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Jenny Tolman, Lee Metzger, Forrest McCurren, Gretchen Wilson, David Glasser, Olivia Harms, Mitch Graham, Britnee Kellogg, Cody Hibbard (front row L-R) Briana Adams, Jon Wood, Blaine Bailey, Billie Jo Jones, Cassidy Daniels and Adam Sanders attend the premiere of

Blaine Bailey Is Eliminated and 3 Singers Stand Out

by jummy84 October 20, 2025

written by jummy84

[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers from the premiere of The Road.]

The Road has officially begun! The new show from Blake Shelton and Taylor Sheridan premiered on Sunday, October 19, with 12 artists opening for Keith Urban at a special performance in Fort Worth, Texas.

Each of the contestants got to sing one original song for the crowd, who then got to rate them on a scale of 1 to 10. At the end of the episode, Shelton and Urban decided who would be eliminated from the audience’s bottom three.

Scroll down for a recap of all the performances and to find out who Shelton and Urban sent home.

Adam Sanders

The first artist to take the stage was Adam Sanders. Shelton has actually known Sanders’ uncle, Scotty Sanders, a session musician in Nashville, since he was just 19 years old.

Lauren “Lo” Smith/CBS

After years of touring and being labeled as “just the songwriter,” Adam is ready to prove he’s so much more. He performed his most-streamed song, “What If I’m Right,” which came out in 2021.

Urban said that Sanders “came out and killed it” and “took charge” of the stage, while Shelton added, “He made you listen to it.”

Britnee Kellogg

Britnee Kellogg, a mom who has not been able to pursue her dream of relocating to Nashville because of her parenting plan with her first husband, performed her song “Hey Mama.” She wrote the song while struggling with postpartum depression after giving birth to her daughter.

Lauren “Lo” Smith/CBS

“I saw a lot of girls relate to that song. Look at her, she’s wiping away tears right there,” Shelton pointed out. Urban said he “likes” Britnee’s voice a lot and that she “just looks like a star.”

Shelton also added, “I got a lot of respect for Britnee. She’s a mother of three, and to balance that with chasing your dream is a lot of work. I don’t know that we have a better female vocalist in the competition.”

Cody Hibbard

South Korea native Cody Hibbard was adopted when she was 13 months old. He attended the Naval Academy, but then struggled with a pill addiction after leaving. He performed his song “Looking Back Now,” which he described as “heartbreak song about growing.”

Lauren “Lo” Smith/CBS

“Obviously, he’s limited as a vocalist,” Shelton admitted. “His vocal stays right in that spot. But I don’t know how much that matters, either. He had the audience.” Urban agreed that Cody is “super likable.”

Jenny Tolman

Being on The Road was a big deal for Jenny Tolman, as it was the first time she was touring away from her husband and 2-year-old son. She sang her track “I Know Some Cowboys,” which she said is “always a crowd pleaser.”

Lauren “Lo” Smith/CBS

“Jenny’s an artist that’s been able to make it work,” Shelton shared. “Touring, getting out on the road, getting out of Nashville … it’s a super competitive town. She’s done a great job of it.”

Urban admitted that he wanted to see Jenny “work the audience a bit more” and “change it up” a bit throughout the performance. “She’s fun, but we’ve had some really good singers so far. Vocally, she’s going to have to step it up.”

Forrest McCurren

After 10 years of writing songs, Forrest McCurren is ready for life on the road. Even before he performed, Urban noted that Forrest was “super likable,” with Shelton adding, “Forrest walked into the audition for us producers and had us wrapped around his finger in literally five minutes.”

Lauren “Lo” Smith/CBS

However, Shelton also noted that Forrest is “more of a singer/songwriter,” and he wasn’t sure how that was going to play out in front of Urban’s rowdy crowd. Forrest performed his song “Small Prayers, Big Blessings.”

“The crowds later in the tour, they might not be as forgiving,” Urban said. “If he was at the Bluebird Cafe, he’d be great. You’d hear all the lyrics, the storytelling.”

Billie Jo Jones

Billie Jo Jones, a mom of four kids, has been traveling with her band for more than a decade, and admittedly “doesn’t like being told no,” despite the negative responses she’s gotten from industry heads over the years.

Lauren “Lo” Smith/CBS

Unfortunately, she woke up not feeling great on the day of the performance, and her voice was only at about 80% when she took the stage to perform “Some Girls Don’t Cry.”

It didn’t seem to affect her, though. “She’s not lacking any confidence,” Urban noted. Shelton said, “It’s almost like she wasn’t singing live. Her pitch was that solid. She has that raspy voice, but has that control over it.”

Briana Adams

Briana Adams came to the show from a super small Texas town. She performed a song called “You Only Know the Name.”

