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In 1929, Adolph Levis left school to sell pickled foods; in 1967, he sold Slim Jim for about $20 million
Before Slim Jims hung on gas station racks, bars sold them out of jars. “It was sold at taverns at bars out of a jar,” Dan Skinner of ConAgra told The Takeout.
The man behind them was Adolph Levis, a Philadelphia-area entrepreneur. He dropped out of school in 1929 to sell condiments, spices, and pickled meats to taverns and delis during the Great Depression, according to Mel Magazine.
Levis noticed that bologna and pepperoni were selling well, according to the International Directory of Company Histories. In the 1940s, he and partner Joseph Cherry had a local meatpacker make a small dried sausage, SFGate reported.
The first sticks were called Penn Rose, a blend of Pennsylvania and his wife’s name, Rose, Mel Magazine reported. The name changed to Slim Jim to appeal to more sophisticated bar patrons, the outlet said.
Levis paired the new name with a top-hat-and-tails man holding a cane. He hoped the snack would be an elegant accompaniment to cocktails, SFGate reported.
The sticks went to Philadelphia-area bars first and then to convenience stores. In 1967, Levis sold the company to General Mills for about $20 million, SFGate said.
General Mills later folded Slim Jim into GoodMark Foods, which ConAgra bought in 1998 in a deal valued at $216 million, the directory said. Levis moved to Florida after the sale and died in 2001 at age 89.
He was not the only food entrepreneur to build a business from a small start. H.B. Reese began making peanut butter cups in his basement in 1928, and his sons sold the company to Hershey for $23.5 million 35 years later.
Dove Is Launching Its First-Ever Perfume and It Smells Just Like the Iconic Beauty Bar
Scent can evoke a memory in an instant, and Dove is tapping into that with its very first fragrance. The brand’s Original Beauty Bar has a creamy, powdery, nostalgic scent that’s instantly recognizable. It’s a classic heritage brand that reminds me of my grandmother, right alongside her Chanel No. 5.
Now, that familiar smell is coming in a bottle. Dove announced on Thursday, Oct. 22, that it has turned the beauty bar’s scent into Dove Original Fragrance, a limited-edition fine fragrance, People reported. The company describes it as “the only fragrance you know before you even smell it.”
Dove said fans have been asking for years for the beauty bar’s scent in a bottle. To make it happen, the brand teamed up with perfumer Ann Gottlieb, who has worked on fragrances for Calvin Klein, Dior, Marc Jacobs and Estée Lauder. “The most memorable fragrances make us feel something,” Gottlieb said in a statement, adding that the scent has brought a sense of freshness and comfort for generations.
The design also pays tribute to the soap. The bottle is curved like the Original Beauty Bar, and the cap features a sculptural gold dove. Even the price has a hidden meaning: At $19.57, it nods to the year the beauty bar first launched, 1957.
View this post on InstagramThat price point also makes it a rare fragrance that won’t break the bank, which could make it a popular stocking stuffer this holiday season.
Dove Original Fragrance goes on sale Tuesday, Oct. 27, at noon ET at dovefragrance.com, where a waitlist is open now. Since it’s available for a limited time, fans may want to sign up early.
For anyone who has ever caught a whiff of Dove and thought of home, this launch is a chance to carry that feeling everywhere.
Maya Hawke Reveals the 'Weird' Things She Managed to Slip in on 'Stranger Things'
Actress Maya Hawke is revealing something “weird” she managed to slip into the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things.
During the October 22 Hot Ones episode, Hawke, who joined the show’s cast as her character Robin Buckley during Stranger Things season 3, explained that she had set out a goal to say a “weird” phrase or word in each episode.
She recalled that one of the phrases was “Pretty freaky” as an homage to one of her real-life friends.
“I remember one: I had a boyfriend when I was in drama school who is still a friend and who I adore, who used to always say, ‘Pretty freaky,'” said Hawke, before sharing that Robin utters the phrase during the show’s fourth season.
Hawke also clarified that not all of her “weird” ideas ended up on the show.
“One time my character was supposed to have an idea and we were in the basement and there was like all this like gear around and I was like, ‘Oh, there’s a light bulb here. What if I picked it up and held it over my head when I had the idea?’ I think that one didn’t make it,” said the 28-year-old actress.
She then theorized she wasn’t given her lightbulb moment because Robin had already acted a little eccentrically in the scene.
“In the same scene, I just slid down a banister, so I get it if they were, like, ‘That’s a lot.’ I was stacking, which unrecommended [sic]. One weird thing per scene, remember? I forgot my own rule,” quipped Hawke.
Maya Hawke Discussed Playing Robin Buckley on ‘Stranger Things’Hawke expressed her gratitude for playing Robin until the show’s final and fifth season, which ended in 2025, during a January 2026 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She referenced that her character, who is a lesbian, provided Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) with words of comfort before he came out.
“It meant so much to me, because I feel like so much about life is like, you know, you’re going through stuff, and you’re feeling your feelings. And one of the best feelings is when you’re through something hard, right?” said Hawke during the January 2026 talk show interview. “And, like, you’re on the other side of it, and you get to reach over and help someone else across the same, you know, difficult situation. So the fact that she got to do that meant the world to me.”
Reese Witherspoon Shares Sweet Tribute to Son Deacon and Fans Are Seeing Double
Reese Witherspoon is celebrating a major milestone for her son Deacon Phillippe with a sweet birthday message, but fans are more focused on something else.
The actress shared a series of pictures on Instagram for Deacon’s 23rd birthday on Friday, October 23, including a sweet beachside shot of the two posing together, a childhood photo of her and her son, and a selfie of them with Deacon wearing sunglasses and a backward hat.
“Happy Birthday to my son Deacon, who is turning 23 today ! The year you were born, there was a fire in LA. Raging all around us,” she wrote in her caption. “Somehow that fire forged you: You were born into the light, you carry it inside you, and you help us see it in ourselves. I love you so much, so lucky to be your mom. 🩵✨”
View this post on InstagramIt’s no secret that Witherspoon and ex-husband Ryan Phillippe’s children, Deacon and daughter Ava, have an uncanny resemblance to their parents. But fans were once again shocked at the similarities.
“You and Ryan should be in textbooks about DNA. You both literally are twinning with your kids. Lol Good looking family!! HBD 🥳,” one fan wrote.
“The genetics are genectING🤣,” said another.
A third quipped, “Lovely!! The male version of Reese Witherspoon!! What a blessing!!! 😍”
READ MORE: Julia Roberts’ Rarely-Seen Daughter, 21, Is Her Twin In New Photos
The birthday post arrives as Deacon is building his own flourishing creative career. He graduated from New York University in May, with both Witherspoon and Phillippe there to celebrate the occasion.
