NBC teases changes to ‘The Voice’ after fans beg them to fix the ‘terrible’ thing that’s ruining the show

(L-R) Adam Levine, Kelsea Ballerini John Legend, and Michael Bublé on the sets of ‘The Voice’ (Instagram | nbcthevoice )

With Team Michael Bublé’s Adam David clinching the victory, NBC’s ‘The Voice’ is once again at the center of attention. Season 27 of the show was highly anticipated, mainly because of Adam Levine’s comeback, who left the show in 2019. Still, the season didn’t make much impact, and a big reason seems to be the show’s format. Now, with Season 28 already announced, it looks like some major changes might be on the way, and fans are also all in for it.

 
 (L-R) Blake Shelton, singer Adam Levine, singer Christina Aguilera and singer Cee Lo Green arrive at NBC’s press conference of ‘The Voice’ in Los Angeles, California (Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez)
 

For the uninitiated, in ‘The Voice’ Season 27, coaches Kelsea Ballerini, Adam Levine, John Legend, and Bublé each filled 12 team slots during the famous blind auditions, often competing fiercely for top talent. The blind auditions featured advantages like the ‘block’ to shake things up. Next came the battle round, where coaches paired two team members to duet the same song but had to pick only one to advance. Each coach had one ‘steal’ and one ‘save’ to keep or take eliminated contestants from other teams, as per The US Sun.

After the Knockouts and Playoffs, where each coach picked just two artists for the live shows, ‘The Voice’ Season 27 advanced to its brief two-week live performance phase. Filmed at NBC Universal’s studio with a live audience, this season introduced a ‘super save’ allowing coaches to bring back one eliminated contestant. Ultimately, Team Bublé’s David won the season, leaving many fans stunned.

Notably, ‘The Voice’ will make significant changes for Season 28 after fans complained that the current format is ‘terrible,’ The US Sun reveals. Many viewers feel the setup allows the season’s top talents to slip through the cracks and be eliminated “too soon.” A production insider said, “The show’s format is by far the show’s biggest obstacle.” They further explained, “It’s a tough recipe to follow. The blind auditions—nothing gets better than that. That’s the show’s bread and butter and what put the show on the map.”

 

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The Insider went on to say, “Now everything after that? The show is still figuring it out as they go, even 27 seasons in. Next season won’t be exactly the same; changes are underway and changes will always come and evolve. No two seasons have ever been the exact same.” The source added, “The show hears the complaints loud and clear. The people who make the show also want the best talent possible to make it to the finale but some of that is not in their control.”

 

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Fans were also quick to share their support to change the format under a Reddit thread. A fan said, “I hate this format!! It’s terrible because it goes so fast with hardly any LIVES or voting for us! It’s like our favorites are gone before we can vote for them because it’s up to the coaches. They need to get rid of the recaps… those are boring and a waste of time. Don’t cut them down so fast! More LIVES!” while another added, “It’s crazy. We don’t get to vote till the very end. It’s totally up to the judges.” A fan comments, “Recap episodes gotta go….just do brief recap in the first 5 minutes like survivor…like ok we just saw this last week, we don’t need an hour long repeat of what we just saw…”

Notably, in addition to Bublé continuing his winning streak, Season 28 of The Voice will come back this fall, as per Entertainment Weekly. The show will welcome back Snoop Dogg, Niall Horan, and Reba McEntire as coaches. The lineup mixes returning favorites with recent champions, signaling a refreshed but familiar dynamic for the upcoming season.

[HEARTBREAKING] Reba alum Christopher Rich moves Happy Place fans to tears with his heartfelt revelation about his road to recovery after being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury following a massive stroke

‘Reba’ Alum Chris Rich’s Post-Stroke Health Battle in His Words: Traumatic Brain Injury to Recovery

Reba alum Christopher Rich candidly discussed his road to recovery after being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury following a massive stroke.

Rich rose to stardom playing Alexander “Sandy” Cory on Another World in the early ’80s. From there, Rich continued to make memorable appearances on shows such as The Nanny, ER and Murphy Brown before scoring his gig on Reba as Brock.

Reba made Rich a household name after he played Reba McEntire‘s ex-husband Brock from 2001 to 2007. He went on to appear on Boston Legal, Desperate Housewives and Melissa & Joey before slowing down following a health scare.

“After my stroke and having a brain injury, it is like I got hit with an atomic bomb. So it all gets traumatized, and it is a hard reset,” he exclusively told Us Weekly in February 2025 before his guest spot on NBC’s Happy’s Place. “After I finally got out of the hospital, I was moving around again. Then I threw a bunch of blood clots and ended up in the hospital with lung embolisms and debris on my heart. After surviving all of that crap, I’m feeling really, really good.”

He continued: “I lost 50 pounds since the last time I was a regular on television. I just don’t have much of an appetite anymore. But I’m not disappointed by losing weight.”

Andrew Eccles/Fox Television/Courtesy Everett Collection
Rich was hopeful about his return to Hollywood, adding, “It’s great to be able to be a disabled person and play a disabled person. I’m hoping that when some of this gets out there, that people that I’ve worked with in the past are going to say, ‘OK, let’s bring him back. We can work with him.’”