Lauren “Lo” Smith/CBS

“I love Briana’s story,” Shelton admitted. “When she walked into the audition, you could tell you’re talking to somebody from a very small town. She writes about what she knows and what she’s experienced and I just have a ton of respect for her.”

Urban said Briana needs to “learn some things with leaning in and backing off, working the mic a bit more,” while Shelton pointed out, “She did get them engaged, though, it seemed like.”

Channing Wilson

Channing Wilson, a cowriter on Luke Combs‘ “She’s Got the Best of Me,” has been touring for 25 years, so he already knows what life is like on the road.

Lauren “Lo” Smith/CBS

After Channing’s performance of “Blues Comin’ On,” Urban said, “That song played to every part of his voice,” and Shelton noted, “He’s literally like some country legend we already know somehow. He had them from the first note.”

Blaine Bailey

At 23 years old, Blaine Bailey is the youngest in the competition. He said he enjoys singing about some of the issues he faces as a Native American.

“I was really intrigued by Blaine,” Shelton shared. “You don’t see a lot of Native Americans pursuing mainstream music. The fact that he’s able to take his heritage and plug that into what he does musically gives him an edge that no one else in this competition has, but maybe also no one in country music has, period, that I can think of.”

Unfortunately, his performance of his song “T-Shirt” was a bit underwhelming. “He lost the room,” Urban admitted. Shelton added, “I picked that guy to be on the show. It’s not even about reading the room. You got that message you want to deliver, but you’re also here to win this competition.”

Olivia Harms

Olivia Harms is no stranger to the music industry because her mom, Joni Harms, was a musician in the ’90s. In fact, Olivia’s performance song “Ain’t My First Rodeo” was written after she had writer’s block and then called up her mom for a chat.

Lauren “Lo” Smith/CBS

“I’m a big fan of what Olivia does,” Shelton said. “She truly is a cowgirl. How is that going to play out here on the road? I have no idea. It could be huge and it may not work for her. But I do think she’s an important artist to have on this show.”

Urban thought Olivia’s performance “might have been a bit too reserved for this rowdy Texas crowd” and noted that the audience was “getting harder to impress” as the night went on. “They’re like, ‘OK, we heard a lot of good stuff, what do you got?’ Even now, you can’t just say, ‘Texas,’ and get them to cheer. Everyone’s done that. What else you got?”

Jon Wood

Jon Wood said he was basically raise to pursue music. He showed his country roots with a performance of his song called “Too Country,” which is about “not being sorry that [he’s] a little redneck.”

Lauren “Lo” Smith/CBS

Shelton said that Jon’s voice is “the country voice that truly is like a honky tonk sound” and gushed, “I love that guy. I love his voice.” Urban agreed, but admitted, “I would’ve done the song a little bit higher. So much of it is in this lower point, when he got up higher, it’s like, ‘Oh, good.’”

Cassidy Daniels

After growing up as an Army brat and moving 15 different times, Cassidy Daniels knows she has what it takes for life on the road. Her performance of her song “Crazy Love” also proved that she can back it up.

Lauren “Lo” Smith/CBS

Urban and Shelton both gave Cassidy a standing ovation. “Now that’s how you end it right there!” Urban gushed. “She’s loose and carefree.” Shelton said his heart was “still racing” after the performance, too.

Who was eliminated on The Road premiere?

After the audience’s votes, Shelton told the group that the three artists who were “absolutely saved” were Cassidy, Cody, and Adam. “You guys just came out swinging tonight,” Urban told them.

The bottom three, though, were Olivia, Forrest, and Blaine. “It sucks, but it’s just about how you connected here in this place tonight with this particular audience that came out to see Keith,” Shelton told the trio.

It was then up to Shelton and Urban to decide who would be sent home, and they opted to eliminate Blaine. “Forrest, you bring such a unique take on performing. The thing you got to figure out how to do is take that guy and connect with people. Olivia, we’re in Fort Worth, Texas. A lot of these people are cowboys that have come into town for the weekend, maybe that particular song wasn’t enough to rile them up.”

He concluded, “Blaine, I think Keith said it best earlier … whatever it is you give them, is kind of what you can expect to get back from them. We felt like maybe you had the least amount of connection with the audience tonight, and for that reason, we’re going to have to send you home.”

The other 11 artists will move onto the next city and open for Urban once again in next week’s episode.

The Road, Sundays, 9:30/8:30c, CBS

October 20, 2025 0 comments

TV & Streaming

‘Roofman’ Producer Jamie Patricof, Plus ‘Is This Thing On?’ Debated

by jummy84 October 20, 2025

written by jummy84

“Blue Valentine” and “I Know This Much Is True” director Derek Cianfrance lightens up for the earnest and heartfelt Paramount Pictures release “Roofman.” The years-in-the-making project, which stars Channing Tatum as a real-life prison escapee named Jeffrey Manchester, reunited the “Place Beyond the Pines” filmmaker with his perennial producer, Jamie Patricof, whom IndieWire’s “Screen Talk” podcast brought on as a guest this week.

