Entertainment
The Work Fans Won’t See Behind Celine Dion’s Paris Comeback
Celine Dion is heading back to the stage in Paris, but this comeback has been years in the making.
Her return has already sparked plenty of excitement, with the singer quietly preparing for her first major performances in the city in years. What has gone into getting her ready, however, is a story in itself.
Celine Dion first captured international attention after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988, then broke into the English-speaking market in the early 1990s. With hits such as “The Power of Love,” “Because You Loved Me,” and “My Heart Will Go On,” she became one of the most recognizable voices in modern music, making her return to live performance especially significant.
After years away from the kind of stage that made her a global superstar, the iconic singer is finally preparing to step back into the spotlight. But before the lights come up in Paris, Dion has had to put in serious work behind the scenes to get herself ready.
Her preparation has involved far more than rehearsing songs. Dion has been working with doctors and specialists while rebuilding her strength and mobility, gradually pushing herself through rehabilitation as she worked toward performing again.
That road has had plenty of emotional “highs and lows,” but the singer kept going. Now, with her Paris shows finally approaching, the progress she has made is becoming one of the most important parts of the comeback story, as an insider is giving the singer her flowers by saying:
“People may not realize how much work Celine put in to fight this condition and to regain her strength and mobility.”
The Comeback Took ‘Constant, Consistent Work’
According to Us Magazine, a source said Celine Dion has put in “constant, consistent work” to regain her strength and mobility. The insider revealed that she trains almost every day on top of physical therapy and has begun seeing “such great results” from her rehabilitation. In their words:
“She is physically so strong and has done so much hard work to get here. She trains almost every day on top of physical therapy.”
The source said Dion has also spent years figuring out her condition and finding the right doctors and specialists, describing that process as daunting and acknowledging the emotional lows she experienced along the way. Even so, the singer kept showing up for the work, with the insider describing her as “incredibly resilient and strong-willed.”
Now that effort is leading to the moment she has been working toward. Her preparation was described as an “incredible labor of love,” with the source insisting Dion would never have taken on the Paris shows unless she believed she could deliver.
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Celine Dion Refused To Let Her Diagnosis Define Her Comeback
Dion has been remarkably candid about life with stiff-person syndrome, but she has also made it clear that the condition does not get to define what comes next. According to John Hopkins, Stiff Person Syndrome commonly develops in people between the ages of 40 and 50, affecting one to two people in a million.
After years of dealing with symptoms, she has chosen to focus on living her life and finding ways to keep moving forward. The singer has described the condition as progressive and said she prefers not to call it a “disease.”
She also opened up about the difficult days when her symptoms made movement incredibly hard, while explaining how she found small ways to cope and maintain a positive outlook. The Blast detailed her candid reflections on learning to live with the condition.
That mindset now sits at the heart of her return to the stage. Dion has made it clear that she does not want to spend her life questioning what the condition might take away, and that determination has helped shape the comeback fans are now waiting to see.
The First Song Of The Paris Comeback Is Locked Away
The stage is set, the comeback is happening, but Dion is keeping one tantalizing detail all to herself. Fans know they are getting their long-awaited Paris return, yet the singer has refused to reveal which song will open the show.
When French broadcaster BFMTV asked about her first number, Dion gave the kind of answer guaranteed to keep fans guessing: “I can’t say, it’s a big secret.” With a catalog packed with career-defining hits, that leaves plenty of possibilities for what could get the first note of the night.
As reported by The Blast, Dion has admitted that she is still “a bit uptight” about returning after such a long absence, even as she insists she is ready. Now, with the opening song still under wraps, fans have one more mystery to solve before Dion finally takes that Paris stage.
Celine Dion’s Paris Return Started With A Gift To Her Fans
The mystery surrounding her first song is only part of what makes Dion’s Paris comeback so personal. Long before fans began wondering what she would sing first, the singer had already framed her return as the birthday gift she had been waiting to give herself.
In March, Dion surprised fans by announcing that she would perform in Paris beginning in September, calling the chance to see and perform for them again “the best gift of my life.” She also reportedly reassured fans that she was feeling good, singing again and even dancing a little.
The response was immediate, with fans celebrating the announcement and rushing to buy tickets for the initial run of shows. After spending so much time away from the stage, Celine Dion now has an audience waiting not only to hear that first song, but to see the comeback she has been promising all along.
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Alan Ritchson made a splash in Hollywood in the early 2000s — and his stardom grew with the lead role on Reacher — and his wife, Catherine Ritchson, was there through it all until their 2026 separation.
Alan and Catherine are high school sweethearts, who have their ballet class in Florida to thank for their decades-long love story.
“After the millionth time of us sitting next to each other, inches away, tying our shoes — so now it’s super awkward — I was like, ‘So I heard you ice skate,’” Alan told Men’s Health in February 2024, recalling how he asked his friend to figure out what Catherine liked before he got the courage to ask her out.
The actor, who will star in Nicholas Sparks’ Counting Miracles, beamed as he recounted the successful conversation. “She was like the sweetest thing in the world,” he said of his now-wife.
The pair split after their first summer together but rekindled their romance a few years later. The twosome tied the knot in May 2006 and now share three sons.
