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More than six decades after it first aired on CBS, The Dick Van Dyke Show remains one of television’s most respected sitcoms.

The classic comedy, which ran from 1961 to 1966, was ranked No. 11 on Rolling Stone‘s list of the 100 Best Sitcoms of All Time, placing it among some of the most important comedy series ever made.

Created and produced by Carl Reiner, the sitcom starred Dick Van Dyke as television comedy writer Rob Petrie and Mary Tyler Moore as his wife, Laura Petrie. Its story moved between Rob’s work in a New York City writers’ room and his family life in suburban New Rochelle, New York.

That simple setup helped make the series different from many sitcoms of its time. Rolling Stone described The Dick Van Dyke Show as the first real workplace sitcom, noting that its blend of slapstick, wordplay and sophistication continues to influence television comedies.

From ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ episode “The Death of the Party,” featuring Pitt Herbert as Paul, Jane Dulo as Margaret, Willard Waterman as Uncle Harold, and Dick Van Dyke as Rob Petrie, photographed on Oct. 27, 1964.

Photo by CBS via Getty Images

The show first premiered on Oct. 3, 1961, and ended on June 1, 1966, after five seasons and 158 half-hour episodes. Even after its original run ended, its reputation continued to grow. The series won 15 Emmy Awards and earned high rankings on several major lists of the greatest television programs ever made.

At the center of The Dick Van Dyke Show was Rob Petrie, the head writer of the fictional variety program The Alan Brady Show. His co-workers included comedy writers Buddy Sorrell, played by Morey Amsterdam, and Sally Rogers, played by Rose Marie. Richard Deacon played producer Mel Cooley, while Carl Reiner appeared as the demanding star Alan Brady.

At home, Rob lived with Laura and their son, Ritchie, played by Larry Mathews. Their neighbors and close friends, Millie and Jerry Helper, were also part of the show’s world.

The series drew much of its story material from Reiner’s own experience as a television writer. Before creating the sitcom, Reiner had worked as an actor and writer on Sid Caesar’s variety programs Your Show of Shows and Caesar’s Hour. He originally planned to play Rob Petrie himself.

That version became the 1960 pilot Head of the Family, but it did not succeed. Producer Sheldon Leonard believed the central character needed to be played by another actor. Reiner then reworked the project, with Dick Van Dyke taking over the lead role.

Reiner praised Van Dyke’s performance, saying, “There’s no way I could ever have brought to this part what Dick Van Dyke did. He was masterful. I think he’s the best light situation comedy performer who ever lived.”

The decision changed the course of the series. Van Dyke brought physical comedy, timing and energy to Rob Petrie, helping turn the character into one of classic television’s best-known sitcom leads.

PBS has pointed to Van Dyke’s physical comedy as an important part of the show’s lasting appeal. The famous opening credits, in which Rob enters his home, kisses Laura and then tumbles over the living room ottoman, became one of the most recognizable moments in classic sitcom history.

In 2002, TV Guide placed the series at No. 13 on its list of the 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. In 2013, it ranked No. 20 on the magazine’s list of the 60 Best Series. That same year, the Writers Guild of America placed it at No. 14 on its list of the 101 Best Written TV Series.

The show’s cast also helped establish its place in television history. Moore’s Laura Petrie was more than simply Rob’s wife, while Rose Marie’s Sally Rogers was one of the show’s writers. Rose Marie later said that the role inspired women who wanted to become writers.

The sitcom also gave audiences a workplace filled with different personalities. Buddy Sorrell’s constant jokes about Mel Cooley created one of the show’s recurring comic relationships, while Sally brought another strong voice to the writers’ room.

The success of The Dick Van Dyke Show also helped launch the careers of its stars. Moore later became the lead of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, while Van Dyke went on to star in films including Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He also became widely known for Diagnosis: Murder and many other television and film appearances.

In December 2025, Van Dyke celebrated his 100th birthday. Actress Michele Lee, who appeared with him in the 1969 film The Comic, recently recalled attending his private birthday gathering. She said only a small group of relatives, grandchildren and the barbershop singers who regularly perform with Van Dyke were there.

The celebration offered another reminder of how long Van Dyke’s career has lasted. But his place in television history was established much earlier, when The Dick Van Dyke Show introduced audiences to Rob Petrie and his unusual mix of workplace problems, family situations and physical comedy.

Related: ’60s CBS Sitcom, Ranked Among ‘Best’ TV Shows of All Time, Still Holds Up 58 Years Later

For years, the search for the next James Bond has played out in public, and casting rumors have largely been met with studio silence. Now the star of a very different spy franchise says that search is over, and the answer just hasn’t been announced yet.

Speaking with Canada’s The Morning Show, Gary Oldman said Amazon MGM Studios has already selected its new 007, pointing to his “Slow Horses” co-star Jack Lowden as his personal pick for the role. Oldman told the outlet, “They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet.” He added that his fingers are crossed for Lowden specifically.

Fans and Bond-watchers spent the following day parsing whether Oldman had accidentally confirmed casting news the studio has spent months trying to keep under wraps. Amazon MGM has not responded publicly to Oldman’s remarks, and no formal announcement has been made.

Lowden, 36, has spent recent years earning acclaim as River Cartwright in “Slow Horses,” Apple TV+‘s adaptation of Mick Herron‘s spy novels, where he stars alongside Oldman. He has also drawn attention for his marriage to actress Saoirse Ronan, who recently said she was serious about wanting to play a future Bond villain, a detail that has only added fuel to the speculation.

But that’s obviously not the only name that has circulated. Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Harris Dickinson have all been reported at various points as contenders, with auditions reportedly taking place over the summer under the direction of Denis Villeneuve, who is set to direct the new film. Steven Knight, the writer behind “Peaky Blinders,” has been confirmed to pen the script.

Lowden has spent the past several years building a reputation as one of British television’s most reliable leading men. Beyond “Slow Horses,” he has appeared in “Dunkirk,” “Mary Queen of Scots” and the BBC‘s “War & Peace,” earning a BAFTA nomination along the way. He married actress Saoirse Ronan in 2025, and the two have increasingly been mentioned together in Bond speculation, especially after Ronan told Empire she would jump at the chance to play a future 007 villain.

The casting search is the first since Amazon MGM took full creative control of the franchise from longtime stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, a change that has kept fans especially attentive to every hint about the direction of the character following Daniel Craig‘s exit from the role in 2021’s “No Time to Die.”

An official announcement, whenever it comes, will settle a debate that has now stretched across actors and, as of this week, one very outspoken supporting cast member of a rival spy franchise.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley had a historic season in his first year in the City of Brotherly Love—and his net worth shot up thanks to it. Barkley is just the ninth player in NFL history to hit 2,000 rushing yards in a season. He probably would’ve broken the single-season record set by Eric Dickerson if the Birds didn’t rest their starters against the New York Giants—Barkley’s former team.

“Historic” is a word used often with Barkley. You can find his name all over the Penn State record books from his collegiate playing days, and he was one of the most coveted recruits coming out of high school. After an injury-riddled career with the Giants, who drafted Barkley second overall in 2018, the team and his agent couldn’t agree on a contract. Barkley flew the coop, signing a $38 million deal with the Eagles, a longtime Giants rival. 

It’s safe to say the Eagles have no regrets. Barkley’s Pro Bowl season helped lift Philadelphia to an NFC Championship and a Super Bowl title. (Incidentally, the Giants didn’t make the playoffs.)

“I’m really not surprised by any of this, and I don’t say that in an arrogant way,” Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman told ESPN. “It’s based on who he is, nothing to do with me because this is who he’s always been.”

Keep reading to find out how much Saquon Barkley is earning and what his net worth is in 2026.

Related: Who Is Saquon Barkley’s Fiancée? All About the Football Player’s Relationship With Anna Congdon

Where did Saquon Barkley play high school football?

Saquon Barkley starred at Whitehall High School in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. Barkley’s Eagles signing marked a homecoming for the running back, who posted 3,646 rushing yards and 63 touchdowns from his sophomore to senior seasons, according to ESPN. He also ran track and played basketball, but decided to pursue football in college. Barkley was a four-star recruit (out of five stars); he committed to Penn State.

Where did Saquon Barkley go to college?

Saquon Barkley played college football at Penn State from 2015-17. He made the Happy Valley faithful very happy indeed, putting his stamp on a litany of pages in the program’s record book. 

According to the NCAA, Barkley graduated as the Penn State leader in the following stats:

• Rushing touchdowns (43)
• Total touchdowns (53)
• All-purpose yards (5,538)
• Consecutive games scoring a touchdown (15)

And that’s just a tiny snapshot of the benchmarks Barkley set in three years as a Nittany Lion. Barkley was also named a finalist for the Heisman in 2017, the sport’s highest honor. With his stock high, Barkley declared for the NFL Draft after his junior year.

