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Donald Trump wanted fewer reporters around him, but he apparently didn’t plan for what would happen when they stopped showing up.

On Late Night‘s “A Closer Look,” Seth Meyers seized on the bizarre fallout from the White House press ban after the TV pool refused to cover Trump’s event — leaving viewers with a president who could barely be heard.

Meyers used the audio-less appearance to mock Trump’s decision to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, arguing that the move may have backfired in an especially fitting way.

After a clip showed the event struggling without a microphone, Meyers delivered the night’s sharpest punchline: “The best is that sound is always the substance of what Trump is saying.”

He added a whirring sound for emphasis, along with Trumpian hand gestures, and added, “Trump can’t stomach anything that intrudes on the delicate cocoon of validation and praise he’s constructed for himself by stacking his administration with sycophants who will print out flattering memes for him whenever his self-esteem is low.”

After landing the microphone joke, Meyers argued that the press ban was part of a broader effort to keep Trump surrounded by favorable coverage. “He doesn’t want Politico or CNN or MS NOW, or anyone else around him who will state obvious facts like the war in Iran is going badly, or gas prices are skyrocketing,” Meyers said. “Or you have the worst poll numbers of any president this century, or you do not have a high IQ just because you think…”

Cue the tape of Trump saying, “Grass has a life like humans have a life,” leaving Meyers to deadpan, “If anyone else said that, I’d say, ‘I think you’ve had enough grass, bud.’”

Meyers continued, “Trump doesn’t want to live in our reality. He wants to live in his reality. A reality where the only information he gets is information like this.”

Meyers’ team then ran an MS NOW clip showing yet another example of the bubble surrounding Trump, recounting how the president was reportedly given a flattering two-page assessment declaring him the most powerful person who had ever lived. The supposed source of the analysis, however, wasn’t actually a historian, Meyers noted. He was a business associate and longtime caddy of golfer Gary Player — prompting Meyers to joke that adding “and caddy” immediately undermines whatever authority came before it.

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Looking at photographs from the 1980s, you can catch a bold streak in Princess Diana‘s otherwise very natural makeup look: electric blue eyeliner on her lower lash line that brings out her equally bright blue eyes.

Diana’s longtime makeup artist Mary Greenwell has said Diana “loved makeup and loved experimenting,” and “she loved to exaggerate her gorgeous eyes,” however, “she felt no need to be showy, so she kept her makeup subtle and appropriate for the occasion.”

The Princess of Wales’ style, including her makeup, is experiencing a resurgence. Just this month, Sotheby’s announced that her 1994 “revenge dress” is going up for auction for the first time in nearly 30 years, and the fashion press still treats her archive as an important reference point—including her go-to makeup.

“Blue eyeliner and mascara are definitely making a comeback,” celebrity makeup artist Thynna Wagenblast, who has worked with Cardi B and Serayah, tells Parade.

But Wagenblast doesn’t recommend copying Diana exactly. The eyeliner placement that worked in 1985 is what dates the look now, so she shares how to update it and which shades of blue are the easiest to wear.

She also shares tips for hooded lids and mature eyes, along with her product picks.

Related: This 30-Second Eyeliner Trick Instantly Lifts Mature Eyes, Celebrity Makeup Artist Says

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Is Blue Eyeliner Really Back in 2026?

“I saw a lot of colorful eye makeup during this September’s New York Fashion Week (NYFW), when artists and clients were more open to experimenting with editorial looks,” Wagenblast says.

For her client Amaya Espinal (aka Amaya Papaya), she built one NYFW look around the color. “We incorporated blue eyeliner and mascara to make the makeup feel more fun and vibrant to match a botanical-themed show,” Wagenblast says.

“You can make blue the focal point of the makeup or use just a touch of it as an unexpected accent,” she says.

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

Why Princess Diana Wore Blue Eyeliner in the ’80s

“Princess Diana’s makeup was generally soft and timeless, with a very natural-looking complexion,” Wagenblast says. “She often wore blue kohl pencil along her lower waterline and lash line, which emphasized the sapphire tones in her blue eyes and immediately drew attention to them.”

This was a major benefit, as she was often in the spotlight.

“Her eyes were one of her most striking features, and the liner made them especially captivating both in person and in photographs,” Wagenblast says.

And even though this makeup style was often overstated in the 1980s, she made the trend work for—not against—her.

“What dates the look to the ’80s is the bold color concentrated around the lower eye,” Wagenblast tells Parade. “Blue eye makeup was extremely popular at the time, but Diana found a sophisticated way to participate in the trend without wearing an overly dramatic eyeshadow look.”

Given the expectations surrounding royal beauty, it was “a subtle but memorable way for her to experiment with color while still appearing sophisticated,” she says.

Related: The Worst Eyeliner Mistake to Avoid, According to a Makeup Artist

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The Modern Way To Wear Blue Eyeliner

Today, this trend can be just as eye-catching, without appearing too dramatic.

“The modern approach is more versatile,” Wagenblast explains. “Rather than placing blue exclusively in the waterline, I might use it as a crisp wing on the upper lash line, apply it only to the outer corner or introduce the color through mascara.”

If you prefer more subtle makeup, you can wear blue mascara on the top lashes while keeping the rest of the eye neutral, she recommends. The rest of the face stays natural, but the blue sits up top or at the edges of the eye, where it opens it up instead of framing it from below.

To try out a blue mascara, Wagenblast recommends L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Mascara in Cobalt Blue. It’s a budget-friendly choice and also “a great beginner-friendly way to try the trend because mascara feels less intimidating than bright liner,” she says. “One coat creates a subtle flash of blue, while additional coats make the color more noticeable.”

How To Pick the Right Blue Eyeliner Shade for Your Eye Color

Blue covers a lot of ground, from navy through cobalt to teal and periwinkle. So, how do you decide which one to choose?

“The right shade depends on how subtle or bold you want the finished look to be,” Wagenblast tells Parade.

“Navy is the most universally wearable because it provides the definition of a dark liner while still offering a hint of color,” she explains. “[Cobalt] creates a much stronger statement, while teal and periwinkle feel more playful and editorial.”

Eye color can narrow it down further.

“Cobalt and navy create a beautiful contrast against brown eyes, while blue and teal tones can highlight the blue or green in hazel eyes,” Wagenblast says.

If your eyes are already blue, she explains, “I would choose a shade that contrasts slightly with the iris rather than matching it exactly so the eyes do not get lost.”

For a soft blue with a touch of dimension, she likes the Shades By Shan Gel Eyeliner in Berry Blue. “Its subtle shimmer makes the color feel approachable while still adding something special to the eyes.”

Related: The 12 Best Eyeliners for Older Women, Tested by Celebrity Makeup Artists

How To Wear Blue Eyeliner on Hooded Lids and Mature Eyes

Placement matters more than shade, Wagenblast says.

“For hooded lids, I would keep the liner thin and close to the upper lash line or use blue mascara so the color remains visible when the eyes are open,” she tells Parade. “On mature eyes, a softer navy pencil or mascara can provide definition without looking harsh.”

She suggests completely steering away from the ’80s placement.

“I would generally avoid applying a heavy, dark blue around the entire waterline, as that can visually close the eye and make it appear smaller,” she says.

Up Next:

Related: Makeup Artist Says This Common Blush Mistake Can Make Mature Skin Look Older

Source:

• Thynna Wagenblast, celebrity makeup artist based in New York who has worked with Cardi B, Amaya Espinal (aka Amaya Papaya) and Serayah

The Temptations’ 1972 hit “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” became one of the vocal group’s defining songs, establishing them as an outstanding act of the era and eventually becoming a landmark Motown hit that still resonates more than five decades later.

After a string of chart-topping hits, the quintet, made up of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards, Richard Street and Damon Harris, continued to captivate listeners and fans with their classic funk and psychedelic soul hits.

Released as part of The Temptations’ 15th studio album, All Directions, the nearly 12-minute song was initially written for their labelmate The Undisputed Truth.

The fellow Motown group, fronted by Joe “Pep” Harris, first released the original version of “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” in 1972.