Scroll down to relive Alan and Catherine’s romance:
High School
Alan and Catherine were 17 and 16, respectively, when they met at a ballet class in their home state of Florida. “I’ll never forget seeing him for the first time in the studio. I turned to my friend Miriam and I said, ‘Who is that?’” Catherine recalled during a September 2023 episode of her “The Road to Wisdom” podcast. “He, at some point, came up to me and we just got chatting.”
Catherine revealed that Alan broke up with her at the end of their first summer as a teenage couple. Alan insisted that her living 30 minutes away and the fact that he “couldn’t afford gas” led to the breakup. Catherine, however, claimed Alan assumed at the time it was “just a fling.”
College
When Catherine was studying at the University of Florida, Alan came to town for a modeling shoot and the two reconnected. The couple has been together ever since.
May 2006
The Ordinary Angels actor married Catherine.
2012
The couple welcomed their first son, Calem.
2013
Their second son, Edan, was born.
December 2015
Alan announced the birth of their third son, Amory, via Instagram. He called his wife, “The strongest person I know,” and applauded her for making it through the pregnancy.
October 2017
“Very proud of this guy and the premiere of his short film Tree House Time Machine,” Catherine wrote via Instagram, praising her spouse for directing and writing the project.
February 2018
“Happy Valentine’s Day from the Ritchsons,” Alan captioned a family photo on social media. “Hope everyone makes lots of babies today!!!”
August 2019
“Proud wife moment of @alanritchson for the premiere of Seberg at the Venice Film Festival,” Catherine captioned a series of Instagram photos honoring Alan’s producing credit.
May 2022
The Blue Mountain State alum celebrated his 16-year wedding anniversary with a social media tribute to his wife. “We’ve been through thick and thin. Both the thick and the thin parts were my fault,” he teased. “She did all the good stuff. She’s very nice. She is a mother. They’ll let anyone have kids these days. I just mean in general. She should be allowed for sure.”
Alan joked, “Also, I never dreamed all those years ago, when we were getting married, that 16 years later we would be living the kind of life where we could afford any car in the world and she would still insist on driving a minivan. But that’s just who she is. If marriage has taught me anything, it’s that you will continue to learn about your spouse’s faults and there’s nothing you can do about it. You just have to drive the minivan. Because you promised no matter how bad it got you would drive a minivan if she made you (until one of you dies).”
July 2022
The family of five enjoyed a trip to France, visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and more landmarks.
May 2023
Catherine reflected on the pair’s 17 years of marriage, sharing a few lessons she’s learned along the way. “Real love is not found in star charts, flirtation, or charming manipulation. In fact, real love isn’t found at all,” she wrote via Instagram. “True, deep, sturdy love is built brick by brick. Some days the mortar runs too thin, other days the bricks aren’t laid perfectly straight, and there are days when the rain is coming down too much for that day’s work to settle well. But the effort and intention between each brick is there and it’s real and its duo of builders are wise in laying each one with care and patience.”
Catherine added: “As the days, months, and years pass you look around and realize you’ve built a kingdom. Some parts will lay unfinished; others may have been knocked down and need to be rebuilt. But the important part is that you both keep building by tenderly place each brick with dedication and honor in your heart for one another.”
July 2023
The pair created their own Instagram reels series called the “Not Newlyweds” where they talked about their relationship and all the highs and lows. In episode 1, Catherine teased Alan for losing his phone that was required to check in and get their jet skis for a date. She later trolled him for eating two of their four sandwiches for their trip before they even arrived.
February 2024
“My beautiful bride. Happy day of love. You give my life meaning and purpose beyond the temporary and entertaining,” Alan gushed via Instagram on Valentine’s Day. “You reach past important and stretch my soul towards essential. I’ve felt eternity on your lips and known forever in your embrace. I will forever and always be your servant.”
September 2026
Alan and Catherine announced that they had separated.
“After 20 years together, Cat and I have decided to end our marriage and continue alongside one another in a different way,” a social media statement read. “We grew up together, we built a life and a family together. We are raising three incredible boys, who will always be the center of our world. Nothing can diminish what these years have meant to us — or the love and respect we will always share. The best gift we can give one another — and our boys — right now is friendship, grace and commitment to becoming the strongest coparents we can be. We also want to give each other room to grow into the people we are becoming.”
Greg Daniels received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in Los Angeles, drawing a mini reunion of stars from “The Office.” Steve Carell was among those who helped celebrate the television creator’s decades-long comedy career.
Daniels’ résumé also includes major contributions to “Saturday Night Live,” “The Simpsons,” “King of the Hill,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Upload” and “Space Force.”
Greg Daniels received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, September 10, with several familiar faces from “The Office” turning out to celebrate the veteran television creator.
The ceremony was held at 6357 Hollywood Boulevard, where Daniels was awarded the Walk of Fame’s 2,856th star in the Television category.
The occasion also doubled as a reunion for members of “The Office” cast, who gathered to honor the man who adapted the British mockumentary for American television. Daniels helped turn the NBC sitcom into one of the most enduring comedies of its era.
Steve Carell Says The Office Didn’t ‘Stink’ Because Of Greg Daniels
Steve Carell and Conan O’Brien were among those who took the stage to honor Daniels, and both used their speeches to reflect on his impact.
Carell, in particular, recalled being warned against taking the role of Michael Scott because people around him believed remaking the acclaimed British version of “The Office” was a bad idea.
“Everybody I knew said don’t do it,” Carell said, explaining that he was told the original was too good and an American adaptation would “stink.”
