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Eddie Murphy is officially returning to television with his first-ever role in a scripted series, according to Deadline.

As per the outlet, Murphy is set to star in a new drama series from Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner. The series, titled The Chairman, will premiere on Peacock, although it’s not yet clear when the show will officially air on the streamer, as it is still in fairly early production.

While Murphy of course made a name for himself based off his successful TV tenure on Saturday Night Live, the actor has never formally appeared in a scripted TV series before, Deadline notes.

Aside from his career-making stint on SNL, Murphy’s accomplishments in the annals of TV include creating two series: Fox’s The PJs and CBS’s The Royal Family, both of which premiered in the ’90s.

As for Weiner, the Mad Men creator hasn’t had a series picked up since 2018’s The Romanoffs for Amazon.

As of yet, it’s not clear what the series’ narrative will be, although Deadline did go on to confirm several key areas of production for Peacock’s latest series. The series will come from Yellowstone producer 101 Studios and Universal Television, with Murphy and Weiner also serving as exectuvie producers on the show.

More recently, Murphy has been enjoying something of a career resurgence in mainstream Hollywood. Along with the success of his Netflix documentary Being Eddie, Murphy has returned to a number of his most well-known franchises, including Coming to America, Beverly Hills Cop and Shrek, among others.

In 2020, the actor also won his first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his triumphant return to SNL, which marked the first time he appeared as a host on the show since 1984. The absence reportedly stemmed from a passing joke made by David Spade in the ’90s, comparing Murphy’s string of poorly received box office flops to a falling star.

Washing your hands and rescheduling plans if you or a friend gets sick are tried-and-true ways to protect yourself and others from viruses. But registered dietitians share that gut health can have an oft-overlooked effect on your immune system. What we eat daily—including apples—can boost our immune system, too.

“It is crucial to understand what happens to the gut because the gut houses 70% of our immune system and an ecosystem of microbes that may affect our overall health,” Cleveland Clinic dietitian Julia Zumpano, RD, tells Parade. “The food that we eat every day influences that system and can either feed the good gut microbes or bad ones depending on what you choose to eat.”

Wait—so might an apple a day actually keep the doctor away? You’ll have to stay tuned to find out, but as a small spoiler, the answer is nuanced, partly because no single food does everything, including supporting gut health and fighting off viruses.

“Eating a variety of plant foods supports a diverse gut microbiome,” states Mckenzie Dryden, RD, a registered dietitian with HonorHealth.

Dryden points to research showing that dietary diversity is linked to better gut health than eating the same foods every day, too.

“With that being said, being able to consistently eat nutrient-dense foods matters,” Dryden says. “It can be easier to choose a few foods from various groups, like fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes and nuts and seeds, that you like and can eat regularly.”

From there, you can rotate your go-to options. Does an apple belong in your daily or weekly rotation? Registered dietitians shared what happens to your gut health when you eat an apple every day (or multiple times per week).

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What Happens to Gut Health if I Eat an Apple a Day for 30 Days?

Eating an apple a day for a month can do wonders for your gut health—and even more so if you eat apples daily for the long term. Fiber is the nutrient at the heart of many of the gut-health benefits of eating apples regularly.

“The primary type of soluble fiber in apples is called pectin, which can act as a prebiotic, or food, for the probiotics, or good bacteria, in the gut,” Dryden explains. “This creates a healthy gut microbiome, which is essential for digestion, immune health and mood.”

It’s also a good idea to avoid peeling the skin of the apple.  

“The skin contains insoluble fiber, which is the kind that helps food pass more quickly through the digestive tract, promoting consistent bowel movements and preventing constipation,” Dryden adds.

You may notice these gut-health benefits quickly—within days or weeks. However, you’ll notice consistent digestive benefits if you keep eating apples for years.

“Apples will continue to provide the soluble fiber that your gut microbes need as a fuel source, and they will continue to help keep you regular,” says Amanda Sauceda, MS, RD, a registered dietitian. “The more regularly you eat plants, like apples, the better your microbiome will be.”

Sauceda notes that eating an apple daily can have a ripple effect on your whole digestive system—and body—over your lifetime.

“When you eat apples for a while, you’re more likely to see other positive health changes,” Sauceda tells Parade. “Sometimes a simple healthy addition to your diet, like adding an apple, can lead to other positive behavior changes. A daily apple can serve as a stepping stone to adding more fiber foods and eating less of the empty-calorie foods.”

If instant gratification motivates you more, how’s this? Just one apple, one time, will make you…more fun to be around at parties.

“They’re also rich in polyphenols and have been shown to help reduce bad breath—which, of course, is the entry to the GI tract,” says Shauna McQueen, MS, RD, a culinary nutritionist and founder of Food School.

Just keep in mind that the rest of your diet also matters when you’re aiming to improve gut health in the short and long term.

“For instance, if a high-sugar and highly processed diet is consumed as the baseline diet plus an apple a day, the benefits noted are unlikely to occur due to the inflammatory effects of processed and sugary foods eaten on a regular basis,” Zumpano clarifies.

Related: ‘I’m a Gastroenterologist—Here’s My Exact Bedtime Routine To Help With Gut Health’

Is There a Downside of Eating Apples Every Day for Gut Health?

“For most people, there wouldn’t be any gut health risks to enjoying an apple daily,” McQueen says.

Still, you may want to introduce apples slowly. “If you’re not used to eating fiber-rich foods, you may have some GI discomfort with gas or bloating at first, but those symptoms may improve over time,” McQueen shares. “Remember to also increase your water if you’re increasing fiber-rich foods.”

Also, Sauceda points out that apples are high in fructose, which can trigger symptoms in people with certain conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

“Apples are considered a food high in FODMAPs, which describe a group of carbohydrates that can be difficult for some people to process,” Sauceda explains.

Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Gut Health When You Eat Bananas

Will an Apple a Day Keep the Doctor Away?

It can help, but it’s not a cure-all for viruses or digestive issues. Still, it’s a good question. Zumpano reminds us that about three-quarters (70-80%) of our immune system resides in our gut.

“Much of our immune tissue is located in and around the GI tract, where it consistently decides what should be let in and what should pose a threat,” she explains.

The immune system lets in food you can tolerate, helps feed beneficial microbes and protects you from pathogens and harmful bacteria. “The fermentable fiber in the gut produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—particularly acetate, propionate and butyrate, which act as signaling molecules between the microbiome, intestinal cells and the immune system,” she reports.

Zumpano says these SCFAs can:

• Support the intestinal epithelial barrier (tissue that’s tasked in part with covering the outer surface of your body and lining your internal organs)
• Influence immune-cell activity
• Promote regulatory immune responses.
• Influence inflammatory signaling
• Provide energy for colon cells, particularly through butyrate.

That said, an apple a day alone won’t keep the doctor away.

“Making whole fruits such as apples a regular part of a diverse diet can provide fiber and polyphenols that support the gut environment in which a large part of immune regulation takes place,” Zumpano emphasizes.

