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How to Watch ‘Charlie Brown,’ ‘Rudolph,’ ‘Frosty’ and Your Other Favorite Christmas Specials in 2024

Megan Elliott — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 18:26:46 +0000

Christmas is in the air, which means it’s time to snuggle up on the couch and enjoy a dose of holiday magic.

There’s no shortage of Christmas-related programming this time of year, from non-stop holiday flicks on Hallmark to new Christmas episodes of shows like NCIS. But there’s nothing like revisiting old favorites to give us a feeling of comfort and joy. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up when and where to watch some of the most beloved holiday TV specials in 2024, including A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ is streaming on Apple TV+

Rats! Charlie Brown and gang have been absent from broadcast TV since Apple scooped up the rights to the various Peanuts TV specials several years ago. That means that, once again, the only way to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas in 2024 is on Apple TV+. Subscribers can stream the classic Peanuts holiday special anytime. It will also stream for free on Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15.

‘Mickey’s Christmas Carol’ is streaming on Disney+

Ebenezeer Scrooge – portrayed by Scrooge McDuck, of course – learns the true meaning of Christmas in this 1983 animated adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ classic. Mickey’s Christmas Carol also features Mickey as Bob Cratchit, Goofy as Scrooge’s former business partner Marley, and Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past. So far, there are no TV airings scheduled for 2024 that we know of, but it is available to stream on Disney+.

‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town’

One of several Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town is narrated by Fred Astaire and was first broadcast in 1970. In 2024, it will air on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC after CMA Country Christmas. It will also air multiple times throughout December on Freeform as part of the network’s 25 Days of Christmas event.

‘Frosty the Snowman’ airs Dec. 5

‘Frosty The Snowman’ | CBS/Courtesy of Getty Images

A snowman comes to life when a little girl named Karen puts a magical hat on his head in the 1969 animated special Frosty the Snowman. It airs Thursday, Dec. 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, with an encore on Dec. 11 at 8 p.m.

Frosty the Snowman is also streaming on Hulu and Prime Video and will air on Freeform multiple times in December.

‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ airs Dec. 6

‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ | NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Rudolph, Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, and a cast of other misfits team up to save Christmas in the 1964 stop-motion Christmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. After decades on CBS, this year it moves to NBC and airs Friday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. That’s the exact same date it premiered 60 years ago as part of the General Electric Fantasy Hour. It airs again on Dec. 12 at 8 p.m.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is also available for purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV and will air on Freeform multiple times in December.

‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ airs Dec. 5

‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ | ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Dr. Seuss’ book about a heartless Grinch who tries to keep the Whos in Whoville from celebrating Christmas was published in 1957. In 1966, it was turned into an animated special, with narration by Boris Karloff.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! airs Thursday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, with an encore presentation on Dec. 25 at 8 p.m. It is also streaming on Peacock.

‘Shrek the Halls’ airs Dec. 11

A newer addition to the list of holiday specials, Shrek the Halls debuted in 2007 and features characters from the Shrek movies celebrating Christmas. It airs Dec. 11 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

Where to watch other vintage Christmas specials

Don’t see your favorite on the list above? Many other beloved Christmas specials are available to stream, including:

Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas (1977) on Peacock and Tubi
Rent or buy The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) on Apple TV and Prime Video
The Little Drummer Boy (1968) on Hulu and Prime Video
Jack Frost (1979) on Prime Video and Tubi
A Garfield Christmas (1987) on Peacock
The Snowman (1982) on Pluto TV

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Chace Crawford Had a Leighton Meester Love-at-First-Sight Moment During ‘Gossip Girl’ Auditions

Mandi Kerr — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 16:24:00 +0000

It was love at first sight for Gossip Girl’s Nate Archibald and Blair Waldorf. Not really but it sort of was for Chace Crawford when he came face-to-face with Leighton Meester for the first time. The Boys actor immediately connected to his “perfect” during Gossip Girl auditions.

Crawford thought Meester was ‘perfect’ when they auditioned for ‘Gossip Girl’

Talking all things Gossip Girl on the XOXO with Jessica Szohr podcast, hosted by Jessica Szohr who played Vanessa on the CW series, Crawford recalled auditioning to play Nate and meeting Meester.

He read with a number of different actors before meeting Meester in a moment that’s stuck with him. “I got to this big conference room and there was this one girl sitting with her back turned,” Crawford told Szohr.

