While everyone and their mother (that should be a hint, guys) loves This Is Us, after every episode I force myself to finish, I am left saying, “And?” It’s trite; it’s pretentious; and I am still waiting to cry. There are a lot of things to cry about in today's day and age, but not this banal mess. One whole episode’s reveal revolved around getting a washing machine. In another appliance-based episode, someone dies by Crock-Pot. People are so fervent about this show, now everyone is throwing out their Crock-Pots. America — we are better than this! Aren't we?

More: Kevin Needs to Be Written Off This Is Us – Sorry, Not Sorry

A tearjerker that is heavy on the jerk, cringeworthy lines, Starbucks coffeehouse music and actors chewing up the scenery doesn’t sound like must-see TV, but thousands of people are clinging to it every week. It has become the new opioid for the masses. The question is why?

This Is Us is the new jewel of a flailing NBC. It follows The Voice, a show where average Joes compete to prove they should be singing for America, not just in their shower. Of course, America doesn’t need another show that gives a voice to mediocre music — isn't that what American Idol was for?

More: Now That We Know How Jack Dies, This Is Us Is Fast-Forwarding Things

Perhaps that is why people are in a drooling frenzy over This Is Us. With The Voice as a lead-in, they become so accustomed to tripe on TV that this show, with its masturbatory emotional manipulation, seems like Chekov or Shakespeare.

Viewers may think This Is Us has reinvented the wheel, but this show is nothing groundbreaking. It is schmaltzy soap fare dressed up in important-show clothing. It practically skywrites every issue it intends to deal with (racism, body-shaming, addiction) and then goes at it with a sledgehammer. But at its core, it is still just a soap with twists thrown in like Days of Our Lives or General Hospital (“Who’s the father? Are they dead? Find out next week!”). Many family relationship dramas (Thirtysomething, Brothers & Sisters, Parenthood, etc.) examined the nuclear unit in a heartwarming and sometimes gut-wrenching way without relying on emotional-torture porn every week to tell the story. Those shows relied on character development instead of threatening to kill someone off every episode, cloying soapbox speeches or sappy dialogue that sounds like a Hallmark greeting card.

If these viewers are starved for entertainment, it’s not like there aren’t scores of more interesting, more deftly crafted programs out there. If you are going to commit to an hour or a season, why not go for quality?

Westworld explores the theme of artificial intelligence vs. human nature. The Americans probes the double life of Russian spies among us.

The Leftovers is a gut-wrenching Hieronymus Bosch-styled look at what happens when half the planet disappears after the rapture.

Homeland keeps you on your toes with one mentally ill woman’s race to stop terrorist attacks.

House of Cards is a taut and tense political chess match in the White House. The Crown shows a softer side of the queen.

Outlander is a time-bending Scottish romance.

Bloodline is a slow-burn thriller about a well-to-do Florida family that covers up the death of their black sheep son.

The Handmaid’s Tale shows the horror of a dystopian future.

Ozark blends family drama with a money-laundering mob thriller.

All of these shows have dramatic moments that could produce a tear or two and have believable dynamic characters — even the robots of Westworld seem more believably emotive than the melodramatic hand-wringing of the Pearson clan.

More: Toby Is Actually a Great This Is Us Character — Here's Why

I get it. Life can be hard. Sometimes you want to let it all out. If you still find the need for a meltdown fix, turn on Rachel Maddow. I guarantee it will have you crying in a matter of minutes. If you are looking for a little cheese, then tune into This Is Us. Or better yet, make yourself giant bowl of Velveeta queso. It’s better for you.

Kim Kardashian West, the chic queen bee of social media and marketing, has some advice for fellow parents seeking to be present for their kids: unplug.

Kardashian West attended the Create & Cultivate event on Saturday, Feb. 24 in Los Angeles and chatted to best friend Allison Statter about family and career.

“One of the rules I have about being present with my kids is I don’t have my phone when I’m with them," Kardashian West said. "So, like, story time at night, in the mornings getting ready, I just don’t have my phone."

More: Whoa, Kim Kardashian West Is Ready for a 4th Kid

She added, “Obviously, that is what’s going to come with their lives, and I can’t imagine what it’s like growing up in a world with social media as a young teenager,” she adds. “I want my kids to see the separation and to feel the difference and know that there is a time and a place for that. So I’m really cautious when I’m at home with my phones and just being super-present.”

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star and beauty guru shares daughters Chicago, 6 weeks (delivered via surrogate), and North, 4, with hubby Kanye West. The two also have a son, Saint, 2.

Her phones-away advice was served up just a few days before Kardashian West shared her first (mouse-filtered) photo of new baby daughter Chicago — on Instagram. Oh, well. This is the second time we've gotten a glimpse of little Miss Chicago. She appeared with Kardashian West on-screen for the first time in Auntie Kylie Jenner's 11-minute video welcome to her own baby, Stormi.

It's maybe the cutest photo ever.

More: Kim Kardashian West Announces Baby Girl's Name

We feel you, Kim. You contain multitudes. It's a mom thing. We're sure you put your phone away immediately after choosing the mouse-ears filter. Maybe you even did some mindful mommy-and-baby yoga near a wall of succulents while burning sage.

Kardashian West told Statter at the event that three kids is "a game-changer" for her. “My day is micromanaged to the minute," she said. "But I think you really have to love what you do. I definitely had to take a step back after I had the baby... After she arrived, I had to really decide that if I want to have a life, have a good marriage and be a good mom, [then I] can’t really do everything. You have to focus on what’s important to you.”

What's important: adorable babies, mouse ear filters, the whole shebang.

By now, accusations of racial insensitivity are commonplace in the Kardashian-Jenner news cycle. So it should come as a surprise to no one that Kim Kardashian West is under fire for a recent photo shoot and cover with Vogue India.

