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‘Hart to Hart’ Stars Robert Wagner, 96, and Stefanie Powers, 83, Reunite and Snuggle up for His Birthday
Hart to Hart was one of the hottest TV shows of the '80s, and its two main stars, Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers, are back together again.
Powers got her start in the entertainment industry in the series The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., and is best known for her role as Jennifer Hart on the classic mystery series. Wagner, who also starred in early series like It Takes a Thief and Switch, continued on TV more recently on Two and a Half Men and NCIS. He also had a successful film career, with roles in the Austin Powers trilogy and several other popular films. He's also widely known as the former husband of Natalie Wood. But the duo made waves on Hart to Hart as a wealthy couple who solve crimes. The series ran from 1979 until 1984, but spawned a series of made-for-TV movies.
These days, the duo occasionally reunites, particularly on Wagner's birthday. The actor recently turned 96, and Powers didn't miss an opportunity to reunite with her old friend.
"When Jonathan and Jennifer reunite, it’s always something special. ❤️ Thank you, Stefanie, for the beautiful birthday visit," Wagner captioned a sweet photo of the duo with their arms wrapped around each other.
View this post on Instagram Powers and Wagner Occasionally ReuniteIn 2024, Powers and her Hart to Hart costar reunited for his 94th birthday. Pictured with her hand on his shoulder as he relaxed in a chair, it’s safe to say that this duo, who starred for five seasons on the beloved ABC mystery series, still have a friendship that’s going strong.
View this post on Instagram Powers Hung Out With a Screen LegendThe gorgeous redhead, who chronicles her activities on social media, met up with legendary star of stage and screen Julie Newmar during a recent fan event. Sporting bright red lips and icy white hair, Newmar is just as glam at 92 as she was in her heyday. Now those are two legends!
“What a treat to see the fabulous Julie Newmar… She is an example to us all of the joy of living… and how beautiful is she!!!” Powers captioned her photo, which shows the duo smiling alongside each other.
View this post on InstagramDunkin’ Has a Cute Freebie in Store for Fans This Week
Dunkin' is all about rewarding its customers this February, or so it would seem.
The revered international coffee chain started the month with free iced coffee and a '90s-style merch drop, which was almost immediately followed by an adorable new winter après-ski-inspired merch collection. Now, Dunkin' plans to give away a hot pink, branded mitten this Friday with select purchases.
Want one? Here's everything we know about Dunkin's free iced mitten promotion—including how to get yours.
Dunkin' Giving Away Free Mitten With Select Purchases This FridayThere's a long-running joke that suggests "true" iced coffee fans drink the ice-cold beverage in all weather conditions, including sub-freezing temperatures, which others find to be just plain wrong.
While it's all in good fun, Dunkin' has a solution for those who prefer not to drink iced beverages in cold weather because they can't bear carrying a cold drink—even if it's just from the pickup window to their cupholder.
Related: Dunkin’s First Big Menu Update of 2026 Taps Into Growing Trend
According to an official statement shared with Parade, on Friday, Feb. 20, participating Dunkin' locations will give away left-handed mittens that are fully insulated and branded with the chain's logo and signature pink colorway. This makes grabbing your iced coffee, cold brew, refresher, or whatever a little less harsh on the hand you use when you roll up to the drive-thru.
"I’ll gladly take it!" one fan wrote in response to the news, calling it "So cute! 💖."
"And it’s pink! 💗💗💗," another celebrated.
Dunkin' Iced Coffee GloveD
"Will it fit in my itsy bitsy teeny weeny Dunkin tote? 🤭," a third joked the limited-time freebie Dunkin' offered last month.
"Wow that good idea the glove," someone else said, suggesting that the chain should have made this available earlier. "But now weather getting bonito 🤔 lol."
"This shouldve been given out in January lol," another agreed.
"Idk why but I want this lol," someone else admitted. Likewise, a different Dunkin' fan joked, "I need it."
A few others were confused about why Dunkin' would only be giving out a single glove instead of a pair, and while the whole drive-thru explanation makes sense as a marketing campaign, some fans think it's "useless." Still, others argued the contrary, with a few left-handed folk entering the chat to say they're keeping the single mitten.
"Im a lefty and like to drink cold bevs outside," one shared. "I’ll be keeping this one."
"It’s a collectible folks, when they gave the donut bag out, it held a donut not ur groceries," someone else teased.
@abumalik814Free left handed mitten with purchase of any Iced Beverage @Dunkin' 2/20/26 #free #dunkin #coffee #fyp #viral
♬ BOOM - TiestoWhether you're left-handed or a frequent drive-thru customer, those interested in the collectible keepsake should plan to be at Dunkin' at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, when the first customers to order an iced coffee (or any iced beverage) will receive a free iced coffee mitten while supplies last.
Next: Chick-fil-A Breakfast Menu Staple From 1986 Is Free for a Limited Time
Nicole Curtis Breaks Silence After Backlash, Defends HGTV Career Impact in Emotional Post
Days after backlash erupted over a resurfaced video clip, HGTV star Nicole Curtis is speaking out, defending the impact of her long-running renovation work while calling for “human connection” instead of online division.
An old clip resurfaced showing Curtis using a racial slur while filming Rehab Addict — a moment she had previously asked producers to delete. After the footage reemerged, backlash was swift, with fans expressing outrage, and HGTV ultimately canceled her show and removed past episodes from its platform.
Curtis quickly issued an apology, saying that the slur was not something she typically says, adding, “I want to be clear: the word in question is wrong and not part of my vocabulary and never has been, and I apologize to everyone," she wrote at the time.
Days later, Curtis returned to Instagram with an emotional statement defending her work, highlighting the show’s community impact, and addressing the controversy. She cited "so many moments of kindness have come my way this week via my amazing family, my friends, my neighbors, my fans, our city leaders & A lot of folks that were in my DMs who chose to have calls with me to find a pathway of understanding in all of this."
Nicole CurtisCurtis said Rehab Addict "brought approx 20 million dollars into distressed neighborhoods between Minneapolis and Detroit (even 6 episodes in Akron (Lebron work)saved so many historic properties, inspired saving of so many more and most importantly, to us we’ve raised money, awareness & change for pediatric cancer, military veterans, school programs, animal rescue, elderly (to name a few) as we’ve always said -you never have a bad day helping others and giving your time to those who need it."
Along with her small crew, Curtis recalled how she and her team continued their renovation work independently without network backing, emphasizing their commitment to preserving historic homes. She urged followers to move past online hostility, calling for empathy, real conversation, and respect, while condemning hateful behavior carried out in her name.
She ended her post with a comment to dispel misinformation spread. "Four years ago -I was not contracted to any network or show. (think free agent in sports) Any crew hired, paid by me, the footage is mine. My crew didn’t steal my footage. I don’t have “sets”. I own all my properties. In other words, no one is my “boss”, I’m the boss. I create product & sell the rights of it & my likeness for limited contracted use. Someone personal (not crew) had access, demanded $, I didn’t pay-here we are."
Lindsey Vonn Suffers Absolutely Devastating Loss After Her Olympic Crash
Skier Lindsey Vonn is going through such a trying time in her life after first tearing her ACL after losing control of a jump in Switzerland on January 30 -- and then subsequently crashing during her downhill skiing run at the Winter Olympics on February 8. The incident resulted in a major tibia fracture requiring multiple surgeries.
She's been open and honest about her ongoing struggle, and on February 18, she revealed that she's experienced much more devastation over the past few weeks than anyone initially realized.
Sadly, her beloved dog Leo died, and as she explained in a new Instagram post, it happened just after her crash.
"The day I crashed, so did Leo. He had been recently diagnosed with lung cancer (he survived lymphoma a year and a half ago) but now his heart was failing him. He was in pain and his body could no longer keep up with his strong mind."
View this post on InstagramVonn continued the post with a heartbreaking tribute to her fur baby:
"As I laid in my hospital bed the day after my crash, we said goodbye to my big boy. I had lost so much that meant something to me in such a short amount of time. I can’t believe it. My boy has been with me since my second ACL injury, when I needed him most. He held me on the sofa as I watched the Sochi Olympics. He lifted me up when I was down. He laid by me, and cuddled me, always making me feel safe and loved. We have been through so much together in 13 years."
Condolences and prayers are pouring in from Vonn's followers.
The Instagram account @magnusthetherapydog said, "So sorry for your loss. Heartbreaking 💔"
Another person added, "Ohhhhh sweet baby! My doggies are there to play and welcome your baby ☺️🙏🐶💖"
And someone else said, "So sorry 😞 he is with you 🙏✨🐾… you are going to come through this with his guardianship from heaven. Much love and healing prayers 🙏"
Related: Lindsey Vonn Breaks Her Silence After Olympic Crash: 'Life Is Too Short'
Making the loss of Leo even more painful is the fact that Vonn lost another dog, Lucy, in March of last year. When Lucy crossed the Rainbow Bridge, Vonn said, "Nine years ago, she came into my life, and from the very first moment until the very last, she brought so much light and love to me and everyone she met. We traveled the world together, skied, hiked, biked, explored, went down waterfalls, up in air balloons, to the Olympics… we went on SO many incredible adventures together, and created so many memories that I am beyond lucky to have shared with her."
Her third dog was adopted in August of 2025, Chance, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
View this post on InstagramLeo will be so missed, and everyone's hearts go out to Vonn. Hopefully, she will find comfort in the wonderful memories they shared together.
Walmart’s $74 Lift-Top Coffee Table Is the Ultimate Small-Space Storage Hack
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When you’re decorating a small living space, every piece of furniture needs to earn its spot. The best choices are the ones that do double-duty, like an ottoman with hidden storage or a sleeper sofa that’s always guest-ready. Instead of cluttering your space with extra furniture, you can choose smarter designs that work harder for you.
A great example is the Galaxhero Lift-Top Coffee Table. This piece combines everyday function with built-in storage, making it ideal for apartments and smaller living rooms. Right now, it’s on sale for 51% off at Walmart, bringing the price down from $150 to just $74. Compared to similar lift-top tables on the market, that’s a seriously value-packed deal.
Galaxhero Lift-Top Coffee Table, From $74 (was $150) at WalmartCourtesy of Walmart
The table comes in three neutral shades, so it’s easy to coordinate with your existing decor. Its lift-top mechanism is designed for smooth, soft opening and closing, with a quiet, shock-absorbing function that feels secure and safe. The tabletop raises from 17.3 inches to 23.2 inches in height, giving you a more comfortable surface for working or dining. When closed, it supports up to 200 pounds thanks to its sturdy MDF construction and wide wooden legs.
Measuring 38.6 inches long, it’s compact enough to fit well in tight spaces without sacrificing surface area. It’s especially useful if your living room doubles as a work-from-home setup or casual dining area. With the lift-top feature, you can easily transition from coffee-table mode to laptop-friendly desk height in seconds.
Related: Walmart's $90 6-Drawer Modern Farmhouse Dresser Offers 'Just the Right Amount of Storage'
Storage is where this piece really stands out. It features a large hidden compartment beneath the lift-top surface, along with two open shelves and a drawer for multi-zone organization. You can tuck away board games, remotes, candles, magazines, and other daily essentials to keep your space looking neat. Everything stays within reach but out of sight.