“I walked all around, I was like, ‘Hi, nice to meet you,’ and Leighton turned around,” the Texas native continued. “Before she even said [anything] I’m like, ‘She’s, like, so perfect.’ She had the headband on in the audition, she flipped around and I’m like, ‘I think I’m in love with you.’”

Although their characters dated, Crawford and Meester’s relationship didn’t go beyond friends. “We kind of had an instant friendship connection,” he said, calling her “easy to talk to.”

Ed Westwick also fell in love with Meester

Crawford’s not the only Gossip Girl star who fell for Meester. So did Ed Westwick, the now-37-year-old actor who played Chuck Bass. Westwick revealed that “part” of him fell for Meester during the show’s original run while at a Q&A session at Monopoly Events’ Comic Con in 2021.

“It’s hard not to fall in love with Leighton,” Westwick said (via Us Weekly). “Like, have a part of me fall in love with her, you know? She’s amazing.” His comments echoed those made in 2012 when he told E! News: “I’m madly in love with Leighton, so that’s what helps on my behalf, maybe so much that she doesn’t even have to be in love with me.”

During his own appearance on Szohr’s podcast, Westwick praised his onscreen love interest, calling Meester “an incredible talent” who made him “better.”

“I miss her dearly. We just had this great chemistry,” he recalled. “And we used to make each other laugh and I felt protective over her at times. […] I had an amazing time working with Leighton. And people really were taken with that relationship. It means so much to people, which is so cute and funny.”

Romances on the ‘Gossip Girl’ set

The ‘Gossip Girl’ cast | Eugene Gologursky/WireImage

Sparks flew on the set of Gossip Girl between multiple cast members. Blake Lively, who played New York It girl Serena van der Woodsen, dated Penn Badgley—aka Dan Humphrey—from 2007 to 2010. So, while their characters were falling in love—and out of love and back in love—a romance blossomed between the actors.

Lively married Ryan Reynolds just a few months before the 2012 Gossip Girl series finale in which she and Badgley’s character—spoiler—married (via E! News). The You star married Domino Kirke in 2017.

Another Gossip Girl romance involved Meester and Sebastian Stan. They dated for two years from 2008 to 2010 after the now-Marvel star joined the cast as Carter Baizen in 2007. Szohr and Westwick were also romantically linked from 2008 to 2010.

Meester later wed The O.C. alum Adam Brody in 2014. Westwick married model-actor Amy Jackson in August 2024. (His Gossip Girl mom Kelly Rutherford went to the ceremony.) Stan is dating Peaky Blinders alum Annabelle Wallis. As for Szohr, she’s married to former NHL player Brad Richardson.

Gossip Girl is streaming on Netflix.

Another Harlan Coben Show Is Coming to Netflix in 2025 — Everything to Know About ‘Missing You’

Megan Elliott — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 22:40:00 +0000

Get ready for more shocking twists and jaw-dropping reveals. Netflix and Harlan Coben have teamed up for another thrilling limited series, Missing You. And with a New Year’s Day premiere date, the new show is perfect for a lazy day-off binge.

What is Netflix’s ‘Missing You’ about, and when does it premiere?

Missing You follows Kat Donovan, a detective whose fiancé Josh vanished 11 years ago. Kat hasn’t heard from the love of her life since he disappeared. So she’s stunned when she sees his face on a dating app. Josh’s sudden reappearance forces Kat to revisit the strange circumstances surrounding her father’s murder, revealing long-buried secrets from the past.

“I always thought [Josh] left because of my dad’s murder,” Kat says in the trailer (via YouTube).

As she’s drawn into the investigation into Josh, which seems to intersect with the case of a missing mother, Kat isn’t sure what to believe or who to trust.

“I don’t know what kind of truth you’re going to find out there, but I don’t think you’re going to like it,” a voice says at the end of the video.

All five episodes of Missing You will drop on Netflix on Wednesday, Jan. 1.

Who stars in ‘Missing You’?

Missing You stars Rosalind Eleazar as Kat. Top Boy’s Ashley Walter plays the mysterious Josh. Richard Armitage, who’s appeared in several of Netflix’s Coben shows, plays Ellis Stagger. (On Instagram, he referred to it as his “fourth adventure into the Harlan Coben Multiverse.”)