Deacon has also been developing his music career for several years. He released the single “Long Run” in 2020 and put out his debut album, A New Earth, in 2023. In August, he appeared in modeling photos for ERL, the Venice Beach-based clothing brand. At the time, the images sparked comparisons to his father.
Witherspoon shares Deacon and his older sister, Ava, with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe. The pair met while starring in the 1999 film Cruel Intentions and married that same year, after Ava was born in June. They announced their separation in 2006 and filed for divorce soon afterward.
Ordway, Colorado, is selling old downtown buildings for $3,500; its pharmacy, built in 1910, has sold
For generations, the old pharmacy at 231 Main Street in Ordway, Colorado, served prescriptions and soda fountain treats. Its next chapter could include a laundromat, an arcade, and a ‘dirty soda’ shop, according to Retro 102.5.
The town has about 1,200 residents and sits in Crowley County, roughly 50 miles from Pueblo, Retro 102.5 reported. Ordway is selling historic buildings for as little as $3,500 to attract entrepreneurs. The mayor proposed the idea.
The price is small on purpose, so new owners can spend their money on starting a business after the renovations. Buyers have three years to finish the work. If they do not, the building goes back to the city.
The former corner pharmacy has already sold for $3,500, Retro 102.5 said. The new owners want the space to be “a gathering spot for people around the community,” especially for kids.
The building dates to 1910, according to Colorado Preservation, Inc.. It has been empty since 2020, when the pharmacy moved across the street.
Its roof is failing, and its brick walls are crumbling, the group said. This year, the pharmacy landed on the group’s Most Endangered Places list at the “Alert” level. It is Crowley County’s first nomination.
Pam Arbuthnot, president of the Crowley County Chamber of Commerce, said in the nomination, “This would be a good beginning to help start the revitalization of downtown Ordway.”
Ordway is not the only small place to land new owners. In 2012, Buford, Wyoming, a town with one resident, sold for $900,000, and its buyers renamed it PhinDeli Town Buford.
Clarks' 'Divine' Suede Knee-High Boots Are a 'Beautiful and Comfortable' Fall Staple, Now 40% Off
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I’m a total boots girl. In fact, I’ll rarely buy a dress if I can’t style it with a pair of boots and a denim jacket come fall. When the weather’s cool, you’ll find me sporting cowboy boots, ankle boots, combat boots, cozy fur-lined boots, and pretty much any other type of boots I can squeeze into my closet. This season, I’m making space for the most luxurious pair of suede knee-high Clarks boots that just went on sale at Macy’s.
Normally $199, the Clarks Danyelle Rose Knee-High Square Toe Suede Boots are currently 40% off, dropping the price to $119 for a limited time. The pair brings Clarks’ signature comfort and support to a classic, cold-weather staple style. Available in sleek dark brown or black, these boots come in women’s whole and half sizes 5 through 12 in both medium and wide widths. Several wide-width sizes have already sold out, so if you’re looking to add a pair to your collection, now is the time to jump on this deal!
Clarks Danyelle Rose Knee-High Square Toe Suede Boots, From $119 (were $199) at Macy’s Shop at Macy'sThese suede boots sport a contemporary square-toe silhouette with a slightly slouchy 13-inch-high shaft for the perfect blend of casual-chic style and timeless elegance. They have a manageable block heel that’s just under 2 inches high, keeping them easy to wear no matter what the day brings. The insoles feature Clarks’ signature foam footbed for plenty of support, while the flexible thermoplastic rubber (TPR) outsole helps keep your steps stable, even on slippery surfaces.
As one would expect from a pair of Clarks, shoppers confirmed that these “beautiful and comfortable” boots “fit perfectly” and felt great right out of the box. “The cushioning in the sole is top-notch,” shared one reviewer who also said the suede feels “divine.” The knee-high style is “attention-grabbing,” and customers noted that the extra coverage makes them “perfect for wearing with fall dresses.”
Shop More Fall Boot Deals- DV Dolce Vita Zepplin Lug Sole Chelsea Booties, $53 (were $89) at Macy’s
- Frye and Co. Foster Button Knee High Riding Boots, $100 (were $150) at Macy’s
- Cole Haan Haddie Full-Zip Buckle Ankle Booties, $133 (were $190) at Macy’s
Related: Clarks’ ‘Cushiony’ Ankle Boots Look Stylish But Feel ‘Like Wearing Sneakers,’ Now 57% Off
For crisp fall and winter days when you want to look extra put-together but feel comfortable, you can’t go wrong with the Clarks Danyelle Rose Knee-High Square Toe Suede Boots. Snag them for 40% off at Macy’s before this limited-time sale ends.
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Meghan Markle’s Family Scandal Could Complicate Prince Harry’s Royal Reconciliation, Expert Suggests
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry could face renewed questions about their relationship with the royal family as controversy surrounding Meghan’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., draws fresh attention, according to a royal commentator.
Speaking to Page Six, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield suggested the latest developments could give King Charles III a reason to maintain greater distance from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
“This may give King Charles III the ammunition to take a firmer stance in distancing the monarchy from Harry and Meghan,” Schofield told Page Six, according to InStyle’s report.
Schofield also suggested Buckingham Palace would be unlikely to comment publicly on the allegations, emphasizing that they concern private individuals rather than the monarchy itself.
“The Sussexes are private citizens, and perhaps it’s time the Palace made that separation unmistakably clear,” she said.
The controversy follows allegations made by Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., who reportedly told authorities that he discovered explicit images involving children at their father’s former home in Cebu, Philippines. The allegations have reportedly prompted an investigation.
Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the accusations, calling them lies, according to The Independent. His daughter Samantha Markle has also challenged her brother’s claims. The allegations have not been established as fact.
Meghan, meanwhile, said she was deeply distressed by the reports and revealed that she had been informed of troubling allegations against her father in 2018.
“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children was for one reason: to protect them,” she said in a statement reported by People.
Meghan has been estranged from her father since shortly before her 2018 wedding to Harry. The couple shares two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The latest developments arrive amid continued scrutiny of Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the royal family following their decision to step back from senior royal duties in 2020.
Schofield also pointed to existing reputational challenges facing the monarchy, arguing that another controversy involving people connected to the royals could create unwanted attention.
However, her comments represent an expert’s assessment rather than confirmation of any decision by King Charles or Buckingham Palace.
Neither the king nor the palace has publicly announced a change in its relationship with Harry and Meghan in response to the allegations.
For now, any effect on the couple’s relationship with the royal family remains uncertain.