Despite having his life changed by the traumatic brain injury, Rich has remained positive about his ongoing recovery — and is making his return to acting. Keep scrolling for everything Rich said about his health scare, life after having a stroke and how he has prioritized his recovery:

The Initial Health Issue

Christopher Rich, Melissa Peterman and Reba McEntire in ‘Reba.’ Everett Collection
“I almost didn’t make it to the Easter service at church because I was busy having a massive stroke,” Rich recalled in a 2022 video for a Texas regenerative medicine clinic. “It has been a major struggle but a part of my treatment is coming here to get a stem cell treatment to heal the right side of my brain where the blood clot happened.”

Rich broke down how the stroke damaged the ride side of his brain, which impaired his ability to walk, talk and use the left side of his body.

“It destroyed some of my brain so what I have been doing is I’ve been trying to redevelop neural pathways,” he continued at the time. “My left side was completely frozen. I couldn’t walk or use my left arm.”

Developing a New Lease on Life

Melissa Peterman, Christopher Rich, Reba McEntire and Scarlett Pomers in ‘Reba.’ Greg Schwartz/Fox Television/Courtesy Everett Collection
After suffering a stroke in 2018, Rich reflected on his health in a promotional video for a medical center, saying, “I actually had some stem cells injected into my shoulder a few days ago, and the pain is down 80 percent. I have more mobility. I’m walking better. I’m still talking like an idiot, but I don’t think that’s ever going to change.”

Rich admitted he has since looked at his life differently. “When you face a major medical issue, it changes your perspective on life,” he noted. “When you come through it, you begin to enjoy each day a little bit more even with the pain.”

The actor said his health became a priority, which meant it was “that serious a deal” for him to travel from Los Angeles to Texas to “get the highest quality of treatment.”

Facing Ups and Downs

Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night
Rich discussed his mental health in a 2019 video for the Centre for Neuro Skills.

“After [you] suffer a brain injury, it is like everything has changed in a moment and now you’re in this other place. But there’s hope because this is where — for me — the sun shines,” he explained. “Treat your significant other nicely because you’re gonna be relying on them, and don’t forget to ask other people for help because you can use all the help you can get right now. … You’re at the right place and I’m so sorry that you’re having to do this, but I’m glad you found this place. They will take good care of you. They saved my life.”

Rich was previously married to the late Nancy Frangione from 1982 to 1996, with whom he shared one adopted daughter. He found love again with Eva Halina Rich and the couple, who share two daughters, got married in 2003. Eva joined Christopher in a video for the medical center where he recalled the aftermath of his “massive stroke.”

“My wife and I are still working hard to reestablish our relationship because it’s like she’s living with a different person,” he admitted. “I get frustrated with the fact that she doesn’t recognize me as the same guy that is still in here. But she’s like, ‘This is an adjustment.’ I don’t think I’ll ever be exactly what I was before and I hope not because this has been such a learning experience for me.”

The Initial Year

Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night
“I went to sleep the night before Easter and when I woke up, I couldn’t walk or really talk coherently. I had a stroke in the middle of the night and then I had complete left side paralysis. There was basically no use of my left arm at all. I couldn’t walk on my own. I was in a wheelchair,” he detailed in 2019. “My voice sounded abnormal to me, and I had a lot of saliva running out of the left side of my mouth.”

Christopher pointed out that memory was a major issue as well, adding, “I have these dreams at night where I wake up the next morning and I’m completely healed. As much as I want that, some mornings I wake up and I’m trying to stretch out to get moving again, and I realize that I’m doing more than I did yesterday morning.”

He continued: “I have a terrific life thanks to [the medical center]. Bad stuff happens and you can do the, ‘Why me?’ But it’s there for you to grow. This doesn’t stop you and it isn’t the end of the road. It is the beginning of a different road. I would say that CNS saved my life. It really reintegrated me into that life that’s out there.”

Stepping Back From Acting to Focus on His Health

Reba McEntire and Chris Rich in ‘Reba.’ Danny Feld/Fox Television/Courtesy Everett Collection
“If you’re an actor, you can’t just suddenly show up again [after suffering a TBI] and say, ‘I can do this.’ Fortunately, I did find something [new]. I miss acting a little bit but not like I thought I would,” he said in the 2019 video for the Centre for Neuro Skills. “It’s been my main drive through my life but the other thing that I’ve done a lot of is philanthropic work and I really miss that more than I do being an actor.”

Christopher continued: “I was able to do something that I got involved with a long time ago. It is a green energy program of non-polluting generators, particularly for islands and remote places.”

Returning to His ‘Reba’ Roots

Reba McEntire, Chris Rich and Rex Linn. Courtesy of Chris Rich/Instagram
After taking a break from acting, Christopher made a guest appearance on NBC’s Happy’s Place. The role reunited Rich with McEntire and Melissa Peterman, who were his costars on Reba. Christopher played a local tattoo artist on Happy’s Place named Maverick who liked to tease new clients about which hand he would use to tattoo them after suffering a stroke that affected his left side.

