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More than 20 years after Andie Anderson and Benjamin Barry turned dueling schemes into romance, their story could be heading back to the big screen.

Kate Hudson has signed on to develop and produce a sequel to the 2003 romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Variety reported on Monday, August 24, that Paramount had set up the project. The sequel remains in its early stages, People confirmed on Monday. No plot, writer, director or release date has been announced.

Kate Hudson Is Developing the ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ Sequel

According to the outlet, Hudson, 47, will produce alongside Stacey Sher through Sher’s Shiny Penny Productions. Her return as advice columnist Andie Anderson has not been finalized.

The project follows years of speculation. Hudson previously said she would only consider revisiting Andie and Ben for the right script and creative team.

Matthew McConaughey’s Return as Benjamin Barry Is Not Confirmed

Filmmakers hope Matthew McConaughey, 56, will return as advertising executive Benjamin Barry. However, neither his deal nor Hudson’s acting role is official. Those decisions are expected to depend on the writers Paramount hires and the story they develop.

Hudson and McConaughey’s chemistry powered the original film and 2008’s Fool’s Gold. She has also spoken warmly about working with McConaughey. During a 2023 Instagram Live marking the original film’s 20th anniversary, Hudson reflected on why their onscreen pairing worked.

“[With] respect to our now-partners, we do kiss nicely,” she said. “It was always a very nice kiss.”

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McConaughey pointed to their shared humor and willingness to improvise. “We enjoy going toe-to-toe,” he said.

Where Andie Anderson and Benjamin Barry’s Romance Began

Andie and Ben started out on opposite sides of two secret plans. Andie picked Ben for a magazine story about pushing a boyfriend away in 10 days, while Ben made a bet with his coworkers that he could win any woman’s heart in that same window.

Their competing schemes collided once their staged romance started to feel real.

That setup gave the film some of its most beloved moments, from Andie’s “love fern” to the chaotic couples therapy session and the pair’s blowup during a performance of “You’re So Vain.”

The unfinished plot leaves a major question unanswered: Are Andie and Ben still together more than two decades later?

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If you need more surface space but don’t have room for another bulky piece of furniture, a slim console table can be a game-changer. Right now, the Martha Stewart Shiloh Console Table is $270 at JCPenney with code SPELLING, down from $680. It comes in a dark espresso finish and has a narrow shape. It’s also only available online, and a limited number are left.

The table measures 48 inches wide, 15 inches deep, and 34 inches high, so you have plenty of room to spread things out without losing much floor space. It weighs 46 pounds and can hold up to 100 pounds. The frame and top are made from engineered wood, the base includes veneer, and there’s a full lower shelf for extra storage. Assembly is required, but the listed setup time is only 10 minutes.

Martha Stewart Shiloh Console Table, $270 (was $680) at JCPenney

Courtesy of JCPenney

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One of the best things about the table is how much surface space it gives you without taking up much room. At just 15 inches deep, it can fit into narrower spots, while the 48-inch width still leaves plenty of space for everyday essentials. In an entryway, that could mean keeping keys, mail, a bag, and a lamp in one place instead of letting everything pile up elsewhere, or it could hold chargers, drinks, or a lamp behind a sofa while freeing up your side tables.

One shopper said it “feels so high quality” and is “very sturdy and stable,” while another called it “beautiful,” “super stable,” and “the perfect size.” A third reviewer said it’s “excellent for small spaces.” Other people also mentioned using it as a sideboard and even a TV stand, which says a lot about how versatile the proportions are.

Related: Walmart’s Retro Slatted Accent Cabinet Is Giving Designer Vibes for Just $90

Before ordering, the 48-by-15-inch footprint is worth measuring out on the floor so you know exactly how much wall and walking space it will take up. The 15-inch depth is relatively slim for a console table, which helps in hallways and entryways where every inch counts, but the 48-inch width is wider. It’s also 34 inches high, so be sure to check nearby outlets, windows, or wall decor if you already know where you want to put it.

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• Safavieh Samantha 2-Drawer Console Table, $198 (was $430) at JCPenney
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The Martha Stewart Shiloh Console Table is a great find for someone who wants extra surface and storage space without investing in a pricey piece of furniture. If you’ve measured your space and the dimensions work, now is the perfect time to snag this gorgeous table at JCPenney before it sells out.

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In the 1940s, supply demands for World War II led to serious food shortages and rationing, impacting people all across the U.S. In response, American home chefs had to get creative in the kitchen—but that doesn’t mean comfort food was off the table. In fact, the 1940s gave rise to a number of hearty and cozy meals, many of which are still popular today.

​To learn more about some of the most comforting old-fashioned meals from the ’40s, we spoke with Alicia Shevetone, a Las-Vegas based chef, cookbook author and the founder of the nonprofit cookbook library Nice Nice Bite, the recipe brand and blog Dink Cuisine and the seasoning company Distilled Spices.

Though Shevetone didn’t live through the 1940s, her grandmother did—and she passed down many recipes from that era to her children and grandchildren. And as a professional chef, Shevetone still loves to make some of those recipes today. Keep reading to learn all about three of her favorite old-fashioned comfort meals from over 80 years ago, as well as how to make them.

Related: 70 Years Later, This Iconic Dessert Is Still a Family Favorite, According to a Celebrity Chef

Food Rationing in the 1940s Forced Home Chefs To Get Creative

In response to World War II, in January 1942, the U.S. government began rationing a number of products, or limiting the amounts that consumers could purchase, per the National World War II Museum.

Over the next few years, Americans would see restrictions on a number of necessities including gasolines, bicycles, cars, tires and nylon products. However, the rations that impacted Americans the most were food rations, which began in May 1942.

The first foods to land on the U.S. rationing list were sugar and coffee, followed by various meat, fish and dairy products the next year. And although vegetables were never officially rationed, the U.S. government encouraged citizens to grow their own veggies in “victory gardens” to reduce reliance on industrially-grown crops, which were in high demand by the military.

Though the limited access to certain foods was undoubtedly frustrating for Americans in the 1940s, home chefs made do with what they had. And with meat, fish, dairy and vegetables in short supply, Americans often turned to vegetarian and vegan meals based around pantry staples.

Related: These 44 Meatless and Dairy-Free Casserole Recipes Will Complete Your Vegan Dinner Goal Dreams

3 Best 1940s ‘Comfort Food’ Meals, According to a Professional Chef

Here are three of Shevetone’s favorite old-fashioned meals from the 1940s, along with her recipes for making them.

1. Mother’s soup

MSPhotographic / Getty Images

The first dish Shevetone recommends is a vegetable and lima bean-based soup similar to minestrone soup, which she calls “mother’s soup.”

“This hearty soup comes straight from my grandmother’s 1940s kitchen,” Shevetone tells Parade, adding that to her, this dish evokes “nostalgic America.”