Patricof also publishes a Substack of his own called “Jamie’s List,” where he offers hot takes on food, politics, culture, and more, plus a podcast called “Lunch with Jamie,” where he sits down with thought leaders to discuss politics, current events, food, culture, sports, and more.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 02: (L-R) Paul Mescal, Oliver Hermanus and Josh O'Connor attend "The History Of Sound" New York Premiere at Walter Reade Theater on September 02, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Talking with Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio on “Screen Talk,” he shares how “Roofman” balances Cianfrance’s signature indie film sensibility with the trappings of a more sincere studio picture circa the aughts. You know, the type of movie they just don’t make anymore.

He also discusses the moving screen chemistry between Tatum and Kirsten Dunst (who does career-best work here), how the film went from PG-13 to R-rated, and how they made the film with the modest (for a studio movie, anyway) budget of $19 million. It only opened last weekend to $8 million, but Patricof believes it has longevity as a holiday movie.

Elsewhere on this week’s episode, Anne and Ryan also debate “Is This Thing On?,” Bradley Cooper’s marriage separation dramedy starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern, which Ryan reviewed middlingly out of the New York Film Festival. Anne calls Arnett’s performance, here as a middle-aged father and soon-to-be divorcee who takes up standup comedy as therapy for his personal issues, “a revelation.” Ryan argues that Cooper’s decision to operate the camera himself (with Matthew Libatique serving as DP) leads to some directorial self-indulgence that makes for a frustrating, muddled experience that could’ve used more editorial discipline. Anne says it’s not an Oscar contender but instead a film aimed at pleasing its audience.

We also catch up, finally, on “Marty Supreme” after that film’s surprise secret screening premiere at the New York Film Festival last week.

Listen to the “Screen Talk” episode below.

October 20, 2025 0 comments

TV & Streaming

Shirt Salesman Is First-Time Actor

by jummy84 October 20, 2025

written by jummy84

SPOILER ALERT: The following article discusses plot details from Season 1, Episode 2 of “The Chair Company,” now streaming on HBO Max.

It’s not easy to upstage Tim Robinson. The comedian’s signature character is a man whose social unease leads him to act out in big, loud, obnoxious ways — like the hot dog guy from the sketch series “I Think You Should Leave,” or Marvel enthusiast Craig Waterman in the film “Friendship.” Ron Trosper, the protagonist of Robinson’s HBO conspiracy comedy “The Chair Company,” is no exception to this rule. But in Ron’s quest to find out what’s going on with Tecca, the namesake manufacturer of a faulty chair that leads the mall developer to take an embarrassing tumble in front of his colleagues, he encounters many characters who more than match his eccentricities. People like a certain shirt salesman who pitches Ron on his membership program.

In the second episode of “The Chair Company,” Ron visits the menswear shop Tamblay’s in an attempt to identify his assailant from the series premiere, who warned Ron to stop looking into Tecca before running off and leaving an article of clothing behind as a clue. The Tamblay’s proprietor agrees to help him out, confirming the shirt is one of theirs. The owner even models the item’s wear and tear using a ball he happens to have on hand: “It’s like a big belly and someone’s belly is pushin’ up into the buttons,” the man explains. “He’s about at his limit. I happen to know a guy who’s at his limit.” The emphases, cadence and delivery of this seemingly mundane dialogue combine to make the viewer sit up and ask themselves: Who is that?

The actor, it turns out, didn’t have to do much to get into character. Jared Lindner is the real-life co-proprietor of Suit Man, a small business located in the Westchester County suburb of Mount Vernon, New York. Lindner’s father founded the store nearly two decades ago, and the two still run Suit Man as a family operation. (You can learn more about the store in this video on the small city’s official YouTube channel.) Robinson himself took notice of Lindner when he swung by the store to scout the location. Lindner didn’t recognize the “Saturday Night Live” alum, but struck up a rapport with the crew: “They started to chuckle, because I’m a pretty easygoing, somewhat young guy,” Lindner tells Variety. The next thing he knew, the production was calling to offer him the part.

Lindner is patching into our interview directly from Suit Man, where the racks of shirts, ties and socks appear exactly as they do in “The Chair Company.” (During our conversation, Lindner walks around the store, iPhone in hand; at one point, a pair of hands appeared from offscreen to adjust his collar for the Zoom camera.) Lindner’s distinctive voice, a Christopher Walken-esque blend of New York accent, long vowels and soft tone, is also identical to the one that appears in the show. The only real difference is that the actual Lindner is wearing a baseball cap — and instead of helping Robinson’s protagonist with a mystery, he’s singing the praises of the real Robinson to a reporter.

