Tara McNamara

This is where it all happened: my “test kitchen”; (otherwise known as “my kitchen" - 🤣!) A year of rolling dough, slicing vegetables, mixing cocktails — and chasing the perfect Raspberry Beret Soufflé. And now, my cookbook is out and in bookstores! In my hand, the Isabella Palmer mocktail. On the stand, Cécile Rey’s “Not a Queen” Cupcakes. On the shelf? A dream, finished. "The Official American Girl Cookbook: Fancy Food and Cocktails for Grown-Ups" is available wherever books are sold - just in time for American Girl’s 40th Birthday! #AmericanGirl #Cookbook #AmericanGirl40

We did Mother’s Day a few days early, and part of our trip was a special Mother’s day excursion- a visit to the Walt Disney Residence aka Storybook Mansion! Walt Disney lived here in the 1930s-50, and the playhouse for his daughters inspired Snow White. Director Timur Bekmambetov (Mercy, Wanted) is the current owner and has loving restored it to how Walt and his family lived and entertained — and we were able to watch Bekmambetov’s upcoming film, LIFE HACK, in the screening room where Walt watched his daily rushes. Magical! My mom has lived in so many houses and my dad loves movie history, so it was amazing to share this experience with them. #happymothersday #storybookmansion #waltdisneyresidence

My dad was the first DJ to play The Beatles on the radio in Missouri, so when I found out I was introducing THAT THING YOU DO! for its 30th anniversary at the TCM Classic Film Festival, I called him immediately and said: “You HAVE to come.” Released the same year I started in radio, this movie imprinted on me. That scene where the Oneders hear their song on the radio? It captured the magic of what radio could do for an artist — and I wanted to bring that joy to an artist. Years later, while hosting a morning show on an LA radio station, I got teenage songwriter Ilsey Juber’s song played on the air for the first time. I imagined her reaction like Liv Tyler’s: Running through the streets! Instead? She slept through it. Ah well. Teenagers. But the story doesn’t end there: @Ilsey is now a hit maker, a recording artist and songwriter. Among her many popular songs, she co-wrote the Bon Iver song “Everything is Beautiful”….with Mike Viola — the singing voice behind that snappy single “That Thing You Do!” Life is the full circle at the bottom of the explanation point, isn’t it? Loved sharing this movie with my dad, my son Cole, my friend Michael — and of course, the wonderful Kevin Pollak and Johnathon Schaech, who could not have been more warm and down-to-earth. #TCMFF #ThatThingYouDo #kevinpollak #JohnathonSchaech

The 2026 TCM Film Festival Opening Gala was a family affair! Kurtwood Smith and the Bad News Bears hung with my parents for most of the night, while Cole and I chatted with Robert Redford’s grandson Conor Schlosser about the environmental work he’s doing with The Redford Center. Mario Van Peebles is every bit the Hollywood superstar: handsome, elegant, and all class: he and his family came over and introduced themselves to everyone. Did a little pre-show prep with Diane Baker and Kevin Pollak. And insightful chat with Ken Jennings: it turns out my dad was an alternate on Jeopardy in the late 1960s and my son Cole was an alternate on Jennings’ Masterminds! Almost being on a quiz show runs in the family! Great to hang with my entire TCM family. #tcmff #tcmff2026 #mariovanpeebles #kenjennings

The Turner Classic Movies Film Festival was more spectacular than ever, and even more special to me: My parents joined us! The opening night film was BAREFOOT IN THE PARK-- Jane Fonda was a hoot! (I shared a “handler” with her and we had a quick interaction before her walk doen the carpet!). LOVE glamming it up with my TCM besties Sloan De Forest and Cindy Sipala, and reconnecting with Ben Mankiewicz and Kate Flannery! #tcmff #janefonda #tcmff2026 #BenMankiewicz #kateflannery

Teen Beat Live at Cinevita was about the most fun a Gen X’er can have — a 360-degree immersive musical performance taking us back to the movies and pop hits of 1985. PERFECT Ladies Night — we danced, laughed, and it brought us back to our own ‘80s proms. Cinevita’s Teen Beat Live is currently playing in LA, but will be going on tour through the country in a few months! While we all may have some regrets from the 80s (Rat tails? Mall hair? Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill?), you WON’T regret going to this show! (Keep scrolling to see me in 1985 at my 8th grade formal!) #TheCineVita #TeenBeatLive #80smusic #GenX #GirlsNightOut

