I know there’s an abundance of celebrity podcasts and a confounding number of interview setups where celebrities eat on camera, but add Jesse Tyler’s Dinner’s On Me (if you don’t already listen).

First off, Jesse knows everyone so he has an interesting roster of guests and second, I kind of like how he pairs the vibe of the restaurant with the guest.

How is Lourdes Leon 30? I remember the Vanity Fair cover so clearly! Madonna and Child photographed by Mario Testino.

Tom Arnold’s review of Chuck Lorre’s new book is not something you will find on Goodreads. But he is reading him.

Luke Combs is opening a new bar in Las Vegas (there’s already one in Nashville, and plans for one in Orlando). Celebrity restaurants and bars used to be a thing, but the 2008 recession kind of killed that. But country music stars are the outliers – Reba, Miranda Lambert, Morgan Wallen, Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton and Diers Berkley are just some of the names who are affiliated with at least (and sometimes multiple) restaurants.

Part of it is strong partnerships – most of them are part of a hospitality conglomerate. There’s also the surge in tourism to Nashville. And from a marketing perspective, there’s something to be said about tapping into a good time: the spaces are large, the décor is often kitschy, the menu is casual and the music is loud. I do wonder how independent bar owners in Nashville view these places – is it honky tonk cosplay?

Joe Manganeillo’s memoir is getting a lot of headlines and most of them are related to Sofia Vergara. It started with “she wouldn’t hug me” and when I read something like that, I wait a minute. Because there’s always more. And the more is that he wondered if his mysterious, long-term illness could be attributed to a curse on Sofia and his team thought he was passed over for a role because Tom Cruise was an executive producer (and Tom and Sofia dated for a hot minute). So as much as he says the memoir is not about her, it’s a little about her.

Photo credits: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

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