“The crew made it feel like the old Reba set because we were having a blast. They had as much fun as I did and that was really heartwarming for me. It felt like I was back home in a safe place,” he told Us. “I was really well taken care of. It was a blessing. I want to go back so badly.”

Reba McEntire reveals the SPECIAL TACTIC she uses to get Christopher Rich to return to TV after his stroke

How Reba McEntire Convinced Christopher Rich to Return to TV After His Stroke

The star thought he was out of the acting game for good until Happy’s Place.

As many viewers are well aware, there are many common elements between Happy’s Place and Reba McEntire’s cult classic early-2000s sitcom Reba — like Christopher Rich.

The longtime actor made a guest appearance in a recent episode of Happy’s Place, but it took a lot of convincing on McEntire’s part to get Rich on board with the role. The reason? Rich suffered a debilitating stroke in 2018 and thought he’d never act again.

“I mean, I’ve basically taken the last decade off,” he told ET during a discussion alongside his cast mates. “And if anybody was going to drag me out of the dark corner of the closet, it would be the redhead.”

The stroke left the star without the use of the left side of his body and unable to walk.

Thankfully, the star regained most of his motor functions through extensive rehab and physical therapy. Still, Rich was unsure of returning to the bright lights of Hollywood until McEntire — and her real-life bestie and co-star Melissa Peterman — convinced him that Happy’s Place would be the perfect place for him to get back into the swing of things.

During the interview, he said the show’s team made him feel safe enough to “trot [his] broken body out again.”

Bobbie (Reba McEntire), Gabby (Melissa Peterman), Maverick (Christopher Rich) and Isabella (Belissa Escobedo) on Happy’s Place Season 1 Episode 15. Photo: Casey Durkin/NBC

It was a bet that paid off. Fans loved Rich in his role as tattoo artist Maverick. For someone who spent all six seasons alongside the Queen of Country Music in Reba, it was incredible to see the two friends on-screen together once again.

Rich recalled that McEntire and Peterman were instrumental in his recovery process immediately following his stroke.

“I feel so bizarre recovering from the stroke thing that I didn’t even want to go out of my house for a lot of the time,” he explained. “But, [McEntire and Melissa Peterman] got me back out. They would invite me to parties and reunion things…I mean, they came to my hospital bed; they sent me gifts. Melissa used to come over and bring me treats all the time in the hospital… and she was such a great supporter.”

As Rich admitted, it’s been a “long journey” — but all his hard work and perseverance has paid off.

NBC announces Happy’s Place Season 2 renewal

Belissa Escobedo, Reba McEntire, and Melissa Peterman attend the NBCUniversal Summer Press Tour for “Happy’s Place” in Pasadena, Calif. on July 14, 2024. Photo: Todd Williamson/NBC

Fans of the hit comedy — especially the 17-million-plus who tuned in for the Season 1 premiere — are celebrating because Happy’s Place is officially greenlit for another season in 2025-2026!

NBC made the announcement on February 20 — and viewers will be happy to know that the show isn’t the only one returning for another go-round. St. Denis Medical is also returning for Season 2! (We’re keeping track of all the renewals here.)

First Photos Released Of Reba McEntire’s Former TV Husband Christopher Rich On Set Of “Happy’s Place”

First Photos Released Of “Reba” Star Christopher Rich On Set Of “Happy’s Place”

Casey Durkin / NBC via Getty Images

Reba McEntire’s Former TV Husband Guest Stars In Her New Sitcom On NBC

Christopher Rich, who previously starred in Reba McEntire‘s namesake sitcom, has joined the cast of her brand-new show, Happy’s Place.

Happy’s Place, which just got renewed for a second season, debuted on NBC on October 18, 2024. The show stars McEntire as Bobbie, a strong-willed woman running her late father’s tavern. But her world gets flipped upside down when she learns she has a younger half-sister, Isabella (played by Belissa Escobedo), who is also her new business partner.

The show also stars Melissa Peterman, McEntire’s former Reba sitcom co-star and real-life best friend, as a bartender named Gabby. McEntire’s boyfriend, Rex Linn, plays the tavern’s cook, Emmett.

Happy’s Place staged a mini Reba reunion when Steve Howey appeared in a guest role in one episode. Howey played McEntire’s son-in-law, Van Montgomery, on Reba, which ran from 2001 to 2007.

Another Reba star recently joined the cast of Happy’s Place. Christopher Rich, who played McEntire’s ex-husband Brock Hart on Reba, will appear in the new sitcom’s 15th episode, airing on February 21.

Variety shared the first known details about Rich’s Happy’s Place character, who’s named Maverick. The publication described Maverick as:

“…a local tattoo artist that is very good at his job … as long as he’s using his right hand. Turns out Maverick has had a stroke and likes to tease new clients about which hand he’s going to use when he starts doing their tattoos.”

The story detail about Maverick being a stroke survivor comes from Rich’s own life. The actor suffered a stroke and subsequent brain injury several years ago (in 2018), which kept him from acting.

