Parade

Melissa Villaseñor has some exciting news for her younger fans.

The stand-up comedian, impressionist and former Saturday Night Live cast member’s newest book, Cat and Lola: School Picture Day, is out now. The children’s picture book follows Cat and Lola, two best friends. When school picture day is around the corner, Cat, who is a former social media influencer, helps Lola find the perfect outfit.

Illustrated by Mexican artist Jimena Sánchez Sarquiz and written by Villaseñor, this early reader graphic novel is “perfect for kids who love funny stories and characters who don’t always agree, but always care.”

The book is aimed at young readers from age 6-10, but anyone can enjoy a fun picture book.

View this post on Instagram

Born and raised in Southern California, Villaseñor started her stand-up comedy career when she was just 15 years old at a Laugh Factory Camp in Hollywood. She received national recognition when she was a semifinalist in the sixth season of America’s Got Talent and was apart of the lineup in the 2010 Just for Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival.

Villaseñor first auditioned for SNL in 2009, but didn’t get hired. Seven years later, she was a cast member on the iconic late-night sketch comedy show, joining at the start of its 42nd season alongside Mikey Day and Alex Moffat. The comedian was SNL‘s first full Latina cast member and was known for her impressions of various celebrities and public figures such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Dolly Parton, Kate McKinnon, Jennifer Lopez, Ana Navarro, Sia, Ariana Grande and more. She ended up departing SNL after six seasons to prioritize her mental health.

“At the end of the day, it was about my mental health,” the 38-year-old comedian said on The Daily Beast podcast. “Last season, I had a couple of panic attacks… I was struggling. I always felt like I was on the edge of a cliff every week. And I was like, ‘I don’t want to be doing that to myself anymore.'”

Melissa Villaseñor at SNL50: The Anniversary Special at 30 Rockefeller Plaza on February 16, 2025 in New York, New York.

John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images

After leaving SNL in 2022, Villaseñor has been touring all over the country, focusing on other creative projects and voice acting. She released her first stand-up special, Welp…What Now? on her YouTube channel in 2024, and booked prominent voiceover work, including roles in Ariel, Max & the Midknights, Toy Story 5 and Hoppers.

Villaseñor is also a singer and has two studio albums on Spotify. Her most recent was Canciones Hermosas, released in 2025, and includes eight tracks, all sung in Spanish.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6tyKUPS6AbZh41LQNm3iBd?si=ucI5NKGDTrqbrB7cazraSw

Cat and Lola: School Picture Day is Villaseñor’s second book. In 2022, the comedian released Whoops… I’m Awesome, a self-help and activity book featuring her own art and writing.

Cat and Lola: School Picture Day was published by Gloo Books and can be purchased on Amazon or the publisher’s site for $16.95.

Related: How Photographer Edie Baskin Defined the Look of ‘SNL’ for 25 Years (Exclusive)

Days of Our Lives’ Kristian Alfonso is opening up about her time on the soap opera she called home for over 40 years as Hope Williams Brady, and how she feels the show could be great again.

Alfonso was recently interviewed by Soap Central writer Michael Maloney, during which they discussed Bo’s (Peter Reckell) closure, Hope’s love story, and her overall love for the show.

During the conversation, Alfonso reflected on how Days of Our Lives’ decision to take their time with Bo and Hope’s love story contributed to the show’s success.  The actress shared how she felt a personal responsibility for her work. “I’ve always felt, and I hold myself accountable as well,” she said.

Alfonso explained that, as an actor, when you show up on set, “it should be all hands on deck.” The actress added, “We’re a team. You have to be a team.”

The actress shared that when you are part of the show, you can “Never take [anything] for granted.”

Alfonso believes that the show can be great again, but it is only when everyone, both behind-the-scenes and in front of the camera, works together. “I say that a show can always be a great, magnificent show if you have all hands on deck and everyone shows up,” Alfonso said.

Alfonso joined the cast of Days of Our Lives in 1983 as Hope Williams, the daughter of Doug Williams (Bill Hayes). Hope’s on-screen romance with Reckell’s Bo skyrocketed both of them into Super Couple status.

Alfonso left Days of Our Lives for the first time in 1987 alongside Reckell, before returning briefly in 1990 to facilitate the return of Reckell to the soap opera. She then returned full-time in 1994 and remained so until her full-time exit in 2020.

Alfonso has since made three further appearances, including a brief stint on the spin-off series Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem. Fans are hopeful that the actress will one day return once again to the soap opera.

In addition to her time in daytime, Alfonso’s credits include appearances in Falcon Crest, Full House, Melrose Place, and V.C. Andrews’ Landry Family, among others.

Days of Our Lives airs weekdays exclusively on Peacock.

Just as Netflix canceled Sweet Magnolias, it offered a renewal for fans of Crew Girl. A second season is officially in the works.

The news comes as no surprise at all, considering the viewership. Within the first four days on Netflix, Crew Girl amassed 5.2 million views. This was despite some mixed reviews, with critics rating it 75% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The first full week on the platform was the deciding factor, though. Again, despite the mixed reviews, double the audience tuned in to check out the series. That led to the show moving from the No. 4 spot to the No. 2 spot on the Global Top 10 for English-Language shows that week. The series pulled in 11.3 million views, which means 70.1 million hours of the series were watched.

What also isn’t surprising is that Netflix is doubling down on the YA content. Prime Video has already proved that young adult shows are where the interest is. The Summer I Turned Pretty and Elle quickly took off, and now that streamer has renewed Every Year After and Sterling Point for second seasons.

Crew Girl S1. (L to R) Miku Martineau as Teagan Tao and Kyle Clark as Cam Dillinger in Crew Girl S1. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026

Now, Netflix is seeing the YA Effect in action. Fans quickly took to social media with their Team Josh vs. Team Cam debate, and it feels its circa 2009 once more, with the debates over Team Edward and Team Jacob or over Team Stefan and Team Damon.

It’s also another win for Canadian sports romance content. Heated Rivalry started it all, but now Crew Girl continues the winning streak. Plus, just take into account the Canadian dramas like Sterling Point and Every Year After; it’s clear that the nation has something to share.

Miku Martineau plays Teagan Tao, a female rower who moves to the East Coast of the U.S. and finds out that the school doesn’t have a female rowing team. She isn’t going to let that stop her, though, and she becomes the coxswain for the boys’ team, and so starts a romance that she isn’t all too bothered about.

Martineau shared her excitement about the Crew Girl Season 2 renewal, saying, “There’s so much left to explore with the characters, the romances, and the rowing team.” She ended the statement with #teamteagan, making it clear which side she stands on.

The early renewal will hopefully help to keep the wait for new episodes to a minimum. After all, Netflix is struggling to get viewers back, finding a huge drop when it comes to the second season. It may help if the streamer can keep it to just a year between seasons.

 John Goodman is looking super svelte in a tux after dropping 200 pounds.

Goodman, 74, is best known for his role as Dan Conner in the legendary ABC sitcom Roseanne, in which he played a working-class dad opposite Roseanne Barr. He also left his mark on the film world in several Coen Brothers productions, including Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?. In recent years, he reprised his role as Conner in The Conners, but the series failed to find the same following that Roseanne did. However, he did find an entirely new generation of followers thanks to his hilarious performance on The Righteous Gemstones.

Now, the star is back on the red carpet, and looking more dapper than ever. Sporting a black tuxedo, Goodman attended the Digger Film and TV Charity Royal Film Performance and Global Premiere inside Leicester Square Gardens in London, England. Since dropping 200 pounds, the star has gotten his health and wellness squared away and appears to be thriving.

Variety / Getty Images

To show how far he’s come, take a look at Goodman back in the heyday of Roseanne.

ABC Photo Archives / Getty Images

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

What Kicked Off John Goodman’s Weight Loss Journey?

While Goodman’s weight loss may feel sudden, his journey actually began back in 2007. So what kicked off his decision to make some serious changes to his health?

“I just got tired, sick and tired of looking at myself,” Goodman told ABC News in 2016. “You’re shaving in the mirror, and you don’t want to look at yourself. It gets dangerous.”

When it comes to his favorite methods of working out, Goodman told AARP that he enjoys “getting out and walking the dogs” and “boxing.”

“Nobody’s going to get hurt, but it’s just hitting the mitts and trying to learn,” Goodman said in 2023.

What is Digger About?

The Hollywood Reporter describes Tom Cruise‘s role of Digger Rockwell as “the billionaire executive of a major company causing an environmental disaster via a methane leak that is threatening to displace millions of people.”

Goodman plays the President of the United States, while Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, Riz Ahmed, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sophie Wilde, and Emma D’Arcy also appear in the comedy, which is directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu.