Up Next:

Related: ‘I’m an Immunologist—This Is the First Thing I Ask When Someone Says They’re Always Getting Sick’

Sources:

• Julia Zumpano, RD, a Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian
• Mckenzie Dryden, RD, a registered dietitian with HonorHealth
• Shauna McQueen, MS, RD, a culinary nutritionist and founder of Food School
• Amanda Sauceda, MS, RD, a registered dietitian
• Associations of dietary diversity with the gut microbiome, fecal metabolites, and host metabolism: results from 2 prospective Chinese cohorts, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
• “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”: The potentials of apple bioactive constituents for chronic disease prevention. Journal of Food Science.
• Insights into the Mechanisms and Functional Effects of Insoluble Dietary Fiber Modification: A Review. Foods.
• The Interplay between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System in the Context of Infectious Diseases throughout Life and the Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Treatment Strategies. Nutrients.
• Association Between Apple Consumption and Physician Visits. JAMA Internal Medicine.

If you ever thought Arnold Schwarzenegger couldn’t pull off longer gray hair, you’re wrong.

The legendary actor, businessman, and former Governor of California, 79, just showed off a little switch-up in his trademark hairstyle in the new trailer for his new Christmas movie, The Man with the Bag. And as these photos from the set show, Schwarzenegger looks mighty handsome with a head full of gray hair, a sharp transition from his typical shorter locks. With a longer style that boasts soft waves, the beloved actor made it clear he can pull off any look with ease.

Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin / Getty Images

“It’s the most wonderful heist of the year. The Man with the Bag is coming to Prime Video December 2,” a new Instagram post shares. Check out the hilarious trailer that shows Schwarzenegger getting back to his Christmas roots below. The video gives a great look at Schwarzenegger’s hair transformation for the film, while still boasting his trademark white beard.

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What is The Man with the Bag About?

“When Santa’s iconic red bag is stolen by a rogue elf with a grudge, Christmas is suddenly at risk,” the film’s synopsis reads, InStyle reported. “With his biggest night of the year fast-approaching, Santa recruits a thief from his ‘Naughty List’ who quickly assembles a crew of criminally skilled misfits—with a little help from elves and reindeer—to pull off the most unexpected heist of their lives.”

The film co-stars Alan Ritchson, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, and Jane Krakowski. It’s directed by Adam Shankman, who’s known for directing films like A Walk to Remember and Hairspray.

Jingle All the Way is a Holiday Classic

It’s perfectly fitting that The Man with the Bag hits Prime in 2026, seeing as it’s been 30 years since Schwarzenegger gave us plenty of Christmas belly laughs in Jingle All the Way.

Also starring Sinbad and the late comedy icon Phil Hartman, Jingle All the Way follows two dads in the Minneapolis area as they battle each other to score the coveted Turbo Man action figure for their sons on Christmas Eve. If this isn’t in your holiday repertoire, this may be the year!

Related: Christopher Schwarzenegger Shows Off Major Weight Loss During Sunny Outing With Mom Maria Shriver

Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy are no strangers to each other, but their latest interaction is giving NFL fans something to talk about.

During Thursday night’s “Thursday Night Football” matchup between the Steelers and Cleveland Browns, Rodgers was caught on a hot mic yelling toward the sideline in an apparent moment of frustration over a delayed play call.

The 42-year-old quarterback was visibly irritated as the Steelers prepared for a play in the first quarter, throwing his arms out toward the bench before shouting, “What the f—? Call it!”

The broadcast then cut to McCarthy, who appeared to respond with an expletive of his own, seemingly calling Rodgers a “f—ing a——.”

The exchange quickly made the rounds online, with viewers getting an unexpected glimpse into the sideline communication between the quarterback and his head coach. One social post of the moment has racked up more than 50,000 likes and over 400 comments.

“Who thought it’d be a good idea to reunite these two?!” one fan wrote.

Another added, “I’d love to watch these two do an escape room together.”

The moment came as Pittsburgh was preparing for a first-and-10 opportunity in Cleveland territory. Despite the apparent frustration, the drive ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to wide receiver Roman Wilson, giving the Steelers an early lead.

The Steelers ultimately fell to Cleveland in a 27-24 loss. After the game, McCarthy addressed the incident.

“Communication sometimes is not the best choice of words, but everybody’s competing on the field,” McCarthy said in his post game press conference. “I think, you know, what’s said on the field, the way I grew up in this game, you know, usually stays on the field. That’s not the case today. I understand that. But, yeah, any negative communication on my part, I wish I wouldn’t use those words.”

Decades into his acting career, Andrew McCarthy is still finding ways to challenge himself.

McCarthy, 63, is starring in the new sci-fi thriller Orion, hitting theaters nationwide on Friday, Oct. 2. Written by Anne Vithayathil and directed by Jaco Bouwer, the film follows NASA Interrogator Jim (McCarthy) as he’s tasked with getting amnesiac astronaut Apollo (Drew Van Acker) to remember the events leading up to the deaths of his fellow crew members before they crash landed on Earth.

Although Debby Ryan also appears in the film, it primarily involves an intense, interrogative discussion between McCarthy and Acker’s respective characters. All the while, the audience is left to watch this back-and-forth interaction where they’re left questioning who is actually telling the truth.

Drew Van Acker and Andrew McCarthy are pictured in ‘Orion’.

Courtesy of Blue Harbor

“I do think watching [the film], [you go], ‘Wait, which one of these guys is the good guy and the bad guy?'” McCarthy, 63, tells Parade. “I mean, I always knew what I was, but I thought he was certainly manipulative and playing both sides of the coin at various times trying to meet certain things in his agenda. So, it was just really fun to mess around with that kind of manipulation.”

However, McCarthy admits that “this was tricky” to pull off, “because it was just largely a two-handed” effort with Acker, 40.

“It was just the two of us, so much of it, and the scenes were really long, and so we would just take long giant swipes at it. And so, it was just important to keep remembering where I was in the process,” the Weekend at Bernie’s star explains. “‘Oh, am I manipulating now?’ ‘Am I telling him the truth now?’ … There are lots of examples of I’m behaving in a certain way and it’s left in that way.”

Andrew McCarthy is pictured in ‘Orion’.

Courtesy of Blue Harbor

At this point in his career, McCarthy jokingly notes his one rule for the roles he now chooses: “I try and keep my clothes on at this point. That’s really about it. That’s really the criteria.”

“This one was fun just because I’d never done kind of a two-hander like this where it was just back and forth so much,” he shares. “I did love the sense of secrecy and what’s the truth and who’s telling the truth? Am I telling the truth and why aren’t I or why am I? Why am I now choosing to tell the truth? And things like that.”

“Movies are often pretty direct, and here the motivations were all very convoluted, much more like life. I thought that was really a fun thing to mess around with,” he adds.