What is Saquon Barkley’s net worth in 2026? Saquon Barkley helped earn the Philadelphia Eagles a Super Bowl title in 2025.

Photo by Icon Sportswire on Getty Images

Saquon Barkley’s net worth is estimated at around $30 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Barkley reportedly takes a wide-lens view of his finances.

“Once I realized when I declared for the NFL draft and kind of realized where I was going to be drafted, that was something I was like, ‘You know what? [I] kind of want to follow the Marshawn Lynch method. I don’t want to touch that,'” Barkley told ESPN before he signed his rookie contract with New York. “I want to invest it, put it in the right people’s hands and learn as I continue to make investments and just live off the endorsement deals.”

Related: Peyton Manning’s Net Worth and How Much He Made as a Star Quarterback

What team first signed Saquon Barkley?

The New York Giants selected Barkley out of Penn State with the second pick in the 2018 NFL draft. While his career would be riddled with injuries, it got off to a good start. Barkley posted his first touchdown on a 68-yard rush in the Giants’ season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Barkley rushed for over 1,000 yards that season, becoming the first Giants rookie to hit that mark. He went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year and earn a Pro Bowl selection.

How much did Saquon Barkley make with the Giants?

After hearing his name called as the second pick in the NFL Draft, Barkley signed a four-year deal with the New York Giants. NFL.com reported it was worth $31.2 million guaranteed. The Giants announced they’d picked up the option for Barkley’s fifth year in April of 2021. In 2023, Giants brass said they put a non-exclusive franchise tag on Barkley, which he agreed to when they tweaked it to have $2 million in a signing bonus, plus incentives. 

Why did the Giants let Saquon Barkley go?

The Giants decided not to put another franchise tag on Saquon Barkley in 2024, which would’ve cost the organization $12.1 million, per an ESPN report. The two sides could not agree on a deal, and the Giants decided to let Barkley give free agency a try to let the market dictate his value. On the show Hard Knocks, fans got a behind-the-scenes look at the process in a phone call between Giants general manager Joe Schoen and Barkley’s agent, Ed Berry.

“I’m torn, Ed, because I still think he can play, and I think he can help us, but I didn’t want to comment on numbers,” Schoen tells Berry during the call that aired on the show. “I don’t have a great idea where the market is. That’s why I’m going to let the league tell him what it is…If you want to come back and be a Giant, let’s try to find something that makes sense. If we’re close, then let’s have a conversation because, again, I do think he was our best offensive player.”

Here’s the phone call between #Giants GM Joe Schoen and Saquon Barkley when he was told he would be allowed to become a free agent.

Schoen asked Barkley if he could get his word on circling back to them during the process.

This is tremendous access.pic.twitter.com/wxt19WoY3J

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 10, 2024 What is Saquon Barkley’s salary with the Philadelphia Eagles?

Barkley inked a $37.75 million three-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in March of 2024, ending his tenure with the Giants. However, Barkley’s last season was a massive success, which will net him more income in seasons to come, no doubt.

CBS Sports contributor Joel Corry, a former NFL agent, reported Barkley earned $250,000 in incentives for surpassing 1,000 rushing yards and helping Philly win the NFC Championship. The latter will be a gift that keeps on giving—Barkley increased his base salary by $250,000 in 2025 and 2026, each for the NFC Championship win, as well as postseason bonuses for the Super Bowl win.

Related: Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes Has a Super Net Worth

How long is Saquon Barkley’s contract with the Eagles?

Barkley’s contract with the Eagles is for three years, taking him through the 2026-27 NFL season.

How many houses does Saquon Barkley own?

Barkley is tight-lipped on his portfolio, but he appears to own one home right now. Barkley purchased a home in Whitehall, close to where he grew up, in 2018. It’s now valued at $728,000, according to Redfin. According to Zillow, Barkley’s North Jersey home sold for $3.1 million in July of 2024, shortly after the running back skipped town to play for the Eagles. 

Barkley also fulfilled a lifelong promise to his parents in 2018 when he purchased a home for them.

“I’ve been promising my mom, I think since I could talk, honestly 2 or 3 years old—I know it sounds crazy, but I swear I’m not lying to you guys—that I’m going to buy [my mom] a house one day,” Barkley told ESPN. “My family has been through so much and made so many sacrifices for my brothers and sisters.”

Is Saquon Barkley married?

No, Saquon Barkley is not currently married; however, he is engaged to his college sweetheart, Anna Congdon.

Related: Jalen Hurts Got a Massive Contract Bump From the Philadelphia Eagles That Set His Net Worth Soaring

When it comes to mega-ship cruising, half the fun of being at sea is discovering your new favorite watering hole. Whether your vacation speed leans toward a quiet glass of Barolo with sweeping sunset views or an over-the-top tropical concoction sipped in a pool lounger, cruise lines are constantly racing to elevate their onboard nightlife.

Now, MSC Cruises is significantly raising the stakes.

The cruise line has pulled back the curtain on five brand-new, immersive bar and lounge concepts debuting aboard its upcoming flagship, MSC World Asia. Setting sail on seven-night Mediterranean itineraries beginning December 4, 2026, the vessel will mark the third ship in MSC’s architectural World Class series.

Altogether, MSC World Asia will house an eye-popping collection of 40 bars, lounges, and cafés. But it’s these five newly announced venues—part of 13 entirely fresh and reimagined spaces compared to its predecessor, MSC World Europa—that promise to shake up the onboard social scene for families, cocktail aficionados, and wine lovers alike.

Related: MSC Reveals First-of-Its-Kind Pan-Asian Street Food Pavilion Coming to New Megaship

A Nostalgic 1980s Soda Bar for the Whole Family

MSC Cruises

One of the most buzzworthy additions is the Clubhouse and Soda Bar, a playful, colorful space designed around peak 1980s and ’90s nostalgia. Tapping straight into the viral “dirty soda” trend, guests can play barista by concocting custom non-alcoholic creations—layering bubbly soda bases with sweet creams, flavored syrups, and fun toppings.

By day, the venue functions as an active entertainment zone where families can hang out with MSC-themed interactive digital game tables, head to an adjacent LEGO area, or let loose on bumper cars at The Court. By evening, the vibe shifts into a buzzing all-ages hangout pouring both mocktails and craft cocktails.

Related: The New MSC World Asia Is Turning The Entire Ship Into Your Family Game Room

Sleek Mixology and Sky-High Drama

MSC Cruises

For travelers seeking upscale, theatrical pours before a big evening show, the Sky Box Bar inside the high-energy Luna Park Arena takes inspiration from early 20th-century Futurism. Guests can expect inventive mixology theater—with bartenders shaking, smoking, and presenting modern twists on classic tipples—in an intimate setting built for pre-theater aperitifs or late-night nightcaps.

Golden Hour Spritzes and Poolside Escapes

MSC Cruises

Honoring the cruise line’s Mediterranean heritage, The Terraces Bar & Lounge leans all the way into the art of the Italian aperitivo. Framed by panoramic ocean views and outdoor terrace seating, guests can sip classic Negronis, crisp Aperol Spritzes, and sparkling prosecco paired with traditional small bites like warm focaccia and marinated olives. Wine enthusiasts will also find expert-led tasting sessions highlighting regional bottles sourced directly from the cruise’s port destinations, all soundtracked by live evening music.

If you prefer your drinks served steps from the water, the Coral Cove Bar brings a sun-soaked, resort-style escape to the pool deck. Inspired by the vibrant marine colors of a Philippine coral reef, it provides an easygoing poolside retreat to grab chilled, tropical pours between swims.

Related: MSC Seashore Introduces Free Poolside BBQ and Chicken Venues

Street Food Sips Along the Promenade

MSC Cruises

Rounding out the fresh lineup is the Pan Asian Bar, anchoring the ship’s new Pan Asian Street Food dining concept along the bustling indoor Promenade. The cocktail menu draws flavor inspiration directly from Southeast Asia, serving up inventive creations like Jasmine Mojitos, Rose and Strawberry Daiquiris, and creamy Matcha Coladas. Craft beer drinkers can also sample bottles from across the continent alongside “Oceanic Asian,” a proprietary draft beer brewed directly at sea with delicate oriental tasting notes.

These five fresh concepts will join a lineup of beloved MSC staples—including the bubbly-centric Fizz Champagne Bar, the artisanal Coffee Emporium, the All-Stars Sports Bar, and the Masters of the Sea microbrewery.