Check out the trailer below:

Related: John Goodman Shares the Unexpected Reason He Quit Grilling as He Shows Off His 200-Pound Weight Loss

In season 35 of Dancing with the Stars, professional dancers Valentin Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson are paired with celebrities who have prior dancing experience, but they say challenges remain.

Chmerkovskiy, 40, is paired with Jenna Dewan, 45, who started her career as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson and is also known for her role as Nora Clark in the iconic 2006 dance film Step Up.

Johnson, 32, is paired with Harry Shum Jr., 44, who has a similar background to Dewan’s: he was a backup dancer for artists including Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez, and also played Mike Chang on Glee.

“Premiere: Night Two” – The female celebrities make their competition debut, performing to a No. 1 song from the year they were born, with one eliminated at the end of the night.

Eric McCandless / Getty Images

Speaking exclusively to In Touch, Johnson and Chmerkovskiy believe the judges factor in their dance partners’ prior experience when scoring.

Johnson elaborated: “I think you saw it in the premiere night. I think they are holding our partners to a little bit of a higher standard based on their experience, which is great. We don’t want a free pass. I think both of our partners are very hungry to do ballroom correctly and learn the technique and display it correctly, so it does add that pressure.”

Dewan and Chmerkovskiy, for example, didn’t top the women’s leaderboard during premiere week, earning 19 out of a possible 30 points. Shum Jr. and Johnson, on the other hand, earned 21 out of a possible 30 points, topping the male celebrities’ leaderboard that week.

Chmerkovskiy added that while he thinks Dewan’s “talent is a huge advantage,” the real assets she brings to the show are her artistry and eagerness to reveal herself to the world as an incredible person and mother. He believes all of this translates well to Dancing with the Stars.

Johnson hopes her Glee alum dance partner can rekindle his love for dance, which she says he lost because of high stress and pressure. The pair were prepared for early criticism, but they both agreed that their main focus should be to bring joy to dance. For now, she’s proud that the show’s popularity “has exploded” and, as a result, has brought dance back to the forefront of conversations and public interest.

Dancing with the Stars held its season 35 premiere over two nights, September 15 and September 16. 

Dancing with the Stars is available to watch on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

Related: Derek Hough Sends a Direct Message After Backlash Over ‘DWTS’ Premiere Scores

Little Debbie’s Oatmeal Creme Pie has now been a household staple for 65 years.

Although the McKee Foods Corporation-owned sweet treat didn’t officially debut until 1960, it’s been around since 1935. O.D. McKee created the recipe while working at a bake shop. He made soft cookies that held a sweet, creamy filling that turned into the creme pie we know today.

The confection that the company calls the “snack that started it all” on the Little Debbie’s website has earned a huge following. However, some fans are questioning whether the Oatmeal Creme Pie has changed its signature recipe.

Little Debbie snacks. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Online, customers are speculating that the treat tastes different in recent months. Many point to potential ingredient changes and size differences, per Tasting Table. The dessert is composed of “Whole grain oats, molasses, and irresistible creme filling combine to create this classic treat,” per the brand’s website.

Little Debbie’s has denied these claims.

“Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies have been a staple treat for decades, and the iconic recipe consumers know and love remains essentially the same,” a spokesperson for Little Debbie’s parent company, McKee Foods, told People in a recent statement.

“Like all packaged food products, minor adjustments are occasionally made over time to account for regulatory updates or ingredient sourcing changes,” the statement continued. “However, there has been no major or intentional reformulation of the Oatmeal Creme Pie—it continues to be crafted to deliver the exact same taste and experience our fans have enjoyed for generations.”

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

As fall migration gets underway, September is a fun time to keep an eye out for hummingbirds making their way south for the winter. A well-placed feeder can give these tiny visitors a welcoming place to stop for a drink, while giving you another reason to spend more time enjoying the backyard before cooler weather settles in.

If you’re hoping to attract a few feathered visitors this fall, Walmart has a pretty option on sale right now. The Koralakiri Glass Hummingbird Feeder is just $23, down from $36. It comes in blue and red and features a retro-inspired glass design that adds a pop of color to an outdoor space. Each feeder is individually hand-blown, so slight variations in the glass pattern may occur, making each one unique. Bird-lovers are already loving its “vibrant” design, with some saying it quickly attracted hummingbirds to their yards once it was set up. 

Koralakiri Glass Hummingbird Feeder, $23 (was $36) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Measuring 9 inches long and 6 inches wide and tall, the Koralakiri feeder holds up to 27 ounces of nectar, giving hummingbirds plenty of room to come and go throughout the day. Four metal, flower-shaped ports let several birds sip at once, while the 360-degree metal perch gives them a place to land and linger between drinks.

The feeder’s wide mouth makes it easier to refill and keep clean between visits from hummingbirds. When it needs a deeper cleaning, you can take the feeder apart for a more thorough scrubbing. A cleaning brush is included to get into the hard-to-reach areas. 

To help keep unwanted visitors away from the nectar, the feeder has an integrated ant moat and bee-resistant ports. Shoppers also said it was “easy to set-up,” thanks in part to the included S-hook and hemp rope for hanging. 

Walmart shoppers also loved the feeder’s colorful design and how quickly it became a hit with hummingbirds. One shopper joked, “If hummingbirds could leave reviews, they’d probably complain that I don’t refill it fast enough.” Another praised its red and orange tones for attracting the birds and said it’s a “great buy and value.”

Another shopper called the feeder “beautiful and well made,” adding that it was much nicer looking than standard feeders they had purchased before.

Shop More Deals

• Youpins 3-Shelf Portable Closet, $30 (was $50) at Walmart
• Costway 2-Piece Modern Floating Nightstand Set, From $60 (was $70) at Walmart
• Camel Windbreaker, $18 (was $29) at Walmart

Related: Walmart’s ‘Cute’ $23 Gnome Bird Bath Oozing With Cottagecore Whimsy Turns Your Yard Into a Dreamy Storybook Garden

At just $23, the Koralakiri Glass Hummingbird Feeder is a fun way to welcome a few more feathered visitors to your backyard this fall. The flash deal is only available for a limited time, so be sure to grab one at Walmart while it’s on sale! 

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.

The best home products do more than sit on a shelf, fill a cabinet or look good in a room. They earn their keep. They make the daily routines feel easier, cleaner, calmer or simply more pleasant—be it the morning coffee, the weeknight dinner, the laundry pile, or the bed you climb into at the end of the day.

That was the thinking behind Parade’s 2026 Household Superstar Awards. We wanted to identify the products that actually improve life at home: the appliances worth the counter space, the bedding worth making the bed for, the cleaning tools that pull their weight, and the small upgrades that make an ordinary Tuesday run a little more smoothly.

To find them, we went beyond polished product descriptions and online reviews. Parade editors and writers tested items in their own homes, using them the way real households do: cooking, cleaning, sleeping, hosting, rushing, rinsing and repeating. We looked for products that performed well, solved real problems, felt good to use and justified the space they take up.

Some winners are everyday essentials. Others are the kind of small indulgences that make home feel more considered or comfortable. All of them stood out for one reason: they made life at home better.

How We Tested These Household Products

To come up with our shortlist, we began with recommendations from industry sources, personal experience and products already generating interest in the home space. From there, we selected top contenders and assigned them to testers who could evaluate them in the context they were actually designed for—their homes.

Our judges evaluated the products on criteria including: 

• Overall performance: How well did it handle its primary job, and was that performance consistent over time?
• Quality & value: Did the materials, construction and experience feel in line with the price?
• Comfort: Where relevant, did it feel pleasant, supportive or noticeably better to use?
• Design & style: Was it thoughtfully designed, both functionally and visually?
• Ease of setup & use: How straightforward was it to assemble, operate, clean, maintain or incorporate into a routine?
• Innovation: Did it introduce a genuinely useful feature, improve on a familiar format or offer a more effective solution than comparable products?

Testers also considered how products wore as time went on, health and environmental implications, and how online reviewers experienced the products, too. As they used each product, testers scored them across each criteria. The strongest performers earned a 2026 Parade Household Superstar designation.

Our Team of Experts

Our team of judges was made up of members of our editorial staff, and writers who specialize in testing home products, including:

Kaitlin Madden, a home editor at Parade.com, a mom of three and owner of a 1930s fixer upper, who she spends a lot of time cleaning up and working on her home, She’s been writing about and testing home products for more than 15 years, for publications like Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, and Joss & Main/Wayfair. 

Ashley Zlatopolsky, a home and garden contributor to Parade.com whose work has also appeared in Real Simple, Apartment Therapy and Architectural Digest. As a Certified Sleep Science Coach, she brought expert (shut) eyes to our bedding category.

