Family Feud fails can be epic. Because the show is unscripted and contestants have to answer quickly with whatever first comes into their minds, you get a peek into true humanity. I mean, does reality TV get any realer than asking someone, "What is Russia famous for?" and having them answer "Russians"?
Most of the time it's just funny (tinged with schadenfreude). Like the lady who completed the word "pork" with "upine." Or the dude who answered, "Kentucky Fried Chicken," to "A man's name that starts with K." Or my personal favorite, when the topic was "Things a burglar would not want to see in a house," and the contestant yelled, "Naked grandma!!"? Sadly, it would seem there just never is an appropriate time to yell, "Naked grandma," in public.
Family Feud fail
Family Feud fail
But then there are the times where you're pretty sure you're watching the end of somebody's whole world. Like this recent moment when a man tells his pregnant wife what he really thinks of the body growing his child.
Host Steve Harvey, asks Tarak, "Admit it, just once you'd like to tell your wife she's what?" And Tarak answers, "That she's fat."
Oh. but that's not even the worst part! Before he so lovingly insulted his pregnant (and not at all fat!) wife, he prefaced it with, "I'm going to get in a lot of trouble for this, but..." Yes, he actually thought about it before he said it—something 90 percent of foot-in-mouth contestants can't say.
Steve Harvey, himself no stranger to blurting out things he's not supposed to on television, just walks away and says, "Yeah, good luck back at the house!"
As a woman who's been visibly pregnant six times, I can attest that this is the last thing you ever want to hear come out of somebody's mouth. It's even worse than "Haven't you had that baby yet?", "You must be having twins!" or "I only gained 10 pounds myself." Because in those instances, it's usually (a) strangers insulting you, and (b) they're only euphemistically calling you fat.
Man, Tarak, I hope you won a lot of money on that game show, and I hope you used every penny of it to buy your gorgeous wife an amazing gift. (And it better not be a gym membership!)
Whether you need to take multiple subway lines and travel between boroughs in order to make it to your date's apartment, or whether you just have different opinions about the superiority of Grand Central versus Penn Station, Broad City understands that transit tension is enough to cause a breakup.
Broad City_Trains
Broad City_Trains
2. Improv
Another thing that can lead to the death of a budding romance? Going to your new beau's improv show and realizing that his sense of humor is mediocre, sexist and wildly unfunny. And if you're not sure how such an evening will turn out, bring your bestie to help you get through the ordeal.
Broad City_Improv
Broad City_Improv
3. Street harassment
Street harassment is a daily reality for most women, and sometimes being told to "smile" by a stranger feels like a slap in the face. But at least we can find solace in the wisdom of Abbi and Ilana, who taught us that the best way to respond to such remarks is with a mixture of disgust and snark.
Living away from family can make the holidays feel isolating and torturous. But, on the upside, it allows the freedom to bend rules and break traditions as needed in order to get through the day. Broad City's Yom Kippur digital short proves that surviving holidays with your friends allows for the best of both worlds.
Broad City_Yom Kippur
Broad City_Yom Kippur
5. Tax season
No one likes tax season, but it can be especially hard when you're young and underemployed. Still, as hard as it may be, it's best to present your accountant with organized paperwork. And don't expect a huge refund, even with write-offs. And — though the temptation is understandable — definitely do not show up to the accountant's office while stoned.
Broad City_Accountant
Broad City_Accountant
6. The positives of sexual experimentation
When done right, sexual experimentation can be one of the best ways to broaden one's horizons. When Abbi decided to peg her date last season, she took control of her sexual agency, offered her guy some exciting pleasure and made Ilana feel a perfect combination of pride and jealousy.
But not all sexual experimentation works out that way. Take Ilana's night of sex with a special lady friend, which takes a dark turn once Ilana gets distracted by how similar she and her partner look. Even worse? When Ilana discovers that fact is a turn-on for her date.
Broad City_Doppelganger
Broad City_Doppelganger
8. Theater hopping
When you're broke, you have to save money in any way you can, even if it involves cheating the system a little bit. So when the guy working the box office at your local multiplex is slacking on the job, it's OK to seize the day and indulge in a little theater-hopping.
Broad City_Theater hopping
Broad City_Theater hopping
9. Succeeding as an artist
Making it as an artist, especially in New York, is an uphill battle. You have to keep trying and accept the fact that your art might not make you a lot of money, at least at first. You might also have to come to terms with the fact that neighborhood sandwich shops may be more open to hosting your work than legitimate art galleries.
As tempting as it is, double dating can lead to disaster. If you're committed to the idea, it's best for both couples not to end up back at the same apartment — but if that's unavoidable, at least make sure that your dates aren't roommates with identical seduction plans.
Broad City_Roommates
Broad City_Roommates
What are your favorite Broad City moments? Are you tuning in for Season 3?
Stewart, who has always been famously cagey with the press and values her privacy above all else, told AnOther Magazine that she has little respect for celebrities who sell the narrative of their private lives like it's just another screenplay.
"People who are interested in selling a life as if it's a comic book story? It's just money, money, money, money," she told the mag in her typical blunt fashion. "It's just bullshit distraction, and a lot of people make a lot of money on that, because we wanna get distracted."
Not that we don't all need a distraction once in a while. Stewart knows that better than anyone; she just has a hard time letting loose when she needs to — but when she can, she appreciates how great it feels.
"I danced the other night, and it felt so f***in' good. And it's so not like me. I envy people like that so much," she revealed. "I'm pretty physical, but I really need to let myself go. Honestly, I just wish I could f***in' dance more. That's all.
