At Crimson Lights, Nick and Sharon discuss Cane and Phyllis’s takeover of his family business. Nick is distraught and angry about Phyllis’s involvement and the ramifications.
Sienna and Noah are enjoying some fun and romance at the Overlook Cafe. Their talk turns to her plan to move back to LA and his desire to go there with her. She tries to convince him to stay in Genoa City and be near his family again. Noah counters that since he now owns the Shadow Room, they can run it together in LA, but Sienna is leery because of its past association with Matt.
Nate goes to the Chancellor mansion to support Devon during the ordeal with Mariah kidnapping Dominic.
Devon reaches out to Sharon for help while she is at Crimson Lights with Nick, who goes with her to meet with Devon at her place. Just before Devon arrives, Sharon and Nick chat with Sienna and Noah in her living room. He informs them that he hired the Newman jet to take him and Sienna to LA, where they will be living and running the Shadow Room together.
Devon shows Sharon and Nick footage of Mariah at the motel in Genoa City and tells them that she kidnapped Dominic. Sharon and Nick are shocked and offer to help find the child.
While Devon is at Sharon’s, Abby is at home. She calls her dad and asks him to come over because she needs his help. Then she clings to a stuffed animal that Chance gave to Dominic. She prays to Chance to watch over and protect Dominic, and to put his detective skills together to bring Dominic home.
Hallucination Ian is in the front passenger seat of the car Mariah is driving away from Genoa City with Dominic asleep in the back seat. Ian gives her a pep talk about how she will be a good mother to Dominic and says he will never abandon her and will always help her. Dominic wakes up and calls out “Papa”, Hallucination Ian disappears. When Mariah asks Dominic if he had a nightmare, he tells her that he had a sad dream about his papa in heaven, and he misses him. When he mentions how his “mommy” would sing to him, Mariah tells him that she’s also kind of like his mommy, that she sang to him while he was in her tummy and that she nicknamed him Bowie. He asks her to sing; she flashes back to singing Tessa’s song to him while she was pregnant with him. She starts humming “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and tells him that sometimes she almost feels like he’s her son, too. Dominic looks out the side car window and smiles.
Here is what I liked and disliked about Y&R for the week of 1/26/2026 (just my humble opinions, no particular order, just random musings)
Rants:
Harrison’s fake emergency matchmaking trick for getting Claire and Kyle to spend time together with him and remind them how compatible they are was cute, but a waste of air time. Seemed like it was just filler to remind viewers that Kyle has a child and to keep Claire in Kyle’s orbit. I don’t particularly like the actor who plays Harrison. I know he’s just a little kid, but I’ve seen many talented child actors on soaps, and this boy is not one of them. He came across as reading his lines, or like he managed to memorize and recite them, and couldn’t effectively infect any emotion into what he was saying. JMVHO.
Sally continues to annoy the heck out of me. She’s such a bi*ch. She’s always putting Billy on the defensive, lecturing him and generally condescending to him. I like the friendship between Sally and Audra, but I’m beginning to feel sorry for Audra having to listen to broken record Sally complaining and whining about Billy.
Not liking the storyline with Mariah kidnapping Dominic from Abby and Devon, which started this week with her skulking around outside the Chancellor mansion, then returning to the motel and talking with her hallucination of Ian Ward, trying to resist his attempts to persuade her to kidnap Dominic. As of Friday 1/30/2026, she had caved to Ian, went through with kidnapping Dominick, and is driving away with him in the back seat of the car. Also, they need to lay off the bronze spray tan on Abby’s pretty face. She looks plastic.
Raves:
On the flip side, because Dominic is so adorable (this is a child actor who can act), he makes Mariah tolerable.
It was fun to see Victor sitting calmly in his chair behind his desk in his office at Newman Enterprises, listening to Cane and Phyllis going off on him, then remaining still with his hands folded, watching the heated exchange between Phyllis and Victoria before declaring “enough” and throwing Cane and Phyllis out.
Interesting dynamic with Adam, Chelsea and Nikki in alignment after Chelsea spoke up and told Nikki about Victor enlisting Adam to trick Cane into thinking that Lily and his kids are in danger (as a way to lure Cane back to the bargaining table for Victor to regain Newman Enterprises).
Abby, who is a Newman, but not involved in the family business, expressing concern to her husband/Devon about it being in such peril, was a refreshing acknowledgement of the character’s paternal family roots.
The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.
Interview with Sara Garcia of “The Hunting Party” on NBC by Suzanne 1/23/26
It’s always so nice to speak to Sara, or any of the actors from this series. It’s a pretty cool show, with a lot of drama, intrigue and action. If you missed season 1, you can catch up with it on Peacock. Season 2 started January 8th on NBC.
One thing that’s fun about this show is that they have great guest stars playing serial killers. So far this season, they’ve had Eric McCormack (“Will & Grace”), Niecy Nash (“All’s Fair”) and Michael Stahl-David (“Good Sam”). Check out our video and be sure not to miss this week’s episode Thursday, January 29.
The Hunting Party is a high-concept crime procedural about a small team of investigators led by former FBI profiler Rebecca “Bex” Henderson (Melissa Roxburgh). They’ve been assembled to track down and capture the most dangerous killers the world has ever seen, all of whom have just escaped from “The Pit,” a top-secret government prison that’s not supposed to exist.
But as Bex races to catch these killers before it’s too late, she’ll discover that the one thing more twisted than the dangerous fugitives she’s chasing is the prison itself that they just escaped from…because “The Pit” wasn’t just a prison.
The cast also includes Nick Wechsler, Patrick Sabongui, Josh McKenzie and Sara Garcia.
Co-showrunners JJ Bailey (creator) and Jake Coburn are writers and executive producers. Thor Freudenthal is director and executive producer. Michael Jones Morales is writer and executive producer.
“The Hunting Party” is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Sara Garcia Bio
Sara Garcia stars as Jennifer Morales, an intel officer and major in the Army, on the NBC drama “The HuntingParty.”
Ontario-born and Toronto-raised, Garcia applied and was accepted to one of Toronto’s most prestigious arts schools, the Etobicoke School of the Arts. When it came time for college, Garcia chose to attend the renowned Queen’s University, where she double majored in global development and theater.
Her first foray on TV was a role on FX’s “Man Seeking Woman.” Other television credits include CW’s “The Flash” and “Reign,” “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” Hallmark’s “Ride,” the USA series “Falling Water,” the SYFY movie “Stickman” and the action series “X Company” for the CBC.
Most recently Garcia had a leading role in the animated Netflix series “Unicorn Academy,” which garnered her a Canadian Screen Award nomination; a recurring part on Netflix’s “My Little Pony” franchise; Amazon’s “Gary & His Demons”; and the Apple TV/Dreamworks project “Pinecone & Pony.”
Outside of film and television, she has displayed her acting skills with major roles in two incredibly successful video game franchises, “Far Cry 6” and “Starlink: Battle for Atlas.”
Bex races to catch Zack Lang, a class-obsessed serial killer who bludgeoned wealthy New Yorkers. When Bex notices a sharp contrast between his victims in the past and present, the team has to dig into Zack’s unresolved trauma in order to stop him.
The team hunts for Amanda Weiss (guest star Elizabeth Gillies), a killer dubbed the Masseuse, who became famous for breaking the necks of her massage clients. She has kidnapped a woman and, rather than killing her, has even darker plans in mind.
ABOUT “THE HUNTINGPARTY”
A high-concept crime procedural about a small team of investigators who are assembled to track down and capture the most dangerous killers our country has ever seen, all of whom have just escaped from a top-secret prison that’s not supposed to exist.
The cast includes Melissa Roxburgh, Patrick Sabongui, Josh McKenzie and Sara Garcia.
Co-showrunners JJ Bailey (creator) and Jake Coburn are writers and executive producers. Thor Freudenthal is director and executive producer. Keto Shimizu is writer and executive producer.
The HuntingParty is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Harrison plays a trick on Claire and Kyle with a fake emergency to get them both to come to the Abbott mansion. As soon as they arrive, he lets them know it was a false alarm and says that he needs their help with a school project. He gives them index cards and pens, asks them a few basic questions and has them write down their answers. Harrison is thrilled when most of their answers match and admits that he modified what was a school project to show them how much they have in common. Claire gets a text from Holden asking her to meet, but she tells Kyle and Harrison that she has to go to see her mom. In the foyer before Claire leaves, she and Kyle talk about the situation at her family’s company and Harrison’s sweet attempt at matchmaking. When Kyle returns to the living room, he admits to Harrison that he misses Claire.
A cheerful Sharon brings Nick back to her house from the hospital. His leg is on the mend and the doctor cleared him to go home with new pain meds. He is also now sporting a cane instead of the crutch.
Noah and Sienna come to Sharon’s house from a meeting with Michael Baldwin. Nick apologizes to them for how poorly he treated them right after his car accident when he was in excruciating pain. Sienna tells Nick and Sharon that since she and Matt were married under false pretenses, it will be easy for their marriage to be annulled. Nick and Sharon look uneasy. Sienna tells them that Victor was able to have all of Matt’s financial assets put into her name, except for the Shadow Room club. Noah adds that he enlisted the help of his grandfather, who had ownership of the club transferred to Noah. Sharon and Nick exchange glances of discomfort. Noah explains that he is planning to run the club remotely from Genoa City, to their relief. Sienna announces that it is time for her to go back to LA. Noah tries to talk her out of it and settle in Genoa City with him, but she insists that she has to return to LA. He winds up offering to go there with her, telling her that they can run the Shadow Room there together. Nick and Sharon look dismayed.
Victor is in his office, staring at his portrait, when Victoria comes in and gives him a hug. They discuss what to do to save their company. He assures her that he will not give up the fight for it and tells her how proud of her he is. When she asks what the plan is, he tells her that he reached out to Jill for help, but her health has gotten worse, so her assistance is not an option He also informs Victoria that he prefers not to tell her and Nikki about the plan he has come up with. Adam walks in, asks Victor what he contacted him about regarding the plan, and Victoria stomps out, angry that Victor chose to bring Adam in on the plan, not her. She meets up with Nikki at Society and vents to her mom about Victor. Nikki is okay with Victor keeping them in the dark because it’s to protect them, but she worries about possible ramifications of whatever the plan could be.
Victor tells Adam he needs him to find Lily and the children. When Adam asks if that would involve putting them in harm’s way, Victor assures him that he would never do that. He explains that he wants them to make Cane think that Lily and their kids are in danger, in order to lure Cane back to the bargaining table.
Here is what I liked and disliked about Y&R for the week of 1/19/2026 (just my humble opinions, no particular order, just random musings)
Raves:
Adam and Chelsea – I am really liking these two together, I think they have great chemistry, an organic and easy rapport and I’m rooting for them to stay together.
Nikki bonding with Chelsea – I was touched by the scenes at Newman Ranch when Nikki told Chelsea she was happy to have her supporting the family, that Chelsea fits in and that she can see why Adam loves her so much.
Tessa and Daniel make a nice couple, there’s definite sparks and chemistry between these two. (I prefer Tessa’s dark hair, the blonde makes her pretty face look kind of washed out)
So nice to see Abby and Devon again and nuDominic is adorable. Unfortunately, Mariah, who I do not like, is going to become involved in their storyline, but the trade off is seeing Ian Ward, who I enjoy, even though he’s just a hallucination for Mariah.
Rants:
Sally’s attitude – it seems like her sole purpose is to strut around whining and complaining to Billy and about him to her bestie, Audra.
The scenes in the 1/22 episode of Sally and Billy separately flashing back to previous conversations about Abbott Communications were overkill. Having to watch them arguing about their current situation is enough, don’t need to see them reviewing things in their minds.
What’s with Billy’s hair?! It looks like he was plugged into an electrical outlet!
Amy – this week was the first time I’ve seen her in the current storyline, and I have no prior familiarity with the character because I wasn’t a Y&R viewer back when she was initially on … ugh, I can’t stand her. She is abrasive and nosy, and the actress is horrible. Imho, she is trying way too hard (and falling flat). She is painful to watch.
The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.
Having taken a long hiatus from Y&R, I recently decided to start watching it again.
After two weeks of watching the show, here are my initial impressions (just my humble opinions) in no particular order… just random musings:
Love, love, love the great Roger Howarth’s spin on the dastardly character of Matt Clark!
Billy + Sally = one big yawn fest, no chemistry, boring.
nuNoah … I must admit, I was skeptical about this recast because I did not particularly like him as Tripp on Days of our Lives and had been very invested in the previous actor’s portrayal of Noah. However, from the moment I first saw this Noah, I’ve been liking his take on the character very much. I also think there’s great chemistry between him and Sienna.
nuCane … I wish I could say the same about this recast, but it’s basically the opposite. I loved him as Chad on Days, but I cannot buy into him as Cane on Y&R. Watching scenes with Cane, all I see is the actor trying his best to become the character, but not coming through. IMHO, he and the storyline would have been better served if he had been cast as a brand new character with a troubled past connection with Victor Newman and his family, who came to Genoa City to take Victor down.
I’m enjoying the “womance” between Sally and Audra. It’s so refreshing to see a genuine friendship (BFF’s, bonding) between two women, rather than the usual soap rivalry, bitterness and all that goes with it. The scenes with Sally and Audra at Society on Thursday 1/15/2026 (when Audra gave Sally support and suggestions about Sally’s challenging relationship with Billy) were heartwarming.
Love how Newman sibs Adam, Nick and Victoria are all getting along and united against Cane and Phyllis’s attack on their family legacy.
Shout out to Joshua Morrow – I anoint him my Performer of the Week for 1/12/2026, for his portrayal of Nick. His performances were riveting in many ways, especially how he has been capturing the severe physical pain his character is in (from the breaking his fibula in his recent car accident). It seemed like every time Nick winced and grimaced in pain, I could feel his suffering.
The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.
At Crimson Lights, Chelsea is working on her laptop. Esther brings her a coffee and expresses concern that Chelsea is contagious from the flu she had over New Year’s. Chelsea assures her that she’s fine now and dismisses Esther’s question about Newman Enterprises being under attack. Esther notices something about it on Chelsea’s computer. After Esther walks away, Chelsea texts Adam to meet her there because rumors are gaining speed.
Adam comes to the Newman Ranch to let Victor know that the Newman IT team thinks it has created an algorithm to trick Cane’s AI program to attack false targets instead of Newman Enterprises, so they need to run a few more tests. Victor tells Adam there’s no time for more testing and directs Adam to give them the go-ahead.
Noah and Nick are in Sharon’s living room discussing Nick’s dogged determination to get rid of Matt for good. Seeing how much pain his father is in, Noah implores him to concentrate on his health, not Matt. Sienna comes down from the bedroom, stands on the stairs, overhears them talking and heads back to the bedroom. When Sharon comes into the living room, Noah fills her in on Nick’s plan to kill Matt. Sharon makes it clear that as much as she wants to end Matt’s reign of terror, she is not on board with him being killed. She and Noah try to get Nick to go back to the hospital, but he steadfastly refuses.
Sienna sneaks out of Sharon’s house, going straight to Victor at Newman Ranch. She asks for his help to stop Nick from killing Matt by telling him that Nick has Matt stashed in the trunk of his car. She expresses her concern about what Matt is putting Noah through because of her and tells Victor that she doesn’t want Noah or Nick dragged down any further from involvement with Matt. She also lets Victor know that she’s in love with Noah, but she doesn’t think they have a future because they belong in different places. Victor tells her he appreciates her candor and agrees that perhaps it would be best for her to return home to LA when this is all over.
