A phone case in a box that could hold a toaster is one of e-commerce’s favorite jokes. It is also a window into the strange economics of shipping air.

Everyone has received one. The USB cable in a carton sized for a board game. The lip balm rattling around a box with its own weather system. You laugh, you photograph it, you wonder briefly whether anyone is paying attention, and then you flatten the box for recycling and move on.

Here is the part that makes it interesting: someone, or rather something, chose that box on purpose. And the reasons say a lot about how the machinery behind online shopping actually works.

The box is a decision, not an accident

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In a modern fulfillment operation, a human packer rarely decides what box to use. That call is made by warehouse management software, the system that runs the building. Before your order is even picked from the shelf, the software has measured the dimensions of everything in it, compared them against the cartons the warehouse keeps in stock, and assigned the one it calculates as the best fit.

So when the fit is comically wrong, the algorithm didn’t glitch. It did exactly what it was told with the options it had. The question is why the options were bad.

Why air is expensive

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First, understand what’s at stake. Carriers long ago stopped charging purely by weight, because a truck full of feather-light, oversized boxes fills up just as fast as a truck full of bricks. So they charge by dimensional weight: the size of the box converted into a billable weight, with the shipper paying whichever is higher, the real weight or the dimensional one.

That means empty space in a box isn’t just wasteful. It is, quite literally, a product the retailer is buying from the carrier. Every oversized carton ships a few cents to a few dollars of nothing. Multiply by millions of packages, and shipping air becomes one of the quietest large expenses in retail.

So why the giant box?

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If air is that expensive, why does the toaster-sized box keep showing up? A few honest reasons.

The carton menu is short. A warehouse might stock a dozen box sizes, chosen when the operation launched. The software can only pick from the menu it has, and if your item falls between sizes, it rounds up. Always up, because a box that’s too small isn’t a box at all.

The menu goes stale. Product catalogs change constantly; carton catalogs don’t. An assortment chosen for last year’s bestsellers can be quietly wrong for this year’s, and the mismatch shows up one oversized shipment at a time, invisible in any single order.

Speed beats precision at the pack station. During a surge, some operations fall back to fewer, larger box sizes because it keeps the line moving. The giant box you received in December may be the fingerprint of a warehouse running flat out.

And sometimes the box was sized for a friend that never came. Systems often plan cartons for orders that might be consolidated, and when part of the order ships separately, the survivor rattles around in space reserved for its companions.

The warehouse already has the evidence

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What makes this problem fixable is that the proof is sitting in the shipping data. Every carton choice, every package dimension, every carrier charge already flows through the system that cut the label.

Deposco built its Supply Chain Intelligence suite to read that evidence directly. Working with Deposco’s WMS Bright Warehouse rather than as a separate analytics stack, its packaging analysis evaluates a warehouse’s carton assortment against the shipments it actually sends, flags dimensional weight overages and boxes leaving with too much empty space, and quantifies what fixing the carton menu is worth in dollars. It also compares what an operation pays for shipping, like for like by package weight and destination, against comparable shippers, so a retailer knows whether its rates are as good as it believes. Across the operations it works with, Deposco typically surfaces a 2 to 5% opportunity on overall shipping spend. Packaging is a rare lever in that number: a retailer can pull it immediately, without negotiating with anyone.

And for operators who enable Felix, a team of AI expert agents inside Deposco, the shipping analyst agent turns the investigation into a conversation: ask why shipping cost per package crept up this quarter, and it answers from the live operation, then keeps answering as you dig.

Reading your next delivery

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So the next time a small thing arrives in a big box, you’re holding a clue. Maybe the retailer’s carton menu hasn’t kept up with what it sells. Maybe you ordered during a surge, and the warehouse traded precision for speed. Either way, somewhere a piece of software made the best choice available to it, and the real story is whether anyone is watching the choices add up.

The retailers that watch are shipping less air. The ones that don’t are paying to deliver it.

A good amount of mystery surrounds the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next steps after Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, particularly when it comes to their upcoming television slate. More MCU blockbuster films are in the pipeline (Black Panther 3, Ghost Rider, their interpretation of the X-Men), but Disney+ currently has no live-action series planned after Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 — which they just announced will be the show’s last. What’s more, Kevin Feige teased his intentions to eventually reboot the entire experiment, which assumedly would close the door on most ongoing stories. Even though the MCU’s small-screen era has produced some of its finest work across the franchise’s 18 years, all public information points to Marvel shifting away from the medium.