The backlash began on Monday, Feb. 26 after Kardashian West unveiled two covers with the popular Indian fashion magazine. The covers — which featured Kardashian West dressed in black and red dresses — spurred a heated debate on the internet about representation and diversity in the fashion industry.

More: Kim Kardashian West Unplugs to Be "Super-Present"... but Snapchats Baby Chicago Pic

The uproar primarily stemmed from anger over Vogue India choosing the E! personality instead of a woman of Indian or South Asian descent to front the magazine. Many lashed out at Vogue India for preaching about diversity, yet choosing a non-Indian person as its face. Likewise, several took an issue with Vogue India dressing Kardashian West in a lehenga, a traditional Indian skirt, which they deemed as “racially insensitive.”

More: Kim Kardashian West & Kanye West Declared Their Love on Instagram on Valentine’s Day

This isn’t the first time Vogue India and the Kardashian-Jenners have faced backlash over a racially insensitive magazine cover. In 2017, Kardashian West’s sister, Kendall Jenner, saw a similar uproar over a Vogue India cover celebrating the magazine’s 10-year anniversary. Many brought up Jenner's cover as evidence the fashion industry isn’t progressing as quickly as some might think.

More: Kim Kardashian West Shamed for Underwear Pic Taken by Her Daughter

So far, aside from Vogue India disabling comments on four Instagrams of Kardashian West’s photo shoot, there hasn’t been an official response from the magazine nor from Kardashian West herself over the backlash. But judging by how heated the reaction has been, we assume they’ve both heard critics loud and clear.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Sometimes a divorce is just what's gotta happen. Relationships aren't always meant to be forever, and that appears to be the case for Alicia Silverstone and her now-estranged husband, Christopher Jarecki, judging by Silverstone's reaction to the split.

More: Interview: Alicia Silverstone's Secret to a "Sensual and Yummy" Pregnancy

Silverstone reportedly wasted no time packing up her 6-year-old son, Bear, and heading for Hawaii, where she was all smiles in photos she posted on her Instagram.

"This trip is amazing," she wrote in one post, showing a collection of photos of Bear on the beach. "Even the drive from the airport was so pretty. Walking to the health food store, Harvest Market. So sweet to do. Farmers Market was fun, just a 3-minute walk. There was a lovely little band playing at the market, the backdrop of the mountains was so pretty."

By all accounts, Silverstone and her son are having a great time celebrating the end of one chapter of her life, and more important, the beginning of another. Silverstone's rep announced in a statement earlier this week that she and Jarecki, who were married in 2005 but have known each other since the mid-90s, had made the decision to separate.

"They still deeply love and respect each other and remain very close friends but have mutually decided to separate after being together for 20 years. They have a son together who they will continue to co-parent," the statement read.

More: Alicia Silverstone: My Son's Name Is "Super Cute"

Jarecki hadn't appeared in any of Silverstone's social media photos since last summer, possibly hinting at their move toward a split.

Not bad, Alexis Ohanian. The Reddit cofounder decided to surprise his tennis icon wife, Serena Williams, on the drive to a tournament. So he went big, commissioning four massive AdQuick billboards featuring super-sweet pictures of Williams and their daughter, Alexis Jr. Awww!

(Pro tip: This surprise only works if you're the one driving... or your partner is a creature of habit and thus guaranteed to take a certain route. We're just trying to save you some serious money if you're shopping around for a big romantic gesture.) Ohanian documented the event on his Instagram feed along with the caption, "These just went up on alongside I-10 into Palm Springs. @olympiaohanian & I wanted to welcome her back to tennis. Designed them myself, with some help from Jr. #GMOAT."

It's one thing to love your dog and pamper them and make sure they're taken care of. But Barbra Streisand seriously takes devotion to her pups to a whole new level, and her latest celebrity profile has revealed just how she has done that. Currently, two of the three dogs she has are actual, literal clones of her dear terrier, Samantha, who died in 2017.

More: Barbra Streisand's Making Bold Claims About Sexism at the Oscars

Streisand revealed this super-unusual situation during an interview for her upcoming Variety story. The photographer took a portrait of Streisand and her three pooches in front of her home in Malibu, California, and Streisand joked that it should be captioned, "Send in the clones." Except it wasn't really a joke because the dogs are actually clones. I'm sorry. This is just too much to handle.

Streisand revealed that before Samantha died, she harvested mouth and stomach cells from the beloved terrier and then used them to grow her two identical puppies, Miss Violet and Miss Scarlett, who are named after the outfits Streisand dressed them in so she could tell them apart. Since, you know, they're basically the same dog in two different bodies. Is it just me, or does this keep getting weirder?

More: Stage Show Rearranged for Barbra Streisand's Good Side

"They have different personalities," Streisand said in her interview. "I’m waiting for them to get older so I can see if they have her [Samantha’s] brown eyes and seriousness."

The third dog isn't a genetic clone of Samantha, but is still related to her — Streisand bought her from Samantha's breeder and named her Miss Fanny after her iconic Funny Girl character, Fanny Brice.

More: Katie Holmes & Jamie Foxx Had a Romantic Date — at a Barbra Streisand Concert

On one hand, it's sweet how much Streisand loved her dog. On the other, couldn't she have gone to the Humane Society like a normal dog lover? All dogs are good dogs, after all.

Communicating about certain things that are important to us can be difficult — especially if we really care about someone. And talking about our needs and wants when it comes to being intimate is scary — it doesn't matter if we've been in a relationship for five weeks or five years, it can make us feel vulnerable, and so many of us tend to avoid the topic all together and settle for keeping things status quo.

In fact, I've talked to many women who find it easier just to let something happen to their bodies they aren't OK with or that doesn't feel great instead of bringing it up and having a discussion about it because it feels too intimidating.

But the truth is, we all have fantasies and desires whether we are vocal about them or not.

So why not enjoy our sexual experiences as much as possible and have peace of mind our partners are enjoying themselves too? No one wants to try and connect with someone in such an intimate way only to be doing something mediocre when they could be sharing a mind-blowing experience instead. Or even worse, do something to someone they don’t enjoy.