Victor and Sienna go to Sharon’s place, where Victor tries to dissuade Nick from his plan to kill Matt; he insists that Nick let him take care of Matt. Sharon and Noah chime in. Nick refuses, then pauses and asks Victor what he intends to do with Matt if he hands him over. Victor says it’s better that neither Nick nor any of the others know his plans.
Adam and Victoria meet with Chelsea in Crimson Lights to strategize dealing with the press. They talk about their concern with the toll the situation is taking on their father. Adam also mentions that he is worried Newman Enterprises is sinking and there’s nothing they can do about it. Victoria insists that will not happen. The three of them agree that they must come up with a way to save the Newman family legacy and protect their Victor by destroying Cane and Phyllis.
Interview with actors Sandro Rosta, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, Bella Shepherd, Zoë Steiner, Karim Diané, Robert Picardo, and Gina Yashere, and showrunners/executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau of “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” on Paramount+ by Suzanne 1/7/26
I can’t tell you how much fun these interviews were. This is a very exciting Trek show, and I love these actors. I was especially excited to speak with Robert Picardo and Gina Yashere because of their previous work. The new series drops tomorrow, January 15, 2026 on Paramount+! If you loved “Star Trek: Discovery,” you should love this one as well.
STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY will premiere with two episodes on Thursday, January 15 on Paramount+ in the U.S. Following the premiere, new episodes of the 10-episode-long season will drop weekly on Thursdays, with the season finale on Thursday, March 12.
ABOUT SERIES
STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.
The new series stars Academy Award winner Holly Hunter as Nahla Ake, the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy and Captain of the U.S.S. Athena, plus the cast of cadets played by Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins and Bella Shepard. Additional cast members include Zoë Steiner, Robert Picardo, Tig Notaro, Oded Fehr, Gina Yashere and Academy Award nominee Paul Giamatti, as the season’s villain.
Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau serve as co-showrunners and executive produce the series alongside executive producers Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa and John Weber. The series’ premiere episode is written by Gaia Violo and directed by Alex Kurtzman. STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.
Billy and Sally run into Cane and Phyllis at the GCAC. Phyllis goes off on a tirade to Billy, while Sally and Cane stand there in awkward silence.
Later, at the Crimson Lights patio, Phyllis gloats to Cane about how she handled Billy. Cane lets her know that he pressed the button on his phone which triggered the AI program to destroy Enterprises from within. Phyllis pulls Cane in close, kisses him, and they go to his train and have victory sex.
Billy tells Sally he found out that Phyllis and Cane are in cahoots to take down Newman Enterprises and they discuss the ramifications.
When they go to Sally’s suite and she leaves the living room momentarily, Billy calls Jack and tells him that Cane and Phyllis are working together against Victor. As Sally heads back to the living room, she eavesdrops on their conversation.
At the Newman ranch, Jack (accompanied by Kyle) tries in vain to convince Victor to accept his offer to trade Matt to Victor in exchange for the AI program. Victor gets a text, leaves, and Jack’s security team takes Matt away to a secure location.
When Victor returns, he digs in his heels with his refusal to accept Jack’s offer and banishes Jack and Kyle from the ranch. Then, he gathers Adam, Nikki and Victoria and alerts them that their family is under attack by the AI program going after it’s host.
Interview with Richard Wharton of “Days of Our Lives” on Peacock by Suzanne 11/13/25
I very much enjoyed speaking with Richard, who plays the “mad scientist” Dr. Rolf on Days of Our Lives. I’ve watched the show off and on since 1992, so I’ve seen his predecessor (Will Utay) play him for years. Wharton is a great replacement. He’s had a long career as a character actor. He’s one of the few I’ve ever interviewed that asked about me, or my work, as well. I hope you enjoy it! Make sure to catch him Mondays through Fridays on DOOL.
Richard Wharton was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Western Illinois University. He stayed at WIU for an additional two years to get a Masters Degree in what eventually became their MFA program. He is most known for taking over the role of Major Recurring Guest Star Dr. Wilhelm Rolf on Days of Our Lives in 2022 and has appeared in over 60 episodes. He can also be seen as Grayson in The Pitt on HBO Max, and as a Pawnbroker on several episodes of The Young and The Restless. Richard is particularly proud of his part in the “Claires sketch” in I Think You Should Leave, as well as his King’s Alchemist role in Dragon Storm – one of two Sci-Fi films he filmed in Bulgaria and directed by the late great Stephen Furst. Richard’s first film role was as Punk #2 trying to rob Billie Crystal and Gregory Hines in Running Scared. In addition to his training at WIU, Richard studied for a summer at The National Shakespeare Summer Conservatory in Woodstock, New York and studied Shakespeare in Chicago with Barbara Gaines, the artistic director of Chicago Shakespeare Rep. After college, Richard toured the country for 9 months performing with the Alpha Omega Players eventually returning to Chicago where he spent the next 19 years performing in various theatres. His first paid acting job was in 1976 as the apostle Peter in an outdoor drama, The Smoky Mountain Passion Play. He then got his Equity card working with Chicago’s Free Street Theater directed by Patrick Henry, after which he served as Co-Artistic Director of The Immediate Theatre in Chicago where he was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for his portrayal of Henry Hackamore in Seduced by Sam Shepard. In his free time, Richard likes to read, hike, do yoga, go to the gym, go to the beach, play golf, watch movies, cook (he is the CDO at home, “Chief Domestic Officer”), and travel. He also loves to take long drives with his wife along the ocean or thru the mountains in his first “fun car”, a 2008 Toyota Solara Convertible which he bought in 2024. He is an on again off again sports fan, liking the 1985 Chicago Bears, The Jordan years of The Chicago Bulls and the Kobe/Shack years of the Lakers (the Phil Jackson years for both teams), The Cubs when Richard lived a block from Wrigley, the Dodgers, The Rams, and his current obsession, The Indiana Fever.
Days of our Lives is the multi-award-winning daytime drama that has weathered and reflected political and societal shifts without pause since 1965. Featuring drama, romance, mystery, and suspense, “Days” follows the lives, loves, and conflicts of the Horton, Brady, DiMera, Kiriakis, and Hernandez families and their many friends and colleagues. As one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, it is enjoyed in many foreign territories including Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, Israel, South Africa, and Australia. Peacock is the exclusive home of Days of our Lives. Audiences can access the past season and new episodes every weekday. Days of our Lives is produced by Corday Productions Inc. in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Interview with Tyler Hynes and Paul Campbell of “Three Wisest Men” on Hallmark by Suzanne 10/29/25
This was a very fun interview! “Three Wisest Men” is the third in the series of Hallmark movies that started with “Three Wise Men and a Baby” and “Three Wise Men and a Boy.” I didn’t realize before this interview that Campbell co-created and co-wrote the movies! He’s written and starred in many others as well. I’ve enjoyed them all, but this one is even funnier than the previous movies. I laughed all the way through. He also played Billy in “Battlestar Galactica,” so that was an added bonus, since I’m a huge fan of that show. He and Hynes have a great rapport both in the movies and in interviews. I hope you enjoy our video. Watch the movie Saturday night on Hallmark 8/7C and then streaming the next day on Hallmark+. The third of their trio, Andrew Walker, couldn’t make the interview, which is too bad. They’re great in this movie, along with Margaret Colin, Lochlyn Munro and others.
Stars: Paul Campbell (Christmas at the Catnip Café), Tyler Hynes (The Groomsmen trilogy), Andrew Walker (She’s Making a List) Logline: The Brenner family is back, and their lives are more chaotic than ever! As Luke (Walker) is expecting twins, Taylor (Hynes) is debating a monumental job opportunity out-of-state, and Stephan (Campbell) attempts to plan for his upcoming nuptials, everyone’s stress heightens when they learn their mom (Colin) has put their childhood home up for sale, marking their final Christmas in the Brenner house. With unexpected in-laws visiting, wild animals lurking in freshly cut Christmas trees and a hesitant mall Santa, the boys will have their work cut out for them as the holiday begins to loom. As they navigate adulting at a level they have yet to reach, they must learn to once again lean on one another to rise to the needs of their growing family, conquer the newest challenges in their lives and, most crucially, have the best Christmas EVER!
Paul Campbell is a Canadian actor born on June 22, 1979, known for his roles in the TV series Battlestar Galactica and Knight Rider, and numerous Hallmark Channel movies. After working as a carpenter, he pursued acting, making his debut in 2002. He is also a writer and producer, married to Lorie Campbell with whom he has a son named Kingston.
Tyler Hynes is a Canadian actor and filmmaker born on May 6, 1986. He began his professional acting career at age eight, appearing on stage before moving to television and film, and is known for his roles in the Hallmark Channel’s romantic movies as well as for recurring roles on shows like Letterkenny, The Firm, and Saving Hope. He is also an accomplished director, producer, and writer, with credits including music videos and short films.
Interview with Ginna Claire Mason and Wes Brown of the movie “A Newport Christmas” on Hallmark by Suzanne 10/29/25
I really enjoyed this Hallmark Christmas movie, which has time travel, history and a lot of other fun stuff. It airs Sunday, 11/2/25 on Hallmark, and streaming the next day on Hallmark+! They were both really nice. It’s always nice to talk to people with a lot of warmth and enthusiasm. These two are so good in this movie. I’m a longtime fan of scifi and fantasy, as well as Christmas movies, so I enjoy when they combine all these elements. Check out their new song, too! “Timeless!”
About A NEWPORT CHRISTMAS Premieres: Sunday, November 2
Stars: Ginna Claire Mason (A Holiday Spectacular), Wes Brown (Haul out the Holly: Lit Up)
Logline: Ella (Mason) is a charitable and spirited Newport socialite in 1905 who dreams of using her wealth to start a foundation to help others in town. After learning her father intends for her to become engaged to a man she’s never met at the upcoming Christmas Eve ball, Ella goes for a nighttime sail in her schooner to clear her head. Upon seeing a comet shoot across the sky, she wistfully wishes for a different life. Ella is shocked to suddenly find Nick (Brown), a sailor and local Newport historian, aboard her schooner and accuses him of being a stowaway. But Nick insists he owns the boat and a standoff ensues. Once on dry land, Ella realizes that somehow, she’s traveled from 1905 to 2025. As she spends time there and gets a glimpse at what her future in 1905 appears to be, she becomes reluctant to return, especially since she and Nick have grown close and she now knows how true love feels. But the legacy Ella built in her time – and the course of Newport’s history – risks being erased the longer she stays in the present, so the two plot a course for her trip back through time. But what awaits her at home is even more surprising that what she found in the future.
Wes Brown (born January 26, 1982) is an American actor known for his role as Luke McDonald in HBO’s True Blood and other TV and film roles, including Hallmark movies. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and attended Louisiana State University, initially intending to pursue business before switching to acting. His career also includes roles in series like Hart of Dixie and Private Practice, and films such as Glory Road and We Are Marshall.
Ginna Claire Mason is an American actress known for her role as Glinda in the Broadway musical Wicked and her starring roles in Hallmark Channel movies. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, she graduated from Elon University with a BFA in Music Theatre. Mason is married to pilot Eric Moffett, and they have two children.
Interview with Ramona Floyd of “Murdaugh: Death in the Family” on Hulu by Suzanne 10/28/25
It was great to speak with Ramona about her role in this TV miniseries, which airs Wednesdays on HULU. It premiered October 15th and finishes up November 19th for the finale. I can’t wait! She plays Lynn Goettee, Alex Murdagh’s sister. The miniseries is based on the real-life story of the Murdagh family murders from 2021 in South Carolina. We had a nice, in-depth discussion about the show and her role in it.
SeriesPremieres Oct. 15, 2025, on Hulu (Three Episodes at Launch, Then Weekly)
Maggie and Alex enjoy a lavish life of privilege as members of one of South Carolina’s most powerful legal dynasties. But when their son Paul is involved in a deadly boat crash, the family is faced with a test unlike any they’ve ever encountered. As details come to light and new challenges emerge, the family’s connections to several mysterious deaths raise questions which threaten everything Maggie and Alex hold dear.
The series stars Patricia Arquette as Maggie Murdaugh, Jason Clarke as Alex Murdaugh, Johnny Berchtold as Paul Murdaugh, Will Harrison as Buster Murdaugh, Brittany Snow as Mandy Matney, J. Smith-Cameron as Marian Proctor, Gerald McRaney as Randolph Murdaugh and Noah Emmerich as Randy Murdaugh.
Inspired by the popular “Murdaugh Murders Podcast,” the series hails from co-creator and showrunner Michael D. Fuller (“Quarry,” “Rectify” and “Locke & Key”) and co-creator Erin Lee Carr (“Britney vs Spears,” “I Love You, Now Die” and “Mommy Dead and Dearest”). Nick Antosca (“A Friend of the Family,” “The Act” and “Candy”) and Alex Hedlund for Eat the Cat are executive producers along with Mandy Matney, David Moses and Bill Johnson. Steven Piet executive produced and directed episodes 101, 102 and 108. Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke also serve as executive producers. UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.
Ramona Floyd is a versatile stage and screen actor whose work spans Off-Broadway, television, and film. She has appeared in a wide range of acclaimed New York productions, including Please Go Gentle Into That Good Night, The Monument, the title role in Medea, and standout performances in Pygmalion and The Maids with the Jean Cocteau Repertory Theatre. Other stage credits include Gone in 60, Arms and the Man, and Fulana. On screen, Ramona has built a career portraying everything from tough bosses to compassionate caregivers in popular series such as The Blacklist, The Punisher, FBI, True Detective, Girls5Eva, Blue Bloods, Bull, and the upcoming Murdaugh Murders: Death in the Family for Hulu.
Interview with star Drew Van Acker and director Jaco Bouwer of the film “Orion” by Suzanne 10/27/25
This is a smart, twisty, psychological thriller as well as a scifi movie. If you like good scifi, or suspenseful dramas, you should enjoy this. Drew Van Acker plays an astronaut, caught up in some intrigue, and he is interrogated by a mysterious person, played by Andrew McCarthy. I can’t tell you more because of spoilers. Just know that the description below is not entirely accurate, due to the twists and turns in this movie! I really enjoyed it, especially the great ending.
The interview, unfortunately, had many technical problems (at least for me). The video came out fine, but near the beginning, the sound went mostly out, and nothing I did fixed it. I apologize to the director, whose name I mispronounced throughout. I take full responsibility for the tech problems because I was on my phone instead of my computer. Bad choice on my part! Both gentlemen were very kind, though, as were the PR women helping me.
The movie is showing at various film festivals, so go see it if you can! ORION had its World Premiere at FilmQuest on Saturday, October 25th, and will have its International Premiere at Triste Film Festival November 1, 2025
Sunil Perkash, Drew Van Acker, Elle Army, Scott Army
RUN TIME
96 minutes
LOGLINE
ORION is an intense, sci-fi thriller about a Nasa Interrogator (Jim) tasked to help an amnesiac astronaut (Apollo) recover his memory in order to determine “who” or “what” killed the rest of the crew before they crash landed back on Earth.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT BY JACO BOUWER
When I received Orion’s script, it inspired me to create a film that continually kept the audience guessing at what the hidden truth might be, and therefore, on edge – not just through narrative twists, but brought about by the tension of what is not being said.
Orion is a meditation that hinges on the delicate balance between trust and doubt, and endeavours to celebrate all forms of language – spoken, cinematic, and experienced.
I grew up in South Africa, a country with 12 official languages, where realities of communication, translation, and misunderstanding are part of daily life. A cacophony of meaning and intent – which felt so relevant in the making of this film.
