Exclusives: Celebrity Interviews and Stories | Showbiz Cheat Sheet

‘Married at First Sight’ Chicago: David and Michelle Both Went Into the Process ‘Blind’ [Interview]

Megan Elliott — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 22:16:28 +0000

David and Michelle took a leap of faith when they decided to sign on for the new season of Married at First Sight. The Chicago couple will say “I do” in the Oct. 29 episode of the Lifetime reality series, embarking on a whirlwind eight-week marriage that they hope will end with a “yes” on Decision Day.

As she prepared to walk down the aisle, Michelle had her fingers crossed “that the experts found my soulmate,” she told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, adding that she was ready to “begin the next great adventure of my life!”

David was equally hopeful on his wedding day. While he worried about a bad match or being paired with someone he or his family or friends already knew, he was focused on being himself and doing what it took to make the marriage work.

“I was very confident that whoever walked down the aisle I was going to try my best and just be myself and not someone who I am not,” he said.

David was looking for his ‘ride or die’ on ‘Married at First Sight’

Like most Married at First Sight cast members, David, 35, was not having much luck with traditional dating when he decided to let the show’s experts find him a match.

“I was looking for my ride or die and I wasn’t finding it in the streets of Chicago,” he said. “I had two loves in my life and those however took left turns … they say there are three great loves in your life, so here we are.”

Michelle, 38, had been single for the past six years before signing up for MAFS. As she looked ahead to her 40s, she was ready to settle down and share her life with a partner.

“I was at a point in my life where I was really ready to give my all to someone,” she said.

While Michelle and David were both ready to try something new to find love, neither was familiar with Married at First Sight prior to starting the matchmaking process.

David confessed that he “had never heard of the show.” And despite being cast on MAFS, he still hasn’t actually watched an episode.

“You can say I went in extra blind,” he said.

Unlike David, Michelle “had heard of the show” prior to being cast. But similar to David, she was largely in the dark, noting that she “was not super familiar with” Married at First Sight and “was going in a bit blind!”

David’s mom binged the show after he was cast

David might not have watched any episodes of Married at First Sight, but as soon as he told his mom he was participating, she got busy streaming.

“The first time I had mentioned to my parents [that I was doing MAFS] they had no clue what I was talking about,” he said. “But as time went on with more explanation, and my mother binging the show, she was in shock that this was something I wanted to do.”

Yet David’s mother also saw the advantages of the MAFS process.

“She also told me that it was about time I find a wife as I am getting older,” he said. “I told her, ‘Watch out for what you wish for.’”

Meanwhile, David’s friends initially gave him a hard time about turning to reality TV to find love. But in the end, “they supported me 100% and saw the change and effort I was putting in the whole process.

Michelle said her loved ones knew better than to question her decision to go on Married at First Sight.

“My friends and family were super supportive of me going on the show!” she said. “No one tried to talk me out of it. I think they all knew once I set my mind to something there is really no talking me out of it!”

Follow David and Michelle’s journey on Married at First Sight Season 18, airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

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Anthony Anderson Says John Amos ‘Reminded Me Of My Dad’ in Clip From ‘Black Comedy In America’

Megan Elliott — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 16:31:49 +0000

When Anthony Anderson was looking for someone to play his onscreen dad in his sitcom All About the Andersons, he knew exactly who he wanted: TV legend John Amos. The Emmy-nominated actor (who died in August 2024) was well known for roles such as Kunta Kinte in Roots and Good Times dad James Evans Sr. But for Anderson, the desire to cast Amos came from a more personal place, he says in the Oct. 29 episode of Black Comedy in America.

John Amos reminded Anthony Anderson of his dad

“John Amos reminded me of my dad,” he says in a clip from the Vice TV docuseries, which explores the Black comedic pioneers of film, television, and the standup scene. “And that’s why I cast John Amos as my father in my first show that I created, All About the Andersons.”

All About the Andersons premiered in 2003 and aired for one season on The WB. It followed Anderson’s character (also named Anthony Anderson), a single dad and struggling actor who has to move back in with his parents. In addition to Anderson and Amos (who played Anthony’s dad Joe), it starred Roz Ryan as Anthony’s mom Flo and Aimee Garcia as Lydia Serrano, a student who is renting a room in the Anderson family home.

