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If anyone knows how to make a house a home, it has to be Martha Stewart. Essentially, the original influencer, Stewart, has taught us the ropes of hosting, entertaining and making your space your own. A reading corner is a must in any home, and Stewart has the perfect armchair for just that at Kohl’s right now.

Martha Stewart’s Amanda Striped Accent Arm Chair is perfect for creating the cozy reading corner of your dreams. The pretty armchair features a neutral color scheme of cream and blue-gray, making it easy to blend into a variety of homes’ interior design styles. A coordinating lumbar pillow helps add extra support and comfort to the piece, and the chair’s generous padding makes it easy to get lost in a good book without feeling stiff or uncomfortable. Layer it up with a throw blanket, and you’re set for hours!

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Martha Stewart Amanda Striped Accent Arm Chair, $678.99 at Kohl’s

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The chair’s overall dimensions are 36 inches in height, 30 inches in width and 34 inches in depth. This makes it a great size for a reading nook.

Shoppers love this charming armchair, giving it an average rating of five stars on Kohl’s website.

“Beautiful and sturdy,” wrote one happy Kohl’s customer in a five-star review on Kohls.com. “This chair is absolutely beautiful. The blue lines paired with the off-white color look so good together and fit perfectly with my home aesthetic. It arrived well packaged and was very easy to put together. Once assembled, it feels very sturdy and well-made. The seat cushion is on the firmer side, so if you’re looking for a chair you can really sink into, this may not be the one. However, I personally appreciate the support. The included pillow is very soft and sits perfectly in the arch of my back, making it much more comfortable for sitting. The material also seems like it will be very easy to clean, which is a huge plus. Overall, it’s a stylish, supportive accent chair that looks high-end and works beautifully in my space.”

You can order this Martha Stewart armchair on Kohls.com. It’s currently on sale for $678.99.

Related: Trader Joe’s New Frozen Pasta Is Inspired by a Classic 1950s Italian Dish

Big Brother’s house is open once more! Every week, Parade’s Mike Bloom will be bringing you interviews with this season’s houseguests as they get evicted from the game.

When Dee Valladares dipped her toes into the Big Brother bay, there was a lot of anticipation — inside and outside the house — of what she would do. After all, this is somebody who, three years ago, put together one of the most impressive performances in recent Survivor history, culminating in a million-dollar check. But, while she was able to put the D in dominant for the first half of the season, it was only a matter of time before she and the other “icons” were in the line of fire. Having to operate from a new position in her reality TV career, she fought admirably from the bottom, escaping a surefire eviction vote not once, but twice. The third time, however, was not the charm. Up against her number one Rick Devens at the Final Four, he became the sole remaining Survivor, as Drew Campbell sent her out the door feeling the agony of “dee-feat.”

Dee had all eyes on her from the very first night in the game. Not only was she brought into the house through unforeseen circumstances — namely Rachel Reilly‘s homicide at the hands of a velociraptor — the last in became the first to get power, as she immediately won Head of Household. Dee quickly mobilized a majority, forming a Final Two with fellow castaway Devens, bringing in fellow icon Angela Murray, and making a series of intersecting alliances to have her walking out of the HoH room surrounded by safety. Through the first month of the season, the “Toolshed” had a wrench hold on the game, remaining in power and dictating the first few evictions.

But, on Day 31, her “dee-meanor” had changed. Faced with the possibility of evicting Lyric Medeiros or Melody Morris, she worried the former would change her tune down the line, eventually coming after her and the other icons. And so, with the alacrity of a pre-Tribal Council scramble, she and Devens went to work four hours before the eviction. While they always intended to turn on their “Red Corner” allies, they decided to kick off the proceedings early. In the first blindside of the season, the icons cobbled together enough votes to flip the house. And Dee was happy to lie through her teeth about making it happen.

Incidentally, however, this move would turn the tide against the “Toolshed” alliance as a whole — including Dee herself. On Yash Patel’s HoH, she hit the block for the first time, in true danger of going home. But Devens pulled through with the Diamond Power of Veto, not only saving his number one, but setting up the ouster of their former ally, Kamu Kirk. When Dee then made her return trip up to the HoH room, she took advantage of the role reversal. Using her own power, she offered Yash the “BB Bribe,” offering to keep him safe in exchange for his guarantee that he’d keep the icons off the block moving forward. With the contract sealed with a coin, she instead went after Mallory Aurichio, who was still looking to get revenge on Dee after getting nominated in Week 1. And while she was successful in getting the Pipe Queen out before jury, the move laid the pipework for a much bigger betrayal.

Barrett Pfeiffer had been one of Dee’s closest people in the house for the first seven weeks, both physically and strategically. But he was growing increasingly tired of the icons dictating his game. When Mallory went up, that was the straw that broke the Barrett’s back. When he won HoH, he made one of the biggest moves of the season, putting all three reality vets on the block. And, despite Dee’s comments that he would regret the move for the rest of his life, it seemed like the votes were lining up to boot her from the house. But, facing her first-ever eviction vote, she went to work, privately and publicly pitching to Taylor Brown and Yash Patel that she can be used as a weapon to take down her former allies. And the duo took the deal, leaving Drew and Melody in the dark. Later, during the double eviction, Dee was yet again on the ropes, left defenseless after another Devens clutch comp win. But, two weeks after Drew voted to evict her, she was astoundingly able to convince him to keep her, leading him to flip back over to the icons to evict Yash.

While Dee was grateful to Drew for the move, that doesn’t mean she did have the win on the mind. Indeed, mere minutes after the double eviction, she drilled back in on the dental assistant, feeling he was one of the biggest threats to her endgame chances. Unfortunately, she never got the chance to act on those thoughts. Drew won the veto at both the Final Five and Final Four, leaving Dee in a tricky spot as she sat next to her number one on Day 80. In her mind, Devens was the much bigger threat to win, and facing the vote for the first time made him an easy boot. But now it was her turn to be shocked. Whether it be Dee and Drew’s wavering trust in each other throughout the season, her nominating and targeting him, or Devens’ close-knit relationship with his in-house son, the result was all the same. The Drew had spoken, and it was time for Dee to go.

On her way to the jury house, Dee talks with Parade about why she planned to go all the way with Devens in the game, if she could have pitched anything to change Drew’s mind on evicting her, and the biggest move she regrets in the house

Related: Meet the Full Cast of Big Brother 28

Of your 80 days in the house, what is the move you were most proud of making, and the move you regret making the most?
Oh my goodness! [Pause.] I’m proud of the way I handled the BB Bribe. It was a hard no at first, and then I came back up and I used a Chris Voss tactic, and it worked! And I got the most out of the 5K. I was able to keep not only myself safe, but Devens and Angela for a whole week, even as a renom. So I am very proud of that. Because a part of me was like, “Is this even gonna work?” And it’s very scary to know that, “Alright, I’m gonna try something. But it might not work, and I might look like an idiot.” But I think I got the most out of that, and it did solidify mine and Devens’ safety later on. So that was pretty cool to know. Do I wish it would have gone on longer? Yes. But either way, Yash left in the double eviction, so I am proud of it.

The one I regret the most, I would probably just say taking Melody out. Because the moment that I took her out is the moment that Drew got even closer to Devens. It was really actually up to me to keep Melody. Because Drew voted to evict Taylor, so I really had the power to make that decision. However, I don’t know if I even could have gone against Devens because then I know that I’d be going against his game. But probably in hindsight, taking Melody out. Then again, even if I wouldn’t have taken Melody out, that’s still a duo with Drew and Melody. So I couldn’t forgive myself if there was a world where I kept Melody, and then Melody and Drew took both of us out, Deviens and me, and then they made it to the Final Two. I couldn’t have forgiven myself.

