Lifestyle
My Day With J. Lo
I was gazing into J. Lo’s brown eyes. We were inches away from each other, locked in an even gaze, her face tilted up slightly toward mine. I could smell her hair spray. Then the director called, “Cut!”
It was the summer of 2016, and I was acting in an episode of an NBC crime drama called “Shades of Blue.” I use the term “acting” loosely because I had exactly one line.
I had never watched “Shades of Blue” before I tried out for it. All I knew was that it was a cop show set in New York City starring Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta. To be honest, I thought of the role as a potential stopgap at a time when I was in a figuring-things-out phase of my life. Although I had appeared on a soap opera years earlier, since its cancellation I had mostly checked out of the audition circuit.
The audition was held in an office building in Midtown. The casting director, Rob, had me read for three roles: “F.B.I. Commander,” “Bailiff” and (horrifyingly) “Old Cop.”
Before I left, Rob told me: “Look, if you get one of these, just be cool, OK? Be cool.”
There were no callbacks. I was hired for the part of “Bailiff.” My duties consisted of asking a character named Harlee, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
Once I got the part, I Googled “Harlee on ‘Shades of Blue’” and gasped. Harlee was played by Jennifer Lopez. This sent my imagination off the deep end, as I briefly entertained the notion of bonding with Jenny from the Block. I thought of all the things I could say to her: You were terrific in “Selena.” I cried at the end of “Maid in Manhattan.” You never should have been with Marc Anthony anyway!
Then I stopped myself. I was hired for a job. I was a professional. I was going to be cool. Besides, even small TV jobs were hard to get, and I was determined not to mess this one up.
The shoot took place at the Bronx County Courthouse. When I got there, I put on my assigned uniform and was ushered into a courtroom for rehearsal. I met the actor playing the judge and a young woman who was Ms. Lopez’s stand-in. Before I could ask her name, I was distracted by the props guy, who pulled me aside and pinned a badge on my uniform. Then he handed me a Bible, and the director called, “Places!”
I returned to my spot in front of the courtroom. A buzz swept through the background actors playing spectators in the courtroom. In a moment, I was face to face with my scene partner. She smiled, extended her hand and said, “Hi, I’m Jennifer.”
I nodded and shook her hand. I felt like an idiot, because I couldn’t verbalize a simple greeting. Then the director started rehearsal. I held out the Bible and we did a run-through.
The star of the scene was not me or even Ms. Lopez. It was her left hand, which she placed on the Bible. This gesture had its own close-up, and the director spent much time making sure he got the shot.
“Raul, can you raise the Bible? Great. Now, er, Raul, can you lower it a bit? Great.”
Again and again, a woman tended to J. Lo, applying makeup, lotion and a nail spray. My hand was perspiring, and my arm was cramping from holding the Bible in place. We spent well over an hour on this shot.
Perhaps because she had heard the director shouting my name from across the set, Ms. Lopez glanced at my name tag, which read “Smith.”
“Oh, that’s not you, right?” she asked with a laugh.
I shook my head. I still wanted to introduce myself, or speak actual words like a normal person, but I couldn’t.
“Ha-ha, that’s funny,” she said.
Then a small army of hair and makeup personnel helped get her camera-ready. They fussed over her, like bees swarming a hive. She had one makeup artist whose sole responsibility seemed to be her lashes.
During a break, a young production assistant mentioned that the day was going well, because there were no fans or paparazzi lurking outside the courthouse.
“We don’t list Jennifer on the call sheet,” she said, “because it might get leaked, and then we have to shoo off these weirdos.”
At lunchtime, the cast and crew ate in the courthouse basement. Although the atmosphere was convivial, I was annoyed at myself for having been so flustered in J. Lo’s presence. I was fine once the cameras were rolling. It was only when I had to engage as a real person that I was inept. I resolved to be cool around her in the afternoon.
After lunch, we continued the courtroom scene, where Harlee took the stand and was cross-examined by a handsome prosecutor. Their dialogue crackled. Envious of their rapport, for a second I wished I had his part.
Later, as the cameras were being repositioned, Ms. Lopez, the actor playing the judge and I sat down on canvas chairs in a nearby hallway. The judge asked J. Lo for a selfie, and she obliged.
