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Outdoor lights make it easier to see a front walk, driveway or patio after dark, but the wrong bulb can also create a gathering point for insects. Mercury vapor and bright white lights tend to attract more flying insects than yellow “bug” lights, giving pests a reason to cluster around doors and other entry points.

That does not mean every bug around a porch light signals an infestation. Lighting is one factor in pest activity, and ants are a separate case. Orkin notes that ants are commonly drawn to food, moisture and shelter, while winged ants are associated with mating flights and suitable nesting conditions.

For homeowners dealing with recurring insects around the house, changing outdoor lighting is a simple place to start.

Need help identifying what’s bringing pests around your home? Get a free pest control quote from Orkin today.

Do outdoor lights attract bugs and ants?

Yes, outdoor lighting can attract many nocturnal flying insects, although the effect depends on the bulb’s spectrum, brightness and placement. Yellow lights generally attract fewer insects than mercury vapor or bright white lights. Ants are different: Food, moisture, shelter and nesting conditions are more important attractants than exterior lighting.

Why do outdoor lights attract flying insects?

Many nocturnal insects respond to artificial light, and some light sources attract more insects than others. Research comparing residential light sources found that LED lamps attracted significantly fewer insects than several conventional sources tested. Other research has found that the spectral output of a lamp influences how attractive it is to flying insects.

That makes the area immediately around a porch or exterior door particularly important. A bright fixture mounted directly above the entrance can concentrate insects exactly where homeowners walk in and out.

The University of Minnesota Extension recommends reducing exterior lighting when possible and switching from mercury or sodium vapor lights to yellow lights, which are less attractive to insects. It also recommends positioning security lights on a pole directed toward a door rather than mounting them directly above the entrance.

Related: Is Pest Control Worth It? Calculating Property Damage Savings vs. Annual Service Fees

Are yellow LED bug lights better for pest control?

Yellow outdoor lights are a practical way to reduce the number of insects drawn toward an entryway, but they are not an insect repellent. The EPA specifically recommends replacing outdoor lights with yellow “bug” lights because they tend to attract fewer mosquitoes than ordinary lights.

The key is to reduce attraction rather than assume a different bulb will eliminate pests.

Outdoor lighting choice

Relative insect attraction

Best use

Mercury vapor

Higher

Consider replacing near entrances

Bright white light

Higher than yellow light

Use selectively

Yellow “bug” light

Lower for many insects

Entryways and exterior areas

Reduced or shielded lighting

Lower exposure

Areas where lighting is not essential

The exact response varies by insect species and light source. A 2016 field study found that LEDs attracted fewer insects than the conventional lights tested, but it found no significant difference between the warm-white and cool-white LEDs in that experiment.

What about ants around outdoor lights?

Ants require a different approach. While winged ants may appear around homes during mating flights, Orkin identifies food and moisture as important reasons ants enter houses. Carpenter ants can also be associated with damp or damaged wood, tree limbs touching structures and nesting sites near the home.

Ron Harrison, Ph.D., Orkin’s technical director, has similarly emphasized understanding what attracts ants to outdoor areas. Orkin notes that ants leave nests to forage for food and can establish trails after finding a food source.

If ants keep appearing near a door, changing the bulb may reduce other insects around the fixture, but it will not address an exterior ant colony, moisture problem, food source or entry point.

Check These Conditions Around the House

Before reaching for a pesticide, look for the conditions that allow pests to remain near the structure:

• Food: Clean up spilled drinks, crumbs and other food residue around patios and exterior eating areas.
• Moisture: Repair leaks and avoid allowing water to accumulate near the foundation.
• Shelter: Move firewood, debris and other potential nesting materials away from the house.
• Entry points: Repair damaged screens and seal cracks and gaps around doors, windows and the foundation.
• Lighting: Turn off unnecessary exterior lights or use yellow bulbs where insect attraction is a recurring problem.

These steps follow the basic principles of integrated pest management, which emphasizes identifying and removing conditions that allow pests to live and enter a building.

Seeing recurring ants, flying insects or other pests despite making changes around the house? A professional inspection can help identify where they’re coming from and what conditions are sustaining the activity. Orkin offers a free quote for pest control services.

Where should outdoor lights be placed to reduce insects?

Light placement can be just as useful as bulb selection. A fixture mounted directly over a door can draw insects toward the exact opening pests need to enter. The University of Minnesota Extension recommends placing security lights on a pole and directing them toward the door instead of mounting them directly above it.

EPA guidance also recommends using low-UV-emitting bulbs for security lighting or mounting security lights away from doors so the light illuminates the entrance without concentrating pests directly at the doorway.

If safety requires strong illumination, homeowners do not necessarily have to eliminate exterior lighting. Changing the location, reducing unnecessary illumination and selecting a less attractive light source can reduce insect activity while preserving visibility.

Related: How Often Should Pest Control Be Done for Maximum Protection?

When do outdoor bugs indicate a pest problem?

A few moths or other insects around a porch light are normal. However, if insects are consistently entering the house, appearing in large numbers or accompanied by other signs such as trails, nests, damaged screens, moisture problems or visible colonies, that may be an indication of a pest-control problem.

That distinction is important because lighting changes address only one potential attractant. The EPA’s integrated pest management guidance recommends identifying the pest and determining why it is present before choosing a control method.

If insects continue appearing after you change the lighting, inspect the surrounding structure rather than continually changing bulbs.

How can homeowners reduce pest activity around outdoor lights?

Start with the lighting itself, but do not stop there. Use yellow bug lights where practical, turn off unnecessary lights, position security fixtures away from entry doors, and keep doors and screens properly sealed. Then address food, water, debris and other conditions that can sustain pest activity.

Lighting is most useful as one part of a broader pest-prevention strategy. If insects or ants continue showing up around the home despite those changes, the source may be a nearby nest, moisture problem, food source or structural entry point.

Take control of your pest situation! Get a free Orkin quote and inspection to identify the source of the activity and discuss an appropriate treatment plan for your home.

Some or all of this content may have been generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, AI can occasionally produce incorrect information. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

When Elvis Presley was gathering material for what would become his final studio release, Moody Blue, he drew inspiration from the top of the contemporary music charts.

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was a genuine fan of Olivia Newton-John, and during his final recording era, he reimagined two of the country-pop sweetheart’s biggest hits. He ultimately put his signature, soulful spin on two of her best-known hits for his 1977 album.

Their unexpected music connection came during a period when the King of Rock and Roll was leaning heavily into country-soul ballads. Among the tracks selected for Moody Blue were his live recording of Newton-John’s 1974 breakthrough hit “If You Love Me (Let Me Know)” and his take on “Let Me Be There.”

Presley didn’t just record the tracks; he regularly performed them during his mid-’70s concert tours. By including those recordings on Moody Blue, Elvis permanently linked his final chapter with Newton-John’s early country-pop reign.

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The website Elvis Australia reprinted an excerpt from Newton-John’s book, Don’t Stop Believin’ where she revealed she missed out on meeting the King of Rock and Roll.

She explained, “I was really excited to be invited to see the King at the Hilton in Las Vegas. It was a celebrity-packed row, with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber sitting next to me on either side.”

Newton-John continued, “During the show, Elvis shocked me and sang my song ‘Let Me Be There’. It blew me away to hear him say my name, because I was such a big fan. After the show, I went backstage to meet him and got another big surprise. Doris Day was there, too. I’ve always adored her. Doris was warm and welcoming, but sadly I never met Elvis up close and personal. His road manager said there was an emergency and Elvis had to leave the building.”

“If You Love Me (Let Me Know)” marked a massive milestone for Newton-John, skyrocketing to No. 2 on the Billboard country chart, the highest rank of her career. Proving her crossover appeal, the hit also broke into the top five on the pop chart while securing the No. 2 spot on the Easy Listening charts.

Although neither of Elvis’ covers hit the Billboard Hot 100, Moody Blue reached No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart and No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in 1977, one month after his death in August 1977 at the age of 42.

Related: EPiC: Elvis Presley Project Lands a Massive Industry Honor

Just when you think you’ve heard every wild Hollywood story imaginable, another one comes along to remind you that the entertainment industry has been operating on its own level of chaos for decades.

From bizarre behind-the-scenes mishaps and surprising casting decisions to celebrity secrets that sound more like urban legends, here are a few things you might not know about some of the biggest names and movies in the business.

1. The actors in The Blair Witch Project were listed as dead on IMDb.

The filmmakers went all in on convincing audiences that their fictional horror movie was real. The actors were reportedly listed as deceased on IMDb, and they even created fake police reports to really drive the message home. Some viewers genuinely believed the performers disappeared. Their families even received condolence calls because of it.