To make enough mother’s soup to serve four to six people, here’s what you need:

• 1 lb dry lima beans
• 6 cups vegetable stock
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• ¼ tsp dried tarragon
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ¼ tsp ground sage
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 cup diced zucchini
• ½ cup diced carrots
• ½ cup diced onion
• ¾ cup marinara sauce
• Salt to taste

And here’s how to make it, according to Shevetone:

1. Soak dry lima beans overnight. In the morning, slip off the lima bean skins.
2. Add the beans to a soup pot and cover with about 2 inches of vegetable stock.
3. Season with dried thyme, tarragon, oregano, sage, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper.
4. Simmer the beans over medium-low heat for an hour.
5. Add diced zucchini, carrots, onions and marinara sauce.
6. Cook for another hour, until the vegetables are tender and the lima beans are mostly dissolved — the world’s most underrated thickener.
7. Add salt to taste.

Related: The Greek Way To Make Potatoes 10x Better This Summer

2. Bean salad

PGoodie76 / Getty Images

“In the late 1940s, pre-cooked tinned beans grew in popularity,” says Shevetone. This gave “rise to a dish many of us have enjoyed at potlucks and holiday dinner tables ever since: three bean salad, traditionally featuring chickpeas, red kidney beans and green beans.”

That said, Shevetone’s family’s version of this dish was more of a two bean salad. “I’m not sure what my family had against canned green beans,” she jokes. “We kept our version to red kidney beans and chickpeas.”

For Shevetone’s 1940s bean salad, here’s what you need:

• 1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• ¼ cup minced curly parsley, finely chopped
• Minced scallion to taste
• A “fairly acidic” red wine vinaigrette
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (“The best extra virgin olive oil you can find”)
• 3 Tbsp diced pimentos
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper

To make it, simply combine all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

“As with so many dishes of this era, it tastes even better the next day,” Shevetone adds.

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3. Corn pone

from_my_point_of_view / Getty Images

In case you aren’t familiar, corn pone is similar to cornbread—the main differences are that corn pone is made with much simpler ingredients than cornbread, and corn pone is fried in a skillet rather than baked. It’s also similar to arepas, though arepas are typically served with various fillings, while corn pone is usually served plain.

Shevetone tells Parade that the “humble dish” was a “staple on American tables throughout the South in the 1940s.”

Related: I Made Dolly Parton’s Corn Pone Recipe—and Now I Finally Understand the Hype

To make corn pone, all you need is four ingredients, according to Shevetone:

• 2 cups yellow cornmeal
• 1 tsp salt
• 1½ cups boiling water
• ¼ cup vegetable oil

And here’s how to make it:

1. Mix cornmeal, salt and 1 Tbsp of vegetable oil in a large bowl.
2. Gradually stir in the boiling water until a thick, scoopable dough forms. Let cool for 5 minutes.
3. Divide the mixture into 12 balls and shape into oval pieces about a half-inch thick.
4. Heat remaining 3 Tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
5. Fry the corn pones in batches, for 4–5 minutes per side, or until golden and crisp. Serve warm.

Shevetone is a huge fan of this dish, explaining that it’s “rustic, inexpensive and filling.”

“Their crisp exterior will draw you in like a tractor beam, while their tender, warm center will compel you to close your eyes, nod and savor their abject simplicity,” she says.

Up Next:

Related: The Best Way To Make Greek Pasta Salad, According to a Professional Chef

Sources:

• ​Alicia Shevetone, chef and cookbook author.
• Rationing. National World War II Museum.

Richard Lloyd —  the beloved guitarist for the rock band Television — revealed he was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of bile-duct cancer.

According to a GoFundMe set up in his honor, the 74-year-old received his diagnosis in March and is battling tumors on his liver.

“Because of its location, doctors cannot safely operate to remove it at this time,” the fundraiser noted. “He has been in the ICU seven times, dealing with serious complications including sepsis twice, as well as complications involving his liver and kidneys. And through all of this, he’s fighting.”

Richard’s wife, Sheila, has stepped up as his primary caregiver. However, the financial strain of being unable to tour amid “crushing medical expenses,” has added even more stress to the musician.

“I am usually a pretty upbeat person and I am taking this in stride, but it has become very difficult on our own and financially we are strapped,” Lloyd shared. “That’s why I’m asking for your help. If you can see your way clear to make a donation please do that. Otherwise, please pass it around to your friends that might help and people that know me.”

Lloyd — along with Billy Ficca, Tom Verlaine, and Richard Hell — founded the band in New York City in 1973. The band broke up in 1978 after the release of their sophomore album. They would reunite in the decades that followed, including with their third album in the 1990s, but officially disband in 2023 after the death of frontman Verlaine.

Lloyd’s fundraiser aims to raise $80,000 to help with his medical bills. As of publication, the total is nearly $60,000.

When Robyn released “Dancing On My Own” in 2010, she created a song about heartbreak that actually made people want to dance. The song tells a very relatable breakup tale of a woman watching her former partner dance with someone else while she remains alone on the dance floor. The contrast between the pained lyrics and euphoric production created a song that would eventually help define the term “sad banger.”

Thanks to artists like Gracie Abrams, Harry Styles and Kelly Clarkson, as well as social media trends, Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” has reached a new generation of fans. “Dancing On My Own” is the rare pop song whose cultural impact has grown with time.

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A recent performance of the song left Robyn completely overwhelmed, a reminder of the affinity an entirely new generation of music lovers has for the pop classic.

At a recent stop on her Sexestential tour, Robyn, 47, can be seen mid-performance, delighting fans with “Dancing On My Own.” That’s when the audience takes over, serenading Robyn with her own hit. Word for word, line by line, fans did not miss a beat of the iconic anthem.

Robyn didn’t join them. She let her fans become the stars of the show. Overwhelmed, she took in the audience’s vocal performance, at a few points overcome with emotion, joy and surprise.

It’s clear from the fan response that “Dancing On My Own” hits deeply with fans. This isn’t just a popular pop song about heartbreak. It’s the rare breakup tune whose narrator keeps going—or, in this case, keeps dancing. Even if she’s dancing alone.

Related: The Killers’ 22-Year-Old Hit Spent 512 Weeks on the UK Chart and Still Gives Its Singer Chills

“Dancing On My Own” Became a Slow-Burning Hit

Interestingly, “Dancing On My Own” wasn’t initially a massive American chart hit. The song actually became a slow-burning hit, one that other artists covered and new generations of listeners continued to discover.

“Dancing On My Own” has been covered by Calum Scott and Kelly Clarkson, who helped introduce the song to new fans. But pop star Gracie Abrams may have had the biggest influence on the song’s trajectory.

Gracie Abrams is known for her love of various pop and rock legends, from The Cure to Robyn, even calling “Dancing On My Own” her favorite song. At Lollapalooza in 2022, she first performed a cover of the song. Returning to the festival in 2025, she brought Robyn onstage for a surprise duet of the song, creating a full-circle moment for Abrams and for Robyn.

Robyn Found a New Generation of Fans @lollapalooza

Full circle moment 🫶 #gracieabrams #lollapalooza

♬ original sound – Lollapalooza

Since then, Robyn has seen a career resurgence, opening for Harry Styles and headlining her own summer tour.

“Dancing On My Own” became her signature hit. The song about loneliness, heartbreak and the resilience to overcome the loss of love has become an enduring anthem whose popularity only grows with time.

That staying power is part of what makes the song so special. The heartbreak at its center is timeless, but the production never makes the sadness feel completely hopeless. There is still something liberating about dancing through the pain.