When MSC World Asia makes its grand debut in late 2026, it will sail week-long Mediterranean voyages calling on iconic cultural hubs like Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina, and Valletta—giving cruisers plenty of reasons to raise a glass both on shore and out at sea.

Related: 5 Idyllic Cruise Itineraries I’d Book from MSC’s Just-Released Winter Season

Toni Braxton is still on a high as a newlywed. Just a month after commemorating her second wedding anniversary with rapper Birdman, the “Unbreak My Heart” singer was seen in a video Birdman posted in a rare glimpse on Instagram

Dressed in a camouflage jacket with shades, while her husband wore a similar shaded jacket and sunglasses, the two relaxed in a car. “GCODE,” Birdman captioned the video as Braxton played with her hair. 

The couple secretly wed in August 2024. Braxton shared rare photos from their private nuptials on Instagram to celebrate their second wedding anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 8. “Celebrating two years of bliss. Happy Anniversary 🤍,” the Braxton Family Values staple wrote. The post featured two solo shots of her wearing a sparkling gown with ornate floral and sequin embellishments, and full bridal glam makeup. She also donned a veil in her updo and diamond earrings. 

After rumors of them dating ran wild, they made their red carpet debut at the 2016 BET Awards, shocking fans. Many believed they were an odd pairing. The two collaborated on Birdman’s 2002 single “Baby You Can Do It” and maintained a close friendship before things turned romantic, with Braxton sharing that Birdman was supportive of her amid a lupus crisis. Birdman appeared in a few episodes of Braxton’s We TV reality series.

Their relationship has had ups and downs, splitting and then reconciling within a year of their engagement. Another hiccup ensued when TMZ confirmed via court documents that Braxton filed for divorce just two weeks after her wedding. In the docs, Braxton and her attorney called the marriage “irretrievably broken” and listed their date of separation to be Aug. 10, 2024 — just two days after the wedding. She dismissed her divorce petition five months after it was filed.

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Even though we’ve passed Labor Day, you can still get away with wearing sandals during late summer and early fall. And as the hot weather lingers, Walmart is offering unbeatable deals on summer and fall shoe styles. The retailer is selling everything from Skechers supportive sneakers to gorgeous slides that look designer-inspired. Now, we’re adding the Clarks Cloudsteppers Mira Bay Flat Sandals to our carts to upgrade our seasonal wardrobes while they’re nearly 30% off. 

The sandals originally cost as much as $70, but have been reduced to $50 in medium and wide sizes. The available sizes range from 5 to 11, including select half sizes. Shoppers said that the Clarks run slightly large, so we recommend taking advantage of the size guide and fit predictor so that you get it right on your first order. The sandals are being sold in a classic taupe hue, which shoppers said will “look good with any outfit.”

Clarks Cloudsteppers Mira Bay Flat Sandals, $50 (were $70) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The style has adjustable velcro straps on the top of the foot and the back of the ankle to keep your feet secure while moving around. This makes them perfect for long walks and different terrains like grass, concrete, and hills. Just remember that there’s minimal traction on the rubber outsole, so don’t wear them on intense hikes or on slippery rocks! The cushioned foam insole is shock-absorbent to put less stress on your feet when walking, making them perfect for all day wear. 

The footwear is made from a breathable textile upper that prevents your feet from overheating on warm days, so they’re a great option for the summer-to-fall transition period. There’s an approximate 1.6-inch platform heel that gives you height, stability, and an overall trendy look. Shoppers can’t believe “how comfortable” the shoes are, and luckily, every size is currently in stock. 

Due to the fact that the sandals are so versatile, you can easily pair them with loungewear, trousers, shorts, and even dresses. Clarks have a reputation for being supportive, dependable, and long-lasting, so you can wear them for years to come. If this particular style doesn’t spark your interest, we’ve also been loving the brand’s lightweight slip-on sneakers and charming leather booties. 

Shop More Deals 

• Beranmey Flower Print Slippers, $12 (was $26) at Walmart
• Free Assembly Tiered Smocked Mini Dress, $5 (was $30) at Walmart
• Dr. Scholl’s Webster Loafers, $55 (were $80) at Walmart

It’s the perfect time to curate your fall wardrobe, and where better to start than with stylish footwear that you can count on? These sleek Clarks sandals are super convenient and can be thrown on when you’re running out the door. Make sure to shop them while they’re just $50 at Walmart! 

Related: Walmart’s ‘Beautiful and Spacious’ $35 4-Tier Bookshelf Brings Rustic Charm to Small Spaces

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Kimberly Van Der Beek jumped on the latest social media photo trend to pay tribute to her late husband, James Van Der Beek. The mother of six created a new memory by using AI to create a picture of herself with the Dawson’s Creek star from the 80s.

“Felt like a solid use of AI today,” Kimberly, 44, wrote over a post to her Instagram Stories on September 8 that compiled five AI-generated photos of herself and her husband. The actor died in February from complications related to colorectal cancer.

“If James and I were doing our thing in the 80s,” she wrote beneath the image gallery. The trend reimagines social media users dressed in various 80s attire. In Kimberly’s post, the couple donned double denim, loose-fitting white shirts, chunky belts and cowboy hats. “Typing into ChatGPT what would I have looked like in the 80s,” she wrote in another section of the photo collage.

The post is her latest tribute, coming one month after celebrating what would have been their 16th wedding anniversary. “16 years ago I was the luckiest woman in the world to marry @vanderjames,” she captioned her Instagram tribute on August 1. “The beauty (Save big on beauty and personal care at CVS 💄) of this marriage continues to unfold everyday with all these incredible children we have. He continues to be present and guide us. I’m eternally grateful.”

Kimberly confirmed her husband’s death in a shared statement on social media posted on February 11. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” she wrote at the time. “There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”

In the early 1980s, Richard Gere was already a familiar face in Hollywood, but he was not yet a true leading man. That all changed in 1982 with the film An Officer and a Gentleman. The Academy Award-winning film made Gere a major movie star—and it remains a fan favorite 44 years later.

Starring Gere as Navy officer candidate Zack Mayo, the film featured Debra Winger as his love interest, Paula Pokrifki, a local factory worker. Louis Gossett Jr. also co-starred as hard-nosed Sergeant Foley, giving the film a compelling mix of drama and romance that resonated with audiences. Its iconic ending scene showed Mayo arriving at the factory where Paula worked, wearing his Navy whites, and sweeping her into his arms as her co-workers cheered. The Joe Cocker-Jennifer Warnes song “Up Where You Belong“ played as Mayo carried his love off into the sunset.

An Officer and a Gentleman has a score of  79% on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning 79 percent of the counted critics gave it a positive rating. In addition, in 2026 Time Out ranked the film among the best romantic movies of all time, noting that the Taylor Hackford film delivered “more grit than a payload of weepy master Nicholas Sparks’ adaptations.”

Gere looked back on the making of An Officer and a Gentleman in an interview with GoldenGlobes.com.

“It was a very small budget,” the actor said of the film. “My recollection is that the script was played out beautifully, we didn’t have to make a lot of changes during the shooting. We were on location in a place called Port Townsend, Washington, and it was very far away from the modern world. It was a stretch of coastline, very rough, difficult.”

“The fact that we were all young actors at that point and had enormous energy and passion, I think it really fulfilled all of us,” Gere added of the cast, which also included David Keith, Lisa Blount, and Lisa Eilbacher.

The actor initially took issue with the film’s ending, which he felt was too sentimental.

“I went to Taylor and we were going to shoot this really tough movie,” Gere told Film Festival Traveler. “After we shot [the ending], I still didn’t think it would work. Ironically, the early cuts of the film had different music and it didn’t work. For me it didn’t work. Then it was this music but a different tempo and it didn’t work. And I came in to see one cut that had this tempo and I got chills on the back of my neck seeing it because everything was right all of a sudden. Something about the tempo of the music brought everything together.”

Over 40 years after its release, An Officer and a Gentleman remains a timeless classic. Gere told GoldenGlobes.com that when he rewatched the film decades later, he was amazed by how “modern” it still felt.

“The energy in the way it was shot, the rhythms of it are very modern,” he shared. “It didn’t feel like something from many decades ago. It had a contemporary feel. It still does.”

Related: 1998 Tom Hanks Film Ranked Among ‘Best Movies of the 1990s’—Despite 69% on Rotten Tomatoes

A few years ago, all eyes were on Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback who led his team to the Super Bowl for both the 2022 and 2024 seasons—twice in his five-year tenure. With his team’s commanding 40-22 victory over former NFL champions the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, Hurts entered the upper echelons of NFL superstars.

