Megan Elliott | Showbiz Cheat Sheet Senior Writer

‘Married at First Sight’: Did David Cheat on Michelle?

Megan Elliott — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 03:35:00 +0000

Married at First Sight is dropping more clues about the cheating scandal that rocked the season 18 cast. The Lifetime show has been teasing a hookup between two people who aren’t married to each other, potentially leading to the show’s first-ever couples swap. The identity of the people who stray is still a mystery, but a teaser for an upcoming episode offers some pretty clear evidence as to who breaks their marriage vows.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Jan. 14 episode of Married at First Sight Season 18.]

Michelle calls out David for sexting another woman

Michelle and David’s relationship has been rocky since their wedding night. Michelle has been disappointed with David’s sense of style, living situation, and what she sees as his lack of ambition. David has been getting more and more frustrated as Michelle continually rejects his attempts to work on their marriage. Still, they’ve managed to make some progress, unlike fellow Chicago couple Emem and Ikechi, whose relationship has completely broken down. In the Jan. 14 episode of Married at First Sight, Michelle took her husband shopping for a new wardrobe, and they both opened up about their childhood during a session with MAFS expert Dr. Pepper Schwartz.

Unfortunately, any hopes that Michelle and David might salvage their marriage are likely to be short-lived. In a teaser for the next episode, Michelle confronts her husband after she receives a suspicious text message.

“I got a very interesting text message from you last night,” she says. “What was that about?”

We don’t see David’s reply, but later, Michelle again brings up the text.

“Married people don’t go on dates with other women and they don’t sext other women,” she tells her husband.

“I’m not sexting anybody,” he replies.

“Well, for the record, you’re lying,” Michelle says as she gets up to leave.

David isn’t admitting to messaging another woman. But Michelle is convinced that’s exactly what is going on.

“My gut says that he accidentally texted me and that was for somebody else,” she tells her friend.

Does David cheat with ‘Married at First Sight’ Chicago cast member Madison?

If Michelle is right and David is sending racy texts to someone else, the question is who is on the receiving end of those messages. Assuming it’s another MAFS cast member as the show has teased, there’s really only one likely candidate: Madison.

Madison is married to Allen, but their relationship has been rocky as well. In this week’s episode, they had a serious argument about Allen’s decision to drink and drive. And during a session with Dr. Pepper, Madison basically admitted that even though she thought Allen was a good guy, she wasn’t attracted to him. During that conversation, Allen made a telling comment.

“I don’t want to fit a square peg into a round hole,” he said. “Because I see how natural it is for you to interact with everybody else, like the girls, maybe David or something. It’s like an instant, natural hug.”

Allen’s obviously picked up on a vibe between Madison and David. And a few weeks ago, David mentioned that he was working out with Madison, who’d previously said that she wanted Allen to spend more time in the gym. David has also talked about liking blonde women, and Madison fits that description.

Other teasers for MAFS Season 18 show Allen angrily kicking a kitchen cabinet, suggesting that he and Madison have a major blowup about something. Plus, the other cast members seem less likely to be unfaithful to their spouses. Camille and Thomas are building a solid connection. Ikechi is mostly checked out of the Married at First Sight process, while Emem is still fighting for her broken marriage. Karla and Thomas aren’t always on the same page, but neither seems likely to get involved with one of the other cast members. At this point, it looks like the odds are that David and Madison are the season 18 cheaters, and that Allen and Michelle are the jilted spouses.

New episodes of Married at First Sight Season 18 air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime.

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’90 Day Fiancé’ Season 11 Premiere Date and Cast, Revealed (Including the Show’s First-Ever Throuple)

Megan Elliott — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 20:23:54 +0000

Get ready for some serious drama. A new season of 90 Day Fiancé is coming to TLC in February 2025. Six couples – and one throuple – will share their stories as they navigate cultural differences, visa challenges, and other issues on their way to the altar.

’90 Day Fiancé’ Season 11 premieres Feb. 16

Season 11 of 90 Day Fiancé premieres Sunday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TLC.

The new season will feature three new couples, three returning couples from other shows in the 90 Day universe, and, in a 90 Day Fiancé first, one throuple. A teaser (via YouTube) offers hints of what’s to come for the cast.