McCarthy’s acting resume includes prominent roles in beloved ’80s classics like Pretty and Pink and St. Elmo’s Fire. Outside of that, he’s been delving into directing, lending his talents to episodes of popular shows like Gossip Girl and Orange Is the New Black to directing the buzzy 2024 Brats documentary. He’s also built a career as a writer, from penning several books to becoming an an award-winning travel writer and editor-at-large for National Geographic Traveler.

Paramount Pictures / Getty Images

But at this point in his career, McCarthy says, “I don’t really look at success.”

“I want something to be successful enough so that I get another opportunity to do so. That’s really all I’m interested in,” he continues. “If somebody actually lets me go do it again, did that book sell enough so I can write another book without too much of a hassle? Great. Then, it’s successful, but that’s not really what I’m interested in, particularly.”

“I like going to work. I like doing different things, and so that’s a very satisfying feeling,” he concludes. “Success in and of itself is a pretty transient hollow thing. It’s nice when something pops or has a moment, you go, ‘Great, great!’ But there’s not much there. It’s a bit like a flame that rises up and it can be really attractive and fun for a moment, but there’s nothing to sustain you in that.”

Orion is now in theaters nationwide.

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Finding insects near your windows is unsettling. Finding mud tubes climbing your foundation is more concerning. Subterranean termites spend most of their lives hidden underground or inside wood, so homeowners often notice evidence of an infestation before they see the termites themselves.

The good news is that several warning signs are visible if you know where to look. Mud tubes, discarded wings, hollow-sounding wood and changes around doors or floors all deserve attention. If you suspect activity, a professional inspection can determine whether termites are present and whether the problem requires treatment.

Spotting mud tubes or discarded wings around your home is a clear sign that termites may already be at work. Schedule a free inspection with Orkin today to catch active infestations before costly structural damage occurs.

How can I tell if I have subterranean termites?

The clearest signs of subterranean termites include mud tubes along the foundation, winged swarmers or piles of discarded wings, and wood damaged from the inside. Subterranean termites typically live underground and use mud tubes to reach above-ground wood while maintaining moisture and protection.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identifies hollow spots in exposed wood and termite swarms as warning signs homeowners can look for. Orkin also identifies mud tubes, swarmers, damaged wood and discarded wings as common indicators.

Look for Mud Tubes Along the Foundation

Mud tubes are one of the most recognizable signs of subterranean termites. They are narrow tunnels made from soil and other material that allow termites to travel between underground colonies and food sources while protecting them from dehydration.

Check areas where the foundation meets the soil, especially around crawl spaces, basement walls, porches and other areas where wood is close to the ground.

According to Orkin, working mud tubes are generally about 1/4 to 1 inch in diameter and may also appear around sills, subfloors, joists and window frames. A mud tube does not tell you exactly how extensive an infestation is. But it does tell you that a professional termite inspection is warranted.

What do termite swarmers and discarded wings mean?

Winged termites, called swarmers or alates, are reproductive termites that leave a mature colony to establish new colonies. They are often attracted to light, which is why homeowners may find them around windows, doors and light fixtures.

A swarm inside the house deserves prompt attention. Orkin notes that swarmers can indicate an established colony nearby, while discarded wings may remain after the insects land and shed them.

Termites or Flying Ants?

Flying ants are frequently mistaken for termite swarmers. The EPA notes several differences:

Feature

Termites

Flying ants

Wings

Four wings are roughly equal in length

Front wings are longer than rear wings

Antennae

Straight

Bent

Body

Generally broad and relatively uniform

Narrow waist

These differences can provide a useful clue, but identifying the species is best left to a trained professional when an infestation is suspected.

Related: How To Verify Exterminator Licenses, Certifications, and Insurance Policies

What does subterranean termite damage look like?

Subterranean termites feed on cellulose in wood and often leave the harder portions behind, creating a layered or honeycombed appearance. Soil or mud may also be present inside damaged areas because subterranean termites rely on moisture.

Orkin describes damaged wood from subterranean termites as layered, with soil or mud packed into the tunnels.

Check for These Changes Inside the House

Look for:

• Hollow-sounding wood when lightly tapped
• Wood that feels unusually soft or gives way when probed
• Doors or windows that suddenly stick
• Discolored or damaged drywall
• Sagging or weakened wood around floors, walls or other structural areas

These symptoms do not automatically prove termites are responsible. Water damage and other wood-destroying insects can produce similar problems. A professional inspection can distinguish termite damage from other causes.

Found swarmers, discarded wings or mud tubes? Contact Orkin for a free termite inspection. A trained Orkin Pro can inspect accessible areas, identify evidence of termite activity and discuss treatment options based on the property.

How can I prevent termites around my home?

Reducing moisture and eliminating easy access to wood are two of the most useful termite-prevention measures. Keep soil around the foundation properly drained, repair plumbing or roof leaks promptly, seal foundation cracks and avoid storing firewood or wood debris directly against the house.

The EPA recommends maintaining gutters and downspouts, fixing leaks, reducing foundation openings and keeping vegetation from contacting exposed wood. It also recommends periodic inspections to identify termite colonies before they become established.

Focus Your Inspection on Moisture and Wood-To-Soil Contact

Walk around the home’s exterior and look closely at:

• Foundation walls and crawl-space entrances
• Areas where soil touches wood
• Leaking gutters, downspouts or plumbing
• Stored lumber, firewood or yard debris
• Cracks and openings around utility penetrations

These conditions do not mean termites are present. They simply create opportunities worth correcting as part of a prevention routine.

Related: Steam Treatment vs. Cryonite Freezing for Chemical-Free Bed Bug Control

What should I do if I find signs of subterranean termites?

Do not assume that a lack of visible termites means the problem has disappeared. Subterranean colonies remain largely hidden, and mud tubes may occur in places homeowners cannot easily access.

Orkin termite expert Todd Kemp has identified “mud tubes, swarming termites and piles of discarded wings” as common warning signs homeowners should watch for.

If you find one of these signs, document where you saw it and arrange an inspection. Avoid tearing apart walls or flooring to look for termites yourself. An inspection can determine whether evidence points to an active infestation, previous activity or another source of damage.

How do you prevent termites from coming back?

Termite prevention starts with correcting conditions that give termites access to moisture and cellulose. Keep drainage working properly, address leaks, remove wood debris from the foundation and maintain a clear separation between soil and exposed structural wood.

For homes with a history of termite activity, routine professional inspections provide another layer of protection. The appropriate treatment depends on the termite species, location of the colony, construction of the home and extent of activity.

If you have noticed mud tubes, swarmers, discarded wings or unexplained wood damage, getting an inspection is more useful than trying to identify the problem from a single photograph.

Schedule a free termite inspection with Orkin to find out whether your home shows evidence of subterranean termite activity and discuss a treatment plan if termites are confirmed.

Move over, pumpkin spice. Fall has a new flavor in town.