This coffee table has a four-star rating from over 100 reviews. One reviewer said it offers a “great place to hide all of the things you use on a daily basis but don't want lying around.” Another noted it “was not very difficult to put together,” adding that “it is extremely sturdy and looks great.”
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If you’re searching for a coffee table that truly does it all, the Galaxhero Lift-Top Coffee Table is a smart pick. With Walmart’s current 51% discount, you can save $76 and upgrade your living space with a functional, space-saving piece that makes everyday life a little easier.
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.
1977 Hit Ranked 'Best Rock Song' of the '70s
The rock scene in the 1970s was defined by its notable diversity, spanning the emergence of hard rock and heavy metal, the theatrical spectacle of glam rock and not to mention the rise of punk rock in the mid-to late ‘70s.
As a result, the era produced remarkable bands that still remain influential to this day. These include legendary acts like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Ramones and The Sex Pistols and key figures such as Freddie Mercury, Stevie Nicks, Ozzy Osbourne and more.
However, when it comes to the quintessential anthem of the era, David Bowie’s song “Heroes” stands as one of the greatest rock songs of the 1970s, as ranked by Collider.
In a list reported by the publication, it described the 1977 track as “Bowie’s defining song” and the singer-songwriter’s exceptional work.
David Bowie On Set of "Jump They Say" Music Video, in Los Angeles California, circa March 1993.“Heroes” is the title song of his twelfth studio album and his second album in his "Berlin Trilogy."
Co-written by the music legend and Brian Eno, the song was sparked by a significant moment as he gazed out of Hansa Studio's window and saw a couple kissing beside the Berlin Wall.
“I always said it was a couple of lovers by the Wall that prompted the idea for Heroes,” the late musician told Classic Rock in 2015, as cited by Louder Sound. He later revealed that the couple he mentioned was the renowned record producer Tony Visconti.
“Actually, it was [Bowie producer] Tony Visconti and his girlfriend,” he told the outlet, adding, “Tony was married at the time, so I couldn’t talk about it. But I can now say that the lovers were Tony and a German girl [Antonia Maass] that he’d met while we were in Berlin. I think possibly his marriage was in the last few months. And it was very touching because I could see that Tony was very much in love with this girl, and it was that relationship which sort of motivated the song.”
Upon its release, “Heroes” peaked at No. 24 in the U.K. Singles Chart and re-entered the rankings following his death in 2016, reaching a new peak at No. 12.
After a decade, it returned to multiple U.K. charts, even climbing to No. 34 on the Official Singles chart. This was driven by the song’s feature in the Stranger Thingsseason finale.
Related: David Bowie's Childhood Home Set To Open as Public Exhibit
As 'Star Trek' Nears 60, Showrunners Say It Must 'Bring Something Back'—Here’s What They Mean
Star Trek has long embraced the belief that we can do better, even when the world insists otherwise. And as the franchise nears its 60th anniversary, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is making that idea its driving force. As described, it's a new generation stepping into a future they didn’t break, but still have to fix.
In a MovieWeb interview by Joe Deckelmeier, showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau described Starfleet Academy as a series built on the emotional reality young people are living with right now. 'Star Trek always reflects a moment, right?' Kurtzman said. 'And the moment that we’re dealing with right now is a generation that’s inheriting a very divided world.' The cadets at the heart of the show are 'inheriting a broken world that they didn’t create,' as Scott put it.
Then she added what she thinks is the key to Trek. ‘In the best tradition of Star Trek,’ she said,’ ‘we need to carry the mantle into the future and bring that optimism back.’
Kurtzman didn’t hesitate: 'Absolutely, 100%.'
Kurtzman explained that if you’re going to tell a story about young characters, it has to follow Trek’s long tradition of allegory: 'In the best tradition of Star Trek, it better be allegorical and it better mirror what’s going on now.' The challenge for these new cadets is deciding what Starfleet should mean in a fractured era. 'This idea that they have to carry the mantle into the future and bring that optimism back felt extremely topical,' he said.
Related: 'Star Trek’ Actor on a Career He Never Wanted: ‘I Was Pushed Into Acting’
Landau, stepping into a universe with six decades of canon, said her personal rule was to protect the feeling of Trek while still expanding what it can be. 'Everything I’ve learned as a writer and about storytelling really comes from Star Trek,' she said, but she also wanted to 'push forward what is possible in Trek,' whether that meant 'an episode that feels stylistically bold' or 'doing something with a character we’ve never done before.' Representation, she added, was foundational to Gene Roddenberry’s original vision, and it remains a priority to 'continue to do that to push that forward.'
Oh, and that moment in a recent episode that fans have been buzzing about? Scott asked about the audio tied to Avery Brooks in Episode 5. Kurtzman and Landau confirmed it wasn’t pulled from Deep Space Nine, and it wasn’t newly recorded dialogue either. With Brooks’ permission, they used 'a piece of spoken word poetry that he recorded himself,' Landau said.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is streaming exclusively on Paramount+. Season 1 premiered January 15, 2026, dropped two episodes on launch day, and continues with weekly Thursday releases through March 12, 2026.
1942 Hit That Became the Best-Selling Physical Single Was Recorded in Just 18 Minutes
Bing Crosby’s "White Christmas" is one of the most recognizable holiday songs. Aside from being a staple on any Christmas musicplaylist, the song holds a very impressive record. The song has sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide and it holds the Guinness World Record as the best-selling physical single of all time.
Written by the iconic Irving Berlin, "White Christmas" was recorded in just 18 minutes.
"I just wrote the best song I've ever written – heck, I just wrote the best song that anybody's ever written," Berlin said of the song, according to the Guinness World Records website.
Folks first heard the track in the movie "White Christmas," which was released in July 1942. The song was No. 1 on the National List of Best-Selling Retail Records chart and it made the Billboard Hot 100 in October of that year.
"White Christmas" saw 50,000,000 units sold, which earned its spot in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2012.
"With all of these other memories that people have of Christmas, whether it's being piped in while you're shopping, or it's playing on the radio in the car as you're driving to visit family — it's easy to kind of separate it from its history. People develop new memories with it. People have their own ideas of what the song represents, so it's just incredibly complex," scholar Brynn Shiovitz told NPR of the song.
"White Christmas" is still popular decades after its released. In fact, the song found itself on Spotify's Top 20 most listened to Christmas songs globally, landing at No. 14 on the list.
READ NEXT: 1997 Hit Ranked Greatest Mainstream Rock Song of All Time
‘DWTS’ Pro Shares 'Happiest Day of My Life'—And the Story Behind It
A Dancing with the Stars pro shared news of the "happiest day of my life" and the story behind it in a new Instagram post.
Sasha Farber, who competed on the celebrity dance series from 2013 through 2024, posted a family photo marking a long-awaited milestone. The image captured a deeply meaningful moment for the professional dancer and his loved ones.
Farber wrote, "Today is the happiest day of my life!!! My parents have officially moved to America to be with us." The dancer's mother and father previously lived in Sydney, Australia. The photo includes Farber's sister, Svetlana Shapshal.
The dance pro’s friends and followers flooded the post with congratulations, celebrating the family’s reunion. Many fans commented on how touching it was to see the dancer finally together with his parents in the U.S.
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View this post on InstagramFarber's fellow Dancing with the Stars pros were the first to share their delight at the post. Their joy was infectious.
Peta Murgatroyd wrote, "The best news ever. Can't wait to have a BBQ!" Her husband, Maks Chmerkovskiy, added a series of red emoji hearts.
RELATED: Robert Irwin Keeps ‘Bachelor’ Buzz Going After ‘DWTS’ Victory
Pasha Pashkov penned, "The best news. Congrats! Welcome!" Farber's ex-wife, Emma Slater, also shared her joy, writing, "OMG YESSSSS!!!!!! Congratulations, let’s go!!!!!!!!"
Fans also expressed their happiness for the beloved pro's family reunion. "Amazing Sash! What a big move. So glad you're all together," wrote one fan.
"I love this!!!! Welcome to America," noted a second follower. A third posted, "Sasha! I am so happy for you! You have awaited this moment for so long. I'm so glad it's finally here. May they enjoy every day of their new life here!"
View this post on InstagramIn a follow-up Instagram post, Farber shared a photo with his father, Michael. He captioned the snapshot, "I've waited a long time for this moment," following it with the hashtag #family.
Sasha Farber is still very much part of the Dancing with the Stars family. Although he hasn’t appeared as a pro in the past two seasons, pros aren’t finalized until just weeks before the cast is announced, leaving open the possibility he could return for the next season.
Keurig Dr Pepper Just Confirmed the Return of 4 Beloved Sodas
This year is proving to be the year to be a fan of Keurig Dr Pepper and its portfolio of soda pop.
The beverage titan has already started the year off strong with several licensing agreements, including the release of the all-new "one-of-a-kind" Dr Pepper Dippin' Dots and highly anticipated Dr Pepper Tic Tacs.
Now, in an even sweeter twist, Keurig Dr Pepper has officially unveiled the timeline in which fans can expect to see several returning favorites from Canada Dry, Dr Pepper and 7UP on shelves—and it's all happening relatively soon.
Keurig Dr Pepper Reveals 2026 Soda Flavor Lineup—Here's When to Expect Those Returning Faves on ShelvesOn Wednesday, Keurig Dr Pepper officially announced it's bringing back Dr Pepper Creamy Coconut and 7UP Shirley Temple at different points this year. According to a press release shared with Parade, all three returning soft drinks will once again be available as limited-time offers, along with newcomer A&W Root Beer Float.
A&W Root Beer FloatAnother A&W Root Beer dessert spinoff is heading our way! Last year, A&W debuted an ice cream sundae flavor (which actually first surfaced online in late 2024, a full four months before its release) thanks to some overly excited fans. Those same people will likely be pleased to know that a new soda inspired by another ice cream treat (a root beer soda float) will be available for a limited time in both full and zero sugar flavors beginning in July.
Related: Dr Pepper Launches New Merch, Exclusive Store: ‘A Fresh Take’
Canada Dry Fruit Splash StrawberryCanada Dry Fruit Splash Strawberry is also making a big comeback—this time, sold on its own for the first time ever. The fruity favorite first debuted in the summer edition variety packs sold at Sam's Club, and it was so good that some fans admitted to stockpiling the multipack just for this flavor. But all that changes this month, as the ginger ale recipe featuring a splash of strawberry juice is launching nationwide, permanently, as a regular and sugar-free soda.
Dr Pepper Creamy CoconutA few weeks from now, Dr Pepper fans will once again find the creamy, coconut-flavored beverage originally released as a summer 2024 exclusive, but has been so popular that the brand has had to bring it back two years in a row. Many fans compare the soda to Almond Joy candy with "distinctive" Dr Pepper flavors, and it will be available in full and zero sugar options beginning this April.