Annie Collyer, a freelance home and garden writer and reviewer for Parade.com, and the former head of e-commerce for RealHomes.com. She has spent years hand-testing the best in home products and knows a keeper when she sees one.

Mark Marino, a home-focused writer and editor, and the former director of product content at Apartment Therapy. He’s tested hundreds of products, ranging from coffee makers and cookware, to bedding and cleaning products. He aims to help readers make the best product choices when shopping online and get the most bang for their buck. Mark’s work has appeared on People, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, and The Strategist.

Brittany Galla, the editorial director of Parade.com, as well as a mom of two and a dog mom of three. She put some of this year’s cleaning and home care contenders through a real-life gauntlet of crumbs, paw prints and everyday messes.

Top 41 Home Products of 2026 Cleaning & Laundry

• Best Stick Vacuum: BISSELL PowerClean DualBrush
• Best Robot Vacuum: Dreame L50 Ultra Robot Vacuum
• Best Robo Mop or Hard-Floor Cleaner: Roborock Qrevo 2
• Best Carpet Cleaner: BISSELL Revolution HydroSteam Pet
• Best Upholstery Cleaner: Shark StainForce
• Best Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner: BISSELL CrossWave HydroScrub All-in-One
• Best All-Purpose Cleaner: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi Surface Cleaner
• Best Dishwasher Detergent: Finish Ultimate Quantum Dishwasher Pods
• Best Laundry Detergent: Tide Evo Original Laundry Detergent Tiles
• Best Stain Remover: Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater

Home Essentials & Comfort

• Best Air Purifier: Shark NeverChange Compact Pro
• Best Humidifier: Vornado MISTIC™ 8 TRUE Top-Fill™ Ultrasonic Humidifier
• Best Fan: Shark TurboBlade Fan
• Best Clothing Steamer or Iron: Vornado Passport™ Handheld Travel Steamer
• Best Home Fragrance: Quince Dark Pomegranate Candle
• Best Smart Calendar: Skylight Calendar 2

Furniture, Decor & Organization

• Best Sofa: Chita Living Ohana 3-Seat Zero Gravity Modular Reclining Sofa
• Best Bed Frame: Quince Linen Upholstered Wingback Bed
• Best Washable Rug: Ruggable Tufted All-in-One
• Best Storage Bins: The Container Store Clear WeatherTight Totes
• Best Pantry Organizer: Caraway 13-pc Glass Airtight Container Set
• Best Closet Organizer: The Container Store Clear Shelf Divider

Kitchen & Cooking

• Best Countertop/Toaster Oven: Our Place Wonder Oven
• Best Air Fryer: Ninja CRISPi Pro
• Best Stainless Steel Cookware: Quince 5-Ply Stainless Steel Frying Pan
• Best Nonstick Cookware: GreenPan Reserve 2-Pc. Hard-Anodized Nonstick Frypan
• Best Blender: Breville Fresh & Furious Blender
• Best Coffee Maker: Caraway Coffee Maker
• Best Espresso Machine: Nespresso Lattissima One Original Espresso Machine

Sleep, Bedding & Bath

• Best Mattress: Awara Classic Hybrid Mattress
• Best Mattress Pad: Wamsutta Supreme Comfort Cool and Dry Mattress Pad
• Best Pillow: Vesta LimeZen™ Silk-Filled Pillow
• Best Down Pillow: The Company Store Legends Hotel™ Best Down Gusseted Premium Pillow
• Best Cotton Sheets: Boll & Branch Percale Hemmed Sheet Set
• Best Cooling Sheets: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set
• Best Down Comforter: The Company Store LaCrosse™ Premium Down Medium Warmth Comforter
• Best Down Alternative Comforter: Cozy Earth Down Alternative Comforter
• Best Duvet Cover: The Company Store Company Cotton™ Classic Cool Cotton Percale Bed Duvet Cover
• Best Bath Towels: Boll & Branch Turkish Ultra Plush Bath Towel
• Best Bath Mat: Weezie Luxury Bath Rug
• Best Robe: Riley Home Four Layer Robe

Parade Household Superstar Awards Best Stick Vacuum: BISSELL PowerClean DualBrush

Home writer and product tester Annie Collyer has tested enough vacuums to know exactly what she wants from one: strong cleaning power without the bulk. The BISSELL PowerClean DualBrush hit that balance. Collyer called it a “lightweight [appliance] that still delivers a proper clean,” and especially appreciated its cordless design and how easy it is to carry between floors.

Best Robot Vacuum: Dreame L50 Ultra Robot Vacuum

Perhaps the biggest compliment you can give a cleaning appliance is that it saves you time, and that’s exactly what Collyer loved most about the Dreame L50 Ultra Robot Vacuum. “It cut my weekly cleaning time almost in half,” she says. Collyer also praised its powerful yet quiet motor, dual roller brushes that tackle pet hair with ease, and extending side brush that reaches into edges and corners other vacuums can miss.

Best Robo Mop or Hard-Floor Cleaner: Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro Series

While the Roborock Qrevo 2 is both a robot vacuum and mop, it was the mopping performance that seriously impressed our tester, Kelsey Pelzer, Parade’s lifestyle content director. “When it’s done vacuuming, it automatically connects the mop spinners, adds water and mops the hard floor areas without the user having to designate where to go,” she said. “And when it’s done, it cleans itself.” Pelzer found that seamless switch between vacuuming and mopping especially useful in her own home, where hard floors and carpet meet throughout the space.

Best Carpet Cleaner: BISSELL Revolution HydroSteam Pet

The BISSELL Revolution HydroSteam didn’t just tackle visible stains in home editor Kaitlin Madden’s space. It uncovered dirt her regular cleaning routine had left behind. “This machine pulled months of ground-in dirt and stains out of my carpet, but the real shock was how much dog hair it lifted that my vacuum had clearly been missing,” Madden said. She also found it easy to assemble and appreciated the added steam-cleaning function.

Best Upholstery Cleaner: Shark StainForce

A toddler and a dog provide plenty of opportunities to test a stain remover, and Collyer, who has one of each, found the Shark StainForce more than capable of keeping up. Since she started using it, she’s put it to the test on everything from red wine on a rug to dried chocolate, and it tackled both with easy success. Another plus? The cordless, compact design, which made it easy to grab for quick cleanups. You can read her whole review of the Shark Stain Force cleaner here.

Best Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner: BISSELL CrossWave HydroScrub All-in-One

Speaking of pets and children, Parade’s editorial director Brittany Galla shares her home with three dogs and two kids, making it the perfect laboratory for testing floor cleaners. What stood out to Galla about the BISSELL CrossWave HydroScrub All-in-One, in-particular, is how well it performed at both vacuuming and mopping. “Being able to vacuum and wash my floors at the same time made cleaning up everyday messes so much faster,” she said.

Best All-Purpose Cleaner: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi Surface Cleaner

After testing plenty of all-purpose cleaners over the years, Madden always goes back to Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day. “I love that it’s made with 98% naturally derived ingredients, but it’s still powerful enough for everyday cleanups like wiping down counters and tackling spills,” she said. What really sets it apart, though, is the scent. “They smell light, fresh and natural instead of overly chemical or perfumed,” Madden said. Her longtime favorite: lavender.

Best Dishwasher Detergent: Finish Ultimate Quantum Dishwasher Pods

A dishwasher detergent proves itself when the dishes go in less than sparkling. That’s what stuck out about Finish Ultimate Quantum. “I love that my kids are finally old enough to put their own dishes in the dishwasher, but they don’t do the best job of pre-rinsing them,” Madden said. Even with dried-on oatmeal, ketchup and other leftovers still clinging to plates, she found the pods reliably got dishes clean.

Best Laundry Detergent: Tide Evo Original Laundry Detergent Tiles

Tide

Tide Evo Laundry Detergent Tiles take much of what’s appealing about laundry pods—the pre-measured amount and no messy measuring caps—and packages it in a tile without the plastic casing. Madden found the cleaning performance every bit as dependable as the Tide liquid detergent. “You get the convenience of a pod without the plastic casing or the plastic container, since they come in packaged in a recyclable cardboard box. Plus, my clothes came out just as clean as they do with the regular Tide liquid,” she said.

Best Stain Remover: Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater

Some cleaning products end up relegated to the back of the cabinet, but Miss Mouth’s is one that Madden makes sure she never runs out of. “This stuff is borderline magic,” she said. “Fruit stains, like strawberries, vanish on contact, and just about everything else lifts out in the wash,” she said. In fact, it’s one product Madden keeps on subscription so there’s always a bottle on hand.