I pulled out my book. Next to me, Jennifer was texting and conferring with an assistant. It was warm in the hallway, because the building’s air-conditioning had been shut off for shooting. I tugged at my collar. Jennifer looked over and asked, “What are you reading?” Once again unable to speak, I held out the book, showing the title. “Nice!” she said.
Right then, I could’ve punched myself. I was probably one of the few people she had encountered who acted aloof with her. What was wrong with me?
As I was leaving at the end of the day, I passed her and her assistant as they were walking back to their trailer.
“Thank you,” I managed to say.
“Bye!” she said.
When the episode aired, it was titled “Eye of the Hurricane.” The courtroom scene was interspersed with steamy shots of Harlee in bed with the handsome prosecutor. I was only briefly on camera, in a single wide shot. My line was practically a voice-over. J. Lo’s hand looked great.
Raul A. Reyes is a contributor to NBC Latino and CNN Opinion.
Law Roach
Zendaya and Tom’s Wedding Already Happened …
Y’all Missed It!!!
Published
Zendaya and Tom Holland are married … so claims her longtime stylist, Law Roach.
Here’s the deal … the celebrity stylist — who started styling Zendaya way back in 2011 — spoke to Access Hollywood on the Actors Awards red carpet where he sang out “The wedding has already happened, you missed it.”
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
The AH reporter asks in shock if that’s true … and, Law responds by saying it’s “very true” before walking off.
This isn’t the first time Tom and Zendaya’s relationship status has made headlines on a red carpet … remember at the Golden Globes in 2025, Zendaya had a ring on that finger — and, the next day, we found out the two were engaged.
TMZ.com
Zendaya and Tom met on the set of “Spider-Man: Homecoming” in 2016, started dating a couple years later and went public with their relationship in 2021.
We’ve reached out to Tom and Zendaya’s teams … so far, no word back.
Online prediction market platforms allow people to place bets on wide-ranging subjects such as sports, finance, politics and currents events.
Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images
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Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images
The rise of prediction markets means you can now bet on just about anything, right from your phone. Apps like Kalshi and Polymarket have grown exponentially in President Trump’s second term, as his administration has rolled back regulations designed to keep the industry in check. Billions of dollars have flooded in, and users are placing bets on everything from whether it will rain in Seattle today to whether the US will take over control of Greenland. Who’s winning big on these apps? And who is losing? NPR correspondent Bobby Allyn joins The Sunday Story to explain how these markets came to be and where they are going.
This episode was produced by Andrew Mambo. It was edited by Liana Simstrom and Brett Neely. Fact-checking by Barclay Walsh and Susie Cummings. It was engineered by Robert Rodriguez.
We’d love to hear from you. Send us an email at TheSundayStory@npr.org.
Listen to Up First on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Now you can pair your big show with dinner and a more intimate listening experience. The Hollywood Palladium, an Art Deco music venue graced by performers like Frank Sinatra, Richard Pryor, Jimi Hendrix, Lady Gaga and Jay-Z since 1940, has debuted a swanky lounge known as Vinyl Room.
Inspired by 1970s Japanese high-fidelity (hi-fi for short) listening rooms and operated by entertainment company Live Nation, it’s a space where concertgoers can have dinner, grab drinks and catch a vinyl DJ set before, during or after their ticketed event in the same venue.
With a name like Vinyl Room, you can expect to see vinyl records everywhere.
“You’re in [for] a whole night of music,” says Geni Lincoln, president of the California region for Live Nation, adding that her team put “so much thought” into the sound and design of the space, which was in development for more than two years.
“I’ve been coming to the Palladium since I was a teenager, so it’s really special to see,” she says.
Entering Vinyl Room feels like you’re stepping into a secret speakeasy for music lovers, one with iconic music memorabilia, a thoughtful food menu and premium sound quality. Want to check it out? Here are five things to know.
Everything inside of Vinyl Room is inspired by the sounds and the musicians who’ve played at the Hollywood Palladium since 1940.
1. Vinyl Room is exclusively open to members and concertgoers with an upgraded ticket
Vinyl Room is open only on Hollywood Palladium show nights, starting 90 minutes before doors open, and remains open one hour after the concert. Admission is limited to concertgoers who purchase a ticket upgrade, which starts at $35. Early reservations are recommended.
