Visions of Sugar Plums
RACHEL HERGETT
For the Chronicle
Depending on the version of “The Nutcracker” ballet, a young Clara either watches the Sugar Plum Fairy with a desire to become her, or she actually completes the transformation. Either way, the ballet proves to be inspirational for dancers young and old, highlighting how they too may evolve into the graceful and powerful figure on stage.
“To me, that’s my invitation to the story,” dancer Molly Groeschl (nee Huempfner) said in an interview with the Chronicle this week.
Molly, a Bozeman native, will return to the Willson stage this weekend to perform the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Yellowstone Ballet Company’s 30th annual production of “The Nutcracker.”
Yellowstone Ballet Company’s 33rd annual presentation of “The Nutcracker” Saturday, Nov. 30, at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec.1, at 2 p.m. at the Willson Auditorium, 404 W. Main St. Tickets are $2979 (plus fees) at https://yellowstoneballet.info/the-nutcracker/, with one free child admission per adult ticket purchase.
“The Nutcracker” cast includes dancers from Yellowstone Ballet Academy, Raison d’etre Dance Project, the School of Classical Ballet in Billings and performers from 406Cirque’s Bozeman-based circus school. It also features Danielle Archuleta of Zikr Dance Ensemble out of Colorado and Lucas Segovia, a former principal dancer of Ballet Argentina and Joffrey Ballet, who will again appear as the Nutcracker Prince and the Cavalier. Molly describes Lucas as a brother.
“I know that I’m very cared for when I’m dancing with him on stage. And I think when you have a partner like that, you can just abandon any form of fear and live.”
Yellowstone Ballet Company’s founder and artistic director Kathleen Rakela said she “took a trip down memory lane” looking at Molly’s performance programs on Monday evening. The two became friends after Molly performed the Sugar Plum Fairy role for YBC in 2010 and 2011 and Rakela enjoyed watching her develop as a principal dancer outside of Montana with companies such as Ballet Tucson, Ballet West, Milwaukee Ballet, Colorado Ballet and Madison Ballet.
She returned for the Yellowstone Ballet Company’s original production of “The Little Mermaid” in 2015, then again as the Sugar Plum Fairy in 2021 and 2023.
Bozeman native Molly Groeschl (nee Huempfner) returns to dance in “The Nutcracker.” (Provided by Candidly Created)
this year.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY YBC
Bozeman native Molly Groeschl (nee Huempfner) and dance partner Lucas Segoviareturn to dance in “The Nutcracker”
1) “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, $20
2) “Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan, $20
3) “James” by Percival Everett, $28
4) “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver, $21.99
5) “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney, $29
6) “North Woods” by Daniel Mason, $18
7) “Grizzly Confidential” by Kevin Grange, $29.99
8) “Patriot” by Alexei Navalny, $35
9) “A Place Called Yellowstone” by Randall K. Wilson, $34
10) “Dog Songs” by Mary Oliver, $17
What’s Available NOW On
“Billy Madison” (Available Now)
“A Christmas Carol”
(Available Now)
This retelling of the Charles Dickens classic stars George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge, a man who sees the error of his ways by the ghosts of Christmas Past (Angela Pleasence), Christmas Present (Edward Woodward) and Christmas Yet to Come (Michael Carter).
“Ad Astra” (Available Now)
When a mysterious, life-threatening event strikes Earth, astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) goes on a dangerous mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father (Tommy Lee Jones) and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.
Man-child Billy Madison (Adam Sandler) has been a spoiled rich kid all his life, and spends his days drinking and partying. When his father, hotel magnate Brian (Darren McGavin), becomes fed up with his son’s irresponsible ways, he issues an ultimatum: since Billy passed all his schooling thanks to his father’s influence and bribes, he must retake and pass every grade in 24 weeks. Otherwise, the business will be turned over to Brian’s conniving associate, Eric (Bradley Whitford).
in focus
“No Good Deed” - Season 1 (Netflix — Dec. 12, Series Premiere)
When Lydia (Lisa Kudrow) and Paul (Ray Romano) decide to move on from their empty nest to forge a new life, they list their gorgeous 1920s Spanish-style villa located in one the most desirable neighborhoods in Los Angeles — and the real estate frenzy begins. Multiple families all race to buy what they believe to be their dream house, convinced it will fix all of their very different problems. But as Lydia and Paul know all too well, sometimes the home of your dreams can be a true nightmare.
“Fred Claus” (Available Now) Of the two Claus brothers, Fred (Vince Vaughn) is the troublemaker and polar opposite of his saintly sibling, Nicholas (Paul Giamatti). When Fred’s criminal ways finally land him in big trouble, Nicholas bails him out and brings him to the North Pole to work off the debt by making toys.
