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Four years after spending $280,000 on a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry, Pete Davidson and Colin Jost finally found a use for the boat that makes at least a little sense: They turned it into a comedy club.

The Saturday Night Live stars hosted a free comedy show aboard their infamous vessel Thursday night at Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan, transforming the John F. Kennedy ferry into the one-night-only “Snapple Island Ferry.” The event featured Davidson and Jost as hosts along with sets from a lineup of rising comedians.

And, naturally, the internet had plenty to say about the long-awaited payoff to one of the strangest celebrity purchases in recent memory.

“Pete Davidson and Colin Jost doing comedy on the Snapple ferry is the most Staten Island sentence ever written. This rules,” one fan wrote on X.

Another person took a considerably less enthusiastic view of the evening, writing that the ferry itself was essentially “the bit” and questioning whether the unusual venue could make up for the comedy.

Either way, the fact that Davidson and Jost actually managed to turn their questionable investment into a comedy venue was enough to give the ferry a new lease on life.

Davidson, 32, and Jost, 44, purchased the decommissioned ferry at a city auction in 2022 for $280,100, along with comedy club owner Paul Italia. The purchase quickly became a running joke, with both comedians repeatedly acknowledging that they weren’t exactly sure what they had gotten themselves into.

Jost previously described the purchase as the “dumbest and least thought-through purchase” of his life, while Davidson has joked about the circumstances surrounding the acquisition. The 277-foot vessel had previously served New York City commuters before being retired in 2021.

But the ferry hasn’t exactly been sitting unused.

In 2024, Tommy Hilfiger staged a New York Fashion Week runway show aboard the vessel, giving the boat another unlikely moment in the spotlight.

In 2022 Pete Davidson and Colin Jost purchased a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry together ⛴️ tonight they hosted a packed out comedy show on board 😂presented by Snapple

ig:newyorkers #newyork pic.twitter.com/D7qlzqOou4

— NYC Chronicle (@nycityradar) September 18, 2026

The comedy show, however, might be the most fitting use yet.

“Turning the ferry into a floating comedy club with Snapple makes more sense than anything else we considered, and it still doesn’t make much sense,” Davidson said when the event was announced. “Either way, we’re giving people a chance to take a break, have a laugh, and do something completely ridiculous with us.”

The event was produced by The Stand Group, which is also involved with the ferry, and featured Snapple as its sponsor. The 60-minute show was billed as a one-night-only event, giving New Yorkers the chance to experience the bizarre vessel as an actual comedy venue.

And judging by the reaction online, the sheer ridiculousness of it all may have been part of the appeal.

After years of jokes about what Davidson and Jost were possibly going to do with their $280,000 boat, they finally had an answer: Put Pete Davidson and Colin Jost on it, put a microphone in front of them, and let the ferry do the rest.

For one night, at least, the boat wasn’t a punchline…it was the comedy club.

“Stop and Smell the Roses” was a country song released by Mac Davis in 1974. It rose all the way to number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.

The lyrics of the song, which speak about there being more to life than work, are still relevant to this day. As one fan on YouTube said, “This song should mean more to today’s world than when Mac wrote it.” Another said, “A good, upbeat, positive song that I fondly remember from when I was a kid in the seventies. It has a good message, but it never gets any airplay anywhere, which is a little surprising to me. Except for now, I probably haven’t heard this in thirty years. It’s just as great as I remember, though.”

Davis had more hits, including “Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me” and “It’s Hard to Be Humble.” He also wrote several hits for Elvis, like “Memories,” “In the Ghetto,” “Don’t Cry Daddy,” and “A Little Less Conversation.”

When speaking about how he started working with Elvis in a SongFacts interview, Davis said, “Billy Strange asked me to write a song. Billy was in charge of the music, and he was very instrumental in introducing me to Elvis and getting that connection going. The special was coming out, and they were looking for a song to bookend a section of the show where he went back and did his ’50s hits, the old Sun Studios things, and they wanted it to be about looking back over the years. I had a little over 24 hours to write it.”

He continued, “I went over to Billy’s, and he had an office in his garage. I went out there and sat there all night and wrote the song ‘Memories.’ We did a demo on it the next day, and they accepted it. They were actually going to sing part of the song in the first half of that segment, at the beginning of it, and another one like a bookend, but he ended up just sitting down at the edge of the stage. It was really nice, the way he did it.”

Related: 1972 Hard Rock Song, Which Became a Staple at Blue Öyster Cult Concerts, Never Actually Charted

Davis also revealed that the popularity of “Memories” led to him creating more songs. “He wanted to hear more of my stuff, so they asked me to send in some songs for this Memphis album,” Davis explained. “I had 19 songs. I had done a tape of them, just me and my guitar, and I sent them the whole tape of everything I had, and the first song on the tape was ‘In The Ghetto.’ I had just finished writing it.” He continued, “It was one of my prideful moments, one of my most exciting moments, because I didn’t know if anyone would ever cut that song. It was controversial at the time. It was my first big #1 and a pretty exciting time in my life. I never thought I’d be involved with Elvis Presley.”

Davis died in 2020. He was 78.

In the 1970s, Alan “Bam” King helped form a British rock band that would score an enduring hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

King, the guitarist and singer best known as a founding member of Ace, turns 81 on Sept. 18.

Long before Ace, King was already part of the British music scene. He was a founding member of The Action, which began life as The Boys in the early 1960s before changing its name and developing a following among Britain’s mod scene.

The Action worked with legendary Beatles producer George Martin and became known for its interpretations of American soul and Motown songs. As the decade progressed, the group moved toward more psychedelic material before eventually evolving into Mighty Baby, with King taking on lead vocal duties.

But King’s biggest commercial success was still ahead.

In 1972, King and guitarist Phil Harris formed the band that became Ace, eventually recruiting keyboardist, singer and songwriter Paul Carrack. The group built a following on Britain’s pub rock circuit before recording its debut album Five-A-Side.

That album produced “How Long,” written and sung by Carrack.

The song became a major international hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975 and No. 20 in the U.K. Ace’s Five-A-Side also reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200.

King played rhythm guitar and sang vocals on “How Long,” alongside Carrack, Harris, bassist Terry “Tex” Comer and drummer Fran Byrne.

Despite what generations of listeners might reasonably assume from its lyrics, “How Long” wasn’t actually written about a cheating romantic partner.

Carrack wrote the song after discovering that Comer had secretly been playing with another group, the Sutherland Brothers and Quiver. In other words, the betrayal behind “How Long” was happening inside a band rather than a relationship.

Ace released three studio albums before disbanding in 1977. Carrack went on to a lengthy career that included stints with Squeeze and Roxy Music and Mike + The Mechanics.

King continued making music as well, joining Ace drummer Byrne in Juice on the Loose. He eventually moved to New Zealand and largely stepped away from the music industry, although he later returned for reunion performances with The Action and resurfaced with a new incarnation of Juice on the Loose.

Meanwhile, the song King helped record enjoyed an unexpected second life decades later.

In 2020, 45 years after its original U.S. success, “How Long” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart after appearing in an Amazon Prime commercial. The resurgence generated 831,000 streams and 4,000 downloads during the song’s unlikely comeback.

Not bad longevity for a song inspired by one band member discovering another band member had been moonlighting.

Related: Rolling Stones Legend Mick Jagger, 83, Makes Rare Outing With Fiancée, 39

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Lamps do a lot more than simply brighten a room these days. The best designs also act as decor, helping define the style and atmosphere of a space. Even better are options that let you adjust the lighting to suit different situations, since reading a book, hosting friends, and winding down for the night all call for different levels of brightness. When you find a lamp that delivers on style, function, and value, it’s worth paying attention to.

