"Roller Jam" stars on their favorite places in New Orleans
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"Roller Jam" premieres on Oct. 10 with weekly shows until the finale Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Network
"Roller Jam" is a new roller skating competition show that debuts on HBO's Max on Thursday.
Why it matters: While the show might be a production of Chip and Joanna Gaines' Texas-based Magnolia Network, it was filmed in New Orleans, and its stars got to enjoy every bit of the city while they were here filming in early 2024.
Zoom in: The six-episode show features roller-skating crews from around the country as they compete to win $150,000 in cash and a $10,000 donation to their favorite skating rink, according to a press release.
- At the show's helm are Grammy-nominated singer and actress Jordin Sparks, two-time U.S. Olympian and figure skating champ Johnny Weir and roller-skating legend Terrell Ferguson.
- All three lived downtown during filming, and tell Axios they got the full scope of New Orleans' springtime from the allergy-inducing pollen counts ("It's kicking my ass," Weir said) to the sudden afternoon showers ("It's like the rain is alive; it's moving and chasing you," Ferguson said).
What she says: "There's a lot of lovely charm," Sparks said of her stay, which she said was the longest she's ever gotten to be in the city. "There's a lot of history here. I love that about New Orleans."
We asked the "Roller Jam" stars to share their local favorites during their time here. Here's what they said.
Friction point: Terrell said he spent a lot of time out and about exploring the nightlife, "walking like three miles a day," but discovered he's "aged out of Bourbon Street."
- "I am now a Frenchman Street person," he said. "The bands have been great. … I've done salsa, jazz, blues and Afro reggae."
Meanwhile, Sparks loved taking yoga classes at Free To Be, and Weir took his first-ever pedicab ride while wearing stilettos and bopping around downtown, cruising to hang out at Pat O'Brien's.
- He also had Instagram followers suggest he explore the Aquarium of the Americas.
- "Don't pressure me with a good time," he laughed, "I ran. I made it through the whole thing in about seven minutes."
Between the lines: Weir picked up his outfit for the Paris Olympics closing ceremony while shopping on Magazine Street at odAOMO.
- "It just has this very upscale vibe," Weir said. "It was so beautiful. I don't think New Orleans is known as a very good shopping town, but that store really just blew my skirt up."