372697 03: Heather Donahue turns the camera on herself during a harrowing five-day journey through the Black Hills Forest in the low-budget thriller “The Blair Witch Project.” The film, a mock documentary, is about three students who trek into Maryland’s Black Hills to shoot a documentary about a local legend, “The Blair Witch.” (Photo by Artisan Entertainment

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2. Ryan Gosling once acted opposite a mop dressed as a woman.

While filming Project Hail Mary, Gosling grew tired of acting alone. After visiting Julia Roberts on another movie set, he convinced his crew to create a makeshift scene partner using a mop, sunglasses, and a dress. They named her “Moppy Ringwald,” and the unusual creation even made it into the film.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 18: Ryan Gosling attends the “Project Hail Mary” New York premiere at Lincoln Center on March 18, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Stephanie Augello/THR/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images) 3. Nicole Kidman’s Moulin Rouge! corset aggravated a broken rib.

During the demanding production, Kidman suffered a rib injury. In a 2026 oral history, crew members recalled that tightening her costume’s corset caused her rib to break again. Now that’s dedication.

“We’re not quite sure how the first cracked rib happened,” production designer Catherine Martin said. “She came back to work. Her doctors, who were there, were saying, ‘The corset will be great.’ When we were lacing her in tightly, we broke her rib again.”

But that wasn’t the only time she got hurt on set; Kidman also ended up on crutches: Director Baz Luhrmann said, “Nicole had this moment where she had to come down the stairs. She slipped. There’s a scene where she’s in a wheelchair because she’d really busted her ankle. She was on crutches for a bit. It wasn’t easy, but she is the definition of a trouper.”

CANNES – APRIL 14: Australian actress Nicole Kidman attends the photocall for the film “Moulin Rouge” at the 54th International Film Festival on April 14, 2001 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) 4. Susan Sarandon developed pneumonia while filming The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The famously chaotic production involved cold, wet conditions, and Sarandon became seriously ill. The movie’s cast and crew revisited the experience in a 50th-anniversary oral history that also revealed that Mick Jagger wanted to play Frank-N-Furter.

Barry Bostwick, who played Brad Majors in the 1975 musical comedy horror, explained why filming was “miserable” for a few of the actors: “It was a miserable shoot,” Bostwick told The Guardian. “I was always wet, I was in my underwear, and every 20 minutes, the prop guy was spraying me down with ice-cold water, because they apparently didn’t know how to heat up water in England at the time. So, Susan got pneumonia, and everybody had colds. I remember cursing a lot before scenes when the guy had to come by. At one point, I took the spray and started spraying him, just so he got a taste.”

Susan Sarandon (L) and Barry Bostwick prepare for filming during production of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ at Bray Studios in the county of Berkshire, England, on October 7, 1974. (Photo by Fairchild Archive/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images) 5. Studios were obligated to offer the lead role in Die Hard to Frank Sinatra before Bruce Willis.

Die Hard was adapted from Roderick Thorp’s 1979 novel, which was a sequel to his 1966 novel The Detective, which was adapted into a 1968 film starring Sinatra, so 20th Century Fox was contractually obligated to offer him the lead first. Ol’ Blue Eyes, who was in his seventies at the time, decided to decline.

According to the film’s screenwriter, Steven E. de Souza, Sinatra told them, “I’m too old and too rich to act anymore.” That all worked out for the best because John McClane became one of Willis’s most notable roles.

NEW YORK – CIRCA 1982: Frank Sinatra circa 1982 in New York. (Photo by Images/Getty Images) 6. Jon Lovitz had grapes stuffed into his pants to attract chickens.

During a scene in A League of Their Own, the production needed chickens to swarm Lovitz’s character. The solution? Grapes tucked into his pant cuffs and eggshells scattered around the ground. Lovitz recently recalled the ridiculous filming experience on an Oct. 20 episode of the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast.

“To get them all around me, they put grapes in the cuffs of my pants,” Lovitz said on the podcast. “And then they put eggshells on the ground because they go, ‘they like to peck eggshells.’ And it was about 4:00 in the afternoon, and I mean it was beautiful, you know. But I’m looking at Lori with these grapes and these eggshells. And I remember, I go, ‘Lori, look at these grapes and eggshells. Look what we do for a living. This is crazy.’”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: Special guest Jon Lovitz speaks onstage during the screening of “A League of Their Own” during the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 24, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for TCM) 7. The famous green code in The Matrix has a connection to Japanese food.

The falling symbols were inspired by characters from Japanese cookbooks, according to production and concept designer Simon Whiteley’s account.

“I like to tell everybody that The Matrix’s code is made out of Japanese sushi recipes,” Whiteley told CNET, explaining that he scanned the characters from his wife’s Japanese cookbooks. “Without that code, there is no Matrix.”

TOPSHOT – Attendees watch immersive computer code appear during the first shared reality screening of the movie “The Matrix” on an immersive dome screen inside Cosm Los Angeles at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California on May 28, 2025. A trenchcoat-wearing Neo bends backwards to dodge bullets that spiral over the viewer’s head, as the sound of gunfire erupts from everywhere: an industry desperate to bring back audiences is hoping a new immersive experience will be a red pill moment that will get film fans off their couches. That’s the bet of the Cosm theater in Los Angeles, whose dome-style screen and 3D sets launch this month (June) with what they are calling a “shared reality’ version of “The Matrix,” the cult 1999 film starring Keanu Reeves as a man who suddenly learns his world is a fiction. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) 8. The early concept of Toy Story was completely different from what it is today, including name changes and origin stories.

Believe it or not, Woody wasn’t always the lovable cowboy we all know today. In early versions of Toy Story, he was actually a mean-spirited ventriloquist dummy who served as the movie’s villain. Meanwhile, Buzz Lightyear evolved from a mechanical drummer toy into a space-themed action figure, originally named Lunar Larry. He was later renamed to honor astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

Woody was so unlikable that even Tom Hanks reportedly exclaimed, “This guy’s a jerk!” while recording dialogue. When Disney execs screened an early version of the film in November 1993, the response was so negative that production was temporarily halted. The screening eventually adopted the nickname “Black Friday” at Pixar, because it went so horribly. This prompted filmmakers to completely revise the entire story.

John Lasseter with two of his characters from the film ‘Toy Story’, Woody and Buzz Lightyear. (Photo by Eric Robert/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images)

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Learning behind-the-scenes information always makes these projects and celebrities so much more interesting!

Which fact did you find the most interesting? Let us know in the comments.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters next month on November 20. Since the release of the trailer earlier this year, fans have been asking a lot of questions. Most are wondering whether the film will be entirely book-accurate, while others are asking about its runtime. Now we have some answers. Francis Lawrence, director of The Hunger Games films, revealed that the first cut of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping was 4 hours and 12 minutes long. The final cut is confirmed to be 2 hours and 38 minutes long. This runtime is longer than any other film in the franchise, with Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes directly behind it at 2 hours and 37 minutes. 

While many fans are excited about the runtime, others are begging Lawrence and Lionsgate to release the full cut. After The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was released in 2023, the film’s runtime became a topic of discussion among fans of the books and franchise. Some thought the film should’ve been released in two parts, like The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2. Others have asked Lionsgate to release the full four-hour cut in theaters or on streaming ahead of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Lionsgate has yet to release the movie’s first four-hour cut of Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping follows the 50th Quarter Quell games, with Haymitch Abernathy as the book and film’s protagonist. Set 24 years before the first film, Haymitch is unfairly reaped and enters the games in a fight to the death against 47 tributes. 

Joseph Zada stars as Haymitch Abernathy, alongside McKenna Grace, Ralph Fiennes, Whitney Peak, Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Glenn Close, Jesse Plemons and Kelvin Harrison Jr. Haymitch is portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original films, and Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen) and Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark) are rumored to make an appearance in the upcoming film’s epilogue.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping book was released on March 18, 2025, and is 400 pages long. The film will be released in theaters and IMAX on November 20, 2026. Watch The Hunger Games films ahead of the upcoming film’s release on Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV.

Francis Lawrence reveals that the first cut of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ was 4 hours and 12 minutes long.

The final cut is confirmed to be 2 hours and 38 minutes long.

