‘Tis the Season for Festive Holiday Programming on ABC

By Andie Hagemann

ABC announced its holiday programming today in anticipation of the most wonderful time of the year, offering a lineup filled with merriment, beloved classics, and uplifting new specials.

Two dazzling specials featuring some of the biggest names in music will bring melodies in December: A Very Backstreet Christmas celebrates the holidays with The Backstreet Boys, and Finding Harmony is an uplifting story featuring EGOT winner John Legend and David Brown, founder of the Columbus-based Harmony Project in Ohio. Disney will also kick off its 100th anniversary celebration during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023.

Additional highlights include Disney’s new stop-motion holiday special, Mickey Saves Christmas; the return of CMA Country Christmas from Nashville; holiday-themed episodes of ABC’s favorite comedies and game shows; and Wonderful World of Disney movies that families can enjoy, including a special airing of Home Alone on Christmas Eve. ABC News is also set to air Love Actually: 20 Years Later – A Diane Sawyer/ABC News Special and The Year: 2022. A magical new season of The Great Christmas Light Fight also returns, along with news of a Season 11 pickup for 2023.

Additional movies, musicals, and specials round out the holiday season on ABC. Airdates are as follows (all times listed are Eastern/Pacific unless otherwise noted).

Wednesday, November 16
8-8:30 p.m. — The Conners (New Thanksgiving-Themed Episode)
8:30-9 p.m. — The Goldbergs (New Thanksgiving-Themed Episode)
9:31-10 p.m. — Home Economics (New Thanksgiving-Themed Episode)

Tuesday, November 22
10-11 p.m. — The Rookie: Feds (New Thanksgiving-Themed Episode)

Key art for Mickey Saves Christmas. Donald, Daisy, Minnie, Mickey, and Goofy sit in a large red sleigh. Pluto pulls the sleigh as it flies high above a snowy village.

Sunday, November 27
7-7:30 p.m. — Mickey Saves Christmas (New)
7:30-8 p.m. — Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
8-10 p.m. — The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (New)

Monday, November 28
8-10 p.m. — The Great Christmas Light Fight (Season Premiere)

Tuesday, November 29
8-9 p.m. — Love Actually: 20 Years Later – A Diane Sawyer/ABC News Special (New)

Thursday, December 1
8-9 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
9 p.m. — CMA Country Christmas (New)

Monday, December 5
8-10 p.m. — The Great Christmas Light Fight (New)

Tuesday, December 6
8-9 p.m. — Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
9-10 p.m. — Press Your Luck (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
10-11 p.m. — The $100,000 Pyramid (New Holiday-Themed Episode)

Wednesday, December 7
8-8:30 p.m. — The Conners (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
8:30-9p.m. — The Goldbergs (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
9-9:31 p.m. — Abbott Elementary (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
9:31-10 p.m. — Home Economics (New Holiday-Themed Episode)

Thursday, December 8
8-10:01 p.m. — The Wonderful World of Disney: Frozen 2 (Broadcast Premiere)

Host Carter Oosterhouse wears a navy blue sweater with black pants. Behind him is a yard covered in lighted Christmas decorations

Monday, December 12
8-10 p.m. — The Great Christmas Light Fight (Season Finale)

Tuesday, December 13
8-8:30 p.m. — Mickey Saves Christmas
8:30-9 p.m. — Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
9-9:30 p.m. — Disney Prep & Landing
9:30-10 p.m. — Disney Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice

Wednesday, December 14
8-9 p.m. — A Very Backstreet Holiday (New)
10-11 p.m. — Finding Harmony (New)

Tuesday, December 20
8-9 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
9-9:30 p.m. — Toy Story That Time Forgot
9:30-10 p.m. — Shrek the Halls

Saturday, December 24
8 p.m. — The Wonderful World of Disney: Home Alone

Sunday, December 25
10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET/7-9 a.m. PT — Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (New)

Monday, December 26
9-11 p.m. — The Year: 2022 (New)

Saturday, December 31
8-10 p.m. — Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023 (New)
10-10:30 p.m. — Local Programming
10:30 p.m.-2:13 a.m. — Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023 (New)

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Andie Hagemann

From spooky Halloween specials to the return of a mysterious series, you won’t want to miss all the spectacular content coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this week! Beginning Tuesday, Searchlight Pictures’ The French Dispatch will be available to stream on Hulu, and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children airs that same day on Freeform as part of the network’s “31 Nights of Halloween”celebration. The second season of The Mysterious Benedict Society kicks off with a two-episode premiere on Disney+ Wednesday, and ABC’s Home Economics airs a new episode that night. Plus, trouble is afoot at a Halloween celebration in a new episode of Station 19, airing Thursday on ABC.

Two men look at each other and face a large bulletin board. The man standing of the left wears a yellow button-down shirt with a brown vest and brown pants. The man standing on the right wears a white button-down shirt with a black vest and black pants. He wears a white apron around his waist and holds a yellow tray in his right arm. The bulletin reads “ISSUE-IN-PROGRESS” at the top with colorful notecards and pieces of paper on the board.

The French Dispatch—Tuesday, October 25, on Hulu

This film—directed by Wes Anderson and intended only for mature audiences—brings to life a collection of stories from the final issue of an American magazine published in a fictional 20th-century French city. Starring Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, Owen Wilson, and more, the aesthetically pleasing film debuts on the streaming service for the first time.

Actor Eva Green portrays Miss Peregrine. She wears a black leather coat and holds a wooden bow and arrow. Behind her is a bright blue sky and lush foliage with yellow flowers.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children—Tuesday, October 25, at 12 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform

Based on the novel of the same name by Ransom Riggs, the live-action film centers around children with unusual talents. Jake (Asa Butterfield) follows clues left by his beloved grandfather that lead to a mystery spanning different worlds and times. He finds Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Childre,n where he learns more about the residents and their special powers. Ultimately, Jake discovers that his own talent can save his new friends. The film’s star-studded cast includes Eva Green, Samuel L. Jackson, Judi Dench, Allison Janney, and more!

