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Jeff Probst has made plenty of changes to Survivor over the years, but few generated as much conversation as dropping four words from his vocabulary.

For years, Probst famously welcomed contestants to challenges with his signature “Come on in, guys!” But in 2021, the longtime host stopped using “guys,” explaining at the time that he wanted the show to use more inclusive language.

The decision divided viewers, particularly those who considered “guys” a gender-neutral term and had grown attached to the phrase after hearing it for decades. Probst revealed on the Popcast podcast on Thursday, September 24, whether he wishes he’d handled things differently.

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Does Probst regret dropping ‘come on in, guys’?

“Not one bit,” Probst said when asked if he regretted the change. “It was the right decision for me.”

That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t reconsider some things. He admitted if he had to change anything, he wouldn’t have made a discussion out of the decision. Probst recalled receiving that criticism from an unnamed movie producer, who told him, “the mistake you made is you made it about you.”

READ MORE: Jeff Probst Confesses What ‘Bums Him Out the Most’ About ‘Survivor 50’

“And you should have just done it and never said anything,” Probst recalled him saying. “Just stop saying it. He was right.”

Why did Probst stop saying ‘guys’ on Survivor?

Probst said conversations with his children also influenced his thinking at the time. His daughter told him she didn’t consider “guys” gender neutral, even though Probst acknowledged that others disagree.

“I wanted to be a dad that heard my kids, and so I made the decision, if that matters to you. I’m in,” he explained.

Years later, Probst said he still notices how frequently other people use the word—but doesn’t believe they’re doing anything wrong. “I don’t judge anybody for saying it. It’s a universal word,” he said. “I’m glad I don’t say it.”

Related: Survivor’s Jeff Probst Reveals Surprising Requirement for His Eventual Replacement

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A modern home security system does more than sound an alarm. Cameras, doorbells and mobile apps can let homeowners check the house from almost anywhere. But that convenience also means some parts of the system are connected to the internet.

Like other connected devices, security cameras can be targeted through stolen passwords, outdated software or an unsecured home network. That doesn’t mean wireless security systems are inherently unsafe. It means they need the same basic cybersecurity protections as phones, computers and other internet-connected devices. For this reason, the Federal Trade Commission recommends securing home cameras with unique passwords, software updates, encrypted Wi-Fi and two-factor authentication when available.

So, can someone actually hack a security camera? Here’s where the risks come from and how to reduce them.

If you’re considering a connected security system, ADT combines professionally monitored security with Google Nest cameras and the ADT+ app, allowing compatible equipment to be managed from one platform.

Can Hackers Watch Your Home Security Cameras?

It is possible for an attacker to gain unauthorized access to an internet-connected camera, particularly if account credentials are stolen or the device or network is poorly secured.

The FTC specifically warns against leaving default usernames or passwords in place and recommends never reusing a camera password from another account. Reused credentials are especially risky because passwords exposed in one data breach can be tried against unrelated services.

A compromised camera account could potentially expose live or recorded video, depending on the system and the level of access obtained. Fortunately, many of the most important defenses are straightforward. Consider the following:

Security Step

Why It Matters

Use a unique password

Limits damage from passwords stolen elsewhere

Turn on 2FA

Adds another requirement before account access

Update apps and devices

Installs security fixes

Secure the router

Protects the network cameras used

Use WPA2 or WPA3

Encrypts Wi-Fi traffic

Review shared access

Limits who can view cameras or control the system

Why It’s Important To Use Two-Factor Authentication on Security Camera Accounts

Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, makes a stolen password less useful. Instead of allowing access with only a username and password, 2FA requires another verification step, such as a code or authenticator prompt.

CISA says multifactor authentication significantly increases account security because an attacker who steals one credential still needs the additional factor. Google also offers two-step verification for accounts used with Nest cameras. Google recommends giving each household member an individual account rather than sharing one username and password.

How Encryption Protects Home Security Camera Video

Encryption helps protect information as it moves between devices, apps and online services. Current Google Nest camera specifications list 128-bit AES encryption with TLS/SSL, along with secure boot and automatic security updates.

The FTC also recommends enabling encryption whenever a camera supports it and checking that browser-based camera logins use HTTPS. Encryption doesn’t eliminate every possible security risk, but it makes intercepted data considerably harder to read. That’s why shoppers should compare security features alongside camera resolution, field of view and night vision.

Related: Can You Use a DIY Security System Without Monthly Fees?

Secure Your Home Wi-Fi Before Adding Cameras

Your router is one of the most important parts of a wireless security setup. Most connected cameras reach the internet through the home network, so poor router security can create another avenue for unauthorized access.

The FTC recommends changing the router’s default administrator credentials, using a strong unique password, enabling its firewall and selecting WPA3 or WPA2 encryption.

The agency also suggests considering a separate network for cameras and other connected devices. That can reduce an attacker’s ability to move easily from one compromised computer or device to security cameras on the same network.

Protect every entry point and video stream: Find the right ADT and Google Nest setup for your household.

Keep Security Cameras and Apps Updated

Software updates aren’t only about adding features. They often contain fixes for vulnerabilities discovered after a device was released.

The FTC recommends keeping both camera firmware and the mobile apps used to access security footage up to date. Automatic updates can make that easier. Google’s current Nest camera specifications also list automatic security updates as part of the camera’s security features.

Older cameras that no longer receive security support deserve closer scrutiny, particularly if they remain connected to the internet.

Related: Should You Finance a Home Security System?

Be Careful About Who Has Access to Your Cameras

Not every security issue starts with a hacker breaking through encryption. Sometimes, too many people simply have access to the account.

Google advises Nest users not to share account passwords. Instead, household members should receive their own individual access so permissions can be managed separately.

Also, be sure to review account access periodically, especially after a roommate moves out, a relationship changes or someone no longer needs permission to view cameras or control the system. That small administrative step can prevent old access from becoming a privacy problem later.

Are Wireless Security Systems Safe?

A properly configured wireless security system can provide strong protection, but its cybersecurity depends partly on how securely the homeowner manages accounts, software and the home network. Strong passwords, 2FA, encrypted Wi-Fi and current software address many common risks.

ADT’s current platform integrates compatible security devices and Google Nest cameras into the ADT+ app, while professional monitoring handles supported alarm events separately from simply viewing camera footage.

The important takeaway isn’t that connected cameras should be avoided. It’s that security hardware should be treated like any other internet-connected technology and configured accordingly.

If you’re comparing wireless home security options, ADT can recommend a professionally monitored setup that combines intrusion protection with compatible Google Nest cameras and connected-home features.

For generations, kid-focused breakfast cereals have been all about bright colors, sugary flavors and boxes that practically beg to be spotted from across the grocery aisle. But these days, parents are looking for ways to keep some of that breakfast fun without piling quite as much sugar into the first meal of the day. Enter a new generation of cereals trying to give families a little more of both worlds.

One of the latest to make a seriously splashy entrance is Backflip, a colorful cereal brand created by entrepreneur Shaun Neff and YouTuber Ben Azelart. Azelart, who has built a massive online following, is bringing his internet star power to the breakfast table—and Backflip is quickly becoming a viral hit. The brand launched with four playful flavors: Cinnamon Magic, Chocolate Sundae, Fruit Galaxy and Strawberry Milkshake.

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The cereal is designed to look and feel like the fun stuff kids have always loved, while offering some changes parents may appreciate. Backflip says its cereals provide 6 grams of protein per serving and are made without synthetic dyes or preservatives. Its Cinnamon Magic variety, for example, has 30% less sugar than the leading cinnamon cereal, according to the brand.