7UP Shirley Temple and 7UP Endless Summer Mandarin OrangeRounding out the sodas are two returning favorites from 7UP: Shirley Temple and Endless Summer. This year's Endless Summer is launching with a new citrus-forward flavor profile featuring a "bright" mix of mandarin and classic lemon-lime. It's expected to return as a seasonal flavor ahead of the summer. While no exact release date was shared, last year's Endless Summer (a watermelon variety) was spotted on shelves in April, so we would expect the same this year. That said, it is exclusive to Kroger.
Finally, 7UP Shirley Temple will once again be available as a winter holiday exclusive.
Which Keurig Dr Pepper soda flavor are you most excited for this year? Let us know in the comments!
Next: Pepsi’s 2 New Modern Soda Flavors Are Heading to Stores Now
Dunkin's Unexpected New Collaboration Is Perfect for Chocolate Lovers
Dunkin' knows the way to America's heart, but its latest collaboration is specifically focusing on brownie lovers.
The coffee and donut chain is teaming up with Brownie Brittle, the original crunchy brownie snack.
The collaboration features two crave-worthy new flavors inspired by Dunkin' favorites—Dunkin’ Sprinkled Donut Blondie Brittle and Dunkin’ Mocha Latte Brownie Brittle.
Think brownie flavors mixed with coffee flavors, wrapped up in a "thin," "crispy" and "crunchy" snack that's perfect for those looking for a quick pick-me-up on-the-go.
Dunkin X Brownie Brittle—Tell Me More!"Brownie Brittle Blondie has been reimagined with inspiration from Dunkin’s iconic Sprinkled Donut, delivering classic donut flavor in every crisp, crunchy bite. Bursting with sweetness and colorful sprinkles, it brings familiar donut joy to the snackably thin format fans already love," the press release shared with Parade notes.
As for the Mocha Latte flavor, "Brownie Brittle’s signature edge-of-the-pan crunch meets the bold, energizing flavor of Dunkin’s fan-favorite Mocha Latte. Infused with espresso-flavored morsels, this rich, chocolatey snack is crafted for coffee lovers and sweet-snack enthusiasts alike."
Dunkin' Brownie Brittle Press Release
It will be available in 4 oz and 2.25 oz pouches, and makes for the perfect complement to your morning cuppa. There's plenty of versatility, too, as it also doubles as a delicious topping sprinkled over ice cream or yogurt!
The addition is a perfect fit to Brownie Brittle's existing lineup of flavors, which give fans a taste of the "crispy edge of fresh-baked brownie" in an "entire bag full" of delicious pieces.
In addition to chocolate chip, current flavors also include salted caramel, toffee crunch and a partnership with M&Ms.
Fans can get their hands on the collab in the snack aisles at select retailers nationwide or online at BrownieBrittle.com.
Dunkin's Love for Brownie FlavorsThe collaboration is going to be especially indulgent for those who wait all year for the return of the beloved Brownie Batter flavor.
The Valentine’s Day treat is a heart-shaped donut filled with brownie batter-flavored butter crème and topped with chocolate icing and red, pink and white sprinkles, which officially made its way back to menus on Jan. 28 for a limited time.
Dunkin' has been staying on top of keeping its menu fresh, tapping into a growing trend of added protein, including a new Protein Milk and a limited-time collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion.
For Valentine's Day, the franchise also debuted a limited-time menu “made for sweet cravings," including items like Toxic Ex-Presso Cloud Latte and Sweet On You Cloud Latte.
No. 1 Hit Song of 1976 Was Music Legend’s Clever Response to Critics
In 1976, Paul McCartney was flying high with his band Wings. The post-Beatles band, which featured McCartney and his wife, Linda, as well as bandmates Denny Laine and Denny Seiwell, recorded the hits “My Love,” “Live and Let Die,” “Jet,” and “Band on the Run.” In 1976, Wings hit gold with the single “Silly Love Songs.”
The song, penned by McCartney and his wife, appeared on the 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound. Released on April 1, 1976, “Silly Love Songs” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 22, 1976, and remained there for five weeks. The song charted on the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 weeks and ranked as the No. 1 song of 1976 on Billboard’s year-end chart.
John Lennon criticized some of McCartney’s songwritingWhile McCartney and his Beatles bandmate John Lennon were one of the greatest songwriting duos of all time, Lennon wasn’t always a fan of McCartney’s songwriting.
In a 1980 interview with writer David Sheff, Lennon claimed McCartney tried to copy Simon & Garfunkel with some of his work. Of the song “Let it Be,” Lennon complained, “That's Paul. What can you say? Nothing to do with The Beatles. It could've been Wings. I don't know what he's thinking when he writes 'Let It Be'."
“I think it was inspired by ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters [sic],’” Lennon added in the interview, per American Songwriter. “That’s my feeling …I know he wanted to write a ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
RELATED: The Monkees ‘Best Song of All Time’ Became a No. 1 Hit Twice
Paul McCartney fired back with a hit songIn the 2021 book The Lyrics, McCartney called out criticism of his songwriting, most notably love songs, as he defended "Silly Love Songs."
“There were accusations in the mid-1970s, including one from John, that I was just writing ‘silly love songs,'" McCartney wrote. “I suppose the idea was that I should be a bit tougher, a bit more worldly. But then I suddenly realized, that’s exactly what love is. It’s worldly. ‘Some people want to fill the world/With silly love songs’. I’d been given that reputation, and I had to stand up for it.”
McCartney added that he refused to abandon songs about love because he was lucky enough to have found love in his life.
McCartney also spoke about the criticism he received in an interview with Billboard. “Over the years, people have said, ‘Aw, he sings love songs, he writes love songs, he’s so soppy at times,’” he shared in 2001. “I thought, Well, I know what they mean, but, people have been doing love songs forever. I like ’em, other people like ’em, and there’s a lot of people I love — I’m lucky enough to have that in my life. So the idea was that 'you' may call them silly, but what’s wrong with that?”
“The song was, in a way, to answer people who just accuse me of being soppy,” he explained. “The nice payoff now is that a lot of the people I meet who are at the age where they’ve just got a couple of kids and have grown up a bit, settling down, they’ll say to me, 'I thought you were really soppy for years, but I get it now! I see what you were doing!’”
Amazon Has 'Very Soft' Fleece Sweatpants on Sale for $12, and They Come in 12 Colors
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Fruit of the Loom has been providing some of the most reliable basics for over 170 years at this point, and the label still has some of the best you can get. These sweats are no exception, and they’re a steal on Amazon at the moment.
The $19 Fruit of the Loom Eversoft Sweatpants are down to just $12 at Amazon. Out of the 12 colorways that currently have healthy stock, shoppers will find that most are discounted to the lowest price, while others now between $13 and $29.
Fruit of the Loom Eversoft Sweatpants, From $12 (were $19) at AmazonBuilt for everyday wear, these sweats are crafted with a 60/40 cotton polyester blend (Fruit of the Loom’s in-house EverSoft fabric) that stays soft even after tons of washes. An elastic waistband and quick-cord drawstring give you a custom fit, and the banded cuffs lock in heat. On the sides, you get deep hand pockets for essentials, and the double-needle stitching adds durability.
The most helpful reviewer ended up grabbing these for a Halloween costume, but loved them so much because “the fabric material is comfy and soft,” and ended up using them after they dressed up. Even at this price range, the quality you’re getting is solid, confirmed by one shopper who wrote, “The quality is more than I expected.” As for the comfort, another reviewer commented that the pants are “very soft and comfortable.”
Related: Amazon Is Selling a 'Dainty' Swarovski Crystal Necklace for Just $59
While these are technically men’s sweatpants, they really don’t differ much from the women’s version, and you can just size down if you prefer a more snug fit. One woman who picked these up wrote, “Honestly, these are my new go-to pants for everything — cozy, cute, and practical!” She also said that she loves how roomy the pockets are, as they actually have enough room to hold your phone without it falling out.
Simple yet still high quality, the Fruit of the Loom Eversoft Sweatpants are ready to go for just $12. Stock looks solid now, but these deals tend to sell out quickly, so you should grab a pair that fits while you still can.
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7 Signs You Need To Set Boundaries With Your Adult Child, According to a Psychologist
Setting boundaries can be hard enough as is, especially if you’re a people-pleaser. You might feel guilty for saying “no” or worry that boundaries will push people away.
When it comes to dealing with adult children, setting emotional perimeters can be uniquely difficult; it might feel “weird,” new or confusing. How much “should” you be involved in their life? How much do you want to be, and will that work for them? Further, the question is not only about how to set firm and fair boundaries, but how to do so with someone who is both an adult and your child. Knowing helpful phrases to use with adult children can help, but that knowledge is far from the only thing needed.
There’s also the matter of grown-up kids needing—but not asking for—things from their parents and grandparents. You may worry about them coming to you even less if you set relational expectations with them. You might be concerned about potentially driving them away or hurting their feelings. How can you set personal limits while managing all of those other concerns?
Don’t worry: A psychologist will answer those questions ahead with tips and specifics. But first, let’s discuss the seven signs you need to set boundaries with an adult child. That’s the first step, and—let’s be real—it can also be half the battle.
Related: 9 Things To Do if Your Adult Child Lives at Home, According to Psychologists
If you’re a parent who’s struggled with your adult child, you’re not alone. The need to set boundaries with them doesn’t mean that anything is “wrong.” Tricky situations can arise between you and your kid when they become an adult, and interestingly, those situations may not be as new or “out of the blue” as they seem.
“Boundary struggles with adult children are not new problems,” saysDr. Rosenna Bakari, PhD, a psychologist, educator, empowerment expert and author of Seven Exits: Leave Behind What No Longer Serves You. “They are old relational patterns becoming more visible when the child reaches adulthood.”
Again, that doesn’t mean you were a “bad” parent by any means; in fact, perhaps the opposite.
“What feels supportive in child-rearing can feel burdensome in relationship to adult children,” Dr. Bakari continues.
Maskot/Getty Images
She shares a few examples that can unintentionally slow the development of independence, such as over-investing emotional support, financial help, relational guidance, constant availability and conflict management.
“The lens is not about blaming parents,” she clarifies. “It is about restoring parental agency. When parents release the emotional contract that says, ‘I must always protect you from struggle,’ they create space for their children to develop confidence, responsibility and self-direction.”
Related: Therapists Are Begging You To Remember This 1 Thing About Boundaries
If you notice any of the following signs, Dr. Bakari believes that it “usually means the relationship is still operating under an outdated emotional contract that worked in child-rearing but is no longer fit for parenting adults” and that “the relationship needs to be restructured for adulthood.”
Without further ado, she shares those seven signs.
Healthy communication is easier said than done, and “mistakes” are normal. However, if the parent or adult child guilt-trips the other (consciously or unconsciously) to influence decisions, gain compliance or avoid conflict, a boundary may be needed.
“It signals that the relationship is still organized around obligation rather than mutual respect and adult choice,” Dr. Bakari explains.
Does helping your offspring financially cause tension with your spouse, budget, adult child or even within yourself? That’s another clear sign.
“Support that destabilizes the parent’s well-being is a sign that the emotional contract has not yet shifted toward independence,” Dr. Bakari says.
