“[Directing is] all I ever want to do; it felt really comfortable and fun,” Baena told Seensome in 2014, referring to directorial debut Life After Beth. “I’ve been a writer for 12 years now and it was always a means to an end, I never wanted to be a writer, I wanted to be a director so this was always my intention and it felt right.”

Life After Beth starred Aubrey Plaza, who started dating Baena four years earlier. The couple, who got married in 2020, later collaborated on films Three Little Hours and Spin Me Round.

“It’s an amazing experience to work with your partner in this way,” Plaza gushed to MovieFreak in 2017. “I’ve worked with Jeff since his first movie. I’ve seen him evolve, and I’ve seen him grow. It’s a really special dynamic that we have. It’s challenging at times, but it’s also really rewarding to do something together.”

Aubrey Plaza and Late Husband Jeff Baena’s Relationship Timeline

Baena echoed Plaza’s sentiments several years later, telling Reel Talker in 2022 that “she’s awesome.”

“I’d be working with her if she wasn’t my wife, but luckily she is my wife,” Baena quipped. “The opportunity to do something creative [together] where we’re both fulfilled — how rare is that?”

Baena died nearly three years later in January 2025, at the age of 47. Keep scrolling to revisit his star-studded filmography:

‘I Heart Huckabees’

Baena cowrote the 2004 film with David O. Russell, who also served as the director. The movie starred Jude Law, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Schwartzman, Naomi Watts, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin and Isabelle Huppert.

‘Life After Beth’

Life After Beth was Baena’s directorial debut, which he also wrote ahead of its 2014 release. In addition to Plaza, the film featured Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Anna Kendrick and Matthew Gray Gubler.

‘Joshy’

He wrote and directed Joshy in 2016, working with actors Thomas Middleditch, Adam Pally, Nick Kroll, Jenny Slate, Brett Gelman, Lauren Graham and Alison Brie, in addition to Plaza.

“Jeff [came] to the set of Community in our sixth season and asked me to play a small role in his film, Joshy,” Brie recalled of working with Baena during a 2022 interview with Collider. “There was no script for that. All of his films that I’ve been involved with, prior to this one, were fully improvised. So, he came to my dressing [room]. We set a meeting, and he came to meet me. … I knew a lot of the cast members in that movie. Nick Kroll, Jenny Slate and Adam Pally were friends of mine. I just thought, “Yeah, that sounds fun to do.” It was one day. I’m in two scenes in that movie. I thought the story was cool. And then, it just grew from there.”

Aubrey Plaza's Husband Jeff Baena Dead at 47

‘The Little Hours’

The next year, Brie and Plaza reunited to play nuns in 2017’s The Little Hours. Brie’s husband, Dave Franco, also starred in the flick, as well as Kate Micucci, Fred Armisen, Jemima Kirke and Nick Offerman.

Brie told Collider in 2022 that Baena pitched The Little Hours on a phone call with her and Franco, who were both excited about the prospect of working on a completely improvised film.

‘Horse Girl’

Brie once again led Baena’s Horse Girl, which debuted in 2020. The film also featured Shannon, Goldenite, Stella Chestnut, John Ortiz and Debby Ryan.

“Dave and I lived quite close to Jeff and Aubrey. Jeff and I started hiking together pretty regularly, just as buddies, and during these long hikes, we would talk about different ideas,” Brie told Collider two years later. “Eventually, I felt comfortable enough with him to talk to him about my idea for Horse Girl, which we co-wrote and co-produced together. That was such a good experience.”

‘Cinema Toast’

Baena created and cowrote the eclectic 2021 TV show with episodes starring the likes of Brie, Christina Ricci, Chloe Fineman, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Jake Johnson.

“This project is way up my alley. I just loved just the concept of it,” Plaza told AwardsWatch in 2021. “It almost felt like a new art form for me, like, it’s beyond just overdubbing a movie, it’s creating a new movie out of old stuff, and I don’t know, there’s just something very film noir and nerdish about it. To me, it talked to my film school brain.”

‘Spin Me Round’

Baena cowrote 2022’s Spin Me Round with Brie, who also starred in the romantic comedy alongside Plaza. Other performers included Jake Picking, Lil Rel Howery, Ego Nwodim, Alessandro Nivola and Zach Woods.

“It’s an insane benefit to have the person that you’re collaborating with on all fronts also be on the other side of the camera,” Baena told AV Club in August 2022 of collaborating with the film’s leading lady, Brie. “Because in addition to understanding, obviously, where the script is coming from and what the intention is, they can also set the tone in terms of acting.”

Nicole Kidman delivered an emotional tribute to her late mom Janelle Ann Kidman as she accepted the international star award at the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Nicole, 57, accepted the award for her role in Babygirl on Friday, January 3, which was presented to her by Jamie Lee Curtis. In her speech, Kidman thanked Babygirl director Halina Reijn and dedicated the award to her late mother, whom she said she was “still grieving.”

“Thank you for giving me the chance to say, ‘This is for my mom,'” Nicole said in her tearful acceptance speech. “My whole career has been for my mom and my dad, who are not here now. I’m still going to keep working and giving to the world because I love what I do and I love you all, and I’m so grateful for the privilege to be a part of the film community.”

She added, “I’m sorry that I’m crying, I didn’t want to do that. But I feel my mom right now, so this is for you.”

Nicole Kidman Addresses Mom's Death: 'I Wish My Mama Was Here'

Janelle died in September 2024 at age 84. Nicole had left the Venice Film Festival early on September 7 to return to Australia upon learning of her mother’s passing. At the time, the Big Little Lies alum had been awarded the best actress prize at the film festival for Babygirl. Reijn later read a statement at the festival on Nicole’s behalf confirming the death of her mother.

“Today I arrived in Venice to find out shortly after, that my beautiful, brave mother Janelle Ann Kidman has just passed,” Reijn, 38, read of Nicole’s statement at the time. “I am in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her, she shaped me, she guided me and she made me.”

The statement continued, “I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina, the collision of life and art is heart-breaking, and my heart is broken.”
Janelle is survived by daughters Nicole and Antonia, 54.

Janelle’s cause of death was not made public. “The family is heartbroken and asks for privacy at this time,” a spokesperson for Nicole told Us Weekly at the time.

Keith Urban: Grief ‘Comes in Waves' After Nicole Kidman's Mom Died

Nicole and Antonia thanked friends and fans for their well wishes in a joint statement shared via Instagram on September 12.

“My sister and I along with our family want to thank you for the outpouring of love and kindness we have felt this week,” their statement read. “Every message we have received from those who loved and admired our Mother has meant more to us than we will ever be able to express. Thank you from our whole family for respecting our privacy as we take care of each other ”

Aubrey Plaza briefly gushed over her marriage to husband Jeff Baena three months before his sudden and unexpected death.

“I would stay away [from dating actors],” Plaza, 40 quipped during a September 2024 appearance on SiriusXM’s Howard Stern Show. “I’m married to a writer/director. I’ve never, like, really dated an actor [or] been with an actor for a long time.”

She added, “I think about that and I think, like, ‘Oh, God, I don’t want to be with myself’ or, ‘I don’t want to do that.’ But then, sometimes, I see there are so many actor couples and you’re, like, ‘Wow, look at them. They must really laugh it up.’”

Plaza married Baena in 2020 after a decade of dating. He died on Friday, January 3, at the age of 47, according to medical examiner records viewed by Us Weekly.

Aubrey Plaza's Husband Jeff Baena Dead at 47

Per the medical examiner’s website, Baena’s case status is listed as “open” with an exam already scheduled. A cause of death has not been revealed nor has Plaza publicly addressed his passing. Us Weekly reached out for comment.

The Agatha All Along actress and Baena first crossed paths in 2011, later tying the knot to mark their 10th dating anniversary.