CROSSWORD
Across
1.Light throw
5.Binge
8.Well-struck ball
movie review
BY JAY BOBBIN
12.Amazon smart home device
13.“___ My Children”
‘Gone With the Wind’ gets a TCM showcase again
Though it now carries a viewer advisory about “outdated cultural references,” for many fans, “Gone With the Wind” remains one of the greatest movies ever made. A personal favorite of media mogul Ted Turner, the 1939 epic was the first film ever shown on his creation Turner Classic Movies — where it returns Sunday, Dec. 1, as the opening attraction in a “Sundays With Carol Burnett” series (paired with the “Carol Burnett Show” parody “Went With the Wind”). Tales don’t get much more Southern than this one, with novelist Margaret Mitchell’s saga using the Civil War, its prelude and its aftermath as backdrops for one
14. Alternative to acrylics
15.“Dexter” channel
17.Radar signal
18.“America’s Got Talent” judge
20.Date
21.Comments from horses
24.Memory units
27.Enjoyed immensely
28.Want-ad letters
29.Manning on “Manningcast”
30.Pro sports venue
33.See-through wrap
35.Takes up again
37. “___ the Science Kid”
38.AMC zombie series with “The”
43.Inventor Sikorsky
45.“M*A*S*H” star
46.“To ___ The Truth”
47.Idiosyncrasy
48.Drugs, briefly
49.Buck
50.Comics cry
51.Beauty pageant wear
Down
1.New Age pianist
John
2.Seis y dos
3. “The Daily ___”
4.Very sagacious
5.The Bionic Woman’s first name
6.Mrs. Alfred Hitchcock
7.Canadian pianist
Gould
8.“Very well”
9.Grandpa Walton portrayer
10.___ Baba (“Arabian Nights” character)
11.Kitchen meas.
16.Golfer’s bagful
19.Raiding grp.
22.___ Bowl
23.“Wheel of Fortune” choice
24. Den denizen
25. Yesteryear
26.TV show based on a Michael J. Fox comedy
31.Just about
32.Leatherworker’s tool
33.Endorse
34.“The ___ Family”
36.Glide
37.Nosh
“Would _ __to You?”
Zeno’s home Puts on 100-meter, e.g.
“___ be a real shame if ...”
“I’m impressed!”
Solution on page 1
of the most famous love stories in the history of fiction.
As anyone with any knowledge of popular fiction probably knows, that romance is between celebrated rogue Rhett Butler and willful belle Scarlett O’Hara. The public famously demanded (and got) Clark Gable as Butler, but choosing an actress to play Scarlett involved a legendary casting call and many actresses before Vivien Leigh was chosen. The teaming was inspired, since the two stars are thoroughly convincing as they enact both the tender and combustible parts of Rhett and Scarlett’s relationship. Overseen by producer David O. Selznick through an arrangement with MGM, which
has deemed the picture one of the crown jewels of its library through any and all financial difficulties the studio has endured, “Gone With the Wind” is breathtaking in its scope under director (and Gable pal) Victor Fleming … particularly for an era when moviemaking supposedly had its limitations. One great example is a sequence that shows Atlanta’s outdoors as a makeshift hospital for wounded soldiers, with rows upon rows of the injured stretching back as far as one can see.
For such largesse, though, “Gone With the Wind” also works as an intimate charting of the ups and downs of Rhett and Scarlett’s romance. He enjoys teasing her about her supposed resistance to him early in their courtship, but things take a darker turn as he tires of her playfulness and wants more of a commitment from her. One factor working against that is her deep love for Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), who is fond of Scarlett, but not on the same level since his heart belongs to his pure-hearted distant relative Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland).
Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable and Olivia de Havilland
What’s Available NOW On
“Earth Abides” - Season 1 (Dec. 1)
When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe in this MGM+ Original, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into extinction. Alexander Ludwig, Jessica Frances Dukes, Aaron Tveit, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll, Elyse Levesque, Hilary McCormack, Luisa D’Oliveira, Birkett Turton and Jenna Berman star.
in focus
“Dexter: Original Sin” - Season 1 (Paramount+ with Showtime — Dec. 13, Series Premiere)
Set in 1991 Miami, This “Dexter” spinoff follows Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Christian Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement’s radar. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department.
“The Sticky” - Season 1 (Dec. 6)
Inspired by the true story dubbed the “Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist,” the series follows Ruth Landry (Margo Martindale), a tough, middle-aged maple syrup farmer who turns to crime when the bureaucratic authorities threaten to take away everything she loves. She teams up with a hot-tempered Bostonian mobster (Chris Diamantopoulos), and a mild-mannered French-Canadian security guard (Guillaume Cyr) to carry out a multi-million dollar heist on Quebec’s maple syrup surplus. Jamie Lee Curtis guest stars.
“It’s in the Game” - Season 1 (Available Now)
This new series reveals the never-been-told story of the smash-hit video game, Madden NFL, from its archaic 8-bit origins to its success as an annual must have — against all odds. For the first time ever, EA SPORTS is opening their vault of rare and never-beenseen footage, while also allowing cameras to follow along as the team finishes the next generation of the game.
“El Circo de los Muchachos” (Available Now)
This docuseries explores the story of Father Jesus Silva, known as “el Cura,” who created a city and educational project for street children without resources in Benposta, a small neighborhood in the suburbs of Ourense (Galicia) during Franco’s dictatorship in Spain in 1956. Silva created a nation of boys, with its own currency and passport, governed by children under the approval of the Francoist government and church. Over time, Benposta became a town steeped in art, education, and enthusiasm.