Zendaya to Launch Best Actress Oscar Campaign for ‘Dune: Part Three’
Zendaya has shaken up this year’s Academy Awards. According to Variety, the actress will campaign for the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance as Chani in Dune: Part Three, the final film in Denis Villeneuve’s epic sci-fi trilogy. Warner Bros. and Zendaya’s representatives have yet to comment.
This campaign marks a massive shift in Zendaya’s role in the first two Dune films, in which she was a Supporting Actress. It also hints at Chani’s bigger role in Dune: Part Three. On the film’s official website, the synopsis reads:
“Dune: Part Three is set nearly two decades after Paul Atreides seized control of the Imperium. Now a ruthless emperor, Paul must face the consequences of his reign as old allies return, terrifying new threats emerge, and betrayal lurks in every shadow. Haunted by visions of Imperial collapse and the reappearance of his long-lost love, Paul is drawn into a sweeping conspiracy, with Chani at the heart of its unfolding mystery. As enemies close in, Paul must confront the true cost of power and the fate of those he loves the most.”
Warner Bros.
Villeneuve’s first two Dune movies were major Oscar contenders, earning 15 nominations and winning eight awards. However, neither film received consideration for any acting categories. An Oscar nomination for Zendaya for Dune: Part Three would be a first for the franchise this awards season.
It would also be a major achievement for Zendaya, as it would be her first Oscar nomination. The actress has already won two Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe award for her performance in HBO’s Euphoria.
Dune: Part Three will release in theaters and IMAX on Dec. 18, 2026.
Adam Brody Reveals His 'Embarrassing' On-Set Quirk
Actor Adam Brody revealed he has a tendency to exhibit some unconventional behavior before filming scenes.
During an October 2026 interview with ELLE magazine, while promoting the third season of Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, Brody was asked to share his “biggest on-set quirk.” He replied that he has been known to shadowbox while on a set.
“If I have to have a lot of energy for a scene, I like to shadow box before I go into it. So that’s kind of an embarrassing thing. I do it a fair amount,” said the O.C. star.
Brody then shared that he shadowboxed before filming a Nobody Wants This season 1 scene, where his character Rabbi Noah Roklov romantically chases after his love interest Joanne (Kristen Bell).
“I remember one in the end of the first season, where I’ve, like, ran to catch up with her in the very last scene in the season. And so I’m out of breath, and I’m sweaty. And so, like, before that I’m shadowboxing in the corner,” said Brody during the ELLE interview.
He then described his on-set quirk as “fun and a little embarrassing.”
“Mostly people just avert their eyes,” quipped the 46-year-old.
Adam Brody Shared His Thoughts About Playing the ‘Hot Rabbi’ in ‘Nobody Wants This’During the October 23 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, Brody shared his thoughts about playing Noah, who’s known as the “hot rabbi,” in Nobody Wants This. He shared that the character’s nickname, which highlights his attractiveness, “initially made [him] a little self-conscious.”
“It’s like when you’re not Miss America, you’re like, ‘I’m beautiful or whatever,’ then it feels like, ‘Do I have something to live up to all of a sudden?’ Is there an expectation?” said Brody.
Brody also said he has gotten inspiration from real Rabbis and attractive people, in general, for the role.
“From rabbis, I take the rabbinical stuff. Hotness I can find anywhere. I just have my antenna up. I’ll pull for inspiration from any religion, any man or woman,” said Brody, who has been married to actress Leighton Meester since 2014.
The Kansas City Star's $200 million press pavilion opened in 2006; in 2019, it sold for $30.1 million
Robots at the Kansas City Star’s press pavilion fetched rolls of newsprint stacked 80 feet high, according to KCUR. The building also had four 60-foot presses from Germany.
The pavilion opened in 2006 and covers two city blocks in downtown Kansas City, KCUR reported. The 434,000-square-foot building is clad in green glass and copper. It rises from four stories on 17th Street to an eight-story prow above the South Loop freeway.
It cost $199 million to build and equip. Other papers printed there too, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the Topeka Capital-Journal, KCUR said.
The Star’s owner, McClatchy, sold the building in 2019. The sale closed on May 15 for $30.1 million, according to JimmyCsays, which quoted the Star’s own report. The buyer was Ambassador Hospitality, and the Star leased the building back for 15 years, with initial annual payments of $2.8 million.
That price was about 15% of what the plant cost. It was not McClatchy’s first try. In 2017, it agreed to a sale-leaseback with R2 Capital as part of a $42 million deal that included the paper’s old headquarters. McClatchy ended that agreement a few months later, Flatland KC reported, but did not say why. The outlet quoted Jerry Fogel, who helped assemble the site, speculating that the price was too far below the building’s cost.
By 2020, the Star was planning to leave, and the new owner was weighing options. They included a logistics center, a call fulfillment center, and a brewery, KCUR reported. The owner also floated the building as a possible Royals stadium site, Flatland KC said.
Instead, the pavilion is holding servers. In November 2024, the company Patmos announced plans to turn the former printing plant into an AI data center, with a planned $1 billion investment, according to KSHB.
Patmos Hosting has since bought the building, and part of it is already running a data center with customers online, KCTV5 reported in January 2026. Two other companies had signed leases, and about 10 of the planned 35 megawatts were ready for use, per Data Center Knowledge. The company said the rest of the buildout was scheduled to finish later in 2026.
Patmos Chief Operating Officer Joe Morgan said the project is not a typical data center. “We’re not building a concrete castle-type complex like your traditional data center,” he told Data Center Knowledge in 2025.
The pavilion is not the only big building to sell far below its cost. Pontiac, Michigan, built the Silverdome for $55.7 million in 1975, and the stadium sold at auction for $583,000 in 2009.
Aldi's Chic New Mini Totes Are Giving Longchamp Vibes
Another day, another awesome Aldi dupe. This time around, the German grocer is selling a lookalike of the popular (and expensive) mini totes from Longchamp.
Aldi’s new Live in Style Mini Totes are giving major Longchamp vibes for a fraction of the cost. Available in black, navy or tan, these chic totes retail for just $7.99 each. Meanwhile, similar Longchamp styles go for upwards of $120!
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Live in Style Black Mini Tote, $7.99 at AldiAldi
Like Longchamp, Aldi’s mini tote features a sleek, structured rectangular shape with contrasting brown handle accents. Aldi’s version also has an adjustable strap. Together, this creates the same sophisticated look and feel as Longchamp, but for a whole lot less.
These Aldi Live in Style Mini Totes are perfect for everyday wear, but they’re also great for travel, work and events. If you want more of an evening look, you can remove the strap and simply use the handle. For hands-free carrying, use the strap for convenience. Finally, the zippered top portion of Aldi’s tote mini bag ensures security and keeps all of your belongings safe when out and about.