"I know when I meet someone, if we're gonna jive and dance. And I do not want to construct anything with anyone. I wanna f***in' dance."
We consulted dermatologist Dr. Jeannette Graf to get an expert take on the probiotic trend. Our first question was a little obvious — how can topically applied probiotics actually help skin? “Probiotics are protective microflora that protect our skin from the [harmful] bacteria and other microflora present in the environment,” Graf explained. “As we age and our moisture barrier is compromised, so is our ability for our skin’s microflora to work.”
So the thinking is that topical products can help replace the naturally occurring good microflora that you may have lost due to age, over-stripping skin or other environmental causes — and, as a result, address all the problems caused by this imbalance, like acne, sensitivity and cell-aging inflammation.
Lately, probiotics have found their way into all sorts of products, from cleansers to night creams. Graf prefers serums and moisturizers because they stay put on the skin. “One of the popular strains that work well on the skin are extracts from yogurt,” she adds. As a side note, you can DIY your own probiotic face mask using yogurt.
Although the arguments for topical probiotics are solid, Graf recommends taking them internally as well. “Gut probiotics are our first line of defense, since the probiotics destroy and detoxify any potentially toxic substances before they are absorbed into the body and eventually the skin.” So, in other words, arm yourself with a good supplement too.
The entire Tula line incorporates probiotics, but this versatile gem works for both day and night and is infused with other natural extracts, like watermelon, lentil and avocado oil. ($52, Tula)
Exotic white truffle and French black currant bud extracts combine with a probiotic blend to help nourish delicate neck skin while you sleep. ($35, Skinn)
Acne sufferers will love this ultra-light moisturizer that combines probiotics with cucumber, salicylic acid and tea tree to sooth, exfoliate and reduce inflammation. Meanwhile, shea butter keeps skin hydrated. ($58, DermStore)
This lightweight serum combines probiotics with anti-aging peptides, along with vitamin E and baobab (which is rich in omegas). We also love its delicate scent — a combo of jasmine, plumeria , tuberose and mandarin.($84, Net-a-Porter)
This two-piece set includes a probiotic oxygen activator to prep skin and a probiotic enzyme mask to exfoliate and boost regeneration. ($85, DermStore)
This rich cream combines lactobacilli acidophilus with micronized silver (which is said to ward off acne-causing bacteria). Hyaluronic acid, aloe, shea butter, plus macadamia nut and sunflower seed oils leave skin soft, soothed and hydrated. ($87, Epicuren)
This chemical-free probiotic soap seemingly does it all: gently deodorizes, clears the complexion, works for both dry and oily skin and can be used all over the body. ($10, Vitamin Shoppe)
9. RenewLife Ultimate Flora Extra Care Probiotic 50 Billion
Each capsule contains 10 probiotic strains to boost digestive health and overall immunity — very good things for your entire body, including skin. ($20, RenewLife)
Or should I say punches? That should definitely be plural.
Last we left off, Santana and Lauren had just come to blows. The episode literally ended on the blur of their brawl's beginning. So, naturally, tonight picks up at that point, and shit just got crazy.
First, Tiffany jumps into the ruckus, because Tiffany. Then the crew follows suit, trying to pry the girls apart as Lyle wails in the background, "Why y'all so f***ing worried about my f***ing relationship?" The new zen Mattie wants no part of the violence, so she heads to bed. And Daddy? He's just excited someone's bathing suit bottoms got torn off during the melee. Ah, family bonding at it's finest, y'all.
Image: CMT
When the girls finally get untangled and sent to their separate corners, everyone looks a little worse for the wear. Fortunately, no quote-unquote serious injuries were sustained by the cast or crew.
"Crew wise, we were all good," says Sally Ann Salsano, 495 Productions president, and founder and creator/executive producer of Party Down South. "The girls lost a few strands, though."
In fact, they may have lost a few more strands than anyone realized at the time, reveals Salsano. "When this season was over and we were cleaning out the house and putting it back together, our production assistants found more clumps of blond and brunette hair under the chairs and sofa. We didn't DNA test it, but I'm sure it was one part Tiff and one part Lauren's weave. Those girls' extensions are everywhere. I got a kick out of that email!"
Of course, bald patches or not, nothing can deter Tiff and Lauren in this moment from the single-minded pursuit of their target, Santana — which is precisely why the crew hates getting involved in this kind of drama, explains Salsano.
"What's funny is our security team will tell you they hate breaking up girl fights. It is so much harder to get those under control, because girls play dirty and won't let go. Guys just throw some punches, and you have to keep them separated. But with the girls, it's the separating them that is so difficult," Salsano says.
Image: CMT
As Tiff and Lauren try to find a way around the crew in order to land their next round of punches, Santana continues to incite the riot. At one point, she even takes advantage of the fact the crew is distracted so she can creep up from behind and sneak in a sucker punch.
Real talk: The fact she's living this up so much and mocking the other girls makes her seem guiltier, and Lyle looks to be picking up on that fact. However, he's still in supportive future husband role when they head to bed (which Walt lovingly donated "for the sake of the house").
After what appears to be a relatively restful night, thanks to Murray's bedroom booby traps, Lyle wakes up with one thing on his mind: calling Brandon.
When he tells Santana what he wants her to do, it's not surprising she resists the idea.
Ultimately, she calls her best friend Macy. Because best friends always tell the truth when it comes to their bestie's bad behavior, right? C'mon now. "No, especially at Mudfest," Macy says when asked about Santana cheating. "She was on the phone with you 70 percent of the time."
