Parade

Planning a bagel-and-lox brunch? You may want to take a closer look at that package of smoked salmon first.

Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc., a Brooklyn-based wholesale distributor, is recalling Starfish Seafood Premium Cold Smoked Norwegian Salmon Sliced because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The FDA posted the company’s announcement on Oct. 16. The problem was caught during routine sampling by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and no illnesses have been reported so far.

The salmon was sold frozen in 8-ounce (227-gram) vacuum-sealed packages in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia and Florida. Shoppers should look for UPC 4751048940099, lot code D080-148 and a best-before date written as 27.11.2027, which is the European format for Nov. 27, 2027. The product was made in Latvia, and the distributor says it did not manufacture it.

Here’s why the frozen part matters. Unlike many germs, listeria can survive freezing and even grow at refrigerator temperatures. A package that’s been sitting in your freezer isn’t necessarily safe just because it’s frozen.

View this post on Instagram

For most healthy adults, a listeria infection may cause short-term symptoms like fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea. It can be much more serious, and sometimes fatal, for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. During pregnancy, it can cause miscarriage or stillbirth. That’s why health officials generally advise pregnant people to avoid refrigerated smoked seafood like lox unless it’s cooked into a dish.

Anyone who bought the recalled salmon shouldn’t eat it and can return it to the store for a full refund. Customers with questions can call Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. at (718) 858-6720, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

With brunch season and holiday entertaining around the corner, it’s worth a quick look before that package makes it onto your bagel.

Gary Puckett turns 84 today. He was born Oct. 17, 1942, in Hibbing, Minnesota, the same small town where Bob Dylanwent to high school, and he grew up in Washington state and Idaho.

Puckett formed Gary Puckett & The Union Gap in January 1967 while studying at San Diego State, according to Contemporary Musicians. He named the band after Union Gap, the Washington town near his childhood home, and the members dressed in Civil War uniforms, with Puckett taking the rank of general. Producer Jerry Fuller heard the group playing in a bar inside a bowling alley and signed them to Columbia.

The hits came fast. “Woman, Woman” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, followed by “Young Girl” at No. 2, “Lady Willpower” at No. 2 and “Over You” at No. 7. Contemporary Musicians, via Encyclopedia.com, reports that the group sold more records than any other act in 1968, including the Beatles, and calls “Young Girl” one of that year’s top three best-selling singles in the U.S. “Young Girl” also reached No. 1 in the U.K., according to the San Diego Reader.

Their audience grew along with the hits. By special invitation of the president, the group played the White House for Prince Charles and Princess Anne, and they also headlined at Disneyland, AllMusic says. In 1969, they sold out the Yale Bowl and played to a huge crowd in New York’s Central Park.

Behind the scenes, there was friction. The band wanted to write and produce its own material, and Puckett felt boxed in by the label’s ballad formula, according to AllMusic. In 1969, they turned down a song Fuller had written for a 40-piece orchestra. They still returned to the Top 10 that fall with “This Girl Is a Woman Now,” their last hit.

The Union Gap broke up in 1971, and Puckett went solo. The group was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame in 2009.

While animated films are sometimes viewed as juvenile, only for children’s consumption, there are countless movies within the genre that are considered masterpieces.

For instance, the publication Collider recently spotlighted some of the most acclaimed animated films with a ranking of the “10 Best Animated Movies in Film History.” The list, published on October 14, included 2022’s Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, WALL-E, released in 2008, 1994’s The Lion King, and Spirited Away from 2001. According to the publication, the “best animated movie in film history” is the 1991 Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast.

The movie, which snagged a Best Picture nomination at the 1992 Academy Awards, holds a score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Alan Menken Discussed Working With His Late Collaborator Howard Ashman for ‘Beauty and the Beast’

Beauty and the Beast, which was co-directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, marked lyricist Howard Ashman‘s final Disney film before his 1991 death at the age of 40. In a 1991 interview with Good Morning America, alongside Paige O’Hara, who provided the voice for Belle, Beauty and the Beast composer Alan Menken noted that the 1991 Disney film ends with a dedication to Ashman, who was his frequent collaborator. Menken explained that Ashman died “of AIDS” and had worked on Beauty and the Beast “in the glow of that last year of his life.”

“It was difficult. And it was wonderful. And it was inspiring,” said Menken, who worked with Ashman for The Little Mermaid (1989).

O’Hara also shared that Ashman was still providing her notes for her performance as Belle even when his health was faltering. She explained that “early on,” while she was “recording the number ‘Belle,’ he was very healthy” and told her to “lighten up [her] voice,” as she was sounding too much like Barbra Streisand.

“Many months passed and he was very sick at that time and he would listen to the sessions with a telephone up to the speaker and he could barely speak at this time. And we were recording something there. And I couldn’t get one line right. I just couldn’t get the phrasing to work,” recalled O’Hara during the Good Morning America interview.

She said she was then informed that Ashman appeared to be saying, “Streisand,” as a reminder to keep her voice light.

Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on Saturday, October 17, after being discharged from Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital, four days following surgery for lung cancer. 

The 71-year-old pope was allowed to leave since medical examinations had shown that his recovery was advancing nicely. The fact that he is now being discharged coincides with the fact that his older brother, Louis Prevost, is also receiving cancer treatment.

The Vatican gave the details about the Pope’s health on Saturday, quoting the Holy See Press Office and the pope’s medical staff. Leo is expected to say the Angelus prayer on Sunday, 18 October, from the window of the Apostolic Palace.

“He also greeted the healthcare staff, Professor Elena Beccalli, Rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, and the leadership of the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital,” the Vatican reported.

In its update, the Vatican stated that the pope’s doctors, Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora, had examined his blood tests and chest X-ray that morning before deciding that he could leave the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Holy See Press Office stated that Leo would go back to the Vatican that same afternoon, and before he left Gemelli Hospital he said Mass in a room which was intended for worship on the building’s 10th floor. The discharge took place before the one-week hospital stay which had been originally expected after his admission on October 13.