(Via @screenrant) pic.twitter.com/Fb4gjudi2i

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 25, 2026

Related: Grab Your Popcorn and Soda! 13 Upcoming Films You Can Watch In Theaters

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Natural home accents are trending this year, and rattan pieces are leading the way with their warm texture and organic feel that blends seamlessly into many popular decor styles. If you need to refresh a space without a major overhaul, a storage cabinet is one of the most practical upgrades. To hide clutter and add an on-trend natural element to make your home feel more polished and serene, we love this rattan storage cabinet at Walmart — and it’s currently on sale for $100 off the usual price! 

Whether you’re organizing an entryway, bathroom, dining area, bedroom, or your living room, the Homfa Tall Rattan Storage Cabinet can stylishly transform chaos into calm. Now starting at $180 for the black, light oak, and white options, down from $280, it looks like a designer find with its trendy rattan accents at a fraction of the cost. Its tall and narrow design works especially well in small spaces.

Homfa Tall Rattan Storage Cabinet, From $180 (was $280) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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This piece packs serious style and storage power in its slim design that takes advantage of vertical space, making it ideal for rooms where floor space is limited. It measures approximately 64 inches tall, 29 inches wide, and 15 inches deep.

The doors feature handwoven rattan panels that add texture and give the piece a boho-chic look. Inside, you get multiple adjustable shelves for organizing everything from linens and toiletries to coats, shoes, glassware, small appliances, or craft supplies.

The two bottom drawers provide even more storage space and feature metal slides for smooth opening and closing. Each of the cabinet doors and drawers is outfitted with polished, round, retro-style knobs that add to the luxe look.

Assembly is required, and reviewers said it takes about an hour for two people to complete. Shoppers shared that the end result is a “beautiful” and “very sturdy” cabinet that they claimed looks like a designer find for less. 

Those organizing smaller spaces said this tall and narrow cabinet is a game changer for rooms that need extra storage space. “I needed a bathroom storage solution that was on the compact side, and this fits perfectly,” said one shopper. Others mentioned that they used it for coat and shoe storage in entryways, as a dining room hutch for dishes, and as extra storage for small kitchen appliances.

Related: Walmart’s ‘Cozy’ Color-Changing Lamp Is a Cute, Budget-Friendly Pick for Mood Lighting

At as low as $180, the Homfa Tall Rattan Storage Cabinet offers tremendous value and style on a versatile storage piece that can be used in just about any room of your home. Don’t wait to add it to your Walmart cart — this deal could be gone before you know it!

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Every October, the same small, triangular treat fills grocery store aisles, office candy bowls, and trick-or-treat bags. And every year, it sparks one of the most intense debates in holiday history.

Whether you eagerly stock up on the yellow, orange, and white kernels the moment fall hits or pass them up entirely in favor of chocolate, there’s no denying candy corn’s hold on autumn culture. Love it or hate it, the controversial confection has managed to stick around for well over a century, proving that even the most polarizing traditions have serious staying power.

According to History, the Goelitz Candy Company, now the Jelly Belly Candy Company, helped bring the sweet treat to the masses. The company marketed the small candies as “Chicken Feed” because at the time, many Americans didn’t think of corn as food for humans. Rather it was tossed to animals as part of their daily feeding.

The website wrote, “In the first half of the 20th century, candy corn became a common penny candy. These were the types of treats kids could buy in bulk for very little money. Kids most likely thought of them as candies to eat year-round trather han special ones to get on Halloween, which wasn’t yet specifically associated with candy.”

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According to Always a Treat, the candy’s origins hail from the Wunderlee Candy Company. An employee named George Renninger was the first to invent the identifiable confection.

Candy corn was originally made in this way, per the website. “Sugar, corn syrup, and other ingredients were cooked into a slurry in large kettles. Fondant and marshmallow were added to give a smooth texture and bite, and 45 pounds of warm candy was poured into buckets called runners. Men called ‘stringers’ walked backward, pouring the candy into cornstarch trays imprinted with the kernel shape. It took three passes to make the white, yellow, and orange colors.” Today, machines do all the hard work.

However, despite its long history, the candy continues to polarize consumers.

TODAY.com says there is a scientific reason for the division. Food specialist Marie Wright told the website that many people dislike the candy’s texture and its “sugary taste.”

“It seems to be a very emotional candy,” Wright added. “People have a really strong opinion. It’s almost like, if you want to start a little bit of a heated discussion, you can ask somebody about candy corn. It seems to evoke a very strong response.”

October 30 is National Candy Corn Day. According to the University of Georgia, 17,000 tons of candy corn are produced each year.

Love it or leave it, candy corn remains the ultimate symbol of fall nostalgia. It may divide candy bowls every October, but over a century later, this simple sugary kernel holds its ground as a true Halloween staple.

Related: In 1900, Milton Hershey Sold His Caramel Company for $1 Million; Unable to Have Children, He Later Left His Chocolate Fortune to a School for Orphan Boys

Kim Novak has planned a final act that even Alfred Hitchcock couldn’t have scripted.

The “Vertigo” star, 93, has arranged to have her body turned into compost after her death, so her friends and loved ones can use the soil to plant trees in her memory. Novak, who first shared her plans with PETA, told Fox News Digital she made the arrangements a few years ago.

For the actress, the decision is about continuing to grow. She explained that she sees it as a way to live on through trees, adding that she’s always been short on patience, something every tree needs. The plan, she said, has given her great peace of mind.

Novak said she couldn’t picture being cremated or buried, since neither option appealed to her. A lifelong nature lover, she was drawn instead to the idea of becoming one with the soil and helping new life grow.

She even gets to choose the flowers that will be part of her compost. Her pick: forget-me-nots.

Although human composting is legal in Oregon, where Novak lives on a ranch, her remains will be taken to an Earth Funeral facility in Washington state for the process, known as natural organic reduction. She joked that she’ll have to be packed in ice to make the trip.

Once the process is complete, small portions of the soil will go to friends and family, along with instructions to plant a tree or shrub, preferably a tree. Novak said she once considered a place in Oregon where a single tree could be planted over her, but she wanted more than that. As she put it, she’d like to be many trees.

Novak said she hopes her choice inspires others to think about the environment, and to see what comes after death as something beautiful to look forward to rather than to dread. She wants to be remembered not just for her films, but for everything her life and art turned her into.

Arguably, one of the greatest joys of a grandparent’s life is spending time with their grandchild. This bond is super meaningful for the child, too; psychologists agree that the thing grandkids need most from their grandparents is undivided attention without the pressure to “parent.” It’s a win-win, right?

However—and as you may be familiar with—getting that time (and enough of it) isn’t always easy or commonplace. You might feel like you’re constantly asking your adult child for more time and getting a “no” (or no response) more often than you’d like. That can feel upsetting and confusing.

Plus, as it turns out, pushing a parent (aka, your adult child) isn’t your best bet, a child psychologist says, as common and understandable as the urge is. If you’re wondering how to spend more time with grandchildren, there’s one specific, short phrase she recommends. It’s more likely to bring the outcome you want (and generally improve the grandparent relationship with adult children).

Without further ado, ahead, that experienced child psychologist shares why your adult child might be pulling away, how to ask to see your grandkids more, how to use the golden phrase this week and surprising next steps if your request is still met with a “no.”

Related: The #1 Habit of Highly Respected Grandparents, According to a Family Psychologist

The #1 Reason Adult Children Pull Away From Grandparent Visits

So your child is reluctant to bring their child over to your home. Why? There’s one main reason: They feel you don’t respect their boundaries (even if you have good intentions).

“This can look like criticizing parenting choices, making comments about how kids were managed ‘back in my day,’ ignoring screen time rules, giving kids (or teen grandchildren) more freedom than parents have approved, stretching bedtimes or ignoring requests to stick to food routines,” says Dr. Marla Martin, PsyD, a pediatric psychologist at Phoenix Children’s.

While spoiling grandchildren is healthy, normal and positive, she clarifies, it’s important to get the parents’ blessing first to avoid added stress and exhausting after-effects.

Related: Psychologist Says These Are the 7 Habits To Avoid With Your Adult Child—and Why They Can Damage Your Relationship

The Magic Phrase: ‘How Can I Support You?’

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The golden five-word phrase to use is “How can I support you?”

“The shift is asking about the parents, not just the kids,” Dr. Martin reveals. 

In other words, how can you help each other? How can you spend time with your grandchild and simultaneously relieve your adult child’s stress? To foster building a bond with grandkids, the question—as seen here—is actually “how grandparents can help busy parents.”

“When grandparents ask about supporting their adult children (rather than only asking about fun things they’d like to do with grandkids), parents feel supported and are much more likely to be open,” she explains.

Why This Phrase Works, According to a Child Psychologist

Dr. Martin explains the three main reasons why this phrase is effective.

