John Stamos has marked a new milestone by getting his first tattoo ever.

The actor revealed the significance of the ink job, linking it to his own personal journey in trusting himself artistically.

John Stamos is also expanding his career with darker roles in “The Hunting Wives” and the film “Drag,” while working on a book about fatherhood and personal growth.

John Stamos Reveals The Meaning Behind His New Tattoo

Stamos has officially joined the tattoo club at the age of 62. On March 17, the actor shared a behind-the-scenes look at getting his first real tattoo, inked by artist Oscar Jordan Urbina on his upper arm.

He chose a design inspired by Cyrus Dallin’s early-1900s sculpture, “Appeal to the Great Spirit,” which depicts a Native American man on horseback connecting with a “divine power,” according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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The artwork also influenced the Beach Boys’ Brother Records logo, symbolizing “artistic freedom and trust in a higher creative path.”

Stamos explained that the tattoo reflects his own journey of creative freedom and trust in following his artistic instincts.

“Lately I’ve felt that same pull in my own life, stepping into this new chapter of my career, taking bigger swings, following the work wherever it leads,” he wrote. “The timing felt right, so I put that Great Spirit on my arm as a reminder to stay brave, stay open, and trust the direction the art is taking me.”

The Actor Reflects On Fatherhood, Growth, And His First Real Tattoo

Besides the new tattoo, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of growth for Stamos.

He recently revealed to People Magazine that he’s working on a book about “modern masculinity, fatherhood, and the lifelong process of growing up.”

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The project was inspired in part by performing “When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)” with The Beach Boys alongside his 7-year-old son, Billy, whom he shares with wife Caitlin McHugh.

Reflecting on his own father’s guidance, Stamos said, “I’m writing it as a dad who’s still learning, still asking questions, and hoping that by talking honestly with other men about kindness, respect, and courage, we can raise boys who grow up with both heart and backbone.”

John Stamos Embraces Darker Roles In ‘The Hunting Wives’ And ‘Drag’

Stamos is also taking his career in a darker, more daring direction. He is set to appear in season 2 of “The Hunting Wives,” a role he describes as darker and more challenging than his typical work.

“I’m in this phase of my career where I’m really looking for challenging, different roles,” he shared during a chat with People Magazine. “People trust me. I’ve been coming to their homes for 30 to 40 years or so. It’s like, ‘Okay, we’ll take this ride with him,’ and then it’s like, ‘Oh no, oh no, it’s getting weird. It’s getting weird.”

He also recently wrapped the second season of “Palm Royale” and is starring in the upcoming film “Drag,” produced by Danny DeVito and his children, Lucy and Jake. The film follows two sisters attempting a rural home robbery in upstate New York, which spirals into a tense, dangerous night.

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Stamos plays an eccentric artist, a role far from his usual work. “It becomes very dark in this movie,” he shared. “I watched a lot of true crime [to prepare for the role]. I really wanted to change my look. I wore dark contacts, and I had my eyebrows thinned. It really freaked my wife out.”

The Actor Recently Revealed A Hair Makeover

Earlier this year, Stamos shared a close-up of his new hairstyle on Instagram.

His longtime stylist, Riawna Capri, took the front section of his hair and lightened it with aluminum foil, while the rest of his strands, once dark chocolate brown with a hint of gray, were dyed black and styled with soft waves to add extra volume.

“The Full House” star captioned the makeover post, “trust the process.”

This isn’t Stamos’ first hair adventure. Last summer, he attempted a DIY haircut while Riawna was out of town, using a FaceTime call to get guidance from the pro.

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John Stamos Supported His Close Pal Dave Coulier During Cancer Battle

When he’s not experimenting with his own style, Stamos is lending a hand to friends in need.

In November 2024, he helped his “Full House” co-star Dave Coulier shave his head during his fight with stage three Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The actor also rocked a bald cap in solidarity with Coulier, sharing the moment on Instagram with a heartwarming caption.