Together with production designer(Mike Conte) and cinematographer(David Kruta) we were able to conceptualise, design and build the sets together and so the world building was a unique way of development for me which reminds me of my theatre work and processes, embracing the concept of single location as referenced in some of my previous work. To be able to largely shoot in continuity also really helped the actors and myself arcing out their emotional journeys. To have enough time to develop the language and score tonality was a privilege in collaboration with long-time collaborator and composer Pierre-Henri Wicomb.
Of course, the production could only be brought to full fruition with the presence of our actors, Drew Van Acker, our Apollo – who himself has invested a great deal in the project – and the sharp intellect of Andrew McCarthy, with a nuanced performance and inescapable gravity to the mysterious Jim. Debbie Ryan with all her layers completes the lead ensemble.
The film navigates those unspoken spaces where meaning is unstable, and unpredictable, the film explores how language – intended to connect us – can also conceal, distort, and betray us – even more relevant than we could have possibly anticipated, with the onset of more authentic AI models, and the advent of more believable fake news, propaganda, begging to question the agenda of a current geopolitical landscape, in social media and speech of a global community.
It is a privilege to make films in a language other than my own, and in another country so far removed from what I grew up with – the process truly resonating on a deeper level as far as the scope, comprehension, and possibilities of communication and language could anticipate.
PRODUCER STATEMENT BY SUNIL PERKASH
Orion was initially an idea Drew Van Acker and I had, based on his love of space and our collective passion for great science fiction films that both entertained and explored humanity in a clever way (Star Wars, Total Recall, Inception etc…) We also were very interested in finding something that was all about the LANGUAGE of filmmaking. Rear Window and even Sleuth (Caine/Olivier) were two great films that relied on filmmaking -acting, camera, lighting, sound etc…- to transcend from their sparse locations. With that in mind, we went to the writer we had previously developed a script with, Anne Vithayathil. She had lived in India and US before settling in US from high school on, and with a degree from Dartmouth and Masters at Stanford, she had studied in Eastern Europe and loved all things spy related and had studied spy tactics in the 1960s, specifically how to use words as a weapon and manipulation.
Our goal was to tell a story that played out like the Russian Mystroishka doll!
Once the script was finished and we met with a number of wonderful directors that had enthusiastic takes on the material. But when we met with Jaco Bowser, something magnificent happened. In telling us the film he saw in his head, we realized, this was no longer our film, but his film we were about to be so fortunate to be a part of. Jaco had a knowledge of filmmaking that was impressive, as much as the most experienced directors I have worked with but perhaps because budgets are so low in South Africa, his approach was very humble and very specific. Needless to say, he instantly wowed us. He closely supervised an additional draft – specifically to fit his vision and ideas for the film, always balancing the spoken word and what was left unsaid.
With our day-to-day partners, Elle and Scott Army – who were critical in helping with financing, a true labor of love for them. Raising independent financing is just impossible today, I analogize it to asking a friend for a ride to the airport for a 2am flight!
Yet…all four of us (Elle/Scott/Drew and I) were able to find collaborators who believed and were even inspired by the vision Jaco and we all had for Orion.
We sponsored Jaco’s visa and working with renowned casting director Avy Kaufman and Leeba Zakarov, we found the perfect Jim in Andrew McCarthy. Jaco felt he had both an extremely affable and cerebral quality, crucial to mine to give Jim all the enigmatic complexities he required. Debby also connected deeply with the existential aspect of the material, and given how cherubically guileless her vibes were, Jaco also felt she would bring all he hoped to Mary, submerging the audience in a woman’s struggle to save her husband (even though…that was not at all what was going on.)
We then set out to make our film, another fortunate thing happened. By not having the mega budgets of my past Studio Films like Enchanted and Salt, it inspired all of us to find ways to stretch our budget, led by Jaco’s unwavering defiance to never compromise the story. He always used his creativity and imagination to find solutions that seemed to always be much more inspired than had we had the mega studio budgets to solve them without that process. And in the end, Jaco and the entire cast and crew found themselves meticulously using the language of filmmaking to tell a story that explores the nature of language in the world we live in today.
ACTOR-PRODUCER STATEMENT BY DREW VAN ACKER
Ever since I can remember I was driven by imagination. The idea of different people, different places, and different times all coming together to create “reality”. Movies, for me, were just that. A journey into the possible.
I’ll spare you my ENTIRE story, but a few years back, I started searching for and developing my own material through producing. It was something I had always been interested in, not just as a performer, but as a fan of story telling.
With “Orion”, I wanted to tell a story that combined my love of science fiction and my ever-present fascination with our communication as a species. It wasn’t until I saw a masterful turn in filmmaking, from a director out of South Africa, that I knew. He had to be the one to help tell this story. That film was “Gaia” and that director was Jaco Bouwer. “Gaia” transcended what I thought a film could be at that budget range. And that was exhilarating. THAT was what I wanted to be a part of. To be challenged. Afraid. Open…
My character, Apollo, is a man living in his very own multiverse of emotions and truths. Which, I realized during this process, we all are. Each scene allows him to explore the possibility that he isn’t as righteous as he wished to believe. He’s scared, troubled and anxious to peel back the onion. He’s confronted with having to find a way to believe his own lies in order to pass them as “truth”. Something all of us deal with on one level or another.
I was blessed when given the opportunity to explore these layers alongside two selfless individuals. Andrew McCarthy and Debby Ryan. I remember walking into the set and seeing Debby for the first time. I remember watching Andrew rehearse. I was being confronted with performances that were so honest, I had to question my own. I think that was a bit of a theme for me here, not only as an actor, but as a man. Facing my fears and doubts that I had long ignored.
This film is cerebral. That’s what makes it sparkle in my opinion. That “drive home” conversation type of movie. Talking about what you just saw. What motivated the characters? Who figured it out first? Truly moved by the honesty of what you witnessed. And that is where I want to be as an artist and a producer. A small part of stories that make people think. Make them talk to each other. Make them wonder…what’s POSSIBLE??
ABOUT THE CAST
ANDREW MCCARTHY | “Jim”
Andrew McCarthy is an award-winning travel writer, a television director, and, of course, an actor. He has appeared in more than two dozen films including such iconic 80s movies as Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo’s Fire. His recent documentary, BRATS, debuted at #1 on Hulu. He has directed nearly 100 hours of television, including Orange Is the New Black and Blacklist. Andrew has been named Travel Journalist of the Year by the Society of American Travel Writers, and for a dozen years served as an editor-at-large at National Geographic Traveler magazine. He has written for the NY Times, WSJ, The Atlantic, TIME, and many others. Andrew is the author of four New York Times Best Selling books. His latest, WHO NEEDS FRIENDS will be published in March of ’26.
DREW VAN ACKER | “Apollo”
Drew has been acting for over 16 years, including starring in Cartoon Network’s first live action show, Tower Prep, as well a lead role on the worldwide hit Pretty Little Liars for 7 seasons, Devious Maids for Marc Cherry, Training Day series for Jerry Bruckheimer, and Aqualad on the hit show Titans.
He recently wrapped Bethesda for the Lewis Bros directing and starring alongside Max Martini and Brianna Hildebrand.
He also starred in Addison Rae’s 2024 smash, top ten songs Music Video, Diet Pepsi directed by Sean Price Williams (The Sweet East, Cannes Premiere) which has over 32 million views on Youtube.
His 2022 critically acclaimed film Last Survivors, which he produced and starred alongside Alicia Silverstone and Stephen Moyer, had its World Premiere at the prestige genre festival Frightfest in London, and also played at Leeds International Film Festival.
The film also reached #1 on both Hulu (US) and Amazon Freevee (UK.) The Film also appeared on over ten “Best of” and “critics picks” lists including New York Times, Gizmodo, Screen Rant, Looper, and Collider.
He previously starred in the independent sci-fi feature Life Like, released by Lionsgate (trailer has over 14 million views) alongside James D’Arcy, Steven Strait and Addison Timlin as well as the comedy Spy Intervention with Poppy Delevigne and Blake Anderson.
DEBBY RYAN | “Mary”
Debby Ryan plays “Mary.” She has a MASSIVE fanbase: social media (15.7 MILLION Instagram followers, 11.6 Million Facebook, 7.6 million Tiktok, HUGE SOCIAL media following) and has most recently starred in Shortcomings (World Premiere Sundance 2023,) Horse Girl (World Premiere at Sundance 2020,) and Howdy Neighbor (World Premiered at Screamfest.) She is best known for her lead in the smash hit phenom Disney Channel Series JESSE.
She currently is in post production Famous for A24 starring alongside Zac Efron and expecting her first child with Husband Josh Dun, part of Twenty One Pilots musical duo.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
JACO BOUWER | DIRECTOR
Jaco Bouwer is an award-winning South African director whose work spans theatre, film, and television, known for his bold visual style and radical narrative approach.
He was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Drama in 2008 and went on to win Best Director three years in a row at South Africa’s premier theatre awards, the Fleur du Cap.
His debut feature film GAIA — a visually striking eco-horror — premiered at SXSW 2021, where it won the ZEISS Cinematography Award, and was sold by XYZ Films to multiple territories, including Bleecker Street (U.S.) and Altitude (U.K.). The film was featured as part of Hulu’s “Huluween” lineup in 2022.
Jaco also directed the haunting two-hander Breathing In, adapted from a play by acclaimed South African playwright Reza de Wet, for producer Jorrie van der Walt and Kaapland Films.
In television, he directed all 8 episodes of Spinners (produced by Joachim Landau / Federation MEAC for Canal+ and Showmax). The series made history as the first African series selected for Canneseries, and went on to win Best Series at the inaugural Dakar Series Festival in 2023. It premiered on Showmax in November 2023, with Season 2 currently in production.
Most recently, Jaco directed all 9 episodes of the true-crime limited series Niggies (Cousins) for kykNET. The show became a phenomenon, breaking every viewership record on the channel during its run.
Jaco’s work blends the personal and political with bold formal experimentation, confronting controversial subjects through layered, introspective storytelling.
ANNE VITHAYATHIL | WRITER
Anne Vithayathil is a writer with over ten years of experience as an intelligence analyst focused on Russia/Eastern Europe/Central Asia. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Stanford University, as well as a Fulbright fellow, she has traveled extensively and lived in the United States, India, Ukraine, Russia, and France. She specializes in dramatic thrillers based on spycraft, international espionage, and the military. Her script Year of the Dog, a one-hour pilot about a Chinese-American CIA agent, is currently being packaged as a TV series by Aleve Loh (Blacklight) and Mark Williams (Ozark) at Zero Gravity.
SUNIL PERKASH | PRODUCER
Sunil Perkash is an independent producer in Hollywood.
Perkash, who holds a B.A. in economics and communications from Stanford University, began his career in 1992 working as the U.S. Production Coordinator on CRONOS, Guillemo Del Toro’s directorial debut. He developed a number of projects at various major studios including MGM, Sony, Tristar, Disney, Warners and Dreamworks/Amblin. The Wrap listed Sunil in their list “Producers Who Are Making a Mark on Hollywood” and Fade In Magazine named him one of the ”Top 100 people to know in Hollywood.”
His major studio films include BLAST FROM THE PAST, for New Line, starring Brendon Frasier, Alicia Silverstone, Sissy Spacek and Christopher Walken. PREMONITION for Sony, starring Sandy Bullock, which grossed more that 85 million worldwide. Disney’s ENCHANTED which became a worldwide mega blockbuster grossing $340million and received rave reviews and numerous awards, including multiple oscar and golden globe nominations. SALT, a vehicle originally developed for Tom Cruise, but transformed into a female lead for Angelina Jolie. The film also became a worldwide blockbuster in summer of 2010, grossing $300mil! And DISENCHANTED, a sequel to the now classic ENCHANTED for Disney Plus starring Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey. The film reached #1 on Disney Plus worldwide.
His independent features include LIFE LIKE, starring Drew Van Acker, James D’Arcy, Addison Timlin and Steven Strait, distributed domestically by Lionsgate in May 2019, the film’s trailer has accumulated an unprecedented 14 million views on youtube.
And 2022’s Last Survivors starring Alicia Silverstone, Stephen Moyer, and Drew Van Acker, was released in February 2022 by Vertical Entertainment to strong reviews. The film had its world premiere at Frightfest in London and also played at Leeds International Film Festival last fall. The film received strong reviews and reached #1 on Hulu in the US and #1 on Amazon Freevee in the UK. The film appeared on numerous “best of” or Critic’s Picks lists including New York Times, Screen Rant, Looper, Collider, Movieweb amongst others.
ELLE ARMY | PRODUCER
Elle began her career as a successful model – walking in NYFW, being featured in magazines such as Men’s Health and GQ, as well as working with iconic brands like Calvin Klein, Guess, Aerie and Nike. As an actress, Elle starred in Life Like along with Drew Van Acker. The trailer for Life Like has amassed 14 million views. That led Elle to playing the lead in the Lifetime movie, Fatal Fashion. Before transitioning into producing, Elle helped her husband Scott Army build Vision Hill Group; a multi-faceted asset management business in the digital asset space. Vision Hill Group was bought by Galaxy Digital in 2021.
Elle received a BA in Cinematography and Film Production and a BFA in Musical Theater from Loyola University Chicago.
SCOTT ARMY | PRODUCER
Scott Army is an entrepreneur and investor. He founded Vision Hill Group in 2017 after a 13 year career as an executive at JP Morgan. Vision Hill Group was a hedge fund and advisory platform in the digital asset space. After a very successful acquisition of Vision Hill Group to Galaxy Digital in 2021, Scott took his knowledge and investment acumen to MeetPerry in 2024 as their Head of Alternatives. His work at MeetPerry spans across alternative asset strategies, sourcing differentiated opportunities, and advising founders and portfolio companies through complex growth phases. Scott’s ability to structure funds, run a complex due diligence process and lead process-driven teams makes him an excellent partner for creating a film fund. Scott connects macroeconomic vision with granular execution earned him the trust of both institutional partners and entrepreneurial teams.
Scott received his BA from Georgetown Magna Cum Laude at Georgetown University in Business Administration double majoring in Finance and International Business.
KARIN ANN | SINGER, SONGWRITER, ACTRESS
Described as “Gen-Z’s new alt-pop protagonist”. 22-year-old Slovakian wunderkind Karin Ann makes music with Gothic grandeur, sophisticated indie balladry and theatrical art-pop, while strutting alt-rock riffs that explode into radio-conquering choruses. Her music explores a wide range of themes including gender equality, the LGBTQ+ experience, mental health, and love toxicity.
Voted “Discovery of the Year” at the Czech Republic Music Awards 2021, Karin Ann is the first Slovak artist to appear on a Times Square billboard as a part of Spotify’s EQUAL Music Program highlighting women making a difference in the music industry.
Karin Ann has opened tours for Yungblud, Imagine Dragons, LP, Paris Paloma, and Alfie Templeman, and makes her debut appearance at SXSW in 2024.
DAVID KRUTA | CINEMATOGRAPHER
David Kruta is an award-winning Director of Photography known for his work on films such as “Concussion” (Sundance Official Selection) and “The Sounding,” for which he won the Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography. Most recently, he shot “Black Friday” starring Bruce Campbell, “Agent Game” starring Mel Gibson and Jason Isaacs, and “The Last Thing Mary Saw”, starring Stefanie Scott and Isabelle Fuhrman. David is a two-time Emerging Cinematographer Awards recipient and a 2023-2024 ASC Vision Mentee.
MIKE CONTE | PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Mike Conte has been working as a production designer and art director for over 20 years in Film, TV and Commercials in LA, NY, and internationally.
