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A broadcast TV show about a middle-aged guy who becomes an LAPD cop wouldn’t seem like your typical teen magnet.

Yet, the “The Rookie” was the most-streamed show among young people under 18 across all broadcast series in the 2024-2025 broadcast TV season, according to Nielsen data.

Odd as that may seem, the numbers match showrunner Alexi Hawley’s own experience. He says he is often approached by parents telling him how much their kids gravitate to the ABC police procedural.

Recently, he said, actor Dwayne Johnson visited the Los Angeles set with his preteen daughter, who loves the Nathan Fillion-led series, now in its eighth season.

“You’re always surprised in this business at success,” Hawley said in an interview.

He offers multiple explanations: “A lot of it has to do with the comfort food of the show. Bad things happen on our show a lot, but I think the mix of humor and action and heavy stuff resonates with people.”

Part of it, too, he says, is that the show is very “clippable.”

“The Rookie,” which is produced by Lionsgate Television and 20th Television and shot in Los Angeles, has 2.8 million followers on TikTok. In the last 12 months, its biggest audience on the platform were people aged 18 to 24, according to TikTok Studio.

At a time when the broadcast TV business faces steep challenges — including continued cord-cutting and declining ad dollars — the ability of “The Rookie” to captivate young viewers is noteworthy. And its stars’ embrace of social media, particularly TikTok, might have lessons for other broadcast shows looking to draw new and younger eyeballs in the streaming era.

Eric Winter, who plays the serious Sgt. Tim Bradford on “The Rookie,” is especially active on the platform, despite some initial resistance.

“I was anti-TikTok,” he said. “I was like, ‘I’m never doing it. I’m never gonna have an account. I won’t be seen doing a post or a dance, acting like a fool.’ And my wife was like, ‘You’re launching a premium rum brand. You’ve got to be out there. You’ve got to be public with it.’”

And he’s seen teen fandom up close — at publicity events kids will line up to get his autograph.

After launching his TikTik about two years ago, Winter now has about 6.6 million followers, and he’ll post pranks with his co-stars from the set or group TikToks.

Even Fillion has gotten in on the action and has asked Winter for advice. Many other cast members are active on the platform as well.

“We’re all trying to outdo each other with TikTok, and it’s grown into its own little beast that drives the eyeballs,” Winter said. “I just started doing a lot of goofy ones that worked.”

Beyond jokes from the set, clips from the show itself have driven people to the series who may not have otherwise found it. Scenes involving the will-they-won’t-they romance between Winter’s character Bradford and co-star Melissa O’Neil’s Sgt. Lucy Chen (collectively known to fans as “Chenford”) also drive major views, as do shorts with Fillion.

“We have these funny moments, and these little stories that we can do because we’re a patrol show where anything can happen anytime they get out of their car,” Hawley said. “And I think those translate really well to 30-second, one-minute clips that just bring people to want to watch more.”

It’s kind of like movie trailers for the new generation. While young viewers can’t watch an entire show via social media, the shorter clips are clearly one way of introducing them to the series — and getting them hooked. Collaborations with YouTube stars also help.

Last season, YouTube personalities Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej guest starred in an episode of “The Rookie” in which the pair investigates a haunted psychiatric facility. Hawley learned of Bergara and Madej’s “Ghost Files” paranormal show through his kids.

This year, he’s planning a similar crossover with comedy streamer Dropout.TV.

“Rather than doing crossovers with traditional shows, like other ABC shows, given our growing young fan base, I’m like, ‘Well, what can I pull into our show that younger people relate to more,’” Hawley said.

The predictable format offers something else: a reprieve from the chaos of the world, similar to older network shows like “Golden Girls” and “Modern Family” that are also popular with younger audiences.

“The world is hard right now,” Hawley said. “It’s very stressful. There’s something that’s just comforting about putting us on and the number of episodes we have. Our show is an escape for people.”

Stuff we wrote

Film shoots

Number of the week

Disney-owned 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: Fire and Ash” cracked the $1-billion mark at the global box office on Sunday. The film is the third Disney film released in 2025 that has crossed $1 billion worldwide, following the animated “Zootopia 2” and the live-action adaptation of “Lilo & Stitch.”

Topping it off, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is the third of three “Avatar” films to reach $1 billion globally. The James Cameron-directed franchise has now grossed more than $6.35 billion so far.

Finally …

My colleague, Andrew J. Campa, has a fascinating story about how thieves are hacking off the leaves of agave plants — and the theories about why it’s happening.

The Duffer Brothers have teased more details about their upcoming spin-off following Stranger Things’ epic finale

Warning – this article contains major spoilers for the Stranger Things finale

Stranger Things creators Ross and Matt Duffer have confirmed a popular fan theory about the Netflix show’s upcoming spin-off isn’t true.