Other cast members include Jessica Plummer as Stacey Embalo, Sir Lenny Henry as Clint Donovan, Steve Pemberton as Titus, Marc Warren as Monte Leburne, Samantha Spiro as Nurse Sally Steiner, Lisa Faulkner as Dana Fells, Mary Malone as Aqua, James Nesbitt as Calligan, and Matt Jay-Willis as Darryl.

In an interview with RadioTimes, Armitage teased that his character isn’t exactly who he seems at first glance.

“I play somebody that is holding onto a very potent secret that, if it was revealed, would devastate a lot of lives,” he said. “So it’s quite an interesting burden to carry.”

Is the new Netflix series based on a Harlan Coben book?

Yes, Missing You is based on Coben’s 2014 book of the same name. The adaptation is the best-selling author’s ninth collaboration with the streamer.

Fool Me Once was a major hit for Netflix earlier in 2024. The streamer’s other Coben shows include The Stranger, Stay Close, Gone for Good, Safe, The Woods, The Innocent, and Hold Tight. A 10th show, Run Away, is also in the works.

Missing You premieres Jan. 1 on Netflix.

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Chace Crawford’s Nate Archibald Was Originally Gossip Girl

Mandi Kerr — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 13:14:00 +0000

“And who am I? That’s one secret I’ll never tell.” The identity of the titular character on Gossip Girl became a mystery no more in the TV show’s final episode. But, as an executive producer revealed years later, they wanted Nate Archibald, played by Chace Crawford, to be Gossip Girl.

An executive producer had their ‘heart set’ on Crawford’s character being Gossip Girl

Joshua Safran, an executive producer and writer on Gossip Girl, revealed at the 2019 Vulture Festival that Dan Humphrey, aka Lonely Boy, played by Penn Badgley, wasn’t initially picked as the character behind the mysterious blog that caused so much drama for Manhattan’s elite. Instead, he wanted Crawford’s character, Nate, to be Gossip Girl.

“I like to joke that Dan was Gossip Girl because I had left the show by then,” Safran said (via BuzzFeed). “Dan was not my intended Gossip Girl. So honestly, you’d have to ask someone else. But I understand why Dan was Gossip Girl. I just had my heart set on Nate.”

For those who haven’t had the big reveal living rent-free in their mind since 2012, here’s a quick refresher. Nate, Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick), Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively), Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), and the rest of the Upper East Siders spent years having their secrets revealed by Gossip Girl. Only in the finale did they discover Dan, the aspiring writer and Constance Billard-St. Jude’s outsider, was behind the anonymous blog.

Eric van der Woodsen nearly became Gossip Girl before a writer suggested Nate Archibald

Before Nate, the writers also discussed the possibility of Eric van der Woodsen (Connor Paolo), Serena’s younger brother, being Gossip Girl. But the idea wasn’t around for long.

“We worked hard to kind of lay in tiny seeds about it being Eric,” Safran said. “And then the ‘NY Post’ wrote an article saying that Gossip Girl was Eric so we were like, ‘We gotta scratch that.’”

Only then did they look to Crawford’s character, Nate, as someone else who might make sense as Gossip Girl. “One of the writers realized that Nate had never sent a tip in to Gossip Girl, which is true at least through the end of season 5,” Safran explained. “Nate never sent in a tip in through all of those episodes, which is when we’re like, ‘Oh, well then he’s Gossip Girl.’”

Penn Badgley on Dan Humphrey being Gossip Girl: ‘I’m happy’

Chace Crawford, Blake Lively, Penn Badgley, and Ed Westwick | James Devaney/WireImage

Fans of the CW drama weren’t the only ones who didn’t know Gossip Girl’s true identity until the series finale. The cast only found out when filming for the finale began. As Badgley told WIRED in 2023, he’d been shocked to discover his character, Dan, had been behind it all.

“Nobody knew. The writers have been clear about this,” Badgley said. “They had to decide who it was in the last season, you know, for like a finale. And I think he [Dan Humphrey] made the most sense. I found out, I think, just right before we started shooting the episode.”

“I really didn’t know what was coming down the pipe,” the You star added. “But in the end, I’m happy to wear the crown.”

Every season of CW’s Gossip Girl is streaming on Netflix.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Through the Years [PHOTOS]

Megan Elliott — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 12:05:00 +0000

One hundred years and going strong. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been an American holiday tradition since 1924, when the New York City department store decided to hold an event celebrating the expansion of its flagship Herald Square location.