Stamos wrote, “Nothing like throwing on a bald cap and flexing some Photoshop skills to show some love and solidarity with my bro @dcoulier.”

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While you may have been busy watching (and rewatching) Taylor Swift’s new music video for “Opalite” to find Easter eggs, we had ulterior motives. In one scene, the megastar wore a yellow cat sweatshirt with a red collar sticking out — and a bedazzled, flower claw clip. Hey, we can’t help it if our eyes like shiny things! So, we hunted down a similar flower claw clip that can add sparkle to an everyday look. Bonus: It’s only $9 on Amazon!

Swift’s claw clip features five sparkling flowers, so it’s unique to what we typically toss in our hair. The Anbala Floral Claw Clip with Rhinestones gives a similar vibe, though, as it combines flowers and shine. Plus, for only $9, we can’t resist adding (another) cute clip to our collection.

Get the Anbala Floral Claw Clip with Rhinestones for $9 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

The Anbala clip comes in white and blue iridescent options, with the former being closer to Swift’s accessory. It features flowers and butterflies that are amped up with rhinestones. Even if you’re feeling casual, this claw clip adds a little something.

Related: Natalie Portman’s Walking Sneakers Are an ‘It’-Girl Spring Must-Have

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Even celebrities like to dress down sometimes — including Natalie Portman. Though it can be hard to make casual outfits look effortless, the actress mastered low-key dressing for warmer months with a popular pair of chunky walking sneakers. The Oscar-winning star opted to step out in a pair of all-black kicks from French brand Hoka, […]

The clip is a generous size, too. It’s 3.4 inches long and 1.8 inches tall, so it can handle thick, curly strands that need more support. Bonus: The claws have rounded edges, so it won’t painfully dig into your head like others might.

The Anbala clip is a new offering on Amazon — perhaps just as new as the “Opalite” music video! Early reviews, though, say that it can hold a lot of hair while remaining comfortable. When you add in the pretty shine from the rhinestones, this versatile hair accessory can take you from lounging at home to a night out (or maybe a mall date, which is where Swift wore hers).

Get the Anbala Floral Claw Clip with Rhinestones for $9 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more claw clips here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Calling the iconic crime/drama series The Sopranos one of the greatest shows of all time is far from a controversial opinion. It’s arguably not even an interesting one anymore because, by now, everyone is well aware of how it excels. It was a huge hit during its run between 1999 and 2007, helping to define HBO as the powerhouse network/production company it still is to this day. Since its initial airing, it’s maintained a level of popularity and cultural relevance, whether watched on physical media or streaming services.

Its greatness means that trying to rank all six seasons (or seven, considering the final season ran for 21 episodes instead of the usual 13 and was split into two: 6A and 6B) is a surprisingly difficult task. It should be noted that every season of The Sopranos is fantastic, and the show, at its worst, is still better than most others at its best. What follows is a ranking of all seasons — counting 6A and 6B as separate from each other — starting with the great and ending with the masterful.

7

Season 6A (2006)

Image via HBO

Sorry, Season 6A, but one season of The Sopranos has to be considered the weakest. This is still excellent television, in any event, kicking off the final (and very dramatic) season of the show in style. This collection of 12 episodes is at its best towards the beginning, with the opening episode featuring a shocking event that puts ruthless protagonist Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) in jeopardy. He spends the next two episodes stuck in a series of surreal coma dreams while his family and associates come to terms with the fact that he may not pull through.

Once this particular storyline is resolved, the rest of GA does occasionally feel a little directionless. The subsequent nine episodes may just suffer in comparison to the superior first three episodes and the excellent 6B, which aired one year later, because, otherwise, they still make for compelling television. There’s probably no other multi-season show out there that has a “worst” season this good, so in no way should this low ranking suggest that 6A is bad or even skippable. It’s still great TV. It’s just that the other seasons are even greater.