That’s about it. I mean, I definitely have to decompress more because obviously this all just happened. But I’m just in general proud of the game I played and have really no regrets. I think the biggest regret that I have is just being frustrated at myself for not doing better at comps or not studying the game more or sucking at puzzles! I think that is what I regret more.

You and Devens clearly worked closely together throughout the season. Talk to me about how your relationship with your fellow Survivor player changed throughout your time in the game together, and how far did you really want to go with him?
Oh, Devens is the best person in the world! I am the biggest Rick Devens fan. I have never played with someone like Rick Devens. He is so stupid, but also so damn smart. And he loves to have fun, and he’s always coming up with ideas. But also a very caring guy, and just [has] a heart of gold. He is the smartest ally I have ever had, and I feel so honored to play with him. Playing with him makes me realize, “Oh my God, he did deserve his win on on his season of Survivor.” He is just a really, really cool person.

And our relationship I feel like only got stronger. And at first, I was a little bit scared because it could have gone either way. We could have hated each other, or we could have really bonded. And I think we’re very similar in in the fact that we’re just very silly people, and we do not take anything serious at all. And I think that really helped us as allies and as friends. We knew that this is house money. We are the only two Survivors in here. I already won a game; he got fourth place on his season. People are gonna take shots at us. So why not have fun and why not make big moves? And I think we were both very open to that.

When it comes to cutting Devens, the only time that I thought about cutting Devens is when it was Drew’s HoH, and he had offered to put himself as up as a renom. And during that week, I had already had my eye on him, Barrett, and Drew, and their little boys’ club. And sometimes they piss me off and they’d annoy me. Because we’d be at the dining table in the mornings, and everybody would be having a conversation. But then sometimes they’d get quiet, and the three of them would never stop talking, and they do not ask questions to anybody else. It was always the three of them talking about movies and BS. And it would just actually piss me off because they would never look at anybody else and ask anybody else a question. It almost felt like they were so, you know, horse view on each other, and that would piss me off. And it got to a point also where Devens questioned where my vote went. And that pissed me off! And that question came after he was having a conversation with Drew in the Have-Not room. So those little moments.

And even after I renom’d Mallory and she went home, I gave space for Devens to be the good cop, and I’d be the bad cop. But I think he leaned into it a little too much for my liking. Because there was a moment where it was me, Barrett, Drew, and Devens, and we were all sitting together. And Devens loves to make jokes. And one time, Devens made a joke in front of the guys and said, “Oh, did you forget what happened last week?” And he was referencing me renomming Mallory and her going home. Even though we had just created the Mosh Pit, which was created just to keep Angela safe.

So that joke pissed me off because it made me feel like, “Dude! Alright, you’re leaning into the good guy role a little too much, and me the bad guy a little too much. I gave you the space to do so. But don’t be making these f—king jokes in front of them!” so I did sit Devens aside immediately after the joke. And I said, “Devens, I don’t feel supported when you do X, Y, Z.” And he felt really bad about it, and he’s like, “I’m sorry, Dee. It wasn’t my intention.”

I always had a soft spot for Devens and Angela, and obviously they were my ride-or-die people. But that was the only time I considered cutting him. It was there. Had he not won that Block Buster, I would have considered cutting him all week. I was crying thinking about it. However, the morning of, I was like, “Dude, I can’t cut Devens. I can’t do that to him. This is my person. Why the hell am I even thinking about this?” So I even felt guilty thinking about it.

If had I won the final veto, I would not have cut Devens. I would have cut Drew. Because if I would have cut Devens and I would have competed against Drew and Taylor, and then one of them would have beat me and cut me before Final Two, I could have never lived with myself. And it’s no surprise that I didn’t do as well in these comps as Survivor. I thought to myself, “Okay, well I suck at puzzles. One of these final games is going to be a puzzle that I’m probably not going to win. So if I cut Devens now, and Taylor or Drew cut me before Final Two, and me or Devens do not win this game. I cannot live with myself.”

So I would have absolutely brought him to the final three, even if that meant that Devens could beat me in those final comps and cut me, or beat me in the Final Two, which he should have. So, but at least it ensures that Devens wins the game, my main ally. And I do want him to have that money. So I did not consider too deeply cutting him. Now, had I won veto, would I have weighed out my options as I always do? Yes. But I wouldn’t have cut him in the Final Four.

Your trust in Drew wavered throughout the season, with you nominating him during your HoH and him voting to evict you. Talk to me about how your relationship changed during your time in the house.
Oh, Drew, my little weasel! I freaking love this kid so damn much. Aand I’ve said it before. I do feel this responsibility, as like older sister vibes. I never felt like I was an older sister in my life until I met Drew. And yes, our relationship was a classic Latina-Latino sister vibe. One time, I don’t trust him, then I do trust him. But my love for him never wavered.

But yes, there were many moments where I didn’t trust him, and obviously that’s why I put him up too. But after I put him up, I definitely did trust him. He finally put his foot down and was arguing with Yosh and Lala and Taylor. And that was when I realized, “Oh my God, Drew, he just matured. Oh my God, he’s playing the game. Oh my God, he’s not afraid to put his foot down.” So it wasn’t up until then that I felt even closer to fricking Drew, and it almost felt like I felt so prideful to know that he’s able to do this, even after I nominated him. But after that nomination where he stood his ground, I was not going to vote to evict him. I was blindly with him.

Do you feel in retrospect there was anything you could have pitched to him to stay in the game?
Do I think there’s anything else I could have said to him to change his mind? In hindsight, maybe. Maybe s–t on Devens’game a little bit more, kind of pin everything on him the same way that Devens and I decided, “Hey, if one of us goes to the jury, take credit for all the game moves.” Maybe I could have sat Drew down and been like, “Hey, these are Devens game moves. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.”

But I couldn’t do it. My heart can’t do that to Devens. Because if there was a world where Drew were to cut Devens in Final Three because of something I said, I don’t want to be that. I don’t want to be that person. I mean, Drew told me himself he had his mind made up. He knew what he was gonna do. So the same way that I would have cut Drew because I wanted to ensure that myself or Devens won this game is the same reason Drew cut me. He wanted to ensure that himself and Devens won the game. So I don’t think there’s anything I could have said. I probably will regret it after, once Drew gets out of the game and tells me, “Dee, if you would have said this, I would have not voted to evict you.” But their relationship was just so strong, and their bond. And honestly, kudos to Devens, because he has Drew wrapped. Which is amazing to watch as a gamer, that you have somebody so blindly loyal to you. It’s the best thing that you could have in the game.

In the beginning of the game, you and the other icons were guaranteed the first HoH. And you also got the Diamond Power of Veto and BB Bribe through the time capsule, which helped you through several tight spots. How much of an advantage do you think you had over the other players in the house, and how did that affect the way you played?
I do think we had an advantage, obviously, because it was one of three chances, and we were the only people that could win HoH. And of course, the powers were a huge advantage. However, I did not choose to get an advantage. This was all America. Blame America if you want to! And also it all came down to, first, we had to get the power right. [With] other people, America voted for them, but they got punishments, so not my fricking problem! And it all came down to what Devens and I did with the powers. And I think that both of us used our powers to their full advantage and their full power in itself. We did have an advantage, obviously guaranteed HoH the first week, but also we are the only three icons in the house.