You can find these chic Longchamp dupes at select Aldi stores right now as part of Aldi Finds, weekly product specials that come and go every single week on Wednesdays. You can find them in the center aisle. Just be warned, these items are limited stock and only available while supplies last!
Other Aldi Finds to Check OutIf you’re interested in shopping other Aldi Finds, be sure to check out this clever $8 acacia wood cutting board that makes hosting far easier, these delightful reversible kitchen comfort mats that make you feel like you’re cooking or baking in the coziest Christmas cottage, this classic stand mixer that looks like it could be from KitchenAid but for just $49.99, these darling and nostalgic ceramic Christmas trees that are guaranteed to sell out so fast or these faux-fur accent rugs that bring luxurious comfort to any room.
Related: Old Navy’s New Curvy Fit High-Waisted Jeans Are ‘Flattering for All Figures’
Bojangles Is Taking on McDonald’s With a Major AI Drive-Thru Expansion
Chicken and biscuits is a dish best served, well, anytime. Who’s hungry?
Bojangles is many Americans’ go-to spot for the entrée — and ever since its founding nearly 50 years ago, the restaurant chain has expanded to feature plenty of other dishes for breakfast and more.
Cut to October 2026, and Bojangles is now expanding in a different sort of way — on the artificial-intelligence front. We used to say, “AI is the future.” But now, it’s very much the present, for better or worse.
For the fast-food brand, hopefully “for the better.”
This week, the AI company known as Hi Auto — whose focus is drive-thru operations — announced an extended multi-year partnership with Bojangles to continue deploying an AI order taker across the restaurant chain’s system, thus giving fellow chains like McDonald’s a run for their money.
According to a recent news release, the extension of “Bo-Linda” follows more than two years of collaboration between both companies.
Bojangles began scaling Bo-Linda systemwide in July 2024, and the platform is reportedly now live at nearly 500 locations, with plans to add 100 more by mid-2027.
“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Hi Auto for our class-leading Bo-Linda AI drive-thru engine,” Richard Del Valle, Bojangles’ CIO and chief of Staff, said in a statement released Thursday, October 22. “The system is a rare tool that improves the guest and employee experience at the same time, and it’s been extremely well-received by both. Bo-Linda now processes more than a million orders a week across our system at a 98%, or better, success rate. This has given us the confidence to continue and expand Bo-Linda.”
As part of the extended agreement, Hi Auto and Bojangles will continue expanding Bo-Linda’s capabilities, including a new dynamic upselling feature that adjusts recommendations in real time based on drive-thru queue length.
When lines are longer, the system surfaces quicker-to-prepare items, helping Bojangles capture incremental upsell revenue during peak periods without slowing down service or adding labor.
'The Voice' Sneak Peek Has Queen Latifah Itching to Steal Adam Levine's Singer
The Battles will continue Monday night on Season 30 of The Voice as coaches Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine, Queen Latifah and Riley Green continue to match up their teammates in duets that determine who goes on to Cut Week.
Parade has a sneak peek of the Battle between Team Adam’s Dakota Cohen and Destinee Monroe as they go head-to-head on Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life,” and only Queen Latifah has a Steal left. But will she use it?
“That’s what I’m talking about! That’s what I’m talking about! I’m in my chair throwing my hair around,” Queen said in response to the performance. “That was incredible. What y’all just did with it was really perform the hell out of it. You embodied the song, you rocked with each other, you nailed all the notes and then some, so this is going to be a tricky one. It’s going to be a hard one. I want to see more of this as the show goes on.”
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Then Riley weighed in, pointing out, “The reaction of the crowd tells you everything. That was one of the most powerful performances we’ve seen. Dakota, you had some vocal moments that were unreal. You really had some big moments in that song. Destiny, your performance felt like you could have been in front of 20,000 people at a rock concert and that’s a crazy thing to see on a show where people are trying to start a music career, so I don’t know how you pick. Good luck, Adam.”
To which Adam replied sarcastically, “Cool. Thanks. Super, super, super helpful.”
And Riley responded, “Adam, what do you want from me? It’s not my job to pick. Turn his chair around!”
Related: The Teams Are Full! Meet The Voice Season 30 Rosters for Kelly, Adam, Latifah, and Riley
Next to weigh in was Kelly, who said, “You both can sing your tails off. Destiny, the presence right off that first verse was incredible. Dakota, you came in and it was just a different approach. Yours was more tender, more like I’ve gone through therapy, and I strongly know what the red flags are, so the juxtaposition of what happened between the verse and the chorus was insane. I think I lean a little bit more Dakota, but Destiny, heeey.”
Then it was time for the decision-making coach to give his critique.
Adam said, “It was such a great performance. Dakota, you have something that is so different, but you also have power. There’s a little bit of Miley [Cyrus] in you and I think she has one of the best freaking voices on the planet. Destiny, you have this unadulterated power, like a superpower voice. Honestly that’s like that I think that’s your biggest strength.”
Related: The Voice Returns for a Milestone 30th Season with Stunning New Format Twists
Kelly interrupted to say, “If I had a Steal, it wouldn’t matter who he chose. I would take the other. You guys did such a great job.”
Adam agreed, saying, “You guys did incredible. There won’t be anybody like you guys on any other team.”
So, who made it through to Cut Week and who went home? Or did Queen use her Steal?
Tune in on Monday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC to find out. Streams next day on Peacock.
Next, The Voice Season 30: Who Went Home and Who Made It Through the Battles Last Night?
Jamie Lee Curtis ‘Deeply Honored’ To Receive First Michele and Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award
Jamie Lee Curtis is feeling very emotional as she prepares to receive an award named after two of her best friends, the late Michele and Rob Reiner.
The Oscar and Emmy winner will receive the Michele and Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award during the L.A. Children’s Institute’s Cape & Gown Gala on November 8 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The honor recognizes the Reiners’ “lifelong commitment to improving the lives of children and families and strengthening communities across Los Angeles, throughout California and beyond.”
Michele’s sister, Martine Singer, is the organization’s president and CEO.
“They lived a life of service, building something greater than themselves and giving so much to the world around them. And that is something worth honoring again and again,” Curtis said about the Reiners when she was named as the first recipient of the award. “The world needs so much more of what they gave us: their love, their courage and their joy. I am forever grateful to carry a small part of their legacy forward.”
Curtis knew the couple for decades. She and her husband, Christopher Guest, were married at Rob’s home in 1984, and he served as the best man.
The Halloween star remembers Michele and Rob for their commitment to social change.
“Every day with them was activism,” Curtis told The Hollywood Reporter. “They were enraged at the way the current administration had decimated progressive policies toward children, women, people of color, gay people and transgender people.”