It’s parent-focused

Even though your child is an adult, they still need your help sometimes—perhaps especially when parenting. That’s where a phrase like this comes in. 

“It demonstrates that you are about the parents and the grandkids,” Dr. Martin states.

It makes planning less of an obligation

Planning the logistics for a night at grandma’s and grandpa’s might feel overwhelming for an already-busy parent. This phrase takes away some of that stress and work.

“This turns visit obligations into opportunities for adult children to share ways their parents can support the entire household rather than just the grandkids,” Dr. Martin points out.

In other words, it makes it easier for the adult child to see your request as helpful to them versus just another request or task.

It helps in a specific, needed way

This phrase supports the parents, which, in turn, supports the kids.

“Parents today need a cooked meal, a date night, a closet organized or a morning to sleep in, not just someone to rile up their kids for a few hours,” Dr. Martin says.

Related: 7 Ways To Stay Close With Adult Children Without Being Overbearing

3 Ways To Put the Phrase Into Action This Weekend

Dr. Martin suggests offering concrete help in your text or call. Below, she shares a few examples of what that might look like.

1. “Would it be helpful if I came over Saturday morning and did the morning routine with the kids so you can sleep in?”

Getting specific makes things easier for parents who are probably feeling decision fatigue or analysis paralysis. That can help your chances.

“This phrase is helpful because it offers a specific form of support at a specific time while still giving the parent the option to say yes or no,” Dr. Martin explains. “Instead of asking a tired parent to use mental energy to identify what they need, the grandparent is suggesting a practical way to lighten the load.”

In practice, she says, you might prepare breakfast, help the child get dressed, pack for an activity or just keep the child occupied—basically, whatever their normal routine is.

2. “I’d like to make dinner and have a meal with you all this week. What night would help most?”

Take a task off the parent’s plate and get more time with your grandkids. 

“This offer combines practical support with family time without making the visit feel like another obligation,” Dr. Martin states. “It also creates an opportunity to spend time together naturally rather than asking the family to make room for a separate visit.”

Bonus points if you offer to clean up afterward.

3. “I’m headed to the grocery store. Can I pick anything up for you?”

You can support your grandchildren indirectly. This is one way to do so.

“In practice, the grandparent could pick up milk, diapers, school-lunch supplies or something needed for dinner,” Dr. Martin says. 

She also recommends offering to buy specific things to help with the parent’s mental load. For example, do they need milk, fruit or anything for their kid’s lunchbox?

Additionally, this phrase makes accepting support feel easy and low-pressure, Dr. Martin adds. Make the situation even better for everyone by offering to bring the groceries by when the kids are home.

Related: 9 Things Adult Children Need From Their Parents and Grandparents—but Won’t Ask For, Psychologists Share

How To Handle It if the Parents Still Say No

Even after your best efforts and this golden phrase, parents may still say “no”—and that can be hard. You may be tempted to argue or push, but try not to, as that can make things worse.

“Sometimes space helps tensions ease,” Dr. Martin reveals. “Being patient and allowing space doesn’t mean the relationship is damaged.”

She also encourages acknowledging and owning your part. Have you guilt-tripped them, been critical or dismissed them? Are you often unavailable or opinionated?

“Apologize (without making excuses or explanations) and commit to moving forward,” the psychologist encourages. “Be patient. Be positive.”

Last but not least, let the ball be in their court, as counterintuitive as it may feel.

“Remind your kids that you respect their boundaries and are there for them when they are ready,” Dr. Martin states. “When circumstances change, which they often do, be ready to positively re-engage.”

Up Next:

Related: Family Psychologists Reveal What Grandkids Remember Most About Their Grandparents

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• Dr. Marla Martin, PsyD, is a pediatric psychologist at Phoenix Children’s.

At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in August this year, Marvel announced that Inde Navarrette will join the MCU as Rogue in the upcoming X-Men film. Earlier this year, the actress had her breakout role in Curry Barker’s horror film, Obsession. Since then, the star has been everywhere. Her performance in the film earned her the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actress in a Horror Movie. After the success of Obsession, with it earning over $523 million at the box office, Focus Features and Curry Barker announced that Navarrette will campaign in the best actress category for the upcoming Oscars awards season.

Related: ‘Obsession’ Fans React to Inde Navarrette MCU Casting

After the announcement that Navarrette would join the MCU as Rogue, fans reacted, with many excited about the actress playing the Southern Belle superhero. Now, the actress is pushing for a role in the Call of Duty film. A huge fan of the franchise, Navarrette used to live stream her playing the Call of Duty games on Twitch before taking a break to focus on acting. A fan recently gifted her a rare, sealed 2009 copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and she went viral on social media for her ecstatic reaction. “Oh my god! This is the 2009 version!,” she said to the fan. 

In an interview with Collider, Navarrette chatted with journalist Aidan Kelley at Newport Beach Film Festival, expressing her excitement about the possibility of appearing in Sheridan and Berg’s upcoming Call of Duty adaptation. “Nothing. It’s a phone call. It’s a text. If they call me, they’re like, ‘There’s a car outside. You gotta go.’ Definitely. I’m a big fan. I’m really excited to see what they do. As a fan, I would be excited. I’m a big fan. Yeah. Very excited,” she told Collider. 

As of right now, the Call of Duty film is still in development. Casting and release details haven’t been announced yet. 

Inde Navarrette says she definitely wants to star in the ‘CALL OF DUTY’ movie.

“If they call me, they’re like, ‘There’s a car outside. You gotta go.’ Definitely. I’m a big fan. I’m really excited to see what they do.”

(Source: https://t.co/Khj8K1QmKB) pic.twitter.com/vjg1fpv1I0

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 24, 2026

Related: ‘Obsession’ Star Inde Navarrette Confirms She’s Bisexual

Jessie James Decker has a secret ingredient, and you can’t buy it.

The country singer recently released “The Secret Sauce: A Family Cookbook Seasoned with Love,” which she wrote with her mother, Karen Parker, and her sister, Sydney Rae Bass. The book came out on Oct. 6, 2026, and draws on the family’s Southern, Sicilian and Cajun roots, collecting recipes and traditions handed down through generations. It covers everything from quick weeknight dinners and game-day dishes to holiday favorites and desserts.

But in a new interview with Fox News Digital, Decker said the real secret behind her cooking is the “love and joy” that goes into it. Once a meal is made with heart, she explained, everyone at the table can feel it.

Decker’s four children have already picked their favorites from her kitchen. Daughter Vivi loves seafood gumbo, and her youngest son, Denver, is a gumbo fan too. Sons Eric and Forrest prefer her pasta dishes.

Her husband, former NFL wide receiver Eric Decker, has his own pick: her chicken pot pie. Steak, salads and balsamic green beans also make regular appearances on the family table.

Eric’s football career has shaped their traditions, too. On game days, Decker told Fox News Digital, she usually makes chili, barbecue meatballs and some kind of dip, sometimes adding wings to the spread.

One tradition matters more than any recipe: family dinner, with electronics put away. Decker said it’s not hard to get her kids to put their devices down, because they look forward to catching up with each other.

To get everyone talking, she often goes around the table asking each child a question, and sometimes it’s a silly one. She described those dinner-table moments as her favorite memories with her family.

Cooking, she added, is one of her strongest love languages. She takes pride in preparing meals that nourish her children and watching them enjoy what she’s made.

Decker also told Fox News Digital that her Catholic faith plays an important role in her family, something she credits her mother with passing down. Her mom taught the family to turn to prayer through both hard times and happy ones, a lesson Decker now carries into her own home.

For Decker, that’s what “The Secret Sauce” is really about: not just what’s on the plate, but the people gathered around it.

If you’ve ever watched penguins gather on an icy shore or swim together in the ocean, you might wonder: What do you call a group of penguins? Like many animals, these beloved birds have several collective-noun names, and the right term can depend on where they are and what they’re doing.

Some of these names may be familiar to you, while others are less well known. Here’s a closer look at the different terms for a group of penguins and when each one applies.

Related: The Ocean Animal That Mirrors Your Soul, Based on Your Birth Month

What Is a Group of Penguins Called?

Frizi, Canva

The most common terms for a group of penguins are waddle, raft, colony and rookery. Each describes a gathering of penguins in a particular setting or context.

• Waddle: A group of penguins walking together on land.
• Raft: A group of penguins swimming or floating together in the water.
• Colony: A group of penguins living and gathering in the same area, particularly during breeding season.
• Rookery: A breeding or nesting site where penguins gather to reproduce and raise their chicks.
• Crèche: A group of young penguin chicks that stay together for protection while their parents are away.

