Melora Hardin has the perfect pitch for her Office character Jan Levinson to appear on spinoff Th...

Hardin tells EW she'd &34;happily go back&34; to playing her infamously icy exec on the spinoff or even on a reboot of the beloved sitcom. Melora Hardin has the perfect pitch for her Office character Jan Levinson to appear on spinoff The Paper Hardin tells EW she'd &34;happily go back&34; to playing her infamously icy exec on the spinoff or even on a reboot of the beloved sitcom. By Ryan Coleman :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RyanColemanauthorphoto0081ce8f0254478080f35972c433877b.

Hardin tells EW she'd "happily go back" to playing her infamously icy exec on the spinoff or even on a reboot of the beloved sitcom.

Melora Hardin has the perfect pitch for her Office character Jan Levinson to appear on spinoff The Paper

Hardin tells EW she'd "happily go back" to playing her infamously icy exec on the spinoff or even on a reboot of the beloved sitcom.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

EW's editorial guidelines

December 29, 2025 2:00 p.m. ET

Melora Hardin on 'The Office' with Steve Carell. Credit: Justin Lubin/NBCU Photo Bank

It's been over a decade since the world last caught sight of Jan Levinson, the frosty, imperious, yet hilarious sales executive played by Melora Hardin on *The Office*. With the recent premiere of *The Paper *marking the beloved sitcom's first spinoff, Hardin has the perfect pitch how to get Jan back in the habit.

"Are you kidding? I would totally go back," Hardin tells ** in a career-spanning conversation. "I love Greg Daniels," Hardin notes, referring to the TV maven who developed the American adaptation of Ricky Gervais' British counterpart. "He really knows television, and he really knows comedy, and we spitball sometimes, you know. 'What could Jan be doing now?'"

At a certain point, that hypothetical became an easily actionable proposal that would meld perfectly into *The Paper*'s wry style.

Melora Hardin as Jan Levinson on 'The Office'.

Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Co-created by Daniels and *Late Night with Conan O'Brien* writer Michael Koman, *The Paper *follows the same mockumentary crew that captured the lives of Michael, Jim, Pam, and yes, Jan 20 years ago to Toledo, Ohio, where a ragtag band of volunteer reporters tries to keep a declining newspaper afloat.

The only connective casting thread between *The Paper* and *The Office *is Oscar Nuñez's Oscar Martinez, and it's with Oscar that Hardin's plan begins.**

"I had this idea that they have Oscar kind of being like, 'Did you guys get enough out of this?'" Hardin explains that after watching the pilot of *The Paper*, she fell in love with Nuñez's fourth-wall-breaking interactions with the mockumentary crew, who are never seen. "I said to Greg and to Suzanne, his wife, 'It would be really fun, if Jan was the director, and eventually, every now and then, the camera turns around, and it's her."

Rob Reiner reflected on 'Spinal Tap' influencing 'The Office' in final EW interview: 'It's very satisfying'

How the crew behind 'The Office' crafted a new workplace story with 'The Paper'

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

*The Paper *takes after *The Office *in never directly showing the crew filming the employees of the *Toledo Truth Teller*. Across the 10 episodes of its first season, which aired over the summer, various characters like Oscar signal to them, joke around with them, and bump into them, but they're never glimpsed.

*The Office *came close, but never quite revealed its fictitious mystery crew. But there was a close call written into the fourth season episode "Branch Wars," in which Josh Krasinski's Jim is exposed by a cameraman while trying to hide from Rashida Jones' Karen in a car. "Come on man!" he mouths directly to the camera in anger.

The cast of 'The Paper'.

Aaron Epstein/PEACOCK

"Maybe we'll find something that Jan could do," Hardin muses. "But of course, I would totally, happily go back."

So far, Nuñez is the only core cast member from the flagship series to appear on *The Paper*. The spinoff's pilot episode did, however, include a cameo from Robert R. Shafer's Bob Vance, the oft-mentioned, rarely seen owner of Vance Refrigeration, and husband of Phyllis Smith's Phyllis Vance.