The Reiners were found dead on December 14, 2025 at their Los Angeles home. Their son, Nick Reiner, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Curtis and Rob both appeared in The Bear TV series, and he was awarded an Emmy Award posthumously this year for his role as Albert Schnurr: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
She remembered him during the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in September, referring to his All in the Family character to commemorate his life.
“Last year we lost another cherished legend, our beloved ‘Meathead,’ Rob Reiner,” a teary Curtis told the audience. “He was generous and kind and funny as hell and a friend to all.”
'M*A*S*H' Star Mike Farrell Never Forgot What Alan Alda Did When They First Met
Actor Mike Farrell had some worries about joining the M*A*S*H cast as B. J. Hunnicutt during the show’s fourth season, which premiered in 1975. However, a meeting with the show’s star, Alan Alda, who also served as a director and writer for M*A*S*H, helped ease his anxiety.
MeTV.com reported that Farrell recalled Alda, who famously played Hawkeye Pierce throughout the show’s 11-season run, invited him out to dinner after he was cast as B. J.
“That same afternoon I got a call from Alan Alda, asking if I could meet him for dinner that night to give us a chance to get to know each other and talk about the show, the characters, and the future,” wrote Farrell in his autobiography Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist, published in 2008. “And at some point, I stopped being nervous. ‘This is a nice man,’ I kept thinking. ‘He didn’t have to do this.'”
Farrell also noted that Alda had a genuine fondness for the fictional members of the 4077th MASH.
“The guy really cared about the show and the characters. He wanted the relationships to mean something, and he wanted the show to succeed,” said Farrell, now 87.
Mike Farrell Explained Why He Was Concerned About Filming ‘M*A*S*H’Farrell shared why he was worried about filming M*A*S*H during a 2023 interview on That’s Classic. He explained that he “admired the show” before he was brought on as his M*A*S*H character.
He also noted that B.J. was brought in to fill the role of Trapper after Wayne Rogers left following season 3. Farrell said he was concerned fans wouldn’t be happy with the change to the series and the ratings would reflect their displeasure.
“I knew from being in television for a while was that if this show crashed in its fourth season, I was going to wear it around my neck for the rest of my life,” said Farrell.
In addition, he was concerned about joining an already close-knit cast.
“I thought, ‘God, what if the crew and the company and the actors all think of me as an interloper.’ This guy who bumped out their friend,'” recalled the actor.
He clarified that “once [he] went on the set,” the entire cast and crew “welcomed [him] graciously.”
Nobody Wants This Creator Erin Foster on Season 3's Surprise Ending and Show's Future (Exclusive)
It was the season everybody wanted.
Season 3 of Netflix’s Nobody Wants This saw Noah and Joanne not only move in together and get engaged, but also tie the knot in an impromptu wedding, moments after completing her conversion to Judaism. The couple’s respective siblings, Sasha and Morgan, also finally, although briefly, got together in the second half.
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The milestones and complications all unfolded over the course of ten episodes in what has been described as the series’ “champagne” season. But with that bottle now popped and poured, could this have been the last serving of Nobody Wants This?
The Netflix rom-com, starring Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe and Timothy Simons, has not yet been renewed for a fourth season, but series creator Erin Foster feels “there’s more story to tell.”
Timothy Simons, Erin Foster, Kristen Bell, Jackie Tohn and Adam BrodyMark Von Holden / Shutterstock for Netflix
“There’s those next steps as people who are not in their 20s, getting married and you’re starting off already kind of behind everyone else,” Foster exclusively tells Parade. “I experienced that when I got married, I was 37, and it’s a different experience. So, yeah, I do think that there’s more story to tell.”
“But I’m also someone who doesn’t get too attached to the outcome and is sort of fluid about allowing sort of the market to tell us what they want from us,” she adds. “I never want to have a show that goes on longer than people want to see it. I’d rather people want more than want less.”
The co-showrunner and executive producer spoke with Parade following the release of Season 3, explaining why they chose to include Noah and Joanne’s wedding in the milestone-packed third season of Nobody Wants This, plus she shared her thoughts on Morgan and Sasha and much more…
Kristen Bell as Joanne, Adam Brody as NoahCourtesy of Netflix © 2026
There were a lot of milestones for Noah and Joanne this season, between moving in together, the engagement and the wedding. Why the decision to have it all in one season?
Season 2 was really tricky because coming off of Season 1 where they have these explosive fireworks and you have that first date, first kiss, first meeting, all those firsts. It was important to me because it was representing healthy relationships and adult relationships, it felt important to me for Season 2 to give a realistic look at what that next step can be. I really wanted her to be thoughtful about her decision to convert, thoughtful about getting into a relationship with someone who had such a different lifestyle from her, and be respectful to what that would actually look like.
And so, because of that, Season 2 was a little bit — not heavier. But a little bit more focused on the challenges. And once we got those out of the way, and I felt that we looked at them responsibly, then we were able to really let them rip Season 3 and just have all the big romantic moments that people were waiting for. I know that it took a minute for us to get there, but I wanted to earn it properly.
Was there any point where you thought maybe we save the wedding for a potential Season 4, or did you see a beach wedding as a potential series finale?
Yeah, we look at every season as giving it an ending that would serve as a great series finale or a season finale. I think that you could end any of the three seasons and feel like it was a complete rom-com, and you could also look at it and think there’s a lot more story to tell. So you want to go out with a bang. You want to give a big moment for the finale.
I’m really not a writer who likes manufactured circumstances. When I’m watching TV, I always really feel those, and so I try to create conflict and big moments that feel like they could really happen in real life, and as someone who has had a wedding before and has experienced how stressful planning a wedding is, and how much it pits you against the people around you, I thought them wanting to get married alone in the water, on the beach, away from everybody on their own terms, felt very real to me. I kind of experienced something like that where, as soon as I started planning my wedding, I was fighting with everybody around me, and it was just so stressful. Simon and I looked at each other and we were like, “How could we do this as fast as possible so we don’t spend a year of our life doing this?” And we got married three months later, just to get it going.
Related: A Look at Adam Brody and Leighton Meester’s Relationship on Screen and Behind the Scenes
This season finally brought Morgan and Sasha together, and that feels like something the fans had been rooting for. Was that part of the plan, or do you feel like that relationship evolved organically as the show went on?
It definitely evolved organically. I mean, when I first, first, first wrote the pilot of the whole series, there was no intention of there being a romance between them. There was an intention for Sasha to be someone who kind of you didn’t take seriously as a husband, but then he secretly was really afraid of his wife and let her be in charge of everything and couldn’t function without her. I liked the idea of that kind of character.