Autumn may traditionally belong to cinnamon and nutmeg, but AERIN Beauty and beloved New York bakery L’Appartement 4F are serving up something refreshingly different. The two have teamed up for a two-day pop-up celebrating AERIN’s new limited-edition fragrance, Amber Musk Pistache, and the scent that smells like a Parisian pastry shop now has a latte to match.

According to the bakery’s Instagram, both locations are serving a custom honey fig latte finished with vanilla cold foam and a sprinkle of crushed pistachio. Every purchase comes with a complimentary sample of the perfume.

If you’ve spent any time on foodie TikTok, you’ve probably seen L’Appartement 4F. Husband-and-wife team Gautier and Ashley Coiffard started the bakery in 2020 from their Brooklyn apartment, unit 4F, giving it its name. Gautier, a Paris-born former software engineer, simply couldn’t find a croissant in New York that lived up to the ones back home.

Their mini croissant cereal soon became an internet sensation, and in 2022 the couple opened a storefront on Brooklyn Heights’ Montague Street. With its tall windows, chandelier and vintage furnishings, the bakery feels like a slice of Paris in Brooklyn. A West Village outpost followed, and lines have been constant ever since, per Time Out.

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The Brooklyn Heights shop is hosting the pop-up today, Friday, Oct. 2, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you can’t make it today, the West Village location is open for the celebration Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 3, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The new scent is a sweeter sister to AERIN’s best-selling Amber Musk, first introduced in 2013. Founder Aerin Lauder has described it as “a warm and indulgent interpretation” of the original.

Notes of pistachio cream and almond blossom open the fragrance before vanilla, golden amber, rose and sandalwood settle in. It’s cozy enough for sweater weather, without a pumpkin in sight.

Amber Musk Pistache is available now at AERIN.com in a $35 travel spray, a $155 1.7-ounce bottle and a $210 3.4-ounce bottle. Since it’s a limited edition, you may want to order a bottle before it’s off the menu.

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Moto boots are an easy way to add a little edge to fall outfits, and Kate Spade’s version gives the classic style a more playful spin. The brand’s Spade Flower Stud Smooth Leather Moto Boots are currently just $40 at Amazon, down 62% from their typical $103 price. The black leather pair is marked down the steepest, while the burnt sage suede version is available for $81. Sizes range from 5 to 11, including half sizes.    

The ankle-high boots have smooth black leather, a low heel, a round toe, and a harness-style strap wrapped around the ankle. Instead of standard moto hardware, the strap is decorated with dark metal flowers and a center ring, giving the traditionally rugged silhouette a distinctly Kate Spade spin. They also have pull tabs at the top to help with getting them on, while the wider shaft gives the boots a roomier opening.  

Kate Spade New York Spade Flower Stud Smooth Leather Moto Boots, $40 (were $103) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazo

Shop at Amazon

These are especially fun for anyone who likes the moto-boot trend but doesn’t want something that looks too tough. The floral hardware tones down the biker-inspired shape without losing the chunky fall look, so they can add some personality to denim, skirts, dresses, or even a more feminine outfit. The wider opening may also appeal to anyone who usually struggles with stiff or narrow boot shafts.

Reviewers have called the boots “gorgeous,” “whimsical,” and “buttery soft,” while also praising the leather and flower-shaped details. One person said they’re the “cutest boots ever,” adding, “These are so comfortable, and they look super cute.” Another called them “the perfect mix of edgy and elegant” and said, “The smooth leather looks luxe in person.”

Related: Clarks’ Cloud-Like Water-Resistant Boots Are 40% Off at JCPenney Right Now

Besides being cute and comfortable, these boots are also an unusually good deal for the brand. Amazon has the black leather pair for just $40, while the exact same style has recently been listed elsewhere for $173 to $230. Some retailers originally priced them at $328, making Amazon’s current deal a huge drop from what this designer pair has sold for elsewhere.

Shop More Deals

• Naturalizer Optimus Moto Boots, $63 (were $190) at Amazon
• Dr. Scholl’s Prairie Zip Tall Boots, $80 (were $160) at Amazon
• Vepose Lace-Up Combat Boots with Pockets, $48 (were $80) at Amazon

If your fall shoe lineup could use something with more personality than another plain black boot, the Kate Spade New York Spade Flower Stud Smooth Leather Moto Boots are an especially tempting find at this price. Snag the black leather style on Amazon while the $40 deal and your size are still available.

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.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, travelers looking to save on airfare may want to rethink their travel dates before booking their next flight.

According to KAYAK’s 2026 Holiday Travel Check-In, flying on Thanksgiving Day instead of the busiest travel day could save travelers up to 49% on international flights and 19% on domestic flights. The savings come down to being flexible enough to fly on the holiday itself.

KAYAK’s data found that November 20 is historically the most expensive day to fly for Thanksgiving, while Thanksgiving Day has consistently been one of the most budget-friendly options for travelers.

For those planning to travel for Thanksgiving, KAYAK found that domestic airfare has historically reached its lowest point around five weeks before the holiday. That means travelers still looking to book may want to make their plans before the end of October, as prices tend to climb sharply within two weeks of departure.

“Throughout 2026, airfare has largely followed the seasonal patterns we saw in 2025, just at a higher price point,” KAYAK CEO Peer Bueller said in a press release shared with PARADE. “That makes history a useful guide, not a guarantee.”

Christmas travelers have a slightly different booking window to keep in mind. According to KAYAK, fares historically dip between four and seven weeks before departure, which translates to roughly mid-November through early December.

Travelers who are willing to fly the week of Christmas rather than the week before could also save up to 18% on domestic flights and 34% on international airfare.

If you’re not necessarily looking to fly on a specific holiday, there’s another booking strategy worth considering. Rather than purchasing a traditional round-trip ticket, KAYAK found that travelers could save up to 30% internationally and 29% domestically by booking two separate one-way tickets.

Some of the biggest potential savings include flights to Simpson Bay, St. Maarten, where travelers could save up to 30%, followed by Liberia, Costa Rica, at 23%, and Lima, Peru, at 20%. For domestic travel, Washington, D.C., tops the list with potential savings of 29%, followed by Chicago at 28%, and San Diego at 22%.

“Start tracking prices now and set a Price Alert so you are ready to book if fares fall,” Kayla DeLoache, KAYAK’s Travel Trends Expert, said in the release. “Waiting a few weeks could save you money; waiting until the last minute probably won’t.”

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is remembering Ken Urker through moments they shared, from quiet kisses to time spent with their daughter. The Life After Lock Up star posted a collection of photos and videos to Instagram following Urker’s death at age 34 on Thursday, October 1. 

The post included clips of Urker singing, kissing her and playing with their daughter, Aurora. Another showed the couple sharing spaghetti in a playful nod to Lady and the Tramp.

“You will always be my greatest love story. You will be remembered and loved forever. ❤️,” Blanchard wrote.