In the short scene, Bob updates the camera crew on the whereabouts of some fan-favorite *Office *characters. "Bill (Terrence Beasor) and Stanley (Leslie David Baker) keep in touch; we both have Schnoodles," he notes. Bob also speaks fondly and in the present tense of Phyllis, indicating that one of the series' strongest relationships is a solid as ever.

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Comedy"

Read More

---

Source: Comedy

Published: January 01, 2026 at 12:38PM on Source: MARIO MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byMario Satorik

in

January 01, 2026

Melora Hardin has the perfect pitch for her Office character Jan Levinson to appear on spinoff Th...

Hardin tells EW she'd &34;happily go back&34; to playing her infamously icy exec on the spinoff or even on a reb...

Read More

A good mood is right around the corner with these uplifting Netflix films. The 12 best happy movies on Netflix that'll inspire a smile A good mood is right around the corner with these uplifting Netflix films. By Andrew Walsh and Ilana Gordon :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ILANAGORDONHEADSHOT80577598f8ed442cacff5de184ceb9f5.jpg) Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles. EW's editorial guidelines December 29, 2025 12:00 p.m.

A good mood is right around the corner with these uplifting Netflix films.

The 12 best happy movies on Netflix that'll inspire a smile

A good mood is right around the corner with these uplifting Netflix films.

By Andrew Walsh

and Ilana Gordon

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

December 29, 2025 12:00 p.m. ET

Bill Murray as Phil Connors in 'Groundhog Day'; Ali Wong as Sasha Tran in 'Always Be My Maybe'; Noah Centineo as Peter Kavinsky and Lana Condor as Lara Jean Song-Covey in 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'. Credit:

Columbia Pictures/Getty; Courtesy of Netflix; Ed Araquel/Netflix

Cue the dopamine receptors; these films are designed to light up the joyful parts of your brain. Populated by awe-inspiring documentaries like *My Octopus Teacher *(2020) and holiday gems like *Klaus* (2019), the films on this list vary in genre and subject matter, but they all share an ability to transform bad moods and prompt good cheer.

Read on for **'s list of the 12 best happy movies on Netflix.

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Ali Wong as Sasha Tran and Randall Park as Marcus Kim in 'Always Be My Baby'. Ed Araquel/Netflix

Sasha Tran (Ali Wong) and Marcus Kim (Randall Park) were best friends–turned–high school sweethearts who, after a post-coital fight, lost contact for 16 years. When Sasha makes a triumphant return to San Francisco as a big-time chef, she and Marcus, who is not doing quite as well, find themselves nursing old grudges and long-dormant feelings. EW praises the stars' effortless chemistry, writing, "the bond between them is one of the many elements that make the film feel authentic, sweet, and wildly funny." *—Andrew Walsh*

Where to watch *Always Be My Maybe*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Nahnatchka Khan

**Cast: **Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito, Michelle Buteau, Daniel Dae Kim

Dumplin' (2018)

Jennifer Aniston as Rosie Dickson in 'Dumplin''. Netflix

Frustrated by the judgment of her pageant-obsessed Texas town, as well as her former beauty queen mother, Rosie (Jennifer Aniston), Willowdean (Danielle Macdonald) — a.k.a. Dumplin' — decides to enroll in the Miss Teen Bluebonnet contest as "a protest in heels."

Despite declaring she's not the "Joan of Arc" of plus-sized girls, her actions *do *inspire a few other outsiders to join her Dolly Parton-scored revolution and shake things up. "Like a pillow cross-stitched with sassy aphorisms," EW's critic writes, "*Dumplin' *is kitschy and squishy and, if you let yourself, pretty sweet to sink into." *—A.W.*

Where to watch *Dumplin'*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Anne Fletcher

**Cast: **Danielle Macdonald, Jennifer Aniston, Odeya Rush, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Dove Cameron

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)

Will Ferrell as Lars Erickssong and Rachel McAdams as Sigrit Ericksdóttir in 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'.

John Wilson/Netflix

Icelandic musicians Lars Erickssong (Will Ferrell) and Sigrit Ericksdóttir (Rachel McAdams) are lifelong friends and not-yet-sweethearts who dream of winning the Eurovision Song Contest. Despite disapproval from their parents, their town, and the local Eurovision selection committee, the duo dubbed "Fire Saga" refuses to let anything stop them from achieving their goal of songwriting immortality — including their romantic feelings for each other.

