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If you're trying to plan a weekend road trip or looking for a way to maximize your family’s summer vacation days without spending a fortune on pricey add-on experiences, Six Flags Over Georgia just dropped a major calendar update that is a massive win for your wallet.

Typically, when a major theme park rolls out a high-production, late-night event featuring elaborate stunts, live musical scores, and interactive storytelling, it comes with a steep, separately ticketed price tag. But beginning this weekend, the park is flipping the script for the season.

Six Flags is launching the DC Heroes and Villains Fest, a large-scale, interactive theatrical festival that completely transforms the park’s signature Gotham City area after dark. The best part for everyday consumers? Unlike most premium evening events in the theme park space, this entire experience is 100% included with your general park admission, Season Pass, or membership.

Related: This Lakeside New England Hidden Gem Was Just Named the Most Affordable Theme Park in America

Six Flags

Running on select dates from July 11 through August 2, 2026, the festival turns the entire land into an immersive, living comic book where the audience is part of the cast.

The evening kicks off with a heroic celebration as Justice League icons Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Robin arrive in style. But in true comic fashion, the party is quickly hijacked by a massive, full-scale villain breakout orchestrated by Lex Luthor, The Joker, Harley Quinn, and Catwoman.

From that moment on, guests essentially become citizens of Gotham City, caught right in the middle of a park-wide battle between good and evil. The storyline unfolds across the entire evening using a massive cast of stunt professionals, actors, and special effects teams. You’ll find yourself stepping into mischievous live-action pop-up moments, crowd-powered comedy sets, and themed dance parties scattered throughout the midways.

Related: Universal Unveils New Late-Night Hours at Epic Universe—And It's Pretty Epic

Six Flags

Because the festival is built to be entirely interactive, it’s a fantastic option if you're traveling with kids or teens who usually get bored just sitting in an audience. The performances are designed to get the crowd cheering, dancing, and actively choosing a side to help advance the plot.

Beyond the live-action stunts, the Gotham City loop is getting a complete festival makeover, featuring limited-edition themed food and drinks, exclusive DC character meet-and-greets you can't get during normal daytime hours, and a heavy dose of atmospheric music running beneath the park's top-tier coasters like Batman: The Ride.

Whether you have a house full of die-hard superhero fanatics or you are simply looking for a brilliant way to stretch your summer entertainment budget into a full night of high-value family memories, heading down to the park over the next few weeks is an easy win. It proves that you don't always have to shell out extra cash for a premium, after-dark experience—sometimes, the ultimate summer festival is already waiting on your standard day pass.

Related: Six Flags Just Opened a New Retro Boardwalk Destination

Comedian Kathy Griffin just went Instagram official…with a 22-year-old. The 65-year-old actress is never one to shy away from controversy. And based on her recent post, she’s begging for the comments!

Griffin, who does not look anywhere near 65, posted a stunning pic of herself in a sleek black dress holding hands with a handsome young man. FYI, he’s also a total gentleman—check out the photo to see him opening the car door for Kathy. 

The scroll-stopping snapshot wasn’t even the best part of her recent social media share. She teased her fans with a juicy bite of info, writing, “He’s 22. Have at it, internet.” 

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Of course, the “internet” had plenty to say. Fans and a few famous friends praised the pairing, commenting, “You only get one go around…have fun while you’re doing it!”, “Get it girl!” and, “Since they all eventually act like five-year-olds anyway, might as well for or shiny and new. Less maintenance and upkeep.” 

But the comments didn’t end there. Fans who are clearly here for Griffin’s recent relationship also added, “I’ve been considering bringing my inner Mrs. Robinson out of retirement…He’s cute girl”, “He’s 22? Perfect. Old enough to vote, young enough to think Olive Garden is fancy. Go have fun,” and, “If he’s opening the car door for you, keep him. More class at 22 than most men!” 

One commenter could relate to Kathy’s recent relationship: “My close…special male friend is 43 and I’m in my 60’s! Rock on, Kathy!”

Then there was this Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce comparison, “Off to MSG to check out the wedding venue? Sending love to the two of you.” 

This isn’t exactly Griffin’s first younger man. In 2001, she married Matt Moline, who was almost 10 years younger than her. The pair parted ways after Griffin reportedly caught him stealing tens of thousands of dollars from her private bank accounts. 

The actress remarried in 2020 at age 59. Her second husband, Randy Bick, was 42. Griffin and Bick divorced five years later, in 2025. The same year, Griffin revealed another relationship with a younger man in an essay for The Cut, “I accidentally fell in love with a 23-year-old…Because of his age, he didn’t have the usual sexism, misogyny, and biases guys my age tend to have.” 

She continued, “I thought he was smart. I thought he could roll in different worlds. It sounds cliché, and maybe he was an old soul, but I don’t know, we just clicked.”

So, who is Griffin’s latest beau? As of now, the only info she’s sharing is his age! 

Little House on the Prairie has always been "woke," according to the original Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Melissa Gilbert, who played the original NBC series' heroine, defended both her rendition of the show and Netflix's new reboot after conservative personality Megyn Kelly threatened last year to "absolutely ruin" the modern adaptation if the streamer were to "wokeify" the story.

"Did you watch the original?" Gilbert responded in an interview with Entertainment Weekly published on Friday, July 10. "Have you seen the episode ‘The Wisdom of Solomon?’ I don’t think we get more woke than that.’"

"The Wisdom of Solomon," which aired in 1977, is widely considered to be a milestone moment in TV history and starred a young Todd Bridges as a young boy named Solomon, the son of poor sharecroppers, who is run off after stealing a book in a desperate attempt to learn how to read.

While Solomon was banned from his local school because he's Black, the Ingalls family takes him in and enrolls him in school with Laura (Gilbert) and Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson), as the show sends a strong message about tolerance and racism.

Gilbert previously responded to Kelly's January 2025 X post about Netflix's take on Little House on the Prairie, encouraging the former Fox News host to "watch any episode on any streaming platform anywhere in the world" to see just how progressive the original show was.

“Apparently Megyn tweeted (I’m not on that platform) asking that Netflix not ‘woke-Ify’ their Little House remake,” Gilbert continued in a series of messages on Threads shortly after Kelly's original post was written. “Ummm…watch the original again. TV doesn’t get too much more ‘woke’ than we did. We tackled: racism, addiction, nativism, antisemitism, misogyny, rape, spousal abuse and every other ‘woke ‘ topic you can think of. Thank you very much."

Liquid Tension Experiment is once again in the spotlight after earning another remarkable milestone by being named one of the greatest supergroups of all time.

In a list released by BBC Music Magazine, the quartet joined all-star heavyweights Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and Asia, which occupied the top three spots among the greatest rock supergroups. The instrumental progressive metal band formed by iconic drummer Mike Portnoy ranked No. 11.

In the late 1990s, the Dream Theater drummer brought together well-known progressive rock musicians, recruiting his bandmate John Petrucci on guitar, legendary King Crimson bassist Tony Levin and keyboard virtuoso Jordan Rudess, who later joined Dream Theater as a full-time member.

