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Believe it or not, some of the most addictive television out there isn't in English at all. Korean and Chinese dramas have built devoted, binge-until-3-a.m. fanbases around the world—and the best part is you can stream them in the U.S. right now. So grab some dim sum or gimbap and get ready to fall down a very satisfying rabbit hole.

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The Best K-Dramas/C-Dramas To Watch Now1. 'Pursuit of Jade' (2025) Pursuit of Jade

Starring Zhang Linghe, Tian Xiwei
Available on Netflix, iQIYi

Based on a popular webtoon, Pursuit of Jade follows Fan Changyu (Tian), a butcher's daughter after she finds an injured nobleman (Zhang) in a snowstorm. As she nurses him back to health, both of them find themselves in dire straits. He must keep his identity hidden until he weeds out the killer, while she must marry before her gambling good-for-nothing uncle lays claim to her family home. The scenario leads to a marriage of convenience that later evolves into genuine love. Part of what I liked about this series is that the female lead character is no shrinking violet waiting to be rescued. She makes her own path, is the breadwinner in the marriage (before discovering her husband is actually a nobleman and a warrior) and even knows how to fight the bad guys better than the bad guys do! The series is both funny and romantic with a palpable chemistry between the two leads.

Fun Fact: Despite her small stature, Tian is noted for her physical strength. Even at 5'6" and around 100 lbs., it's Tian who actually carried the 6'3", 160 lb. Zhang on her back in the opening scenes where her character discovers him in the snow. Most viewers thought it done through wires and harnesses or a stunt double, but Zhang said in an interview that he never would have believed a small woman like her would be able to carry him, much less run with him like she does in those scenes!

2. 'Perfect Crown' (2026) IU and Byeon Woo-seok

Disney+

Starring IU, Byeon Woo-seok
Available on Hulu in the US, Disney+ internationally

Set in an alternate reality where the Korean monarchy is still ruling in modern day, Perfect Crown follows the people’s favorite royal, Grand Prince I-AN (Byeon Woo-seok), as he becomes embroiled in a power struggle with other members of the royal family. With pressure on the prince to wed, he strikes up a marriage of convenience with Huiju (IU), the heir to a Korean conglomerate, but as the pair works together to advance their own ends, emotions begin to flare and things don’t go quite as smoothly as planned. The two actors have a fun, playful chemistry and even in behind-the-scenes footage from the series, they are always laughing between takes and just enjoying themselves, Queen Dowager be damned!

Related: Hallmark Should Take Note — Hulu’s ‘Perfect Crown’ Is the Sweet Rom-Com Series Viewers Crave

3. 'King the Land' (2023)

Starring Lim Yoona, Lee Jun-ho
Available on Netflix

King the Land follows the story of Gu Won (Lee), heir apparent to The King Group, a luxury hotel chain, but before his succession can be made official, he's thrown into an inheritance war and must deal with the power struggles within the family. As he works out of one hotel, he keeps running up against Cheon Sa-rang (Lim), who always has a smile on her face for the guests and staff of the hotel, except for Gu Won. The series contains possibly one of the hottest kiss scenes in the history of K-Drama.

4. 'A Princess Royal' (2024)

Starring Zhang Linghe, Zhao Jinmai
Available on Netflix, Viki, Youku

In this bittersweet romance, a princess and her husband's long and loveless marriage ends in betrayal, but when they both wake up back when they were 18, they realize they have a chance to start life over and make different choices. When the two realize they both have memories of their previous existence, they decide to work together to figure out why they fell apart.

Zhang is the "it" boy in Chinese entertainment these days. His catwalk during a New Year's Eve gala this year nearly broke the internet, amassing over 40 million views within a 24-hour period. The man literally walked down a runway.

5. 'Would You Marry Me?' (2025)

Starring Choi Woo-shik, Jung So-min
Available on Hulu in the US, Disney+ internationally

When a woman learns she has won a lottery for a new home for newlyweds, she discovers she can't claim the prize without her new husband. Given that she broke off her engagement after she caught her fiance cheating, she enters into a flash marriage to claim the prize, pretending to be a couple to fool the inspector.

6. 'Boyfriend on Demand' (2026) Seo In-guk and Jisoo

Netflix

Starring Jisoo, Seo In-guk
Available on Netflix

Blackpink's Jisoo stars as Seo Mi-rae, an exhausted webtoon producer who escapes reality through a subscription-based virtual dating simulation program, where she gets to experience the dates of her dreams. Doom at Your Service'sSeo In-guk plays her co-worker Goo Young-il.

7. 'In a Time Called You' (2023) Ahn Hyo-seop

Netflix

Starring Ahn Hyo-seop, Jeon Yeo-been, and Kang Hoon
Available on Netflix

This mysterious romance centers around Jun-hee (Jeon), who is grappling with the loss of her boyfriend a year earlier. Miraculously transported back to 1998, she encounters Si-heon (Ahn), a man bearing an uncanny resemblance to her late love, and his friend In-gyu (Kang). Based on the Taiwanese series, Someday or One Day.

8. 'Love to Hate You' (2023) Teo Yoo, Kim Ok-vin

Netflix

Starring Teo Yoo, Kim Ok-vin, Kim Ji-hoon, Go Won-hee
Available on Netflix

She's a lawyer who's adept at martial arts and has an overhyped sense of social justice, especially when it comes to women who have been wronged by their boyfriend/husband/ex. He's the hottest actor around but has an aversion to touching women, and practically has a panic attack when he's near one which makes filming love scenes difficult. When the two are paired up, everything is bound to go wrong, right?

9. 'A Year-End Medley' (2021)

Starring Han Ji-min, Lee Dong-wook, Kang Ha-neul, Im Yoona, Won Jin-ah, Lee Hye-young, Jung Jin-young, Lee Jin-wook, Lee Joon-ok
Available on Disney+

This standalone movie was so popular it was broken up into segments for series television. It is Korea's answer to Love Actually. The stories take place leading up to New Year's Eve and all within a hotel (or involve employees or guests of the hotel). It's a cute rom-com with the multiple storylines including an OCD hotel owner and the free-spirited maid he becomes fascinated with, the suicidal guest and the hotel staff that go out of their way to ensure he has a positive stay, and the handsome dinner patron who has gone on dozens of blind dates in the hotel restaurant with no success.

10. 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' (2025) IU and Park Bo-gum

Netflix

Starring IU, Park Bo-gum, Kim Seon-ho, Park Hae-joon, Moon So-ri
Available on Netflix

When Life Gives You Tangerines follows Ae-sun (IU/Moon So-ri), a girl yearning for a poet's life away from her fisherwoman's destiny and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum/Park Hae-joon), the boy who cherishes her throughout their lifetime. Through their seemingly ordinary lives, an extraordinary love story unfolds.

11. 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' (2021)

Starring Kim Seon-ho, Shin Min-a, Lee Sang-yi, Gong Min-jeung
Available on Netflix

When Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a), a Seoul dentist, finds herself at a crossroads in life, she decides to throw caution to the wind and moves to a quiet seaside town where she discovers a quirky group of townspeople and an even quirkier yet handsome "Chief" Hong (Seon-ho).

12. 'Our Universe' (2026) Bae In-hyuk, Roh Jeong-eui

Starring Bae In-hyuk, Roh Jeong-eui
Available on Viki

When tragedy strikes leaving a young baby without parents, the parents' in-laws must step up to care for the child. While the sister is more than willing to step up for her own sister, she is overwhelmed. The child's uncle has harbored issues with his brother for years and is reluctant to help but eventually acquiesces. The two move in together to care for their nephew and all three go through growing pains.

13. 'Love in the Clouds' (2025)

Starring Hou Minghao, Lu Yuxiao
Available on Netflix, Viki, Youku

My people love their historical/fantasy dramas. There are probably more costumes and props in Chinese entertainment studios for such series than there are for modern day series. In Love in the Clouds, Ming Yi (Lu) is a ruthless war goddess, who assumes a new identity after being poisoned. Under disguise, she gets close to thief Ji Bozai (Hou) and what starts off as a game of deceit turns into a deep romance.

14. 'Destined with You' (2023)

Starring Jo Bo-ah, Rowoon
Available on Netflix

In this fantasy/romance series, Lee Hong-jo (Jo Bo-ah), a city civil servant, finds herself in possession of an ancient spellbook. Ace lawyer Jang Shin-yu (Rowoon) only wants one spell from the book. When she casts a love spell meant for another but the spell lands on Shin-yu, is his attraction to her due to the spell or something else?

15. 'Dynamite Kiss' (2025)

Starring Jang Ki-yong, Ahn Eun-jin
Available on Netflix

A single woman disguises herself as a married mom to land a job at a baby products company. She gets the job, only to discover that her new boss is the guy she nearly had a fling with a while back. She must keep up appearances to keep her job so she lets her boss believe she is happily married while both fight their ongoing attraction for one another.

16. 'The Manipulated' (2025)

Starring Ji Chang-wook, Jo Yoon-su
Available on Hulu

This action thriller series follows an ordinary man (Ji), whose life is turned upside down after he is wrongly accused of a major crime and is sent to prison. When he discovers he was framed, he sets out on a path of revenge.

17. 'My Demon' (2023)

Starring Song Kang, Kim You-jung
Available on Netflix

He's a 200-year-old demon. She's a modern day chaebol heiress. When the two meet—literally by accident—he is stripped of his powers only to find she now holds the source to his demonic magic. To stay close to her, he becomes her bodyguard. While the two are in forced proximity to one another, they find they become more and more dependent on the other for more than just power and protection. The series quickly became a hit—not only for its creativity, but also for the chemistry between the two leads.

18. 'Sold Out on You' (2026) Sold Out on You is now streaming on Netflix.

