Katie Couric Opens Up About Conducting JFK Jr.'s Last TV Interview: 'He Was Figuring Out His Place in the World' (Exclusive)

Katie Couric is revisiting the 1999 interview she conducted with John F. Kennedy Jr. just two months before his death

NEED TO KNOW

• "He was so handsome and so charismatic and really lovely," Couric tells PEOPLE

• JFK Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette have drawn increased public interest due to Ryan Murphy's FX series, Love Story

In May 1999,Katie CouricinterviewedJohn F. Kennedy Jr.for theTodayshow in what would become his last TV interview. Two months later, Kennedy, 38,died in a plane crash off Martha's Vineyardthat claimed not only his life, but the lives of his wife,Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, 33, and her sister,Lauren Bessette, 34.

More than 25 years later, Couric is opening up to PEOPLE about that interview, including a memorable breakfast meeting that helped her land it and the memories of him that still stick with her today.

Before he had agreed to the interview (which Couric says she was chasing "for a long time"), JFK Jr. first met the journalist and her producer, Lori Beecher, for breakfast to discuss the opportunity. They went to Michael's — a restaurant in Midtown Manhattan — which "doesn't really serve breakfast," Couric says with a laugh, "but they sat us down anyway."

"I remember he asked for cereal with fruit, and they brought out, I think, cornflakes or some kind of cereal, and they had cut up honeydew melon on top of it," she says. "We all were laughing, like, 'What?' But I think they were trying their best at this restaurant that didn't really serve breakfast to accommodate this trio: Lori, John and I."

"I think after the cereal and melon incident — he was so funny and nice about it — that I expected him to be that way in an interview," Couric notes.

When he eventually agreed to the interview (which was to promote the Kennedy family'sProfile in Courageaward), he was just as down to earth and rode his bike to the studio.

"He was so handsome and so charismatic and really lovely," she says. "We sat down, and he was just as nice as he could be. And I just remember, obviously, I think you could see it all over my face, being utterly charmed by everything he said."

They discussed his mother,Jackie Kennedy, and her ability to raise both JFK Jr. and his sisterCaroline Kennedyto become "nice, productive people" in society. "She would be glad to hear you say that," JFK Jr. told Couric. "She took a lot of praise in being a good mother and I'm glad people think it worked."

Their conversation also included the topic of whether he'd run for politics and what he's most proud of his father,John F. Kennedy. JFK Jr. recalled the pride he felt learning that his father was the fourth most-popular president at the time. "He has a resonance that has endured beyond his years," JFK Jr. said.

Thinking back to their conversation, Couric, who launchedKatie Couric Media(KCM) in 2017, understood his appeal that the rest of the world felt too. "I think that's why he endeared himself so much to the public: He was kind of comfortable in his own skin," she says. "[But] searching a bit, I think. Figuring out his place in the world."

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With the exponential re-uptick in discussion surrounding JFK Jr. and Bessette, thanks toRyan Murphy'sLove StoryFX series, Couric says she's not surprised by the perennial fascination the couple inspires.

"It has just been amazing for me to see how people are rediscovering JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, because of course it was the '90s and I was on theTodayshow, and I lived through that courtship as an observer," she says. "And I'll never forget, like most people, where I was when I found out that they had tragically died on their way to Hyannis Port."

In the wake of Kennedy's death and that of both Bessette sisters, Couric flew to Hyannis Port to anchor theTodayshow from the Cape Cod town. And, for all the public fascination the family endured, Couric acknowledges that the existence ofLove Storyischallenging for the family's next generation.

"I think people were really fascinated by the two of them when they were alive. I think [withLove Story] they're introducing this 'it couple' that was so glamorous and attractive and effortlessly chic to a whole new generation of people," she says. "And I do know that and think it must be very hard for the Kennedy family to have this resurface in such a palpable way. Jack Schlossberg has spoken out about his disgust with the whole thing."

In fact, as recently as March 1,Jack Schlossberg, the nephew of JFK Jr., criticizedLove Storyexecutive producerRyan Murphyagain for profiting off of his family's tragic history while discussing hiscongressional campaignwithCBS Sunday Morning.