Men like John Amos were ‘what I wanted my father to be,’ Anderson says

Norman Lear, Anthoney Anderson, and John Amos | Eric McCandless via Getty Images

For Anderson, men like Amos were an inspiration. “As I grew and got older, all of those men stood out to me for what I wanted my father to be when he wasn’t,” he says. “And for what I wanted to be as a father when I became one.”

Anderson has two children, Kira and Nathan, with his former wife, Alvina Anderson. The couple split up in 2022 after more than two decades together.

In interviews, the Black-ish star has spoken about his relationship with his stepfather, whom he sees as his dad.

“He was the only father I knew or cared about,” Anderson told People in 2017. “He raised me as any father would, with love, patience, understanding, and discipline. I’m grateful because he taught me what it took to be a man. He wasn’t perfect, which made him even more of my hero.”

“It takes a helluva man to raise another man’s child as his own and that’s what my father did with no fuss or fanfare because that’s what real men do,” he added.

The ‘Black-ish’ star says his stepdad taught him ‘what it took to be a man’

Anderson’s dad sometimes embraced a tough love approach. After the actor moved back home after college, he insisted on charging him rent and even installed a pay phone in the family room. But Anderson said he learned valuable lessons from his stepfather.

“Again, my father taught me what it took to be a man,” he shared. “Those things were courage, responsibility, love, compassion, patience and understanding. Thank you, dad. I love you and I miss you!”

Black Comedy In America airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Vice TV.

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‘Married at First Sight’ Chicago: Emem and Ikechi Open Up About Searching for Love on Reality TV [Interview]

Megan Elliott — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 23:58:38 +0000

Emem and Ikechi may not have known each other before they said “I do” in season 18 of Married at First Sight. But they already have one big thing in common. Both were willing to hand their romantic future over to the show’s trio of expert matchmakers in the hope of finding love.

The ‘traditional methods’ of finding love hadn’t worked for Ikechi

At 41, Ikechi had grown weary of dating and was ready to try a different approach to meeting his future wife.

“I decided to try my hand at finding love outside of my own means,” he told Showbiz Cheat Sheet. “The traditional methods haven’t worked. I wanted to give it over to experts.”

Unlike some of his fellow MAFS Chicago cast members, Ikechi wasn’t going into the experience totally blind. The college counselor had actually tried out during the show’s Houston season, which aired in 2021. While the experts didn’t find him a match in Texas, he didn’t give up hope. After he relocated to Chicago, Ikechi decided to give the show another shot, and the experts matched him with Emen, a 34-year-old nurse practitioner.

Emem was ready for romance after reaching her career goals

Like Ikechii, Emem decided to turn to professional matchmakers for help finding her partner. For her, it was the logical next step based on where she was in her life.

“I felt I had gotten my career off the ground and was looking to settle down and start a family, which is what I felt was missing,” she said.

Emen knew that Married at First Sight didn’t guarantee a happily ever after. In the last five seasons of the show, only one couple – Nashville’s Chris and Nicole – has stayed together after Decision Day. But Emen drew hope from those marriages that did work out.

“I had seen two seasons of MAFS prior to deciding to participate,” she said. “Not all of the couples stay together but the ones who were determined did and managed to build beautiful lives together.”

How Emem and Ikechi’s friends and family reacted to their decision to go on ‘Married at First Sight’

Once Emem and Ikechi were matched, it was time to break the news to their friends and family that they were getting hitched in just two weeks.

“My friends were excited,” Ikechi said of his friends’ reaction to his big news. “They and their wives were all fans of the show and wanted the best for me. They were in support of me finding my wife.”

Emem’s friends were equally thrilled for her, though her mom was a bit more skeptical.

“My friends were not surprised that I would go on MAFS to find my partner, so they were very supportive of my decision,” she shared. “[M]y family is super protective over me, so there was some reluctance from my mom with me joining the show. As the uncertainty of the process made her cautious.”

Emem had her own uncertainty heading into her wedding day, as she feared she “wouldn’t have a genuine connection with my spouse.” But she was hopeful that she’d end the day with “the partner I’ve always wanted and someone to spend the rest of my life with.”

Ikechi’s concerns centered on the risks of “marrying a complete stranger.” But at the same time, he decided to trust the process and hope “that the experts have matched me with someone I can see a lasting relationship,” he said.