As a production designer, his films have screened in film festivals such as Fright Fest, Denver Film Festival, Fantasy Film Fest – Trespassers, and won awards at Madrid International Film Fest, and NoHo Cinefest — Three Hours Between Planes.
A well-rounded artist, Mike studied photography and sculpture at Columbus College of Art and Design, and is also an accomplished musician. Mike has worked as a composer and toured the world with his band, Early Man.
Mike is currently working in Los Angeles as the art director on I Want Your Sex, starring Olivia Wilde, directed by Gregg Araki.
NEIR ATHERTON | COSTUME DESIGNER
Neil Atherton is best known for Costume Designing Bad Shabbas, which played at Tribeca and had a very successful theatrical run grossing 1.5 million in limited engagement. He also designed the 2021 The Wheel directed by Steve Pink that had its world premiere at TIFF.
Interview with Asa Butterfield of the movie, “Stitch Head” by Suzanne 10/16/25
This is a fun, animated Halloween movie that kids and adults alike should enjoy. It has cute characters and an entertaining story that’s perfect for the spooky season. The animation style reminds me a little of “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” I enjoyed speaking with this young actor who has already doing amazing work in TV and films for almost 20 years. He was very nice in our chat. Hope you enjoy this short video and the film!
High above the little town of Grubbers Nubbin, in a castle laboratory, the maddest of all mad professors brings monstrous creations to (almost) life… and then promptly forgets all about them. So, who runs the castle? Who keeps the monsters in line, so the townsfolk don’t form an angry mob? That job falls to Stitch Head – the professor’s very first creation. He does it all, unnoticed and unthanked. But when a ramshackle freak show rolls into town, its sly owner, Fulbert Freakfinder, comes knocking, offering Stitch Head fame, fortune… and maybe even love. A whimsical, heartfelt twist on the Frankenstein legend, STITCH HEAD is a comedy adventure for monsters of every age.
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Joel Fry, Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon, Fern Brady, Tia Bannon, and Jamali Maddix
Directed and Adapted by: Steve Hudson
Produced by: Sonja Ewers and Mark Mertens
Executive Produced by: Adam Nagle, Mark Rau, Guy Collins, Tom Ortenberg, Ronnie Exley, Jeremy Ross and Oli Strong
Interview with Jonathan Bennett, Melissa Peterman, Drake Kuyper, Marcus Brodie, Angel Garet and Robbie Simpson of “Finding Mr. Christmas” on Hallmark by Jamie 10/1/25
Finding Mr. Christmas is a reality competition on Hallmark premiering its second season on Monday, Oct. 27. I recently spoke with both the host, Jonathan Bennett and judge, Melissa Peterson, as well as four of the contestants: Robbie, Angel, Drake, and Marcus. Both Jonathan and Melissa were a delight, and they, as well as the contestants, seemed to have a lot of fun making the show, and the men made a lot of lasting friendships coming out of the competition.
I was only given the first episode to watch, but it was a lot of fun. The contestants take part in various Christmas-themed competitions, such as making a Santa costume to show who they are, as well as acting challenges where they get to perform alongside Hallmark stars. In the first episode, they had to ski over to actress Janelle Parris and act out a scene with her. That competition was hilarious, because most of the men didn’t know how to ski, and no one helped them with that. The four men spoke to me about acting out the scene with Janelle and which challenges they found difficult.
Jonathan and Melissa talked about advice they gave the contestants, many of whom were new to acting and the hoops they had them jump through. Both were really great conversations, and the series is worth a watch. Season 2 premieres 10/27 on Hallmark Channel and is available to stream the next day on Hallmark+.
Jonathan Bennett, Drake Kuyper and Marcus Brodie
Melissa Peterman, Angel Garet and Robbie Simpson
TRANSCRIPTS OF THE INTERVIEWS
JONATHAN BENNETT: Jamie’s coming to us from space! How’s the signal up there?
JAMIE RUBY: It’s hard to hear. [laughs] It’s nice to talk to you all. I enjoyed the first episode that we got to see. Jonathan, let me start with you. How do you feel that the show has evolved since last season?
JONATHAN BENNETT: You know, we took everything we learned from season one and, you know, expanded that into season two to make it even bigger and bolder than season one. I can’t believe I got away with what I got away with in season two. Like, when I said to the executives, “Hey, I want to hang them from a cable in a harness thirty feet and fly them through the air,” they were like, “Yeah, that’s a great idea.” And I’m like, “Are you sure?” They’re like, “Yeah.” I’m like, “Okay, great. I also want to put them on skis in the first episode and make them ski down a hill while having to memorize a scene and act with the biggest Hallmark star, Janelle Parrish, and they only get one take. They have to do it, and whatever happens, happens.” And they’re like, “Yeah, that’s a great idea.” And I’m like, “Great.” So, it’s just, you know, I think my sandbox has expanded, and I’ve been able to play with all the different things in it a lot bigger.
JAMIE RUBY: All right, that’s fair. Robbie and Angel, what made you both want to be a part of this?
ROBBIE: Oh, yeah. I’ve been watching Hallmark movies forever when I was on the couch with Hot Coco with my family members. So, to be able to be a part of the Hallmark universe and tell these stories that I have watched forever, I mean, Hallmark is the place for feel good entertainment. So, you know, when you click that on, you’re just going to feel good. And then also to do that with Jonathan Bennett and learning from him and also laughing with him was just a total blast and an easy yes for me.
JAMIE RUBY: What about you Angel?
ANGEL: I grew up in Venezuela, and I immigrated to this beautiful country, and every Christmas I would watch movies to enjoy it and learn English, and Hallmark was my go-to. Then, when the opportunity came to be part of a Hallmark on a scripted show, I was like, “I have to do this.” I’ve been doing this for years, every Christmas, and I’m excited that I’m part of it.
JAMIE RUBY: What did you two do to prepare? And did you go back and watch season one?
JONATHAN BENNETT: Yeah. What’d you do to prepare for this?
JAMIE RUBY: If anything.
JONATHAN BENNETT: If anything, they can’t really prepare what I put them through, because every day they’re like, “Why do we have to do [that]? What, Jonathan, what are we doing?”
ANGEL: I watched season one first. I researched who this awesome host was, and then just, a lot of self-talk. English is my second language, so I had to like, tell myself, “You’ve got this.” You just gotta be present, active, listening, cheer for others, let go of ego, let go of your past, enjoy the moment, pay attention and just take as much information from the hosts, your friends, and everybody else. And the Christmas movies help too.
JONATHAN BENNETT: That’s right.
ROBBIE: I love unscripted television. I love watching reality TV. So, this has been a total dream for me to get dropped into my ideal reality television show, you know, being an actor.
So, I watched season one, probably like three times, just trying to figure out everything that was going on, but that helped to a certain extent. But as soon as I got there, Jonathan [was] switching it up on us constantly, so I just realized that like every day, it just was about saying “Yes, and.” What are we doing today? Getting excited about that. Then, also just having fun. Like at the end of the day, I think that’s the name of the game, and that was what helped me do well was enjoying the time together and enjoying the other guys. And it was a total blast.
ANGEL: I mean, this show lets us bring our inner child out. We were kids in a playground, and that was just the best experience ever.
JAMIE RUBY: And Jonathan, having been in Hallmark Christmas movies, did you find yourself trying to give them advice? Did you try not to??
JONATHAN BENNETT: The best way to learn how to do something is to just do it. And I’ve done, I think, twelve, thirteen Hallmark movies at this point. So, like, I’ve learned so much from doing that when I’m hosting and judging these guys. I’m able to like share all my knowledge with them. And I’m like, “Hey, when you do this, you know, you might want to think about this, because this is going to happen.” Like anytime I have a chance to coach them, you know, from what I can coach, because it is a competition. So, I kind of got to let them – I’ll give them advice, but I don’t want to see – I’ve got to let them see what they do on their own first, you know? But then the feedback after they do it is usually where I’m able to help them and say, “Okay, next time do this,” you know? And they soaked it up like sponges.
ROBBIE: I think the thing that sets this show about apart from other reality television is that every day we showed up to set and felt supported, and Jonathan, Melissa, and the judges wanted us to succeed. They were helping us through that, and that’s not something you see on a lot of reality television, but it’s definitely why I think Hallmark putting their specific stamp on this show is what makes this different and why people are going to love this.
JAMIE RUBY: Did you guys have more trouble with the acting challenges or with the other challenges?
JONATHAN BENNETT: Ooh, that’s a good question. What’d you have a harder time with? I mean, they both struggled in both of them in different ways. I’m not going to lie, but that’s part of – that’s the fun of the show.
ROBBIE: I think what was hard is that for this show, you’re doing both at the same time. So, like you’re acting, but then you’re also doing it. Do you know, like riding an animal of some sort? Do you know?
JONATHAN BENNETT: They’re on skis or hanging in the air or riding an animal while acting.
ROBBIE: Yeah. So, you know, you can take an acting class. You can go to acting school for as long as you want, but nothing is going to prepare you for some of the stuff that you’re doing on this show. But if you just focus and just remember, kind of who you are, what you’re there to do, and then act opposite the incredible celebrity Hallmark scene partners that we had, then you’re going to do great.
JONATHAN BENNETT: What about you, Angel?
ANGEL: I mean, just, it doesn’t matter how prepared you are. Just like Robbie was saying, it’s just surprise after surprise. This season brought so many twists that kept us on our toes. Yeah. So, it doesn’t matter if it was an acting challenge, a modeling challenge, or anything. Everything was out of the ordinary.
JAMIE RUBY: You say that though. What surprised you the most?
ANGEL: What surprised me the most? The skis, because I’ve never skied before in my life, and I remember Jonathan was like, “Are you ready?” “No. How do you break?” “Bye! Action!”
[laughter]
JAMIE RUBY: What about you, Robbie
JONATHAN BENNETT: Angel falls down on his skis. We’ll do a spoiler alert.
JAMIE RUBY: A lot of people fell down.
ROBBIE: Watching Angel fall was not surprising to me, but what was surprising to me was I thought that I was signing up for an unscripted competition reality show, and as soon as I got there, I realized that that’s not what this was going to be. I met the other guys, and it became a show about community, and it wasn’t about the competition. The only person you were competing with is yourself every single day, and the community and the brotherhood that was developed between all of us. I don’t even think it was something anyone was expecting on set, like crew or hosts or judges. It just was this natural melding of all these awesome guys. So, I came for a competition, but I left for the community.
ANGEL: I remember when I fell and came back to the group, the guys were already talking amongst themselves. “All right. Does anyone know how to break?” “Oh, yeah. Do this. Do that.” We’re already helping each other. Like, hey, if you have a hard time, try this or do this. So, in my head, I was like, this is a competition and people are already helping each other? Wow.
JONATHAN BENNETT: And that was day one. I don’t shine if you don’t shine. That’s something I tried to instill in them is like, it doesn’t matter how good you’re doing. If the people around you and your scene aren’t doing well, then you’re not doing well. So, it’s like, make everyone around you better, and if you do that, then you’re going to be lifted up.
JAMIE RUBY: Speaking of scene partners, what was kind of like your first reaction, I guess, to getting to do a scene with Janelle? Were you nervous? How did you feel? Both of you.
ROBBIE: I think it was twofold, because you’re so excited to be working with these incredible actors, especially Janelle, that you’ve watched in so many networks and so many television shows, legends of Hallmark. So, you’re so nervous, but then at the same time, I had to remember, like, wait, she’s the best at what she does. So, just like Jonathan said, if she is shining, I’m going to shine. So, I was just listening to her, and being able to talk to her beforehand was really helpful. And the better she was, the better I was going to do, and that’s what I was able to give over to, and it made me feel so much better.
JONATHAN BENNETT: Did any of them really intimidate you, Angel, like any of the stars?
ANGEL: Her beauty intimidated me.
[laughter]
JONATHAN BENNETT: Janell is intimidating. She’s beautiful.
ANGEL: She was easy to connect. I remember introducing myself to her, and she gave me a big smile. “Hi, nice to meet you.” And then, spoiler alert, I take her down with me, and I’m like, “What are you doing?” Time slows down. Get up. We finally get up. And it was so smooth after that. Like, we got that out of the way. We got that out of the way. So, now let’s just have fun and enjoy the scene.
JAMIE RUBY: Yeah, the skiing part was hilarious. Jonathan, I want to ask you really quick. One of your first roles was on a soap opera on All My Children. What did that teach you, that experience? And do you still find yourself using that?
JONATHAN BENNETT: Yeah, you know, I think soap operas are the best training camp. And now it’s kind of like what they call the verticals, like the candy jar and the real shorts and all that. Those verticals are great training ground for actors, because it’s low expectations and low stakes. Like I said earlier, the best training is just to do it. And so, every day, when you’re on a soap, you’re standing in front of a camera, and you’re acting every single day. Whether it’s good or not doesn’t matter, because they’re going to shoot the next scene in two minutes. So, whatever you said is what’s going on in the air, and that’s a real quick way to learn how to become an actor. So, with, you know, Finding Mr. Christmas, I think there’s a similarity there. It’s like, just go do it. And they’re like, “Well, how do we do it?” Well, you’ll figure it out.
And to watch their growth from the beginning of the episodes to the end of the episodes, you know, throughout the whole season, to watch these boys grow, each one of them grow in a different way, and they take that with them onto their auditions.
JAMIE RUBY: I know we’re almost out of time, but what are you two taking away the most?
JONATHAN BENNETT: Yeah, what are you guys taking from the show?
ANGEL: I’m taking so much. I’m taking joy, vulnerability, teamwork. And this experience has taught me and made me a better man. Like I’m putting everything that I learned on this show into my own life with my personal lifestyle, with my family, and I’m excited for what’s next.
ROBBIE: Yeah, thank you, Hallmark.
JONATHAN BENNETT: Yeah. This might be Mr. Christmas. You never know. Or this could be Mr. Christmas. What are you taking away possible, Mr. Christmas?
ROBBIE: I’m really taking away that being your authentic self is absolutely what is wanted in this industry and is wanted at Hallmark. All of the things that make us who we are, the community, the love, the family, all of those values that you hold dear, just letting those out and being the part of the scene, whether it’s in a conversation you’re having with someone on the crew. I mean, that’s what it takes to be a Hallmark leading man is not just who you are in front of the camera, is who you are off the camera. It’s how you live your life. And when you’re able to let out all of those things that make you an authentic person and let people in on that, that’s the joy. And I think that’s what they’re looking for on the show.
VIDEO #2 TRANSCRIPT
JAMIE RUBY: Let’s start with you, Melissa. How do you think the show’s evolved since season one? What do you feel is different this season?
MELISSA PETERMAN: You know, season one, I think we loved what happened there. So, we didn’t really change the sort of the foundation of that show, but, you know, Jonathan had more time to dream of bigger challenges. So, everything got a lot bigger. We asked a lot more of the guys in the acting challenges. We have, we brought in, I think, I don’t know if we even brought in more mentors. We just, everything’s just a little bit extra in season two as far as we know what worked here. So, let’s dial it up a notch. And I enjoyed watching that happen.
JAMIE RUBY: For both of you, what made you want to be a part of it? We’ll just go Drake, then Marcus.
DRAKE: Yeah, I would say what made me want to be a part of this is just really how wholesome Hallmark is. Like whenever I think Hallmark, I think Christmas. And I think that like, it’s in the background whenever we’re in Christmas, I just think of, you know, my mom making cookies and it’s in the background playing. It’s just like a happy memory of childhood. So, when I heard that Hallmark was interested, I’m like, “Absolutely, let’s do this. I’m so in, so excited to take on this role.”