Adult children may get used to you being available for them 24/7, and that may not be the case for you anymore.
“When time is automatic, the relationship is still functioning in a childhood pattern,” Dr. Bakari says. “Adult relationships require consent and coordination.”
Related: 9 Things Boomers Do That Drive Their Adult Children Away, Psychologists Reveal
The amount of time and emotional bandwidth you give a child can lessen, to some extent, as they age. While that can be a learning curve, it’s worth it.
“A relationship that consumes emotional space meant for many connections can unintentionally prevent growth on both sides,” Dr. Bakari states.
If your focus on your adult child interferes with your friendships, marriage, work or personal growth, she suggests setting a boundary.
Do disagreements lead to demands, social withdrawal and unresolved tension? That’s a concern, too. Dr. Bakari explains what could be happening behind the scenes.
“When love has been expressed through sacrifice or performance in childhood, conflict in adulthood can feel like a threat to connection rather than a moment for negotiation,” she shares.
That’s where the helpfulness of setting relational limits comes in.
“Boundaries help shift love from performance to mutual respect,” she says.
Maybe you’ve set perimeters before, but you haven’t been able to uphold them. You accept things that you said you wouldn’t. If that’s the case, firmer boundaries may be needed.
“When boundaries are inconsistent, the relationship stays organized around pressure rather than respect,” Dr. Bakari says.
While it may seem counterintuitive, setting boundaries improves relationships.
If approval feels like love and disapproval feels like failure, setting boundaries with your adult child may be helpful.
“Boundaries become impossible when love is something to prove,” Dr. Bakari notes. “Independence grows when love is something both people can trust.”
Related: 6 ‘Mirroring’ Phrases That Will Help You Instantly Connect With Others, According to Psychologists
So you’ve recognized some of those signs, and you’re gearing up for the hard part: actually having the conversation where you set fair boundaries. Dr. Bakari encourages framing the conversation around the parent’s growth rather than the adult child’s behavior.
“A boundary conversation is not an accusation or a critique,” she says. “It is a statement of personal development.”
Further, she recommends framing these limits and expectations as self-direction rather than rejection, starting with something like this: “I’ve been reflecting on how I want to live this next stage of my life, and I'm making some changes in how I use my time, energy and resources. You may notice that I have less emotional availability, less financial involvement and more structure around my time.”
“When boundaries are introduced in this way, they honor both the parents' agency and the adult child’s capacity for independence,” she explains.
Related: 8 Habits To Start With Your Adult Kids That Will Transform Your Relationship, According to Psychologists
When it comes to setting boundaries, you must prepare yourself to both set and uphold them. Dr. Bakari explains what can help.
1. Set boundaries with yourself firstBefore setting a boundary with your adult child, examine your role. How has the relationship been managed so far? What are you ready to release?
“This includes being honest about emotional patterns around guilt, fear, anger or regret,” Dr. Bakari says. “Boundaries that are driven by unresolved emotion are difficult to sustain.”
She also suggests clarifying what you need the perimeters to be, which ones you can uphold and how (ideally) it’ll empower rather than punish you.
“Self-clarity is the foundation of mutual respect,” she adds.
Maintaining a boundary can sometimes be harder than setting it, so Dr. Bakari encourages finding support.
“Once boundaries are set, parents need reinforcement just as much as their children need adjustment time,” she says.
She recommends turning to a partner, trusted friend, coach or therapist who can remind you of your intentions when guilt or pressure arises.
Remember: You’re allowed to set interpersonal limits with your adult child. In fact, it can be a good and necessary thing, even if and when you need support doing so.
“Boundaries are not maintained through willpower alone,” she notes. “They are sustained through accountability and encouragement… They are about allowing the relationship to grow up.”
Up Next:
- Dr. Rosenna Bakari, PhD, is a psychologist, educator, empowerment expert and author of Seven Exits: Leave Behind What No Longer Serves You.
'Survivor's Mount Rushmore: The Legends Who Built a 50-Season Legacy (Exclusive)
Across 26 years and 50 seasons, a total of 751 players left the creature comforts of the modern world behind to play on Survivor. Their goal: To go on a life-changing adventure, test themselves in more physical and emotional ways than they could have ever imagined, and maybe stab some backs on the way to a million dollars. And with hundreds of castaways, including the 24 who make up the cast of the iconic CBS reality show’s 50th season, premiering Feb. 25, it would prove impossible on paper to pick who makes up the creme de la creme. In actuality, though, it’s as simple as A, B, C.
Or, in this case, P, R, S, T.
Parvati Shallow. Boston Rob Mariano. Sandra Diaz-Twine. Tony Vlachos. They’ve spent a combined 534 days starving and scheming. Between them, they’ve taken home the Sole of Survivor seven times, winning millions of dollars in the process. They’ve worked both with and against one another, most recently in Survivor’s epic anniversary season Winners at War. They all spent the past few years making a very different flight out to Scotland, putting their observation and betrayal skills to the test on The Traitors.
Perhaps more important than the prize, however, is the legacy. Four people who, in their own very different ways, served as the bamboo floor of Survivor’s metaphoric shelter, showcasing to production, players and fans everything Survivor can offer you, in both its skills and surprises.
Check out what Boston Rob, Sandra, Parvati and Tony have to say about their Survivor journeys, as well as the legacy of the show. And be sure to check out our individual features on each player, including exclusive insights and never-before-heard stories, linked below.
🔥Don’t miss our weekly Survivor newsletter! Sign up to get Mike Bloom’s exclusive interviews with the players and the latest news about the show right to your inbox.🔥
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While Survivor has sported 751 different castaways to date, if you were asked to pick one that the show is most synonymous with, you'd be hard-pressed not to pick Boston Rob. When he started his reality TV career back in the spring of 2002, he was a cocky construction worker who became quickly humbled when he traveled from the biting winter in Boston to the sweltering heat of the Marquesan Islands. But he quickly adjusted to the temperatures and began to change the climate of the show with his cutthroat, unorthodox gameplay.
“That first season I played, I really do think I understood the strategy of the game better than even the producers at that point,” the 50-year-old tells Parade. “I understood that you had to get to the end, and how would you get there and still get the votes? I think, like my psychology background, and knowing that it was a numbers game, and knowing how to manipulate not only the numbers, but the people, and treat the people almost like chess pieces, was something that they hadn't seen before."
Despite getting voted out a little over halfway through the game, Boston Rob made such an impression that he came back for Survivor's first-ever "all-star" season. Despite being one of the "lesser" names among legends, he ran that game from beginning to end, reaching the Final Two alongside close ally (and then-fledgling romantic partner) Amber Brkich. Despite his impressive hold over the game, however, his mentality of treating people like chess pieces came back to bite him. His allies and friends alike on the jury felt scorned by Rob, as he finished runner-up to his eventual wife Amber in a tight 4-3 vote.
Boston Rob would walk away from All-Stars with many things, including a new fiancée and a bolstered reputation. But while he put a ring on it soon after, there was one brass ring he would spend years grasping for: The win. Finally, in 2011, he crossed the final item off his Survivor bucket list, taking home the title of Sole Survivor in Season 22, in one of the most dominant performances in the show's history. Redemption Island, that season's themes, applied in more ways than one to Boston Rob. Over the course of 39 days, he went from one of the show's most popular players and the best to never win to an outright legend of the game.
"I mean, without a doubt, I'm the biggest winner the show has ever seen, because I have my family because of it," Rob figures. "That's my legacy, my wife and my four daughters. It's not so much about money or days played or the impact. I truly feel like Survivor has given me more than anyone, and I am so grateful and so thankful. I've had this unbelievable experience that has gone on for more than half of my life."
While Boston Rob is humble about his own impact on the franchise, he lays credit for the success of Survivor at the feet of one host-turned-longtime-friend.
"First of all, the format, the idea of having this group of people that come together, you know, to form this society where you have to vote people out, and then ultimately ask for the vote in the end, is something that's so voyeuristic," he says. "People relate to each of the characters. And secondly, it's going to be Jeff Probst. He is the reason. He is the face of the show. He's the one that's been there and seen it all. And he's done it with such grace and such like just pure, unadulterated enthusiasm each and every season. I think the format and Jeff are the reason why it's still on."
Related: How Boston Rob Mariano Went From Crawling Out of a Freezer to ‘Survivor’ Royalty (Exclusive)
Sandra Diaz-Twine "It works with the right people, for the right people, by the right people," Sandra Diaz-Twine says of the key to her two-win 'Survivor' run. "At the end of the day, there's usually always bigger fish to fry."R
"Her days are numbered. She won't be Final Four. And I got a million that says she won't be the final one."
Jonny FairPlay said this confidently to the producers and audience of Survivor: Pearl Islands. He had just gotten into his first (but certainly not last) major fight with Sandra, and he felt she was too contentious and too much of an easy target to last significantly in the game, let alone go all the way. He had no idea how the falsities of that claim would echo across Survivor history.
Across hundreds of castaways, some apply to get a once-in-a-lifetime experience, an opportunity to truly test — and change — themselves in the process. Others seek Survivor shores for the love of the game, and the vision of being crowned Sole Survivor. For Sandra, however, her desires — and subsequently her strategy — were rooted in financial reasons.
"I quickly realized, for me, I'm going to get paid more than my current job anyway," she recalls. "So the longer I last, the more money I make. So for me, I just kept taking it just one day at a time. I wasn't stressing myself out. Just one day at a time. If I could just survive the next day and the next day and the next day.”
What became a simple plan to travel into the next pay bracket ended up becoming Sandra's calling card, and one of the most-cited strategies in the show's history: "As long as it's not me." Whether it's making a promise that will immediately get broken, or letting your closest ally take the heat, try anything and everything to make sure yours is the torch that doesn't get snuffed. For lack of a better term: Survive.
"It works with the right people, for the right people, by the right people," Sandra explains. "At the end of the day, there's usually always bigger fish to fry. And if you could take the spotlight off of yourself and put it onto someone else. Just go with the group, even if it's just for one vote, save yourself. Sometimes it's all you need to do to last one more day. It's a strategy that works."
That became clear by the end of Pearl Islands when, after seeing her nemesis fall, Sandra was seen as the more palatable option of the Final Two. Given the win near-unanimously. But that strategy — and the legacy of Sandra — was definitively cemented in her next season, Heroes vs. Villains. Competing against some of the best and brightest, despite being outnumbered at multiple points, she simply stuck with her original game plan, doing whatever she needed to avoid her name on that parchment. By the end, she was yet again seen as the most desirable option of the Final Three in the eyes of the jury. And so, she was able to do what many fans (and even Sandra herself) deemed impossible: Winning Survivor for a second time.
Becoming the show's first-ever two-time winner cemented Sandra Diaz-Twine as the "queen" of Survivor. But, despite all the commendations she's received, she's still a fan at her core. So, when asked about the legacy of Survivor, she instead looks forward with some things she feels the show has to do to remain on the air for another 26 years.