“Dancing On My Own” Belongs to Everyone Now

Robyn sang a song about the isolation of being alone on the dance floor. Fifteen years later, it’s impossible for her to sing it alone, a reminder that “Dancing On My Own” is one of those songs that resonates so deeply that it no longer belongs solely to the artist.

This song belongs to the world now.

Judging by Robyn’s reaction to being serenaded by her fans, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Related: 1977 Hit With an Uncredited Joe Walsh Guitar Solo Became an Andy Gibb No. 1 Hit

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Ann Wilson’s powerful vocals wailing about the rush of falling in love soundtracked the summer of 1987. “Alone,” Heart’s second consecutive No. 1, spent a total of 16 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, including three back-to-back weeks in the top spot. Nearly four decades later, Classic Pop magazine has crowned it the greatest power ballad of the 1980s.

But the outlet goes further than simply calling the song a great ballad, expressing that the band “perfected” the power ballad with a “tour-de-force” banger.

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“While Bonnie Tyler had pioneered the ’80s power ballad, Heart perfected it,” the publication wrote, adding, “It’s a tour-de-force unmatched by any power balladeer since.”

Released in May 1987, the song features Ann Wilson’s powerhouse vocals, with sister Nancy Wilson on guitar and the song’s co-writer Kelly providing high-harmony backing vocals. The song opens with haunting piano and synth sounds, then erupts into a massive, stadium-filling hard-rock anthem. And like many of Heart’s hits, “Alone” has a fascinating backstory.

Originally written and recorded by songwriting duo Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, “Alone” started its life with a completely different band. i-Ten, the short-lived hard-rock outfit composed of Kelly and Steinberg, included the track on their 1983 one-and-only studio album, Taking a Cold Look, but the album sank without a peep.

Making another pitstop on the CBS sitcom Dreams, “Alone” was performed by Valerie Stevenson and John Stamos. That version was released as a single, but again didn’t chart or sell particularly well.

After i-Ten’s album flopped, Steinberg said he put the songs “in a drawer and forgot about them,” Louder shared. But by 1987, the songwriting duo had become hot commodities, thanks in part to hits including Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” and Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.” When Heart needed a power ballad, Kelly suggested they revisit “Alone.”

“‘Alone’ is a particularly strong song that could have been recorded at any time over the decades,” Nancy Wilson told Guitar World. “I guess we were a little jealous, though, because we didn’t write [it] ourselves. [Laughs]”

Featured on Heart’s ninth studio album, Bad Animals, the song was their lead single and a Billboard chart smash. It debuted on the Hot 100 at No. 53 before climbing to No. 1, where it stayed for three consecutive weeks in July and remained in the Top 40 for most of the summer.

In fact, on this day in 1987, “Alone” was still at No. 29, six weeks after reaching No. 1. Not to mention, the hit helped propel its parent album to No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

According to Classic Pop, the glory days of Heart were considered over before the band’s mid-’80s comeback, but “Alone” proved otherwise. It became one of two consecutive monster hits and turned Heart’s reinvention into a massive success.

“There are still songs we love to perform from that era, like ‘Alone,’” Nancy Wilson said, via Louder. “Although when we do it now, we take the wedding-cake production out of it.”

Related: 1983 Ballad, Which Turned the Actors From ‘One Big Blow’ Into a No. 1 Band, Is Just as Powerful 43 Years Later 

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If you’re looking for a tablet mostly for streaming, reading, browsing, shopping, and checking email, you probably don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on one. A budget-friendly 2-in-1 tablet can handle all those everyday tasks without making you pay for high-end features you may never use. 

Right now, Walmart is selling the Blackview Android 15 Tablet for $90, down from $100. It’s an affordable pick for anyone who wants a reliable device for everyday use. The best part is that it’s not just a tablet. It comes with a stylus and a keyboard, so you can switch to a laptop-style setup when you need to type up documents, answer emails or handle anything that’s easier with a physical keyboard. One Walmart shopper called it “good for everyday use” and “worth the price.” 

Blackview Android 15 Tablet, $90 (was $100) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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With its roomy 10.1-inch display, the tablet is well-suited for both work and downtime, from watching your favorite shows to joining video chats and browsing the web. Its lightweight design also makes it easy to take along for travel, commutes, or days when you want a screen that’s bigger than your phone. 

One shopper called it an “awesome cruise mate” and praised its expanded memory for downloading movies and catching up on shows while relaxing in their cabin. They also gave the tablet a thumbs-up for its “good battery life.” 

It has 128GB of built-in storage for apps, photos, videos and files, and you can add up to 2TB more with a microSD card if you need extra space. The tablet also has front and rear cameras for video calls and photos.

Additionally, the tech has Google’s Gemini AI built in, which can help with things like translating text, summarizing articles and planning your schedule.

A 6,000mAh battery keeps it running all day, and built-in stereo speakers make it easy to stream shows, watch videos or listen to music. The tablet also supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you can get online and connect wireless accessories like earbuds or a keyboard.

The tablet comes in two color options: black and gray. The black version is currently on sale for $89, while the gray option is priced at $100, so you’ll score a great price no matter what. 

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Related: Adidas’ Nurse-Approved Sneakers Are ‘Light’ and ‘Comfortable’ for Long Days on Your Feet, Now 40% Off

If you’re after a simple tablet for less, the Blackview Android 15 Tablet is a solid buy at just $90. Head to Walmart and snag one while it’s still in stock and on sale!

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If you’re the kind of Papa Johns fan who immediately reaches for the pepperoncini or considers that little cup of garlic sauce an essential part of the pizza experience, breakfast is about to get a whole lot more interesting.

Papa Johns is teaming up with cult-favorite PopUp Bagels for a limited-time collaboration that takes two of the pizza chain’s most recognizable flavors and gives them a decidedly breakfast-friendly makeover.

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The three-week collaboration rolls out in two parts, beginning August 27, and both flavors sound like they were practically made for PopUp Bagels’ signature “Grip, Rip and Dip” approach to eating bagels.

So, which Papa Johns favorites are making the jump from pizza night to morning breakfast? If you’ve ever found yourself wishing there were more of those little extras in the box, you can probably guess where this is going.

What Are the New Papa Johns x PopUp Bagels Flavors?

Papa Johns

First up is the Pepperoncini Schmear, which launches Aug. 27. Inspired by the single pepperoncini pepper that comes tucked inside every Papa Johns pizza box. The cream cheese combines pickle-like tang and a little punch of heat with a rich, creamy base. In other words, if you’re someone who thinks one pepperoncini in the box is never enough, this one has your name all over it.

Then, on Sept. 3, things get garlicky.

The Special Garlic Sauce Butter takes inspiration from that familiar cup of buttery garlic sauce that has accompanied countless slices of Papa Johns pizza. The new schmear transforms those savory, garlicky flavors into a rich butter designed for dipping pieces of warm bagel.

“Few menu items inspire the kind of loyalty and love that our Special Garlic Sauce and signature pepperoncini do,” said Shivram Vaideeswaran, senior vice president of brand marketing at Papa Johns, in a statement.

Hard to argue with that. After all, plenty of pizza chains can deliver pepperoni and cheese. It’s the pepperoncini and that unmistakable garlic sauce that immediately tell you there’s a Papa Johns box on the table.