With this powerhouse lineup, Liquid Tension Experiment was born as an instrumental progressive rock and metal supergroup that quickly earned acclaim among hardcore prog fans.

Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater and supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.

Anne-Marie Forker/Redferns

It was in 1998 that the four-piece band released its self-titled debut album via Magna Carta Records.

The nine-track album features entirely instrumental compositions, including the standout track "Three Minute Warning," a 28-minute instrumental jam that has become one of the band's signature songs.

Moreover, the album also showcased the band's playful side with the song "Chris and Kevin's Excellent Adventure," an inside joke inspired by a photographer who forgot Levin and Portnoy's real names and called the drummer "Chris" and the bassist "Kevin."

After releasing its debut, Liquid Tension Experiment released two more studio albums.

Liquid Tension Experiment 2 was the band's sophomore album, released in 1999, while Liquid Tension Experiment 3 was a comeback project released in 2021 after a 22-year disbandment.

The band confirmed the news in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

"What happens when you put four of the most talented musicians on the planet in one room? LTE,” InsideOutMusic label manager Thomas Waber mentioned, as cited by Louder Sound. “We all have been waiting for this album to happen for a very long time and it makes us very proud to be releasing this album. This one is for the fans!"

Lo and behold, the album lived up to the hype, earning positive reviews from critics and fans alike, further solidifying Liquid Tension Experiment's status as one of progressive rock's most influential supergroups.

Related: '90s Metal Band, Rejected by Rock Legend, Ranked Among 'Greatest Supergroups' of All Time

Years after finishing as the runner-up on Dancing With the Stars, Nev Schulman is sharing his thoughts on one aspect of the competition he believes may give female celebrity contestants a slight edge.

During a recent appearance on Bobby Bones' podcast, the Season 29 finalist, 41, reflected on his experience competing alongside pro partner Jenna Johnson and explained why he thinks being the celebrity who follows rather than leads may be easier for someone with no ballroom experience.

"I don't want to say that it's…" Schulman began before continuing, "I just think, like, being the girl… I think there's a slight advantage as a non-professional because the male does so much guiding in dancing."

Nev Schulman BobbyCast (0:53)

He elaborated that his perspective has nothing to do with the talent of the women who have won the competition.

"So obviously Jenna was guiding me essentially too," he said. "But I think as an untrained ballroom dancer, I think being the one that's led is inherently a little bit easier."

Schulman was quick to praise Season 29 championKaitlyn Bristowe, who edged him out for the Mirrorball Trophy.

"But I'm not trying to not give Kaitlyn her flowers," he said. "She's fantastic."

Looking back, Schulman said he doesn't dwell on finishing in second place because he doesn't think winning would have dramatically changed his life or career.

"The reason that I'm happy she won is because it makes no difference in terms of my future," he explained. "There was nothing to gain from winning other than, I guess, being invited on the tour."

At the time, Schulman said he was too busy with his family to participate in the live tour anyway.

Instead, he says he enjoys the reaction he still gets from longtime viewers of the ABC competition.

"What I love is that people come up to me now all the time and say, 'You should have won,'" Schulman shared. "It's so much more fun to have people be like, 'You got robbed.'"

His comments are likely to spark fresh debate among Dancing With the Stars fans, many of whom still have strong opinions about one of the show's closest and most memorable finales.

RELATED: The ‘DWTS’ Mirrorball Started as a Lamp

In 1975, Melissa Manchester had her first major hit with “Midnight Blue.”

The song, penned by Manchester and legendary songwriter Carole Bayer Sager, appeared on Manchester’s self-titled third studio album. It featured a piano-driven melody, strings, a bassoon solo, and lyrics about the tribulations of a long-term relationship

Released in April 1975, “Midnight Blue” climbed the charts during the spring and summer of 1975. The song went to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and soared to No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart, making Manchester a radio star and changing her career forever.

Manchester once told the Huffington Post that the song took months to write.

“That song, like all of our songs, came out of conversations,” she shared. “We would start off talking about what was going on with each other and the world... the conversations would really linger. Out of the tone of those conversations, I would start to hear music and turn to the piano and play. Carole would show up with lyrics and then we would talk about it and work on lyrics and musical progressions.”

“That's what we did for many months,” she continued. “I don't know that that process is unique, but it's unique to me. That was a lovey, loving, and productive relationship for about five years.”

Manchester and Bayer Sager were both struggling in their marriages when they wrote 'Midnight Blue'

As they collaborated on “Midnight Blue,” Manchester was married to her manager, Larry Brezner, while Bayer Sager was married to Andrew Sager. Both women were having marital troubles, which they talked about during their songwriting sessions.

“At the time we were young married women trying to navigate some stormy waters in our young marriages, trying to find language to help clarify our communication with our young husbands, and the way we would find clarity is through our songs," Manchester told Songfacts in an interview. "There's a certain suggestion of world weariness in the song," she added of "Midnight Blue."

Both women ended up divorcing and remarrying, but their song continued to resonate.

"We wrote it as such young women, and to be singing the song decades later and to have grown into that real-world weariness is interesting and touching. It's like those young women who wrote that such a long time ago knew about what was to come,” Manchester noted in the interview.

RELATED: This Haunting Country Song Is Even More Tragic Than You Remember

Manchester’s career continued to take off in the late ‘70s and ‘80s. She recorded the megahit "Don’t Cry Out Loud” in 1978 and the Grammy-winning “You Should Hear How He Talks About You” in 1982.

In 2034, Manchester recorded a duet version of “Midnight Blue” with Dolly Parton. The collaboration came at the request of the legendary country music star, who wanted to take part as Manchester revisited some of her best-known songs for the album Re:View.

“It was lovely to rethink ‘Midnight Blue’ as a duet. It had never been recorded as a duet,” Manchester told OUT SFL. “But she wanted to be part of the album and that was very sweet. I needed to think of which song would suit her. That worked out really well, and she sang so beautifully.”

Related: Stevie Nicks Recorded One of Her Most Beautiful Songs Three Times—But It Was Never Released as a Single

A 1972 Bill Withers classic has been sung at graduations, funerals, presidential inaugurations, and Olympic ceremonies.

It's also the song that ended Leonardo DiCaprio's musical career before it ever started.

The story begins with Baz Luhrmann, who’d already worked with DiCaprio on Romeo + Julietin 1996. When it came time to cast Moulin Rouge!, Luhrmann wanted his former Romeo for the role of Christian, a starving romantic poet at the center of a Parisian love story. The role required someone who could sing lush romantic numbers including Elton John's "Your Song" and the film's original ballad "Come What May" in front of a full orchestra. Luhrmann needed a standout voice. To his dismay, he was about to find out DiCaprio didn't have one.

The two sat down for a private session. Just them and a single piano player. They picked a song to try together: Bill Withers' "Lean on Me." 

It did not go well at all.

"To be honest, I'm not really prepared to do a musical, simply because I think I have a pretty atrocious voice," DiCaprio said later. "We had a friendly thing where it was me and him and a piano player, and we tried to sing a song together. It didn't go too well. I think it was 'Lean on Me,' and when I hit the high note, he just turned to me."

