The Pitt crew at Actors Night (whatever it is)

There are so many year-end events, and last night, it was The Actors Night Hosted by The Actor Awards & Elle. Okay. I am just bringing this up because much of the younger cast of The Pitt was there. I am patiently waiting for that season two trailer!

Part of what made The Pitt so special in its first season is how brilliantly it is cast. Yes, some of the actors are recognizable, particularly Noah Wyle and Shawn Hatosy, while others are jobbing character actors, like Katherine LaNasa—who starred in a season one episode of Justified—and Fiona Dourif. But among the young doctors and med students, this was their first big job, which means they came largely unformed, and were able to so fully embody those roles in no small part due to a lack of preconceived notions about their screen persona. 

The young doctors and nurses turned up, including Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez, Patrick Ball, Supriya Ganesh, Taylor Dearden, Jalen Thomas Brooks and Isa Briones, and led by Amielynn Abellera and Emmy winner Katherine LaNasa. I’ve watched The Pitt three times through now, and I have to say, I am OBSESSED with Supriya Ganesh’s face. It’s no wonder Dr. Abbot looks like he got hit by a two-by-four when he saw her during the mass casualty event! Even exhausted and gross that face card never declines. I’m also super curious to see how Dr. Mohan grows in season two, because while Dr. Robbie made Langdon his protégé, it’s obvious “Slo-Mo” reminds him the most of himself. I want to see how that dynamic advances since Langdon has been knocked off his pedestal.

Also at the event was Damson Idris, whose face card also never declines. There is a rumor, unfounded but persistent, that he’s up to play T’Challa II, the grown-up version of Prince T’Challa, in Black Panther 3. I don’t think there’s anything to this, at this point, more than fan wishes, but I don’t hate the idea. If the franchise must continue—and Disney will never let it go, no matter what—then Damson Idris is a worthy successor to Chadwick Boseman. I could live with it. 

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What else happened today…

You know, I’m really not taking dating advice from romantasy authors. Their romantic heroes are consistently deranged. Happy to talk world-building with them, but I’ll pass on the dating advice. (Popsugar)

Oona Chaplin has been working it at the Avatar 3 press stops. Hard to stand out against Zoë Saldaña, but Oona is trying. (Go Fug Yourself)

Tom Cruise is on the very short list of people in American public life not bending the knee to Trump. His outer space movie, which he wanted to shoot in actual outer space, has been shelved because he wouldn’t engage in quid pro quo with Trump. I know he’s polarizing, I know WHY he’s polarizing, I don’t even DISAGREE with why he’s polarizing, but also…he consistently does stuff like this. He’s still the only celebrity who told the Golden Globes to shove it when all their controversies came out. (Celebitchy)

Every year in December I re-read David Sedaris’s Santaland Diaries, an account of Sedaris’s season working as an elf in Macy’s famous Santaland. Here is the other side of the coin, the story of Bob Rutan, who started as an unsuccessful actor, became a Macy’s Santa, then a Macy’s executive, and now reminisces about his time as Santa. It’s sad and poignant, like all the best Christmas stories. (Esquire)