“A lot of things happened during COVID for me. Yes, we got married. Big deal,” Plaza recalled during a December 2021 appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. “We got a little bored one night. We got married and I’ll tell you how: Onehourmarriage.com. That’s real, look it up.”

Aubrey Plaza and Late Husband Jeff Baena’s Relationship Timeline

She added at the time, “We were in the lockdown. Things got a little crazy, especially in my house. My husband got really into tie-dying and when I say tie-dying, I mean 50 shirts a day.”

Plaza and Baena wed at home.

“I created a very quick love altar in our yard. Facts of our love, little stones, smoke, fire. Things of that nature,” she recalled to host Ellen DeGeneres. “Then the man from Alhambra showed up in a Hawaiian shirt with a briefcase [to perform the ceremony]. … I can’t remember a lot of it, it was fuzzy. But I’m pretty sure it’s legal.”

Plaza was then able to use their newlywed life as inspiration for her character in The White Lotus season 2. (Plaza played Harper, who was married.)

“This character is me,” Plaza quipped to GQ in November 2022. “It’s probably the first project that I’ve ever done that I’m like, whoa, this is really close to home. … I don’t have kids. I’ve been with my husband for 12 years. I relate to being in a relationship that has peaks and valleys, and going through a rough patch and comparing yourself to another couple that seems perfect.”

In addition to their respective solo careers, Plaza and Baena also worked together on the movies Life After Beth, The Little Hours and Spin Me Round.

“She’s awesome. I’d be working with her if she wasn’t my wife, but luckily she is my wife,” Baena told Reel Talker in August 2022. “The opportunity to do something creative [together] where we’re both fulfilled — how rare is that?”

Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and Blake Lively will not be in attendance at the 2025 Golden Globes.

Lively, 37, will sit out the annual awards ceremony on Sunday, January 5, amid her ongoing legal battle with her It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni. But it’s not just Lively missing the event — her husband Reynolds, 48, and his Deadpool & Wolverine costar Jackman won’t be attending the Golden Globes this year either.

According to Deadline, Lively, Reynolds and Jackman made their decisions not to attend the awards ceremony on Sunday well before the It Ends With Us legal battle, and their respective absences from the ceremony are not related to the ongoing scandal.

It’s likely there won’t be any mention of It Ends With Us at the awards show this weekend, either. Comedian Nikki Glaser, who has been tapped to host this year’s Golden Globes, has already made it clear that she won’t be making any jokes about the “hot-button” Lively-Baldoni issue on Sunday.

Blake Lively Dropped Out of Hosting ‘SNL’ Premiere Amid Costar Drama

“I think the Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni thing is such a hot-button thing right now that even a mere mention of it will seem like I could be on the wrong side of things, even though I would never be,” Glaser, 40, told Yahoo! Entertainment on Thursday, January 2. “I also don’t want to give his name any [weight].”

She added, “I’m mad I even know his name, to be honest with you, so I don’t need to say it anymore.”

Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, 40, in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and fostering a “hostile work environment” on the set of It Ends With Us, a film adaptation of author Colleen Hoover’s novel about domestic violence. (In addition to Baldoni, Lively is also suing publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, as well as Wayfarer Studios.)

The actress’s complaint claimed Baldoni had caused her “severe emotional distress” and had orchestrated an alleged “social manipulation” campaign to damage her reputation.

Blake Lively Allegedly Tried to Ban Justin Baldoni From Movie Premiere

“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” Lively told Us Weekly in a December 21 statement.

Baldoni has denied Lively’s accusations and filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for libel and false light invasion of privacy, and is reportedly planning a separate lawsuit against Lively as well.

“We plan to release every single text message between the two of them. We want the truth to be out there,” Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman told NBC News on Thursday. “We want the documents to be out there. We want people to make their determination based on receipts.”

“Catherine and I have been shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Ed Pettfer,” William, 42, wrote in a Saturday, January 4, Instagram Story statement, also mentioning wife Princess Kate Middleton. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Pettifer family and all those innocent people who have been tragically impacted by this horrific attack.”

William signed the note with a “W,” his personal designation based on his first initial.

A 42-year-old Texas man drove a rented truck through a crowd on New Orleans’ famed Bourbon Street on Wednesday, January 1. Pettifer, who was 31, was one of at least 14 fatalities. The driver was shot and killed during a shootout with police.

Prince William Through the Years: His Royal Life in Photos

“The entire family is devastated at the tragic news of Ed‘s death in New Orleans. He was a wonderful son, brother, grandson, nephew and a friend to so many,” a Saturday statement from Pettifer’s family read, shared with London’s Metropolitan Police. “We will all miss him terribly.”

The statement continued, “Our thoughts are with the other families who have lost their family members due to this terrible attack. We request that we can grieve the loss of Ed as a family in private. Thank you.”

Pettifer was the stepson of Tiggy Legge-Bourke, who previously worked as a nanny for William and his brother, Prince Harry, when they were children. (William and Harry, 40, are the sons of exes King Charles III and the late Princess Diana.)

“[She was] our favorite nanny, to be accurate, though Tiggy couldn’t stand being called that,” Harry recalled in his Spare memoir. “She’d bite the head off anyone who tried. ‘I’m not the nanny, I’m your friend!’ Mummy, sadly, didn’t see it that way. Mummy saw Tiggy not as a nanny, but as a rival. It’s common knowledge that Mummy suspected Tiggy was being groomed as her future replacement. (Did Mummy see Tiggy as her Spare?)”

Royal Family Addresses ‘Heinous' Stabbing at Dance Class Killing 3 Kids

As noted in the passage, Harry also named his 2023 memoir after the notion that he was brother William’s “spare” in the line of succession. William is the direct heir to father Charles, 75, as the regent of England. Harry immediately followed until William and wife Kate, 42, welcomed their three children: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.

While Harry is now the fifth in line for the British throne, he stepped down from his position as a senior working royal in 2020. Harry and his wife Meghan Markle now live in Montecito, California with their two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. Harry has not yet publicly addressed Pettifer’s death.

Shōgun standout Anna Sawai is preparing for her first Golden Globe Awards, but she’s not anxious about the ceremony or the possibility of taking the stage and walking away with a trophy.

“I feel like when I think about it too much, I do get quite nervous,” Sawai, 32, exclusively told Us Weekly at the 2025 WWD Style Awards on Friday, January 3, while stunning in a custom Louis Vuitton gown. “So, I’m not thinking about it at all.”

She added, “I’m just going to enjoy it, I don’t want to cry anymore. I’ll just think about it when I’m there.”

Sawai is nominated for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series, Drama. She is up against Kathy Bates (Matlock), Emma D’Arcy (House of the Dragon), Maya Erskine (Mr. and Mrs. Smith), Keira Knightley (Black Doves) and Keri Russell (The Diplomat).

Golden Globes 2025 Nominations: See the Complete List

Shōgun is also up for three other Golden Globes, including Best Television Series, Drama and individual acting nods for Sawai’s costars Hiroyuki Sanada and Tadanobu Asano. Before Sawai steps out at the Golden Globes on Sunday, January 5, she explained to Us how her recent Emmy victory is informing her award show prep and mindset.

“I feel like the Emmy win has allowed me to kind of not worry about it anymore, in the sense that it doesn’t matter,” Sawai said on Friday. “I got an Emmy and that’s amazing, and this time it’s just a celebration of everyone. I don’t want to focus on who wins and not. I think it’s made me learn a little bit.”

Sawai took home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the Emmys in September 2024 — the first performer of Asian descent to earn the honor.

“I was crying before my name was announced. I’m a mess today,” she said in her acceptance speech at the time. “Thank you to my team and thank you to my family. Mom, I love you. You are the reason I’m here. You showed me stoicism and that’s how I was able to portray it. This is to all the women who expect nothing and continue to be an example for everyone.”