What Luhrmann said next was polite, brief, and final.

"Yes, D, I don't know if this conversation should continue."

That was the end of Leonardo DiCaprio's Moulin Rouge! audition.

Related: Linda Ronstadt Hired Two Unknowns for 1971 Disneyland Concert — Accidentally Assembling One of Rock's Greatest Bands

There was also a personal angle to what came next. Ewan McGregor had already lost a major role to DiCaprio once before, missing out on Danny Boyle's The Beach. Taking the Christian role from the actor who had beaten him to that earlier part was, by most accounts, a satisfying turnaround.

There's a particular irony in the song that did it. Bill Withers was in his early 30s when he wrote "Lean on Me" in 1971. He’d spent nine years in the U.S. Navy before moving to Los Angeles, where he worked at a factory making aircraft parts for Boeing 747s to get by. He spent his nights recording demos. At the time, he was already considered old for a first-time artist when his first album came out.

Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

He wrote that song, drawing on his memories of growing up in Slab Fork, West Virginia, a small coal mining community where neighbors genuinely depended on one another to survive. He stumbled on the phrase "Lean on Me" while running his hands up and down the keys of a new Wurlitzer electric piano and built the entire song around it. It’s been recorded by hundreds of artists since.

The song doesn't require a trained voice or a wide range. It has one moment where the melody climbs and holds, a sustained high note in the bridge that separates the singers from everyone else.

DiCaprio missed it. Luhrmann heard it. The audition was over.

A song that was designed to be sung by everyone, regardless of how they sounded, turned out to be the one that proved Leonardo DiCaprio couldn't sing.

The Role That Went to Everyone Else First

Once DiCaprio was definitely out, the audition queue filled up fast.

Ethan Hawke has claimed that he gave the best screen test of his life for Moulin Rouge! and still didn't get the part. Heath Ledger auditioned. Jake Gyllenhaal even auditioned. Still, each of them walked out without the role.

Ewan McGregor won the role.

His ability to actually sing, combined with the chemistry he built with Nicole Kidman, carried the film to eight Oscar nominations including Best Picture. Moulin Rouge! won two Academy Awards and turned McGregor into a household name on a scale he hadn't previously experienced.

This year marks the film's 25th anniversary. The film's soundtrack is being rediscovered by a whole new generation who weren't alive when it came out — including my own daughters.

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Meanwhile, DiCaprio’s never attempted a musical since. He’s acknowledged his voice is the reason. No footage exists of the "Lean on Me" audition, and DiCaprio isn’t complaining.

Ironically, DiCaprio is currently attached to play Frank Sinatra in a biopic being developed with director Martin Scorsese. As of February 2026, DiCaprio confirmed the project is "still in the works." The film, if it happens, would require him to embody one of the greatest vocal artists in all of American history.

The man who couldn't hit the high note in "Lean on Me" and told Baz Luhrmann he had "a pretty atrocious voice" is now officially attached to play a man with one of the most recognizable voices in music.

Baz Luhrmann has made no comment.

Since Withers’ death in 2020, his music’s only grown in popularity, with "Lean on Me" turning up at disaster relief fundraisers, sporting celebrations, and graduation ceremonies around the world every single year.

Bill Withers wrote it as a gift for strangers.

It turned out to be a career-defining gift for Ewan McGregor.

And the man it humbled is still, somehow, circling the world of music from a very safe distance. But, maybe not for much longer.

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One of music's most loved synth-pop stars turned 72 today.

Neil Tennant, co-founder of Pet Shop Boys, was born on July 10, 1954 in North Shields, England. Known for major smash hits such as "West End Girls" and "It's a Sin," Tennant founded the band in 1981 alongside Chris Lowe after they, very fittingly, crossed paths at a record store in London. According to reports, Tennant was purchasing a Korg MS-10 synthesizer at the time, which piqued Lowe's interest in striking up a conversation, and a friendship soon blossomed.

At the time, Tennant was working as a music journalist for British magazine, and after he flew to New York City to interview Sting. During the trip, the aspiring musician tracked down famed producer Bobby Orlando, handing him a Pet Shop Boys demo that included "West End Girls."

The track was originally released in early 1984, but a re-recorded re-release in October 1985 is what really took off. Soaring to the top of the charts all over the world, became an instant success. In Nov. 1985, it hit No. 1 on the Official Singles Chart before topping the Billboard Hot 100 a few months later in May 1986.

In 2020, The Guardian named "West End Girls" the greatest U.K. no 1. — but it's not something that Tennant would necessarily agree on.

"Well, I would have chosen ‘Good Vibrations,’" he told the outlet. “It’s obviously intensely subjective. I can see that 'West End Girls' is quite a lot of records in one record."

Touching on the themes of the song, the Grammy-nominated singer explained that it was originally supposed to be a rap track.

"It’s a dance record. It was actually written to be a rap record, back in the day. It’s a moody soundscape," he recalled. "It’s about the city at night. It’s about boys and girls meeting to have fun and presumably to bond. It’s about sex."

Tennant's influence also spans far beyond music, as he was the inspiration behind one of Britain's most beloved actor's stage names.

"I did my first job at 16 — at 16 years old I didn't know actors, I didn't know how you chose a name," Dr. Who actor David Tennant said during a 2016 interview on The Late Late Show with James Corden. "I flicked through a music magazine. So I'm sort of named after Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys."

Related: Last Surviving Original Member of Iconic ’80s Band Turns 69

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When summer temperatures start climbing, staying comfortable doesn't have to mean investing in an expensive cooling system. Portable air conditioners offer an easy way to bring refreshing cold air into your home without the cost and commitment of central air. 

The Costway 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner is currently on clearance at Walmart starting at $180, marked down from $400. Available in three colors — black, gray, and white — it’s an easy way to add cooling power to your home. Discounts vary slightly by color, but the most you’ll pay for any unit is $225. Shoppers said it’s an effective solution for beating the heat and helping their spaces stay comfortable throughout the summer. 

Costway 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner, From $180 (was $400) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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A comfortable home doesn’t have to mean cranking up the central air all summer. The Costway 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner offers a flexible cooling solution for bedrooms, offices, and other warm spaces with its 10,000 BTU cooling power and ability to cool areas up to 350 square feet. 

One reviewer said it quickly transformed their space, writing, “Within the first half hour of having it on, it cooled down my room so quickly.” Another Walmart shopper called it an “excellent little machine” that was “worth every penny.”

This 3-in-1 design works as an air conditioner, fan, and a dehumidifier that can remove up to 50 pints of moisture per day. It also features a smart touch panel, LED display, and remote control, making it easy to adjust the temperature and settings from wherever you are. 

This unit is on wheels and has built-in handles, which make it easy to move wherever you need extra cooling. It’s also compact, measuring just 27.5 inches tall, 12.5 inches long, and 12 inches wide. Shoppers described it as “small but efficient.”