Actors Mystic Inscho, Emmy DeOliveira, Marta Kessler, and Seth B. Carr sit on a mustard couch and each hold open books. Behind them are tables and furniture with stacks of books and knickknacks. A red bucket sits at the edge of the couch in front of DeOliveira.

The Mysterious Benedict Society—Wednesday, October 26, on Disney+

Season two debuts with not just one but two episodes! In the season premiere, the children— Reynie (Mystic Inscho), Kate (Emmy DeOliveira), Constance (Marta Kessler), and “Sticky” (Seth B. Carr)—are invited by Mr. Benedict (Tony Hale) to reunite on a scavenger hunt across Europe. When they arrive, however, they’re met with unsettling news: Mr. Benedict and Number Two (Kristen Schaal) have gone missing. Despite being told it’s too dangerous, the kids want to help find their lost comrades and decide to sneak away and start the search on their own. And in Episode 2, the kids must try to blend in and find the next clue as stowaways aboard a majestic ship. Hot on their tail, Rhonda (MaameYaa Boafo), Milligan (Ryan Hurst), and Ms. Perumal (Gia Sandhu) board a dirigible to catch up to them. Mr. Benedict and Number Two cannot hide their distrust from the eerily calm Curtain (Hale) after observing the unnervingly joyful behavior of his devotees and discovering that he is using neurological techniques to create artificial happiness. Back at sea, the water polo team sneaks suspiciously towards the kids’ stateroom…

Actors Jimmy Tatro and Karla Souza stand side by side and look at a person wearing a black cloak and white mask. Tatro wears a gray jacket, a black T-shirt, and dark blue jeans. Souza wears a light pink sweater and a floral-print shirt with a brown skirt and a maroon purse. Tall bookshelves are seen behind them along with black folding chairs. Other people are seen in the distance near the bookshelf.

Home Economics—Wednesday, October 26, at 9:31 p.m. ET/PT on ABC

It’s Halloween and everyone is on edge! Tom (Topher Grace) fears nobody will attend his in-person book reading—except for his No. 1 fan. While the family presumes her to be a stalker, the mysterious woman turns out to be something even more shocking.

Actor Danielle Savre stands adjacent to a large red firetruck. She wears a red firefighter hat that reads “Lieutenant 19 Seattle” with navy blue uniform shirt and black slacks with black suspenders. Additional firefighters are seen in the background.

Station 19—Thursday, October 27, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC

Maya (Danielle Savre) and Theo (Carlos Miranda) answer a call at a Halloween carnival, but when fire hits the corn maze, the dangers escalate. Maya, eager to prove her worth to her captain, risks her own life after things go awry. Meanwhile, as Station 19 hosts the neighborhood kids for trick-or-treating, a prank war breaks out in the house. And Jack (Grey Damon) is haunted by a ghost from his past.

Spooky Season Reads for Halloween and Beyond

October is spooky season and Disney Publishing Worldwide is never in short supply of spine-chilling reads! Take a look at these great titles to satisfy your craving for the otherworldly.

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen – Shea Ernshaw

Have you ever wondered what happened after Jack and Sally tied the knot? In Shea Ernshaw’s instant  No. 1 New York Times bestseller, newly minted Pumpkin Queen, Sally Skellington, accidentally uncovers a long-hidden doorway to an ancient realm called Dream Town. By doing so, she unknowingly sets into motion a chain of sinister events that put her future as Pumpkin Queen, and the future of Halloween Town itself, in jeopardy. Can Sally discover what it means to be true to herself and save the town she’s learned to call home, or will her future turn into her worst…well, nightmare?

Ravenous Things – Derrick Chow

For middle grade readers looking to escape into a creepy story, Ravenous Things reenvisions the tale of the Pied Piper. Twelve-year-old Reggie Wong is still grieving the passing of his father when a strange man promises to reunite the two if Reggie only follows him deep into an underground subway system where horrors worse than Reggie ever imagined lurk around every corner. Climb aboard the midnight train! Things wondrous and terrible await you…

Hocus Pocus: The Illustrated Novelization – A.W. Jantha

Hocus Pocus is a Halloween favorite for many since it debuted in the summer of 1993 and the New York Times bestseller, Hocus Pocus: The Illustrated Novelization does not disappoint! Containing beautiful illustrations that showcase beloved moments from the film in a gothic and whimsical art style, this deluxe retelling of the cult classic movie is the perfect gift for Hocus Pocus fans and collectors.

Big Bad – Lily Anderson

Speaking of things we loved in the 90’s, Buffy is back! Lily Anderson effortlessly throws us back into the world of our favorite Vampire Slayer in her new book, Big Bad. In this dark, rompy adult novel the most beloved Buffy villains, including Anya, Angelus, Spike, Drusilla, and even Ripper the malevolent magic shop owner must team up to stop the Slayer from ending their evil universe!

Malice House – Megan Shepherd

Finally, don’t sleep on Malice House from New York Times best-selling YA author, Megan Shepherd. In her first adult novel, Shepherd weaves a complex tale of dark magic and family secrets. Of all the things aspiring artist Haven Marbury expected to find while clearing out her late father’s remote seaside house, Bedtime Stories for Monsters was not on the list. This secret handwritten manuscript is disturbingly different from his Pulitzer-winning works: its interweaving short stories crawl with horrific monsters and enigmatic humans that exist somewhere between this world and the next. The stories unsettle but also entice Haven, practically compelling her to illustrate them while she stays in the house that her father warned her was haunted. She assumed his dementia was causing him to believe the house was haunted, but when a monstrous creature appears under Haven’s bed right as grisly deaths are reported in the nearby woods, she must race to uncover dark, otherworldly family secrets—completely rewriting everything she ever knew about herself in the process.