Sawai has since honored her loved ones after her victory.

“I bought my sister and my mom a Cartier ring,” she told Us. “But, none for myself. I am always trying to give more than I treat myself.”

Anna Sawai Cries While Accepting Best Lead Actress in a Drama at 2024 Emmys

Sawai’s Emmy win and Golden Globe nod were both in honor of her Shōgun role of Mariko, who died at the end of season 1.

“I personally feel like her story has concluded, and it’s perfect,” she quipped on Friday. “So, I’m not asking to come back.”

That being said, if the Shōgun creative team were interested in Mariko’s return, then Sawai “would absolutely do it.”

Until then, Sawai has her eyes on the big screen.

“I do want to do film. I feel like I haven’t done film in a long time, and I kind of want to do something that feels independent,” she said. “I’m just reading scripts, something that’s maybe like a bittersweet love story. I would love that.”

With reporting by Mariel Turner

Celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik shared a photo shoot on Instagram featuring Jennifer Lopez while dropping details of her sultry look. The pop star’s style is always impeccable, but I couldn’t help but notice the black cherry nail polish she wore. I was thrilled to find the exact brand on Amazon for just $12!

I have a long-time obsession with the vampy color, but it can be challenging to find one that reads deep red, not black. The CND Vinylux Longwear Nail Polish in black cherry is that unicorn — a deep oxblood that elevates any outfit. The sexy hue is perfect for cold-weather months!

A deep red hue will always dominate in the winter, and this black cherry shade nails the sultry look. CND’s formula is infused with keratin, jojoba oil and vitamin E to nourish nails. Best of all? No base coat is necessary. The brand is known for its gel-like durability, high shine and gorgeous colors. No wonder celebs like Jennifer Lopez wear this exact polish!

Get This Lisa Vanderpump-Approved OPI Nail Treatment for Just $19

Lopez isn’t the only fan of this black cherry nail polish from CND. Nearly 2,000 Amazon shoppers can’t stop raving about this nail polish.

“This polish lasts longer than any I have ever tried,” one shopper raves.

“Worth the hype!” another nail maven explains. “This polish rocks and I’m a very critical reviewer. It goes on very thin, kind of strange to apply at first. Then I did the top coat (which seals the base coat and absolutely needs to be applied to get the long lasting wear), and it looks like I got my usual gel manicure. I highly recommend.”

Save yourself time and money by opting for at-home manicures using CND’s chip-resistant nail polish. We’re big fans of Lopez’s dark cherry nail look for vamping up our nails this winter, but the brand has several more colors if you’re looking for something more neutral.

Get the CND Vinylux Longwear Black Cherry Nail Polish for $12 at Amazon!

Cherry Coded Fashion Is About to be Everywhere in 2025: Shop Clothing and Accessories to Dominate the Trend

Jason Kelce’s late-night ESPN talk show featured a VIP guest in the announcer booth — his wife, Kylie Kelce!

“One of the other cool things, not only am I getting my own show but I’m getting to make my own show with my wife, Kylie, as the announcer,” Jason, 37, said during the Saturday, January 3, broadcast of his They Call It Late Night series. “Kylie’s corner, I love that sign. Ky, is this not the f—ing best?”

Kylie, 32, sat up in a box with a microphone in front of a green-painted poster that read “Kylie’s Korner.” (Green, of course, is a not-so-subtle tribute to the Philadelphia Eagles, where Jason played 14 seasons as an NFL center before announcing his retirement last year.)

“It’s amazing,” Kylie gushed. “I do have an official disclaimer, though, that I’m obligated to read. ‘To our viewers, this evening’s program is intended for mature audiences. Young viewers, such as your children, may hear language that is inappropriate for them.’”

Jason Kelce and Pregnant Wife Kylie Kelce's Relationship Timeline

She added, “Not our kids! They hear s— like this all the time. Right, J?”

Jason then replied that “swearing is not an issue” in their house.

“So, you may hear the occasional F-bomb or something, like this: I f—ing love you, Ky,” he told his wife, who repeated the phrase back to her husband.

Jason and Kylie have been married since 2018 after infamously matching on the dating app Tinder. They later welcomed daughters Wyatt, 5, Ellie, 3, and Bennett, 22 months. Kylie revealed in fall 2024 that she and Jason are currently expecting their fourth daughter.

During a December 2024 episode of her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast, Kylie revealed why she is excited about being a mother of four.

Jason Kelce Calls Embarrassing Wife Kylie 1 of His 'Great Joys'

“I really like even numbers,” she joked during the podcast episode. “Jason was always like, ‘I’ll do whatever you wanna do,’ and I was always in the camp of I wanted four with room for one pleasant surprise.”

She added, “We got to three and I was like, ‘Three’s cool. This feels good.’ Then, we got out of the rough baby sleeping and all that, and I was like, ‘You know what, I like even numbers, let’s do it.’”

While Kylie and Jason are ready to tackle (pun intended) the newborn phase again, they haven’t yet settled on a name for their future little one.

“First of all, love the confidence, but even if I did have a name picked out, I’d probably keep that one in the family,” Kylie said on an earlier podcast episode. “What I will say: We don’t have a name picked out, so you’re not missing out on anything. And I have seen a number of the suggestions come through in the comments section so I appreciate that.”

They Call It Late Night airs Saturdays on ESPN at 1 a.m. ET.

Nicki Minaj was named in a lawsuit filed by a former employee, who accused the rapper of assault and battery.

Brandon Garrett, who claimed to work as Minaj’s manager during her 2024 tour, sued Minaj, 42, according to Friday, January 3, court documents obtained by TMZ. In the filing, Garrett claimed that Minaj summoned him to her dressing room after an April 2024 concert in Detroit, where she allegedly became agitated to learn he asked someone else to pick up a prescription.

“[Another employee, Luke Montgomery] explained that his duties entailed tasks like venue dressing room set-up, private jet set-up, hotel room set-up, quick change room refreshments, and tour bus set-up,” the docs read. “Mr. Montgomery mentioned these duties were in addition to any requests from [Minaj] communicated by [Garrett], including food orders, drinks, personal items, baby items and, most notably, prescriptions.”

Garrett reportedly explained to Minaj that he was preoccupied with another task during the show and needed another assistant to run the errand. Upon hearing his reasoning, Minaj allegedly got “visibly upset” and “angrily screamed” at him. She apparently said, “Are you f—ing crazy having him pick up my prescription?” and “If my husband [Kenneth Petty] was here, he would knock out your f — ing teeth.”

Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion’s Feud: A Complete Timeline

Garrett further claimed that Minaj then “open-handly struck” him on the right side of his face and subsequently on his right wrist. Several hours later, Garrett claimed that another staffer on Minaj’s team told him that he’d no longer be joining her team for her tour stop in Chicago.

Minaj has denied Garrett’s allegations through her attorney. Us Weekly has reached out for comment.

“At this time, no complaint has been served upon Mrs. Petty, and therefore, we are unaware of the specific allegations,” Minaj’s lawyer Judd Burstein told Variety in a statement. “However, if the lawsuit is as reported by TMZ, it is completely false and frivolous. We are confident that the matter brought by this ex-assistant will be resolved swiftly in Mrs. Petty’s favor.”

Minaj is a rapper who broke into the music industry with the release of her 2010 album Pink Friday. She has had several ups and downs throughout her career, including a 2024 arrest in Amsterdam.

During the international leg of her tour, Minaj claimed that she was stopped by police after marijuana pre-rolls were apparently found in her luggage.

Nicki Minaj and Kenneth ‘Zoo’ Petty’s Relationship Timeline

“They’ve been trying to stop me from coming to every show,” Minaj wrote via Instagram in May 2024. “They took my bags before I could see them. Put it on the plane. Now they’re waiting on customs. This is what it looks like when ppl are paid big money to try to sabotage a tour after all else failed. Everything they’ve done is illegal.”