For even more comfort, adjustable airflow shutters and two fan speeds let you direct cool air exactly where you need it. A sleep mode runs at around 65 decibels — about the sound of a normal conversation — so you can stay comfortable without unwanted noise at night. In addition, the programmable timer lets you set the unit to turn off automatically so you don’t waste energy.

Shop More Deals

• Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Fan, $110 (was $150) at Walmart
• Beeprincess 10-Piece Cooling Towel Set, $13 (was $26) at Walmart
• Bilispark Portable Neck Fan, $14 (was $18) at Walmart

Related: Walmart's 'Very Cold' $184 Portable Air Conditioner Is a 'Lifesaver' During Hot Summer Days

For a portable AC unit that cools fast, the Costway 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner is an enticing deal at $180. At over 50% off, it's worth grabbing before it sells out. 

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In the 1970s, the ABC television drama Family told the story of the tight-knit Lawrence clan, a family whose relatable ups and downs mirrored viewers' lives. At the heart of that magic was a cast of young actors who quickly became some of the decade's defining teen idols.

As the series celebrates its 50th anniversary, two of its actors are reuniting for an unforgettable event. Kristy McNichol and Leif Garrett will be two of several former Family cast members attending Nite of Dreams' Family 50th Anniversary Gala.

Former Family Cast members McNichol (Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence), Gary Frank (Willie Lawrence), John Rubenstein (Jeff Maitland), Elayne Heilveil (Nancy Lawrence Maitland), Louise Foley (Audrey Pfeiffer), and producer Caroll Newman are scheduled to attend the event. Garrett played the recurring character of Zack Russell, McNichols' television boyfriend on the series.

The event promises a meet and greet, cast Q&A, photo-op, and a meal. Raffle items are set to benefit Caterina's Club, a local Orange County, California, organization that provides meals to children in need.

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The reunion of Garrett and McNichol comes almost 50 years after he played the recurring role of Buddy's boyfriend. Their on-screen pairing helped cement their status as teen idols, forging a deep, nostalgic bond with a generation of viewers who grew up alongside them.

In the series, Garrett and McNichol perfectly captured the rush of teenage first love. Their most memorable storyline came in the iconic episode "All For Love," which found Buddy navigating intense pressure as she hesitated to take her relationship with Zack to the next level.

RELATED: ’70s Superstar Scored His Biggest Hit With 1978 Song He Never Wanted to Record

Watching Buddy navigate those relationship issues gave a voice to what millions of teenagers experienced in real life. The role of the fiercely independent young woman cemented McNichol's status as a definitive voice for her generation.

McNichol won two Emmy Awards for her work on Family. She took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in both 1977 and 1979.

Both McNichol and Garrett would go on to other projects after Family ended. Garrett dominated the pop charts with "I Was Made for Dancin'" and starred in The Outsiders. McNichol starred in blockbuster films like Little Darlings, Only When I Laugh, the cult classic The Pirate Movie, and the hit sitcomEmpty Nest. Unfortunately, never worked together again.

However, fans of '70s television and pop culture never really let go of their love for the series or the actors. For many viewers, watching Buddy and Zack navigate the messy realities of growing up was a weekly ritual.

RELATED: ’70s Teen Idol Robby Benson: Where He Is Now?

Sharing a stage again for this 50th anniversary is the kind of full-circle moment classic television fans wait for. This isn't just a reunion; it's a massive piece of childhood coming right back to life.

Family's 50th Anniversary Gala is set to take place on October 25 at the Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Monter.

Related: Rarely Seen ’80s Teen Icons Reunite for Beloved ‘The Pirate Movie’ Screening

Mötley Crüe has been on a wild ride, from the hair metal era that made them household names to an epic comeback following the usual "retirement" tour we all suspected wouldn't hold up.

While you'll still see Nikki Sixx "slappin' da bass", Vince Neil belting his signature high notes, and Tommy Lee stealing the show behind the kit, the legendary rock band had to regroup after Mick Mars' controversial exit in 2022.

Leaving Rob Zombie behind, virtuoso metal icon John 5 fit the bill to fill Mick Mars' shoes as Mötley Crüe's second full-time guitarist in their four-decade run.

Now, John 5 is back in solo mode, and you'll never guess who teamed up with him for the latest single and music video— especially since it sounds nothing like the fist-pumping anthems Mötley Crüe built its name on.

John 5 Drops New Blues-Infused Single

Getty Images

Do the words folksy, bluesy, and soulful come to mind when you think of Mötley Crüe?

Fat chance, but those are just a few adjectives that sum up John 5's You, Me and the Devil Makes Three.

After dropping 2 singles already from his latest album Ghost — “Fiend” and “Deviant” — the third release features Mötley bandmate Tommy Lee on drums.

What may be even more surprising is that the entire album is an instrumental, letting John 5's unmistakable riffs do all the talking. Essentially a love letter to the guitar, the project takes a very different approach from Tommy Lee's own 2005 solo album, Tommyland: The Ride, which was re-released last spring with a new track featuring his vocals.

Catch John 5 On Tour This Fall

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As Mötley Crüe wraps up their 33-city tour in September, John 5 will venture "across the pond" on his own run this autumn with 8 shows across the U.K. this October:

• October 11, 2026 — Exeter, United Kingdom
• October 12, 2026 — Southampton, United Kingdom
• October 13, 2026 — Bristol, United Kingdom
• October 14, 2026 — Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
• October 15, 2026 — Chester, United Kingdom
• October 16, 2026 — Newcastle, United Kingdom
• October 17, 2026 — Glasgow, United Kingdom
• October 18, 2026 — Manchester, United Kingdom

According to John 5's official website, he will also circle back to North America for 4 shows in November:

• November 5, 2026 — Guadalajara, Mexico
• November 6, 2026 — Chihuahua, Mexico
• November 7, 2026 — Monterrey, Mexico
• November 8, 2026 — Mexico City, Mexico

Erin Napier couldn't help but get emotional as the HGTV star looked back on the "sacrifice" husband Ben Napier made to secure the start of their life together.

The Home Town star, 40, shared the special story behind her engagement ring in an Instagram post on Wednesday, July 8, after coming across the original payment plan for the sparkler while drying out some of the sentimental items that got wet when the couple's basement flooded.

"It rained for two months, and so our basement flooded," she wrote in the caption. "Ben keeps a shoebox of things that were special to him as a boy down there. Inside it are photos from high school, school and sports awards, colorful notes from girls who were cheering for him at the game, and this."

Included in the post was the original payment contract for Erin's engagement ring, dated Sept. 15, 2007, which outlined how Ben would eventually pay off the $3,210 ring in installments.

“[Ben] had it all spread out on the stairs drying, and I felt a lump in my throat seeing the dollar amount for what he sacrificed and worked so hard to give me when he could barely afford gas for his truck senior year at Ole Miss,” Erin wrote, adding that she "didn't expect" the ring "at all," and "would’ve married him with a dandelion tied around [her] finger.”

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The Laurel Mercantile Co. couple got engaged on Sept. 21, 2007, three years after meeting one another, and they tied the knot on Nov. 22, 2008. The duo now shares daughters Helen, 8, and Mae, 5.