Solution on page 1
This Just In @ Bozeman Library
BETH BOYSON
Library columnist
LIBRARY EVENT
Once a month Bozeman Public Library screens a Documentary. Bring your own beanbag for a quiet evening with an interesting movie! (regular chairs will be also provided).
Documentary Movie Night is in the Community Meeting Room. The screening begins promptly at 6 p.m. and ends roughly 90 minutes later. The library does not endorse any opinion or perspective in selected documentaries. Friendly reminder: not all movies are suitable for all ages or sensibilities.
Monday, Dec. 2: Pencils vs Pixels (2023, 83 minutes).
Pencils vs. Pixels is a celebration of the unique magic of 2D hand-drawn animation and an exploration of how the Disney Renaissance of the late 1980s and early 1990s led to an animation boom that was quickly upended by the computer animation revolution that followed. A glimpse into the future and the animation trends that are yet to come is also included. For more information,
please call 406-582-2400 or visit bozemanlibrary.org.
BOOKS FOR THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM
I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine by Daniel J. Levitin. Nonfiction. Neuroscientist and author of ‘This Is Your Brain on Music’ brings together the results of numerous studies on music and the brain, demonstrating how music can contribute to the treatment of ailments from
neurodegenerative diseases to cognitive injury, depression, and pain.
Change by Édouard Louis. Fiction. In this ‘autobiographical’ novel, Eddy longs for a life beyond the poverty, discrimination, and violence in his working-class hometown. He sets out for school in Amiens, and, later, university in Paris. He sheds the provincial “Eddy” for an elegant new name, determined to eradicate every aspect of his past. Lessons are learned.
A Good Bad Boy: Luke Perry and How a Generation Grew Up by Margaret Wappler. Biography. Best known for playing loner rebel Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills 90210, these interviews with dozens
who knew Perry personally and professionally tell a story of kind, complex man who shaped a generation’s views on masculinity, privilege and the ideal of “cool.”
BOOKS FOR THE KIDDOS Felix Powell, Boy Dog by Erin Entrada Kelly. Juvenile Fiction. Felix Powell can talk to animals. Just ask his dog, Mary Puppins! They talk all the time. When a mysterious, magical spell turns Felix into a dog, Mary Puppins is amazed. But not as much as Felix! Will his tail ever stop wagging? Will he ever see in color again? Most importantly, will he ever return to being a regular boy?
What’s Available NOW On
“That Christmas” (Dec. 4)
Based on the children’s books by Richard Curtis, this new, animated family Christmas film follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys! Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen and Katherine Parkinson are among the voice cast.
Library/from 7
Windsongs: Poems about Weather by Douglas Floran. Juvenile Nonfiction. Learn about all sorts of weather all over the world, from a regular rainy day to a hurricane, from fog to frost, from droughts to dewy mornings. With clever poems perfect for reading aloud and fact-filled backmatter, young readers can explore both everyday and once-in-a-lifetime natural phenomena.
Winter Magic by Robert Burleigh; illustrated by
“Black Doves” - Season 1 (Dec. 5)
Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, this sharp, action-filled series follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down to earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy. For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organization she works for, called the Black Doves. When her secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire), calls in Helen’s old friend Sam (Ben Whishaw) to help her investigate the murder, leading them to uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy.
Wendell Minor. Picture Book.
This rhyming story, told by Winter itself, presents the unique aspects to celebrate the (longest) season, from the first snowflake to creating a snowman to making holiday sweets. Watercolor and gouache illustrations emphasize the beauty of winter, including a particularly gorgeous cardinal.
Fall Parade — words by Camelia Kay; Art by Allyn Howard. Picture Book. Who loves a parade? In this seasonal follow-up to ‘Spring Parade’, follow Daddy and Baby Fox as
“Mary” (Dec. 6)
This coming-of-age biblical epic follows Mary (Noa Cohen) as she is shunned following a miraculous conception and forced into hiding. When King Herod (Anthony Hopkins) ignites a murderous pursuit for her newborn baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Ido Tako) go on the run — bound by faith and driven by courage — to save his life at all costs.
they welcome a festive parade of autumn fun, with falling leaves, shiny red apples, acorns, and all of their beloved friends. Lots of fun to be had pointing out all the objects and animals in the pictures.
The Quest for a Tangram Dragon by Christine LiuPerkins; illustrated by Lynn Scurfield. Early Reader. A clever introduction to the Tangram, a classic Chinese shape puzzle that’s beloved in early math curriculum. In a quest to end a long drought, a brave Little Triangle utilizes the magic of tangrams to transform
“A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter” (Dec. 6)
In this special packed with musical guests, pop icon Sabrina Carpenter performs songs from her holiday EP “Fruitcake,” alongside other iconic chart-topping holiday covers. The special also features show-stopping music performances, comedic guests, unexpected duets, plus many more surprises and fun cameos.
into various creatures as they search for a Chinese dragon.
FOR THE TEENS AND TWEENS
Deadendia: The Divine Order by Hamish Steele. Young Adult Graphic Novel. Barney gets a job at a theme park that is actually a portal to the demon world. Oh, and his dog gets possessed by one of the demons and learns to talk and has magic powers. This trilogy is so funny, that you almost forget you’re reading a novel! And, actually a graphic novel with great pictures, too.