And shoppers aren’t just noticing the colorful boxes. They’re apparently liking what’s inside them, too. Fans have praised its flavor, crunch and lower-sugar profile. One reviewer called it delicious and appreciated that it stayed crunchy in milk, while another said it was a tasty option with great flavor and texture.

Related: The 11 Best Greek Groceries To Buy at Costco (And 3 To Skip)

There’s also a definite nostalgia factor at play. One Target reviewer said Fruit Galaxy reminded them of the “so nostalgic” fruity cereals they grew up with, while appreciating the added protein and lower sugar. Another said their kids loved the flavors, particularly the chocolate variety, saying it “tastes so delicious.”

Backflip’s early success has caught the attention of the retail world, too. The brand hit Target shelves nationwide this year and has posted notable sales in the breakfast aisle.

So, yes, cereal may be having a little bit of a makeover. And with Backflip bringing YouTube fame, bold packaging and a more parent-friendly ingredient pitch to the bowl, breakfast just got a whole lot more interesting.

Related: 9 Items To Buy From the Sam’s Club Produce Section (and 2 To Skip)

It’s not President Xi’s first time at the White House. Back in 2015, before Trump won the election the following year, former President Obama hosted China’s leader for an official state visit and dinner.

Now in the midst of his second term, President Trump is never shy about sharing his opinions.

Long before he developed the social platform Truth Social as a digital town hall of sorts, Trump criticized the Obama administration for rolling out the red carpet for Xi and his team during their visit to Washington.

Related: Donald Trump’s Favorite Meal as President Is Still Served at This Popular Restaurant—It’s Not McDonald’s

During a rally in South Carolina, Trump suggested Xi and his delegation should simply head to McDonald’s before returning to negotiations. He later appeared on Fox News and quipped that Xi might warrant something a little more substantial: “probably a double-size Big Mac.”

The Associated Press got a hold of the menu being offered at Trump’s State Dinner, which is hosting President Xi and a who’s who of tech moguls, including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

It’s certainly a far cry from fast food.

Instead of a Mickey D’s run, the guests will be treated to a smorgasbord of fancy words that includes yellow squash velouté with wild mushrooms, fresh herbs, crispy pancetta and scallion oil.

Related: Donald Trump’s Former Butler Reveals the One Food the President Won’t Touch

The main course features sesame-crusted sea bass with braised baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant and sauce verte, followed by vanilla crémeux with sour cherry confit and walnut frangipane for dessert. White House Honey Ice Cream rounds out the meal for a sweet-tooth fix.

And the sumptuous meal wasn’t the only worthwhile experience Trump had in store for his guest. While showing Xi around the White House, Trump also invited him inside Marine One—a rare glimpse for a foreign leader to set foot in the presidential chopper.

“We had a great meeting,” Trump later said.

So, while a Double-Size Big Mac may have once been Trump’s idea of a fitting meal for Xi, this state dinner is taking things up several notches.

We are all familiar with the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945; few know about a nuclear bomb that was dropped on domestic soil purely by accident.

On the afternoon of March 11, 1958, Walter Gregg was working in his garage in Mars Bluff, South Carolina, about 100 miles east of Columbia, when he and his family narrowly avoided being at the epicenter of a nuclear catastrophe.

Unexpectedly, a bomb dropped onto their property, causing damage to his home, a church, and six nearby houses. It also created a crater about 70 feet wide and 35 feet deep, according to the Florence County Museum. What they didn’t know was that this device was actually a nuclear weapon; it was just missing its core. This absence is what prevented hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths.

A Boeing B-47 Stratojet, the same model that dropped a bomb on Mars Bluff, shown in flight in 1963.

Bettmann / Getty Images

Shortly after the incident, Gregg recounted the incident to the New York Times: “The timbers were falling around us. There was a green, foggy haze around us and then a big black cloud of smoke. It lasted about thirty seconds. When it cleared up, I looked at the house. The top was blown in, and a side was blown off.”

Just 25 minutes before the explosion, at around 4:34 pm, a U.S. Air Force Boeing B-47E-LM Stratojet took off from Hunter Air Force Base near Savannah, Georgia. The plane, operated by the 375th Bombardment Squadron of the 308th Bombardment Wing, was scheduled to fly to the United Kingdom as part of Operation Snow Flurry, which involved mock bomb drops. Instead, the pilot was forced to abort the mission and return to base because of what happened next.

Captain Earl Koehler encountered a fault light in the cockpit, which indicated that the bomb harness locking pin wasn’t engaged. Air Force Captain Bruce Kulka, the plane’s navigator and bombardier, was summoned to the bomb bay to investigate. While trying to insert a steel pin through the shackle, which would’ve prevented the weapon from falling if the electrical lock released, he accidentally caused the weapon to unhook. The Mark 6 nuclear bomb fell into the bomb bay, forced the doors open, and fell out over Mars Bluff at 15,000 feet.

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The Gregg family and the people in Mars Bluff and the surrounding area were saved by the fact that the nuclear weapons that were carried onboard for Operation Snow Flurry had their fissile nuclear cores removed and couldn’t have caused a nuclear detonation. They carried them only in case the planes had to activate in a wartime scenario.

The family suffered some injuries: Walter Gregg was cut on his right arm, his wife was cut on her head, and the children were hit by flying debris. After the cuts had healed, the family appeared on an episode of the CBS television program, I’ve Got a Secret, on April 2, 1958. Their segment was called Our house was hit by an atom bomb.

Related: 55 Best War Movies of All Time

Who’s the Boss star Judith Light will join the cast of Apple TV’s Shrinking for Season 4, according to Variety.

The Season 3 finale seemed pretty final. Alice leaves for college in Connecticut, Gaby proposes to Derrick, Sean moves out of the pool house, Liz and Derek plan a trip to Europe, Brian goes to Tennessee, and Paul returns from the East Coast to confront Jimmy. In the last few moments, Jimmy sits down with Sofi for what seems like a breakfast filled with new beginnings. And all of that left fans wondering, “Does it end here?” Well, according to the show’s creator, Bill Lawrence, it most certainly does not. 

What can fans expect from Shrinking Season 4? Things got weird online after Lawrence shared a series of posts on X last April. 

“Season finale and end of this three-season story next week. Hope you dig it. (Excited to start completely new story next year. Feels scary/risky/fun),” wrote Lawrence on April 4. He later added, “So excited to do Season 4 and a new story with the same cast,” and “There is a Season 4 with the EXACT same cast (that’s why we are doing it, we love each other). 

Fans took the posts to mean that Season 4 would include the same cast playing entirely new characters. And, as Lawrence later pointed out, this isn’t the case. He explained the somewhat cryptic teases to Variety, saying, “I think people will feel when they come back to this show that it’s a completely different story. We feel that the characters on this show have enough stuff going on in their life that we were interested in seeing what a new story for these characters looks like.”

Lawrence continued, “People shouldn’t be surprised if there’s a time jump and it feels like we’re telling a completely different story.” Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Christa Miller, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Luke Tennie, Jessica Williams, and Ted McGinley will reprise their roles in Season 4. And yes, that means fans will get to see an Ugly Betty reunion between Light and Urie.

As of now, there is no information on who Light will play. But the time jump leaves the possibilities wide open. 

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Filming is currently underway on Season 4. Last month, Miller posted a pic on Instagram of herself with Segel, captioning it, “On set shooting S4 of #Shrinking!”  Even though there is no premiere date, Apple TV is expected to drop the new season in 2027. 