Smashing Cameos from She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Season 1

By Sarah Sterling

The epic first season of Marvel Studios She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has come to an end, but we are still reeling from all the laughs, fourth-wall breaks, and cameos! The series has been a nonstop joyride through the world of Jen Walters aka She-Hulk, as she balances her career as a top-notch lawyer with her new identity as a Hulk. Along the way there have been so many hilarious and unexpected cameos from Super Heroes, Walt Disney Company employees, and even Muppets!

Stream She-Hulk: Attorney At Law on Disney+

Here are some of our favorite cameos from She-Hulk: Attorney at Law season 1:

Mark Ruffalo in Hulk form. He is talking to his cousin, Jennifer, who is off screen on the right. The Hulk is wearing a basic black tee shirt with an eagle icon on the front in gray. He has both hands outstretched as he talks to Jennifer with a calm expression on his face. 

Hulk

Marvel Studios could not tell Jen Walters’ story without a dash of our original Incredible Hulk aka Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo. Bruce is integral to Jen’s Super Hero origin story, as he’s the whole reason she obtains powers after the cousins get into a car accident. Following a brief training regimen in a custom-built seaside laboratory somewhere in Mexico, Bruce leaves for an unexplained mission on Sakaar. We get one more glimpse of our big green friend in the She-Hulk finale when he arrives to a family gathering with his son, Skaar. We can’t wait to find out what that’s all about! 

On the far right side of the image is the Abomination inside a high security prison unit. Outside of his cell stands Jennifer Walters in a navy blue skirt suit. She is looking up at him with a concerned look and holds one hand up and the other hand stretched back, indicating that others should stay back. On the left side of the image are armed guards and Wong from Doctor Strange. In an observation room behind the scene are some of Abominations admirers / pen pals wearing white robes. 

Abomination

Emil Blonsky aka the Abomination first appeared in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. The Abomination is not too different from The Hulk, drawing his power from both an experimental version of the Super Soldier Serum and gamma radiation. When Jen meets Blonsky in She-Hulk, she must not only come to terms with representing someone who not long ago tried to kill her cousin Bruce, but also with the fact that he has practiced intense meditation and self-reflection and is now fully able to control himself from transforming. We loved seeing Blonsky pop back into Jen’s life throughout this season as both a challenge and as a friend and mentor.

Wong sits in court with Madisynn to his right and Jen Walters to her right. He is wearing his Kamer Taj robes and looking concerned. Madisynn is staring off into space and she is wearing a tight pink floral dress. Jen is in her She-Hulk form, wearing a suit, and looking back at Wong as if discussing her next move.

Wong

Essential to Abomination’s release from prison was our man, the Sorcerer Supreme himself, Wong—who appears in two episodes of She-Hulk (plus a mid-credits scene in the finale) as a part of Emil Blonsky’s trial. He appears in court to explain that he broke Blonsky out of prison so he could fight the Abomination as a part of his training in the Mystic Arts. Later, Wong comes to Jen for help taking down a hack magician who is using the Mystic Arts recklessly and transporting audience members at his shows all over the world, namely to Wong’s home of Kamer-Taj. One of these audience members is Madisynn (we know, the “Y” is not where you’d think it would be), who befriends Wong despite being his total opposite in every way. She gives him the nickname “Wongers.”

Matt Murdock in his normal clothes (a gray suit with a red tie) sits in court with his client, Luke Jacobson. Jacobson’s hair is tied up in a knot on his head and he is wearing a plaid suit and orange sunglasses. Murdock is speaking into a microphone in front of him.

Daredevil

We’ve been waiting for this one! Marvel fans everywhere have been itching to see Matt Murdock back on screen since his brief cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home—and boy, did we get more than we could have hoped for! Daredevil first appears in She-Hulk episode 8 as designer Luke Jacobson’s lawyer. Jacobson is being sued by Leap-Frog, a wannabe Super Hero who misused the super suit Jacobson designed for him and is seeking compensation for damages he himself incurred. Matt and Jen have immediate chemistry, especially after joining forces to apprehend Leap-Frog once they realize he has kidnapped Jacobson. Later, the pair spend more quality time together, and Daredevil returns for the finale episode where he joins Jen at her family barbecue. It’s too cute! We’re obsessed!

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A still of the robot, K.E.V.I.N. This bot is suspended from the ceiling and has three lights on its “face”, one blue, one red, and one green. There is a bill above the lights that resembles a baseball cap. Above the “cap” is white writing that reads “K.E.V.I.N.”

K.E.V.I.N.

While not voiced by Kevin Feige himself, the fictional MCU AI overlord, K.E.V.I.N., is clearly meant to be a pseudo cameo by the Marvel Studios president. When Jen becomes fed up with the way her show is ending, she breaks the fourth wall and hops right into our world—specifically the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, CA. There, she finds the She-Hulk writer’s room and is told that K.E.V.I.N. makes all the MCU plot decisions. When Jen finally finds K.E.V.I.N., she realizes he is a robot wearing one of Feige’s iconic baseball caps. The perfect twist for a self-referential series that pokes fun at itself.

She-Hulk head writer and executive producer Jessica Gao with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, at the series’ premiere. Gao is wearing a black dress with a floral pattern on it; Feige is wearing a blue suit and a black baseball hat with She-Hulk on it.