Make: Props and Costume Armor by Shawn Thorsson. Young Adult Nonfiction. Lots of crafters / creators out there want to create realistic science fiction and fantasy weapons, armor and accessories. This is the book that will teach you how to do it. Make props and costume armor involves sculpting, molding, casting, 3D printing, CNC fabrication, painting, and countless other techniques.
Beth Boyson is a Programming Librarian and Cataloger at Bozeman Public Library. She can be reached through the Library website at www.bozemanlibrary.org.
The solution to the question is found within the answers in the puzzle. In order to discover this hidden solution, unscramble the letters noted with asterisks within the puzzle.
Across
1. Animal’s gullet
4. Understand
8. Uncle ___
11. Altar vow
12. It may be proper or common
13. Hipster beer, for short
14. They can provide good starts
17. Police, with “the”
18. Years on end
19. Electrical letters
21. Give temporarily
24. Therefore
25. “___ thinking of a number”
26. Popular
27. Letters on some Patriots ballcaps
28. Ego
30. Home paper
32. Dine
34. Hyperbola part
35. “Dinosaur tracks” for Connecticut and
“shark tooth” for Georgia, e.g.
41. Cheer starter
42. Horseman’s whip
43. “Fancy that!”
44. Blast maker
45. Beer ingredients
46. The Beatles’ “___ Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” Down
1. Drop the ___
2. Toothpaste tube letters
3. The earth
4. Chew on
5. Fail to keep
6. Old hat
7. Midleg
8. Gumption
9. Presidential nickname
10. One of a couple
15. Some cooking grease
16. Sounds in “rico” and “rojo”
19. Sale sign
20. Christmas decoration
Pop (culture) quiz: SNL alum hosts all-new ‘Pop Culture Jeopardy!’
and more, this team-based game will bring the competitive spirit of “Jeopardy!” to a whole new level, as each team player must qualify individually before their team is able to participate in qualifying rounds. Akin to “Jeopardy! Masters,” however, the teams will be able to compete in more than one episode, as the show will function as a tournament with only one player winning the final grand prize.
22. Supreme Court count
23. Contacted on X, maybe
29. Minimum
31. Modern smoking devices, for short
33. “Rambling Wreck From Georgia ___”
34. Nile reptiles
35. Bygone barrier busting plane
36. Tuna container
37. One way to swing
38. “Alley ___!”
39. Chicken choice
40. Go down
From The Beatles to Beyoncé, from “The Brady Bunch” to “The Bachelor,” “Jeopardy!” delves further into arts and culture than ever before with the all-new spinoff, “Pop Culture Jeopardy!,” premiering Wednesday, Dec. 4, on Prime Video. Now celebrating its 60th year on air, this ever-popular trivia show boasts nearly 9,000 episodes, showcasing generations worth of bigbrained, quick-on-their-feet contestants. After seeing its first spinoff, “Jeopardy! Masters,” make its debut last year, fans will now see this monolith game show expand even further, with 40 episodes of this latest, pop culture-focused iteration airing in its first season alone.
Hosted by comedian Colin Jost (“Saturday Night
Live”), Amazon Studios describes “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” as “a brand-new twist on the classic quiz show’s ‘answer-and-question’ format that combines the academic rigor of ‘Jeopardy!’ with the excitement and unpredictability of pop culture.”
They continue, explaining that “contestants, playing in teams of three, will need to be experts in categories from Alternative Rock to The Avengers; Broadway to MMA; Gen Z to Zendaya as they compete in a tournament-style event for the grand prize of $300,000 and ultimate bragging rights.”
With topics spanning movies, television, books, Broadway, sports, social media, current events, fashion, fads, trends, Comic-Con
“’Pop Culture Jeopardy!’ is its own cultural moment, marking the first time the iconic franchise will premiere exclusively on a streaming service,” Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD originals unscripted and targeted programming at Amazon MGM Studios, said in an official statement regarding the series. “With a team-based approach and pop-culture focus, our global Prime Video customers will exclusively experience this innovative spin on ‘Jeopardy!’ while testing their knowledge on topics that both define and transcend generations.”
From executive producer Michael Davies (“Jeopardy!”), “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” debuts Wednesday, Dec. 4, on Prime Video.
Colin Jost and contestants in “Pop Culture Jeopardy!”
What’s Available NOW On
“The Menu” (Available Now)
Dinner is served. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult, this delicious horror-comedy follows as food-loving Tyler Ledford (Hoult) brings his date, Margot Mills (Taylor-Joy), to an exclusive restaurant on a private island a restaurant owned by celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Fiennes) — in search of a life-changing meal. As each course is served, it becomes clearer and clearer, however, that the chef’s meal may be far more than decadent — it’s deadly as well.
celebrityfacts
“Hidden Figures” (Available Now)
This acclaimed drama film tells the incredible, untold story of Katherine Jonson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) — brilliant African American women working at NASA who served as the brains behind the launch into orbit of astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell), a stunning achievement that turned around the space race. The visionary trio crossed all gender and racial line and inspired generations.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” (Available Now)
This hit dark comedy finds Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) with his past as the morally flexible Deadpool behind him, until he suddenly finds himself in a fight for the survival of his homeworld and must suit-up again — and convince a reluctant Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to help him.