Related: Whatever Happened to McDonald’s Pizza? The 1990s Menu Item Fans Still Can’t Stop Talking About

Where Can You Try the Papa Johns PopUp Bagels Schmears? View this post on Instagram

Both limited-edition schmears will be available at PopUp Bagels locations while supplies last. PopUp Bagels is already teasing the Pepperoncini Cream Cheese on its homepage, where it’s listed as an upcoming Aug. 27 release.

There’s also an extra perk for fans in Papa Johns’ hometown of Atlanta. On Sept. 3, PopUp Bagels will take over a Papa Johns restaurant for a one-day event featuring complimentary bagels and the limited-edition schmears on a first-come, first-served basis. Papa Rewards members in the area will receive details about the participating location and timing through the Papa Johns app.

The collaboration only lasts three weeks, so this isn’t a permanent breakfast menu makeover. But if you’ve ever looked at a warm bagel and thought, You know what this needs? Papa Johns garlic sauce, your oddly specific moment has finally arrived.

Related: I Made the Retro School Cafeteria Pizza We All Remember—Here’s Why It Still Holds Up

Despite being 40 years old, Bon Jovi‘s 1986 power ballad hit, “Never Say Goodbye,” is still receiving some recognition. The tune, off the band’s third album, Slippery When Wet, was recently featured on American Songwriter‘s list of “3 Power Ballad Songs From the 1980s That Turned Shredding Heartbreak Into Radio Gold.” The other tracks included in the ranking, published in August 2026, are REO Speedwagon‘s “Keep On Loving You” from 1980 and “What About Love” by Heart, released in 1985.

According to American Songwriter, “Never Say Goodbye” is surprisingly poignant, as the narrator reminisces about a romance he’s desperate to hold onto, indicating the relationship is ending. The publication also reported that the song, while beloved, didn’t reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

That being said, two songs from Slippery When Wet, “You Give Love A Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer,” did secure the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 spot.

Jon Bon Jovi Discussed Wanting to Create Radio Hits When Recording ‘Slippery When Wet’

In a 2021 interview on Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt, Jon Bon Jovi, who co-wrote “Never Say Goodbye” with his bandmate Richie Sambora, explained that the band wanted to create radio hits when recording Slippery When Wet.

“We thought we had a really good record, but at the time, and you’re gauging this against the radio, it was like, if we could have something as anthemic as Robert Palmer had that big hit that year, ‘Addicted to Life,'” said Bon Jovi, now 64.

He went on to say that he “started thinking about anthems that work in an audience” based on the tours he and his bandmates had been on since the debut of their first album, 1984’s Bon Jovi.

“You’re thinking, I need these things called anthems, I need this, and so we started thinking like that, and then we started writing differently,” explained the musician in the 2021 interview.

He also said that “Livin’ on a Prayer,” arguably the biggest song off Slippery When Wet, “came from nowhere.” In addition, he said he didn’t think the hit would have much of an impact.

“None of us had an idea the day we walked in a room. We came out with it finished, and I swear, I told Richie, ‘Ah, it’s okay,'” said Bon Jovi.

According to Bon Jovi, Sambora told him he was “crazy” for not thinking highly of the song.

“And he was right,” conceded Bon Jovi during the Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt interview.

Some songs cannot be contained to one generation.

Such is the case with “Angel of the Morning,” the sweeping ballad written by legendary songwriter Chip Taylor that first became a major hit for Merrilee Rush in 1968, only to come roaring back more than a decade later in the unmistakable voice of Juice Newton.

Taylor, who also penned the raw and raucous 1960s rock classic “Wild Thing,” wrote “Angel of the Morning” in 1967 after hearing the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday” on the radio one day while driving into New York. He was inspired to write something that would capture the kind of passion he heard in the Rolling Stones performance.

He later looked back on the morning he wrote “Angel in the Morning” in an interview with American Songwriter.

“I could send myself right back to the day that I wrote ‘Angel Of The Morning,’ how it felt,” reflected Taylor. “I had a buzz through me that morning that was so powerful. I knew I had done something that meant something, because of that feeling. It wasn’t a question of whether other people liked it … I loved it.”

But it would be years before Taylor recorded the song himself. He first set about offering his new gem to other current artists.

The first was Connie Frances who reportedly passed on the song because of its frank and daring portrayal of a one-night romantic encounter that was deemed too risqué for her image. For Taylor, it was a love song of the ages.

“To me, it had to be one of the most important love stories of all time,” he said. “It’s people in the war zone who may never see each other again. They are going to have this night together and they will love each other throughout eternity together, but because of some massive problem, they may never see each other after that night.”

Next was Evie Sands and she was not afraid of the subject matter. Sands was the first to record the song in 1967. However, problems at her record label prevented the single from receiving the promotion it needed to become a hit.

But it was Merrilee Rush who put the stellar song on the map.

Rush recorded “Angel of the Morning” at American Sound Studio in Memphis in early 1968. Released that February, her soaring rendition climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and ultimately earned the singer a Grammy nomination. The record would go on to sell more than a million copies.

And, remarkably, that was just the beginning.

Over the years, “Angel of the Morning” was recorded by an impressive assortment of artists, including Dusty Springfield, P.P. Arnold and Olivia Newton-John. Then, in 1981, country-pop singer Juice Newton released the version that would introduce Taylor’s song to an entirely new generation and turn it into a global sensation.

Newton’s fresh, lush, dramatic recording appeared on her breakthrough album Juice and climbed all the way to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary charts.

With Newton’s powerful vocal building toward its unforgettable chorus, the song fit perfectly into the country-pop crossover sound of the early 1980s and became one of the singer’s signature hits. For many coming of age at the time, the melody is emblazoned on their minds and hearts and is as familiar as Skippy Peanut Butter.

Since Newton made the song a household name in the 80s, “Angel in the Morning” has been recorded by respected artists from Shaggy to The Pretenders and has appeared on the soundtracks of multiple tv shows and films. Taylor released his own lilting country pop-rock version of the song in 1972, which rings sincere and true as sung in the pure voice of the creator himself.

The songwriter’s first instincts were right. He had written a song that meant something…no one could have known at the time just how big that ‘something’ would become.

More than half a century after Merrilee Rush first sent it soaring up the charts, “Angel of the Morning” remains one of those rare songs capable of finding new listeners, and new voices, generation after generation.

Related: 1966 Folk Rock Song, With 21-Year-Old Singer From Texas, Became a Major Hit

One of Hollywood’s most famous monsters might have looked very different if the movie’s original plans had stayed intact.

Frankenstein, the landmark 1931 horror film from Universal Pictures, began filming on Aug. 24, 1931 95 years ago today. But before Boris Karloff became synonymous with the Monster, another legendary horror star was attached to the role.

Bela Lugosi, who had become a major star after playing Count Dracula in Universal’s 1931 hit Dracula, was initially slated to play the Monster in Frankenstein. Contemporary reports even described Lugosi as preparing for the part and undergoing makeup tests.

The casting made sense on paper. Dracula had been a major success, and Lugosi was already established as one of Hollywood’s go-to actors for horror. Universal was reportedly eager to capitalize on his popularity by putting him at the center of another monster movie.