Netflix

Starring Ahn Hyo-seop, Chae Won-bin
Available on Netflix

Sold Out on You is a dreamy rom-com filled with constant bickering between Matthew Lee (Ahn), a farmer juggling multiple jobs and Dam Ye-jin (Chae), a home shopping show host plagued by severe insomnia. Their lives collide day and night in unexpected and hilarious ways.

Related: He Voiced Jinu in ‘KPop Demon Hunters’—Now He’s Headlining Netflix’s Newest Rom-Com, ‘Sold Out On You’

19. 'Lovely Runner' (2024)

Starring Byeon Woo-seok, Kim Hye-yoon, Song Geon-hee
Available on Netflix

Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon) is a celebrity who seems to have it all—fame, fortune, talent, and good looks. But beneath the surface lies a man who is exhausted and depressed. An admirer of Ryu's named Im Sol (Kim) finds solace in his music after an accident derailed her own dreams. When news breaks of Ryu's tragic death, Sol finds herself transported back 15 years prior when they were both high school students. Seeing this as a chance to change both of their futures, Sol takes it upon herself to rewrite destiny for both of them while challenging their pasts.

20. 'The First Frost' (2025)

Starring Zhang Rounan, Bai Jingting
Available on Netflix

Two former high school classmates accidentally run into each other at a bar six years later, both pretending not to recognize the other because of their awkward parting. Due to circumstances, the two end up sharing an apartment and are compelled to face their past when Yifan (Zhang)—triggered by stress and trauma—begins to sleepwalk again and finds herself in her roommate's room one night.

21. 'Nevertheless' (2021)

Starring Song Kang, Han So-hee
Available on Netflix

Park Jae-eon (Song) loves to flirt but has no interest in a serious relationship. Yoo Na-bi (Han) wants to date again, but has a distrust in men after her last breakup. The two art majors are inexplicably drawn to one another. Their complicated relationship tests both their resolves.

22. 'Bon Appetit, Your Majesty' (2025)

Starring Lim Yoona, Lee Chae-min
Available on Netflix

In this tasty time-travel romance series, Yeon Ji-yeong (Lim), is a modern-day Michelin-level chef. Retrieving a historical text for her scholar-father, she discovers the book is a Joseon-era cookbook. When she unexpectedly travels back in time to that same era, she finds herself in the court of the King. First, labeled a ghost/monster, she eventually impresses the King with her cooking and he makes her his Chief Cook. Along the way, she also begins to earn the King's trust and affection. Will she be able to get back to her time? Will she even want to when the opportunity presents itself?

23. 'Spring Fever' (2026)

Starring Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Joo-bin
Available on Prime Video

When a targeted scandal forces Yoon Bom (Lee) to leave her life in Seoul for a teaching job in a small village, she meets a local man with a sincere personality who helps her trust and love again.

24. 'My Piggy Boss' (2024) Bubble Zhu, Lu Dongxu

Starring: Bubble Zhu, Lu Dongxu
Available on: Viki

My Piggy Boss is just so darn cute! In this adorable rom-com, an assistant at a Christmas lights factory discovers her boss turns into a pig at night. No, not a male chauvinist pig, but a literal pig. It seems his family was cursed by an evil alien pig (yes, that's right) after a butcher in his family slaughtered too many pigs. If the young CEO doesn't receive his true love's kiss by his 27th birthday, he will become a pig forever!

Despite his abrasive demeanor, the assistant is determined to help him find his true love—even if that person might be her. There are some laugh out loud moments, like when she's bathing the pig before she knows its her boss—or how her roommate offers the pig some pork fried rice. And of course, the instances where you think you're seeing the pig, but it's actually the actor standing in for it.

Check out this fun clip where Yang Xiaozhu (Bubble Zhu) discovers the pig for the first time and takes him home. She goes to bed with the pig, but wakes next to her naked boss (Lu) instead.

25. 'Business Proposal' (2022)

Starring Ahn Hyo-seop, Kim Sejeong, Kim Min-kyu, Seol In-ah
Available on Netflix

Business Proposal was one of Netflix's most beloved rom-com K-dramas, topping the platform's global non-English chart for weeks in 2022. The story follows Shin Ha-ri (Kim), who takes the place of her rich friend, Jin Young-Seo (Seol), on various arranged blind dates with over-the-top personalities to ward off potential suitors. On one particular date, Ha-ri is dismayed to find her date is Kang Tae-moo (Ahn), the CEO of the company where she works. Tae-moo has also been set up on a series of blind dates by his grandfather. Things get even more complicated when Young-Seo bumps into the man of her dreams at a convenience store only to later discover he is Tae-moo's right hand man, Cha Sung-hoon.

26. 'Cinderella and the Four Knights' (2016)

Starring Park So-dam, Jung Il-woo, Ahn Jae-hyun, Lee Jung-shin, Choi Min
Available on Viki

This one might be a decade old, but it's still a great series. It follows the story of a young woman who is hired by a grandfather to watch over his three adult grandsons as he determines who is worthy of being his successor. She is given additional tasks to accomplish for extra rewards and the only rule he has—she can't fall in love with any of them. Park So-dam (Parasite) stars as the Cinderella figure in the series.

27. 'What's Wrong with Secretary Kim?' (2018)

Park Min-young, Park Seo-joon
Available on Hulu, Viki

Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon) is young, handsome, rich, and successful. He likes his life in perfect order and that order is thrown into chaos when his longtime secretary announces her resignation. Refusing to let her go, Lee will do anything to change her mind and make her stay.

Related: I Had a Problem With Hallmark’s Mahjong Movie—Until I Understood This

28. 'Can This Love Be Translated?' (2026) All 12 episodes of Can This Love Be Translated are now streaming on Netflix.

Netflix

Starring Go Youn-jung, Kim Seon-ho
Available on Netflix

Can This Love Be Translated? is an unpredictable romantic comedy that unfolds as multilingual translator Joo Ho-jin (Kim) is assigned to translate for global celebrity Cha Mu-hee (Go). He is the consummate professional. She, not so much. As she throws his life in chaos, he is unable to do anything to stop the whirlwind that is Cha Mu-hee and what she's doing to his heart.

29. 'Perfect Marriage Revenge' (2023) A promotional image for Perfect Marriage Revenge

Starring Jung Yoo-min, Sung Hoon
Available on Apple TV, Viki

I don't know why this series isn't on more "Best of" lists. This was such a great show. In this series, Han Yi-joo (Jung) is the adopted eldest daughter of a wealthy family. Despite their cold demeanor toward her, she is constantly working for their love and approval. Within a single day, she discovers the famous paintings her mother asked her to recreate were her side hustle—ripping people off by selling fakes as the real thing. She also learns her husband has been secretly lusting after her sister for years and has filed for divorce. Distraught, she drives off and gets into a car accident. She wakes up in the past where she decides not to play the chump. She calls off her engagement and sets her sights on Seo Do-guk (Sung), the man her sister wants to marry. She proposes to him and without hesitation he agrees.

30. 'The K2' (2016)

Starring Lim Yoon, Ji Chang-wook
Available on Viki, The Roku Channel, Tubi

Action-packed with car chases, gun fights and martial arts, this drama will be enjoyed by fans of franchises like Mission: Impossible. Former soldier Je-ha (Ji) is haunted by his time as a mercenary for a private military company. Framed for the murder of his girlfriend in Iraq, he goes on the run. He returns to Korea to work as a private bodyguard, but when he falls in love with An-na (Lim)—the disfavored stepdaughter of his boss—he’s not sure where to place his loyalty.

31. 'My Love From Another Star' (2013)

Starring Kim Soo-hyun, Jun Ji-hyun
Available on Netflix, Viki

An alien lands in Korea in 1609, but 400 years later his handsome face hasn’t aged a day. Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun) poses as a professor but can’t trust anyone with his true identity. Three months before he’s set to return to his home planet, he meets his snobby, disaster-prone actress neighbor Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun). Though they fall in love, Min-joon knows he needs to leave and distances her. But when an evil man threatens her, he’s determined to save her life.

32. 'Crash Landing On You' (2019) Son Ye-jin in Crash Landing On You

Netflix

Starring Son Ye-jin, Hyun Bin
Available on Netflix

This popular rom-com series was inspired by a real-life event when South Korean actress Jung Yang’s boat accidentally strayed into the boundary waters between North Korea and South Korea. In the show, however, it’s a paragliding incident that takes Yoon Se-ri (Son) into the northern country. The heiress to a Korean company, Se-ri is smart, determined and set to take over her father’s company–much to the dismay of her brothers and their wives–when she accidentally drifts into North Korea, propelled by strong gusts of wind. She meets a North Korean soldier (Hyun) who promises to protect her in foreign territory and love blossoms.

Fun Fact: The two actors, Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, fell in love and married in real life!

33. 'Suspicious Partner' (2017)

Starring Ji Chang-wook, Nam Ji-hyun
Available on Netflix, Viki

Noh Ji-wook (Ji) is a prosecutor and Eun Bong-hee (Nam) is training to become a prosecutor. When a murder happens close to her, she becomes the prime suspect. Circumstances find Noh as a private attorney and the two work together to prove her innocence. As they investigate the case, they discover how deeply they both are connected.

Related: Next Up:

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A purse is the perfect accessory to complete any outfit. It elevates your look with a stylish touch, while allowing you to go about your day hands-free — it’s chic and practical! For those on the hunt for a new everyday bag, this Cecily Medium Shoulder Bag from Michael Kors Outlet is definitely worth a look.

Made from a polyurethane and polyester blend, this bag boasts a faux leather material. Multiple shoppers said they love the fabric and noted that it feels different compared to other Michael Kors bags, as it’s more soft and flexible. It's available in a classic black hue that goes with just about everything, which makes it even more of a closet must-have.

Cecily Medium Shoulder Bag, $116 (was $378) at Michael Kors Outlet Shop at Michael Kors Outlet

This bag sports a sleek silhouette with a curved top that gives it some modern flair. It’s complete with silver hardware, including the chain that links the body of the bag to the handles, the dangling MK bag charm, and the brand’s logo. The handle has a 10.5-inch drop designed to sit comfortably on your shoulder and shoppers mentioned that they love how the bag fits under their arm. 