How much is he paid for his skills on the field? Here’s everything to know about Jalen Hurts’ salary and net worth.

Related: Who Is Eagles QB Jalen Hurts’ Wife? Everything To Know About Bryonna Burrows

Where did Jalen Hurts play college football?

Growing up the son of a high-school football coach, it’s not surprising Jalen Hurts wound up playing professionally. Hurts was initially recruited by the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide, where he joined the freshman team in 2016. By the second game of his freshman career, Hurts had landed the starting quarterback role, making him the first true freshman in the position in Alabama in 32 years. By the end of that season, Hurts’ breakout performance had landed him SEC Offensive Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year and several Freshman All-American callouts from publications—including a cover page of Sports Illustrated College Football Playoff magazine.

For his senior year, Hurts transferred to the University of Oklahoma to play on the Oklahoma Sooners. Hurts started out strong, setting Oklahoma’s single-game yardage record in a debut game. By the end of that year, he had led the team to a Big 12 Championship, as well as securing a well-earned spot in the College Football Playoff tournament.

What is Jalen Hurts’ net worth in 2026?

Jalen Hurts’ net worth in 2026 is $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Hurts has earned this major payday mainly through his success as the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. However, some of this money also comes from his endorsement deals, including a lucrative one with Nike’s Jordan brand.

When did the Eagles sign Jalen Hurts?

Jalen Hurts was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as part of the 2020 NFL draft. He was the 53rd overall pick in the second round. Hurts was initially the third-string quarterback behind Nate Sudfeld and starter Carson Wentz. But in December 2020, he relieved Wentz due to the former QB’s weak performance against the Green Bay Packers and quickly proved himself to be an invaluable asset.

Upon his initial signing with the Eagles, Hurts was given a four-year $6 million contract. This came with $2.8 million in guaranteed money and a $1.9 million signing bonus.

How much is Jalen Hurts getting paid with the Eagles?

In April 2023, Jalen Hurts signed a five-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles that made him the then-highest paid player annually in the NFL. This contract was for $255 million total, a massive step up from the $6 million contract he initially signed in 2020. The contract earns him around $51 million each year, with guaranteed money in the amount of $110 million. He’s also eligible to earn $15 million in incentives over the years.

Related: Tom Brady’s Net Worth From the Patriots, Bucs and Broadcasting Career Following His Retirement From the NFL

When is Jalen Hurts’ contract up?

Jalen Hurts signed a new five-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in April 2023. This contract, complete with an Eagles’ first no-trade clause, secures Hurts’ position with the team until the 2028 season. Hurts has proven his worth to the Eagles time and time again, including a franchise-first 10-game winning streak in the 2024 season, ending in an NFL championship in Super Bowl LIX.

How many endorsements does Jalen Hurts have?

As one of the best quarterbacks currently playing for the NFL, Jalen Hurts has naturally been offered many endorsement deals with top companies. In 2023, Hurts signed an endorsement deal with Nike’s Jordan Brand. While Hurts and Nike have both kept silent on the deal’s worth, one can imagine it has to be fairly lucrative.

That same year, he also signed a deal with streaming-stalwart Hulu. In addition, the QB was a brand ambassador for Pepsi at one point. He also has or previously had endorsements with Lemon Perfect, Lincoln Financial Group, Columbia Sportswear, Oakley, Gillette, Kellogg, Keurig and EastBay.

In a different kind of endorsement, Hurts has been a major advocate for women in sports, going as far as to hire an all-female management team for his communications, marketing, social media and even his sports agent team.

Is Jalen Hurts married?

Yes! Jalen Hurts is currently married to his college sweetheart, Bryonna “Bry” Rivera Burrows. The couple tied the knot on June 14, 2025.

Related: How Much Does Andy Reid Make as the Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach? Find Out His Salary and Net Worth in 2026

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Owning breathable clothing is a must when the weather is warm. There’s nothing worse than overheating from heavy clothing, which is why we opt for lightweight fabrics that look and feel great during summer and early fall. Thanks to Walmart, you can shop for wardrobe staples at incredible discounts. One style we’re rushing to add to our carts is the Viadha Cotton Linen Pants, which are on sale for a newsworthy price right now.

The pants initially cost $15, but have been reduced to as low as $3 in the army green colorway. The style is being sold in 30 fun colors, from classic whites and blacks to vibrant greens and blues, with the sale price ranging between $5 and $6.

Viadha Cotton Linen Pants, From $3 (were $4) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The sizes range from small to 4XL, with shoppers writing that they’re the “perfect” length and overall true to size. The pants are made from 95% cotton and linen, so they’re extremely breathable.

The design features a classic drawstring waist that you can adjust to your comfort and a trendy wide-leg. The beauty of a wide-leg pant is that you’ll be able to pair it with any shoe, including sneakers, sandals, and more.

Viadha Cotton Linen Pants, From $3 (were $4) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The style has a loose fit with a high-rise cut that lays just below the belly button. These versatile pants are perfect for vacations, lounging, and just everyday wear. Another bonus? Most size and color combinations are still in stock right now, so you’ll have your pick of dozens of hues.

Shoppers described the pants as “pretty,” “very comfortable,” “amazing,” “airy,” “cool,” and “lightweight.” Some customers even purchased multiple colors for different occasions, because you can easily “dress them up or dress them down.” The material is slightly thin, but reviewers assured that they’re not see-through. Plus, they’d take up little to no room in your suitcase if you’re traveling.

Related: Walmart’s Ribbed Tunic Top Is an Elevated Take on a Fall Layering Staple for Under $15

These flowy linen pants are about to become your late summer and early fall staple. Add them to your wardrobe for as low as $3 at Walmart now! 

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Not all movies are good ones, as Jim Carrey knows. Despite some major hits with The Mask and The Truman Show, the comedic actor turned to a serious role in 2016 with Dark Crimes. It quickly proved to be a mistake.

This had nothing to do with Carrey’s acting abilities. There was a lot wrong with the thriller. So much so that it came out with a 0% Rotten Tomatoes score, and it sits on the list of one of the worst movies ever made at No. 11. It goes down as one of the lowest-rated films Carrey has done in his career, and he’s a man willing to take risks.

Dark Crimes was based on a true story, adapted from the 2008 New Yorker article by David Grann, “True Crime: A Postmodern Murder Mystery.” The story follows an author, Krystian Bala, who writes a novel that closely follows an unsolved murder. As the police delved into the details, they realized he was writing from experience.

To step away from his usual comedy, Carrey took on a completely different persona to play the role of Detective Tadek, a grim Polish investigator. Not only did he grow a heavy beard, but he also adopted a thick Eastern European accent, but it performed so poorly at the Warsaw Film Festival in 2016, where it premiered, that it struggled to gain distribution, leading to a straight to VOD release in May 2018.

The beard certainly had people talking! After filming wrapped in late 2015, Carrey decided to keep his beard, and that led to a lot of conversation when he appeared as a presenter in January 2016 for the Golden Globes. 

While critics reacted negatively to the movie itself, it wasn’t Carrey’s performance that put them off. In fact, one reviewer shared, “Dark Crimes is a film that doesn’t work with a performance that actually works pretty well.”

Another even said, “Carrey shows that he has real dramatic chops, but this is a crime thriller served cold.”

The topic of dark times and grief came up while on the press circuit, and Carrey shared how he handles it all, sharing, “I think it all leads to something beautiful eventually, so that’s kind of the attitude I come to it with. I allow myself to fall in the river of grief if that’s presented itself and get banged off the rocks until I’ve learned something and become a more well-rounded human being because of it.”

If you do want to check out Dark Crimes to create your own opinion on the film, then it is available to stream on Netflix.

Related: 1999 Keanu Reeves Movie, With an 83% Rotten Tomatoes Score, Involved 4 Months of Martial Arts Training

In 1966, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork became The Monkees, first as the stars of an NBC television series and then as a real-life band that became one of the biggest pop phenomena of the decade.

Sixty years later, Dolenz is the last surviving member of the group, following the deaths of Jones in 2012, Tork in 2019 and Nesmith in 2021.

Dolenz, 81, has spoken before about still feeling the presence of his former bandmates. But in a new interview with Billboard, he revealed the simple thing he misses most about the three men he came to consider brothers.

“The thing I miss the most is just not being able to call somebody and just say hi,” Dolenz said.

Dolenz is currently celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Monkees, which premiered on NBC on Sept. 12, 1966. His 60 Years of the Monkees concerts incorporate stories and video footage from throughout the group’s history.

That means Jones, Nesmith and Tork remain a part of the show every night.