Over the ensuing decades, generations of people have tuned in (or lined up in the cold) to see iconic character balloons, marching bands, dance troupes, and other performers usher in the Christmas season. In 2024, the parade kicks off at 8:30 a.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, with performances from Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel, and The Temptations. But before that happens, let’s look back at some memorable moments from past Thanksgiving Day parades.

The 1928 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade | Underwood Archives/Getty Images

Giant balloons weren’t actually part of the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which instead featured animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. The massive inflatables debuted in 1927, when Felix the Cat floated down Fifth Avenue. In 1928, crowds gaped at tiger and fish balloons. At the time, the balloons were released at the end of the parade, with a prize awarded to those who recovered them.

The 27th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade | Nick Sorrentino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Popular character balloons often make multiple appearances in the Macy’s parade. Snoopy has appeared more than 40 times. But other balloons are a product of the times. In 1953, this rocketman balloon reflected a growing interest in all things space-related.

The Rockettes perform during the 1966 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade | NBCU Photo Bank

The Radio City Rockettes have been a fixture at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1957. In this photo from 1966, they perform their routine in front of a Smokey The Bear balloon.

Hosts Betty White and Lorne Greene during the 1968 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade | NBCU Photo Bank

These days, the team from NBC’s Today show does the honors of hosting the parade. Back in 1968, the duties fell to Lorne Greene and future Golden Girl Betty White.

Host Willard Scott, Joey Lawrence, and characters from ‘Shirt Tales’ during the 1983 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade | Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank

In 1983, parade host Willard Scott and a young Joey Lawrence posed with characters from the animated kids TV series Shirt Tales.

[L-R] Sean Lennon in 1985; Madonna with her daughter in 1999 | Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images; Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images

Some lucky New Yorkers are able to watch the parade from their windows overlooking the 2½-mile route. In 1986, John Lennon’s son Sean Lennon viewed the spectacle from his apartment on Central Park West. In 1999, Madonna cuddled with her daughter Lourdes as the floats rolled by.

A protest sign during the 1996 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade | NBCU Photo Bank

Sometimes, protesters disrupt the parade in order to get their message across. In 1996, activists unfurled a banner urging Macy’s to stop selling clothing produced in sweatshops. In 2023, pro-Palestine protestors glued themselves to the parade route, temporarily halting the parade.

The Cat In The Hat balloon after its accident during the 1997 parade | Evy Mages/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

While the Macy’s parade usually comes off without a hitch, bad weather and bad luck have led to some memorable accidents. High winds were a problem for multiple balloons in 1997, including the Cat in the Hat balloon, which collapsed when it hit a light pole, critically injuring a woman on the ground.

The 2001 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade | Chris Hondros/Getty Images

The 2001 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was a particularly emotional event, as it came just a few months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. First responders were celebrated at the parade, while many paradegoers made a show of their patriotism, including this Sikh man who waved an American flag and a sign honoring the city’s firefighters.

Disney’s Minnie Mouse balloon is readied during the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation on Nov. 27, 2024 | TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP

New balloons make their debut every year at the Thanksgiving Day parade. In 2024, Minnie Mouse will appear for the first time ever.

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Does Seinfeld Have an Official Thanksgiving Episode?

Andrea Francese — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 04:43:00 +0000

Each year, sitcom fans are drawn back to their favorite shows thanks to their beloved holiday episodes. Friends, for example, has many holiday-themed episodes fans return to each year. Gilmore Girls has a Thanksgiving episode, too. Everybody Loves Raymond and New Girl have arguably some of the best Thanksgiving episodes. Does Seinfeld have one, though? While the series aired several Christmas episodes, only one focused on Thanksgiving.

Does ‘Seinfeld’ have an official Thanksgiving episode?

While Seinfeld had several Christmas-themed episodes, only one episode in the show’s nine-season run is directly linked to Thanksgiving. “The Mom and Pop Store” is the show’s “unofficial” Thanksgiving episode. Fans go back to it year after year — and for good reason. The premise is dynamic and deeply entertaining.

In the season 6 episode, Elaine helps her boss win a chance to hold the Woodywood Pecker Balloon at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Jerry waffles over whether he was invited to Tim Whatley’s Thanksgiving Eve party. Elsewhere, Kramer brings all of Jerry’s sneakers to a local business, leaving him with only cowboy boots. Finally, George buys a new car that may or may not have belonged to someone famous.

While Seinfeld only has a few episodes that mention holidays, several episodes centered around food are absolutely worth viewing during the Thanksgiving holiday. After all, the food at Thanksgiving is the star of the show.