Minaj claimed that the drugs had belonged to her security guards and she was released several hours later.

“We have just released a 41-year-old American woman who we arrested this afternoon at Schiphol on suspicion of exporting soft drugs,” Royal Netherlands Marechaussee said in an X statement, presumably referring to Minaj. “After consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, the suspect was fined and can continue her journey.”

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena were together for over a decade ahead of his death in 2025.

The pair started dating in 2011 but never confirmed exactly when they met or when their love story began.

Plaza and the Horse Girl director have collaborated on films including Life After Beth and Joshy in 2016 and Spin Me Round in 2022.

“I think that when you’re with someone that is in your field, they understand what you’re dealing with on a deeper level,” Plaza told People in 2019.

'The White Lotus' Season 2 Cast's Dating Histories

Baena also expressed how lucky he is to work with his wife. “She’s awesome. I’d be working with her if she wasn’t my wife, but luckily she is my wife,” Baena told Reel Talker in 2022. “The opportunity to do something creative [together] where we’re both fulfilled — how rare is that?”

Before starting production on Spin Me Round, Plaza shared a celebratory Instagram post for Baena, praising his movie. She also subtly revealed that the two had tied the knot.

“So proud of my darling husband,” Plaza wrote in May 2021. “For dreaming up another film that takes us to italia to cause some more trouble.”

Keep scrolling to see a complete timeline of Plaza and Baena’s relationship:

2011

Plaza and Baena have been linked since 2011, but it’s unknown when the twosome actually started dating.

2014

Baena made his directorial debut with 2014’s Life After Beth, starring Plaza as the titular character.

2017

Plaza made her debut as a film producer alongside Baena on The Little Hours, in which she played a nun named Sister Fernanda.

2020

Plaza’s dark humor inspired a unique Valentine’s Day Instagram post featuring her husband. The two posed for a photo, but Plaza held a dagger up to Baena’s face. “And happy valentine’s day,” she captioned the photo, adding a heart emoji.

2021

While celebrating Baena’s movie Spin Me Round in May, Plaza subtly announced that she and Baena had tied the knot. “So proud of my darling husband,” she wrote via Instagram.

She later shared the full story on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in December of that year.

Aubrey Plaza’s Fiercest Fashion Moments Through the Years

“We got a little bored one night,” the Parks and Recreation alum recalled. “We got married and I’ll tell you how: Onehourmarriage.com. That’s real, look it up.”

Plaza continued explaining how she had to negotiate in order to get the officiant to agree to drive to her home and perform the ceremony in their backyard. She included her neighbor — who she described as a real-life witch — to get her spiritual blessing.

“I created a very quick love altar in our yard. Facts of our love, little stones, smoke, fire. Things of that nature. Then the man from Alhambra showed up,” Plaza continued. “I can’t remember a lot of it, it was fuzzy. But I’m pretty sure it was legal.”

2022

Spin Me Round premiered in the United States in August, starring Plaza alongside cowriter Alison Brie.

Several months later, Plaza opened up to GQ about her marriage with Baena, comparing her life to that of her character on The White Lotus, Harper.

“I’ve been with my husband for 12 years,” she said in November. “I relate to being in a relationship that has peaks and valleys, and going through a rough patch and comparing yourself to another couple that seems perfect.”

January 2025

News broke that Baena died at age 47. A cause of death was not immediately revealed nor did Plaza release a statement.

UPDATE — January 4, 2024 at 7:01 p.m. EST: Medical examiner records were updated to reveal that Baena died by suicide at his residence in Los Angeles, California, on Friday, January 3.

Original story:

Aubrey Plaza’s husband, director Jeff Baena, has died at the age of 47, according to medical examiner records viewed by Us Weekly.

Circumstances surrounding Baena’s death are currently unknown, according to Deadline. Records indicate that the case status is listed as “open,” with an exam scheduled. Us has reached out for further comment.

Baena is survived by 40-year-old Plaza, whom he married in 2020. They initially started dating in 2011 and often kept their relationship private.

“She’s awesome. I’d be working with her if she wasn’t my wife, but luckily she is my wife,” Baena told Reel Talker in August 2022. “The opportunity to do something creative [together] where we’re both fulfilled — how rare is that?”

Aubrey Plaza and Late Husband Jeff Baena’s Relationship Timeline

Baena was best known for his work on Life After Beth, Joshy, The Little Hours, Horse Girl, Spin Me Round and I Heart Huckabees. (Life After Beth, The Little Hours and Spin Me Round were professional collaborations with Plaza.)

After a decade together, Plaza and Baena tied the knot.

“We got a little bored one night,” Plaza recalled on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in December 2021. “We got married and I’ll tell you how: Onehourmarriage.com. That’s real, look it up.”

She added, “I created a very quick love altar in our yard. Facts of our love, little stones, smoke, fire. Things of that nature. Then the man from Alhambra showed up. I can’t remember a lot of it, it was fuzzy. But, I’m pretty sure it was legal.”

'The White Lotus' Season 2 Cast's Dating Histories

Plaza’s marriage even informed her role on HBO’s The White Lotus season 2, in which her character, Harper, was also in a longtime relationship.

“This character is me,” she quipped to GQ in 2022. “It’s probably the first project that I’ve ever done that I’m like, whoa, this is really close to home. … I don’t have kids. I’ve been with my husband for 12 years. I relate to being in a relationship that has peaks and valleys, and going through a rough patch and comparing yourself to another couple that seems perfect.”

Baena got to see Plaza transform into Harper firsthand.

“I went to go visit Aubrey. She was shooting The White Lotus a couple of weeks ago,” he told Digital Trends that same year. “I’d been to Sicily before, but I still went to Cefalù, which I’d never been to before, and that blew my mind. The Amalfi Coast is incredible. We went to Puglia, which I’d never been to before. It’s insanely beautiful. The people are so kind to me. To me, they have it worked out, like, that’s the place. I’m just drawn to it.”

Plaza has not publicly addressed Baena’s death.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Certain programs have become known for being harder to see and cinematographers have weighed in on whether the issue is on the viewer or the content itself.

“I don’t know why there’s this trend now to shoot extremely dark, but I think — I’m not going to name names — there are two sides to it,” Shasta Spahn, who has worked on American Horror Stories, told Vulture in November 2023. “There’s a version where people know what their exposure and balance is and they know how to make a scene look a certain way that has darkness technically. And then there’s the other side of it where people don’t know what they’re doing. They’re making it look really dark.”

Spahn cited several examples on the filmmaker’s side, adding, “They have no light in the actor’s eyes. They have no separation between the foreground and the background, and it’s unskilled and looks horrible. … Night scenes can be done and are done so beautifully, but they’re also done so poorly.”

Meanwhile Lyn Moncrief, who brought movies such as Five Nights at Freddy’s to life, questioned whether “larger TVs” were to blame.

“They tend to have a 16:9 format. We’re no longer in this 4:3 television analog era where the distinctions between television and movies, at least in terms of composition and aspect ratios, are so extreme. Pre-2000, that aspect ratio was forced upon you when shooting TV,” Moncrief noted. “You’re seeing a lot more projects, and they’re shooting 2.39:1 with letterboxing and things of that nature that used to always be a fight to have. That cinematic influence has had a direct effect on streaming shows, whereas in the past, that was not the case.”

House of the Dragon cinematographer Pepe Avila del Pino had his own take on the subject. He specifically called out “overprocessed color correction” that became too common with everyone’s favorite TV shows.