“It’s unbelievable how good they are,” Lindner says of Robinson, his creative partner Zach Kanin and their collaborators. “They took someone who had no idea what to do and made me feel comfortable enough to not be nervous,” despite the dozens of crew members crowding into the Suit Man space. Lindner had never so much as read a script before making his acting debut on HBO, but credits Robinson and his team with making him feel at ease.

“I think of it like sports,” Lindner says. “When a good team has a very good manager and head coach, they don’t need to yell. They don’t need to tell you what to do. They’re respected enough that everyone has the common goal to just get it done and make them happy.”

Director Andrew DeYoung first worked with Robinson on “Friendship” before coming aboard “The Chair Company” as an executive producer. Though the idea of casting Lindner came from Robinson, DeYoung didn’t require much persuasion. (HBO asked that Lindner at least read for the network before giving the green light, but he quickly came aboard.) “I was chatting with Jared and was like, ‘This guy is so unique and interesting,’” DeYoung recalls. “There’s something about him and his way of being that’s rare and captivating in the sweetest way possible. No one’s making fun of anybody at all, and I hope that’s clear.”

Though a total acting novice like Lindner is an extreme example of its casting strategy, “The Chair Company” generally avoided big names and recognizable faces when populating its strange, extreme world. Besides Robinson, Lake Bell and Sophia Lillis — who play Ron’s wife and daughter, respectively — are probably the best-known series regulars. Everyone else is much less likely to come with pre-existing associations for the audience, which is precisely the point.

“There’s an excitement when you don’t have the baggage of somebody that you know,” DeYoung explains. “There are so many brilliant people out there that are trying to be performers — or, in Jared’s case, not — who show up and electrify the screen because they bring something special and unique.” That’s what appeals to him, Robinson and Kanin about figures like Lindner, who can make such an impression in such a short span of time. “What’s beautiful about Tim and Zach [is], even if a character has one line, they feel incredibly rich,” DeYoung says. “That, to me, is so exciting. When you have those specificities, a character shows up and you’re like, ‘I would like to follow them.’ It feels like we’re living in a world that goes beyond the screen.” As “The Chair Company” works to build an entire immersive universe where Ron’s paranoid logic makes a certain kind of sense, it’s helpful to cast figures like Lindner who carry an ingrained sense of authenticity.

Suit Man may not have a membership program like Tamblay’s, or an accompanying group chat with five separate guys named Ron in it. But Lindner stresses that he always strives for recurring business. “I always say when a gentleman comes in to see me, I don’t want to sell them one sweater and then never see them again,” he says. “I’d rather sell them a sweater for their wedding, and then their son’s christening, and their other daughter’s baptism, or whatever it is. We’ve made lifelong friends. They’re not even customers.” Even though Lindner says he’s open to acting again after having such a good experience with “The Chair Company,” he’s not abandoning his day job.

When we spoke, Lindner hadn’t yet gotten the chance to watch his own performance, though he has gone back and watched Robinson’s Comedy Central series “Detroiters” to get a sense of what he might expect from the final product. The prospect of introducing himself to a mass audience is the first time in our conversation where even a hint of actorly self-consciousness comes up. “I hope I don’t make a fool out of myself in front of my wife,” Lindner says. “Everybody told me that I did okay, but I guess I’ll have to see for myself on Sunday.”

October 20, 2025 0 comments

TV & Streaming

Task Star Emilia Jones On Getting Lost In Her Role As Robbie’s Niece

by jummy84 October 20, 2025

written by jummy84

SPOILER ALERT! This story contains details from the season finale of Task on HBO.

Emilia Jones considers it a compliment that, while playing the emo niece of a criminal uncle in Task, no one realized that she previously played the only hearing member of a deaf family in the 2021 Oscar winner CODA.

“I went to the Rangers game last night and someone was like, ‘I didn’t recognize you without your mullet.’ And then someone else was like, ‘well, I didn’t recognize her with the mullet.’ So many people sent me text messages saying they didn’t realize it was me until episode three or two,” admits Jones of the CODA role that earned her a BAFTA nomination. “It’s such a compliment. That’s what I love about acting. I love playing characters you can totally disappear into. That was my goal and I feel very happy that people didn’t realize it was me.”

Here, the British actress who also played the title character of Reality in 2024’s Winner and Kinsey in Locke & Key addresses Sunday’s adrenaline-fueled finale and where she thinks her character took Robbie’s kids now that they’re free from harm.

DEADLINE Let’s start with the final episode. Talk about high octane.

EMILIA JONES It was so much fun because I love stunts and it was the climax of the show. We all worked together to make that scene so much more than what we thought it could be. Sam Keeley, who plays Jayson, gave me a look before we started shooting that sequence and was like, ‘let’s do this. Let’s just go for it.’ We slightly went off the script and had this back and forth fight. My adrenaline was so high the whole time and it was a really, really challenging but such a fun scene to shoot.