MARCUS: And for me, when I first heard about the show, me and my girlfriend started watching the first season, and we were just, we were hooked. Like after the first episode, we were like, “Do you want to watch another one?” They’re like, “Yeah.” And we ended up binge watching like four or five episodes in a row. So, I knew. I was like, “Okay, this is something I probably want to do.” And my girlfriend really pushed me, like, this is going to be a great opportunity to see how much you’ve grown, seen how much you’ve learned and see what you can learn from the other people on the show, the other judges, other guys. And I learned so much. So, it was great to be able to be on the show.
JAMIE RUBY: Marcus, other than watching the show, what else did you do to prepare? Is there anything you can think of?
MARCUS: Oh man, I didn’t do much to prepare. I just really wanted to come into the show with an open mind, be ready to learn, ready to see how much I’ve grown, ready to open up about myself. And it took a lot for me to get to the point where I could just open up about myself and be myself. I feel like I kind of got to that point, and within a couple of days, like us guys, we’ve got so close. So, it made it easier to open up about myself because of how close and how much the other guys were opening up.
JAMIE RUBY: All right. Drake, what about you? Did you watch season one, and what did you do to prepare?
DRAKE: Yep. So, I watched all of season one, and that’s what I was hoping was my preparation. Little did I know they were about to crank up the heat, and then competitions were way, way more intense. So, pretty much watching that was a big deal. I also didn’t have any experience in actually speaking lines, so I was like in front of my camera trying to practice with my brother, trying to go back and forth and get a little more experience before this, because I knew this was going to be a pretty big jump and from my experience to, you know, being on TV.
MELISSA PETERMAN: See, that’s what I love about this show is that we’ve got guys that [are] from all different like levels and experience of acting and the reality is anyone could win, because if you’ve got that it factor, you know, you can teach them that other stuff, because otherwise, someone can take all the classes in the world, but if they don’t have that sort of special equality that doesn’t really matter. So, I love that there’s people from all different levels of acting experience.
JAMIE RUBY: That leads me into my next question. I was going to ask you, do you find yourself though trying to give them acting advice since you’ve been doing it a while, or do you feel like you have to restrain yourself somewhat since you’re a judge?
MELISSA PETERMAN: I’ve never restrained myself in anything whether it’s a buffet or being a judge. No, I think my job is to tell them stuff. I may not always be right. I can only speak from my experience as someone who’s auditioned a million times and worked with different people. So, I can only tell them, I think I’m supposed to tell them what I know, and I really took that seriously, because they’re going to hear no a lot. Actors are going to hear no. You’re going to be asked to get up the next day and go back in a room and maybe hear no again, and you have to really want it.
And what I loved about the show, is just like in real life, they’re going to be competing for jobs against friends or people they know, and they’re going to maybe watch their friend get the job, and they don’t. And what I try to say all the time is, “You’re going to need those friends.” If you’re going to be in this business, you’re going to want that support group.
And what I love seeing, is these guys really did create a brotherhood that I think will continue on long after the show is gone. And you [are] going to need that in this business, because I don’t think I would have gotten through my very – anytime in LA or auditioning without having someone I could call and go, “Oh, I had this audition and what do you think?” She’s like, “Oh, I went in on it yesterday, and here’s what I think.” And just to really build a community, because that’s what you really need to succeed, I think.
JAMIE RUBY: You say that, but for the two of you though, was that hard at all? I mean, you’re friends with each other but you also kind of want to beat each other too. So, how do you balance that?
MARCUS: It was definitely hard, because we grew so close so quick. Like, having to see anybody go home during that first elimination, it hurt. When we first walked into that first elimination, we all felt it. It hit us, because it was like, wow, this is real. Somebody really has to go home right now.
DRAKE: Yeah, definitely, the bonds we created so quickly. It reminded me of football. Like, all of us just spend hours together, you know, and then the next thing you know, you’re competing again at some an hour later. That was definitely super tough to kind of balance that, but what was great, is everyone was so supportive. It was one of those things where if you messed up, people were rallying behind you. Like, “Hey, you’ve got this next one.” And that was such a good feeling to just know that these guys had my back, you know?
MELISSA PETERMAN: I think if even, if any of the guys walked in thinking it was a competition, and I have to come in with my game face, I think the show and the format quickly strips that away. You know, they can come in thinking, “I’m not going to show I’m – game face. They’re not going to get to know me. I’m here to win.” It’s formulated that we really want to get rid of that quickly, and it sort of happens.
MARCUS: Oh yeah.
JAMIE RUBY: For the two of you, what did you find more difficult? The first challenges, or, I mean, obviously I’ve only seen the first episode, but the [other kinds of] challenges, or the acting challenges, because I think they both kind of cause other problems.
DRAKE: Yeah, I would say that the first challenges felt like less pressure, because like, you’re just getting that advantage and stuff, but then the acting challenges, that’s when you had to lock in. You’re like, “This is the part where I really need to focus.” So, I felt like a little bit less pressure from the challenges, even though it was fun and it was intense, it felt like the actual acting challenges when you really had to lock in.
MARCUS: And I would probably say the opposite. Maybe just because I have a little bit more of a background in acting, but obviously not a ton, but a little bit more, but the first ones were a little bit more about opening up about yourself, and that’s harder for me. It always has been. And the show helped me be able to do that a lot more, but I was a little bit more afraid that I was going to have to talk about myself more, and that’s almost more fearful for me than just acting or, you know, acting in somebody else’s shoes, almost.
MELISSA PETERMAN: It’s hard. I mean, it’s easy to play, you know, when they give you the words to say. It’s hard to –
MARCUS: Exactly, but then when you have to talk about yourself, that’s a whole ‘nother level. You have to really be vulnerable and show your real self.
MARCUS: That’s a good point.
JAMIE RUBY: I was going to say, Drake, is that something you struggled with?
DRAKE: Yes. I was going to say for any of the ones where it felt like, you know, you really had to open yourself up, that did feel tough. Like there’s obviously some walls that like, it’s kind of hard to just talk about yourself.nIt’s not a character you’re playing. This is actually you. It’s like when they’re actually learning who is Drake Kiper, like it definitely is a little bit more intense and it’s a lot harder to just open up and say everything, you know, it takes a little bit. It does help though having other guys do it as well. Like, you see these guys that you’re getting close with, and they’re also showing who they are. It makes it much, much easier to share yourself.
JAMIE RUBY: Melissa, obviously you’re on the other side of that, but is there anything that you found a challenge in this?
MELISSA PETERMAN: Eliminations. I hated them. I really hated to tell somebody that, you know, it was time; their time was over on the show, because I know what that feels like, and it doesn’t always feel great.
And that was really hard for me, because I was at that point very invested, and still am, in all of them and want them to succeed. So, I did not look forward to eliminations. And I want everyone to know, nobody walked in there without being so serious about it and thinking about it and talking about it. But also, I hope imparting on everybody that this isn’t over. This is just today, and like, that’s the life of an actor. Today is maybe not your day. Tomorrow might be your day. So yeah, eliminations were very difficult.
JAMIE RUBY: Yeah, I was going to say, I’m sure this will still give everybody more opportunities, regardless of the outcome.
MELISSA PETERMAN: People are going to watch and fall in love with all of these guys. And somebody is going to see something that, you know, their faces are going to be in front of a lot of people, and that’s the beauty. There’s a lot of – everyone wants something different. Some days, you know, they’re looking for a Drake. Someday they’re looking for a Marcus, and tomorrow they’re looking for a Marcus.bLike that’s what’s the beauty of the business. Things can change in an hour, truly.
MARCUS: I mean, come on, they’re always looking for a Drake.
DRAKE: Yes, man, no, don’t be humble.
MARCUS: And a Melissa, of course.
JAMIE RUBY: For you two, what was it like for the first time you acted against another Hallmark star?
MELISSA PETERMAN: Ooh, I want to hear.
MARCUS: Oh man. Well, acting for the first time with Janelle [Parrish] was amazing. I mean, I remember skiing up and then seeing her and being nervous. But then once she started saying her lines, it like relaxed me, and I was able to kind of fall into the scene. So, you could just tell she was a pro, and it made everything so much more relaxed and easy.
DRAKE: Yeah, to piggyback off what he said, it was really nice to have such a professional in there to where there’s a lot of crazy things going on with it, and you have to be able to like remember your lines and everything. And I feel like her confidence helped you gain confidence. Like, okay, this is where I’m supposed to be. This is what I’m doing. Like, let’s do it. I feel like that helped, because there’s some crazy elements in the acting scene. It’s not just, you know, two people standing there. We’re skiing, we’re doing – the weather’s crazy. Everything just comes together to become like a more difficult thing.
JAMIE RUBY: Who else were you guys looking forward to getting to work with during this season?
MARCUS: That’s a good question. You know, I was really hoping that Jonathan and Melissa would hop in a scene with us and maybe do something crazy.
DRAKE: That would have been so cool.
MELISSA PETERMAN: I don’t know how much they can spoil it.
[crosstalk]
MARCUS: I wish we could have done more scenes with Jonathan and Melissa, just because they’re so good at acting.
MELISSA PETERMAN: Jonathan’s not even sitting here. You can just say Melissa.
MARCUS: Melissa. I was gonna say Melissa first, because I mean, she’s so quick, so witty, so funny. She brings the best actor out of you. So, I mean, I would have wanted to do everything with Melissa. Of course.
MELISSA PETERMAN: I’m just gonna give you another lesson right here. When you’re sitting next to the person, say them.
MARCUS: Yes, say them, Melissa. Put down Jonathan. Got it.
[laughter]
MELISSA PETERMAN: Not put down, just say. Yeah, I don’t know how much we can, because I know that they, I think people know who we have coming on for mentors, but I’m not sure that they can spoil all of them. But I will say this, that I would tell every contestant, like when you have time with the Janelle Parris or an Ali Sweeney or any of the Chris Palaha, when you’ve got people there, take that time. That’s a gift. You’re getting somebody who’s been working. Ask questions, listen to what they say, watch what they do when they walk on a set, and what they ask a director. And I learned something every day. You’re not done learning ever, ever, ever, ever. Yeah.
JAMIE RUBY: I know we’re almost out of time, but really quick, what did you two take away the most? What did you learn in particular?
MARCUS: Just to be yourself and be vulnerable, be willing to open up and just be yourself, because at the end of the day, people are gonna judge you, whether you’re yourself or acting like you’re somebody else. So, you may as well be yourself and be as happy as possible.
DRAKE: I would say definitely being vulnerable. I mean, just watching these guys open up and you just can develop such a deeper relationship when you actually know the true person. Like, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid to hide anything, like just be yourself and be vulnerable and you’ll end up making closer friends.
Synopsis: We’re back to find Hallmark’s next star! 10 men prove their passion for Christmas, with the goal of landing a role in a Hallmark Christmas movie.
FindingMr. Christmasfollows 10 aspiring actors who compete in a variety of outrageous Christmas-themed competitions to prove they have what it takes to land the next Hallmark leading role — from present wrapping, making gingerbread houses, dancing and even on-screen kissing. Joined by beloved Hallmark guest judges, each week, one contestant will be sent “home for the holidays,” while the winner lands a role of a lifetime in one of this year’s Countdown to Christmas movies.
Finding Mr. Christmas Renewed for Season 2!
Hallmark has renewed its first-ever hit reality competition series, Finding Mr. Christmas, for a second season! Hosted by Jonathan Bennett with lead judge Melissa Peterman(Reba, Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up), the reality series follows 10 aspiring actors who compete in festive challenges and learn how to become the best Hallmark leading man — from present wrapping and dancing to acting and on-screen kissing. Each week, one man is sent “home for the holidays,” while the winner lands a starring role in a Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas movie. Season 1 winner Ezra Moreland made his movie debut as the star of “Happy Howlidays” alongside Jessica Lowndes.
Finding Mr. Christmasseason 2 is part of Hallmark’s new slate of unscripted series, branded as “Reality TV with Heart”. This original programming brings together friendly competition series, community building, home and lifestyle enhancement shows, aligning with the company’s brand principles of joy, hope, warmth, connection, family and most definitely…love.
Interview with Christopher Gorham of “Sheriff Country” on CBS by Suzanne 10/13/25
Christopher Gorham is working hard right now. He’s on three different TV shows: “Tempest” on HULU/Disney+; “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” on CBS (continuing the role of Scott, Mandy’s ex-boyfriend, from last season); and the new series “Sheriff Country,” also on CBS (where he plays Mickey’s ex-husband, Travis). The last show is his main one, and it’s a spin-off from the popular Friday night show, “Fire Country.” Mickey (played by Morena Bacarin), is the sister of Sharon on “Fire Country,” and there will be more crossovers between the two shows.
Watch our interview and learn all about the three shows, and Christopher’s work on them. He’s very nice, and an amazing actor. I was thrilled to speak with him, frankly. Check out his shows – especially the new one, “Sheriff Country!” It premieres Friday, 10/17. “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” season 2 starts Thursday, 10/16 (both on CBS, but you can also watch them on Paramount+ the next day.) “Tempest” has already premiered on HULU. Two new episodes drop each Wednesday. Also, please watch the video below and enjoy!
SHERIFF COUNTRY stars Morena Baccarin as straight-shooting sheriff Mickey Fox, the stepsister of Cal Fire’s division chief Sharon Leone (Diane Farr of FIRE COUNTRY). She investigates criminal activity while she patrols the streets of small-town Edgewater, contending with her ex-con father, Wes (W. Earl Brown), who is an off-the-grid marijuana grower, and a mysterious incident involving her wayward daughter. SHERIFF COUNTRY is an expansion of the universe of the hit drama series FIRE COUNTRY.
Premieres Friday, Oct. 17 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
Max Thieriot, Tony Phelan, Joan Rater, Matt Lopez and Jerry Bruckheimer and KristieAnne Reed for JBTV
Christopher Gorham stars as Travis in SHERIFF COUNTRY. Also on the horizon for fall is Hulu’s Korean spy drama, “Tempest,” in which he stars alongside John Cho.
Recently, he starred as Bob Barnard in the original dark comedy series “Insatiable” and as Trevor Elliot in “The Lincoln Lawyer.” Also, Gorham starred in “Out of Practice” opposite Ty Burrell and Henry Winkler. He has also held roles in GEORGIE & MANDY’S FIRST MARRIAGE, MATLOCK, 2 BROKE GIRLS and HARPER’S ISLAND on the Network.
Gorham is known from his starring role on “Ugly Betty” as Betty’s accountant boyfriend, Henry. Also, Gorham starred as blind CIA operative Auggie Anderson in the hit series “Covert Affairs,” for which he was awarded the Seeing Beyond Vision Loss: Special Achievement Award from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. He also directed four episodes of the series.
Gorham’s additional television credits include “Full Circle,” “The Magicians,” “Medical Investigation,” “Odyssey 5,” “Popular” and “Justice League.”
Gorham made his feature film directorial debut with the comedy “We Love You, Sally Carmichael!” in which he also starred alongside Jack McBrayer, Bitsie Tulloch and Paula Marshall.
Gorham made his film acting debut in Danny Boyle’s “A Life Less Ordinary” with Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz. Additionally, he starred opposite Anne Hathaway in the film “The Other Side of Heaven,” and more recently reprised his role in the long-anticipated sequel. Additional film roles include “The Ledge,” “Answer This,” “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” and “Somebody’s Hero.”
Gorham starred as the father of a child with autism in the independent film “A Boy Called Po,” directed by John Asher, which won Best Feature Film at the 2016 Palm Beach International Film Festival.