6

Season 1 (1999)

Image via HBO

Naturally, Season 1 is where it all began for The Sopranos. While numerous characters came and went throughout the show, thanks to the frequent and often surprising deaths, plenty of them make a great first impression in Season 1 and stick around until the show’s conclusion. Right away, The Sopranos makes it clear that the people who audiences will get to know aren’t exactly the nicest or most heroic out there.

Season 1 introduces Tony’s family life and sees him beginning therapy, which he continues on and off throughout the show. The main conflict is between Tony and Junior (Dominic Chianese), his uncle, as both want to be the new boss of the DiMeo crime family after the previous boss, Jackie Aprile (Michael Rispoli), passes away. Season 1 has a more comedic tone than later seasons, and while those aren’t without humor, they don’t lean quite as heavily into near-sitcom territory. It’s an incredibly strong foundation for future seasons to build on, and despite being largely brilliant, newcomers to the series should know that the best is yet to come.

5

Season 4 (2002)

Image via HBO

Season 4 is notable for somewhat slowing the pace of The Sopranos. Initially, it might feel like this makes it a little less exciting or interesting than earlier seasons, but its willingness to be more of a slow-burn ultimately makes it stand out from the other seasons of the show. Season 4 of The Sopranos feels more grounded and melancholic than the more explosive first three seasons. In fact, some may find they have to finish the show and let the memory of it all marinate for a while before properly appreciating its fourth season.

While many seasons involve Tony Soprano clashing with a central antagonist who’s similar to him but more ruthless, Season 4’s central storyline is the disintegration of his marriage to Carmela (Edie Falco). Still, for numerous episodes, Ralph (Joe Pantoliano) does a good job of being a more traditional thorn in Tony’s side. The season peaks with its finale, “Whitecaps,” which focuses on the family drama side of The Sopranos in a more visceral and devastating way than any episode before or since. The mafia business takes something of a backseat to the familial drama, but Season 4’s destination more than justifies the occasionally slow-paced journey there.

4

Season 3 (2001)

Image via HBO

In many ways, Season 3 of The Sopranos is comparable to Season 4, though perhaps it’s a little more eventful. It lacks an episode quite as devastating as “Whitecaps” or the final episode of the second season, “Funhouse,” but is remarkable for its consistency. Season 3 can seem like a large blur, but when the episodes are as great as they are, it’s obviously good consistency.

Well, there is one standout episode that ultimately gives Season 3 a slight edge over the also excellent Season 4: “Pine Barrens,” perhaps the show’s most famous episode. Its plot and overall feel make it reminiscent of a great Coen Brothers movie, but with characters with whom viewers are already familiar. Paulie (Tony Sirico) and Christopher’s (Michael Imperioli) chaotic and darkly comedic failed execution of Russian mobster Valery (Vitali Baganov), one of The Sopranos‘ most memorable guests, is the stuff of legends and the highlight of a still remarkably strong television season. Season 3 also features the death of the infamous Livia Soprano, a pivotal point in Tony’s journey.

3

Season 5 (2004)

Image via HBO

For as fantastic as Season 5 of The Sopranos is, it should be noted that it gets off to a slightly rough start. The beginning of the season sees various mobsters released from prison, attempting to re-enter their lives of crime and throwing Tony’s crew’s routines out of balance. Chief among these new characters are Phil Leotardo (Frank Vincent), a major antagonist throughout Seasons 5 and 6, and Tony Blundetto (Steve Buscemi), Tony Soprano’s cousin.

For a while, all the new characters feel a tad overwhelming; considering Blundetto is supposed to be Tony’s cousin, it’s weird that he never got mentioned in the first four seasons. However, it doesn’t take long for Season 5 to find its feet, representing the show at its very best. The final stretch is especially incredible, especially the final two emotional episodes, including the now-iconic “Long Term Parking.” Season 5 expertly paves the way for the conflict that ends up playing out during the extended final season, making it crucial and highly rewarding despite the devastation it brings.