DEADLINE In the end, how do you think Maive felt about Robbie, played by Tom Pelphrey?

JONES I think Maeve is devastated, obviously, when Tom [Mark Ruffalo] tells her Robbie’s dead. Maeve has long been torn by his choices, and she saw the risks, the moral compromises, the danger that he brought into the family. But at the end of the day, he was still her uncle and he was deeply intertwined into her life. Although Robbie burdened Maeve with a lot of responsibility, she knew that she still had someone who was looking out for her. So it’s an absolute huge loss. I think that Maeve had come to the realization that Robbie’s heart was always in the right place. No matter what he did, he was trying to protect his family.

DEADLINE What was it like working with Tom?

JONES He’s such a giving actor. Building Maeve and Robbie’s relationship was such a joy with Tom because it’s a complicated relationship. There’s a lot of resentment there with Maeve and some conflicting emotions and anger, but at the same time, there’s so much love between them. Tom and I would hang out a lot in between filming. We would go to museums and dinners and we did this trippy room at the children’s museum and wore 3D glasses. We basically spent five hours laughing. That really helped us bond. It was easy, then, to play the anger and tough emotions because there was so much trust and love between us.

DEADLINE You were quite the kid wrangler in this. Have you ever worked with this many kids on a project?

JONES It’s funny, creator Brad Ingelsby, when I first spoke to him about this project, ended the Zoom before I read the script and said, ‘do you like kids?’ It was such a random question to ask. I was like, yeah, I love kids. Who doesn’t? And then I read the script and was like, oh, okay, I understand. I started acting when I was 8, so I saw myself in the kids. I remember when I was on set when I was young, someone would get me a present or something and it would just mean the absolute world to me. So I tried to do that with the kids. For Ben Doherty, who plays Sam, it was one of his first projects. He was just so happy to be on set. So I bought him a little Polaroid camera so he could take pictures of all the crew and cast to make a little scrapbook to remember everybody for the rest of his life.

DEADLINE Which kid called your character a chicken butthole, again?

JONES That was little Oliver Eisenson, who plays Wyatt. Wyatt loved saying chicken butthole just as much as Oliver loved it. It wasn’t improvisation, but he absolutely loved that he got to say it. A lot of those kind of scenes were improvised because Oliver is such a bundle of energy and he’s so perfect for Wyatt, so they just kept the camera rolling and let him do his thing.

DEADLINE Where would you like to think that Maeve and the kids went at the end?

JONES I have thought about that so much. I just hope that Maeve is able to get the support that she needs because for a lot of her life, she’s had to put things on pause and never put herself first. I would like to think that she’s living a happy life with Harper, Wyatt and the family that they are, but at the same time, being able to grow as a person and learn to do a few things for herself, because my goodness, she deserves it.

DEADLINE Was Task a game changer for you?

JONES I mean, CODA was such a game changer and I’m so grateful for it. It was a complete whirlwind. The whole award season was such an amazing experience and such an unexpected one. I felt so lucky to have been a part of that film. I was 17 and I’d never signed or sung before. For every skill that was required for that film, I had a big fat NO by every single one of them. And for some reason, the director Sian Hader took a risk and cast me. I’ll be forever grateful for Sian and for that film. CODA allowed me to be a part of Task and I’m so grateful. Task really enriched my life. Maeve came to me at a time when I really needed it. I found filming the show really cathartic and I learned a lot about myself.

DEADLINE What have you heard about the future of Task?

JONES I’ve caught wind of it [being an anthology], and I really hope that that happens. Brad is such an amazing writer and I think his characters are so layered and complex. The way he portrays moral ambiguity in characters is so intriguing and it’s what drew me to Task and to watch Mare of Easttown. I think it would be a shame not to keep this world alive.

October 20, 2025 0 comments

TV & Streaming

Jennifer Aniston, Jennette McCurdy’s ‘Very Similar Moms’ Bonded Them

by jummy84 October 20, 2025

written by jummy84

Jennifer Aniston was “immediately intrigued” when she was approached to star in the forthcoming adaptation of Jennette McCurdy’s memoir.

The Morning Show star gushed about her upcoming leading role in the Apple TV+ series I’m Glad My Mom Died, which is inspired by McCurdy’s book about her relationship with her abusive mother, in a Friday interview with People. Going into filming for the project, Aniston admitted that she and the former iCarly actress have a shared experience.

“We have a lot in common,” Aniston told the outlet of her and McCurdy. “We had very similar moms.”

“When it came across my desk as an option, an offer to play this character and work with Jennette and Sharon Horgan and LuckyChap, I was pretty much immediately intrigued and flattered and excited,” Aniston added. “It’s going to be wonderful. It’s going to be pretty great to start shooting it.”