"If you want to know someone who's never met anyone in my family, knows nothing about us, talk to Ryan Murphy," Schlossberg said when asked about the show. "The guy knows nothing about what he's talking about, and he's making a ton of money on a grotesque display of someone else's life."

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"I would hope that Mr. Murphy would donate some of the millions of dollars of profits that he's making to maybe some of the causes that John championed throughout his life," Schlossberg added. "Maybe he would donate some of that money to the JFK library to help keep President Kennedy's memory alive, but he's not. He's making money. This is not a documentary."

Series executive producer Brad Simpson had previously responded to some of Schlossberg's earlier criticism in a statement toThe Hollywood Reporter, saying in part: "I understand that this show that we made with sincerity about these people is also the story of a tragedy in some people's lives. And for all of us who are making TV shows based on real events, you have to consider your ethical obligation to the family members and approach it with love and kindness," Simpson said. "What I hope is that when people watch the show, they will see our sincerity. They will see that we've approached this with love, and that we were trying to celebrate the life of Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr."

Read the original article onPeople

byJastin Mags

in

March 28, 2026

Katie Couric Opens Up About Conducting JFK Jr.'s Last TV Interview: 'He Was Figuring Out His Place in the World' (Exclusive)

Katie Couric is revisiting the 1999 interview she conducted with John F. Kennedy Jr. just two months before his death ...

Read More

“Saturday Night Live” Alum Kevin Nealon Calls Out Cast Members Who Break During Sketches 'Even If Audience Laughs'

Kevin Nealon says he "never broke" character on Saturday Night Live out of respect for the writers and sketches

NEED TO KNOW

• The actor and comedian spent nine years on the show, from 1986 to 1995

• He posted to his X account that he knows how much work goes into the sketches

Kevin Nealon "never broke" character during his nine-year run onSaturday Night Live— and hopes others take it just as seriously.

TheSNLveteran and comedian, 72, recently shared his feelings about actors breaking during sketches in a post shared toXon March 24.

"I never broke character onSNL," he wrote in the post, which has been viewed by over 1.2 million users. "I knew how much time the writers put into those scripts. You don't want to be the one who throws it off."

"Lorne [Michaels] doesn't like when the cast breaks. Even if the audience laughs, it doesn't work for the sketch," he added.

"Breaking" refers to an actor or actress falling out of character and momentarily reverting to themselves, usually by laughing or smiling, and often causing a snowball effect among the other performers.

Nealon noted that if he "could get through the Chippendales sketch, I could get through anything."

The 1990 Chippendales sketch features a famous dance number fromChris Farley and Patrick Swayze, in which a panel of judges, comprised of Nealon, Mike Myers and Jan Hooks, watches two dancers, played by Farley and Swayze, perform male stripteases for a final spot in the act.

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Nealon was onSNLfor nine seasons, with three of those seasons having him behind the Weekend Update desk.

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Only recently did Nealonlearn the reason why he was let go. In January 2026, the comedian sat down with Matt Wilstein forObsessed: The Podcastand talked about how reading a book about Michaels helped him understand why his time on the Weekend Update desk ended.

"I'm just finishing reading that book calledLorneabout Lorne Michaels. And I'm learning what happened behind the scenes that I didn't know about," he shared.

Nealon was one of the hosts of the Weekend Update segment in 1994 whenEntertainment Weeklypublished the articleIs 'Saturday Night' Dead?, listing 20 ways the show should improve, one of which suggested that Nealon be replaced since he was "still stumbling over his punch lines after four seasons."

"The network felt the same way and were ready to meddle," author Susan Morrison wrote in the book. "Nealon was a superb sketch player, but there was a sense that, on Update, he was a mushmouth, his delivery not crisp enough."

On the podcast, Nealon said that Don Ohlmeyer, who was the head of NBC at the time, "didn't like me on Weekend Update."

"I knew I got taken off of there because he wasn't happy with me, but I didn't know until I read the book that one of the reasons was he said I was 'mushmouth,'" Nealon explained. "He couldn't understand some of the things I was saying."

Ultimately, the comedian shared that "it was fine" to be let go from the Weekend Update desk, since "it was a lot of work for me."

"I was doing Weekend Update, and I was writing sketches and characters and being in sketches. So it was hard to juggle the two," he said. "I had to write a lot of the jokes for Weekend Update, which started on late Friday night and Saturday, because you couldn't do the material or the areas that the late-night talk show hosts did during the week."