2

Season 6B (2007)

Image via HBO

If Season 6A had fans a little worried about the final season’s ability to conclude The Sopranos, Season 6B surely put those fears to rest. Season 6B is an essentially perfect final nine episodes for the show, featuring an escalating conflict between the DiMeo crime family and the rival New York crew that results in an eventual all-out war and numerous shocking casualties on both sides.

6B represents the show at its most dramatic and surprising, which is fitting, considering it’s the show’s ending and obviously had to conclude on a high note. Season 6B also can’t be brought up without mentioning the show’s infamous finale, “Made in America.” It was not what people were expecting, and the show’s final moments were undoubtedly controversial. However, viewers who sit with it for a while and think about it will surely come to terms with the conclusion and realize that it’s genuinely great. If not, they’ll at least agree it’s unforgettable and bold, and at the end of the day, that at least has to count for something.

1

Season 2 (2000)

Image via HBO

The second season of The Sopranos saw Tony at last established as boss of the DiMeo crime family, a position he’d retain for the remainder of the show. However, Season 2 was where the show established that it’s not always great to be king, because Tony’s struggles exceeded those he grappled with in the first season. Continued family drama, a chaotic new antagonist in the form of Richie Aprile, and the slow realization that one of his closest friends may be ratting on him to the FBI all made Tony’s existence a living hell.

Although bleaker than its predecessor, Season 2 still retained a level of dark comedy when needed. It feels remarkably well-balanced and is consistently well-paced, building to a great penultimate episode and an even greater final episode, “Funhouse,” a turning point for The Sopranos and quite possibly one of the greatest TV episodes ever. From front to back, Season 2 represents The Sopranos at its best, and seeing the show as a whole represents television at its best. Season 2 can easily be regarded as one of the best TV seasons of all time.

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The Sopranos

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Release Date

1999 – 2007

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Network

HBO

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Showrunner

David Chase

Directors

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Tim Van Patten, John Patterson, Alan Taylor, Jack Bender, Steve Buscemi, Daniel Attias, David Chase, Andy Wolk, Danny Leiner, David Nutter, James Hayman, Lee Tamahori, Lorraine Senna, Matthew Penn, Mike Figgis, Nick Gomez, Peter Bogdanovich, Phil Abraham, Rodrigo García

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Mystikal has pleaded guilty to third-degree rape in connection with his 2022 arrest. He appeared in a Louisiana courtroom on Tuesday, March 17, officially entering his plea after prosecutors downgraded the charge from first-degree.

RELATED: Victim Claims Mystikal Forced Her To Pray With Him To Rid Her Body Of “Bad Spirits” Before Allegedly Raping Her

Mystikal Pleads Guilty To Third-Degree Charge In Connection To 2022 Arrest

The 55-year-old rapper, whose real name is Michael Lawrence Tyler, faced 10 criminal charges, including first-degree assault. USA Today reports a first-degree rape charge can mean life in prison, while a third-degree conviction carries up to 25 years. On July 30, 2022, authorities arrested Mystikal after a woman at the emergency room accused him of rape and battery. The incident also led to nine other charges, including battery and false imprisonment. During his March 17 hearing, prosecutors filed “nolle prosequi” notices, officially dropping those charges and deciding not to pursue them further.

Here’s How Long Mystikal Could Spend In Jail

According to PEOPLE, Mystikal now faces up to 20 years in prison. The court set his sentencing date for June 15. The musician. became a lifetime registered sex offender after his 2003 sexual assault conviction, which led to his arrest and charges at the time. After his 2003 battery conviction, he served six years in federal prison and was released in 2010.

A Break Down Mystikal’s 2022 Case & Past Convictions

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office announced his arrest in August 2022 after authorities responded to a local hospital about an assault. At the hospital, detectives interviewed the victim, who reportedly suffered minor injuries. The incident reportedly started with a financial dispute at Mystikal’s home. Police ended up searching his home in Prairieville, Louisiana, home and reportedly found evidence supporting the victim’s account. Sheriff’s Detective Garret Keith also told prosecutors that an examination found wounds consistent with rape.