While the upcoming VisionQuest series is also shrouded in secrecy, the marketing positions showrunner Terry Matalas‘ contribution to the MCU as completing the trilogy that began with 2021’s masterful WandaVision and continued with 2024’s equally sensational Agatha All Along. A giant question mark has hovered over Vision’s (Paul Bettany) character since WandaVision resurrected the AI with a soul, not to mention whether his wife, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), survived her apparent death in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Agatha All Along added its own “to be continued” when Billy Maximoff (Joe Locke) and Agatha Harkness’ (Kathryn Hahn) ghost joined forces to search for his brother, Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica). If those dangling threads weren’t intriguing enough, VisionQuest is also the final Phase Six project before Avengers: Doomsday‘s December release date. Suffice to say, VisionQuest feels like an integral piece of the franchise’s sprawling puzzle and a crucial stepping stone during a transitional moment.

What Is ‘VisionQuest’ About?

As Collider learned during our set visit, VisionQuest opens with its titular hero having spent several years hiding from the corrupt people who want to weaponize his abilities. Disguised as a human during the day and retreating to his quantum computer Mindspace at night, the former Avenger tries to either relearn his identity and purpose or forge new ones. Since his original programming as the White Vision stripped him of the ability to feel, reconciling the memories he gained from the Hex’s Red Vision with his lack of emotional response towards those recollections proves difficult.

It’s certainly a superb wild card on Matalas’ part to incorporate all the figures tied to Vision’s birth and his evolution: James D’Arcy‘s Edwin Jarvis (now J.A.R.V.I.S.) from Agent Carter, Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) other AI companions, and, best of all, Ultron (James Spader). How much their influence informs Vision’s version of his “humanity” remains to be seen, but that’s quite a few different voices tugging him this way and that. And at this time of uncertainty and vulnerability, Vision must also navigate being a father to Tommy, who isn’t immediately open to the idea of accepting this stranger as his parent.

‘VisionQuest’ Bridges the MCU’s Past and Future

Image via Disney+

When it comes to Wanda’s status, although Marvel and all related parties have kept tight-lipped, it wouldn’t be surprising if the underutilized fan-favorite secretly returns in Doomsday as one of Doctor Doom’s (Downey Jr.) allies. Costume displays have included a “Latverian Witch,” and Doom nurses an amnesiac Wanda back to health in a comics arc. Since VisionQuest leads straight into Doomsday, the series could reveal numerous plot and character-related bombshells that affect future installments. As the Maximoff trilogy’s closer, it’s almost guaranteed to provide definitive closure. Most likely, the series juggles both.

Regardless, VisionQuest‘s immensely promising trailer suggests another fascinating character study in the same psychological and psychedelic vein as WandaVision. Since the entire Disney+ branch of the MCU, as well as Phase Four, began with WandaVision, it’s full-circle fitting that Wanda’s husband closes out Phase Six. Creator Jac Schaeffer delivered an Emmy-nominated cultural explosion right out of the gate — a vividly rich, potently mournful tapestry that established both the creative opportunities and the level of emotional nuance that could be achieved with these larger-than-life characters in an intimate, serialized setting. With that door knocked down, Loki, Moon Knight, Echo, and Wonder Man (to name a few) followed.

If Marvel does abandon its live-action shows, it will be disappointing. Although pulling back to prioritize quality over quantity is always a wise choice, the studio has yet to fully utilize some of those series’ potential with either further seasons or ongoing transitions to the big screen; at the moment, that still feels like a critical oversight. No matter what the future holds for the MCU’s television era, if VisionQuest is its final bow, all signs point to another home run.

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VisionQuest

Release Date

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October 14, 2026

Network

Disney+

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Directors

Christopher J. Byrne, Gandja Monteiro

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Taylor Swift‘s music videos have included many memorable appearances from famous men taking on the roles of her love interests.

Over the years, the Grammy winner has enlisted many well-known actors to help make her visions come to life, including Stephen Colletti, who starred in the 2008 music video for “White Horse.”

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In 2021, Swift recruited Dylan O’Brien to star alongside Sadie Sink in the short film for her 10-minute version of “All Too Well.” The actors seemingly played characters inspired by Swift and her ex Jake Gyllenhaal, whom the song is heavily rumored to be about.

