger Things’ Movie, ‘The Consumer’?

“That’s a funny question.”

Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers films the Hawkins High graduation in Stranger Things
Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers films the Hawkins High graduation in Stranger Things
Image via Netflix

If Jonathan Byers’ movie, The Consumer, were a real movie, who do you think he would cast in it? If it had become more than a student film and he got to make it for the big screen, who would he want to see play the woman in it?

HEATON: Wow. I feel like, at the time, you’ve got to look at ‘80s [actors]. I feel like, at that time, Jonathan would have been a fan of Sigourney Weaver. It would be pretty meta to have Winona Ryder be in his movie. That’s a funny question. I know that Phoebe Cates has been mentioned. I feel like Dustin really likes Phoebe Cates. That’s funny.

The first person I thought of was Winona Ryder, and I was like, “How would that work?”

Advertisement

HEATON: Yeah!

When you come off a project that is big and successful and has the attention that Stranger Things has, it can be a bit scary to figure out what to do next and how to follow that up. Industry certainly is one way to do that. It’s considered to be one of the best shows on TV, and it seems like a show that is also both fun and terrifying to do. Was it both of those things?

HEATON: Yeah, it was. It’s such a specific world. I had come from being in such a specific world for 10 years. You’re joining an established show. I’ve been on a show and I’ve seen what it’s like for other people to come onto an established show. It was really terrifying. There wasn’t a lot of time either. It wasn’t like I had a lot of time to prep for it. It literally happened all in the space of a week, I think. That manic-ness and that pressure of being like, “Wow, I’ve got to learn this really quickly,” I do think helped with the intensity of it, just because it is such an intense, wild show. The challenge of it made it the perfect thing for me to go and see how I would do with that.

I was looking for something that was going to really challenge me, and this is so different to anything I’m used to. It’s a different style of work, different tone of work, different tone of material. Konrad [Kay] and Mickey [Down], the showrunners and writers, were so great and they were really encouraging, and they were really excited to see me do something different, so I had their support. They were really helpful. They helped me understand the world. They were bank traders. The story comes from their experience. They’re an encyclopedia of knowledge.

Advertisement

How you find a way into a character is always the job. I’ve done other films before, but being on the show, I discovered Jonathan a long time ago. I had to find my way into this new character of Jim, not knowing exactly how I was going to find my way into it. I don’t really feel like a financial journalist at all. I don’t know what that feels like. But you always somehow seem to find your own way in, and that was really encouraging. It gave me a lot of confidence, which was really nice to experience.

Myha'la in Industry Season 4


‘Industry’ Season 4 Review: HBO’s Most Underrated Thriller Series Returns With a Dark New Chapter

‘Industry’ may share similarities with other HBO dramas, but it’s evolved into a definitive show of the moment.

Advertisement

You had the double whammy of having to try to understand the financial world, and then also figuring out what it’s like to be a financial journalist who’s reporting on it.

HEATON: It was funny because, at the time we were shooting, it was March or April of last year and there was that brief moment when the American stock market crashed for a couple days or a week and everyone was freaking out. I was reading these long-form articles about what was going on, and because of the show, I would not be able to understand it now, but I was like, “Oh, yeah, I know what they’re talking about. I kind of get it.” For three months, I was like, “Yeah, I know finance.” And then, it was completely gone.

Advertisement

The Club Scene in the First Episode of Season 4 of ‘Industry’ Had a Real DJ To Help Set the Vibe

“They create environments that really help the actors feel that it’s as tangible as possible.”

Charlie Heaton as James Dycker looking off in contemplation in Industry Season 4
Charlie Heaton as James Dycker looking off in contemplation in Industry Season 4
Image via HBO

I love a good character introduction, and this season kicks off with us being thrown into things with you and Kiernan Shipka. What was it like to play all of that with her, starting with her really drawing you in and seducing you on the dance floor?

HEATON: My first day on set was that club scene. They brought in this DJ from Brazil that they really like, and it was really fun. Kiernan is wonderful. She’s been doing this for such a long time, she does it with such grace and ease. When you’ve got to do something like that, it could easily be very awkward, but it was really comfortable. DJ Tennis was the name of the DJ that they brought in. That was fun. The rehearsal wasn’t fun because they didn’t bring any of the background artists in. It was just me and Kiernan grinding on each other, and everyone around watching it was like, “Yeah, that’s okay. That’ll work.” It’s never that comfortable. But we had a lot of fun.

What Industry does really well is keep things as raw as possible. There’s one little frame in the very opening, when you open in Canary Wharf, and it’s these super long lens cameras that are capturing me and Kiernan before we get to the club. Even that was filmed guerrilla style in Canary Wharf. You had real people commuting and the camera was miles away, so you feel like you’re just in the city. They set those environments. When Jim is at those offices, they have the extras moving around. They create environments that really help the actors feel that it’s as tangible as possible.

Advertisement
Kiernan Shipka as Haley listening to someone talking off-camera in Industry Season 4


‘Industry’s Kiernan Shipka Breaks Down Episode 3’s Shocking Three-Way Scene and Hayley’s Manipulations

“I think she has way more agency than meets the eye. I would almost venture to say she has full agency,” says Shipka of her ‘Industry’ character.

What do you think James Dycker thought of Hayley Clay when all of that was happening, especially as things just continue to spiral and he has no idea what’s going to happen to him beyond that moment?

Advertisement

HEATON: To understand the character, you’ve got to understand their moral ethics. In the beginning, I really don’t think he feels like he’s trying to get dragged into that situation. I personally don’t think it’s as dark as that. But then, as the night continues, the ethics get a bit more skewed. In the beginning, I think he just wants to have a conversation because he goes to the pub and I think he was maybe thinking about catching her at the pub, but the moment didn’t feel right. And then, the club happens and she offers him the drugs and he pockets the drugs, and then he ends up back in her house. So, I feel like he’s going down this path, even in that first five minutes, of knowing in his heart that he shouldn’t be there. That’s not the space he should be in. In the morning, he stays to try to get information, which is a bit skewed, but I do think there’s that slight bit of morality and guilt there.

That whole moment when he’s still there the next day and he tells her that he’s a reporter working on a story about her workplace seemed a bit ill-advised. What reaction do you think he thought he was going to get from that?

HEATON: I don’t know. I don’t know why he thought he’d get a sensible [reaction]. That’s crazy. It was super fun. Kiernan is also so good in that scene, when she picks up the knife and she chases him out. It was just really fun to play around in that.

It was funny to see the moments James Dycker would randomly be honest about something because you’re not sure if he’s doing it on purpose or if it’s something that just slips out. You also never know when Hayley Clay is being honest or if she’s manipulating everything.

Advertisement

HEATON: Totally, and I think that’s what they do really well with the show. You are constantly trying to understand. Everyone seems like they have two or three motives. That whole show is like a chessboard, and everyone is a piece on the board trying to outsmart and outmaneuver each other. They’re really clever.

Your character also crosses paths with Harper, who’s a character that I find completely frightening in her focus and determination with everything. What’s it like to share moments with Myha’la?

