The Nerve with Maureen Callahan

Episode: Keith Urban's New Girlfriend, Timothy Busfield's Bizarre Admissions, and Hoda Kotb's Desperation
Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Maureen Callahan
Guest: Rob Shooter, Celebrity Gossip Reporter

Episode Overview

In this packed episode of The Nerve, Maureen Callahan, joined by Rob Shooter, dives into three of the week’s most scandalous entertainment stories, dissecting Hollywood's culture of silence, messy celebrity rebounds, and the awkward aftermath of network morning show exits. The show also features a wild tarot reading about the ongoing mystery of Stedman Graham’s whereabouts. The tone is sharp, irreverent, and unapologetically skeptical, with Maureen and Rob trading unsparing hot takes on the media establishment and pop culture antics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Timothy Busfield’s Case and Hollywood’s Defensive Culture

Timestamps: 01:03–14:10

• Melissa Gilbert’s Public Support:

  • Melissa Gilbert, Busfield's wife and “Little House” star, writes a letter supporting her husband, despite two counts of alleged child sex abuse against him.
  • Maureen critiques Gilbert’s letter for prioritizing her own feelings:

    "He is the center of her world, as if she is the center of this case. It has nothing to do with you, Melissa. It has nothing to do with your world, with how he makes you feel. It's, did he feel other people?" (Maureen, 07:01)

  • Discusses Busfield’s inadvisable disclosure in court filings about masturbating in the shower rather than having sex with his wife.

• Hollywood's Culture of Circle-the-Wagons:

  • Rob draws sharp comparisons to previous industry scandals, criticizing the reflexive support as self-serving and out-of-touch:

    "Hollywood is very, very slow at changing… because it's a fantastic place if you're part of that system. And so they often protect one another." (Rob, 05:54)

  • The guests highlight the hollowness of co-star testimonials from decades-old relationships, calling them "just white noise" and sometimes dangerous red herrings.

• The Broader Rot in the Industry:

  • Both Rob and Maureen skewer the performative grief and support on social media during celebrity scandals.
  • Maureen on the ethics of association:

    "If I knew anyone who was credibly accused of something like that, you can best be assured I would be keeping my fuck distance." (Maureen, 13:13)

2. Hoda Kotb: From Today Show to 'Joy Ride' Desperation

Timestamps: 14:10–23:38

• Hoda's New Show—A Flop?

  • Maureen and Rob mock the launch of Hoda’s new talk show “Hoda’s Joy Ride”, likening it to pale imitations of "Carpool Karaoke" and "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee."
  • Savannah Guthrie is shown to be reluctantly participating—“aggressive aggression” rather than passive aggressiveness—suggesting frosty relations.

    "Savannah's on the way to work, and she's basically like, why are you in my car? Why are you here? And Hoda is like, I'm just dispensing joy… Savannah's like, yeah, well, typically at this hour, joy is in short supply." (Maureen, 15:18)

  • Rob points out the creepiness of surprising coworkers at 4am:

    "It's wildly creepy. And it's actually interesting to me that somebody like Hoda...should never do this. To get in anyone's car at 4 in the morning, it's really creepy." (Rob, 18:02)

• Analysis of Hoda’s Missteps:

  • The hosts suspect desperation, noting Hoda’s regret at leaving the support structure of the Today Show.
  • They discuss the show's failure to offer clear entertainment value, as joy is “ethereal”—not a skill for TV:

    "Joy is this very ethereal concept...it's like when you meet a happiness expert. What does that mean?" (Rob, 21:50)

• Burnt Bridges at NBC:

  • Maureen observes that Hoda wasn’t considered for even interim positions since her exit, emphasizing her "stage five clinger" status.

3. Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman’s Split: Younger Women, Family Fallout

Timestamps: 23:38–28:29

• Keith’s New Girlfriend—A 25-Year-Old Singer:

  • The pair react to Daily Mail exclusives suggesting country star Keith Urban has quickly moved in with young up-and-comer Carly Scott Collins.
  • No denials from PR is considered a tacit admission:

    "When you'd call me and the story was true, I would ignore it...when it's true and you don't want to say anything, you just ignore those calls." (Rob, 24:34)

  • Nicole Kidman posts about the story but avoids a direct denial, seemingly enjoying the attention.