Before his current case, Mystikal served six years in federal prison for a 2003 sexual battery conviction and was released in 2010.  In 2017, he faced new charges and spent 18 months in jail before getting released on a $3 million bond.

RELATED: Mystikal Formally Pleads Not Guilty To First-Degree Rape, False Imprisonment And More Charges Following July Arrest

The Real Housewives of Miami has been put on pause for the second time in its history.

A source confirmed to Us Weekly on Wednesday, March 18, that Bravo is not moving forward with an eighth season of RHOM at this time. The most recent seventh season wrapped up in October 2025 with a shocking three-part reunion where “friend of the housewives” Adriana de Moura accused costar Julia Lemigova of cheating on her wife, Martina Navratilova, with a “Haitian mortician.” (Lemigova, 53, subsequently admitted that she’d already told Navratilova, 53, about having “a certain situation” prior to the season 7 reunion.)

Us has reached out to Bravo for comment.

The Real Housewives of Miami was first paused after the conclusion of its third season in 2013. Peacock revived RHOM for season 4 in 2021 before the series moved to Bravo for its two most recent installments.

Bravo’s decision to pause the reality series comes two weeks after Andy Cohen addressed the future of the franchise on Radio Andy.

“I love Miami,” Cohen, 57, insisted in February. “I think we’re looking at how to keep it as fresh as possible and that’s kind of the only story. You have to remember! We’ve got … nine Housewives going right now, so what you don’t want is something sitting on the shelf so long.”

The Real Housewives executive producer went on, “I always think there’s a benefit in waiting. If there’s no rush to get it on the air, I always think there’s a benefit in waiting, and then when it comes back, everyone’s like, ‘Oh my god! How great it’s finally back.’”

Cohen suggested at the time that Miami might have a similar trajectory as The Real Housewives of New York City, which was temporarily benched while Bravo worked out a new cast. (Filming resumed on RHONY earlier this month with popular cast members Sai De Silva, Erin Lichy and Jessel Taank, plus newcomers Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond and Daisy Toye and the return of Carole Radziwill as a “friend of the Housewives.”)

“It’s been at least a year since that last [RHONY] reunion, at least, and there was a period [with] Atlanta seasons that was a year, or something like that,” Cohen pointed out on Radio Andy. “This happens sometimes in the Bravosphere that there’s maybe a longer wait for news … so that’s where we’re at [with Miami] right now.”

The seventh season of The Real Housewives of Miami aired between June and October 2025, as Alexia Nepola, Lisa Hochstein, Guerdy Abraira, Larsa Pippen, Lemigova and newcomer Stephanie Shojaee were joined by “friends” de Moura, Marysol Patton and Kiki Barth.

While the season 7 reunion aired, Alexia’s estranged husband, Todd Nepola, filed a $10 million defamation suit against Bravo for allegedly using his name and likeness without authorization, per People. TMZ reported in December 2025 that Todd, 53, filed to dismiss his lawsuit against Bravo with prejudice.

Amid the lawsuit drama, Alexia, 58, exclusively opened up to Us in November 2025 about where she stood with Todd. (Us reported in March 2025 that Alexia and Todd were “still together” despite reaching a deal to finalize their divorce. They tied the knot in December 2021.)

“We are speaking. Yes, we’re on speaking terms,” Alexia told Us while attending BravoCon 2025 in Las Vegas. “I prefer it that way because I like to be good with people. Life is too short and fragile, and I like things to be good. I need to feel good about myself.”

All seven seasons of The Real Housewives of Miami are available to stream now on Peacock.

Jerry O’Connell‘s days doing podcasts are likely over following his viral appearance on Bill Maher‘s “Club Random” podcast, where he made some eyebrow-raising remarks.

The actor revealed that his wife, Rebecca Romijn, and their daughters got “physical” with him after he made comments about former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris‘ 2024 campaign.