Per the series logline, I’m Glad My Mom Died will chronicle “the codependent relationship between an 18-year-old actress in a hit kids’ show, and her narcissistic mom who relishes in her identity as a starlet’s mother.” Aniston will star as the mother.

The Emmy winner has opened up about her difficult relationship with her mother, Nancy Dow, in the past. During a 2015 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Aniston said her mom was “very critical of me.”

“She was critical. She was very critical of me. Because she was a model, she was gorgeous, stunning. I wasn’t. I never was. I honestly still don’t think of myself in that sort of light, which is fine,” she said. “She was also very unforgiving. She would hold grudges that I just found so petty.”

Of McCurdy’s memoir, Aniston praised it as being “so beautifully written.”

“The fact that she’s the young woman that she is, having lived that life, is nothing short of remarkable,” she added of McCurdy, who will serve as a co-showrunner of the Apple TV+ series alongside Ari Katcher. Aside from starring in the project, Aniston will also serve as an executive producer.

October 20, 2025 0 comments

TV & Streaming

Coronation Street’s Catherine Tyldesley was asked to return before

by jummy84 October 19, 2025

written by jummy84

Catherine Tyldesley is about to make her highly anticipated return to Coronation Street, and fans can’t wait to see what Eva gets up to when she’s back on the cobbles.

The main change is that she’s returning with a new husband and step-children (and a mother-in-law “from hell”), and she’s going to be stepping into the pub now that Jenny Bradley (Sally Ann Matthews) has vacated it.

In conversation with RadioTimes.com and other press, Tyldesley opened up on her return, explaining that she’d actually been asked to go back before, but the circumstances weren’t right, until now.

“I really meant what I said when I left, that I would love to come back because Eva is so much fun to play. It felt really serendipitous,” Tyldesley explained.

“I was in Malta filming and my agent said, ‘Kate [Brooks] would like to speak to you about Corrie’, and I assumed it was for someone’s funeral and they’d want me to rock up.

“Kate said, ‘Would you like to be landlady?’ and I screamed. I was really shocked. It’s an absolute dream.”

Tyldesley added: “I’ve been asked before to come back and I always made a point of emailing the producers because it genuinely didn’t work in the past because I had other projects. It all came around at the right time, on a personal and professional level, it felt right and I’m so thrilled to be back.”

She went on to explain how pleased she was to hear that Eva had been living a life full of love off-screen, with her husband Ben (Aaron McCusker).

“They’re deeply in love,” Tyldesley said. “They’ve got this blended family and it’s been nice. I assumed when I was asked to come back she was going to have loads of baggage and trauma but no, that’s not the case. There are obviously things that have happened in her past that we might see further down the line but in general, she’s been having a lovely time!”

Tyldesley also praised Pauline McLynn, who’s joining as mother-in-law Maggie, and will certainly stir things up.

“When I’m watching what she’s doing on set, I’ll watch the monitor and I know I’m seeing a Corrie icon. The way the writers have structured things for our characters is just hilarious, it’s constant jibes. Deep down, there’s a moment that we did not so long ago where Eva, in a roundabout way, says, ‘If I wasn’t with Ben and I’d just met Maggie, I think we’d be mates!’ There are a lot of similarities.”

Read more:

Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.

Add Coronation Street to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

October 19, 2025 0 comments

TV & Streaming

9 Good Shows With Terrible Titles

by jummy84 October 19, 2025

written by jummy84

Some of these titles are too oblique, some are too on-the-nose, and some just don’t make a lick of sense.

October 19, 2025 0 comments

TV & Streaming

Other Israel Film Festival 2025 Lineup

by jummy84 October 19, 2025

written by jummy84

As we approach the end of a year in which the Israel-Palestine conflict and the war in Gaza have found their way into many film industry debates — from the Film Workers for Palestine petition signed by over 4,000 Hollywood professionals calling for the boycott of Israeli film institutions to the ongoing controversy over MUBI’s investment from Sequoia Capital, which also invested in three Israeli defense companies — the Other Israel Film Festival is attempting to offer some common ground. The festival, which aims to offer a nuanced perspective on Israeli life by programming the work of both Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers, has announced the lineup for its 19th annual edition, which will once again take place at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan in November.

The festival will begin with the North American premiere of “The Sea,” Israel’s official Oscar submission from director Shai Carmeli-Pollak that follows a Palestinian boy who sneaks into Israel in an attempt to see the sea. The rest of the programming includes a mix of narrative and documentary films about Israel and Palestine, many of which deal with the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, such as Nurit Kedar’s “I Cried in Gaza,” Stephen Apkon’s “There Is Another Way,” and Jérôme Sesquin’s “Israel: Ministers of Chaos.”