Measuring 13.5 inches wide, 6.5 inches high, and 4.5 inches deep, reviewers noted that the bag is a lot more spacious than it looks and is able to hold all their essentials. One shopper said it "fits everything you need" while looking "super stylish and modern."

The interior has a slip pocket, which is ideal for organizing small loose items. It’s secured with a complete zip closure. As an added bonus, the bag has a flat bottom to prevent it from toppling over when you set it down. 

Related: Michael Kors Outlet’s 'Beautiful' Shoulder Bag Comes in 4 Colors, and It's Great for Summer Travel

“Though it’s on the smaller side, I was pleasantly surprised by how roomy it is inside,” one shopper said. “It’s stylish, practical, and beautifully made — I get compliments on it all the time!” Another reviewer called it their “everyday bag” and a “must-buy.”

Hurry and head over to Michael Kors Outlet and grab the Cecily Medium Shoulder Bag while it's still in stock! It's the kind of versatile carryall that you won't regret having in your wardrobe.

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As a general concept, Pod Meets World has been a way to see Cory, Topanga, Shawn and Eric through a 2020s lens. Over nearly five years, the hit rewatch podcast has had Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle and Rider Strong going through each episode of the iconic TGIF series, from behind-the-scenes stories to modern-day analysis of their lives both on and off-screen. And the trio would be the first to tell you how shocked they are with the success the project has provided.

"We didn't feel that we were popular while we were on the air," Friedle recalls in an exclusive sitdown with Parade. "When Boy Meets World was on, I always called it the Wings of TGIF. Everyone's like, 'I loved Wings the two seasons it was on.' Wings was on for 400 years. We always felt like the show that just kind of kept going. So we didn't realize we were all that popular."

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"And I think when we started to do the podcast, one of the things that was startling to me was everyone coming out with, 'This was the show of my childhood. This was the thing that was so important to me.' And so it wasn't till 30 years later that I think we all realized just how special the show was to a lot of people."

Fans will get a peek into that special dynamic in Doc Meets World, a new documentary that has its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on Saturday, June 6. The film depicts the tour the three went on in 2025 in honor of the 30-year anniversary of the hit sitcom, while also weaving through a number of interstitials and talking heads about not only the podcast, but the personal lives of the hosts as well.

"That was sort of after the fact," Strong surprisingly reveals about the making of the documentary. "So Chris Levitus and Zane Rubin, I've known them for years. But we've never talked about the Boy Meets World part of my life. We were just good friends. And so when they started filming us and following us on tour, they started gathering our stories, our personal stories. And that's when they were like, 'We should go back to your childhood home.' So they really were the impetus to go investigate a little bit more. It happened organically. They sort of pursued, 'Oh, let's tell the whole story of your lives, essentially. It's like the podcast."

Related: ‘Boy Meets World’ Stars Give Rare Insight into Major Fall Out with Former Co-Star: ‘I Haven’t Given Up On My Friend’

Pod Meets World has given fans the wonderful opportunity to see what the trio has been up to since the show concluded in 2000 — and more importantly, who we've become. But it does beg the question: Considering they're the foremost experts on their characters, what do they think Topanga, Shawn and Eric would be up to today?

It's a lofty task. Luckily, they have a bit of a cheat sheet courtesy of the sequel series Girl Meets World, which checked in on the Matthews family in the mid-2010s. In the Sabrina Carpenter and Rowan Blanchard-led series, Topanga was a successful attorney on a path to becoming a judge. But Fishel herself doesn't feel it would be her ultimate destination.

"She was supposed to go on to be a judge at some point," she says. "I don't know that Topanga would be a judge. I don't think she'd want to take that route. I think Topanga would really be doing pro bono work at a law firm where that she was a partner. Or maybe she started her own law firm, you know, with a very specific goal in mind. And hiring like minded people where the goal was to help people. I absolutely think that's where her path would have been."

Over the course of Boy Meets World, Eric explored a wide variety of careers, from weatherman to retail worker to photographer. Girl Meets World got him to the realm of politics, as he was elected mayor of St. Upidtown at the Canadian border. By the end of the series, Mr. Plays With Squirrels had gone to Washington, elected Senator. But, like many of Eric's jobs, Friedle doesn't think that panned out completely.

Related: ‘Boy Meets World’ Star Rider Strong Reveals the Actor He Didn’t Want To Join the Cast

"Eric was impeached from the Senate," he states simply. "He was really excited because he loves peaches. It did not turn out the way he thought it was going to. And he now probably lives on a farm growing those peaches that they didn't give him at his hearing."

Strong has his own fruitful ending for Shawn, and he doesn't have to reinvent the wheel much. In between the two shows, Shawn had traveled the world as a writer and photographer. And, after dealing with his unresolved feelings for old flame Angela (Trina McGee-Davis), he began to develop chemistry with Katy (Cheryl Texiera), the mother of Maya (Carpenter). The two would get married in the show's final season.

"I actually think where Shawn ended up on Girl Meets World was pretty great," Strong admits. "He ends up with a happy ending. Married, adopting Marya, that's great. That is a wonderful thing."

Regardless of what their fictional counterparts may be doing nowadays, we're so happy to have Fishel, Friedle and Strong all back in our lives, letting Boy MeetsWorld fans get to see the show through completely different eyes — and introducing it to a whole new wave of devotees.

Related: Danielle Fishel Names the ‘Boy Meets World’ Star She Thinks Would Shock Fans on ‘Dancing with the Stars' (Exclusive)

When it comes to concert etiquette, Madonnahas a stern warning for her fans.

The pop icon made a bold comment during the premiere of Confessions II – The Film at New York City's Beacon Theatre on Friday, June 5. Following the screening, Madonna participated in a Q&A alongside directing duo TORSO, moderated by Anderson Cooper, where the conversation eventually turned to how audiences have changed over the years.

Variety shared that attendees' devices were secured in Yondr pouches throughout the event, with Cooper noting how rare it has become to experience a crowd without a sea of screens.

Madonna agreed, saying society has developed a "persistent need" to document everything around them. While she acknowledged that technology is simply part of modern life, she admitted she's never quite embraced it herself. “I came to this earth to be a doer, not a watcher,” she said, per the outlet.

The singer used her appearance at Coachella alongside Sabrina Carpenteras an example of how dramatically concert culture has evolved. Rather than seeing fans dancing and connecting with one another, the 67-year-old said she was struck by the number of people viewing the experience through their phones.

So when Cooper asked whether she had any final thoughts to leave the audience with, Madonna didn't hesitate: “Put your f*cking phones down and connect.”

Madonna's unfiltered comments have been on full display while promoting Confessions II. During another Q&A last week, she was asked to name her "best d**k down" among people she'd dated who had since passed away. Her answer?John F. Kennedy Jr., whom she briefly romanced in the late 1980s.

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The revelation prompted a stunned reaction from those onstage. Designer Raul Lopez noted, "You're the third person I've heard say that," to which the Queen of Pop replied, "So, you know it's true."

Though their relationship was short-lived, the pair remained connected in later years. According to An Intimate Oral Biography, Kennedy was flattered by Madonna's interest, and he later invited her to appear on the cover of his political magazine, George. 

Confessions II – The Film is set to premiere on YouTube on Monday, June 8, while her upcoming studio album, Confessions II, arrives July 3 via Warner Records.

Related: Tori Kelly Kicks Off the NBA Finals With National Anthem and Fans Have Thoughts

Over the years, countless iconic beverages have come and gone. And while mainstream brands have found ways to stay relevant through the decades, that success hasn't come without a long list of wild experiments. From energy drinks and bold new flavors to retro callbacks and wacky creations, part of staying on top of the beverage game is introducing something new in hopes of finding the next big hit.

In the 2000s, soda experimentation was at an all-time high, with major brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite and Mountain Dew rolling out a seemingly endless stream of new concepts. Coming off the fruity flavors, saturated colors and extreme advertisements of the 90s, the early 2000s ushered in an era of neon colors, wild flavor mashups and some truly unforgettable experiments.

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To honor some of the most creative swings of the decade, we put together a list of 7 iconic 2000s sodas that earned a massive following and then quietly disappeared without a trace. Some were ahead of their time, others simply fell short of expectations and a few are still begging for a comeback. Follow along to see which ones you remember, and let us know if we missed any of your favorites.

2000s Sodas That Quietly Disappeared

Photo by Stockah on Getty Images

Say what you will about the new millennium, but it birthed some of the most iconic trends that still get talked about today. This list captures the decade’s bold creative risks and experimental spirit, narrowed down to 7 of the most unforgettable sodas of the era. Keep scrolling for a trip down memory lane.

1. Surge

Born in 1997 but very much a cult favorite heading into the early 2000s, Surge was Coca-Cola's answer to Mountain Dew, known for its bright green color, tangy citrus flavor and extreme sports-inspired marketing. At the time, Surge amassed a massive following among teens and young adults, though it eventually suffered a decline in sales and was discontinued in 2002.

That wasn't the end of Surge, however. The brand made a brief resurgence (pun intended) in 2014 when it returned as a 12-pack of 16-ounce cans sold exclusively through Amazon. Despite a loyal fan base, the revival was short-lived, and the iconic soda quietly vanished.

2. Pepsi Blue

Yet another attempt to challenge Mountain Dew's dominance, Pepsi Blue was introduced in 2002 as an answer to the wildly popular Code Red. This electric-blue soft drink paired cola with a sweet berry flavor, creating a vibrant, hard-to-miss product on store shelves. And while the novelty of Pepsi Blue helped it become an instant hit among teens, selling an impressive 17 million cases in its first year, its popularity quickly faded. By 2003, the soda had largely disappeared from store shelves before being discontinued the following year.

