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‘NCIS: Origins’ Season 1 Episode 14 Recap: Mary Jo’s Losses, Explained

‘NCIS: Origins’: Tyla Abercrumbie on Surprise of Mary Jo’s Heartbreaking Losses

Spoiler Alert

Erik Voake / CBS

[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 14 “To Have and to Hold.”]

NCIS: Origins reveals Mary Jo’s (Tyla Abercrumbie) heartbreak in the March 24 episode.

It all stems from Mary Jo’s husband, Marcus (Guy Lockard), sending yubi her divorce papers. Their marriage had been over for years, but they never made it official. They just grew apart, is all she tells Lala (Mariel Molino), who offers to have her sister look over the papers, and Vera (Diany Rodriguez). To Mary Jo’s shock, Marcus is asking for almost half of everything. But that’s all on his lawyer, he insists when she goes to see him; he didn’t ask for anything. She admits she’s not upset about the papers, but she just doesn’t want to forget. A flashback reveals what she means: the baby they lost and whose name is written on the wall of what’s now just her house — alongside three others.

Below, Abercrumbie opens up about Mary Jo’s heart-wrenching backstory, filming those emotional scenes, and more.

How much of Mary Jo’s backstory had you known before this episode and reading the script?

Tyla Abercrumbie: Well, I did know that she had lost a child. I knew that because in my audition, I was actually having a conversation with Gibbs [Austin Stowell] about losing a child. So I knew that they had maybe had that somewhere planned for her, but I did not know the extent to which — how many children she had lost or how she lost her children, at what stage. And so that was all very new for me. I got the script a week before or maybe three to four days before we actually began shooting on it, so it was a surprise to me as it was for everyone else.

Erik Voake / CBS

But the collaboration [with coshowrunners Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North] brought about knowing that I wanted Mary Jo to have a life outside of work, that I wanted her to need from others because she is, like you said, helping everybody. She’s carrying the whole world on her back. And I felt that part of that for me, that is not only a way that women were viewed in the ‘90s, but it’s also a way Black women are viewed consistently, that they can take care of everybody else, but they don’t have a life. And we discussed that. So I knew a little, and then I didn’t know she was going to lose as many children as she’s lost or about the divorce. We talked about, how did I want a man in the life of Mary Jo? And so [I knew] very little, [and was] just as surprised as everyone else, put it that way.

We see the wall and then all the names…

Right? Gut-wrenching, right?

Yes. So if her ex hadn’t taken the step with the divorce papers, what would it have taken Mary Jo to do so?

I believe that she wouldn’t have made that move unless she met another person that was very important to her and she felt like, how can I move forward in this relationship without closing off this marriage? I think that when you become comfortable and safe — you think that you’ve wrapped this up, it’s off there. It’s not bothering you, he hasn’t mentioned it, I haven’t mentioned it, it’s comfortable that way. We are both comfortable being attached but detached. So I don’t see that she would’ve done anything.

That actually isn’t unusual in marriages where people separate for long periods of time, especially if they don’t have children and they don’t even go back to it, and people that are still in love with each other, but they have dysfunction. They’ve moved on and they’re living in different places, but they still have love for each other and it is comfortable. So I think people don’t move on until there’s healing. And what Marcus does when he sends the paper is he’s healing, and healing means that you must have closure. So he forces her to have closure, but I don’t think she would’ve done it.

And it’s understandable because anytime she sees him, that’s all she can think about. There’s no way that they can think about anything else except their losses when they see each other.

And that conversation gets stale, right? It’s like, what do we have to talk about now? Because we’re not even in each other’s lives. And I imagine it to be a conversation that you want to keep comfortable because you don’t want to reflect, you don’t want to blame, you don’t want to feel guilt or shame. When people lose their children, especially through miscarriage, I think people can’t help but feel a degree of fault. And it’s not anyone’s fault. You can’t predict it. Women face death 10 times when they’re in childbirth, but I think parents can’t help but feel like, what didn’t we do or what could we have done better? That conversation can just become laden with emotion and not allow you to move forward because you keep thinking about this family, this life I thought we would have. And instead we just have this brokenness and these babies that never — we didn’t get to see grow and go to school and get married, and how do you fix that? And that’s not unusual when relationships have something so emotionally tragic that they can’t move forward even if they’re in love.