“I’ve been waiting a really long time for this moment,” says 90 Day Fiancé: Love In Paradise alum Jessica in a teaser as she waits to greet her fiancé Juan at the airport.

But once their partners arrive in the U.S., each pair will come face-to-face with a tough reality. Family conflict, cheating fears, wedding day drama, and more have some cast members wondering if their relationships are as strong as they thought.

Meet the new and returning ’90 Day Fiancé’ couples

Joan and Gregory of ’90 Day Fiancé’ | TLC

So, who’s who in the 90 Day Fiancé Season 11 cast?

Stevi and Mahdi: Stevi, who is from Mississippi, fell for Mahdi, who is from Iran, when she started teaching him in an online English class. Now, she’s bringing him to the U.S. after a whirlwind romance. But he begins to question whether he can really leave his home country behind. Meanwhile, the more he learns about Stevi, the more he wonders if they can really build a future together.

Mark and Mina: Mark, a divorced 59-year-old from New Hampshire, fell for Mina, a glamorous 34-year-old model from Paris. They’ve since welcomed a daughter, who is now 2, and now Mina is finally moving to the U.S. But she struggles to adjust to life in the U.S. without her 9-year-old son, whom she had to temporarily leave behind in France.

Matt and Amani and Any: Matt and Amani have been married for a decade and appear to have a picture-perfect life with their two daughters in San Diego. But they’ve turned to polyamory to navigate some difficulties in their marriage. Together, they’ve fallen for Any, a single mom and exotic dancer from Tijuana. Now, they want to make their arrangement permanent. But to bring Any to the U.S., they’ll need to divorce so one of them can marry her.

Gregory and Joan: Gregory, who is from Long Island, fell for Joan while he was on vacation in Uganda. Now, she’s planning to move to the U.S. so they can be together. But are they really a good match? She’s a highly educated director of an NGO who is looking for stability and security in her life. He doesn’t have steady work and still lives with his mom. Once she arrives, Joan gives Gregory an ultimatum: find a full-time job or she’s returning to Uganda.

Shekinah and Sarper: Shekinah and Sarper from 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way are back. He’s finally arrived in the U.S. from Turkey, and now must prove he can adapt to a new life in Los Angeles. He’ll also need to win over Shekinah’s family, particularly her daughter, Sofie, if they have any hope of building a life together in America.

Shawn and Alliya: Shawn and Alliya made their 90 Day debut on Love In Paradise. Now, they’re taking their relationship to the next level as Alliya moves to LA from Rio de Janeiro. But they have big challenges ahead of them, including a 30-year age gap, the fact that Shawn has kept their relationship a secret from friends and family, and Shawn’s internal struggle over Alliya’s gender transition.

Jessica and Juan: Jessica and Juan from 90 Day Fiancé: Love in Paradise are also back to share the next stage of their romantic journey. On this season of 90 Day Fiancé, Juan moves from Colombia to Wyoming to be with Jessica, their baby, and her sons from a previous relationship. But Jessica isn’t sure Juan can go from being a globe-trotting cruise ship bartender to a full-time dad.

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‘Sister Wives’: Kody Brown Again Chooses 4th Wife Robyn Over His Own Kids

Megan Elliott — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 01:32:35 +0000

Kody Brown is part of a package deal. The Sister Wives star says he’s open to reconciling with his estranged children, but only if they fully accept his relationship with his fourth – and only remaining – wife Robyn Brown.

Kody Brown says he’s ‘holding a hand out’ to his estranged kids

Kody, 55, opened up about the complex dynamics of the Brown family in the Jan. 12 episode of Sister Wives, which focused on his ex-wife Christine Brown’s wedding to David Woolley.

The TLC personality admitted that he was having a difficult time adjusting to not being at the center of his large family’s world. The dad of 18 said it was “different” to be in a situation where he wasn’t getting as much “attention” as he was used to. But he insisted there were no hard feelings, even though he was relying on his kids to take the first step toward reconciliation.

“My children will always be my children and the door will always be open to them,” Kody said. “They’ve got to come through that door.”

While he wanted to have a relationship with all of his children, he said he wasn’t willing to sacrifice what he had with Robyn to do so.

“I’m going to be holding a hand out for that, but I’m going to be holding this hand that’s next to me, and I won’t let go of that hand,” he said. “I will not cut off Robyn to have a relationship with my children.”