“Then I threw a bunch of blood clots and ended up in the hospital with lung embolisms and debris on my heart,” Rich told Us Weekly in a recent interview. “After surviving all of that crap, I’m feeling really, really good.”

As someone with a disability, Rich says, “It’s great” to play a disabled character upon his return to TV.

“It’s great to be able to be a disabled person and play a disabled person,” he said. “I’m hoping that when some of this gets out there, that people that I’ve worked with in the past are going to say, ‘OK, let’s bring him back. We can work with him.’”

See The First Photos Of Christopher Rich As His Character On Happy’s Place

On Thursday (February 19), Happy’s Place released the first photos of Christopher Rich on set and in character as Maverick. NBC shared some of those photos on Instagram, captioning them, “Counting down the days until this reunion…Christopher Rich guest stars in #HappysPlace Friday 8/7c on nbc and streaming on @peacock.”

See those pictures in the slideshow below!

 

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Bài viết do NBC Entertainment (@nbc) chia sẻ

TV Insider obtained additional photos of Rich on the Happy’s Place set.

Fans rejoiced after seeing Rich reunite with McEntire and Peterman (Peterman played his wife, Barbara Jean, on Reba). Some of the comments on NBC’s Instagram post about his upcoming guest role included:

“Yay!!! Another Reba reunion! I can’t wait!”

“Heck yeah!!!”

“This trio is hilarious !!”

“So fun to see them all back together.”

“Wow Reba Barbra Jean and Brock back together again.”

“YAY!!!! I’ve been hoping for this reunion!”

“These reunions are the best thing ever!”

“Love these mini reunions!!!!!”

You can catch Christopher Rich on Happy’s Place on Friday, February 21 at 8/7c on NBC. The episode will also be available to stream on NBC’s streaming service, Peacock.

Watch the video below to hear Rich speak more about his acting return and reuniting with McEntire and Peterman on Happy’s Place.

Last Man Standing captivated audiences for nearly a decade, following the lives of Mike and Vanessa Baxter, played by Tim Allen and Nancy Travis. Now, years after the show’s conclusion in 2021, fans still wonder what might have become of the beloved sitcom cast.

‘Last Man Standing’ Cast: Where Are They Now? Tim Allen, Nancy Travis, Kaitlyn Dever and More

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Tim Allen and Nancy Travis. Fox ; Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Last Man Standing has ended, but the show’s stars including Tim Allen, Nancy Travis and Kaitlyn Dever have remained on our screens.

The sitcom started out on ABC and starred Allen as an executive at a sporting goods store chain in Denver, Colorado. Mike Baxter was a married father of three daughters and a grandfather to his eldest daughter’s son. Last Man Standing aired on the network from 2011 to 2017 before moving to Fox for three more seasons.

Last Man Standing marked Allen’s return to the sitcom world after playing Tim “The Toolman” Taylor on Home Improvement from 1991 to 1999.

“The word that keeps me alive is ‘grateful.’ I love what I do. I get far more enjoyment out of entertaining people than anything monetary,” Allen exclusively told Us Weekly in 2020. “I love the live audience we have. I tell them every night, ‘This is old-school stuff, what television and broadcast started with.’ I don’t know the future, but this [show] is rare.”

Allen praised Last Man Standing for not trying to reinvent the wheel.

“We did the same thing as we did with Home Improvement. It’s all about the relationships — we don’t get into topical stuff. But [now], I’ve just got girls, so you see how a man differs in his perspective when he has so many strong women around him,” he continued. “We never make fun [of each other]. It’s an affectionate family. I like the fact that we honor and make fun — at the same time — marriage, institution, kids, babies, people. But in the same way, we honor it. We’re not being snarky about it.”

Keep scrolling to see where the cast of Last Man Standing is now:

Credit: Fox ; Dia Dipasupil/WireImage

Tim Allen
After playing Mike, Allen reprised his role of Santa Claus/Scott Calvin in Disney+’s The Santa Clauses. He returned to ABC with the 2025 sitcom Shifting Gears, which costars Kat Dennings and Seann William Scott. On the big screen, Allen has continued to voice Buzz Lightyear in various Toy Story projects.

Allen was married to Laura Deibel from 1984 to 2003. Before their split, they welcomed daughter Katherine in 1989. The actor found love again with Jane Hajduk and they got married in 2006 after several years of dating. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 2009.

Credit: Fox ; Jamie McCarthy/WireImage

Nancy Travis
Travis has remained busy since bringing Vanessa to life. Her TV roles include Mr. Mercedes, The Ranch, The Kominsky Method, Ride and Grosse Pointe Garden Society. Us broke the news in January 2025 that Travis would be reuniting with her former sitcom husband on an upcoming episode of Shifting Gears.

The actress has also booked roles in Ordinary Angels and Sovereign. Travis shares two kids with husband Robert N. Fried, who she has been married to since 1994.