I have to say I was offended for Mary Jo when she got the divorce papers and she’s like, ‘He wants what?’

I was offended by that, too. Let me tell you, when I saw it, I was just like, now, wait a minute. We cannot write this brother out here asking for alimony and half the house.

But it led to that really good scene between the two of them.

I loved it because I think that the visceral reaction that I had, and you had, and everybody else is going to have, but then we go further, which is a beautiful thing that Gina and David have done is like they set you up to be like, what? Even when Franks [Kyle Schmid] says, “Mary Jo, get it right,” or whatever he accuses her of, Mary Jo made a mistake. You’re like, what? And then you get this beautiful resolve with them, with her telling him, we don’t get to walk away from what we have to do. Then he goes and says the same thing to Randolf [Caleb Foote] and Randolf is repeating it. And so you get to be upset and then like, “Oh, okay. Alright. Here they go in Origins getting me all emotional.”

Speaking of, I’m really enjoying the Mary Jo and Franks scenes — that dynamic is so good.

Yes, I love it. I love working with Kyle Schmid. He’s amazing. I do love that we have this work marriage, and I think that’s also very fulfilling to Mary Jo, to have this work marriage where nobody else can talk to him and get him right except for her because she feels very comfortable in, what are you going to do to me? I think you feel that comfortable with people when you know you need them and they know that you need them and they need you, and that comfort allows you to be honest with that person. It’s like, I’m never going to not be honest with you and I’m always going to have your best interest at heart because I love you as a person. And I think Mary Jo and Franks have that. There is a solid respect and a love for one another, and so they’ll be those people who can be mad at each other and still communicate. They don’t have to shut down.

Sonja Flemming / CBS

He knows that place would fall apart without her.

He knows that. He knows that he depends a lot on her. And when you know that, even though you don’t acknowledge it, I think that you can respect the person that you have that connection with.

Talk about filming the flashbacks with Mary Jo and her husband, and then with that reveal. It was so emotional to watch. 

It was very emotional. It was a very exhausting day in fact. Working with Guy Lockard was great. It was great because he was so ready to be available. And that was the first time we were meeting; we’d never met before as actors on any other project, and we didn’t know each other beforehand. It is not easy to show up and be emotional with someone that you never had any type of communication with. So I really applaud him, which is all of our jobs, to be ready and available and do what we’re asked to do. That’s not a surprise that he would show up like that, but it felt really great and supported to show up, know I have to have this through line for this character, and my scene partner was like, let’s do this.

It was very exhausting, a lot of crying. And on top of that, the next day, I’ll never forget, oh my God, it’s so funny to me — that day had taken so much out of me and like Mary Jo, I felt like, “Okay, I did my job well yesterday. Oh, that’s so good.” I showed up the next day, and my brain was fried. I was stumbling over lines. I was transposing sentences. Oh, I just felt so bad because I don’t know if my brain was exhausted or I was just emotionally drained because the truth of it is, I am acting a character, but my brain and body don’t know that this isn’t real. I surrender to the truth of what I’m doing, and I think we sometimes forget that you can’t just shake it off and show up and be like, now what do I have to do?

And for Mary Jo in particular, that was the first time I had to do that. Normally I’m just running around the office and talking and carrying on. This was the first time I had to have my emotional day and then show up and be the old Mary Jo. And I was like, oh no, my brain wasn’t clicking. So it was very difficult. It was beautiful because I love being able to have emotional scenes and tell a little more about her and let people see something else besides her in the office.