And the fact that we were named “icons” — and I love that. I thank you for calling me an icon; I appreciate it. But goodness, when something is attached to your name like that, it is very hard to remove that perspective. People are just gonna call you “the icons,” and that word in itself is hard. There’s no way that you can say anything for people to not look at you as an icon and not see you as a threat. And the fact that the three of us have already played games before. I already won Survivor. I was on The Challenge. I did Survivor again. Devens got fourth. Then he did Survivor again. Angela, we all know her and love her. So that in itself is a disadvantage. Because people look at you and they think, “Okay, we got to get them out.” You know what I mean?

Yes, the powers did get us out of tricky situations that we otherwise wouldn’t have gotten out of for sure. Maybe, who knows? But at the end of the day, we didn’t choose those powers. America voted for us for whatever reason. And other people also got voted, and they got punishment, so that’s on them. And really, it came down to what Devens did with his Diamond Power of veto, and he did a huge move. And I also think I did a huge move with the BB Bribe. So I think we both maximized the powers to our advantage. And yeah, I think we would have created alliances and bonds, regardless of whether we wouldn’t have won HoH. We would have figured it out anyway, I’d like to believe.

Finally, give your rapid-fire thoughts on each of the remaining houseguests. Starting with Devens.
Goofy, intelligent.
Drew.
He’s a lover. He’s a lover at his core.
And finally, Taylor.
Unpredictable! [Laughs.]

Related: ‘Big Brother 28’s Melody Morris Says Aligning With Drew ‘Hurt More Than It Helped’ (Exclusive)

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Summer may get all the attention when it comes to backyard entertaining, but fall is arguably the best season to spend time outdoors. The sweltering afternoons give way to crisp temperatures, while the trees change colors. There’s no better excuse to invite friends over for a bonfire, a round of hot apple cider, or a cozy dinner on the patio. The only downside? With the sun setting earlier, those lovely autumn evenings can get dark well before anyone’s ready to head inside.

That’s where a light-up patio umbrella comes in handy. Traditional umbrellas provide shade during the day, but a solar-powered version with built-in LED lights pulls double duty. Take the Autlaycil 10-Foot LED Patio Umbrella at Walmart, which features 40 lights to illuminate your outdoor seating area without the hassle of hanging string lights. Usually $108, it’s currently available for $57, saving you over $50 on a backyard upgrade that can make the most of fall’s shorter days.

Autlaycil 10-Foot LED Patio Umbrella, From $57 (was $108) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Measuring 10 feet across, this patio umbrella provides plenty of coverage for an outdoor dining table, a poolside seating area, or a collection of lounge chairs in the garden. Its polyester canopy is supported by eight steel ribs and an aluminum alloy pole, giving it a sturdy framework without making the design overly complicated. A built-in crank handle opens and closes the canopy in one smooth motion, while a separate push-button tilt mechanism lets you adjust its angle as the sun moves across the sky. 

Each of the eight ribs is lined with LED lights, for a total of 32 lights distributed across the umbrella’s full 10-foot span. Rather than relying on a single light in the center, the arrangement spreads illumination over the seating area beneath the canopy. And since the lights are built directly into the umbrella, there’s no need to hang string lights or run extension cords across the backyard.

Autlaycil 10-Foot LED Patio Umbrella, From $57 (was $108) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The lighting system is solar-powered, with an included panel that collects energy during the day to charge the LEDs. Once fully charged, the lights can run for approximately six to seven hours, providing illumination. Keep in mind that the solar panel will need sufficient sunlight to recharge, so the lighting time may vary depending on the weather and how much sun your patio receives.

Shop More Deals

• Best Choice Products 10-Foot 3-Tier Solar Patio Umbrella With LED Lights, from $68 (was $186) at Walmart
• EDX 10-Foot Outdoor Patio Umbrella With Solar LED Lights, from $58 (was $80) at Walmart
• Fundaze 10-Foot Solar LED Patio Umbrella With Tilt and Crank Lift, from $54 (was $92) at Walmart

The umbrella also comes with the accessories you’ll need to get started, including the solar panel, pole, and instruction manual. An included Velcro storage strap keeps the canopy neatly secured when it’s closed, making it easier to store between uses. You’ll need to supply a compatible umbrella base, sold separately.

Walmart shoppers shared their appreciation for this “sturdy” and “bright” umbrella, saying it provides a “cozy atmosphere” after dark. “This patio umbrella is a great size and provides plenty of shade,” one reviewer wrote, “The crank and tilt features make the umbrella easy to open and adjust.

Related: Martha Stewart’s Water-Resistant Rug Instantly Upgrades Living Rooms and Patios for $33

Don’t let an early sunset cut your patio plans short. Shop the Autlaycil 10-Foot LED Patio Umbrella for $58 at Walmart while it’s 48% off, and keep those fall gatherings going after dark!

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.

“Could’ve Been” was a 1987 song released by Tiffany. Three months after she had her hit, “I Think We’re Alone Now,” this song rose all the way to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. It remained there for two weeks.

This song was originally recorded in 1983 by Lois Blaisch, but her version was never released. In an interview with Songfacts, Blaisch revealed that the song was inspired by a relationship with an oral surgeon. She said, “The oral surgeon guy was full of bulls-it and led me to believe he was going to finance my career and all this stuff, and I bought the whole thing, which is actually what inspired the lyric of ‘Could’ve Been’ because what I fell in love with was not necessarily him but all the things that he promised – all the big lies and the bulls-it. He probably was just trying to score. I don’t know. So, I didn’t really fall in love with him, I fell in love with what could’ve been.”

Tiffany also spoke about the song with Songfacts. She said, “I have been an old soul for a long time. When I heard that song, I related to it immediately. You’re right, at that time I hadn’t lived any of that heartbreak, but I understood it. At 14, you go through dating a guy for two weeks, and he goes out with your best friend. That is heartbreaking. Your world is falling apart, and that is what I could relate it to.”

Related: 1992 Rock Song, Which Most Spin Doctors Fans Assume Is About an Ex, Is Really About a Stepmother

She continued, “That and also, I lived in a very adult world even before my career. My family had a lot of conflict. There was a lot of love, but there were a lot of issues. I saw a lot of people that were older than me – my aunts and my uncles and my mom – make mistakes and get hurt, or trust and get hurt, and love gone wrong. So, I saw that all play out a little bit. So, as a vocalist, I was kind of singing and telling their stories. Songs that I maybe had not had a personal experience with yet, I still understood because of that upbringing, in a weird way. I definitely wasn’t raised in a bubble.”

Some of Tiffany’s other big hits were “I Saw Him Standing There,” “All This Time,” “Radio Romance,” and “Feelings of Forever.” Tiffany is still performing to this day. She is currently 54.

In July 2026, fans of Live with Kelly and Mark were shocked to find out that Kelly Ripa wasn’t on their screens. She had opted for dental surgery, which led to her having to take time off, but she returned as the new season started on Sept. 8, 2026. Now it’s Mark Consuelos’ turn to get surgery that he’s “been putting off.”

Consuelos shared with viewers during the Sept. 25 show that he had been putting the “major” surgery off for a year. Ripa couldn’t help but comment on the severity of the surgery, as well as noting that she’s looking forward to one particular part of it.

The 55-year-old announced while on Live with Kelly and Mark that he would be getting toe surgery to help deal with a developing arthritic condition due to years of playing soccer. In November 2024, he explained that he had turf toe, and had surgery on his left foot years earlier to help handle that. Now he needed it on his right.

