They were looking for social media success.

“They didn’t know anything about my cooking skills,” said Tina Kim of Koreantown in Los Angeles. “They just contacted me and, lo and behold, they were lucky. I didn’t know how to cook.”

“Worst Cooks In America: Viral Sensations” features 12 contestants who are active on TikTok, Instagram and other social media. The series airs 8 p.m. Sunday on the Food Network, and episodes are also streaming on Discovery Plus.

Contestants face a series of challenges and eliminations until the final episode on Feb. 5, when a survivor will win $25,000.

The season is co-hosted by Anne Burrell, a regular, and first-timer Darnell Ferguson.

The show is made in New York City, but half of the contestants, like Kim, live in Southern California.

Kim is a comedian who said in a phone interview that she began to follow Korean soap operas during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“For two years I sat on my couch and watched K-dramas non-stop. I watched 14 hours a day. And then towards the end of corona, I said to myself, ‘I’m going to start my TikTok account since I’ve watched every single Korean drama.’”

She has since expanded her TikTok videos to include K-pop and other aspects of Korean culture.

Kim wound up on Team Blue, coached by Ferguson, who she described as very positive and welcoming.

But the cooking is real, she said, and a big challenge.

“It’s fun and stressful at the same time, because we’re all in a pressure cooker. I think one of the challenges was only 45 minutes. And the chefs give us elaborate meals. We don’t just cook the main dish. It’s like, here’s the side dish. And here’s the sauce to go on the main dish. It’s like your brain is thinking of 20 different things you have to do. And they make it hard because they make use all that different — what is it? — kitchen stuff.”

Mitchell Tyler Ralston of Huntington Beach was on Team Red, coached by Burrell. Ralston is an amateur ghost hunter and likes to make TikTok videos about paranormal activity. The “Worst Cooks” graphic department had fun with the concept and depicted him as being tormented by the evil spirit of Chef Anne.

In a separate phone interview he rated his cooking skills as terrible, although he’s comfortable making spaghetti and mashed potatoes.

“Years and years ago I worked for a very famous California burger company known for their red aprons. Part of my duties was preparing the potatoes for french fries. So I’ve got peeling potatoes down.”

Ralston said he was the first contestant to cut himself this season. Cuts and fires are commonplace on the set.

“Chef Anne told us, ‘Don’t be afraid of fire. If you have fire, I’m very good at putting out fire. This is the 25th season’. Luckily, I didn’t burn myself too much. I cut myself way too much.”

“The hard part was smiling for hours and hours. I only have to smile for 10 seconds on my TikTok,” Kim said.

Both found the experience valuable, and Ralston said it has gotten him some TikTok viewers. But it didn’t turn either of them into chef.

“I did learn a lot about the kitchen,” said Kim. “It’s just I’m not going to bring it into the real world.”

‘Worst Cooks in America’

Food Network: 8 p.m. Sunday, foodnetwork.com/shows/worst-cooks-in-america

Discovery Plus: discoveryplus.com/show/worst-cooks-in-america

Contestants

Rich Aronovitch, New York City: Professional comedian, 233,000 followers on TikTok. @richisfunny

Michael Judson Berry, Jersey City, N.J.: Actor who does imitations on TikTok. @mjudsonberry

Tessica Brown, Los Angeles: Known for a viral video in which she put Gorilla Glue in her hair instead of hairspray. @im_d_ollady

David Chen, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Tennis enthusiast known for videos cheering at matches. @davidchenofficial

NaJe’ Elmore, Texarkana, Texas: Known for singing videos, @who_she_naje

Tina Kim, Los Angeles: K-drama and K-pop follower. @kdramalogic

Adam Kreutinger, Buffalo, N.Y.: Puppeteer and puppet maker. @adamkreutinger

Paris Nicholson, Los Angeles: Known for “Top Five Hottest” lists. @parisnicholson

Eliza Petersen, West Jordan, Utah: Dinosaur enthusiast, @lizemopetey

Mitchell Tyler Ralston, Huntington Beach: Amateur paranormal investigator. @mrspooky13

Sabrina Rios, Los Angeles: Covers many topics in humorous videos. @abelinasabrina

Nick Trawick, Los Angeles: Posts videos of a character called Kleptora who steals wigs. @nicktrawick13

There’s an old saying in journalism that “Three is a trend,” which seemingly serves as the underlying rationale for “The Price of Glee,” a three-part docuseries from Investigation Discovery (a.k.a. ID). Recounting triumphs but mostly tragedies associated with the hit Fox show, the project feels as if it’s on significantly surer footing charting the former and basically just icky when delving into the latter.