Underneath all the spandex and over-the-top production numbers is a sincere film that cares as much about sharing the joy of music as satirizing its ostentatious performance. *—A.W.*

Where to watch *Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga*: Netflix

**Director: **David Dobkin

**Cast: **Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Dan Stevens, Pierce Brosnan

Groundhog Day (1993)

Bill Murray as Phil Connors in 'Groundhog Day'. Everett Collection

Decades before Hollywood started pumping out romantic comedies like *Leap Year* (2010), *Valentine's Day* (2010), and *New Year's Eve* (2011), there was *Groundhog Day*, the ultimate niche holiday comedy. The film follows a TV weatherman named Phil Connors (Bill Murray), who is assigned to cover the annual February festivities in Punxsutawney, Pa., only to find himself reliving the same day over and over again.

*Groundhog Day* casts Murray as a Scrooge-esque misanthrope, places him in an unwinnable situation, and watches as he proceeds to have an existential meltdown — before seizing on his unique situation and attempting to woo his producer, Rita (Andie MacDowell). As EW's critic writes, "*Groundhog Day* — with its really high concept — unfolds with a goofy elegance that feels like a tonic." *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Groundhog Day*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A

**Director: **Harold Ramis

**Cast: **Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott

Happy Gilmore 2 (2025)

Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin and Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in 'Happy Gilmore 2'.

Scott Yamano/Netflix

*Happy Gilmore* fans waited almost three decades for a sequel and Adam Sandler made it worth their while. *Happy Gilmore 2 *picks up years after Happy won the Tour Championship; he's now broke, dealing with alcohol abuse, and struggling to pay for his daughter's ballet training. After not playing golf for a decade, Happy agrees to pick up the clubs once more to win money for his family and to take down a slimy new golf league.

Sandler treats the film like a giant party, inviting back members of the original cast, old friends and co-workers, his entire immediate family, and one musical sensation. Nineties nostalgists and Sandler fans will appreciate the references and cameos, and golf enthusiasts will enjoy the steady stream of professional players. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Happy Gilmore 2*: Netflix

**Director:** Kyle Newacheck

**Cast: **Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Benny Safdie, Bad Bunny

Klaus (2019)

Jesper (voice: Jason Schwartzman) and Klaus (voice: J.K. Simmons) in 'Klaus'.

Netflix/Everett

*Klaus* is a Santa Claus origin story that's enjoyable any time of the year. Starring Oscar winner J.K. Simmons as the film's eponymous hero, *Klaus *tells the tale of a widowed Norwegian woodsman who is recruited by the town's new postman, Jesper* *(Jason Schwartzman), to make toys for him to deliver in an effort to prove his postmaster general father wrong. But when Klaus' toys begin to cheer up the children of Smeerensburg — a town whose inhabitants are perpetually engaged in a feud between two familial clans — Jesper and Klaus must step out of their comfort zones to help save the town from itself. *Klaus* isn't just another feel-good film; it's also a film that looks great. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Klaus*: Netflix

**Director:** Sergio Pablos

**Cast: **Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Neda Margrethe Labba**

The 50 best high school movies of all time, from 'Carrie' to 'Clueless'

Ranking the 11 best Adam Sandler movies, from highbrow must-sees to lowbrow classics

A League of Their Own (1992)

Geena Davis as Dottie Hinson in 'A League of Their Own'.

Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Penny Marshall directed one of the great American sports comedies with her work on *A League of Their Own*. A fictionalized take on the beginnings of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — the league that was created to replace the MLB during World War II — the film stars Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan, the short-tempered manager of the Rockford Peaches, a rag-tag group of athletes who love the game, but lack opportunities to play. EW's critic calls it "a winner of a movie, one filled with a love of sport unlike any seen before in a women's sports picture. It's an accomplishment that puts *A League of Their Own* in a league by itself." *—I.G. *

Where to watch *A League of Their Own*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Penny Marshall

**Cast: **Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty, Jon Lovitz

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

Craig Foster with an octopus in 'My Octopus Teacher'.