Last month, Erin took to Instagram to declare herself and her daughters "the luckiest" to have Ben in their lives. "If I went out of town for 2 weeks, he would know just what to do. He would know how much syrup Mae likes on her waffles in the morning, and how Helen falls asleep faster if you rub her feet at bedtime," she wrote in the June 21 post. "He knows when a girl is crying she probably needs a snack, a hug and a swim. He carries us. We are the luckiest."

Agnostic Front announced additional dates for their 2026 concert calendar.

The '80s hardcore punk and metal band fronted by Roger Miret treated fans to a series of multigenerational shows as they teamed up with fellow hardcore punk band Angel Du$t for a co-headlining tour.

Adding to the band's jam-packed 2026 run, the duo is set for an exciting East Coast tour that will kick off during the last week of September in Richmond, Virginia before concluding in Reading, Pennsylvania in October.

Throughout the two-month tour, Agnostic Front and Angel Du$t will also perform in major cities across North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and beyond, giving fans an intense night of hardcore and punk music.

Singer Roger Miret and guitarist Vinnie Stigma of Agnostic Front during the 2022 Hellfest Open Air .

Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Images

In addition to the 11-date trek, the duo has invited Florida hardcore band STEP 2 THIS to join as the supporting act.

The fun doesn't stop there as the East Coast tour was scheduled around Turnstile's upcoming NEVER ENOUGH tour, which means fans will get to see Agnostic Front and Angel Du$t open for the rock band's Sept. 29 concert in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“We are excited to hit the road with our friends Angel Du$t this fall for a short East Coast blitz,” Miret said in a statement as cited by Revolver Magazine. “A highlight moment for sure will be our date with Turnstile where we can all celebrate the phenomenal evolution of Hardcore then and now! It’s going to be a blast!”

View this post on Instagram Agnostic Front and Angel Du$t's Co-Headlining Tour 2026 Schedule:

Sep. 27 - Richmond, VA
Sep. 29 - Raleigh, NC (opening for Turnstile's "NEVER ENOUGH" tour)
Sep. 30 - Asheville, NC
Oct. 1 - Atlanta, GA
Oct. 2 - Jacksonville, FL
Oct. 3 - Miami, FL
Oct. 4 - Bradenton, FL
Oct. 5 - Orlando, FL
Oct. 7 - Lexington, SC
Oct. 8 - Norfolk, VA
Oct. 9 - Reading, PA

Prior to this, Agnostic Front, with its current lineup of Vinnie Stigma and Craig Silverman on guitar, Mike Gallo on bass, Danny Lamagna on drums and Miret on vocals, has been touring Europe, which continues through mid-August.

As for the 2010s hardcore band, the upcoming tour follows the release of Angel Du$t's sixth studio album, COLD 2 THE TOUCH.

Justice Tripp of Angel Du$t performs at Teragram Ballroom on September 30, 2021

Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Officially released in February under Run For Cover, the 26-minute album showcases the quintet's brand of “aggressive rock’n’roll.”

Agnostic Front’s European and North American Tour 2026

Jul. 10 – London, United Kingdom
Jul. 11 – Düsseldorf, Germany
Jul. 25 – Töging, Germany
Jul. 26 – Tolmin, Slovenia
Jul. 27 – Pula, Croatia
Jul. 28 – Azzano Decimo, Italy
Jul. 29 – Roma, Italy
Jul. 30 – Settimo Torinese, Italy
Jul. 31 – Albi, France
Aug. 1 – Gränichen, Switzerland
Aug. 2 – Saint-Maurice-de-Gourdans, France
Aug. 3 – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Aug. 4 – Weinheim, Germany
Aug. 5 – Aachen, Germany
Aug. 8 – Duffel, Belgium
Aug. 9 – Essen, Germany
Aug. 10 – Braunschweig, Germany
Aug. 11 – Augsburg, Germany
Aug. 12 – Jena, Germany
Aug. 13 – Kraków, Poland
Aug. 14 – Graz, Austria
Aug. 15 – Sulingen, Germany
Aug. 21 – Montréal, QC
Sep. 12–13 – México, Mexico
Sep. 19 – Louisville, KY
Sep. 26 – Brooklyn, NY

Related: '80s Rock Band, Disbanded After Four Years, Ranked Among 'Greatest Supergroups' of All Time

San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) has been a fan-favorite phenomenon since its inaugural year in 1970, and in the decades since, this massive event has only grown bigger, bolder and more exciting. This year's SDCC will take place from July 23 to July 26 and will feature some of the biggest names in movies and TV today, along with a host of exclusive merch and collectibles.

Among the latter are various new products from Mattel, but one line in particular, named "Fandom in the Fast Lane," is a must-have for fans of Top Gun, Stranger Things and KPop Demon Hunters—the first two of which have made more than $1 billion as franchises overall, and the third of which has earned millions.

These exclusives will also bring some 1960s (and beyond) nostalgia, as all three new products merge these hugely popular franchises with the tried-and-true brand Hot Wheels.

The SDCC exclusive Hot Wheels Top Gun 40th Anniversary set comprises an F-14 Tom Cat model and an MiG-28 model aligned one on top of the other, showcased on a collectible display box that includes Goose's line from the first Top Gun movie, "Watch the birdie."

The Hot Wheels Stranger Things 10th Anniversary Hawkins Van features the iconic Hawkins Power and Light van from the beloved Netflix show, along with figures of Mike Wheeler, Eleven, Lucas Sinclair and Dustin Henderson on their bikes from the first season.

Finally, the Hot Wheels KPop Demon Hunters Porsche 911 GT3 R features the design of the lovable "demon cat," Derpy Tiger, from the smash hit musical and the sleek body of a Porsche in a classic Hot Wheels car. Decals along the body of the car also depict various images and words from the movie, including a reference to the Grammy Award-winning song "Golden" and the logo for HUNTR/X.

All three products will debut at Mattel's SDCC booth on July 23, and they will be available for pre-order on Mattel's website.

Vicki Gunvalson is back with her RHOC orange, but she still hasn’t let Andy Cohen forget the day he took it away.

During a Watch What Happens Live appearance following the premiere of The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20, Gunvalson and Cohen looked back on their two-decade Housewives journey — with Gunvalson making sure to remind him that she wasn’t exactly thrilled when he fired her.

Gunvalson was let go from The Real Housewives of Orange County in 2020 after 14 seasons with the franchise, including a Season 14 demotion to “friend.” Bravo said the decision was made to bring in newer blood and fresh storylines. After her controversial exit, Gunvalson returned as a full-time cast member for RHOC’s 20th season.

“Since I gave Vicki the orange, it’s like I feel like every time I see you, we are more connected,” Cohen said, reflecting on their longtime relationship after Gunvalson praised him for respecting her.

Gunvalson quickly fired back: “Because I didn’t like it when you fired me!”

“I know,” Cohen replied with a laugh.

While Gunvalson has brought up her frustration with her exit before, Cohen shifted the conversation to celebrating RHOC’s unprecedented 20-season run.