Kunal Nayyar starred as Dr. Raj Koothrappali throughout The Big Bang Theory‘s 12-season run, which came to an end in 2019.

In a June 2026 episode of The Big Bang Theory Podcast, Nayyar said he was constantly on set when the hit CBS sitcom was on air. He shared that he barely took any time off after his grandmother died while he was shooting a Big Bang Theory episode.

“We never had the luxury over 12 years to call in sick, you know. Or if someone passes away. You don’t. My family lives in India. I mean, I remember my grandmother passed away during a taping of Big Bang,” said the actor.

He said that after he “had finished [his] scenes for the day,” he approached the show’s creators, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, to ask for time off.

“I went up to Chuck and Bill, and I said, ‘Hey, can I leave? Because my grandmother’s passed, and I’m going to fly to India tonight or tomorrow morning or whatever,'” recalled Nayyar during the podcast interview. “And I flew home to India. You get there one and a half days later to the funeral. Flew back the next day. Rehearsed one day and shot an episode. Just didn’t miss one day. Couldn’t miss any days.”

He then said that he wasn’t the only cast member who immediately went to work following a hardship. He noted that Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny, came back to the Big Bang Theory set relatively quickly after undergoing surgery for a severe leg break in 2010.

“I think Kaley broke her leg, and I think, even she just missed like one [episode], and then we did it with a body double,” said the actor.

Nayyar also shared his belief that some Big Bang Theory fans may forget that their favorite characters are played by real people.

“I think what people don’t realize is audiences fall in love with the characters, but behind those characters are humans who are playing those characters. And the humans behind the mask are living. And [have] very similar emotional and psychological lives as everyone else in the world, which is happiness and sadness and joy and depression, death, sickness, everything,” said Nayyar while recording The Big Bang Theory Podcast episode.

Lulu is opening up about a part of her life she kept hidden for years.

The Scottish singer, who became a star with hits including “Shout,” “To Sir With Love” and “Boom Bang-a-Bang,” has spoken candidly about her past struggles with alcoholism and why she once felt she had to keep them private. 

Now 77, Lulu, whose real name is Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, said she no longer feels the same shame about her past. In a September 18 interview with The i Paper, she reflected on finally speaking publicly about her alcoholism after years of silence. 

“Now that I’ve come out and been vocal about being an alcoholic, I’m not proud of it, but I’m not ashamed. Because I was ashamed. And of past things with my family,” she said. 

Lulu sought treatment at a facility in Arizona and has been sober for 13 years. She also opened up about her experience in her 2025 memoir, If Only You Knew, where she discussed both her career and the personal struggles she had kept out of the public eye.

Talking openly about alcoholism is a different side of Lulu than fans saw during her rise to fame. She found success as a teenager after “Shout” became a hit in 1964, followed by her biggest U.S. success, “To Sir With Love,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967.

With that level of fame came pressure to maintain a polished public image. Lulu previously told the BBC that she kept her alcoholism private because she didn’t want to damage the “squeaky clean” image associated with her career. 

Looking back, she said she had spent much of her life believing she needed to appear perfect.

“I lived in terror of not being perfect,” Lulu told The i Paper. “I look at old film from years ago and think, ‘the poor wee thing doesn’t know who she is.’” 

She connected some of those insecurities to her childhood and family life, explaining that growing up in a dysfunctional family left her constantly on “high alert.” 

“I was trying to find out who I was. Eventually, you’ve got to face the reality of life. I had a lot of things I had to face up to. It was so painful, I had to drink more,” she said.

Related: 1983 Genre-Bending Hit, Written by 22-Year-Old in Egypt, Is Still a Timeless Anthem 43 Years Later

Both forming and maintaining friendships look different these days, don’t they? Whether you’re coming across a “looking for friends” post on Facebook or chatting with someone you’ve known for a while, conversations about certain hot-button topics inevitably come up. People may take disagreements personally or judge you harshly for what you believe. You might struggle to know what to say, or—on the other end of the spectrum—you might be the first one to ask what someone’s take is. 

Let’s stop beating around the bush: Political differences are ending friendships. Whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing (or a bit of both), political division is rife these days. It’s on social media and in our conversations. It’s hard (read: nearly impossible) to avoid. A conversation about a new bill or the latest news can turn even the friendliest relationships sour. Knowing how to handle political differences with friends is easier said than done.

Regardless of which side you fall on, you might miss the days when friendships felt “easier,” or at least when arguments weren’t relationship-ending. Since politics have long existed, what’s changed? What are the shifts driving this rift? How should we proceed? How can you preserve a relationship (if you want to) with someone who has a fundamentally different belief? A psychologist answers those questions below.

Related: Psychologist Warns: This 1 Subtle Sign Reveals a Friendship Is ‘Definitely Unhealthy’

Why Political Differences Are Ending Friendships More Than Ever

Wondering why political disagreement ruins friendships sometimes? We’ll start with what’s perhaps obvious: People are becoming more politically minded, active and passionate. Voter turnout in 2024 was lower than in 2020, but higher than in every other election year since at least 2004.

One major contributor to people’s decisions at the polls is what they consume on the internet. According to the Pew Research Center, over half of American adults get their news from social media, which algorithms personalize. These algorithms show us more of what we already watch, which contributes to confirmation bias and an echo chamber (a space where you encounter only similar beliefs). That amplifies our opinions. 

Add that to the fact that we’re seeing less mental health stigma recently. That’s a good thing, but believe it or not, it can also contribute to the divide.

“People are more politically involved, siloed on social media, but also comfortable with therapeutic tools, like boundaries,” says Dr. Golee Abrishami, PhD, a psychologist and the VP of Clinical Care at Octave Mental Health. “Some people are more in tune with their beliefs and political values, and more comfortable enacting boundaries with loved ones.”

And with that, we’re seeing more division—especially as “affective polarization” comes into play.

“It’s essentially the widening of the gap between groups of people who hold different beliefs,” Dr. Abrishami says about affective polarization. “It’s about how much people on the other side are disliked or assumed to be bad people based on their beliefs that are different from yours.”

Sound familiar?

She adds that affective polarization contributes to the ending of relationships “because people are further apart than ever, and societally that distance is reinforced, sort of like ‘staying loyal to our team.'” She’s seen more people believing those with different views are “dangerous” or “hopelessly wrong,” which naturally decreases connection. 

Related: Psychologists Recommend This Empathetic Phrase in a Conflict

The Psychological and Cultural Shifts Driving the Rift

Dr. Abrishami named some of the psychological and cultural shifts above, such as higher voter turnout, reliance on social media as a news source, algorithms keeping you siloed, comfort with mental health insights and how the moralization of political views contributes to “us vs. them psychology.” But that’s not all, especially when it comes to the cultural impacts of technological advances. 

“AI is having a similar effect,” she tells Parade. “An AI chat can quickly turn into an echo chamber. A chatbot can become a companion.” 

She explains how AI often provides sycophantic responses that solidify people’s viewpoints, biases and beliefs. It’s created to keep the conversation going, and the affirmation it provides can be, for lack of a better word, addicting. Perhaps even scarier, AI chatbots have fooled people into ignoring medical advice.

Related: 9 Common Phrases That Could Be Secretly Harming Your Friendships, Etiquette Experts Warn

Is It Okay To End a Friendship Over Political Beliefs?

What does a psychologist think about people ending friendships over political differences?

“This is a really complicated consideration and requires you to consider their values and personal boundaries before making a decision,” she states.