Like many of its fallen cohorts, Pepsi Blue made a limited comeback in 2021, giving fans another chance to experience its nostalgic flavor before disappearing entirely once again.

3. Sprite Remix

Easily one of the most popular experiments of the era, Sprite Remix was Coca-Cola’s attempt to put a fresh spin on its classic lemon-lime soda by launching an entire line of fruit-infused variations. Debuting in 2003 with Sprite Tropical Remix, the lineup eventually expanded to include BerryClear Remix and Aruba Jam Remix, giving fans a range of colorful takes on the iconic soft drink.

Despite its short run during the early 2000s, Sprite Remix amassed a devoted following. And even though it was discontinued after just a few years, Coca-Cola has occasionally revisited the nostalgic lineup through limited releases of reimagined Tropical Remix flavors, leaving fans still wondering why it never made a permanent comeback.

4. Coke BlāK

If you were around for the early 2000s, you might remember just how much the popularity of Starbucks flipped the beverage industry on its head. And seeing as Coca-Cola at the time had yet to offer a coffee-based beverage, this was the soda giant’s chance to capitalize on the trend. Coca-Cola BlāK was born in 2006, blending classic cola with a shot of rich coffee essence.

Confusion over what Coca-Cola BlāK was actually supposed to be ultimately held it back from success, as Coca-Cola failed to consistently define what it was meant to be: somewhere between a coffee-flavored soda and a soda-flavored coffee. Its taste also varied by market, with U.S. versions using high fructose corn syrup and aspartame, resulting in an overly sweet profile, a strong coffee finish and a noticeable artificial aftertaste. After a brief run, Coca-Cola BlāK was discontinued in 2008, becoming one of the brand’s more infamous flavor experiments.

Related: 10 Retro Taco Bell Items We Desperately Need Back on the Menu

5. Mountain Dew Pitch Black

Debuting originally in 2004 as a limited-time Halloween offering, Mountain Dew Pitch Black is a quintessential nostalgic product of the early 2000s. It immediately stood out for its deep purple color and bold grape flavor, existing within a wave of early 2000s experimental soda releases and quickly gaining a cult following for its unique flavor profile and spooky branding.

After its initial run, Mountain Dew Pitch Black earned enough positive feedback to secure several limited releases and variations over the years, including a sour alternative in 2005 known as Pitch Black II. But despite its strong fan following and repeated comebacks, Pitch Black never found a permanent place in the lineup, as its fruity flavor and slightly tangy edge eventually faded out of existence.

6. Vault

Located somewhere between a soda and an energy drink, Vault was released in 2005 as Coca-Cola’s way to bridge the gap between two beverage styles. Combining a citrus-heavy flavor with a soft drink profile, Vault featured a splash of energy and was marketed with the tagline “Drinks like a soda, kicks like an energy drink.”

Standing out in the mid-2000s for its bright neon packaging and loud, aggressive marketing, Vault was aimed at younger consumers, but it ultimately lost momentum as interest in hybrid soda-energy drinks eventually faded. Vault was discontinued in 2011, though over time it became a nostalgic reminder of the creative swings brands regularly took in the 2000s in the name of innovation.

7. Dr Pepper Berries & Cream

Born into a world of tasty infusions, Dr Pepper Berries & Cream released in 2006 as part of the brand’s “Soda Fountain Classics” line, which already had a hit on its hands with the famed Cherry Vanilla flavor. Meant to be a permanent companion to its Cherry Vanilla counterpart, Berries & Cream blended the brand’s signature 23-flavor base with raspberry and vanilla cream notes, creating a sweet, dessert-like flavor. It also featured a diet version and hit shelves with a full nationwide marketing campaign and sampling events to boot.

Despite high expectations of success, Berries & Cream didn’t achieve anywhere near the level of popularity as its Cherry Vanilla predecessor, and it was pulled from shelves after just a few short months. That said, it did make a brief comeback in 2022, with an extremely limited rewards program giveaway through Pepper Perks, Dr Pepper’s digital rewards platform. And while it is still discontinued to this day, the flavor’s short lifespan and multiple half-comebacks easily cement its status as one of the early 2000s’ more memorable experiments.

Feeling a bit nostalgic? Whether you’re looking to quench your thirst or read up on more iconic food and beverage creations, check out these 10 fast-food items that caused massive public outrage and the 10 retro Taco Bell items we desperately need back.

Related: 15 Discontinued Fast-Food Burgers We Are Still Begging Them to Bring Back

In 1982, music icons George Thorogood and the Destroyers released a blues-rock anthem that would go on to become one of the industry's most recognizable epics.

The band released "Bad to the Bone" on August 9, 1982 as the title track of their fifth studio album. Peaking at No. 27 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, the song enjoyed some commercial success upon its initial release. Years after it first came out, the song was introduced to a wider audience after it was featured in prominent movies and television shows such as 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day, starring Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and 1998's The Parent Trap, starringLindsay Lohan.

A huge hit on MTV, the legendary music video features Thorogood playing a game of pool against rock and roll superstar Bo Diddley.

“I first heard Bo Diddley in 1966,” Thorogood told NME in 2008. “I knew The Rolling Stones were big on this guy and I got a copy of Bo Diddley’s ’16 All-Time Greatest Hits’ and flipped over it, and played it constantly.”

In addition to introducing Thorogood to Diddley's music, The Rolling Stones were an inspiration to Thorogood when releasing his own work. "Bad to the Bone" was the first song that he had ever written, and it was during his 1981 tour with British rock band when he was spurred on to create his own original music.

"I did those gigs with the Stones,” Thorogood recalled, per Classic Rock. “And I noticed that every time they went into the opening of 'Start Me Up'—it’s a very brief opening, and there’s a pause—the response from the audience was just over-the-top."

"So I said to myself: ‘Georgie, you gotta come up with a song, kid,'" he continued. "'You gotta write something that gets that response when you go into it.’" 

It paid off, as "Bad to the Bone" has one of the most recognizable riffs in music history. The signature guitar lick is based on "stop-time" techniques, call-and-response blues traditions, and uses open G tuning.

Related: 1972 Classic, Lasting Over 23 Minutes, Remains One of Progressive Rock's Most Beloved Anthems 54 Years Later

It’s been seven months since Heated Rivalry was first released to Crave and HBO Max, and fans are already begging for more.

Based on the book of the same name written by Rachel Reid, the romance drama took the internet by storm at the end of 2025. Since then, a second season for the show has been greenlit, with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie reprising their roles as Heated Rivalry’s beloved couple, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.

While we wait for more episodes, here’s everything we know about season 2 of Heated Rivalry.

Season 2 will be based on The Long Game by Rachel Reid

Written as the sequel to her Heated Rivalry book, Reid’s The Long Game will be the main source of inspiration for season 2. The book is set ten years after Shane and Ilya first started seeing each other, and follows the couple as they try to decide what’s most important to them: hockey or love.

"It really is different," Jacob Tierney, Heated Rivalry’s showrunner, said during a panel at BookCon in April. “And the challenge, from an adaptation standpoint, is you're in much more serious territory. There's still lots of flirting, and there's lots of sex, but it's this kind of danger. This kind of 'hotel room, adolescent sex' stuff is largely gone."

Filming will begin this summer

In an interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady revealed that the show will begin shooting in August. The scripts are currently being written, and Justin Stockman, Bell Media’s VP of Global Content, said to Deadline that they’re “coming together really well.”

“I don’t think anyone will be disappointed,” Stockman said.

It’s scheduled to return in spring 2027

While rumors of the show’s return have been spreading for months, Bell Media confirmed to Deadline that the show is officially scheduled to return to Crave and HBO Max in spring of 2027. Carlyn Klebuc, Bell’s General Manager of Original Programming, told Deadline that they would have liked it to be faster.

“But Jacob is writing and directing, and he needs the time to make another beautiful season, which we’re confident he will do,” Klebuc said.

You can already enter to win tickets to the premiere

In support of Rainbow Railroad, an organization that helps LGBTQIA+ people find safety, you can already enter to win tickets to the 2027 Heated Rivalry season 2 premiere. The contest is available to enter through Charitybuzz, with extra entries given to those who donate more. Check it out here.

On June 3, Top Gun: Maverick actor James Handy was stabbed and killed in Tarzana, Calif. Michael Gledhill, who was accused of stabbing the actor, was formally charged on June 5 by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman.

Gledhill is the son of Handy’s girlfriend, Wendy. Gledhill has been charged with “one count of murder with a special allegation that he personally used a deadly weapon, a knife,” according to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

“This is not how anyone’s life should end, stabbed in the chest and left dying in the front yard of a home,” Hochman said in the news release. “The victim, James Handy, deserved to live out his later years enjoying what he had worked so hard for and enjoying it with those he loved and cared about. Like all murder victims, his life mattered and the person who inexplicably and violently took it must be held accountable for his actions.”

According to the release, Gledhill faces up to 26 years to life in state prison. Prosecutors are currently recommending that his bail be set at $2.02 million. The case still remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division.

Several celebrities and Handy’s friends have taken to social media to pay tribute to him, including writer/producer Don Winslow, known for his work on UC: Undercover.

"James Handy was a terrific actor, and we were honored to have him on UC: Undercover in a recurring role,” Winslow posted on X. “His performances were always special."

“I could not have asked for a more talented, humble or gracious client and friend than James Handy,” Pam Ellis-Evenas, Handy’s agent, said in an email to the Associated Press.

Read the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office’s full news release here.

Whether you’re a perpetually voracious reader, someone who can’t hit the beach without a book in hand, or an audiobook lover, you’ve likely picked up a historical fiction novel at some point. Even if it’s not your go-to genre, there’s something about being transported to another time that has universal appeal.

The best historical fiction books serve as handheld time machines, offering a fantastic dose of escapism that involves immersing yourself in a completely different era. For a sense of the next one you should read, look no further than your birth month, which offers useful intel on your perspective, strengths, and even life purpose. Explore expert insights from Maressa Brown.