“It’s unheard of for a series to be on the air for 20 years, 20 seasons,” Cohen said, adding that he has known Gunvalson since the beginning and that the show has changed both of their lives.

"So, I feel very connected to you in a really nice way," Cohen said. "And I feel like, this has been such an amazing ride and I'm so grateful for it and I'm grateful for you and I'm grateful for every housewife that has stepped in front of the cameras and opened up their lives to to fans of the show like me and Sarah [Sherman] and all of you and our queens and it's it's an amazing thing."

The Real Housewives of Orange County is on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.

Ramen is practically a staple food in my house, where you can spot someone snacking on it any time of day. But while we tend to stick with the same one or two brands, it's hard to ignore the excitement surrounding Samyang's Buldak ramen.

This brand has popped up all over TikTok and YouTube, with people doing their best to see how much of the spicy noodles they can take. After all, Buldak translates to "spicy chicken," and this ramen is no joke.

I love spicy foods, but Buldak seriously tests the limits of heat. We have a family friend from Mexico who regularly talks about how she's been eating spicy foods since she was a toddler—and even she said she steers clear of some flavors of Buldak.

Of course, these instant noodles are more than spice. They get high marks for having complex flavors, and they come at you in waves, making for a really interesting eating experience.

Naturally, I had to try these out for myself. Could packaged ramen actually be that spicy? And, if the brand has caught your eye, which flavor should you try? I dove into the most popular Buldak flavors to learn more and rank them all from worst to best. (And, spoiler alert: Yep, these are really, really spicy. My tongue is still recovering.)

Related: Suddenly Craving Spicy Food? Here's What It Could Mean

Courtesy Korin Miller

How I Tested the Buldak Ramen Noodles

To test Buldak noodles, I spent solid time going through TikTok, YouTube and Reddit to see which flavors people talked about the most. From there, I picked up 11 of the most popular flavors and prepared them.

Courtesy Korin Miller

Each type of Buldak ramen was tested on its own, and then head-to-head with the other flavors. Because these are so spicy, I had bites of bread and sips of milk in between noodles.

My nine-year-old, who loves spicy foods, was excited to try these as well, so he recruited several neighborhood friends to try the noodles and do their own Fire Noodle Challenge. From there, word spread and other adults joined in the fun. Here's what we discovered.

Related: I Tried 21 Different Spicy Chips To Find the Very Best—and the Winner Won by a Landslide

Parade

11 Popular Buldak Ramen Flavors, Ranked Worst To Best

If you don't like spicy foods, there's no flavor of Buldak that will do it for you. But if you're into some heavy spice or even just want to test the limits of your tongue, there are certain flavors that rise above the rest. Consider these.

11. Swicy

Courtesy Korin Miller

Swicy is Buldak's sweet and spicy option. In fact, the package shows sprinkles over ramen to showcase how sweet this is. That's no exaggeration. This ramen tastes like spicy noodles with sugar mixed in. It's not bad, but it tastes more like something Buddy the Elf would love. This flavor got the thumbs up from some kids, but was consistently ranked as least favorite by adults.

10. Cheese

Courtesy Korin Miller

Buldak's Cheese ramen is unique. There's a definite cheesy flavor, but it tastes artificial. (To be fair, the package even says that it's artificially flavored.) It's not quite as spicy as some of the others, but still has a very high level of heat. You're unlikely to get very far into this bowl before needing to cool off your tongue.

9. Original

Courtesy Korin Miller

It's not entirely clear what Buldak Original is supposed to taste like. It has a strong noodles and hot sauce flavor that's unique, but not bad. This ramen hits you with spice, and then gets spicier with time. It tastes like it could use a little more salt and flavoring, though. The spiciness from these noodles stays with you over time, too.

8. 2x Spicy

Courtesy Korin Miller

This is the ramen that keeps popping up in the viral Fire Noodle Challenges online. At first, it tastes like regular ramen, but slowly gets spicier in your mouth after that first bite before becoming an inferno in your mouth.

Unless you have a tongue of steel, I'd have something ready to cool off with. This ramen is so spicy, it will hurt your lips. I'm sure it has a flavor, but it's hard to tell what it is over all that heat.

7. Yakisoba

Courtesy Korin Miller

Yakisoba is a classic Japanese stir fry made with noodles, vegetables and pork in a sweet and savory sauce. Buldak's Yakisoba has a strong chicken flavor to start, followed by a slight savory-sweet taste. It has a tangy and slightly sweet flavor with a smoky aftertaste that's tasty. That's followed by a wave of heat.

Related: I Tried the Viral 2-Ingredient Japanese Cheesecake Hack and the Internet Is 100% Correct

6. Quattro Cheese

Courtesy Korin Miller

Buldak really shines with its creamier ramen, and the Quattro Cheese is a tasty place to start. This ramen forms a creamy, cheesy consistency that really draws you in. But you only get a little of the cheese flavor before you're hit with heat. Your lips will be left burning after this one.

5. Habanero Lime

Courtesy Korin Miller

Many of the Buldak ramen flavors taste similar to each other, but the Habanero Lime option has a distinct taste that makes it stand out. There is a clear lime flavor with your first bite to give this a tangy taste to start. A few seconds later, it gets very, very spicy. But the flavor is unique and fun, making it something you'll crave again in the future (once your tongue recovers, of course).

4. Carbonara

Courtesy Korin Miller

While Buldak has several cheesy ramen flavors, the Carbonara tastes the most like a spicy mac 'n cheese. It's creamy and slightly sweet, with an impressively cheesy flavor. It's not the spiciest option on this list, allowing you to taste more of the ramen itself before experiencing the heat.

3. Cream Carbonara 

Courtesy Korin Miller

While Buldak has a Carbonara flavor, the Cream Carbonara option is slightly different. This ramen is a littler creamier than the "regular" Carbonara, and it has a tasty flavor profile with a slight pork edge to balance out the cheesiness. It also looks creamy and pretty in a bowl. Don't be fooled by the creaminess, though. It's spicy and gets hotter every few seconds.

2. Taco

Courtesy Korin Miller

It can be hard to know what some Buldak flavors are supposed to be, but Taco has a very clear taco spice flavor. It tastes like taco seasoning blended into noodles for a different ramen experience than I've ever had. It's fun, it's unique and, of course, it's really spicy.

1. Rosé

Courtesy Korin Miller

There are several Buldak ramen flavors that were top contenders, but Rosé was a clear favorite. They're a blend of all of the best elements of Buldak ramen—there's creaminess, a tomato edge and heat. It's spicy, but not unbearable, and the creamy consistency is perfectly balanced with a nice kick. The rose color it delivers is also really pretty, making this the total package.

Up Next:

Related: I Tried 15 of the Best Soy Sauces—and One Completely Changed My Mind

If you've been watching the cruise industry completely shatter records lately, you already know that the race to build the next grand marvel at sea is moving at an absolute breakneck pace. We're barely living through the massive cultural waves of the mega-ship era before the masterminds behind the curtains start pulling back the tarp on what is coming next.