NCIS: Origins, Mondays, 10/9c, CBS

‘Call the Midwife’: Jenny Agutter Teases Big Changes in Poplar in Season 14

Preview

Neal Street Productions

Welcome to 1970. In Call the Midwife Season 14, the groovy opener (airing March 30 on PBS) comes into the decade strong with storylines involving teenage pregnancy, political strikes, and more drama for the East London community of Poplar. Jenny Agutter, who has played Sister Julienne since the start, says that creator Heidi Thomas‘ Dickensian-style storytelling has created “quite a strong story” in the first installment, with a teen pregnancy that is handled in a way that only Midwife can.

She’s referring to the plight of a 14-year-old with child who “becomes a problem for Dr. Turner [Stephen McGann] and the nurse,” teases Agutter, because her deeply religious family believes it’s an immaculate conception. “They try to get the girl to denounce the devil,” she adds. “It’s scary stuff.”

Meanwhile, Sister Julienne and her longtime colleague Trixie (Helen George) are fighting back against a Board of Health that wants the state in control of the district’s healthcare. But as workers strikes and a building explosion caused by lack of regulatory checks later this season show, yubi the state often fails the people, making the midwives’ grassroots aid vital. They really do have a higher calling!

Agutter also promises that burning questions from the Call the Midwife 2024 Christmas special will be answered in the premiere. It “is a conclusion” to all the loose strings. Overall, Season 14 is, in a word, about “poverty,” says the star. “Poverty and all the social issues that come out of it, the abuse that might happen, the difficulties.”

“It seemed like the ’60s brought a lot of growth and optimism,” Agutter explains. “And you’ve had a Christmas episode, which is actually half of a story. So it must be rather tantalizing for people because it doesn’t actually complete at all until you get into March, and you see that second half. And as I say, it being a completion of a Christmas episode, really it has the sense of joy of people getting together and enjoying a period of time together with family and making that family work in a community.”

“But it also shows the beginnings of what one’s feeling in 1970, which is the problems that come out of expecting more from might’ve been offered and what actually is on offer,” she continues. “We have strikes, people unhappy about what they’ve got. As far as Julienne’s concerned, the [Board of Health] really want Nonnatus House out of the game, so their sense of control there is being diminished. But they serve the community, and oftentimes when you hand over to state to take care of everything, it doesn’t actually take care of all those things.”

PBS / BBC Studios

That’s where the explosion later this season comes in. It’s brought about by the fact that “there haven’t been enough checks on the building” with the state managing housing regulations, Agutter shares. “It’s a very poor tenement building and fortunately there are no injuries, but it’s a sign of something falling apart, going wrong,” she says.

Homelessness and racism are also prevalent in Poplar in Season 14. “We’ve got an extremely good nurse who’s from Trinidad who’s joined us, and someone that Sister Julienne is very proud to have as part of her team,” Agutter reveals. Julienne is later shocked to learn that a patient throws out false accusations about this nurse alleging negligent medical care. Agutter says “it purely comes because she doesn’t like being touched by this person.”

“There’s also issues like spina bifida that comes up, the difficulties that sometimes come with we’re getting less home births, more births in the hospital, and then people being dismissed from hospital early and not being followed up,” Agutter adds.

Adding to those troubles is Nonnatus House’s increasingly diminished power to handle things themselves, aka state control places time-consuming roadblocks to their solutions.

“It’s one of those issues as to, if you don’t have the authority to do something yourself and you’ve got to run by the guidelines, it’s like what happens with education and all the rest of it,” Agutter shares. “Things become very difficult to do because you are being monitored all the time for what you can and can’t do. And then you can’t run things efficiently in your own way.”

Run-ins with the local council will be impossible, as Nonnatus now own their building, so they have the issues of having to take care of that building as well. They go to the council for help that, but they’re not particularly wanting to help with that.” Sister Julienne will spend much of this season figuring out “how to continue” the good work of Nonnatus House, “how to keep it going and what they can do” now that the government is stepping in so strongly.

Times certainly are changing in Poplar. From the set design to the fashion of the times, everything is going to look different. But as Agutter says with a laugh, “Unfortunately, the habits stay the same.”