Robyn says she and Kody are ‘outcasts’ in the Brown family

Kody is OK letting his kids take the lead in fixing their broken relationship. But Robyn is unhappy about the bitter family fracture. She said she wasn’t shocked when she and Kody didn’t get an invite to Christine’s big day, but the exclusion still stung.

“It didn’t surprise me that we weren’t invited. We’re the outcasts. We’ve been voted off the island,” she said.

Kody has repeatedly said that he needs to stand up for Robyn in the face of his kids’ animosity toward her.

“You’re not going to separate us. They want their dad, but they don’t want Robyn,” Kody said in a 2023 episode of Sister Wives. “That’s not going to work. Robyn and I are going to be like this. We’re going to work this out. And that’s just the relationship we’re going to be in.”

Kody’s son Gabe says his dad needs to ‘take accountability’

Kody’s kids tell a different story of what’s wrong in their family. They say he’s to blame for the rift. If he wants it to heal, he needs to take a hard look at his own behavior.

“I told dad that if he doesn’t change and he can’t take accountability, then I just won’t ever see him again,” Kody’s son Gabe Brown told his mom Janelle Brown in an October 2024 episode of Sister Wives. “And I’m perfectly OK with that.”

Nor was Gabe optimistic about his chances of having a relationship with Robyn, whom he said had “a victim complex.”

“If she actually believes that we were mistreating her or her children in any way when she was constantly getting favorited by dad and we were always working on our relationship with her kids. If she actually believes that, then there’s no chance of me having a relationship with Robin ever again,” he said. “I don’t know, I just, I don’t have a lot of respect for Robyn.”

Sister Wives airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on TLC. Episodes also stream on Max and discovery+.

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Industry Insider Praises Meghan Markle for Delaying Netflix Show

Megan Elliott — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 21:57:59 +0000

Meghan Markle made the right call when she decided to delay the release of her new Netflix show, an industry insider says.

With Love, Meghan was due to premiere Jan. 15. But the Duchess of Sussex and the streamer agreed it was best to push back the release date of the lifestyle series because of the ongoing wildfire disaster in the Los Angeles area.

Insider says it’s ‘sad’ people are criticizing Meghan Markle’s decision to delay her new show

On Jan. 12, Meghan announced the decision to delay the premiere of With Love, Meghan because of the ongoing crisis in Los Angeles. The eight-episode show, which Netflix describes as “a heartfelt tribute to the beauty of Southern California,” will now debut on March 4.

“I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,” Meghan said.

The choice to hit pause on the new show was simply common sense, an industry insider told People.

“Delaying the release of With Love, Meghan was likely an easy decision for her. I don’t think she could imagine putting out a show centered on joy and hosting when so many people in her home state no longer have homes to host people in,” the anonymous source said. “I think it’s sad that critics are saying she’s only doing this to avoid the fires overshadowing her show. We’re all human, and we’re dealing with a catastrophe.”

Justine Bateman calls Harry and Meghan ‘disaster tourists’

Meghan Markle with two women at a home that was destroyed during the Eaton Fire | Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

While Meghan has earned praise for her decision to delay With Love, Meghan, others see her and her husband Prince Harry’s recent moves in a less charitable light. Some critics have suggested that the couple’s efforts to help fire victims are not sincere.

In a Jan. 11 post on X, Family Ties actor Justine Bateman slammed the royal couple as “ambulance chasers” and “disaster tourists” after they visited the World Central Kitchen location at the Pasadena Convention Center on Friday. The duke and the duchess handed out food and spoke with evacuees of the Eaton Fire during their Pasadena visit, ABC News reported.

“It’s great people, great personalities and great heart for them to come out here and meet with the first responders, meet with the people who were affected,” Pasadena mayor Victor Gordo said.

“In the last few days, wildfires in Southern California have raged through neighborhoods and devastated families, homes, schools, medical care centers, and so much more – affecting tens of thousands from all walks of life,” Harry and Meghan wrote in a statement shared on their website. The couple directed people to organizations supporting wildfire relief, including World Central Kitchen, the Red Cross, and Baby2baby. The pair – who live in Montecito, about 90 miles north of LA – have also opened their home to friends who’ve had to evacuate the fires.