The hit supernatural drama set in the 1980s concluded with an epic finale on Thursday (1st January) that brought an end to the Hawkins gang’s battle against Vecna (played by Jamie Campbell Bower) and the Upside Down.

During the epilogue, after a terrifying encounter with the Mind Flayer on Dimension X and an emotional farewell to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), we see where many of our favourite characters end up 18 months later.

After five seasons, Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) finally get to sit down for a romantic dinner at Enzo’s, where Hopper proposes.

Joyce, of course, says yes, and they enjoy a swoon-worthy dance with some magical backing vocals that set audience hearts a-flutter all across the globe.

During the date, Hopper also suggests a move away from Hawkins after a friend in New York tipped him off to a position for chief of police opening up in Montauk.

Not only would it give Stranger Things’ fan-favourite couple a chance at a fresh start, but fans were also quick to guess that the haven in Long Island could be the perfect setting for the series’ confirmed spin-off series.

One X user said: “WAIT HOPPER WANTS TO GO TO MONTAUK?!!! #montauk that is where the whole story of Papa’s Dad started. Is that the spinoff town?!!!”

And another fan predicted: “Oh you caught that huh? Montauk is the Easter egg for the next spinoff.”

However, in a post-finale interview with Deadline, the Duffer Brothers have sadly confirmed this is not the case. Instead, the reference to Montauk is actually a cheeky allusion to Stranger Things’ origins, which was initially announced as a supernatural drama called Montauk back in 2015 before the location was changed to the fictional Hawkins, Indiana.

Ross Duffer confirmed there is indeed a hint towards the offshoot, but said: “I don’t know if I want to, but I will say, though, it’s not Hopper mentioning Montauk.

“There’s no Montauk spinoff. That was more of a wink to the fans, deep-cut fans that know that the show started as Montauk.”

Keeping their plans under wraps, the co-showrunner continued: “It’s obviously not Holly (Nell Fisher) and the kids or anything like that. It’s something much smaller than that.

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“We’ve said this before, the spinoff idea we have, it is early days, but it is an entirely new mythology.

“So, it is connected, and it is going to answer some questions that people have, and there’s some lingering questions that weren’t answered in the finale that will be answered in the spinoff. But at the end of the day, it’s got its own story and its own mythology.”

In an earlier interview with Variety, Ross also confirmed there will be some “connective tissue” between the shows, but maintained the spin-off won’t be like Star Wars with characters and locations crossing over.

Even so, the Duffers have confirmed there’s a hint towards the new series hidden somewhere in the finale, so fans had better get started on their next rewatch if they want to dig up some answers.

Stranger Things is available to stream on Netflix.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

“At every turn there is a photo worthy view of a mystical place.”

Tucked away in Gloucestershire lies an enchanting and ancient woodland that feels like it’s straight out of a fairy tale.

Nestled in the heart of the Forest of Dean near Coleford, this forest is a spectacle of gnarled trees, moss-draped rocks and gorges, picturesque wooden bridges, endless verdant landscapes, and a complex network of footpaths that add to its charm. Visitors to this unique woodland often rave about its unparalleled beauty, likening it to a world of its own. With hidden caves, peculiar rock formations, and age-old trees whispering untold tales, this distinctive Gloucestershire landscape is a must-see for travel enthusiasts, particularly those keen on uncovering the UK’s natural wonders and mysteries. The woodland has even been recognised as a regionally important geological site in the ‘Forest of Dean Local Plan Review’.

Known as Puzzlewood, this exceptional temperate forest has been luring visitors to its leafy threshold for years. With a star-studded resume, Puzzlewood has served as a filming location for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Secret Garden, The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Doctor Who, Merlin, Netflix’s Our Planet and BBC’s Atlantis, earning it some serious celebrity credentials, reports Gloucestershire Live.

In fact, it’s widely speculated that this magical woodland was the muse behind JRR Tolkien’s Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings series, specifically places like Mirkwood and the Old Forest. This enchanting forest is even rumoured to have sparked the imagination of JK Rowling, inspiring the Forbidden Forest in her Harry Potter series.

Spanning a vast 14 acres, Puzzlewood was earlier this year ranked seventh in Big 7 Travel’s ’50 Most Beautiful Places in the UK’ list for 2025. The woods hold a rich history, believed to have been used for cast iron mining during the Roman era. A staggering 3,000 Roman coins were discovered within its dreamlike landscape back in 1848. Visitors often describe Puzzlewood as “the most magical place on Earth”, and it’s not hard to see why with its glowing reviews.

One enchanted Tripadvisor user wrote: “A truly amazing and mystical place. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of a deep forest experience. We were first to arrive and were able to enjoy the true beauty of the forest without anyone around for a while.”