Pray tell, honey, what was she doing the other 30 percent? Clearly the account Brandon gave to Lauren is quite different from the story Macy tells. So does Lyle talk to Brandon directly?
"This story evolves a lot this season and Lyle is going to be an emotional tornado for most of it. Lyle talks to a lot of people coming up and one may be Brandon, but he is so in love and wants things to work so badly that it is hard to hear what anyone on either side of the fence tells him," says Salsano. "There are points during this season that I wondered, 'Is Lyle going to make it through this season?' I felt so bad for him."
The day after Santana leaves, Lauren winds up on a work shift with Hott Dogg and Lyle. Although she's worried at first Lyle will still be pissed about the fight, the three end up having a heartfelt talk and come to a place of understanding.
Even he and Tiff kind of patch things up, but the bottom line is that Boudreaux is heartbroken. And it sucks, y'all. The duck calls of homeboy's heart have gone silent.
Drama aside, though, both Mattie and Daddy are looking for love. Or, to be more accurate, lust. At the club, Daddy finds that his recently injured foot doesn't hinder his ability to reel in marlins, so he's pretty perky.
Image: CMT
Mattie throws on a "rather breathtaking ensemble" in the hope that she will score. To give credit where credit is due, this girl crafts a sports metaphor for sex that she builds beautifully throughout the episode.
It's not long before Mattie sets her sights on someone and invites him back to the house — it's time she gets on the scoreboard, no doubt. There's just one catch: Her guy, DJ, has a friend who doesn't seem to be catching the drift.
Image: CMT
The housemates step in to run interference and Mattie makes her play. Um, sort of. Nerves take over, prompting her to, uh, do laundry. Delay of game?
Happily, she soon snaps out of it. Mattie is officially on the scoreboard in Season 5 of Party Down South, saying, "This is so much better than laundry."
Meanwhile, Lyle is still mulling over the whole Santana situation and starts to think maybe there is some merit to these cheating rumors. But you know what? He's decided to say with her, no matter what, he tells Hott Dogg.
However, hints Salsano, the saga of Lyle and Santana does come to a head soon. "How could it not?" she says. "Lyle is a big, tough dude but any person could only take so much of this he-said, she-said stuff. It's a tough thing for anyone to go through, much less doing it on national TV like this."
Because everyone else leaves the house to do lunch and are all easily distracted by all the drama, the Terror Twins come out of hiding.
Image: CMT
Even Daddy jumps into the mix for a hot minute, helping Murray and Walt whip up a vile blend of garbage, leftover food and God knows what else — a concoction they describe as "between a steamy pile of diarrhea and garbage truck juice."
Yuck or, as Salsano puts it, "They are so gross. Ugh, boys, ya know? We have had to step in a couple times, and thank God. Some of the stuff they've wanted to do I won't repeat."
Image: CMT
One can only imagine! However, we don't see any reaction to the Terror Twins' stunt this episode, as it segues straight into Mattie's potential second date with her new tight end (hehe), DJ. Sadly, he doesn't show up to the club, and it looks like the weather is right for a visit from Martha.
Only, yay! He ends up calling the house later that night, and everyone — cast and crew — was excited for her.
"She continues to grow by leaps and bounds. She stumbles from time to time, but who doesn't? Mattie is so beautiful, but she's a tough woman who's been hurt in the past and gets nervous about guys just like the rest of us. I was so happy to see her open up with someone in Savannah," shares Salsano.
Mattie is adorably excited, too (like "never ever never" before, says Salsano). Until she accidentally hangs up on him, that is. Ooopsie.
Based on the promo for next Wednesday's episode, things appear to be quite rocky for the duo. Firstly, Josh introduces Liza to another woman as his "my, uh, really good friend Liza." What's that now, Josh? Shouldn't you be introducing her as your girlfriend?
If that's not enough, Josh also says to Liza, "I can't do this anymore." He appears to be very serious and looks extremely upset. So, does this mean Liza and Josh are over for good? That remains to be seen, but if Josh does break things off with Liza, then here's where Liza could end up.
Younger promo
Younger promo
1. She could focus on herself
Younger is all about Liza finding herself as a newly divorced woman of 40. So, if she does part ways with Josh, this would be the perfect opportunity for Liza to focus even more on herself.
2. She could work on her career
A huge part of Liza is reestablishing her publishing career. I mean, she's even pretending to be 26 to hold a job down at one of the biggest publishing firms in New York City. That said, if Josh isn't in her life, Liza could put even more effort into her career.
3. Josh could get with Kelsey
Now, I don't know if either Kelsey or Josh would go this route, because it would probably upset Liza. But I think these two have great chemistry. Even though Kelsey is with Thad, in the promo above she says to him, "I'm just seeing everything a lot more clearly." Is that spelling bad things for Thad?
Liza is part of the publishing world, after all. Plus, she loves to read and write, so sooner or later I bet she'll write her very own book. Maybe it will be even sooner than viewers and Liza think. It's not like she doesn't have an interesting story to tell. I mean, just look at her life.
5. She could be friends with Josh
If Liza and Josh split, that doesn't mean they won't remain on good terms. There's a very good chance they could remain friends and keep things civil.
6. She could play the field
Who says Liza has to be with one guy or another? After moving to the city and getting a job after her divorce, Josh was the first guy Liza met. Maybe it's time for her to play the field and see what else is out there. Having options definitely isn't a bad thing.
7. She could move on with Charles
Let's face it, if Josh dumps Liza, a portion of fans will want her to get with Charles. Obviously, there is a love triangle happening with Josh/Liza/Charles. For quite some time now, Charles and Liza have had amazing chemistry, so these two just might make their professional relationship a bit more personal.
