Minority Mindset

Paul Tazewell rightfully won an Oscar last year for the costumes in Wicked, and he’s a strong contender to win again this year for the sequel, Wicked: For Good. He’ll likely win thanks to the incredibly detailed outfits – from the Munchkins’ costumes to Glinda’s many beautiful pink gowns, and the striking, yet slightly unsettling, silver suit of the Tin Man. Technically, the win would also include Elphaba’s famously bulky, somewhat scratchy, grey cardigan, which she wears during intimate moments – something both Tazewell and I will have to accept if it happens.

It’s that time again – the excitement for Wicked is here, and with it, the fear of missing out! While Wicked: For Good is about 25 minutes shorter than the original movie, its two-hour-and-17-minute length might still be a bit long for those who don’t want to interrupt the story. If you get anxious about needing a bathroom break during the movie, don’t worry! There are a few moments between key scenes and musical numbers where you can quickly step out without missing much.

If you haven’t been following the legal drama surrounding the book It Ends With Us, consider yourself lucky! Colleen Hoover’s lawsuit alleging harassment and retaliation against her co-star and his production company is scheduled to go to trial in March. However, the countersuits filed by the defendant claiming defamation – including one against The New York Times – have already been thrown out. The situation has become quite widespread, even involving Rainn Wilson and nearly requiring a deposition from Taylor Swift. When Elle magazine interviewed Hoover, she was preparing for her own deposition. She described the whole thing as a “circus” and explained she’s trying to stay out of the negativity. Hoover hinted she has her own side of the story, but doesn’t want to contribute to the drama by speaking out or putting others down, preferring to ignore the situation and let people form their own opinions.

After the controversial ending of Game of Thrones, HBO began developing several potential spinoff shows. But one by one, those projects were cancelled, leaving only House of the Dragon. Now, with House of the Dragon preparing for its third season and a new spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, set to premiere next year, HBO seems ready to fully reinvest in the world of Westeros – both its past and its future. As author George R.R. Martin explained:

So, how did we end up with confusing updates about Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini’s relationship? They began dating in January 2023, shortly after Ballerini’s split from Morgan Evans and while Stokes was still working on a TV show with his former partner, Madelyn Cline. They announced their breakup in September, with sources telling People magazine they’d both tried hard to make the relationship work but ultimately couldn’t. However, just this month, People reported seeing them holding hands in Croatia. This seems to contradict Stokes’ apparent dislike of media attention and speculation.