In addition to the social media tribute, Blanchard has shared several messages about Urker since his death, even telling TMZ that he was an “amazing father.”

The couple has a daughter, Aurora, born in December 2024.

What Happened to Ken Urker?

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office said Urker was found dead at a residence in Raceland, Louisiana, after deputies responded to a call around 6:15 p.m. Thursday. His death remains under investigation, according to KOLD.

Blanchard has said she believes Urker may have died from an overdose after an unidentified substance was reportedly found nearby, but she said she does not know whether any possible overdose was accidental or intentional.

Authorities have not announced an official cause of death. 

An autopsy and standard toxicology testing were scheduled for Friday, as reported by TMZ.

What Has Ken Urker’s Family Said?

Urker’s sister, Autumn, confirmed her brother’s death and later criticized some of Blanchard’s public comments about their relationship.

TMZ also reported Friday that investigators had not yet ruled out foul play as the death investigation continued. That does not mean authorities have determined foul play occurred. 

What Was Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Ken Urker’s History?

Blanchard served more than eight years in prison for her role in the 2015 killing of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Blanchard and Urker first connected while she was in prison and became engaged in 2018. They later separated before Blanchard married Ryan Anderson.

After Blanchard’s release from prison, she and Anderson split, and she reunited with Urker in 2024.

In 2010, reports claimed that country singer Miranda Lambert got into a bar fight with Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger, with Lambert addressing part of the story over a decade later.

The Grammy-winning singer admitted on “Popcast” on Thursday that she was nervous to answer questions about the altercation that occurred on her 27th birthday. She does reveal that part of the reported story is true, as “I threw moonshine in his face. I did do that.”

Lambert added that throwing moonshine on the Nickelback singer led to his hair being “wrecked.” When asked whether the altercation was all for laughs, she admitted there was some drama behind what occurred. Since then, the country singer says she has no idea if she’s still on good terms with Kroeger.

“It was a lot and it was just a late night and no one was in their best state,” she confessed. “I don’t know if we’re fine now — but I don’t care.”

In 2010, Kroeger and Lambert made headlines when it was reported that she got into a physical altercation with the rocker. The incident took place at Winners Bar & Grill in Nashville in early November. A witness reported that Kroeger kept “persisting” that Lambert should take shots, and she responded with “no.” Kroger was then heard commenting that she “didn’t have to be a b*tch about it.”

Reacting to Kroeger’s comment, Lambert threw a shot at his face, with her then-fiancé and fellow country star, Blake Shelton, stepping in. It was reported that Shelton stepped forward to fight Kroeger, but was held back by friends.

Reps at the time denied Shelton’s involvement and what occurred in the bar, with Kroeger never having publicly spoken about it. During the podcast, Lambert didn’t directly address the claims that she punched the Nickelback singer in the face.

Shelton alluded to the situation in Lambert’s Rolling Stone cover issues and said, “People always try to pop off or call her bluff at bars. One of them I don’t want to say the guy’s name, but he’s the lead singer of a very popular rock band.”

He then teased that the person he was referring to had the initials C.K.

Related: 1975 No.1 Hit, Covered by Emmylou Harris, Is Still a Country Classic 51 Years Later 

Will Arnett, who is 56, has been in a relationship with the heiress to the Guess clothing brand, Emma Marciano, who is 28. Although Arnett rarely speaks about the relationship, he commented on their status during the “Smartless” podcast, which is hosted by Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes.

“I’m very happy, very, very happy. Things are going great,” Arnett revealed.

Bateman then asked, “In a perfect world, in five years, what does this relationship look like?”

Arnett said, “If I f—king knew. I am now 56. I have learned a little bit in the last two years, especially to let go of whatever ideas that I think it’s going to go it’s going to happen.”

Related: Michael Douglas Reveals He Had a Secret Romance With ‘Romancing the Stone’ Costar Kathleen Turner That They Lied About for 40 Years

He continued, “As we know, you get dealt so many f—king curveballs and so I’m in the place now where I’m really trying my best to just deal with what’s in front of me. I’ve done some work on myself to try to do it in a way so that whatever does come my way, I handle it better, hopefully better than I have historically.”

Arnett previously dated Alessandra Brawn, who was once the CEO of the clothing brand Chapel. The pair broke up in late 2024. They have one child together. From 2003 to 2016, he was married to Amy Poehler. They share two children.

Related: ‘The Office’ Star, 60, Speaks About His Disappointment in Not Becoming a Movie Star: ‘I Was the Weird Guy’

In addition to being the daughter of Guess co-founder Maurice Marciano, Emma is also the cofounder of the Los Angeles fashion label Mimchik. She created the business along with Mia Kazovsky.

New episodes of “Smartless” come out every Monday. In each podcast episode, one host will surprise the other two with a mystery celebrity guest that they must interview.  As their official site says, “What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind.”

It’s a rare thing to be able to be tell someone who created a beloved song how much it means to you. A 23-year-old pop star got that chance in Nashville last month, in front of a room full of the songwriter’s friends.

Olivia Rodrigo made a surprise appearance at the BMI Troubadour Award ceremony to honor Sheryl Crow, closing the night with a cover of “Strong Enough,” the ballad from Crow’s 1993 debut album Tuesday Night Music Club.

“This is my favorite song of yours,” Rodrigo told Crow before she sang. “It’s a feeling that I felt so many times in my life but never really had the words to describe it, but you did so perfectly.”

She also spoke about the woman behind it. “What inspires me the most about her is her heart, her kindness, and her generosity,” Rodrigo said.

The event was an intimate, invite-only dinner at BMI’s Nashville office, and the lineup was a tribute in itself. Jason Isbell opened with “Run, Baby, Run.” Melissa Etheridge sang “If It Makes You Happy,” Eric Church took on “Leaving Las Vegas,” Lauren Daigle performed “Everyday Is a Winding Road,” and Chris Stapleton delivered “I Shall Believe.” Rodrigo was the unannounced finale. Variety reported that she flew in for the occasion.

The Troubadour Award, according to BMI, honors “a songwriter who has made a profound impact within the American music landscape and whose work continues to set the pace for generations to follow.” Past recipients include John Fogerty, John Prine and Lucinda Williams. Crow, a nine-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, received a Gibson J-45 guitar along with the honor.

Related: Carmen Electra Just Revealed Prince’s Nightly Request

The friendship between the two singers goes back several years. They have shared the stage at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, and Rodrigo joined Crow at her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2023. A year later, Crow joined Rodrigo at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Rodrigo told the room that Crow gave her a guitar at the Hall of Fame ceremony, and that it remains her most prized possession.

“Strong Enough” was released as a single in 1994, when Crow was a new artist and Rodrigo had not yet been born. The song asks a partner whether he is strong enough to be her man.

BMI has posted video of Rodrigo’s performance, along with Etheridge’s. Variety noted that every guest sang with a house band of Nashville players.

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On October 1, Big Brother crowned Rick Devens as its 28th winner—and it was a history-making win for several reasons.

