YESTERDAY’S NUMBER ONES:
Box Office: “Avatar: Fire and Ash”
Billboard Hot 100: “The Fate of Ophelia” by Taylor Swift
Billboard 200: “The Life of a Showgirl” by Taylor Swift
The New York Times Best-Seller List: “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden
YESTERDAY’S NUMBER ONES, 10 YEARS AGO
Box Office: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
Billboard Hot 100: “Hello” by Adele
Billboard 200: “25” by Adele
The New York Times Best-Seller List: “Rogue Lawyer” by John Grisham
IN MEMORIAM
Frank Gehry (1929-2025): Canadian architect and U.S. National Medal of Arts honoree
Rob Reiner (1947-2025): Oscar-nominated American director, producer, and activist
Bob Weir (1947-2026): American guitarist and founding member of The Grateful Dead
James Ransone (1979-2025): American film, television, and theater actor
Tatiana Schlossberg (1990-2025): American environmental journalist and author
CHRONICALLY ONLINE
Coming off her recent Wall Street Journal profile, Simone Cromer, better known as the 59-year-old owner of devoted Timothée Chalamet stan account “Club Chalamet,” has made headlines again by offering the actor what she described as a hug and a birthday wish at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. With video footage of Cromer lurking behind the club’s namesake and girlfriend Kylie Jenner at the festival, reactions have ranged from happiness for Cromer to concern for Chalamet.
‘WE SHOULD ALL KNOW LESS ABOUT EACH OTHER’
On a recent episode of actor Dax Shepard’s podcast “Armchair Expert,” Cher shared that she thinks Disney princess Kristen Bell, Shepard’s wife, is “too good” for the podcast host. After seeing the couple’s 12th anniversary post celebrating that Shephard hasn’t killed Bell, despite feeling “heavily incentivized” to do so, I “Believe” you, Cher.
Nicki Minaj bravely comes out as MAGA
Once-beloved rapper Nicki Minaj stepped out in support of President Donald Trump alongside Turning Point USA CEO and Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, at this year’s AmericaFest. Calling California Gov. Gavin Newsom “Gavvy pooh” and Trump “handsome and dashing,” MAGA Minaj now has a new credential to add to her resume — right next to her role in “Ice Age 4.” Let’s see how the Barbz react to this one.
‘Stranger Things’ Conformity Gate: Fandom coping at its finest
After nearly a decade on the air, the hit horror series “Stranger Things” has finally come to an end. For nearly a week after the show’s lukewarm finale, dissatisfied fans deluded themselves that, on Jan. 7, Netflix would release a secret ninth episode as the “true” ending. To the disappointment of Bylers — a subset of the fandom deeply convinced that Noah Schnapp’s Will and Finn Wolfhard’s Mike would end up together — Conformity Gate was nowhere to be found.
Warner Bros. rejects Paramount’s takeover offer in favor of Netflix, again
As Paramount’s rake-step attempt to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery seems to draw to a close, it appears that the Ellison family has done in two months what Warner Bros. Discovery’s own “Succession” took nearly five years to portray: squander their limited political capital in a bid to control a piece of the changing media landscape, and humiliate the family dynasty in the process.
Diane Warren shortlisted for potential 17th Oscar nomination
The prolific — and, admittedly, acclaimed — songwriter was named in December’s batch of best original song nominee contenders for “Dear Me” from “Diane Warren: Relentless.” Relentless though Warren may be, against heavy hitters from “Sinners,” “KPop: Demon Hunters,” and “Wicked: For Good,” it’s hard to imagine her winning this fight. “Dear Me,” indeed. At this point, relenting for the 17th time may be the preferred option.
Breaking news: White male boomer sparks controversy with indefensible take on podcast
Quentin Tarantino played to his strengths — making viewers see red — during his appearance on “The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast,” hurling unprompted abuse toward Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, and Matthew Lillard’s acting skills. With the internet’s instantaneous defense of the trio, though, Tarantino clearly forgot that if you come for Shaggy, you will get bit.
Rival leads of ‘Heated Rivalry’ heat up as show heats rivals
Based on Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” romance book series, this steamy show about rival hockey players who begin a secret romance came in as HBO Max’s top debut for an acquired live-action show — a surprise hit and major milestone for queer representation. Thanks to star Hudson Williams’ stratospheric rise — alongside his onscreen rival Connor Storrie — “Heated Rivalry” also sets a milestone for Wasian representation, albeit a slightly less major one.