As of Monday, multiple fires around LA have destroyed more than 12,000 structures and burned more than 40,000 acres. Twenty-four people are confirmed to have died.

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‘Sweet Magnolias’ Season 4: Everything We Know So Far, Including the Premiere Date

Megan Elliott — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 17:42:00 +0000

Serenity is calling, y’all. Season 4 of Sweet Magnolias is coming to Netflix in February, and we have all the details you need to know about what to expect when the show returns.

When does ‘Sweet Magnolias’ Season 4 premiere?

It’s been a long wait, but the new season of Sweet Magnolias is almost here. Sweet Magnolias Season 4 premieres Thursday, Feb. 6 on Netflix.

Sweet Magnolias, which is inspired by a series of books by Sherryl Woods, premiered in May 2020. Season 2 debuted in February 2022. The third season of the small-town drama premiered in July 2023. Netflix renewed the show for a fourth season in October 2023.

Which cast members will be back for season 4?

It wouldn’t be Sweet Magnolias without the show’s core trio of best friends: Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Helen (Heather Headley), and Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott). All three actors will return for season 4.

What can we expect when ‘Sweet Magnolias’ returns to Netflix?

The fourth season of the feel-good drama will bring storms “both emotional and meteorological,” Netflix has teased.

“While negotiating the twists and turns of their romantic lives, Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen must also navigate the return of old foes, the loss of great loves, and the painful transition from old dreams to new ones,” the synopsis continues. “As the men in their lives pursue their own goals and their teenagers take uneasy steps toward adulthood, the Magnolias support each other with creative problem-solving, deep-hearted commitment.” Sounds juicy!

Fans can also look forward to some special moments in season 4, which will be the first to take the characters through the holiday season, from Halloween to Christmas.

“I cannot wait for you all to see what we have been up to in Serenity,” Swisher wrote on Instagram in May 2024 after the cast wrapped filming for season 4. “It’s been a magical season…for reasons I cannot wait to share … This was BY FAR my favorite season…not just for the OMG moments (there are many of them!), but because it was a joy to make. And, in many ways, it feels like we are just getting started.“

What happened in ‘Sweet Magnolias’ Season 3?

Don’t quite remember all the drama from Sweet Magnolias Season 3? No worries. The season ended with Dana Sue and her estranged husband Ronnie (Brandon Quinn) renewing their vows. At the reception, it seemed that Helen and Erik (Dion Johnstone) might be open to rekindling their romance after she finally ended things for good with her first love Ryan (Michael Shenefelt). But Erik has a new girlfriend, which makes things complicated. Meanwhile, Maddie and Cal (Justin Bruening) were in a good place after experiencing some bumps in their romance earlier in the season.

Unlike seasons 1 and 2, Sweet Magnolias Season 3 didn’t feature any massive cliffhangers. But there were still some issues left unresolved. Most notably, Isaac (Chris Medlin) has not told his bestie Noreen (Jamie Lynn Spears) that Bill (Chris Klein), her ex and the father of her baby, is also his biological father. Nor has Bill shared the truth about his other son with the kids he shares with his ex-wife, Maddie.

Is there a trailer for the new season of ‘Sweet Magnolias’?

Sadly, no. Netflix is keeping things close to the vest ahead of the season 4 premiere and hasn’t revealed any footage from the upcoming episodes. But it has released a few photos from the new season, including one of Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue toasting at one of their signature margarita nights.

Sweet Magnolias Seasons 1-3 are streaming on Netflix.

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‘NCIS: Sydney’ Team Tracks a Rogue Assassin in Season 2 Premiere — See Photos

Megan Elliott — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 21:37:00 +0000

CBS is taking another trip Down Under. NCIS: Sydney Season 2 premieres Jan. 31 with a new episode that sees the team tackling a case involving a rogue assassin.

‘NCIS: Sydney’ Season 2 premieres Jan. 31

Bert La Bonté as Special Agent Ken Carter and Sean Sagar as Special Agent DeShawn Jackson in ‘NCIS: Sydney’ Season 2 Episode 1 | Daniel Asher Smith/Paramount+

In “Heart Starter,” the team must try to “crack the case of a rogue assassin on the run during NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson’s (Sean Sager) chaotic first day as boss,” according to CBS’ synopsis of the episode.