On October 13, the pope had surgery in which the lower lobe of his right lung was removed since doctors had found a localized nodule. The operation took about 90 minutes and was successfully completed with no complications being reported.

As stated in an earlier report by Vatican, the examination of the tissue carried out during the surgery confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer. The doctors who are attending the pope have told them that his recovery after surgery is proceeding normally.

The Vatican has not given any further information as to whether further cancer treatment will be required. The public audiences which had been scheduled had been canceled up to 20 October in order to allow time for recovery.

Pope Leo’s Brother Louis Prevost Is Also Battling Cancer

At the same time, his older brother, Louis Prevost, is experiencing his own health problems. According to his wife, Deborah Prevost, Louis has multiple myeloma, a cancer that affects plasma cells.

Louis was diagnosed for the first time in 2017. According to his wife, the treatment he received, which included a stem cell procedure and his involvement in a clinical trial in 2019, was successful in keeping the disease at a low level for several years. The cancer, however, made a return about three months ago, and he has now joined another clinical trial at a hospital in Florida.

Deborah has not made public the stage of her husband’s cancer, and noted that the brothers had spoken before Pope Leo had his surgery.

While the pontiff is still recovering at the Vatican, Louis is also receiving treatment. The two brothers are each dealing with a cancer diagnosis, and the family is hoping for favorable results.

Related: Ben Affleck Ignored Bruce Willis’ Advice About an Oscar-Winning Movie

Related: Michael Douglas Recalls the Terrifying Dinner Party Where a Cult Threatened to Kill Him

Related: Ben Affleck Reveals Why He Declined to Direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Related: Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery After Lung Nodule Is Discovered

Bette Nesmith Graham never set out to build a fortune. In the early 1950s, she was a single mother working as an executive secretary at Texas Bank & Trust in Dallas, and she just wanted her typing mistakes to disappear.

She knew artists fix errors by painting over them. So in 1951, she mixed water-based tempera paint in her kitchen blender and tinted it to match the bank’s stationery, according to the National Women’s History Museum. In her own words, she put the paint in a bottle, “took along my watercolor brush” and used it at the office.

Coworkers noticed. Other secretaries began asking if they could borrow some, and Graham started selling the mixture in 1956. She spent nights and weekends in her kitchen refining the formula, working through gallons of paint, Invention & Technology reports. Her son, Michael Nesmith, later became a member of The Monkees.

In 1958, she renamed the product Liquid Paper and applied for a patent and trademark. Before long, she was selling about 100 bottles a month, according to the Lemelson-MIT program. The business took off. By 1967, it was a million-dollar enterprise, and in 1968 she opened a new plant. By 1975, the company was producing 25 million bottles a year, and competitors such as Wite-Out had begun to appear. By 1976, Liquid Paper was sold in 31 countries. Graham built a child-care center and a library at the company’s Dallas headquarters, the museum says.

The bank, meanwhile, let her go because she was devoting too much time to the business.

In 1979, Graham sold Liquid Paper to Gillette for $47.5 million. She died the next year at age 56.

She left half her estate to her son and half to two charitable foundations she created to expand opportunities for women. He also received a royalty on every bottle sold until 2000. Newell Rubbermaid bought the brand from Gillette in 2000.

McDonald’s best Halloween tradition is back: Boo Buckets are returning to participating restaurants on October 20, 2026.

Boo Buckets first became a McDonald’s seasonal staple in 1986; they’d provide kids not just a container for their Happy Meal but a bucket they could use for trick-or-treating when Halloween arrives. The tradition went on for thirty years before the buckets were discontinued in 2016, then brought back in 2022.

Thankfully, the buckets’ reprisal has not turned out to be a one-off thing. Last year’s buckets included five bucket styles with three different faces, making for 15 total designs to collect. They had a pumpkin, ghost, goblin, zombie, and black cat bucket, all of which could be found with a creepy, kooky, or cute expression.

For 2026, however, McDonald’s is doing something a little different.

What Makes the 2026 Boo Buckets Special

Instead of being designed with classic Halloween monsters, the 2026 Boo Buckets feature famous villain characters from beloved Disney children’s movies.

As shown in the McDonald’s Instagram post Thursday, the villains included appear to be Ursula from The Little Mermaid, Scar from The Lion King, Jafar from Aladdin, Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmatians, and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent.

McDonald’s hasn’t officially confirmed which villains will be on the buckets yet, although fans feel pretty certain they’ve recognized them well in McDonald’s Instagram teaser posts.

View this post on Instagram How to Get Your Hands on One

Boo Buckets are only available while supplies last. You can likely get one at your local McDonald’s starting October 20, and can use the McDonald’s app to check which stores have them.

For collectors who want to make sure they get each version of the bucket, it’s recommended to arrive within the first few days to make sure they’re not sold out. And as a former McDonald’s employee myself, I can confirm that even if they don’t have the bucket you’re looking for up front, there may be other editions of the bucket in the back storage room. If the store’s not too busy and you ask politely, a crew member may be able to find the exact bucket you want.

The further ahead of Halloween you visit, the easier it’ll be to get your hands on this year’s Boo Bucket.

There is a distinct, magnetic pull to someone who walks into a room without demanding to be seen, yet instantly commands the attention of everyone inside it. They do not over-explain themselves. They do not scramble to fill uncomfortable silences, nor do they bend over backward to earn the approval of acquaintances. In internet culture, this self-contained, alluringly cool demeanor has been crowned “black cat energy.”

Unlike the golden retriever archetype—characterized by boundless enthusiasm, open-hearted eagerness and a deep desire to please—black cat energy is cool, composed and selectively affectionate. It is the aura of someone who knows their worth and feels no urgent impulse to prove it. On social media platforms like TikTok, the phrase has sparked countless conversations, celebrating those who embody the quiet, dignified confidence of a cat perched comfortably out of reach.

However, there is a fine—often precarious—line between healthy self-sufficiency and emotional isolation. While moving through the world with calm independence can feel empowering, it can also inadvertently create massive walls between you and the people who care about you most. What feels like protective self-assurance on the inside can easily translate to coldness, unreachability or indifference on the outside. Understanding the subtle dynamics of black cat energy is key to enjoying its strengths without sacrificing genuine intimacy.

