Damon Wayans Jr. concurrently starred on CBS’ Poppa’s House and Apple TV’s Shrinking, which wrapped its second season Wednesday. Though the former’s a show where he works with his actual family, he says the cast of Shrinking provided a similar feeling.
“I will say that my first day on set of Shrinking felt like family. It felt like they have such a warm environment. All the writers are great. And so you can just tell that they know that they’re sitting on fire. Like, you know, they just have that confidence. When you walk in, you’re like, you guys know you’re doing the right s***….,” Damon tells ABC Audio. “That’s kind of how it feels on this show with my dad.”
While season 2 of Shrinking is over, the premiere season of Poppa’s House is currently on hiatus. New episodes are expected to air in January 2025.
Dramatic comedies and crime thrillers dominated the TV landscape of 2024. This year the small screen took us everywhere from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to Regency era London. Here’s a look at the shows and limited series that defined 2024:
-Penelope and Colin finally got together in Bridgerton season 3. The third season of the Netflix series became the sixth most popular title of all time on the streamer.
-Speaking of Netflix shows, people couldn’t stop watching the limited series Fool Me Once. It racked up an impressive amount of views, becoming the eighth most popular title in the streamer’s history.
–Baby Reindeeralso had quite a year. The Richard Gadd-created Netflix series took inspiration from the writer and actor’s real life, and came away with six Emmy awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series for Gadd and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series for Jessica Gunning.
-The real winner at this year’s Emmy Awards was Shōgun. FX’s series based on the James Clavell novel about a power struggle in feudal Japan set a new record for the most Emmys won by a drama series during a single cycle. The show won 18 awards in all, including Outstanding Drama Series.
-Other big winners at the 76th Emmy Awards were Hacks, which won Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy for Jean Smart, and The Bear, which surpassed its own record for the most Emmys won by a comedy series in a single cycle with 11.
–Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV made quite a splash this year, enrapturing audiences with its look at the toxic culture behind iconic children’s shows of the ’90s and early 2000s. The docuseries became the most successful Max title ever reported on Nielsen’s Top 10 charts, surpassing The Last of Us.
Blake Lively‘s It Ends With Us co-star Brandon Sklenar has shared his support for the actress, following her legal action against her It Ends with Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
On Dec. 20, Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios of waging a smear campaign against her and accusing the actor of sexual harassment, allegations which Baldoni has denied via a lawyer.
Sklenar, who plays Atlas Corrigan in the film, posted a message on social media Monday. “For the love of God read this,” he wrote, linking to The New York Times‘ publishing of Lively’s complaint. He tagged Lively and added a heart emoji to the post.
Sklenar’s post comes after Lively’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars — America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel – shared a joint statement on Dec. 22, expressing “solidarity” with Lively in her fight “against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation.” She also received support from It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover and director Paul Feig.
Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios, denied the allegations in a statement to ABC News.
“It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions,” Freedman said.
“These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.”
The daughter of actors Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, shared the news on Instagram in a joint post with her fiancé on Monday.
The post included a photo of an engagement ring and the engaged couple kissing.
In a video included in the post, a candle-lit walkway is seen with an arrow made out of rose petals pointing down the path. It leads to a cozy-looking living room with a fireplace. “We did it,” said a voice in the background. The post is captioned, “everyday.”
Commenting on the post, Tallulah’s sister Rumer Willis, wrote, “The most beautiful love to witness and watch grow. I love you both so much. Justin I’m so lucky I get to call you my brother. Baby Lula my gift my queen my heart is so full. Obsessed with you both.”
Their sister Scout LaRue Willis also posted on social media, celebrating her sister’s engagement.
Acee, who is a musician, and Tallulah Willis often exchange loving posts about one another on social media.
Tallulah Willis, Scout Willis and Rumer Willis are the daughters of Bruce Willis and ex-wife Moore, to whom he was married from 1987 to 2000.
The Bob Dylan movie A Complete Unknown hits theaters on Thursday, and the final trailer for the film just dropped.
While the clip features scenes from the movie, as well as audio of Timothée Chalamet singing the Dylan classic “Like A Rolling Stone,” the main focus of the trailer is all the positive reviews the film has been getting.
Words like “Electric,” “Masterful,” “Hypnotic,” “Brilliant” and more flash across the screen at the beginning of the trailer, followed by quotes from several publications calling it one of the best films of the year.
It also lists all the nominations the film’s already received, including Best Actor Golden Globe and Critics Choice nods for Chalamet, Best Supporting Actor nods for Ed Norton and Best Picture.
A Complete Unknown follows a 19-year-old Dylan as he arrives in New York from Minnesota and tracks his rise as a folk singer during the ’60s to the top of the charts, ending with his electric rock ‘n’ roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
Christopher Nolanwill be drawing on a Greek epic for his next project.
The Oppenheimer director will use IMAX to tell the more than 2,000-year-old story of Homer’s Odyssey, Universal Pictures has announced.
“Christopher Nolan’s next film The Odyssey is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology,” wrote Universal Pictures in a post on social media on Monday. “The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.”
The film is set to feature a star-studded cast, including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya,Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway and Charlize Theron.
Nolan’s most recent movie, Oppeneheimer, won him best picture and best director at the Academy Awards earlier in 2024.
The Odyssey, originally written around the 8th century B.C., is one of the most well-known literary works of all time. It covers Odysseus’ long journey home after the Trojan War.