The tone is set right off the bat, as on-screen chyrons note that the musical series became an instant sensation when it premiered in 2009, making stars of its young and talented cast. “By 2020, all of them would be famous,” the script continues. “And three would be dead.”

The different circumstances surrounding each of those situations, however, makes the effort to connect them particularly tenuous. While there’s talk along the way and toward the end about a “Glee” “curse,” alluded to by some of the crew as well as journalists, cooler heads note that bad things sometimes happen without rhyme or reason to them.

Related: Has the ‘Glee curse’ struck again? Matthew Morrison’s reported firing sparks talk

“The Price of Glee” holds together for a time, recounting how the show burst onto the scene with its fresh-faced performers as well as the demands associated with that sudden fame. To compound those issues, the studio behind the show was eager to cash in on its popularity, leading to a concert tour that offered little opportunity for rest from the daily grind.

In that sense, “Glee” is emblematic of any number of Hollywood success stories and the precipitous falls that sometimes follow them, as well as the feuds and wounded feelings that often accompany that.

The initial focus is on the clearest example of a “price” associated with the show — namely, Cory Monteith, who had struggled with substance abuse before “Glee” and saw those challenges resurface as he wrestled with the attention and money that came his way, culminating in his fatal drug overdose in 2013.

The second part also recycles allegations of haughty on-set behavior by Lea Michele, and tensions between her and Naya Rivera. None of the principal cast participated in the documentary, which relies upon old clips as well as interviews with members of the crew, assorted journalists, the obligatory psychotherapist, and friends of some key players, adding to the tabloid sensibility.

The third chapter deals rather hastily with the suicide of Mark Salling, after his arrest for possession of child pornography, in 2018; and more extensively with the tragic 2020 accident that killed Rivera, who drowned in California’s Lake Piru, where she was spending the day with her son.

That last hour includes an interview with her father, George Rivera, who speaks about compartmentalizing his feelings in order to cope and speak publicly about what happened. As part of that, the producers take him back to the location where his daughter died, which feels as uncomfortable as it is unnecessary.

Ultimately, though, “The Price of Glee” feels trapped by its title, laboring to fill in what are at best dotted lines. That might be the price of garnering attention, but in terms of the project’s credibility, it’s a high one to pay.

“The Price of Glee” premieres January 16 at 9 p.m. ET on ID  and Discovery+. Like CNN, Discovery is a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.

The-CNN-Wire & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

A family member told TMZ that Harris was taken to a hospital via ambulance but died following a suspected heart attack on Sunday in Jasper, Alabama.

Harris placed sixth in ‘Idol’ season 13 — which aired on Fox in 2014 — giving his takes on Darius Rucker’s “Radio,” John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change,” and Ray LaMontagne’s “Shelter,” among his other performances on the show.

“You sing ‘cause you have to sing, not ‘cause you want to sing,” ‘Idol’ judge Keith Urban told Harris during the competition. ‘And I mean that in the deepest way. And that’s why it’s so believable and real.”

Harris followed his ‘American Idol’ run with a performance with Rucker at the Grand Ole Opry and an ‘Idol’ concert tour with other season 13 contestants.

“I grew up in the church, playing gospel music and singing in the choir. I guess I was a little nervous to go on ‘Idol,’ because I didn’t know if I was prepared. I didn’t have the training,” Harris told AL.com in 2015. “Now, when I get on stage in front of these crowds, it doesn’t matter if I have my eyes closed. I don’t have to keep a camera view. I can calm down, relax and be myself. Ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to see those lights on stage. Every time I get into my bed right after a show, I still can’t believe I’ve been on stage. I’m having a lot more fun than I did on the TV show.”

The singer remained active on social media before his death, posting a selfie to Twitter on Sunday and sharing a TikTok video of himself performing The Fray’s “How to Save a Life” in late December.