“It’s almost like they’ve never left ’cause I’m with them every night,” Dolenz told Billboard. “I’m seeing them on the screen. I’m hearing them. People talk about it all the time.”

Dolenz said the relationship among the four Monkees ultimately became much like a family.

“We were really like brothers, ultimately,” he said. “And, like brothers, we fought sometimes, but you can’t go through something like we did and not be that close to one another.”

It’s a sentiment Dolenz has expressed before. In an August interview with AARP, he acknowledged feeling “a little melancholy sometimes” as the last surviving Monkee, but said the wealth of music and video they created together makes it feel “like they’re still there.”

Related: Micky Dolenz Mourns the Loss of ‘Rare Songwriter’ Who ‘Showed Up’ For Davy Jones

The group’s beginnings were anything but conventional. Dolenz, Jones, Nesmith and Tork were cast individually for The Monkees, a musical comedy about four aspiring musicians living together in a Malibu beach house. Dolenz has recalled that he didn’t even meet his future bandmates until a wardrobe fitting for the pilot.

But the fictional group soon became a very real one.

The Monkees released their self-titled debut album in October 1966, and it reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. “Last Train to Clarksville” became their first No. 1 single, followed later that year by the chart-topping “I’m a Believer.”

Dolenz previously recalled that Nesmith had the perfect description for the unusual transformation from television creation to genuine touring band: It was “like Pinocchio becoming a real little boy.”

The anniversary has given Dolenz plenty of reasons to look backward, but he continues to make new music as well.

His six-song EP Timeless arrived Sept. 4 and features songs written by an impressive collection of musicians, including Paul Westerberg, the Bangles’ Vicki Peterson, XTC’s Andy Partridge and the late Adam Schlesinger.

Dolenz told Billboard that the title deliberately nods to the Monkees’ six-decade history.

“Timeless refers to the 60 years of The Monkees, of course,” he explained, adding that he believes the group’s ’60s sound, particularly its jangly guitars, “hasn’t dated that much.”

Dolenz is also continuing his anniversary tour, including a special Sept. 12 performance in Los Angeles marking exactly 60 years since The Monkees premiered on NBC.

But even as he keeps the music alive for fans six decades later, his comments about Jones, Nesmith and Tork reveal the much more personal side of carrying the Monkees’ legacy alone.

For Dolenz, his three bandmates are still part of the show every night. It’s the quieter moments away from the stage, when he can no longer simply pick up the phone and say hello, that he misses most.

Related: Micky Dolenz Reflects on the Year the Monkees Outsold the Beatles & Rolling Stones — Combined

The NFL has announced that Kentucky rock band Cage the Elephant will headline the halftime show at the 2026 NFL Munich Game, giving the Grammy-winning group a major international stage at FC Bayern Munich Arena on Nov. 15.

Cage the Elephant will perform during the game between the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions, which is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET. The performance will take place in Munich, Germany, as part of the NFL’s largest international schedule to date.

The league made the announcement on Instagram, writing: “Cage the Elephant will take the stage at the 2026 NFL Munich Game halftime show at the FC Bayern Munich Arena!”

Cage The Elephant attends the 2026 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO Presented by Capital One at The Kia Forum on Jan. 17, 2026 in Inglewood, California.

Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

The NFL’s announcement quickly drew reactions from fans and people who have worked with the band.

View this post on Instagram

One commenter referenced the band’s connection to the Borderlands video game, writing, “Oh my borderlands babies 🥲”

Another shared a personal connection to the band’s live performances, saying, “so exciting, congratulations 🎊 Loved working your show in Detroit”

Some fans also believed Cage the Elephant deserved an even bigger NFL stage.

“Should’ve been for the Super Bowl halftime show next year 🫠,” one comment said.

The decision to feature a rock band also received praise, with one fan writing, “Bringing back bands to do the show. America is healing.”

Other reactions were short but enthusiastic. One person simply wrote, “Oh hell yeah.”

Another praised the band’s place in modern rock, saying, “Cage is one of the most profilic rock bands of our generation.”

The band is set to become part of a record seven halftime shows presented by American Express during the NFL’s 2026 International Games. The performances will span seven countries across four continents as the league expands its international reach.

Cage the Elephant was formed in 2006 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The band later moved to England and settled in London before releasing its self-titled debut album in 2008.

The group has built its career around rock music while drawing from alternative rock, classic rock, punk, blues and funk. Its catalog includes albums such as Thank You, Happy Birthday, Melophobia, Tell Me I’m Pretty, Social Cues and Neon Pill, released in 2024.

The band’s success has also reached the Grammy Awards. Cage the Elephant won Best Rock Album for Tell Me I’m Pretty in 2017 and again for Social Cues in 2020.

The band has also become a strong presence on alternative radio. According to the NFL, Cage the Elephant has earned 13 No. 1 records on Alternative radio.

Frontman Matt Shultz said the upcoming halftime performance will be different from a normal concert because of the size of the audience.

“We have played a lot of shows in Germany over the years and the crowds here have always given us everything they have,” Shultz said in a statement. “Playing a halftime show is a completely different animal — you get one shot in front of a stadium and a global audience, and you have to make every second count. We are going to bring the same energy we bring to our own shows and we cannot wait.”

The NFL also pointed to Munich’s reputation for creating a strong atmosphere during international games.

“Munich has given us some of the most memorable atmospheres of any international game we have staged, and we wanted a halftime act that could meet a crowd like that head on,” said Tim Tubito, senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment at the NFL.

The 2026 NFL Munich Game will be the third regular-season NFL game held in Munich. The city previously hosted games in 2022 and 2024. Munich is also scheduled to host another NFL game in 2028 under a multi-year agreement.

The NFL has already announced several other artists for its 2026 international games. The Jonas Brothers are scheduled to perform at the Melbourne Game, Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin will appear at the Rio Game, Ayra Starr will headline the London Game and The Warning will perform at the Mexico City Game.

The league’s 2026 international schedule includes games in London, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Munich, Paris and Rio de Janeiro.

The Munich announcement comes at an active point for Cage the Elephant. The group released “Beaches in Tennessee” in July, marking its first new music in two years.

View this post on Instagram

The band is working on the follow-up to Neon Pill and has also announced its Dying In Reverse tour across the U.K. and Europe for 2027.

The 2027 tour is scheduled to begin in Berlin on Feb. 8 and includes stops in Poland, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, France and the United Kingdom. The tour will end at London’s Alexandra Palace on March 1.

Related: NFL Announces Jonas Brothers Update Before Halftime Show

When Barbara Mandrell set her sights on a sultry R&B classic in 1979, mainstream country music wasn’t quite prepared for the shake-up.

Country radio in the late ’70s was still largely defined by traditional heartbreak tunes, making Mandrell’s decision to cover an unapologetic soul track about infidelity a massive gamble. Yet the country queen took Luther Ingram‘s “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” and turned it into pure gold.

Her smoldering reimagining shocked Nashville purists and rocketed straight to the top of Billboard’s Country Chart. It reigned at the top spot for one week and lingered for 14 weeks overall. Additionally, the song became a Top 10 single on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Rolling Stone Australia ranked Mandrell’s version of the song at No. 156 of the 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time. The outlet wrote, “The track floats like Philly soul (the strings are more Barry White than Billy Sherrill) while remaining resolutely Nashville. But the song itself came from Memphis, a 1972 soul hit on Stax Records for Luther Ingram. Mandrell, eight albums in and ready for the big stage, took this pained, guilt-ridden lyric and delivered a showstopper, at once subtle and inflamed.”

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Songfacts called “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” one of the most “passionate and soulful songs ever written about cheating.” The original tune featured the story of a married man singing of his love for his mistress, but Mandrell spun the song into a woman having the same scandalous feelings.

The song was said to be inspired by the 1963 song “Man’s Temptation” by Gene Chandler. It was written by Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, and Raymond Jackson.

Mandrell’s willingness to tackle a song that was outside of traditional country, particularly for women, in the late 1970s, was a testament to her willingness to push herself as an artist.

She told The Boot in 2009, that her work ethic and determination was taught to her by her father, Irby Mandrell. The country legend explained, “He was my manager for all those years. He taught me by example, as well as by preaching to me, responsibility, being dependable, always doing your best, and always striving to get better.”

She added, “I’m a very competitive person, and I always competed with myself. Every year, I’d take six weeks with my band, crew, and choreographer to put a new show together. We’d spend eight hours per day, seven days per week, putting a show together to beat last year’s show.”

Barbara Mandrell walked away from country music after a final performance at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, in October 1997. According to The Tennessean, she hasn’t performed live since retiring.