As you can see, these terms aren’t always interchangeable.

What Is a Group of Penguins on Land Called?

According to the conservation and research organization Penguins International, a group of penguins on land is often called a waddle, a term inspired by the birds’ distinctive side-to-side walk.

Penguins’ bodies are adapted for swimming, with legs and feet positioned far back on the body. This arrangement helps streamline their movement in the water but contributes to their distinctive walk on land.

However, not every gathering of penguins on land needs to be called a waddle. A group nesting together or raising chicks is more accurately described as a colony or rookery.

Related: What Do You Call a Group of Owls?

What Is a Group of Penguins in the Water Called?

Tomimoto Masako, Canva

A group of penguins swimming or floating together is called a raft.

Penguins spend much of their lives in the ocean, where they hunt for fish, squid and other prey. Their streamlined bodies, flipper-like wings and powerful swimming abilities make them well-suited to life in the water.

The term raft is commonly used in wildlife references to distinguish swimming groups from penguins gathered on land.

What Is a Colony or Rookery of Penguins?

A colony is a group of penguins that live or gather together in a particular area. Colonies are especially important during breeding season, when penguins come ashore or gather on ice to find mates, lay eggs and raise their young.

A rookery refers more specifically to a breeding or nesting area. The two terms overlap, and both are commonly used to describe large gatherings of penguins during the breeding season.

Depending on the species and location, penguin colonies can contain thousands of birds. Living in groups allows penguins to nest near one another, communicate with their mates and chicks and benefit from the protection that comes with gathering in numbers.

Related: What Do You Call a Group of Foxes?

What Is a Group of Baby Penguins Called?

Michael VIARD, Canva

A group of penguin chicks is called a crèche.

As the chicks grow, some penguin species leave them together in groups while adult birds go out to sea to find food. These gatherings help keep the young birds together and provide a measure of protection while their parents are away.

Impressively, penguin parents continue to recognize and feed their own chicks, even when the young birds are gathered with many others!

Related: Which Baby Animal Matches You, Based on Birth Month

Do Penguins Huddle Together for Warmth?

Yes! According to the Australian Antarctic Program, some penguins, particularly emperor penguins, huddle together to conserve body heat in the Antarctic cold. While huddling refers to the birds’ behavior rather than a group name itself, some will informally call a group of penguins in this position a huddle.

In large emperor penguin groups, individuals will even shift positions over time, allowing birds at the edges to move toward the warmer interior.

What Is the Correct Word for a Group of Penguins?

The correct term depends on the situation. If the penguins are walking together, waddle is a common choice. If they’re swimming, use raft. For a breeding group, colony or rookery is more appropriate, while a group of chicks is called a crèche.

Knowing these collective nouns adds a little more context to any penguin sighting, whether you’re watching them at a zoo or reading about them in the wild. Each term offers a simple way to describe how these birds gather, from daily activities to breeding and raising their young.

Related: What Do You Call a Group of Otters?

This article was drafted with the assistance of AI and thoroughly reviewed, edited and fact-checked by Parade editors. See our complete AI Policy.

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Few dinnerware brands are as widely regarded as Spode. Established in 1770, it brings the best of heritage-driven English design right to your table. The holiday season offers an amazing opportunity to bring some of that charm home with the Spode Christmas Tree 2026 Mug and Tin Set. The beautiful five-piece collection brims with holiday cheer and is a lovely item for collectors and those who appreciate quality tableware. 

Normally $60 at Macy’s, it’s currently on sale for just $24. That’s a savings of 60%, but you’ll need to be quick to take advantage because the retailer’s fall event ends Oct. 25. Whether you’re getting some early holiday shopping done or you’re treating yourself to something wonderfully festive, this is the moment to get in on a truly great deal.

Spode Christmas Tree 2026 Mug and Tin Set, $24 (was $60) at Macy’s

Courtesy of Macy's

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Just a glance at the set may be enough to get you in the spirit of the season weeks ahead of schedule. The iconic pattern has been a holiday staple since designer Harold Holdway introduced it in 1938. The Englishman was tasked with creating a holiday-themed motif for Spode’s American audience. 

Legend has it that Holdway had never seen a tree with presents placed underneath it before. In Edwardian Britain, it was instead tradition to suspend lightweight gifts from the branches. When Holdway learned that it wasn’t customary to tie parcels to the tree, he revised his original design to feature colorful and lavishly wrapped gift boxes beneath the tree and branches festooned with toys, baubles, tinsel, and more accents.

The story alone makes for interesting teatime fodder, but this set will dazzle even those who are completely new to the brand. It includes two 12-ounce ceramic mugs and two matching cork-backed coasters, all nestled inside a decorative tin that will keep everything neatly contained throughout the year.

Related: Macy’s Cozy 8-Piece Reversible Damask Comforter Set Brings Five-Star Hotel Luxury to Your Home for $33

This set makes a spectacular gift for both Spode fans and Christmas connoisseurs, and caring for each piece is easy. The mugs are safe to place in the microwave and dishwasher, while the coasters can be wiped down with a damp cloth.

Shop More Spode Holiday Deals

• Spode Christmas Tree Reversible Quilt Set, $52 (was $130) at Macy’s
• Spode Christmas Tree Light-Up Napkin Holder, $38 (was $96) at Macy’s
• Spode Christmas Tree Santa Candy Jar, $51 (was $128) at Macy’s

“The mugs are beautifully crafted, sturdy, colorful, and well-made,” one reviewer wrote, adding that the box makes it a “perfect gift.” You really can’t beat the nostalgic aesthetic, rich history, charming aesthetic, and incredible deal. Grab the Spode Christmas Tree 2026 Mug and Tin Set while it’s 60% off at Macy’s.

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The Scottish band The Proclaimers only had one true runaway hit, but that was all they needed. In 1988 they released “500 Miles (I’m Gonna Be),” an almost-supernaturally catchy tune about a guy who measures his love for his lover through hypothetical miles walked.

“I would walk five hundred miles, and I would walk five hundred more,” the chorus starts. It’s the same basic premise behind Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles,” released in 2002, and just as romantic.

The song reached No. 11 on the UK singles chart, and in 1993 (after it appeared in the American film Benny & Joon) it reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song would remain a staple at the band’s concerts for decades, although it wouldn’t be until 2007 that “500 Miles” reached the true height of its popularity.

For UK audiences, that boost likely came from the UK’s Comic Relief charity telethon in March that year, but for Americans the boost came from a beloved sitcom TV episode released a few weeks earlier.

In February 2007, ‘500 Miles’ Made Its Debut on ‘How I Met Your Mother’

Most of the time when a song is featured on a TV show, it’s simply as one-off background music intended to heighten the scene but not call attention to itself. The CBS sitcom HIMYM took a different approach.

Its season 2 episode “Arrivederci, Fiero” establishes that Marshall’s (Jason Segel’s) car has had a tape of The Proclaimers’ hit song stuck in the radio for decades, which means it’s the only song he can listen to when driving.

This is both a blessing and a curse. Because “500 Miles,” like any song no matter how good, does start to wear on Marshall and Ted (Josh Radnor) after a while. But unlike most songs, Marshall explains, “500 Miles” has a tendency to “come around again.” And so comes a montage of Ted and Marshall flipping back and forth between feeling exhausted from the song and singing their hearts out to it.

The song became a running gag on the show, playing every time there was a flashback to Marshall and Ted on a college road trip. Viewers on the sitcom’s subreddit have talked about first hearing the song through the show, while others have revealed that they themselves have chosen to listen to the song on a non-stop loop to see if it truly “comes back around.”

“On New Year’s Day a couple of years ago me and my boyfriend literally only listened to that song all day,” one fan wrote in 2022. “It was fun, but I can’t imagine doing it for as long as Marshall had.”

The Proclaimers have never publicly talked about the episode, but they did marvel in a recent interview about how their song “came back stronger and stronger” years after it first released. Today, the song has over 1 billion streams on Spotify, over nine times more than their second-highest song “I’m on My Way.”

Of course, not all of that can be attributed to How I Met Your Mother, but the song’s inclusion in the hit CBS sitcom (which is still being streamed by millions of viewers to this day) certainly didn’t hurt. For young American viewers “Arrivederci, Fiero” might’ve been their first time hearing “500 Miles (I’m Gonna Be),” but it certainly wouldn’t be their last.

Single life as the star of one of TLC’s most popular series’ looks a little different when millions of people follow your journey.