Rather than focusing on what color hat they wear, she encourages individuals to focus on a few things: how the friend treats you, how they move in your world and how your values are affected. If their views cause harm, you may want to reconsider the friendship.

But that’s not your only option, either.

“The better way to approach this is from the framework of personal boundaries,” she shares. For example, you might agree not to talk about politics if it causes tension or just “agree to disagree.” If that doesn’t work, and your friend is disrespectful, it may be time to take another look. 

“Those are cases where you need to consider if continuing the friendship is contradicting your value system and if you can, in good faith, continue to have that person in your life,” she adds. 

Related: The #1 Phrase To Say When Someone Asks an Offensive Question

How To Preserve Relationships When You Disagree

Have a friend you want to keep despite their differing opinions? Dr. Abrishami shares tips.

• Lead with curiosity: Ask questions, reduce assumptions and try to understand someone’s point of view in the context of their world and circumstances.
• Focus on values: You may disagree on a topic but agree on the underlying value.
• Practice self-awareness and find your patterns: Do you escalate conflict or avoid conflict? How does that affect you and your relationships? What might be better ways to handle it?
• Practice speaking up in small ways: If you tend to “sweep conflict under the rug,” practice speaking up in low-stakes situations, such as a preference for your next meet-up.
• Have communication tools handy: One tip is to separate the person from the action to lessen how attacked the other person feels and foster more productive conversation. For example, say, “The opinion you shared made me angry,” not “You make me feel angry.”
• Work with a therapist: Conflict resolution (in whatever form) is both difficult and common. A therapist can help you understand yourself and how to navigate conflict effectively and healthily. 

“Maintaining personal boundaries risks losing some people in your circle, but can also help with living by your personal ideals and belief systems, and there’s real empowerment in that choice,” Dr. Abrishami adds.

Up Next:

Related: Psychologist Says the 1 Phrase That Instantly Shuts Down a Confrontational Person Isn’t What You Might Think

Sources:

• Dr. Golee Abrishami, PhD, is a psychologist and the VP of Clinical Care at Octave Mental Health. 
• Election results, 2024: Analysis of voter turnout in the 2024 general election. (2024) Ballotpedia
• Social Media and News Fact Sheet. (2025) Pew Research Center.

Evanescence are taking fans back to The Open Door. The band has announced a 20th anniversary expanded edition of the 2006 album, featuring newly remastered music, three additional tracks and a previously unreleased demo. 

The record is out November 6 through Craft Recordings and will revisit the album with its original 13 tracks alongside “If You Don’t Mind,” “Together Again,” “The Last Song I’m Wasting On You” and a previously unreleased demo of “Good Enough.” 

The anniversary collection will be released on 2-LP, CD and digital formats, with the vinyl available in several color variants, including Midnight Nebula, Metallic Blue, Sea Glass, Ghost Blend, Mercury Blend, Opaque Ivory and Translucent Cobalt. Fans can pre-order the various editions through Evanescence’s official website. 

The announcement also includes a newly remastered version of “Sweet Sacrifice,” the album’s opening track.

Originally released in October 2006, The Open Door became Evanescence’s first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, selling 447,000 copies in the U.S. during its first week. The album went on to produce several of the band’s best-known songs, including “Call Me When You’re Sober,” “Lithium,” “Sweet Sacrifice” and “Good Enough.” 

Making the album was an important period of growth for singer Amy Lee.

“The Open Door was such an important time for me, pushing boundaries and feeding my desire to experiment and grow. I wanted to connect on a deeper level, and fought for a future for the music I loved,” she explained. “It was beyond worth it. The fact that it resonates with so many people 20 years later means so much to me.”

“Sweet Sacrifice” wasn’t an easy song to write, and Lee has said it took longer to finish than any other track on the album. She and guitarist Terry Balsamo started it in early 2005, hit a wall, and set it aside for months before finally seeing it through. 

“Sweet Sacrifice” was released as the third single from The Open Door in 2007 and later received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance. 

Check out the complete 20th anniversary tracklist: 

• 01. Sweet Sacrifice
• 02. Call Me When You’re Sober
• 03. Weight of the World
• 04. Lithium
• 05. Cloud Nine
• 06. Snow White Queen
• 07. Lacrymosa
• 08. Like You
• 09. Lose Control
• 10. The Only One
• 11. Your Star
• 12. All That I’m Living For
• 13. Good Enough
• 14. If You Don’t Mind
• 15. Together Again
• 16. The Last Song I’m Wasting On You
• 17. Good Enough (Demo Version)*

It has long been said records are made to be broken, though some will likely never be touched after the so-called “steroids era” of Major League Baseball.

But this one isn’t just about launching balls over the fence; it takes real athleticism many beer-gut ballplayers would never have a chance of reaching.

Chicago Cubs all-star Pete Crow-Armstrong just became the seventh player ever to enter the exclusive “40/40 club.”

Just don’t tell Jay-Z…

Related: Retiring MLB Pitcher Sends Emotional Message to Supermodel Wife Kate Upton After 21-Year Career 

What Crow-Armstrong is accomplishing deserves to be celebrated, as it’s such a rare achievement that MLB has been around for more than a century and fewer than an order of donuts have their names on this list of 40/40 club members:

• Jose Canseco
• Barry Bonds
• Alex Rodriguez
• Alfonso Soriano
• Ronald Acuña Jr.
• Shohei Ohtani
• Pete Crow-Armstrong

One name you won’t find on that list is Babe Ruth, a name that recently became synonymous with Crow-Armstrong after he stirred up the pot by claiming the baseball legend wasn’t a real person.

Related: Babe Ruth’s Favorite Meal Is Still Served Nearly 100 Years Later at ‘Florida’s Oldest Restaurant’

That surely caused some locker room fodder, but today it’s all about his historic accomplishment: becoming only the seventh player in MLB history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a single season.

The feat also makes Crow-Armstrong the first Cubs player to reach the mark, while the team clinched a playoff berth on the same day, making Thursday a banner day at Wrigley Field.

At just 24 years old, Crow-Armstrong has already put together a season that will be remembered in Chicago for years to come as the team prepares for a World Series run in October.

More than 25 years later, Christopher Walken’s “More Cowbell” sketch is still making plenty of noise.

The iconic Saturday Night Live sketch, which first aired in 2000, has now been voted the greatest SNL sketch of all time by fans, proving that some comedy only gets better with age.

The sketch famously imagines the fictional recording of Blue Öyster Cult’s 1976 hit “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” with Walken playing an unusually enthusiastic record producer who has one very specific request for drummer Will Ferrell’s fictional character: He needs more cowbell.

“I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell,” Walken’s character famously declares.

The sketch also featured Jimmy Fallon, Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz, while Christina Aguilera appeared in the episode as the musical guest. The absurdity of the entire premise quickly turned the sketch into one of the show’s most memorable moments.

The ranking, published by LateNighter on Thursday, September 24, explained, “The premise is almost impossibly simple, but the execution keeps finding another gear: Ferrell’s full-body commitment, his bandmates’ mounting frustration, and Walken’s absolute conviction that the most intrusive part of the recording is also its most essential. “

“I don’t understand why it follows me around like it does,” Walken told Conan O’Brien in 2020. “It’s kind of run its course.

Ferrell told Jimmy Fallon during an appearance on The Tonight Show that Walken told him he “ruined his life.”

Walken’s April 2000 performance narrowly beat out Christina Applegate’s “Midnight Oil” sketch from May 1993.