Not only was Devens the first-ever Survivor alum to win Big Brother, but he took home a record $810,000: the $750,000 Big Brother grand prize, plus $10,000 he won in a “Pharaoh’s Curse“ twist, and, perhaps the most meaningful, the fan-voted $50,000 America’s Favorite Player prize.

After receiving nearly 30 percent of the viewer vote, Devens, 42, is only the second Big Brother houseguest in history to win both the grand prize and the AFP, following Season 24’s Taylor Hale.

And while many fans were happy to see the father of two win Big Brother after losing twice on Survivor, a lot of questions remain regarding the AFP prize—and if it should be used to “spread the wealth” a bit more.

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On social media, fans pointed to the snub of the runner-up AFPs. Drew Campbell and Yash Patel also received a lot of votes, host Julie Chen announced during the live Big Brother finale.

“I think in the future it should default to second place if the winner of AFP also wins the game!!” one fan wrote on Facebook. “But so happy for Rick Devens.”

“I wish the winner wasn’t allowed to win the AFP award to spread the wealth,” another commenter wrote on Threads.

“Yeah because that’s so unfair 😩 like they should have automatically picked the runner up,” another agreed.

”I’m sorry, but you shouldn’t be able to win and get #afp that’s crap,” another wrote.

“You shouldn’t be able to win the whole show AND afp. especially when you already have a fan base to overpower the vote,” another wrote on  Instagram.

“Idk man something about fan-based voting in a season where 3 of the players already have built in fanbases seems weird to me,” another viewer agreed.

Devens admitted that his Survivor fanbase helped him win America’s Favorite Player, but he also pointed to his gameplay.

“It’s absolutely incredible,” he told The Exclusive With Sharon Tharp of his AFP win. “I’m sure the fact, you know, that I was an icon helped with that. You know, I came in with some fans, but I do feel like I never wasted a moment. Like, I took big swings all season long. I didn’t take the great advice of throwing challenges. I tried to win everything. I didn’t take the great advice of laying low. Like I made a scene whenever I could make a scene. I had as much fun as I could. I tried really hard never to make things personal, just to keep it purely gameplay.”

Devens reasoned that his positive attitude made for good TV.

“I think more than anything, just like having a good time translates. Like people want to see people that are having a good time and not like tortured, being there because they want to be there,” the Big Brother winner added. “Like, as a viewer, I’m always like, I want to be in this house, so I don’t want to see you be miserable the whole time. And I’m guessing that that’s what translated, but it’s really rewarding. I mean, the fact that they enjoyed my journey. Thank you, America. Like, I enjoyed it, too.”

Related: ‘Big Brother 28’ Winner Rick Devens Breaks Down His Brutal Betrayal and Record-Breaking Victory (Exclusive)

Between the onscreen drama, the buzzy cast of the White Lotus‘ upcoming fourth season found plenty of ways to enjoy their downtime in France together—and star Kumail Nanjiani is sharing all the details!

“We hang out constantly,” Nanjiani, 48, tells Parade while promoting his exciting new partnership with Purina’s Tidy Cats. “When we were shooting in Paris, we would have a picnic outside the Louvre almost every Saturday. It was [the] cast and crew, so it was over a hundred people just hanging out.”

Laura Dern, Chris Messina, Max Greenfield, Rosie Perez, Heather Graham, Ben Kingsley, AJ Michalka, Steve Coogan, Max Minghella, Ari Graynor, Sandra Bernhard, Alexander Ludwig, Chloe Bennet, and Charlie Hall are also among the many stars climbing aboard creator Mike White‘s acclaimed HBO series for season 4. Further detailing his experience working with this starry group, Nanjiani admits that he’s “never been with a cast this big where everybody got along so well and got so close.”

“We’ve been shooting since April. Getting to work with legends like Laura Dern and Sandra Bernhardt and Rosie Perez and having them also come and hang out,” he continues. “We go out to dinners, so we’ll do smaller dinners. We’ll do big dinners with everybody. We went to a nightclub a couple weeks ago when I was there.”

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“It’s a really, really social situation, but also everybody’s really about the work. So as I was saying, on the weekends we rehearse and then at night we hang out, get dinner. I mean, when we were shooting in Paris, it’s an incredible place, so many great restaurants. So it’s really been one of the most satisfying professional experiences,” he concludes.

Season 4 of The White Lotus is slated to premiere in the first half of 2027. Although he can’t share too much about what’s to come, Nanjiani teases that “scale-wise, it’s by far the biggest season” yet.

“In terms of number of cast, in terms of locations, in terms of just the scale of it. I mean, we’ve done scenes with three, 400 extras. Huge! So it’s a really, really huge. And, we’re shooting for eight months, which is the longest shoot that they’ve ever had by quite a way. So I think that’s what’s really different about it,” the Howl star-director reveals.

“Mike is such a great writer because everything feels like White Lotus, but every season has its own tone a little bit, ” he explains. “Some of them are more funny forward, some are more drama forward, and this one is really both. What I really love about this season is that it’s also a really, really funny season. The interesting thing about working with Mike is
that he understands the tone of it so well and it’s in his head. He has a whole show in his head. There’s no way to really know exactly how he wants a scene to go.”

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Nanjiani also says that the cast will “actually get together on the weekend and we rehearse, and then, we go in, because we have to get a lot of work done.”

“So when we go in, we know the scene, but then he’s always like, ‘Actually, the scene’s more like this.’ And that’s what’s really exciting. Working with Mike, is that you really get to see inside his brain. [It’s] very cool,” he concludes. “He’s such a great director, so he really, really will guide you.”

Details on what fans can expect from The White Lotus season 4 may be under wraps, but what Nanjiani can talk about is his all-new partnership with Purina’s Tidy Cats, which just unveiled its highly-advanced Tidy Cats Performance+ litter in May.

Kumail Nanjiani pictured alongside a cat for Purina’s Tidy Cats.

Tidy Cats

The partnership involves a three-part social procedural series, titled Special Litter Unit (S.L.U.), which sees Nanjiani starring as lead agent. Content creator Jordan Howlett joins the Silicon Valley alum, playing his rookie officer. Adding to all the fun, the Litter Crimes HQ pop-up is clawing it ways to the Big Apple for a one-day event. At said event, feline lovers will get to partake in interactive missions and meet with adoptable cats from Petfinder.

“I only do these kinds of collaborations with products I use of the products I can genuinely
support,” he says. “I do genuinely judge people who don’t clean their kitty litter often enough. I really do, because I know cats get uncomfortable with that. [My late cat] Bagel would. I could see her getting stressed if you forgot to clean.”

Jordan Howlett and Kumail Nanjiani are pictured in ‘Special Litter Unit (S.L.U.)’ for Tidy Cats.

Tidy Cats

Nanjiani concludes: “So for me, what this product implies to me is caring for your cat. That’s why I jumped on board.”