More: Sex Therapists Reveal Their Best Valentine's Day Sex Tips

Yes, it's hard to for many to talk about which positions they like, if they can only orgasm through oral sex or if they'd like to be tied up to enhance the experience, but just like all other things in life, when we practice talking about it, we become better at it.

Domina Franco, a writer, sex educator and coach who has been studying human sexuality for over 20 years, recently spoke to SheKnows and offered some amazing suggestions that are too good not to try.

Open your mouth

First, Franco says you need to realize that communication is key. If you are feeling unsure, start with a test by dropping a small hint about what you're craving. When you are met with your "partner's enthusiasm or even curiosity, it's a huge win" because you then have the confidence to have a deeper, more detailed conversation the next time around, she notes.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Another important factor is to pay attention to the person you are communicating with about this intimate act. Franco says if you are dealing with someone who is not considerate and doesn’t show you respect outside the bedroom, chances are pretty good you aren't going to get what you need in the bedroom either. Case in point: Save these talks solely for those who are kind outside the bedroom.

Don't forget to listen

OK, dropping a small hint with those who are deserving of you is a good start; we can do that. But how do we take this to the next level?

Asking them questions about what they are looking for during sexy time is another icebreaker that may get you deeper into the conversation. It's also a good way to "gauge how open the person might be to your interests," Franco says.

Be bold

While many women may be hesitant to talk about what they want lest they come across as too forward or, heaven forbid, too sexy, it's important we proceed anyway. After all, we deserve to get what we want, and we all know the most effective way to do that is to ask for it.

“We are taught very early on to work within the framework of patriarchy, and one of the cornerstone aspects of that framework is to play by men's rules," Franco says. Women today are setting new rules and standards and asking for what we want in bed isn't anything to be ashamed of.

More: Why the Brain Is Our Most Important Sex Organ

Use erotica

Franco also recommends sending some erotica (with a warning, of course) to your partner asking them if they'd like to try it or leaving them an erotic story, but says communication is super-important, and the most effective way to get your needs met is to use your words and talk about what you want. There’s no way around it.

Another hot trick from Franco is to give your partner a squeeze on their thigh or arm if you are watching a steamy scene in a movie or television show. This will help them understand what gets you going.

And once you get started with an open dialogue about the subject, Franco says, "You'll feel more open to share your feelings and thoughts more readily and keep that ball rolling."

So speak up and enjoy yourself.

Updated Feb. 27, 2018, 11:45 a.m. PT: It's been rumored that Ed Sheeran will be staging a performance at the upcoming royal wedding, but that's been shot down by Sheeran himself. Another maybe more likely rumor says Elton John may take the stage. But the Spice Girls' Mel B just dropped a big hint about a musical performance that would have everyone talking.

During an appearance on The Real Tuesday, Mel B told hosts Adrienne Bailon, Loni Love and Jeannie Mai she is going to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. When asked, "Did you get an invitation?" Mel B replied, "Well, it was the five Spice Girls. Why am I so honest?!"

Um, so does this mean the Spice Girls are performing at the wedding? They've previously declined to reunite and perform together, but when the actual Prince of Wales and his fiancée ask for something, we imagine it's hard to say no.

When asked specifically if she's attending the royal wedding to perform with the Spice Girls, Mel B just looked at her cards and shook her head. The cohosts screamed, and Mel B threw her cards in the air and said, "I need to go! I am going to be fired!"

No matter how you slice it, that sounds like an admission. Could this really be happening? Only a few months left before we find out for sure.

Updated Feb. 13, 2018, 12:40 p.m. PT: Here are a few more reasons to get up early and tune in to the royal wedding. Reports are saying there will be some world-class entertainment to help Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrate tying the knot — Harry has reportedly personally asked Ed Sheeran to perform at the wedding. Here's hoping he chooses something a little more romantic than "Shape of You."

There are also rumors Elton John will perform now that he's canceled a few of his Las Vegas shows amid confirming he scored an invite to the wedding of the century. Basically, everything he plays is tear-jerkingly romantic, so we can't imagine anyone better.

Updated Feb. 12, 2018, 10:30 a.m. PT: May keeps inching closer, and that means more and more royal wedding details are hitting the headlines. Over the weekend, we learned a little more about what to expect when May 19 rolls around and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say their I do's, including what time we'll need to be up to be able to tune in to the ceremony.

According to Kensington Palace, the wedding is set for noon in the U.K., which is 7 a.m. Eastern or 4 a.m. Pacific. It's gonna be an early morning for those of us on the West Coast, but it'll be worth it to see royal history being made.

The palace also revealed that after exchanging vows, Harry and Markle will lead a parade through the streets of Windsor, riding in a horse-drawn carriage. It's something Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge did on their wedding day, and it was definitely a highlight. We're so excited to see it becoming something of a tradition.

The one thing the palace isn't revealing is who or how many people made the guest list. We still don't even know if invitations have been sent out, but we do know that St. George's Chapel can hold about 800 people, so there's plenty of space for a large wedding.

Spring really can't get here soon enough.

Original story, published Jan. 5, 2018: The next royal wedding was only just announced, and yet it's right around the corner. Before we know it, May will be here, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be exchanging their vows. With only five months to go before the big day, obviously we're hungrily searching the internet for all the information we can find about the upcoming ceremony.

More: Meghan Markle's New Year's Resolutions Are Inspiring

Some of the latest news to hit the 'net is that both Markle and Harry are starting to assemble their wedding parties. A source told Us Weekly that Markle is sticking to some American traditions, despite the very British wedding that's being planned, and that means she's chosen a maid of honor rather than a chief bridesmaid.

"While it is very much a British wedding, expect a few American touches too," the insider said. There's still no confirmation about exactly who her maid of honor is going to be, but there are definitely some predictions out there: Markle's best friend and stylist Jessica Mulroney, fellow actress Priyanka Chopra and Suits co-star Sarah Rafferty would all be unsurprising picks.