Jason Alexander as George Costanza and Jerry Seinfeld as Jerry Seinfeld | Joey Delvalle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Two of the show’s most beloved episodes revolve around food. “The Soup Nazi” is one of the show’s most famous episodes. In the episode, the gang falls in love with the soups made at a local soup stand, but the ordering process is strict. Elaine Benes spoils it all when she seeks revenge for being kicked out of the shop. “The Chinese Restaurant,” the show’s 16th episode, takes place entirely inside a Chinese restaurant as the gang waits and waits and waits for a table. They never actually get a table, but they watch plenty of other people get seated and eat.

In one season 9 episode, Jerry feeds his date turkey and wine, hoping she’ll fall asleep so he and George can play with her toy collection. While the show’s final season had some misses, “The Merv Griffin Show” remains a fan-favorite. While it’s not about Thanksgiving, there is turkey, making it a viable option to get viewers into the holiday spirit.

‘Accident, Suicide or Murder’: Was a Woman’s Death a Hunting Mishap, or Murder? [Exclusive Clip]

Megan Elliott — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 20:30:00 +0000

A Michigan woman heads out to walk her dogs, but she never returns home alive. At first, it looks like she’s the victim of a tragic hunting accident. But as police examine the case, details emerge that suggest something more sinister is going on, as seen in this clip from the Nov. 30 episode of Oxygen True Crime’s Accident, Suicide or Murder.

Was Judy Moilanen’s death the result of a hunting accident, or was it murder?

One day in November 1992, Judy Moilanen took her dogs for a walk. It was deer hunting season in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. So when Judy was found dead later, it seemed that she might have found herself on the wrong end of a confused hunter’s rifle.

“Judy had a habit, like when she was at her parents’ house, she would walk the dogs in the area behind their house,” explains Beth Lacrosse, a former prosecutor for Ontonagon County in the clip. “But it was the last few days of hunting season.”

Because it was open season on deer, Judy likely wouldn’t have been the only person wandering in the woods.

“Hunting season is a big thing up here,” explains one man. “There was tons of hunting camps throughout our county, mainly just for deer hunting.”

Judy’s death didn’t look like a typical hunting accident

Judy’s death occurred at the tail end of hunting season.

“The rifle season starts on the 15th of November and it goes to the 30th of November,” another official shares. “And there’s a lot of hunters in the field toward the end of the hunting season, trying to cash in on shooting a deer before the season ends on the 30th of the month. Judy was shot on the 29th of November.”

But to those in the know, there were reasons to suspect that Judy’s death was not what it initially seemed.

“There are accidents, but the accidents typically are not fatal and they’re usually easily explained,” says George Trick, a retired news anchor with WLUC-TV. “Murders are extremely rare in that part of the UP.”

If Judy wasn’t killed in an accident, was it possible that someone deliberately pulled the trigger? As police investigate, they discover a “a shocking truth that shakes the peaceful existence of a small, tight-knit village.” In the end, the truth about Judy’s death will leave everyone involved stunned.

Accident, Suicide or Murder airs Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Oxygen True Crime.

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Is ‘Chicago Fire’ New Tonight, Nov. 27? Find Out When the One Chicago Shows Return to NBC

Megan Elliott — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 17:15:00 +0000

Looking for a new episode of Chicago Fire and its sister shows, Chicago PD and Chicago Med, tonight? We have bad news. New episodes of the One Chicago shows won’t air on Wednesday, Nov. 27. All three Dick Wolf dramas are on hiatus until 2025.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 8, “Quicksand.”]

‘Chicago Fire’ Season 13 is on break until January 2025

Chicago Fire Season 13 is currently on break. New episodes will return to NBC on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Chicago Med Season 10 and Chicago PD Season 12 return the same day at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively. Episodes will stream the next day on Peacock.

A figure from Cruz’s past returned in the ‘Chicago Fire’ mid-season finale

Joe Miñoso as Joe Cruz in ‘Chicago Fire’ Season 13 | Elizabeth Sisson/NBC

What’s next for Chicago Fire and the Firehouse 51 crew? The Nov. 20 mid-season finale set the stage for some interesting storylines for the second half of season 13. The biggest has to do with a figure from Cruz’s (Joe Minoso) past who resurfaced in the final moments of “Quicksand.”