The Temptations in 1970s

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Written by iconic songwriting and production duo Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1971, the song only peaked at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 under The Undisputed Truth.

Determined to turn it into a smash hit, Whitfield saw the song’s potential and believed his visionary production, paired with The Temptations’ powerful vocals and electrifying stage presence, could deliver another major hit like “Cloud Nine,” “I Wish It Would Rain” and “Just My Imagination.”

However, the five-member group was hesitant to record the song.

“To be truthful, we almost didn’t record the song,” The Temptations founding member Otis Williams admitted in an interview as cited by Ultimate Classic Rock, adding that they wanted to release romantic songs that were a hit for them in the ‘60s.

“Dennis hadn’t heard The Undisputed Truth’s single and didn’t like ‘Papa’s’ opening line,” Williams added. “His father had died the previous Sept. 3, and he thought Norman and Barrett were poking at him,” in reference to the opening verse: “It was the third of September.”

However, Williams’ recollection was slightly off. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Edwards’ father had actually died on Oct. 3 and not Sept. 3, making the song reference purely coincidental.

As fate would have it, the rendition of “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it their fourth No. 1 hit on the chart.

Apart from its success on the Billboard Hot 100, The Temptations’ cover won three Grammy Awards: Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus, Best R&B Instrumental Performance for The Temptations and Paul Riser and Best Rhythm & Blues Song for Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong as songwriters.

From chart-topping hits to Grammy wins, “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” was also among the Top 10 Temptations songs selected by American Songwriter, ranking No. 2.

Related: 1983 Hit, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Songs of All Time,’ Was Written in a Rolls-Royce in California

In 1985, Mark Knopfler turned a deliveryman’s complaints inside a New York appliance store into “Money for Nothing,” the Dire Straits song that became the band’s only No. 1 hit.

The song was released as the second single from Brothers in Arms. The full album version runs for more than eight minutes, with listings placing it at about 8 minutes and 25 seconds. The shorter single versions were edited for radio and commercial release.

But the song’s unusual beginning happened far away from a recording studio.

Knopfler has explained that he was inside an appliance store in New York City when he saw a wall of televisions showing MTV. A delivery worker was nearby, watching the music videos and complaining about the performers on screen.

The worker’s comments caught Knopfler’s attention.

In a 1985 interview, per American Songwriter, Knopfler explained the character behind the song: “The lead character in ‘Money for Nothing’ is a guy who works in the hardware department in a television/custom kitchen/refrigerator/microwave appliance store.”

Dire Straits posed together at The Hilton Hotel, Rotterdam, Holland on Oct. 14 1982.

Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns

He added, “I wrote the song when I was actually in the store. I borrowed a bit of paper and started to write the song down in the store.”

The story was later explained in more detail by Knopfler, who said the employee was wearing a baseball cap, work boots and a checkered shirt while delivering boxes. The televisions were tuned to MTV and the worker made comments about the musicians he was watching. Knopfler asked for a pen and wrote down some of the lines he heard.

The song took shape around the language Knopfler heard that day. The narrator is a working man who watches musicians on MTV and questions why they appear to receive fame and money while doing what he sees as easy work.

That point of view became central to the song.

“Money for Nothing” was not simply a short radio song. Its album version stretched beyond eight minutes, built around Knopfler’s guitar riff, drums, keyboards and the repeated “I want my MTV” line.

That opening came from another important part of the song’s story.

According to Louder, Knopfler had seen an MTV advertisement featuring The Police using the slogan “I want my MTV.” He recognized that the melody could fit the tune of The Police’s “Don’t Stand So Close to Me,” written by Sting.

Knopfler later recalled to Ultimate Classic Rock, “I’d seen the Police doing an MTV advert, saying ‘I want my MTV,’ just saying it all together.”

He then wanted Sting to perform the line.

Sting happened to be nearby in Montserrat, where Dire Straits were recording parts of Brothers in Arms. The two musicians already knew each other from earlier performances, making the collaboration possible.

Sting eventually received songwriting credit with Knopfler because of the musical connection to “Don’t Stand So Close to Me.”

The collaboration became one of the most recognizable parts of the finished recording. The guitar sound also had a strong connection to another major rock act of the period: ZZ Top.

Knopfler wanted a guitar tone similar to Billy Gibbons’ sound. During the recording process, the production team found a distinctive guitar sound that was difficult to reproduce. A microphone placement accident helped create the final tone used on the track.

Gibbons commented on Knopfler’s attempt to capture his sound, saying, “He didn’t do a half-bad job, either, considering that I never told him a goddamned thing!”

“Money for Nothing” was released on June 28, 1985, and quickly became one of the biggest songs connected to the MTV era.

Its success helped push Brothers in Arms to major commercial heights, while the song’s music video became another important part of its rise.

The computer-animated video stood out on MTV and helped make the song even more visible. The video later won Video of the Year and Best Group Video at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.

The song itself reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Sept. 21, 1985, and remained at the top for three weeks. 

Dire Straits had already scored major songs before “Money for Nothing.” “Sultans of Swing,” for example, became a Top 5 hit in the United States.

What started with a few notes written on borrowed paper eventually became an eight-minute Dire Straits classic and the band’s only US No. 1 single.

Related: 1980 Hit, Written After Surviving Dangerous Storm While Sailing to Bermuda, Ranked John Lennon’s Best Solo Album

I like to think of spooky season as my very own personal Super Bowl. I’ve always loved Halloween and each year I travel to theme park Halloween haunt events all over the country. I’ve been visiting some for decades, like Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights and Knott’s Scary Farm, but every year I like to check a new-to-me event off the list. And this year, I finally made the pilgrimage to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s long-running Howl-O-Scream.

And I had good reason to make 2026 my first time. The iconic event is celebrating their first-ever licensed intellectual property haunted house based on the cult favorite Anaconda. In addition to a house based on a terrifying giant snake, there’s five more to explore alongside live entertainment, specialty food, the chance to ride roller coasters in the dark and frightening scare zones.

Related: I Ate My Way Through Halloween Horror Nights

Here’s a look inside Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Howl-O-Scream 2026.

View this post on Instagram Howl-O-Scream Is Back

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a separately ticketed, limited-time event that runs select nights through Oct. 31. During the event, the stunning park is transformed into a world of horror with frights around every corner. This year features the brand new haunted house Anaconda: Fear Has No Escape alongside two new scare zones and the return of fan-favorite show, Fiends.

​”Putting on an event of this size is a massive undertaking that requires a large team of talented and dedicated people​,” says Brandon McBride, Entertainment Supervisor. “Our core team starts with kernels of creative ideas which are then broken out into creative, performance, and technical aspects. Each section is then put into motion, weaving together a creative collaboration led by our producer and creative designer, performance direction and logistics run by dozens of stage managers for hundreds of performers, plus scenic builds, special effects, audio, and lighting as put together by our technical crew of over 30 people.​”

Related: Universal Studios Hollywood Built The Halloween Horror Nights of My Dreams

Anaconda Is a Big Deal

Howl-O-Scream excels at introducing its visitors to original storytelling, but this year is the first time its offering a house based on a licensed intellectual property, Anaconda: Fear Has No Escape. And Howl-O-Scream makes it interesting: The house is set after the events of Jack Black’s 2025 version. The bravest will embark into the Amazon and head straight onto the abandoned “film set” to rescue the surviving crew member from the grips of the legendary giant snake.

The house was impressive, utilizing a variety of effects, including a personal favorite: A laser effect was used to mimic the sensation of drudging through water. Another impressive feat was the clever use of mirrors as we traversed across a suspended bridge that created the effect that we were high up in the sky as you looked down at the seemingly bottomless ground below.

​The biggest challenge in bringing a franchise as iconic as Anaconda to the event? “Being true to the films while telling our own story and giving it the Howl-O-Scream feel​,” says McBride. ​”There is a particular twist at the end of the house that was not easy to achieve but came together as one of the more epic and frightening finales in Howl-O-Scream history.​”

And speaking of that finale. The team used inflatable air walls to mimic the sensation of being swallowed alive. It was totally unexpected and made for a shocking ending.