“The blacks are not blacks. And there’s a standardized look. A lot of TV starts to look the same, and that has to do with many things. One of them is the technology we all have now, like the use of LED lights, which are faster and more practical,” Del Pino explained. “The cameras are faster too and the lenses are more sensitive to light. All those reasons tend to push the workflow day-to-day on set with TV on a very rushed schedule, usually.”

He continued: “I think it’s more a consequence of the tools being used, rather than an artistic vision. There’ve been a lot of people making TV very fast in the past few years. Things are pre-produced, produced, and then distributed to postproduction, and then sent back to the streamers in a very short time span. All these factors lend themselves to these low light levels and an overly color-corrected look onscreen.”

Keep scrolling to see examples of certain shows known for being too visually dark:

“No, I am not taking legal action,” Jade exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of Selling the City‘s premiere on Friday, January 3. “I [actually want to] thank the producers for their beautiful way of still telling that story and still showcasing the spiciness that was there in that heated moment.”

Jade was grateful that the explosive last moments of season 1 still showed her perspective.

“They were very respectful in knowing what was right and wrong in regards to [what to include]. Because there was much more to that scene than just the one minute that is shown. So I appreciate and respect them for that matter,” she continued. “That’s really where those comments from me were coming from. Because there were below-the-belt things said from both sides — from Abigail [Godfrey] and myself — that I would never want to be shown across the entire world.”

'Selling Sunset' Cast's Quotes About Which Scenes Didn't Make the Final Cut

Selling the City, which comes from Selling Sunset creator Adam DiVello, follows Eleonora Srugo‘s real estate group at Douglas Elliman that consists of Jade, Abi, Jordyn Taylor Braff, Taylor Middleton, Gisselle Meneses Nunez and Justin Tuinstra. (Former Million Dollar Listing New York‘s Steve Gold, who currently works for The Corcoran Group, also makes appearances throughout the season.)

Jade started the season out on good terms with Eleonora — but not with Abi. Things between Jade and Eleonora, 37, hit a rough patch after Jade’s shady comments were brought up. While they were able to work it out by the end of the season, Abi felt that Jade made certain remarks about others without being held accountable.

“Jade runs [from a conversation]. I want to look her in the eyes and I want to know what type of person she is. You guys are my family and anybody who f—s with our family, you’re going to get the f—ing wrath. I don’t want to disrupt a decade-long friend, OK?” Abi said during the finale. “That is f—ing manipulation. If she doesn’t [admit to it], she’s going to look like the biggest asshole.”

Jade refused to speak with Abi on screen. “I don’t want to do this. Take this off me,” she told a producer. “You are pathetic. I’m not having a conversation like a 12-year-old. You don’t know me. F— this. No.”

Hulu Reveals Premiere Date for 'The Kardashians' Season 6

As the conversation grew more tense, Jade fired back at Abi, calling her “nasty” off camera.

“I am not doing this. If any of this f—king airs, I will sue every single one of your asses,” Jade continued. “I am a grown-ass woman with a real career. This camera better get out of my f—king face. I am not mic’d. I am done. I am not mic’d. F— you, Netflix. F— Netflix. F— everybody.”

Jade told Us that the moment was building up the entire season, adding, “I hold everything in until it’s time to explode — and that’s exactly what happened. We were obviously filming the finale so we’re 12 weeks deep into it and there was a lot going on. It was a lot to unpack and I was seeing red.”

The real estate agent wasn’t thrilled that her personal comments were aired out.

All of the Biggest 'Selling Sunset' Feuds Throughout the Years

“I was being yelled at and things that were being said to me were things that came from Eleonora. At the end of the day, those things that were said were in confidence and I felt betrayed, which is why I came to Eleonora,” Jade explained. “I tried to hold my composure. And she kept coming for me.”

Now, however, Jade isn’t holding any grudges toward her costars. “[Eleonora] is moving through the process of getting over my truth that was told on the show. I am OK. There were stabs coming towards me as well but I truly believe that I was completely authentic to myself,” she told Us. “And we will get through this. I hold no hard feelings about her revealing things about me and throwing me under the bus. It’s all good. I don’t take personal offense because I’m confident in who I am and my authenticity. We’ll get over it.”

Selling the City is streaming on Netflix.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi

The new year is the perfect opportunity to refresh your wardrobe while post-holiday deals are ripe for the picking. Whether for lounging, hitting the gym or everyday styling, the Spanx end of season sale has something for everyone. Scroll on to shop deeply discounted essentials, and find yourself feeling a little sleeker in 2025. Don’t delay: Sizes are selling out quick!

15 Picks from the Spanx End of Season Sale

1. Asymmetrical blazer: This pretty blazer has us seeing stars! Available in three colors, this asymmetrical blazer is a whopping $100 off right now. One shopper shares, “The Asymmetrical Blazer is form fitting and flattering. Love the Ponte cloth that it’s made of, and the asymmetrical cut is very forgiving for all body types. It makes one look and feel like a million bucks.” — $99 (was $228) at Spanx!

2. Faux leather leggings: A perennial favorite, these faux leather leggings pair with sneakers, boots or heels. Because it’s Spanx, the fabric shapes and lifts with a contoured Power Waistband, seamlessly camouflaging those extra holiday pounds — $49 (was $98) at Spanx!

3. Maxi dress: This striped T-shirt dress is the travel hero you need! Style it with a belt or leave it flowy, the breathable fabric will have you feeling comfortable and stylish — $79 (was $128) at Spanx!

4. Fleece shawl jacket: Whether for the office, travel or keeping cozy at home, a long cardigan is a cold weather essential — $139 (was $238) at Spanx!

5. Seamless briefs: Swear off panty lines with these breathable, invisible undies. The five-pack comes in such pretty colors! — $49 (was $88) at Spanx!

Skip the Sweatpants and Opt for These Thermal Fleece Joggers Instead — Just $36

6. Vintage indigo flare jeans: Jeans that look like denim but feel like leggings? Yes, please. Not only does this stretchy pair snatch the waist, they slip on with ease while looking like sophisticated zip-up jeans. One shopper writes, “The jean material is like silk.” — $89 (was $148) at Spanx!

7. Half zip jacket: A top-rated layering piece, this sporty jacket feels ultra soft and is the perfect choice for every activity. One happy reviewer says it’s “A magical garment.” — $69 (was $118) at Spanx!

8. Seamless boyshort: Looking for everyday panties that are comfortable yet smooth bumps? The Spanx boyshort is legendary! Grab this essential while it’s deeply discounted — $9 (was $24) at Spanx!

9. Rib tank: No matter your fitness goals this year, a sweat-wicking stretch tank is essential. It effortlessly goes from gym class to brunch— $39 (was $68) at Spanx!

10. Oversized button-down: An office-wear staple gets a fresh spin with premium cotton and a versatile cut that can be tucked in — or not! It’s even machine washable — $59 (was $128) at Spanx!

11. Reversible comfort bra: Underwires are so out! This shaping bra is made without hooks, wires or seams to give you a comfortable lift — $29 (was $42) at Spanx!

12. Seamless leggings: Ready to sweat? You’ll feel confident in these flattering, comfortable leggings that are made from recycled materials. They’re free of seams to avoid awkward bunching around the hips or waist— $39 (was $68) at Spanx!

13. Warm cardigan: This super-soft cardigan boasts faux buttons for effortless days, and it comes in a beautiful coffee brown. Or, mix it up with a fun nautical stripe pattern! — $79 (was $128) at Spanx!

14. Crewneck dress: Is it just Us, or is a throw-on-and-go dress the greatest wardrobe hero ever? One shopper writes, “Absolutely the most comfortable and flattering dress I’ve purchased in a long time.” It comes in three shades, and we especially love the powder color — $69 (was $118) at Spanx!

