Entertainment
Michael J. Fox Says Matthew Perry Donated ‘Big Fat Check’ to His Foundation on November 14, 2023 at 12:42 am Us Weekly

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Michael J. Fox recalled Matthew Perry’s generous donation to his foundation after the actor signed his record-breaking Friends contract.
“I hope this isn’t indiscreet … But when they first made their big sale [on their Friends contracts] and were made millionaires for the rest of their lives, he wrote a big fat check to the [Michael J. Fox] Foundation,” Fox, 62, told Entertainment Tonight in an interview published on Monday, November 13. “We were really early on and trying to find our feet. And it was such a vote of confidence.”
Fox added that Perry’s generous deed wasn’t “accompanied by any self-aggrandizing,” and instead served as a symbol of good faith in Fox’s efforts. “It was a, ‘Take it and do your best,’” Fox said. “I loved that.”
In 1998, Fox revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease seven years prior. He subsequently became an advocate for finding a cure, founding the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help fund research.
Perry, meanwhile, teamed up with the rest of the Friends cast in 2002 to negotiate a historic $1 million per episode for each of the show’s six main stars. The actor – along with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow — all collectively bargained for the deal, telling the network they would leave the NBC hit if they weren’t paid equally.
Fox told ET on Monday that he and Perry “spent some time together over the years” and eventually formed a friendship over their mutual love for hockey. He called the late sitcom star — who often praised Fox publicly for his talent — a “funny guy,” adding, “I’m happy I had an impact on him.”
News of Perry’s death broke on October 28 after he was found “unconscious in a stand-alone jacuzzi” by law enforcement officials in his Pacific Palisades home. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed days later that he had been “deceased prior to the first responder’s arrival.” His official cause of death has yet to be confirmed pending a toxicology report. He was 54.
Following his death, it was announced that Perry’s legacy will live on through his own foundation, which will help those “struggling with the disease of addiction” and will be “guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible.”
Throughout his life, Perry didn’t shy away from discussing his addiction issues, which he detailed in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. While promoting the book in November 2022, the Fools Rush In star opened up about how Fox helped shape him as an actor during an interview with Tom Power.
“I was young, I had done a couple of plays in school, and Michael J. Fox was it, man,” Perry gushed at the time. “When I was in ninth grade, Michael J. Fox had just done Back to the Future, and there was smoke coming out of my ears, I was so jealous of this guy.”
Getty Images (2) Michael J. Fox recalled Matthew Perry’s generous donation to his foundation after the actor signed his record-breaking Friends contract. “I hope this isn’t indiscreet … But when they first made their big sale [on their Friends contracts] and were made millionaires for the rest of their lives, he wrote a big fat
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Entertainment
DJ Shinski Brings AfriqueFest To Life

AfriqueFest: Pan-African Musical Experience — World Cup Edition is coming to Noto Houston with one mission: turn the city into a living, breathing soundtrack of the continent. One Africa. One sound. One immersive multicultural experience.
This year, Bolanle Media is proud to spotlight DJ Shinski, Africa’s most-subscribed DJ on YouTube and a Houston-based curator of global vibes whose mixes have pulled in millions of views worldwide. From Afrobeat and Amapiano to dancehall, throwback hip-hop, and R&B, his sets are crafted to move both longtime fans and new listeners.

DJ Shinski joins a stacked AfriqueFest lineup that travels across the continent in one night: Safari Grooves (East & Central) from 4 PM–6 PM, Diamond Rhythms (South) from 6 PM–8 PM, and Gold Coast Beats (West) from 8 PM–10 PM, with DJ Tunez and a curated roster of DJs carrying the energy from day into night.
Hosted by a dynamic team including @chris_gone_crazy, @kingdrewwskyy, @roselynomaka, and @samsnewleaf, AfriqueFest turns Noto Houston into a Pan-African hub—bridging cultures, eras, and sounds in a single, cinematic experience. It’s a space where East African blends, Southern African rhythms, and West African club anthems meet under one roof, with Houston as the backdrop.
To give you a taste of DJ Shinski’s range, here’s one of his most popular video mixes—2000’s Throwback Hip Hop Video Mix 1, a fan favorite that has drawn millions of views and showcases how effortlessly he flips classic records into a high-energy visual set:
At AfriqueFest, expect that same level of precision and storytelling—only this time, it’s live, immersive, and wrapped inside a World Cup–inspired celebration of the diaspora. DJ Shinski’s role is simple: make the room feel like a global dance floor while anchoring the night in African excellence, Houston pride, and shared rhythm.
Tickets are available now, with AfriqueFest presented by Experience Noir, Bolanle Media, Shekpe Knights, and Energy Zer Koncepts. Bring your flags, your friends, and your best dance energy—because when DJ Shinski steps behind the decks, the night is less of a show and more of a full-body memory.
Entertainment
STREAMING PREMIERE · JUNE 13, 2026