In a new interview, Sister Wives fan favorite Meri Brown revealed just how far some admirers will go to win her heart. She admits that unexpected marriage proposals arrive in her inbox weekly.

Us Weekly shared her remarks from a sneak peek at the October 25 episode of the TLC series. “There’s been a couple of times since I’ve been dating that people have reached out to me on the socials basically saying, ‘Hey, we’d love to have you in our family.’”

She added, “I’ve had families reach out to me, like, a wife saying that her and her husband are looking and would be interested. I’ve had a man who said he and his wife really like me.”

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Brown then shared a wild bit of information. She claimed, “I get proposed to, I swear, on a weekly basis. You know, I had an e-mail just the other day where a guy, you know, sent a message and it’s the weirdest thing. It’s the weirdest thing.”

The reality star was legally married to Kody Brown for 24 years, from 1990 through 2014. She divorced him so he could legally marry Robyn Brown and adopt her three children from a prior marriage.

The couple remained spiritually married through January 2023. Brown sought a spiritual release from their church, breaking their ties in that way as well, which was granted in October 2024.

A spiritual release serves as the religious equivalent of a divorce in their faith. The couple previously belonged to the Apostolic United Brethren, a fundamentalist Mormon offshoot group, where Meri, Janelle Brown, Christine Brown Woolley, Robyn, and Kody practiced polygamy.

During Season 21 of Sister Wives, Brown shared that each wife took turns feeling like they were at the bottom of Kody’s list throughout their respective marriages. She referred to it as being the “basement wife.”

“I know Christine related being the third wife to the ‘basement wife,'” Brown explained. “I know that Janelle’s felt like that. I know I’ve felt like that.”

She concluded, “Not necessarily being in the basement. But that’s the kind of thing where you’re less than everyone else.”

Sister Wives airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.

Related: ‘Sister Wives’ Star Makes Bold Relationship Prediction Ahead of Boyfriend’s TLC Debut

Kaitlin Olson and the cast of High Potential are standing by co-star Matthew Lamb after the death of his mother. According to Deadline, Lamb, who plays Olson’s character, Morgan Gillory’s, son on the ABC hit show, confirmed his mother, Meredith’s, death in a statement shared on social media.

“I’m not quite sure how to write this,” he wrote alongside an Oct. 20 Instagram carousel post. “As I’m sure many of you know, my mama passed away this Saturday. She was everything to me. She taught me school, she taught me empathy, she did everything for our family. She always had the biggest smile and she gave the best hugs. Truly the most selfless person I know.”

Lamb added that his mother “loved and supported everyone authentically” and shared that he’s “not sure how we’re going to get through this, but we’re going to try.”

“Every day I’m going to miss telling her about my day, and talking to her and watching our favorite shows,” Lamb wrote. “This isn’t something I ever thought I would have to do. There’s so much she is going to miss in my life, but I’m grateful for the things she was able to experience.”

He concluded the announcement with a message to his mother.

“I love you, Mama,” the 14-year-old wrote.

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Lamb’s High Potential co-stars shared their condolences in the comments, including Olson, who wrote, “Your mama was such a gift, Matthew. She simply overflowed with joy and kindness…and the way she lit up when she looked at you…. that can’t ever be taken away. You are forever her pride and joy. I am here for you forever.”

Amirah J, who plays Ava, Lamb’s onscreen sister, also commented, “Sending you so much love.”

As did Judy Reyes, who plays Lt. Selena Soto on High Potential. She wrote, “We saw where you got your shine! I’m so so sorry.”

Javicia Leslie, who plays Detective Daphne Forrester, echoed Reyes, writing, “The brightest light always!!!! I’m so so sorry Matthew.” And Deniz Akdeniz, who plays Detective Daphne Forrester, commented, “Love you mate.”

High Potential will likely return for its third season in January 2027.

In 1930, as the Great Depression took hold, three entrepreneurs decided to take a chance on a business built around something many families still wanted for their children — toys.

Herman Fisher, Irving Price, and Helen Schelle founded Fisher-Price in East Aurora, New York, with a vision for toys that were sturdy, imaginative, and genuinely fun to play with. More than 90 years later, the company remains one of the most recognizable names in children’s toys.

The business made its public debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York City in 1931, showcasing 16 handcrafted wooden toys. One of the first toys sold was called Dr. Doodle, marking the beginning of a brand that would eventually become a fixture in playrooms across the country.

From the beginning, the company emphasized durability and play value. Its early toys combined heavy steel components with ponderosa pine, a wood selected for its strength and resistance to splintering, and colorful lithographed labels helped bring the toys to life.

Art played an important role in the company’s early identity, too. Margaret Evans Price, an illustrator and children’s book author, became Fisher-Price’s first art director. She designed many of the company’s original push-and-pull toys, drawing inspiration from characters in her children’s books.

The company continued to evolve as new materials and play patterns emerged. In the 1950s, Fisher-Price began incorporating plastic into its toys, allowing for brighter colors and new designs. In 1959, the company introduced its Safety School Bus, which helped pave the way for the Little People figures that would become one of its most enduring product lines.

The business changed hands as it grew. Quaker Oats acquired Fisher-Price in 1969, and the company eventually became part of Mattel in the early 1990s for about $1.08 billion.

“The combination of Mattel and Fisher-Price will produce a leading toy company that has the strongest consumer brands, by far, in the toy industry,” John W. Amerman, Mattel’s chairman and chief executive officer, said at the time. “Barbie, Fisher-Price, Disney and Hot Wheels are a group of product lines beyond compare.”

What began as a small toy company during one of America’s most difficult economic periods grew into a brand spanning generations. Its earliest products were simple wooden playthings, but the founding idea was ambitious — create toys that children would want to return to, again and again.

Every parent has an idea or two for a child’s big project. Tom Hanks’ idea for his son’s big project was a titan in the sci-fi world. Colin Hanks has revealed that his father pushed hard to cast William Shatner in the title role of The Great Buck Howard, the 2008 comedy the two made together.

Colin told the story on Dropping Names, the podcast hosted by Star Trek: The Next Generation stars Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes. He had spent months trying to get the script off the ground. “We were having a really hard time, and I ended up bringing it to my dad,” he said.

Tom Hanks came aboard as a producer and also played Colin’s disapproving on-screen father. “He loved it. So he came on and we produced it and we would have these conversations about who to get, and he really pushed for William Shatner,” Colin recalled.

The part was Buck Howard, a fading mentalist who was once Johnny Carson’s favorite guest. The character was inspired by the Amazing Kreskin. Colin said his father’s instinct was sound. “Quite honestly he would have been great,” he said.

Related: William Shatner, 95, Gets a Glowing Checkup After Beating Cancer, Admits ‘I Don’t Want to Go’

The conversation took a turn when Colin mentioned a gag he fought to keep. “There was a particular joke that we didn’t want to lose that involved George Takei,” he said. In the film, Buck has had a falling-out with Takei, who played Sulu opposite Shatner’s Captain Kirk on the original Star Trek. The two actors have traded barbs publicly for years. Colin admitted the connection had never occurred to him. “I’m only now putting together that there’s this Star Trek connection,” he said.

Director Sean McGinly floated another big name, possibly Al Pacino, Colin said, though he could not remember for certain, and nothing came of it. Then John Malkovich entered the picture. “Malkovich came around and he was just so intrigued and entertained by just the delusions of grandeur that the character had,” Colin said.

He named Malkovich as the costar who made him most nervous and then surprised him most. “He was such a delight and so just genuinely funny,” he said.

The film premiered as the Salt Lake City opening-night selection of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. It reached theaters in March 2009, with a cast that included Emily Blunt and Steve Zahn alongside both Hanks men. Shatner has since made his own appearance on Dropping Names, which makes the Star Trek link Colin missed hard to overlook.

Shatner would have been a great choice, to be sure. But by Colin’s telling, the film found its Buck Howard anyway, and Malkovich did a great job inhabiting every one of the character’s delusions.

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Lewis Hamilton is getting closer to the Kardashian-West family. According to E! Online, the F1 driver opened up about spending time with the beauty mogul’s kids—North, 13, Saint, 10, Chicago, 8 and Psalm, 7, whom Kardashian shares with ex-husband Kanye “Ye” West—at a racing event in Austin, Texas, Oct. 24. He also revealed the special present he recently gave the children.

“My girlfriend’s kids, I love spending time with them. She’s got four, so I’m getting to play with these kids,” Lewis said in several videos that have gone viral on social media. “I got them a dog this year. Halo is a member of that family.”