More: Meghan Markle's Engagement Ring Will Pay Homage to Princess Diana

Harry, on the other hand, has a pretty easy choice for his best man.

"Harry has several close guy friends, but there's no way he would ask anyone but William to take on the top job," a source told Us Weekly last month. That one was a no-brainer.

More: A Definitive Timeline of Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s Relationship in 2017

While the royal family is hard at work preparing for the wedding, all of Britain is preparing for the huge influx of tourism that will likely come with it. When Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot in 2011, 350,000 tourists came to the UK for the big day. Britain's Office of National Statistics is already expecting similar crowds around Harry and Markle's May 18 wedding date, as well as a $680 million boost to the UK's economy because of the wedding. Two beautiful lovebirds tying the knot and single-handedly boosting their country's economy? What a win-win.

Growing Pains may not be one of the several nostalgic sitcoms that's being revived, but that didn't stop some of its famous cast members from having a mini reunion of their own. Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold and Jeremy Miller, who played Mike, Carol and Ben, respectively, reunited on Today Tuesday, Feb. 27 to pay tribute to their late TV dad, star Alan Thicke.

More: Alan Thicke's Death Left His Wife, Tanya, With "Gut-Wrenching Sadness"

"Alan was kind of a constant in all of our lives," Gold said. "Alan always kept in touch with all of us, and so he's deeply missed."

Thicke died at age 69 in late 2016, and his reputation for being kind and genuine still lives on after his death.

According to Gold, Thicke's death is "still surreal. It's still hard to grasp."

Miller added, "Especially with things like this [interview]. Alan was always a big part of every interview. He would've been here. He would've been leading the charge."

Cameron chimed in, "We grew up on the set of Growing Pains, so he was like a father to all of us while we were working together."

It's unusual for a big Hollywood star to have such a reputation for kindness and humility, but Thicke has just that. And the words of his former costars are a sweet tribute to how he was known and how he's remembered.

More: Alan Thicke's Death Triggers an Outpouring of Love From Celebrities on Twitter

"He was the patriarch of the Seavers but also of the set," Gold said. "He set the tone, and it was just a happy place to be, and he taught us to appreciate being on that set and what we were given."

The date is set. You’ve told your family and friends, and now comes the real trouble of saying I do: planning the wedding. Whether it’s finding a dress that feels like the one, coordinating with florists and caterers or even just figuring out where you want to tie the knot, there’s a lot to do.

Luckily, technology is here to help, and there are a ton of apps to help you have the wedding of your dreams on time and on budget. Here are the nine happy brides swear by.

1. Wedding Planner by The Knot

Wedding Planner helps you create a wedding to-do list, set up a countdown to your big day, create a wedding website, get an auto-generated wedding day timeline and manage your guest list, budget and registry all from one app.

2. WeddingHappy

WeddingHappy allows you to build a customized schedule based on your wedding date, keep track of payments, get an overview of your budget and money spent and put all your vendor contacts in one place.

More: 10 Printable Wedding Checklists for the Organized Bride

3. AllSeated

Excellent for tech lovers, AllSeated and its add-on app for day-of planning does require VR goggles to use. Create a guest list and seating arrangement and most important, see your reception area floor plan in 2-D and 3-D.

4. Greenvelope

Want do your part to save the planet? Send totally customized save-the-dates and wedding invitations through the Greenvelope app, where you can also host a website full of your wedding details, like hotel information, maps and gift registries. If you prefer tried-and-true physical invites, the Greenvelope desktop version has stamp-included options for those too. Both options include RSVP tracking so you’ll know exactly who’s attending.

More: 10 Wedding Cake Trends You Will See All Over Instagram in 2018

5. Veri

Everyone takes photos at a wedding, but fewer people remember to actually send photos along to the bride and groom. Veri solves that problem by allowing you to create a shared photo album where guests can upload their smartphone photos in real time.

6. Wedding Spot

Wedding Spot is like the Travelocity of wedding planning. If you’re still figuring out where to get married, simply enter the city you’d like to consider and filter by date, price range, guest count or style to find a ton of options that fit your specifications. It also allows you to get a price quote and book appointments through the app so you never have to pick up the phone.

7. Style Me Pretty

Style Me Pretty is like your own wedding-specific Pinterest board with a whole lot more. Save style inspiration from real-life weddings, follow wedding vendors and photographers you love, and get a daily feed of new inspiration.

More: 7 Pro Tips for Throwing an Amazing Winter Wedding

8. Joy

Joy combines a lot of what other apps do separately. It allows you to collect photos from your wedding guests as well as share them, puts all your wedding info for guests in one place, links to wedding registries, allows your guests to RSVP and even lets you create your own miniature social media platform where guests can get to know each other before your big day.

9. Wedding LookBook by The Knot

Need some wedding dress, bridesmaid dress or wedding ring inspiration? The Wedding LookBook app is the place to be. Sort through thousands of styles and narrow down the looks you like. Search by neckline, length and more.

10. Pantone Studio

Take photos of dresses and decor you love, and Pantone Studio will tell you exactly what color it is and help you build palettes so you can create a consistent, stunning color scheme through your whole event.

There's some sad news coming out of the country music world on this fine Tuesday, Feb. 27, folks, and it has to do with one of the genre's darlings, Miranda Lambert. A report from In Touch broke late on Tuesday that Lambert had split from Anderson East, her boyfriend of two years. The split will no doubt come as a surprise to all, especially fans of the couple, because these two have seemed so rock-solid since they first got together shortly after Lambert finalized her divorce from Blake Shelton in 2015.

More: Miranda Lambert Shares Sweet Photo to Celebrate 2 Years With Anderson East

From the sound of the report from In Touch, sources close to the couple implied they'd grown apart recently because of their separate touring schedules.