What Else To Explore

No doubt, Anaconda and five other haunted houses are the draw of the event. Many are returning fan-favorites with all-new storylines. Stranglewood Estate: RePosessed with a favorite, with its incredibly detailed sets and impressive costumed actors. M.A.R.S. also impressed as we ventured onto a terrifying alien spaceship. The house was both indoors and outdoors, which was unique and the sheer number of scare actors felt relentless in the best way.

And as a coaster enthusiast, I couldn’t resist riding Iron Gwazi in the dark. The steel-track hybrid coaster is easily one of the best in the country reaching heights of 206 feet and speed of up to 76 mph.

And after working up an appetite with screams, there’s plenty of specialty food and beverage. I highly suggest the pumpkin whoopie pie with maple cream cheese filling. Throughout the event, you’ll also find a number of themed bars with spook-ified drinks.

Final Verdict

After visiting many of the biggest theme park haunts all across the country, this one ranks high up there and I’ll be making it an annual tradition. The level of detailing in the houses wowed me and this was only amplified when brought to life by an incredible cast of scare actors. With lots of streetmosphere, there is a distinct “vibe” to the event, as if you’re at a massive Halloween celebration.

It’s rare for me to leave an event with a sore throat from screaming, so i’ll consider that a win.

Related: Disney Kicks of Spooky Season With a Must-Have Collab

How To Visit

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a sepately ticketed event offered select nights until Oct. 31. Tickets begin at $48.99 for a single-night and there’s a number of upgrades available, including V.I.P. tours, front-of-line access passes and the ultimate scream pass which grants access to every single night of the event.

Related: I Ate My Way Through Opening Night of Halloween Horror Nights—These 9 Eats Were To Die For

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Dolly Parton’s music and style are iconic, woven through decades of pop culture. Now that signature flair is cropping up in home decor thanks to her popular product line, which has garnered its own fan following thanks to a combination of mood-boosting designs and everyday practicality.

The Dolly Parton Flower-Shaped Glass Candle Holder is one standout from the fan-favorite label. It stands just over ten inches tall and channels the bright whimsy of her world into one glossy, petal-clad accent. It’s perfect for anyone who loves the trendy cottagecore aesthetic or flowers in general!

Dolly Parton Flower-Shaped Glass Candle Holder, $23 at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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This candle holder doesn’t whisper for attention. It sings! Vivid, tinted glass forms a retro-inspired bloom, with a slender green stem and a pink blossom that catches the light in a way that is both playful and quietly elegant. Placed on a shelf, at the center of a dining table, or tucked amid cookbooks in the kitchen, it feels both special and easygoing, a rare feat in the world of decorative accessories. It’s just as fitting for maximalists as it is for someone who wants a single, cheerful pop of color.

Lighting a tealight in the glass flower creates a gentle glow, softening the edges of a mantel or casting a warm shimmer across a dinner party. Reviewers have pointed out how delicate and gorgeous it looks in person. For some, it is a centerpiece. For others, it’s a bookshelf accent, a bedside companion, or a cheerful reminder of the iconic songstress.

“It is a gorgeous glass flower,” one shopper wrote. “It would look beautiful on a dining room table or kitchen counter. I have it on a bookshelf, and it looks beautiful too!”

It is no surprise that Dolly’s name on this piece signals a certain level of quality and thoughtful design. But what really matters is how it makes a room feel, like a wink and a smile in glass form, ready to brighten up the grayest days or take center stage at a celebration.

Shop More Deals

• Dolly Parton Quilted 3-Pack Oven Mitten Set, $30 (was $34) at Amazon 
• Sufkodu Titanium Cutting Board Set of 3, $57 (was $78) at Amazon
• Ngwdba Katori Titanium Cutting Board, $15 (was $30) at Amazon

Related: Dolly Parton’s Colorful Lazy Susan Brings ‘Beautiful’ Organization to Countertops

If you want a little more color, a little more light, or a daily dose of country charm, this $23 flower-shaped candle holder is a small but mighty way to let your space sing. Don’t miss your chance to shop for it while it’s still in stock!

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There are plenty of reasons black luggage remains a travel staple. It’s classic, goes with everything and hides the inevitable scuffs that come with being tossed around from airport to airport.

The downside? Everyone else seems to have the exact same idea.

Anyone who’s ever stood at baggage claim scrutinizing an endless stream of nearly identical black suitcases—or reached for the wrong bag in an overhead bin—knows the struggle. And CALPAK‘s latest fall launch offers a stylish solution.

On September 22, the travel brand is introducing two new colorways to its popular Ambeur Collection: Honey Brown and Dark Cherry. Both offer a decidedly fall-ready alternative to basic black, but Dark Cherry may be the real standout for frequent travelers.

Related: I Stress-Tested the 5 Most Viral Carry-Ons for Six Months—Here’s My Honest Verdict

CALPAK’s Popular Carry-On Gets a Fall Makeover CALPAK launches two new colorways of the popular Ambeur Collection: Honey Brown and Dark Cherry.

CALPAK

Rich and distinctive without being overly bright, Dark Cherry offers the practicality of darker luggage while making a suitcase easier to pick out from a sea of black bags.

Honey Brown takes a more understated approach. The warm neutral feels polished and timeless, while still standing apart from the usual black, navy and gray suspects.

The colors may be new, but the Ambeur Carry-On comes with the same travel-friendly features that have made the collection popular, including 360-degree spinner wheels, an expandable design, interior organization and a TSA-approved lock.

And for anyone who has ever packed a carry-on perfectly on the way there only to discover it mysteriously won’t close for the return flight, that extra expansion room certainly doesn’t hurt.

Related: How I’m Packing for a Special 2-Week Cruise With a Single Carry-On as a 70+ Traveler

There’s More Plaid Where That Came From

The Ambeur Collection isn’t CALPAK’s only fall update. The brand is also introducing the first prints in its Colette collection: Mushroom Plaid and Navy Plaid.

The Colette is also launching two new prints: Mushroom Plaid and Navy Plaid.

CALPAK

The seasonal patterns give the everyday bag a preppy fall refresh that works just as well for the commute as it does for a weekend getaway.

Still, there’s something particularly appealing about luggage that manages to solve one of travel’s most mundane annoyances simply by not looking like every other suitcase at the airport.

Black luggage isn’t going anywhere. At least now it may be a little easier to spot yours next to it.

Up next:

Related: Martha Stewart Loves This Luxe Luggage Style—and Away Just Put a Fresh Spin on It

When NBC’s Cheers debuted in 1982, the hit sitcom seemed to have found lightning in a bottle, a successful ensemble cast that would eventually pave the way for a young Woody Harrelson to step into television history.

But long before Harrelson ever poured a beer as Woody Boyd, the heart and soul of the fictional Boston bar belonged to a very different character: Ernie “Coach” Pantusso. Played to perfection by veteran actor Nicholas Colasanto, Coach was far more than just comic relief. He was the lovable anchor of the series.

Behind the scenes, however, quiet heartbreak was unfolding throughout the show’s third season, according to Screen Rant. Colasanto had been quietly battling severe heart disease for years.

In early 1985, the beloved 61-year-old actor suffered a fatal heart attack. The news sent shockwaves through the cast and crew and placed the show’s creators, James Burrows and Glen and Les Charles, in an unthinkable position.

Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli, Nicholas Colasanto as Ernie ‘Coach’ Pantusso, Ted Danson as Sam Malone of ‘Cheers’/Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank

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Replacing a core cast member on a hit television series is never easy and producers realized that hiring another actor to imitate Colasanto’s character would be disrespectful to his memory. Therefore, they banked on Harrelson’s portrayal of Woody to inject new life into the show as a new character, taking on Coach’s old job.

Writers cleverly linked the characters together by introducing Woody in Season 5 as Coach’s pen pal from Indiana. He traveled to Boston to finally meet him, but after learning of his passing, he was hired by Sam Malone (Ted Danson) to take his bartending job on the spot.

Harrelson brought a fresh, innocent, and completely original energy that mirrored Coach’s sweetness without ever feeling like he was imitating his character. What began as a tragic necessity turned into one of the most brilliant, seamless recasts in sitcom history.