Your Ideal Historical Fiction Novel, Based on Your Birth Month

Read on to learn which historical fiction book might be an instant classic as far as you’re concerned, based on the month you were born.

January: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Born as a new year was just beginning, you came into the world as the sun traveled through hardworking, serious Capricorn or rebellious, eccentric Aquarius. Both signs are ruled by Saturn, the taskmaster planet, offering you a respect for putting your nose to the grindstone and finding work that resonates with your mind and your heart, a theme that is woven throughout Bonnie Garmus’s 2022 novel set in 1960s Los Angeles. Protagonist and chemist Elizabeth Zott has to trade her lab coat for an apron when she is forced out of the research world and is hired as the host of a cooking show called Supper at Six. Featuring themes of feminism and passion for scientific progress, Lessons in Chemistry will appeal to your forward-thinking spirit.  

RELATED: Best-Selling Author’s New Historical Fiction Novel Is Barnes & Noble’s June Book of the Month

February: Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Born when the sun was moving through either quirky, revolutionary air sign Aquarius or poetic, spiritual hippie heart water sign Pisces, you’re a dreamer who finds it easier to strike out against convention than to adhere to arbitrary rules and regulations. That said, you’re sure to fall head over heels for Daisy, the rebellious, wild child, free spirited main character of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s hit 2019 novel that was actually turned into a Prime miniseries in 2023. Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the book is written as an oral history of a legendary 1970s rock band.  

RELATE?: 4 Birth Months That Make The Best Writers

March: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Because you were born while the sun was in empathic, psychic water sign Pisces or action-oriented, impulsive fire sign Aries, you’re a rose-colored glasses-wearing romantic and a go-getter who can get behind an epic adventure like Outlander, the historical fantasy series by Diana Gabaldon that kicked off in 1991 and was turned into a TV series in 2014. The novels, which follow British nurse Claire Randall from the 20th century back in time to 18th century Scotland, where she meets Highland warrior Jamie Fraser, are full of heart-pounding thrills and steamy romance, which can’t help but appeal to your driven, whimsical nature.

April: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Born when the sun was moving through either passionate, competitive fire sign Aries or Taurus, the grounded, tactile earth sign, you are determined, pour your whole heart into your desires, and believe deeply in your aspirations. You’ll be engaged by the story of Mary and Anne Boleyn who were pitted against one another to aim for the affections of King Henry VIII as it’s a tale of ambition, survival, and freedom. 

May: The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin

Whether you were born when the sun was moving through grounded, practical earth sign Taurus or social, curious air sign Gemini, genuine, fulfilling relationships are at the epicenter of what matters to you in life. In The Secret Book Society, which is set in 1895 London, three women join a secret book club hosted by Lady Duxbury. Blending suspense and romance while touching on themes like sisterhood, this 2025 novel will speak to your adoration for nurturing your most heartfelt bonds.

June: The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

As a person who came into the world when the sun was in either super-social air sign Gemini or emotionally intelligent, heartfelt water sign Cancer, your bonds with loved ones are a top priority. Following the story of four Chinese immigrant families in San Francisco who start a mahjong club known as The Joy Luck Club, this hit 1989 novel, which was adapted to an Oscar-nominated film in 1993, is structured in short vignettes and will appeal to your cerebral, nurturing soul. 

EXPLORE: The Literary Woman Your Birth Month Embodies

July: Before the Crown by Flora Harding

Born when the sun was in either deeply caregiving water sign Cancer or theatrical, big-hearted fire sign Leo, you believe in showing up fully for your nearest and dearest — and are a pro at falling in love. Both themes are woven throughout Harding’s 2021 novel that’s set in 1940s England and centers on Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s courtship in the wake of WWII. Brimming with “royal secrets and forbidden love,” Before the Crown has been called a must-read for fans of Netflix’s The Crown and will appeal to your unflinchingly romantic outlook on life. 

August: Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Fowler

Whether you were born under sunny, dynamic fire sign Leo or cerebral, thoughtful Virgo, you believe deeply in following your heart and pursuing your greatest ambitions. You may be a tad (or a lot) theatrical and want to make the most of life in any given moment, much like Zelda Fitzgerald, the protagonist in Therese Fowler’s 2013 biographical novel about the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Spanning 1918 to 1940, the fictionalized account of Zelda’s life aims to set the record straight on the famous flapper party girl and OG Daisy Buchanan who Fowler casts as an independent creative whose writing talent were never given due credit. As someone who can understand the need to be recognized for their artistic prowess, this take on Zelda’s life and decline will light your inner fire. 

READ: 4 Birth Months Who Have Always Been Bookworms

September: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

You were born under either intelligent, communication-savvy earth sign Virgo or partnership-loving, balance-seeking air sign Libra, which means literature and romance are themes that appeal to your heart and mind. In turn, you’ll adore diving into Paula McLain’s New York Times Bestseller published in 2011. A fictionalized biography of Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley Richardson, the book was based on the couple’s biographies, letters, and Hemingway’s novels and transports the reader back in time to galavant with the literati of 1920s Paris. 

October: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

The sun moved through balance-seeking air sign Libra and powerful water sign Scorpio during the month you came into the world, which means you’re someone who knows your heart and is willing to go to great lengths to follow it. This 1983 historical fantasy novel reimagines Arthurian legends from the point of view of the female characters, Morgaine, Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), Viviane, Morgause, Igraine, and others. You’ll be mesmerized by Bradley’s transformative, complex, political, and magical take on romance and the thrilling adventures of Camelot's court. 

November: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Whether you were born under the fearless water sign Scorpio or adventurous fire sign Sagittarius, your passionate heart will be moved by this brilliant murder mystery, courtroom drama, and bold love story beloved by millions of readers. Published in 2018, Owens’s coming-of-age book kicks off in 1969 and flashes back to the ‘50s, telling the story of Kya, who grows up flying solo in the marshes of North Carolina and ultimately finds herself on trial for murder. Given your desire to better understand and explore human nature, Crawdads, which was adapted to a film in 2022, is sure to grip you. 

December: The Alice Network: A Novel by Kate Quinn 

Born with your sun in either adventurous fire sign Sagittarius or industrious earth sign Capricorn, you aim to step outside your comfort zone and make your mark. You’ll find yourself enthralled by Kate Quinn’s story of a spy recruited to the Alice Network in France during World War I and an American socialite who is searching for her cousin in 1947. In two different timelines, the women are brought together in a story that is grounded in themes of courage, redemption, wartime glory, and sacrifice. 

UP NEXT:

Jeremy Piven, best known for his role as Ari Gold in HBO’s Entourage, has finally sold his home in Los Angeles. But not nearly for the price he was hoping for.

Piven purchased his Mount Olympus mansion in 2017 for $6.8 million. The 6,200-square-foot home was originally built in 1980, boasting everything from an infinity-edge pool to a two-story glass conservatory.

Piven listed it as a $35,000 per-month rental before finally putting it up for sale at $9.49 million in January 2025. After over one year of looking for a buyer, the home finally sold this month at $6.85 million. Realtor.com reported that the actor will have to pay a 4% levy on the sale price, meaning he won’t be getting much more than he paid for the home.

Piven was represented by the Beverly Hills Estates, who never revealed why he was selling the home. Although Piven has an “impressive and varied property portfolio that includes several other dwellings,” according to Realtor.com, his Mount Olympus property “was certainly one of the jewels in that crown.”

“The two levels of the four-bedroom, five-bathroom residence have a switchback design connected by a floating staircase,” Architectural Digest wrote after Piven bought the home. “The marble-and-dark-wood kitchen flows into the dining area, which has glass walls that open into the backyard. A dark-wood floating bookshelf separates living and game rooms, which also benefit from sweeping views and ample natural light through the glass walls.”

The home is positioned above the Sunset Strip, close to West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. It also boasts a fire pit lounge, multiple patios and a lawn “all set against a world-class backdrop,” the listing said.

Realtor.com noted that Piven had put his own spin on the home, with many listing photos showing personal items like a drum kit, framed photos and even Emmy statues that were awarded to him during his time on Entourage.

Check out photos of the Los Angeles home here.

Jon Cryer starred in the iconic romcom Pretty in Pinkalongside Molly Ringwald in 1986. Cryer played Duckie, who had a rivalry with Blane McDonough, played by Andrew McCarthy. However, Cryer revealed that the tension wasn’t only on screen. The two didn’t get along in real life, either.

In an interview with Page Six, Cryer said, “I thought he was aloof and just a d–k. We had all kinds of issues.”

Cryer recalled one specific moment when he was trying to film a close-up and Ringwald and McCarthy were goofing around on the set. “I got really mad at them,” he said. “I found out that the director asked them to do that because he wanted me really mad for the scene. But at the time, I didn’t know.”

Related: Stanley Tucci, 65, Discusses 21 Year Age Gap With His Wife: ‘We Had Nothing in Common

However, looking back, Cryer realized that McCarthy was struggling more than he realized when they were filming the hit movie. “I didn’t know that he was going through; he was battling his own demons and had a fractured family relationship with his dad. And he was already starting to have issues with alcohol,” he said. “None of this I knew about at the time, so of course he was aloof. He was just trying to keep it together on a really big job.”

Cryer shared a similar sentiment during an interview with PEOPLEin 2024. “Molly and I were work friends,” he said. “Andrew and I couldn’t even manage that. I had no idea he was already dealing with an alcohol addiction. At the time, I perceived him as kind of haughty and remote, but had I known he was working so hard just to keep it together, I might have been more understanding.”

Related: ‘The Love Boat’ Star Exposes One Man on Set Who ‘Was Not a Good Human’

McCarthy wasn’t a fan of Cryer, either. In his 2021 memoir, Brat: An '80s Story, he revealed that he disliked the actor because he had “a nervous laugh I found irritating.”