The Writer’s Room

The hilariously self-referential writer’s room scene in the She-Hulk finale contains a few cameos by some of the amazing people who worked on the series behind the scenes. This includes head writer Jessica Gao, comic book writer Zeb Wells, and staff writer Cody Zilgar. We loved seeing some of the team get their moment in front of the camera!

Megan Thee Stallion, as herself, in She-Hulk. Megan is wearing a pink blazer, gold chain necklaces, and large gold hoop earrings. Her hair is parted on the side and slick straight. She is in the courtroom, but looking very happy with a big smile on her face.

Megan Thee Stallion

Of course Megan Thee Stallion would recognize a fellow savage in Jen Walters and ultimately befriend her! Megan made for one of the most surprising cameos this season, appearing as herself to clear the air in a case where an Asgardian Light Elf is on trial for impersonating her and defrauding one of Jen’s former colleagues. In the post-credits scene for episode 3, Meg can be seen signing papers in Jen’s office as she is now a new client. Time will tell if we’ll ever see these ladies together again on screen, but we’ll never forget this episode... or their incredible dance moves.

Miss Piggy in The Great Muppet Caper. She is behind bars in a jail cell and wearing long, purple satin gloves, a blue dress, and a pearl necklace.

Miss Piggy

Don’t think for a second we’d leave out the briefest, most shocking cameo of all: Miss Piggy! While waiting for her date to text her back, Jen watches 1981’s The Great Muppet Caper—and on her television we can see Miss Piggy in a jail cell after being framed for diamond theft. Who knew the “M” in MCU stood for “Muppet”... just kidding!

5 Ways to Celebrate the Ice Age 20th Anniversary and National Nut Day

Scrat, Ice Age’s saber-toothed squirrel that we all know and love, began his pursuit for the elusive acorn 20 years ago. So in honor of the film’s 20th anniversary—and the fact that today, October 22, is National Nut Day—rather than collecting acorns, we’ve collected five cool ways to celebrate all things Ice Age below.   

1. Shop the Ice Age product collection

The Ice Age Collector Plush Set includes four furry friends: Scrat the saber-toothed squirrel, Diego the saber-toothed tiger, Sid the sloth, and Buck the weasel.

You can also join the Paleolithic fun with the Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild Figure Set. These seven unconventional friends will make a bold display or fill hours with imaginative roleplay.

For all the acorn enthusiasts, interact with Scrat by giving and taking away his beloved acorn with the Ice Age Goin Nuts Scrat Plush. Scrat sways and chirps excitedly when passed his acorn—and he voices enthusiastic protest when the acorn is taken away.

The Baby Scrat Plush with Sound Effects is a cute new addition—and if you press Baby Scrat’s belly, you can hear sweet sounds and chitters.

Story time is also play time with the Ice Age My Busy Book, an engaging book and toy in one activity kit!

2. Join in the Ice Age fun on social

Search the hashtags #PassTheScrat and #IceAge20th on TikTok to join in the fun on National Nut Day! Fans can #PasstheScrat by making a video catching the plush and passing it along to the next person. The Scrat plush featured in the TikTok, along with other Ice Age products, can be purchased here.

3. Experience the first Ice Age film in theaters for a limited time

At 175 select Cinemark, Marcus, and Cinepolis theaters nationwide from October 21 – 28, fans can watch the original Ice Age film on the big screen! These theaters are also running product box sweepstakes to celebrate the release, with prizes that include Just Play Ice Age plush and collector figures; a Phidal book; and Minecraft code. Click here to purchase tickets.

4. Stream the Ice Age Collection on Disney+

For those who want to just chill out at home, check out your favorite movies and shorts in the Ice Age Collection on Disney+. Starting today, fans can now also choose select Ice Age characters as their profile avatar! (Must be 18+ to subscribe.)

5. Explore the world of Ice Age in Minecraft

Celebrate 20 years of Ice Age with Minecraft and Disney! Have you checked out the Ice Age Mash-Up in Minecraft? Explore Ice Age’s frozen wonderland while playing as your favorite character from the movies. You can help Scrat find his acorn, and even brave a ride down the Eviscerator!

How The Hair Tales Celebrates Black Women Through a Lens of Joy

By Andie Hagemann

Disney Legend Tracee Ellis Ross, Michaela angela Davis, and Disney Legend Oprah Winfrey are going back to their roots in the new Hulu Original docuseries The Hair Tales from Disney’s Onyx Collective and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

“Michaela and I have been friends for over 20 years, and our friendship over those years has been anchored in style, justice, and joy,” shares Ross, who executive produces The Hair Tales along with Davis and Winfrey. “When Michaela brought this idea for us to develop together, it was really an evolution of us discovering something that we have loved this whole time, which is Black women. But it was a combination of us loving ourselves, loving the sisterhood that we come from, and wanting to see it represented in the world in a way that reflected what our experience has been.”

The Hair Tales uses the framework of telling a story through Black women’s hair because it seamlessly leads itself to historic and cultural themes. “We are our stories; that’s how humanity heals,” says Davis. “The storytelling is the queen of our show, and the hair is the leading lady.”

The docuseries uniquely approaches Black women’s hair from a source of power, instead of depicting it solely as a challenge or problem to solve. “We’re talking about in the layered way in which we live,” Davis says. “When we get to tell our own stories, we get to tell them inside the complexity in which we actually live, and not have to shapeshift around the narrow narratives that the culture constructed for us.”

Disney Legend Tracee Ellis Ross sits in a chair with her chin resting on her fist. She smiles and looks on. She wears a bright orange blouse. To the right of the frame is Michaela angela Davis. She wears a black blouse and rests her chin on her fist. The table in front of them has a bouquet of orange and pastel flowers.