According to the actor, one person helped prove those predictions wrong. “It didn’t stink because of Greg Daniels,” he declared.
Greg Daniels Helped Shape TV’s Most Beloved Comedies
Some of Daniels’ earliest credits include writing for “The Simpsons” and “Saturday Night Live.” He earned an Emmy for his work on the sketch series in the late 1980s.
His next major chapter came with “King of the Hill.” Daniels worked alongside Mike Judge, helping reshape the pilot and develop characters including Luanne and Cotton Hill. Judge ultimately credited him as a co-creator.
Daniels later teamed with Michael Schur to create “Parks and Recreation,” another NBC comedy that grew into a critical favorite after an uneven first season.
His résumé has continued to expand in the streaming era. Daniels created Amazon’s “Upload,” co-created Netflix’s “Space Force” with Carell, and reunited with Judge to launch the animation company Bandera Entertainment.
Greg Daniels’ Mentorship Helped Shape A Generation Of Comedy Writers
Daniels’ influence can also be measured by the writers who built careers after working under him.
Mindy Kaling credited Daniels with helping her develop her voice and teaching her how to run a television show. She described him as unusually patient and said his willingness to mentor younger writers was part of what made him special.
Paul Lieberstein said Daniels taught a generation of writers how to think differently about character, dialogue, and story structure. Michael Koman, who co-created “The Paper” with Daniels, went even further.
“Our whole culture is populated by people that Greg hired, trained, mentored, and showcased,” Koman told Variety. “The Paper” returned for its second season on Peacock just one day before the ceremony.
The Office Cast Previously Reunited For AT&T Business Campaign
Another Dunder Mifflin reunion took place in 2024, when Rainn Wilson reunited with Jenna Fischer, Craig Robinson, Creed Bratton, Kate Flannery and Brian Baumgartner for an AT&T Business campaign.
The group played versions of themselves while launching a fictional startup built around “Sleep With Rain,” a pillow featuring Wilson’s voice. As highlighted in an exclusive detail report by The Blast at the time, Baumgartner said it had been roughly nine or 10 years since the group had shared that kind of work environment.
Despite the time apart, Bratton said slipping back into their old dynamic was easy.
“You just got right back on the bicycle with these folks,” he told The Blast. “Our time was always really good together. It was effortless, really.”
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Amal Clooney can do no wrong in the fashion department. But sometimes, she does so right that we have to copy, as is the case with her slimming black dress style. Clooney wore it to the red carpet, though we’re wearing the sleek wedding guest look to every fall ceremony on our calendar.
At the opening night of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, Clooney stepped out in a slimming black dress that hugged all the right places, thanks to strategic ruching. This chic version has the same design — and it’s only $50!
Get the Prettygarden Ruched Maxi Dress for $50 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
This Prettygarden Ruched Maxi Dress features an off-the-shoulder neckline, slouchy straps and similar all-over ruching that made Clooney’s Venice moment so striking. It also has an anti-slip design to prevent the dreaded tugging, and the fabric skims over your midsection rather than clinging to it.
As one happy shopper put it, “I have a mom tummy after two kids. This dress covers it really well and made me feel so beautiful.”
The stretch factor is the other reason this dreamy maxi dress earns its keep. Whether you’re sitting through a long ceremony or indulging in a few extra bites of cake, you might think you’re wearing comfy sweats.
“Even though it’s fitted, the stretch gives it room, so sitting and eating are no problem,” another five-star reviewer wrote. “It’s sexy and elegant. Add great heels and a few pieces of jewelry. It can easily go from date night to special ceremony.”
This maxi dress look is pure Clooney: elegant, architectural and just a little bit sultry. Pair it with strappy heels for a black-tie wedding, or throw on a leather jacket and ankle boots for a dinner that deserves some pizzazz. You’ll look like a millionaire lawyer regardless.
Get the Prettygarden Ruched Maxi Dress for $50 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more chic dresses, and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
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Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
You may think that floral prints are for only summer and neutral colors are just for fall, but rich moms aren’t following that ancient fashion rule. Instead, they’re rocking fall floral dresses, aka the most luxe, expensive-looking upgrade to boring solids. Even celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Halle Berry are on board, so naturally, so […]
Britney Spears is celebrating her son Jayden James Federline’s 20th birthday with a sweet — and candid — social media post.
“Happy birthday to my handsome young boy oh dear lord we have this beautiful thing called life in front of us, it’s such a beautiful delicate thing,” the pop star, 44, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, September 12, alongside a vintage-looking photo of Jayden.
In the pic, Spears’ son can be seen wearing a flannel buttoned shirt and a pair of black pants while posing for an unidentified photographer.
“I hope I can be the best mommy in the world every day of ur life!!!!” Spears concluded the post.
Britney Spears is still feeling giddy about reuniting with her youngest son. Spears, 43, took to Instagram on Monday, December 30, to praise son Jayden, 18, days after they spent Christmas together for the first time in years. “Mine forever !!!” she wrote alongside two snaps of Jayden standing in a natural setting and sporting […]
Spears shares Jayden and his sibling Sean Preston with her ex-husband Kevin Federline. The singer was estranged from both her children for a time but has recently mended their respective relationships amid her most recent legal troubles.
Britney Spears Getty Images
“Her boys are going to be spending time with her,” Spears’ rep told Us in a March statement after the superstar was arrested for a suspected DUI. “Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue, needed plan to set her up for success for well-being.”