He was supposed to have the surgery in 2025, but he put it off. It’s finally time to get it done, and the conversation turned to how Ripa was looking forward to filming him as he was coming off the sedation medication. Consuelos said he was already “feeling loopy” because he hadn’t eaten all day, having to fast for 24 hours.

LIVE WITH KELLY AND MARK – Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos co-host “Live with Kelly and Mark”, featuring guests Law Roach and Caroline Rhea, with coverage airing on Tuesday, July 1st, 2026. Live with Kelly and Mark airs weekdays on ABC. (Disney/José Alvarado Jr.) KELLY RIPA, MARK CONSUELOS

This brought up a conversation about fasting before surgery, with Ripa noting that she had three C-sections and never had to fast. However, one man in the audience explained he had to fast before groin surgery. As Ripa gave him a pass, she noted that toe surgery isn’t exactly a “big one.” It’s more of “a pedicure.”

The good news for fans is that Consuelos won’t be taking time off from Live with Kelly and Mark after surgery. He is slated to return on Monday, where he is sure to share more about the work he’s had to have done. There may also be some fun anecdotes from Ripa’s turn playing caretaker to her husband as he recovers over the weekend.

When Ripa had her surgery, it was to fix problems with her receding gums. That meant she was under strict instructions not to speak, so she had to take a couple of months off to recover. Ripa has often shared that she was “talking like crazy” despite the instructions, so it’ll be interesting to see what it’s like on the other side.

Live with Kelly and Mark returns on Monday, Sept. 28, with plans for both hosts to be there.

Twenty years ago today, NBC put on a show about ordinary people who wake up able to do impossible things. More than 14 million people watched.

Five words from it outlived the show. “Save the cheerleader, save the world.”

Hayden Panettiere was the cheerleader.

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Heroes creator Tim Kring was casting ten leads on a budget that wouldn’t stretch to stars. He wanted faces people half-recognized. Then Panettiere walked in.

“We did not look very far, we saw her, and that was it,” Kring recently shared in an interview for the show’s 20th anniversary. “She just embodied that girl-next-door quality, and then her range was exceptional. So it was just pure talent that walked in the door.”

He had a specific note for the part. “I described her as the cheerleader who you had the crush on, not the one that everybody else had the crush on,” he said. “So not the golden girl, but slightly quirky, with something offbeat about her.”

For other roles he can still name the actors who came close. For Claire Bennet there weren’t any. “There’s nobody in my head that we saw other than her.”

The Tagline Was an Accident

“Save the cheerleader, save the world” started as shorthand in the writers’ room while they mapped the season on a board. Somebody liked how it sounded, and they handed it to Hiro Nakamura, played by Masi Oka, as a line of dialogue.

The network turned it into the whole marketing campaign.

“It was one of those happy accidents where one line of dialogue distills down to the essence of what the story was all about,” Kring said.

It Beat the Superhero Boom by Years

Heroes premiered in September 2006, before the Marvel machine reached television and before the CW spent a decade building a network out of comic books. Its first season took eight Emmy nominations.

“The thought of doing superhero stuff on network television, it was felt that that audience was too fringe and small,” Kring said. “But it was a sleeping giant.”

The fall was faster than the rise. The 2007 writers’ strike cut season 2 fifteen episodes short and left a cliffhanger hanging for ten months.

The ratings didn’t come back. The show ended after four seasons.

Panettiere Died in August

She was found unresponsive in a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment on Aug. 16 and pronounced dead at 36. On Tuesday the county coroner ruled it an accident, caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl and other drugs.

Her Heroes castmates gathered to celebrate her life days after she died. Courteney Cox, who worked with her on Scream, wrote her own tribute. Viola Davis called her “so gifted.”

The tagline went back into circulation after she died, passed around by people who had not thought about the show in years. Kring, asked about that, went back to what the line had meant in the room.

“There was also this almost irony, like, wouldn’t it be great if it were so simple that all you had to do is save one person to save the entire world?”

Dairy Queen is taking National Coffee Day very seriously this year.

Ahead of the holiday on Tuesday, September 29, the beloved fast-food joint announced it will join other beverage titans (like Dunkin’) in launching its own celebration, featuring three “delicious” new Coolers made with cold brew coffee.

DQ is also giving fans more incentive to try out any of the newcomers, offering a sweet deal now through Sunday, November 1. Keep reading for everything we know about the flavors, when they’ll debut and how to score those savings.

Dairy Queen Debuts 3 New Coffee Coolers Just in Time for National Coffee Day

According to the recent announcement, all three of the new DQ Coffee Coolers are made with a blend of cold brew, its iconic soft-serve and a little ice (the exact caffeine content wasn’t immediately available). That said, of the trio, only two are slated to join DQ’s menu permanently. The third is coming as a limited-time offer, available for an unknown period (but presumably not very long).

Related: Dairy Queen Just Revealed Its Next Oreo Blizzard Flavor Is Coming With an Ube Twist

In terms of flavors, Dairy Queen is taking longtime consumer favorites—Oreo cookies, salted caramel and toasted marshmallow—and giving them new life in an even cooler format.

• Oreo DQ Coffee Cooler: Cold brew blended with Oreo cookie pieces, DQ’s world-famous soft serve, and misty slush, garnished with whipped topping and more Oreo cookie pieces.  
• Salted Caramel DQ Coffee Cooler: Cold brew blended with DQ’s soft serve and misty slush, drizzled with caramel topping and garnished with whipped topping, caramel, and sweet-and-salty pieces.  
• Toasted Marshmallow DQ Coffee Cooler: Available for a limited time only, cold brew blended with DQ’s soft serve and misty slush, drizzled with cocoa fudge and garnished with whipped topping and fudge. 

Dairy Queen

As for when guests can start ordering them, the sips are available now. And those who order through November 1 can enjoy a small of any flavor for just $3 at participating U.S. locations.

Next: Tillamook’s ‘Best Coffee-Flavored Ice Cream on the Market’ Is Back—and So Is a Cozy Holiday Favorite

Target locations are known for their bold, red exteriors, making the retail chain easy to spot when passing by. But a new Target opening soon in the Hamptons will be a muted shade of gray instead.

Located in Bridgehampton, New York, the Target was designed to “align with the town’s design guidelines to reflect its coastal vibes,” according to a press release issued by Target. The 90,000 square foot-store will offer guests a CVS Pharmacy and a Starbucks and is expected to employ about 140 team members. Target first opened in the state of New York in 1996 and the Bridgehampton location will mark its 109th store in the state.

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In 2024, The East Hampton Star reported on Target’s plan to take over the space, which previously held the last full-sized K-Mart location in the continental U.S., saying that many community members had hoped for a small business to occupy the space. The then president of the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Ellen Dioguardi, was quoted by The Star as saying, “The difference between going into a Target type of big-box store and shopping in your local community means when you keep it local you are helping support your neighbors and friends and your entire community.”

Two years later, the new Target store is set to open on Oct. 11. The store has a pale, gray exterior with white Target signage and bullseye. Retail Dive reports the Target sign is not internally illuminated and is instead lit from above in keeping with the area’s signage requirements. A Target spokesperson told Retail Dive that Target “worked closely with the town to ensure the store’s exterior and signage fit naturally within the surrounding community.”

Retail Dive also reports that there are other Target stores around the U.S. with similar limitations. Stores in Silverthorne, Colo. and South Lake Tahoe, Calif. have specific exterior elements that were put into place in consideration of the location of the store.