*My Octopus Teacher *is an Oscar-winning documentary that chronicles South African free-diver Craig Foster's bond with an octopus he discovers while on an underwater expedition. As he observes the creature's life, playfulness, and harrowing encounters with predators, he notices changes in his approach to his own life and relationships out of the water. Filled with gorgeous, entrancing cinematography, this true story of an unlikely friendship inspires wonder about the natural world and our place in it. *—A.W.*

Where to watch *My Octopus Teacher*: Netflix

**Directors: **James Reed, Pippa Ehrlich

**Cast: **Craig Foster

Nimona (2023)

Nimona (voice: Chloë Grace Moretz) in 'Nimona'. Netflix

Shape-shifting troublemaker Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) aspires to be the villainous sidekick to the Queen's would-be assassin, Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), despite the latter's protests that it was a frame-up. As the unlikely pair of outcasts team up, the kingdom's ancient history and modern politics throw unexpected wrinkles into their quest to clear Ballister's name.

We expect animated family adventures like this to be uplifting and heartfelt, but *Nimona *ups the ante with its explorations of chosen families, queer identity, self-expression, and its complex but inspiring understanding of heroism. *—A.W.*

Where to watch *Nimona*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Directors: **Troy Quane, Nick Bruno

**Cast: **Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint

Paddington in Peru (2024)

Paddington Bear (voice: Ben Whishaw) in 'Paddington in Peru'.

Britain's fuzziest marmalade enthusiast is back for his third adventure, and this time he's headed home to the jungle. After learning that the bear who raised him after his parents died has gone missing, Paddington convinces his adoptive family to join him on a quest to Darkest Peru to find and rescue his Aunt Lucy.

Of course, nothing on a quest is ever as it seems, and Paddington and the Brown family must contend with gold hunters and scheming villains on their journey. In times of great stress, there's nothing quite like turning on a *Paddington* movie and setting off on a well-mannered adventure. *Paddington in Peru* doesn't reinvent the franchise, but it does not disappoint. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Paddington in Peru*: Netflix

**Director: **Dougal Wilson

**Cast:** Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent

Rescued by Ruby (2022)

Ruby in 'Rescued by Ruby'.

Ricardo Hubbs/Netflix/Everett Collection

Based on real events, this heartwarming tale of interspecies friendship stars Grant Gustin as Dan O'Neill, a state trooper who dreams of joining the K-9 unit. The only obstacle in his way is his lack of an actual canine. Enter Ruby: a rescue dog whose behavioral issues have kept her from finding a home outside of an animal shelter. Dan, who has dyslexia and ADHD, recognizes a kindred spirit, and the two set out to rescue each other. *Rescued by Ruby *is a treat for animal lovers, but also ideal for anyone who loves a good underdog story. *—A.W.*

Where to watch *Rescued by Ruby*: Netflix

**Director: **Katt Shea

**Cast: **Grant Gustin, Scott Wolf, Kaylah Zander, Camille Sullivan

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)

Noah Centineo as Peter Kavinsky and Lana Condor as Lara Jean Song-Covey in 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'. Netflix

Lara Jean's (Lana Condor) meddling little sister, Kitty (Anna Cathcart), unleashes havoc on her life when she finds the teen's secret collection of love letters and mails them to her crushes — including to their older sister Margot's (Janel Parrish) ex-boyfriend, Josh (Israel Broussard).

To do damage control, Lara and classmate Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) agree to fake being in love to disguise her feelings from Josh and make Peter's ex jealous. EW praises the film for having "more substance than you expect. And Condor as Lara Jean has a winning, be-true-to-yourself sense of independence that's infectious." *—A.W.*

Where to watch *To All the Boys I've Loved Before*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Susan Johnson

**Cast: **Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Anna Cathcart, Janel Parrish, Israel Broussard

- Movie Reviews & Recommendations

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Movie"

Read More

---

Source: Movie

Published: January 01, 2026 at 12:38PM on Source: MARIO MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byMario Satorik

in

January 01, 2026

The 12 best happy movies on Netflix that’ll inspire a smile

A good mood is right around the corner with these uplifting Netflix films. The 12 best happy movies on Netflix that'l...