Related: 1981’s Country Cool Classic Sent Barbara Mandrell Straight to No. 1

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. Many of us remember it like it was yesterday and yet many more have no memory of it at all as they were not born yet. It’s a day many of us will not forget and a day all of us should remember, whether we lived through it or not.

There are plenty of documentaries and films out there that recount the hours before, the minutes during, and the days after those fateful attacks, but here are just a handful of the best 9/11 documentaries out there that tell the tale of September 11, 2001, and where to stream them.

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Best 9/11 Documentaries to Stream 9/11: Reunited (2026)

Available on Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic Channel, nationalgeographic.com
This three-part documentary series shares survivors stories from 8 a.m. on Sept. 11 through 7:45 a.m. the next day.

Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror (2021)

Available on Netflix
This 5-part series examines the decades of intelligence failures leading up to the attacks and the global military response that followed.

Related: 2003 Patriotic Anthem Became One of Country Music’s Defining Post-9/11 Songs

9/11: One Day in America (2021)

Available on Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic Channel
Created in official collaboration with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, this 6-part series walks minute-by-minute through the tragedy using archival footage and raw interviews with survivors and first responders.

9/11: Inside the President’s War Room (2021)

Available on Apple TV, Prime Video
This documentary takes a look inside the executive branch during the chaotic 12 hours immediately following the first plane strike including firsthand testimony from key political figures.

102 Minutes That Changed America (2008)

Available on Tubi, Pluto TV, Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play
A real-time, uninterrupted chronicle of the events of that day, compiled completely from consumer video, news feeds, and phone recordings from people on the ground in New York City.

Related: Looking Back on the World Trade Center Attacks—Here Are 30 Newspaper Front Pages Covering 9/11

Generation 9/11 (2021)

Available on PBS.com
Nearly three thousand people died in the 9/11 attacks. Some one hundred of them were expectant fathers. PBS’s Generation 9/11 tells the stories of seven children who never met their fathers because of the terrorist attacks. Now in their twenties, they reflect on what it was like to grow up without their fathers, their relationship with 9/11, and the direction they see the world headed after 9/11.

Related: 9/11 Facts To Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Flight 93, Pentagon and World Trade Center Attacks

Revealed: The Hunt for Bin Laden (2021)

Available on History.com, Hulu, Prime Video, YouTube
Navy SEAL Team Six raided Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan around 1:00 a.m. on May 2, 2011. Moments later the al-Qaeda leader was dead. Although the raid lasted just thirty-eight minutes, years of searching and planning went into it. Based on the 9/11 Memorial and Museum’s exhibit with the same name, this documentary recounts the decade-long mission to locate bin Laden.

The Falling Man (2006)

Available on Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube, Vimeo
The Falling Man examines one of the many images that was circulated by the press immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. The image shows a man plummeting headfirst to the ground, having leapt from the burning towers. After touching on the events of the day and how the nation reacted, the documentary focuses specifically on this image, the photographer who took it, its subsequent circulation, the public’s reaction to it and why it was later deemed un-newsworthy.

You Are Here: A Come From Away Story (2018)

Available on Internet Archives here
When the terrorist attacks happened on 9/11, planes inbound to the US had to be diverted. The attacks forced 38 planes to land in Gander, Newfoundland where locals welcomed 6,500+ stranded passengers for 5 days, showing extraordinary kindness that inspired a Broadway musical.

Man in the Red Bandana (2017)

Available on Tubi, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Prime Video
Man in the Red Bandana tells the extraordinary true story of Welles Remy Crowther, a 24-year-old equities trader and volunteer firefighter who became known for the red bandana he wore while helping people escape the World Trade Center’s South Tower. Crowther is credited with saving at least 10 lives before losing his own on September 11, 2001. Through firsthand accounts from survivors, the documentary honors his remarkable courage, selflessness and lasting legacy.

Next, These Are the September 11th Images We’ll Never Forget

We can have a love-hate relationship with our smartphones, and it’s easy to vilify them. Dr. Gayle MacBride, PhD, LP, a psychologist with Veritas Psychology, agrees that they have replaced important everyday habits, but she doesn’t consider smartphones “bad.” In fact, they have a place in our lives.

“As phones have gotten smarter, they have given us incredible access to other people, information, directions, emergency support and entertainment,” she tells Parade. “The issue is that something that is incredibly useful also has consequences. We should always ask ourselves the question about why we use it. The moment anything becomes an automatic or thoughtless response, we become more beholden to it than it is to us.”

In other words, smartphone use—just reaching for it—has become a ritual, and it’s usurped other habits that benefit us, like actually paying attention to our friends and loved ones (“technoference” in relationships is real). However, Dr. MacBride says it’s important to be careful when we talk about how smartphones affect the brain.

“Some people hear this and start worrying about changes that are out of their control,” she explains.

However, Dr. MacBride says that smartphones retrain our attention more than they “rewire our brains,” at least based on our current understanding. Still, they’re causing us to miss out on serious benefits we once got from simple, mundane daily tasks. Ahead, she reveals the everyday habit smartphones quietly replaced and how to inch closer to intentional digital minimalism.

Related: A Productivity Expert Says This Is What Everyone Gets Wrong About the Eisenhower Matrix

The Lost Art of Doing Nothing: What Smartphones Erased

According to psychologist Dr. MacBride, we’re missing out on the many benefits of boredom because of constant smartphone use.

She says notifications offer quick dopamine hits (rewards), often called “the dopamine loop” on social media. But she cautions that mind wandering benefits us, even if we struggle with silence.

The ‘Slot Machine’ in Your Pocket: Why We Can’t Tolerate Boredom Anymore

There’s a psychological reason why we often choose our smartphone over “sitting in silence,” usually without even thinking about it. Dr. MacBride shares that our brains are designed to learn from repetition and reward.

“The changes that we undergo are a product of repeatedly responding to a reward—in this case, a notification,” she says. “We find that phones, or rather the entertainment distraction opportunities on them, create a dopamine hit—reward chemical—which feels really good.”

Sound familiar, like something you might play in Vegas?

“If the device in our pocket is a reward system, then we can start thinking of it as not so different than a slot machine,” the psychologist confirms. “The variable interval reinforcement schedule, which is the technical term for what’s happening here, is the strongest reinforcement that humans experience.”

Basically, we can’t predict how often we’ll experience the reward, but that uncertainty is a crucial part of the thrill.

“This means we might check our phone and there’s nothing interesting, or maybe you missed a text,” she states. “The uncertainty of that brings you back time and time again.” 

But it’s more than the dopamine bump we get from the reward. Dr. MacBride points out that humans don’t tolerate boredom well.

“A smartphone allows us to alleviate that state by switching tasks and creating something novel with very little effort,” she tells Parade. “Over time, this becomes part of the reward cycle that has very real consequences.”

You may have read about the “psychology of smartphone addiction,” but that’s not a clinical term. Also, not everyone is “addicted” to smartphones or social media.

“Researchers are using the term ‘problematic smartphone use’ because there’s still a debate about when this particular issue crosses into something that could be clinically defined as a behavioral addiction,” Dr. MacBride explains. “This is also why social media is being asked to be more thoughtful about use among children and teens.”

But she says people of any age—herself included—can fall into a trap of checking their phones to avoid boredom.

Related: I’m an Organizational Psychologist—This Is the ‘Shutdown’ Ritual I Swear by Every Night

Assess Your Digital Reflexes: The Habit Check

“Triggers” gets used a lot these days. Dr. MacBride shares that the real definition of a trigger is “a cue that begins a response.”

“Repeatedly using your phone in a particular situation and doing this repeatedly, over time, begins to cue the phone use behavior,” she explains.

Some common cues—or triggers— that can prompt you to check your phone include:

• Waiting in line
• Waiting for an appointment
• Riding in an elevator
• Eating alone
• Going to the bathroom
• A show or sports game gets too slow
• Going to bed
• Coping with sleep issues
• Experiencing anxiety
• Boredom
• Hearing the ding of your phone

It’s hard to overcome these triggers.

“Telling yourself that you are going to use the phone less doesn’t work particularly well,” Dr. MacBride says. “In my experience, this is not a specific enough goal or intention, so it becomes hard to change the habit effectively when you haven’t noticed where the behavior begins.”

The Hidden Cost of Constant Distraction: Why We Need Boredom

Yes, there are benefits of boredom, even if it doesn’t feel great, according to psychologists like Dr. MacBride.

“Boredom may feel uncomfortable in the moment, and being chronically bored isn’t something that we should want for ourselves, but occasionally it can be quite good for us,” she explains. “Boredom can allow our mind to wander.”