Nealon was onSNLfrom 1989 to 1995 and went on to land roles inWeeds,Man With A Planand more.

Read the original article onPeople

byJastin Mags

in

March 28, 2026

“Saturday Night Live” Alum Kevin Nealon Calls Out Cast Members Who Break During Sketches 'Even If Audience Laughs'

Kevin Nealon says he "never broke" character on Saturday Night Live out of respect for the writers and sketch...

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On Canada's tariff frontline, business stalls over US trade deal jitters

By Promit Mukherjee and Wa Lone

Employees of Windsor-based FASTSIGNS work, in Windsor

WINDSOR, Ontario, March 28 (Reuters) - Windsor-based FASTSIGNS, a Canadian company that designs and installs custom business signs and graphics, last year endured its toughest year since the pandemic as orders from its core automotive clients dried up.

A new project launch this year brought some relief, but the company says customers are demanding longer payment terms, placing smaller orders, ‌and bargaining harder on prices due to uncertainty tied to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is up for review this year.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he could scrap the trilateral trade ‌deal he negotiated during his first term, calling it no longer relevant to the United States. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has described negotiations with Canada on the agreement - which exempts most Canadian goods from U.S. levies - as challenging.

The impact of the deal - and its uncertain future - is ​being most acutely felt in places like Windsor, which is among the Canadian cities most dependent on the U.S. for its fortunes and reflects the broader unease facing the country's economy. Its economy contracted 0.6% in the fourth quarter.

"CUSMA is very, very important," said Jackie Raymond, co-owner of FASTSIGNS, referring to how the agreement is called in Canada. "It trickles down to every little business, right down to your barber shop and your nail shop, which will affect all of our customers."

Mexico has started formal negotiations with the U.S. over the deal's renewal, which are due to be completed by July 1. Canada has so far only held informal talks on the deal, which legally does not fall apart even if negotiations ‌are not completed by that deadline.

FEEL IT FIRST, FEEL IT HARDEST

A manufacturing hub ⁠teeming with thousands of small and specialized part makers, Windsor caters primarily to car companies and equipment manufacturers locally or across the river from Detroit, America's automotive capital.

In Canada, it is one of the cities most exposed to Trump's tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos. Its economy has been on a roller-coaster ride for the past year as Trump went ⁠back and forth on tariffs, though most Canadian goods have ultimately retained tariff-free access under USMCA.

Hundreds of the city's small parts and equipment manufacturers, who thrive on close integration with Detroit's auto industry, faced shrinking demand as order books dried up.

Manufacturing accounts for nearly a quarter of employment in the Windsor-Essex region comprising Windsor and surrounding municipalities. About 90% of the city's exports cross the border, often multiple times during production. Overall, the U.S. accounts for about 68% of Canada's exports.

"When Donald Trump... does make ​a ​threat, we feel it first, and we feel it hardest," said Ryan Donally, CEO of the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber, which ​represents 750 local businesses employing over 40,000 employees, said companies paused investments, delayed production, ‌and cut jobs at the height of the tariff uncertainty last year.

That pushed the region's unemployment rate above 11% in June - the highest among major Canadian cities.

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As Trump exempted USMCA-compliant exports from Canada from tariffs in March last year, Windsor partly regained its footing.

Earlier this year, carmaker Stellantis NV added a third shift at its local plant, and LG Energy Solution said it is building a battery facility, boosting job prospects. But uncertainty still drags on business confidence.

"So long as the CUSMA relationship exists, Windsor is going to be okay," Donally said. "Should that erode somehow ... that's where the challenges come."

LOSS OF CONFIDENCE

Windsor's unemployment level, though lower than that in June, remains one of the highest among major cities in Canada at 8.6%.

Local shops complain of lower traffic, restaurants report thinner crowds, and builders say the housing market is near a standstill - housing is often among the first sectors to show strain from the knock-on effects ‌of tariff uncertainties.

"When people are going to make the biggest investment of their life, they really want confidence in their job, ​in the longevity of their job, in the economy itself. And people lost that due to the tariffs," said Brent Klundert of BK ​Cornerstone, a local real estate builder.