HEATON: A lot of those scenes are over the phone, but there was a scene in episode one that was a really long walk-and-talk scene that didn’t make it into the cut because of timing. I did get to have that scene with her and she’s just so cool. Obviously, her character is badass, but as a person, she’s lovely. She’s really down to earth and grounded. I think she’s somewhat of a homebody. It was really cool. When I got the show, I hadn’t seen it, so I wanted to digest it really quick. I started to watch the first two seasons, and then I made a conscious decision to stop watching because I didn’t want to be too enamored by these people when I got to set. You start to become a fan and then you’re like, “Well, I’ve got to go and work with these people, and I don’t want to fan out,” if that makes sense. But they’re lovely. Coming in and stepping into a cast who are established, I felt very welcomed, which was nice.

Advertisement

James Dycker Is a Ticking Time Bomb Waiting To Go Off in Season 4 of ‘Industry’

“He’s almost holding it together.”

Charlie Heaton as James Dycker leaning on a railing while talking on his cell phone in Industry Season 4
Charlie Heaton as James Dycker leaning on a railing while talking on his cell phone in Industry Season 4
Image via HBO

Your character really spirals. He’s trying to expose this company, but they also essentially expose him. What was it like to find the levels of that, as he’s spiraling and becoming more of a mess? Did you have a very clear idea of how you wanted him to be when he was just totally fucked up?

HEATON: Yeah, it’s that build. I talked about this with both Konrad and Mickey. I do think that he is constantly carrying that energy. This is a guy who runs on prescription pills, cigarettes, and coffee. He likes to work on that wire. He’s also trying to claw back some credibility. When we find him at the beginning, it’s about what the text gives you. He’s got this shitty place in and he’s newly single and his career has been tarnished by bad journalism. He’s on the wire from the beginning, so it’s about, how does that spiral? He’s almost holding it together. He’s that type of person who feels like, “Okay, once I get here, once I prove this, then my life will be better and everything’s going to be better.” But he’s a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.

Advertisement

It’s sad because he’s intrepid and he’s really smart, but he just makes these wrong choices. It’s interesting to play. That was fun. It was difficult. Michelle [Savill] was our director for that block, and she was really good. She has a theater background and likes to do a lot of exercises. She did physical techniques with us that would help get your body into that state, which was really good. And then, you just run with that energy. Those last couple of weeks on set were exhausting.

You said that you’re looking for something different. You jumped into this, which clearly is very different from Stranger Things, but then where do you go from here? Do you know what you’re going to be shooting next?

HEATON: I did a couple of other projects. Last year was a really fortunate and busy year for me. There’s another Netflix limited series that’s coming out, that I can’t really talk about. And I got to do a film at the end of the year in Australia, which was a nice independent film where I’m playing an Australian and I’m also playing someone my own age again. I’m just trying on different hats and I’m trying to challenge myself. Next, I don’t know. We’ll see. It’s a new chapter. It’s exciting. I’m excited to push myself and play around a bit.


Advertisement
04145185_poster_w780.jpg

Advertisement


Release Date

November 9, 2020

Network
Advertisement

HBO

Directors

Isabella Eklöf, Tinge Krishnan, Ed Lilly, Birgitte Stærmose, Zoé Wittock, Caleb Femi, Mary Nighy, Konrad Kay, Lena Dunham, Mickey Down

Advertisement

Advertisement

  • instar54009127.jpg
  • instar53530398.jpg

    Marisa Abela

    Yasmin Kara-Hanani

    Advertisement
  • instar52285544.jpg

    Harry Lawtey

    Robert Spearing

  • instar48528570.jpg

Advertisement


Advertisement

Industry airs on HBO and is available to stream on HBO Max. Check out the Season 4 trailer:

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entertainment

Kim Kardashian Weighing Ye Concerns Amid New Romance

Published

on

Drew Barrymore arriving to the 2022 White House Correspondents' dinner held at the Washington Hilton Hotel on April 30, 2022 in Washington, D.C. © Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA.com. 30 Apr 2022 Pictured: Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian. Photo credit: Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA852841_013.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]

The rumored couple has reportedly slowed down their alleged romance, with the rapper’s feelings among the top reasons they chose to remain silent.

Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton have been friends for decades, but recently sparked speculation that they might be taking things further after a few sightings in the United Kingdom and Paris.

Article continues below advertisement

How Are Kim Kardashian And Lewis Hamilton Choosing To Handle Things?

Sources very close to the budding romance between the pair revealed that they are pulling out all the stops and being very careful not to anger Ye, given his unpredictable nature and the history of friendship between him and Hamilton.

Advertisement

The rumored couple is well aware of how volatile Ye is and how much the news could trigger a reaction from him, which is why they are keeping this partly casual. Kardashian and Hamilton are just having fun together as they continue their friends-with-benefits relationship.

“Lewis and Kim are not dating exclusively. He’s not looking to settle down with anyone, including Kim,” a first source explained to The Daily Mail, while a second source emphasized that, “Lewis isn’t looking to be a stepdad. [He’s] not looking to be the ‘it’ couple with Kim.”

Article continues below advertisement

Kardashian and Hamilton had spent time together last year, before their sighting, at Kate Hudson’s New Year’s Eve party in Aspen, Colorado.

Advertisement

Article continues below advertisement

The Duo Had A Blast Over The Past Weekend In The United Kingdom

Hamilton and Kardashian fueled speculation when the business mogul’s private jet landed at an airport in the United Kingdom.

The purpose of her visit? It was reported that they were to spend quality time with the Formula 1 race car driver while engaging in several activities at the exclusive Estelle Manor in the Cotswolds.

As shared by The Blast, their time together was very romantic, as the couple enjoyed all the goodies, with bodyguards providing full protection along the way.

Advertisement

Hamilton and Kardashian were first pictured together at the 2014 GQ Men of the Year ceremony alongside her then-husband, Ye, and his then-partner, Nicole Scherzinger.

Article continues below advertisement

Kardashian and the racecar driver reportedly enjoyed an intimate dinner at a private room in the hotel and settled in for a spa massage for just the two of them.

The mother-of-four reportedly jetted out of the United Kingdom at 11 am on Sunday morning, and they were later spotted together at an airport lounge in Paris.

Advertisement

Article continues below advertisement

Kim Kardashian Has Featured On The Dating Scene A Few Times Since Divorcing Ye

Drew Barrymore arriving to the 2022 White House Correspondents' dinner held at the Washington Hilton Hotel on April 30, 2022 in Washington, D.C. © Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA.com. 30 Apr 2022 Pictured: Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian. Photo credit: Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA852841_013.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA

The socialite ventured into the high waters of dating in October 2021, and her first call was with Pete Davidson. Kardashian and Davidson were together for a year, during which he bonded with her kids and even got a special tattoo. 

Following their split, the reality star reportedly tried again with pro footballer Odell Beckham, although nothing was confirmed from either quarter. However, a source shared that it was never a serious deal with Kardashian and Beckham, and that both understood this. 

“It was always casual, but Kim has been really busy with other priorities and isn’t putting in as much effort. The dynamic lost its spark, but they are still friends,” the insider stated. The SKIMS founder went through a tumultuous divorce from Ye and eventually put everything behind her in 2022.

Kardashian, on her part, has been pretty vocal about her desire to couple up with a man who has good morals and values, and who exhibits calmness and dependability. In her words: “Takes accountability. I think that’s my number one thing.”