Walk through the kitchen aisle of just about any store, and you’ll find a gadget for everything. There are tools for slicing fruit, chopping vegetables, separating eggs and tackling all sorts of other small cooking jobs. Some can be genuinely handy, but others are destined to spend most of their lives buried somewhere in a drawer.

So, which ones are actually worth bringing home? We asked five culinary pros which kitchen tool they wouldn’t spend their money on and what they’d rather have in their kitchens.

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We spoke with Chris Melder, executive chef at Hilton Shreveport; Clark Hoskin, executive chef at Kenoza Hall; Dennis Littley, a classically trained chef, culinary educator and founder of Ask Chef Dennis; Kristin Bryan, chef and head of U.S. Culinary Innovation at HelloFresh; and Adam Gallagher, co-founder of Inspired Taste, for their thoughts on all things kitchen tools—and they had opinions.

We also asked how they feel about single-use gadgets in general, because having only one purpose doesn’t necessarily make a tool useless. How often you cook, what you make and how much space you have all matter too. But when it came time to name a gadget they could do without, one very specific kitchen tool came up again and again. See what kitchen tool every chef we spoke with said you can skip—and which tools they said are worth clearing some kitchen space for.

The Big Reveal: Why 5 Chefs All Hate the Avocado Slicer

Luis Sinco / Getty Images

The avocado slicer is designed to make prepping avocados easier, but our experts kept coming back to the same question: Why buy another gadget when a knife and spoon already do the job?

For Melder, there’s also the issue of how well the gadget actually works. He says avocado slicers tend to work best only when the fruit is perfectly ripe and that it can struggle when it’s firmer or softer. “A regular chef’s knife does the whole job faster and cleaner, and you already own one,” he says. “That thing just ends up in the junk drawer.”

Hoskin points out that you already need a knife to open the avocado in the first place. “It’s one of the things that can be done simply with a chef’s knife, which you would already need to open the avocado,” he says.

Gallagher agrees. “I don’t use an avocado slicer in my kitchen, and I don’t see why anyone would need one,” he says. Once an avocado is ripe, Gallagher simply cuts around the center with a knife, twists it open, removes the pit and scoops out or slices the flesh.

Littley has similar reasoning. “A basic chef’s knife can halve, pit, peel and slice an avocado just as quickly, and it’s easier to clean,” he says.

And even Bryan, who eats avocados regularly, has never found much use for the gadget. “I love avocados and eat them constantly,” she says. “But I’ll never understand the need for an avocado slicer. A large spoon will scoop out a half just fine, and a good paring or vegetable knife will give you perfectly beautiful slices.”

Related: We Asked 3 Professional Chefs What the Most Underrated Kitchen Tool Is — They All Chose the Same Item

The ‘Unitasker’ Trap: When Single-Use Kitchen Gadgets Aren’t Worth It

towfiqu ahamed / Getty Images

A kitchen tool having only one job doesn’t make it a waste of money. For Bryan, it comes down to whether that one job makes enough of a difference to justify the space it takes up.

“I don’t think single-purpose gadgets are necessarily bad. It really comes down to what you cook, and how often you cook it,” she says. Her own exception is a cherry pitter, which she uses throughout cherry season. “For me, the test is simple: Does this gadget save me enough time or effort that I’ll actually reach for it? If the answer is yes, it has earned its kitchen real estate.”

Littley feels much the same way. “I’m not against a kitchen tool just because it only does one thing. If you use it all the time and it genuinely makes cooking easier, then it earns its place,” he says. But if another basic kitchen tool can do the job just as easily, Littley questions whether it’s worth the extra money or drawer space.

4 Other Kitchen Gadgets Culinary Experts Say Are a Total Waste

oliakolvitz / Getty Images

The avocado slicer isn’t the only kitchen gadget these experts would leave on the shelf. Here are a few others they say you can probably do without.

1. Herb Scissors

Bryan and Littley both call out herb scissors as something most home cooks don’t need. Littley says a chef’s knife “will chop herbs more evenly without leaving pieces trapped between several blades.”

Bryan would rather use regular kitchen shears, which can handle herbs, along with plenty of other jobs.

2. Egg Separators

Littley also puts egg separators on his skip list. “You can separate an egg using clean hands or the shell,” he says, adding that the gadget doesn’t save enough time to make buying and storing another tool worthwhile.

Bryan agrees that you don’t need a special gadget for the job, noting that separating an egg takes just seconds without one.

3. Electric Salt-and-Pepper Grinders

Melder isn’t sold on battery-powered salt-and-pepper grinders. “They look fancy until the batteries die mid-service or the mechanism jams,” he says.

His preference is much simpler: a regular grinder you turn by hand, which he says “lasts forever and never needs charging.”

4. Garlic Presses

Melder would also skip the garlic press, especially when a knife can handle the same job without another tool to clean afterward.

“They mash the garlic into a paste that’s stronger and more bitter than what you get from a knife, the little holes clog constantly and cleaning them is a pain,” he says. “Just smash the clove with the side of your knife and mince it.”

What To Buy Instead: The 4 Multipurpose Tools Every Chef Vouches For

Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

So, where should you spend your kitchen budget instead? The chefs we spoke with pointed to tools that can handle far more than one job. Here are four worth making room for.

1. A Good Chef’s Knife

Rather than buying a separate gadget for every slicing and chopping job, Melder recommends spending that money on a good chef’s knife.

“It’s not glamorous, but it’s the one tool that handles 80 percent of the work in any kitchen,” he says, adding that a chef’s knife can handle “chopping, slicing, dicing, mincing garlic or herbs, breaking down chicken, cutting avocado, even smashing garlic cloves or scooping stuff off the board.”

Bryan also recommends investing in a quality chef’s or vegetable knife, along with a good knife sharpener and sturdy cutting board.

2. An Immersion Blender

Littley recommends an immersion blender for home cooks who want plenty of uses without another bulky appliance taking over the kitchen.

“It’s compact but can purée soups and sauces directly in the pot, emulsify mayonnaise and dressings, blend tomatoes and handle small batches that don’t justify pulling out a countertop blender,” he says.

Littley also uses his directly in the container when puréeing tomatoes for spaghetti sauce, which means less cleanup afterward.

3. Kitchen Shears

Bryan also recommends a good pair of stainless-steel kitchen shears instead of buying separate scissors for specific jobs.

“They can do everything from snipping herbs and cutting small vegetables to opening food packages,” she says. “You don’t need a separate pair of scissors for every task.”

Just be sure to keep a pair dedicated to cooking, which is what Bryan recommends for the kitchen.

4. A Food Processor or Blender

For a bigger-ticket purchase, Hoskin recommends putting your money toward something you can use in more than one way.

“Big-ticket items would be a good food processor and blender,” he says. “Both can be utilized for many applications.”

They may take up more room than some of the smaller tools on this list, but for Hoskin, their versatility makes that kitchen space easier to justify.

Final Thoughts

Kitchen gadgets are easy to buy on impulse, especially when they promise to make an annoying task faster. But before adding one to your cart, think about how often you’d realistically use it. Something you pull out every week is one thing. Something you might need twice a year is probably going to spend a lot more time in the drawer than in your hand.

Sources:

• Chris Melder is the executive chef at Hilton Shreveport.
• Clark Hoskin is the executive chef at Kenoza Hall.
• Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef, culinary educator and founder of Ask Chef Dennis.
• Kristin Bryan is a chef and head of U.S. Culinary Innovation at HelloFresh.
• Adam Gallagher is the co-founder and recipe developer at Inspired Taste.