Call the Midwife, Season 14 Premiere, Sunday, March 30, 8/7c, PBS (check local listings at pbs.org)

Everything We Know About ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 So Far

Nick Mohammad as Nate in ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Courtesy of Apple TV+

The belief is strong, so strong that Apple TV+’s smash hit comedy series Ted Lasso is officially back on the pitch for a fourth season.

Rumors and buzz around a fourth season began with Deadline’s exclusive report about Warner Bros’ Television’s initial pick up options on three original cast members who had been contracted under the aegis of the UK acting union Equity. Deadline broke this news in August 2024, but now the return is for sure happening with creator and star Jason Sudeikis on board.

Find everything we know about Ted Lasso Season 4 below:

Who is returning for Ted Lasso Season 4?

Deadline first reported that Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein and Jeremy Swift had been secured for a fourth season of the fútbol series. Waddingham portrays AFC Richmond owner Rebecca Walton, whose arc over three seasons took her from vicious enemy to vital friend. Goldstein, who recently went in front of the camera in Shrinking Season 2, another show he co-creates with Bill Lawrence — who worked on the first two seasons of Ted Lasso with Goldstein writing and acting, plays gruff retired footballer and now assistant coach of AFC Richmond Roy Kent. Swift portrays Director of Football Operations and Diamond Dog member Leslie Higgins.

Jason Sudeikis, who created the show with Bill Lawrence based off an NBC skit he did back in 2013 for an ad campaign where he first brought Coach Ted Lasso to life following his meaner version of the character on Saturday Night Live, confirmed his return for Season 4 on the New Heights podcast co-hosted by American football players Travis and Jason Kelce.

Deadline broke the news that the series will recast for the role of Ted’s son Henry (previously portrayed by Gus Turner). Now aged 12, Henry, who FaceTimed his dad a lot in Seasons 1-3 of the series, has become a skilled soccer player himself.

When Deadline first heard of the trio of option pickup contracts, Phil Dunster, who plays Jamie Tartt in the TV show, wasn’t among them due to a scheduling conflict with another series. He has since committed on to a regular role on a new HBO comedy opposite Steve Carrell, which also comes from from Ted Lasso executive producer Bill Lawrence and Warner Bros TV.

Juno Temple, who portrays Keeley Jones, first girlfriend to Dunster’s Jamie Tartt and later Brett Goldstein and then her own PR boss for AFC Richmond and beyond. Brendan Hunt currently doesn’t have an acting deal in place, he already has been working in the writers room with Sudeikis — who will star and write and produce — and fellow OG cast member Goldstein who also pulls double duty of starring and writing.

L-R: Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent, Juno Temple as Keeley Jones and Phil Dunster as Jamie Tartt in ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 3 Courtesy of Apple TV+

What will Ted Lasso Season 4 be about?

As far as we know, Season 4 will pick up where Season 3 left off, but it will hop across the pond to Kansas where Sudeikis’ Lasso returned at the end of the third season. The titular leader figure will then head back to the UK, and the below statement from Sudeikis will give viewers a clue as to why:

“As we all continue to live in a world where so many factors have conditioned us to ‘look before we leap, in season four, the folks at AFC Richmond learn to LEAP BEFORE THEY LOOK, discovering that wherever they land, it’s exactly where they’re meant to be,” he said.

L-R: Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso and Hanna Waddingham as Rebecca Walton in ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 3 Courtesy of Apple TV+

Will there be new characters in Season 4 of Ted Lasso?

Casting of new roles is expected to begin shortly, with production eying a July start, sources told Deadline.

What about the footballers? Which soccer players are returning for Ted Lasso Season 4?

Since Sudeikis mentioned “folks” at AFC Richmond and not necessarily players, this could signal a shift in the team featured in Season 4, and Sudeikis confirmed a popular fan theory after the Season 3 finale on the New Heights podcast as well. Ted Lasso will indeed, be coaching a women’s soccer team in Season 4.

“We’re writing Season 4 right now,” he told the Kelce brothers after they asked if Season 4 was in the works. “Ted’s coaching a women’s team.”