Episode 1 is now available on Tidy Cats’ Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. New episodes will continue rolling out through the week. Litter Crimes HQ one-day pop up is open on Oct. 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 45Grand in New York City.

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

You don’t need a home full of antiques to get that charming vintage look. Sometimes, a few thoughtful touches — a decorative accent, a statement mirror or a pretty lamp — are all it takes to give a room a little more character. If vintage-style decor is your vibe, Walmart has a pair of rustic lamps that could be a beautiful addition to your space. 

Right now, the retailer is selling the Roria Country Style Table Lamp Set, for as low as $80, down from $134. The set comes in a set of two and features a classic drum shade and floral cutout details that give them a timeless look for bedrooms, living rooms, and guest spaces. Shoppers have fallen in love with these lamps, with one calling them “gorgeous” and saying it added an “artistic touch” to their living room.

Roria Country Style Table Lamp Set, $80 (was $134) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Each 25-inch lamp features a hollow resin base with decorative detailing that looks like it belongs in an art gallery. A linen drum shade completes the look, adding a classic farmhouse touch that works beautifully on a nightstand, side table, or bedroom console. 

The lamp set is available in charcoal black and white colors, so you can choose the finish that works best with your decor. Discounts vary by color, but all options are under $90

Each lamp has two USB-A charging ports, so you can charge your phone or other devices right from your nightstand. The ports work with the lamp on or off, making it easy to plug in your devices overnight without keeping the light on. The set also comes with four LED bulbs so you won’t have to shop for bulbs separately. 

Shoppers are impressed with the set’s retro look . One reviewer wrote, “Putting them together was simple, and they look great,” adding that they liked the lamps so much they bought a second set for their bedroom. Another shopper said they looked “beautiful” and provided the “perfect amount of light” in their room.

Shop More Deals

• Angenia 3-Piece Ruffled Queen Comforter Set, From $40 (was $70) at Walmart
• Homfa Bathroom Cabinet, $65 (was $115) at Walmart
• Hlr Small Kitchen Island Cart, From $87 (was $210) at Walmart

Related: Walmart’s ‘Pretty’ Crystal Table Lamp Brings Old-School Elegance to Any Room for Under $20

At just $80 for two, the Roria Country Style Table Lamp Set is an easy way to bring a little vintage charm into your home. Add them to your Walmart cart and give your nightstand, living room, or guest room a stylish new glow. 

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.

Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute on The Office from 2005 until 2013, recently spoke about his acting career with A.J. Daulerio on “The Small Bow” podcast. In the September 30 episode, he admitted that even though he starred on a hit television series, which ran for nine seasons, he was disappointed that he never turned into a movie star.

“I did this movie called The Rocker halfway through my Office tenure,” he explained. “When it came out, no one saw it. It was a big box office bomb. It was brutal. And then there was the immediate Hollywood just kind of like, ‘All right, he’s not a movie star. And that’s just how the business works. People that star in big movies that bomb, they don’t get other chances.”

Related: Michael Douglas Reveals He Had a Secret Romance With ‘Romancing the Stone’ Costar Kathleen Turner That They Lied About for 40 Years

Looking back, Wilson believes everything worked out for the best. “But in a way, I’m grateful because what if it had been a big success?” he said. “If The Rocker had made $50 million or $100 million, and then I was a movie star at that point in time, I could not have handled that. I probably would have lost my marriage. My family would have fallen apart.”

He continued, “I’ve been able to play a lot of really cool roles, mostly independent films, but I did not become a movie star. And it was very hard on my ego, and it hurt and stung for a long time. All I wanted was Hollywood’s approval, and here I was. I was the weird guy from The Office. That’s kind of how Hollywood works.”

Related: Trina Braxton’s Husband Von Scales Has Died at 58

Wilson won two SAG Awards and three TV Guide Awards for his work on The Office. He was also nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards. Since the series ended, he has appeared in projects like Lessons in Chemistry, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and Mom. He also has a popular podcast called “Soul Boom.”

NY Times readers are making their voices heard after the newspaper released their exhaustive list of the 100 Best Shows of the 21st Century.

As with their previous lists detailing the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century or the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century, The New York Times has unveiled a new readers’ poll counting down the greatest TV shows of the past two and a half decades.

“More than 100,000 people submitted their votes for the top series of the past 25-plus years,” the paper wrote. “Some shows made astounding leaps while others fell off the list altogether.”

As the paper indicated, there were a few key differences between the NYT‘s official countdown to the 100 best shots of the century and the readers’ poll tackling that same subject.

In particular, the readers’ poll featured slight differences in the ranking of the century’s top 10 shows, reading:

1. Breaking Bad
2. The Wire
3. Mad Men
4. Succession
5. Game of Thrones
6. Better Call Saul
7. The Office (U.S.)
8. Fleabag
9. Arrested Development
10. Ted Lasso

In contrast, the NY Times included the official countdown to the century’s best shows so far:

1. Breaking Bad
2. The Wire
3. Mad Men
4. Succession
5. Fleabag
6. Game of Thrones
7. Veep
8. 30 Rock
9. Curb Your Enthusiasm
10. Atlanta

The New York Times also reflected on the key changes between the two lists, pointing out that certain shows like Gilmore Girls, Ted Lasso and Community jumped ahead over 65 spots in the readers’ poll.

“The highest new entry is the beloved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender at No. 37. Readers also gave more love to big network shows like The Big Bang Theory and buzzy shows from the past year like Widow’s Bay and Heated Rivalry.”

In 1979, The Facts of Life debuted on NBC, featuring a supersized cast of young actors that included an 11-year-old Molly Ringwald.

The sitcom about a group of girls living at Eastland, a Peekskill, New York boarding school, struggled in the ratings, but returned the following year with a total revamp that didn’t include Ringwald or co-stars Felice Schachter, Julie Piekarski, and Julie Anne Haddock as series regulars.

In the book Totally Television, it was noted that for Season 2, the cast “was trimmed” to include Charlotte Rae (as housemother Edna Garrett) and just four girls: Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields and newcomer Nancy McKeon as Jo Polniazek, “a streetwise kid attending Eastland on a scholarship.” The book revealed that the new character “was suggested by NBC chief Fred Silverman after he had seen the film Little Darlings.”

The Facts of Life ran for nine seasons and underwent several format changes. The addition of tough-talker Jo came just a few months after Kristy McNichol played tough girl Angel Bright in the teen comedy film Little Darlings.

NBC / Getty Images

Former NBC Network Television Programs Vice President Michael Klein wrote about the decision to revamp The Facts of Life with McKeon in a lengthy LinkedIn post.

“Facts of Life had just come off a four-episode trial as a spinoff of Diff’rent Strokes, and the ratings were tepid — tepid enough that nobody in the comedy department thought there was any real chance of a pickup,” he shared. “Then Fred, NBC’s Network President and CEO, announced the fall schedule, and there it was. Facts of Life made the cut.”