Related: This Sleek Kitchen Essential Will Make Everyday Meal Prep Feel Like a Gourmet Meal

In general, children’s books are full of fantastical lands, unique, charming characters, and gentle metaphors that help young readers understand otherwise scary ideas. Arguably, the most beloved children’s books also happen to be the ones that are fun to read, with humorous dialogue and vivid descriptions.

The publication Collider recently released a ranking of “The 8 Most Fun Children’s Books of All Time.” The list, published on September 24, included books like 1865’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis from 1950, and 1997’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. Collider named J.R.R. Tolkien‘s 1937 novel, The Hobbit, which introduced the world to the reluctantly brave Bilbo Baggins, “the most fun children’s book of all time.”

According to the publication, the book deserved the list’s top spot as it’s a tale, equally quaint and entertaining, that reminds children they can be courageous no matter their size.

J.R.R. Tolkien Discussed ‘The Hobbit’ in a BBC Interview

The Hobbit has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 from 4,637,419 readers on Goodreads.

In an interview with the BBC, Tolkien, who died in 1973 at the age of 81, shared how The Hobbit came to be. He explained that he was grading “a normal pile of exam papers” while working at Pembroke College, an act he described as “very laborious” and “boring.” The author said that he eventually came across a paper that had a page “left blank,” where he randomly jotted down what ended up being The Hobbit‘s first line.

“Glorious nothing to read, so I scribbled on it, I can’t think why, ‘In a hole in the ground lived a Hobbit.’ I think that was eventually published in 1937,” said Tolkien.

Tolkien published his subsequent Middle-earth books, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, in 1954 and 1955.

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If you’re looking for a compact convertible chair that doubles as extra sleeping space, shoppers have said this option at Wayfair delivers — and it’s a great value right now, too. The Latitude Run 3-in-1 Adjustable Sleeper Sofa Chair is currently nearly 50% off at the retailer, and it has nearly 400 perfect five-star reviews from customers.

Originally priced at $491, the chair is now reduced to as low as $250. Shoppers can choose from dark gray, gray, green, pink, and yellow. None of the colorways cost more than $260 after the discount, so buyers can snag a great deal on this piece no matter what.

Latitude Run 3-in-1 Adjustable Sleeper Sofa Chair, From $250 (was $491) at Wayfair

Courtesy of Wayfair

Shop at Wayfair

The frame of the chair is made from manufactured wood, while the legs and seat are made from sturdy metal. The upholstered outside features a linen blend fabric filled with foam for extra comfort. Additionally, the chairs comes with accent pillows and two handy side pockets where you can store remotes, reading materials, and other essentials.

Because it can be easily converted into a chaise lounge or compact bed, buyers essentially get a trio of quality furniture pieces in the Latitude Run 3-in-1 Adjustable Sleeper Chair. With hundreds of glowing reviews, it’s clear that the piece has become a reliable favorite among Wayfair fans.

One reviewer wrote: “[It’s] just perfect as an extra sleeping space in our guest bedroom at our beach house! It converts really easily, and it’s lightweight enough to move around if necessary.”

Assembly gets high marks as well. While you’ll have to put it together yourself, all the tools you need are included with the chair, and shoppers noted that it’s simple to put together.

Measuring 36.1 inches high by 33 inches wide by 33.7 inches deep, the chair is roomy yet compact enough to fit in well with smaller spaces. Many reviewers mentioned how pleased they were with the restrained size.

“This is great for small spaces!” one customer wrote. “I have two in the living room as side chairs. They were easy to assemble with the instructions!”

Related: Be the Envy of the Block This Halloween With Wayfair’s LED Jack O’Lanterns That Never Rot

With its blend of comfort, looks, and functionality, this is an overall great addition to any room. Grab the Latitude Run 3-in-1 Adjustable Sleeper Sofa Chair now while it’s still on sale at Wayfair!

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If your windows feel cold in winter, let in too much summer heat or seem to push your energy bills higher, replacing them can feel like a major decision. The glass alone comes with unfamiliar terms: Low-E, argon, U-factor, SHGC, double-pane, triple-pane…the list goes on and on.

For most homeowners, double-pane glass with a Low-E coating and argon gas fill delivers strong energy efficiency without the added cost and weight of triple-pane glass. But climate, window orientation and the condition of the existing window all matter.

If your windows are drafty, fogged between panes or difficult to operate, a professional inspection from Renewal by Andersen can determine whether repair or replacement makes more sense.

Are double-pane argon gas windows efficient?

Yes. Double-pane argon windows are an energy-efficient choice when paired with Low-E glass and an insulated frame. Two panes slow heat transfer, argon insulates the space between them, and Low-E coatings reflect radiant heat. ENERGY STAR and the U.S. Department of Energy recognize these features as core components of high-performance windows.

Why Argon Improves Double-Pane Glass

Argon is an inert gas used between insulated glass panes. It transfers heat less readily than air, reducing heat movement through the window. Low-E coatings address another part of the problem by reflecting radiant heat while allowing visible light through.

The result is a window assembly that reduces unwanted heat loss during cold weather and heat gain during warm weather. The frame, spacer system and installation also affect the finished window’s performance.

Renewal by Andersen describes its Low-E4® glass as a balanced option for homes facing both heating and cooling demands. Its published guidance also notes that climate should influence the glass selection.

Related: Best Replacement Windows for Pet Owners: Scratch-Resistant Screens & Glass

Double-pane vs. triple-pane: Which saves more energy?

Triple-pane windows generally provide greater insulation because they add another glass layer and insulating space. That does not make triple-pane the right choice for every replacement project. Double-pane Low-E argon windows already provide strong performance, while triple-pane makes more sense when colder conditions, comfort goals or maximum efficiency justify the additional investment.

Feature

Double-Pane + Low-E Argon

Triple-Pane

Glass layers

2

3

Insulating spaces

1

2

Argon or other gas fill

Common

Common

Heat-transfer resistance

High

Higher

Upfront cost

Generally lower

Generally higher

Weight

Lower

Higher

Best fit

Many homes and climates

Colder climates and higher-performance projects

The Department of Energy has documented the performance advantage of triple-pane technology. Its research reports that upgrading new-home windows from double-pane to triple-pane improved energy-efficiency performance by 40% or more in studied applications. Those figures describe specific high-performance window configurations, not a guaranteed household energy-bill reduction.

Renewal by Andersen’s own product information similarly positions enhanced triple-pane glass as its highest-efficiency glass option, particularly for colder climates. Select Renewal by Andersen triple-pane products have also received ENERGY STAR Most Efficient recognition.

What matters more than the number of panes?

A window’s overall performance depends on more than pane count. Look at U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient, Low-E coating, frame construction and installation quality. A well-designed double-pane window can outperform a poorly specified triple-pane window for a particular home and climate.

U-Factor

U-factor measures how readily heat moves through a window. Lower is better for reducing heat transfer.

This number matters especially in colder climates, where homeowners want to limit heat escaping through the glass. The Department of Energy recommends considering lower U-factors in heating-dominated climates.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

SHGC measures how much solar heat enters through the window. A lower SHGC generally makes sense where unwanted solar heat is a major concern. In colder climates, a higher SHGC can sometimes be desirable because sunlight contributes useful heat.

That is why there is no single glass specification that fits every house. Window performance should be matched to the home’s climate and exposure.

The Frame and Installation

Glass gets most of the attention, but the entire window has to work as a system. DOE guidance points to insulated frames, spacers and low air leakage as important parts of an energy-efficient window. Installation matters, too: even highly efficient windows can perform poorly if they are improperly installed.