Klundert laid off 13 of his 21 staff on his books as ​sales and prices slumped last year.

Since January he has rehired 10 of his employees, hoping homebuyers waiting on the sidelines for a year would start coming back. So far, only a ‌few have.

Data from the Canadian Real Estate Association showed that in February, Windsor's residential real ​estate sales fell 15% - almost double the national decline of ​8%. Average prices of homes in the region also fell more than the national average, the data showed.

"If we can get through our trade agreements with the U.S., I think that will add a lot of confidence," Klundert said.

Skilled training and apprenticeships have also taken a hit in Windsor, as young people factor in trade uncertainty as they contemplate their future.

Lido Zuccato, chair of the School of Skilled Trades and ​Apprenticeships at the city's St. Clair College, said that the college suspended one ‌post-secondary manufacturing program due to start in the fall this year because of low demand.

Donally, from the local chamber of commerce, said Windsor's deep economic and social ties with Detroit underscore what ​is at stake - residents follow Detroit sports teams, listen to U.S. radio stations and cross the border daily for work and business meetings.

"That deep relationship is pretty hard to divorce," he said.

(Reporting ​by Promit Mukherjee and Wa Lone; Additional reporting by Kyaw Soe Oo; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Deepa Babington)

byJastin Mags

in

March 28, 2026

On Canada's tariff frontline, business stalls over US trade deal jitters

By Promit Mukherjee and Wa Lone Employees of Windsor-based FASTSIGNS work, in Windsor WINDSOR, Ontari...

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Iran-backed Houthis fire missile at Israel from Yemen, risking further escalation

The Yemen-based Houthi militant groupclaimed responsibility for an attack on Israel on Saturday, marking the Iran-backed group's entry into the widening conflict in the Middle East, one that could further disruptthe region's vital shipping lanes.

The Houthis "have carried out their first military operation with a batch of ballistic missiles, which targeted sensitive military targets" of Israel, the group's armed forces said on Telegram Saturday, citing "continued military escalation" against Iran, Lebanon, Iraq andthe Palestinian Territories.

"This operation coincided with the heroic operations carried out by the brothers, the fighters in Iran andHezbollah in Lebanon, and the operation successfully achieved its goals," the Iranian proxy group added.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed a missile launch from Yemen toward Israel, adding that aerial defense systems were operating to intercept the threat. It later gave the all-clear to sheltering civilians.

While such strikes may have limited direct military impact, the Houthis, Tehran's proxy militia based in Yemen, carry the potential to trigger broader disruption, particularly in the Red Sea,a critical artery for global trade.

Global shipping and oil markets are already in turmoil after Iran responded to the American-Israeli attack by effectively closingthe Strait of Hormuz, prompting what the International Energy Agency described as the worst disruption in the history of the oil market.

The Red Sea is also a vital corridor for global commerce, especially for trade between Europe and Asia. Around one-tenth of the world's seaborne oil shipments usually pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow chokepoint just 16 miles wide separating the Arabian Peninsula from the Horn of Africa, with Saudi Arabia further stepping up oil shipments via the Red Sea route amid the Hormuz disruption.

In recent years, the Houthis have significantly reduced traffic through the waterway with repeated attacks on vessels.

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The group began targeting ships along the route in October 2023, in response to Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip. Shipping volumes in the Red Sea plummeted, with traffic through the Suez Canal, which links it to the Mediterranean Sea down 70% by mid-2024, according to a yearly review by United Nations Trade and Development. Meanwhile, oil flows through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait were cut in half, according to an analysis by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The Houthis succeeded in "hindering, impeding and blocking the Red Sea" during Israel's war in Gaza, Fawaz Gerges, a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, told NBC News.

"The American-Israeli war in Iran is really no longer a limited war. It'sall out regional conflict," he added. "What I worry about is that it's no longer just a military conflict, it's now an economic war that involves the supply chains, the global energy system, its waterways."

Through Saturday's strikes, "the Houthis have given the Americans and the Israelis a taste of what's to come," he said.

Last year, President Donald Trump launched a weeks-long intensive bombing campaign against the Houthis that cost $1 billion before announcing a ceasefire, only for the group to go on to sink two more ships later that year.