Has Ted Lasso Season 4 started production yet?

Sources told Deadline that production is aiming to start in July after casting new characters.

When does Ted Lasso Season 4 come out?

Since the soccer show hasn’t cast everyone or started production yet, the release date is not clear.

Who else is behind the making of Ted Lasso Season 4?

The Season 4 writing team, featuring mostly Ted Lasso alums, has already been working on scripts for a couple of months. Deadline hears the writers room is led by co-showrunners Sudeikis and new series addition Jack Burditt (Modern Family, 30 Rock), a comedy veteran who recently played a key role on the first season of Netflix’s Nobody Wants This.

Sudeikis, Hunt and Goldstein are executive producers alongside fellow returning Ted Lasso writers-producers Joe Kelly, Jane Becker, Jamie Lee, Bill Wrubel and Leann Bowen. Also back in the Ted Lasso writers room are Phoebe Walsh and Sarah Walker as producers, Sasha Garron as co-producer, and Dylan Marron as story editor. In addition to executive producer/co-showrunner Burditt, who has signed an overall deal with Apple TV+ upon joining the show, new to the team is staff writer Julia Lindon.

Lawrence, who developed the series with Sudeikis, Kelly and Hunt, is a non-writing executive producer via his Doozer Productions alongside the company’s Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer. Lawrence is also working on Season 2 of Apple’s Bad Monkey as well as Season 3 of the hit comedy series Shrinking which stars Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Christa Miller and many more.

[VERY SAD] Longtime announcer for MASN Bob Carpenter is STEPPING AWAY. The Washington Nationals will have to find a new play-by-play broadcaster next season

Nationals Broadcaster Announces He Will Step Away After Upcoming Season

Apr 20, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; A general view of third base during the second inning between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros at Nationals Park. | Scott Taetsch-Imagn Images© Scott Taetsch-Imagn Images

The Washington Nationals will have to find a new play-by-play broadcaster next season.

Longtime announcer for MASN Bob Carpenter has revealed during a broadcast of Monday’s exhibition game – which was canceled due to rain and is not scheduled to be made up – that he is stepping away after the 2025 season in order to focus on his responsibilities as a husband, father, and grandfather.

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“I’ve got a new deal working for next year as a full-time husband, dad and grandpa,” Carpenter said. “My objective is to, all season long, thank you Nats fans for the way you’ve been to my wife, Debbie, and I and our family over these 19 years previously. Let’s make No. 20 a lot of fun.”

“It’s my hope that I can stay involved with the ballclub and with the telecast to a certain extent in the future. How that will look, nobody knows at this point.”

Carpenter – who has been with the franchise since 2006 – will be calling his 20th season in Washington this year and is extremely popular among the fanbase, known for his trademark “see you later!” home run call.

“This has been on my mind for quite a while,” Carpenter revealed last week in an interview. “And I’ve got to tell you, it’s the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make. Because I feel like I still have my fastball. I don’t feel like I’ve lost it yet. But I’ve seen some guys who stayed too long, and I don’t want to be one of those guys

Before arriving to the Nationals, Carpenter was also a play-by-play voice for the St. Louis Cardinals and ESPN. In 2014, he received the prestigious honor of being named the co-D.C. Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

Fans in Washington will remember Carpenter’s call of numerous huge moments including the franchise’s first World Series winning season in 2019.

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For the last several seasons, Carpenter had been operating in a slightly lessened role in order to allow him to spend time with his family, a role he will keep the same for his final season. Regardless however, Nationals fans will surely cherish this last season with a voice who had become synonymous with baseball in the nation’s capital.

Washington gets their season started on Thursday afternoon with a three-game home series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

While fans were already excited for the campaign to begin, the final season of listening to Carpenter gives them another reason to look forward to baseball beginning in 2025.

‘American Idol’ & ‘The Voice’ Ratings Revealed: Which Show Has More Viewers?

Adam Levine and Carrie Underwood© The Voice YouTube; American Idol YouTube

American Idol and The Voice have both seen major shake-ups for their current seasons, but which show is bringing in the most viewers?