Best Air Purifier: Shark NeverChange Compact Pro

The Shark NeverChange Compact Pro proves an air purifier doesn’t need to dominate a room to make itself useful. Collyer calls the purifier “small but seriously mighty,” pointing to its compact footprint, decor-friendly color options and low-maintenance filter system. She also liked the color-changing air-quality indicator, which makes it easy to check conditions at a glance while auto mode handles the adjustments.

Best Humidifier: Vornado MISTIC™ 8 TRUE Top-Fill™ Ultrasonic Humidifier

The Vornado MISTIC 8 earned points from Galla for making a notoriously fiddly appliance much easier to live with. “The top-fill design and large tank mean I don’t have to lug it back and forth or worry about spills,” she said. It also runs quietly enough for overnight use, offers both warm and cool mist and automatically shuts off once it reaches the selected humidity level.

Best Fan: Shark TurboBlade Fan

After testing the Shark TurboBlade through hot summer nights, Collyer found its biggest advantage was how customizable the airflow felt. The fan can be positioned vertically or horizontally, adjusted in height and angled to direct air exactly where it’s needed. “I also loved the NaturalBreeze mode, which simulates a natural wind,” Collyer said in her review of the product, noting that the gentler setting worked especially well for sleeping. She was also impressed by its power, range of speed settings and lightweight design, ultimately calling it “the most impressive [tower fan] I’ve ever tested.”

Best Clothing Steamer or Iron: Vornado Passport™ Handheld Travel Steamer

Compact enough for a suitcase but powerful enough for everyday use, the Vornado Passport impressed Madden with how much it could do for its size. “For something small enough to pack into a carry-on, this handheld steamer punches well above its size and heats up in barely a minute,” she said. It handled everyday blouses as well as more stubborn linen wrinkles without requiring an ironing board. After previously owning a travel steamer that lacked an auto-shut off feature, she also appreciated that this one is programmed to shut off after 10 minutes of inactivity.

Best Home Fragrance: Quince Dark Pomegranate Candle

For Madden, a candle obsessive, a home-fragrance worth buying again has to nail a combo of scent, ingredients and price. Quince’s Dark Pomegranate candle managed all three. “Every scent I’ve burned from Quince smells like a high-end designer fragrance, but the Pomegranate Noir fragrance strikes a mix of fruity, earthy and smoky that makes it perfect for almost any time of year, and particularly so for early fall through the holidays,” she said.

Other pluses? They’re made from cleaner-burning soy wax and cotton wicks, and they cost a fraction of the luxury brands.

Best Smart Calendar: Skylight Calendar 2

For Galla’s busy household, the Skylight Calendar 2 has become more than another screen in the kitchen. “Before the Skylight Calendar arrived in my kitchen, I missed pediatrician and dentist appointments—even with reminders set on my phone. Skylight has completely changed that for me,” Galla said. “Every morning, I can see our entire lineup at a glance, and I receive alerts as each event or appointment approaches. I also love being able to easily look ahead at the rest of the week or view the entire month. It has made keeping track of our busy family’s schedule so much easier.”

Best Sofa: Chita Living Ohana 3-Seat Zero Gravity Modular Reclining Sofa

Reclining sofas have a reputation for sacrificing style for comfort, but Parade contributor and tester Ashley Zlatopolsky found the Chita Living Ohana sofa managed both. “It’s clean, elegant and has a high-end look,” she said. Its space-saving reclining design also lived up to its promise: Zlatopolsky was able to position the sofa just two inches from the wall in her space-strapped family room and still fully recline it.

Best Bed Frame: Quince Linen Upholstered Wingback Bed

After months of comparing upholstered beds, Madden landed on Quince’s Linen Upholstered Wingback Bed because it offered details she usually saw at much higher price points. “What I loved about this one is that it had hallmarks of more expensive pieces, like a headboard that goes all the way to the floor and a wood slatted base, but the price point was comparable to options $300-$400 less,” she said.

Best Washable Rug: Ruggable Tufted All-in-One

Washable rugs promise easy upkeep, but the real test is whether they still look good after a trip through the washing machine. Madden found Ruggable’s Tufted All-in-One delivered on both fronts. “I was impressed with how well my Ruggable kitchen runner washed up,” she said. “Stains and dirt came out easily, but it kept its color and pattern intact.” That combination of practical washability and lasting good looks made it an easy pick for a high-traffic space.

Best Storage Bins: The Container Store Clear WeatherTight Totes

For storage bins, durability and a tight seal matter more than bells and whistles, and The Container Store’s Clear WeatherTight Totes consistently earn high marks for both. When Madden tested hers in a garage that tends to run damp, she found gardening equipment and outdoor decor stayed dry even during summer humidity and rainstorms.

Best Pantry Organizer: Caraway 13-pc Glass Airtight Container Set

Pantry storage should do more than corral dry goods, and Caraway’s Glass Airtight Container Set earned points for making shelves look neater while keeping ingredients fresh.” “These look beautiful and have an excellent seal,” Madden raved in her review. “I also love that they’re made of glass instead of plastic.”

Best Closet Organizer: The Container Store Clear Shelf Divider

Sometimes the simplest closet tools make the biggest difference. The Container Store’s Clear Shelf Dividers help keep stacks of sweaters, jeans and workout clothes upright instead of collapsing into one another, and each divider includes a hook at the base for hanging handbags, a hanger, or accessories. “These are a game changer for the long, wide shelves in my closet,” said Madden. “I used to have baskets on them and could never see what was inside, but these dividers make it easy to stay organized and easily keep track of where things are.”

Best Countertop/Toaster Oven: Our Place Wonder Oven

A countertop appliance earns its space when you actually use its features, and that’s what happened when Collyer tested the Our Place Wonder Oven. “I wasn’t sure how much I would use all of the modes, but to my surprise, I’ve nearly used every single one,” she said. Its versatility made it more than a novelty appliance and turned it into a regular part of her cooking routine.

Best Air Fryer: Ninja CRISPi Pro

Air fryers are convenient right up until it’s time to scrub them clean. The Ninja CRISPi Pro stood out to Collyer by solving that particular pain point. “This is, hands down, the easiest air fryer I’ve ever had to clean,” she said. For an appliance designed to make cooking faster and easier, that low-maintenance cleanup helped seal its win.

Best Stainless Steel Cookware: Quince 5-Ply Stainless Steel Frying Pan

Mark Marino, a longtime reviewer of home products and cookware, admits he was once wary of stainless steel pans, but Quince’s 5-ply pieces changed his mind. He found that it heated quickly and evenly, without noticeable hot spots, and performed well across everything from vegetables and potatoes to rice and saucy pasta. “Quince’s cookware may come with a budget price tag, but it doesn’t skimp on quality,” Marino said.

Best Nonstick Cookware: GreenPan Reserve 2-Pc. Hard-Anodized Nonstick Frypan

The polished gold-tone handles and sophisticated colors may be what first caught Madden’s eye, but looks weren’t enough to earn GreenPan Reserve its spot on this list. “After cooking with them a few times I quickly realized their value went way beyond their looks,” Madden said. The set combines the design appeal of cookware you don’t mind leaving on the stove with the everyday practicality she expects from a nonstick pan.

Best Blender: Breville Fresh & Furious Blender

The Breville Fresh & Furious Blender impressed our testers with its sleek design, reliable power and easy cleanup. “It doesn’t take up a ton of room on the counter, the dedicated smoothie setting consistently produces smooth results, and the auto-clean function makes it easier to use regularly,” shared Madden.

Best Coffee Maker: Caraway Coffee Maker

The newly launched Caraway Coffee Maker, the brand’s first appliance, stood out to Parade editor-in-chief Lisa Delaney for pairing a streamlined design with a brew system that felt thoughtful. “I love its sleek, modern design and the simplicity of use—there are no complicated settings,” she said.

Delaney also appreciated Caraway’s Clean Brew System, which uses a glass water reservoir and carafe along with a stainless steel water path, interior parts and filter, meaning there’s no plastic in the brew path. “Anything that reduces exposure to microplastics is a good thing in my book,” she added. And the most important test? “The coffee tastes great!”

Best Espresso Machine: Nespresso Lattissima One Original Espresso Machine

Our judges appreciated that the Nespresso Lattissima One managed to deliver a polished, café-style routine without requiring much technique. “I’m no barista, and I was able to make a pretty delicious latte with this machine,” said Madden. The machine brews espresso and automatically steams and froths milk in the same unit, so making a milk-based drink is essentially a push-button affair.