NCIS: Sydney Season 2 airs Friday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. It will also stream live on Paramount+ with Showtime and on demand the next day for Paramount+ Essential subscribers. NCIS: Sydney Season 1 is streaming on Paramount+.

See Mackey and JD in new ‘NCIS: Sydney’ episode

Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Captain Michelle Mackey and Todd Lasance as AFP Liaison Officer Sergeant Jim ‘JD’ Dempsey | Daniel Asher Smith/Paramount+

NCIS: Sydney Season 1 ended on a cliffhanger, with the shocking revelation that Department of Defense office Rankin (Lewis Fitz-Gerald) might have been behind the kidnapping of JD’s (Todd Lasance) son. How that twist plays out remains to be seen.

Todd Lasance as Jim ‘JD’ Dempsey | Daniel Asher Smith/Paramount+

The season 2 premiere synopsis also hints at another twist we weren’t expecting. In season 1, Captain Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) headed the NCIS/AFP taskforce. But there’s apparently been a power shakeup, and now Jackson is at the helm. Swann hasn’t left the show – a photo from the premiere shows her and JD chasing down someone, guns drawn. So we’re very curious why she’s no longer in charge.

‘NCIS’ and ‘NCIS: Origins’ return Jan. 27

Melina Kanakaredes, Katrina Law as NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight, and Gary Cole as NCIS Special Agent Alden Parker in ‘NCIS’ Season 22 | CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Highest quality screengrab available.

NCIS and NCIS: Origins will also return from their mid-season breaks in January. New episodes of both shows air on Monday, Jan. 27. NCIS premieres at 9 p.m. ET/PT, followed by Origins at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

On NCIS, the owner of Parker’s (Gary Cole) favorite bakery is being blackmailed, so the NCIS team hatches a plan to save her from the perpetrators. Also, things get tense when Torres’ (Wilmer Valderrama) secret romance is discovered. “Baker’s Man” features guest star Melina Kanakaredes and was directed by cast member Rocky Carroll.

On NCIS: Origins, the team investigates the death of a famed Marine commander’s son, while a pivotal part of Franks’ (Kyle Schmid) past involving his family is revealed.

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Is Lee (Kavan Smith) Leaving ‘When Calls the Heart’?

Megan Elliott — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 16:19:00 +0000

Hope Valley without Leland Coulter? It’s hard to imagine When Calls the Heart without local businessman and all-around stand-up guy Lee. The character, who has been played by Kavan Smith since season 2, is an integral part of the Hallmark Channel series. But some fans are worried that Smith could be leaving the heartwarming drama.

Lee teamed up with Lucas in the ‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 12 premiere

When Calls the Heart returned for its 12th season on Jan. 5. In the premiere, Lee struggled with whether to accept an intriguing offer from Governor Lucas Bouchard (Chris McNally).

Since his plans to build a resort in Hope Valley blew up in a major way at the end of season 11, Lucas has been attempting to regroup. Lee suggested they turn the resort land into a national park, and Lucas seized on the idea. In “The Mountie Way,” Lucas was full-steam ahead with the park plan. But he knew he couldn’t do it alone. He wanted Lee to come with him to the capital to help turn his park dream into reality. But Lee wasn’t sure that was a good idea. And his wife Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) was firmly against the scheme, since it would take him away from her and their young daughter, Goldie. Only after Lucas promised to name the park after their daughter did Lee and Rosemary relent, with Lee agreeing to temporarily split his time between Capital City and Hope Valley.

Kavan Smith teases his character’s season 12 storyline

Based on the season 12 premiere, it seems Lee will be spending some time away from Hope Valley in season 12. But so far, there’s no indication that he and Rosemary will be leaving town permanently. Neither Smith nor Hallmark have commented on his future with When Calls the Heart, but he is set to appear in future episodes. And from the sound of things, Lee has some pretty juicy stories on the horizon.

Recently, the When Calls the Heart Instagram account shared a video of Smith onstage at last month’s Hallmark Christmas Experience event in Kansas City. He teased what was in store for Lee and Lucas in season 12.

The pair’s friendship “gets tested a little bit,” Smith said. The actor admitted that he was looking forward to the conflict.

“When it was pitched to me … I loved the idea,” he shared. While When Calls the Heart has explored the ups and downs of some of the friendships between the female characters, the male friendships have been more even-keeled, Smith noted. But that’s about to change.

