With Halloween on Friday, it’s a good time to remember that Sean Murray, who played Thackery Binx (the 1600s teen before he’s turned into a cat) in Disney’s cult classic Hocus Pocus, was born at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Montgomery County.
Celebrities
Actor Jim Belushi was in nearby Frederick, MD over the weekend, dining at Manalu Italian Restaurant after meeting fans at Sweet Buds Dispensary.
Montgomery County’s Gbenga Akinnagbe Back in the Spotlight as Nurse Jackie Finds New Life on Netflix
Montgomery County native Gbenga Akinnagbe is once again drawing national attention as Nurse Jackie has climbed into Netflix’s Top 10. The Showtime series, which originally aired from 2009 to 2015, stars Edie Falco as a brilliant but deeply flawed nurse battling addiction. Akinnagbe joined the cast in seasons 3 and 4, portraying Kelly Slater, a fellow nurse at All Saints Hospital whose presence added new layers of tension and camaraderie to the series’ ensemble.
NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his wife Amy made a surprise visit to Butler’s Orchard in Germantown on Wednesday, delighting the local farm’s staff and fans alike.
Celebrity chef and cookbook author Pati Jinich is bringing her signature flavors to Bethesda for a special one-time-only burrito pop-up hosted by Marriott Bonvoy. The event runs November 3–7, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Marriott Headquarters MI Café located in the lobby at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda.
In a moment of pop culture triumph, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Montgomery County-grown artist Rei Ami delivered the first full television performance of “Golden” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (video below).
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Jodie Turner-Smith, who spent her formative years growing up in Montgomery County, is taking on the role of Athena in the latest installment of Disney’s Tron franchise. Known for her powerful performances in films like Queen & Slim and After Yang, Turner-Smith continues to rise as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic talents.
Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring just celebrated its 100th anniversary and has long been known for producing some of the region’s most accomplished and influential graduates. From Oscar and Pulitzer winners to bestselling authors, journalists, and actors, the school’s alumni roster features far more than just six well-known names, but these standout former students represent the wide range of talent that has emerged from Blair over the decades:
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Every October, The MoCoShow and families across the country revisit Halloweentown, the 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie that has become a Halloween classic. With its whimsical world of witches, goblins, and magic, the film introduced audiences to Marnie Piper, a teenager who discovers her family’s supernatural heritage. What many people may not realize is that the actress behind Marnie, Kimberly J. Brown, grew up right here in Gaithersburg.
CBS’s hit sitcom Ghosts has solidified its place as one of America’s favorite shows, ranking as the 16th most-watched program in the 2024-25 Nielsen ratings with 12.1 million viewers. It was also the 11th most watched network series. While the national success is impressive, the series carries an especially meaningful connection for Montgomery County, as two of its stars are graduates of Rockville’s Thomas S. Wootton High School.
One of the most infamous episodes of Bar Rescue took Jon Taffer to Silver Spring, MD, where he confronted the struggling Piratz Tavern, located at 8402 Georgia Avenue. The pirate-themed bar sat in a prime downtown spot surrounded by office buildings, but its gimmick-heavy atmosphere, inconsistent service, and unprofessional staff alienated the very customers who might have kept it afloat. (more…)