Follow Emem and Ikechi’s journey on Married at First Sight Season 18, airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

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Juan From ‘Married at First Sight’ Chicago ‘Had Nothing to Lose’ By Signing Up for the Show [Interview]

Megan Elliott — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 20:43:05 +0000

Juan is embracing the unknown in the new season of Married at First Sight. After a series of “great but failed relationships,” the 36-year-old Chicagoan decided it was time to take a chance on an unconventional approach to finding love.

“Seeing that I’m nearing my 40s, and hearing that MAFS would be casting its 18th season in Chicago, I made the decision to give this approach a shot,” he told Showbiz Cheat Sheet in an email.

Juan wasn’t familiar with the ‘Married at First Sight’ process

Juan went into the Married at First Sight process relatively blind, having not seen previous seasons of the show. But once he understood the concept, he was intrigued.

“I felt like having the help of professional matchmakers made sense and I made myself open to the experience,” he said. “I had never watched the show to be honest, but after reading a little bit about the show and the process I felt like I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Allowing the MAFS trio of experts to choose his spouse was a leap of faith, but it wasn’t a move that totally stunned those who knew Juan.

“My friends thought I was a little bit crazy for taking the MAFS approach, but at the same time, they were not surprised,” he said. “I’ve always been very spontaneous so this was right up my alley. No one tried to talk me out of being a part of the MAFS experience, everyone in my close circle was extremely supportive.”

Karla was following the signs on her ‘MAFS’ journey

Pastor Cal Roberson, Dr. Pia Holec, and Dr. Pepper Schwartz matched Juan with Karla, a fun-loving hairstylist. They thought the pair had similar energy and would bond because both are from close-knit immigrant families. (Juan is originally from Colombia, while Karla’s parents moved to the U.S. from Mexico.)

Karla, 33, wasn’t sure what to expect from her time on Married at First Sight, but she trusted that the universe was leading her in the right direction.

“I was not familiar with MAFS, and decided to participate after a series of events led me to believe there were signs to participate, signs leading me to the experts,” she said.

Her friends and family supported Karla as she embraced the unique process of marrying a total stranger. “They felt this would be the most magical way for me to meet my love,” she said.

Karla and Juan had high hopes heading into their wedding day

Karla and Juan both had high hopes that their Married at First Sight journey would result in them meeting a person with whom they could build a future. While Karla worried she and her husband might “clash,” she was hopeful for a meaningful connection and that their “ families [would] enjoy each other.”

Juan feared his future wife wouldn’t be “as open as I was about making this the best experience of our lives regardless of how we felt about each other,” he said. His dream? That he’d “be matched with someone that was going to be my forever partner.”

Follow Juan and Karla’s journey on Married at First Sight Season 18, airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

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‘MAFS’ Season 18: Madison and Allen Reveal Biggest Wedding Day Fears [Exclusive]

Megan Elliott — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 22:46:40 +0000

Many people feel some butterflies before they walk down the aisle on their wedding day. And if you’re marrying a complete stranger? Well, then the anxiety only skyrockets.

On Lifetime’s Married at First Sight, viewers have seen plenty of nervous brides and grooms (including one who backed out of the experience entirely at the last minute). Madison and Allen, who will say “I do” in the show’s Oct. 22 episode, definitely had some fears heading into the big day. But for both, the hope that they’d find their forever person waiting for them at the altar helped mitigate whatever worries they had.

Madison from ‘Married at First Sight’ Chicago featured she wouldn’t be matched with ‘my person’

Married at First Sight’s trio of matchmaking experts – Pastor Cal Roberson, Dr. Pepper Schwartz, and Dr. Pia Holec – were convinced that Chicago singles Madison and Allen were perfect for each other, in part because they were both seeking stability after some challenging experiences growing up.

Madison, 29, had faith in the “intensive” MAFS process, she told Showbiz Cheat Sheet in an email.

“With the countless interviews and questionnaires, it really seemed like the experts looked at everything about each individual to try to find someone who would make a good life partner,” she said.

Still, Madison admitted suffering from some nerves as her wedding approached.

“My biggest fear heading into my wedding day was that I was going to be matched with someone who I wasn’t going to get along with and that wasn’t going to be my person,” she said. “I knew it was a risk but I was really looking forward to finding my person through this and finding someone that could be my life partner.”