Ross adds, “Like so many others, I can chronicle my journey of self-acceptance through my journey with my hair. I don’t think it was until I was a teenager that I started to face my own personal journey with my experiences with my hair [after] not seeing myself mirrored back through culture, media, newscasters, anyone. I saw it at home, but I didn’t see it out in the world. At the time, I took that personally, and really put that on my own self—that I wasn’t enough. As I got older, my own realization about myself was that I was one of many. I was part of a vast community—a vast culture of people who also weren’t seeing themselves.”

The award-winning actress, who portrayed Rainbow Johnson on the long-running hit ABC series black-ish, has herself become a beacon for Black hair, showcasing once taboo hairstyles on the screen and on the red carpet. “We are exploring, celebrating, and unpacking so much of the historical context of who we are and what our stories are as Black women in this country,” says Ross.

The docuseries highlights six iconic women—Issa Rae, Chlöe Bailey, Chika, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Marsai Martin, and Winfrey—alongside academic and cultural leaders, hair professionals, and influential contributors, including Esi Eggleston Bracey, Dr. Noliwe Rooks, Mickalene Thomas, and Meshell Ndegeocello. For Ross, moderating the series is new terrain for a multihyphenate such as herself, who has spent the past several decades in the interview seat.

“I love hearing people’s stories,” says Ross. “I love being a warm, receptive, safe space for people to tell their truth; it’s something I do in my own personal life. For Ayana, one of my favorite things I said was, ‘Teach me about your freedom. Teach me about your beauty.’ It was a wonderful experience and I really enjoyed it.”

Admits Ross, “Oprah told me I was good at it. She said in the middle of me talking to her, ‘You’re really good at this,’ and I said, ‘What? Did that get recorded?’”

The first two episodes of The Hair Tales will debut Saturday, October 22, on Hulu and air at 9 p.m. ET/PT on OWN.

How The Banshees of Inisherin Explores Heartbreak and Humanity

By Zach Johnson

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, Searchlight Pictures’ The Banshees of Inisherin—playing exclusively in theaters beginning Friday, October 21—follows lifelong friends Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell) and Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson), who find themselves at an impasse after one unexpectedly ends their friendship. “The Banshees of Inisherin is the story of an island, the small group of people on that island, and two friends who early on in the film are forced by the decision of one friend to go their separate ways,” Farrell says. “The other friend finds that particularly hard to deal with.”

The film (intended for mature audiences) is set in 1923 on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, far from the Irish Civil War raging on the mainland. The narrative blends comedy and tragedy to present an intimate portrait of humanity—a hallmark of McDonagh’s films. When the story begins, all seems well. As part of their daily routine, Pádraic and Colm usually meet at 2 p.m. to go for a drink in the only pub on Inisherin. Things take a turn, suddenly, on the day when Colm decides to ignore Pádraic’s call. “Colm starts acting very strangely and starts avoiding Pádraic,” says Gleeson. “Colm doesn’t answer the door, which is how we start off the journey. That’s how it begins, with the shutting of a door against a good friend… for no apparent reason.”

Saddened and stunned, Pádraic tries to repair their relationship, refusing to take no for an answer. But Pádraic’s determination only strengthens Colm’s resolve—and when Colm responds with a desperate demand, things escalate with shocking consequences. Colm believes he has a good reason for cutting Pádraic out of his life, according to McDonagh. “He doesn’t want to waste his time anymore. He wants to devote himself to artistic enterprises: music or thought. Pádraic is the fallout from that decision,” he says. “Until this point things have been easygoing, but Colm is older than Pádraic by 15 or 20 years. Colm identifies that time is precious. He sees him as a waste of time.”

“Colm decides to embrace art and creativity as the most important thing in life and it leads to hellish consequences,” echoes Gleeson. “Pádraic chooses to be nice, and he ends up with hellish consequences as well. The Irish Civil War was a tragedy—that’s the context here. Through examining it and trying to understand how things can get dragged out of shape, maybe we can face it down and not take that path. I hope the film will remind people that making nasty or harmful decisions has a lasting effect.”

Brendan Gleeson sits in a rocking chair with a forlorn expression on his face. He is wearing a brown corduroy vest, a long-sleeved blue shirt, and corduroy pants. His hair is slicked back. Beside him is a table, with a dog-shaped ashtray on top of it. Light from the window is pouring in, and Colin Farrell, slightly blurred, is looking in at Gleeson.

Farrell describes Pádraic as “a nice, simple lad,” saying, “He’s happy as long as the animals are fed and he has a couple of pence in his pocket for a few pints and a chat with his friend Colm every day. As long as that’s all happening, then life is just grand.” After the relationship ends, Pádraic struggles. “His loss of innocence is the saddest part of the film,” he says. “He falls apart. He’s not anywhere near as happy as he once was.”

McDonagh—who previously directed Farrell and Gleeson in his debut feature, In Bruges (2008)—is curious to see how audiences respond to The Banshees of Inisherin. “Do you devote yourself totally to life as an artist, and disregard friends or lovers or family? Is work the most important thing? Does it matter who gets hurt in the process?” he asks. “It’s a debate that isn’t answered by me or the film. I don’t think that you have to be a self-flagellating or dark or hateful person to do any kind of art, even dark art. But I definitely think the film explores that interesting conundrum.”

Fantasmic! Returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Dream an Amazing Dream—Fantasmic! Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Big news from our pals at Walt Disney World Resort: Forces of good and evil will once again battle it out in Mickey’s dream with the long-awaited return of Fantasmic! on Thursday, November 3, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The legendary nighttime spectacular invites guests into Mickey’s imagination for a larger-than-life show painted on a grand canvas of dancing water overflowing with both silly and suspenseful surprises…

The elaborate 29-minute spectacular takes place nightly—a kaleidoscope of entertainment featuring thrilling stunts, dazzling special effects, and a rousing score based on classic Disney animated films. But that’s not all: Its return will include the debut of an all-new sequence that brings to life heroic moments from Disney stories such as Moana, Mulan, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and Frozen 2.