One standout option is the Wio Mio Industrial Glass Shade Floor Lamp. Right now, it’s on sale for up to 32% off on Amazon, bringing the price down from $50 to just $34. For a statement-making floor lamp with customizable lighting features, that’s a hard deal to ignore.

Wio Mio Industrial Glass Shade Floor Lamp, From $34 (was $50) at Amazon 

Courtesy of Amazon

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Standing 66 inches tall with a 14-inch-deep by 10-inch-wide footprint, this lamp offers a substantial presence without taking over your space. It features a reinforced base designed for added stability, making it a smart choice for homes with kids, pets, or high-traffic areas. The sturdy construction helps prevent accidental tipping while maintaining a sleek, streamlined look.

The lamp is available in four finishes — black, nickel, bronze, and gold — making it easy to coordinate with a variety of decor styles. Its metal frame is paired with a clear glass shade that creates a clean, airy look while allowing the light to shine through beautifully. The design strikes a nice balance between industrial, farmhouse, and modern minimalist aesthetics.

The upgraded glass shade isn’t just stylish; it also helps create a warm, inviting glow. The transparent finish softens the light without dulling it, making the lamp equally suited for living rooms, bedrooms, home offices, or reading corners. It’s an easy way to add both ambiance and visual interest to a room.

Convenience is another major highlight. The lamp includes both a remote control and a foot pedal switch, giving you multiple ways to operate it. Use the remote from the couch or bed when you don’t want to get up, or simply tap the foot switch when you’re walking into the room. It’s a practical feature that makes everyday use feel effortless.

The included smart LED bulb is fully dimmable and highly customizable. You can adjust brightness from 5% to 100% and choose a color temperature anywhere between 3000K and 6000K. Whether you’re looking for warm lighting while relaxing, bright light for reading, or something in between for movie night, it’s easy to find the perfect setting.

One reviewer highlighted the “sturdy” and “well-made” construction, sharing, “The glass shade gives it a modern, elegant look, and the adjustable brightness is perfect for creating the right ambiance. I love the convenience of the remote; it makes dimming or turning the light on and off effortless.”

Another shopper described it as “beautiful,” writing, “I have been wanting a farmhouse style or industrial floor lamp for a while now and this lamp completely checked every box for me! It’s the perfect height and I love that it has adjustable brightness for the perfect light setting.”

Related: Amazon’s $13 Tulip Table Lamp Adds a Dose of Sunshine to Your Space All Year Long

For a stylish, versatile floor lamp that won’t break the bank, the Wio Mio Industrial Glass Shade Floor Lamp is a great pick. And with Amazon’s current 32% discount, you can save nearly $20 on this popular piece right now.

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Sharon Stone played the iconic serial killer Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct. The 1992 mystery film was the fourth highest-grossing movie of the year, earning Academy Award nominations for best film editing and best original score. When speaking with Variety on September 17, Stone discussed the way people treated her after watching the film.

“What they would do is they would show the film to the press and then bring them in to interview me,” Stone explained. “They were terrified, and they would sit down opposite me and panic.”

Related: Tony Nominated Rock Singer, Who Got His Start on ‘American Idol’, Turns 51

She continued, “That hasn’t changed; people are still terrified of me in one way or another. I think that the basic construct of a woman declaring herself as separate and indomitable was, and remains, a terrifying construct.”

Stone also spoke about the unfair perception others have of her to this day. “I also really understand how I need to say, ‘Hi, I’m Sharon. What’s your name?’ But it’s not me, right? It’s very hard for people to understand that I’m a fragile, physically little, delicate, shy, private, loner, gentle, very empathetic artist.”

Related: Legendary Elvis Presley Dancer, 88, Admits He Originally Wasn’t Interested in Working With the Star

During her interview, she also spoke about her childhood, addressing how she once brought a bat to school and would chase other students around with snakes. “I wouldn’t say so much that I was dark as I’ve always been full,” she said. “I’m as fascinated by the dark as I am by the light; I’m not afraid of it. I was always in trouble for my naivete, mostly about why everybody was scared — scared of me bringing the bat to school, scared of me picking up snakes in the garden. People were scared when I wasn’t scared.”

Stone has appeared in many different television shows and movies, like Euphoria, Nobody 2, and The Disaster Artist. She won a Golden Globe for her work in Casino and was nominated for an Academy Award. She also won a Primetime Emmy Award for her guest role in The Practice.

Barbra Streisand is speaking out as the escalating battle over the Kennedy Center takes another dramatic turn, calling out Donald Trump’s “unchecked ego” as the president continues his push to reshape the Washington arts institution.

The singer and 2008 Kennedy Center Honoree shared a lengthy statement Thursday about the turmoil surrounding the venue, describing it as “galling and painful to witness” and criticizing what she sees as a fight over Trump’s name at a landmark created to honor President John F. Kennedy.

Streisand began by reflecting on the Kennedy Center’s history and what her own 2008 honor meant to her.

“For me, and for so many artists, that honor represented something larger than a career recognition,” she wrote. “It represented a belief in the importance of art to the life of a democracy.”

She then turned her attention to the ongoing fight over Trump’s name.

After a federal judge ruled that the Kennedy Center board could not add a memorial to Trump without congressional approval, the president’s name was removed from the building’s facade. Streisand claimed Trump then ordered a large tarp placed over the facade.

“And now, a thoroughly defeated Trump has announced that the Kennedy Center is being closed for what the completely stacked board describes as a major renovation,” Streisand wrote.

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She continued, “You can easily imagine my indignation at seeing this revered institution become the subject of such a bitter struggle over one man’s name and unchecked ego.”

The Kennedy Center board voted Tuesday to close the institution’s main building for renovations after the judge again blocked efforts to add Trump’s name. The board has said the closure is necessary because of the building’s condition and financial concerns, while Trump has tied the planned $257 million renovation to the dispute over whether his name can be added to the building.

The legal fight escalated Thursday again. A federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolition, after Trump had publicly raised the possibility of tearing the structure down.

Streisand also used her statement to invoke Kennedy’s vision for the institution, writing that the center was meant to “pay tribute to a beloved president” and advance his belief that artistic achievement was evidence of a free society.

She concluded by urging Americans to “exercise their right to vote in the upcoming midterm elections!”

Streisand’s comments also prompted an immediate response from fans on Instagram, with many expressing support for the singer and concern about the future of the Kennedy Center.

“I think Barbra Streisand said it perfectly,” one commenter wrote, describing the Kennedy Center as a national symbol.

Another commenter, who recalled performing at the venue in the 1980s, shared a personal memory of appearing on the Concert Hall stage and called the Kennedy Center “a National symbol of America.”

“Barbra writes so eloquently!” another fan wrote, adding, “I can’t understand why Trump is so obsessed with the Kennedy Center!”

Others focused on the possibility of the building being demolished, with one commenter asking for Streisand’s reaction to the latest discussion surrounding Trump’s threat.

When The Animals released the Carole King-penned song “Don’t Bring Me Down” in the spring of 1966, it seemed like a match made in pop music heaven.

The band took the song, written by King and her husband, Gerry Goffin, and turned it into a Top 20 smash. Led by Eric Burdon‘s soulful vocals, the song became an instant rock radio staple.

“Don’t Bring Me Down” proved to be a major hit for the band, reaching No. 12 on Billboard during the summer of 1966. King, however, was far from impressed with the finished track.

In an interview with Songfacts, Burdon shared King’s surprising reaction to the song. Years later, the two had a chance meeting in a doctor’s waiting room, where the songwriter bluntly admitted just how much she disliked the group’s version.

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Burdon explained, “I didn’t realize that it was a Goffin, King song until I was in a doctor’s office in Beverly Hills and Ms. King came in and sat next to me. I didn’t know it was her, I was just reading a magazine.”