Read More

One Oscarwinner defends another against a widely negative reaction. James Cameron sticks up for Kathryn Bigelow and A House of Dynamite: 'I utterly defend that ending' One Oscarwinner defends another against a widely negative reaction. By Jordan Hoffman :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JordanHoffmanauthorphotoe4b61cf41b534ce3bd109eae4b8f4eaa.jpg) Jordan Hoffman Jordan Hoffman is a writer at , mostly covering nostalgia. He has been writing about entertainment since 2007. EW's editorial guidelines December 29, 2025 3:29 p.m.

One Oscar-winner defends another against a widely negative reaction.

James Cameron sticks up for Kathryn Bigelow and A House of Dynamite: 'I utterly defend that ending'

One Oscar-winner defends another against a widely negative reaction.

By Jordan Hoffman

Jordan Hoffman

Jordan Hoffman is a writer at **, mostly covering nostalgia. He has been writing about entertainment since 2007.

EW's editorial guidelines

December 29, 2025 3:29 p.m. ET

James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow in 2010. Credit:

Michael Buckner/WireImage

**The following contains some spoilers for the film *A House of Dynamite. ***

As Michael Caine said in *The Dark Knight*, "Some men just want to watch the world burn." If you happened to be on social media on the day Kathryn Bigelow's latest film, *A House of Dynamite*,* *debuted on Netflix, you may have noticed several comments that confirmed that position.

Bigelow's military thriller is a moment-by-moment examination of how the U.S. government would react in the face of a nuclear attack. (Experts have weighed in, suggesting that the movie gets it mostly right, but isn't terrifying enough.) The film approaches its subject from three overlapping points of view, all climaxing in what appears to be the destruction of a major American city. (Chicago, for a change. New York can breathe a sigh of relief for once.)

However! Though the film starring Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Jared Harris, Greta Lee, and many more lights the fuse, it doesn't *exactly* go boom. In a way, the conclusion is even more disquieting.

Tracy Letts having a really tough day at the office in 'A House of Dynamite'.

Eros Hoagland/Netflix

This annoyed no shortage of Netflix viewers, who are perhaps more accustomed to traditional endings. (This is a polite way of saying there was a mushroom cloud of "Worst. Movie. Ever." comments on the internet that day.)

'Point Break' screenwriter responds to James Cameron claiming he wrote action classic

Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson race to stop a nuclear attack in new trailer for Kathryn Bigelow's 'A House of Dynamite'

But one guy who knows a thing or two about delighting audiences disagrees. That would be James Francis Cameron, a.k.a. the King of the World, and box office titan behind the *Avatar *series. He and Bigelow have a deep history, having once been husband and wife, but he also co-produced two of her films, namely *Point Break* and *Strange Days*. (He also cowrote that one with Jay Cocks.)

In conversation with *The Hollywood Reporter*, Cameron said that he and Bigelow had recently gone out to dinner, and he told her, "I utterly defend that ending."

He continued, saying, "It's really the only possible ending." He then compared it to Frank R. Stockton's 1882 short story, "The Lady, or the Tiger?" saying, "You don't get to the end of [it] and know what's behind which door."

Kathryn Bigelow at a screening of 'A House of Dynamite' in 2025.

Paul Archuleta/Getty

He went on: "But that's not even really the point. The point is: From the moment the scenario began at minute zero when the missile was launched and detected, the outcome already sucked. There was no good outcome, and the movie spent two hours showing you there is no good outcome. We cannot countenance these weapons existing at all. And it all boils down to one guy in the American system, the president, who is the only person allowed to launch a nuclear strike, either offensively or defensively, and the lives of every person on the planet revolve around that one person. That's the world we live in and we need to remember that when we vote next time. So the end of that movie was the only way that movie could have ended because — as the computer says at the end of *War Games* — 'the only way to win is not to play.'"

*A House of Dynamite* was written by Noah Oppenheim, former head of NBC News. He also wrote the screenplay for the Natalie Portman/Jacqueline Onassis project *Jackie *and entries in both the *Maze Runner* and *Divergent* series. Though Bigelow's film is not officially connected to it, it shares many commonalities with Annie Jacobson's 2024 bestseller *Nuclear War: A Scenario*. (Missile defense systems can only fail so many ways, after all.)**

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Movies"

Read More

---

Source: Movies

Published: January 01, 2026 at 12:38PM on Source: MARIO MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byMario Satorik

in

January 01, 2026

James Cameron sticks up for Kathryn Bigelow and A House of Dynamite: 'I utterly defend that ending'

One Oscarwinner defends another against a widely negative reaction. James Cameron sticks up for Kathryn Bigelow and A Hou...