Halo also already made an appearance on Kardashian and Hamilton’s social media. The Kardashians star shared a snap of her cuddling the puppy this past summer and, more recently, Hamilton, who lost his own dog Roscoe in 2025, posted a picture of Halo with his paws on top of a gate.

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Hamilton’s update on his life with Kardashian and her family comes five months after the famous couple confirmed their relationship on social media, ELLE reported. The reality star shared an Instagram carousel post in June that included a selfie of the duo riding bikes together in New York City.

Kardashian hinted at her relationship with Hamilton on a recent episode of The Kardashians. While on set for her upcoming comedy film The Fifth Wheel, Kardashian excused herself to take a phone call with a suitor she later, in a confessional, said made her “really, really happy, [but] that’s all I’ll say for right now,” People reported.

“Let’s just say that every single box on my manifest list was checked,” she said on the Hulu reality show. “Isn’t that crazy? Every single one. Fifty-five. To just look up one day and be like, ‘Wait, let me check the manifest list,’ and be like, ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ It’s a crazy feeling.”

Open TikTok or Instagram around dinnertime, and you’re bound to come across a recipe that looks almost too easy. One minute someone’s tossing ingredients into a pan, and the next they’re showing off a finished dinner. You never see the cleanup. It’s tempting to save the video and tell yourself you’ll make it later. (Whether you ever get around to it is another story.)

Meanwhile, some of the recipes we keep coming back to have been around for decades. Maybe you remember your parents or grandparents making them, or perhaps they’re meals you’ve been cooking for years. They might not get millions of views, but you know what you’re getting when you sit down to eat.

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Slow cooker recipes certainly fall into that category. There’s a reason people still pull out their Crock-Pots when the weather gets chilly or their schedules fill up. You can get dinner started in the morning and return hours later to a meal that’s ready to serve. Some recipes require a little more prep, but you won’t have to stand over the stove all afternoon.

So, which old-fashioned slow cooker recipes are still worth making? We asked chefs to share the dishes they swear by, along with the ingredients and instructions to make them at home.

Slow Cooker vs. Viral Food Trends: Why Old-School Cooking Wins

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A recipe can look easy in a 30-second video, right up until you count all the ingredients, bowls and pans. That’s part of why old-school slow cooker meals are so appealing. You can get most of the prep done early, put the lid on and leave dinner alone for a few hours.

That doesn’t mean you should skip the prep work altogether. Chef Brian Walter, executive chef of 87 Sussex and Satis Bistro in Jersey City, New Jersey, says the techniques behind these dishes are crucial. “Some of the most memorable dishes come from humble ingredients, proper technique and patience,” he says. Browning meat or sautéing onions before adding them to the slow cooker takes a few extra minutes, but these extra steps help build flavor.

Chef and cookbook author Jason Goldstein, known for his Chop Happy food blog, appreciates the simplicity too. “One of my favorite things about slow cooker recipes is that they should make your life easier, not leave you with a messy kitchen,” he says.

Related: 5 Forgotten Fall Casseroles Grandma Made Every Year That Are Just as Cozy and Delicious Today

Recipe 1: Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Francesco Riccardo Iacomino / Getty Images

For Chef Walter, beef bourguignon is a dish that never goes out of style. “Trends come and go, but technique never goes out of style,” he says.

The French classic combines beef chuck, red wine, bacon and vegetables in a rich, savory sauce. Walter says the slow cooker makes it easier for home cooks to prepare without sacrificing the dish’s signature flavor. The secret is taking the time to brown the meat and build flavor before everything goes into the slow cooker.

“Great food doesn’t need a gimmick,” Walter says. “It needs good ingredients, sound technique and a little patience.”

To make six servings of Walter’s slow cooker beef bourguignon, here’s what you’ll need:

• 3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 2-inch cubes
• 6 ounces thick-cut bacon, diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, as needed
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 carrots, peeled and cut into large pieces
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cups dry red Burgundy or Pinot Noir
• 1 cup low-sodium beef stock
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• 12 pearl onions, peeled
• 8 ounces button mushrooms, halved
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Here’s how to make it, according to Walter:

1. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until golden and crisp. Remove and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
2. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Working in batches, sear it in the bacon fat until browned on all sides, adding olive oil as needed. Transfer to the slow cooker.
3. In the same skillet, sauté the carrots and diced onion until lightly caramelized. Add the garlic and tomato paste, and cook for another minute. Stir in the flour and cook for one to two minutes.
4. Pour in the red wine, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Simmer for five minutes.
5. Transfer the vegetables and wine mixture to the slow cooker. Add the beef stock, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves and half the cooked bacon. Cover and cook on low for seven to eight hours, until the beef is fork-tender.
6. About 30 minutes before serving, sauté the pearl onions and mushrooms in butter until golden and tender. Add them to the slow cooker with the remaining bacon.
7. Remove the herb stems and bay leaves. If the sauce is too thin, transfer it to a saucepan and simmer until thickened. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with mashed potatoes or crusty French bread.

Recipe 2: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

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For Joanne Gallagher, co-founder and recipe developer at Inspired Taste, slow cooker pulled pork is a favorite for good reason. “It uses pork shoulder, which is a tough, well-marbled cut that becomes tender and juicy when it’s cooked low and slow,” she says. Her recipe cooks the pork in a simple spiced tomato broth, allowing the meat to soak up tons of flavor over several hours.

Once the pork is tender, Gallagher recommends making the most of those flavorful cooking juices. “I shred it with two forks so it soaks up as much of that cooking liquid as possible,” she says. The finished pork is perfect for sandwiches, tacos or serving with your favorite sides.

To make 10 servings of Gallagher’s slow cooker pulled pork, here’s what you’ll need:

• 4½ to 5 pounds boneless or bone-in pork shoulder (pork butt), with twine or netting removed
• 2 teaspoons fine sea salt, plus more as needed
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons neutral-flavored oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon ancho or mild chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 cup water
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce or Worcestershire sauce

Here’s how to make it, according to Gallagher:

1. Rub the pork shoulder with salt and pepper, then place it in the slow cooker.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and browned around the edges.
3. Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder and cumin. Cook for about 3 minutes, until the tomato paste turns from bright red to orange.
4. Add the water, apple cider vinegar, and fish sauce or Worcestershire sauce. Cook for another minute, scraping up any browned bits from the skillet.
5. Pour the mixture over the pork, moving the meat slightly so some of the liquid gets underneath. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 4 to 6 hours, until very tender.
6. Transfer the pork to a cutting board. Remove any bones, then shred the meat using two forks, discarding large pieces of fat and connective tissue.
7. Skim excess fat from the cooking liquid and set the liquid aside.
8. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker with the reserved cooking liquid. If desired, stir in barbecue sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt, vinegar or hot sauce before serving.

Related: What the Ultimate Autumn Fall Festival Menu Looked Like 40 Years Ago

Recipe 3: Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

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Refrigerated biscuits are the shortcut behind Carrie Barnard’s slow cooker chicken and dumplings. The founder and recipe developer at Eating on a Dime combines chicken breasts, vegetables and a creamy broth, then adds biscuit dough toward the end to create soft, pillowy dumplings.

“Chicken and dumplings in the crock pot is one meal that my kids never get tired of,” Barnard says. And the dumplings are a big reason why. She says they “soak up the broth and develop a pillowy chew that perfectly complements the other textures in the dish.”

To make six servings of Barnard’s slow cooker chicken and dumplings, here’s what you’ll need:

• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 12 ounces frozen mixed vegetables (peas and carrots only)
• ½ onion, finely chopped
• 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (10-count) can refrigerated biscuits

Here’s how to make it, according to Barnard:

1. Place the chicken breasts and vegetables in the slow cooker.
2. Add the cream of chicken soup, garlic salt, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper.
3. Pour the chicken broth over everything.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
5. Remove the chicken, shred it with two forks and return it to the slow cooker.
6. Cut the refrigerated biscuits into quarters and arrange them over the chicken mixture.
7. Cover and cook on high for another 60 to 90 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the biscuits are cooked through.
8. Serve warm.

Recipe 4: Slow Cooker Chili

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A big pot of chili is hard to beat for a cozy family dinner or game day, and Jan Nunes, recipe developer and cooking educator behind Encharted Cook, has a simple trick for making it extra flavorful.

“My golden rule is to build flavor before the slow cooker does its work,” she says. That means browning the ground beef, sautéing the onion and briefly cooking the garlic and spices before adding everything to the slow cooker.