He continued, “She turned to me and said, ‘You know, I hated what you did to my song.’ I didn’t know what to say, so all I said was, ‘Well, sorry.'”

Burdon concluded, “Then as she got up to go into the doctor’s office, she turned around and said, ‘But I got used to it.'”

According to Far Out Magazine, long before the band ever recorded “Don’t Bring Me Down,” Burdon had already taken a very public shot at Goffin and King. On the opening track of The Animals’ 1964 self-titled UK debut, “Story of Bo Diddley,” Burdon mocked the duo’s 1961 smash “Take Good Care of My Baby.” He snidely sang a line from the song, framing it as manufactured music filling an industry void in the early ’60s.

“Don’t Bring Me Down” turned out to be a last hurrah for the original lineup of The Animals. It served as their final U.S. Top 20 entry before internal clashes split the band apart later in 1966.

Organist Alan Price had already walked away, and by the end of 1966, drummer John Steel, bassist Chas Chandler, and guitarist Hilton Valentine all followed suit. This left Burdon to rebuild the group as Eric Burdon and the Animals.

Related: 1968 Byrds Track, Written by Carole King, Remains a Psychedelic Country-Rock Masterpiece

In 1978, Heart’s long-awaited album Magazine was released, and it featured a song that was close to the hearts of sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson.

The song, “Heartless,” featured a heavy guitar riff and soaring vocals about cruelty and deceit. Inspired by a real-life eye-opener while on the road, it was the first single from the album, reaching No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1978.

Decades later, “Heartless” remains an important song in Heart’s catalog, but one with a complicated backstory.

“’Heartless’ is something Ann and I wrote together,” Nancy once told Rolling Stone. “We were pretty naïve in the early days – we grew up in a really loving family, with a mom and dad who were in love with each other and respectful of each other. And we didn’t have brothers. But then we got out on the road, and we started seeing the way the guys in the band would sort of go through these groupies. And the girls would get their hearts broken and their feelings really hurt. There were real tears involved, and the guys were like, ‘Ah, well, I’m off to the next city!’”

“We felt bad seeing these men really confusing these young girls,” she explained. “Although if you think about it another way, that’s what the girls were there for too. They were putting themselves in harm’s way, and a lot of them got harmed.”

Ann Wilson once revealed that “Heartless” contained some of her favorite lyrics she wrote for a Heart song.

According to Ultimate Classic Rock, the legendary singer once said the song “contained some of my favorite lyrics ever,” and she singled out the line “Never realize the way love dies when you crucify its soul” as one of her best writing moments.

“Heartless” was originally recorded in 1976, but the Magazine album was delayed due to a dispute with Mushroom Records, after the label released a tabloidy ad that infuriated the Wilson sisters.

“They were trying to make easy, sleazy success out of that image,” Ann told Rolling Stone of a suggestive photo that the record label used. “And Nancy and I felt insulted by it, because we were trying to achieve something higher. We were trying to break into music respectfully and with a little more class than that.  …We exercised our right to get out of our contract. And they went up against us. So the record company put out their version of Magazine and then we put out ours. Afterward, a judge in Seattle recalled their version. It was just a strange time.”

RELATED: 1976 Rock Rebellion Anthem Was Written in 20 Minutes

In the book Kicking & Dreaming, Ann Wilson revealed that Mushroom Records rushed a rough version of Magazine into production, but Heart was soon awarded an injunction that removed the album from store shelves. With the lawsuit settled, Heart cut ties with the label after re-recording “Heartless” and the other Magazine tracks for a reissue.

“[We] insisted we finish the vocals and mixes,” Ann Wilson said in the book, per Ultimate Classic Rock. “We did that in a Seattle studio later that year, as an armed security guard stood by. The court had ordered the guard because Mushroom was afraid we would erase our original multitrack recordings out of spite.”

Nearly 50 years later, “Heartless” remains one of classic rock’s greatest anthems of betrayal and survival, with a backstory to match it.

Related: Heart Legend Nancy Wilson Honors Late Manager Who Inspired ‘Magic Man’

Every month, I look forward to stopping by my favorite Costco store to browse the latest arrivals and discover what is new on the shelves. There is always something tempting to check out, whether it’s a limited-edition snack, a returning fan favorite or a seasonal treat that only appears for a short time (see: pumpkin spice everything). With so much fresh inventory arriving each month at Costco, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. And if you don’t have time to peruse every single aisle of the warehouse, we have you covered when it comes to the best Costco snack finds this month.

Costco’s snack aisles are legendary, and for good reason. From sweet bites and savory picks to seasonal flavors worth adding to your cart, the newest lineup is packed with delicious options for anyone looking to refresh their pantry this fall. Some of these products are completely new, while others are returning favorites that you may wait all year to see again. Either way, they are the kinds of finds that may inspire an extra trip to Costco before they disappear until next year.

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One of the best parts of a seasonal change is seeing familiar products return alongside unexpected new releases. If you love trying new snacks, stocking up on limited-time treats or finding something fun to share with family and friends, we think these latest Costco snack picks are worth a closer look.

Best New Costco Snack Arrivals

Here’s the fresh new lineup of the best Costco snack finds for September. Whether you’re reaching for something sweet, salty, healthy or high in protein, Costco has something for you this month.

Sweet & Salty Costco Snacks

When a sweet or salty craving hits, you’ll want to reach for one of these scrumptious snacks.

Annie’s Bunny Grahams Neapolitan, $9.53

Courtesy Choya Johnson

Costco shoppers looking for a kid-friendly pantry staple may want to keep an eye out for Annie’s Neapolitan Bunny Grahams. This oversized 25-ounce bag brings together three sweet flavors—strawberry, vanilla and chocolate—in the brand’s signature bite-size bunny shape.

The colorful graham snacks are crunchy but still sweet enough to feel like a small dessert. They are also an easy pick for packing into lunchboxes, setting out for playdates or keeping on hand for quick snack attacks. With three flavors in one bag, this Costco find offers a fun twist on everyday graham crackers.

Bear Fruit Rolls, $11.99

Courtesy Choya Johnson

Costco’s Bear Fruit Rolls offer a simple grab-and-go option for anyone who wants a sweet snack without reaching for traditional candy. For $11.99, you get a generous 24-count box filled with strawberry and raspberry fruit rolls.

These chewy snacks are especially useful for school lunches, long car rides, post-practice hunger or keeping a desk drawer stocked during busy weeks. Their fruity flavor and playful rolled shape make them appealing to kids, while the large Costco-size box gives families plenty to share. This is one pantry find that can make snack time feel a little easier.

Chocovia Dark Chocolate with Cookie Butter Filling, $8.99

Courtesy Choya Johnson

If you’re a Costco shopper with a serious sweet tooth, you may want to pick up a package of Chocovia Dark Chocolate with Cookie Butter Filling before it’s gone. The treat starts with a snappy dark chocolate coating, then delivers a creamy cookie butter center with the familiar warm, caramelized spice flavor fans love.

Its 22.22-ounce package is large enough to put out when company comes over, divide into small gift bags or keep stocked for a little late-night dessert. It’s an especially tempting choice for anyone who prefers an elevated chocolate candy over standard grocery store sweets.

Related: Shoppers Are Racing to Grab These 5 New Costco Bakery Finds This September

JOJO’s Snack Victoriously Dark Chocolate Pistachio, Almond & Cranberry Bites, $11.49

Courtesy Choya Johnson

JOJO’s Pistachio, Almond & Cranberry Bites are a Costco snack for anyone who prefers a little texture with their chocolate. These bite-size clusters layer smooth dark chocolate with roasted nuts and tangy cranberry pieces, creating a snack that feels equally at home in a desk drawer, movie night bowl or holiday candy dish.