Lambert reportedly took the split hard. As one source simply put it, "She didn't see it coming."

More: Miranda Lambert & Anderson East Are Really Good — Like, Really, Really Good

But it seems Lambert isn't letting this split upend her life entirely. "She's been writing songs and she'll join The Bandwagon Tour with Little Big Town in July," the source tells In Touch. "She refuses to sit around feeling sorry for herself."

The couple was introduced by a mutual friend at one of East's shows back in 2015. During an interview with 92.3 WCOL, East recalled their first meeting. "Randomly enough, she came to one of my shows," he said. "A friend of hers introduced us." From there, the pair were very close, posting super-sweet Instagrams professing their love for one another and supporting each other in their individual music endeavors.

More: The Rumor About Miranda Lambert & Anderson East's Breakup Is Laughable

Now, that all seems to be in the past, part of a chapter that's come to a close. Lambert and East have stayed fairly mum about the breakup, but it will be interesting to see if this breakup becomes fodder for new music for either of them. Stay tuned.

The character Kate Pearson on This Is Us has introduced the world to the talents of actor Chrissy Metz. Over the course of close to two full seasons, Metz has brought Kate to life and made her a character that exists outside the traditional stereotypes of "obese female" and actually has a full, complex life that includes planning a wedding, navigating career confusion, processing a miscarriage and finally coming to terms with the loss of a parent.

In short, Metz has been given a lot to do with Kate on This Is Us, and in her latest interview with Glamour, she details how some real-life family hardships and heartbreaks have factored into how she connects with the characters she plays; perhaps playing Kate is something of a method-acting process for Metz after all.

More: Chrissy Metz Is in a New Play That Focuses a Lot on Her Weight

In the interview, she discusses what drew her to her latest movie role in the upcoming faith-centered film The Impossible, in which Metz plays Joyce, a woman whose son falls through ice on a frozen lake and later dies at the hospital, but his heart begins to beat again after Joyce prays at his bedside. Metz describes how she connected with the film's premise thanks to the experiences she's had in her own life with heartbreaking family turmoil.

"[The story] was something that was really dear to my life and my heart, because my mom had a pretty severe stroke five months ago," Metz told Glamour. "She's doing really well now and living with my sister in Florida, but the hard part is, she has aphasia, which is where you don't really have a vocabulary. Basically, she speaks blah, blah, blahs, which we can understand because she's our mom, but it's kind of like playing charades. Her vocabulary could come back at any moment, so we’re really hopeful but just grateful that she’s there."

More: Chrissy Metz Addresses Backlash to Those Fat Stereotypes on This Is Us

Watching her mother go through that heartbreaking health scare feels like something straight out of This Is Us (further connecting Metz to characters she currently plays and is about to play) but it seems that the turmoil Metz and her family have gone through has left the actor with the ability to see the bright side of things too. "I could so relate to [Joyce's, from The Impossible] convictions — this unconditional love and positivity — and her belief in her faith that her son was going to get better, just as I didn’t want to believe the prognosis that my mom’s surgeon and doctor gave her. I totally believe in the power of positivity and collective consciousness and what you put out there."

More: 12 Things to Know About This Is Us' Chrissy Metz (& Why We Love Her So Much)

It sounds like Metz is finding productive ways to channel her personal trials into success, but it's also undoubtedly a good thing that she is finding ways to connect to a variety of characters and further capitalize on her success as Kate on This Is Us.

Sometimes, it’s less about what you’re using and more about how you’re using it. Such is the case with facial oils. They hardly get a bad wrap, but knowing which ones work best for you is key to harnessing their many benefits.

Like with most skin care products, the best way to go about choosing one is considering your most prominent struggles, be it dryness, excess oil or fine lines you wish were a little less… fine. Ahead, board-certified dermatologist and founder/CEO of Curology Dr. David Lortscher shares which oils are best for each one.

More: 17 Masks That Brighten Up Tired Eyes

Aging skin

If wrinkles and fine lines aren’t your cup of tea, oils with antioxidants, aka the teeny substances that guard against damage, should be on your vanity. “Oils, especially those with protective antioxidant activity, may counter the appearance of fine lines and dark spots, as antioxidants can boost collagen production and improve skin elasticity,” says Lortscher.

Try this: Antioxidant Facial Oil, $24.99 at Mad Hippie

Dry skin

Dealing with flakiness or dry patches? Oils may be just what you need, but be mindful of how you apply them. This will determine the lasting power of whatever you choose to use.

“For those with dry skin, the humidity outdoors and inside can be very low in the winter, and our skin loses moisture to the environment,” says Lortscher. “For example, you can use a shower oil — apply only after your skin has been thoroughly wetted — or apply an oil while your skin is still a little wet after showering to ‘seal in’ the water.”

Try this: Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil, $52 at Fresh

More: The Product-Free Skin Care Advice Experts Swear By

Oily skin

Lortscher recommends looking for an oil that is lightweight and noncomedogenic — tea tree oil is a favorite. Be aware that a solution of 100 percent tea tree oil is very irritating and should be diluted. As a spot treatment, dilute 1 part tea tree oil with 3 parts oil of your choice, such as sunflower, castor, jojoba or hemp oil — just not coconut oil.

Try this: Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil, $40 at Sephora

Acne-prone skin

Contrary to popular belief, most oils are well-tolerated on acne-prone skin. However, Lortscher advises against using coconut oil since it’s extremely clogging to the pores and only worsens when used on a breakout. Instead, he recommends using something lighter weight with anti-inflammatory properties, such as tea tree oil.

“Patients with acne have been shown to exhibit inadequate levels of essential fatty acids. Using omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs such as found in rose hip oil may provide anti-inflammatory effect, which can help improve acne,” he says. “Note that the current guidelines for acne treatment published by the American Academy of Dermatology do not advise topical EFA for the routine treatment of acne. Although more research is needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn, we currently have no objection to the use of rose hip oil by our acne patients.”

