From ‘Rust’ to Ribs: Hollywood’s Week of Tragedy and Triumph

Hollywood’s serving up quite the peculiar double feature this week — a tale of tragedy and triumph that reads like a script nobody would dare write.

Remember that ill-fated Western “Rust”? Well, its first trailer just dropped, and boy, does it carry some heavy baggage. “The only order that exists in this world is the order we impose,” the trailer proclaims — words that hit different now, given everything that’s happened. The whole mess with Alec Baldwin facing those manslaughter charges (later dropped), and the armorer heading to prison… it’s the kind of behind-the-scenes drama that makes even the most hardened industry veterans wince.

The film — starring Baldwin as some grizzled outlaw trying to save his nephew from a date with the hangman — managed to crawl its way to completion after relocating from New Mexico to Montana. Premiered at Poland’s Camerimage Film Festival, of all places. Fitting, really, considering… well, you know. Still no word on when (or if) North American audiences will get their chance to see it.

But hey — let’s flip the script to something that’ll actually put a smile on your face.

Remember all those times Michael Scott dragged the Dunder Mifflin crew to Chili’s? Turns out life really does imitate art sometimes. After what feels like forever, Chili’s is finally opening up shop in Dickson City, just a stone’s throw from Scranton. And they’re going all-in on “The Office” nostalgia, because why wouldn’t they?

Brian Baumgartner (our beloved Kevin) couldn’t have said it better: “It seems like a wrong was righted here at around the 20th anniversary of the show to finally have a Scranton branch of Chili’s.” The place is decked out in peak mid-2000s glory — and yes, they’re bringing back the Awesome Blossom. That deep-fried onion masterpiece that witnessed more business deals than most Wall Street boardrooms.

Here’s the kicker — they’re recreating the whole vibe from the show. Remember Pam’s iconic “I feel God in this Chili’s tonight” moment? (Still can’t believe they officially “pardoned” her in 2017 for that drink-stealing incident.) Kate Flannery — Meredith herself — nailed it when she said it’ll be like stepping right into an episode.

Mark your calendars for April 7th, when they’re rolling out “Scranton margs” nationwide. Because nothing says “cultural zeitgeist” quite like themed cocktails in 2025, right?

Look, in an entertainment landscape that’s increasingly dominated by AI-generated content and virtual experiences, there’s something wonderfully authentic about a chain restaurant in northeastern Pennsylvania becoming a pop culture pilgrimage site. While the “Rust” saga reminds us of Hollywood’s darker realities, this Chili’s story — complete with its deliberately dated décor and menu throwbacks — shows how fiction can sometimes make reality a bit more magical.

Maybe Pam was onto something in that finale when she talked about finding beauty in ordinary things. Sometimes that beauty comes wrapped in baby back ribs and served with a side of perfectly preserved nostalgia.

Funny how life works out sometimes, isn’t it?