Cruz was on edge throughout the episode after finding bullet-shaped pendants in his locker and on his car. Eventually, he discovered the pendants contained cremated remains. (Creepy.) Then, his brother Leon (Jeff Lima) stopped by 51 to deliver some unsettling news. Junior, a cousin of notorious gang leader Flaco, was out of prison. Leon feared he might be looking to avenge his relative’s death.

Chicago Fire fans without an encyclopedic memory of the show might have been scratching their heads at this plot development, which refers back to a major storyline from the show’s first season. At the time, Leon had gotten involved with Flaco’s gang, the Insane Kings. During a fire, Cruz had a choice between saving his brother or saving Flaco. He chose his brother.

In the episode’s closing scene, Junior finally appeared, confronting Cruz in a church.

“I remember you,” he said. “You’re the one who closed the door on my cousin, left him to die. We need to talk, my friend.”

Hermann and Mouch look to the future

Christian Stolte as Randy “Mouch” McHolland in ‘Chicago Fire’ Season 13 | Peter Gordon/NBC

The Chicago Fire Season 13 mid-season finale also featured a big moment for Hermann (David Eigenberg) and Mouch (Christian Stolte). Both sat down to take the test that could secure them a major promotion (Mouch to lieutenant and Hermann to captain). If they pass, that could reshuffle the power dynamics at 51, potentially allowing Hermann to replace new chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney).

“Quicksand” also dropped some hints about new EMT Novak’s (Jocelyn Hudon) troubled past. While attempting to help a man who attempted suicide, Novak freaked out, screaming at him and demanding to know why he did what he did. Violet (Hanako Greensmith) had to talk her down and later urged her to open up if she needed to talk.

Novak didn’t tell Violet what triggered her reaction to the man’s situation. But later, she visited her childhood home. An older woman who now lives in the house came outside. “You’re one of the Novak kids?” she asked, with a sympathetic look. Chicago Fire didn’t spell it out, but the implication is that a member of Novak’s family died by suicide. And based on her response to seeing another person attempt to take their life, it seems like she hasn’t fully unpacked that trauma.

Chicago Fire is streaming on Peacock.

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‘Shrinking’ Nov. 27 Episode Recap: Forgiveness (Sort of), a Flashback, and 1 Last Drink

Mandi Kerr — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 15:23:00 +0000

Another week, another episode of the award-winning TV show Shrinking. Here’s what happened in the Nov. 27 episode of the comedy-drama from a very telling flashback to forgiveness and a heart-to-heart over a glass of bourbon.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from the Nov. 27, 2024, episode of Shrinking Season 2 Episode 8: “Last Drink.”]

Derek forgives Liz

In the latest episode of Shrinking, which is now streaming on Apple TV+, Derek (Ted McGinley) took a closer look at his and Liz’s (Christa Miller) marriage following her and Mac’s (Josh Hopkins) kiss.

Seeing the dog photos Liz took in Mac’s bar made him realize he’d been overlooking his wife. Because of that—and the delicious beer—Derek decided not to punch Mac. In true Derek fashion, he also told Mac it wasn’t too late to find love.

As for Liz, Alice (Lukita Maxwell), Gaby (Jessica Williams), and Jimmy (Jason Segel) checked up on her. The latter offered some particularly wise words of wisdom: “Sometimes the idea of forgiving someone feels impossible. Then you realize the villain in your story is just a person who made a big mistake.”

Gaby helped Derek realize he hadn’t been there for Liz when she admitted to feeling “underwater.” The whole thing ended with Derek telling Liz, “You screwed up. I wasn’t present and I should’ve been and I’m sorry for that” and their three sons coming home for dinner.

Ted McGinley in the Nov. 27, 2024, episode of ‘Shrinking’ | Apple TV+

Jimmy’s flashback shows life before and after the car crash

Remember how Jimmy saw Alice and Brian having dinner with Louis at the end of the Nov. 20 episode of Shrinking? The moment Jimmy saw them together, he flashed back to three years before the car crash.

But it wasn’t just a happy time for him, Tia, and Alice. It was good for Louis, too. His girlfriend, played by Meredith Hagner, moved in with him—and his Miss Congeniality poster. Every workday they waited at the train station together and people-watched. Meanwhile, Jimmy promised Tia they wouldn’t “mess” Alice up because she’s “the best thing” they’ve “ever done.”

