Have you ever wondered how your favorite athletes and entertainers started out? Disney+ announced today that all 10 episodes of the original docu-series Becoming will premiere exclusively on the service on Fri., Sept. 18. The insightful and uplifting series tells the origin stories of 10 talented athletes, entertainers, and musicians including Adam Devine, Anthony Davis, Ashley Tisdale, Caleb McLaughlin, Candace Parker, Colbie Caillat, Julianne Hough, Nick Cannon, Nick Kroll, and Rob Gronkowski.
In this documentary-style series, shot in vérité, each episode centers around a visit to the celebrity’s hometown, touring important locations central to their upbringing. A supporting cast of family members, coaches, teachers, mentors and friends are interviewed, sharing rarely heard anecdotes and insights into the star’s “becoming” story.
The series is produced by ESPN Films, The SpringHill Company, Wheelhouse Entertainment’s Spoke Studios, and ITV America. LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson and Philip Byron executive produce from The SpringHill Company; Brent Montgomery and Joe Weinstock executive produce for Spoke Studios; and Jordana Hochman and Rebecca Bruno executive produce for ITV America.
My oldest daughter came to me crying because her little sister, 5-year-old Jo, got angry and shot her with a bugassalt gun (a handy fly and spider killing tool that shoots table salt like a shotgun—it hurts, trust me). I chanted “calm down” in my mind like some mantra as I angrily stormed downstairs to the bedroom they were supposed to be cleaning. Their only chore. It wasn’t even that messy. They had been “cleaning” for 40 minutes. Jo hadn’t been helping and Liv called her out. Jo shot her foot. Liv was crying and limping around upstairs. You get the picture, right?
This is one of those moments… a hinge moment. A looming decision moment where you can almost see everything freeze in place and your mind would like to evaluate the situation calmly and rationally before you act but your body just dives right in and whatever emotion boiling inside you explodes. Yeah… one of those moments.
I found her in the closet. Pulled up into a ball. I somehow took a deep breath and probed, “Did you shoot your sister?” Emotion spilled out of her in waves of hurt and regret and anger. “I just don’t feel like I fit into this family!” she screamed with heavy sobs. My anger cooled right down to my toes and my heart swelled with empathy. Not sympathy. EMPATHY. You see, several months ago, before I realized I had depression and after an especially bad “go clean your room, 2 hours later it’s still not done mom afternoon” I completely lost it. I screamed, I threw my phone so hard against the wall it shattered, I moved to my closet where I chipped a shelf before I crumpled on the floor in anger and hurt and regret. I felt like I wasn’t good enough for this family. I sobbed heavy sobs. Little Jo found me there. She patted my back and told me it would be OK. She offered me her forgiveness and love and empathy. And here she was, one of my precious babies, hiding in a closet, feeling hurt and lost and alone and regretful—feeling like she didn’t belong, sobbing heavy sobs.
I held her. I sobbed with her, patted her back and reassured her she definitely belonged in this family. I asked her if she remembered when mom got angry and made mistakes and felt like she didn’t belong. I asked her if she remembered who came into the closet to tell me it would be OK. I told her that we would be OK together. I promised her I would help her learn how to control her boiling emotions. I forgave her. I asked her what she should do now. We picked up the pieces. Little Jo apologized to her sister for both shooting her with the salt gun and for not helping clean the bedroom. She then cleaned the bedroom and made the beds. And most impressive of all, she forgave herself.
As I served my little family dinner, I saw little Jo’s tear-stained cheeks lift in a smile at her big sister’s newest joke. I remembered my own mother sobbing on her closet floor as I patted her back and told her it would be OK. I will treasure that memory. It is one of the most precious gifts my mother gave me. And tonight, I gave my little Jo a precious gift. My failure. My tears. My hurt and regret. My love. My forgiveness. My empathy. And we will be OK because we are in this together. We’re teaching each other how to control our boiling emotions. We’re teaching each other to forgive, to pick up the pieces and start again. We are giving each other precious gifts.
So today, I hope you will accept the gift of my admitted failures and give someone else a precious gift. The gift of your own failure, your empathy, tears, forgiveness…and love. We will be OK. Because we are in this together.
Amy is a creator and believes everyone else is too. She strives to be artistic in all areas of life but writing is her passion and her family is her masterpiece. She uses her blog to address the joys and struggles of motherhood and is currently writing her first novel.
This has been an unprecedented year for high school seniors. School districts are working hard to give the seniors the best and most socially distant send-off they can. Bus drivers from two different school districts came up with a fun way to honor the Class of 2020.
Windsor bus drivers gave a special salute to the senior class May 8 using 22 buses to spell out, “2020” in the Windsor Central High School parking lot.
In addition to spelling out “2020” with buses, the drivers also wrote the names of each Windsor senior between the buses.
“We wanted to show them we care. It’s our way of saying goodbye and letting them know they aren’t forgotten,” said Windsor bus driver Nancy Flanagan. “They grow up with us. They first get on our bus when they’re four years old.”
One of the district’s long-time school bus drivers, Lisa Moorhead, brought the idea to the Chief Information Officer, Susanne Quigley. After reaching out the Jim Barret the high school photography teacher who was able to implement a drone to take the aerial shot.
Moorhead along with a team of drivers moved 22 buses to the high school parking lot. It took two hours to create the formation.