Related: Relationship Psychologists Are Begging Couples To Stop Using This ‘Toxic’ 7-Word Phrase

People Who Have ‘Black Cat Energy’ Often Confuse Emotional Detachment for Personal Strength

One of the defining characteristics of black cat energy is a strong sense of self-reliance, but it can easily curdle into emotional avoidance. When hurt, stressed or feeling vulnerable, your knee-jerk reaction may be to retreat entirely into your shell rather than leaning on your partner or friends. You might tell yourself that keeping your emotions tucked away is a mark of maturity and resilience.

In reality, extreme independence is frequently a defense mechanism. True emotional strength does not mean being unshakeable or aloof; it involves having the courage to show up authentically, even when it feels unsafe or uncomfortable. When you treat self-protection as a badge of honor, you end up keeping your loved ones at arm’s length.

Related: Psychologists Warn: These 7 Defensive Phrases Are Red Flags in a Relationship

Other traits of people with black cat energy include refusing to initiate connection—which can create a one-sided relationship—not allowing themselves to be vulnerable (because it feels like losing control), having a “my way or the highway” mentality and just coming off as overall emotionally unavailable. These all basically stem from the issue of confusing aloofness with strength, when really you’re just sabotaging your chances of making a genuine connection with anyone.

“True strength is not cold,” Dr. Crystal Saidi, PsyD, a licensed psychologist with Thriveworks, explained to Parade in a previous article. “Emotional distance is not maturity. It is often self-protection dressed up as confidence.”

How To Balance Your Black Cat Energy So You Don’t Push Others Away

Having black cat energy is not inherently bad—it comes with a powerful sense of self-worth, calm independence and a natural ability to set personal boundaries. The key to preserving your relationships while honoring your nature lies in balance.

“’Black cat energy’ refers to a person who feels mysterious, confident and emotionally independent,” Dr. Saidi said in the same previous article. “Black cats don’t chase. They are grounded in their self-worth and comfortable in their own company.”

Related: The 13 Most Iconic Black Cats in Pop Culture

However, she emphasized that finding harmony requires pairing that independence with deliberate emotional warmth.

“Independence builds attraction, but availability is what builds connection,” she noted, adding that true strength comes from allowing people to see both your poise and your heart.

By intentionally letting your guard down with trusted loved ones, initiating connection and communicating your feelings directly rather than leaving them to mystery, you can maintain your grounded confidence without pushing away the people who matter most.

Adapted from Parade’s “5 Subtle Traits To Work On if You Have ‘Black Cat Energy,’ Psychologist Warns” by Beth Ann Mayer.

Up Next:

Related: Remember When Couples Didn’t Need To Document Every Romantic Moment? A Therapist Reveals Its Impact on Relationships

Source:

• Dr. Crystal Saidi, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist with Thriveworks.

Sponsored Story

Fall is my favorite season to travel, and one of my favorite ways to experience it is on a road trip. Give me winding roads lined with red and orange covered trees, charming small towns, mountain views and a packed itinerary of fall activities, and I’m happy.

That’s exactly what I found on a recent fall foliage trip through the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Leaf-peeping days here can be long, especially when you’re trying to fit scenic drives, hikes and a lot of photo stops into a single day. So I decided to make a fall drink to bring along for the adventure.

The inspiration? 5-hour ENERGY’s new limited-edition Caramel Apple flavor.

I turned the seasonal shot into a Caramel Apple Cider Fizz with fresh apple cider, ginger beer, lemon and caramel. The result is appley, tart, gingery and lightly fizzy, with plenty of caramel apple flavor…and it couldn’t be easier to make.

🍳 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & fun food news in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳

What Does Caramel Apple 5-hour ENERGY Taste Like?

Few flavors say “fall” quite like caramel apple. The new limited-edition Caramel Apple 5-hour ENERGY combines the crisp, slightly tart taste of apple with smooth, buttery caramel for a sweet-meets-tart flavor inspired by the classic fall treat.

The apple comes through right away, followed by the sweeter caramel notes. The flavor combination of the Caramel Apple 5-hour ENERGY immediately made me think of apple orchards, fall festivals and all the other things I look forward to once autumn arrives. 

Each Extra Strength 5-hour ENERGY shot contains 230 mg of caffeine with zero sugar and zero calories. Along with the Caramel Apple flavor, there is also a Pumpkin Spice flavor in the brand’s limited-edition fall collection.

You can drink the Caramel Apple shot on its own, but I wanted to play up those seasonal flavors and turn it into a fun fall drink to accompany me on my foliage road trip. Apple cider was an obvious pairing, and adding ginger beer, fresh lemon and caramel gave it a little more complexity while keeping the apple flavor front and center.

Related: I Tried Making Viral Dirty Sodas With 5-hour ENERGY’s New Flavors—and They’re Officially My New Summer Obsession

How to Make My Caramel Apple Cider Fizz Screenshot

The best part about this drink is how easy it is to put together. You don’t need a cocktail shaker or any complicated ingredients, and it only takes a few minutes to make.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle Caramel Apple 5-hour ENERGY
• 4 ounces apple cider
• 2 ounces ginger beer
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon caramel sauce, plus more for drizzling
• Ice
• 1 cinnamon stick, for garnish

Directions

Fill a glass with ice. Add the apple cider, Caramel Apple 5-hour ENERGY, fresh lemon juice and caramel sauce, then stir well to combine.

Top with the ginger beer and gently stir again so you don’t lose too much of the fizz.

Finish with an extra drizzle of caramel and add a cinnamon stick for garnish.

That’s it. In just a few minutes, you’ve turned a tiny Caramel Apple 5-hour ENERGY shot into a fizzy fall drink that’s ready for your next autumn adventure.

What Does the Caramel Apple Cider Fizz Taste Like? Screenshot

Apple is definitely the star of this drink. Combining the Caramel Apple 5-hour ENERGY with fresh cider gives it a bright, unmistakably appley flavor, while the caramel brings in sweetness and more of that classic caramel apple taste.

