How Kristi Noem Could Become the New Jeff Probst

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Who Wants to Be an American?

Serving as part of the president’s Cabinet has traditionally offered certain privileges: priority flights without waiting at the TSA, a lineup of chauffeured SUVs, and a security team reminiscent of those in the “Men in Black” movies. However, it seems that one administration member could potentially gain an additional advantage under the Trump White House – her very own reality TV show.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been making headlines after the Daily Mail reported that her department was contemplating a proposal for a reality TV show called “The American.” In this series, migrants would compete in real-time for U.S. citizenship. Producer Rob Worsoff shared his vision with Kaitlan Collins on CNN, stating, “I’d like to film every episode in a different state. For instance, if we’re in New York, we could have a pizza-making challenge. If we’re in Florida, we could have a rocket-launching challenge. The finale of each episode would feature a town hall meeting where the audience votes on which contestant they’d like to represent their state.

Indeed, this isn’t a joke by John Oliver. Instead, it’s a genuine statement about Worsoff, a reality television veteran who has worked on shows such as “Duck Dynasty” and “The Biggest Loser”. He is completely sincere in his remarks. Furthermore, Governor Noem isn’t the first Trump administration figure to explore unscripted TV. In fact, she represents one of the latest examples in what seems to be emerging as a trend among supporters of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement.

In April, it was rumored that Donald Trump Jr. was approached by someone connected to the Trump circle for a fishing show on the Discovery Channel. However, this project never materialized. At the time, it was believed that this could be a tactic by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to gain favor with the Trump White House. Additionally, Amazon planned a $40 million docuseries about Melania Trump, first lady, directed by Brett Ratner, who previously worked with Steve Mnuchin, former Treasury Secretary. Considering that half of Trump’s cabinet used to work at Fox News, the boundaries between politics and programming are becoming increasingly indistinct.

a mix of denial and confirmation. Assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that the Daily Mail’s report was completely false and disrespectful to journalism. However, she also mentioned that the department receives numerous TV pitch proposals annually, implying that the show was indeed being considered in the initial stages of their review process.

Former First Lady of France Hits a Sour Note at Cannes 

At this year’s Cannes festival, there was at least one high-profile attendee who didn’t have a good time. Specifically, Carla Bruni, the former first lady of France, left in a huff from the Chopard Trophy dinner held at the Carlton Beach Club where she had been scheduled to perform. This glamorous event on May 16th, one of the festival’s most star-studded parties, attracted a galaxy of celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong and Juliette Binoche, as well as Cannes heavyweights Thierry Frémaux and Iris Knobloch.

The scene was primed for what could potentially be an uncomfortable evening as Angelina Jolie sat face-to-face with Quentin Tarantino, the director who contributed to her ex-husband Brad Pitt’s Oscar win in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” However, any unease seemed to vanish as the two appeared to converse like longtime friends. As the night wore on, though, just as Bruni was ready to perform, events took an unfortunate turn. Dissatisfied by the loud music emanating from a nearby beach club, the wife of Nicolas Sarkozy — often referred to as “Carla of Arc” in French media — exited the dinner, abandoning her band onstage. She later posted on Instagram from the back seat of her departing vehicle, “We had prepared five or six songs for the guests, but we couldn’t play because the Carlton Beach decided to throw a party without regard for the artist next door.” – Chris Gardner

Malibu’s Bleak Summer Outlook: No Access, No Tourists, No Business

The heatwave in Los Angeles continues, yet the outdoor dining areas of Malibu’s restaurants remain largely vacant. This isn’t due to the wildfires that occurred along the coast in January, but rather because Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu’s main road, is still mostly shut off for outsiders. This closure has significantly reduced tourist traffic, which usually keeps businesses like Helene Henderson’s popular eatery, Malibu Farm, afloat. Henderson notes that the rest of the world seems unaware of the ongoing crisis in Malibu, as they have moved on. Business at Malibu Farm is down by at least 50%, and many customers cancel their reservations when faced with roadblocks along PCH. Henderson worries that there won’t be enough revenue from the summer season to sustain them through the winter. She fears, “This year, there’s not going to be a summer cushion to carry us through the winter. What we’re thinking here is, ‘How do we make it to spring 2026?’”

Technically, there are alternative routes to Malibu via Malibu Canyon and Kanan Dume Road, but confusion about these routes persists. Henderson’s phone rings constantly with people asking for directions. The situation is similar down the road at Paradise Cove, where business is off by 50-60%. Tim Morris, assistant GM of Paradise Cove, has turned to social media marketing to inform customers that they are still open.

There may be a solution on the horizon. Governor Gavin Newsom has promised to reopen one lane in each direction of PCH by the end of May. Morris is cautiously hopeful, acknowledging that traffic will likely be a challenge but expressing excitement for the change in public perception that open roads could bring. He says, “If PCH is open, people will realize that Malibu is open.

You can find this article in the latest edition of The Hollywood Reporter, which was published on May 21st. To keep up with future issues, consider subscribing.

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2025-05-21 20:25