Graham revealed that she hopes her cover will help young women of all shapes and sizes realize they're beautiful, no matter what society has previously told them.
"I am hopefully going to change the lives of so many different young women. So many young women who have been told that their cellulite is ugly, that their inner things that jiggle and touch are ugly," Graham told E! Newsin a recent interview. "Because I have all those things and I'm on the cover of Sports Illustrated, so they must be beautiful."
Graham posted her Sports Illustrated cover on Instagram with the caption, "This cover is for every woman who felt like she wasn't beautiful enough because of her size. You can do and achieve anything you put your mind to."
Ashley SI Cover IG
Ashley SI Cover IG
This huge accomplishment is a long time coming for the 28-year-old model. Graham had her fair share of struggles on her rise to the top.
"I had agents tell me, 'You'll never be on the cover of magazines. You'll never be an editorial model,'" she told E! News. "I had agents wave money in my face and say, 'If you drop some pounds, you can have a lot more of this!' And not even that was something that encouraged me to lose weight!"
Graham says she hasn't always been so self-assured, but she did learn to love herself thanks to her mom.
"My mother had instilled a lot of confidence in me. She had said, 'You are bold, you are brilliant and you are beautiful.' And those are things that I had to tell myself again after I had gained weight in a very unhealthy way and I'm really proud of the woman that I've become," she said. "Quote unquote 'flaws' and all."
Sitcom star Wilson, who just so happens to be married to show creator David Caspe, dropped the major news to Entertainment Tonight. According to Wilson, one very rich fan is so desperate for more Happy Endings that he is willing to fund a movie. She told the show, "There’s interest [in Happy Endings]... someone even called my husband who created it, and basically said, ‘I’m a private investor, I would love to pay for a movie...’ we were like, OK… now private citizens are coming off the streets!"
Obviously, that news is ah-maaazing... even if Wilson did say that the money hasn't exactly gotten into their account yet. But regardless, it reignites our hope that there could, one day, be more Happy Endings for everyone, just as shows like Arrested Development and The Mindy Project got new life online.
Since it's been a few years since we've last seen our Chicago crew, here's where Happy Endings left them.
Max (Adam Pally)
Max hasn't exactly had enormous growth throughout the three seasons of Happy Endings, but he did have a solid limo business going for a few episodes — until he blew it up as part of a prank war with Dave. In fact, Max's messed-up life is the reason why his vengeful ex-roommate (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) can't actually get revenge on him for messing up his own life: Max's life is already in shambles. But what fun would it be if it wasn't?
Penny (Casey Wilson)
Poor Pen. After finally getting engaged to dreamboat Pete (Nick Zano), a game of couple's trivia made Penny realize that they weren't meant to be. After hashing out her feelings in a very disturbing play in which she played the "Black Plague of Love," Penny bounced back, hooked up with Jane's boss "The Car Czar" and stopped her parents from adopting a baby. As one does.
Jane (Eliza Coupe)
Jane may be crushing it at her job, the gym, and on the tennis court, but her confidence was deeply shaken at her older, colder sister Brooke's wedding in the last episode of the series. (Never mind that Brooke's wedding was the first time the series ever mentioned Jane and Alex's older sister existed.) Jane immediately shrunk down in front of the ever-harsh Brooke, but fortunately, she got her spring back in her step when it was revealed that Brooke was pregnant on her wedding day.
Brad (Damon Wayans Jr.)
Brad left his job as an investment banker to find his passion, which, briefly, was ventriloquism with a very terrifying dummy. Then it was working at Chuckles & Hugs, a Chuck E. Cheese-esque kids' party place where he managed a ball pit instead of mutual funds. When we last saw Brad, he was going head-to-head with his new brother-in-law, whom Brad felt got to reap all of the benefits from Brad marrying Jane first.
Alex (Elisha Cuthbert)
Alex still loves ribs, but maybe doesn't love Dave anymore — at least, not in the way that she should. Dave and Alex split in the season finale after realizing that they were one another's rebounds. Of course, this was only after they locked themselves in the bathroom for hours.
Dave (Zachary Knighton)
After finally moving in with Alex again, the on-again, off-again couple decided to call it quits. Fortunately, Dave won't be eating an entire "chocolate bride" this time around to cope with the split. Instead of being bitter about the breakup, the food truck owner and his ex decided to share a sweet, platonic dance at Brooke's wedding. Maybe a forever friendship was their real happy ending after all.
Would you be stoked to see more Happy Endings or are you happy watching reruns on Hulu? Sound off in the comments.
Stacey Wilson of Benton said she felt when the nail technician went a little too rough on her feet with the pumice stone, cutting her foot near her pinky toe.
"She knew she had hurt me a little bit," Wilson said of the tech. She went home, but the pain got worse and by Monday her entire lower leg was red and she developed a fever of 102 degrees F.
"I was like, it's time to go to the ER," Wilson, a nurse, told news station KATV. She was diagnosed with an infection called cellulitis.
Cellulitis can be caused by one of three different bacteria — group AB-hemolytic streptococcus, streptococcus pneumoniae or staphylococcus aureus — and typically affects the face, arms, legs and feet. Treatment is usually administered through antibiotics, either through pills or IV, depending on the severity.
"Pedicures and manicures aren't the only things that cause it, but we definitely do see it associated with that," said Dr. Michael Pafford of Saline Memorial Hospital told KATV.
The best way to deal with cellulitis, though, is to prevent it. Don't get a pedicure if you have cuts or abrasions on your feet and legs, and wait for at least a day after you shave or wax to go. Be sure to ask about cleaning procedures before you sit down and observe their cleaning practices. If you're not sure, don’t get one.