The pistachios bring a subtle savory note, the almonds add crunch and the cranberries brighten each bite with a touch of fruitiness. Packaged in a 14.4-ounce bag, they’re easy to set out for guests or portion into a small bowl when you want something sweet.

Mighty Spark Chicken Snack Sticks, $12.89

Courtesy Choya Johnson

Mighty Spark Chicken Snack Sticks are a smart Costco grab for anyone who prefers something savory between meals. These slim, individually wrapped chicken sticks fit easily into a backpack, desk drawer or gym bag, making them useful for hectic mornings, road trips and post-workout hunger.

The variety pack offers more than one flavor—a mix of original and teriyaki—while the chicken base gives the sticks a satisfying, meaty bite. They’re a convenient alternative to chips or candy when you need a quick snack option that feels more substantial and filling. For active households, this Costco pack makes stocking up on portable snacks much easier.

Kirkland Signature Caramel S’mores Clusters, $10.69

Courtesy Choya Johnson

Kirkland Signature Caramel S’mores Clusters are a ready-to-eat alternative for anyone craving the flavors of a backyard bonfire without the hassle or the mess. Each chunky piece combines crisp graham cracker bits and soft marshmallows with a buttery caramel layer, all finished in milk chocolate.

The mix of crunch, chew and rich sweetness makes these clusters especially tempting as a late-night snack or an easy dessert for casual entertaining. Because the bag contains 26.3 ounces, it’s also a convenient pick for sharing at game nights, packing into small treat bags or setting out at an autumn get-together. It’s a nostalgic Costco candy that delivers s’mores flavor without the sticky cleanup.

Related: Costco’s Delicious New Freezer Find Is the Ultimate Weeknight Comfort Food

Loacker Minis Mix Cream Filled Wafers, $10.32

Courtesy Choya Johnson

Loacker Minis Mix Cream Filled Wafers bring a little European style sweetness to Costco’s snack aisle. The individually wrapped cookies have thin, crisp wafer layers surrounding a smooth cream center, making them a lighter feeling alternative to a rich chocolate cookie or candy bar. Their small size is ideal for slipping into lunchboxes, setting beside a cup of coffee or putting out in a bowl when guests stop by. The oversized Costco bag gives your household plenty to keep on hand too, so you’ll always be ready with a small treat for yourself or guests.

High-Protein & Healthy Bulk Snacks

If you’re trying to add more healthy snack options or protein-rich picks to your day, one of the Costco snacks below is worth a try.

Protein Brownie Birthday Cake Blondie by Elavi, $19.99

Courtesy Choya Johnson

If you want your protein snack to feel less like a chore, Elavi’s Birthday Cake Blondie Protein Brownies are a Costco find worth seeking out. These individually wrapped blondies have a soft, dessert-inspired texture and a vanilla cake flavor finished with cheerful sprinkles, making them an easy choice when a cookie craving strikes.

The 12-count box is convenient for stocking a work bag, gym tote or pantry shelf with ready-to-eat snacks throughout the week. Each blondie contains plant-based protein and fiber, offering a more filling alternative to many conventional sweets. It’s a fun pick for anyone trying to balance everyday nutrition goals with a love of sweet treats.

JimmyBar! Creatine Functional Protein Bar in Double Fudge Brownie, $9.97

Courtesy Choya Johnson

JimmyBar! Creatine Functional Protein Bars in Double Fudge Brownie make it easy to add a chocolatey snack to an active day. Sold for $9.97 for a pack of seven, these bars pair a dessert-like brownie flavor with protein and creatine in a portable format. The individually wrapped bars can be tucked into a work bag, kept in the car or packed alongside post-gym essentials for a quick bite when a full meal isn’t feasible for a while. Their double-fudge profile is geared toward shoppers who prefer rich, chocolate-forward snacks over fruit or peanut butter varieties. It’s a convenient option for people seeking a more protein-rich alternative to an ordinary sweet treat.

Kize Life Changing Bar Chocolate Chip Cookie, $14.89

Courtesy Choya Johnson

KiZE Life Changing Bar’s Chocolate Chip Cookie flavor is a convenient Costco snack for days when you want the comfort of cookie dough without pulling out a package of cookies.

Built around almond butter, the bar has a chewy texture and chocolatey bites that give it a dessert-inspired feel. It’s an easy option to stash in a purse, desk, car console or gym bag for a quick pick-me-up between meals. Costco’s 12-bar box includes Chocolate Chip Cookie and Brownie Batter flavors, which makes it a fun choice for shoppers who like variety in their snack rotation.

Pure Organic Twisted Fruit Bites, $13.99

Courtesy Choya Johnson

Pure Organic Twisted Fruit Bites make snack time feel a little more playful, thanks to their soft, twisty shape and bright fruit flavors. Costco’s variety pack includes 24 small pouches, split between Blueberry Raspberry and Strawberry Mango, so there is plenty to keep on hand for busy school mornings, errands and weekend outings.

The bite-size pieces are easy for kids to eat, but their fruity sweetness makes them just as appealing for adults who want a quick desk or afternoon snack. Because every pouch is already portioned, they’re especially convenient for lunches and travel. This is a colorful Costco find that can disappear quickly in a household with frequent snackers.

Solely Organic Fruit Jerky, $11.99

Courtesy Choya Johnson

Solely Organic Fruit Jerky is a Costco snack that keeps things straightforward: It delivers a chewy, fruit-filled bite in a slim, portable strip. The newest variety box combines mango with raspberry and blueberry flavors, creating a tangy-sweet alternative to gummies, candy or conventional fruit leather.

Each strip comes individually wrapped, which makes them useful for tossing into lunchboxes, bringing along on a hike or keeping in a purse for unexpected hunger. The soft texture and naturally fruity taste are likely to appeal to both kids and adults, while the large box means there is enough to share.

Tropical Fields Yogurt Bites Passionfruit, $6.99

Courtesy Choya Johnson

Tropical Fields Passionfruit Yogurt Bites bring a sunny, unexpected flavor to Costco’s candy and snack selection. Beneath their creamy yogurt-style coating, each small piece has a soft passionfruit flavored center that adds a lively sweet-tart contrast. They’re the kind of snack that works well chilled straight from the refrigerator, poured into a small bowl after dinner or set out alongside cookies and chocolate when friends come over.

Because the package is a substantial 30 ounces, it’s also a practical option for households that go through shareable sweets quickly. If you’re tired of the same chocolate-heavy treats, these fruit-forward bites offer something refreshingly different.

TruBar Plant Based Protein Bar, $19.89

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TRUBAR Plant-Based Protein Bars offer an easy way to satisfy a dessert craving while keeping a convenient snack close at hand. Costco’s 16-bar assortment includes Oh Oh Cookie Dough and Strawberry Shorty Got Cake, two flavors that bring plenty of fun to the pantry. Each bar is individually packaged, making it simple to toss one into a work tote, travel bag or gym locker for later. The plant-based bars provide 12 grams of protein per serving and are a useful choice for vegan shoppers or anyone avoiding dairy. If your usual protein bars taste too plain, this colorful Costco variety pack makes for a more fun alternative.

Related: Costco’s Sleek and Durable 3-Piece Luggage Set Is the Perfect Buy for Frequent Travelers

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If your house is the go-to spot for dinners and holiday get-togethers, a placemat set for every season is a hosting must. Walmart makes it easy to add a budget-friendly option to the rotation with the Smile Fall Placemat Set, featuring a sweet fall print with pumpkins, leaves, and birdhouses. The cheapest choice is four rectangular mats for $6, while the best value is six rectangular mats for $7. You can also get four round mats for $9, and all three sets are marked down from $15.

The rectangular version measures 12 by 18 inches, while the round one is 15 inches across. They’re made of machine-washable polyester, so a splash of coffee or a dropped spoonful of gravy won’t ruin them. They’re also designed to resist fading after repeated washes, making it easier to pull the set out again next fall.