The other flavors blend perfectly with the caramel and apple. The fresh lemon makes the drink taste brighter and a little tart, taking away some sweetness from the caramel. And the ginger beer adds a tangy ginger kick and bubbles to give the drink a refreshing light fizz.

What I liked is that this drink doesn’t end up tasting overly sweet. The lemon and ginger balance the dessert-like apple and caramel flavors. This makes the drink refreshing while still tasting distinctly like a fall beverage. 

The cinnamon stick adds one final seasonal touch. Plus, between the golden cider and caramel drizzle, the finished drink looks pretty fall-friendly, too.

Related: The 20 Most Stunning U.S. Destinations for Fall Foliage This Year

The Perfect Drink for a Fall Foliage Adventure

I brought my Caramel Apple Cider Fizz along while exploring New Hampshire’s White Mountains during fall foliage season, which might be one of the most fitting places possible to drink something that tastes like caramel apples. It gave me an extra boost of energy navigating those windy mountain roads, and came up in a gondola with me to view the tree tops from above.

Fall foliage trips are also exactly the kind of travel days when I appreciate more energy. I’m usually up early, spending hours exploring, hiking and stopping at viewpoints before navigating challenging and usually packed roads in search of even more fall color.

What makes turning a 5-hour ENERGY shot into a seasonal drink so fun is that I’m still getting the energy boost I want for a busy day, but in a drink that feels like part of the fall experience. Plus, when you’re surrounded by New Hampshire’s red, orange and yellow mountains, caramel apple feels like the perfect flavor to accompany the views.

If your perfect fall day also involves colorful foliage, crisp air and an itinerary packed with beautiful viewpoints and cozy stops, try making this Caramel Apple Cider Fizz and bringing it along with you on your next autumn adventure.

Next: I Turned My Morning Protein Shake Into a Donut-Flavored Treat—and I’m Obsessed

Harry Styles honored his late One Direction bandmate Liam Payne with an unreleased song during his Madison Square Garden concert on Friday, October 16, marking two years since Payne’s death.

The singer, 32, introduced the track, titled “What Is Enough?,” during his New York City residency, explaining to the audience that he had written it for his friend. The emotional moment came on the anniversary of Payne’s death at age 31 in October 2024.

According to Complex, Styles reflected on the people who had helped him throughout his career before addressing the loss directly.

“Two years ago today, I lost one of those friends,” Styles told the crowd, acknowledging how much the people in his life had contributed to his journey.

He then shared a message about supporting others through difficult times.

“I’m sure a lot of you have been through similar things,” he said. “I hope you haven’t, but really, it’s just about looking after each other.”

Styles subsequently introduced the unreleased track, telling concertgoers he was about to perform a song he had written for his friend about two years earlier.

The performance gave fans a rare glimpse into how the singer has processed the loss of his former bandmate. As reported by Rolling Stone, Styles premiered the song during the sold-out concert, choosing the anniversary to share the previously unheard material publicly.

Payne died on October 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31. His death prompted tributes from Styles and their other former One Direction bandmates, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.

The group had risen to international fame after forming on The X Factor in 2010, becoming one of the world’s biggest boy bands before going on hiatus in 2016.

Styles has spoken about the importance of remembering loved ones by continuing to live fully. His latest tribute offered another public acknowledgment of the friendship and shared history that connected him to Payne.

For a few years after Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, the biggest guessing game in Hollywood was who would be trusted with the return of Luke, Han and Leia. One of the filmmakers Lucasfilm approached was the Oscar-winning director of Argo, and he now says he knew the job belonged to someone else.

Ben Affleck confirmed the long-rumored offer on a recent episode of Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he was promoting his Netflix film Animals, which premiered in Los Angeles on Oct. 1. Lucasfilm reached out to ask whether he was interested, he said, though he wasn’t sure whether the studio was talking to J.J. Abrams at the same time. His own conclusion was simple. “I’m not the person to direct this movie,” he recalled thinking. He also confirmed he never met with anyone about directing Man of Steel.

Affleck explained the decision as an honest assessment rather than a noble sacrifice. He told Horowitz, “I don’t know that I can make a great version of Star Wars,” adding that reinventing the saga came with real challenges. In his view, “someone else who has more passion for this is gonna do a better job.” He said he doesn’t want to direct anything he doesn’t feel he has a chance to be “really, really proud of.”

The fandom factored in as well. Affleck pointed to a fan base with “its own very strong opinions,” and said fans have seen how hard it has been to reinvent the franchise. He added that he has passed on many strong scripts as a director, often better ones than he gets as an actor, when he doubted he was the right fit for the material.

Related: Ben Affleck Fooled Shoppers Into Supporting Him for Mayor of LA

The admission settles a question fans have debated for a decade. In 2016, when Bill Simmons pressed him on HBO’s Any Given Wednesday, Affleck sidestepped, saying “it wouldn’t be polite to talk about the jobs you turned down.” Affleck described those offers as forks in the road that lead to very different lives. At the time, he was playing Batman for Warner Bros.

The job went to Abrams, who co-wrote The Force Awakens with Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt. The film opened in December 2015, passed $1 billion worldwide in 12 days and finished near $2 billion. Its follow-up, Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, also crossed $1 billion but split fans over its creative choices.

Affleck’s answer adds a rare first-person account to the long list of Star Wars what-ifs, coming as Lucasfilm prepares Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter for May 2027. For fans who still argue over every turn the sequel trilogy took, it offers a direct look at one road the saga never traveled in that galaxy far, far away.

🎬SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬

There’s just something about a gorgeous Dutch oven that makes you want to cancel your dinner reservations and spend the evening making a slow-simmered stew from scratch. The only problem is that some of the prettiest pots on the market come with prices that might kill your appetite. That’s why Le Creuset dupes are having a moment. Home cooks can get the sophisticated cookware look without spending a small fortune on a single pot.

Aldi has a knack for turning everyday shopping trips into treasure hunts. Its latest kitchen find is a stunning oval Dutch oven that looks right at home in a designer kitchen, but it won’t require a luxury-sized budget. Even better, it costs just $29.99, making it an attractive alternative for shoppers who love Le Creuset’s look and functionality but want to keep their wallets comfortably full.

😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳🍔

Crofton 5.3-Quart Cast-Iron Oval Dutch Oven, $29.99 at Aldi

Aldi

From the kitchen to the dining table, Aldi’s Crofton 5.3-Quart Cast-Iron Oval Dutch Oven has a timeless design that can make even a weeknight meal feel a little fancy. The oval shape gives it a classic French-country feel, while the cast-iron construction delivers the substantial look home cooks expect from traditional Dutch ovens.

And let’s be honest: cookware that looks this good deserves a little counter space. Instead of hiding it away in a cabinet, you might find yourself leaving this pot out for everyone to admire. Its elegant silhouette has the same upscale appeal that makes high-end pieces so popular with home cooks and design enthusiasts.

At $29.99, the Crofton pot is also a much more approachable purchase than splurging on premium cookware. While it isn’t a Le Creuset product, it offers a similar style for shoppers who want a polished, high-end look in their kitchens without paying luxury-brand prices.

Related: Give Your Bedroom a Romantic Makeover With Marshalls’ Pretty Pink Floral Duvet

A Pretty Pot That Can Pull Its Weight in the Kitchen

Of course, a Dutch oven needs to do more than look good in photos. Cast-iron cookware is beloved for its heat retention, making it ideal for dishes that benefit from steady cooking, including hearty soups, braises, stews and slow-cooked comfort food. The 5.3-quart capacity also lets you prepare a satisfying meal for family or friends.

Whether you’re building your cookware collection or simply craving a kitchen refresh, Aldi’s $30 Dutch oven proves you can get the look of a high-end kitchen without paying high-end prices. And if it inspires you to make a big pot of Sunday sauce, all the better.

Related: Aldi’s Pre-Lit Tabletop Cypress Trees Are Just $10, and We’re Spruced Up About It

If there’s one thing I love more than trying a new recipe, it’s finding one that comes together with minimal effort. And with cooler weather finally settling in, I no longer need to justify my sweet tooth, as it wouldn’t feel like fall without indulging in all the season’s best flavors.

Along with a slew of delicious baked treats, fall also tends to pack a healthy dose of nostalgia, which makes it the perfect time of year to revisit some old-fashioned recipes. And after recently trying my hand at recreating a Reddit-famous 1960s pumpkin bread recipe, I thought it only fitting to explore more vintage recipes. My pick this time? An “Apple John” recipe from comedian Lucille Ball.

😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter🍳🍔

Known for its wholesome portrayal of family life in the 1950s, Ball’s I Love Lucy paved the way for modern television sitcoms like Friends, Seinfeld and That ‘70s Show, all of which feature unconventional family units.

And if you think about it, Lucille Ball’s “Apple John” recipe follows a similar format, putting an unconventional spin on a familiar fall favorite. Made with tender baked apples and finished with a fluffy biscuit topping, this classic 1950s dessert offers an easy way to satisfy your apple pie craving without the extra work of making a pie crust from scratch.

Here’s what happened when I made an “Apple John” at home, what I thought of the final result and how to make it even better.

Apple John vs. Apple Pie: What’s the Actual Difference?

Despite sharing the same key ingredient (apples), Lucille Ball’s “Apple John” is noticeably different from a traditional apple pie.

Instead of layering spiced apples between pastry crusts, this old-fashioned dessert features tender baked apple slices topped with dollops of biscuit dough made with Bisquick, melted butter and milk. The result turns out to be a cozy, cinnamon-spiced dessert that’s more like an apple cobbler.

Ingredients for Lucille Ball’s ‘Apple John’

Courtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller

Part of the charm of this recipe is you might already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen. You’ll need 8 cups of peeled and sliced apples, 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1/4 cup of water, 2 cups of biscuit mix, 2 to 3 tablespoons of melted butter and 1/2 cup of milk.

How to Make Lucille Ball’s ‘Apple John’

Courtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller

Start by preheating the oven to 375°F. In a large mixing bowl, toss together the peeled and sliced apples with sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon zest, lemon juice and water. 

Courtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller

Grease a 2-quart casserole dish with butter, spread the apple mixture evenly inside, cover with foil and bake for 1 hour, or until the apples are nice and tender.

Courtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller

Remove the baking dish from the oven and raise the temperature to 450°F. In a separate bowl, combine the biscuit mix with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, then stir in the melted butter and milk until just combined.

Courtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller

Drop rounded tablespoons of the biscuit mixture around the edge of the casserole dish and across the center, spacing them evenly to allow room for the biscuits to spread as they bake. Bake uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through. Serve warm as is, or topped with vanilla ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream.

Related: I Tried Trader Joe’s New $5 Fall Snack, and Its Creamy, Crunchy Texture Totally Steals the Show

What I Thought of Lucille Ball’s ‘Apple John’

Courtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller

Being a single guy who lives alone, easy recipes are a lifesaver. It doesn’t necessarily have to be quick, but if I can create it with minimal effort and just a handful of ingredients, that’s a huge win in my book. Lucille Ball’s “Apple John” checks all the boxes for an easy dessert, with the hardest part being the wait while it bakes. 

Courtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller

As an avid fan of apple pie, I found that it fully satisfies the craving, even if the biscuits give it a slightly softer, fluffier texture. On its own, the dessert is bursting with sweet, cinnamon-spiced flavor, while a dollop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream are all that you need to take it over the top. With the holidays on the horizon, I can’t wait to make this again when I have family in town, as I’m confident I won’t be the only one who loves it.

Tips for Making Lucille Ball’s ‘Apple John’

Courtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller

Here are some useful ways to make this dessert even better.

1. Choose firm apples.

Since the apples bake for an hour before the biscuit topping is added, try to choose firm varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, as they will hold up better during baking. That said, you can choose any apples you like, depending on how sweet you’d like the dessert to be.