• Impact on Family:

  • Rob reveals the daughters are siding with Nicole, refusing to meet Keith’s new girlfriend:

    "The daughters are Team Nicole here. We've seen them pop up with her at different fashion events. Keeps a dog, keeps a bad boy." (Rob, 25:45)

  • Speculation as to Kidman’s possible move back to Australia for family support.

• Keith’s Reputation in Jeopardy:

  • Maureen decries the age difference:

    "I can understand why the daughters would not want to meet this new woman if she's their age. 25...it's disgusting. Keith Urban is almost 60 years old." (Maureen, 26:48)

  • Rob warns that Urban’s standing in the country music industry is shaky, hinting more allegations may surface.

4. Where Is Stedman? The Tarot Investigation

Timestamps: 38:07–48:31

• Troublemaker Emails Lead to Tarot Reading:

  • Maureen covers viral listener speculation about Oprah’s long-absent partner, Stedman Graham.
  • Features “Pilot Gal,” a YouTube tarot reader, asking: Is Stedman alive or missing?

• Highlights from the Tarot Reading:

  • Four of Wands in Reverse:

    "That's a funeral...a divorce, unstable home." (Pilot Gal, 41:04)

  • Aces in Reverse:

    "Whatever the outcome is, this is a no. I have three aces in reverse...the center of the situation is there's a lie. His lie story is a lie." (Pilot Gal, 43:02)

  • Three People and Overindulgence:

    "Someone was drunk. Someone was overindulging. Someone was not...their dreams were not coming true...three people were there. And it had to do with money." (Pilot Gal, 45:25)

  • Eight of Swords: Hints that Stedman is "hidden somewhere...in a room, somewhere that is not easily accessible." (Pilot Gal, 47:09)

• Will the Secret Emerge?

  • High Priestess in Reverse:

    "That's revelation of a secret. I'd say that's a yes." (Pilot Gal, 48:26)

  • Maureen predicts an imminent answer to the mystery, reiterating her skepticism at Oprah’s highly conspicuous, yet indirect, references to Stedman in public.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hollywood’s Loyalty:

  "They are so desperate to get back in the spotlight, and they think their voice is so important that they have to issue a statement. No, you don't." (Rob, 11:54)

• On Hoda Kotb’s Career Moves:

  "She is a stage five clinger. She will not go. And it's amazing to me that the lack of like that she cannot see how humiliating this is for her. She is humiliating herself." (Maureen, 23:20)

• On Keith Urban’s Alleged New Romance:

  "I can understand why the daughters would not want to meet this new woman if she's their age. 25...it's disgusting. Keith Urban is almost 60 years old." (Maureen, 26:48)

• On Stedman Graham’s Whereabouts:

  "Why isn’t he been seen anywhere with her? ... Oprah could fly him private direct to spend an hour tops at the 92nd Street Y & show his face. Why?" (Maureen, 41:43)

Significant Segment Timestamps

• Busfield Allegations, Hollywood’s Response: 01:03–14:10
• Hoda’s ‘Joy Ride’ & Today Show Insights: 14:10–23:38
• Keith Urban/Nicole Kidman Divorce & Fallout: 23:38–28:29
• Stedman Graham Tarot Reading & Listener Theories: 38:07–48:31

Tone & Style

The conversation is fearless, witty, and at times caustic, with both Maureen and Rob pulling no punches. They seamlessly blend cultural criticism, media analysis, and biting humor, making for a highly engaging listen even for those not fully versed in the stories’ background.

For New Listeners

This episode is a prime example of The Nerve’s sharp-eyed dissection of celebrity culture, blending media critique and conspiracy speculation. It's rich in context and brutal in its honesty—ideal for pop culture vultures, media skeptics, and anyone curious about the undercurrents of Hollywood and daytime TV.