Weeks later, a source told Us that Spears voluntarily checked into a treatment facility “after several conversations” with both her sons. (Spears pleaded guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge of “wet reckless” driving, resulting in the dismissal of her DUI charge. She received 12 months of probation without serving jail time.)
“They expressed concern about her recent behavior and urged her to seek professional help, which has been long overdue, to get her back on track,” the insider exclusively told Us at the time. “All they’ve ever wanted for their mom is health and happiness, even during the years they were estranged. They hope she’ll take it seriously.”
A second source, meanwhile, told Us that Spears went into the facility to show her kids that she took her arrest “seriously.”
In July, Jayden came to his mother’s defense, publicly denouncing an online conspiracy theory claiming the pop star was actually deceased and had been cloned.
“I hop on TikTok and I see this one video that has 1.2 million likes, and the caption is like, ‘The biggest theory ever: Is Britney Spears still alive?’” Jayden said during a July 17 livestream, per screen-recorded footage. “Like, bro, you can go to her page and see her right now.”
He continued at the time, “It makes me know that a lot of the stuff on media is exaggerated and fake. People know how gullible people are, and they use that to their advantage. Anyone that sees it on media, they just see it and if it has a lot of likes, they [believe] it. They don’t even research it, they’re just, ‘Wow, yeah, it’s crazy. I believe it.’”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Coco Gauff has received support from fans and celebrities alike following her impressive run at the US Open.
Among those cheering her on was actress Issa Rae, who shared an excited reaction with the tennis star after her quarterfinal victory. The two met backstage after the win, and the moment has since gone viral online.
Actress Issa Rae met up with Coco Gauff following the tennis star’s comeback win over Mirra Andreeva in the US Open quarterfinals, and it was an emotional moment for the duo.
As Gauff made her way into the section where Rae was waiting, the two shared a warm hug. Rae immediately revealed how tense she had felt throughout the match.
“You had our hearts beating,” Rae told Gauff, to which the tennis star replied, “I know, me too.”
Rae then followed up with more compliments, telling Gauff she was “so happy” the tennis star had emerged as the winner of the tense matchup.
Coco Gauff Says She Couldn’t Lose In Front Of Issa Rae
During their conversation, Gauff revealed that spotting Rae in the stands motivated her to push for the win.
“I saw you in the stands,” Gauff told the actress. “And I was like, ‘I can’t lose in front of Issa.’”
In the quarterfinals, Gauff produced a stunning comeback against Mirra Andreeva, recovering from a first-set loss to secure a 2-6, 7-6, 6-2 victory. The win set up a semifinal clash with newly crowned World No. 1 Elena Rybakina on September 10.
Coco Gauff’s US Open Run Ends Against Elena Rybakina
Unfortunately for Gauff, her run ended with a loss to Rybakina at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday.
In a press conference after the match, Gauff shared what she thought had turned the match in her opponent’s favor.
“She played really well. I thought it was a good match and honestly, it came down to like a couple service games of mine in both sets, and I didn’t quite hold,” Gauff said.
She also said she intended to review the match to see how she could improve her game against Rybakina, who had also beaten her in their previous meeting before the semifinal matchup.
“I have to look back and see what happens,” added the tennis star. “But um, she does a great job of just being there every point and putting a lot of pressure on you on service games and return games.”
Coco Gauff Says Fans Carried Her Through US Open Semifinal
Despite the loss, Gauff received plenty of support from fans as she battled Rybakina in the semifinal.
When asked how she felt about receiving that support, the tennis star said she was very grateful.
“It means a lot. They definitely carry me through a lot of these matches here, and I can feel the love all the way down to the last point,” she said.
She described the experience as “rare” and said she would always cherish it as she continues to compete in tennis.
Fans Rally Around Coco Gauff After US Open Semifinal Loss
Fan support continued beyond the court, with many expecting Gauff to compete at the highest level for years to come.
“For sure, an exceptional run. May she close the season out well. Also, Coco gets better every season, so it will be cool to see how her game evolves next season,” one fan wrote.
“You are great; hold your head up. You will come back strong. Much love to you, excellent,” another fan said.
“No need for tears… you’ve had an awesome run, CoCo !!! Congrats,” one more fan wrote.
Emily Willis requires round-the-clock care more than two years after suffering a catastrophic brain injury while receiving treatment at a luxury rehabilitation center. The 27-year-old former adult film star, whose legal name is Litzy Lara Banuelos, is reportedly unable to move or communicate beyond grunts and moans. Her family says she relies on feeding and breathing support. Despite the devastating prognosis, one occasional gesture has given Willis’ younger brother hope that she remains aware of the people around her.
Willis entered Summit Malibu in California in early 2024 while struggling with ketamine and alcohol addiction, according to the Daily Mail. She reportedly texted her younger brother, Michael Cooper, to tell him she would be “detoxing” for 21 days without access to her phone or substances. The treatment program reportedly cost $45,500.
Michael, now 24, said his sister appeared optimistic about receiving help. “She said it had a lot of amenities, and a lot of celebrities went there, and they make sure you come out well. She was strong going in and had a path forward,” he said. “I had zero reason to think anything would go wrong.”
Nine days into her stay, Willis was reportedly found unresponsive and not breathing. Paramedics eventually restored her pulse, but the prolonged lack of oxygen caused an anoxic brain injury. It took nearly three weeks for Willis to emerge from her coma. Her family was then told that the resulting brain damage was irreversible.