On the stage, Gorham guest starred in the off-Broadway production “Spalding Gray: Stories Left to Tell” at the Minetta Lane Theatre and performed in the play “The Water Children” at The Matrix Theatre.
Gorham is a Fresno native. While attending UCLA, he met his wife and they now have three sons and live in Los Angeles. His birthday is Aug. 14. Follow him on Instagram @chrisgorham.
Interview with author Neal E. Fischer of the book “LAW & ORDER SVU: CONFIDENTIAL – Everything We Love about the Show We Can’t Stop Watching” by Suzanne 9/25/25
This was such an interesting interview because Neal is a fellow TV and mystery fan, so we had a lot to chat about. His book is really fun. Every fan of “Law & Order: SVU” should buy it to add to their collection. I’m not kidding about how interesting it was because after I turned off the recording, we chatted away for a while more about TV mysteries! That almost never happens. I hope you enjoy it, and this book. Buy it here!
Coming October 14th, the new book LAW & ORDER SVU: CONFIDENTIAL – Everything We Love about the Show We Can’t Stop Watching, by Neal E. Fischer, is the ultimate investigation into the world of Law & Order: SVU.
With over 25 seasons and 570+ episodes, SVU has become more than a show—it’s a cultural ritual. Fischer’s deep dive explores what makes it so addictive, comforting, and cathartic, even as it tackles “especially heinous” crimes.
A map of SVU filming locations and their real world context
Full character arcs of beloved detectives like Olivia Benson and Fin Tutola
How true stories inspired some of SVUs most gripping episodes
The addictive formula behind every SVU case
Memorable celebrity guest stars and their roles
The ultimate book for Law & Order: SVU superfans, Fischer explores why the show remains so beloved—how, despite its focus on “especially heinous” crimes, it offers comfort, catharsis, and connection. More than just a TV drama, SVU has become a cultural phenomenon, a weekly ritual, and a binge-worthy obsession.
Whether you’re a long-time viewer or a recent binge-watcher, Law & Order SVU: Confidential is essential reading for anyone who’s ears perk-up at the sound of “dun dun.”
Publishing October 14, 2025 by Epic Ink, an imprint of The Quarto Group
Neal E. Fisher’s Website BIO: He’s an award-winning filmmaker, writer, podcaster, and pop culture fanatic who cut his teeth as a musician and performer on stage before ultimately transitioning behind the scenes. After a brief but rewarding stint directing children’s theater in Chicago’s South Loop, Neal moved on to a diverse slate of projects like the award-winning documentary 10 mountains 10 years (narrated by Anne Hathaway), #whokilledheather, an innovative branded web series, and many short films and features screened at festivals around the world.
When he’s not developing film/tv projects or directing commercial campaigns for brands such as Dunkin’, Heinz, and Cars.Com (an award-nominated Super Bowl campaign), you’ll find Neal in cute coffee shops furiously writing books on subjects like 80’s icon Patrick Wwayze, tv sitcoms, trivia, and pop culture history. If you want more Neal, you can hear him each week on his podcasts, Triviality and Curated By Chance.
Interview with Adam Saunders, Tony Danza, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Kym Whitley, and Rizwan Manji of the film “Re-Election” by Suzanne 10/6/25
Although I only had a few minutes with them, I enjoyed speaking with these actors. Adam Saunders not only starred in the movie, but he also wrote, produced and directed it. This is a really fun, farcical comedy with a hint of political satire. It’s very entertaining. Saunders does a wonderful job playing the lead character, Jimmy, who tries to better his life by re-creating some of his high school glory as class president. It’s worth checking out!
First, I spoke with Bex Taylor-Klaus, Rizwan Manji and Kym Whitley. Bex has the largest part of the three, as a trans teen that tries to teach Jimmy how to win. I’ve seen them in past projects, such as “Arrow,” “The Killing” and many other roles. Rizwan Manji, who plays the Texas governor (and Jimmy’s rival) has a very familiar comedy face. I think I know him most from the 2019 sitcom “Perfect Harmony.” Kym Whitley has a slightly larger role as the school’s superintendent. She’s done stand-up and has appeared in many TV shows and movies, including the reason hit film, “Happy Gilmore 2.” Anyway, we had a fun chat. All three of us were cracking up!
I spoke with Adam and with Tony Danza after that. They had a lot to say. It was an honor to speak with Tony because I’m a fairly big fan of his. I used to watch his two big hit shows, “Taxi” and “Who’s the Boss.” I never missed an episode of either. He plays Jimmy’s dad in this. Check out his cookbook, “Don’t Fill Up on the Antipasto: Tony Danza’s Father-Son Cookbook.” It looks amazing – and funny, too! Don’t miss this funny, heartwarming and thought-provoking movie, either.
We did have a tiny glitch when the internet interrupted us, but it didn’t last very long.
Written and Directed by ADAM SAUNDERS
Starring ADAM SAUNDERS, BEX TAYLOR-KLAUS,
NATHALIE KELLEY, PATTY GUGGENHEIM and KYM WHITLEY
with RIZWAN MANJI and TONY DANZA
October 10:
October 17:
Opens in New York, NY (Regal Union Square)
Opens in Dallas, TX (Angelika Film Center)
Opens in Atlanta, GA (The Springs Cinema & Taphouse)
Rating: PG-13 some strong language, suggestive material, and teen partying
Runtime: 84 mins (1 hr 24 mins)
presents
Written and Directed by ADAM SAUNDERS
Starring ADAM SAUNDERS, BEX TAYLOR-KLAUS,
NATHALIE KELLEY, PATTY GUGGENHEIM and KYM WHITLEY
with RIZWAN MANJI and TONY DANZA
October 10:
October 17:
Opens in New York, NY (Regal Union Square)
Opens in Dallas, TX (Angelika Film Center)
Opens in Atlanta, GA (The Springs Cinema & Taphouse)
Rating: PG-13 some strong language, suggestive material, and teen partying
Social Media: Website – reelectionmovie.com
Instagram – @reelectionmovie
Facebook – Re-Election Movie
TikTok – @reelectionmovie
A wry, warm, and witty coming of (middle) age comedy, RE-ELECTION follows a 40-something underdog who returns to high school to reboot his past and finally win the race for class president.
High school haunts everyone, in one way or another. For Jimmy Bauer (director-writer-producer ADAM SAUNDERS), it was losing the race for class president during his senior year back in 1995, which caused him to drop out. Now a 40-something underdog stuck working in a memorabilia store owned by his dad (TV comedy icon TONY DANZA), Jimmy decides to go back to school for his missing class credits — and win the election he’s sure will make his life right. But after 30 years, things have changed a bit, and with the help of his new Gen-Alpha friend Noa (BEX TAYLOR-KLAUS) and former classmate-turned-girlfriend Ama (NATHALIE KELLEY), Jimmy learns that it’s not how we start a journey that matters — it’s how we finish it.
ABOUT THE CAST
ADAM SAUNDERS (Jimmy) Multi-hyphenate Adam Saunders’ most recent film, DOTTY & SOUL, premiered in 2023 and sold to Showtime. The film was written, directed and produced by Saunders, who also stars in the film opposite Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Leslie Uggams. It was produced by Footprint Features, the production company Adam co-founded. With Footprint, he has produced DARBY AND THE DEAD (dir. Silas Howard, starring Auli’i Cravalho) for 20th Century Studios; WHEN WE FIRST MET (dir. Ari Sandel, starring Adam Devine) for Netflix; SHIMMER LAKE (dir. Oren Uziel, starring Rainn Wilson) for Netflix; ABOUT ALEX (dir. Jesse Zwick, starring Aubrey Plaza) for Sony; and FAMILY WEEKEND (dir. Benjamin Epps, starring Joey King) for Paramount. He holds a BA in Drama from Duke University and an MFA in Acting from the Yale School of Drama.
BEX TAYLOR-KLAUS (Noa) In 2011, Bex Taylor-Klaus was introduced as one of the first and most well-received transgender roles on cable TV on the critically acclaimed THE KILLING. They have been a catalyst and inspired more ideas for transgender, trans nonbinary, and non-conforming representation in Hollywood over the last decade. In the last couple of years Bex has been in leading roles such as CBS Films’ HELLFEST along with the Netflix hit, DUMPLIN’ where they played a supporting role opposite Jennifer Aniston. They can also be seen in Millennium’s BLACKBIRD opposite Kate Winslet and Susan Sarandon. They most recently wrapped on Adam Saunders’ feature film, RE-ELECTION, and last year, they finished filming for the indie film, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, written and directed by Tommy Dorfman.
RIZWAN MANJI (Manish) Rizwan Manji is an actor known for his work in television and film. He received a Best Guest Actor nomination at the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards for playing Ray Butani on SCHITT’S CREEK. The CBC/Pop TV series became a cultural phenomenon and swept the 2020 Emmy Awards, including Best Comedy. Manji is also known for playing Rajiv Gidwani, the ambitious assistant manager in the NBC comedy OUTSOURCED. The show was part of the network’s Thursday night comedy lineup and was the first American sitcom set in India with a predominantly South Asian cast. He also appeared as Jamil in the DC Extended Universe series PEACEMAKER. His additional television credits include IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, THE MAGICIANS, MR. ROBOT, and BETTER OFF TED, as well as BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: A 30TH CELEBRATION, a musical television special created by ABC in honor of the classic movie, starring Rita Moreno, Josh Groban, and H.E.R. In film, Manji has worked with directors like Martin Scorsese (THE WOLF OF WALL STREET), Mike Nichols (CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR), and Jim Jarmusch (PATERSON). He starred in MUSTACHE, a coming-of-age film that won the 2023 Audience Award in the Narrative Feature competition at SXSW. Film credits include THE DICTATOR, TRANSFORMERS, THE DONOR PARTY, SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS, and JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM. He recently wrapped PATEL, written and directed by Ravi Kapoor; the genre-defying film is described as a “deadpan gangster tragedy” set in the world of Indian-American–owned motels. He has several projects in development, including a new take on a well-known and beloved Sit-com and a fish-out-of-water comedy set in South Florida.
KYM WHITLEY (Donna) Kym Whitley is a multi-talented entertainer, rich with humor and heart. She is a Daytime Emmy-Nominated actress for her menacing role as Big Candi on THE BAY. In addition, Kym is a three-time NAACP Image Award-winner for her “Two Funny Mamas” podcast, alongside her partner-in-crime, Sherri Shepherd. As an actress, author, comedian, and multi-award-winning podcaster, namely the 2023 Signal Award winner for her Audible podcast, “Kym,” Whitley has proven her versatility and ability to captivate audiences across multiple mediums. Whitley is an HBCU Fisk graduate, where she pledged Alpha Beta Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Kym also holds an Honorary degree from Virginia University of Lynchburg. Kym Whitley serves as a board member for the Special Needs Network, in Los Angeles, CA, which focuses on Autism and other Developmental and Intellectual Challenges. Over the past two years, she’s appeared in several high-profile film projects including YOU PEOPLE (2023) as Aunt Nadine, OUTLAW JOHNNY BLACK (2023) as Sister Betty, and KILLING MARY SUE (2025), where she plays Anita Koch. She also stars as a part of the AA group alongside Adam Sandler in Netflix’s sequel HAPPY GILMORE 2 (2025), portraying the character of Bessie. In addition, Whitley is a producer of the animated short WALK IN THE LIGHT, a powerful true story about a blind man who helped rescue people during the Oklahoma City bombing. On the hosting front, Whitley brought her charm and humor to BET+ as co-host of the reality series I LOVE US alongside Kountry Wayne, celebrating Black culture and comedy. With her dynamic range and enduring appeal, Kym Whitley continues to be a beloved figure in film, television, and live entertainment. Her comedic imprint has been seen on TV series such as CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO), RAISING WHITLEY (OWN), ACT YOUR AGE (Netflix), and countless others. There is never a dull moment with Kym!
TONY DANZA (Stanislaw) Tony Danza has been one of the world’s most beloved and iconic entertainers for over 40 years. Perhaps best known for his starring roles on two of television’s most cherished and long-running series, TAXI and WHO’S THE BOSS, Danza has also starred in hit films such as ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD, SHE’S OUT OF CONTROL, HOLLYWOOD KNIGHTS, and DON JON. Well-established as a song-and-dance man, Danza has also starred on Broadway in THE PRODUCERS, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, and most recently received rave reviews for his performance in the Broadway musical comedy HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, with The New York Times calling his performance “sly genius” and a “career high.” He received an Emmy nomination for his guest spot on THE PRACTICE, and has recently made special appearances on hit shows like BLUE BLOODS, AND JUST LIKE THAT…, and BROAD CITY. Danza most recently starred in the animated feature RUMBLE for Paramount, the Hulu original film DARBY & THE DEAD, the Netflix series THE GOOD COP, the limited series THERE’S JOHNNY on Hulu, and the hit Starz series POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN.
Interview with Dani Deetté of “The Runarounds” on Prime Video by Suzanne 10/1/25
I had such a nice chat with Dani, and we bonded talking about TV shows and dogs. I love this show, “The Runarounds,” so much. I hope it gets another season because I’m hooked on it. I loved William Lipton on “General Hospital,” and he’s the star of this show. What makes it really cool is that this was a real-life band before they made the series (which is not based on real life), so all of them are really singing and playing.
Dani has been in many shows and movies, and she also had a whole other career before becoming an actress! She’s pretty amazing. Her dog is adorable, too. Hope you can watch the show and enjoy our video interview.
Dani Deetté was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan. She graduated from the Honors College at Michigan State University with a major in Criminal Justice after spending her senior year abroad at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Dani got her start in law enforcement after deciding at age 15 that it was the path for her, but after several years in the field and having grown up performing she chose to pursue her creative side – making the transition into TV and film full-time.
Dani booked her first role on Greenleaf TV series after moving to Atlanta and dove into the industry full force. She is most known for her recurring roles as super soldier Gigi on Marvel’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Sheriff Kim Reddick on Netflix’s hit show Ozark, and Rori Barnhill in Season 3 of the USA Network show, The Sinner. She can also be seen in several guest star appearances including Tulsa King, Matlock, FBI: Most Wanted, and NCIS: New Orleans. Recently Dani was in On Swift Horses with Daisy Edgar Jones, in Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2 and her upcoming projects include Amazon’s The Runarounds, and For All Mankind on Apple TV.
Now she mentors and coaches other actors and travels bicoastally. Dani is also a passionate environmental and mental health advocate, and often pulls from real life experiences for her work. In her free time she loves spending time in nature with family, friends, and animals – especially her with her do,g Link.
The Runarounds follows a group of recent high school graduates from Wilmington, North Carolina, who come together the summer after graduation to form a rock band, united by their shared love of music and near-impossible dream of stardom. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, they throw themselves into the pursuit of their big break—falling in love, getting into trouble, and building the kind of bonds that feel like family along the way. With original music, romantic entanglements, and the raw highs and lows of coming-of-age, The Runarounds captures the rush of risking everything at the edge of adulthood to chase your dreams.