The actor reflected on the transition to The Huffington Post. “I wasn’t really familiar with Cheers, so I didn’t have this relationship with Nicholas Colasanto, which would have made it really strange for me,” Harrelson began.

He continued, “I had watched Cheers exactly twice before doing my first scene. And I gotta say, it sounds like a hard thing, but in reality, that group of people was so great and so gracious and so wonderful to me that they made it kind of easy.”

Harrelson concluded, “I think it was probably more awkward for those guys. You know? I gotta say, it was just an extraordinary experience. Everybody was so cool and supportive.”

Losing a core cast member usually kills a hit sitcom. But Cheers survived because the creators didn’t try to replace Nicholas Colasanto; they just opened the door for Woody Harrelson to continue his legacy. Decades later, it stands as one of the best recasts in TV history.

Related: ‘Friends’ Quietly Recast a Major Character After Just One Episode—And Fans Barely Noticed

In the 1960s, Bill Mumy was one of the busiest young actors on television, appearing on everything from Bewitched and The Twilight Zone to Perry Mason and The Virginian. But there was one famous TV role Mumy could have added to that list—and taking it might have changed his career completely.

Mumy revealed on the Up Next with John Contratti podcast that he was offered the role of Eddie Munster on The Munsters, the part that ultimately went to Butch Patrick.

“I did not audition for it. I was offered that role,” Mumy said, explaining that becoming the young werewolf simply “didn’t seem like a good fit” at the time.

One factor was the elaborate makeup required for Eddie, something Mumy wasn’t particularly interested in doing. More importantly, the young actor was enjoying the freedom of moving from series to series and playing dramatically different characters.

One week, Mumy recalled, he might be appearing on The Virginian, followed by Alfred Hitchcock, Bewitched, Ozzie and Harriet, a Disney movie, Dr. Kildare, Ben Casey or Perry Mason.

Those roles allowed him to play “the mean kid, the good kid, the sick kid, the messed up kid, the abandoned kid,” he said. By comparison, committing to Eddie Munster and potentially being “fourth banana” on a weekly series wasn’t particularly appealing.

Mumy has no regrets about passing. He praised Patrick, who played Eddie throughout The Munsters, saying his fellow actor “has honored that character and owns that role.”

But there was another enormous reason the decision worked out for Mumy.

“If I had taken the role of Eddie Munster, I wouldn’t have been able to do Lost in Space,” he said.

The Munsters was still in production when Mumy began Lost in Space, which premiered in 1965. Instead of Eddie Munster, Mumy became Will Robinson, the young space traveler whose adventures with the Robot produced one of the most recognizable relationships in 1960s television.

And Will was exactly the sort of character Mumy had wanted to play.

“Will Robinson was a superhero,” he recalled. “He had his superhero outfits, he knew how to program the robot and fly the ships, and he had a laser gun that he actually got to use.”

Mumy added simply, “I loved that guy.”

The role also transformed Mumy’s level of fame. He recalled that roughly 30 million people were watching Lost in Space each week during its three-season run, which produced 83 episodes. By the show’s second season, he experienced just how recognizable Will Robinson had become during a frightening visit to Disneyland, where hundreds of young fans suddenly surrounded him after someone spotted him near Main Street.

Nearly six decades later, it’s difficult to imagine anyone but Patrick as Eddie Munster—or anyone but Mumy warning the Robinson family about whatever danger awaited them in space.

Related: ‘Bewitched’ Getting a Modern Reboot With a Dramatic Twist

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As temperatures start to cool down, finding clothes that balance comfort and style becomes especially important. Your most-worn fall pieces should feel cozy enough for lounging at home but cute enough to wear when you’re heading out. And when you find a versatile style that works with just about everything, having it in multiple colors makes getting dressed even easier.

One great example is the Temofon Color Block Sweatshirt. Right now, it’s on sale for 50% off at Walmart, bringing the price down from $30 to just $15. At that price, it’s an affordable way to add a versatile layer to your fall wardrobe without spending much.

Temofon Color Block Sweatshirt, $15 (was $30) at Walmart 

Courtesy of Walmart

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The sweatshirt comes in 12 colorways, with a mix of bold and more subtle color-block combinations. Some designs feature high-contrast shades for a statement-making look, while others keep things more understated. The button V-neckline adds a vintage-inspired touch, giving the relaxed sweatshirt silhouette a little more personality than a basic pullover.

Available in sizes small through XXL, the sweatshirt has a loose fit designed to provide plenty of room without feeling overly bulky. It’s made from a soft, stretchy blend of rayon, polyester, and spandex, giving it the comfortable feel you want for everyday wear while allowing you to move easily. It’s also machine washable, so keeping it fresh between wears is simple.

Related: Le Creuset’s Stoneware Christmas Tree Dish Is the Prettiest Way to Serve Up Small Holiday Snacks

There are plenty of ways to style it throughout the season. Wear it with jeans and white sneakers for an easy everyday outfit, or pair it with leggings and fleece boots for a cozy weekend look. You can also dress it up with a skirt, jumpsuit, loafers, or leather boots when you want something a little more elevated. When temperatures drop, layer a shirt underneath or add a scarf for extra warmth, though it works just as well on its own during milder fall days.

One shopper dubbed it the “softest, most comfortable sweatshirt ever,” adding, “I want to wear it every day. It’s beautiful on top of the comfort and just perfect.” Another reviewer said it’s “true to size,” writing, “I dress it up with leggings and boots or toss on a pair of jeans and sneakers — so versatile.”

Shop More Deals

• Sprinmer Long-Sleeve Button-Down Shirt, $17 (was $31) at Walmart
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• Sovlvnd Zip-Up Hoodie, $5 (was $6) at Walmart

If you’re looking for a cozy sweatshirt you’ll want to reach for over and over, the Temofon Color Block Sweatshirt is a great pick. With 12 colorways, an easy-to-style silhouette, and a soft, stretchy feel, it can work its way into your rotation from fall through winter. And with Walmart’s current 50% discount, you can pick one up for just $15

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.

It’s been 62 years since The Munsters pulled a sudden casting switch that was never explained on the show.  Starring Fred Gwynne, Yvonne DeCarlo, Al Lewis and Butch Patrick, the monster-themed comedy series aired for two seasons on CBS, producing a whopping 70 episodes between 1964 and 1966. But only 13 episodes featured Beverley Owen, the original actress hired to play the family’s niece, Marilyn.

Marilyn, the daughter of Lily Munster’s (DeCarlo) sister, was the only blonde in the family. The ongoing joke was that she was the “ugly” one next to her green-skinned family members.

But midway through the first season, Marilyn had a new look. Owen was out, making her final appearance in the season 1 episode “Family Portrait” on Dec. 17, 1964. The following week, a new actress, Pat Priest, was suddenly cast as Marilyn in the episode “Grandpa Leaves Home.” Priest played Marilyn in 57 episodes of the horror sitcom, and the Marilyn switcheroo was never explained to viewers.

Owen left The Munsters to marry writer and producer Jon Stone in 1964, according to People magazine. Her exit happened quickly, with Priest later telling Idaho News she tested for the replacement role on a Wednesday, was offered the job on a Tuesday, and went to work the following Monday. “It was very fast,” the actress said.

Speaking with Hollywood Chicago, Priest further explained, “Beverley Owen did the first 13 episodes, and I did the remaining 57. She was in love, and her boyfriend was a director in New York, and she went East to marry him. I have never met her, I have never seen her. I started working on a Monday, and she had left the Friday before.”

RELATED: Butch Patrick Honors ‘Lidsville’ Producer Sid Krofft

Priest had an intimidating encounter with series star DeCarlo (Lily) on her very first day on The Munsters set.

“She was a major movie star from the 40s and 50s,” Priest told Boomer magazine in 2020. “My first day on the set, the two of us were in a scene together, and the director asked me to move forward into the light. Yvonne turned to me and said, ‘Let’s get something straight right now young lady, don’t you ever upstage me.’ Man, I jumped back and didn’t care if I spent the rest of the series in the dark!”