Allen worried about physical chemistry

For Allen, 35, physical chemistry was a concern. Numerous looks-perfect-on-paper MAFS matches have been derailed because one or both partners just aren’t feeling the vibe with their spouse.

“The only thing I was fearful of was the attraction level,” he said of his Married at First Sight experience. “If I’m not attracted to my partner it would be 100 [times] more difficult to put in an honest effort.”

But like Madison, Allen was putting his faith in the wisdom of the experts. Heading into his wedding day, he was hopeful he and his wife had “natural chemistry” they could build upon to “find the reasons we were matched and work towards developing something real and true.”

Allen didn’t think he’d get cast on ‘Married at First Sight’

Whatever anxieties Madison and Allen felt about marrying someone they’d never met were tempered by a feeling that it was time to try something new when it came to finding a partner.

Madison – who described herself as a “hopeless romantic” – said openness to new experiences meant that MAFS was “right up my alley.” Meanwhile, Allen had tried everything from apps to group activities to meeting people at local bars in an effort to find the one. He had watched past seasons of Married at First Sight, so when a friend’s wife sent him a link to apply for the Chicago season, he seized the opportunity, though he didn’t think he’d actually get cast. But as Allen moved through the screening process, his attitude changed.

“When I started to progress and seriously consider participating, I figured, ‘Well, it’s just another resource to find someone and at least the person I’m matched with will have the same motivations and intent,’” he said. “Plus at that point the success rate was about 20 percent, so I figured what the hell.”

Married at First Sight Season 18 airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

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‘Life After Lockup’: Kimberly Tells Joey He Needs to Get a Job [Exclusive Clip]

Megan Elliott — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 13:34:00 +0000

It’s time for Joey to step up. In this exclusive clip from the Oct. 18 episode of We TV’s reality series Life After Lockup, Joey and his fiancé Kimberly hunt for a new home. But if they want to afford a place, he’s going to have to go back to work, she says.

Kimberly wants to buy a house in the next episode of ‘Life After Lockup’

In the scene from the upcoming episode of Life After Lockup (via YouTube), Kimberly explains that she wants to buy a house. She and her formerly incarcerated husband-to-be Joey have been looking at homes. But it’s “hard” to find something they like that works with their budget. And neither is enthralled by dated wood paneling or signs of vermin infestation. (One property they tour even has dead rats in the sink.)

Kimberly pulls up the listing for a home their real estate agent wants to show them. Joey wants to know the price, and she says it would probably cost $1,500 to $1,600 per month. Plus, they’d need to come up with a down payment.

“That’s a lot for that house,” he says.

Kim tells Joey he needs to go to work

Home prices aren’t likely to get any cheaper, and Kimberly knows the only way they can make things work is if Joey starts contributing financially. But he’s been irresponsible with money in the past, spending her cash on unnecessary luxuries. Still, she’s hoping he’ll change.

“I think it’s time [for you] to get a job,” she says.

“There’s nothing I can do besides heating, ventilation, air conditioning,” he says.

“Do you think you’re going to like this HVAC stuff?” she asks.

Joey admits he’s not thrilled about the idea of crawling under houses in hot weather. Nor is the work exciting. “It was kind of boring when I was in the class,” he admits.

Kimberly wonders if there’s another line of work that Joey can pursue. But he’s not sure what opportunities are out there for an ex-con. (Joey spent time behind bars for breaking and entering, larceny, and identity theft.)

“I don’t know,” he says. “That’s the question I have to ask. I need to be making $1,000 a week. We’re just going to have to get by until we can get everything together like we want to get it together.”

Life After Lockup airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on WE tv. Episodes will be available to stream on ALLBLK every Tuesday.

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’MAFS’ Chicago: Camille and Thomas On Why They Agreed to Get Married at First Sight [Exclusive]

Megan Elliott — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 14:33:00 +0000

What inspires a person to marry a total stranger? For Married at First Sight Season 18 cast member Camille, 32, it was exasperation with the modern dating scene that drove her to embrace a different way of finding love.

“I was really feeling fed up with the dating world and trying to sift through guys’ true intentions when it came to relationships,” she told Showbiz Cheat Sheet in an email. “I was looking to find someone who was ready to match my energy when it came to planning for the long term, and I was hoping that by doing something crazy like marrying a stranger, that person would theoretically HAVE to be prepared to commit to the long term.”