In February 2026, Swift starred alongside Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson in the music video for “Opalite.” Seven months later, the pop star announced her new single, “Patient Zero,” along with a music video starring herself, Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.

Keep scrolling to see all the famous men who have left their marks in Swift’s music videos:

A Florida man, Kenneth Jerome Logan Jr., was arrested for allegedly shooting at a woman inside the courthouse parking garage in Orlando. The shooting reportedly occurred at the Orange County Courthouse parking garage on Wednesday, September 23.

RELATED: UPDATE: Mississippi Police Make 2nd Arrest In Death Of Black Woman Found Hanging From Tree, Tasia Fortune

Florida Man Shoots At Woman In Courthouse Parking Garage

Sheriff John Mina of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office shared a statement on Instagram noting the arrest of 26-year-old Kenneth Jerome Logan Jr. on Wednesday. Logan was arrested after he allegedly shot at a woman inside the Orange County Courthouse parking garage.

“Earlier today, a shooting inside the parking garage at the Orange County Courthouse halted court operations for several hours while our deputies investigated the attempted murder of a woman in the garage, who thankfully was not injured in the shooting,” reads the statement. “Deputies spent the afternoon searching for the known suspect, and we are pleased to tell you he was captured this afternoon…. Thank you to our deputies and detectives for their dogged work in apprehending this dangerous fugitive.”

Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies reportedly arrived on the scene at approximately 11:30 a.m., according to FOX 35.

Logan Allegedly Hid In The Back Seat Of The Woman’s Car

According to an affidavit obtained by FOX 35 News, the woman said that when she got into her vehicle on the fourth floor of the parking garage, she noticed that her seat had been moved. In addition, she also noticed something in her back seat. At that point, she saw Logan pointing a gun at her.

She reportedly asked Logan, “Why are you doing this to me?” 

That’s when Logan allegedly fired a shot as the woman got out of the car and ran. He chased her and reportedly fired another two shots at her, but he missed, and the woman was not shot.

Logan Allegedly Pistol-Whipped Woman

Logan reportedly also chased the woman and pistol-whipped her in the back of the head. In addition, he allegedly got on top of her and tried to reload the gun as he held her down. A witness said the woman identified herself as Logan’s wife, according to WESH 2 News. She was able to get away from Logan and into an elevator. Logan was later captured.

Witness Fero Alhajjah told WESH 2 News that he heard three gunshots in the parking garage. Alhajjah also said that when he asked the woman if she was okay, she allegedly said:

“No, I’m not okay. My husband tried to shoot me.”

The shooting reportedly caused the Orange County Courthouse complex to go on lockdown for several hours. The Orlando Fire Department and the Orlando Police Department were also on the scene.

Subsequently, Logan was charged with Attempted First Degree Murder with a Firearm. Not only that, but it appears that the authorities threw the book at Logan. He was also charged with Aggravated Battery with Firearm (Domestic Violence), Aggravated Battery with Firearm (Domestic Violence), Armed Burglary of Conveyance w/ Firearm, Burglary of Conveyance w/ Assault/Battery, Robbery with a Firearm, Aggravated Stalking (Domestic Violence), False Imprisonment (With a Weapon), and Battery (Domestic Violence).

RELATED: Florida Woman Who Fatally Shot Man In Walmart Parking Lot After Arguing Over Parking Space Reportedly Will Not Be Charged

Lightsabers can be put away, class. We need the Bunsen burners out instead. Trade in one fascist space government for an academic committee, perhaps remove the patricide element involving your smuggler dad, blend in one fake relationship and you’ve got something akin to Star Wars crossed with Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney in Anyone But You. In this one, we don’t need to blow up the Death Star because we’re too busy swooning.

Lili Reinhart (Riverdale) and Tom Bateman (Based on a True Story) star in The Love Hypothesis, which is officially Prime Video’s No. 1 movie in the United States after premiering on September 23. The romantic comedy is based on Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling novel, a story whose origins famously trace back to Star Wars Kylo Ren x Rey fan fiction before it became a publishing phenomenon in its own right.