Credit: Fox ; Courtesy of Alexandra Krosney/Instagram

Alexandra Krosney
The role of the eldest Baxter daughter, Kristin, was originated by Krosney in season 1. It was announced in 2012 that Krosney was let go from the sitcom for unspecified creative reasons and has since appeared in Emily Owens, M.D. and Aquarius.

Credit: Fox ; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Endometriosis Foundation of America

Amanda Fuller
Fuller took over for Krosney from season 2 onward and after wrapping her time on Last Man Standing, she appeared on Orange Is the New Black and has an upcoming appearance on The Pitt. Fuller made her debut behind the camera as a director during a season 8 episode of Last Man Standing.

Fuller is married to Matthew Bryan Feld and they share one child.

Credit: Fox ; Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

Molly Ephraim
The middle Baxter daughter, Mandy, was a fan-favorite character played by Ephraim until season 6. Ephraim opted not to return when Last Man Standing was revived by Fox but remained busy with opportunities on Brockmire, Halt and Catch Fire, Casual, Perry Mason, Angelyne and A League of Their Own.

Ephraim has been married to husband Evan since 2021. They welcomed their daughter later that year.

Credit: Fox ; Olivia Wong/Getty Images

Molly McCook
McCook took Ephraim’s place starting in season 7 and remained on the show until its finale. After that, McCook scored roles on Good Trouble and Not Dead Yet. She exchanged vows with Broadway actor John Krause in 2019.

Credit: Fox ; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Michael Kors

Kaitlyn Dever
The only Baxter daughter that was played by one actress was Eve. In addition to Last Man Standing, Dever made a name for herself in Unbelievable, Monsterland, The Premise, Dopesick and upcoming roles in Apple Cider Vinegar and The Last of Us. On the big screen, Dever might look familiar because of her work in Booksmart, Dear Evan Hansen, Ticket to Paradise, Rosaline, No One Will Save You and See You When I See You.

Credit: Fox ; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for WarnerMedia

Christoph Sanders
Sanders won Us over as Kyle on Last Man Standing. He hasn’t appeared in any new TV projects but did book a role on the big screen in Faith Based.

Sanders got engaged to actress Elizabeth McLaughlin in December 2024.

Credit: Fox ; Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for MATCHESFASHION

Jordan Masterson
Ryan was briefly played by Nick Jonas in one episode before Masterson took over from season 2. Jordan comes from the Masterson family, which includes sister Alanna Masterson and half brothers Danny Masterson and Christopher Masterson. His cousin is Angus T. Jones.

Jordan is a member of the Church of Scientology and was previously linked to Dakota Johnson. In his professional life, Jordan made guest appearances on Grounded for Life, George Lopez, Las Vegas, 7th Heaven, CSI: Miami, Without a Trace and How I Met Your Mother before Last Man Standing.

Credit: Fox ; David Livingston/Getty Images

Flynn Morrison
Kristen and Ryan’s son, Boyd, was portrayed by multiple actors but Morrison made the biggest impression. Morrison hasn’t appeared in any projects since he was replaced by Jet Jurgensmeyer on Last Man Standing.

Credit: Fox ; Ella Hovsepian/Getty Images

Jet Jurgensmeyer
Jurgensmeyer played Boyd in the three final seasons of the show. He has since been in T.O.T.S., Ozark, The Chicken Squad and Interrupting Chicken.

Credit: Fox ; Wilbert Roberts/Getty Images for GBK Brand Bar

Héctor Elizondo
Following his time playing Ed Alzate, Elizondo has been credited for B Positive, Green Eggs and Ham, Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie. Elizondo also appeared in Music and Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.

He was married to Marie Rivera from 1956 to 1975 and Marie Mandry from 1963 to 1964. Elizondo exchanged vows with Carolee Campbell in 1969.

Credit: Fox ; Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Jonathan Adams
Adams made many appearances on Last Man Standing as Mike’s neighbor Chuck Larabee. He has booked roles on Dark Winds, All Rise, Bob Hearts Abishola and Grey’s Anatomy. On the big screen, Adams appeared in Elemental and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Adams has been married to Monica Farrell since 1994 and they share two kids.

Emmett’s Health Scare Followup Shows Exactly What Happy’s Place Needs To Change In Season 2

   

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Happy’s Place season 1, episode 15, “Sister Ink.”Emmett’s health scare in Happy’s Place season 1, episode 15, titled “Sister Ink,” demonstrates a bad habit that the series needs to reverse when it returns for its sophomore season. Although Happy’s Place season 1 mostly revolves around Bobbie’s (Reba McEntire) relationship with her recently-discovered half-sister Isabella (Belinda Escobedo), each episode contains subplots about problems in tavern employees’ lives. These stories often provide a humorous glimpse into the characters when they are not working at the bar and will likely continue in Happy’s Place season 2.

In “Sister Ink,” Tokada (Tokala Black Elf) and Steve (Pablo Castelblanco) worry about Emmett (Rex Linn) when he becomes secretive about what he’s doing when off-duty. After the two break into Emmett’s locker and find a pair of tap shoes, Emmett reveals that he decided to take lessons after his health scare. The episode ends with a touching scene of Steve tap dancing with Emmett. However, this storyline again demonstrates Happy Place‘s biggest flaw.