Camille was a fan of ‘Married at First Sight’

Camille, who works as a start-up production manager, didn’t go into the MAFS casting process totally blind. She was already a fan of Lifetime reality series when producers began looking for Chicago singles for season 18.

“I was familiar with the show, having watched the last 5-6 seasons,” she said. “I started watching the show with the New Orleans season and was instantly hooked. I loved the concept!”

The same can’t be said for Camille’s match, Thomas. The 42-year-old banker knew nothing about the show until his brother told him about it. But once he learned about Married at First Sight, he was all in.

“I felt like it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to challenge myself to step outside my comfort zone and place my trust in the experts,” he said.

Camille and Thomas say their families supported their unusual approach to finding a spouse

Married at First Sight viewers know that some cast member’s families aren’t always 100% sold on the idea of their loved one marrying someone they’ve never met. But getting buy-in from those closest to them wasn’t a huge issue for Camille and Thomas.

Like Thomas, Camille learned the show was casting in the Windy City thanks to a sibling. Her sister “saw the casting announcement for Chicago and sent it to me right away to apply,” she said. Her friends were also enthusiastic about the idea. And while her parents were “shocked” when she told them of her decision, they soon came around and “fully supported” her.

“I was so lucky to have the circle around me that I did/do,” she said. “I think they all know that I’m typically a level-headed person who thinks things through before I do them, so they trusted ME and the faith I had to take this leap.”

Thomas shared his decision to do the show with “a small circle” of his “closest friends and family.”

“To my surprise everyone was excited and very supportive of my decision,” he said.

Thomas worried he might get matched with an ex

Getting married to a stranger naturally comes with some anxiety. Thomas worried he might see a familiar face when he walked down the aisle. (It’s happened before – in season 11, Amelia and Bennett had met before their wedding.)

“My biggest fear was that I would be matched with an ex or with one of my bad first dates,” he shared. His biggest hope? “That I would find a soul mate and make a real connection,” he said.

Camille was concerned that her expert-selected spouse might not be as committed to the Married at First Sight process as she was.

“I feared that I’d be matched with someone who lacked perseverance and dedication to making a long-term relationship work, as I’d encountered that time and time again when dating,” she shared. But she had her fingers crossed that her husband would be “ready to do the work, no matter how uncomfortable it could get at times.”

“I was hoping that we would truly hit things off, continue to choose each other every day, and ultimately live happily ever after!’ she said.

Will Thomas and Camille’s hopes for a happy marriage come true? Follow their journey on Married at First Sight Season 18, which premieres Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

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Faith Jenkins of ‘Killer Relationship’ on Choosing Cases for the Show and the Crime That Shocked Her [Interview]

Megan Elliott — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 01:03:58 +0000

A young mother is found dead in her bed. At first, it appears that she died of natural causes. But as authorities dig deeper, they discover a complicated web of lies and betrayal, leading them to suspect that the woman may have been murdered.

The strange 2005 death of Melissa Henderson is one of the cases explored in the third season of Oxygen True Crime’s Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins. The episode focusing on her murder, which airs Saturday, Oct. 12, will feature some shocking twists, Faith Jenkins told Showbiz Cheat Sheet.

Viewers will learn “what kind of secrets someone was keeping,” she teased. “That secret is going to be revealed at some point during the show. And there’s a question of who knew that secret. And when that secret was exposed, who had something to gain from keeping that secret a secret.”

Faith Jenkins on why people relate to the true crime show

Faith Jenkins | Danny Ventrella/OXYGEN MEDIA

Killer Relationship digs into all kinds of stories of relationships gone wrong. Sometimes, that means a spurned or jealous romantic partner taking revenge. But in season 3, the show has “branched out” to explore other relationships, Jenkins said.

“You see more than just former lovers,” she said. “You’re going to see some friendships. You’re going to see some professional relationships that go downhill.”

The variety of entanglements highlighted on Killer Relationship is key to its appeal, the former Divorce Court judge said.

“People relate to this show because they can relate to having a relationship,” she explained.

For some viewers, the show is a kind of education. “They want to see, ‘Were there red flags that people missed, that people should be looking out for?’ In some of our cases, there are some warning signs. But in others, there are not,” she said.

Often, people just want to understand what drives a seemingly normal person to murder.