Based on the New York Times bestseller, The Love Hypothesis follows Olive, a Ph.D. candidate who impulsively kisses her department’s most intimidating professor, Adam Carlsen. Their mutual need for a fake relationship turns into an experiment in chemistry that might actually solve for love. This being a romantic comedy rather than an academic ethics seminar, their experiment eventually produces some results neither of them included in the hypothesis.

The cast is led by Reinhart as Olive and Bateman as Adam, alongside Rachel Marsh as Anh Pham, Nicholas Duvernay(Bel-Air), Jaboukie Young-White (Only Murders in the Building), Arty Froushan (House of the Dragon), Aadi Maaj, and Jeananne Goossen (The Night Shift).

How Successful Is ‘The Love Hypothesis’?

Even prior to Hollywood coming around, the novel was a ridiculous viral success that had then spawned its own viral moments once the movie was in production. Reinhart and Bateman recreated the book’s famous one-armed lift for TikTok ahead of release, and the video accumulated more than 84.5 million views. Proof, if any was needed, that the scientific method now includes checking whether your lead can pick somebody up with one arm. We can tick that one off the list. We’re good scientists here, so put your feet up, bring out your scientific journals and prepare to discover just exactly what ingredients are needed to make you go “yes please”.

The Love Hypothesis is streaming now exclusively on Prime Video.

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Release Date

September 23, 2026

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Claire Scanlon

Writers

Sarah Rothschild

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  Lili Reinhart

  Olive Smith

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  Tom Bateman

  Dr. Adam Carlsen

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  Jaboukie Young-White

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  Malcolm Browne

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Beyond the Gates spoilers for Sept 28-Oct 2, 2026 excite with Kat Richardson (Colby Muhammad) exploding at her boyfriend about his job. And also, little Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings) is going to go down swinging despite being caught red-handed.

And we are going to dive into all the good stuff coming from Sept 28th to Oct 2nd, including Bill Hamilton’s (Timon Kyle Durrett) total humiliation and Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) feeling caught between a rock and a hard place. But first, as we always do on early edition day, we’re going to talk about what’s happening the last couple of episodes this week and then we are going to get into next week’s actions.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Vernon & Anita Shocked

So, on Thursday, Sept 24th on Beyond the Gates, we’ve got Dana “Leslie” Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) bringing bad news to Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) and Vernon Dupree (Clifton  Davis). I’m sure that Leslie is thrilled to tell Vernon and Anita that Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) was hauled down to the cop shop because Marcel Malone (Darryl W. Handy) was on duty. Obviously, Leslie hears it from him.

Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) needs to lean on Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson). This could be about Bradley “Smitty” Smith (Mike Manning) possibly being suspected of giving Lia Whitmore (Cecelia Specht) the pills that killed her since Heather faked that footage of Smitty and Max a couple of days before Lia died. Hopefully Ted can comfort Martin. Vernon and Anita go over and confront Dani in front of Andre at her house and Vernon demands to know why Dani was at the police station all night.

BTG Spoilers: Dani Lies Through Her Teeth

And Anita is irate and asks why they hear to hear about all of this from horrible Leslie. And of course, Andre cannot believe what he hears. Dani lied and told him she was with Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) when really Dani was in Bill’s house rifling through his safe and looking for evidence against Hayley.

And of course, Dani will feel vindicated because she was always right about Hayley. But Andre will not like the lengths that Dani went to on Bill’s behalf. But Andre will look really bad if he says that Dani should have just stayed out of it and let Hayley finish killing Bill, which honestly would have made Andre’s life so much easier.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Bill in Shock

We also have Bill completely stunned by some news from Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges). It’s a bitter pill to swallow. And I expect he tells Bill about Dani being at the house and Hayley holding a gun on her and then Marcel finding poison on Hayley, which confirms not only that she played Bill for a fool. But she was trying to kill him for his money.

Bill is steeped in regret right now. Also, Hayley enlists Tomas Navarro’s (Alex Alegria) help. After they took Hayley out of the house in handcuffs down at the cop shop, after they found the poison, she told Jacob she wanted him to contact Tomas as her legal counsel. Hayley thinks Bill is out of town and Jacob did not correct her. So Hayley still has no idea about the collapse and that Bill is in the hospital.