“Some of us have been around long enough to transport these kids since Kindergarten and some of us have only been working with the district for a few years, but the one thing we all have in common is the love for our students. This is a huge accomplishment and anyway we can show them some love, we will do it. So here’s to the Class of 2020. Your bus drivers are proud of all of you,”said Jennifer Bloom Bowman, a bus driver for the district.
Chloë Sevigny shared an adorable photo of her newborn son and revealed his name in an Instagram post. The picture features Sevigny cuddled up next to her boyfriend Sinisa Mačković while holding her son. Sevigny wrote, “Welcome to the world Vanja Sevigny Mačković.”
Congratulations to the Ross family. Evan and Ashlee Simpson Ross both announced her third pregnancy on Instagram today. The couple shared a picture of themselves holding up a positive pregnancy test.
Simpson Ross captioned the shot, “During this unprecedented time, we know pregnant women may be under greater stress which is why we are supporting @marchofdimes Mom and Baby #COVID19 Intervention and Support Fund,” the mom-to-be added, referencing the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “Check out their Instagram page to see how they are helping moms and babies get the care they need now and in the future.”
The new baby will join big sister Jagger Snow and big brother Bronx Mowgli, whom Simpson shares with ex-husband Pete Wentz.
The Fraggles are back! The beloved stars of the classic series want to show kids that we are all still connected even though we may have to stay in our own homes (or in their case, caves) right now. Apple TV+ debuted an all-new collection of mini-episodes, Fraggle Rock: Rock On! for free today, and new mini-episodes will continue to premiere for free every Tuesday.
According to the show’s description, “The Fraggles might be apart in separate caves, but they can still find ways to have fun together! Join Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Traveling Matt for stories and songs that show everyone how we’re all connected.”
While the Fraggles might be in different parts of the Fraggle Rock caves, they can still find ways to have fun together, with music, silliness, special guests, and of course the help of devices created by the industrious Doozers – lovingly called the Doozertubes! In the first mini-episode entitled “Shine On,” now streaming on Apple TV+, new Doozertubes are delivered to the Fraggles’ caves, allowing them to come together for a favorite song “Shine On, Shine On Me.”
The all-new short form episodes are produced by The Jim Henson Company, and executive produced by Halle Stanford and John Tartaglia. In accordance with the Covid-19 “Safer at Home” guidelines, “Fraggle Rock: Rock On!” is all shot on iPhone 11 phones from the homes of the production team and individual artists from all over the U.S.
“Fraggle Rock: Rock On!” shares with everyone how we are all connected through friendship, and joins a lineup of award-winning content for kids and families now streaming for free on Apple TV+, including “Helpsters,” “Ghostwriter” and “Snoopy in Space.”
Every day it seems like there are more and more resources available to keep our kids entertained during this time at home. Hasbro has been helping families play together for more than 80 years. Recently, they announced that they will be launching #BringHomeTheFun, a global initiative providing parents and caregivers resources to help keep kids occupied and engaged.
Whether families are looking for activity challenges to keep kids busy, ways to use games and toys to stimulate their brains, or ideas for helping kids cope with emotional stress and more, Bring Home The Fun is a one-stop resource featuring mindfulness videos, project and activity guides for parents and their children and parenting articles. Bring the power of play into your home by creating crafts using Play-Doh compounds, having trick-shot challenges that get kids up and active with Nerf blasters and watching entertaining content including Transformers, Power Rangers, My Little Pony and more.
Hasbro’s employees also have a message to share with everyone.
Hasbro is also proud to partner with Save the Children and No Kid Hungry to support the #SaveWithStories campaign. The Company will provide thousands of Hasbro toys and games to continue to inspire learning, creativity and fun for vulnerable children during the coronavirus pandemic.
Malika Haqq and rapper, O.T. Genasis have welcomed a son. Khloe Kardashian’s best friend who has made frequent appearances on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, announced the birth on her Instagram page. Her ex-boyfriend also shared a picture on his account.
With schools across the country closing temporarily, many kids are left wondering about the status of their extracurricular activities. Drama productions, team sports and musical performances have been cancelled, disappointing many kids that have been working hard for months now. Tony Award winning Broadway star, Laura Benanti has put out a call for all student thespians to send her a video of them singing a song from their cancelled shows.
On Instagram, Benanti wrote,”Dark times for all. Trying to find some bright spots. If you were meant to perform in your High School musical and it was cancelled please post yourself singing, tag me and use the hashtag #SunshineSongs so whoever wants to can be your audience!! Sending all my love and black market toilet paper.”
Other celebrities, including Lin Manuel Miranda, chimed in asking to see the videos as well.
Jennifer Garner also put out a call as well, saying, “To the Elsas and Matildas; to the Willy Lomans and Romeos. Not to mention the flautists, the pianists, the gymnasts, the shot-putter. We want to SEE—show us what you’ve got!! 🌟 #heyjenlookatme (I just now found out one of my favorite Broadway stars @laurabenanti had the same idea. Hi Laura! ♥️🤗 You can tag her, too, at #SunshineSongs)”
Katy Perry released a music video last night and that’s not all she shared with her fans. At the end of the video she revealed some big news. Perry and fiancé, Orlando Bloom are expecting a baby this summer.
In the video for the new single, “Never Worn White,” Perry dresses as a Mother Earth figure, adorned in flowers. She also appears in a white bridal-like gown as she sings.