But the version of the Monster Lugosi was originally being asked to play was not necessarily the character audiences know today.

Bela Lugosi Was Originally Set to Play the Monster

The early version of Frankenstein took a darker, more straightforward approach to the creature.

Director Robert Florey had been developing the project before James Whale took over. Florey’s version reportedly envisioned the Monster as a more brutal, nearly mindless killing machine, with considerably less of the sympathetic quality that would become central to Karloff’s performance.

Lugosi was not enthusiastic about that interpretation, or about the idea of spending much of the movie hidden beneath heavy makeup with very little dialogue.

There are competing accounts of exactly why Lugosi left the project. Some histories say he rejected the role, while others indicate that Whale’s arrival changed the situation and that Lugosi was removed from the production along with Florey.

Either way, the project was about to undergo a major transformation.

Universal hired Whale after his success with Journey’s End, and the director chose Frankenstein from the studio’s available projects. Whale subsequently revised the material and took the movie in a different creative direction.

That included changing the way audiences would see the Monster.

Rather than simply presenting him as a terrifying killing machine, Whale’s film gave the character moments of confusion, vulnerability and even innocence. The Monster’s encounter with the little girl at the lake, for example, became one of the film’s most memorable and disturbing sequences.

Then Boris Karloff Entered the Picture

With Lugosi out, Whale turned to Karloff, a 43-year-old character actor who had spent years working in supporting roles.

Karloff had recently appeared in The Criminal Code, and his performance reportedly caught Whale’s attention. Another account credits producer David Lewis with suggesting Karloff to the director after seeing the actor’s work. Either way, Karloff ultimately tested for the role and won it.

The decision changed movie history.

Karloff worked closely with Universal makeup artist Jack Pierce, who had also helped create Lugosi’s famous Dracula look. Pierce spent months researching the Monster before developing the makeup that would become one of the most recognizable faces in film history.

Karloff’s physical transformation was considerable. His costume and boots made him appear roughly 7 feet 6 inches tall, and the cumbersome footwear weighed about 30 pounds. The makeup application reportedly took around five hours, followed by another two hours to remove it.

The result was a Monster that was frightening, but also strangely vulnerable.

That distinction became one of the reasons the movie endured.

Released in November 1931, Frankenstein became one of Universal’s defining horror films and helped establish Karloff as one of the era’s great screen monsters.

Karloff would reprise the role in Bride of Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein, cementing his association with the character. The familiar image of Frankenstein’s Monster, with the flat head, neck bolts and lumbering walk, became inseparable from Karloff’s performance and Pierce’s makeup.

Ninety-five years after filming began, it’s difficult to imagine Frankenstein any other way.

RELATED: Rod Steiger’s ‘Hands Over the City’ Won Venice’s Top Prize in 1963

OK bestie. It’s time to take a break from your daily doomscroll and give yourself a moment to think about something other than what seems like the hundredth food recall in the past month. We promise there’ll be plenty of time to spiral later, but for now, consider this your opportunity to pause and indulge in some much-needed ’90s nostalgia. And what specific brand of sentimentality are we talking about today, you ask? Cereal box toys. 

You know the ones you used to dig around for at the bottom of the box, hoping you got exactly the one you wanted? Well, it appears that those hunks of plastic modeled after our favorite cartoon characters might actually be worth some serious cash today. We’re talking in the neighborhood of up to $60 per toy in some cases. How’s that for a distraction?

Whether you’ve got a pristine collection out on display or you’ve stuffed your once-prized possessions into a cardboard box that’s now turned into a ’90s time capsule, you could be secretly sitting on a gold mine.

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And luckily for you, we’ve done a little digging for you to find out just how much moolah you could potentially net from your vintage ’90s cereal box toys. So, kick back, put on your favorite episode of The Wild Thornberrys and read on to find out which are the most valuable ’90s cereal box toys today. 

Why ’90s Cereal Box Prizes Are Highly Collectible Today

Before we get into all the deets, though, let’s talk about why ’90s cereal box toys are so sought after today. Although you’d be hard-pressed to find toys in cereal boxes today, during the pre-Y2K era of the ’90s, cereal toys were arguably at their heyday. Kids (yours truly included) went feral for these elusive collector’s items, and no matter how quickly the appeal wore off, they were our entire world back then. 

Today, nostalgia-starved millennials have helped spark renewed interest in these long-forgotten relics of the ’90s, and the buzz is driving prices for toys in mint condition to tick steadily upward. The good news is, you can cash in if you’ve got some of the more valuable prizes lying around somewhere.

Related: 6 Store-Bought Ice Cream Treats That Will Transport You Back to the ’90s

The Most Valuable ’90s Cereal Box Toys, Ranked

Mom won’t mind if we raid the attic next weekend, right? Here are the most valuable ’90s cereal box toys today. See if any of the below are in your stash for serious cash. 

1. Kellogg’s Aladdin Magic Color-Changing Spoons

There’s no denying that Aladdin is one of the most magical Disney movies of all time, and if given the chance, we’d love to take our own magic carpet ride. Unfortunately, magic carpets aren’t exactly cereal box-sized. Thankfully, Kellogg’s had a better idea: Magic Color-Changing Spoons. These figural plastic spoons used the magic of thermochromic pigment to change color when they came into contact with cold milk. It was a stroke of marketing genius, and today you can find individual spoons on eBay for upward of $20. By that math, the entire set of four could potentially net you $80. 

2. Kellogg’s Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Mini Busts

The original 1977 Star Wars movie predates some of us millennials by a few years, but most of us remember 1999’s Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. If not for the iconic three-way lightsaber fight scene better known as the “Duel of the Fates” or the introduction of Darth Maul and his epic dual-sided lightsaber, then definitely for the marketing campaign that included Kellogg’s putting mini character busts into boxes of cereal. The collection featured a whopping 10 characters, each turned into a bite-sized statue with facts about it scrawled on a scroll hidden inside. Today, you can find individual characters with the scrolls going for upward of $10, with more complete sets fetching $30 to $50, depending on their condition.

3. Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Wrist Watches View this post on Instagram

It’s a shame that kids these days will never know the joy of enjoying Rice Krispies Treats Cereal or the main character feeling of sporting a Rice Krispies Wrist Watch that you had to mail in your proof of purchase for to get (thanks Mom and Dad). These now highly sought-after timepieces were all the rage in the ’90s, with Kellogg’s stuffing some into specially marked boxes or allowing fans to acquire one by mail. The ones in the box were typically colorful, plastic character watches modeled after the eponymous Snap, Crackle and Pop characters, while the mail-in version was a bit more elevated-looking. Either way, these watches in pristine condition today can go for anywhere between $10 and $40, which is definitely a net positive.

4. Kellogg’s Breakfast Bunch Bean Bag Toys

Although nothing compares to dumping all the cereal out of a bag to find the toy hiding inside, there was something just as exhilarating about mailing off your proof of purchase and then frantically checking the mailbox every day to see if your prize had arrived. And back in the ’90s, these bean bag toys—better known as the Breakfast Bunch—were well worth the wait. Each one was modeled after an iconic Kellogg’s mascot like Tony the Tiger or Toucan Sam. Today, these adorable plushies resale for anywhere between $5 to $30, with more complete sets generating the most cash.