“At a time when both governments and the public are working to silence Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers, we are committed to amplifying their voices,” Isaac Zablocki, executive director of the Other Israel Film Festival said in a statement. “Film and conversation remain the most powerful tools for cultural change.”

The festival did not immediately respond to IndieWire’s request for further comment.

The 2025 Other Israel Film Festival runs from November 6-13 at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. Keep reading for the complete lineup, with language about the films provided by the festival.

Opening Night: “The Sea”

North American Premiere, Dir. Shai Carmeli-Pollak, Narrative | Israel | 2025 | 96 min

Khaled, a 12-year-old boy from a Palestinian village, travels to the sea for the first time during a school trip. But at the military checkpoint, he is denied entry and sent home. Determined, Khaled sneaks into Israel and embarks on a journey to the sea. When his father, an undocumented laborer working in Israel, learns that his son is missing, he risks everything to search for Khaled.

“I Cried in Gaza”

International Premiere, Dir. Nurit Kedar, Documentary | Israel | 2025 | 55 min

After October 7, Israeli women were recruited for active combat for the first time since 1948. According to Israel’s Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Defense, 5,000 women combat soldiers have undergone mental health treatment. The film shares the experiences, memories, and post-traumatic stress of women warriors who fought in Gaza and Lebanon.

“Rabbi Capoeira”

New York Premiere, Dir. Barak Heymann, Documentary | Israel | 2024 | 69 min

How does a shy ultra-Orthodox guy become a world master in capoeira? And how does the ultra-Orthodox community of his city, Bnei Brak, react to the revolution he’s determined to bring about? Rabbi Capoeira follows Miki Hayat’s five-year Sisyphean journey to connect spirit and body, bridging fears and dreams.

“There Is Another Way”

Dir. Stephen Apkon, Documentary | Palestine/Israel/US | 2025 | 67 min

Amid the escalating conflict, two-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee “Combatants for Peace,” a group of former enemy combatants, Israeli and Palestinian, works together to find common ground and shape a more hopeful future. This film asserts an alternative to war and that another path is possible for humanity.

“A Place of Her Own”

Dir. Adi Toledano, Dana Pney-Gil, Documentary | Israel | 2025 | 60 min

In Jisr az-Zarqa, an impoverished Arab village, a group of women seize a chance to build a long-desired community center. As violence shakes the village and a luxury development threatens their land, their hope for change is tested as they strive for a place of their own.

“The Smugglers”

World Premiere, Dir. Tony Copti, Yaniv Berman, Documentary | Israel/Palestine | 2025 | 86 min

In the heart of Jaffa’s old city, a rare Arabic bookshop café is dedicated to preserving its language and literature. As the bookstore faces closure, owner Michel George El-Raheb and his nephew journey across the Middle East, with a mission: to launch a public Arabic book festival in Jaffa, designed to spark a cultural revival.

“Holding Liat”

Dir. Brandon Kramer, Documentary | US | 2025 | 97 min

On October 7, 2023, Israeli-American Liat Atzili and her husband, Aviv, were kidnapped during Hamas’ attack and taken hostage in Gaza along with 250 other people—12 of whom, like Liat, are American citizens. Caught between international diplomacy and a rapidly escalating war, their family must face their own uncertainty and conflicting perspectives in the pursuit of Liat and Aviv’s release.

“Israel: Ministers of Chaos “

East Coast Premiere, Dir. Jérôme Sesquin, Documentary | France | 2025 | 58 min

An investigation into the rise of Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, two ministers driving Israel’s government, as they push a controversial agenda to reshape the nation’s democracy and expand its borders under a biblical vision.

“Eid”

New York Premiere, Dir. Yousef Abo Madegem, Narrative | Israel | 2024 | 90 min

Eid, a young man from Rahat, dreams of becoming a playwright. When his parents arrange a marriage for him against his will, his life takes an unexpected turn. Trapped between tradition and his own desires, he fights for his freedom and dreams within Bedouin society while grappling with his childhood trauma.

Starring Shadi Mar’i (“Fauda”, “Our Boys”), who won an Israeli Academy Award for his role, this is the first feature film directed by a Bedouin filmmaker.

“The Village Leagues”

International Premiere, Dir. Tal Michael, David Ofek, Documentary | Israel | 2024 | 60 min

It was Israel’s great political experiment in the West Bank and Gaza before the intifada. Tahsin Mansour, once mayor of the Palestinian village of Azzoun, now lives isolated by war and a roadblock that turned his home into an enclave. Reflecting on his role in the Village Leagues—an Israeli-backed attempt at Palestinian-Israeli peace—he recalls both the promise of diplomacy and the devastating backlash, as members were denounced as traitors and persecuted.