2. Slice and season the apples just before baking.

Once you’ve sliced them up, apples can start to brown surprisingly fast when exposed to air, so try to peel and slice them right before you’re ready to bake. If you need to prep them ahead of time, you can soak them in a saltwater bath for 5 to 10 minutes, then drain, rinse and store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

3. Don’t overmix the biscuit dough.

Overmixing can lead to tougher, denser biscuits instead of the light, fluffy topping that nearly steals the show. When combining the mix with melted butter and milk, stir until the ingredients are just combined, then move forward with the rest of the bake.

Now that you have everything you need to recreate Lucille Ball’s “Apple John” at home, you can impress your friends and family this holiday season with one of Ball’s most delicious, no-fuss desserts.

Related: I Tried a Reddit-Famous 1960s Pumpkin Bread Recipe—and I Totally Understand the Hype Now

Walt Disney World has refreshed its roster of limited-time Passholder benefits with a pair of seasonal perks, spotlighting an unexpected dining discount at one of the resort’s most celebrated cocktail spots alongside an early holiday shopping promotion.

The headlining addition centers on Nomad Lounge, the widely praised riverfront retreat located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom next to Tiffins Restaurant.

Long regarded by frequent visitors as one of the best places on Disney property for handcrafted cocktails, artisanal small plates, and open-air relaxation, the lounge is introducing an exclusive fixed-price dining deal specifically for Passholders.

Running daily from October 20 through December 18, 2026, between 3:00 PM and park close, Passholders and up to three guests can order two small plates and two beverages for a flat rate of $49, plus tax and gratuity.

Related: 55 Years Later, This Opening-Day Disney World Tradition Is Still Melting Hearts

View this post on Instagram

The promotion covers several of the lounge’s signature savory bites, such as the Chinese Five-Spice Glazed Chicken Wings, Wild Mushroom Dumplings, and the popular Traveller’s Provisions, which features warm roasted naan bread served with a trio of dips.

Drink selections span both craft cocktails and zero-proof specialties, including the Leaping Lizard and the non-alcoholic Hibiscus Henna. Disney notes that select menu items—most notably the Charcuterie and Cheese Board—are excluded from the bundle, and eligible offerings may adjust throughout the run.

The launch also coincides with a notable procedural change for the typically walk-up-only lounge. While the $49 package takes effect on October 20 on a standard walk-up basis, advance dining reservations for Nomad Lounge will officially open beginning November 8. While reservations will be strongly recommended to secure seating during the peak holiday crowd surge, walk-up availability will remain an option for spontaneous afternoon drop-ins.

Related: 15 Free Things You Can Do at Walt Disney World Without Entering the Parks

Beyond dining in the parks, Disney also activated an online merchandise discount to encourage early holiday shopping. Through October 25, 2026, Annual Passholders can take 20 percent off eligible purchases on DisneyStore.com by logging into their connected MyDisney accounts and applying the promo code WDW20 at checkout.

These fall perks land alongside a suite of ongoing Passholder benefits for the coming months, including discounted tickets to seasonal after-hours events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights, $49 single-day water park admission, and $30 savings on select 2027 nighttime events at EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

For Passholders looking to maximize their annual dues before the year wraps, the Nomad Lounge package in particular delivers a rare opportunity to enjoy upscale park dining at a fraction of the usual à la carte bill.

Related: This Is The One Disney World Restaurant I Never Skip As An Adult Without Kids

Part of the magic of holiday hosting is making your friends and family feel extra loved and special, and one of the best ways to do that is to decorate your space for the occasion. Effort always matters because it shows that you care about creating a beautiful experience for everyone. And because no festive get-together is complete without a shared meal, setting the table beautifully is also essential. Now you can make your Christmastime tablescape a dream with Pottery Barn’s beautiful vintage-inspired dinnerware set.

Pottery Barn’s Vintage Christmas Stoneware 12-Piece Dinnerware Set transforms your table into a charming Christmas dreamscape. The vintage-style Christmas motifs feel super cozy and inviting, with a slightly muted color scheme that is understated yet elegant. The dish rims feature a pretty floral accent, adding contrast and visual interest to the set. Altogether, these plates and bowls bring a sense of wonder and whimsy to your tablescape, making them oh so perfect for the season.

🍳 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & fun food news in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳

Vintage Christmas Stoneware 12-Piece Dinnerware Set, $200 at Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn

Beyond their magical design, these dishes also offer great functionality. First, the sturdy stoneware construction and glazed decal finish ensure long-lasting durability. Plus, the plates and bowls in this set are dishwasher- and microwave-safe. This makes cleaning up after your holiday meals a snap, so you can get back to what matters the most: quality time with your loved ones.

Related: Sam’s Club’s Elegant Antique-Style Floor Mirror Could Pass for Anthropologie

For dimensions, the dinner plates measure 10.5 inches in diameter, the salad plates measure 8.5 inches in diameter, and the bowls measure 7.5 inches in diameter with an 18-ounce capacity. This set offers the variety you need for a complete table setting, serving four people.

You can pick up this delightful Christmas-themed stoneware dinnerware set at select Pottery Barn stores or from PotteryBarn.com. It retails for $200.

How to Style a Magical Christmas Tablescape

In addition to charming dinnerware, other elements of a magical Christmas tablescape can include:

• Beautiful glassware: This can include vintage cups or wine glasses.
• Table linens: Think cloth napkins, a tablecloth and placemats.
• Decorative accents: Holly, a festive centerpiece, battery-powered twinkle lights, candles and other decor tie everything together beautifully and really make a difference in the magic of the tablescape.

Related: Revamp Your Pantry With Aldi’s Sleek New Bamboo Organizers

Larry Mathews was just five years old when he was cast as Ritchie Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Less than six years later, he was an unemployed child actor who took the end of the show very hard.

During a recent appearance on the Tripping Over The Ottoman podcast, Mathews, 71, looked back on the day that he realized his time on the Emmy-winning sitcom was over.

“I was very sad for me,” Mathews recalled. “As a child, I’d grown up. This is my other family besides my… home family. But they were really like more of a family to me in a lot of ways. I was kind of devastated that we weren’t going to wake up the next week and come in and do a show and be with my family members.”