Lawsuit Alleged Her Health Rapidly Deteriorated
Willis’ mother, Yesenia Cooper, filed a civil complaint against Summit Malibu and its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers. The complaint alleged that Willis entered the facility weighing 111 pounds but weighed only 83 pounds by the time she suffered cardiac arrest.
According to medical notes described in the complaint, Willis refused medication on her first day and exhibited multiple withdrawal symptoms. Three days into the program, she was allegedly described as ‘disheveled, frail, disoriented’ and experiencing ‘difficulty walking.’ The complaint said she declined hospitalization.
Another note allegedly described her as “anxious, distressed, barely eating, not showering or getting dressed and was experiencing aches, tremors, spasms and weakness.”
The complaint also alleged that Willis experienced night terrors, a serious urinary tract infection, and severe dehydration during her stay. Despite the reported weight loss and difficulty eating, the lawsuit claimed she was not evaluated by a nutritionist or dietitian.
The complaint accused Summit Malibu of admitting Willis “merely for profits.” “Defendants failed to provide her the care she needed for her physical and mental symptoms,” the complaint stated.
Summit Malibu denied the allegations and disputed that it was legally responsible for Willis’ condition. Court filings reportedly argued that Willis refused medication and recommendations to seek additional medical treatment.
The Rehabilitation Center Did Not Admit Wrongdoing
A judge approved a $3 million settlement in July, ending the lawsuit without a trial or a finding that Summit Malibu caused Willis’ injuries. According to TMZ, Willis is expected to receive about $1.25 million after attorney fees, liens, and other financial obligations are paid.
Her mother will reportedly continue serving as her conservator and overseeing the money placed into a trust for her ongoing care.
Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers did not admit liability or wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Willis’ own attorney acknowledged in court filings that the case ‘was no slam dunk’ because it remains unclear what happened immediately before she stopped breathing. That uncertainty continues to torment her brother. “That’s what is so frustrating is that this didn’t happen to her at home or anything. It happened under the care of medical professionals who were acting under California law as her legal guardians,” Michael told the Daily Mail.
Emily Willis’ Mother Moved Her To Mexico
Yesenia has since moved Willis to Mexico, where relatives help provide constant care at a family member’s home. She reportedly plans to purchase a house there because nursing services are more affordable than in the United States and she has support from extended family.
Willis’ mother believes her daughter remains aware of her condition despite being unable to communicate conventionally. She said Willis sometimes screams and kicks out of frustration. Yesenia is also hoping to take her daughter to Spain for experimental treatments that she believes could help Willis regain some independence. “They do things there that aren’t available here. Maybe she can become more independent,” she said.
Michael remains concerned about the physical and emotional toll his sister’s care could take on their mother. The family continues to accept donations through a verified GoFundMe campaign, which has raised more than $127,000 at the time of publication.
“People have already been very generous,” Michael said. “But if anyone feels inclined to keep giving her the best quality of life possible, it would be more than appreciated.”
Her Family Remembers An Independent And Generous Woman
Michael described Willis as fiercely independent from a young age. She began working at a burger restaurant at 14 so she could buy her first smartphone. After the family moved from Mexico to Utah, Willis helped her younger brother by driving him to school in an aging green Pontiac Grand Am. “It was ugly, but she loved it,” Michael recalled.
Willis left home at 17 and eventually moved to Los Angeles, where she entered the adult film industry. Her success reportedly earned her millions of dollars, but Michael said she remained committed to supporting her family. “She was the most generous person ever, trying to take care of the people she loved, my mom, my dad, and me. We never asked her for money. We just loved her for who she was,” he said.
Her father, Michael Cooper Sr., acknowledged that accepting her career took time. “I didn’t like what she was doing, but instead of trying to criticize her and lose her, I kind of embraced her so she didn’t push me away,” he explained. “Nobody wants their daughter to do that. People will criticize, but they’ll watch somebody else’s daughter doing that, no problem.”
Willis and her younger brother remained especially close, regularly speaking by phone, traveling together and visiting amusement parks. “It was me and her against the world. That was something we’d always say,” Michael said.
Emily Willis Had Hoped To Pursue A Different Career
Before her medical emergency, Willis had begun expanding beyond adult entertainment. She appeared alongside Bella Thorne, Stephen Dorff and Scott Bakula in the 2023 science-fiction film “Divinity.” Deadline confirmed her casting in the project, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
According to her brother, Willis also discussed attending acting school or leaving the adult industry to study psychology in college. “We’d talk to her, try to help her, urging her to move out of Hollywood and those influences and come closer to us,” he said.
Michael now holds onto one small response that suggests his sister may recognize him despite her inability to speak. “Sometimes I’ll blow her a kiss, and she’ll sort of pucker her lips like she’s blowing one back,” he said. “It’s a struggle for her, and it doesn’t always happen. But it has me thinking she’s in there.”
Beloved comedian Conan O’Brien is opening up about his previous mental health struggles, revealing how one of the nation’s longest-running series actually saved his life.
“My origin story, for people that don’t know, is I was working on Saturday Night Live. I was in a funk,” O’Brien, 63, said during the Thursday, September 10, episode of his podcast “Conan O’Brian Needs a Friend” featuring The Simpsons creator Matt Groening.