Kinds of Kindness” (Available Now)
A triptych fable, this dark comedy drama follows a man without choice who tries to take control of his own life; a policeman who is alarmed that his wife who was missing-at-sea has returned and seems a different person; and a woman determined to find a specific someone with a special ability, who is destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader. Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn, Mamoudou Athie and Hunter Schafer star.
Hunter King, seen recently in “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” on Hallmark Channel and W Network:
After appearing on such shows as “Dexter,” “ER” and “Hannah Montana,” she had several runs as Summer Newman on the CBS weekday serial “The Young and the Restless.”
Lindsay Lohan of “Our Little Secret” on Netflix:
She has reunited with Jamie Lee Curtis for “Freakier Friday,” a sequel to their 2003 Disney comedy-fantasy movie
“Freaky Friday” that is slated for release next summer.
Jill Wagner of “Christmas Under the Northern Lights” on Great American Family:
As well as being a co- star of the Paramount+ series “Lioness,” she is one of the show’s executive producers and had a hand in creating it, doing so in conjunction with longtime acquaintance Taylor Sheridan (“Yellowstone”).
A merry Hallmark movie
Questions:
1) Which Hallmark Channel holiday movie reunited “Party of Five” co-stars Scott Wolf and Lacey Chabert, the latter of whom also stars in the new film “The Christmas Quest”?
2)Paul Rudd, Henry Winkler, Danny Glover or William Shatner — which actor has not (yet) appeared in a Hallmark Christmas movie?
3)Genovia, Aldovia or Winshire — which of these (fictional) European countries is the setting for “Crown for Christmas” (2015) starring Danica McKellar?
4) Which Hallmark Christmas movie featured country music icon Naomi Judd as a bathroom attendant at a department store?
5) A tabloid reporter tries to get the scoop on a famous political family and ends up pretending to be the eldest son’s date for Christmas — which Hallmark movie is this?
6) Which famous actress plays the disapproving queen in “A Royal Christmas” (2014)?
7) Which celebrity directed and starred in “A Christmas Melody” (2015)?
7)Mariah Carey
6)Jane Seymour
5)“Snow Bride” (2013)
4) “Window Wonderland” (2013)
3) Winshire
2)Paul Rudd
1)“A Merry Scottish Christmas” (2023)
Answers:
Jennifer Hudson ce l e b rity
OF THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW ON SYNDICATED
Q: I like watching Jennifer Hudson on her talk show. Which season of “American Idol” did she compete on?
A: She was a contestant in the third season of the singing competition, which still was in its original run on Fox at the time. Because of the stardom she attained afterward, some think that Hudson won “Idol,” but she didn’t; she actually finished seventh in that round of the contest, in which Fantasia Barrino was the winner. (And yes, she has appeared on “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” in a 2023 episode that featured cast members of the movie-musical version of “The Color Purple.”)
Even without an “Idol” win, Hudson’s career skyrocketed in the aftermath of her performances on that program. Cast as Effie White in the 2006 movie of the stage hit “Dreamgirls,” she won an Oscar for best supporting actress for that film debut (Barrino reportedly was up for the role as well). After that came more movie work for Hudson — in programs such as “Sex and the City,” “The Secret Life of Bees” (2008) and “Winnie Mandela” (2011) — and the release of her eponymous debut album, which yielded the singles “Spotlight,” “If This Isn’t Love” and Giving Myself.” She won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for the release.
A winner of two NAACP Image Awards thus far, “The Jennifer Hudson Show” began in the fall of 2022, basically replacing “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” for syndicator Warner Bros. Television and being taped in the same studio in Burbank, Calif. (with the “Ellen” executive producers moving over to Hudson’s program). As sort of an omen, the talk show premiered on Hudson’s birthday, Sept. 12. Musically, Hudson recently released her fourth studio album, “The Gift of Love” — her first holiday-themed offering. Expectedly, she has performed songs from the album on her show.
celebrity q&a
Solution on page 1
BY ADAM THOMLISON
Colin Jost
OF POP CULTURE JEOPARDY! ON PRIME VIDEO
Q: I love Colin Jost on “SNL.” Does he do any other roles?
A: Being the co-anchor of “Saturday Night Live’s” Weekend Update news segment and serving for eight years as head writer of the whole show has kept Colin Jost pretty busy. But he — perhaps incredibly — did find time to take on a few other roles as well over the years.
Those mostly took the shape of supporting roles in movies — including the hit 2016 romcom “How to Be Single” and the 2021 live-action/animated comedy “Tom & Jerry.”
In a time-honored tradition for “Saturday Night Live” stars, he also wrote and appeared in a screwball comedy film produced by “SNL” creator and producer Lorne Michaels. His acting part in 2015’s “Staten Island Summer” was relatively modest — he had just a few moments on screen as a police officer — but the script was all him.