Jerry O’Connell’s confession has since been met with mixed reactions, prompting him to announce that he’s quitting podcasts.

Jerry O’Connell Swears Off Podcasts After Comments About His Family And Politics

O’Connell has declared that he is quitting doing podcasts following his recent appearance on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, where he revealed his wife and kids got “physical” with him because of a comment he made about the Democratic party and Kamala Harris on election night in 2024.

“Okay. @ClubRandom_ was my last podcast. Can’t do anything right. @x is mad at me. My family is mad at me,” the actor wrote on X in response to a post claiming Maher made fun of him for attending one of Harris’ rallies and being a donor.

It remains to be seen if O’Connell is for real about his decision to quit making podcast appearances, as he said in the same post that the only podcast he’ll “ever do again” is the “Pardon My Take” podcast, where he’ll discuss fantasy football.

But then, Meghan McCain encouraged him to give himself grace, as it’s not easy to speak publicly on politics, before telling him not to “say no to the possibility of coming on” her own show someday.

“Okay, I’ll do @MeghanMcCain pod BUT THAT IS IT. And @PardonMyTake,” O’Connell replied.

What The Actor Said About His Wife And Daughters Getting ‘Physical’ With Him Over Politics

In his viral appearance on Maher’s podcast, O’Connell detailed how his wife Romijn and their children “became physical” with him after he made a critical comment about Kamala Harris’ emergence as flagbearer of the Democratic party before she lost to now-President Donald Trump.

“I said something along the lines of ‘There was no planning. This is what they get. There should have been a primary.’ I said something along those lines, you know, like I was just spitballing ideas,” the actor recalled, per The Blast.

He continued, “It was a shock. My wife and daughters, without saying anything, became physical with me. They were filled with rage.”

“So if I am being careful with you in how I say things, yes, I live in California. I live with not one, not two, but three people who, if I made any kind of joke, they’d become very angry with me,” O’Connell added.

Jerry O’Connell Said His Wife Doesn’t Touch Him Unless She’s ‘High’

Elsewhere in his chat with Maher, O’Connell revealed that his wife only becomes affectionate with him when she is high.

The conversation started as he told the comedian to get “higher than you’ve ever been on any episode” and blow smoke in his face, to which Maher said he’ll be “happy” to. However, the focus then switched to O’Connell’s habit.

“I don’t smoke myself, but I live with someone who does — vapes, actually,” he said, referring to his wife, Romijn.

He added: “The only time my wife finds me appealing is intimate with me … the only time my wife — what’s the word? — touches me is if my wife takes a hit off that pen.”

The Actor Reveals How He Keeps The Peace With Rebecca Romijn

O’Connell and Romijn have been open about how their marriage works, once sharing that finding the “humor” in everything is the secret to their long-lasting relationship.

During an interview with the Daily Mail, Romjin said, “I guess we just keep on laughing. Keep it light. You have to lighten up about everything. You have to be able to move on quickly.”

However, O’Connell noted that his method is actually to avoid conflict with the actress, saying, “If there’s an argument brewing, I try not to engage.”

Romjin didn’t agree with him, joking that he’s “not very good at that,” but O’Connell insisted, “I’m very good at that! I disengage!”

He further explained that whenever tensions rise, he gives his wife some space by leaving their home.

“I ran out! If I think a fight is happening, I run! My wife is also a Scorpio. It’s a different situation,” O’Connell stated.

Jerry O’Connell Credits Wife For Helping Him Quit Smoking

One thing’s for sure, O’Connell loves his wife, and they seem to have unconventional ways of getting things done at home.

The “Big Bang Theory” actor previously opened up about how her threats to refuse him intimacy pushed him to quit smoking for good.

In his February appearance on the “Work In Progress” podcast with Sophia Bush, O’Connell explained that he struggled with nicotine addiction for decades and that he tried to stop the habit to no avail.

However, when he finally turned to hypnosis, he hadn’t “had a ciggy in, like, 14 years,” crediting his wife for instigating the whole thing.