Smile Fall Placemat Set, From $6 (was $15) at Walmart

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The four-pack works whenever you’re setting the table for four, while the six-pack covers two additional seats for only $1 more. That larger set may be the better choice for bigger households or anyone who regularly has guests over. The round version gives circular tables the same seasonal touch without rectangular corners hanging over the edges.

One reviewer called them “cheerful” and said they used pieces from the collection around their coffee station, under the TV, and throughout their home. Other shoppers described the placemats as “so cute and well made,” “colorful and festive,” and many people appreciated their “beautiful design” and “vibrant fall colors.”

Related: Target’s Perfect-for-Fall Candle Is Just $5, but It Smells Way More Expensive

Seasonal decor can quickly fill a storage bin, but these mats take up very little room once fall is over. They can be stacked inside a cabinet, tucked in with other table linens, or rolled together until next year. The pumpkins, leaves, and birdhouses also work throughout the entire season, so the set can come out in September and stay through Thanksgiving.

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Getting the table ready for fall can be as quick as swapping out the placemats already there, and the Smile Fall Placemat Set can handle casual meals now and larger gatherings later in the season. With every version at least 40% off, now is a great time to choose the shape and quantity that fit your table. Grab yours at Walmart while the sets are still marked down this low.

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1988 was the totally tubular birthyear of many enduring trends, from Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan to reports of a growing computer network called “the internet.” In music, teen pop sensations like Debbie Gibson and Tiffany were all the rage, too, but the five most popular songs of 1988 came from a diverse group of male artists. Only one, in fact, was an American.

To calculate the biggest songs of each year, Top40Weekly.com applies its Nolan Method to each tune’s performance, using “an inverse point-based system that rewards songs’ longevity and impactful debuts — giving a more complete picture of what songs actually dominated the charts.” So, even if songs spent the same number of weeks on the chart, other factors are calculated, including how high they ranked during those weeks.

Sadly, the top 100 song list for 1988 reveals that among the singers who belted out the biggest songs, three of the top five artists are no longer alive in 2026. Here’s the list, and details on what happened to each vocalist.

5. Axl Rose on Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses

The hard rocking members of Guns N’ Roses released their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, in 1987, but didn’t become superstars until the next year, when their third single — Sweet Child O’ Mine — began climbing the charts, with frontman Axl Rose‘s soaring vocals taking the U.S. by storm.

In September 1988, Sweet Child O’ Mine became the American band’s first and only single to hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, and it spent 24 weeks on the chart that year. According to UDiscover Music, the tune has had serious staying power, even hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart in 2022, thanks to its inclusion in Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder.

Speaking of staying power, Rose, now 64, is on a world tour with Guns N’ Roses, which still includes core members Slash and Duff McKagan.

4. Rick Astley on Never Gonna Give You Up

Rick Astley staged a British invasion in 1988, soaring to the top of Billboard‘s Hot 100 with his debut U.S. single, Never Gonna Give You Up, in March of that year. First, the song topped the charts in England and across Europe, before making him a massive star in the U.S., with teens glued to MTV to catch glimpses of the 22-year-old, redheaded Brit with the deep, rich voice.

Like Sweet Child O’ Mine, the song spent 24 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100. Astley told Billboard in 2016, “It was amazing to turn up in a country that I knew nothing about. I was No. 1 and everybody knew me.” The song has had serious staying power, reaching the rare achievement of one billion Spotify streams in 2025.

Astley gained another claim to fame as the amusing online trend of “Rickrolling” took off in the mid-2000s. The premise is that people send a link to a friend, setting them up to expect to land at a certain site or resource, only to be led unknowingly to a video of Astley belting out his 1988 hit.

Astley, now 60, is alive and well. After taking time off from his music career at 27 to be with his family, he is back to touring and recording music.

3. George Harrison on Got My Mind Set On You

George Harrison was no stranger to releasing huge hits, having been one-fourth of The Beatles. A cover of a 1962 tune by James Ray, and with fellow Beatle Ringo Starr playing the drums, Harrison’s song began climbing the charts in 1987, and reached No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 in mid-January of 1988, one week before The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Got My Mind Set On You was the last Billboard No. 1 song by a member of the Beatles. It spent 22 weeks on the Hot 100 chart, with 15 of those in the Top 10, contributing to him leap-frogging over Axl Rose and Rick Astley into the No. 3 spot for the year.

Sadly, Harrison is one of the chart-toppers who’s since passed away. He died on November 29, 2001, at age 58 due to complications from lung cancer.

2. Michael Hutchence on Need You Tonight by INXS

Australian band INXS was another foreign import that hit it big in America in 1988. Starring lead singer Michael Hutchence, whom StudioGum described as a “new wave Jim Morrison,” the band hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 in late January after weeks of climbing the chart. They quickly became one of MTV’s biggest draws, too, winning five 1988 MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year for Need You Tonight.

Less than a decade later, in 1997, fans were shocked when Hutchence was found dead in his hotel room in Sydney, Australia. His death was ruled a suicide, per TIME, with police reporting that he was found hanging by his neck and naked. Many argued that it couldn’t possibly be a suicide, since he was a new dad at 37, seemed happy, and was about to head out on a world tour with INXS.

He left a legacy of music and meaning in his wake. Need You Tonight was the debut single from INXS’ album Kick, which went on to be named Billboard’s No. 4 biggest album of 1988, behind the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, Def Leppard’s Hysteria, and the No. 1 album, which also gave us the year’s No. 1 single…

1. George Michael on Faith

George Michael‘s 1988 smash hit, Faith, was the top single of the year in the U.S. Released in late 1987, it was a follow-up to the Brit’s too-hot-to-handle song I Want Your Sex, which was banned by many radio stations in the U.S. and UK — yet still became a huge hit.

But Faith did even better, with StereoGum calling it “the song that truly turned George Michael into a Michael Jackson-level star.” The tune topped the U.S. charts for four weeks, and Billboard named it the No. 1 single of 1988. The album it was on, also called Faith, became a “full-on cultural phenomenon, with double-diamond sales and a big stack of Grammys,” the outlet reported.

Michael’s death at 53 also shocked fans. According to the BBC, he died on Christmas Day 2016 of natural causes from heart and liver disease. Michael was posthumously inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in 2023, with a tribute from Andrew Ridgeley, his childhood friend and former bandmate in Wham!

Jimmy Fallon found a bizarre bit of political déjà vu in a fake “man-on-the-street” interview with a Donald Trump supporter — and the joke suddenly feels a lot more relevant as gas prices soar.

During the September 17 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Fallon discussed Trump’s recent comment that high gas prices are a “very inexpensive price to pay” for the war, then played a mock interview purportedly filmed before Trump began his second term.

In the staged clip, a supposed Trump supporter said he hoped the president would start a “forever war” in the Middle East — as long as it cost taxpayers $246 million a day and made gas unaffordable. Fallon then pointed out the joke’s eerie resemblance to the current moment, calling it “amazing found footage.”

The faux “man-on-the-street” interview showed the supposed supporter saying he hoped Trump would spend his time trying to get his name added to the Kennedy Center and “shuts it down if he can.”

The joke continued as the man said he’d “be real jazzed” if Trump started one of the “forever wars” he said he would never start, provided it cost taxpayers $246 million a day, and Americans started “really losing it pretty much right off the bat.”

“Just taking L after L,” the fake supporter added.

He then delivered the gas-price punchline: “Now, in a perfect world, I would love to not be able to afford gas while he tries renaming New Mexico New America and posts pictures of himself as Hulk Hogan. But you know, you can’t always get what you want.”