15. Bomber jacket: The sporty bomber jacket gets a stylish upgrade with this office-ready crepe fabric. Available in classic black or herringbone jacquard, this piece dresses up jeans or adds a comfortable layer over tops — $119 (was $238) at Spanx!

Not what you’re looking for? Shop more Spanx essentials here!

Amal Clooney Steps Out In Off-Duty Leggings, and We Found the Look for $16

Some things will always be “for the girls,” but with the way male celebrities have been acting on the internet — and in some cases, in front of the cameras — petty drama isn’t one of them.

In the words of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Meredith Marks herself, we can go there with the husbands. Season 5 of the series got off to an icy start for longtime snowflake holders Lisa Barlow and Whitney Rose, who clashed at Angie Katsanevas’ wedding anniversary party. What began as just another “she said, she said” argument between costars made Us reach for our popcorn (and pour a shot of Vida Tequila) when the husbands stepped in to defend their spouses. Justin Rose told security at the party to get John Barlow “the f— away from” him, threatening to “pound his ass.”

According to Heather Gay, the RHOSLC husbands had “never” tried to fight their wives’ battles on camera before — but Justin vs. John wasn’t even the only confrontation to be featured this season. Shawn Trujillo, married to Katsanevas, and Meredith’s husband, Seth Marks, entered a sparring match of their own during a group dinner in Palm Springs. Seth brought his own “receipts, proof, timeline, screenshots” to the (literal) table, fueling the fire by calling out the “biatches” sitting around him. Us needs Andy Cohen and a Bravo camera for an official mens’ spinoff ASAP.

Personal drama might be hard to avoid as a supporting character on a reality show, but Bravo isn’t the only place bros are dishing out healthy doses of gossip. It turns out, podcasts are an equally popular outlet for men to air their dirty laundry.

Dave Portnoy's Beef With Zach Bryan Goes Way Beyond Brianna Chickenfry

Barstool Sports cofounder Dave Portnoy had plenty to say about his “BFFs” cohost Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia’s breakup from ex Zach Bryan, calling the country singer “a really immature, not confident baby” for his alleged behavior during their relationship. Portnoy got even more eloquent on not one, but two original diss tracks: “Smallest Man” and “Country Diddy.” Yes, it’s a reference to Sean “Diddy” Combs. No, Bryan did not publicly respond. How old school!

Portnoy admitted to being “a little out of my wheelhouse” when it comes to “talking about teenage drama” and claimed he doesn’t have much “interest” in the back-and-forth despite being one of the chief pot-stirrers in the aftermath of LaPaglia’s split. Take it from Us, sports personalities can be just as petty as Housewives.

In the Super Bowl of throwing shade, NFL free agent Isaac Rochell has proven to be a leading passer. Often appearing alongside his wife, influencer Allison Kuch, on her “Sunday Sports Club” podcast, Rochell has given Us an inside look at life as a pro football player — and it isn’t all fun and games. From claiming he turned down a $10,000 bribe to change his jersey number to dropping “homemaker” merch in the middle of NFL kicker Harrison Butker’s highly publicized commencement speech scandal, Rochell is putting the “tea” in TDs.

So while society may try to convince Us that men and women are inherently different, the willingness of even the most masculine personalities to stir the pot every now and then — cameras not required, but usually preferred — proves pettiness is gender neutral.

Nikki Glaser can easily win over a crowd with her jokes — and her sense of style.

Glaser, 40, who is hosting the 2025 Golden Globes on Sunday, January 5, is known to wear mini dresses, platform heels, sparkly ensembles and more while hitting the stage for stand-up acts.

While attending the Golden Globes Red Carpet Rollout on Thursday, January 2, in Beverly Hills, Glaser shined in a custom Off-White suit featuring a crinkled design. Underneath, she sported a black top featuring a cutout over her chest and a bedazzled enclosure.

Besides looking chic, Glaser keeps it real about the beauty and fashion industry in her jokes. From cracking one about wanting an eyebrow lift to feeling pressure to wear makeup at all times, the comedian never fails to make Us laugh.

Nikki Glaser Says She Postponed 'A Brow Lift' to Host 2025 Golden Globes

Keep scrolling to Glaser’s best jokes about beauty and fashion:

Plastic Surgery

“I’m gonna use the money from tonight [and] I’m gonna get a brow lift,” Glaser said in her comedy May 2024 special with Max, Someday You’ll Die. “I know I want this because every time I’m stressed out, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, snatched,’” she said, pulling back her face. “I’ve never felt worse but I’ve never looked better,” she quipped.

Wardrobe Malfunctions

Glaser experienced her very own fashion faux pas while appearing on an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in May 2021. As she was virtually introduced to the crowd, Glaser opened her arms to say “Hello, Jimmy!” But accidentally broke the top off of her hot pink sparkly blazer.

“My dress just unpopped!” Glaser exclaimed while crossing her arms, covering up. “That was humiliating, let’s keep going,” she said, brushing the incident off.

Glaser later took to Instagram to continue to poke fun at the wardrobe malfunction, writing, “Nippy Glaser flashed everyone on the show and also my friends who were watching on the other side of my computer. I’m .”

Wearing Makeup

“Without makeup, I look way different. I never get recognized. The other day, I was actually recognized without makeup and I got offended,” she said in her Max special. “F— you. You think Nikki Glaser looks like this?”

Nikki Glaser to Host 2025 Golden Globes – And Isn’t Afraid to Get Canceled 

Glaser later joked about how long it takes women to get ready for an event during her Hollywood Reporter’s annual Women in Entertainment speech in December 2024.

“Can we all just acknowledge the toll glam takes on our schedules?” she said to the crowd. “Did everyone start getting ready while it was still dark outside? In fact, I think this very speech I’m giving right now probably could have been 20 percent better had I not spent most of yesterday getting ready just to feel presentable enough to read it.”

She continued, “It’s hard to write a speech on the same day you have to get a spray tan, do a fitting, get your nails done and bleach your a——.”

“Let’s just remember that this is the part of our job that men don’t really have to do,” she laughed.

Looking Hot

Glaser joked about getting treated differently when she has makeup on during her Someday You’ll Die special. In the episode, she shared a hilarious story about getting free groceries at Trader Joes after a cashier flirted with her when she looked “hot.”

Messy Updos

“The only safe style for a woman now is when you wear your hair up in a high ponytail,” Glaser quipped while doing standup in June 2023. “Don’t you dare take that from us.”

She also joked that men “own buns” now, and she can’t wear her hair in an updo without it becoming a “man bun.”

Nikki Glaser’s Most Savage (and Controversial) Pop Culture Jokes

“You guys have stolen the most fun, easy style from us. I can’t wear my hair in a bun.”

Rewearing Clothes

Glaser looked colorful in a floral one-shoulder minidress while performing in Florida in January 2024.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nikki Glaser (@nikkiglaser)

“I recycled an @fboyisland dress for you and then I showed up to the show and you all had stylish black blazers and bootcut jeans. I got had!” She captioned an Instagram post at the time.

These Must-Have Products Will Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals in 2025 — Starting at $32

Dr. Vitamin Solutions Store’s Thermogenic Fat Burner promises to improve your body’s ability to burn stubborn fat, boost metabolism, curb appetite and increase your energy. And, while that list may sound too good to be true, shoppers swear that it actually works. Each capsule is packed with a mix of caffeine, green tea extract, apple cider vinegar and garcinia cambogia, all of which work together to release stored fat, leading to impressive weight loss results. The best part? There are no harsh digestive side effects or jitters after you take this supplement — you can easily add it to your routine and go about your life!

Get the Dr. Vitamin Solutions Store Thermogenic Fat Burner for $35 for a pack of 2 at Amazon!

Dr. Vitamin’s Fat Burner is the number one bestseller in its supplement category on Amazon, and multiple reviewers swear that this pick delivers on its promises.