Her recipe combines beef, tomatoes, kidney beans and spices, including chili powder, cumin and smoked paprika. She also waits until the final hour to add the beans so they don’t overcook. “Those few minutes of stovetop prep make a noticeable difference in the finished chili,” Nunes says.

To make eight servings of Nunes’ slow cooker chili, here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoons onion powder
• ½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons chicken base
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 1 cup beef broth
• 16 ounces tomato sauce
• 29 ounces diced tomatoes
• 30 ounces dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Here’s how to make it, according to Nunes:

1. Brown the ground beef in batches in a skillet, then transfer it to the slow cooker.
2. In the same skillet, sauté the onion until golden. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar and chicken base. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until fragrant.
3. Add the onion and spice mixture to the slow cooker with the beef. Stir in the tomato paste and beef broth, followed by the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes.
4. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours. Stir in the kidney beans and continue cooking for another hour before serving.

Related: I Tried the 15-Minute ‘Dump-and-Bake’ Pizza Casserole You Need for an Easy Weeknight Dinner

Recipe 5: Slow Cooker Brisket

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Brisket has long been a holiday dinner favorite, and Goldstein says it’s especially well suited to the slow cooker. “Because brisket is naturally a tougher cut of meat, it needs to cook low and slow to break down those fibers and become incredibly tender and flavorful,” Goldstein says.

His recipe combines brisket with onions, carrots, mushrooms, red wine and beef broth, along with one convenient shortcut. “My secret ingredient is onion soup mix,” he says. “This simple seasoning packet adds the perfect combination of salty, savory onion and garlic flavor without needing a ton of ingredients.” He also recommends seasoning the meat the night before to give those flavors more time to develop.

To make Goldstein’s slow cooker brisket, here’s what you’ll need:

• 3 pounds first-cut brisket
• 2 packets onion soup mix
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 large Spanish onions, chopped
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 2 tablespoons oregano
• 2 cups whole button mushrooms
• 1 handful fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 cup beef broth

Here’s how to make it, according to Goldstein:

1. Season both sides of the brisket with salt, pepper and oregano.
2. Add half the onions, half the carrots, one packet of onion soup mix and a pinch each of salt and pepper to the bottom of the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
3. Place the brisket on top of the vegetables and sprinkle the second packet of onion soup mix over both sides of the meat.
4. Add the remaining onions and carrots, along with the mushrooms and another pinch of salt and pepper.
5. Pour the red wine and beef broth around the brisket.
6. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or until the brisket is fork-tender.
7. Remove the brisket, loosely cover it with aluminum foil and let it rest for 20 minutes. Slice against the grain.
8. Garnish with chopped parsley and spoon some of the cooking juices over the sliced brisket before serving.

5 Golden Rules Chefs Follow for Slow Cooking Success

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Even the easiest slow cooker recipes can go wrong if you’re not careful. Here are five tips from the experts for getting better results.

1. Choose the right cut of meat.

“My biggest tip is to pick cuts of meat that love slow cooking,” Gallagher says. Pork shoulder and chicken thighs are among her favorites because their fat helps keep the meat juicy during long cooking times. Leaner cuts can dry out more easily.

2. Don’t add too much liquid.

Unlike a pot simmering on the stove, a slow cooker retains most of its moisture. Gallagher recommends going easy on extra broth or water because meat releases its own juices as it cooks. Adding too much liquid can leave you with a watery sauce and diluted flavor.

3. Build flavor before turning on the slow cooker.

A few minutes at the stove can pay off later. Nunes recommends browning meat, sautéing onions and briefly cooking garlic and spices before adding them to the slow cooker. This helps develop flavors you won’t get from simply tossing everything in raw.

4. Resist the urge to lift the lid.

It might be tempting to check on dinner throughout the day, but repeatedly opening the lid releases heat and can extend the cooking time. “Once you hit start, you don’t want to lift the lid,” Gallagher says. She recommends seasoning everything beforehand so you can leave the slow cooker alone while it does its job.

5. Add something fresh at the end.

“Another golden rule of mine is to throw in something fresh right at the end of cooking,” Barnard says. She recommends a squeeze of lemon or a handful of fresh herbs to brighten up rich, slow-cooked dishes.

Final Thoughts

The next time a dinner recipe catches your eye online, ask yourself whether you’d actually make it more than once. It’s easy to save a video and forget about it a week later. But a recipe you find yourself coming back to, especially on a night when you have no idea what to cook? That’s one worth hanging onto.

Sources:

• Brian Walter is the executive chef at 87 Sussex and Satis Bistro in Jersey City, New Jersey.
• Joanne Gallagher is the co-founder and recipe developer at Inspired Taste.
• Carrie Barnard is the founder and recipe developer at Eating on a Dime.
• Jan Nunes is the recipe developer and cooking educator at Encharted Cook.
• Jason Goldstein is a chef, cookbook author and creator of Chop Happy.

Related: 8 Iconic Mall Food Court Restaurants That Have Closed Forever (and Why)

Some songs are born to be hits, and some just have great timing.

To find the classic rock anthem for every month, we looked at singles from the 1960s through the 1980s and picked the one released in each month that spent the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Find your birth month below and see which rock classic is yours.

January: “I Love Rock ‘n Roll,” Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

January babies get one of the most defiant anthems in rock history. Jett first discovered the song when she saw the British band the Arrows perform it on UK television while touring England with the Runaways in 1976. Her version was released as a single on January 20, 1982, and spent seven weeks at No. 1.

February: A Tie! “Call Me,” Blondie, and “Joy to the World,” Three Dog Night

February is the only month with two winners. Blondie’s “Call Me,” written with disco producer Giorgio Moroder as the theme for the 1980 film “American Gigolo,” was released on February 1, 1980. It held No. 1 for six straight weeks and finished as Billboard’s top single of the year.

Three Dog Night matched it almost a decade earlier. “Joy to the World” came out as a single in February 1971, spent six weeks at No. 1 and was ranked Billboard’s No. 1 pop single of 1971. Not bad for a song some band members considered a silly kids’ tune.

March: “With or Without You,” U2

March belongs to U2’s brooding love song, released as the lead single from “The Joshua Tree” on March 16, 1987. It topped the Hot 100 for three weeks, becoming the band’s first No. 1 in the US.

April: “Light My Fire,” The Doors

April babies get the song that launched The Doors. The single, an edit of the much longer album version, was issued on April 24, 1967, and spent three weeks at No. 1. Guitarist Robby Krieger wrote most of it, though the song was credited to the whole band.

May: “Every Breath You Take,” The Police

May’s pick is one of the biggest hits of the 1980s. Released May 20, 1983, “Every Breath You Take” spent eight weeks at No. 1, longer than any other song that year. Sting wrote it while staying at Goldeneye, the Jamaican home of James Bond creator Ian Fleming.

June: “My Sharona,” The Knack

June’s anthem was written in about 15 minutes, according to singer Doug Fieger. Released June 18, 1979, “My Sharona” held No. 1 for six weeks and was Billboard’s No. 1 song of 1979. The real Sharona, Sharona Alperin, even posed for the single’s sleeve.

July: “Maggie May,” Rod Stewart

July’s pick almost never had a chance. “Maggie May” was released in July 1971 as the B-side of Stewart’s single “Reason to Believe,” but radio stations began playing it instead, and it climbed to No. 1 for five weeks.

August: “Hey Jude,” The Beatles

August babies win the biggest prize of all. Released August 26, 1968, “Hey Jude” spent nine weeks at No. 1, tying the all-time record at the time, a record it held for nine years. Paul McCartney wrote it to comfort John Lennon’s young son, Julian, during his parents’ divorce.

September: “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright),” Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart claims a second month with this romantic ballad, released in September 1976. It stayed at No. 1 for eight consecutive weeks, the longest run at the top since “Hey Jude” and the longest of Stewart’s career.

October: “Livin’ on a Prayer,” Bon Jovi

October gets the ultimate singalong. Released in October 1986, it spent four weeks at No. 1. Jon Bon Jovi only agreed to release it as a single after a group of teenagers told him it was their favorite track on the album.

November: “My Sweet Lord,” George Harrison

November’s pick made history. Released in the US on November 23, 1970, “My Sweet Lord” spent four weeks at No. 1 and became the first chart-topper by a former Beatle. It later became the subject of a landmark copyright lawsuit, after a court found Harrison had “subconsciously” borrowed from the Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine.”

December: “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” The Beatles

December babies get the song that started Beatlemania in America. After a Washington, DC radio DJ began playing an imported copy, Capitol Records rushed out the single on December 26, 1963. It stayed at No. 1 for seven weeks.