They added: “A beautiful journey through pathways and gullies lined with moss and ferns, to towering trees high above, listen carefully to the birds and take time to just stand and watch, take in the smells of the forest and watch as the shyest of wildlife may just appear and surprise you. A truly refreshing and relaxing visit. We will definitely return again and again as the seasons change. Definitely underpriced for the truly immersive experience you get.” Another delighted guest said: “Even on a rainy day, Puzzlewood is a special place to visit. It has the feel of a magical glade full of ferns, moss covered rocks and intertwined trees and plants. At every turn there is a photo worthy view of a mystical place.”

Though currently shut for the winter months, Puzzlewood will reopen its doors to visitors from February 14, 2026. Entry for grown-ups is priced at £9.90 each, whilst youngsters can access these enchanted woodlands for £8.50. Concession passes for adults (carers, over-65s, disabled) are available for £8.90, and tots under 2 get free admission — though pushchairs aren’t permitted within the grounds. Concession passes for children (disabled) cost £7.50.

Pets aren’t allowed inside Puzzlewood owing to the site’s resident wildlife, though verified pet-sitting services are listed on their website. Guests should be aware that Puzzlewood features over 200 narrow and uneven steps which can become treacherous, particularly in wet weather. Robust footwear with excellent grip is advised.

An on-site café serves refreshments and those wishing to experience the captivating forest beyond standard opening times can reserve accommodation at Puzzlewood, offering exclusive and unlimited woodland access (during daylight only) plus the chance to assist with morning feeding sessions and meet the site’s cherished animals.

The year was 1923, and thousands of people a month were flooding into Los Angeles in hopes of finding a job in the nascent film business.

Many planned to start as background actors, dreaming they’d be discovered by a director and finally get their big break. These behind-the-scenes actors would wander from studio lot to studio lot, lining up in hopes of being cast.

But the chaos of aspiring actors searching for jobs eventually became too much. Even silent screen star Mary Pickford took to warning wide-eyed newcomers that they should save enough money to survive for five years before coming out to Hollywood.

Out of calls to create safeguards around this fledgling business, and more order around background acting opportunities, emerged the Central Casting Corp.

Central Casting — now so eponymous that its name has become a cultural phrase — celebrated its 100th anniversary earlier this month.

I recently spoke with Mark Goldstein, president and chief executive of the Burbank-based company, to talk about changes in the industry, including the threat of artificial intelligence, runaway production and the role of a background actor in 2025.

Goldstein acknowledged the tough environment for background performers, also commonly known as extras, who populate restaurants, parks and other film and TV scenes to make the environment seem more realistic — all without saying a word.

After the lows of the pandemic, and then the explosion of content during the peak TV era, one of the main challenges for Central Casting’s members is just finding new roles, he said.

“There’s been a little bit of a pullback in production over the last year,” said Goldstein, who serves as president and CEO of Central Casting as well as production finance and management tools firm Entertainment Partners, which owns the agency. “It’s really just constantly finding the right roles for people.”

In Southern California, of course, jobs have been more scarce as production has flowed to other states and countries offering steeper film incentives.

Then there is the advent of computer-generated imagery, which has lessened the need for massive crowd scenes that were once standard.

“Before [CGI] technology, we may fill up an arena, like we may fill a 5,000-person shoot or a 10,000-person shoot,” Goldstein said.

Remember the long lines for casting calls?

No more.

More recently AI has been a key concern for background actors, though Goldstein said he doesn’t think the new digital tools and the rise of synthetic characters will eliminate the need for background actors.

“There’s a lot of conversation [about] is it human or technology? And we kind of view it as human and technology,” he said. “The consumer wants believability, and so there’ll be situations where it’s really important to have the human role involved, but there may be other situations where AI and technology can be helpful.”

He added: “We have legendary people that started their career because they wanted to follow their dream to become an actor in Hollywood,” he said, ticking off the names of famous alumni such as Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Eva Longoria, Will Ferrell and Brad Pitt. “And we don’t see that changing.”

Despite the challenges, aspiring actors still register with Central Casting every day, Goldstein said. The company has 200,000 background actors in its database, with more than 20,000 new names added a year. About 3,000 are placed in roles each day, the company says.

One of those is Jaylee Maruk, 38, who signed up with Central Casting in 2009 and has worked steadily ever since.

Maruk works often on “Grey’s Anatomy” and has credits on Hulu’s “Paradise” and Apple TV’s “Shrinking.” She once stood in for Greta Lee in Apple TV‘s “The Morning Show.”

“What I love about doing background is it really gives a solid foundation about what it’s like to be on set and what the expectations are,” Maruk said.

But she worries about her future, especially with the rise of AI and the migration of production.

“Productions will pack up and leave,” she said. “They’ll go somewhere cheaper, and it’s becoming harder and harder for us. That’s really the biggest concern, trying to entice and support productions staying here.”