Jost just got a lot busier, though: he debuts this week as host of the new game show “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” on Prime Video. It is, of course, a sister version of the original, slightly more academic “Jeopardy!,” and it’s notable for being the first iteration of that show to appear on streaming instead of cable.
The fact that he’s kept this sideline work up is pretty incredible considering the famously hectic “SNL” schedule.
In an interview on “The Howard Stern Show,” he said he gave up the head writer role in 2022 because of the hours. “I used to sleep at work twice a week, straight through 24-hour tours twice a week.”
Lacey Chabert stars in “The Christmas Quest”
Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn share a ‘Roman Holiday’
The movie that made Audrey Hepburn a star — and an Oscar-winning one at that — “Roman Holiday” is part of a “Falling in Love With the Movies” theme night, tied to a new book of the same name by Esther Zuckerman, Wednesday, Dec. 4, on Turner Classic Movies. Filmed on location, the William Wyler-directed 1953 comedy casts the actress as a princess who chafes under a packed schedule and constant monitoring, prompting her to go AWOL and see Rome on her own. There, she crosses paths with a reporter (Gregory Peck) who doesn’t recognize her at first.
Once he realizes who she is, he also tries to conceal his true identity, hoping to land an exclusive story and photos, helped by a cameraman friend (Eddie Albert).
The Colosseum and Trevi Fountain are among the famous sites seen in the course of the travelogue-within-the-film, which also earned Academy Awards for its story and costume design. Though many fans can’t imagine this picture without the particular magic Peck and Hepburn brought to it, Cary Grant and Elizabeth Taylor were among those considered for it earlier.
Puzzle Solutions
more retro rewinds
“Rizzoli & Isles” (Start TV, Sundays through Saturdays): Angie Harmon (“Law & Order”) and Sasha Alexander (“NCIS”) had a successful — and for a cable show, particularly long (seven seasons) — run as the title characters, a police detective and a medical examiner, in this series based on Tess Gerritsen’s novels. The repartee between the actresses is as big a part of the show as the given mystery in each episode; another notable cast member is Lorraine Bracco (“The Sopranos”) as the mother of Harmon’s Jane Rizzoli.
“Blue Bloods” (UPtv, Mondays through Thursdays; ION Television, Wednesdays and Thursdays): As the long-lasting drama series about a New York law-and-order family ends its new episodes on CBS and Paramount+, repeats continue on multiple cable channels. Tom Selleck plays Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, whose views and methods often conflict with those of his fellow-policeman sons (Donnie Wahlberg, Will Estes) and his prosecutor daughter (Bridget Moynahan). Those who can’t do without the family-dinner scene in each story should be especially comforted to know that the reruns will keep going.
Donald Faison celebrity update
OF SCRUBS ON NBC/ABC
Q: What happened to Donald Faison? And what’s happening with the “Scrubs” reunion?
A: “It’s gonna happen,” Donald Faison said of the long-rumored “Scrubs” reunion. That very confident quote appeared in an article on NBC.com, published in February to promote his latest sitcom, “Extended Family,” which was canceled just a few months later.
That might explain Faison’s eagerness to return to his “Scrubs” role — he just hasn’t found a home for his talents since.
It’s not for lack of trying. Before “Extended Family,” he’d done a pile of voice roles and indie movies, but nothing caught like “Scrubs” did.
BY ADAM THOMLISON
The hit medical sitcom ran for nine seasons, split between NBC and ABC, from 2001 to 2010, and it remains popular in reruns. Of course, that might be part of Faison’s problem: perhaps fans just can’t accept him as anything other than Dr. Christopher Turk. Fortunately, Faison isn’t the only one raring for a reunion. Bill Lawrence, who created the show and has made other hits since (such as “Ted Lasso” and “Shrinking”), told Variety magazine last year that a “Scrubs” reunion is “inevitable.”
He admitted that coordinating everyone’s schedules could be a challenge, but that they’re all motivated. “The main reason to do something like that isn’t the work, it’s because we actually love hanging out,” he said.
Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in “Roman Holiday”
BY ROBERTO
Ocon and Team Alpine look for last-minute points in Qatar
The penultimate chapter of a thrilling 2024 Formula One season fast approaches as drivers and teams push to secure their final place in the standings when the Qatar Grand Prix gets underway at Lusail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar. The big race takes place Sunday, Dec. 1, live on ESPN.
The 2024 F1 season has been one for the books, with a particularly competitive midfield. Teams in the middle of the standings have remained neck and neck, but one team that has made a healthy improvement this season is Esteban Ocon and Team Alpine.
Despite an up-and-down season, Ocon and Alpine have delivered strong performances throughout the year, including point-scoring finishes that have been crucial for Alpine in the Constructors Championship standings. The French native also celebrated a rare double podium finish alongside teammate Pierre Gasly at this year’s Brazilian Grand Prix, further helping elevate Team Alpine. Ocon’s presence and determination have kept him competitive in the midfield this season, giving fans plenty of optimism that Ocon can pull out a strong finish in Qatar.
Despite his struggles with heat exhaustion and dehydration in Qatar’s extreme conditions last season, Ocon’s consistency, experience and well-executed strategies on challenging circuits give him and his team plenty of confidence he can score valuable points this weekend.