And the joke lands against a real rise in gas prices. As of September 17, the national average for a gallon of regular gas had climbed to about $4.47, according to AAA, up from $4.30 a week earlier and $4.07 a month ago. AAA attributed the increase to elevated crude oil prices, which are averaging around $100 a barrel amid continued volatility around the Strait of Hormuz.

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‘Tis the season to start planning for the holiday season! If you start counting down the days to Christmas during summer, you’re probably gearing up to decorate any minute now. We don’t blame you for being excited, especially given that the cozy months ahead bring so many opportunities to refresh every part of your home.

One of the easiest places to start is the bedroom. Macy’s just dropped a slew of festive comforter sets bearing the cutest holiday-themed motifs, including floral patterns, crisp plaids, snowy scenes, and more. Every single one is reversible, so you’ll essentially get two looks for the price of one. These beautiful sets offer an easy way to make the season brighter while adding a jolly little accent to any bedroom in your home.

Winter Scene Deer 3-Piece Comforter Set, $25 (was $80) at Macy’s

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This brilliant set is ideal if you’re looking for something that gives you two completely opposing looks. One side features an adorable forest pattern with an array of pine trees, soaring eagles, and plaid-flecked reindeer. The medley of red and green checks against the crisp white backdrop commands attention, adding a bold focal point to the room.

If you’re craving something classic, flip it over to reveal a timeless Christmas tartan that instantly warms up any room with its old-world influence. With two pillowcases that invert to match your comforter, it’s “nicely coordinated,” according to shoppers, and boasts a “soft and comfortable” texture. On colder nights, the comforter is perfect for layering over a thick blanket.

Poinsettia 3-Piece Comforter Set, $25 (was $80) at Macy’s

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Solid colors can infuse a room with undeniable holiday spirit, too! Just look to this set for proof. Featuring a comforter and two matching pillowcases, it offers a rich crimson on one side that’s etched with a subtle tonal pattern. The detail is just distinctive enough to catch the eye, complementing other elements in the room nicely.

The other side brings good tidings with its beautiful poinsettia pattern against a bright white setting. The blossoms are so deeply saturated and generously sized that they almost appear to pop from the comforter. With one livelier side and another more restrained option, this is the set to snag if you want real variety all season long.

Santa Town 8-Piece Comforter Set, $37 (was $100) at Macy’s

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This set’s rustic aesthetic brings good cheer to any Christmas lover’s bedroom with its richly detailed motif. There’s a little bit of everything in this charming winter woodland, from bare branches and snow-capped cabins  to plaid pine trees and Santa on a sleigh led by his trusty reindeer! 

Contrasting this vintage-inspired, slightly folky print is a down-to-earth check print in simple red and black. If you love the idea of introducing some nostalgic holiday decor to your living space, this is a go-to choice. At 63% off, it’s an outstanding deal that contains everything you need to completely refresh your bed for the holidays, including a comforter, flat sheet, fitted sheet, two pillowcases, two shams, and a bedskirt. 

Related: Macy’s ‘Rustic’ Stoneware Set Is the ‘Perfect’ Way to Refresh Your Table Before Fall 

Joanne 3-Piece Comforter Set, $25 (was $80) at Macy’s

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For something that leans more sophisticated, try this three-piece set. The bold floral pattern is absolutely exquisite, with a blend of red- and blush-toned blooms and leaves etched on a creamy white backdrop. The border is especially distinctive, with three wide stripes bearing intricate vine and floral medallion scrollwork.

The other side is deep red, with thick floral stripes in warm shades of cream, blush, and gray. No matter which you go for, you can bet it will transform the room into the merriest spot in your home! With a comforter and two shams, it’ll pull your bed together for a quick holiday update.

With the most festive time of the year just weeks away (yes, really), you can consider this your green light to snap up a holiday-themed comforter set at Macy’s. With savings of up to 69% off, it’s the perfect opportunity to treat yourself!

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Jimmy Kimmel has a wild idea for getting Donald Trump to take the threat of artificial intelligence seriously: Tell him ChatGPT is about to release the Trump-Epstein files.

Kimmel made the joke during his September 17 Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue while discussing growing concerns from AI researchers and Trump administration officials about the technology’s potential risks. The late-night host pointed to reports that White House officials have been meeting to discuss ways to persuade Trump to support more safeguards around AI.

The discussion comes as AI researchers and tech leaders have raised increasingly stark warnings about the technology. Kimmel noted that Trump has dismissed concerns about AI as a “hoax.” Trump has publicly argued that the U.S. does not need additional AI guardrails, while AI executives and researchers have called for greater attention to potential safety risks.

“He said the robots will not be taking over the world,” Kimmel said, before comparing Trump’s assurance to the beginning of a movie where robots ultimately take over the world.

Meanwhile, Kimmel turned to reports about Trump’s own administration wrestling with how to approach AI regulation. Kimmel said that according to The Wall Street Journal, senior officials have been meeting regularly over AI risks and how to persuade Trump on the issue.

“They’re calling it Operation Take Away Grandpa’s iPad,” Kimmel joked.

He then imagined what happens when those officials bring their plans to Trump.

“Almost every day they get together to talk about AI and develop plans for how to keep us safe,” Kimmel said, “which they then bring to the president who then tells them about his uncle who worked at MIT, eats his lunch, and falls asleep.”

“That’s frustrating,” Kimmel continued. “Trump’s staff has reportedly given up on trying to convince him of anything, which to me is even scarier than AI.”

Kimmel then offered his alternative strategy.

“But I think I have a way they can, and I hope they’re watching because if you want them to take the threat of AI seriously, it’s real simple,” he said. “Tell him ChatGPT is about to release the Trump Epstein files.”

“I’ll bet a hundred bucks he’ll get the Pandora stuff right back in that box,” Kimmel added.

Sometimes the best song arrives when you have nothing left to lose.

That was essentially the situation facing Wild Cherry in the mid-1970s. The hard-rock band had spent years working the club circuit around Ohio and Pennsylvania, playing a mix of rock covers and originals. But musical tastes were changing fast. Disco was exploding, rock clubs were disappearing and bands that couldn’t keep people dancing were suddenly in the middle of an identity crisis, not sure how to move forward.

“We were a rock band and disco music was coming in,” band founder and leader Rob Parissi told Harry Connick Jr in a 2017 interview. “Rock clubs were closing down and discos were opening up. And we were a hard-working band playing four, five, six nights a week.”

Suddenly, gigs were scarce and the future was looking uncertain for Wild Cherry. That is, until one night in Pittsburgh, when somebody gave them a suggestion.

The band was playing the 2001 Club to a largely Black audience, and its set of hard rock songs wasn’t getting people on the dance floor. During a break, someone at the club approached drummer Ron Beitle and said the words that would change the course of the band.

“We were still playing Kiss, Led Zeppelin and Foghat,” rhythm guitarist Bryan Bassett said in a later interview. “Someone came up to our drummer Ron and said, you better play that funky music white boy. He told that to Rob in the dressing room and I believe Rob started writing that song right then.”

Indeed, Parissi grabbed a drink-order pad and started writing.

About five minutes later, he had the song that would make Wild Cherry famous.

“For me it was just, uh, what was going on with us,” recalled Parissi in a 2015 documentary. “I mean, I just wrote down word for word what we were going through.”

“Play That Funky Music” wasn’t merely inspired by what happened that night. It was essentially Wild Cherry’s predicament set to music: a rock ‘n’ roll band realizing that if it wanted to survive, it had better learn how to groove.

And groove it did.

From Bryan Bassett’s instantly recognizable opening guitar riff, the song locks into a muscular funk-rock groove built around punchy horns, bass, drums, funky ninth chords and Parissi’s Sly Stone-inspired, swaggering vocal.

“We were switching styles to funk, and we were emulating The Commodores,” said Bassett. “I came up with my riff. I was the single note funk line guy and Rob was the chord player. Rob is an excellent guitar player and that is him playing the solo in the song.”