“We have some episodes coming up that are going to be really fun,” he said. “And a little tempestuous.”

When Calls the Heart airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel. Episodes stream the next day on Hallmark+.

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Dr. Now From ‘My 600-lb Life’ Has a New Reality Show — All About ‘The 6000-lb Diaries’

Megan Elliott — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 18:09:00 +0000

Dr. Younan Nowzaradan has a new TV home. For more than a decade, the Houston-based weight-loss surgeon has starred in TLC’s My 600-lb Life, which profiles morbidly obese patients on their weight-loss journey. Now, he has a new reality show, The 6000-lb Diaries, which airs on Lifetime.

Dr. Now stars in ‘The 6000-lb Diaries’ on Lifetime

The 6000-lb Diaries premiered Jan. 6 on Lifetime. The show has a similar concept to My 600-lb Life. Each of the 10 episodes will follow a severely obese person as they fight for a chance to live the life they really want. The stories will be “exciting and very interesting,” Dr. Now promised in an Instagram video announcing the new series.

“Reaching a combined weight of more than 6,000 pounds, and at an extreme breaking point, these individuals are turning to weight loss authority Dr. Now, and his team of specialists, to get life-changing bariatric surgery and acquire the tools they need to deal with emotional eating,” according to Lifetime’s description of the show. “Through intimate diary cams and confessionals, each episode highlights one person’s comprehensive experience as they share intimate inner thoughts, emotional and physical struggles, and their ultimate journey to take back their lives.”

Episode 1 focused on a 25-year-old woman named Chelsey, who has struggled with her weight since she was a child. (She actually was a patient of Dr. Now’s when she was teen.) Now, Chelsey is finally at a point where she’s ready to make a change. But is she really ready to commit to taking the steps that could transform her life?

New episodes of The 6000-lb Diaries air on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime.

New episodes of ‘My 600-lb Life’ are airing on TLC

Viewers who can’t get enough of Dr. Now’s no-BS approach to health and weight loss are in luck. In addition to The 6000-lb Diaries, a new season of My 600-lb Life premiered on TLC on Jan. 1, with episodes airing weekly at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Wednesdays. Episodes also stream on discovery+ and Max.

So, how do the competing weight-loss shows compare? So far, only one episode of The 6000-lb Diaries has aired, but many viewers commenting on Reddit had a favorable response, with several people calling it more positive than the original show. Other fans were just happy that Dr. Now — who is 80 years old — hadn’t stepped away from TV.

“I love how there were rumors of retirement & you hit us with not only a new season of 600lb life, but a whole new show too! Way to go doc!!” one person commented on Instagram.

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Season 2 of Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Reality Show Is Coming to Lifetime

Megan Elliott — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 16:07:00 +0000

Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s story continues. The convicted murderer turned reality TV personality will once again invite viewers into her life in another season of Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup. Season 2 premieres in March 2025 on Lifetime.

‘Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup’ Season 2 premieres March 10

Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup Season 2 premieres Monday, March 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime. A catch-up special, Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup: The Unseen Footage, will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

The new season will continue to follow Gypsy’s “complex life after prison” and her “emotionally charged journey as she navigates her newfound freedom, rebuilds relationships, handles pregnancy, and new motherhood, all while remaining on parole,” according to Lifetime.

In season 2, Gypsy has divorced her first husband, Ryan Anderson, and rekindled her romance with her former fiancé Ken Urker. Amid intense public scrutiny, the couple prepare to welcome their first child while also grappling with the realities of post-prison life. Gypsy struggles to deal with the constraints of life on parole. At the same time, she’s facing a major life change as she prepares to become a mom. That evolution is particularly complicated given the years of abuse Gypsy experienced at the hands of her own mother.

Gypsy Rose opens up about reactions to her pregnancy

In a sneak peek (via YouTube) at the new season of Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup, Gypsy opens up about her pregnancy. She explains that in Louisiana, where she currently lives, the law presumes that her ex Ryan is her baby’s father because they were still married when she conceived.

“I wish that she had gotten through this divorce process before this happened,” Ken says.

To prove he is the father of the baby, Gypsy’s husband-to-be undergoes a paternity test.