Priest ended up befriending DeCarlo, but she wasn’t asked to appear in the 1966 feature film Munster, Go Home. The part went to yet a third blonde, actress Debbie Watson, which upset Priest.

“I was devastated not to be in the film,” she told Boomer. “We were on the set filming the end of the season and the producers sent one of their guys down to tell me. I was 29 and my contract was up for renewal, so I think they wanted a younger actress and didn’t want to pay me more.”

Related: 57 Years Ago Today, ‘Bewitched’ Quietly Swapped Out Darrin and Acted Like Nothing Happened

We’ve all been there: Something goes wrong at work or in our personal lives, and then as the saying goes, “When it rains, it pours.” Suddenly, you’re feeling overwhelmed by more than one complicated, hard situation and it’s difficult to not give in to despair.

Somewhat ironically, a “happiness expert” completely understands.

Bestselling author and positive psychology researcher Michelle Gielan, whose new book, Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times is out now, has been researching positive psychology for 15 years, and had been passionately pursuing solutions to stressful life events even before she began studying psychology.

“If you had told me when I started my career that I would eventually become a happiness researcher, I would not have believed you,” she tells Parade. “I was a national news anchor at CBS News, and during the Great Recession I spent morning after morning reporting on people losing their jobs, their homes and, in some cases, retirement savings they had spent decades building.”

“During that time, I started wondering what might happen if we reported on both the problem and what people could do about it,” she continues. “So we tried an experiment at CBS. In the middle of the recession, we devoted a week of segments to solutions in the face of financial challenges. For instance, if your home is facing foreclosure, what do you do? If you’re fighting with your spouse over money, how do you have better conversations? I was flooded with positive notes from viewers.”

She shares that one man from Oklahoma wrote in “after watching a segment on rethinking financial stress” with gratitude, as he was inspired to take much-needed steps—including reaching out to his brother and pooling their resources—to get on more solid footing.

“I remember thinking: a television segment certainly did not solve the recession, but somehow it changed what this man believed he could do next,” Gielan explains.

Later, she left CBS and began studying Applied Positive Psychology.

“In many ways, I’ve been investigating the same question ever since: What is it about our mindset that predicts whether we will be able to see that next step and take it to fuel positive outcomes?” she tells Parade.

Here, Gielan reveals the number one thing she’s begging people to stop doing during hard times, the difference between “rational optimism” vs. toxic positivity (like “brightsiding“), how to “do” positivity (even when you’re feeling pessimistic) and more. Read on for her vital insights on happiness and recalibrating our mindsets.

Related: 16 Common Phrases Unhappy People Often Use Without Realizing It, Psychologists Say

The ‘#1 Thing’ To Stop Doing: Waiting for the Right Mindset Before Behaving Like an Optimist

Gielan tells Parade, “I would encourage people to stop waiting until they feel optimistic before they behave like an optimist.”

“It’s easy to start with optimism,” she continues. “We feel it at the beginning of a new job, a relationship, a project, even a new year, when possibility is high and we haven’t hit the first real challenge yet. The harder question is what happens to that optimism when the challenge lasts longer than we expected, the first plan fails or we’re simply exhausted. How do we sustain it then?”

First things first: It’s not about pretending everything is OK when it’s clearly not.

“We give people instructions like ‘think positive,’ ‘stay hopeful’ and ‘be optimistic,’ as if we can summon an emotional state simply because it would be useful,” Gielan says. “On an ordinary day, maybe that’s possible, but during some of the hardest periods of our lives, it can be really hard.”

This is something Gielan experienced firsthand.

“I learned that very personally when our daughter, Zoë, was born about ten weeks early,” she tells Parade. “I ended up with an emergency C-section, and when she was born, she was just 3 lb. 7 oz. We spent the next 50 days in the NICU. I had been studying optimism for years at that point, but sitting beside her isolette at 3 a.m., none of that allowed me to predict everything was going to turn out well. But while I did not know the ending, I could hold her tiny hand, ask another question, support my husband, and accept help from people who loved us, which was not always easy for me.”

Gielan couldn’t simply wait for her mindset to change, she had to make some intentional decisions instead.

“Before then, to me optimism meant expecting a good outcome,” she explains. “The NICU taught me something deeper: sometimes you cannot know the ending, but you can still believe your behavior matters and choose to do the next meaningful action. That is why I now say optimism is not a feeling. It is a behavior.”

Related: The World’s Most Resilient People Swear by These 50 Habits

Rational Optimism vs. Toxic Positivity: What’s the Difference?

Hearing that you shouldn’t wait for your mindset to change, and instead start to behave like an optimist might evoke whispers of “toxic positivity.” But Gielan isn’t signing off on that practice of suppressing complicated emotions.

“Toxic positivity often edits out the problem,” she tells Parade. “Meanwhile positive psychology doesn’t ask us to do that. The field looks at the conditions, thoughts and behaviors that help people thrive, and it does not require us to pretend stress and disappointment have disappeared.”

“What I study specifically is rational optimism, which means taking a realistic assessment of the present moment while still believing that our behavior can matter,” she continues. “You need both halves. Optimism without realism can become delusion pretty quickly.”

She gives an example of what this looks like.

“After my husband, Shawn Achor, gave a talk about optimism, the CEO of the company offered him a ride to the airport,” she says. “Shawn got in and buckled his seatbelt. The CEO did not. The warning bell kept ringing until Shawn finally asked him, half joking, ‘You don’t wear seatbelts?’ The CEO said, ‘Nah, man. I saw your talk. I’m an optimist.'”

“Shawn came home and said, ‘Optimism doesn’t stop cars from hitting us,’” she continues. “A resilient optimist puts on the seatbelt. We tell the truth about the risk, and then we ask what we can do next. That is very different from pretending the risk isn’t there.”

Related: Avoid Using This Phrase That ‘Reinforces a Cycle of Pessimism,’ Psychologists Warn

Harvard Business Review Press

5 Ways To ‘Do’ Optimism When You Feel Completely Pessimistic

OK, so how can someone put resilient optimism into practice—especially during tough times? Gielan gives five practical steps.

1. Focus on the facts

“The first thing I would do is make sure you’re working from an accurate picture of what is happening and a full set of facts,” Gielan tells Parade. “When we’re overwhelmed, our brains are very good at taking one bad experience and turning it into a much bigger story.”

“A project goes badly and suddenly ‘nothing is working,'” she explains. “We make a mistake and ‘I always mess this up.’ Something painful happens and our brain starts jumping several chapters ahead to an ending that has not actually occurred.”

Related: 9 Phrases That Signal Someone Has a ‘Victim Mindset,’ According to Psychologists

2. Recalibrate your mindset with questions

“One of the habits I have researched is recalibrating our mindset by asking what information may have disappeared from view,” Gielan says.

She recommends asking questions like:

• What is still working?
• Who is helping?
• What have I handled before that might be useful now?
• Has anything moved forward, however slightly?

3. Complete an action step

“Then take one useful step, even if it feels very small or unremarkable,” Gielan recommends. “Make the appointment, ask the question, send the email, go outside for ten minutes or ask someone to help.”

This does more for us than simply checking something off a to-do list.

“When we feel helpless, one manageable action reminds us that we can still influence what happens next,” she explains.

4. Consider where the pessimism is coming from

When we’re feeling especially pessimistic, we’re likely stressed about something. It’s good to examine that mental reaction.

“Stress can also contain useful information,” Gielan tells Parade. “We have been taught to treat stress almost entirely as something bad, but often the reason something is stressful is because we care about it. When I’m nervous before a keynote, I know it is because doing good work matters to me. If a parent is furious because a teenager is late getting home, there is often fear and love sitting right underneath the anger. Once you understand what the stress is really about, you have a much better shot at choosing a useful response.”

Related: 10 Ways To Become Someone Who Avoids Negativity, According to Psychologists

5. Take a beat

“Sometimes, though, the resilient move is to stop,” Gielan admits. “I have worked with so many capable professionals who get stressed and double down on work. Eventually there is simply no capacity left. Sometimes the next resilient move is to drop a commitment, say no, sleep, ask for help or admit that something needs to change.”