Known for its high-speed corners and demanding nighttime conditions, the Qatar Grand Prix is set to be a thrilling race. As the circuit tests drivers’ tire management skills and endurance, their teams will have much to consider going into this high-temperature climate.
Don’t miss any of the action as the Qatar Grand Prix revs into action Sunday, Dec. 1, on ESPN.
Full name: Esteban Jose Jean-Pierre Ocon-Khelfane
Birthdate: Sept. 17, 1996 (28)
Birthplace: Evreux, France
Height/weight: 6-1/145 pounds
Team(s): Team Alpine (2021-2024), Renault F1 (2020), Force India (20182017), Manor Grand Prix (2016)
Honors and achievements: Hungarian Grand Prix Winner (2021)
TOWN & COUNTRY FOODS: DAD’S DOUGHNUT BREAKFAST SANDWICH
Elevate dad’s favorite meal of the day by adding breakfast classics in-between two halves of a fresh doughnut.
Ingredients:
1 glazed doughnut
3 slices bacon
1 large egg
1 slice of cheddar Directions: In a medium skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove from pan. Crack a large egg into the skillet with the remaining bacon grease and cook to dad’s liking
(scrambled, over easy, or sunny side up). Melt cheese slice over egg as it is nearly done. Slice a fresh doughnut in half and layer egg with cheese and bacon.
Serve with dad’s favorite drink and enjoy!
“People enjoy seeing how she’s developed — refining her technique and stage presence,” Kathleen wrote in a text message.
It has been a long road. At eight years old, Molly was into archery and fishing. When offered an opportunity to take a ballet class at a basement studio below breakfast spot Main Street Overeasy, she scoffed and had to be bribed with the promise of post-class Dairy Queen by one of her older sisters.
Molly was painfully shy, a product of major neurological fainting issues she had developed at age 4. She was naturally embarrassed by a monitor she was asked to wear at times and by having to carry Gatorade at all times, not to mention the horror of fainting around her peers. Dance class was different. She was expected to be silent, a boon when you hate speaking. And the movement felt both refreshing and comfortable.
“I remember being very serious about it right from the get-go,” Molly said. “From walking in and learning the positions of the feet, I was honed in. And I didn’t have to say two words to anybody for the full hour.”
She asked to go back the next week. And the week after. Under the direction of teachers like Ann Bates and Dana Sorg, she learned that dancing professionally could be an option and committed herself to the art. By 14, she had landed the principal role of Swanhilda in a production of “Coppelia” on the Willson stage, her first opportunity to carry a full-length, threeact ballet. While she now sees it as one of her favorite roles, at 14, Molly remembers crying in her room listening to Coldplay’s “Sparks” for weeks after the sold-out run. She had been given the space to embody the character and live in that world for a weekend, then it was all over.
“I felt like I came alive during the performances,” she said. “And I think I became something more than my teachers or my family anticipated.”
Molly was especially inspired by Bozeman Dancer Cody Dieruf, who died of cystic fibrosis at the age of 23 in 2005. She recalls a production of “Peter Pan” where Cody played Captain Hook, fresh off release from a five-day hospital stint.
“I was watching her in the audience and I was like, that is amazing,” Molly said. “She just tore it up like, like nothing had gone on.”
Cody’s determination and resilience shaped Molly’s desire to press forward, despite her own fainting issues and being told she shouldn’t stand for long periods of time or do activities that make her sweat and could cause dangerous drops in sodium levels.
“Really, I’m still defying those odds by what I’m doing because I sweat in a studio for eight hours a day and I’m on my feet for eight hours a day,” Molly said.
The process hasn’t been easy. A teenage Molly fainted in her hotel room the morning of her first audition with Pacific Northwest Ballet, hitting her face on the nightstand, and had to convince her mother to let her continue the audition. But she was one of five dancers accepted to the summer program out of 120 auditions that day. Molly returned to the Pacific Northwest Ballet the next summer, then was offered a spot in the year-round program at the 16. She was to report to Seattle in two weeks, but the company did not offer housing.
“I remember I went to my parents and they said, I’m either going to be homeless or you’re going to help me,” Molly said.
Looking back, Molly can’t help but express gratitude for the trust and support. Her time with Pacific Northwest Ballet allowed her to learn under Louise Nadeau, who performed the Sugar Plum Fairy role in Bozeman for nearly a decade.
“I remember being in awe backstage at the Willson,” Molly said. “Dancers lined up on the railing with the upstage dressing room, just watching her.”
Now, at 33, Molly is the Sugar Plum Fairy, and is taking time to appreciate the full-circle moment. She will be dancing with performers she has known since she started taking lessons, and with those who may be on the railing overlooking the stage with their eyes wide. Denver has been home base for about 10 years, but Bozeman is her “home home,” Molly said. Expect at least 20 members of her immediate family in the audience.
“I’m very grateful to be here and to still be able to dance and to still be able to dance for a community that’s done nothing but support me,” Molly said.