Try this: Rose Hips Nourishing Oil, $22 at Mario Badescu

More: How to Layer Your Skin Care Like a K-Beauty Pro

Sensitive Skin

Lastly, if your skin is prone to infection in the slightest, avoid essential oils altogether, which may cause irritation or induce contact allergies. This typically happens because poor-quality ones are widely sold.

“The difference in quality can be attributed to the addition of foreign substances, unintentional contamination by other substances, inadequate production or improper storage conditions,” says Lortscher. “When stored under too-warm conditions or exposed to light and oxygen, a chemical process occurs, changing the composition of the oil, which can produce strong allergens.”

In general, however, essential oils are considered to have a good safety profile, and when toxicities do happen, they are generally mild and limited to the skin. In short: tread lightly.

Try this: 100% Squalane Oil, $58 at Biossance

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

In its 90th year, the Academy Awards is the biggest award show in the film industry. Every year, the live telecast draws millions of viewers from all over the world. The night is a culmination of awards season, one of the most loved and hated times of the year. Tensions are high, everyone has predictions for who will win and the show itself is always full of unforgettable moments.

But like anything, the Oscars have humble beginnings. When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted its first award ceremony in 1929, it was a very different affair from what we watch year to year.

More: I Hate Awards Season — Here's Why

We rounded up 15 fun facts about the first-ever Oscars ceremony, which hosted less than 300 people. That's less than 10 percent of the seating capacity at the Dolby Theater!

1. The first Oscars took place on May 16, 1929 

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted its first award ceremony in the Blossom Room of the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.

2. Just 270 people were in attendance

Compared to today's audience, that’s tiny. The Dolby Theater, where the Oscars are held today, boasts a seating capacity of 3,300. Plus, millions of people all over the world watch the ceremony from home.

3. The ceremony lasted just 15 minutes

According to The Mirror, the 2002 Academy Awards lasted for 4 hours and 23 minutes. There probably wasn't any need for wrap-up music in 1929!

4. There was no red carpet

The nominees walk a 33-foot-wide red carpet before today’s Academy Awards, but in 1929, there was far less pomp and circumstance.

5. Douglas Fairbanks Sr. hosted the first Oscars ceremony

He was also the first president of the Academy, which began in 1927 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and advancing the film industry.

6. Janet Gaynor won the first Oscar for Best Actress

She was nominated for three films: 7th Heaven, Street Angel and Sunrise. The other nominees, Louise Dresser and Gloria Swanson, were nominated for one film each.

More: Women Are Dominating the 2018 Oscars in Surprising Ways

7. Emil Jannings won the first Oscar for Best Actor

He was nominated for two films: The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh. The other nominee, Richard Barthelmess, was also nominated for the category twice.

8. Wings won for Oustanding Picture and Engineering Effects

However, the film wasn’t even nominated in any other category — a far cry from today’s award ceremonies, where certain categories are used as predictors for Best Picture wins (including Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Director).

9. Just three films were nominated for Outstanding Picture

That's a pretty small number, especially when compared to this year. A record 341 films were eligible for nomination at the 2018 Academy Awards, though only nine made the official nominee list.

10. There were just 12 categories, plus special awards

Awards were given out for Best Actor, Best Actress, Art Direction, Cinematography, Directing (Comedy Picture), Directing (Dramatic Picture), Engineering Effects, Outstanding Picture, Unique and Artistic Picture, Writing (Adaptation), Writing (Original Story) and Writing (Title Writing). Today, awards are given out in 24 categories.

11. Charlie Chaplin received a special honorary award

Chaplin was originally nominated in three categories for The Circus, but he was removed in order to receive the special award.

12. “Talkies” had just entered the film industry

At the 1929 ceremony, Warner Bros.' The Jazz Singer was not allowed to compete for Best Picture because the Academy thought sound gave the film an unfair advantage over the rest of the nominees, which were silent.

13. The Jazz Singer won a special award

To make up for the first-ever Oscar snub, the Academy gave the “talkie” a special award outside of the regular categories.

More: Best Moments From 2018 Awards Season So Far

14. The Oscars weren’t yet nicknamed the Oscars

That wouldn’t happen until 10 years later, in 1939. Supposedly, Academy executive director Margaret Herrick said the statuettes given out to winners resembled her uncle Oscar.

15. The 1929 ceremony wasn’t broadcast

In 1942, the Academy began broadcasting the results of its secret ballot voting system, using the sealed envelopes that build so much suspense today. The ceremony wouldn't be televised until 1953, with host Bob Hope.

Good news for those who make $105,000 a year: You've apparently reached optimum happiness.

More: The Investment Tips Every Woman Should Know

As part of the Gallup World Poll, over 1 million people worldwide were polled and asked to rate their lives on a scale of zero to 10 — zero being the "worst possible life" and 10 being the "best possible life." The study set out to not only analyze the relationship between this score and the poll-taker's household income, but also to answer the question: "Does happiness rise indefinitely with income, or is there a point at which higher incomes no longer lead to greater well-being?"

The study found that, yes, someone who makes, for example, $120,000 is happier than someone who makes $45,000 a year. But a person who makes $200,000 likely isn't any happier than the $120,000 salary-earner. Why? Because they both make more than $105,000, which the researchers found is the "satiation point." This means it is the salary at which the household income is not associated with greater happiness.

This $105,000 figure only applies to the U.S., though. In Australia and New Zealand, the satiation point is $125,000; and in Latin America and the Caribbean, it's $35,000. The study even broke it down by gender, suggesting women who made $100,000 hit the satiation point, while men hit it at $90,000. Interesting. The Atlas has a helpful bar graph, which you can view below.

This isn't the first time a study like this has been conducted. In 2010, Nobel prize-winning economist Angus Deaton and psychologist Daniel Kahneman studied how income relates to life satisfaction, finding that the satiation point for U.S. households was approximately $75,000. What's different about the new study is its data accounts for the number of people in a household, includes more detailed income numbers and includes responses from people in more countries.