Read More

Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams reveals Shane's favorite movies — and a beloved rom-com takes...

&34;Lord of the Rings: Return of the King&34; and 1956 western epic &34;The Searchers&34; also make Shane's list. Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams reveals Shane's favorite movies — and a beloved romcom takes the top spot &34;Lord of the Rings: Return of the King&34; and 1956 western epic &34;The Searchers&34; also make Shane's list. By Lauren Huff :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/PXL202501060627063092a245c0a56a194868af7b6a47af56223c.jpg) Lauren Huff Lauren Huff is an awardwinning journalist and staff writer at with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

"Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" and 1956 western epic "The Searchers" also make Shane's list.

Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams reveals Shane's favorite movies — and a beloved rom-com takes the top spot

"Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" and 1956 western epic "The Searchers" also make Shane's list.

By Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at ** with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

EW's editorial guidelines

December 29, 2025 9:11 p.m. ET

Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander in 'Heated Rivalry'. Credit:

When it comes to his character's hypothetical favorite movies, *Heated Rivalry* star Hudson Williams says, "I'll have what she's having."

Responding to a Letterboxd Instagram query asking fans what they think the favorite movies of *Heated Rivalry*'s Shane (Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) would be, Williams jumped in on the conversation (he has some pretty good insight, after all). He thinks his character's top pick would be the classic romantic comedy *When Harry Met Sally*, starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.

Next up was Pixar's 2008 animated film, *Wall-E*, which is also quite the romantic tale, albeit between two adorable space robots. *Lord of the Rings: Return of the King* and 1956 western epic *The* *Searchers* round out Shane's list, which also features an honorable mention for gay coming-of-age film, *Moonlight*, the reasons for which Williams claims are "Issa secret." (Storrie does not appear to have weighed in yet on Ilya's picks.)

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in 'When Harry Met Sally'. Columbia/Courtesy Everett Collection

This is all very fitting, of course. In the smash hit TV series, which is based on Rachel Reid's *Game* *Changers* novel series, Williams and Storrie play professional hockey rivals by day, who develop a steamy secret love by night.

The series received critical acclaim and became the Canadian streamer Crave's most-watched original series to date and HBO Max's top debut for an acquired, non-animated title since 2019 when it debuted on the platform in November. Unsurprisingly, the show was renewed for a second season earlier this month.

Series creator Jacob Tierney previously provided a timeline for new episodes to *Entertainment* *Weekly*. "It will not be the same time next year, but it'll be pretty soon after that," Tierney says. "It's not gonna be two years. It's not even gonna be 18 months, I don't think. So we're gonna go as fast as we can, while ensuring that we're doing as good a job as we possibly can."**

'Heated Rivalry' withdrawals? Connor Storrie, Hudson Williams to play fae princes in spicy romance

Inside the 'Heated Rivalry' finale: Connor Storrie, Hudson Williams go behind the scenes

When asked if any plans have been fast tracked in light of the show's success, Tierney responds, "There's only so fast a track to go down when the show is written and directed by one person. I haven't started writing yet. I'm going to. We are aware. We want to get the season out as soon as we can, as well, while also making sure that we give people a good second season."

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie on 'Heated Rivalry'.

Season 2 will focus once more on Shane and Ilya's relationship and be presumably based on *The Long Game* book in the series, all of which excites Storrie. "I'm interested to play at the dynamic that develops in *The Long Game*, which is, now that we've established we're together and we're choosing this, what does that look like to consistently choose through new obstacles, new self-realizations?" he tells EW. "We're in the real leagues now, and it's cool to watch these people that have been in this heightened reality for so long. The other shoe drops that deepens the love, but that also tests some of their personal limits."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

All episodes of *Heated Rivalry* season 1 are now available to stream in the U.S. on HBO Max.**

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Drama"

Read More

---

Source: Drama

Published: January 01, 2026 at 11:38AM on Source: MARIO MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byMario Satorik

in

January 01, 2026

Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams reveals Shane's favorite movies — and a beloved rom-com takes...