Emmett’s Dance Lessons Highlights How Happy’s Place Takes So Long To Follow Up on Stories

Emmett’s Health Scare Took Place Over A Month Ago

Emmett’s tap dancing story would have worked fine without the explanation that his health scare triggered his desire to fulfill a childhood dream before it was too late. The punchline in this subplot is that the guys assume Emmett has a dark secret, only to find out that it’s something innocuous, so his motivation for tap dancing doesn’t really matter. Additionally, including the explanation does more harm than good because the concerns about his health happened too long ago.

Emmett’s health scare is in season 1, episode 11, a full four episodes before “Sister Ink.” This long gap makes it difficult to remember what Emmett is talking about when he mentions the scare, and thus his line is distracting instead of resonating emotionally. Delaying storyline continuations like this is a bad habit that Happy’s Place keeps engaging in. For example, Gabby’s desire to be a mother also hasn’t been referenced again since she decided that’s what she wants, so any future story beat related to that arc will likely fall flat.

Why Happy’s Place Needs To Change This In Season 2

Long Gaps In Continuing Stories Destroy Continuity

Happy’s Place is a traditional sitcom, so it doesn’t necessarily need to have continuing arcs. Sitcom stories are often self-contained and told for the jokes. However, since Happy’s Place has established that its characters do have longer-term arcs, it needs to follow through by addressing the next step in each character’s story in a more timely manner. Waiting a month or longer causes confusion, especially since Happy’s Place doesn’t offer recap scenes to help refresh the audience’s memory about important plot points.

Now that Happy’s Place has been renewed for season 2, the writers should consider what changes to make when the sitcom returns next year.

Happy’s Place only has three episodes left in season 1, so there is limited time to fix this problem. However, now that Happy’s Place has been renewed for season 2, the writers should consider what changes to make when the sitcom returns next year. One shift at the top of the writers’ list needs to be its timing problem when it comes to character arcs. The comedy needs to make up its mind whether it wants long-term arcs or not. If it decides it does, it should ensure that ongoing stories are addressed more promptly to reduce audience confusion.

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[AWESOME] Christopher Rich is ‘really good,’ reuniting with ‘Reba’ co-stars 7 years after a stroke. Now He Breaks Down Reba Nods on Happy’s Place After Acting Return

Christopher Rich is ‘really good,’ reuniting with ‘Reba’ co-stars 7 years after a stroke

On the eve of his return to TV, “Reba” star Christopher Rich is getting vulnerable about the health issues that kept him from acting in recent years.

Rich, 71, reunites with “Reba” co-stars Melissa Peterman and Reba McEntire on Friday’s episode of “Happy’s Place.” He told Us Weekly in an interview published Wednesday that he’s feeling “really good” several years after experiencing a stroke and subsequent blood clots, which left him with limited mobility and a long road to recovery in their wake.

“After my stroke and having a brain injury, it is like I got hit with an atomic bomb. So it all gets traumatized, and it is a hard reset,” he told the outlet. “After I finally got out of the hospital, I was moving around again.”

He landed back in the hospital due to blood clots in his lungs and “debris in my heart.” But “after surviving all of that crap, I’m feeling really, really good,” he said. In his guest spot on “Happy’s Place,” Rich – who played Reba Hart’s ex-husband Brock during the show’s airing from 2001 to 2007 – takes on the role of a tattoo artist named Maverick who is also recovering from a stroke.

“It’s great to be able to be a disabled person and play a disabled person,” Rich said. “I’m hoping that when some of this gets out there, that people that I’ve worked with in the past are going to say, ‘OK, let’s bring him back. We can work with him.’”

Being back on set reminded Rich of how much he loves acting.

“The crew made it feel like the old Reba set because we were having a blast. They had as much fun as I did and that was really heartwarming for me. It felt like I was back home in a safe place,” he said. “I was really well taken care of. It was a blessing. I want to go back so badly.”

‘I don’t think I’ll ever be exactly what I was before’

Rich appeared in 2018’s “The Christmas Trap” and spent some time away from acting, making his return in the 2021 streaming film “Spiked.” Since his stroke, Rich has kept busy with philanthropy and work in “green energy.”

In promotional videos for medical clinics where he received treatment, Rich previously described undergoing stem cell treatments to “help heal the right side of my brain where the blood clot happened because it destroyed some of my brain.”

“My left side was completely frozen; I couldn’t walk or use my left arm,” he said in a clip for ReGen Clinics.

The stroke happened in the middle of the night on Easter morning in 2018, he said in a video series for the Centre for Neuro Skills.

Afterward, his voice sounded “abnormal,” he had saliva leaking from the left side of his mouth and he struggled with his memory.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be exactly what I was before, and I hope not, because this has been such a learning experience for me,” Rich said.

‘The Price Is Right’ Episode Branded ‘Stupidest Ever’ After ‘Bizarre’ Mistakes

‘The Price Is Right’ Episode Branded ‘Stupidest Ever’ After ‘Bizarre’ Mistakes

The Price is Right YouTube

The Price Is Right viewers were left stunned after Thursday’s (December 12) episode when multiple contestants made incredible errors that cost them big prizes.