Laughter Meets Inspiration: Our Ladies Show Lands on The Roku Channel
A bold new sketch comedy series for women premieres June 13 across the U.S., U.K., and Canada — arriving on the back of a festival-winning run that has critics and audiences already paying attention.
It isn’t every day a brand-new comedy arrives already wearing a row of trophies. Our Ladies Show does. The seven-episode inspirational sketch comedy series — created, written by, and starring Christin Jezak — begins streaming on The Roku Channel on Friday, June 13, 2026, available free to viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
Produced in partnership with global media services leader Encompass Digital Media, the series sets out to do something rare in today’s streaming landscape: make women laugh out loud and leave them lifted. In a media moment crowded with noise and cynicism, Our Ladies Show is a deliberate counterweight — comedy with a conscience, built for women of every age and background.

A Show Built Around Real Life — and Real Laughs
Each of the seven episodes opens with a monologue from one of the cast members introducing the theme, then rolls into three or more sketches that hit the subject from every comedic angle. The series tackles the things women actually carry: holding grudges, comparison, beauty, patience, gift giving, the importance of community, and dealing with anxiety.
The comedy comes from a place of warmth rather than mockery — a “laugh at ourselves” spirit that runs through a gallery of unforgettable characters: a nosey neighbor, an overwhelmed mom, relentlessly optimistic flight attendants, beauty pageant winners past their prime, and a crew of unruly campers with a counselor who simply cannot hold it together.
Then the show does something most sketch series don’t. In the final segment of every episode, the cast gathers in a living-room setting and invites the audience in — sharing real inspiration drawn from the theme, the sketches, and their own personal stories. It’s the moment the laughter turns into something that stays with you.

The Women Behind the Show
Our Ladies Show brings together three performers with serious range:
- Christin Jezak — creator, writer, and star (Miracle at Manchester, Raising Hope, Jimmy Kimmel Live!)
- Hillary Hawkins — (Primal, Nick Jr.’s Play Along, Gullah Gullah Island)
- Sarah Hernandez — (Nefarious, Unplanned, House of Payne)
“In a world with so much division and depression, I hope women of all ages and backgrounds will watch this show, laugh, be reminded of how beautiful, unique, and loved they are, and remember how much we need each other.”— Christin Jezak, Creator & Star
Already a Festival Favorite
The series’ recurring long-form sketch, Neighborhood Watch, didn’t arrive quietly. Originally released as a web series and revamped for Our Ladies Show with new footage, sound, and music, it has been sweeping the festival circuit:
- 🏆 Best Webseries — 2026 New Media Film Festival (Los Angeles)
- 🏆 Best Web/TV Series — Paris Film Awards
- 🏆 Best Web Series — Dallas Movie Awards
- 🏅 Additional wins at the London Movie Awards, Florence Film Awards, and Hollywood Gold Awards
- 🎬 Official Selection — 2026 Harvard Divinity School Film Fest
- ⭐ Finalist — Houston Comedy Film Festival
- 📣 Three nominations — 2025 Content Christian Media Conference, including Best Actress in a TV and Web Series nods for both Christin Jezak and Sarah Hernandez
Where and When to Watch
Our Ladies Show premieres Friday, June 13, 2026, streaming on The Roku Channel — the home of premium and free entertainment — in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. All seven episodes deliver the series’ signature blend of sharp sketch comedy and genuine encouragement.