&34;Lord of the Rings: Return of the King&34; and 1956 western epic &34;The Searchers&34; also make Shane'...

Read More

&34;I retire and then, if I find something I like, I unretire, do that, and I immediately retire afterwards. Every gig is my last,&34; he said on the &34;SmartLess&34; podcast. Macaulay Culkin explains his perpetual retirement from acting: 'Technically, I'm retired right now' &34;I retire and then, if I find something I like, I unretire, do that, and I immediately retire afterwards. Every gig is my last,&34; he said on the &34;SmartLess&34; podcast. By Lauren Huff :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/PXL202501060627063092a245c0a56a194868af7b6a47af56223c.

"I retire and then, if I find something I like, I unretire, do that, and I immediately retire afterwards. Every gig is my last," he said on the "SmartLess" podcast.

Macaulay Culkin explains his perpetual retirement from acting: 'Technically, I'm retired right now'

"I retire and then, if I find something I like, I unretire, do that, and I immediately retire afterwards. Every gig is my last," he said on the "SmartLess" podcast.

By Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at ** with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

EW's editorial guidelines

December 29, 2025 5:55 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Macaulay Culkin attends the premiere of Amazon Prime Video's 'Fallout' season 2. Credit:

Alberto Rodriguez/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

Retirement is a perpetual state of mind for Macaulay Culkin.

The *Home Alone* star, who was widely considered to be one of the most successful child stars in the '90s, opened up about his views on the subject during a new appearance on the *SmartLess* podcast.

"Technically, I'm retired right now," Culkin, 45, told hosts Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes. "I retire and then, if I find something I like, I unretire, do that, and I immediately retire afterwards. Every gig is my last."

Technically, following the release of his 1994 film *Richie Rich* when he was 14, Culkin did actually take a lengthy hiatus. "I quit for nearly a decade," Culkin explained during the podcast episode. "Just went to high school, fell in love, got drunk for the first time, things like that."

Macaulay Culkin in 'Home Alone'.

20th Century Fox /Courtesy Everett Collection

Unlike a lot of child stars, he said he received the "lion's share" of money from his work, so he found himself in a unique position from a young age. "I was in a position where I could just put my thumb up my butt and play video games all day long. You know? I could do anything I wanted, really," he said.

Culkin, who first started acting at age four and received his first onscreen credit on *The Equalizer* nearly four years later, said a lot of his desire to take a break stemmed from wanting to be around other children. "When I was younger, I never worked with people my own age. I was always working with adults," he recalled. "I had a yearning to go to school, to have contemporaries and things like that."

At the time, Culkin said he was sure he was finished with Hollywood forever. "I was doneskies. I was like, 'I hope you all made your money because there's no more coming from me,'" he said, adding, "I made my name. I made my mark. I made my fortune. The only reason why I even do it now is because I like to do it. Pay, pleasure, prestige — that's the only reason to do a gig."

Macaulay Culkin confirms that's no longer his legal name

Macaulay Culkin lays out his idea for a 'Home Alone' sequel: 'It would have to be just right'

When asked if there was another field of interest he considered instead, Culkin said no. "I was kind of just drifting around, and tried to figure out what I wanted out of life and so forth," he said. "This was a calling that found me. I didn't find it. I wanted to explore that in a different way, on my terms."

To wit, in recent years, Culkin has seen a bit of a career resurgence. Earlier this year, he voiced Cattrick Lynxley in *Zootopia 2*, and he can currently be seen in a mysterious new role in *Fallout* season 2 on Prime Video.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

- Movie Reviews & Recommendations

- Movie Industry

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Movie"

Read More

---

Source: Movie

Published: January 01, 2026 at 11:38AM on Source: MARIO MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byMario Satorik

in

January 01, 2026

Macaulay Culkin explains his perpetual retirement from acting: 'Technically, I'm retired right now'

&34;I retire and then, if I find something I like, I unretire, do that, and I immediately retire afterwards. Every gig is ...