Despite long-time host Drew Carey explaining the rules throughout the episode, several contestants made mistakes that some fans couldn’t believe. This included two contestants on Bidder’s Row bidding the same amount and another contestant bidding “ten-hundred.”

The contestants who made it up to the stage didn’t fare much better. One contestant took on Safe Crackers yet didn’t understand that the numbers could only be used once each. Even after he won a TV, the contestant seemed surprised, telling Carey, “Oh, I did? Where is it?”

Another contestant played Push Over, where the player must push the blocks until the correct price is shown in the window. This contestant continued to push all the blocks to the end, ruining any chance of winning the game.

Across the episode, there was only one contestant who won their pricing game. A contestant called Linda participated in the game Do the Math, where the player must decide whether to add or subtract from the price of a prize on the left to equal the price of the prize on the right.

Linda’s prize items were a washer-dryer combo and a game table, and she had $869 to add or subtract from the washer-dryer price to match the game table’s price. She figured out the washer-dryer was worth more and subtracted the $869, meaning she walked away with both prizes.

Fans took to social media after the game to compliment Linda on being the only contestant to win their pricing game while blasting the other contestants for their “stupidity.”

“Linda was the only one who won her pricing game!” wrote one commenter on YouTube.

“Well, today’s show just didn’t go well at all with Do the Math being the only game won,” said another.

Another referred to the Push Over player as “the most stupidest contestant on today’s show,” writing, “What in the world was he thinking?”

Meanwhile, a fan on the Price Is Right Reddit forum wrote, “We’re not even done watching the episode and I had to pause the DVR and come on here to see if anyone else was overwhelmed with the idiocracy of today’s contestants. Were the normal contestant selector people sleeping on the job today?”

“I have never seen such stupidity before on this show, it was so bizarre and irritating,” replied one commenter. “It’s like either nobody was listening or haven’t watched the show which is always obvious. I think it’s disrespectful to Drew and everyone if they don’t watch the show, they don’t even deserve to get called up. This episode was awful!!”

Another added, “Some of the blame lies with the producers. They pick contestants with big energy regardless of whether they’re fans. I don’t mind a dumb contestant now and then but the show is better with people who know TPIR, IMO.”

“I couldn’t believe the Pushover contestant,” said one fan, while another replied, “The audience was screaming at him to stop. He was in his own little world.”

One commenter added, “I feel like they all want to go viral now rather than win a gameshow.”

Another YouTube commenter wrote, “One of the worst episodes of TPIR so far this season because of the contestants and their stupidity.”

What did you think of Thursday’s episode? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

The Price Is Right, Weekdays, 11am ET/10am PT, CBS

‘The Price Is Right’ host Drew Carey reveals what makes him ‘want to scream’ at contestants

“Come on down — to get yelled at!”

“The Price Is Right” host Drew Carey is coming clean about what makes him “want to scream” at contestants on the veteran CBS game show.

In an in-depth interview on the Max series “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” Carey, 65, told Wallace that he doesn’t understand the appeal of Plinko, the fan-favorite game — and that it drives him crazy at the methods contestants use to try to win money on the challenge.

When playing Plinko, a contestant takes chips, which they’ve won previously, to the top of a game board and releases them, one at a time, into slots at the bottom of the board containing money amounts.

Each chip is worth up to $10,000.

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Drew Carey watches as a contestant drops her chips into the Plinko game hoping to win $10,000 on “The Price Is Right.” CBS
“I don’t get it, honestly,” Carey said. “People usually don’t win that much money on Plinko. They’ll win like $1,500, a grand, something like that.”

Carey then explained to Wallace how contestants can have a better shot of winning $10,000 when playing Plinko.

“Hardly anybody gets a 10,000, because they drop it like it, so you have to drop it like right under the ‘N,’” he said. “If you’re ever on ‘The Price Is Right,’ drop it right under the ‘N,’ not too high, just like right above the slot and just let it go.”

“Don’t throw it, don’t spin it. Just drop it and that’ll give you the best odds of hitting the $10,000 spot.”

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Drew Carey has hosted “The Price Is Right” since 2007, when he took over from Bob Barker. CBS
“You won’t hit it all the time,” he went on. “And I’m not allowed to say anything but in my head I want to scream ‘just drop it by the N!’ but I can’t do that.”

Wallace also asked Carey about the most common mistake contestants make when guessing the prices of merchandise featured on the show.

“So here’s a common thing,” Carey said. “So a lot of it’s just strategy like that we have a game called ’10 Chances’ where the first prize has two number on it. And we give you three numbers to choose from, but the price always ends in zero.”

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Drew Carey with a contestant on “The Price Is Right.” There are certain things he’s not allowed to tell players during the game. CBS
“But I’m not allowed to say it,” he continued. “[But] I just said that. I’m allowed to say there’s a secret to the game. And if you can figure it out, you’ll have a better chance of winning.”