Related: If You Feel Chronically Drained, Psychologists Say These 9 Patterns May Be Why

How Do Genuinely Happy People Avoid Burnout?

Doubling down on work is a much more common choice than many of us would like to acknowledge. Whether it’s for a much-needed distraction or to receive admiration from others, working harder is the path plenty of people take.

“I’ve become fascinated by recovery because we tend to celebrate the exact opposite,” Gielan says. “We applaud the person who can keep working, keep producing, keep answering email late at night, and we call that commitment. But eventually, a brain that never gets to disengage becomes less effective.”

This can apply during hard times, but also when things are going well. So, how do genuinely happy people avoid burnout?

According to Gielan, it involves giving yourself true breaks, and spending time focusing on what’s important to you outside of work.

“Shawn and I surveyed more than 5,000 working professionals in research with Project: Time Off, and one of the findings we published in Harvard Business Review was that people who took 11 or more vacation days were 30% more likely to receive a raise or promotion than people who took fewer days,” Gielan explains. “Booking a trip won’t automatically get you promoted, but this is one more piece of data pointing to the value of disconnecting and recharging.”

She’s quick to clarify that “you do not need a week in Italy every time your brain needs a break.”

“Sometimes it’s enough to take a walk without your phone, drink your coffee without answering email at the same time or leave work mentally as well as physically for a little while,” she adds. “These things sound almost too simple to matter, but simple and easy are not always the same thing.”

Gielan also recommends intentionally noting positive moments.

“At the end of the day, I text my husband three or four ‘Best Moments,'” she tells Parade. “They are small, good things from the day. Maybe something hilarious our son said, a hug from our daughter, a really good dinner or a moment at work that went better than expected. I now have more than 1,500 of those messages and counting! Occasionally, I scroll back through them, and what gets me is how many of the things I treasure would otherwise have disappeared. They’ve become this incredible bank of memory triggers for parts of my life I otherwise might have forgotten.”

Up Next:

Related: 50 Positive Affirmations To Boost Your Confidence (And Change Your Life)

Source:

Courtesy Cave Henricks Communications

• Michelle Gielan, former CBS anchor, positive psychology researcher and author of Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times

Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers‘ 1983 duet stands as one of the most beloved duets in music history, a chart-topping crossover smash that defined an era.

Yet behind the iconic harmonies lies a surprising truth: the song wasn’t written for the country music superstars. In fact, it was written for a soul legend by one of the most prominent songwriters of the 1970s.

According to American Songwriter, Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees wrote the track for himself. However, when he didn’t see it as a fit, he pitched it to soul superstar Marvin Gaye.

Gaye was experiencing a musical renaissance in the early 1980s. His LP Midnight Love and its hit single, “Sexual Healing,” topped the charts, and Gibb believed “Islands in the Stream” would be a perfect fit for his comeback.

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However, the musical pairing never occurred. Therefore, the song lingered without a performer to take it on, until Gibb’s track landed with Rogers.

Rogers was the most popular country superstar of the early part of the decade. He had already racked up several Billboard No. 1 country hits, including “Lucille,” “The Gambler,” “Love Will Turn You Around,” and a duet with Sheena Easton, “We’ve Got Tonight.”

The track wasn’t coming together as a solo performance, and Rogers was ready to give up. Desperate to save the song, Gibb pitched a game-changing idea: what if they turned it into a duet with Dolly Parton?

The Atlantic reprinted an excerpt from Rogers’ memoir, Luck or Something Like It, which explained the collaboration. “I had worked on [‘Islands in the Stream’] with Barry for at least four days, something I was not used to doing. I finally told him I didn’t even like the song anymore,” Rogers explained. “Without breaking a stride, he raised one finger in the air and said, ‘What we need is Dolly Parton.’”

Parton, who had been close friends with Rogers for years, marched right into the control room, brought her trademark high energy, and jumped straight up to the microphone. The moment she added her harmony to the chorus, the entire track transformed.

“She marched into the room, and once she came in, the song was never the same. I mean, it was really that different when she sang with me than when I sang it by myself. It had a different meaning, a different set of values to it, and musically it was so much better,” Rogers told Dan Rather for The Big Interview.

Ultimately, the effortless vocal chemistry and playful warmth between Parton and Rogers on “Islands in the Stream” made the track an instant classic, going on to top the Billboard Hot 100, Country, and Adult Contemporary charts simultaneously.

The world may have gotten a country-pop masterpiece instead of a Motown soul ballad, but the song’s soulful origins never faded. In fact, the R&B foundation the Bee Gees originally crafted for Marvin Gaye is the exact secret ingredient that gave Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s iconic hit its irresistible groove.

Related: 1983 Nostalgic No. 1 Country-Pop Duet Still Feels Like a Warm Memory 43 Years Later

There are theme park rides you squeeze into a vacation, and then there are the jaw-dropping, adrenaline-pounding, wait-in-line-forever attractions you plan the entire vacation around. You know the type: the ride that convinces you to book a flight, shell out for a hotel and willingly stand next to hundreds of strangers before you’ve even had your first coffee.

But with theme parks constantly unveiling bigger, faster and more immersive attractions, which ones are actually worth traveling for? We went straight to the fanatics for the answers.

After asking eight theme park and travel experts to name the attraction they’d plan a trip around right now, the answers initially seemed all over the map, quite literally. Editor-in-Chief of Performing Culture Journal Kirill Oleshkevich gave Japan’s Ghibli Park a shoutout, specifically Valley of Witches and Mononoke Village. We also heard plenty of hype for a brand-new Dollywood adventure, a Muppet-fied Disney classic and a family coaster that hasn’t even opened yet.

But one destination kept coming up: Universal Epic Universe.

Five of the eight experts independently pointed to Universal Orlando’s newest theme park or one of its attractions as worthy of building an entire vacation around. And within Epic Universe, one particularly monstrous ride emerged as a favorite.

Related: Why This Is an Incredibly Exciting Year for Theme Parks

Universal Epic Universe

“Epic Universe is an easy one for me because you’re not planning a trip around one ride—you’re planning a trip around an entirely new theme park,” says theme park content creator Bethany Vinton (@bethanyvinton).

And that’s a pretty compelling argument.

Vinton singles out several attractions, including Stardust Racers and Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, but one ride in particular gets her vote: Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.

“Monsters Unchained is one of those dark rides that really shows what Universal can do when they let the monsters play in the dark,” she says.

Orlando vlogger Sabina Padilla (@sabinaravalli) agrees that Epic Universe is worth the trip, but good luck getting her to pick just one attraction. Her top three span three completely different worlds within the park: Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.

Her No. 1, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, is the one she says could justify the airfare all by itself.

“You don’t have to be a Harry Potter fan to love this ride, but if you are, your mind will be blown,” Padilla says. “The next level ride technology is what sets it apart from anything I’ve ever been on.”

And for anyone who spent their childhood waiting on a Hogwarts acceptance letter that inexplicably never arrived? “If you grew up on Harry Potter, this is the one that makes the trip worth it on its own.”

But Padilla’s second pick brings us right back to Monsters Unchained.

“Universal outdid themselves creating this intense, gothic ride,” she says. “The Classic Monsters make appearances throughout and are gloriously brought to life.”

She adds: “It’s genuinely a beautiful ride, on top of being unsettling in the best way.”

She’s hardly alone.

Jake Doll, founder of the newsletter Nerdfave, makes Monsters Unchained his No. 1 pick at Epic Universe, even with some seriously stiff competition elsewhere in the park.

“While some people may rope-drop and sprint to Super Mario World, which is amazing, or the Harry Potter universe, which feels just like a magical Paris… Monsters Unchained is such an incredible experience for a few reasons,” Doll says.

Among them? Universal’s life-size animatronics, the Victoria Frankenstein pre-show and the elaborate Darkmoor Castle setting, which starts working its spooky magic before you even board.

“Once the ride starts, you’re immediately taken through a house of horrors and an intense battle between good and evil,” Doll says. “You’ll come VERY close to these monsters and feel the breath, heat and water of the environment.”

