We'll always have the cottage

And ahead of World War III, that's what I need right now

Jan 06, 2026

Today, in order of importance: Heated Rivalry, Maduro, CBS News fucks up.

Two hot men being vulnerable and tender with each other? In this economy? Yes please. The unadulterated joy that has become my Instagram feed, my group texts, my playlists, my god, did we need this. Between Connor Storrie’s seemingly perfect Russian (that he learned in a week?!!! j’adore a polyglot!!), Hudson Williams’ deeply expressive eyes and apparent disinterest in media training, glorious 2010ish needle drops, straight hockey bro podcasts losing their shit and waxing poetic for hours over a gay love story, and the utter lack of toxic masculinity in a world currently run by Pete Hegseths, there’s a lot to love about Heated Rivalry.

So what exactly is it that is working so well here? (And by that I mean, causing a collective joyful psychosis amid the probable start of World War III?) A lot, I think.

1) Two brand new obscenely talented stars who fully disappear into their roles and are equally—if not more—charming on their press tour. 2) Stunning, thoughtful cinematography in an era of needing to adjust the lighting on my television to watch the dragon shows. 3) Something that isn’t from the Young Sheldonverse. Yes, I know this particular show is based on a book series, but it wasn’t really a bestseller prior to adaptation, and it still represents a departure from the “safe” choices being made at networks more eager to spinoff a spinoff than try something new. And don’t get me wrong, we’ve seen some great art coming out of television and film of late (you can check out what I’ve most loved recently here)—but we’ve also got a Wordle TV show coming down the pike. 4) Yes, sex does sell, but there is a lot more going on here than just ass.

a man without a shirt is talking into a sports microphone . — *Although, if winks could impregnate*—

Ultimately, I think the biggest factor in the ~everywhereness~ of this show right now is how unexpected it was. In an era that is defined largely by algorithms and influencers and IP and money and AI slop, this low budget Canadian gay hockey show shot in like six weeks snuck up on us. It provided us something we didn’t know we needed exactly when we needed it and proved all the wildly overpaid billionaire CEOs who keep laying off their employees ten thousand percent wrong. (Hot tip: HBO Max only acquired it like a week before it started airing.) It’s human and raw and sweet and exciting and not something they could have predicted working, and I love that that probably scares them, because good art can’t be generated in a data center. As someone who moved to LA to be a screenwriter—at the perfect time, I might add—who often pitches things to production companies that are seen as niche and or/risky, I’ve got renewed wind in my sails this week. So thank you for everything, boys (and that of course includes François Arnaud and Robbie Graham-Kuntz, and series creator Jacob Tierney!!!) We don’t deserve it, but we’ll absolutely take it.

In World War III: The rapidly decaying skinsuit who doesn’t know why he keeps getting MRIs kidnapped the president of Venezuela last weekend, a sentence I never could have but probably should have predicted writing. Yes, Nicolás Maduro is a bad dude and an evil despot but that doesn’t make doing a coup in another country and then saying we “run” it now any more legal. I cannot simply show up to Bill Maher’s set and declare it mine now just because he does not deserve to have a show. And if I could, believe me, I would.

So what now? Maduro’s VP has been sworn in as interim president, though how long she remains there is unclear. Maduro is in prison in New York, having pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges. (Also, this is about oil and refusing to release the Epstein files, not drugs.) The fallout from this absurd turn of events is going to take time to fully devolve, but things to keep an eye on: Greenland, currently a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, is unwillingly back in the combover cross hairs and has the rest of Europe ready to back it up should the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize winner decide to make war, not love. Trump has also threatened Cuba and Colombia, and fwiw Hot Tip will pay $1000 to any reporter willing to ask him to point those countries out on a map.

Quick tips: A Minneapolis Hampton Inn has been dropped by its corporate overlords at Hilton Hotels for refusing to reserve rooms for ICE agents. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz officially isn’t running for reelection, but Sen. Amy Klobuchar might throw her hat in the ring. And what is the traditional gift for the five-year anniversary of the Capitol insurrection? A marriage proposal from a non-US citizen? Because that’s what I want.

In media: There were several big oopsies on CBS’ first news broadcast with its new MAGA-adjacent anchor Tony Doukoupil—well, either that, or I’d love to buy the team in the control room a round of drinks.

Hot Tip: Ride the creative wave and make a mood/vision board for 2026. Best case, you’re inspired and have new wall art. Worst case, you finally use those magazines collecting dust on your coffee table.