“When I’m behind the microphone, I let everything go and let the music flow through me,” Harris previously wrote in his Facebook bio, per AL.com. “My friends, family, and fans have always supported me and always had my back, and I can never repay them for the love they have shown me.”

Netflix is planning its largest-ever lineup of South Korean content, with 34 new and returning titles set to roll out this year.

The streaming giant made the announcement last week. It said that audience data showed “over 60% of all Netflix members” watched Korean titles in 2022.

The nearly three dozen new programs include a range of TV series and films, which run the gamut from thrillers to dramas. The company declined to disclose how much it planned to spend.

In 2021, company executives said Netflix planned to invest about $500 million into Korean content, on top of $700 million already spent since 2016.

The move underscores how Netflix is increasingly doubling down on Korean content as fans worldwide continue to buzz over it.

Last year, the streaming giant announced the launch of approximately 25 Korean titles — at the time “our largest number to date,” it said in a statement then. The previous year, the company unveiled 15.

“The global popularity of K-content has continued apace over 2022,” Don Kang, the company’s vice president of Korean content, said in a brief statement. “Over the last year, Korean series and films have regularly featured in our Global Top 10 list in more than 90 countries, and three of Netflix’s most-watched shows ever are from Korea.”

One of those shows is “Squid Game,” which shows contestants playing deadly children’s games to win cash prizes. The survival drama became the company’s top show worldwide in 2021.

Last year, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” a series that followed titular character Woo Young-woo as “a newbie at a top law firm and a woman on the autism spectrum,” also shot to the top of the streaming platform’s charts for several weeks.

The forthcoming titles for 2023 include six Korean movies, starting with the debut of a sci-fi thriller, “JUNG-E,” on Friday, according to Netflix.

It will also include new shows such as “Destined With You,” a romance between a hotshot lawyer and a civil servant, as well as the latest installment of returning series “Sweet Home,” which depicts a teen’s fight to survive as humans turn into monsters.

Netflix is increasingly producing original international content and leaning on prospects overseas as its growth in North America slows.

Other media behemoths, such as Disney, are also betting big on Korean content. The company has recently greenlit scores of new titles from South Korea, including a slate of original shows with K-pop band BTS.

Wild-card round (Jan. 14-16)

Saturday, Jan. 14

• NFC: No. 7 Seattle Seahawks at No. 2 San Francisco 49ers, 1:30 p.m. PST, Fox
• AFC: No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars, 5:15 p.m. PST, NBC

Sunday, Jan. 15

• AFC: No. 7 Miami Dolphins at No. 2 Buffalo Bills, 10 a.m. PST, CBS
• NFC: No. 6 New York Giants at No. 3 Minnesota Vikings, 1:30 p.m. PST, Fox
• AFC: No. 6 Baltimore Ravens at No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals, 5:15 p.m. PST, NBC

Monday, Jan. 16

• NFC: No. 5 Dallas Cowboys at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 5:15 p.m. PST, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+

Divisional round (Jan. 21-22)

Saturday, Jan. 21

• AFC divisional round, TBD
• NFC divisional round, TBD

Sunday, Jan. 22

• AFC divisional round, TBD
• NFC divisional round, TBD

Conference championship (Jan. 29)

Sunday, Jan. 29

• AFC championship game, TBD, CBS
• NFC championship game, TBD, Fox

Super Bowl LVII (Feb. 12)

• AFC champion vs. NFC champion at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz., TBD, Fox

AFC seeds

No. 1 seed: Kansas City Chiefs (14-3) — first-round bye, home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs.

• Divisional round: TBD

No. 2 seed: Buffalo Bills (13-3) — will host the No. 7 seed Miami Dolphins, 11 a.m. Sunday

No. 3 seed: Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) — will host the No. 6 seed Baltimore Ravens, 6:15 p.m. Sunday

No. 4 seed: Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) — will host No. 5 seed Los Angeles Chargers, 6:15 p.m. Saturday

No. 5 seed: Los Angeles Chargers (10-7) — will play at No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars, 6:15 p.m. Saturday

No. 6 seed: Baltimore Ravens (10-7) — will play at No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals, 6:15 p.m. Sunday

No. 7 seed: Miami Dolphins (9-8) — will play at No. 2 Buffalo Bills, 11 a.m. Sunday

NFC seeds

No. 1 seed: Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) — first-round bye, home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs.