Best Mattress: Awara Classic Hybrid Mattress

“I’ve slept on all kinds of mattresses from different brands over the years, and this one is a favorite for its combination of softness and support, and the high-quality, non-toxic materials it’s made of,” Madden said. “I purchased this mattress for my daughter’s room and now I’m waiting until I can buy one for myself.”

Best Mattress Pad: Wamsutta Supreme Comfort Cool and Dry Mattress Pad

A mattress pad shouldn’t announce its presence every time you roll over. That’s one reason the Wamsutta Supreme Comfort Cool and Dry Mattress Pad stood out to Zlatopolsky. “It does an excellent job of regulating body temperature overnight, and its waterproof shell doesn’t crinkle or make noise when you move around,” she said.

Best Pillow: Vesta LimeZen™ Silk-Filled Pillow

Pillow preference can be surprisingly specific, and the Vesta LimeZen introduced Madden to an entirely different kind of sleep setup. “I’ve never slept on a ‘thin’ pillow and didn’t even realize that was a thing until I tried Vesta’s silk pillow,” she said. “It’s marketed as a thin pillow, which is apparently better for women.” The lower-profile design, paired with the pillow’s silk fill, gives it a distinctly different feel from the lofty pillows Madden had typically gravitated toward. “I’m converted,” she said.

Best Down Pillow: The Company Store Legends Hotel Best Down Gusseted Premium Pillow

Finding a down pillow that actually stays supportive can be surprisingly difficult. Zlatopolsky, who is a certified sleep coach, found The Company Store’s Legends Hotel pillow lived up to its description. Even under added weight, she said, “the Company Store pillow maintained its support and continued to cushion my head,” rather than quickly flattening or losing its shape.

Best Cotton Sheets: Boll & Branch Percale Hemmed Sheet Set

For sleepers who want bedding that feels crisp rather than silky, Madden loved Boll & Branch’s Percale Hemmed Sheet Set. “These percale sheets have that crisp hotel feel right out of the package, and they get softer every time I wash them,” she said. She also appreciated how they came out of the dryer relatively wrinkle free, making a neat, crisp-looking bed easily attainable.

Best Cooling Sheets: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set

Madden doesn’t waver when it comes to Cozy Earth’s Bamboo Sheet Set: “These are some of the best sheets I’ve ever slept on,” she reported. She credits the bamboo fabric with an unusually silky feel and a lightweight, breathable construction that stays cool even during the summer months when she used them.

Best Down Comforter: The Company Store LaCrosse Premium Down Medium Warmth Comforter

For Madden, the best down comforter has to feel plush without turning the bed into a sauna. The Company Store’s LaCrosse Premium Down Comforter hits that balance. “This comforter hits the sweet spot between cozy and breathable, with enough loft to feel indulgent but not so much that I overheat under it,” she said. Madden also found that the fill stayed evenly distributed instead of collecting into clumps and creating cold spots.

Best Down Alternative Comforter: Cozy Earth Down Alternative Comforter

As someone who normally prefers real down, Madden sets a particularly high bar for down alternatives. Cozy Earth came closer than any she’s tried. “For anyone who can’t do feathers, this is the closest alternative I’ve found,” she said, describing the comforter as so “fluffy and cloud-like” that it nearly convinced her to swap out her own down insert.

Best Duvet Cover: The Company Store Company Cotton Classic Cool Cotton Percale Bed Duvet Cover

The Company Store’s cotton percale duvet cover won over Madden with its unusually light, soft feel. “This is the lightest, softest duvet cover I’ve ever owned,” she said, noting that it makes the duvet underneath feel even cozier. The ultimate endorsement came from one of her kids, who laid down on her bed and immediately requested “one of these blankets” for himself.

Best Bath Towels: Boll & Branch Turkish Ultra Plush Bath Towel

After comparing bath towels, Sophie Hirsh found herself reaching for Boll & Branch’s Turkish Ultra Plush version. “Boll & Branch’s towel has become my new favorite,” she said. What separated it from the competition was its combination of qualities that don’t always coexist in one towel: Hirsh found it more plush, fluffy, lightweight and absorbent than other options she’s tried.

Best Bath Mat: Weezie Luxury Bath Rug

The Weezie bath rug lived up to its luxe label. “It’s soft, absorbent, and washes beautifully,” reported Madden after stationing this bath mat in her kids’ bathroom. The mat is designed to be quick-drying, a spec Madden confirmed after having three kids shower in succession, and its non-slip base keeps it in place even in a high-traffic space.

Best Bath Robe: Riley Home Four Layer Robe

If traditional terry robes feel too heavy, Riley Home’s Four Layer Robe offers a lighter alternative. Made from layers of airy cotton, it has a soft, breathable feel and is designed to dry quickly rather than staying damp long after a shower. “I love a plush robe in the middle of winter, but most of the year I want something lighter,” said Madden. “This one has a cozy feeling without being bulky or overly warm.”

Next, Designers Are Tired of Seeing White in Kids’ Bedrooms—They Say This Calming, Gender-Neutral Paint Color Is a Much Better Choice

Saturday Night Live star Ashley Padilla is opening up about the lasting impact working as late actress Diane Keaton‘s assistant has had on her.

During the September 22 episode of Amy Poehler‘s podcast, Good Hang, Padilla shared how she began working for Keaton before she was cast on SNL for its 50th season in 2024. She explained that “when [she] moved to L.A., [her] mother’s friend’s sister was her main assistant” and hired her “to do errands” for Keaton. Padilla also shared she wasn’t overly familiar with Keaton’s films before she began working for her.

“I knew her as the mom from Family Stone, right? I did not watch Annie Hall. I had not seen The Godfather,” said Padilla before sharing that Keaton eventually had her watch the iconic films.

The 33-year-old comedian also explained that she was eventually tasked to “run Diane’s Instagram,” which led her to spending more time with Keaton, who died in October 2025 at the age of 79.

“Then it just all snowballed, and slowly, it became my whole life at a time. Like reading scripts and working on projects, and we eventually sold a book together,” said Padilla, in reference to Keaton’s 2024 book, Fashion First.

Padilla then shared that spending time with Keaton helped her keep her childlike wonder, changing her for the better.

“She got me to notice everything as if I was with a child. It’s so crazy. It was wonder like a child that she kept into her 70s. And that’s what’s rare. It’s not that she was any different than anybody else,” said Padilla during the podcast interview. “She was just willing to stick with that and keep that wonder that goes away at some point. Because it taught me that it was even going away in myself because she brought it back. And now I see those things.”

Ashley Padilla Shared a Humorous Story About Diane Keaton Watching Her Groundlings Performance

While recording the Good Hang podcast episode, Padilla shared that Keaton would “come to Groundlings shows,” where she did sketch comedy. According to Padilla, she had discouraged Keaton from coming to the shows because she was concerned that she would “get mobbed” by the audience and her fellow Groundlings performers. In addition, Padilla wanted her to keep her life as Keaton’s assistant and “a struggling comedian” separate.

“I always said to her, I said, ‘You shouldn’t come to this. And I mean it.’ And she was like, ‘I’m coming and I’m going to wear a tutu and a big old hat,'” quipped Padilla.

Padilla then said that while Keaton promised to “lay low,” she was quite noticeable, as her tutu was “getting on people” while she tried to get to her seat. The SNL star also fondly remembered that Keaton was enthusiastic and generous with her laughter while watching “every sketch.”

Poehler then said Keaton “really was a fairy godmother” for Padilla, down to the way she dressed. Padilla quickly agreed with the sentiment.

Summer House star Lexi Wood is remembering her former boyfriend Presley Gerber with photos from their years of friendship and a deeply personal message about the man she knew away from the public eye. Bravo viewers already knew Wood and Presley dated after her Summer House castmates mentioned the relationship in Season 9.

Lexi, 29, shared the tribute on Instagram on Tuesday, September 22, two days after Presley died at age 27 while staying at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California. His official cause and manner of death remain pending additional testing by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

What Did Lexi Wood Say About Presley Gerber? View this post on Instagram

“It’s hard to put into words what it means to lose someone who was such a meaningful part of my life for so many years,” Lexi wrote. 

“Through every chapter and every version of our relationship, friendship was always at the core of it.”

Her post included a sunset photo of Presley, Polaroids from their time together, and other candid memories. “Everyone who loved Presley and was loved by him knows he was one of the kindest, most open, loving and courageous people,” she continued.

When Did Lexi Wood and Presley Gerber Date?

Lexi and Presley made their romance official on Instagram in November 2022. Their relationship ended about a month later, but Lexi has previously spoken warmly about Presley and his family. The Summer House star made clear in Tuesday’s tribute that their friendship mattered long after their romance ended.