But then as we were writing Season 1, it kind of felt like, “Oh wait a second, there’s real palpable chemistry here. There’s something interesting about this.” So in Season 1, we almost got them together. And then as we were writing, it didn’t feel right. It felt too soon. Which is perfect because I like the idea of there just being kind of a weirdness that you didn’t understand what it is. And that happens a lot in real life, where you can’t tell if someone’s flirting with you, you can’t tell if someone has a crush on you, and there’s sort of just like a confusing feeling around it. And then Season 2, we felt like we really wanted to service Sasha and Esther’s slow breakup and what that looked like, and to really kind of have it on Esther’s terms, so that you would forgive Sasha for going to Morgan romantically. We don’t want to feel like he was stepping out on his wife.
Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix © 2026
Are you team Sasha and Morgan or team Sasha and Esther?
You know, it’s not about “teams” necessarily. I don’t know if either relationship is right long term. I think that Esther clearly has more to explore outside of her relationship with Sasha, and I think he and Morgan together, I don’t know what it would look like on a day-to-day, real relationship level. So it’d be interesting to explore it. But you know, these characters are like real people. Every day on set, every time you film a scene, you learn something new about them, and you go, “Oh, that’s an interesting moment between them. That’s something we could start writing towards.”
How do you see Morgan, Sasha and Esther’s unresolved storyline shaping what could come next in a fourth season?
I think it’s forcing Sasha to examine the kind of decisions he’s making as a people pleaser, as someone who doesn’t have great boundaries. He’s really hurt two people by the end, and he’s unintentionally become this Lothario guy who has kind of been screwing around these two women and pitting them against each other, and I think he really is going to have to look at that.
And then I think Esther sort of dipping back into something she knows she doesn’t really want is not the most mature decision. As a woman, we’ve all done that before, where you don’t want to be with someone, and then you see them changing for somebody else, and you decide you want to grab back at it, but it’s usually not healthy. And then Morgan, I think, is still flailing and like trying to figure out who she. She tries to be vulnerable [in] Season 3. She opens up and she kind of puts her heart on her sleeve, and she gets hurt and rejected. And so it’s always interesting to see what someone does next after that move.
Related: Meet the Real-Life Couple Who Inspired ‘Nobody Wants This’
How do you think they’re all going to react, especially Bina, to the news that Noah and Joanne tied the knot down at the beach without them?
Not well. I do not think Bina will be very happy about her planned wedding that she’s been working so hard for being taken away from her. I think that she will take that pretty personally.
Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix © 2026
Was your husband Simon [Tikhman] aware of that shout-out in the finale? DJ Simon Tik.
Oh my God! Yes, it was Ryann Werner’s idea, who I co-wrote the episode with, to name him DJ Simon Tik. And it’s actually Simon on the phone calling as DJ Simon Tik. It was him.
So he was robbed of a cameo in a potential wedding!
I know. Isn’t that so funny? But it’s his voice, and he was so funny. We were dying over how he did it. It was just too good.
Related: Nobody Wants This Cast and Character Guide: Who’s Back — And Who’s New?
Are you hoping that the show comes back for a fourth season. Or do you feel like the wedding could be a perfect ending to the story, if it were to just end there?
I feel both. I mean, of course, I’m so attached to this show and to the story, and would love to see it continue. But I also really honor the fact that sometimes things end before you’re ready. I do think that’s better than ending after everybody has wished that it was already off the air. So I don’t know. I think people loving this season so much already does make me want to tell more of their story. So I’m game. I mean, I think it’s a special show, and it’s been such an incredible experience for all of us. So, it’s hard to walk away from.
I think we’d love to see Noah and Joanne start a family. We did hear Joanne mention kids a couple of times. I think fans would love to see that.
Yeah, I think so, too.
Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix © 2026
What do you hope is Nobody Wants This’ legacy years from now?
I really hope that it is a positive representation of healthy relationships and healthy communication, and making that fun and funny and sexy and thrilling because I think it is. I think that we tend to in TV only see really intense kinds of relationships or the ones that have been around for a long time that we represent them as kind of boring and mundane, and I think it’s important to show that you can have a relationship that is, you know, has great communication and vulnerability, and where those people make each other laugh and stay excited to be with each other, but also respect each other and have good self esteem, and I think that it’s just for some reason it’s not something you get to see enough on TV. And so I hope the legacy is really around making healthy relationships look sexy.
You had some fun new faces join the cast. Of course, yourself, Andrew Rannells, Sarah Silverman. Who are some other stars you’d love to have join the show? I know in the past you’ve told me Jennifer Aniston. Any of your pals like Kate Hudson? Would she like to join?
I mean, we would love to have Kate. She’s obviously pretty busy. She’s doing her own show. The storylines reveal who the guest stars should be. We don’t really work backwards from there, so we don’t really think about a celebrity and then write a story for them. We create a story and then think about who fits into the story best. I mean, I’ll take anybody! I’m so excited to have unexpected faces and people. Having Sarah Silverman and Andrew Rannells, it was so fun. And then obviously getting Erin Foster was like the biggest deal ever for us. So that was huge.
Does [your sister and fellow EP] Sara [Foster] want to join next?
She seems sort of slightly interested and open to it. But she also would be so nervous to do it. It’s such a funny experience. I was really nervous, too, going into an environment with people you’ve been working with for years and then being in front of the camera. It’s scary.
Is there a way that we can bring back [your character] Nicole?
Listen, if the fans want her, she’s available.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Related: ‘Nobody Wants This’ Season 3 Ending Explained: Do Joanne and Noah Stay Together?
In 1871, Tiffany valued some of Arnold and Slack's diamonds at $150,000; in 1872, investors paid them over $600,000
Geologist Clarence King and his party found something strange at the supposed diamond field: gems tucked into small holes dug beside anthills, according to WyoHistory.org. For every diamond they found, they dug up 12 rubies, Earth magazine said.
Cousins Philip Arnold and John Slack were Kentucky-born prospectors who walked into a San Francisco office in late 1870 with a leather bag of rough diamonds, WyoHistory.org reported. Their backers came to include William Ralston, the founder of the Bank of California.
In October 1871, Charles Lewis Tiffany looked over the gems at the New York home of attorney Samuel Barlow, per HistoryNet. He valued about a tenth of one bag at roughly $150,000, the outlet said. Tiffany later admitted he had little experience with uncut diamonds, according to the Denver Public Library.
In June 1872, a party of investors and their mining engineer rode to the field, and Arnold and Slack blindfolded them for the final leg, WyoHistory.org said. The party reached the site on June 4.
The investors paid Arnold and Slack more than $600,000 in cash and stock, per Earth. London experts later found the stones were coarse and mostly industrial, HistoryNet said. The cousins had spent about $20,000 in London on more rough diamonds and rubies, according to WyoHistory.org.