In a promo image for Fantasmic! returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort, the Sleeping Beauty dragon from the finale of the spectacular is seen—somewhat shrouded in darkness; its eyes and mouth are glowing, and its wings can be seen in the background. The logo for Fantasmic! is seen in the lower right of the image, and beneath it are the words “Returns November 3.”

Fantasmic! is just one of many new and returning live-entertainment experiences guests can enjoy during the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration. Look for it nightly at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; guests can enter the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater up to 90 minutes prior to the show’s start—but since it is an outdoor venue, the show is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather, and showtimes are also subject to change.

Beginning Wednesday, October 26, dining packages for select restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be available to purchase to secure reserved seating for performances occurring on Wednesday, November 30, and beyond. To experience Fantasmic!, guests need both a valid park admission and a park reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios on the same date; visit DisneyWorld.com for more info!

“Some imagination, huh?!”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

How is it almost Halloween? And to that end, how is it almost November?! If these questions leave you seeking some comfort viewing from around the worlds of Disney, never fear—there’s much to choose from. Look for a new episode of The Villains of Valley View on Disney Channel; the new docuseries The Hair Taleson Hulu; the premiere of Peyton and Eli’s Spooky Adventure: A Places Universe Special on ESPN+; and so much more.

In a still from 1992’s Beauty and the Beast, the Beast is wearing his blue waistcoat and dark blue trousers, and Belle is wearing her iconic gold ballgown; the couple is dancing in the golden ballroom, holding hands. There is blue bunting hanging from the marble columns, and stars can be seen in the night sky through the windows at the top of the room.

New Cast Members Announced for ABC’s Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration

Earlier this week, ABC announced six additional performers joining the highly anticipated animated and live action blended special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration… and all told, the cast is shaping up to be a veritable who’s who of talent!

Celebrated comedian and Emmy® Award-winning actor Martin Short will play Lumière; Tony Award® winner David Alan Grier will play Cogsworth; Rizwan Manji will play Gaston’s sidekick, LeFou; and Jon Jon Briones will play Belle’s father, Maurice. Additionally, five-time Grammy Award® winner and top-selling female country pop artist Shania Twain and Leo Abelo Perry will play mother-son duo Mrs. Potts and Chip, respectively.

As previously announced, H.E.R. will play the role of Belle; Josh Groban will play the Beast; Joshua Henry will play Gaston; and Rita Moreno will narrate. Jon M. Chu executive produces the special, with Hamish Hamilton directing—taking viewers on a memorable journey through the classic enchanted tale.

Presented by The Wonderful World of Disney, this two-hour reimagining of the beloved story will be taped in front of a live audience at Disney Studios and will air Thursday, December 15, from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and stream on Disney+ the next day.

Let D23 Help You Take the Perfect Halloween Photo at Disneyland Resort

As Jack Skellington and crew once warbled, “This is Halloween, everybody make a scene”—and what better place to do that, in front of one’s camera (natch), than at Disneyland Resort? D23 has your guide to the spookiest places across the resort to take the perfect Halloween photo, including a Hocus Pocus 2 photo op at Downtown Disney. What spell-tacular fun will you come up with?

A promo image for Adventures By Disney’s new Adriatic Sea Expedition Cruise. A ship is seen in the middle of a clear blue sea, surrounded by several tree-covered islands, and some low mountains in the distance. In the foreground of the image are some homes with orange-tiled roofs. The sky is blue, with no clouds. At the bottom of the image are the words “Announcing 2024 Adventures By Disney Expedition Cruise Itineraries.”

Adventures by Disney Sails the Adriatic Sea in 2024

The good folks at Adventures by Disney have announced an incredible new destination and expedition cruise to complement their global itineraries: the Adventures by Disney Adriatic Expedition Cruise! In 2024, Adventures by Disney will take guests to Croatia and points along the beautiful Adriatic Sea with two departures.

Starting in Venice, Italy, guests will board the Ponant’s ship, Le Bougainville, a small purpose-built ship designed to access remote locations, and make stops at seven ports in Croatia and Montenegro. The eight-day, seven-night round-trip family sailing includes the Disney-trained Adventure Guides, who deliver their signature service and storytelling, ensuring guests enjoy a hassle-free vacation.

Adventure Guides lead activities aboard and ashore for every member of the family. While the Junior Adventurers enjoy a Pirates of the Adriatic swim party or a Dalmatian Dash scavenger hunt, the adults can participate in a cocktail workshop, try out a fitness class, or simply relax on deck, overlooking the exquisite sites.

Additional activities available during the Adventures by Disney Adriatic Expedition Cruise include kayaking along the Pakleni Islands; biking through vineyards and lavender fields of the UNESCO Stari Grad Plain; visiting Predjama Castle in Slovenia; and much more.

Thinking of planning a ’24 vacation? For more info about this family-fun Adriatic Sea expedition cruise—or any other exciting expedition cruise destinations, including Antarctica, the Arctic, or Galapagos Islands—visit the “Expedition Cruising with Disney” page at AdventuresByDisney.com.

Official Trailer Unveiled for Disney+’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules

Disney+ just released the official trailer for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, an all-new animated movie based on the second book in Jeff Kinney’s wildly popular book series. The original song from the movie, “Can You Smell Us Now”—written and produced by Jon Levine, with lyrics by Jeff Kinney, and performed by Jimmy Tatro—is also now available.