“I recently tried the Dr. Vitamin Solutions Thermogenic Fat Burner Brazilian Lean, and I couldn’t be happier with the results!” one person said. “These weight loss pills have been a game-changer for me. Not only have I noticed a significant reduction in my waistline, but they also helped with bloating. The thermogenic effect really kicks in, giving me that extra boost of energy throughout the day.”

“I recently started using thermogenic fat burner capsules and I have to say, it has been a game changer for my fitness journey!” another wrote. “After trying various products with minimal results, I was a bit skeptical, but this one proved to be different. From the first week of use, I noticed several positive effects. I experienced a significant boost in my energy levels, which has made my workouts more effective and enjoyable.”

“I feel like this product is very helpful with appetite control,” one customer pointed out. “But it doesn’t make me jittery at all. I take it in the morning with a small breakfast. I feel good after taking it and I do feel like I have more energy overall. I could feel the difference in my appetite on day one, and even though I’ve been taking it for several days, it is still giving me the same results.”

With results this good, what are you waiting for? Head to Amazon now to snag those two bottles for yourself.

Get the Dr. Vitamin Solutions Store Thermogenic Fat Burner for $35 for a pack of 2 at Amazon!

Multiple Reviewers Call This Women's Probiotic 'Life Changing'

Fans can expect nothing but fun times with Drew Barrymore on the new reboot of the classic game show Hollywood Squares.

“I want to get out and run around! I want to yell at people!” Barrymore, who will sit in the famed center square on the upcoming series, exclusively shares in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “I’ll pull out a hair extension.”

Hollywood Squares originally aired from 1966 to 1980, with previous reboots running from 1986 to 1989 and 1998 to 2004. The show sees contestants play a tic-tac-toe game to win cash and other prizes. The twist? The squares are occupied by celebrities who give answers to questions posed by the contestants. However, the players must determine if the stars’ answers are correct or not.

Following in the hosting footsteps of Peter Marshall, John Davidson and Tom Bergeron is Nate Burleson. “We’re here to tip our hat, pay homage to those who have come before us and take this show into the future,” he tells Us.

Drew Barrymore Says Renewal of Her Talk Show Was a 'Huge Relief'

Joining Barrymore, 49, in the X’s and O’s this season are stars such as Julie Bowen, Tiffany Haddish, RuPaul, Drew Carey, Tyra Banks, Yvette Nicole Brown, Oliver Hudson, Gabriel Iglesias, Jay Leno, Justin Long, Sheryl Underwood and Jimmy O. Yang, to name a few.

Hollywood Squares has been a game show “favorite” of Barrymore’s for several years. “People like to feel like they’re a part of a party,” she tells Us. “I didn’t understand that until E.T. came out [in 1982] and I saw people congregating and having a collective experience. People lie to be together and they want to laugh and be happy, and then when it comes to the game, they want to win and have stakes.”

As for what makes Barrymore and Burleson, 43, giggle the most on set? “Laughing with each other and at each other,” Burleson shares. “That’s why Hollywood Squares has been on for 60 years.”

He continues: “Think about it: You’re at home seeing people you admire cracking jokes. At the same time, you’re yelling at the screen because the contestants don’t know the answer or you’re mad they went up top instead of going down low on their tic-tac-toe strategy. It gives you the chance to [feel] all of these feels.”

Drew Barrymore Says Her Daughters Are Ready for Her to Get Back Into Acting

Both Barrymore and Burleson have busy TV schedules, also serving as the host and cohost of The Drew Barrymore Show and CBS Mornings, respectively. But when it comes to taking time off, Barrymore jokes that her ideal day-off plans are “boring.”

“I’m a single lady with four cats, so I like to be alone with my cats. I enjoy remote controls in one hand, nachos in the other, watching the Food Network,” she tells Us, to which Burleson adds, “Or [watching] a movie you’ve seen 1,000 times. Sometimes you need to watch something you’ve seen already just to relax into it — familiar and cozy, just like this show.”

Until Hollywood Squares premieres on Thursday, January 9, fans can continue to catch Barrymore on her eponymous talk show, which was renewed for a sixth season last year. “I really did not think at certain points that we would ever get here,” she says of returning for the 2025/2026 TV season. “And so, it is such a gift to everyone doing the show because then they know they have some job certainty. We’re not going year-to-year.”

She adds: “This is such a gift and a privilege that I don’t take one thing for granted, and I’m really excited for everyone who works on the show to take a sigh of big relief.”

Hollywood Squares premieres on CBS Thursday, January 9, at 8 p.m. ET and will move to Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET starting Wednesday, January 29.

With reporting by Lanae Brody

Ricki Lake says she’s “living [her] best life” after losing 40 pounds without any help from Ozempic or other weight-loss drugs.

“I started October 26, 2023, and went on this journey,” Lake, 56, exclusively reveals in the latest issue of Us Weekly while promoting her collaboration with Stone Road Farms for her Ricki Lake & Bake cannabis line.

The Hairspray actress explains that she began by “following a very strict keto diet” that included intermittent fasting and hiking outside “every single day” with a weighted vest.

Since October 2023, Lake has also done Pilates “four days a week,” which contributed to her losing 40 pounds and keeping it off.

Ricki Lake Launches Her Own Cannabis Product Called ‘Ricki Lake & Bake’

“I did not go on any drug because I wasn’t prediabetic,” she says, noting, “There’s nothing wrong with those drugs. They’re actually game changers for so many people. But for me, I did not want to be reliant on a drug if I could help it.”

Instead of using Ozempic or similar GLP-1 medications, Lake shares that she did her “own thing” that was “very specific.”

“I wore a glucose monitor. I wore my Oura ring [which tracks health data]. I prioritized sleep and overall, a low-stress lifestyle. And it worked,” she reveals. “It continues to work.”

Before speaking with Us, Lake says she did a two-mile hike and took a Pilates class, which is her norm.

Inside Ricki Lake's Weight Loss Journey Through the Years

“I took what was once a chore, you know, every day having to work out and get on the elliptical and hate every minute of it,” the former Ricki Lake talk show host continues. “Now it’s a privilege and a joy to be able to move my body, to not be in pain, to see the results [and] to fit in my size 4 jeans.”

Lake rose to fame for playing Tracy Turnblad in 1988’s Hairspray, who she once proclaimed was “pleasantly plump.” Since then, she’s had many ups and downs with her weight.

In 2007, she was Us Weekly’s cover star after losing more than 100 pounds — even giving Us an Instagram shoutout on February 26, 2024, in the same Norma Kamali red bathing suit she modeled for the photo shoot 17 years prior.

“I literally put the bathing suit on for me,” she tells Us. “I was like, ‘I wonder if I could still pull this off?’ Because I’ve kept it [off] all these years. I’ve loved that bathing suit! And I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I look good!’ In some ways I think I look even better than I did then.”

Lake reveals, “For 17 years I’ve kept all the clothes from way back then. And I was like, ‘Why am I doing this to myself? I’m in my 50s, I’m never going to get in great shape like that again.’ And sure enough, they all fit me. In fact, some of them I had to take in and have made smaller.”

“It’s thrilling. I’m not going to lie. It’s the best feeling in the world to have put in this hard work and to be able to feel good in my skin,” she continues. “And to be able to share with the world that I did this. I set my mind to this and look what I’ve done. And then on top of that, I’m just so healthy. I’m so strong. And I just want to keep feeling this way.”

Three years after Lake covered Us Weekly in her bathing suit, she revealed her 130-pound weight loss on Good Morning America. She confessed during the December 2010 appearance: “Being fat worked, and I think that was what was confusing for me for a long time in my career. Through my adolescence and, you know, later teenage years, I got bigger and bigger and bigger. I had the worst, the worst eating habits.”