The result feels loose and spontaneous, while the arrangement is tight. “Play That Funky Music” perfectly fused rock muscle with dance-floor rhythm, and people couldn’t get enough.

Released in April 1976, “Play That Funky Music” took off quickly. Fifty years ago today, on Sept. 18, 1976, Wild Cherry reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also topped Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, eventually sold 2.5 million copies in the United States and became the band’s only Top 40 hit.

Its success stretched far beyond America. The song reached the Top 10 in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and the Netherlands. Decades later, Billboard ranked it No. 93 on its 2018 list of the all-time top Hot 100 songs. In 2022 it was ranked among Billboard’s Top 30 Funk Songs of All Time. Three decades later, even the lead singer and songwriter himself reflected in awe about the success of “Play That Funky Music”.

“You know what, they always say that one song doesn’t make a career,” said Parissi, “but in the case of that song, it was, it still is, so big”.

Wild Cherry would never come close to duplicating its success. But perhaps that only makes the story better.

A rock band was watching the musical world change around it. Instead of disappearing with the times, Wild Cherry listened to what the dance floor was telling them and answered with one of the most irresistible and unforgettable singles of the 1970s.

It only took about five minutes to write, but fifty years later, we’re still dancing to it.

Related: 1969 Rock Song, Recorded on Abbey Road, Is Still a Generational Hit 57 Years Later

It’s been 57 years since Bewitched fans first met the “new“ Darrin for the first time. After five seasons with Dick York playing the Stephens family patriarch on the magical ABC sitcom, the show returned for Season 6 with Dick Sargent in his place.

The episode, titled “Sam and the Beanstalk,” aired on Sept. 18, 1969, on ABC, with Sargent first appearing in an opening scene in which Darrin is practicing his golf backswing in the backyard.

Fans had a heads-up via a TV Guide teaser months earlier that said, “Come September … papa Darrin won’t look like the same man. And for a good reason: York has quit the series and his role is being taken over – as though nothing happened – by Dick Sargent, a veteran of such situation comedies as Broadside, The Tammy Grimes Show and One Happy Family. Viewers, according to an ABC spokesman, will be expected to assume that Darrin is Darrin, no matter who’s playing him.”

On the show, Darrin’s new look was never explained, but the actor switch had been a long time coming. York suffered from serious back pain and medical issues from an accident on a movie set years earlier and was often unable to work.

Erin Murphy, who played daughter Tabitha Stephens on Bewitched, told Billy Corgan’s The Magnificent Others podcast that during his final season on the series, York had to be written out of multiple episodes.

“There would be episodes written with Dick York. We do the table read with Dick York. Then something would happen where he couldn’t be there. He was in pain,” she recalled. “So there would be episodes that had Dick York, and then we would not film it with Dick York. So there were, I think, seven or eight episodes in that season where he wasn’t there.”

Murphy recalled that the network aired a series of episodes without the Darrin character in them at all, leading up to the Season 6 premiere with Sargent.

“They aired those seven or eight no Darrin episodes in a row, thinking no one would notice,” she said. “It’s like, ‘No one will notice, we’ll bring back Darrin, they’ll think it’s the same guy.’ Obviously, everyone noticed.”

RELATED: Erin Murphy Poses Like Her ‘Bewitched’ Mom and the Resemblance Is Wild

In an interview with the Television Academy Foundation, producer Burt Metcalfe noted that once the decision was made that York could no longer continue on Bewitched, Sargent was cast soon after. “I don’t remember kind of like an exhaustive search of who was going to play that part,” he said. “I just recall that soon prior to the decision to replace Dick York that Dick Sargent was waiting in the wings.”

But there was no denying that the two Dicks played Darrin very differently.  York was more animated, while Sargent was a more serious Darrin. Even as a young child on set, Murphy was well aware of the difference between her TV dads.

“Dick Sargent was a different Darrin,” she told the Media Path podcast. “I as a kid acting with him, noticed that he played the part differently. It was not the same.”

Bewitched aired for three seasons with Sargent, ending its eight-season run in 1972.

Related: ‘Bewitched’ Star Erin Murphy Reveals Her Childhood Paycheck 60 Years Later

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The days of staring at your closet in distress are over. We’ve been searching high and low for the best seasonal clothing items and accessories that will fit seamlessly into your wardrobe, so that you don’t have to pull your hair out when you’re trying to put an outfit together. We’re currently shopping for the Clarks Ellowyn Penny Loafers, which are up to 62% off at Amazon right now. And trust us: they’ll become your new closet staple.

The loafers originally cost $85, but have been reduced to just $32 in the black leather colorway. We love this hue because the tongue features a gorgeous plaid black and gray pattern that is not only so reminiscent of fall, but also adds a sleek touch to any outfit. The style additionally comes in a black patent crinkle leather that leaves a shiny finish for just $45, and a bronze metallic hue that’s being sold at full price. 

Clarks Ellowyn Penny Loafers, From $32 (were $85) at Amazon

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The available sizes are between 5 and 12, including half and wide sizes. Some shoppers said that the loafers are true to size while others said that they run small, so make sure to read the reviews diligently and consult the size chart so that you don’t have to make any returns (it’s free to return within the 30 days window though, so don’t stress if you need a different size!). Clarks’ shoes are super dependable and timeless, so once you get the size right, you’ll have them for years to come! 

Clarks Ellowyn Penny Loafers, From $32 (were $85) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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The “high-quality” loafers are made from a smooth leather upper and plastic rubber sole that offers enough traction for casual, everyday settings. They have a padded collar and elastic panel that helps to support the ankle, so that you can walk in them all day and slip them on and off easily. There’s even a microfiber lining that’s intended to be breathable to prevent your feet from overheating during the summer to fall transition. 

There’s approximately a 1.4-inch heel that gives you height and stability, making them a great find for the office, celebrations, and daily activities. Shoppers love how “lightweight” the loafers are, so they don’t feel clunky when you wear them like other designer versions. Another reviewer said that they’re “very comfortable” and “sturdy” right out of the box. The fact that no break-in period needed is reason enough to invest in these adorable shoes! 

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• Zeagoo Summer Dress, $17 (was $34) at Amazon
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The bronze hue is already running low in stock, so you’ll want to shop for these sleek Clarks loafers sooner rather than later. Pair them with every fall outfit from here on out -– but first, shop them for only $32 at Amazon!

Related: Dr. Scholl’s ‘Cute’ Wedge Booties Are 55% Off and ‘So Comfortable for All-Day Wear’

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When Carly Simon released her debut single in the spring of 1971, pop radio wasn’t quite sure what to make of it.

“That’s the Way I Always Heard It Should Be” was a brooding ballad that dared to ask a question few women in pop music were saying out loud: Was traditional marriage a trap? The song spoke directly to women who looked critically upon the marriages of their parents and friends and wanted something different for themselves.

Yet behind the song’s feminine voice was a man. Simon composed the haunting, melancholy melody, and its lyrics were penned by her close male friend, journalist and screenwriter Jacob Brackman, according to Top 40 Weekly.

The song’s origins were even more surprising. She told Billboard, “For the previous two years, I was writing material, still not knowing if I was going to be accepted by a record company. I did [the music for] a television show for NBC called Who Killed Lake Erie, and for that I wrote the melody that turned into ‘That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be.’”

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She continued, “In the summer of ’69, I met [future songwriting collaborator] Jake Brackman up at Indian Hill Camp. We were both counselors: he was the literature counselor, and I was the music counselor. He wrote the words to ‘That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be’— or most of the verses — and I loved them right away.”

Simon concluded, “He did such a great job, and we honed it, and then that’s the song that ended up being the single, because it was so unusual. People said that they’d never heard a song like that. It was more of an art song than anything else.”