“My wife said she would not touch me if I smoked, and that lasted about two months,” he recalled, per The Blast. “I thought it was a joke. Then, after, like, two weeks, there was no physical contact. After about three and a half weeks, I was like, I gotta do something.”

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is still grappling with the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in 2022, sharing that the grief is still hard to process. The band is set to release a new album, and Grohl shared that it was a necessary outlet for coping with the loss, much like how he turned to music following the death of Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain decades earlier.

Dave Grohl Is Still Making Sense Of Taylor Hawkins’ Passing

Grohl is speaking out for the first time about the death of his bandmate and close friend, sharing in an interview with Mojo Magazine how, nearly four years later, he is still processing Hawkins’ absence.

The singer said Hawkins’ death was “never meant to be,” adding, “That threw our world upside down and made me question everything about life, that it was so unfair. I still have a hard time making sense of it,” the frontman explained.

Hawkins passed away in 2022 while the Foo Fighters were in the middle of their South American tour. The drummer called his hotel’s front desk complaining of chest pain, and he was found unresponsive in his room. Paramedics were immediately called, but they were not able to revive the drummer. Per The Blast, he passed away from a cardiovascular collapse, and 10 substances were found in his body.

Dave Grohl Suffered Another Loss Shortly After

Following Hawkins’ death, the Foo Fighters cancelled the rest of their tour and took a much-needed break. Five months later, Grohl experienced another loss. His mother, Virginia Grohl, passed away at 84 years old.

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Grohl was with her mother until the time of her passing and shared that he turned to music, or else he “would explode.” “She was the most important person in my entire life. So I thought this had to be the most important music I ever made,” he said, referring to the song “The Teacher,” which was included in the 2023 album “But Here We Are,” Foo Fighters’ first record after their drummer’s death

As Grohl shared, one of his biggest fears was that his mother would pass away while he was gone on tour, but thankfully, he was able to take care of Virginia and spend time with her before her death. “I was there, and we were there together,” he noted.

Dave Grohl On Making Music Without Taylor Hawkins

Following the loss of two important people in his life, Grohl and the Foo Fighters went back to record music. As he told Mojo Magazine, the band had an idea about recording their next album live, but there was no one behind the drum kit.

“We’d hit the chord and play along to these drums. But there was no one there. There was just this void, and we were desperately trying to fill it,” he explained.

Instead of finding a drummer for the album, Grohl took over and played the drums himself. The frontman was credited as the band’s drummer in the Foo Fighters’ first two albums, but let Hawkins take the reins after he joined the band in 1997.

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The Frontman Said Making Music Saved Him

Before finding success with the Foo Fighters, Grohl was the drummer for the grunge band Nirvana. The band’s lead singer, Kurt Cobain, died by suicide in April 1994 at the height of the band’s popularity.

Grohl had a difficult time with Cobain’s death, at one point even distancing himself from music. “I really couldn’t even turn on the radio, and I put the instruments away. Even hearing music hurt,” Grohl said in an interview.

The musician wanted to get away for a bit, and while driving, he passed by a hitchhiker who was wearing a Cobain shirt. He took that as a sign that he couldn’t “outrun” his grief, and that was when he decided to record some of the songs he wrote, which Cobain had approved of before his death. “I had to do it to survive, to get on with life. And I’m glad I did,” he shared.

Foo Fighters’ New Album

After Hawkins’ death, it made sense for the Foo Fighters to continue making music together as they realized it was something they “needed” to do. “Because it had saved us once before,” Grohl shared, referring to forming Foo Fighters after Cobain’s passing.

The Foo Fighters’ new album, “Your Favorite Toy,” will be released on April 24. They introduced their new drummer, Ilan Rubin, who replaced drummer Josh Freese after his short time with the band.

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Season 2 of Paradise had a lot to live up to after the first season’s thrilling twists and turns. But, as the series continues to reign supreme as the #1 show on Hulu in the US, per FlixPatrol, it seems the series has once again found its groove. Season 2 of Paradise first premiered on February 23, 2026, and has been safely in Hulu’s Top 5 TV shows ever since.