• Divisional round: TBD

No. 2 seed: San Francisco 49ers (13-4) — will host the No. 7 seed Seattle Seahawks, 2:30 p.m. Saturday

No. 3 seed: Minnesota Vikings (13-4) — will host the No. 6 seed New York Giants, 2:30 p.m. Sunday

No. 4 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) — will host No. 5 seed Dallas Cowboys, 6:15 p.m. Monday

No. 5 seed: Dallas Cowboys (12-5) — will play at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6:15 p.m. Monday

No. 6 seed: New York Giants (9-7-1) — will play at No. 3 Minnesota Vikings, 2:30 p.m. Sunday

No. 7 seed: Seattle Seahawks (9-8) — will play at No. 2 San Francisco 49ers, 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Actor and writer Quinn K. Redeker, whose credits include “Days of Our Lives,” “The Young and the Restless” and “The Deer Hunter,” the latter of which earning him an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay, died last month, according to his representative Christopher Hartman.

Hartman said in an email to CNN that the entertainer died Dec. 20 of natural causes. He was 86.

Hartman said Redeker’s daughter, Arianne Raser, confirmed the news late Monday.

Redeker appeared in almost 850 episodes of the hit daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives” as the dastardly Alex Marshall, from 1979 until 1987.

He also appeared in over 200 episodes of CBS soap “The Young and the Restless,” mainly as Rex Sterling, over a period of 25 years from 1979 until 2004. He also played a character named Nick Reed.

Some of his other screen credits include “Bonanza,” “Kojak,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “The Rockford Files,” and the 1979 film “The Electric Horseman.”

The verified Twitter account for “The Young and the Restless” posted in Redeker’s memory on Monday, writing, “The Y&R Family sends our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Quinn Redeker who blessed Y&R with his talents in two memorable roles.”

“The Last of Us”: HBO/HBO Max’s big-budgeted dystopian spectacle succeeds where most action-driven series fail — making us care about a post-apocalyptic world where everyone’s fate is unpredictable. With impressive special effects and some sharp storytelling instincts, “Last of Us” ups the playing field for not only streaming services but movie blockbusters.

Based on the massively popular 2013 video game of the same name, it’s a doomsday road picture that’s perfect for anyone who loved Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road,” Stephen King’s “The Stand,” Robert Kirkman’s “The Walking Dead” and Danny Boyle’s “28 Days Later.” The comparisons might sound like someone just went in and ransacked the cinematic fridge of leftovers. Not so. The nine-episode series (creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are said to be awaiting to commit to a second based on how the first fares) creates a unique, harrowing survivors’ narrative set in 2033 and then gives us King-like characterizations, conflicts and confrontations.

A viral epidemic consumes the world, and fungus is to blame, turning the afflicted into killer Mushroom People (called Clickers). What could have been a laughable premise turns into something quite terrifying with Pedro Pascal — in one of his best performances — playing the hardened but resourceful Joel, who traverses through devastated U.S. cities (the special effects are jaw dropping) with the super-smart and foul-mouthed Ellie (Bella Ramsey, an incredible performance). I gobbled down five episodes — the first one dropping Sunday is nearly an hour and a half — and I can’t wait to watch more. Details: 3½ stars out of 4; debuts Jan. 15, with each episode dropping on consecutive Sundays; HBO.

“Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches”: After a bold and sexy reworking of Anne Rice’s “Interview With the Vampire,” AMC lets down numerous fans with a weakly executed and watered-down version of her “Mayfair Witches” saga. Scattered in its worldbuilding and ineffective in creating an atmospheric spell, this eight part series  (only five parts were made available for review) is erratic in tone, lacking in conviction and generally devoid of purpose. Alexandra Daddario is miscast as a San Francisco neurosurgeon who discovers she’s inexorably linked to a legacy of witches in New Orleans and a mysterious presence named Lasher. While there are surprising turns, and the series does improve as it progresses, “Witches” never grabs you with the power that “Interview” did. Stick to the books instead. Details: 2 stars; available on AMC and AMC+.