As for Wilson, she's on the mend but won't be forgetting the painful infection anytime soon. "It feels like you're sitting too close to a fire and you just cannot get away from it, that's the way it feels," she said, adding that she plans to notify the Arkansas Health Department when she gets out of the hospital.
After last week's dramatic elimination, a certain calm seems to have come over the remaining Top Chef contestants. It seems like everyone remaining actually likes and respects one another. It's still a competition, though, and so someone has to win (on Thursday's episode, it was Amar) and someone has to go home (Karen). On Twitter, fans are already speculating on who will make it to the finale.
With Karen out, there's only one woman left among the cheftestants, and that's Marjorie. Over the 13 seasons of Top Chef, there have been only three women who have won it all. Marjorie's ridiculously talented, but as the judges reminded Karen on Thursday night, it's the dish that sends the chef home, so like any of the other chefs left, one bad day could totally eliminate the possibility of having another talented woman win this season.
Unfortunately, what we're seeing this season in terms of gender imbalance is pretty standard for women in the restaurant industry. Few women are at the head of their own kitchens (not counting TV personalities who don't actually have to turn out plates every night) and women chefs are definitely not making the same money that their male counterparts are or raising the cash to start their own restaurants. There are many reasons all this is true — women are socialized to be polite, nice, quiet and not assertive (so asking for money is less likely to happen). Women shoulder the load of child-rearing and so taking on a potentially unstable and time-consuming endeavor like a restaurant is extra daunting and maybe a risk not worth taking. Kitchens are notoriously sexist places and not everyone is willing to put up with that kind of behavior for an indefinite amount of time.
This season of Top Chef began with seven women and 10 men. Tom Colicchio characterized the crew as being among the most talented they've ever had on the show. In other words, it's not for lack of skill that more women aren't winning Top Chef. It begs the question of why the show isn't more balanced in terms of gender — why weren't there 10 men and 10 women this season? It's certainly not because three more women with Top Chef-level talent don't exist. What's more likely is that they're working their butts off under circumstances that aren't the most ideal and need to be given the shot they deserve.
Who are you rooting for to win this season? Are you hoping it's Marjorie? What do you think about the fact that such a small number of women have won Top Chef?
This episode was all about the music and Bates' passion for the piano, which she used to create an amazing instrumental Christmas album that was released in November 2015.
"It's a blessing to get to play with Erin," fiddler Andy Leftwich said while Erin bashfully replied, "Naw."
But the two clearly worked well together since they were able to record six songs in a single day!
Of course, since the show is a few months behind current life, we just got to see the behind the scenes in the studio. And it was awesome not only to see Bates' talent unfold but to see how the whole family was so supportive of her endeavor.
Carlin Bates was in the recording studio to watch Erin's son Carson while Erin's husband Chad Paine was there for some emotional support. Kelly Jo and Callie Bates showed up to listen, too. And even Lawson Bates drove down for a day to be a part of the recording experience.
"Erin is an amazing girl. Just the fact that after she's had Carson she goes out and records a CD. I mean, that's pretty incredible," proud husband Chad gushed. "And to be able to do it efficiently and taking care of the baby at the same time, he was so happy. He loves Christmas music. He loves music in general. He loves hearing Erin play."
The album, which is titled Comfort & Joy, is available on iTunes and, even though it's a Christmas album, the songs are still worth the listen. Girl has got talent! And lots to celebrate since not only is she a recorded artist, but she's also expecting her second child.
Menounos stopped by SheKnows to chat about her plans for this year's awards show, and the impactful experience she had as an audience member in 2015.
This time last year, Menounos tell us, she became a feminist — all thanks to an Oscar speech. You probably remember Patricia Arquette's award speech for Best Supporting Actress about wage equality. Before hearing Arquette call out the issue so openly, Menounos admits she had a "negative connotation drilled into my brain about feminism." After "[the] incredibly moving speech about equal wages for women at the Oscars last year," she says, "I really started looking into [feminism] a little deeper and friends of mine, really successful female friends of mine, were like, 'Maria, it doesn’t mean what people made it to mean, it really is just about us being equal. It’s not an ugly term, it’s just that we deserve to get paid.' So that made me feel better about it and threw out the negative stereotypes and connotation."
With the rise of celebrities using the public stage for political and social causes (never forget Beyoncé at this year's Super Bowl), it's refreshing to see that minds are actually being changed. Menounos is so on board with the trend that she's chosen to support a charity of her own on this year's red carpet. "I think anytime a celebrity who uses their power for good is a home run... it’s so important to use any stage that you can to bring light to an important cause, so I’m all for it," she says. She's taking a cause she's passionate about — clean water — and bringing it into her spotlight.
"I’m used to trying to make a fashion impact when I’m on the carpet, but this time I’m going to be making more of a social impact along with a fashion impact, and that’s really exciting to me," said Menounos. She'll be wearing a dress by Christian Siriano to the show, designed to honor the women who walk miles to gather clean water for their families. After the Oscars, she'll auction the dress to benefit Water.org. For Menounos, raising awareness is also part of the battle. "The Oscars is one of the biggest stages globally to be able to make an impact," she says. Who better than Menounos to harness the attention fashion gets on Oscars night for a good cause?