Then came the fateful night of the crash. After turning down his girlfriend’s suggestion of a Lyft, Louis got behind the wheel. In the after he broke up with his girlfriend. As for Jimmy, he said he “can’t” when a teary-eyed Alice asked for her dad.

Paul gets disappointing news from his doctor

After “feeling off” and “starting to forget things,” Paul booked an appointment with his “hot” neurologist—Sean’s (Luke Tennie) words, not his. Because his Parkinson’s symptoms were flaring up more than usual, the doctor recommended Paul quit drinking, hence the episode’s title.

The appointment was a disappointment for Paul but rather fun for Sean, who hit it off with the doctor. They both served in the military and bonded over military jargon.

Jimmy forgives Louis but not himself

Jimmy forgave Louis— “I want you to go on with your life.” — but with a string attached. Jimmy asked Louis to “disappear” from his life, the part he later failed to mention to Brian and Alice when they asked how things went.

During Paul’s “last drink,” Jimmy explained his one big forgiveness hurdle left. “I let her [Tia] down so bad so when I see that guy [Louis] I’m forced to see what a f***ing terrible father I am and how I broke the last promise I made to my wife.”

A new episode of Shrinking Season 2 drops every Wednesday on Apple TV+.

‘Dancing with the Stars’: Derek Hough, Mark Ballas ‘Opening Some Doors’ With Breathtaking, Traditional, Male Argentine Tango

Lucille Barilla — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 13:34:56 +0000

For years, Dancing with the Stars viewers have watched pros and their celebrities perform traditional ballroom dances. One of the most dynamic is the Argentine tango. For the first time in the series history, OG pros Derek Hough and Mark Ballas showed viewers what a traditional, male-led Argentine tango looked like. They pulled back the curtain on the origins of the breathtaking dance.

Derek Hough and Mark Ballas’ powerful ‘DWTS’ Season 33 finale dance

The three-hour finale heralded the return of the season’s most beloved celebrities. The episode featured two-time Mirrorball winner Mark Ballas. He returned to the ballroom to demonstrate a traditional Argentine tango alongside Derek Hough.

Traditionally, the Argentine tango was practiced between male partners who wanted to impress women. Hough and Ballas danced the ballroom staple as it was originally intended.

However, while a male and female Argentine tango has evolved into a sensual dance, males trade off on powerful moves. Hough and Ballas led a breathtaking performance that left the ballroom speechless.

Hough said in the comments section of an Instagram post that he was “Here to open some possible doors. Loved creating and dancing with you brother, Mark Ballas.” The men demonstrated their power, feeding off one another during the dance.

‘Dancing with the Stars’ fans exploded with joy over the traditional dance

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Derek Hough and Mark Ballas fans exploded with joy over the traditional dance. They shared their comments in an Instagram post by Dancing with the Stars.

“Len would have been proud!!! Goosebumps absolutely fantastic,” wrote one viewer. They referenced late judge Len Goodman, who was a stickler for traditional ballroom techniques and would have likely loved this historic dance performance.

“The two best male pros of all time,” penned a second fan of the best friends, who combined have won a total of eight trophies. “The kings of DWTS,” claimed a third Instagram user.

“I never knew I needed a MANGO in my life until now,” shared a fourth fan. A fifth hoped for a bit more, stating, “So please tell us this season is the slow launch of Mark becoming a permanent judge.”

How long have Mark Ballas and Derek Hough been friends?

Derek Hough and Mark Ballas met as teenagers after Derek and his sister Julianne Hough traveled to England to be taught ballroom dancing by Mark’s mom Shirley Ballas. Derek lived with Mark, Shirley, and Corky Ballas, Mark’s dad, whom he called his “second parents” in his book Taking the Lead: Lessons From a Life in Motion.

The longtime pals and pro ballroom dancers competed against one another in their teen years, and Mark was Julianne Hough’s professional partner for a brief period. Eventually, the three were cast on Dancing with the Stars, where they would compete together once again.

Mark shared details of his long friendship with Derek to Us Weekly. “Derek and I have been friends since we were 10,” the Emmy nominee gushed of his “bro” on Monday. “Like, we’ve lived together, we went to school together every day. The dude used to steal my clothes. Like, we’re friends, you know what I mean? Brothers even.”

Season 33’s winners were former The Bachelor star Joey Graziadei and pro Jenna Johnson. Dancing with the Stars will return to ABC in the fall of 2025.

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‘Dancing with the Stars’ fans exploded with joy over the traditional dance

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