"The fans that love Survivor are always going to watch because we want to critique, we want to be happy. But something has to change," she says. "I would love to see a lot of the players return. All these new players constantly...I think if you assembled the right players that were coming back for a second and third shot, especially a lot of the players that went to the end but didn't win that some of us were rooting for, I think we'd have some spectacular seasons on the horizon. So I would like for Jeff to bring back some returning player seasons. I really do."
Related: 'I'm Doing This All By Myself': How Sandra Diaz-Twine Went Against All Odds to Become 'Survivor’s First Two-Time Winner (Exclusive)
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While not the only two-time winner on the Survivor Mount Rushmore, Parvati holds the distinction of definitely undergoing the biggest metamorphosis between her two victories. When she kicked off her reality TV career on Cook Islands, she was, as she describes herself, "a light-hearted, very innocent, doe-eyed little me." Despite being only 23, she had lived quite an eventful life thus far, including growing up in — and eventually escaping — a cult.
That unique experience had trained Parvati in the ways of not only adapting to her surroundings but also subtly manipulating others to carry out her whims. And she was able to carry that out to success in her debut season, making it all the way to sixth place. There was even more success to be found, however, starting when the call to return as a "Favorite" on Survivor: Micronesia. The season is widely regarded as one of Survivor's best, and it's due in large part to the legendary work of Parvati and her "Black Widow Brigade" alliance. The coven of women truly cast a spell in the postmerge of the game, the architects of a series of eviscerating blindsides. The most iconic, convincing Erik Reichenbach to give up his immunity necklace, is still seen almost 20 years later as one of the best moments in the show's history.
Her second time out, Parvati made it all the way to Day 39. And, lauded for her relationships and strategic dominance, she earned the title. Two years later, she was contacted to step on the beach yet again, this time as a part of Heroes vs. Villains. This time, everyone was wary of the danger that Parvati possessed, making her public enemy number one on Villains beach. That forced her to ditch her old tactics — and truly transform her game.
“Heroes vs. Villains is where I stepped into a more empowered voice and stopped being the flirt,” the 43-year-old declares. “Flirting wasn't the strategy that was going to help me. So I had to shift gears. Because I started off as the underdog, and I was in just a very different position. I had no power starting that game."
That would not be for long, however. A turbulent premerge somehow got Parvati from a 7-3 disadvantage to taking control of the Villains tribe. And her grip on the game even continued when the tribes merged. Despite so much heat being on her, Parvati pulled off a Survivor first, playing two idols at once to guarantee the Villains — and her — would have the advantage for the rest of the game. It was a run that sent Parvati's reputation into the stratosphere, with many incredibly impressed with how she got all the way to Day 39 once more. The irony: The season that changed so many minds was not a winning one. Parvati ultimately wound up finishing second, and she admits she left the season feeling hurt and broken, having been not only deprived the win, but reamed out by those she considered friends.
It wouldn't be until 15 years later that Parvati would get the opportunity to travel back to Samoa for her "redemption story." After a subpar showing in Winners at War, she had undergone a series of major life changes, including getting divorced, becoming a single mom, and coming out as queer. She began to appear on other reality shows, experiencing a bit of a renaissance with star turns on The Traitors and Deal or No Deal Island. So, when she was offered the opportunity to return to the island for Australian Survivor: AU V The World, she jumped at the chance. The result: The best game she ever played, as she went toe-to-toe with some of the best global players in the show's history, and, in a madcap 16-day sprint, outplayed them all. At last, she had earned the second victory she felt she deserved.
To date, Parvati has played the most days in Survivor history across any English-speaking series. But she feels like her longevity with the fandom is less about time spent on the beach, and more about who showed up there.
"I think my legacy is that you can evolve," she reasons. "You can evolve yourself and evolve the game, if you show up authentically and just are willing to be courageous."
And she feels that inspirational quality is what has made the show so successful for over a quarter of a century.
"People want to see people throwing themselves into the unknown, saying yes to adventure, being brave and also finding ways to survive and empower themselves in restrictive social settings," she says. "I think we are all dealing with that in our own lives, in the world. So survivor is a template for how to succeed in life.
"We all just need models for how to do uncertainty and how to thrive in the unknown, because that's what life offers us every day. And I think people want to know that they can handle it, they can handle change, and they can handle when things don't go their way. And watching other people do that is really helpful, and it's also fun."
Related: From Doe-Eyed to Black Widow: How Parvati Shallow Turned 'Survivor' Heartbreak into Two-Time Triumph (Exclusive)
R
Through the three-month airtime of Survivor: Cagayan, nobody thought Tony Vlachos would actually be the winner. The police officer (or was he a construction worker?) was an absolute madman in the game, finding a record number of idols, bleating at his opponents in llama, and covering himself in branches to spy on the competition. And, for what it's worth, when Tony started his first season, he was in agreement.
"To be honest with you, the reason I played the way I played was because I thought I had no chance of winning," the 52-year-old admits. "I did not think I was winning that game, so that's why I was swinging for the fences. I didn't care if I thought I was gonna get voted out. So I was like, 'You know what? I'm gonna go big.' And later on, towards the middle of the game, that's when I started having a little army behind me. And I was like, 'Whoa, I might have a chance here!'"
To say that would be an understatement. The second half of Cagayan had Tony and Woo Hwang flipping back and forth between alliances, singlehandedly deciding who would go. And, when Tony was at his most in danger at the final stage, he took advantage of his close understanding of his number one ally, convincing him to make arguably the worst move in Survivor history by taking him to the end. The result: Tony's near-unanimous win, making him one of the biggest characters to ever take home the million.
Tony returned to the island for Game Changers, only to have his run (literally) stop short when he was voted out second. When he came back for Winners at War, he had a new game plan. Sit on your hands the first half of the game, building relationships (and ladders). When the second half of the game hit, yet again, the true Tony came out, as he engineered the ousters of some of the best players in the show's history. And the similarity to his Cagayan dominance saw a similar outcome, as he took home the second win and a $2 million prize.
In talking with many Survivor players since Tony's time on the show, they often cite him as an inspiration, hoping to weaponize advantages and allies in the way that he was able to do so successfully. So even if he has no desire to continue, his gameplay certainly will.
"As a fan, I was watching Survivor dwindle down, as far as I'm concerned," he says. "And when I played Season 28, it got another jump start. From that point on, it was like, 'Whoa! You could actually backstab your alliance, jump back and forth.' I haven't seen that in many seasons that I watched prior to that. Now that's all I see! I went in there, and I gave it a second life."
Related: 'I Had No Chance of Winning': How Tony Vlachos Turned Jungle Chaos Into Two Legendary 'Survivor' Wins (Exclusive)
Courtesy of CBS
All four of these Survivor legends have made their own respective splashes. They have been cited numerous times for their innovative gameplay, from brute-force dominance to subtle, yet effective nudges. But the figures of Mount Rushmore are now looking to the ripples. All four are parents, and they have different plans for when (and if) they’ll ever let their children follow in their sandy footsteps.
Tony, who has a 13-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son, has opted for a strict law in his household: Do as I say, not as I do.
“I tell them, ‘You don't want to go out there and do what your dad did to try to win money for the family. That same money that I brought home once in a lifetime, you want to bring that home every year. Go to school, educate yourself, go to college, get a great job where you don't need to be in the jungle, suffering and struggling like your dad did.’”
Parvati has opted for a similar path with her daughter. She feels TV is in her destiny, though, as she puts it, “There’s probably easier paths than playing Survivor.” But when it comes to that competitive spirit, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“She did watch the arm-raising challenge, where I held my arm up for six hours. And she will do that sometimes. At one point, she was with some friends, and she's like, ‘Let's hold our arms up for an hour.’ And they timed her, and she was painting a painting and holding one arm up.”
Rob’s four daughters arguably have Survivor in their blood, considering they’re the product of two winners. But he’s a protective parent when it comes to heading out to the island, wanting to not set them up for disappointment.
“They're such good kids. They're so adventurous. And if one of them wanted to do that someday, of course, I would support them,” he says. “I also have pretty strong feelings that you have to have a certain amount of life experience before you do these kinds of shows. I definitely would not encourage my kids to go play Survivor at 18 or 19 or even 20. I just wouldn't want to put them in a position where they got crushed.”
Of course, having a child become a Survivor player is more than just speculative for Sandra. When she flew out to play on Australian Survivor, she wasn’t alone, joined by her daughter, Nina Twine. Nina would go on to vote her mom out of the game, then had her game cut short due to a knee injury. She would quickly be given a second chance the very next season, where she made a run all the way to fifth place. And she even joined her mother in the reality TV winner’s circle when she was crowned the champ of USA’s The Anonymous. The two are once again competing side-by-side, currently on Season 2 of FOX’s Extracted.
“She had interviewed and spent a week in California for David vs. Goliath,” Sandra says about her daughter’s reality TV origin. “I thought she was a shoo-in. And then she wasn't picked at the last minute. And then they called me for Australian Survivor. And I had to bring forth a couple of people for them to pick from, and she was the one, and they fell in love with her. She's so smart that she could handle something like that. And then she ended up playing again. That's how strong Nina is. The universe wanted it to happen when it did happen, and it was the right time for her.”
Whether or not their children will appear on a Survivor season in the future, Parvati, Boston Rob, Sandra, and Tony’s effects have had a profound impact on generations of castaways. They have showcased the wide variety of people and strategies it takes to survive the challenges, the elements, and most importantly, each other. They have inspired those who have followed to instill fear into their enemies, to hoodwink someone with an idol, to burn the hat, to speak llama.
After Survivor 50, it’s a mystery what future seasons will bring, who will don the buff in pursuit of the adventure of a lifetime. Regardless, we can always look back upon the journeys of the iconic players who have helped keep Survivor’s flame lit for 26 years — and who have stopped it from getting snuffed out any time soon.
Related: Meet the Full Cast of 'Survivor 50': Photos, Bios and What to Know
'I Had No Chance of Winning': How Tony Vlachos Turned Jungle Chaos Into Two Legendary 'Survivor' Wins (Exclusive)
As part of Parade's cover story for Survivor 50, we've spoken with each of the show's "Mount Rushmore" players about their multi-season journey on the show, behind-the-scenes stories on iconic moments, and thoughts on their legacy across 26 years of the hit CBS reality series.
Tony Vlachos is beaming a mile wide as he watches himself. The 52-year-old is viewing clips of himself over a decade ago as he treats the jungles of Survivor: Cagayan like his personal playground, playing spy and going on treasure hunts. The first thing he says after the video ends is only appropriate for a guy known for finding his fair share of trinkets (and making suggestive noises while doing so).
“That guy is my idol.”
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At that time, Tony was a police officer, working the beat in New Jersey. He was a big Survivor fan, though he admits he didn’t dissect the show’s complex gameplay, taking it as simple entertainment. But one day, he realized how uniquely qualified he would be to play, considering his day-to-day is about observing and catching people who are incentivized to lie.
“I was like, ‘Oh, you know what? That's that seems easy, because I do that every day for a living.’ I'm a police officer, so I'm always dealing with people that are lying to me. I'm always dealing with people who are trying to out-strategize me and outwit me out there in the streets. So I'm like, ‘This is the same thing.’”