Advertisement

Article continues below advertisement

Lewis Hamilton Was Previously Linked With This Kardashian’s Sister

Lewis Hamilton at 2025 Formula One Austrian Grand Prix
Jay Hirano / MEGA

Kardashian is not the first member of the reality TV family the athlete has been rumored to be with. In 2015, the F1 racer had to explain to news sources that he and Kendall Jenner were just friends at the New York Fashion Week.

As noted by The Blast, the F1 champ reinstated his admiration for Jenner and her work ethic, calling her an incredible, level-headed, and focused model who exhibits such grown-up traits despite being a young woman.

Jenner was present at Hamilton’s 2015 event in Monaco alongside her pals Bella and Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner, and Hailey Baldwin. Before his latest sighting with Kardashian, Hamilton was linked to actress Sofia Vergara and even Shakira.

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

TMZ Sports Streaming Live From Newsroom, Join The Conversation!

Published

on

tmz-sports-live-stream-feb4

TMZ Sports Live Stream
Join The Conversation!!!

Published

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

This Kevin Costner Western is Netflix’s Newest Hit — and It’s Better Than Yellowstone

Published

on

This Kevin Costner Western is Netflix's Newest Hit — and It's Better Than Yellowstone

If you love Yellowstone and Kevin Costner, then you may just love this Western drama that’s currently trending on Netflix.

Released in 1994, Wyatt Earp stars Costner as the eponymous, real-life lawman who would go on to be involved in the O.K. Corral gunfight in 1881. The movie is a biographical epic of Earp’s life.

The film features a terrific ensemble cast that includes the late Catherine O’Hara, and while it received mixed reviews from critics at the time, it’s found more favor with fans over time.

Watch With Us breaks down why Wyatt Earp deserves its spot in the Netflix Top 10.

Advertisement

‘Wyatt Earp’ Chronicles the Life of a Fascinating Real-Life Figure

Wyatt Earp takes an in-depth look at Earp’s life from his teenage years during the Civil War, living on his family’s farm in Iowa, to becoming a lawman in towns like Wichita and Dodge City in Kansas and Tombstone, Arizona. From a young age, Earp is taught that only two things really matter in life: family and the law. Thus, Earp is flanked by his brothers James (David Andrews), Morgan (Linden Ashby) and Virgil (Michael Madsen), in addition to friend Doc Holliday (Dennis Quaid), in their eventual confrontation with outlaws at the climactic O.K. Corral, involving the Clanton and McLaury gangs.

As opposed to taking a more mythical or fantastical approach to this real-life material, director Lawrence Kasdan and co-writer Dan Gordon instead give Earp’s life a grittier, more realistic feel in addition to being a psychological portrait of the famous lawman. Rather than being a simple action epic, Wyatt Earp is far more interested in details and nuance, and the internal burden that Earp carries throughout his life — which includes a violent, dark side to Earp’s character.

The Long Runtime Gives Earp’s Life the Richness It Deserves

Advertisement

While some biographical films attempt to sum up a celebrity or important historical figure in just one or two short hours, Wyatt Earp gives its subject the courtesy of a more than three-hour film. Because of this ample runtime, more care is given to the historical detail and accuracy, giving way to more comprehensive storytelling. We’re given this excess time with Earp’s life from adolescence through middle age, and it allows for a deeper understanding of his psychology and his evolution of self, leading up to the major historical event that everyone knows him for.

Thus, far from a fast-paced epic, Wyatt Earp is a slow-burn character study with a Western setting that feels authentic instead of romanticized. Earp’s character arc is incredibly thorough, and the approach to depicting his character even has something of a documentary feel to it. While the slow pacing and occasionally disorganized narrative may turn some people off, those who enjoy biographical films that are concerned with the facts in addition to telling a compelling story will appreciate the lengths that Wyatt Earp goes to achieve this.

‘Wyatt Earp’ Is Character-Driven With a Strong Supporting Cast

While a movie like Tombstone — also about Wyatt Earp and the O.K. Corral — is more centered on the immediate lead-up to and action of the conflict at the O.K. Corral, Wyatt Earp gives a deeper focus to its sprawling cast of characters covering multiple eras of Earp’s life. For instance, Gene Hackman gives a terrific performance as Nicholas Earp, Wyatt’s stern and influential father, while Quaid infuses Doc Holliday with a vulnerability that rings true to the character.

In contrast to Tombstone and Kurt Russell‘s charisma-driven portrayal of Earp, Wyatt Earp finds strength in Costner’s more reserved depiction, more suited for a biopic approach. But besides Costner, the cast of Wyatt Earp is ridiculously stacked. The rest of the supporting cast includes the always-great O’Hara, who portrays Allie Earp, in addition to Bill Pullman, Mark Harmon, Isabella Rossellini, Tom Sizemore and Adam Baldwin.

Stream Wyatt Earp now on Netflix.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Extreme Post-Apocalyptic Thriller Will Either Cure You Or Break You

Published

on

Extreme Post-Apocalyptic Thriller Will Either Cure You Or Break You

By Robert Scucci
| Published

One of the common pitfalls post-apocalyptic thrillers run into is trying to do too much at once, because there are a lot of angles to consider. The Mad Max franchise works because there is dense, folklore-driven worldbuilding that we’re made aware of as a smaller group of people navigate the wasteland looking for answers. The 28 Days Later films handle this well too. We’re briefed on what’s happening globally, and then things are handled locally.

2025’s Uncontained, despite the fact that it has a lot going for it, struggles with this balance. The result is a tonally inconsistent film that I wish stuck the landing better, because the potential is clearly there.

Found Family During End Times

Billed as a zombie horror drama, Uncontained tells a much more personal story through the eyes of Dan (portrayed by writer director Morley Nelson). Dan is a drifter who appears to be immune to the zombie virus that has decimated society, and he eventually happens upon a smart house occupied by two children, Jack (Jack Nelson) and Brooke (Brooke Nelson).

Their mother, simply billed as The Woman (Nicole Nelson), works for Homeland Security and is desperately searching for a cure, because Jack carries a latent version of the infection.

Uncontained 2025

Dan, initially just looking for shelter, slowly becomes a surrogate father figure for Jack and Brooke. The Woman is also glad to have him around, mostly because he’s able to clock an intimidating amount of time on the treadmill that doubles as a power source for the house.

Jack handcuffs himself to the bed before going to bed, because he occasionally turns into a bloodthirsty zombie in his sleep and needs to wait out his episodes so he doesn’t harm his family. He also sets elaborate snare traps in the backyard and spends his time studying captured zombies, which initially disgusts Dan, who doesn’t yet realize that he and Jack have more in common than either of them would like to admit.

Advertisement

The B Story

Uncontained 2025

Meanwhile, Uncontained introduces additional conflict in the form of militia leader Brett Carson (Peter O’Meara), who refuses to leave the property because he’s searching for his missing daughter, Melanie (Courtney Blythe Turk). This entire plot line feels largely unnecessary, as it neither helps nor meaningfully disrupts the dynamic inside the house that Dan and the family are occupying.