“I mean, keep in mind…I started when [I was] five,” he added. “And so absolutely, I was aware, and I was really emotional about it. And, you know, in the wrap party, I cried because I remembered that we weren’t going to be with each other.”

Airing from October 1961 to June 1966, The Dick Van Dyke Show starred Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore as married couple Rob and Laura Petrie. The show also focused on Rob’s work as a TV comedy writer with co-stars Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie and Richard Deacon.

Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images

The series ended while it was still a hit with viewers. In his book My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business, Van Dyke revealed that series creator Carl Reiner wanted the show to go out while it was still on top.

“I think he [Reiner] recognized that all of us, through our collaboration and hard work, had produced a TV classic, and he feared that if repetition and fatigue set in, it could damage the show’s magical reputation,” he wrote. “I loved the show and the people. It wasn’t work,” the actor added. “Until The Dick Van Dyke Show finished, I preferred to concentrate on, no, I preferred to savor, each and every last episode.”

Van Dyke went on to other projects, but the end of The Dick Van Dyke Show provided another challenge for his TV son. After having a tutor on set and even skipping a grade, Mathews found himself back in a regular classroom for the first time in years.

“It was horrible, actually,” Mathews told podcast host David Van Deusen of his return to public school. “I went back to the next year in third grade. And they were all like…’Oh, who’s this kid? He thinks he’s special.’ And so it was very difficult for me until I got in high school, and then the whole switch flipped.”

Mathews pursued theater in high school and in college at UCLA, telling The Jim Masters Show, “I did know I wanted to be involved in [show business] somehow. And after we stopped The Dick Van Dyke Show, I did a lot of theater through high school and through college and I loved it and I kept myself going in, you know, private play performances in different plays and things and I enjoyed it a lot.”

In 2004, Mathews reunited with his Dick Van Dyke family for the TV movie The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited. His appearance was brief—Entertainment Weekly noted that Mathews “talks into a phone for a few minutes at the top of the show and is never seen again”—but it was still proof that you can always go home again.

Related: Iconic ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ Episode Turns 50 — and It’s Still One of TV’s Funniest Moments

Just days after Selma Blair was arrested on a plane and later hospitalized following an alleged assault involving flight attendants, the Legally Blonde actress appeared at 90s Con on Friday. According to Entertainment Weekly, convention organizers That’s4Entertainment confirmed on Monday that Blair would still attend the event. Though neither Blair nor That’s4Entertainment posted pictures or videos of the actress at the convention, other photographs show Blair walking around the venue.

Blair was set to offer fans autographs, selfies and professional photo ops, as well as participate in a Q&A panel at the convention. However, prior to Blair’s arrest, That’s4Entertainment announced that she would no longer participate in the panel so she could spend more time meeting fans.

90s Con is an annual fan convention celebrating 1990s pop culture, TV, film and music. This year’s convention includes appearances from Nick Carter, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, John Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Dave Coulier, Candace Cameron Bure and more.

“Just having that many people here at one time really brings you back to your childhood,” DJ Tre, who is the official DJ of 90s Con, told NBC Connecticut. “I always try to do songs from the people who are going to be here, whether it be the TV shows, the movies, the boy bands.”

Blair’s 90s Con appearance comes days after she was arrested and hospitalized on Oct. 11 for allegedly biting one flight attendant and punching another during a Delta Airlines flight from Los Angeles International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Blair has since responded to the incident through her representative in a statement for People.

The actress’ representative explained that she “experienced a medical emergency on the flight” and “did not intend to harm anyone.” The 54 year old, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, had allegedly missed several doses of her medication prior to the flight, CNN reported. 

Blair pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault and was released on bond. Her next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 19, 2027.

Jeri Ryan may be best known for her work in outer space, but she’s absolutely stunning down here on planet Earth.

Ryan, 58, became a regular on the TV circuit thanks to her role as Seven of Nine, a former Borg drone, in Star Trek: Voyager. The wildly popular science fiction TV series was a staple of the ’90s, and Ryan was a favorite of fans. However, she also found success on the popular series Boston Public as Ronnie Cooke, an attorney who decides to ditch the high life to work as a high school teacher in the public school system. Still, Ryan wasn’t able to ditch her Star Trek roots too easily. She returned in 2020 as Seven of Nine and appeared on Star Trek: Picard for 25 additional episodes. 

These days, Ryan is still thriving. However, she took a break from her Star Trek origins to share a message on social media encouraging people to vote. One look at the video and it’s clear that Ryan has barely changed almost 30 years after she first made her debut as Seven of Nine. Looking ageless with the same long blonde hair, Ryan smiled brightly for the camera as she spoke about civic engagement.

View this post on Instagram

🎬SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬

Jeri Ryan’s Daughter Looks Just Like Her

Ryan may be a successful actor, but she’s also a proud mom. Back in March, Ryan took to social media in a sweet Instagram post wishing her daughter Gisele a happy 18th birthday. One look at the post and it’s pretty clear the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. While her daughter is brunette, her eyes are a telltale sign that she’s her mother’s daughter. Smiling alongside her mom and dad, Ryan’s daughter is the spitting image of her stunning mother.

“My Little Pea, my baby girl, turned 18 yesterday. 💗 What an honor it’s been watching her grow into the most incredible, brilliant, kind, beautiful young woman. I’m the luckiest mom…😍🥰💕💗,” Ryan captioned the touching post.

View this post on Instagram

Related: ‘Star Trek’ Favorite Jeri Ryan, 58, Makes a Stunning Red Carpet Appearance in Italy

Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Everyone deserves to take a little time to themselves. In an era when self-care is essential and “bed-rotting” has become more common than ever, it makes sense that you might want to create a cozy little nook for your leisurely pleasure. Shoppers who’ve discovered the Pinmoco Corduroy Folding Sofa Bed swear by it for exactly that purpose.

Plump and supportive, the chair offers everything you could possibly want in lounge furniture. The price is right, too — it’s normally $220 at Walmart, but is currently on sale in black, beige, and olive green for just $90. It’s an outstanding deal for a piece that smoothly converts from a chair to a sofa and a bed. 