Luckily, Cryer revealed that the pair are on good terms today. “Andrew and I have had a lot of communication in the last couple of years,” he revealed.

Over-the-counter medications are nothing if not convenient. If you feel a cold coming on, you can pop over to your local pharmacy and grab something to soothe symptoms so it's slightly less cruddy. Yet, hepatologists are begging people not to take common medications so casually. In fact, they say it's best to talk to your doctor before taking OTC medicines, even though you don't need a prescription.

"Since over-the-counter medications are easy to obtain, it’s a common assumption that they are safe by default," Dr. Brian T. Lee, MD, a transplant hepatologist at Hoag Digestive Health Institute and director of the Hoag Liver Program, tells Parade. "This, unfortunately, isn’t the case, and I see the consequences of this assumption frequently as a hepatologist."

OK—what does medication for a cold or backache have to do with the liver? A lot, as it turns out.

"The liver is responsible for metabolizing most medicines," Dr. Lee explains, noting that the liver has only so much capacity to metabolize medicines safely. When you take a dose that's higher than advised, use a medication too frequently or combine it with something like alcohol, it's possible to damage the liver.

"While concerning, the reality is that much of this type of harm is preventable, and the first step is understanding that just because a medication is available without a prescription does not mean it is harmless," Dr. Lee says. "Recognizing that is an important distinction and is where responsible use begins."

For this reason, hepatologists like Dr. Lee wish people would stop taking this common medication so casually.

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The Common Medication To Stop Taking So Casually, Hepatologists Say

"Acetaminophen overdosage is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States," states Dr. Veronica Loy, DO, a transplant hepatologist and the medical director of liver transplantation at Rush University Medical Center. Acetaminophen is the generic name for the active ingredient in brands like Tylenol.

The FDA is also begging people not to overuse acetaminophen, saying it can lead to overdose and "severe liver damage.

Dr. Lee says that acetaminophen-induced liver failure can happen in several ways. Unintentional overdoses, sometimes called “therapeutic misadventure,” are common.

skhoward/Getty Images

"This happens when patients are not trying to harm themselves, and most likely, they even believe they are taking the medication safely," Dr. Lee reports. "Then, they do something unknowingly harmful, like taking multiple products simultaneously without realizing that each contains acetaminophen. Common scenarios of this include mixing cold and flu medications, sleep aids and/or prescription combination pain medications." 

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever, but it's often compounded with other cold and pain remedies, including NyQuil and Percocet, warns Dr. Lee F. Peng, MD, Ph.D., the chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. All of these contribute to the safe dose of acetaminophen, even if you're taking Tylenol as directed.

Plus, you can find Tylenol in Extra Strength, which contains 500 milligrams of acetaminophen (regular Tylenol has 325 milligrams of acetaminophen).

The dose per day isn't the only part of the label to pay attention to. Dr. Lee points out that OTC medicines will also say how many days in a row you can take them. "Liver injury also occurs when someone consistently exceeds the maximum recommended dose over consecutive days, even if each dose is not extreme," he explains. "It can also happen at lower doses in people with underlying liver disease, those who have poor nutrition or other risk factors."

Alcohol use is one of those risk factors (which is why acetaminophen and alcohol don't mix). "Regular alcohol intake also increases the risk of liver toxicity from acetaminophen use, making smaller doses of acetaminophen potentially toxic," says Dr. Anurag Maheshwari, MD, a hepatologist at Mercy.

Related: We Asked 3 Hepatologists What To Drink in the Morning for Liver Health and They All Said the Same Thing

How Much Acetaminophen Can You Take?

"The average healthy adult can tolerate up to 4,000 milligrams of acetaminophen in 24 hours," Dr. Loy states. "That is about eight regular Tylenol or six Extra Strength Tylenol."

Still, she says it's crucial to check your other medicines to make sure you're not getting acetaminophen through other sources, too, noting that alcohol use or steatosis of the liver can lower your limit for safe use of acetaminophen. Dr. Loy says that people with liver problems are advised to cap acetaminophen intake at 2,000 milligrams daily.

Dr. Loy warns that even regular, moderate alcohol use can impact your liver's ability to handle medications, including acetaminophen.

Your best bet? "We recommend that patients do not drink alcoholic beverages while taking Tylenol because of the potential serious liver damage that can result from consuming two separate substances that both can damage the liver at the same time," Dr. Peng says.

Besides, alcohol won't heal that flu or back pain any faster—if anything, it'll drag them out.

Related: ‘I’m a Hepatologist—This Is the One Thing I Tell Every Patient With Fatty Liver Disease To Do Before Anything Else’

Alternatives to Acetaminophen

When used correctly, acetaminophen is considered safe to use. However, you may be interested in alternatives.

"The most common OTC alternatives for acetaminophen are NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium," Dr. Lee says. "These medications work differently from acetaminophen and are effective for pain and inflammation. However, they carry their own risks, including irritating the stomach or increasing the risk of ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding."

People with liver disease may be able to use acetaminophen, and everyone needs to use any medication as directed. "NSAIDs should be used cautiously in chronic liver disease and are generally avoided in cirrhosis, especially in the setting of ascites, kidney dysfunction...and low platelet counts," Dr. Lee says, adding that you may also be able to try more natural strategies instead of reaching for acetaminophen, like heat, ice, physical therapy and rest.

Related: This 1 Vitamin May Reverse a Common Health Condition, According to a Hepatologist

Hepatologists' Tips for Safe Medication Use

Over-the-counter medication can be safe and effective, but it's important to understand that they aren't without risks. To manage these risks and protect your short and long-term health, hepatologists recommend:

1. Seek advice from an expert. Dr. Loy suggests reviewing the risks and benefits of certain OTC medications with you so you can make an informed choice: "What you may see on social media or word of mouth may not apply to everyone."
2. Tell your provider about all medications you take, including over-the-counter products. Since medications and supplements can interact with one another, Dr. Lee says it's possible they can make underlying conditions worse and contribute to liver damage. So, you'll want to flag any medications you're already taking with your provider during your risk-benefit discussions.
3. Follow the instructions on the label. Dr. Maheshwari stresses that this one is huge. "Unfortunately, some people have a habit of just taking a handful and not paying attention to the exact dose—they can be consuming something that is strongly advised against."
4. Do not take a higher dose because a medication “isn’t working." Dr. Lee emphasizes that "more medication" doesn't always mean "more benefit." "With acetaminophen, exceeding the recommended dose may not provide better pain relief, but it does increase the risk of liver injury. If the labeled dose is not controlling the pain or fever, that is a signal to call your doctor, not to take more medicine."

Up Next:

Related: 2 Supplements You Should Never Take if You Want To Protect Your Liver, According to Hepatologists

Sources:

• Dr. Brian T. Lee, MD, a transplant hepatologist at Hoag Digestive Health Institute and director of the Hoag Liver Program
• Dr. Lee F. Peng, MD, Ph.D., the chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center
• Dr. Veronica Loy, DO, a transplant hepatologist and the medical director of liver transplantation at Rush University Medical Center 
• Dr. Anurag Maheshwari, MD, a hepatologist at Mercy
• Acetaminophen Toxicity. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• Don’t Overuse Acetaminophen. FDA.
• Acetaminophen. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
  

Barry White, nicknamed the Walrus of Love, is known for his sultry, iconic voice. The musician has released countless hits, from “Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” to “You're the First, the Last, My Everything.”

53 years ago today, he released the soul song, "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby," as his debut single. The song rose to the top of the US R&B chart, where it remained for two weeks. It also hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 23 on the UK Singles chart.

Over the years, this song has been featured in countless seduction scenes in movies and television shows. It was included in Birds of Prey, Friends, Chuck, That ‘70s Show, High Fidelity, Love Island UK, and Kissing Jessica Stein.

Related: 1957 Rock Song, Which Got George Harrison Into the Beatles, Was Recorded 69 Years Ago

In a 1987 interview with Joe Smith, White spoke about why he got into writing love songs. “Everyone, to me, has to pick a subject to talk about in music if you’re gonna be a writer,” he said. “Mine is love. Because I know when a man’s making love, the last thing he thinks about is war. The last thing he thinks about is how can he blow up a nation.”

In a conversation with Oprah Winfrey, he also made a powerful statement about music. He said, “Music and memories naturally go together. That’s what brings people back to their favorite songs, the memories. What they were doing, what happened to them, what they went through in their life at that time. I’m very honored, I’m very grateful, that I was chosen as one of those songwriters to write songs that would live as long as mine have.”

Throughout his career, White recorded 20 studio albums, selling millions of records. He also worked as a producer and did voice-over work for TV and movies, including voicing himself twice on The Simpsons. He was named one of the greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone and was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

White died in 2003 of kidney failure. He was 58.

Harriet Sperling looked absolutely stunning at her wedding to Peter Phillips today.

Peter is Queen Elizabeth II's grandson and King Charles III, so the royal family were out in force for the big day.

The bride wore a high-necked lace gown by Emilia Wickstead and an etheral wedding veil, which she accessorized with a sparkling diamond and pearl tiara.

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We were wondering whether she would be loaned a tiara from the royal vault (currently overseen by Queen Camilla) or whether the groom's mother Princess Anne would loan her one from her personal collection.

Related: Kate Middleton Stuns in Blush Dress at Peter Phillips’ Wedding

In the end, Harriet's tiara was crafted by Pragnell, the London jeweler that designed her engagement ring.

Pragnell designed Queen Elizabeth's engagement ring back in 1946, with Prince Philip requesting they incorporate diamonds from a tiara that had belonged to his mother, Princess Alice of Battenburg.

Harriet's matching diamond and pearl earrings were also by Pragnell.

Sweetly, the bride's veil was carried by her 13-year-old daughter Georgina from a previous marriage and Peter's daughters from his marriage to Autumn Kelly, Savannah (15) and Isla (14.)