BTG Spoilers: Kat Hits Her Breaking Point

Friday, Sept 25th on Beyond the Gates, Izaiah Hawthorne (David Lami Friebe)’s plans with Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) are interrupted. That is the same day that Kat is fed up with Tomas. I’m guessing that Kat may be mad that he went down to the cop shop to defend Hayley. In the interim, Bill may ask Tomas to drop Hayley as a client, and she may wind up with a public defender because without Bill’s money, Hayley can’t afford a good lawyer.

Also, Andre is rattled when Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones) gets impatient. I expect she may threaten Andre or threaten Dani might get hurt if Heather doesn’t get what she wants from Andre. And I am curious if that video that he gave Joey will help him put a stop to his psycho sister Heather.

Naomi’s news shocked Chelsea. And I’m sure this is about Hayley poisoning their dad. And of course, Naomi is going to tell Chelsea that Hayley almost killed their mom, Dani, and that now Hayley’s been arrested. Also, speaking of Bill’s wife, Hayley gives an ominous warning. So, it doesn’t seem like that murderous little troll has any leverage. But you never know. It may be something a residual threat about Bill, something that she says to infuriate Dani.

A pair of exes gets real during a chat. It could be Ted and Leslie. Because this week he asked her doesn’t she want something real and Leslie asked Ted if he thinks she’s capable of being a good woman. I don’t. And it may be after this chat with her ex that Leslie puts her money where her mouth is.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Bill Absolutely Humiliated

Then Sept 28th through Oct 2nd on Beyond the Gates, we should see Madison Montgomery (Kenja McNeill) comparing Bill’s lab test to whatever the crime lab says was in that poison bottle they got out of Hayley’s cleavage to confirm that the substance explains all of Bill’s symptoms, including the stroke and his subsequent collapses.

Leslie is likely going to make Anita regret letting her bully her way into the Articulates project. And of course, Dani played hero and exposed Hayley at great risk to her own life. And Bill is going to be so embarrassed that he was played for a fool by Hayley and that he broke Dani’s heart for horrible little Hayley. But then again, Bill was breaking Dani’s heart long before Hayley came along with his rampant cheating.

BTG Spoilers: Bill Out for Justice

I’m interested to see if Bill gets to go see Hayley in an orange jumpsuit and tells her he’s going to make sure she goes to jail forever. Because Bill knows a lot of judges in the DMV. Andre’s got double trouble as he struggles under the weight of Heather’s obsession with him. And of course, he’s upset that Dani risked her life to save Bill’s. Poor Andre does not deserve any of this. His best hope is that Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) puts a stop to Heather and that Bill will stay out of their marriage.

Heather’s time flying under the radar as the Impaler is about to run out unless Joey forces Heather out of town or puts her six feet under. Nicole just updated her profile on the Impaler for Jacob and said it’s a narcissist who will get even more dangerous if they lose their patience or they feel challenged. Because Smitty’s going to keep being a problem.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Smitty Makes a Big Move

He may write another article that directly provokes her deliberately trying to get the Impaler to do something. Smitty knows the Impaler is framing him with the Max and Lia stuff. So, Smitty might feel the best thing to do is write another article, very provocative, draw out the Impaler and just end this.

I expect Joey to confront Heather about terrorizing the owner of Uptown into selling to her. Despite Joey telling her no, Heather is clearly setting up shop again in the DMV and her being outed as the Impaler will be horrible for Joey personally and professionally. So, he may have to do something drastic about Heather.

BTG Spoilers: Eva’s Patience Wearing Thin

Eva feels Izaiah’s friendship with Kat isn’t appropriate. She’s being very patient about it. But it is a problem. And since Tomas showing up at the jail to meet with Hayley ticks off Kat, she may run to Izaiah to vent, which will annoy Eva, and Tomas may run to Eva to vent about Kat. So, this is all getting really messy with these two couples.

And I do wonder if Bill’s going to check out of the hospital and go home to the house that he shared with Hayley or if he’s going to join Ted and get a room at the fancy hotel. Because Bill may not want to be in the place where his toxic little wife Hayley nearly murdered him.

Most of Bill’s memories from that house that he shared with Hayley are going to be bad. So, I can picture Bill putting his and Hayley’s home on the market rather than living there. And I also expect Bill to start campaigning to steal Dani away from Andre after this. And then Bill’s probably hoping to come home to her house.

Hudson McLeroy is explaining his personal decision to move back to Atlanta after his split from Ariana Biermann.