Perhaps a more important skill than catching deceivers, however, is learning how to be one yourself.
“And being that I work with bad guys and criminals who are always trying to lie to me, I know how to do the same thing. I know how to lie to people. I know how to persuade them.”
Tony uses a quote from cast member Woo Hwang during our conversation: “If you put something in the bowl, you become the bowl.” And so, despite saying he still hates the jungle to this day, he hit the ground literally running, grabbing as much flora around him as possible to create a secret lair where he could eavesdrop and hide in plain sight. A short time later, the “Spy Shack” was born, kicking off an espionage franchise that would continue across nearly all of his seasons.
“The Spy Shack was something spontaneous, and it was because of necessity,” Tony reveals. “I wanted to know what these people were saying behind my back. So when I'm walking away, and they're all chatting, I'm like, ‘What are they saying? What are they talking about?’ So that's when I said, ‘I’ve got to figure out a way to listen to what they're saying.’”
Courtesy of CBS
Related: How Boston Rob Mariano Went From Crawling Out of a Freezer to ‘Survivor’ Royalty (Exclusive)
The “Spy Shack” is an apt microcosm for the wild assortment of ideas contained in Tony’s “bag of tricks” on Cagayan. True to the former bodybuilder’s brawn, every time he swung, he swung hard. Whether it was playing an idol on another person, lying about another idol's lifespan to maintain safety, or plotting blindside after blindside, one has to wonder whether every brazen tactic he took was premeditated.
“Everything I was doing was off the cuff,” he admits. “And that's why I would get myself in trouble all the time. And then I would have to go back later and think about what I just did and try to get myself out of that hole I just dug myself into.”
To say Tony was like a tiger in Cagayan would be an understatement. He approached every vote with the ferocity of a big cat, ready to get his claws into anyone, friend or foe, he felt was jeopardizing his game. In a postmerge divided into two major alliances, Tony and Woo were hopping the fence back and forth, arbiters of every juror’s fate. As the season’s finale bore down, there was a common consensus among Survivor fans. “Tony’s an incredible character. But there’s no way this man could win the game.”
And, for what it’s worth, at the beginning of his run, he was in agreement.
“The reason I played the way I played was because I thought I had no chance of winning,” he revealed. “I did not think I was winning that game, so that's why I was swinging for the fences. I thought I was gonna get voted out. So I was like, ‘You know what? I'm gonna go big.’
“And later on, towards the middle of the game, that's when I started having a little army behind me. I knew once I created my little army, there was no way that they can leave me. If they got rid of me, then they wouldn't have the numbers, and the other opposing alliance would just get rid of them one by one. So that's why I could flip-flop, because once I made myself a number where they needed in order to have a majority, I could do whatever I wanted. Because if they got rid of me, then they're done. They're next.”
And, as Tony continued his astounding postmerge ping-ponging, an initially impossible idea began to gain legitimacy in his head.
“I was like, ‘Whoa, I might have a chance here.’ And that's when I started trying to slow it down a little bit. I don't know if I did slow it down, but I was trying to slow it down. That's when I realized that I had a shot at winning the game. But in the beginning, I didn't care. I was like, ‘I'll do whatever it takes, because I'm not going to win anyway.’”
Related: 'I'm Doing This All By Myself': How Sandra Diaz-Twine Went Against All Odds to Become 'Survivor’s First Two-Time Winner (Exclusive)
And Tony was one questionable decision away from that coming to fruition. On the penultimate day of Cagayan, he was, on paper, powerless. Woo had won the Final Immunity Challenge, and Kass McQuillen-Grace was seen as the much easier person to beat in the end. Given the seemingly impossible task of convincing someone not make a choice that nearly guaranteed a million dollars, Tony once again got to work doing what he does best: Talking.
“Woo’s biggest thing was integrity,” he recalls. “His biggest thing was honor, and he kept true to that. So in the end, I say, ‘Hold on. This whole game, all you told me was you want to play with honor, you want to play with integrity. So if you vote me out now, that honor stuff, that integrity stuff that you've been pitching to everybody all game goes out the window, and you have nothing to give the jurors. What are you going to tell them? Because according to them, you weren't really playing the game, because you were this honest guy playing an honorable and integrity game. So if you get rid of me now, you have no game. You're gonna lose to Kass.'”
After working with him so closely nearly the entire game, Tony knew just what to say. Woo took him to the Final Two, still seen as one of the worst moves in the show’s history. Predictably, despite some harsh feelings towards him, Tony’s impressive stratagems reigned supreme, as he was crowned Sole Survivor near-unanimously. To this day, he’s known as one of Survivor’s biggest “unicorns,” as his bold and brash tactics made for an incredibly unlikely winning story.
And much like a mythical creature, Tony didn’t think he’d be seen again, surprisingly admitting he didn’t feel his game at the time was all-star worthy. So when he got the call to play on Game Changers, it was an immediate yes. But then a sinking truth hit him, one that’s become part and parcel with returning player seasons.
“Most of these returning players, they know each other outside the game,” Tony says. “They go to these events, they go to these functions, they talk with one another. I don't do none of that. So, going into the game, I knew I was going to have people who form pre-game alliances and talk to each other. So I was saying to myself, ‘You know what? I'm just going to go there, and I'm just going to just overcompensate and just let them think that I'm just a clown.’ That's why I started running around the jungle like a nut job, so they could be like, ‘Just leave Tony alone. He doesn't know what's going on.’”
Unfortunately, that assessment would be quite true. Tony dug a hole for himself — literally in the case of the “Spy Bunker” — becoming an immediate target for his aggressive gameplay. And so he was voted out for the first time, sent packing after only six days. Fortunately, Tony would get the call to come back yet again three years later, joining the cast of Winners at War. And he had learned an important lesson from his previous flameout.
Courtesy of CBS
Related: From Doe-Eyed to Black Widow: How Parvati Shallow Turned 'Survivor' Heartbreak into Two-Time Triumph (Exclusive)
“I can't think that I'm going in there with this big target on my back when you have 19 other winners,” he recalls. “So I was like, ‘You know what? I'm gonna go there. I'm gonna be quiet. I don't need to hit the ground running. Let me just see what's going on. Let me put myself in house arrest, watch everybody look for idols. Let everybody do whatever they want. I'm gonna stay low. And then when it's time to attack, I'm gonna attack.’”
While Tony had no pre-emptive strategy in his first winning season, his premeditated plan for Season 40 played out to perfection. He spent the premerge turning idol hands into idle hands, occupying his time building camp morale. But as he was building ladders, his status in the game was starting to climb. And, as the postmerge hit, Tony surprisingly felt a sense of deja vu.
“Once again, I thought I had zero chance of winning,” he says. “Seriously, I don't go into these games thinking I'm gonna win. I just don't. So I go in there thinking I don't have a shot, but I'm gonna try my best. I'm gonna do whatever it takes. I'm gonna stay low and then try and see where it goes.
“So again, towards the middle of the game, I started getting some traction. I was like, ‘Wow. Okay, now I see I have a possibility of winning this game again. I never do things to build a resume. I never say, ‘Oh, I got to make this big move to build a resume.’ I just played the best game that I can play. And at the end, I'm hoping my game could speak for itself.”
Suffice it to say, it did. As the game turned individual, yet again, Tony’s idle hand took on an iron grip. He mounted a few massive power shifts, yet again dictating who would go home nearly every round. He found and played idols, and he even had a few Immunity Challenge wins to his name. By the time Day 39 came around, it was clear. The man who purposely made himself look smaller than his competition ended up walking tall. The game that somehow shouldn’t have worked, did. Twice.
Tony’s massive success has trickled down to a number of Survivor players who have hit the beach in the past decade. In talking with the castaways of the show’s “new era,” quite a few cite the offbeat officer, encouraged to take advantage of every opportunity (and every advantage). And his legacy extends beyond the many who try to follow in his rapid footsteps, as Tony says Cagayan gave Survivor a shot in the arm it desperately needed at that time.
"As a fan, I was watching Survivor dwindle down, as far as I'm concerned," he says. "And when I played Season 28, it got another jump start. From that point on, it was like, 'Whoa! You could actually backstab your alliance, jump back and forth.' I haven't seen that in many seasons that I watched prior to that. Now that's all I see! I went in there, and I gave it a second life."
And Tony is simultaneously flattered and proud to have made such a wave in this massive ocean of Survivor history.
“I love that. Don't be scared! Don’t go hide like I did in Season 40 for the first 14 days. This is your first time playing. Nobody knows you. Go out there and make a splash!”
Related: 'Survivor's Mount Rushmore: The Legends Who Built a 50-Season Legacy (Exclusive)
'Wheel of Fortune' Star Vanna White Remembers the Most Outrageous Contestant Guesses Ever
From jaw-dropping solves to guesses that make her do a double-take, Vanna White has witnessed some unforgettable moments on Wheel of Fortune.
In a 2019 interview with PEOPLE Magazine, White shared some of her most laugh-out-loud moments as the show's official letter turner for over 40 years. Although she is supposed to remain neutral at contestant mistakes, there are times when she does react.
"I feel for our contestants because they're so nervous," White told PEOPLE. "But I do chuckle on the inside at some of the wrong answers. Half of the time, I don't think they even realize what they're saying."
White recalled when one contestant tried to guess the answer, "More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys." Instead, they said, "More Fun Than a Barrel of Vikings."
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Another memorable guess was "New York Cheesesteak" for "New York Cheesecake." White added, "There was the guy who thought it was a 'Styrofoam Hat' instead of 'Styrofoam Cup.' And then there was a famous one where the answer was 'Gone With the Wind,' and the answer the contestant gave was 'Done With One Hand.'"
RELATED: ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Puzzle Leaves Fans Scratching Their Heads
Of all the mistakes she's heard throughout the years, there is one that continues to make her smile. She told PEOPLE, "We had a puzzle where the answer was [the feature film] Streetcar Named Desire. And only the 'm' was missing. The contestant answered, 'Streetcar Naked Desire.'"
For now, White will continue to cheer Wheel of Fortune's contestants on as they try to win prizes, trips, and the show's coveted big money. But she is also looking to the future.
View this post on InstagramThe television mainstay recently announced via Instagram on January 21, 2026, that she and her longtime partner of a decade, John Donaldson, had wed. The couple looks forward to many more happy years together, but will that time include White continuing her role on Wheel of Fortune?
She told Forbes in 2025 that when the time comes to finally leave her role as a letter-turner for good, her successor should follow two simple rules: “Be yourself, and know the entire alphabet!”
Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest are the stars of Wheel of Fortune. The series airs in syndication.
From Doe-Eyed to Black Widow: How Parvati Shallow Turned 'Survivor' Heartbreak into Two-Time Triumph (Exclusive)
As part of Parade's cover story for Survivor 50, we've spoken with each of the show's "Mount Rushmore" players about their multi-season journey on the show, behind-the-scenes stories on iconic moments, and thoughts on their legacy across 26 years of the hit CBS reality series.
Parvati Shallow sits on a schooner in the middle of the Pacific, squinting into the middle distance. Years from now, it would become an image heralded by myriad fans. But back in 2006, it was simply the first image of a 23-year-old looking for the next adventure.