But while the streaming success is only a continuation of the love fans felt for the show in Season 1, it certainly is telling. After all, Paradise‘s two seasons are close to being polar opposites to one another. While Season 1 explores life and unrest inside a post-apocalyptic bunker, while Season 2 ventures out into an unknown world, and shows what everyone without the presidential bunker ticket had to do to survive. Both seasons are different in so many ways, but they’re both becoming streaming hits.

The Major Risks Are Paying Off for ‘Paradise’ Season 2

In Season 1 ofParadise, aside from flashbacks with President Cal Bradford (James Marsden), the series takes place almost entirely inside the post-apocalyptic bunker. In Season 2, however,Sterling K. Brown‘s Secret Service agent Xavier Collins goes outside for the first time in years, and sees what’s left of life after the world’s been covered in volcanic ash. But it’s not just the setting change that presented a risk to Season 2,the writing of the show also took some hefty gambles.

For starters, the first episode of the series, titled “Graceland,” introduced entirely new characters, including Shailene Woodley‘s Annie and Thomas Doherty‘s Link. Together, the new characters started to build a tapestry of what life was like for those who survived, and how people have become hardened and distrusting, and even vengeful, as time went on. At the end of the episode, Xavier reappears onscreen, which rejoiced fans as well as connected Annie’s journey to the plot and characters from Season 1. Therefore, not only did Paradise‘s genre pivot from a political thriller in Season 1 to a survivalist series in Season 2, but it kept viewers guessing with new adventures, new backstories and new characters.

So far, Season 2 has released six out of its eight episodes, each of them either following the political aftermath inside the bunker, or Xavier’s unwavering search for his wife Teri (Enuka Okuma) outside of it. In Episode 6, the series took another sharp turn and focused on its most deadly character: Jane (Nicole Brydom Bloom). By unpacking her difficult upbringing, and the first signs that she’s as ruthless as viewers thought, the series not only makes their most heartless character into a multidimensional one, but shows the type of enemy Xavier and Link will soon be up against.

Season 2 Is Building to an Explosive Finale

Six episodes into the second season and Paradise still has a lot of questions to answer, and plots to finalize. After all, while expanding the scope of the show allowed for a more complete view of the world, it opened the series and exponentially grew the number of storylines. In Meredith Loftus‘ review of the season for Collider, for instance, she states that while Season 2 definitely enhances the world-building done in Season 1, it also becomes the series’ biggest weakness. “This results in certain storylines being sidelined for one to two episodes at a time,” Loftus stated. Among the examples of lesser explored storylines are Former Vice President Henry Baines (Matt Malloy) attempting to establish his authority, or Dr. Gabriela Torabi’s (Sarah Shahi) investigation into Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson). These subplots weren’t fully explored, and never allowed viewers to fully engage with them like the others.

What that means is that the final two episodes of Paradise Season 2, which will premiere on March 23 and March 30, will have a lot to answer for. In just two episodes, the series should address some major plot points, like what Link’s intentions are in the bunker, what Xavier and Terri will do now that they’ve been reunited, what Sinatra will do following Baines’ murder, how Terri and Gary (Cameron Britton) ended their partnership, and much more. With so much to wrap up, the final two episodes of the show will surely be non-stop and packed with revelations left and right.

With all that said, while creator Dan Fogelman certainly took risks in Season 2 of Paradise, the series has continued to be a streaming hit, leaving fans at the edge of their seats and gasping at the needle-drop revelations. Season 3 of the series has already been confirmed, so while there’s still a lot to address in the last two episodes of the series, we’re sure cliffhangers and unanswered questions will be a major part of the finale too.

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Release Date

January 26, 2025

Network

Hulu

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Showrunner

Dan Fogelman

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Directors

Gandja Monteiro

Writers

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Jason Wilborn

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