Solution on page 1
in focus
“Carry-On” (Netflix — Dec. 13, Movie Premiere)
Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton), a young TSA agent, gets blackmailed by a mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman) to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight in this new holiday thriller. Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler and Theo Rossi also star.
celebrityscoop
BY JAY BOBBIN
Fantasy is more of a factor than usual for Maggie Lawson as she gets back in the holiday movie game.
Adept at both comedy and drama, the former “Psych” costar has one of the most fanciful of her many Christmas films
BY ALEX HENDRY
The 2024 F1 Season
Questions: Answers:
1)The 2024 Formula One (F1) season has been a wild ride this year, with new contenders in the championship standings and exotic locations added to the racing calendar. With a record 24 races this year, which grand prix will host the final race of the season on Sunday, Dec. 8?
2)Which team ended their longtime absence from the top of the podium by winning the 2024 Miami Grand Prix?
3)Home sweet home! For the first-time in the modern F1 era, fans at the Monaco Grand Prix saw a local driver win the checkered flag. Who won this year’s race?
4)Starting the season on the mark, which driver earned 7 consecutive Pole Positions to begin the 2024 F1 season?
5)New name, similar results. Which racing team was rebranded as RB for the 2024 F1 season?
6)Name the F1 driver who set the fastest lap record at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, only to be released by his team days later.
7)He made 5 appearances in F1 last season then stepped behind the wheel as replacement driver for the answer to Question 6. Who is he?
8)Serving as primary reserve driver for both Haas and Ferrari this season, which driver replaced both Kevin Magnussen and Carlos Sainz Jr. at various points this season?
9)Initially held in 2004, which grand prix returned to the F1 racing calendar in 2024 after a four-year hiatus?
10)Which team won consecutive races with two separate drivers for the first time since 2021?
with “Sugarplummed,” debuting Saturday, Dec. 7, on Hallmark Channel. The story is rather meta, involving a movie within the movie as Lawson’s character, Emily, wants to create a holiday for her relatives that’s as seemingly perfect as the one she sees in — here it comes — a seasonal TV movie, something she’s never been quite able to pull off.
To Emily’s great surprise, the film’s main character, Sugarplum (played by “Pretty Little Liars” alum Janel Parrish), comes to life, determined to make the wish come true. All seems to go well initially, but as happens in so many holiday movies, complications arise en route to a hoped-for happy ending, with Emily eventually reassessing her yuletide goal.
Lawson has made several other holiday tales, appearing in them not only on Hallmark but sometimes on Great American Family. They include “A Lot Like Christmas” (2021), “Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy” (2019) and “Christmas Encore” (2017), and all of them typically get repeats during the channels’ 24/7 marathons of seasonal movies at this time of year.
Of course, Lawson is also a familiar face from her work in weekly TV, and not only from “Psych,” in which she played police detective Juliet O’Hara during the show’s eight-season run and in its three movie sequels. Among her other series have been the ABC comedies “It’s All Relative,” “Back in the Game” and “Crumbs,” the CBS sitcom “Angel From Hell,” a Fox
(George Russell and Lewis Hamilton)
10)Mercedes
9)Chinese Grand Prix
8)Oliver Bearman
7)Liam Lawson
6)Daniel Ricciardo
5)AlphaTauri
4)Max Verstappen
3)Charles Leclerc
2)McLaren
1)Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
version of the Lethal Weapon action franchise, the Fox comedy “Outmatched” and the NBC sitcom “Inside Schwartz.” “Sugarplummed” proves that Lawson remains game to make Christmas magic, though, and chances are good that it won’t be the last time she does.
Birthdate: Aug. 12, 1980
Birthplace: Louisville, Ky.
Current residence: Los Angeles
Marital status: Divorced
Other television credits include: “Psych,” “Psych: The Movie,” “Psych 2: Lassie Come Home,” “Psych 3: This Is Gus,” “Outmatched,” “The Story of Us,” “Lethal Weapon,” “Santa Clarita Diet,” “The Ranch,” “My Favorite Wedding,” “The Great Indoors,” “Angel From Hell,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Save the Date,” “Justified,” “Hostile Makeover,” “Killer Hair,” “Fear Itself,” “Rules of Engagement,” “Crumbs,” “Tru Calling,” “Love Rules!,” “It’s All Relative,” “Smallville,” “Heart of a Stranger,” “Cheats,” “Nancy Drew,” “Inside Schwartz,” “Model Behavior,” “Felicity,” “Family Rules,” “Party of Five,” “Home Improvement,” “Cybill,” “Boy Meets World,” “Step by Step,” “Hang Time,” “Unhappily Ever After” Movie credits include: “Still Waiting...,” “Gamer,” “Cleaner,” “Winter Break,” “Nice Guys Sleep Alone” Philanthropic efforts: Co-founder of The Tiger Frances Foundation, a nonprofit organization that pairs youngsters and animals in need of loving attention and companionship
Dr. Landon Van Dell
Psychiatrist
Bozeman Health is pleased to welcome psychiatrist, Dr. Landon Van Dell, to the Bozeman Health Behavioral Health department. Van Dell comes to Bozeman Health from the Naval Medical Center San Diego. He received his medical degree Medical Center in 2025.
Learn more at www.BozemanHealth.org