All three bridesmaids wore simple white dresses and flower crowns.

The couple were married at an intimate ceremony at All Saints Church in the village of Kemble. Princess Anne is set to host the wedding reception at her nearby Gatcombe estate later today.

Previously it had been speculated that Harriet would wear Princess Anne's Festoon Diamond Tiara, which Anne wore for her engagement photoshoot with Mark Phillips in 1973. But perhaps this was always unlikely as it was worn by Peter's first wife Autumn on their wedding day in 2008.

Another option for Harriet would have been Anne's rarely seen Meander Tiara, featuring diamonds in a Greek key style that reflects Anne’s Greek royal heritage. It belonged to Prince Philip‘s mother Princess Alice, and was a wedding present from Alice to her new daughter-in-law Princess Elizabeth when she married Philip in 1947.

Related: This Is What Princess Charlotte’s New Title Will Be When Prince William Becomes King

The queen was never pictured wearing the tiara in public, instead choosing to gift it to her daughter when Anne turned 18 in 1968.

It was always possible that Harriet wouldn't wear a tiara at all. Neither Princess Anne or Queen Camilla opted for tiaras at their second weddings. However Meghan Markle wore the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara at her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, even though she had been previously married.

In the event we're very glad that Harriet chose to step out in the stunning but understated headpiece!

Kate Middleton and Prince William were among the royals guests at Peter and Harriet's wedding today, with the Princess of Wales wearing a blush tweed dress by Roland Mouret and a boater hat.

King Charles and Queen Camilla were also there, as were Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice and their husbands.

Ever thrifty Princess Anne rewore the yellow hat that she wore to her daughter Zara's christening in 1981.

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She also wore a yellow coat with a cream shawl.

Notable by their exclusion from the guest list were Prince Harry, whose tensions with the royal family continue, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his titles last year and is being investigated for misconduct in public office.

Next,Royal Family to Erase Final Traces of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle From Frogmore Cottage

There are few objects more unmistakably tied to summer than the humble bucket. The second the weather warms up, colorful pails start showing up everywhere, typically stuffed with beach toys, packed with gardening tools, filled with melting ice and drinks at backyard cookouts, or corralling sunscreen and citronella candles on the patio. They're the unsung heroes of the season, hauling around all the little things that make summer feel easy and fun.

Of course, most buckets aren't exactly what you'd call fashionable. Practical? Absolutely. But as far as being cute, they're usually not. But leave it to Dolly Parton to look at an ordinary plastic pail and think, What if this had a little more pizzazz? With that in mind, a basic summer workhorse becomes something that actually enhances the vibe rather than hiding in the corner. Bright colors, playful energy, and a little bit of character can make even the most functional item feel festive.

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Dolly Parton Summer Pink Tapered Plastic Bucket, $3 at Dollar General

Dollar General

That's exactly the charm behind Dollar General's pink plastic bucket from Dolly's summer collection. It's equal parts useful and unapologetically fun.

Related: Old Navy's Ultra Flattering Wrap Dress Will Be Your Stylish Go-To Summer Staple

This isn't the average utility bucket that you might find at Home Depot. Done in a vibrant pink hue with blue butterflies fluttering across white stripe details, it leans fully into Dolly's signature playful style. Its tapered shape gives the classic pail silhouette, while the durable plastic construction keeps it oh-so practical. There are built-in handles that make it easy to tote around, whether it's heading to the backyard, patio or beach day setup.

If you aren't feeling the hot pink, the exact same bucket is available in blue, with white stripes and pink butterflies. It's always nice to have options, right?

At $3 a pop, these buckets also make a great foundation for a summertime gift instead of using a traditional gift bag. Fill it with fun seasonal accessories like sunscreen, a beach read, a towel and whatever else you think the might recipient might be able to use during the warm weather months. It's almost guaranteed that the next time you visit them, you'll notice they're repurposing the bucket in some way, whether for decoration or to keep items organized. And that's always a good feeling.

Related: Costco Shoppers Say They're 'True Believers' in These Cushioned Sandals That Go With Everything

Netflix's brand-new Michael Jackson docuseries, Michael Jackson: The Verdict, was released on June 3, and it took no time at all for the new release to become divisive. As the title suggests, Michael Jackson: The Verdict centers on Jackson's real-life, highly public trial that spanned 14 weeks in 2005.

The trial saw Jackson accused of a range of serious crimes, including child molestation, false imprisonment, supplying alcohol to a minor and others. After a long, intense trial, Jackson was acquitted of all charges. However, as is often true, the court of public opinion is another matter. More than 20 years later, debates remain regarding whether Jackson was truly not guilty of these accusations.

Michael Jackson: The Verdict seems to skew towards the opinion that Jackson was actually guilty, which has led to review bombing (it currently has a jaw-dropping 6% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes) as well as backlash online.

Now, Jackson's defense attorney from the 2005 trial, Thomas Mesereau, has weighed in as well, condemning the docuseries, particularly due to the timing of its release, which comes a little over a month after the theatrical release of the very well-received biopic Michael.

Speaking to Piers Morgan, Mesereau said, "This is a very joyous time for supporters and lovers of Michael Jackson. The biopic is setting all kinds of records, his memorabilia is selling all over the world, his music is streaming all over the world. Even his book Moonwalk is flying off the shelves...Why do we need a documentary in the middle of this that goes back 21 years in a case where he was completely exonerated?"

He continued, "The jury deliberated for eight days; they had seen almost five months of testimony. They had been in trial five days a week during those five months. They deliberated eight days, and they came back with not guilty on every felony count and every misdemeanor count. 14 times they said not guilty. He was totally exonerated."

Implying that the docuseries was meant to undercut the positive response to Michael, Mesereau added, "So why are we going through a documentary on this? What's the point? I don't think we need a documentary on this. I think there have been enough...The timing is suspicious, and I don't think we need another documentary on this."

Mesereau also listed the demographics and careers of the jurors, suggesting that this would not have been a jury that was biased in Jackson's favor. Some of those jurors included "two women who had experienced molestation in their own family," "a retired school principal with a master's degree in counseling," "a head of a local social services agency who had been married to a police officer," a journalist and others.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available 24 hours a day through RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

Fans of Legend by Marie Lu will need to pay attention. The YA fantasy author is back, and this time with the start of a new duology. Mortal Things is the first novel of two, and we have an exclusive excerpt to share.

Mortal Things is coming out on October 27, 2026, and it’s the perfect read for fantasy fans. It follows Rose, a human mercenary for the god of Death. However, she soon finds herself caught in the immortals’ crosshairs.

Rose starts to investigate a murder that has what is described as cataclysmic consequences. We all know immortals and their rivalries. Is it possible that she’s stumbled upon something that certain gods want to keep quiet?

Whatever it is, Rose has other problems to contend with as well. As much as she hates Raven, the god of Death, he has chosen her to be his Harbinger, and he wants her to become his heir. That, alone, thrusts her into the immortal realm, and now she will be put to the test by Étienne Beauchard

Étienne is someone else Rose despises, but they soon find that they may have to work together to uncover the secrets the gods have tried to hide for so long. Expect plenty of twists and turns as we go along for this ride. There is the hope of love, making this great for romantasy fans as well as romance fans.

Courtesy of MacMillan Publishing

Mortal Things already has praise from some of the famous authors in the fantasy genre. Red Queen author Victoria Aveyard shares that the novel is "a dark dream of a book,” and Rebecca Ross, author of Divine Rivals, says it is “a riveting, magical read that is impossible to put down.”

Don’t believe them? We have an excerpt that helps to introduce Rose and the world that she has unwillingly found herself in.

We are their thieves. Their mercenaries. Their soldiers of fortune.

Every god has Harbingers in the mortal world to do their bidding until death finds us again—whether from accidents or demands of the job or simply old age. In return, we are paid in money and in life. Our missions can be anything. Mortal objects to fetch. Mortal people to influence. And sometimes, in my case, mortal lives to take.

Each Harbinger is gifted with a drop of their patron god’s powers. For me, that is the power of Death, to claim the soul, the thread of energy in someone’s body. When I touch a target, they will suddenly feel weak, the energy draining from them. Hold long enough, and they die.

Sometimes I’ll go several days without a new job. Sometimes weeks. But always, inevitably, a messenger will show up at my door with a black envelope, a single dark feather molded against the flap with a pearly white wax seal. My instructions.

We may call them acts of god, but it’s Harbingers who make them happen. We are behind it all—every natural disaster, every devastating war and moment of heroism, every innovation and upheaval of society. Even every celebration of joy. We are the reason the world is in constant commotion.

Another tingle jolts through my arm and cuts through my train of thought. I straighten, then look down at my ring again.

As always, it senses my target before I do, and now the eye gives me a meaningful glare before glancing toward the station’s southeast corner.

I study the crowd but don’t see a hint of the man whose name and location were printed on the black card in today’s envelope. Maybe the guy had decided not to come here after all, had chosen to stay back at his apartment, like I thought he originally planned. I sigh as I sweep my ponytail of brown hair forward over one shoulder. When I hesitate a moment longer, though, my ring sends a stronger shock through me, making me startle.

“Okay, for gods’ sakes,” I mutter, shoving my hand back in my pocket so I can’t see the eye glaring pointedly at me. “You don’t have to get so testy.”

It’s the week right before Christmas, and with this weather, the station is jammed with anxious travelers all staring at the board, hoping their train won’t be delayed. My finger is still tingling, and I look around, trying to spot the source of the ring’s agitation. A year as a Harbinger has honed my ability to pick out a target from the crowd, but even so, I still take a moment, scouring the shifting sea of souls before my gaze settles on him at last.

There, standing near the front of the board, is a man with glasses and a leather jacket, a briefcase in hand and a duffel bag hanging over one shoulder. He’s staring down at a crinkled ticket and checking the board constantly for his train, and his shoulders are hunched, as if for protection.