Executive Produced By
Jonas Pate, David Wilcox, Joon Yun, Josh Pate, Shannon Burke, Lisa Mae Fincannon, Scott Lambert, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Matt Thunell
Produced By
Amazon MGM Studios and Skydance Television
Cast
William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdock, Jesse Golliher, Lilah Pate, Maximo Salas, Kelley Pereira, Marley Aliah, Mark Wystrach, Brooklyn Decker, Hayes MacArthur, and Shea Pritchard
Interview with Evan Oppenheimer, Amy Carlson and Kirrilee Berger of the movie “Peas and Carrots” by Suzanne 9/26 and 9/30/25
This is such an amazing movie! It has music, comedy, family drama and scifi… the writing is outstanding, and I love the characters. The family feeling in the movie dominates. I was happy to interview all three. I spoke with Evan a lot about music – perhaps more than the movie! Kirrilee is such a bundle of energy, full of youth, but with a great head on her shoulders and so much talent. I love Amy Carlson, who’s had a long career, including “Another World” and “Blue Bloods.” She was very sweet and funny. Don’t miss this indie movie because it’s a fun ride with amazing music. Jordan Bridges also stars in it – I loved him in “Rizzoli & Isles” and other shows. Go watch this show! It comes out in select theaters 10/3/25.
Laugh-Out-Loud Comedy Directed by Evan Oppenheimer
In Theaters This Friday October 3rd
***Opening Night Film – Dances With Films 2024***
Written & Directed by: Evan Oppenheimer
Known For The Magnificent Meyersons, Lost in Florence, A Little Game,
The Speed of Thought, Alchemy, Justice, and The Auteur Theory
Produced by: Edward Schmidt, Jay Zellman
Original Songs Written by: Marky Ramone (The Ramones),
Ryan Miller (Guster), Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
Starring:
Kirrilee Berger (Unsung Hero)
Amy Carlson (“Blue Bloods”)
Jordan Bridges (“Rizzoli & Isles”)
Talia Oppenheimer (The Magnificent Meyersons)
Callum Vinson (“Long Bright River”)
Andrew Polk(Armageddon Time)
Laurissa Romain (Top Five)
Dan Thompson(A New York Story)
Faith Gitchell
Gabriel Rush (MoonriseKingdom)
Angel Desai (“NCIS: New Orleans”)
Joey Wethersby is a typical 16-year-old New York girl — if your typical New Yorker had parents who were in a one-hit wonder band in the 90’s. And if your typical New Yorker found themselves traveling every night to a bizarre alternate reality, where everybody only says three words: “Peas and Carrots”. Joey finds herself navigating this weird new world, while also dealing with her changing family dynamic, after she suggests that she and her parents (and, to her chagrin, her siblings) form a new band and start rocking out together.
ABOUT DIRECTOR EVAN OPPENHEIMER
Peas and Carrots is the eighth film written and directed by Evan Oppenheimer. His previous films include The Magnificent Meyersons, Lost in Florence, A Little Game, The Speed of Thought, Alchemy, Justice, and The Auteur Theory.
A Little Game, Evan’s first family film, starring F. Murray Abraham, Ralph Macchio and Olympia Dukakis, was called “a classic in its own right” upon its release in 2014, and won Best Feature and Best Actor at the International Family Film Festival. In 2023, the film had an unexpected resurgence, blowing up on TikTok after clips were posted to the social media site, garnering up to 28M views per clip.
Evan’s first film, The Auteur Theory, starring Alan Cox and Natasha Lyonne, won numerous awards at festivals worldwide. Reviewers have called it “ingenious”, “among the best first features I have ever seen”, “one of the best independent films of the year”, and “easily the funniest indie film since Clerks”.
Alchemy was a New York Times Highlight, a Washington Post Best Bet, and an Us Weekly Pick. Justice was recognized as the first narrative film to deal with the after-effects of 9/11, and after premiering at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival it was lauded in The New York Times (“A genuine surprise”), TV Guide (“Admirably subtle”),and The New York Daily News (“There’s no denying the film’s emotional core”). Lost in Florence, shot entirely in Italy, was released around the world in 2017by MGM and Orion Pictures.
Evan is a graduate of Yale University and NYU Film School. He lives in New York with his wife and three daughters. His next film, Out on a Limb, is planned for 2026.
ABOUT ACTRESS AMY CARLSON (LAURIE)
Born in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Amy Carlson spent most of her early life in the Chicago area. But when Amy was in junior high, she and her family also lived in the Middle East where her parents, Bob and Barb, taught at the American School. Amy has three siblings, sisters Betsy and Lori and brother Joe. Amy has backpacked all over Europe with her family and on her own. Because her parents were teachers, they were able to spend every summer together traveling and camping all over the United States. In fact, they have camped in every state except Alaska. Amy also went to Rwanda after the war in 1994 to aid relief efforts. Early on, Amy showed artistic talent acting in school productions and winning contests for writing. In high school, she was a promising athlete who placed in the first ever 3200 meter relay in Illinois girls track. In college, after an injury, she returned to the theater with many roles on stage starting with Lanford Wilson’s “Fifth of July” and directing Wallace Shawn’s “Aunt Dan and Lemon”. Amy attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, where she graduated cum laude with a B.A. in East Asian history and a concentration in Theater. She moved to Chicago afterward and studied Improv at the Improv Olympic and acting at The Actor’s Center. A contract job on the now defunct soap opera Another World (1964) moved her to NYC soon after graduation. She has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series”. Her most memorable roles have been of strong women playing Alex Taylor in Third Watch (1999), Maggie Pistone in Falcone (2000), Katie Owen alongside Tom Berenger in Peacemakers (2003) and Linda Reagan in Blue Bloods. Carlson resides in New York City with husband Syd Butler, bassist of Les Savy Fav, where she also works in the independent music business as part-owner of the independent label “Frenchkiss Records”. Amy continues to write as well as seek out diverse and unique roles in the film industry.
ABOUT ACTRESS KIRRILEE BERGER (JOEY)
Kirrilee Berger, an actress from Teaneck, NJ, played the central role of Rebecca Smallbone in Lionsgate’s 2024 release, “Unsung Hero.” She also appeared in “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Country Comfort, and recently released her first album, Stories, Lies, Allegories and Fables. She’s also lived in Brisbane, Australia and Los Angeles, CA.
Interview with director Andreas Zerr of the film “Sane Inside Insanity” by Suzanne 9/11/25
Speaking with Andreas about his “Rocky Horror Show” documentary was fascinating. I’ve enjoyed the cult movie and its music since the 70’s. It’s worth watching his film, whether you’re a fan of the play/movie/album or not. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years since it was first out… The first half of the doc focuses on the development of the play and movie, and the second half is all about the fans (particularly the “shadow casts,” who dress up every weekend in RHPS costumes and relive the movie).
If you didn’t live through that era, it might be hard to imagine it, but the movie was very shocking at the time to many people who were not comfortable with the LGBTQ+ community (or anyone who dressed in costume, for that matter). Younger people often embraced it. From what I’ve seen, Rocky Horror Fans tended to be either part of that LGBTQ+ group, or they were scifi/horror fans. Both groups know what it’s like not to fit in (especially back then).
I didn’t dress up for Rocky Horror, and I only saw the movie a couple of times, but I had friends and family who really got into it and went to the midnight showings in San Diego often. This happened all over the world.
SANE INSIDE INSANITY, the unofficial, unauthorized and unbiased documentary about The Rocky Horror Picture Show, 50 years after it became an unlikely cult classic!
Few films have had the cultural staying power of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. What began as a quirky stage play in 1970s London became a global phenomenon that reshaped film, fashion, punk, musical theater, and even the early LGBTQIA+ movement.
Set for release on September 25, to coincide with the film’s 50th anniversary, SANE INSIDE INSANITY, chronicles Rocky Horror’s unlikely rise through never-before-seen interviews and rare archival footage. Rather than a documentary full of platitudes, director Andreas Zerr’s film offers a warts-and-all approach that is as much a celebration of the cult classic as it is a critique about the unhappier and more serious parts of its story.
Andreas and his team spent more than a decade capturing candid conversations with the original cast and creative figures, including Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell, Barry Bostwick, Jim Sharman, Sal Piro, Richard Hartley and Sue Blane— and many others who had never shared their stories on camera until now.
The film goes beyond nostalgia, examining Rocky Horror’s role as a cultural lightning rod. It shows how a low-budget production not only survived but thrived for over five decades, captivating millions around the world. Filmed across the UK, Europe, Australia and the United States, the journey concludes in New York City—the birthplace of Rocky Horror’s legendary midnight screenings.
BIO: Andreas Zerr is known for SANE INSIDE INSANITY – The Phenomenon of Rocky Horror (2025), Nussbraun (2010) and Bali: 1000 Faces of an Island (2013).
Born in Hamburg, Germany, in February 1971, he began his career as a marketing manager at Apple from 1999 to 2002. Driven by a passion for creativity, he transitioned into the film and television industry as a freelance editor. His talent and dedication quickly earned the trust of his clients, who encouraged him to take on roles as a producer and director. In 2012, Andreas founded his own production company “PIXELGALAXIE”, which he successfully managed until 2020. After selling his shares of the company to his long-term business partner, he returned to self-employment, focusing on producing and directing his own films and documentaries. Today, Andreas continues to bring compelling stories to life with his expertise and vision.
Interviews with Annabella Sciorra, Jay Will, Martin Starr, Garrett Hedlund and Bella Heathcote of “Tulsa King” on Paramount+ by Suzanne 9/15/25
This is a very good show, even though I’m not a big fan of mobster shows or movies. The actors are fantastic (including star Sylvester Stallone), and there’s a lot of superb writing for the stories and characters, as well as action. They do an outstanding job of showing the characters caught up in the criminal world and how it affects their lives.
The actors answered my questions very well last week, and I enjoyed speaking with them. It was an honor to speak with Annabella Sciorra and the rest….but of course, it would have been nice to speak to Sylvester Stallone again. Not all “stars” leave a noticeable absence in any room, but he always does. He’s the titular king as well as the main character and star. He’s a busy guy, though, so I’m not surprised I didn’t get to speak with him a second time. Don’t miss the premiere tomorrow, 9/21/25 on Paramount+!
TULSA KING follows New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone), just after he is released from prison after 25 years and unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla. Realizing that his mob family may not have his best interests in mind, Dwight slowly builds a “crew” from a group of unlikely characters, to help him establish a new criminal empire in a place that to him might as well be another planet.
Interview with Annabel Scholey, Aggy K. Adams and Sam Palladio of “The Couple Next Door” on STARZ by Suzanne 9/16/25
This anthology series on Starz is very sexy (and maybe a bit kinky – if anything is nowadays) and filled with drama and intrigue. It also has some very good writing and characters. If you enjoyed season 1, you should enjoy this season 2. Even if you never saw season 1, though, you can watch season 2 because it mostly different characters.
I was supposed to interview all 3 of these actors, plus Sendhil Ramamurthy. Unfortunately, the latter had a personal conflict, so I wasn’t able to speak with him. That was a real shame because he’s the one I most wanted to chat with! He’s always great, and I’ve enjoyed his work since “Heroes” on NBC (2006-2010) and that show’s reboot later on, as well as many other series I watched, like “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Flash” on The CW and “Doom Patrol” on MAX. It was wonderful to speak to the other three, though. We weren’t allowed to use the video this time, though, only audio, so here are the two transcripts below. They’ve been edited, but we’re not quite through proofreading them yet, so please do check back.
Sam Palladino
Suzanne: My name is Suzanne from TVMEG.COM. So, had you watched the first season of the series before you, started filming the second?
Sam: Well, I got the audition, and so I hadn’t seen it without any context. But, after getting the audition and reading the first script, I definitely did a little research and definitely watched a few, and actually was really…quite honestly, very captured and spellbound by this show. And it wouldn’t usually be my kind of show.
Suzanne: Mm-hmm.
Sam: But I was like, “This is really great. It’s beautifully shot, it’s well acted…. The story’s gripping.” And so, I think before I’d actually got the job, I was a fan. I was auditioning, going, “I hope I get this one ’cause it’s pretty good.”
Suzanne: That’s good. So, can you say, is the second season as crazy as the first?
Sam: oh, the second season of “The Couple Next Door” takes it to a whole new level, right? I mean, it really does. I think the writers and producers learned what worked in Series One, and it was pretty obvious that was the… I mean, it was the great writing, but it was the tension, it was the drama, it was the spicy sexual desire and the consequences of all that. All that hit home for sure. So with Series Wwo, we build on that and we go to even more bonkers places, to be honest. Yeah, it’s a real progression and I think, with this series… I got to work with just some fantastic actors and we all felt very much like a team. And even so much so with the directors, and producers, and the whole creative team. It was very collaborative. It wasn’t like, “Here’s your lines, you act, go stand over there.” It felt like we were all trying to make the show the best it could be.
Suzanne: That’s good. I think it works well when they let the actors have some input.
Sam: Mm-hmm. For sure.
Suzanne: And is there a lot of sex this season, like last season?
Sam: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. There’s way more sex. Oh, way more. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So, we certainly, yeah. We take it to some new steamy places. There is a sequence in episode three that, when I read on the page, I thought, “How are we gonna do this? This feels like we’re put really pushing the boat out.” And so, yeah, like I said, I think that we build, and we take it to new levels, for sure.
Suzanne: Okay. And did they have someone on set to make you all feel comfortable during those scenes?
Sam: For sure. I mean, and that’s a brilliant thing that’s come into the industry now: the intimacy coordinator. I think it’s really important, particularly for us, our sequence — there’s a threesome sequence, you know, and so on the page you kind of go, “How do we handle this?” But yeah, Vanessa, our intimacy coordinator, they make it more like a choreographed dance sequence. And so that means that we had rehearsals prior, fully clothed, you know, where actually, you go through the protocols… it’s also contractual, you know, levels that you’re comfortable with. Everything’s open and discussed. And then it becomes very much… It’s choreographed. Gone are the days of like, “Okay, off you guys go, do your thing.” Which just means everybody feels comfortable and safe. And by that point, we’d saved a lot of those intimate scenes to… pretty much the last week in filming ’cause we were shooting for about three months or so. We’d all dubbed it “sex week.” Which was really quite funny because they just put it all together. So it was this very confusing week where we were all just went to the gym, you know, for weeks, trying to eat healthy and work towards “sex week.” But it just meant that we are all very comfortable with each other at that point. You know, Annabel, who plays my wife, Charlotte on the show… we’ve become like really great friends,, and so nothing felt awkward. And if it did, we were able to joke about it and have the intimacy coordinator there to just make sure everybody’s on our side, you know?
Suzanne: Right, right. And now this is an anthology series, so most of the characters are new, and the setting’s the same, and some of the characters are the same. So, is there anything that you can tell us about what’s new besides, you know, spoilers? No spoilers.
Sam: For sure, for sure. I mean, we have some, we have, Hugh Dennis, who returns as Alan. So he, he’s a brilliant actor. I love the character, Alan, actually, he goes on quite a redemptive arc.
Suzanne: He’s so pervy.
Sam: He’s so pervy. and that really sets the tone for Series One. And, and of course he goes on a different arc, this series. But, yeah, he’s a great. You know, he’s a catalyst to bring us back to this world. I think this series, just goes deeper into those desires and what happens when you explore that, and the consequences of that. And with some pretty, pretty drastic consequences. This series, you know, for my character Jacob, he goes on a crazy arc, you know? He’s a proud, jealous guy. His wife’s ex-partner, Leo, comes back into the mix, who Jacob has this real beef with from 20 years ago. And of course, Mia moves into the neighborhood, seduces me, seduces my wife. Suddenly, Jacob’s thrown into this world where he thought maybe this was gonna go somewhere and then realizes that Mia is after other things. So, you know, the, the layers are pretty varied for Jacob. And then he makes some terrible decisions late in the series that, I don’t think the viewers are expecting…based on the, the crazy circumstances they put themselves in.
Suzanne: Right. All right. Well thank you. I appreciate you talking to me today and I look forward to seeing the rest of the show.