Case in point: Royal Caribbean Group just dropped the very first details about its highly anticipated, next-generation Discovery Class, and it's poised to completely rewrite the formula for how we tackle our ultimate bucket-list destinations.

During a recent global press briefing aboard the brand-new Legend of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty and President and CEO Michael Bayley sat down to discuss the company's long-term vision. Naturally, everyone in the room was desperate to get the real scoop on what this mystery class of ships will actually look like.

Related: Everything We Know So Far About Royal Caribbean’s High-Stakes New ‘Discovery Class’

When pressed for concrete details on the new build, Bayley didn't hesitate to give a masterclass in corporate teasing. "Discovery Class is a class for Royal Caribbean," Bayley shared. "Class by its name, it will go to Asia, it will go to Alaska, it will go to Europe. One of the things that we have done, which we've already spoken about, is that ship will be specifically designed for those types of more exotic experiences."

The response was so carefully vague that it prompted a laugh from the big boss himself. "I thought that was a brilliant answer because you really didn't say anything about it," Liberty joked from the stage.

Bayley laughed right along with him, offering a peek behind the executive curtain. "Actually, that's because of my best experience in corporate America, you know. I've learned to say it a lot, but then when you analyse it, you think, 'What did he say?'"

But despite the good-natured evasion, if you listen closely to the operational math, there is actually a tremendous amount of concrete news baked into this announcement.

For starters, we finally have an official timeline. The first Discovery Class ship is officially scheduled for delivery in 2029, with the formal marketing and "go-to-market" booking communications slated to launch in late 2027. The ships will be built at the legendary shipyards in France, continuing Royal Caribbean's deep tradition of European naval craftsmanship.

Perhaps the most significant design revelation is the physical footprint of the ship itself. Unlike the record-breaking, towering hulls of the Icon and Oasis classes, the Discovery Class is being engineered with a very specific, nimble superpower: it is custom-built to seamlessly pass right through the Panama Canal.

Related: Why Royal Caribbean’s Move Away From Mega-Ships Is Great News for Your Travel Bucket List

In the cruise world, that layout change is an absolute logistical game-changer. Right now, if a mega-ship wants to transition from a summer season in Alaska back down to the warm waters of the Caribbean, it has to undertake a grueling, 60-day journey all the way around the southern tip of the continent. By sizing the Discovery Class to cut directly through the canal, Royal Caribbean is shrinking that transition window down to just two weeks. This gives the fleet unprecedented agility to chase the best global weather and deploy ships to exotic markets much more efficiently.

Longtime fans of the line can also expect a curated "best-of" compilation when they step on board. The design team is cherry-picking the absolute favorite elements from every single generation of ships that came before them. "We've taken many of the things we've learned from this class," Bayley explained, referring to the brand-new Legend. "Moved them across into discovery, along with what we learned in Oasis class, and Freedom class, and Voyager class, and all the classes that we built over time."

As industry expert Stewart Chiron, widely known as "The Cruise Guy," recently noted when analyzing the line's aggressive expansion strategy, Royal Caribbean's ability to consistently introduce new hardware is exactly what keeps the market completely hooked. It stimulates an immense amount of consumer demand and captures that coveted "new-to-cruise" crowd who might have previously thought a seafaring vacation wasn't for them.

It turns out that when it comes to checking off your dream vacation, size actually matters. "Slightly smaller gets them through Canal. Their big issue now is critical mass with ports and destinations," notes Chiron. "Mid-size ships give them more options to access more ports and destinations." 

Ultimately, whether you're already daydreaming about a smooth glacier cruise through the pristine waters of Alaska, an immersive tour through Asia, or a late-summer Mediterranean escape, the Discovery Class is shaping up to be the ultimate vessel to take you there. We might have to wait until 2027 to see the actual deck plans and water park renderings, but one thing is already abundantly clear: Royal Caribbean’s massive dream machine isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Related: Every Incredible New Surprise Aboard Royal Caribbean’s Latest Megaship, Legend of the Seas

Bunnie Xo has some words for body-shamers who took aim at her for gaining weight while going through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Bunnie, 46, shut down "miserable" people who make rude comments during the Tuesday, July 7, episode of her Dumb Blonde podcast.

"As I was going through IVF, it put weight on me, and people would be like, ‘Oh, she’s bigger than her husband now,'" said Bunnie, who is currently going through a divorce from estranged husband Jelly Roll. "And you’re literally trying to make a baby with your body."

She added, "It’s like people just have no respect. ... I’ve learned that it’s just miserable people who have nothing better to do than just comment on other people’s lives. So, you can’t ever let that get to you."

Bunnie explained that her endometriosis "just fed off of" the IVF hormones, causing her lower stomach to "pooch out" and look "three months pregnant."

“The only thing that took it away was microdosing the GLP-1," she revealed, adding that taking the drug was "not just about losing weight or taking a shortcut," but reducing inflammation in her body.

Jelly Roll, 41, filed for divorce from Bunnie after nearly a decade of marriage back in May, but the former couple has still expressed interest in continuing their IVF journey together.

"You guys are going to be shocked to hear this, but we’re still having a baby," Bunnie revealed last month on her podcast, saying that she and the country star, who is already father to 18-year-old daughter Bailee Ann and 9-year-old son Noah, still planned on co-parenting a child together.

"I’m so excited to live my life through a child’s eyes, which is why, with this baby journey, I’m not going to let it break me," she continued. "And I’m not going to detour it. J has been so great about us still having a baby together, and he wants the same thing."

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Snackle boxes were once an internet phenomenon, earning recognition as a game changer for snacking with their simple yet genius design. Essentially a tackle box for food, they’re now a staple for many, allowing users to conveniently bring a variety of snacks wherever they're headed, in one nifty container. If you’re looking to get yourself one for an upcoming road trip, beach picnic, or flight, this Cook With Color 8-Compartment Snackle Box at Walmart is a great option, having racked up over 900 five-star ratings.

Right now, you can score this snackle box on sale for a limited time with a flash deal. Normally retailing for $15, the blue version is now marked down to just $13. This snackle box is also available in brown, green, pink, and teal styles. Those normally retail for $16 and are now on sale for $14. 

Cook With Color 8-Compartment Snackle Box, From $13 (was $15) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

This snackle box is ideal for road trips, movie nights, beach days, picnics, and more. Featuring eight compartments, it’s a must-have for anyone who appreciates having a variety of foods to choose from. Each compartment has a 7-ounce capacity and measures around 4 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 3 inches tall. It’s a convenient way to bring a generous amount of all your favorite snacks on the go without having to tote around eight separate bags. 

You can pack nearly any kind of snack in these compartments, whether it’s chips, candies, fruit, nuts, or crackers. This snackle box is also great for summer hosting, as you can create a charcuterie board with it or even use it to serve different dips and sauces. Reviewers attested to this, mentioning that it’s always a hit at gatherings. 

This box comes with a secure, airtight lid with snap closures on all four sides, keeping your food fresh and allowing you to pack it in a bag with peace of mind. The container measures around 12 inches long, 9 inches wide, and 3 inches tall. Placed sideways, it should be slim enough to fit in coolers, backpacks, and beach totes. For easy portability, the lid is equipped with two foldable top handles so you can carry it with one hand as you walk around the beach or park. 