Animated movies and summer blockbusters dominated the film landscape of 2024. This year, the silver screen took us everywhere from the island of Motunui to the Emerald City of Oz. Here’s a look at the top five movies at the 2024 domestic box office:
-The #1 movie at the domestic box office for 2024 was Inside Out 2. The Pixar sequel follows a teenage Riley, who learns how to cope when she gains brand-new emotions, including Anxiety and Embarrassment. The film is also the #1 animated movie of all time at the box office, both domestic and worldwide.
–Deadpool & Wolverine came in second place. The film brought Hugh Jackman back as Wolverine and had him sporting his yellow costume for the first time in film. The superhero flick also holds the record for #1 R-rated movie of all time at the domestic box office.
-It can’t help that it’s so populer … lar! Wicked is holding space at third position on the domestic box office chart. The Cynthia Erivo– and Ariana Grande-starring film also earned the record for the biggest weekend at the domestic box office for a movie based on a musical.
-Fourth place went to Despicable Me 4. Those little yellow minions returned with former supervillain Gru to defeat an escaped criminal and his femme fatale girlfriend in the animated sequel.
-Finally, Moana 2 sails into fifth place on the list. The Walt Disney Animation picture reunites Moana with the demigod Maui as they embark on a new journey after Moana is called upon by her ancestors.
Blake Lively’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars are supporting the actress amid her legal action against her It Ends with Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel, who starred with Lively in the 2005 hit movie, signed a joint statement on Sunday, offering Lively “solidarity” in her fight “against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation.” The message was posted in a joint post to Ferrera and Tamblyn’s social media accounts.
On Friday, Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios of waging a smear campaign against her and accusing the actor of sexual harassment, allegations which Baldoni has denied via a lawyer.
“Throughout the filming of It Ends with Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice,” read the statement from Lively’s former co-stars.
The statement from the group called out “the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ stories to silence a woman who asked for safety,” adding, “The hypocrisy is astounding.”
“We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment,” continued the statement.
The group also said they were “inspired” by Lively’s “courage to stand up for herself.”
The author of It Ends With Us,Colleen Hoover, also offered support for Lively on social media. “Blake Lively you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met…Never change. Never wilt,” she wrote on Instagram over the weekend.
Robyn Lively, Blake Lively’s sister, also posted a message of support on Instagram Story, linking to TheNew York Times‘ initial coverage of the complaint writing “Thank you, the truth is finally out.”
Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios, denied the allegations in a statement to ABC News:
“It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions,” Freedman said. “These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.”
Lively starred alongside Ferrera, Tamblyn, and Bledel in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, a story of four friends who buy a mysterious pair of pants that fits each of them despite their differing sizes. The film, released in 2005, was based on the popular book of the same name by Ann Brashares. A sequel came out in 2008.
Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Denzel Washington‘s next phase of life includes sharing the word of God as a minister. Days before his 70th birthday, the actor rededicated his life to God on Saturday, getting baptized at Harlem’s Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ. He also received a minister license that will allow him to be ordained and lead spiritual services in the future.
“In one week I turn 70,” he said, according to Archbishop Christopher Bryant, Page Six reports. “It took a while but I’m here.”
He added, “If [God] can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you. The sky literally is the limit.”
Denzel’s wife, Pauletta Washington, also spoke to the congregation, expressing how proud she was of his spiritual journey.
“Forty-six years later, here I’m still standing next to him as only God will have it,” she said. “So I’m very proud of you. You are the head of our house and you have set a great example for our children, who are now adult children who know the difference because we have shown them the difference.”
Denzel has long been open about his faith and Christianity, recently sharing a story about seeing the face of God while on a yacht listening to a song called “The Face of God.”
“I was put on this earth to share, and to be an example, of the power, and wisdom, and grace, and mercy of God in my life,” he previously shared to BBC’s 1Xtra Breakfast host Nadia Jae, later adding, “So my life is not the movies I make. That’s what I’ve been put here to do, or that’s proof of the source of what I’ve been given to do on this earth, and it’s not acting.”
Season 2 of Apple TV’s Shrinking is coming to an end, with its finale dropping on Christmas Day. The season saw the addition of Damon Wayans Jr. as Derrick, a friend of Ted McGinley‘s Derek and the new love interest of Gaby, played by Jessica Williams. But Damon admits he knew nothing about the show when producer Bill Lawrence pitched it to him.
“He was like, ‘Wanna come do this show?’ And I was just like, ‘What is it about?’ He’s like, ‘It’s about shrinks who don’t have their s*** together.’ I was like, ‘Oh.’ He’s like, ‘Harrison Ford is in it.’ I was like, ‘Oh!’ And so I watched,” Damon tells ABC Audio. “I sat and I watched the first episode and I wound up watching the entire first season just in one sitting. And I was just like, I have to be a part of this show. And so I went and I went willingly. And I was just so happy. It was a great decision that I made.”
He adds working with Harrison was “everything that you’d imagine”: “He’s so professional. He’s so quick and he likes to laugh.” With that in mind, he made it his goal “to try and make him break character,” which he did a few times.
“He actually made me break several times, too,” Damon says. “So, yeah, it was fun. It was a lot of fun.”
He praises everyone on the cast, including Jason Segel, who he says “is amazing in the show”; Michael Urie, who is “crushing it”; and his “fave” Williams, noting, “That woman is just … perfect.”
“I’m just so happy to be a part of it because it’s just like you’re sitting there with some titans,” Damon says.