“That was a light-hearted, very innocent, doe-eyed little me,” she says cheekily.
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At that point, Parvati had lived far from a conventional and structured childhood. As depicted in her 2025 memoir, Nice Girls Don’t Win, she and her family grew up in a commune in Georgia. Feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the environment, they fled in the middle of the night, immersing themselves in the outside world. Years later, she auditioned for The Amazing Race alongside two of her friends, when casting director Lynne Spillman forced her to dump one of them as a partner straight to their face. While it broke Parvati’s heart (and a friendship) to do so, she had shown enough spark to get an audition for Survivor. And it was all of those life experiences that taught Parvati about fight, flight, fawn, and freeze, all skills she would use to great effect on the island.
But people largely regard the 43-year-old's early seasons on Survivor with a very different f-word: Flirt. As she vocalized during Cook Islands, her debut season, she was more than happy to bat her eyes at the numerous young, buff men around her, getting them to follow her whims. And she made an immediate impact in her initial run, getting in with a tight alliance and finishing in sixth overall when they were dismantled by the show’s most unlikely underdog story.
Upon Cook Islands’ airing, Parvati was hit with the immediate shock of newfound stardom. As she recalls, she would attend nightclubs at the same time as Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, and would find that she would be the one tailed by the paparazzi. But being a public persona opened her up to face many base judgments from complete strangers. In one instance, she was approached by someone at a yogurt store and told, “Oh, you’re Parvati. We love to hate you in our house!”
With a harsh spotlight shining on her, Parvati was squinting into the light, taken aback by the base judgments made about her based on a 42-minute TV show in a pressurized, deprivational environment. But, a year later, when she was asked to return, there was no hesitation in her answer.
“I am the type of person that the adventure outweighs the pain,” she says. “Every time, I will always say yes to the adventure. I want that experience. My heart is so wide and open to life. I just want to feel everything very deeply. Look, I'm a Scorpio moon, so we got to do what we got to do!”
Monty Brinton/CBS
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And if there’s one adventure in retrospect to say yes to, it’s Survivor: Micronesia. Parvati joined nine other returning “Favorites,” competing against a tribe filled with longtime Fans of the show. Going into the season, Parvati certainly ranked lowest on the criteria of “favorite,” playing alongside such beloved castaways as Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth and James Clement. But she quickly proved her spot, locking in with multiple majority alliances. And, despite being in a “hot pickle” with all of her deals, there was one particular group she had the most loyalty to: The all-women “Black Widow Brigade.”
“I think people want to see the underdog rising up and claiming some power,” she says about the legendary alliance. “There's something very gratifying about women supporting each other, working together and pulling off a coup. At this point, we women have had to fight so hard for a seat at the table to have our voice, to get equal pay, to have anyone take us seriously in these situations.”
The second half of the game proved the Black Widow Brigade should not only be taken seriously, but outright feared. The group worked together to take out some of the biggest men left, including two in a row with idols in their pockets. But their finest work came in the season’s penultimate episode. Erik Reichenbach, the last remaining man, won immunity, spoiling the group’s plans of an all-women Final Four. Stewing in their frustration, a germ of an idea was born: What if they could convince Erik to give up immunity to “redeem himself”? Over the course of the afternoon, that seed received healthy doses of water, soil and plenty of manipulation. And that night, it blossomed into an iconic blindside. The plan worked, Erik gave up immunity, and the Black Widow Brigade paid off arguably the most renowned move in the show’s history.
“I just knew that if a guy made it to the end, he would win,” Parvati says about the high-stakes maneuver. “So, for an even playing field, it had to be women, and that had to be how the jury was choosing. I just knew that. So I was like, ‘Yeah, we gotta do whatever we have to do to get rid of this lone male creature who doesn't belong.”
“I just think it's cool how it's really a piece of land in the story of Survivor,” she continues about the legacy of the move and the Black Widow Brigade as a whole. “And not only a piece of land, but monumental. Like a whole planet in the cosmos of Survivor.”
And only a few days later, within that cosmos, Parvati’s star grew into a giant. She sat at the end with close ally Amanda Kimmel on Day 39, taking home the title of Sole Survivor in a tight 5-3 vote. But, much like Sandra, Parvati did not cement herself as a Survivor legend in her first winning season. That instead came two years later, when she was asked to return yet again for Heroes vs. Villains.
“Heroes vs. Villains is where I stepped into a more empowered voice and stopped being the flirt,” she declares. “Flirting wasn't the strategy that was going to help me. So I had to shift gears. Because I started off as the underdog, and I was in just a very different position. I had no power starting that game.”
Indeed, Parvati’s reputation as a “dangerous” player preceded her, putting her on the outside to start on the Villains tribe. She did have two people on her side: Russell and Danielle. And, through an idol play, a vote split gaffe, and good old-fashioned manipulation, she was able to do the impossible. At the beginning of the premerge, Parvati was backed into a corner, her arms up in defense in the metaphorical boxing ring. By the end of the premerge, her trio had taken power in the Villains tribe, and she was coming out swinging.
That power was highlighted during that season’s merge vote. Parvati was given an idol by Russell, which was in turn given to him by J.T. to take down the “women’s alliance” on the Villains tribe. And unbeknownst to even her closest ally, she had also found an idol herself. And so the former charity boxer pulled out quite the one-two punch at Tribal Council. Knowing where the Heroes’ votes were going, Parvati played not one, but both of her idols on two separate people: Sandra and Jerri Manthey. It was quite the short-term cost, giving away two massive assets and leaving herself vulnerable in the process. But it had massive long-term gain, to say the least. J.T. was voted out, the Villains took control of the game, and Parvati yet again had a legendary move under her belt.
“I really hope that other people take away from my games of Survivor is do not hoard your assets. It's not helpful. If you have an immunity idol, play it. If you have an advantage that's not helpful anymore, that's past its prime, rip it up. Do not be afraid to just rely on your own strength and your own capacity without all of these advantages and things like that. Because sometimes they can hurt you more than they can help.”
Courtesy of CBS
Related: 'I'm Doing This All By Myself': How Sandra Diaz-Twine Went Against All Odds to Become 'Survivor’s First Two-Time Winner (Exclusive)
As Heroes vs. Villains steered towards the Final Three, fans continued to be astounded by Parvati. Here was somebody who came in labeled as one of the biggest threats of the season, who had her name in people’s mouths from the jump. Who somehow overcame a 7-3 disadvantage to become the most powerful person in the game. And all her efforts got her to sit once again at the end. It was a remarkable resume, one that had fans suddenly celebrating her as one of the game’s greatest players.
But it was not a celebration that Parvati could internalize at that moment. Because, while the viewers had praise for her game, the players did not. Parvati was lambasted by some of the jury for her gameplay and association with Russell, facing a number of personal digs — notably from some of the people she worked closest with in her previous seasons.
“I felt like a piece of trash. At the finale, Candice [Cody] said, ’You played the game like a battered wife under Russell's thumb.’ That got me to my heart. She's supposed to be my friend, and we were friends in Cook Islands, and I always stood up for her. If there was any press event or anything that I was getting attention for, I always included her, same with Amanda. Amanda didn't even let me speak. I was like, ‘Can I say something?’ And she said, ‘I don't want to hear you talk.’ So it felt really personal when those two women got up and were so cruel. It just broke my heart.”
Parvati returned stateside after Heroes vs. Villains with complicated feelings, to say the least. Compounded onto that was escalating drama in her home life, as her brother had gotten into an accident and subsequently spiraled into drug addiction. She was in such a dark place that she actually reveals she didn’t watch the season back the first time it aired, feeling the experience too traumatic to relive. Especially considering she felt she should have been the show’s first two-time winner rather than Sandra.
“I was like, ‘I deserved that,’” she recalls thinking. “I played the best game I have ever played. I played better than anyone here. But the reason I didn't win was because a couple of people were mad at me, or misogyny, all the reasons. But I take heart now that I’ve moved through it. And I can look back and be really proud of myself, and I can hear the fans and receive the celebration now.”
Despite Parvati being at the height of her popularity, for nearly a decade, she moved away from all things Survivor. She segued her fame into a prominent hosting role across a few shows (including the official Survivor after-show for a couple of seasons). She met and married fellow alum John Fincher, and she welcomed her first child, Ama, in September 2018. But, less than a year later, the literal call for another adventure came, asking to come back for Winners at War.
“I didn't really want to go back,” Parvati admits. “But I always said, ‘If they do a winner season, I have to go. But the timing of it was total crap for me. I just had a baby. I think I got the call from CBS six months postpartum, and my daughter had just slept through the night, so I was crazy.
Courtesy of 10
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“It was a really hard choice,” she says. “On one end, I was just so fatigued and depleted from having had a baby, and it was hard for me. It wasn't easy to be a new mom. And my marriage wasn't working, and I had very little support. And we had very little money at the time, too, so I was like, ‘Well, going back is a chance to make some money. That'll give me some relief. It's a winner season.’”
So, in the end, she made the decision to go out for a fourth season. Even though she admits now she was in no way ready to throw herself back into an experience that had left her so fractured her last time out.
“I didn't feel like I was prepared in any way,” she says. “I didn't feel strong. I had been really broken from Heroes vs. Villains. So I was like, ‘I don't know how this is gonna go for me.’ I didn't feel like I was myself on Winners at War.”
She had hit a low both inside and outside the game, earning the lowest placement across her reality TV career. But a new decade brought a new Parvati, to put it mildly. Following the pandemic, she and Fincher divorced. She returned to reality TV on Season 2 of The Traitors, where she was introduced to an entirely new group of fans who fell in love with her “Black Widow” style. She came out as queer, feeling more empowered in her sense of self. And so it was night and day when she was given yet another opportunity to come back to the island, this time for Survivor: Australia V The World.
"I had gone through an entire revolution in my life,” she remembers. “I got the email from the producer of Australian Survivor, and she said, ‘What would you say if I told you you could play the greatest game in the world against international superstars? I said, ‘Sign me up!’
“I was in such a strong place, internally, in my life. I was like, ‘Oh, I'm gonna win this. This is my redemption story.’”
That would be putting it mildly. There was a note of deja vu as Parvati arrived on Australia V The World, once again in Samoa, once again an immediate target. But she was able to turn all the tragedy she experienced on and off the island in the past 15 years into triumph. Parvati put together arguably the best game she’s ever played, outplaying some of the greatest contestants in global Survivor history. While the season was only 16 days, she made sure to play every minute of them. And she was rewarded handily, given not only her second victory, but at last, a sense of peace.
“It felt like a reclamation of that part of me that left Samoa with all of that negativity. I was able to show up as the fullest version of myself on Australian Survivor and take that win and be celebrated for it by the contestants that I played with.”
Related: 'Survivor's Mount Rushmore: The Legends Who Built a 50-Season Legacy (Exclusive)
Move Over, Pumpkin Spice: Golden Cinnamon Cold Foam is the Spring Ritual We Didn’t Know We Needed
As the calendar turns toward spring, Tim Hortons is officially refreshing its menu with a lineup of seasonal beverages and comfort-focused bakery items. Starting February 18, the coffee chain is introducing a new collection of banana bread-inspired donuts and high-protein lattes.