Towns in far-off countries like Hungary and Turkey can be made to look just like places in America, she says. And they can cast local residents instead of U.S.-based performers like Maruk. After all, background actors don’t have speaking roles, so not speaking English isn’t a problem.

“We want our work to be here,” said the Lake Balboa resident. “Our families are here, our lives are here.”

Last year, I got a glimpse into the world of background acting when I covered the annual Los Angeles Union Background Actors Awards. Though tongue-in-cheek at times — the awards themselves are called Blurries — the ceremony and winners’ speeches also highlighted these actors’ key roles in Hollywood.

I met background actors who had done the job for years, including one who got his first role as a 12-year-old in “Hello, Dolly!” Many talked about the difficulty of the last few years and the desire for respect for their professional work. Some were full-time background actors; others did the work part time. All were passionate about what they did.

“It really is just preparedness and luck, as they say,” Maruk said. “And also just having a lot of motivation and resilience.”

Stuff We Wrote

Film shoots

Number of the week

James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” brought in $89 million in the U.S. and Canada during its opening weekend. Globally, the film made $346 million, with big hauls in China and France.

That opening total came in at the lower end of box office analysts’ expectations and is also less than the massive opening weekend for its predecessor film, 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which grossed $134 million in its domestic debut. But “Avatar” films tend to build momentum at the box office over subsequent weekends, so the Na’vi aren’t vanquished yet.

In addition to “Avatar,” this past weekend also saw strong performances from Angel Studios’ animated “David,” as well as Lionsgate’s thriller “The Housemaid,” pushing the year-to-date domestic box office total a slim 1% above the same time period last year. That’s helpful for theaters but doesn’t bode well for the box office’s overall performance this year.

Finally …

My colleague Josh Rottenberg looks at what movie stardom will mean in an age of AI. In that story, he has an interview with the creator of Tilly Norwood, the AI-generated character that recently sparked a furious debate in Hollywood about the role of synthetics in film and TV.

Vince Zampella, the video game developer who helped launch the wildly lucrative and enduring “Call of Duty” franchise and “Apex Legends” studio Respawn Entertainment, has died.

A representative for Electronic Arts, which owns Respawn, confirmed Zampella’s death Monday in a statement shared with The Times. He was 55.

Zampella was one of two people who died Sunday afternoon in a car crash along Angeles Crest Highway, NBC 4 reported. The crash involved a red 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, and the identities of the deceased are pending release by the county coroner, said California Highway Patrol spokesperson Sgt. Daniel Keene.

Zampella was a noted sports car collector, often sharing photos of his luxury vehicles and visits to car races on Instagram.

“This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work,” said the Electronic Arts representative in a statement. “Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching.”

The CHP said in a Sunday news release that it received a call at 12:43 p.m. about a crash at Mile Post 62.70 of the scenic drive, which reopened in August after a years-long closure due to storm damage. Officers responded to the scene of the crash, and a preliminary investigation found that a car had been traveling southbound when, “for unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed,” according to the release.

“The passenger was ejected from the vehicle, and the driver remained trapped,” the CHP statement said. “Both parties succumbed to their injuries.”

Video emerged online showing a red Ferrari shooting out of a tunnel along the highway at a high speed, slamming into a concrete barrier where the road curved and erupting into flames.

The 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS is a hybrid convertible powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 and an electric motor, producing a combined 819 horsepower.

The scenic Angeles Crest Highway, which features 66 miles of mountainside twists and turns is a favorite among motorcycle riders and car enthusiasts but also has a track record of deadly and dangerous crashes.

The CHP said Sunday it was unclear whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

Zampella was a formative figure in the modern gaming scene. Alongside Jason West and former creative partner Grant Collier, he co-founded the original “Call of Duty” studio, Infinity Ward, in 2002 and released the first installment of the first-person military shooting game in 2003. Activision acquired the studio that same year. Since its inception, “Call of Duty” has spawned dozens of sequels and spin-offs across various consoles and platforms, most recently “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7,” released in November.

He and West, after an acrimonious split with Activision, founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010. Though West departed Respawn in 2013 due to unspecified family issues, Zampella remained head of the studio, overseeing the creation of titles including “Titanfall,” “Apex Legends” and “Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond.” Additionally, Respawn expanded its lineup with the story-driven “Star Wars” titles “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” and “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor,” starring Cameron Monaghan.

Zampella also led the L.A. branch of Swedish video game developer DICE, which was renamed in 2021 to Ripple Effect Studios, and was appointed to oversee its “Battlefield” franchise.

“A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world,” Electronic Arts said in its statement. “His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come.”

Zampella is survived by his three children, Quentin, 26; Kyle, 22; and Courtney, 19.