Target will open eight locations in October, for a total of 30 brick-and-mortar locations opened by the chain in 2026.

Netflix officially renewed the global hit series The Beast in Me for a second season.

Initially announced as a limited series, the Claire Danes-led drama quickly became a hit on the streamer, debuting at No. 1 on Netflix’s Global Top 10.

The popular thriller also landed in the Top 10 across 88 countries, racking up 43 million views during its first seven weeks on the platform.

Just recently, The Beast in Me took home two Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Music Composition and a historic win for Matthew Rhys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

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Netflix also announced that it is doubling down on its partnership with executive producer, writer, and co-showrunner Howard Gordon.

“We always told ourselves we’d only do a second season of The Beast in Me if we found a story that was worthy of the first – and I’m thrilled to say we found it,” Gordon said in a statement shared by Netflix. “We loved making this show and our audience seemed to love watching it, so we’re enormously grateful to Jinny Howe and Netflix, and to Karey Burke and 20th Television for giving us the chance to get the band back together and do it again.”

Meanwhile, Netflix’s Head of Scripted Series Jinny Howe echoed the excitement.

“We are thrilled to bring back The Beast in Me and to welcome Howard Gordon to the Netflix family with this creative partnership,” Howe said in a statement. “The series captivated global audiences, delivered extraordinary performances led by Claire Danes, and earned Matthew Rhys a historic Emmy win. We are incredibly proud of what Howard Gordon, Gabe Rotter, and the entire cast and crew achieved. We can’t wait for audiences to see what Howard and Daniel Pearle have in store for the next season.”

The Beast in Me Season 2 will see Danes return as Aggie Wiggs, a writer who became entangled with her nefarious billionaire neighbor, Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys), in Season 1.

“I Loves You, Porgy” is a duet from a 1935 opera called Porgy and Bess. However, it gained popularity when it was released by Nina Simone in 1959. The song rose to No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. This was the highest that Simone would ever place on the chart.

Simone was an incredible artist who performed the song on The Ed Sullivan Show. Listeners on the YouTube video left comments like, “So grateful that Ed Sullivan made sure artists like her got massive exposure.” Another said, “She never received the recognition and acclaim she deserved. Kudos to Ed Sullivan. Powerful performance.”

When asked about her singing career in a 1992 interview, she said, “I was myself. But I had been influenced by playing popular music at Arlene Smith Studio [in Philadelphia]. I had been playing lots of popular music, and I didn’t know that I was going to become a singer. But when I went to the first nightclub that I played in, I simply played all the songs that I’d heard these kids trying to sing at her studio. I did when I was small. But I hadn’t played by ear publicly outside of the church until I got into nightclubs. So after 20 years of training for classical music, it was an outlet. I felt let out of a cage – that I could improvise on these popular songs with the classical technique.”

Simone also spoke about her deep involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and how it impacted her career. “The record company punished me for 10 years,” she revealed. “They wouldn’t send me my royalties. It was that blatant. Everybody knows about it. We’re still in the process of trying to get what I’m owed. There are 30 pirated albums in England right now. Trying to track down the pirates, you can hardly do it. They come and disappear as quickly as you find them. We have two lawyers trying to get my royalties. We’re getting some.”

Related:  1967 Iconic Rock Song, From an English Band That Eventually Formed the Electric Light Orchestra, Never Charted

Simone was known for other popular songs like “Feeling Good,” “My Baby Just Cares for Me,” and “Mississippi Goddam.” She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Simone died in 2003 at the age of 70.  

Margot Robbie may or may not be going by a different name soon, as it’s been reported that the Wuthering Heights actor has legally changed her last name.

Documents for LuckyChap Entertainment now identify the Suicide Squad star, 36, as Margot Ackerley, marking a change from the name she has publicly used throughout her career. The records were filed with Companies House, the U.K.’s business registry, on Tuesday.

It’s speculated that Robbie will continue to use her maiden name professionally as an actor.

Robbie has used her legal surname for LuckyChap Entertainment since she was appointed director in 2015. The company was founded by the actor and her husband, Tom Ackerley, alongside longtime friends Sophia Kerrback and Josey McNamara. The Wolf of Wall Street star has used the company ot develop female-focused, filmmaker-driven film and TV projects. Some projects include I, Tonya, Birds of Prey, Maid, Saltburn, and Barbie.

The actor and Ackerly originally met in 2013 while working on the World War II film Suite Française, where Robbie was a part of the cast, and Ackerly worked as an assistant director. They started as friends, with Robbie once commenting that she fell in love with Ackerly early on but assumed he didn’t feel the same way.

Related: ’80s Action Star Dolph Lundgren Recalls Knowing He Was ‘In Trouble’ After Meeting His 22-Year-Old Wife at 61

“The idea of relationships made me want to vomit,” Robbie told Vogue in 2016 about her bygone bachelorette days. “And then this crept up on me. We were friends for so long. I was always in love with him, but I thought, ‘Oh, he would never love me back. Don’t make it weird, Margot. Don’t be stupid and tell him that you like him.'”

Their relationship really began to blossom after the film and when she began working on press for The Wolf of Wall Street. She, Ackerly, Kerrback, and McNamara all decided to live together, and they kept their relationship a secret. Robbie admits that they kept it a secret because they weren’t “really taking it seriously,” and many felt it would ruin the friend group.

“Everyone was, like, ‘No! This is going to ruin our group!'” Robbie recalled. “And then it didn’t. It was fine.”

The couple married in December 2016 in a private ceremony in Byron Bay, Australia. They’ve kept their relationship largely private and welcomed their first child, a son, in 2024.

“Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” was released by The Spin Doctors in 1992. The song rose all the way to No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was used in the movie Son in Law, Malice, and an episode of the sitcom Friends. It was also spoofed on Sesame Street as “Little Miss Count Along.”

Even though many people assume the song is about an ex, lead singer Chris Barron revealed that he wrote it about his stepmother. In an interview with American Songwriter, he said, “That song is actually about my stepmom, my dad’s ex-wife. People always think it’s about an ex of mine, but it’s actually about my dad’s ex, who I grew up with. She was actually a malignant narcissist, if that rings a bell. She was a really rough person to grow up with, and she said I was going to be a guitar-playing janitor.”

Barron continued, “There is actually a tweet about this that blew up a little while ago. I was looking through Twitter, and someone said something like, ‘My English teacher said I’d never be a writer, and now I have a book in the New York Times.’ And I was like, my stepmom said I was going to be a guitar-playing janitor – nothing wrong with that – and live in the basement of my high school, and play guitar for the rats, and I wrote a song about her, and it’s called ‘Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong’ and it’s been played on the radio three billion times!”

Related: 1967 Iconic Rock Song, From an English Band That Eventually Formed the Electric Light Orchestra, Never Charted

When speaking with Sky Magazine, Barron also apologized to listeners who found the lyrics misogynistic. He said, “The song is really about life being short, so we should all be nice to one another. It’s about one specific person, not a generalization about women. When I wrote those lyrics, I was a poor guy in New York City who wrote songs. I never dreamed that it would be on the radio all over the world. It’s about a person, who happens to be a woman, who is very unkind, very unforgiving and couldn’t be wrong. It could’ve been a man… and I promise to try and write more constructive songs in the future.”

The Spin Doctors have had several hit songs over the years, including “Two Princes,” “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues,” “What Time Is It?” and “Cleopatra’s Cat.” The band is still together to this day.

Leah Remini‘s time as a Real Housewife is well underway.