“He loved so deeply, so purely, was incredibly romantic and thoughtful,” she wrote.

What Did Lexi Wood Say About Presley Gerber’s Struggles?

Lexi also honored Presley for speaking publicly about his mental health and substance use struggles. “He was also incredibly resilient. He fought so hard for his life and he was brave enough to be open about that fight,” she wrote. “More than anything, he wanted to use his story to help other people, and he did.”

Presley had discussed addiction, panic attacks, and mental health publicly, including through his “Mental Health Mondays” posts.

Earlier this year, he also sought treatment at a wellness clinic in Mexico.

How Did Lexi Wood End Her Tribute?

Lexi closed her post by reflecting on the time they shared. “I feel so lucky to have shared so many years of friendship, so many memories and so much love with him,” she wrote. “He will always hold such a special place in my heart, and we will all miss him forever. 🤍”

Presley’s family has asked for privacy as they mourn.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available 24 hours a day through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline at 1-800-662-4357.

Fans visiting the popular Florida theme park Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World on Sept. 21 were left stunned when the beloved attraction Peter Pan’s Flight, which is known for almost always having long lines due to its popularity, was unexpectedly closed around 12 p.m.

As reported by wdwmagic.com, the closure was unexpected and the reason behind it remains unclear. Peter Pan’s Flight did not reopen at all on Sept. 21, and on the morning of Sept. 22, it was still closed.

This likely put a damper on some fans’ plans, as the attraction, which sees guests get into suspended pirate ship vehicles and ride around through scenes from the animated Peter Pan film, is a fan favorite for visitors.

Thankfully, Peter Pan’s Flight finally reopened to theme park guests around 3:15 p.m. on Sept. 22. As of writing, Walt Disney World has not shared any information on the reason for the closure.

Now we got hopscotch! Approaching hour 27 of being down https://t.co/NhiYk0czBA pic.twitter.com/CVkxHto0kd

— RockNstardust🎸✨ (@CoasterK24) September 22, 2026

Guests who were at the park on Sept. 22 reported that cast members working on the attraction helped keep people busy by providing activities out front. According to one guest on X, there was tic-tac-toe and hopscotch at different points during the day.

The last time that Peter Pan’s Flight in Magic Kingdom was closed for scheduled refurbishment was during July and August in 2024. After the recent incident, some fans are wondering if the attraction could use another refurbishment soon.

Peter Pan’s Flight has been an open attraction at the theme park for 54 years, opening in 1971, only two days after Magic Kingdom first opened its doors to guests. Over the decades, there have been various updates to the ride to adapt to new technology and other factors.

Related: Disney World Fan-Favorite Ride Closed for a Year Just Hit a Major Milestone

During the 2024 refurbishment, Walt Disney World updated one scene in particular with Tiger Lily and other family and tribe members to make the characters look more realistic and less like caricatures. The park also made changes to what was depicted in the scene.

The official description of the new version read, “A serene lagoon transitions into a mountaintop community where brightly colored teepees frame the Never Land Tribe’s harvest celebration. Here, Tiger Lily and her grandmother gracefully perform the traditional Fancy Shawl Butterfly Dance by the fire, capturing the vibrant spirit of the occasion.”

Since then, Peter Pan’s Flight has not undergone any scheduled refurbishments at Magic Kingdom.

Related: Walt Disney World Reinstates Popular Program After Five-Year Hiatus

Did a fun behind-the-scenes video showing the cast of Beyond the Gates going back to work hint at one character’s future? Fans sure seem to think so.

The cast of Beyond the Gates returned yesterday to begin production on Season 3 of daytime’s newest soap opera, set to premiere on December 29, 2026.

One of the videos was posted by Enestine Morrison, who portrays Nurse Shanice Johnson on the soap. In the video, she and Sean Freeman (Andre Richardson) are seen dancing to OTTO BLUE and Tina Parol’s We’re Back.

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

View this post on Instagram

Morrison captioned the post, “And just like that. Back to work! Season 3 🎬.”

While it was a simple post just excitedly showing them going back to work, eagle-eyed viewers noticed that Freeman was sporting Andre Richardson’s wedding ring.

Why does this matter? Currently, Andre has not one but two bombs waiting to wreak havoc on his marriage to Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley). First off, Dani recently had a one-night stand with her ex-husband, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett), when they were trapped in an elevator during a tornado that struck Fairmount Crest.

Second, a mysterious woman from Andre’s past just arrived in the form of Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones), also known as The Impaler. While the specific history between the two has not been explained to the audience just yet, viewers do know that they have some form of romantic history, as they have shared a kiss. Heather has propositioned Andre for more and has been sending mysterious champagne bottles to Andre and Dani to send a message.

Fans believed that exposing these two secrets would lead to the couple’s downfall, and while that may still be the case, it appears that, as of the start of the season, the couple could still be together.

Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS and streams weeknights on Paramount+. Viewers can also catch up on Beyond the Gates from the beginning on Paramount+, Tubi, and Pluto’s dedicated 24/7 Beyond the Gates FAST channel.

Younger generations met Pennywise for the first time when the horror movie It premiered in theaters in 2017, but the murderous clown had a cult following long before that.

Before it was a feature film, It was a 1990 made-for-TV miniseries starring the late Tim Curry as Pennywise. Before that, it was a 1986 best-selling Stephen King novel.

The story opens with main character Bill crafting a paper boat for his kid brother, Georgie, so he can go out and race it down the streams during a rainstorm. With Bill under the weather, little Georgie goes out alone, and he unfortunately meets his demise when he comes face to face with Pennywise, who drags him into the sewer.

Bill bonds with a group of young misfits — they call themselves the “Losers’ Club” — and they seem to be the only ones in town who are determined to track down the clown responsible for the disappearing kids. Pennywise does his darndest to target them while they’re working together to discover how to defeat him — he can shapeshift, which means he can manifest as each of their darkest fears.

There’s lots of bloodshed in there, too.

The ABC miniseries, which aired in two parts, was granted a budget of $12 million — double what was typical at the time. The big spending paid off, as it was ABC’s most successful release that year, with 30 million viewers tuning in to watch Pennywise pick off the children of Derry, Maine, one by one.

Mr. Curry held his place in horror history for many years as one of the scariest monsters ever, but few would argue that his Pennywise successor, Bill Skarsgård, didn’t blow the role out of the water.

His unsettlingly twitchy version of the evil clown (with a deranged, drooling grin) brought audiences out to their local movie theaters in droves in the late 2010s, to the tune of $701.8 million globally, per Movie Web.

To date, the 2017 It is the highest-grossing horror film of all time. Its sequel, It: Chapter Two, was no slouch either, coming in at $471.3 million gross.

And when a movie is that much of a blockbuster, it’d be silly not to milk it into a TV show, right?

Welcome to Derry premiered on HBO Max just shy of Halloween 2025 and details the story of what happened before the events of the film. Pennywise the dancing clown? More like blood-thirsty clown. He’s been a child-eater since the beginning, apparently, and the whole town has always known about it.

Careful, or you’ll float, too.

Benson & Stabler are back! Okay it might be for only one episode, but Christopher Meloni will return to his old stomping grounds this fall, appearing as Elliot Stabler on the 600th episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU). Give Me My Remote (GMMR) first announced the news on Tuesday, September 22.

Season 28 of SVU premieres on Thursday, October 8 at 9 p.m. ET, but be the sixth episode of the season will mark the series’ 600th, featuring Meloni. NBC has not confirmed the air date yet, but if there aren’t any reruns or skipped weeks, it’s likely that Stabler’s return would air on November 12.

Meloni joined NBC’s beloved crime drama during the show’s first season, back in 1999, and made an amazing team with Mariska Hargitay‘s fearless Olivia Benson for 12 seasons. But Meloni left in 2011, wanting to explore other roles.

“I left with zero animosity,” he told the New York Post in 2020, “but I did leave clearly and open-eyed in going forward and finding new adventures. I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do, keep moving forward. I had done the Law & Order way of storytelling, which they do really well, and I was interested in telling stories from a different angle — whether comedic or inhabiting a new world or doing it on different platforms.”

The show handled Meloni’s departure by having Stabler resign from the force despite being cleared of any wrongdoing after shooting a teen girl who accidentally killed their precinct nun. Traumatized by the situation, he uprooted his family and moved to Italy, leaving Benson heartbroken.

Will Christopher Meloni & Mariska Hargitay’s Stabler & Benson Finally Get Together?

Stabler didn’t return to SVU for a decade, finally appearing on season 22 when he and his wife Kathy, played by Isabel Gillies, returned to New York to see Benson receive a special award. When Kathy was tragically killed in a car bombing intended for him, Benson helped him process his grief and anger, and he apologized for leaving without saying goodbye.