“I loved that job and I love everyone there, but I thought, ‘I need to go. I’m in a bad place in my life,’” the former late night host continued. “I walked away from SNL with no job, and two of your writers, I think it was [Mike] Reiss and [Al] Jean, heard that Conan O’Brien might be loose and available. So the next thing I knew, I was submitting, I don’t know, some of the sketches I had written on SNL.”
He added, “Then I was told, ‘You’ve got a job on The Simpsons, and you need to be here in four days.’ And it really saved my life.”
Conan O’Brien made his triumphant return to NBC late night. The comedian, 60, appeared on the Tuesday, April 9, episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, more than a decade after his stint as the show’s host. “It’s weird to come back,” O’Brien told Fallon, 49. “I haven’t been in this building for such […]
The Conan Must Go star started working as a writer for SNL in 1998, ultimately exiting the sketch comedy series in 1991. O’Brien joined The Simpsons as a writer and producer later that same year, contributing to seasons 3, 4 and the start of season 5 before ultimately leaving the series to host Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 1993, taking over for longtime host David Letterman. (O’Brien went on to briefly host The Tonight Show before Jay Leno’s controversial return, prompting the comedian to launch his own talk show Conan on TBS in 2010. The show ran for 11 seasons until 2021.)
Conan O’Brien Getty Images
“I was so intimidated when I showed up,” O’Brien continued of his time as a writer and producer for The Simpsons. “I had never written that form before. I had only written sketch and suddenly they’re saying, ‘This has to happen in this act, but then in that act…’ I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’ It was a magical part of my life.’”
O’Brien went on to publicly thank his guest Groening, 72, the cartoonist and animator who created not only The Simpsons but also Futurama and Disenchantment, for giving him an avenue for continued opportunity after his time at NBC.
“God, do I thank you,” O’Brien said. “I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t gone there.”
O’Brien has managed to reinvent himself several times over his decades-long entertainment career and while somehow maintaining his signature style of physical, slapstick comedy and absurd silliness.
“Conan is the patron saint of ex-talk show hosts,” Stephen Colbert told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published back in March and in the wake of the Comedy Central alum’s own unceremonious late night exit. “He’d actually been telling me to quit for years. We were out, a few Emmys ago, and he kept saying, ‘I want you to know there’s a lot of fun to be had when this is over, so don’t feel like you need to stay.’”
Colbert, 62, continued at the time, “It almost hurt my feelings, but he was just being kind. He Dutch uncle’d me.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Following the massive success of Christopher Nolan‘s blockbuster epic The Odyssey, audience interest in the myths and legends of ancient Greece has skyrocketed. Full of heroes, epic fights, dangerous voyages, and larger-than-life characters, The Odyssey is the type of mythological spectacle that Hollywood had been hesitant to make—but despite pre-release internet backlash, Nolan’s adaptation has grossed well over a billion dollars at the box office, with records being broken left and right. It’s clear that audiences have not yet had enough of ancient Greece as a cinematic setting, and for those looking to stay in that world, there is already another epic waiting for them.
2004’s Troy, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, and Brian Cox, did not receive the near-universal praise that The Odyssey has. But more than two decades later, audiences seem to be warming up to it, with the film holding steady as the second most-streamed film on Apple TV. On the surface, it looks like the type of epic non-franchise blockbuster that audiences claim to miss and is the type of movie that is built to get people to the theater. Now that ancient Greece is back on the public’s minds, it may be the perfect time to revisit Troy and see what holds up.
Led by Brad Pitt’s Achilles, the film takes Homer’s Iliad and turns it into a tragic war epic centered on human pride, mortality, and what a person will do to be remembered throughout history. By not focusing on Odysseus, played by Sean Bean, the film also makes Troy feel like a companion piece to The Odyssey. The movies focus on two different heroes, but the friendship between Odysseus and Achilles in Troy is a crucial part of the narrative, and the movie ends at the perfect launching point for The Odyssey.
‘Troy’ Has Aged Better Than Its Original Reception Would Have Suggested
When Troy was first released, it earned mixed reviews from both critics and general audiences, who criticized it for its bloated narrative and the many creative liberties it took with Homer’s original story. Some of those criticisms were earned, but if you watch the movie today, many of the qualities that once made the movie have an old-fashioned feel are now precisely what makes it refreshing.
While Homer’s Iliad focuses on the ensemble of characters, Troy centers itself around Achilles and his quest to carve his name into the stones of history. Rather than painting him as just the skilled warrior that he is, the movie makes his awareness of his mortality the defining trait of his character. On the other side of the coin is Eric Bana‘s Hector, the leader of the Trojan military, who feels responsibility for not just himself, but his family and his country. It’s a more nuanced take on the conflict that most adaptations take, and gives Troy more complexity than its reputation as a sword-and-sandals blockbuster suggests. Achilles and the Greeks want history to remember them; Hector and the Trojans fight for those they love.
Following the death of Achilles’ cousin Patroclus at the hands of Hector, these diametrically opposed foes are led into an eventual clash of swords and shields. Their duel outside the walls of Troy stands as one of the best fight scenes of the era, with Hector showing that Achilles is, in fact, mortal, despite his eventual defeat. It’s a fight that is physical, desperate, and intimate despite the enormous scale surrounding it.