Now, it isn't all that surprising that the more money you have, the happier you may be. If you were offered a hefty raise, wouldn't you happily take it? Of course! But how accurate can a survey that measures one's income-life satisfaction relationship really be? Just take into account the mood people were in while taking the survey: What if they were having a crappy week and answered all the questions negatively because of it, when, really, they're pretty content with their lives?

And Dan Sacks, an economist at Indiana University, also isn't totally convinced. "It could be true that on average, people who say they have income of $150,000 are no happier than people who say they have income of $100,000, but I'm not convinced that people who actually have income of $150,000 are no happier than people who have income of $100,000," he tells Quartz.

More: How to Ask for a Raise — & Get One

Sure, we're skeptical, but we won't deny the results are fascinating.

Updated, Feb. 28, 7:40 a.m. PT: According to Spanish newspapers, Shakira is working to settle her massive tax debt the Spanish government claims she owes after moving to Spain but keeping her residency listed in the Bahamas.

Shakira reportedly paid €20 million (around $25 million), which is only a small fraction of what the government says she owes. In short, it would cover her income taxes for 2011 alone, while the government claims she owes back taxes for the additional years of 2012, 2013 and 2014. To be off the hook, Shakira would have to prove to Spanish authorities that she spent less than 183 days in Spain in each of those years.

As such, it's safe to say that Shakira isn't off that proverbial hook just yet and making amends is going to be very costly if this latest news is any indication.

Original story, published Jan. 25, 9:46 a.m. PT:

While Shakira's hips don't lie, her tax forms just might. The singer is under investigation by officials in Spain for suspected tax evasion. It's not really the best way to start 2018 if you ask me.

More: Shakira & Gerard Piqué Are Reportedly Calling It Quits

Spanish officials allege that for three years before officially changing her residence to Barcelona, Spain, Shakira was actually living there, but kept her residence listed as the Bahamas to avoid paying Spanish taxes. They're investigating her for potentially owing income taxes to Spain for 2012, 2013 and 2014. Shakira officially changed her residence to Spain in 2015.

Prosecutor José Miguel Company told The Guardian that Spanish tax authorities referred the investigation to his office in December. He estimated that the prosecutor's office will make a decision by mid-June. Anna Forastier, a spokesperson for auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers confirmed that Shakira had hired her company to help with the investigation, but declined to give any other details.

More: Shakira Adorably Teaches Her Son to Read (VIDEO)

This isn't the first time Shakira has come under scrutiny for tax reasons. She was implicated in a prior investigation by The Guardian for listing her residence in the Bahamas while living in Barcelona, as well as putting her money into a Malta company called Tournesol Ltd. She's the sole shareholder for Tournesol Ltd., which is valued at $4.27 million. Malta has been accused before of being a tax haven, according to The Guardian.

More: Shakira Welcomes a Son & Gives Him a Cool "Warrior" Baby Name

Shakira's lawyer told The Guardian that Tournesol Ltd. "fulfills all legal requirements. All of the corresponding information relative to this entity is public and transparent." The attorney also addressed the accusations about Shakira's residency, saying she has lived in many places "throughout her professional career and, in every case, has fully met the laws of all the jurisdictions where she has resided."

If there is anyone in this world right now who could use a fun, special treat, it's the kids who survived the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, earlier this month. And Demi Lovato is here to provide one. When she kicked off her Tell Me You Love Me tour in San Diego, California, on Monday, she had six very special guests with her onstage.

More: Demi Lovato's Support of Miley Cyrus' Sobriety Is Good for the Sisterhood

Julius Castillo, Mackenzie Marie Chapman, Samantha Megan Deitsch, Maia Hebron, Eden Hebron and Sarah Stricker were all students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who survived the shooting that killed 17 people on Feb. 14. And they were all Lovato's special guests at her San Diego show, which included pre-show mental health classes provided by Lovato's CAST Foundation.

The students got to attend the classes, then meet with Lovato and her opener, DJ Khaled, before the show. Once Lovato took the stage, they joined her in front of the audience to help her ask the crowd for donations for the CAST Foundation, which is helping provide mental health resources for the students who survived the Parkland shooting.

"Tonight was our first night of the tour and it was incredibly special," Lovato said in a statement. "I was able to bring out and meet a few of the students that had to experience the shooting in Florida on the 14th. It was such an honor to meet them and hear their courageous stories. I want to make sure their voices are being heard and we can provide them with the mental health and post-trauma care they need."

More: As a Person With Anxiety, Watching Demi Lovato's Mental Health Doc Is a Revelation

This is the second time Lovato has used a tour to provide traveling mental health support for her fans. Honestly, it's something more artists should adopt.

Relationships are hard no matter how you slice it. They are, of course, 100 percent worth the work — and the tricky stuff is essentially overshadowed by the good times. Still, it's only natural that every relationship has its growing pains. Perhaps you've grown a bit weary in yours, and you've been giving more consideration to trying something new. Or maybe you're in a great place but crave extra dimension in your romantic life. In either respect, an open relationship may have crossed your mind more than once.

More: 5 Ways to Quickly De-Escalate an Argument With Your Partner

But can an open relationship really work? Or will it lead straight to heartache? We asked six couples successfully navigating the open-relationship waters to share why it does work for them... and how. Here's what they had to say.