“I was starting a business out of Atlanta, a car company. It was going really good until I had that car explode and a couple of speed bumps along the way,” Hudson, 24, shared on the Wednesday, September 23, episode of Next Gen NYC. “I didn’t f*** off to Atlanta. I was genuinely trying to start a business, trying to put forth effort into what Ariana said I wasn’t doing while we were dating.”

The Bravo star continued, “I also got readdicted to drugs. I was dealing with a lot of different things that were going on all at once.”

During the reunion show, which was hosted by Andy Cohen, Charlie Zakkour was critical of Hudson for moving out of New York City and not fighting for Ariana, 24, as she stayed in the Big Apple.

At one point, Ariana defended her ex and wished Charlie, 30, had a bit more empathy.

“You act like Hudson wasn’t down bad in a f***ing drug addiction,” she shared during the reunion taping. “You don’t think of situations. He went to rehab!”

Charlie, who claimed he didn’t know all the details about Hudson’s reality, replied, “At the time, all I saw was a guy saying a lot of things that he wanted about his ex and not doing jack s*** to get her.”

As Hudson struggled with his health, Ariana revealed that she remained in touch with his relatives.

“I was talking to his family often, helping with every kind of aspect with everything that I could and also not overstepping a boundary I was trying to create with him at the same time,” she shared. “When your life is at risk, all bets are off.”

When Andy, 58, asked if the pair briefly reconciled, Ariana confirmed that they tried to give things another chance. Ultimately, they decided to remain just friends and costars.

“Hudson had just gotten out of rehab, and I was going through a very traumatic point in my life,” she explained. “We found comfort in each other again. We’re family. We really are. And when push comes to shove, if Hudson needs me, no matter where I am in the world, I always want to be able to help him.”

In a separate interview with Bravo’s The Daily Dish, Hudson shared more insight into his journey.

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“I can’t control everything that’s going on around me. I can’t control every relationship, every disappointment or everything life throws at me, but I am learning that I do have to control how I respond to those things,” he said in an interview published on Thursday, September 24. “I think that’s something I’m gonna continue to do for the rest of my life.”

Next Gen NYC is available to stream now on Peacock.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

As soon as the temps start to chill, fall maxi dresses become one of my go-to staples. But sadly, not every style works. The wrong cuts can highlight the tummy area or feel too bulky for everyday wear. That’s where finding the perfect balance between flattering and chic is key.

To solve the struggle, I rounded up 21 slimming maxi dresses that truly check all the boxes. From loose T-shirt styles to flowy floral options, these dresses manage to disguise the tummy while looking effortlessly expensive. Even better? Prices kick off at $14.

21 Fall Maxi Dresses That Hide the Tummy While Looking Expensive

Everyday Errands

1. Our Favorite: This button-down maxi is exactly what we imagine a Hamptons rich mom wearing while grocery shopping. Add a belt for an extra polished look!

2. Runner-up: We love how this comfy maxi dress can easily be elevated with strappy heels or made casual with sneakers.

3. Tummy-Friendly: This loose maxi dress glides right over the belly and comes in dozens of fall-ready colors.

4. Loungewear-Like: Stay cozy this season with this T-shirt maxi dress that feels as soft and lightweight as your go-to loungewear.

5. Has Pockets: You can’t beat the convenience of this short-sleeve maxi dress that has pockets for holding your keys or cell phone.

Related: These 17 Rich Mom Fall Sneakers Instantly Elevate Jeans, Dresses and More

Step aside heels, rich mom sneakers are taking over the spotlight as fall’s ultimate style pick. They’re sleek, versatile and are the key to making any outfit feel designer-inspired — minus the sore feet! Plus, they’re totally practical for running errands, brunching with friends or chasing after kids. We rounded up these 17 comfy lifestyle […]

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Weekend Brunch

6. Our Favorite: Fall brunch or baby shower on the calendar? This boho-chic floral maxi dress checks every box. The hardest part is choosing a color!

7. Runner-up: Fall 2026 is all about rich-looking neutrals, and this navy floral maxi dress delivers. The smocked top slims your frame without squeezing.

8. Curve-Slimming: We can picture this waist-slimming maxi dress pairing flawlessly with statement jewelry and chunky fall heels.

9. Autumn Chic: Be the best-dressed at brunch in this stunning boho maxi dress that streamlines the figure with a cinched waist.