Related: 8 Kitchen Gadgets Every ’90s Mom Had on Her Counter (That Actually Worked Better)

Does Opening the Package Ruin the Toy’s Value?

JRomero04 / Shutterstock.com

Now that you know which toys are the most valuable ones in your collection, you’re probably wondering if they need to be in their original packaging or not to be worth anything. We get it, we weren’t exactly thinking about the resale value of our cereal box toys while we were scarfing down Froot Loops. The good news is that while unopened toys in their original packaging are typically worth more money, you can still sell opened toys for a relatively decent price. Sure, you’ll get a bit more for toys in mint condition, but as long as it’s not totally scuffed up or destroyed, you’ll still walk away with a little extra cash.

How to Appraise and Sell Your Vintage Cereal Toys

Photo by Erik LeFebvre on Unsplash

When it comes to selling your prized collection of cereal box toys, you’ll definitely want to assess their value before you do anything. Although they might hold outsized value to you, nostalgia doesn’t always translate to dollar signs. You can figure out what to price your collection at by finding comparable items in similar condition on eBay or Etsy, then landing on a number. 

You could also take your toys to a pawn shop, although you may not get a fair deal in terms of their actual value. Once you know how much they could potentially sell for, you’ll want to take high-quality photos and upload them to your resale site of choice. Make sure to note any marks or scuffs, as well as any notable features, such as the original packaging or limited-run status. From there, all you have to do is wait for the moolah to start rolling in. 

See, wasn’t that a much-needed and informative break in your day? Now you can doomscroll and make money at the same time! How’s that for multitasking?

Related: Check Your Cabinets: These ’90s Fast-Food Glasses Are Now Worth Hundreds

When Michael Jackson was working on Thriller, producer Quincy Jones wanted the album to have a harder-edged rock sound than Jackson’s previous albums. Jackson had written “Beat It” with a rock sound in mind. A true rock classic needs a standout guitar solo, and Jones knew just the axeman to call when it came time to record the infamous guitar solo in “Beat It.”

By the time Thriller was recorded, Quincy Jones was already a legend in his own time. Jones was one phone call away from the world’s most famous musicians. But when he picked up the phone to call Eddie Van Halen in hopes the guitar legend would help out with the guitar work on “Beat It,” Van Halen first thought the call was a joke. Once he realized he wasn’t on an episode of Candid Camera, Eddie Van Halen agreed to help Michael Jackson’s rock ’n’ roll dreams come true.

A notorious perfectionist on the guitar, Eddie Van Halen didn’t just show up to the studio, play the requested solo and leave. Van Halen reworked the section of “Beat It” where the solo would appear, helping to shape the arrangement before recording the infamous guitar solo.

What resulted was roughly 20 seconds of guitar that became one of the most recognizable instrumental moments in pop music. Giving “Beat It” a re-listen, the guitar solo is classic Eddie Van Halen. Remarkably, Van Halen did it as a favor to Jones. He wasn’t paid for the session and was initially uncredited on the recording at his own request.

Eddie Van Halen Gave “Beat It” Its Rock Edge

What was so remarkable about the collaboration was the contrast. Michael Jackson was one of the biggest pop stars in the world, his voice and style undeniable. Eddie Van Halen was one of the definitive guitar heroes of hard rock. Putting them together could have created a gimmick neither could live down, or an enduring rock anthem revisited for years to come.

The combination worked.

The Grammy Museum has described “Beat It” as Jackson’s trailblazing exploration into rock, with Van Halen’s solo becoming a defining part of the song’s legacy. This crossover wasn’t just an intriguing celebrity pairing. Van Halen’s guitar solo helped bring Jackson’s music to rock audiences while also putting Van Halen’s guitar work in front of an enormous pop audience.

“Beat It” would go on to become one of Michael Jackson’s signature recordings.

Related: 1977 Hit With an Uncredited Joe Walsh Guitar Solo Became an Andy Gibb No. 1 Hit

“Beat It” Became a Michael Jackson Classic

Released in 1983, “Beat It” became a No. 1 hit and won the 1984 Grammy for Record of the Year. Jackson also won Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the song.

But the impact of “Beat It” transcends awards and accolades. “Beat It” became one of the defining songs of the Thriller era, demonstrating that the lines between pop, R&B and rock were far more malleable than they had once seemed.

In an era when music and musicians were often expected to fit into a specific genre, Michael Jackson’s collaboration with Eddie Van Halen showed that music didn’t have to fit into a strict boundary. Michael Jackson was the ultimate pop showman, but audiences quickly embraced his harder rock sound.

Eddie Van Halen Only Performed “Beat It” With Jackson Once

Eddie Van Halen only performed his “Beat It” solo live one time.

In 1984, Eddie Van Halen joined Jackson and his brothers onstage during the Victory Tour in Dallas, Texas. It’s one of the rare live performances where Jackson surrenders the spotlight to another music legend, his enthusiasm clear from the footage.

The moment is a fitting footnote to one of the most unexpected collaborations in music history. Van Halen had quietly contributed one of the most memorable pieces of the studio recording, but for one night, the two legends finally shared the stage.

Eddie Van Halen’s “Beat It” Solo Still Sounds Incredible

“Beat It,” from its infamous opening notes to its endlessly watchable video, was one of the defining songs of the Thriller era.

But more importantly, by recruiting a rock legend like Eddie Van Halen, Michael Jackson created the rare pop-rock crossover anthem that helped his music reach an entirely new audience.

Decades later, the collaboration still feels almost impossible to believe. Michael Jackson and Eddie Van Halen came from two very different musical worlds, yet together they created something that became bigger than either genre.

And that unforgettable guitar solo? It was Eddie Van Halen all along.

Related: The Killers’ 22-Year-Old Hit Spent 512 Weeks on the UK Chart and Still Gives Its Singer Chills

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From casual shopping days to dressy work events, Mary Janes are an easy shoe choice for nearly every season, but they have secured their spot as a reliable fall staple. Ready to handle fluctuating temperatures that come with the transitional season, they offer ample coverage while allowing your feet to breathe. They’re the definition of chic versatility, effortlessly elevating any outfit whether you wear them barefoot or with crew socks or tights for extra warmth. 

@yelle.g

it’s giving school girl?? 🧦

♬ original sound – Nikolcia_08

If you’re looking to add a pair to your fall shoe collection, be sure to snag one that strikes a balance between style and comfort, like these Dream Pairs Mary Jane Heels at Amazon, crafted with phenomenal arch support. Right now, you can score them on sale for a limited time. Normally retailing for $44, they’re now marked down to just $30 in four colors, including black, white, nude, and red. Sizes range from 6 to 11, and shoppers said they fit true to size. 

Dream Pairs Mary Jane Heels, $30 (were $44) at Amazon

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Designed with both comfort and style at the forefront, these Mary Janes add a polished touch to any ensemble and ensure that your feet remain pain-free. Boasting a 1.3-inch block heel, they offer a slight lift, giving you a little extra height while lengthening your legs. However, these shoes don’t sacrifice stability or comfort, so your feet should stay happy all day long. 