And there are many mind-wandering benefits to consider before reaching for your phone.

“In this state, we allow thoughts and ideas that maybe don’t have an obvious connection to bump into each other,” she continues.

It can help you solve creative problems, for instance. Unfortunately, Dr. MacBride says that constant interruptions and distractions compound over time.

“It’s not just a few seconds that it takes for you to check the notification,” she notes. “It’s also the cost of frequently ‘shifting sets,’ a cognitive psychology term. This term is used to describe moving your attention from one thing to another.”

This shift takes cognitive effort and time. Add that to the time it takes to check a notification, and it multiplies.

“It would be like trying to read a book while someone taps you on the shoulder occasionally,” she tells Parade. “Even if that interruption is brief, it breaks up the quality of your attention, and it takes a while to settle back into where you were interrupted. This is especially true when you’re trying to work on a task or learn something.” 

Related: The One Hobby Neurologists and Psychologists Both Recommend After Retirement

3 Simple Ways To Reclaim Your ‘In-Between’ Moments

Dr. MacBride isn’t calling for people to ditch their smartphones entirely, but she is a fan of digital minimalism.

“Digital minimalism is the idea that we start to make deliberate decisions about which technologies add value to our lives,” she explains. “We begin paring down apps and notifications and platforms that compete for our attention and focus on those that match our core values. It’s not necessarily about getting rid of technology.”

Instead, she likes that digital minimalism centers “moving away from automatic and mindlessness and shifting to intentional use.”

1. Choose your phone use carefully

Dr. MacBride says it’s important to be specific, discreet and intentional about when you leave your phone in your pocket or bag. For instance, you might keep your phone in your pocket during an elevator ride or stow it away during dinner with a friend.

“Don’t try to make big, broad and non-specific changes,” she shares. “Those are harder to enact, and we often find ways to work around those ‘rules.'”

When you’re having screen-free time, have a plan.

“Look around and notice your surroundings a little deeper,” she suggests. “Notice the people nearby. Notice the thought you’re having, even if that thought is ‘I’m bored.’ Give yourself the 90 seconds to notice this experience before trying to change that feeling.”

2. Create friction

We’ve made it incredibly easy to use our phones, so Dr. MacBride suggests making it harder.

“When notifications pop up on your phone, we have made it very easy to know that there is a reward waiting,” she says. “Turning off the notification creates a point of friction between knowing there is new information in an app, which helps us delay the reward.”

She doesn’t recommend relying on willpower alone. It’s a trap.

“Behavior change starts with clear identity—who am I?—and adequate processes—why am I doing this?—to help you reach your goal more efficiently,” the psychologist states.

3. Practice makes progress

Dr. MacBride suggests short, discreet periods of “doing nothing” in which you intentionally avoid picking up your phone. Perhaps you bring your attention to your porch as you sip coffee or take a 30-second work break to look out the window, rather than your phone.

“The goal isn’t to stop doing something,” she explains. “The goal is to stop immediately filling the empty space with electronic stimulation. Remind yourself that feeling bored or restless is OK.”

You don’t need to judge yourself or get rid of it. Just observe it, Dr. MacBride says.

“When we participate in this feeling, we often experience the urge to change it,” she states. “Observation allows us to notice without the need to change it.”

Up Next:

Related: When Did We Stop Borrowing Things From Our Neighbors? Psychologist Weighs In

Sources:

• Dr. Gayle MacBride, PhD, LP, is a psychologist with Veritas Psychology.

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Nothing says a seasonal refresh quite like swapping out your area rug, and if you’ve been meaning to upgrade yours, now is the perfect time. The Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi Junie Moss Natural Area Rug is currently up to 47% off at Wayfair, with select sizes starting at just $42.

The rug is crafted from 100% polyester and has a 0.38-inch pile with a cotton backing. It’s stain-resistant, non-pilling, and shed-free, making it a super practical option for living rooms, entryways, and other spots that get regular use. The moss natural color mixes faded green, blue, beige, and cream tones, while the worn-looking pattern gives it a pretty vintage-inspired look.

Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi Junie Moss Natural Area Rug, From $42 (was $79) at Wayfair

Courtesy of Wayfair

Shop at Wayfair

Since its design combines several different colors, it can work with various decor styles. The lighter neutrals would pair easily with cream, tan, or gray furniture, while the green and blue would add a subtle pop of color. The faded pattern can also help newer furniture look less stark and give the room a more lived-in look.

One shopper called it “a gorgeous mix of beige, green, cream and blue” and said it was “super soft,” while also recommending a rug pad underneath. Another wrote, “The colors are beautiful! It looks super high-end,” and a third person found the pattern to be helpful after spills, noting that “the pattern prevents stains from being seen, and the rug cleans easily.”

Related: Joanna Gaines’ Washable Rug Looks Like a Vintage Farmhouse Heirloom, and It’s Over 50% Off

The polyester material also makes this easier to care for than some vintage-style rugs with more delicate fibers. Wayfair recommends spot cleaning with a damp cloth and a mild cleaning solution if needed, along with vacuuming without a beater bar or rotating brush. The hassle-free maintenance makes it a better fit for everyday rooms where spills, pet hair, or tracked-in dirt are more likely.

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• Hauteloom Pasaf Machine Washable Area Rug, $63 (was $126) at Walmart
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If you’ve been wanting to add a new rug to your space, this is a great chance to do it for less before fall really gets underway. With select sizes of the Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi Junie Moss Natural Area Rug up to 47% off, be sure to check the measurements you need and grab it at Wayfair before the discounts are gone.

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It took 20 years, but The Office finally had its first spinoff. Debuting in September 2025, The Paper once again took a documentary crew into a mundane office setting, this time behind the scenes of a struggling local paper. It was out with the old, in with the new (except for one character), as Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute made way for new characters like Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson) and Esmeralda Grand (Sabrina Impacciatore).

Before The Paper even hit virtual newsstands, Peacock renewed the comedy for a second circulation. Here’s everything to know about The Paper Season 2.

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Is The Paper renewed for Season 2?

Yes! Ahead of the show’s Season 1 premiere on Sept. 4, 2025, Peacock already renewed The Paper for a second season.

When is the release date of The Paper Season 2?

The Paper returns for Season 2 on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026.

Who is in the cast of The Paper Season 2?

The cast for The Paper Season 2 includes:

Domhnall Gleeson as Ned Sampson Sabrina Impacciatore as Esmeralda Grand Chelsea Frei as Mare Pritti Melvin Gregg as Detrick Moore Gbemisola Ikumelo as Adelola Olofin Alex Edelman as Adam Cooper Ramona Young as Nicole Lee Tim Key as Ken Davies Oscar Nunez as Oscar Martinez How to watch The Paper

The Paper is currently available to stream on Peacock. At the time of publication, the series has not aired on any other network or streamer.

Related: We’re Ranking the 35 Funniest Episodes of ‘The Office’

How did Season 1 of The Paper end?

Season 1 of The Paper revolved around Ned bringing in a staff of volunteer journalists to fill out the newsroom. And his effort is rewarded handily with The Toledo Truth Teller nominated for multiple local awards. Mare (Frei) and Oscar end up taking home the win, but not before Esmeralda storms the stage to sing a song dedicated to “sad, dead journalists.”

It wouldn’t be a show set in the world of The Office, however, if we didn’t have a fair share of “will-they-won’t-they” romances. Nicole (Young) confronts Detrick (Gregg), feeling he tricked her into a monogamous relationship. He, in turn, breaks things off by her hesitancy to commit. On the opposite side of things, to close out the season, Ned and Mare decide to finally kiss for “research purposes.” Given their reaction afterwards, it’s clear the two are going to have to balance romance and work throughout Season 2.

Is The Paper a spinoff of The Office?

Yes! The story of The Paper involves the Dunder-Mifflin documentary crew go out to the Midwest to cover a new corporate setting, meaning the show takes place in the same universe. The two series even have a character in common in accountant Oscar.

Will there be any Office cameos in The Paper?

Of course, Oscar Nunez reprises his role as Oscar Martinez in The Office in the newsroom. Additionally, Season 1 saw Bob Vance (Robert R. Shafer) of Vance Refrigeration make a cameo. We shall see if Season 2 will see appearances from any other major Office stars, including Steve Carrell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer.

Is there a trailer for The Paper Season 2?

Yes! You can check out a trailer for Season 2 of The Paper below:

Related: From Award Chaos to That Shocking Kiss: Everything You Need to Remember Before ‘The Paper’ Season 2

Jimmy Fallon had a new target for his late-night comedy: Donald Trump’s noticeably darker hair.