The character then moved back to New York to join a new Organized Crime Control Bureau, which became the premise of Meloni’s spin-off show, Law & Order: Organized Crime, in 2021. After five seasons, the show was canceled in April 2026, and Meloni has since joined the cast of Hulu’s new sports and family drama The Land as head football coach Danny Roarke, slated to premiere in 2027.

SVU fans have long hoped Benson and Stabler would turn their friendship into something more, and the duo has come close during several guest spots by Meloni, including their almost-kiss in 2023 (as seen above). In April 2026, Hargitay revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that they did film an actual kiss at the time, only to have the scene scrapped.

“I think we felt that this moment was earned, that this thing could happen for a second — and so that’s how we shot it,” she said during a panel with the outlet, where the audience went wild at the thought of them kissing. “Don’t you wish you were there for that?! Yeah. We shot it a couple different ways.”

When the show’s execs, including show creator Dick Wolf, nixed the shot of them kissing, Hargitay told THR that she and Meloni “disagreed because we thought that it was earned and the way it was dealt with was really complex and very beautiful and very human and showed the complexity of their relationship and all the different ways that they’re connected … [But] no matter what I want, Dick Wolf can totally just say, ‘Uh, no.’”

The duo’s onscreen connection has continued to grow since. When Meloni returned as Stabler for an episode at the start of season 27, and when he and Benson saw each other outside a wake for their former boss, Capt. Donald Cragen, he admitted that he loved her.

So what happens next?? In August, showrunner Michele Fazekas refused to comment to GMMR on whether Meloni would return, but did tell the outlet that a character “people will be psyched” to see who would be returning for the special episode.

“All I will share is we [are] planning it in a big way,” Fazekas told GMMR at the time. “It’s going to be, potentially, the last centennial episode of this whole show, you know? So, we’ll do it right, and it’s planned out.”

Let’s hope the 600th episode is truly one to remember for America’s favorite crime-fighting duo.

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

Amazon Prime Day is the epitome of a shopping extravaganza. Rivaled only by annual Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, Amazon’s limited-time sale events bring some of the deepest discounts you’ll find on beloved brands. And when it comes to shoes, Clarks has a nearly unbeatable reputation for comfort and class. Ahead of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days on Oct. 6 and 7, we found a pair of genuine leather Clarks Mary Jane flats slashed by up to 63% — a rare markdown on a classic style, just in time for fall.

Normally $85, the Clarks Bryianne Janey Flats now start at just $31 at Amazon. As your wardrobe shifts with the seasons, a classic pair of leather flats like these can bridge the gap between summer sandals and winter boots. Mary Janes, in particular, bring a polished look that’s especially practical when you find a pair comfortable enough to wear all day. These Clarks check every box for style and support, and are available in tan or black leather in whole and half sizes ranging from women’s 6 through 12. Select sizes are also available in a wide width, though prices do vary slightly by size and color.

Clarks Bryianne Janey Flats, From $31 (were $85) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

Made from soft, genuine leather, these Mary Janes feature a rounded toe and an adjustable hook-and-loop strap across the top with hidden elastic underneath, making them easy to slip on and customize for a secure fit. Underfoot, a cushy foam footbed provides the type of support you’d expect from a Clarks shoe. A slight lift at the heel adds even more support underfoot.

Designed for extended wear, a breathable microfiber lining provides breathability, which means your feet shouldn’t get sweaty inside these leather shoes, even in milder weather. A flexible thermoplastic rubber outsole gives these flats reliable traction, even on slippery surfaces, which makes them a fantastic choice for potentially rainy fall weather. Adding a handcrafted appeal to the leather exterior, these shoes are finished with heavily stitched details for a stylish look.

Clarks Bryianne Janey Flats, From $31 (were $85) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

Amazon customers appreciated how the “timeless” Mary Jane silhouette “looks great with almost everything.” Shoppers noted that the leather “feels soft and supple right out of the box” with “no stiff break-in period” required. Reviewers also shared that these shoes felt “comfortable to work in all day” and were “very easy to wear for extended periods,” whether they were walking a lot or standing for hours.

Shop More Deals

• Clarks Breeze Janey Flats, $45 (were $70) at Amazon
• Clarks Ezrinn Mist Shoes, $46 (were $95) at Amazon
• Clarks Juliet Beat Loafers, $49 (were $95) at Amazon

Related: Clarks’ Leather Slip-on Sneakers Are ‘Comfortable Right Out of the Box,’ Now 40% Off

If you need a reliable work shoe or a cute casual shoe that’ll carry you through the seasonal shift from summer to fall, look no further than the Clarks Bryianne Janey Flats. Snag a pair while they’re up to 63% off ahead of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, happening Oct. 6 and 7. 

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.

Brooke Shields is taking a trip down memory lane!

In a recent Instagram post, the 61-year-old actress commemorated the release of her once-popular late ’90s sitcom Suddenly Susan. The series premiered 30 years ago on Sept. 19, 1996.

Shields’ post featured a promo video for the series, showcasing various funny moments occurring throughout the series. The video was accompanied by a heartfelt caption, where Shields reminisced about how much the show still means to her many years later.

“Susan suddenly appeared on our screens and in our lives 30 years ago today!! 📺🥹,” the Endless Love star captioned the post. “Where has the time gone??”

“Happy 30th to the show I hold so close to my heart! ❤️ #SuddenlySusan,” she concluded.

View this post on Instagram

Suddenly Susan wrapped its four-season run on NBC on Dec. 26, 2000. The series followed magazine writer Susan Keane (Shields) as she writes a weekly column, titled “Suddenly Susan,” about navigating life as a single woman in San Francisco. Susan had previously left her fiancé at the alter, but her current boss is her near brother-in-law Jack Richmond (Judd Nelson)—and he has a big crush on her.

Kathy Griffin, Néstor Carbonell, David Strickland, Barbara Barrie, Andréa Bendewald, Currie Graham, Eric Idle, Sherri Shepherd and Rob Estes also starred in the series.

Strickland, who played music reporter Todd Stiles, died in 1999 at age 29. His character was later killed off in the show’s season 3 finale, leading to a soft reboot for the series in its fourth and final season.

NBC / Getty Images

Shields’ role on Suddenly Susan marked her first as a series lead. Previously, she has credited her guest star role on beloved ’90s sitcom Friends as what led to her casting on Suddenly Susan.

On Friends, Shields played an unhinged super fan who falsely believed Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) was actually his Days of Our Lives character, Dr. Drake Ramoray. Her character, Erika Ford, also has a hilariously memorable moment where she licked Joey’s fingers.

“At first they didn’t let me do it, and they said it makes me too crazy. And I said, ‘I have to do it, please.’ And at the last minute, we did one pass without it, and then the showrunner said, ‘Hey, Shields, put it back in,’ and that moment was just a very crazy moment for this character. She was just crazy,” she shared on the June 1 episode of The Bossticks podcast.

Getty Images / Getty Images

“And that sort of shock of seeing someone that had been sort of considered a supermodel kind of a thing and pristine and untouchable and all of a sudden she’s licking a guy’s fingers, she’s laughing like a crazy person, and they were like, ‘Oh my God, what what is this? Like we haven’t seen the likes of this,'” she added. “And, it just changed everything. It got me my own television show, and it allowed me to really kind of delve in with [my] comedy chops.”

Shields has spoken fondly about Suddenly Susan over the years. Most recently, she raved about the series while in conversation with SHE Media CEO Samantha Skey last year for her memoir, Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman.

“Suddenly Susan was just a revelation to me,” she said, per TVLine. “It was a very special, special, special show.”

Suddenly Susan is streaming in full on Prime Video and The Roku Channel.

Before his death at the age of 27, Presley Gerber was candid about his struggles with mental health, depression and addiction. He also spoke openly about what he hoped those experiences could mean for other people who were struggling. Now, following his death Sunday, words Gerber shared during a 2023 podcast conversation offer a poignant glimpse into the kind of legacy he hoped to leave behind.

Presley Gerber Opened Up About His Struggles in 2023 View this post on Instagram

Gerber sat down with Studio 22 podcast host Jason Kennedy in February 2023, when he was 23, for a candid conversation about mental health, depression and some of the difficult experiences he had faced. Rather than presenting himself as someone who had everything figured out, Gerber spoke about the mistakes he had made and the things he had learned along the way.

“No matter how alone you feel,” Gerber shared, “there’s so many other people going through if not the exact same thing very similar stuff.”