"You have to be on the same page"

"The key to a successful open relationship is a truly rock-solid partnership. You have to be on the same page as your partner about all aspects of an open relationship, and you have to know you can completely trust your partner. You need to lay down clear guidelines and check in with each other frequently to talk about any issues that may arise. You may try it and find out it's not for you, and if that's the case, you need to speak up about it. Don't let feelings of jealousy or resentment sit for too long. Talk about how you feel right away and don’t let those feelings build up — that’s a recipe for disaster.” — Mark and Adrienne

"Never keep secrets"

"First, you have to make sure you’re entering an open relationship for the right reasons. This should be something that makes your relationship with your partner stronger and more enjoyable, not something that puts distance between you and your partner. If you're entering an open relationship to try to fix your relationship, that will never work. [We'd] say the key is to make sure you have really clear rules before you start. Make a list of your limits and write them down. Talk about whether or not you are going to tell your friends, what you're comfortable with your partner doing and what you aren't comfortable with. The rules may change as you go, but you both have to agree on your limits. Never keep secrets. Honesty is crucial." — Joaquin and Alyssa

More: Why Seeing a Sex Worker Can Be Good for Your Relationship

"Ignore the haters"

"Probably the most important thing we have learned about having a healthy open relationship is to not care what other people think or say. At some point, you're going to have to have that conversation with friends and relatives — otherwise, you'll get countless phone calls and texts every single time one of you is spotted with someone else. Although people mean well, this becomes a huge headache. It makes it more awkward to explain if they feel like you've sprung it on them, and that's typically when people respond in a negative way. We've lost count of how many people have told us what we are doing is wrong, crazy, immoral or just plain stupid. Ignore the haters. What we have works for us, and that’s what matters." — Tim and DaNae

"Be OK with being jealous"

"Well, first of all, it probably wouldn't have worked for us if we weren’t already in a good place before we committed to it. Ironically, we had a lot of trust issues when we were monogamous — it wasn't until we decided to try an open relationship that we learned how to work through those and really trust each other. That had to happen before we jumped into this lifestyle. In that way, it has made us stronger as a couple. Our second big secret to success is that we accept that you need to be OK with being jealous as weird as that sounds. But anytime one or both of us is feeling jealous, our rule is we have to talk about it with the other person. We feel like jealousy is a fact of life no matter what kind of relationship you are in, and ignoring it will just lead to resentment." — Ashley and Kevin

"Set parameters that all parties are comfortable with"

"I think there is this misconception that all people in open relationship are completely free-spirited and go-with-the-flow types. While that is probably true for some people, others — like us — respond well to structure and rules. For us, an open relationship works because we set parameters that all parties are comfortable with. When we first started dating (and knew we both wanted an open relationship), we made it very clear what was acceptable and what was not, who was off-limits, etc. We even wrote it down so there wasn’t any ambiguity. Feeling like we are on the same page at all times makes us feel even closer to each other. And being in an open relationship is exciting and fun and sexy. But most of all, it makes us appreciate that at the end of the day, we always choose us." — Megan and Mark

More: 10 Relationship Podcasts Everyone Should Listen To

"Have check-ins on a regular basis"

"[We] had both been in open relationships where one person had pushed the other into trying it, and those relationships were full of drama. So it was very important to us to establish up front that we both really wanted this. Once that was made clear, we came up with a few rules that we still rely on three years in. No. 1, the other person — the third party — has to be told from the start about the existing relationship. We made this rule because it sends a clear signal to that person that we are not emotionally available for anything other than casual dating. If they are cool with it and agree to keep it casual, then there shouldn’t be any problems. No. 2, no secret side dates! Every single meetup with someone else has to be shared beforehand. We don’t talk to each other in depth about anyone else we are seeing, but we agree that it’s important not to feel like we are hiding anything from each other or sneaking away to see anyone else. No. 3, we have check-ins on a regular basis to make sure we're both still on board with this lifestyle. In general, communication is key… not unlike any other relationship." — Carrie and Sam

Updated Feb. 28, 2018, 9:00 a.m. PT: Alec Baldwin's talk show is officially coming, even after rumors that it would be pushed back to accommodate the Saturday Night Live actor's recent hip-replacement surgery. ABC has officially ordered nine episodes of Sundays with Alec Baldwin, and there's reportedly a sneak peek of the series coming after the Oscars this Sunday night (March 4).

The sneak peek, which is actually basically the first episode, will feature in-depth interviews with Jerry Seinfeld and Kate McKinnon, as if we weren't already excited enough to tune in for this.

"I'm excited about this show and grateful to ABC for taking a chance on me in what is, admittedly, a crowded field," Baldwin said in a statement this week. "I've enjoyed doing my podcast for WNYC and look forward to the challenge of doing a show on camera."

The show will feature two guests per episode, and the interviews will be long and deep, more like a podcast than a traditional talk show. Baldwin is sure to bring his particular brand of wit too, which will make it all the better. Can't wait to check this one out.

Original story, published Dec. 5, 2017: Here's a new talk show we'll definitely all tune in for. Multiple sources have confirmed to Variety that Alec Baldwin is in talks with ABC to host his own show, which seems like a job he is made for, honestly.

More: Here's Why Alec Baldwin Is Taking a Long Break From Twitter

There aren't really any specifics available yet about the possible project. We don't know what kind of format it would be in or what time of day it would air. But we can totally see him with a Late Show- or Conan-style setup during the late-night lineup. We know Baldwin could hold his own against some of the veteran hosts during that time.

Variety reports the deal isn't finalized yet, but ABC is already working on shooting several pilot episodes in different formats just to get an idea of what this show might look like. The idea reportedly came from Baldwin's WNYC radio show and podcast, Here's the Thing with Alec Baldwin, which already proves Baldwin has the chops to handle this sort of a project.

More: Alec Baldwin's Writing the Most Amazing Book About Donald Trump

We're super-excited to see this play out, especially after Baldwin's huge success playing President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, a role he won a supporting actor Emmy award for. He's hilarious, he's unfiltered, and he's not afraid to take on the biggest names in politics and current events. If that's not the perfect recipe for a successful talk show host, we're not sure what is.

More: Hilaria & Alec Baldwin Are Expecting Their 4th Child

In August, Baldwin, who already hosts Match Game on ABC, signed a two-year deal promising to give the network first dibs on upcoming scripted and unscripted projects. That means this possible talk show could be just the beginning, and we can't wait to learn more.