Hudson Williams makes his late-night television debut on January 7, marking a milestone for the breakout star of HBO Max’s acclaimed gay hockey romance series.
Hudson Williams, a 24-year-old actor gaining fame for his lead role in the popular gay hockey romance Heated Rivalry, will appear for the first time on late-night TV. His debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is scheduled for January 7. This marks a big step in the career of the breakout star from the acclaimed HBO Max series that has achieved worldwide success since its premiere.
The Wednesday episode brought together Williams, Chelsea Handler, and Sophie Turner, with Sienna Spiro as the musical guest. This marked the first late-night TV appearance by any actor from this Canadian series. The show’s rising fame has driven up streaming numbers for its featured songs and stirred significant chatter on social media.
Based on Rachel Reid’s beloved book series, Heated Rivalry was turned into a TV series by Letterkenny veteran Jacob Tierney. The hockey drama has made stars out of Williams and his co-actor Connor Storrie. Set in a fictional hockey universe, the show has earned praise for its well-crafted characters and mature themes, which were thoughtfully managed with an intimacy coordinator’s guidance.
“Thinking about it all, it feels like this journey unfolded in the blink of an eye,” Williams told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview from December. “You just can’t prepare yourself for everything that comes with this much attention.” His words capture the show’s surprising success, which has won over both hockey enthusiasts and romance lovers alike.
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The sports romance series follows the lives of two rival pro hockey players who keep their years-long relationship secret. Williams plays Shane Hollander, a Canadian player for the fictional Montreal Metros. Meanwhile, Storrie takes on the role of Ilya Rozanov, a Russian player on the Boston Raiders team. The undeniable on-screen connection between the two leads has played a big role in the show’s widespread praise and growing fanbase.
Header image: Hudson Williams at Actor Awards party 2025
Photo credit: Slimyagent, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The cast of Heated Rivalry includes Kolton Stewart, Kamilla Kowal, and Franco Lo Presti. They each play an essential role in making the show’s ensemble dynamic and its storylines engaging. People have praised their acting for adding realism and depth to the gay hockey romance plot.
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Crave has announced there will be a second season of Heated Rivalry. However, the release date is still unknown because, as Tierney mentioned, they have not started writing it yet. Fans excited about the renewal can take comfort in knowing that the first season’s finale, episode six, premiered on Crave and HBO on December 26.
Hudson Williams and Storrie partnered to create an audio romance project, Ember & Ice, on Quinn, an audio erotica platform. This project highlights how adaptable the actors are and their dedication to trying out different angles of telling romantic stories.
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With Heated Rivalry becoming more popular worldwide, it will premiere this week, January 10, on Sky in the U.K. and Ireland. Its success shows how people want stories that include everyone and the quiet strength of representation in popular media.
Hudson Williams will soon appear on The Tonight Show giving both fans of Heated Rivalry and new viewers a chance to learn more about one of the key figures from this engaging hockey series. The show has turned into a must-see in LGBTQ+ entertainment.
Source:
Nicole Fell (January 5, 2026). ‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Hudson Williams to Make Late Night TV Debut on ‘Tonight Show. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/heared-rivalry-hudson-williams-late-night-debut-fallon-1236464413/
Header image: Hudson Williams at Actor Awards party 2025
Photo credit: Slimyagent, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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