‘Troy’ and ‘The Odyssey’ Explore Different Kinds of Ancient Heroes
The presence of Odysseus in the film makes Troy especially interesting as a companion piece to Nolan’s The Odyssey. Both stories are filled with heroes, but their narratives serve as an interesting contrast in how they define heroism. Achilles is unbeatable in combat but struggles with understanding his own humanity, while Odysseus survives because he knows how to adapt and survive, not because he is the greatest warrior. Each character represents different aspects of who we consider to be a hero and what qualities we place the most emphasis on in a person.
Because of this, watching Troy after The Odyssey does more than provide viewers with another ancient Greek adventure to enjoy. It reveals a new and exciting corner of the same legendary world. Much of The Odyssey’s focus is on mythology and the destiny that the Greek gods had set humans on, and while Troy is more grounded, it shares the same fascination with fate and mortality. More than 20 years after the movie’s release, it remains a fun, if flawed, take on Greek mythology and what it means to be a hero.
For anyone looking to dive back into ancient Greece after watching The Odyssey, and spend a few more hours in the lands of Homer’s heroes, Troy remains one of the best places to go next.
- Release Date
-
May 14, 2004
- Runtime
-
163 minutes
- Director
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Wolfgang Petersen
Recently, rumors have been swirling about who will be cast as the next James Bond. The iconic spy has been played by everyone from Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan, and now that Daniel Craig has set aside his martini after 2021’s No Time to Die, a replacement is needed. This has set off a frenzy, with several names thrown into the ring. Recently, Jacob Elordi and Callum Turner have been floated as possibilities — as well as an actor who has been showing off his talents in another brilliant spy thriller series.
Jack Lowden Is Already Playing the Perfect Spy in Apple TV’s ‘Slow Horses’
Since 2022, Jack Lowden has shown he has what it takes to play a convincing spy in Apple TV’s Slow Horses, demonstrating over five seasons that he can truly tackle anything. Lowden’s character, River Cartwright, has just been hired by MI5, but his introduction to the job is rocky. In a disastrous training exercise, River makes a blunder that gets him relegated to a group of rejects, nicknamed the “Slow Horses” in tribute to the Slough House branch they’ve been assigned to. This ragtag bunch of agents doesn’t have the glory that often comes along with being in MI5, and are more often tasked with paperwork than legitimate cases. Each season, River and his fellow Slow Horses are pulled into bigger investigations involving serious national security threats, all in the name of protecting Great Britain.
River’s personal life is often no better than his professional one. His beloved grandfather and former head of MI5, David Cartwright (Jonathan Pryce), is slowly losing his memory to Alzheimer’s, and Season 4 drops a major revelation about the identity of River’s birth father. River’s love life is a bit of a mess, too, between a missed opportunity to turn his connection with Sid Baker (Olivia Cooke) into something more and a misguided attempt to kiss his best friend and fellow Slow Horse, Louisa Guy, (Rosalind Eleazar), in Season 5. Yet all of these traits work in tandem to make River a lovable and well-rounded character. Even though he’s far from perfect, River is relatable, honest, and always tries his best to do the right thing.
Jack Lowden Doesn’t Need 007 To Have a Flourishing Career
Although Lowden would be fantastic as James Bond, he’s already depicting the perfect spy in Slow Horses. Bond is slick, glamorous, and rarely makes a misstep, while Lowden’s River is a much more authentic protagonist who’s easy to root for. He’s often forced to chase or outrun suspects, depending on the episode, and each scrape he finds himself in is typically humiliating, but still always fun to watch. It’s not that River is altogether incapable of saving the day, but rather that he seems to have terrible luck, and Lowden strikes the perfect balance between deadpan charm and long-suffering annoyance.
Of course, Lowden would still make an exceptional James Bond, having already demonstrated that he can pull off complex stunts with ease and is right at home in the spy world. But there’s no way the actor could top his two-time Emmy-nominated performance as River, which continues with the Season 6 premiere of Slow Horses this month. He’s also starring as the celebrated Mr. Darcy in Netflix’s upcoming miniseries adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. At the end of the day, we’re happy to see Lowden onscreen in any role, but we’re just as satisfied with him playing a Slow Horse as we would be with him stepping into that famous tuxedo.
Seasons 1–5 of Slow Horses are available to stream on Apple TV in the U.S. Season 6 drops on Wednesday, September 16.
Slow Horses
- Release Date
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April 1, 2022
- Network
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Apple TV+
- Showrunner
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Douglas Urbanski
- Directors
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Adam Randall, James Hawes, Jeremy Lovering, Saul Metzstein
Andor may be over, but Kyle Soller‘s performance as Syril Karn remains one of the show’s strangest and most memorable. Across the series’ two seasons, Syril evolves from an obsessive bureaucrat into a pawn in the Empire’s plans for Ghorman, with his increasingly complicated relationship with Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) ultimately ending in tragedy. By the time Syril realizes just how thoroughly he has been manipulated, his devotion to order has already helped put him on a collision course with Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and the Ghorman resistance. Soller’s performance makes that downfall unexpectedly emotional, especially as Syril’s carefully controlled exterior begins to fall apart.
Given just how well Soller embodies Syril’s desperation, severity, and growing disillusionment, it may be surprising for Star Wars fans to learn that the actor has already played an even more openly vulnerable character in another acclaimed sci-fi series. Back in 2023, Soller starred in the Netflix sci-fi hit Bodies, showing off his softer side and giving the series its most poignant love story as London Detective Inspector Alfred Hillinghead.
