It was impossible to know and/or predict what Heated Rivalry would become – and is still becoming. A Canadian production, made on muuuucchhh less money than an American counterpart would have done, starring two unknown actors in a gay hockey romance, as smutty as its source material is THE pop culture sensation of the moment. Every day for a month now we’ve seen it play out and not just on social media but across legacy media too. Yesterday was no exception, on both American coasts.

Let’s start west, with Connor Storrie, who co-announced the SAG nominations yesterday with Janelle James and then attended the Chanel dinner at Chateau Marmont last night. Sarah just posted about the Chateau and the celebrities who’ve been coming back around to it lately and, selfishly, I held Connor back from that article because I wanted him for mine.

As he said during the SAG livestream yesterday, not too long ago he was waiting tables, and now they’re all thirsting for his RSVP at the most high-profile A-list parties in town, sought after not only by event planners and fans, but among celebrities as well. Tessa Thompson, at the beginning of her remarks last night at the Chanel party, actually acknowledged Connor, beaming about meeting him, and noting that “everyone” wants to meet him. In a room full of Oscar contenders.

You will note, Connor was seated next to Derek Blasberg, who manages to latch himself onto every star on the rise. I sent that photo to Maria at 5am this morning, with one word, “NO”. She sent back of GIF of Demi Lovato’s infamous line, “GET A JOB. STAY AWAY FROM HER.” Yes, exactly. As if Connor and Hudson need Derek Blasberg. Right now, actually, everybody needs them. The Globes want them and they’re presenting on Sunday. Since the Screen Actors Guild already had Connor presenting the nominations, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for he and Hudson to show up at the awards in a few weeks. It would actually be f-cking perfect for the two of them to open the broadcast.

You know how at the SAGs – now The Actor Awards – they always, off the top, have the actors speak to camera about the experience of being an actor? They tell a story about their first audition, or their first role, and they often end by saying their name and then, “and I’m an ACTOR”? If I’m one of the show producers, I’ve already put in the request for Hudson and Connor to do it. If I’m Anna Wintour, I’m also encouraging every fashion designer to have the two of them at their table for the Met Gala. Maybe Jonathan Anderson can design a new suit, inspired by a hockey jersey, LOL.

So that’s Connor’s day in LA. Over in New York, it was a full court media press for Hudson. He was on CNN, he was on with Andy Cohen, there were other interviews and podcasts sprinkled in, and then he was on The Tonight Show where the crowd that gathered outside was akin to that of a popstar.

It was Hudson’s first American late night talk show experience. He handled it like a veteran – and by that I mean he seemed entirely himself. There was no pretention, no false modesty, nothing added and nothing taken away. He was as weird and quirky and chaotic as he’s been these last few weeks. And, also, delivered on the fan service. The Canada Dry ginger ale, the glasses… IYKYK:

The moment that’s going the most viral, which I’m sure you’ve seen, is the hockey stretch. For me, it’s not the stretching that sent me, it was what he said as he was going down into the stretch. “This is basically 90% of where I was for filming.” We love a proud bottom!

No, but, like, we really do. I’ve said this before but I feel like we need to keep saying it – Hudson and Connor, at no point, have ever seemed embarrassed or sheepish or anything less than proud of all the fictional f-cking and dick sucking they do in the show. They don’t try to make it too serious even though they, of course, took it seriously. They aren’t trying to run away from the physical intimacy that is so essential to the story. Because what we saw in the show is not just a representation of their work, but the work of an entire team: Rachel Reid’s books, Jacob Tierney’s adaptation, writing, and vision, their intimacy coordinator, their camera crew, the lighting, all of the specialists who were involved on set to establish an environment that allowed them to deliver the performances that have made this kind of an impact on the viewer. I love them for this.

And also… I really, really LOVE how Hudson has been looking and especially the hair. Shane Hollander does not have good hair – it’s the character and the era, remember the show happens over several years – and this is intentional. Shane’s only known hockey his whole life, style is not his thing. But Hudson is not Shane. And Hudson has style and really, really good hair. GREAT hair. It’s longer now, it’s perfect now, it’s sexy AF.

We're Squawking Connor and Hudson. Join us! (App link here)

Hudson Williams at The Tonight Show and later out in NYC, January 7, 2026, and Connor Storrie is seen at the Chanel party at Chateau Marmont in LA, January 7, 2026

Connor Storrie is seen at the Chanel party at Chateau Marmont in LA, January 7, 2026

Photo credits: UrbanxDivinity/ BlayzenPhotos/ Melanie Miller/ Backgrid

Share this post