Made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), the outsoles are pebbled, offering a non-slip grip to keep you stable on all kinds of surfaces. The insoles and midsoles are made with three layers, featuring latex foam sandwiched between two layers of latex foam that absorb the impact of your steps to reduce the pressure on your feet and joints. The soles have ergonomic arch support, distributing the weight evenly throughout your feet. Additionally, the soles are flexible and bend along with your feet as you move around, preventing you from feeling fatigued or restricted. 

Dream Pairs Mary Jane Heels, $30 (were $44) at Amazon

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Giving them that classic Mary Jane look, these shoes have a strap that spans across the foot bridge, keeping your feet securely in place and doubling as a fun accent. One side of the strap has a button closure while the other is equipped with elastic, giving you the option to slip into these shoes without having to unbutton them. 

Crafted with faux patent leather, these Mary Janes have a glossy finish and a sleek appearance with almond toes and a streamlined silhouette. You can style them with nearly any outfit, ranging from elevated streetwear to elegant dresses. Their block heel dresses up all kinds of attire, giving you a refined and put-together look. 

“I’m a flight attendant, and I can wear these all day,” one reviewer said. “They’re so comfortable, super chic, and the perfect height.” A second shopper called them a “wardrobe staple” and described them as “cute and timeless.” They also mentioned that they didn’t cause any soreness or blisters from the first wear, meaning that they don’t require a break-in period! 

Shop More Deals 

• Dream Pairs Mary Jane Flats, From $29 (were $36) at Amazon
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• Ddxyyds Suede Clogs, From $17 (were $23) at Amazon

Related: Adidas’ Nurse-Approved Sneakers Are ‘Light’ and ‘Comfortable’ for Long Days on Your Feet, Now 40% Off

Whether the forecast calls for clear, sunny skies or a breezy, overcast day, the Dream Pairs Mary Jane Heels are fit for any weather. If you want to be ready for whatever fall has in store, be sure to snag them at Amazon while they’re still on sale for just $30!

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A Coca-Cola commercial doesn’t sound like the obvious starting point for a pop song, but that’s exactly how “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)” began in 1971.

The jingle proved too catchy to stay an ad tune, eventually reaching the charts in versions by both The Hillside Singers and The New Seekers.

While delayed at an Irish airport, Coca-Cola advertising executive Bill Backer watched travelers gather over bottles of Coke, talking and laughing. He grabbed a napkin and jotted down a phrase, “I’d like to buy the world a Coke.”

The phrase became the basis for Coca-Cola’s now-famous “Buy the World a Coke” campaign. Songwriters Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway and Billy Davis worked with Backer to turn it into a song.

Greenaway later recalled that Backer had heard “True Love and Apple Pie,” a record he and Cook had previously written. “[Backer] heard ‘True Love’ and felt the lyric was not suitable for Coke,” Greenaway told Billboard. “He did like the melody” and shared the idea he had while waiting at Shannon Airport.

The song was first recorded as a commercial jingle by The New Seekers, but the group couldn’t appear in the television commercial because of its schedule. The Hillside Singers were brought in to perform the ad on camera instead.

The ad quickly became a sensation. Its image of people from different backgrounds gathering on a hillside to sing about sharing a Coke resonated with viewers, helping make the campaign one of the most recognizable advertisements of the era. 

The jingle’s popularity eventually led the writers to turn it into a full-length pop song. They removed the Coca-Cola references and rewrote it as “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony).”

The Hillside Singers released their version first, and it reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. The New Seekers followed with their own recording, which climbed even higher to No. 7.

Decades later, the song found another audience when the original Coca-Cola campaign was featured in the 2015 series finale of Mad Men. The episode’s closing scene famously reimagined the creation of the “Hilltop” commercial, introducing the 1971 campaign to a new generation.

Related: 1964 Pop Song, First Recorded by Lulu, Launched a 15-Year-Old Singer’s Career

More than six decades after Peter Wolf began his music career, the former J. Geils Band frontman is getting ready for another run of shows.

Wolf has announced six new fall 2026 dates with his longtime backing band, the Midnight Travelers, beginning Nov. 5 in Derry, New Hampshire, and wrapping up with a hometown performance in Boston on Nov. 28. The concerts follow his return to the stage earlier this year after spending more than a year away from touring.

The new dates arrive during a particularly reflective chapter for Wolf.

In 2025, he released Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses, an unconventional memoir filled with stories about the musicians, writers and other figures who shaped his life. Promoting the book kept him away from regular touring, but Wolf returned to performing in February 2026 and continued playing select dates through April.

His fascination with music stretches back to the early 1960s.

Wolf began his career in 1964, years before joining the J. Geils Band, and his formative experiences included seeing the burgeoning folk scene surrounding Bob Dylan in Greenwich Village.

“I was browsing through a record bin one afternoon when I heard a voice that caught my ear from behind the thin half-closed curtain separating the front of the store from the back,” Wolf wrote in his memoir. “I went back toward the curtain to listen more closely, attracted to the unusual style of this voice.”

The voice belonged to Dylan, whose arrival in New York and ascent through that community became an enduring point of reference for Wolf, who later found his own path through rock, blues and R&B.

“The work of all those people I’ve admired so much has defined a lot of my life,” Wolf The Guardian. “Because I was lucky enough to spend so many private moments with them, my mission was to be an observer and to share all that I got to see.”

By 1967, Wolf had joined the J. Geils Band, eventually becoming the charismatic voice behind songs including “Must of Got Lost,” “Love Stinks,” “Freeze-Frame” and the chart-topping “Centerfold.” After leaving the group in the 1983, he built a wide-ranging solo career while continuing to draw on the roots music that had captivated him as a young musician.

His latest shows will pull from both sides of that history.

At an April concert in Detroit, Wolf performed for nearly two and a half hours, mixing selections from his solo catalog with J. Geils Band favorites. The fall itinerary will take him through New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut before concluding at Boston’s Shubert Theatre.

Sixty-two years after beginning his career, Wolf is still returning to the music that first set him in motion. His latest tour adds another chapter to a journey that began amid the folk and rock revolution of the 1960s and continues onstage today.

Related: 1966 Folk Song, Covered by Rod Stewart, Is Still a Powerful Hit 60 Years Later

The Terminator franchise has created some iconic pairings. Arnold and Linda Hamilton. Claire Danes and Nick Stahl. Ed Furlong and Robert Patrick. Seeing two of those faces together again, decades after they chased each other across a screen, is the kind of moment that sends a whole generation straight back to the theater seats of their childhood.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day stars Robert Patrick and Edward Furlong reunited in London, 35 years after the film turned both into icons. Patrick, who played the relentless T-1000, and Furlong, who played a young John Connor, posed together for a photo that Patrick shared with a caption nodding to their onscreen war. “Found John Connor in London. Turns out the T-1000 just needed a plane ticket,” he wrote.

The two crossed paths at For the Love of Sci-Fi, a fan convention at London’s ExCeL, where both were appearing. John Connor was later played by other actors across the franchise, but Furlong’s version remains the one many people picture first.