She later told The Independent, “The song really tells it like it is. When I first wrote it I thought it was an unusual thing for people to break up, and now all my friends are divorced.”

“That’s the Way I Always Heard It Should Be” was the breakout single of Simon’s self-titled first LP. The song peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1971, and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1972. That same year, Simon won Best New Artist.

Related: In 1972, Carly Simon Landed Her Signature No. 1 Hit—Thanks to Uncredited Vocals From Rock Royalty

We live in the golden age of skincare. A quick scroll through TikTok, Instagram or YouTube will reveal thousands of “get ready with me” videos featuring beauty influencers carefully dispensing four, six or even ten different serums onto their faces. They mix vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, retinol, niacinamide and exfoliating acids into a custom, glowing potion on their cheeks, promising that this elaborate skincare “cocktail” is the secret to a flawless, glass-like complexion. It is incredibly tempting to rush to the store, max out your credit card on every trendy bottle you can find, and play amateur chemist in your bathroom mirror.

But behind closed doors, dermatologists have a warning: Your carefully curated, multi-step skincare cocktail might be doing more harm than good.

While the desire to chase perfection is deeply human, this modern obsession with slathering on countless active ingredients is causing a hidden epidemic of damaged skin barriers, painful chemical burns and severe, stubborn breakouts. Instead of uncovering the radiant, youthful glow you were promised, you might be slowly stripping your skin of its natural defenses, leaving it raw, red, and relentlessly irritated.

The beauty industry often profits off of selling you just one more serum, convincing you that a more complicated routine means better results. But the unfortunate reality for many women is that their expensive, intricate daily rituals are the exact things accelerating their skin’s distress.

It might be time to put down the multiple droppers and face the truth. When it comes to the long-term health of your face, more is not always more.

Related: These 5 Things Will Help You Get ‘Dolphin Skin’ at Any Age, According to a Dermatologist

The Danger of Layering Too Many Active Ingredients

When you desperately want to erase fine lines, banish hyperpigmentation and cure a sudden breakout, the instinct is to throw every potent ingredient at the problem at once. But mixing highly concentrated actives is a recipe for disaster.

According to Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist, piling on the products is one of the most common mistakes people make. Your skin is remarkably resilient, but it has its breaking point.

“Combining multiple potent actives (such as retinoids, exfoliating acids and vitamin C) can increase irritation without necessarily improving results,” Dr. Garshick explained in a previous Parade story on the best way to apply serum. She urgently warned against playing scientist at your bathroom sink: “Unless otherwise recommended or formulated into the same product, don’t combine too many ingredients at the same time.”

Furthermore, simply using too much of a single serum can sabotage your goals. “Some people assume more serum will deliver better results, but using too much amounts can lead to pilling and irritation,” Dr. Garshick told Parade. “Most serums require only a few drops to cover the entire face.”

Related: 11 Best Barrier Repair Creams To Calm Stressed-Out Skin, Tested by Dermatologists

Tanja Ivanova/Getty Images

Why Less Is Actually More for Your Complexion

The emotional toll of waking up to red, peeling skin after investing in multiple and/or high-end beauty products is incredibly frustrating. The truth is, simplicity can be the ultimate sophistication when it comes to preserving your skin’s delicate barrier.

This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Susan Massick, a dermatologist at The Ohio State University specializing in General Dermatology. In an interview with Parade regarding the skincare mistakes women make over 50, Dr. Massick noted that dialing back your routine is often the most effective cure for lackluster skin.

“Women over 50 often counteract what they’re trying to achieve by overusing product—either too many or too frequently,” she explained.

Related: A Dermatologist Says Applying This Popular Serum to Dry Skin Can Be a Waste of Money

Instead of trying to incorporate every trend you see online, she advised stripping things back to the basics: “Try a simple skin care regimen that you can follow consistently. A common mistake is over-exfoliating, which leads to dry, irritated and dull-appearing skin. Back off or do it less frequently.”

By stepping back and allowing your skin to breathe, you give it the chance to heal itself. The constant bombardment of alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, and retinoids can strip away the essential lipids and moisture your face desperately needs to look youthful and plump.

Related: We Asked 4 Dermatologists Which Brand New Anti-Aging Product Is Changing the Game—They All Said the Same Thing

How to Safely Build a Routine That Works

If you are going to use more than one product, there is a useful method you should follow to protect your complexion and maximize absorption without causing harm.

“When layering serums, I generally recommend applying products from thinnest to thickest,” Dr. Garshick has explained. “This helps ensure each product can properly penetrate the skin.”

Additionally, timing is everything. Keep your antioxidant serums, like vitamin C, reserved for your morning routine to help shield your face from harsh environmental stressors throughout the day. Save the heavy lifters—like DNA repair serums, growth factors and retinoids—for your evening routine when your body is naturally resting and recovering.

Finally, remember that true transformation requires profound patience. Most active ingredients require weeks, if not months, of consistent, gentle use to show visible benefits. Stop punishing your skin with aggressive chemical cocktails, and start treating it with the gentle, focused care it actually deserves.

Adapted from Parade’s “The Best Way To Apply Serum, According to a Dermatologist” by Chrissy Callahan and “The 5 Mistakes Women Over 50 Make With Their Skin” by Sheila Baylis

Up Next:

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Sources:

• Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist
• Dr. Susan Massick, dermatologist at The Ohio State University specializing in General Dermatology

In 1977, Foreigner’s debut album featured the hit singles “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold as Ice,” and “Long Long Way From Home.” But there was another track that became a standout on AOR radio—and it didn’t sound like anything else on the album at all.

The song, “Starrider,” was written by Foreigner founding members Mick Jones and Al Greenwood. It featured a progressive-leaning vibe with synthesizers, a flute interlude and lyrics about a cosmic journey—in great contrast to the album’s other straight-up tracks.

While almost every other song on Foreigner featured Lou Gramm on lead vocals, “Starrider” was a rare track on which guitarist Mick Jones took over as lead singer.

Gramm wasn’t a total fan of the song, although it had nothing to do with Jones’ performance.

When asked by Classic Rock Revisited if he was a “fan” of “Starrider,’” Gramm admitted, “Not really.”

“It certainly was a hippie song,” he added. “It was already dated when it came out. I didn’t dislike it, but it didn’t shake me up at all.”

Gramm also told Classic Rock magazine that he sang the chorus in “Starrider,” but the song itself fit in better with Jones’s vocal style.

“The reason he wanted to do ‘Starrider’ was because it was a song that was special to him, and he did a great job,” Gramm said.

RELATED: 1978 Foreigner Hit Was The Dark Horse That Climbed the Billboard Top 15

Over the years, Foreigner’s lineup changed, but “Starrider” remained an integral part of the band’s live shows.

Glide magazine noted that during concerts, the four-minute album track sometimes “expanded to the eleven-minute mark with exceptional musicianship” that included the flute intro and  a “space-age-y keys solo.”

Thom Gimbel, who joined Foreigner in the 1990s, once told Hard Rock Haven, “’Starrider’ is a huge hit with our audiences. I love playing the flute parts and seeing Mick Jones light up his guitar. It’s cool to hear him sing too.”

The multi-instrumentalist also told Empire Extreme he was happy to join a band in which he could play guitar, keyboard, saxophone and flute.

“It’s been wonderful to find a band that I can play all these instruments,” he said. “I get to do the flute in the beginning of ‘Starrider.’ It takes you back. That’s one of the most magical part about music, how it can take you back in time.”

Nearly 50 years after its release, “Starrider” remains an iconic track from Foreigner’s early days, a timeless classic that switched things up as the band started their journey to rock superstardom.

Related: 1977 Foreigner Classic Rock Hit, Written in Two Hours, Featured Lyrics Pulled From Real Life