During Tuesday’s The Tonight Show, Fallon poked fun at Trump’s latest look after the president appeared with darker hair over the weekend, joking that he had seemingly gone brunette. Trump’s new hair had already sparked online reactions after he was photographed sporting the darker style at his Bedminster golf club.

Fallon then took the bit a step further with a fake commercial for “Just For Men: Touch of Cray,” imagining the hair-color change as the latest miracle product for Trump.

The joke came during a broader monologue packed with political jokes, but Fallon specifically introduced the hair segment by noting, “This is going viral,” before showing images of Trump’s new look.

“That’s what happens when you hire the Reflecting Pool people to dye your hair,” Fallon quipped.

The host then launched into the parody ad, which featured a fictional Trump declaring, “My hair’s gonna look better than it ever looked.”

“Introducing Just For Men: Touch of Cray,” the fake ad voiceover said. “After just one week of applying Touch of Cray, you’ll have new hair and start to… rename states, flirt with your assistant, kidnap world leaders, invade Canada, slap your face on every coin, host a fistfight on your front lawn, and post A.I. videos of your dabbing with Abraham Lincoln.”

Fallon’s hair joke was just one part of a monologue that repeatedly returned to Trump’s recent headlines. He opened by mocking Trump’s proposal to rename New Mexico “New America,” after the president earlier moved to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America.” Trump promoted the New Mexico idea over Labor Day weekend, though a president does not have the legal authority to change a state’s name.

Fallon also imagined what would happen if Trump’s renaming spree extended to every state, including jokes about “New Trumpshire,” “Melania-land” and “North America 2.”

The comedian then brought out a fake White House spokesman who insisted that Trump was “king,” rather than president, and claimed the midterm elections had been renamed the “between times voting decisions.”

Fallon also jabbed at Trump’s upcoming Republican convention, joking about the event’s reported ticket sales and the $35,000 price tag for a photo with Vice President JD Vance.

The monologue then shifted to Netflix’s new “Instadocs,” Apple’s expected foldable iPhone and an AI recreation of Walter Cronkite. Fallon used the fictional Cronkite to poke fun at Trader Joe’s legal fight over its crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which the company describes as “squircles.”

You’ve planned this getaway for months. The outfits are packed, the dinner reservations are made, and you’re picturing slow mornings, chef-inspired meals, and real time to reconnect. Then the third pricey dinner bill arrives, or someone suggests an overpriced excursion, and suddenly the mood shifts. Such comments about cost can create tension. Someone feels judged. Someone else feels taken advantage of. If relationship experts have one big piece of advice for women over 50 heading out on vacation, it’s this: don’t let money fights take over the trip. Whether you’re traveling with a partner, adult children, or girlfriends, money tension can quickly steal the peace and connection you came for. The good news is that understanding why vacation spending feels so loaded can help you protect your budget and your relationships. Here’s some sound advice from two relationship experts.

Related: Never Do This When Vacationing With Another Couple, According to a Relationship Expert

The ‘Vacation Mindset’ Trap

Why is it so easy to abandon our standard financial boundaries the moment our bags are packed? Traveling creates a unique psychological shift that distorts how we evaluate value, responsibility and pleasure.

“One major reason people spend more on vacation is that they experience travel as a temporary exemption from the banality of everyday life,” says Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, a licensed marriage and family therapist in New York and author of Fragile Power: Why Having Everything is Never Enough. “On vacation, spending can feel less like consumption than permission—to rest, to be cared for, to inhabit a more expansive version of oneself,” says Dr. Paul Hokemeyer.

This desire for an elevated experience often tricks us into believing that normal financial rules no longer apply while away from home.

“When we’re on vacation, we shift our focus to the trip being a ‘once in a lifetime experience’ and suddenly, concerns about the budget go out the window,” outlines Amy Morin, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist based in Marathon, Florida, and author of The Mental Strength Playbook. “We tell ourselves you can’t put a price on lifelong memories. We want to enjoy the freedom that comes with being on vacation and therefore, the freedom that comes with spending. It’s as if our brains believe that because we’re getting a break from the day-to-day realities of work, we should also take a break from the realities of our budgets.”

Related: The Best 36-Hour Vacation Hacks Travel Pros Taught Me

Participation vs. Performance: The Fear of Saying ‘No’

For women over 50, group travel with extended family or long-time friends brings a specific layer of emotional pressure. Declining an expensive group dinner or a costly group tour can feel less like a practical budget choice and more like a rejection of the group itself.

“Saying no to an expense can feel unusually charged on vacation because travel compresses time and intensifies expectation,” says Dr. Hokemeyer. “For many people, especially within families or close friendship groups, the real fear is not missing the activity. It is being perceived as withholding, difficult, less successful, or somehow outside the circle.”

Also, evaluating your emotional motivations before agreeing to an expense can save you from post-trip regret.

“Often we make decisions based on what we predict our future regrets to be,” says Morin. “So, the thought, ‘I don’t want to regret not going,’ might push you to do something you have little desire to do.” Instead, she recommends, ponder ‘What if I regret the time and money spent on this?’

Some forethought may save you some stress. “After all, you might find you spend the whole time thinking about how you wished you’d said no,” adds Morin.

Related: Best Multigenerational Travel Tip Right Now—They All Said the Same Thing

How to Have Pre-Trip Budget Conversations Without Awkwardness

Discussing finances before a trip is often viewed as unromantic or uncomfortable, yet skipping this step is precisely what leads to in-the-moment arguments., our experts say. Reframing the conversation from a tense negotiation to an alignment of goals changes everything.

“A budget conversation should be framed as a way to protect pleasure from the pressures money creates,” says Dr. Hokemeyer. “The point is not to ask, ‘Who can afford what?’ but ‘What kind of trip do we want to have together, and how can we make it comfortable for everyone?'”

Dr. Hokemeyer recommends using the below collaborative phrasing to establish clear expectations:

• “I’d love for us to plan this in a way that lets us be comfortable both physically and financially.”
• “Before we start booking things, could we agree on the general budget and scope of the trip?”
• “It would be helpful to know which experiences feel most important to everyone, so we can spend intentionally rather than reactively.”

Initiating this dialogue with confidence and clarity keeps the focus on shared enjoyment.

“Start a conversation by talking about how to maximize your trip,” says Morin. “Say you’d like to discuss how to get the most out of your time and money and you’re curious what their plans are. Schedule an organizational meeting in a matter-of-fact manner. Don’t apologize or give lengthy disclaimers or share past vacation horror stories. Talk about the future trip and how to best prepare for it.”

Related: Over 60 and Taking a Cruise? Travel Experts Say These Cabins Are Worth Paying More For

5 In-the-Moment Strategies to Stop Financial Friction Experts say to have honest conversations about money to avoid tension while traveling together. Source: Getty Images. Credit: Catherine Falls Commerical

When faced with a pricey menu, an impulse purchase, or a last-minute activity invitation while away, these mindfulness practices will help keep your spending aligned with your true values.

Name the Emotion First
“Before you look at the price or decide what you want to do, name the feeling,” says Morin. “Whether you feel guilty that you’ve been working a lot or you’re embarrassed to say no, or you’re just excited to try something new, naming the feeling can be a good first step. Labeling it reduces the intensity of it and can help you make a more logical choice.”

Convert the Price to Hours Worked
“On vacation, money can feel like it doesn’t matter. But if you remind yourself how many hours you had to work to pay for that sunset cruise or the special dinner, you might gain a new perspective fast,” suggests Morin. “That might remind you that it’s not worth the tradeoff.”

Listen to Your Body’s Warning Signals
“Impulsive spending often carries a particular bodily texture: urgency, tightness, agitation, or a feeling that a decision must be made immediately,” says Dr. Hokemeyer. “Notice whether you are acting from genuine anticipation or from the fear that hesitation will make you seem ungenerous, boring or excluded.”

Establish Your ‘One Yes’ in Advance
“Make your plan ahead of time,” says Morin. “If you’ve already picked your one ‘yes’ for the day, like an excursion, be prepared to say no to something else, like dinner. Remind yourself what your one yes for the day is and plan that when you are calm, like over breakfast or dinner the evening before.”

Related: The One Thing You Should Never Do on a Group Trip, According to Relationship Experts

The Takeaway

Vacations should refresh your spirit and strengthen your bonds yet giving in to financial impulse or social pressure risks compromising both. By aligning expectations before traveling and practicing mindfulness in the moment, you can protect your budget and your peace of mind. True vacation luxury isn’t found in expensive upgrades, but in mindful stress-free moments and shared experiences with friends and family.

Related: Travel Advisors Reveal Where They’re Booking 60+ Travelers This Shoulder Season