“It keeps all my snacks sealed, fresh, and perfectly organized in their own little compartments,” one reviewer raved. “It's super convenient, super cute, and honestly just makes snacking on the go so much easier.”

Cook With Color 8-Compartment Snackle Box, From $13 (was $15) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Made of 100% food-safe plastic, the box and compartments are free of BPA and other harmful chemicals. This snackle box is fridge-safe, so you can also use it to refrigerate cut-up fruits and veggies or ingredients for meal prep. 

Even though this snackle box is intended for food, you can also use it for storage and organization purposes. This multipurpose box is great for storing craft supplies and hardware for DIY projects and organizing jewelry and trinkets to streamline your home. 

While you should handwash this snackle box, it’s designed for easy cleanup. The compartments are removable so you can wash them thoroughly and clean the base of the box without having to snake through the gaps. 

Shop More Deals 

• Taimaisi 34-Piece Glass Food Container Set, From $33 (was $56) at Walmart
• Sindcom 18-Piece Meal Prep Container Set, $9 (was $21) at Walmart
• Foukus 6-Pack of Glass Jars, $25 (was $40) at Walmart

Related: Walmart’s ‘Adorable’ $5 Flower Shop Doormat Brings Anthropologie-Inspired Charm to Your Front Porch for Less

Whether you’re looking to organize your home or thoroughly enjoy your summer outings, the Cook With Color 8-Compartment Snackle Box is sure to help. Head to Walmart and snag it while it’s still on sale for just $13!

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.

When Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie came out, we ran to the shelves. This was a novel we’d been waiting for, thanks to Marie’s ability to raise awareness and build an audience on social media.

Then there came THAT cliffhanger (and yes, she knows how cruel it was), and while we know that we should expect it because Immortal Consequences was always set to be more than one book, it didn’t mean we liked it.

The good news is that the wait for the answers and the rest of the story, with Ruinous Ends coming out on July 14, 2026. To mark the release, Parade chatted with Marie about her novel, building an audience before the release, and another release that is coming in 2026!

I had to ask about Ruinous Ends being a duology at first. There are many stories of authors realizing that they have more to tell as they get into the story, and while Marie knew that “it would be more than one book,” she didn’t quite know exactly how many books there would be in the story at first.

“I had a very clear picture of the beginning of where these characters started, the climax of their story in the middle, and the ending. I know very clearly where all six would end up, and I think it became clear very quickly that I would need more than one book to be able to fit it all in.”

It ended up being a conversation with her editor and agent about how many extra books it would take. “I think there could have been a world in which it was a trilogy, but ultimately, I’m happy with how it all wrapped up. I feel like I was able to get the character arcs fully fleshed out in two books.”

At the time we chatted, I’d just received the advanced reader’s copy (ARC), and I quickly found myself mesmerized by the cover, which the artist, Abel Klaer, did an amazing job on. He has also done the cover for the prequel novella, which is coming out at the end of 2026!

“After the first book, I trusted him wholeheartedly with turning something in that I knew would be gorgeous. I remember being in a coffee shop when the first cover came through, and I got the email. A friend and I both collectively gasped out loud. It was so much better than I thought it was going to be.”

Yes, there is a prequel story, which will focus on Wren and August 18 years before the events of Immortal Consequences. It gives us more backstory on Wren’s first week at Blackwood, so we know just why she and August had such a “tumultuous and twisted rivalry and relationship” that they do at the beginning of the first book in the duology.

Could we end up seeing prequels of the other characters? It’s certainly possible, with Marie sharing, “That’s always something that I feel like maybe later down the line can be revisited.”

For now, it’s just Wren and August, which isn’t that surprising considering the “intense fan base” that there is out there. Marie saw you and shared, “I thought it would be a great idea to get to know them a little bit more.”

Courtesy of Delacorte Press

There are six characters who take the lead throughout the duology, though, and you can always tell who is telling their story based on flow and language. They have distinct personalities that aren’t always easy to show in the writing, so I asked Marie more about that.

“I’m very much a discovery writer,” Marie explained, which isn’t the same as a panster. “I spend the first 15,000 to 20,000 words just writing. I don’t have any sort of outline or plan. I allow myself to get into the heads of these characters, and I naturally figure out their voices. Once I allow myself that room to free-write and meet these characters, then I go back and create an outline and finish the rest of the draft from there.”

Marie took advantage of social media to build an audience before she published Immortal Consequences, and it certainly helped the romantasy fly off the shelves.

“I wanted to find people who would resonate with these characters and feel connected to the story,” Marie admitted as we chatted about the new way to build traction, “And also just openly share my journey to get published. I know there are others Googling how to become an author, and I wanted to find those people, and it snowballed from there.”

Over time, people have found themselves drawn to particular characters. They’ve come to know the people who will tell them the stories, while also learning a little more about the highs and lows of publishing, but there was a little pressure after that, as it meant that people had already come to get an idea of what to expect.

“You never want to disappoint the readers,” Marie admitted to me as we talked about directions the novels could take based on fan expectations, “But the best book that you can write is the book that you want to write, so I trusted the gut feeling.”

She also knows that not everyone is going to love the ending, and that’s okay. It’s not a Game of Thrones ending, by the way! I can now say that for sure! Marie had a rule to follow and that’s to “not promise something that you’re not going to deliver.”

Marie has continued to remain active on social media while working on the second novel, which was originally set for a July 28 release date but is now coming out on July 14! It’s been less than a year since Immortal Consequences, although it feels like a lot longer with that cliffhanger.

“I continue to connect with my community online by posting on Instagram, giving them updates of what I’m doing, and have the aesthetic character videos that I post on Instagram and TikTok, which I think is a fun way to connect with pre-existing readers, but also find new ones.”

You won’t find spoilers, as Marie understands that not everyone wants a hardback book. Some people will only read paperbacks, and Immortal Consequences was only just recently released in paperback.

Marie has also been busy with other tasks, including planning for her wedding! She’s on tour for her book release; she’s working on another series that she hasn’t announced yet (we’ll be keeping an eye on things!); and she is also working on the release of Twisted Vows: An Immortal ConsequencesStory.

“There’s a lot to look forward to this year,” she beamed as we chatted about the upcoming tour. “I love meeting readers in person. It’s one of my favorite things about this job, being able to hear, in person, how much they connect with these characters and books. It makes it all worth it.”

So, if you do get to see her on tour, make sure you grab one of her books and get it signed! Don’t feel like a geek for telling her how much Wren, August, Masika, Irene, Olivier, and Emilo mean to you. She wants to hear all about it!

I will say that Ruinous Ends is packed with action, adventure, and emotion. You will go through every single emotion possible, so make sure you have the tissues for when you get to specific points. Marie sort of warned about this when she said, “I get a lot of people who ask me if they’ll cry, and you might! That doesn’t mean it’s a sad ending for everyone.”

Ruinous Ends is out on July 14, 2026. This is the end of a duology you will not want to miss.