Menounos tells us causes that have her heart include dog rescue and pediatric cancer aside from her work with Water.org. Fans of her Instagram know she's an especially big fan of elephants, often encouraging fans to foster baby elephants. (Could there be a cuter cause?)
maria insta
maria insta
If you'd like to support families in need of clean water, Stella Artois has released limited-edition chalices designed by artists from Kenya, Peru and Haiti. For every chalice sold in the U.S. up to 90,000, the brand will donate $6.25 to Water.org as part of their goal to provide five years of clean water for one person in the developing world. "It's a huge, huge deal and it’s going to make a huge impact on people," says Menounos. Kudos to the star on a big night of fashion and charity!
According to a report in The New York Times, the Social Security Administration examined the gap back in the early 1970s by analyzing how long a 60-year-old man could expect to live if he was at the top half of the earnings ladder versus the bottom. According to their data, the wealthy man could only expect to live 1.2 years longer than the poor man. Time, and perhaps the ever widening gap between the extremely wealthy and the extremely poor, has taken its toll on this number.
In 2001, the Social Security Administration ran the numbers again, and found that the difference in life expectancy had jumped up to 5.8 years. That's quite a leap in just 30 years! Now, in 2016, that number has more than doubled to 14 years in half the time (the gap being 13 years between poor and rich women). If that doesn't prove there's something very wrong with the distribution of wealth in this country, I don't know what will.
However, the experts involved in this most recent study can't quite say for sure if wealth inequality is the main culprit behind the exponentially increasing life expectancy gap. While it certainly seems to be a catalyst, there are other, more basic factors at play as well.
Gary Burtless, co-author of the study explained on NPR, "More affluent Americans tend to engage more in systematic exercise. They are less likely to be obese. Their smoking rates are lower. Those differences can help account for why there is a difference in how long people live." But again, those things don't account for the entire gap increase. Something else is also at work here; however it's perhaps too multi-leveled for researchers to tackle in one study.
The one good thing about this is the study was published at the perfect time, politically speaking — during the presidential campaign. Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have already begun to address the issue in their most recent debates.
One theory many public health researchers keep returning to has to do with smoking habits. Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable death in America, and now that the wealthy and overall better educated are giving it up, their average life span is improving. A study conducted at Duke University found that smoking actually accounts for a third to a fifth of the life expectancy gap between the rich and poor. I'd say that's a pretty sizable percentage.
Other factors like obesity definitely play a part in the widening gap, but the numbers aren't nearly as cut and dry as the smoking statistics.
So what can we do with an issue that seems so completely out of our hands? I suppose the best advice is to vote for the candidates who care about shrinking the income gap, and advocate for better universal health care plans. Oh, and definitely quit smoking.
Beth Lloyd suffers from a debilitating illness, Crohn's disease, which leaves her struggling to walk, and this is why her family ordered a delivery of groceries from Tesco, The Mirror reports. But when the driver pulled up to deliver her £130 shop, Lloyd didn't hear him knock at the front door. Nor did she hear her phone ringing when he attempted to call her.
The driver was annoyed by this, but instead of being a professional and dealing with the situation in a dignified manner, he reportedly sprawled a nasty message on the "Sorry we missed you" card and shoved it through the letterbox.
Lloyd claims that her son told her that someone had put something in the letterbox, so she went, along with her husband, to the door to apologise to the man, who reportedly "blanked" them and left.
The couple, concerned as to how they would get their shopping, read the card in the morning in the hope of discovering further instructions, only to find "Dear Mr and Mrs I Can't Be A***d Going to the Shop" handwritten across the top of the card.
Understandably upset by the incident, Lloyd decided to share her story with the media, sharing how disappointed she is in the retail giant.
"Tesco say 'every little helps' but that note was no help at all to me," she said. "I'm a mix of disappointed and upset at what he said — I still almost think that maybe he did it for a mate as a joke and accidentally posted it through our door, but the more I think about it, he didn't try to put any details on it.
"Ordering the shopping is something I can do to feel normal, and having a delivery is brilliant because it makes me feel useful — but it seems I'm being judged for ordering the shopping on a computer instead of going to the shop itself," she added.
Lloyd went on to explain how angry her husband was over the situation and how hurt she felt, adding that if someone really needs the delivery service, they should not be made to feel inferior or judged for it.
"He might have someone that needs to use these services, and it gives him a job too. We are the first to be thankful to any driver," she said.
The driver may not have known about Lloyd's health, but there was absolutely no reason to make the assumption that she was lazy. And even if someone just didn't want to go to the shop, that's their choice, and they are paying for the service.
Tesco claims that they are "urgently" investigating the complaint, with a spokesperson saying, "All of our customer delivery assistants undergo a comprehensive training program to ensure they provide great service on the doorstep, so we were concerned to hear about this complaint.
"We are urgently investigating and will update Ms Lloyd with our findings."
What do you think of the driver's actions? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
According to The Independent, the Jewish school has been teaching its all-male pupils sexist principles, such as that a woman's only role is to "look after children, clean the house and cook."
In addition to this, the Ofsted report found that the school, which is reported to charge annual fees of £2,860, was not meeting the required standards for an independent school as it was found to be prioritising "the ethos of its faith" over proper educational standards and the upholding of modern British values.
"In discussions, the majority of pupils still express views about the roles of women and men that indicate that the school does not prepare them for the reality of life in modern British society," the report states.
"Pupils universally consider that the role of women is to 'look after children, clean the house and cook', while men 'go to work'."
The narrow-minded view of women's roles in society was not the only issue raised by inspectors. They reportedly also found that pupils were unable to show "mutual respect and tolerance to people of different faiths" and that their knowledge of varying cultures and religions was "very limited."
This is the second time inspectors have investigated the school, after it failed its last full assessment in November 2014, The Metro reports. And while Beis Aharon is said to have made some progress since its last report, the required education standards are still not being met.