10. Fall Florals: Perfect for an afternoon of apple picking, this floral wrap dress comes in several fall-perfect shades.

11. Boutique-Worthy: Channel boutique-level style with this eyelet maxi dress that could easily pass for a $500 find.

12. Short-Sleeve Chic: This short-sleeve maxi drapes beautifully, giving off effortless fall elegance.

13. Boho Babe: Flow meets sophistication in this chic boho maxi that feels like a designer piece for a fraction of the price.

Office-Ready

14. Our Favorite: Between the gorgeous floral print, subtle V-neckline and pockets, this slimming fall maxi is appropriate for the office without looking frumpy.  Just add jewelry and ankle boots!

15. Runner-up: Thanks to a contrast-knit skirt, this belted maxi dress creates the illusion of a more sculpted silhouette.

16. Rich Mom-Worthy: Serving rich mom energy is this flattering shirt dress that gives you a sophisticated office look in minutes.

17. Very Versatile: One of the more versatile options on our list is this black maxi dress. It can easily mix and match with your closet year-round.

18. Figure-Skimming: Highlight your curves with this flowy wrap dress that smooths over the midsection.

Evening and Special Events

19. Our Favorite: The ultimate fall wedding guest pick? It’s this slimming wrap dress that smooths over curves while looking chic.

20. Harvest Hues: Nothing screams ‘fall’ like this velvet maxi dress that’s the perfect blend of elegance and comfort.

21. Flowy and Flattering: Both romantic and fun, this tulle midi dress glides effortlessly from evening plans to the dance floor.

General Hospital fans know Ava Jerome (Maura West) is stuck with Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) right now because they are in this Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) mess together. But very soon we could see Ava getting even closer to Drew, like a lot more closer because she’s got an agenda to benefit herself.

Today we’re going to talk about how Ava might seduce Drew to further her own agenda.

General Hospital: Ava’s after Sonny

All right, so we know Ava is furious with Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) right now for taking Avery Corinthos (Scarola twins) out of school without consulting her. Ava marched right over to Sonny’s and she confronted him. Ava ranted that this is the last time that Sonny will go behind her back when it comes to their daughter Avery.

Now, we know Ava originally teamed up with Drew because she wanted his help because of her daughter. Ava’s tired of Sonny treating her like garbage, which is accurate. But also deserved. And Ava wants to make sure that Sonny never takes Avery away from her again and that Sonny doesn’t turn their daughter against her. So, Ava knows Drew is ruthless and he’s got powerful contacts and Ava needs somebody in her corner who is dangerous.

Ava & Drew Need Each Other on GH

And now Drew and Ava are bound together because of this sticky situation with them drugging Jack Brennan and what they assume was his accidental drowning death. Ava has assured Drew if she goes down for Jack’s death then Drew is going to go down with her. You know that saying that a friend will help you move and a good friend will help you move a body. Despite Ava and Drew not being friends before, they are forced together. Because of their mutually assured destruction if the Jack stuff gets out.

But it’s also very complicated because Ava’s also angry that Drew framed Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) for Jack’s disappearance. But bottom line, Ava needs Drew to help take Sonny down. And Ava will prioritize her daughter Avery over her friendship with Nina. Because don’t forget, she induced labor and stole Avery from Ava. So, she did forgive Nina. But Ava’s also got to protect Drew because he is her best shot to get Avery away from Sonny and shut down the way he treats her.

General Hospital: Ava Blames Carly

So, instead of telling Willow Tait Corinthos (Katelyn MacMullen) that Drew framed her mom, Ava pointed Willow at Carly Spencer (Laura Wright). And yeah, it’s accurate. Carly did rat out Nina to Agent William Baines (Alimi Ballard). And I’m sure that Carly knows that Nina wasn’t capable of kidnapping or doing something violent to Jack. But Carly just couldn’t resist being petty to Nina because she hates her and she always will and is dating Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), Nina’s ex-husband. So the good news is that Willow will go after Carly and Ava will enjoy that. Because she also hates Carly.

So, now I think Ava is going to get even closer to Drew and winds up seducing him. And the reason I think so is because of something Ava said to Drew really recently when Ava got that tick on her. Remember she went over to see Drew and told him to strip. And it sounded sketchy. But then Ava said he needed to check himself all over for tick. And Drew claimed he’s not interested in Ava that way when she said strip.