The limited value these scenes provide comes mostly from comic relief, particularly when Brett talks shop with a police officer who grows more visibly concerned with each passing exchange, as if silently thinking, “dude, you need to go home before you get killed.”

Uncontained 2025

Speaking of comic relief, Uncontained earns genuine points for the dynamic it establishes between Dan, Jack, and Brooke, and The Woman. Dan has a gruff exterior and doesn’t look like the kind of guy who enjoys screwing around. But the moment Brooke offers him her hair clips, he immediately takes her up on it just to be kind. These subtle moments are both funny and disarming, and they say a lot about Dan’s character. The world is effectively ending, and nobody is obligated to be pleasant if they don’t want to be.

Uncontained ultimately leaves a lot on the table, and it’s because it tries to think globally and locally at the same time. Had the film committed to being a bottle story focused on the house and its occupants, I think it would have landed more cleanly. It simply tries to do too much at once, when the initial survival story is already compelling on its own. The moments I enjoyed most came directly from this central dynamic. The idea that an infected child could be the key to a cure while the family battens down the hatches and rides out the proverbial storm is strong enough without a side story pulling attention away from it.

Uncontained is streaming for free on Tubi.


Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Pedro Pascal saves Todd Haynes' gay romance after Joaquin Phoenix's controversial exit

Published

on


Phoenix infamously left the project just five days before it was set to begin filming.

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Dave Coulier’s Tongue Cancer Is In Remission 4 Months After Diagnosis

Published

on

Dave Coulier’s tongue cancer is officially in remission, two months after going public with his diagnosis.

“It’s been a roller-coaster ride for sure,” Coulier, 66, said during a Wednesday, February 4, appearance on Good Morning America. “I’m in remission with both cancers. And what a journey this has been.”

The Full House alum announced in December 2025 that doctors had diagnosed him with HPV-related oropharyngeal tongue cancer that October. The illness was “totally unrelated” to his previous battle with stage III non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“To go through chemotherapy and feel that relief of, ‘Whoa, it’s gone.’ And then to get a test that says, ‘Well now you’ve got another kind of cancer,’” said on the Today show in December 2025. “It is a shock to the system.”

Advertisement
What Is Oropharyngeal Tongue Cancer? Breaking Down Dave Coulier's Diagnosis


Related: What Is Oropharyngeal Tongue Cancer? Breaking Down Dave Coulier’s Diagnosis

Full House alum Dave Coulier has been diagnosed with a new type of cancer months after beating lymphoma. “To go through chemotherapy and feel that relief of, ‘Whoa, it’s gone.’ And then to get a test that says, ‘Well now you’ve got another kind of cancer,’” the 66-year-old actor said during a Tuesday, December 2 […]

Coulier announced his non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis in November 2024. He was cancer free by March 2025, after several rounds of chemotherapy.

Advertisement

“It was a really tough year, chemotherapy was grueling,” Coulier told Today late last year. “A couple of months ago, I had a PET scan, and something flared on the scan. The doctor said, ‘We don’t know what it is, but there’s something at the base of your tongue.’”

Coulier explained that it was a “very painful” experience.

“It’s like if you bit your tongue, but the pain just lasted every single day,” the actor shared during his Today interview.

Oropharyngeal tongue cancer is considered rare, with the American Cancer Society estimating that it only impacts 53,000 people a year. The illness “forms in your oropharynx, the middle section of your throat,” according to an article by the Cleveland Clinic. While it is treatable, it “can come back,” the same article claimed. Coulier’s specific type of tongue cancer impacted the P16 protein, a marker for human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection that can turn into cancer if untreated.

Advertisement

In December 2025, Coulier revealed that he planned to undergo 35 radiation treatments. The “prognosis is good,” his medical team said at the time.

Dave Couliers Cancer Battle in His Own Words From His Diagnosis to His Constant Fight


Related: Dave Coulier’s Cancer Battle in His Own Words: From His Diagnosis to Now

David Livingston/Getty Images Since going public with stage III non-Hodgkin lymphoma in November 2024, Dave Coulier has been candid about his illness, treatment and prognosis before his second diagnosis. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the patient’s lymphatic system, with “white blood cells called lymphocytes [that] grow abnormally and can form growths […]

Advertisement

“It’s a whole different animal than chemo,” he explained. “It doesn’t feel as aggressive, but there are still side effects.”

Coulier has stayed in high spirits during his overall cancer battle. However, the actor has spoken candidly about the toll it’s taken on his mental health.

“It’s emotional. It’s psychologically draining,” Coulier told Today, explaining that it has also impacted his wife, Melissa Bring. “I’m going to get on the other side of this. The silver lining here is that I had cancer, which helped me detect my other cancer. It seems crazy to be making that statement, but it’s true.”

Bring, who has been married to Coulier since 2014, also addressed her husband’s lengthy cancer journey in a January 2025 interview.

“He has some really tough days, and as the chemo has been accumulating it gets a little tougher and more difficult,” she said at the time. “He has such a positive attitude, and you need that in order to really fight it.

Bring recalled, “Every morning, if he’s feeling up for it, we try to put on a song and do a little dance party with the dogs, because when you do feel good, you have to celebrate that too.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Catherine O’Hara’s 10 Best ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Episodes, Ranked

Published

on

Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose at the front desk during the 'Schitt's Creek' episode 'Motel Review.'

When you have a long-spanning, well-established, illustrious career, creating another iconic character in your later years may not be realistic. But then, Catherine O’Hara defied that. She didn’t just play another significant role; she crafted what is perhaps her most beloved character of all time. When you see an image of Moira Rose, you can hear it. From her distinct made-up dialect with signature cadence to memorable quotes that live rent-free in the pop culture lexicon, O’Hara’s role on Schitt’s Creek was a glorious celebration of comedy.

O’Hara’s passing came as quite a shock to all who loved her. It’s allowed us to reflect on her brilliant career and the impact she made on our lives. When it came to Schitt’s Creek, from start to finish, it was a pitch-perfect comedy, produced in part by O’Hara’s Moira. Throughout her six seasons, these Moira episodes stand out as, well, simply the best.

Advertisement

10

“Motel Review”

Season 3, Episode 8

Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose at the front desk during the 'Schitt's Creek' episode 'Motel Review.'
Catherine O’Hara as Moira Rose at the front desk during the ‘Schitt’s Creek’ episode ‘Motel Review.’
Image via CBC Television

One thing we know Moira Rose is not is a working woman in menial jobs. Don’t ever expect her to do a job a pedestrian might take on. But sometimes, hard times require hard decisions. In this Season 3 episode, the motel receives a particularly negative review: “I was served by an intimidating woman at the front desk, with an unrecognizable accent, and scary-looking attire.” Well, while the first part could have been about Stevie Budd (Emily Hampshire), the second part is most certainly about Moira. So, what is she doing manning the front desk? With Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy) running an errand and Stevie forcing a reluctant Moira to help out with the easy task of simply sitting at the front desk and helping guests, our beloved Moira botches it hardcore.