“What people want to see is, why is it that when relationships go bad, why do they have to become deadly?” Jenkins said. “What happens to take someone from point A to point B? What happens in the middle? And that’s what I think is intriguing.”

‘Killer Relationship’ peels back the layers of a crime

Unfortunately, there’s no shortage of murders committed by a person close to the victim. So, how do producers decide which cases are featured on Killer Relationship? Getting the OK from the surviving family is key, Jenkins said.

“We only air cases where the family has given us their blessing to tell the victim’s story,” she explained.

Cases also need to have an element of the unexpected.

“We like to showcase cases where we’re peeling back the layers throughout the episode, and there’s always a twist,” she said.

That’s where Jenkins’ background as a prosecutor comes into play.

“I’m able to really look at these cases and pull from my own professional experience and offer an opinion,” she said. “Some other shows, they tell the story through a narrator who’s off camera, but I actually interject and talk about the investigation: What’s happening here, what this means, where this evidence is taking us.”

The cases that stand out

Telling stories of murder and betrayal can be difficult, Jenkins acknowledged. And since having a daughter last year, she’s gained a new perspective on some of the crimes featured on Killer Relationship.

“I see the cases with children who lose a parent through a new lens, and I’m much more empathetic and sympathetic to them,” she said.

What’s most shocking about the crimes featured in Killer Relationship is the way that a person can so coldly turn on a loved one. Jenkins mentioned the case of Jacquelyn Smith, which was featured in a season 3 episode that aired earlier this year. When Smith was stabbed to death in Baltimore in 2018, her husband blamed the crime on a panhandler. The case quickly generated headlines as an example of a senseless, random murder in a city where crime was out of control. But the reality was more complicated.

“A family member had set up her murder,” Jenkins said. “They had taken her to a party with them where they were eating dinner with her and drinking and dancing and laughing the entire night, knowing full well they planned to take her life an hour later after that party.”

“Cases like that always amaze me,” she went on to say. “Because what kind of person can look another person in the eye and have that kind of time with them, knowing full well that they don’t plan on them living two hours later. To have that kind of hatred in your heart, but to be able to flip it and act like you like this person and you’re on their side is just really next level, I think, in terms of the psychology of what a sociopath is and just the evil that can exist in the world.”

Killer Relationship With Faith Jenkins airs Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET on Oxygen True Crime.

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‘The Real Murders of Atlanta’: Was a Young Mother’s Death Suicide, or Murder? [Exclusive Clip]

Megan Elliott — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Suicide or murder? That’s the question police must ask themselves after a young mother is found dead in her home in suburban Atlanta. The latest episode of Oxygen True Crime’s The Real Murders of Atlanta dives into the troubling case.

In “Twice as Deadly,” (airing Sept. 21), detectives investigate when a woman is found shot to death in what they believe is a staged suicide. But as investigators dig deeper, they discover eerie parallels between their case and another death.

Victim’s autopsy results puzzle police

In this exclusive clip from the upcoming episode of The Real Murders of Atlanta, police are left scratching their heads when they receive the autopsy results for a woman named Jennifer Corbin, who appeared to have died by suicide.

The examination concluded that Jennifer had no alcohol in her system. But there was a half-empty bottle of wine on the nightstand, which seemed to suggest that she might have been drinking prior to taking her own life. Another inconsistency? Jennifer had been shot in the back of the head – an unusual approach to suicide.

“Looking at the trajectory of the gunshot wound to the back of her head, it was extremely difficult to fire that weapon the way that it did, to enter the way that it did,” explains Edward Restrepo, a former detective with the Gwinnett County Police Department.

More clues suggest that Jennifer did not die by suicide

‘The Real Murders of Atlanta’ | Oxygen True Crime

There were other clues that Jennifer’s death had been staged to look like a suicide.

“Her fingerprints were not found on the gun,” says Danny Porter, former district attorney for Gwinnett County. “And there was no gunshot residue on her hand. And this was an old, beat-up revolver.

“If she had shot herself, her whole right arm should have been covered, there should have been gunshot residue everywhere, on her neck,” he adds. “And there was no gunshot residue found.”

“The gunshot wound was not self-inflicted,” Restrepo says. “Originally, we thought we were dealing with a suicide. And once we got that, we knew we were now knee-deep in a homicide investigation.”