Klein recalled that Silverman asked for 12 more episodes of The Facts of Life and told the group not to come back without them.

“We hadn’t even made it downstairs when [writer] Stuart Sheslow mentioned he’d seen a movie the night before — Little Darlings — and said what Facts of Life was missing was a bad seed,” he recalled. “We’d just seen a young actress named Nancy McKeon in another pilot that season, one that never made it to air. Somebody said her name next to ‘bad seed,’ and that was it. The room caught fire. Ten minutes later we had twenty stories, easily. Twice what he’d asked for.”

“Back upstairs, we opened with the core idea — bad seed, Nancy McKeon plays her — and Fred stood straight up out of his chair, took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, sat back down, and started pitching stories right alongside us. By the time we moved to the next show on the schedule, we had thirty,” Klein shared.

Silverman had been impressed with McKeon from the jump. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he revealed that the Jo character was brought in because the cast “needed some contrast.”

“I had seen Nancy McKeon—I don’t remember for sure where—but I was very impressed with her,” Silverman recalled. “She’s a very, very good actress. So I said, ‘You know, we ought to put her in there. She’d provide enormous contrast to the other girls in attitude.’ We had ethnic differences, but I didn’t think that was enough. I thought we needed more attitudinal conflict. So we brought her in, and it made an enormous difference. It added new life to the series.”

The addition of McKeon was bad news for Ringwald,  who was cast as the short-lived Molly Parker for the first season of The Facts of Life and had been told that her character would be one of the four set to return for Season 2.

NBC / Getty Images

“[They]changed their minds and then fired me, which was kind of hard as a 12-year-old girl,” Ringwald told People TV’s Couch Surfing in 2019. “What they said is, they wanted something closer to Lisa Whelchel, who played Blair, they wanted something closer to her age, and I was too young at the time. I was a little bit of a different generation.”

While Ringwald was offered the option to make occasional appearances on the second season of The Facts of Life, she chose to leave the show for good.

“Once you’ve been a regular and then you’re booted to be a semi-regular, it was really hard and humiliating,” the Sixteen Candles actress shared. “My mom said, ‘Do you really want to do this?’ and I said, ‘No,’ and that was it. I wasn’t on the show anymore.”

Related: 1976 ABC Series, With 4 Emmy Awards, Featured an 11-Year-Old Who Later Walked Away From Hollywood

When it comes to lowering disease risk, most daily discussions revolve around loading up on fiber, eating leafy greens or adding antioxidant-rich berries to morning smoothies. While those colorful plate staples are vital for long-term health, they’re not the whole picture.

Understanding how everyday choices influence our body’s internal environment can often feel overwhelming. Many people spend hours scanning nutrition labels, tracking daily fiber counts and investing in specialized supplements to support their immune function and lower inflammation. While nutrition plays an indispensable role in cellular repair, hormone balance and natural detoxification mechanisms, missing out on basic, essential daily requirements can leave our biological defenses compromised.

Related: These Are the 7 Most Common Symptoms of the COVID-19 SW.2 Variant Doctors Are Seeing Right Now

When aiming to build a lifestyle focused on long-term disease risk reduction, experts stress that ignoring the fundamental foundation can undercut even the most disciplined dietary habits. What we consume every single day directly shapes our cellular health, our immune response and our body’s ability to resist harmful mutations over time.

Below, an oncology dietitian has highlighted one essential element that serves as a core protector of cellular integrity. While it isn’t a trendy superfood or a rare ingredient, prioritizing it daily makes a profound difference in protecting DNA and helping the body eliminate potential carcinogens efficiently.

🩺SIGN UP for Parade’s health newsletter with expert-approved tips, healthy eats, exercises, news & more to help you stay healthy & feel your best self💊

The Essential Daily Element That Protects Your Cells

When building a comprehensive routine for cancer risk reduction, the foundational nutrient experts emphasize isn’t a solid food or complex supplement at all—it’s water. Proper hydration is a critical pillar of human biology, yet it remains one of the most frequently neglected components of standard preventative nutrition discussions.

Jeanna Rich, RDN, an oncology registered dietitian at OSF HealthCare, previously told Parade that water is a vital safeguard for overall health.

Related: ‘I’m a Registered Dietitian—These Are the 5 Trader Joe’s Groceries I’d Stock up on if I Was on a GLP-1′

“Often called the forgotten nutrient, hydration plays an extremely relevant role in cancer prevention,” Rich explained.

When a person experiences chronic or even mild dehydration, it significantly raises the risk for oxidative stress, a biological state where damaged cells accumulate and contribute to chronic disease development over time. Consistent hydration directly supports fundamental physiological processes, including cell health, DNA integrity, efficient nutrient transport across cell membranes and systemic waste removal.

Furthermore, maintaining optimal fluid levels provides a targeted defense for internal organs. Rich noted that “good hydration dilutes the concentration of potential carcinogens in urine and moves waste along,” making adequate fluid intake one of the simplest yet most effective daily habits for long-term health protection.

How Hydration and Plant-Based Nutrition Work Together

While prioritizing hydration throughout the day is essential, oncology dietitians emphasize that fluid balance works hand in hand with a nutrient-dense, plant-predominant diet. Supporting your immune system and keeping systemic inflammation low requires a multi-layered lifestyle approach that pairs adequate water intake with protective foods.

“What we eat influences inflammation, hormone regulation, immune function and even how our genes are expressed,” Alison Tierney, RD, CD, an oncology dietitian, cancer thriver and founder of Wholesome LLC, told Parade in the same article.

Related: A Cardiologist Says Eating This Lunch Once in a While Is ‘Not the End of the World’—but He’d Never Order It

When daily fluid and nutrient intake fall short of optimal requirements, overall cellular efficiency drops, compromising the body’s natural ability to flush out toxic waste and repair damaged structures. Tierney explained that plant-based diets—rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds—provide protective compounds that “work together to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which can contribute to cancer development.”

Rich agreed, noting that shifting toward plant-based eating doesn’t require going strictly vegan or vegetarian. Instead, it simply means making plants the central focus of your meals. “Allow yourself larger portions of plants and less meat or animal products,” Rich suggested.

Incorporating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, which Rich noted can “enhance DNA repair mechanisms, inhibiting carcinogen activation,” alongside fiber-rich beans, berries and soy products creates a powerful internal defense system when combined with proper daily hydration. By keeping your body well-hydrated and nourished with colorful whole foods, you give your cells the precise tools necessary to function optimally and support lifelong health.

Adapted from Parade’s “‘I’m an Oncology Dietitian—Here Are the 5 Foods I Always Have in My Kitchen’“ by Erica Sweeney.

Up Next:

Sources

• Jeanna Rich, RDN, an oncology registered dietitian at OSF HealthCare
• Alison Tierney, RD, CD, an oncology dietitian, “cancer thriver,” and founder of Wholesome LLC