Read More

See our staff list of recommendations for the last week of December. All Creatures Great and Small, When Harry Met Sally, and more top our cozy holiday Must List See our staff list of recommendations for the last week of December. By Tiffany Kelly Tiffany Kelly Tiffany Kelly is a staff editor at . She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Wired, GQ, and Ars Technica. EW's editorial guidelines December 29, 2025 7:54 p.m. ET Leave a Comment :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/MUSTLISTDEC26155eb51ef30b467ba5751f32068f88d9.

See our staff list of recommendations for the last week of December.

All Creatures Great and Small, When Harry Met Sally, and more top our cozy holiday Must List

See our staff list of recommendations for the last week of December.

By Tiffany Kelly

Tiffany Kelly

Tiffany Kelly is a staff editor at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Wired, GQ, and Ars Technica.

EW's editorial guidelines

December 29, 2025 7:54 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

The cast of 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play'; Meg Ryan in 'When Harry Met Sally'; Samuel West in 'All Creatures Great and Small'. Credit:

There's nothing like sleeping off that holiday food hangover in front of the warm glow of the...television. This final *Must List* of the year is dedicated to the pop culture that makes our staff feel nice and cozy. We hope you'll enjoy curling up with a few of our suggestions as well. —*Patrick Gomez, Editor-in-Chief*

***P.S. If you want to receive the Must List in your inbox, sign up for our " and Awardist" newsletters. You'll receive all three each week — the trifecta of entertainment news.***

All Creatures Great and Small

Samuel West in 'All Creatures Great and Small'.

Helen Williams/Courtesy of Playground Entertainment and MASTERPIECE

What *Downton Abbey* did for British aristocracy, *All Creatures Great and Small* does for English veterinary practices. The series follows Scottish veterinary assistant James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) operating — often literally — out of a more experienced practitioner's small business in the Yorkshire Dales. From the moment James first meets Samuel West's waspish Siegfried Farnon, the two fall into a jovial (if not always smooth) mentor-mentee humor. Nothing sells cozy like the picturesque Yorkshire countryside, charming U.K. accents, Wellies, and baby lamb down. Binge seasons 1-5 on PBS on demand or on the PBS app before season 6 premieres on Jan. 11. —*Debbie Day, Staff Editor*

When Harry Met Sally

Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in 'When Harry Met Sally'.

There's no better time than December to revisit Rob Reiner's legendary rom-com. With delightful dialogue from Nora Ephron and electric performances from Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, the film (streaming on Starz) culminates in a triumphant New Year's finale that can warm even the coldest of hearts. —*Wesley Stenzel, News Writer*

The secrets behind the most iconic scenes of *When Harry Met Sally***

Whistle and I'll Come to You

Michael Hordern in 'Whistle and I'll Come to You' (1968).

Forget roasting chestnuts and open fires. The ultimate Christmastime tradition ought to be repeat viewings of BBC's *A Ghost Story for Christmas* TV movie series, and its pinnacle, the haunting *Whistle and I'll Come to You* (available on AMC+ and YouTube). —*Ryan Coleman, News Writer*

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

Ashley Robinson and Rufus Collins in Irish Rep's 2025 production of 'It's a Wonderful Life'.

Transport back to 1946 in this radio play version of Frank Capra's classic. Such is the conceit for this, well… *wonderful* production of George Bailey's encounter with an angel lacking wings that is currently melting hearts on stage at the Irish Rep in NYC. —*Dalton Ross, Editorial Director*

Beth's Dead

'Beth's Dead' podcast.

Podcast hosts and married couple Elizabeth Laime and Andy Rosen join *Armchair Expert*'s Monica Padman for this satisfying exploration of the dangers of parasocial relationships as they track down an obsessed listener who catfished the duo years ago to seek answers to a very grim tale. —*Jillian Sederholm, News Director*

- Entertainment Lifestyle

- Entertainment Commentary & Fan Life

- The Must List

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW The"

Read More

---

Source: The

Published: January 01, 2026 at 11:38AM on Source: MARIO MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byMario Satorik

in

January 01, 2026

All Creatures Great and Small, When Harry Met Sally, and more top our cozy holiday Must List

See our staff list of recommendations for the last week of December. All Creatures Great and Small, When Harry Met Sally,...

Read More