Ryan Michelle Bathé revealed if being married to Sterling K. Brown means she learns Paradise spoilers ahead of time.
“I know better [than to ask],” Bathé, 49, exclusively told Us Weekly before Paradise premiered on Monday, February 23. “Because I tried to beg for spoilers for This Is Us. And he’s like, ‘No, I’m telling you nothing.’”
She continued: “He knew how This Is Us was going to end when he signed up. I did not find out until the rest of the world.”
Brown, 49, had a similar response when speaking to Us about holding onto so many secrets about the show as a lead and executive producer.
Hulu’s hit series Paradise is returning after shocking cliffhangers and onscreen deaths — but which stars are and aren’t reprising their roles? This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman‘s political thriller originally premiered in January 2025 under a shroud of mystery. Paradise was teased as a show “set in a serene, wealthy community inhabited by some […]
“I like knowing [what will happen on my projects]. But I feel like it’s a question you only ask in TV. Because if you’re doing a film or play, you know the beginning, the middle and the end,” he noted to Us. “The idea that you don’t have to know or have it spoiled for you … it is also like I get a chance to help craft the arc of where it ultimately goes to. So I don’t mind knowing.”
Paradise, which premiered in January 2025, initially appeared to be set in a serene and wealthy community forced to face the realities of a shocking murder. In typical creator Dan Fogelman fashion, the political thriller introduced a twist when Paradise was revealed to be an underground bunker housing the world’s most prominent individuals after an apocalyptic event destroyed the rest of humanity.
As social media users know, Bathé enjoyed documenting her reaction to the first season of her husband’s show. After Bathé’s engaging online content, it only made sense that she got to host the official companion podcast.
“Initially, I was a little bit lukewarm about doing the podcast because I was like, ‘There’s no way [they can top season 1],’” Bathé shared. “Dan is a genius. He’s got great writers but I thought that it’s not going to be as good as season 1.”
Bathé was happy to be proven wrong. “How do you top perfection? You can’t match perfection. So I was going to try it but I was [preparing] for a sophomore slump. I was wrong. Not only was I wrong — but I was so very wrong.”
This is their love story! Sterling K. Brown has been married to Ryan Michelle Bathé since 2006 and he continues to prioritize his other half on a daily basis. “His love language is time spent,” Bathé exclusively told Us Weekly of her husband in March 2020. “So, he’s always calling me throughout the day [and] […]
She continued: “It’s incredible. I don’t know how they create a perfect season of television in season one and then take it apart and take the pieces and put them back together in an even more — or just as interesting — way. I kept asking that question and they’re all so humble.”
Podcast guests through the season will include Brown, Fogelman and actors James Marsden, Shailene Woodley, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Krys Marshall, Jon Beavers, Thomas Doherty, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Enuka Okuma, Charlie Evans and Aliyah Mastin. Multiple writers and executive producers for the show will also appear — as well as scientific consultant Jonathan Mijs and author and bunker expert Douglas Rushkoff.
“I wish I were crafty enough for a long con. I am not but the stars did feel like they aligned,” she told Us about the project, which premiered with a season 1 recap ahead of its weekly episodes on Mondays. “It felt like a blessing to have it all come together.”
In addition to her new hosting gig, Bathé got to film scenes for season 2. While details on Bathé’s role are being kept under wraps, the actress’ connection to Paradise allowed her to enjoy the show all at once before its premiere.
“I truly love the show and I hope that the way I like to watch the show and the questions that I ask match up with the rest of the fandom,” she added. “I’m a true fan — but I just hope that I make the fandom proud.”
Paradise premieres February 23 on Hulu with new episodes of the show — and the companion podcast — airing every Monday.
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