“The test is less for the public and more for Ryan to say, ‘Hey dude, you’re not the father. Accept it and move on,’” Gypsy explains.

Proving her baby’s paternity isn’t the only challenge Gypsy is facing. She’s also confronting public criticism of her decision to have a child.

“I’m already seeing comments online saying that it should have been a condition of my parole to get my tubes tied,” she says.

Gypsy, 33, gave birth to her first child, a girl named Aurora, on Dec. 28. That’s one year to the day that she was paroled from prison.

“Welcoming 2025 with the greatest gift of all,” Urker captioned an Instagram photo of Gypsy cradling their newborn.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard ‘definitely’ won’t be a parent like her mother

Gypsy Rose Blanchard | Phillip Faraone/Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, Gypsy has said she plans to take a very different approach to parenting compared to her mom. Dee Dee Blanchard is believed to have had Munchausen syndrome by proxy. That led her to subject Gypsy to a variety of painful and unnecessary medical procedures.

“All the things that I wanted in a mother, I want to give to this baby,” Gypsy told People after she announced her pregnancy. “My mother told me I was never going to get married, raise a family, have kids or do any of that. So, to be here, standing on my own two feet and expecting my first baby, that’s something I’ve reached as an achievement and a personal goal.”

“I thank God every day that I am now having this second chance at life with a kid of my own,” she added. “The way my mother parented me is definitely not the way I’m going to be. We always say for the next generation, we want to be better than we were raised. And so, for me, I think that couldn’t be any more truthful.”

Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup Season 2 premieres March 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime.

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Why Karen Huger Is Skipping the ‘RHOP’ Season 9 Reunion

Megan Elliott — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 01:01:43 +0000

Karen Huger is sitting this one out. On Thursday, Bravo revealed the seating chart for The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 9 reunion, and Huger was noticeably absent. Now, she’s confirmed that she will not be at the reunion following her December 2024 DUI conviction.

‘Real Housewives of Potomac’ star Karen Huger enters ‘private recovery program’

On Dec. 18, a Maryland jury found Huger guilty on multiple charges, including DUI and negligent driving, following a March 2024 car crash in Potomac, Maryland. She is facing up to two years in prison and is set to be sentenced on Jan. 29.

While the rest of the RHOP cast is in New York for the reunion taping, Huger has opted to step away from the cameras in light of her personal problems, her representative said.

“Karen made the important decision to enter a private recovery program, so was unable to attend the reunion taping today,” Huger’s manager Ryan Tresdale told Bravo’s The Daily Dish on Jan. 9. “She was fully supported in this choice. We stand behind Karen as she embarks on this meaningful journey and are proud of her for taking such a significant step forward in her personal growth.”

Huger’s DUI was a storyline on ‘RHOP’ Season 9

(L-R) Jacqueline Blake, Mia Thornton, Keiarna Stewart, Wendy Osefo, Karen Huger, Ashley Darby, Gizelle Bryant, and Stacey Rusch of ‘The Real Housewives of Potomac’ Season 9 | Alberto Rodriguez/Bravo

Huger’s car accident and subsequent DUI charges were a prominent storyline on RHOP Season 9, though Huger was reluctant to discuss the incident in detail. But that didn’t stop her fellow housewives from chattering about the situation. Some felt that the show’s grande dame needed to step up and take accountability for her actions – and make a serious effort to get sober.

“I really think that we need to take her to rehab. We think she needs help,” Mia Thornton said in an RHOP episode that aired in early November.

“She’s endangering people’s lives,” Jacqueline Blake added.

Thornton has apparently gotten her wish that Huger seek help. But not everyone is pleased. Some fans felt that Huger was dodging tough questions by skipping the reunion.

“Karen if u skip the reunion that’s disappointing… you were on our screens saying u will be vindicated now u are no way to be found to explain yourself,” one person commented on Instagram.

However, even though Huger will be a no-show on the reunion couch, we expect her situation to be a topic of discussion among the other attendees. Thornton has snagged a coveted spot next to host Andy Cohen, with Gizelle Bryant on his other side. Wendy Osefo is seated next to Thornton, followed by newcomer Stacey Rusch. Ashley Darby is next to Bryant, followed by Keiarna Stewart, who is also new to RHOP this season.

Bravo has not announced an air date for The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 9 reunion.

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