If an existing window has a failing seal, damaged frame or persistent air leakage, replacing only the glass may not address the underlying problem.

Related: Renewal by Andersen vs. Pella: Which Replacement Windows Are Worth the Money?

When does triple-pane make sense?

Triple-pane windows make the strongest case in colder climates and homes where improved insulation and interior comfort are major priorities. They provide another insulating layer and can reduce heat transfer beyond what a comparable double-pane configuration achieves.

For homeowners in moderate climates, the decision is less straightforward. The additional efficiency may not justify the added cost for every project. Energy Star and DOE guidance focus on the complete performance rating rather than automatically favoring one window technology.

Renewal by Andersen‘s published glass guidance makes a similar distinction: double-pane glass is presented as a strong all-around option, while triple-pane is aimed at homeowners who want additional insulation and are comfortable with the higher upfront cost.

If your current windows are visibly failing, the first question should be whether the entire window needs replacement. Drafts, condensation between panes, deteriorated frames and windows that no longer operate properly are useful clues.

If you are feeling cold drafts or seeing condensation between panes, a free in-home window inspection can identify whether the problem is the glass, frame, installation or the entire unit.

New Windows From Renewal by Andersen

Renewal by Andersen

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How do you choose energy-efficient windows for your home?

Start with your climate and existing window condition, then compare the whole-window NFRC ratings rather than choosing based on pane count alone. For many homeowners, Low-E double-pane glass with argon offers a practical combination of insulation and cost. Triple-pane is worth evaluating when higher insulation performance is a priority.

Before requesting quotes, check:

• U-factor: Lower values indicate better resistance to heat transfer.
• SHGC: Match the rating to your climate and sun exposure.
• Low-E coating: Helps control radiant heat and UV transmission.
• Frame material: Frames affect thermal performance and air leakage.
• Installation: A high-performing window still needs proper installation.
• ENERGY STAR certification: Provides an independently established performance benchmark.

ENERGY STAR-qualified windows have been associated with lower household energy use, but the actual savings from replacement depend on the existing windows, local climate, utility costs and other characteristics of the home.

For homeowners comparing double-pane and triple-pane options, that makes the decision more specific than simply asking which window is “best.” The right specification is the one that addresses the home’s actual heat loss, solar exposure and comfort problems without paying for performance the house does not need.

Renewal by Andersen offers free in-home consultations for homeowners evaluating replacement windows. A professional can assess the existing windows, discuss glass options suited to the home and provide a quote for the project.

Dee Valladares. Drew Campbell. Rick Devens. Taylor Campbell. One week from tonight, one of these four people will walk out of the Big Brother 28 house $750,000 richer. The Final Four had no time to mourn the recently-evicted Melody Morris, as the quartet went hard in a series of do-or-die competitions, with a spot in the finale on the line. We’ll update this story throughout the night as the competition and eviction results are revealed during a live two-hour episode.

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Who was eliminated on Big Brother 28 tonight? Dee Valladares Dee Valladares on ‘Big Brother 28’

Evan Mulling / CBS

Who was the HoH on Big Brother 28 tonight? Taylor Brown Taylor Brown on ‘Big Brother 28’

Evan Mulling/CBS

For weeks, Taylor has been regarded as one of the least threatening players, an easy person to take to the end. But, like a vampire, she was just waiting for the right time to spill some blood. Taylor took home a much-needed HoH win at the Final Four, earning her spot on finale night.

Who were the nominations on Big Brother 28 tonight? Dee Valladares Drew Campbell

Dee Valladares on ‘Big Brother 28’

Evan Mulling / CBS

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

While the Final Four nominees are essentially meaningless, Taylor wanted to hide her closeness with Dee by putting her on the block. She also hoped to keep Devens, her true target, comfortable by keeping him off her initial nominations.

Related: ‘Big Brother 28′ Shifts Schedule and Cancels Episode Ahead of Finale — Here’s When to Watch

Who won the Veto tonight on Big Brother 28? Drew Campbell Drew Campbell on ‘Big Brother 28’

Evan Mulling/CBS

Yet again, Drew was in a must-win spot on the block. And yet again, he pulled through with a victory. Drew earned the final Veto of the season, locking his spot in on finale night and guaranteeing an icon to go.

Who’s left in the game on Big Brother 28? Drew Campbell Rick Devens Taylor Brown

Related: ‘Big Brother 28’s Melody Morris Says Aligning With Drew ‘Hurt More Than It Helped’ (Exclusive)

There are some foods whose names tell you exactly what you’re getting. Chocolate cake. Chicken noodle soup. Honey-baked ham.

And then there are funeral potatoes.

If you’ve never encountered them before, the name might not exactly get your stomach rumbling. But what’s hiding behind that slightly morbid moniker is about as comforting as comfort food gets: tender potatoes swimming in a creamy, cheesy sauce and baked under a buttery, crunchy topping.

And despite the name, you definitely don’t need to wait for a somber occasion to make them.

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Funeral potatoes have long since made the leap from their namesake gatherings to potlucks, holidays, family dinners and anywhere else a big pan of cheesy potatoes is likely to disappear quickly. They’re inexpensive, easy to make for a crowd and built around the kind of familiar ingredients that have kept American casseroles on dinner tables for generations.

“What I love about funeral potatoes is that they’re really a recipe about hospitality disguised as a casserole,” says recipe developer Kara Brook Brown. That sentiment might be the best way to understand their enduring appeal. This is a dish created for showing up with something warm and comforting when people need it—and one that turned out to be far too good to save for funerals.

But that still leaves the obvious question: How did a cheesy potato casserole end up with such a gloomy name in the first place? Learn why they’re called funeral potatoes below, plus how to make them like a pro.

Why Are They Called Funeral Potatoes?

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Funeral potatoes have long been associated with Utah, but despite that association, nobody can say for certain exactly who invented the beloved potato dish.

While the exact origins are a little murky, what we do know is that the casserole became easier to make as convenience ingredients like frozen potatoes and condensed cream soups became staples in American kitchens. Chef and author Jimmy Proffit says it was only natural that those ingredients would find their way into hearty dishes that could be put together quickly and feed a crowd of people.

The name, however, has much clearer ties to Utah and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church’s Relief Society, a women’s organization with a long tradition of providing meals and other assistance to families in need, commonly served cheesy potato casseroles at post-funeral luncheons. Over time, those occasions are likely what led to their memorable name.

Interestingly, the casserole itself is hardly unique to Utah. A 2002 Deseret News report found versions across the country called everything from Party Potatoes in New Jersey to Church Social Potato Casserole in Virginia and Hash Brown Potato Casserole in the South. The report also noted that many Utahns didn’t begin using the term “funeral potatoes” until the late 1990s, even though versions of the casserole had been served at funeral meals long before then.

That’s consistent with Proffit’s experience in the South, where he says the dish has a long history under names like hash brown casserole or cheesy potato casserole and can be found in countless church and community fundraiser cookbooks. “When someone passes away in the South, we show up with food, and lots of it,” he says.

Whatever you call them, the idea behind the dish is essentially the same: Feed a lot of people something warm and comforting without making life any more complicated than it needs to be.

Related: The Best Way To Make Hash Browns 10x Better, According to an Award-Winning Chef

What’s in Classic Funeral Potatoes?

ksushachmeister / Getty Images

There isn’t one official funeral potatoes recipe, but the classic ingredient list should look pretty familiar if you’ve spent any time around a church potluck.