Following the August announcement that the King of Queens star is joining Bravo’s Beverly Hills Housewives franchise, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the actress took to Instagram, showing behind-the-scenes snaps of filming.

“The calm before the storm that was @suttonstracke birthday,” she captioned the carousel of photos of her in a makeup chair getting ready for castmate Sutton Stracke‘s party, as well as a group shot with Jennifer Tilly and former RHOBH star Denise Richards.

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Tracy Tutor, who was also announced as a newbie on the reality show, cheekily responded in comments, “What storm…I see no storm,” with laughing face emojis.

Like Tutor, who was once on Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing LA, Remini also has experience in front of cameras for a non-scripted show, thanks to her docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which aired for three seasons.

This isn’t the first time Remini has documented her time filming RHOBH, either. Earlier this month, she shared a photo of herself, Stracke, and longtime reality star Kyle Richards, with the caption, “Not even a week in and Sutton has stitches.”

And while the funny jab on Remini’s Instagram may have been at her expense, Stracke had nothing but high praise for Remini when speaking with Page Six‘s Virtual Reali-Tea last week.

“She’s an actress, but she’s so real,” Stracke said. “She’s really real, she’s so laid back and cool, and I have just really enjoyed getting to know her.”

Related: Leah Remini Has Joined ‘Real Housewives’ — Here’s What Fans Are Saying

Along with Stracke, Richards, Tutor, and Tilly, Season 16 of the reality show will see the return of Erika Jayne, Dorit Kemsley, Kathy Hilton, and Bozoma St. John. The show will also feature fashion icon Rachel Zoe, who made her debut on the show last season.

This season, however, will not see the return of Amanda Frances, who announced she would not come back to the show for a second season.

Season 16 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premieres December 4 on Bravo.

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Spooky season and sweater weather have finally joined forces, and Amazon has an adorable option for wearing straight through October. The Lukycild Oversized Ghost Sweatshirt is on sale for just $15, down from $27, in brown with an embroidered white ghost and black cats. It comes in sizes small through XXL, and you can choose from several other Halloween-ready designs and colors, although the $15 brown style is the best deal right now at 44% off.

The long-sleeve pullover features a classic crew neckline and an easy, loose silhouette for a roomy feel. It’s made of a blend of 60% polyester, 35% rayon, and 5% spandex, so it has a little built-in stretch, too. And since it’s a pull-on style, it’s super easy to throw on when you’re heading out on a chilly fall morning or settling in for a Halloween movie marathon.

Lukycild Oversized Ghost Sweatshirt, $15 (was $27) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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At just $15, this is an easy, inexpensive way to sprinkle some Halloween spirit into your everyday fall wardrobe without committing to something that only works for a costume. The little ghost and black cats give the brown sweatshirt plenty of spooky personality, but the embroidered design is still cute enough for pumpkin picking, a coffee run, handing out candy, or any other autumn outing. Since the silhouette is roomy, there’s also space to layer underneath once those crisp fall days start getting colder.

Reviewers have called the sweatshirt “super cute,” “perfect for spooky season,” and “soft and cozy.” One person was especially enthusiastic, calling it “one of my favorite sweatshirts of all time,” and shared that they wore it for two months straight. Another shopper wrote, “The embroidery is expensive-looking,” and said they received lots of compliments while wearing it.

You could go full sweater-weather mode with leggings and boots for an outfit that practically comes with a pumpkin spice latte in hand, whether you’re heading to the pumpkin patch, apple picking, or spending the morning at a fall market. Or, for something a little more laid-back, you could wear it with baggy jeans and sneakers for an easy street-style look that still shows off the embroidered ghost and black cats.

Shop More Deals

• Arach&Cloz Wool-Blend Crewneck Fall Sweater, $25 (was $36) at Amazon
• Wiholl Lace Long Sleeve Waffle Knit Top, From $13 (was $20) at Amazon
• Lotucy Spooky Season Crewneck Sweatshirt, $13 (was $17) at Amazon

Related: Walmart Sells a ‘Super Soft’ $19 Quarter-Zip With a ‘Nice Weight’ for Chilly Fall Days

With the brown Lukycild Oversized Ghost Sweatshirt marked down to just $15, now is a great time to get your spooky-season wardrobe ready before October arrives. The cozy oversized fit and embroidered Halloween design make it an easy piece to reach for all season long, so grab your size on Amazon while the limited-time deal is still live.

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Casserole season is officially calling. As the temperatures dip and comforting dinners start making their way back into the weekly rotation, there’s something so cozy about pulling a bubbling baked dish from the oven and setting it right on the table. And while casseroles are famously low-fuss, the right baking dish can make the whole experience feel a little more special.

That’s where Target’s latest stoneware find comes in. The 16.5-by-10.5-inch Stoneware Rectangle Bakeware from Hearth & Hand with Magnolia is a deep green ceramic dish with an embossed design that gives it considerably more personality than your average casserole pan. It also comes with a matching stoneware lid topped with a handle, making it useful for serving and storing your masterpiece after dinner.

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Hearth & Hand With Magnolia Stoneware Rectangle Bakeware Green, $49.99 at Target

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For $49.99, the dish is large-capacity and is dishwasher- and freezer-safe, as well as microwave-safe and oven-safe up to 500 degrees. Target lists it as made from stoneware, with both the baking dish and lid made from the same material.

And shoppers are already getting into the cozy-kitchen spirit. One reviewer called it “absolutely beautiful,” adding, “Very satisfied! I love this, I love the color, the size and that my food does not stick to it.” Another reviewer said it “would be an incredible piece to have at any holiday gathering,” praising its quality and color.

Related: Season Like a Pro With Aldi’s New $5 Acacia Wood Pinch Bowls

The green hue and embossed detailing are particularly suited to fall tables, whether you’re serving a bubbling lasagna, cheesy baked pasta, roasted vegetables or a holiday side dish. And because the lid matches, you can cover leftovers without resorting to a mismatched sheet of foil or plastic wrap.

There is one thing to keep in mind—this is a substantial piece. Target lists its weight at 10.5 pounds, so it’s definitely not the lightweight baking dish you’ll casually toss around with one hand. But for anyone who appreciates sturdy stoneware—and a baking dish that can go from oven to table with some serious style—it could be a particularly charming addition to the fall kitchen.

After all, if you’re going to spend the season making casseroles, they may as well have a pretty place to land.

Related: Welcome Fall to Your Front Door With Target’s ‘Beautiful’ Plum Berry Wreath

Peter Cetera wrote “Glory of Love” with a boxing movie in mind, not a karate one. 

Sylvester Stallone‘s team turned it down for Rocky IV, and it wasn’t until the song landed in The Karate Kid Part II that it became the No. 1 hit everyone remembers. 

Cetera wrote the song as a solo artist, but he hadn’t always been one. Chicago was built to be a band without a frontman, with vocal and writing duties shared among the members. But by the late ’70s, it was Cetera’s ballads that were becoming its biggest hits. 

That trend picked up in the ’80s when producer David Foster started working closely with the group. As MTV put Chicago’s videos into heavy rotation, Cetera increasingly became the face of the band.

Not everyone in the band was thrilled about it. Even with Cetera’s voice carrying 1984’s Chicago 17 to big success, tension grew over his interest in going solo and cutting back on touring, and the band eventually parted ways with him.

By 1985, Cetera was working on his second solo album, and he and Foster still had the chord progression from that unused Rocky IV pitch sitting around. When producers on The Karate Kid Part II came calling about a theme song, that leftover progression became the starting point.