It was only in December that oil tankers and cargo vessels had been "gradually making a return" to the Red Sea, according to maritime intelligence firm Lloyd's List.

Iran has also signaled that the waterway could become a target. It said this week that the 1,400-mile inlet dividing Africa and Asia was fair game for retaliatory attacks due to the presence of the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.

Any facilities supporting the carrier group "will be regarded as potential targets by Iran's armed forces," its military said Monday, according to the semiofficial Fars News Agency.

byJastin Mags

in

March 28, 2026

Iran-backed Houthis fire missile at Israel from Yemen, risking further escalation

The Yemen-based Houthi militant groupclaimed responsibility for an attack on Israel on Saturday, marking the Iran-backed...

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Alix Earle Elevates Faycal Amor Micro Minidress With Sheer Hue Tights

For her appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,"Alix Earlepaired a micro minidress with sheer black tights. The "Dancing With The Stars" alum recently made her debut on the talk show to discuss her new skincare line, Reale Actives. Her look was a masterclass in understated elegance, proving that simplicity can be just as impactful as bold, statement-making sartorial choices.

Alix Earle rocks Faycal Amor micro minidress and sheer Hue tights for Jimmy Fallon show

Alix Earle donned a sleek Faycal Amor sleeveless gray minidress with a clean, streamlined silhouette. Its tailored fit hugged her curves without feeling too restrictive. It featured a high neckline that contrasted with its shorter hemline. The design leaned heavily into minimalism, with no embellishments or detailing. The neutral tone further enhanced its versatility, offering a polished and timeless appeal.

Styled by Mimi Cuttrell,Earlepaired the dress with black tights from Hue. The stockings softened her overall look and introduced a delicate contrast against the lighter tone of her outfit. She completed her look with plain black heels. Her blonde hair was styled in voluminous waves, adding a touch of glamor and softness. She also kept her makeup refined, with a nude lip and black eyeliner.

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Earlier that day, the 25-year-old arrived at the studio for the episode's taping in a black Gucci dress from the fashion house's Pre-Fall 2026 collection. The black long-sleeved minidress featured a defined empire waist and a slightly flared skirt. Delicate ruffle detailing framed its low neckline, adding a soft, Victorian-inspired touch.

While the dress itself was crafted from a heavier fabric, the sleeves were sheer and ended in ruffled cuffs that matched the neckline. Earle wore sheer tights from Hue with this dress as well. She completed her look with theGucci Donna pump, also from the Pre-Fall 2026 collection. Selling for $1,220, the nappa leather pair featured a stiletto heel, pointed-toe, Horsebit detailing, and gold hardware.

Originally reported by Ankita Shaw ontheFashionSpot.

The postAlix Earle Elevates Faycal Amor Micro Minidress With Sheer Hue Tightsappeared first onReality Tea.

byJastin Mags

in

March 28, 2026

Alix Earle Elevates Faycal Amor Micro Minidress With Sheer Hue Tights

For her appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,"Alix Earlepaired a micro minidress with sheer black tights. The ...

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Inside the “13 Going On 30 ”Cast's Lives Now (Including Who's Involved in the Netflix Reboot!)

13 Going on 30 hit theaters on April 23, 2004

NEED TO KNOW

• The romantic comedy stars Jennifer Garner as a 13-year-old in the '80s who wakes up as a 30-year-old in the early 2000s

• A reboot of the movie is now in development at Netflix

Over 20 years afterJennifer Garnerwon audiences' hearts as Jenna Rink in the fantasy romance comedy13 Going on 30, she's helping bring new life to the story.

The movie also starredAcademy Awardnominee and Emmy andGolden Globe-winnerMark Ruffalo,Judy Greerand more.13 Going on 30struck a nostalgic chord for '80s kids as Garner's Jenna finds herself in 2004 as a 30-year-old, when just the day before she was 13 growing up in 1987.

Now, Garner isreturning as an executive producerto work on Netflix's13 Going On 30reboot, which will starEmily BaderandLogan Lerman.

Since the original movie's premiere, many of the movie's cast members have continued to lead successful careers. Some of them have alsoremained close friends since filming together, namely Garner and Greer.

Continue reading to learn more about where the cast of13 Going on 30is now.