He also talked about learning to appreciate the small things in life rather than constantly stressing about one thing, describing those everyday moments as a blessing.

But it was his hope that his own experiences could help someone else that stood out most.

Presley Gerber Hoped His Story Could Help Others @presleygerber

Mental Health Mondays – “Add3rall” (d3xtroamph3tamin3) #mentalhealth #mhm #recovery #add3rall #d3xtroamph3tamin3 #medication #medications #loveyourself #mentalhealthmonday #mentalhealthmatters

♬ original sound – Presley Gerber

“Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do,” Gerber said during the conversation.

He went on to explain that mental health was a significant part of his life and that he wanted to help people who were struggling, regardless of what they were facing.

“I’ve seen a lot of stuff and I’ve learned a lot of things,” he said. “What I hope I can do is have made the mistakes for some other people, so they don’t have to make the same mistakes that I made.”

Those words take on a different weight following Gerber’s death. His message wasn’t that he had found an easy answer to his struggles. Instead, he hoped that being honest about what he had experienced could make someone else feel less alone or help them avoid some of the mistakes he had made.

Jason Kennedy Remembered Presley Gerber’s Openness

Following Gerber’s death, Kennedy resurfaced footage from their conversation and reflected on the young man he had come to know.

“Feel sick to my stomach knowing that Presley Gerber has passed,” Kennedy wrote, remembering Gerber as someone who had a huge heart and was open about his struggles because he believed sharing them could help others.

Kennedy also recalled their time together in Malibu, remembering Gerber sharing his story and laughing over a game of pickleball.

“You were special,” Kennedy wrote.

One fan responded to Kennedy’s post with a simple reflection on what Gerber had hoped to accomplish: “This is his legacy. Helping others.”

Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and entrepreneur Rande Gerber and the older brother of model and actress Kaia Gerber, died Sunday, Sept. 20, at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California. Santa Monica police are investigating his death as a suspected overdose, and there is no indication of foul play. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has said the official cause and manner of death have been deferred pending additional testing and studies.

Gerber couldn’t know how many people might ultimately hear his story. But during that 2023 conversation, he made clear that reaching even one person would have mattered to him.

And in his own words, that was enough.

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

The Tanner family universe is colliding with Home Improvement in a new romantic drama featuring some very familiar faces.

Full House and Fuller House stars Jodie Sweetin, John Brotherton and Marla Sokoloff have reunited for Finding Hope, a new vertical microseries that premiered Tuesday, Sept. 22, exclusively on vertTV.

And they’re bringing another major ’90s TV star along for the ride: Home Improvement favorite Richard Karn.

The project marks the first on-screen reunion for Sweetin, Brotherton and Sokoloff since Fuller House, which wrapped its five-season Netflix run in 2020. Sweetin starred as Stephanie Tanner, while Brotherton played Matt Harmon and Sokoloff reprised her Full House role as Stephanie’s childhood friend Gia Mahan.

Sokoloff also wrote and directed the new series.

What Is ‘Finding Hope’ About?

Sweetin stars as Dr. Emily Harper, a successful medical specialist who leaves her big-city life behind and returns to her small hometown after her father becomes ill.

Her father, played by Karn, is the town’s beloved doctor, and Emily steps in to help save his struggling medical clinic.

Coming home also puts Emily face-to-face with old flame Jack Dalton, played by Brotherton. The two begin reconnecting, but things get complicated when Emily’s ex-boyfriend arrives with an offer that could take her straight back to the life she left behind.

Emily is then forced to decide between the future she thought she wanted and the relationship she never completely left in the past.

Sokoloff also appears in the series as Samantha Stone, with Hilary Jones, Alex Trumble and Caryn Richman rounding out the cast.

How to Watch ‘Finding Hope’

Finding Hope is available beginning Sept. 22 on vertTV, a mobile-first streaming service specializing in short-form vertical series designed to be watched on phones.

The service launched in 2026 with a slate of original microseries and more than 200 titles. Its previous originals include Lone Star Hearts starring Josh Henderson and Cindy Busby, and Call of Duty and Love starring Jason-Shane Scott and Jessica Morris.

Finding Hope is streaming through the standalone vertTV app on iOS and Android, with select widescreen previews also available through the streamer’s YouTube channel.

Related: BFFs William Shatner & Tom Bergeron Team Up for Christmas Film Directed by ‘Full House’ Star

Steve Zahn may have landed a role in Gen X legendary movie Reality Bites, but the 1994 cult classic apparently didn’t do much for his bank account — at least not at first.

While reflecting on his early career, Zahn told Jesse Tyler Ferguson that he was thrilled and nervous to be part of the Ben Stiller-directed film, but the reality of making it was far less glamorous than he expected. In fact, when he returned home from the movie, Zahn said he realized he was actually “poorer” than when he left.

The actor also revealed just how little recognition he received in those early days — a fitting anecdote from someone who still occasionally trades Hollywood for a much more ordinary gig at his son’s Kentucky coffee shop.

“But Reality Bites was… I was so thrilled,” he said on the Dinner’s On Me Podcast. “I was so nervous. I was just, you know, shook.”

The film may have become a cult classic, but Zahn said he didn’t feel the magic during filming; instead, he was just happy to be in the movie. Zahn played Sammy Gray, one of the bonded friends who was often the neutral force and worked up the nerve to tell his parents he was gay.

Despite getting the work and starring opposite Gen X stars Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, and Janeane Garofalo, Zahn said he left in worse financial shape.

“I remember coming back from Reality Bites and going, I am poorer than when I left'” he recounted. “‘Cause I got to LA and I’m like, ‘I’m in a movie. Oh, wait, you want a drink?’ Like, ‘I am poorer.’ ‘I’m gonna go buy some cassettes.” You know what I mean? And I was baffled with that whole thing. And it wasn’t like, you know, ‘Do people recognize me?’ No. You don’t get recognized till your, like, 10th gig, and that’s even like…”

Even though Reality Bites took on a cult following, it wasn’t a box office smash. And Zahn, who ultimately became a recognizable name in Hollywood, clearly hasn’t forgotten those salad days, sharing that he will wash dishes from time to time at his son’s coffee shop.

“It’s called Serendipity Public House, and it’s awesome,” he marveled. “I go there, and I barback. I just wash dishes. Like, he’ll say, like, ‘Hey, we’re slammed. Can you come over?’ And it’s, like, 10 minutes.”

Of course, he’s recognized when he’s there, but there’s a catch. “And people, I know people are in there, and they go, they go, ‘Wha?-‘ But I’m busy; I can’t talk. I’m busy Yeah. Like, a barback’s a hard job.”

Throughout his six decades in show business, late actor Don Knotts brought joy to audiences with his comedic characters, like Deputy Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith Show, Three’s Company‘s Ralph Furley, and Henry Limpet in The Incredible Mr. Limpet.

Fans of Knotts may have noticed that many of his iconic roles had a nervous, frenetic energy. MeTV.com reported that Knotts established his first anxiety-riddled character, whom he named “nervous man,” for nightclub shows prior to his TV and film career taking off. In his 1999 book, Barney Fife, and Other Characters I Have Known, co-authored by Robert Metz, Knotts shared that the character was inspired by a dream.

“Most people don’t believe me when I tell them the nervous character I did on The Steve Allen Show came to me in a dream, but it happens to be the truth,” stated Knotts in the book.

Knotts clarified that “a number of things were swimming around in [him], of course, that led up to the dream.”

“Several months earlier, I had attended a luncheon during which one of the speakers was so nervous his hands were shaking visibly. He rattled the paper his notes were written on, and when he attempted a drink of water, he proceeded to spill it all over himself,” wrote Knotts, per MeTV.com. “It was a painful thing to watch, but at the same time, amusing. I wish I could say I suddenly thought to myself, ‘What a great idea for a comedic character!’ But alas, consciously, it went right over my head. It was almost a year before it came to me, and even then it had to hit me over the head in a dream.”

Don Knotts Made Clarifying Comments About Barney in a 1999 Interview

In a 1999 interview with the Television Academy Foundation, Knotts clarified that Barney wasn’t based on his “nervous man” character, despite his moments of anxiety and fear throughout The Andy Griffith Show‘s 8-season run, which ended in 1968.

“When he would have a reason to be frightened, I would use a little of that. I didn’t like to work that into the character too much, yet people used to say, ‘Oh, Barney’s a little nervous guy.’ But wasn’t the same guy at all. Totally different,” said Knotts, who died in 2006 at the age of 81.

During the Television Academy Foundation interview, Knotts also described Barney as “a childlike character,” who “thought he was a good cop.”

“Thought he was the best cop in the world, I guess,” continued Knotts with a smile.