My mark.

Once, I had dreamed of saving lives. Instead, I’m tasked with taking them. I want to scream at Raven, unleashing my eternal anger at him for doing this to me, for forcing me to become his Harbinger.

I never wanted this. I never wanted you.

I can imagine his bitter smile in return, those endless gray eyes staring into my soul.

Always, always, I want to ask him why. Why did you choose me?

Always, I beg him to set me free. But always, he refuses.

After all, what do I know? He is a god, and I am just a mortal.

Keep in mind when you get Mortal Things that it is the first part of a duology. Expect a cliffhanger ending! Mortal Things is out on October 27, 2026.

Related: Get Your First Look at the Mesmerizing Cover for 'Somewhere, Something Incredible' by Susan Meissner (Exclusive)

For four seasons, The Bear has found a permanent place in the minds (and kitchens) of fans. Now, with the fifth and final season three weeks away, FX has released a teaser that confirms what devoted viewers have dreaded: the kitchen is closing for good, and the farewell is going to hurt.

The teaser, titled 'The Last Service,' is moody and rain-soaked, and feels very much like the mood that has defined the series from its very first episode. The title card alone sent fans spiraling on social media, where reactions like 'I just want them to hug together and be happy 😭' and 'please don't end' have been appearing in the hours since the footage went out. All eight episodes of Season 5 will release simultaneously on Hulu on June 25, giving viewers the option (or the temptation) to binge the entire goodbye in one sitting.

New teaser trailer for the final season of 'The Bear' 👨‍🍳

Releasing on Hulu June 25 pic.twitter.com/REAS7Wl7aV

— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) June 4, 2026

The season picks up the morning after the Season 4 finale's gut punch. Carmy Berzatto, played byJeremy Allen White, has walked away from the restaurant entirely. Sydney, Richie, and Natalie are now left to run The Bear on their own, facing financial pressure and one final, enormous goal; earning the Michelin star that has driven the show's characters for years. It's a setup designed to test whether the family that formed inside that chaotic kitchen can hold together without the person who brought them all in.

Related: Rock Hall Inductee, 76, Shares a Blunt Update on His Disease

Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays the Berzatto family matriarch Donna, marked the end of production in February by writing on Instagram that the cast and crew had 'finished strong' and 'completed the story' of the extraordinary family at the heart of the show. FX Chairman John Landgrafhas noted that fan response to each season has been 'as spectacular as any of the series' previous seasons,' a sentiment that the reaction to Thursday's teaser only confirms.

The Bear premiered in June 2022 and built its audience through a willingness to make viewers feel genuinely uncomfortable, then turn that discomfort into something bordering on profound. Created by Christopher Storer, the series used the controlled chaos of a professional kitchen as a way to talk about grief, family trauma, identity, and what it costs to chase excellence. Viewers who got hooked after the first season finale (with Carmy finding his late brother's hidden money inside tomato cans as Radiohead played) have never quite left. For that audience, June 25 is going to be a lot.

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Every now and again, a film comes along that captures some universal truth of the human experience and immortalize it forever. These films stand the test of time and remain cultural touchstones well after their initial release. Taxi Driver is one of these films.

Fifty years ago, Martin Scorseseteamed up with screenwriter Paul Schrader to bring cinema one of the most influential, terrifying, and honest movies the industry had ever seen. In the starring role of Travis Bickle, Robert De Nirocemented himself as one of the greats, and beside him, Jodie Fosterkicked her career to new heights with her breakout performance. Last night at the Tribeca Festival, all four of these icons of the medium came together to talk about the film's staying power before a special screening of the Palme d'Or winning classic.

Why is 'Taxi Driver' Still Relevant Today?

The first question of the evening posed to the panel was a difficult one. The film deals with such heavy subject matter, it's a bit of a tragedy to imagine it still holding so much weight. Each member of the panel grappled with the concept, each coming to the conclusion that there's a universal loneliness that is understood by the film.

Schrader and Scorsese also spoke at length about how this loneliness is captured in the symbology of the film. Schrader described how the yellow taxi cab is a profound symbol of loneliness in his eyes, and that it was the first image he had before he began writing the script. Scorsese added that the symbolism of the vehicle didn't click until the first shot of the movie, when we see the cab emerge from the steam of a New York City summer night.

The New York Connection

Scorsese revealed that he and De Niro never really spoke about the character of Travis Bickle. He referenced photos of the two talking on set together and surprised the audience by saying it was just personal chatting. De Niro agreed, adding that he just "understood" Travis.

The two spoke at length about how New York was a mess when the film was made, and there was a pervasive alienation that they inherently understood, both being from the city. Growing up in a broken place imbued some broken feeling within them, with Scorsese sighting the normalcy of a garbage strike to him.

Photo by Screen Archives on Getty Images

Being a Kid on Set

Of course, Jodie Foster was only 12 years old when she starred in the film. Foster revealed how she as a child ended up playing such a tragic part in such a violent film.

Speaking of her upbringing, she talked about how her mother would take her to the movies all the time as a child, and how one day, she saw Scorsese's breakout film Mean Streets. She said from the moment she saw that movie, she wanted to work with Scorsese.

Foster was a true professional on set, according to the rest of the panel, with Scorsese describing her as a great sense of support due to her drive and readiness to do whatever she needed to do for the film. With her character, there was a great deal of uncomfortable territory in what was being depicted, but she handled it like someone much older.

Foster went on to speak about how incredible of a learning experience it was for her, saying that it was the movie that made her want to be an actor. She spoke about going to breakfast every day with De Niro to prepare for their scenes, and him teaching her about improv. That exercise is what made her realize her passion for the craft.

The Joys of Production

Scorsese described the film as a labor of love. Everyone there had such fond memories despite the difficulty of the shoot. Foster spoke about how she had an amazing time, saying that it was both the most serious thing in the world, but also like a big game for her.

Many stories of laughter were told, especially surrounding Scorsese's uncontrollable giggles during the shooting of the film's harrowing final sequence. The legendary director found the practical effects absolutely hilarious.

My favorite story they told was about the iconic "You talkin' to me" scene. For years, it's been disputed and debated as to where that famous line originated, and it was revealed last night that it was improvised by De Niro. The crew was 2 hours over schedule, and De Niro was improvising the whole sequence, apparently in a "trance" as Scorsese described it.

As they were shooting, the assistant director was banging on the door trying to get the crew out of there since they were so behind, and Scorsese reminisced that he shut the door on the AD, and let the scene continue on.

Of course, no Taxi Driver reunion would be complete without De Niro being pushed to say his iconic line, which the audience was delighted by.

View this post on Instagram The Evening As a Whole

This was an incredible experience for me. These are filmmakers that I have looked up to for my entire life as a film nerd and now aspiring filmmaker -- and listening to the passion and drive they have for their craft was so inspiring. The love in that room was palpable, which was starkly contrasted by the sheer loneliness of Taxi Driver.

This was my first time seeing it in a theater, and I was really moved by how devoid of love the whole film is. A scene I had forgotten about that really epitomized the themes of the movie for me was the scene featuring Jackson Browne's "Late for the Sky." Travis sits in his living room watching couples on TV dancing as the song plays, the lyrics of which are about a love fading and dying.

Travis clutches his pistol, enraged as he watches. At this point in the film, he has become a vengeful, deranged, and completely radicalized human being. The song choice was such an incredible decision in my opinion. Travis has never been with anybody. He has only ever pushed away and scared the women he is interested in, so in this moment, listening to a song about love lost, he can only feel anger, as he never felt that love in the first place.

The evening was a wonderful experience for all in attendance, and I am beyond lucky to have been there.

Related: Mythical Folk Rock Pioneer, 85, Was Just Crowned as the No. 1 Greatest Living American Songwriter

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Summer outfits are so much easier to coordinate when they’re a one-and-done look, and if you’re not in the mood to wear a dress, a romper is the perfect alternative. Right now, Walmart has the Fantaslook Short-Sleeve Romper on clearance for just $11, down from $34. It’s available in black, green, hot pink, khaki, and rust, with sizes ranging from small to 2XL.

The romper is made from a soft, breathable fabric with a loose fit, short sleeves, and comfortable shorts. You can choose from two neckline styles: the khaki option features a V-neckline, and the other colors have crewnecks. It also has two large pockets and can be easily machine-washed on a gentle cycle, then hung to dry.

Fantaslook Short-Sleeve Romper, $11 (was $34) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The romper’s loose shape and short length offer a breezy, relaxed feel for days that are far too warm to consider anything even remotely heavier. The pockets also make it a much more practical pick than a basic romper, especially for travel, beach days, or quick errands where you don’t feel like coordinating a matching top and bottom. 

Shoppers have called the romper “super cute” and “very soft and comfortable.” One person noted it’s “great for traveling,” while another said it’s “perfect as a cover-up, for lounging around, or running a couple of errands.” Other reviewers said it can be dressed up or down, and many mentioned buying it in multiple colors.

Related: Quince Has a 'Cute and Comfortable' $54 Linen Mini Dress That's 'Great for Traveling'

It would work especially well with sneakers, slide sandals, flip-flops, or flat sandals. The black, khaki, green, and rust can be paired with a tote bag or crossbody, while the hot pink version adds a pop of color for vacations or other fun summer plans. You could even wear it over a swimsuit as a cover-up or pair it with a denim jacket when the night cools down.

Shop More Deals

• Cueply Romper with Pockets, $15 (was $28) at Walmart
• Fantaslook Sleeveless Romper, From $13 (was $28) at Walmart
• Fantaslook Colorblock Short Sleeve Dress, From $15 (was $32) at Walmart

If your summer wardrobe could use an easy one-piece outfit added into the mix, the Fantaslook Short-Sleeve Romper is worth checking out while it’s on clearance at Walmart. Be sure to snag it now while it’s still available in five colors before summer is in full swing.

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