To get a feel for the film, Cetera watched some footage and focused on its themes of honor and courage. He wrote the lyrics with his then-wife, Diane Nini, and the track was produced by Michael Omartian. 

The release schedule ended up working in Cetera’s favor. “Glory of Love” reached No. 1 not long after the movie hit theaters. A few weeks later, Solitude/Solitaire arrived and rode that momentum to platinum status.

The song earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Song, losing the Oscar and Golden Globe to Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away.”

Cetera also received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male. 

Hurricane Polo roared back into Category 5 strength early Friday, September 25, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. It’s the third storm to reach Category 5 intensity in the Eastern Pacific this season, following Genevieve and Lowell, tying 1994 for the most Category 5 hurricanes ever recorded in a single Eastern Pacific season. Polo has also become the basin’s second-most intense hurricane on record by pressure, trailing only 2015’s Hurricane Patricia.

The storm is currently spinning several hundred miles off Mexico’s Pacific coast and is forecast to curve north, then turn back toward land, with landfall expected in northern Baja California Sur on Monday before Polo pushes into mainland Mexico’s Sonora state. Forecasters expect it to weaken significantly, likely down to a Category 1, by the time it comes ashore. Mexican officials have already ordered evacuations in some coastal communities and opened shelters as a precaution. Still, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico has urged American travelers in Baja California Sur and Sonora to monitor local officials and prepare for heavy rain, flooding, and mudslides as the system approaches.

Polo won’t make landfall in the U.S., but its outer swells are already stirring concern along the Southern California coast. Cities like Long Beach and Newport Beach are bracing for elevated surf and dangerous rip currents, with crews racing to shore up sand berms that were battered just weeks ago by Hurricane Marie. Coastal officials say the ground hasn’t fully recovered from that earlier storm, raising the stakes for this next round of big waves.

The National Hurricane Center says formal coastal watches for Baja California could go up as early as Saturday, and officials are urging anyone along Polo’s path, from Mexico’s Pacific coast to Southern California’s beaches, to stay alert as the storm barrels toward a dangerous close to the week.

If your household relies on Ms. Rachel to power through morning routines, car rides or living room dance parties, screen time just got a whole lot easier to manage. Rachel and Aron Accurso, the creative powerhouses behind the YouTube series Ms. Rachel, have officially released their debut studio album, I’m So Happy.

Distributed globally through Magic Star (the family division of Sony Music’s The Orchard), the 23-track collection marks the first time families can stream or play physical copies of the show’s signature songs off-screen. Rather than simply pulling audio clips directly from YouTube episodes, the couple completely reworked the music with full studio orchestrations, live strings and guest Broadway vocalists.

Here’s a look at what went into making the record, how the couple approached the music from a child-development perspective and where parents can find exclusive physical editions.

Related: Ms. Rachel Fans ‘Thankful’ as Beloved Influencer Unveils Debut Album: ‘Going Platinum’

Why Parents Are Celebrating a Screen-Free Ms. Rachel Album

Since launching the show to support early speech and language development, Rachel and Aron Accurso have built an audience of over 21 million YouTube subscribers and nearly 17 billion total views. But as every parent of a toddler knows, playing video clips in the car or during bedtime prep isn’t always ideal.

“We are so excited for families to be able to listen to the songs from the show away from the screen,” the duo shared upon the album’s release. “We grew up loving children’s albums and they were such a special part of our childhood. We are honored to have connected with so many wonderful families and we are so happy to have made an album they can enjoy together.”

For caregivers trying to limit daily screen exposure while maintaining familiar routines, the audio release gives toddlers a comforting connection to their favorite learning songs during car rides, nap prep or playtime.

How Broadway Musicians Brought 23 Toddler Songs to Life

Zach Hyman

What sets I’m So Happy apart from standard children’s records is the sheer scale of the production behind it. Recorded and mixed across studios in New York City and Nashville, the project brought together 19 vocalists and 42 instrumentalists to record expanded, full-scale arrangements.

Aron Accurso, who brought years of experience as a Broadway composer, conductor and music director to the project, led a team of musical collaborators—including Michael Kosarin, Michael Starobin, Martin Erskine and Christopher Jahnke—to treat each track like a standalone theatrical piece:

• “I Love a Rainbow”: Expanded from its original show version into a rich bossa nova arrangement featuring a newly written bridge and live orchestral strings.
• “Caterpillar”: Transformed from a basic solo piano track into a sweeping, full-scale orchestral composition.
• Broadway guest vocalists: Features performances from stage veterans including Keisha Gilles, Angelo Soriano, Natalie Kaye Clater and Dennis Stowe.

Grammy Award-winner Scott Riesett co-produced the record alongside Aron, ensuring the acoustic quality matches prestige theater recordings while staying grounded in early childhood research.

Related: Ms. Rachel Veteran Joins Reading Rainbow as Reboot Gets 24-Episode Pickup

Research-Backed Music Tailored for Toddler Brains

Beyond the heavy-duty musical arrangements, every track on I’m So Happy remains anchored in early childhood education principles. Rachel Accurso holds dual master’s degrees in early childhood education and music education and uses research-backed techniques to help young listeners reach key developmental milestones.

Original tracks like “Big Feelings” and “I Listen to My Body” offer toddlers concrete language to navigate emotional regulation and sensory awareness. Meanwhile, revised takes on nursery rhymes like “Hop Little Bunnies” and “Icky Sticky Bubblegum” keep speech articulation and rhythm practice front and center.

Where To Stream and Buy Ms. Rachel’s Album

For families looking to add I’m So Happy to their home collection, the album is available across digital streaming platforms as well as physical formats:

• Streaming platforms: Available now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora and more.
• Vinyl records: Released in multiple exclusive color variants through major retail partners.
• Compact discs: Available at national retailers and online storefronts.
• iTunes exclusive download: Includes the full 23-track album along with three exclusive spoken-word messages from Ms. Rachel directly to young listeners.

Related: YouTube Favorite Ms. Rachel Shocks Fans With Out-of-Character Appearance

Complete I’m So Happy Tracklist

1. I’m So Happy
2. I Love a Rainbow
3. Icky Sticky Bubblegum
4. Phonics
5. Hop Little Bunnies
6. Caterpillar
7. Up and Down
8. Bubble Pop
9. Walkin’ at the Zoo
10. Open Shut Them
11. I Could Be Your Friend
12. I Listen to My Body
13. The Wheels on the Bus
14. Dino Play
15. Pop Those Bubbles
16. Old MacDonald
17. If You Should Meet an Elephant
18. Counting to 20!
19. B-I-N-G-O
20. Looby Loo
21. Big Feelings
22. Together
23. I Love You to the Moon

Related: Ms. Rachel's Net Worth Is Nothing to Play Around About

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Drafty windows are frustrating enough when one room feels colder than the rest of the house. When utility bills climb at the same time, it is reasonable to wonder whether replacing the windows will actually solve the problem—or simply create another expensive home project.

For homeowners comparing replacement windows, ENERGY STAR certification provides a useful starting point. The label means a window has met independently verified performance requirements established for its climate zone. But certification alone does not determine whether a replacement project makes financial sense. The condition of the existing windows, installation quality, local climate and total project cost all matter.

If your windows are drafty, damaged or difficult to operate, a professional assessment can identify whether replacement is warranted. Request a free Renewal by Andersen consultation and quote.

Are ENERGY STAR replacement windows worth the extra cost?