King, who led a government survey of the 40th Parallel, doubted that a diamond field could exist in land his survey had covered, per Earth. He found a half-cut diamond with lapidary marks, HistoryNet said, and on Nov. 11, 1872, he telegraphed that the field was “fraudulently and plainly salted.” The story reached newspapers on Nov. 26.
The mining company refunded the remaining money, HistoryNet reported. In March 1873, Arnold agreed to return $150,000 in exchange for immunity from further lawsuits. He died after being shot in an argument with a banker. Slack moved to New Mexico, where he became a coffin maker and died in 1896, according to the Denver Public Library.
A few years earlier, another hoax had drawn crowds. In 1869, George Hull sold most of the Cardiff Giant for $23,000 after visitors flocked to see a statue that many accepted as a petrified man.
The 6 Best Low-Maintenance Pixie Cuts for Women Over 60 With Glasses, According to Celebrity Stylists
My aunt wore the same shoulder-length bob for 30 years, then turned 64 and walked into a salon with a photo of Halle Berry on her phone. She came out with the cutest dang pixie, but there was one problem.
You see, the stylist had cut the whole thing while she wasn’t wearing her glasses, and when she put them back on, something was a little off. Her complaints (as she remembers them!) were that the sides sat weird against her frames and the fringe landed exactly where the top rim did. It wasn’t a bad haircut—it was just one that had been cut for a face without glasses on.
That’s the thing nobody warns you about with short haircuts. A pixie exposes more of your face than any other cut, so your frames stop being an accessory and become part of the silhouette. Get the proportions right and the two things look put together. Get them wrong and they fight for attention every time you leave the house.
So we asked three pro stylists how to choose a pixie that works with your glasses instead of around them, plus which shapes actually stay low-maintenance at home. We chatted with Marco Pelusi of Marco Pelusi Hair Studio in West Hollywood, a celebrity hairstylist who regularly appears on TV as a hair color expert on FOX’s A Healthy You & Carol Alt and Hallmark Channel’s Home and Family, Brendnetta Ashley, a curly hair expert for Dippity-Do, and Jessica Small, owner and stylist at Jessica Rose Salon and a consultant for SRI Labs.
Their picks are below, along with one salon-chair tip I’m texting my aunt immediately.
Related: 7 Best Long Pixie Cuts, According to a Celebrity Hairstylist
Why the Right Pixie Cut Matters When You Wear GlassesA pixie puts more of your face on display, so the cut and the eyewear end up carrying equal weight. “The haircut and frames become one visual composition,” Ashley tells Parade.
Small says she’s looking at where the glasses sit, the size and shape of the frames and how much softness or texture someone wants around the forehead and temples. “The goal is to create balance, so the glasses feel like part of the haircut—not something the haircut has to work around,” she explains.
Pelusi always finishes a pixie with the client wearing her glasses, then has her take them on and off several times so they can both see how the pieces fall against the frames. If your stylist isn’t doing that, ask.
Related: 7 Best Effortless Short Hairstyles for Women 50+, According to Celebrity Stylists
How To Choose a Pixie Cut That Frames Your Glasses: 3 Steps 1. Start with face shapeAshley has a quick cheat sheet:
- Round faces do well with tighter sides and height through the crown, which lengthens the look of the face.
- Oval faces have the most flexibility, so a textured crop, a longer fringe or sculpted sideburns are all on the table.
- Square faces get balance from softer piecey layers and a textured fringe.
- Heart shapes benefit from some softness around the temples and ears with texture built toward the crown.
- For long or oblong faces, skip the dramatic height and build a fuller fringe or more volume at the sides instead.
Pelusi says to bring photos of someone with a similar face shape and similar hair texture, then work through them with your stylist before anyone goes near the shears.
2. Then look at your framesThis is the part most people skip, and Ashley breaks it down by frame style:
- Oversized frames call for controlled sides and clean edges around the ears so the whole thing doesn’t go visually heavy.
- Small or thin frames let you go bolder with texture, volume or a dramatic fringe.
- Cat-eye frames pair beautifully with a tapered pixie and a lifted side-swept fringe that echoes the upward angle.
- Round frames get contrast from angular texture or sharper perimeter lines.
- Square and rectangular frames soften up next to waves, curls or piecey texture.
And if your frames are bold or colorful, she’d keep the haircut cleaner so the glasses stay the statement.
3. Don’t forget your textureFor curly and coily hair especially, Ashley warns against choosing a cut based on how it looks freshly styled in a photo. Curl pattern, shrinkage, density and how the hair actually sits around the frames all change the outcome. Small factors in density and natural growth pattern for the same reason.
The 6 Best Low-Maintenance Pixie Cuts for Women Over 60 With Glasses 1. The tapered textured pixieRaimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images
This wearable hairstyle is Ashley’s favorite. Keep the perimeter short and tight around the temples and ears, then let your natural texture create height and movement through the top. The tight perimeter is what keeps oversized frames from looking heavy.
Her bigger point is worth sitting with: “A great pixie for women over 60 isn’t about making the hair shorter,” she says. Clean temples, intentional texture, a customized fringe and controlled volume are what turn a basic pixie into a signature.
2. The asymmetrical pixieToni Anne Barson/WireImage
This style is Pelusi’s favorite pick. The look is longer on one side, blended all the way through to the shorter side by someone who knows how to actually cut hair. He thinks it looks especially cool with glasses, and he likes that it’s a nod to the ’80s.
Small agrees that it’s a gorgeous option for anyone who wants something more fashion-forward.
3. The textured cropTibrina Hobson/Getty
If your hair has gotten finer, this is the one. Small says a textured crop adds movement and makes fine hair look fuller, which is a lot of payoff for a cut that takes about four minutes to style.
4. The soft swept-bang pixieRodin Eckenroth/WireImage
A soft swept bang frames the eyes and the glasses at the same time, according to Small, which makes it a natural fit for anyone whose frames are the main event. The sweep also keeps the fringe from landing dead-flat along the top rim.
5. The wispy pixieCharles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
This look is the gentlest of the bunch and another of Small’s top picks for this age group. Wispy pieces around the face soften stronger angles without adding any styling time, and the look holds up when it’s a little undone.
6. The volume-at-the-crown pixieFrazer Harrison/Getty Images
This one isn’t a separate cut so much as a strategy, and two of the stylists swear by it. Hair tends to get finer with age, Small notes, so the right shape and placement of volume makes a visible difference without demanding more effort. Ashley builds crown height specifically for round face shapes.
Related: 7 Best Volumizing Haircuts for Thin and Long Hair, According to Celebrity Stylists
Styling Tips To Keep Short Hair Low-MaintenancePelusi says to step out of the shower, towel dry, work in a little gel or pomade to piece it out and then spritz with a flexible-hold hairspray.
