Connecticut’s recent celebrity gossip and sightings, January 2021
New year, new celebrity gossip.
We are only one month into 2021, and already Connecticut has had a fair share of celebrity and Hollywood news. Here are some of the big headlines from last month.
‘Real Housewife of NYC’ buys Connecticut home
by Susie Costaregni
Bethenny Frankel, former star of the reality TV show the “Real Housewives of New York,” has bought a home in Greenwich.
The 50-year-old founder of the Skinny Girl cocktail line was seen last summer on a boating excursion in Greenwich with her then-boyfriend, businessman Paul Bernon, and former RHONY housewife Dorinda Medley. Read more.
A CT photographer took the shot that became the Bernie Sanders mitten meme
by Rob Ryser
Newtown native Brendan Smialowski got a taste of fame after the inauguration when his infamous photo of Bernie Sanders became a viral meme.
“It’s totally been taken out of the context of journalism,” said Smialowski, 40, who has covered four presidents and two wars. “But I’m happy people are having fun with the image.”
Fun doesn’t do the meme justice in some cases. The image of Sanders trying to keep warm on a folding chair at the Capitol has been superimposed everywhere from a Bob Ross painting to The Last Supper. Read more.
‘The Office’ star John Krasinski plays fictional CT economist on ‘SNL’
by Andrew DaRosa
“The Office” and “Jack Ryan” star John Krasinski hosted “Saturday Night Live” on Jan. 30 alongside musical guest Machine Gun Kelly. Many expected an episode packed with nods to the inauguration and recent stock market happenings.
And it certainly delivered on the latter.
In a skit called “The Twins,” Krasinski played Craig Steer, a fictional Connecticut economist who was brought on to CNBC’s “The Dividend” to discuss the recent market manipulation with high-profile stocks like GameStop. Things get weird. Read more.
Former Bravo star Stassi Schroeder names her baby Hartford
by Lidia Ryan
Former “Vanderpump Rules” reality stars Stassi Schroeder and Beau Clark welcomed a baby girl on Jan. 7, PEOPLE Magazine reported. The baby’s name: Hartford Charlie Rose Clark.
While the article states that the baby’s middle names honor the couple’s family members, it does not specify why Schroeder and Clark chose Connecticut’s capital city as the first name. Schroeder does not have ties to Connecticut.
News of Schroeder’s pregnancy broke in June 2020, and came right after she faced controversy over an action that was deemed racist, and ultimately resulted in her being fired by the Bravo Network. Read more.
‘American Pickers’ tours Hour Press, other historic Norwalk buildings
by TinaMarie Craven
Many Norwalkers are familiar with the Hour Press building on Commerce Street, but folks across the country learned all about it in an episode of the History Channel’s “American Pickers.”
On Jan. 25 the “Pumps, Prints & Pics” episode highlighted the history of downtown Norwalk and the Hour Press building owned by Nathan and Gloria Dillard.
“American Pickers” is a reality series that follows the two hosts, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, as they travel across the nation searching for forgotten antiques. Read more.