Sam: Thanks. Thanks, Suzanne.
Annabel Scholey and Aggy K. Adams
Suzanne: Hi, I’m Suzanne from TVMEG.COM. How are you feeling?
Speaker 3: Good, thanks. Thank you. Good.
Suzanne: Had you both watched the first season of the series before you started shooting?
Annabel: Yes, I auditioned for series one. Yes. So I knew it pretty well. I actually read for Evie, and then I watched it ’cause I, I love the scripts. So I was very familiar.
Suzanne: Okay. How, how about you?
Aggy: Yes, me, too. I’ve seen season one, but only after I’ve gotten the job actually. So. yes, I’ve watched it sort of as we started filming. I was very curious once I’ve met the team, of how it was shot. So it was very fun. It’s great to see.
Suzanne: Mm-hmm. So, we know that it’s set in the same neighborhood (as the first season), and it has some of the same characters in the neighborhood, but the main cast is different. What else can you tell us about the differences this season… either of you, or both of you?
Annabel: This season has much more of a thriller element to it. There’s a lot more suspense… it’s not obvious where it’s headed. I mean, Aggie will talk about this more, but her character in particular is extremely mysterious and you don’t really ever find out until the end, really, the truth about what’s going on there. But, they wanted to shoot it more like a thriller. as well. And I think the director DRIs, who did both series one and series two, deliberately shot it more like that, so there’s more suspense, I’d say. I mean, it was very fast-paced, Series One, and gripping. So we keep that. But yeah, it definitely has a different tone.
Aggy: Yeah. Well, the plot is very different, and the tone as well. Series Two is maybe more sensuous in some way. There’s some art to it — it felt quite artistic to me. Some shots just feel slower… it is shot a bit differently. It takes place in the Autumn, as well, so it just has a different feel. It has a different mood — Series One was in the summer, so obviously, that, yeah. It sets the tone differently.
Annabel: And ours is a love story as well. It’s a love story between the two women. And I think Series One was more about sexual attraction and obsession, whereas this felt more like a psychological relationship drama.
Aggy: Definitely. It felt more psychological, yeah.
Suzanne: Okay. And, I read that the neighborhood that it takes place in is mostly shot in Leeds, right?
Annabel: No, we didn’t shoot anything in Leeds, actually.
Suzanne: Oh, yeah?
Annabel: It was shot in Antwerp and Holland. And I think… Maggie, you were in France, weren’t you?
Aggy: Exactly. We were just on the border of France and Belgium. Yeah, that’s where we shot Brussels, but we never shot in Leeds. Yeah, I think they shot Series One in Leeds.
Annabel: Yeah, they did.
Suzanne: That’s interesting that they changed it.
Aggy: Hmm.
Suzanne: The houses are a set, right?
Annabel: They are. So I actually grew up in, in Leeds, and the houses are definitely more attractive in our show. On the whole, they wanted to keep it set in Leeds, but because we didn’t really have any specific Leeds areas, right? They just shot everything elsewhere in Europe.
Suzanne: Interesting…I’ve been to the UK, but I grew up in the US. So, I’m thinking (while watching the first season), “How can a teacher, and a guy who’s working in a struggling newspaper, afford such a nice house — that comes with a Koi pond?”
Annabel: Mm-hmm.
Suzanne: But my husband just said, “It’s Europe.” I said, “I don’t know about that. It looked awfully nice.”
Annabel: No, I agree. That’s probably stretching into the realm of fantasy a little bit.
Suzanne: They had family money, maybe…. So, do either of you have any interesting or funny stories about shooting, or behind the scenes?
Annabel: Well, we both went into open heart surgeries as a research day, which was incredible.
Aggy: Mm-hmm.
Annabel: I mean, it definitely wasn’t funny. It was very moving, actually. And I was really worried I was gonna pass out ’cause I get a bit like that, but I just, it just blew my mind how incredible it was. It was a real it life-changing moment, actually. It was a real privilege.
Aggy: Yeah. Absolutely.. open heart surgeries, and that part of research was the best part for me, as well. Hmm. So interesting.
Suzanne: Had you ever played a doctor before, Annabelle?
Annabel: No, but I really wanted to, and I’m a huge “Grey’s Anatomy” fan, , and Christina Yang was my favorite, and I always thought, “Oh, God, how great….” Yeah, it was really good to delve into that. It was a real physical challenge, actually…not only to try and understand some of the science, and learn how to hold things, but to act with just your eyes. My eyes were behind the goggles, as well. So it was not only doing all of the technical stuff, but then trying to convey the relationship that was happening across the table between our two characters. It was a lot. It was a really interesting thing to have to try and learn how to do. It was thrilling.
Suzanne: Wow.
Annabel: Yeah.
Suzanne: What about you, Aggy? Have you played a nurse, or doctor, or any kind of medical professional before?
Aggy: No, I’ve never played a medical professional before. This was my first time. And, I’m very fascinated by it. It was like my dream, in a way. I’d love to play a heart surgeon next time ’cause obviously I’ve played a scrub nurse. So I hope it will happen again. And I’m a huge fan of medical shows, too. I really can’t wait to see “The Pitt,” also. And yes, I did watch “Grey’s Anatomy” in the past, growing up and, yeah, it was really fun.
Suzanne: Okay. Cool. Nice shout-out to “The Pitt.” That’s an awesome show.
Aggy: Yes, I, it’s on my list. I can’t wait to start.
Suzanne: Oh, you haven’t seen the first season yet?
Aggy: No, not yet. I’m new to it.
Suzanne: Yeah. It’s a bit intense. It’s a good show, though.
In this new chapter of the deliciously dark psychological drama, “The CoupleNextDoor,” we venture back into the claustrophobic world of the cul-de-sac and explore the fallout of taking your fantasies and making them reality. Brilliant heart surgeon, Charlotte Roberts (Annabel Scholey), and her husband, consultant anaesthetist Jacob (Sam Palladio) take centre stage, alongside their mysterious new colleague Mia (Aggy K Adams) and Charlotte’s old flame Leo (Sendhil Ramamurthy). Leo’s return sparks a change in Charlotte and Mia seizes the opportunity to work her way into Jacob and Charlotte’s confidence, their street, and eventually even their bed, befriending cul-de-sac outcast, Alan (Hugh Dennis) along the way. But it’s not long before Mia’s past comes back to haunt her, leading Charlotte and Jacob to question who she really is, especially when patients at the hospital start mysteriously dying. One thing is clear – giving in to their desires could have deadly consequences.
Annabel Scholey has performed extensively on stage and is known for her roles in the BBC supernatural drama Being Human in 2009 and as Anne-Marie Blake in the true crime drama miniseries The Sixth Commandment in 2023. She also played the leading role of Maddie in the musical feature film Walking on Sunshine (2014).
Aggy K. Adams is a British actress, born 19th May 1998. Her television roles have included The Witcher (2023). She had a lead role in the film Oh, Ramona! (2019). She was born in Warsaw, Poland, before later living in the United States and eventually settling down with her family in the UK as a child.
CAST AND PRODUCTION CREDITS
CHARLOTTE Annabel Scholey
JACOB Sam Palladio
MIA Aggy K. Adams
LEO Sendhil Ramamurthy
ALAN Hugh Dennis
GEMMA Maimie McCoy
BEN Adam James
YVONNE Tanya Moodie
PRODUCTION CREDITS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER David Allison
Dries Vos
Walter Iuzzolino
Jo McGrath
DIRECTOR Dries Vos
WRITER David Allison
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Diego Dezuttere, SBC
EDITOR Gert Fimmers, Ep. 201, 203, 205, 206
David Verdurme, Ep. 202, 204, 206
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Max Van Essche
COSTUME DESIGNERS Katie Broome
Jutta Smeyers
HAIR & MAKE-UP DESIGNER Morgane Verhelst
ORIGINAL MUSIC BY Hannes De Maeyer
INTIMACY COORDINATOR Vanessa Coffey
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
CHARLOTTE Annabel Scholey
A consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Charlotte is highly competitive and well-respected at work. Married to Jacob and happily child-free, Charlotte is starting to wonder what’s next – is 20 more years doing exactly what’s expected of her really that appealing? The pressure of her career and of caring for her elderly father sometimes overwhelm her, but it’s not until her ex, Leo, returns, and Mia crashes into her life, that she starts to entertain the thought of cutting loose from it all.JACOB Sam Palladio
Always charming, Jacob loves his wife, Charlotte, and enjoys their verbal sparring, as well as the fact that she is so proficient in the operating room. But buried deep within him are insecurities about his status. Jacob enjoys pushing boundaries and copes with the pressures of his high-octane job with the help of various illicit prescription drugs. Adored by half the junior staff at the hospital, Jacob has always been faithful to Charlotte. But when Mia arrives, it soon becomes clear she might be another drug he can’t quite resist.MIA Aggy K. Adams
New in town, with a very mysterious past, surgical nurse Mia is clearly trying to run from someone or something. With a very un-British attitude toward both work and sex, Mia has an uncanny ability to draw people in and make them desire her. But this can also make her a formidable enemy. When she sees Charlotte and Jacob for the first time, she’s immediately fascinated by them and determined to work her way into their seemingly perfect marriage
LEO Sendhil Ramamurthy
Having had a whirlwind romance with Charlotte during her med school years, Leo’s life has taken a very different path in the years since. He’s travelled the world, working for charities and eschewing the trappings and easy life his family’s wealth could have provided. But now, with his father, Viraj, seriously ill, Leo has returned home. When he sees Charlotte, the old feelings come flooding back. Will he try and win back the woman he’s always loved?
ALAN Hugh Dennis
Isolated and alone since Jean left him a year ago, Alan has had to suffer the scorn of the community, as his crimes towards Becka became more widely known. Now fully recovered from his stroke, he’s been sentenced to community service, completing menial tasks around the local area to repay his debt to society. But has Alan really mended his ways? And if he has, will his past prevent him from ever finding love again?
GEMMA Maimie McCoy
Senior manager at the hospital, and longtime best friend to Charlotte, Gemma’s still struggling to process the end of her marriage to Ben, who left her for a much younger woman. Once she meets the charming, suave Leo, life starts looking up. But with Leo still harboring feelings for Charlotte, can they ever be more than just good friends?
BEN Adam James
Medical director of the hospital, Ben is Jacob’s boss, friend and mentor. In the grip of a mid-life crisis, he has left his wife for Alyssa, the 20-something receptionist at his local gym. She’s beautiful and makes him feel young again, but do they really have anything in common? And, as he watches his ex-wife getting closer to Leo, will he start to feel the pangs of regret?
YVONNE Tanya Moodie
Mia’s closest ally amongst the nursing staff, Yvonne avoids being drawn into the gossip and drama of the hospital. She’s kind and caring, but unlucky in love. Mia thinks she might know the perfect man for her friend – Alan. But can Yvonne overlook Alan’s past? And, if so, will he be able to prove he’s a changed man?
EPISODE DESCRIPTIONSEPISODE 201 Airdate: September 19, 2025 Written by: David Allison Directed by: Dries Vos
When new surgical nurse Mia arrives at the hospital, she quickly turns her charm on married colleagues, Charlotte and Jacob, who can’t help but feel unsettled when she unexpectedly moves into the house next door.EPISODE 202 Airdate: September 26, 2025 Written by: David Allison Directed by: Dries Vos
After a wild night out, Charlotte tries to distance herself from Mia. Charlotte’s ex, Leo, returns to the hospital and at the fundraising ball, his and Jacob’s mutual dislike is palpable. Mia’s reaction to a death at the hospital raises eyebrows.
EPISODE 203 Airdate: October 3, 2025 Written by: David Allison Directed by: Dries Vos
To celebrate their 20-year anniversary, a guilt-ridden Jacob plans a surprise weekend trip to Antwerp for Charlotte.When an unexpected third person turns up, things take an erotic, but dangerous, turn. Back in town, cul-de-sac outcast Alan is forced to put his telescope back into action.
EPISODE 204 Airdate: October 10, 2025 Written by: David Allison Directed by: Dries Vos
Upon her return from Antwerp, Charlotte throws herself into her work. Gossip about the trip spreads through the hospital, leading to tension. Meanwhile, Mia tries to do a good deed for Alan.
EPISODE 205 Airdate: October 17, 2025 Written by: David Allison Directed by: Dries Vos
Jacob comes to a heartbreaking realization, while Mia’s past finally catches up to her leading to tumultuous events for everyone.
EPISODE 206 Airdate: October 24, 2025 Written by: David Allison Directed by: Dries Vos Relationships are imploding and the fallout seems to have deadly consequences. Leo is in a race against time to try and uncover who is really behind the deaths at the hospital, while Alan is forced to take drastic actions to protect Mia.
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MORE INFO: 
Having taken a long hiatus from Y&R, I recently decided to start watching it again.
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obsession, The Indiana Fever.
and Knight Rider, and numerous Hallmark Channel movies. After working as a carpenter, he pursued acting, making his debut in 2002. He is also a writer and producer, married to Lorie Campbell with whom he has a son named Kingston.
Wes Brown (born January 26, 1982) is an American actor known for his role as Luke McDonald in HBO’s True Blood and other TV and film roles, including Hallmark movies. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and attended Louisiana State University, initially intending to pursue business before switching to acting. His career also includes roles in series like Hart of Dixie and Private Practice, and films such as Glory Road and We Are Marshall.
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Fuller (“Quarry,” “Rectify” and “Locke & Key”) and co-creator Erin Lee Carr (“Britney vs Spears,” “I Love You, Now Die” and “Mommy Dead and Dearest”). Nick Antosca (“A Friend of the Family,” “The Act” and “Candy”) and Alex Hedlund for Eat the Cat are executive producers along with Mandy Matney, David Moses and Bill Johnson. Steven Piet executive produced and directed episodes 101, 102 and 108. Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke also serve as executive producers. UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.
ABOUT THE CAST
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Produced by: Sonja Ewers and Mark Mertens
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Christopher Gorham stars as Travis in SHERIFF COUNTRY. Also on the horizon for fall is Hulu’s Korean spy drama, “Tempest,” in which he stars alongside John Cho.
Gorham made his feature film directorial debut with the comedy “We Love You, Sally Carmichael!” in which he also starred alongside Jack McBrayer, Bitsie Tulloch and Paula Marshall.
theater in Chicago’s South Loop, Neal moved on to a diverse slate of projects like the award-winning documentary 10 mountains 10 years (narrated by Anne Hathaway), #whokilledheather, an innovative branded web series, and many short films and features screened at festivals around the world.
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Reddick on Netflix’s hit show Ozark, and Rori Barnhill in Season 3 of the USA Network show, The Sinner. She can also be seen in several guest star appearances including Tulsa King, Matlock, FBI: Most Wanted, and NCIS: New Orleans. Recently Dani was in On Swift Horses with Daisy Edgar Jones, in Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2 and her upcoming projects include Amazon’s The Runarounds, and For All Mankind on Apple TV.
ABOUT ACTRESS AMY CARLSON (LAURIE)
Third Watch (1999), Maggie Pistone in Falcone (2000), Katie Owen alongside Tom Berenger in Peacemakers (2003) and Linda Reagan in Blue Bloods. Carlson resides in New York City with husband Syd Butler, bassist of Les Savy Fav, where she also works in the independent music business as part-owner of the independent label “Frenchkiss Records”. Amy continues to write as well as seek out diverse and unique roles in the film industry.
and creative figures, including Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell, Barry Bostwick, Jim Sharman, Sal Piro, Richard Hartley and Sue Blane— and many others who had never shared their stories on camera until now.