If Jennifer’s death was not a suicide but murder, who was responsible? Detectives will have to look at clues from the crime scene that could point them to the killer.

“When we discovered that things were staged, you’re able to paint a picture,” Restrepo explains. “Of how the person who was responsible for her death would have tried to throw the police off.”

The Real Murders of Atlanta airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Oxygen True Crime.

How to get help: In the U.S., call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor at the free Crisis Text Line.

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Retired NFL Star Vernon Davis Shares Life Lessons and How He Hopes to Inspire Others

Michelle Kapusta — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 23:37:39 +0000

Former NFL tight end Vernon Davis played in the league for 14 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, the Denver Broncos, and the Washington Commanders before retiring from the sport. After a successful career in football, he transitioned into acting and also recorded an album.

Now, Davis has written a memoir titled Playing Ball: Life Lessons from My Journey to the Super Bowl and Beyond. The book details his life journey and the aftermath of former 49ers coach Mike Singletary’s fiery post-game comments about Davis, which prompted him to transform his life for the better.

Showbiz Cheat Sheet caught up with Davis to talk about his memoir, other projects he has in the pipeline, and the current NFL season.

Davis reveals his initial reaction and what he learned after those comments aimed at him

Vernon Davis attends the Kentucky Derby 150 at Churchill Downs | Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Churchill Downs

In October 2008, following a game against the Seattle Seahawks, then-Niners head coach Mike Singletary didn’t hold back in his press conference about the team’s loss and specifically Davis’ actions.

Singletary sent the tight end to the locker room after a penalty for excessive celebration. He then went off about his young player during his post-game presser saying the team “can’t win with him” and described Davis as having a “me-myself-and-I attitude.” It was that speech that inspired Davis to make a change.

“At the time, I was upset. I was hurt and I felt like that was inappropriate,” Davis recalled when he first heard his coach’s blistering comments. “But then, after the fact, I had a chance to think about it and I said, ‘You know what I needed that.’ That’s exactly what I needed to get to where I am today. I’m elated that he was there as a part of my life [and] my journey because he definitely helped me in so many different ways.

“He was that spiritual outlet you needed. That everyone needed. He was a coach but he was also a God-fearing man and most of us [players] couldn’t relate to that … I listened to him and I paid attention. He had a different coaching style but he’s awesome. He was a great coach. He was very motivational and perfect for what we needed at the time.”

Davis added that the biggest thing he learned from Singletary, who wrote the introduction for his book, was “to put the team first, be selfless, and be that team player that you need to.”

What Davis wants others to take away after reading ‘Playing Ball’

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— Vernondavis85 (@VernonDavis85) February 1, 2024

Playing Ball is all about life lessons and positive changes that come out of real life and even tough experiences. Therefore, Davis hopes the book can help and inspire anyone going through a difficult time.

“After reading this book, I want people to feel like they can do anything and feel like they can make it. That’s what this book is about,” Davis explained. “It shows every step of the way I was resilient. I went from a boy out of the hood who looked like he didn’t have a chance at all to where I am now — from playing in the NFL and winning the Super Bowl to becoming an actor to making an album. That’s what it’s about.”

He continued: “As a human being living on this earth you can lose hope. You can feel like you’re not going to make it. You can become depressed, you can have panic disorder, you can be in a space where it feels nearly impossible for you to get out of.

“But then you pick up a book and you read about somebody’s life. Somebody that you know of or someone you may not know of but you know every page in that book is spot on. There are facts and there’s truth in those pages and you’ll find something in there that will resonate with you. And now you have hope. You feel like you can get back on track. And that’s what I want someone to take away when they read this book.”

Davis’ other projects and one team he thinks will make the Super Bowl this year

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In addition to the release of his memoir, Davis also has a movie coming out called Please Don’t Feed the Children. It was directed by Destry Allyn Spielberg, who is the daughter of legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg. The apocalyptic thriller will premiere at the International Fantastic Film Festival on Oct. 11, 2024.

Davis is also working on a brand new podcast. So stay tuned for more details on that.

And when asked which team he thinks has a shot at winning the Super Bowl this year, he laughed and said: “The San Francisco 49ers.”

Playing Ball is available now and can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Hudson Bookseller, Books-A-Million, Target, and Walmart.

Fans can follow Davis and all his upcoming projects on Instagram and X @VernonDavis85.

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