She clapped back at Drew and said, “If I was trying to seduce you, you’d already be naked and grateful.” I laughed out loud at that line and I feel like it was foreshadowing. So, we may see Ava and Drew heat up. But I don’t think Ava’s going to go after Drew. Because he’s irresistible. I mean, his body’s hot. But his personality is not. I think if Ava seduces Drew, it’ll be calculated and for Ava’s own benefit. Getting in Drew’s bed will give Ava greater access to him and to his house and she needs to be as close as possible to Drew to keep pushing him about destroying Sonny.

General Hospital: Ava’s Bad-Boy History

We know Ava wants Sonny out of her life as soon as possible to ensure she never loses Avery. And this would not be the 1st time Ava has used her sexuality to get what she wants. But I will say usually when Ava gets involved with a guy, she is looking for something or falls into something. She had feelings for Franco Baldwin (Roger Howarth), also for Morgan Corinthos (Bryan Craig). Of course, Sonny was a one-off, hateful one night stand, and Paul Hornsby was a weird fling.

But other relationships saw Ava falling head over heels, like with Griffin Munro (Matt Cohen), like with Ryan Chamberlain (Jon Lindstrom) when he was pretending to be Kevin Collins (also Jon Lindstrom). Ava and Nikolas Cassadine (Adam Huss) started out sketchy, then they fell in love. But her last relationship was more transactional. That was Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst). So, I think Ava getting sexual with Drew could be carefully calculated as part of an agenda.

General Hospital: Ava Needs to Keep Drew Close

Also, remember Nina warned Ava about getting involved with Drew. We saw Nina asked if Ava was romantically involved with Drew and Ava seemed appalled. But that could have been another piece of foreshadowing info that Drew and Ava are going to hit the sheets soon.

And not only will it help getting her getting closer to Drew with her Sonny situation. But Ava might also be hoping to get some evidence on Drew so she can protect herself if this Jack thing blows up and if he turns on her. Because thanks to that little dog, obviously Jack’s body is going to be found and then Drew and Ava may really get paranoid and there’s the chance that 1 of them could turn on the other on General Hospital.

As I said before, Ava made it clear to Drew he better not turn on her. Because if Ava goes down, so does Drew. But I can see Ava wanting an insurance policy. If she can find something to hold as leverage over Drew, that’ll protect her in case he ever considers throwing Ava under the bus. And in fact, the seduction plan maybe spur of the moment.

General Hospital: Ava Searches for Insurance Policy

We know that there are more scenes that have been filmed of Drew and Ava at his place, them together there also. So, we might see Ava sneaking into Drew’s house to poke around looking for some dirt on him as insurance blackmail leverage. And then Drew catches Ava and she may pivot and pretend she was there to seduce Drew because she just can’t resist. You know, Ava could tell him she just couldn’t stay away. Drew’s been locked in for a while, so he’s not had anybody in his bed.

And his ego is so big he may think Ava’s drawn to his muscles and manliness. I’d like to see Ava find some evidence against Drew to implicate him without implicating herself. So, this seduction may come into it. And maybe if she finds a way to tie Drew’s hands, and I mean that literally, maybe to the headboard. But also metaphorically. You know, I think Ava could do naughty things to Drew and convince him to totally be on her side.

General Hospital: Sonny Flips His Lid

And as an added bonus, Drew being with Ava would aggravate Sonny to no end. He hates Drew and he hates Ava. And I’m sure Sonny would think if Drew and Ava are together, they’re conspiring against him. Ric would probably agree and they’d be right. But also, sleeping with Drew and acting like they’re dating would be a great cover story.

Because if Ava and Drew look like they were in some kind of situationship, then it wouldn’t be surprising for people to see them out and about together. If Ava and Drew aren’t dating, there’s no reason for them to be chatting together. Lately, when people have seen Ava with Drew, they’re like, “What are they doing together?” Because it looks suspicious.

If they’re together looking involved, looking sexy, then people will assume that Ava’s just made a terrible relationship choice with Drew. And vice versa, we’ll assume that they’re shagging and that’s it. And if Ava does wind up seducing Drew to get him to do everything she wants, there’s always the chance that Ava could develop feelings for him. I’m not sure that Drew would reciprocate because his heart seems ice cold at this point, but Ava tends to fall for bad guys.