Jennifer Garner as Jenna Rink

Garner plays the "big-time magazine editor" and totally nails the whole "30, flirty and thriving" thing.

Since dancing "Thriller" straight into our hearts, Garner has starred in plenty of films likePeppermint,Dallas Buyers Club,Juno,Love, Simon, Yes DayandThe Adam Project, whereshe reunited with Ruffalo.

"It was wonderful," Garner toldGood Morning Americaof working with Ruffalo again. "We were playing a married couple and we just had this instant comfort and obviously there's just such a connection and a warmth. It was actually a reallybeautiful experience to revisit that relationship."

TheAliasstar also reprised her role Elektra in the 2024 movieDeadpool & WolverineoppositeRyan ReynoldsandHugh Jackman. Garner first portrayed the comic book character in 2003'sDaredevil(starringBen AffleckandColin Farrell) and again in 2005'sElektra.

On top of acting, Garner has three children with her ex, Affleck, and founded Once Upon a Farm, a company that makes organic baby food.

Mark Ruffalo as Matt Flamhaff

Ruffalo plays Matt, Jenna's high school best friend–turned–love interest.

"It was like we picked up where we left off," the actorsaid onPEOPLE (The TV Show!)about reuniting with Garner onThe Adam Project, adding that working with his former costar again was nothing short of "amazing."

Since13 Going on 30, Ruffalo has stepped into the (very big) shoes of the Hulk (a.k.a. Bruce Banner) in theAvengersfranchise, and has been nominated for four Oscars for his roles inThe Kids Are All Right, Spotlight, FoxcatcherandPoor Things.

Over the course of his career, Ruffalo has also welcomed three children with his wife Sunrise Coigney.

He later worked withPeaky Blinderscreator and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Steven Knight on theNetflixminiseriesAll the Light We Cannot See.

Judy Greer as Lucy Wyman

Greer plays the double-crossing Lucy Wyman who is totally not a good friend to Jenna.

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The actress and stepmother of two has been busy since 2004, having voiced characters on shows likeFamily Guy, ArcherandAmerican Dadas well as appearing on series includingCalifornication, Arrested DevelopmentandTwo and a Half Men.

Like many of her13 Going on 30costars, Greer also joinedthe Marvel Cinematic Universewhen she played Paul Rudd's character's ex-wife in the first twoAnt-Manfilms.

Additionally, horror fans were delighted to see Greer star alongsideJamie Lee Curtisin David Gordon Green'sHalloweenandHalloween Kills.

Andy Serkis as Richard Kneeland

BAFTA AwardwinnerAndy Serkisplays Jenna's boss atPoisewho is constantly trying to figure out how to get ahead ofSparklemagazine.

Since the movie's release in 2004, the father of three has been busy acting in franchises likeTheLord of the Rings,Star Warsand the contemporaryPlanet of the Apesfilm series.

Serkis also joined the Marvel universe when he played the villainous Ulysses Klaue inBlack Panther. In 2021, he played Alfred Pennyworth alongside Robert Pattinson in Matt Reeves' Oscar-nominated movieThe Batmanand will reprise his rolein the 2026 sequel.

Ashley Benson and Brie Larson as members of the Six Chicks

Brie LarsonandAshley Bensonboth play members of the Six Chicks, the popular clique at school Jenna wants so badly to be part of.

Following13 Going on 30, Benson portrayed Abby Deveraux on the hit soap operaDays of Our Livesbefore starring in the crime drama thriller movieSpring BreakersalongsideVanessa HudgensandSelena Gomez.

Benson later starred as Hanna Marin in the popular, long-running seriesPretty Little Liars, earning fourTeen Choice Awards.

Larson went on to win an Oscar for her work inRoomand played Captain Marvel inAvengers: Endgame,Captain MarvelandThe Marvels.

Other notable film and TV projects of Larson's includeScott Pilgrim vs. the World,United States of Tara,Kong: Skull Island,The Glass Castle,Just Mercy,Fast XandLessons in Chemistry.

Benson is married to Brandon Davis and the couple share one child.

Christa B. Allen as Young Jenna

Christa B. Allenplayed the younger version of Garner's character — the sweet, bra-stuffing, desperate-to-be-popular teen — in her first-ever acting role.