In other words, personal space is not really Frankenstein’s thing.

@universalorlando

Dr. Victoria will see you now! Listen to what our guests had to say about Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. 🦇 #DarkUniverse #EpicUniverse #ThemePark #UniversalOrlandoResort #MonstersUnchained

♬ original sound – Universal Orlando Resort

Travel expert Vummy Kihaule, who has more than 10 years of experience creating tailor-made trips, goes even broader with her recommendation.

“Universal’s brand new Epic Universe theme park in Orlando,” Kihaule says of the attraction she’s recommending to travelers right now. “It opened in May 2025, and it’s the first major theme park in the US in over 25 years. So, yes, it is worth traveling to experience it.”

Her advice? Don’t try to conquer the entire universe in a day.

“Most first-timers try to cram as many experiences as possible into one day. Don’t do this!” he says. “Epic Universe is a park that you will want to give a minimum of two days, and possibly three if you have children with you.”

The team behind @family.fun.trips came to a similar conclusion after visiting Florida’s theme parks in September 2025.

“The new Universal Epic Universe is worth the trip on its own,” they tell Parade. “An entirely new theme park being built from the ground up doesn’t happen very often.”

They also singled out the Harry Potter and Dark Universe attractions as “truly exceptional.”

Four votes pointing toward the same universe? We’d call that pretty epic.

Related: The Epic Universe Ride Order That Saves 74% More Time This Spring Break

VelociCoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure

Epic Universe may have dominated the answers, but don’t count out Universal’s other Orlando parks just yet.

Comedians Devin Siebold and James Yon of @themeparkcomedians would plan their trip around Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure.

“VelociCoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure is in a league of its own,” they say. “No other coaster leaves you wondering what just happened like VelociCoaster.”

And apparently knowing what’s coming doesn’t help.

“You think you’re ready for the speed and inversions, but this ‘clever girl’ will impress every time.”

Their runner-up is Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, thanks in part to the rotating soundtrack.

“A different song each ride to change the mood and the constant ‘which way am I facing’ truly make it incredibly unique,” they say. “It’s impossible to ride it and not be smiling the entire time.”

Consider our vacation itinerary officially in orbit.

Related: Disneyland Reveals Its Fall Lineup, and Spoiler—It’s Wicked Fun

NightFlight Expedition at Dollywood

If there’s one person we’d happily plan a trip around, it’s Dolly Parton. Add Dollywood’s brand-new NightFlight Expedition to the equation and Vinton is already packing.

“NightFlight is brand new, and you better believe I already have an entire trip planned around riding it,” she says.

The indoor immersive adventure coaster combines multiple ride experiences and has a 39-inch minimum height requirement, something Vinton thinks makes it particularly appealing for families.

“It has enough thrill to make it exciting, but it still has that family aspect to it,” she says. “And the lower height requirement is huge because it means this isn’t just a cool new ride for adults or big coaster people.”

Her ultimate verdict?

“It’s new, it’s different, it fits the park perfectly, and it’s something the whole family can get excited about.”

Dolly and a roller coaster the family can ride together? Say less.

Related: The Smoky Mountain Dream That Dolly Built Turns 40

Miner’s Mountain Express at Silver Dollar City

Finally, one expert is already looking ahead to 2027.

Dani Meyering, an Orlando native with 20 years of tourism-industry experience, has her sights set on Miner’s Mountain Express, the new family coaster coming to Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, next spring.

The attraction follows the natural contours of the Ozark Mountains above Marvel Cave and is designed with a 39-inch minimum height requirement, allowing kids, parents and grandparents to experience it together.

For Meyering, that’s a major part of the appeal.

She also likes that travelers can turn the coaster into a larger Ozarks getaway rather than simply flying in, riding and flying home. Her advice is to wait until Silver Dollar City announces a precise opening date before booking and allow at least two park days.

And if the dates line up with the park’s new Country Music & Comfort Cooking Festival? Even better. Roller coasters, live country music and biscuits and gravy sound like a pretty solid vacation trifecta to us.

Related: America’s No. 1 Theme Park Just Unveiled a New Record-Breaking Roller Coaster

So, Which Theme Park Is Most Worth the Trip?

Our experts certainly didn’t agree on everything. Some want screaming coasters. Others prefer immersive dark rides or attractions the whole family can experience together.

But Epic Universe was the name we heard most often, with five of our eight experts independently pointing to the park or one of its attractions as worth traveling for.

And Monsters Unchained received particularly high praise.

Still, perhaps Vinton sums up the real reason Epic Universe kept coming up best:

“You’re not flying in, riding one thing and leaving,” she says. “There is an entire park to explore, and the rides all feel different enough that there really is something for everyone.”

Looks like we’re going to need a bigger carry-on.

Up next:

Related: Universal Orlando Drops Major $105-a-Day Ticket Deal for Fall Trips—Including Epic Universe

More than two months after 18-year-old Nolan Wells died following a Fourth of July outing on Mississippi’s Horn Island, a Jackson County grand jury has cleared everyone involved of criminal wrongdoing, a decision that has done little to quiet the doubts of Wells’s family and their attorney, Ben Crump.

The 23-member panel, in a report released Monday, found no credible evidence that anyone aboard the three boats that traveled to and from the island that day- the Triton, the Palm Beach, or the Tideline- was criminally responsible for Wells’s death. Jurors also rejected online speculation that race played a role, and noted that everyone aboard those boats cooperated fully with investigators.

Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said the grand jury’s job wasn’t only to pursue wrongdoing but also to clear people wrongly accused, adding that Wells’s friends cared about him and he about them.

The jury’s account: Wells traveled to Horn Island with friends to celebrate the holiday, but didn’t leave with them that afternoon. Friends have said he chose to stay behind to talk with a girl, telling them he’d get back to the mainland later, something the jury said isn’t unusual for holiday visitors to the island. He was last seen around 3 p.m.; his mother reported him missing that night, and his body was recovered two days later off the island’s coast, about ten miles from the mainland. A private autopsy commissioned by the family was unable to determine a cause of death.

That’s where the family’s doubts begin. Wells’s father, Elmore Wonsley, has said his son never would have stayed behind on his own, that Nolan always stuck with the group, and that if Elmore had been there, he’d have made him get back on the boat.

Crump has pointed to a specific contradiction as the reason so many people online are saying “this is not adding up”: friends say Wells told them he was staying with the girl, while the girl has reportedly said Wells told her he was getting back on the boat with the guys. Two accounts, Crump argues, that can’t both be true.

If you’ve noticed something peculiar in your grocer’s cheese section this week, you’re not alone. After more than 100 years of greeting shoppers with a cheerful smile, the iconic cow pictured on The Laughing Cow cheese snacks has stopped laughing.

The Laughing Cow has appeared on product packaging since 1921, always with a smile and a laugh, reminding customers to focus on the positive. The red cow now appears with a more serious expression on the cheese wedge containers, according to the brand’s announcement. In a press release, Bel Brands, US Cheese, the company behind The Laughing Cow Spreadable Cheese Wedges, said, “While there’s been no explanation for The Laughing Cow’s sudden mood shift just yet, she’s been spotted not laughing in diners, parks, and across the brand’s social channels and website.”

The Laughing Cow has an updated, more serious expression, which customers will start to notice on packaging in grocery stores now.

The Laughing Cow/Bel US

“The Laughing Cow has spent more than 100 years reminding us not to take life too seriously, so when she suddenly gets serious, you pay attention,” said Jamee Pearlstein, chief marketing officer of Bel Brands, US Cheese. “Whatever finally got to her must be worth talking about. We’ll let her explain when she’s ready.”

Bel Brands, US Cheese promises more information is to come, by way of The Laughing Cow’s social media channels, and the website TheNotLaughingCow.com. At present, the website reads, “After more than 100 years, The Laughing Cow has stopped laughing. We need to talk.”

What’s more, a visit to the current The Laughing Cow website causes a pop-up window to appear that reads: “Have you heard The Laughing Cow is not laughing? If you spot this package in stores, it’s the same Spreadable Cheese you love, just not laughing.”