Moira is of no particular help when a guest seeks to check in, sloughing off that guest’s many requests. When Johnny learns how this review might negatively affect the motel, he forces his wife to make amends with the guest. Moira’s highest points in the episode are watching her muster up enough of a facade to keep the catty side at bay. This is not a position she wants to be put in, but this motel is their only hope. She must right her wrongs. Most employees offer service with a smile. Moira provides service with a smirk. A big part of this episode is seeing Moira and Johnny work through their marital issues in this new confined situation. They need their space! An episode built on relationships and the frustrations that come with them; even our favorite couple had their ups and downs.

Advertisement

9

“RIP Moira Rose”

Season 4, Episode 5

Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose in a curly wig looking shocked in the 'Schitt's Creek' episode 'RIP Moira Rose.'
Catherine O’Hara as Moira Rose in a curly wig looking shocked in the ‘Schitt’s Creek’ episode ‘RIP Moira Rose.’
Image via CBC Television

It might be hard to find the humor of this episode, given O’Hara’s passing, but this Season 4 episode epitomized the Moira we grew to love. Rumors circulate that TV’s Moira Rose died. As the news spreads, it brings worry to the citizens of Schitt’s Creek, only for immense joy to come when they learn she’s alive and well. Online, the instant attention brings flattering condolences and complimentary messages, which, of course, she adores. But when a reporter arrives in town for a story, Moira is forced to reconcile her life in Schitt’s Creek.

Moira must decide what’s worse: that there is only one reporter, or that the reporter will see that she lives, in her own words, in “a Podunk motel”. Using a darker tone to discuss mortality, Schitt’s Creek puts death on display through the lens of celebrity. Watching Moira’s downward spiral from joy to sadness is quite genuine and honest. While we all may wish to know how our loved ones may react to our own passing, the reality might end up being a tough pill to swallow. Moira’s descent into her downward spiral is one of the rare moments when the show balances a range of emotions to convey something refreshing.

Advertisement

8

“The Rollout”

Season 4, Episode 11

Catherine O'Hara as Moira sitting at a table in the hotel room in a red wig in Schitt's Creek episode The Rollout.
Catherine O’Hara as Moira sitting at a table in the hotel room in a red wig in Schitt’s Creek episode The Rollout.
Image via CBC Television

Generally, no one wants to do jury duty, so the concept of Moira having to sit through jury duty in this community is hilarious in and of itself. Upon learning that she and Jocelyn Schitt (Jennifer Robertson) have to sit through jury duty, she prepares every excuse in the book to get herself out of it. That is, until the case piqued her interest. So, what could this case be about that Moira no longer wants to perjure herself for? Embezzlement. Well, this one hit close to home! Moira has a mission on her mind, and she’s not going to go down easy.

Since this is Schitt’s Creek, Moira is absolutely not going to get what she wants. Moira so desperately wants vicarious revenge on the business manager who robbed the Roses that she overcompensates. Fortunately for the Canadian justice system, she loses her temper, tells the truth, and gets dismissed. This episode was a fun buddy moment for the mothers of the town as they continue to develop their bond as an odd couple. Moira’s engagement with the mundane is part of what makes the latter seasons special. Moira is an example of the extreme actions we wish we could achieve but never dare execute.

Advertisement

7

“Moira’s Nudes”

Season 2, Episode 9

Emily Hempshire as Stevie and Catherine O'Hara as Moira in the 'Schitt's Creek' episode 'Moira's Nudes.'
Emily Hempshire as Stevie and Catherine O’Hara as Moira in the ‘Schitt’s Creek’ episode ‘Moira’s Nudes.’
Image via CBC Televsion

The concept of our nudes leaking and circling the World Wide Web is terrifying. Now, when it’s Moira Rose, it’s just a brilliantly funny concept. During Season 2, Moira goes up against Jocelyn for a town council position. Upon learning that her nudes are out, the technologically inept Moira tasks David (Dan Levy) and Stevie to find and delete them. But when they can’t find them, Moira’s true feelings come out. She’s not necessarily upset that her nudes may be circulating; she’s distressed that they’re missing. Why? If they’re missing, the memorial to her youth is lost.

The premise of asking her son to even locate those photos is funny. But to then see them as a highlight of her past is a pretense to her personality and mindset. As Moira comes to realize the impact of these lost photos, she wants to prevent anyone else from enduring this pain. So, she gives young Stevie advice. She famously tells Stevie to take a thousand naked pictures of herself and post them online, so her future self and children can look back fondly. Moira had given out a lot of advice throughout the series, but this one takes the cake.

Advertisement

6

“Finding David”

Season 2, Episode 1

Catherine O'Hara as Moira and Eugene Levy as Johnny looking ahead with shock in the 'Schitt's Creek' episode "Finding David."
Catherine O’Hara as Moira and Eugene Levy as Johnny looking ahead with shock in the ‘Schitt’s Creek’ episode “Finding David.”
Image via CBC Television

Not everyone took to relocating to Schitt’s Creek well. Case in point, David Rose. In the Season 2 premiere, the Roses are on the hunt to find David. The reason he disappears is that, believing he’d be escaping Schitt’s Creek soon, the sale of the town doesn’t go through. While some genuinely care about David’s whereabouts, Moira is also concerned that he’s supporting himself at her expense. In her mind, that cannot happen. Further, what’s more distressing than her missing son is her missing bag. We’ve seen her in hysterics over her prized possessions before, but this one was peak Moira.

Having a conniption that her brown crocodile bag, which her mother gave her, had been stolen by her missing son, it’s telling what her priorities lie. As much as Johnny attempts to calm her down, alerting her to the many other brown bags she owns, it’s this bag she demands. The hysterics are part of the character because most of us understand the absurdity of her situation and how she’s simply overreacting. But the way she alludes to the bag as if it were one of her children, even though her actual kid is missing, makes it simply hilarious. These early moments are crucial to her eventual character building.

Advertisement

5

“Life Is a Cabaret”

Season 5, Episode 14

Catherine O'Hara dressed up as Sally Bowles in the 'Schitt's Creek' episode 'Life Is A Cabaret.'
Catherine O’Hara dressed up as Sally Bowles in the ‘Schitt’s Creek’ episode ‘Life Is A Cabaret.’
Image via CBC Television

There’s something so endearing about our favorite characters putting on a show. Whether it be the kids of Glee or the kids of High School Musical: The Musical the Series, it brings us back to our own high school theater days. Now, imagine that type of scotch tape production in a community theater lens. Schitt’s Creek lets the adults live out their theater fantasies. Schitt’’ Creek opted to put on a production of the John Kander and Fred Ebb classic Cabaret. A very meta selection, the lead-up to the production featured some brilliant moments, including Alexis Rose (Annie Murphy) auditioning with “A Little Bit Alexis.” In the Season 5 finale, it’s opening night, and like any production, nothing can actually go perfectly. With Stevie suddenly going MIA, director Moira Rose is ready and able to step into the role of Sally Bowles.

TV’s Moira Rose had been chomping at the bit to prove she’s a star, but for this production, she kept her expertise lead her to direct. No one was going to steal her thunder. Not even the announcement of David and Patrick Brewer’s (Noah Reid) engagement. But with Stevie missing, in the mother-of-the-year’s opinion, because David spilled his secret, Moira could be the hero without looking like an egomaniac in the lead role. Moira arrives in full costume because the show must go on! But as Stevie finally returns, ready to bring the house down with “Maybe This Time,” there’s a sense of disappointment from Moira.