“Most recipes will start with frozen hash brown potatoes, but some use frozen cubed potatoes, or home fries if you will,” Proffit says. From there, he says you’ll typically find sour cream, cream of chicken or mushroom soup, onion and cheese, followed by a crispy topping made with cornflakes, cracker crumbs or breadcrumbs.

Proffit takes a more from-scratch approach. He cubes fresh russet potatoes with their skins still on, parboils them for about 10 minutes and sautés diced onion in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet. He warms the sour cream, cream of chicken soup and butter before combining everything with sharp cheese and finishing it with buttery cracker crumbs.

The fresh potatoes have a personal connection too. Proffitt’s first kitchen job at age 15 involved boiling 50 pounds of potatoes every evening at a truck stop—half destined to become hash browns the next morning, and the rest baked potatoes for lunch and dinner.

Brown also likes to give the classic recipe a little upgrade. She swaps the canned soup for a homemade creamy sauce and adds sharp cheddar, plenty of black pepper and a little Dijon mustard. She sticks with the traditional cornflake topping because the contrast between creamy potatoes and a crisp top is such an important part of the dish.

Her most unexpected addition? A tiny bit of honey. “You don’t want the potatoes to taste sweet,” Brown says. “You’re using just enough honey to round out the salty, tangy flavors.”

Do You Have to Thaw Hash Browns for Funeral Potatoes?

AnthonyRosenberg / Getty Images

If you’re sticking with the classic bag of frozen hash browns, Proffitt recommends thawing them at least partially before assembling your casserole.

The biggest issue is moisture. Frozen potatoes can release water as they cook, which can leave your otherwise rich, creamy casserole looking watery. Starting with frozen potatoes can also dramatically increase the amount of time it takes for the casserole to heat all the way through.

“If you are showing up with a dish, it better be good!” Proffitt says. Thawing the hash browns ahead of time is an easy extra step that can help you get there.

How to Make Funeral Potatoes Ahead of Time

Nature, food, landscape, travel / Getty Images

Part of what made funeral potatoes such a useful dish for church gatherings and grieving families is also what makes them a great modern-day potluck option: They handle make-ahead preparation remarkably well.

Proffitt says you can assemble the entire casserole ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it, with one important exception: Leave off that crunchy topping until you’re ready to bake.

If you’ve frozen the casserole, transfer it to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight before baking.

Already baked it? That’s fine too. Proffitt recommends covering the casserole and reheating it at 350°F for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until it’s heated through. Uncover it for the final five minutes to help crisp the topping back up.

Or take a page from Proffitt’s book and add a fresh handful of buttery cracker crumbs before reheating. After all, a casserole built around taking care of people shouldn’t make the cook’s life harder. And whether they’re headed to a funeral luncheon, holiday table or neighborhood potluck, that’s probably one reason these cheesy potatoes have managed to stick around for generations.

Sources:

• Jimmy Proffitt is a self-taught chef, food writer and author of Seasoned in Appalachia: Delicious Recipes from the Mountains and Hollers. Born in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, he began cooking at age 15 and currently serves as marketing brand manager and historian for The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Proffitt has contributed to Okra, Southern Cast Iron and Taste of the South, which named him a Taste50 honoree in 2022.
• Kara Brook Brown is a recipe developer, beekeeper and founder of Bee Inspired. She creates recipes centered around natural, whole ingredients, including raw honey, herbs and fruit, with a focus on using them as alternatives to refined sugars and highly processed ingredients. Brown founded Bee Inspired after beginning beekeeping at Chesterhaven Beach Farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where she focused on incorporating honey and other natural ingredients into everyday cooking.

Related: We Asked 5 Chefs the One Grocery Item They Always Buy Generic—One Kept Coming Up

Current NBA All-Star Kevin Durant has teased retirement after the upcoming season. One of the most memorable moments of his legendary career was when he claimed his mom to be “the real MVP” after winning the coveted award following the 2013-14 season.

But he, along with every other NBA MVP, has one man to thank for breaking the mold: Robert E. Lee Pettit, Jr., better known as Bob Pettit.

The NBA’s very first MVP winner was from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, earning the nickname “The Bombardier from Baton Rouge.” Pettit was a two-time All-American at LSU before being drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks with the second overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft.

After an iconic career with two MVPs, 11 All-Star appearances and four All-Star Game MVPs, Pettit became a banker and financial consultant. He was beloved by fans and peers for his role in growing the game of basketball and continuing to serve as an ambassador for the sport after he took his final shot.

Pettit passed away on September 23, 2026 at his Louisiana home at the age of 93. No cause of death was provided.

Not only was Pettit an MVP player, but he was ultimately inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame after playing his entire 11-year career with the Milwaukee and St. Louis Hawks.

The Hall of Fame was one of many to send condolences after his death was announced, saying he was “a sleek, skilled big man who revolutionized the forward position during his career. The 11-time NBA All-Star and 2-time MVP retired as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and left an enduring legacy.”

The Chicks’ “Goodbye Earl” remains one of the most recognizable country songs from the early 2000s, and its long-lasting place in country music history received another boost when it was ranked among the list of the “100 Best Country Songs of All Time.”

Released as a single in 2000 from the group’s 1999 album Fly, “Goodbye Earl” became known for its unusual mix of country storytelling, dark comedy and a serious story about domestic abuse. 

The song also has a special connection to Taylor Swift, who once described it as her “go-to talent show song.”

According to Songfacts, Swift shared the story during her 1989 World Tour stop in Los Angeles on Aug. 24, 2015. She then brought The Chicks’ lead singer Natalie Maines onto the stage to perform the song with her.

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Meanwhile, Billboard’s 2025 list placed “Goodbye Earl” at No. 92. Billboard described the song as a story about two friends, Wanda and Mary Ann, whose lives take very different paths after high school.

Wanda stays in her small town and marries Earl, who becomes abusive. After Wanda suffers a serious attack and ends up in intensive care, Mary Ann returns to help her friend. The two eventually decide that Earl has to die.

The song uses black comedy to tell the story, with Wanda and Mary Ann poisoning Earl’s black-eyed peas before disposing of his body. The story ends with Earl becoming a “missing person that nobody missed.”

Despite sounding like a song that could have been created specifically for The Chicks, “Goodbye Earl” was actually written by country songwriter Dennis Linde. Linde was also known for writing Elvis Presley’s “Burning Love.”

Before The Chicks recorded the song, Sons of the Desert had discovered it and used it in their live shows. The group also recorded it, but the song ultimately went to The Chicks, who included it on Fly.

The recording featured Linde on acoustic guitar. Blake Chancey and Paul Worley, who produced the track with the group, also contributed backing vocals alongside Charlie Robison.

“Goodbye Earl” became a different kind of hit for The Chicks. The group had already established a strong run on the country charts, but the song reached No. 13 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It also reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on that chart for 15 weeks.

Years after “Goodbye Earl” first became a hit, Taylor Swift showed just how familiar she was with the song.

During her 2015 Los Angeles concert, Swift told the audience that “Goodbye Earl” used to be her “go-to talent show song.” She then invited Natalie Maines onto the stage, giving the crowd a performance that connected two generations of country and pop music.

Swift has long been a fan of The Chicks. That relationship later became even more visible when The Chicks appeared on Swift’s “Soon You’ll Get Better,” which reached No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019.

More than two decades after its release, “Goodbye Earl” continues to stand out because it combines a serious subject with a fictional story told through sharp humor.

Related: Major Billboard Hit, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Songs of All Time,’ Was Originally Not Written for Britney Spears