As far as what to put in, Small recommends a lightweight styling product applied only where you need it rather than coating your whole head, and a dryer with a nozzle to push hair into place.
Ashley likes to style the inactive area flat with a holding mousse, or a light-hold gel if you’re curly, to mold the shape. Then use a volume mousse through the active area for movement. For loose waves she reaches for a curl-boosting mousse, and for curls and coils a hydrating curl milk.
Finally, use your fingers to piece out the texture. “A great pixie should look good with a little imperfection,” Small says. That’s what makes it read modern instead of fussy.
Up Next:
Related: 7 Best Short Hairstyles for Women Over 60 With Glasses, According to Top Stylists
Sources:- Marco Pelusi, celebrity hairstylist, colorist and owner of Marco Pelusi Hair Studio
- Brendnetta Ashley, curly hair expert for Dippity-Do
- Jessica Small, owner and stylist at Jessica Rose Salon and SRI Labs consultant
Thora Birch Returns to the Red Carpet 33 Years After ‘Hocus Pocus’ — See Her Now at 44
Thora Birch is back on the red carpet 33 years after starring in the original Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus.
Birch, 44, who played young Dani Dennison in the original 1993 film, went on to successful roles in films like American Beauty and Ghost World. In more recent years, she appeared on The Walking Dead and in Kristen Stewart‘s directorial debut, The Chronology of Water. While the star tends to fly under the Hollywood radar, she made a rare exception to attend the 2026 AFI Fest premiere of The Mosquito Bowl at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. While Birch is in her forties these days, you can still see that little girl in her face to fame in Hocus Pocus.
Alberto Rodriguez / Getty Images
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Birch Has Dipped Her Toes into DirectingWhile Birch is best known for her roles in front of the camera, the actress has achieved one of her childhood dreams: directing. She shared in an interview with For Women First that she first wanted to direct at age 10. Several decades later, she fulfilled that dream when she made her directorial debut with The Gabby Petito Story in 2022.
“The way I pursued my acting career was that I wanted to try all genres, do a little bit of everything. With directing, I don’t have a mapped-out plan. I’m not looking to only do certain types of film or have a tonal calling card. While I do respect so many directors who do have that, I think I’d like to be playful in the same way that I was with my choices in my acting career.”
Is Thora Birch Appearing in Hocus Pocus 3?Disney+ is currently developing Hocus Pocus 3, and Birch has said she’s willing to consider reprising her beloved role in the third round of the spooky flick.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Birch said she wants to know what the script will have to say for Dani, noting, “Yeah, I’d like to know what they land on for how Dani wound up. I’m super open to the idea.”
While Birch was just 11 when the film came out, she was devastated at how it bombed at the box office. However, it’s garnered such a tremendous following over the years that the film is now thought to be a classic.
“It was so devastating when it first came out. It was such a bomb, and we were all bummed because we loved making it,” Birch reflected. “We were like, ‘What, you don’t like it?’ and then ten years later they’re like, ‘Oh my God, are you that girl from ‘Hocus Pocus.’”
If you missed the original, check out the trailer below:
Related: Your Nostalgic Halloween Movie, Based on Your Birth Month
1986 Soft Rock Hit, Which Dethroned Madonna for No. 1, Named One of Yacht Rock’s Top 5 Duets
In June 1986, Madonna topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “Live to Tell.” The following week, Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald’s “On My Own” took over the No. 1 spot, beginning a three-week run at the summit.
Now, nearly 40 years later, the emotional ballad has earned another distinction: Grunge has named it one of the five best yacht-rock duets, praising its portrayal of a relationship coming to an end.
But interestingly, the hit almost didn’t become a duet at all.
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‘On My Own’ Wasn’t Originally Meant to Be a DuetBurt Bacharach and his then-wife and songwriter, Carole Bayer Sager, wrote “On My Own” for LaBelle, who loved the song while they were still writing it.
“We played it for Patti (LaBelle) in various stages of writing it. She loved it. She said, ‘When it’s finished, I’ll cut it,’” Sager recalled in The Billboard Book of Number One Hits.
The song went through a complicated recording process before Bacharach and Bayer Sager took over production themselves. Even after LaBelle recorded her vocals, the writers felt something was missing.
“I still heard it as a duet,” Bayer Sager recalled. “It was crying out for a male voice.”
They approached McDonald to contribute vocals, initially expecting him to make a smaller appearance on the track. Still, his voice worked so well alongside LaBelle’s that his role expanded into a full duet.
Why Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald Recorded SeparatelyLaBelle recorded her part in Philadelphia, while McDonald added his vocals in Los Angeles. The two singers didn’t meet in person until after the song had become a hit.
McDonald later explained to People that recording separately suited their different approaches to singing. LaBelle was known for her powerful voice and improvisation, while McDonald preferred a more measured approach.
“Patti’s such a formidable live performer and such an artist at improvisation,” McDonald said about his first solo No. 1 hit. “I don’t think she sings any song the same way twice.”
He was also candid about his own reservations.
“I was kind of happy I didn’t have to go one-on-one with her in the studio and try to keep up with her at the microphone!”
Rather than competing with LaBelle’s performance, McDonald used her existing vocal as a guide for his own, creating the sense of a conversation between two people facing the end of a relationship.
The Ballad That Dethroned MadonnaReleased in 1986, “On My Own” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, starting June 14. It replaced Madonna’s “Live to Tell” at the top of the chart and remained on the Hot 100 for 23 weeks.
The song’s success also demonstrated the staying power of Bacharach and Bayer Sager’s songwriting. The pair had already scored a major hit that year with Dionne Warwick and friends on “That’s What Friends Are For.”
For LaBelle, the song offered a chance to show restraint as well as vocal power, and though she loved it, its success came as a surprise.
“The success of ‘On My Own’ came as a shock,” LaBelle said, per Songfacts. “I don’t record for commercial value. With ‘On My Own’, I went into the studio thinking, ‘I’m gonna record something I love.’ Usually, if I love it, it bubbles under. And I was surprised it made a hit.”
Why ‘On My Own’ Still ResonatesGrunge pointed to the song’s emotional tension as a key part of its appeal. LaBelle and McDonald trade lines that convey both regret and acceptance, capturing the complicated feelings that can follow a breakup.
The song’s recording history adds another layer to that story: Two singers on opposite coasts created a duet without sharing a studio.
Their voices ultimately came together onstage for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson after the single had already become a hit.
Now, nearly four decades later, “On My Own” remains a memorable example of how two distinct voices can turn a song about separation into a lasting musical connection.