Pinmoco Corduroy Folding Sofa Bed, $90 (was $220) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The corduroy fabric sets this option apart from other sofa beds. It’s incredibly soft, with a velvety feel and ribbed texture that lend the piece an elevated look. Beyond being plush to the touch, it’s also ergonomically designed to provide ample support. It comes with a back pillow and a lumbar pillow, both of which have buckle systems to secure them. Made with 8.5 inches of high-density foam, it’s designed to hold its shape while reducing strain on your pressure points.

Its dimensions are impressive, too, opening up to 69.29 inches long when laid flat as a bed and collapsing to 34.65 inches long when folded into a chair. At 33.07 inches wide, it offers plenty of space for lounging but shouldn’t overwhelm the room. It weighs 33 pounds, with a boneless structure that’s easier to move around than traditional furniture. Its 600-pound capacity adds to its versatility.

Fold-out furnishings can be particularly useful in rooms where real estate is limited. The beauty of this sofa bed is that it adds style and function, quickly folding into a chair or opening into a bed wherever you might need it. It’s ideal for basements, guest rooms, dorm rooms, small apartments, or any space that could benefit from a little more seating.

Shoppers absolutely loved this piece of folding furniture, both for its attractive design and its assembly-free setup. It even has a handle built into it, so you can tote it from room to room with ease. Anti-slip backing protects the integrity of the sofa bed and keeps it where you want it, so you can comfortably sit and stand without worrying about shifting.

Related: Walmart’s ‘Luxuriously Soft’ Faux Fur Accent Rug Warms Up Cold Floors Instantly, and It’s 50% Off

It’s “so comfy and soft,” said one reviewer. Another person agreed, adding that it’s also “easy to unfold.” Several people also praised the simple setup process and noted that it goes from chair to bed with minimal effort.

Shop More Deals

• Ledrem Storage Ottoman Bench, $47 (was $94) at Walmart
• Yoob 3-Tier Side Table, $26 (was $39) at Walmart
• Lanbertent Shag Area Rug, $29 (was $57) at Walmart

You can’t have enough comfortable seating at home, especially when it saves space like the Pinmoco Corduroy Folding Sofa Bed! Whether you’re looking for something to elevate your home this fall or you’re furnishing a small room, this is an exceptional deal at 59% off! Don’t miss it while it’s on sale at Walmart.

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

“Then Came You” was a 1974 song by The Spinners and Dionne Warwick. It rose all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was even nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Producer Thom Bell spoke about the creation of the hit song. “They invited me out to sit with Dionne and listen to her,” he said, according to Pop Matters. “They wanted me to do an album with her. I didn’t have the time — there’s only 24 hours in a day — and I didn’t want to give her any sloppy junk. If I can’t give you the best, I won’t bother you. I said, ‘Let me go back and see what I can come up with.’ I came up with a duet. I thought, ‘That should satisfy what Dionne needs and what the Spinners need.’ In those days, I had writers working specifically for certain artists. I got with two of my writers, Sherman Marshall and Phillip Pugh. I said, ‘I want you to write for Dionne and the Spinners. That’s your job, period. Don’t bring me nothing else.’ They came to me with ‘Then Came You’. It was a good song, but I just added a little icing on the cake. I don’t think I’ve ever produced a song that I didn’t re-write in some way.”

Warwick also spoke about the creation of the song. “At the last show, Thom came to see us,” she said during an interview at the Apollo. “He came upstairs to the dressing room after the show was over. He said, ‘I have a wonderful surprise for you.’ We all said, ‘Great! What is it?’ He said, ‘It’s the end of the tour, and you had a wonderful time together. I got a song that I think you guys should record. It would be the perfect way to say bye-bye to each other.’ It was a little song called ‘Then Came You’.”

She continued, “Thom gave us a wonderful gift that also happened to be my very first number one recording — ever.”

Warwick released many other popular songs throughout her career. They include “That’s What Friends Are For,” “Heartbreaker,” and “I’ll Never Love This Way Again.” She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, and the Apollo Theater Walk of Fame. She also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. She is currently 85 years old.

Related: 1991 Hip-Hop Party Jam From Black Sheep Remains Popular to This Day, Thanks to a Famous Car Commercial

The Spinners were inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group is still together to this day, but it doesn’t include any original members.

While singer-songwriter Warren Zevon became known for his sharp songwriting throughout his long career, his biggest hit actually started as a silly joke between friends.

The idea for his hit track “Werewolves of London” began when Zevon’s friend, Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, saw the famous 1935 film of the same name and suggested, as a joke, that Zevon write a dance song based on the title.

But Zevon wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, and he brought the idea to guitarist Waddy Wachtel and LeRoy Marinell. The trio quickly put the track together at the latter’s home in Venice Beach, Calif. Along with the unique concept for the song, the composition was built around a riff that Marinell came up with on guitar and Zevon adapted to the piano.

While it was an easy process to write the song, it turned out to be more of a challenge to record it in the studio. In the end, Zevon got help from two iconic musicians, drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie of Fleetwood Mac. Zevon played piano and Wachtel played guitar in the final recording.

The song was released as one of the lead singles on Zevon’s third album, Excitable Boy, in 1978. Thanks to his record label pushing for it to be a single, it became an unexpected hit.

“Werewolves of London” peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Zevon’s only Top 40 hit of his career. It also broke into the Top 20 in New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.

Related: 1988 Folk Hit, Ranked Among “Greatest Country Songs of All Time,” Hit Country No. 1 35 Years Later

These days, the song is seen as a one-hit wonder, but one of the best. “Werewolves of London” was included on Collider‘s list of “The 10 Best Classic Rock One-Hit Wonders,” ranked at No. 10.

The publication noted the “dangerously catchy riff” and “broader comedy than most of Zevon’s other satire-heavy songs,” but it also lamented the fact that there aren’t more of Zevon’s songs that achieved the same success.

Related: 1968 Glen Campbell Country Classic, Featuring an Unforgettable Organ Sound, Ranked Among the ‘Greatest Songs of All Time’