Season 27 of The Voice premiered on February 3, 2025, on NBC and saw the return of former coach Adam Levine, back for his seventeenth season after last coaching during Season 16. Levine joined returning coaches John Legend and Michael Bublé and first-time coach Kelsea Ballerini.

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Meanwhile, Season 23 of American Idol premiered on ABC on March 2, 2025, and saw season four winner Carrie Underwood joining the judging panel to replace Katy Perry. Underwood serves as a judge alongside regulars Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

According to The U.S. Sun, The Voice is currently winning the ratings war between the two long-running singing competitions. The March 17 episode of The Voice brought in 5,237,000 total viewers for NBC, almost a million more than Idol‘s March 16 episode, which brought in 4,510,000 total viewers.

The March 9 episode of Idol, which featured Part 2 of the Auditions, amassed 4,494,000 total viewers. In comparison, the March 10 episode of The Voice had 5,470,000 total viewers.

In fact, the only episode of Idol to beat The Voice so far this season was the premiere on March 2, which aired immediately after the Academy Awards. That episode brought in 5,905,000 viewers, compared to The Voice‘s 5,646,000 viewers for its March 3 episode.

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The Voice’s premiere on February 3 reached 5,684,000 total viewers.

Idol faced controversy earlier this year when some fans vowed to boycott the show after Underwood performed “America the Beautiful” at President Donald Trump‘s inauguration.

“I will not watch anymore with MAGA Carrie!! I’ve been a fan since the beginning and Kelly Clarkson’s win, but no more. Sad for all fans of the show!” wrote one viewer on social media.

Another added, “I won’t be watching maga Carrie!!!! Sad, because I really love the other 2 judges… when she leaves the show then I’ll return.”

Underwood later shared a statement with People, explaining her decision to perform at Trump’s inauguration. “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” she said. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”

American Idol, Season 23, Sundays, 8/7c, ABC

The Voice, Mondays, 8/7c, NBC, streaming on Peacock

Read the latest entertainment news on TV Insider.

Several factors make Ryan Seacrest’s future with the Wheel of Fortune UNCERTAIN. And there’s official word on when he might LEAVE

Is Ryan Seacrest leaving ‘Wheel of Fortune?’

Is Ryan Seacrest leaving ‘Wheel of Fortune?’

Is Ryan Seacrest leaving ‘Wheel of Fortune?’

Ryan Seacrest’s time as host of Wheel of Fortune, which started in September 2024, has been surrounded by a lot of speculation about how long he will stay. Although there’s no official word on when he might leave, several factors make his future with the popular game show uncertain.

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One major factor is his contract with ABC. It’s reported to be a multi-year agreement, but details about its length differ, with The Sun reporting that it might only cover two years. This relatively short term raises questions about the possibility of him exiting in 2025. The lack of clarity surrounding his contract adds to the uncertainty, especially in light of other elements.

Ratings during Seacrest’s hosting were almost immediately compared to those of his predecessor, Pat Sajak. Initially, Seacrest had strong ratings, but a recent drop below those of Jeopardy! in late January 2025 has sparked concerns about how viewers are responding to his hosting. This decline, per Radar Online, comes after an early surge in audience numbers and shows a possible change in viewer interest.

Is Ryan Seacrest out as the host of Wheel of Fortune?

That’s hard to back up, as new hosts tend to draw in more viewers at first. This is the audience trying to get an opinion of the new host and their style. So the drop would generally be normal, as those who weren’t fans to begin with likely would have just watched to see how Seacrest did.

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The option of Pat Sajak returning to the show adds to the speculation. Reports suggest that Sajak, who left in 2024, wants to come back. After a guest appearance on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, he seems to feel supported by fans and is reportedly unhappy with how he left. The exact reasons for his departure are unclear, but it appears there were disagreements with show leadership before his exit.

Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for CBS Media Ventures / Sony Pictures Television

Additionally, the growing involvement of Maggie Sajak, Pat Sajak’s daughter, introduces more complexity. She has become more active on social media for the show, leading to guesses that she could be set up as a future host if a position opens up. This aligns with the uncertainty regarding Seacrest’s contract.

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Criticism of Seacrest’s hosting style has also surfaced. There are reports of negative feedback from viewers and concerns from show leadership are contributing to the ongoing discussion about his role. Finally, Seacrest’s many other commitments — like hosting American Idol, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, and On Air with Ryan Seacrest — might affect his focus and performance on Wheel of Fortune. However, that is more speculation, as only those behind the scenes know if he’s doing poorly there.

Unfortunately, there’s no clear answer about Seacrest’s future on Wheel, the combination of a potentially brief contract, changing ratings, the possibility of Pat Sajak’s return, Maggie Sajak’s increasing involvement, criticisms of Seacrest’s hosting style, and his other work commitments create significant uncertainty. His future likely depends on his performance as host throughout 2025. This may be a case where the next few months are likely to provide more insight into the show’s future and Seacrest’s role in it.

If he can’t meet the responsibilities or just isn’t well-liked, there may be changes before the times that are thought of. However, if he starts to soar in the ratings, there is no doubt that a contract favoring Seacrest will likely appear.

Vanna White Shares Shocking ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Detail

Wheel of Fortune co-host Vanna White has worn more than 8,000 gowns on the show since she appeared as a guest host in 1982.

White, who joined the show in a full-time role in 1983, revealed the shocking detail in an interview on The Drew Barrymore Show on Thursday, March 20.

White, who served as a tile turner during Pat Sajak’s run and now for Ryan Seacrest, has worn a different look for every single episode.

That’s quite a few different costume changes for White, for previously revealed that she films “six shows a day” for 34 days each year.

“I don’t get to keep them, but they do let me borrow them for [events]. The Emmys or whatever… Every day a different dress for all of these years. 42 years,” White told Drew Barrymore. As for whether or not White has wanted to take the clothes home, she says the last thing that she wants to do is get dressed up when she’s not at work. White’s son, Nikko Santo Pietro, who was also a guest on Thursday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, drove that point home when he revealed that his mom has been known to have “full PJs days” when she’s at home.

White has been doing some Wheel of Fortune promotion this year, sharing an inside look on what it has been like to be a part of the popular game show for so long.

Of course, she’s been a staple on the show for as long as most people can remember.

When Sajak announced his departure from the program, some viewers wondered if White would also retire.

However, she inked a deal to keep her on the show for two more years.

“When I heard that Pat was retiring, I thought maybe I should retire too. But I’m not ready! We’ll see toward the end of those two years how I feel. I thank God after all these years that I still love my job,” she told TV Insider in an interview published in May 2024.

Vanna White ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contract Extended Through 2026

Following tense negotiations, it’s been confirmed Vanna White‘s contract on Wheel of Fortune has been extended for the next two years, as the series ushers in Ryan Seacrest as new host. Longtime host Pat Sajak previously announced this year his plan to retire after Season 41, which began earlier this week.

Wheel of Fortune‘s long-time letter-turner last had a pay raise 18 years ago, and so she was looking for a significant bump as negotiations for a new contract ensued.

It was reported earlier this year that White had agreed to a new deal for ABC‘s Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, but was still negotiating a pay bump for the syndicated show as her contract for 2024 was almost up.

According to TMZ, White’s lawyer Bryan Freedman told Sony Pictures his client was looking for 50% of what [Pat] Sajak makes.

However, a source has told People that the previous report was “inaccurate,” including the claim that White accepted an offer of $100,000 per episode to continue the Celebrity edition of the show.

The source added that for years, “Vanna was told, ‘If you fight this, you will lose your job. You’re lucky to have the job.’ And when people tell you that for so long, you believe it,’” before adding that White is now ready to fight for her future. “She’s a really, really sweet person. She deserves so much more.”

During a recent conference for Fortune magazine, Seacrest was asked about his upcoming game show gig and whether White would still be involved.