Kyle! Dolores! Gina! Every Real Housewife Who Addressed Ozempic Speculation

Then when the mother-of-two joined Dancing With the Stars for season 13 in 2011, Lake lost even more weight. At the time, she exclusively told Us that DWTS didn’t “feel like working out,” but she was “covered in sweat” after every rehearsal.

More than a decade later, Lake tells Us she continues to make her health a “priority” and gives herself all the tools to succeed. “I don’t go out late at night like my friends. I have DJ friends, they’re going out at midnight, and I’m like, ‘I’m so sorry. I cannot get there,’” she says with a laugh. “I am way asleep by, like, 8 p.m.”

The former talk show host shares that she goes to bed early and wakes up to workout before the sun rises. “I hike every single day, weather allowed. But even in the rain, I’m just out there [at the] crack of dawn with my dog and usually my husband,” she adds.

Lake notes that over the past year it’s been a “mind flip” where working out is no longer a “chore” but rather something “I love doing.”

She gushes: “I love slowing down and looking at nature and moving my body, getting my heart rate up, getting a sweat on.”

The actress — who teased to Us that she’s working on a lifestyle cookbook that documents her health journey — has also leaned into cannabis to unwind and avoids added sugars.

Last month, Lake announced her collaboration with Stone Road Farms in California for her Ricki Lake & Bake products, which are available in stores in the area.

Ricki Lake Shows Off Her Abs After 30-Lb Weight Loss

“I obviously believe in this medicine, and in Stone Road’s brand and what they’ve built,” Lake said in a press release in December 2024. “It is so aligned with where I am in my life, and I’m so happy to be bringing this out.”

Outside of growing her own weed, Lake tells Us she drinks cannabis at night with her husband, Ross Burningham, before going to bed.

“It’s low in calories. Wine has sugar in it and calories,” she explains. “I’ve recently lost a bunch of weight, and I really prioritize just keeping everything in check. I’d rather have my cannabis drink, which is, like, 40 calories. And still get that nice buzz.”

For more information on Stone Road Farms’ Ricki Lake & Bake, check out their website. Pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now, for more details on Lake’s health journey.

With reporting by Andrea Simpson

Carey Hart and wife Pink seem to have different recollections of a 2002 Saturday Night Live afterparty.

“When my wife and I were first dating, she did Saturday Night Live, and there was an afterparty,” Hart, 49, reveals exclusively in his 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me feature in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. “I met Drew Barrymore, my childhood crush, and we chatted for a bit. My wife swears I was flirting with her, but I don’t remember that! Around that same time, my wife and I did cameos in Charlie’s Angels.”

Pink, 45, appeared on the January 12, 2002, episode of the sketch comedy show for the first time, during which Josh Hartnett made his hosting debut and Pink performed “Get The Party Started” and “Don’t Let Me Get Me.” Hart and the singer had met the previous summer at the X Games and began dating shortly thereafter.

One year after the SNL episode — and the couple’s run-in with Barrymore, 49 — Pink and Hart appeared in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle alongside the actress.

Carey Hart Jokes Pinks Still Calls Him 'An Idiot' 19 Years Into Marriage 

While his day job is racing, Hart returns to the screen again this month on season 3 of FOX’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, which premieres on Wednesday, January 8, at 8 p.m. ET.

“It was definitely the mental side,” Hart tells Us of the most difficult part of the show, which replicates real U.S. Special Forces military training. “To relinquish all of your freedom and decision making, becoming a number, not knowing when it was safe to shower, change your kit or knowing when the day was over [was difficult].”

For more personal stories from Hart — including the proudest moment of his career — keep scrolling:

1. My No. 1 artist on my 2024 Spotify Wrapped was Pennywise, a SoCal punk rock band.

2. Besides my wife, [Pink], Tony Hawk [and] Jon Bernthal are the most famous people in my phone book.

3. I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions, but I’d like to manage stress better. My life is chaotic with balancing family life and two careers. I’m trying to let the little stuff go!

4. I built Pink a custom Indian motorcycle, and there’s no better way to enjoy each other’s [company] than on two wheels.

5. I started riding at 4 years
old. My family wasn’t really into traditional sports other than baseball. It’s what we did as a family, living in Vegas in the late ‘70s and ‘80s. It became serious at age 12, pretty much a job at that point. I raced an average of about 45 weekends a year all over the south and west coasts. The day after I graduated high school, I packed my van, moved to California and turned pro four weeks later.

6. My favorite comfort meal is cream of chicken soup, simmered in a pound of ground beef, over mashed potatoes.

7. My secret talent is that I’m filled with useless information.

8. My favorite books are Anthony Kiedis’ Scar Tissue and Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights.

9. One of my coolest celebrity moments was in the early 2000s, when Brad Pitt and his son showed up to my race shop and office. My good friend was building Brad a custom motorcycle, and we all hung out in the shop with my mechanics.

10. When my wife and I were first dating, she did Saturday Night Live, and there was an afterparty. I met Drew Barrymore, my childhood crush, and we chatted for a bit. My wife swears I was flirting with her, but I don’t remember that! Around that same time, my wife and I did cameos in Charlie’s Angels.

11. My go-to fast-food order is two of Wienerschnitzel’s deluxe dogs and two corn dogs.

12. At the end of my race career in 1998, I enrolled in community college and was going to be an accountant. Then, I was asked to do the first freestyle motocross demo on Warped Tour and FMX blew up that summer, [so] I dropped out to pursue FMX.

13. The proudest moment of my career is being a professional motocross rider — a very old one at that — and custom motorcycle builder. The fact that I still get paid to ride a motorcycle 31 years after turning pro still blows my mind.

14. My most valuable possession is the original bike that I rode when I did my first backflip in 2000 at the Gravity Games. I rode the same bike the next year when I had a horrible crash going for my second flip at the X Games. After I healed up from the crash, I swapped out the parts that were broken, and retired the bike. It sat on the mantle in my living room for a few years. Now, it’s hanging upside down from the roof rafters in my shop where I build Indian motorcycles.

15. The movies I could watch for the rest of my life are The Breakfast Club, Rocketman and Popstar.

Pink Calls Husband Carey Hart Her ‘Muse’ at 2023 iHeart Radio Awards

16. The three items I can’t leave the house without are my wallet, pocket knife and hoodie.

17. Face to Face’s song “Disconnected” reminds me of traveling the country in my van, chasing the supercross and motocross series from 1995 to 1998. I was sleeping in my van four to five nights a week and couch surfing around the country for 30 weeks. I didn’t have two quarters to rub together, but it was a pretty amazing time.

18. I was really good at math in school, but I’m dyslexic and struggled with reading early on. I still struggle to read out loud.

19. My first job was taping and finishing drywall at 12 years old for my pop’s a–hole friends in construction. He wanted to get the point across to me that I need to make money on my motorcycle or with my brain. He owned an asphalt paving company — arguably one of the most brutal jobs and environment in Vegas. I always said I would rob bands before I went to work for him.

20. My ideal vacation is a staycation at home — with no one knowing I’m there — riding my motocross track, shooting skeet and barbecuing with the family.

21. I saved all of my early custom painted helmets and any helmer that had importance to me over the last 30 years. I have about 50 of them hanging in my workshop.

22. The one item left on my bucket list is supporting my son in kart racing. My best memories as a kid were at the races and I look forward to having similar [ones] with my son. He is hooked on driving.

23. The app I use the most is Pandora. I’m a tech dinosaur, so I have my ‘90s punk rock, Led Zeppelin and hip hop BBQ playlists in the background while I’m building bikes.

24. I have a pretty solid suffer rate, and I like to put a hurting on myself with workouts via all kinds of biking or trail walking.

25. The childhood memory that makes me smile is going to Lake Mead or Lake Havasu any weekend I wasn’t racing. I was a river rat and loved to be on the water.