It’s here!!! "The Official American Girl Cookbook: Fancy Food and Cocktails for Grown-Up Fans" is officially on shelves NOW!!!! Find it wherever books are sold.  Whether you’re treating yourself or shopping for the American Girl fan in your life, this makes the perfect gift — equal parts nostalgia, storytelling, and seriously good food. Please note the title - while there's plenty of recipes to make with your daughter, there's much here for American Girl adults!! (Check out the chapter: "You Can Sip with Us!") I’m so proud of this! Please check it out and share your opinions of each dish! #AmericanGirl #BookLaunch #Cookbook #GiftIdeas

Thrilled to be introducing TWO films this year at the TCM Film Festival! Can’t wait to share insights on CAMILLE (1937), considered one of cinema’s greatest romances and Greta Garbo’s best performance, along with actress Diane Baker, who was friends with George Cukor! And then -- what is my LIFE! -- I get to introduce one of my all time favorite films: THAT THING YOU DO - Jonathan Schaech is going be THERE! (I’m officially starting the Steve Zahn cult, applications at filmfestival.tcm.com :). Can’t wait to see you there- April 30-May 3' PS - photo is a flashback to the fantastic skin care make artistry of @tc_loves_makeup whose been doing the film festival makeup on the hosts and guests for 15 years! Book an appointment! She’s amazing! #tcmff #tcmff2026 #thatthingyoudo #gretagarbo #classicfilms

2011 called—and it threw one hell of a party!!! MILE END KICKS is a coming-of-age story that drops you right back into that messy, electric moment of figuring out who you are and realizing you don’t need anyone’s approval but your own. The night was absolute rock and roll. From talking with star Devon Bostick on the red carpet, to Riley and I getting handed tequila shots the second we stepped onto the bus (as one does), to an epic afterparty…this premiere understood the assignment. The VERY CANADIAN romantic comedy is based on the experiences of writer-director Chandler Levack, and we had a great chat about why it matters to tell stories that remind young women their voice—and their validation—comes from within. Cool full-circle magic catching up with AnnaSophia Robb, who I interviewed years ago for Variety—proof that in this industry, the best connections are the ones that keep coming back around. Rock, nostalgia, and a little rebellion—a good reminder of what it’s like to be a 22-year-old woman. #MileEndKicks #DevonBostick #AnnaSophiaRobb #ChandlerLevack #criticschoice

OUR HERO, BALTHAZAR is the darkest of comedies — but the premiere was lit! EP Halsey showed up to champion the film, star Asa Butterfield was the kind of seatmate you hope for at a buzzy screening, and at the after party, and Jaeden Martell told us about his next role - a monster who eats people! And 26-year-old Peter Gold hinted that big things are ahead for WG Pictures… this is his first film, just imagine what is next! Exploring what it means to come of age in a world shaped by school shootings and social media, director Oscar Boyson delivers what can only be described as a messed-up masterpiece—the kind of film that rattles you, lingers, and refuses to be ignored. See my review at Common Sense Media (monsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/our-hero-balthazar ) #OurHeroBalthazar #MoviePremiere #Halsey #AsaButterfield #JaedenMartell

Partying with punk rock legends at The Roxy after the show: bucket list CHECK 🤘 The "show" is the premiere of NOFX: 40 Years of Fuckin’ Up — and it goes HARD. Wild, messy, honest, hilarious… and It might set a record for most on-camera drug use 😅. What really hits is the why: doing what you love, on your own terms, for decades. Fat Mike, Smelly, El Hefe & Eric Melvin are raw, vulnerable, and funny — and the punk community showed up to celebrate them. Even if punk isn’t your thing… this doc absolutely is. #NOFX #PunkRock #FilmPremiere #FatMike #RockDocs

Baz Luhrmann has some surprises for us, and not just Trisha Paytas! Elvis’s music is charting again, thanks to #EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. It’s the music doc you didn’t know you needed - we can look at Elvis and his musical genius up close, and also SEE HIM. It will leave you all shook up. In theaters now, expanding 2/27. Swipe to hear the crazy way the film came together and again to watch this dynamic duo DANCE! #NeonReleasing #EPiC #Elvis #trishapaytas BazLuhrmann