Vinyl Room also offers annual membership packages, which start at $2,000 and come with various benefits such as complimentary guest passes to Vinyl Room, access to an exclusive menu, valet parking, table reservations inside the lounge, a dedicated private entry, complimentary coat check and concert ticket credits.
Tip Dunn, also known as DJ tenSpeed, played records during opening night at Vinyl Room at the Hollywood Palladium.
2. Hi-fi is having a moment in Los Angeles — and Vinyl Room delivers on sound quality
From Common Wave Hi-Fi in Boyle Heights to Slow Jamz Gallery in the Arts District and Gold Line bar in Highland Park, hi-fi — a 1950s term used to describe the high-quality reproduction of sound — venues and experiences have been slowly popping up around L.A. over the last few years. Vinyl Room joins a short list of places where audiophiles can go to listen to music on hi-fi equipment, which many argue is the best way to experience it.
Much like the Hollywood Palladium, which is known for its top-tier sound, Vinyl Room also makes sound a priority. The lounge utilizes hi-fi sound equipment including Master Sounds Clarity-M speakers to ensure that the records sound as crisp as possible. Live DJs spin records on a set of turntables, which helps to create a richer and more analog sound that is closer to the original track than compressed versions such as MP3s.
Ruthie Embry, vice president of architecture and design at Live Nation, says the records and other memorabilia inside the space “connects you directly to the venue’s history the second you walk in the door.”
3. All of the decor ties back to music and the Hollywood Palladium’s rich history
With a name like Vinyl Room, you can expect to see vinyls everywhere. Records line most of the walls and shelves, drinks are served on vinyl-shaped coasters and tables and light fixtures are designed to the theme. There’s even vinyl wallpaper in the photo booth. In one corner of the lounge, you can dig through records under a neon sign that reads, “But have you heard it on vinyl?”
Ruthie Embry, vice president of architecture and design at Live Nation, says the records and other memorabilia inside the space “connects you directly to the venue’s history the second you walk in the door.”
Some standout items include a Red Hot Chili Peppers show flier, a Hollywood Palladium postcard signed by late musician and host Lawrence Welk and a photo of late singers Bonnie Baker and Orrin Tucker at the venue. Even the bathroom creates a memorable photo moment: The stalls are filled with photos of musicians and an “on air” studio sign lights up when a stall is occupied.
Vinyl Room’s menu, created by Chef Ryan DeRieux, is inspired by Asian flavors and includes items like the “Vinyl Roll,” which is made with spicy tuna.
4. Don’t worry about dinner plans before or after the show. Vinyl Room has got you covered
Eliminating the need to find a pre- or post-show restaurant, Vinyl Room has a full Asian-inspired menu created by Chef Ryan DeRieux.
Think sushi tots (like crispy tuna but with tater tots instead of rice), tuna poke nachos, chili crunch chicken wings and shiitake tempura burgers. There’s also a mouth-watering 10-ounce American wagyu skirt steak served with shishito peppers, pickles and charred carrots. For dessert, try the taiyaki, a popular fish-shaped Japanese street food, which is served with a delicious passion fruit cream that I wanted to take to go because I liked it so much.
Signature cocktails at Vinyl Room, inspired by popular songs, include the Superfly, Escape (if you like piña coladas) and Smoke on the Water.
5. The craft cocktails aren’t just delicious — they each have a story
Vinyl Room’s old-fashioned is made with Nikka Yoichi whisky, which is made in Japan.
The cocktail program, developed by third-generation bartender Sean Kenyon, is inspired by the songs created by musicians who’ve graced the Hollywood Palladium stage. A nod to the 1970s, the Superfly is a fizzy, citrus-forward play on Curtis Mayfield’s 1972 track and is made with Roku Gin and yuzu and sencha syrup. Other signature drinks include the rum-based Escape (if you like piña coladas) with coconut oolong syrup, pineapple juice and miso, and the tart yet sweet Smoke on the Water, which is reminiscent of Deep Purple’s 1972 song. The bar also offers an espresso martini (called the MT Joy), a signature old-fashioned (made with Nikka Yoichi whisky) and a Japanese whiskey highball (made with Hibiki Harmony whisky). The bar offers a number of non-alcoholic options as well.
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