In perfect Moira fashion, she passes off her costume as silly, awkward cosplay. But as everyone else revels in praise and glory, opening night also becomes closing night for her big film comeback, as she learns it has been shelved. Having divulged that it was the only thing saving her from an emotional spiral, you can’t help but feel for Moira. This episode, which has some funny moments, is Moira at her most vulnerable. O’Hara’s ability to open Moira up to genuine pain and disappointment through the guise of humor is the work of an extraordinary performer. Moira’s depth had been fully achieved.

Advertisement

4

“The Crowening”

Season 5, Episode 1

Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose with black feathers on her shoulders in the 'Schitt's Creek' episode 'The Crowneing.'
Catherine O’Hara as Moira Rose with black feathers on her shoulders in the ‘Schitt’s Creek’ episode ‘The Crowneing.’
Image via CBC Television

As Schitt’s Creek delighted devoted fans, the team began sprinkling in running gags that became a gift every time they popped up. For Moira, and her acting career, the best running bit came with her involvement with The Crows Have Eyes film franchise. Highlighting the lengths to which Moira would go to resurrect her career, the first time the fictional horror film appears is in Season 3, when she auditioned for The Crows Have Eyes II. We know she turned it down as she’d have to pay her way to the filming location and live with a local family. Flash forward to the Season 5 premiere, and Moira is back in action as she’s accepted the role of Dr. Clara Mandrake, a respected ornithologist turned human-crow hybrid. Not only is this our favorite mother’s big comeback vehicle, but we also get to see her filming the low-budget project in Bosnia, The Crows Have Eyes III: The Crowening.

As expected, Moira is Moira. She has numerous script revisions that the young director has no interest in taking on. While he claims it’s “an apocalyptic fantasy about mutant crows,” Moira sees it as “a timely allegory about prejudice.” Bless her heart. As she tries to litter her soap opera experience, it just makes the viewing experience even more bizarre. Watching O’Hara decked out like a bird, playing it up in a nest in front of a green screen, was comedy gold. In a feature with Vulture at the time, O’Hara was revealed to have had “free rein” to create Dr. Mandrake’s look. Learning how much input the actress had with this arc was extraordinary. What made it better was seeing the payoff in Season 6, with the local premiere, which was simply divine. Decked out with a Merlot carpet and the support of the town, it truly was a full-circle moment.

Advertisement

3

“Our Cup Runneth Over”

Season 1, Episode 1

Catherine O'Hara clutches her wigs in the 'Schitt's Creek' episode 'Our Cup Runneth Over.'
Catherine O’Hara clutches her wigs in the ‘Schitt’s Creek’ episode ‘Our Cup Runneth Over.’
Image via CBC Television

Schitt’s Creek would not be the legendary series it became without a pitch-perfect pilot. A good pilot must set up the series to come and entice us to become invested. Diving straight into the raid of the Rose’s mansion, we saw the high-strung anxiety from the quartet as all of their beloved belongings were ripped from their hands. As we watch the wealth disappear before their eyes, we begin to learn about each character’s quirks and how they react to tragedy. O’Hara brought instant hysteria. First, we see her with designer bags on her person, only for us to see her servants packing up her personal items. And by that, I mean her many wigs. And no, the wigs don’t get along with one another. When the Roses learn that there is one asset remaining, and no, not the kids, the entire series officially begins.

Johnny purchased the town as a joke for David, and now that joke was their saving grace. Schitt’s Creek became their home and our place to join our new favorite revision family. By the time we reach the town, we get to see Moira on full display in her complete disgust, insults flying in only a manner Moira could hurl. Yet it was all part of the comedy, watching his wealthy woman try to get used to her biggest fear—being poor. From watching her maneuver a lightbulb in a drawer to living so close to her kids, Moira is being Moira. Though she jokes about not waking up and about nailing the coffin shut, if only Episode 1 Moira could see herself in Met Gala-inspired regalia in the finale.

Advertisement

2

“Family Dinner”

Season 2, Episode 2

Daniel Levy as David and Catherine O'Hara as Moira in the 'Schitt's Creek' episode 'Family Dinner.'
Daniel Levy as David and Catherine O’Hara as Moira in the ‘Schitt’s Creek’ episode ‘Family Dinner.’
Image via CBC Television

While we eventually saw the Roses develop into a beautiful family unit, it was during the first few seasons that we saw the quartet’s disconnect. Yet, the more that they were forced to spend time together, the closer they eventually became. In the Season 2 episode, Moira chose to cook dinner to prove she could indeed cook. In an attempt to continue a family tradition, Moira planned to prepare her “family’s” enchilada recipe. Enlisting David to be her essentially sous chef, resulting in a chaotic scene that left us all in stitches.

While in the kitchen, mother dearest instructs her son to follow the recipe. Of course, he takes it all far too literally. Now, they may not be elite chefs, but the term “fold in the cheese” held them up as they could not fathom what it meant. As Moira tried to play coy, David grew angry. And as David’s rage rose, Moira began to panic. From literally believing one must fold the tiny shreds of cheddar like a piece of paper to Moira avoiding answering her son’s question, the scene played out exactly how you’d expect two individuals who never once stepped foot in a kitchen to occur. The zinger of the scene, “David, what does burning smell like?” served as a perfect button. This episode showcased Moira’s attempt at domesticity, which we all knew was a doomed venture. And that’s the comedy of Moira in the early seasons.

Advertisement

1

“Wine and Roses”

Season 1, Episode 6

There are quite a few iconic moments that came out of the first season of Schitt’s Creek, but the moment that put the series on the map was the Herb Ertlinger (Richard Waugh) wine commercial. The sixth episode put Moira back on screen only for her to own her flop. Specializing in fruit wine, Herb was eager to have Moira serve as the winery’s spokeswoman. With an ego boosted, Moira is all in, believing this would be her acting comeback. If only it were that easy. What resulted was one of the funniest scenes in the entire series.

The brilliance of the writing was the name of the man and his winery. An already peculiar name, even some of the best in diction might get tongue-tied while attempting to say “Herb Ertlinger.” But Moira, through all her delusional confidence, goes all in with the mispronunciation, causing a domino effect of flubs. The result was sheer hilarity. Now, mind you, the woman was quite tipsy, having sampled the vino at the unpretentious winery. O’Hara’s nuanced subtlety mirrors the brilliance we remember her bringing to the assortment of Christopher Guest films she starred in. Moira was a character we laughed at, but genuinely rooted for in the world of acting. Thanks to this commercial, it was a sweet taste of where the former soap star could go in the future. And as we’ve discussed, shine a spotlight on Moira, and she dazzles.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

HBO Max's New Answer to 'The Bear' Sets the Stage for a 'Dawson's Creek' Reunion

Published

on

HBO Max's New Answer to 'The Bear' Sets the Stage for a 'Dawson's Creek' Reunion

The Bear has quietly become one of the biggest shows in the world in the last few years. The hit comedy, which is really more of a drama, has aired almost a new season every year since it first premiered in 2022, and it has left other streamers trying to replicate its Emmy-winning success. The show stars Jeremy Allen White (Deliver Me From Nowhere) and Ayo Edebiri (Opus) alongside Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Fantastic Four: First Steps), and it follows a young chef from the fine dining world who returns home to Chicago after the death of his brother to take over his family’s sandwich shop.