Only time will tell what prompted the iconic The Laughing Cow character to adopt such a serious expression. The brand has not announced when it will reveal the reason behind the change in mood. In the meantime, the packaging change does not signal a change to the cheese itself: The company says it’s the same Spreadable Cheese consumers know and love.

In 1967, the Moody Blues released what would become their signature song, “Nights in White Satin”—but it was far from an instant U.S. hit for the English rock band.

Written by Justin Hayward, the orchestral ballad from the album Days of Future Passed featured a lush arrangement and lyrics about longing and loneliness. The song initially stalled in America, but when it was re-released five years later, it climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Hayward once admitted he was initially unsure about the song, which was inspired by satin sheets given to him by an ex-girlfriend.

“It was the first song I ever performed that really got right down to the bone. There was a kind of nakedness about it,” he told Performing Songwriter. “It’s also very risky. I remember when we were making it thinking it’s kind of borderline being good, but if you just go over the line a little bit it would be really bad.”

“The British and the French really went for it, but Americans didn’t,” Hayward added. “FM radio was just beginning. … Funny thing was they said, ‘’Nights in White Satin’ will never make it because it’s four minutes long, and there’s a long, boring flute bit and you can’t dance to it.’”

Hayward explained that the Days of the Future Passed album was originally conceived as a stereo demonstration album, so he assumed it would have a limited audience.

“To be honest, because we made the album as a stereo demonstration record, I thought that only a handful of people would even get to listen to it because only a handful of them had stereos at the time,” the Moody Blues singer told Music Radar in an interview. “What I didn’t realize was that FM radio was starting to take off in America, and the DJs and programmers were starved for good stereo records.”

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Although it took a few years, once U.S. DJs caught wind of “Nights in White Satin,” there was no going back. The song’s release had very little promotion from the Moody Blues’ record company, which was more focused on promoting the band’s 1972 album, Seventh Sojourn, at the time.

“[The label] put all their promotion behind Seventh Sojourn and none behind ‘Nights’ and it kind of backfired on them a bit,” Hayward later told Rolling Stone. “In ’72 it just grew and grew and grew, and in the end everybody at the record company just had to hold up their hands and go, ‘OK, let it go.’ It was wonderful, it was all by itself. There was no promotion involved at all.”

Nearly 60 years later, “Nights in White Satin” remains a timeless rock radio classic—a haunting, orchestral ballad that still sounds unlike anything else.

“It’s a song that never seems to go away,” Hayward noted to Music Radar. “It was a slow build, and of course, it was released a few times, but once it took hold, it did so in a really big way.”

Related: 1967 Classic Rock Hit, Tied to Banned TV Appearance, Climbed the Charts Again 20 Years Later

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Related: Amazon’s ‘Comfy’ $60 Rocking Chair Set Turns Your Outdoor Space Into a ‘Relaxing’ Retreat

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Paul Simon’s “Mother and Child Reunion” became one of the defining songs of his early solo career after its release in 1972. 

Released on Feb. 5, 1972, the song was the lead single from Simon’s self-titled second studio album, Paul Simon. It was also his first major single as a solo artist following the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel.

What made the song unusual at the time was its strong reggae influence. Simon, an American musician known for his work with Art Garfunkel, traveled to Kingston, Jamaica, to record the track with musicians connected to Jamaican reggae music.

The recording took place at Dynamic Sounds Studios at Torrington Bridge in Kingston, according to Songfacts. Simon used Jimmy Cliff’s backing group for the session, giving the song a sound rooted in the Jamaican music scene.

The result was a song that sounded very different from the Simon & Garfunkel material that had made Simon famous.

Simon was already a fan of Jamaican music and listened to artists including Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker and Byron Lee. He wanted to record in Kingston after hearing Cliff’s work, including the antiwar song “Vietnam,” which had been recorded there in 1970.

The recording also brought together several important Jamaican musicians. Hux Brown played lead guitar, Wallace Wilson played rhythm guitar, Jackie Jackson handled bass, Winston Grennan played drums and Denzil Laing contributed percussion. Neville Hinds played organ.

Cissy Houston also provided backing vocals, joined by Von Eva Sims, Renelle Stafford and Deirdre Tuck.

The song was recorded before Simon had written its lyrics, which was unusual for him. He had previously tried to give “Why Don’t You Write Me,” a song from Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, a Jamaican sound. Simon later felt that attempt sounded like a “bad imitation.”

During the Kingston sessions, Jamaican musicians helped Simon understand the differences among reggae, ska and bluebeat. Simon recalled feeling awkward during the recording because he was “the only white guy there and I was American.”

The piano and lead vocals were later overdubbed in New York.

The song’s reggae sound helped separate Simon’s first solo work from his earlier recordings with Garfunkel. It also arrived at a time when reggae was beginning to reach a much wider international audience.

Despite its warm-sounding title, the story behind “Mother and Child Reunion” was connected to loss.

The song’s emotional inspiration came after Simon’s pet dog was run over and killed, per Far Out Magazine. Simon said it was the first death he had personally experienced in that way. The loss led him to think about what it would feel like if someone close to him, including his first wife, Peggy Harper, died.

In a 1972 interview with Rolling Stone, Simon explained the connection: “Somehow there was a connection between this death and Peggy and it was like Heaven, I don’t know what the connection was.”

The title itself came from a completely different source.

Simon saw a chicken-and-egg dish called “Mother and Child Reunion” on the menu of a Chinese restaurant in New York City. The unusual name caught his attention, and he decided to use it for the song.

Simon recalled the moment by saying: “I was eating in a Chinese restaurant downtown. There was a dish called ‘Mother and Child Reunion’. It’s chicken and eggs. And I said, ‘Oh, I love that title. I gotta use that one.’”

At the time, “Mother and Child Reunion” was also unusual because it was one of the few songs by a non-Jamaican musician to use prominent reggae elements.

The song quickly became a major commercial success. It reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in March 1972 and finished at No. 57 on Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 list for 1972.

The success was important for Simon because it showed that he could move forward as a solo performer after Simon & Garfunkel ended their partnership following the release of Bridge Over Troubled Water in 1970.

The self-titled Paul Simon album also performed strongly, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard 200 in April 1972 and remaining on the chart for 36 weeks.

“Mother and Child Reunion” helped open the next chapter of Simon’s career. More solo hits followed, including “Kodachrome,” “Loves Me Like a Rock” and “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.”

Related: 1978 Loretta Lynn Country Song, Ranked Among ‘Greatest’ of All Time, Started Off as a Joke

Buck Owens put a whopping 21 singles to No. 1 on the Billboard country charts as the frontman of the country group The Buckaroos, but this Halloween song was unusually creepy and kitschy in his discography.

It was also one of his final Top 10 hits.

“(It’s A) Monsters’ Holiday” was recorded on October 30, 1973, but for some reason was pushed to country radio in the middle of summer the following year, Rolling Stone notes.

Fortunately, that didn’t seem to matter much. Cheesy as it was, it peaked at No. 6 by September of that year. The silliness was intentional — Rolling Stone says that it was targeted at children, and promoters even sent boxes of Halloween cereal favorites Franken Berry and Boo Berry to radio stations for an extra fun push.

The chorus calls out some of the more infamous monsters of the time:

“Frankenstein was the first in line, and the Wolfman came up next / Dracula was doing his stuff, a-breathing down my neck / Jump back, make tracks, here comes the Hunchback — better get out of his way / Fee fee fi fi fo fo fum, it was a Monster’s Holiday”

The LP it was released on shared its name, Monsters’ Holiday, but the novelty title track was the only Halloween song. It was cut with Owens’ Buckaroos bandmate and best friend Don Rich, who would die in a tragic motorcycle accident in 1974. As a sad result, the country star wasn’t truly able to revel in the song’s success.

Owens followed “(It’s A) Monsters’ Holiday” up with the final No. 1 song of his career, the iconic Dwight Yoakam duet “Streets of Bakersfield,” in 1988. In addition to his country music, Owens famously co-hosted the country-filled variety television show Hee-Haw for more than 15 years, from 1969-1986.

Buck Owens died in his sleep in March of 2006. He was 76.