“Plane”: Director Jean-François Richet and a willing cast — Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Oakland native Daniella Pineda and Yoson An — help dust off the kind reliable but ridiculous action-disaster flicks that thrived in the ‘90s. They’ve done a commando job of cranking out a retro guilty pleasure, one that’s as predictable and as lovably dumb as the films it cribs from. The titular plane here, piloted by Brodie (Butler) and co-piloted by Dele (An), gets forced into a white-knuckle landing because of idiotic commands from higher ups that the crew fly into a lightning storm. The bad luck only persists when they plunk down on a Philippines island where a violent militia rules. Will anyone get out alive? C’mon. “Plane” makes for an enjoyable R-rated throwback and gets particularly spirited whenever Mike Colter — as a fugitive on the plane — teams up with Butler to take down the baddies. Details: 2½ stars; in theaters Jan. 13.

“The Devil Conspiracy”: Few films dare to even approach the go-for-broke quackery of Nathan Frankowski’s cult classic in the making. It doesn’t matter that screenwriter/producer Ed Alan’s script jumps off its rails from the opening line, “Conspiracy” jovially catapults audiences into the pits of hell and back then back to Earth. A chained-up Lucifer down below summons his legions to rip off the Shroud of Turin from the Vatican City so he can futz around with Christ’s DNA for hell-bent purposes. Meanwhile a hunky priest (Joe Doyle, in on the joke and having a blast) reveals his true alter ego while a mad scientist/entrepreneur tinkers with DNA to make baby Michelangelos and other legends so he can then sell them off to the highest bidders. Incredibly, things get weirder than that! With tongue in cheek and a devotion to be as preposterous and over the top as imaginable, Frankowski’s frenzied horrorpalooza never lets up. Is it a good movie? Not by any means. But is it fun? A hell to that yes. Details: 2½ stars; in theaters Jan. 13.

“Copenhagen Cowboy”: Nicolas Winding Refn’s neon-lit surreal curiosities are often stranger and more depraved than even David Lynch’s films. His Netflix series is one for his diehards fans, those inclined to wade into a predatory swamp and swim with imprisoned sex workers, criminals, grudge-holders, rutting pigs, a creepy family of bloodsuckers and a blue-tracksuit-wearing waif protagonist from another planet. If that sounds good, this six-parts series will itch that weird scratch. While I appreciated many elements — particularly the look and surreal vibe —  “Cowboy” moseys a little too slow for my tastes. That said, Winding Refn is a true original. Details: 2½ stars; on Netflix now.

“Mars One”: Director/screenwriter Gabriel Martins turns to the resiliency of a Black Brazilian family living on the fringes in this buoyant but intense drama that’s filled with many memorable and original characters — a daughter falling for a rich young woman, a son interested in science more than soccer and parents coping with their own internal struggles. “Mars One” (the original title was “Marte Um”) is a delightful, joyous celebration of the unbreakable bonds that keep us tethered through the most challenging of times. Details: 3½ stars; now on Netflix.

“Corsage”: In her very fictionalized look into the claustrophobic, intensely scrutinized and criticized life of the unconventional Empress Elisabeth of Austria, writer/director Marie Kreutzer capitalizes on the ace up her sleeve, lead Vicky Krieps. The German actor is stupendous, never overstating her character’s moroseness in a society that stifles women and puts them in their place. The period details are sensational, the cinematography stunning. “Corsage” fashions a film bio that’s very different from the events in Elisabeth’s life, and while some factual details could have actually helped the film, “Corsage” is still a fascinating commentary about celebrity that echoes loudly in an era when Prince Harry’s tell-all has the world talking. Details: 3 stars; in theaters now.

Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.

While the potential rehabilitation of the organization and its damaged reputation is still being worked out, one thing was clear: Plenty of stars were ready to walk the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

More: Golden Globes 2023: Host Jerrod Carmichael skewers show in opening monologue

Check out the fashions on display as stars such as Jenna Ortega, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Michelle Yeoh, Billy Porter, Michelle Williams and more showed off some post-pandemic glam in the red carpet gallery.