The hilarious antics of angst-ridden, disaster-prone middle school student Greg Heffley (voiced by Brady Noon) continue in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, focusing this time ’round on his complicated relationship with older brother Rodrick (voiced by Hunter Dillon). A spiky-haired high school student, Rodrick is lazy and undisciplined and spends way too much time practicing with his rock band, Löded Diper. While he loves to torment Greg, he ultimately has a deep affection for his younger brother.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is directed by Luke Cormican and written and produced by Kinney. The movie also features the voices of Ethan William Childress as Rowley Jefferson; the late Edward Asner as Grandpa Heffley; Chris Diamantopoulos as Frank; and Erica Cerra as Susan. Look for it beginning Friday, December 2, on Disney+.

ICYMI: Everything You Need to Know About MagicBand+ Coming to Disneyland Resort

They’ve had it at Walt Disney World Resort for a while, and now those of us on the West Coast will get to experience the fun too… Learn about what to expect from MagicBand+ when it launches at Disneyland Resort on October 26—including info on what’s to come in the very near future—by clicking here.

Celebrate Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort

By Andie Hagemann

Today, our friends at the Disney Parks Blog unveiled the Wakanda-inspired delicacies, props, and heroes coming to Disneyland Resort for a limited time in celebration of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Beginning Friday, November 11, 2022—the day the highly anticipated sequel opens exclusively in theaters—and continuing through Sunday, January 8, 2023, guests can discover the magic of Wakanda at Avengers Campus and beyond at Disney California Adventure, plus pose with a special art installation at the Downtown Disney District.

As previously revealed, M’Baku, one of Wakanda’s greatest warriors and chieftain of the Jabari Clan, will make his way to Avengers Campus. M’Baku will invite recruits to join in “The Way of the Jabari,” an all-new experience that will share some of the culture of the Jabari Clan through chants and percussion.

Adjacent to the campus, The Black Panther Celebration Garden will honor the legacy of the Black Panther in Wakandan lore. The space invites guests to relax and reflect on the legendary protectors of the Kingdom of Wakanda.

Super Hero recruits can fuel up at the Flavors of Wakanda marketplace located in the Hollywood Backlot, where they can enjoy flavorful, spiced, traditional African dishes and experience the vibrant culture of Wakanda through its food. Wakanda-inspired delicacies include Peri-Peri Chicken with yellow Jollof rice; Butterfly Pea Tea Lemonade, the Dawa beverage consisting of vodka, lemonade, honey, ginger beer, and butterfly pea tea; and Maafe, a ground peanut stew with sweet potatoes, tomatoes, black-eyed peas, and spices, served with naan.

Inside Avengers Campus, feast on the Wakandan Roasted Pork Wrap, featuring spiced pork with black garlic sauce and chermoula at Shawarma Palace and Shawarma Palace Too.

Enjoy your beverage in style with Shuri’s gauntlet, one of several drinking vessels available at the Flavors of Wakanda marketplace, Shawarma Palace, Shawarma Palace Too, and select vending carts near Avengers Campus.

Guests can discover props and costumes from the film and purchase Black Panther-themed gear at the Super Store Featuring Avengers Campus located in Hollywood Land.

In the Downtown Disney District, outside the building adjacent to Star Wars Trading Post, pose by a limited-time mural celebrating Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The colorful illustration will be created by artist Nikkolas Smith, who previously created the art installation “King Chad.”

In Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, directed by Ryan Coogler, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.

Entertainment, experiences, and offerings may be modified, limited in availability or unavailable, and are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. Theme Park reservations and valid admission for the same Park on the same day are required for Park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. Visit Disneyland.com/updates for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort.

Bob Weis to Retire from Imagineering After 42 Years

By Bruce Steele

Bob Weis, Global Imagineering Ambassador and former President of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), announced today that he will retire at the end of the year. “I will always be proud to have led Imagineering from 2016-2021, and to be your Global Ambassador in 2022,” he wrote in an email he shared today with his fellow Imagineers. “I am proud to have been an Imagineer, a collaborator, and someone who loves to do impossible things with impossibly talented people.”

Weis grew up in Southern California and fondly recalls his family’s annual visits to Disneyland on his birthday every year. While studying architecture at California Polytechnic University in Pomona, he worked in Disneyland Park as a cast member selling popcorn and ice cream and absorbing everything going on around him. He joined Walt Disney Imagineering, then called WED Enterprises, in 1980, soon after graduating college, and within eight months had relocated to Japan as part of the WED team creating Tokyo Disneyland.

Subsequent assignments included creative leadership on Disney’s Hollywood Studios (at the time, Disney-MGM Studios), Tokyo DisneySea, and the reimagining of Disney California Adventure. In recent years, he led the creative team for the development, design, and construction of Shanghai Disney Resort. After the resort opened in China in 2016, Weis was named president of WDI, a position he held for six years, a period when more than 200 distinct projects were delivered, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s been great to have the confidence of the company behind us,” Weis says. “When I was leading Imagineering, we delivered hundreds of projects that brought new experiences, new stories, new innovations to our guests around the world. And D23 fans who attended the Expo [in September] had a chance to see so many more that we have well under way. It’s truly an exciting time.”

In 2022, Weis took on the role of Global Imagineering Ambassador, following in the footsteps of one of his mentors, Disney Legend and former WDI president Marty Sklar, the first to hold the ambassador title. Sklar left behind a massive collection of Disney artifacts and memorabilia that Weis has been reviewing with a team of specialists. As Weis shared with Imagineers, “When I retire, I am relishing the opportunity to write a book for the Marty Sklar Archives and I’m in the process of developing a screenplay for Walt Disney Studios. I may even find some time to just go down and walk around Disneyland once in a while.”

Weis gave the following exclusive interview just before sharing the news of his departure with his colleagues.