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Says She’s Not Transphobic (Video)

Published

on

Nicki Minaj Sparks Reactions After Saying She Is Not Transphobic (WATCH)

Nicki Minaj has sparked reactions after sharing why she believes she is not transphobic. Additionally, the rapper shared why she chose to place her support behind Donald Trump.

RELATED: Whew! Social Media Is Goin’ OFF After Nicki Minaj Called Herself Trump’s “Number One Fan” & Held His Hand At Account Summit (WATCH)

Nicki Minaj Says She’s Not Transphobic & Explains Trump Alignment

On Tuesday, February 3, a new episode of the ‘Katie Miller Pod’ was released via YouTube and featured Nicki Minaj as a guest. As the conversation opened, Minaj explained that she placed her support behind President Donald Trump after seeing “how he was being treated.”

“I felt that that same — a lot of that bullying and the smear campaigns, and all of that lying — I felt like that had been done to me for so many years. And I was watching it in real time happen to someone else, and I didn’t think he deserved it,” Minaj explained.

As the conversation continued, Minaj seemed to note that Trump expressed to her his respect for her fanbase and the LGBTQ+ community. Around nine minutes into the interview, Minaj shared her own stance, explaining that although she disagrees with pro-trans rhetoric being pushed in schools, she is not transphobic. Furthermore, she stated that she believes “adults” should be able to do what they’d like with their bodies.

Advertisement

See what she said below.

Social Media Is Sharing Reactions

Social media users reacted to Nicki Minaj’s comments about not being transphobic in TSR’s comment section.

Instagram user @1princessmehgann wrote,Real barbz Know she isn’t transphobic” 

While Instagram user @t.beezus added, She literally said children … when was the community attacked ? Y’all lack basic comprehension !”

Advertisement

Instagram user @iyawoijebu wrote, Nicky we judging you and we don’t care!”

While Instagram user @804.saucy added,Yall not following … what she’s saying is kids shouldn’t have the option at such a young age to change their gender when they don’t even know what they want yet”

Instagram user @istayblessedxo wrote, I think about 99% of America agrees with her on that. People should not be able to make a life changing decision like that until at least 21. If you’re can’t drink before 21 you shouldn’t be able to change your gender.”

While Instagram user @dijouncruz added, The ‘Trans part of the LGBT’ pay attention ya’ll smh”

Advertisement

Instagram user @tarisunscripted wrote, Please get her off my algorithm.”

While Instagram user @chanel__5 added, She did say this but it’s the way you delivered it with a party that thrives off H8TE”

Before Nicki Minaj Shared That She’s Not Transphobic, She Sparked Reactions With Recent Donald Trump Alignment

Before Nicki Minaj shared that she’s not transphobic, she raised eyebrows with her apparent political alignment with Donald Trump. As The Shade Room previously reported, in November 2025, Minaj appeared at the United Nations. There, she noted her support of Donald Trump speaking on the alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria.

RELATED: Screenshot Appears To Show Tammy Rivera Calling Nicki Minaj A “Bootlicker” As Clip Resurfaces Of Charlie Kirk Saying Rapper Isn’t Good Role Model

Then, earlier this month, Minaj appeared at the Trump Account Summit. Additionally, she said she was the president’s “number one fan” and even held his hand.

Advertisement

RELATED: Birds Of A Feather? Waka Flocka Sparks Reactions With Message For Nicki Minaj Amid Shade Over Trump Support (PHOTO)

What Do You Think Roomies?

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Inside Team USA’s Dramatic Journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics (Excl)

Published

on

Olympics 2607 Us Weekly Cover Digital

The 2026 Winter Olympics are officially here — and Team USA is arriving in Italy with star power, storylines and sky-high expectations. 

As the world’s best athletes descend on Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, all eyes are on the Americans: from Ilia Malinin’s can’t-miss moment in men’s figure skating to Mikaela Shiffrin’s long-awaited redemption tour on the slopes, and Madison Chock and Evan Bates chasing gold as newlyweds in their fourth Olympic Games together. 

With pressure mounting and history on the line, these athletes aren’t just competing for medals — they’re skating, skiing and sliding into some of the most defining moments of their careers. 

Us Weekly spoke exclusively to some of Team USA’s biggest stars as they prepare to take center stage when the Milano Cortina Games kick off February 6. 

Advertisement
Olympics 2607 Us Weekly Cover Digital
COMPOSITE COVER BACKGROUND & SPORTING ELEMENTS: GETTY IMAGES (6). ATHLETES CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (4); MICHAEL OWENS/NBC SPORTS (2)

Redemption Mode

Some of the most powerful Olympic stories are born from heartbreak.

In 2022, alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin arrived in Beijing as a heavy favorite, expected to dominate the slopes. Instead, she suffered a stunning series of DNFs (Did Not Finish) and left without a medal. “A lot of people who were tuning into Mikaela Shiffrin for her biggest race were tuning in when I didn’t win a medal,” Shiffrin tells Us. “They were saying, ‘Don’t even come home. You failed us. You didn’t bring home any gold.’” 

The emotional weight of that moment has stayed with her — and reshaped her perspective heading into 2026. “That’s the hardest thing or the most loaded thing, and I’m very aware of it now, emotionally and mentally,” she continues. “The hurdle I’ve been working on with my team and with my psychologist and with my family and everybody around me is: We could go to these Games and we could do everything right, and it could still go wrong.” 

Now, coming off a dominant season that saw her make World Cup history, Shiffrin, 30, is embracing a different mindset. “Going into [the Olympics] as an athlete, you’ve really got to be open-minded,” she explains. “Now that we have all of this in- formation, all of this experience, could we boil it down a little bit and remember that we’re just ski racing here?” 

Mikaela Shiffrin 5 Olympics 2607 Us Weekly Cover Digital Story
COURTESY U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE

Redemption is also front and center for the U.S. women’s figure skating team, which heads into Milan Cortina with unfinished business. After leaving Beijing without the gold many believed was within reach, the Americans are skating with something to prove — and the depth to do it. 

Amber Glenn, Isabeau Levito and Alysa Liu headline a stacked field, blending technical firepower with hard-earned experience on the world stage. For these skat- ers, 2026 isn’t just another Olympic cycle — it’s a chance to turn lingering frustration into gold. 

Advertisement

“If we do our jobs in Milan, then more than likely some- one is going to be up there,” Glenn has said of the podium.

American Pride

For many athletes, the Olympics represent more than medals — they’re a rare chance to unite a country. 

“It’s one of the greatest honors to be able to go to the Olympics and represent the U.S.,” ice dancer Madison Chock, 33, tells Us. “For us being Americans, we have such pride in our patriotism and really, the American dream.” 

Madison Chock and Evan Bates 2 Olympics 2607 Us Weekly Cover Digital Story
COURTESY U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE

That responsibility isn’t lost on veterans like hockey player Hilary Knight, who will compete in her fifth and final Games. “If you want to call us sports ambassadors or sports envoys, we can have an impact on someone’s life in a small way,” Knight, 36, says. “I do think there’s a greater responsibility when you’re representing your country on the world stage.” 