The report states that "younger pupils' knowledge and understanding of spoken and written English remains poor and they struggle to recall the alphabet." It gave further evidence of pupils' limited knowledge of other faiths and cultures, with an example of how "leaders obscure any images in reading books of women and girls with short sleeves or of children swimming."
And the word "Christmas" was reportedly crossed out whenever it appeared in a reading book being used in a Year 4 lesson.
According to The Evening Standard, the school was given a list of 34 points from The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 to ensure they adhere to the standards.
I've done liposuction in the past — that double chin had to go! I'm not willing to do it again, though, especially for something no one sees but me and my wonderful husband, who obviously overlooks it. So, what's a girl to do?
There is some body fat that is almost impossible to get rid of, no matter what you do or how old you are.
Take my double chin, for example, which was handed down in our family from one generation to another like Wedgwood china. It didn't matter how much weight I lost, it never budged. While I was somewhat used to the comments throughout my life, the last one (in 2003) was the final straw. I was having my wedding gown fitted, and the seamstress was complaining I had lost weight between fittings but "too bad you still have a fat neck!" I wanted to just walk out, but my wedding was in a week, so I cried to my sister instead. She knew exactly how I felt — she had one, too.
Later that year, I made an appointment with a well-known surgeon to have my double chin removed via liposuction. I was ecstatic with the results. It was finally gone!
By my mid 40s, I started getting a perimenopausal tummy. While I thought about it a few times, the risks and complications for having it removed with liposuction would have been much higher than that for my double chin. It also seemed a bit frivolous — no one really saw it but me.
Unwilling to do nothing, I took advantage of the non-invasive fat shrinking treatments at the med spa where I worked. (I love the perks of my job!!)
Using our radio-frequency equipment — specifically, VelaShape and Accent XL — I could keep my "issue" in check by shrinking my fat cells, as long as I maintained my healthy lifestyle and weight. While I enjoyed the results of both treatments, the VelaShape has a suction/rolling/heating feeling to it, and sometimes I'd be left with a small bruise. The Accent XL, on the other hand, is warm and gentle as it glides across the skin. Both procedures are considered temporary, as they don't actually destroy the fat cells, but this was the non-invasive route I was looking for, and I very pleased with the results.
Around that time, a neighboring surgeon had just purchased a CoolSculpting machine and offered me a free treatment. New on the scene, with promises of actually destroying the fat cells and still being non-invasive, CoolSculpting was about to make its mark as the only FDA-approved cryolipolysis treatment in the U.S. Unfortunately, Cryolipolysis — a fancy term for freezing fat cells to death — received a couple negative reviews citing possible nerve damage. Whether true or false, the rumor was out there, so I gave the free treatment to my girlfriend and went along for moral support.
As the tech placed a paddle-looking device on her stomach, it slowly sucked her belly into the CoolSculpting applicator, where it remained for about an hour. "Cold, tingly and with a snug grip" is how my friend described it as we chatted during her treatment. Once the tech removed the paddle, my girlfriend's tummy sat there looking like a frozen pound of butter!! This was completely different from anything we had ever seen, and it was downright gross! But then once the area was gently massaged and warmed, her tummy "melted" back into place — thank goodness!
CoolSculpting doesn't offer instant gratification like radio frequency. You don't jump off the table and admire your tightened abs or thighs. Instead, you're sent home to wait a few weeks until the frozen cells are broken down by your body. Since my friend is already built like a supermodel, it was difficult to see a noticeable difference, but she was thankful for the treatment just the same.
A couple of years after CoolSculpting's debut, UltraShape made it to the United States. Utilizing ultrasound, UltraShape would damage fat cells in a targeted area, which were then moved through the lymphatic system to the liver. The liver would break down the waste just like it would food. It sounded simple enough, but would it work?
Parent company Syneron Candela placed only a few of the newly FDA-approved devices in key clinics around the country for its initial launch. I was lucky enough to be working at one of those clinics and couldn't wait to be trained — and treated!
The treatments are virtually painless, with most taking up to an hour. I was able to have three treatments for my stubborn tummy and saw reasonable results — yay! That being said, I still had to maintain my healthy lifestyle (even though the fat cells in that area had been destroyed) since neighboring fat cells would increase in size if given the chance. And increase they did, eight months later when my mother underwent brain surgery. Living on vending machine and hospital cafeteria food (shouldn't hospitals only have healthy choices?), carbs were my solace while coffee and diet soda were my energy.
It's taken me four months to get that stubborn tummy back under control — and those neighboring fat cells back in their own yard! Having returned to my "normal" weight, I can honestly say the results from the UltraShape treatments still exist.
Looking back, I ask myself if I would have these treatments all over again? Yes, I would. I'm aware that with anything there is a risk, and frankly, I'm more afraid of falling on an icy sidewalk than I am of non-invasive fat removal. But that's me, and it's what I do. I'm a fat-melting, skin-tightening, wrinkle-removing expert — and love every minute of it!
Kesha broke down in tears when she heard the ruling. And the world is standing by the singer, in just as much shock as she is. #FreeKesha is trending on Twitter, with an outpouring of support, begging Sony to let the singer go from her contract.
Kesha support tweet 1
Kesha support tweet 1
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Kesha support tweet 2
Kesha support tweet 3
Kesha support tweet 3
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Kesha support tweet 4
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Kesha support tweet 5
This case is admittedly very complicated. The judge technically made the right call in upholding the contract laws of the state. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that it was morally the correct decision in this case.
No woman should have to work with a man who sexually and emotionally abused her for years in the way Kesha claims Dr. Luke did.