D23: What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen at Walt Disney Imagineering during your career?
Bob Weis (BW): Well, that’s quite a timespan. I began on Tokyo Disneyland, so I’d say the biggest shift for me is we went from two theme parks in the United States to 12 around the world. That’s just been a huge growth curve in my experience. We’ve also discovered that there are certain things that work across the globe that people want to do together. Certainly, the way we design has changed; the way we develop and visualize and engineer things has changed. But the fundamental power of storytelling, of getting people together for a Disney experience [has not changed].

Bob Weis stands on a terrace overlooking the Gardens of Imagination and the Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016.

D23: You were president at WDI during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. What was that like?
BW: We marched boldly forward. I have huge admiration for [The Walt Disney Company CEO] Bob Chapek for marching ahead [with us] and believing in the projects that Imagineering does and that the audience would be there [when the pandemic eased]. It certainly wasn’t guaranteed at that time. But he was right. So, this is a nice time for me, where a lot of these major projects are wrapping up in these next few months. It’s good timing for me to think about wrapping up my assignment as well.

D23: You said in your in your email to the Imagineers that “babies born today will someday be taking their grandkids on the experience you’re creating.” How do you, as Imagineers, wrap your head around that kind of responsibility to the Disney legacy?
BW: Well, I was one of the kids once, and now I’m in the older generation. [Across the years,] we’ve all seen that—we’ve seen things that we’ve created have that kind of lasting power across generations. To me, that is the magic of Disneyland—that people take their kids and want them to have the same experiences [that they had as children]. But also, as Marty [Sklar] said, our theme parks are not museums. We have to keep them fresh. We have to keep moving forward. So, there’s this balance: How do you how do you keep the classic things that people remember but at the same time be constantly upping your game, making things better? And that’s one of the great joys of being an Imagineer. We’re always trying to listen to the audience to see how we could make things better—how we could take new stories, new IP [intellectual properties], and put them into our kind of artistic medium to create experiences for our audience.

A young Bob Weis stands in a hardhat and construction clothing in front of a doorway within Tokyo Disneyland, during the construction of the theme park.

D23: You were indeed one of the kids once, since you once sold popcorn and ice cream at Disneyland.
BW: I did, in college. It was very informative to my urban planning and architectural studies, because when you stand out on the street throughout the day, you see behavior; you see how people use the park spaces of Disneyland and how it changes throughout the day and through the cycle of the seasons. It really was a great way to learn from Disneyland. How do you attract people’s attention to move into a space? How do you tell a story in [three-dimensional] space? How do you make Disneyland simple to navigate, so that you don’t really have to think about where you’re going? It’s as if you’re a character in your own movie and you’re drawn through it. We’re not directing you specifically one way or the other. We’re really letting it be your experience. The parks have to have that kind of clarity, and I think that’s a big hallmark of what Imagineering has done in all the parks.

D23: In your farewell email, you wrote that Imagineering “still reflects [Walt Disney’s] creative energy, his storytelling, his belief in talent and collaboration, and his passion for always ‘moving forward.’” Can you talk a bit more about how Imagineering remains driven by the spirit and imagination that Walt Disney established?
BW: This has been high on my mind recently, because I’ve been working on [sorting through] this huge discovery of [documents and artifacts] that Marty Sklar collected during his 50-year career. There’s plenty in there that Marty wrote, and there’s plenty of references to Walt’s philosophy in his first decade in this business. And it becomes very clear that the idea of telling stories for people to experience over and over and in their own way—as I said, as characters in their own experience—Walt was very clear about wanting [the park to be] a seamless environment. He didn’t want to see the world outside. He wanted people to really escape the world that they were living in and have a great time—an experience that was reassuring, that was celebratory. I think those fundamentals are still the same. Whenever we do something—it might be adventure, it might be fantasy, but it’s always in the service of great storytelling and fun. People are really looking for an experience about optimism. That’s one of the big things that Marty was writing and speaking about: a sense of optimism. And that hasn’t changed—that life-affirming, aspirational way of thinking and having a day together where you can celebrate that.

Bob Weis stands, flanked by two other men, behind a scale model of Shanghai Disney Resort in 2012. Weis is pointing to something outside the frame of the photo.

D23: What’s it like for an Imagineer to visit a park filled with guests?
BW: Seeing the parks with people in them and seeing the way that people love the parks—whether it’s their first visit, their 10th visit, or their 100th visit—is so inspiring to me and to all people who work or have worked in Imagineering. We’re really thankful to the fans because of the way that they love [the parks], but also because of the way we are able to learn from them by watching how they react to things. This goes back to Walt’s talking about Disneyland—that he could come in and change it whenever he wanted, that it was a living medium. I went back to Shanghai after we opened and saw how quickly the Shanghai audience—relatively inexperienced in theme parks or in Disney—adopted it and made it their own. It’s an incredible privilege to have this living lab that you can go to and see how people react. And I think the important thing is for Imagineers to listen to fans and listen when things are working and also be willing to admit when things aren’t working—and so, it’s time to update or to make some changes. But fans inspire you. The most emotional time for any Imagineer is when you when you stand out front when something opens and you see the fans come in for the first time and hear their reaction for the first time. There’s nothing more satisfying or more rewarding than that.

D23: Is there anything else you wanted to say to D23 Members and fans?
BW: One of the most gratifying things for me over the years has been [the emergence of] D23 and seeing the union of all those people who love Disney, who love parks and love Imagineering. And it was a joy to work with Leslie [Iwerks] on her documentary about Imagineering [The Imagineering Story, streaming on Disney+]. Just over the last decade. [we’ve been able to] lift the veil a little bit and not be so secretive. It’s been gratifying to have that connection to D23 and to be able to show some pride about what we do and show a little bit behind the curtain.

Stream The Imagineering Story, streaming on Disney+ on Disney+