A critically acclaimed release in its own right, Bodies is a thrilling adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name that broke into Netflix’s Top 10 following its release. For viewers who were impressed by Soller’s tragic turn in Andor, the eight-part sci-fi mystery offers an even clearer showcase for his emotional range.
What Is Netflix’s ‘Bodies’ About?
Bodies is also a healthy mix of time travel and good old-fashioned (literally) murder. The series’ plot revolves around detectives in four time periods — 1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053 — all of whom suddenly stumble upon the same body (Tom Mothersdale) appearing in all four years at once in the same exact spot. As the investigators each follow their own leads to understand this mystery victim’s identity, cause of death, and the motivation behind the killing, both the audience and detectives alike are pulled into a conspiracy spanning centuries, one that seeks to reshape the world into a new, dystopian order and ensure that everyone knows what it means to feel loved.
What follows is an exhilarating race both against and throughout time in order to ensure the man somehow living in all four time periods, Elias Mannix (Gabriel Howell and Stephen Graham), cannot be allowed to continue a time loop that grants him power over history itself.
Soller’s DI Hillinghead is the lead investigator in the year 1890 and, for all intents and purposes, leads the most compelling and vital subplot in the series’ eight episodes. At once intrigued by a reporter at the scene of the crime, Henry Ashe (George Parker), and wholeheartedly devoted to his wife and daughter, Hillinghead is a man pulled in two directions as questions surrounding the titular body pull him deeper into the mystery of Graham’s Sir Julian Harker.
Facing police corruption, blackmail, and the injustice of a late Victorian society as he digs deeper for the truth, Hillinghead is subsequently forced to choose between living honestly or living safely, and Soller’s heartbreaking performance imbues Hillinghead’s dilemma with a level of raw emotion that easily makes his storyline the most impactful of the series.
Kyle Soller Masterfully Balances Severity With Passion in ‘Bodies’
Watching Soller at the beginning of Bodies is sure to be a treat for Andor fans because the actor imbues his London detective with the same severity that defines Syril Karn. A stern, stoic presence onscreen whose serious regard for propriety contrasts with Henry Ashe’s more teasing, liberated personality, Soller once again demonstrates his skill at bringing hawkish authority figures to life during Bodies‘ earliest episodes. But the actor truly shines once the series begins exploring Hillinghead’s queer identity. At first so startled by his feelings for Ashe that he has the man arrested on the same kind of indecency charge that doomed Oscar Wilde, the pair’s joint investigation soon makes it impossible for Hillinghead to hide his true feelings. The role allows Soller to surrender the rigid restraint familiar from Syril Karn in favor of a much more openly passionate performance.
Hillinghead’s subsequent scenes with Ashe are all largely stolen by just how successfully Soller’s pleading line delivery tugs on your heartstrings, with the character’s mask quickly melting away to reveal the portrait of a man who has lived his entire life without the love he truly craves. Whether recovering from a séance gone wrong in Ashe’s apartment or urging Ashe to run once Harker issues Hillinghead a chilling ultimatum, Soller masterfully conveys the urgent need of Hillinghead’s desire and the growing happiness of a man finally at home in Ashe’s apartment. Furthermore, by convincingly capturing both Hillinghead’s early austerity and the pining familiarity he develops once he opens up to Ashe, Soller effectively captures the duality of a man who goes from trapped to entranced, transforming one of Bodies‘ best characters and highlighting the versatile talent of the Star Wars performer.
Kyle Soller’s Love Story in ‘Bodies’ Grounds the Sci-Fi Narrative in Deeply Personal Stakes
Aside from how well Soller portrays the most dynamic character in Bodies‘ romantic subplot, the relationship itself has larger implications for the show’s story at large. In a series that juggles the usual futuristic exposition and sci-fi gymnastics in 2053, Bodies‘ 1890 plotline occupies a much more intimate atmosphere, one with all the charged tension and personal turmoil of a classic period romance. Consequently, Hillinghead’s affair grounds the mind-bending plot of Bodies‘ later episodes with a depth of human feeling that allows the series to remain tonally balanced, reminding viewers of the series’ personal stakes even as each new revelation opens the door to a plethora of complex, plot-related paradoxes.
Once again, Soller is a standout of these later story moments, expertly communicating Hillinghead’s inner conflict between his old lies and new lease on life, both when his family is threatened and during the detective’s final confrontation with Elias Mannix. In fact, by the end of Bodies, it’s hard to root for anyone more than Hillinghead because of the twisted scheme Elias ultimately unleashes on the man’s family and loved ones.
Nevertheless, a character’s tragedy is an actor’s opportunity, and Soller more than seizes his chance to deliver a stirring performance that is as gut-wrenching as it is deeply moving. After seeing Syril Karn’s complete downfall in Andor, Soller’s work in Bodies feels even more revealing. Both characters begin as tightly wound authority figures, but Hillinghead allows the actor to expose a tenderness and vulnerability that Syril spends much of his life desperately suppressing. For Andor fans who came away impressed by Soller’s performance, Netflix’s sci-fi mystery proves just how much more range the actor has to offer.
All eight episodes of Bodies are available to stream on Netflix.
Bodies
- Release Date
-
2023 – 2023-00-00
- Showrunner
-
Paul Tomalin
- Directors
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Marco Kreuzpainter, Haolu Wang
- Writers
-
Paul Tomalin, Danusia Samal
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