“Are you going to keep Vanna White?” the American Idol host was asked, according to Fox News.

“Well, so I am going to…,” Seacrest began before starting over. “I’m fortunate enough to take over for the legendary Pat Sajak. Next year, which I am so… My energy’s gonna go up, sir, on that. I’m telling you. I have been the biggest fan of that show forever.”

“I love Vanna White,” he continued. “I’ve known Vanna for a long time. We sat in important places next to each other. And I hope for nothing more than to be able to walk out on that stage and host with her.”

Wheel of Fortune, Weeknights, Check your local listings

‘Celebrity Jeopardy’ season 3 new episode, how to stream for free

“Celebrity Jeopardy” returns on Wednesday, Jan. 22 with celebrity contestants Rachel Brosnahan, Seth Green and Margaret Cho.

The new episode will air at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. Those without cable can watch the show for free through FuboTV or DirecTV Stream each offering a free trial to new users. Sling is another option for streaming the show, and promotional offers are available.

Celebrity contestants compete for a chance to win money for a charity of their choice in a new season of “Celebrity Jeopardy.”

Wednesday’s episode features Rachel Brosnahan, Seth Green and Margaret Cho.

How can I watch “Celebrity Jeopardy” without cable?

Those without cable can watch the show for free through FuboTV or DirecTV Stream each offering a free trial to new users. Sling is another option for streaming the show, and promotional offers are available.

What is FuboTV?

FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, like sports, news, entertainment and local channels. It offers DVR storage space, and is designed for people who want to cut the cord, but don’t want to miss out on their favorite live TV and sports. Fubo offers $30 off your first month.

What is DirecTV Stream?

The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels.

What is Sling?

Sling TV is the first app-based TV service letting you stream live television and on-demand content over the internet. With Sling TV, you get to choose the television option that’s right for you, including Channel Add-ons, Premiums Add-ons, DVR Plus and more.

Ken Jennings Makes Bold Claim About ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ Contestants

Ken Jennings set high expectations for viewers regarding the current season of Celebrity Jeopardy!

On Tuesday, January 21, the 50-year-old game show host appeared on Good Morning America to talk about the third season of the spinoff series.

Jennings claimed that the group competing might be the smartest A-listers the show has witnessed, citing celebrity astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson as an example.

“These folks are smart. A lot of them are broadcasters, standup comics. We had Neil deGrasse Tyson. These might be our smartest celebrities ever,” Jennings stated.

The TV personality then joked, “And that’s a high bar cuz we all know how smart celebrities are.”

 The former Jeopardy! competitor also explained that the show, where the winning celebrity donates $1 million for a charity of their choosing, is not meant to be a Saturday Night Live parody but a real competition.

 

“I just want to say for the record Celebrity Jeopardy! is not the SNL Celebrity Jeopardy! This is legit,” Jennings remarked.

Jennings later played a round of GMA‘s version of Jeopardy!, where he revealed what guest he would love to have on Celebrity Jeopardy!

The trivia posed to him was: “She’s the famous comedian behind the hit movie ‘Mean Girls’ who’s also your dream Celebrity Jeopardy guest.”

Jennings, of course, got the answer correct, stating, “Who is Tina Fey?” He then explained his reasoning: “I would love to book Tina Fey on Celebrity Jeopardy! She seems quick, maybe it’s just because celebrities with glasses always seem very smart to me.”

The GMA hosts also asked the game show extraordinaire which four competitors in the show’s history would make up his “Mount Rushmore.” Jennings did not name any celebrities or regular competitors as he stated, “There’s too many great contestants to fit on a mountain.”

Instead, Jennings said, “My Mount Rushmore would be Alex Trebek, obviously. The reasons I liked the show as a kid. The announcer, Johnny Gilbert, he’s a legend he’s in his 90s. And maybe just Merv and Julann Griffin, the husband and wife who created the show.”

Catch Celebrity Jeopardy! Wednesday’s at 9:00 P.M. ET on ABC.