He added: “But not everybody knows it ends in zero so they’ll put a three at the end or a two and I’m just …”

Wallace then told his viewers to “listen to what you’ve just heard” if they want to be successful on “The Price Is Right.”

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Drew Carey during his appearance on “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” which streams on Max. CNN

“Yeah,” Carey replied, “I’m giving you a lot of insider tips.”

Carey has hosted “The Price Is Right” since 2007, when he took over from longtime host Bob Barker, who died in August 2023 at the age of 99.

“My attitude was I didn’t want to screw it up. Like, don’t let the show get canceled with me,” Carey told Wallace. “I was just hoping people would accept me.”

New episodes of “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” drop every Friday morning on Max.

‘Price Is Right’ contestant takes brutal jab at host Drew Carey about his career

Drew Carey was put in his place.

Lillian Brown was on a roll during the July 2 episode of “The Price Is Right.”

The third-year Ph.D. student breezed through the games, racking up money as she played.

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“I was thrown out of college twice. What’s the opposite of a Ph.D.?” Carey asked Lillian Brown. “A talk show host,” she quipped back. The Price Is Right / CBS
Host Carey, 66, teased her about it, suggesting that the secret to her success was her Ph.D.

“We might as well not even keep going but . . . OK, OK. You have a Ph.D.,” he said to her.

“I was thrown out of college twice. What’s the opposite of a Ph.D.?” Carey continued.

“A talk show host,” Brown responded.

“You know what? I’m not smart enough to be a talk show host,” Carey said, yubi unable to recover.

Brown and the audience all laughed.

In the same episode, Carey cost a contestant a shot at the Showcase.

The host was trying to help when contestant Roni Gardner, from San Diego, California, struggled to spin the Big Wheel.

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“You know what? I’m not smart enough to be a talk show host,” Carey responded, unable to recover. The Price Is Right / CBS
Contestants spin the Big Wheel in an attempt to get close to 100 without going over. Everyone has two chances to spin and get their overall total the closest to 100 to move on.

For a spin to count, the wheel must achieve at least one full rotation. Gardner had trouble with this rule during the game.

After her first spin, the wheel landed on 90, which put her in position to win the game.

However, Carey pointed out that the wheel didn’t go all the way around, so the contestant had to redo her spin.

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In the same episode, Carey cost a contestant a shot at the Showcase. The Price Is Right / CBS

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The third-year Ph.D. student breezed through the games, racking up money as she played. The Price Is Right / CBS
On her next try, the wheel barely turned past halfway, leading Carey to step in.

“Can I help you out?” he asked her.

“Yes, please,” Gardner replied.

Carey then helped the contestant make her next spin, which landed on 15, meaning she was allowed a second spin to reach the goal.

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Carey then helped the contestant make her next spin, which landed on 15, meaning she was allowed a second spin to reach the goal.  The Price Is Right / CBS
Once again, Carey helped, but the wheel landed on 95, taking Gardner’s score over 100. Her chances of moving on to the Showcase were over.

“I’ll take the blame for that. Roni, I’m so sorry,” Carey apologized as she exited the stage.

Contestant Erika O’Farrell then moved on, but Gardner didn’t have the chance.

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Lillian Brown was a contestant on the July 2 episode. The Price Is Right / CBS
Carey had another funny interaction on the June 28 episode when contestant David, a barber, nailed a bid on a sewing-and-craft collection, and bantered with the host about facial hair.

Carey welcomed the contestant onstage after he guessed the collection’s worth of $950, the closest of the four contestants’ guesses to its $1,415 price tag.

“What’s up, man? Nice to see you! Welcome to the show,” the host greeted David with a handshake, to which David replied with equal enthusiasm.

“You too, man. Thank you so much,” David said.

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Carey had another funny contestant interaction on the June 28 episode when contestant David, a barber, nailed a bid on a sewing-and-craft collection, and bantered with the host about facial hair. The Price Is Right / CBS
“I was wondering when you’re going to grow your beard back,” the contestant joked to Carey.

“Oh I don’t know, I just got tired of it,” the comedian, who has rocked longer facial hair in recent years, responded.

David then gestured to Carey’s soul patch, and quipped: “This is looking good.”

Carey returned the compliment, adding: “Your beard looks great, man.”

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Carey is on his 18th season of the long-running game show. The Price Is Right / CBS
Carey’s interactions with contestants have been a hallmark since he took over as host of the show after Bob Barker retired in 2007. Barker hosted the show from 1972 to 2007 and died in 2023 at the age of 99.

Carey is on his 18th season of the long-running game show. He’s also previously led “The Drew Carey Show” from 1994 to 2004, and “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” from 1998 to 2007.

His ultimate career goal is to outlast “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak — who retired in June from that ABC game show. Sajak, 77, earned his place in history as the longest serving game show host of the same show for his 41-season reign.

“I do have a goal: I want to keep going until I die. This is my 18th season. I’ve got to get the 35 and 41, so I can catch Bob Barker and Pat Sajak,” Carey told TV Insider.