Watch the trailer now on your platform of choice:
For more information, visit www.ourladiesshow.com and follow @ourladiesshow on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

About Christin Jezak
Christin Jezak has worked for over 15 years in the entertainment industry. She created and stars in Our Ladies Show and the award-winning web series Neighborhood Watch. She produced the EWTN TV program For the Sake of the Gospel and the all-women web series Ladies Keepin’ It Real, played Dr. Sam in Miracle at Manchester (starring Dean Cain, Daniel Roebuck, and Eddie McClintock), and voices Agnes in the podcast Confessions of a Catholic Single. She held a lead role in a short film for NTT Data directed by Academy Award–winning cinematographer Janusz Kamiński, has co-starred on Raising Hope, and appeared in Jimmy Kimmel sketches and a Grubhub Super Bowl commercial.

About The Roku Channel
Roku pioneered streaming on TV and is the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico by hours streamed (Hypothesis Group, Dec. 2025). The Roku Channel is the home of premium and free entertainment, alongside Roku’s Howdy and Frndly TV services. Roku is headquartered in San Jose, California.
About Encompass Digital Media
Encompass Digital Media is a global managed services company — technology-driven, software-defined, and people-powered. Trusted by world-leading broadcasters, networks, sports rights-holders, and OTT platforms, it processes over 25,000 hours of content daily, serves 850 channels to 84 countries, distributes over 243,000 live events annually, and reaches 400 million radio listeners weekly worldwide. Learn more at www.encompass.tv.
Media & Interview Requests: To interview creator Christin Jezak or the cast, contact Christin at cjezak@p2ptheatre.com.
Entertainment
What Filmmakers Should Actually Steal From Euphoria

Most of the talk about Euphoria asks one question: was it realistic? That’s the wrong question if you make films. The better one is simpler. How did Sam Levinson get an audience to feel addiction from the inside? And what did it cost him to end the show the way he did?
Strip away the noise and Euphoria is a clinic in three choices: point of view, style, and the ending. Here’s what’s worth taking — and what isn’t.

1. Put the Camera Inside the Character
Most shows about drugs watch from across the room. Euphoria doesn’t. When Rue is high, the camera is high too. Walls breathe. Floors tilt. Time skips. You’re not watching her — you’re stuck inside her head.
That’s the lesson: point of view is a decision you make with the camera and the cut, not a mood you add later in color. Levinson builds it into the lens, the blocking, and the edit.
So before you shoot a scene through a character’s eyes, ask one thing on set: whose eyes is this lens standing in for? Then make every cut respect that.
2. Your Style Has to Mean Something
The glitter. The slow push-ins. The impossible club lighting. Euphoria‘s look got copied everywhere. That’s the trap.
The style worked because it carried weight. The beauty wasn’t decoration — it was the lie addiction tells you, the reason the next high looks worth it. The camera made self-destruction gorgeous on purpose.
The copies missed that. A thousand music videos took the look and left the meaning behind, and you can feel how hollow they are. So here’s the test: if your signature style could be swapped onto any other project and still “work,” it’s not a style. It’s a filter. Every choice should have a reason behind it.
3. The Ending Tells the Audience What It All Meant
When Euphoria ended for good in Season 3, Levinson killed Rue — an accidental, fentanyl-laced overdose. He called it “the honest ending,” saying he wanted to tell a true story about addiction and grief in a time when one mistake can be the last one. Reportedly, that wasn’t the original plan; the death of Angus Cloud, who played Fezco, changed the script.
Forget whether you agree with the choice. Study how it works. An ending is the last instruction you give your audience about how to read everything before it.
By ending on consequence instead of recovery, Levinson reframed seven years of beautiful chaos as a story about cost — not a celebration of it.
It’s also the show’s most debatable move, and that’s worth noticing too. A show that spent years making pain look beautiful had to fight to make that pain land as loss. Did it earn the ending, or enjoy the wreckage too long to stick it? Smart filmmakers will disagree — and that argument is exactly what a good ending is supposed to start.

What Not to Take
The neon grief is the most copied part. It’s also the least useful. Take the surface — the colors, the slow-mo, the trauma-as-texture — and you get the costume without the body.
The real craft is underneath. Commit your camera to a real point of view. Make every stylistic choice earn its place. Treat your ending as the point of the whole thing. Do that, and your work won’t look like Euphoria. It’ll do what Euphoria did.
This piece touches on addiction and substance use. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available through the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
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