In episode two of IT: Welcome to Derry, Chris Chalk first appeared as Dick Halloran, which led some fans to believe the character has a deeper meaning.

Now, with episode three having been released, which confirms what some had previously speculated – it is the younger version of Dick – from the 1980 psychological horror movie The Shining. 

In a chat with Variety, the actor says, referring to his character, “Everything I do is going to have some dignity.”

It is worth noting that both The Shining and It are based on Stephen King’s novels.

Meanwhile, Chalk also explains how his portrayal of Dick Hallorann in It: Welcome to Derry differs from Scatman Crothers’ portrayal in the Stanley Kubrick-directed movie, which was criticized for featuring a token Black character.

“He’s literally a Magical Negro,” the star notes. “But the trouble with a Magical Negro is that they’re the only ************ Black person in the movie.”

However, for makers in Welcome to Derry, Chalk adds, they made sure to remove the previous outdated trope. 

Now, Dick is not a background role in the story, and he is part of a group of Black characters in the HBO show.

As he continues, “To already have this huge selection of Black humans in the narrative, not just as props, but as essential to the narrative.” 

“I know we’re going to avoid these tropes, because the trope doesn’t exist if everybody there serves a purpose.”

“I do happen to be a magical Black man, but in a world full of Black people, it doesn’t come off as gross.”

IT: Welcome to Derry is streaming on HBO Max.

Sydney Sweeney was asked about that American Eagle ‘good genes’ ad again, and she avoided taking any responsibility for it.

Sweeney drew immense backlash for the ad earlier this year since the ad featured a wordplay on ‘good jeans’ and ‘good genes.’ Netizens thought it was racist and glorified having blue eyes and being white, others thought it catered to the male gaze and was overly sexual. 

The Euphoria star didn’t address the backlash at the time, and she’s dodging questions about it in the present.

In a new interview with The Guardian to promote her new film Christy, she argued that she has no control over how people interpret her actions.

“I think what’s interesting is I’m always myself. I’m always just me. But it’s what other people put on me that’s uncontrollable,” she said.

“Like you’re going to write this article… Then people will read it and have their own perception. So I try and be as much of me as possible, but it’s always through other people’s lenses,” the Echo Valley star added.

In a previous interview with GQ, she noted that she wasn’t aware of the backlash over the ad since she was filming the new season of Euphoria at the time.

“It was surreal… it’s not that I didn’t have that feeling, but I wasn’t thinking of it like that. Or like, of any of it. I kind of just put my phone away,” she told the magazine.

“I was filming every day. I’m filming Euphoria, so I’m working 16-hour days and I don’t really bring my phone on set, so I work and then I go home and I go to sleep. So I didn’t really see a lot of it,” she added.

Sydney’s new film Christy follows the personal and professional life of boxer Christy Martin. The movie has joined the top 12 worst ever openings for a film showing on more than 2000 screens, per Box Office Mojo. The film has made a dismal $1.3 million over the weekend.

Jay Leno “enjoys” taking care of his wife Mavis as she battles advanced dementia.

The former late-night talk show host says the couple have “fun with” dealing with her degenerative condition – which causes a decline in thinking, memory, and reasoning skills – which she was diagnosed with in 2024.

Jay – who married Mavis in 1980, told PEOPLE magazine, “I’ve been very lucky in my life. My wife is fighting dementia and all that, but it’s not cancer. It’s not a tumour, so I enjoy taking care of her.”

He continued, “It’s not work, because people come up, and say they feel so sorry. I understand the sympathy, because I know a lot of people are going through it, but it’s OK.

“I like taking care of her. I enjoy her company, and we have a good time. We have fun with it, and it is what it is,” the NBC comedian added.

However, the 75-year-old TV star said there are times that will be difficult, but Jay is fortunate to be in a position where he can afford to look after Mavis and her medical bills.

Jay – who is worth a reported $450 million, said in conclusion, “There are going to be a couple of years that are tricky. So, the first 46, really great. But it’s OK. It’s not terrible. I’m not a woe-is-me person. I’m just lucky that I am able to take care of her.”