Yes, ENERGY STAR replacement windows are often worth considering when existing windows are old, single-pane, drafty or deteriorated. ENERGY STAR says certified windows reduce household heating and cooling costs by an average of up to 13% nationwide when replacing single-pane windows. The actual savings depend on the home, climate and existing windows.

That distinction matters. A homeowner replacing already-efficient, relatively new windows should not expect the same energy savings as someone replacing deteriorated single-pane units.

ENERGY STAR certification also does not mean every certified window performs identically. The program sets minimum performance criteria by climate zone, while individual products can exceed those requirements.

What ENERGY STAR certification actually measures

The two primary ratings used for ENERGY STAR qualification are U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC).

Rating

What it measures

What to look for

U-factor

How readily heat moves through the window

Lower is better

SHGC

How much solar heat passes through the window

Lower generally blocks more solar heat

Air Leakage

How much air passes through joints

Lower means less leakage

Visible Transmittance

How much visible light enters

Higher means more daylight

ENERGY STAR certification is based on U-factor and SHGC, while the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label provides additional performance information. ENERGY STAR

The requirements vary by climate. Under the current ENERGY STAR Version 7 criteria, for example, qualifying windows in the Northern zone generally require a U-factor of 0.22 or lower, while the North-Central zone allows a U-factor up to 0.25. Southern zones use different thresholds because reducing solar heat gain becomes more important.

That is why a window’s ENERGY STAR label should be evaluated for the location where it will be installed, rather than treated as a universal performance grade.

Related: How Argon-Filled Windows Cut Winter Heating Bills

How much can energy-efficient windows actually save?

ENERGY STAR estimates that replacing old windows with certified models lowers household energy bills by an average of about 12% nationwide. Savings are greater when inefficient single-pane windows are replaced, while homes with newer double-pane windows may see a smaller reduction. Comfort improvements can also matter even when the energy savings alone do not repay the entire project cost.

Energy savings are only one part of the calculation. Windows affect how easily a home gains and loses heat, which can influence how hard heating and cooling equipment has to work.

The U.S. Department of Energy notes that window performance depends heavily on climate and that U-factor and SHGC are key factors when comparing energy-efficient windows. The Department of Energy’s Energy.gov

Installation matters, too. A highly rated window cannot compensate for gaps, poor sealing or an improperly prepared opening. ENERGY STAR specifically advises homeowners to seek qualified installation because even high-performing windows can become drafty when installed poorly.

Renewal by Andersen makes the same point. Building engineer Ross Trethewey, quoted by the company, says: “You can have the best window in the world. And if it’s not installed right, you’re not going to have a great outcome.”

Renewal by Andersen also emphasizes custom measurement and installation as part of its replacement process. Its windows are measured for individual openings, manufactured to those specifications and installed by its crews.

When does paying more for ENERGY STAR windows make sense?

The premium is easier to justify when the existing windows have substantial performance problems. Single-pane glass, persistent drafts, deteriorated frames and failing seals create more opportunity for an upgrade to improve comfort and energy performance. If existing windows are relatively new and efficient, replacement solely for energy savings deserves closer cost analysis.

Before comparing quotes, look at the condition of the windows themselves. Signs replacement deserves professional evaluation include:

• Persistent drafts: Cold air around the frame can indicate air leakage or deteriorated components.
• Condensation between panes: This often indicates a failed insulated-glass seal.
• Rot, warping or water damage: Deteriorated frames can affect both performance and the surrounding wall.
• Windows that no longer operate properly: Difficulty opening, closing or locking can indicate mechanical or structural problems.
• Single-pane glass: ENERGY STAR identifies single-pane windows as poor insulators compared with modern alternatives.

At the same time, replacing windows is not always the first energy-efficiency project to tackle. ENERGY STAR recommends addressing air leaks and insulation as critical steps in improving overall home performance.

If several windows are failing at once, getting a professional inspection can clarify whether repair, partial replacement or a larger project makes financial sense.

Related: Best Replacement Windows on a Budget: Which Brands Give You the Most for Your Money?

What should homeowners compare besides the ENERGY STAR label?

Compare the whole window unit, not simply the glass package or a manufacturer’s advertised efficiency claim. Ask for the NFRC ratings, confirm that the product is ENERGY STAR certified for your climate zone, and review the installation scope and total project price.

A useful quote should make it possible to compare:

• U-factor and SHGC
• Window frame and glass construction
• Installation method and sealing
• Warranty coverage
• Labor and material costs
• Any necessary repairs around the opening

ENERGY STAR advises homeowners to get multiple quotes because complete replacement costs vary and the same product can be priced differently by different installers.

There is also a practical reason to look beyond the energy bill. Better-performing windows can reduce uncomfortable temperature differences near glass and eliminate drafts that homeowners notice even when annual energy savings are modest.

Renewal by Andersen brand ambassador Liz Rishel puts the installation issue plainly: “Some projects you just shouldn’t DIY, and windows and doors are definitely two things on that list.”

For homeowners facing damaged or failing windows, this makes the inspection itself useful. A professional can identify problems that are difficult to evaluate from inside the room and determine what the replacement actually requires.

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Should you replace your windows for energy savings alone?

Energy savings alone do not guarantee a fast payback on every window replacement. The case becomes stronger when inefficient windows are already causing drafts, discomfort, condensation, operational problems or visible deterioration. ENERGY STAR certification provides a verified performance baseline, but the right decision depends on the condition of the existing windows and the project’s total cost.

For a homeowner already planning to replace failing windows, choosing ENERGY STAR certified products for the appropriate climate zone is a straightforward way to compare energy performance.

If you are unsure whether replacement is justified, start with the windows themselves. A free consultation and inspection can establish their condition, identify potential performance problems and provide a project-specific quote before you commit to anything. Schedule a free consultation with Renewal by Andersen today.

This article was drafted with the assistance of AI and thoroughly reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by Parade editors. See our complete AI Policy.

It’s no secret Keanu Reeves is a huge Joy Division fan. He famously revealed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that the band’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” would be his desert island song – and now the actor has shared the stage with the man who played bass on it.

Reeves was living his best life in San Francisco this week when he made a surprise appearance at The Warfield to introduce Peter Hook & The Light, the band led by the legendary bassist and co-founder of Joy Division and New Order.

“The one, the only Peter Hook and the Light!” Reeves enthusiastically told the crowd before welcoming them to the Sept. 21 concert. “Playing the music we all love from then, today and tomorrow!”

Reeves is not just a fan of Hook’s music, he’s a bassist himself. The actor has played bass with his own band, Dogstar, since the group formed in 1994. After taking a lengthy break, Dogstar reunited in 2023 and has since released its third album, All In Now, which arrived earlier this year.

And the Joy Division connection runs deep. During his appearance on The Late Show, Reeves was asked which song he’d want with him if he were stranded on a desert island. His answer was “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” the 1980 Joy Division classic featuring Hook’s distinctive bass playing.

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The timing couldn’t be more fitting. Peter Hook is set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this November for his groundbreaking work with both Joy Division and New Order – a long-overdue honor for one of rock’s most influential bassists. For Reeves, a fellow bassist who has cited Hook’s bands as a defining musical influence, getting to share a stage with him – even briefly – must have felt like a dream come true.

Reeves’ surprise appearance also came just one night before Dogstar was scheduled to perform at San Francisco’s legendary Fillmore as part of the band’s All In Now tour. So while Reeves was in town to play his own music, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see one of his musical heroes first. 

It’s a full-circle moment for an actor who has spent decades in the spotlight but is still a music fan at heart.