Found John Connor in London. Turns out the T-1000 just needed a plane ticket 👍🏼@ftloscifi @EdFurlong pic.twitter.com/rEg84EsiYa

— Robert Patrick 🇺🇸 (@robertpatrickT2) August 21, 2026

Fans zeroed in on a detail in the photo almost immediately. Furlong wore a Guns N’ Roses t-shirt, read by many as a deliberate wink at the band’s “You Could Be Mine,” the track that blasted through T2 and became one of the defining songs of the era. The responses ranged were wild, with some fans joking about whether the T-1000 had finally forgiven the boy he was sent to terminate.

Related: Cookie Monster Gets Harrison Ford to Hum the Indiana Jones Theme

Off screen, the two actors took very different paths after the film. Patrick built a long, steady career across television and movies, while Furlong, who was a teenager when T2 made him a household name, stepped back from the spotlight for long stretches. That makes the simple selfie all the more special.

Terminator 2 returns to U.S. theaters on Aug. 28 through Sept. 2 for its 35th anniversary, presented in 4K and 3D by StudioCanal, Fathom Entertainment, and Rialto Pictures. The reissue is timed to the film’s fictional Judgment Day of Aug. 29. James Cameron’s 1991 sequel earned four Academy Awards and grossed more than $500 million worldwide, and it still tops many lists of the greatest action films ever made.

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If you’ve been searching for a quick and affordable way to declutter your bedroom, bathroom, entryway, or living space, Walmart has a smart solution that’s currently on sale for over 30% off. The Gunaito LED 5-Drawer Dresser is now available for just $49, down from $72, in two colors, and it offers ample storage space to stash clothing, toys, linens, accessories, and more. 

The versatile dresser comes in walnut brown and dark black, making it easy to match with any style of decor, from minimalist to farmhouse to mid-century modern. At 16 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 40 inches high, it has a tall, slim frame that’s designed to fit effortlessly in small spaces, including tight corners, narrow hallways, and more.  

Gunaita LED 5-Drawer Dresser, $49 (was $72) at Walmart

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Made with a thickened steel frame, the sturdy dresser has five large fabric drawers ideal for storing clothes, books, towels, and other essentials. Each drawer is constructed of high-quality non-woven material that’s durable and long-lasting, with a sleek round knob that allows for effortless opening and closing. The large wooden top offers additional space to display alarm clocks, candles, and photo frames, while the top shelf has a built-in charging station with two outlets, two USB ports, and a 1.5-millimeter power cord to easily charge up your devices. 

The dresser also features LED lighting with 20 colors and five adjustable speeds, allowing you to set the mood of your room through a mobile app. The lights can sync to your music to create a fun atmosphere, or you can keep them stationary and use them as a handy bedside lamp. Assembly is also simple. It comes with detailed instructions, an anti-tilting device, and adjustable feet to prevent floors from scratches or other damage. 

Related: Walmart’s ‘Roomy’ 3-Drawer Cabinet Is a ‘Beautiful’ Way to Declutter Bedrooms and Entryways

The Gunaita dresser is a Walmart bestseller, with over 750 five-star ratings online. Multiple reviewers praised the “sleek” and “modern” design. One reviewer said it adds “stylish, functional, and easy-to-assemble storage” to any space. Others also highlighted the spacious yet narrow build, calling it “perfect for small rooms.”

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With its clean, simple look, compact frame, and useful built-in features, this LED five-drawer dresser makes a versatile and practical storage solution for any home. Make sure to snag one (or two!) while it’s still on sale for under $50 at Walmart. 

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Today in 1985, Huey Lewis and the News scored their very first No. 1 hit when “The Power of Love” climbed to the top of the Billboard charts. The smash, famously penned for Back to the Future, remains a generational hit over four decades later.

The story behind how the song came to be is almost as iconic as the track itself. Frontman Lewis was approached by filmmakers, including Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, to write a theme song for the film. Initially reluctant (he famously didn’t want to pen something explicitly titled after the movie), Lewis was told he could write anything he wanted.

What came out of that freedom was “The Power of Love,” a high-energy pop-rock track that, notably, doesn’t reference the film’s plot at all. Instead, it leans into universal themes—romance, resilience, and emotional strength—helping it transcend its blockbuster origins.

Related: 1985 Pop Song, Once Spent 22 Weeks Charting, Launched the ‘Queen of the Power Ballad’s Career

“I knew it was a good song, but I didn’t actually think it was going to work for him because it had nothing to do with the movie, ostensibly,” Lewis confessed of the track, per Louder. “It was actually a love song, and Marty McFly had no love interest to speak of. That wasn’t what the movie was about.”

“But they loved it. When I sent the demo, they called back immediately to say it was fabulous. When we actually finished and mixed it, they flew up to see us – I think it was Zemeckis, Michael J. Fox, and a small entourage,” he added.

Released in June 1985, the song quickly became a commercial smash. It soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Aug. 24, marking the band’s first chart-topper in the U.S. And it didn’t stop there. It went on to hit No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart, it became the group’s only Top 10 hit in the UK, and even earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

The track’s success helped cement the band’s dominance in the mid-1980s, a period when they were already riding high off multi-platinum albums and a string of radio staples.

Next, 1986 Powerful Hit, a Cover of Their Own Rock Song, Revived Legendary Band Aerosmith’s Career

Terminator fans got a welcome treat when original star Edward Furlong posed for a photo with his on-screen parents and his enemy, the T-100, in a long-awaited cast reunion.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day was the 1991 sequel installment to the beloved sci-fi franchise by James Cameron. It was the last time Furlong reprised his role as John Connor, alongside Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and villain Robert Patrick.

On Instagram, Patrick shared a cast reunion photo with the caption, “Skynet definitely didn’t have this reunion in the original programming. T2 family back together.”

Seeing the cast back together may have been a blast from the past for fans, as Furlong has been more active in recent years at Comic Cons and special events in relation to some of his most well-known roles. He was only 13-years-old when he starred in the cult classic film and the sequel, as well as beoming one of the ’90s teen hearthrobs.

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The reunion marked a rare moment for Furlong, whose career was disrupted in his early 20s due to alcohol and drug abuse that led him to be unable to return for 2000’s Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Furlong was reported to have entered rehab in October 2000 when he was 23, and initially described his addiction as mostly involving alcohol.

The actor denied having used drugs like heroin and cocaine, but in a 2006 interview, he admitted having used them “on and off” for several years in his mid 20’s.

“When I lost Terminator 3. Oh my God, dude. So much drugs in my life,” Furlong admitted in 2024 on Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum. “That was the contract: They were like, ‘We want you to not do any drugs.’ Whatever, just sign a clause in the contract, no drugs. And it was a sweet deal. It was the best deal that I had ever gotten in my life. For T3, it was like a lot of money, like millions. And I had never made that kind of money. So I called my friends, and I’m like, ‘Guys, I just signed this f‑‑‑ing awesome contract, we’re going to go to the club, we’re going to get a bunch of blow.’”

His night of celebration led the actor to overdose on cocaine and collapse on the floor of the club. As a result, Furlong lost his role in Terminator 3 as they decided, “we’re not going to do it with you.” He admits the ordeal was likely what was best for him, as he entered rehab around the time he lost the role. Since 2025, Furlong has been sober for seven years and returned to the franchise in 2019’s Dark Fate for a facial capture to create a younger version of himself for the film.

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