Honorary coach and NBC correspondent Snoop Dogg agrees. “One thing about the Olympics that I love is that it gives me a chance to be in front of people to represent what Americans look like, what we feel like, how we love, how we appreciate,” he’s said. 

Advertisement

High-Stakes Drama

If any event captures the emotional intensity of the Olympics, it’s figure skating and few understand that better than Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir

“You hear the music, you see the rings, there’s this magic to it,” says Lipinski, 43, who won gold at the 1998 Nagano Olympics at just 15 years old. “I think that’s why the whole world loves this event. It’s one of these things where you realize that this group of athletes has sacrificed their whole life. They’re building to this one moment in time. It’s four minutes on the ice that could change their entire life.” 

For Lipinski, that emotional cocktail is exactly what makes the sport unforgettable. 

“It’s everything you could want,” she adds. “The pressure, the suspense, the glitz, the glamour.” 

Advertisement

Now working together as NBC Sports analysts, Lipinski and Weir experience those moments from the booth but the nerves never disappear. 

“Figure skating isn’t known as the most hugs and kisses, warm and fuzzy sport,” Weir, 41, explains. “But we all appreciate how small and niche and special this family is. As the older generation watching the younger generation of skaters, we want the best for them because we know exactly how it feels to be in their shoes.” 

Snowboarder Chloe Kim, 25, has already had a front-row seat to Olympic drama before even strapping in. The reigning halfpipe superstar entered the season sidelined by a torn labrum in her shoulder that left her status uncertain. 

For the athlete, the weeks leading up to the Games became a test of patience and resilience rehabbing, recalibrating and waiting to see if her body would cooperate in time. Whether she’s at full strength or fighting to find her rhythm, Kim arrives carrying the emotional weight of a comeback that started long before the Opening Ceremony. 

Advertisement

Must-Watch Phenom

The Olympic experience is one unlike any other — with athletes from all over the world converging in one place, each chasing a moment of immortality. Sixteen different sports disciplines will be featured in Milano Cortina, with more than 3,500 athletes representing 93 countries. 

And while the depth of competition is staggering, a select few still rise above the noise and become must-watch storylines. One of them is Team USA’s Ilia Malinin, who will have all eyes on him when the men’s figure skating competition begins. 

“There’s kind of different ways I approach it,” Malinin, 21, tells Us. “I like to embrace it a lot, especially closer to a competition. Feeling that pressure is kind of like, ‘OK, everyone’s looking at me. Now I really need to be at my best. Be on my A-game.’”

But even the sport’s most dominant skater admits the pressure can cut both ways. 

Advertisement
Ilia Malinin Olympics 2607 Us Weekly Cover Digital Story
COURTESY U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE

“There’s also days that won’t be the best days,” he continues. “A lot of the time, what I’ll do is say, ‘OK, there’s a lot of pressure on me, let me just block this out and focus on what I really need to do and try not to think about people’s expectations of me.”

Nicknamed the Quad God, Malinin knows fans often see him as untouchable — something he’s eager to challenge on Olympic ice.

“Everyone sees me at competitions and I’m just so focused, I’m really in a different mindset where I’m pretty much as perfect as I can be,” Malinin explains. “But in reality, I’m not perfect. I’ll have bad days, I’ll have good days. It’s really the thing that tells people, ‘Oh, he’s really human like the rest of us.’”

The MVPs You Won’t See on the Podium

Beyond the athletes, the Games will be stacked with scene-stealing personalities, led by Snoop Dogg, who’s returning as an on-air commentator and cultural ambassador and promising to keep things anything but predictable. 

“You know, one thing about me, I’m unexpected, I’m unorthodox, but I’m always full of fun,” Snoop tells Us, adding that his mission is “making sure that America is represented in a peaceful, beautiful way to the globe.” 

Advertisement

While he’s happy to entertain Olympic viewers, the rapper admits he’s still learning though there’s one event already at the top of his watch list. “I think the sport I’m looking forward to the most [is] figure skating, because I just really, truly appreciate and love the art and the craft that it takes to become a figure skater,” he says especially with the music, the fashion and the possibility that “my girl, Martha Stewart, may meet me out there at the front row of the figure skating final.”

He’ll be joined around the Olympic universe by Flavor Flav, official sponsor and “hype-man” for the USA Bobsled and Skeleton team, bringing his trademark energy as an enthusiastic supersupporter in the stands. Also on board: Stanley Tucci, who’s set to lend his signature charm and sophistication to cultural and culinary storytelling from Italy proving that at these Games, the characters off the field may be just as compelling as the competition itself. 

Vonn Is Back — and So Is the NHL

The 2026 Games mark a couple of noteworthy returns: skier Lindsey Vonn and NHL players participating in the Olympics for the first time since 2014 in Sochi. 

Vonn, 41, who last competed in the Olympics in 2018, announced her return to the sport in November 2024 and earned a spot on the team in December 2025, a miraculous comeback that felt nearly unfathomable after having a partial knee replacement just months before coming out of retirement. 

Advertisement

“But after a successful season that saw her reach the podium in seven of eight races, the legend declared, “I’m not the underdog anymore!” Vonn, a three-time Olympic medalist, reflected, “This is 24 years after my first Olympics. I’ve won everything I could have ever won. I’m not doing this to prove anything to anyone. I’m doing this because I think I can do well, it’s a meaningful place for me, and I think I can make a positive impact.”

Despite tearing her ACL during a World Cup race in Switzerland just days before the start of the Games, Vonn said she still intended on competing.

Lindsey Vonn Olympics 2607 Us Weekly Cover Digital Story
COURTESY U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE

“I know what my chances in these Olympics were before this crash, and even though my chances aren’t the same now, there is still a chance,” she shared via Instagram. “And as long as I have a chance, I will not lose hope. I will not give up! It’s not over yet!”

Men’s hockey will also be a focal point, as the NHL’s best players will represent their home countries for the first time in over a decade. 

New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes will play for Team USA alongside his older brother, Quinn Hughes, which means the entire Hughes family is looking forward to a European vacation. 

Advertisement

“A bunch of my cousins, aunts and uncles are making the trip,” Jack, 24, tells Us. “We’ve got some friends coming over, too. All the people in our lives are so excited to be part of this. It’s such a special event. You never know if we’ll be able to go back.”

Pomp and Circumstance

Of course, no Olympics would be complete without the spectacle. The 2026 Games officially kick off February 6 with a massive Opening Ceremony at Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium a moment athletes say never gets old. 

This year’s will feature performances from global super stars Mariah Carey and Italian icon Andrea Bocelli, setting the stage with equal parts star power and national pride. “I’m just looking forward to soaking it all in,” bobsledder Boone Niederhofer says.

For Chock, the spotlight is a reminder of what it took to get there. “It’s the years, decades of work that you put in,” she says. “But that’s what makes the Olympics special.” 

And when the Games draw to a close, the celebration will come full circle at the Closing Ceremony on February 22 at the historic Arena di Verona, where athletes finally get to exhale, celebrate their accomplishments and pass the Olympic flame forward — a final, emotional send off to two unforgettable weeks in Italy. 

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025