MOVIES

Drama: “The Fabelmans”

Musical or comedy: “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Actress — drama: Cate Blanchett, “Tár”

Actor — drama: Austin Butler, “Elvis”

Actress — musical or comedy: Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”

Actor — musical or comedy: Colin Ferrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Supporting actress: Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

Supporting actor: Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”

Director: Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans”

Screenplay: Martin McDonagh, “Banshees of Inisherin”

Motion picture — animated: “Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio”

Motion picture — non-English language: “Argentina, 1985”

Original score: Justin Hurwitz, “Babylon”

Original song:  “Naatu Naatu” (M.M. Keeravani and Chandrabose, composers), “RRR”

TELEVISION

Series, drama: “House of the Dragon”

Series, musical or comedy: “Abbott Elementary”

Limited series, anthology or movie: “The White Lotus”

Actress — drama: Zendaya, “Euphoria”

Actor — drama: Kevin Costner, “Yellowstone”

Actress — musical or comedy: Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”

Actor — musical or comedy: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

Supporting actress in series: Julia Garner, “Ozark”

Supporting actor in series: Tyler James Williams, “Abbott Elementary”

Actress in a limited series, anthology or movie: Amanda Seyfried, “The Dropout”

Actor in a limited series, anthology or movie: Evan Peters, “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”

Supporting actress in a limited series, anthology or movie: Jennifer Coolidge, “White Lotus”

Supporting actor in a limited series, anthology or movie: Paul Walter Hauser, “Black Bird”

NEW YORK — Jennifer Shah, a tearful member of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” who insisted she is not the character she plays on the show, was sentenced Friday to 6 1/2 years in prison for defrauding thousands of people, many of them vulnerable or older, in a telemarketing scam that stretched nearly a decade.

Shah, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein as a leader of a nationwide fraud that targeted people who were often unsophisticated electronically and could least afford to lose their money.

Shah pleaded guilty in July to a conspiracy charge. Prosecutors sought a 10-year prison term, which would have been a year under the federal sentencing guidelines’ minimum recommendation but well above the three years in prison that Shah’s lawyer suggested.

At the outset of Friday’s hearing, Stein cautioned a courtroom packed with Shah’s family and friends and members of the media that he was not sentencing the person people see on television.Stein said that person was “simply a character. It’s acting.” And he added that the housewives program “involves role playing. … It’s a heavily scripted operation.”

His words were echoed by Shah, who told the judge: “Reality TV has nothing to do with reality.”

She apologized to the “innocent people” she said she’d hurt and pledged to pay $6.5 million in restitution and forfeiture when she gets out of prison.

“I struggled to accept responsibility for the longest time because I deluded myself into believing … that I did nothing wrong,” Shah said, calling it her “own fractured reality.”

“For years I blamed other people for putting me in this position,” believing she was duped and manipulated, she said.

“I alone am responsible for my terrible decisions. It was all my fault and all my wrongdoing,” Shah said. “I have no one to blame but myself. … I wish I could have stood outside myself and seen the harm I was causing and changed course. I am profoundly and deeply sorry.”

During the hearing, defense lawyer Priya Chaudhry said her client has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent months.

“Remorse can be genuine even if it shows up late. … Her apology is real,” she said.

After the sentencing, Shah left the courthouse without speaking to reporters. She will report to prison at a later date.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman said Shah was a leader of a “clear and brazen fraud” that stretched from 2012 to March 2021 as bogus services were promoted as enabling people to make substantial amounts of money through online businesses. He called her the most culpable among more than 30 defendants.

“She always knew what she was doing wrong,” he said, noting her efforts to slow the investigation into her misdeeds by lying to investigators and taking evasive actions to obscure her true role in the fraud.

In a presentence submission, prosecutors said she used profits from the fraud to live a life of luxury that included a nearly 10,000-square-foot mansion with eight fireplaces dubbed “Shah Ski Chalet” in the resort haven of Park City, Utah. The home, they said, is now listed for sale for $7.4 million.

They said she also rented an apartment in midtown Manhattan, leased a Porsche Panamera, bought hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of luxury goods and funded various cosmetic procedures while cheating the Internal Revenue Service of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

At sentencing, Shah said proceeds from merchandise sales, which have been shut down, will go to victims.

The judge, though, said victims may be made whole financially, but they “can’t really be made whole emotionally.”

“Their lives have been turned upside down,” Stein said.