The center-piece of the rollout is the Golden Cinnamon Cold Foam, a limited-time customization option designed for iced drinks. The spiced topping is crafted to pair with Cold Brew, Iced Coffee, Iced Lattes, and Iced Matcha Lattes. For those seeking a signature frozen treat, the brand is also offering a Golden Cinnamon-flavored Iced Capp.
“Spring is all about fresh starts and new flavors,” said Maria Posada, Vice President of Marketing for Tim Hortons U.S. “Golden Cinnamon Cold Foam gives our guests an easy way to elevate their favorite iced beverage with a silky smooth layer of richness while enjoying their go-to drink.”
Tim Hortons Spring 2026 baked goods. (Photo: Tim Hortons)The bakery department is seeing its own refresh with three new additions that lean into classic, nostalgic flavors:
- Choco Chip Banana Bread Donut
- Choco Chip Banana Bread Timbits
- Blueberry Cheesecake Mini Pastries
These items are designed to offer a pairing for both morning and afternoon coffee runs. “It's our take on a classic flavor that feels cozy like a warm hug,” Posada said in a statement.
Following a successful introduction in January, Tim Hortons is also expanding its Protein Latte options. The drinks offer up to 28g of protein in the Matcha variety and 23g in the standard espresso latte.
While the cinnamon and banana bread items are available now, Tim Hortons has a second wave of releases scheduled for March 18. This "eggs-tra sweet" update will feature holiday-themed items, including:
- Spring Chick Donut: A yeast donut with vanilla-flavored fluff and rainbow sprinkles.
- Spring Egg Donut: Filled with Venetian cream and topped with vanilla-flavored icing.
- Timbits® Spring Bucket: A seasonal tradition featuring a new design and 30 Timbits for $6.
These menu items are available for a limited time at participating U.S. locations and can be ordered in-restaurant, at the drive-thru, or via the Tim Hortons app.
'I'm Doing This All By Myself': How Sandra Diaz-Twine Went Against All Odds to Become 'Survivor’s First Two-Time Winner (Exclusive)
As part of Parade's cover story for Survivor 50, we've spoken with each of the show's "Mount Rushmore" players about their multi-season journey on the show, behind-the-scenes stories on iconic moments, and thoughts on their legacy across 26 years of the hit CBS reality series.
“As you can see, I'm doing this all by myself. Why? I didn't have a choice. Nobody wants to help me. But that's okay. That's cool. I don't need them. I could do this on my own. Nobody has faith in me. ‘Oh, you won't survive out there one minute. Oh, you don't know what you’re getting yourself into. They're not going to even pick you.’ But I have faith."
Sandra Diaz-Twine’sSurvivor audition video is a perfect distillation of the person who would go on to become the show’s first-ever two-time winner. It’s direct, down-to-earth, almost bluntly honest. And, most importantly, it showcases how independent she can be. Despite everyone telling her she would be ill-equipped to play, Sandra heard the call for adventure — or perhaps more importantly at the time, the million-dollar prize.
“We were both soldiers at the time, and we were both active duty,” the 51-year-old tells Parade about her and her husband, Marcus Twine. “Both my girls were little. My whole paycheck went to daycare. I never asked anyone for a nickel or a penny. We always paid for all our stuff.”
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The family bought themselves a home computer and printer as a Christmas gift, and Sandra immediately put it to good use, applying for the show. It was the only New Year’s Resolution she ended up following through on, and it ended up being a life-changing one at that.
Soon enough, Sandra was shipped off to Panama, one of the contestants on Survivor: Pearl Islands. And she showed her mettle in an incredibly unique way in the game’s opening minutes. Kicking off the season-long pirate theme, the players were given a budget to buy tribe supplies in a local town. Sandra’s Spanish came in clutch for the Drake tribe, helping secure a massive bounty for the group as they hit the beach. But that strong first impression wore away quickly.
“My tribe had a target on my back,” she recalls. “I was disposable. But I quickly realized, for me, I'm going to get paid more than my current job anyway. So the longer I last, the more money I make. So for me, I just kept taking it just one day at a time. I wasn't stressing myself out. Just one day at a time. If I could just survive the next day and the next day and the next day.”
What became a strategy to secure a larger paycheck turned in retrospect to one of Sandra’s biggest calling cards: “As long as it’s not me.” The back half of Pearl Islands was one of the most chaotic across the show’s early seasons, a proto-version of the latter-day “voting blocs,” with groups consistently shifting every vote. And so, for the sake of pure survival, she was ready to do anything to avoid getting her name on that parchment, whether it was dumping out fish and blaming it on her closest ally, Christa Hastie, or lying directly to Jonny FairPlay’s face about booting his number one.
Sandra’s tactics proved successful, getting her to the Final Two alongside Lillian Morris. Earlier in the season, during perhaps their biggest of their many fights, FairPlay had claimed in a confessional that he would bet a million dollars that Sandra would not be the winner of the season. And, shockingly, going into the final vote reveal, she was in agreement with her nemesis.
"I quickly realized, for me, I'm going to get paid more than my current job anyway," Sandra Diaz-Twine says of the surprising origin of her game-changing strategy. "So the longer I last, the more money I make. So for me, I just kept taking it just one day at a time."Courtesy of CBS
“It's not like I'm getting all kinds of praise,” she says. “I'm sitting there like, ‘It's okay, I'm gonna get $100,000. I could do so much with this $100,000.’ I couldn't believe it, because most of the Morgans were on the tribe, and they always said that whoever from their tribe made it to the end, they would vote for, and they outnumbered us. So I thought Lil was gonna win.”
“All I knew was I was getting $100,000,” she continues. “And because I knew I was getting this $100,000 when I came home, I told my husband. And we went, and we got the big TV on wheels, and it cost $1,200. And I remember all I had to pay was $100 every month for a year before the interest started. So I was just trying to pay off this TV before my $100,000 check came in.”
Little did she know, when she made the trip out to L.A. for the Pearl Islands reunion, she would be able to pay off that TV and then some. But it would be quite a while before we’d see her on said TV again. Over the next 7 years, she had some close brushes with returning, having had to pull out of contention for All-Stars due to illness, and getting cut for Micronesia the night before filming. But Heroes vs. Villains served as Sandra’s awaited return to the beach, and it would be a legacy-making one.
Sandra welcomed us back with one promise, “Last time I was mean. This time I’m meaner.” Despite her time away, the million-dollar check attached to her made her stick out immediately on the Villains tribe. There were only four winners on the cast: Her, Parvati, J.T. Thomas and Tom Westman. Once she found that out, she made it her goal to become the Sole Sole Survivor by the end of the game.
“When I realized I was going out there, my strategy became, ‘Okay, the winners always go home first. But I just want to be the last winner standing,’” she says. “So on minute one, when they're like, ‘We're going to get rid of Parvati the minute we lose.’ And I'm thinking, ‘Oh my god, if she goes, then I go.’ Because me and her were the only two winners on the Villains. So it wasn't an alliance. But for a minute there, I knew, as long as she was still in the game, I was a little bit safe.”
That attitude proved to be prophetic, as, astoundingly, both Sandra and Parvati Shallow were able to make it to the Final Tribal Council once again. But it wasn’t necessarily in cooperation with one another. While Parvati’s trio with Russell Hantz and Danielle DiLorenzo did the near-impossible, going from a 6-3 disadvantage to taking control of their tribe, Sandra was left fighting for her life in the back half of the premerge. And so, yet again, she pulled some tricks out of the “as long as it’s not me” bag, throwing others under the bus and pitching herself as a loyal player who serves as no threat.
Courtesy of CBS
When the Heroes and Villains merged, Sandra tried to take advantage of the newfound numbers to finally make a move against her nemesis, Russell. But an all-time blunder by J.T. Thomas, as well as some heroic “rats” leaving the sinking ship, left her plans unheard. Instead, the always-adaptable Sandra took on the “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” motto, deciding to stick with the Villains.
That didn’t stop her contentiousness towards Russell, even outright telling him she was against him. But that didn’t change his plans, feeling she was an easy person to beat in the Final Three. And he wasn’t the only one to think so.
“Russell's telling me, ‘It's me, you and Parvati. Parvati’s telling me, ‘It's me, you and Russell.’ Jerri's telling me, ’It's me, you and Russell.’ So I'm like, ‘Oh, if I keep my mouth shut, oh s—t. I’m golden. I just got to sit there and just mind my business, and I'll make it to the end, which for me is a bigger paycheck.’”
Yet again, Sandra Diaz-Twine left a Survivor season happy with runner-up money. And yet again, she was stunned months later in L.A., when it was revealed that she was the winner. The outcome is still one of the most hotly-contested in the show’s history, considering Parvati’s impressive journey to sit alongside her in the Final Three. But regardless of how you feel about Sandra’s win, she did what many thought would be impossible: Win Survivor twice. And that catapulted her from a fun character to a legend of the game.
Courtesy of CBS
“People downgrade and talk junk about my strategy, ‘as long as it's not me,’” she says. “But it works. And I don't put myself in a situation where I'm so connected with these people at that point. I'm there for my family. So whatever has to happen for me to get as far as I can for them, it gives me the okay or the license to do whatever it takes to get there.”
“And it wasn't easy,” she says about Heroes vs. Villains. “It wasn't an easy game to play, but I managed to always say the right things to the right people. I remember telling Russell, ‘If you allow me to get to the end, I promise you, if I'm on that jury, I'm going to vote for you.’ He thought he won Samoa, so he thought he was going to win two times in a row. I even said, ‘How could you lose to me and Parvati? No one's gonna give us another million dollars.’ You just gotta know what to say. And the right words came out of my mouth!”
Fourteen seasons after making Survivor history, Sandra got the call to come back for another returnee season: Game Changers. For some players, they would leave the show in the sunset, happy with $2 million and an untarnished 100% success rate. But Sandra Diaz-Twine is not like most players.
“They called me, and I said immediately, ‘Yes,’” she reveals. “The season is going to always be different. The location, although it's Fiji, is still going to be a different beach. The players are going to be different. The game is always different. And it's just me loving Survivor that I've always said yes.”
Indeed, Sandra appeared on three Survivor seasons after her second win: Game Changers, Winners at War, and Australian Survivor: Blood vs. Water. In all three, she was voted out premerge. But her enthusiasm has never faded, nor her desire to connect with castaways old and new.
“Some people come off their seasons, and you never hear from them again. But I would hope that my legacy is that I've always welcomed everyone with open arms. Even if I don't like your character on TV, on your season, later on, we meet up, hang out, link up, and then we become great, great friends. We all have our opinions. We don't love everybody when we're playing or when they're playing. But at the end of the day, I would hope that I'm one of those people where anyone from the Survivor world could get a hold of, and if they need something from me, I can help them.”
Related: 'Survivor's Mount Rushmore: The Legends Who Built a 50-Season Legacy (Exclusive)