But to me, this isn't the court's responsibility. It's Sony's. And they have failed in that job, which is what led Kesha to seek the court's help.
Rather, Sony should have not just offered Kesha a new producer but offered her a new, better producer and assured her that she was still going to receive the same publicity and promotion throughout her career despite the producer shift. If they can't do that, then they should let her go.
As Kesha's lawyer claimed after the ruling today, Sony has more invested in Dr. Luke than they do in Kesha, so they aren't as concerned with the longevity of her career when you put the two up against one another. Serious politics are at play, which is gross and devastating when you consider that politics are outweighing the fact that a woman was sexually abused for years.
And if Dr. Luke really was sexually assaulting Kesha like this, there is a slim chance she was the first. (Dr. Luke claims that this is just a smear campaign against him to get Kesha out of her contract.)
Now, who knows how Sony is really handling this situation behind closed doors. It seems like they are trying their best to stay out of the spotlight when commenting on this one, aside from a few random comments about her success and value to them as a corporation. Fingers crossed that this new ruling drives them to finally make an illuminating statement that justifies their actions. (I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt here.) It seems like Sony is choosing money over a woman's well-being in the most basic of ways, and that should definitely be a crime.
But Sony and Kesha aside, what about Sony and Dr. Luke? If there is enough evidence to prove that Dr. Luke is, in fact, guilty of the crimes Kesha claims, then how can Sony possibly keep him employed? How can Sony possibly protect this man over Kesha? It seems like Kesha is the one who is being punished right now for speaking out, and that is a problem that is all too common among rape victims. Kesha is the one who finds herself in court, and Kesha is the one who has to battle for her rights, all while Dr. Luke stays employed and tries to wait out these accusations. It's terribly wrong. And that's not the court's fault — it's Sony's.
This could be the corporation's chance to take a stand and make some real positive change for women. Sony could set a new standard for handling these terrible situations and ensure that Kesha isn't victimized even further than she has been already. She deserves to stand with her head held high, knowing that she has people behind her, supporting her. She deserves to make the kind of music she wants to make without the pressures of the man who drugged and assaulted her anywhere near her.
Sony, we're watching. And, for women everywhere, we hope you do the right thing.
How do you think Sony should handle Kesha's contract claims?
It's no secret the two have had their differences in the past, publicly butting heads. Even Gorga's husband, Joe Gorga, got caught up in some of the drama, and he and Giudice have said some less than kind things about each other due to the fighting.
But according to the Gorgas, now that Giudice is out of prison, their relationship is much better. At a celebration for the release of Giudice's tell-all memoir, Turning the Tables: From Housewife to Inmate and Back Again, they explained to E! News how they've mended fences with Giudice since her release.
Melissa Gorga talks relationship with Teresa Giudice
Melissa Gorga talks relationship with Teresa Giudice
That's not all the Gorgas had to say about the Giudices. They also gushed about how Giudice's four daughters held the family together during her time behind bars.
"They were strong. They had to be strong and they wanted to be strong for their family and for their mom and for their grandparents — for everybody," Melissa said.
Joe added, "They definitely got stronger. They pulled together and did a lot more chores around the house."
Melissa interrupted, "The house was so clean!"
"They definitely stepped up to the plate," Joe continued. "They all took care of the house. They’re amazing. They really pulled together as a family."
A very contrite Taylor appeared in a Hawaii courtroom today to answer to charges of stealing an expensive pair of shades from a Sunglass Hut in Honolulu last July, and in the courtroom video, we see a side of him we never get to see on Vanderpump Rules: a humble Taylor.
During his court appearance, Taylor blamed his bad behavior on too much alcohol, acknowledged that the incident will follow him forever and actually apologized.
"I had too many drinks, too many mai tais," Taylor told the judge. "I made a mistake, took full responsibility and I understand this is going to follow me the rest of my life due to the fact that I'm on television. So I just want to say I'm sorry and I apologize."
Taylor told E! News that fans would get to see the whole ordeal go down on an upcoming episode of Vanderpump Rules.
"You'll see what happens. It's a mistake, everybody makes them, mine happens to be on TV," he explained. "It was a screw-up, you'll see what happens. You know, I wasn't all there mentally."
Taylor took a plea deal that includes 364 days probation, a $350 fine to Sunglass Hut, a $105 fine to the Crime Victim Compensation Commission and $1150 in other fees and fines. If he keeps his nose clean during his probation period, his record will be expunged.
Today I'm showing you how to prep your breakfast the night before with the morning Crock-Pot cheat you've been waiting for. We'll be using kale and sweet potatoes in this egg casserole to give you the healthy boost you need to last you throughout the day. Try making this casserole tonight, and see if your routine morning isn't a little easier and day a little brighter from waking up to a fully cooked breakfast ready and waiting for you.
Slow cooker bacon, sweet potato and kale breakfast casserole recipe
Ingredients:
12 eggs, whisked
1 pound uncured bacon, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups kale, stemmed and sliced
1 large sweet potato, grated
6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (optional)
Grapeseed or coconut oil spray
Directions:
In a large iron skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon from the pan, and reserve on a paper towel-lined plate.
Pour out some of the bacon grease, then add the onion, and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. Tip in the garlic, and cook a minute more.
Add the kale leaves, and cook until just wilted, about 30 seconds.
Remove the pan from the heat, and set aside.
Tip everything from the pan into a slow cooker sprayed with cooking spray.
If using, scatter 1/2 the cheese over the bacon-veg mixture.
Pour the eggs over the top, and add remaining cheese, if using.