It wasn't the last time Allen would play a younger version of Garner; she did it again in the 2009 movieGhosts of Girlfriends Past.

In the years since, she has continued to act both on television in shows likeRevengeandBaby Daddyand in TV movies.

Read the original article onPeople

byJastin Mags

in

March 28, 2026

Inside the “13 Going On 30 ”Cast's Lives Now (Including Who's Involved in the Netflix Reboot!)

13 Going on 30 hit theaters on April 23, 2004 NEED TO KNOW The romantic comedy stars Jennifer Garner as a 1...

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Justin Hartley’s ‘Tracker’ Promotes Star in Season 3 After Numerous Shocking Cast Exits

Justin Hartley'sTrackerpromoted a cast member after numerous exits ahead of season 3.

It was confirmed thatChris Lee,who plays Randy, is now a series regular, according to Deadline. He first joined the show in season 2 as Bobby's (Eric Graise) cousin before returning in a larger capacity.

CBS found success withTrackerimmediately after it premiered in February 2024 to record-breaking ratings. Viewers have since tuned in week after week to see fictional survivalist Colter (Hartley) travel the country to help solve various missing persons cases.

As Colter has gotten help,the ensemble cast has grownwith their respective characters, such as handlers Teddi (Robin Weigert) and Velma, hacker Bobby and attorney Reenie. After joiningTrackerin season 1, Weigert's character was written off in the premiere with her wife, Velma, admitting that they needed some distance. Velma then started working with Reenie and Teddi wasn't discussed again in season 2.

Justin Hartley's Rare Comments About 'Tracker' Losing Multiple Series Regulars Amid Cast Reconfiguration

"[Teddi] is going to be there for a while. She is helping her mom get sorted. I was getting in the way you might say and it really wasn't good," Velma said at the beginning of season 2. "So I came back. Don't you worry because I am keeping busy."

The concerns about the show's main characters kept coming when Graise was noticeably absent from six episodes. His cousin Randy was brought in to help Colter before Bobby returned, which caused backlash from viewers who grew used to seeing Graise on their screen.

News later broke thatGraise and McEnany wouldn't becoming back — at least for now.

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"I do think it's evolving. If I can't evolve those characters — Randy or Reenie or Bobby — they're not just people that just pick up the phone and go, 'OK, here is the answer.' That's when the show is phoning it in," executive producerElwood Reidexclusively toldUs Weeklyin May 2025. "The challenge is when you got to learn about them, which I thought was interesting. That's the challenge of the show is not having it fall into a formula."

Reid noted that theydidn't wantTrackerto "fall into complacency."

"The only rule I really have of the show is each week Colter is going to come to a new place and there's going to be a new case. How he gets those answers and what he uses on the team, that's all something that's up for grabs," Reid teased. "Meeting these [local] weird characters is something we're going to try to do more of as the season goes on. Just Colter coming in and interacting with other characters. That's fun to see Justin flex those muscles with really good guest cast members."

Ahead of season 3, Reid defended the decision to shake up season 3.

Which 'Tracker' Stars Are — And Aren't — Returning for Season 4 of Justin Hartley's Show After Cast Exits?

"Justin has to carry so much of the show. So I don't want the other characters that are in the show to just be phone-a-friend where whenever he's in trouble, he just picks up the phone. The challenge in season 3 has been how do we build actual good story out of [it]," Reid teased.

Reidpointed out that Reenie and Randyare still in the picture.

"Reenie takes a lot of the guilt [from her season 2 case] on and she's brought Randy up there to fix it. You get to see them in the office. That forms a good bond between those two. Then we're going to bring in another character as she tries to expand her law office a little bit. That will be interesting," he continued. "It's just building out those story lines. The challenge we set up for ourselves this season was to build out those people's world a little bit."

Reid added: "It's about trying to get a little bit of lightness [into the show] because sometimes Colter is doing some really dark and heavy stuff. It's life or death."

Trackerairs on CBS Sundays at 9 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Paramount+.

byJastin Mags

in

March 28, 2026

Justin Hartley’s ‘Tracker’ Promotes Star in Season 3 After Numerous Shocking Cast Exits

Justin Hartley'sTrackerpromoted a cast member after numerous exits ahead of season 3. It was confirmed t...

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