“Open Wound”

North American Premiere, Dir. Yousef Abo Madegem, Ofir Trainin, Documentary | Israel | 2024 | 51 min

The identity crisis of the Bedouins in the Negev has only intensified since October 7, as they are torn between Palestinian roots, family in Gaza, and their Israeli citizenship. The stories of five people, each dealing with the crisis in their own way, reveal the complexities and internal conflicts as they cope with a changing reality.

“Some Notes on the Current Situation”

North American Premiere, Dir. Eran Kolirin, Narrative | Israel | 2025 | 79 min

A philosophical tragicomedy about space, time, cinema, and wars, composed of six episodes, all together forming an absurdist footnote – somewhat divorced from reality – to the current events in the known universe.

Closing Night: “Bella”

Dir. Jamal Khalaily, Zohar Shachar, Narrative | Israel, Belgium | 2025 | 75 min, Director’s Presentation

When Yaki’s sole inheritance, an extremely valuable dove, is taken by his childhood friend, he embarks on a wild road trip across Israel and Palestine. What follows is a series of comical misadventures—navigating checkpoints, ruining a wedding, and even car theft—all in a desperate race to get the dove to a beauty pageant in Jerusalem.

October 19, 2025 0 comments

TV & Streaming

All the Fashion and Looks

by jummy84 October 19, 2025

written by jummy84

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures hosted its fifth annual gala at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles last night in support of the museum’s education initiatives, public programming and future exhibitions. This year’s Gala raised over $12 million in donations for the general public and the local community of Los Angeles.

The gala was presented in partnership with Rolex, a founding supporter and official watch partner of the Academy Museum. The gala was co-chaired by Jon M. Chu, Common, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, Jennifer Hudson and Academy Museum Trustee Alejandro Ramírez Magaña.

The event honored four important voices in the entertainment industry for their contributions to film, both past and present. The first presenter of the night was Wim Wenders, who presented director Walter Salles with the Luminary Award. The Vantage Award was presented by Jon M. Chu to actor and comedian Bowen Yang, alongside Zoe Saldaña, who presented the Icon Award to actress Penélope Cruz during the night. The final award, the inaugural Legacy Award, was presented by Martin Scorsese to musician Bruce Springsteen.

George Clooney introduced a musical performance by Bruce Springsteen, where he closed out the event singing “Streets of Philadelphia,” “Atlantic City” and “Land of Hope and Dreams.”

The Icon, Legacy, Luminary and Vantage Awards were designed by the Haas Brothers and fabricated by UAP. The awards are solid cast bronze, hand-polished, hand-stamped and triple plated in nickel, copper and 24k gold.

The event design was conceived by Keith Baptista, with talent relations overseen by Special Projects.

See the best looks from the 2025 Academy Gala below.

October 19, 2025 0 comments

TV & Streaming

Brandy Was Dehydrated, “Wanted To Faint” Before Exiting Chicago Show

by jummy84 October 19, 2025

written by jummy84

After abruptly leaving the Chicago stop of her and Monica‘s The Boy Is Mine Tour, Brandy Norwood is explaining her exit and apologizing to fans.

The artist explained that she “experienced dehydration and feelings of wanting to faint” before stepping off stage during Saturday’s performance at United Center, noting that she left the venue to “see a doctor nearby” and get checked out.

“To my dear fans in Chicago, Thank you all for the overwhelming love, support, and—most importantly—your prayers,” she said in a statement. “I sincerely apologize for the abrupt end to last night’s performance in Chicago. After weeks of nonstop rehearsals, last night I experienced dehydration and feelings of wanting to faint, everyone involved agreed that prioritizing my well-being was of the utmost importance.”

Norwood continued, “I still made the decision to try and return and give it my all despite not feeling ok. With having to make some adjustments and the show being very technical. Unfortunately, it was impossible to fully connect sonically with the production, I really appreciate everyone’s best efforts.”

The I Know What You Did Last Summer actress added that she’s “deeply grateful to my sister, Monica, for stepping up with such grace and professionalism and the entire crew for their continued care and support.

“I went from the arena to see a doctor nearby and have taken the proper precautions to help moving forward. Your understanding, patience, and unwavering belief mean the world to me,” said Norwood. “I look forward to returning to the stage—stronger and more grateful than ever—alongside my girl, Monica, tonight in Indianapolis. With all my love, Brandy“

Fans of Norwood and Monica were left confused by the abrupt end to Saturday’s concert, after Norwood abruptly walked off-stage early in the performance, leaving Monica to finish the concert solo, without getting to the tour’s eponymous 1998 duet.

“Give me one second y’all I gotta get my—” said Norwood in a video, going backstage after apparently struggling with sound issues, never to return.

After announcing their reunion in June, Brandy and Monica’s The Boy Is Mine Tour kicked off Thursday at Cincinnati’s Heritage Bank Center, featuring appearances from Kelly Rowland and Muni Long.

October 19, 2025 0 comments

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